Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on Teratogenicity of Cadmium in Mice

ABSTRACT Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of cadmium (Cd) and modulation of its effects by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) were evaluated in mice. Pregnant ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 3.5 mg/kg of CdCl₂ on day 10 or 11 of gestation (vaginal plug = day 0). Pregnant mice were pretreated with 160 mg/kg of NAC intravenously 2 hours before dosing with CdCl₂. Pregnant mice were killed on day 17 of gestation. Fetuses were examined for external malformations, especially limb malformations, cleft palate and abnormal palatal rugae. There was little difference in body weight gain of dams during the gestation period in the groups treated with NAC plus Cd as compared with the groups treated with Cd alone. Pretreatment with 160 mg/kg of NAC decreased the fetal mortality, incidence of cleft palate and abnormal palatal rugae induced by Cd on day 11. On day 10, pretreatment with NAC decreased the incidence of Cd induced abnormal palatal rugae. These results clearly indicate that NAC exerts protective effects against embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of Cd.     

Fas gene promoter –670 polymorphism in gynecological cancer

Abstract.   Ueda M, Terai Y, Kanda K, Kanemura M, Takehara M, Yamaguchi H, Nishiyama K, Yasuda M, Ueki M. Fas gene promoter −670 polymorphism in gynecological cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006; 16(Suppl. 1): 179–182.
Single-nucleotide polymorphism at −670 of Fas gene promoter (A/G) was examined in a total of 354 blood samples from normal healthy women and gynecological cancer patients. They consisted of 95 normal, 83 cervical, 108 endometrial, and 68 ovarian cancer cases. Eighty-three patients with cervical cancer had statistically higher frequency of GG genotype and G allele than 95 controls ( P = 0.0353 and 0.0278, respectively). There was no significant difference in the genotype or allele prevalence between control subjects and endometrial or ovarian cancer patients. The Fas −670 GG genotype was associated with an increased risk for the development of cervical cancer (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.08–6.10) compared with the AA genotype. The G allele also increased the risk of cervical cancer (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.05–2.43) compared with the A allele. Germ-line polymorphism of Fas gene promoter −670 may be associated with the risk of cervical cancer in a Japanese population.     

A Simple, 10-minute Procedure for Transforaminal Injection under Ultrasonic Guidance to Effect Cervical Selective Nerve Root Block

The aim is to provide a detailed procedure of a simple and 10-minute cervical nerve root block (CNRB) under ultrasonic guidance, and to report the clinical outcomes, disorders, and complications. Records of patients who had undergone CNRB, were reviewed under ultrasonic guidance at the hospital from 2010 through 2012. The procedure is described in detail. Arm and shoulder pain was evaluated by use of the visual analogue scale (VAS). Forty-three patients agreed to undergo CNRB under ultrasonic guidance. Nerve roots from C5 to C8 were affected in 41, and these nerve roots were readily distinguished. Two of the 43 participants did not receive injections because impediments in visualizing the affected nerve root. Of the 41 who received injections, radicular pain immediately disappeared in 39, who continued to feel pain relief 1 month later. However, pain recurred in 15 patients (38%), of whom 11 underwent cervical spine surgery. The rest of 24 patients felt sustained pain relief longer than 3 months after the injection, significantly. Although one patient had recurrent radicular pain 10 months later, the pain could be controlled by medication. At the final follow-up periods, 17.2 (10–24 months), the median VAS score of the patients, 23 (0 to 71 mm), was significantly improvement (P = 0.001) in comparison to before injection 88 (range; 56–100). No complications occurred. The cervical nerve root block under ultrasonic guidance simply, safely, and efficaciously decreased radicular pain for 17.2 months in 62% patients with intolerable radicular pain.     

Usefulness of Craniograms in Discriminating Coiled Intracranial Aneurysms Requiring Retreatment

While endovascular coil embolization has become one of the major therapeutic modalities for intracranial aneurysms, long-term imaging follow-up is required because of the higher rate of retreatment compared with surgical clipping. The purpose of this study was to show the usefulness of craniograms to discriminate coiled intracranial aneurysms that required retreatment. Under the study protocol approved by institutional review board, a retrospective review of the medical record was done regarding coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms performed between January 2014 and December 2018. Coil embolization performed as the initial treatment and followed up for more than 1 year without additional treatment, and those performed as retreatment after the initial coil embolization performed at our institution were recruited. Craniograms obtained just after the initial treatment were compared with those obtained just before the additional treatment in the retreated cases and compared with the latest ones in the non-recurrence cases. Correlation between the morphological changes in the coil mass on the craniograms and retreatments was evaluated. During the study period, 288 coil embolization procedures for intracranial aneurysms were performed. From these, 191 treatments that were followed up for more than 1 year without any additional treatments and 30 retreatments were included. Morphological change of the coil mass was observed in 4 of the 191 non-recurrence treatments and 26 of the 30 retreatments, which was significantly correlated with retreatments (p <0.001). Craniogram was a useful modality in following up the coiled intracranial aneurysms to detect those required retreatments.     

A Discordant Movement in Urine Calcium Excretion in Relation to Serum Calcium and Parathyroid Function Occurring Immediately after Birth

ABSTRACT. We studied the relationship between serum calcium and urinary calcium excretion in association with the parathyroid function in 28 neonates at birth and at five days of age. At birth, the urine calcium was low in spite of high cord serum calcium and a low parathyroid hormone level. On the fifth day of birth, urinary calcium excretion increased despite the reduction in serum calcium and an increase in the parathyroid hormone. These results suggest that the large increase in renal blood flow and the consequent increase in calcium load on the immature renal tubule occurring after birth may be the main cause for the change in this serum calcium-urinary calcium relationship. This finding can in part explain the temporary hypocalcemia during this period.     

Variations in Palatal Rugae in Near Term Fetuses from Untreated Jcl:ICR Mice

ABSTRACT The oral surface of the mouse palate has eight or nine pairs of transverse ridges, or rugae. Abnormalities in the pattern of palatal rugae have been reported in mutant mice and mice exposed to teratogens in utero. The purpose of this study was to describe control data of ruga variations for proper definition of "anomalous" ruga patterns. Jc1:ICR mice on gestation day 18 were killed, and the fetuses were fixed in Bouin's solution. Fetal palates were examined under a dissecting microscope. In total, 251 fetuses from 19 dams were observed. Among these fetuses 88% had one or more variations in the palatal rugae. Common variations were supernumerary anterior to the fourth ruga, division, and lateral bifurcation, and these were regarded as variations in the "normal" range. Variations rare in fetuses from untreated dams were shortness, fusion, cross, and supernumerary posterior to the fifth ruga, and these should be defined as "anomalous" ruga patterns in teratology experiments. Key words: mouse, palate, rugae, developmental toxicity test     

Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on Teratogenicity of 5-Fluorouracil in Mice

ABSTRACT Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and modulation of its effect by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) andor phorone were evaluated in mice. Pregnant ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 25 mglkg of 5-FU on day 11 of gestation (vaginal plug = day 0). Pregnant mice were pretreated with NAC at dose levels of 80, 160, and 320 mg/kg injected intravenously 2 hours before dosing with 5-FU. Pregnant mice were killed on day 17 of gestation. Fetuses were examined for external malformations, especially limb malformations. Pretreatment with 160 mg/kg and 320 mg/ kg of NAC decreased the incidence and severity of oligodactyly induced by 5-FU. There was little difference in maternal body weight gain, fetal mortality, and fetal weight between the 5-FU group and the 5-FU plus NAC groups. Pretreatment with phorone, a glutathione depleting agent, at dose levels of 160 and 320 mg/kg injected intraperitoneally, 4 hours before dosing with 5-FU, increased the incidence and severity of oligodactyly induced by 5-FU. Cotreatment with NAC at dose levels of 160 and 320 mg/kg decreased the incidence and severity of oligodactyly induced by 5-FU and 80 mg/kg of phorone. Cotreatment with NAC 160 mg/kg could not suppress the augmentative effect of phorone on 5-FU teratogenicity under the severe condition, that is, the excess amount of phorone such as 320 mg/kg. These results indicate that the teratogenicity of 5-FU is mitigated with NAC pretreatment, and also the level of endogenous glutathione is one of the factors which significantly affects teratogenicity of 5-FU.     

Physiological changes in the treatment of acrophobia (fear of height)

In order to investigate the physiological changes produced by the treatment of acrophobic patients body movement and Microvibration were measured before and after treatment. Eighteen acrophobic patients were assigned at random to 1 of the 2 groups: a treatment group (n= 8) and a non-treatment group (n= 10). The control group consisted of 16 healthy volunteers. Body movement area while viewing a slide of a high place or imagining a high place in the treatment group decreased significantly after treatment. Body movement of the control group showed almost no changes, and that of the non-treatment group was situated between the above-mentioned 2 groups. Simple body movements of the acrophobic patients without any stimulation of height were bigger than those of the control subjects. MV pattern of the treatment group had a tendency to improve under psychotherapy. Acrophobic patients had more abnormal MV patterns than the normal subjects.