Behçet's disease in children.
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Behcet Syndrome↗
Biomedical subjects
S Fujikawa
Publications and source records attributed to S Fujikawa.
Application of rapid random stimulation (RRS) to visual evoked potentials in children.
The present study was performed to examine the effects of regular (1 Hz) and modified rapid random stimulation (RRS) (6 and 12 Hz) on visual evoked potentials (VEPs), by simultaneously recording negative waves around 100 ms, wave IV-latency, positive waves around 60 ms, wave III-latency, and amplitudes calculated from peak to peak, without causing impairment of visual acuity, in 44 patients aged 5-17 years. The wave IV-latencies of VEPs obtained by 6 and 12 Hz RRS were easily determined, and the latencies were not significantly changed compared to those obtained by previous 1 Hz regular stimulation. On the other hand, the amplitudes decreased in a frequency-dependent manner (1 < 6 < 12 Hz). These results were found to be similar in both preschool and school children. The examination time of VEPs determined by RRS is one-tenth shorter than that of 1 Hz regular stimulation. Thus, this method has the benefit of shortening the examination time, which decreases fatigue and inattention of the subjects, suggesting that modified RRS is a practically useful method for children.
Adolescent↗
Image analysis of morphological change during arachidonic acid production by Mortierella alpina 1S-4.
The changes in mycelial morphology during arachidonic acid (AA) production by Mortierella alpina 1S-4 were investigated using an image analysis system. Cultivation was performed in a 10-kl fermentor, and the culture broth was separated into two fractions by sieving (0.5 mm aperture size): the filament fraction (F-fraction, <0.5 mm), and the pellet fraction (P-fraction, >0.5 mm). The effect of the mycelial morphology in each fraction on AA production was analyzed. As a result, a product distribution in the culture broth wherein the AA content in the mycelia of the P-fraction was observed to be higher than that in the mycelia of the F-fraction throughout the cultivation. Morphological analysis of the P-fraction revealed that the hairy pellets became smooth because the mycelia on the pellet surface were shaved off; some pellets were broken and reduced in size. The shaved-off mycelia from the hairy pellets surface moved into the F-fraction and aggregated there. From the above findings, it was likely that the low AA content in the F-fraction was due to mycelial damage during the cultivation. In addition, the morphology of the hairy pellets was found to contribute to an increase in the viscosity of culture broth.
Journal Article↗
Effect of nitrogen source on mycelial morphology and arachidonic acid production in cultures of Mortierella alpina.
The effects of nitrogen source on arachidonic acid (AA) production and morphological changes during the culture of Mortierella alpina were investigated using an image analysis system. When yeast extract, gluten meal, or corn steep liquor was used, a circular pellet morphology was obtained. However, when Pharmamedia, fish meal, or soybean meal was used, M. alpina formed radial filamentous mycelia. The radial filamentous area in the case of soybean meal was 75% of the total mycelial area. In a jar fermentor culture, M. alpina morphology varied with the cultivation period: (i) at 0-6 h culture, the inoculated pellet-like mycelia were adapted to the new environment, (ii) at 6 h-1 d culture, filamentous mycelia grew exponentially which yielded a feather-like morphology, (iii) at 1-2 d culture, the filamentous mycelia became disentangled as a result of the mechanical agitation; consequently, the proportion of filamentous mycelia was increased, (iv) at 2-4 d culture, mycelia showed stationary growth, but the AA concentration increased rapidly, and (v) at 4-6 d culture, hyphae grew thick radially with the AA concentration continuing to increase gradually. In the case of the cultures with feather-like morphology obtained using soybean meal, the AA yield was 0.14 g/g dry cell weight, which was two times higher than that in cultures grown using yeast extract. These results suggest that the feather-like morphology of culture of M. alpina is suitable for AA production.
Journal Article↗
Roseateles depolymerans gen. nov., sp. nov., a new bacteriochlorophyll a-containing obligate aerobe belonging to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria.
Strains 61AT (T = type strain) and 61B2, the first bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a-containing obligate aerobes to be classified in the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria, were isolated from river water. The strains were originally isolated as degraders of poly(hexamethylene carbonate) (PHC). The organisms can utilize PHC and some other biodegradable plastics. The strains grow only under aerobic conditions. Good production of BChl a and caroterioid pigments is achieved on PHC agar plates and an equivalent production is observed under oligotrophic conditions on agar medium. Spectrometric results suggest that BChl a is present in light-harvesting complex I and the photochemical reaction centre. The main carotenoids are spirilloxanthin and its precursors. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the phylogenetic positions of the two strains are similar to each other and that their closest relatives are the genera Rubrivivax, ideonella and Leptothrix with similarities of 96.3, 96.2 and 96.1%, respectively. The cells are motile, straight rods and contain poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate granules. Ubiquinone-8 is the predominant quinone. Vitamins are not required for growth. The G + C content of genomic DNA is 66.2-66.3 mol%. Genetic and phenotypic features suggest that the strains represent a new genus in the beta-subclass which is evenly distant from known genera. Consequently, the name Roseateles depolymerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for the strains; the type strain of Roseateles depolymerans is strain 61AT (= DSM 11813T).
Bacteria, Aerobic↗
Accumulation of small heat-shock protein homologs in the endoplasmic reticulum of cortical parenchyma cells in mulberry in association with seasonal cold acclimation.
Cortical parenchyma cells of mulberry (Morus bombycis Koidz.) trees acquire extremely high freezing tolerance in winter as a result of seasonal cold acclimation. The amount of total proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-enriched fractions isolated from these cells increased in parallel with the process of cold acclimation. Protein compositions in the ER-enriched fraction also changed seasonally, with a prominent accumulation of 20-kD (WAP20) and 27-kD (WAP27) proteins in winter. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of WAP20 exhibited homology to ER-localized small heat-shock proteins (smHSPs), whereas that of WAP27 did not exhibit homology to any known proteins. Like other smHSPs, WAP20 formed a complex of high molecular mass in native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, not only WAP20 but also 21-kD proteins reacted with antibodies against WAP20. Fractionation of the crude microsomes by isopycnic sucrose-gradient centrifugation revealed that both WAP27 and WAP20 were distributed on a density corresponding to the fractions with higher activity of ER marker enzyme, suggesting localization of these proteins in the ER. When ER-enriched fractions were treated with trypsin in the absence of detergent, WAP20 and WAP27 were undigested, suggesting localization of these proteins inside the ER vesicle. The accumulation of a large quantity of smHSPs in the ER in winter as a result of seasonal cold acclimation indicates that these proteins may play a significant role in the acquisition of freezing tolerance in cortical parenchyma cells of mulberry trees.
Acclimatization↗
The Progression of Cavitation in Earlywood Vessels of Fraxinus mandshurica var japonica during Freezing and Thawing.
For an examination of the progression of cavitation in large-diameter earlywood vessels of a deciduous ring-porous tree, potted saplings of Fraxinus mandshurica var japonica Maxim. were frozen and then thawed. The changes in the amount and distribution of water in the lumina of the current year's earlywood vessels during the course of the freezing and thawing were visualized by cryo-scanning electron microscopy. When samples were frozen, most of the current year's earlywood vessels were filled with water. After the subsequent thawing, the percentage of cavitated current-year earlywood vessels gradually increased with time. All of the current year's earlywood vessels were cavitated within 24 h, and only limited amounts of water remained in the lumina of earlywood vessels. Similar cavitation of earlywood vessels was observed after thawing of frozen, excised stem pieces. In contrast, many vessels of the current year's latewood retained water in the lumina during freezing and thawing. These observations indicate that the cavitation of the current year's earlywood vessels is not produced during freezing but progresses during rewarming after freezing in F. mandshurica var japonica.
Journal Article↗
Comparison of newborn hearing screening by transient otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response using ALGO-2.
The aim of this study is to compare pass rates for two different hearing screening methods in well newborns as a function of age. A previous study by this group compared click evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) using the ALGO-1 infant hearing screener (Natus Medical, Foster City, CA). Since that study, a new generation automated ABR screener, the ALGO-2, has been developed. In this study, 232 ears in 116 healthy newborn infants aged 5-48 h were tested using the ALGO-2 screener and EOAE. Overall, 92% of ears passed the ABR, while 57% passed the EOAE screen. The ABR pass rate was higher than in the previous study, where 88.5% of ears passed the ABR screen using ALGO-1. The EOAE pass rate in the present study was lower than in the previous study, in which 79% passed the EOAE screen. Pass rates for both EOAE and ABR improved significantly with increasing infant age. There was no significant difference in the test time required for ALGO-2 (5.7 min) compared with EOAE (5.2 min). The results are compared with earlier studies and implications for universal hearing screening are discussed.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
99mTc(V)-DMSA and 67Ga-citrate images in a patient with recurrent extraabdominal fibromatosis.
67Ga-citrate and 99mTc(V)-DMSA images were obtained in a patient with recurrent extraabdominal fibromatosis of the left calf. The 67Ga-citrate image showed abnormal uptake in the left calf lesion and right calf, which was considered due to probable myositis caused by overexertion. On the other hand, the 99mTc(V)-DMSA image showed abnormal uptake only in the left calf lesion. Surgical and radiation therapy was performed. Two years after the treatment, two lesions of the recurrent extraabdominal fibromatosis followed, and a 99mTc(V)-DMSA image could demarcate the two lesions. 99mTc(V)-DMSA images were considered to be useful in following up of recurrent extraabdominal fibromatosis.
Adult↗
Bone scintigraphy in a case of oncogenous osteomalacia.
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Aged↗
Visualization of cavitated vessels in winter and refilled vessels in spring in diffuse-porous trees by cryo-scanning electron microscopy
Xylem cavitation in winter and recovery from cavitation in the spring were visualized in two species of diffuse-porous trees, Betula platyphylla var. japonica Hara and Salix sachalinensis Fr. Schm., by cryo-scanning electron microscopy after freeze-fixation of living twigs. Water in the vessel lumina of the outer three annual rings of twigs of B. platyphylla var. japonica and of S. sachalinensis gradually disappeared during the period from January to March, an indication that cavitation occurs gradually in these species during the winter. In April, when no leaves had yet expanded, the lumina of most of the vessels of both species were filled with water. Many vessel lumina in twigs of both species were filled with water during the period from the subsequent growth season to the beginning of the next winter. These observations indicate that recovery in spring occurs before the onset of transpiration and that water transport through twigs occurs during the subsequent growing season. We found, moreover, that vessels repeat an annual cycle of winter cavitation and spring recovery from cavitation for several years until irreversible cavitation occurs.
Journal Article↗
[Epidemiological studies of rheumatic diseases among Japanese children].
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Arthritis, Juvenile↗
Newborn hearing screening by otoacoustic emissions and automated auditory brainstem response.
The aim of this study is to compare pass rates for two different hearing screening methods in well newborns as a function of age. Hearing screening tests were performed on 400 ears in 200 healthy newborn infants at the University of california-Irvine Medical Center. The screening methods used were automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) and click evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE). The infants' ages ranged from 5 to 120 h, with an average age of 24 h. Overall, 88.5% of ears passed the ABR screen, and 79% passed the EOAE screen. There was no significant difference in the ABR pass rate for infants aged 0-24 h of age as compared with infants aged > 24 h compared with the group aged 0-24 h (P < 0.01). Results are compared with earlier studies and implications for universal hearing screening are discussed.
Age Factors↗
Scintigraphic evaluation along with CT and MR images in a case of huge gravitation abscess.
The authors presented a rare case of huge gravitation abscess. 67Ga scintigraphy was useful in the evaluation of the extent and activity of the disease. CT showed clearly the location and shape of the abscess. Enhanced MRI showed vertebral lesions as characteristic geographic and ring-like enhancement.
Abscess↗
GABAB-mediated upregulation of the high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglia.
The mechanism underlying the enhancement of the high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ current (ICa) after application of baclofen, a GABAB agonist, in neurones of the rat dorsal root ganglia was studied by a combined use of the nystatin perforated patch clamp recording and our rapid superfusion system. Baclofen (50 microM) decreased the peak amplitude of HVA ICa and slowed the onset of the current, i.e. produced a typical G-protein-mediated inhibition of ICa. However, when baclofen was rapidly removed from the medium, the amplitude of the current was rather augmented, exceeding the control value obtained before application of the drug. This enhancement was not due to a shift of the voltage dependence of Ca2+ channel activation or a change in ionic permeability to other ions. The enhancement of HVA ICa by baclofen was sensitive to pertussis toxin treatment. The enhancement was evident during superfusion of baclofen. Since the inhibitory effect of baclofen on HVA ICa was not attenuated, even after a continuous application of baclofen for 10 min, the enhancement was not due to relief from tonic G-protein-mediated inhibition of the current or a desensitization of the GABAB receptor-effector system. An extremely prolonged time course of the enhancement of HVA ICa by baclofen strongly suggests an involvement of some intracellular signal transduction system.
Animals↗
Primary obsessional slowness: long-term findings.
Cases of slowness among patients who spent large amounts of time to perform daily activities were first reported in 1974, and described as primary obsessional slowness (POS). It was observed that it was neither obsessive thoughts nor compulsions that directly hindered their daily activities. However, in more than 20 years following the original report, the diagnostic independence of POS remains controversial, some insisting that obsessional slowness can be explained as secondary. The authors experienced four cases in Japan which share the same characteristics as the original cases. Long-term observation and treatment has led us to support the diagnostic independence of POS. Slowness remained after other accompanying symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder had been successfully treated, showing that the slowness of our patients was not secondary.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Neonatal hearing screening with otoscopy, auditory brain stem response, and otoacoustic emissions.
A study was performed to investigate the relationship between external and middle ear factors and hearing screening results by auditory brain stem response (ABR) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs). The ears of 200 well newborns aged 5 hours to 48 hours underwent screening by ABR and EOAEs, followed by otoscopic examination. The pass rates for ABR and EOAE screening were 88.5% and 79%, respectively. On otoscopic examination, 13% (53 of 400) ears had occluding vernix obscuring the view of the tympanic membrane. Cleaning of vernix was attempted in ears that failed ABR or EOAE screening. Seventeen ears that failed ABR were cleaned, and 12 (71%) of them passed repeat ABR. Thirty-three ears that failed EOAE screening were cleaned, and 22 (67%) of them passed repeat emissions testing. Cleaning vernix increased the pass rates for ABR and EOAE screening to 91.5% and 84%, respectively. Decreased tympanic membrane mobility was found in 9% of ears that could be evaluated otoscopically. Increased failure rates for both ABR and EOAE screening were found in infant ears with decreased tympanic membrane mobility, but significance testing could not be performed because of inadequate sample size. Prevalence of occluding external canal vernix and middle ear effusion as a function of increasing infant age were studied. Implications for newborn hearing screening are discussed.
Body Fluids↗
A nationwide surveillance study of rheumatic diseases among Japanese children.
To estimate the number of children with rheumatic diseases, a questionnaire was distributed to the pediatrics department of 1,290 hospitals in Japan in June 1994. From this survey, 1,606 cases with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), 906 cases with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 320 cases with dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM), 28 cases with scleroderma (PSS), 70 cases with Sjögren's syndrome (Sjs), 93 cases with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), 25 cases with aortitis syndrome, 20 cases with polyarteritis (PN) and 51 cases with Behçet disease were reported. The crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 among the childhood population were estimated as JRA, 0.83; SLE, 0.47; DM/PM, 0.16; PSS, 0.01; Sjs, 0.04; MCTD, 0.05; aortitis syndrome, 0.01; PN, 0.01; and Behçet disease, 0.03. The present study reveals that there are more children with rheumatic diseases than are estimated from the reported cases in the literature and the number of children who are receiving Assistance Medical Costs Insurance covered by the Japanese government.
Adolescent↗