Molecular analysis of hereditary deficiency of the third component of complement (C3) in two sisters.

We report two sisters with hereditary deficiency of the third complement component (C3) and a homozygous mutation at C3303G (Tyr1081Stop) of the gene. They developed systemic lupus erythematosus-like symptoms during adolescence. Their C3 were not detected in serum immunochemically.

Spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole.

Purpose: To report eight cases of spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole.

Design: Consecutive observational case series.

Patients And Methods: In a consecutive series of 18 eyes of 18 patients with traumatic macular hole, eight patients achieved spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole.

Intrathoracic cooling of cadavers before lung transplantation using cold air: an experimental study.

Objective: In an attempt to identify an effective method of harvesting adequately functioning donor lungs from a cadaver, we devised an intrathoracic cooling method utilizing cold air that resulted in successful experimental lung transplantation.

Methods: The lungs of donor mongrel dogs were inflated with 100% oxygen after death. The animals in group I (n=5) were left at room temperature for 2 hr, whereas those in group II (n=5) were left for 2 hr with their left thoraces filled with cold air cooled by dry ice.

Cross-sectional analysis of neurological findings among healthy elderly: study in a remote island in Kagoshima, Japan.

We have conducted annual health checkup surveys of elderly subjects aged 60 years or older in a remote island of southwestern Japan. After excluding patients with neurological diseases and the subjects who needed help in activities of daily living, a cross-sectional analysis of the data obtained from 348 elderly people aged 60-89 years was made. We examined the age and sex distributions of abnormal neurological findings, including the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Altered GalNAc-alpha-2,6-sialylation compartments for mucin-associated sialyl-Tn antigen in colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma.

Sialyl-Tn (STn), a mucin-associated disaccharide antigen carried by apomucins such as MUC2, plays an important role in tumor biology. However, little is known about the subcellular localization and compartments involved in STn synthesis. In this study we used immunoelectron microscopy to localize STn and MUC2 apomucin in human colorectal tissues.

Herpes simplex virus pneumonia after cardiac surgery: report of a case.

A rare case of a 61-year-old man who developed herpes simplex virus (HSV) pneumonia after cardiac surgery is presented. He was immunocompetent before the operation and had no history of a mucocutaneous herpesvirus infection. This potentially fatal complication was successfully managed with acyclovir treatment after establishing the diagnosis with bronchoalveolar lavage.

Superior vena caval placement of a temporary filter: a case report.

Placement of permanent filters in the superior vena cava (SVC) for preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) arising from thrombi superior to the right atrium has rarely been performed. The authors report the first case of temporary filter insertion in the SVC because of upper extremity thrombosis accompanied with PE. After thrombectomy, the temporary filter was successfully removed.

Initial stages of posterior vitreous detachment in healthy eyes of older persons evaluated by optical coherence tomography.

Objective: To promote understanding of the development of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in healthy eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: We studied 209 eyes of 209 healthy volunteers (165 men and 44 women; mean age, 52.3 years [range, 31-74 years]).

Clinical experience with temporary vena cava filters.

An experience with temporary filter placement, which seems to be safe and effective for temporarily preventing pulmonary embolism, is reported. Since October 1997, six patients had temporary filters. There were two men and four women, with a mean age of 37 years.

[A case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage developing after open heart surgery].

A 47-year-old man was receiving anticoagulant therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve plasty. A chest roentgenogram disclosed alveolar infiltrates throughout both lung fields 6 months postoperatively. Lung biopsy specimens showed the presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the alveolar spaces, establishing a diagnosis of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Isolation and characterization of galectins in the mammalian retina.

Purpose: Previous studies have suggested that galectins may be involved in retinal adhesion and photoreceptor cell survival. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, the authors isolated retinal galectins, determined their types and distributions, and investigated the validity of the hypothesis, using rat models.

Methods: An antibody was prepared against a bovine retinal lectin that was isolated by use of a lactose-agarose column.

HTLV-I proviral load correlates with progression of motor disability in HAM/TSP: analysis of 239 HAM/TSP patients including 64 patients followed up for 10 years.

To clarify clinical and laboratory findings that may be related to the pathomechanism of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we analyzed these findings in 239 patients with HAM/TSP, including 64 patients followed up for 10 years after their first examinations, with special interest in the HTLV-I proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The proviral load in PBMCs did not differ in terms of modes of HTLV-I transmission. However, the proviral load in patients with age of disease onset greater than 65 years tended to be higher than those with a younger age of onset.

The expression of gastric H+-K+-ATPase mRNA and protein in developing rat fundic gland.

The proton pump H+-K+-ATPase is the final common pathway mediating the production and secretion of hydrochloric acid by gastric parietal cells. The present studies were undertaken to examine whether the expression of gastric H+-K+-ATPase mRNA and protein changes are associated with the development of H+-K+-ATPase activity in the rat fundic gland. H+-K+-ATPase activity was examined in rat fundic gland at different stages from gestational day 18.

The use of a Dumon stent for the treatment of a bronchopleural fistula.

We report the successful management of a bronchopleural fistula with bronchial stent placement combined with irrigation of the empyema cavity. A bronchopleural fistula occurred in a 67-year-old man after a right upper lobectomy for lung cancer. Resuturing of the bronchial stump plus omental wrapping and subsequent closure of the open stump with a pedicled flap of intercostal muscle were not effective.

Photoreceptor protection against constant light-induced damage by isopropyl unoprostone, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) metabolite-related compound.

Some of the antiglaucoma drugs have shown neuroprotective effects in ischemic retinal damage and optic nerve injury. We studied photoreceptor protection against constant light-induced damage using isopropyl unoprostone, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) metabolite-related compound. Albino Sprague-Dawley rats were administered isopropyl unoprostone solution intravitreally in one eye (the test eye) and vehicle alone in the contralateral eye (the control eye) and were exposed to constant light for 7 days.

Ultrastructural localization of basigin in normal human epidermis.

Basigin is a glycosylated transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is thought to play roles in intercellular recognition involved in cell differentiation. We previously demonstrated at the light microscope level a correlation between basigin expression and epidermal differentiation.

Postsurgical evaluation of idiopathic vitreomacular traction syndrome by optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To report a case of idiopathic vitreomacular traction syndrome with preoperative and postoperative evaluation by optical coherence tomography.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: A 62-year-old woman presented with blurred vision in the left eye because of idiopathic vitreomacular traction syndrome, and she underwent a pars plana vitrectomy.

Expression of Basigin in human fetal, infantile and adult skin and in basal cell carcinoma.

Background: Basigin is a glycosylated transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is thought to be associated with cell development and differentiation. We investigated the relation between Basigin expression and epidermal development in this study.

Methods: Basigin expression was immunohistochemically investigated during organogenesis of human skin and in human basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Retinopathy associated with Machado--Joseph disease (spinocerebellar ataxia 3) with CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion.

Purpose: To report characteristic atrophic maculopathy in a patient with Machado--Joseph disease (spinocerebellar ataxia 3) caused by trinucleotide repeat expansion of the relevant gene.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 64-year-old Japanese man had suffered from slurred speech and gait disturbance since 57 years of age.

Heart rate decline after exercise in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

To evaluate the heart rate recovery, submaximal exercise, echocardiographic examination, and Holter monitoring were performed on 30 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 11 controls. The time constant of heart rate decline after exercise was calculated. Spectral analysis was performed on Holter recordings.