Search for η

We measured missing mass spectrum of the ^{12}C(γ,p) reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from η^{'} bound nuclei. We tagged an (η+p) pair associated with the η^{'}N→ηN process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle cosθ_{lab}^{ηp}<-0.9 was obtained to be 2.2 nb/sr at the 90% confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree η^{'} production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the η^{'}N→ηN process and/or a shallow η^{'}-nucleus potential.

Gastric vagal functional distribution in the secretion of gastric acid produced by sweet taste.

The sweet signal pathway relevant to lingual control of gastric acid secretion was examined in bilaterally adrenalectomized rats. The increase in the acid output after lingual glucose application was completely blocked by prior section of both sides of the vagus nerve at the cervical level. However, the reduction in the acid output showed no laterality following vagotomy on either side. At the subdiaphragmatic level, the acid response was mainly suppressed by section of the dorsal vagus trunk. Both sides of trunk vagotomy abolished the acid response. These results suggest that the sweet signal evoking gastric acid secretion has a specific pathway from the tongue to the stomach, and that there is functional laterality in this pathway in the visceral cavity.

Malignant histiocytosis showing facial involvement.

In general malignant histiocytosis (MH) presents with fever, lymphadenopathy, general fatigue and malaise. Although facial involvement with MH has been mentioned previously, the present report emphasizes the significance and frequency of facial involvement in MH. The patient was 51-year-old woman who presented with fever, general fatigue, diplopia, and numbness on the right side of the face. A roentgenogram of the face showed parasinusitis. Histologic findings of the biopsy from the sinuses showed infiltration by atypical histiocytes. She died two months after onset of symptoms. Autopsy revealed a systemic neoplastic proliferation of atypical histiocytes diagnostic of MH. Facial involvement in MH is discussed with a review of reported cases and our own cases with MH.

Jugular foramen neurinomas.

Three patients with neurinomas of the jugular foramen are described. One of them had a small tumor confined within the jugular foramen and each of the other two had a tumor originating from the glossopharyngeal nerve. The common feature in all these patients was the presence of marked enlargement of the jugular foramen. Polytomography, jugular venography and bilateral retrograde vertebral arteriography were used to make the diagnosis. Total removal of their tumors was successfully accomplished using microsurgical technique. Forty-two other cases in the world literature are reviewed and analyzed.

[A midline vertebral artery aneurysm operated via transoral transclival approach (author's transl)].

A detail of an unsuccessful trial of transoral transclival operation for an aneurysm arising from the left vertebral artery was reported. The patient was 66 years old male who had bronchial asthma and difficulty in phonation and swallowing. The angiograms showed that the aneurysm, 1.5X1.5X2.0 cm in size, was situated in the midline at the level of caudal one-third of the clivus. A transoral transclival operation was performed following preoperative tracheostomy and gastrostomy to improve his pulmonary and nutritional condition. A midline incision on the palate was followed by the removal of the posterior half of palatal bone. The upper part of incision on the retropharyngeal mucosa was placed approximately 1 cm off the midline to facilitate closure afterwords. A caudal 1/3 of the clivus, anterior arch of the atlas and a part of the odontoid process were removed. The aneurysm, fusiform in shape, was then collapsed by needle puncture after the left vertebral artery was trapped between the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the vertebro-basilar junction. Closure of the dura with a fascial patch was incomplete due to an extensive incision and coagulation of the dura. Closure of the retropharyngeal mucosa around the orifice of the Eustachian tube was also incomplete in spite of the paramedian incision described above. Postoperative course was complicated by an frequent occurrence of the attack of bronchial asthma causing loss of gastic juice from the gastrostomy and resultant hypoproteinemia, although the recovery of lower cranial nerve palsy was good. There was no signs of infection until the 21st postoperative day when meningitis developed. The patient died in the 28th postoperative day. The importance of complete closure of the dura and retropharyngeal mucosa to prevent meningial infection was discussed. Since the mucosa around the orifice of Eustachian tube was extremely friable and the closure was almost impossible, the risk of meningial infection was considered to be high, especially when the intradural procedure was necessary through transoral high clivotomy.