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Biomedical subjects

I Murata

Publications and source records attributed to I Murata.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunoelectron-microscopic demonstration of histamine depletion in the gastric enterochromaffin-like cells of rats treated with alpha-fluoromethylhistidine.

We conducted an immunoelectron-microscopic study for histamine (HA) in the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells of normal rats and rats given alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (alpha-FMH, 3 mg/kg per hour) via osmotic minipumps over a period of 24 h. The indirect immunoperoxidase procedure utilized a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), AHA-2, which is produced against glutaraldehyde-conjugated HA. alpha-FMH is a potent and irreversible inhibitor of the HA-forming enzyme histidine decarboxylase and is known to reduce tissue HA concentrations in several tissues. The present study clearly demonstrated that HA immunoreactivity, which was found to a high degree in the cores of the granules and secretory vesicles and in the cytoplasm of ECL cells of control rats, was completely abolished from the corresponding compartments in the cells of alpha-FMH-treated rats. Furthermore, treatment with alpha-FMH drastically lowered the number of secretory vesicles and was associated with larger cores in the granules of the ECL cells. These results seem to support the idea of a HA-pathway mechanism, emphasizing that the granules in normal ECL cells take up HA from the cytosol during its transport from the Golgi zone to the more peripheral portion of the cell and condense it in their cores, thus forming mature secretory vesicles. However, the present study showed that not only the secretory vesicles but also almost all the granules seen in ECL cells were already loaded with HA in their cores, suggesting that the newborn granules very rapidly take up HA from the cytosol. Also suggested was the fact that HA depletion impairs the maturation of the granules into secretory vesicles.

Animals↗

Sludge and stone formation in the gallbladder in bedridden elderly patients with cerebrovascular disease: influence of feeding method.

PURPOSE: The incidence of gallbladder sludge or gallstone formation in bedridden patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) remains obscure. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, relationship to feeding method, and mechanisms of gallbladder sludge and gallstone formation in elderly patients with CVD. METHODS: Using ultrasonography, we determined the development of gallbladder sludge and gallstone over a 12-month period, the area of the gallbladder, the gallbladder contractile response to cerulein, and fasting levels of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) in 40 bedridden elderly patients with CVD. The patients were divided into three groups based on the feeding method: oral ingestion (OI), nasogastric feeding (NF), and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). RESULTS: Gallbladder sludge and gallstone were not observed in any of the 14 OI patients, but occurred in 6 and 1 of the 11 NF patients, and in 14 and 3 of the 15 TPN patients, respectively. Fasting gallbladder areas were significantly larger in the TPN group than in the other two groups. The TPN group showed a marked decrease in cerulein-induced gallbladder contractility. Fasting plasma CCK levels were lower in the TPN group than in the OI group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that elderly patients with CVD confined to bed over long periods are not necessarily at risk of gallbladder sludge or gallstone formation, and the development of these features may be associated with the feeding method. The predisposition of CVD patients on TPN to gallbladder disease is probably caused by failure of gallbladder contraction, resulting from insufficient secretion of CCK and impaired sensitivity of the gallbladder to CCK.

Aged↗

Primary biliary cirrhosis among atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki, Japan.

Despite rapid progress in methods for analyzing radiation effects, much remains to be learned about the mechanisms and processes of radiation-induced immunological dysfunction. Among 17,899 sera obtained from atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki, Japan, sera from 484 participants who complied with a reexamination for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were tested for antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) by indirect immunofluorescence, and autoantibodies against 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex (2-OADC) by immunoblotting to investigate the prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Of these 484 sera, 28 (5.8%) were seropositive for AMA. The 484 participants were divided into three groups according to distance from the hypocenter: 72 who were exposed within 1999 m (closest group), 368 from 2000 to 5999 m (intermediate distant group), and 44 outside 6000 m (distant group). The positivity rates for AMA in these three groups were 6/72 (8.3%), 22/368 (6.0%), and 0/44 (0%), respectively (P =.08). Furthermore, high titers ( > 1:320) of AMA were observed in 3/6 (50%) AMA-positive sera from the closest group, in contrast to 4/22 (18%) from the intermediate distant group, although there was no significant correlation between AMA titer and distance from the hypocenter (P =.07). Of these 28 AMA-positive sera, 11 (39%) were from participants who had already been diagnosed with PBC, and 25 (89%) contained antibodies against at least one component of 2-OADC enzymes by immunoblotting. Therefore, the prevalence of PBC was estimated to be at least 615 cases per million (792 per million women). Our results suggest that the prevalence of PBC in atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki is higher than that reported for the general population in Japan, and a further survey of the environmental factors, including radiation exposure, that predispose to PBC would be needed for understanding this disease of unknown etiology.

Aged↗

Changes in titers of antimitochondrial and antinuclear antibodies during the course of primary biliary cirrhosis.

A case of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in whom a complete biochemical (serum bilirubin, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase) remission was noted after combination treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and corticosteroid is reported. The antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) detected by indirect immunofluorescence was initially positive, and the antinuclear antibody (ANA) was negative, but these two antibodies subsequently fluctuated independently (AMA-positive/ANA-negative, AMA-negative/ANA-negative, AMA-negative/ANA-positive, AMA-positive/ANA-positive, and again AMA-negative/ANA-positive) in spite of a lack of histopathological improvement in the liver after treatment. The clinical presentation in our case suggests that in some cases the diagnosis of PBC or so-called autoimmune cholangitis (AIC) might depend on the 'phase' of the same disease. Our results also suggest that detailed immunoreactive profiles against 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complex (2-OADC) enzymes by using immunoblotting, together with a serial histological examination, should provide more precise information for a diagnosis of PBC.

Adult↗

Clinical and endoscopic features of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with duodenal involvement.

We describe three cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) with duodenal involvement and provide a review of the literature. The first case, a 74-year-old woman with acute subtype of ATLL, had multiple polypoid lesions from the bulbus extending into the descending portion of the duodenum. The second case, a 70-year-old man with lymphoma subtype of ATLL, had a polypoid tumor in the descending portion of the duodenum and multiple protruded lesions in the small and large intestines. The third case, a 67-year-old man with lymphoma subtype of ATLL, had a flat-elevated lesion in the descending portion of the duodenum, as well as a gastric ulcerated lesion. Biopsies from these lesions showed mucosal invasion of ATLL cells in each case. All patients received combination chemotherapy, which was successful in the first and third cases, accompanied by the disappearance of gastroduodenal lesions.

Adult↗

Serial changes in enzyme inhibitory antibody to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex during the course of primary biliary cirrhosis.

To assess the usefulness of enzyme inhibition assay for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), we determined the serial changes in enzymatic inhibitory antibody to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in patients with PBC, and compared the results to those of immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Forty-nine sera from 19 patients with PBC who were followed-up for at least 16 months were tested for antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) by indirect immunofluorescence, immunoblotting on bovine heart mitochondria, and enzyme inhibition assay using commercially available TRACE Enzymatic Mitochondrial Antibody (M2) Assay (EMA) kit. Of the 49 sera, 39 (80%), 35 (71%), 38 (78%), 31 (63%), and 36 (73%) were positive for AMA by immunofluorescence, for immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA class antibody against E2 subunit of PDC (PDC-E2) by immunoblotting, and for enzymatic inhibitory antibody to PDC by EMA, respectively. AMA titers determined by immunofluorescence did not change in 9 patients (47%), increased in 4 (21%), decreased in 3 (16%), and fluctuated in 3 (16%) during follow-up. The number of anti-M2 bands by immunoblotting did not change in 9 (47%), increased in 6 (32%), decreased in 2 (11%), and fluctuated in 2 (11%). Units of PDC activity by EMA did not change markedly in 16 (84%), increased in 2 (11%), and fluctuated in 1 (5%). Positive EMA results were common in cases with high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and IgM, and the units of PDC activity by EMA correlated significantly and inversely with AMA titers by immunofluorescence, and serum reactivity to PDC-E2 by immunoblotting, respectively. There was no correlation between serial changes in biochemical data and units of PDC activity by EMA. In three patients who showed a decrease in AMA titers, AMA titers correlated more with EMA results than immunoblotting. Moreover, in a patient with fluctuating AMA titers, the units of PDC activity by EMA paralleled AMA titers. Our results suggest that EMA is useful for the diagnosis of AMA-positive PBC, and also could be used for monitoring the disease course in PBC.

Adult↗

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: report of two cases.

Two cases of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome are reported. In the first case, a 56-year-old woman had an adenoma of the colon, arising within the Cronkhite-Canada polyps, which was removed by endoscopic polypectomy. This suggests possible neoplastic transformation of polyps in this syndrome. She achieved remission with corticosteroids, but the polyposis recurred (only in the stomach) 7 months after the remission. In the recurrent polyposis, corticosteroid therapy resulted again in complete remission, which has lasted for 5 years. In the second case, a 69-year-old man developed typical manifestations of the syndrome while under emotional stress. He had a past history of chronic pityriasis lichenoides, and serum antinuclear antibody was positive. These findings suggested a possible role of autoimmune response in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. Corticosteroids were also effective in this patient.

Adenoma↗