Crohn's ileocolitis with initially superimposed cytomegalovirus infection, resembling intestinal tuberculosis]

We describe a case of 41-year-old Japanese man with Crohn's ileocolitis and cytomegalovirus infection, confirmed by histology of ileal ulcers. Although his colonoscopic and radiological features resembled those of intestinal tuberculosis, granulomas of typical Crohn's disease were evident on histology of biopsy specimens taken from the duodenum and colon. The lesions remain unchanged even after 1.5 years by oral administration of salazosulphapyridine 3g daily.     

Methamphetamine-induced behavioral alterations following repeated administration of methamphetamine

Repeated administration of a large dose of methamphetamine (MA) (25 mg/kg, i.p. twice daily for 4 days) to mice enhanced locomotor activity and decreased stereotyped behavior following a subsequent injection of MA. Simultaneous determinations of catecholamines revealed a depletion of brain dopamine. The moderate doses of haloperidol significantly enhanced MA-induced locomotor activity in mice. A significant enhancement of MA-induced locomotor activity was observed in the rats pretreated with 6-hydroxydopamine into the striatum, and this effect correlated negatively with the striatal dopamine level. These results suggest that hypofunction of striatal dopaminergic neuron systems induced by repeated administration of MA may be one of possible mechanisms of the enhancement of MA-induced locomotor activity due to the decrease of stereotyped behavior.     

The Effect of Total Blood Exchange with PHP Solution on Cardiac Xenotransplantation

Abstract: Prevention of hyperacute rejection is a difficult and unsolved problem in xenotransplantation. Natural antibodies and complement activation have been known to play an important role in the xenotransplantation between discordant species pairs. In the present study, total blood exchange (TBE) was performed with pyridox-alated-hemoglobin-polyoxyethylene conjugate (PHP) solution (Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Kawasaki, Japan) before cardiac xenotransplantation in order to remove the immunoglobulins and prolong xenograft survival time. Guinea pigs and rats were used as the discordant species combination for donor and recipient. Two groups were established: Group 1, untreated control (n = 8) and Group 2, TBT with PHP solution (n = 8). The exchange blood transfusion was carried out at the rate of 15–20 ml/h utilizing PHP solution using a blood pump. After the blood exchange was processed, hematocrit (Ht) levels dropped to 4 or 5%, and a cardiac xenotransplantation was performed within 24 h. The levels of serum IgA, IgM, and IgG were decreased to less than 25, 25, and 10% of the base line, respectively, after blood exchange. A mean xenograft survival time in Group 2 was prolonged to 472 ± 74 min and to 10.4 ± 1.8 min in Group 1 (p < 0.01). A titer of the anti-guinea pig lymphocytotoxic antibody in rat serum was decreased to almost nil. The data from this study suggest that total blood exchange with PHP solution may be useful in preoperative removal of xenograft antibodies in xenotransplantation.     

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma diagnosed by MRI: a case report

Appropriate diagnostic procedure for spinal epidural hematomas has not been established yet. The authors reported a case of spontaneous epidural hematomas at the thoracic level, in which correct diagnosis was made with MRI and good results were obtained by surgery. A 63-year-old female experienced a severe back pain which appeared suddenly during a walk and was followed by motor weakness in both legs deteriorating quickly to paraplegia. The patient had no history of hypertension, trauma or bleeding tendency. The laboratory data were normal. On admission, neurological examination revealed flaccid paraplegia, total sensory loss below the level of Th 6 and urinary and fecal incontinence. Myelograms showed incomplete block at the Th 6 level and postmyelographic CT scan showed an isodense mass, which was suspected to be an epidural tumor located behind the spinal cord. Emergent MRI confirmed an epidural hematoma as a high intensity area extending from Th 3 through Th 11. Sixty-five hours after onset, laminectomy of Th 4 through Th 11 and the evacuation of epidural hematoma were performed without identification of the origin of the bleeding. Neither vascular malformation nor tumor was recognized during operation. Neither was it noticed on histological examination. The patient made favorable progress after the surgery. During the first two weeks in the postoperative period, she regained muscle strength enough to do standing exercise, and satisfactory improvement was made in sensory function including urination and defecation. We emphasize that MRI is indispensable to make a differential diagnosis of thoracic lesions. In the reported case, a correct diagnosis was made with MRI, and an extremely good result was obtained by an emergency operation.     

Effect of bifemelane hydrochloride on an injury of the liver caused by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

In the liver ischemia-reperfusion model, the lipid peroxide level increased during ischemic periods, while a greater increase was observed during reflow periods. The increase in the cytochrome b5 content was observed during ischemia and reflow periods. On the contrary, the cytochrome P-450 content remained unchanged during ischemic periods, but decreased during reflow periods. Bifemelane suppressed the elevation of the lipid peroxide level, the cytochrome b5 content and the decrease in cytochrome P-450 content during the period of reperfusion.     

Effects of iomeprol,a new nonionic contrast medium,vis a vis iopamidol and nitroglycerin,on coronary diameter and blood flow in chronically instrumented dogs

The effects of an intracoronary administration of iomeprol, a new nonionic tri-iodinated water-soluble contrast medium, on coronary circulation were compared to those of iopamidol and those of nitroglycerin in 6 chronically instrumented conscious dogs. A pair of 10 MHz piezoelectric crystals and an electromagnetic flow probe were placed on the left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA) to measure the epicardial coronary diameter (CD) and coronary blood flow (CBF). Polyethylene tubing for drug administration was inserted into the LCCA proximal to the sonomicrometers. Iomeprol at the dose of 1 ml and 3 ml/min for 1 min significantly increased CD by 0.6±0.1% and 1.4±0.3%, respectively and CBF by 44.5±9% and 70±10%, respectively. Iopamidol at the same rates also significantly increased CD by 0.8±0.1% and 1.5±0.3% and CBF by 50±11% and 82±14%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between iomeprol-and iopamidol-induced increases in CD and CBF. However, the duration of the increase in CD was significantly shorter (p<0.05) after iomeprol than after iopamidol. Nitroglycerin (10 μg/kg) significantly increased CD by 4.5±1% and CBF by 105±10%. The increases in CD and CBF in response to iopamidol and iomeprol were significantly smaller (p<0.01) than to nitroglycerin. We conclude that vasodilating effects of iomeprol and iopamidol on the large epicardial coronary artery and coronary blood flow are comparable in conscious dogs and significantly lower than after nitroglycerin in the doses used by us. This study was supported by a grant from the EI-ZA1 Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, Japan.     

Right pneumonectomy syndrome: Report of two cases

We report herein the cases of two infants who developed right pneumonectomy syndrome, both of whom were born with gross C-type esophageal atresia (EA/TEF), and a hypoplastic right lung arising from the lower esophagus, being a bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (BPFM). Appropriate and well-timed treatments for a variety of sequelae primarily caused by the mediastinal shift must be considered after right pneumonectomy in early childhood.     

Characterization of htAKR, a novel gene product in the aldo-keto reductase family specifically expressed in human testis

In human testis, expression of a novel member of the aldo-keto reductase family was identified. Based on its testis-specific expression, we termed this protein human testis aldo-keto reductase (htAKR). In addition to four major isoforms, the existence of multiple alternatively spliced products of htAKR was detected using RT-PCR followed by nested PCR. htAKR was a homologue of mouse liver keto-reductase, AKR1E1, with close similarity in their genomic organizations. htAKR4, the longest isoform, was expressed as a non-fused native form. It exhibited a limited activity toward 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, while no activity toward the steroids or prostaglandins was demonstrated. Using the laser capture microdissection technique and RT-PCR, expression of htAKR was detected in testicular germ cells as well as in interstitial cells. The levels of htAKR mRNA in the tissues obtained from seminoma were much lower than those in normal testes. A significant decline in the htAKR expression was observed when NEC8, a cell line originated from a human testicular germ cell tumour, was exposed to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. These results indicate that the expression of htAKR, down-regulated in the testicular tumour, is possibly controlled by mitogenic and hormonal signals.     

Effects of Lentinan on Cytotoxic Functions of Human Lymphocytes

The in vitro effects of lentinan on natural killer (NK), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) and mitogen-induced blast transformation were studied in patients with solid tumors and chroyic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). NK activity was measured against Cr-labelled K-562 targets, ADCC against antibody-coated chicken red cells. LDCC and natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC) was assessed using ³H-thymidine prelabelled HEp-2 targets. Mitogen (PHA-and Con A-) induced blast transformation was measured by thymidine incorporation.

Blastogenesis and LDCC was not influenced by lentinan. 1 μg/ml lentinan increased NCMC of tumor-bearing subjects. The most prominent enhancement of NK and ADCC activity was seen in CLL patients, where a dose-related increase was seen (from 0.01 to 1 μg/ml).     

The critical role of ocular-infiltrating macrophages in the development of choroidal neovascularization

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is directly related to visual loss in some eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. Although several human histological studies have suggested the participation of macrophages in CNV formation, the precise mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, we elucidated the role of ocular-infiltrating macrophages in experimental CNV using CCR2 knockout (KO) mice, wild-type mice, and C57BL/6 (B6) mice. CCR2 is the receptor of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and the number of infiltrating macrophage and the area of CNV were significantly reduced in CCR2 KO mice. Enriched ocular-infiltrating macrophages from B6 mice actually showed angiogenic ability in a dorsal air sac assay. Moreover, their expression of class II, CD40, B7-1 and B7-2 molecules, and the mRNA for potential angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, was also observed. Collectively, we conclude that ocular-infiltrating macrophages play an important role in CNV generation.