Small bowel bacterial overgrowth and rice malabsorption in healthy and physically disabled older adults.

AIM: To determine whether there are differences in small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) and rice digestion between healthy and disabled older adults and to estimate the influence of physical activity on these nutritional statuses. METHOD: Fifteen disabled adults who commute to a day-care centre and 11 healthy older adults participated in this study. SBBO and rice absorption were judged using a breath hydrogen test. Physical activity was estimated using a pedometer. RESULTS: The average number of steps taken per day by the disabled was 1056 +/- 243, which was statistically lower than that of the healthy, 6904 +/- 782 (P < 0.001). No SBBO-positive subject was seen in the healthy group, whereas five (33.3%) of 15 disabled older adults were SBBO-positive. After ingesting glucose solution, the triangle up H2 of disabled subjects was higher than that of the healthy subjects (7.6 +/- 2.7 versus 0.5 +/- 0.3 p.p.m., P < 0.05). Rice malabsorption was seen in one (9.1%) of 11 in the healthy and two (14.3%) of 14 in the disabled groups, which was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Disabled older people who have a physically inactive lifestyle are at risk of SBBO, probably because of a reduction in their intestinal motility. SBBO has no influence on absorption of rice, and some older adults, independent of physical condition, can not absorb rice adequately.

Effects of dopamine on cortical blood flow and somatosensory evoked potentials in the acute stages of cerebral ischemia.

Effects of intravenous infusion of dopamine on local cortical blood flow (CBF) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) was evaluated using canine cerebral ischemia, which was produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. CBF was monitored with a H2 clearance method and SEP. P1 to N1 peak to peak amplitude (V1) was recorded by stimulating the sciatic nerve on the contralateral side. CBF and SEP recovered at doses of 5 and 10 gamma, despite almost no increase of systemic arterial pressure. CBF and SEP were restored at doses of dopamine of 20 and 30 gamma, with an increase of mean systemic arterial pressure 5 to 15 mm Hg and similar results were obtained at doses of 25 gamma. Recovery of SEP was slight at extremely high doses of dopamine (65 gamma), despite a definite increase of mean systemic arterial pressure (MSAP) and CBF.

[Effect of dopamine on local cortical blood flow and somatosensory evoked potential in acute stage of cerebral ischemia--basic study].

UNLABELLED: Effect of intravenous injection of dopamine on local cortical blood flow (CBF) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) was evaluated using canine cerebral ischemia, which was produced by occlusion of unilateral middle cerebral artery. CBF was monitored with H2 clearance method and SEP was recorded by stimulating ischias nerve of contralateral side and P1 to N1 peak to peak amplitude, V1, out of components of SEP was used as a parameter expressing brain function. Systemic arterial pressure was also measured. Protocol in this study is shown in Fig. 1. RESULTS: 1) As to change of systemic arterial pressure during administration of dopamine (Fig. 2) Systolic systemic arterial pressure was significantly increased at doses of dopamine of 25 and 65 gamma compared to the value obtained before initiation of dopamine injection. There was nearly no increase in mean systemic arterial pressure at doses of 5 and 10 gamma and mean systemic arterial pressure increased by 5 to 15 mmHg at doses of 20, 30 and 25 gamma, without significant increase compared to the value before start of dopamine administration. Pulse rate became significantly wider at doses of 10, 20, 30, 25 and 65 gamma. 2) As to increase of local cortical blood flow (CBF) during dopamine injection (Fig. 3, 5) CBF increased at doses of dopamine of 5, 10, 20, 30, 25 and 65 gamma compared to the one before dopamine injection. However, degree of increase of blood flow was not significant. 3) As to recovery of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) during administration of dopamine (Fig. 4, 6) SEP was recovered at doses of dopamine of 5, 10, 20, 30, 25 and 65 gamma. Degree of recovery of SEP was significant at doses of 5, 20, 30 and 25 gamma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Surgical management of arteriovenous malformations in the posterior fossa].

The authors reported 3 cases of dural arterio-venous malformation (AVM) in the posterior fossa and discussed mainly on surgical treatment. Case 1: 53-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with complaints of amnesia, visual impairment, dysarthria and gait disturbance. Neurological examination on admission disclosed slight disturbance of consciousness, bilateral papilledema, horizontal nystagmus, dysarthria and ataxic gait. Contrast CT showed a presence of vermiform irregular high density with enlarged ventricle, indicating phlebectasia in the brainstem and the cerebellum. Angiograms revealed a presence of dural AVM at the straight sinus fed by branches of external carotid artery and vertebrobasilar circulation with appearance of phlebectasia due to increase in straight sinus pressure on later phase. Dural sinus isolation for the affected sinus was performed under large occipital craniotomy which was initially reported by Hugosson and Bergström. Case 2: 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with complaint of gait disturbance. Neurological examination at the time of admission disclosed signs of raised intracranial pressure and caudal cranial nerves disturbance. Bruit synchronized with radial pulse was audible over the left occipital region. Angiograms showed a presence of dural AVM at the left transverse and sigmoid sinus with many feeding arteries and abnormal venous returns. Isolation of the involved sinuses was performed as same as in case 1. Case 3: 39-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with complaints of protrusion of eyes and uncomfortable machinery noise over the right retromastoid region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)