Relationship between the weight of parathyroid glands and their secretion of parathyroid hormone in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the common and important abnormalities of mineral metabolism in hemodialysis patients. In this study we investigated the relationship between the weight of individual parathyroid glands (PTG) and their secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Sixty-four PTGs in 16 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy (PTx) at our hospital were included in this study. Patients' ages ranged from 34 to 68 years (60.3 +/- 6.6 years). They were undergoing maintenance dialysis therapy for 81-256 months (175.3 +/- 56.0 months). The cause of end-stage renal failure was chronic glomerulonephritis in all patients. We measured whole PTH (wPTH) levels before PTx and 15 min after the resection of each individual gland (Delta whole PTH). A positive correlation was found between the weight of individual gland and ultrasonography (US) size of individual PTG (r = 0.91, P < 0.001, N = 53). A positive correlation was found between the total mass of the gland and the total volume of PTG on US (r = 0.896, P < 0.001, N = 16). A positive correlation was found between the mass of each individual gland and Delta whole PTH (r = 0.625, P < 0.001, N = 64); however, massive PTGs did not secrete more whole PTH per unit mass (0.01 g). Determination of the volume of PTGs by US is a good indicator of their weight. Larger PTGs secrete more whole PTH per gland, whereas these PTGs did not have the ability to secrete more PTH per unit volume.     

Systemic sclerosis complicated by arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia that was misinterpreted as pulmonary arterial hypertension

A 58-year old Japanese woman who had been diagnosed with and managed for systemic sclerosis (SSc) with pulmonary arterial hypertension died suddenly. However, the autopsy revealed marked right ventricular dilatation, and the myocardium had been replaced by fatty tissue. These findings were consistent with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). A literature search identified nine cases of SSc with ARVD in Japan, including this case; this number is significantly higher than the value estimated from the prevalences of ARVD and SSc in Japan, suggesting an association between these two rare diseases.     

Opaciniols A–C, new terpenoids from Garcinia opaca

Three new terpenoids, opaciniols A–C (1–3), were isolated from the barks of Garcinia opaca, together with malabarica-17,21-dien-3β,14-diol (4) and 13βH-malabarica-14,17,21-trien-3β-ol (5). Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. 3 and 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells.     

Radio-sensitivity of the cells from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model mice transfected with human mutant SOD1

In order to clarify the possible involvement of oxidative damage induced by ionizing radiation in the onset and/or progression of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we studied radio-sensitivity in primary cells derived from ALS model mice expressing human mutant SOD1. The primary mouse cells expressed both mouse and the mutant human SOD1. The cell survival of the transgenic mice (with mutant SOD1), determined by counting cell numbers at a scheduled time after X-irradiation, is very similar to that of cells from wild type animals. The induction and repair of DNA damage in the transgenic cells, measured by single cell gel electrophoresis and pulsed field gel electrophoresis, are also similar to those of wild type cells. These results indicate that the human mutant SOD1 gene does not seem to contribute to the alteration of radio-sensitivity, at least in the fibroblastic cells used here. Although it is necessary to consider the difference in cell types between fibroblastic and neuronal cells, the present results may suggest that ionizing radiation is not primarily responsible for the onset of familial ALS with the SOD1 mutation, and that the excess risks are probably not a concern for radiation diagnosis and therapy in familial ALS patients.     

The Clinical Role of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Isopropyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-[<Superscript>123</Superscript>I]-Iodoamphetamine Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography in the Follow-up of Choroidal Melanoma After Radiotherapy

Background Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images with N-isopropyl-p-[¹²³I]-iodoamphetamine (¹²³I-IMP) have recently been used for the sensitive and specific detection of melanoma.Cases Using ¹²³I-IMP SPECT, we observed three patients over a period of 18 months in whom choroidal melanoma had been diagnosed. Two underwent radiotherapy (cyber knife) in our clinic; the other patient was referred to us after 8 months of proton beam irradiation at another clinic.Observations In two of the three cases, no metastasis or tumor recurrence has been observed up to the present time. In these individuals, the average ¹²³I-IMP uptake in the pathological eye gradually and progressively decreased after radiotherapy to levels seen in the fellow eye. One eye of the three patients examined here, however, exhibited tumor recurrence in the ciliary body as well as hepatic metastasis 12 months after radiation treatment. In the pathological eye of this patient, the average ¹²³I-IMP uptake gradually decreased, but never reached the levels in the fellow eye during the observation period.Conclusions ¹²³I-IMP SPECT is a useful examination method not only for diagnosis but also for the follow-up of patients with choroidal melanoma. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:54–58 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2004     

Studies for analyzing phenoxyethanol and parabens in commercial lotions

Both phenoxyethanol and parabens are kinds of preservatives in cosmetics and are nominated as the restricted ingredients in cosmetics in Japanese Pharmaceutical Affairs Low. So the analytical methods for phenoxyethanol and parabens were investigated by HPLC. After adding methanol to phenoxyethanol and parabens in lotions, the testing solutions were analyzed by HPLC using the ODS column (CAPCELL PAK C18 column, 4.6 x 250 mm), the mixture either of 50 mmol/l phosphate(pH3.5) and acetonitrile (7:3) for phenoxyethanol or of 50 mmol/l phosphate buffer(pH3.5) and acetonitrile (3:2) for parabens and the detection wavelength of either 270 nm for pehnoxyethanol or 255 nm for parabens. The working curves from 0.5 to 5 micrograms/ml passed through the origin. There were no interference of peaks of phenoxyethanol and parabens from the cosmetics. Eleven lotions out of 42 lotions did not have phenoxyethanol. Phenoxyethanol in thirty-one cosmetics ranged from 0.009 to 1.043% and those average was 0.264%. Parabens, especially methylparaben, were detected in all lotions. The amounts of parabens ranged from 0.016 to 0.267% and their average was 0.120%. There were 7 kinds of lotions whose contents of phenoxyethanol and methylparaben were below 0.1%.     

Merits of Duplicate LAN Cabling in Hospitals

Our hospital wired three LAN cables separately to improve the data distribution range. One LAN is between the various sections of the hospital (hospital LAN), another is within each section (section LAN), and the other is connected to the Internet (open LAN). The section LAN was connected to the hospital LAN to enable data exchange. Data from the section LAN for common use is collected through the hospital LAN and stored in the central server. The duplicate cabling and separate LANs increased the independence of each LAN and the system within each section. The section systems can be changed at anytime without the necessity of reconstructing the whole hospital information system. The data transfer speed of each cable increased. Hospital information processing systems often use a distributed-processing centralized management system. Because of advances in technology, each section can now take responsibility for developing their own system, making the responsibility of the information processing section responsible for hospital information systems more limited than previously. Herein, we show the merits of separate cable installation.     

The association between soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in drained dialysate and peritoneal injury in peritoneal dialysis

Background: Chronic inflammation of the peritoneum causes peritoneal injury in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and its circulating form, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, play pivotal roles in inflammation. However, their role in peritoneal injury is unclear.

Methods: We measured changes in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in the peritoneum of a peritoneal injury model in rats. The associations between soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in drained dialysate and the solute transport rate (D/P-Cr and D/D0-glucose) determined by the peritoneal equilibration test, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 levels in drained dialysate were investigated in 94 peritoneal drained dialysate samples.

Results: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression was increased in the peritoneum of rats with peritoneal injury. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in drained dialysate were significantly positively correlated with D/P-Cr (r?=?.51, p?r?=??.44, p?r?=?.86, p?Conclusions: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1expression is increased in the peritoneum of a peritoneal injury model in the rat, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in drained dialysate are associated with peritoneal injury in patients on peritoneal dialysis. These results suggest that soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 could be a novel biomarker of peritoneal injury in patients on peritoneal dialysis.