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Biomedical subjects

I Murata

Publications and source records attributed to I Murata.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

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↗

5-day vs. 7-day triple therapy with rabeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

AIM: To determine whether a 5-day regimen with rabeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin (RCA) was as effective as a 7-day regimen. METHODS: A total of 139 H. pylori-infected patients were randomized to receive either a 5-day or 7-day course of rabeprazole 10 mg b.d., clarithromycin 400 mg b.d. and amoxicillin 750 mg b.d. Eradication was assessed by CLO test, histology and 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: On the intention-to-treat basis, eradication rates were 66% (46 out of 70) and 84% (58 out of 69) for the 5- and 7-day regimens, respectively (P < 0.05). Using per protocol analysis, eradication rates were 70% (46 out of 66) and 91% (58 out of 64) for the 5- and 7-day regimens, respectively (P < 0.01). Adverse events, which were observed in 14 patients from each group, caused discontinuation of treatment in only two patients, resulting in excellent compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Our 5-day regimen of RCA yielded inferior results, whereas the 7-day regimen achieved an eradication rate exceeding 90% on the per protocol basis. Therefore, treatment regimens of less than 7 days for proton pump inhibitor-clarithromycin-amoxicillin therapies cannot be recommended.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Polypoid metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the esophagus occurring after endoscopic variceal band ligation.

This report describes a rare case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presenting as a polypoid mass in the lower esophagus after endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL). A 56-year-old man underwent EVL for variceal bleeding in September 1993. He presented with dysphagia and tarry stool in December 1993. An endoscopic examination revealed a semipedunculated polypoid mass at the lower part of the esophagus, where EVL had been performed 3 months previously. The histologic examination at autopsy revealed that the polypoid mass consisted of metastatic HCC that had spread via the retrograde portal flow.

Biopsy↗

Expression of nuclear factor-kappaB in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa detected with southwestern histochemistry.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a pivotal role in inflammatory responses by upregulating mRNA expression of, for example, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Although in vitro studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori can induce NF-kappaB activation in gastric cancer cell lines, there is little information on cellular localization of NF-kappaB in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa. METHODS: H. pylori-infected and -negative patients with various endoscopic findings were examined. NF-kappaB expression was studied by means of Southwestern histochemistry, a new method of localizing transcription factors. Labeled double-stranded oligo-DNA with specific consensus sequence for the NF-kappaB binding site was reacted with frozen sections from gastric biopsy specimens. We compared mucosal interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-1beta levels as measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the degree of NF-kappaB expression. RESULTS: NF-kappaB expression was often evident in nuclei of epithelial cells in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa. The degree of NF-kappaB expression on the epithelium was significantly more severe in H. pylori-infected than in -negative mucosa. The degree of NF-kappaB expression also correlated with mucosal IL-8 levels but not with IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection increases the expression of NF-kappaB in gastric mucosa, suggesting that NF-kappaB is involved in inflammatory responses to H. pylori.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Implication of NF-kappaB in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis.

OBJECTIVE: Transcription factor NF-kappaB plays a pivotal role in inflammatory responses by up-regulating mRNA expression of bioactive molecules such as chemokines and adhesion molecules. The present study was designed to elucidate the implication of NF-kappaB in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis (HAG). METHODS: We examined 41 patients with HAG and 18 H. pylori-negative control subjects. Expression of activated NF-kappaB was studied in situ by immunohistochemistry using alpha-p65 mouse monoclonal antibody (alpha-p65 mAb), which recognizes activated NF-kappaB. To identify the cell types in which NF-kappaB was activated, we performed immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies against vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and B and T lymphocytes. We also examined the colocalization of activated NF-kappaB with the of intercellular expression adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on endothelial cells. We measured the levels of NF-kappaB-dependent chemokines including interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) in antral mucosa by ELISA (ELISA). RESULTS: Activated NF-kappaB was detected in the nuclei of epithelial cells in antral mucosa, especially of patients with HAG. NF-kappaB positivity index (NF-kappaB PI), representing the percentages of epithelial cells with positive nuclear staining for activated NF-kappaB, was significantly higher in patients with HAG than in H. pylori-negative controls. NF-kappaB PI correlated significantly with histological scores of gastritis. Moreover, activated NF-kappaB was identified in the nuclei of vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes within the lamina propria in HAG. Colocalization of activated NF-kappaB with ICAM-1 expression in the same endothelial cells was demonstrated. The IL-8 levels significantly correlated with the NF-kappaB PI. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to epithelial cells, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells, and B lymphocytes contained activated NF-kappaB. In these cells, activated NF-kappaB may be involved in the inflammation process in HAG through the up-regulation of chemokines or adhesion molecules.

Adult↗

The clinical significance of reversed flow in the main pulmonary artery detected by doppler color flow imaging.

BACKGROUND: Using Doppler color flow imaging, abnormal flow patterns were reported to occur with pulmonary artery (PA) dilation. We have frequently observed red signals in the main PA, suggesting reversed flow (RF) in patients without overt pulmonary hypertension. The clinical implication of these signals has not been extensively studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 191 of 412 patients referred for echocardiography (99 men and 92 women; mean +/- SD age, 62 +/- 13 years), in whom the main PA diameter had been adequately measured. If a red signal was observed by color flow imaging, a pulsed Doppler echocardiogram of the red signal was recorded simultaneously. The presence of the red signal was correlated with the PA diameter and the PA systolic pressure determined using the modified Bernoulli equation. In 54 patients who also underwent cardiac catheterization studies, the red signal was correlated with PA and pulmonary capillary wedge (PCW) pressures, and with pulmonary vascular resistance. RESULTS: Red signals adjacent to the medial PA border were detected in parallel with systolic blue signals in 127 patients (66%). Pulsed Doppler recordings revealed that they were caused by RF occurring immediately after the forward systolic signal and persisted in diastole. The PA diameter (28 +/- 4.8 mm) and the estimated PA systolic pressure (34 +/- 16 mm Hg) of patients with the RF signal were significantly greater (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) than those of patients without the signal (22 +/- 2.5 mm and 28 +/- 6.0 mm Hg, respectively). Among patients who had hemodynamic studies, PA and PCW pressures were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 41 patients with the RF signal (22 +/- 12 mm Hg vs 15 +/- 2.6 mm Hg and 11 +/- 5.5 mm Hg vs 8 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, respectively). CONCLUSION: : RF signals in the main PA occur mostly as a result of PA dilation, which may be caused by primary pulmonary hypertension or chronic elevation of left atrial pressure in left-sided cardiac abnormalities.

Aged↗

Short- and long-term results of endoscopic variceal ligation for esophageal varices compared with injection sclerotherapy.

We assessed the efficacy and safety of endoscopic therapy for esophageal varices in Japanese patients comparing the results of ligation therapy performed in 101 patients with those of sclerotherapy with paravariceal injection of polidocanol in 40 patients. Both therapies were effective in controlling active hemorrhages. Hemostasis rates at the first endoscopic session were 100% in both groups and rebleeding rates were 40.0% in the sclerotherapy and 29.6% in the ligation group. Variceal eradication was achieved equally in both groups in approximately 90% of the patients. However, the ligation achieved eradication more quickly in fewer endoscopic sessions than did the sclerotherapy (mean; 2.1 vs. 3.7 sessions, P < 0.01). Complications such as rebleeding and intramural hematomas were less common in the ligation group. These results indicate some advantages of the ligation over the sclerotherapy. A disadvantage of the ligation therapy is that recurrence occurs more quickly than in the sclerotherapy, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Endoscopy↗

Glutaraldehyde (GA)-hapten adducts, but without a carrier protein, for use in a specificity study on an antibody against a GA-conjugated hapten compound: histamine monoclonal antibody (AHA-2) as a model.

In our recent study on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs AHA-1-5) against glutaraldehyde (GA)-conjugated histamine (HA), we identified one mAb (AHA-2) which can detect neuronal HA in the rat brain with an immunocytochemistry method (ICC) [Fujiwara et al. (1999) J. Biochem. 126, 503-509]. In the present study the specificity of AHA-2 mAb for use for ICC has been examined by means of competitive experiments involving HA and analogs, all of which had been allowed to react with GA followed by sodium borohydride, but not allowed to couple with the carrier protein. It was demonstrated that the antibody distinguished alterations in the chemical structure of the molecule, showing decreased immunoreactivity with all the GA-adducts of (R)-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine, 1- and 3-methylhistamine, L-histidine, and 1- and 3-methyl-L-histidine. On the other hand, AHA-1 mAb only reacted with GA-adducts of 3-MeHA (3-MeHA-GA) and HA (HA-GA), to almost the same degree, in relatively high concentration ranges. AHA-3, 4, and 5 mAbs reacted about 10-times more strongly with 1-MeHA-GA than with HA-GA, but reacted very little or not at all with the other analogs. These results may suggest that AHA-2 mAb recognized both the non-substituted imidazole and alpha-methine groups of a HA molecule in addition to the conjugation site of GA including the part(s) reduced with NaBH(4), and especially the imidazole group more strictly than the other mAbs. This may partly explain why AHA-2, among the five AHA mAbs, can detect neuronal HA with an ICC method. The present ELISA method for GA-hapten adducts should be applicable to other antibodies against GA-conjugated biologically active amines or amino acids, thus allowing the study of antibody specificity for ICC more easily and accurately than was previously possible with hapten-protein conjugates as antigens.

Animals↗

Recurrent subcutaneous abscess of the sternal region in ulcerative colitis.

An 18-yr-old female patient with extensive ulcerative colitis suffered from several episodes of recurrent aseptic subcutaneous abscesses of the sternal region with a course paralleling that of her colitis. The abscess seemed to occur secondarily to osteomyelitis of the sternum, which is a manifestation of the synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteomyelitis (SAPHO) syndrome.

Abscess↗

Asymptomatic amebic colitis in a homosexual man.

We describe case of a 75-yr-old Japanese homosexual man who was diagnosed as having amebic colitis. The present case is unique in that invasive amebiasis has occurred in a homosexual man, because Entamoeba histolytica in homosexual patients is considered to be a nonpathogenic and commensal organism in western countries, and that the patient has not complained of any gastrointestinal symptoms associated with minute colonic lesion of an isolated cecal ulcer. This report indicates that the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms does not rule out invasive amebiasis. Therefore, once the ameba is identified in stool specimens, even in homosexual men, it is important to differentiate pathogenic from nonpathogenic species irrespective of whether the patient is symptomatic, and to treat the patient infected with pathogenic species. By means of this strategy, we can prevent pathogenic ameba from spreading in the community.

Aged↗

A Laugier-Hunziker syndrome associated with esophageal melanocytosis.

A 62-year-old Japanese woman came to our clinic because of melanotic macules on the lip, palatoglossal arch, lingual margin and palm. Endoscopic examination revealed a melanotic macule on the midesophageal mucosa but no polyposis in the gastrointestinal tract. Histologically, the specimens taken from the labial, esophageal and palmar lesions showed an acanthosis and basal hyperpigmentation in the epithelium. The patient had not taken any medication which could lead to pigmentation. As far as we know, this is the first case report of an esophageal melanocytic macule which occurred in a patient with Laugier-Hunziker syndrome. When confronted with an isolated pigment spot, we emphasize the necessity of systematic examinations for others. Because the pathologic relationship between Laugier-Hunziker syndrome and the esophageal melanocytic lesion is not proven, further studies should clarify this issue.

Biopsy↗