Dermoscopic features of hidroacanthoma simplex: Usefulness in distinguishing it from Bowen's disease and seborrheic keratosis

Hidroacanthoma simplex (HAS) is a rare benign eccrine adnexal tumor. HAS is sometimes clinically or pathologically misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease; BD), seborrheic keratosis (SK) or other adnexal tumor. To date, there has never been a report focusing on dermoscopic features to distinguish HAS from BD and SK. We found the following dermoscopic findings to be characteristic of HAS: fine black dots/globules (75% of cases) and fine scales arranged annularly (100% of cases). In contrast, glomerular vessels, which are typically observed in BD, were not seen in any of the four cases. Cerebriform appearance and milia‐like cysts, which are typically observed in SK, were also not seen in any of the four cases. The existence of “scattered fine black dots/globules” and “fine scales arranged annularly”, and the absence of the glomerular vessels, may contribute to precise diagnosis of HAS. Even though HAS resembles BD or SK clinically, it can be distinguished from these by the characteristic dermoscopic features.     

Vasovagal syncope with asystole associated with intravenous access.

Two cases of vasovagal syncope (VVS) during venous access are reported. Both patients had a history of fainting episodes and experienced bradycardia with asystole, hypotension, and fainting. Pain and phobic stress during venous access triggered an increase in parasympathetic tone, resulting in bradycardia with asystole and hypotension in both cases. Hypotension and bradycardia likely caused cerebral hypoperfusion, leading to fainting. The intense parasympathetic tone triggered by somatic or emotional stress was likely responsible for directly depressing the sinus node, leading to asystole and bradycardia. Bradycardia with asystole progressing to syncope is a potentially fatal dysrhythmia in patients with cardiovascular disease or older patients with decreased cardiac function. Appropriate treatment for VVS includes the administration of intravenous fluids, vagolytics, ephedrine, and the rapid use of the Trendelenburg position. Intravenous fluids and atropine were used to treat the present patients.     

Studies on isolated smooth muscle cells. IX. Application of papain for isolation of single smooth muscle cells from guinea-pig taenia coli

To prepare single smooth muscle cells from the taenia coli of guinea pig, the application of papain to the enzymatic solution was examined under two conditions: 1) the isolation in a modified Tyrode solution (containing 0.18 mM Ca2+: 0.18 mM Ca2+-Tyrode solution) and 2) the isolation in a high-K+ Tyrode solution (Na+ was replaced by K+, and Ca2+ was not added: high-K+ Tyrode solution). The presence of papain during collagenase digestion reduced contamination of broken cells and cell debris. In the case of the high-K+ Tyrode solution, papain increased the yield of single cells significantly. The cells were contracted in a dose-dependent manner by Ca2+ in the high-K+ Tyrode solution and by carbachol in 0.18 mM Ca2+-Tyrode solution; furthermore, the contractions were antagonized by verapamil and atropine, respectively. Treatment with papain did not affect cell sensitivity to the stimulants. Therefore, our results suggest that the addition of papain is useful for the isolation of single cells to investigate the physiological and pharmacological characteristics of smooth muscle.     

Development of a simple image viewer designed for small X-ray field CT equipment 3DX

Objectives To develop a simple image viewer that utilizes image files in general-purpose formats that are written from the original 3DX volume data. Methods We used FLASH MX2004 for Macintosh to develop a simple image viewer. In developing the software for the simple image viewer, we decided that the viewer should provide the following features: (1) be available to both Windows OS and Mac OS, (2) allow interlocking of the 3D images, (3) display image enlargement, and (4) allow distance measurements. The accuracy of the distance measurements was evaluated. Results The procedure was as follows: (1) write 3D images in jpeg format to a folder on i-VIEW; (2) place the folder containing the 3D images into the directory of the simple image viewer software on a PC; (3) start the software and open the window to input the folder name containing the 3D images; and (4) display the 3D images. Our viewer had features such as image enlargement, interlocking 3D images, drawing, and distance measurements. No significant differences were shown between the measurements made by our simple viewer and the actual values of the images in any direction. Conclusions Our image-viewing software for 3DX is beneficial for clinical use.     

A new method for monitoring the cerebrovascular response to acetazolamide using 99mTc-DTPA-HSA.

We developed a new method for monitoring the cerebrovascular response to acetazolamide using technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid human serum albumin (99mTc-DTPA-HSA). We infused 740 M Bq (20 mCi) of 99mTc-DTPA-HSA intravenously and carried out dynamic scanning of the anterior view of the head for 50 minutes. Ten minutes after the start of scanning, 1,000 mg of acetazolamide was injected intravenously. In three normal volunteers, the radioactivity in brain increased for an average of 8 minutes after the injection of acetazolamide and then remained relatively stable. The average of dilatation index [(peak count/the count just before acetazolamide injection-1)x 100] was 16.1. Our method enabled us to observe vasodilation caused by acetazolamide straight, and may be of value in assessing cerebral perfusion reserve easily and quantitatively.     

A case of middle-aged onset sialidosis type I]

We reported a patient with middle-aged onset sialidosis type I. A 52-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital because of dysarthria, involuntary movement of his extremities and gait disturbance since the age of 46 years. On admission, neurological examination revealed scanning speech, action myoclonus, cerebellar ataxia and cherry-red spots. Vacuolated lymphocytes were found in peripheral blood. Brain 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) showed decreased glucose metabolism in the cerebellum. Enzymological analysis using his skin fibroblasts revealed primary deficiency of sialidase activity. Sialidase gene analysis identified compound heterozygotes for base substitusions of 239T-to-C and 649G-to-A, which resulted in amino acid alterations of P80L and V217M, respectively. These mutations have been reported in Japanese sialidosis type II (P80L) and I (V217M). Further studies are required to reveal effects of gene mutations on residual enzyme activities and phenotypes.