[Anesthetic management of cesarean section in a patient with pulmonary embolism due to protein S deficiency].

A 37-year-old pregnant woman (23 weeks' gestation) was consulted to us because of the left leg pain. On examination, she was diagnosed as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism due to protein S deficiency. She was admitted to our hospital and underwent anticoagulant therapy (heparin 10,000 units per day).

Polymorphisms of the UDP-glucuronosyl transferase 1A genes are associated with adverse events in cancer patients receiving irinotecan-based chemotherapy.

A prodrug, irinotecan (CPT-11), is a semisynthetic derivative of camptothecin. It inhibits topoisomerase I and is used for treatment of lung, stomach, and colon cancers in Japan. The active form of CPT-11, SN-38, causes the adverse events such as neutropenia and diarrhea.

[Case of atonic bleeding managed by emergency total hysterectomy and mass blood transfusion right after the cesarean section].

A 34-year-old woman, who had had atonic bleeding six years ago, had selective cesarean section under CSEA. On the operation, atonic bleeding occurred and persisted. Though we used uterine contracting agents (oxytocin, ergometrine), the bleeding volume exceeded 2,000 ml and the examination revealed Hb 5.

[Investigation of preoperative respiratory evaluation in four cases of myasthenia gravis undergoing extended thymectomy in the past two years].

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease. The MG patients undergoing extended thymectomy under general anesthesia are at risk for postoperative complications, such as respiratory insufficiency and crisis (cholinergic and myasthenic). We evaluated the preoperative predictive factors, which are important for postoperative respiratory control.

[Anesthetic management of a child with myotubular myopathy who underwent two operations using only total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA)].

We present a case of anesthetic management in a child with myotubular myopathy. A 3-month-old, 3.0 kg, male patient, who had been suspected of a congenital myopathy, was scheduled for the muscle biopsy.

[Control of postoperative nausea and vomiting by preventive administration of dexamethasone].

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are the most frequent side effects after anesthesia. Patients with persistent PONV continue to be impaired in performing their normal daily activities. We studied the controlling effect of dexamethasone (4 mg) before the induction of general anesthesia in the prevention of PONV.

Palliative re-irradiation for in-field recurrence after definitive radiotherapy in patients with primary lung cancer.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of palliative re-irradiation for in-field recurrence of primary lung cancer after radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Forty-four patients with locally recurrent lung cancer after radiotherapy were retreated with external beam radiation therapy. To evaluate palliative effectiveness, 31 symptoms in 25 patients were analyzed, while all patients were analyzed to evaluate pulmonary toxicity.

A new enzymatic cycling method for ammonia assay using NAD synthetase.

Background: Ammonia is an important marker for liver diseases such as hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis. Several methods have been developed for ammonia analysis. In particular, the enzymatic assay using glutamate dehydrogenase has been widely used.

Protein kinase C-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vascular tissues of diabetes: role of vascular NAD(P)H oxidase.

Hyperglycemia seems to be an important causative factor in the development of micro- and macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the adverse effects of hyperglycemia on vascular cells. Both protein kinase C (PKC) activation and oxidative stress theories have increasingly received attention in recent years.

Accumulation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and mitochondrial DNA deletion in kidney of diabetic rats.

Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. However, the detailed molecular mechanism remains uncertain. Here, we report oxidative mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and accumulation of mtDNA with a 4,834-bp deletion in kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Lysophosphatidylcholine inhibits the expression of prostacyclin stimulating factor in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have cloned a prostacyclin (PGI2) stimulating factor (PSF), which stimulates PGI2 production by vascular endothelial cells. Previous study demonstrated the reduced PSF expression in the coronary arteries from the patients with ischemic heart disease. To clarify the mechanism of reduced PSF expression in atherosclerosis, we examined the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), a main component of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL), on PSF expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.