Promotion of medial collateral ligament healing using a high-voltage electrical field.

PURPOSE: To assess the biomechanical and histological effects of a high-voltage electrical field on ligament healing. METHODS: 54 male Wistar rats were used. The medial collateral ligaments (MCLs) of 6 rats were measured for normal biomechanical failure load and stiffness. MCLs of the remaining 48 rats were transected and randomly assigned; half were subjected to a high-voltage electrical field for 8 hours a day (experimental group), and the other half were kept under normal conditions (control group). Eight rats from each group were killed 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the transection and their MCLs were tested biomechanically and histologically. RESULTS: Failure load and stiffness of the MCLs in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group 2 weeks after transection, but not thereafter. At week 2, the granulation tissue completely occupied the space between the cut ends of the MCL in the experimental group, whereas some gaps remained in the control group. CONCLUSION: A high-voltage electrical field appear to accelerate ligament healing in the initial 2 weeks. Earlier initial healing may allow earlier start of the rehabilitation.

Severe factor VII deficiency caused by a novel mutation His348 to Gln in the catalytic domain.

Factor VII is a vitamin K-dependent zymogen that plays a key role in the initiation of the extrinsic pathway. A severe factor VII deficiency was identified in a 45-year old male whose plasma factor VII antigen was less than 60 ng/ml and expressed 5.2% of normal factor VII activity. DNA sequence analysis of the patient's factor VII gene showed a thymidine to guanine transversion at nucleotide 10968 in exon VIII that results in a novel amino acid substitution of His348 to Gln. The patient was homozygous for this mutation, whereas some of his family members were heterozygous. Both wild type and mutant factor VII were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells. The level of secreted mutant factor VII antigen was only 11.0% of the level of wild type factor VII. In CHO cells stably transfected with the mutant factor VII, only 37.3% of the total labeled FVII was secreted into the conditioned media and the remainder was retained inside the cells. These data suggest this mutation leads to factor VII deficiency due to the impaired secretion of the molecule.

Hyperthermic isolated regional perfusion for the treatment of osteosarcoma in the lower extremity.

BACKGROUND: In order to reduce the systemic toxity of cisplatin and to increase the effect on the local tumor, facilitating limb-preserving procedures, we have been using hyperthermic isolated regional perfusion (HIRP) for the treatment of osteosarcoma in addition to preoperative chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with an osteosarcoma in a lower extremity were treated with both preoperative chemotherapy and HIRP. RESULTS: The chemotherapeutic effects of preoperative chemotherapy with HIRP was grade III in 6, and grade IV (no viable cell areas observed) in 7. The surgical margins could be reduced in these 13 cases of good responders showing over 90% necrosis (grade III or grade IV), which mainly involved postnecrotic fibrosis and osteosclerosis. CONCLUSION: HIRP can help to control the tumor locally. A more conservative operation was then possible in cases of good responders to preoperative chemotherapy with HIRP.

Molecular genetic analysis of remains of a 2,000-year-old human population in China-and its relevance for the origin of the modern Japanese population.

We extracted DNA from the human remains excavated from the Yixi site ( approximately 2,000 years before the present) in the Shandong peninsula of China and, through PCR amplification, determined nucleotide sequences of their mitochondrial D-loop regions. Nucleotide diversity of the ancient Yixi people was similar to those of modern populations. Modern humans in Asia and the circum-Pacific region are divided into six radiation groups, on the basis of the phylogenetic network constructed by means of 414 mtDNA types from 1, 298 individuals. We compared the ancient Yixi people with the modern Asian and the circum-Pacific populations, using two indices: frequency distribution of the radiation groups and genetic distances among populations. Both revealed that the closest genetic relatedness is between the ancient Yixi people and the modern Taiwan Han Chinese. The Yixi people show closer genetic affinity with Mongolians, mainland Japanese, and Koreans than with Ainu and Ryukyu Japanese and less genetic resemblance with Jomon people and Yayoi people, their predecessors and contemporaries, respectively, in ancient Japan.

[Preliminary experience of radical retropubic prostatectomy using an endoscopic stapler].

PURPOSE: Preliminary experience of radical retropubic prostatectomy using an endoscopic stapler is reported. METHODS: An endoscopic stapler was applied for ligation and division of the lateral prostatic ligaments and the deep dorsal vein complex during radical retropubic prostatectomy in 8 patients. RESULTS: Procedures with stapler were easily performed and almost always effective for hemostasis. Mean total blood loss was 663 ml, mean 575 ml of autologous blood was given. None of patients was transfused allogeneic blood. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that an endoscopic stapler may facilitate radical retropubic prostatectomy.

A genetic study of 2,000-year-old human remains from Japan using mitochondrial DNA sequences.

We present nucleotide sequence data for mitochondrial DNA extracted from ancient human skeletons of the Yayoi era (ca. 2,000 BP) excavated from the Takuta-Nishibun site in northern Kyushu of Japan. Nucleotide sequence diversity showed that the Yayoi people of the Takuta-Nishibun site were not a genetically homegeneous population. This site shows a diversity in the burial style. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a statistically significant correlation between burial style and the genetic background of the Takuta-Nishibun individuals, and revealed no discrete clusterig patterns for the Yayoi individuals, for early modern Ainu, or for the Jomon people.

Fatty acid compositions of plasma lipids in atopic dermatitis/asthma patients.

The proportions of linoleic acid in total plasma lipids and phospholipids were significantly greater and those of oleic acid were lower in pre-puberal and puberal atopic patients as compared with age-matched healthy controls. The n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio of the triacylglycerol fraction was also lower in atopic patients. However, no significant decreases in the proportions of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were observed in plasma lipids of atopic patients, suggesting that delta 6-desaturase activity is not impaired in atopic patients. We provide an explanation for the beneficial effects of raising the n-3/n-6 ratio of dietary oils in the context of suppressing allergic hyper-reactivity in humans.

Therapeutic effect of aspoxicillin on experimental pneumonia with Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

The therapeutic effects of aspoxicillin (ASPC) on an experimental pneumonia in mice were compared with those of piperacillin (PIPC) and mezlocillin (MZPC) under various administration schedules. The pneumonia was induced with K. pneumoniae B-54 by the aerosol method. Fifty mg/kg of each penicillin was subcutaneously injected into mice starting from 12 h after infection. At 3- and 6-h interval regimens, ASPC caused the infected mice to survive longer than the other penicillins. The decrease of viable bacterial counts in the lung after a single or repeated injection of ASPC occurred more rapidly than with the other drugs. The concentration of ASPC in the lung after a single injection was higher than that of the other drugs and the concentration was maintained above the MIC for about 2 h. The therapeutic effects of these penicillins on this model reflected well their concentrations in the lung. Among these penicillins, ASPC gave the highest maximum level and persisted longest in the lung, so is shown to have a therapeutic effect superior to PIPC and MZPC on this model of pneumonia. The findings obtained in this experimental pneumonia model were concluded to correlate well with the good clinical efficacy of ASPC compared to PIPC.

[Long-term administration of tegafur in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients. Serial analysis of serum tegafur and 5-fluorouracil concentrations, and influence from PSK combination].

We investigated the pharmacokinetics of long-term (2-year) daily oral administration of FT-207-E or UFT for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in 85 gastric cancer patients by measuring serum FT-207 and 5-FU concentration serially. There were no significant changes in serum FT-207.5-FU concentration during observation period between FT-207-E and UFT groups. There was different operative modality between partial gastrectomy (Billroth I) and total gastrectomy, but no significant difference in serum FT-207.5-FU concentration between the two groups, and no significant serial changes in serum FT-207.5-FU concentrations were observed in both groups. Conversion from FT-207 to 5-FU measured by serum concentration was not suppressed by combination with the biological response modifier PSK.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on essential haematuria.

Forty-three patients with essential haematuria were studied for 35 days to determine the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (OHP) exposure on haemostatic ability. Out of 15 untreated patients, haematuria persisted for the study period in all but one patient (6.7%). Out of 11 patients who received 90 mg/day of carbazochrome sodium sulfate and 750 mg/day of tranexanic acid excellent haemostatic results had been obtained in 2 (18.2%). Results of exposure of 17 patients to 2 atm. pressure of OHP for 90 min daily were excellent in 10 (58.8%) and good in one (5.9%). No serious adverse effects had been noted following OHP treatment. These results indicate that OHP can be applied for the treatment of essential haematuria if routine haemostatic drugs fail to improve the condition.

Hyperbaric oxygenation for experimental bladder tumor. II. Hyperbaric oxygenation in combination with chemotherapy in N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced bladder tumors.

Two series of experiments were conducted to ascertain whether hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) treatment with or without antineoplastic chemotherapy can really suppress tumor development in N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-induced bladder tumor in rats. HBO treatment of 2 ATA of air saturating with 30-35% of oxygen for 90 min daily plus 0.5 mg/100 g body weight of 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) administration for 5 times suppressed the neoplastic spread of the bladder for 9 weeks and reduced the bladder weight in BBN-treated rats. Similar effects were also obtained in ACNU-treated rats, but to a lesser extent. HBO treatment associated with or without doxorubicin failed to suppress tumor growth in BBN-treated animals. Based on these findings combined with the previous study (part I), HBO treatment associated with ACNU might be available for the treatment of some cases of bladder tumors.

Serum testosterone, testicular connective tissue protein and testicular histology in rats treated with hyperbaric oxygen.

This study was done to ascertain whether hyperbaric oxygenation really affects testicular activity in rats. We evaluated serum testosterone concentration, testicular content of connective tissue protein and histological analysis of testes in each rat treated with 2 or 3 atmospheric pressures associated with oxygen saturation, together or singly for 90 minutes daily for 58 days. There were no significant differences in serum testosterone concentrations between the examined groups. The amounts of collagen, non-collagenous protein or elastin in testis were similar in all groups except one set of determinations. In addition, no prominent histological differences were noted in the testes of the animals. Thus, the pressure environment of this study, which can be regarded as almost the same as that of the hyperbaric oxygenation chamber in clinical use, appears to be nontoxic to rat testes.

Improved dietary treatment with low protein and phosphorus restriction in uremic rats.

The independent effect of low-protein or low-phosphorus diets in chronic renal failure were studied. The following four isocaloric diets, which contained various amounts of protein (24%, 6%) and phosphorus (0.5%, 0.12%) were fed to chronically uremic rats: high protein and no phosphorus restriction (HPrNP), high protein and phosphorus restriction (HPrRP), low protein and no phosphorus restriction (LPrNP), and low protein and phosphorus restriction (LPrRP). Adult male rats were made chronically uremic by electrocoagulation of one kidney and contralateral nephrectomy. Two grades of renal damage were produced, one of which was mild and the other severe. The mean number of days of survival in the severely uremic animals was 7.5 +/- (SEM) 2.5 with the HPrNP diet, 17.6 +/- 2.4 with the HPrRP diet, 20.3 +/- 2.3 with the LPrNP diet, and over 41.8 +/- 2.5 with the LPrRP diet during a 50-day period of observation. The BUN, serum creatinine (SCr), calcium (SCa), phosphorus (SP), urea and creatinine clearances (Curea, CCr), and plasma PTH levels before and 3 weeks after the diets were compared in the surviving rats with mild and severe uremia. There were marked reductions in the BUN and SP concentrations with the low-protein diets, whereas the SCa increased with all diets. Curea remained practically unchanged with the low-protein diets, whereas CCr decreased with all diets. Plasma PTH levels varied with each diet, but those rats with elevated PTH levels before dietary therapy experienced a fall in plasma PTH after the low-phosphorus diets were administered, with or without protein restriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)