The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
-
We investigated lung cancer in 99 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Lung cancer was found in 31 (31.3%) of 99 patients with IPF. Most (87.9%) tumors, including squamous cell carcinoma, were observed in the peripheral region of the lung, whereas the distribution of histologic types of cancers was similar to that seen in ordinary lung cancer. ⋯ When compared with nonsmoking IPF control subjects, the relative risk of smoking in IPF patients was 3.5, identical with that reported for smokers in the general population. We suggest that smoking in patients with IPF is an additive risk factor for the development of lung cancer. We also speculate that the high prevalence of peripheral squamous cell carcinoma might be associated with cigarette smoking.
-
The aim of this study was to investigate the reaction of skeletal tissue to various synthetic calcium phosphate (Ca-P) compounds in vivo. Five synthetic Ca-P compounds were implanted into the subperiosteal area of the calvaria of 7-week-old BALB/c mice for one to 15 weeks. Synthetic compounds were dicalcium phosphate (DCP), octacalcium phosphate (OCP), amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatile (HA). ⋯ Fine filaments and granular materials in the newly formed bone matrix were detected at 7 days around the remnants of OCP particles which already converted to apatitic phase by ultrastructural study of decalcified specimens. These structures were very similar to the components of bone nodules seen in intramembranous osteogenesis. It is postulated that the precursors of HA have an important role in intramembranous osteogenesis.
-
Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Aug 1989
Serum content of zinc and vitamin C in severely handicapped children.
As fracture is known to occur more easily in severely handicapped children (SHC), bone mineral content, serum zinc level and serum vitamin C level were determined in 65 SHC. These parameters were found to be greatly reduced in all patients. The decreases in zinc and vitamin C in the serum appeared to be associated with that in bone mineral content. Supplements of zinc and vitamin C may be important to decrease the chance of fracture due to diminished bone mineral content in SHC.
-
Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Jan 1989
Collapse and reexpansion of lungs increase microvascular permeability in sheep.
The pathogenesis of reexpansion pulmonary edema has not been well studied. We tested the hypothesis that both long term collapse and subsequent reexpansion of the lungs cause reexpansion pulmonary edema by increasing pulmonary microvascular permeability. We investigated lymph dynamics in 15 experiments on collapsed lung and 10 experiments after lung reexpansion in 14 unanesthetized sheep with chronic lymph fistulas. ⋯ The lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio did not fall below the baseline. Reexpansion after 2-hr collapse did not affect these variables. We conclude that both long term lung collapse and subsequent reexpansion lead to reexpansion pulmonary edema by increasing pulmonary microvascular permeability.
-
Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Mar 1988
Kinetics of mixed venous oxygen tension during rhythmic contraction of the hindlimb of dogs.
Change in mixed venous oxygen tension (PVO2) during transition from rest to exercise induced by rhythmic contractions of the hindlimb of dogs was continuously monitored using intravascular oxygen electrodes. The rapid fall in PVO2, on the average 9.5 sec after the onset of rhythmic contraction, was found. The time course of change in PVO2 was not altered by ligation of the splenic artery and vein. ⋯ Oxygen tension of venous blood in the distal and proximal end of the inferior vena cava began to fall at 4.4 sec and at 6.9 sec after the onset of contraction on the average, respectively. There was no significant difference between the hematocrit of mixed venous blood at rest and after 15 sec of exercise. These findings suggest that the rapid fall of PVO2 results from a surge of low oxygenated blood from the exercising hindlimb and that this change in blood gas tensions possibly reaches the lung within 10 sec after the onset of exercise.