Surgical treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection following infrainguinal arterial reconstruction.

A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection following infrainguinal arterial reconstruction. As repeated MRSA sepsis occurred, we decided to remove the infected graft with distal revascularization via circuitous graft tunneling to avoid serious infections and allow limb salvage. An iliofemoro bypass was performed via an extra-anatomical bypass, from just below the iliac crest into the musculus quadriceps femoris using an 8 mm-ringed polyester gelatin polypropylene tube graft, with complete debridement of a groin infection. Postoperative 3-dimentional CT angiography revealed that the prostheses was patent and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. We concluded that this extra-anatomical bypass was a safe procedure and an excellent option for patients with an infected vascular prosthetic graft in the groin after previous revascularization, like in our case with no available autogeneous vein grafts.     

A case of small cell carcinoma of the lung associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome]

A 51-year-old male who showed severe ataxia, dysarthria, bilateral blepharoptosis, diplopia and nystagmus with the subacute onset was reported. The chest roentgenogram and CT scan revealed mass lesions at the hilus of the left lung. The tumor markers, NSE and ProGRP, were elevated; 12.8 ng/ml (< or = 10) and 140.7 pg/ml (< or = 46), respectively. The biopsy was performed surgically and the small cell carcinoma of the lung was confirmed pathologically. His cerebellar symptoms were considered to be caused by the paraneoplastc cerebellar degeneration. However, the blepharoptosis was peculiar. The electrophysiological studies were carried out The muscle strength test of the right APB muscle was 5. But the supramaximum stimulation of the right median nerve evoked only 2.0 mV of CMAP of the right APB muscle. The repetitive stimulation tests of the same nerve showed that 3 Hz stimulation resulted in 42% waning but 20 Hz stimulation evoked no waxing. The post-exercise test of the right APB muscle showed 73% increase of the CMAP. These findings indicated that he also suffered from Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. The titer of the antibody against the P/Q type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) was remarkably elevated, 1,920 pM. None of the following antibodies were detected ; they included antibodies against acetylcholine receptor, Hu, Yo, Ri, Ma-2, CRMP-5, amphiphysin and glutamic acid dehydrogenase. The small cell carcinoma was treated with the combination of irinotecan hydrochloride and cisplatin, leading to the reduction of the mass lesions and the tumor markers. His cerebellar symptoms improved slightly but his blepharoptosis was unchanged. The titer of antibody against the P/Q type VGCC reduced remarkably to 451.8 pM. We reviewed reported cases associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and discussed the relation between the paraneoplastic syndromes and autoantibodies.     

Inhibitory effect of calcium chloride on gastric carcinogenesis in rats after treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and sodium chloride.

The effects of calcium chloride on glandular stomach carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and sodium chloride were investigated in male outbred Wistar rats. Animals were given MNNG solution (100 p.p.m.) as drinking water and simultaneously fed a diet supplemented with 5% sodium chloride for 8 weeks. Matched negative controls received neither MNNG nor sodium chloride. Rats were then fed basal diet and given calcium chloride solution (1 or 0.2%) or tap water for the following 52 weeks. The incidences and multiplicities of preneoplastic hyperplasias in the glandular stomachs of rats given MNNG/sodium chloride followed by 1 and 0.2% calcium chloride were significantly lower than those in rats given MNNG/sodium chloride alone. The inhibitory effects of calcium were exerted in a dose-dependent manner. Calcium treatment also showed a tendency to inhibit the development of gastric adenocarcinomas although this was not statistically significant. Rats without carcinogen treatment had neither carcinomas nor preneoplastic hyperplasias in the glandular stomach. Calcium intake also significantly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, a measure of lipid peroxidation, in the gastric mucosa and urine, the former in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, calcium chloride exerted inhibitory effects when given during the post-initiation phase of two-stage glandular stomach carcinogenesis in rats.     

Calcium compartments in vascular smooth muscle cells as detected by aequorin signal.

1. To examine whether cytosolic Ca2+ in smooth muscle cells distributes evenly, cytosolic Ca2+ levels were measured with two different Ca2+ indicators in the ferret isolated portal vein; a fluorescent indicator, fura-PE3, that shows the average Ca2+ level, and a photoprotein, aequorin, that preferentially shows a high Ca2+ compartment. 2. A noradrenaline (10 microM)-induced sustained contraction was associated with a sustained increase in the fura-PE3 signal, or a transient increase followed by small sustained increase in the aequorin signal. A high K(+)-induced contraction was associated with a sustained increase in both the fura-PE3 and aequorin signals. 3. A second application of noradrenaline or high K+ induced reproducible contractions and fura-PE3 signals. In contrast, the aequorin signal resulting from a second application of noradrenaline or high K+ was much smaller than the first signal. 4. Following a 13 h but not a 3 h resting period, the aequorin signal stimulated by noradrenaline or high K+ recovered, without any change in the contractile response. 5. In Ca(2+)-free solution, high K+ was ineffective, whereas noradrenaline induced only a small aequorin signal and contraction compared to those obtained in the presence of external Ca2+. After the addition of Ca2+, the first application of noradrenaline induced a large aequorin signal and a large contraction, although a second application induced a much smaller aequorin signal accompanied by a large contraction. 6. These results suggest that high K+ and noradrenaline increase Ca2+ in at least two cytosolic compartments; a compartment that is coupled to the contractile mechanism ('contractile' Ca2+ compartment; major portion of cytoplasm containing contractile elements) and a compartment that is not coupled to contractile mechanisms ('non-contractile' Ca2+ compartment; small sub-membrane area that does not contain contractile elements). On stimulation, the Ca2+ level in the 'contractile' compartment may increase to a level high enough to stimulate myosin light chain kinase but not so high as to consume aequorin rapidly. In contrast, the Ca2+ level in the 'non-contractile' compartment may increase so greatly that aequorin in this compartment is rapidly consumed. These two compartments may be separated by a diffusion barrier and, during a resting period, aequorin may slowly diffuse from the 'contractile' compartment to the 'non-contractile' compartment and thus restore the full aequorin signal. An increase in Ca2+ in the 'non-contractile' compartment seems to be dependent mainly on Ca2+ influx and partly on Ca2+ release.     

An Autopsied Case of Interferon Encephalopathy

Abstract: A 78-year-old male with renal carcinoma was treated with a high dose infusion of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) for eight months. The patient had evidence of organlc brain syndrome such 88 : dysfunction of memory, slowing of behavior, and development of mental confusion that appeared eight months after the treatment. MRI at the time of mental confusion revealed difise white matter lesions. Neuropathologic findings were compatible to Binswanger's disease and Senile Dementia of Alzheimer Type (SDAT), Preexisting neurologic abnormalities including intracerebral arteriosclerosis and cerebral atrophy may increase susceptibility to unacceptably severe IFN neurotoxicity.     

Surgical treatment of infected intralobar pulmonary sequestration: a collective review of patients older than 50 years reported in the literature.

We report on the rare and surgical treatment of a senile patient of infected intralobar pulmonary sequestration. A 56-year-old male who had complained of headache, vomiting, cough, sputum production, and high fever was admitted to our hospital. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed an infected intralobar pulmonary sequestration as an 8x6 cm cystic mass with multiple air-fluid cavities in the left lower basal segment and severe pneumonia in the left upper and lower lobes around the mass. A 3-D CT showed an aberrant artery entering the consolidation from the descending aorta. A standard lower lobectomy was performed with a ligation of the aberrant artery with a diameter of 1 cm supplying the posterior segment of the left lower lobe. A histological examination of the lung revealed acute and chronic broncho-bronchiolitis with cystic dilatation consistent with intralobar pulmonary sequestration. We discuss the characters of senile patients compared with juvenile patients, with reference to a collective review of patients older than 50 reported in the literature.     

Temperature-responsive cross-linked poly(epsilon-caprolactone) membrane that functions near body temperature.

The objective of this study is to develop a sensitive temperature-responsive material that would function near body temperature. To achieve this purpose, we compounded 2-branched and 4-branched poly(epsilon-caprolactone) macromonomers to modulate the transition temperatures of the resulting cross-linked materials. The temperature-responsive properties were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements. As a result, the mixing ratios of each macromonomer or the total macromonomer concentrations were very dominant in modulating the transition temperatures. The materials could successfully control the permeation of the model drug, prednisolone, near body temperature.     

Spontaneous and isolated dissection of the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery.

A 42-year-old man was admitted to another hospital complaining of acute abdominal pain that was induced by eating. Abdominal computed tomography and selective angiography revealed an intimal flap separating true and false lumens that was located 3 cm from the origin of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Emergency surgery was performed because of the sudden recurrence of diffuse abdominal pain after eating and abdominal aorta-SMA bypass grafting was done using a radial artery graft. Postoperative angiography revealed that the graft showed good patency. The postoperative course was uneventful and abdominal pain no longer occurred after eating. This excellent result was achieved by early diagnosis using CT scanning and angiography plus an aggressive surgical repair with a radial artery bypass graft for isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery.     

Surgical repair of a common atrium in an adult.

We report a rare successful surgical repair of a common atrium (CA) with mild tricuspid valve (TV) regurgitation due to valvular annulus enlargement in a 39-year-old man, who had a complete atrial septum defect (ASD) without the characteristic of an endocardial cushion defect. The left-to-right shunt ratio was 85 percent and the Qp/Qs was 6.7 due to the CA. Left ventriculogram revealed no evidence of typical goose-neck deformity and no mitral valve regurgitation. The operation consisted of making a new atrial septum with an autologous pericardial patch and tricuspid annuloplasty (DeVega) using extracorporeal circulation. There was no evidence of a cleft on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve or the septal leaflet of the TV. The postoperative echocardiogram showed no residual shunt flow through a new atrial septum and no TV regurgitation, and atrioventricular (AV) dissociation did not occur. We consider this procedure to be widely applicable in consideration of the favorable results obtained after surgical treatment.