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Biomedical subjects

S Tarui

Publications and source records attributed to S Tarui.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Improved inching method for the diagnosis and prognosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

A modified sensory "inching" method for the electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is described. The median nerve as stimulated at the cubital portion, with 8 channel recording electrodes placed along the nerve across the carpal tunnel. In most of the CTS cases, there was a conductive abnormality from 3 to 4.5 cm distal to the proximal ending of the flexor retinaculum. Subjects' values, obtained by subtracting the theoretical latency from the measured latency, which were more than 0.6 ms, could not be improved by conservative therapy. As we could determine from subtle change at the short span of nerve conduction, below the electrodes from the proximal to the affected site of the carpal tunnel, this method provides high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CTS.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy related to transthyretin Gly42 in a Japanese family.

A Japanese family is described in which 6 persons showed familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Mean ages of onset were 38 for 4 males and 54 for 2 females. Three of the 6 became emaciated and died after 4 to 10 years. In 5, muscular weakness and autonomic dysfunction were the initial symptoms followed by sensory disturbances. Amyloidotic cardiomyopathy was present in 3 of the subjects. Amyloid deposits showed an immunohistological relation to transthyretin (TTR). Analysis of 1 patient's TTR gene revealed a single base change (A----G) that led to amino acid substitution (Glu42----Gly). This base change produced a new restriction site for endonuclease Cfr13 I in exon 2. Polymorphic analysis of the length of the Cfr13 I-restriction fragment confirmed the base change, and made it possible to detect the mutant TTR Gly42 gene in the FAP subjects. Amino acid sequencing analysis showed a variant of TTR Gly42 in 1 patient's serum.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Retrovirus gag protein p30 in the islets of non-obese diabetic mice: relevance for pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

We investigated the presence of retroviral protein in the pancreatic islets of non-obese diabetic mice to prove that the virus-like particle observed specifically in the pancreatic Beta cell of these mice was retrovirus. Western blot analysis probed with anti-retrovirus antibody demonstrated the existence of retroviral gag (group specific antigen) protein p30 in the islets of female non-obese diabetic mice. Islets of non-obese diabetic mice which were treated with cyclophosphamide, known to accelerate the development of insulitis and diabetes mellitus, have shown both a significantly increased number of retrovirus-like particles (type C) and enhanced expression of gag protein p30, compared to those of mice not treated with cyclophosphamide. These results confirmed the presence of type C retrovirus in non-obese diabetic mouse Beta cells and suggest a role for retrovirus in the development of insulitis and diabetes in these mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Changes in lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes with administration of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in chronic liver disease.

This study was undertaken to determine whether S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) changes the lipid composition and fluidity of erythrocyte membranes in chronic liver disease. SAMe was administered intravenously at a daily dose of 600 mg for 2 weeks to 10 patients; 6 patients with cirrhosis and four with primary biliary cirrhosis. The elevated free cholesterol to phospholipid molar (C/PL) ratio of the erythrocyte membranes of the patients (0.857 +/- 0.018) significantly decreased after the administration of SAMe (1 week, 0.823 +/- 0.021; 2 weeks, 0.823 +/- 0.013). In all of the four patients whose erythrocyte membrane fluidity was measured, fluidity improved with the administration of SAMe and correlated with the C/PL ratio of the membranes. These results suggest that SAMe decreases the C/PL ratio of erythrocyte membranes and thus improves membrane fluidity in chronic liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Amyloid polyneuropathy with transthyretin Arg50 in a Japanese case from Osaka.

A Japanese patient with systemic amyloidosis associated with a transthyretin (TTR) variant Arg50 is presented. This 41-year-old man became impotent and developed decreased pain sensation in his hands, and then sensory loss and muscle wasting in his lower legs, and cardiomyopathy appeared. The symptoms progressed and he died of congestive heart failure at age 46. There were amyloid deposits in all organs studied and massive amyloid deposition was seen in the peripheral nerves and cardiac muscles. Amyloid fibrils extracted from heart tissue contained TTR. A genetic mutation, causing a Ser50-->Arg substitution of the TTR molecule, was identified in another family member. Plasma TTR was shown to be a mixture of normal TTR Ser50 and mutant TTR Arg50 in the 2 subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Polydisperse low-density lipoproteins in hyperalphalipoproteinemic chronic alcohol drinkers in association with marked reduction of cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity.

Long-term heavy alcohol intake is well known to increase serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Epidemiologic studies have shown that the protective effect of alcohol intake against coronary heart disease (CHD) is observed in moderate alcohol drinkers, but not in heavy ones. To clarify whether heavy alcohol intake may cause abnormalities in lipoprotein metabolism, we analyzed the plasma lipoproteins in eight male chronic heavy alcohol drinkers with marked hyperalphalipoproteinemia. Although their serum HDL cholesterol levels were remarkably high, ranging from 2.67 to 3.58 mmol/L, three patients had CHD and corneal arcus was present in seven patients. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was reduced in all subjects (7.3% +/- 4.2%/10 microL/18 h in alcohol drinkers v 20.5% +/- 2.4%/10 microL/18 h in control; mean +/- SD, P < .001). The CETP mass levels were also markedly reduced in these subjects. The analysis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that four subjects with severely low CETP activity (< 25% of control) had polydisperse LDLs, similar to those observed in genetic CETP deficiency. The other four subjects with approximately half the normal CETP activity had homogeneous but smaller-sized LDLs, as compared with control subjects. Particle size of HDL was larger than that of normal control HDL in all subjects. After cessation of alcohol intake, plasma HDL cholesterol levels were decreased and LDLs became more homogeneous and normal in size, in parallel with elevation of CETP activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy associated with the transthyretin Cys114 gene in a Japanese kindred.

A Japanese kindred with dominantly inherited amyloid polyneuropathy, commonly called familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), has been identified. Amyloid protein was transthyretin (TTR) related and the patients were heterozygous for the mutant gene encoding TTR with a single amino acid substitution of cysteine for tyrosine at position 114. This family originated in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, and 12 of the 36 known members of six generations have been affected. The initial symptoms occurred in their thirties with the cardinal features of polyneuropathy, vitreous opacities and cardiac disease. Sensory neuropathy was severe in the lower limbs. Autonomic disturbances, especially postural hypotension, were the most debilitating to the patients. Amyloid deposits were detected widely in most organs except for the central nervous system. The duration from the onset of the disease to death was within 10 yrs. Heart failure caused by heavy amyloid deposits was the most common cause of sudden death.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Raised serum activity of phospholipase A2 immunochemically related to group II enzyme in inflammatory bowel disease: its correlation with disease activity of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Calcium dependent phospholipase A2 activity in the mixed micelles of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol and cholate was measured in sera of 39 patients with Crohn's disease, 40 patients with ulcerative colitis, and 40 healthy controls. The phospholipase A2 activity was significantly raised in those sera of the patients with active Crohn's disease and those with moderate and severe ulcerative colitis. The major phospholipase A2 activity derived from the sera was separated into two peaks by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The phospholipase A2 active fractions were immunochemically characterised using specific antibody directed against human group II phospholipase A2 purified from rheumatoid synovial fluid. The results suggest that raised serum phospholipase A2 activity in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis was mainly attributed to the two forms of phospholipase A2 immunochemically related to group II enzyme. In patients with Crohn's disease, serum phospholipase A2 activity decreased in parallel with clinical improvement, and correlated with serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The results suggest that serum phospholipase A2 activity may serve as an additional indicator of disease activity. Serum phospholipase A2 activity in patients with ulcerative colitis tends to increase in relation with endoscopic severity, and may be a more sensitive laboratory index than serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate to evaluate disease activity.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Decreased renal clearance of xanthine and hypoxanthine in a patient with renal hypouricemia: a new defect in renal handling of purines.

Renal handling of urate, xanthine and hypoxanthine was studied in a hypouricemic patient who had increased plasma concentrations of xanthine and hypoxanthine. The patient, a 50-year-old man, had been suffering from Parkinson's disease, while neither systemic disorders nor particular renal diseases known to affect plasma purine levels were found. His serum urate level was 58 +/- 6 mumol/l (healthy controls for males, 310 +/- 48 mumol/l, mean +/- SD) and the renal uric acid clearance was 3 times higher than that of the controls, establishing a diagnosis of renal hypouricemia. Xanthine and hypoxanthine concentrations in the plasma were elevated to 1.3 +/- 0.1 mumol/l (controls, 0.5 +/- 0.3) and 5.9 +/- 3.5 mumol/l (controls, 1.6 +/- 0.4), respectively. Both renal xanthine and hypoxanthine clearance was only half the value of the controls, indicating reduced urinary excretion of xanthine, and hypoxanthine appears to be responsible for their elevation in plasma. A probenecid loading test revealed no response of urinary urate excretion but normal responses of xanthine and hypoxanthine excretion. However, urinary excretion of urate, xanthine or hypoxanthine did not respond at all to pyrazinamide administration. These findings indicate that the patient had a defective renal handling of xanthine and hypoxanthine as well as urate.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Growth inhibition of RPMI 8226 human myeloma cells by peripheral blood lymphocytes.

To clarify the components of cellular immunity responsible for defense against the clonal development of myeloma cells, we tested the capacity of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) to inhibit the growth of 3 human myeloma cell lines (RPMI 8226, OPM-1, and OPM-2). RPMI 8226 was found to be sensitive to PBLs, showing almost complete growth arrest when cultured with PBLs for 72 h. Inhibition of the growth of RPMI 8226 cells required direct cell-to-cell contact but not presensitization of the PBLs to the target cells, and did not depend on the generation of soluble factors. CD3+, CD4-, CD8- and CD16- cells were found to be the major subset contributing to inhibition of the growth of RPMI 8226 cells, and this growth inhibition was cytostatic rather than cytotoxic. These characteristics distinguished it from growth inhibition mediated by the natural killer system. Impaired PBL-mediated growth inhibition of RPMI 8226 cells was found in patients with various hematologic diseases, including myeloma. It therefore appears that the CD3+, CD4-, CD8- and CD16- cell subset might be involved in tumor immunity in myeloma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Function of DR-positive thyrocytes from patients with Graves' disease: quantitative analysis of thyroid peroxidase content by fluorescent photometry.

A considerable number of thyrocytes in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis ectopically express HLA-DR antigen. Furthermore, it has been reported that interferon-gamma-induced DR-positive thyrocytes in vitro secrete less thyroid hormone in response to TSH stimulation compared with DR-negative ones. However, the function of the intrinsically DR-positive thyrocytes is unknown. To evaluate their function, we stained by immunofluorescence for both DR antigen and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in thyroid epithelial cells from patients with Graves' disease. We also measured the quantity of DR antigen and TPO using fluorescent photometry. The content of TPO was not significantly reduced in DR-positive thyrocytes compared with that in DR-negative thyrocytes. The TPO content is one measure of thyrocyte function. There was no significant difference between DR-positive and DR-negative thyrocytes. In conclusion, the function of DR-positive thyrocytes in vivo was not suppressed compared with that of DR-negative thyrocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Interferon-gamma reduces the thyroid peroxidase content of cultured human thyrocytes and inhibits its increase induced by thyrotropin.

To clarify the role of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) in autoimmune thyroid diseases, we investigated the effects of IFN gamma on the content of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and the expression of HLA-DR antigens in cultured normal human thyrocytes. The effect of TSH on the action of IFN gamma was investigated. Immunofluorescence staining and photometric analysis showed that IFN gamma not only induced the expression of DR antigen, but also reduced the content of TPO in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of TSH increased the content of TPO and enhanced the IFN gamma-induced expression of DR antigen. IFN gamma also inhibited the increase in TPO content induced by TSH. Thus, complex interactions appear to exist between IFN gamma and TSH or thyroid-stimulating antibodies in the modulation of hormone secretion and autoimmune phenomena in the thyroid.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1992

Transthyretin (prealbumin) in the pancreas and sera of newly diagnosed type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

We investigated transthyretin (TTR) in the pancreases and sera of 10 newly diagnosed type I diabetic patients by immunohistochemistry and nephelometry. In the type I diabetic pancreases, glucagon-positive A-cells showed strong immunoreactivity for TTR, the intensity and distribution pattern of which corresponded to those in normal subjects. Morphometric analysis revealed that the amount of strongly TTR-positive A-cells was not significantly different from that in normal subjects. On the contrary, insulin-positive B-cells, which normally show uneven and weak TTR immunoreactivity, decreased in number, and only a few residual B-cells showed faint immunoreactivity. Neither somatostatin cells nor pancreatic polypeptide cells were positive for TTR. The serum TTR concentration showed a significant decrease in type I diabetic patients compared with that in normal subjects (P less than 0.005). These data suggest that the synthesis or storage of TTR in A-cells is not affected, but that in B-cells is impaired in type I diabetes. The decrease in serum TTR might be one of the features of metabolic disorders in type I diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Lactic acidosis].

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Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1992

Cell-to-cell communication in cultured rat thyroid monolayer cells is inhibited dose-dependently by methimazole.

We performed monolayer culture of rat thyrocytes and studied gap junctional communication by measuring intercellular fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching. Cell-to-cell communication among thyrocytes gradually developed during the culture. This communication was demonstrated in approximately 60 percent of the cells cultured for 8 days, while it could not be detected in the remaining 40 percent of the cells even after longer culture. When thyrocytes were cultured in the presence of methimazole, the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was inhibited dose-dependently. Thyroid-stimulating hormone did not affect the fluorescence recovery. We provided, for the first time, that methimazole inhibited the development of cell-to-cell communication of thyrocytes dose-dependently.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester on plasma lipoproteins in primary hypercholesterolemia.

We investigated the effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl ester capsules (90% purity), which are free from cholesterol, saturated fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on plasma lipoproteins and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity. We administered 2.7 g of EPA per day as capsules for 6 months to 14 primary hypercholesterolemic subjects. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels in plasma were significantly reduced. The LDL cholesterol/apoB ratio and LDL particle size did not change. The ratio of high density lipoprotein (HDL)2/HDL3 cholesterol increased from 1.04 to 1.35 (p < 0.05), while the HDL cholesterol level did not change. CETP activity was significantly reduced. The reduction of CETP activity may explain the increase in the HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio. These results suggest that purified EPA not only reduces LDL cholesterol levels but also acts on HDL metabolism in patients with hypercholesterolemia and therefore will be useful for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗