1‐(2‐Hydroxyethyl)‐2‐imidazolidinone,a heparanase and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor,improves epidermal basement membrane structure and epidermal barrier function

Daily exposure to sunlight is known to affect the structure and function of the epidermal basement membrane (BM), as well as epidermal differentiation and epidermal barrier function. The aim of this study is to clarify whether the inhibition of BM‐degrading enzymes such as heparanase and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9) can improve the epidermal barrier function of facial skin, which is exposed to the sun on a daily basis. 1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐2‐imidazolidinone (HEI) was synthesized as an inhibitor of both heparanase and MMP‐9. HEI inhibited not only the BM damage at the DEJ but also epidermal proliferation, differentiation, water contents and transepidermal water loss abnormalities resulting from ultraviolet B (UVB). This was determined in this study by the use of UVB‐induced human cultured skins as compared with the control without HEI. Moreover, topical application of HEI improved epidermal barrier function by increasing water content and decreasing transepidermal water loss in daily sun‐exposed facial skin as compared with non‐treated skins. These results suggest that the inhibition of both heparanase and MMP‐9 is an effective way to care for regularly sun‐exposed facial skin by protecting the BM from damage.     

Low Phase Angle Is Correlated With Worse General Condition in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Objectives: Phase angle (PA) is a poor prognostic factor in patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to identify possible correlations between PA and symptoms, quality of life, fluid retention, and laboratory data in cancer patients in palliative care settings.

Methods: Individuals who visited the outpatient clinic or were admitted to the palliative care unit were eligible. Patients with a performance status of 4 and/or those unable to complete questionnaires were excluded. PA was evaluated using a bioanalyzer device. The correlation coefficient between PA and the variables of interest was analyzed.

Results: A total of 102 patients were analyzed. PA was weakly correlated with age (ρ = ?0.22), performance status (ρ = ?0.30), functional well-being (ρ?=?0.20), anorexia/cachexia subscale (ρ?=?0.22), and Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy trial outcome index (ρ?=?0.26). PA was also correlated with fluid retention (ρ = ?0.34) and albumin (ρ?=?0.32), C-reactive protein (ρ = ?0.31), and hemoglobin (ρ?=?0.41) levels. Sub-analysis stratified according to sex revealed that males demonstrated the same results; however, female sex demonstrated a correlation between PA and social well-being (ρ = ?0.43).

Conclusions: PA was correlated with physical condition, but not with psychological well-being.     

Long-term skeletal stability in the treatment of mandibular prognathism with a physiological positioning strategy

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term skeletal stability of the mandible in 21 patients after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning. The measurement points SNB, B point (X, Y), Pog (X, Y), and the angle of the ramus were measured on cephalometric photographs to assess skeletal stability preoperatively, immediately after operation, and one and two years postoperatively. In addition, we evaluated the clinical symptoms of disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The analysis of the cephalometric photographs showed that SNB, B point X, and Pog X showed no significant differences among the postoperative time points. On the other hand, B point Y and Pog Y showed no significant differences throughout the study period. We compared the angle of the ramus before operation and two years postoperatively, and no significant difference was found. In addition, no cases showed any pathological symptoms of disorders of the TMJ two years postoperatively. The long-term stability after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning was confirmed, and it seems to be a reliable orthognathic treatment in patients with mandibular prognathism.     

CROSSOVER COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DEPRESSOR EFFECTS OF LOW AND HIGH WORK-RATE EXERCISE IN MILD HYPERTENSION

1. The relationship between work-rate and the antihypertensive effect of exercise in hypertensives, and the mechanism of that effect, were investigated by a crossover clinical trial. 2. Ten mild hypertensives were randomly divided into two groups. One group performed low work-rate exercise (LWE) on a cycle ergometer for 10 weeks (blood lactate threshold; ～50% of maximum oxygen consumption [V?_O2max]). After a 10 week interval without exercise training, these subjects were then switched to a high work-rate exercise (HWE) regimen (4 mmol/ L of blood lactate; ～75% of V?_O2max) for another 10 weeks. In the other group, the order of exercise training was reversed. Since two patients withdrew from the protocol during HWE periods, statistical analysis was performed on the data from the remaining eight patients. There were no order effects observed in any of the data from the two groups. 3. During both LWE and HWE, resting blood pressure (BP) fell significantly after the initiation of exercise therapy (P<0.05). Furthermore, the overall effects of 10 weeks of LWE and HWE on BP were not significantly different. 4. The work-rate at the lactate threshold, which reflects physical fitness, had increased significantly by 16 W (P<0.01) after the LWE period and by 11 W (P<0.01) after the HWE. 5. During the LWE period, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant, except for a reduction in plasma norepinephrine at week 10 (P<0.05). In the HWE period, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant. 6. Based on these findings, LWE is recommended for mild hypertensives because of its safety.     

Therapeutic efficacy of miconazole on deep-seated fungal infections in the respiratory tract system

We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of miconazole (MCZ, Florid-F inj.), a new antifungal agent for parenteral use, in deep-seated fungal infections of respiratory tract system. A daily dose of 400-1,800 mg of MCZ was given intravenously for 12-38 days (mean: 23.4 days) to 7 patients: 2 patients with pulmonary aspergillosis, 1 patient with bronchial aspergillosis, 1 patient with pulmonary candidiasis and 3 patients with candidemia. One additional patient with pulmonary aspergillosis received three instillations of 20 mg of MCZ into the thoracic cavity. The clinical effects were excellent in 1, good in 4 and poor in 3 patients. The efficacy rate was 100% in 5 cases with respiratory fungal infections but 3 cases with candidemia did not respond well to the treatment. Four strains each of Aspergillus sp. and Candida sp. were identified as causative organisms. Seven of the 8 strains were eradicated by administration of MCZ. Side effects observed were irritation and heat in a leg in 1 patient, hyperlipoidemia in 2 patients and eosinophilia in 1 patient. The adverse reactions disappeared after the completion of the therapy. From the above results, we conclude that MCZ is one of the most useful antifungal agents for parenteral use as a first choice on deep-seated fungal infections in the respiratory tract.     

Effect of immunoglobulin depositions of glomerular sialic acids in patients with IgA nephropathy

A study of double immunofluorescence-staining of immunoglobulins and sialic acids in the glomeruli from patients with IgA nephropathy is described. Renal biopsy specimens from patients with IgA nephropathy were stained with rhodamine-labeled antihuman IgA, IgG or IgM antisera and then stained with FITC-labeled Limulus polyphemus (LPA), Tricum vulgaris (WGA) or antihuman C3 antisera. Marked positive stainings of IgA and C3 and positive binding of LPA or WGA were observed in the glomerular mesangial areas from patients with IgA nephropathy. LPA or WGA were not bound with glomerular capillary walls from patients with moderate and advanced stages of IgA nephropathy, although depositions of IgA and C3 were markedly observed in such walls. There was a significant inverse correlation between the deposition of IgA and the binding of LPA or WGA in glomerular capillary walls obtained from these patients with IgA nephropathy. The levels of proteinuria from patients with moderate and advanced stages of IgA nephropathy were significantly higher than those with minimal and slight stages of such disease. It is suggested that the decrease of sialic acids in glomerular capillary walls might be due to a deposition of IgA in some patients with IgA nephropathy. It is concluded that high levels of proteinuria might be due to the decrease of sialic acids in glomerular capillary walls from patients with moderate and advanced stages of IgA nephropathy.     

Ventricular septal fistula formation due to infectious endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient with aortic valve replacement

We report a case of infectious endocarditis in a 77-year-old woman who was undergoing maintenance hemodialysis therapy, and who was also having a prosthetic aortic valve replacement. The disease resulted from a local skin infection at the needle puncture site of the arteriovenous fistula. Ampicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the causal organism. Surgical treatment could not be performed because of associated intracranial hemorrhage due to septic embolism. In spite of intensive treatment with several antibiotics, a ventricular septal abscess just beneath the prosthetic aortic valve progressed to form a ventricular septal fistula. The resultant intracardiac left-to-right shunt led to refractory congestive heart failure. The patient finally died of heart failure. The formation of a ventricular septal fistula is considered to be a rare and extraordinary complication of infectious endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient with aortic valve replacement. Received: July 25, 2001 / Accepted: November 3, 2001     

Zur Genese der Höhlen im Rückenmark

Ohne ZusammenfassungHierzu Taf. XI–XII.     

Symmetrical brainstem encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus

We describe a 53-year-old man with herpes simplex virus (HSV) brainstem encephalitis diagnosed based by positive HSV immunoglobulin M antibodies from cerebrospinal fluid. The MRI findings of this case had three unique features. First, the lesions were symmetrical. Second, the lesions may have been associated with reactivation of HSV infection in the region of the trigeminal nerve. Third, diffusion-weighted and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging, conducted for the first time on an HSV brainstem encephalitis case, suggested that the lesions were associated with vasogenic edema.