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Biomedical subjects

A Matsui

Publications and source records attributed to A Matsui.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Linkage and association of atopic asthma to markers on chromosome 13 in the Japanese population.

Chromosome 13 contains several candidate genes for asthma and atopy, and markers on this chromosome have been shown to be linked to phenotypes of atopy or asthma in two genome-wide searches. We conducted a linkage study for atopic asthma using markers spanning the whole of chromosome 13 in Japanese families ascertained through asthmatic children and examined associations of atopic asthma with markers where linkage was suggested. Data were analysed using MAPMAKER/SIBS for the multipoint lod score (MLS) analysis and SIB-PAIR for the transmission dis-equilibrium test (TDT). Three peaks which exceeded a lod score of 1.0 were observed (MLS 2.4 between D13S175 and D13S217, MLS 2.0 between D13S153 and D13S156, and MLS 1.4 between D13S285 and D13S293). The global TDT for atopic asthma was significant for the marker D13S153 ( P = 0.0065) and the 96 bp allele of D13S153 was preferentially transmitted to atopic asthma-affected children ( P = 0.0009, Bonferroni correction 5% = 0. 0037, 1% = 0.00072). These findings indicate that genes on chromosome 13 may play an important role in the development of atopy or asthma across various populations.

Adolescent↗

Digestible energy expenditure in grazing activity of growing horses.

Ten Thoroughbred yearlings (5 females and 5 males) were used to examine the effect of time of grazing on pasture forage and digestible energy (DE) intake, bodyweight gain and DE expenditure in grazing activity. Five females were grazed for 17 h/day (LTG), 5 males were grazed for 7 h/day (STG) and they were fed differently. As a result, DE intake from pasture forage of LTG horses and STG horses was 27.3 and 12.7-13.9 Mcal/day, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG) of LTG and STG horses was 0.37 and 0.39-0.61 kg/day, respectively. The regression lines between DE intake and ADG of both groups were parallel and the difference in DE intake between them was 10 Mcal of DE. It was suggested that DE expenditure in grazing activity (entirely at night) of growing horses was 1 Mcal/h under the conditions of this study.

Animal Feed↗

No association between atopy/asthma and the ILe50Val polymorphism of IL-4 receptor.

Susceptibility to atopic diseases is known to involve genetic factors. The interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor- alpha gene (IL4R) reportedly is involved in the development of atopy. A recent study has shown the Ile50 allele of a polymorphism (Ile50Val) of IL4R to be associated with atopy. The objective of this study was to replicate this association and confirm the possible role of the Ile50Val polymorphism of IL4R in the etiology of atopic asthma in a Japanese population. We conducted a transmission disequilibrium test in 86 families identified through asthmatic children. A case-control study was also carried out using both atopic and control subjects. The IL4R Ile50Val polymorphism was genotyped by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method using an intronic upstream primer. The IL4R Ile50 allele was not preferentially transmitted to atopy- or to asthma-affected children. Neither the Ile50 allele nor the Ile50/Ile50 genotype was more prevalent in the atopic subjects than in the control subjects. Our findings indicate that the Ile50Val polymorphism of IL4R does not play a substantial role in genetic predisposition for the etiology of atopy or asthma in this Japanese population.

Adolescent↗

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 as a predictor of glucose-stimulated hyperinsulinemia in prepubertal obese children.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to examine the association of a glucose-stimulated insulin response with the fasting insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 concentration in prepubertal obese children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The fasting levels of serum insulin and IGFBP-1 were measured in 17 obese and 16 control children. Furthermore, we performed an oral glucose tolerance test in obese children and examined the association of the area under the curve (AUC) for insulin with the fasting IGFBP-1 level. RESULTS: The mean serum level of IGFBP-1 was significantly lower in obese children (41.0 +/- 4.8 micrograms/l. P < 0.005) than in controls (91.2 +/- 9.9 micrograms/l). Although there was an inverse relationship between the fasting levels of serum insulin and IGFBP-1 in all subjects (r = -0.42, P < 0.05), no significant correlation between these two parameters was observed in the obese group alone. In obese children, the fasting IGFBP-1 level correlated inversely with AUC-insulin (r = -0.70, P < 0.005), whereas there was no significant relationship between the fasting insulin level and AUC-insulin. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the serum level of IGFBP-1 may be an early predictor of insulin resistance in prepubertal obesity.

Area Under Curve↗

The phosphorylation status of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in prepubertal obese children.

OBJECTIVE: We measured the total and nonphosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 concentrations in obese children to determine the effect of obesity on the status of IGFBP-1 phosphorylation. We also measured the serum levels of insulin, total and free IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 to investigate their relationships to the IGFBP-1 phosphorylation status in obese subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nineteen prepubertal obese and 15 age-matched control children were included in the study. The serum levels of total and nonphosphorylated IGFBP-1 were determined by noncompetitive RIAs. RESULTS: The serum levels of total and nonphosphorylated IGFBP-1 were significantly lower in the obese group (48.7+/-5.6 microgram/l, P<0.001 and 11.1+/-1.9 microgram/l, P<0.01 respectively) than in the controls (86.7+/-9.0 microgram/l and 28.8+/-6.2 microgram/l respectively). However, the ratio of nonphosphorylated IGFBP-1 to total IGFBP-1 did not differ significantly between the obese and control groups. The circulating free IGF-I level was significantly higher in the obese children than in the controls (P<0.05), while the serum levels of insulin, total IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were not significantly different between the two groups. A stepwise regression analysis of the combined group revealed that only the total IGFBP-1 level was an independent predictor of the free IGF-I concentration (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that both total and nonphosphorylated IGFBP-1 concentrations are decreased in obese children and the increased free IGF-I level in obese children is related to the reduced total IGFBP-1 level, but unrelated to the change in the IGFBP-1 phosphorylation status.

Child↗

Clinical significance of apolipoprotein (a) deposition in kidney diseases of children.

AIM AND METHOD: To address the clinical significance of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) deposition in renal diseases of children, we examined renal localization of apolipoprotein (a) (apo(a)), which is the major apoprotein of Lp(a), using a new monoclonal antibody as a probe, and compared histological changes and clinical courses between the cases with and without apo(a) accumulation. Our study comprised 78 cases with various renal diseases. RESULTS: Of the 78 cases, 45 showed apo(a) deposition (group A) and the other 33 did not (group B). Nephrotic syndrome was similarly presented in groups A and B (46.7% vs 36.3%). Histological findings were analyzed in 62 proliferative and 16 non-proliferative original diseases separately. In the cases with proliferative diseases, severe histological changes were observed in group A more than in group B, severe proliferation (50.9% vs 26.1%: p < 0.01) and crescent formation (11.9% vs 5.1%: p < 0.01) were observed in group A over that of group B. However, the clinical status at the latest follow-up were quite similar, there was no difference of favorable (60.5% vs 62.5%) and unfavorable outcome (15.9% vs 16.7%) in groups A and B. In the cases with non-proliferative diseases, global sclerosis was more often encountered in group A than in group B (28.3% vs 6.5%). Group A carried poorer prognosis than group B in non-proliferative diseases. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that apo(a) deposits just passively follow the histological injury, and they do not always accelerate it.

Adolescent↗

[Renal glucosuria and membranous glomerulonephritis in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: CIDP].

Glucosuria was detected in a 7-year-old boy by a routine school mass examination in April 1991. The diagnosis of renal glucosuria was made in the affiliated hospital of the University of Tsukuba. The patient developed muscle weakness and gait disturbance in February 1993. Spinal fluid examination revealed a protein level of 62 mg/dl and a cell count of 4/3. Under the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, he was treated with i.v. immunoglobulin and oral prednisolone. Although the therapy somewhat improved the symptoms, his muscle strength had not fully recovered at the end of the treatment. In November 1995, the muscle weakness became worse; he could not go up stairs, nor stand upright on one leg. In April 1996, proteinuria was detected in a school mass examination. He was referred to the University Hospital of Tsukuba for a full renal study in March 1997. Renal biopsy revealed global sclerosis in 16 of 19 glomeruli with extensive interstitial fibrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration. A diagnosis of membranous glomerulonephritis was established based on the findings of spikes in PASM staining, weak IgG deposition in the glomerular capillary and subepithelial deposits by electron microscopic study. Additionally, pituitary growth hormone deficiency was found by endocrinological examination. The diagnosis of CIDP was established by fibulal neuron biopsy, which revealed neuronal degeneration and profound demyelinization. The clinical course of the present case was unlike that of the few reported cases of MGN associated with CIDP described in the literature. The initial renal symptom was glucosuria, which started 5 years prior to the onset of proteinuria. Second, glomerulosclerosis was more extensive than that seen in the literature. We surmise that chronic interstitial nephritis of insidious onset was followed by MGN which developed subsequently, probably at the time of the start of proteinuria.

Adolescent↗

[CA15-3].

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Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Computed tomography analysis of causes of local failure in radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The authors analyzed the radiation dose to the periphery of the cervix and area of the cervix in relation to local failure of radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix using computed tomography (CT) images. METHODS: Between 1981-1990, 127 consecutive patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy. Ninety-nine of these patients had CT images taken at the time of intracavitary therapy. Of these 99 patients, 80 were eligible for this analysis. After CT scanning, isodose curves relative to the point A dose were superimposed on the CT images. The minimum percent dose and minimum dose at the periphery of the cervix were estimated. The area of the cervix also was measured. These factors were examined in relation to the local tumor control rate. RESULTS: Histograms of both the minimum percent dose and the cervical area showed significant differences between the local control and local failure groups (P <0.001). The local control rates were related to both the minimum percent dose and the cervical area, and differed significantly over and below the values of 60% and 18 cm2 (P <0.001 each), respectively. The local control patients, over and below the line: Y = -0.220X + 21.2, in which X (gray [Gy]) and Y (Gy) are the whole pelvis dose and the minimum dose, respectively, could be well differentiated with significance (91.7% vs. 25.0%; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography analysis indicated that the local tumor control rate was related strongly to the minimum percent dose, the cervical area, and the pair of whole pelvis and minimum dose values. These factors were found to be more useful than the point A dose in predicting local tumor control.

Adult↗

Gastric ulcer formation in cold-stressed mice related to a central calcium-dependent-dopamine synthesizing system.

Stress ulceration of the stomach in mice was investigated from the aspect of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent dopamine synthesizing system in the brain. Cold stress was induced in mice by restraining them at 4 degrees C. Serum and brain calcium levels were increased by cold stress, and an increased brain calcium level was found to enhance dopamine synthesis and a successively increased brain dopamine level induced gastric ulcer formation. Development of gastric ulcers elicited by cold stress was significantly decreased by i.p. pretreatment with EDTA (1 micromol/mouse, 1 h before restraint) or alpha-methyltyrosine (a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, 100 mg/kg, 24 h before restraint), and was further significantly increased by pretreatment with CaCl2 (40 micromol/kg, 1 h before restraint). These findings suggest that the development of gastric ulcers in cold-stressed mice may be linked with the enhancement of calcium/calmodulin-dependent catecholamine synthesis in the brain.

Animals↗

Teebi hypertelorism syndrome with tetralogy of Fallot.

A 34-month-old boy presented with clinical manifestations of Teebi hypertelorism syndrome including prominent forehead with frontal bossing, hypertelorism, exophthalmos due to shallow orbits, a short and broad nose with anteverted nares, small hands and feet with interdigital webbing, umbilical hernia, and shawl scrotum. In addition, he had previously undescribed manifestations including tetralogy of Fallot, bilateral inguinal testes, and bifid scrotum. His phenotypically normal mother showed splayed labiae majora during her pregnancy, a possible manifestation of the syndrome.

Child, Preschool↗

Contribution of CD14 to endotoxin-induced liver injury may depend on types of macrophage activation in rats.

Activated Kupffer cells and hepatic macrophages can produce massive liver necrosis through microcirculatory disturbance due to sinusoidal fibrin deposition. This mechanism is involved in the development of liver injury after endotoxin administration in rats pretreated with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) or undergoing 70% liver resection. The significance of CD14, a receptor for lipopolysaccharide and its binding protein, was evaluated in both models in relation to the activation mechanisms of Kupffer cells and hepatic macrophages. Northern blot analysis revealed that CD14 mRNA expression was increased in the liver of rats following P.acnes administration. In these rats, hepatic macrophages immediately after isolation showed marked increased of CD14 mRNA expression compared to Kupffer cells from normal rats. In contrast, CD14 mRNA expression was minimal in partially resected liver. Interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-2 mRNA expression in the liver and interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA expression in the spleen were significantly increased in P.acnes-treated rats compared to normal rats, while these increases were absent in partially hepatectomized rats. Thus, CD14 expressed on hepatic macrophages after activation through a cytokine network of IL-18, IFN-gamma, and IL-2 may contribute to endotoxin-induced liver injury in P.acnes-treated rats. In contrast, in partially hepatectomized rats, this network may not operate during Kupffer cell activation, and the liver injury might develop through endotoxin receptors other than CD14 on the cells.

Animals↗

Evidence for linkage between the development of asthma in childhood and the T-cell receptor beta chain gene in Japanese.

Susceptibility to the development of asthma and other atopic diseases is known to be associated with genetic components, and several candidate genes have been reported to be linked to atopy and asthma. We have examined a linkage between traits of specific IgE responses to the house dust mite and its purified allergens, high total serum IgE levels and asthma, and the markers at the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha chain gene (TCR-alpha) and beta chain gene (TCR-beta) in Japanese families ascertained through asthmatic children. Affected sib-pair analyses provided evidence for linkage between TCR-beta and nearby markers (D7S684) on chromosome 7q35 and both IgE and asthmatic phenotypes, but no evidence for linkage of IgE responses nor asthma phenotype to TCR-alpha was detected. The results suggest the presence of major gene(s) controlling atopy and asthma susceptibility in TCR-beta and the nearby region.

Adolescent↗

Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to herpes simplex virus infection in a neonate: A case report of successful treatment with liver transplantation and perioperative acyclovir.

Neonatal disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, including fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), is lethal, and the patients rarely have a chance for liver transplantation because of the rapid development of the disease. We describe of a case of FHF secondary to HSV infection in a neonate successfully treated by aggressive intensive care followed by liver transplantation.

Acyclovir↗

Novel physiological functions of cathepsins B and L on antigen processing and osteoclastic bone resorption.

Lysosomal cathepsin B plays an essential role in the processing of ovalbumin as an exogenous antigen to produce the complex between antigenic-peptide and major histocompatibility-complex class II. Administration of cathepsin B inhibitors, E-64, CA-074 and vitamin B6, caused the strong suppression of the Th-2 type immune responses. We found that pyridoxal phosphate (PAP), a coenzyme form of vitamin B6, inhibits the activities of cathepsin B and L in vitro and vitamin B6 administration induces the inhibition of the lysosomal cathepsin activities in vivo. The production of an antigenic epitope (I323-R339) of ovalbumin by antigen presenting cells was suppressed by cathepsin B specific inhibitors. The ovalbumin dependent production of immunoglobulins (IgE and IgG1) and of the corresponding interleukin (IL-4) was suppressed by cathepsin B inhibitors, while the production of IgG2a and interferon (INF-gamma) was increased. The switch of helper T lymphocyte functions from the type-2 to the type-1 may be induced by the cathepsin B inhibition. The experimental bone pit formation, i.e., osteoclastic bone collagen degradation test, induced by parathyroid hormone was markedly suppressed by the administration of pyridoxal, because of the inhibition of cathepsin L type cysteine proteases in bone.

Animals↗