Sequential evaluation for bone union of transferred fibula flaps in reconstructed mandibles: panoramic X-ray versus computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to sequentially evaluate bone union of fibular grafts in mandibular reconstruction. Patients who underwent routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) and panoramic X-ray imaging during a period of ≥2 years were enrolled. On panoramic X-ray images, bone union was scored as 0 (absent callus formation) or 1 (complete callus formation). On CT images, a scale of 0 to 2 was used (0, absent callus formation; 1, complete callus formation only on the labial side; 2, complete callus formation on both the labial and lingual side). A total of 56 bone junctions were evaluated in 20 patients. Five of 56 junctions (9%) in four of 20 patients (20%) showed radiological non-union (panoramic X-ray score=0, CT score=0 or 1) at 2 years after surgery. All bone junctions with radiological non-union were located at the mandibular angle. No categorical values, including diabetes mellitus and radiation therapy, were significantly associated with radiological non-union. In conclusion, assessing at least two sides (i.e. labial and lingual sides) on CT images is adequate to evaluate bone union in transferred fibula flaps. Careful fixation at the mandibular angle may improve the rate of bone union.

Abnormalities in chromosome 6q24 as a cause of early-onset, non-obese, non-autoimmune diabetes mellitus without history of neonatal diabetes.

AIMS: Abnormalities in the imprinted locus on chromosome 6q24 are the most common causes of transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (6q24-related transient neonatal diabetes). 6q24-Related transient neonatal diabetes is characterized by the patient being small-for-gestational age, diabetes mellitus at birth, spontaneous remission within the first few months and frequent recurrence of diabetes after childhood. However, it is not clear whether individuals with 6q24 abnormalities invariably develop transient neonatal diabetes. This study explored the possibility that 6q24 abnormalities might cause early-onset, non-autoimmune diabetes without transient neonatal diabetes. METHODS: The 6q24 imprinted locus was screened for abnormalities in 113 Japanese patients with early-onset, non-obese, non-autoimmune diabetes mellitus who tested negative for mutations in the common maturation-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) genes and without a history of transient neonatal diabetes. Positive patients were further analysed by combined loss of heterozygosity / comparative genomic hybridization analysis and by microsatellite analysis. Detailed clinical data were collected through the medical records of the treating hospitals. RESULTS: Three patients with paternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 6q24 were identified. None presented with hyperglycaemia in the neonatal period. Characteristically, these patients were born small-for-gestational age, representing 27.2% of the 11 patients whose birth weight standard deviation score (SDS) for gestational age was below -2.0. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in the imprinted locus on chromosome 6q24 do not necessarily cause transient neonatal diabetes. Non-penetrant 6q24-related diabetes could be an underestimated cause of early-onset, non-autoimmune diabetes in patients who are not obese and born small-for-gestational age.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings are useful for evaluating the three-dimensional development and follow-up of linear lupus erythematosus profundus.

Lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP), which is a variant of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), is seen in approximately 2∼3% of CLE patients, and only 10% to 20% of LEP patients present with systemic LE (SLE). LEP shows subcutaneous nodules with or without discoid LE (DLE). Linear LEP, a very rare variant of LEP, was first reported in 1991 in Japanese and in 1998 in English. Since LEP sometimes leaves skin depressions or scars as a result of atrophy of adipose tissue, early and adequate treatments are necessary. Here, we introduce an LEP case in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was quite effective in evaluating a lesion that had been considered to be linear DLE.

Postoperative DAV-IFN-ß therapy does not improve survival rates of stage II and stage III melanoma patients significantly.

BACKGROUND: DAV-interferon (IFN)-ß therapy is a combination chemotherapy of dacarbazine (DTIC), nimustine (ACNU) and vincristine (VCR) with local subcutaneous injection of IFN-ß that is widely employed as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy to treat malignant melanoma in Japan. However, the efficacy of DAV-IFN-ß therapy has not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials and the benefit of DAV-IFN-ß therapy has not been established yet. This study evaluated the contribution of DAV-IFN-ß therapy to improve survival of postoperative patients with cutaneous melanoma. Methods Patients with stage II or III cutaneous melanoma seen at Nagoya University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2009 were eligible for this study. Disease-free survival rates and melanoma-specific survival rates were evaluated. A propensity score was calculated to control for the effects of variables related to decisions regarding the application of DAV-IFN-ß therapy. RESULTS: Eighty-two stage II and 60 stage III melanoma patients were included. In the post-matched stage II patients (17 matched pairs), the mean (± SE) disease-free survival rates were 39.9 ± 13.7% for DAV-IFN-ß therapy and 73.1 ± 11.7% for non-use (hazard ratio for recurrence, 2.06; 95% CI, 0.63-6.69; P = 0.23), and the melanoma-specific survival rates were 66.2 ± 20.0% for DAV-IFN-ß therapy and 86.2 ± 9.1% for non-use (hazard ratio for death, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.17-6.82; P = 0.93). In the post-matched stage III patients (nine matched pairs), the disease-free survival rates were 29.6 ± 16.4% for DAV-IFN-ß therapy and 33.3 ± 15.7% for non-use (0.69; 95% CI, 0.22-2.17; P = 0.53), and the melanoma-specific survival rates were 55.6 ± 16.6% for DAV-IFN-ß therapy and 44.4 ± 16.6% for non-use (0.67; 95% CI, 0.18-2.50; P = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: DAV-IFN-ß therapy brought no significant improvement in either disease-free survival rates or melanoma-specific survival rates of patients with stage II or III cutaneous melanoma. A randomized controlled trial would be required to further evaluate the efficacy of DAV-IFN-ß therapy as an adjuvant chemotherapy.

Human papillomaviruses of the mucosal type are present in some cases of extragenital Bowen's disease.

BACKGROUND: Bowen's disease in the genital area is generally considered to be caused by mucosal high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs). However, the detection rate and spectrum of HPVs in extragenital Bowen's disease are various and it is not clear to what extent HPV is involved in its pathogenesis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the degree of association of HPV in extragenital cases by examining detection rates, types, quantities and localization of HPV. METHODS: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach that we had previously established, which can give sensitive detection of a broad range of HPVs from cutaneous [including epidermodysplasia verruciformis-related HPVs (EV-HPVs)] to mucosal HPVs, was applied to samples from 41 patients with extragenital Bowen's disease and normal skin samples from 48 individuals. Semiquantitative L1-PCR and tyramide-based in situ hybridization (ISH) were also employed for positive cases. RESULTS: HPVs belonging to the mucosal high-risk group were detected in three patients with Bowen's disease (7%; two HPV 16 and one HPV 33), with 10(1)-10(3) copy equivalents per diploid amount of cellular DNA. They were distributed among most nuclei of tumour cells but in none of the cells of adjacent normal skin. HPVs belonging to the cutaneous group were detected in two patients (5%; HPV 27 and HPV 76) at 10(-2)-10(-3) copy equivalents, the same level as in a normal skin specimen positive for type 23 EV-HPV. No positive signals were observed by ISH. CONCLUSIONS: HPVs belonging to the mucosal high-risk group may participate in the development of extragenital Bowen's disease.

Evaluation of mitogen-induced responses in marine mammal and human lymphocytes by in-vitro exposure of butyltins and non-ortho coplanar PCBs.

The effects of exposure to butyltin compounds (BTs: tributyltin; TBT, dibutyltin; DBT and monobutyltin; MBT) and non-ortho coplanar PCBs (IUPAC 77, 126 and 169) on marine mammals and human lymphocyte were evaluated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), a California sealion (Zalophus californianus), a larga seal (Phocoa largha) and humans (Homo sapiens) were exposed at varying concentrations of BTs and coplanar PCBs. Concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated mitogenesis found significantly suppressed (P<0.01) when the cells were exposed at 300 nM (89 ng/ml) of TBT and 330 nM of DBT (77 ng/ml), while MBT showed little cytotoxicity at treatment levels of up to 3,600 nM (620 ng/ml). BTs concentrations in the liver of Dall's porpoises from Japanese coastal waters ranged between 81-450 ng/g for TBT and 200-1,100 ng/g (wet wt.) for DBTs, which is greater than the cytotoxic levels registered in this study. In contrast, non-ortho coplanar PCBs did not suppress cell proliferation at concentrations of up to 30 nM (10 ng/ml). The residue levels of coplanar PCBs in the blubber of Dall's porpoises were 0.12-1.3 ng/g, which were one order of lower than those levels that do cell proliferation. When cells were exposed to a mixture of TBT/DBTand coplanar PCBs, the proliferation was significantly reduced to 33 nM DBT plus 34 nM CB-77 and 33 nM DBT plus 28 nM CB-169 mixtures, respectively. The investigations relating the contaminant-induced immunosuppression in marine mammals have been focused on persistent organochlorines such as PCBs. pesticides and dioxin compounds. However, this study suggested the possibility of BTs could also pose a serious threat to the immune functions in free-ranging marine mammals and humans.

Short-term outcome and prognosis of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss by administration of steroid.

Acute low-tone hearing loss (ALHL) is a typical type of hearing loss in Ménière's disease and thought to be caused by endolymphatic hydrops in the inner ear. We treated 40 patients with ALHL by administration of the steroid and the early outcome and prognosis of the hearing level was retrospectively evaluated. The prognosis was generally determined within 7-10 days after administration of steroid. High-dose steroid cured some patients who failed to recover with low-dose steroid therapy. Our results showed that steroid is one of the effective therapies for ALHL and supported that etiology of ALHL involves an immune response.

Motoneuron pool excitability of hemiplegic patients: assessing recovery stages by using H-reflex and M response.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the excitability of the motoneuron pools of both the spastic and the unimpaired sides of patients with hemiplegia with a new method by using H-reflexes and M responses. The method determines the ratio of the developmental slope of the H-reflex (Hslp) to the slope of the M response (Mslp). We also examined the relation between the Brunnstrom stages and the Hslp/Mslp. DESIGN: Experiment. SETTING: Electrophysiologic experimental laboratory in a Japanese medical school. PATIENTS: Fifteen hemiplegic patients (9 men, 6 women; age range, 48-71yr; mean, 60yr) with spasticity caused by a stroke. INTERVENTIONS: The subject was instructed to relax while seated in a reclining chair with his foot fixed on an immobile pedal. After the soleus H-reflex and M responses on one side were recorded, the same experimental procedures were carried out on the other side. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hslp/Mslp Brunnstrom stages. RESULTS: Hslp/Mslp had better predictive value than conventional indicators of motoneuron pool excitability. Hslp/Mslp appeared to be a better match for the bell-shaped pattern of the Brunnstrom stages. CONCLUSION: Hslp/Mslp is the preferred index for evaluating the motoneuron pool excitability of the spastic side of hemiplegic patients.

Piecemeal endoscopic aspiration mucosectomy for large superficial intramucosal tumors of the stomach.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: As endoscopic techniques continue to develop, endoscopic mucosal resection is increasingly being used in the treatment of intramucosal gastric tumors. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of piecemeal endoscopic aspiration mucosectomy for large superficial intramucosal tumors of the stomach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of five consecutive patients with large superficial intramucosal tumors of the stomach, 4 cm or more in diameter. Piecemeal endoscopic aspiration mucosectomy using a cap-fitted panendoscope was carried out. The initial resection was undertaken at the oral side of the lesion. Subsequent resections were carried out along the anal margin of the previous resection site, until the marks around the boundary of the tumor completely disappeared. RESULTS: The shape of the tumors was slightly elevated in four cases and slightly depressed in one. The mean diameter of the tumors was 4.8 cm. The diameters of the resected specimens ranged from approximately 1.0 cm to 2.3 cm. The numbers of piecemeal resection procedures needed per lesion ranged from five to 18 (mean 11). The visual field was well ensured by the cap, and the tumors were macroscopically completely resected without any complications in all patients. The final histological diagnoses in the specimens were adenoma in one case and mucosal carcinoma in adenoma in four. One patient had residual or recurrent tumor, and received full treatment with additional endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Piecemeal endoscopic aspiration mucosectomy is a simple and very useful technique for treating large superficial intramucosal tumors of the stomach.

Patterns of muscle activation in human hopping.

In the present study, we examined the electromyogram (EMG) patterns of the soleus and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles during rhythmical, two-legged hopping to investigate the contributions of the monosynaptic short- and long-latency stretch reflexes during such a natural movement in human. During rhythmical hopping, soleus muscle is activated reflexly at near-monosynaptic latency by stretch resulting from passive ankle flexion upon landing. Soleus muscle also contracts voluntarily in order to launch the body into the next hop. This is part of the rhythmical bursts of activity producing the hops. Depending on the hopping interval, this phase of activation can follow the short-latency phase or precede landing at very short hopping intervals. In MG, there is an initial phase of activity that stiffens the muscle in preparation for landing, and continues through the contact phase. The monosynaptic reflex response to landing is usually superimposed on this activity. Depending on the hopping interval, both of these responses may be overlaid with activity that is time-locked to the take-off into the next hop, and serves to launch the body into the next hop. However, no evidence for a long-latency stretch reflex was found. In addition, the preferred hopping frequency for all subjects was about 2 Hz. This frequency is associated with a pattern of EMG activity the timing of which indicates that it balances the requirement for a comfortable landing from a hop with the optimal muscle activation required for launching the following hop.

Efficacy of a distal attachment in endoscopic resection of colorectal polyps situated behind semilunar folds.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: It is difficult, dangerous, and time consuming to resect colorectal polyps situated behind the semilunar folds. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of a distal attachment in the endoscopic resection of these polyps. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 11 patients, each with a colorectal polyp situated behind a semilunar fold, and of which the base was invisible without the use of a distal attachment. With the attachment fitted to the distal end of the endoscope, we pressed the semilunar fold situated at the anal side of the polyp so that the polyp, including its base, could be brought within the visual field. Maintaing the optimal position, we snared, ligated, and resected all polyps by electrocautery. RESULTS: The polyps were of sessile type in eight patients and pendunculated type in three, with a diameter ranging from 7 to 18 mm (mean 11 mm). Although the base of the polyp was invisible under conventional observation, pressing the fold brought good visualization. The optimal position for snaring the polyp was secured by fine endoscopic adjustment, and the polyps were easily resected in all patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the distal attachment is a simple but very valuable tool in the endoscopic resection of colorectal polyps situated behind the semilunar folds, and recommend its routine use in both diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy.

Negative correlation between plasma thyroid hormone levels and chlorinated hydrocarbon levels accumulated in seals from the coast of Hokkaido, Japan.

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels in the blubber of larga seals (Phoca largha) and ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) collected from the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, were determined in order to assess the hormonal effects of CHC exposure in free-ranging pinnipeds. Plasma thyroid hormone levels, including total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (free T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and free triiodothyronine (free T3), were also measured. Higher concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites, and chlordane compounds were found in the range of 380 to 2,600 ng/g, 350 to 2,600 ng/g, and 120 to 760 ng/g on a wet-weight basis, respectively. Spearman rank correlation analyses showed that in larga seals, plasma total T3 and free T3 levels negatively correlated with levels of all the CHCs analyzed, although there was no such correlation between total or free T4 levels and CHC concentrations. In ribbon seals, total T3 levels significantly decreased with an increase of di-ortho PCB (PCB170 and 180) residues. These findings indicated that the plasma T3 deficiency could be associated with some CHC exposure in larga and ribbon seals and that the responses of plasma thyroid hormones may be useful biomarkers for CHC exposure in ribbon seals.

Effects of theophylline withdrawal in well-controlled asthmatics treated with inhaled corticosteroid.

We examined effects of theophylline withdrawal in 17 adult asthmatics whose symptoms were well controlled under a treatment of a combination of theophylline and inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (iBDP). We measured daily symptoms, daily peak flow values, spirometry, peripheral blood eosinophil count (EOS), and serum eosinophil cationic protein (sECP) at intervals of 1-3 weeks for 3 months after theophylline withdrawal. Twelve patients experienced exacerbation of asthma (exacerbation group), whereas the remaining 5 patients exhibited no symptoms (stationary group). In the exacerbation group, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and percent vital capacity (% VC) gradually decreased until exacerbation of asthma, and the extent of these decreases within the first week after the withdrawal was greater compared with that at later than the third week. V25/HT decreased in both the exacerbation and stationary groups. In particular, the extent of the velocity of expiratory flow at 25% of the vital capacity/height (V25/HT) decrease in the exacerbation group was much greater than that of FEV1 or % VC in this group. Neither EOS nor sECP changed significantly during the clinical course in any patient. The rapid decrease in FEV1 and % VC after the withdrawal suggests that under treatment with iBDP, theophylline causes direct bronchodilating effects on smooth muscle, rather than anti-inflammatory effects. These results also suggest the importance of theophylline on peripheral as well as central airways.

P450 in wild animals as a biomarker of environmental impact.

The impact of environmental pollution on selected animals was tested by monitoring the hepatic content of cytochromes P450 and their enzyme activities or by calculating TEQ values from the concentration of pollutants in the body. Fish-eating Stellars Sea Eagles, Haliaeetus pelagicus, found dead in the northern part of Hokkaido island accumulated high levels of PCBs and DDT and metabolites. The TEQ values calculated from the PCB concentration in the eagles were high enough to cause a significant toxic effect in other birds living in the same environment. Some of these birds were also contaminated with high concentrations of lead. Spotted seals, Phoca largha, captured along the coast-line of Hokkaido accumulated PCBs in their fat at about 100 million times the concentrations in the surface sea water. The levels of expressions of hepatic microsomal CYP 1A1and related enzyme activities in these seals showed good correlation to the levels of PCBs accumulated in the fat. The fresh water crabs, Eriocheir japonicus, were captured from three different rivers with various degrees of pollution. The P450 content and the related enzyme activities showed good correlation to TEQ values obtained from the concentrations of PCBs and PCDDs in the crabs from the rivers. The wild rodents, Clethrionomys rufocanus, were captured from urban, agricultural, and forest areas in Hokkaido. Those from the forest area had the lowest CYP content and related enzyme activities, comparable to those in laboratory-raised animals. Those from the urban areas, presumably contaminated with PAHs from fuel combustion, showed increased CYP 1A1 content and related enzyme activities. Those from the agricultural areas showed increased levels of CYP 1A1, 2B, 2E1. Rats treated with some of the agrochemicals used in the area resulted in a similar pattern of induction. It is concluded that P450 can be a useful biomarker for assessing the environmental impact of chemical pollutants on wild animals.

Spiny keratoderma of the palms and soles - report of two cases.

We report two patients with spiny keratoderma of the palms and soles characterized by multiple tiny keratotic plugs on the palms and soles. This disease was reported to be possibly associated with internal malignancies. We found a tumor from the esophagus to cardia in one patient. Another had no tumor but the lesion occurred soon after a severe bronchial asthma attack. Causal relation between spiny keratoderma of the palms and soles and bronchial asthma is obscure. Since this disease has been under-diagnosed and under-reported, it is important for dermatologists to keep spiny keratoderma of the palms and soles in mind in daily clinical examinations.

Regulation of the development of allodynia by intrathecally administered P2 purinoceptor agonists and antagonists in mice.

Effects of agonists and antagonists of P2X-purinoceptors on the regulation of the development of allodynia were examined in mice; the drugs were administered intrathecally to the spinal cord. Suramin (5, 10 microg) and pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2', 4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS), antagonists of P2X receptors, inhibited prostaglandin (PG) E(2)-induced allodynia. PPADS did not block glutamate-induced allodynia. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP (alpha, beta-meATP), an agonist of P2X receptor, elicited allodynia. alpha, beta-me ATP-induced allodynia was blocked by co-administration of alpha,beta-meATP with PPADS, MK 801 or N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Suramin at higher doses (20, 40 microg) induced allodynia, which was inhibited by MK 801 or L-NAME. These results suggest that ATP P2X receptors in the spinal cord are involved in the regulation of tactile allodynia. Glutamate receptor and nitric oxide systems play an important role in the development of allodynia produced by alpha,beta-meATP and suramin.