Event-related potential correlates of functional hearing loss: Reduced P3 amplitude with preserved Nl and N2 components in a unilateral case

Abstract A female patient exhibiting functional hearing loss in her left ear demonstrated reduced amplitude of P3 component in event-related potentials (ERP) to left monaural stimulation, with preserved N1 and N2 components to stimulation of either ear. This result suggested that stimuli in the affected ear were conducted successfully up to the auditory cortex but that further processing in higher brain regions was 'repressed'. Event-related potential examination for such hysterical disorders could be useful in clarifying their brain mechanism and offer a useful diagnostic clue to its nature.     

Establishment of a monoclonal antibody to plasma cells: a comparison with CD38 and PCA-1

A new monoclonal antibody which recognizes plasma cells was developed by utilizing two myeloma cell lines, KMS12PE (12PE) and KMS12BM (12BM). established from the pleural of fusion and bone marrow, respectively, of the same patient. Since I2BM expresses CD20, CD38, and PCA-I antigens, while 12PE has lost CD20. 12PE is considered to be phenotypically more mature than 12BM. The 12PE cells were used to immunize a BALB/c mouse and a MoAb was produced which was more reactive to 12PE than to 12BM. Thus, a clone, D2, was obtained. On Western blotting, D2 detected a single band of 54 kD under both reduced and non-reduced conditions. This antigen was not detected by Western blotting in peripheral blood lymphocytes that had been stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) for 7 days or in those not so stimulated. On flow cytometry, D2 detected a myeloma cell line, RPMI 8226. Another myeloma cell line, U266, was negative for D2 antigen. Staining various cell lines by D2 and other antiplasma cell antibodies, PCA-1 and CD38, showed that D2 is distinct from PCA-1 and CD38. The fresh myeloma cells of 14 myeloma patients were stained by D2 and for other plasma cell antigens. D2 strongly stained three samples obtained from patients with clinically aggressive myeloma, while CD38 stained all cases except one. PCA-1 was positive in nine samples and negative in five. PCA-1 expression was observed in plasma cells obtained from pleural effusion and peripheral blood, while PCA-1-negative cases were not found in such samples, suggesting that PCA-I expression was related to extramedullary invasion. The morphology of the myeloma cells, classified according to Greipp's criteria, showed that there was no correlation between plasma cell antigen expression and plasma cell morphology. Analysis of D2 antigen expression should provide more information about the heterogeneity of myeloma cells.     

Cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed by deposits of Lipiodol and treated by combination of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage and transcatheter arterial embolization

Cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma, which grows into the bile duct and causes obstructive jaundice, is rare and difficult to diagnose. A case is presented in which cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma was detected by deposit of Lipiodol. This is also the first case that was successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage and transcatheter arterial embolization.     

Comparison of Gas-less laparoscopy-assisted surgery, hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery and pure laparoscopic surgery for radical nephrectomy

BACKGROUND: We report our experience with Gas-less laparoscopy-assisted surgery (Gas-less LAS), hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) and pure laparoscopic surgery (LS) for renal carcinoma and compare the characteristics and usefulness of these methods. METHODS: Seventeen, 14 and 16 patients were subjected to Gas-less LAS, HALS and LS, respectively. The study started with Gas-less LAS and then gradually shifted to HALS and LS. We evaluated the operative and postoperative parameters for each group. The learning curve effect was evaluated based on data from the first 10 cases of each group, which were operated on by the same surgeon and operation team. RESULTS: The learning curve of operation times in the LS group demonstrated that the operation time for this procedure is acceptable even in early-stage cases. Differences in mean operative time between the three surgical groups, excluding the conversion cases, were not statistically significant; however, there was a significant difference in blood loss volume between the groups (P 相似文献   

An Attempt to Assess the Replacement Dose of Human Growth Hormone in the Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficient Children

Hibi, I., Tanaka, T., Yano, H., Umezawa, S., Kagawa, J., Tanae, A. and Ishikawa, E. (National Children's Medical Research Center, Tokyo, the National Children's Hospital, Tokyo and the Department of Biochemistry, Miyazaki Medical College, Miyazaki, Japan). Acta Paediatr Scand [Suppl] 337:87, 1987.
In 25 patients with hGH deficiency, who had been treated long-term with hGH, the mode of hGH administration was switched from the conventional method (0.3–0.5 IU/kg/week, in two or three divided doses, intramuscularly) to daily subcutaneous injection at 1900–2100 hours with a dose of 0.46 ± 0.07 IU/kg/week (equivalent to 14.7 ± 2.0 IU/m²/week). After 1–3 months of this new mode of hGH administration, blood and urine were sampled at 0900 hours after overnight fasting. Blood glucose, plasma insulin, plasma IGF-1 and plasma total IGF (after extraction) were analysed in blood samples. IGF-1 and hGH were measured in urine samples. These measurements indicated that the dose studied was close to a replacement one, but might be slightly higher than the exact replacement dose.     

Experimental and Clinical Studies of Biodegradable Polymeric Stents

The metallic stent has become the most common device to reduce acute occlusion and late restenosis after balloon angioplasty, but the long-term effects of metallic stents in human coronary arteries are still unknown. To overcome several problems of conventional stenting, there have been many attempts to manufacture stents made of biodegradable materials. Although some studies have noted various degrees of inflammatory responses after biodegradable stent implantation, stents made of poly-1-lactic acid (PLLA) showed high biocompatibility with minimal inflammatory response and neointimal formation in porcine coronary arteries. A clinical study of PLLA self-expanding stent implantation is underway in Japan. The initial and 6-month results are favorable and suggest the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the PLLA biodegradable stent in humans. However, long-term follow-up with larger numbers of patients will be required to validate the long-term efficacy of PLLA stents.     

AP-811, a novel ANP-C receptor selective agonist

AP-811 is a derivative of the Phe8-Ile15 region of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and is one of the smallest linear ligands for ANP receptors. The binding and agonist activities of AP-811 have been compared with those of other ANP analogs for the ANP-A and ANP-C receptors. AP–811 binds with a high binding affinity to and is a strong agonist for the ANP-C receptor, indicating that the binding and agonist sites for this receptor are the same or near each other in the ANP sequence. In contrast, AP-811 showed no agonistic effect for the ANP-A receptor, although it could bind to this receptor. Comparing the biological activities of AP-811 with those of other ANP analogs, we propose that the binding and agonist sites for the ANP-A receptor may consist of separate regions of ANP. In conclusion, AP-811 is the smallest C-receptor-selective agonist.     

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with transitional cell carcinoma in the renal pelvis and the bladder

We report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS). Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the renal pelvis and CIS were also observed adjacent to the adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical assessment of the pelvic adenocarcinoma revealed positive expressions for mucin, epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 19 and carcinoembryonal antigen, but not vimentin or chromogranin. Based on the histopathological examinations, the adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis in the present case may have a similar biological nature to conventional TCC and probably originated by development of pre-existing TCC of the renal pelvis.     

The Distribution of Helicobacter pylori in Human Gastric Mucosa in vivo

Abstract: To estimate the distribution of Helicobacter pylori in human gastric mucosa in vivo, the phenol red dye spraying endoscopy lias been successfully developed and is performed after an oral and/or intravenous premedication of famotidine 20mg. This technique was conducted on 25 patients with chronic, atrophic gastritis, on 21 patients with a gastric ulcer and on 14 patients with duodenal ulcers. The red color changes which occurred on the gastric mucosa were classified into three types; the diffuse staining type, the regional staining type and the patchy staining type. In the chronic gastritis group, the diffuse staining type, the regional staining type and the patchy staining type occurred in 11 patients (44%), 7 patients (28%) and 2 patients (8%), respectively. The remainder of the patients' mucosa was unstained. In addition, the regional staining type occurred most frequently in the gastric ulcer group, while the diffuse staining type was dominant in the duodenal ulcer group. Notably, a recurrent and intractable ulcer was surrounded by regional staining fields in the stomach, and showed a diffuse staining at the antrum of the duodenum. These facts suggest that Helicobacter pylori prevented ulcer healing. This concurs with the results of our previous experimental study which found that the low concentration NH₃ solution, produced by Helicobacter pylori, prevented an acetic acid ulcer healing in rats and resulted from the suppression of the cell kinetics of the regenerative epithelial cells and the fibroblasts in the connective tissues at the ulcer margins.