Endothelium-derived relaxing factor released by 5-HT: distinct from nitric oxide in basilar arteries of normotensive and hypertensive rats.

1. The role of the endothelium in cerebrovascular responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) in vitro. 2. Cumulative addition of 5-HT caused concentration-dependent contractions in ring preparations of SHR basilar arteries; the contractile response was smaller in WKY basilar arteries. 3. Removal of the endothelium enhanced markedly the contractile responses to 5-HT in WKY arteries but had only a slight effect in SHR arteries. The responsiveness to 5-HT in WKY arteries after removal of endothelium was comparable to that in SHR arteries. 4. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine in WKY basilar arteries was almost abolished by treatment with 10 microM methylene blue or 10 microM NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG). However, the response to 5-HT was not affected by treatment with methylene blue, L-NOARG or indomethacin. 5. Application of 10-20 mM K+ or 3.2 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) did not change significantly, or only increased slightly, the resting tension, but markedly enhanced the contractile response to 5-HT in WKY arteries with endothelium. In contrast, the submaximal response to 5-HT in SHR arteries with endothelium was significantly enhanced by 0.3 mM TEA. 6. In the presence of 1 mM TEA, the application of 10 microM L-NOARG further enhanced the responses of 5-HT in WKY arteries with endothelium. In SHR arteries with endothelium, 10 microM L-NOARG per se enhanced slightly but significantly the responses to 5-HT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The somatotopic localisation of the descending cortical tract in the cerebral peduncle: a study using MRI of changes following Wallerian degeneration in the cerebral peduncle after a supratentorial vascular lesion

We studied the effects of Wallerian degeneration in the cerebral peduncle shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following a supratentorial vascular lesion, to identify the somatotopic localisation of the descending cortical tracts. Patients with a lesion involving a large area of a cerebral hemisphere had an area of abnormal signal intensity in the whole cerebral peduncle, suggesting Wallerian degeneration of all the whole descending cortical tracts. With a small lesion confined to the precentral gyrus, corona radiata, or posterior limb of the internal capsule there was an abnormal signal at the centre of the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the precentrospinal tract. Those with a small lesion confined to the paracentral gyrus had an abnormal area slightly lateral to the centre of the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the parietospinal tract. Patients with a lesion of the parietal or temporal lobes, not including the paracentral or precentral gyri, corona radiata, or the posterior limb of the internal capsule, had an abnormal area laterally in the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the parietopontine or temporopontine tract.     

Study of cytotoxicity of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) expanded tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in renal cell cancer

We studied subsets and cytotoxicity of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) expanded tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from renal cell cancer (RCC) patients. TIL were successfully expanded in 13 of 14 RCC cases using anti-CD3 during initial 48 hours of culture. Percentages of CD8 positive cells among rIL-2 expanded TIL at 1 tp 4 week(s) of culture were 56.2 +/- 15.1% (range 26.2 to 79.8%, N = 13) and not necessarily predominant over CD4 positive cells. NK and LAK activities of TIL at 3 to 6 weeks of culture were 31.6 +/- 15.8% (range 1.4 to 57.4%, N = 9) and 16.6 +/- 11.6% (range 3.8 to 35.6%, N = 6), respectively. Autologous and allogeneic RCC cytotoxicity of TIL at 3 to 4 weeks of culture were 17.9 +/- 19.7% (range 0 to 47.6%, N = 4) and 18.9 +/- 14.8% (range 0 to 47.3%, N = 12), respectively. Since there was no statistical difference between them, autologous specific cytotoxicity was not demonstrated. From these results of present study, it is unlikely that most of effector cells of rIL-2 expanded TIL in autologous RCC lysis are major histocompatibility complex restricted cytotoxic T cells. And we concluded that it is doubtful that TIL is significantly superior over LAK cells in immunotherapy of human RCC.     

Late results after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot: over 10 year follow-up

Late results after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot over ten year follow up of 84 patients were discussed. No late death was experienced and 95.1% of these patients are now in NYHA class I. Reoperations were performed in 7 cases (8.3%) in which six had had residual shunt and one had had sick sinus syndrome and had VVI pacemaker implantation. Ten cases had over 90% of ratio of right ventricular pressure to systemic pressure in systole in their cardiac catheterization about 40 days after correction. In spite of this high pressure ratio, all cases are now in NYHA class I. We conclude that there is a possibility of enabling to preserve pulmonary valve function by adopting smaller criteria than the Pacifico's criteria.     

Cone dysfunction and supernormal scotopic electroretinogram with a high-intensity stimulus

An unusual form of scotopic electroretinogram with a bright white stimulus, which consisted of a rectangular a-wave of normal amplitude and a b-wave of supernormal amplitude, was recorded in three patients with cone dysfunction. In addition to poor visual acuity, abnormal color vision and reduced amplitude of the photopic electroretinogram, these patients showed a 2-log unit elevation of the dark-adaptation threshold. Funduscopic examination and fluorescein angiography revealed fine granular pigment disturbances at the mascula. The relationship between the response of the dark-adapted electroretinogram versus stimulus intensity was unique to these patients. The b-wave thresholds were elevated by 1 log unit. The b-waves were reduced in amplitude and markedly delayed in implicit time to dim stimuli, but supernormal in amplitude and normal in implicit time to bright stimuli.Abbreviations GMP guanosine monophosphate     

Effects of smoking and drinking on excretion of hippuric acid among toluene-exposed workers

Summary In order to investigate possible effects of smoking and drinking on the metabolism of toluence in occupational settings, 206 toluene-exposed men (mean age: 31.4 years) in shoemaking, painting, or surface-coating workshops together with 246 nonexposed control men (36.8 years) were studied for the time-weighted average intensities of exposure to toluene, hippuric acid concentration in shift-end urine samples, and the two social habits of smoking and drinking. The mean daily consumptions of cigarettes and ethanol were about 20 pieces and 10 g among smokers and drinkers, respectively. The geometric mean toluene concentration among the exposed subjects was about 20 ppm, with a maximum of 521 ppm. Regression analysis after classification of the subjects by smoking and drinking clearly demonstrated that the two social habits, when combined, markedly reduce the hippuric acid level in the urine of workers exposed to was a significant association between smoking and drinking habits, which hindered separate evaluation of the effects of the two habits on toluene metabolism. Comparison of the present results with the findings reported in the literature, however, suggested that the observed effects may be attributable to smoking rather than to drinking habits.     

Induction of gastric tumor and intestinal metaplasia in rats exposed to localized X-irradiation of the gastric region

The induction of gastric tumor and intestinal metaplasia was examined in 8-week-old male JCL/SD rats exposed to localized X-irradiation of the gastric region. The animals were each given two 20 Gy fractions of X-rays, with a one-week interval between fractions (total, 40 Gy). Nine atypical hyperplasias (20%) and 13 adenocarcinomas (28%) in the pyloric mucosa of the glandular stomach were found in 46 animals with X-irradiation. The incidence of intestinal metaplasia was 93% in the pyloric mucosa, 50% in the fundic mucosa and 96% in both the pyloric and fundic mucosa. Type B metaplasia (intestinal metaplasia without Paneth cells) was most common and type C (intestinal metaplasia with Paneth cells) was less frequent. No gastric tumor or intestinal metaplasia appeared in non-irradiated control rats. This study shows that local X-irradiation of the gastric region induced both gastric tumor and intestinal metaplasia independently.     

Pulmonary sequestration associated with asymptomatic aspergillosis.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration associated with asymptomatic aspergillosis is a rare case. We describe the case of a 65-year-old woman with intrapulmonary sequestration, anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left lower lobe and aspergillosis who underwent left lower lobectomy and ligation of an anomalous artery by Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Pathological examination showed the parenchymal distortion and chronic inflammation. Aspergillus were found in the cyst. VATS lobectomy for intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a safe and valid procedure.     

ENDOSCOPIC PANCREATIC STENTING IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS WITH DUCTAL DILATION PROXIMAL TO A STRICTURE: A SAFE and EFFECTIVE PROTOCOL

After removal of intraductal stones, a 10‐Fr or 7‐Fr pancreatic stent was placed in 16 patients with upstream ductal dilation proximal to a stricture of the main pancreatic duct. Stents were removed after a mean duration of 52.5 days. Nine patients underwent repeated stenting. About one year after removal of the initial stent, when the remaining upstream ductal dilation was found on follow‐up pancreatograms, the next stent was replaced. Repeated stenting improved outflow of pancreatic juice more effectively than one‐time stenting. Correlation between long‐term pain relief without recurrence of intraductal stones and reduction of duct diameter was also shown. Stent occlusion was observed in 14 of 30 stents. Stent occlusion was frequently associated with recurrence of pancreatitis and intraductal stones, and was also associated with morphologic changes in the pancreatic ductal system. Although there were no significant differences between stent patency of the initial stents and that of the next stents, stent patency of 10‐Fr stents was superior to that of 7‐Fr stents. 10‐Fr stents should be removed within 8 weeks and 7‐Fr stents should be removed within 4 weeks for the prevention of stent occlusion. Repeated stenting with short‐term stenting is therefore considered a safe and effective protocol of endoscopic pancreatic stenting.