Effects of beta-blockers and nicardipine on oxotremorine-induced tremor in common marmosets.

Effects of beta-blockers (propranolol, arotinolol and nipradilol) and a Ca2+ channel blocker (nicardipine) on oxotremorine-induced tremor were studied in common marmosets. Generalized tremor was elicited by an intraperitoneal administration of 0.25 mg/kg oxotremorine. Intensity of the tremor was classified into 7 degrees, and it was evaluated every 10 min. The total intensity of oxotremorine-induced tremor for each drug was expressed as "points", which were the sum of tremor intensity scores evaluated every 10 min up to 190 min following the administration of oxotremorine. Beta-blockers significantly suppressed the tremor. On the other hand, the Ca2+ channel blocker exacerbated the tremor.

Iodine-123 iodobenzofuran (I-123 IBF) SPECT in patients with parkinsonism.

I-123 IBF is a dopaminergic antagonist which is suitable for SPECT imaging of D2 receptors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential usefulness of semi-quantitative parameters obtained from brain SPECT data of I-123 IBF for differential diagnosis in patients with parkinsonism (PN). Subjects were 10 patients with PN: 2 patients with striato-nigral degeneration (SND), 5 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 2 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and one patient with olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy (OPCA). The data were acquired with a triple-head gamma camera at 2 hours after intravenous injection of 167 MBq of I-123 IBF. Transverse images were reconstructed by means of filtered backprojection, and attenuation correction was performed by Chang's method (mu = 0.08). The basal ganglia-to-frontal cortex ratio (GFR) and the basal ganglia-to-occipital cortex ratio(GOR) on slices of 5 different thicknesses were calculated. The GFR and GOR were lower in the SND group than in the other disease groups in all slices with different thicknesses (7.2 mm, 14.4 mm, 21.6 mm, 28.8 mm and 43.2 mm). The semiquantitative parameters (GFR and GOR) obtained from brain SPECT data at 2 hours after intravenous injection of I-123 IBF may be useful for differential diagnosis in patients with PN.

[Sensory scaling of odor based on mathematical studies of rating words].

Sensory scales are very important indicators for the evaluation of environmental odors, and of the effect of deodorizers. The purpose of this study is to examine reasonable methods of sensory scaling. For this purpose, the psychological values of rating words for odor intensity, odor hedonics and similarity were measured. The interval distances between categories of each scale were estimated in the method of successive categories as well. Results of this study are as follows. 1) The 6-step odor intensity scale, issued by the Environmental Agency, may be regarded as an ordinal scale, but not as an interval scale. The 9-step hedonics scale may be regarded as an interval scale. 2) Psychological values of rating words are not affected by the size and the number of category steps in the graphic scales applied to the judgements of their values. 3) The number of category steps needs to be determined based on the distribution of the psychological values. The meanings and the order of the rating words have to be clear. 4) In the construction of a numerical scale, the category values should accord nearly as possible with the psychological values of rating words. 5) In results from the method of successive categories applied to the measured values of odor intensity and similarity, interval distances between categories are unequal, and the interval distances are wide on both edges of the scale. In these cases, the values must be converted into "category values of stimuli."

[Study on the strength and microcleanliness of the stem of the total hip prostheses].

Using 8 types of total hip prosthetic stems that are presently the most commonly used in clinical applications, we conducted a mechanical and metallurgical study based on measurements of strength and microcleanliness. The Müller, Kyocera Bioceram 4M type and the Thackray Charnley proved to be excellent in terms of strength, whereas the Müller and Kyocera Bioceram 4M type yielded superior results for microcleanliness. The strength and microcleanliness of the casts were of a lower grades, allowing the wroughts to be superior to the former. Vacuum-melted stems gave particularly favorable results. Even those stems which had been made with the same mold or of the same metallic material varied in terms of strength and microcleanliness depending upon the manufacturing processes. There were notable correlations among microcleanliness, O2 content and strength, and improvements in metallic materials and manufacturing processes will enable us to minimize nonmetallic inclusions and O2 contents and thus increase the strength and microcleanliness as well.

Effects and side effects of a new trivalent combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Effects and side effects of a new measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine were described. After MMR vaccination, 98% (59/60) of children showed seroconversion by the measles HI test, 98% (65/66) showed seroconversion by the rubella HI test and 57% (34/60) showed seroconversion by mumps NT. Side effects of MMR vaccine were fever (5/82) and skin rash (3/82).