Significance of deposits and abnormalities of the glomerular basement membrane in tissue injury accompanying IgA nephropathy.

The glomerular injuries in 129 cases of IgA nephropathy (IgA-N) were examined ultrastructurally with special reference to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) deposits and capillary loop abnormalities, and the correlation between these findings and the clinicopathological data was analyzed. The following results were obtained. 1) The degree of daily excretion of urine protein (UP) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) revealed a significant correlation with the degree of mesangial hypercellularities and the frequency of segmental lesions. 2) All sites of GBM deposits, and discontinuity and/or splitting among the GBM abnormalities showed a significant relation to the severity of proliferation and segmental lesions. 3) The GBM deposits, discontinuity and splitting showed a significant relation to the degree of UP and Ccr. We speculate therefore that capillary loop deposits and/or capillary loop discontinuity and splitting could represent histological prognostic factors for an unfavorable outcome in IgA nephropathy.     

Effect of hypertension on asymmetrical septal hypertrophy: an echocardiographic study

The effect of hypertension on asymmetrical septal hypertrophy was studied by echocardiography to differentiate idiopathic asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH) from ASH with hypertension. One hundred eight patients with ASH proven by echocardiography were categorized in two groups; 53 patients with hypertension (greater than 160 systolic, greater than 95 diastolic) (hypertensive group: HT) and 55 patients with normal blood pressure (normotensive group: NT). Septal hypertrophy was classified as mid-portion (M-type), diffuse (D-type), and basal (B-type) hypertrophy by the long-axis view, and also diffuse (I-type), anterolateral (II-type), anteroseptal (III-type), and anterior septal (IV-type) by the short-axis view, respectively. Endomyocardial biopsy and left ventriculography were performed in 50 patients (18 hypertensives and 32 normotensives). In the hypertensive group, 45%, 30%, and 25% of cases had diffuse, basal and mid-portion hypertrophy, respectively. There was no case in the basal hypertrophy whose biopsy findings were compatible with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In the normotensive group, 78% and 22% of patients had midportion and diffuse hypertrophy, respectively, but none of them had the basal hypertrophy. Type IV was seen in only six patients in the normotensive group.     

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.     

A clinical study of the analysis and ranking of the determinant factors for non-blood open heart surgery]

We analyzed the determinant factors as to whether open heart surgery with non-blood transfusion may be indicated or not, according to the formula based on the quantitative theory (class II). Extracorporeal circulation with non-blood priming were indicated on 106 patients using Cell Saver apparatus in our department, they were divided into two groups; blood transfusion group (group I): 38 patients, and non-blood transfusion group (group II): 68 patients. These two groups were compared for study in terms of age, preoperative body weight (BW), the body surface area (BSA), preoperative Hct value (Hct), calculated Hct value (Hct(C)) at the start of extracorporeal circulation (ECC), the aortic cross-clamping time (AXT), the total extracorporeal circulation time (TECCT) and total bleeding amount. The followings are described in the ranking of importance. 1) The amount of blood loss in ICU: less than 400 ml. 2) Hct(C): more than 30%. 3) The amount of blood loss after ECC: less than 130 ml. 4) Hct: more than 40%. 5) BW: more than 55 kg. 6) The total bleeding amount: less than 600 ml. 7) TECCT: less than 90 min. 8) AXT: less than 50 min. In addition, prospective factors which should be considered preoperatively are determined in the following ranking. 1) Hct. 2) Hct(C). 3) BW. From these results, the amount of blood loss in ICU, Hct and Hct(C) were found to be reliable critical in any case as determinant factors for open heart surgery with non-blood transfusion.     

Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus-1-positive Cell Line Established from a Patient with Small Cell Lung Cancer

A stable cell line, KHM-3S, was established from a patient with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), who had a high serum level of soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL2-R) and was seropositive for human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-l. KHM-3S cells were positive for IL2-R (Tac) and NKH-1, but negative for other lymphocytic markers such as OKT 11, OKT 4, OKT 8, T cell receptor (WT 31), B 1, and B 4. Moreover, the KHM-3S cells were negative for leukocyte common antigen and strongly positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Secretion of sIL2-R and NSE by the KHM-3S line was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Rearrangement of the T cell receptor gene and monoclonal HTLV-1 integration were found by Southern blot analysis of KHM-3S DNA. However, Northern blot analysis showed no T cell receptor mRNA. KHM-3S may be useful for studies on the role of HTLV-1 in carcinogenesis and IL2-R expression in SCLC.     

Primary pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastoma

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a rare and benign cardiac tumor typically found on the valvular endocardium. In most cases, PFE is identified incidentally on echocardiography or during cardiac surgery. The patient was a 73-year-old man who had been treated for hepatocellular carcinoma for 5 years. On echocardiography, a 2.5-cm diameter mass was detected in the pulmonary trunk just above the pulmonary valve. Through a transpulmonary arterial approach with cardiopulmonary bypass, the mass identified on the commissure of the right and posterior pulmonary cusp was surgically excised together with the attached endocardium. Despite the benign histology of PFE, lethal embolic events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism are reported in some cases. To prevent such complications, tumor identification and surgical excision are essential.