Neuroprotective mechanisms of lidocaine against in vitro ischemic insult of the rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

To compare neuroprotective effects of lidocaine and procaine against ischemic insult, intracellular recordings were made from rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in slice preparations. Superfusion of the slices with oxygen- and glucose-deprived medium (in vitro ischemia) produced a rapid depolarization 6 min from the onset. When oxygen and glucose were reintroduced, the membrane depolarized further until it reached 0 mV, and thereafter the membrane showed no functional recovery. Pretreatment with lidocaine (10 microM), but not procaine (50 microM), restored the membrane potential after the reintroduction of oxygen and glucose. Lidocaine, compared to procaine, significantly inhibited the reduction in both tissue ATP content and flavoprotein fluorescence during and after in vitro ischemia. Under electron microscopy, only lidocaine well preserved the structure of mitochondria in the CA1 pyramidal cell body. Extracellular recordings revealed that procaine reduced the field postsynaptic potential whereas lidocaine augmented it. Both drugs reduced the presynaptic volley dose-dependently. Neither lidocaine nor procaine significantly affected a rapid rise of the intracellular Ca2+ level produced by in vitro ischemia in the CA1 region. All the results suggest that the neuroprotective lidocaine action is due to the protection of the mitochondria to maintain the tissue ATP content during and after in vitro ischemia.

[Studies on surfactant replacement therapy in pediatric measles pneumonitis].

Measles pneumonitis, as well as encephalitis, is the most important complication associated with mortality in measles. Many medications including steroids and vitamin A have been applied to pediatric measles pneumonitis. However, the efficacy of such medication has not yet been established. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of surfactant replacement therapy in pediatric measles pneumonitis. Five patients (aged 1-2 years) with measles pneumonitis were transferred to our emergency center. On the transferred day, Surfactant-TA was administered by intratracheal method. After administration of surfactant, PaO2/FIO2 increased from 63.6 +/- 11.0 (mean +/- SE) to 206.2 +/- 54.1 in an hour and to 163.8 +/- 34.8 in 24. At the same time, the CO2 elimination and the dynamic compliance were improved. Because of these effects, the peak inspiratory pressure employed in mechanical ventilation could be reduced. It is concluded that surfactant replacement therapy can prevent the patients with measles pneumonitis from hypoxemia and ventilation-induced lung injury. However, further study is needed to maintain the improved oxygenation. Recently, it is reported that the effect of exogenous surfactant on oxygenation and activity of pulmonary neutrophils is regulated by the amount and/or concentration of administered surfactant. Therefore, it is an urgent issue to find out the optimum amount and concentration of exogenous surfactant used clinically.

[Efficacy of lidocaine tape for venous cannulation in children].

We evaluated whether lidocaine tape (3 X 5 cm, contained 18 mg of lidocaine) could reduce pain caused by venous cannulation in children during anesthetic induction. One hundred and thirty-five children scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned to three groups according to the application time of the tape (30 min, 60 min and 120 min). Pain assessment was made by using our pain score (0: no response, 1: slight agitation, 2: strong agitation, at the venous cannulation). The effect of pain reduction (pain score 0 and 1) was found in 81 % of all patients. Especially in the group of 120 min, the effect was remarkable. Only 6.7% of all patients had slight adverse effects including skin redness and itching. In another 25 patients (weighing 3.5-30 kg), plasma concentration of lidocaine were measured 120 min after application of a piece of this tape. Arterial blood was sampled at 30 and 120 min after the tape was removed. Plasma lidocaine levels were always below 0.8 mcg.ml-1 In conclusion, the lidocaine tape may be useful and safely applicable for venous cannulation in children.

DNA flow cytometric analysis of neuroblastoma: distinction of tetraploidy subset.

Neuroblastoma has several characteristics that differentiate it from other adult malignancies. The ploidy pattern of neuroblastoma has been shown to be related to prognosis. Specifically, a DNA diploidy pattern is associated with a poorer outcome, and an aneuploidy pattern is associated with a better outcome. A tetraploidy pattern has also been identified; however, there is little information regarding this pattern. To examine the properties of neuroblastoma according to these DNA ploidy patterns, the authors performed flow cytometric analysis (retrospectively) for 61 neuroblastoma cases, using paraffin-embedded tissues. Fifty-six of the cases had analyzable results. Calculated DNA indices (DI) ranged from 1.0 to 2.30. The 56 cases were divided into three groups according to DI: diploid (DI = 1.0 to 1.17, n = 19), aneuploid (DI = 1.25 to 1.75, n = 26), and tetraploid (DI = 1.81 to 2.30, n = 11) groups. Compared with the aneuploid group, the diploid group had a stronger correlation with older patient age (> or = 1 year) (P < .01), more advanced clinical stage (III, IV) (P < .01), and poorer prognosis (P < .001). The tetraploid group had properties that were statistically similar to those of the diploid group (P < .05, P < .05, P < .001, respectively). These findings indicate that a subset of DNA tetraploid is present in neuroblastoma, and this subset, which may have clinical and biological characteristics similar to those of the DNA diploid group, should be distinguished from DNA aneuploidy.

Copper deficiency with pancytopenia during total parenteral nutrition.

Anemia and neutropenia are commonly observed hematologic changes in patients with copper (Cu) deficiency, but thrombocytopenia is rarely found. A-69-year-old patient with postoperative small-bowel obstruction underwent laparotomy three times. Because of persistent obstruction, nasoduodenal suction was continued and total parenteral nutrition was instituted. Fifteen months after the initiation of total parenteral nutrition, the patient gradually developed pancytopenia (red blood cell count 222 x 10(4)/mm3, neutrophil count 1254/mm3, and platelet count 9.2 x 10(4)/mm3). The serum Cu level was 10 micrograms/dL and the serum ceruloplasmin level was less than 5 mg/dL. After 2 weeks of Cu supplementation in a daily dose of 20 mumol, the serum Cu level increased to 81 micrograms/dL and the serum ceruloplasmin level to 20 mg/dL. Hematologic values showed a dramatic response: red blood cell count increased to 362 x 10(4)/mm3, neutrophil count to 4819/mm3, and platelet count to 22.1 x 10(4)/mm3. The improvement of pancytopenia could be attributed to Cu supplementation. This is the first case report of Cu deficiency with pancytopenia during total parenteral nutrition.

[The efficiency of continuous hemofiltration/hemodialysis for acute respiratory failure complicated with acute renal failure].

Continuous hemofiltration/hemodialysis (CHF/CHD) have emerged as effective modalities in the management of acute renal failure. More recently, these therapies have received attention for non-renal application such as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure. To assess the potential benefits of CHF/CHD in the management of severe impairment of pulmonary gas exchange, we evaluated a series of clinical variables in a group of patients with acute respiratory failure complicated with acute renal failure. In 9 of 15 patients, pulmonary gas exchange was improved. Intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) and pulmonary vascular resistance were also improved during the therapies. The beneficial effects of the modalities seems to be induced by effective removal of extravascular lung water. However, the fact that the same effects were also observed in a few patients with zero or positive fluid balance may indicate the possibility of elimination of circulating middle-molecular pulmonary toxic mediators. We concluded CHF/CHD are recommendable methods for the management of acutely ill patients with respiratory failure.

[Retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma: a case report].

A 55-year-old man was shot at the age of 50. At that time CT revealed a mass near the spleen. Thereafter, CT did not reveal any growth of the mass, but to examine the mass in detail he was hospitalized to our department. The mass was diagnosed as left adrenal cavernous hemangioma, since, on aortography, it was typical cavernous hemangioma and fed mainly from the left inferior phrenic artery. The mass was resected with the spleen, thoracic wall, and part of diaphragma. At the operation the left adrenal gland was identified to be intact. Histopathological diagnosis was retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma. This is the 19th case of retroperitoneal cavernous hemangioma in the Japanese literature.

Esophagocutaneous fistula after anterior cervical spine surgery and successful treatment using a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. A case report.

An esophagocutaneous fistula following anterior cervical fusion is rare. A 61-year-old man had cervical myelopathy because of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine. Anterior decompression of the cervical spine and anterior fusion with strut bone grafting were performed. A second anterior fusion was done because the graft was dislodged after the patient fell out of bed one month after surgery. An esophagocutaneous fistula occurred three months after the second anterior surgery. One of the causes of this esophagocutaneous fistula was considered to be a pressure necrosis of the esophagus because of to projection of the bone graft. Conservative treatment, which consisted of wound drainage and intravenous administration of antibiotics, was tried but was unsuccessful. A good result was achieved by cancellous bone grafting, closure of the esophageal fistula, and transposition of a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap to the interspace between the esophagus and the cervical spine.

An attempt to prepare hepatitis B virus (HBV)-free plasma by ultrafiltration using microporous regenerated cellulose hollow fiber.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be effectively removed from HBV-positive plasma by filtration with a Bemberg Microporous Membrane (BMM) with a pore size of 30 nm or less, however considerable amounts of macromolecular IgM and Factor VIII are trapped in the BMM. We report that HBV-free plasma with adequate amounts of all of the plasma proteins can be obtained by double filtration with a BMM with a port size of 50 nm. Thus it may be possible to remove HBV or other transfusion-associated viruses from plasma by BMM filtration with good recovery of all of the plasma components.

LDL-apheresis; potential procedure for prevention and regression of atheromatous vascular lesion.

Nine patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), 6 with homozygotes and 3 with heterozygotes, were treated with long term repetitive LDL-apheresis. The techniques are simple plasma exchange with human albumin solution, double membrane filtration, and selective LDL-adsorption by dextran sulfate-cellulose gel. The average term was 3.5 years except for the two homozygotes for whom the treatment was only initiated in our facility. Plasma total cholesterol levels were controlled between pretreating level, 320 to 500 mg/dl, and posttreating level, 100 to 160 mg/dl, by biweekly treatments. All patients showed remarkable improvement of cutaneous and tendinous xanthomas. One homozygous patient died at 31 years old of myocardial infarction after 2 years of treatment. A homozygous patient who has been treated since 5 years old for 6 years was reexamined by angiography and was shown to have atheromatous lesions regressed in the aortic valve region and in the left renal artery.

Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive-atrial natriuretic polypeptide in patients on hemodialysis.

Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive (IR)-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) were measured before and after hemodialysis (HD) as well as isolated ultrafiltration (UF) in 9 patients with end-stage renal disease. There were significant falls in plasma concentrations of IR-ANP during both UF (from 78.6 +/- 109.7 to 45.4 +/- 56.8 pg/ml; mean +/- SD; p less than 0.025) and HDs (from 84.7 +/- 48.6 to 35.0 +/- 28.4 (p less than 0.01) on first HD; from 73.7 +/- 74.2 to 31.8 +/- 21.8 pg/ml (p less than 0.01) on later HD). There were distinct positive correlations between blood pressures and plasma concentrations of IR-ANP. These results support the view that ANP is secreted mainly by the expansion of blood volume. The fall in plasma concentrations of IR-ANP after HD seems to be caused by the decrease of blood volume, but not by removal due to dialysis of the peptide. However, the physiological role of ANP in patients with end-stage renal disease remains unknown.

Total body fluid volume determination based on urea kinetics in hemofiltration as an index of basal body weight in uremic patients.

Assuming that urea is distributed uniformly within the total body water, urea-space or total body fluid volume was determined in six uremic patients based on urea kinetics in hemofiltration. The total body fluid volume before hemofiltration was 36.0 +/- 3.6 L (61.8 +/- 2.6% BW) and after hemofiltration 32.5 +/- 3.4 L (59.3 +/- 2.8% BW), suggesting that the total body fluid volume was nearly normalized by hemofiltration. It is concluded that urea-space, easily measurable based on urea kinetics during hemofiltration, is useful in evaluating the fluid balance in patients undergoing artificial kidney therapy.

Selective removal of low density lipoprotein by plasmapheresis in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Plasma lipoproteins were selectively removed from familial hypercholesterolemic patients by using two types of plasmapheresis: double-membrane filtration and selective adsorption of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL). In both techniques, plasma was separated from blood cells by using hollow-fiber filters, and 100% of the VLDL and LDL was recovered in the filtrate. In double-membrane filtration, the second hollow-fiber filter trapped 84% of LDL + VLDL, 48% of high density lipoprotein (HDL), 24% of albumin, and 46% of the remaining plasma protein. By treating 3 liters of plasma from a patient weighing 60 kg, 60% of the LDL and 30% to 40% of the HDL were removed as a result of an exponential decay of each component with the respective trapping coefficients. When dextran sulfate-cellulose was used as a LDL sorbent, there was only loss of LDL and VLDL, and no loss of any other major plasma component or of HDL. The sorbent column (400 ml) was saturated with 7.5 g of LDL cholesterol by treatment with 3.5 liters of plasma; the maximum reduction of LDL cholesterol was thus about 300 mg/dl for the patient weighing 60 kg. No serious side effects were observed during the long-term trials (19 to 27 months for four patients on double-membrane filtration and 10 months for the two patients on dextran sulfate-cellulose treatment.

Congenital absence of small intestinal musculature (one case report).

Intestinal obstruction due to congenital absence of the small intestinal musculature in a neonate is presented. This report represents the seventh known case of this abnormality. In addition, in our case ectopic oesophageal mucosa and ectopic gastric mucosa is detected. The aetiology of this condition is unknown, and the diagnosis must simply depend on pathological examination of biopsy samples taken from appropriate regions. Unfortunately the regions of this disease have no continuity. Therefore, course of treatment cannot be established as the extent of the region cannot be correctly identified. To detect change of colour tone of the bowel may be helpful in the treatment of the disease.

Histologic and embryologic studies on the innervation of the pelvic viscera in patients with Hirschsprung's disease.

On the specimens taken at autopsy from three newborns with Hirschsprung's disease and three newborns in the control group, the innervation of the pelvic organs was histologically studied. The authors found that all the pelvic organs, except for the rectum in patients with Hirschsprung's disease, preserved a completely normal innervation not only of pelvic autonomic nerve plexuses, but also of sensory nerves of spinal origin. Even in the wall of the aganglionic rectum, the extrinsic sympathetic as well as parasympathetic nerve fibers were preserved, which showed a marked proliferative change due to the absence of target nerve cells upon which they otherwise terminated. An additional embryologic study was performed upon 20 human embryos. The results revealed that the pelvic nerve plexuses were formed during the six to ten gestational week period by neural cells migrating along the pelvic visceral branches of sacral nerves, while none of these neural cells was found to enter the rectum. The enteric plexuses of the rectum were formed later by neural cells that migrated down along the alimentary tract in a craniocaudal manner. The two separate origins, the sacral for the pelvic nerve plexuses and the vagal for the enteric plexuses of the rectum, seem to be the reason why innervation of the genitourinary organs, which are located in front of the aganglionic rectum, is normal in those patients with Hirschsprung's disease.