[Fever of unknown origin: re-evaluation of 67Ga scintigraphy in detecting causes of fever].

Radioactive gallium citrate has been known to accumulate not only in neoplasms but also in inflammatory foci, and thus widely used to find out pyrogenic lesions in cases of unexplainable prolonged fever. However, with developments and improvements of other imaging modalities, its diagnostic significance may have changed. To probe that issue, recent 65 scans for the patients with fever of unknown origin were reviewed retrospectively.

Nonsegmental inhibition of rat dorsal horn neurons by innocuous stimulation.

In rats anesthetized with thiamylal sodium, responses of spinal cord dorsal horn neurons to noxious skin heating of the tail were recorded by extracellular microelectrodes. Inhibition of these responses by innocuous mechanical stimulation (light brushing) of the ipsilateral forelimb was assessed. Short-lasting application (3 min, or less) of light brushing did not inhibit neuronal responses to noxious heating.

Nipple discharge cytology in mass screening for breast cancer.

Since 1977 mass screening for breast cancer has been conducted in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan; inspection, palpation and cytologic examination of any nipple discharge are part of the initial screening procedures. Among 149,681 subjects examined, 404 cancer cases and 63 papilloma cases were detected. The nipple discharges from 20,537 women were examined cytologically; of the 61 cancer cases, the smears were positive in 18 cases, suspicious in 7, negative with atypical findings in 12 and negative in 24.

[Assessment and treatment of respiratory dysfunction in severely handicapped children: respiratory disorders during sleep].

In severely handicapped patients, chronic respiratory insufficiencies and recurrent hypoxemia especially during sleep are one of the major problems to take care of them. To clarify the pathophysiology of respiratory disorders during sleep, we examined 5 severely handicapped patients with no respiratory distress during wakefulness, but with signs of latent respiratory insufficiency by means of polygraphical all-night study including the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) monitoring. In the severely handicapped patients, sleep hypoxemia occurred frequently.

Lower leg reconstruction using a sural fasciocutaneous flap.

The fasciocutaneous flap in the lower leg has been widely used since Pontén's 1981 report. The cutaneous artery running along the sural nerve--known as the superficial sural artery--has an important role in the blood supply of the fasciocutaneous flap in the lower leg as stated by Haertsch. The superficial sural artery has great variation with regard to its location and the origin of the vessel.

Comparison of rotational speeds and torque properties between air-bearing and ball-bearing air-turbine handpieces.

We examined the effects of air pressure on the free-running speed of air-bearing and torque-type ball-bearing air-turbine handpieces. The air pressure for the former should be kept at a certain high level to maintain the stable super-thin air-bearing film and to provide the quasi-constant speed of around 420,000 to 480,000 rpm. On the other hand, the air pressure for the latter could be adjusted to provide some varieties of speeds, ranging from about 150,000 to 320,000 rpm.

Primary role of calcium ions in arachidonic acid release from rat platelet membranes. Comparison with human platelet membranes.

The liberation of arachidonic acid (AA) was investigated in platelet membranes prelabelled with [3H]AA. In rat platelet membranes, Ca2+ at concentrations over several hundred nanomolar induced [3H]AA release, with a concurrent decrease in 3H radioactivity of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Some 4-6% of total radioactivity incorporated into platelet membrane lipids was released at 1-10 microM-Ca2+, which is nearly equivalent to that attained in agonist-stimulated platelets.

Complete cDNA encoding a putative phospholipase C from transformed human lymphocytes.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) is a crucial enzyme in transmembrane signaling. A cDNA encoding the putative phospholipase C was cloned from human lymphocytes that were transformed by infection with Epstein-Barr virus. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA accounted for 146.

Zellweger-like syndrome with detectable hepatic peroxisomes: a variant form of peroxisomal disorder.

A male infant with typical clinical and biochemical findings of Zellweger syndrome, but in whom hepatic peroxisomes were detected by electron microscopy, had profound hypotonia, hepatomegaly, typical facial appearance including large fontanelle and frontal bossing, convulsions, panaminoaciduria, and hyperammonemia. He died of liver failure at age 5 months. There were increased levels of very long chain fatty acids and trihydroxycoprostanic acid in serum, and increased excretion of dicarboxylic acids and tyrosine metabolites in the urine.

Magnetic resonance imaging in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

Cranial computed tomography of a boy with clinical characteristics of the classic form of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease did not reveal a notable abnormality other than enlarged ventricles. Magnetic resonance imaging, however, demonstrated diffuse changes in the white matter with sparing of scattered small areas, suggesting persistent myelin islands which are a typical neuropathologic finding in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease. Magnetic resonance imaging appears more useful than computed tomography in confirming the diagnosis of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

Quantitative relationship between the stimulus intensity and the response magnitude in the tail flick reflex.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the quantitative relation between the stimulus intensity and the response magnitude of the tail flick reflex. The EMG of a tail muscle was recorded from the extensor caudae medialis (ECM) muscle in the side contralateral to heat stimulation, and the area of integrated EMG for 1 sec was measured as the magnitude of EMG activity. The minimum temperature to the onset of the EMG was 42.

Enhanced glucose metabolism and impaired placental function in hypoxic pregnant rats.

Glucose metabolism using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose [( 18F]FDG) was studied in experimental hypoxia (10% oxygen concentration) of pregnant rats with special attention given to the placental function. After an i.v.

Deletion 14q(q24.3 to q32.1) syndrome: significance of peculiar facial appearance in its diagnosis, and deletion mapping of Pi(alpha 1-antitrypsin).

A 10-month-old Japanese boy who had interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome No. 14; 46,XY, del(14)(pter----q24.3: :q32.