A case complicated with Horner's syndrome after off-pump coronary artery bypass.

In the present report, a case complicated with Horner's syndrome after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) was presented. This case showed ptosis and miosis in the left eye promptly after OPCAB. No abnormal neurological findings other than Horner's syndrome were observed in postoperative examinations including head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and this case was thought to have Horner's syndrome as a complication after cardiac surgery through median sternotomy.     

The Role of Diagnostic Radiology Including Lymphography in Malignant Lymphomas

Among the applications of diagnostic radiology in malignant lymphoma, G.I. examination and lymphography have been discussed. It is extremely important to accurately evaluate the extent of the lesion by use of radioisotopes as well as other X-ray studies. Since the disease is characterised by a high radiosensitivity, adequate radiation therapy should result in some healing and a prolongation of life even in advanced cases. Diagnosis and treatment are quite intimately related in this disease.     

Reduction in calcium concentration induces exocytotic secretion of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla in the absence of extracellular ions

Cat adrenal glands were perfused with a NaCl-free medium where all NaCl had been replaced by isotonic sucrose. Exocytotic secretion of catecholamines was evoked by a simple reduction in the concentration of Ca in the medium. The response required extracellular Ca and was blocked by Ca channel blockers. The results suggest that in the absence of most ions, Ca reduction itself increases permeability of the plasma membrane to Ca, thereby evoking secretion.     

In vitro Sensitivity Test of Breast Cancer Cells to Hormonal Agents in a Radionucleotide-incorporation Assay

Breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, BT-20 and STT-11) and fresh cells from malignant effusions of eight breast cancer patients were examined for their in vitro sensitivity to 17β-estradiol (E₂), tamoxifen and toremifene in a miniaturized, improved nucleic acid precursor incorporation assay (MINI assay). Seven of the eight patients received either tamoxifen or toremifene following a MINI assay and the correlation was examined between in vitro sensitivity and clinical responses to the hormonal agents. In cell lines, E₂ stimulated thymidine incorporation by estrogen receptor (ER)-rich cells, MCF-7 and T47D, but not by ER-poor cells, BT-20 and STT-11. Tamoxifen induced both ER-mediated and -unmediated effects in ER-rich cells. The latter effect was also observed in ER-poor cells. Toremifene had less ER-unmediated effect in all of the cells tested than tamoxifen did. The ER-mediated effect of toremifene was weaker than that of tamoxifen in cell lines but was equipotent to tamoxifen in fresh cells. E₂ affected thymidine incorporation by cells withdrawn from patients who showed a partial response to the anti-estrogens. No clear correlation was demonstrated between in vitro sensitivity to anti-estrogens of fresh cells and clinical response to these agents. The present results suggest that 1) the MINI assay is a useful system to investigate hormonal effects on breast cancer cell lines; 2) clinical responses to anti-estrogens are not predicted by in vitro response to the agents but might be predicted by the in vitro response to E₂; and 3) toremifene has a smaller non-specific effect on breast cancer cells than tamoxifen and is equipotent to tamoxifen in the ER-mediated effect in vitro .     

SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF DERMAL SKIN AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS

By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), three dimensional structures of the matrixes and fibrous components in human dermal skin, scleromyxedema, systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE), progresive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and amyloidosis cutis were observed. SEM pictures were compared with those from conventional transmission electron microscopy and histochemistry. In human dermal skin and scleromyxedema, the matrixes were not fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmic acid. FAC fixation was employed in these specimens. After fixing specimens, streptomyces hyaluronidase digestion was made and examined by the SEM. In human dermis and scleromyxedema, hyarulonic acid occurred between collagen and elastic fibers. In systemic lupus erythematodes and progresive systemic sclerosis, specimens were fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmic acid, and examined in the same way. In SLE, collagen fibers were dissociated and the normal wavy pattern was lost. In PSS, abnormally increased branching fibers were observed. In amyloidosis cutis, amyloid fibrils were not observed by conventional SEM. Specimens were dehydrated in a critical point dryer and examined by the field emission scanning microscope. Amyloid fibrils were interwoven in a felt-like fashion.     

Neuropeptide Y and somatostatin inhibit stimulated cyclic AMP production in rabbit ciliary processes

The interaction of adrenergic and peptide receptors linked to adenylate cyclase and the inhibition by bioactive peptides of stimulated cyclic AMP production has been investigated in intact, excised rabbit ciliary processes. Cyclic AMP production stimulated by isoproterenol, vasoactive intestinal peptide, or forskolin was inhibited by the biologically active peptides neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, and the synthetic somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995. IC50s determined from dose-response curves of inhibition are consistent with the known abilities of these ligands to modulate cyclic AMP and physiological responses in other tissues. Inhibition by neuropeptide Y or SMS 201-995 was unaffected by the specific alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine, which shows that peptide inhibition is not occurring via peptide binding to the inhibitory alpha 2-adrenergic receptor. These results suggest that endogenous peptides may participate in modulation of cyclic AMP production and subsequent physiological events influenced by cyclic AMP levels in rabbit ciliary processes by inhibiting stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis.