Effects of acute and short-term repeated application of fullerene C60 on agonist-induced responses in various tissues of guinea pig and rat

1. Effects of fullerene C60 in trachea, right atria, ileum and stomach (fundus) of guinea pig and vas deferens and uterus of rat were studied pharmacologically. 2. C60 (4 microM) had no direct effect in all tissues. In guinea pig trachea and heart, relaxation and positive inotropic and chronotropic actions of isoprenaline and in isolated rat vas deferens and uterus the responses on norepinephrine and oxytocin were not affected by the short-term repeated application of C60 30 mg/kg i.p. for 4 wk. 3. The pD2 values (potencies) of acetylcholine in ileum and its longitudinal muscle from guinea pig after the short-term repeated application of C60 were significantly smaller than those obtained without the application. The value of 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat stomach (fundus) also tended to be smaller than obtained without the application. 4. Atropine inhibited competitively the contractions for acetylcholine in the longitudinal muscles prepared from C60-treated and non-treated guinea pigs, and the pA2 values for atropine were not significantly different with each other. 5. These results suggest that C60 has no direct effects or antagonistic properties toward drug receptors, but sub-chronic exposure of C60 decreased responsiveness. This may be due to a change in post-receptor processes.

[Reoperation for coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch]

This report presented four patients who underwent surgery for restenosis after repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) or interrupted aortic arch (IAA) at our institution between January 1980 and October 1994. Case #1 underwent primary repair for IAA, VSD, and PDA consisting of aortic arch reconstruction using a EPTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) graft of 10 mm in diameter at the age of four years. After 17 years, pressure gradient of 58 mmHg between the ascending aorta and the descending aorta prompted the reoperation. Case #2 underwent primary repair for CoA, VSD, and PDA consisting of a bypass between the ascending aorta and the descending aorta with an EPTFE graft of 11 mm in diameter at the age of three years. After 13 years, he had reoperation because of pressure gradient of 64 mmHg. Case #3 had pressure gradient of 20 mmHg between the upper and lower limb at the hospital discharge following patch angioplasty for CoA at five years of age. He underwent unsuccessful percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty at age 12 and had reoperation at age 15. Case #4 underwent subclavian flap angioplasty as the first stage operation for CoA, VSD, and PDA at 1 month after birth. About 9 months after the initial operation, the pressure gradient between the upper and lower limb had reached 40 to 50 mmHg, and the patient had reoperation at the age of 1 year. The reoperation method for cases #1, #2 and #3 consisted of bypass grafting from the left subclavian artery to the descending aorta under a simple cross clamping of the thoracic aorta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Fontan procedure after pulmonary artery banding--surgical results and new anatomical repair for tricuspid atresia]

We examined our surgical experiences to determine the appropriate condition of pulmonary artery banding (PAB) for the Fontan procedure. From 1974 through 1992, thirteen patients underwent Fontan procedure following PAB at Tokyo Women's Medical College. Of these 6 had tricuspid atresia (TA), 5 had single ventricle, or 2 had other complex malformations. PAB was performed at the age of 1 to 14 months (mean 2.5 months). With monitoring pulmonary artery (PA) pressure and systemic arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), PA mean pressure decreased 43.6 to 18.8 mmHg and PA circumferences at the banding site decreased from 53.5 to 26.0 mm after PAB. This degree of PAB was tighter compared with the value estimated by Trusler's formula (27.9 mm) in most patients. After PAB, 5 patients required 8 additional palliative surgery including 3 systemic to pulmonary shunt, 3 rebanding, 1 palliative RVOTR to promote development of pulmonary vascular bed and 1 atrial septectomy to prevent pulmonary hypertension. Hemodynamic data before Fontan operation showed a tendency of higher PA pressure (17.5 vs 31.5 mmHg), and pulmonary vascular resistance (2.4 vs 5.5 Wood Unit) in non-survivors than in survivors. For patients with tricuspid atresia and high pulmonary vascular resistance, a new operation "Anatomical Repair" utilizing hypoplastic right ventricle with the translocation of pulmonary or aortic valve in tricuspid position was developed and successfully applied in three patients. In conclusion, initial tight PAB during early infancy and often repeated palliative surgery for development of adequate pulmonary vascular bed is the most important for maximizing the chance of subsequent successful Fontan procedure.

[A successful circulatory assist in acute left heart failure after a rapid two-stage arterial switch operation]

A 6-month-old female with transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum successfully survived with the aid of a circulatory assist device for acute left heart failure after rapid two stage-arterial switch operation (ASO). The interval between pulmonary artery banding and ASO was 9 days. Left heart failure appeared immediately after ASO, so we started the circulatory assist with a centrifugal pump. The left ventricular function gradually recovered. After 43 hours assisted circulation, she was successfully weaned from the pump. Subsequent recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 40th postoperative day. In case of acute left heart failure after ASO due to sudden changes in the left ventricular afterload, adaptation of the left ventricle can be expected by a relatively short period of circulatory assist with centrifugal pump.

The equine pericardial valved conduit and current strategies for pulmonary reconstruction

In the period from 1976 to February 1995, 268 cases underwent extracardiac conduit repair (ECR), or direct reconstruction of the pulmonary artery. Of these 268 patients, 64 had a valved Dacron conduit, 143 received handmade valved equine pericardial conduits (Xenomedica), 24 had autologous fresh pericardial conduits, and 37 cases had pulmonary artery reconstruction by direct anastomosis without the use of tubular conduits. Hospital mortality in each group showed gradual improvement chronologically; 20.3% in the Dacron group, 9.8% in the equine conduit group, 4.2% in the autologous pericardial conduit group, and 5.4% in the direct anastomosis group, and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the Dacron group (P = .0261). Late death was seen in 7 of 51 (13.7%) in the Dacron group, 12 of 129 (9.3%) in the equine group, 1 of 23 (4.3%) in the autologous pericardial conduit, and none in the direct anastomosis group (P = .1263). Actuarial survival rates of the patients in the Dacron and equine conduit groups showed better survival in the latter without statistical significance: 75.0%, 83.2% at 5 years, and 69.7%, 80% at 10 years, respectively. However, actuarial survival rates among short-term survivors in the Dacron and equine conduit groups remained the same: 87.5%, and 88.7% at 10 years. Our current strategy in this entity is autologous tissue reconstruction of the pulmonary artery either by direct anastomosis or autologous pericardial conduit. Of 30 cases with transposed great arteries or truncus arteriosus, direct anastomosis could be performed in 19 (63.3%) since January 1992.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Successful surgical treatment of total cavopulmonary connection on a 4-year-old boy with complete transposition of the great arteries and hypoplastic left ventricle]

A four-year-old boy with complete transposition of the great arteries, intact ventricular septum and hypoplastic left ventricle, underwent total cavopulmonary connection after two palliative operations; B-T shunt and central shunt. He had undergone cardiac catheterization three times; four months after birth, and at two and four years of age. LVEDV (% normal) were calculated 31%, 26%, 27%, and RVEDV (% normal) were 226%, 115%, 105% respectively. PA index increased from 178 to 230 and further to 380. This case indicates that intracardiac repair is possible, if appropriate palliative operations suitable for patient's cardiac function and pulmonary artery morphology are applied.

[Bypass grafting of left subclavian artery to descending thoracic aorta for relative stenosis of bypass graft after total correction for type A IAA with VSD]

A 4-year-old child underwent one-stage total correction for type A IAA with VSD in 1975 as the first successful case in Japan. At age 21, a gradual rise in her upper limb pressure to 190 mmHg prompted repeat catheterization, which showed a pressure gradient across the EPTFE graft of 58 mmHg. Under general anesthesia in the right lateral position, the patient's left thorax was reopened. The EPTFE graft had undergone patchy calcific degeneration and was significantly hardened. An 18-mm Toray graft preclotted with fibrin glue was anastomosed to the left subclavian artery in side-to-end fashion. Its distal end was anastomosed to the descending aorta distal to the EPTFE bypass during a 20-minute aortic occlusion. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and the pressure gradient between the upper and lower limbs fell to 0 at discharge. We chose this method for reoperation of type A IAA and CoA because of the reduced need for dissection and better effectiveness.

[Impending rupture of a pseudoaneurysm in the descending thoracic aorta: a rare clinical course]

A sixty-year-old male manifested high fever, bloody sputa and an abnormal shadow in the left hilus on chest X-ray film. He was treated with antibiotics as for a infections lung disease. But back pain which he had been suffered from didn't improve. He was referred to the second hospital with suspicion of lung neoplasm. He underwent radiation therapy. The shadow in the left hilus had been increasing in size with the radiation therapy. On CT scanning, the shadow was recognized as an impending aneurysm along the descending thoracic aorta. He was referred to our hospital and operated upon in emergency basis. On operative findings, the aortic aneurysm located from the distal portion of the left common carotid artery and was huge sacklar shape. In surgical procedure, the entrance in the descending aorta was closed with a vascular patch graft because the aortic wall around the entrance was normal and unaffected. Postoperative course was uneventful. We should learn some warning from this case.

[A case report of an arachnoid cyst in the craniovertebral junction]

We reported a case of arachnoid cyst in the craniovertebral junction which was extremely rare. A 36-year-old man presented truncal ataxia and dysesthesia in the right upper extremity. CT and MR images revealed a large cyst in the craniovertebral junction. As for findings of MR images, cystic lesion showed similar intensity as cerebrospinal fluid. Intradural arachnoid cyst with thickened dura was opened to communicate with subarachnoid space. Fluid in the cyst was watery clear. Histological finding of the surgical specimen was arachnoid cyst without inflammatory changes. Arachnoid cyst in the craniovertebral junction is discussed with literature.

Wistar fatty rat is obese and spontaneously hypertensive

The purpose of this study was to determine whether genetically obese Wistar fatty rats have higher blood pressure than their lean littermates and if so to elucidate the mechanism of this obesity-related hypertension. We measured blood glucose and plasma insulin levels, blood pressure, and catecholamine and sodium excretions in age-matched female Wistar fatty and lean rats. After 12 weeks of age, the body weight of Wistar fatty rats was significantly greater than that of their lean counterparts. Fasting blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations were higher in the fatty than the lean rats throughout the observation period (8 to 24 weeks of age). Systolic blood pressure of fatty rats measured by the tail-cuff method was similar to that of lean rats at 8 weeks of age (135 +/- 2 [mean +/- SEM] versus 134 +/- 3 mm Hg) but significantly higher at 16 (158 +/- 2 versus 136 +/- 3 mm Hg, P < .01) and 24 (166 +/- 5 versus 142 +/- 2 mm Hg, P < .01) weeks of age. Urinary norepinephrine excretion was significantly increased in the fatty rats at both 16 (1755 +/- 173 versus 977 +/- 128 ng/24 h, P < .05) and 24 (1907 +/- 283 versus 737 +/- 173 ng/24 h, P < .01) weeks of age. The ratio of urinary norepinephrine excretion to body weight was also significantly increased in the fatty rats. These results show that with increasing body weight Wistar fatty rats develop hypertension, which may be attributable to an increased sympathetic nerve activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pulmonary arterial changes in patients dying after a modified Fontan procedure following pulmonary artery banding

Pulmonary arterial changes were histometrically analyzed in four cases of postoperative death following a modified Fontan procedure in which pulmonary artery banding had previously been performed because of pulmonary hypertension. Case 1 was a 3-year-old girl with corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA), ventricular septal defect, and double-inlet left ventricle; case 2 was a 6-year-old girl with single ventricle (SV) and complete TGA; case 3 was a 25-month-old boy with SV and double-outlet right ventricle; and case 4 was a 21-year-old man with tricuspid atresia. The cause of death in cases 1, 2, and 3 was pulmonary hypertensive crisis due to postoperative vasoconstriction of the small pulmonary arteries. Medical hypertrophy remained in half of the preacinar small pulmonary arteries although it was not observed in all the intraacinar arteries in cases 1 and 2, even after banding. The postoperative course of case 4 was uneventful despite multiple thromboembolism in the small pulmonary arteries. However, the patient died due to a thrombosed artificial valve. The results suggest that residual medial hypertrophy of the small pulmonary arteries was a major risk factor in these cases. Lung biopsy is recommended to determine the indications for the Fontan procedure in these hemodynamically critical cases.

[Multiple meningioma associated with intraosseous and tentorial meningioma--case report]

We report a case of multiple meningioma associated with intraosseous and tentorial meningioma. A 75-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with blurred vision and exophthalmos in the left eye. Left lower hemianopsia, deterioration of visual acuity and right cerebellar signs were found on neurological examination. CT and MR image revealed an intraosseous tumor of the left sphenoid bone and a right tentorial mass. Cytogenetic analysis failed to reveal any abnormalities of chromosome 22. The intraosseous tumor which was transitional type meningioma and the tentorial mass, which was a fibroblastic meningioma were successfully excised. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms and signs improved. Intraosseous meningioma associated with multiple meningioma is extremely rare and the histogenesis of meningioma arising from ectopic arachnoid cells is discussed.

[Magnetoencephalographic observation of cortical spreading depression elicited by experimental focal brain ischemia in rats]

It has recently been reported that focal ischemia induced by occlusion of unilateral middle cerebral artery provoked direct current (DC) potential deflection in the cortical infarct rim. DC potential deflection is suggested to be one of the deteriorating factors for ischemic damage. We aimed to elucidate whether a direct current magnetoencephalography (MEG) can noninvasively record DC potential deflection in focal brain ischemia or not. Fourteen male Wistar rats were used for this study. After anesthesia with pentobarbital, rats were subjected to transcranial occlusion of left middle cerebral artery by electrocauterization. Three rats showed recurrent DC potential deflections, like cortical spreading depression (CSD). The direct current MEG deflections always followed DC potential obtained by electrically recorded electrocorticograms. Mean repetition interval of DC potentials was 574 +/- 178 (SD) seconds, and their mean amplitude was 1266 +/- 789 fT. Time course of DC potentials induced by focal ischemia resembles to CSD induced by KCl application to cerebral cortex. Our observation suggests that DC magnetoencephalography is one of the useful tools for non invasive recording direct current potential deflections which are impossible to be obtained by conventional EEG techniques, and that this method will be a powerful diagnostic tool for focal brain ischemia.

[A case of "familial" type cardiac myxoma]

We report a case of "Familial" type cardiac myxoma observed in mother and daughter. The mother had myxomas in the bilateral atrium, which were completely resected together with the peripheral tissue. Her first child (daughter) had myxoma in the outflow tract of the right ventricle. The wide range resection of tumor and tumor pedicle with the free wall of right ventricle and ventricular septum was tried, however, the resection range was limited for anatomical restriction. Cardiac echo, MRI and superhigh-speed CT are useful for detection of the site of tumor in presence, its mobility and the site to which the pedicle adhered and did not make us recognize necessity of cardiac catheter test. When "Familial" or "Complex" type lesion is suspected, it is necessary to investigate carefully other sites except a tissue with the tumor and the patient's family and recurrence after tumor resection.

Fatigue and recovery of phosphorus metabolites and pH during stimulation of rat skeletal muscle: an evoked electromyography and in vivo 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and evoked electromyography were applied to rat skeletal muscle to examine the mechanism of muscle fatigue and the recovery of muscle phosphorus metabolites and pH during fatigue. When the sciatic nerve was electrically stimulated at 1 Hz, the contraction force of the gastrocnemius muscle decreased gradually to 46% of the maximal force, accompanied by a decrease in phosphocreatine (PCr) and a corresponding increase in inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and diprotonated inorganic phosphate (H2PO4-). Neither the amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) nor muscle pH changed significantly. At 10-Hz stimulation, contraction force rapidly decreased to 26% of maximal force, accompanied by a decrease in PCr and increases in P(i) and H2PO4-. Muscle pH decreased for a few minutes, then gradually recovered during continued stimulation. The amplitude of the CMAP also decreased for a few minutes and then reached steady values. At 100-Hz stimulation, the contraction force decreased to 6% of the maximal force and there was a decrease in the amplitude of the CMAP. However, the changes in the phosphorus metabolites and pH were transient and recovered to the control value during the stimulation. These results indicated that fatigue at 1 and 100-Hz stimulation was mainly caused by the change in phosphorus metabolite concentrations and electrical failure, respectively, and that fatigue at 10-Hz stimulation might have been due to both of these factors. These results also indicated that electrical failure might have been the cause of the recovery of the phosphorus metabolites and pH during 100-Hz stimulation and of pH during 10-Hz stimulation.

[A case report of complex cardiac malformation treated with total cavopulmonary connection after pulmonary artery banding]

A two-year-old boy with cardiac malformation including hypoplastic right ventricle, severe stenosis of the tricuspid valve, atrial primum defect and ventricular septal defect underwent total cavopulmonary connection after pulmonary artery banding, which was done to tract cardial failure at six months after birth. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, an intraatrial cavocaval channel was constructed with a prosthetic patch of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE). The superior vena cava was transected and each end of the superior vena cava was anastomosed to the pulmonary artery in an end-to-side fashion. Pulmonary artery pressure registered 15 mmHg on cardiac catheterization after operation, and angiography showed smooth blood flow to the pulmonary artery from the vena cava. We suggest that a Fontan-type operation could be indicated for the patients younger than 4-year-old having acceptable pulmonary resistance if the symptoms of hemoconcentration and hypoxia are life-threatening.

[Magnetoencephalography: its principles and clinical application]

This review attempts to provide the basis of neuromagnetism and its clinical applications. The progress in this field has been connected with the introduction of SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) magnetometer which was produced by the progress of low temperature physics. A magnetic field is generated by an electric current in accordance with 'the right hand law', and the magnetic field pattern inevitably crosses orthogonally that of the electric field. A SQUID magnetometer is able to only detect the magnetic field which is generated by the current dipole orientated parallel to the skull surface. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) has several advantages compared to electroencephalography (EEG). One is its more excellent spatial resolution than that of EEG, and the other is a non-contact measurement, i. e., a noninvasive method. Therefore, MEG measurement could not interfere with sweating on the skull skin or a depolarization between skin and electrodes. This advantage allows it to record the magnetic field generated by the direct current potential in the cortical surface, and one example, that is, direct current magnetic fields evoked by slow potential changes in rat brain during asphyxia, are shown.

[Serum/tissue interleukin-6 concentrations and constitutional abnormalities in 4 patients with cardiac myxoma]

Immunological features and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in 4 patients with cardiac myxoma were studied. The patients' age ranged from 11 years old to 57 years old; all 4 patients were female. Case 1, an 11-year-old female patient with myxoma located in the right ventricle, was considered to be a familial case. Her mother had myxomas in the right and left atrium, and had undergone removal of both tumors 3 years before. Peripheral blood examination revealed various inflammatory parameters in all of these patients. White blood cell (WBC) count was over 8,000/cmm in 3 of the 4 patients, positive CRP was found in 2 patients, IgG was higher than 1,500 mg/dl in 3 patients, positive anti-nuclear antibody was seen in 1 patient, and positive rheumatoid factor was identified in 1 patient. The OKT 4/8 ratio of lymphocyte subpopulation was 4.65 in one patient. The lymphocyte mitogenic response to PHA was increased in 2 patients. Serum IL-6 increased in 3 of 4 patients, and returned to normal within 3 to 4 weeks after operation. The IL-6 concentration in the homogenized sample remarkably increased in all 4 patients. Tumors larger than 4 cm contained higher tissue IL-6 concentrations than those smaller than 2 cm. The cultured myxoma cells produced abundant IL-6 in the culture medium supernatant. We conclude that inflammatory signs and immunological abnormalities are common in patients with large cardiac myxoma, and, in addition, serum IL-6 levels may increase in such patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case report of pulmonary valve blood cyst]

A six-year-old boy with pulmonary stenosis was hospitalized in order to examine the cause of pulmonary stenosis. The right-ventriculography showed a large shadow defect in the right ventricular outflow tract. But the echocardiography showed the cystic tumor, which was covered with thin wall and had echo-free space in it, in the right ventricular outflow tract. We made a diagnosis of pulmonary blood cyst. After cardiopulmonary bypass was established, the main pulmonary artery was incised longitudinally. There were two blood cysts at the left pulmonary cusp which were 1.5 x 1.5 cm and 0.7 x 0.5 cm in size. The cysts were resected and the pulmonary cusp was plicated. Histologically, the wall of the cysts was consisted thick valvular tissues. No pulmonary valve pressure gradient was detected with the echocardiography following the operation.

[A case of mitral valve replacement in the first three months of life for congenital mitral valve regurgitation]

Mitral valve replacement with 19 mm St. Jude Medical mechanical valve was successfully performed for congenital mitral regurgitation in an infant aged 3 months. The infant had undergone ligation of ductus arteriosus at the first month of age. Ten days after the operation, he was discharged, though having systolic murmurs. One month later, however, he was re-admitted for progressive heart failure. After hospitalization, he had to be supported mechanical ventilation. The second operation was needed for intractable heart failure, that was considered to be caused by mitral regurgitation, on an emergency basis without cardiac catheterization. The mitral valve was hypoplastic and the leaflet and chordae were gelatinous. Therefore, mitral valvuloplasty was considered to be impossible, and consequently mitral valve replacement was chosen. Postoperatively the patient's condition remarkably improved. Anticoagulation therapy with sodium warfarin and dipyridamole was maintained after operation. At present the patient is growing without any symptom.

[An emergency coronary artery bypass for failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with intractable ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation]

A 73-year-old man with effort angina after myocardial infarction is admitted for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). During PTCA, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was completely occluded. He was suffered from severe cardiogenic shock with systemic cyanosis and loss of consciousness. Under assist of intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) and cardiac massage, he was transferred to an operating room. Before the start of operation, cardioversion were required 13 times because of repeat attacks of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Coronary artery bypass was completed in 177 minutes after total occlusion of the LAD. At the 5th postoperative day, IABP could be discontinued, and at the 8th postoperative day, the patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation. He was transferred to the prior hospital for rehabilitation on the 65 days after operation. We must try to perform CABG for salvage of myocardium, even if a patient falls in severe cardiogenic shock presenting intractable ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.

Time course of changes in concentration of intracellular free calcium in cultured cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells exposed to oxyhemoglobin

A culture of smooth muscle cells obtained from monkey middle cerebral arteries was developed to allow quantitative assessment of intracellular calcium and immunofluorescence analysis after various periods of exposure to oxyhemoglobin. Intracellular calcium concentration was examined for up to 7 days after a single exposure to oxyhemoglobin. Intracellular calcium concentrations were measured with the fluorescent dye fura-2 and were significantly elevated for 7 days after exposure to oxyhemoglobin (P less than 0.01). Less than 2 minutes after application of oxyhemoglobin, there was marked elevation of intracellular calcium from the control value of 75 +/- 2 nmol/L to 240 +/- 28 nmol/L (P less than 0.01 by analysis of variance). Intracellular calcium concentration of cells exposed for 24 hours to oxyhemoglobin and then grown in normal oxyhemoglobin-free medium fell close to normal levels on Days 3 and 7. On Day 3, the increase in intracellular calcium that followed repeated daily exposure to oxyhemoglobin was greater than that resulting from a single application of oxyhemoglobin (P less than 0.01 by Student's t test), but by Day 7 the elevation produced by these different approaches was similar. Smooth muscle cells exposed to oxyhemoglobin showed a reduction in immunoreactivity to alpha-actin. These data support the hypothesis that disruption of intracellular calcium regulation and calcium overloading may be important in the process of cell injury, which results in vasoconstriction and sometimes cell death, after exposure to oxyhemoglobin.

Magnetic fields associated with anoxic depolarization in anesthetized rats

We have performed simultaneous measurements of the DC-magnetoencephalogram (DC-MEG) and DC-electrocorticogram (DC-ECoG) in rats (n = 6) subjected to 90 s of reversible anoxia. The onset of major shifts of electric and magnetic signals occurred at 52 +/- 18 (S.D.) and 68 +/- 14 (S.D.), respectively, and reached a peak at 83 +/- 27 and 102 +/- 19 (S.D.) s, respectively, after termination of mechanical ventilation. DC-ECoG signal deflections were always associated with DC-MEG deflections. The time of onset and peak signals in both DC-MEG and DC-ECoG changes caused by asphyxia were highly correlated (r + 0.83, 0.94; P less than 0.05, 0.001; respectively). Our observations suggest that the non-invasive technique of DC-MEG is reliable and may provide insight into the mechanisms of anoxic cerebral depolarization.

[Resection of metastatic pulmonary lesion of osteosarcoma extended into the left atrium and ventricle via the pulmonary vein]

A 35-year-old woman had underwent an amputation of the right hemimandibula for an osteosarcoma. Twenty months after the operation, she was admitted to our hospital with complaints of syncope. On chest computed tomography and echocardiography, an atrial tumor was disclosed, which extended from the lesion of the left pulmonary lower lobe. This tumor intravascularly developed through the left inferior pulmonary vein. The intracardiac tumor was resected through left atriotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass, and immediately after weaning of bypass left lower lobe was resected. On pathological study the tumor was diagnosed as metastasis of osteosarcoma. Despite postoperative chemotherapy including CDDP, she died of metastasis in pulmonary, adrenal gland and liver 12 months after the second operation.