2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a highly toxic halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, is a teratogen to induce cleft palate when exposed during the pregnancy. There are inter-strain differences in the sensitivity to cleft palate induced by TCDD and other chemicals including polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs). The C57BL/6 mouse and the ddY mouse had been shown to be different in the induction of cleft palate following the treatment of PCTs, which attempts us to evaluate the TCDD-induced cleft palate in two mouse strains to understand the mechanism through which TCDD and PCTs induce cleft palate. This study evaluated the induction of cleft palate in the fetuses of ddY and C57BL/6 mice after subcutaneous treatment of TCDD on gestation day (GD) 10.5-14.5 or oral treatment on GD 8.5-13.5. Our results clearly showed that ddY mice, a susceptible strain to PCTs-induced cleft palate, are resistant to the induction of cleft palate by TCDD comparably to the high susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice, suggesting a different teratological mechanism between TCDD and PCTs. In addition, at the low doses, our study supported the concept of "window effect" of TCDD on around GD 12 for the induction of cleft palate in C57BL/6 and ddY mice.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cleft Palate/chemically induced/genetics/pathology/*veterinary ; Female ; Fetal Diseases/chemically induced/mortality/veterinary ; Incidence ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Mice ; *Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polychloroterphenyl Compounds/toxicity ; Pregnancy ; Rodent Diseases/*chemically induced/genetics/pathology ; Teratogens/*toxicity ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin/administration & dosage/*toxicity

Retrograde cardioplegia is now an alternative or adjunctive method used worldwide as a cardiac protection during open heart surgery. However, its use involves some limitation. We operated on a patient suffering from aortic stenosis associated with PLSVC. During the operation on this patient for aortic valve replacement, retrograde infusion of cardioplegic solution could not be performed because the coronary sinus was excessively dilated and prevented the balloon from occluding it. Other anomalous lesion of the coronary sinus make the retrograde infusion of the cardioplegic solution difficult and these must always be kept in mind when cardioplegia is infused from the coronary sinus.

A 64-year-old man with a history of anterior blunt trauma 10 years previously was admitted to our hospital complaining of general fatigue. A plain chest roentgenogram showed pericardial calcification. Computed tomography and echocardiography showed the mass to be a calcified capsule in the anterior mediastinum compressing the right side of the heart. He underwent an operation through a median sternotomy. The mass was an organized hematoma encapsulated by a calcified fibrous and serous layer of the pericardium. The hematoma was resected together with the calcified pericardium under cardiopulmonary bypass. His postoperative course was uneventful. He had no history of hemopericardium but had experienced blunt chest trauma that seemed to have induced the subsequent localized constrictive pericarditis.

Objective: Self-medication is promoted to extend healthy life expectancy. Accordingly, it is important for general consumers to properly use over-the-counter drugs. We investigated whether graphical symbols to visually aid the understanding of drug information (i.e., precautions and instructions to consult with a medical professional) provided in over-the-counter drug package inserts are easily understood in light of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) criterion of 66％ comprehension. Methods: First, two questionnaire surveys were conducted with pharmacy students to calculate their comprehension level of the illustrations. The first round was for modifying illustrations that did not meet the ISO standard, and the second round was for seeing if comprehension had improved. Then, a questionnaire survey targeting general consumers was conducted to see if these illustrations functioned as graphical symbols. Results: When the referent of “Do not take this medicine if your experience falls under the following conditions” was placed in the upper left corner of the symbol, some students answered that this meant, “If you do not take this medicine, you will be under the following conditions,” but when it was placed in the lower right corner, many students accurately understood the intended information. In the student surveys, one illustration each for “cannot be taken/under treatment/heart,” “cannot be taken/under treatment/stomach,” “cannot be taken/under treatment/liver,” and “cannot be taken/under treatment/kidney” all exceeded 66％. Since none of the illustrations exceeded the 66％ comprehension in the survey of general consumers, it was found to be difficult for general consumers to understand drug information from the present illustrations. However, there were several illustrations that improved in comprehension compared to the previous study, which makes the continuation of this study significant. Conclusion: Although there were no illustrations exceeded 66％ comprehension of general consumers, the study shows that continued improvement may result in establishing pictograms for general consumers.