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Biomedical subjects

M Ikeda

Publications and source records attributed to M Ikeda.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Significance of proneural basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors in neuroendocrine differentiation of fetal lung epithelial cells and lung carcinoma cells.

In this brief review article, we describe how cell fate determination by which the airway epithelial cells become neuroendocrine or non-neuroendocrine is regulated by a network of basic helix-loop-helix transcription (bHLH) factors in a similar manner to neuronal differentiation, and how this system could work to determine cell differentiation of human lung carcinomas. Immunohistochemical studies reveal that mammalina achaete-scute complex homologue (Mash)1 is expressed in pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNEC), while hairy and Enhancer of split (Hes)1 is expressed in pulmonary non-neuroendocrine cells (non-PNEC). Studies using gene-deficient mice for the bHLH factors revealed that in Mash1 homozygous null mice no PNEC are detected, while PNEC increase markedly in Hes1 homozygous null mice. These observations suggest that Mash1 is an essential positive factor for neuroendocrine differentiation of lung epithelium, and that Hes1 is one of the repressive factors for neuroendocrine differentiation. Moreover, immunohistochemical studies revealed that Notch receptors are detected in non-PNEC, and thus the Notch signalling pathway could play a role in the determination of airway epithelial cell differentiation. In human lung carcinomas, a similar bHLH network should operate to determine cell differentiation phenotypes. Generally, expression of the human homologue of Mash1 (HASH1) is detected in small cell carcinoma and carcinoids, while Hes1 seems to be expressed mainly in non-small cell carcinoma. Thus, proneuronal bHLH factors may play roles in cell fate determination of the airway epithelial system, and may regulate human airway epithelial cells in diseased conditions.

Animals↗

Estimation of nutrient intake by the new version of Japanese food composition tables in comparison with that by the previous version.

This study was initiated to examine if the revision of the food composition tables from the 4th version to the 5th version has induced any substantial changes in nutrient intake estimation, and if so, in which nutrient item and to what extent. For this purpose, 24-hour duplicates of food samples were collected in 1996 to 1998 from 71 girl university students, together with food menus of the day. The nutrients in the duplicates were estimated by use of the 4th and the 5th version food composition tables in parallel, with supplements of other databases. The results of the estimation with the two databases were compared by Student's paired t-test. Compared with the results with the 4th version, the estimation utilizing the 5th version gave 3 to 8% increases in intakes of major nutrients including energy (except for protein), a 20% increase in vitamin A, and decreases in iron (-13%) and NaCl (-3%), whereas there were only small or essentially no changes in other minerals and vitamins. The largest increment in energy through the re-calculation came from the cereals (especially rice), and it was meats for the increment in lipid intake. The increment in vitamin A with the 5th version is primarily due to the re-evaluation of fruits and vegetables. The present observation suggests that care should be practiced in examining secular trends in nutrition when the basis of estimation is shifted from one database of the 4th version of food composition tables to another of the 5th version. Further study of a larger scale is apparently warranted to confirm the conclusions.

Adult↗

Myelodysplasia associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Two cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with myelodysplasia are presented. Case 1 was admitted because of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Mild anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypersegmented neutrophils were observed. After the administration of trimethoprim-sulfame-thoxazole and antiretroviral therapy, pancytopenia progressed. Bone marrow (BM) showed dysplastic hematopoiesis, suggesting human immunodeficiency virus-myelopathy. Case 2 was hospitalized due to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. BM specimen obtained for thrombocytopenia showed myelodysplasia similar to myelodysplastic syndrome, suggesting that HIV may have an influence on hematopoietic progenitor cells.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

The effects of the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A on B cell function.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects B-lymphocytes circulating through the oral epithelium and establishes a lifelong latent infection in a subset of mature-memory B cells. In these latently infected B cells, EBV exhibits limited gene expression with the latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) being the most consistently detected transcript. This persistent expression, coupled with many studies ofthe function of LMP2A in vitro and invivo, indicates that LMP2A is functioning to control some aspect of viral latency. Establishment and maintenance of viral latency requires exquisite manipulation of normal B cell signaling and function. LMP2A is capable of blocking normal B cell signal transduction in vitro, suggesting that LMP2A may act to regulate lytic activation from latency in vivo. Furthermore, LMP2A is capable of providing B cells with survival signals in the absence of normal BCR signaling. These data show that LMP2A may help EBV-infected cells to persist in vivo. This review discusses the advances that have been made in our understanding of LMP2A and the effects it has on B cell development, activation, and viral latency.

Animals↗

[Secretion and dynamics of herpes simplex virus in tear and saliva of patients with Bell's palsy].

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) involvement has been clarified as the cause of Bell's palsy by molecular biological techniques. To clarify the direct relationship between virus reactivation and paralysis development, both detection of the virus genome by DNA-diagnostic and quantitative analysis of its time-course change are needed. Using polimerase chain reaction (PCR) method and microplate-hybridization combined, we detected the virus genome in small amount of specimens from patients with Bell's palsy, quantified its number of copies, and examined time-course changes. We attempted to type of HSV in positive specimens. Subjects were 16 patients with Bell's palsy positive for serum anti-HSV IgG antibody (enzyme immunoassay) who visited the outpatient clinic of Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Itabashi Hospital, Nihon University School of Medicine, within 14 days after onset without having any treatment. Tears and saliva from the parotid gland and the submaxillary gland were separately collected from the affected side and healthy side twice or more. A total of 244 specimens was subjected to DNA extraction, PCR, and microplate-hybridization, and HSV DNA was detected in 38 specimens (11.8%) from 5 patients (31%). From sampling time, the highest detection (28.5%) was obtained within 2 weeks after onset. Detection at 3 weeks and later (2.8%) was significantly lower (p < 0.05). DNA was also found on the healthy side, but in comparison between sides, detection on the healthy side (18.9%) was significantly lower than that on the affected side (83.8%) (p < 0.01). In quantitative determination of the virus genome, the amount (number of copies) was large on the affected side and largest early after onset regardless of the clinical course. Positive specimens underwent HSV-typing, and HSV-1 was found in all of them, suggesting that HSV-1 reactivation is a cause of Bell's palsy.

Adolescent↗

[Anthropometric study on normal human auricle in Japan].

OBJECTIVE: Japanese people are physically larger and live longer than in the past. In light of these changes, we studied anthropometric auricular morphology in Japanese people in all age groups. METHODS: Subjects were 1,958 healthy Japanese people with no ear disease, 966 males aged 0-94 years and 992 females aged 0-99 years. They were classified at 5-year intervals into 18 age groups, and each group consisted of 50-72 persons. Bilateral size of auricles (ear length, ear width, length of ear attachment, auricular cartilage length, and auricular lobe length) were measured in the usual manner. All measurements were made with calipers by a single observer. RESULTS: Larger values were obtained in males than in females in almost all age groups. Rapid growth was observed until late teenage, and significant growth continued thereafter until advanced age. Auricular size was found to be greater than that in Japanese people in the past. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to changes in auricular size believed attributable to growth until late teenage, age-associated changes appear to continue during adulthood.

Adolescent↗

[Facial paralysis evaluations using the Yanagihara method, the House-Brackmann method, and self-evaluation by patients].

The Yanagihara method and the House-Brackmann (H-B) method are widely used in Japan to evaluate facial paralysis. The present study focuses on the relationship between the evaluation of facial paralysis using these methods and self-evaluation by patients. One-hundred and thirty-one patients with facial paralysis were included in the study, consisting of 68 males and 63 females between the ages of 17 and 84 years (mean age: 41 +/- 18 years). In addition to the Yanagihara and H-B methods, two methods of self-evaluation were used by the patients. In the first self-evaluation method, the patient was asked to rate the degree of paralysis as a grade of one to six. In the second method, the patient was asked to rate the severity of the paralysis on a scale of 0-100. The paralysis scores and grades determined using the Yanagihara and H-B methods were correlated with the self-evaluations. However, the strength of the correlation varied among the patients, indicating that the evaluation of subjective symptoms differed among individuals. Even patients who were evaluated as either "completely paralyzed" or "cured" according to the Yanagihara and H-B methods did not always rate their subjective symptoms as being consistent with these scores. In particular, 20 to 30% of patients who were evaluated as "cured" complained of minor dyskinesia.

Adolescent↗

[Evaluation of canal wall down tympanoplasty with canal reconstruction for draining ear with middle ear cholesteatoma].

OBJECTIVES: We studied the postoperative stability of canal wall down tympanoplasty with canal reconstruction for middle ear cholesteatoma with preoperative otorrhea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 155 ears with middle ear cholesteatoma treated with canal wall down tympanoplasty with canal reconstruction were evaluated retrospectively. A comparison was made between the group of 80 ears which showed otorrhea, preoperatively, and the group of 75 without preoperative otorrhea. Problems observed in the tympanic membrane or reconstructed external auditory canal were evaluated both at the postoperative initial stage and more than 1 year after surgery. Postoperative hearing prognosis was also studied. RESULTS: 1) In the postoperative initial stage, local infection and necrosis of materials for canal reconstruction were significantly more likely to be observed in ears with preoperative otorrhea. 2) In ears with postoperative local infection, necrosis of materials for canal reconstruction occurred more frequently, and the period until drying of the reconstructed external auditory canal was significantly extended. 3) No significant difference was seen in postoperative status of the tympanic membrane and reconstructed ear canal at least 1 year after surgery. 4) The presence of preoperative otorrhea had no influence on hearing prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: When canal wall down tympanoplasty with canal reconstruction is used for ears with preoperative otorrhea, careful attention should be paid to local treatment at the postoperative initial stage. However, no significant problem occurred in the outcome of preoperative ear draining at least 1 year after surgery.

Adolescent↗

[Expression of N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase (NDST) during early rat embryogenesis].

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are known to be required for embryonic growth, formation, and shaping of many tissues and organs during embryogenesis. Biochemical studies have indicated that heparan sulfate proteoglycans, which are present on most cell surfaces and in extracellular matrices, play essential roles in FGF binding to its receptors and subsequent signal transduction. N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferases (NDSTs), which catalyze the first modifying step in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate, are essential enzymes for the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate. The critical roles of heparan sulfate proteoglycan in developmental processes and specific signaling pathways have been illustrated by the identification of mutations in enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate in Drosophila and mice. However, null mutation analyses of NDST-1 and NDST-2 have not clarified the embryonic regulation of morphogenesis by NDSTs. In the present study, we examined the temporal and spatial expression of NDST-1, and the temporal expression of NDST-2, in early rat embryogenesis, to investigate the role of NDSTs during embryogenesis. The expression pattern of rat NDST-1 appears to colocalize with certain FGFs and FGF receptors, suggesting possible roles of NDST in embryogenesis.

Amidohydrolases↗

Contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with helical computed tomographic findings.

We evaluated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and compared it with helical computed tomography. Forty-eight patients with 61 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions were scanned by contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging after an intravenous bolus injection of the contrast agent Levovist. Fifty-seven of the 61 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions showed hypervascular enhancement, and intratumoral vessels could be observed in 40 of the 57 lesions. Helical computed tomography revealed a high-attenuation area in 54 of the 61 lesions, whereas the other lesions showed an equivocal-attenuation area. Contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging is a useful method for diagnosing the vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult↗

[Two cases of alimentary tract perforation owing to ingested foreign bodies: diagnosis by CT].

We report the CT diagnosis of two cases of alimentary tract perforation caused by the ingestion of foreign bodies. The first case was a common fish bone perforation of the ileum with postoperative scar. The second case was a rare perforation caused by the impact of an uncooked rice cake on sigmoid colon diverticula. Helical CT scan clearly revealed the fish bone as a linear high-density area in the soft tissue between the right abdominal oblique muscles and ileum, and demonstrated the rice cake as high-density material in the bowel.

Colon, Sigmoid↗

[Present situation and problems in allergy testing in vitro].

The present situation and problems related to in vitro assays for measurement of specific immunoglobulin E(IgE) are described. A comparison of four commercially available assay kits(CAP, AlaSTAT, MAST and QAS) revealed that of the allergens studied, common ragweed, mugwort and fungus(aspergillus, candida and alternaria) showed low correlation coefficients. The precise reason for this discordance is not clear, however, we speculated that difference in the origin and extraction method of allergens may affect the correlation results. Random between-the-lot-difference was noted: the results for egg white and milk in QAS showed differences of two classes, although the total imprecision expressed in CV(%) was less than 12% when only a single lot was tested. These results suggest that the specific IgE assay may need an improvement in reagents(approval of standard materials and establishment of standard procedures for allergen extraction) and careful daily quality control by the user.

Allergens↗

[Treatment with stellate ganglion block, continuous epidural block and ulnar nerve block of a patient with postherpetic neuralgia who developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)].

We present a case of a 46-year-old female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed herpes zoster of the right eighth cervical nerve. Her whole right forearm, hand and the first through fifth fingers were coated with some gel and protected against pain. She had been suffering from continuous and spasmodic burning pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, drop in skin temperature, sudmotor disturbance, edema, constructure of the joints, muscle atrophy and bone atrophy of her right upper extremity probably due to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). She received right stellate ganglion block (SGB), continuous cervical epidural block and right ulnar nerve block. Reduction of pain and edema as well as improvement in mobility of each joint of her right upper extremity was observed. We suspect that SGB, continuous cervical epidural block and ulnar nerve block are effective and useful alternative treatments in a patient with PHN associated with CRPS of the eighth cervical nerve.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

[Usefulness of epidural infusion of ketamine for relief of localized superficial pain].

Three patients with localized superficial pain had their pain alleviated by single epidural infusion with low dose ketamine. The patients are as follows: a 62-year-old female with herpetic neuralgia on her right sixth thoracic nerve area; a 52-year-old male whose left shoulder, anterior chest and abdomen had been burned by acetylene gas; and a 49-year-old male whose bilateral hands suffering from frostbite by propane gas. Epidural tube insertion to administer a single dose of 10 mg ketamine with lidocaine or bupibacaine was performed in all the three patients. They were administered single epidural infusion of 10 mg ketamine with lidocaine or bupibacaine everyday and they continued to receive epidural block with lidocaine or bupivacaine including buprenorphine or morphine. Therefore, we suspect that single epidural infusion of ketamine, an antagonist for N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor, could be an effective and useful alternative treatment in patients with various refractory localized superficial pain of either acute or chronic nature.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

[Detection of underlying causes of death among the deceased of Yusho patients by linkage to the national vital statistics data].

As of January 31, 1996, 292 deaths among registered patients of Yusho were identified by three follow-up studies conducted in 1986, 1990, and 1996. In this study, we attempted to identify underlying causes of death by linkage of the registered data to the National Vital Statistics Data provided by the Management and Coordination Agency of Japan, which included 15 million deaths between 1978 and 1996. The two datasets were linked by matching for six variables; birth year/month/day, death year/month, and sex, along with a variable of death day or death place, or both. The matched cases were 203 among 235 deaths between 1978 and 1996 (matching rate was 86%). Among the 203 deaths, 58 underlying causes of death were newly identified, 146 causes of death were already grasped by the follow-up studies, and 31 deaths did not have matching pair in the National Vital Statistics data. Among the 146 deaths, 110 causes of death were concordant with each other, however, 35 causes of death were completely discord. The reason of the discordance and the unmatched deaths might be due to difference in information of the matching variables in the two datasets. In order to conduct an efficient follow-up study of Yusho patients, identification of underlying causes of death by linkage to the National Vital Statistics Date is evitable. For that, we need to substitute basic information in the Yusho database to those compatible to the National civil registration system.

Cause of Death↗

[Examination on efficacy and safety of concurrent use of ondansetron hydrochloride and steroid in lung cancer patients on cisplatin].

The anti-emetic effect and safety in patients receiving ondansetron hydrochloride (OND group) and concurrent use of ondansetron and dexamethasone (DEX group) in cases of acute and delayed onset emesis induced by a single high dose of cisplatin, given as a chemotherapy to lung cancer patients, were comparatively studied. The study subjects were 78 lung cancer patients. The OND group received 4 mg of ondansetron via slow intravenous injection on Day 1, 30 minutes prior to cisplatin, and for Days 2 to 5, the subjects orally received 4 mg ondansetron tablet each day. The DEX group received the same dose regimen of ondansetron as the OND group for Days 1-5, but in addition the subjects received dexamethasone injection in doses of 8 mg twice daily on Day 1 and 4 mg (1 mg QID) daily for Days 2-5. An anti-emetic effect against acute nausea and vomiting was achieved in 83.8% of the OND group and in a higher rate of 94.6% of the DEX group. Significantly better efficacy was seen in the DEX group as to the complete suppression rate of nausea and vomiting and the improvement of food intake. The group also achieved better efficacy in delayed onset of emesis. Two cases of adverse reactions (hiccups and elevation of ALT and BUN) were observed in the DEX group; however, since the symptoms were all mild, we did not consider there was any problem in safety. We conclude from the above findings that concurrent administration of ondansetron hydrochloride and dexamethasone is a clinically useful treatment for acute and delayed onset emesis induced by a single high dose of cisplatin given to lung cancer patients.

Aged↗