To determine whether the ethlenbisdithiocarbamate fungicides, zineb, manzeb and maneb affect the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in rat brain membranes, we performed a binding assay using [3H]MK-801, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. Displacement studies were conducted using well washed membranes to exclude the effect of endogenous acidic amino acids on the binding of [3H]MK-801. In both the presence or absence of added glutamate and glycine in the assay buffer, the dose-response curve indicated that zineb enhanced the binding in a concentration range of 100-500 μM. However, the displacement curves indicated that manzeb and maneb inhibited the binding in a concentration range of 10-500 μM. The addition of 50 μM glutamate and glycine to the assay medium increased binding by 5-20% above the control in a concentration range of 0.1-100 μM. No rats injected with zineb, manzeb, maneb (100 mg/kg, ip) showed any characteristic toxic signs or any significant weight changes within 24 hrs. Estimation of [3H]MK-801 binding to unwashed membranes from intoxicated rat brains revealed no marked change in Bmax or Kd values for 24 hrs following fungicide administration.
binding ; Upper case emm ; Fungicide, NOS ; MK-801 ; assay

Teaching evaluations have been performed since 2002 in the Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University. The effects of evaluations over a 3-year period were assessed, and free comments obtained from students were analyzed with the textmining method to identify factors affecting students' satisfaction. A total of 566 lectures given in undergraduate courses were evaluated, and 33, 751 questionnaires were collected for a recovery rate of 74%. The collected questionnaires included 2495 free comments. Each free comment was parsed word by word, and the nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs were selected as key words. The scores for almost all questions on the questionnaire for the 2003 school year were significantly higher than those for the 2002 school year. However, no difference was found between the scores of the 2003 and 2004 school years. Analysis of the free comments suggested that a well-understood lecture improves student satisfaction and that teaching materials, such as handouts and slides, play an important role in the positive evaluation of lectures. The percentage of lectures receiving poor evaluations (scores less than 3) decreased yearly. This finding suggests that teaching evaluations are effective in helping faculty members with low scores to improve their lectures.

Recently, significant progress has been made in medical techniques for regenerating bone. However, bone evaluation techniques generally assess bone quantity as opposed to bone quality. The use of c-axis crystallite orientation of biological apatite (BAp) as a bone quality index has recently generated great interest. BAp demonstrates strong crystallographic anisotropy, and preferential alignment of BAp in each bone varies depending on the shape and stress conditions in vivo. In the mandible, complicated bone shape and stress conditions in vivo might be associated with both bone quantity and quality. In this study, we aimed to elucidate changes in the bone microstructure in the mandible using crystallographic orientation of BAp as a bone quality index. Using Crj: CD (SD) IGS female rats, we observed changes in the dentulous mandible during bone growth. Measuring points on the mandible were determined based on its positional relationship with the teeth. For analysis of bone quantity, the area and bone mineral density of cortical bone were evaluated using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), while the orientation of the BAp c-axis, as analyzed by a micro-beam X-ray diffraction system, was used to assess bone quality. The results of both bone quantity and quality assessments indicated that changes during bone growth varied depending on the presence of teeth. We concluded that the microstructure (especially the texture) of BAp crystallite changes in correlation with variations in stress distribution in vivo resulting from changes in chewing conditions designed to optimize the dynamic chewing function.

The aim of this study was to develop a new method for the determination of NO2 levels encountered in clinical settings as well as in environmental studies, using a bi−component atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry(APIMS). Hydrogen (1%) diluted in pure argon was ionized by corona discharge in the first ionization component. Fifty ml of the analyte diluted in 250ml of composite air or carbon dioxide (CO2) was introduced into the second ionization component and analyzed. When composite air was used as the sample carrier gas, NO in the analyte was oxygenated and there was an increase in the NO2 content from that in the original analyte. However, when CO2 was used as the sample carrier gas, the level of NO2 in the analyte could be determined because CO2 did not change the NO2 content from that in the original analyte. A calibration curve with good linearity was obtained using the UG−410 APIMS system, with a regression equation of Y(%)=5.513*10-2 X(ppb) and a detection limit of 0.9ppb. Since APIMS detects NO2 directly within its system, the concentration of NO does not need to be measured. This system may be of great help in the accurate detection and determination of the concentration of low levels of NO2 during inhaled NO therapy
Carbon Dioxide ; ionization ; Spectrum Analysis, Mass ; Direct type of resin cement ; Adjudication

Recently, significant progress has been made in medical techniques for regenerating bone. However, bone evaluation techniques generally assess bone quantity as opposed to bone quality. The use of c-axis crystallite orientation of biological apatite (BAp) as a bone quality index has recently generated great interest. BAp demonstrates strong crystallographic anisotropy, and preferential alignment of BAp in each bone varies depending on the shape and stress conditions in vivo. In the mandible, complicated bone shape and stress conditions in vivo might be associated with both bone quantity and quality. In this study, we aimed to elucidate changes in the bone microstructure in the mandible using crystallographic orientation of BAp as a bone quality index. Using Crj: CD (SD) IGS female rats, we observed changes in the dentulous mandible during bone growth. Measuring points on the mandible were determined based on its positional relationship with the teeth. For analysis of bone quantity, the area and bone mineral density of cortical bone were evaluated using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), while the orientation of the BAp c-axis, as analyzed by a micro-beam X-ray diffraction system, was used to assess bone quality. The results of both bone quantity and quality assessments indicated that changes during bone growth varied depending on the presence of teeth. We concluded that the microstructure (especially the texture) of BAp crystallite changes in correlation with variations in stress distribution in vivo resulting from changes in chewing conditions designed to optimize the dynamic chewing function.

OBJECTIVETributyltin (TBT) compounds have been widely used as antifouling agents for shipbottom paint. The immune system is a target of TBT intoxication. We evaluated the effects of TBT chloride in macrophages, which have critical roles in the immune system, using a murine macrophage lineage cell line, J774.1,in vitro.

METHODSWe examined tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) andc-jun mRNA expression in J774.1 cells. The effects of TBT on the apoptosis of J774.1 cells were examined by determining the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells and caspase-3 activity.

RESULTSThe mean values of the viabilities of J774.1 cells exposed to TBT decreased dose-dependently. The relative mRNA expression of TNFα increased dose-dependently, however, that of IL-1β was not significantly different among the groups. The mean percentage of TUNEL-positive cells increased dose-dependently. Increases in the caspase-3 activities of J774.1 cells were observed in the groups exposed to higher concentrations of TBT. The mean value of relative mRNA expression of c-Jun transcription factor increased dose-dependently.

CONCLUSIONSThe increases in the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells and in caspase-3 activity suggested that exposure to TBT induces apoptosis of J774.1 cells. The increases in the mRNA expression of TNFα andc-jun by TBT may be related to apoptosis in macrophages.

Acute encephalopathy is classified into multiple syndromes, such as acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD), clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) and acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), characterized radiologically by lesions in the cerebral subcortical white matter, splenium of the corpus callosum and bilateral thalami, respectively. We described a previously healthy 8-year-old boy who had febrile and biphasic seizures, and encephalopathy. MRI showed abnormal signal intensity in the corpus callosum on day 2 and cerebral subcortical white matter and bilateral thalamic lesions on day 8. This is the first case of acute encephalopathy in which callosal, subcortical and thalamic lesions co-existed. The clinical course of this case was typical for AESD, atypical for MERS, and different from that of ANE.
Brain Diseases

Splenic rupture can be divided into traumatic and atraumatic forms. Causes of atraumatic splenic rupture include hematologic disease, malignancy, and infection, all of which are extremely rare. An 80-year-old man complaining of left upper abdominal pain was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment. On arrival, his vital signs were stable, but contrastenhanced computed tomography showed a discontinuity of the splenic membrane and fluid accumulation in the perisplenic area and pelvic floor, suggestive of a hematoma. There was no history of trauma, and suspecting atraumatic splenic rupture, we performed an emergency splenectomy. The patient had a good postoperative course and was discharged on postoperative day 11. He had no previous hematologic disease, and there were no clinical findings suspicious of viral infection. Pathological diagnosis was also negative for malignancy, and idiopathic splenic rupture was diagnosed. We describe here this case of splenectomy for spontaneous splenic rupture.

The patient was a 75-year-old man with advanced rectal cancer underwent abdominoperineal resection and lymph node dissection as conversion surgery after chemotherapy. Intraoperatively, lateral lymph node metastasis was evident in internal iliac vasculature and was deemed unresectable, so chemotherapy was continued after the operation. Due to an elevation in tumor markers and the appearance of lung metastasis, S-1 + irinotecan + bevacizumab therapy was performed as third-line therapy. On day 22 of the third course, he was transported to our hospital with abdominal pain and nausea. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed adhesive bowel obstruction, and chemotherapy was discontinued. Restlessness and diplopia appeared after admission, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a high-intensity area on T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery images, mainly in the occipital lobe. Because neurological symptoms and imaging findings improved with symptomatic treatment, we diagnosed him with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Although this disease can develop in association with chemotherapy and, for example, eclampsia, sepsis, renal failure, and autoimmune disease, it is rare and we report this case together with a review of the literature.