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Biomedical subjects

H Abe

Publications and source records attributed to H Abe.

At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources

Scoliosis associated with syringomyelia presenting in children.

The clinical presentations and radiological features of scoliosis accompanying syringomyelia were analyzed in 14 cases of syringomyelia associated with a in 14 cases of syringomyelia associated with a Chiari malformation in children. Scoliosis was the initial symptom in 11 out of 16 patients (64%) with syringomyelia and present in 14 (88%) at the initial examination. The scoliosis associated with syringomyelia was characterized by a higher incidence of a single curve (6 cases, 43%) and convexity to the left (7 cases, 50%) than seen in idiopathic scoliosis. The syrinx was shifted to the convex side of scoliosis on the axial section at the middle or lower thoracic level in patients with a single curve, and at the cervical or upper thoracic level in patients with a double curve. The authors think that the scoliosis develops in children as a result of damage done to the anterior horn, which innervates the muscles of the trunk, by an asymmetrically expanded syrinx.

Arnold-Chiari Malformation↗

Novel eosinophilic inclusion in astrocytes.

Intracytoplasmic and brightly eosinophilic inclusions within neuroglias are reported in a patient with Aicardi's syndrome. Most inclusion-bearing neuroglias were protoplasmic astrocytes in the cerebral cortex. Compared with similar eosinophilic and intracytoplasmic inclusions in other studies using both light and electron microscopy, the inclusions in this report are regarded as being novel and not previously described. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions were composed of electron-dense granules and amorphous substances, and were not surrounded by a limiting membrane. They were numerous in the cerebral cortex, especially in part of the microgyrus, but absent in the deep cerebral white matter, subcortical nuclei, brain stem and the cerebellum. Therefore, they may be closely associated with brain malformation and congenital astrocytic dysfunction. They also suggested a functional difference in protoplasmic astrocytes themselves, according to the differentiation of related gray matter.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

The hemostatic effect of deacetylated chitin membrane on peritoneal injury in rabbit model.

In this study, we determined the effect of 80% deacetylated chitin (DAC-80) membrane on postsurgical bleeding after visceral and parietal peritoneal abrasion. Japanese white rabbits underwent a midline laparotomy followed either by a bilateral peritoneal sidewall abrasion (4 x 4 cm) or an abrasion of liver surface (3 x 2 cm). The injured surface was then covered with a 0.2 mm thick DAC-80 membrane. On postsurgical day 2, the rabbits were sacrificed and the amounts of postsurgical bleeding was determined by quantitating the number of red blood cells recovered in 50 ml peritoneal lavage fluid. The DAC-80 membrane was found to reduce postsurgical bleeding after the abrasion of liver surface (treated with DAC-80 membrane: 2.9 +/- 0.8; control: 24.6 +/- 5.9 x 10(8) cells/peritoneal cavity, P less than 0.005). This same hemostatic activity was not observed after application in the peritoneal sidewall abrasion model. We also measured plasminogen activator activity (PA) and urokinase inhibitory (PAI) activity in the spent culture media of macrophages recovered from the postsurgical peritoneal exudate. The DAC-80 membrane reduced the PA secretion from postsurgical macrophages after liver surface abrasion (treated with DAC-80: 2.8 +/- 0.7; control: 3.9 +/- 0.9 mPU/ml). The DAC-80 membrane also showed similar effects on PA secretion after peritoneal sidewall abrasion. No significant effects were found in the secretion of PAI by postsurgical macrophages in both surgical models. These findings suggest that the DAC-80 membrane may have hemostatic activity through the modulation of fibrinolytic activity of peritoneal exudative macrophages.

Adolescent↗

Successful pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension associated with anticardiolipin antibodies: report of a case.

Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with pulmonary hypertension is a rare but most unique syndrome in the broad spectrum of pulmonary embolism. This report describes a successful pulmonary thromboendarterectomy performed for a totally occluded right pulmonary artery on a 43 year old man who presented with positive cardiolipin antibodies. The surgery was performed through a median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass and intermittent periods of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. We are convinced that this method allows for complete removal of the thrombotic obstruction and should be the procedure of choice for patients with very proximal obstruction of a pulmonary artery.

Adult↗

Induction of antitumor activities in spleen cells from mice and rats activated with lipopolysaccharide immobilized on beads.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were coupled to polystyrene beads in order to apply the LPS without toxicity. The antitumor activity of the LPS-immobilizing beads was studied in experiments in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies showed that spleen cells from C3H/HeN mice stimulated by beads immobilizing LPS from Escherichia coli produced cytolytic activity as strong as that of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Spleen cells from Sprague-Dawley rats stimulated by beads immobilizing LPS from Salmonella minnesota produced cytolytic activity stronger than that of LAK cells. However, spleen cells stimulated by beads immobilizing each component of the LPS separately could not induce cytolysis. Contact stimulation, even for a brief period, sufficed for cytolytic activity, and was enhanced by culture for 48-72 h. Through in vivo studies, the suppression of tumor growth and a prolongation of the survival time were observed in tumor-bearing mice injected with spleen cells activated by beads immobilizing LPS from E. coli, and in mice injected with LAK cells. The effect of the activated spleen cells was stronger than that of the LAK cells. In rats bearing metastatic tumors, spleen cells activated by beads immobilizing LPS from S. minnesota suppressed lung metastases more strongly than did LAK cells. These findings indicate that LPS immobilized by beads induced killer cells more strongly than interleukin-2. Ex vivo immunomodulation with LPS-immobilizing beads can be applied usefully as an anticancer treatment.

Animals↗

Incidence of anti-HTLV-1 antibody in liver disease.

Positivity for serum anti-HTLV-1 antibody (anti-HTLV-1) in 171 patients with various chronic liver diseases and 22 asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers was compared with that of 200 healthy controls in the Chikugo district of Japan. The rate of anti-HTLV-1 positivity in patients with liver disease was 8.1% (14/171) and was higher than that (3.5%: 7/200) in healthy controls, but the difference was not significant. However, in patients with liver disease with a history of blood transfusion, the positive rate was 18.4% (7/38) which was significantly higher than that for healthy subject (P less than 0.001). On the other hand, in 133 liver disease patients without blood transfusion, anti-HTLV-1 positivity was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (11.3%: 6/53) than in those without it (1.3%: 1/80). These data suggest that the high incidence of anti-HTLV-1 in our patients with liver disease was due to the transmission of HTLV-1 by the same routes (maternal transmission and blood transfusion) and probably at the same time as the hepatitis viruses (HBV and hepatitis C virus).

Adult↗

Ocular convergence-related neuronal responses in the lateral suprasylvian area of alert cats.

Neuronal spike discharges were recorded from the lateral suprasylvian (LS) area while ocular convergence was elicited in five alert cats. Ocular convergence was elicited by presenting a visual target moving in depth. Cats were rewarded for convergence eye movement. In 9 out of 426 cells sampled in the caudal postero-medial LS area, the number of spikes was positively correlated with the peak eye velocities during ocular convergence. Significant correlation was found mostly within 400 ms preceding the moment at which the maximum velocity of ocular convergence was obtained. The result favors the hypothesis that the LS area plays an important role in the integrative control of ocular convergence.

Animals↗

Localization of gene expression of calreticulin in the brain of adult mouse.

The localization of gene expression of calreticulin, a calcium-binding protein in the endoplasmic reticulum, was examined throughout the entire brain of adult mice by in situ hybridization. Calreticulin mRNA is expressed widely and heterogeneously in discrete neurons throughout the brain, but the white matters expressed it weekly or faintly. In the olfactory bulb, the mRNA is expresses moderately in the mitral cells, but weakly in the periglomerular cells and internal granule cells. In the cerebrum, the gene is expressed intensely in the piriform cortex, but weakly in neocortex, the entorhinal cortex and the amygdaloid nuclei. In the hippocampal formation, calreticulin mRNA is expressed intensely in the CA1-CA3 regions but less intensely in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus. The caudate-putamen, thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei, and mammillary nuclei express the mRNA weakly or faintly. In the mesencephalon, pons and medulla, moderate expression of the mRNA is detected in the pontine nuclei and the locus ceruleus. Weak expression of the mRNA is detected in several discrete nuclei and zones such as the substantia nigra, the superior colliculus and the central gray. Expression signals of calreticulin mRNA are faint in the inferior olive. In the cerebellum, calreticulin mRNA is expressed moderately in the Purkinje cells whereas no significant expression is detected in the granule cells. The plexus choroideus of the lateral, third and fourth ventriculi express calreticulin mRNA intensely although no distinct expression of the mRNA is discerned in the ependyma.

Animals↗

Localization of mRNA for protein phosphatase 2C in the brain of adult rats.

Type 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C) is one of four major serine-threonine specific phosphoprotein phosphatases which modulate various intracellular activities. By in situ hybridization analysis of the adult rat, expression signals of mRNA for PP2C were observed most highly in the granule cells and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus and granule cells of the dentate gyrus, and plexus choroideus of the lateral ventricle, whereas moderate levels of its expression were observed in the medial habenula, piriform cortex and the pineal body. Several discrete nuclei of the brainstem including pars compacta of the substantia nigra, the pontine nuclei, and the locus ceruleus expressed the mRNA moderately. Weak expression of PP2C mRNA was observed in mitral and internal granule cells of the olfactory bulb, spinal cord gray matter, the cerebral neocortex, thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei. Only faint expression was detected in the caudate putamen. These patterns of expression are different from that of calcineurin/PP2B reported by other immunohistochemical studies and it is suggested that various neuronal proteins are differentially dephosphorylated by the different types of PP.

Animals↗

Sequential change of heterogeneous cerebral blood blow patterns after diffuse brain ischemia.

In order to provide an insight into the basic nature of ischemic brain injury, we sequentially studied cerebral blood flow with [99mTc]hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime single photon emission computed tomography (CBF imaging) in a patient with diffuse brain ischemia due to prolonged cardiac arrest. On the 10th postarrest day, concentrated blood flow over superior-medial portion of the occipital lobe was demonstrated. On the 18th postarrest day, the same region became high density on a CT scan, while the concentrated flow on the CBF imaging had diminished. Thus, an abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF) pattern preceded the density change on CT scan. On the 23rd postarrest day, remarkably concentrated flow over the brainstem was demonstrated. This might have illustrated the reduced metabolic demand of the damaged tissue over the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres with relative preservation of brainstem perfusion. In patients with diffuse brain ischemia, a CBF imaging may be a useful tool for clarifying pathological process and prognosis.

Brain↗

Major buffering constituents in animal muscle.

1. Among the muscles of six fish species, three mammals, and a bird, white muscle of skipjack tuna showed the highest buffering capacity (BC) in the pH range 6.5-7.5, followed by the muscle of little-piked whale, chicken pectoralis minor, and mackerel white muscle. 2. Contribution of low-molecular weight components to the muscle BC was as high as 48-96%, while the contribution of muscle proteins was below 50%. 3. Histidine-related dipeptides and inorganic phosphate were found to be major buffering constituents in muscle. 4. The dipeptides accounted for the BC differences found between the species and muscle types.

Acids↗

NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists inhibit photic induction of Fos protein in the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus.

We previously reported that systemic treatment with a noncompetitive antagonist affecting the NMDA subtype of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor, MK-801, inhibits photic induction of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-lir) in the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Because MK-801 blocks the Ca2+ channel associated with the NMDA receptor, it may also influence the activity of other transmitters acting through Ca2+ channels. To assess the specificity of these effects, we compared the effects on photic induction of Fos-lir of several treatments: central injection of a competitive NMDA antagonist, CPP; central injection of a non-NMDA antagonist, DNQX; and systemic injection of the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, ketamine. Fos-lir was induced in SCN cells of vehicle-injected hamsters exposed to a light pulse 4-5 h after dark onset. Pretreatment with CPP (greater than 2 nmoles) or ketamine (greater than 100 mg/kg) caused a dose-related inhibition of photic induction of Fos-lir in portions of the SCN. These treatments reduced Fos-lir mainly in the rostral SCN and ventrolateral, but not dorsolateral, portions of the caudal SCN. Pretreatment with DNQX (greater than 20 nmoles) also inhibited photic induction of Fos-lir in the same regions of the SCN. These results indicate that photic induction of Fos protein in a portion of the hamster SCN is regulated by both NMDA and non-NMDA types of EAA receptor.

Animals↗

Inactivation of measles virus and herpes simplex virus by saikosaponin d.

Saikosaponin d, isolated from the roots of Bulpleurum falcatum L. was investigated for both its inactivating effects on some viruses and its antiviral effects against the viruses in vitro. Saikosaponin d at a concentration of more than 5 microM had direct inactivating effects on both measles virus and herpes simplex virus after incubation of the viruses with the agent for more than 10 min at room temperature. In contrast, exposure of poliovirus to even 500 microM of saikosaponin d resulted in no loss of infectivity, while the same concentration of saikosaponin d induced complete loss of infectivity in both measles virus and herpes virus. In addition, saikosaponin d was ineffective against the replication of measles virus, herpes virus, and polio virus at a concentration of 0.1 microM, whereas saikosaponin d did not induce an inhibitory effect on the growth of Vero cells, when Vero cells were treated with saikosaponin d 24 h before the inoculation (pretreatment) and immediately or 24 h after the infection of the viruses (post-treatment).

Animals↗

Production of antiserum to [D-Ala2]deltorphin I and its immunohistochemical application to the mouse brain.

Antiserum to haptenic [D-Ala2]deltorphin I (DADTI: Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly.NH2), a highly selective ligand for delta opioid receptors, was produced in rabbits. By immunospot assay, the antiserum recognized 62.5 pmol DADTI but failed to react even with 4 nmol carrier protein of the immunogen. Although the antiserum reacted equally with an isomer [L-Ala2]deltorphin I, virtually no cross-reaction occurred with other analogues such as [D-Ala2]deltorphin II (Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Glu-Val-Val-Gly.NH2) and similar peptides lacking the C-terminal glycine amide. Therefore, the major epitope for immunorecognition appeared to be in the C-terminal region which is known to be the specific domain for delta opioid receptor selectivity. Immunohistochemical study using this antiserum revealed positive neuronal structures in some specific systems of the mouse brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sodium and noradrenaline in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in salt-sensitive and non-salt-sensitive essential hypertension.

1. The effects of dietary sodium on blood pressure and levels of sodium, other electrolytes and noradrenaline (NA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of 15 patients with essential hypertension were studied. The CSF and blood sampling was carried out after 7 days of a high salt intake (16-18 g/day) and after 7 days of a low salt intake (1-3 g/day). 2. Blood pressure and sodium concentrations in CSF and serum were significantly higher in the high salt period than the low salt period (CSF Na+ concentration: 147.7 +/- 0.4 mmol/L vs 145.3 +/- 0.5 mmol/L; P less than 0.001). Levels of CSF pressure and potassium or calcium concentrations were not different between the two periods. Plasma NA and plasma renin activity (PRA) were lower and CSF NA levels tended to be lower in the high salt period. 3. The levels and the changes in sodium and NA in CSF were not significantly different between the salt-sensitive (n = 8) and the non-salt-sensitive (n = 7) subjects, but the changes in plasma NA and PRA were smaller in the salt-sensitive subjects. 4. These results indicate that the sympathetic nervous system is less suppressed in salt-sensitive subjects during high salt intake. This may be due to altered neural responsiveness to sodium loading rather than being greater increases in sodium concentration in the central nervous system.

Adult↗

Incidence of Paneth cells in minute tubular adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the large bowel.

This study attempted to demonstrate the incidence of Paneth cells within large bowel tubular adenoma and adenocarcinoma according to location and macroscopic appearance using minute tumors (up to 5 mm in size). We have shown that Paneth cells were sometimes seen in the early stage of the development of large bowel epithelial neoplasia. According to the macroscopic appearance (elevated or depressed type), in large bowel epithelial neoplasia, there was a statistical difference between the depressed type (32.5%, 14 of 40 cases) and the elevated type (16.6%, 24 of 145 cases) (Chi square analysis, p < 0.05) in the incidence of Paneth cells. Paneth cells were seen more frequently in adenocarcinoma (45.8%, 11 of 24 cases) than in tubular adenoma (16.8%, 27 of 161 cases), with a significant statistical difference (Chi square analysis, p < 0.01). According to location, in both tubular adenoma and adenocarcinoma, Paneth cells were more frequently observed in the proximal colon (tubular adenoma: p < 0.01, adenocarcinoma: p < 0.05, Chi square analysis).

Adenocarcinoma↗