Comparison between a new acceleration transducer and a conventional force transducer in the evaluation of twitch responses

An acceleration transducer elicits an output voltage proportional to the deformation of the piezo crystal, in accordance with the twitch responses of the applied fingers. The reliability of such a transducer was evaluated by comparing induced twitch responses with those from a force transducer applied on the contralateral arm of an individual during neuromuscular block with vecuronium. The results obtained from twitch responses with the acceleration transducer during neuromuscular block were almost identical to those obtained with the force transducer. Also, the twitch heights due to acceleration of the examined thumb correlated extremely well with the twitch height due to twitch tension with the force transducer. It is concluded that the acceleration transducer may be a useful and reliable device for monitoring neuromuscular block, although responses during tetanic stimulation such as tetanic fade cannot be determined by the transducer.     

Behavioral analysis of internal memory states using cooling-induced retrograde amnesia in Limax flavus.

Temporal evolution of internal memory states in a terrestrial mollusk, Limax flavus, was studied using cooling-induced retrograde amnesia. The slug was conditioned to avoid carrot odor by temporally correlated presentation of carrot juice and a bitter-taste stimulus of quinidine sulfate. We could induce retrograde amnesia by cooling of the conditioned slug immediately after the training trial. Thus, we studied the memory states in the slug using the retrograde amnesia according to strategies used in the studies of memory states in mammals or insects. In the early process of memory acquisition, at least two distinctive memory states were observed, short-term memory and long-term memory (LTM). For LTM, two states were also observed. One was a reactivated state of LTM, which was sensitive to the cooling used to induce the amnesia. The other was a so-called resting state of LTM, which was insensitive to cooling. A few days after memory acquisition, further evolution was observed in that the amnesia could not be induced even if the memory trace was reactivated. The results obtained in Limax flavus was comparable with those obtained in a variety of animals.     

Anal metastasis from carcinoma of the lung: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 75-year-old man who developed anal canal metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Initially, he underwent a right middle and lower lobectomy combined with left atrial wall resection under cardiopulmonary bypass. He presented 3 months later with an anal polyp which had prolapsed and bled, for which he underwent a transanal polypectomy. Histologically, the polyp was classified as squamous cell carcinoma and considered to be a metastasis from the primary lung cancer. He is presently well with no signs of recurrence 9 months after his initial operation. To our knowledge, there has been no other case of anal metastasis from lung cancer ever reported.     

Surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection in the aged: a case report]

A 77-year-old woman with Stanford type A acute aortic dissecting aneurysm was successfully treated by the sutureless technique using arringed intraluminal graft. A month after the operation, re-dissection to the distal abdominal aorta occurred. Because of the poor condition of the patient and her great age, we chose an antihypertensive therapy instead of a reoperation. Two years after the operation this patient leads a sound life without any symptoms. In a case of acute aortic dissection of the aged, special consideration may be allowed to a surgical method and a decision-making for a reoperation.     

Effects of arginine derivatives on soluble guanylate cyclase from neuroblastoma N1E 115 cells

The effects of L-arginine (Arg) derivatives on soluble guanylate cyclase from neuroblastoma N1E 115 cells were examined. The Arg derivatives were modified at the -NH2, -COOH, C alpha-proton or guanidino group of Arg. Among the synthesized derivatives, eight compounds, i.e. the 5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthalenesulfonyl (DNS) ones, especially N-cyclohexyl-2-(N-DNSamino)-5-guanidino-2-methylvaleramide and 1-[2-(N-DNSamino)-2-(2-imino-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydropyrimidin- 4-yl)acetyl]- piperidine, were found to inhibit the activity of crude guanylate cyclase in the 105,000 g supernatant fraction of the cell homogenate. The enzyme, partially purified by a column of Chelex 100 Na+, was also inhibited by these eight compounds. The mode of the inhibition was competitive. The Ki values were in the range of 2-8 microM for the enzyme in the 105,000 g supernatant fraction and 3-16 microM for the partially purified enzyme, in the presence of Mg2+ as a metal cofactor. In contrast, a new derivative, methyl 2-amino-5-guanidinovalerate (M Arg ME), as well as the Arg methyl ester (Arg ME) and Arg; were found to enhance the activity of the partially purified guanylate cyclase; KA values of M Arg ME, Arg ME and Arg were approximately 9, 4 and 3 microM respectively. From these results, the free guanidino group including 2-imino-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydropyrimidin-4-yl or 2-imino-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydropyrimidin-5-yl and modification of the --NH2 residue with a hydrophobic group such as DNS seemed to be essential for inhibition of the guanylate cyclase; however, the guanidino and --NH2 residue of Arg should be free for activation by these Arg derivatives.     

Evaluation of therapeutic interventions of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia guided by an electrophysiologic study: a case report

Therapeutic evaluation of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) using electrophysiologic study (EPS) is presented in a case of refractory VT. A 54-year-old man with a history of recurring syncope underwent coronary angiography which revealed total occlusion of the posterior descending branch of the right coronary artery. Left ventriculography showed a left ventricular aneurysm at the cardiac apex. Ejection fraction of the left ventricle was 36%. He had four VTs of different QRS morphologies in 12 lead electrocardiograms. According to our programmed ventricular stimulations, single or double, and rarely triple, extra stimuli were administered after eight basic stimuli at two basic cycle lengths. Rapid ventricular pacing, up to 210 bpm, was then added. The stimuli were delivered to two different sites in the right ventricle and to at least one site in the left ventricle. When the entire protocol could not induce VT, isoproterenol was given intravenously, and the same protocol was repeated. No drug could prevent VT attacks, even after the surgical resection of two VT foci, VT was still inducible. Postoperative drug therapy could not prevent VT induction in EPS. However, changes in the mode required for VT induction were observed. Among 47 patients with sustained monomorphic VT treated in our hospital, 24 had EPS to evaluate the efficacies of therapeutic interventions, such as drugs and surgery. In 14 patients, no VT was induced by the entire VT induction protocol. Among the remaining 10 patients, four showed changes in the VT induction mode, but VT recurred in their clinical courses even after their treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prostatectomy by transurethral balloon Laserthermia™ (PROSTALASE™) in the canine

Prostatectomy by transurethral balloon Laserthermia (PROSTA-LASE?) was performed in a canine model. This balloon device monitored by transrectal ultrasound can cylindrically irradiate with a laser beam. The treatment was performed in 8 canines using 15 watts for 20 minutes at 60°C at a 5 mm depth of the prostate from the urethral surface. Immediately following the laser therapy, an area of coagulation necrosis was observed around the urethra to a depth of 4–5 mm from the surface. After 1 week, cavitation formation was seen in 3 or 4 canines by ultrasound, and the urethral reepithelialization was shown in 1 of 2 canines. After 2 weeks, cavitation formation was observed in both canines, and the urethra was completely reepithelialized in one canine. There was no tissue damage in the bladder neck of urethral sphincter and no urinary incontinence in any animal. This system is thought to be simple and, satisfactorily performed, is an effective transurethral prostatectomy. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Preoperative therapeutic embolization for massive hemoptysis from bronchial collaterals in tetralogy of Fallot--a case report successfully treated by total correction

Hemoptysis from bronchial collateral arteries in cyanotic heart diseases is a troublesome complication. We report a case of Tetralogy of Fallot presented with massive hemoptysis which was successfully treated with transcatheter therapeutic embolization prior to the radical operation. A 28-years old man was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis and dyspnea. On the day of admission, he had a massive hemoptysis and became asphyxic. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization performed next day revealed Tetralogy of Fallot. Bronchial arteriogram demonstrated large bronchial collateral arteries with heavy staining around the right lower lobe bronchus. Therapeutic embolization with Gelfoam was performed and the hemostasis was obtained. The radical operation was performed 4 months later. Before cardiopulmonary bypass, the right bronchial artery was ligated. He was weaned from the extracorporeal circulation under the stable circulatory condition, and respirator on the first post operative day without any complications, and he was discharged on the 57th day after the operation. We emphasize the efficacy of therapeutic embolization of the well developed bronchial collateral arteries as a pretreatment of hemoptysis in the cyanotic heart disease.     

Single photon emission computerized tomography in childhood hydrocephalus

Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is now widely used as one of the tools in evaluating cerebral blood flow (CBF). The authors report the CBF changes in childhood hydrocephalus. Five pediatric cases studied by ¹²³I-IM SPECT in children are presented. The authors counted radioactivities both in early and delayed images in each patient, and calculated the reabsorption ratio (RR). Two negative-RR cases and three positive-RR cases were found. All of the negative-RR patients had a poor prognosis, while all of the positive-RR patients had a favorable outcome.