Statistical analysis of the prostatic cancer patients detected from 1985 to 1989 in and around Gunma prefecture]

Prostatic cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the field of urology. The number of patients is increasing rapidly and its importance as a mortal disease is gathering attention. In 1985, we organized a registration system for prostatic cancer patients found in and around Gunma prefecture. In this study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of the 730 patients registered from 1985 to 1989. The results were as follows. Mean age was 74.0 years old and the number of the patients was the greatest in the eighth decade. Voiding disturbance was the most common chief complaint, followed by pollakisuria, gross hematuria and miction pain. Stage and grade distribution were as follows. Stage A 16.2%, B 21.1%, C 17.0%, D 45.7%, well differentiated 27.4%, moderately differentiated 48.2% and poorly differentiated 24.5%, respectively. A statistically significant relationship between stage and grade was observed. Bone was the most common metastatic site. The highest incidence of bone metastasis was in lumbar vertebra, followed by ribs, ilium, thoracic vertebra and ischium. The value of PAP, ALP and ESR tended to be higher in high stage patients, and that of Hb was lower. Fifty two patients were detected by mass screening. Most of these patients were in an early stage. Most of the patients were treated by hormonal therapy. LH-RH agonists constituted 39.2% of the cases given hormonal therapy.     

Diuretic and hypotensive actions of torasemide in hypertensive models of rat

The diuretic and the antihypertensive actions of torasemide were examined in renal and genetic hypertensive rats and compared to the effects of furosemide. Oral administration of torasemide (1 and 3 mg/kg) elicited a dose-dependent increase in the excretion of urine and electrolytes and elevated the urinary Na/K ratio in both renal and genetic hypertensive rats. Torasemide and furosemide had a similar maximum diuretic effect in the normotensive Wistar rat and the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). However, the diuretic activity of furosemide was weaker in the renal hypertensive rat (RHR). Torasemide showed approximately 30 times greater diuretic potency than furosemide. Torasemide and furosemide demonstrated hypotensive action in hypertensive rat models, but not in the normotensive Wistar rat. Especially in the RHR, torasemide exhibited a more potent hypotensive action than furosemide. These results show that the diuretic and antihypertensive activities of torasemide are effective in various rat models of hypertension, while the diuretic activity of furosemide is weak in certain hypertensive rat models. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Plasmodium falciparum: sensitivity to chloroquine in vivo in three ecological zones in Ghana.

4690 children aged 6-15 years in 5 urban and 4 rural communities in 3 ecological zones in Ghana were screened from June 1988 to December 1990 to provide suitable candidates for the World Health Organization standard in vivo test for susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine. 1880 (40.1%) had parasitaemia, mostly (83.7-98.6%) due to P. falciparum infection. Of the 626 in vivo tests performed, 570 (91.1%) showed sensitivity to chloroquine and 56 (8.9%) responses were classified as resistant to chloroquine at RI (5.1%) and RII (3.8%). The resistance responses were commonest (17.1-22.7%) in the coastal zone, followed by the savanna zone (8.6-10.0%), and lowest in the forest zone (3.1-6.3%). The RII responses occurred mainly in communities in the coastal zone. There was no RIII resistance in any zone. The pattern of RI (early) and RII responses of P. falciparum to chloroquine in this study suggested an increase in sensitivity, or a reduction in resistance, of P. falciparum to chloroquine from the coast to the forest and northern savanna zones, and from the urban to the rural communities in each zone in Ghana.     

BUN/Cr ratio as an index of gastrointestinal bleeding mass in children.

Determining the site and severity of blood loss is important in the management of children with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) were measured on the day of hospitalization and the ratio of BUN/Cr was calculated in 11 children with 16 episodes of upper GI bleeding and 49 with lower GI bleeding. There was a significant difference between the two GI bleeding groups with regard to BUN/Cr ratio (p less than 0.001). When the ratio was 30 or above, the specificity of upper GI bleeding was 98% with a sensitivity of 68.8%. A linear relationship was found between the BUN/Cr ratio and delta Hb (delta Hb = 0.08 x BUN/Cr +/- 0.8 g/dl) for bleeding originating from the upper GI tract. This study confirms that measurement of the BUN/Cr ratio is useful for localizing the source of bleeding to the upper GI tract and also demonstrates its usefulness as an estimation of the severity of blood loss from the upper GI tract.     

LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT FOR PERFORATED APPENDICITIS WITH PELVIC ABSCESS

We performed laparoscopic appendectomy and drainage to treat panperitonitis due to perforated appendicitis that occurred in a 28‐year‐old woman. We believe this is an appropriate procedure to treat perforated appendicitis because it is safe and minimally invasive, and faster recovery can be expected than after conventional open appendectomy.     

Evaluation of the Japanese-Chinese Herbal Medicine,Kampo, for the Treatment of Lupus Dermatoses in Autoimmune Prone MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr Mice

Kampo, a Japanese-Chinese traditional herbal medicine, has been used for the treatment of various diseases for about 3,000 years in China. Among herbal medicines, Sairei-to is well known for improving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other collagen diseases. However, its immunosuppressive effects on autoimmune cutaneous phenomena are not completely understood. We investigated the effects of Sairei-to on the development of lupus dermatoses in autoimmune-prone MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice, an animal model which spontaneously develops skin lesions similar to those seen in human lupus erythematosus. Virgin female MRL/lpr mice at 1 month of age, which were treated orally with Sairei-to, had reduced amounts of IgG deposition at the dermoepidermal junction, titers of anti-DNA antibodies and rheumatoid factor, and lymphoproliferation. These results support the use of traditional herbal medicines in patients with human RA and systemic lupus erythematosus.     

Case of Parkinson's disease presenting with unique dyspneic attacks caused by oromandibular dystonia and sleep apnea syndrome]

A 79-year-old woman with a 4-year history of Parkinson's disease was admitted due to unique dyspneic attacks with cyanosis while eating. Dyspneic attacks with cyanosis occurred mainly during actions such as taking meals or rehabilitation. Due to increased tonus of the orbicularis oris muscle, she was unable to open her mouth and breathe out, and finally experienced hypoxemia as revealed by pulse oxymetry. Dystonic hypertonus was relieved by touching the mandible with the fingers, and she was able to open her mouth again. These symptom was compatible with the sensory trick. Based on these findings, we considered that dyspneic attacks were produced by focal oromandibular dystonia. Polysomnography also showed central sleep apnea. We report herein a rare case of Parkinson's disease presenting with respiratory insufficiency caused by focal dystonia and central sleep apnea.     

Characterization of adenosine deaminase (ADA)-negative B-lymphoblastoid cells cocultured with ADA-positive fibroblasts

Abstract: A cell line, BAD05, derived from B lymphocytes of an adenosine deaminase (ADA; EC 3,5,4,4)-deficient patient could not proliferate in a serum-free medium containing 100 μmol/l deoxyadenosine. When BAD05 was cultured with ADA-positive fibroblasts, the proliferation of BAD05 was improved. BAD05 cell density increased when the initially mixed ratio of fibroblasts/BAD05 was 1/10 or higher, but decreased when the ratio was 1/20 or lower. Deoxyadenosine concentrations in the medium and ATP and deoxyATP (dATP) levels in the BAD05 were measured after 4 hours of coculture at initial BAD05 cell densities of 1 × 10⁵and 1 × 10⁶cells/ml. Deoxyadenosine concentrations in the medium decreased as the density of fibroblasts increased. The dATP level decreased as the mixed ratio rose. The ratio of fibroblasts/BAD05 rather than the cell density of fibroblasts had a larger effect on the dATP levels in BAD05. Under our experimental conditions, ADA-negative cells proliferated well when the ratio of ADA-positive cells/ADA-negative cells was over 1/10.     

Pituitary metastasis of thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma--case report.

A rare case of pituitary metastasis of thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma occurred in a 62-year-old female manifesting as left retro-orbital pain and diplopia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor in the pituitary fossa extending to the left cavernous sinus, sphenoid sinus, and prepontine cistern, destroying the upper portion of the clivus. An asymptomatic thyroid mass, probably malignant, was also found. She also had an incidental small meningioma in the posterior fossa. The pituitary tumor was partially removed, and the thyroid and posterior fossa tumors were totally removed in two operations. Both pituitary and thyroid tumors were verified to be follicular adenocarcinoma. Postoperatively, she developed panhypopituitarism for which cortisol and thyroxine replacement therapy was necessary. Three years after first therapy, she was alive but her symptoms did not improve.     

A VATS lobectomy for lung cancer in a patient with an anomalous pulmonary vein: Report of a case

A video-assisted right upper lobectomy was successfully performed on a 58-year-old man with an anomalnous segmental pulmonary vein. The tumor was a peripherally located adenocarcinoma. The anomalous vein behind the right main bronchus was identified and safely divided. This case emphasized that to perform this procedure successfully, (1) a careful preoperative evaluation of the anatomy, including the presence of any possible vascular and/or bronchial anomalies, is necessary, and (2) if any anatomical structures cannot be determined intraoperatively, a conversion into an open procedure must immediately be undertaken.