Biomedical subjects

H Abe

Publications and source records attributed to H Abe.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Asymptomatic schwannoma of the oculomotor nerve: case report.

Intracranial oculomotor schwannoma without neurofibromatosis is rare and is usually symptomatic. Only one case of asymptomatic oculomotor schwannoma has been previously reported. We present a case of intracranial oculomotor schwannoma which caused no signs or symptoms. Microsurgical resection of this tumour resulted in oculomotor palsy. We reviewed 7 reported cases and the findings indicated that radical removal of the tumour invariably caused or worsened the oculomotor palsy. The reason why the tumour caused no symptoms in this case was unclear. However, improvements in diagnostic methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may increase the detection of such asymptomatic cases. Indications for surgical treatment should be established.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Spinal intramedullary ependymomas: surgical results and immunohistochemical analysis of tumour proliferation activity.

This study analysed the outcome of 35 consecutive patients with intramedullary ependymoma who underwent a radical surgical resection between 1983 and 1996. The median age of patients was 47 years. Tumour location was cervical in 22 patients, cerviothoracic in eight and thoraco lumber in five. The proliferative activity of 24 spinal and 14 intracranial ependymomas were determined by MIB-1 immunolabelling. Total removal of tumour was achieved in 26 patients and subtotal removal was performed in nine patients of whom six received postsurgical radiation therapy. Twenty-nine patients out of 35 could be followed over 3 years (follow-up periods: 168-36 months: mean 70). Moreover many patients could be followed over 4 years. In 27 of those 29 patients, the neurological symptom was stabilized or improved. The proliferation indices of spinal ependymomas were significantly lower than those of intracranial ependymomas. Tumour regrowth occurred only in a young patient 29 months after a subtotal removal of the tumour which was not treated with irradiation and showed a high proliferation index on the second operation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Effects of carnosine and related compounds on the stability and morphology of erythrocytes from alcoholics.

The effects of carnosine and related compounds on erythrocytes from alcoholics were studied. In their presence, erythrocytes showed an increased ability to resist haemolysis and showed a more normal morphology, with carnosine and N-acetyl-carnosine being the most effective compounds. These beneficial properties of the dipeptides do not appear to be directly related to their antioxidant or buffering properties.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Autoregulated expression of Schizosaccharomyces pombe meiosis-specific transcription factor Mei4 and a genome-wide search for its target genes.

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe mei4(+) gene encoding a forkhead transcription factor is necessary for the progression of meiosis and sporulation. We searched for novel meiotic genes, the expression of which is dependent on Mei4p, since only the spo6(+) gene has been assigned to its targets. Six known genes responsible for meiotic recombination were examined by Northern blotting, but none were Mei4 dependent for transcription. We determined the important cis-acting element, designated FLEX, to which Mei4p can bind. The S. pombe genome sequence database (The Sanger Centre, UK) was scanned for the central core heptamer and its flanking 3' sequence of FLEX composed of 17 nucleotides, and 10 candidate targets of Mei4 were selected. These contained a FLEX-like sequence in the 5' upstream nontranslatable region within 1 kb of the initiation codon. Northern blotting confirmed that 9 of them, named mde1(+) to mde9(+), were transcriptionally induced during meiosis and were dependent on mei4(+). Most mde genes have not been genetically defined yet, except for mde9(+), which is identical to spn5(+), which encodes one of the septin family of proteins. mde3(+) and a related gene pit1(+) encode proteins related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ime2. The double disruptant frequently produced asci having an abnormal number and size of spores, although it completed meiosis. We also found that the forkhead DNA-binding domain of Mei4p binds to the FLEX-like element in the putative promoter region of mei4 and that the maximum induction level of mei4 mRNA required functional mei4 activity. Furthermore, expression of a reporter gene driven by the authentic mei4 promoter was induced in vegetative cells by ectopic overproduction of Mei4p. These results suggest that mei4 transcription is positively autoregulated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Occult breast cancer presenting axillary nodal metastasis: a case report.

We report a case of a 42-year-old female with occult breast cancer presenting axillary nodal metastasis. She complained of a swelling of the right axillary lymph node, but no breast mass was palpable. Biopsy of the lymph node was performed and histological examination showed a metastatic ductal carcinoma with papillotubular formation. Estrogen receptor of the lymph node was positive. No pathological findings were obtained by mammography and ultrasonography and systemic examinations revealed no extramammary primary lesion. All these data suggested an occult carcinoma of the breast and modified radical mastectomy was performed. Pathological findings of the removed specimen failed to find the primary breast cancer lesion. The patient has been treated with hormonal therapy and she is well without evidence of disease 5 years after surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Atomic force microscopy of intact and digested collagen molecules.

The present study was performed to analyse the structure of non-digested and digested collagen type I molecules by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Collagen type I molecules from the bovine skin were diluted with 0.05 N acetic acid, spread on a mica plate, air-dried and observed by non-contact mode AFM in air. Collagen molecules digested with Clostridium histolyticum collagenase were also examined by AFM. Intact collagen type I molecules were observed as twisted threads ranging mainly between 280 and 310 nm in length. The surface of the molecules was uneven and both ends usually slightly bulged like a globule. Depressions on the molecules were found throughout the length, and were most prominent approximately 70 nm from one end of the molecules. The collagenase-treated collagen molecules were degraded into fragments with various lengths, which corresponded to the data from sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. The end of these fragments often appeared like a tuft, suggesting that the triple-helix unraveled at these regions.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Heart rate and plasma cyclic AMP responses to isoproterenol infusion and effect of beta-adrenergic blockade in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

To clarify the pathophysiological mechanism of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). the responses of heart rate and the plasma cyclic AMP (cAMP) level to isoproterenol infusion in the supine position were evaluated in 10 POTS patients and 10 age-matched controls. Also, the effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on POTS was assessed using the headup tilt test. The POTS patients consisted of two men and eight women, with a mean age of 19.7 years (range. 15-28 years). An exaggerated increase of both heart rate and the plasma cAMP concentration after isoproterenol infusion at a low dose (1 microg/min) was observed in the POTS patients, but not in control subjects. Seven POTS patients received oral beta-blocker therapy. In five of these, symptoms were abolished and there was a smaller heart rate increase during the head-up tilt test. These data suggest that POTS may be more prevalent in young women and that beta-adrenergic hypersensitivity may play a role in the mechanisms of this syndrome. However, a larger series of patients need to be studied in the future.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Reevaluation of syringosubarachnoid shunt for syringomyelia with Chiari malformation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of syringosubarachnoid (S-S) shunting for syringomyelia with Chiari malformation. The authors describe the technical methods of performing the S-S shunt and the clinical results, including shunt malfunction. METHODS: Forty-nine patients underwent S-S shunting. These patients were divided into three groups according to differences in the surgical technique used. Group I patients underwent laminectomy plus midline myelotomy and had a shunt tube placed in the dorsal subarachnoid space. Group II patients underwent laminectomy plus dorsal root entry zone myelotomy and had a shunt tube placed in the dorsolateral subarachnoid space. Group III patients underwent hemilaminectomy plus dorsal root entry zone myelotomy and had a shunt tube placed in the ventrolateral subarachnoid space. RESULTS: Clinical results were generally satisfactory, especially in terms of pain relief, in all three groups. However, 10 patients among Groups I and II required follow-up surgery because of shunt problems; no second surgery was necessary for any patient in Group III. CONCLUSION: The S-S shunt was very effective in deflating the syrinx, and the clinical results were satisfactory. Therefore, even though foramen magnum decompression is a very effective treatment, S-S shunting should be reevaluated and not rejected; it should be considered as one of the major surgical options. To prevent the possibility of cord injury by myelotomy or shunt malfunction, the dorsal root entry zone should be selected as the myelotomy site, and the shunt tube should be inserted into the ventral subarachnoid space at the cervical level.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

A case of superior oblique myokymia observed by an image-analysis system.

Superior oblique myokymia is a microtremor of the eye that causes monocular torsional oscillopsia. A modified Harada-Ito procedure was used to treat a case of the disease in a 20-year-old woman. The authors used video-image analysis pre- and postoperatively to evaluate the effect of the surgery on abnormal torsional eye movements. This analysis revealed that before surgery, the abnormal torsional movement had a very regular cycle (duration of attack, 8.0 +/- 0.5 s; time interval between attacks, 18.7 +/- 3.2 s; n = 9). After the surgery, amplitude of the abnormal torsional eye movement was reduced, and the oscillopsia had subjectively improved, although the movement cycle remained unchanged. The authors' video-image analysis, which used iris striation, proved to be a useful method for clinical measurement of torsional eye movements.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

A case of dermatomyositis associated with mechanic's hand.

A 67-year-old man was referred to the Department of Internal Medicine at Tokyo Medical University with interstitial pneumonia in July 1999. He presented with keratotic plaques on both palsm and on the ventral and lateral sides of his fingers. Erythematous keratosis was observed on the dosal aspect of his fingers and metatarsophalangeal (MP) joints. Edematous erythema was seen on the patient's chest, back, and the extensor surfaces of his arms. Electromyography revealed a myogenic pattern and an increased level of myogenic enzymes was found in the blood. Histological findings of the ventral sides of his fingers showed hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis of the dermal tissue and liquefaction degeneration of the basal layer at the papilla. Based on these findings, the patient was given a diagnosis of dermatomyositis associated with mechanic's hand. A systemic examination confirmed interstitial pneumonia and carcinoma of the duodenal papilla. Mechanic's hand is a type of dermatitis associated with myopathy first reported by Stahl et al. in patients with collagen disease. We report herein the first documented case of mechanic's hand in Asians.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2000

Significance of thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater.

The expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater was studied to clarify its significance in tumor progression and in determining prognosis. Fifty-nine cases of surgically resected carcinoma of the papilla of Vater were studied. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the expression of TP, microvessel count and p53 overexpression. TP expression was demonstrated in tumor cells in 62.7% (37/59) of the cases. A higher frequency of regional lymph node metastasis was found in TP-positive tumors than in TP-negative tumors (P = 0.006). TP-positive tumors were more advanced than TP-negative tumors with regard to clinical stage (P = 0.035). TP-positive tumors had significantly higher microvessel density (27.6 +/- 10.1) than TP-negative tumors (20.4 +/- 10.0, P = 0.01). Moreover, TP expression was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis (P = 0. 02). These suggest that in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater, TP production by tumor cells is correlated with tumor progression through its regulatory effect on neovascularization.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Successful treatment of severe orthostatic hypotension with cardiac tachypacing in dual chamber pacemakers.

Orthostatic hypotension is an evolving and disabling disease usually observed in elderly patients with dramatic consequences on morbidity, mortality, and impairing the quality of life. We studied the effects of the pacing rate and AV interval on the blood pressure drop in the upright position in two patients with previously implanted pacemakers for sinus node dysfunction. Although the AV interval did not affect the blood pressure drop in the upright position, tachypacing at 100 paces/min improved it dramatically and prevented syncope. Cardiac tachypacing is a useful therapeutic option in severe refractory orthostatic hypotensive patients, especially those with chronotropic incompetence.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Ventricular pacing failure after a single oral dose of pilsicainide in a patient with a permanent pacemaker and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

A single oral dose of pilsicainide, a Class Ic antiarrhythmic drug, is a widely used and highly effective therapy for termination of recent onset atrial fibrillation. We report on a patient in which ventricular pacing failure occurred immediately after a single oral dose of pilsicainide. It did not exhibit a parallel relationship between the change in the pacing threshold and plasma concentration of pilsicainide, and the recovery period for the ventricular pacing threshold was longer than that of the plasma concentration of pilsicainide in this patient. Careful attention should be paid when a single oral dose of pilsicainide for termination of recent onset atrial fibrillation is used in patients with permanent pacemakers.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2000

Single oral administration of pilsicainide versus infusion of disopyramide for termination of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a multicenter trial.

A single oral dose of pilsicainide (PLS) is effective in terminating acute-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the effectiveness of this single oral treatment has not been compared with the infusion of other antiarrhythmic drugs. The effects of a single oral dose of PLS on the termination of AF were compared with an infusion of disopyramide (DISO) in a multicenter trial. Seventy-two patients with electrocardiographically confirmed, symptomatic, paroxysmal AF (< 48-hour duration) were randomized to receive either a single 100- to 150-mg dose of PLS versus a 2 mg/kg (maximum dose = 100 mg) infusion of DISO. Successful defibrillation was defined as termination of AF within 2 hours of drug administration. Conversion of AF to sinus rhythm was achieved within 2 hours in 29 of 40 patients (73%) treated with PLS, and in 18 of 32 patients (56%) treated with DISO (NS). The mean time to return of sinus rhythm was 60 +/- 30 minutes in the PLS group versus 23 +/- 18 minutes in the DISO group (P < 0.001). DISO was particularly effective in terminating nocturnal AF, whereas PLS had a stable circadian effect. PLS was significantly more effective than DISO between 6 AM and 12 PM (64% vs 17%, P < 0.05). No adverse effect was observed in either group. In conclusion, a single oral dose of PLS was as effective as an infusion of DISO to restore sinus rhythm in patients with recent-onset AF. PLS consistently terminated AF regardless of its time of onset.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2000

Cytogenetic analysis shows that the unusually large chromosome in the sex-limited pB silkworm (Bombyx mori) strain consists of three chromosomes.

We have discovered an inordinately large chromosome pair at the pachytene stage in the oocyte of the sex-limited pB (black larval marking) silkworm (Bombyx mori) strain (TWPB). We have analyzed the composition and arrangement of this large chromosome. A genetic linkage analysis shows that the large chromosome is made up of the W chromosome, the second chromosome fragment (pB fragment), and the fifth chromosome (linkage group) containing at least the region from map position 0.0 to 40.8. We also observed a sex heterochromatin body (SB) that we deduced to be made up of condensed W chromosomes. The number of SBs in each female nucleus among the sucking stomach cells of the TWPB strain was variable. Evidently, the W chromosome of the TWPB strain is attached to another chromosome. The composition of the W chromosome, the second chromosome fragment, and the fifth chromosome was studied through linkage analysis for these three chromosomes. We used two strains derived from the TWPB strain, the sex-limited pM (moricaud larval marking)-like (TWPML) and the autosomal pM-like (T5PML). The results show that the TWPML strain originates through a detachment of the fifth chromosome from the large chromosome of the TWPB strain, and the T5PML strain originates through a detachment of the W chromosome from that. Accordingly, the large chromosome of the TWPB strain is arranged in the order W chromosome--second chromosome fragment--fifth chromosome.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Animal models for hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.

The direct effect of endogenous insulin on the atherosclerotic process has not been well understood. To clarify this question, we performed pancreas transplantation in Wistar Shionogi (WS) rats. Hyperinsulinemia was not related to coronary risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension in transplanted rats. After 9 months of transplantation, the cholesterol ester contents of the aortas of transplanted WS rats were significantly higher than in the control rats. The effects of insulin resistance on coronary risk factors were examined in mice deficient in insulin substrate-1-deficient (IRS-1) mice, a non-obese animal model of insulin resistance. Blood pressure and plasma triglyceride levels were significantly higher in IRS-1-deficient mice than in normal mice. Impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation was also observed in IRS-1-deficient mice. Furthermore, lipoprotein lipase activity was lower than in normal mice, suggesting impaired lipolysis was involved in the increased plasma triglyceride levels under insulin-resistant conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Isolation and characterization of mini-Tn5Km2 insertion mutants of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 deficient in adherence to Caco-2 cells.

Adherence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to intestinal epithelium is essential for initiation of the infection. To identify genes involved in adherence, an EHEC O157:H7 strain (O157Sakai) was mutagenized by mini-Tn5Km2, where Km refers to kanamycin resistance, and 4,677 insertion mutants were screened for their ability to form microcolonies (MC) on Caco-2 cells. The less adherent mutants were divided into three groups: those with no adherent ability (designated as class 1 mutants, n = 10), those less adherent than the wild type (class 2 mutants, n = 16), and those unable to form MC but which adhered in a diffuse manner (class 3 mutants, n = 1). The sites of insertion in class 1 mutants were all found within genes of the locus for enterocyte effacement (LEE) thought to be required for type III protein secretion. Indeed, the class 1 mutants failed to secrete type III secreted proteins such as EspA and Tir into the culture medium. The insertions in class 2 mutants were outside the LEE, and all the mutants except one were able to secrete type III proteins into the culture medium. The class 3 mutant had the insertion in the tir gene in the LEE and was deficient in Tir and intimin expression, suggesting that in the absence of intimin-Tir, O157Sakai can still adhere to Caco-2 cells but in a diffused manner. This was confirmed by construction of a nonpolar eae (encoding intimin) mutant. Examination of the eae mutant together with O157Sakai and one of the class 1 mutants for the ability to form MC revealed that EHEC initially adhered diffusely at 1.5 h after infection. Following washing out of the nonadherent bacteria, while wild-type EHEC bacteria developed MC for another 2 to 3 h on Caco-2 cells, the eae mutant diffusely adhered throughout the infection without forming MC. MC with O157Sakai but not the diffusely adherent eae mutant could evoke F-actin condensation beneath the bacterium. Our results suggest that EHEC encodes additional adherence-associated loci and that the type III secreted proteins are involved in the initial diffuse adherence, while the intimin-Tir interaction is required for the subsequent development of MC.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

PubMed2000

Establishment of monoclonal anti-retroviral gp70 autoantibodies from MRL/lpr lupus mice and induction of glomerular gp70 deposition and pathology by transfer into non-autoimmune mice.

Several strains of mice, including MRL/MpJ mice homozygous for the Fas mutant lpr gene (MRL/lpr mice), F(1) hybrids of New Zealand Black and New Zealand White mice, and BXSB/MpJ mice carrying a Y-linked autoimmune acceleration gene, spontaneously develop immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. The involvement of the envelope glycoprotein gp70 of an endogenous xenotropic virus in the formation of circulating immune complexes and their deposition in the glomerular lesions have been demonstrated, as has the pathogenicity of various antinuclear, antiphospholipid, and rheumatoid factor autoantibodies. In recent genetic linkage studies as well as in a study of cytokine-induced protection against nephritis development, the strongest association of serum levels of gp70-anti-gp70 immune complexes, rather than the levels of antinuclear autoantibodies, with the development and severity of glomerulonephritis has been demonstrated, suggesting a major pathogenic role of anti-gp70 autoantibodies in the lupus-prone mice. However, the pathogenicity of anti-gp70 autoantibodies has not yet been directly tested. To examine if anti-gp70 autoantibodies induce glomerular pathology, we established from unmanipulated MRL/lpr mice hybridoma clones that secrete monoclonal antibodies reactive with endogenous xenotropic viral env gene products. Upon transplantation, a high proportion of these anti-gp70 antibody-producing hybridoma clones induced in syngeneic non-autoimmune and severe combined immunodeficiency mice proliferative or wire loop-like glomerular lesions. Furthermore, deposition of gp70 in glomeruli and pathological changes were observed after intravenous injection of representative clones of purified anti-gp70 immunoglobulin G, demonstrating pathogenicity of at least some anti-gp70 autoantibodies.

Animals↗