Gender differences in self-evaluated sleep quality and activity of middle-aged and aged subjects

Abstract In order to investigate the gender difference of sleep and activity in middle-aged and aged individuals, home-based sleep was self-evaluated for sleep quality and activity for 5 nights in 20 healthy adults (50–76 years old; 11 women, nine men). There was no significant gender difference for subjective sleep quality. However, the activity level and movement index at night were significantly higher in men than in women, and the activity level during the day was significantly lower in men than in women. The objective sleep quality of men was significantly worse than that of women, however, subjective sleep quality does not differ.     

Spontaneous breathing with the use of a laryngeal mask airway in children: comparison of sevoflurane and isoflurane

We compared respiratory parameters during anaesthesia with sevoflurane and isoflurane through a laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Children were anaesthetized with O₂ and air with 2.3% (1MAC) sevoflurane ( n =20) or 1.5% (1MAC) isoflurane ( n =20). After insertion of LMA, patients were allowed to breathe spontaneously and respiratory rate (RR) and P ECO2 were measured (presurgery state). After the measurement, anaesthetic concentration was increased to 1.3 MAC (3.0% sevoflurane or 2.0% isoflurane) and surgical stimulation was added. Fifteen min after incision, the measurements were again performed (during surgery). In the sevoflurane group, mean RR and P ECO2 were 32 breaths.min⁻¹, and 6.0 kPa (45 mmHg) respectively, before surgery, and 35 breaths.min⁻¹ and 7.0 kPa (52 mmHg) during surgery. In the isoflurane group, mean RR and P ECO2 were 32 breaths.min⁻¹ and 6.1 kPa (46 mmHg) respectively, before surgery, and 37 breaths.min⁻¹ and 6.7 kPa (52 mmHg) during surgery. There were no statistical differences between the two anaesthetic groups. Clinical respiratory and cardiovascular parameters during spontaneous breathing with LMA in children are similar during sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia.     

Gastric vascular ectasia treated by endoscopic mucosal resection

An 80‐year‐old woman consulted our hospital complaining of general weakness. She had iron deficiency anemia, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a small lesion accompanying a small amount of fresh bleeding in the stomach. Close observation of the lesion revealed that it was composed of a local assembly of dilated microvessels. The diagnosis of this patient was gastric vascular ectasia causing anemia. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated that the lesion involved the mucosal and submucosal layers of the stomach, and that there were no large vessels inflowing to or outflowing from the lesion. In the present case, we attempted endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The lesion was completely resected by only one procedure of EMR without complications such as bleeding. After the endoscopic treatment, iron deficiency anemia improved. Follow‐up endoscopy performed 1 year later revealed that there was no residual or recurrent lesion. Although there have not been any published reports describing the use of EMR for gastric vascular ectasia, EMR may be a useful endoscopic treatment for this condition.     

Ascites with Peritoneal Myeloid Metaplasia in a Patient with Advanced Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Peritoneal myeloid metaplasia associated with ascites containingnumerous hemopoietic cells in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphomais described. It is suggested that massive infiltration of lymphomacells into the bone marrow caused marrow failure and compensatorymechanisms supervened leading to myeloid metaplastic implantsin the peritoneum associated with ascites as well as in theliver, spleen and lymph nodes. There was also a significantleukoerythroblastic reaction in the peripheral blood.     

Prolonged isoflurane anesthesia in a case of catastrophic asthma

A 13-year-old female patient with life-threatening asthma was treated with the inhalational anesthetic agent, 1% isoflurane, for 202 h (140 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) hours). The patient survived and exhibited no significant side effects attributable to the medication. The present patient report provides additional clinical information supporting the utilization of long-term isoflurane general anesthesia in the management of refractory status asthmaticus that have not responded to aggressive medical management.     

Carbamazepine-induced thrombocytopenia and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide: A case report

Abstract The case of a patient who developed thrombocytopenia during treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ) is described. The platelet count recovered soon after discontinuation of CBZ. Lymphocyte stimulation test with carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-10,11-EPOX), a major metabolite of CBZ, was positive, although with CBZ it was negative. These findings suggest that CBZ-10,11-EPOX was possibly causative in the pathogenesis of CBZ-induced thrombocytopenia in this case.     

Hepatitis C and B virus infections in populations at low or high risk in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract Inhabitants and patients of two cities in Vietnam were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). Anti-HCV was detected in 43 (9%) of 491 individuals without liver disease in Ho Chi Minh, more frequently ( P < 0.001) than in 18 (4%) of 511 in Hanoi. There was no apparent age-specific distribution of anti-HCV. Among inhabitants of both cities, HBsAg and anti-HBs were frequent, detected in 10-14% and 35-37%, respectively; the prevalence of anti-HBs increased in parallel with age. Among individuals at high risk, the prevalence of anti-HCV was particularly high in drug users (58/67 or 87%) and patients on maintenance haemodialysis (15/28 or 54%) or with haemophilia (7/24 or 29%) in Ho Chi Minh, and in drug users in Hanoi (61/200 or 31%). Prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk groups was not different from those in the general population. Screening of anti-HCV in blood donors in Vietnam is of urgent necessity because blood supply is dependent on commercial blood donors, many of whom are drug users at high risk.     

A partially degraded form of human plasminogen in circulating blood

Summary A method for separate measurement of the amounts of the native form and partially degraded form of plasminogen and plasmin in human circulating blood was devised based on their different mobilities on disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The relative amounts in the circulating blood as estimated by the method were as follows: 78.5% native form, 6.1% partially degraded form and 15.5% plasmin, in the resting state of healthy adults. The partially degraded form increased to about 50% after strenuous exercise load. The present study showed that relatively large amounts of the partially degraded form can be produced in the circulating blood, even though abundant plasmin inhibitors exist there. These data suggest that the partially degraded form may play an important role in thrombolysis in vivo.