The metastatic potency of NPC tissue and the prognosis of the patients with NPC can be estimated by measuring MVD and the expression of VEGF in NPC tissue. Drugs that have inhibitory actions on angiogenesis could be useful to prevent metastasis of NPC cells in the patients.

BackgroundPhysiological abnormalities are often observed in patients prior to cardiac arrest. A modified early warning score (MEWS) system was introduced, which aims to detect early abnormalities by grading vital signs, and the present study investigated its usefulness.MethodsBased on previous reports, the Chubu Tokushukai Hospital-customized MEWS was developed in Okinawa, Japan. The MEWS was calculated among all inpatients, and the rates of in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) were compared according to the score. The warning zone (WZ) was set as 7 or more because of the high possibility of acute deterioration. The MEWS system was introduced to provide immediate interventions for patients who reached the WZ in accordance with the callout algorithm. The numbers of IHCAs were compared between the 18 months before and after introduction of the MEWS system.ResultsThe numbers of patients who experienced IHCA with each score were as follows: score of 6, 1 of 556 patients (0.18 %); score of 7, 4 of 289 (1.40 %); score of 8, 2 of 114 (1.75 %); and score of 9 or more, 2 of 56 (3.57 %). There was no significant difference in the mean age or sex between before and after the introduction of the MEWS system. The rate of IHCAs per 1000 admissions decreased significantly from 5.21 (79/15,170) to 2.05 (43/17,961) (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe Chubu Tokushukai Hospital-customized MEWS was applied to all inpatients, and the rate of IHCA decreased owing to the introduction of the system, as the system enables early interventions for patients who have the possibility of acute deterioration.

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SummaryWe reported previously that habutobin, a thrombin-like enzyme from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom, clotted only rabbit fibrinogen, whereas human, monkey, bovine, dog, rat and guinea-pig fibrinogens were unaffected. In the present study, we investigated the cleavage site of the rabbit Aα chain by habutobin. The fibrinopeptide released by habutobin was identical to the fibrinopeptide A released by thrombin, and its amino acid sequence corresponded to Aα 1-16 of rabbit fibrinogen. It was clarified therefore that habutobin cleaves the Arg16-Gly17 bond in the Aa chain of rabbit fibrinogen.

BACKGROUND: Although the levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the circulating blood are often elevated in patients with allergic diseases, such levels cannot always be considered as pathognomonic signs of allergy. The induction of allergic reactions in the tissue was inferred to be related to the amount of IgE passing through the vascular wall. AIMS: We attempted to clarify which compartment, the intravascular or extravascular, plays an important role in the regulation of the turnover of rat IgE. METHODS: The level of DNP-specific rat IgE in the serum was estimated by IgE-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the turnover of IgE was analyzed from its pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS: The transfer rate constants from the central to tissue compartment (Kct) were larger than those from the tissue to central compartment (Ktc) irrespective of the sensitized state. The value of the distribution volume of the tissue compartment (Vt) was larger than that of the distribution volume of the central compartment (Vc) irrespective of the sensitized state. CONCLUSIONS: These Findings suggest that the short half-life of rat IgE in the circulation could be attributable to the distribution of IgE from the intravascular to the extravascular compartment.