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Moderating effects of group type on the relationship between in-group social values and group identity were investigated. Previous research has indicated that values attached to the in-group, such as its status, privileges, and power, lead to increased group identity. However, these studies have not investigated the role of the type of in-groups on this effect. We conducted an experiment that manipulated the in-group type. In the common-identity type of in-group condition, formation of in- and out-groups on the basis of social categorization was established. In the common-bond type of in-group condition, interactions between the group members were conducted. Results indicated that in the former condition, the degree of in-group social values affected group identity; however, this effect was not found in the latter condition. These results suggest that social values of the in-group have an asymmetric effect on group identity, depending upon the in-group type as a common-identity or common-bond group.

A 78-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and congestive heart failure was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea on effort. He had been taking 200 mg/day amiodarone for 2 years, in order to treat a intermitted ventricular tachycardia. His chest X rays showed the appearance of diffuse consolidation in the right lung field. At first severe pulmonary infection was suspected, and he was treated with antibiotics. In spite of the treatment, the chest X-ray findings did not improved. We thought of the possibility of interstitial lung disease, and performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) from the right middle lobe. TBLB revealed the organizing pneumonia (OP). At the same time we observed that he had temporary sinus arrest and entered a stated of shock requiring intubation, temporary pacing and intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) . The coronary angiography (CAG) revealed no abnormalities and cardiac function was normal. Within two days his sinus rhythm recovered spontaneously. After cessation of amiodarone and administering steroid therapy, pulmonary shadows resolved quickly. Since there were no laboratory signs of connective tissue or infectious disease such as a normal autoimmune serology, antibody titers against Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Clamydia species, and BAL, TBLB cultures, etc, we considered that unilateral organizing pneumonia and temporary sinus arrest could be induced by amiodarone. The amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (APT) commonly courses pleural effusion and while it may be strictly unilateral, there are often diminutive contralateral foci visible on HR-CT. Steroids should be given for months and tapered prudently, otherwise APT may recur owing to the persistence of amiodarone in lung.

A 69-year-old man who had benign prostatic hypertrophy and hypertension was admitted to our hospital because of urinary retention and high grade fever. Chest radiograph showed the appearance of multiple cavitating nodules in both lung fields within a few days after admission. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in blood and sputum cultures, though there were no pathogens in urine culture. Abdominal CT demonstrated bilateral hydronephrosis. Since we could not detect any other infectious focuses such as bacterial endocarditis, septic thrombophlebitis etc., we reached the diagnosis of septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) induced by urinary tract infection (UTI). After diagnosis, the patient was given intravenous meropenem, ciprofloxacin, sulbactam/ampicilin, and recovered. Although several cases of SPE induced by UTI in diabetes mellitus patients have been reported, the present case who had no severe underlying disorder is very rare.

The toxicity profile of silodosin, a selective alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor antagonist, was evaluated. The lethal doses were 800 mg/kg in rats and 1500 mg/kg in dogs. Repeated-dose studies revealed fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and an induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes at 15 mg/kg/day or more in male rats, mammary gland hyperplasia at 60 mg/kg/day or more in female rats, and degeneration of the seminiferous tubular epithelium at 25 mg/kg/day or more only in young dogs. Silodosin was negative in all mutagenicity studies, except for a weak positive in a chromosomal aberration assay conducted without metabolic activation. In carcinogenicity studies, mammary gland tumors and pituitary adenomas were increased in female mice given 150 mg/kg/day or more and 400 mg/kg/day respectively, while thyroid follicular cell carcinoma was increased in male rats given 150 mg/kg/day. Reproductive studies in rats revealed a decreased male fertility at 20 mg/kg/day or more and a prolonged estrous cycle at 60 mg/kg/day or more. Silodosin did not exhibit any teratogenic potential in either rats or rabbits, and had no effects on the postnatal development of rat offspring. In safety pharmacology studies, silodosin produced no severe effects on the central nervous, cardiovascular, or respiratory systems. In conclusion, silodosin exhibited adequate safety margins between the clinically recommended dose and those at which toxic effects or safety pharmacological changes were detected. As a new therapeutic drug for the micturition difficulties caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, silodosin should have few serious side effects in clinical use.

We report a case of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in the large intestine in a 38-year-old Japanese female. She developed a dull pain in the right lower abdomen and was found to have ileocecal intussusception. The terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon were resected. Macroscopically, multiple polypoid lesions were found. Although some authors reported that MALT lymphoma of the colon tend to be solitary, the present case showed seven lesions. Two of the polypoid lesions in the present case were marked large. No such large polypoid MALT lymphoma has been described to our knowledge. A histological and immunohistochemical study revealed those seven lesions to be low grade B cell lymphomas of MALT type.