[Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors as markers for disease progression of human immunodeficiency virus infection].

We studied whether the serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor(sTNFR) type I or II correlate with clinical progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) infection. Serum levels of sTNFR type I and II were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sixty five patients with HIV-1 infected hemophiliacs and 10 healthy controls. In a longitudinal study, we assessed whether the decline of CD4+ lymphocyte counts were associated with increased serum concentrations of sTNFRs.

[Inhibition of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in B10. A mice].

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in mice, an organ specific autoimmune disease, has been investigated as an animal model for human endogenous uveitis. In this study, we report on the immunosuppressive effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the development of EAU in mice. Inhibition by TGF-beta 1 of proliferation of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP)-specific T cell lines in B10.

Cyclic thrombocytopenia in a patient treated with cyclosporine for refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Cyclic thrombocytopenia (CT) is a rare disorder with cyclic changes of the platelet counts. Though the pathogenesis of this disorder has not been clarified, recent reports suggest that periodic destruction and/or ineffective production of platelets may be important causes of the disease. We report a case of a patient with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in whom CT developed after cyclosporine A (CyA) therapy.

Serial brain CT in corticobasal degeneration: radiological and pathological correlation of two autopsy cases.

This report concerns serial brain computed tomography (CT) images in two patients with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). The diagnosis of CBD was confirmed by neuropathological examination. In one case, we obtained serial brain CT images for one year and five months, and in the other, for three years and four months.

[Chemoradiation for rectal cancer].

Based on the results of the Study Group for Surgical Adjuvant Radiochemotherapy for Rectal Cancer and the Study Group for Surgical Therapy and Combined Irradiation in Rectal Cancer, we examined the clinical aspects of the relatively new field of chemoradiation for rectal cancer and examined improvements in the therapeutic results. Furthermore, we examined the future outlook with particular regard to selection of therapeutic drugs and autonomic nerve preserving operation.

[Work intensity during working hours and different types of care done by special nursing home workers].

This study was done to estimated work intensity during working hours and different types of care to obtain basic data for making a care program. The subjects were care workers in good health (n = 8, 24-45 years) who worked in a special nursing home. The estimated maximal oxygen intake level, which is the maximal aerobic capacity, of each subject was assessed as normal to very good.

Distribution of cerebral cortical lesions in corticobasal degeneration: a clinicopathological study of five autopsy cases in Japan.

We investigated five Japanese patients with autopsy-proven corticobasal degeneration (CBD) both clinically and pathologically, and examined the distribution of their cerebral cortical lesions in hemisphere specimens. The lesions were classified into three categories (slight, moderate and severe). Only two of our patients had clinical features considered to be typical of CBD.

Histological study of intraocular changes in rabbits after intravitreal gas injection.

To study the effects of different intravitreal gases on intraocular tissues, adult pigmented rabbits were given 0.4 mL intravitreal injections of air, 50% sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and air, 100% SF6, 50% perfluoropropane (C3F8), or 100% C3F8. On postinjection days 1, 4, 7, and 14, the eyes were removed and the iris, ciliary body and retina processed for light and electron microscopy.

Production of nitric oxide (NO) during the oxidation of human oxyhemoglobin by nitrite: application of a NO-selective electrode for the measurement of NO.

By using a nitric oxide (NO) selective electrode system. NO produced during the oxidation of human hemoglobin by nitrite was monitored. When 160 microM oxyhemoglobin (in heme) was reacted with 500 microM nitrite.

[Study on the most appropriate time for Romurtide administration (Nopia) in radiotherapy patients].

The most appropriate time for administration was studied based on examination of the total number of leukocytes, differential white blood count, and the number of platelets in 30 cases in which 200 micrograms Romurtide (Nopia) was injected subcutaneously on the day of radiotherapy, 5 times a week, for 2 weeks, totally 10 times because leukopenia was caused during treatment with radiotherapy. It was recognized that the number of leukocytes, mainly neutrophils, increased from 1 week after starting administration of Romurtide to after the completion of administration (2 weeks after administration), except 1 week after completion of administration. The increasing effect in the number of platelets was not recognized, and it had decreased from at the completion of administration to 1 week after the completion of administration of Romurtide.

Relationship between levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors and the types and activity of vitiligo.

Levels of serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptors (serum sIL-2R) are thought to indicate the activation of immunocompetent cells, mainly lymphocytes. Elevated levels of serum sIL-2R have been observed in various infectious and autoimmune diseases and also after organ transplantation. It has been hypothesized that autoimmune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Regional cerebral blood flow during and after 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.

In this study we explored if the secondary bioenergetic failure, which occurs a few hours after recirculation, following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats, is caused by a compromised reflow. We induced 2 hours of MCAO and measured CBF at the end of the ischemia, as well as 15 minutes, 1, 2, and 4 hours after the start of recirculation, using autoradiographic or tissue sampling 14C-iodoantipyrine techniques. After 2 hours of MCAO, the autoradiographically measured CBF in the ischemic core areas was reduced to 3 to 5% of contralateral values.

Excitatory and inhibitory inputs from saccular afferents to single vestibular neurons in the cat.

Connections from saccular afferents to vestibular neurons were studied by means of intracellular recordings of excitatory (E) and inhibitory (I) postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in vestibular neurons after focal stimulation of the saccular macula in decerebrated cats. Focal stimulation was given to the saccular macula in two ways, in which the polarity of stimulus current via a pair of electrodes was changed. In group A, one of the electrodes was inserted into the ventral and the other into the dorsal edge of the saccular macula.

Multiple pulmonary nodules in association with pyoderma gangrenosum.

This report describes a patient with extensive pyoderma gangrenosum in whom there were co-existent lung abnormalities. The patient's X-ray showed peripherally sited multiple pulmonary lesions bilaterally. A lung biopsy showed chronic non-specific inflammatory changes with neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration which were similar to the skin lesions.

Intracerebral monoamine concentration after ventriculoperitoneal shunting in the congenital hydrocephalus rat.

This study investigated the relationship between neurotransmitters and improvement of symptoms after ventriculoperitoneal shunting in congenital hydrocephalus (LEW-HYR) rats. Twenty-four patent hydrocephalus rats, aged 12-14 days, were randomly assigned to the following four groups: ventriculoperitoneal shunt group, obstructed shunt group, burr hole group, and no treatment group. In addition, six normal rats served as control group.

Changes in brain glutamine synthetase activity in congenital hydrocephalic rats (LEW-HYR) after ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Significantly reduced activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), which is predominantly present in glial cells, occur in the early stage of congenital hydrocephalic rat (LEW-HYR) brain development. GS activity is reported to be related to brain dysfunction. The effect of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt on the suppression of GS activity was studied in the LEW-HYR.

Elevation of antibodies to cytomegalovirus and other herpes viruses in pulmonary fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether latent viral infection is associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), an interstitial lung disease whose aetiology remains to be elucidated. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement fixation (CF), Epstein-Barr (EB) viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG, herpes simplex virus (HSV) IgG, adenovirus CF, and parainfluenza 3 virus haemagglutinin inhibition (HI) titres were measured in the serum from patients with pulmonary diseases. The study included five subject groups: 35 normal controls (aged (mean +/- SD) 38 +/- 17 yrs); 43 IPF (63 +/- 10 yrs), seven collagen vascular disease-related interstitial pneumonitis (CVD-IP) (62 +/- 12 yrs); 22 sarcoidosis (36 +/- 14 yrs); and 17 emphysema (66 +/- 11 yrs).

Recurrent lymphocytic hypophysitis: case report.

Objective And Importance: Lymphocytic hypophysitis is being recognized with increasing frequency, but the long-term course is not well known. Recurrence of lymphocytic hypophysitis after a long interval has never been reported.

Clinical Presentation: A 53-year-old woman presented with central diabetes insipidus.

Red cell granules: a new bio-absorbent for absorbing cyanide.

Granules of bovine and human red cells with a diameter about 4 mm and containing methemoglobin inside the cells were prepared artificially. These methemoglobin-containing red cell granules were very effective for detecting and absorbing cyanide in water. Each one g of red cell granules (wet weight) absorbed about 4 mg cyanide within an hour.

[Deterrent factors in rehabilitation training following cerebral vascular disease--comparison of elderly and non-elderly patients].

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the deterrent factors for rehabilitation training (rehab) of chronic cerebral vascular disease (CVD) patients, and also to evaluate the influence of age on these factors. Sixty-five CVD impatients with sequelae treated at the Cerebral Vascular Center of Nanasawa Hospital were included in the study. Patients were classified into two groups using the Barthel index score: good effect group (n = 21) or no effect group (n = 22).