Biomedical subjects

S Ito

Publications and source records attributed to S Ito.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

The effects of a 20-min nap at noon on sleepiness, performance and EEG activity.

The prophylactic effects of a 20-min nap at noon on afternoon sleepiness were studied. Ten young adults who had normal sleep-wake habits without habitual daytime napping were subjected to nap and no-nap conditions at an interval of 1 week. After a nocturnal sleep recording (00.00-08.00 h), their EEG recordings during relaxed wakefulness, mood, performance, and self-ratings of performance level were measured every 20 min from 10.00 h to 18.00 h. For the nap condition, they went to bed at 12.20 h and were awakened when 20 min had elapsed from the onset of sleep stage 1. For the no-nap condition, they rested without sleeping by sitting on a semi-reclining chair. The nap did not improve task performance, however, it improved volition and the self-rating of task performance. It also suppressed subjective sleepiness and attenuated eyes-opened EEG alpha activities. The results suggest that a 20-min nap at noon had partial positive effects on the maintenance of the daytime arousal level.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Immunosuppressant FK506 inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression at a step of NF-kappaB activation in rat hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent evidence indicates that an increase in nitric oxide production after liver transplantation is associated with acute allograft rejection. Nitric oxide mediates cellular injury under various pathological conditions in the liver. Studies were performed to determine whether the immunosuppressants FK506 and cyclosporin A directly influence gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by interleukin 1beta in hepatocytes. METHODS: Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were treated with interleukin 1beta in the presence and absence of FK506 or cyclosporin A. Release of nitrite (nitric oxide metabolite) into culture medium, levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein and mRNA, and activation of nuclear factor-kappaB were compared with the two drugs. RESULTS: Interleukin 1beta increased levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA, as well as nitric oxide production, in the cultured hepatocytes. Nuclear factor-kappaB, an important transcription factor in inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression in response to inflammation, also appeared in the nuclear fraction of hepatocytes after addition of interleukin 1beta. FK506 markedly inhibited the nitric oxide formation, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein synthesis and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression induced by interleukin 1beta, but cyclosporin A had no effects. Furthermore, FK506 inhibited nuclear factor-kappaB activation and decreased mRNA levels of the p50/p65 subunits of nuclear factor-kappaB. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that FK506, but not cyclosporin A, inhibits the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression during nuclear factor-kappaB activation. FK506 may influence liver function during diseases by modulating the nitric oxide pathway, in addition to its immunosuppressive effect.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Cooling effect on excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of cooling on pain, corneal haze, and refractive outcome after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). SETTING: Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: The corneal surface was cooled before, during, and after laser ablation using a method called cooling PRK. Thirty-eighty highly myopic eyes of 38 patients whose spherical errors ranged from -8.00 to -18.75 diopters (D) were randomized into 2 groups: 16 eyes with conventional PRK and 22 eyes with cooling PRK. Postoperative pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Refraction, visual acuity, and complications were followed for up to 2 years. All data were analyzed and compared between groups to evaluate the cooling effect on PRK. RESULTS: One day postoperatively, patients in the cooling PRK group had significantly less pain (P < .01). At 3 months, the haze score in the cooling PRK group was significantly less than in the conventional PRK group (P < .01). The residual refractive error was not significantly different between the 2 groups until 2 years, when it was greater in the conventional PRK (mean -5.09 D +/- 2.11 [SD]) than the cooling PRK group (-4.64 +/- 2.27 D). Ten eyes (62.5%) in the conventional PRK group and 15 eyes (68.2%) in the cooling PRK group were within +/- 1.00 D of the intended refraction. There were no serious complications in the cooling PRK group. Two eyes in the conventional PRK group had severe corneal haze and lost 2 Snellen lines of best corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Corneal cooling on PRK effectively reduced postoperative pain, corneal haze, and myopic regression.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effect of aging on diastolic left ventricular myocardial velocities measured by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging in healthy subjects.

We evaluated the effect of aging on diastolic left ventricular (LV) wall motion velocity in 80 healthy persons with the use of pulsed tissue Doppler imaging. The wall motion velocity patterns were recorded at the middle regions of the LV posterior wall and ventricular septum in the parasternal (along the short axis) and apical (along the long axis) LV long-axis views. In the posterior wall, the peak early diastolic wall motion velocities (Ews) along both axes correlated inversely with age (long axis: r = -0.61, P <. 0001; short axis: r = -0.55, P <.0001), and the peak atrial systolic wall motion velocities(Aws) along both axes correlated directly with age (long axis: r = 0.59, P <.0001; short axis: r = 0.65, P <.0001). In the ventricular septum, the Ew along the long axis correlated inversely with age (r = -0.51, P <.0001), and the Aws along both axes correlated directly with age (long axis: r = 0.57, P <.0001; short axis: r = 0.53, P <.0001). The Ews along both axes at the posterior wall correlated directly with the peak early diastolic transmitral flow velocity. The Aws along both axes at the ventricular septum and posterior wall correlated directly with the peak atrial systolic transmitral flow velocity. The times from the second heart sound to the peak of the early diastolic waves of the ventricular septum and posterior wall along both axes significantly increased with age. The times from the aortic component of the second heart sound to the peak of the early diastolic motion velocities along both axes were significantly longer at the ventricular septum than at the posterior wall. Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging may be useful for evaluating the effect of aging on diastolic LV function in healthy persons.

Aging↗

PubMed1999

Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging of left ventricular systolic and diastolic wall motion velocities to evaluate differences between long and short axes in healthy subjects.

Our objective was to evaluate in healthy subjects the left ventricular (LV) wall motion velocities along the long and short axes by means of pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to clarify the differences in the LV systolic and diastolic function between both axes. Wall motion velocities were recorded at the mid-wall portion of the middle site of the LV posterior wall in the parasternal long-axis view, and at the subendocardial portion of the middle site of the LV posterior wall in the apical long-axis view by pulsed TDI in 35 healthy subjects (mean age 26 +/- 10 years, mean heart rate 72 +/- 7 bpm). In all subjects, the LV pressure curve, its first derivative (dP/dt), the LV wall motion velocity, the phonocardiogram, and the electrocardiogram were simultaneously recorded. The systolic wave of the LV posterior wall motion velocity exhibited 2 peaks: the first and second systolic waves (Swl and Sw2, respectively). The diastolic wave also exhibited 2 peaks, the early diastolic and atrial systolic waves. The Swl along the long axis was greater than either the Sw1 and Sw2 along the short axis or the Sw2 along the long axis. The peak Sw1 along the long axis coincided with the peak dP/dt and was slightly earlier than the peak Swl along the short axis. The onset of Sw1 along the long axis coincided with the onset of the first heart sound. The Sw2 along the short axis was greater than that along the long axis. The early diastolic wave along the short axis was greater than that along the long axis, whereas the atrial systolic wave along the long axis was greater than that along the short axis. Thus, in healthy subjects, shortening of the longitudinal fibers predominated over that of the circumferential fibers during early systole, whereas shortening of the circumferential fibers predominated over the longitudinal fibers during the ejection phase. During diastole, the circumferential fibers predominated in the LV wall expansion at early diastole, whereas the longitudinal fibers predominated at atrial systole. In conclusion, pulsed TDI provided information that is useful in understanding the characteristics of LV wall motion along the long and short axes.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effect of an acute increase in afterload on left ventricular regional wall motion velocity in healthy subjects.

We recorded left ventricular (LV) wall motion velocities before and after angiotensin II infusion by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging in 20 healthy subjects, and evaluated the responses of systolic and diastolic LV function along the long and short axes during an acute increase in afterload. Angiotensin II was administered intravenously to obtain a 30% increase in mean blood pressure. After angiotensin II infusion, LV end-systolic dimension and end-systolic circumferential wall stress increased significantly, and the percentage of LV fractional shortening decreased significantly. Peak first systolic LV wall motion velocity (Sw1 ) along the long axis decreased markedly compared with that along the short axis, and peak second systolic LV wall motion velocity (Sw2 ) along the short axis decreased significantly compared with that along the long axis. Early diastolic LV wall motion velocities along both the long and short axes decreased significantly, whereas atrial systolic LV wall motion velocity did not change. In conclusion, an acute increase in afterload caused a significant decrease in longitudinal fiber shortening during the isovolumic contraction phase (Sw1 along the long axis), circumferential fiber shortening during the ejection phase (Sw2 along the short axis), and LV relaxation during early diastole (early diastolic LV wall motion velocities along both axes) in healthy subjects. Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging may be useful for detecting the effect of various loading conditions on LV wall motion velocities along the long and short axes.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Left ventricular systolic wall motion velocities along the long and short axes measured by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging was performed to measure systolic left ventricular (LV) posterior wall motion velocity along the long and short axes and to evaluate the relationships between the systolic variables and the maximum first derivative (peak dP/dt) of the LV pressure curve and the 2 preceding R-R intervals in 39 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study group consisted of 22 patients with AF only, 17 patients with dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy and AF, and 25 healthy control subjects in sinus rhythm. The systolic component of the LV posterior wall motion velocity was divided into the first (Sw1) and second (Sw2 ) systolic waves. The peak Sw1 along the long axis was greater than either that along the short axis or the peak Sw2s along the long and short axes in the control and AF-only groups. The peak Sw1 along the long axis was lower in the AF-only group than in the control group, and those along the short and long axes were lower in the dilated AF group than in the other groups. The peak Sw1 almost coincided with the peak dP/dt. The peak Sw1 along the long axis correlated closely with the peak dP/dt, and the ratio of the preceding R-R interval to the interval before the preceding ("prepreceding") R-R interval in both AF groups, particularly in the dilated AF group, and the slopes of their relationships were steeper in the dilated AF group than in the AF-only group. The peak Sw2 along the short axis was greater than that along the long axis in the control and AF-only groups. The peak Sw2 along the long axis was lower in the AF-only group than in the control group, and those along the short and long axes were lower in the dilated AF group than in the other groups. The peak dP/dt was lower and the LV end-diastolic pressure was higher in the dilated AF group than in the other groups. In conclusion, peak Sw1 along the long axis is useful for the evaluation of isovolumic myocardial LV contractility, and the interval-force relation and the Frank-Starling mechanism are important factors of beat-to-beat variability in systolic LV function in patients with AF.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

PubMed1999

Evaluation of left ventricular contraction abnormalities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with the use of pulsed tissue Doppler imaging.

The left ventricular (LV) systolic wave, as recorded by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging, usually consists of 2 components (Sw(1) and Sw(2)). However, the clinical significance of these waves has not been studied in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and sinus rhythm. We studied 25 patients with DCM (DCM group) and 22 age-matched normal subjects (control group). The LV posterior wall motion velocities along the short and long axes were recorded by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging, and the peak velocities of the Sw(1) and Sw(2) and the times from the electrocardiographic Q wave to the peak Sw(1) and Sw(2) (Q-Sw(1) and Q-Sw(2), respectively) were determined. In all patients cardiac catheterization was performed immediately after the noninvasive examination, and the LV end-diastolic pressure and peak dP/dt were determined. The LV end-diastolic pressure and peak dP/dt were significantly greater and lower, respectively, in the DCM group. The peak Sw(1) along the long axis was significantly greater than Sw(1) and Sw(2) along the short axis and Sw(2) along the long axis in the control group. The peak Sw(1) and Sw(2) along the long and short axes were all significantly lower in the DCM group than in the control group. The Q-Sw(1) along the long axis was significantly shorter than that along the short axis, whereas no significant difference was seen in the Q-Sw(2) in either axis in any patient. The Q-Sw(1) and Q-Sw(2) along both axes were significantly longer in the DCM group than in the control group. All systolic pulsed tissue Doppler imaging variables, particularly the peak Sw(1) along the long axis, correlated well with the peak dP/dt in all patients. LV contractility along both the short and long axes is commonly impaired in patients with DCM. In particular, peak Sw(1) along the long axis is a useful parameter for evaluating LV myocardial contractility during isovolumic contraction.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1999

Influence of aging on systolic left ventricular wall motion velocities along the long and short axes in clinically normal patients determined by pulsed tissue doppler imaging.

Our objective was to evaluate the influence of aging on left ventricular (LV) regional systolic function along the long and short axes in clinically normal patients. We recorded LV wall motion velocity patterns at the mid-wall portion of the middle of the LV posterior wall in the parasternal long-axis view (short-axis direction) and at the endocardial portion of the middle of the LV posterior wall in the apical long-axis view (long-axis direction) with pulsed tissue Doppler imaging in 80 normal patients (age range 15 to 78 years). In all patients the LV pressure curve and its first derivative (dP/dt) were recorded. The systolic wave of the LV posterior wall motion velocity pattern exhibited 2 peaks, the first (Sw(1)) and second (Sw(2)) systolic waves. No significant changes were seen with aging in the percent LV fractional shortening determined by M-mode echocardiography, LV ejection fraction determined by left ventriculography, the peak Sw(1) and Sw(2) along the short axis, the peak Sw(2) along the long axis, and the peak dP/dt. The peak Sw(1) along the long axis correlated inversely with age (P <.0001) but did not correlate significantly with the peak dP/dt. These results suggest that shortening of the longitudinal fibers in early systole is impaired with increased age in healthy individuals. This impairment results in insufficient spherical change in the LV cavity, although global LV pump function and myocardial contractility are maintained.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Difference in the diastolic left ventricular wall motion velocities between aortic and mitral regurgitation by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging.

We evaluated the difference in the diastolic left ventricular (LV) wall motion velocity between chronic isolated aortic and mitral regurgitation (AR and MR, respectively) by recording subendocardial motion velocity patterns at the middle site of the LV posterior wall in the parasternal (along the short axis) and apical (along the long axis) long-axis views of the left ventricle with pulsed tissue Doppler imaging. We studied 33 patients with AR and 35 with MR, showing moderate to severe regurgitation, and 34 healthy controls (C). The end-diastolic LV dimension along the short axis was greater in the AR and MR groups than in the C group, and that along the long axis was greater in the AR group than in the MR and C groups. There were no significant differences in percent LV fractional shortening along the short axis among the 3 groups, whereas that along the long axis was significantly smaller in the AR group than in the MR and C groups. The peak early diastolic wall motion velocity (Ew) and the time to Ew from the aortic component of the second heart sound (S2 -Ew) along the long axis were significantly lower and longer, respectively, in patients with AR than in the 2 other groups. The Ew and S2 -Ew along both the short and long axes were significantly higher and shorter, respectively, in patients with MR than in the 2 other groups. The peak early diastolic velocity of the transmitral flow correlated positively with Ew along the short axis in all patients with AR and correlated positively with Ews along the long and short axes in all patients with MR. In conclusion, early diastolic LV filling was associated with expansion of the LV wall along the short axis but with decreased excursion along the long axis in patients with AR, whereas that in patients with MR was associated with expansion of the LV wall along both the long and short axes. Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging was useful for evaluation of diastolic LV function along the long and short axes in patients with diastolic LV volume overload.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Altered sympathetic and vagal modulations of the cardiovascular system in patients with pheochromocytoma: their relations to orthostatic hypotension.

To examine sympathetic and vagal cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of orthostatic hypotension in pheochromocytoma, we continuously monitored blood pressure (Finapres) and RR interval (electrocardiogram) in supine and standing positions in 12 patients with pheochromocytoma, 43 patients with essential hypertension, and 30 normotensive subjects. Mayer wave power spectrum of systolic blood pressure variability (approximately 0.1 Hz) and respiratory power spectrum of the RR interval variability (approximately 0.25 Hz) were taken as measures of sympathetic vascular and cardiac vagal modulations, respectively. Systolic blood pressure decreased more upon standing in pheochromocytoma patients (-21 +/- 7 mm Hg) than in normotensive subjects (-5 +/- 2 mm Hg) or essential hypertensive patients (-3 +/- 2 mm Hg) (P < .005 for both), whereas heart rate tended to increase most in the pheochromocytoma group. Postural reduction in systolic blood pressure was highly correlated with postural increase in heart rate (reciprocal change in RR interval) in the pheochromocytoma group (r = 0.716, P < .01) suggesting that baroreflex is well functioning in those patients. The Mayer wave power spectrum in recumbency was extremely depressed in pheochromocytoma patients (1.1 +/- 0.2 mm Hg2) compared with normotensives (4.5 +/- 0.8 mm Hg2) or essential hypertensives (5.6 +/- 0.6 mm Hg2) (P < .001 for both). This parameter increased significantly with standing in all groups but remained lower in patients with pheochromocytoma (5.1 +/- 1.0 mm Hg2) than in normotensives (7.1 +/- 0.9 mm Hg2, P = NS), whereas essential hypertensive patients demonstrated far greater value (19.2 +/- 3.8, P < .01 for both). The respiratory power spectrum of the RR interval in recumbency of pheochromocytoma patients (189 +/- 54 msec2) was less than in normotensive subjects (714 +/- 100 msec2, P < .001) but did not differ from that in patients with essential hypertension (214 +/- 41 msec2). The respiratory power spectrum of the RR interval upon standing was markedly suppressed in pheochromocytoma patients (36.9 +/- 16.7 msec2) compared with normotensive subjects (129.5 +/- 23.6 msec2) or essential hypertensive patients (126.6 +/- 28.6 msec2) (P < .001 for both). Postural decrement in the respiratory power spectrum of the RR interval correlated positively with postural increase in heart rate (r = 0.577, P < .05) in patients with pheochromocytoma. After successful surgery (n = 9), the Mayer wave power spectrum of the systolic blood pressure and the blood pressure response to orthostasis were normalized. These data suggest that altered sympathetic vascular regulation is central to the pathogenesis of orthostatic hypotension in pheochromocytoma, whereas cardiac vagal regulation acts to compensate.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1999

On-line measurement of adenosine triphosphate and catecholamine released from adrenal chromaffin cells.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and catecholamine (CA) released from cultured porcine adrenal chromaffin cells were continuously measured with an ATP photometer (luciferin-luciferase method) and electrochemical detector, respectively. Application of acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1 mM) or high K+ (60 mM) caused increases of ATP and CA in perfused effluent with the same time course. The peak molar ratio of CA to ATP in the effluent was about 10 for ACh and high K+ stimulation. The high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of adenine nucleotides in the collected effluent revealed that the relative amounts of ATP, ADP and AMP were almost the same throughout the period of stimulation, suggesting that ATP breakdown in the effluent was constant. Changes in the peak molar ratio of CA to ATP appearing in the effluent did not occur with repetitive high K+ or sustained Ba2+ stimulation (5 mM). The similarity between the time courses of ATP and CA appearing in the effluent suggests that releasable chromaffin granules have a constant molar ratio of CA to ATP. The on-line system developed is a simple and rapid method for examining ATP and CA secretion, simultaneously.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1999

Bile reflux due to disturbed gastric movement is a cause of spontaneous gastric ulcer in W/Wv mice.

c-Kit is a receptor tyrosine kinase, and it is encoded by the mouse W locus. Mutant W/Wv mice develop spontaneous gastric antral ulcers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathogenesis of these gastric ulcers and to examine the effects of two antiulcer drugs; a proton pump inhibitor (2{[4-(3-methoxypropoxy)-3-methylpyridine-2-yl]methyl-sulfinyl}-1H -benzimidazole sodium salt, rabeprazole) and a mucosal protective drug (geranylgeranylacetone, GGA), on the gastric ulcers. The inhibition of the gastric acid secretion by rabeprazole (30 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneous injection once a day for six weeks) significantly increased the gastric ulcer formation compared to the controls. In contrast, the GGA treatment (100 mg/kg body weight, oral administration for six weeks) significantly inhibited the ulcer formation. Bile reflux was seen in these mutant mice, and they showed no cyclic intense contractions in the gastric antrum. These results suggest that bile reflux due to the disturbance of gastric antral movement is a cause of the spontaneous gastric ulcers in W/Wv mice.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

PubMed1999

The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric antral myoelectrical activity and gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Dysmotility of the gastroduodenal region and delayed gastric emptying have been considered to play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa may affect gastric motility. AIM: To evaluate the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in NUD patients. METHODS: : Forty-six NUD patients were examined for gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, H. pylori infection, and symptom scores. In H. pylori-positive NUD patients, gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, and symptom scores were also analysed 2 months after cure of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Sixty-seven per cent of NUD patients were H. pylori-positive. Both abnormal gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity were observed in NUD patients. H. pylori-positive NUD patients were divided into three groups according to their gastric emptying: the delayed group, the normal group, and the rapid group. In the delayed and rapid gastric emptying groups, the emptying and symptom scores were improved significantly by eradication. There was no improvement in symptom scores in the normal gastric emptying NUD group by the eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity play roles in NUD. H. pylori-induced disturbed gastric emptying may cause some NUD symptoms. Gastric emptying and symptom scores are improved by H. pylori eradication therapy in NUD patients with disturbed gastric emptying; H. pylori eradication therapy is effective in H. pylori-positive NUD patients with disturbed gastric emptying.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed1999

The effect of helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric antral myoelectrical activity and gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Dysmotility of the gastroduodenal region and delayed gastric emptying have been considered to play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia. In addition, it has been reported that Helicobacter pylori induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa may affect gastric motility. AIM: To evaluate the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. METHODS: A total of 46 non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were examined for gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, H. pylori infection, and symptom scores. In H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, and symptom scores were also analysed 2 months after being cured of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: A total of 67.4% of the non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were H. pylori-positive. Both abnormal gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity were observed in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were divided into three groups according to their gastric emptying: the delayed gastric emptying group, the normal gastric emptying group, and the rapid gastric emptying group. In the delayed and rapid gastric emptying groups, the gastric emptying and symptom scores were improved significantly by the eradication therapy. However, there was no improvement in symptom scores in the normal gastric emptying non-ulcer dyspepsia group by the eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Helicobacter pylori infection, inducing disturbed gastric emptying, may cause some non-ulcer dyspepsia symptoms. Gastric emptying and symptom scores are improved by H. pylori eradication therapy in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients with disturbed gastric emptying. H. pylori eradication therapy is effective in H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients with disturbed gastric emptying.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Epithelioid hemangioma of the temporal artery clinically mimicking temporal arteritis.

A rare case of epithelioid hemangioma (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) arising in the right temporal artery of a 68-year-old Japanese woman was investigated. The patient had been treated with corticosteroids (Predonine 5 mg/day p.o.) for 4 years for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Headaches in the right temporal region with repeated high fevers first appeared 1 year prior to the biopsy of a nodule at the artery. The clinical diagnosis was temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). The specimen consisted of a short segment of the superior arterial branch having a sheet-like proliferation of the epithelioid endothelial cells in the lumen, which was almost occluded, focal rupture of the media, and marked proliferation of the capillaries (neovascularization) radiating out from the media to the adventitia. There were scattered foci of inflammatory cell infiltration composed mainly of small lymphocytes in the adventitia, but there were no histological changes suggestive of giant cell arteritis. The lesion was thus characterized by the proliferation of epithelioid endothelial cells in the lumen of the artery, and neovascularization between the media and adventitia. The histological features were very close to epithelioid hemangioma except for the absence of an eosinophilic reaction. The long-term administration of corticosteroids may have suppressed it. The authors believe this is the first case of epithelioid hemangioma arising from the temporal artery without a history of trauma. It showed some unique features both clinically and histopathologically, which contributed to the study of the yet not clearly classified vascular proliferative lesion, epithelioid hemangioma.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Involvement of primary afferent C-fibres in touch-evoked pain (allodynia) induced by prostaglandin E2.

Nociceptive primary afferents have the capacity to induce a state of increased excitability in dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord or central sensitization causing thermal hyperalgesia and touch-evoked pain (allodynia). It is believed that primary afferent C-fibres become hypersensitive and induce hyperalgesia and that low-threshold Abeta-fibres are responsible for induction of allodynia, the mechanisms of which remain elusive. We previously showed that intrathecal administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) induce allodynia in conscious mice. Here we demonstrated that selective elimination of C-fibres by neonatal capsaicin treatment resulted in the disappearance of allodynia induced by PGE2, but not that by PGF2alpha. PGE2-induced allodynia was not observed in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor epsilon1 subunit knockout mice and was sensitive to morphine. In contrast, PGF2alpha-induced allodynia was not observed in NMDA epsilon4 subunit knockout mice and was insensitive to morphine. Furthermore, while PGF2alpha showed a capsaicin-insensitive feeble facilitatory action on evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents in dorsal horn neurons, PGE2 induced a long-lasting facilitation of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents in a capsaicin-sensitive manner. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that there are two pathways for induction of allodynia and that capsaicin-sensitive C-fibres may participate in PGE2-induced allodynia.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1999

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy: significance of lipoprotein and ultrastructural features.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a unique disease characterized by intraglomerular lipoprotein thrombi and type III hyperlipoproteinemia. Recently, we have demonstrated that LPG is associated with inherited apolipoprotein E (apoE) variants including apoE Sendai. On the other hand electron microscopy shows that intraglomerular lipoprotein thrombi consist of lipid granules of various sizes. To elucidate the relationship between the peculiar histology and abnormal lipid metabolism related to apoE Sendai, we studied lipoprotein profiles and ultrastructural features. METHODS: The subjects were 11 patients with LPG. Four patients were nephrotic, and two others became nephrotic within six months following the biopsy. Eight patients underwent apoE gene analysis and showed apoE Sendai. The other three were presumed to have apoE Sendai because this mutation was demonstrated in their kindreds. Under electron microscopy, diameters of more than 1000 lipid granules were measured in several glomeruli, and a mean value was calculated in each case. Lipoprotein profiles were analyzed by the ultracentrifugation methods. RESULTS: The mean diameter of intraglomerular lipid granules correlated inversely with the levels of plasma triglyceride (TG; rs = -0.73, P < 0.05), TG (rs = -0.77, P < 0.01) and cholesterol (Chol; rs = -0.75, P < 0.05) in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction and TG in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction (rs = -0.75, P < 0.05). The inverse correlation was also seen between the mean lipid diameter and TG/Chol ratios in whole plasma (rs = -0.80, P < 0.01) and in HDL (rs = -0.80, P < 0.01). In addition, the cases showing smaller lipid granules and higher TG/Chol ratios in plasma and in HDL were nephrotic or became nephrotic within six months. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the size of lipid granules in LPG may become smaller under the influence of hypertriglyceridemia and particularly elevated plasma VLDL and HDL-TG, which may lead to heavy proteinuria.

Adolescent↗