Maxillary sinus carcinoma: result of radiation therapy

Four hundred and sixteen patients with carcinoma of the maxillary sinus received primary therapy consisting of external beam irradiation alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy at the Department of Radiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, between 1953 and 1982. In our institution, methods of treating cancer of the maxillary sinus have been changed from time to time and showed different control rates and clinical courses. An actuarial 10-year survival rate of 21% has been obtained by megavoltage irradiation alone as well as 34% actuarial 10-year survival rate by megavoltage irradiation with surgery. After the introduction of conservative surgery followed by conventional trimodal combination therapy (antrotomy: intraoral partial maxillectomy + radiation + intra-arterial infusion), the local control rate has been improved. The amount of functional, cosmetic, and brain damages have been remarkably decreased by this mode of therapy. The actuarial five year survival rate was 67%. In addition, along with the improvement of the local control rate, the control of nodal and distant organ metastases have been emerging as one of the important contributions to the prognosis of this disease.

Activity during active sleep of bulbar reticular neurons firing rhythmically during mastication in cats

Unitary activity was recorded from 17 bulbar reticular neurons, which fired rhythmically during mastication, in unanesthetized, spontaneously respiring cats during sleep and wakefulness. All these neurons showed the highest mean firing rate during food ingestion, and none of them showed any tonic discharge during active sleep. The results are discussed in terms of a functional differentiation of bulbar reticular inhibitory neurons projecting to jaw-closer motoneurons in relation to phasic inhibition during mastication and tonic inhibition during active sleep of jaw-closer motoneurons.

Role of medullary reticular neurons in the inhibition of trigeminal motoneurons during active sleep

We sought to identify those cells involved in the generation of atonia of the masseter muscles during active sleep. A neuronal population was examined in the medullary reticular formation which has been shown to project monosynaptically to trigeminal motoneurons and provide inhibitory input to them. These neurons exhibited a pattern of state-dependent discharge which was characterized by a tonic increase in firing frequency which paralleled the tonic decrease in somatomotor reflex activity (within the trigeminal system) in the continuum of wakefulness to quiet (NREM) sleep to active sleep. This population of cells discharged at extremely high rates during active sleep, especially during periods of rapid eye movements, when postsynaptic inhibitory control of motoneurons is most prominent. We therefore suggest that these medullary units are the inhibitory neurons which are responsible for the postsynaptic inhibition of trigeminal motoneurons during active sleep.

Inhibition by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 of dimethyl sulfoxide-induced differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells

Regulation of erythroid differentiation by vitamin D3 derivatives was examined in Friend erythroleukemia cells. After Friend cells were cultured for 5 days with 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), as much as 70% of the cells became benzidine-positive and the hemoglobin content increased in parallel with the increase of benzidine-positive cells. The DMSO-induced erythroid differentiation was markedly inhibited by concurrent addition of the active form of vitamin D3, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3]. Of the vitamin D3 derivatives tested, 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 was the most potent in inhibiting DMSO-induced erythroid differentiation. 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 alone was totally ineffective in both cell growth and erythroid differentiation. These results together with our previous reports indicate that 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 is somehow involved not only in myeloid differentiation, but also in erythroid differentiation.

Phase-linked variations in the amplitude of the digastric nerve jaw-opening reflex response during fictive mastication in the rabbit

The diagastric nerve reflex response to stimulation of the upper lip was studied in urethan-anesthetized rabbits paralysed with pancuronium bromide. Rhythmic bursts of masticatory activity were evoked in the nerve by repetitive electrical stimulation of the motor cortex. The amplitude and latency of the reflex responses during fictive mastication were compared with preceding control values. When stimuli close to threshold were given, the largest and earliest responses occurred during the digastric burst. When intense stimuli were employed, the largest responses were out of phase with the burst, although the latency was still shortest when the motoneurons were rhythmically active. Since the pattern is essentially the same as that seen during normal mastication, we conclude that the cyclical modulation of reflex amplitude and latency is not the result of sensory feedback generated by the movements themselves but is instead governed by the central motor program.

[Level of 5-FU in tumor tissues of the patients with head and neck malignant tumors after oral administration of UFT]

Levels of futraful (FT-207), 5-FU and Uracil in blood and tissue were measured on 11 cases of oral malignant tumors after administration of UFT. 1) After administration of UFT, the highest level of 5-FU was detected in tumor tissue followed by the normal lymph node, metastatic lymph node, and normal tissue which showed the lowest level. 2) Levels of 5-FU in serum was lower than in tumor, and T/S ratio of levels of 5-FU was 9,190. 3) There were significant regressions in levels of 5-FU and Uracil in normal lymph node (p less than 0.02). Coefficient of correlation was 0.469. 4) Comparisons of levels of 5-FU after administration of UFT and futraful were 1.89 in tumor, 1.72 in normal tissue, 1.80 in metastatic lymph node and 1.55 in normal lymph node. Level of 5-FU after administration of UFT was higher than that of futraful. 5) Higher level of 5-FU after administration of UFT in tumor tissue and lymph node were maintained for a longer period.

Identification and input-output properties of bulbar reticular neurons involved in the cerebral cortical control of trigeminal motoneurons in cats

Neurons found in the medial bulbar reticular formation were activated by stimulation of the orbital gyrus and responded with antidromic spike potentials to selective stimulation of either the masseter or anterior digastric motoneuron pool in the trigeminal motor nucleus in cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. These two kinds of reticular neurons were assumed to be inhibitory neurons projecting to masseter motoneurons (IM neurons) and excitatory neurons projecting to anterior digastric motoneurons (ED neurons), involved in the effects of stimulation of the orbital gyrus on trigeminal motoneurons: inhibition of masseter motoneurons and excitation of anterior digastric motoneurons. Input-output properties of IM and ED neurons were studied intracellularly with the following results: (1) stimulation of the orbital gyrus evoked EPSPs in IM and ED neurons with mono- and polysynaptic latencies; and (2) stimulation of the lingual nerve evoked a spike potential in a few IM and ED neurons after a rather long latency, indicating that the pathways involved in the cortical control of trigeminal motoneurons via IM and ED neurons were basically separate from those responsible for the reflex control by the peripheral inputs. Intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase revealed that both IM and ED neurons were small or medium in size and the former were smaller than the latter, while none of the large reticular neurons directly projected to the trigeminal motor nucleus. This suggests a possible functional differentiation among bulbar reticular neurons according to cell size.

Basic and clinical evaluation of the measurement of bone resonant frequency

A new computerized apparatus was constructed to measure the resonant frequency of human ulna in vivo with high sensitivity and reproducibility. Experimental studies using aluminum bar and dried human bone revealed the importance of the ulna being positioned parallel to the radius, approximately 90 degree flexion of the elbow joint, and minimal muscle activity in order to demonstrate maximum resonant frequency of ulna. Measurement of bone resonance in monkeys in vivo and after removal of the bone in vitro showed good agreement. Product of F (maximum resonant frequency in Hz) and L (ulnar length in cm), FL, indicating the speed of propagation of sound wave through the ulna, showed a significant positive correlation with bone mineral content/bone width (BM/BW) measured by Norland-Cameron apparatus and age-bound decline in both sexes. Patients with osteomalacia and primary hyperparathyroid bone disease tended to have higher FL values than expected from BM/BW. Two-dimensional display of FL and BM/BW thus appears to be useful in distinguishing osteoporosis from osteomalacia better than the use of BM/BW alone.

Comparison of airway responsiveness to exercise and histamine inhalation in asthmatics

In order to investigate the differences between EIA positive and negative subjects, pulmonary function data at rest, atopic tendency and bronchial sensitivity and reactivity were compared. Pulmonary function data revealed no significant difference between two groups except closing volume which was higher in EIA positive patients (p less than 0.01) and also Rrs which was higher in EIA positive patients only in female (p less than 0.05). Incidence of positive skin tests and higher levels of IgE were more frequent in EIA positive, however, IgE was not significantly different. Relationship between % fall of FEV1 after exercise and bronchial sensitivity was examined, however, no correlation was found in two parameters. Bronchial reactivity was not different in two groups. This suggests that EIA positive patients cannot be distinguished from EIA negative by pulmonary function data at rest or by atopic tendency, and also that different mechanisms play a role to produce airway constriction following exercise and inhalation challenge.

Bulbar reticular unit activity during food ingestion in the cat

During food ingestion in cats, the activity of single bulbar reticular neurons showed rhythmical spike bursts during the active jaw opening phase of mastication. By utilizing spike-triggered averaging techniques, certain reticular cells were strongly suggested to be inhibitory neurons projecting to jaw closer motoneurons. We propose that these bulbar reticular neurons participate in the central generation of masticatory jaw movements by rhythmically inhibiting jaw closer motoneurons during mastication.

Membrane receptors on human neutrophils in oral bacterial infections

Experiments were performed to examine the function of neutrophil membrane receptors in oral bacterial infections. For this purpose, Fc and C3b receptors on human peripheral blood neutrophils and exudate neutrophils obtained from subcutaneous abscesses were studied by using the rosette-forming method.

Neural pathway involved in the excitation of motoneurones to jaw-opening muscles by stimulation of the orbital cerebral cortex in the cat

The pathway and synaptic basis for the efferent discharge in the digastric nerve evoked by stimulation of the orbital cortex were studied in cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. Transection of the brain stem at the boundary between the pons and the medulla oblongata abolished discharge. Intracellular recording from anterior digastric motoneurones revealed that the orbital cortical stimulation evoked excitatory post-synaptic potentials with a latency that was longer by one synaptic delay than that of spike potentials evoked in medial bulbar reticular neurones making a direct excitatory projection to anterior digastric motoneurones. It was concluded that the excitatory effects was mediated by the medial bulbar reticular formation.

Synaptic basis of orbital cortically induced rhythmical masticatory activity of trigeminal motoneurons in immobilized cats

Synaptic basis of the centrally induced masticatory rhythm was studied by intracellular recording from jaw closer and opener motoneurons during repetitive stimulation of the orbital gyrus (OG) of the encéphale isolé of immobilized cats, with the following results. (1) Repetitive OG stimulation induced a rhythmical alternation of hyperpolarizing and depolarizing potentials in jaw closer motoneurons. Rhythmical efferent burst discharges induced in the digastric nerve by OG stimulation coincided with the hyperpolarizing phase. The hyperpolarizing potential was reversed to a depolarizing potential by intracellular Cl- injection, while the depolarizing potential was not reversed to hyperpolarization, indicating that the hyperpolarizing and depolarizing potentials consisted at least mainly of IPSPs and EPSPs, respectively. (2) Repetitive OG stimulation induced rhythmical depolarizing potentials superimposed by spike bursts in jaw opener motoneurons, corresponding in time with the rhythmical efferent bursts in the digastric nerve. Synaptic activation noise was increased coincidentally with the depolarizing potential, indicating that EPSPs were involved in the generation of the depolarizing potential. No or little hyperpolarization if any was observed between successive depolarizing potentials. (3) Repetitive OG stimulation induced efferent burst discharges in the digastric nerve with the masticatory rhythm unaccompanied by any spike potential in the supratrigeminal neurons responsible for peripherally evoked inhibition of jaw closer motoneurons, indicating that the peripheral inhibitory mechanisms do not play an essential role in the central generation of the masticatory rhythm by OG stimulation.

The role of medial bulbar reticular neurons in the orbital cortically induced masticatory rhythm in cats

Single unit activity was recorded from medial bulbar reticular neurons, which responded with spike potentials to stimulation of the orbital gyrus, in immobilized cats. Neurons were found which showed rhythmical bursts corresponding to the orbital cortically-induced masticatory rhythm. Using spike-triggered averaging technique, some of these reticular neurons were suggested to be inhibitory neurons projecting to jaw closer motoneurons and to participate in the inhibitory phase of these motoneurons during the centrally generated masticatory rhythm.

Syndrome of the sea-blue histiocyte--the first case report in Japan and review of the literature--

A case of the syndrome of sea-blue histiocyte is presented in a 53-year-old Japanese woman, which is the first recorded case in Japan. The patient had hepatosplenomegaly, bleeding manifestations, mild thrombocytopenia, fatty metamorphosis and cirrhosis of the liver, as well as abnormal serum lipid profiles. Her parents were consanguineous and her maternal grandmother with hepatomegaly died of hepatic failure. Histologically, peculiar histiocytes containing numerous, intracytoplasmic sea-blue stained granules on May-Giemsa stain were demonstrated in biopsy materials of the bone marrow, lymph node and liver. The sea-blue granules in these histiocytes proved to have histochemical staining characteristics of lipogenic ceroid-like pigment. Ultrastructurally, these granules showed membrane-bound, pleomorphic inclusions of heterogeneous nature, including electron-dense amorphous or variegatedly osmiophilic, frequently laminated materials. Enzyme cytochemically, localization of acid phosphatase activity was demonstrated in and around the intracytoplasmic inclusions. With regard to the pathogenesis of the sea-blue histiocytes in this case, it may be suggested that the existence of the abnormality in lipid metabolism plays an important role in intralysosomal ceroidogenesis in these histiocytes.

[A new method for combined auto-alloplastic tooth reimplantation with a parallel A1203-ceramic root]

The operative procedure for partially replacing the root with A12O3 ceramic represents a good possibility for preserving teeth in which the pulpa is devitalized. The method used in connection with the well known autoplastic reimplantation not only presents an alternative to the traditional apicoectomy but also provides additional stabilization of the tooth by lengthing the root with cocotostabile and biocompatible A1203 ceramic. The method was tested in humans and monkeys. Argumentation was based on histological examination via light microscopy.