Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Otsuki.
Paroxysmal itching is described in three Japanese women with multiple sclerosis and previously reported cases are discussed. This paroxysmal symptom is rare, but may be the first and only symptom at the onset of multiple sclerosis.
Orthodromic and antidromic conduction velocities were measured in the tail nerve of rats given lithium throughout life. Lithium at nontoxic levels failed to influence nerve conduction velocities. Lithium at toxic levels (2 X 2.5 mmol/kg/day for 7 days) produced overt signs of lithium intoxication and reduced both orthodromic and antidromic nerve conduction velocities. The reductions in conduction velocities were related inversely to the level of lithium in serum and red blood cells. Conduction velocities returned to normal levels after cessation of the toxic lithium treatment. The findings show life-long administration of lithium at nontoxic levels to be without adverse effects on peripheral nerves in rats, while toxic lithium levels caused reversible impairment in conduction properties in peripheral nerves.
The kindling model of experimental epilepsy is characterized by a persistent seizure pattern and long-lasting seizure susceptibility without associated tissue damage. In order to examine the relationship between CSF cyclic nucleotides and epilepsy. CSF cAMP and cGMP were measured before and after kindling, or after electrically induced seizures. Cyclic AMP and cGMP levels in cisternal CSF decreased significantly 1 week after the amygdaloid kindling. This finding suggests decreased levels of brain cAMP and cGMP in this type of epileptogenesis. A slight increase in CSF cyclic nucleotides concentrations was found after triggering both partial and generalized seizures. There was, however, no difference in increase of cAMP and cGMP levels between partial seizure and generalized convulsion, indicating that differences in intensity ictal or postictal events cannot be reflected in the CSF cyclic nucleotide concentrations.
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An experimental study using adult dog was conducted on the impression of the colon whereby a screening test is done by making a mold of the intestine with sodium alginate. The mold of the intestine could be obtained easily and safely in a short time. Protrusions about 2 mm in diameter corresponding to lymphoid tissue of the rectum and sigmoid colon and shallow depressions on the surface of the protrusions were exactly imprinted on the surface of the mild. Compared with the barium study and endoscopy, this method requires neither special equipment nor high-grade technique, can be done easily in a short time and was not inferior in the diagnosis accuracy. Sodium alginate used in this method is a safe substance which is being used clinically as a plasma expander and laxative in addition to being used as an additive to various foods. When injected into the intestine, it exerted no injurious action whatsoever. from these findings, the possibility of this method being used clinically was considered high.
We devised an impression method of the colon using sodium alginate as a screening method for diseases of the lower part of the colon and evaluated its usefulness by means of an intestinal phantom. Sodium alginate, when mixed with water, kept enough fluidity immediately after mixing and could easily be poured into the phantom. With this paste gelatinized sharply in the phantom about two minutes after, an impression of the intestinal phantom could easily be made. Sodium alginate is a safe substance which is already used clinically. This method is thus expected to become popular as a screening method for diseases of the lower part of the colon.
Amygdaloid kindling was induced by daily electrical stimulation in the left amygdala in five groups of cats: a chronic cocaine pretreatment group; a chronic methamphetamine (MAP) pretreatment group; two treatment groups, one using pimozide and the other haloperidol during the period when kindling was being induced; and a drug-free control group. The number of left amygdaloid stimulations required for generalized convulsions was significantly greater in the two chronic pretreatment groups and significantly less in the two treatment groups, compared to the control group. All animals in the chronic cocaine and MAP pretreatment groups showed hemiconvulsions instead of symmetrical generalized convulsions and lateralized interictal discharges in the stimulated hemisphere. In rekindling to the right amygdala, seizure development was significantly suppressed compared to the control group. In the two chronic pretreatment groups, chronic administration of cocaine or MAP was followed by enhancement of behavioral responses to cocaine, MAP, and apomorphine. The association of such "sensitization" with impairment of the kindling process suggests that dopamine receptor sensitivity is an important factor in this form of epileptogenesis.
A multi-institutional collaborative study was conducted concerning the course of pregnancy and delivery and the incidence of abnormal infants delivered of epileptic women. Of 657 women receiving antiepileptic drugs, 73% delivered live infants, 14% had miscarriage or stillbirth, and 13% underwent induced abortion. In contrast to the above findings, 80% of 162 patients not receiving antiepileptic drugs delivered live infants and 4% had miscarriage or stillbirth. The latter outcome was significantly increased in the medicated patients. In this series, 63 (9.9%) of 638 live births were malformed, 55 (11.5%) being from medicated mothers and 3 (2.3%) from nonmedicated mothers. The incidence of fetal malformation in medicated mothers was thus five times as high as that in nonmedicated mothers. Cleft lip and/or palate and malformations involving the cardiovascular system were found frequently in the infants from medicated mothers. General background factors that might exert teratogenic effects on pregnant patients with epilepsy were studied, and the potential toxicity of antiepileptic drugs to the fetus was also analyzed. In this regard, consideration should be given to whether the patient has partial epileptic seizures, whether the patient herself exhibits any malformation, or whether her previous pregnancy resulted in an abnormal outcome. The incidence of fetal malformation was the highest (12.7%) in the medicated patients who had epileptic seizures during the pregnancy. It is presumed on the basis of the results of analysis of the data that a combination of more than three drugs and a daily dose greater than a certain minimal level is likely to produce malformed infants.
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A case of spastic quadriplegia with myoclonic movement was studied by both light and electron microscope. Argentophilic inclusions were found in a unique distribution involving the cerebral cortex, brain stem, cerebellum, and the spinal cord, including the motor neuron system. The fine structure of the inclusions consisted of accumulation of previously undescribed straight or wavy tubules approximately 120A wide devoid of periodic constriction.
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A case report was made of a 24-year-old man suffering from hypogonadotropic eunuchoidism associated with a hypokalemic type of familiar periodic paralysis. The attacks were observed only during the period of continual administration of the oil solution of 115.7 mg of testosterone enanthate and 20.0 mg of testosterone propionate, intramuscularly as a depot. From the findings on this patient, it was concluded that testosterone might possibly play a role in the occurrence of attacks in the case of periodic paralysis.
Lumbar CSF HVA, MHPG, 5HIAA, cAMP, and cGMP were measured in 12 chronic schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia before and 3 weeks after sodium valproate (VPA) or cyproheptadine treatment. HVA levels significantly decreased and cAMP and cGMP levels significantly increased during the administration of VPA or cyproheptadine. There were no significant correlations between the degree of improvement in tardive dyskinesia and the changes of amine metabolities or cyclic nucleotides. None of the pretreatment values for CSF amine metabolites or cyclic nucleotides were different from those of 15 chronic schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia as controls. Decrease of HVA and increase of cGMP during the treatment might indicate the normalization of dopaminergic-cholinergic imbalance in the brain. Furthermore, significantly low levels of 5HIAA were observed in the patients with drug-induced tremor. It is suggested that neuroleptic-induced tremor may be attributed to serotonergic dysfunction in the brain.