Search

Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alteration in plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations due to hemodialysis (HD) treatment by using three types of membranes in diabetic HD patients. Method We recruited 20 outpatients on maintenance HD with diabetes for this crossover study. HD was performed using membranes made of cellulose triacetate (CTA), polyester-polymer alloy (PEPA), and polysulphone (PS). These membranes were used for 2 weeks (6 HD sessions) in each patient in a randomized order decided by drawing lots. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning and end of the HD session from the blood tubing at the arterial (A) site. At 60 min after the initiation of dialysis, blood samples were obtained from the blood tubing at both the A and venous (V) sites of the dialyzer. Results The plasma IRI levels decreased significantly at the sites an hour after initiating HD in all membranes. The clearance of IRI was significantly higher in the case of the PS membrane when compared with the CTA and PEPA membranes. Conclusions It was concluded that plasma insulin is cleared by HD, and the rate differs for each membrane. Plasma insulin clearance with the PS membrane is higher than that with the PEPA and CTA membranes.

Background: Though different high-flux dialyzers are available, there are no comparative studies on their glycemic control effects on diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this crossover study, we compared the effects of polysulfone (PS) and polyester-polymer alloy (PEPA) dialyzers. Methods: We recruited 47 diabetic HD patients. The conventional dialyzers were replaced with PS or PEPA dialyzers and the patients were treated for 16 weeks. Subsequently, after interchanging the PS and PEPA dialyzers, the treatment continued for another 16 weeks. For each dialyzer, we analyzed the glycemic control effect and measured their clearance and reduction rates of insulin. Results: The PEPA dialyzer lowered the glycated albumin (GA) levels more significantly than the PS dialyzer. While the groups exhibited no differences in metabolic parameters, the clearance and reduction rates of insulin were more significant in the PS. A significant decrease was observed in the levels of GA, fasting plasma glucose, and glycated hemoglobin in patients with lower fasting C-peptide levels (< 6.0 ng/ml). Conclusion: Glycemic control in diabetic HD patients is affected by the type of dialyzer used. Our results indicate that the PEPA dialyzer is more potent in controlling glycemia than the PS dialyzer in diabetic HD patients.

Aims Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a combination of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and increased blood pressure. In this study, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of pioglitazone in the treatment of diabetic patients with hypertension undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Methods An open-label, randomized study was performed using 40 subjects assigned to two groups: one group (pioglitazone group) was administered an add-on pioglitazone therapy (fixed dose, 30 mg) plus conventional oral antidiabetic agents, and the other group (control group) was administered conventional oral agents alone. The treatment efficacy was determined by monitoring the glycemic control and insulin resistance, which were assessed based on the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The safety of and tolerance to the drug were determined by monitoring clinical and laboratory parameters. Results Pioglitazone was effective in reducing the plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels from the baseline values, beginning at 4 weeks of treatment. It was also effective in reducing the triglyceride levels. The HOMA-IR decreased significantly in the pioglitazone group, and this decrease was maintained until the last measurement, which was at 24 weeks. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were statistically lower in the pioglitazone group than in the control group. No serious adverse effects were observed in any of the patients. Conclusions Pioglitazone is safe and effective for the treatment of Type 2-diabetic patients undergoing HD therapy. A daily dose of 30 mg pioglitazone is sufficient for treating HD patients, regardless of whether or not they are obese. Furthermore, pioglitazone reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in our patients, and this effect requires further investigation.

Aims Unfortunately, clinicians are diagnosing a growing number of patients on hemodialysis (HD) with insulin-resistant, Type 2 diabetes in Japan. While alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (alpha-GI) such as oral antidiabetic agents are indicated for Japanese diabetics on HD, pioglitazone and other PPARgamma agonists are now contraindicated. No prospective study has evaluated the use of thiazolidinediones in diabetics with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in combination with alpha-GI. In this study we evaluated the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone in Japanese diabetics on HD. Methods An open-label randomized study was performed on 31 Type 2 diabetics on HD with unstable glycemic control receiving constant doses of voglibose. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: a combination therapy group (pioglitazone group) administered pioglitazone (fixed dose 30 mg) plus voglibose, and a monotherapy group (control group) administered voglibose alone. The efficacy of the treatments was determined by monitoring glycemic control (plasma glucose and HbA1c) and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-R). Safety and tolerance were determined by monitoring clinical and laboratory parameters. Results The pioglitazone was effective in reducing plasma glucose and HbA1c from the baseline levels from Week 4 onward. It was also effective in reducing triglycerides. HOMA-R decreased significantly at 4 weeks in the pioglitazone group, and the decrease continued up to the last measurement at Week 12. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures at 4 weeks were statistically lower in the pioglitazone group than in the control group. No serious adverse effects such as hypoglycemia, liver impairment or rhabdomyolysis were observed in any of the patients. Conclusions Pioglitazone was safe and effective as a treatment for diabetics on dialysis therapy. The 30 mg daily dose of pioglitazone was sufficient for Japanese HD patients, obese and nonobese alike. The combination therapy of pioglitazone with voglibose will add to the list of first-line drug treatments for glycemic control in uremic Type 2 diabetes.

The objective of this study was to describe one aspect of the reported quality of life (QOL) (according to the Aristotelian-Thomistic philosophical theory of the good life) of a selected group of children and adolescents whose parents were being treated by dialysis therapy for renal failure.An exploratory descriptive design was used.Twenty-five children and adolescents ranging in age from 8 to 16 years, selected on a convenience basis, participated in the study. The setting was a major renal treatment program in Western Canada.Semi-structured interviews were held with children and adolescents privately, in their homes, once a week for two to three weeks. The interview data were subjected to content analysis.Generally, the children and adolescents seemed to possess the real goods necessary for a good life. However, they appeared to need more goods of the mind: (a) an intellective good--more information about how their various family members were feeling, and (b) decreased fear in relation to their parents' condition and treatments. Also, they discussed the need for carefree family vacations, an instrumental means to sensory pleasure--a bodily good.Overall, the QOL of this group of children and adolescents seemed to be good. The parents' renal disease and dialysis therapy had an impact on the children's lives in that sometimes it interfered with and sometimes it facilitated attainment of real goods. Further study is required to examine the effects on the QOL of children and adolescents regarding dialysis modality, age/gender of the child or adolescent, and stage of treatment.

Seven patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis three times a week and whose plasma bicarbonate concentration on predialysis was consistently under 18 mmol/l due to bicarbonate dialysis (BCD), were treated with BCD for 2 weeks, then switched to acetate-free biofiltration (AFB) for 8 weeks. In both periods, the same high flux dialyzer (AN69HF) was used. The treatment time, dialysate flow rate and blood flow rate were kept constant in each patient during both periods. Plasma bicarbonate concentration (HCO3-), serum urea nitrogen (SUN), serum creatinine (Cr) and plasma amino acids concentrations (AA) were measured before dialysis and KT/V was calculated on the 2nd days of the last week in both periods. HCO3- on AFB was significantly higher than that on BCD (16.4 +/- 0.9 vs 19.9 +/- 1.8 mmol/l; p0.05). SUN on AFB was significantly lower than that on BCD even though the dialysis schedule and dietary content were not changed (84.7 +/- 3.7 vs 76.6 +/- 3.8 mg/dl; p0.05). TP, Cr and KT/V were not significantly different. Plasma total amino acid concentration (TAA) and plasma essential amino acid concentration (EAA) were not significantly different in both periods. In contrast, plasma branched-chain amino acid concentrations (BCAA) on AFB were significantly higher than that on BCD (313.5 +/- 44.3 vs 390.3 +/- 50.7 mumol/l; p0.05). Plasma BCAA concentrations, valine (VAL), leucine (LEU) and isoleucine (ILE), were significantly higher on AFB than that on BCD, respectively (p0.05). These findings suggest that optimal correction of the metabolic acidosis in chronic hemodialysis patients by AFB leads to a significant increase in plasma BCAA concentration.

This is a case report of 56-year-old man complaining of dysphasia. Upon admission, his chest X-ray film revealed medium amount of fluid accumulation in the right pleural space. Cytological examination of the aspirated fluid revealed nothing particular. Preoperative radiological examination including esophagogram, CT and MRI demonstrated cystic appearance of mass lesion, measuring approximately 5 cm in size located in posterior aspect of the lower portion of the mediastinum. Upon operation, it was found that a tumor with pedunculated connection to the esophageal muscle layer, suspecting diagnosis of leiomyoma of the esophagus. Then, tumor was removed together with the part of esophageal muscle. Postoperative pathology reported leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus with low grade malignancy. We added no esophagectomy. He made uneventful recovery without no sign of recurrence of the malignancy, 4 years after the surgery.

To investigate whether the nutritional improvement achieved by recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment is the result of anemia correction with rHuEPO or the direct anabolic effects of rHuEPO per se, nutritional assessment was performed in 2 studies (study I and II) on hemodialysis (HD) patients. Nutritional assessment included blood biochemistry determinations, anthropometric measurements, daily protein intake (DPI) and dialysis efficiency. In study I, 5 HD patients who had not been given rHuEPO and had a hematocrit (Hct) ofor = 25%, were administered rHuEPO at the initial dose of 96.2 U/kgBW. Nutritional assessment of these patients was performed before rHuEPO treatment and every 4 weeks until the 24th week after rHuEPO treatment. In study II, the same nutritional assessment as in study I except for DPI, was performed in 2 groups with the same Hct level and dialysis regimen; an EPO group (n = 8) previously given rHuEPO (88.2 +/- 13.7 U/kgBW, 25.8 +/- 2.5 mos) and a non-EPO group (n = 8) not given rHuEPO. In study I, the mean Hct level was significantly increased 4 weeks after rHuEPO treatment (23.3 +/- 0.6 to 26.9 +/- 0.9%). However, the nutritional parameters and dialysis efficiency were nearly constant over 24 weeks, suggesting either the absence of a short-term direct anabolic effect of rHuEPO or masking of such an effect due to general condition improvement by anemia correction with rHuEPO. In study II, no significant differences in nutritional assessment were confirmed between the groups, suggesting that a long-term direct anabolic effect of rHuEPO may not exist and nutritional improvement may result from correction of anemia with rHuEPO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We investigated how long continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) could be continued in the face of peritoneal sclerosis. 15 CAPD patients with no experience of peritonitis were selected and the time limitation for CAPD was examined retrospectively, based on the dialysate osmolality, serum creatinine concentration, etc.. The values for the dialysate osmolality and serum creatinine concentration increased gradually with the duration of CAPD and were significantly increased from 6 months. 5 patients whose serum creatinine concentration during the first 6 months after initiation of CAPD increased more than 5 mg/dl, could not continue CAPD for more than 24 months because of the appearance of peritoneal membrane failure. When the time limitation for CAPD was assessed in 10 stable patients, close relationships between the mean dialysate osmolality and duration of CAPD (Y = 0.52X + 351.25, r = 0.83, P0.01), and between the mean serum creatinine concentration and duration of CAPD (Y = 0.18X + 6.84, r = 0.95, P0.001) were recognized. If the practical limitation for CAPD was set at 400 mOsm/l in terms of the dialysate osmolality or 20 mg/dl in terms of serum creatinine concentration, its value became 94.1 months or 73.1 months, respectively. It is concluded that the time limitation for CAPD can be expected to be approximately 6 to 8 years in stable CAPD patients, and we need to resolve CAPD-induced problems involving the peritoneal membrane in order to continue CAPD for more than 10 years.

Three cases of bone sarcomas arising in fibrous dysplasia (FD) without prior radiation therapy were reported. One of the tumors was a conventional osteoblastic osteosarcoma (OS) and the other two were malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH). The lesion of FD was monostotic in two patients and polyostocic (monomelic) in one. Bone sarcomas and FD were detected simultaneously in all cases. One of the MFH cases died 6 months after diagnosis, and the other MFH case and the OS case are alive without disease 3 years and one and a half years after surgery, respectively. Conservative treatment has been selected in most of the patients of FD. We should closely follow up these patients, because bone sarcomas such as OS and MFH could arise at the site of FD. This is the first report of the cases of MFH of bone arising in FD.

A case of adamantinoma of the humerus with Ewing-like pathological features has been reported. In addition to the unusual pathological features, the apparently juxtacortical location of the lesion is of great interest--also a highly unusual feature for an adamantinoma.

A case of a 33-year-old man with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCP) was reported with a referential consideration to the adult type of ALCP previously reported in Japan. The patient visited our hospital for further examination of cardiac murmur detected on a mass physical checkup. He was found to have a continuous murmur, the loudest in the left sternal border of 3rd intercostal space, and developed evidence of ischemia during the exercise stress test in the ECG leads of L2, L3, aVF, and V2 through V6. In addition, studies using echocardiography and color Doppler-echocardiography detected a hypertrophied intraventricular septum and a pattern of turbulent blood flow in the proximal pulmonary artery. Cardiac catheterization and aortography proved the existence of ALCP with a markedly developed collateral circulation from the right coronary artery to the left coronary artery. After surgical restoration by ligating the anomalous opening of the left coronary artery, and by bypass grafting to the left coronary artery, it was clear that dilation and kinking of the right coronary artery was lessened and hypoperfusion in the anterior left ventricular wall was improved. As far as we know, this case is the 35th of adult type ALCP reported in our country. Results from this case and others suggest that early detection and therapy for adult type ALCP is important from the point of view preventing ischemic progression, and indicate that restoration by ligation and bypass grafting may be one of the effective surgical procedures for ALCP.

We investigated changes in coronary venous oxygen saturation (CSO2-Sat) dynamics during intracoronary infusion of ergonovine (ERG) or acetylcholine (ACh) in patients with vasospastic angina. In 16 patients with suspected vasospasm in the left coronary artery, intracoronary ERG injection provoked vasospasm in 4 out of 6 patients, and intracoronary ACh in 6 out of 11 patients. A gradual decrease in CSO2-Sat, anteceding angina and ischemic ECG evidence, was characteristic in ERG-induced vasospastic patients, while no significant change of CSO2-Sat was observed in non ERG-induced patients. Intracoronary infusion of ACh was followed in all 11 patients by a transient increase in CSO2-Sat, suggesting decreased myocardial oxygen extraction due to increased coronary blood flow with ACh. However, earlier and sudden decreases in CSO2-Sat below the control levels were characteristic in 6 patients with ACh-induced vasospastic angina. These findings suggest that effects of ERG and ACh on coronary flow dynamics are essentially different although both drugs can provoke vasospasm.

Coronary sinus oxygen saturation (CSO2-Sat) was measured continuously using a fiberoptic catheter system during interventional catheterization, i.e., pacing stress test and ergonovine provocation test to determine whether such measurement can detect myocardial ischemia. Subjects consisted of 24 patients who underwent routine cardiac catheterization; 14 patients with effort angina, 3 with old myocardial infarction and 3 with valvular heart disease were assigned to pacing stress test, and 4 with vasospastic angina were assigned to ergonovine provocation test. The results were as follows: 1. Among 14 patients with effort angina, ischemic electrocardiographic changes occurred in 10 patients during pacing stress test. Of these 10 patients, CSO2-Sat decreased in 8 with ischemic electrocardiographic changes. All patients with decrease in CSO2-Sat had significant left coronary artery stenosis. CSO2-Sat continued to decrease throughout intervention and never came back to the baseline. Decrease in CSO2-Sat was more than 5% in most of the cases. 2. In all patients with vasospastic angina, coronary vasospasm was induced by the ergonovine provocation test. CSO2-Sat declined (5%) gradually, preceding anginal pain and ischemic ST segment changes. The present study suggests that continuous monitoring of coronary sinus oxygen saturation may be useful in detecting myocardial ischemia at its early stage, except for patients with right coronary artery disease.

To estimate myocardial oxygen extraction dynamics in the situation of increased myocardial oxygen requirement, we made a continuous measurement of coronary venous oxygen saturation (CSO2-Sat) using the fiberoptic catheter system and a measurement of myocardial lactate extraction ratio (MLER) in 14 patients. Ten patients showed ischemic ST depression and/or anginal episodes during the pacing loading, while 4 patients did not. Although transient decreases in CSO2-Sat were observed in the non-ischemic 4 patients immediately after the initiation of pacing or with the increase in pacing rate. CSO2-Sat and MLER remained almost unchanged from the start of pacing to the time of maximal pacing. However, in the 10 patients who developed ischemia, CSO2-Sat fell from 39.5 +/- 1.8% before pacing to 32.9 +/- 2.8% at the time of maximal pacing (p less than 0.05), with an average decrease of 6.6 +/- 2.8%. Data of MLER obviously indicated the appearance of myocardial ischemia (32.1 +/- 4.7% to 9.2 +/- 10.3%, p less than 0.05). These findings suggest that myocardial oxygen extraction will increase transiently or continuously to meet the myocardial oxygen demand when increase in coronary blood flow is limited. Continuous measurement of coronary venous saturation may be useful for the early detection of myocardial ischemia.

To investigate diastolic dynamics of the left ventricle in postextrasystolic (PES) beats during myocardial ischemia induced by rapid atrial pacing (RAP), transmitral blood flow velocity was evaluated using pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 13 subjects. The subjects consisted of eight patients with ischemic heart disease and five healthy subjects. An atrial extrasystole was artificially induced before and immediately after RAP, while the transmitral flow velocity was recorded continuously. The ratio of the early peak diastolic velocity to the peak atrial velocity (A/E) on PES beat was less than that in a basic beat without an extrasystole. The A/E increased in the PES beat in four patients who experienced myocardial ischemia; whereas, other patients and the normals showed a decrease in the A/E in the PES beat even after RAP. These findings indicated that left ventricular dynamics coupled with left atrial contraction are quite different in myocardial ischemic and nonischemic situations, and that postextrasystolic potentiation may be a useful means of detecting the ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

To determine whether patients with syndrome X suffer from myocardial ischemia, coronary sinus oxygen saturation was continuously measured during pacing loading in 31 patients. Subjects were categorized by groups as syndrome X (11 patients), effort angina (14), and old myocardial infarction and valvular heart disease (6). Pacing loading induced evidence of ischemia in all syndrome X patients and in eight of the 11 patients with effort angina, while there was no such evidence in those with old myocardial infarction and valvular heart disease. Coronary sinus oxygen saturation in syndrome X decreased significantly from 44.2 +/- 5.8% to 33.5 +/- 4.4% (p less than 0.01), and it decreased from 47.0 +/- 4.9% to 31.2 +/- 4.0% (p less than 0.01) in effort angina with induced ischemic evidence, indicating that a significant reduction in coronary sinus oxygen saturation reflects the presence of myocardial ischemia. In the group with old myocardial infarction and valvular heart disease, coronary sinus oxygen saturation remained nearly unchanged during pacing. The pattern of depression of coronary sinus oxygen saturation during pacing was steeper in effort angina than in syndrome X. Therefore, we conclude that, although syndrome-X may not be a homogeneous group of patients, most of them may develop myocardial ischemia due to reduced vasodilator reserves of the small coronary artery.

To evaluate left ventricular mechanical energy efficiency and ventriculo-arterial coupling in humans, left ventricular pressure-volume relations were determined using the conductance catheter technique in 20 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. The results were as follows: 1. A convex, curvilinear relationship was observed between end-systolic pressure-volume relations (Emax) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), as shown in the equation of EF = 28.5 x log (Emax) + 39.6 (r = 0.67, p less than 0.01, n = 20); EF remained nearly constant in the range of Emax greater than or equal to 4 mmHg/ml/m2, whereas, EF decreased markedly under the Emax of 4 mmHg/ml/m2. 2. A convex, curvilinear relationship was observed between Emax and mechanical energy efficiency (EW/PVA), as shown in the equation of EW/PVA = 30.5 x log (Emax) + 54.8 (r = 0.83, p less than 0.01, n = 16). 3. A concave, curvilinear relationship was observed between Emax and ventriculo-arterial coupling (Ea/Emax), as shown in the equation of Ea/Emax = -0.8 x (Emax)0.5 + 2.6 (r = -0.85, p less than 0.01, n = 16). Accordingly, EW/PVA was markedly decreased with changes in Emax in the range less than 4 mmHg/ml/m2, although it remained slightly increased above 4 mmHg/ml/m2. Ea/Emax was maintained constant (p less than 0.5) in the range of Emax above 4 mmHg/ml/m2 but was abruptly decreased when Emax was reduced below 4 mmHg/ml/m2. These results indicate that depressed left ventricle attempts to work effectively at the risk of mechanical energy efficiency and with suitable matching by aortic property. Application of pressure-volume relationships provides a new framework for evaluation and treatment of the failing heart.

Rhabdomyosarcoma manifested as a systemic disease is very rare and cases showing diffuse metastasis in the bone marrow are most unusual. Recently we encountered two cases of rhabdomyosarcoma with diffuse bone marrow metastasis which were clinically manifested as acute leukemia. The first patient was a 15-year-old female, who was admitted in 1982 with pancytopenia and many large primitive cells in bone marrow aspirates, hematological malignancy being diagnosed. Thereafter the bilateral breasts showed rapid swelling and a biopsy specimen revealed the histological features of typical alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. The primary site of the neoplasm remained undetermined during the course. At autopsy, it was disclosed that the neoplasm originated from the left thigh and showed generalized metastasis. The second patient was a 38-year-old man, who was admitted in 1986 because of a nasal polyp obstructing the nasal cavity, and persistent nasal bleeding. Peripheral blood samples showed leukoerythroblastosis and thrombocytopenia, and large primitive cells were found in bone marrow aspirates, so that hematological malignancy was initially diagnosed. A biopsy specimen of the nasal polyp showed proliferation of large round cells and electron microscopy demonstrated the ultrastructural features of rhabdomyosarcoma.

A case of acute myocardial infarction due to the lesion in the left main coronary artery was reported. A 50-year male was referred to our department for suspected acute myocardial infarction. Physical examination on admission revealed slight cyanosis with cold sweating due to severe chest pain. Pulse was irregular and heart rate was 78 beats/min. Blood pressure was 100/80 mmHg. A series of electrocardiograms (ECG) and laboratory data provided the diagnosis of wide-ranged anterolateral infarction in the left ventricle. Emergency coronary angiograms taken without delay showed a subtotal occlusion (99% stenosis) of the left main coronary trunk (LMT) before the initiation of intracoronary thrombolysis (PTCR). Following the intracoronary infusion of urokinase of 1,200,000 units, symptoms and ECG changes transiently improved but worsened later, and LMT stenotic lesion and delayed filling of myocardium were similar with before PTCR. Emergency coronary-aorto bypass graft (CABG) was undertaken without a significant delay to both the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX). With these treatments, the patient could survive despite the wide area of infarction due to LMT lesion. Coronary angiograms performed 37 days after the CABG showed that the graft to LAD was completely occluded and the LCX graft was patent with partial stenosis. Treadmill test at this time induced an anginal episode with ischemic ECG changes on moderate exercise, indicating the presence of significant area of ischemic myocardium. For salvage of the ischemic myocardium, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was successfully performed for the LMT stenosis, resulting in no episode of angina nor ischemic ECG changes during exercise loading.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epulis osteoplastica was examined with soft X-ray radiography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe X-ray microanalizer (EPMA). Extracted epulis tissue from the incisor region of mandible was offered to this examination. The soft X-ray radiograms showed well defined radiopaque trabecular structures in the soft tissue. The pathological findings with HE staining revealed that these structures were bone tissues. The SEM images demonstrated irregularly shaped trabecular structures with fine bone tissues. The EPMA images obtained from the same specimen supported the findings.

Right ventricular wall images of ischemic heart disease were evaluated during exercise myocardial scintigraphy using thallium-201. Among 33 subjects, ten were normal controls, 11 had left coronary artery disease (LAD group), 12 had right coronary artery disease (RCA group), all of whom received exercise myocardial scintigraphy. The submaximal or symptom-related ergometer exercise test was performed by the protocol being with 25 watt (W) loading, and then increased by 25 W every 3 min, while 3 mCi thallium-201 were injected intravenously at the maximal exercise point. Early imaging was obtained 5 min after exercise; delayed imagings, 1 and 4 hours after exercise. Early imaging and delayed imaging at 4 hours after exercise were obtained in the AP, lateral, LAO 30 degrees, LAO 45 degrees, and LAO 60 degrees projections. Only the LAO 45 degrees was obtained for delayed imaging 1 hour after exercise. To assess the radioactivity in the right ventricular wall, with regions of interest (ROI) in the upper part of the right ventricle [RV (U)] lower part of the right ventricle [RV (L)] and the most radioactive region in the left ventricle [LV (P)], we calculated the count ratio of the RV(U) or RV(L) to the LV(P) and defined it as the RV uptake ratio [RV(U)/LV(P)] or [RV(L)/LV(P)]. The results obtained were as follows: There were no significant changes in the RV uptake ratio between the early and delayed images both in the control and LAD groups, but the RV uptake ratio decreased significantly in the delayed images compared with an early image in the RCA group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Among 4,030 autopsies, 67 cases of fulminant hepatic failure were selected and studied from a pathological viewpoint. No sex difference in incidence was seen and the patients' age ranged very widely from 3 months to 78 years, showing comparatively high risk in the 20 s and 30 s in both sexes. Hepatitis virus was the most common cause, followed by toxic chemicals, shock, etc. Histopathological study revealed severe and extensive hepatic cell necrosis as the most conspicuous and common change of the liver, which was pathomorphologically quite similar to that experimentally produced by focal intravascular coagulation in rabbit. This evidence, as well as pathological findings of the other organs obtained at autopsy and the patients' reported clinical course, including laboratory data, were consistent with our proposal of a pathological disease entity, fulminant liver disease, which corresponds to the clinical symptom-complex known as fulminant hepatic failure. It is suggested that the characteristic feature of acute, severe and extensive hepatic cell necrosis which is seen in such cases is probably a result of an anoxic state caused in most instances by intrahepatic circulatory disturbances. Besides, we consider that fulminant liver disease can be regarded as a group of systemic diseases with the main focus of illness in the liver, rather than a specific disease of a single organ, the liver.

A case of alveolar soft part sarcoma was studied by light and electron microscopy and by electron microscopic enzyme histochemistry of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and 5'nucleotidase(5'Nase). The tumor showed distinct alveolar pattern and diastase resistant PAS positive crystalline inclusions were found in the cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally, characteristic rhomboid crystals and dense granules were observed and they were positive for Mg++- and Ca++-ATPases but negative for 5'Nase. Tumor cell membrane also showed positive activity of ATPase in addition to 5'Nase. These results would support the myogenous derivation of alveolar soft part sarcoma.