Predominance of G3B and G14 equine group A rotaviruses of a single VP4 serotype in Japan.

A total of 65 equine group A rotaviruses (GAR) isolated from diarrheal foals at 48 farms in Hokkaido, Japan, between 1996 (29 isolates) and 1997 (36 isolates) were characterized for their VP7 and VP4 serotypes by PCR, nucleotide sequencing, and virus neutralization (VN) tests. By PCR VP7 typing, all isolates were classified as G3 or G 14, and the predominant serotype in each year was G3 (86%) in 1996 and G14 (53%) in 1997. VN tests with these 20 isolates randomly selected confirmed the specificity of PCR on the bases of complete agreement of the results in these methods (9 G3 and 11 G14), and revealed that all 9 G3 isolates were subtype G3B. There were five differing amino acid residues in three VP7 antigenic regions between subtypes G3A and G3B. Antiserum to a baculovirus recombinant that expressed P[12] VP4 neutralized all isolates and P[12] reference strains. These results suggest that genotype P[12] GAR belong to a single VP4 serotype, and that one VP4 and two VP7 serotypes (G3B and G14) of GAR were predominant in the equine population in Japan.

[Effective combination chemotherapy for a recurrent case of carcinoma of the remnant stomach].

A 69-year-old-man underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma in 1988. Another gastric carcinoma was discovered in the remnant stomach in March 1995. Total gastrectomy and lymph node dissection were performed. CEA was up and we detected a big left suprarenal mass by abdominal CT. Suprarenalectomy was performed in June 1997. The swelling of lymph nodes was detected by CT and CEA was up to 1,000. Combination chemotherapy with intermittent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) was performed. CEA suddenly decreased and lymph node swelling was reduced.

[Characteristics of pollen scattering from male sugi flowers in relation to occurring of symptoms in Japanese cedar pollenosis patients].

Generally, airborne scattering of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) pollen begins to be observed coincidentally with the flowering of the male sugi flowers between February and April. However the male sugi flowers disperse a certain amount of pollen in early January, only small levels of which can be detected with a Durham's sampler. In some Japanese cedar pollinosis patients, allergic symptoms have been reported to occur in early January. Among 1,366 Japanese cedar pollinosis patients studied, 265 have experienced allergic symptoms before the first day of pollen scattering as determined with a Durham's sampler. Accordingly, it is suggested that substantial amounts of sugi pollen are scattered from early January, and that clinical symptoms can be induced in highly sensitive Japanese cedar pollinosis patients from early January, even before the flowering of sugi.

[Treatment of thoracic malignancy accompanied with cardiovascular disease].

We treated 10 cases of thoracic malignancy accompanied with cardiovascular disease. Among thoracic malignancy, 7 cases were lung cancer and 3 were esophageal cancer. Accompanied cardiovascular diseases were ischemic heart disease (2 cases), valvular disease (3 cases), WPW syndrome (1 case), aortic aneurysm (4 cases). The mean age was 66, ranged from 51 to 79. The simultaneous occurrence of the two lesions were observed in 6 cases and thoracic malignancy was diagnosed after a varying interval of time following surgery of cardiovascular disease in 4 cases. In cases of thoracic malignancy accompanied with heart disease, the treatment of heart disease should precede the operation of malignant disease to reduce the risk of surgery. For the patient with esophageal cancer, posterior mediastinal esophagostomy should be applied who may have heart surgery in future. In cases of coexisting malignancy and aortic aneurysm, the priority of treatment should be determined considering the size of aneurysm. If the transverse diameter of aneurysm is larger than 7 cm, there is a high risk of rupture, so surgery for the aneurysm precedes operation of malignant diseases. It is desirable to avoid concomitant operation of malignancy and cardiovascular disease.

[Myocardial protection with pulsatiled retrograde coronary sinus perfusion--using Emax for left ventricular contractility].

Recently retrograde coronary sinus perfusion technique has been frequently used in patients with severe coronary artery disease. However many untoward effects, such as tissue edema and hemorrhage, have also noticed. To evaluate the efficacy of retrograde cardioplegia, 24 mongrel pentobarbital anesthetized dogs were studied. To create hypoperfused area, distal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded. After cardioplegic arrest under cardiopulmonary bypass, dogs were assigned following 3 experimental groups (8 dogs each). Group I; Glucose-Insulin-Potassium (GIK) solution (K: 20 mEq/l, 20 ml/kg) was given antegradely into the aorta. Group II; GIK was given retrogradely through the coronary sinus. Group III; GIK was given retrogradely with pulsatile device (synchronized retroperfusion pump system). After 30 minutes, same amount of GIK was given again. Then LAD occlusion was released. Sixty minutes after onset of arrest, the aorta was declamped and cardiopulmonary bypass was stopped. The left ventricular contractility (Emax) measured with conductance catheter at the end of experiment was significantly (p < 0.05) better in groups II (13.1 +/- 2.6, mean +/- SD) and III (13.1 +/- 2.9) than in group I (9.6 +/- 2.7). The left ventricular wall-motion measured with ultrasound crystals in hypoperfused area compared to before cardiopulmonary bypass was also significantly better in groups II (76.2 +/- 17.2%) and III (87.9 +/- 16.9%). Regional myocardial temperature suggested that more rapid and homogeneous cooling including right ventricle was achieved in group III than in groups I and II. Retrograde perfusion is more effective method in the setting of coronary stenosis compared to ordinal antegrade technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Management of pain after thoracotomy: experience of intercostal nerve block with alcohol during operation].

Post-thoracotomy wound pain in 11 patients who underwent thoracic operation was controlled by intercostal nerve block with alcohol and thoracic epidural anesthesia. The intercostal nerve block was performed just before the closure of the thoracotomy wound. Epidural anesthesia was employed from the 1st to 5th post operative day. This method alleviated post-thoracotomy pain and obviated postoperative pulmonary complication in all patients in early post operative periods. In late post operative periods after discharge, intercostal nerve block could maintain excellent analgesia in 9 of 11 patients, only 2 patients required analgesic drugs or re-block of the intercostal nerve. Thus, intercostal nerve block with alcohol is an effective and simple option to control recalcitrant post-thoracotomy wound pain in thoracic surgery.

[Surgical treatment of metastatic lung cancer arising from the colon and rectum].

Ten cases of surgically resected pulmonary metastases arising from colorectal cancer were analyzed. Five year survival rate of these patients was 14%. Only one patient survived more than five years, whose primary and metastatic lesions were not so progressive without lymph node metastasis. The rate of regional lymph node metastasis was 25% and the patients with positive nodes died or had recurrence within 2 years. Serum CEA level was useful as a tumor marker and high-level of serum CEA after operation suggested remnant disease.

[A case report of thoracic foreign body resembling fungus ball on chest X-P].

A case of a foreign body tumor resembling fungus ball pre-operatively diagnosed by bronchofiberscopic examination is reported. A 54-year-old male was referred with a complaint of fever. Chest X-ray and tomography showed a mass shadow with meniscus sign resembling fungus ball in the right lower lung field. Trans-bronchial lung biopsy revealed sulfur-granule of actinomycosis. In spite of local injection of sensitive antibiotics (ABPC) once a week for two months the mass shadow remained unchanged on X-ray. Bronchofiberscopic examination was performed again and a small piece of fibrous substance was obtained, which had been left in previous operation done 17 years before. Re-thoracotomy assured that the mass was a foreign body tumor caused by a gauze.

Effects of calcium and ouabain on the release of atrial natriuretic factor.

In order to examine the role of calcium in the secretory process of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), we studied the effects of hypercalcaemia and ouabain on the plasma concentration of immunoreactive ANF, and the effect of calcium on immunoreactive ANF release from isolated rat atria. Anaesthetized dogs were treated with CaCl2 infusion, ouabain or phenylephrine injection. With CaCl2 infusion, serum calcium and plasma immunoreactive ANF respectively increased to three and four times their basal levels. Ouabain increased plasma immunoreactive ANF to two and a half times the initial level. Neither CaCl2 nor ouabain produced any effect on right atrial pressure and heart rate, but they both significantly increased arterial pressure. Phenylephrine caused a greater increase in arterial pressure than both CaCl2 and ouabain. However, there was no significant increase in plasma immunoreactive ANF. Moreover, calcium stimulated the release of immunoreactive ANF from isolated rat atria. These results suggest that the calcium may play a key role in the secretory process of ANF.

Effects of hypercalcemia and ouabain on plasma atrial natriuretic polypeptide in anesthetized dogs.

For the purpose of examining the role of calcium ion in the secretory process of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), we studied the effects of hypercalcemia and ouabain on plasma concentration of immunoreactive ANP (irANP). Pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized dogs were treated with calcium chloride infusion (0.136 mmol.kg-1.min-1, 10 min) or ouabain injection (30 micrograms/kg), and plasma irANP concentration, right atrial pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and serum calcium concentration were measured. To evaluate the effect of rising arterial pressure, plasma irANP concentration was also measured in dogs treated with phenylephrine hydrochloride (10 micrograms/kg). With calcium chloride infusion, serum calcium concentration and plasma irANP concentration, respectively, increased to about three times and about four times their basal levels. This increase of plasma irANP concentration was not attenuated by pretreatment with adrenoceptor blockers. Ouabain increased plasma irANP concentration to approximately 2.5 times the initial level. Neither calcium chloride nor ouabain produced any effect on right atrial pressure and heart rate, but both significantly increased mean atrial pressure. Phenylephrine caused a greater increase in mean arterial pressure than both calcium chloride and ouabain. However, there was no significant increase in plasma irANP concentration. These results suggest that the calcium ion may play a key role in the secretory process of ANP.