[Intrauterine infection of parvo virus B19].
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
E Morita
Publications and source records attributed to E Morita.
[A case of cholinergic urticaria with epileptic seizure and abnormalities on electroencephalogram].
We report a 10-year-old boy with cholinergic urticaria associated with epileptic seizure and abnormalities on electroencephalogram. In March 1999, many red wheals developed over the entire body during exercise and at increased body temperature. In April, systemic red wheals developed during exercise. Simultaneously, loss of consciousness was noted for 2 to 3 minutes. After the patient's body was cooled, consciousness improved, and these exanthemas disappeared. In the Department of Dermatology, his illness was diagnosed as cholinergic urticaria. Neurologically, a heat tolerance and mental strain induced cholinergic urticaria, followed by generalized epilepsy(clonic seizure). In addition, electroencephalography revealed high voltage polyspikes and 14 Hz positive spikes. The mechanism involved in cholinergic urticaria associated with epileptic seizure was assumed as follows: sweat-promoting stimuli, such as heat, exercise and tension, stimulate the autonomic center in the diencephalon or brain stem, and excitation in the autonomic center is transmitted to the efferent sympathetic nerve, causing cholinergic urticaria; when the intensity of stimulation is high, the autonomic center exhibits abnormal activities and causes epileptic seizure.
Autonomic Nervous System↗
[Evaluation of MRSA identification with latex agglutination kit for the detection of penicillin-binding protein 2].
MRSA is one of the major nosocomial pathogens, and methicillin-resistance is associated with acquisition of the mecA gene coding for the penicillin-binding protein 2' (PBP2'). MRSA-screen test (Denka Seiken Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) is a slide latex agglutination kit which can detect PBP2' within 15 min. MRSA-screen test was compared with PCR for detection of the mecA gene in order to detect MRSA. S. aureus strains isolated from April to October in 1999 in Gifu Red Cross Hospital were identified as 25 MRSA and 19 MSSA by susceptibility testing to oxacillin by the agar dilution method according to the recommendation of the National Comittee for the Clinical Laboratory Standards. The MRSA screen test and PCR for the mecA gene showed sensitivites of 92.0 and 96.0% and specificities of 89.5 and 94.7%, respectively. It is considered that MRSA-screen is a rapid and reliable test for discrimination of MRSA from MSSA colonies on agar plates.
Bacterial Proteins↗
Leukemia inhibitory factor enhances mast cell growth in a mast cell/fibroblast co-culture system through stat3 signaling pathway of fibroblasts.
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) enhanced mast cell growth in a mast cell/3T3 fibroblast co-culture system, however the precise mechanisms have not been defined. Western blot analysis showed that bone marrow-derived mast cells failed to express both LIF receptor (LIFR) and gp130, whereas 3T3 fibroblasts expressed both LIFR and gp130. This result indicates that the activity of LIF for mast cell growth is mediated by 3T3 fibroblasts. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3-transfected 3T3 fibroblasts enhanced mast cell growth. In addition, dominant-negative Stat3-transfected fibroblasts blocked LIF-mediated mast cell growth in the co-culture system. In conclusion, LIF-induced mast cell growth in the co-culture system is mediated by an indirect pathway via 3T3 fibroblasts through activating Stat3 signaling pathway in 3T3 fibroblasts.
3T3 Cells↗
Interleukin-1 alpha enhances mast cell growth by a fibroblast-dependent mechanism.
Mast cell hyperplasia is observed in various inflammatory skin diseases. Although the pathogenesis of these conditions remains largely uninvestigated, it has been speculated that lesional mediators provide a favorable microenvironment for mast cell growth. We investigated the effect of an inflammatory cytokine, IL-1 alpha, on mast cell growth in a mast cell/fibroblast coculture system. When mouse bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMMC) were cultured on a NIH/3T3 fibroblast monolayer, IL-1 alpha stimulated mast cell proliferation. However, IL-1 alpha did not stimulate 3H-thymidine incorporation in BMMC in the absence of fibroblasts. Separation of BMMC from fibroblasts by a permeable micropore membrane reduced the effect of IL-1 alpha. When BMMC were prepared from W/Wv mice, which lack a functional c-kit, or when NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were substituted with Sl/Sld-derived fibroblasts, which lack membrane-bound stem cell factor (SCF), a lower, but significant, effect of IL-1 alpha was observed. Flow cytometric analysis revealed no enhancement of SCF expression on fibroblasts following stimulation with IL-1 alpha. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-3, IL-4, IL-10, and nerve growth factor (NGF) showed no inhibition. On the other hand, indomethacin inhibited the effect of IL-1 alpha, and prostaglandin E2 induced mast cell growth in the co-cultures. These results indicate that IL-1 alpha stimulates mast cell growth by a fibroblast-dependent mechanism, in which SCF/c-kit interaction may participate in a major way. The mast cell growth activity induced by this cytokine can, at least in part, be attributed to prostaglandins. Inflammatory cytokines may thus contribute to mast cell hyperplasia in skin diseases.
3T3 Cells↗
Environmental stress modifies glycemic control and diabetes onset in type 2 diabetes prone Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats.
This study was designed to investigate the effects of environmental stress on metabolic derangements and the expression of diabetes phenotype in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, an animal model of human type 2 diabetes (NIDDM). Acute environmental stress, i.e., exposure to water with immobilization for 1 h, caused a transient increase in blood glucose with decreased insulin secretion, and the stress-induced hyperglycemia augmented with age. The increased glycemia was associated with increased plasma levels of catecholamines and corticosterone. Short-term stress, the same stress of 1 h/day for 10 days, caused a significant decrease of food intake, which led to weight reduction in OLETF rats, aged 50 weeks. Blood glucose and insulin responses in OGTT showed no change before or after the short-term stress, despite the weight reduction. In chronic stress experiments, i.e., exposure to the same kind of stress for 6 days/week from 8 to 75 weeks of age, stressed rats did not gain weight, compared to control rats. Blood HbA1c levels and the index of insulin resistance after a 4-h unfed period were significantly lower in stressed rats than in controls from 35 and 45 weeks of age on, respectively. The occurrence of diabetes, diagnosed by OGTT, was also significantly lower in the rats subjected to chronic stress than in controls. These results suggest that chronic stress from 8 weeks of age inhibited weight gain, probably due to changes in eating behavior, preventing the deterioration of insulin resistance in OLETF rats. Plasma leptin levels were not modulated by stress, and correlated with body weight in the rats under chronic stress and in controls. These results suggest that in type 2 diabetes, blood glucose derangement due to stress is presumably associated not only with changes in counterregulatory hormones involved in glucose metabolism, but also with stress-induced changes in eating behavior.
Animals↗
Production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -2 by cultured keratinocytes.
The imbalance between metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in tissue remodelling is likely to play an important role in various pathologic conditions. In order to understand the role of keratinocytes in regulating extracellular matrix degradation in skin, we analyzed the production of metalloproteinase inhibitors in keratinocytes. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) mRNA were detected in cultured human keratinocytes and mouse transformed keratinocyte cell line (KCMH-1) cells by RT-PCR. On several column chromatography separation steps of the KCMH-1 conditioned medium, two specific inhibitors for mammalian collagenase were purified showing an Mr of 29 kDa and an Mr of 22 kDa, respectively. The analysis of their N-terminal amino acid sequence revealed that two inhibitors were TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The final preparation of TIMP-1 had a specific activity of 56000 U/mg and that of TIMP-2 had a specific activity of 26200 U/mg. Our results suggest that keratinocytes take part in tissue remodelling in skin in secreting both TIMP-1 and TIMP-2.
Animals↗
Hyperparathyroidism after thyroid surgery and autotransplantation of histologically normal parathyroid glands.
BACKGROUND: Parathyroid autotransplantation is a well-established method to prevent hypoparathyroidism during parathyroid and thyroid operations. The reported success rate of parathyroid autotransplantation ranges from 75% to 100%. Recurrent hyperparathyroidism may develop after parathyroid autotransplantation, especially after the transplantation of hyperplastic or adenomatous parathyroid tissue. Hyperparathyroidism recurs most frequently after subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation, in patients with renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism, and in patients with familial primary hyperparathyroidism or MEN I or MEN II syndrome. We report three patients who experienced primary hyperparathyroidism after autotransplantation of normal parathyroid tissue during thyroid operations (two patients) or after a long period of hypoparathyroidism. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed our records from 1983 to May 1998 and identified three patients in whom hyperparathyroidism developed after thyroid operations. RESULTS: One patient had a thyroidectomy with left modified radical neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer, followed by radioiodine ablative therapy. Two patients had thyroid operations for benign thyroid disease. One of these patients had a history of radiation exposure for acne, and in the other one secondary hyperparathyroidism arose 6 years after a thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Our study documents that hyperparathyroidism may develop after autotransplantation of histologically normal parathyroid tissue and after a period of hypoparathyroidism after thyroid operations. For this reason, it is important to mark the site of the parathyroid transplantation.
Adult↗
Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis: a report of two cases and determination of wheat-gamma-gliadin as the presumptive allergen.
Water/salt-insoluble wheat proteins have been identified as the most frequent allergenic foodstuffs in patients with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) in Japan. However, the specific allergenic proteins in wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis have not been well defined. Challenge testing, skin testing and a fluoroenzyme immunoassay were used for diagnosis in two patients suspected by history of having wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Gel chromatography and IgE immunoblotting followed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing were used to identify the allergenic wheat protein. The challenge test revealed that both patients had FDEIA. The skin tests and the immunoassay results suggested that wheat gluten was the allergen in both patients. Gel chromatography of wheat gluten revealed that the antigens had molecular weights ranging from 40 to 250 kDa. IgE immunoblotting and subsequent N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed that wheat-gamma-gliadin was the antigen predominantly bound by IgE in the two patients.
Adult↗
Altered in vitro apoptosis of cultured mast cells prepared from an inbred strain of mice, NC/Kuj.
BACKGROUND: An inbred strain of mice, NC, develops dermatitis associated with highly elevated serum IgE and dermal mast cell hyperplasia. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: To clarify the mechanisms for the dermal mast cell hyperplasia in NC, we prepared bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from three strains of mice, NC/Kuj, C57BL/6 and BALB/c, and compare histamine contents, histamine release abilities, adhesive properties and apoptosis of the BMMCs. RESULTS: Compared with BMMCs obtained from C57BL/6 and BALB/c, NC/Kuj BMMC possessed higher histamine content and higher adhesive ability to plastic plates, although histamine release from BMMCs was found to be similar in the three strains. The most intriguing finding is the lack of apoptosis in the BMMCs from NC/Kuj upon growth factor deprivation as determined by DNA ladder formation and loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry. CONCLUSION: The altered in vitro properties of mast cells in NC/Kuj partially account for an increase of dermal mast cells, which might be involved in the development of skin lesions in NC.
Animals↗
Correlation between deposition of immuno-components and infiltration pattern of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the lesions of chronic urticaria.
Urticaria is often associated with perivascular infiltration of leukocytes into the lesions. Although mast cell-derived chemical mediators are considered to play crucial roles in the infiltration of leukocytes as well as in the dermal edema, other mechanisms for the leukocyte infiltration have not been well defined. This study revealed that approximately 25% of the cases of chronic idiopathic urticaria in whom wheals had continued for more than 12 h had deposition of immuno-components in the lesions, although histological examination of the lesions did not show leukocytoclastic vasculitis. In these lesions with deposition of immuno-components, both neutrophils and eosinophils had infiltrated at a constant ratio (approximately 2:1), whereas, in the lesions without deposition, a variable population of leukocytes was seen. This result suggests that activation of complements occurs in the lesions of a considerable percentage of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and that the complement fragments influence the infiltration patterns of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Adult↗
Centrally administered murine-leptin stimulates the hypothalamus-pituitary- adrenal axis through arginine-vasopressin.
Starvation induces a decrease in circulating leptin levels and activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Leptin inhibits the HPA axis in unfed rodents or genetically leptin-deficient ob/ob mice, whereas it stimulates corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). However, the interactions between leptin, CRH and the HPA axis are poorly understood and are likely to be complex. We recently demonstrated that central leptin administration caused increases in plasma arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and AVP gene expression of the PVN in nonstressful rats. AVP stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), but it also potentiates the action of CRH on ACTH release. In this study, we investigated the effects of leptin on plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels, CRH mRNA of the PVN and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA of the pituitary in nonstrained rats. Intracerebroventricularly administered leptin caused increases in plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels in dose-dependent manners. In Northern blot analyses, the leptin injection induced significant increases in the expression of CRH mRNA in the PVN and POMC mRNA in the pituitary. The increased plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels by leptin were attenuated with intracerebroventricular pretreatment of a V(1a) receptor antagonist (OPC-21268) or a V(1a)/V(1b) receptor antagonist (dP[Tyr(Me)(2)]AVP), but not with that of a V(2) receptor antagonist (OPC-31260). The leptin-induced CRH mRNA expression in the PVN and POMC mRNA expression in the pituitary were also reduced by the pretreatment with OPC-21268 and dP[Tyr(Me)(2)]AVP. These results suggest that intracerebroventricular leptin administration activates the HPA axis by AVP receptor activation through V(1a) receptors in the PVN which in turn activates CRH neurons to drive ACTH and corticosterone secretion in concert with AVP in nonstrained rats.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Discordancy between clinical predictions vs lymphoscintigraphic and intraoperative mapping of sentinel lymph node drainage of primary melanoma.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate discordancy between clinical predictions and lymphatic drainage patterns of primary cutaneous melanoma as determined by preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative lymphatic mapping of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). DESIGN: Before selective SLN dissection, 226 consecutive patients with melanoma underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. SETTING: Teaching hospital tertiary care center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Correlation of lymphatic drainage patterns from the following 3 data sources: clinical predictions preoperatively based on anatomical location of primary melanoma, lymphatic drainage patterns as determined by preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, and identification of SLNs during surgery. RESULTS: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was successful in identifying at least 1 SLN in all 226 patients. In head and neck melanomas, at least 1 SLN was identified in an area outside what would have been clinically predicted in 11 (36.7%) of 30 cases. Discordancy for trunk melanomas was seen in 24 (25.3%) of 95 cases. Extremity melanomas showed drainage to unexpected SLNs in 6 (13.6%) of 44 and 3 (5.3%) of 57 patients for the upper and lower extremities, respectively. The overall rate of discordancy was 44 (19.5%) of 226. The SLNs were identified in surgery in all but 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Discordancy is most frequent in melanomas of the head and neck region, followed by that of the trunk. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy identifies the occasional cases in the upper and lower extremities where drainage occurs to a basin that is not clinically predictable. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is a prerequisite for characterizing the lymphatic drainage pattern in patients with primary melanoma, especially for sites such as head and neck as well as trunk, before selective SLN dissection.
Adolescent↗
Renal hemodynamics in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rat, a model rat of spontaneous non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with obesity.
Renal hemodynamic features in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic rats remain unknown. We investigated renal hemodynamic and morphologic changes in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats at the age of 5 and 10 months compared with age-matched lean nondiabetic control rats (LETO). OLETF rats showed obesity compared with age-matched LETO rats. Hyperglycemia was mild in 5-month-old OLETF rats and moderate in 10-month-old OLETF rats. The absolute value for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was significantly higher in OLETF rats than in age-matched LETO rats at the age of 5 and 10 months. Ten-month-old OLETF rats had significantly higher absolute values for renal plasma flow (RPF) than age-matched LETO rats but not 5-month-old OLETF rats. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that body weight was a powerful determinant of GFR and RPF. When factored for body weight, no difference in GFR was demonstrated between 5-month-old OLETF and LETO rats, whereas 10-month-old OLETF rats still had significantly higher GFR and RPF than age-matched LETO rats. Renal hypertrophy was demonstrated in both 5- and 10-month-old OLETF rats even when factored for body weight. Glomerular volume was significantly increased in 10-month-old OLETF rats, but the ratio of glomerular volume to body weight was not different among the groups. Both absolute value for glomerular capillary length free from mesangial area and the value factored for glomerular area were significantly longer in OLETF rats than in age-matched LETO rats. Mesangial matrix expansion was remarkable in 10-month-old OLETF rats, and the glomerular sclerosis index was significantly higher in 10-month-old OLETF rats than in age-matched LETO rats. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that body weight, hemoglobin A1c, and hypertriglyceridemia were powerful determinants for kidney weight and glomerular volume. These data suggest that renal hyperfiltration and hypertrophy observed in 10-month-old OLETF rats are related to diabetic metabolic disorders and that obesity-related conditions may be involved in the renal hemodynamic and morphologic features in OLETF rats.
Animals↗
FR190997, a novel bradykinin B2 agonist, expresses longer action than bradykinin in paw edema formation and hypotensive response.
Biological actions of a novel non-peptide B2 receptor agonist, FR190997, were examined by comparing them with those of bradykinin. The paw edema was induced by subcutaneous injection of 30 microl of solution of bradykinin (0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 nmol) or FR190997 (0.1, 0.3, and 0.9 nmol) into the right hind paw of ICR male mice. Bradykinin caused a dose-dependent edema formation, which peaked at 15 min and ceased after 150 min. FR190997 also formed a dose-dependent edema, peaking at 15-30 min with a slight delay compared to bradykinin and this response continued over 200 min. The edema formed by bradykinin or FR190997 was inhibited by pretreatment with HOE140 (1 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally 30 min before the injection of each agonist. A novel non-peptide B2 antagonist, FR173657 (30 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min before the agonist), also diminished these responses by bradykinin and FR190997 dose-dependently. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min before) inhibited the response to FR190997, suggesting that release of prostaglandins induced by the B2 agonistic action might be involved in this inflammatory process induced by FR190997. The hypotensive action of FR190997 was also examined. Intravenously injected FR190997 caused the systemic hypotensive response in Sprague-Dawley male rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. The potency of FR190997 was weaker than that of bradykinin, when compared with the maximal hypotension. Duration of the hypotensive response of FR190997 was significantly longer than that of bradykinin. These results indicate that FR190997 has the B2 agonistic action similar to bradykinin and is also a good tool for in vivo examination of the B2 receptor.
Animals↗
Fur mites induce dermatitis associated with IgE hyperproduction in an inbred strain of mice, NC/Kuj.
An inbred strain of mice, NC, has been introduced as an animal model for atopic dermatitis because the mice develop dermatitis associated with severe scratch preceded by elevated serum IgE level when kept in conventional conditions. Although hypersensitivity to some environmental factors is suggested to cause dermatitis, the precise factor remains unclear. As the mice maintained under conventional conditions were often infected with fur mites, we investigated whether an infection of fur mites induces skin lesions in NC. Infection with the fur mites induced NC to develop skin lesions associated with highly elevated serum IgE, whereas no obvious skin lesions were observed in BALB/c and C57BL/6, and the elevation of serum IgE level was minimal in these two strains of mice. The role of the fur mites in the manifestation of skin lesions and IgE hyperproduction was confirmed by eliminating the fur mites by treatment with ivermectin. In addition, the existence of specific IgE antibody to Myocoptes musculinus antigen in the sera of mite-infested NC was detected by the antigen-induced histamine release from bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells after sensitization with the serum. These results suggest that continuous exposure to fur mite antigen is a potential factor in the development of dermatitis in NC. We provide a new model system of antigen-induced dermatitis for investigating the role of IgE in eliciting dermatitis.
Animals↗
Annular epidermolytic ichthyosis.
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Adult↗