The sign of Leser-Trelat associated with esophageal carcinoma

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dysphagia and multiple verrucous papules that had developed over the previous year. The diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma was based on upper gastrointestinal radiography and endoscopic examination with biopsy. The clinical syndrome was consistent with the sign of Leser-Trelat associated with esophageal carcinoma. Although radiation therapy and chemotherapy were undertaken, the patient died 8 months later because of the sign of Leser-Trelat in association with squamous cell esophageal carcinoma.     

Acute immobilization stress and intraventricular injection of CRF suppress naloxone-induced LH release in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role and possible interaction of the endogenous opioid peptide (EOP) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the acute stress-induced suppression of gonadotropin secretion in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats. An intravenous (i.v.) injection of naloxone (10 or 20 mg/kg), an EOP antagonist, significantly elevated serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels within 10 min in non-stressed animals. The naloxone-induced LH release was completely eliminated when tested 30 min after the onset of acute immobilization. In a subsequent study, it was found that suppression of the naloxone-induced LH release occurred as early as 5 min after the stress onset, and was still evident 60 min after the end of a 30-min period of immobilization. The effect of naloxone was restored 3 h after liberation of the animal from the 30-min immobilization. An intraventricular (i.c.v.) injection of CRF (1 or 5 micrograms) also significantly suppressed, in a dose-related manner, the effect of a subsequent i.v. injection of naloxone. However, an i.c.v. injection of alpha-helical CRF(9-41) (25 or 50 micrograms), a CRF antagonist, prior to immobilization, could not interfere with the suppressive effect of stress on naloxone-induced LH release. These results suggest that both acute immobilization stress and CRF can inhibit the LH secretory activity without mediation by EOP neurons. However, the stress-related suppression may involve non-CRF mechanism(s).     

Detection of serum antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae by ELISA

Chlamydia pneumoniae causes pneumonia and other respiratory infections in children, adolescents and adults. We tried to evaluate the diagnostic value of detection of serum antibodies by ELISA for C. pneumoniae infections in Japanese children. Serum IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies to C. pneumoniae were determined by the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test. Serum IgG and IgA antibodies were also determined by ELISA test kits. Results obtained by ELISA were compared with those obtained by MIF test. IgG antibody to C. pneumoniae was detected in 135 (39.5%) by ELISA and in 125 (36.5%) by MIF out of 342 sera from Japanese infants and children without respiratory infections (aged from 2 months old to 15 years old). IgA antibody to C. pneumoniae was detected in 129 (37.7%) by ELISA and in 117 (34.2%) by MIF out of 342 sera tested. Of 342 specimens 113 were IgG-positive by ELISA and MIF (sensitivity: 90.4%, specificity: 89.9%, r = 0.853). Of 342 sera 28 had IgG antibody titers of 1:256 and none had titers 1:512 or higher by MIF. Of 28 infants and children a total of nine were less than 4 years of age. On the other hand, of 342 specimens 99 were IgA-positive by ELISA and MIF (sensitivity: 84.6%, specificity: 86.7%, r = 0.769). Of 342 sera 16 had IgA antibody titers of 1:256 or higher by MIF. Of 16 infants and children, ten were less than 4 years of age. ELISA had excellent sensitivity and specificity relative to MIF test for detection of IgC and IgA antibodies to C. pneumoniae. It was suggested that C. pneumoniae infection in Japanese infants and children under 4 years of age was not infrequent.     

Time- and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of L-754,394, an HIV protease inhibitor, in rats, dogs and monkeys

L-754,394 is a potent and specific inhibitor of the HIV-1 encoded protease that is essential for the maturation of the infectious virus. The drug exhibited dose-dependent kinetics in all species studied (rat, dog and monkey); the apparent clearance decreased when the dose was increased. However, the dose-dependency cannot be explained by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. L-754,394 in plasma declined log-linearly with time, but with an apparent half-life that increased with dose. The apparent terminal half-life of L-754,394 in rats increased from 20 min at 0.5 mg/kg i.v. to 118 min at 10 mg/kg i.v. Furthermore, L-754,394 exhibited time-dependent pharmacokinetics. After chronic i.v. doses for 7 days (1 mg/kg/dose/day), the apparent clearance of L-754,394 in rats decreased from 87 ml/min/kg after the first dose to 25 ml/min/kg after the last dose. Similar results were observed in dogs and monkeys. In vitro spectral studies indicated that approximately 40 to 60% of the content of cytochrome P-450 was inactivated when L-754,394 (10 microM) was incubated with rat, dog and monkey liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Little or no inactivation of cytochrome P-450 was observed when either NADPH or L-754,394 was omitted. In addition, L-754,394 selectively inhibited CYP 2C11-dependent testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity and CYP 3A1/2-dependent testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity, but not CYP 2D1/2-dependent bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase activity nor CYP 1A2-dependent phenacetin O-deethylase activity in rat liver microsomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Benign partial epilepsy with affective symptoms: hyperkinetic behavior during interictal periods

We report a 4-year-old boy with benign partial epilepsy (BPE) with affective symptoms associated with hyperkinetic behavior during interictal periods. He had had hypermobility and restlessness since about age 3. At 4 years, 6 months, he developed episodes consisting of an expression of terror without complete loss of consciousness. Although we first suspected an acute psychic problem, the ictal EEG was abnormal. After carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy, the frequency of the attacks decreased dramatically and the hyperkinetic behavior gradually diminished.     

Corneal endothelial cell loss caused by detached opacified anterior lens capsule in the anterior chamber

From 1984 to 1986, we performed cataract surgery through a 1.5 mm anterior capsule hole in 77 eyes. The hole was enlarged to 6.0 mm by a slit incision, and an intraocular lens was implanted into an almost completely intact capsular bag. Twelve (16%) eyes developed severe postoperative anterior capsule opacification. The opacified central anterior capsule, approximately 5 mm in diameter, was detached by can-opener anterior capsulotomy using a neodymium:YAG laser and fell into the inferior anterior chamber. Inferior corneal endothelial cell loss occurred in nine of the 12 eyes within 20 months after detachment; in six of the nine, inferior corneal endothelial cell density decreased 50% more than central cornea cell density. This method will be unsuitable for treating the extensive anterior capsule opacification that will occur when endocapsular cataract surgery that retains most of the lens capsule is widely performed in the future.     

Thermomechanical characterization of β-stabilized Ti–45Al–7Nb–0.4W–0.15B alloy

The correlation between hot deformation parameters and the workability of β-stabilized Ti–45Al–7Nb–0.4W–0.15B (at. %) alloy was studied in the temperature range 1000–1200 °C and the strain rate range 0.001–1 s^?1. Deformation mechanisms were characterized by detailed analyses of the deformation behavior and microstructural observations. The results indicate that the deformation and recrystallization occurred preferentially in the grain boundary β phases because its good high temperature deformability enhances grain boundary sliding and migration, and thus improves the workability. Decomposition of the β phase to α₂ and γ phases partly accommodates the stress concentration and is thus beneficial in hot deformation. Appropriate deformation processing parameters were suggested based on the processing map, and were successfully applied in the quasi-isothermal canned forging of industrial-scale billets.     

A thermodynamic analysis on adsorption of estrogens in activated sludge process

The adsorption behaviors of estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and equol were studied with a deactivated sludge subjected to heat treatment at 80 degrees C for 30 min. The heat-treatment hardly changed the adsorption features of activated sludge (AS). The adsorption equilibrium of all estrogens was approached within 10 min at 20 degrees C, and a high removal of estrogens was achieved simultaneously. The equilibrium data were well fitted by a Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption behaviors of E1, E2, E3 and EE2 in the AS system were independent of their Kow values. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption behaviors of E1, E2, E3 and EE2 could be considered as an exothermic, physical and reversible process, resulting in their higher adsorption capacities at lower temperature. Regarding equol, its adsorption was an endothermic, chemical and irreversible process.