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Biomedical subjects

J Adachi

Publications and source records attributed to J Adachi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Eye complications in atopic dermatitis].

Eye complications were studied in 240 cases of atopic dermatitis (age distribution 9 months to 40 years) hospitalized in the dermatology ward of our hospital. One hundred and thirty-four patients (55.8%) had at least one eye complication. Allergic conjunctivitis, cataracts, vernal conjunctivitis, retinal detachment, keratoconus, and retinal tears were detected in 28.3%, 17.9%, 2.1%, 1.3%, 1.3%, and 0.8%, respectively. Serum IgE levels and eye complications did not correlate. Routine ophthalmological examinations are recommended for patients with atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Acetaldehyde-induced formation of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid in rats.

1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) is one of the metabolites of peak E substance, which, based on epidemiological studies, has been thought to be a possible causative agent of the tryptophan-induced eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. Acute ethanol and L-tryptophan administration in rats pretreated with cyanamide resulted in the formation of MTCA. Concentrations of MTCA were estimated at 27 ng/g in blood and 33 ng/g in kidneys. Chronic treatment with a liquid diet containing ethanol as 36% of the total calories for 6 weeks increased these levels. MTCA was barely observed in rats that had received acute or chronic ethanol in the absence of cyanamide, or in the cyanamide-tryptophan controls. Cyanamide facilitation of ethanol-dependent MTCA biosynthesis may be due to a potentiation of the blood level of acetaldehyde derived from ethanol. The blood acetaldehyde level in rats that had been acutely treated with cyanamide, ethanol and L-tryptophan was 348 microM, and averaged 503 microM in rats that received the same treatment after chronic consumption of ethanol. In contrast to the above findings, L-tryptophan intake promoted the formation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (TCCA) in rats. This is the first report of MTCA in mammalian tissue during tryptophan and ethanol metabolism.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1993

Tempo and mode of mitochondrial DNA evolution in vertebrates at the amino acid sequence level: rapid evolution in warm-blooded vertebrates.

By using complete sequence data of mitochondrial DNAs, three Markov models (Dayhoff, Proportional, and Poisson models) for amino acid substitutions during evolution were applied in maximum likelihood analyses of mitochondrially encoded proteins to estimate a phylogenetic tree depicting human, cow, whale, and murids (mouse and rat), with chicken, frog, and carp as outgroups. A cow/whale clade was confirmed with a more than 99.8% confidence level by any of the three models, but the branching order among human, murids, and the cow/whale clade remained uncertain. It turned out that the Dayhoff model is by far the most appropriate model among the alternatives in approximating the amino acid substitutions of mitochondrially encoded proteins, which is consistent with a previous analysis of a more limited data set. It was shown that the substitution rate of mitochondrially encoded proteins has increased in the order of fishes, amphibians, birds, and mammals and that the rate in mammals is at least six times, probably an order of magnitude, higher than that in fishes. The higher evolutionary rate in birds and mammals than in amphibians and fishes was attributed to relaxation of selective constraints operating on proteins in warm-blooded vertebrates and to high mutation rate of bird and mammalian mitochondrial DNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Early branchings in the evolution of eukaryotes: ancient divergence of entamoeba that lacks mitochondria revealed by protein sequence data.

Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal RNA sequences have played an important role in the study of early evolution of life. However, Loomis and Smith suggested that the ribosomal RNA tree is sometimes misleading--especially when G+C content differs widely among lineages--and that a protein tree from amino acid sequences may be more reliable. In this study, we analyzed amino acid sequence data of elongation factor-1 alpha by a maximum likelihood method to clarify branching orders in the early evolution of eukaryotes. Contrary to Sogin et al.'s tree of small-subunit ribosomal RNA, a protozoan species, Entamoeba histolytica, that lacks mitochondria was shown to have diverged from the line leading to eukaryotes with mitochondria before the latter separated into several kingdoms. This indicates that Entamoeba is a living relic of the earliest phase of eukaryotic evolution before the symbiosis of protomitochondria occurred. Furthermore, this suggests that, among eukaryotic kingdoms with mitochondria, Fungi is the closest relative of Animalia, and that a cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, had not diverged from the line leading to Plantae-Fungi-Animalia before these three kingdoms separated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Metabolism and distribution in the rat of peak E substance, a constituent in L-tryptophan product implicated in eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

Peak E substance, 1,1'-ethylidenebis[tryptophan], a contaminant found in L-tryptophan tablets, has been suggested as a causative agent for eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS). Peak E substance (50 mg/kg) was administered perorally to Wistar rats to determine its metabolism and distribution. A purification procedure using Bond Elut C8 cartridges followed by HPLC was developed for the determination of peak E substance. The plasma concentration of peak E substance was 136 ng/ml at 1 h, and urinary excretion was 717 ng at 5 h and 10342 ng for 5-24 h, showing slow excretion of peak E substance into urine. The amount of peak E substance in the contents of the large intestine at 5 h, however, was 3136 micrograms, much greater than urinary excretion for 24 h, indicating considerable transfer of peak E substance to large intestine without decomposition by gastric fluid in the stomach. We have detected for the first time not only the occurrence of peak E substance in plasma and urine, but also 1-methyl-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) in blood and organs of rats treated with peak E substance, thereby suggesting MTCA as one of the the metabolites of peak E substance. The amount of MTCA in the contents of the large intestine as well as in urine of rats treated with peak E substance was significantly greater than in L-tryptophan-treated rats (50 mg/kg p.o.), demonstrating that MTCA was more readily produced from peak E substance than from L-tryptophan. Finally, we propose acetaldehyde-induced production of MTCA from peak E substance.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Accumulation of 1-methyl-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid in blood and organs of rat. A possible causative substance of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with ingestion of L-tryptophan.

1-Methyl-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) may cause eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) associated with ingestion of L-tryptophan. The distribution and excretion of MTCA were studied in rats which had received perorally a single 1.6 mg/kg dose of MTCA. MTCA concentrations in blood, kidney, liver, brain, heart, spleen, lung and gastrocnemius muscle were measured by HPLC combined with fluorometric detection. The concentration of MTCA in each organ reached a maximum at 1 h and then gradually declined. However, a significant level of MTCA still remained at 5 h, when 52% of ingested MTCA remained in the contents of the large intestine. Twenty-nine percent of the ingested MTCA was excreted in urine over the course of 24 h. A higher dose (10 mg/kg) of MTCA resulted in significant elevations in the concentrations and amounts of MTCA in the various organs. In addition, chronic treatment with a 10 mg/kg dose of MTCA for 6 weeks further increased the concentrations and amounts of MTCA in each organ. However, no histological changes were observed in any of the organs after chronic treatment. This is the first report which demonstrates accumulation of MTCA in the blood and various organs, including muscle, of rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[An application of in vitro fertilization--embryo culture--embryo transfer system on the drug safety evaluation: fertility test of male mice administered with the anticancer drug].

We examined an application of in vitro fertilization--embryo culture--embryo transfer system for reproductive and developmental study on the drug safety evaluation in mice. The male mice at 10 weeks of age were administered intravenously with a single dose of 75 mg/kg of the anticancer platinum complex (DWA 2114R) which inhibits DNA synthesis. Four to six weeks after administration, the males were mated with the superovulated females. Fertilization rates were significantly lower than the controls at each weeks after the administration. Furthermore, delayed formation of pronucleus was observed as compared with the control. Four weeks after administration, the preimplantation development to blastocyst stage of those embryos in vitro and the survival rates on the day 17 of gestation after embryo transfer suggested that a DNA synthesis in germ cells during maturation was inhibited and/or prevented by DWA 2114R. The results of in vitro fertilization reflected its sperm concentration rather than the administration of DWA 2114R. Thus, an analysis of the delayed formation of pronucleus observed fertilization in vivo could not done in detail. To use for the drug safety evaluation, there exist plenty of room for improvement in this system. These results have showed that the embryo culture and the embryo transfer are useful techniques as the reproductive and developmental study on the drug safety evaluation. These techniques bring additional informations on the pre- and post-implantation development in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[The visual information processing in generating saccades through the selection of the peripheral stimulus].

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the preattentive process contributes to generating saccades to the peripheral target in an unstructured background. The target and the non-target stimuli were presented simultaneously on the opposite sides at 10 deg. of eccentricity. Subjects were instructed to fixate on the target with the first saccade after the presentation of the test stimuli. The first saccade latency was measured with the EOG-technique. The target and the non-target patterns were different in textons and/or forms i.e., 1) in textons (the t-condition), 2) in forms (the f-condition), and 3) in textons and in forms (the tf-condition). While the textons are processed in th preattentive mode, the form is processed in the focal attentive mode. The mean saccade latencies in the t and the tf conditions did not differ significantly. The both were significantly shorter than those in the f condition. The number of the first error-saccades to the non-target was significantly larger in the f than the t and tf conditions. The study demonstrated that the preattentive process contributes to generating saccades to the peripheral target in an unstructured background.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Secretory meningioma: a case report with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Secretory meningioma is a new concept proposed with the progress on immunohistochemistry, and has not sufficiently been discussed in the literature. We report a case with this rare type of meningioma, in a 54-year-old female. The tumor had hyaline inclusions that showed not only carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on immunohistochemical study but some secreting organelles on ultrastructural study. The value of these findings are emphasized in the histological diagnosis for secretory meningioma.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗
PubMed1993

[Recent advances in the study on the mechanism of brain injury].

A cerebral contusion and DAI (diffuse axonal injury) are practically very important in a medico-legal case of the closed head injury. In this paper, we will report the epitome of the recent advances in the study on the mechanism of them. Coup contusion can be mainly attributed to the skull inbending and/or the skull fracture which develop in the impact region. As to the mechanism of the contrecoup contusion, several theories are reported. During rotational movement of the head, intracerebral shear strains would be produced because of brain lag (Holbourn's rotation theory). Anatomical features of the skull plays an important role (Gurdjian). Relative movement between a brain and a skull induces intracranial cavitation due to pressure gradient (Gross's cavitation theory). Brain is injured by deformation pressure induced by skull deformation and acceleration one done by a movement of the head (Lindenberg). The last one is Courville's transmitted waves of force theory. As to DAI, there is Gennarelli's theory. During a rotational movement of a brain caused by high rate of angular acceleration operating for a long period, intracerebral shear strains occur and injure a brain. As to the brain injuries which include a cerebral contusion and DAI, two theories are reported. Centripetal progression of strains to the core of a brain injuries the brain (Ommaya). Natural frequency of impact determines the nature of resulting injury to the brain (Willinger).

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1993

[Convexity angiomatous meningiomas in a mother and a daughter without evidence of neurofibromatosis].

The convexity angiomatous meningiomas that occurred in a mother and a daughter without any evidence of neurofibromatosis (NF) were reported. The 73-year-old mother was admitted to our clinic because of an episode of generalized convulsion and a five-month history of gait disturbance. She had the signs/symptoms of intracranial hypertension and frontal lobe dysfunctions. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a left frontal enhanced mass with a small intratumoral cyst and a remarkable perifocal edema. Angiography showed tumor stain fed from the external carotid artery. Frontal craniotomy was performed and a dark red tumor was totally resected. The nodular-surfaced tumor had adhered loosely to the dura mater. The coarse vascular meshwork and an intratumoral cyst were observed on the cut surface. When the patient was discharged she was able to leave the hospital on foot, but she died of acute pancreatitis in the local hospital. Histological examination of the tumor showed rich vasculatures with focally whorl-formed cells. Most tumor cells had intracytoplasmic microcysts. The pathological diagnosis, WHO's classification, 1991, was angiomatous meningioma. The patient's 41-year-old daughter was admitted due to an episode of fainting. All laboratory data were within normal limits, including the normal karyotype of the peripheral blood leukocytes. Papilloedemata were the only signs of neurological deficit. A CT scan and magnetic resonance images showed a left frontal convexity mass and angiography displayed the tumor strains from the middle meningeal artery. The convexity meningioma similar to her mother's was totally removed. The histological diagnosis was angiomatous meningioma, again.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Amino acid substitution of proteins coded for in mitochondrial DNA during mammalian evolution.

Three Markov models (Dayhoff, Proportional and Poisson models; Hasegawa et al., 1992a) for amino acid substitution during evolution were used for maximum likelihood analyses of proteins coded for in mitochondrial DNA in estimating a phylogenetic tree among human, bovine and murids (mouse and rat) with chicken as an outgroup. It turned out that Dayhoff model is the most appropriate model among the alternatives in approximating the amino acid substitutions of proteins coded for in mitochondrial DNA. In spite of the presence of the complete sequence data of mitochondrial genomes, we could not resolve the trichotomy among human, bovine and murids, probably because the time length separating two branching events among these three lines was short and because chicken is too distant from mammals to be used as an outgroup. It was suggested that the average substitution rate of amino acids coded for in mitochondrial DNA is lower along the bovine line than those along the human or murid lines. Advantages of amino acid sequence analysis over nucleotide sequence analysis in phylogenetic study were discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Saccadic eye movement guided by the visual form].

This report describes an experiment in which was measured the onset latency of the saccade to the peripheral target under three conditions of visual cues for the target location. In the central cue condition (the C-condition), the cue was an arrow presented in the central visual field. In the peripheral cue condition (the P-condition), the cue was the form in which the target was presented in the peripheral visual field. In the one-sided cue condition (the O-condition), the cue was the target itself. The saccade latency was measured by means of electro-oculography. The results were; (1) the saccade latencies in the three conditions were significantly different from each other, (2) the latency was longest in the C-condition and shortest in the O-condition, (3) the difference in latency between the P and C-conditions was three times as large as that between O and P-conditions, (4) the latency variance was significantly larger in the C-condition than in the other conditions, (5) the difference in the variances was not significant between the O and P-conditions. The results were interpreted in terms of (a) cognitive processing of visual form and (b) the characteristics of the saccade system.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Re-evaluation of skin lesion distribution in atopic dermatitis. Analysis of cases 0 to 9 years of age.

Distribution of skin lesions was studied in 1,012 patients under 10 years of age, with atopic dermatitis. Of these, 812 (80.2%) had an atopic history; 200 did not. Both categories were divided by age into five subgroups (3-5 months, 6-11 months, 1 year, 2-4 years and 5-9 years) and the incidence of lesions in each of 52 skin regions was compared between the positive and negative history groups and between different age groups. The results were as follows. 1. There was a change in predilection site, from the head (the scalp, face and peri-auricular area) to the neck and flexures (cubital and popliteal fossae) between 1 and 2 years of age. 2. The trunk (shoulders, chest, abdomen and back) was the most common predilection site in both infants and children. 3. Only the upper arm was affected more frequently on the external side than the internal side in all age groups. 4. The nose, mamillae, palms and feet were the least affected areas in all age groups. 5. Incidences in the positive history group were no higher than in the negative group.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Effect of short-term egg exclusion diet on infantile atopic dermatitis and its relation to egg allergy: a single-blind test.

A unique, single-blind, controlled trial of egg exclusion was performed in infants under 3 years of age, with atopic dermatitis, and/or their breast-feeding mothers. All subjects were put on an exclusion diet, but assessment of the effect of egg exclusion was made without knowing the results of allergy the tests. Results showed that there was a statistically significant correlation between the effect of egg exclusion and egg allergy, but only in infants 3-6 months old. Combination with other allergies did not seem to affect the results at this age. These findings indicate that egg exclusion is effective in ameliorating skin symptoms of atopic dermatitis only in early infancy and in the presence of egg allergy, irrespective of combination with other food allergies. This may be correlated to high RAST scores to egg at this age.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

Interrater reliability of the tender point criterion for fibromyalgia.

The diagnosis fibromyalgia (FS) requires the existence of tender points, routinely identified by clinical examination. We evaluated the interrater reliability of digital (thumb) examination for tender points by comparison with dolorimeter examination, a procedure considered to measure accurately muscle tenderness. Subjects were 15 patients with varying rheumatological diagnoses and anatomically widespread pain. In a physician blinded procedure, 2 rheumatologists determined the tender point count by digital examination at 18 points, and the tender point threshold by dolorimeter at 12 points. A pain threshold of 4 kg/1.77 cm2 or less defined the presence of tender points under both methods. Results indicate (1) classification as FS vs other diagnosis using pain complaint and digital examination for tender points, was moderately reliable (kappa = 0.74, p < 0.005); (2) interrater agreement about presence/absence of tenderness at individual points was not significantly lowered by digital examination (kappa = 0.51, p < 0.0001) relative to dolorimetry (kappa = 0.62, p < 0.0001); however, (3) analyses on the 12 anatomical points that were common to both methods indicated that digital examination resulted in significantly more anatomical points being considered tender relative to dolorimetry. Our findings indicate that digital and dolorimeter measures are equally reliable, but have poor concurrent validity for defining tender points in FS. Implications of these findings for the classification of fibromyalgia are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Determination of beta-carbolines in foodstuffs by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method combined with fluorimetric detection is described for the determination of beta-carboline (norharman) and 1-methyl-beta-carboline (harman). The analysis of foodstuffs for the identification of beta-carbolines is facilitated by clean-up samples using Bond Elut PRS cartridges. Recoveries were excellent. Further, a high-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was also developed for their identification. The concentration of beta-carboline among the foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages varied greatly. Also, norharman and harman were observed in uncooked foodstuffs, whereas acetaldehyde was found in most fermented food. The toxicological implication of beta-carbolines in foodstuffs is discussed.

Acetaldehyde↗