Spontaneous calcaneal fracture after deep heel burns with diabetes.

Two patients with diabetes mellitus sustained spontaneous calcaneus fracture after deep heel burns. Both cases had avulsion type fracture of the os calcis. The authors discuss the incidence and possible etiology with literature review.

A combination of semiquantitative telomerase assay and in-cell telomerase activity measurement using exfoliated urothelial cells for the detection of urothelial neoplasia.

Background: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that synthesizes telomeres. It is detected in more than 85% of samples obtained from cancer tissues, including urologic neoplasia. The authors determined telomerase activity semiquantatively and in-cell telomerase activity in exfoliated urothelial cells obtained from urologic neoplasia specimens.

[Increase of circulating CD3+CD4-CD8-CD19+ cells in the latent phase of HIV-1 infection].

Having reported that HIV-1-infected T cell lines are rescued as CD4- from cytolysis by human complement factor B, we now show the presence of an in vivo counterpart of such CD4- T cells by demonstrating the circulating CD3+ CD4- CD8- CD29+ cells in the blood of seropositive subjects (n = 91, classified by the immunologic scale scores 0, 1, 2 and 3). The cell population was found to be significantly increased in the early phase of infection in score 0: 195/mm3 (p < 0.005) and in score 1:376/mm3 (p = 0.

Primary meningeal malignant fibrous histiocytoma with cerebrospinal dissemination and pulmonary metastasis.

Primary intracranial malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is very rare, and not much is known about its clinical features. The authors report a case of left temporal leptomeningeal MFH, with consequent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination and pulmonary metastasis. The clinical features of this case and the therapeutic prognosis of 17 cases reported previously in the literature were reviewed.

Mechanism of increased serum cytokeratin 19 fragment levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy as a model of chronic renal failure.

We examined serum and urinary cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy as a model of chronic renal failure, to investigate the mechanism of increased serum CYFRA 21-1 levels in chronic renal failure. Serum and urinary CYFRA 21-1 levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with abnormal urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (>1.1 mg/g x Cr, n=126) were higher than those with normal urinary IgG levels.

[Macrocytic anemia with anisocytosis due to alcohol abuse and vitamin B6 deficiency].

Megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency and ringed sideroblastic anemia have been reported in alcohol abusers. It has also been reported that vitamin B6 deficiency causes ringed sideroblastic anemia as well as microcytic anemia that is not associated with ringed sideroblasts. We encountered a case of macrocytic anemia with anisocytosis in a 75-year-old alcohol abuser who suffered vitamin B6 deficiency.

[Prediction of spinal cord ischemia with a retrievable stent graft on endovascular treatment for a case of thoracic aortic aneurysm].

Multiple aortic aneurysms in Behçet's disease were repaired with transluminaly placed endovascular stent grafts. Before deploying the stent graft device for permanent implantation for the saccular aneurysm located in the descending thoracic aorta, from which feeding arteries for the spinal cord possibly branched, a retrievable stent graft was inserted and evoked spinal cord potential (ESP) were monitored in order to predict spinal cord ischemia. The original retrievable stent graft, constructed of a self-expandable Z-shaped stainless steel stent covered with e-PTFE, can be easily withdrawn into a 18 Fr.

[Clinical results of endovascular stent graft repair for fifty cases of thoracic aortic aneurysms].

Between February 1995 and December 1997, 50 cases (55 lesions) of thoracic aortic aneurysms including 20 cases of aortic dissections were treated with an endovascular technique using the stent grafts. All patients were treated in the operating room under general anesthesia and the stent grafts were implanted through 18 Fr. or 20 Fr.

New variant translocation (8;20)(q22;q13) in acute myelocytic leukemia.

A new variant translocation, (8;20)(q22;q13) in a patient with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) M2 is reported. As far as we know, this is the second case of the t(8;20) in de novo AML. Further studies are required to clarify the key event leading to the development of AML-M2.

Evidence for a voltage-dependent enhancement of neurotransmitter release mediated via the synaptic protein interaction site of N-type Ca2+ channels.

Secretion of neurotransmitters is initiated by voltage-gated calcium influx through presynaptic, voltage-gated N-type calcium channels. These channels interact with the SNARE proteins, which are core components of the exocytosis process, via the synaptic protein interaction (synprint) site in the intracellular loop connecting domains II and III of their alpha1B subunit. Interruption of this interaction by competing synprint peptides inhibits fast, synchronous transmitter release.

Angiography of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis with ultrastructural correlation.

Background: Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography has been used to evaluate posterior uveitis in the clinical setting, despite the shortage of data on possible pathological correlates of observed findings.

Methods: We used both ICG angiography and fluorescein angiography to examine rats that developed a mild form of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) induced by immunization with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Angiography was performed on days 9, 10, 11 and 23 after IRBP immunization, and freshly enucleated eyes obtained on the same days were examined histopathologically by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Invasion beyond interlobar pleura in non-small cell lung cancer.

Study Objective: To assess the outcome of lung cancer with invasion beyond interlobar pleura and to clarify whether it should be treated in the same way as invasion to the parietal pleura or to other visceral pleura.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Tokyo Medical College Hospital.

A study of peripheral airway findings using an ultrathin bronchofiberscope and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with diffuse panbronchiolitis.

We investigated the peripheral airways using an ultrathin bronchofiberscope and analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in 10 patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB; refractory and responsive to treatment with macrolide antibiotics) and 10 healthy volunteers. Refractory DPB patients had obstruction at the 11th or 12th level of bronchial branches and secretion from the 5th to 6th order bronchi to the 11th-12th level of bronchial branches. In responsive DPB patients, there was no obstruction of peripheral airways, but secretion in the bronchial lumens still remained in nearly all observed bronchial branches.

Amelioration by cyclosporin A of brain damage in transient forebrain ischemia in the rat.

The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A (CsA) is considered to be inherently protective in conditions of ischemia, e.g. in hepatic and cardiac tissue.

[Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension associated with initial pulmonary involvement in Takayasu arteritis].

A 37-year-old non-smoking woman was admitted to our hospital because of nocturnal coughing and exertional dyspnea after using an ultrasonic humidifier. Chest roentgenograms and computed tomography showed many ground-glass opacities in the right upper lobe and left upper lung field. Her symptoms were alleviated and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels returned to normal following the administration of prednisolone (40 mg/day).

Application of coacervated alpha-elastin to arterial prostheses for inhibition of anastomotic intimal hyperplasia.

Prevention of anastomotic intimal hyperplasia (AIH) requires inhibition of the migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and promotion of endothelial cell (ECs) growth from the native arterial wall. We investigated the effect of coacervated alpha-elastin on migration of SMCs and ECs in vitro. SMCs and ECs were prepared from porcine aortic media and endothelium.

Does traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by diffuse brain injury cause delayed ischemic brain damage? Comparison with subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Objective: To examine whether traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (TSAH) caused by severe diffuse brain injury leads to delayed ischemic brain damage and secondary deterioration of outcome, as does aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH).

Methods: We examined 99 patients with diffuse brain injury with TSAH and 114 patients with ASAH. Computed tomographic (CT) findings, cerebral blood flow, and neurological outcomes were assessed during the acute and subacute phases and were compared between the two groups.

Liposome drug delivery system for murine neuroblastoma.

Purpose: The effects of liposome-infused doxorubicin on C-1300 murine neuroblastoma were studied. The liposome surface was covered with polyethylene glycol to avoid migration toward the reticuloendothelial system and to prolong its presence in the bloodstream. Liposome-infused doxorubicin hydrochloride (DXR), an anthracycline was used as an anticancer antibiotic substance.