Progression and regression of atherosclerotic findings in the descending thoracic aorta detected by enhanced computed tomography

Reports evaluating the progression and regression of atherosclerosis by non-invasive procedure are still limited. We investigated the progression and regression of atherosclerotic intimal thickening of the descending thoracic aorta non-invasively measured by enhanced computed tomography in 83 patients (average age 51.0 years) at the beginning and end of a 2.5 year period. The patients were not taking anti-hypertensive, lipid-lowering or hypoglycemic drugs and therefore we consider them as a natural history cohort. At entry, the extent of aortic intimal thickening was 35.2% of the circumference of the cross-section of the wall, which increased to 39.7% after 2.5 years. Spontaneous progression was associated directly with age, elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, diastolic blood pressure, and inversely to HDL-cholesterol. There was little correlation with triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose or body mass index. In 65 of the patients, aortic atherosclerosis progressed, while in 9 patients it remained unchanged, and in a further 9 it regressed. The levels of lipid variables, apart from HDL-cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure in the patients with spontaneous progression were significantly higher than in the unchanged and spontaneous regression. Thus, this study verified the natural history of aortic atherosclerosis non-invasively measured by enhanced CT.

CD4dull+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in murine bone marrow

CD4+ cells comprise approximately 3% to 6% of murine bone marrow (BM) cells. The majority are CD4dull+, but there are two distinct sub populations: CD4 brightly positive Gr-1- cells (CD4hiGr-1-) and CD4+ Gr-1+ cells (CD4loGr-1lo). CD4hiGr-1- cells are considered to be mature T cells by cell surface antigen expression and morphology. CD4loGr-1lo cells, which comprise approximately 0.6% of the BM cells, express small amount of B220 and Thy1 antigens. Interestingly, colony-forming units (CFU)-spleen and CFU-C are not enriched in this population. However, when injected into lethally irradiated mice, CD4loGr-1lo cells were shown to differentiate into T-cell, B-cell, and myelo-monocyte lineages when assayed 26 weeks after transplantation. Furthermore, donor-derived CD4loGr-1lo cells were present in the recipients' BM at least 16 weeks after transplantation. These observations suggest that murine CD4loGr-1lo cells in BM have self-renewal capability and retain the ability to differentiate into at least three lineages in long-term hematopoiesis.

[The effect of fluticasone propionate topically dosed prior to the pollen scattering season on cellular infiltration into the surface of nasal mucous membrane in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis]

In order to examine fluticasone propionate's mechanism of inhibiting nasal allergic symptoms, topical dosing of FP to patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis was started before the pollen scattering season, and the kinetics of basophilic cells and eosinophils which infiltrated into the surface of nasal mucous membrane were observed. Patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis were divided into two groups. Before and in the early period of the pollen scattering season, one group received FP and the other group a placebo, topically into the nostrils. In the mid and late season, both groups were treated with FP topical dosing. The study was carried out in the double blind manner. In the pre-, early and late season, specimens were scraped from the nasal mucosal surface, basophilic cell and eosinophil counts in the specimens were measured, and histamine and ECP contents in the specimens were also determined. Topical use of FP starting pre-season significantly inhibited symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis, as well as accumulation of basophilic cells and eosinophils in the nasal mucosal surface. Histamine and ECP contents in the nasal specimens tended to decrease with the topical use of FP.

Evaluation of morphological changes of the atherosclerotic aorta by enhanced computed tomography

Enhanced and non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) were performed in 405 subjects (222 men; 183 women; mean age 57 years). Intimal atherosclerotic changes of the aorta were quantified by enhanced CT, revealing the atheromatous intima to be projecting and thick-walled, while non-enhanced CT demonstrated aortic calcification. We measured the degree of aortic intimal changes at various segments of the aorta. In 224 cases, CT was performed from the aortic root to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta. Intimal changes were found predominantly at the aortic arch, the middle descending thoracic and the infrarenal abdominal aorta. As for the intimal changes, aortic calcification and aortic pulse wave velocity were significant atherosclerotic characteristics. The aortic diameter did not show a significant association with intimal change. Among the various atherosclerotic risk factors, intimal change was significantly associated with age, systolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol and diabetes mellitus, whereas gender, diastolic blood pressure, relative weight and cigarette use were not significantly related. For coronary artery disease and arteriosclerosis obliterans, aortic intimal changes constituted a significant atherosclerotic feature. In cerebrovascular disease, however, aortic intimal change did not play a significant role.

Primary mediastinal diffuse large cell lymphoma initially presented with pericardial infiltration

A 33-year-old Japanese woman visited our hospital with progressive dyspnea. A chest roentgenogram and a chest computed tomogram revealed a mediastinal tumor and pericardial effusion. Ultrasound cardiography revealed the existence of cardiac tamponade. She was successfully treated with emergency pericardial drainage, thoracocentesis and chemotherapy. The histological diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma was established with the tumor specimen obtained by transcutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy and through immunohistochemical analysis. This is a rare case of primary mediastinal diffuse large cell lymphoma with initial presentation of a symptom related to pericardial effusion.

[A case of traumatic right diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed by pleurography]

The diagnosis of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is relatively easy on the left side, but is often difficult on the right, partly because the herniated organ is usually the liver. Recently, we experienced a relatively rare case of traumatic right diaphragmatic hernia and found that pleurography was useful for its diagnosis. This case is reported here together with some discussion of the literature.

MK-801 fails to modify the effect of methamphetamine on dopamine release in the rat striatum

The effect of MK-801 at a dose of 0.5 mg kg-1, i.p., on methamphetamine-induced (MAP; 4 mg kg-1, i.p.) dopamine (DA) release was examined in the striatum of freely moving rats using an in-vivo microdialysis method. Combined treatment of MK-801 with MAP did not modify the MAP-induced increase in extracellular DA levels or the decrease in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels. These findings suggest that MK-801 fails to modify the acute effect of MAP on DA release in the striatum. The blocking effect of MK-801 on the development of MAP-induced behavioral sensitization is unlikely to be mediated by DA neurons.

Potentiality of protamine sulfate as mutagen

The mutagenicity of protamine sulfate has been clarified based on chromosomal aberration of cultured chinese hamster lung cells (cell line) in direct and metabolic activation methods and microbial mutagenesis (Ames test). In chromosomal aberration test, protamine sulfate caused cytotoxicity in the high doses (2500 and 5000 micrograms/ml) in the presence of rat liver homogenates (S-9). But very negligible or no cytotoxicity occurred in direct method at high dose (5000 micrograms/ml). Structural aberration of chromosome was not occurred in either of the methods. In microbial mutagenesis study, protamine sulfate did not show any cytotoxicity to microbes up to the dose of 5000 micrograms per plate. Furthermore, it did not have any effect in microbes like mutagens or like some toxic agent. The study reveals that protamine sulfate is not mutagen.

[Anticonvulsant effects of bifemelane hydrochloride on kindled seizures from the amygdala and hippocampus in rats]

The anticonvulsant affects of bifemelane hydrochloride, a novel therapeutic drug for cerebrovascular dementia, were investigated in the kindling model of epilepsy in rats. The results obtained were as follows. (i) Both the seizure stage and afterdischarge duration of kindled seizures from the amygdala and hippocampus were significantly suppressed following systemic injection of bifemelane hydrochloride (5-30 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. (ii) The efficacy of anticonvulsant action on kindled seizures from the hippocampus was more potent than from the amygdala. (iii) The maximum anticonvulsant effects were observed between 1 and 4 h after injection, and this time course was very similar to that of the previously reported increasing effects of bifemelane hydrochloride on noradrenaline levels in the rat brain. Thus, it is suggested that these anticonvulsant effects in kindling may be mediated by central noradrenergic systems. These results indicate that bifemelane hydrochloride has a potent anticonvulsant action on kindled seizures and may be useful for dementia patients with epilepsy or other seizure disorders.

Effect of anti-allergic treatment on nasal surface basophilic metachromatic cells in allergic rhinitis

The nasal surface basophilic metachromatic cells increase in allergic rhinitis and play an important role in the manifestation of nasal symptom. Their numbers were decreased in good correlation with the severity of symptom and nasal provocation reaction after clinical treatment with specific immunotherapy or topical steroid, beclomethasone dipropionate. The percentages of allergen induced histamine release from these cells were not changed after clinical treatment with cromolyn sodium.

[Chronic toxicity and recovery tests of rokitamycin in beagle dogs]

Six-month oral chronic toxicity study and two-month recovery tests on rokitamycin (TMS-19-Q) were performed in Beagle dogs at daily doses of 90, 180 and 360 mg/kg. The results were summarized as follows: No death occurred to any animals in these experiments. In higher dosage groups (180 and 360 mg/kg), vomiting, salivation and reduction of body weight gain with decrease in food intake were observed. Body temperature and pulse rate were normal, and ECG, sperm and vaginal smear tests, urinalysis, blood and biochemical examinations also revealed normal values. No marked changes in organ weights, necropsy, histopathological and electron microscopic observations were detected.

[Chronic intravenous toxicity studies of potassium clavulanate and BRL28500 in dogs]

The chronic toxicity of potassium clavulanate (CVA-K) and BRL28500 were evaluated using dogs in 26-week intravenous administration studies followed by a 5-week off-dose period. The doses for CVA-K and BRL28500 were 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg/kg (p.f.a.), and 80, 160, 320 and 800 mg/kg (p.f.a.) respectively. There were no deaths in either of the groups. For general condition, dogs dosed with CVA-K at 100 mg/kg showed reddening of the skin and mucous membranes, shaking of the head, facial oedema, a decrease in food intake and a reduction in body weight. Also some dogs of the same group showed decreased spontaneous activity, emaciation and signs of dehydration. In the BRL28500 treatment groups, there was reddening of the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting and salivation at 800 mg/kg. Urinalysis of dogs dosed with CVA-K showed occasional dark yellow coloration of the urine. There was also a very weak and equivocal response or positive reaction for protein, occult blood, and urine sugar in some animals at 100 mg/kg. Some dogs dosed with BRL28500 also showed either a very weak and equivocal response or slight positive reaction for occult blood at 320 mg/kg and above, and dark yellow coloration of the urine at 800 mg/kg. Haematological examination of the CVA-K groups showed increases in leukocyte count and platelet count at the highest dose of 100 mg/kg. No haematological abnormalities were noted in any of the BRL28500 groups. Serum biochemical studies of dogs dosed with CVA-K revealed a decrease in total protein at 50 mg/kg and above, and increases in Al-P, total bilirubin, GPT, BUN and creatinine at 100 mg/kg. In the BRL28500 treatment groups, there were increases in total cholesterol and triglyceride at 160 mg/kg and above. In dogs dosed with CVA-K there was an increase in liver weight at 100 mg/kg. Histopathological examination showed a ground glass-like appearance of the hepatocyte cytoplasm and also altered distribution of PAS positive material at 50 mg/kg and above. In the BRL28500 groups, there was an increase in liver weight at 320 mg/kg and above. There were the same ground glass-like appearance in hepatocytes and altered distribution of PAS positive material at 800 mg/kg. In view of the above results, the maximum non-effect dose levels in the present studies were considered to be 20 mg/kg for CVA-K and 80 mg/kg for BRL28500.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Proline hydroxylation by cell free extract of a streptomycete

Free L-proline was hydroxylated to free L-hydroxyproline by cell free extract of Streptomyces griseoviridus P8648. The hydroxylation reaction required ferrous ion, 2-ketoglutarate and ascorbate. Zinc ion, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl inhibited the reaction. Optimum temperature and pH were 25.0 degrees C and 7.5, respectively.

[Mental disorders in Japanese living in Paris]

This paper relates the original work of a group of seven young Japanese psychiatrists during their residentship or their foreign assistant function in Paris. During approximately 3 years, they devoïd a part of their activity to assist their japanese copatriots who having developed some mental health accidents during they stay in the district of Paris. From the 28 patients, 15 have been hospitalized in different psychiatric wards of Paris but the french psychiatrists did not take part of the paper. The authors have divided their clinical material into 3 groups of japanese patients: tourists, permanent residents or temporary residents who represents 2/3 of the whole. In each group the incidence of nosographic diagnosis is precise and the transcultural problems are underlined. Finally, all the patients has been sent back to Japan.