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Biomedical subjects

K Abe

Publications and source records attributed to K Abe.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Analysis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 gene and haplotype analysis: (CCG)1-2 polymorphism and contribution to founder effect.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 is a familial spinocerebellar ataxia with autosomal dominant inheritance. The gene responsible was recently cloned and this disorder was found to be the result of a CAG expansion in its open reading frame. We analysed 13 SCA2 patients in seven unrelated families in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. In four of the seven families, we detected CCG or CCGCCG interruptions in only the expanded alleles. Cosegregation of these polymorphisms with SCA2 patients was established within each family. Together with the results of haplotype analyses, we considered that at least two founders were present in our area and that these (CCG)1-2 polymorphisms may make analysis of founder effects easier. By sequencing analysis we found that although the number of the long CAG repeat varied in each subclone of expanded alleles, these polymorphisms did not change their configuration. This finding suggests that CCG or CCGCCG sequences are stable when surrounded by the long CAG repeat and a single CAG. Moreover, the presence of these polymorphisms may lead to miscounting the repeat size by conventional estimation using a size marker such as an M13 sequencing ladder. Therefore we should consider these polymorphisms and accurately determine the repeat size by sequencing.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

[Imipenem/cilastatin sodium and other beta-lactams for respiratory tract infections: clinical benefit and treatment days for cure].

Therapeutic efficacy and the treatment days for cure of imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) in treatment of pulmonary infections were prospectively determined in comparison with those of beta-lactams other than carbapenems mainly ceftazidime (CAZ) or sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ). The overall response rate was 84.9% (62/73) in the IPM/CS group and 74.7% (56/75) in the beta-lactam group, the difference not being significant. In the subjects having underlying respiratory diseases, the response rate was 91.1% (41/45) and 73.9% (34/46) in the IPM/CS and beta-lactam groups, respectively. In patients with infections secondary to chronic respiratory disease, the rate was 91.2% (31/34) in the former group and 66.7% (24/36) in the latter group, respectively. The differences were significant for both stratified analyses. The treatment days for cure judged by the attending physician were 12.9 +/- 0.6 days in the IPM/CS group, and 14.5 +/- 0.7 days in the beta-lactam group. The difference was not, however, significant. In patients with mild to moderate infections, the treatment days for cure was 12.0 +/- 0.6 days (n = 64) in the IPM/CS group and 14.3 +/- 0.7 days (n = 70) in the beta-lactam group. In patients with underlying respiratory disease, the treatment days for cure were 11.8 +/- 0.7 days (n = 45) and 14.7 +/- 0.9 days (n = 46) in the IPM/CS and beta-lactam groups, respectively. In patients with infections secondary to chronic respiratory disease, the days were 11.1 +/- 0.7 days (n = 34) and 14.7 +/- 1.1 days (n = 36), respectively. Thus, IPM/CS therapy significantly reduced the number of treatment days until cure. There was, however, no significant difference between the two therapy groups in treatment of the patients with severe infections, those without underlying respiratory disease, or those with pneumonia and/or lung abscess. The treatment days for cure were also assessed by the members of review committee taking into consideration of body temperature, leukocyte count, and C-reactive protein. As the result, it was 6.9 +/- 0.5 days in the IPM/ CS and 10.3 +/- 0.7 days in the beta-lactam groups; respectively, and the difference was significant. Time (days) until cure was also compared between the two groups using survival time analysis, confirming a more rapid response in the IPM/CS group. Although IPM/CS therapy was associated with a shorter response time as assessed by both the attending physicians and the review committee, there were considerable differences between the results of these judgements. Thus, the duration of treatment with injectable antibiotics requires reevaluation in the future. No significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to parameters indicating side effects and laboratory abnormalities. There were no severe symptoms or laboratory findings, and symptoms and changes in laboratory values, if any resolved during the course of therapy or after the withdrawal of treatment. In conclusion, IPM/CS seems to be very useful as first-line therapy for respiratory tract infections and for shortening the duration of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Effect of Helicobacter pylori on gastric emptying in non-ulcer dyspepsia--evaluation of Helicobacter pylori by 13C-urea breath test].

AIM: Non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is a common disorder in clinical field. The pathogenesis of NUD are still unclear especially the participation of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in NUD is controversy. Aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of H. pylori at view of urea breath test on liquids and solids gastric emptying in patients with NUD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: H. pylori positive (n = 24) and negative NUD subjects (n = 11), and H. pylori positive non-NUD subjects (n = 10) as control group were studied. Liquids and solids gastric emptying was evaluated according to the acetaminophen method and sulfamethzole modified method delta 13C-AUC was calculated as estimation of H. pylori by 13C-urea breath test. H. pylori positive NUD was classified into high delta 13C-AUC group (n = 11), median group (n = 8) and low group (n = 5). High delta 13C-AUC group (n = 6) and low delta 13C-AUC group (n = 4) group were treated by eradication therapy. In H. pylori positive NUD subjects, high and low delta 13C-AUC group were estimated the changes of liquids and solids gastric emptying, symptoms before and after eradication. RESULTS: H. pylori positive NUD group has higher liquids gastric emptying that H. pylori negative NUD group (7.6 +/- 2.8 vs. 4.9 +/- 1.4, p = 0.0022). No difference was observed between H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative group of solids gastric emptying. There was no significant difference in liquids gastric emptying among high-, median- and low-delta 13C-AUC group of H. pylori positive NUD subjects. Solids gastric emptying was significantly delayed in high delta 13C-AUC group compared with low delta 13C-AUC group (10.3 +/- 3.7 vs. 5.3 +/- 3.1, p = 0.014). delta 13C-AUC was not correlated to liquids gastric emptying, but to solids gastric emptying (r = -0.573. p = 0.006). In Non-NUD group as control group, delta 13C-AUC has not correlation to liquids and solids gastric emptying H. pylori positive NUD has higher delta 13C-AUC than Non-NUD group. Eradicated low delta 13C-AUC group did not show significant changes in liquids gastric emptying, but did improvement of solids gastric emptying and symptoms scores. Eradicated low delta 13C-AUC group did not show any significant changes. CONCLUSION: In non-ulcer dyspepsia patients H. pylori does not influence liquids gastric emptying, but does solids gastric emptying according to delta 13C-AUC of H. pylori, especially high delta 13C-AUC patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Clinical and genetic characteristics of SCA1].

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat. We analyzed CAG repeat expansion in 25 families with hereditary ataxia of Menzel type in the northeast of Japan. Twenty of 38 patients in 12 families had expanded allele for SCA1. The number of CAG repeats correlated with the age at onset. Although the relationship between anticipation and the number of CAG repeats in successive generations was not ascertainable, there was a tendency to paternal bias for the accelerated age at onset. Study of the number of CAG repeats in various tissues showed no differences in the repeat length in lymphocytes, muscle or brain; sperm, however, showed an obvious expansion. This may be a clue to a possible mechanism for the molecular basis of paternal anticipation of the disease. These results suggest that, in the area of Japan in which SCA1 is prevalent, 48% of families with spinocerebellar degeneration have SCA1 mutation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Huntington's disease: clinical and molecular genetics].

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. An unstable CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion within the first exon of the responsible gene "IT15", encoding huntingtin, was identified. The clinical phenotype strongly correlates with the number of CAG repeat. The mutant huntingtin is expressed ubiquitously as same as the wild-type huntingtin, suggesting a toxic gain of function of the mutant huntingtin. The identification of huntingtin-interacting proteins and intranuclear aggregates containing a fragment of mutant huntingtin provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HD. Moreover, the progress in transgenic animal models for HD will be critical for understanding the development of HD and for the testing of new therapeutics.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[New practical sizer for ATS medical open pivot valve].

The sewing cuff of the ATS Medical valve is made from double velour polyester, making the sewing cuff diameter larger than the tissue anulus diameter of this prosthetic heart valve. The ATS valve sizer, with the diameter marked in millimeters, has a ring which allows for an easy measurement of the patient's tissue anulus. However, the diameters of this ring and the prosthetic valve (tissue anulus diameter) are made to equal in size. Therefore, if the valve size is determined by using this sizer, the sewing cuff diameter will be considerably larger than the patient's tissue anulus diameter. In order to also take into account the diameter of the sewing cuff, we added a flange around the sizer in the shape of the sewing cuff. The new and more practical sizer allows us to avoid sizing trouble in valve replacement surgery.

Heart Valve Prosthesis↗
PubMed1999

The effects of morphine-induced increases in extracellular acetylcholine levels in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of rat.

The present study examined the role of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in the modulation of acetylcholine (ACh) release by morphine. We examined the effect of morphine on the release of ACh in the RVLM of freely moving rats using the in vivo microdialysis method. The basal level of ACh was 303.0 +/- 28.2 fmol/20 microliter/15 min in the presence of neostigmine (10 microM). Morphine at a low dose of 5 mg/kg (i.p.) increased ACh release by the RVLM by 42.4%. A higher morphine dose (10 mg/kg i.p.) significantly increased the release of ACh by 75.4%, with a maximal effect (86.4%) at 75 min. This enhancement following i.p. administration of morphine was reversed by naloxone (1 mg/kg i.p.). Addition of morphine (10(-4) M) to the perfusion medium increased the ACh release by 85.8% of the predrug values. The increased ACh release induced by local application of morphine was reversed by pretreatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg i.p.). The antinociceptive effect of locally applied morphine into the RVLM was assessed using the hot-plate test and tail immersion test in unanesthetized rats. Local application of morphine (10(-4) M) via a microdialysis probe induced an increase in both tail withdrawal and hot-plate response. These findings suggest that morphine seems to exert a direct stimulatory effect on ACh release by the RVLM and that morphine-induced nociception is, in part, activated by the release of ACh in freely moving rats.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1999

[Molecular mechanism of ALS and a possible gene therapy].

We report clinical characteristics of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) with four different missense point mutations in exons 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene, that result in amino acid substitutions of cysteine 6 by phenylalanin (C 6 F), histidine 46 by arginine (H46R), leucine 84 by valine (L84V), isoleucine 104 by phenylalanine (I104F), and valine 148 by isoleucine (V148I), in five Japanese families. Although features of progressive neurogenic muscular atrophy was common in patients of these families, patients of each family showed characteristic clinical features. Immunoreactivity for Cu/Zn SOD of the motor neurons was not different between the ALS and controls. In contrast, immunoreactivity for NT was densely detected in motor neurons of ALS while that was not or was only minimally detected in those of controls. Adenovirus-mediated E. coli LacZ gene was transferred and expressed both in the muscle and spinal cord of transgenic mice. These results suggest that familial ALS with different mutations of the Cu/Zn SOD gene showed each clinical characteristics, that nitration of protein-tyrosine residue is upregulated in motor neurons of the spinal cord of ALS, and that there could be a possible future therapy of ALS with exogenous gene transfer.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1999

[Clinical characteristics of acute non A to G hepatitis caring TTV-DNA].

We measured TTV-DNA using polymerase chain reaction method in twenty seven patients with acute non A to G hepatitis and 139 patients with known types of acute hepatitis. TTV-DNA was detected in 40.7% in the former and in 36.7% in the latter, which was not significantly different. In acute non A to G hepatitis, TTV-DNA was more common in the male and in patient with more advanced age, however, no remarkable difference was noted concerning clinical characteristics according to the existence of TTV. Therefore TTV does not seem to play a causative role in pathogenesis of acute non A to G hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

[High prevalence of TT virus(TTV) in patients with non A to non G fulminant hepatitis: differences of clinical features and prognosis between TTV positive and negative patients].

We detected TTV-DNA in sera from 36 patients with fulminant hepatitis(FH) and evaluated differences in clinical features and prognosis between TTV-DNA positive and negative patients with nonA-nonG FH. TTV-DNA in sera was measured by nested PCR. Twenty of 36 patients with FH were diagnosed nonA-nonG FH. The TTV-DNA in sera was detected in 14 patients(38.9%) with FH, 9(64%) showed nonA-nonG FH and 3 were HBV FH and 2 were drug-induced FH. Although we compared clinical features(gender, age, distribution history of blood transfusion, initial symptoms of hepatitis, and liver function tests) and prognosis between TTV positive and negative patients with nonA-nonG FH, there were no significant differences between the two groups. These data suggest that although TTV may be a infectious agent related to nonA-nonG FH, further study is needed to clarify the role of TTV in the pathogenesis of FH.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Sporadic ALS].

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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1999

[Juvenile ALS].

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Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Vagal nerve activity and the high frequency peak of the heart rate variability.

For the Quality of life (QOL) of patients with an artificial heart system, monitoring an information of the cardiovascular control system may be important. We have been evaluating the autonomic nervous system for that purpose. Recently, fluctuations in hemodynamic parameters including heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated by means of spectral analysis and nonlinear mathematical analysis. Respiratory wavers in HRV were thought to reflect ongoing information of the parasympathetic nerve activity. Is it true? In order to confirm this hypothesis, we recorded vagal nerve activity directly in the chronic animal experiments. Six healthy adult goats were anesthetized with Halothene inhalation and thoracotomy were performed by the fourth lib resection during mechanical ventilation. Arterial blood pressure, right and left atrial pressures were continuously monitored with the catheter insertion. Cardiac output was measured by the electromagnetic flowmeter attached to the ascending aorta. After the chest was closed, incision was made to the left neck and left vagal nerve was separated. Stainless steel electrodes were inserted into the vagal nerve and fixed by the plasticizer. After the incision was closed, the goats were transferred to the cage and extubated after waking. Hemodynamic parameters and vagal nerve activity were measured in the awake condition. The results showed that clear observation of the autonomic nerve discharges were embodied by this experimental system. The vagal nerve discharges were synchronized with heart beat and respiration. The vagal nerve tonus was significantly influenced by the hemodynamic alteration. However in some condition, the respiratory wave was not always consistent with tonus of the vagal nerve activity, thus suggesting that we should check another information to evaluate the parasympathetic tone. We must continue this study to evaluate an autonomic nerve during artificial heart circulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Risk factor of liver disorders caused by flutamide--statistical analysis using multivariate logistic regression analysis].

The antiandrogenic drug, flutamide (Odyne), is widely used in the treatment of carcinoma of prostate. It is well known that flutamide has adverse effects of liver disorders. To ascertain the risk of liver disorders before administering this drug, past history and lifestyle preferences were resurveyed in 123 patients who had been treated with flutamide. The results obtained were assessed in relation to the occurrence of liver disorders by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The incidence of liver disorders was 26% (33/123), with 64% of the disorders occurring within 9 months. The chi-square test for dependent variables revealed that three variables, i.e., body mass index, past history of liver disorders and elevated glutamic-pyruvic transaminase levels were significantly related to the incidence of liver disorders (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that a history of liver disorders and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were related to a higher incidence of liver disorders. Elevated ALT levels were associated with a higher incidence of liver disorders and smoking was related to a lower incidence of the liver disorders.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1999

Distribution and intracellular localization of a mouse homologue of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ibeta2 in the nervous system.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) are believed to play important roles in the development and function of the nervous system. We report here the identification and expression of mouse CaMKIbeta (mCaMKIbeta), in particular mCaMKIbeta2, an isoform of mCaMKIbeta. During embryogenesis, the mCaMKIbeta2 gene is expressed mainly in the nervous system, including brain, spinal cord, trigeminal ganglion, and retina. Within the CNS, the expression of mCaMKIbeta2 is detected in the mantle zone, but not in the ventricular zone, suggesting its possible involvement in the differentiation of neurons. In the adult brain, mCaMKIbeta2 transcripts are detected at high levels in the anterior olfactory nuclei, piriform cortex, septal nuclei, bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, hippocampal pyramidal cells, dentate granule cells, amygdala, hypothalamic nuclei, parabrachial nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. The distinct gene expression pattern suggests that mCaMKIbeta2 may also be involved in different mature neuronal functions from other CaMKs. In addition, mCaMKI/beta2 proteins are localized to the cytoplasm and nuclei, but not to nucleoli, suggesting that mCaMKIbeta2 proteins might be involved in the cytoplasmic and nuclear signal transduction of the nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗