Activities of calcineurin and phosphatase 2A in the hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia.

We investigated the changes in the enzyme activity and immunoreactivity of calcineurin in the rat hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia. Immediately after 20-min transient forebrain ischemia, calcineurin activity decreased to about 40% of the control in the CA1 region and to about 55% in other regions. Protein phosphatase 2A activity showed no remarkable changes.

Multiple cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) associated with spinal AVM.

The co-existence of multiple cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and a spinal AVM is extremely rare. A 22-year-old man suddenly developed severe headache. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed intracerebral haemorrhage in the left occipital lobe.

Analysis of the biological properties and use of comparative genomic hybridization to locate chromosomal aberrations in the human testicular seminoma cell line JKT-1 and its highly metastatic cell line JKT-HM.

Objective: To examine the biological properties, and utility of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to locate chromosomal aberrations, in a new human testicular seminoma cell line, JKT-1, and a highly metastatic cell line, JKT-HM, developed as an animal model of spontaneous metastasis.

Materials And Methods: JKT-HM was isolated by transplanting cells of JKT-1 into the dorsal skin of nude mice, using methods developed previously. The biological properties of JKT-1 and JKT-HM cells were examined using assays of cell proliferation and in vitro tumour cell invasion, and the DNA index (by flow cytometry).

Platelet activating factor causes a rapid increase in activity of prior expressed tissue factor on monocyte surface membrane.

It is known that tissue factor (TF) activity depends on cell membrane phospholipids. However, the mechanism involved in the regulation of TF activity by the modulation of the phospholipids has not yet been described in detail. To determine whether some mediators regulate TF activity by such a mechanism, we investigated the effect of platelet activating factor (PAF).

Serine/threonine phosphatase activity of calcineurin is inhibited by sodium orthovanadate and dithiothreitol reverses the inhibitory effect.

Orthovanadate is known to be an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases. However, we found that it inhibited calcineurin which has the activity of a serine/threonine protein phosphatase, using casein phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase as a substrate. Orthovanadate inhibits the Mn2+-activated activity of purified calcineurin to 20%; this is not the case without Mn2+.

Pathophysiology and treatment of cerebral ischemia.

This article describes the pathophysiology of, and treatment strategy for, cerebral ischemia. It is useful to think of an ischemic lesion as a densely ischemic core surrounded by better perfused "penumbra" tissue that is silent electrically but remains viable. Reperfusion plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia.

Cadherin-8 protein expression in gray matter structures and nerve fibers of the neonatal and adult mouse brain.

The topological distribution of mouse cadherin-8 protein in the neonatal and adult mouse brain was studied immunohistochemically using a rabbit antiserum. Cadherin-8 expression was restricted to several areas in neonatal brains constituting particular neural circuits, i.e.

Foramen magnum dural arteriovenous fistulae with repeated subarachnoid haemorrhage.

We report a patient who had dural arteriovenous fistulae in the region of the foramen magnum with repeated subarachnoid haemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal vascular structures on the right side of the medulla oblongata in an extra-axial portion. Angiographic findings showed that the lesion was supplied from the meningeal arteries and drained directly into the subarachnoid vein.

Prediction of TTS for hand intermittent vibration.

Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) is often used as an indicator of the effect of hand-transmitted vibration on the human body. An experiment for the prediction of TTS in exposure to intermittent vibration was conducted in the present study to examine the exposure equivalent rule, as well as the equations for growth and recovery TTS. It was found that the prediction of TTS obtained here was in good agreement with measured TTS.

Measurement of hand-transmitted vibration of tapping the long cane for visually handicapped people in Japan.

The long cane can be used as a mobility aid for visually handicapped people. According to a questionnaire completed by Japanese cane users, it seems they are not always satisfied with using long canes for a variety of reasons. In this study, hand-transmitted vibration from the long cane due to tapping the ground was measured because an exposure to repeated shock-type tapping vibration may affect the hand-arm system.

Experimental studies of subjective response to road traffic-induced building vibration.

The road traffic-induced building vibration was recorded continuously for 24 hr in three orthogonal axes outside and inside the building. Several alternative objective methods of quantifying the severity of exposures to whole-body road traffic-induced building vibration are used. The relationship between the results of all objective evaluation methods of vibration-induced by road traffic and the subjective responses to building vibration are compared.

Nonfunctioning adrenal cortical cancer and analysis of the steroidogenic activity of the tumor: a case report.

An adrenocortical cancer was detected by a CT scan in a 37-year-old woman, which did not have an excessive secretion of steroids or catecholamines. The tumor was enhanced inhomogeneously by the bolus injection of contrast medium, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the tumor was hypointense compared to the liver on a T1-weighted image and was diffusely hyperintense on a T2-weighted image. Histologically, the tumor consisted predominantly of compact cells with marked cellular and nuclear pleomorphism, but no capsular or vascular invasion were observed.

The analysis of steroidogenic activity in non-hyperfunctioning adrenocortical adenoma.

The steroidogenic activities in non-hyperfunctioning adrenal adenoma (NHFA) have not yet been fully examined. Steroid content both in adenoma and its non-tumorous adjacent adrenal tissue was measured by the HPLC system in 8 cases of NHFA and 2 cases of preclinical Cushing's syndrome (PCS). Activities of cytochrome P450c17alpha, P450c21, P450c11beta, P450c18 and aldosterone-synthesizing enzyme (P450aldo) were also determined by the enzyme reconstitution system.

Tortuosity of the Cervical Segment of the Internal Carotid Artery in AVM Patients.

The correlation between the degree of tortuosity of the cervical segment of the internal carotid artery (CICA) and the size of the nidus in AVM patients was investigated on angiograms. Fifteen AVM patients underwent embolization of vessels that were fed primarily by the internal carotid artery. The patients were divided into two groups according to the size of nidus: in group 1 (n=5), the size of the nidus was rated as small (less than 6 cm), in group 2 (n=10) as large (greater than 6 cm).

Aldosterone-producing adrenal cortical cancer: a case report and analysis of steroidogenic enzymes in the tumor.

A case of hyperaldosteronism caused by adrenal cortical cancer observed in a 32-year-old man was reported. The patient showed marked hypertension and hypokalemia, but neither obesity nor hyperglycemia was observed. Endocrine studies revealed hyperaldosteronism and concurrent excessive secretion of cortisol, but diurnal rhythms of plasma ACTH and cortisol were normal.

A rare case of Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral adrenocortical adenomas.

We report a rare case of Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral adrenocortical adenomas in a 45-year-old female. She suffered from diabetes mellitus and hypertension for a decade, but her appearance was not Cushingoid. The plasma cortisol level in the morning was at the upper limit of the normal range, but did not show a diurnal rhythm or was suppressed by 1 mg of dexamethasone.

[A case of Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral multiple adrenal adenomas].

We report a case of Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral adrenal adenomas. A 45-year-old woman was found to have Cushing's syndrome during the course of treatment for diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was based on the absence of a diurnal rhythm in plasma cortisol and failure to suppress plasma cortisol by 1 or 4 mg of dexamethasone.

YM-32890 A and B, new types of macrolide antibiotics produced by Cytophaga sp.

Two new types of macrolide antibiotics, YM-32890 A and B, have been isolated from the fermentation broth of cytophaga sp. YL-02905S. In this paper, the taxonomy of the producing strain, fermentation, isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activity of the antibiotics are reported.

A comparison of vibrotactile thresholds on the finger obtained with ISO type equipment and Japanese equipment.

A vibrotactile threshold measurement system that enables the thresholds at the fingertips to be determined more rapidly and precisely has been developed. This system was studied to assess the impact of various factors on the obtained values. An experiment using two different types of equipment was also conducted to assess the repeatability of measurement.

Calcineurin in the adult rat hippocampus: different distribution in CA1 and CA3 subfields.

We examined the immunohistochemical regional distribution of calcineurin (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase) in the adult rat hippocampus, following various regional destruction. In the normal adult rat hippocampus, the calcineurin immunoreactivity showed a characteristic pattern. This protein phosphatase was detected in all layers of the CA1 subfield, including the cytoplasm of the pyramidal cells, whereas it was strongly evident in the stratum lucidum and moderately so in the cytoplasm of pyramidal cells in the CA3 subfield.

[Anesthetic managements for pericardiectomy of three patients with constrictive pericarditis].

We experienced three patients with constrictive pericarditis who underwent pericardiectomy. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was carried out in two patients because of unstable hemodynamics caused by massive bleeding or cardiac compression due to surgical manipulation. In the other patient with severe tachycardia, we prepared PCPS before the induction of anesthesia, and could manage the whole course of anesthesia satisfactorily.

ACTH-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (AIMAH): report of two cases and the analysis of steroidogenic activity in adrenal nodules.

We report clinical findings and steroidogenic activities in adrenal tissues in 2 cases of AIMAH. Endocrine studies revealed an undetectable level of plasma ACTH and a diminished circadian rhythm of plasma cortisol. A significant increase in plasma cortisol levels in response to ACTH stimulation was observed in both cases.

Ruptured distal accessory anterior cerebral artery aneurysm: case report.

Objective And Importance: Accessory anterior cerebral artery (ACA), which is a type of median artery of anomalous triplicate ACA, is not rare, but aneurysmal formation is extremely rare. We report a rare case with ruptured aneurysm arising from a distal accessory ACA. We discuss the characteristics and causes of this type of aneurysm and classification of this anomaly.