Clinical application of spike averaging to dipole tracing method

Summary As part of our studies on localization of epileptic foci, dipole analysis using averaged spikes were compared with that using individual spikes for 25 patients with localization related epilepsy. Our results are as follows. 1) In the group which showed stable dipoles from individual spikes, dipole localization from averaged and individual spikes were similar, although the former showed a higher dipolarity and more stable location, for the entire spike discharge including the peak, trough and wave. The high dipolarity was due to improved signal to noise ratio obtained from averaging. 2) The cases with centrotemporal spike focus including benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes showed more reliable dipoles. In the cases with frontal lobe epilepsy, reliable dipoles were rarely obtained even with averaged spikes. Each method provided independent information, so they are of complementary value.     

Effects of anisatin on the GABA action in the crayfish neuromuscular junction

Anisatin depressed the conductance increase produced by GABA in a non-competitive manner and decreased the amplitude of the inhibitory junctional potentials. The presynaptic inhibition was depressed by anisatin in the similar concentrations to those of picrotoxin. The blockade of the presynaptic inhibition by anisatin was irreversible, whereas the effect of anisatin of postsynaptic inhibition subsided after prolonged washing of the preparation.     

Localized Blastoma Preceding Blastic Transformation in Ph1-Positive Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia: Morphological and Cultural Studies of the Transformation Event

In a patient with Ph¹-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), the development of a localized blastoma preceding generalized blastic transformation was accompanied by a reduction of granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony forming capacity in agar of bone marrow cells as well as an increase in peripheral neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) scores. Successful transplantation of the blastoma cells into nude mice enabled extensive studies of the cell properties. The blastoma cells were double Ph¹-positive cells which did not respond to human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and were similar to cells demonstrated in spleen and bone marrow at the terminal stage of the patient's illness. These observations clearly support the case for sequential studies of colony formation in vitro as a useful test for the early detection of disturbances in marrow function that may occur before generalized blastic transformation. Studies of the properties of the blastoma cells also provide some insight into possible mechanisms for the transformation event.     

Modulation by retinoids and interferons of alkaline phosphatase activity in granulocytes induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

We have previously shown that a factor termed NAP-IF has the capacity to induce neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) in postmitotic granulocytes (PMGs). Recently, this factor found in cystic fluid of a human squamous cell carcinoma was shown to be identical to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In this study we examined whether NAP activity inducible with G-CSF could be modulated by other factors that are present in vivo or those that are known to induce differentiation of hemopoietic cells. Purified natural and recombinant G-CSF (nG-CSF and rG-CSF) induced NAP in PMGs from both normal individuals and patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Interferons (IFNs) suppressed expression of NAP by G-CSF. IFN-gamma was a potent inhibitor of G-CSF stimulation: IFN-gamma at 100 U/ml inhibited by greater than 90% the induction of NAP by G-CSF. In contrast, retinol (10(-6) M, a nearly physiological concentration) or all-trans-retinoic acid (10(-6) M) significantly enhanced NAP activity in vitro. Furthermore, the simultaneous addition of 10(-6) M retinol partially reversed the inhibitory action of IFN-gamma on the NAP induction by G-CSF. Our results suggest that NAP activity, which is often abnormal in a variety of diseases, may reflect G-CSF levels in vivo perhaps in concert with a number of other factors including IFNs and retinoids.     

Risk factors for peptic ulcers treated surgically

To elucidate the risk factors of peptic ulcer which require surgical treatments, we examined the influences of following factors such as sex, age, smoking, and alcohol in 308 peptic ulcer patients. In the group with gastric ulcers, high age group was likely to be operated. On the contrary, young patients with duodenal ulcers were likely to be treated surgically. Sex, smoking and alcohol were not regarded as risk factors. The correlations between the degree of neurosis and the amounts of smoking and alcohol were analyzed in the cases with duodenal ulcers. In the cases treated surgically, the degree of neurosis showed no or little correlations. In the cases treated conservatively, however, the degree of neurosis showed positive correlation with the amounts of smoking and alcohol.     

A novel approach to advanced carcinoma of the tongue: cases successfully treated with combination of superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy and external/high-dose-rate interstitial radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel treatment regimen, intra-arterial cisplatin infusion plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy. METHODS: Superselective intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin (100-120 mg) was performed concomitantly with external radiotherapy in four patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the tongue. A high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost was performed after combination therapy in all patients. Brachytherapy was performed after external radiotherapy, and the treatment schedule was twice daily, with a fraction of 600 cGy up to a total of 30-48 Gy. RESULTS: All patients completed the therapy as scheduled. There were no vascular or neurological complications. Grade III acute radiation mucositis developed in all patients but this did not necessitate a treatment break. With a mean follow-up period of 35 months, loco-regional control was obtained for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of weekly administration of intra-arterial cisplatin plus external/high-dose-rate radiotherapy seems effective for advanced carcinoma of the tongue.     

Nursing experience in palliative care at the outpatient clinic

Seven of the 17 patients reported that they were satisfied with the palliative care at our outpatient clinic. A patient's will to stay home, a devoted key person to the patient, procedures such as good pain control and an oral intake were considered to be important factors in palliative care at the outpatient clinic. We should understand that the patient's family attending the outpatient clinic is a part of their important daily life, so we try to make them feel comfortable whenever they come to see us. We should also strive for building more experience in palliative care for patients and their families. Based on our experience, we anticipate that outpatient care will be increased in the future. In the meantime, advanced nursing skills and techniques are needed.     

Mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the urethra in a woman: report of a case

A case of urethral carcinoma in a 42-year-old woman is reported. The histologic examination of the urethral tumor disclosed mesonephric adenocarcinoma, which is rare in female subjects. The pathology is discussed and the literature is reviewed briefly.     

Establishment and characterization of a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1)

A human leukemic cell line (THP-1) cultured from the blood of a boy with acute monocytic leukemia is described. This cell line had Fc and C3b receptors, but no surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. HLA haplotypes of THP-1 were HLA-A2, -A9, -B5, -DRW1 and -DRW2. The monocytic nature of the cell line was characterized by: (1) the presence of α-naphthyl butyrate esterase activities which could be inhibited by NaF; (2) lysozyme production; (3) the phagocytosis of latex particles and sensitized sheep erythrocytes; and (4) the ability to restore T-lymphocyte response to Con A. The cells did not possess Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen. These results indicate that THP-1 is a leukemic cell line with distinct monocytic markers. During culture, THP-1 maintained these monocytic characteristics for over 14 months.