Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Tanabe.
fic gene expression at the stationary phase is dependent on RpoS (sigma 38). For this paper, the fic promoter (P fic) mutants were isolated; C at the position -34 was changed into T. They did not show the stationary phase-specific expression dependent on RpoS in vivo. Furthermore, it was confirmed that they were recognized by E sigma 70 as efficiently as E sigma 38 in vitro.
We have cloned and characterized a genetic element (1187 bp) that is responsible for the induction of thermotolerance as well as ompC expression in E. coli. This element (ISLtaq1) was isolated from Thermus aquaticus. DNA and protein data bases were searched with this element (ISLtaq1), which suggested it to be very similar to IS150 belonging to the IS3 family. ORF1, found on ISLtaq1, which encodes 100 amino acids (aa), had a DNA-binding motif: a helix-turn-helix and a leucine zipper. In fact, when the ORF1 protein was overproduced in E. coli, thermotolerance as well as ompC expression was induced.
A 58-year-old male presented with a 1 month history of left retro-orbital pain and diplopia. Computed tomography demonstrated an isodense intraorbital tumor with slight homogeneous enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the tumor was isointensity on T1-weighted imaging, slightly high intensity on T2-weighted imaging, and slightly enhanced by gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid. Left external carotid angiography showed a tumor stain fed from the branches of the left internal maxillary artery. The tumor was partially removed. The histological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma. Tumor staining is rare in intraorbital malignant lymphoma and is not adequate for differential diagnosis of intraorbital tumors, so biopsy is essential.
We ascertained 56 related cases with early onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD; mean age of onset < 65 years) and 10 related cases with late onset familial Alzheimer's disease (LOFAD; mean age of onset > or = 65 years) through a questionnaire administered to neuro-psychiatric and medical school hospitals in Japan and through a review of cases in Japanese literature. Mean age of onset and death (+/- S.D.) of EOFAD were 43.4 +/- 8.6 years (n = 94) and 51.1 +/- 10.5 years (n = 85), respectively. Distributions of the age-onset were relatively constant within a family but significantly different between families. Our result may suggest that clinical differences between families represent genetic heterogeneity at the molecular level. Six out of 32 related cases of with EOFAD showed the 717 Val-->Ile mutation of beta/A4 amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. This result suggests that the frequency of this mutation in Japanese population is higher than in Caucasian and allelic the existenced heterogeneity, in Japanese EOFAD.
The binding affinities of isocarbacyclin methyl ester (CAS 88931-51-5, TEI-9090) and its free acid (CAS 88911-35-7, TEI-7165) to prostaglandin (PG) I2 receptors (IP receptors), PGE2 receptors (EP receptors) and thromboxane A2 receptors (TP receptors) were investigated. TEI-9090 exhibited low affinity for IP and EP receptors in mastocytoma P-815 cell membranes and no affinity for TP receptors in washed guinea-pig platelets. The IC50 values of TEI-9090 against [3H]iloprost (for IP receptors), [3H]PGE2 (for EP receptors) and [3H]SQ29,548 (for TP receptors) binding were 2803 +/- 327 nmol/l, 2509 +/- 1317 nmol/l and > 10000 nmol/l (n = 3), respectively. In contrast, TEI-7165 had high affinity for IP receptors (IC50 = 65.4 +/- 28.5 nmol/l, n = 3) but had moderate to low affinity for EP and TP receptors. The affinity of TEI-9090 for IP receptors was remarkably enhanced by pretreatment with rat serum as an esterase source. These findings suggest that TEI-9090 is converted to TEI-7165 by esterase, and that TEI-7165 exerts pharmacological effects through binding to IP receptors.
Effect of TTC-909, a chemically stable isocarbacyclin methyl ester (CAS 88931-51-5, TEI-9090) incorporated in lipid microspheres, on platelet aggregation was tested in conscious rabbits. TTC-909 significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP at early times after bolus i.v. injection from the dose of 0.3 micrograms/kg in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, TTC-909 significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP during the venous infusion from the dose of 100 ng/kg/min, also in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-platelet effect of TTC-909 was observed at a dose lower than that inducing hypotensive effect when given as both bolus i.v. and venous infusion. On the other hand, prostaglandin (PG) E1 (LM)--PGE1 incorporated in lipid microspheres--reduced blood pressure without having an anti-platelet effect. These results indicate that TTC-909 may be a potent anti-thrombotic drug.
TTC-909 is a preparation of isocarbacyclin methyl ester (CAS 88931-51-5, TEI-9090) incorporated into lipid microspheres. The characteristics of vasorelaxation induced by TTC-909 were investigated in isolated canine arteries. TTC-909 produced concentration-dependent relaxation of prostaglandin F2a(PGF2a)-induced and U-46619 (TXA2 receptor agonist)-induced contraction in basilar, coronary, renal, mesenteric, and femoral arteries. The vasorelaxant potency of TTC-909 was compared with the potencies of TEI-9090, TEI-7165 (CAS 88911-35-7, free acid of TEI-9090), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on PGF2a-induced contraction in basilar and femoral arteries. The relaxing potency of TTC-909 was similar to the values for TEI-9090, TEI-7165, and PGI2, and more potent than that of PGE1 in both of these arteries. An esterase inhibitor, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), reduced the vasorelaxant effect of TEI-9090, but not that of TEI-7165, on PGF2a-induced contraction in femoral arteries. These results suggest that TTC-909 has vasorelaxant potency similar to that of PGI2 and greater than that of PGE1. Further, it appears that TEI-9090 was converted to TEI-7165 by esterase and then produced its vasorelaxing effect.
A new stable prostacyclin analogue, isocarbacyclin methyl ester (CAS 88931-51-5, TEI-9090), incorporated into lipid microspheres (TTC-909), was examined for its effects on cutaneous blood flow and mean blood pressure in rats in comparison with PGE1 (LM) (prostaglandin E1 in lipid microspheres). TTC-909 at 0.3 micrograms/kg i.v. significantly increased the sole cutaneous blood flow without changing blood pressure. A significant decrease in mean blood pressure was observed with TTC-909 above 1 microgram/kg i.v. PGE1 (LM) also showed a decrease in the blood pressure from 1 microgram/kg i.v., whereas the sole cutaneous blood flow was not affected even at 10 micrograms/kg i.v. These results suggest that TTC-909 dilates the skin vessels preferentially to other blood vessels in the rat and that effect is more potent than that of PGE1 (LM). TTC-909 may thus prove to be an effective agent for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease.
The effect of TTC-909 (isocarbacyclin methyl ester (CAS 88931-51-5, TEI-9090) incorporated into lipid microspheres) on obstruction of the peripheral artery was studied in two different animal models. The first was a peripheral occlusion model induced by intra-arterial injection of sodium laurate in rats. The second was a tail gangrene model induced by subcutaneous injection of both ergotamine and epinephrine in rats. Intravenous bolus-administered TTC-909 at 1.0 microgram/kg resulted in the inhibition of both progression of lesions induced by sodium laurate and the extension of tail gangrene by ergotamine and epinephrine. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of TTC-909 was more potent than that of PGE1 (LM) (prostaglandin E1 incorporated into lipid microspheres). These findings suggested that TTC-909 may be clinically useful for the therapy of peripheral vascular disorders such as thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) and atherosclerosis obliterans (ASO).
In contrast to Alzheimer's disease, it is unclear whether the MMS (Mini-Mental State) or the RCPM (Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices) is clinically useful as a mental test battery in patients with Pick's disease, and it has not been fully evaluated whether intelligence of these patients really deteriorate along with the staging of dementia. The present study aimed to make these problems clear. We administered the MMS and the RCPM to 17 cases of Pick's disease, including 7 cases with predominantly frontal lobe atrophy and 10 cases with predominantly temporal lobe atrophy, which were all classified into 3 groups according to the staging of dementia by using the NM scale (New Clinical Scale for Rating of Mental States). We also investigated whether these patients had "Denkfaulheit" (laziness of thinking) and/or "gogi" aphasia (word meaning aphasia), which may affect performances on the mental test batteries. Two cases with predominantly frontal lobe atrophy and 5 cases with predominantly temporal lobe atrophy were assessed by the same examinations several years later. In cases with predominantly frontal lobe atrophy, all the patients presented with "Denkfaulheit". However, the mean RCPM score was normal in the mildly damaged patients, suggesting that their intelligence were relatively preserved. In the moderately and severely damaged groups, their intelligence could not be assessed owing to their severe "Denkfaulheit". In cases with predominantly temporal lobe atrophy, all the patients had "gogi" aphasia and 3 cases of the severely damaged groups presented with "Denkfaulheit".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
We used naming and pointing tests and a proverb completion task to compare two cases of aphasia that exhibited a selective disturbance of word processing. One patient had anomia with word comprehension difficulty due to partial ablation of the left temporal lobe and the other patient had Gogi aphasia due to lobar atrophy with left temporal predominance. We presented 90 pictures of common objects divided into 9 categories in the naming and pointing tests, and used 10 well-known Japanese proverbs as stimuli in the proverb completion task. Performance of the naming and pointing tests was severely impaired in both patients. In the patient with anomia, words the patient could not name or point to varied from session to session and phonemic cue effects were frequently observed. The proverb completion phenomenon was positive. These findings indicate that the patient had an obstruction of the access route to the intact word store or a partial rarefaction of the word store itself. In the patient with Gogi aphasia, the words the patient could not name or point to were consistent from one occasion to another, and no phonemic cue effects or signs of familiarity were observed at all. The proverb completion phenomenon was totally negative. These findings indicate that the patient has lost the word store itself. MR images in the case of anomia revealed a lesion extending from the anterior to the central portion of the inferior part of the left temporal lobe. In the case of Gogi aphasia, the MR images displayed knife-edged focal atrophy in the anterior aspect of both temporal lobes, more prominently on the left.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Intravenous norepinephrine infusion test was performed in eight patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) supported by respirators and nine control subjects, to examine alpha-adrenoceptor function of peripheral resistant blood vessels. Baseline plasma norepinephrine concentrations in ALS patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects, indicating basal sympathetic hyperactivity (normal 218.2 +/- 59.7 pg/ml; ALS 450.0 +/- 288.4 pg/ml). The stimulus-response curves in the patients were similar to those in control subjects, and there were no significant differences between mean gains of the stimulus-response curves in both groups (normal 18.7 +/- 5.5; ALS 15.2 +/- 11.2). However, three ALS patients, two of whom had circulatory fluctuation and sympathetic hyperactivity, revealed lower gain levels than the mean minus 2 SD in control subjects (4.7, 1.1 and 3.7). This indicates hyposensitivity or down-regulation of the alpha-adrenoceptor function of peripheral blood vessels in these ALS patients. For early detection of sympathetic hyperactivity and prediction of circulatory collapse, it would be useful to measure the plasma norepinephrine concentration and the gain of the norepinephrine infusion curve in respirator-dependent ALS patients.
We reported a case of myokymia with abnormal F response. A 60-year-old male with chronic alcoholism was admitted to our hospital with complaint of muscle cramp in both legs just after drinking. Neurological examination revealed muscle pain and weakness of the legs, absence of bilateral Achilles tendon reflexes and prominent myokymia in his right quadriceps femoris and left calf muscles. The electrophysiological examination showed reduced conduction velocity, high amplitude, increased number of phases and long duration of F responses suggesting increased excitability of motoneuron pool. The epidural nerve block brought about a disappearance of the myokymia and an improvement of the abnormal features of F response. The myokymia gradually tended to be milder in the clinical course. The relationship between the myokymia and the abnormal F responses indicated that the increased excitability of spinal motoneurons might play an important role on the generation of myokymia of this patient.
A right-handed 72-year-old man (I.K.) who complained of difficulty identifying familiar faces was investigated on a series of tests of face perception (face matching, recognition of age and sex, and meaning of facial expressions), facial identity (faces of families and famous persons as retrograde ones and his doctor's faces as anterograde ones) and other neuropsychological abilities. His scores of face perception tests were normal or mildly disturbed. His memory performances measured with WMS-R and Rey-Osterrieth figure were normal. But he could identify none of anterograde and retrograde faces and failed to experience any familiarity with those faces. In addition, he could not recognize none of voices of family members and a doctor, despite of being able to recognize about the age and sex of voice. On the other hand, he could describe personalities of his family members and doctors, but knew none of famous people. Memory for personal events in the recent and remote past was well preserved, while that for social events was severely disturbed in both past. In addition to impairment of identification of familiar faces, he had severe problems with identifying famous common buildings and animals. He also presented Gogi (word meaning) aphasia and impairment of semantic memory for some common objects. Tyrrell et al. reported a similar case and McNeil et al. examined the patient on covert recognition of face in detail. On their task, he showed no covert effects and they attributed the result to impairment of face recognition units themselves. Their way of thinking seems to give an explanation of I.K.'s disturbance of anterograde and retrograde memory for faces.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
UNLABELLED: To better understand cortical perfusion, we developed a method for a three-dimensional display technique with 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) SPECT. METHODS: Twelve patients with higher cortical dysfunction due to Alzheimer's disease and 18 age-matched controls were examined. Data acquisition was performed after intravenous injection of 740 MBq of 99mTc-HMPAO. After reconstructing the transaxial images, the three-dimensional images were obtained by modified volume rendering, where the surfaces were displayed in the corresponding colors as the maximum cortical value within a depth of 2 cm. RESULTS: In the control studies, almost all surface cortices were over 60% of the maximum cerebellar value. In Alzheimer's disease patients, areas of perfusion below 60% were detected in the temporo-parietal lesions and frontal lobe lesions in 6 of 12. These findings correlated with the neurological dysfunction. CONCLUSION: This method provides realistic three-dimensional information about surface cortical perfusion, which was found to be useful in clinical investigations of higher cortical dysfunction due to degenerative or cerebrovascular diseases.
It has been well recognized that neurovascular compression can elicit trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and microvascular decompression surgery has become popular as a radical treatment of this clinical symptom. Cerebellopontine (C-P) angle tumors, however, as well known, can also cause TN. Four hundred fifty six patients with TN underwent posterior fossa exploration between 1984 and 1992 in our clinic, and among them, 45 (9.9%) patients harbored C-P angle tumors which were causative of TN. They included 22 epidermoids, 18 meningiomas and 5 neurinomas. The patient population consisted of 35 women and 10 men, ranging in age from 28 to 73 years, with a mean age of 51.7 years. The mean age of the patients of TN with tumors is considerably lower than that of neurovascular compression patients (61.0 years), particularly in cases of neurinomas (44.4 years) and epidermoids (48.0 years) (p < 0.01). Such difference in ages at the onset of symptom may be explained by the fact that the tumor growth in the C-P angle develops earlier than changes of the vasculature of the vertebrobasilar artery system by aging. Anatomical relationships between the 5th cranial nerve and offending arteries or tumors verified at surgery are as follows; Type A: The nerve is totally encased by the tumor. Type B: The axis of the nerve is distorted by the tumor. Type C: The nerve is shifted by the tumor and is compressed by the artery contralaterally. Type D: The nerve is compressed by the artery which was displaced by the tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Pick's disease are more often complicated than Alzheimer's disease by behavioral disturbances such as social misconduct and stereotypy, that are troublesome and clinically difficult to manage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of improvement in care for patients with Pick's disease by using their presumably preserved procedural memory. Four inpatients and two outpatients with Pick's disease were studied. Case 1: A 54-year-old right-handed retired clerk presented with a 3-year history of increasing restlessness, word-finding difficulty and impaired comprehension of nominal terms. He was forced to retire from his work because of his social misconduct and incommunicability. On admission he wandered about the ward irritably, did not enter into any conversation, and destroyed all keys in the ward by putting a pencil into keyholes. Neuroradiological examination revealed circumscribed bilateral frontotemporal atrophy which was more marked on the left side. However, he has become more adaptive to the life in the ward and his expression has become peaceful since he began to play othello games with other patients and his doctors. Case 2: A 71-year-old right-handed housewife had progressively altered in her personality and behavior over 4 years. She was restless and showed striking palilalia with marked right frontotemporal atrophy when initially evaluated 2 years after her initial symptoms. Subsequently, her verbal output decreased. She ate large amounts of food and her overweight became a serious problem in her care at home. On admission she wandered about the ward irritably, ate meals of other patients, and put on a quilt on their head. However, these troublesome behavior disappeared when she was bent on knitting that was her former hobby. Case 3: A 63-year-old right handed physician presented with a 5-year history of increasing word-finding difficulty and impaired comprehension of nominal terms. His conversation was limited to continuous repetition of a few phrases. He wandered into several hospitals around his house in fixed order every day. On examination, he was mildly disinhibited and distractible with circumscribed bilateral frontotemporal atrophy which was more marked on the left side. Wandering away from home overnight necessitated admission to the hospital. In the ward he wandered about and tried to open each door restlessly and irritably. However, he has become calm and his expression has become peaceful since he was conducted to measure blood pressures of his nurses. Case 4: A 65-year-old right-handed retired office worker.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)