Year-long upregulation of connexin43 in rabbit hearts by heavy ion irradiation.

A previous study from our laboratory has shown that a single targeted heavy ion irradiation (THIR; 15 Gy) to rabbit hearts increases connexin43 (Cx43) expression for 2 wk in association with an improvement of conduction, a decrease of the spatial inhomogeneity of repolarization, and a reduction of vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction. This study investigated the time- and dose-dependent effects of THIR (5-15 Gy) on Cx43 expression in normal rabbit hearts (n = 45). Five rabbits without THIR were used as controls.

Phenotypic differences in PFIC2 and BRIC2 correlate with protein stability of mutant Bsep and impaired taurocholate secretion in MDCK II cells.

Progressive familial cholestasis (PFIC) 2 and benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) 2 are caused by mutations in the bile salt export pump (BSEP, ABCB11) gene; however, their prognosis differs. PFIC2 progresses to cirrhosis and requires liver transplantation, whereas BRIC2 is clinically benign. To identify the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for the phenotypic differences, eight PFIC2 and two BRIC2 mutations were introduced in rat Bsep, which was transfected in MDCK II cells.

[Usefulness of urine analysis in clinical nephrology].

In chronic glomerular nephritis (CGN), it is important to estimate the renal function and 24 hr urinary protein excretion to estimate the effectiveness of the treatment. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of a microscopic urine test in making pathological diagnosis. As a result, we found that IgA nephritis has a significantly higher urinary RBC count among the CGN group, and found focal glomerular sclerosis and membranoproliferatine GN patients have significantly higher urinary RBC count among nephrotic patients.

[HLA and hepatitis C virus positive cardiomyopathy].

The relationship between HCV (hepatitis C virus) and the susceptibility of cardiomyopathy has been indicated, but the detailed mechanism for close association is still unknown. It is well known that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) may regulate the development of chronic hepatitis in HCV positive patients. We have analyzed the distribution of HLA class II alleles in Japanese patients with HCV antibody positive dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and HLA-DPB1*0901 was significantly increased in HCV Ab positive DCM, and the HLA-DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 haplotype was in HCV Ab positive HCM.

A case report: tumorectomy for brain metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Described here is a rare case of an operation for brain metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy. We admitted a 45-year-old male patient complaining chiefly of a visual field disturbance and headaches. He had undergone a hepatectomy due to HCC one year prior to hospitalization.

F-wave study in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathies.

The aim of this study is to examine the sensitivity and characteristics of F-wave abnormalities detected by using various parameters in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathies and to evaluate the relationship with needle EMG or clinical findings. The study was performed on 100 patients with lumbosacral disc herniation. Out of 100 subjects 95 had lumbosacral radiculopathies (single lesion of L5 in 37, S1 in 47, double lesions of L5 and S1 in 11), which were confirmed by operation (some were confirmed by myelogram).

Follow-up study on F-wave in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Comparison between before and after surgery.

The aim of this study is to explore the clinical value of follow-up examinations of F-wave in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Postoperative changes in the initial abnormalities and their relationship with improvement in clinical findings were examined. Results from conventional motor nerve conduction study at knee-ankle segment are also discussed.

[Role of autologous bone marrow transplantation in cancer chemotherapy].

Over the past 9 years, total number of 147 patients with various types of malignant solid tumors were treated 220 times with high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Two most frequently used chemotherapeutic protocols were: cyclophosphamide 1,600 mg/m2 + adriamycin 80 mg/m2 + ACNU 3 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 1,600-2,400 mg/m2 + adriamycin 80 mg/m2 + CDDP 100-120 mg/m2. There were 89 patients with advanced and/or recurrent diseases.