High incidence of meningioma among Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors.

Since the atomic bomb explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, high incidences of leukemia, thyroid cancer and other tumors have been reported as atomic bomb-induced tumors. We investigated the incidence of meningioma among Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors. Sixty-eight patients surgically treated for meningioma who had been within 2.0 km of the hypocenter of the explosion were identified. Six hundred and seven non-exposed patients with meningioma were also studied. Treatment dates were from 1975 to 1992. The incidences of meningioma among 68 subjects within 2.0 km and 607 non-exposed patients were 8.7 and 3.0 cases per 10(5) persons per year, respectively. The incidences of meningioma among the survivors of Hiroshima in 5-year intervals since 1975 were 5.3, 7.4, 10.1, and 14.9, respectively. The incidences of meningioma classified by distances from the hypocenter of 1.5-2.0 km, 1.0-1.5 km and less than 1.0 km were 6.3, 7.6 and 20.0, respectively. The incidences of meningioma classified by doses to the brain of 0-0.099 Sv, 0.1-0.99 Sv and more than 1.0 Sv were 7.7, 9.2 and 18.2, respectively. The incidence of meningioma among Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors has increased since 1975. There was a significant correlation between the incidence and the dose of radiation to the brain. The present findings strongly suggest that meningioma is one of the tumors induced by atomic bombing in Hiroshima.     

Changes in somatosensory circuits after subcortical infarct in rats

We compared the functional and anatomical alterations of somatosensory circuits in the acute (1-3 days after infarct) and chronic (3 months after infarct) stage after subcortical striatal infarct in Wistar rats. Occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery produced subcortical striatal infarct in approximately 69% of the rats. The others developed cortical infarct. The function of the somatosensory circuits was evaluated by [14C]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography during physiological stimulation of the right vibrissae and face. In rats with subcortical infarct, the areas activated by sensory stimulation of the right vibrissae and face, applied 1 and 3 days after occlusion, were reduced compared to sham-operated controls (P < 0.05). In the chronic stage of subcortical infarct, the areas of metabolic activation of the left anterior vibrissal and facial sensory area were increased compared to rats with acute subcortical infarct (P < 0.05). To evaluate the anatomical changes in the somatosensory pathway, at 1 day and 3 months after occlusion, we injected wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase solution as an axonal transport substance bilaterally into the anterior vibrissal and facial sensory area. Tract tracing studies in both the acute and chronic stage of subcortical infarct showed a reduction in the peroxidase-positive area in the left thalamus compared to the control hemispheres (P < 0.01). The functional disturbance and recovery of the somatosensory circuits after subcortical infarct are discussed.     

A developmental switch in B lymphopoiesis.

B and T lymphocytes are generated from hematopoietic stem cells during both fetal and adult life. A critical unresolved issue is whether the differentiation pathways in lymphopoiesis are the same in fetal and adult animals or whether they differ, similar to the hemoglobin switch in erythropoiesis. We report here that a developmental switch occurs in B lymphopoiesis. We isolated "pro-B" cells (i.e., cells that have initiated, but not completed, heavy-chain gene rearrangement) from fetal and adult sources and investigated their B-cell progeny generated both in vitro and in vivo. Most of the cells from fetal liver, but few from adult bone marrow, expressed CD5. Further, fetal pro-B cells failed to generate cells expressing high levels of IgD in severe combined immunodeficiency mice, whereas adult pro-B cells gave rise to CD5-B cells bearing IgD at levels comparable to the bulk of cells in the spleen of adult mice. Thus, all committed B progenitors in fetal liver of day 16 gestation mice give rise to phenotypically distinct progeny when compared to cells at a comparable differentiation stage in the bone marrow of adult animals. We conclude that the cohort of B-lineage progenitors in early fetal development is committed to a differentiation pathway distinct from that seen in the adult.     

Effects of small dose of brotizolam on P300

Nine healthy men (mean age, 22.2 years) participated in two experimental sessions cross-overed randomly in a double blind manner; one with a placebo and the other with 0.125 mg of brotizolam (BTZ) administered in the morning. Resting electroencephalogram and event-related potential under oddball paradigm was recorded before and 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the administration. Mean 30-msec bin amplitude from 240 msec to 450 msec after the stimulus was compared between placebo and drug sessions in order to observe P300. Brotizolam reduced the amplitude of P300 at 6 h after administration. It was noted that the effects of BTZ were most marked at Fz.     

Anterior transvertebral herniotomy for cervical disk herniation

This study analyzed the results of anterior transvertebral herniotomy for cervical disk herniation to assess the utility of this procedure. Anterior transvertebral herniotomy was performed in 24 patients who had cervical disk herniation without spinal canal stenosis. In most patients, a good result was obtained, but simultaneous or subsequent anterior intervertebral fusion was necessary in four patients. In one (4%) patient, the two adjacent vertebrae had fused spontaneously. The best indication for this treatment judging from the postoperative results is a large disk hernia associated with either myelopathy or radiculopathy, but without spinal canal stenosis.     

HELLP syndrome in a pregnant patient with a past history of splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Case report

Case: We present a case of HELLP syndrome occuring in a patient who at the age of 8 years had undergone a splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. She was diagnosed as having HELLP syndrome 37 weeks of gestation and had a cesarean section. Received: 4 June 1996 / Accepted: 7 October 1996     

Successful pregnancy after coronary artery bypass grafting for Kawasaki disease

Abstract A 13-year-old girl with a history of Kawasaki disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting because of angina pectoris due to a giant coronary artery aneurysm on the left main trunk artery. Nine years after the operation, the patient had an uneventful pregnancy followed by a normal vaginal delivery. This is the first case of a successful pregnancy after coronary artery bypass grafting for Kawasaki coronary artery disease.     

Usefulness of three-dimensional CT cholangiography for patients prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate three-dimensional biliary anatomy by using spiral CT scanning for patients prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 22 patients (11 men, 11 women; mean age, 60 years) with preoperative imaging. All patients had normal serum bilirubin levels. Either 50 ml (in 10 cases) or 100 ml (in 12 cases) of meglumine iotroxate was infused intravenously over 30 minutes. Spiral CT scanning was started immediately after the infusion was finished. Volumetric data through the entire biliary tracts were obtained during one breath-hold. The data were reconstructed by using a maximum intensity projection algorithm and three-dimensional shaded surface rendering. RESULTS: In all patients, the anatomical relationship between the cystic duct and the common bile duct was clearly depicted, including one with junctional anomaly. The intrahepatic biliary ducts and the confluence of the hepatic ducts were displayed from all angles. The third or higher intrahepatic branches were delineated in 11 of the 12 (92%) patients with the use of 100 ml of the cholangiographic agent and in seven of the 10 (70%) with 50 ml. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional CT cholangiography was able to provide adequate information about precise biliary anatomy.