Effect of respiratory phases and gravity on mucociliary transport in the normal lungs

Effect of gravity and respiratory phase on mucociliary transport was studied in 11 normal subjects. After inhaling 99mTc-human serum albumin aerosol, each subject was positioned in right lateral decubitus and then supine position before a scintillation camera. Data in list mode and simultaneous respiratory curve were stored in a computer for 15 min each. The respiratory curve was sequentially marked at the beginning of inspiration, expiration and pause of each respiratory cycle and list mode data was converted into frame mode, respectively. The frame mode data was then sequentially connected according to the respective respiratory phase. The data in count-per-second from each lungs versus time was fitted to a straight line by regression analysis and the slope of the line was compared with each other for respective respiratory phase. Slopes of net radioactivity changes in the right and left lungs were compared to evaluate gravity effect. Neither respiratory phases nor gravity had any significant effect on mucociliary transport. Theoretical calculations have also supported the present findings.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus and human T cell leukaemia virus

To clarify the prevalence of concurrent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human T cell leukaemia virus (HTLV), we measured HCV antibody in the population of a district endemic for HBV and HTLV infection. Blood samples were collected in June 1990 from 579 inhabitants of four islands of Uwa Bay in the southwest of Ehime Prefecture in Japan. Anti-HCV antibody against C100-3 protein was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Ortho Diagnostics). Thirteen of the 579 inhabitants (2.2%) were positive for anti-HCV, and this prevalence rate was not significantly different from the frequency of anti-HCV in Tokyo blood donors. A total of 11% (64 of 579) of the subjects were positive for HBsAg and 3.3% (19 of 579) were positive for anti-HTLV. These frequencies of HBsAg and anti-HTLV positivity were distinctly higher than the respective means of Japanese. All anti-HCV positive individuals were negative for HBsAg and anti-HTLV, while 54% (7 of 13) had increased alanine aminotransferase levels. These data suggest that the prevalence of HCV infection is not high even in an area endemic for HBV and HTLV infection.

[The ventilatory response to CO2 during end-expiratory negative extra-thoracic pressure and PEEP]

The effects of end-expiratory negative extra-thoracic pressure (EENETP) and PEEP on the ventilatory response to CO2 were studied in seven healthy volunteers. The changes in functional residual capacity during EENETP -20 cmH2O and PEEP 5 cmH2O were 13.9 and 12.9 ml.kg-1, respectively. The slopes of CO2 response (minute ventilation/end-tidal CO2) during ZEEP, EENETP and PEEP were 0.913, 0.622, 0.693 l.min-1.mmHg-1, respectively. The slopes during EENETP and PEEP were significantly decreased. These results indicate that EENETP and PEEP could worsen the CO2 response in patients with respiratory failure, especially, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in which functional residual capacity is increased.

Glycogen-rich meningioma. Case report and short review

A case of meningioma with cytoplasm rich in glycogen granules is described as an atypical type of meningotheliomatous meningioma.

Immunohistochemical prostatic acid phosphatase level as a prognostic factor of prostatic carcinoma

To determine whether prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) immunoreactivity in prostatic adenocarcinoma is a reliable prognostic factor, the PAP immunohistochemical distribution has been examined in 78 prostatic carcinoma cases. The intensity of PAP immunostaining was graded from 0 to 2, and the scores of the primary and the secondary staining patterns were added to assess the extent of the PAP expression in needle biopsy specimens. As a result, a higher cancer-specific survival rate was observed in patients showing a greater PAP immunostaining (P less than 0.01). Further, a multivariate analysis was made of possible prognostic factors (age, stage, Gleason score, serum PAP, PAP-immunostaining score, and the initial treatment) to estimate the extent of their impact on cancer-specific survival. Results have confirmed that the difference in PAP immunoreactivity is an excellent, independent prognostic factor for prostatic carcinoma.

Post-traumatic priapism treated with metaraminol bitartrate: case report

A 30-year-old male with post-traumatic priapism for 7 days was treated successfully by metaraminol bitartrate injection into the corpus cavernosum. This result suggests that an alpha-adrenagic agent injection into the corpus cavernosum should be considered in post-traumatic priapism at first.

Chondroma of the diaphragm--report of a case

A rare case of chondroma of the diaphragm is reported. The patient was a 23-year-old female who had had recurrent upper abdominal pain for 4 years. Her symptoms and physical findings on admission suggested an intra-abdominal tumor. Roentgenological study disclosed a mass with a thick calcified wall in the upper abdomen. Laparoscopy revealed a multinodular white mass protruding from the left hemidiaphragm. The mass was surgically enucleated from the diaphragm. The resected tumor had a thick, calcified wall and a narrow lumen containing colorless fluid. Microscopic examination disclosed a hyaline chondroid matrix with mature chondrocytes, as well as extensive ossification. Primary tumor of the diaphragm is an uncommon disease. Only one case of chondroma of the diaphragm has been reported in the literature. Laparoscopy was useful in confirming the tumor's location and in speculating on its nature.

New scheme of coupling from laser diodes to single-mode fibers: a beam expanding fiber with a hemispherical end

Light coupling from a laser diode to a beam expanding fiber with a hemispherical end is reported. The new scheme shows promise for achieving efficient coupling modules.

N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist reduces stroke size and regional glucose metabolism

Pharmacological inhibition of cell excitation during focal ischemia was studied in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. The potent and selective N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist CGS 19755, administered 5 minutes prior to or 5 minutes following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, caused a substantial decrease in infarct size, which was associated with reduction of postischemic cerebral glucose hypermetabolism. These data support a role for excitation-induced hypermetabolism in the pathogenesis of infarction following focal cerebrovascular occlusion.

Spatial walk-off polarizer utilizing artificial anisotropic dielectrics

We propose a new spatial walk-off polarizer that utilizes artificial anisotropic dielectrics. The polarizer is composed of two kinds of periodically laminated dielectric layer. We calculated the characteristics of the polarizer composed of periodically laminated a-Si/SiO(2) layers and found that the split angle between the ordinary wave and the extraordinary wave in the polarizer is more than three times larger than that in well-known birefringent crystals, e.g., rutile and calcite. The polarizer holds promise for the miniaturization of polarization beam splitters and polarization-independent isolators.

Changes in extracellular amino acid neurotransmitters produced by focal cerebral ischemia

Excitatory amino acids (EAAs) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of cellular injury after brain ischemia. Changes in extracellular levels of amino acids in rat cerebral cortex after permanent proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion were examined using microdialysis. Significant increases were found in dialysate concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from the ischemic cortex during the first 90 min after MCA occlusion compared to pre-ischemic concentrations and contralateral hemispheric controls. Total tissue levels of these amino acids in the infarcted hemisphere 90 min after onset of ischemia were not different from the contralateral hemisphere. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the release of EAAs may contribute to tissue damage in focal cerebral ischemia.

Simultaneous multielement analysis of diet samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Diet samples were collected by a duplicated portion study for an adult male in both Mito, Japan and Los Alamos, U.S.A. The ashed samples were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for 22 elements. The trace and ultratrace elements, Ba, Mo, Ni, Co, Cd, Cs, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U were determined by ICP-MS. The major and minor elements, Na, K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Al, Sr, and Cu were determined by ICP-AES. Accuracy and precision for some elements were examined by analyzing National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly National Bureau of Standards) Standard Reference Materials, 1577b Bovine Liver, and 1573 Tomato Leaves. Simultaneous multielement analyses of diet samples by using the two methods were found to be very useful.

Methionine sulfoximine reduces cortical infarct size in rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion

The methionine analogue methionine sulfoximine was administered to 10 rats 24 hours before occlusion of the proximal left middle cerebral artery. Three days later the rats were decapitated and the brain infarct volumes were compared with those in 10 control rats that received saline before middle cerebral artery occlusion. The mean volume of the infarct in the cerebral cortex was reduced by 33% in the group treated with methionine sulfoximine (p less than 0.01). This protective effect may be mediated by a presynaptic mechanism; methionine sulfoximine profoundly inhibits brain glutamine synthetase, thereby interrupting the astrocyte-neuron glutamate shuttle and impairing neuronal glutamate release. Methionine sulfoximine also increases brain glycogen stores, and this increased energy reserve may benefit penumbral tissue during the peri-infarct period. Further study of the mechanisms by which methionine sulfoximine decreases infarct volume could lead to new therapeutic approaches for stroke.

A case of aqueduct stenosis in adults with various neurological and psychiatric symptoms

A case of aqueduct stenosis in an adult with several depressive episodes and the clinical features of delusional depression is presented. The patient complained of a strange feeling in the throat. She also had had several falls with loss of consciousness. The relationship between aqueduct stenosis and diencephalic dysfunction is discussed.

Sequential metabolic changes in rat brain following middle cerebral artery occlusion: a 2-deoxyglucose study

The distribution and time course of altered cerebral metabolism following permanent focal ischemia was studied in rat using the 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) technique. Increased 2DG uptake preceded decreased 2DG uptake and infarction in the caudate putamen and cortex. Decreased 2DG uptake without infarction was observed for 72 h in thalamus and for 24 h in hippocampus (areas remote from the ischemic zones). This study supports the concept of cell excitation as a pathophysiologic process in permanent focal ischemia. The time course of increased metabolism may demarcate the time window of opportunity for the previously demonstrated attenuation of stroke size with inhibition of cell excitation by pharmacologic blockade of excitatory amino acid neurotransmission.

[Correlation between the function and structure in papain-induced emphysema in dogs]

To examine the relationship between morphologic changes and the alteration of pulmonary function, papain solution was administered to 11 dogs by inhalation and to 5 dogs by a single intratracheal injection. Pulmonary function tests, including determination of lung volume subdivision, diffusion capacity (DLCO), pressure-volume relationship of the lung and arterial blood gas were performed before and after papain treatment. The dogs were then killed and the lungs processed for pathologic studies. The severity of emphysema was graded as percent of emphysema according to Dunill's method and we compared this to the antemortem pulmonary function data. Exponential constant K was determined by fitting lung pressure-volume data to the equation V = Vo (1-e-KP). After papain administration, DLCO decreased, K of the pressure-volume curve increased, and arterial blood oxygen pressure reduced significantly. The changes of residual volume, the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity, DLCO per unit lung volume, and the values of the exponential functions of pressure-volume data were correlated with the severity of emphysema with statistical significance, but none of them showed excellent order correlation. Multiple regression equation using 2 to 4 of the parameters indicated that the severity of emphysema can be predicted more accurately. We conclude that recognition of the severity of emphysema requires a multivariate approach including the determination of lung volume, DLCO, and pressure volume relationship of the lung, because the relationship between the severity of emphysema and the values obtained with these measurements are nonlinear.

[Female urethral diverticulum calculi: a case report]

A case of urethral diverticulum with calculus in a 53-year-old woman is reported. She was admitted to Isahaya General Hospital complaining of a localized swelling in the external genitalia. We found a urethral diverticular calculi by urethrography. Urethral diverticulectomy was carried out without any complications. The removed stones were in 2 pieces and they were composed of calcium phosphate and ammonium urate.

A model of proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat

A highly reproducible model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in rat is described. Reproducibility relates to MCA occlusion at its most proximal portion and the surgical approach through a widened foramen ovale, thus avoiding craniotomy and brain retraction. Spontaneous ventilation is maintained, avoiding intubation. Collateral circulation to cortex is preserved, permitting optimal metabolic and pharmacologic studies of the ischemic regions destined for infarction.

Cytopathic effects induced by Epstein-Barr virus replication in epithelial nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cells

NPC-KT cl.S61, a subclone derived from an epithelial-nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cell line (NPC-KT), showed cytopathic changes characteristic of herpesvirus replication, including formation of multinucleated giant cells and inclusion bodies, when Epstein-Barr virus replicative cycle was induced by 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine. Acyclovir (an inhibitor of herpesvirus DNA polymerase), Epstein-Barr virus-immune human serum, or 2-deoxyglucose (an inhibitor of the glycosylation) interfered with syncytium formation, indicating that a virus-specified glycoprotein belonging to the late group is responsible for cell fusion induced by Epstein-Barr virus replication in cl.S61 cells.

[A technique of end-to-side anastomosis of a prosthetic graft to the ascending aorta: reinforcement of the anastomosis with wrapping of the ascending aorta]

In temporary, permanent or extra-anatomic bypass grafting to the side of the ascending aorta, a technique of prosthetic fabric wrapping of the ascending aorta associated with reinforcement of the anastomosis is devised as a simple and useful method for aortic surgery. With this technique, dislodgement of the vascular forceps can be prevented completely, and the ascending aortic wall may be protected from injuries owing to the vascular forceps.

Heat shock proteins as markers of neural injury

Systemic or intracerebral injections of kainic acid induced immunoreactivity for the 72 kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) in individual neurons of the rat brain in patterns matching the known histopathology of the particular injury. HSP72 immunostaining was also induced in and around areas of infarction following experimental strokes. These results suggest that HSP72 immunocytochemistry may be used as a marker of cellular injury in the mammalian brain.