N-isopropyl-p-[I-123]iodoamphetamine lung imaging in a patient with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism

A patient with a brain infarct was found to have chronic pulmonary embolism associated with perfusion defects on blood flow imaging with N-isopropyl-p-[I-123]iodoamphetamine (I-123 IMP). However, gradually increasing uptake of I-123 IMP was seen in later images, in areas distal to the embolus. The increased uptake to the embolized lung seemed to be through the systemic collateral circulation.     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and perinatal care: assessment of lung hypoplasia.

To assess the severity of lung hypoplasia, we have attempted to measure the lung thorax transverse area ratio (L/T) by using ultrasonic echography and to select immediate surgery after delivery by caesarean section. The evaluation of L/T for an index of lung hypoplasia was made by arterial blood gas data and clinical courses. Of 14 fetuses diagnosed, 13 had left sided CDH and one right sided case, from 11 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, 10 cases survived. The L/T in 14 fetuses with CDH was from 0.08 to 0.36 (mean 0.2 +/- 0.073) and was significantly lower than that of the controls. L/T was correlated best with data of arterial pH, PCO2, preductal A-aDO2 before operation and the duration of mechanical ventilation in survivors. Although L/T was also significantly low in the cases with severe grade, diaphragmatic patch closure and ECMO therapy, no significant differences were noted in L/T between survivors and non-survivors. These results indicated that L/T may predict the severity of lung hypoplasia in CDH and that the combination of perinatal management bases on prenatal diagnosis of CDH and ECMO support may improve the outcome of fatal CDH with severe lung hypoplasia.     

Amygdaloid kindling in weanling rat and rekindling upon maturization

To understand the epileptic phenomenon in the immature brain and to investigate whether or not the epileptogenesis acquired in young age is retained after maturation, we carried out the amygdaloid kindling preparation (AM-K) on rat. Ten 3-week-old Wistar rats (3-week-old group) and ten 10-week-old rats (10-week-old group) were stimulated every 2 hours during 09:00-17:00, from five days after operation (Experiment 1). Nine kindled weanling rats (K-group) and ten weanling rats with no stimulation only electrodes implantation (non-K-group) were rekindled upon maturization (Experiment II). Stages of AM-K were classified according to the criteria of Racine. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The 3-week-old group needed significantly fewer stimulations and a shorter AD-durations during early stages (C0-2) of amygdaloid kindling, in comparison with the 10-week-old group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups as to stimulations and AD-duration during later stages (C3-4) of the kindling. 2) The K-group were rekindled significantly fewer stimulations and a shorter AD-durations than non-K group during early stages. On the other hand, there was not significant difference between the two groups as to stimulation and AD-duration during later stages of the kindling. From the results, the following conclusions were made; The seizure susceptibility of weanling rat's limbic system is high and the epileptogenesis in the limbic system can be maintained even up to adulthood.     

Pilot phase II study of hybrid chemotherapy of CAV-PVP in small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

A pilot phase II study of a hybrid chemotherapy for SCLC has been conducted between October 1986 and March 1988. Dose and schedule of the regimen were as follows: CTX, 700 mg/m2, on day 1; ADM 30 mg/m2, on day 1; VCR, 1.4 mg/m2, on day 1 (CAV); and CDDP, 60 mg/m2, on day 8; VP-16, 100 mg/m2, on days 8 and 9 (PVP). Courses were repeated q. 4 weeks up to 6 cycles. Patients with LD received chest irradiation at a dose of 50 Gy when maximal response was achieved. Thirty-six patients were fully evaluated for tumor response and toxicity. All 18 patients with LD responded to the regimen including 11 CRs (61%); there were 7 CRs (39%) and 9 PRs (50%) in patients with ED. Fourteen of the 18 patients with LD have survived for 7 to 22 months, against 12.8 months in ED patients. The major toxicity was myelosuppression, but it was well tolerated. These results indicate that hybrid chemotherapy is highly effective for SCLC, and warrants further clinical trials.     

Thymolipoma with striated myoid cells. Histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study

A large asymptomatic anterior mediastinal thymolipoma, discovered by chest radiograph during a regular check-up for company employees, was excised from a 33-year-old Japanese man. On immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic examination, clusters of myoglobin-positive cells with cytoplasmic Z band structures were found scattered in the medulla. Myoid cells have been previously seen in the normal thymus as well as in thymic hyperplasia, thymoma, and in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of myoid cells in a thymolipoma.     

Non-dipping is a potent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and is associated with autonomic dysfunction in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Lack of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) fall (non-dipping) is common among haemodialysis (HD) patients, but much less is known regarding its association with cardiovascular (CV) disease morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Eighty HD patients initially underwent 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and then they were defined as either 'dippers' (n=24, nocturnal BP fall > or = 10%) or 'non-dippers' (n=56, fall <10%). Coronary angiography was performed in the patients who had signs and/or symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD). Twenty-four hour ambulatory ECG was recorded in 20 dippers and 20 non-dipper HD patients, and in 20 normal subjects. All patients were followed for up to 5.8 years (33.0+/-19.1 months). The outcome events studied were the hospitalisations due to CV diseases and CV death. RESULTS: Compared with dippers, non-dippers initially had a higher incidence of coronary artery stenosis (P<0.05) along with left ventricular asynergy (both Ps<0.01). The circadian rhythm of autonomic function was impaired in non-dippers. The incidences of CV events and CV deaths were 3.5 and 9 times higher in non-dippers than in dippers. The cumulative CV event-free survival and CV survival rates were lower in non-dippers than in dippers (P=0.02 and P=0.005, respectively). Based on Cox analysis, non-dipping was associated positively with CV events and CV mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.46, 95% CI 1.02-5.92, P=0.038 and HR 9.62, 95% CI 1.23-75.42, P=0.031, respectively]. Meanwhile, nocturnal systolic BP fall, diurnal systolic BP and diurnal pulse pressure were negatively associated with CV event/death. The clinic BP was not associated with CV event/death. CONCLUSIONS: The non-dipping phenomenon is closely related to a high incidence of CV diseases, a poor long-term survival and profound autonomic dysfunction. ABPM is useful in predicting long-term CV prognosis in HD patients.     

Fundamental study of subrenal capsule assay by measuring specific activity of succinate dehydrogenase]

It may not show accurate results if subrenal capsule assay (SRCA) is made only by measuring tumor size, because of infiltration of host inflammation cells resulted from host immune reaction. We developed a new method which make possible an accurate determination of chemosensitivity by measuring specific activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SD) of the tumor cells implanted in the subrenal capsular space. With reference to SDI test, the assay condition for measuring specific activity of SD was determined. A comparative study was carried out in which malignant tumors of the oral cavity serially transplanted in nude mice were tested with SRCA and subcutaneous transplantation assay in nude mice. Chemosensitivity to peplomycin (PEP), CDDP and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) evaluated SSDI method and nude mouse assay showed a high correlation than those evaluated by TGIR method and nude mouse assay. The overall predictive accuracy compared with nude mouse assay was 72.2% by TGIR method and 88.9% by SSDI method. SSDI method seemed to be a useful method to evaluate the chemosensitivity in SRCA.     

Catch-relaxing peptide isolated from Mytilus pedal ganglia

A peptide that relaxes catch tension of the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis was purified from pedal ganglion extracts of the mussel. Its primary structure was determined to be H-Ala-Met-Pro-Met-Leu-Arg-Leu-NH2. This peptide was found to have not only catch-relaxing action on the byssus retractor muscle but also modulatory actions on contractions in various molluscan muscles.