Effects of Pyridoxalated Hemoglobin Polyoxyethylene Conjugate and Stroma-free Hemoglobin on Renal Vascular Responsiveness to Vasoactive Substances in Isolated Perfused Rat Kidney

Abstract: The effects of pyridoxalated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate (PHP) and stroma-free hemoglobin (SFH) on vascular responsiveness to various vasoactive substances were examined in isolated perfused rat kidneys. The kidneys isolated from rats were perfused with 6% PHP, 6% SFH, and 6% hydroxyethylstarch (HES) solution at a constant flow rate. Vascular responsiveness to acetylcholine (ACh), nitroglycerin (NG), norepinephrine (NE), and angiotensin-II (ANG-II) was examined by measuring the perfusion pressure (PP). Effects of inhibition of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by N^G-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA) on NE-induced and ANG-II-induced renal vascular responses were examined. ACh and NG induced a dose-dependent decrease in perfusion pressure (PP) in all groups. NE and ANG-II induced an increase in PP in all groups, but NE-induced and ANG-II-induced responses in the PHP-perfused and SFH-perfused groups were significantly larger than those in the HES-perfused group. L-NMMA did not alter vascular responsiveness to NE and ANG-II. These results indicate that PHP and SFH do not inhibit EDRF induced by ACh, but hemoglobin moiety per se does augment the vascular responsiveness to NE and ANG-II in the isolated perfused rat kidney.     

Competitiveness in sports activities of the psychiatrically disabled]

In 2002, psychiatrically disabled athletes joined an historic first open game of volleyball at the national sports games for the disabled. Compared to the competitive sports and Paralympic Games that physically and intellectually disabled athletes have participated in, activities for the psychiatrically disabled have not been well-organized. In this paper, we examine a number of problems that have arisen when the psychiatrically disabled joined competitive sports games. We identify two major characteristics of the psychiatrically disabled of particular relevance when organizing competitive sports activities. First, all psychiatrically disabled athletes need treatment of their individual diseases. For example, psychiatric symptoms fluctuate markedly over time, unlike physical or intellectual disabilities, whose symptoms are much more stable. Exacerbations of psychiatric illness are also likely to occur due to the stresses of competitiveness. Second, psychiatric disabilities are manifestations of disorders in the central nervous system, which makes the classification of psychiatric disabilities less straightforward than classification of the physically disabled. These two characteristics require special attention when organizing competitive athletic challenges that include the psychiatrically disabled. However, promoting sports activities that include the psychiatrically disabled would be expected to reduce the prejudice toward and subsequent social disadvantages experienced by psychiatric patients. Thus, with careful planning to successfully integrate psychiatrically disabled athletes, we expect increased promotion of such sports activities in the future.     

A U-shaped anterior capsulotomy and modified J-loop posterior chamber intraocular lens with new positioning holes

The procedure used for an anterior capsulotomy is extremely important for successful in-the-bag intraocular lens insertion. An incision line in the extreme periphery may obscure the margin of the residual anterior capsule and make it difficult to confirm the position of the implanted lens. I describe a U-shaped anterior capsulotomy that facilitates in-the-bag insertion, discuss the importance of the location of the positioning holes for proper rotation, and introduce a modified J-loop posterior lens with the positioning holes in an alternative position.     

Differential surface structures of invasive and non-invasive Ehrlich ascites tumor cell lines with special reference to the effect of hydrocortisone treatment.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between the fine structure of the tumor cell surface and the tumor malignancy by scanning electron microscopy. Practically, comparison was made between the invasive Ehrlich ascites clone 1 tumor and the non-invasive Ehrlich ascites clone 3 tumor, and also between the 4th postinoculation day and the 6th postinoculation day as regards the growth of microvilli on the cell surface. On the 4th postinoculation day, an invasive clone 1 tumor cell was indistinguishable from a non-invasive clone tumor cell because of their common paucity of microvilli development. On the 6th postinoculation day, the former was associated with exuberant growth of microvilli, and was clearly distinguished from the latter in which the density of microvilli stayed low as before. The appearance of dense microvilli growth in the invasive clone 1 tumor cells chronologically coincided with the stage of fatal bleeding into the abdominal cavity. Hydrocortisone with a dose of 1 mg/mouse, when given subcutaneously to a tumor-bearing mouse on the 4th postinoculation day, stimulated the development of microvilli in both clone 1 and clone 3 tumors. The enhancing effect of the hormone on this process was detectable 2 hours after hormone injection. It was indicated that the dense growth of microvilli in the clone 1 tumor facilitated its tumor invasion into visceral organs, and that the enhancing effect of hydrocortisone on microvilli development was to be related to the promotion of malignant transformation. The possible implications of glucocorticoid in mammocarcinogenesis are discussed from the point of view of comparative endocrinology.     

A case of pulmonary aspergillosis presenting pulmonary bulla and eosinophilic pneumonia

A rare case of a 25-year-old man with pulmonary aspergillosis is reported. Pulmonary bulla and eosinophilic pneumonia in the right upper lobe were diagnosed by chest roentgenogram and transbronchial lung biopsy. Because the patient developed infective bullae during steroid therapy, we performed transcutaneous thoracic drainage and right upper lobectomy. The resected lung tissue contained numerous hyphae of Aspergillus. Around the hyphae of Aspergillus, granulomatous reaction and eosinophilic infiltration were observed. Antibodies against Aspergillus were detected in the serum of the patient. The number of peripheral blood eosinophils decreased after right upper lobectomy. These findings suggest that pulmonary bullae and eosinophilic pneumonia may be a rare manifestation of pulmonary aspergillosis.     

The relation between bronchial infiltration of eosinophils and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in two cases of eosinophilic pneumonia]

We evaluated the bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in the two cases of eosinophilic pneumonia with infiltration of eosinophils into bronchial mucosa. Bronchial responsiveness was not increased in either case in spite of marked infiltration of eosinophils into the bronchial mucosa and submucosa. Hypodense eosinophils are reported in the sputum of patients with bronchial asthma. This suggests that infiltration of activated eosinophils into the bronchial mucosa is an essential factor in bronchial hyperresponsiveness.     

Endovascular repair of a presumed aortoduodenal fistula.

This report describes the use of transluminal endovascular grafting for the treatment of a presumed aortoduodenal fistula. The patient was a 71-year-old man who had undergone resection and graft replacement for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Three years after operation, melena was caused by perforation of the duodenal wall by a pseudoaneurysm at the proximal graft anastomosis. The pseudoaneurysm was treated by transluminal endovascular grafting. The pseudoaneurysm was subsequently thrombosed and absorbed. The ulcer-like lesions at the site of the duodenal wall perforated by the pseudoaneurysm also resolved. Endovascular stent-grafts may have a role to play in management of aortoduodenal fistula.