Influence of diltiazem on the pharmacokinetics of amlodipine in elderly hypertensive patients.
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
M Sasaki
Publications and source records attributed to M Sasaki.
Disorganised unilateral cerebellar folia: a mild form of cerebellar cortical dysplasia?
We describe MRI findings in two patients with disorganised foliation of one cerebellar hemisphere, with folia running vertically rather than horizontally. The thickness of individual folia and corticomedullary interdigitations were normal. These patients have no cerebellar neurological deficit. This rare abnormality is probably a maldevelopment of the hemispheric part of the posterior lobe of the developing cerebellum, and no clinical significance can be elicited.
Adult↗
The circuit of Papez in mesial temporal sclerosis: MRI.
We looked at abnormalities in the circuit of Papez in patients with the mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). We reviewed the MRI studies of 15 patients with probable MTS, seeking changes in the fornix, mamillary body, mamillothalamic tract, thalamus and cingulate and parahippocampal gyri. We correlated any abnormalities with each other and with clinical severity. Atrophy and/or signal change in one or more structures in the circuit of Papez were found in five patients. They involved the parahippocampal gyri in all five, the fornices in four, mamillary bodies in three, the thalamus in two and the cingulate gyrus in one. Changes in the fornix, mamillary body, thalamus or cingulate gyrus were always accompanied by hippocampal and parahippocampal atrophy. The patients with abnormalities of the circuit of Papez did not have more severe epilepsy than those without. Changes in the parahippocampal gyrus, including the entorhinal cortex and subiculum, in which forniceal fibres originate, may be crucial in causing abnormalities more distally in the circuit.
Adolescent↗
Medium-chain triglyceride-rich enteral nutrition is more effective than low-fat enteral nutrition in rat colitis, but is equal in enteritis.
BACKGROUND: Although enteral nutrition (EN) therapy for Crohn's disease has been confirmed to be as effective as steroid therapy, the precise mechanism responsible for the effects of EN remains unclear, although some of the therapeutic effects of EN are believed to be due to a low dietary fat content. In order to elucidate the influence of fat in EN, it is important to investigate not only the quantity of fat, but also the source of the fat. METHODS: We compared two enteral nutritional formulae: Elental (Ajinomoto) (elemental diet; ED), which contains only 1.5% fat, provided as long-chain triglycerides (LCT), versus Twinline (Snow Brand Milk Products) (TL), which contains a high percentage of fat (20.4%), provided mainly as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). These formulae were tested on rat enteritis and rat colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). RESULTS: Both ED and TL reduced the manifestations of enteritis. TL had a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than ED for colitis. TL also had nutritional advantages as compared with ED, as shown by the total serum protein in the TL group being significantly higher than that in the ED group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that intraluminal MCT is suitable as a fat energy source during intestinal inflammation in rats. We suggest that Twinline may be more useful to improve nutritional status and to reduce the mucosal inflammation in rat colitis, but that Twinline is equal in effect to Elental for rat enteritis.
Animals↗
Autoantibody to gravin is expressed more strongly in younger and nonthymomatous patients with myasthenia gravis.
Gravin is expressed in several cell and tissue types as either 300 kDa doublet or 250 kDa proteolytic products. It is a cytoplasmic antigen that reacts with the serum of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Autoantibodies to gravin residues 1477-1781 are highly specific for MG. In the present study, we examined residues 1477-1781 in detail and found that residues 1542-1547 of gravin protein, which had sequence homology with the binding sequences of two protein A-kinase anchoring proteins, were highly reactive to MG serum. Antigravin antibody activities were stronger in younger and nonthymomatous patients. These findings suggest that antigravin antibody activities could be a useful prognostic factor and that the gravin antibody of MG may have a function which prevents the protein A-kinase binding pathway.
A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗
Expression of the prothymosin-a gene as a prognostic factor in lung cancer.
Prothymosin-alpha (PTalpha) is known to play a role in cell proliferation, and the PTalpha mRNA level may reflect the degree of proliferation of tumor cells. It has been reported that PTalpha mRNA levels are higher in human colon and liver cancer tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues. We examined the mRNA levels of PTalpha and c-myc in 20 lung cancers, using Bas 2500Mac systems. The PTalpha and c-myc mRNA levels in lung cancer tissues were higher than those in normal lung tissues; however, the PTalpha mRNA levels did not correlate with the stage or pathological subtype of the lung cancer and there was no correlation between the expression of PTalpha and c-myc. PTalpha mRNA overexpression in lung cancer was correlated with a poor prognosis.
Aged↗
Diagnosis of Alexander disease in a Japanese patient by molecular genetic analysis.
Alexander disease is a leukodystrophy that is neuropathologically characterized by the presence of numerous Rosenthal fibers in astrocytes. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were identified in patients with Alexander disease. We sequenced the GFAP gene of a Japanese girl who presented with typical symptoms of Alexander disease but in whom the diagnosis was not proven by histopathology. We identified a missense mutation, R239C, which is identical to the mutation previously reported to be most frequent. As was the case in previously described patients, our patient was also heterozygous for the de novo mutation. Interestingly, despite the fact that this is a de novo mutation, R239C was found to be common in different ethnic groups, implying that the site is a "hot spot" for mutagenesis. Molecular genetic analysis now makes the antemortem diagnosis of Alexander disease possible.
Brain↗
Relapse patterns of localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck after clinical remission: results of a strict follow-up procedure.
BACKGROUND: No effective follow-up strategy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has been identified to date. The aim of this study was to assess the value of a strict follow-up procedure in patients with NHL after they showed clinical remission. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one patients with localized NHL of the head and neck who had achieved clinical remission after radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy were followed with a strict follow-up strategy (consisting of a schedule of frequent office visits, imaging studies, and blood tests, even if the patient was asymptomatic). RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients relapsed after remission. Twenty-two (56.4%) of the relapses were associated with symptoms. In the 17 patients with asymptomatic relapses (43.6%), an abnormal physical examination result initially indicated relapse in 10 patients. The other tests that initially indicated relapse included scheduled computed tomography scans (3 patients), scheduled gallium scans (2 patients), and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels (2 patients). According to the Ann Arbor stage at relapse, 72.7% of the patients with symptomatic relapses were stage III or IV, while 70.6% of the patients with asymptomatic relapses were stage I or II. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a strict follow-up procedure is effective in detecting asymptomatic relapses, which generally involve a smaller tumor load than symptomatic relapses.
Adult↗
Inhibitory effect of losartan on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in rats.
PURPOSE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of losartan, an angiotensin receptor antagonist, on angiogenesis in a rat model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. METHODS: Experimental study. Fifteen Brown-Norway male rats received losartan (approximately 5 mg/kg/d) in drinking water, and 15 Brown-Norway male rats received unsupplemented drinking water 1 week before photocoagulation, and it was continued to the end of the study. Two weeks after intense laser photocoagulation, choroidal neovascularization was evaluated by fluorescein angiography and histopathologic evaluation. RESULTS: The incidence of choroidal neovascularization formation was 99.5 +/-.2% (mean +/- standard deviation) in controls and 72.5 +/- 8.8% in losartan-treated rats (P <.01). Quantitative morphometric assessment revealed mean choroidal neovascularization lesion thickness of 54 and 44.8 microm, respectively, in controls and losartan-treated rats (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Losartan seems to inhibit development of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. Angiotensin receptor antagonists may be useful as prophylaxis against choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗
Development and clinical application of an immunoassay using intact Helicobacter pylori attached to a solid phase as an antigen.
OBJECTIVE: At present, H. pylori homogenates, extracts and recombinant proteins are used as antigens in immunoassays, but significant false positive and negative results are obtained. We attempted to develop an ELISA system using immobilized whole intact H. pylori cells as a solid phase antigen (WIC-ELISA) which specifically recognizes surface antigens. METHODS: Intact H. pylori cells were immobilized on ELISA plates by centrifugation (150 g for 10 min). HRP-labeled antihuman IgG was used as the second antibody. H. pylori-infections were investigated with WIC-ELISA and a conventional method in which H. pylori-extracts were used as antigen in 117 patients. RESULTS: WIC-ELISA showed better characteristics than conventional ELISA in regards to sensitivity (98.9 vs. 90.4%), specificity (95.7 vs. 95.7%), positive predictive value (98.9 vs. 98.8%), negative predictive value (95.7 vs. 71.0%) and accuracy (98.3 vs. 91.5%). CONCLUSIONS: WIC-ELISA is useful for quantification of antibodies against H. pylori surface antigens and as a clinical screening test.
Adolescent↗
Senescent cells are resistant to death despite low Bcl-2 level.
Cellular senescence may be an antioncogenic event. Bcl-2 is a product of the oncogene, bcl-2, but it may also participate in cellular senescence. To investigate the role of Bcl-2, we analyzed the level of Bcl-2 during aging of normal human fibroblasts by immunoblot analysis and found that its level was highly suppressed in four normal senescent fibroblast strains. This result suggests that senescent cells are more sensitive to induction of death than young cells. Nevertheless, senescent cells showed more resistance to death induced by hydrogen peroxide than young cells, according to LDH assay. Because the balance among antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins is an important factor for the determination of cell death, we examined levels of other Bcl-2 family and apoptosis-regulating proteins, but observed no reasonable change to explain the resistance. During the course of the death induction experiment, we obtained results showing that growth-arrested cells were also resistant to death, and this was further confirmed by a BrdU-labeling experiment. As senescent cells are stopped permanently in the G0/G1-phase of the cell cycle, our data strongly suggest that this is the cause of resistance to death in senescent cells.
Apoptosis↗
A severely brain-damaged case of 3-hydroxyisobutyric aciduria.
We report a male case of 3-hydroxyisobutyric aciduria (3HiB-uria) with severe brain damage. He had mild asphyxia at birth. He needed tube feeding for a month. He showed mild dysmorphic features, including low set ears, a long philtrum and micrognathia. At 4 months of age he had acute encephalopathy. Thereafter, severe brain damage remained and mechanical ventilation care was needed all day. After he had been admitted to our hospital at 3 years of age, repeated organic acid analysis of urine confirmed the diagnosis of 3HiB-uria. This patient had been previously diagnosed as having cerebral palsy and sequelae of acute encephalopathy.
Acidosis↗
Long-term effect of flunarizine on patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood in Japan.
To determine the effect of flunarizine therapy on patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), we sent a questionnaire by mail to council members of the Japanese Society of Child Neurology. We collected 28 AHC patients, and studied their clinical courses and the effects of drug therapy. All of the patients had received flunarizine. In 18 of the 28 patients, flunarizine reduced the severity, duration, or frequency of the hemiplegic attacks. No other drug was more effective than flunarizine. Some flunarizine non-effective patients were severely deteriorated, for example, they had dementia or were ventilator-assisted. Flunarizine had not only a short-term effect, i.e. it reduced the hemiplegic attacks, but also a long-term effect on the motor and intellectual development in some patients with AHC. Flunarizine is still an essential drug for treating AHC.
Adolescent↗
Neuropathology of early-infantile epileptic encephalopathy with suppression-bursts; comparison with those of early myoclonic encephalopathy and West syndrome.
For the critical lesions and pathomechanism of early-infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) with suppression-bursts, we investigated the brains of EIEE, early myoclonic encephalopathy (EME), and West syndrome (WS) patients using immunohistochemical technique and neuropathological examination. We could compare with the results of these diseases. The EIEE patients had the most severe lesions, which were in the putamen, thalamus, hippocampus as well as the tegmentum of the brainstem. Among the syndromes, EIEE brains showed the most expanded lesions. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunopositive cells and fibers were not demonstrated in EIEE, but were detected in WS. Reduced tyrosine hydroxylase immunoexpression in the EIEE brains was in the putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra. Tryptophan hydroxylase immunoreactivity was reduced in the three epileptic syndromes, but especially in EIEE. Reduced expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase may demonstrate dysfunction of the catecholaminergic and serotonergic neurons. From this study, the lesions in EIEE were widespread, including in the lower brainstem and cerebellum, compared with in EME and WS. Dysfunction of the catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems could be suggested. These characteristic changes may lead to the pathophysiology of EIEE.
Atrophy↗
Mechanical ventilation care in severe childhood neurological disorders.
Forty-five patients underwent long-term life-sustaining mechanical ventilation care in the Child Neurology Ward, National Center Hospital for Mental, Nervous and Muscular Disorders from 1990 to 2000. Twenty patients had chronic respiratory insufficiency due to neuromuscular disorders, nine of whom underwent home mechanical ventilation care. Nineteen of the 45 patients had chronic respiratory insufficiency due to progressive central nervous system disorders, three of whom underwent home mechanical ventilation care. Six patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency due to the sequelae of transient events were on ventilation, two of whom underwent home mechanical ventilation care. In some patients, especially ones with neuromuscular disorders, mechanical ventilation care is very useful for improving their daily activity and quality of life. In other patients, however, mechanical ventilation care is merely a means of prolonging life without visible improvement of their quality of life. As medical resources are limited, home mechanical ventilation care is a recommended method for patients who need life-sustaining mechanical ventilation care. Considering an individual or social consensus, the indication of long-term life-sustaining mechanical ventilation care for chronic respiratory insufficiency due to severe childhood neurological disorders should be further discussed.
Adolescent↗
Musculoskeletal system of the neck of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Malayan bear (Helarctos malayanus).
The gross anatomical study was undertaken in the musculoskeletal system of the neck of the polar bear, and the findings were compared with those of the Malayan bear. The Musculus splenius and the M. trapezius were well-developed in the polar bear. The long neck of the polar bear consisted mainly of the M. splenius with the M. biventer cervicis and the M. complexus lying tightly underneath. The cervical vertebrae possessed huge ventral tubercle in the ventral part of the transverse process in the polar bear. These morphological characteristics suggest that the polar bear may rotate and bend the skull and the long cervical vertebrae. We postulate that the polar bear has evolved the high-mobility long neck to adapt for swimming. Unlike the polar bear, the Malayan bear has not specialized in the neck structure.
Animals↗
Radial sesamoid bone as a part of the manipulation system in the lesser panda (Ailurus fulgens).
The well-developed radial sesamoid bone presented a rod-like shape in the lesser panda. It could be separated into two components: (1) an ulnar cartilaginous, (2) a radial osseous part. The radial sesamoid bone was connected with four elements as follows: (1) the tendon of the M. abductor pollicis longus, (2) M. abductor pollicis brevis and M. opponens pollicis, (3) Aponeurosis palmaris, and (4) Flexor retinaculum. The bone made no articulation with the first metacarpal. The movement of the radial sesamoid bone may be controlled by the connecting muscles and muscle-related structures. It is suggested that the bone acts as a supporting ridge in the gripping action in the lesser panda. However, we suggest that the grasping mechanism is obviously different from that of the giant panda, in which the radial sesamoid bone is connected strongly with the first metacarpal.
Animals↗
Neutral liposome-mediated delivery process of fluorescein-modified oligonucleotides in cultured human keratinocytes.
We propose a model of the intracellular delivery process in which fluorescein-labeled natural oligonucleotides (F-DNA) are transferred into the nuclei of cultured human keratinocytes. By encapsulation in neutral multilamellar lecithin liposomes, the F-DNA appeared to be protected against intracellular interactions with cellular materials and nuclease attacks in the cytoplasm during the process. The intracellular behavior of F-DNA and fluorescent phospholipid-labeled liposomes was observed by means of fluorescence analysis. Results showed that: F-DNA encapsulated in neutral multilamellar liposomes reached the cellular nuclei more efficiently than either free F-DNA, or F-DNA in unilamellar liposomes; the liposomal membranes appeared to be left in the cytoplasm. The reaction of F-DNA with complementary DNA was suggested by a rapid quenching of the fluorescence in the nucleus. In addition, the fluorescence decrease was evidently suppressed in the cytoplasm, indicating a protective effect of the neutral multilamellar liposomes against the interaction of F-DNA with cytoplasmic materials. The application of these findings to 'photo'-antisense studies has been discussed, where suppression of a gene expression is attempted by using oligonucleotide-attached fluorescein with the aid of a photo-induced covalent binding property.
Binding Sites↗