Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Hiraga.
A variety of structural and functional congenital defects affecting the central nervous system of cattle have been identified. This article discusses specific defects of the central nervous system. Spastic and paralytic, metabolic, and storage diseases are reviewed.
Almost all types of congenital duplication described in humans have been observed in food animals, and a number are illustrated in this article. Congenital duplications, especially conjoined symmetric twins, are relatively common defects in cattle. The incidence is less in sheep and in hogs, and they appear to be rare in goats. In cattle, cranial duplication is predominant; this is in contrast to caudal duplication in sheep and hogs. These differences among species are interesting and may explain why congenital duplications appear more frequently in cattle than in other domestic animals. Based on the number of eyes and ears, classification criteria for cranial duplications are proposed. The cause of congenital duplications is not known.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against purified cord factor (trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate) prepared from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and its diagnostic usefulness was evaluated. Serum specimens from 65 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, 58 patients with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, 36 patients with diseases other than tuberculosis, and 66 healthy adults were examined. Patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis showed significantly higher titers of IgG antibodies against cord factor than did other groups (p < 0.001). The antibody titer greater than 0.29 in absorption difference (492 to 630 nm) of 160-times diluted serum was set as positive in ELISA. For patients with active and untreated pulmonary tuberculosis, the ELISA had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 96%. From these results, it was concluded that the detection of IgG antibodies against cord factor is useful for serodiagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis. It was also indicated that the anticord factor antibody titers decline to the normal level as a result of antituberculosis chemotherapy.
Two Holstein calves affected with cervico-pectoral ectopia cordis, a male (No. 1) delivered stillborn and a female (No. 2) died 1 hour after birth, were examined macroscopically and radiographically to assess the severity and elucidate the teratogenesis of the anomaly. The heart of one calf was covered by the intact pericardium and skin and displaced to the caudalmost portion of the ventrocervical region, just cranial to an enlarged thoracic inlet. The cranial vena cava and the vena azygos were duplicated. The sternum was bilaterally divided into two parts fused only at the xyphoid process and was semicircular. The heart of the other calf, covered solely by the pericardium, was exposed ventrally from an oval opening in the body wall just cranial to a defective Y-shaped sternum. In both calves, the arterial branching pattern from the aortic arch was intermediate between the patterns of the dog and pig, and in each case a single pulmonary vein emptied into the left atrium. Pronounced or slight torticollis, cleft palate, and abnormalities in the urogenital system were also found. From an embryological perspective, cervical and pectoral ectopia cordis have a common pathogenesis; the cervical type occurs at a slightly earlier fetal stage than the pectoral type.
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The reticular fibers of the capillary sheath and splenic cord were studied in the pig spleen by transmission electron microscopy to reveal their components and the presence of sialic acid in the amorphous ground substance. Collagen fibrils, elastic fibers, microfibrils, nerve fibers and smooth muscle cells were observed in the reticular fibers of the splenic cord, while only microfibrils were recognized in the reticular fibers of the capillary sheath. The binding of LFA lectin to the splenic cord was stronger than the capillary sheath. These findings may suggest that the reticular fibers of the splenic cord include numerous functional elements and perform an important role during contraction or dilation of the spleen. On the other hand, it seems to be reasonable to term the capillary sheath as "capillary basement membranous reticular tissue", since the reticular fiber of the capillary sheath resembles the basement membrane of the capillary in its components.
The catabolism of lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), remains unclear. Very recently we observed that estrogen, a hormone known to increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity, reduced serum Lp(a) levels in a man with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) (JAMA 267: 2328, 1992). In the present study, we attempted to further evaluate this Lp(a)-lowering action of estrogen in men without FH. Seven men, aged 61-84 yr, treated with estrogen for prostatic cancer were the subjects and seven men who underwent surgical treatment without estrogen therapy served as controls. Fasting blood was collected before and 1-3 months after estrogen therapy, and serum Lp(a) levels and lipoprotein profiles were determined. Estrogen treatment caused significant changes in serum lipoproteins, i.e., decreases in LDL-cholesterol, and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Serum triglyceride levels tended to increase. Serum apo A-1 underwent a two-fold increase, while apo B did not change. Serum Lp(a) levels ranged from 8 to 62 mg/dl. After estrogen treatment serum Lp(a) was reduced markedly, with a mean reduction of 81% (71-95%). Serum lipids, lipoproteins and Lp(a) did not change significantly in the controls. The results demonstrated a regulating effect of estrogen on serum Lp(a) levels, and the findings further suggested that Lp(a) is removed via LDL receptors. However, previous studies have shown that maneuvers causing a decrease in LDL-cholesterol do not always cause a reduction in serum Lp(a). Thus, our findings suggested the possible presence of a receptor which is estrogen-inducible and different from the LDL receptor.
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The complement-dependent phagocytic functions of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) in peripheral blood from 15 patients with localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP), 13 with generalized juvenile periodontitis (GJP) and 52 with adult periodontitis (AP), and from 30 normal subjects as controls were measured by flow cytometry. Heparinized blood was collected and incubated with fluorescent microspheres, and erythrocytes were removed. By means of single-cell analysis the percentage of phagocytosing cells (% phagocytosis) and the mean number of microspheres phagocytosed by one PMNL (degree of phagocytosis; d-phagocytosis) were measured. Some but not all patients with LJP (53%) and GJP (46%) showed consistently low % phagocytosis and d-phagocytosis. On the other hand, only 6% of AP patients and no healthy subjects showed a reduction of PMNL phagocytosis. Phagocytosis was unchanged after initial periodontal treatment in all subjects, suggesting the depression of PMNL phagocytosis may not be a transient phenomenon associated with periodontal status. Furthermore, PMNLs from the LJP patients that showed depressed phagocytic function exhibited depressed phagocytic responses with either autologous or normal plasma, while control PMNLs with either normal or the patients' plasma showed normal responses. These results suggested that the depressed phagocytic responses in LJP patients could be due to cell-associated defect(s) on the PMNL.
Clinical characteristics are analyzed in patients with primary infection of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The definition of primary infection of MAC are determined as follows; 1) MAC is found several times since the beginning of the disease, 2) clinical symptoms or abnormal shadow corresponding to MAC infection on chest roentgenogram, 3) no old tuberculous lesions nor other abnormal shadows like bronchiectasis, 4) no abnormal serological results suggesting other bacterial or viral infections. According to this definition, 17 out of 84 MAC patients are diagnosed as primary MAC infection, and clinical features are analyzed in these 17 patients. Average age of patients is 61.1 +/- 12.9 year old. This age is significantly higher than that of inpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis in our hospital, and lower than that of all MAC patients including secondary infection. Five (29.4%) are male and 12 (70.6%) are female, the ratio of male to female is 1 to 2.4. This value is significantly different with that of inpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis in our hospital who show about 3 to 1. Most of the patients complained of cough with sputum, especially of hemosputum. Eleven out of 17 patients (64.7%) complained repeated hemosputum. The frequency of hemosputum is very high compared with that of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (about 20%). No compromised condition was present except for a patient with Behçet's disease who are taking steroid hormone. Roentgenographic features of primary infection are those of scattered small nodular lesions in the peripheral part of the lung, thin wall cavity formation, no contraction of the diseased lung nor dislocation of the trachea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The effects of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS), an unnatural norepinephrine precursor, on alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in platelet membranes were investigated in a patient with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, two patients with multiple system atrophy, and two patients with Parkinson's disease. Each patient was treated for at least six months. While L-threo-DOPS alone, or in combination with decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide hydrochloride, produced sustained increase in plasma norepinephrine and clinical improvement, it did not induce a change in the number of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in platelet membranes.
The innervation of the red pulp in the spleen of horse and pig was investigated by electron microscopy. In addition, the neurilemma was studied by immunohistochemistry specific for S-100 protein. In the pig, a large population of smooth-muscle cells extending from the smooth-muscle trabeculae was present in the red pulp. The cytoplasmic processes of reticular cells enwrapped the smooth-muscle cells, and nerve fibres were distributed between the smooth-muscle cells and the reticular cells. The nerve terminals clustered toward the facing of the smooth-muscle cells. Nerve fibres and terminals were not disclosed within the sheathed artery. Immunohistochemically the neurilemma showed a reaction positive for S-100 protein. In the horse, no smooth-muscle cells were noted in the red pulp. The nerve fibres terminated around the cytoplasmic processes of the reticular cells. Nerve fibres and terminals were disclosed within the sheathed artery, and the terminals contained both large and small dense-cored vesicles. Immunohistochemically the neurilemma showed a reaction negative for S-100 protein. These findings support the presence of the axon-bearing reticular cells described earlier in the horse spleen.
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The complex carbohydrates in the bovine duodenal glands were examined histochemically using 5 peroxidase-labeled lectins to achieve a better knowledge of their glycoprotein profiles. The presence of at least 2 different cell types and secretion of neutral mucin were observed in the bovine duodenal glands. The duodenal gland cells located in the central area of the lobules contained neutral glycoproteins with different saccharide residues as beta-D-gal-(1-3)-D-galNAc, alpha-D-galNAc, beta-(1-4)-D-glcNAc, NeuNAc and D-galNAc. The other cell types located in the peripheral area of the lobules contained alpha-L-Fuc, alpha-D-galNAc, beta-(1-4)-D-glcNAc, NeuNAc and D-galNAc. These findings seemed to be characteristic of a unique digestive process of the ruminant.
We report a 43-year-old male with hypereosinophilic syndrome. The patient has had eosinophilia since the age of 25. He developed bronchial asthma at 41 years of age. In the following year, he consulted a gastroenterologist because of fever and abdominal discomfort. Upper gastrointestinal study showed duodenitis. At the age of 43 years, there was slight fever, watery diarrhea, and eosinophilia. Examination in our department disclosed hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with duodenitis, endomyocarditis with an intraventricular thrombus, and bronchial asthma caused by house dust. Both prednisolone and aspirin were administered with improvement of eosinophilia and partial thrombolysis. Assays of IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 revealed increased activity of IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3 in this order. Especially IL-5 has by far the strongest activity in these cytokines. IL-5 may play an important role in the development of hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Right heart overload is one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with chronic lung diseases. To clarify hemodynamic and therapeutic significance of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in pulmonary circulation, plasma ANP concentrations were measured during right heart catheterization (RHC) in patients with chronic lung diseases under static and dynamic conditions. 1) Mixed venous, arterial and venous plasma ANP levels in 45 patients were significantly different one another (p less than 0.01). Significant relationships were also seen between ANP concentrations, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PPA; r = 0.85, p less than 0.01), right ventricular systolic pressure (r = 0.91, p less than 0.01), mean right atrial pressure (PRA; r = 0.48, p less than 0.01), and pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.84, p less than 0.01). 2) Arterial ANP levels were measured before and after 28% supplemental oxygen inspiration and administration of intravenous aminophylline (5 mg/kg) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Plasma ANP levels were significantly reduced concomitantly with the reduction of PRA after oxygen, and stroke volume, PRA, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (Pcw) after aminophylline, respectively. 3) Plasma ANP levels were markedly elevated during both exercise with and without aminophylline (5 mg/kg), but the degree of elevation was significantly less with aminophylline. The reductions of PPA, Pcw and PRA were also observed during aminophylline exercise compared with control exercise, whereas plasma catecholamine levels increased similarly in both studies. These findings suggest that plasma ANP levels reflect the state of right heart load in patients with chronic lung diseases and that its levels are useful to evaluate therapeutic value as for right heart overload.
Our case is a 20 years old man. An abnormal mass shadow and emphysematous lesion were found in the left S3 segment on a chest roentgenogram. A bronchogram revealed a left B3 defect. A complete obstruction of the left B3 bronchi covered with normal mucosa was found with a bronchoscopy. Since the patients suffered repeated respiratory infection, a left S3 segmentectomy was performed. Histological examination showed emphysematous change and the normally developed bronchi containing ciliated epithelium and cartilage. We found that, including this case, there are altogether 44 cases of congenital bronchial atresia in Japan. The literature of those cases was reviewed and discussed.
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