[Physicochemical properties of sputum from patients with immotile cilia syndrome].

Sputum samples were collected from 15 immotile cilia syndrome (ICS) cases, 12 diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) cases, and 11 bronchiectasis without ICS (BE) cases, during stable clinical state, to clarify the physicochemical properties of sputum from patients with ICS and to compare them with the properties of sputum from patients with DPB and BE. We measured sputum rheological properties and concentrations of several biochemical components. In ICS, spinnability was higher than that in DPB.

[Successful surgical repair for a patient with atrial septal defect and severe pulmonary hypertension--its surgical indication and prostaglandin E1 use for postoperative pulmonary hypertensive crisis].

A 45-year-old woman with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension was admitted for surgical repair. Cardiac catheterization data revealed pulmonary to systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) of 1.81, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of 82/30 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 10.

"Crossed homonymous hemianopia" and "crossed left hemispatial neglect" in a case of Marchiafava-Bignami disease.

"Crossed homonymous hemianopia" and "crossed left hemispatial neglect" were observed in a woman with Marchiafava-Bignami disease. Two forms of "crossed homonymous hemianopia" were observed. Initially, Goldmann perimeter testing showed a left homonymous hemianopia with the right hand and vice versa.

Pulmonary aspergilloma successfully treated with long-term intermittent inhalation therapy with miconazole.

A 63-year-old man developed pulmonary aspergilloma and was given antifungal agents systemically. However adverse reactions, including renal dysfunction and gastric ulcer necessitated discontinuation of the treatment. Transbronchial infusion of miconazole was also unsuccessful because of an asthmatic attack during the procedure.

[A case report of central pontine myelinolysis associated with serum hyperosmolality after open heart surgery].

A 65-year-old man was admitted with a sudden onset of dyspnea. Severe mitral regurgitation due to torn chordae tendinae was revealed on UCG. Mitral valve replacement was undergone.

[A case of Ramsey Hunt syndrome with multiple cranial nerve paralysis and acute respiratory failure].

The authors report a 56-year-old woman with Ramsey Hunt syndrome with multiple cranial nerve paralysis and acute respiratory failure. Five days before admission, she experienced right otalgia and right facial pain and consulted an otolaryngologist of our hospital, who diagnosed the illness as acute parotitis and laryngopharyngitis. One day before admission, she experienced mild dyspnea and general fatigue and came to our hospital emergency room.

Efficacy of disopyramide and mexiletine used alone or in combination in the treatment of ventricular premature beats.

The efficacy of oral disopyramide and mexiletine used alone or in combination was studied in 75 patients with frequent ventricular premature beats (VPBs). The efficacy was evaluated with 24-hour ambulatory ECG and greater than or equal to 75% reduction in the number of VPBs was defined as effective. When disopyramide or mexiletine were ineffective or not tolerated, the alternative drug was administered and the efficacy was again evaluated.

Pathological aspects of radiofrequency catheter ablation of the canine atrioventricular node and bundle of His. With special reference to chronic incomplete atrioventricular block.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrioventricular (AV) node or bundle of His was performed in 12 adult mongrel dogs. The aim was to create chronic incomplete AV block (first- and second-degree AV block) and to examine the histopathology of the ablated lesions. However, the late electrophysiological results (2-4 weeks follow-up) were various: normal in 2 dogs, mild PR prolongation (less than 50%) in 2 dogs, first-degree AV block (PR prolongation greater than or equal to 50%) in 2 dogs, second-degree AV block in 2 dogs, complete AV block in 4 dogs.

Clinical results of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by Toyoda's method.

Tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by Toyoda's method was conducted in 67 ureters from 43 patients during the last 9 years. Subjects included 30 males and 13 females, with an average age of 61.4 years.

[Clinical and pathophysiological significance of neutrophil elastase in sputum and the effect of erythromycin in chronic respiratory diseases].

The concentration and activity of neutrophil elastase (NE) in sputa were measured in 24 patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as diffuse pan-bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis and and chronic bronchitis. The results were compared to the clinico-pathophysiological parameters such as clinical impairment score, concentration of albumin and ciliary transport velocity of the sputum. Furthermore, the relationship between the post-therapeutic change of NE in sputum and clinical effect of erythromycin (EM) was investigated in the same cases.

The role of electrophysiologic study for prediction and treatment of life-threatening arrhythmias.

The prognostic significance of drug therapy based on the electrophysiologic study (EPS) was examined during a mean follow-up period of 32 months in 45 patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and in 87 with nonsustained VT (NSVT), and in 7 survivors of cardiac arrest. The drug treatment during the follow-up period was divided into EPS-guided therapy and empirical therapy; in the former therapy, an effective drug for prevention of induced VT by EPS was given and in the latter therapy, an empirical drug was used because there was no effective drugs by EPS. Occurrence of SVT or sudden cardiac death was considered as an arrhythmic event.

[Effects of oral flecainide treatment of refractory tachyarrhythmias].

Oral flecainide treatment was given to five patients who were refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic agents. The five patients included one with atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), one with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT) and three with sustained VT (sVT). Flecainide produced favorable responses in patients of AVRT, nsVT and sVT with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD).

[Lassa fever associated with effusive constrictive pericarditis and bilateral atrioventricular annular constriction: a case report].

A case of Lassa fever associated with effusive constrictive pericarditis and bilateral atrioventricular annular constriction was reported. A 49-year-old man, who had been diagnosed by indirect fluorescent antibody test as the first case of Lassa fever in Japan, was referred to the Hiroo Hospital because of syncope, progressive hepatomegaly, ascites and pericardial effusion in spite of pericardiocentesis and corticosteroid therapy. On admission, his blood pressure was 92/60 mmHg and he had a paradoxical pulse.

Cardiomyopathy characterized by abnormal accumulation of desmin-type intermediate filaments in cardiac muscle fibers. A case report and review of the literature.

A 42-year-old Japanese male, who had been suffering from congestive heart failure and electrocardiographic abnormalities (A-V block, intraventricular conduction disturbance, ventricular tachycardia), died after a clinical course of 2 years and 1 month. Macroscopic investigation revealed dilation of the left ventricle and thickening of the right ventricular wall. The unique finding in this case was a circumferential fibrous scar in the median circular layer and outer oblique layer of the left ventricular wall.

[A case of clivus chordoma showing hemorrhage in the posterior fossa].

We are reporting a rare case of clivus chordoma with fatal hemorrhage in the posterior fossa. A 38-year-old woman afflicted with sudden onset of severe headache and vomiting. On neurological examination, she was mildly lethargic.

Leucocytosis and severe pain due to ureteral calculi.

We reviewed the outcome of 300 cases without urinary tract infections to determine the relationship between leucocytosis and severe pain due to ureteral calculi. Leucocytosis above 9,000 cells per cmm was seen in 87.7% of the cases.

Intracoronary urokinase in acute myocardial infarction: prevalence of total coronary occlusion during the early hours, effects on myocardial infarct size and left ventricular function, and outcome of residual coronary stenosis.

The effects of intracoronary thrombolysis (ICT) were studied in 88 acute myocardial infarction patients. Total coronary occlusion was observed in 67 of the 88 patients (76.1%) who were evaluated within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms.

[Preoperative volumetry of the prostate by transabdominal ultrasonography].

The transabdominal ultrasonography using a sector scanner, was useful to estimate the morphology of the prostate and to easily measure its width, depth and height, and the inferential volume of the prostate could be calculated preoperatively by the ellipsoid method. In the cases of good transurethral resection of prostate, the correlation (p less than 0.001) between the estimated and actual volumes, Y = 0.