[Diabetic osteopenia].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Morii.
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To examine how adrenergic receptor binding is modified by experimental manipulation of sensory afferent, we carried out binding experiments (membrane fraction and in vitro autoradiography) for both alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic receptors in the brain of cats which had been deprived of vision in one eye. In the cerebral cortex of control animals, beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) binding was found to be higher in the occipital regions than in other regions, while alpha 2-AR binding was relatively uniform. Monocular deprivation throughout the postnatal sensitive period (1-7 month of age) significantly decreased beta-AR binding in the visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus. Scatchard plot analysis in the visual cortex showed ca. 50% reduction in Bmax and little change in Kd. No significant difference was found in alpha 2-AR binding following monocular deprivation. Similar extent of down-regulation in beta-AR binding was confirmed in all layers of visual cortex using autoradiography.
BACKGROUND: The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease in healthy subjects as well as in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We investigated the relationship between the ACE gene polymorphism and the wall thickness of both carotid and femoral arteries in NIDDM patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured the intimal plus medial thickness (IMT) of both carotid and femoral arteries using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 288 Japanese NIDDM patients (160 men, 128 women). No significant differences among the three genotypes were found with respect to age, sex, duration of diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure, plasma glucose, hemoglobin AIC, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, or cigarette-years. Plasma ACE levels were strongly associated with I/D polymorphism, with an additive effect of the D alleles. The carotid IMT of the patients carrying the D allele (DD+ID genotype) was significantly higher than that of the patients not carrying the D allele (II genotype) (P = .037), whereas the femoral IMT was not affected by the I/D polymorphism. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the risk factors for carotid IMT of patients with NIDDM were age, non-HDL cholesterol, and D allele of the ACE gene (R2 = .155, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The D allele of the ACE gene may be a risk factor for the development of wall thickening of the carotid but not the femoral artery in NIDDM patients.
Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is a condition marked by unexplained portal hypertension. Although a number of immunological abnormalities occur in patients with IPH, liver function is usually normal. We experienced an unusual case of IPH in a 49-year-old woman, who had pronounced splenomegaly. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and liver dysfunction. Antinuclear antibodies were positive, with high titer at 1280 dilutions of sera. LE cell phenomena were also positive. Histological examination of biopsied liver showed only mild changes, but portal venous pressure was markedly elevated, at 38 cm H2O. This case was thus characterized by both a high serum titer of autoantibodies and liver dysfunction.
The present study was carried out to elucidate whether renal hemodynamic changes are associated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We studied 32 Japanese patients with IDDM (aged 15 +/- 3 years in mean +/- SD) without renal failure or retinopathy. Renal hemodynamics were examined by duplex Doppler sonography and arterial resistance index was calculated. ACE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Resistance index (RI) of arcuate arteries in IDDM patients with DD genotype was significantly elevated, being 0.64 +/- 0.04, 0.66 +/- 0.05, and 0.71 +/- 0.05 for II, ID and DD genotype groups, respectively (II vs. DD, p < 0.02). In patients with DD genotype with normoalbuminuria (n = 27), it was also significantly elevated in DD genotype patients (II vs. DD, p < 0.02). In addition, multiple regression analysis with a forward elimination procedure showed that only the ACE genotype was associated with RI of arcuate arteries (R2 = 0.24, p < 0.01) among the parameters of sex, age, IDDM duration, body mass index, HbA1c, plasma glucose levels, serum levels of total cholesterol and creatinine, urinary albumin excretion index, mean blood pressure and ACE genotype. The present study demonstrated that renal arterial resistance is elevated in IDDM patients with DD genotype. ACE gene polymorphism which could be linked to intrarenal circulatory disturbance may be associated with the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy.
We investigated the effect of insulin on urinary excretion of phosphate in type II diabetes mellitus (DM) with respect to the absence or presence of renal insufficiency. A euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp was performed in 37 type II DM patients. Subjects were divided into two groups: group A consisted of patients with serum creatinine levels less than 1.5 mg/dL (n = 22), and group B consisted of patients with serum creatinine levels of 1.5 mg/dL or greater (n = 15). Blood and urine samples were collected at the beginning and end of the clamp, and urinary excretion of phosphate was evaluated by calculating fractional excretion (FE-P). Tissue sensitivity to insulin in the whole body was expressed as the glucose infusion rate (M value) and that divided by steady-state plasma insulin levels (M/I ratio) during the last 30 minutes of the clamp. FE-P in group A patients significantly decreased during the clamp (from 9.46 +/- 0.67% before the clamp to 7.12 +/- 0.73% after the clamp, P < .004), whereas FE-P in group B patients did not change significantly during the clamp. The percent decrease of FE-P (decrease of FE-P during the clamp divided by FE-P before the clamp) in group A patients was significantly higher than in group B patients (22.5 +/- 7.0% and 2.5 +/- 5.1 %, respectively, P < .04). In all 37 patients, the percent decrease of FE-P was negatively correlated with blood urea nitrogen ([BUN] r = -.36, P < .05), serum creatinine (r = -.34, P < .05), and serum beta2-microglobulin (r = -.44, P < .01) and positively correlated with creatinine clearance (r = .570, P < .004), but it was not correlated with the M value or M/I ratio. These results showed that the kidneys of diabetic patients with renal insufficiency are insulin-insensitive in terms of phosphate transport, and the insulin insensitivity is related to the glomerular filtration rate but not to systemic insulin insensitivity. The percent decrease of FE-P on clamp study could be useful for assessing the insulin insensitivity of the kidney, which probably occurs primarily in the renal tubules.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been known as a multiple function factor, which also stimulates early haematopoiesis. In this study, we found that HGF was expressed at both the RNA and protein levels in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). In patients with AML (n = 20) and CML (n = 5), bone marrow plasma HGF concentrations were 20.44 +/- 6.26 (mean +/- s.e.) ng ml-1 and 7.17 +/- 0.53 ng ml-1 respectively. These were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the value for normal subjects (n = 26): mean 0.92 +/- 0.09 ng ml-1. Constitutive HGF production was observed in freshly prepared leukaemic blast cells from three patients with high HGF levels of bone marrow plasma. Expression of HGF mRNA was correlated with bone marrow plasma HGF levels. After complete remission was obtained in six patients, bone marrow plasma HGF levels were significantly decreased. In contrast, the HGF mRNA was less abundantly expressed in acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL). In patients with ALL (n = 5), bone marrow plasma HGF concentration (0.69 +/- 0.14 ng ml-1) remained low within the value for normal subjects. These results suggest that some populations of myeloid lineage cells have the ability to produce HGF.
This study found that 5/6-nephrectomized uremic rats showed secondary hyperparathyroidism as reflected by an increase in their serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level in association with a decrease in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D]. These changes recovered partially upon phosphorus restriction. Calcium absorption and gene expression of calbindin-D9k were decreased in uremia and were also improved by phosphorus restriction. In uremia, intestinal spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase activity was decreased, while ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and its gene expression were potentiated. Enhancement of c-fos and c-jun gene expressions was also observed in uremia. These phenomena suggest that the intestinal villus may proliferate in uremia. Phosphorus restriction prevented increases in the expression of ODC, c-fos and c-jun observed in uremia. Since phosphorus restriction caused a rise in the serum 1,25-(OH)2D level, the role of 1,25-(OH)2D in uremia-induced intestinal dysfunction was examined. A single injection of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to uremic rats caused an increase in the steady-state calbindin-D9k mRNA level, and decreases in steady state c-fos and ODC mRNA levels, suggesting that the deficiency of 1,25-(OH)2D3 is responsible for intestinal dysfunction in uremia. In conclusion, altered polyamine metabolism caused by 1,25-(OH)2D deficiency is intimately involved in intestinal dysfunction and the development of the proliferative state of the intestinal villus in uremia.
We report herein a case of amyloid goiter associated with rheumatoid arthritis in which hypothyroidism was observed. A 52-year-old housewife who had suffeed from rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years was referred to our hospital because of general fatigue. On admission, a large goiter was observed. Laboratory data showed primary hypothyroidism. Renal biopsy and gastric mucosa biopsy showed amyloid deposition of AA-type. Thyroid biopsy showed massive amyloid involvement. Although the findings of iodine-123 scintigraphy, technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance image studies were similar to those for goiter associated with chronic thyroiditis, tallium-201 chloride scintigraphy gave a differing result, demonstrating absent uptake at 3 hours in this case. Replacement therapy with levothyroxine relieved the symptoms. This case was unusual in that amyloid goiter presented clinically as hypothyroidism. Absence of tallium-201 chloride uptake at 3 hours may be a diagnostic specificity for amyloid goiter in differentiating its hypothyroidism from that caused by chronic thyroiditis.
ncd is a microtubule motor protein from Drosophila, having a 40 kDa domain homologous to the kinesin motor domain. In the present study, we investigated the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the ncd motor domain in comparison with those of the kinesin motor domain. Although the two are about 40% identical in amino acid sequence, and recent X-ray crystallographic studies [Sablin, Kull, Cooke, Vale, and Fletterick (1996) Nature 380, 555-559; Kull, Sablin, Lau, Fletterick, and Vale (1996) Nature 380, 550-555] indicate that their core structures are nearly identical, the far UV CD spectra of ncd and kinesin motor domains, both being monomeric, were considerably different from each other, suggesting a significant difference in the secondary, especially loop structures. The motor domain of ncd, like that of kinesin, contains tightly associating ADP even after purification. We removed ADP from the ncd motor domain by gel filtration in the presence of EDTA and high salt. The resultant protein, however, was likely to be in an inactive state, since it bound ATP slowly. The far UV CD spectrum of the ncd motor domain devoid of ADP was nearly identical to that of the ncd motor domain with bound ADP. This indicated that the removal of ADP did not affect the backbone structure in the presence of high salt. On the other hand, the near UV CD spectrum of the ADP-free ncd motor domain differed from that of the ncd motor domain. ADP complex, one possibility being that the local conformation was changed upon removal of bound ADP. The near UV CD spectra of kinesin motor domain also showed a difference between the ADP-bound form and the nucleotide-free form, although the difference was much smaller.
A novel aerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon was isolated from a coastal solfataric vent at Kodakara-Jima Island, Japan. The new isolate, strain K1, is the first strictly aerobic organism growing at temperatures up to 100 degrees C. It grows optimally at 90 to 95 degrees C, pH 7.0, and a salinity of 3.5%. The cells are spherical shaped and 0.8 to 1.2 microns in diameter. Various proteinaceous complex compounds served as substrates during aerobic growth. Thiosulfate stimulates growth without producing H2S. The core lipids consist solely of C25-isopranyl archaeol (glycerol diether). The G + C content of the genomic DNA is 67 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence indicates that strain K1 is a new member of Crenarchaeota. On the basis of our results, the name Aeropyrum pernix gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed (type strain: K1; JCM 9820).
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Parathyroid glands enlarge gradually with the progression of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The significance of down-regulation of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptor (VDR) in parathyroid glands has been emphasized. Here we report a case in whom the relationship between the growth rates of the parathyroid glands and their VDR content was examined. A 36-year-old man, who had been hemodialyzed for 8.8 years because of chronic renal failure due to chronic glomerulonephritis, developed severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. The first ultrasonographic examination of the parathyroid glands, performed 10 months before parathyroidectomy, revealed that the sizes of the right upper (RU) and left upper (LU) glands were 10 x 8 x 5 and 14 x 10 x 9 mm3, respectively, although the right lower (RL) and left lower (LL) glands were not detected. The second ultrasonographic examination performed 5 days before PTX revealed that the RU gland had enlarged up to 24 x 12 x 10 mm3, while the LU gland remained unchanged at 16 x 9 x 8 mm3. At this time, the sizes of the RL and LL glands were determined only in the longitudinal section to be 10 x 5 and 4 x 3 mm2, respectively. In the excised specimens, the sizes and weights of the RU and RL glands were 25 x 10 x 9 mm3 and 1,950 mg and 17 x 10 x 8 mm3 and 1,160 mg, respectively, while those of the LU and LL glands were 16 x 10 x 7 mm3 and 850 mg and 9 x 8 x 7 mm3 and 350 mg, respectively. Histopathologic study demonstrated that the RU and RL glands exhibited nodular hyperplasia, while the LU and LL glands exhibited diffuse hyperplasia. Using a ligand binding assay, the VDR content of the rapidly growing RU and RL glands were significantly reduced to 32.6 +/- 9.6 and 32.7 +/- 5.2 fmol/mg protein, respectively, as compared to that of the LU gland with no significant proliferating activity (111.8 +/- 0.8 fmol/mg protein). It is of great interest that the smallest LL gland, which showed some proliferating potential in spite of a histologic pattern of diffuse hyperplasia, has a VDR content of 41.0 +/- 2.6 fmol/mg protein. In summary, it was implied from this case that the VDR content in the parathyroid gland might reduce as the growth rate of the parathyroid gland increases and, furthermore, that the VDR content seems to depend to some degree on the histopathologic pattern rather than on gland weight.
The effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor, TNP-470, on DNA synthesis and its underlying signaling cascades stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I were examined in bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). PDGF-BB (10 ng/mL)- and IGF-I (100 ng/mL)-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis was completely abolished by simultaneous treatment with TNP-470 (1.0 ng/mL). TNP-470 had no effects on PDGF receptor autophosphorylation or early signal transduction, such as activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and immediate early gene expression. PDGF-BB induced an increase in mRNA levels of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 4, and cdk2, as well as the activity of cdk2, which preceded the G1/S boundary, as estimated by the kinetics of DNA synthesis. The PDGF-BB-induced activation of cdk2 was inhibited by TNP-470, which was correlated with decreased cdk2 mRNA levels. In contrast, TNP-470 had no or less marked effect on cyclin D1 and cdk4 mRNA levels induced by PDGF-BB. TNP-470 also inhibited a much smaller increase in cdk2 mRNA levels and activation stimulated by IGF-I. In conclusion, TNP-470 potently inhibits DNA synthesis of SMCs, and this inhibition is associated with decreased levels of cdk2 mRNA and activity.
We evaluated a new immunoselective enzyme assay of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The monoclonal antibody used in this assay was raised against purified bone-specific ALP obtained from SAOS-2 human osteosarcoma cell line. Calibration was based on the enzyme's own activity. The relative activity of the antibody was 100% with bone ALP, 8.7% with liver ALP, and 0% with placental and intestinal ALPs. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 4%. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.7 U/L, and the linearity extended from 2 to 140 U/L. The recovery of bone-specific ALP standard added to serum was 94-106%. The correlation coefficient between this method and the polyacrylamide gel (PAG) electrophoretic method was 0.94. The mean value of bone-specific ALP in 89 healthy adults (mean age 29 years, SD 5 years) was 18.5 U/L (SD 4.1 U/L). Interestingly, mean bone-specific ALP activities in 60 premenopausal women (mean age 39 years, SD 8 years) and 70 postmenopausal women (mean age 57 years, SD 5 years) were 20.3 U/L (SD 6.5 U/L) and 31.1 U/L (SD 11.1 U/L), respectively. The age-related increase in bone-specific ALP was significant and more pronounced in women (P < 0.01). We conclude that this new immunoassay of bone-specific ALP would be useful for clinical investigation of patients with osteoporosis or other metabolic diseases of bone.
We measured circulating bone Gla-protein(BGP) changes following short-term(2 weeks) active vitamin D treatment in elderly men with osteoporosis (73.0 +/- 9.4 years, n = 9) to evaluate osteoblastic function. We also measured serum levels of BGP(n = 245) and bone specific ALP(B-ALP) in women (n = 113) with normal lumbar bone mineral density, and evaluated the difference in clinical significance between these markers of bone formation. Serum BGP was significantly increased at the end of the first and 2nd week of daily oral 2 micrograms of 1 alpha(OH)D3 administration. BGP measurement is a clinically useful method to detect osteoblastic function after active vitamin D3 treatment. Significant positive correlations were found between age and BGP (r = 0.402, p < 0.01) or B-ALP (r = 0.494, p < 0.01). These markers were significantly higher in postmenopausal women compared with age-matched premenopausal women. The z-score of the difference in B-ALP was 1.47 and that of BGP was 0.7. Although B-ALP and P1CP in sera remained stable even at room temperature for at least 4 hours, the BGP level was significantly lower when the blood sample was kept at room temperature for more than 1 hour. These findings suggest that B-ALP is a more sensitive and stable marker than BGP in evaluating bone formation, although both markers have significant correlations with each other, and BGP is useful to detect the active vitamin D3 effect on osteoblastic function.
We have studied the effect of different doses of 1 alpha-hydroxycalciferol (1 alpha [OH]D3) on bone mineral density (BMD) of 165 male hemodialysis patients (ages from 24 to 71 years) using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a one-year follow-up study. There were no fractures in their lumbar spine participated in the study. 1 alpha (OH)D3 was administered orally at a low dose (0.25 microgram/day, n = 56, Group L) or at a higher dose (0.5 to 1.0 microgram/day, average 0.58 +/- 0.02 microgram/day, n = 65, Group H), and the absolute BMD values and the percent annual changes of BMD were compared with those who took no 1 alpha (OH)D3 (n = 44, Group N). BMD was measured three ways at the start and the end of the study; 1) lumbar spine BMD at anterior-posterior view (AP-BMD), 2) lumbar spine BMD at lateral view (Lat-BMD), and 3) 1/3 distal radius BMD. Plain spinal radiographs indicated no bone fracture before nor during the study. Although there were no detectable changes in the absolute values of BMD during the one-year period, significant differences were observed in the percent annual changes of lumbar spine BMD among the three groups. The annual changes of lumbar spine BMD among the three groups. The annual changes of AP-BMD were -0.4 +/- 0.7%, +0.1 +/- 0.6%, and +2.4 +/- 0.8% in Group N, Group L and Group H, respectively. These changes were statistically significant (p = 0.011 by one-way ANOVA). The positive effect of 1 alpha (OH)D3 on Lat-BMD was also significant (p = 0.028 by one-way ANOVA), while the treatment did not affect the change of BMD at 1/3 distal radius. There was no significant difference among the three groups in the initial or final levels of biochemical parameters including serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and parathyroid hormone. These results indicate, in male hemodialysis patients, that oral 1 alpha (OH)D3 treatment is effective in the prevention of lumbar spine BMD loss which is frequently observed in hemodialysis patients.
The gene of thrombopoietin (TPO) has been cloned and identified to be identical to gene of the c-mpl ligand. It is known that the mRNA of TPO is expressed in liver and kidney. However, it is not clarified which cells in the liver produce TPO. Using a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, we demonstrated that the TPO mRNA was expressed by liver parenchymal cells without any stimulation. To clarify the regulation of the expression of the TPO mRNA in HepG2 cells by cytokines, we assessed the effects of 5 cytokines, transforming growth factor-beta 1, activin A, platelet-derived growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and interleukin-6. These cytokines have no significant regulative effect on the expression of the TPO mRNA in HepG2 cells. Our results suggest that liver parenchymal cells may be the TPO producing cells and also suggest that some hepatoma cells may produce TPO constitutively.