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Biomedical subjects

Etsuro Yamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Etsuro Yamaguchi.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

A functional polymorphism in the RANTES gene promoter is associated with the development of late-onset asthma.

The CC chemokine regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) attracts eosinophils, basophils, and T cells during inflammation and immune response, indicating a possible role for this chemokine in asthma. Both the -403A and -28G alleles of the RANTES promoter region exhibit significantly enhanced promoter activity in reporter constructs in vitro. We therefore investigated the genetic influence of these alleles on the development of asthma using case-control analysis in a Japanese population (298 patients with asthma and 311 control subjects). Given the evidence for heterogeneity of asthma according to age at onset, we divided patients with asthma into three subgroups: 117 late-onset patients with asthma (onset at more than 40 years of age), 83 middle-onset patients with asthma (onset at 20 to 40 years of age), and 98 early-onset patients with asthma (onset at less than 20 years of age). The -28G allele was significantly associated with late-onset asthma (odds ratio = 2.033; 95% confidence interval, 1.379-2.998; corrected p < 0.0025) but was not associated with the other two asthma subgroups. The -403A allele was not associated with any of the asthma subgroups. Further evidence of the importance of the -28G allele was a significant increase in the production of RANTES in vitro in individuals who carried this allele. Our findings suggest that, among Japanese, the -28G allele of the RANTES promoter region confers susceptibility to late-onset asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis presenting with elevated serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels.

A 52-year-old woman presented with a one-week history of low-grade fever and dyspnea. A CT scan showed multiple pulmonary nodules with cavitation, as well as bilateral pleural thickenings with effusions. A specimen resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery showed multiple confluent granulomas with central necrosis and granulomatous vasculitis. These findings were consistent with necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis. An elevated serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level became normal following clinical and radiological improvement. This indicates that the serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor can be a useful marker for the clinical management of necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2002

A case of diabetes, deafness, cardiomyopathy, and central sleep apnea: novel mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms.

We describe a case of diabetes mellitus complicated by neurosensory hearing loss, cardiomyopathy, and sleep apnea syndrome. A 48-year-old man who was admitted for treatment of a lacerated tendon of the right shoulder was also found to require preoperative control of diabetes, a condition that had been diagnosed 4 years earlier. The family pedigree suggested maternal inheritance of diabetes. The patient also had neurosensory hearing loss and the central type of sleep apnea syndrome. His myocardium was hypertrophic and the ultrastructural analysis showed morphologically abnormal mitochondria. On the basis of the apparent characteristic manifestations, we speculated that he had a mitochondrial disease. To elucidate the responsible mutation of mitochondrial DNA, we sequenced the patient's entire mitochondrial DNA derived from blood leukocytes and found 40 sequence variants. Three of those, 5466 A/G, 7912 G/A, and 10601 T/C, have not yet been reported. Nine of the 40 variants were accompanied by an amino acid replacement, including 5466 A/G. Although we could not determine the most significant mutation, the variants of mitochondrial DNA may have been associated with this patient's unusually variable clinical manifestations.

Cardiomyopathies↗
PubMed2002

Pulmonary actinomycosis followed by pericarditis and intractable pleuritis.

A case of pleuropericarditis caused by Actinomyces israelli is described. The patient first underwent left upper lobectomy because of pulmonary actinomycosis. Seven months later, cardiac tamponade developed. Culture of the bloody pericardial effusion resulted in positive growth of Actinomyces israeli. He was successfully treated with penicillin G, ampicillin, and minocyclin. However, right pleural effusion appeared two months later. Cultures of the effusion again yielded positive growth of the same bacteria. However, the strain had gained resistance to any antibiotics that had been effective before. Accordingly, pleurodesis with minocyclin was undertaken, which was fortunately effective for controlling the pleural effusion.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed2002

[Genetic background of sarcoidosis--special reference to HLA].

A comprehensive epidemiological study (ACCESS) recently conducted in the United States has recognized modest familial aggregation of sarcoidosis. Therefore, genetic factors, in particular human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are believed to be important determinants of susceptibility to sarcoidosis. A previous case-control study on Japanese population has postulated that an amino acid, serine, at position 11 of beta subunit of HLA-DR confers susceptibility to sarcoidosis. Whereas, a more recent study suggests that protective HLA-DR alleles, which encode the DR1 and DR4 antigens, were found to share characteristic small hydrophobic residues at the same position. Meanwhile, the first genome scan on sarcoidosis has found the highest linkage score in the class III region, where HLA-DR genes do not exist. Complete clarification of genetic mechanisms of sarcoidosis awaits the precise identification of causative antigens, if any.

Genetic Markers↗
PubMed2002

[A case of sarcoidosis complicated by primary Sjögren's syndrome].

A 35-year-old woman had been suffering for 10 years from a dry mouth and dry eyes without being medically examined. When she finally saw a doctor in September 1996, a chest radiograph revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. Histopathological examination of the lung and scalene lymph nodes revealed non-specific lymphadenitis. She was followed thereafter without any therapy. In 1997, she was referred to our hospital because of a high titer of antinuclear antibody. A diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome was made on the basis of the results of sialography, lip biopsy, Schirmer's test, and the present of anti-SS-A antibody. Re-evaluation of the mediastinal lymph nodes and the lung by thoracoscopic biopsy revealed non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas, which led to a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Although the coexistence of Sjögren's syndrome and sarcoidosis has been reported occasionally, cases with histological proof of sarcoidosis have been rare. In a survey of 27 reported cases, the majority of the patients were female and in roentgenological stage I. In most cases, Sjögren's syndrome preceded sarcoidosis. The predominance of the Th 1 immune response at the site of each disease may be involved in the pathogenic mechanism by which these diseases coincide.

Adult↗