Clinical study of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and auditory brainstem responses in patients with brainstem lesions.

A total of 13 patients, who were diagnosed with localized brainstem lesions using MRI, were investigated. The diagnoses were multiple sclerosis in five patients, brainstem hemorrhage in three patients, pontomedullary infarction in one patient and Wallenberg's syndrome in four patients. In addition, 42 ears of 21 normal adult volunteers were also examined. In a patient with upper brainstem lesions mainly affecting the midbrain, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) was abnormal but the vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) was normal. In four patients with middle brainstem lesions which mainly affected the pons, both ABR and VEMP were abnormal. In five patients with lower brainstem lesions which mainly affected the medulla, the ABR was normal but the VEMP was abnormal. In those patients with middle-to-lower brainstem lesions, a disappearance of VEMP reactions, delay of the positive-negative (PN) wave, increase in PN interpeak latency and decrease in PN amplitude on the affected side were confirmed. In conclusion, the VEMP test comprises a useful new diagnostic method for identifying lower brainstem lesions.

Abstinence from drink ameliorated cerebral blood flow and vasoreactivity in patients with chronic alcoholism.

High dose ethanol consumption is a risk factor for both ishemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovasucular disease. This link between heavy drinkers and the risk factor of stroke has been considered as hypertension, liver dysfunction, abnormality of platelet function or other unknown mechanisms. Recently some of the experimental study suggest that direct action of ethanol on the inhibition of the synthesis/release of nitric oxide from endothelium and neurons may contribute to this link. Few studies in this field, however, were performed clinically. We examined cerebral blood flow (CBF) and vaso-reactivity in the patients with chronic alcoholism on abstinence from drink. CBF of nine male patients were measured by use of stable Xe-CT method before and after acetazolamide load. Regional CBF increased in second measurement after abstinence, but there were no significant changed statistically. However, %vaso-reactivity in right ACA and MCA significantly improved. We considered that large brain vessels dilated then small vessels could response to acetazolamide.

Feeding soybean resistant protein to rats raises fecal bile acid excretion but counteracts a deoxycholate-caused decrease in colonic aberrant crypt foci.

A high-molecular-weight fraction after removal of water-soluble peptides from proteinase-treated soybean protein isolate (referred to as HMF) was examined for its effect on preneoplastic lesions in the rat colon. For this purpose, male Fisher-344 rats 7 wk old were divided into 8 groups (n = 5), of which 6 groups received 3 injections of azoxymethane (AOM, 15 mg/kg of body weight) for 3 wk once a week, while all were fed HMF or casein diets supplemented with or without deoxycholic acid (DCA) over a period of 4 wk. Two groups of AOM-treated rats were allowed free access to HMF or casein diets without supplemental DCA, respectively, while the others were pair-fed so as to be well matched in their food intake. There were no significant differences in growth parameters among the pair-fed groups. Feeding HMF diets raised fecal lipid and acidic steroid excretions to a greater extent than feeding casein diets, secondary bile acids being conspicuous among acidic steroids in the excreta irrespective of the presence or absence of DCA supplementation. As a result of observation for colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF), the intake of HMF proved to reverse the reduction of ACF appearance by DCA. This result implies that secondary bile acids are caught and brought out by HMF, or rather its derivative "resistant protein," so as not to keep contact with colonic mucosae.

Inhibin assays of ovarian cyst liquid obtained by needle aspiration may allow differential diagnosis between functional and organic cysts.

Radioimmunoassays of estradiol, CA125 and inhibin were carried out on ovarian cyst fluid samples. The samples were taken from ten women with functional cysts and 15 women with organic cysts. Statistical analysis shows that estradiol and inhibin assays allows satisfactory differential diagnosis between functional and organic cysts. However, the inhibin assay provides more precise results and appears to be a more reliable marker than estradiol. The differential diagnosis between the two types of cyst would indicate the use of coelioscopic surgery especially in the case of organic cysts, avoiding unnecessary risks for patients with functional cysts.

Electroconvulsive therapy for a schizophrenic patient in catatonic stupor with joint contracture.

The successful use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for a patient in catatonic stupor with joint contracture is reported. A 53-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, developed a catatonic stupor unresponsive to neuroleptics. Physical emaciation gradually developed under food refusal and poor nutrition. Joint contracture of her extremities resulted from the long period of being bedridden in the same posture. In this case, modified ECT was dramatically effective for catatonic stupor without any complication despite the joint contracture.

[A role of cytokines produced by allostimulated lymphocytes on maintenance of pregnancy--enhancement of trophoblast proliferation and beta-hCG secretion by cytokines].

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the enhancement of pregnancy maintenance by cytokines produced by allostimulated lymphocytes. Two-way mixed lymphocyte cultures between wife and husband were performed in 20 normal fertile couples and 21 unexplained recurrent aborting couples and the supernatants were harvested. Couples were defined as normally fertile if they had had two or more successful pregnancies. The effects of mixed wife-husband lymphocyte culture supernatant (MLCS) and wife's lymphocyte culture supernatant (LCS) on DNA synthesis and beta-hCG secretion of cultured human trophoblast cells were examined. 1. MLCS of normal fertile couples significantly enhanced DNA synthesis (238.2 +/- 19.9% of control, p < 0.0001) and beta-hCG secretion (190.5 +/- 8.9% of control, p < 0.001) from trophoblast cells. However, MLCS of recurrent aborting couples and LCS of both groups were observed to have no significant effect on trophoblast proliferation or beta-hCG secretion. 2. Concentrations of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 in MLCS and LCS were measured. The mean M-CSF level in MLCS of the normal fertile group was 182.0 +/- 26.1 IU/ml, in contrast, it was not detected in MLCS of recurrent aborting couples or LCS of either group. No significant difference was found between the groups in the IL-2 or IL-6 concentration. 3. Recombinant M-CSF (100 IU/ml, 250 IU/ml) significantly enhanced both DNA synthesis (191.7 +/- 15.7% of control, p < 0.05, 212.2 +/- 8.8% of control, p < 0.05) and beta-hCG secretion (144.8 +/- 13.9% of control, p < 0.02, 197.4 +/- 23.0% of control, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bombesin and bradykinin increase inositol phosphates and cytosolic free Ca2+, and stimulate DNA synthesis in human endometrial stromal cells.

The present studies were carried out to investigate the effect of several growth factors on human endometrial stromal cells. In human endometrial stromal cells, bombesin and bradykinin provoked an increase in intracellular free Ca2+ and in labelled inositol phosphates when pre-incubated with [3H]myoinositol. Some or possibly all of the initial increase in intracellular free Ca2+ represented a mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and the second phase of the response depended on Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium. [3H]Thymidine was added to human cultured endometrial stromal cells with bombesin, bradykinin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), prostaglandin F2 alpha, vasopressin and platelet-derived growth factor. Bombesin, bradykinin and EGF stimulated the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA in quiescent cells. In conclusion, bombesin and bradykinin are growth factors which activate phospholipase C in human endometrial stromal cells, while EGF stimulates DNA synthesis without the activation of phospholipase C.

[The application of repelling magnets to distal movement of maxillary molars. Report of three cases].

Report on three cases of maxillary first molar distalization with the aid of intra-arch repelling magnets were presented in this paper. Two cases were Class II malocclusion and one was a Class I discrepancy case whereby all resulted in rapid distalization of the upper first molars into Class I molar relationship in a relatively short time. Despite the unwanted rotation and tipping of the molars and the anteriors occurred slightly, numerous advantages of the repelling magnetic system were noted applicable to early mixed dentition cases to obtain the sufficient space of the molars rapidly. Moreover, since this is a fixed appliance, no patient cooperation was necessary. In conclusion, this magnetic system was found to be an effective device for molar distalization.

[Orthodontic uprighting mandibular second molars].

Two cases of impaction of the mandibular second molar treated by means of orthodontic techniques, were presented. It takes about 6 to 8 months for uprighting mandibular second molar. There is no significant difference in the uprighting times between in the case of extraction of the third molar or not. We consider that the corticotomy of the diatal part of the mandibular second molar shortens the uprighting times of the mandibular second molar. Treatment results of both cases were favorable at 2 years after uprighting of the mandibular second molar.

[Statistical investigation on orthodontic patients who received treatment at Fukuoka Dental College during 15 years].

It has been fifteen years since the Department of Orthodontics started in 1973, and this report concerns mainly the results of clinical observations during these period. The results were as follows: 1) Three thousand four hundred and three patients visited during a fifteen years period and 2,065 (61%) of them received orthodontic treatment. This statistical investigation was performed on 2,065 patients. 2) The numbers of treated patients increased from 1973 to 1983 without 1980 but have almost unchanged with about 180 patients from 1984 to 1987. 3) The male patients were less than the female by the ratio of 1:1.67. As to age, the patients from 6 to 12 years old accounted for 72% of all the treated. 4) Analyzed by dental age categories, patients at the stage of III A and III B comprised 54% of all the treated. 5) Analyzed by month, the patients visited on March, July and August in spring and summer vacations. 6) Most of the patients (92%) lived in Fukuoka Prefecture and 38% of them lived in Sawara-ku, where lay in the south-western part of Fukuoka city. 7) Fifty six per cent of all patients were introduced by doctors and dentists. 8) As to malocclutions, the number of mandibular protrusion was the largest, crowding case was next, and maxillary protrusion was third. The total sum of these three cases accounted for 78% of all the treated. 9) In the initial orthodontic appliances, the use of the multi-brackets appliances was first, the chin cap appliances was second and plate appliances was third. The total sum of these three appliances accounted for about 73%. 10) Analyzing to age and initial orthodontic appliances, plate, chin cap, F. K. O. and I. M. A. appliances were used at the age from 7 to 8. Lingual arch appliances were also used at the age of 8. The multi-brackets appliances increased remarkably during the recent five year period and were used at the age of 10 to 11 and over 20 years.

Significance of systemic vascular resistance in determining the hemodynamic effects of hydralazine on large ventricular septal defects.

The hemodynamic effects of hydralazine were studied in 17 infants and young children with ventricular septal defects to clarify the significance of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) in determining these effects. Patients with peak pulmonary arterial pressures greater than 75% of systemic pressure were placed in group I, which was further divided into group Ia (n = 6), consisting of those with a control SVR of 20 U.m2 or higher, and group Ib (n = 8), consisting of those with a lower SVR. Group II consisted of three patients with lower pulmonary arterial pressures. Intravenous injection of hydralazine (0.3 mg/kg) reduced SVR in all but two patients. The magnitude of reduction correlated with prehydralazine (control) SVR (r = .66, p less than .01). Systemic blood flow (Qs) increased from 3.7 +/- 0.7 to 5.0 +/- 0.8 l/min/m2 (p less than .005). The mean systemic arterial pressure for all patients decreased from 69 +/- 2 to 65 +/- 2 mm Hg (p less than .01) and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from the control value by 9 +/- 4% (p less than .01) in group I and by 17 +/- 1% in group II. Pulmonary blood flow (Qp) did not change significantly in either group. The Qp/Qs ratio was reduced from 3.6 +/- 0.4 to 2.4 +/- 0.2 (p less than .02) in group Ia. In sharp contrast, however, it increased from 2.6 +/- 0.3 to 3.3 +/- 0.5 (p = .06) in group Ib. The posthydralazine Qp/Qs ratio, expressed as percent of the control value, inversely correlated with the control SVR (r = -.61, p = .02) in group I. The response was not different in the group II patients. Thus, we conclude that control SVR is important for prediction of the hemodynamic effects of afterload reduction by hydralazine in infants and young children with large ventricular septal defects, and that this drug may be beneficial in patients with high control SVRs since a high SVR brings about a decrease in the Qp/Qs ratio.