The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Dec 1997
Case Reports Clinical TrialCapnometry as a tool to unmask silent pulmonary embolism.
Because pulmonary embolism is often silent, simple clinical procedures are desirable to identify patients with a low to intermediate probability of pulmonary embolism. Among 19,467 patients managed under general anesthesia, we had one bile tract surgery case and three neurosurgical cases whose silent pulmonary embolism was initially suggested by an increase in the arterial to end-tidal CO2 gradient (from 17 to 27 mmHg) after general anesthesia was induced or their trachea was intubated. ⋯ Our initial diagnosis was confirmed by scintigraphy and/or angiography done immediately after the operations. Because capnometry has been shown to be applicable to non-intubated, spontaneously breathing patients, we suggest that measuring the gradient may serve as an additional method for unmasking silent pulmonary embolism in patients at risk or with disturbed consciousness, whether they are scheduled for operations or not.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Oct 1997
Transrectal ultrasonic planimetry of the prostate in relation to age and lower urinary tract symptoms among elderly men in Japan.
The aim of the present study is to correlate transrectal ultrasonic planimetric parameters of the prostate in relation to age and urinary symptoms as evaluated by the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index score for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In 647 examinees on a mass screening program for prostatic diseases using transrectal sonography (TRS) in Japan, prostatic volume, transition zone volume, transition zone index (transition zone volume/prostatic volume) and presumed circle area ratio (PCAR) were determined using transrectal ultrasonic planimetry and compared with age and AUA symptom score. Increase in age, prostatic volume, transition zone volume and PCAR were significantly correlated with AUA symptom score. ⋯ In particular, PCAR was the only significant determinants of symptom score in men with an intermediately enlarged prostate (20-30 ml in volume). The most significant difference in AUA symptom score was found between subgroups divided by PCAR with a cutoff point of 0.8. Among the planimetric parameters obtained by TRS, PCAR was the most powerful for evaluating BPH in terms of the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Aug 1997
Gene expression of MASH-1, MATH-1, neuroD and NSCL-2, basic helix-loop-helix proteins, during neural differentiation in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells.
We examined the gene expression of MASH-1, MATH-1, neuroD and NSCL-2 during neural differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and high performance liquid chromatography. These proteins are members of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family and their expressions are reported to be transient and restricted in the nervous system during early neurogenesis. ⋯ RA-treatment increased MATH-1 mRNA slightly. mRNA of MAP2, a neural differentiation marker, were increased by RA-treatment and the increases reached to the plateau at day 5. The results indicate that the gene expression of MASH-1, MATH-1, neuroD and NSCL-2 during neural differentiation in P19 cells is transient and the order is similar to that in the mouse embryo nervous system as previously reported.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Jan 1997
Clinical TrialFurther observations on cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary system in biliary atresia after hepatic portoenterostomy: report on 10 cases.
This is a report on ten patients with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary system (CDIB) after hepatic portoenterostomy. They were five girls and five boys and the diagnosis of CDIB was made at ages 6 months to 11 years (mean age: 2.8 +/- 3.3 years). Follow-up ranged from one month to 15 years (mean: 5.5 +/- 4.9 years). ⋯ The outcome of preoperatively jaundiced patients was poor, but jaundice-free patients showed good outcome. Method of treatment was not related to the outcome. As epithelium of CDIB was positive for monoclonal antibody of cytokeratin, it was suspected that pathogenesis of CDIB might be related to peribiliary gland which originated from ductal plate.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Oct 1996
Case ReportsPeripheral neuroepithelioma (peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor) of the uterine cervix.
We report here a case of peripheral neuroepithelioma arising in the uterine cervix. A 44-year-old female had complained of irregular genital bleeding for several months and was diagnosed as extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma (EOE) from biopsy specimens initially. ⋯ In ultrastructural study, neurosecretory granules were observed. Finally we diagnosed this case as peripheral neuroepithelioma (peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor, PNET).