ABSTRACT
We investigated the effects of long-term administration of bisoprolol (β-blocker), exercise and their combination on blood pressure, heart rate, and baroreflex function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).SHR aged 5 week were randomly assigned to control group (C), bisoprolol-treated group (Biso), exercise group (Exer), and combination group (Biso+Exer)(n=8/each group). In Biso and Biso+Exer, bisoprolol (20 mg/kg/day) was administered. In Exer and Biso+Exer, exercise training was performed on treadmill 5 days/week for 12 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured using the tail-cuff method under restraint from 5 to 16 weeks of age. After 12-week intervention period, sigmoidal mean artery pressure (MAP) and HR reflex curve were obtained by intravenous injections of various doses of phenylephrine and nitroprusside under non-restraint condition. To determine vagal component of baroreflex function, baroreflex MAP-HR relation were also examined after intravenous injections of atenolol (β-blocker). After measurements of all baroreflex function, atropine was additionally injected to determine intrinsic HR.At 15 and 16 weeks of age, SBP and HR in Biso and Exer were significantly lower than those in C. SBP and HR in Biso+Exer were further reduced compared with Biso. Before atenolol, resting MAP, HR and upper and lower HR plateaus in the sigmoid curve were lower in Biso, Exer, and Biso+Exer compared with C. There were no significant differences in these parameters between Biso and Biso+Exer. There were no significant differences in baroreflex gain before atenolol among the four groups except for between Biso and Biso+Exer. After atenolol, baroreflex gain and HR range in Biso, Exer, and Biso+Exer were significantly higher than those in C. HR range of sympathetic component (upper HR plateau before atenolol-itrinsic HR) was significantly reduced in Biso, Exer, and Biso+Exer compared with C. There were no significant differences in baroreflex gain of vagal component or HR range of vagal and sympathetic component between Biso and Biso+Exer.These findings suggest that both chronic treatment with β-blocker and exercise decrease resting blood pressure and HR in SHR, associated with reduced sympathetic component and increased vagal component of baroreflex function. The additive effects of β-blocker and exercise are not evident under non-stressful conditions, but could be obtained in the presence of stress such as restraint.
ABSTRACT
We treated 472 patients with lung cancer from 1983 though 1993. Of the total number of the cases, early lung cancer accounted for 31 caces (6.6%), 6 of the hilar and 25 of the peripheral type. Of the 6 hilar type early lung cancer cases, 3 cases were detected by mass screening (2 cases were detected by sputum cytology). On the other hand, of the 25 cases of the peripheral type early lung cancer, 10 cases were detected by mass screening. All the 10 peripheral type early lung cancer cases detected by mass screening were detected by chest roentogenography. The 5-year survival rates for the hilar and peripheral type early lung cancer were 100% and 94.4%, respectively. For the improvement of prognosis of lung cancer, every effort should be made to detect lung cancer at an early stage. Careful lung cancer screening such as sputum cytology and bronchoscopy in a highrisk group and modern techniques such as helical X-ray CT are recommended for the increase in the detection of early lung cancer.
ABSTRACT
Prognostic facfors were examined in 71 patients receiving home oxygen therapy under the direction of our hospital between 1984 and 1994. In 25 patients who had undergone right catheterization, relationships between pulmonary hemodynamics and prognosis were also discussed. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (P<SUB>PA</SUB>) were correlated negatively with PaO<SUB>2</SUB>. This indicated that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was the major cause of pulmonary hypertention in these patients. Pulmonary hypertention was revealed in 80% of the patients with P<SUB>PA</SUB> ≥20 Torr and in 52% of the patients with P<SUB>PA</SUB> ≥25 Torr. Acute hemodynamic effects of low-flow oxygen administration were investigated in 17 patients. P<I>PA</I> decreased significantly from 25.5 Torr to 23.5 Torr after oxygen administration and pulmonary arteriolar resistance (PAR) decreased from 243 dynes ·ses ·cm<SUP>-5</SUP> to 225 dynes·sec·cm<SUP>-5</SUP>, but this change was not significant.<BR>In patients with pulmonary fibrosis and sequelae of tuberculosis, the survival rates were lower than that of the patients with pulmonary emphysema. The median survival time (MST) for patients with cor pulmonale was significantly lower than that for those without cor pulmonale. When background factors were compared between the group with % home stay≥90% and % home stay<90%, there were no significant differences in observation periods, arterial blood gases and spirometry. The factors influencing % home stay were considered to be an important subject in addition to improving the survival rate.
ABSTRACT
We reported nine cases of metastatic skin carcinoma experienced at the Department of Dermatology, Obihiro Kosei Hospital during the period from April 1991 to March 1993. Lung was the most common primary lesion (four out of nine cases), followed by uterus (two) and stomach, breast, and kidney (one each). The clinical features of the metastases were classified into nodular (five cases), inflammatory (one case) and sclerotic (three cases) types. Peculiar zoster-like inflammation was seen in metastatic gastric cancer. Pathologically, adenocarcinoma was more common than squamous cell carcinoma. The average interval between the diagnosis of the primary cancers and the development of the skin metastases was about 30±25 months. The average life span after the detection of the skin metastases was 6.8±5.6 months. Poor prognosis of skin metastasis was thus reconfirmed.
ABSTRACT
Fifty cases of spontaneous pneumothorax treated in our hospital between 1988 and 1993 were reviewed. Forty-three cases were males and 7 cases were females. Treatments were broken down into rest cure for 11 cases and chest tube drainage for 39 cases. Of the chest tube drainage therapy cases, 30 could attained complete remission, but the remaining 9 cases required thoracotomy. In either case, the recurrence rates after the first pneumothorax and second attacks were 39% and 36%, respectively.<BR>Stature and roentgenologically determined lung sizes were also examined in 34 male patients with spontaneous pneumothorax in comparison with those of 30 healthy men, who were age-matched control subjects. Among the significant findings was that the patients were much taller than the controls. The lungs were also significantly elevated in the patients compared with those of the controls. These results indicate that the patients liable to spontaneous pneumothorax are tall with their lungs housed high in the thorax compared to the ordinary people.
ABSTRACT
From January 1981 through December 1986, 27, 513 individuals consisting of 17, 918 males and 9, 595 females underwent health examinations at Health Care Center in Obihiro Kosei Hospital. 14.2% of healthy and asymptomatic men and 29.1% of healthy and asymptomatic women had microscopic hematuria (one or more RBCs per HPF).<BR>To evaluate the clinical significance of microhematuria, about one third of patients with asymptomatic microhematuria who had undergone complete urological examination were reviewed.<BR>Genitourinary neoplasms were found in 0.21%(8 bladder cancers, 2 prostatic cancers and 1 renal cell cancer). The incidence of cancers increases proportionate to increase in age, furthermore, lesions were found more commonly in men than in women. We could find no relationship between the degree of hematuria and the cause. The results suggest that patients with asymptomatic microhematuria should undergo urological examinations.
