Correlation between LIFG and Autonomic Activation during Stressful Tasks： A Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy （fNIRS） Study

It remains unclear whether language tasks in one＇s first （L1） or second （L2） language can cause stress responses and whether frontal, autonomic and behavioral responses to stressful tasks are correlated. In this study, we studied 22 Chinese subjects whose L2 was English and measured the cerebral blood oxygenation in their frontal lobe by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy （fNIRS） as par- ticipants engaged in a mental arithmetic task （MAT） and verbal fluency tasks （VFTs） in L1 （Chinese） and L2 （English）. To examine the activated cortical areas, we estimated the channel location based on Montreal Neurological Institute （MNI） standard brain space by using a-probabilistic estimation method. We evaluated heart rate （HR） changes to analyze autonomic nervous system （ANS） functioning. We found that the MAT and VFTs induced greater increases in HR than did the control （Ctrl） task. Further- more, subjects developed greater increases in HR in the MAT and VFTt~ than they did in the VFTL1. Compared with the Ctrl task, the MAT and both VFTLland VFTL2 produced robust and widespread bi- lateral activation of the frontal cortex. Interestingly, partial correlation analysis indicated that the activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus （LIFG） [Brodmarm＇s area （BA） 47] was consistently correlated with the increases in HR across the three tasks （MAT, VFTL2, and VFTL1）, after controlling for the performance data. The present results suggested that a VFT in L2 may be more stressful than in L1. The LIFG may affect the activation of the sympathetic system induced by stressful tasks, includin~ MATs and VFTs.     

Two Cases of Subfrontal Schwannoma,Including a Rare Case Located between the Endosteal and Meningeal Layers of the Dura

Subfrontal schwannomas arising from the olfactory groove are rare and their origin remains uncertain because olfactory bulbs do not possess Schwann cells. We present two cases of subfrontal schwannomas treated with surgical resection. In one case, the tumor was located between the endosteal and meningeal layers of the dura mater. This rare case suggests that subfrontal schwannomas may originate from the fila olfactoria.     

Inhibition of the Hepatic Uptake of Paracetamol Sulphate by Anionic Compounds

The effect of anionic compounds on the hepatic uptake of paracetamol sulphate, a conjugative metabolite of paracetamol, has been studied. Hepatic uptake of paracetamol sulphate by isolated hepatocytes was inhibited by bromosulphophthalein, dibromosulphophthalein and p-nitrophenyl sulphate, but not by probenecid or cholic acid. Bromosulphophthalein and dibromosulphophthalein also inhibited the uptake of paracetamol sulphate in the rat isolated perfused liver. Saturable uptake of paracetamol sulphate was also observed in the absence of inorganic sulphate. The uptake of paracetamol sulphate was reduced by 1 and 10 mm inorganic sulphate. Bromosulphophthalein and p-nitrophenyl sulphate inhibited the uptake of paracetamol sulphate in the absence of inorganic sulphate. These results indicate that paracetamol sulphate shares a transporter with bromosulphophthalein, dibromosulphophthalein and p-nitrophenyl sulphate, all of which contain the sulphate or sulphonate group. Therefore, the sulphate or sulphonate moiety might be crucial for interaction with the transporter, and mutual inhibition of hepatic uptake among these compounds is likely.     

Evaluation of the Sclerotherapeutic Efficacy of Ethanol, Polidocanol, and OK-432 Using an In Vitro Model

BACKGROUND Sclerosants are used to treat vascular malformations. Owing to variations in the flow, the injected concentrations and the duration of exposure of these sclerosants are altered. Therefore, the clinical effectiveness of sclerotherapy is variable.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the differences in clinical response, usually observed among ethanol, polidocanol, and OK-432, using an in vitro sclerotherapy model.
METHODS Endothelial cells were cultured and exposed to different concentrations of the sclerosants for 5 seconds and the remaining viable cells were counted using a MTT assay kit. Dyes were used to visualize the morphologic changes. Precipitant formation in blood was also evaluated. Finally, the degree of ICAM-1 expression, after exposure to lower concentrations of these sclerosants, was studied using immunocytochemistry.
RESULTS Only ethanol causes precipitant formation and kills almost all cells from 30% concentration. Polidocanol begins to disrupt the cell membrane from 0.0125% onward. Only OK-432 induces ICAM-1 expression.
CONCLUSION Ethanol's strong precipitant-forming effect may induce thromboembolism, thus enhancing sclerosis. Polidocanol's endothelial cell–lysing effect was clearly documented. OK-432 may mediate its effect by inducing inflammatory response of the endothelium via ICAM-1 expression. This in vitro model may be useful in evaluating other sclerosants as well.     

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy of carcinoma in situ of the bladder

A 71-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis was treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation of 80 mg once-a-week for carcinoma in situ. He developed low-grade fever followed by dyspnea and severe hypoxemia. Radiological and laboratory studies revealed bilateral diffuse reticulonodular infiltrates and hypereosinophilia. A lymphocyte stimulation test for BCG was strongly positive. From these findings, a pulmonary hypersensitivity reaction to immunotherapy was suspected, and therefore, methylprednisolone (500 mg per day) was started. After that, the fever and dyspnea disappeared, the hypereosinophilia was normalised and chest radiography results were clear. The present case is the first reported case of eosinophilic pneumonia following intravesical BCG therapy.     

SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF VITILIGO WITH PUVA-PIGMENTED AUTOLOGOUS EPIDERMAL GRAFTING

Background. The methoxypsoralen-ultraviolet A-light (PUVA)-induced pigmented epidermal grafting procedure appears to be a more effective treatment for vitiligo than similar treatments presently available. This finding was based on: 1) a more vigorous and completely homogeneous repigmentation was observed in the vitiliginous area and 2) that the treatment was safe, easy, inexpensive, and not time-consuming (approximately 3–4 hours), thus making it a suitable outpatient clinic treatment procedure for vitiligo patients. Patients and Methods. Twenty-eight patients with amelanotic depigmented lesions that had been refractory to conventional therapy were treated using suction blisters from autologous epidermal sheets. These had 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) solution applied and had been exposed to ultraviolet A light (topical PUVA) in order to stimulate melanogenesis. Results. Successful repigmentation was obtained after transplantation in all patients with segmental and localized vitiligo. The most homogeneous repigmentation was obtained within 3 months after grafting. Conclusions. This novel procedure is an excellent tool by which to treat segmental and localized vitiligo lesions that have failed to respond to other therapies.     

Effects of short duration morning bright light in healthy elderly. II:Sleep and motor activity

Abstract Subjective sleep feelings and motor activity were measured in seven healthy elderly subjects for 6 days. The subjects were exposed to bright light (6000 lux) for 30 min in the morning or instructed to sit in front of a desktop lighting device without light. The average level of motor activity during the night was significantly decreased in the bright light condition, compared with the controlled condition. However, daytime motor activity did not show significant differences between the two conditions. From these findings, even a short duration of morning bright light is effective in maintaining sleep without changing daytime activity.     

Effects of octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, on gastric function evaluated by real-time ultrasonography

Background : Somatostatin exerts inhibitory effects on physiological functions in the gastrointestinal tract. The actions differ, however, depending on the test meal, dose, and other factors.
Aims : To determine by use of ultrasonography and scintigraphy the effect of a somatostatin analog, octreotide, on gastric emptying and antral contraction.
Subjects : Twenty healthy men; mean age 23.9 years
Methods : Subjects were studied for 7 days, once after subcutaneous injection of octreotide, 50 μg, 5 min before the ingestion of a test meal and once after subcutaneous injection of placebo. Ten subjects received a liquid meal, 10 others received a solid meal. With the liquid meal, gastric emptying was measured 15 min after its ingestion and antral contraction was measured for 15 min by ultrasonography. With the solid meal, gastric emptying was measured both by ultrasonography ( n =10) and by simultaneous scintigraphy ( n =6), with antral contraction measured by ultrasonography for 5 h after ingestion of the meal.
Results and Conclusions : Octreotide given with a liquid or solid meal inhibited gastric emptying in healthy subjects. A significant suppression of antral contraction occurred only with a solid meal.