To better define the characteristic clinical features of benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis, recently recognized as a new entity in Japan, we reviewed all the 10 patients we have seen from 1992 to 1994. The clinical features have been previously reported in the literature to be afebrile generalized tonic-clonic seizures occurring between the first and the fifth sick day of mild gastroenteritis. In our series, four of 10 patients had convulsions before the onset of gastroenteritis. Overall, seizures were mostly brief and often repetitive occurring in cluster (19 seizures/10 episodes). Among these, a prolonged or partial seizure was frequently observed. In six of the 10 patients, the seizure type changed during an episode: from generalized to partial seizures (n = 2), from partial to generalized seizures (n = 2), or from partial to another type of partial seizures (n = 2). None in our series experienced a recurrence episode of afebrile convulsion during follow-up. These findings suggest that benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis exhibit some variations in their clinical manifestation.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro isolation and characterisation of a bovine Neospora species in Japan.

Eleven aborted bovine fetuses and five calves suspected as having neosporosis were necropsied and tissues from these animals were inoculated into bovine cardiopulmonary aortic endothelial cells and monkey kidney cells and maintained at 37 degrees C with 5 per cent CO2. Neospora tachyzoites were observed in one cell 49 days after inoculation. The isolated parasite (JPA1) was morphologically identical to the previously reported bovine Neospora species (BPA1) and confirmed by its strong antigenic reactivity with bovine control antisera to Neospora species and its lack of reactivity with Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis cruzi antisera. This is the first bovine Neospora species isolate in Asia and further studies with this isolate are now expected.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Paradoxical glucagon response in perifused islets of the diabetic Chinese hamster.

Dynamic insulin and glucagon response to glucose was examined in the perifusion system to investigate the relationship between pancreatic hormone content and the pattern of hormone secretion in diabetic Chinese hamsters of the Asahikawa colony (CHA). Isolated islets of normals and diabetics from the CHA were perifused. When the medium was changed to high glucose (500 mg/dl), a low insulin response and paradoxical glucagon response were seen in diabetics compared with normals. Positive correlations were found between pancreatic insulin and the amount of perifusate insulin, and glucagon content and glucagon release, respectively. It is suggested, accordingly, that pancreatic hormone content is related to the amount of hormone release in CHA. A negative correlation between the amount of perifusate insulin and glucagon release was found. It is suggested, therefore, that an impaired suppression of glucagon release in the diabetic CHA animals could be attributed at least to insulin deficiency. These findings agree with the histological discovery of decreased B-cells and increased A-cells in the diabetic islets. Both decreased B-cells and islet numbers could be the cause of the low insulin response to glucose. Increased numbers of A-cells with hyperfunction resulting from local insulin deficiency could be the cause of the paradoxical glucagon response.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Non-selective inhibition of insulin and glucagon release by xenogeneic islet cell surface antibodies.

The influence of xenogeneic islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) on the hormonal secretion of non-B islet cells has not been completely elucidated. Accordingly, we investigated the influence of xenogeneic antiserum on glucagon release from A cells, as representative of non-B islet cells, together with other characteristics of the antiserum. Anti-islet cell sera were produced in rabbits by xenogeneic immunization with dispersed hamster islet cells. Rabbit anti-hamster islet cell surface antibodies were detected both qualitatively by indirect immunofluorescence analyses and quantitatively by 125I-protein A radioligand assay. However, antiserum did not induce cell surface immunofluorescence on rat or mouse islet cells. As a result of evaluation of the specific cytotoxicity using 51Cr release assay, antiserum was observed to induce a significantly higher release of 51Cr compared with that of normal rabbit serum in complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. Both glucose-stimulated insulin and arginine-stimulated glucagon release were suppressed by xenogeneic antiserum not only in the presence but also in the absence of complement. It is concluded, therefore, that xenogeneic antiserum has a relative species specificity and non-selectively binds to islet cells in contrast with the non-species specificity and preferential binding to pancreatic B cells of human ICSA, although heterogeneity in ICSA-positive sera has been suggested.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolic and morphological changes of the heart in Chinese hamsters (CHAD strain) with spontaneous long-term diabetes.

We studied the effect of spontaneous long-term (9-10 months) diabetes on the heart of Chinese hamsters (CHAD strain) to elucidate the relationship between diabetes mellitus and cardiomyopathy. The diabetic hamsters, aged approximately 11 months, showed body weight loss, hyperglycemia (mean fasting plasma glucose 402 mg/dl), hypoinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia and ketonemia. The diabetic hamsters showed reduced activities of cytoplasmic glycolytic key enzymes; hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase, increases in cardiac glycogen and glucose-6-phosphate contents and a 40% decrease in cardiac ATP content, indicating decreased energy production. An accumulation of myocardial triglyceride and cholesterol was found in the diabetic hamsters. In addition, the cardiac norepinephrine content was increased in the diabetic hamsters, suggesting the presence of autonomic nervous disorder. Increased heart weight and thickening of the septum and both ventricular walls were found in the diabetic hamsters. Light-microscopic analysis revealed that 42.9% of the diabetic hamsters had myocardial degeneration without any vascular lesion of extramural large and intramural small vessels, whereas the non-diabetic controls had no myocardial or vascular lesions. These data suggest that the diabetic Chinese hamsters had cardiomyopathy, which is possibly caused by extravascular factors such as metabolic or autonomic nervous disorder although conclusive evidence is lacking.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasonographic measurement of humeral torsion.

This article presents a new method for the measurement of humeral torsion with the use of ultrasonography and discusses clinical applications of the method such as the evaluation of cubitus varus deformity after a supracondylar elbow fracture. Torsion angle increased 14 degrees from the time the patients were newborns to when they were adults. No significant difference was found between the right and left sides in healthy subjects. When humeral shaft or supracondylar fractures are treated, or when rotational deformities of the humerus are corrected, this method of measurement is very practical, because the humeral torsion of the unaffected side provides a standard for the individual. With this method of measuring humeral torsion, we also found that cubitus varus deformity after supracondylar fracture in children is caused not only by an increase in varus angulation but also by internal rotation of the distal fragment.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Three-dimensional molecular field analyses of octopaminergic agonists and antagonists for the locust neuronal octopamine receptor class 3.

The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of a set of 70 octopaminergic agonists and 20 antagonists against octopamine receptor class 3 (OAR3) in locust nervous tissue was analyzed by molecular field analysis (MFA). MFA of these compounds evaluated effectively the energy between a probe and a molecular model at a series of points defined by a rectangular grid. Contour surfaces for the molecular fields are presented. These results provide useful information in the characterization and differentiation of octopaminergic receptor types and subtypes.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A quantitative analysis of rat osteoporosis model with a microfocus X-ray tube and digital radiography system.

We have developed an X-ray magnification radiographic system incorporating a microfocus X-ray tube and an imaging plate in order to analyze the trabecular structure and mineral content of rat bone. Femoral bones of control, ovariectomy, and leuprorelin acetate depot rat groups were extracted and tested after the animals were sacrificed. Eleven water-equivalent phantoms, which contained hydroxyapatite at a density of 0 to 400 mg/cm3, were set around each femur and radiographed at the same time. The mean read-out signal intensity of the region of interest in the femur was converted to bone mineral density expressed in hydroxyapatite density through the use of a calibration curve relating the signal intensity to the hydroxyapatite density of the phantoms. The bone mineral density of the ovariectomy group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and no differences were found between the control and the leuprorelin acetate depot group. The present system is thought to be useful for quantitative evaluation of the mineral density of the rat femur.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Intravascular malignant lymphomatosis: an autopsy case with generalized telangiectasia and various neurological manifestations].

We report a 73-year-old woman with intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (IML) who showed generalized telangiectasia as well as various neurological symptoms. In July 1998, she developed fever, dizziness, and confusion followed by left hemiparesis, and was admitted to our hospital on August 11, 1998. Laboratory tests indicated a normochromic normocytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and cerebrospinal fluid protein. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed an infarct-like lesion in the left frontal lobe and multiple white matter lesions. After admission, her neurological status deteriorated and lapsed into coma and quadriplegia. At the end of September 1998, generalized telangiectasia appeared, and she was diagnosed as IML on skin biopsy. Although combination chemotherapy failed to improve her neurological symptoms, telangiectasia disappeared in a few days, and the infarct-like lesion on MRI decreased in size. Serum LDH, CRP, and thrombocyte counts were normalized. Autopsy findings revealed perivascular clustering of B cell type lymphoma cells in the left frontal lobe where abnormal signal intensity was found on MRI, as well as the spleen and the bone marrow. This case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in IML.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Renin content of kidneys in various types of experimental hypertension in rats.

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Adrenal Gland Diseases↗