Continuous and simultaneous ultrasound Doppler velocimetry of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries: preliminary observations of cerebral blood flow changes with common carotid compression.

We have developed a new technique for simultaneous assessment of the four cervical cerebral arteries. Using a cervical brace with four freely adjustable Doppler probes attached, we studied four healthy young males and observed their cerebral blood flow changes during common carotid compression. The results indicated various reactivity in these subjects. We observed that carotid compression sometimes affects or stops the ipsilateral vertebral flow according to the intensity and location of compression. Also, the flow of the contralateral internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery (VA) showed remarkable increases greater than those due to ICA obliteration alone. This indicates the possibility that using only one probe during compression may often result in unknown obliteration of the ipsilateral VAs flow and could also produce other incomplete data. Moreover, with our technique, we would be able to assess the cerebral reserve more precisely and clearly in patients with carotid or vertebral occlusive diseases.

First steps in the development of the Doppler flowmeter.

The ultrasonic Doppler method was originated by Satomura with the aim to measure small vibrations in 1956. He proposed to use this technique to asses the heart motion. In response to his proposal, Yoshida and Nimura demonstrated, with his cooperation, that this method enabled them to asses the motion of the walls and valves of the heart. The first clinical application of the transcutaneous noninvasive Doppler flowmeter was developed in 1958 by Satomura and Kaneko along with their colleagues. The first equipment, recording system, and commercial Doppler flowmeter are described. Satomura's conclusion that the Doppler signal is produced by turbulent flow and Kaneko's naming the first Doppler flowmeter the ultrasonic blood rheograph are explained.

Studies on regional inhibition of carbonic anhydrase by sulpiride in rat brain.

Sulpiride is an antipsychotic which possesses the free sulfonamide radical. From the viewpoint of this phenomenon, the in vitro inhibitory effect of sulpiride on carbonic anhydrase (CAH) was investigated. CAH inhibition was studied in eleven regions of the rat brain. The distribution of sulpiride was estimated on the basis of these findings.

Clinical evaluation of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan as an antidepressant drug.

Effectiveness of 5-hydroxy-L-trytophan as an antidepressant drug was studied with 59 patients with depressive symptoms using Rating Scale for Depression made by Clinico-Psychopharmacology Research Group in Japan for a preparatory step of a double blind clinical study of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan treatment of depression. A daily dose of 150--300 mg of 5-hydroxyl-L-tryptophan was administered for three weeks. Favorable responses were observed in 40 patients (67.8%), of whom 13 patients were markedly improved. These effects were noticed in 32 patients (80% of the improved patients) within a week of the treatment. Analysis of General Improvement Rating in the various subtypes of depressive symptoms indicated that endogenous depression and involutional or senile depression were the preferable indication of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan loading. The main side effects of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan were gastrointestinal disturbances which were minimized by the simultaneous administration of metoclopromide or trihexyphenidyl.

Memory retention of stimulations during REM and NREM stages of sleep.

In 51 normal young female subjects, stimulation by name calling or by intermittent photic stimulation was given during sleep. At different intervals after the stimulation, the subject was awakened and asked if she could recall it. If alpha activity had not been elicited by the stimulus, there was no recall. If the time occupied by alpha activity evoked by the stimulation was more than 30 sec, the stimulus could be recalled after a long period of sleep. When the evoked alpha activity lasted for less than 30 sec and the subject slept again, the longer the evoked alpha activity, the longer the sleeping time span with the memory retention of the preceding stimulation. With equal durations of evoked alpha activity, retention of the stimulus was better when the sleep following was REM stage than when it was NREM stage (stage 2). The results might be explained by the assumption that process of consolidation takes place most rapidly during wakefulness and is inhibited during sleep but to a lesser degree during REM stage than during NREM stage (stage 2).

The gingival hyperplasia resulting from diphenylhydantoin in children and adults.

The incidence of gingival hyperplasia resulting diphenylhydantoin was studied in two hundred and nineteen patients of epilepsy from children to adults. The children group below puberty showed unexpectedly low incidence of gingival hyperplasia among the side effects of it comparing with other age groups.

Private school activities and psychosomatic problems in Japanese children.

This paper investigates the relation between private school activities and psychosomatic problems in Japanese elementary school children. Of 1,073 children studied, 67.3 percent attended private schools to study such subjects as calligraphy, abacus, and music. Of these children, 25.3 percent attended three to four times per week, and 18.1 percent five times and more. Statistical analysis showed that frequently attending children exhibited symptoms of dizziness, sleep disturbance, and other psycholphsiological problems. The results may warn educators as well as parents of some of the unfavorable effects of these extracurricular activities.