Disturbed biopterin and folate metabolism in the Qdpr-deficient mouse.

Quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) catalyzes the regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a cofactor for monoamine synthesis, phenylalanine hydroxylation and nitric oxide production. Here, we produced and analyzed a transgenic Qdpr(-/-) mouse model. Unexpectedly, the BH4 contents in the Qdpr(-/-) mice were not decreased and even increased in some tissues, whereas those of the oxidized form dihydrobiopterin (BH2) were significantly increased.

The potentially best stereographic presentation of the plastinated anatomical specimen.

Volumegraph, which is an improved version of the parallax panoramagram, has been studied as a method of stereophotography of a plastinated human body specimen. The volumegraph provides a steric view of the specimen in a natural color appearance. The potential advantages in using the volumegraph for the presentation of anatomical specimens are discussed taking account of its technical details.

Patient-nurse collaboration: a comparison of patients' and nurses' attitudes in Finland, Japan, Norway, and the U.S.A.

While there has been an increasing emphasis on patients' participation in decisions concerning health care and nursing in the literature as an ideal, it is not clear to what extent patients and nurses assume the consumerist attitude regarding health-care decision making. With the view that attitudes people hold regarding their role in health care and nursing will primarily affect the way they behave in health-care situations, a multinational study was carried out to examine five sets of attitudes regarding consumerism held by patients in acute-care hospitals and nurses working in them. The findings from the surveys in Finland, Japan, Norway, and the U.

Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

During a period of 18 months, intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) was performed in 360 patients with various gastrointestinal disorders. This technique was useful both in diagnostic and interventional procedures. Due to increased contrast resolution, hepatic tumors and portal vein systems were better visualized than with the use of conventional angiography.

[Role of angiography in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer].

Endoscopic Retrograde Choledocho-Pancreatography, Ultrasonography and Computer Tomography can show dilated pancreatic duct in the patients with small resectable pancreatic carcinoma. However they can not predict the size of the tumor. Angiography is a complementary examination, being able to demonstrate the size of the tumor and predict its resectability.

Integrated approach to the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

A prospective comparison of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and angiography was performed in 112 patients with proven pancreatic carcinoma. ERCP had the highest sensitivity and specificity in evaluation of pancreatic carcinoma. CT was the least sensitive in detecting pancreatic malignancy.

[Double contrast examination of the bile ducts (author's transl)].

Efficacy of double contrast X-ray study of the bile duct was studied. Using barium sulfate it was possible to demonstrate fine mucosal pattern (FMP) of the bile duct in the surgical specimen. Utilizing decompression catheter in 44 patients with extrahepatic jaundice, double contrast study was clinically performed.

[A critical comparison of methods for diagnosing carcinoma of the pancreas (author's transl)].

Our investigations have shown that only those carcinomas of the pancreas of less than 3 cm. can be cured. In our experience the only way to diagnose such tumours preoperatively is a combination of angiography, ERCP and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.

[Transhepatic biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice (author's transl)].

Sixty-five patients with obstructive jaundice out of a total of 71 patients, were treated successfully by PTCD. The markedly elevated total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase in the serum were reduced significantly and the general condition of the patient improved rapidly. On the other hand, severe obstructive jaundice which had persisted for several weeks was not amenable to treatment in this way.