Low-Dose Doxapram Therapy in Premature Infants and Its CSF and Serum Concentrations

ABSTRACT. The efficacy of low-dose doxapram therapy (0.2 mg/kg/h) in combination with methylxanthines was evaluated in 20 premature infants with idiopathic apnea unresponsive to methylxanthines alone, and in 13 premature infants with secondary apnea. The serum concentrations of doxapram and, in some infants, the simultaneous cerebrospinal fluid and serum concentrations were measured, and the correlation between cerebrospinal fluid and serum concentrations in the postnatal period was determined. The following results were obtained: 1) In idiopathic apnea of prematurity, low-dose doxapram therapy was as effective as a dose of 1.0-2.5 mg/kg/h and the side effects were few, mild, and reversible. 2) In premature infants over seven days of age, serum concentrations of doxapram were almost stable but were significantly lower than in infants within the first six days of life. 3) The ratio of the cerebrospinal fluid to serum doxapram concentration was 0.48 ± 0.13 (mean ± SD). There was a good correlation between cerebrospinal fluid and serum concentrations ( r = 0.933, p < 0.001). The initial doxapram dose can be set as low as 0.2 mg/kg/h in very young premature infants with idiopathic apnea of prematurity unresponsive to methylxanthines.     

Multiple primary malignancies in Japanese patients with renal cell carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the incidence, nature and prognosis of multiple primary malignancies involving renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Japan. METHODS: Between 1975 and 1998, 319 patients underwent an operation for RCC at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. The incidence of other primary malignancies was determined and classified as antecedent, synchronous or subsequent. Follow-up was obtained by thorough chart review or telephone interview, and ranged from 0 to 276 months (median 49.0 months). To analyze the influence of other primary malignancies on prognosis, overall and cause-specific survival rates of the patients with an antecedent or synchronous malignancy were compared to the remaining patients. RESULTS: Of the 319 patients there was at least one other malignancy in 38 patients (12%). Four patients had two other malignancies. The other malignancies were antecedent in 13, synchronous in 19 and subsequent in 10 patients. Twenty-two patients had gastrointestinal cancer. In cases of antecedent or synchronous diagnosis of other primary malignancies, RCC was commonly incidental, small or low-stage. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model showed that, for overall survival, the presence of other antecedent or synchronous malignancies was the second most significant prognostic factor, following the pathological stage of RCC. CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese patients with RCC, the incidence of other primary malignancies was not uncommon and these malignancies contributed to the prognosis of these patients. Therefore, the malignant potential of individual tumors should be paid careful attention in the management of these patients.     

A case with dicentric translocation between chromosome 9 and 18: Confirmation by fluorescent in situ hybridization on metaphase spread

A female child with dicentric translocation between chromosome 9 and chromosome 18 presented non-specific minor anomalies with laryngomalacia. Chromosomal analyses were performed by the G-banding method and a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique with a specific probe for the centromeric region of chromosome 18 and the painting probe for the chromosomes 9 and 18. Her full karyotype was confirmed as 45, XX, tdic (9;18)(p24;p11). This is the first case of dicentric translocation between chromosomes 9 and 18. The FISH technique is an important tool in chromosome diagnostics.     

A Case of Pneumocytoma (So-Called Sclerosing Hemangioma) With Lymph Node Metastasis

A case of "sclerosing hemangionia" (pneumocytoma) of the lungwith lymph node metastasis is reported. A 22-year-old Japaneseman was found to have a well-defined round lesion in the rightlung (S⁷), which increased in size slightly during a 2-yearfollow-up period. He underwent right lower lobectomy with a preoperative diagnosisof a benign lung tumor. The pulmonary tumor revealed histologicalfeatures characteristic of "sclerosing hemangioma" of the lung,in addition to which there were many large polygonal foamy cells,forming tubular or papillary structures. These cells were foundby electron microscopy to contain numerous cytoplasmic lamellarbodies and showed a positive reaction with anti-surfactant apoproteinantibody immunohistochemically. Therefore, they were consideredto be cells differentiating toward type II pneumocytes. Reviewof 21 typical "sclerosing hemangionia" disclosed a few or somesuch foamy cells in 10 cases. A single hilar lymph node wasthe site of microscopic metastases, which consisted of "largeclear foamy cells" and smaller polygonal or round cells withslightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, both of which were componentsof the pulmonary "sclerosing hemangioma" This case supportsthe theory that "sclerosing hemangioma" is a neoplasm of typeII pneumocyte lineage. Although it is said to be benign, rarecases apparently show metastatic potential.     

雌激素受体基因多态性与儿童孤独症临床表型特征的关联研究

【目的】 探讨雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)基因多态性与儿童孤独症临床表型特征的关系。 【方法】 应用TaqMan荧光探针Real-Time PCR的分析方法对127名孤独症患儿进行ERα的单核苷酸多态性片断rs11155819和ERβ的单核苷酸多态性片断rs1152582的基因型测定。用儿童孤独症评定量表(Children Autism Rating Scale,CARS)评价孤独症患儿临床表型特征。 【结果】 孤独症病情严重程度在rs11155819和rs1152582的不同基因型之间的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。rs11155819基因型为C/T、T/T的孤独症儿童在语言交流项得分的差异有统计学意义(P=0.048)。rs1152582基因型为C/C、G/G的孤独症儿童在非言语交流项、活动水平项得分的差异有统计学意义(P=0.035;P=0.030)。 【结论】 rs11155819基因型中,携带T/T的患儿比携带C/T的患儿有更明显的语言交流障碍。rs1152582基因型中,携带C/C的患儿比携带G/G的患儿有更明显的非言语交流障碍和活动异常。     

Analogs of phalloidin

The analogs [D-Abu²-Lys⁷]-phalloin (1) and [D-Ala²-Leu⁷]-phalloin (2) are obtained by cyclization of the monocyclic thioether peptides 5 and 7 with DCCI and diphenylphosphoro-azidate respectively. For the synthesis of 5 and 7 an intramolecular Savige-Fontana reaction of the linear heptapeptide tert.-butylesters 4 and 6 is applied. On treatment in dilute solution with TFA the classically synthesized peptides 4 and 6 lose their N-terminal Boc groups thus giving rise to the reaction of the Hpi residues with the released cysteine SH-groups. The lysine analog 1 binds to F-actin with an association constant of 1.3 times 10^-6M whereas analog 2 exhibits practically no affinity. By reaction of 1 with tetramethyl-rhodaminyl-isothiocyanate a fluorescent derivative, rhoda-minyl-lysine-phallotoxin (RLP), is obtained as a novel fluorescent probe for the visualization of F-actin in cell preparations.