Rate of liver volume increase: can it predict recipient prognosis after left lobe transplantation from living related donors?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether liver volume increase can predict recipient outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Size-matched left lobe transplantation was performed for 16 patients. Computed tomography was performed in Week 1 after transplantation. Rate of liver volume increase was compared between survivors and deceased subjects. RESULTS: Mean rate of liver volume increase was significantly higher for survivors than for fatalities. CONCLUSION: Rate of liver volume increase might be useful for predicting outcome of living donor liver transplantation.     

Three-dimensional optical coherence tomography of granular corneal dystrophy

PURPOSE: To describe 3-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in a case of granular corneal dystrophy. METHODS: A 1310-nm high-speed swept-source OCT prototype was used to image the 3-dimensional structures of the cornea of a patient with granular corneal dystrophy. RESULTS: Three-dimensional OCT clearly showed multiple highly reflective lesions, corresponding to the deposits in the cornea. Volume of the deposits within the central 1.5 mm of the cornea was 0.11 mm and occupied 2.98% of the corneal volume. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional OCT allows objective and noninvasive assessment of granular corneal dystrophy.     

Effects of dual-action genistein derivatives on relaxation in rat aorta.

Protein tyrosine kinases and nitric oxide (NO) play important roles in several cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we examined the actions of two compounds, each has structure of genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and an NO donor, on endothelium-independent relaxation responses in the isolated rat aorta. By rational drug design, genistein was modified to acquire an NO donor, and we synthesized two such compounds (G-II, G-VI). These compounds and genistein induced dose-dependent relaxation responses in endothelium-denuded aortic strips, the rank order of potencies being G-VI > G-II > genistein. Incubation of endothelium-denuded strips with 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10 microM), a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, inhibited both the G-II- and G-VI-induced relaxations, but not the genistein-induced relaxation. The residual relaxations induced by these two compounds were similar to the genistein-induced relaxation. Incubation of endothelium-denuded strips with lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, 20 microM)-which is a major atherogenic lysophospholipid component of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and is known to activate tyrosine kinase-caused a significant rightward shift in the dose-response curve for genistein. LPC also shifted the G-II- and G-VI-induced relaxation curves to the right; however, these relaxations in the presence of LPC were greater than that induced by genistein. The sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation in endothelium-denuded strips was similar between in the absence and presence of LPC. These results suggest that each of our newly developed G-II and G-VI compounds has a dual action, as an NO donor and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These compounds may be useful against certain cardiovascular diseases.     

A rare congenital anomaly, bridge-like appendiceal fistula to the terminal ileum, demonstrated by MDCT

Although appendiceal anatomical anomalies are very rare, understanding of the anatomical details of these anomalies is important for surgery. In this case report, we present images from multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) and histological findings of a rare anatomical appendiceal anomaly originating from the cecum and opening into the terminal ileum like a bridge. These anatomical details were clearly depicted on MDCT with multi-planar reconstruction. MDCT demonstrated a communication between the appendix and terminal ileum. Histological analysis revealed that a normal mucosal layer was maintained from the appendix to the connected ileum, without any evidence of inflammatory or neoplastic changes, and only thickening of the muscular layer of the appendix was identified. Based on these histological findings, the appendix was considered to represent an anatomical anomaly rather than secondary fistula caused by inflammation or neoplasm, which has not yet been reported.     

Reciprocal relationship between development of glutathione S-transferase positive liver foci and proliferation of surrounding hepatocytes in rats

The effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), pbenobarbital(PB) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on the competitive proliferationof glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) positive liver cell fociinduced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and surrounding hepatocyteswere studied. Rats were given a single i.p. injection of 200mg/kg body wt of DEN and from 2 weeks later were given a dietcontaining 0.02% 2-AAF (group 1), 0.05% PB (group 2), 2.0% BHA(group 3), or no supplement (group 4) for 6 weeks. All ratswere subjected to partial hepatectomy (PH) at the end of week3. Animals from each group were killed 1, 2, 3 or 4 days or1, 2, 3 or 5 weeks after PH. Sequential changes in cellularproliferations after PH were investigated by immunohistochemicalstaining for GST-P and autoradiography of [³H]thymidine. Thedevelopment of GST-P positive foci was enhanced strongly by2-AAF and slightly by PB and was inhibited by BHA. In the grouptreated with 2-AAF, proliferation of hepatocytes adjacent tofoci was almost completely inhibited [labelling index (LI)=0.4 –1.5], but GST-P positive foci cells had a high LI(16.2–26.1) 1 week after PH. In the group treated withPB, proliferation of surrounding hepatocytes was slightly inhibited(LI one day after PH = 16.0) compared with that of control (LI=24.2),but proliferation of cells in GST-P positive foci was not inhibited(LI one day after PH=11.3; control value=11.0). BHA retardedrecovery of the LI (LI 4 days after PH = 8.1; control value,4.0) and did not inhibit proliferation of surrounding hepatocytes.These results indicated an inverse relationship between thedevelopment of GST-P positive foci and proliferation of surroundinghepatocytes.     

A Statistical Study of Lung Cancer in the Annual of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, from 1958 to 1997, with Reference to Time Trends of Lung Cancer in the World

Lung cancer cases (66 650 males and 20 890 females) registered in the Annual of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, between 1958 and 1997, were analyzed with regard to sex, age and histology. They were subdivided into decades (periods I to IV), and compared with the Japanese mortality statistics, with which they were in good correspondence. Although the autopsy rate is decreasing, more than 10% of the total lung cancer deaths in Japan were registered by 1990. Among autopsied cases, the incidence of lung cancer cases increased from 6% to 12% in males and from 3% to 6% in females. From period III, lung cancer in males became the most frequent, and was the second most frequent cancer in females after gastric cancer. As for the histological distribution, adenocarcinoma was the most frequent and squamous cell carcinoma was the next most frequent in both sexes. Recently, a significant increase in adenocarcinoma and a significant decrease in squamous cell carcinoma have been observed in both sexes. The peak ages shifted from the 60s to the 70s and a significant rise in the mean ages were observed. The male-to-female ratios and the ratio curves by histological and age group were high for squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma, while they were low for the total and adenocarcinoma. With the recently acquired data on lung cancer in Asian countries, and from the male-to-female ratios and the status of smoking rates, lung cancer in the world at present was divided into three groups; North America, Europe and Asia. The possibility of one group changing to resemble another and of groups converging in the near future is suggested.     

Evaluation of the radiologic findings on hysterosalpingography by selective hydrotubation with flexible hysterofiberscope

Purpose The objective of this study was to assess further the significance and accuracy of hysterosalpingography (HSG) by comparing the radiologic findings on HSG to selective hydrotubation (SHT) using a hysterofiberscope in 106 women with tubal occlusion.Results Patency was successfully observed by SHT in 72 of 134 tubes and 62 of 106 patients. Proximal obstruction was divided into three groups according to the shape of cornual obstruction (sharp, dull, defect) on HSG. The success rate for SHT in unilateral obstruction (64%) were significantly higher than those in bilateral obstruction (39%). In the three groups of proximal obstruction, the success rates for SHT were 24, 75, and 30% in sharp, dull, and defect, respectively. The group of dull had significantly higher success rate than the groups of sharp and defect. Thirteen of 62 patients who successfully recanalized became pregnant at 9-month follow-up interval.Conclusion Careful evaluation of the cornual obstruction in radiologic findings on HSG may be important for the decision on further treatment. Furthermore, SHT using a hysterofiberscope is an effective method for evaluating tubal obstruction and for managing it in a selected group of patients with tubal obstruction.Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Fertility Society, San Antonio, Texas. November 5–10, 1994.     

Fully hydrated images of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm on the surface of catheter material

We examined the applicability of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for non-invasive imaging of intact bacterial biofilms. Fully hydrated images of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms developing on the silicon disks in an in vitro experimental model were detected simply but clearly by ESEM and CLSM. Three-dimensional spatial images of the bioflims were obtained by ESEM using specimens with neither drying nor conductive coating. Horizontal and vertical sectioning images of the biofilms were obtained by using CLSM in conjunction with positive fluorescence staining techniques; acridine orange and sufranin were successfully used for detection of bacterial cells in the biofilms, while extracellular polymeric substances were obtained selectively with FITC-concanavalin A. The new technology reported here is applicable to diagnostic study as well as fundamental study of biofilm-associated infections in the urinary tract.     

Dissociation kinetics at polyacrylic latex-coated electrodes

Polystyrene/poly(acrylic acid) latex particles 0.26 μm in diameter, which were synthesized by emulsion copolymerization of styrene and acrylic acid, were immobilized on the platinum electrode in a uniform film. The film did not block the diffusion current of a ferrocene derivative in the solution. The voltammograms showed the reduction of hydrogen ion, which was supplied not only from the solution but also from the dissociation of carboxyl acid of the adsorbed latex. The peak currents at pH less than 4.5 were proportional to the thickness of the latex film, and were supplied by dissociation from the latex. In contrast, those at pH more than 5.5 were independent of the film thickness, and were controlled by the dissociation kinetics of the carboxyl acid within the first particle layer. Expressions for the voltammetric currents with the CE mechanism were derived theoretically. The theory predicts that the reaction rate constant can be evaluated from the lower deviation from the proportionality of the peak currents to scan rates, as in consistent with the experimental results. The rate constant was by one order smaller than the homogeneous rate constant of acrylic acid. pH-Titration demonstrated the electrostatic interaction of –COO⁻, like in self-assembled carboxylate films. The average concentration of carboxylate in the latex was ca. 2.7 M. The dissociation was limited to the surface domain of the latex.     

Treatment of cervical OPLL by cervical anterior fusion using autologous vertebral bone grafts

Background  

In anterior fusion, we use autologous bone grafts from cervical vertebral bodies and bioabsorptive screws to prevent graft extrusion (Williams-Isu method). We report the application of and indication for the Williams-Isu method for OPLL and present our clinical and radiological results.