Crohn's ileocolitis with initially superimposed cytomegalovirus infection, resembling intestinal tuberculosis]

We describe a case of 41-year-old Japanese man with Crohn's ileocolitis and cytomegalovirus infection, confirmed by histology of ileal ulcers. Although his colonoscopic and radiological features resembled those of intestinal tuberculosis, granulomas of typical Crohn's disease were evident on histology of biopsy specimens taken from the duodenum and colon. The lesions remain unchanged even after 1.5 years by oral administration of salazosulphapyridine 3g daily.     

Methamphetamine-induced behavioral alterations following repeated administration of methamphetamine

Repeated administration of a large dose of methamphetamine (MA) (25 mg/kg, i.p. twice daily for 4 days) to mice enhanced locomotor activity and decreased stereotyped behavior following a subsequent injection of MA. Simultaneous determinations of catecholamines revealed a depletion of brain dopamine. The moderate doses of haloperidol significantly enhanced MA-induced locomotor activity in mice. A significant enhancement of MA-induced locomotor activity was observed in the rats pretreated with 6-hydroxydopamine into the striatum, and this effect correlated negatively with the striatal dopamine level. These results suggest that hypofunction of striatal dopaminergic neuron systems induced by repeated administration of MA may be one of possible mechanisms of the enhancement of MA-induced locomotor activity due to the decrease of stereotyped behavior.     

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma diagnosed by MRI: a case report

Appropriate diagnostic procedure for spinal epidural hematomas has not been established yet. The authors reported a case of spontaneous epidural hematomas at the thoracic level, in which correct diagnosis was made with MRI and good results were obtained by surgery. A 63-year-old female experienced a severe back pain which appeared suddenly during a walk and was followed by motor weakness in both legs deteriorating quickly to paraplegia. The patient had no history of hypertension, trauma or bleeding tendency. The laboratory data were normal. On admission, neurological examination revealed flaccid paraplegia, total sensory loss below the level of Th 6 and urinary and fecal incontinence. Myelograms showed incomplete block at the Th 6 level and postmyelographic CT scan showed an isodense mass, which was suspected to be an epidural tumor located behind the spinal cord. Emergent MRI confirmed an epidural hematoma as a high intensity area extending from Th 3 through Th 11. Sixty-five hours after onset, laminectomy of Th 4 through Th 11 and the evacuation of epidural hematoma were performed without identification of the origin of the bleeding. Neither vascular malformation nor tumor was recognized during operation. Neither was it noticed on histological examination. The patient made favorable progress after the surgery. During the first two weeks in the postoperative period, she regained muscle strength enough to do standing exercise, and satisfactory improvement was made in sensory function including urination and defecation. We emphasize that MRI is indispensable to make a differential diagnosis of thoracic lesions. In the reported case, a correct diagnosis was made with MRI, and an extremely good result was obtained by an emergency operation.     

Effect of bifemelane hydrochloride on an injury of the liver caused by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

In the liver ischemia-reperfusion model, the lipid peroxide level increased during ischemic periods, while a greater increase was observed during reflow periods. The increase in the cytochrome b5 content was observed during ischemia and reflow periods. On the contrary, the cytochrome P-450 content remained unchanged during ischemic periods, but decreased during reflow periods. Bifemelane suppressed the elevation of the lipid peroxide level, the cytochrome b5 content and the decrease in cytochrome P-450 content during the period of reperfusion.     

Effects of iomeprol,a new nonionic contrast medium,vis a vis iopamidol and nitroglycerin,on coronary diameter and blood flow in chronically instrumented dogs

The effects of an intracoronary administration of iomeprol, a new nonionic tri-iodinated water-soluble contrast medium, on coronary circulation were compared to those of iopamidol and those of nitroglycerin in 6 chronically instrumented conscious dogs. A pair of 10 MHz piezoelectric crystals and an electromagnetic flow probe were placed on the left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA) to measure the epicardial coronary diameter (CD) and coronary blood flow (CBF). Polyethylene tubing for drug administration was inserted into the LCCA proximal to the sonomicrometers. Iomeprol at the dose of 1 ml and 3 ml/min for 1 min significantly increased CD by 0.6±0.1% and 1.4±0.3%, respectively and CBF by 44.5±9% and 70±10%, respectively. Iopamidol at the same rates also significantly increased CD by 0.8±0.1% and 1.5±0.3% and CBF by 50±11% and 82±14%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between iomeprol-and iopamidol-induced increases in CD and CBF. However, the duration of the increase in CD was significantly shorter (p<0.05) after iomeprol than after iopamidol. Nitroglycerin (10 μg/kg) significantly increased CD by 4.5±1% and CBF by 105±10%. The increases in CD and CBF in response to iopamidol and iomeprol were significantly smaller (p<0.01) than to nitroglycerin. We conclude that vasodilating effects of iomeprol and iopamidol on the large epicardial coronary artery and coronary blood flow are comparable in conscious dogs and significantly lower than after nitroglycerin in the doses used by us. This study was supported by a grant from the EI-ZA1 Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan.     

Ryanodine: its possible mechanism of action in the caffeine-sensitive calcium store of smooth muscle

The caffeine-sensitive intracellular Ca store was characterized and the mechanism of action of ryanodine in the store was studied using K-depolarized guinea-pig taenia caecum. (1) After incubation of the preparation with CaCl₂ (Ca loading), caffeine was applied in Ca-deprived medium, to produce a transient contraction and to monitor the amount of the stored Ca. As duration of Ca deprivation was prolonged, the amplitude of the caffeine-induced contraction was decreased. When ryanodine was applied during Ca deprivation, the rate of the decrease was remarkably accelerated. (2) The rate of rise of the contraction induced by external Ca ((Ca)o) was slowed by preceding depletion of the stored Ca by caffeine, compared with that observed in the Ca loaded preparation. However, in the presence of ryanodine, even if stored Ca was depleted by caffeine, the rate of rise of the (Ca)o-induced contraction remained at a higher level. (3) These results suggest that ryanodine stimulates a leak of the stored Ca, and that the contraction induced by the transmembrane influxed Ca could be modulated by the amount of Ca in, or leakiness of, the caffeine-sensitive Ca store.     

Translocation (1;22)(p36;q11.2) with concurrent del(22)(q11.2) resulted in homozygous deletion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">SNF5/INI1</Emphasis> in a newly established cell line derived from extrarenal rhabdoid tumor

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a highly malignant pediatric cancer, which arises in various sites such as the kidney, brain, and soft tissues. Cytogenetic studies have revealed alterations of 22q11 in MRT. Recently, deletions and mutations of the SNF5/INI1 locus in 22q11.2 have been reported in MRT, suggesting that SNF5/INI1 is a tumor suppressor gene for MRT. Here we report our molecular cytogenetic study for a newly established cell line from extrarenal MRT with t(1;22)(p36;q11.2). Consequently, the reciprocal translocation was associated with the interstitial deletion of a small segment including SNF5/INI1, and another, chromosome 22, showed terminal deletion, the breakpoint of which was located 70–80 kb centromeric to SNF5/INI1, resulting in homozygous deletion of SNF5/INI1 in this cell line.