Stereopsis-processing regions in the human parieto-occipital cortex.

We performed fMRI on the human parieto-occipital cortex in order to identify the neural processing regions of stereopsis. Visual stimulation for stereopsis was performed with a random-dot stereogram displayed in the image guides of a new binocular visual stimulation device that we developed. Interestingly, regions from the dorsal portion of the occipital lobe to the superior parietal lobule were activated by binocular disparity, while the inferior parietal lobule was not activated. Moreover, these regions were shown as dominant in the right hemisphere. Functional brain mapping revealed that the processing regions of stereopsis were dorsally located in parieto-occipital cortex, and that the superior parietal lobule is an important region for neural processing of human stereopsis.

Toxic shock syndrome after suction lipectomy.

We present a case of toxic shock syndrome with necrotizing fasciitis after suction lipectomy. The patient underwent aesthetic suction lipectomy of the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs during an office procedure by a cosmetic surgeon. On postoperative day 2, the patient was referred to the emergency department of our hospital because of pain. On admission, the patient was in toxic shock. She required intensive medical treatment for about 1 month, along with psychiatric help to adapt after the illness. Although toxic shock syndrome is a rare postoperative complication, every plastic surgeon should be acquainted with it. A combination of early recognition, diagnosis, and aggressive supportive therapy is the only successful treatment.

[Diagnosis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for blowout fracture--three advantages of MRI].

INTRODUCTION: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives a much more detailed picture of the soft tissue than computerized tomography (CT). In blowout fracture cases, it is very easy to observe the incarcerated orbital tissue. SUBJECTS: We performed MRI in 19 blowout fracture cases. RESULTS: After evaluating the images, we found three advantages of MRI. The first is that even small herniation of the orbital contents can easily be detected because the orbital fatty tissue contrasts well around the other tissues in MRI. The second is that the incarcerated tissues can be clearly differentiated because a clear contrast between the orbital fatty tissue and the extraocular muscle can be seen in MRI. The third is that the running images of the incarcerated muscle belly can be observed because any necessary directional slies can be taken in MRI. CONCLUSION: These advantages are very important in the diagnosis of blowout fractures. MRI should be employed in blowout fracture cases in addition to CT.

Changes in immunological parameters after combination adjuvant therapy with intravenous DTIC, ACNU, and VCR, and local injection of IFN-beta (DAV + IFN-beta therapy) into malignant melanoma.

Combination adjuvant therapy with intravenous dimethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide (DTIC), 1-[4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl]-methyl-3-[2-chloroethyl]-3-nitrosoure a hydrochloride (ACNU) and vincristine (VCR) and local injection of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) (DAV + IFN-beta therapy) has been widely applied to treat malignant melanoma, and its therapeutic effect is accepted in Japan. Natural killer (NK) activity, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, CD4/CD8 ratio, and white blood cell counts were analyzed before and after DAV + IFN-beta therapy in order to validate its efficacy. After DAV + IFN-beta therapy, the CD4/CD8 ratio was elevated; however, numbers of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK activity were consecutively depressed. Peripheral lymphocytes were also decreased, possibly by myelosuppression due to the DAV therapy. The posttreatment suppression of NK activity appeared in spite of the administration of IFN-beta. It is suggested that a more effective adjuvant immunomodulator should be introduced to improve the therapeutic effect of the combination adjuvant chemotherapy in malignant melanoma.

Class specific influence of dietary Spirulina platensis on antibody production in mice.

In the present study, we investigated antibody productions of IgA and other classes, such as IgE and IgG1, in mice as possible evidence of the protective effects of Spirulina toward food allergy and microbial infection. An increase of IgE antibody level in the serum was observed in the mice that were orally immunized with crude shrimp extract as an antigen (Ag group). The antibody level, however, was not further enhanced by treatment with Spirulina extract (SpHW). IgG1 antibody, on the other hand, which was increased by antigen administration, was further enhanced by Spirulina extract. It was noted that the IgA antibody level in the intestinal contents was significantly enhanced by treatment with Spirulina extract concurrently ingested with shrimp antigen, in comparison with that of the Ag group treated with shrimp antigen alone. An enhancement of IgA antibody production by Spirulina extract was also observed in culture supernatant of lymphoid cells, especially in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node from mice treated with Spirulina extract for 4 weeks before antigen stimulation. These results suggest that Spirulina may at least neither induce nor enhance allergic reaction such as food allergy dependent on an IgE antibody, and that when ingested both concurrently with antigen and before antigen stimulation, it may significantly enhance the IgA antibody level to protect against allergic reaction.

Volume measurement of horizontal extraocular muscles with magnetic resonance imaging.

The horizontal extraocular muscle volume of 11 normal adults and 3 ophthalmoplegic patients was measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using a 1.5 Tesla superconductive system which can provide T1 weighted images of 3 mm gapless slices of the orbit with the spin echo technique. The MRI film was projected and magnified on Kent paper with an overhead projector; muscle shapes were traced and cut from the paper. Muscle volume was defined as the total weight of the Kent paper shapes representing the muscles from all MRI slices. The average volumes of the medial and lateral rectus muscles (MRM, LRM) of the 11 subjects were 690 +/- 87 mm3 and 734 +/- 77 mm3. In two patients with peripheral nerve palsy, the small muscle volume was classified as atrophic; in the one patient with orbital myositis, the large muscle volume was classified as hypertrophic. This measurement technique is useful for evaluation of the extraocular muscles, especially in ophthalmoplegia.

Role of C5a-ase in group B streptococcal resistance to opsonophagocytic killing.

Type III group B streptococci (GBS) can be subdivided into three subtypes, RDP III-1, III-2, and III-3, on the basis of numerical analysis of HindIII restriction endonuclease digestion patterns (HindIII RDP) with their chromosomal DNAs. In the present study, the effect of C5a on opsonophagocytic killing of a representative strain from each RDP type was investigated by using a novel optical method for determining opsonophagocytic killing, and the effect of C5a-ase treatment of C5a on opsonophagocytic killing was also investigated. Pre-stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with C5a significantly increased opsonophagocytic killing of all three strains. The increase in killing was abolished by pretreating the C5a with GBS that express C5a-ase, a treatment that also destroyed the chemoattractant activity of the C5a. The kinetics of killing of the RDP III-2 strain differed from those of the other two strains. The survival of the RDP III-2 bacteria continued to decline over the entire 60-min incubation of the opsonophagocytic assay when PMNs were prestimulated with C5a or with C5a that had been inactivated with GBS C5a-ase (dC5a). In contrast, killing of the RDP III-1 and III-3 strains almost ceased after 20 or 60 min when PMNs were prestimulated with dC5a or C5a, respectively. A difference in bacterial killing between the III-2 strain and the III-1 and III-3 strains therefore became increasingly apparent with prolonged incubation time. The percentage of bacteria surviving in the extracellular fluid was approximately the same as the percentages of bacteria surviving in both intracellular and extracellular locations when PMNs were prestimulated with either C5a or dC5a. These data imply that the majority of bacterial killing occurred following phagocytosis and suggest that the enhanced killing of GBS following prestimulation of PMNs with C5a resulted from increased ingestion of the bacteria.

[Localization and response characteristics of thalamic corneal units in the cat].

Units in the thalamus responsive to mechanical stimulation of the cornea (thalamic corneal units) were studied in urethane-chloralose anesthetized cats. Four different classes of corneal units were found in the nucleus ventralis posteromedialis (VPM) and intralaminar nuclei. They corresponded to 4 different classes of corneal units in the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis and adjacent bulbar lateral reticular formation reported by Nishida (1987). Low threshold corneal specific (LTCS) units, whose mechanical threshold was well below the pain threshold in patients with cataract, were located in the dorsolateral part of the VPM proper. High threshold corneal specific (HTCS) units and wide dynamic range (WDR) units, whose mechanical threshold was well above the pain threshold of the human cornea, were located in the shell region of caudal VPM. Each class of these three corneal units was incorporated in the somatotopic organization of low threshold mechanoreceptive, nociceptive specific, or WDR units having a cutaneous receptive field in the contralateral trigeminal nerve territory. Units having receptive fields in the head similar to those of subnucleus reticularis ventralis (SRV) units were found in the intralaminar nuclei. Their corneal mechanical thresholds were much the same as those of HTCS units and WDR units. These results supported the suggestion that both nonpainful sensation and pain can be evoked in the cornea.

Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary Spirulina platensis.

Mice fed a Spirulina platensis diet showed increased numbers of splenic antibody-producing cells in the primary immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). However, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-antibody production in the secondary immune response was hardly affected. The percentage of phagocytic cells in peritoneal macrophages from the mice fed S. platensis diet, as well as the proliferation of spleen cells by either concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was significantly increased. Addition of a hot-water extract of S. platensis (SHW) to an in vitro culture of spleen cells markedly increased proliferation of these cells, whereas culture of thymus cells was scarcely affected. The Spirulina extract also significantly enhanced interleukin-1 (IL-1) production from peritoneal macrophages. Addition to the in vitro spleen cell culture of SHW as well as the supernatant of macrophages stimulated with SHW resulted in enhancement of antibody production, that is, an increase of the number of PFC. These results suggest that Spirulina enhances the immune response, particularly the primary response, by stimulating macrophage functions, phagocytosis, and IL-1 production.

Detection of interleukin-1 activity in human bladder cancer cell lines.

Detection of interleukin (IL)-1 activity was studied in two human bladder cancer cell lines, T24 and EJ1, and one rat bladder carcinoma cell line, 804G. Significantly high proliferation of mouse thymocytes in the assay of IL-1 activity was observed in the conditioned medium (CM) of T24 cells, indicating that the cells released IL-1-like activity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Northern blot analysis showed the presence of both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the CM of T24 cells and expression of mRNAs of both cytokines in the cells. Interleukin-1 activity in EJ1 cells, which produced a little activity, was induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) while it was not induced in T24 by either LPS or other test substances. Conditioned medium of T24 increased proliferation of both T24 and EJ1 in cell-growth assay. Further investigation of the mode of action and role of cytokines, especially those from tumor cells themselves, is necessary in relation to BCG or photodynamic therapy.

Myelodysplastic syndrome associated with relapsing polychondritis: unusual transformation from refractory anemia to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

The authors report an unusual case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) associated with relapsing polychondritis (RP), which developed at almost the same time as MDS. The initial diagnosis was MDS, refractory anemia (RA) subtype, according to the FAB classification. Symptoms of RP were apparently controlled by oral administration of prednisolone (PSL), although MDS was not. Within 1 month after the diagnosis, monocytosis and thrombocytopenia without excess of blasts became prominent and transformation from RA to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) was recognized. Combination chemotherapy including daunorubicin (DNR) and cytosine arabinoside (ara-c) did not subdue the progressive monocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Finally, the patient died of pulmonary hemorrhage 3 months after the onset of the disease. The prognosis of MDS may be poorly influenced by association with RP.

[Volume measurement of the horizontal extraocular muscles using magnetic resonance imaging].

The volume of the horizontal extraocular muscles of 11 normal adults and three patients with ophthalmoplegia was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI examinations were carried out with a Signa Advantage, 1.5 tesla superconductive magnetic system manufactured by General Electric. This method employs the spin echo technique with a 3.0 mm gapless slice, a 350 ms. repetition time, and a 17.0 ms. echo time. The MRI films were projected and magnified on Kent paper using an overhead projector. Then the shapes of the horizontal extraocular muscles were traced. The volume of the muscles was measured as the total weight of Kent papers which were cut out from muscle shapes in all the slices. The average volume of the normal medial and lateral rectus muscles was 690 +/- 87 mm3 and 734 +/- 77 mm3, respectively. Two cases with peripheral nerve palsy showed typical atrophy of the paretic muscles. A case with orbital myositis showed typical hypertrophy of the inflamed muscles. This measurement may prove useful in the analysis and evaluation of extraocular muscles, especially in ophthalmoplegia.

Effects of urinary transferrin and ornithine decarboxylase-inducing fraction on rat bladder carcinogenesis.

Using heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder (HTB) system, we previously have shown that contact with urine enhanced bladder carcinogenesis initiated by carcinogen. In order to screen urine for promoter substances, several short term in vitro assays were developed and their results were correlated with the in vivo assay results. Chromatographically separated urine fractions were examined for the inability to induce ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), to enhance incorporation of [3H]thymidine in a bladder carcinoma cell line (804G) and to form colonies in soft agar by NRK-49F. Data from the ODC assay and soft agar colony formation correlated well with the results derived from chronic animal studies. Thus then two assays appear useful in further screening urine for promoter substance. Data furthermore indicate that ODC-inducing urine component(s) may play a primary role in the steps following initiation whereas transferrin, a mitogenic urine component, may play a secondary role.

Identification of epidermal growth factor as a component of the rat urinary bladder tumor-enhancing urinary fractions.

Using the heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder, we have shown that normal rat urine has a potent tumor-enhancing effect on bladder carcinogenesis. In an attempt to isolate tumor-enhancing factor(s), urine was fractionated by Bio-Gel P-100 column chromatography and each eluate fraction was examined for inducibility of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in a target rat bladder carcinoma cell line, 804G. We have identified two ODC-inducible peaks, one located in a high molecular weight region designated as Fraction I (Fr. I) and the second in a low molecular weight region designated as Fraction II (Fr. II). Fr. I consisted of two principal elements, transferrin and a component which induced ODC. The present investigation was conducted to characterize the ODC-inducible activity in Fr. I and II. Chromatographic analysis of Fr. I by Sephacryl S-200 and Fr. II by Bio-Gel P-10 chromatography separated several ODC-inducible peaks. However, the major ODC inducibility was due to a high concentration (460 ng/mg Fr. I residue, approximate Mr 54,000, and 580 ng/mg Fr. II residue, approximate Mr 6,100) of epidermal growth factor (EGF) as determined by radioimmunoassay. Aliquots obtained from these peaks competed with mouse EGF for EGF receptors in A431 cells. Preincubation of Fr. I and II with rabbit anti-rat EGF IgG significantly reduced ODC inducibility. Transforming growth factor alpha activity as determined by radioimmunoassay was also demonstrated in both Fr. I (34 ng/mg) and Fr. II (9 ng/mg). The results of the present study together with our previous data indicate that the majority of the ODC-inducing activity in the tumor-enhancing urinary components Fr. I and Fr. II is due to EGF itself and EGF-related growth factors of high molecular weight and that Fr. I also contains transferrin.

Time relationship between ambient temperature change and antigen stimulation on immune responses of mice.

We investigated the time relationship between ambient temperature change and antigen stimulation on immune responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in mice. In the case of a shift from comfortable (25 degrees C) to cold (8 degrees C) temperatures, suppression in the number of splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) took place mainly when the shift was done between 1 day before and 2 to 4 days after immunization. The suppression of the PVP response lasted for up to a maximum of 6 days when mice were transferred 1 day before immunization. In the case of a temperature shift from 25 degrees to 36.5 degrees C, the suppressive effect was found when the temperature shift was done between 4 days before and 2 days after immunization. The effect lasted longer than that of the temperature shift to cold, i.e., at least 9 days after the temperature shift. Blood corticosterone levels after the temperature shifts corresponded to changes in the immune responses: elevation of the blood corticosterone levels was observed for only the first 3 days after a temperature shift to 8 degrees C but for 10 days after a temperature shift to 36.5 degrees C during the period time of the experiment. These result suggested that blood corticosterone level contributes to the duration of the effects of temperature shifts on immune responses of mice. Furthermore, it appeared that the early stage of the immune response is more susceptible to temperature shifts than the later stage. To explain these results, the terms "effective period" in the course of physiological adaptation to changed ambient temperature and "susceptible period" in the course of the immune response, were proposed.

Transferrin as a growth factor for rat bladder carcinoma cells in culture.

Using the heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder system, we previously showed that normal urine has a tumor-enhancing effect on carcinogen-initiated urothelium. In an attempt to isolate a urinary growth-stimulating (tumor-enhancing) factor(s), urine was first fractionated by Bio-Gel P-100 column chromatography, and each fraction was tested for inducibility of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and growth-stimulatory activity in a target rat bladder carcinoma cell line, 804G. ODC inducibility was chosen as a marker for tumor-enhancing effect because it is a key characteristic of tumor promoters. There was a single peak demonstrating a strong growth-stimulatory activity as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. There were two ODC-inducible peaks, one located at a high molecular weight region and partly overlapped with the growth-stimulatory peak. The other was located at a lower molecular weight region. CM-Sephadex chromatography and subsequent high performance liquid chromatography successfully separated the high molecular weight-ODC activity from the growth-stimulatory activity. The latter component was found to contain transferrin (TF) by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion with anti-rat TF antibody and was designated as urinary transferrin fraction. The urinary TF fraction and authentic rat TF stimulated growth of several rat bladder carcinoma cells maintained in a serum-free as well as a serum-deficient medium. The response was proportional to the concentration of TF ranging from 0.2 to 5 microgram/ml. Preincubation of the urinary TF fraction or TF with an anti-rat TF significantly reduced their growth-stimulatory effects in 804G cells. The high molecular weight-ODC also stimulated cell growth but to a lesser extent. These results when combined with our previous observations suggest that TF and possibly also ODC-inducible substances may be important urinary components participating in the tumor promotion by urine.

The minimal requirement of circulation for survival of undelayed and delayed flaps in rats.

In an attempt to clarify the delay phenomenon, the regional blood flow was measured in 10 undelayed flaps and 65 delayed flaps in rats by the clearance method with the electrolytically generated hydrogen. The ultimate purpose of this study was to establish the minimal requirement of blood flow for flap survival. The dye distance and the survival length were also measured. Blood flow in the flap increased with the delay period. Elongation of the survival length and the dye distance corresponded well to the circulatory enhancement. The present findings support the theory that delay improves blood circulation. The distance from the base to the 0.04-ml flow point was found to be highly correlated with survival length in the delayed groups as well as in the undelayed group. Based on the results, the minimal requirement of circulation for flap survival was assumed to be approximately 0.04 ml/min per gram of tissue whether or not the flap was delayed.

The heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder as a model for detection of tumor-promoting urinary growth factor(s).

The heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder (HTB) was developed in our laboratory as a model to study the role of urine in urinary bladder carcinogenesis. With this model, normal urine was found to enhance urinary bladder carcinogenesis initiated by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea or N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine. Two crude urinary components (Fractions I and II) were obtained by gel filtration chromatography; they stimulated ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in a test bladder carcinoma cell line 804G, and promoted carcinogenesis in the HTB system. Fraction I was found to stimulate growth of 804G cells in vitro. Preliminary data indicate that Fraction I contains at least one, and possibly two heat-stable ODC-inducible and mitogenic components. Further characterization of these components is in progress. The HTB system has been demonstrated to be useful for other investigations; for example, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor of ODC, when instilled repeatedly to the bladder lumen, inhibited tumorigenesis in HTBs.