Effects of allocation of visuo-spatial attention to visual stimuli triggering unilateral arm abduction on anticipatory postural control

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of allocation of visuo-spatial attention to visual stimuli triggering arm movement on anticipatory postural control. METHODS: Fourteen healthy right-handed subjects participated in the study. Visual stimuli were randomly presented to the left or right visual field on a screen. An attention-directing cue or a non-directional cue was presented at 1000ms before visual stimulus onset. Subjects focused or divided visuo-spatial attention (focused- and divided-attention conditions, respectively) based on types of cues, and abducted the left or right arm rapidly in response to target stimuli (with 30% probability of visual stimuli) according to the side of presentation. Peak-to-peak amplitude of P1 and N1 components of event-related potentials (P1-N1 amplitude) elicited by visual stimuli and activation timing of postural muscles with respect to the middle deltoid were measured. RESULTS: Compared with divided-attention condition, in focused-attention condition P1-N1 amplitude at occipital electrodes was enhanced and activation of the left hip abductors during right arm abduction was hastened. A significant correlation was observed between the attention-related changes in these two measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Anticipatory postural control during right arm abduction was influenced by attention-related modulation of sensory-perceptual processing. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings are important for understanding of the effects of visuo-spatial attention on anticipatory postural control.     

A New Arthroscopic-Assisted Drilling Method Through the Radius in a Distal-to-Proximal Direction for Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow

We developed a new arthroscopic-assisted drilling method through the radius in a distal-to-proximal direction for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow. Only 1 drill hole is created in the radius by use of a single 1.8-mm K-wire inserted from the shaft of the radius approximately 3 cm distal to the humeroradial joint into the joint, which allows drilling of the entire OCD lesion. The forearm is supinated so that the tip of the K-wire is at the lateral side of the lesion in the humeral capitellum, and drilling is performed at 30° elbow flexion. The flexion angle is changed from 30° to 60° to 90° to 120° while maintaining supination, to drill in 4 sites (1 site for each angle of flexion) of the lateral side of the OCD lesion. Next, we move the forearm from supination to pronation so that the tip of the K-wire is placed in the medial side of the lesion in the humeral capitellum, and as with the lateral side, drilling is performed in 4 sites. With this technique, the entire OCD lesion can be vertically drilled under arthroscopic guidance. This method is minimally invasive, and an early return to sports could be possible.     

Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor as a marker for early detection of rejection in canine pancreas allotransplantation

Serum pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI)* was measured in the course of canine segmental pancreas allotransplantation without immunosuppression. Serum PSTI concentrations showed two distinct elevations: the first elevation was on the first day and the onset of the second elevation was the sixth day after operation. The first postoperative elevation of the serum PSTI level is thought to be related to the operative procedures, because the first elevation was observed after both autotransplantation and allotransplantation, and biopsies of the autograft and allograft at the first day after the operations showed nonspecific neutrophilic infiltration and no perivascular lymphoid infiltrates. The second postoperative elevation of the serum PSTI level is thought to reflect a rejection process because this elevation was not seen after autotransplantation, and biopsies of allografts at the sixth day after the operation showed typical perivascular lymphoid infiltrates and cellular rejection of the exocrine tissue. In addition, the onset of the second elevation of serum PSTI level preceded by about three days the onset of the elevation of blood sugar at the ninth day after the operation. The results suggest that serum PSTI can be used as a marker for diagnosis of early pancreatic allograft rejection.     

Pharmacokinetics of carboplatin (CBDCA) and tissue concentration of platinum in gynecologic organs

A pharmacokinetics and platinum concentration in the gynecologic organs were measured following the intravenous drip infusion of 375 mg/m2 of CBDCA. Total platinum (TP) in plasma decreased biphasically and free platinum (FP) was almost monophasically eliminated. The t 1/2 of FP was about 51 min. and the percentage of FP out of TP at four hours after administration was more than 92%, which was much higher proportion compared with that of cisplatin (CDDP). A cumulative excretion of platinum in the urine within 24 hours was 69%. The platinum concentration in the benign part of portio and endocervix were higher than that of malignant portion, although there were no significant differences in other pelvic organs such as ovary and tubes. However, pelvic lymph-nodes showed less platinum concentration both in metastatic and non-metastatic tissues. Platinum concentration in the tissue did not change significantly with lapse of time. Bone marrow suppression was observed especially in the patients who had received chemotherapy or radiotherapy. No renal toxicity was observed even without any hydration and gastro-intestinal toxicity was much milder than that of CDDP.     

Effect of ACNU, a water-soluble nitrosourea, on cell cycle of cultured glioma cells--flow cytometric analysis

Cytotoxic and cytokinetic effects of 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl) 3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) on cultured rat and human glioma cells (C-6 and KC) were studied in vitro. Exponentially growing culture cells were exposed to ACNU at the final concentrations of 5 micrograms/ml, 20 micrograms/ml, and 80 micrograms/ml, respectively. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated by inhibition of cell growth and the cytokinetic effect was analyzed by DNA histogram using a flow cytometer. Inhibition of cell growth was dose-dependent in ACNU and C-6 cells were more resistant than KC cells. The growth of C-6 and KC cells were not inhibited at all by low concentrations of ACNU (5 micrograms/ml, 20 micrograms/ml), however, at these concentrations a marked accumulation of treated cells in S and G2+ M phases was evident. The accumulation in S and G2+M phases was dose-dependent and it was more prominent in KC than C-6 cells. ACNU-treated cells accumulated initially in S phase and then in G2+M phase. After maximum accumulation in G2+M phase, the cells seemed to be released into G1 or G0 phase. These results indicate that the cytokinetic effect of ACNU (5 micrograms/ml, 20 micrograms/ml) is more conspicuous than the cytotoxic effect on C-6 and KC cells.     

EFFECT OF THIOCYANATE ON HUMAN SKIN COLLAGENASE ACTIVITY

Using tissue culture, human skin collagenase activity and its relationship to serum collagenase inhibitors and the effect of thiocyanate was studied. The following was found:

• 1) Collagenase activity did not become apparent in the culture medium before 48 hours; it reached a peak on the 4th day, gradually decreased, and then became elevated again on the 7th day of culture.
• 2) Using the immunodiffusion technique, α₂-macroglobulin was detected up to the 4th day and α₁-antitrypsin until the 7th day.
• 3) On the 2nd day of culture, two separate peaks of collagenase activity were evident by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column. One peak was eluted in the area of α₁-antitrypsin, but no collagenase activity was detected in the area of α₂-macroglobulin.
• 4) By treatment with NaSCN, the α₂-macroglobulin was dissociated from the enzyme-serum collagenase inhibitor complex, and skin collagenase was partially purified as a single peak of activity. From these results, the main serum constituent of collagenase inhibitors is considered to be α₂-macroglobulin rather than α₁-antitrypsin.