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Biomedical subjects

H Ichikawa

Publications and source records attributed to H Ichikawa.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

The expulsion of Echinostoma trivolvis: suppressive effects of dexamethasone on goblet cell hyperplasia and worm rejection in C3H/HeN mice.

C3H/HeN mice were infected with Echinostoma trivolvis metacercariae on day 0, given intramuscular injections of dexamethasone daily for 5 or 7 days, and necropsied on days 5, 8, 12, 15, 20 and 30 p. i. Controls consisted of mice that were infected with echinostomes, but were not treated with dexamethasone. Dexamethasone treatment caused a delay in worm expulsion from the small intestine of the hosts, and the increase in goblet cell numbers that occurred in untreated mice was markedly delayed in the treated mice. Mast cell number in the small intestine increased rapidly from just after day 5 p. i. and reached a peak on day 15 p. i. in both dexamethasone-treated and control mice, although the increase in cell numbers was delayed slightly in the dexamethasone-treated mice. The eosinophil number in the small intestine of dexamethasone-treated mice was suppressed until 8 days p. i. and then increased reaching a peak on day 12 p. i., although the number was about one half that of the control. As determined on day 12 p. i., the mean body area of worms from dexamethasone-treated animals was significantly greater than that of the controls. Histological examination of the small intestine showed that the goblet and Paneth cell hyperplasia seen in mice infected with E. trivolvis was suppressed by dexamethasone treatment. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no marked ultrastructural differences in the small intestine of the dexamethasone-treated and control mice except that the former had an increased number of intracristal granules in mitochondria, an increase in vesicles in the apical epithelial cells and an increase in amorphous bodies and autophagic vacuoles in the Paneth cells. These results indicate that dexamethasone treatment delayed the expulsion of E. trivolvis from the small intestine of the host mouse in association with the suppression of goblet cell hyperplasia and increase in the number of mast cells and eosinophils.

Animals↗

Myocardial troponin T levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

We investigated myocardial troponin T (TnT) level as a marker for myocardial injury at various stages of diabetic nephropathy, including end-stage renal failure. One hundred and four diabetic patients were included in this study. These patients were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group I, composed of 41 patients without nephropathy who served as controls; Group II, composed of 15 patients with micro-albuminuria; Group III, composed of 15 patients with macroalbuminuria; Group IV, composed of 8 patients with renal failure who were not receiving hemodialysis; and Group V, composed of 25 patients who were receiving hemodialysis for renal failure. The following markers of myocardial injury were measured in these patients: myocardial TnT, creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin (Mb), and myosin light chain-1 (MCL-1). Our results showed that as the disease state of diabetic nephropathy advanced to renal failure, myocardial TnT levels became elevated. Group V showed significantly higher myocardial TnT levels than either Group I, Group II or Group III. Group IV showed significantly higher myocardial TnT levels than either Group II or Group III. The rate of ischemic changes on electrocardiograms also tended to increase with advance to renal failure in these patients. However, there was no correlation between myocardial TnT levels and serum Cr levels, used as an index for renal function. Myocardial TnT levels had a higher specificity for cardiac muscle than other markers for myocardial injury and are not significantly influenced by renal function. Myocardial TnT may be useful as a marker of myocardial injury for patients with chronic renal failure.

Adult↗

[Left ventricular rupture following aortic and mitral valve replacement in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta: a case report].

Intraoperative left ventricular rupture (type I) occurred following aortic and mitral valve replacement in 62-year-old man with osteogenesis imperfecta. Re-replacement of the mitral valve and the repair of left ventricular rupture were successfully performed. However, the patient died suddenly 3 days after the operation. Retroperitoneal bleeding due to the insertion of a continuous hemofiltration catheter via the femoral vein was detected at autopsy. Seven patients who underwent double valve replacements for aortic and mitral disease with osteogenesis imperfecta were reported with poor surgical results. We report our patient and discuss the relationship between osteogenesis imperfecta and left ventricular rupture.

Aortic Valve↗

Plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides in patients on hemodialysis.

The usefulness of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), and cyclic guanosine 3',5'- monophosphate (cGMP) as markers of fluid overload was examined in hemodialysis (HD) patients without diabetes mellitus. Plasma concentrations of ANP, BNP, CNP, and cGMP all decreased significantly during HD. Before HD, there was a strong correlation between plasma concentrations of ANP and those of BNP, and plasma concentrations of cGMP correlated significantly with those of all three natriuretic peptides. The cardiothoracic ratio also correlated significantly with plasma concentrations of ANP and those of BNP before HD. Systolic blood pressure correlated significantly only with plasma concentrations of CNP, both before and after HD. Changes in body weight during HD correlated only with those in plasma ANP; there was thus no correlation between changes in body weight and those in plasma CNP. In conclusion, only plasma ANP is a useful marker of the proper volume and dry weight of HD patients. Furthermore, CNP may participate in cardiovascular regulation in HD patients in a manner different from those of ANP and BNP.

Adult↗

What is the best index of glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus on hemodialysis?

Since red blood cell survival time is shortened in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) on hemodialysis (HD), it is unlikely that indices of glycemic control accurately reflect the glycemic state of these individuals. In this study, in order to determine the best index of glycemic control in diabetic patients on HD, we measured HbAlc, 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), fructosamine (Fr) and glycated albumin (GA) in 31 diabetic patients on HD (20 males and 11 females, mean age: 66.9 years), and examined the correlation between each index and predialysis plasma glucose level. Since the mean values of predialysis plasma glucose during the final 2 and 4 weeks before the study were best correlated with HbAlc, this parameter was considered to be the most reliable index of glycemic control in diabetic patients on HD. GA was more closely correlated with mean values of predialysis plasma glucose during the final 2 and 4 weeks, than any other index of glycemic control, followed by HbAlc. In conclusion, HbAlc is considered to be the most reliable index of glycemic control in diabetic patients on HD.

Aged↗

[Removal ability of IgG anti-GQ1b antibody in immunoadsorption therapy for Fisher syndrome--comparison of the removal ability between tryptophane column and phenylalanine column].

Anti-GQ1b antibody seems to be a pathogenetic factor in the development of Fisher syndrome (FS). Although several patients received immunoadsorption therapy (IAT), whether it can remove the autoantibody has not yet been clarified. We treated two patients with FS by IAT using tryptophane column (TR-C) and phenylalanine column (PH-C) (TR-C; 9 times altogether in 2 patients, PH-C: twice altogether in 2 patients), and compared the removal ability of IgG anti-GQ1b antibody and immunoglobulin between TR-C and PH-C. TR-C removed the IgG anti-GQ1b antibodies, IgG, IgA and IgM more than PH-C did. TR-C removed the IgG anti-GQ1b antibody more selectively than non-specific immunoglobulin. In practicing IAT on FS, the use of TR-C rather than PH-C is recommended in view of the removal ability of the autoantibody.

Adult↗

[Hypothermic management of brain dead dogs].

For preventing graft failure, the effects of hypothermic management of brain dead dogs was investigated. Forty-three brain dead dogs were divided into two groups according to the degree of esophageal temperature; a normothermic group (37.2 +/- 0.3 degree C, mean +/- SEM, n = 22), and a hypothermic group (31.8 +/- 0.3 degree C, n = 21) which was obtained by introducing ice slush in the peritoneal cavity. During the management of brain dead dogs, 1) heart rate, pressure product, and a total amount of catecholamine were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the hypothermic group than in the normothermic group, 2) mean blood pressure, the maximum rate of the rise of left ventricle (LVdp/dt) and cardiac output were not different between both groups, 3) lactate content in the coronary sinus, and O2-extraction rate of the heart tended to be lower in the hypothermic group than in the normothermic group. After transplantation, the recovery of cardiac function was better in the hypothermic group than in the normothermic group. Hypothermic management of brain dead dogs may safely decrease cardiac stress, and keep cardiac aerobic circumstances.

Animals↗

[The earlier detection of myocardial damage in open heart surgery using serum human heart fatty acid-binding protein].

Human heart fatty acid-binding protein (HH-FABP), which is a low molecular weight protein and abundant in the cytoplasm of myocardial cells, is reported to be released into the circulation shortly after the onset of acute myocardial damage. However, the changes in serum HH-FABP levels in open heart surgery have not been elucidated. To determine whether HH-FABP enables the earlier detection of myocardial damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion in open heart surgery, we measured the serial levels of serum HH-FABP, CK-MB and Troponin T (TnT) at every 15 min for 48 hours after reperfusion in 10 adult patients with coronary artery bypass graft. The serum HH-FABP levels reached the peak within 60 min after reperfusion (mean +/- SD; 49 +/- 7 min), and this was significantly (p < 0.001) earlier than CK-MB (212 +/- 108 min) and TnT (244 +/- 150 min). The peak value of serum HH-FABP had a significant correlation to the peak value of serum CK-MB or TnT (r = 0.815, p = 0.02; r = 0.925, p = 0.0001, respectively). These results indicate that serum HH-FABP enables the earlier detection of myocardial damage than the other markers in the patients with open heart surgery.

Adult↗

Effects of the new calcium antagonist efonidipine hydrochloride on resting and exercise hemodynamics in patients with stable effort angina.

The action of efonidipine hydrochloride ((+/-)-2-[benzyl(phenyl)-amino]ethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1, 3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxy late hydrochloride ethanol, CAS 1110011-76-8, NZ-105) a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on cardiac hemodynamics at rest and during exercise as well as plasma concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters were studied in 9 patients with angina pectoris. NZ-105 was administered 40 mg once daily for a week and cardiac hemodynamics parameters were measured at rest and during exercise using a bicycle ergometer before and after treatment. All patients showed anginal symptoms during exercise before treatment, while only 4 showed anginal symptoms during exercise after treatment. Improvement on electrocardiograms (ECG) (> 0.1 treatment mV) was detected in 4 out of 9, and NZ-105 was recognized to have an anti-anginal action. The mean plasma concentration of NZ-105 at the time was 14.5 ng/ml. At rest, reduction in blood pressure and decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance were observed, however, NZ-105 showed no effect on heart rate, cardiac index, pulmonary arterial pressure and central venous pressure. During maximum exercise, a decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance, reduction in pulmonary arterial pressure and central venous pressure, increasing tendency of left ventricular ejection fraction, and increase in cardiac index were observed. However, NZ-105 showed no effect on heart rate and blood pressure. Based on the results mentioned above, cardiac hemodynamics of NZ-105 during exercise, featured primarily, reduction of afterload and improvement of cardiac functional deterioration due to exercise. In conclusion, NZ-105 is useful in patients with ischemic cardiac diseases by improving hemodynamics and ECG findings during exercise in patients with effort angina.

Angina Pectoris↗

[Probability of vaccine therapy for pancreas cancer].

To explore the possibility of vaccine therapy for pancreatic cancer using ras oncogenic protein related antigen we studied whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte for tumor rejection can be induced by vaccination using the peptide relating mutated ras protein. Splenocytes from mice immunized by peptide (9-15 mer) relating mutated ras protein with normal splenocytes specifically increased in the culture with the peptide. The harvested splenic lymphocytes from the mice had peptide specific lysis against B 6 fibroblast incubated with the peptide. These results suggested that immunization using the peptide relating mutated ras peptide with autologous antigen presenting cell can be a vaccine therapy for pancreatic cancer.

Animals↗

Assignment of the E4TF1-60 gene to human chromosome 21q21.2-q21.3.

The gene encoding human transcription factor E4TF1-60 was previously mapped to chromosome 21q21. We analyzed the localization of the E4TF1-60 gene in more detail by genomic Southern hybridization and determined the sequence of the exons and the regions surrounding the intron boundaries. We report here that E4TF1-60 locates in the long arm of chromosome 21 at q21.2-q21.3 and contains a total of ten exons.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast↗

Localization of cDNAs to a region poorly represented in the CEPH chromosome 21 YAC contig: candidate genes for genetic diseases mapped to 21q22.3.

Fifty-three cDNA fragments previously obtained by hybridization selection from random clones in the chromosome 21 cosmid library LL21CNO2 failed to identify clones in the chromosome 21 YAC contig described by Chumakov et al. (1992, Nature 359: 380-387). Using an expanded panel of somatic cell hybrids, we have verified that the majority of these cDNAs map to chromosome 21 and that in particular a very high proportion, approximately 85%, localize to a 5-Mb region of distal 21q22.3. Pulsed-field analysis coupled with information from the NotI restriction map of the region further indicate that 17 cDNA fragments map within 650 kb of the PFKL gene and thus may be candidates for genetic diseases linked to this gene. This work helps to characterize a region poorly represented in the CEPH YAC contig and adds to the number of cDNAs useful in analysis of chromosome 21-associated diseases.

Animals↗

Parvalbumin- and calretinin-immunoreactive trigeminal neurons innervating the rat molar tooth pulp.

Calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides were examined in trigeminal neuronal cell bodies retrogradely labeled with Fast blue (FB) from the maxillary molar tooth pulp of the rat. FB-labeled cells were located in the maxillary division of the trigeminal ganglion. Approximately 30 and 50% of the labeled cells were immunoreactive for parvalbumin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), respectively. The coexpression of these substances was observed in 9.5% of FB-labeled cells. On the other hand, 2.4% of FB-labeled cells exhibited calretinin-immunoreactivity (CR-ir) and 20% tachykinin (TK)-ir. The coexpression of CR and TK was observed in 1.9% of FB-labeled cells, i.e., most of CR-ir FB-labeled neurons coexpressed TK-ir. An immuno-EM method revealed that all parvalbumin-ir nerve fibers in the root pulp were myelinated and that CGRP-ir nerve fibers were both myelinated (15%) and unmyelinated (85%). The present study indicated that primary nociceptors innervating the rat molar tooth pulp contained parvalbumin and CR and coexpressed these calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides. It was suggested that peripheral axons of parvalbumin-ir tooth pulp primary neurons are all myelinated. Most peripheral CR-ir axons are probably unmyelinated because TK-ir myelinated axons have never been demonstrated in any peripheral organ.

Animals↗

CGRP in peripherally axotomized mesencephalic trigeminal neurones of the rat.

Immunoreactivities for substance P (SP-ir) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-ir) were examined in neurones in the mesencephalic trigeminal tract nucleus of nerve-injured rats. One week following unilateral transection of the trigeminal root, the masseteric nerve (MN) or the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), CGRP-ir but not SP-ir was detected in these neurones bilaterally with ipsilateral dominance. Most of the CGRP-ir (immunoreactive) neurones were retrogradely labelled when fluorogold (FG) had been applied to the proximal stump of the MN or the IAN. Sham surgery including insult to the masseter muscle induced CGRP-ir while skin incision did not.

Animals↗

Parvalbumin and calbindin D-28k in vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory neurons of the rat.

Parvalbumin- and calbindin D-28k-immunoreactivities (ir) were examined in the glossopharyngeal and vagal sensory ganglia (petrosal, nodose and jugular ganglia), the carotid sinus nerve and the carotid body. Parvalbumin-ir nerve cells were mostly localized in the petrosal and nodose ganglia and were rare in the jugular ganglion. Calbindin D-28k-ir nerve cells were found in moderate and large numbers in the petrosal and nodose ganglia, respectively. Only a few calbindin D-28k-ir nerve cells were observed in the jugular ganglion. The carotid sinus nerve and carotid body contained numerous calbindin D-28k-ir nerve fibers but few parvalbumin-ir nerve fibers. Studies of the coexistence of these calcium-binding proteins with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-ir showed that CGRP-ir was rarely colocalized in parvalbumin- or calbindin D-28k-ir nerve cells in the petrosal or nodose ganglion. Moreover, TH-ir was not generally contained in parvalbumin-ir nerve cells in the petrosal, nodose and jugular ganglia while a portion (15-19%) of calbindin D-28k-ir neurons in the petrosal and nodose ganglia colocalized TH-ir. These findings are consistent with the involvement of calcium-binding proteins, particularly calbindin D-28k, in the function of visceral sensory neural systems of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves and, perhaps, in baro- and chemoreceptor neurotransmission.

Animals↗