The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Nov 1999
Therapeutic efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation for hereditary spinocerebellar degeneration.
We applied transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a therapeutic approach for patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD). The subjects were four familial SCD patients (three men and one woman) aged from 27 to 76 years old. They were genetically analysed as two spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA 6), one SCA 1, and one SCA 7. ⋯ It is of interest that the blood flow of the cerebellar hemisphere, putamen and pons were significantly increased during the TMS trial. Although we do not know the exact mechanism by which TMS improved the ataxic gait, we speculate the increase of blood flow in the cerebellum, putamen and pons takes part in the improvement. These findings suggest that TMS over the cerebellum may be an effective therapy for patients with SCD.
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We conducted a retrospective study of the influence of various factors on the mortality of 114 patients with hip fractures. The mortality rate one year after surgery was 18%, which was 2.5 times larger than that of the general population. It was related to age, ECG abnormality, and post-operative complications.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Mar 1999
ReviewPathophysiologic significance of host reactions in human cancer tissue: desmoplasia and tumor immunity.
Invasive growth of malignant cells, particularly carcinoma cells, induces host reaction within and around tumor tissue. Representatives of them are desmoplasia, angiogenesis and immune reactions. Desmoplasia, a process of fibrosis, is induced by activation of fibroblasts with increased production of matrix proteins and matrix degrading enzymes. ⋯ T-cells were co-localized with these cells. Clinicopathologic analysis confirmed that CD8+ T-cells distributed within cancer cell nest (intraepithelial) have the most significant impact on the patients' survival in colorectal cancer. These data suggest that various host reactions take place in the stroma of cancer tissue, which modulate the biologic behavior of cancer.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Mar 1999
Case ReportsInfantile pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with interstitial pneumonia: bilateral simultaneous lung lavage utilizing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and steroid therapy.
An infant with refractory pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) associated with severe interstitial pneumonia is described. Although she was treated by bilateral simultaneous lung lavage utilizing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and steroid therapy, she died of progressive respiratory failure 28 days after admission. Histologic examination of lung autopsy specimen showed only partial alveolar spaces to be filled with a dense PAS positive granular eosinophilic material and showed severe interstitial pneumonia with marked fibrosis of alveolar walls and interstitium. ⋯ The full venoarterial cardiopulmonary bypass with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation seemed to be very useful to support bilateral lung lavage for small infants. The refractory symptoms and failure of treatment were resulted from the association of severe interstitial pneumonia. In neonates or infants with PAP and severe interstitial pneumonia with poor response for steroid therapy, the lung transplantation should be considered.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Feb 1999
Age-related bone loss: relationship between age and regional bone mineral density.
We assessed the changes in regional bone mineral density according to age and examined the relationship between various regional bone mineral densities. The study was conducted in 985 Japanese women divided into < 50-years group (n = 435) and > or = 50 years group (n = 550). The total body bone mineral density and that of the head, arm, leg, thoracic (T)-spine, lumbar (L)-spine, ribs, and pelvis were measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. ⋯ In the < 50-years group, the correlation between bone mineral density of the pelvis and that of L-spine and T-spine was the highest, followed by that between the pelvis and the leg. On the other hand, in the > or = 50-years group, the correlation between bone mineral density of the pelvis and that of the leg was the highest, but not the L-spine or T-spine. Since spine measurements are affected by vertebral deformity and/or aortic calcification, our findings suggest the pelvis may be a useful region for screening measurements of bone mineral density, especially in older women.