Palladium-Catalyzed -Selective Allylation of 1-(Cyanomethyl)arenes with Allyl Acetates.

The Pd/PMe-catalyzed allylation of 1-(cyanomethyl)naphthalenes with allyl acetates proved to be - rather than α-regioselective. This reaction is thought to proceed through ligand attack of the -carbon in the arenes, electronically enriched by a cyano-stabilized α-carbanion, to the (π-allyl)palladium and a 1,5-hydrogen shift of the -hydrogen from the dearomatized intermediate.

Electrophysiological studies and physical examinations in entrapment neuropathy: sensory and motor functions compensation for the central nervous system in cases with peripheral nerve damage.

We performed electrophysiological studies and objective physical examinations in 60 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 21 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome. Compared with our normal data, the sensory nerve conduction velocity across the wrist was defined as abnormal in 97% of the carpal tunnel syndrome patients, the corresponding value of the amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential was 58% and the value of the two point discrimination test was 28% while the value of the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test was defined as abnormal in 64% of the cases. In cubital tunnel syndrome patients, motor nerve conduction velocity across the elbow was defined as abnormal in 91%, the amplitude of the M-wave was 96%, manual muscle testing was 63% and their side pinch strength was defined as abnormal in 24% of the cases.

Elevated chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of tuberculosis patients.

In pulmonary tuberculosis, the proportion of lymphocytes, particularly that of CD4+ T lymphocytes, was increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), reflecting their protective role against mycobacterial infections. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of lymphocyte accumulation in lungs, we measured the levels of chemokines with potent lymphocyte chemotactic activities, including interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and, regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) present in BALF from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in acute (n = 10) and convalescent phases (n = 6), as well as normal subjects (n = 10). During the acute phase of the disease, the proportions of lymphocytes and neutrophils were increased, as reported in previous studies.

F-wave elicited during voluntary contraction as a monitor of upper motor neuron disorder.

Since electrophysiological techniques for assessment of upper motor neuron disorders have yet to be standardized, the potential of employing F-waves to monitor this condition was examined. Subjects were 32 normal adults, 54 patients with upper motor neuron disorder and 20 patients with lower motor neuron disorder. F-waves were recorded from the abductor digiti minimi muscle at rest and under weak voluntary contraction.

Stationary potentials after median nerve stimulation: changes with arm position.

We previously reported the presence of stationary negative potentials (N3, N6, N9) over the arm ipsilateral to the side of median nerve stimulation. In this study, we examined the effect of different arm positions upon these stationary peaks in 12 normal subjects. When arm position was changed from elbow extended to elbow flexed 90 degrees, we recorded a new negative peak, N4.

Changes of short latency somatosensory evoked potential in sleep.

We studied how the first negative waves (frontal 'N18' and parietal 'N20') of median somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) change from waking to sleep in 9 healthy volunteers. Frontal and parietal responses in awake subjects showed multiple fast frequency potentials (FFP) over the ascending and descending phases of the slow negative waves. The main frontal FFP consisted of N16, P17, N18, P18, N19 and P20, with an additional small FFP, n15, over the ascending phase of N16.

Effect of desynchronized inputs on compound sensory and muscle action potentials.

Stimulation of the second (S1) or third (S2) digit elicits a median sensory potential at the wrist. Similarly, a shock applied to the median (Sm) or ulnar (Su) nerve at the wrist evokes a sensory potential of the fourth digit and a muscle potential over the thenar eminence. Hence, a concomitant application of S1 and S2 or Sm and Su with varying interstimulus intervals simulates the effect of desynchronized inputs.

[Clinical trial of high-dose etoposide].

In eleven patients with recurrent or refractory malignant lymphomas or lung cancers, a phase I study of high-dose etoposide without autologous bone marrow transplantation was performed. As a starting dose of etoposide 200 mg/m2 was administered for five consecutive days and the daily dose was increased step by step to a dose of 50 mg/m2. The dose of etoposide was escalated in order to define dose-limiting extramedullary toxicity, which was oropharyngeal mucositis and arrhythmias (PVC) at a dose level of 350 mg/m2/day.