Developmental changes in electroencephalogram for term and preterm infants using an autoregressive model

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the developmental changes of electroencephalogram (EEG) background activity in term and preterm infants that take place with increasing conceptional age (CA) through an autoregressive (AR) model. Polygraphical EEG recordings were obtained from 76 healthy term and preterm infants with a CA ranging between 31 and 40 weeks. Decreases in total power and component power of δ were noted with CA during burst activity (BA) in quiet sleep (QS) and during active sleep (AS). Increases in total power and component power of δ were noted with CA during interburst interval activity (IBIA) of QS. Regression analysis (RA) of the information amount (IA) indicated a negative correlation with increasing CA in AS and in the monopolar EEG tracings Fp1, C3, O1 and O2 in BA, and a positive correlation in O1 in IBIA. Regression analysis of the IA of δ indicated a negative correlation with increasing CA in AS and in Fp1, C3, O1 and O2 in BA, and a positive correlation in O1 in IBIA. Regression analysis of the IA of δ indicated a negative correlation with increasing CA in BA and AS. These results showed that the high voltage slow wave component changed to a low voltage slow one with development in AS and that BA was longer in duration and lower in power with increasing CA, while IBIA was shorter in duration and higher in power. In conclusion, significant developmental changes occur in all derivatives of AS. Even though the EEG of BA and IBIA change separately, they are followed by EEG of QS in a continuous pattern.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients with Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a common entrapment syndrome whose diagnosis can be difficult. We compared preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and operative findings in 23 consecutive TTS patients (28 sides) whose mean age was 74.5 years. The 1.5T MRI sequence was 3D T2* fat suppression. We compared the MRI findings with surgical records and intraoperative videos to evaluate them. MRI- and surgical findings revealed that a ganglion was involved on one side (3.6%), and the other 27 sides were diagnosed with idiopathic TTS. MRI visualized the nerve compression point on 23 sides (82.1%) but failed to reveal details required for surgical planning. During surgery of the other five sides (17.9%), three involved varices, and on one side each, there was connective tissue entrapment or nerve compression due to small vascular branch strangulation. MRI studies were useful for nerve compression due to a mass lesion or idiopathic factors. Although MRI revealed the compression site, it failed to identify the specific involvement of varices and small vessel branches and the presence of connective tissue entrapment.     

Sleep problems in the aged in relation to senility

Abstract As a part of an epidemiologic survey of dementia in a community of aged persons, correlation between sleep complaints and physical illness and senility were studied. A total of 3302 randomly sampled aged individuals (aged 65 yean) were studied using a questionnaire. In this sample the prevalence of poor sleep and habitual snoring did not increase with age. The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness showed an increase with age. Male predominance of habitual snoring and female predominance of poor sleep were observed. Female predominance of excessive daytime sleepiness was noted among the aged 70 and over. Age-related excessive daytime sleepiness was significantly correlated with senility.     

Endoscope-assisted minilaparotomic radical retropubic prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of endoscope-assisted minilaparotomic radical retropubic prostatectomy (EAM-RRP) compared with conventional radical retropubic prostatectomy (cRRP). METHODS: From September 2001 to December 2003, 30 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated by EAM-RRP. The surgical manipulation was performed through the wound with thoracoscopic assistance, using standard surgical instruments. In all cases, 800 mL of blood was collected from the patient for autotransfusion. For both EAM-RRP and cRRP, the internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes were dissected before the prostate removal. Clinical indicators such as operation time, blood loss, and duration of postoperative urine incontinence were analysed in the two groups. RESULTS: The postoperative period before ambulation and the duration of postoperative urine incontinence were significantly shorter after EAM-RRP than after cRRP, while no significant difference was found in operation time, blood loss, and duration of urethral catheterization. None of the cases required allotransfusion. CONCLUSION: EAM-RRP, which had a shorter postoperative period before ambulation and continence, is considered a safe and useful technique for radical prostatectomy.     

The novel histamine H2 receptor antagonist FRG-8813 prevents delay of wound repair induced by hydrogen peroxide in a rabbit gastric epithelial cell system

Abstract The effects of a novel histamine H₂ receptor antagonist (FRG-8813) on the restoration process of gastric epithelial wounds were assessed using an in vitro wound healing model. FRG-8813 (1, 10 mol/L) was added to a complete confluent monolayer cell sheet after artificial wounding. The restoration process was analysed by a time-lapse video system and cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. Hydrogen peroxide (1, 3 mmol/L) inhibited restoration after wounding by suppressing cell migration and proliferation and induced epithelial cell apoptosis around the wound. The addition of FRG-8813 abolished the hydrogen peroxide-induced retardation and prevented apoptosis, although FRG-8813 itself did not enhance wound healing. FRG-8813 may act as a radical scavenger as well as having an anti-secretory action and may have favourable effects on peptic ulcer healing.     

Usefulness of the [13C]-urea breath test for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in fasting patients

Most of the reported [¹³C]-urea breath test procedures use a test meal, which is believed to assist in the spread of the [¹³C]-urea solution into the entire stomach, as results without a test meal may mainly reflect urease activity in the antrum. Yet, procedures for the [¹³C]-urea breath test and interpretation of the obtained ¹³C excess value have not been well established. We carried out the present study to validate the usefulness of the [¹³C]-urea breath test in fasting subjects and to establish cut-off values. [¹³C]-Urea breath tests were performed on 258 Helicobacter pylori-positive and 151 -negative subjects (247 H. pylori positive and 26 negative prior to any H. pylori cure treatment and 125 H. pylori negative and 11 positive after undergoing H. pylori cure treatment). The breath test procedure was performed under the following conditions: an 8 h fast, mouth washing before and after dosing, administration of 100 mg [¹³C]-urea, collection of breath sample in a plastic bag, a baseline and a 20 min sampling point and subject in a sitting position. Delta-¹³C at the 20 min sampling point in H. pylori-positive and -negative subjects was 31.0 ± 1.25 and 1.6 ± 0.11%o, respectively. Although the mean Δ¹³C value was greatest in duodenal ulcer or ulcer scar patients, there were no significant differences among mean Δ¹³C values in the various diseases. From Receiver Operator Characteristic curves and calculation of accuracy of the test, a cut-off value of 5.0%o is considered to be appropriate for diagnosis of H. pylori infection, which provides 96.7% specificity and 96.5% sensitivity, suggesting that the [¹³C]-urea breath test in the fasting state is as effective in detecting the presence of H. pylori as other reported methods.     

Case Report: Interferon induced coma in Sheehan's syndrome

A 54-year-old woman who was being treated with 10 million units (mu) of natural interferon (IFN)-α per day for chronic active hepatitis C at a local clinic, developed coma on the fourth day of treatment. On admission to Yamagata University Hospital, she was still in a state of semicoma with severe hyponatraemia (122 mEq/L) and hypochloraemia (89 mEq/L). After the administration of electrolytes, her condition improved remarkably. Endocrinological loading tests showed a hypofunction of the anterior pituitary gland. In consideration of these results, and her past experiences of haemorrhage during childbirth and subsequent amenorrhoea, we diagnosed her illness as a coma as a result of Sheehan's syndrome which had become overt during IFN therapy. She recovered completely after treatment with hydrocortisone and 1-thyroxine.     

Establishment of Two Ph1 Chromosome-Positive Cell Lines, KPB-M8 and KPB-M15

Two new Philadelphia (Ph¹) chromosome-positive cell lines, designatedKPB-M8 and KPB-M 15, were established from the peripheral bloodof two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blasticcrisis. Both cell lines were characterized by blastic appearance,the presence of acid phosphatase activity, Fc-receptor, andC₃. and reactivity to monoclonal antibodies such as OKM1, MCS2,MY906, MY4 and MY7. These results indicate that KPB-M8 and KPB-M15cells are of an undifferentiated blast nature. Both cells retainedPh¹ chromosome, and showed numerical and structural changesupon chromosomal analysis. These cell lines should provide auseful source for studying differentiation of hemopoietic cells.