[Analysis of electrically evoked response in relation to the central pathway of the cat (3). Current source density analysis in area 17 of cats]

We analyzed current source density and multiple unit activity of area 17 of cats in response to transcorneal electrical stimuli to clarify the localization of the transmembrane current flows contributing to the generation of the electrically evoked response. The results of the current source density analysis were as follows. 1. Current sinks within 20 ms were observed in layers 4 and 6. 2. Current sinks corresponding to N3 (latency 35 ms) were detected in layers 4 and lower 3 and current sources were in the supragranular layers. 3. Current sinks with a latency of more than 40 ms were observed in the supragranular layers. Simultaneous multiple unit activity was present in cases 1 and 2. With increased stimulus frequency or double electrical stimuli, the current sinks corresponding to N3 were decreased. These findings indicate that N1 (latency 9 ms) and N2 (latency 20 ms) reflect near-field potentials generated by geniculocortical afferents in layers 4 and 6, and that N3 is a post-and polysynaptic component. In addition, it appears that dipoles consisting of cell bodies and apical dendrites of pyramidal cells in layer 3 generated by satellite cell in layer 4, play a major role in generating N3.

Scotopic threshold response in complete and incomplete types of congenital stationary night blindness

PURPOSE

To study the function of the rod visual pathway in the complete and incomplete types of congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), with special reference to the scotopic threshold response (STR) of electroretinograms (ERGs)

METHODS

Using full-field stimuli with light intensities ranging from near absolute threshold to bright, ERG intensity series from two patients with complete CSNB, four patients with incomplete CSNB, and four normal subjects were recorded.

RESULTS

Neither the rod b-wave nor the STR was recordable from the patients with complete CSNB. In the patients with incomplete CSNB, the STR was clearly recorded, although the absolute threshold was elevated in accordance with elevation of the psychophysical absolute threshold. The b-wave stimulus threshold was not elevated, and the b-wave amplitude near the threshold was normal. The peak time of the STR was delayed by approximately 80 msec, whereas that of the b-wave was normal.

CONCLUSIONS

These STR results indicate that the rod system abnormality in complete CSNB differs from that in incomplete CSNB. Furthermore, the greatly delayed peak time of STR in the patients with incomplete CSNB made the interaction between b-wave and STR different from that in normal subjects.

Comparison of American and Japanese outpatients with borderline personality disorder

The borderline psychopathology of 33 American and 19 Japanese female outpatients who met the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R) criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) was compared. There were significant differences between the samples in the DIB-R total score, as well as in the affect/cognition section and scaled section scores. However, only one of the 22 summary statements (SS) of the DIB-R distinguished American borderlines from Japanese borderlines. Most of the differences seemed to reflect differences in inclusion criteria. It is concluded that there are borderline patients in Japan whose psychopathology is basically identical to that of American borderline patients.

Fundus albipunctatus-like lesions in juvenile retinoschisis

Images

[The focal macular electroretinogram in idiopathic macular hole]

Focal macular electroretinograms (MERGs) were recorded with three different sizes of stimulus spots, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 15 degrees in diameter, in 14 patients with unilateral idiopathic macular hole. Their fellow eyes were normal in terms of visual acuity (> 1.0), MERG, and ophthalmoscopic macular findings. The amplitudes and implicit times of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials (OP) were compared between affected and fellow eyes. The amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave and OP in the affected eyes were significantly smaller (p < 0.01) in all spot sizes. The rate of amplitude reduction of OP was significantly smaller than that of the a-wave and b-wave in the spots of 10 degrees and 15 degrees (p < 0.05). With the stimulus sizes to evoke the a-waves and b-waves of similar amplitudes between the affected and fellow eyes, OP always had a much larger amplitude in the affected eye. This result confirms our previous finding that the distribution of OP is relatively sparse in the fovea, becoming more dense than the a-waves and b-waves away from the fovea toward the parafovea and perifovea. The implicit time of the b-wave in the affected eyes was delayed significantly only in the 5 degrees spot (p < 0.01). The delay of the implicit time may result from the ring-shaped retinal detachment which always occurs in idiopathic macular hole.

Effect of combination of oxacillin and non-beta-lactam antibiotics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The in-vitro activity of oxacillin combined with non-beta-lactam antibiotics, bacitracin, vancomycin, enduracidin, tunicamycin, flavomycin, fosfomycin, and cycloserine, was investigated in 23 methicillin-resistant and 15 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains. In the presence of a non-beta-lactam antibiotic (0.25 MIC), the MICs of oxacillin for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains were lowered. This effect was most marked with MRSA strains, and bacitracin, flavomycin, and tunicamycin increased the susceptibility of MRSA to oxacillin by greater than 200-fold. More than 87% and 77% of MRSA and MSSA strains, respectively, were synergically inhibited by a combination of oxacillin with bacitracin, tunicamycin, flavomycin or cycloserine (fractional inhibitory concentration < or = 0.5). Polyanetholesulfonic acid prevented the lysis of MRSA cells treated with a combination of oxacillin and 0.25 MIC of bacitracin, but did not prevent cell death. The penicillin binding protein (PBP) profile of MRSA was not affected by incubation with 0.25 MIC of non-beta-lactam antibiotics. These results suggest that the increased antibacterial activity of oxacillin in the presence of non-beta-lactam antibiotic is not the consequence of activation of autolysis or of a decrease in bulk PBP synthesis.

Profilometry of a gastrointestinal surface by an endoscope with laser beam projection

An active triangulation method that uses an endoscope with laser beam projection is proposed for measuring the profile of a gastrointestinal surface. When a laser beam is projected onto an object surface in a given direction, the coordinates of the beam spot in an endoscope image are uniquely related to the distance from the endoscope to the surface. This relation is investigated experimentally, and the results are presented in a look-up table. By calibration of the image with this look-up table, a profile measurement with high precision is realized. Results of experiments with both a test object with known dimensions and a sample extracted from a real stomach are described.

[EC-IC bypass surgery using saphenous vein graft: technical improvement in our experience]

We managed ten cases of EC-IC bypass using a vein graft; six cases with multiple cerebral arterial occlusion and four cases with aneurysm necessitating therapeutic occlusion of the parent artery (Table). Patency of the graft was confirmed in seven cases on long-term follow-up ranging from 7 months to 5 years. Of the ten cases, two died within 7 days after surgery from causes unrelated to the bypass and one was lost in follow-up surgery. Hemorrhagic infarction was observed in two cases, one of which underwent removal of the hematoma. In five cases with cerebral occlusive disease, there were no additional ischemic events and two cases with giant aneurysms showed improvement of visual acuity and extraocular movement. We improved on several surgical techniques for vein graft. We used small hemoclips to occlude branches of the saphenous vein instead of ligating them, which shortens the harvesting time of the saphenous vein. Vessel cannula with a small-sized elegant tip and one-directional valve (DLP, INC., USA) was also used to inflate or deflate vein grafts with saline. It was easily attached to the graft and minimized air entrapment in the lumen. Small clips for microvascular anastomosis (Mizuho INC., Japan) were used to temporarily occlude branches or perforators from the recipient artery. One of the branches of the graft was dissected long enough, through which intraluminal air or thrombus was washed out at the final stage of the surgery. These procedures are useful for shortening occlusion time of the recipient artery and decreasing the risk of embolism.

Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(31-98) is a specific tumor marker in patients with small cell lung carcinoma

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a specific and an actively secreted product of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells. Based on this observation, we attempted to develop a new approach for early detection of SCLC and for monitoring therapeutic response in SCLC patients. Recombinant human ProGRP(31-98), a region common to three types of human ProGRP molecules, was synthesized, and a convenient radioimmunoassay system was developed; in this assay, the minimum detectable amount in serum was 10 pM when 0.1 ml of unextracted serum was used. Serum levels of immunoreactive ProGRP(31-98) were measured in 247 normal subjects, 180 patients with nonmalignant pulmonary diseases, 231 patients with non-SCLC, and 140 patients with SCLC. The percentages of subjects with the level greater than 10 pM in normal subjects and patients with nonmalignant pulmonary diseases and with non-SCLC were 1.2, 2.2, and 3.0%, respectively. In contrast, 76% of patients with SCLC had elevated levels; the positive rates in SCLC patients with limited and extensive diseases were 73 and 79%, respectively, indicating that the serum Pro-GRP(31-98) level could serve as a reliable tumor marker in SCLC patients, even at a relatively early stage of this disease. Moreover, changes in the serum ProGRP(31-98) showed excellent correlation with the therapeutic responses in SCLC patients. These results indicate that the determination of serum ProGRP(31-98) levels plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of SCLC patients.

[Corneal autofluorescence in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion]

Basic studies have suggested that corneal autofluorescence, originating from flavoprotein and pyridine nucleotides, is caused by metabolically impaired corneal mitochondrial respiration. In this study, we used corneal autofluorescence as a parameter for evaluating the pathology at the corneal cell level in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion. Unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion cases with durations of 2 months to 7 years since the onset and age-matched normal eyes were used for the study. The corneal autofluorescence was measured with a Fluorotron Master, with a special device attached to measure the anterior segment at the corneal peak. The autofluorescence was 15.6 +/- 5.8 (n = 68), 13.8 +/- 4.0 (n = 68), 14.2 +/- 3.7 (n = 14), and 14.0 +/- 3.6 (n = 14) (ng Eq/ml, mean +/- SD), respectively, in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion, their fellow eyes, normal controls, and their fellow eyes. The affected eyes showed statistically significantly higher autofluorescence than the fellow eyes; there was no essential difference among the fellow eyes of those with branch retinal occlusion, normal controls, and their fellow eyes. The eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion, which is a focal retinal lesion, commonly exhibit corneal cellular pathologies.

Early retinal involvement in mitochondrial myopathy with mitochondrial DNA deletion

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions have been reported in types of mitochondrial myopathy, including Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS). We examined mtDNA, skeletal muscle findings, and retinal electrophysiologic function in a patient believed to have incomplete KSS with ptosis and characteristic (so called salt and pepper) retinopathy, but without limitation of ocular motility and without other involvement of the central or peripheral nervous system.

METHODS

Muscle biopsy specimens were examined by Gomori trichrome stain and electron microscopy. DNA extracted from muscle was examined by Southern blot analysis. Deleted mtDNA was sequenced by direct sequencing with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Electroretinograms (ERG) and electrooculograms (EOG) were performed for electrophysiologic examination of the retina.

RESULTS

There were no ragged red fibers in skeletal muscle specimens, although abnormal aggregation of mitochondria was observed on electron microscopic examination. An mtDNA deletion was detected. It spanned 5266-bp between the tRNASer gene and the ND5 gene. Electroretinographic and electrooculographic findings were normal, although extensive involvement of retinal pigment epithelium was observed on ophthalmoscopic examination.

CONCLUSION

Detecting mtDNA deletion is more critical in diagnosing an incomplete phenotype of mitochondrial myopathy than is morphologic examination. We found that ophthalmoscopic fundus abnormalities preceded abnormalities on ERG and EOG.

Classification of aphakic cystoid macular edema with focal macular electroretinograms

We compared the amplitude and implicit times of the a-waves, b-waves, and oscillatory potentials of the focal macular electroretinograms of 30 eyes with aphakic cystoid macular edema and the healthy fellow eyes. Ten affected eyes were characterized by reduced amplitudes of the oscillatory potentials with normal a-wave and b-wave responses (type 1). Nine affected eyes had both reduced amplitudes of the oscillatory potentials and the b-waves (type 2). Ten affected eyes were characterized by reduced amplitude of the oscillatory potentials, the a-waves, and the b-waves (type 3). One eye could not be classified. Visual acuities were as follows: type 1, 0.55 (20/36.4); type 2, 0.31 (20/64.5); and type 3, 0.12 (20/166.7). The mean time between cataract surgery and the electroretinographic testing was significantly longer for type 2 and 3 eyes than for type 1 eyes. The differences in the electroretinographic responses between the affected eye and the normal fellow eye suggested either an increased severity or the stage of the cystoid macular edema.

Diagnosis and clinical features of borderline personality disorder in the east and west: a preliminary report

In the first clinical study of the borderline personality disorder (BPD) in Asia, the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB) was performed on 85 female outpatients aged 18 to 30 years in Japan. BPD was diagnosed in 32 (38%) of these patients. The International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) diagnoses made at the initial examination of the DIB-identified BPD patients were, in order of frequency, neurotic disorders, anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, and manic-depressive psychoses. The DSM-III axis I diagnoses of the DIB-identified BPD patients were affective disorders in 63%, eating disorders in 34%, and substance use disorders in 22%. This study suggests that there are indeed BPD patients in Japan. An exception is made of the low incidence of substance use disorders, and of the fact that most Japanese patients continue to maintain stormy one-to-one or masochistic relationships with their parents because they live at home--their clinical picture is not different from that of American patients.

Hamster alpha-macroglobulin and murinoglobulin: comparison of chemical and biological properties with homologs from other mammals

alpha-Macroglobulin and murinoglobulin were purified to homogeneity from Syrian hamster plasma and their properties were compared with those of their respective homologs from other mammals. The trypsin-inhibiting capacity of hamster murinoglobulin was much weaker than those of rat and mouse murinoglobulins. Hamster alpha-macroglobulin was cleaved by trypsin at a number of sites whereas the human homolog was split essentially only in a "bait" region into two fragments of similar size. Hamster alpha-macroglobulin treated with methylamine differed from that treated with trypsin in the electrophoretic mobility, intensity of fluorescence induced by binding of bis(8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate), and plasma clearance pattern, whereas virtually no difference was observed between the human homologs treated in the same manner. The reaction of hamster alpha-macroglobulin with methylamine, as measured by the generation of thiol groups and the decrease in trypsin-protein amidase activity, was much slower than that of the human homolog. Trypsin in a complex with hamster alpha-macroglobulin retained its fibrinolytic activity, but this was not the case for human or rabbit alpha-2-macroglobulin. These results suggest that, compared with the human homolog, hamster alpha-macroglobulin is more loosely packed in the native state, undergoes conformational change more slowly on treatment with methylamine, and less efficiently hinders the access of proteinaceous substrates to trapped proteinase. The serum concentration of hamster alpha-macroglobulin was 6.9 mg/ml, or about 3-fold higher than that of the human type, and showed little change during the acute-phase reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Object images of eating disorder patients

The authors investigated images held by eating disorder patients toward selected stimulus words using the semantic differential method. The concept "object image" was introduced here to designate the images which any person has about the mother, the father, etc. A comparison was made between 22 eating disorder patients with concurrent borderline personality disorder, 20 patients without borderline pathology, and 48 controls. The eating disorder patients were found to have a "weaker" image of "motherliness" and "womanliness" compared to the control group. Another characteristic of eating disorder patients was their unfavorable image of children. The authors also studied the images held by fathers and mothers. In the families with borderline patients, the discrepancies between what we term "object images" held by fathers, mothers, and daughters were conspicuous. The importance of a tripartite (daughter-mother-father) relationship in the psychopathology of eating disorder is discussed.

Psychotic symptoms in depression and borderline personality disorder

The authors investigated the prevalence of psychotic symptoms in depression and borderline personality disorder employing the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines. Clear-cut delusions and hallucinations were rare among the borderlines. However, derealization and depersonalization symptoms were common and were found to be prevalent as among depressives. The prevalence of these symptoms among patients with both borderline personality disorder and depression was similar to that among patients with only borderline personality disorder or depression. The relationship between depression and borderline personality disorder and the significance of psychotic symptoms in these disorders is discussed.

Individual differences of the contribution of chromatic channels to brightness

Perceived brightness is considered to be a combined consequence of outputs of the luminance channel and the chromatic channels in the visual system. The differences of logarithmic spectral luminous efficiencies between heterochromatic brightness matching and flicker photometry that were obtained from 16 subjects were examined by using principal component analysis. The luminous-efficiency difference between the two methods is described by only two principal components. Individual characteristics of the contribution of chromatic channels to brightness can be specified by measuring luminous efficiencies at 470 and 660 nm.

[Therapeutic efficacy of cefodizime in combination with aminoglycosides against systemic infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in immunocompromised tumour bearing mice]

In vivo synergistic effects of cefodizime (CDZM) were investigated in combination with aminoglycosides (AGs), sisomicin (SISO) or dibekacin (DKB) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in immunocompromised tumour bearing mice. Fractional effective dose (FED) indices showed that either synergistic or additive effects were observed between CDZM and AGs. The synergistic intraperitoneal bactericidal effect of CDZM in combination with SISO or DKB was also observed in immunocompromised tumour bearing mice. The post antibiotic effect (PAE) of AGs was prolonged by the addition of CDZM. Moreover, the strong synergistic bactericidal effects of CDZM and AGs against P. aeruginosa were observed in the presence of immunocompromised tumour bearing murine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). These results suggest that the strong therapeutic efficacy of CDZM in combination with AGs was caused by synergistic bactericidal effect of CDZM and AGs in the presence of PMN.

[A study on the integration of fetal behavior and the development of association between parameters evaluated]

To evaluate the development of the fetal behavioral state with reference to the association of the fetal parameters we selected, we simultaneously monitored fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal movement (FM), fetal eye movement (FEM) and fetal breathing movement (FBM). These various parameters were monitored with 2 ultrasonographic real time scanners and a doppler device to monitor fetal movement. We assessed the convergence and integration of these four parameters to evaluate the association rate (AR). FHR with a variation in excess of 3 min. was interpreted as the active phase (A), and reduced variation in excess of 3 min. as the inactive phase (I). When FM and FEM were observed in the 1 min. window of A, we labeled this A3, and when FBM was present in more than 10% of the 1 min. window, we labeled it A4. A3/A = AR-A3% and A4/A = AR-A4% was calculated. A similar calculation was done for I, without FM and FEM in the 1 min. window of I (I3) and when FBM was present less than 10% of 1 min. (I4), allow derivation AR-I3% and AR-I4%. A discrete separation of synchrony in A and asynchrony in I can be seen to develop as the fetus matures, and we feel that this may be a valuable tool in the evaluation of fetal central nervous system development in utero.