Interferon-related mental deterioration after craniotomy for removal of metastatic renal cancer

Interferon-related severe adverse events on the central nervous system are relatively rare, because interferon-alpha (INF-alpha) can not cross an intact blood-brain barrier. We experienced remarkable mental deterioration caused by INF-alpha administration in a 43-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma after surgical removal of a metastatic brain tumor. We detected a high concentration of INF-alpha in a cerebrospinal fluid sample, which was comparable to that in the serum at 24 h after the administration of INF-alpha; 5x10(6) IU i.m., suggesting that the blood-brain barrier was damaged somehow by the craniotomy. The mental deterioration improved shortly after discontinuation of the INF-alpha administration.     

Characteristics of the cellular composition, especially the lymphocyte sub-populations of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis

The pathogenesis of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which often occurs in Japan, was examined by analysing the cell profile, especially the lymphocyte sub-populations, of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from these patients: twenty-two normal volunteers and fourteen patients with localized lung cancer as controls. Lymphocyte sub-populations were determined by the micro-testplate method. In the bronchial fluid of the summer hypersensitivity group, the total cell number was much higher (five to ten times) than in the control groups, and the percentage of lymphocytes reached 84-2 + 5.1 (mean + s.e. mean); the percentage of T lymphocytes was significantly increased (95.6 + 1.0), but that of B lymphocytes (3.2 + 0.6) was similar to that of the control groups, though the absolute numbers of B and T lymphocytes were higher than in the control groups. In the peripheral blood of the summer hypersensitivity group, the percentage of B lymphocytes was significantly higher than that found in the normal volunteers, but that of T lymphocytes was not increased. Cellular changes in bronchial fluid were more evident than changes seen by X-ray examination and are considered to be a good parameter of the severity of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It is considered that cell-mediated immunity as well as the Arthus reaction may be intimately related to the pathogenesis of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.     

Thrombolytic therapy for traumatic unilateral renal artery thrombosis

We report a case of traumatic unilateral renal artery thrombosis that was successfully treated by thrombolytic therapy. The patient was a 17-year-old woman, who had put her left upper abdomen between a wall and the handle of a ground roller when using it. A computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast showed a lack of contrast in the left kidney. Angiography showed complete occlusion of the left renal artery, and the diagnosis was traumatic left renal artery thrombosis. Following angiography, thrombolytic therapy was performed. Urokinase was administered into the left renal artery, and 360,000 units per 1.5 h was required. Thrombus disappeared and flow of left renal artery was observed. Recovery of left renal function was seen on renoscintigraphy. Surgical maneuvers for traumatic renal artery thrombosis are autotransplantation or thrombectomy generally, but we think that thrombolytic therapy following angiography is a less invasive method and saves warm ischemic time.     

The relationship between psychosomatic factors and orthostatic dysregulation in young men

We carried out a questionnaire survey regarding symptoms of orthostatic dysregulation and administered the Japanese Edition of the Cornell Medical Index-Health Questionnaire (JCMI) and the Yatabe-Guilford Personality Test (Y-G test) to 151 male medical students (mean age, 24.6 yr). Orthostatic dysregulation was identified in 19 (12.5%) of the subjects based on the questionnaire results. The percentage classed as types III (possible neurotic) and IV (probable neurotic) according to the health questionnaire was 47.3% in the 19 with orthostatic dysregulation and 8.9% in the controls (n = 78). The percentage classed as types B and E, suggestive of emotional or psychological disturbance according to the personality test, was 42.1% in those with orthostatic dysregulation and 8.9% in the controls. These differences were significant (P < 0.01). These results suggest that psychosomatic factors influence the occurrence of orthostatic dysregulation in young men.     

Responses of B16 melanoma cell lines, F1 and F10, to hyperthermia, lymphokine-activated killer cells and a combination of both in vitro

The cytolytic and/or cytostatic effects of hyperthermia, lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK cells) and the combination of both were assayed using F1 and F10 B16 melanoma cell lines. F10 cells with a high metastatic potential showed a greater sensitivity to hyperthermia than F1 cells which have low metastatic potential. The F10 cells were lysed to a lesser extent by LAK cells than the F1-B16 cells. When the cell lines were subjected to hyperthermia at 43 degrees C for 3 h and then interacted with LAK cells, the maximum cytolysis reached almost 100%. When the interaction with LAK cells was followed by hyperthermia at 43 degrees C, the total release of 51Cr from the cell lines was 75-85%. The extent of 51Cr release from the B16 melanoma cell lines was inversely correlated with the survival rate as calculated by the plating efficiency of the incubated cells. The survival rate of mice intravenously injected with B16-F10 cells and subjected to hyperthermia at 41 degrees C for 3 h in vitro increased compared to that of controls. This was further increased by the simultaneous administration of LAK cells.     

Induction of mixed-function oxidases in mouse liver by psoralens

8-methoxypsoralen, the most widely used psoralen in photochemotherapy, was shown to induce mixed-function oxidases. Induction of mixed-function oxidases in mouse liver was examined after mice were given a single dose of one of three psoralens. 8-methoxypsoralen clearly induced p-nitro-anisole-O-demethylase and slightly induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. Psoralen and 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen failed to induce either enzyme. These results represent the first enzyme induction studies on these clinically useful compounds. The studies may have relevance in understanding the clinical differences in skin photosensitizing activity and photochemotherapeutic effectiveness of the compounds in such diseases as psoriasis and vitiligo.