Flunarizine induces a transient loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in nigrostriatal neurons

Neurotoxic effects of flunarizine (Fz), a selective calcium channel blocker, on the nigrostriatal dopamine system was investigated. Systemic injections of Fz to mice resulted in a transient loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive nigrostriatal neurons without cell loss. TH immunoreactivity in these neurons was greatly reduced as rapidly as one day after drug administration (regardless of dosage used) and thereafter recovered in both dose- and time-dependent manners. Such a novel neurotoxic action of Fz may constitute a morphological substrate for reversible drug-induced parkinsonian signs described in recent clinical case reports.     

Quantitative analysis of sodium fast and slow component in in vivo human brain tissue using MR Na image]

In vivo sodium concentrations in the normal brain tissue and a tumorous tissue were analyzed using MR Na image. The nuclear magnetic resonance enabled us to divide the signal from sodium in the living tissue into 2 parts based on the differences of T2 value. Those are fast component having the T2 value of less than 5 msec and slow component of 15-40 msec. We investigated the effect of macromolecules on T2 value of sodium image using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) powder. MR Na image was taken with the parameters of TR/TD, 110 ms/1.9 ms (FID image) and TR/TE, 110 ms/20 ms (SE image). Saline solution showed high intensity on both FID image and SE image. Saline solution added PVA (PVA phantom) also showed high intensity on FID image, whereas the signal intensity of PVA phantom in SE image extinguished. To know the relation between the signal intensity and sodium concentration, sodium concentration--signal intensity curve was obtained using phantoms with various sodium concentrations (0.05-1.0%). This curve showed a direct proportion between sodium concentration and signal intensity on Na image. We measured further the sodium concentrations of the human brain tissue. Sodium phantoms were arranged around the heads and the MR Na images of the normal brains from 3 volunteers and a patient with a brain tumor (meningioma) were taken. The sodium concentrations of occipital lobe, basal ganglia and the tumorous tissue were calculated using the sodium concentration--signal intensity curve obtained from the phantoms arranged around the heads.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Surface modification of titanium by etching in concentrated sulfuric acid

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the etching behavior of titanium in concentrated sulfuric acid and discuss its application on surface modification of titanium for biological use. METHODS: Commercially pure titanium (cpTi) plate was etched in 48% H2SO4 at RT -90 degrees C for 0.25-8 h. The weight loss was derived from the weight differences before and after etching. The surfaces after etching were characterized by surface roughness, X-ray diffractometry, and scannning electron spectroscopy. The apparent activation energy of the dissolution of cpTi into acid was derived from an Arrhenius plot of the rate of weight loss versus the acid temperature. RESULTS: The surface roughness of cpTi increased with the acid temperature and etching time. The surface roughness was strongly related to the weight loss. The weight loss increased drastically with the acid temperature after an initial period, which shortened with increasing acid temperature. The apparent activation energy for the dissolution of cpTi in H2SO4 was derived as 67.8 kJ/mol. SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicates that etching with concentrated sulfuric acid is an effective way to modify the surface of titanium for biological applications.     

A clinical study of cerebral perfusion during pulsatile and nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pulsatile flow on cerebral perfusion under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Twenty-three patients who underwent cardiac operations were divided into two comparable groups: Group A (N = 11) had standard nonpulsatile flow, while in Group B (N = 12), a pulsatile pump was used. The blood flow of left common carotid artery and radial arterial pressure were continuously monitored during cardiac operation in both groups and cerebral vascular resistance was calculated. In Group B, the perfusion pressure of left common carotid artery was monitored and compared with that of radial artery. Arterial and internal jugular venous blood were sampled and the difference of cerebral A.V O2 contents and cerebral oxygen consumption was calculated. Cerebral vascular resistance in Group B (54.0 +/- 11.2% of the value of before-CPB) significantly decreased compared to that in Group A (72.2 +/- 11%) at the end of CPB (p less than 0.05). Pulse pressure following pulsatile CPB flow was 15.1 +/- 5.8 mmHg monitored in radial artery and it reduced to 8.5 +/- 5 mmHg in left common carotid artery. Although there was no significant difference in cerebral oxygen consumption of both groups during and just after CPB, the difference of cerebral A-V O2 contents of Group B was greater than Group A just after CPB. These data suggest that pulsatile flow may minimize the cerebral microcirculatory shunt during CPB, resulting from the reduction of cerebral vascular resistance.     

Differential expression of the beta I- and beta II-PKC subspecies in the postnatal developing rat brain; an immunocytochemical study.

Differential expression of protein kinase C subspecies, beta I- and beta II-PKC, derived from a single gene by alternative splicing was evidenced in the postnatal developing rat brain. Immunoblot analysis of the PKC subspecies in the whole developing brain showed that beta I-PKC was present at birth and then gradually increased, while beta II-PKC was not present at birth or on postnatal day 3, then increased rapidly from day 7 to the maximum value seen in the adult brain. Under light microscopy, beta I-PKC immunoreactivities seen at birth were the most intense in the brainstem and intense in the diagonal bundle and globus pallidus. beta I-PKC immunoreactivities in these neurons weakened from day 7 and disappeared in the adult brain, while in the cerebral cortex, triangular septal nucleus and pontine nucleus beta I-PKC immunoreactivities were week at birth and then gradually increased. beta II-PKC immunoreactivities were first visible in neurons on day 7 and increased progressively. beta I- and beta II-PKCs were not co-localized in a neuron, as far as examined. The immunoreactivities of beta I-PKC at birth were localized in growth cone-like structures as well as in the dendrites and perikarya. Similarly, alpha-PKC was also present at birth in the growth cone-like structure. Immunoblot analysis revealed that beta I-PKC was present at birth in the growth cone-rich fraction from the hindbrain but not in that from the forebrain, while alpha-PKC was found in the growth cone-rich fraction from both the forebrain and the hindbrain. beta II- and gamma-PKC were not detected in the growth cone-rich fraction from either forebrain or hindbrain. These findings suggest that beta I- and beta II-PKC play a role in different stages of development and in different neurons; both beta-subspecies may be involved in postnatal developing neuronal functions while only beta I-PKC plays functional roles in the growth cone, in the prenatal developmental stage.     

Time-course changes of regional cerebral blood flow by SPECT with N-isopropyl-p-[123I]-iodoamphetamine in childhood partial seizures]

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with N-isopropyl-p-[123I]-iodoamphetamine was performed twice at different times in 18 children suffering from partial seizures to evaluate the time-course changes of the hemodynamics in the focal region. Comparison of the 2 SPECT images revealed that a decreased regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the first was normalized in 4 cases (22.2%) and contracted in 7 cases (38.9%). The region of decreased blood flow in the second was contralateral to that in the first in 1 case (5.6%) and unchanged in 6 cases (33.3%). Most of the normalized and contracted cases were those in which clinical seizures disappeared and the EEG findings were normalized. In these cases which responded to treatment, the decreased regional CBF was also found to be improved. Repeated SPECT appears to be useful for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy. On the other hand, most of the unchanged cases were those in which clinical seizures were frequent or uncontrolled, or which persistently showed the abnormalities in their EEG. SPECT was considered to reflect well the conditions of the epileptic foci. These results indicate that repeated SPECT for observing the time-course changes of the regional CBF represents a useful technique with can be applied in evaluating the therapeutic efficacy or deciding the time to discontinue treatment and for pathogenetic elucidation of the epileptic foci.     

Relationship of Diet to Small and Large Adenomas of the Sigmoid Colon

The relation of dietary factors to the risk of adenomas of the sigmoid colon was examined in men receiving a retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and 1990. A total of 187 adenoma cases and 1557 controls with normal colonoscopy were identified in the series. Cases were further classified into small-adenoma (<5 mm, n=78) and large-adenoma (≥5 mm, n=67) groups. The consumptions of selected foods and beverages were ascertained before colonoscopy by means of a self-administered questionnaire. After adjustment for smoking, alcohol use, rank and body mass index, low rice consumption and high meat intake were independently associated with an increased risk of large adenomas. The risk of small adenomas was not related to either rice consumption or meat intake. Adjusted odds ratios of large adenomas for the low, intermediate and high consumption levels of rice were estimated to be 1.0 (referent), 0.83 and 0.43, respectively (trend P = 0.08), and the corresponding figures for meat consumption were 1.0 (referent), 1.58 and 2.38, respectively (trend P =0.02). The findings suggest that low rice consumption and high meat intake may promote the growth of colon adenomas, thereby increasing the risk of colon cancer.     

Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumor in children. Recently, liver transplantation has been indicated for unresectable hepatoblastoma. We retrospectively reviewed 14 children with a diagnosis of hepatoblastoma who had undergone living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) at Kyoto University Hospital. During the period from June 1990 to December 2004, 607 children underwent LDLT. Of these interventions, 2.3% were performed for hepatoblastoma. Based on radiological findings, the pre-treatment extent of disease (PRETEXT) grouping was used for pre-treatment staging of the tumor. There were grade III in seven patients and grade IV in seven patients. Thirteen patients received chemotherapy, and seven underwent hepatectomy 11 times. Immunosuppressive treatment consisted of tacrolimus monotherapy in 11 patients. Actuarial 1- and 5-year graft and patient survival rates were 78.6% and 65.5%. The poor prognostic factors were macroscopic venous invasion and extrahepatic involvement with 1-year and 5-year survival rates of 33.0% and 0%. Pediatric patients without these factors showed an acceptable 5-year survival rate of 90.9%. LDLT provides a valuable alternative with excellent results in children with hepatoblastoma because it allows optimal timing of the liver transplantation, given the absence of delay between the completion of chemotherapy and planned liver transplantation.