Lignocaine–induced convulsion does not induce c–fos protein (c–Fos) in rat hippocampus

Recent studies have shown that proto–oncogene c–fos mRNA is induced in the central nervous system by a variety of stimuli including generalised convulsions. In this study, the expression of c–fos protein (c–Fos) following lignocaine–induced convulsions was examined and compared with that following convulsions induced by non–anesthetic convulsants, such as pentylenetetrazol, kainic acid and electroconvulsive shocks, in rat brain.
Administration of 120 mg kg^-1 lignocaine by the intraperitoneal route induced generalised convulsions in all rats examined within 10 min. C–Fos was markedly induced in the piriform cortex and amygdala, and slightly induced in the neocortex and thalamus, while no c–Fos expression was observed in the hippocampus. In contrast, c–Fos expression following generalised convulsions induced by non–anaesthetic convulsants was very marked in the hippocampal region, piriform cortex and amygdala, and extended to the thalamus and neocortex.
These results contradict those of previously reported local cerebral metabolic studies using 2–deoxyglucose as a metabolic marker, and suggest that lignocaine–induced convulsions, unlike those induced by non–anaesthetic convulsants, may not cause severe sequelae (plastic changes) in the hippocampus.     

Bifurcation properties of the two process model

Abstract Daan's two process model is known to be one of the most powerful models, covering various situations from free-running to sleep deprivation. In this study, bifurcation properties of the model dynamics as function of a gap, D , between the threshold processes are clarified using a circle map. As a function of D , we will show that the model has the different types of the mutual entrainment regions that are intervened by the tangent bifurcation. The variable behavior of human circadian rhythm is suggested to be systematically understood based on the bifurcation properties of the two process model.     

A vascular smooth muscle-specific CD4+ T cell line that induces pulmonary vasculitis in MRL-+/+ mice

We established a T cell line, MV1, specific for rat vascular smooth muscle antigen from the regional lymph nodes of immunized MRL/Mp-+/+ mice. Adoptive transfer of MV1 T cells induced vasculitis lesions in the lungs of the syngeneic recipient mice pre-treated with cyclophosphamide. Flow cytometric analysis showed that MV1 was a CD4⁺ T cell line. The T cells proliferated in the presence of the vascular smooth muscle antigen and mitomycin C-treated syngeneic spleen cells. The cross experiments using an ovalbumin-specific T cell line demonstrated that MV1 was specific for vascular smooth muscle antigen. The antigen-specific proliferation of MV1 was CD4-dependent, which was consistent with the flow cytometric analysis. In addition, MV1 T cells, upon activation with anti-CD3 antibody or antigen-specific activation, killed A20.2J mouse B lymphoma cells. MV1 T cells also killed a CD95 (Fas)-transfected T lymphoma line, but not its parental Fas-negative cell line. These findings indicate that MV1 T cells killed target cells via a Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas pathway. The cytotoxicity of MV1 T cells may play an important role in the development of vasculitis in this model. Although the antigenic epitopes of MV1 and the lung specificity of vasculitis remain to be clarified, MV1-induced vasculitis should serve as an experimental model of human pulmonary vasculitis.     

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in ulcerative colitis: anti-cathepsin G and a novel antibody correlate with a refractory type

We analysed the clinical significance of ANCA in patients with ulcerative colitis. On either an indirect immunofluorescence assay or an ELISA with fixed neutrophils, 71% (25/35) of the patients were positive for ANCA. However, only half of them reacted with either cathepsin G or lactoferrin. Western blot assays revealed positive bands in 40% (10/25) of the antibody-positive patients. The sizes of the bands detected were ≈58, 47, 44, 40, and 28 kD. No significant correlation was found between the ANCA positivity and various variables, i.e. disease activity, extent of lesion, or treatment of the disease. The anti-cathepsin G and 28-kD positivity, however, significantly correlated with a refractory type of ulcerative colitis.     

Influence of left ventricular filling proffle during preceding control beats on pulse pressure during ventricular premature contractions

We investigated whether the left ventricular filling profile,defined as the early to late diastolic left ventricular fillingvolume ratio, during the preceding control beats actually affectsthe pulse pressure during a ventricular premature contraction(PVC). Twenty patients underwent invasive electrophysiologicalstudy for sinus bradycardia. VPCs with various coupling intervalswere induced by right ventricular electrical stimulation, andthe mitral filling flow velocity pulsed Doppler echocardiography,the femoral arterial pressure curve and the electrocardiogramwere simultaneously recorded The early to late diastolic velocity-rimeintegral ratio (E₁/A₁ ratio) of the mitral filling flow velocityduring the control beats which preceded the VPC was measuredas an index characterizing left ventricular filling profile.The coupling interval of each VPC and the extrasystolic beatpulse pressure were measured The ratio of the extrasystolicbeat pulse pressure to the control beat pulse pressure was expressedin % (% extrasystolic beat pulse pressure). The correlationbetween the coupling interval and the % extrasystolic beat pulsepressure was investigated. Coupling intervals of 0·80,0·70, 0·60, 0·50, and 0·45 s wereused At a coupling interval of 0·80 or 0·45 s,the % extrasystolic beat pulse pressure showed no significantcorrelation with the E₁/A₁ ratio. In contrast, the % extrasystolicbeat pulse pressure with coupling intervals of 0·70,0·60, and 0·50 s showed a significant positivecorrelation with the E₁/A₁ ratio (r=0·67, 0·74,and 0·66 P<0·01, respectively). In additionto the prematurity and the site of origin of the VPCs, the leftventricular filling profile during the preceding control beatsmay significantly affect the height of the pulse pressure duringextrasystoles with medium length coupling intervals.     

Metastatic tumor extending through the inferior vena cava into the right atrium: a case report of carcinoma of the uterine cervix with para-aortic lymph node metastases

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix with cardiac metastasis is not uncommon in autopsy cases. However, an intraatrial tumor extending through the inferior vena cava (IVC) from the site of para-aortic lymph node metastasis has never been reported. A 57-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to an emergency care unit complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath. She had progressive multiple lymphatic metastases of stage IIIB squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that had initially been treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Echocardiogram showed pedunculated tumor in the right atrium (RA), and computed tomography demonstrated multiple pulmonary tumor embolism. Surgical specimen from the RA showed squamous cell carcinoma resembling the primary cervical tumor, and the peduncle appeared to originate from within the IVC. Postoperative ultrasonography showed severe stenosis of the abdominal IVC due to the invasive growth of para-aortic lymph node metastases. The stalk of the tumor originated from this lesion. We present an extremely unusual case of intraatrial metastatic tumor originating from the para-aortic lymph nodes of cervical cancer.     

A Case of In-Stent Neoatherosclerosis 10 Years after Carotid Artery Stent Implantation: Observation with Optical Coherence Tomography and Plaque Histological Findings

We report a patient''s case of slow progressive in-stent restenosis 10 years after bare-metal stent implantation to his carotid artery. We treated the patient with an additional stent placement under a distal filter protection device. Optical coherence tomographic assessment and plaque histology during the carotid artery stenting (CAS) revealed atheromatous change at in-stent neointima, which contained lipid-rich plaque and calcification deposits. These findings suggest that in-stent neoatherosclerosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of very late stent restenosis after CAS.     

Effect of 7-Bromo-5-(2-pyridyl)-3H-l, 4-benzodiazepine-2(1H)-one, Bromazepam (Ro 5–3350), a New Minor Tranquilizer, on Psychoneurosis with Special Reference to the Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

Clinical application of a minor tranquilizer bromazepam, 7-Bromo-5-(2-pyridyl)-3H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2(lH)-one (Ro 5–3350) was made on 18 cases of obsessive-compulsive neurosis, 10 of anxiety neurosis, 6 hypochondriasis, 4 hysteria and 3 of phobia of bodily odor.

• 1) In 18 cases of obsessive-compulsive neurosis, bromazepam was found markedly effective in 6, effective in 3, fairly effective in 5, ineffective in 2, and aggravated in 2 cases. The effective cases were those with obsessive thinking and manifest anxiety. In other kind of neurosis, bromazepam was markedly effective in 5 and effective in 2 of 10 anxiety neurotic cases, whereas it was almost ineffective in the cases of hypochondriasis, hysteria and phobia of bodily odor.
• 3) The maximum daily dose of bromazepam was 10 to 20 mg in many cases, and 20 to 30 mg in some other cases. The durg is quick-acting to such an extent that it took 2 to 5 days for its action to become manifest in markedly effective cases.
• 4) Various laboratory tests revealed no appreciable abnormality in most cases where bromazepam was employed. Physical side effects such as slight hypotension, dizziness, and sleepiness were observed in a few cases, and mental side effects such as loquaciousness and restlessness in about 20 cases.
• 5) The target symptoms of bromazepam were suggested to be anxiety, tension, and irritation like previously reported other benzodiazepines. The fact that its action of relieving anxiety and tension and of elevating mood was found to be more potent than those of other benzodiazepines and that it was effective on some obsessive-compulsive neurosis that showed little response to other benzodiazepines, suggested that bromazepam is a potent and characteristic new minor tranquilizer of clinical value.