Discriminative and reinforcing stimulus properties of music for rats

We trained rats to discriminate music by Bach from that by Stravinsky using operant conditioning. The rats successfully learned the discrimination and transferred their discrimination to novel music by the same artists. Then, we trained rats on concurrent-chain schedule in which the terminal links were associated with different music, Bach or Stravinsky. The rats did not show strong preference for either style of music, although one subject showed a preference for Bach and another subject preferred Stravinsky. Finally, we examined the validity of the concurrent-chain procedure as a method of preference measurement with conspecific vocalization evoked by an aversive experience. Most of the rats preferred white noise to the conspecific vocalization. Therefore, music has a discriminative stimulus property but not a clear reinforcing property for rats.

Seasonal and diurnal biting activities and zoonotic filarial infections of two Simulium species (Diptera: Simuliidae) in northern Thailand

Seasonal and daily biting activity patterns, and natural filarial infections of adult black flies attracted to human bait were investigated at Ban Pang Faen, a rural area in Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand. Collections were carried out twice a month from 0600 to 18-00 hours from January 2005 to February 2006. Among ten Simulium species collected, S. nodosum and S. asakoae were predominant occupying 57.3% and 37.2% of the total 16,553 females, respectively. These two predominant species showed different patterns in seasonal abundance: majority of S. nodosum (86.7%) were collected in hot season (from mid February to mid May), while most of S. asakoae (74.5%) were collected in rainy season (from mid May to mid October). For the daily biting activity, S. nodosum had two patterns: the main one was unimodal with a peak from 17-00 to 18-00, and the other was bimodal and had the major peak from 1600 to 18-00 and the minor one from 07-00 to 09-00. The pattern of S. asakoae was mostly unimodal with a peak from 06-00 to 10-00. The filarial larvae found in S. nodosum and S. asakoae were morphologically different from each other. The short and thick infective larvae found in S. asakoae differed from all known filarial larvae; it is suggested that they might be a bird parasite, Splendidofilariinae or Lemdaninae. The infection of the mammophilic S. nodosum with large Onchocerca type infective larvae was confirmed in this area. Natural filarial infections were found in each month (except December) in either S. nodosum or S. asakoae or in both. Monthly infection rates with all stages of larvae were 0.6-5.0% for S. nodosum, and 1.0-4.0% for S. asakoae. It is suggested that people in this village are exposed to the risk of infection with zoonotic filariae throughout the year.

Application of devices for safe laparoscopic hepatectomy

The continuing evolution of a variety of laparoscopic instrument and device has been gradually applied to the laparoscopic hepatectomy in many countries. Recent experience has persuaded us that there are great potential benefits derived from laparoscopic hepatectomy and much has been learned about patient selection, the grade of surgical difficulty with respect to tumor location, and the required instrumentation. Among these efforts, various ways of hepatic parenchymal transection with mechanical devices have been attempted and continuing to innovate to perform safe laparoscopic hepatectomy Important technologic developments and improved endoscopic procedures are being established equipment modifications. For safe laparoscopic hepatectomy, it is important to have all necessary equipment. The intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography, microwave coagulators, ultrasonic dissection, argon beam coagulators, laparoscopic coagulation shears, endolinear staplers and TissueLink monopolar sealer are essential. This procedure is in need that well experienced endoscopic surgeon and well-experienced liver surgeon should be collaborated in laparoscopic hepatectomy and the indications are strictly followed based upon the location and size of tumors. Finally critical determinant for success and safe laparoscopic hepatectomy is through familiarity with the relevant laparoscopic instruments and equipments. Laparoscopic hepatectomy is expected to develop further in the future as a new surgical instrument, equipment and method, which improves patients' quality of life.

Correlating purity by microdissection with gene expression in gastric cancer tissue

Microdissection is a feasible tool for the purification of target cells from heterogeneous tissue components. However, the extent to which cells need to be purified by microdissection for use in gene expression analysis has not been determined. In the present study, we obtained diffuse-type gastric cancer tissues at varying purities, and evaluated the corresponding expression of a cancer-specific gene, KRT19, by quantitative real-time PCR. The relationship between the degree of purity and gene expression was confirmed by using 60-mer oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Cancer-specific gene expression was stable in tissues of 10-50% purity, but at 60% or greater purity the slope of the graph was much steeper, indicating a correlation between tissue purity and increased gene expression. Tissues of 70% purity for cancer cells, acquired by microdissection, were therefore deemed to be of sufficient quality to distinguish between gene expression profiles from microdissected and non-microdissected specimens.

Bacterial translocation in small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury and efficacy of Anti-CINC antibody treatment

The involvement of bacterial translocation in small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injuries and the efficacy of using anti-CINC antibodies for treatment were investigated. A model for ischemia-reperfusion injury of the small intestine was constructed by clamping the supramesenteric artery (for 90 min) in rats. Anti-CINC antibodies and saline were given just before the induction of ischemia in the treatment group and the control group, respectively. Six hours after reperfusion, bacteria were detected in the mesenteric lymph nodes, but the 'bacteria-positive' rate was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Bacterial cultures and endotoxins in the blood were negative in both groups up to 24 h later. The plasma cytokine levels showed similar variations, although the increases were significantly lower after reperfusion in the treatment group. In addition, the degrees of neutrophil infiltration and mucosal injury were attenuated in the small intestine, and the structure of the liver was maintained. Furthermore, the 1-week survival was improved. These results suggest that bacterial translocation occurred predominantly via the lymphatic system and that anti-CINC antibody treatment exerted a protective effect against small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Effect of aging on blood pressure in Leh, Ladakh, a high-altitude (3524 m) community, by comparison with a Japanese town

The effect of aging on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) was investigated in a cross-sectional study in the high-altitude community of Leh, Ladakh (altitude: 3524 m) and a Japanese community in U town, Hokkaido (altitude: 25 m). BP and HR were obtained in a sitting position from 332 subjects 13-81 years of age in Ladakh, and from 216 Japanese citizens, 24-79 years of age. Measurements were taken after a 2-min rest, using a semi-automated BP device (UA-767 PC, A and D Co. LTD, Tokyo). High-altitude people showed higher diastolic BP and HR values than lowland people (83.2 vs. 76.9 mmHg and 78.6 vs. 69.2 bpm, P < 0.001), but no difference in systolic BP. Highland people also showed a steeper BP increase with age than the lowland people (systolic BP: 0.7476 vs. 0.3179 mmHg/year, P < 0.0005; diastolic BP: 0.3196 vs. 0.0750 mmHg/year, P < 0.001). This chronoecologic investigation in Ladakh examined the circulation as a physiological system at high-altitude. Our data indicate the need for a more comprehensive cardiovascular assessment for a better diagnosis and a more fruitful treatment. Longitudinal observations of effects of socio-ecologic factors on the cardiovascular system should help prevent strokes and other cardiovascular events, especially at high altitude.

Chronoecological health watch of arterial stiffness and neuro-cardio-pulmonary function in elderly community at high altitude (3524 m), compared with Japanese town

Effects of high altitude on arterial stiffness and neuro-cardio-pulmonary function were studied. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured in a sitting position on resting Ladakhis, living at an altitude of 3250-4647 m (Phey village, 3250 m: 17 men and 55 women; Chumathang village, 4193 m: 29 men and 47 women; Sumdo village, 4540 m: 38 men and 57 women; and Korzok village, 4647 m: 84 men and 70 women). The neuro-cardio-pulmonary function, including the Kohs block design test, the Up and Go, the Functional Reach and the Button tests, was examined in 40 elderly subjects (19 men and 21 women, mean age: 74.7 +/- 3.3 years) in Leh, Ladakh (altitude: 3524 m), for comparison with 324 elderly citizens (97 men and 227 women, mean age: 80.7 +/- 4.7 years) of Tosa, Japan (altitude: 250 m). Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) was measured as the heart-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) in these subjects using a VaSera CAVI instrument (Fukuda Denshi, Tokyo). SpO(2) decreased while Hb and diastolic BP increased with increasing altitude. At higher altitude, residents were younger and leaner. Women in Leh vs. Tosa had a poorer cognitive function, estimated by the Kohs block design test (3.7 +/- 3.6 vs. 16.4 +/- 9.6 points, P < 0.0001) and poorer ADL functions (Functional Reach: 13.7 +/- 7.0 cm vs. 25.3 +/- 8.7 cm, P < 0.0001; Button test: 22.5 +/- 4.8 vs. 14.8 +/- 5.7 s, P < 0.0001). Time estimation was shorter at high altitude (60-s estimation with counting: 41.1% shorter in men and 23.0% shorter in women). A higher voltage of the QRS complex was observed in the ECG of Leh residents, but two times measurement of CAVI showed no statistically significant differences between Leh and Tosa (two times of CAVI measures; 9.49 vs. 10.01 m/s and 9.41 vs. 10.05 m/s, respectively), suggesting that most residents succeed to adapt sufficiently to the high-altitude environment. However, correlation of CAVI with age shows several cases who show an extreme increase in CAVI. Thus, for the prevention of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including dementia, CAVI may be very useful, especially at high altitude. In conclusion, elderly people living at high altitude have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than low-latitude peers. To determine how these indices are associated with maintained cognitive function deserves further study by the longitudinal follow-up of these communities in terms of longevity and aging in relation to their neuro-cardio-pulmonary function.

Clinical observations of odontomas in Japanese children: 39 cases including one recurrent case

Retrospective investigations of odontomas in Japanese children and one recurrent case were carried out. Thirty-nine cases of odontoma in 38 children were treated in the Paediatric Dentistry Clinic of Niigata University Dental Hospital between September 1979 and December 2002. The patients consisted of 23 males and 15 females and their ages ranged from 1 year 2 months to 14 years old. The chief complaints were delayed tooth eruption in 19 cases (five: primary teeth, 14: permanent teeth), retention of primary teeth in 11, incidentally found on the radiographic examination in eight cases, and swelling of the jaw in one case. Thirty-four cases (87%) were associated with tooth eruption disturbances. The most frequently affected region was the maxillary anterior region. Treatment consisted of surgical removal of odontomas in all cases, after which if the impacted teeth did not erupt, exposure of the crown and/or orthodontic traction was performed. Pathological diagnoses were compound odontoma in 30 cases, complex odontoma (n = 7), and compound and complex odontoma (n = 2). A retrospective study of the radiographs revealed the developing process of odontomas in four cases and odontoma disturbed tooth eruption since the early uncalcified developing stage. A recurrent case was a boy aged 6 years 5 months in whom the first surgical removal of odontoma was performed at the age of 1 year 8 months. Recurrence of an odontoma is very rare, but in very young children odontomas are in the early developing stages, containing uncalcified portions, so it is important to perform periodical observations until the succedaneous teeth erupt.

Therapeutic strategy for signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach

BACKGROUND

Reports of clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) of the stomach are conflicting.

METHODS

A retrospective review was undertaken of 1450 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy. Of 1113 patients who underwent a curative gastrectomy, 174 had SRC (early, 120; advanced, 54) and 939 had other types of gastric carcinoma. Clinicopathological features, prognostic factors and surgical outcome in patients with SRC and non-SRC were compared.

RESULTS

In patients with early gastric cancer, age, histological type, and number and anatomical extent of lymph node metastases independently affected prognosis. Patients with SRC had a significantly better survival rate than those with non-SRC, although there was no difference in the extent or number of lymph node metastases. Mucosal tumours with a diameter of 40 mm or less and submucosal lesions with a diameter of 20 mm or less were not associated with lymph node metastasis. SRC in advanced disease was frequently poorly differentiated or scirrhous, but macroscopic appearance was not an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSION

Early SRC of the stomach is associated with a better prognosis than non-SRC. Conversely, in advanced gastric cancer histological type cannot be used to establish a definitive therapeutic strategy.

Proliferation of Protease-enriched Mast Cells in Sarcoptic Skin Lesions of Raccoon Dogs

Skin sites, tongue, lung, liver, jejunum and rectum from two raccoon dogs with Sarcoptes scabiei infestation and five normal (control) raccoon dogs were examined in terms of the distribution, proteoglycan properties and protease activity of mast cells. Infestation with S. scabiei caused a significant increase in the number of dermal mast cells. While the number of mast cells (average +/- standard deviation) in specimens of skin from the dorsum, dorsal neck, dorsal hind foot and dorsal fore foot was 40.0 +/- 19.8/mm2 in control animals, it was 236.1 +/- 58.9/mm2 in the skin of mange-infested animals. Histochemical analysis revealed the glycosaminoglycan, heparin, within the mast cells of all organs examined in both control and affected animals. Enzyme-histochemical detection of serine proteases demonstrated an increase in mast-cell-specific protease activity (i.e., chymase and tryptase) in the skin of infested animals. The percentage of mast cells demonstrating chymase activity was 53.0 +/- 27.4% in control animals and 73.8 +/- 19.4% in mite-infested animals. The corresponding results for tryptase activity were 53.5 +/- 25.2% and 89.4 +/- 9.8%. Increases in mast cell chymase or tryptase activity, or both, were also observed within other organs of the infected animals, but the total number of mast cells found at such sites (with the exception of liver and ventrolateral pinna) did not differ from those of control animals.

Rotation of the spinal cord in idiopathic scoliosis

We undertook a radiographic analysis with pre-operative computed tomographic myelography in 78 patients with idiopathic scoliosis in order to analyse rotation of the spinal cord and to investigate its clinical significance. The angle of rotation of the cord had a statistically significant relationship to both that of the apical vertebra and the size of the primary curve. The relationship between the rotation of the cord and that of the apical vertebra was divided into three types. The cord rotated in the same direction as the apical vertebra in 55 patients and rotated in the opposite direction in the remaining 23 patients. In the first group, the angle of rotation of the cord was more than that of the vertebra in six patients, but less than it in 49 patients. These results suggest that the neuraxis in idiopathic scoliosis may be under tension in the axial dimension.

Usefulness of magnifying endoscopy in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

We investigated the characteristic findings of early gastric cancer revealed by magnifying endoscopy, and clarified their relationship with histopathological features.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 74 patients with early gastric cancer underwent magnifying endoscopy ( x 80) between March 2000 and December 2001. The endoscopic findings demonstrated 11 elevated-type carcinomas and 63 depressed-type, and histological examination showed 56 differentiated carcinomas and 18 undifferentiated carcinomas. The histopathological results were compared with findings from magnifying endoscopy regarding minute surface structure and microvessels.

RESULTS

We were able to roughly classify the minute surface structure of early gastric cancer as shown by magnifying endoscopy into three patterns, as follows: (i). a small regular pattern of sulci and ridges; (ii). an irregular pattern of sulci and ridges; and (iii). a lack of visible structure. Abnormal microvessels observed in cancerous lesions were classified according to two patterns: irregular minute vessels and variation of vessel caliber. The small regular pattern of sulci and ridges was significantly more frequently observed in differentiated carcinoma (30/56, 53.6 %) than in undifferentiated carcinoma (2/18, 11.1 %). Lack of visible structure and irregular minute vessels were significantly more frequently observed in undifferentiated carcinoma (44.4 % and 77.7 %) than in differentiated carcinomas (5.4 % and 51.8 %).

CONCLUSION

The minute surface structure and microvessels observed by magnifying endoscopy were related to histopathological findings. Magnifying endoscopy is valuable for predicting the histological nature in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

Endovascular treatment of posterior cerebral aneurysm associated with moyamoya disease

PURPOSE

A patient with moyamoya disease associated with a ruptured posterior cerebral artery aneurysm treated by endovascular embolization is presented.

CASE REPORT

A 47-year-old woman was admitted with severe headache to our hospital. Computed tomography demonstrated subarachnoid haemorrhage. Cerebral angiography revealed evidence of moyamoya disease and a saccular aneurysm at the P1 segment of the left posterior cerebral artery.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular embolization was performed using Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC), and the aneurysm was completely occluded with preservation of the parent artery. Endovascular treatment using GDC seems comparatively safe and effective for the treatment of cerebral saccular aneurysms in patients with moyamoya disease.