Treatment of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome associated with asthma

We performed division of accessory pathways in five asthma patients associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, for whom the administration of a beta-blocker for the tachycardia is contraindicated, and the administration of bronchodilators for the asthma attack may cause premature ventricular contractions. As a result, the tachycardic attacks disappeared postoperatively, both at rest and following administration of bronchodilators. Radical treatment of WPW syndrome by division the accessory pathway is considered to be necessary for the safe treatment of asthma.     

Cardioembolic stroke manifested by isolated tonic seizure of the left upper limb]

We reported a 61-year old man with cardioembolic stroke manifested by isolated tonic seizure of the left upper limb. He had a history of chronic atrial fibrillation and transient ischemic attack. He was brought to our hospital by ambulance, when he suddenly had isolated tonic seizure of left upper limb. On admission, he had no neurological symptoms and signs. Brain diffusion weighted MR image disclosed high intensity area in the right parietal lobe, although T2-weighted image did not show any abnormalities. On 8th day, a high intensity area was observed both on the diffusion-weighted and T2-weighted MR images. In case of isolated tonic seizure of left upper limb, careful examination of stroke is required especially if the patient had a high risk of stroke.     

In vitro Anti-human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Activity of Biliverdin, a Bile Pigment

Biliverdin (BY) is a bile pigment having anti-allergic properties. We examined the effect of BV on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro. BV completely inhibited the cytopathic effect of HIV-1 in MT-4 cells at concentrations of 22.2 μ g/ml or more. This inhibitory effect was also observed when BV was present during the adsorption period of HIV-1. However, BV was cytotoxic to MT-4 cells at concentrations above 800 μ g/ml. At a concentration of 66.7 μ g/ml, BV completely inhibited syncytia formation by HIV-infected and uninfected MOLT-4 cells. Moreover, after exposure of HIV-1 particles to BV for 2 h, the infectivity of the virus was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. It is speculated that the anti-HIV activity of BV is due to direct inactivation of virions and inhibition of virus binding to target cells.     

über die TierpathogenitÄt pflanzenpathogener Pilze,insbesondere von Fusarium solani (Mart. pr. p.) App. et Wr.

Zusammenfassung Die positiven Ergebnisse des Impfversuches insbesondere mitFusarium solani (Mart. pr. p.)App. etWr. (und einigen anderen Pilzen) auf menschlicher und tierischer Haut beweisen, da\ gewisse pflanzenpathogene Pilze auch auf tierische Lebewesen überzugehen und diese zu schÄdigen vermögen. Sie berechtigen zu der Annahme, da\ Pilze von manchen, für die menschliche ErnÄhrung wichtigen Pflanzen bei mangelnder Sorgfalt in der Wahl und Handhabung der pflanzlichen Erzeugnisse sowie bei nachlÄssiger Hygiene in die Haut eindringen und Dermatomycosis hervorrufen können.     

Microbial conversion of anthracyclinones to carminomycins by a blocked mutant of Actinomadura roseoviolacea

New anthracycline antibiotics, 1-hydroxy-11-deoxycarminomycin II and 11-deoxycarminomycin II were produced by a blocked mutant MuW1 of Actinomadura roseoviolacea from epsilon-pyrromycinone and aklavinone, respectively. We found that the enzyme catalyzing hydroxylation at the C-11 position was not lost but was down regulated in the strain MuW1.     

Mitogenic activity of lipopolysaccharide from Bacteroides intermedius against C3H/HeJ mice spleen cells

Bacteroides intermedius is one of the periodontal disease generative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide preparation obtained from B. intermedius ATCC 25611 and ATCC 33563 strains was investigated as to Limulus activity observed with Pyrodic (endotoxin specific) reagent, and mitogenic activity in both normal and tolerant mice induced by Escherichia coli. Limulus activities of all LPS's were nearly similar to that of E. coli. LPS's preparation from B. intermedius were found to be strongly mitogenic for C3H/HeN mice spleen cells, whereas no LPS preparations were mitogenic for thymocytes of BALB/c mice. LPS-nonresponsive C3H/HeJ mice spleen cells were found to good mitogenic responses to LPS's from B. intermedius, as well as LPS from B. gingivalis 381 strain. Polymyxin B had remarkable inhibitory effect on the mitogenicity of LPS's from B. intermedius for C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice spleen cells, also that activity of B. gingivalis LPS was inhibited by polymyxin B. The mitogenicity of the LPS from B. intermedius, as measured in C3H/HeJ mice spleen cells, was considerably resistant to the proteolytic effects of proteinase K.     

Contrast-enhanced agent detection imaging: Early experience in hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: To investigate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging in assessing intratumoral vasculature in hepatocellular carcinoma.Materials and Methods: Fourteen hepatocellular carcinoma nodules in 11 patients were studied with contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging, a wide-band color Doppler imaging method, employing, Levovist^?, a microbubble contrast agent. High acoustic power was used with contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging. Intermittent transmission of Agent Detection Imaging was performed at intervals of 200, 500, and 350 milliseconds in the early arterial phase (10 to 40 seconds), late vascular phase (1 to 3 minutes) and postvascular phase (5 to 7 minutes), respectively. The results were compared with those of three-phase dynamic CT.Results: Intratumoral blood vessels in the early arterial phase and tumor parenchymal stain in the late vascular phase were depicted in 12 (88%) of the 14 hepatocellular carcinoma nodules, while all nodules were demonstrated as perfusion defect in the postvascular phase on contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging. The results of Agent Detection Imaging, that were compared with those of dynamic CT, were all 100% : diagnostic sensitivity (12/12), specificity (2/2), and accurary (14/14).Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging is a promising method for depicting intratumoral vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma.