Confirmation of Age-dependence in the Leakage of Contrast Medium around the Cortical Veins into Cerebrospinal Fluid after Intravenous Administration of Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent

Purpose:It has been reported previously that intravenously administered gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) leaks into the subarachnoid space around the cortical veins at 4 h after injection in all old people over 37 years, but not in younger people up to 37 years of age in 3D-real IR images. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a strict threshold of 37 years of age for the leakage of the GBCA into the subarachnoid space.Methods:The subjects included 190 patients, that were scanned for 3D-real IR images at 4 hours after intravenous injection of GBCA as a diagnostic test for endolymphatic hydrops. The patient’s age ranged from 14 to 81 years. Two experienced neuroradiologists evaluated the images to determine whether the GBCA leakage around the cortical veins was positive or negative. Any discrepancies between the two observers were discussed and a consensus was obtained.A Mann–Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to compare the positive and the negative group and to set the age cut-off value for the prediction of GBCA leakage.Results:The GBCA leakage around the cortical veins was negative in 35 patients and positive in 155 patients. The average age was 33 ± 11 years in the negative group, and 55 ± 12 years in the positive group (P < 0.01). In the ROC analysis for the age and leakage of the GBCA, an area under the curve was 0.905 and the cut-off age was 37.317 years (sensitivity of 0.942 and specificity of 0.771).Conclusion:Intravenously administered GBCA leaks into the subarachnoid space around the cortical veins in most patients over 37 years of age. However, it should be noted that it can be found occasionally in patients under 37 years of age.     

A case of immediate allergy to anisakis following saury intake]

We report here a 76-year-old male that presented with an immediate allergy to Anisakis following saury intake. Three and a half hours after eating pressed saury sushi, whole-body pomphus appeared including itching, facial dropsical swelling, and dyspnea. Diagnostic tests revealed specific IgE antibodies against anisakis simplex and a skin prick test was positive using an extraction of anisakis simplex. The results of skin prick tests using the body and internal organs of a saury were negative. Based on these results, we diagnosed the case as immediate allergy to Anisakis. Anisakis is parasitic to a diverse array of fish, and it seems rare that eating saury will induce an allergic response because the reported parasitic rate of Anisakis on saury is only 5%. In addition, as tropomyosin is currently considered to be the primary cause of allergies to Anisakis, renewed attention should be paid to other foods for which tropomyosin is also assumed to be a common antigen.     

5-HT(2) receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in bovine ciliary epithelium.

The serotonin 2 (5-HT(2)) receptor antagonists, MCI-9042 (Anplag) and ketanserin, have been shown to lower intraocular pressure in rabbits (1) and humans (2). The mechanism of action of these drugs has not been determined, but it is hypothesized that 5-HT(2) receptors, and possibly alpha-adrenergic receptors, (3) may regulate in part aqueous humor production via an intracellular signal transduction pathway in the ciliary body. We therefore examined whether 5-HT(2) receptors were coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in an organ culture system of isolated bovine ciliary epithelium. 5-HT stimulated [(3)H]inositol phosphates ([(3)H]InsPs) accumulation in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum increase approximately twice over the basal level. The mean EC(50) value was 1.1 microM, which was calculated from four dose-response curves. The 5-HT stimulated accumulation of [(3)H]InsPs was inhibited by spiperone (5-HT(2A/1A) and dopamine 2 (D(2)) antagonists), M-1 (a major metabolite of MCI-9042), ketanserin (5-HT(2A) antagonist), SB-206553 (5- HT(2B/2C) antagonist), and mesulergine (5-HT(2C) antagonist and D(2) agonist). It was not inhibited by chlorpromazine, which is a D(2) receptor antagonist. Accordingly, our study demonstrates that 5-HT(2) receptors are coupled to phospholipase C in bovine ciliary epithelium.     

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 -     

Characterization of peptide components in the venom of the scorpion Liocheles australasiae (Hemiscorpiidae).

Scorpion venoms are composed of a number of neurotoxic peptides. A variety of toxins have been isolated from the venoms of scorpions of the family Buthidae, however, little interest has been paid to non-Buthidae scorpions. In this study, we examined the toxicity of the venom of Liocheles australasiae (Hemiscorpiidae) to mice and crickets, and characterized the peptide components by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Over 200 components were detected in the L. australasiae venom by LC/MS analysis, with components of molecular masses ranging from 500 to 5000 Da being particularly abundant. A number of peptides contained two to four disulfide bridges, which was estimated based on the mass difference after derivatization of Cys residues. A peptide having a monoisotopic molecular mass of 7781.6 Da and four disulfide bridges was isolated from the venom. The peptide has a primary structure similar in terms of the position of eight Cys residues to those observed in several peptides found from scorpions, ticks and insects, although biological roles of these peptides are unknown.     

Magnesium intake is inversely associated with the prevalence of tooth loss in Japanese pregnant women: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

There have only been a few studies on the role of mineral intake in tooth loss. We investigated the association between mineral intake and the prevalence of tooth loss in Japan. We used the baseline data on 1002 pregnant women who were enrolled in the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study between November 2001 and March 2003. Tooth loss was defined as the previous extraction of one or more teeth. Nutrient intake was assessed by a validated diet history questionnaire. Prevalence odds ratios and confidence intervals were estimated by applying a multiple logistic regression model. The adjusted odds ratio upon comparison of the highest quartile with the lowest quartile of magnesium intake was 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.99), showing a tendency for an inverse dose-response relationship (p for linear trend = 0.05). There were no associations between the level of consumption of calcium, phosphate, iron, zinc, or copper and tooth loss. The present findings suggest that intake of magnesium is related to reduced prevalence of tooth loss among young Japanese women.