Effects of Topical Application of Clonidine Cream on Pain Behaviors and Spinal Fos Protein Expression in Rat Models of Neuropathic Pain, Postoperative Pain, and Inflammatory Pain

Background: Clonidine can effectively reduce pain and/or hypersensitivity. However, the antihypersensitivity effects of clonidine topically applied in cream (CC) have not been investigated. The authors evaluated effects of topical application of CC on pain behaviors and spinal Fos-like immunoreactivity in rats with hypersensitivity.

Methods: Clonidine (30, 100, and 300 [mu]g/g) was prepared in a cream base. In rat models of neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, and postoperative pain, the authors evaluated effects of CC (0.1 g), topically applied onto the plantar surface of the injured or uninjured paw, on thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia to von Frey filaments. The authors also evaluated effects of CC on lumbar spinal Fos-like immunoreactivity.

Results: In neuropathic rats, CC applied onto the injured paw reduced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia dose dependently, whereas CC applied onto the uninjured paw had no effect. The antihypersensitivity effects of CC were antagonized by intraperitoneal yohimbine (10 mg/kg). Further, CC reduced Fos-like immunoreactivity in neuropathic rats. In contrast, CC in a single dose had no effects on hyperalgesia, allodynia, or Fos-like immunoreactivity in rats with inflammatory or postoperative pain. In rats with postoperative pain, CC repeatedly applied for 6 days reduced thermal hyperalgesia, but not mechanical allodynia, in the postoperative days, whereas it had no effects on hyperalgesia or allodynia in those with inflammatory pain.     

Studies on isolated smooth muscle cells. IX. Application of papain for isolation of single smooth muscle cells from guinea-pig taenia coli

To prepare single smooth muscle cells from the taenia coli of guinea pig, the application of papain to the enzymatic solution was examined under two conditions: 1) the isolation in a modified Tyrode solution (containing 0.18 mM Ca2+: 0.18 mM Ca2+-Tyrode solution) and 2) the isolation in a high-K+ Tyrode solution (Na+ was replaced by K+, and Ca2+ was not added: high-K+ Tyrode solution). The presence of papain during collagenase digestion reduced contamination of broken cells and cell debris. In the case of the high-K+ Tyrode solution, papain increased the yield of single cells significantly. The cells were contracted in a dose-dependent manner by Ca2+ in the high-K+ Tyrode solution and by carbachol in 0.18 mM Ca2+-Tyrode solution; furthermore, the contractions were antagonized by verapamil and atropine, respectively. Treatment with papain did not affect cell sensitivity to the stimulants. Therefore, our results suggest that the addition of papain is useful for the isolation of single cells to investigate the physiological and pharmacological characteristics of smooth muscle.     

Levels and ages of selenium and metals in sedimentary cores of Ise Bay as determined by 210-Pb dating technique

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology -     

Surgical experience of subacute pulmonary thromboembolism with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Surgical treatment for subacute pulmonary arterial thromboembolism has previously been considered to be inappropriate. We undertook a pulmonary arterial thrombectomy and removal of a floating right heart thrombus in a patient who had been symptomatic for over a month. The pulmonary arterial pressure, which had been equal to the systemic pressure preoperatively, decreased gradually and almost normalized one month postoperatively. Pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy revealed a dramatic improvement and the patient returned to normal life activities.     

Surgical outcomes of partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma: A joint study by the Japanese Society of Renal Cancer

OBJECTIVE: A joint study was undertaken by the Japanese Society of Renal Cancer to investigate the present status of partial nephrectomy in Japan and to speculate about what may be the indications for partial nephrectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Data were tabulated for 469 patients from participating medical institutions and various clinical factors were investigated with regard to disease progression (local recurrence and distant metastasis). RESULTS: Disease progression was observed in 21 patients (4.5%). No significant relation to disease progression was observed for sex, laterality, tumor histology, grade and tumor size. Although patients with solitary tumors displayed excellent prognosis irrespective of tumor diameter, patients with multiple tumors displayed a high likelihood of disease progression. Patients older than 77 years old and patients with imperative indication were found to have a poorer prognosis. CONCLUSION: In patients with solitary tumors, partial nephrectomy can be actively performed, even if the patient displays elective indications and the tumor is >4 cm in diameter. In patients displaying multiple tumors with imperative indications, the decision whether to perform partial nephrectomy should be made by the patients and their physicians after considering the impact on curability and the quality of life.     

A pilot study of the assessment of the quality of life, functional results, and complications in patients with an ileal neobladder for invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the functional results, health-related quality of life (QOL) outcomes, and complications in patients with an ileal neobladder in comparison to those with cutaneous diversion (ileal conduit and cutaneostomy). METHODS: Between September 1992 and February 2003, we consecutively performed an ileal neobladder (the Studer method) in 30 patients and cutaneous diversion in 38 patients. In August 2004, questionnaires were mailed to 54 patients. The questionnaire included the validated health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, SF-36 General Health Survey, and a urinary incontinence questionnaire. We also evaluated the functional results in patients with an ileal neobladder and the postoperative complications in patients with both urinary diversions. RESULTS: The data from 41 patients (21 ileal neobladder procedures and 20 cutaneous diversions) were available for the analysis. No differences in the overall QOL were observed between the two groups. Complete daytime and night-time urinary continence was achieved in the 21 patients (100%) and 13 patients (61.9%), respectively. The mean value of the maximum flow rate was 15 +/- 12 mL/min in the 21 neobladder patients. There were 19 early complications in 18 patients (60.0%) and seven late complications in six patients (20.0%) with an ileal neobladder. However, there were 15 early complications in 14 patients (36.8%) and eight late complications in six patients (15.8%) with cutaneous diversions. CONCLUSION: The findings regarding the health-related QOL and the frequency of complications in the neobladder group and those in the cutaneous diversion group were similar. However, the functional results and the status of urinary continence in the neobladder patients were satisfactory.     

Early onset of ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus infection in a lung-transplant recipient.

Ganciclovir resistance in cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an increasing problem in lung-transplant recipients with adverse clinical outcomes. We experienced the successful treatment of ganciclovir-resistant CMV infection in a lung-transplant recipient still receiving CMV prophylaxis. A 24-year-old woman with lymphangioleiomyomatosis underwent a living-donor lobar lung transplantation. She was a primary CMV mismatch (D+/R-) patient. She recovered from her postoperative complications, and was about to be discharged. However, she suffered ganciclovir-resistant CMV infection during prophylactic therapy. She was successfully treated with foscarnet, and is now alive without recurrence 18 months after surgery.     

The enhanced expression of the matrix metalloproteinase 9 in nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma

Background  

Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma is an aggressive disease and has a poor prognosis. Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and has strong tendency of widespread relapse or dissemination into distant sites.     

Use of Glycopeptidolipid Core Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Mycobacterium avium Complex Pulmonary Disease in Immunocompetent Patients

We report the development of a serodiagnostic method for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with the MAC-specific glycopeptidolipid (GPL) core as the antigen. In this study, we confirmed by EIA that the GPL core antibody was in the sera of immunocompetent patients with MAC disease. The EIA for quantifying the GPL core antibody was evaluated as a clinical tool for serodiagnosis of pulmonary MAC disease. A significant increase in GPL core antibodies (immunoglobulins G, A, and M) was detected in sera of patients with MAC pulmonary diseases when they were compared to patients who were colonized with MAC, patients with Mycobacterium kansasii disease or tuberculosis, and healthy subjects. The sensitivities and specificities of the GPL core-based EIA for diagnosis of MAC pulmonary disease were 72.6% and 92.2%, respectively, for IgG, 92.5% and 95.1%, respectively, for IgA, and 78.3% and 91.0%, respectively, for IgM. The best sensitivity and specificity were obtained by measuring immunoglobulin A antibodies against GPL core antigen. The level of GPL core antibodies reflected disease activity, since it decreased in cured MAC patients who had responded to chemotherapy. Measurement of serum antibodies against GPL core is useful for both diagnosis and assessment of disease activity in MAC disease of the lung.