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Biomedical subjects

R Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to R Watanabe.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Murine coronavirus-induced encephalomyelitis in rats: analysis of immunoglobulins and virus-specific antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

The humoral intrathecal immune response in coronavirus-induced demyelinating encephalomyelitis in rats associated with an autoimmune reaction to brain antigen, was analysed. The CSF of these animals revealed immune reactions which were directed against coronavirus and other, unknown, antigens. In general, no direct correlation between the disease, the state of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), intrathecal synthesis of Ig and the presence of virus-specific antibodies was detectable, suggesting that the humoral, in contrast to the cellular, immune response does not play a significant pathogenetic role in this CNS disease.

Animals↗

Vascular and neural pathology of lumbosacral spinal stenosis.

During a study of the intrinsic vasculature of the lumbosacral spinal nerve roots in cadavers, a typical case of spinal stenosis was encountered. A review of the antemortem anamnesis revealed that this patient had had an intermittent claudication of the cauda equina. Investigation of the concomitant vascular and histopathological alterations of the affected nerve roots suggested that the claudication may have resulted from ectopic nerve impulse discharges elicited by rapid changes in the blood supply following exertion. The unexpectedly slight apparent neural deficit relative to observed root damage may be attributed to a neuronal plasticity within the spinal cord that permitted functional compensations to develop during the slow acquisition of the chronic nerve root pathology.

Aged↗

[Correlation of LH and prolactin pulses in normoprolactinemic women with ovulatory disturbances and variation of LH and FSH pulses and secreting capacity by administration of bromocriptine in the same cases].

The difference between prolactin (PRL) basal levels on separate days in the 6 normoprolactinemic women--one case with an anovular cycle and 5 cases with 1 degree amenorrhea--among 14 normoprolactinemic women with ovulatory disturbances, showed significantly variation over 13 ng/ml within the normal range of the PRL basal level. PRL pulse frequencies of the same cases from 0900 h. to 1400 h. increased slightly compared with follicular phase. At the same time, the PRL pulse amplitudes were significantly higher than in the follicular phase but significantly lower than the PRL pulse amplitudes in hyperprolactinemic women. The net increase in PRL to TRH in the 6 cases was over 100 ng/ml. When the PRL net increase to TRH was over 100 ng/ml in normoprolactinemic women with ovulatory disturbances, the case is regarded as latent hyperprolactinemia. And 1 or 2 may be latent hyperprolactinemic syndrome. The LH/FSH basal level and delta LH/delta FSH to LH-RH before administration of bromocriptine increased in these cases compared with the follicular phase. During the administration of bromocriptine, the ratios decreased and approached the ratio in the follicular phase. The effect of clomid was improved by increased E2 in these cases.

Amenorrhea↗

Virological and immunological aspects of coronavirus induced subacute demyelinating encephalomyelitis in rats.

Infection of rats with the murine coronavirus JHM led to acute or subacute encephalitis. Viral and host factors greatly influenced the outcome of the infection. A number of temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants was obtained which differed widely in their capacity to induce lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) in rats. Under defined conditions a subacute demyelinating encephalomyelitis ( SDE ) with pronounced clinical signs was observed 14-160 days post infection (p.i.). A number of rats, which showed a remission of SDE later developed a relapse of the disease accompanied by neurological symptoms. Neuropathological examination of such animals revealed lesions of active demyelination and extended remyelinated areas. The presence of viral antigen or infectious virus in the CNS of these rats demonstrated that they were persistently infected. Further investigations indicated that this virus infection triggers a cell mediated immune response against basic myelin protein which may contribute to the development of subacute to chronic encephalomyelitides .

Animals↗

Relapsing subacute demyelinating encephalomyelitis in rats during the course of coronavirus JHM infection.

Temperature-sensitive mutants of the murine coronavirus JHM induced a subacute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (SDE) in young rats. Neurological symptoms were associated with marked lesions of primary demyelination in the white matter of the central nervous system (CNS), and developing after an incubation time of several weeks to months. Many rats survived this infection and recovered completely from this CNS disease. Among 43 survivors of SDE, 9 rats developed a relapse 27-153 days after onset of the first attack. Neuropathological examination of these animals revealed areas of fresh demyelination together with old remyelinated lesions. Viral antigens were detectable in the neighbourhood of fresh lesions and in some cases infectious virus was re-isolated from rats revealing low antibody titers to JHM virus. These results demonstrate that mutants of JHM virus can induce a relapsing demyelinating disease process, associated with a persistent infection, which possesses some similarities to chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Animals↗

Pressure gradient and blood flow in human arm veins--a proposed explanation of the pumping mechanism.

In a patient with mitral stenosis we previously found a negative periphero -central pressure gradient (P-C PG) despite a forward peripheral venous blood flow velocity ( PVBFV ) during supine leg exercise. The present study was undertaken to confirm this finding and elucidate its mechanism. In 6 patients with congestive heart failure, P-C PG was reversed from -2.4 to -18.7 cm H2O for 1 to 5 minutes during exercise. PVBFV , measured simultaneously with peripheral venous pressure (Pv) in 8 subjects, remained positive; 5 of these were patients with a negative P-C PG. The effect of intravenous lidocaine(1-26 mg) was studied in 13 patients: In 4 of 13 patients the change in Pv by saline injection was smaller than that after lidocaine (2-5 mg) injection (-0.5 +/- 0.5, 3.9 +/- 0.8 cm H2O, mean +/- SE, respectively) (p less than 0.02). In 13 patients Pv rose after a small dose of lidocaine. After a larger dose the rate of rise of Pv decreased or Pv dropped. No significant change was observed in the central venous pressure. In 6 patients who performed Valsalva's maneuver, the rate of rise of Pv during the test decreased or unchanged after lidocaine injection. The probability of a pumping mechanism in superficial human arm veins was discussed.

Adult↗

Treatment of complete acromioclavicular separation by coracoacromial ligament transfer.

There is still discussion concerning the methods for treating Type 3 dislocations of the acromioclavicular joints. Since 1969 the authors have treated 41 patients with Type 3 dislocations by transfer of the coracoacromial ligament, with favorable results. The advantages of the method are as follows: (1) The replaced coracoacromial ligaments substitute for the strong coracoclavicular ligaments, reproducing a construction that closely resembles a physiologically and anatomically normal state. (2) There is no fear of rupture if transplanted tendon or wire is used. A concentrated force will not occur in this system because of dispersion in the tendon, and no injury is produced in the clavicle. (3) The operation can be performed under the same visual field, and the technique is relatively simple.

Acromioclavicular Joint↗

[A case of localized lipomatosis in the pancreatic head presenting a lipoma-like appearance].

A 63-year-old woman with localized lipomatosis in the pancreatic head is reported. She was diagnosed to have a lipoma by clinical data including CT scanning. Histopathological examination of the extirpated mass revealed that the lesion was mostly composed of mature fatty tissue without any lobulation or encapsulation by connective tissue, there was a small amount of scattered pancreatic parenchyma at the peripheral and deeper parts of the mass. No Langerhans' islets were detected. Based on these findings, the lesion was diagnosed as localized lipomatosis in the pancreatic head.

Female↗