Myocardial ischemia induced by anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery in a patient with atrial septal defect

A 27-year-old woman with atrial septal defect (ASD) and a sensation of squeezing in the anterior chest by effort was admitted to our hospital. In addition to the ASD, the coronary angiogram showed an abnormal anomalous position of the right coronary artery. Exercise thallium (Tl)-201 cardiac scintigram with an electrocardiogram clearly detected myocardial ischemia in the inferior area. In the operative findings, the orifice of the right coronary artery was positioned high above the commissure between the right and left sinuses of Valsalva, and it ran between the aorta and pulmonary trunk. Considering myocardial ischemia possibly caused by the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery, a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was simultaneously performed to the right coronary artery with direct closure of ASD. The myocardial ischemic finding in the inferior area disappeared after the operation, and she was also relieved from the chest pain. In view of these findings, we suggest that an active combination treatment such as CABG and ASD closure is highly successful in a patient with a threatening coronary anomaly and congenital heart disease.

Bone augmentation by onlay implant using recombinant human BMP-2 and collagen on adult rat skull without periosteum

The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone augmentation could be obtained by the composite of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and bioabsorbable atelocollagen when the periosteum was resected, and to compare the efficacy of the rhBMP-2/collagen implant and the collagen alone implant. The onlay implant was inserted into the space between the elevated galea aponeurotica and the skull without the periosteum of 10-month-old rats. The rhBMP-2/collagen implant resulted in osteoblasts differentiation under the galea at 1 week and active bone formation without a prior formation of cartilage. At 4 weeks, the bony trabeculae were interconnected and connected directly with the compact bone of the skull. Histomorphometric analysis at 4 weeks demonstrated that the rhBMP-2/collagen implant showed 92.5% in the volume of bone tissue, whereas the collagen alone showed 0%. The implanted collagen was gradually replaced by bone tissue in the presence of rhBMP-2. Our present results indicate that rhBMP-2 stimulates undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the galea overlying the implant to proliferate and differentiate directly into osteoblasts on the carrier collagen fibers. The collagen matrix was stably placed on the skull and suitable as a substitute for rhBMP-2. The rhBMP-2/collagen onlay implant might be clinically applicable for bone augmentation even under the condition without the periosteum.

Bcl-2 protein expression and gut neurohormonal polypeptide/amine production in colorectal carcinomas and tumor-neighboring mucosa, which closely correlate to the occurrence of tumor

To clarify whether advanced colorectal carcinomas and tumor-neighboring mucosa simultaneously produce both Bcl-2 protein and gut neurohormonal polypeptides and/or amines, and the interrelationship of these phenomenon, we studied retrospective analysis of Bcl-2 protein production and neuroendocrine characteristics in 52 cases of advanced colorectal carcinoma and surrounding mucosa. All of the tumor-neighboring mucosa presented hyperplasia. The rates of enhanced immunoreactivity of the tumor-neighboring mucosa and of positive immunoreactivity of the carcinomas against human Bcl-2 protein and against human vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin were 78.8% and 94.2%, 82.7% and 59.6%, 78.8% and 67.3%, and 88.5% and 84.6% respectively. Double immunostaining for Bcl-2 protein and each peptide hormone revealed simultaneous expression. In contrast, that of tumor-neighboring mucosa and carcinomas to serotonin and chromogranin-A and to argyrophilia were 11.5% and 1.9%, 32.7% and 17.3%, and 26.9% and 21.2%, respectively. We concluded that tumor-neighboring crypt cells displayed not only hyperplasia but also neuroendocrine characteristics and that enhanced Bcl-2 protein immunoreactivity correlated with tumor occurrence in the wall of the colorectum. The production of Bcl-2 protein by tumor cells and tumor-neighboring crypt cells indicates that the bcl-2 protooncogene may act not only as an inhibitor of apoptosis but also as an inducer of neuroendocrine differentiation from the latent characteristics of the endodermal stem cell.

The LEC (Long-Evans Cinnamon) rat as an animal model for bilirubin-induced tooth pigmentation

The LEC (Long-Evans Cinnamon) rat is well known as a useful animal model for hepatic disease. We noticed the green pigmentation in incisors 2-3 weeks after acute hepatitis accompanied by severe jaundice. This study was undertaken to elucidate the cause of this phenomenon. Half of the pigmented teeth were examined by histopathological analysis and microradiographic analysis. Pigmentation was observed as a green stripe that ran parallel to the incremental line in the dentine. The microradiographic analysis disclosed enhanced permeability of the pigmented area as compared with other areas. The rest of pigmented teeth were dried, powdered and bilirubin was extracted with chloroform /methanol/acetic acid, 30:10:0.5; v/v under sonication. After centrifugation, the supernatant was collected and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in chloroform and its absorption spectrum measured after diazo reaction to reveal the presence of bilirubin. The spectral characteristics indicated the presence of bilirubin in the pigmented teeth. Thus, the LEC rat may be useful animal model for bilirubin-induced tooth pigmentation.