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Biomedical subjects

S Shoji

Publications and source records attributed to S Shoji.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[A case of unilateral gustatory disturbance produced by the contralateral midbrain lesion].

We reported a case of unilateral gustatory disturbance produced by a lesion in the contralateral midbrain. A 37-year-old man first noticed dysesthesia in the left side of his face. Later, the patient developed dysesthesia of the left part of the lip, muscular weakness on the left lower extremity and gustatory disturbance on the left side. MR scan disclosed a lesion in the tegmentum of the right midbrain, which showed low intensity on a T1-weighted image and high intensity on a T2-weighted image. This lesion could be due to multiple sclerosis. This case suggests that the unilateral gustatory information ascends via the contralateral pathway at the midbrain level. It is suggested that the central gustatory pathways above the ipsilateral pontine taste are ascend via the contralateral projections to the thalamic taste area (parvicellular portion of the ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus, VPMpc).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Relationship between occupational factors and medical indicators related to arteriosclerotic diseases].

The relationship between occupational factors and indicators related to arteriosclerotic diseases which include blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, body mass index, and HMS (Hitachi mental health scale) score. The study subjects were 7226 male electric company employees (40 to 59 years old). Records of annual health examinations were reviewed, and those of 3553 blue-color workers and 1860 white-color workers were used for analyses. The main results were as follows: Work style (overtime work and frequency of business trips) was strongly related to life style. Overtime work and walking time from home to the workplace did not relate to indicators of arteriosclerotic diseases. However, frequency of business trips, working posture and job category were related to most of the indicators. Smoking and frequency of drinking were strongly related to the indicators in both blue-color and white-color workers. In both blue-color and white-color workers, HMS score was not related to work style, but related strongly to psychological factors. In white-color workers, HMS were also related to life style. In addition, this study suggests that a cohort study about the progress of arteriosclerotic diseases in middle-aged workers is necessary, and that more accurate information on work style should be obtained for further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[A case of nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy with anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)].

A 26-year-old woman with mononeuropathy multiplex complained of severe pain of right foot and ipsilateral steppage gait. Careful examination failed detect evidence of systemic lesions. Sural nerve biopsy revealed myelin ovoids and loss of myelinated fibers, which were different in severity among the fascicles. There were mild mononuclear cell infiltrations around arterioles in the epineurium. A diagnosis of nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSN) was made. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA), a specific marker for microscopic polyarteritis nodosa and Wegener's granulomatosis, was positive in the patient. Oral administration of prednisolone ameliorated the sensorimotor disturbances, and ANCA turned to be negative. This is the first report of a patient with NSN showing positive ANCA.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Reflex sympathetic dystrophy secondary to lumbar disk herniation].

A 26-year-old woman noticed discoloration and swelling of the left foot after standing or sitting for a long period of time. Four months later, she developed dysesthesia in the left leg and foot and extreme tenderness of the left foot; developed subsequently claudication. At age 15, the patient had severe low back pain for 1 year and had been diagnosed as having lumbar disk herniation. Recurrent disk herniation was suspected, although myelogram and postmyelogram CT scan reportedly were nondiagnostic. The patient was admitted to our hospital 6 months following the onset of dysesthesia. Physical examination revealed weakness and atrophy of the entire left lower extremity, allodynia of the left foot, and dysesthesia in the left L5 myotomes. Hypertrichosis was obvious, and the left foot was cool on touch. Roentgenography of the left lower extremity revealed patchy osteoporosis of the distal epiphyse of the left tibia and fibula and in some of tarsal bones. Intravenous administration of phentolamine reduced tenderness, which was highly suggestive of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). A repeat CT scan revealed extraforaminal, left-sided disk herniation at L4/5. We diagnosed RSD secondary to L5 radiculopathy and performed a left L2, 3 lumbar sympathetic block. Allodynia was relieved, and the patient was able to walk without claudication. Reports of RSD secondary to lumbar disk herniation are rare. In one case, transient lumbar sympathetic block was effective in alleviating symptoms of RSD, although, required surgery. Our patient was more severely disabled than patients in other reports, yet, lumbar sympathetic block still was effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Acute renal failure associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome in an elderly adult.

We report a 66-year-old man with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) that was associated with reversible acute renal failure (ARF) caused by acute tubular necrosis (ATN). He had a subacute onset of proteinuria and progressive azotemia. Hemodialysis (HD) was required to improved azotemia. Renal biopsy revealed minor glomerular abnormalities associated with ATN. While continuing HD, steroid therapy was started, which subsequently allowed the patient to be weaned from HD and relieved from NS. In this patient, histological examination and clinical course suggested that ATN was probably induced by hypovolemia due to MCNS.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1993

Allyl compounds selectively killed human immunodeficiency virus (type 1)-infected cells.

Various allyl compounds were tested as anti-HIV reagents. Of all the allyl compounds tested, allyl disulfide (CH2 = CH-CH2-S-S-CH2-CH = CH2), allyl alcohol (CH2 = CH-CH2-OH), and its ester strongly depressed cell proliferation of HIV-1-infected cells. KC50 (50% killing concentration) of the allyl disulfide and the allyl alcohol were 34 microM and 10 microM, respectively. The allyl alcohol, in particular, completely inhibited cell growth of HIV-1-infected cells by a single injection at a concentration of 40 microM, ultimately killing the viable CEM/LAV-1 cells within 96 hr cultivation. No effect of the allyl alcohol and its esters on cell proliferation of CEM cells, which are a HIV-1 noninfected human T-cell cell line, was observed at the concentration range of 20 to 200 microM under the same experimental conditions. The results suggest that the effect of the allyl alcohol and its esters resulted in remarkable promotion of the cytopathic effect induced by HIV-1 virus.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1993

Molecular analysis of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy presenting with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Molecular analysis of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene was performed on 4 unrelated patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) presenting with dilated cardiomyopathy. Two patients with a deletion involving exon 1 were quite unique in that they developed fatal myocardial involvement in their teens, despite the absence of significant muscular weakness. The deletion found in these patients comprised the 3'-end of exon 1 and the greater part of intron 1. Two other patients with a deletion of exon 47 showed progressive muscular atrophy and weakness; they were considered to be typical BMD in both clinical features and the type of gene deletion. We speculate that a deletion around exon 1 may severely damage the expression and/or the function of dystrophin selectively in cardiac muscle, but not in skeletal muscle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Inward rectifier and low-threshold calcium currents contribute to the spontaneous firing mechanism in neurons of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Intracellular and voltage-clamp studies were carried out to clarify the mechanism for spontaneous firing activity in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of rat hypothalamic brain slices in vitro. SCN neurons displayed spontaneously firing action potentials that were preceded by a depolarizing pre-potential and followed by a short spike after-hyperpolarization (AHP). Injection of inward current with a duration longer than 50 ms resulted in a depolarizing voltage "sag" on hyperpolarizing electrotonic potentials. The inward rectification was depressed by bath application of caesium (1 mM) but not by barium (500 microM). SCN neurons also showed a rebound depolarization associated with spike discharge (anodal break) in response to relaxation of hyper polarizing current injection. The rebound depolarization was reduced by nominally zero calcium. Cadmium (500 microM), cobalt (1 mM) or caesium (1 mM) but not nicardipine also depressed the rebound depolarization. Under voltage-clamp conditions, hyperpolarizing steps to membrane potentials negative to approximately -60 mV caused an inward rectifier current, probably H current (IH), which showed no inactivation with time. Bath application of caesium (1-2 mM) suppressed IH. Caesium (2 mM) depressed the slope of the depolarizing spike pre-potential, resulting in a prolongation of the interspike interval of tonic firing neurons. We conclude that both the inward rectifier current, IH, and the low-threshold calcium current contribute to the spike prepotential of spontaneous action potentials in firing neurons of the rat SCN.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
PubMed1993

[Severity and distribution of patchy white matter lesions in healthy individuals].

We performed MRI on 57 socially active, healthy people without neurologic signs or symptoms when admitted to our hospital for a routine medical evaluation. Of these, 34 persons had patchy white matter lesions (PWMLs). Mild lesions were distributed mainly around the anterior horns or the bodies of the lateral ventricles. However, more severe lesions were distributed widely, involving both the anterior halves of the brains and the regions around the posterior horns. The mean total and LDL cholesterol levels were higher in healthy individuals with PWMLs than in those without them. No other significant difference between the groups was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[A case of Hashimoto's encephalopathy with a relapsing course related to menstrual cycle].

A case of 43-year-old woman with Hashimoto's encephalopathy who experienced three relapses closely associated with the menstrual cycle is reported. In April 1992, she began to experience occasional tremors in her arms. Three months later, she experienced a generalized seizure and was transferred to our hospital. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed on the basis of high thyroid microsomal titer and mild hypothyroidism. Neurological findings in admission included action tremor in both hands, myoclonus in all extremities, cerebellar ataxia, confusion, and hyperreflexia. Cerebrospinal fluid showed elevated protein level without pleocytosis. Electroencephalogram showed diffuse slowing and magnetic resonance imaging of brain was normal. Hashimoto's encephalopathy was diagnosed from these findings. These episodes of remission and exacerbation were observed during the admission. Her symptoms started at ovulation, worsened during the luteal phase, and improved when menstruation started. After the third relapse, she was treated with oral thyroxine for hypothyroidism and with an estrogen and progesterone combination to regulate the menstrual cycle. Her thyroid function gradually became euthyroid and she did not experience any subsequent relapses. The relation between the relapsing course and menstrual cycle suggests that the periodic alteration of gonadotrophic and/or gonadal hormones or the menstrual regulating center itself in the brain may be an important factor of pathogenetic mechanism of the disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex by using nonisotopic DNA probes].

A total of 31 clinical isolates of mycobacteria consisting of 21 strains of M. avium-intracellulare complex (ten strains each of M. avium and M. intracellulare identified by specific 125I-labeled DNA probes and one strain of M. avium-intracellulare complex identified by conventional biochemical tests) and 10 strains of M. tuberculosis (identified by a specific 125I-labeled DNA probe) were subjected to identification by hybridization protection assay (HPA) with an acridinium-ester (AE) labeled DNA probe. The results thus obtained were in complete agreement with those obtained by 125I-labeled DNA probes (30 strains) or by conventional biochemical tests (one strain). HPA by the AE-labeled DNA probe is safe, simple and rapid, and can be done with ease in any clinical laboratory.

DNA Probes↗
PubMed1993

[Identification of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex in Tohoku district of Japan by using DNA probes].

Attempts were made to identify Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare in the M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) isolated in the Tohoku district of Japan by using DNA probes (Gen-Probe; Rapid Diagnostic System) which are specific for M. avium, M. intracellulare and M. tuberculosis complex, respectively. In the Tohoku district, the ratio of M. avium isolates (80%) exceeded that of M. intracellulare isolates. It was thus shown that, in the Tohoku district where no data concerning the ratio of M. avium to M. intracellulare isolates had been available, the ratio of M. avium by far exceeded that of M. intracellulare.

DNA Probes↗
PubMed1992

Presynaptic facilitation of excitatory postsynaptic potential by glucagon in neurons of rat ventromedial hypothalamic slices.

Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in rat ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), in vitro. Application of glucagon (100 nM to 5 microM) for 2-5 min increased the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) lasting for 10-20 min. Forskolin and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP mimicked glucagon in producing a long-lasting facilitation of the EPSP. These drugs did not affect depolarizing response produced by glutamate. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) potentiated the time course of glucagon-induced facilitation of the EPSP. These results suggest that glucagon facilitates the EPSP probably by increasing transmitter release through activation of adenylate cyclase.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Glucose regulation of synaptic transmission in the dorsolateral septal nucleus of the rat.

Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in the dorsolateral septal nucleus (DLSN) of rat brain slices. Lowering the concentration of extracellular glucose resulted in a concentration-dependent membrane hyperpolarization associated with a cessation of spontaneous firing. The amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), and late hyperpolarizing potential (LHP) evoked by a single stimulus applied to the fimbrial/fornix pathway was decreased when the concentration of glucose was reduced to 0-2 mM. Substitution of glucose with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (11 mM), an antimetabolite of glucose substrate, mimicked the effects of glucose depletion. Mannoheptulose (10-20 mM), a potent hexokinase blocker, and dinitrophenol (50 microM), a potent inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, produced both the hyperpolarization and inhibition of postsynaptic potentials, even in the presence of 11 mM glucose. The sulphonylureas, glibenclamide (10 microM) and tolbutamide (1 mM), did not antagonize the hyperpolarization and the inhibition of the postsynaptic potentials produced by glucose depletion. The amplitude of membrane depolarizations produced by pressure application of glutamate (10 mM) and the membrane hyperpolarizations produced by pressure application of either muscimol (1 mM) or baclofen (1 mM) were almost unchanged, even when glucose was reduced to 1-2 mM. These results indicate that intracellular glucose metabolism regulates the function of septal neurons, not only by changing the resting membrane potential, but also by presynaptically affecting neurotransmission between the hippocampal formation and the lateral septum.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacological properties of ceruletide in the vertical and horizontal locomotor activities of mice.

To clarify the pharmacological properties of ceruletide (CER) and cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) with respect to vertical (VLA) and horizontal (HLA) locomotor activities of mice, effects of pretreatment with CER (0.5, 5, and 50 micrograms/kg, IP) and CCK-8 (5, 50, and 500 micrograms/kg, IP) on apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg, SC)- and clonidine (0.1 mg/kg, SC)-induced hypo-VLA and -HLA and on apomorphine (1 mg/kg, SC)-induced hyper-VLA and -HLA were examined. CER and CCK-8 had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on VLA and HLA in intact mice. Pretreatment with CER had a biphasic effect (increase and decrease) on apomorphine- and clonidine-induced hypo-VLA, as well as an effect on apomorphine-induced hypo-HLA, a decreased effect on clonidine-induced hypo-HLA, and a decreased effect on apomorphine-induced hyper-VLA and -HLA. On the other hand, pretreatment with CCK-8 had no effect on apomorphine- and clonidine-induced hypo-VLA and -HLA and a decreased effect on apomorphine-induced hyper-HLA but not on hyper-VLA. These results suggest that for apomorphine- and clonidine-induced locomotion in mice CER has pharmacological properties different from those of CCK-8.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Adenosine inhibits the synaptic potentials in rat septal nucleus neurons mediated through pre- and postsynaptic A1-adenosine receptors.

Intracellular and voltage-clamp recordings were made from neurons in rat brain slices containing dorsolateral septal nucleus (DLSN), in vitro. Bath application of adenosine (100 microM) produced a hyperpolarization (2-15 mV) in 46% of DLSN neurons (AH-neurons); in the remaining 54% neurons (non-AH-neurons), no hyperpolarization to adenosine was observed. Adenosine (1-300 microM) depressed not only the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) but also the inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) and the late hyperpolarizing potential (LHP) evoked by stimulation of the hippocampal CA3 area or the fimbria/fornix pathway in both AH- and non-AH-neurons. In non-AH-neurons, adenosine did not block current responses resulting from glutamate, muscimol or baclofen applied directly to DLSN neurons. In AH-neurons, adenosine partially depressed the baclofen-induced outward current. Adenosine did not block the directly-evoked IPSP (monosynaptic IPSP) as well as the glutamate-induced (hyperpolarizing) postsynaptic potential (PSP) that is mediated by GABA released from interneurons. These results suggest that adenosine does not directly inhibit the release of GABA. The effects of adenosine was mimicked by selective A1-receptor agonists and was blocked by selective A1-receptor antagonists. Pertussis toxin (PTX) blocked the hyperpolarization induced by adenosine or baclofen applied exogenously. Adenosine consistently produced presynaptic inhibition of the EPSP even in DLSN neurons treated with PTX. We conclude that adenosine inhibits neurotransmission between the hippocampus and septum through activation of pre- and postsynaptic A1-receptors which couple with G-proteins of different PTX-sensitivity or with distinct transduction processes at pre- vs. postsynaptic sites.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1992

Haemopoietic growth factors induce human basophil migration in vitro.

Accumulation of basophils in inflammatory sites is an important aspect of the late-phase allergic reaction involving skin and upper and lower airways, suggesting the existence of mechanisms for basophil migration. Because haemopoietic growth factors have been shown to stimulate various functions of human basophils, we tested the ability of haemopoietic growth factors to migrate basophils in vitro. Both IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induced migration of purified normal basophils (purity c. 80%) in a dose-dependent fashion at picomolar concentrations, while granulocyte (G)-CSF, macrophage (M)-CSF, and IL-4 had no effect at all. Chequerboard analyses indicate that migratory activity of both factors are chemokinetic. These results suggest that local production of both factors during allergic reactions might potentially play an initial role in the recruitment of basophils from the circulation to sites of inflammatory reactions.

Antibodies↗