Acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss without vertigo

OBJECTIVE

To study the pathophysiological features of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss without vertigo (ALHL) and its correlation with Meniere's disease.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of medical charts of patients with ALHL.

SETTING

University hospital clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty consecutive patients with ALHL, including 45 patients whose conditions were followed up for more than 3 years (average, 5 years 2 months; range, 3 years 3 months to 8 years).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Age and sex distributions and results of audiological and neuro-otological tests, initial outcome, recurrence rates, and differences between patients with and without recurrence.

RESULTS

About 75% (62/80) of the patients were between the ages of 30 and 60 years and the female-male ratio was 2:6. Positive glycerol test results were found in 74% (26/35) of patients and abnormally increased negative summating potential/action potential ratio in 63% (50/80). No abnormalities were found on neuro-otological tests. Hearing loss improved within 3 months in 84% (67/80) of the patients. Of 45 patients followed up for more than 3 years, 28 (62%) showed no evidence of recurrence, 12 (27%) developed cochlear Meniere's disease, and five (11%) developed classic Meniere's disease. No significant differences were found at the first examination between patients with and without recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that ALHL may be caused by endolymphatic hydrops confined to the cochlea and that ALHL does not always lead to cochlear or classic Meniere's disease.

Prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients undergoing hepatic resection

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Prognostic analysis on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients undergoing hepatectomy is necessary to determine the clinical value of hepatectomy on prognosis.

METHODS

Survival and disease-free survival were analyzed in 104 HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy using clinicopathologic factors by univariate and multivariate analyses. The value of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM classification on prognosis was assessed in the patients.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, portal vein invasion was the most influential factor. The difference between stage 1 and 2 or stage 3 and 4A using UICC's TNM classification was not significant with respect to survival or disease-free survival. The UICC's classification was modified as follows; stage 1, solitary tumor without vascular invasion; stage 2, solitary or multiple tumor(s) involving adjacent to vessel branch; stage 3, tumor(s) involving major vessel branch or with regional lymph nodal metastasis; and stage 4, tumor(s) with distant metastasis. The differences between each stage in the modified classification were significant with respect to disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The UICC's TNM classification was not of prognostic significance. Further studies on survival in patients with HCC are necessary to evaluate the value of the UICC's TNM classification; some modification may be necessary.

[Sudden deafness in the elderly]

We investigated the clinical features of 64 cases of sudden deafness in patients more than 60 years of age. Forty-eight cases (75%) had profound deafness, 13 moderate and three mild deafness. The audiograms of 25 cases showed a flat pattern, 13 a gradually descending curve, and 13 total deafness. In 60 cases, the unaffected ear also had hearing impairment of variable severity. Fifty-one of these 60 cases demonstrated a physiological hearing threshold shift termed presbycusis in the unaffected ear. Hearing impairment in 35 cases (55%) was cured or improved by medical treatment including steroids. But in the majority of cases, the hearing threshold level of the affected ear did not improve above that of the unaffected ear when the unaffected ear had a hearing impairment. In particular, hearing impairment in five cases with total deafness in the unaffected ear did not improve. The elderly often had various systemic complications, including nine cases of diabetes and seven of hypertension. We treated patients with diabetes using steroids under the consultation of diabetic specialists. As a result, there was no case of complications induced by steroids. We consider the effect of treatment of sudden deafness in the elderly to be best judged in various degrees of hearing impairment in the unaffected ear.

Clinical features of idiopathic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss

The Research Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan has defined hearing loss of unknown etiology with fairly high-speed progression as idiopathic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (IBSH). Its diagnostic criteria consist of the following: that it is (1) progressive, (2) with bilateral involvement, and (3) of unknown etiology. In this study, we evaluated the clinical course in 20 cases of IBSH. Many cases of IBSH finally showed symmetrical profound sensorineural hearing loss. The clinical course of IBSH consisted of various combinations of the following four states: (1) fixed hearing, (2) rapid progression, (3) pathological slow progression and (4) physiological slow progression.

An electrocochleographic study of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss

Twenty-four patients with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) were examined using electrocochleography. The negative summating potential (SP) amplitude and the summating potential/action potential (AP) ratio were significantly greater in the ALHL patients than in normals. The SP/AP ratio was smaller in the ALHL patients than in patients with known Meniere's disease and moderate hearing loss, although the SP amplitude was somewhat greater in the former. An abnormal increase in the SP amplitude following click stimuli was found in 54% of the ALHL patients, while the SP/AP ratio was increased abnormally in 63% of these patients. These findings suggest that the pathophysiology of ALHL may be similar to that for endolymphatic hydrops.

[Benefits of a community oriented fluoride mouth rinsing program]

The benefits of a school-based fluoride mouth rinsing in a community dental health program were evaluated. In village "M", children from 4 to 14 years old have been participating in a school-based fluoride mouth rinsing program since 1974. In addition, an informal association for dental health of children was inaugurated in 1975 to support the community dental health program. In village "K", there were no fluoride mouth rinsing programs. However, the usual dental health education conducted in all schools was similar in both communities. In order to compare these two communities, dental examinations were carried out in 1990. The total number of subjects from 6 to 14 years old was 331 in village "M" and 408 in village "K". In village "M" for longitudinal comparison, 12-year-olds, 1,054 in total, were examined annually from 1974 to 1990. The DMFT-index in all subjects in village "M" was 76.1% lower than in village "K". In village "M", the DMFT-index in 1990 decreased 79.0% compared to 1974. The economic benefits obtained through the caries reduction were evaluated. In 1990 the mean cost of dental treatment for subjects 14 years old was 27,840 yen per person in village "K" and 4,248 yen in village "M". The cost-benefit ratio was 18.8 and the cost-effectiveness ratio was 137 yen. These remarkable benefits from the prevention of dental caries appears to have been mainly obtained due to the participation of children aged 4 to 14 years old in a school-based fluoride mouth rinsing program.

Human platelet glycoprotein V: characterization of the polypeptide and the related Ib-V-IX receptor system of adhesive, leucine-rich glycoproteins

Human platelet glycoprotein (GP) V (M(r) 83,300), whose primary structure is reported here, is a part of the Ib-V-IX system of surface glycoproteins (GPs Ib alpha, Ib beta, V, IX) that constitute the receptor for von Willebrand factor (vWf) and mediate the adhesion of platelets to injured vascular surfaces in the arterial circulation, a critical initiating event in hemostasis. System members share physical associations, leucine-rich glycoprotein (LRG) structures, and a congenital deficiency state, Bernard-Soulier syndrome. With PCR techniques and platelet cDNA templates, 1.4 kb of GP V cDNA sequence was obtained that encodes 469 GP V amino acids. A genomic 3.5-kb BamHI fragment was then isolated that includes 3.46 kb of GP V cDNA sequence: the 1.7-kb open reading frame plus 2 bases of the 5' and 1.8 kb of the 3' untranslated regions. Northern blot analysis reveals three GP V platelet transcripts of 3.8, 4.2, and 5.2 kb. A 16-amino acid signal peptide is present. Mature GP V is a 544-amino acid transmembrane protein with a 504-amino acid extracellular domain that encompasses a set of 15 tandem LRG repeats in a "flank-LRG center-flank" array [Roth, G. J. (1991) Blood 77, 5-19] along with eight putative N-linked glycosylation sites and cleavage sites for thrombin and calpain. GP V is a transmembrane, adhesive LRG protein that plays an undefined, but potentially critical, role in the expression and/or function of the Ib-V-IX receptor for vWf/shear-dependent platelet adhesion in arteries.

Hepatic resection guided by needles inserted under ultrasonographic guidance

BACKGROUND

Operative ultrasonography for orienting the direction of transection of the liver is often useful in obtaining an adequate disease-free surgical margin. We have devised a new technique for hepatectomy guided by needles inserted under ultrasonographic guidance.

METHODS

One hundred two hepatectomies were performed between January 1987 and September 1991, and the hepatectomy with this technique was begun in January 1989.

RESULTS

In 10 of 29 limited hepatectomies performed in the first phase of the period in which this technique was not available, disease-free surgical margin of less than 1 cm was left because of inadequately directed division. Disease-free surgical margin of more than 1 cm was left in 18 of 23 limited hepatectomies in the second phase of the period in which this technique was available. In the other five operations where disease-free surgical margin of less than 1 cm was left, carcinomas were located too close to the major hepatic vessels. The average blood loss during the limited hepatectomies was reduced by this technique. Two-year and 3-year survival of patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma were more favorable in the second phase than in the first phase.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the difference between the two groups was not significant, this technique is useful in performing adequate transection of the liver.

[Studies on the constituents of edible and medicinal plants. IV. Determination of 4-O-methylpyridoxine in serum of the patient with gin-nan food poisoning]

The serum 4-O-methylpyridoxine (MPN) levels in a 21 months-old patient with gin-nan food poisoning were determined by HPLC. The blood of the patient was taken at 8.5 and 15.5 h after taking about 50 ginkgo albumens. After deproteinization of the serum, the supernatant was pretreated with Sep-pak C18 cartridge and was applied to HPLC. HPLC was performed with a Hibar LiChrosorb RP-18 (4.0 mm i.d. x 250 mm, 7 microns) using a fluorescence detector (wave length of excitation and fluorescence; 290 and 400 nm, respectively). The serum MPN level was determined by the absolute calibration method. The determination limit of MPN in the serum was 0.05 micrograms/ml. The serum MPN concentration was 0.09 micrograms/ml at 8.5 h after taking ginkgo seeds, and was less than the determination limit of MPN (0.05 micrograms/ml) at 15.5 h. MPN, isolated from the seed of Ginkgo biloba L., is responsible for "gin-nan food poisoning," and its cardinal symptoms are mainly tonic and/or clonic convulsions and loss of consciousness. Infants are particularly vulnerable. This method may be available for proving the gin-nan food poisoning, chemically.

Anterior sagittal anorectoplasty as a redo operation for imperforate anus

Based on the idea of transsphincteric approach by Peña, we applied anterior sagittal anorectoplasty (ASARP) as a redo operation in 10 patients, who present moderate to severe fecal incontinence postoperatively. Those patients exhibited anal opening located anteriorly to the center of contraction of external sphincter muscles. Operation is begun with making a circumferential skin incision in the mucocutaneous junction around the anal opening, extending posteriorly along the median line to the center of the external sphincter muscles. Upon confirming the vertical muscle and the external sphincter muscles, the rectal tube, being dissected free, is mobilized backward to be placed at the center of the vertical muscles and enclosed by the muscle. After the operation, an improvement was noted in either clinical symptoms or scores, being particularly marked for incontinence and staining scores. Anorectal manometry and barium enema studies also showed a significant improvement. These results provide ample justification of ASARP as a redo operation for imperforate anus being worthwhile trying in properly selected patients with poor anorectal function following the primary operation.

Alterations in pain threshold and psychomotor response associated with subanaesthetic concentrations of inhalation anaesthetics in humans

We studied the effects of six inhalation anaesthetics at subanaesthetic concentrations of 0.2 MAC on pain threshold and psychomotor function in six healthy volunteers. When compared with 100% oxygen inhalation, nitrous oxide and methyoxyflurane significantly increased pain threshold as measured by a radiant heat algometer, and prolonged the response time to auditory stimuli. In contrast, halothane, enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane produced prolongation of the response time to auditory stimuli but did not influence pain perception. The pain threshold with nitrous oxide remained significantly increased 30 min after its discontinuation, while the response time returned to the preinhalation value. We conclude that nitrous oxide and methoxyflurane possess both analgesic and hypnotic actions but halothane, enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane do not have an analgesic action at subanaesthetic concentrations, and the analgesic action of nitrous oxide persists after its elimination.

Arteriovenous differences and tissue concentrations of branched-chain ketoacids

According to previous reports, branched chain ketoacids (BCKAs) are undetectable in liver and brain. A procedure is described for HPLC analysis of tissue concentrations of BCKA that achieves 80% recovery of labeled 2-ketoisocaproate (KIC) added to frozen powdered liver. In normal overnight-fasted rats, substantial hepatic uptake was demonstrable in the order KIC > 2-ketoisovalerate (KIV) congruent to 2-keto-3-methylvalerate (KMV). All three BCKAs were very low in freeze-clamped liver. Liver concentrations were only 15% to 22% of the mean of portal vein, hepatic vein, and hepatic artery (aorta) concentrations. In view of the probable contribution to total liver content of extracellular BCKAs, the intracellular concentrations in liver tissue must be vanishingly low. Somewhat higher amounts were present in freeze-clamped kidney and heart tissue, and significant uptake of KIC and KMV by kidney was found. Brain released KIC. Muscle contained concentrations of BCKA that were 35% to 72% of concentrations in plasma, and it released all three BCKAs. Similar results were obtained from tissues in overnight-fasted dogs, except that even lower levels were found in freeze-clamped brain (sampled before circulation ceased) than were found in the liver. Plasma levels in dogs were similar to those of rats. In both species the tissue-to-plasma ratios were higher for KIV than for KMV or KIC. Remarkably low BCKA levels in liver and brain are unexplained, particularly in light of evidence that BCKAs gain access to cells in both organs.

Paget's disease of the esophagus

Esophageal carcinoma simulated Paget's disease in a 60-year-old Japanese man with 3 months of difficulty swallowing and pain. Results of an esophageal biopsy indicated undifferentiated carcinoma, but after esophagectomy and partial gastrectomy, the resected esophagus showed that the mucosa was diffusely indurated with irregular, reticulated erosions. There was no tumor mass or ulcer. Histologic examination showed an extensive intraepithelial growth of cancer cells without any glandular or squamous cell differentiation. Tumor cells were large and round and contained large nucleoli and ample, clear, or pale-staining cytoplasm, similar to the cells of Paget's disease. Tumor cells multifocally invaded into the mucosal and submucosal ducts where they formed papillary and tubular nests, indicating adenocarcinomatous differentiation, but there was no invasive growth beyond the basement membrane. Tumor cells in the epithelial layer were negative for periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue, but partly positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and CEA, whereas those in the submucosal ducts and glands were strongly positive for PAS, alcian blue, carcinoembryonic antigen, and EMA, especially at their luminal surfaces. Tumor cells were negative for S-100, neuron-specific enolase, and melanin. These findings indicate that the tumor in the present case was a primary esophageal carcinoma with partial adenocarcinomatous differentiation, showing an extensive intraepithelial Pagetoid growth of its undifferentiated component. This is the first case of esophageal Paget's disease presenting as intraepithelial growth alone.

Isolation of bilobalide and ginkgolide A from Ginkgo biloba L. shorten the sleeping time induced in mice by anesthetics

The leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. and aqueous extract from them shortened the sleeping time induced in mice by anesthetics (hexobarbital, alpha-chloralose and urethane, i.p.). Two characteristic terpenoids in G. biloba, bilobalide and ginkgolide A, significantly shortened the sleeping time induced by anesthetics. A toxic substance, 4-O-methylpyridoxine (MPN), responsible for "gin-nan food poisoning" isolated from the seed of G. biloba, was not detected from the extract of the leaves of G. biloba. Therefore, the Ginkgo biloba extract has no toxicities for MPN.

Hepatic resection using a water jet dissector

A newly-designed water jet dissector was used for hepatic resections in humans. To evaluate its usefulness, the water jet dissector was compared to an ultrasonic surgical aspirator in terms of average blood loss and time of operation. In hepatectomies on patients associated with liver cirrhosis, the average blood loss during hepatic resection using the water jet dissector was significantly smaller (P < 0.05) than that with the ultrasonic surgical aspirator. However, in hepatectomies on patients without cirrhosis, the average blood loss during hepatic resection did not significantly differ between the two groups. Neither did the time of operation significantly differ between the two procedures in hepatectomies on patients with and without liver cirrhosis. No serious complications attributable to the use of the water jet dissector were encountered. The water jet dissector is thus considered to be a useful new device for use in the transection of the liver during hepatic resections.

Studies on the constituents of edible and medicinal plants. III. Effects of seven limonoids on the sleeping time induced in mice by anesthetics

Effects of seven limonoids, obakunone (1), 7 alpha-obakunol (2), 7 beta-obakunol (3), limonin (4), 7 alpha-limonol (5), 7 beta-limonol (6) and nomilin (7), on the sleeping time induced in mice by anesthetics were assayed. All the limonoids, except for 2, shortened the sleeping time induced by alpha-chloralose and urethane. 7 gave the highest reduction rate of sleeping time, and the order of the reduction rate of sleeping time was as follows; 7 > 1 and 3 > 4, 5 and 6. As the chemical structures of these compounds are similar to each other, the relationship between the structure and the effects of limonoids on sleeping time was discussed.

[Surgical treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma]

One hundred and thirty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in stages III and IV were studied. Seventy-six patients who underwent hepatectomy were divided into three groups: relative curative resection (RC: n = 30), relative noncurative resection (RNC: n = 30) and absolute noncurative resection (ANC: n = 16). Fifty-six patients were treated by non surgical procedures such as hepatic arterial infusion, transcatheter arterial embolization, ethanol injection and hyperthermia. The cumulative survival rate of hepatectomy patients was significantly better than that of non-surgically treated patients. The most significant prognostic factor was the presence of the portal venous invasion. In the patients without tumor thrombi or with tumor thrombi found microscopically, the cumulative survival rates of both RC and RNC were significantly better than those of ANC and non-surgically treated patients, but in the patients with tumor thrombi found grossly, there was no difference between hepatectomy patients and non-surgically treated patients. These results indicate that surgical treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma improve the prognosis of the patients without tumor thrombi found grossly.

[Prevention of postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma by adjuvant locoregional chemotherapy]

Postoperative adjuvant locoregional chemotherapy was performed on patients who underwent hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with permeation of tumor into portal vein and/or into hepatic vein and/or intrahepatic metastasis to prevent recurrence. Twenty patients received intra-hepato-arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic drugs or Lipiodol, or transcatheter arterial embolization as adjuvant therapy, and 25 patients did not receive the therapy. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups, and disease-free-survival would not be improved significantly by adjuvant therapy. But the disease-free-survival was improved in patients who underwent relative noncurative hepatectomies. Median duration from the hepatic resection to the recurrence was prolonged by adjuvant therapy, but no significant difference was noted between the two groups. Serious hepatic injury was a side effect of adjuvant therapy in one patient. Therefore great care was necessary when performing the therapy. Further study on choice of the drugs and methods was considered necessary to obtain more effective therapy.

Protective effects of antioxidants on paraquat-induced acute renal failure in mice

The protective effects of antioxidants against elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were studied in newly developed acute renal failure in mice induced by paraquat. The administration of paraquat caused marked azotemia accompanied by a decreased glomerular filtration rate. In contrast, elevated BUN was significantly reduced by the preadministration of either dimethylthiourea, deferoxamine or alpha-tocopherol. These data suggest that acute renal failure induced by paraquat is mainly related to the hydroxyl radicals produced via the iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction.

[Studies on changes in low esophageal sphincter function after esophageal transection or esophago-esophagostomy in children]

An aim of the present study is to clarify the changes of esophageal function after surgical treatments of the esophageal varices or the congenital esophageal stenosis in children. Esophageal manometric studies were performed in sixteen children undergoing the esophageal transection with paraesophageal devascularization or the esophago-esophagostomy with partial esophagectomy before, within 1 month and over 7 months after the operation. The pressure of lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the length of LES, the LES relaxation test and the gastroesophageal reflux (GER) inducing test were measured. 1) Esophageal transection; The pressure dropped within 1 month and returned to the preoperative level over 11 months after the operation. Temporal deterioration of LES function was observed during the early postoperative days. However, return to the preoperative state was gained over 1 year. 2) Esophago-esophagostomy; The pressure and the length of LES were not changed after the operation. The LES function was disturbed preoperatively and moreover long postoperatively, in the case when congenital stenosis closely existed to the esophago-gastric junction. Degree of the postoperative disturbance of the LES function may be influenced by the distance to the part of the transection or the partial esophagectomy from the E-C junction.

Intestinal myoelectric activity and contractile motility in dogs with a reversed jejunal segment after extensive small bowel resection

To evaluate the functioning and effectiveness of a reversed jejunal segment after extensive small bowel resection, we continuously measured the postoperative bowel motility (using bipolar electrodes and/or contractile strain gage force transducers) in interdigestive and postprandial conscious dogs at 2 to 5 weeks after surgery. The fasting duodenal migrating myoelectric (or motor) complex (MMC) occurred at markedly longer intervals in dogs with a 20-cm reversed jejunal segment created after 75% to 80% extensive small bowel resection (group 3) than in dogs that received extensive resection alone (group 2) or dogs that underwent construction of a reversed jejunal segment without bowel resection (group 1). The MMC arising from the duodenum was often interrupted at the jejunum above the proximal anastomosis and did not migrate smoothly to the reversed segment or terminal ileum in group 3. In addition, brief small discordant contractions were frequent in the reversed segment and the jejunum above the proximal anastomosis in group 3. The duration of the postprandial period without duodenal MMC activity was significantly prolonged in groups 2 and 3. These results suggest that the transit time and passage of intestinal contents were delayed and that the periodical MMC was disturbed in group 3. The delay of transit time was due to prolongation of the interval between duodenal MMCs, the interruption of MMC propagation at the jejunum above the proximal anastomosis, the dominance of MMCs that followed the inherent anatomical continuity of the bowel, and discordant movements across the proximal anastomosis. Functional obstruction could be a potential problem in a 20-cm reversed jejunal segment inserted after extensive small bowel resection.

[A temporal bone study of the jugular fossa]

This study was performed to elucidate the anatomic variations of the jugular fossa (JF) on the basis of examination of 120 human temporal bones. Observations were made of temporal bones sectioned along a plane including the cochlea, the JF, and long axis of the internal auditory canal. The position of the upper margin of the JF was classified according to its relation to the tympanic cavity, the cochlea, and the internal auditory canal. The height of the upper margin of the JF was classified as follows. Low type; inferior to the level of the external auditory canal. Middle type; between the level of the external auditory canal and the cochlea. High type; superior to the level of the cochlea. The results revealed that 58 ears were of low type, 46 middle type, and 16 high type. Middle and high type comprised 62 ears, thus in 52% of ears the upper margin of the JF was situated superior to the external auditory canal. The relation between the JF and the cochlea was classified as follows. Medial type; medial to the medial margin of the cochlea. Lateral type; lateral to the medial margin of the cochlea. The results showed that 74 ears were of medial type, and 46 lateral type. Therefore, in 62% of ears the upper margin of the JF was situated medial to the medial margin of the cochlea. Forty-seven ears of medial type were of middle or high type. Ears of lateral type included none of high type. The jugular bulb diverticulum was observed in 32 ears, which consisted of 3 of low type, 13 middle type, 16 high type. When the upper margin of the JF was positioned higher, the JF was in a more medial position. However, no defect of the bony labyrinth was observed. In conclusion, it is considered that protrusion of the jugular bulb into the tympanic cavity was not caused by the abnormally high position of the JF, but by its lateral displacement. Distances from the JF to the surrounding structures were as follows; to the tympanic membrane 5.58 +/- 2.43mm (mean +/- S.D.), to the tympanic cavity 2.94 +/- 1.92mm, to the cochlea 4.93 +/- 2.20mm, and the internal auditory canal 5.82 +/- 2.38mm.

Alpha-fetoprotein production by hepatocellular carcinoma is prognostic of poor patient survival

Immunohistochemistry using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method was performed to study the production of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue specimens which were obtained surgically. The relationship between staining for AFP and serum AFP levels or pathological findings was examined. The prognosis of the patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatic resections was studied with respect to the staining for AFP in their tumors. The mean serum AFP level in patients with positive AFP staining was significantly higher than in those with negative AFP staining. No significant relationship was found between AFP positivity and tumor size, tumor encapsulation, degree of vascular invasion, or the histological differentiation grade of the tumor. The patients with AFP-positive carcinomas had a poorer prognosis than did those with AFP-negative carcinomas (5-year survival rate of AFP-positive and negative groups were 26.7% and 56.5%, respectively.

A resected case of hepatoblastoma originating in the caudate lobe

A very rare case of hepatoblastoma originating in the caudate lobe in an 18-month-old female infant is reported. Three years after surgical resection of the tumor, she is alive without signs of a recurrence.

Sensorineural hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion

The clinical records of 1,372 cases of otitis media with effusion (OME) treated during the past 10 years were reviewed in search of associations with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). In 14 cases (1.0%), the development of SNHL was considered to be etiologically related to OME. These 14 cases were classified into two groups. In group A, which consisted of 5 cases, the clinical feature was acute onset of SNHL and gradual improvement. In group B of 9 cases, SNHL progressed gradually or insidiously and did not improve. Different pathophysiology may be assumed to underlie these two groups. The results of this study demonstrate that we have to pay attention to a possible development of SNHL during the course of OME.

[Prognosis of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss]

We studied 50 patients with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) who were examined at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tokyo, and followed up for 18 months or more. We investigated the prognosis of hearing loss within 3 months after onset, rate of recurrence during long-term follow-up, interval between the first and the second episodes of hearing loss or between onset and the time when the diagnosis of Meniere's disease was made, and factors affecting prognosis. The results were as follows. 1. Within the initial 3 months of follow-up, hearing loss continued to fluctuate in 5 patients. In the remaining 45, hearing returned to normal in 34, improved without returning to normal in 6, showed no marked change in 4, and became worse in one. 2. In long-term follow-up, the recurrence of hearing loss without vertigo occurred in 16 patients, and 5 others were eventually diagnosed as having Meniere's disease. The average interval between the first and second episodes of hearing loss was 9.2 months, and the diagnosis of Meniere's disease was made an average of 27 months after onset. 3. Recurrence was not significantly related to the initial prognosis of hearing loss. 4. Within the initial 3 months of follow-up, the prognosis of hearing loss was significantly better in patients whose hearing loss at 1 kHz was within 20 dB, and tended to be better in females and in patients attending within one week of onset. Long-term follow-up showed that the rate of recurrence was significantly lower in patients aged 40 years or more, and tended to be lower in patients who visited the hospital within one week of onset or whose hearing loss at 1 kHz was within 20 dB. 5. There were no significant differences between patients with single and recurrent attacks with respect to sex, subjective symptoms, and results of the glycerol test and electrocochleography. ALHL tends to recur without any relationship to the initial prognosis of hearing loss. Since it is still difficult to predict whether or not hearing loss will recur, long-term follow-up is necessary even in patients with good initial prognosis.

An experience of cell sorting using samples isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue of neuroblastoma

Flow cytometric DNA content analyses were performed on samples from 72 patients with neuroblastoma. Nuclear suspensions obtained from paraffin-embedded samples were prepared using the method described by Schutte et al. Determination of DNA ploidy was possible in 62 out of 72 patients. DNA diploidy was detected in 23 (37.1%) and DNA aneuploidy was found in 39 (62.9%) of these 62 patients. Cell sorting was performed on two peak areas of the DNA histogram of samples with aneuploidy. The sorted cells of the first peak area were composed of small round cells and were considered to be normal lymphocytes. The sorted cells of the second peak area were composed of relatively large cells with obvious nucleoli and were considered to be neuroblastoma cells. Thus, two cell components could be distinguished by cell sorting. It is concluded that cell sorting may be of benefit in giving detailed information about DNA histograms, even in samples obtained from paraffin-embedded tissue.

Anterior sagittal anorectoplasty for rectovestibular and anovestibular fistula

Rectovestibular (or anovestibular) fistula is the most common form of anorectal anomaly in female infants. In the surgical repair of these malformations, anal transplantation has been in widespread conventional use. Based on the idea of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, we devised a new approach, anterior sagittal anorectoplasty, in which, in the lithotomy position, the anterior portion of sphincter muscles are cut through a median perineal skin incision and then the rectum is pulled through the center of these muscles to make its opening at the normal position. The operation has been performed in 12 patients with satisfactory results.

A new nonoperative method of percutaneous transgastric fistulo-drainage for an intractable external pancreatic fistula--a case report

The external pancreatic fistula is a well-known complication of pancreatectomy and is conventionally classified as either a partial fistula or a total fistula. A partial fistula usually closes spontaneously and operative intervention is rarely needed, whereas, a total fistula on the other hand, very often does not close and may therefore require surgical intervention. We report herein, a case of an intractable total pancreatic fistula following pancreatoduodenectomy which was successfully repaired by a new non-operative method of percutaneous transgastric fistulo-drainage (PTFD). This technique, performed under the control of a two-way X-ray television system, is safe and considered useful for the treatment of an intractable total pancreatic fistula. In the future, this may be the method of choice for the management of such refractory total pancreatic fistulae.

Electronystagmographic recordings of guinea pig animal models in experimental otology

The vestibular function test in the guinea pig consists of spontaneous nystagmus recording, positional test and caloric test. If clip electrodes are used, recording of nystagmus in the guinea pig is successful. It takes less than 30 min to complete the whole test, and the animal tolerates the procedure without any complication.

Stimulation of neutrophil adherence to vascular endothelial cells by histamine and thrombin and its inhibition by PAF antagonists and dexamethasone

1. In order to clarify the roles of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in histamine- and thrombin-induced neutrophil adhesion to vascular endothelial cells, the effects of several PAF antagonists were examined. The effects of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone were also examined in order to gain further insight into the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids. 2. In culture, histamine and thrombin stimulated the adherence of rat peritoneal neutrophils to human endothelial cells from the umbilical vein. They did not stimulate neutrophil adherence in the absence of endothelial cells, suggesting that the target cells for the histamine- and thrombin-induced adherence of neutrophils were endothelial cells, not neutrophils. 3. Several PAF antagonists, such as CV-3988, L-652,731 and Y-24,180 inhibited the histamine- and thrombin-induced neutrophil adherence in a concentration-dependent manner. Indomethacin failed to inhibit it. 4. Dexamethasone, a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, did not inhibit the histamine- and thrombin-induced adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells when the drug was present only during the 20 min incubation period for the adherence assay. When the endothelial cells were preincubated for 3 h with dexamethasone, the adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells induced by histamine or thrombin was not inhibited. 5. When the neutrophils were preincubated for 3 h with dexamethasone, the histamine- and thrombin-induced adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells was inhibited. 6. Our studies indicate that: (a) adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells induced by histamine and thrombin is mediated by PAF production since PAF antagonists inhibited the adherence of neutrophils; and (b) neutrophils, not endothelial cells, are the target cells through which dexamethasone acts to inhibit adherence.

Vestibular pathology in a new-mutant mouse

The histological characteristics of the vestibule in a strain of new-mutant mice were studied under light microscopy. These new-mutant mice, manifesting drawing back, circling, head-tossing and hyperactive behavior arose as a spontaneous mutation in the C3H/He stock. For our study, 36 of these mice ranging in age from 10 days to 18 months were used. At 10 to 15 days after birth, the vestibular gross anatomy was well-developed and all three cristae and two maculae were morphologically normal. Age-dependent degeneration of the saccular maculae was found to begin at 21 days, and almost all hair cells were missing at 90 days. Further, morphological changes in the utricular maculae appeared at one year, and a severe loss of hair cells was observed at 18 months. In contrast, the cristae ampullaris remained well preserved until the age of 18 months. The phenotype of the abnormal gene in these mutant mice correlates to the morphological abnormalities seen in the vestibule.

Morphological changes of cochlea in a strain of new-mutant mice

The hearing ability and histological characteristics of the cochlea of a strain of new-mutant mice were analyzed. This new mutant arose as a spontaneous mutation in the C3H/He stock. The genetic mode is autosomal recessive and the animals show abnormal behavior such as circling, head-tossing and hyperactivity. The audiological findings exhibited no recordable auditory brain stem response (ABR) in any homozygotes at ages ranging from 11 days to 117 days. For morphological examination, we used 36 homozygote with ages ranging from 10 days to 18 months. The primary morphological abnormalities were observed in the organ of Corti. The stereocilia of the outer hair cells showed disarray throughout the whole cochlea, although outer hair cell cytoplasm became fully developed, including the nerve terminals. Age-dependent degeneration of the outer hair cells subsequently occurred from the basal to the apical part of the cochlea. The earliest change demonstrated in the outer hair cells was cuticular degeneration. Although the abnormalities of the inner hair cells occurred late, a complete loss of inner and outer hair cells was demonstrated. The stria vascularis was well preserved at a later age as were spiral ganglion cells. These histological findings confirm that this mouse is classified as a neuroepithelial-type mutant. As this animal was expected to have a single gene abnormality, molecular genetic studies on this animal can provide important information on the nature of histological changes of the hair cell from a mode of gene action.

[5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), mitomycin C (MMC), etoposide and medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA) in a previously treated patient with advanced breast cancer]

An advanced breast cancer patient refractory to CAF (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil), 5-FU-Methotrexate sequential therapy and Tamoxifen was treated with the combination 5' DFUR, MMC, Etoposide and MPA. Complete response was obtained both against liver and lymph node metastases from 7 months after the initial treatment. A mild bone marrow suppression and appetite loss were observed as the side effect. It is suggested that the combination therapy may be useful for previously treated patients with advanced breast cancer.

WS-7528, a new isoflavanone with estrogen activity isolated from Streptomyces sp. No. 7528. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities

WS-7528, produced by Streptomyces sp. No. 7528, was extracted from cultured broth, purified by solvent extraction followed by chromatography on silica gel and then isolated as pale yellow powder (C16H14O5, mp 95-98 degrees C). WS-7528 inhibited estrogen binding to its receptor protein in rat uterine cytosol. The IC50 value of WS-7528 for partially purified rat uterine cytosol receptor was 5.7 x 10(-8) M. This compound was found to induce the growth of the estrogen dependent cell line MCF-7. WS-7528 was tested orally and subcutaneously in immature rats to confirm its effect on the growth of the uterus. WS-7528 has also weak anti-inflammatory activity on the carrageenin paw edema of the rat model.

Nitrogen sparing by 2-ketoisocaproate in parenterally fed rats

In rats receiving total parenteral nutrition with or without sodium 2-ketoisocaproate (KIC; 2.48 g.kg-1.day-1), L-[1-13C]leucine and [1-14C]KIC were constantly infused for 6 h. CO2 production, 14CO2 production, 13CO2 enrichment, urinary urea nitrogen (N) plus ammonia N and total urinary N were measured. Whole body protein synthesis (S) was calculated in non-KIC-infused rats and also in unfed rats infused with [1-14C]leucine from fractional oxidation of labeled leucine (1-F), where F is fractional utilization for protein synthesis, and urea N plus ammonia N excretion (C) as S = C x F/(1-F). Addition of KIC caused a significant reduction in N excretion and a significant improvement in N balance. Fractional oxidation of labeled KIC increased, whereas fractional utilization of labeled KIC for protein synthesis decreased, but the extent of incorporation of infused KIC into newly synthesized protein (as leucine) amounted to at least 40% of the total rate of leucine incorporation into newly synthesized whole body protein. We conclude that addition of KIC spares N in parenterally fed rats and becomes a major source of leucine for protein synthesis.

Direct injection analysis of ketoprofen enantiomers in plasma using column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography system

A high-performance liquid chromatography system was developed for the stereoselective determination of ketoprofen enantiomers in human plasma following direct sample injection. The system comprised of a pretreatment column and a chiral separation column connected in a series via a switching valve. When a 200 microliter portion of human plasma containing a therapeutic level of ketoprofen was directly applied to the system, ketoprofen was adsorbed in the pretreatment column, while plasma proteins were excluded. After the elution of proteins from the pretreatment column, the valve was switched and ketoprofen was desorbed and transferred to the chiral separation column where the enantiomers were separated and determined by ultraviolet-absorption. The mobile phase conditions for the pretreatment and chiral separation were optimized, which enabled rapid and complete recovery followed by satisfactory separation of the enantiomers. The calibration line for each enantiomer showed good linearity in the range of 0.25-5 micrograms/ml with a detection limit of 0.02 micrograms/ml (signal to noise ratio (S/N) greater than 3), which was sufficient for practical demands. The precision test indicated that the coefficient of variation for five repeated determinations of (-) ketoprofen was 5.4% at 0.1 microgram/ml and 1.4% at 1 microgram/ml.