Library

Notes: Summary Dose-dependent relaxations were induced by dopamine in human pulmonary arteries that had been contracted with prostaglandin F2α without α-adrenergic blocking agents. The dopamine-induced relaxation was inhibited by haloperidol and fluphenazine, but not by domperidone, suggesting that this relaxation was mediated via DA1 receptors.

Notes: Abstract This report deals with the large intracytoplasmic hyaline inclusions observed in hippocampal large pyramidal cells of two Holstein-Friesian cattle. These inclusions were round to elongated polyhedral in shape with consistently homogeneous glassy appearance; they varied in size and were positive for the periodic acid-Schiff reaction and silver impregnation. Electron microscopic examination revealed that the inclusions consisted of granular materials showing moderate electron density and were bounded by a unit membrane. On the external surface of the unit membrane, there were direct connections to cellular organelles, including ribosome, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. These findings suggest that the inclusions might be derived from neuronal endoplasmic reticulum.

Notes: Abstract Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cysts are extremely rare congenital anomalies that represent malformations of the embryonic foregut and are morphologically expressed as maldevelopments of the respiratory system. Because of the low prevalence of these tumors, their imaging features have seldom been described. We present the computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a case of retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst.

Notes: Abstract Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to assess possible brainstem damage in 76 neonates with asphyxia and intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). Fifty-eight neonates had ICH, 52 had neonatal asphyxia and 34 of these patients had both. Eighty-nine percent of the patients with neonatal asphyxia showed some abnormal patterns in response, the major one being an increase in the threshold of wave V. In the ICH group, abnormal patterns were observed in 62.5%, among whom the prolongation of the I–V interpeak latency (IPL) and of wave V latency was seen more frequently than the increase of threshold of wave V. In the case of neonatal asphyxia associated with ICH, both the prolongation of the latency and the increase of threshold were observed equally. These abnormalities of ABR were associated with worsening clinical condition and conversely normalized gradually following the improvement of the underlying disease. Especially the I–V IPL, wave V latency and the threshold of wave V could serve as indicators of the treatment.

Notes: : Chemical analysis showed soft snow crab muscle to have a higher water content and a lower protein content than hard crab muscle. Histological observations revealed frequent occurrences of disintegrated regions in muscle fibers and pericellular connective tissue of soft snow crab muscle tissue. Salinity of the free body fluid recovered from the meropodites of the soft snow crab was significantly higher than that of the hard snow crab. Sensory evaluation revealed differences in texture and taste between soft and hard crabs, which corresponded well to their compositional and histological differences.

Notes: We deposited polymer-like a-C:H films using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique and characterized film microstructure by variable-energy positron lifetime spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. It was confirmed that PL occurs from a chromophore in a sp2 cluster as a result of fast recombination of a photoexcited electron-hole pair. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy showed that positronium (Ps) formation takes place via electron-positron recombination in the sp3 matrix. The lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) in our a-C:H films was similar to that in polyethylene, indicating their polymer-like nature. The relative PL efficiency increased by about an order of magnitude with increasing film band gap from 1.3 to 3.4 eV, which can be related to the decreasing concentration of nonradiative centers. On the other hand, Ps formation was much less influenced by the band gap and nonradiative centers. Comparison of this result with that for polyethylene mixed with carbon-black nanoparticles, where a considerable reduction in Ps formation was observed, showed that nonradiative centers were of a different nature from the defects on the carbon nanoparticle surface. This work demonstrated the usefulness of positron lifetime spectroscopy combined with optical measurements to study the nanostructure of a-C:H. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: This study was undertaken to clarify prognostic indices of a long-term clinical course in IgA nephropathy in large series.〈section xml:id="abs1-1"〉〈title type="main"〉PATIENTSFrom 1972 to 1990, a total of 603 patients were diagnosed to have primary IgA nephropathy in our renal unit. Of these patients 366 patients were continuously followed up for 10 years or more. These patients were the subjects of this study.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉METHODSAs predictive factors, several parameters were evaluated as follows: initial proteinuria; initial creatinine clearance (Ccr) values; initial hypertension; histological severity (eight parameters and total score); % duration of massive proteinuria (%DP); % duration of hypertension (%DH). %DP was defined as [(duration of proteinuria of 1.0g/day or more ÷ total duration of follow-up observation) × 100]. %DH was defined as [duration of hypertension ÷ total duration of follow-up observation] × 100].As histological severity, eight parameters were evaluated according to the semiquantitative method of Pirani et al. Each of these lesions was graded from 0 to 3. A total score was defined as a total of all eight scores, graded from 0 to 24.During the 10-year follow-up observation, corticosteroid treatment was conducted in 112 patients. Most of the patients received antiplatelet drugs. Hypertensive patients were treated with antihypertensive therapy.Final outcome at 10 years since the initial renal biopsy was divided into three clinical courses as follows: a stable course was defined as no decrease of renal function for 10 years; a progressive course was defined as a decrease of 15% or more of initial Ccr values without going into HD; and haemodialysis (HD).Univariate analysis for these predictive factors was performed by using one-factor ANOVA corrected by Bonferroni/Dunn or Kruskal-Wallis test to determine the final outcome. A multivariate analysis was done by using a logistic model.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉RESULTSThe age of the 366 patients was 33 ± 10 (range: 13–61); gender (M/F) 181/185; initial proteinuria 1.0 ± 1.0g/day (range: 0–6.6); initial Ccr values 85 ± 21 mL/min (range: 25–139); initial hypertension 63 cases (17%); total score as histological severity 7.7 ± 4.6.The final proteinuria was 0.9 ± 1.0 g/day (range: 0–5.7); final Ccr values 58 ± 38 mL/min (0–128); final hypertension 94 cases (25%); %DP 33 ± 39; %DH 18 ± 30. Numbers of patients having a stable course, a progressive course and haemodialysis were 192 (52%), 89 (25%) and 85 (23%), respectively.Clinical prognostic indices showed significant differences in age, initial proteinuria, initial Ccr, initial hypertension, %DO and %DH, respectively (P 〈 0.0001). Treatment with corticosteroids was significantly frequent in progressive and haemodialysis groups than a stable group (P 〈 0.0003).Histological prognostic indices showed significant differences in hypercellularity, active crescent, tuft adhesion, mesangial sclerosis, global sclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, vascular sclerosis and total score (P 〈 0.005).Multivariate analysis of clinical prognostic indices showed the highest relevance in %DP (relative risk 32.9, P 〈 0.0001), followed by %DH (relative risk 14.2, P 〈 0.0001).Multivariate analysis of histological prognostic indices showed the highest relevance in tubular atrophy (relative risk 9.2, P 〈 0.002), followed by interstitial fibrosis (relative risk 3.0, P 〈 0.05).Multivariate analysis of clinicohistological indices showed the highest relevance in %DP (relative risk 38.0, P 〈 0.0001), followed by %DH (relative risk 18.7, P 〈 0.0001).Patients with 30% or less in %DP underwent a favourable clinical course, while patients with 40% or more had a poor prognosis.%DH was one of the most reliable prognostic indices. However, there was no evidence of a turning point determining a long-term prognosis.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉COMMENTThirty-three years have passed since IgA nephropathy was first reported in 1968. Many investigations have documented a long-term prognosis of the disease and predictive factors for a long-term clinical course. It is generally accepted that the renal survival rate of the disease is recognized to be 70–80% 10 to 20 years after clinical onset. Clinically, initial proteinuria and initial renal function are well related with a long-term prognosis. Histologically, interstitial fibrosis is a most reliable predictive factor for a poor prognosis as well. However, there are few reports evaluated by a large series with a long-term follow-up observation.In this study, all 366 patients have been continuously followed up for 10 years since the first renal biopsy. About 50% of the patients underwent a progressive course, with 25% of the total patients entering into chronic haemodialysis. Multivariate analyses of clinical and histological predictors at the time of the first renal biopsy indicated that not only initial proteinuria and initial renal function but also tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis are very important factors, as reported previously.However, in practical clinical observation, it is difficult to predict a long-term prognosis merely at the time of renal biopsy. Therefore, careful follow-up observation is needed to evaluate the disease activity.In the present study, the continuous examination of daily urinary protein excretion and blood pressure was performed during a follow-up period of 10 years. As the result, %DP of 1.0 g/day or more is clarified to be the most reliable independent predictor for a long-term prognosis, followed by %DH. Moreover, 40% or more of %DP is found to be well related with a poor prognosis.In conclusion, the most reliable, independent factor determining a long-term prognosis in IgA nephropathy is persistent massive proteinuria of 1.0 g/day or more.