Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Amino

Publications and source records attributed to N Amino.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Onset of Graves' thyrotoxicosis after an attack of allergic rhinitis.

We previously reported that allergic rhinitis was an aggravating factor for Graves' disease and that thyrotoxicosis relapsed 2 months after an allergic attack. In this paper, we report a patient who showed onset of Graves' thyrotoxicosis after an attack of allergic rhinitis. The patient, a 30-year-old woman, was initially diagnosed with subclinical autoimmune thyroiditis. Interestingly, the patient showed weak activity of thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb), while TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) was negative and her thyroid function tests, including TSH, were completely normal. The patient developed severe allergic rhinitis in response to Japanese cedar pollen lasting from February until April in 1995 with an increase in serum antigen-specific immunoglobulin E and peripheral blood eosinophils. Two months later, she developed thyrotoxicosis in association with increase in TSAb and TBII. These findings suggest that allergic rhinitis not only aggravates Graves' disease but also induces the clinical onset of Graves' thyrotoxicosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased expression of CD44 variants in differentiated thyroid cancers.

Expression of CD44 variants in thyroid tumors was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a fluorescent image analyzer. Increased expression of CD44 variants compared with normal thyroid tissues was observed in most thyroid follicular tumors, especially in follicular carcinomas, poorly differentiated papillary carcinomas and some follicular adenomas. However, variants were hardly detectable in an anaplastic carcinoma. Analysis with restriction enzymes revealed that the major PCR product, consisting of variant bands, was derived from CD44E. Therefore, the expression of CD44E may be associated with the proliferation of differentiated thyroid cells.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed1996

Changes in soluble CD4 and CD8 proteins in healthy pregnant and postpartum women.

PROBLEM: We examined physiological changes in serum levels of soluble CD4 (sCD4) and soluble CD8 (sCD8) during pregnancy and 1-12 months postpartum to study changes in the maternal immune system during and after pregnancy. METHOD: The serum concentrations of sCD4 and sCD8 were measured by enzyme immunoassay in the sera separated from blood samples withdrawn from healthy women in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy and 1, 4, 7, and 10-12 months postpartum (n = 182) and healthy non-pregnant women (n = 25), and in 90 of the women, the changes in sCD4 and sCD8 were compared with changes in the number of peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ cells measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The serum concentration of sCD4 decreased throughout pregnancy, from the first trimester, and recovered gradually after delivery. The serum concentration of sCD8 did not change significantly during or after pregnancy compared to the concentration in the non-pregnant controls, but the concentration 1 month postpartum was significantly higher than that in the 3rd trimester. The number of CD4+ and cd8+ cells decreased during pregnancy but did not change significantly after delivery. Interestingly, the ratio of the serum sCD4 level to the number of CD4+ cells decreased and the ratio of the sCD8 level to the number of CD8+ cells increased in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, but these ratios were within the normal range from the third trimester of pregnancy to 10-12 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in serum sCD4 concentration and in the ratio sCD4/CD4+ cells, and an increase in the ratio sCD8/CD8+ cells may be important factors in the immunological changes that occur during pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

TGF-beta 1 inhibits the cell proliferation stimulated by IGF-I by blocking the tyrosine phosphorylation of 175kDa substrate.

TGF-beta strongly inhibits the mitogenic effect of growth factors such as insulin-like growth-I (IGF-I) on thyroid follicular cells. To study the mechanism of this inhibiting action, the effect of TGF-beta 1 on tyrosine phosphorylation of 175kDa substrate induced by IGF-I was investigated in FRTL-5 thyroid epithelial cells. After treatment with TGF-beta 1, tyrosine phosphorylation of 175kDa protein induced by IGF-I was inhibited in parallel with the degree of the inhibition of cell proliferation. However, TGF-beta 1 had no effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of 120kDa substrate. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 blocks the mitogenic signal of IGF-I by inhibiting the tyrosine phosphorylation of 175kDa substrate in FRTL-5 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

New enzymatic assay for calcium in serum.

We established a simple and rapid kinetic assay for measurement of calcium in serum by using urea amidolyase (EC 3.5.1.45) from yeast species. The method is based on inhibition of the enzyme by calcium. In the assay, we eliminated endogenous ammonium ion by use of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH; EC 1.4.1.4); then in the presence of urea amidolyase, urea, ATP, bicarbonate, magnesium, and potassium ions, ammonium ion production was inversely proportional to calcium ion concentration in serum. The concentration of ammonium ion formed was determined by adding GLDH to produce NADP+ in the presence of 2-oxoglutarate and NADPH; we then monitored the change of absorbance at 340 nm. The within-run CVs of this method were 1.7-3.2% (n = 10) at 1.53-3.08 mmol/L, respectively. Day-to-day (total) CVs were 2.8-4.1%. Analytical recovery was 92-112%. The presence of other ions, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, bilirubin, hemoglobin, citrate, lipemic material, or human serum albumin did not affect this assay system. The correlation between values obtained with our method (y) and o-cresolphthalein complexone method (CPC) (x) was: y = 1.001x + 0.077 mmol/L (r = 0.949, Sy[symbol: see text]x = 0.079, n = 100); with the other enzymatic method (x) it was: y = 0.952x + 0.021 mmol/L (r = 0.955, Sy[symbol: see text]x = 0.074, n = 100). The SEs for each method were: 0.025 mmol/L, our method; 0.023 mmol/L, CPC method; and 0.025 mmol/L, the other enzymatic method.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

[Intra-individual and seasonal variations of thyroid function tests in healthy subjects].

We report intra-individual and seasonal variations of thyroid function tests in healthy subjects. Blood samples were obtained from thirteen healthy males and seven healthy females every two weeks over a period of one year, and totally 25 samplings of each were made. Serum thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were measured after the completion of the sampling. The 25 samples from each subject were always assayed with the same assay run. Variations of FT4 and FT3 in each subject were narrow and approximately one-third of normal reference ranges. The magnitude of individual variation of TSH values was proportional to the average of TSH in each individual. Serum TSH and FT3 values during winter were significantly higher than those during summer, but such change was not observed on serum FT4.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Discrepancy of platelet numbers between automated blood cell analysis and manual counting in the patients with thrombocytopenia].

Automated blood cell analyzer can measure the numbers of blood cell and a histogram patterns of WBC, RBC and Platelet (PLT), and calculate the blood cell indices (RDW, MPV, PDW, etc). It is important clinically in the patients with thrombocytopenia (below 10 x 10(4)/microliter) to measure correct platelet number. However platelet number with automated blood cell analyzer was influenced by the changes in erythrocyte morphology or various PLT conditions. We subclassified the patients with thrombocytopenia into 5 groups according to the histogram pattern of PLT, and compared platelet numbers among NE-8000 analysis (Sysmex), H*2 analysis (Bayer's) and manual method in each group. In the group of abnormal histogram pattern of PLT, platelet numbers obtained with NE-8000 or H*2 were significantly low comparing to manual numbers. About 70% of samples of which Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) was abnormal showed discrepant values between automated analysis and manual eye count. In conclusion, discrepant low platelet count would be obtained by automated analysis and therefore should be carefully interpreted in the patients with thrombocytopenia and abnormal platelet histogram pattern.

Automation↗
PubMed1996

[Experience with and prospects for emergency Ippan kensa (urinalysis, fecal tests and body fluid tests].

Ippan Kensa (defined as urinalysis, fecal tests, and tests of cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, ascites, and other body fluids) are done of fresh samples, as a rule, and such samples should be tested as soon as possible. Even for tests not ordered in an emergency, rapid results are desirable. In these two senses, all tests are somewhat urgent. Along with the rest of the hospital, our section moved into a new hospital complex in 1993, and that time, an order-entry and reporting system was implemented. Urinalysis was totally systematized from the start with two automated analyzers connected to an automated transportation system, and other tests were gradually automated and computerized. Time and labor were saved without decreased quality. Most routine tests are now done within 2.5 hours of sampling. Emergency tests are not handled by a special, formally established procedure in our laboratory, but at the request of a physician, any test can be done rapidly when necessary, because the system allows interruption at any time for testing of samples out of order. Our experience with this system suggests that automation and computerization are essential if emergency and urgent tests are to be done rapidly by a small staff. Further improvements in the high-quality automated analyzers already available, speeding results but allowing fewer false-positives and false-negatives can be expected.

Automation↗
PubMed1995

Study on an antibody against F1F2 fragment of human factor V in a patient with Hashimoto's disease and bullous pemphigoid.

We found a 81-year-old man with Hashimoto's disease and bullous pemphigoid whose activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were prolonged. Mixing studies with normal plasma failed to correct APTT and PT, suggesting the presence of circulating inhibitor. The patient's factor V activity was 11% of normal control and was not corrected by mixing with normal plasma, indicating the presence of an inhibitor against factor V. This inhibitory activity was observed up to 32 times dilution of the patient's plasma. The inhibitor activity against factor V was not detected in the fraction of the patient's plasma that passed through Protein A Sepharose, but detected in the elution with glycine-HCl buffer. Furthermore, using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting method, purified IgG from the patient's plasma reacted with a protein with molecular weight (74KD) equivalent to F1F2 of factor Va which was activated by thrombin. The inhibitory activity was associated with IgG4 subclass. These data indicate that the inhibitor was IgG antibody which inhibit F1F2 of factor V. Autoimmune mechanism was strongly suggested for the development of the antibody.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Thyroid stimulating hormone and N6-2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate decrease 110,000-130,000 M(r) tyrosine-phosphorylated substrate in rat thyroid cells.

By immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies against phosphotyrosine, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-induced changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins in earlier passages of rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5) were studied. TSH and N6-2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate (Bt2cAMP) decreased the phosphotyrosine content of 110,000-130,000 M(r) substrate (p120) in parallel with a morphological change in FRTL-5 cells. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) only showed an attenuated reaction compared with that of TSH or Bt2cAMP. Further, sodium orthovanadate (a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor) could not inhibit this reaction. These data suggest possible inhibitory effects of TSH and adenosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on tyrosine kinases that act on this substrate.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Screening for PIT1 abnormality by PCR direct sequencing method.

PIT1 abnormality is defined as a genetic abnormality in the PIT1 gene, which encodes a pituitary specific transcription factor Pit-1/GHF-1.PIT1 abnormality has been reported in several patients displaying either complete or incomplete deficiency of thyrotropin (TSH), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL) in either familial or sporadic cases. To see if there are abnormalities in the PIT1 gene in patients with incomplete TSH, GH, and PRL deficiency, we utilized a PCR direct sequencing method to determine the Pit-1/GHF-1 coding sequence. A total of 15 patients, 1 patient from a family with TSH and GH deficiency, 3 patients with TSH, GH, and PRL deficiency, and 11 patients treated with both human GH (hGH) and thyroid hormone were studied. In one patient of combined pituitary hormone deficiency, the Arg-271-Trp mutation was detected. Since both of the parents did not harbor this mutation, it is a de novo germ line mutation. No mutation was detected in the other patients, showing that PIT1 abnormality is not a frequent cause of GH deficiency.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Novel thyrotropin (TSH)-TSH antibody complex in a healthy woman and her neonates.

A novel high-molecular-weight (MW) form of immunoreactive TSH [35,000 Da on Sephacryl S-200HR gel chromatography (S-200 chromatography)] was documented in a 32-year-old healthy woman who delivered two neonates with transient hyperthyrotropinemia. Her TSH levels ranged from 21.2 to 53.9 mU/L on different days or from 11.0 to 48.1 mU/L by the different immunoradiometric assay methods. The IgG fractions showed specific 125I-labeled hTSH binding and inhibited in vitro cAMP increase induced by hTSH but not that induced by bTSH. On protein G Superose HR affinity chromatography (protein G chromatography) equilibrated with 10 mmol/L sodium/potassium phosphate buffer (PB) followed by elution with 0.1mol/L glycine buffer, 95-99% of her TSH immunoreactivity eluted in the latter (bound) fraction while almost all was in the former (unbound) fraction in the control serum containing authentic hTSH. However, after dialysis of this bound fraction overnight with PB adding 0.5 mol/L NaCl (PB/NaCl), which exhibited greater ionic strength than PB, almost all TSH immunoreactivity changed from the bound fraction into the unbound fraction on the protein G chromatography equilibrated with PB/NaCl. These data indicate that the novel immunoreactive TSH was due to hTSH and hTSH-specific antibody complex, and dissociation of the complex may be incomplete on direct S-200. The immunoreactive TSH showed high MW form (35,000 Da). The dissociation may be almost complete during dialysis with greater ionic strength; the native TSH then appeared to be of formal size.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Euthyroid Graves' disease showing no thyroid abnormalities except positive thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb): two case reports.

We report two cases of euthyroid Graves' disease in women who had ophthalmopathy without previous history of hyperthyroidism. Enlargement of extraocular muscles was observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patients had no thyroid enlargement and their serum concentrations of free T4, free T3, and TSH were normal. The sera were negative for antithyroid microsomal and thyrogobulin antibodies, and anti-TSH receptor antibodies measured by radioreceptor assay. T3 suppression test results were normal. Only thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) measured by sensitive bioassay was positive. These findings indicate that sensitive TSAb is the most useful laboratory test in the diagnosis of euthyroid Graves' disease.

Adult↗