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Biomedical subjects

J Ito

Publications and source records attributed to J Ito.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Gas in the temporomandibular joint: computed tomography findings. Report of 3 cases.

In each of 3 patients referred for computed tomographic examinations of the temporomandibular joint, a gas collection was observed in the inferior space of the joint. The gas was observed on the posterosuperior surface of the mandibular condyle in the open mouth position in each patient. Each of 2 patients had saucer-shaped bone resorption of the mandibular condyle adjacent to the gas; 1 patient had no remarkable bone abnormality. A history of temporomandibular joint puncture or facial trauma was denied by all 3 patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Blockade of neuropsin, a serine protease, ameliorates kindling epilepsy.

The behavioural and electrographical abnormalities associated with seizures in epileptic (kindled) mice correspond with those of human epilepsy. In kindled mice, neuropsin was markedly increased in the hippocampus and cerebral cortices. A single intraventricular injection of monoclonal antibodies specific to neuropsin reduced or eliminated the epileptic pattern noted on electroencephalograms and, as a result markedly inhibited the progression of kindling. Therefore, neuropsin appears to be a key protein controlling pathogenic events in the hippocampus, and thus neuropsin inhibitors might be useful for treatment of epilepsy.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Changes in levels of serum erythropoietin, serum iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity during chemotherapy for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The serum erythropoietin level increases markedly during chemotherapy for leukemia. A number of hypotheses have been built for the mechanism, none of them satisfactory. Difficulty in evaluating bone marrow activity hampers the elucidation. Therefore, we focused on patients who had non-hematological cancer and no evidence of bone marrow suppression. METHODS: Twelve patients, who had lung cancer (four with small cell cancer and eight with non-small cell cancer) and who had not undergone any chemotherapy, were studied. During chemotherapy, we measured serum erythropoietin, serum iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity and hemoglobin concentration in these patients. RESULTS: The serum erythropoietin level before chemotherapy (10.8 +/- 7.4 mU/ml) was within the normal range but the peak values after the first treatment (73.4 +/- 90.4 mU/ml) increased in all patients. In the patients with small cell cancer, a transient but marked increase in erythropoietin value (204.6 +/- 167.3 mU/ml) was observed after each session of chemotherapy while hemoglobin concentration decreased gradually. Throughout treatments, elevation of the serum iron concentration and concomitant reduction of unsaturated iron binding capacity were observed after each session of chemotherapy. They regained their original values whilst the serum erythropoietin level decreased after each chemotherapy session was completed. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the suppression of erythroid marrow by chemotherapeutic agents causes the changes in serum erythropoietin level during chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Ossifying renal tumor of infancy: the first Japanese case with long-term follow-up.

Presented is the first Japanese case of ossifying renal tumor of infancy (ORTI), which is an extremely rare tumor and of which only nine cases have been reported in the literature. The patient was a four-month-old Japanese boy presenting as hematuria. A small nodular tumor (approximately 1 cm in size) protruded into the right pelvis from the superior caliceal region. Histologically the tumor originated from the tip of one medullary papilla and consisted of small rounded cells with a dense arrangement and several foci of minimally calcified osteoid lesions, including fewer but larger cells. Transition from the small to larger cells was suggested. The small cell only expressed vimentin, but the larger coexpressed vimentin, desmin, and epithelial membrane antigen. These findings suggested that the small cells differentiated to the larger cells with an epithelial nature associated somehow with osteoid formation. Embryonal metaplasia was assumed to occur in the collecting ducts entrapped by the tumor. The patient has been well without recurrence for more than 23 years. This is the longest survival period compared with other reported cases and confirms the benign nature of ORTI. It is absolutely crucial to make an accurate diagnosis of ORTI to avoid unnecessary treatment.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of an apoptosis-inducing factor in Habu snake venom as a glycyrrhizin (GL)-binding protein potently inhibited by GL in vitro.

By means of successive heparin-affinity and glycyrrhizin (GL)-affinity column chromatographies (HPLC), a 55 kDa GL-binding protein (gp55) was purified to apparent homogeneity from the Superdex P-I fraction of Habu snake venom. This gp55 was identified as an apoxin I-like protein, because (i) its 20 N-terminal amino acid residues (AHDRNPLEEYFRETDYEEFL) are 95% identical with the corresponding sequence of apoxin I (apoptosis-inducing factor, approx. 55 kDa) in the venom of the western diamondback rattlesnake; and (ii) L-amino acid oxidase (LAO) activity of gp55 is detected when incubated with L-leucine, but not with D-leucine. GL inhibited the LAO activity of gp55 in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the activity of a 65 kDa LAO also purified from Habu snake venom. In addition, GL reduced the ability of gp55 to induce the hemolysis of sheep red blood cells. These results suggest that GL is a potent inhibitor of apoxin I-like proteins in harmful snake venoms.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1998

Platelet epidermal growth factor in thyroid disorders.

We evaluated the concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in platelets, serum and plasma obtained from 47 patients with Graves' disease, 7 with hypothyroidism and 20 healthy subjects. The platelets of the subjects were collected from platelet rich plasma and lysed by freezing and thawing. Subsequently the platelet debris was treated with Triton X-100. The EGF concentration was determined by homologous radioimmunoassay. The concentration of EGF in the platelets in 14 patients with untreated Graves' disease was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls. After treating these 14 patients with antithyroid agents, the EGF concentration in the platelets decreased to the level of the healthy controls. The EGF concentration in the platelets in the 7 untreated hypothyroid patients decreased after replacement therapy with thyroxine. The mean volume of the platelets in the 14 patients with untreated Graves' disease was significantly larger than in the control and decreased after treatment with antithyroid agents. The serum and plasma levels of EGF in the 7 untreated hypothyroid increased after replacement therapy. In conclusion, thyroid function affected the concentration of EGF in the platelets of patients with thyroid disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Fiber type composition of abdominal muscles in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata).

The muscle fiber composition and cross-sectional area of muscle fiber types were investigated histochemically in the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis muscle, obliquus externus abdominis muscle, obliquus internus abdominis muscle and transversus abdominis muscle) of three Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Muscle fibers were classified into three fiber types (Type I, II A and II B) by myosin ATPase activity and succinate dehydrogenase activity. Each abdominal muscle in Japanese macaques contained high proportion of Type II B fibers and there were no large differences in the fiber type composition between the abdominal muscles. The range of mean fiber type percent was 26-32% Type I, 21-22% Type II A, and 46-52% Type II B fibers. Thus, based on the histochemical fiber type composition, the separate abdominal muscles appear to have a similar functional capacity. The cross-sectional area was larger for Type II than for Type I fibers, and the areas were similar in Type II A and Type II B fibers in each muscle. The rectus abdominis showed larger fibers of each type compared to the lateral abdominal muscles. The high proportion of Type II B fibers and large fiber size for Type II B fibers suggest that the abdominal muscles of Japanese macaques have properties similar to the propulsive and locomotory muscles in the limbs.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1998

Reversible hyperintensity of the anterior pituitary gland on T1-weighted MR images in a patient receiving temporary parenteral nutrition.

We report a patient with severe anorexia nervosa, treated with temporary total parenteral nutrition (TPN), in whom reversible hyperintensity of the anterior pituitary gland was seen on T1-weighted MR images. The anterior pituitary was isointense with white matter before TPN therapy and became markedly hyperintense after 3 months of treatment. The intensity normalized after TPN therapy was discontinued. The transient hyperintensity was also seen in the basal ganglia and dorsal brain stem. We believe the hyperintensity of the anterior pituitary may be attributed to the TPN therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Focal orbital amyloidosis presenting as rectus muscle enlargement: CT and MR findings.

We report a case of focal orbital amyloidosis involving rectus muscles, which is an extremely rare clinical condition. CT scans showed rectus muscle enlargement with punctate calcifications. Heterogeneous hypointensity was present on T2-weighted MR images, and homogeneous enhancement was seen on fat-saturated contrast-enhanced images of the muscles. These imaging findings seem to be suggestive of amyloidosis. Focal amyloidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of extraocular muscle enlargement.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1997

Evolution of dnaQ, the gene encoding the editing 3' to 5' exonuclease subunit of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme in Gram-negative bacteria.

The nucleotide sequences of the dnaQ genes from Salmonella typhimurium and Buchnera aphidicola, encoding the epsilon-subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, have been determined. The Salmonella typhimurium dnaQ protein consists of 243 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 27224. The Buchnera aphidicola dnaQ protein contains 233 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 27170. A multiple sequence alignment of the amino acid sequences of the dnaQ proteins and those of DNA polymerase IIIs from Gram-positive bacteria produced six homologous segments. These homologous segments contain highly conserved amino acid sequence motifs involved in catalytically important metal ion bindings (ligands 1, 2 and 3). However, metal ligand 4 is found to be altered in the 3'-5' exonuclease domain of the family C DNA polymerases and dnaQ proteins in Gram-negative bacteria. From these results, we propose that the last common ancestor of the dnaQ gene of Gram-negative bacteria and the DNA polymerase III gene (pol C gene) of Gram-positive bacteria was a single gene containing both 3'-5' exonuclease and DNA polymerase domains and then the dnaQ gene separated from the polymerase gene in Gram-negative bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

MRI diffusion-weighted spectroscopy of reversible and irreversible ischemic injury following closed head injury.

The objective of this study was to detect the threshold between reversible and irreversible secondary insult of hypoxia and hypotension following closed head injury as measured by MRI. Adult Sprague rats were separated into 3 groups: I: Sham (n = 6), II: Trauma and hypoxia coupled with mild hypotension of 40-50 mmHg (n = 6), III: Trauma and hypoxia coupled with severe hypotension of 30-40 mmHg (n = 6). The measurement of brain water content (BWC) was based on T1, whereas the differentiation between reversible and irreversible secondary insult on the measurement apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The ADCs in both trauma and secondary insult groups decreased rapidly from a control level of 0.68 +/- 0.5 x 10(-3) to significantly different minimum levels of 0.52 +/- 0.5 x 10(-3) in Group II and 0.42 +/- 0.5 x 10(-3) mm2/second in Group III at 30 minutes. In Group II rats there was a complete recovery in ADC as well as in their clinical conditions, whereas ADC in Group III rats remained at the minimum level and the animals were brain dead. The BWC was also significantly different at four hours post injury (Group II: 80.3 +/- 0.7%, Group III: 81.8 +/- 0.8%). The data lead the authors to suggest that the threshold between reversible and irreversible posttraumatic secondary insult is very narrow, and the measurement of ADC can provide information that will enable the clinician to identify critical threshold beyond which recovery is not possible.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Hepatic infarction with portal thrombosis.

A case of hepatic infarction with portal thrombosis is reported. A 63-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices was admitted for treatment of the esophageal varices. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) were performed. Two months later, she experienced right hypochondralgia and right flank pain. Serum transaminase levels were suddenly elevated, and computed tomography scans of the liver showed multiple small nodular lesions. Her condition worsened, and she died of hepatic failure. Autopsy revealed splenic and portal vein thrombosis, multiple hepatic infarction, and evidence of chronic pancreatitis. We believe that liver cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis were the main risk factors for the portal thrombosis, and the treatment for esophageal varices appeared to have triggered the thrombosis. The hepatic infarction was caused by the portal thrombosis.

Endoscopy, Digestive System↗
PubMed1997

Solitary plasmacytomas of the occipital bone: a report of two cases.

The radiological appearances of two cases of solitary plasmacytoma in the occipital bone are described. One arose in the lateral part and the other in the squama. They showed characteristic radiological features on CT, MRI and angiography. Bone scintigraphy and gallium scintigraphy were also available. Solitary plasmacytoma of the skull is a rare condition and usually occurs in the calvarium. The skull base is an extremely rare site and only four cases have been reported. The literature of solitary plasmacytoma of the skull is reviewed.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Tinnitus suppression in cochlear implant patients.

Tinnitus is sometimes suppressed by cochlear implantation. Tinnitus conditions were examined in 60 adult patients who underwent cochlear implantation in 1990 or later. Before surgery, 90% of these patients reported some type of tinnitus. The patients completed a questionnaire evaluating the loudness and duration of the tinnitus, immediately after the first electrical stimulation and 2 months later. The loudness of tinnitus was suppressed in 65% of the patients at first evaluation. Two months later, the tinnitus was suppressed in 93% of the patients. As for the duration of tinnitus, at first evaluation the tinnitus duration was suppressed in 41% of the patients. Two months later, the duration of tinnitus was suppressed in 61% of the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Improvement of hypertonus after treatment for sleep disturbances in three patients with severe brain damage.

Treatment for sleep disturbance was given to three patients with severe brain damage (a 14-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy), and changes in their muscle tone were estimated using F-wave analysis. In all patients, F-wave analysis was performed in the ulnar nerve before and 2 weeks after treatment with flunitrazepam or melatonin. From 16 recordings of F-waves, the mean amplitude and latency, the ratio of F-wave amplitude to M-wave amplitude (F/M ratio), the mean F-wave conduction velocity and the F-wave occurrence were evaluated. All patients showed at least one significant decrement of mean F-wave amplitude, the F-wave occurrence and mean F/M ratio, which suggests a reduction in muscle tone after treatment for sleep disturbance. It is concluded that treatment for sleep disturbance occurring in brain damage is important in view of the improvement of increased muscle tone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency with multiple minor anomalies.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiency is known to cause congenital lactic acidosis. The case of a 9-month-old female infant with PDHC deficiency caused by a mutation in exon 11 of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) E1 alpha gene is described. Her facial features were as follows: frontal bossing, upslanting palpebral fissures, a short upturned nose, a long philtrum and low set ears. These anomalies are characteristic not only of a malformation syndrome or chromosomal aberration, but also of PDHC deficiency. Because PDHC deficiency requires early treatment, metabolic disorders should be kept in mind in a patient with dysmorphic features. Further, she had multiple minor anomalies including bilateral inguinal herniae, an umbilical hernia and small hands and feet, which have not been described in previous reports.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗