Spectrum of glutamate dehydrogenase mutations in Japanese patients with congenital hyperinsulinism and hyperammonemia syndrome.

Introduction: Congenital hyperinsulinism and hyperammonemia (CHH) is caused by gain of function of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). The genetic abnormalities are known to be located in three specific regions on the GDH protein. We describe here three different missense mutations identified in five new Japanese patients with CHH.

Specific substance of Maruyama (SSM) suppresses immune responses in atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in DS-Nh mice by modulating dendritic cell functions.

Background: Specific substance of Maruyama (SSM) is a carcinostatic immunotherapeutic agent extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The efficacy of SSM induced interleukin(IL)-12 and IFN-γ production, and inhibition of IL-4, resulting in a shift from Th2 to Th1 in vivo.

Objective: The DS-Nh mice are a model of human atopic dermatitis (AD), which spontaneously develop dermatitis under conventional conditions.

Combination of carbon dioxide laser therapy and artificial dermis application in plantar warts: human papillomavirus DNA analysis after treatment.

Background: Various laser therapies have been used to treat viral warts, and numerous successful results have been reported, but plantar warts are notoriously difficult to treat and eradicate.

Materials & Methods: This study included 35 lesions in 31 patients (17 female, 14 male) with plantar warts. We used a carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser for incisions, and the defect was covered with artificial dermis.

[Incidence and onset time of fentanyl-induced cough depends on the dose of IV fentanyl].

Background: IV fentanyl en bolus can provoke cough reflex. We evaluated the effects of the IV fentanyl dose on the incidence and onset time of fentanyl-induced cough.

Methods: Tree hundred and eighteen ASA physical status I - II patients scheduled for oral surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive 1 microg x kg(-1), 3 microg x kg(-1) or 5 microg x kg(-1) of IV fentanyl (n = 106 for each group).

Papulonecrotic tuberculid with spontaneous remission.

We describe a 62-year-old Japanese woman who had skin lesions involving her extremities, chest and back that showed spontaneous remission. The skin lesions consisted of slightly atrophic scars and crusted, reddish or necrotic papules. A tuberculin test showed induration and bulla, which was regarded as strongly positivity.

Cimetidine treatment for viral warts enhances IL-2 and IFN-gamma expression but not IL-18 expression in lesional skin.

Cimetidine has been shown to improve various types of human neoplasms and more recently it has been shown to be effective in treating recalcitrant or multiple viral warts in some reports. However, it is not well understood why cimetidine is effective on those kinds of viral warts. We investigated 55 patients with multiple viral warts treated only with oral cimetidine for up to 4 months to examine the efficacy of treatment.