Potentiation of therapeutic effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor against B16 mouse melanoma by combination with recombinant interleukin 2

Treatment of B16 melanoma-bearing mice with recombinant tumour necrosis factor (rTNF) caused a marked inhibition of tumour growth but did not result in the complete cure of the tumour-bearing mice. In contrast, combination therapy of B16-bearing mice with r-TNF and recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) potentiated the therapeutic effect of rTNF and 30% of the mice were totally cured from tumour. Spleen cells obtained from B16-bearing mice showed markedly decreased immune responses including IL-2 production, IL-2 responsiveness and mixed lymphocyte reaction owing to the existence of suppressor macrophages. However, spleen cells obtained from mice cured with rTNF plus rIL-2 showed the same level of T cell responsiveness as that from normal mice. The decreased induction of alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in B16-bearing mice was also recovered after treatment with rTNF plus rIL-2. Moreover, B16-specific CTL, which could not be induced in normal or B16-bearing mice, was effectively induced from the spleen cells of B16-cured mice by rTNF and rIL-2. These results demonstrated that local therapy of melanoma with rTNF and rIL-2 was effective and induced systemic antitumour immunity in vivo.

A correlation between carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia

The interrelationship between carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia was studied in eighty-two biliary dyskinesia patients and twenty-seven normal subjects. Incidence of serum carotene levels of more than 300 micrograms/dl was more frequent in biliary dyskinesia patients without liver damage or hyperlipemia. Among the carotenemia patients, no dietary cases were found, but metabolic and hyperlipemic ones were observed. Significant relationships were found between gall bladder contraction rate and the levels of serum carotene, vitamin A, and lipids in metabolic carotenemia. A close relationship between metabolic carotenemia and biliary dyskinesia was strongly suggested.

[Radionuclide assessment of heart failure]

Radionuclide assessment of heart failure was reviewed in this paper. The measurement of left ventricular function has been established by using gated blood poor scan. In most cases, left ventricular ejection fraction was below 35% in heart failure. The therapeutic effect of beta-blocker was also evaluated by quantitative sector analysis from gated blood pool scan. In addition, the uptake of 111In-antimyosin Fab was observed at damaged myocardium in dilated cardiomyopathy. 123I-MIBG which reflects sympathetic nerve activity showed decreased uptake in heart failure. It was demonstrated that cardiac MIBG imaging had powerful prognostic value in patients with heart failure. In conclusion, radionuclide assessment will contribute to the evaluation of severity and prognosis of heart failure.

[Quantitative assessment of cerebral blood flow by 123I-IMP SPECT: venous sampling method with hand warming in the water bath]

In order to establish a noninvasive, quantitative method for measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) SPECT, we attempted to employ continuous venous sampling instead of arterial sampling. Forty two patients with cerebrovascular diseases were classified into two groups, with (group II: n = 35) and without (group I: n = 7) hand warming. In group II, either hand was warmed, wrapping in a hot blanket (group IIA) or immersed in a 44 degrees C water bath (group IIB). In each patient, immediately after intravenous bolus injection of 222 MBq IMP, arterial and venous blood samples were collected continuously for 5 min from the radial artery and the cubital vein, respectively. By octanol extraction, IMP was divided into the unmetabolized and metabolized fraction. The ratio of 123I-IMP radioactivity of venous blood compared to arterial blood (pass ratio, referred as %PR) was calculated in three fractions, whole blood, unmetabolized, and metabolized fraction. By using these parameters, we assessed the possibility to estimate the amount of unmetabolized IMP fraction of arterial blood, usually used as an input function, from venous samples. In group I, %PR demonstrated a considerable variation between individuals (whole IMP, 47.5 +/- 24.6% (mean +/- SD): unmetabolized IMP, 46.0 +/- 24.5%: metabolized IMP, 51.8 +/- 27.4%). In group II, especially in group IIB, both increase of %PR value and the decrease in variation (whole, 77.9 +/- 5.6%: unmetabolized, 75.7 +/- 5.7%: metabolized, 86.7 +/- 8.7%) were observed, which permitted the further calculation based on the assumption that %PR value was constant in each IMP fraction (whole blood and unmetabolized fraction).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the T cells in aged rat bone marrow

In this study, we determined the characteristics of CD3-positive (CD3+) T cells existing in rat bone marrow (BM). In contrast to splenic T cells, BM CD3+ T cells are composed of a higher proportion of CD8+ T cells, and the number of both cell types increased with age. Such CD3+ T cells in aged rats showed a similar usage of TCR V beta as splenic T cells, suggesting that BM CD3+ T cells are thymus-dependent and composed of an ordinary population in view of the expression of the TCR beta-chain. Purified T cells obtained from aged rat BM showed a markedly proliferative response by stimulation with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb, as did splenic T cells. However, the addition of BM non-T cells completely inhibited the response of both BM and splenic T cells in vitro. These results suggest that T cells in rat BM are negatively regulated by BM non-T cells in their response to the TCR-mediated signal not to disrupt the microenvironment of the BM.

[A case of amylase producing lung cancer]

The patient was a 72-year-old man, who was admitted to our hospital because of cough. Chest X-rays showed a mass shadow in the right lower lung field. Amylase activities in serum and urine were extremely high. Amylase isozyme pattern identified salivary type amylase. Cytological examination of the sputum suggested adenocarcinoma. Amylase activities in serum and urine gradually decreased with the administration of chemotherapy. Afterwards, pleural effusion increased, and the amylase activity in pleural fluid was also extremely high. Pleural fluid also showed adenocarcinoma. Enzyme-labeled antibody method (PAP) on this specimen from pleural fluid proved that tumor cells were producing amylase ectopically.

[Evaluation of left ventricular early diastolic function by first pass radionuclide angiocardiography after dipyridamole infusion in patients with coronary artery disease--comparison with exercise test]

To evaluate the left ventricular early diastolic function after dipyridamole infusion or during exercise, the first pass radionuclide angiocardiography (FPRA) by a multicrystal gamma camera (SIM-400) was performed in 32 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 14 normal subjects. Dipyridamole was administered intravenously (0.56 mg/kg in 4 min). The first third filling fraction (FF 1/3) and the first third mean filling rate (MFR 1/3) were calculated from the time-activity curve. FF 1/3 decreased and MFR 1/3 increased in both normal subjects and patients with CAD during exercise. After dipyridamole infusion, FF 1/3 and MFR 1/3 unchanged in normal subjects, in contrast, FF 1/3 and MFR 1/3 decreased in patients with CAD. Thus, dipyridamole infusion FPRA is more sensitive method to detect early diastolic dysfunction in patients with CAD than FPRA during exercise.

Specific targeting of in vitro-activated human antitumour effector cells using anti-CD3 x anti-c-erbB-2 bispecific antibody

Bispecific antibody (BSAb) consisting of anti-CD3 plus anti-c-erbB-2 Fab fragments for the application to adoptive tumour immunotherapy was prepared. This bifunctional hetero-F(ab')2 antibody reacted with both human CD3+ T cells and c-erbB-2 positive human tumour cells. Human CD8+ T cells activated with immobilized anti-CD3 plus interleukin 2 showed marginal cytotoxicity against tumour cells. However, addition of the prepared BSAb into the culture resulted in a marked augmentation of the cytotoxicity by the activated CD8+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner. The enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in the presence of BSAb was specific for c-erbB-2 positive tumour cells. Moreover, it was demonstrated that anti-CD3 x anti-c-erbB-2 BSAb was also effective for the specific targeting of various kinds of in vitro-activated antitumour effector cells such as lymphokine-activated killer cells, CD4+ helper/killer cells, gamma delta T cells and activated tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. These results indicated that BSAb consisted of anti-CD3 and anti-c-erbB-2 will become a useful tool for the adoptive tumour immunotherapy of human cancer expressing c-erbB-2 oncogene products.

Investigation of the clinical value of assessing renal size on computed tomography in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

We examined relationship between serum creatinine concentration (Scr) and renal size on CT scans on 32 occasions in 25 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). As a result, a significant correlation was observed when the Scr was less than 5 mg/dl, as shown by the correlation coefficient (r) and P values of 0.803 and 0.0001, respectively. However, these values changed to 0.482 and 0.0093, respectively when 2 cases with Scr 6.2 and 6.4 mg/dl were included, and further changed to 0.005 and 0.9775 when an additional 4 cases with Scr 7.8, 9.9, 11.1 and 20.1 mg/dl were included. Renal size is therefore thought to be a useful parameter of renal function when the Scr is less than 5 mg/dl in ADPKD, but not when the Scr exceeds 6 mg/dl, and is regarded as useless for predicting the time at which dialysis would be required.

Variant von Willebrand disease with defective binding to factor VIII: the first case from Japan

This is the first case of variant von Willebrand disease (vWD) with defective binding of von Willebrand factor (vWF) to factor VIII (F.VIII) to be diagnosed in Japan. An 8-year-old Japanese girl, who had had recurrent episodes of subcutaneous hematomas, showed a prolonged A-PTT, low F.VIII (F.VIII:C 4 U/dl, FVIII:Ag 4 U/dl), and normal level of vWF (RCof 80 U/dl, vWF:Ag 60 U/dl). The patient's vWF-multimeric structure on SDS agarose gel electrophoresis was similar to that in normal subjects. A F.VIII binding assay was performed, as described by Nishino et al. (1989). F.VIII binding (y) of vWF was expressed as a function of the amount of immobilized vWF (x) on the wells of a polystyrene plate. Regression lines from normal subjects and the patient had a high correlation coefficient. F.VIII binding capacity was estimated by the slope of the regression lines. The slope for normal subjects showed y = 0.002 + 0.653x, while, in contrast, the slope for the patient showed y = 0.005 + 0.009x, indicating that the capacity of vWF from the patient to bind F.VIII was markedly decreased. Exons 18-20 of the vWF gene, covering the first 132 amino acids of mature vWF subunit from the patient, were sequenced, using the PCR amplification method. A point mutation C-->T at codon 816 in exon 19, predicting a substitution of Trp for Arg(53), was characterized; this was inherited by the patient from her mother.

[Two cases of primary progressive non-fluent aphasia]

Two patients were described with a five to seven-year history of primary progressive non-fluent aphasia. One patient developed atypical trascortical motor aphasia with marked anarthria, which has led to mutism. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed lobar atrophy of the frontal lobe accentuated in the bilateral superior frontal gyri, the left middle frontal gyrus, the left anterior cingulate gyrus and the left operculum with some extension into the left temporal lobe. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans demonstrated a decrease of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the atrophic site. The patient was clinically and neuroradiologically diagnosed as having Pick's disease. Another patient presented with atypical Broca's aphasia, which has worsened with slowly progressive right hemiparesis. Mitigated, sometimes complete, echolalia was also observed. MR imaging and SPECT scans showed mild atrophy and a decrease of rCBF in the left perisylvian region involving the frontal operculum, while a positron emission tomographic study disclosed diffuse hypometabolism in the left hemisphere. We pointed out that the features of primary progressive aphasia were frequently atypical in the light of classical classification of aphasia and that non-fluent aphasia might be observed even in the early stage of cortical degenerative processes.

[Characterization of primary and metastatic cell lines established from a patient with renal cell carcinoma]

We established four renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines (HANKS), namely the primary tumor (HANKS-Pr), metastasized to the lung (HANKS-Lu), liver (HANKS-Li) and lymph node (HANKS-LN) derived from a patient with advanced RCC, and analyzed their characters. Each had an epithelial morphology and exhibited multilayering. These cell lines have been maintained for more than 36 months and over 100 in vitro passages. In karyotype analysis, the common aberration in the four cell lines was marker chromosome t (3;18) (p13;q21). In soft agar culture, HANKS-Pr showed the lowest growth. Furthermore, we found high level expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on HANKS-Pr and HANKS-Lu, and low expression of MHC class II antigen on four cell lines. HANKS-LN had transplantability in nude mice. We determined the different biological properties among HANKS cell lines stemming from the same origin.

Arterial supply of the maxillary teeth in the crab-eating monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Superior dental rami diverging from arterial multi-resources of the crab-eating monkey were investigated by means of plastic corrosion castings. Correlations between the dental ramus/rami entering the apical foramen/foramina of each maxillary tooth were elucidated. Superior dental rami supplying the maxillary teeth diverged from the posterior superior alveolar, infraorbital, descending palatine, major palatine and sphenopalatine arteries as follows: The posterior superior alveolar gave rise to molar branches which supplied three molars and rarely an additional two premolars, to premolar branches and to a canine branch as its terminus. The infraorbital gave off canine branches. The descending palatine gave rise to a molar branch which supplied the lingual root of each molar. The major palatine gave rise to a premolar branch which supplied the lingual roots of two premolars and the 1st molar, and an incisive branch which supplied two incisors. The sphenopalatine supplied the lingual root of each molar and rarely the 1st premolar in addition. Two incisors were supplied by the major palatine (100%), the canine by the posterior superior alveolar (50%), this artery and the infraorbital (43.3%) or the infraorbital only (6.7%). Three roots of each premolar were supplied by the posterior superior alveolar, occasionally the lingual root (16.7%) and mesiobuccal root (3.3%) of the 1st premolar by the major palatine, the lingual root of the 2nd premolar by the major palatine (6.7%) and the sphenopalatine (3.3%). Two buccal roots of each molar were also supplied by the posterior superior alveolar (100%), occasionally the lingual root of the 1st molar by the descending palatine (6.7%), the major palatine (6.7%) or the sphenopalatine (3.3%), the lingual root of the 2nd molar by the descending palatine (30%), the sphenopalatine (10.0%) or the infraorbital (3.3%), the lingual root of the 3rd molar by the descending palatine (23.3%), the sphenopalatine (20.0%) or the infraorbital (3.3%). Superior dental rami diverging from the posterior superior alveolar artery were distributed to the molars, premolars and canine as principal arterial vessels of the crab-eating monkey. The descending palatine, sphenopalatine and the infraorbital arteries were supplementary to the above main arteries. Two incisors were only supplied by the major palatine but the anterior and middle superior alveolar were not observed.

[Evaluation of the clinical usefulness of a new myocardial imaging agent, 99mTc-Tetrofosmin (PPN1011)--a report of multicenter phase III clinical trials]

The clinical usefulness of a new myocardial perfusion imaging agent, 99mTc-1,2-bis[bis(2-ethoxyethyl)phosphino]ethane (99mTc-Tetrofosmin, (PPN1011) was evaluated in 355 patients with various heart diseases. Both 1 and 2 day protocols resulted in images that were significantly clearer than those of 201Tl. The absence of significant drug related adverse reaction supported the safety of the agent for clinical use. Regional abnormalities detected by CAG agreed with 99mTc-Tetrofosmin SPECT findings in 74% and with 201Tl SPECT in 78% of this study. Eighty-four percent of an abnormalities were detected with 99mTc-Tetrofosmin SPECT, as compared with those detected with 201Tl SPECT (88.4%). The complete concordance ratio between 99mTc-Tetrofosmin and 201Tl images in segmental analysis was 87-89% at rest and stress. Since 99mTc-Tetrofosmin SPECT was judged clinically useful in 93.2% (331/355) of the patients studied, it is concluded that 99mTc-Tetrofosmin is a promising agent for myocardial perfusion imaging. The simple labeling procedure without heating and cooling is suitable for emergency administration. Reconditioning of myocardial perfusion could be evaluated with 99mTc-Tetrofosmin injection before and after interventional therapy. These are additional features of the agent for clinical use.

Contact allergies to topical corticosteroids

The patient, a 34-year-old Japanese woman who noticed worsening of her rash after using topical corticosteroid preparations on her neck, was patch tested for both commercial preparations and corticosteroids themselves. The patch test results revealed that she had a contact allergy to gold, oxytetracycline, and 2 types of corticosteroid (acetonides and esters) in 7 compounds (betamethasone valerate and dipropionate, hydrocortisone butyrate and hydrocortisone butyrate propionate, amcinonide, budesonide, and fluocinonide).

Phosphorylated neurofilament accumulation in neuronal perikarya by cyclosporin A injection in rat brain

Cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, was administered into the rat hippocampus. Seven days after drug administration the effects of phosphatase activity suppression in the brain to changes in neuronal cytoskeletal proteins were studied. Rat brain homogenates injected with cyclosporin A showed 16-38% suppression of Ca/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase activity measured by 32P released from 32P-labeled histone, indicating that cyclosporin A acts as an inhibitor of calcineurin after binding with cyclophilin in the brain. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed many basophilic neurons in the pyramidal layer of hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus and cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemical study with anti-phosphorylated neurofilament 200kDa antibody showed positive staining of neuronal perikarya of these basophilic neurons. The number of immunopositive neurons with anti-phosphorylated neurofilament 200KDa increased with the concentration of cyclosporin A injected into the brain, indicating a dose-dependent effect of the compound. Staining with anti-dephosphorylated neurofilament 200KDa (SMI-32) was decreased in neuronal perikarya of cyclosporin A injected brains compared with that of control brains injected with dimethyl sulfoxide alone, suggesting an increased phosphorylation of neurofilament 200KDa subunit protein. The perikarya of these basophilic neurons were not stained with anti-PHF (paired helical filaments) or anti-tau antibodies. Immunostaining with anti-ubiquitin was not increased in these cells. Immunostaining with anti-calcineurin A and anti-calcineurin B showed positive staining of neurons in hippocampus, cerebellum and caudate nucleus both in experimental and control brains. Calcineurin B immunoreactivity was more intense in pyramidal cells in hippocampus injected with cyclosporin A than in controls. Western blot study with antibody against calcineurin A revealed significantly more degradation products of calcineurin A in cyclosporin A injected brains. The present data suggest that cyclosporin A inhibits calcineurin activity in the brain, which results in increased phosphorylation of perikaryal neurofilaments. Since abnormal phosphorylation is speculated in the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease, the results will help elucidate the participation of phosphatase in the pathology of cytoskeletal proteins in Alzheimer's disease.

Acceleration of bovine neurofilament L assembly by deprivation of acidic tail domain

Functions of the tail region of neurofilament L have, to date, not been clearly elucidated. Bovine neurofilament L was cleaved into tail-less neurofilament L (50 kDa) and a tail fragment (19 kDa), by thrombin. Tail-less neurofilament L was deficit of the highly acidic domain of the tail region (approximately 77% of the entire region). Assembly of tail-less neurofilament L. was observed to be accelerated by both fluorometric and centrifugal measurements, compared with intact neurofilament L. The critical concentration of tail-less neurofilament L, which constitutes the constant unassembled pool, was approximately 0.25-times lower than that of neurofilament L. Under physiological conditions, tail-less neurofilament L formed a ribbon-like structure, whereas tail-less neurofilament L could form 10-nm filaments in an extremely low ionic-strength buffer in the presence of 1 mM MgCl2. An affinity-purified antibody directed against the tail fragment also accelerated neurofilament L assembly. The tail fragment neither coassembled with neurofilament L nor affect neurofilament L assembly. The acidic domain of the tail region may regulate neurofilament assembly and may be involved in 10-nm filament formation under physiological conditions.

[A unilateral large demyelinating lesion in the cerebral white matter with slowly progressive hemiplegia and intrathecal JC virus antibody production]

A 59-year-old male patient presented in 1991 with left-sided hemiplegia and hemihypesthesia and left homonymous hemianopsia, which had developed for the preceding 12 months. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level of protein was mildly elevated, oligoclonal IgG band was initially negative, but finally positive and myelin basic protein was absent. Magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray computed tomography (CT) of the brain revealed a unilateral demarcated lesion extending around the posterior horn and triagular part of the right lateral ventricle, apparently capped by remarkably gadolinium enhancement at its front, which had no mass effect, and several small isolated plaques were also observed in other areas of the brain. All lesions appeared as high intensity areas on T2 weighted images and hypodense areas on CT. The JC virus hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers were 1:32 in serum and 1:8 in CSF; the antibody titer ratio and index both suggested an intrathecal antibody production. Pathological examination of brain biopsy specimen taken from the large lesion demonstrated profound demyelination with preservation of axons, a large number of macrophages and spotted perivascular lymphocyte cuffings. Based on this experience, we discussed the features in this case which differentiated it from multiple sclerosis, leukodystrophy and typical progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Diffuse-disseminated sclerosis or transitional sclerosis was most likely so far as the clinical picture, imaging and histology were concerned. However, we implicated the possible involvement of JC virus infection to the etio-pathogenesis of the demyelinating lesions in view of the intrathecal JC virus antibody production in CSF observed in this case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neuropathologic changes in the gerbil brain after chronic hypoperfusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

An animal model has been developed to elucidate the pathological changes in brain cytoskeletal proteins during chronic hypoperfusion.

METHODS

Newly designed coiled clips were placed around both carotid arteries of Mongolian gerbils (n = 10) to cause stenosis without occlusion. Those gerbils showing impaired learning ability by the passive avoidance paradigm were killed for neuropathologic study after 12 weeks.

RESULTS

The brains showed ventricular dilatation, cortical atrophy, and rarefaction of the white matter. Immunoreactivity to anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 antibody in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus was diminished, indicating dendritic changes of neurons. In the thalamic axonal regions, staining with anti-neurofilament 200K protein antibody was increased, suggesting increased amounts of neurofilament proteins or increased phosphorylation of the protein. Increased immunoreactivity to anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody was observed in a wedge-shaped configuration, corresponding to the border zone of perfusion by small vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that changes in the cytoskeletal proteins in dendrites, axons, and glial cells may cause neuronal death under conditions of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Thymic nurse cell clone supports the differentiation of CD4-8- thymocytes into CD4+8+ thymocytes in vitro

A previously reported thymic nurse cell clone, TNC-R3.1 could form a unique complex with isolated adult mouse CD4-8- (DN) thymocytes and greatly sustained the cell viability of DN thymocytes in suspension culture. In addition, the TNC-R3.1 clone supported the differentiation of DN thymocytes into CD4+8+ (DP) thymocytes in a short-term culture. Addition of IL-7 into the coculture markedly enhanced DN thymocyte-TNC interaction and induced the proliferation and differentiation of DN thymocytes, though IL-7 alone did not induce the differentiation of DN thymocytes. Separation of DN thymocytes from TNC-R3.1 monolayer using a Millicell caused a great inhibition of the DN thymocyte differentiation, suggesting that direct contact between TNC-R3.1 cells and immature thymocytes was required for the differentiation of DN thymocytes. The kinetics study demonstrated that DN thymocytes started to differentiate into DP thymocytes through CD3-CD4+J11d+ intermediate cells 8-12 h after the initiation of the culture with TNC-R3.1 plus IL-7. The generation of DP thymocytes became maximal 20 h after coculture and gradually decreased thereafter. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TNC-R3.1 could support the differentiation of CD3+CD4+CD8- or CD3+CD4-CD8+ thymocytes from CD3-CD4-CD8- thymocytes in the presence of IL-7 and IL-2. These data indicate that our established in vitro culture system mimics the early stage of the intrathymic T cell developing pathway.

Malignant schwannoma arising in a paranasal sinus

A case of malignant schwannoma arising in a paranasal sinus is reported. In this case, histological hallmarks were lost because of the poorly differentiated nature of the tumour. Immunohistological techniques were applied to the diagnosis, confirming the neural origin of this tumour. Malignant schwannoma is a relatively rare disease in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. For the treatment of this tumour, wide resection is recommended. In this patient, radical resection of the maxilla with orbital and ethmoid exenteration was performed. The patient recovered uneventfully with no evidence of disease three years after surgery.

[Detection of myocardial damage in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy using ultrafast CT]

The myocardial characteristics of DCM patients were investigated by ultrafast CT (UFCT), left ventriculography (LVG) and T1 myocardial scintigraphy (SCINTI). Late enhancement, focal wall thinning and intramyocardial fatty components were detected as focal abnormal findings by UFCT. The regions of asynergy detected by LVG and perfusion defect detected by SCINTI were well correlated with those of focal abnormal findings detected by UFCT. There were significant differences between patients with and without focal abnormal findings, in ejection fraction and end-diastolic pressure of left ventricle and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia. It is possible that these focal abnormal findings represented focal ischemic myocardial damage in DCM patients. DCM patients were divided into two different functional groups by UFCT findings.

Magnetic resonance imaging of pericardial malignant mesothelioma

Magnetic resonance imaging of pericardial malignant mesothelioma in two patients is reported. Magnetic resonance imaging clearly depicted the tumor location and expansion, and was useful in delineating the anatomic extent of pericardial malignant mesothelioma.

[Extension of functional limitation for surgery of lung cancer by unilateral pulmonary arterial occlusion test]

We performed unilateral pulmonary arterial occlusion test to determine the indication for lung resection functionally, and investigated 32 cases whose total pulmonary vascular resistance was over 700 dyne.sec.cm-5/M2. Thirteen out of 32 cases underwent surgery. There was no difference in lung function tests between surgical and non-surgical cases. Nine out of 12 cases whose pulmonary vascular resistance was less than 800 dyne by unilateral pulmonary arterial occlusion test underwent surgery, and none of these cases died within 3 months after surgery. In non-surgical cases, two were aged patients and one had chronic renal failure. Four out of 20 cases whose total pulmonary vascular resistance was over 800 dyne underwent surgery. Two cases that underwent surgery died within 3 months after surgery. These results suggest that the functional limitation of lung resection can be extended from 700 dyne.sec.cm-5/M2 to 800 dyne.sec.cm-5/M2 total pulmonary vascular resistance by application of unilateral pulmonary arterial occlusion test.