Biomedical subjects

T Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to T Hashimoto.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Systemic sclerosis complicated with nephrotic syndrome: relevance with antiribosomal P antibody.

The nephrotic syndrome is an extremely rare occurrence in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Here we describe a 39-year-old woman with SSc who developed the nephrotic syndrome along with the expression of antiribosomal P antibody but not of anti-double-stranded DNA antibody in her serum. Although a renal biopsy specimen showed minimal changes on light microscopy, immunofluorescence studies showed granular deposition of C3 and IgM in the glomeruli. The patient recovered from the nephrotic syndrome with the decrease in serum antiribosomal P antibody after the daily administration of 60 mg of prednisolone. It is strongly suggested that antiribosomal P antibody might have been involved in the development of the nephrotic syndrome in our patient.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2001

Phytochrome A-mediated inhibition of seed germination in tomato.

Far-red light (FR) inhibition of seed germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was studied with the phytochrome (phy)-hypersensitive mutants, hp-1w, hp-1w,fri1, a phyA-deficient double mutant, and hp-1w,tri1, a phyB1-deficient double mutant. Seeds of all mutants germinated readily in the dark at 25 degrees C, and the germination was retarded by a single 100-s FR pulse given 1-3 h after sowing. The effect of an FR pulse was red-light reversible in all mutants used. After 24 h where a single FR pulse was no longer effective, prolonged FR exposure or hourly FR pulses suppressed germination in hp-1w and hp-1w,tri1, whereas in hp-1w,fri1 the suppressive effect of FR was almost absent. The effect of the prolonged FR was greater than that of the hourly 3-min FR pulses having equal photon fluence, and was fluencerate dependent. Thus we conclude that the germination inhibition by FR in tomato seed consists of a low-fluence response and a high irradiance response (HIR); the latter is controlled by phyA, but not phyB1. This is the first indication of phyA being involved in the HIR of seed germination inhibition.

Apoproteins↗

PubMed2001

Sclerosing cholangitis and systemic lymphadenopathy.

A 48-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with jaundice and systemic lymphadenopathy. Cholangiographic findings and liver histology disclosed the presence of sclerosing cholangitis. The patient also had a marked polyclonal increase in IgG levels. The cholangiographic findings, the systemic lymphadenopathy, and the increase in IgG levels resolved completely after treatment with prednisolone. This case suggests that there is an association between sclerosing cholangitis and immunologic abnormalities, and that corticosteroid treatment is useful for this disorder.

Cholangitis, Sclerosing↗

PubMed2001

Cholesterol granuloma in the petrous apex: case report and review.

Cholesterol granuloma in the petrous apex presents with various symptoms of cranial nerve dysfunction, so the selection for surgical treatment remains controversial. We report a 41-year-old woman with a cholesterol granuloma at the left petrous apex, which was totally resected via a combined middle fossa and posterior transpetrosal approach. In a review of 92 cases, including our case, treated for petrous apex cholesterol granuloma between 1990 and 2001, 38 were men (41.3%) and 54 were women (58.7%). The mean age of these patients was 37.4 years (males were 35.2 years, females were 39.4 years). The most common presenting clinical symptom was hearing loss due to dysfunction of cranial nerve VIII. Seventy-nine patients, including our case, underwent operation, and 13 patients were managed without surgery. The most frequently selected surgical approach was middle cranial fossa approach. Revision surgery (including the 2 cases who underwent revision twice and three times) was performed in 12 patients (15.2%). In 92 cases, all of those who underwent total removal have not shown re-accumulation of cyst contents. On the other hand, 11.4% of the patients with or without permanent drainage route proceeded by subtotal removal of the cyst wall needed revision surgery because of stenosis of the drainage route. Therefore we conclude that the most important treatment for the prevention of re-accumulation of cyst contents may be the extent of the cyst wall resection rather than the establishment of permanent drainage route.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of beta-endorphin and ACTH in children with infantile spasms.

To investigate the pathophysiology of infantile spasms (IS), we measured the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in 20 patients with IS, including 11 with the secondary form and 9 with the cryptogenic form of the disease. The findings were compared with those obtained in age-matched controls without neurologic disease. The CSF levels of beta-EP and ACTH were significantly lower in patients with IS than those in the controls. The CSF levels of CRH in patients with IS were lower, although, this trend was not significant. These reductions in the CSF levels of these neuropeptides could explain the impairment of the brain-adrenal axis in such patients. These results might support the hypothesis that, instead of originating from an increased abundance of CRH, which can act as a rapid and potent convulsant, some infantile seizures could be caused by an ACTH deficiency.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Autosomal dominant inheritance of a negative electroretinogram phenotype in three generations.

PURPOSE: We report an abnormal electroretinogram with a negative configuration in a child who presented with moderate myopia, nystagmus, and visual developmental delay. We investigated the electroretinogram and explored the possibility of a metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 6 mutation in six family members spanning four generations. METHODS: Case report and family study: Complete eye examinations and Ganzfeld electroretinograms were recorded from the maternal great-grandmother, maternal grandmother, mother, uncle, and sibling of the 7-month-old female proband. The electroretinogram was repeated in the proband at 17 months of age. Dark adaptometry was performed in all adult subjects. Fundus photographs and visual field examinations were administered to the grandmother and mother. The metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 6 gene was amplified and sequenced in all affected subjects. RESULTS: The proband had a negative electroretinogram and a normal fundus. The maternal grandmother, uncle, and mother had an abnormal electroretinogram identical to the proband yet had no visual complaints. The ophthalmology examinations in the adult subjects were normal, and subsequent examination of the proband at 17 months, 5 years, and 6.5 years of age showed no changes in the fundus or refractive error. Her nystagmus resolved by 5 years of age. Rod threshold and visual fields were normal in the affected adult subjects. No mutation in the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 6 gene was found. CONCLUSIONS: In this family, a negative electroretinogram was not associated with decreased rod threshold, visual acuity loss, visual field loss, muscle disease, or metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 6 mutation. Additional study will be required to understand the nature of the negative electroretinogram phenotype in this family.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Complications associated with pulmonary resection in lung cancer patients on dialysis.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies available investigating the perioperative problems experienced by lung cancer patients on dialysis undergoing pulmonary resection. METHODS: A retrospective review of 7 patients on dialysis undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer was performed. RESULTS: The patient population consisted of 7 men, with a mean age of 59.9 years. The underlying kidney disease was glomerulonephritis in 5 patients and nephrosclerosis in 2. The mean levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were 70.7 mg/dL and 9.4 mg/dL, respectively. Histologic diagnoses were adenocarcinoma in 2 patients and squamous cell carcinoma in 5. Standard lobectomy with lymph node dissection was performed in all cases. There was one operation related death due to pulmonary edema and subsequent development of pneumonia. There were two cases of sputum retention and four of hyperkalemia. One patient died of cerebral bleeding that occurred during dialysis 2 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients on dialysis who undergo pulmonary resection, there is a high incidence of pulmonary complications, in addition to hyperkalemia, hemodynamic instability, and a tendency for postoperative dialysis-associated bleeding.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2001

Conjugation reactions catalyzed by bifunctional proteins related to beta-oxidation in bile acid biosynthesis.

The conjugation reactions of hydration and dehydrogenation catalyzed by the dehydratase and dehydrogenase activities of D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase/D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein (DBP) and enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein (LBP) in the side chain degradation step of bile acid biosynthesis were investigated using chemically synthesized C27-bile acid CoA esters as substrates. The hydration catalyzed by DBP showed high diastereoselectivity for (24E)-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy- and (24E)-3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-cholest-24-en-26-oyl CoA to give (24R,25R)-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,24-tetrahydroxy- and (24R,25R)-3alpha,7alpha,24-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestan-26-oyl CoAs, respectively, and the dehydrogenation catalyzed by DBP also showed high stereospecificity for the above (24R,25R)-isomers to give 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy- and 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-24-oxo-5beta-cholestan-26-oyl CoAs, respectively. On the other hand, the dehydratase activity of LBP displayed a different diastereoselectivity producing the (24S,25S)-isomer, and dehydrogenase activity of LBP was stereospecific for the (24S,25R)-isomer to give the above 24-oxo-derivative. The hydration and dehydrogenation reactions catalyzed by DBP were effectively conjugated to convert (24E)-5beta-cholestenoyl CoA to 24-oxo-5beta-cholestanoyl CoA. However, the reactions catalyzed by LBP were not conjugated. These results indicate that DBP plays an important role in the biosynthesis of bile acid.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed2001

Vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

We studied vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 20 healthy individuals. PBMCs were isolated from all patients on days 3 and 14 after the onset of aMI, and from all of control individuals. To prepare samples containing identical amounts of GAPDH cDNA, competitive PCR was performed by co-amplifying serial dilutions of GAPDH mutant templates. Next, to measure VEGF cDNA quantitatively in the samples containing identical amounts of GAPDH, we also used competitive PCR by co-amplifying mutant templates of VEGF. The serum VEGF concentrations on day 14 in patients with aMI were measured by an ELISA method. Higher levels of VEGF mRNA in PBMCs were present on day 14 than either on day 3 or in the control group. Serum VEGF concentrations correlated with the VEGF mRNA levels of PBMCs on day 14. Peak serum CK levels correlated well with VEGF mRNA levels of PBMCs on day 14. The present findings suggest that PBMCs may be one of the candidates responsible for elevated circulatory VEGF protein following aMI. In addition, VEGF mRNA may be overexpressed in PBMCs in response to cardiac muscle damage.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Abnormal neurochemical asymmetry in the temporal lobe of schizophrenia.

Neuroanatomical asymmetries are known to be present in the human brain, and loss of reversal of these asymmetries, particularly through changes in the left temporal lobe, have been found in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. In addition to disturbed neuroanatomical asymmetries, disturbed neurochemical asymmetries have also been reported in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. However, in the temporal lobe, the laterality of most of these neurochemical changes has not been specifically evaluated. Few neurochemical studies have addressed left-right differences in the superior temporal gyrus (STG). A deteriorated serotonin2A receptor-G protein qalpha (Gqalpha)-phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C beta1(PLC beta1) cascade has been found in the left, but not right, STG of patients with schizophrenia. Not only neuroanatomical but also neurochemical evidence supports the loss or reversal of normal asymmetry of the temporal lobe in schizophrenia, which might be due to a disruption of the neurodevelopmental processes involved in hemispheric lateralization.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Differential induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA in rat inferior olive subregions following unilateral labyrinthectomy.

Vestibular compensation, the neuronal process underlying behavioral recovery from vestibular dysfunction produced by unilateral labyrinthectomy, is attributed to functional reorganization of neuronal circuits in the brainstem and cerebellum. Climbing fibers originating from the inferior olive are suggested to play a crucial role in this compensatory process. To assess the possible contribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to the function of climbing fibers during vestibular compensation, we investigated the BDNF mRNA expression in the rat inferior olive after unilateral labyrinthectomy by quantitative in situ hybridization. We found several induction patterns depending on the subregions of the inferior olive 6 h after unilateral labyrinthectomy. First, in the dorsal cap and the ventrolateral outgrowth, the expression levels increased on the side contralateral to the lesion and decreased on the ipsilateral side. Second, in the beta nucleus, C subnucleus of the medial accessory olive, and A/B subnuclei of the medial accessory olive, we detected an increase in the mRNA expression level on the side contralateral to the lesion, but no changes in the expression level on the ipsilateral side. In the beta nucleus, where the strongest induction was observed, the mRNA expression level increased nearly five-fold. Third, in the dorsomedial cell column, the mRNA expression levels increased on both sides. Finally, we did not detect significant changes in mRNA expression levels in the other subregions of the inferior olive, the dorsal accessory olive, principal olive and rostral medial accessory olive. The changes in BDNF mRNA expression reverted to control levels by 72 h after the labyrinthectomy. The inferior olive subregions that showed changes in BDNF mRNA expression levels send climbing fibers to the cerebellar cortical regions that, in turn, project to the vestibular nuclei. Therefore, BDNF induced in these subregions could contribute to the functional reorganization of the olivo-cerebellar system for vestibular control.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Differential occupancy of somatodendritic and postsynaptic 5HT(1A) receptors by pindolol: a dose-occupancy study with [11C]WAY 100635 and positron emission tomography in humans.

Augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) therapy by the 5-HT(1A) receptor agent pindolol may reduce the delay between initiation of antidepressant treatment and clinical response. This hypothesis is based on the ability of pindolol to block 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN) and to potentiate the increase in 5-HT transmission induced by SSRIs. However, placebo-controlled clinical studies of pindolol augmentation of antidepressant therapy have reported inconsistent results. Here, we evaluated the occupancy of 5-HT(1A) receptors during treatment with pindolol controlled release (CR) in nine healthy volunteers with Positron Emission Tomography and [11C]WAY 100635. Subjects were studied four times: at baseline, following one week of pindolol CR 7.5 mg/day (4 and 10 hrs post dose), and following one dose of pindolol CR 30 mg(4 hrs post dose). Occupancy of the DRN was 40 +/- 29% on scan 2, 38 +/- 26% on scan 3, and 64 +/- 15% on scan 4. The average occupancy in all other regions was significantly lower at each doses (18 +/- 5% on scan 2, 12 +/- 3% on scan 3, and 42 +/- 4% on scan 4). These results suggest that the blockade in the DRN reached in clinical studies (7.5 mg/day) might be too low and variable to consistently augment the therapeutic effect of SSRIs. However, these data indicate that pindolol exhibits in vivo selectivity for the DRN 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors. As DRN selectivity is desirable for potentiation of 5-HT function, this observation represents an important proof of concept for the development of 5-HT(1A) agents in this application.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Immunoreactivity against intracellular domains of desmogleins in pemphigus.

In pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF), most of the autoantibodies are directed against the extracellular domains of desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) or Dsg3, and those antibodies are proved to play a pathogenic role in blister formation in the skin and mucous membranes. However, some pemphigus sera have been reported to react with the intracellular domains of these antigens. In the present study, we examined the reactivity of the sera from various types of pemphigus with recombinant proteins of extracellular and intracellular domains of human Dsg1 and Dsg3 by immunoblot analysis. We produced the entire extracellular domain of Dsg1 or Dsg3 fused with mouse IgG2a by baculovirus expression. We prepared the intracellular domain of Dsg1 or Dsg3 fused with glutathione-S-transferase by bacterial expression. All of the 31 PV sera reacted with the extracellular domain of Dsg3 and four reacted with the intracellular domain. Six out of 19 PF sera reacted with the extracellular domain of Dsg1 and five reacted with the intracellular domain. In addition, some sera of Brazilian PF patients or cases with mixed features of PV and PF also reacted with the intracellular domains of Dsg1 or Dsg3. Although the frequency was low, some sera did react with the intracellular domain of Dsgs.

Baculoviridae↗

PubMed2001

Clinical significance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of circulating anti-BP180 autoantibodies in patients with bullous pemphigoid.

The NC16A domain of the 180-kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen (BP180) is the most immunogenic and, probably, pathogenic region in bullous pemphigoid (BP). In the present study, in order to determine whether serum level of circulating anti-BP180 autoantibodies is a valuable serum marker in BP, the immunoreactivity of sera against the NC16A domain of BP180 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in ten patients with BP. Serum levels of anti-BP180 autoantibodies correlated with the clinical course in BP patients, who received various therapeutic agents. The result suggests that this NC16A-ELISA is a useful method for evaluating the clinical course and efficacy of the therapy in patients with BP.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Cerebellar stimulation in acute cerebellar ataxia.

OBJECTIVES: To report follow-up studies of cerebellar stimulation in patients with acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA). METHODS: We studied two patients with ACA. One patient also had decreased deep sensations in the feet due to combined diseases such as diabetic polyneuropathy and lumbosacral radiculopathies. We applied the technique of electrical stimulation over the cerebellum which was reported previously (Ugawa et al., J Physiol 441 (1991a) 57). RESULTS: Conditioning stimulation over the cerebellum did not reduce the size of motor-evoked potentials to test magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex at conditioning-test intervals of 5, 6, and 7 ms in the acute stage in both patients. However, normal suppression was recognized in the recovery stage in both patients. CONCLUSIONS: This technique was useful for follow-up evaluation of cerebellar function in patients with ACA and was also useful for distinguishing cerebellar ataxia from sensory ataxia in a patient with combined diseases.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Enhanced associated movements in the contralateral limbs elicited by brisk voluntary contraction in choreic disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To study the deficit of inhibition of excessive motor drive generated in the central nervous system in chorea. METHODS: Identical associated movements in the contralateral limb elicited by rapid hand squeezing were measured in 6 patients with Huntington's disease, 7 patients with peak-dose dyskinesia, 10 patients with Parkinson's disease, 8 patients with spinocerebellar degeneration and in 8 normal subjects. The intensity of associated movements was assessed by the EMG amplitude ratio of associated contractions to active contractions. RESULTS: The associated movement ratios were larger in Huntington's disease and peak-dose dyskinesia as compared to other groups. The ratios in akinetic "off" phase were smaller than those in dyskinetic "on" phase in all peak-dose dyskinesia patients. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced associated movements support a possible common mechanism that chorea may result from failure in inhibition of phasic neural activity pathologically generated in the brain.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Relation between changes in long-latency stretch reflexes and muscle stiffness in Parkinson's disease--comparison before and after unilateral pallidotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of posteroventral pallidotomy on both the size of long-latency stretch reflex (LLR) and the muscle stiffness in the wrist flexor muscles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients (right-handed, 6 men and 5 women) underwent left-side microelectrode-guided pallidotomy. The LLR of the contralesional forearm was studied at baseline and 2-3 months after surgery while patients continued to take their optimal medical regimens ('on' period). Patients were instructed not to respond to the perturbation (passive mode) or to oppose the mechanical extensor perturbation (active mode). RESULTS: The stretch reflex evoked by extension perturbations of the wrist consisted of a short-latency reflex (M1) and an LLR (M2). Pallidotomy had no effects on the size of M1 components in both passive and active mode and on that of M2 component in the passive mode, however, it significantly reduced M2 component in the active mode (P<0.05). The inherent muscle stiffness over 60 ms period of mechanical stretch was not influenced by pallidotomy in any experimental condition (preoperative vs. postoperative or passive mode vs. active mode). The hand displacement following M2 component increased significantly after pallidotomy in both passive (P<0.005) and active mode (P<0.05). The inverted value of the displacement following M2 component correlated with the size of M2 component (r=0.60, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pallidotomy decreased the transcortical reflex gain, probably at cortical level, and consequently reduced muscle stiffness.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Culturally verified Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in Japan: a long-term observation from 1979-99.

We describe the prevalence of community-acquired M. pneumoniae pneumonia diagnosed by culture methods in a single institute in Japan from January 1979 to December 1999. Cultures were performed in 2971 pneumonia cases and yielded M. Pneumoniae in 508 cases. The epidemic peaks recurred regularly at 4-year intervals (1980, 84, 88 and 91-2). Although a large epidemic has not occurred since 1992, traces of epidemic periodicity have still persisted from 1992 to 1999 at 3-year intervals.

Adolescent↗