Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

M Horiguchi

Publications and source records attributed to M Horiguchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cortical defect of the distal fibula: variant of ossification.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the nature of a normally occurring cortical defect of the distal fibula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In patients with sprain and nonspecific ankle pain during a 2-year period, the authors reviewed ankle radiographs, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance (MR) images. Cases were added from our file. Dried skeletons and cadavers were evaluated with radiography for the presence of this cortical defect. RESULTS: Fifteen (1.8%) of 847 radiographs in 739 patients (male, 377; female, 362; age range, 15-84 years) showed a small cortical defect in the anterior aspect at the level of the distal tibiofibular joint. The age range of the subjects with the defect (male, four; female, 11) was 16-66 years. MR imaging in two patients showed a small low-signal-intensity area at the insertion site of the anterior tibiofibular ligament. Evaluation of 148 skeletons (75 subjects) revealed similar cortical defect in two cases (1.4%). CONCLUSION: The cortical defect of the distal fibula, at the insertion site of the anterior tibiofibular ligament, has no clinical significance and should not be confused with neoplasm.

Adolescent

A deletional frameshift mutation of the beta-spectrin gene associated with elliptocytosis in spectrin Tokyo (beta 220/216).

A novel spectrin variant carrying a truncated beta-chain and designated Spectrin Tokyo (beta 220/216) is presented. It was associated with elliptocytosis and moderate uncompensated hemolysis. The dimer self-association was reduced. An increase of the alpha I 74-Kd fragment was detected upon partial trypsin digestion. Analysis of cDNA and genomic DNA showed a 1-base deletion in codon 2059 (GCC AGC-->GCA GCT; Ala-Ser-->Ala-Ala) that belongs to exon X of spectrin beta-gene. A missense sequence extended down to (new) codon 2075. Serine 2060, a potential phosphorylation site, was replaced by alanine. The shortened beta-chain failed to undergo phosphorylation in vitro. Spectrin Tokyo shared the same stop codon, overlapping normal codons 2076 and 2077 (CTG AAA), as Spectrin Nice (beta 220/216), which is caused by a dinucleotide insertion in codon 2046 and contains 2076 amino acids. However, for some reason, Spectrin Tokyo had a lower incorporation level into the membrane than Spectrin Nice.

Base Sequence

L-tryptophan alleviates fatty liver and modifies hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase in laying hens.

1. Three experiments were conducted to study the effect of dietary L-tryptophan supplementation (250-1000 ppm) on lipid accumulation, an occurrence of hemorrhages and microsomal mixed function oxidase in the liver of laying hens. 2. Dietary L-tryptophan supplementation resulted in significant decreases in hepatic lipids, in particular triglyceride, and occurrence of hemorrhage in laying hens. 3. Hepatic lipid accumulation by estrogen injection in starved-refed growing chicks decreased as dietary tryptophan content increased. 4. Supplementation of L-tryptophan at 1000 mg/kg diet enhanced alanine aminotransferase activity in the hepatic tissue and at 500 mg/kg diet, increased cytochrome b5, a component of the mixed function oxidase, in the hepatic microsomes. 5. These results demonstrate that L-tryptophan alleviates fatty liver in laying hens and modifies microsomal mixed function oxidase in the liver.

Animals

Effect of an antithyroid agent (propylthiouracil) and L-ascorbic acid on mixed-function oxidase and drug metabolism in hepatic microsomes of chickens.

1. The experiments were undertaken to determine if an antithyroid agent (propylthiouracil, PTU) and/or ascorbic acid (AA) affect mixed-function oxidase (MFO) in hepatic microsomes of male broiler chicks. 2. Feeding PTU increased the MFO activity in a dose-related manner. Addition of AA to the PTU-containing diet further increased the content of cytochromes P-450 and b5, but not the activities of NADPH-cytochrome c and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, and the drug-metabolizing enzymes. 3. Supplemental AA induced cytochrome b5 rather than cytochrome P-450.

Animals

Decreased insulin-sensitive Ca2+ transport in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To investigate the role of insulin on Ca2+ regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in hypertension, the effect of insulin on Ca2+ transport and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in cultured VSMC from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Insulin produced a substantial increase in 45Ca uptake as well as [Ca2+]i in quiescent cultured VSMC. The stimulatory effects of insulin were completely inhibited by diltiazem, and partially by H-7, TMB-8, and 5-N,N(hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA), but not by W-7 or trifluoroperazine. Insulin-sensitive 45Ca uptake of SHR VSMC was significantly smaller than that of WKY VSMC. Insulin-sensitive increase in [Ca2+]i of SHR VSMC was also smaller than that of WKY VSMC. It is concluded that insulin increases 45Ca uptake, leading to an increase in [Ca2+]i, presumably through the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel, intracellular Ca2+ release, or protein kinase C mediated mechanisms in cultured VSMC. A blunted response of insulin-sensitive Ca2+ uptake and [Ca2+]i in SHR VSMC suggests the differential regulation of Ca2+ transport in response to insulin in primary hypertension.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine

Fundus albipunctatus associated with cone dystrophy.

We describe five unrelated patients in whom the typical signs of fundus albipunctatus were accompanied by colour vision defects, bull's eye or similar macular lesions, and severely diminished full-field cone electroretinograms indicating widespread damage to cones outside the macula. All patients had noticed night blindness from childhood. Signs of retinitis punctata albescens, a disease of similar appearance but with characteristics resembling retinitis pigmentosa, were absent. We cannot be sure whether these patients represent a process of fundus albipunctatus or a distinct disease entity or a casual combination of fundus albipunctatus and cone dystrophy.

Adult

Technical note: development of a duodenal cannula for sheep.

A single T-shaped duodenal cannula of silicone rubber with a gutter-type small inner flange was developed for sheep. The barrel of the cannula was 24 mm long with an internal diameter of 12 mm. A polyester surgical mesh (100 mm x 100 mm) was connected to the barrel of the cannula as an anchor. Fibrous tissues grew on the polyester mesh anchor and adhered firmly to the serosa of the intestine, thus leaving no gap and, hence, preventing any leakage of intestinal contents from the side of the fistula. The small (24 mm in diameter) and thin (3 mm in thickness) outer flange of the cannula became buried in the wool and prevented any mechanical disturbance of the cannula by the activity of the animal. The elasticity of the silicone rubber prevented distortion of the duodenum around the barrel of the cannula. No erosion of the tissue between the inner flange of the cannula and the mesh was seen in postmortem observations.

Animals

[A study on the communication between the pectoral nerve and the extramural nerve branches of the intercostal nerves].

Kumaki et al. (1979) defined the extramural nerve as the rudimentary sensory nerve which appeared on the upper thoracic wall; it branched off the root of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the second, third or fourth intercostal nerve, ran inferomedially adhering to the fascia of the intercostalis externus muscle and ended supplying the membrane covering the adjacent rib. They also stated that the extramural nerve (Rxm) occasionally became a cutaneous nerve which pierced the pectoralis muscles and supplied the skin covering the thoracic wall similar to the lateral cutaneous nerve (Rcl) or the anterior cutaneous nerve (Rca). Further, they proposed that the muscular nerves to the obliquus externus abdominis muscle which are usually situated below the fifth rib might be considered a part of this Rxm series. Although the definition of Rxm is still not widely accepted, Rxm is thought to be a key morphological factor influencing the variations of peripheral nerve arrangement on the thoracic wall. In the student course of gross anatomy dissection at Iwate Medical University School of Medicine during the years 1987-1991, three cases of Rxm communicating with the pectoral nerve and supplying the pectoralis major muscle were observed. Some cases have been reported in which Rcl innervates part of the pectoral muscles. However, the communication between the pectoral nerve and Rxm has not yet been discussed. Therefore, to clarify the morphological significance of the communication between Rxm and the pectoral nerve, the branching pattern and the distribution of the pectoral nerves were extensively investigated and the intramuscular nerve supply of some pectoral nerves, especially the pectoral nerves which communicated with Rxm, was examined in detail under a stereomicroscope. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In the first case, Rxm of the second intercostal nerve originated from Rcl, ran inferomedially adhering to the fascia of the intercostalis externus muscle and pierced the origin of the pectoralis minor muscle at the third intercostal space. Then Rxm turned superolaterally to communicate with a pectoral nerve which originated from the loop composed of the lateral and medial pectoral nerves and passed inferior to the pectoralis minor muscle. After communication, the pectoral nerve with Rxm supplied the caudalmost part of the sternocostal portion of the pectoralis major muscle. In the second case, a similar branch of Rxm of the second intercostal nerve passed inferior to the pectoralis minor muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged

[An aberrant muscular nerve to the latissimus dorsi muscle from the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm].

In the 1987 student course on gross anatomy dissection of cadavers at Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, an aberrant muscular nerve to the latissimus dorsi muscle arising from the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm was found bilaterally in a 65-year-old female who had died of acute pneumonia. The case was investigated anatomically. The posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm arose from the radial nerve approximately at the lateral axial border as the first branch independently on the right, and by forming a trunk with the nerve to the long head of the triceps brachii muscle on the left. The aberrant muscular nerve originated from the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm about 3 cm distally to the point of the branching of the cutaneous nerve from the radial nerve. This aberrant nerve entered the latissimus dorsi muscle near the transitional area from the muscular part to the tendinous part while dividing into three on the right, and without dividing on the left. The side into which the aberrant nerve entered was just the reverse of the side into which the thoracodorsal nerve and artery supplied. The muscular part innervated by the aberrant nerve was bounded by a tendinous intersection for the most part of the latissimus dorsi muscle innervated by the thoracodorsal nerve. The intramuscular nerve distribution of the aberrant nerve was investigated under a binocular dissecting microscope. It was revealed that there was no communication between the ramification of the aberrant nerve and that of the thoracodorsal nerve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

[Bilateral absence of the quadrangular space of the axilla].

In the 1988 student course on gross anatomy dissection of cadavers at Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, two cases of the absence of the quadrangular space of the axilla were found bilaterally in a 92-year-old female who had died of heart failure. The cases were investigated anatomically. The tendons of insertion of the latissimus dorsi and the teres major muscles and the tendon of origin of the long head of the triceps brachii muscle were united, forming a conjoint tendon that attached to the infraglenoid tubercle of the scapula and the lower part of the anatomical neck of the humerus adhering to the articular capsule of the shoulder joint. The subscapularis muscle was normal except that a muscular bundle arose from the conjoint tendon and inserted to the lesser tubercle of the humerus and the crest continuing down from the tubercle. A part of the conjoint tendon was covered by the insertion of the subscapularis muscle, and there was no space between the conjoint tendon and the insertion of the subscapularis muscle. The teres major muscle was poorly developed, but the area of origin was rather wide and arose from both the dorsal and costal surfaces of the scapula. The anatomical features of the latissimus dorsi and the long head of the triceps brachii muscles were normal except for the insertion of the former and the origin of the latter. The triangular space of the axilla was found to be surrounded by the conjoint tendon, teres major muscle, and the lateral border of the scapula covered by the subscapularis and the teres minor muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

[The innervation of deep muscles of the human forearm extensors].

The innervation of four deep muscles of the human forearm extensors (the abductor pollicis longus, the extensor pollicis brevis, the extensor pollicis longus, and the extensor indicis muscles) were investigated in 24 bodies (48 sides) from those used in the 1989 and 1990 student courses in gross anatomy dissection at the Iwate Medical University School of Medicine. The forearm extensor muscles and the deep branch of the radial nerve were dissected intensively in the student courses in gross anatomy and were removed afterwards. The four deep muscles of the human forearm extensors and the nerves innervating the muscles were observed while they were immersed in the water and with use of a stereomicroscope--with the assistance of which they were drawn. In six sides the intramuscular nerve supply was also examined carefully and drawn. The results were as follows. 1. The nerves to the four deep muscles of the forearm extensors arose usually from the deep branch of the radial nerve after emerging the supinator muscle and sending branches to superficial forearm extensors. In some cases a nerve or nerves to the superficial forearm extensors were observed arising from the deep branch of the radial nerve after sending one or more branches to the deep forearm extensor muscles, or from the branches to the deep muscles themselves. However they were split easily from the deep branch of the radial nerve and from the branches to the four deep forearm extensors proximally near to the emerging of the deep branch from the supinator muscle. Therefore, it was considered to be constant that the nerves to the four deep forearm extensors arose from the deep branch of the radial nerve after branching to the superficial forearm extensors. 2. The radial group of the deep forearm extensors (the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis muscles) was innervated usually by one branch that arose from the deep branch of the radial nerve just after emerging from the supinator and giving off branches to the superficial forearm extensors. This branch ran on the dorsal (extensor) surface of the abductor pollicis longus muscle distally, sending many twigs to this muscle, and entered into the muscle at various distances from the origin (Figs. 1-6). The abductor pollicis brevis muscle was innervated by some twigs that ran usually inside but occasionally outside of the abductor pollicis longus muscle (Figs. 7-10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Forearm

Growth and utilization of nutrients in newly-hatched chick with or without removal of residual yolk.

Two experiments were conducted to characterize the growth and utilization of nutrients in newly-hatched chicks, and to determine nutritional roles of residual yolk by comparing chicks with or without deutectomy (removal of residual yolk sac). Rapid growth during 14 days after hatch was shown in the fed chicks. Daily feed intake increased linearly for 15 days posthatch, resulting in a high efficiency (80%) of feed utilization. Residual yolk in the abdomen averaged 6.4 g at hatch and rapidly disappeared during the first 3 days. Posthatch starvation resulted in a decrease in carcass lipid content but did not modify the disappearance rate of yolk in the abdomen. Weight of the digestive tract per unit body weight increased markedly up to 3-7 days of age followed by a gradual decrease in the fed chicks. Metabolizability of dietary energy and absorption of dietary lipid were the highest at hatch, then declined to the lowest at day 5 or 6, and thereafter gradually increased. The deutectomy did not influence the metabolizability of dietary energy and lipid, and the carcass composition, but delayed the growth by 2 days behind the control chicks. These results indicate that the metabolism and nutrition of newly-hatched chicks markedly fluctuate and that the residual yolk has crucial roles in complementing the nutrients absorbed to assure their rapid growth posthatch.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

A greater stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by serum from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

In an attempt to delineate the differential characteristics of serum from hypertensives on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), we compare the effect of serum from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with that from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) in its ability to stimulate proliferation in VSMC. Cell number determination showed that 10% serum from either of the two strains substantially stimulated proliferation of serially passed cultured VSMC, the effect being significantly greater with SHR serum than with WKY serum. 3H-thymidine incorporation into newly synthetized DNA was also tested after treatment with 10% SHR or WKY serum. A substantial increase in the uptake was noted in response to the rat serum, the effect tending to be greater with SHR serum than with WKY serum. No difference was found between the two strains in cell size determined as intracellular water volume. These data provide the evidence of an increased growth stimulating activity of SHR serum. This abnormality may be superimposed on the already-known innate hyperproliferative capacity of VSMC of SHR, leading to an increase in the deterioration of vascular complications seen in this model.

Animals

Long-term exposure of Wistar rats to high dietary sodium chloride level. I. Changes in aortic connective tissue components.

The effect of chronic salt loading on aortic components of connective tissue was evaluated in normotensive Wistar rats maintained on a high sodium chloride (NaCl; 8%) regime for a period of 30, 90, 180 and 360 days. The blood pressure remained unchanged until 90 days and was significantly elevated thereafter. The high NaCl diet for 180 days influenced neither the serum levels of both total cholesterol and triglyceride nor the aortic contents of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) derived from the proteoglycans. The only significant change associated with a 360-day massive NaCl ingestion was the increased aortic concentration of total GAG due to an increase in chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate rather than hyaluronic acid. This study suggests that an increase in the contents of sulfated GAG occurred in the late stage of hypertensive aorta of NaCl loaded rats might be responsible, at least in part, for the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Animals

Long-term exposure of Wistar rats to high dietary sodium chloride level. II. Changes in hepatic drug-metabolizing and glutathione-related enzyme systems.

The effect of excess sodium chloride (NaCl) intake on hepatic drug-metabolizing and glutathione-related enzyme systems in rats was investigated for a period of 360 days. There was no change in any parameters studied until day 180 of the experiment. However, feeding of a 8% NaCl diet for 360 days produced a decrease in cytochrome P-450 content and an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity, and resulted in a lowered capacity of hepatic tissue to activate benzo[a]pyrene to mutagens detectable in the Ames bacterial mutagenesis assay. These observations suggest that although there may be little possibility of the involvement of high NaCl diet in the carcinogenic effects of benzo[a]pyrene, long-term excess NaCl intake could reduce the potential for detoxification of many xenobiotic compounds leading to various pathological process.

Animals

Batten disease--deteriorating course of ocular findings.

For over two years, we monitored the visual functions and ocular findings of two siblings with Batten disease. At the initial visit, the older patient was in the advanced stage of the disease, manifesting symptoms similar to those previously reported by many authors. The younger patient, on the other hand, was in the early stage of the disease at the time of the first visit. In the next 8 months, however, the visual acuity of the younger patient decreased rapidly, from 1.0 to below 0.1. Although the electroretinogram (ERG) showed a normal a-wave and a reduced b-wave when visual acuity was normal, repeated recordings of the ERG at each visit revealed rapid reduction of the b-wave. This finding seems to confirm the animal data, indicating that the primary lesion of the retina was in the inner layers. To our knowledge, this is the first report on these phenomena which may be unique to the deteriorating visual system in Batten disease and may facilitate early diagnosis.

Child

Electroretinographic monitoring of retinal function during eye surgery.

We performed a pilot study of electroretinographic monitoring of retinal function during eye surgery performed with local anesthesia. A contact lens with a built-in light-emitting diode was sterilized and used as both a stimulus source and a recording electrode for 30-Hz flicker electroretinograms. Each recording required 7 seconds, during which the operating light (but not the room light) was switched off. Electroretinograms recorded during surgery on 10 patients with minimal retinal abnormality were evaluated for the effects of light adaptation caused by regular exposure to an operating light source or operating microscope. The fluctuations of the amplitude and peak time were small, indicating that this technique can be used to monitor retinal function during eye surgery. Some results during retinal and vitreous surgeries are shown.

Contact Lenses