Oxidative damage on DNA induced by asbestos and man-made fibers in vitro

Summary We compared the potential of asbestos and man-made fibers to attack DNA by the determination of the yield of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dGuo) under several in vitro conditions. Asbestos induced 6.6–99.8 of 8-OH-dGuo per 10⁵ dGuo in calf thymus DNA after 20 h of incubation, while the levels of 8-OH-dGuo in man-made fibers were low (3.6–9.4). The amounts of 8-OH-dGuo were strongly stimulated by the addition of H₂O₂ in asbestos, but not in man-made fibers. However, the yield of 8-OH-dGuo was induced more than that with asbestos by the further addition of FeSO₄ in attapulgite, fiberglass, potassium titanate whisker, and metaphosphate polymer. The addition of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) promoted the induction of 8-OH-dGuo with asbestos and H₂O₂. The effects of mannitol (known as a hydroxy radical scavenger) were not dramatic on 8-OH-dGuo induction by all fibers except fiberglass and basic magnesium sulfate whisker, which induced higher amounts after mannitol addition than in these fibers and H₂O₂. Therefore, it was suggested that asbestos could damage DNA, resulting in 8-OH-dGuo as a cause of point mutation, and also several types of manmade fibers had similar effects to asbestos under certain conditions.     

Mitogenic and complement activating activities of the herbal components of juzen-taiho-to.

The Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine "Juzen-Taiho-To" (TJ-48), which was prepared by decocting a concoction (formula), contains ten kinds of herbs and has several immunostimulating activities. In order to determine the contribution of each herbal component, the complement-activating and mitogenic activities of the hot water extract as well as the polysaccharide fraction from each herb were tested. Hot water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix, Astragali radix, and Atractylodes lanceae rhizoma showed significant mitogenic activity whereas that of Cinnamomi cortex showed potent complement-activating activity. However, the exclusion of any single component herb whether active or not on its own did not result in a loss or an increase of the overall activity of TJ-48. The polysaccharide fraction from Glycyrrhizae radix showed the most potent of both activities among the same fractions from the other nine herbs, and reduced both activities after periodate oxidation, thus indicating that the carbohydrate moiety may contribute to both activities.     

The effects of urinastatin on the plasma levels of granulocyte elastase during open heart surgery under simple deep hypothermia

Changes in granulocyte elastase (GLE) and -gluculonidase (-gl) were observed during open heart surgeries which were performed under deep hypothermia with surface cooling. In addition, the effect of urinary trypsin inhibitor, urinastatin, on the activities of these enzymes was studied. The patients were divided into three groups, namely group U-I with intravenous injection of 6000u·kg^–1 of urinastatin before cooling, group U-II administered with an additional 6000u·kg^–1 after warming to 30°C, and an untreated group (Group C). The plasma level of GLE increased significantly in the three groups compared with the level before cooling respectively. In the group U-II, the GLE level after the warming was lower than that in the control group. The serum level of -gl increased significantly in the three groups at the end of rewarming (36°C). The release of GLE from lysosomes in granulocytes was inhibited in the group U-II. The insufficient inhibition of GLE release in the group U-I is probably due to relatively short half-life of urinastatin. Therefore double administration of 6000u·kg^–1, before and after the cooling, may be required to achieve the therapeutic effect. Consequently, urinastatin appears to be useful in open heart surgery under deep hypothermia with surface cooling.(Kawamura T, Shimoda Y, Wakusawa R: The effects of urinastatin on the plasma levels of granulocyte elastase during open heart surgery under simple deep hypothermia. J Anesth 6: 269–276, 1992)     

Extensive proliferation of peripheral type myelin in necrotic spinal cord lesions of multiple sclerosis

Peripheral type "remyelination" in the spinal cord was investigated in a 34-year-old woman with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) over 7 years following her initial presentation with myelopathy. Confined to the large necrotizing cord lesions involving the gray matter, there was prominent proliferation of peripheral type myelin, measuring up to one-third of the cross-sectional field of the cord. These nerve bundles with peripheral type myelin, which was devoid of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity, consisted of relatively monotonous, small-caliber nerve fibers arranged in parallel along the long axis of the cord. The ratio of the myelin thickness to axonal diameter was not as small as that of the ordinary remyelination. Co-existing abundant neuroma formation indicated exuberant regenerative activity of the peripheral nerves. These findings suggest that the peripheral nerve fibers with their axons originating from nerve roots may enter the necrotic MS cord lesions in such a way as to manifest in spinal cord trauma. Relatively frequent occurrence of this extensive proliferation of peripheral type myelin in Japanese MS subjects appears to be related to the severity of tissue destruction experienced in Japanese as compared with that of occidental MS.     

Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome: MR imaging

Summary Hajdu-Cheney syndrome is a rare congenital disease with acro-osteolysis, osteoporotic changes of the spine and long bones of extremities and marked basilar invagination with an unusually deformed skull. Magnetic resonance imaging of a 32-year-old male revealed the deformed skull and almost horizontal basal angle and the elongated and upwardly shifted brain stem caused by the tip of the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra invaginating the base of the skull. In addition there were atrophic pituitary gland, widely open sella turcica and symmetrical fluid collections along the optic nerve sheath.We apologize for the misspelling of Hajdu as Hadju in our previous communication [1].     

An extensive transbasal approach to frontal skull-base tumors. Technical note

Lesions in the base of the frontal fossa have conventionally been approached extra- and intradurally through a bilateral frontal craniotomy. However, when the lesion is large or deeply situated, wider bilateral retraction of the frontal lobes is required to obtain a sufficiently large operative field. The authors describe a new operative approach for huge tumors at the frontal skull base, employing an en bloc bilateral osteotomy of the orbital roofs and frontal sinus. This procedure, which is a modification of the transbasal approach described by Derome and Guiot, is termed the "extensive transbasal approach." The advantages of this technique over conventional operative approaches are described.     

Orthoses of ventilative plastics.

Plastics are extensively used as a material for orthoses. However, one remaining problem is the ventilation of the orthosis. This is a real problem in countries such as Japan, where it is hot and humid especially in summer. The authors have invented a new orthosis "POROPLAST", which is made of mesh plastic sheets, combined in a cross-like weave. These orthoses provide good ventilation and are very comfortable to wear. They have been fitted to seventy-four cases with satisfactory results.     

Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients

Effects of aromatherapy (odorless condition, lavender, and hiba oil) on mood and anxiety were investigated in 14 female patients who were being treated with chronic hemodialysis. A control period consisting of natural hospital smells was established before each test session, and then aromatic test conditions were systematically evaluated for odorless conditions as well as aromatic conditions containing lavender and hiba oil aromas. The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Hiba oil aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMD and HAMA, and lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA. The mean scores of HAMD and HAMA in an odorless condition were not significantly different from those of the control conditions. These results indicate that in chronic hemodialysis patients hiba oil is an effective, non-invasive means for the treatment of depression and anxiety, and that lavender alleviates anxiety.     

MRI of orbital schwannomas

The literature on MRI of orbital schwannomas is limited. The appearances in three patients with an orbital schwannoma were reviewed. A superior orbitotomy through a subfrontal craniotomy revealed a schwannoma in all cases. MRI characteristics of very low signal on T 1-weighted images and homogeneous postcontrast enhancement may be helpful for differentiating schwannomas from other intraconal masses. Received: 21 June 1999/Accepted: 20 September 1999