Case Report: Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome Associated with Human Herpesvirus-6 Infection

We report a case of Gianotti-Crosti syndrome associated with human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection. An eight-month-old girl developed monomorphous papules on her cheeks, buttocks, and extremities after the subsidence of exanthema subitum. Viral antibody analysis confirmed primary HHV-6 infection. HHV-6 may be added to the list of causative agents of Gianotti-Crosti syndrome.     

Transrectal hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia]

Transrectal hyperthermia was performed on 30 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia twice a week for a total of ten times with the temperature of the prostatic tissue set at 43.0 degrees C. In our in vitro experiment using an agar phantom, the highest temperature was observed at approx. 1.5 cm from the point where the 915-MHz microwave was generated. Our histopathological study of the prostatic tissue, resected at open surgery after three days of hyperthermia, indicated that the effect of hyperthermia first occurred in the interstitial tissues, and then extended to the epithelial cells. Subjective symptoms and objective findings were evaluated. In almost all cases, improvement was observed in subjective symptoms after completion of the treatment. The residual urine volume improved significantly. Also, significant improvement was observed in our urodynamics study. In 16 out of 30 cases (53%), both subjective symptoms and objective findings were still improved after six months.     

Histopathological studies on experimental marine toxin poisoning--4. Pathogenesis of experimental maitotoxin poisoning

Repeated injections of 45 ng/kg of maitotoxin into the peritoneal cavities of male ICR mice resulted in marked atrophy of lymphoid tissues, a reduction of lymphocytes in the circulating blood, reduced immunoglobulin M in serum, and an increase of calcium content in the adrenal glands. A single injection of 200 ng/kg of maitotoxin induced a marked increase in total calcium content of the adrenal glands as well as in plasma cortisol concentration (about seven times control) within 1 hr. In contrast, mice pretreated with CoCl2, a calcium channel inhibitor, and/or adrenalectomized mice, showed no discernible changes in the lymphoid tissues after repeated injections of maitotoxin. It is thus suggested that maitotoxin first stimulates calcium influx in the adrenal glands, which then causes the release of cortisol into the blood. The excess amount of cortisol in serum produces acute involution of the thymus and other lymphoid tissues.     

Genetic alteration in carcinoid tumors of the lung.

Surgically resected specimens of 13 carcinoid tumors of the lung including nine typical carcinoids and four atypical carcinoids, and eight salivary gland type carcinomas (six mucoepidermoid carcinomas and two adenoid cystic carcinomas) were analyzed regarding p53 expression, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosome 3p, 9p, and K-ras mutation. The overexpression of p53 was identified in four atypical carcinoid tumors, one mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and one adenoid cystic carcinoma, however, none of typical carcinoids showed p53 immunoreactivity. LOH in 3p14 was demonstrated in three of seven informative cases in all tumors. LOH in 9p was demonstrated in two of five informative cases in all tumors. Two of three cases with LOH at 3p14 had a poor prognosis, one of which also had LOH at 9p. No mutation of the K-ras gene was observed in any of these tumors. These data thus indicate that p53 overexpression might distinguish atypical carcinoid tumors from typical tumors and might therefore be useful as an adjunct modality in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. The presence of LOH at 3p14 or 9p may thus help to identify lung cancer patients with a poor prognosis.     

Changes in myocardial blood flow and systemic hemodynamics during hypotensive anesthesia induced by adenosine triphosphate with or without dipyridamole]

The changes in myocardial blood flow and systemic hemodynamics during hypotensive anesthesia with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or ATP with dipyridamole (0.5 mg.kg-1) were studied in 20 mongrel dogs anesthetized with 0.7% halothane in 100% oxygen. In both groups, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was reduced to 60 mmHg by intravenous administration of ATP. During hypotensive anesthesia, coronary blood flow, myocardial blood flow and cardiac index increased significantly in both groups. Lactic acid and uric acid increased significantly during hypotensive anesthesia in the group 1. Heart rate, MAP, systemic vascular resistance and coronary vascular resistance decreased significantly during hypotensive anesthesia in both groups. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and central venous pressure showed no significant changes in both groups. Base excess in the group 1 increased markedly compared with the group 2. We conclude that pretreatment with dipyridamole can prevent metabolic acidosis that occurs during hypotensive anesthesia induced by ATP.     

Distribution of tetrodotoxin, 6-epitetrodotoxin, and 11-deoxytetrodotoxin in newts

Tetrodotoxin was detected in all nine species of newts tested, 6-epitetrodotoxin in six species, and 11-deoxytetrodotoxin in five species. Only one species lacked the analogues, thus suggesting that the analogues were common metabolites among newts. Toxin levels were high in Taricha granulosa and Notophthalmus viridescens followed by Cynops spp. Distinct differences in toxin contents and profiles existed among species and tissues.     

Clinical study on 32 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy at Osaka City University Hospital

We retrospectively reviewed 32 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy at our hospital for the last fourteen years. 1) Clinical appearance of primary hyperparathyroidism was in younger age in women. 2) In previous history or at the time of PTX, 9 patients had malignant tumors including 6 thyroid cancers, 36% of the patients with out bone related symptoms had a remarkable decrease in bone mineral content. 3) After PTX, none of patients had recurrent urolithiasis and bone mineral content of all patients was significantly increased in a short time. In addition, upper GI complaints were improved, or hypertension was partially normalized. However, renal insufficiency remained unchanged. 4) In preoperative localization study, Ultrasound sonography (US) demonstrated the best accuracy rate of 88% when only one gland was involved. US was able to detect multiple gland involvement only in 20% of 5 cases. 5) Hypercalciuria was recognized as one of the risk factors of stone formation in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.     

The effect of ganglioside on diabetic neurogenic bladder

The effect of ganglioside was studied in 6 diabetic patients with neurogenic bladder. Ganglioside is glycosphingolipids which seems to be involved in the processes of nerve growth, regeneration and tissue reinnervation. The treatment consisted in the daily intramuscular administration of 20 mg ganglioside. Clinical symptoms, vibration sensation and urodynamic studies were recorded at the beginning and 4 weeks later. The clinical responses assessed by subjective complaints and vibration sensation were effective, but no statistically significant difference in urodynamic studies was obtained. Side effects were not observed. In conclusion, ganglioside treatment seems to have a positive effect on diabetic neurogenic bladder.