L-Arginine (Arg) and related amino acids are involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide (NO), is generated by vascular endothelial cells from Arg. In this study, high purity N^ω-hydroxy-L-arginine (OHArg), an intermediate in the pathway generating NO, was synthesized, and the effects of Arg and OHArg on endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation were examined.
OHArg caused a significant relaxation of endothelium-intact rat aortic rings that had been contracted by norepinephrine. OHArg was more potent than Arg at aortic relaxation (OHArg_ED80 =10^-7.4M versus Arg_ED80 10^-5.5M). Neither OHArg nor Arg relaxed the endothelium-denuded or NO synthase-inhibited aortic rings. These results suggest that OHArg is more potent than Arg at inducing vascular relaxation that is endothelium-dependent and NO synthase-dependent. OHArg may be useful in the treatment of hypertension and in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

View full abstract

Mass screening examination data in 46 districts in Gunma Prefecture were analyzed. Regarding serum total cholesterol levels, women 90 years old or more were fewer in higher cholesterol level districts. On the other hand, men 90 years old or more were fewer in districts with either higher or lower cholesterol levels.
Serum total cholesterol levels, blood pressure and stature in each district appeared to be related to annual income. Multiple regression analysis, however, showed that the main variables contributing to the serum total cholesterol levels in each district were stature and minimum blood pressure.

View full abstract

Every physician wants to know the results of various clinical tests as soon as the patients finishes them. The data of blood tests are easily found in a hospital information system which has been introduced into almost major hospitals in Japan. Considering clinico-physiological tests such as electrocardiography (ECG), however, the charts are usually stored in the traditional ways in hospitals, and are hard to bring out on demand. We constructed a new computer-aided system to manage the charts and the interpretation of these tests, and connected it to our hospital information system (Gunma University Network for Medical · Hospital Information Archiving System : GUNMAS). The digitalized charts and the interpretations from ECG (MAC-VU, Marquette Co., USA) are stored in the system and are presented in the physician's workstation. As for echo cardiography and electroencephalography, only interpretations by specialists are managed and presented in the workstation on the physician's demand. The systems presented herein allowed us to perform and convenient clinical activities.

View full abstract

Respiratory function test and arterial blood gas analysis before and after 2-month rehabilitation programs in a pool filled with 38°C hot-spring water were examined in 20 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated at our hospital between 1994 and 1996. Eight patients (62. 8±16.7years old, 4 with asthma and 4 with emphysema) and 12 patients (73.0±5.6years old, 6 with asthma and 6 with emphysema) performed every day-and every other day-exercise, respectively. The ratio of forced expired volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV_1.0%) was significantly increased after the every day-exercise program (p <0.05), while that after every other day-exercise was not changed. The ratio of vital capacity to the predicted normal value (%VC), peak flow, maximal expiratory flow at 25% (V₂₅) were not changed in the two methods. PaO₂ was significantly increased while PaCO₂ was significantly decreased by both programs (p < 0.01). The decrease in PaCO₂ and increase in PaO₂ by every day-exercise were greater than those by every other day-exercise. The changes in respiratory function and arterial blood gas were considered to be due to respiratory muscle training, expiration into water and small airway clearance. Though both exercise programs were useful in COPD, every day-exercise was more effective.

View full abstract

We observed ultrastructural changes in benign prostatic hyperplastic tissues after transurethral balloon laser thermotherapy (TUBAL-T) by using a transmission electron microscope. Specimens, which were treated between 45 and 50°C for 40 minutes, were obtained by transperineal biopsy from five patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Immediately after the treatment, the prostatic epithelium showed chromatin aggregation and pyknotic changes in the nuclei, and the cytoplasmic organelles and the cell membrane were destroyed. In the smooth muscle cells, the chromatin in the nucleus was aggregated, and the cytoplasmic organelles and the cell membrane were destroyed. In the vasculature, the endothelial cells were swollen, with edematous changes of the cytoplasm, and intraplasmic organelles were destroyed. White blood cells attached to the endothelial cells and leukostasis were observed. Vascular changes were strongest immediately after TUBAL-T, and changes in epithelial and smooth muscle cells were minimal.

View full abstract

A 69-year-old man with lung cancer associated with sarcoidosis is reported. An eye lesion and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) were detected, and sarcoidosis was diagnosed from these clinical findings. During 8 years of follow up, his chest X-P showed a tumor shadow in the left lower lung field. He was admitted to Gunma University Hospital and was diagnosed lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) by bronchofiberscopic histology. Serum levels of CEA, SCC, and ACE were elevated on admission. The patient was treated with radiation to a total dose of 70Gy. The tumor in the lower lobe was disappeared, and BHL decreased after radiotherapy. Lung cancer associated with sarcoidosis is uncommon.

View full abstract

We describe the successful use of percutaneous aspiration thrombolectomy (PAT) to retrieve an embolus from the distal superficial femoral artery using a guide catheter. This 79-year-old Japanese man with atrial fibrillation was referred to our hospital soon after developing abdominal pain with rectal bleeding. His right leg had previously been amputated. Failure to diagnose superior mesenteric artery thromboembolism resulted in small bowel infarction that required surgical resection. On the 20th day of hospitalization, the patient developed acute ischemia in the left leg. An emergency antegrade femoral arteriogram of the left leg demonstrated embolic occlusion of the distal superficial femoral artery. PAT was performed with a 7F guiding catheter, which is usually reserved for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Successful clot retrieval and limb salvage were achieved. Periodic examination after aspiration embolectomy verified the absence of rhabdomyolysis.

View full abstract

A 28-year-old man was referred to Gunma University Hospital for his hard nodule in his left testis. Ultrasonography showed hyperechoic mass with irregular margin. Serum tumor marker levels were within normal limit. Calcified element of mature teratoma or burned-out tumor was suspected. Left inguinal orchiectomy specimen showed epidermoid cyst of the testis with calcified capsule. We reported this case with some discussion on the treatment of epidermoid cyst of the testis.

View full abstract