Influence of in vivo copper on MR images of the liver in rats

To investigate the effects of in vivo copper on magnetic resonance (MR) images, the authors studied Long-Evans cinnamon rats, which develop hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma as a result of abnormal copper metabolism. The livers of the rats were imaged before hepatitis developed; the absence of hepatic disease was confirmed histopathologically. The copper that accumulated in the liver of the rats was thought to exist in the form of divalent ions, which were suspected of reducing the T1 and T2 of neighboring protons. However, the signal intensities of the liver on T1- and T2*-weighted images did not change, suggesting that in vivo copper, even when accumulated abnormally, does not influence the signal intensity of MR images.     

The effect of adjuvant therapy with or without tamoxifen on the endocrine function of patients with breast cancer

The ovarian and pituitary functions of 64 operable breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy with cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or tamoxifen were investigated. The post menopausal patients, divided into 3 treatment groups, one with tamoxifen alone, one with tamoxifen and chemotherapy and the other with chemotherapy alone had serum estradiol 17-β (E2) and progesterone levels lower than the evaluable limits. Although there was no significant difference in the level of estrone sulfate (E1-S) between these three groups, the level of lutainizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the patients treated with tamoxifen alone and tamoxifen and chemotherapy were significantly lower than those treated with chemotherapy alone. The decrease in gonadotropin levels induced by tamoxifen treatment was reversible as it appeared after the initiation of tamoxifen and recovered after its cessation. In the premenopausal patients, a group treated with tamoxifen and chemotherapy had significantly higher E1-S, E2 and progesterone levels and significantly lower gonadotropin levels than a group treated with chemotherapy alone or one treated with a cyclophosphamide regimen. These increases in the levels of estrogen and progesterone were also reversible, and induced by tamoxifen. Thus, adjuvant endocrinochemotherapy causes profound alteration in the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis and therefore, monitoring a variety of hormonal levels is thought to be necessary for assessing the consequences of adjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients, especially in premenopausal patients using tamoxifen.     

Evaluation of an aortic stent graft for use in surgery on esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta

Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether aortic stent grafting can be applied to the treatment of an esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta. Methods: The canine thoracic aorta was partially resected without aorta being clamped after emplacement of an endovascular stent graft. Study I; The aortic whole layer of 1 cm in length and 1/4 of the circumference was resected and was covered by a free fascia patch of the abdominal rectal muscle immediately after stent graft placement. Study II; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of the same size was resected on day 3, 7,14, 21, and on day 28, after the stent graft placement. The resected portion was covered by the free fascia patch in half experimental dogs, and was uncovered in the others. Study III; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of 1 cm in length and 1/2 of the circumference was resected and was uncovered on day 7 after stent graft placement. Histological examinations were performed on day 28 and at one year after aortic resection. Results: The aortic wall could be resected in all cases with no complication, except in resection of 1/2 the circumference where the aorta had become narrow. There was no difference in healing of the resected portion of the aorta between with and without fascia covering. Conclusion: An aortic endovascular stent graft could be applied to surgery for an esophageal cancer involving the aorta.     

Superoxide dismutases of muscle in mitochondrial encephalomyopathies

Lmmunohistochemical analyses were made of the superoxide dismutases (Mn-SOD and CuiZn-SOD) in biopsied muscles from 7 patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies that included mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes (MELAS), and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO). Mn-SOD mainly was present in the subsarcolemmal region, but it also was found in a coarsely granular, reticular, or diffuse pattern of staining within the muscle fibers. These Mn-SOD-positive fibers corresponded almost completely to the ragged-red fibers. The immunoreaction for CuiZn-SOD was weakly positive in some of the muscle fibers positive for Mn-SOD. In CPEO, Mn-SOD-positive fibers predominantly showed decreased cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. In MELAS, Mn-SOD-positive fibers tended to be stained deeply for COX although a few were COX-negative. These findings suggest that Mn-SOD-positive fibers can be used to make a differential diagnosis between CPEO and MELAS and that in mitochondrial encephalomyopathies Mn-SOD in the raggedred fibers may protect against oxidative stress. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Abdominal vagotomy attenuates interleukin-1β-induced nitric oxide release in the paraventricular nucleus region in conscious rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We measured levels of nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) region using an in vivo brain microdialysis technique in conscious rats. Intraperitoneally administered IL-1β produced a significant increase in both NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ levels in the PVN region. We also examined the possible involvement of the abdominal vagal afferent nerves in this effect. In abdominal-vagotomized rats, the increase was significantly attenuated compared to that in sham-operated rats. Our results suggest that the abdominal vagal afferent nerves are involved in intraperitoneally administered IL-1β-induced NO release in the PVN region.     

Biliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma of the liver: Correlation between unusual MR appearance and pathologic findings

We reported a case of the biliary cystadenoma of the liver. The cystic mass had labulation and septation and showed marked hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images; MR findings were very unusual for cystadenoma. The content of the cystic mass was jelly-like, thick mucinous fluid without intracystic hemorrhage. We concluded that these unusual signal intensities of the cyst were due to hyperproteinous mucinous fluid.     

In-vitro Negative Chronotropic and Inotropic Effects of a Novel Dihydropyridine Derivative,CD-832, in the Guinea-pig: Comparison with Calcium-channel Antagonists

The effects of CD-832 (4R-(-)-2-(nicotinoylamino)ethyl-3-nitroxypropyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4,3-nitrophenyl, 3,5-pyridine dicarboxylate), a novel dihydropyridine derivative, on guinea-pig isolated myocardial preparations have been compared with those of Ca²⁺-channel antagonists. All ten compounds induced concentration-dependent negative chronotropic effects on preparations of isolated right atria and negative inotropic effects on isolated right ventricular papillary muscles. The order of potency for the negative chronotropic effect was CD-832 > nicardipine = gallopamil > clentiazem > nifedipine = efonidipine > amlodipine = semotiadil > verapamil > diltiazem; that for the negative inotropic effect was nicardipine = gallopamil > nifedipine > verapamil > CD-832 > diltiazem > clentiazem > efonidipine = semotiadil > amlodipine. The ratio of the EC50 (the concentration of Ca²⁺ antagonist having 50% of the maximum effect) for the negative inotropic effect divided by the EC50 for the negative chronotropic effect, considered to be an index of selectivity for negative chronotropic effect, was higher for CD-832, amlodipine, efonidipine and semotiadil than for the other Ca²⁺ antagonists. The ratio for CD-832, nifedipine, nicardipine, efonidipine, amlodipine, verapamil, gallopamil, diltiazem, clentiazem and semotiadil was 11·4, 0·29, 0·87, 35·4, 37·1, 0·65, 0·87, 0·92, 7·11 and 30·0, respectively. These findings indicate that CD-832 and the newly developed Ca²⁺ antagonists including amlodipine, efonidipine, semotiadil and clentiazem were selective for a negative chronotropic effect rather than for a negative inotropic effect. This ‘chrono-selective’ effect of these drugs might be of benefit in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.     

Spondylolysis after posterior decompression of the lumbar spine: 35 patients followed for 3-9 years

Radiographs were examined in 35 patients who had had posterior decompression without fusion of the lumbar spine. Spondylolysis was found in 10 patients. Segmental range of motion, degree of vertebral slippage and width of decompression were analyzed by radiography. There was greater vertebral slippage after surgery in patients with postoperative spondylolysis than in those without spondylolysis. We conclude that excessive bony decompression may cause postoperative spondylolysis.     

Nontoxic concentration of antibiotics for intravitreal use — evaluated by human in-vitro ERG

The effects of penicillin G (PC-G) sodium, procaine PC-G, cloxacillin sodium (MCIPC), disodium sulbenicillin (SBPC), cefazolin sodium (CEZ), gentamicin sulfate (GM) and fosfomycin sodium (FOM) on the electroretinogram (ERG) of the human in-vitro eye-cup were studied. The oscillatory potentials (OPs) were selectively and greatly suppressed by 1.0mM PC-G sodium. The OPs and c-wave were suppressed by 0.85mM procaine PC-G. The b-wave and OPs were slightly suppressed by 1.0mM MCIPC. The a-wave, b-wave, OPs and c-wave were not deteriorated by 1.0mM SBPC. The OPs appeared to be selectively suppressed by 1.0mM CEZ. The b-wave was suppressed and the peak latencies of the OPs were delayed by 184g/ml (approximately 0.4mM) GM. The amplitudes of the a-wave and c-wave were slightly enhanced and their peak latencies were slightly delayed by 184g/ml GM. The a-wave, b-wave, OPs and c-wave were not deteriorated by 1.0mM FOM. The results of the present study on the human retina were comparable to those on the albino rabbit retina in our previous studies.     

Recent Trends in the Treatment and Prognosis of Adult Leukemia with Characteristics of Patients in Japan: Transition during the Fifteen Years from 1971 to 1985

Patients with acute (2,569) and chronic (957) leukemia diagnosedat 19 institutes took part in the study on the "MultidisciplinaryTreatment of Leukemia" between 1971 and 1985 and were investigatedretrospectively. By dividing the 15 years into three five-yearperiods, we were able to compare patient ratios in the differentperiods. The proportions of acute to chronic leukemia casesshowed no obvious change; however, the proportions of casesdiagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia in acute leukemia showeda significant increase. The main chemotherapeutic drugs usedduring the three time periods were cytarabine or its analogues,the anthracyclines, 6-mercaputopurine and prednisolone, againstacute myelogenous leukemia, and the vinca alkaloids, prednisoloneand the anthracyclines against acute lymphocytic leukemia. Therate of complete remission from acute myelogenous leukemia mademarked progress, from 45.1% during 1971–1975 to 62.3%during 1981–1985, but that of acute lymphocytic leukemiashowed no significant progress, being 65% during 1971–1975and 69.7% during 1981–1985. The durations of remission,however, and the survival times for patients with acute lymphocyticleukemia, as well as for those with acute myelogenous leukemia,became significantly longer over the three periods. Median survivaltimes from chronic myelocytic leukemia were 37–40 mo inall three periods, showing no progress. There was a better prognosisin cases of chronic myelocytic leukemia with, than without,Philadelphia chromosome. Except for a low incidence of chroniclymphocytic leukemia in Japan, adult leukemia patients' characteristicsand prognoses seem to be almost the same in Japan as in theU.S.A. and Europe.