Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Mitsuma

Publications and source records attributed to T Mitsuma.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Clinicopathological features of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in childhood.

The clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological findings, and the therapeutic characteristics in ten children with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), whose onset age was less than 16 years, were evaluated. The clinical progression pattern of the initial phase divided the patients into two groups. One group (six patients) showed a subacute progression for up to 2 months after onset and a subsided progression over 3 months. Three patients in this group had a preceding febrile episode. The other group (four patients) showed a chronic insidious progression for more than 3 months. The former group of patients revealed a favourable response to corticosteroid therapy as compared with the latter group. However, other clinical and laboratory features at the peak impairment were not distinguishable between these two groups. Motor dominant neuropathy was common to all patients, and only three cases showed sensory disturbance on the distal limbs. No cases revealed cranial nerve involvement. Motor and sensory nerve conduction and sural nerve biopsy studies revealed the demyelinating nature of the neuropathy. These clinicopathological features suggest that the subacute progression form frequently associated with prodromal episode and rather favourable corticosteroid response is characteristic in childhood CIDP, while the chronic insidious progression form is indistinguishable from the common adult CIDP.

Adolescent↗

Clustering of CMT1A duplication breakpoints in a 700 bp interval of the CMT1A-REP repeat.

The CMT1A-REP repeat is proposed to mediate unequal crossover leading to a 1.5 Mb duplication in chromosome 17p11.2-12 associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1A (CMT1A). There is an apparent recombinational "hotspot" in the CMT1A-REP repeat since the majority of crossover breakpoints for CMT1A are located within a 1.7 kb interval. Further to characterize the crossover breakpoint region, we constructed PCR primers that specifically amplify the duplication breakpoint junctions in a series of Japanese and Caucasian CMT1A patients. We mapped the breakpoints in 89% of patients within a 700 bp interval of the CMT1A-REP repeat. This 700 bp region is 1.3 kb telomeric to a previously described mariner-like transposable element. Our observations further define the location of crossovers for CMT1A and provide additional evidence that this region is a recombinational "hotspot" within the CMT1A-REP repeat.

Asian People↗

Effect of intragastric administration of beta-endorphin on thyrotropin-releasing hormone and somatostatin release into gastric lumen of rats.

The neuropeptides beta-endorphin (BE), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and somatostatin (SOM) in the gastric mucosa have the capacity to regulate gastric function. To clarify the possible role of BE in the interactions of neuropeptides and gastric acid secretion we investigated the effect of the intragastric administration of BE on TRH and SOM release into the gastric lumen. BE (100ng/kg) induced an immediate decrease in TRH release and a reciprocal increase in SOM release into the gastric lumen, followed by the suppression of gastric acid secretion. When various doses of BE (0-500ng/kg) were administered, changes in TRH and SOM occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with naloxone dihydrochloride (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) completely inhibited the BE-induced changes in the release of these peptides. These findings suggest that BE has a paracrine effect on TRH and SOM release into the gastric lumen through opioid receptors, and that these interactions may be involved in the regulation of gastric acid secretion.

Animals↗

Expression of low-affinity neurotrophin receptor p75NTR in the peripheral nervous system of human neuropathies.

Expression of low-affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was immunohistochemically examined in the peripheral nerve trunks, dorsal root ganglia, sympathetic nerve ganglia and spinal cords in various human neurological diseases manifesting peripheral neuropathies. p75NTR was expressed in the nerves with axonal degeneration, and was also prominent in the nerves with newly regenerating axons. In contrast, axonal pathology tended to reduce the expression of p75NTR in the neuronal perikarya of the dorsal root ganglion and sympathetic nerve ganglion neurons. In the ventral and lateral horn cells, the p75NTR immunoreactivity was not detected in the normal and diseased nerves except for amyloid polyneuropathy. These p75NTR expressions in the diseased human peripheral nervous tissues would be regulated by an underlying pathology-related process, and could play a role in peripheral nerve repair.

Aged↗

Nonneural nuclear inclusions of androgen receptor protein in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is an X-linked motor neuronopathy caused by the expansion of an unstable CAG repeat in the coding region of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Nuclear inclusions of the mutant AR protein have been shown to occur in the spinal motor neurons of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (Li M, Kobayashi Y, Merry D, Tanaka F, Doyu M, Hashizume Y, Fischbeck KH, Sobue G: Nuclear inclusions in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Ann Neurol 1998 (in press)). In this study, we demonstrate the tissue-specific distribution, immunochemical features, and fine structure of nuclear inclusions of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Nuclear inclusions were observed in affected spinal and brainstem motor neurons, but not in other, nonaffected neural tissues. Similar nuclear inclusions occurred in nonneural tissues including scrotal skin, dermis, kidney, heart, and testis, but not in the spleen, liver, and muscle. These inclusions had similar epitope features detectable by antibodies that recognize a small portion of the N-terminus of the AR protein only, and they were ubiquitinated. Electron microscopic immunohistochemistry showed dense aggregates of AR-positive granular material without limiting membrane, both in the neural and nonneural inclusions. These findings indicate that nuclear inclusions of AR protein are present in selected nonneural tissues as well as in neurons that degenerate in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, suggesting that a common mechanism underlies in the formation of neural and nonneural nuclear inclusions.

Aged↗

Inhibitory effect of somatostatin on Helicobacter pylori proliferation in vitro.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Somatostatin regulates gastric function and cell proliferation. We investigated whether exogenous somatostatin modulates Helicobacter pylori proliferation in vitro. METHODS: Bacteria were cultured in 5 mL Brucella broth. Bacterial numbers of H. pylori (ATCC 43504) and Escherichia coli were calculated 48 and 5 hours after incubation, respectively, by counting the colonies on the blood agar. Chemicals were dissolved in absolute methanol and added to the broth at a final methanol concentration of 1%. Intrabacterial guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Somatostatin significantly suppressed H. pylori proliferation at levels at or above 10(-11) mol/L. A similar antiproliferative effect was observed with 8-bromo-cGMP. At concentrations at or above 10(-8) mol/L, dibutyryl cAMP slightly but significantly stimulated bacterial proliferation. Gastrin had no effect. Somatostatin antibody immunoglobulin G fraction blocked the antiproliferative effect of somatostatin on ATCC 43504. Scatchard plot showed that ATCC 43504 has one class of binding site with relatively high affinity (Kd, 0.31 nmol/L). Somatostatin at 10(-11) mol/L increased cGMP and cAMP in H. pylori 11-fold and 6-fold, respectively. In contrast, somatostatin neither bound E. coli nor affected its proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Somatostatin, at a similar level in human gastric juice (approximately 10(-11) mol/L), suppresses H. pylori proliferation mediated in part by a cGMP-dependent pathway in vitro, indicating a possible inhibitory effect of somatostatin in the gastric lumen on H. pylori proliferation in humans.

Antibodies↗

In vitro effects of endothelin-1 on somatostatin and thyrotropin-releasing hormone release from the rat stomach.

The effects of endothelin (ET) 1 on the release of somatostatin (SS) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the rat stomach were studied in vitro. The rat stomach was incubated in medium 199 with 1.0 mg/ml of bacitracin (pH 7.4) for 20 min. The amounts of SS and TRH released into the medium were measured by individual radioimmunoassays. With the addition of ET-1, the release of SS from the rat stomach was inhibited significantly in a dose-related manner, whereas TRH released from the stomach was enhanced significantly. These effects of ET-1 on SS or TRH release were blocked by BQ-485, a blocker of ETA receptor. These findings suggest that ET-1 inhibits SS and stimulates TRH release from the rat stomach in vitro, and that these effects are mediate via ETA receptor.

Animals↗

Nerve growth factor maintains regulation of intracellular calcium in neonatal sympathetic neurons but not in mature or aged neurons.

We examined the effects of nerve growth factor on the regulation of intracellular calcium levels of superior cervical ganglion neurons in terms of postnatal maturation and ageing. Rat superior cervical ganglion neurons from three age groups (neonatal: 0 to one-day-old, young adult: three to six-month-old, and aged: more than 24-month-old) were dissociated and cultured in the presence or absence of 100 ng/ml of nerve growth factor. Intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) were measured using the fura-2 microfluorometry. Nerve growth factor treatment increased the resting [Ca2+]i of neonatal neurons, although it had no effect on those of mature and aged neurons. We further examined the effects of nerve growth factor on the transient increase of [Ca2+]i induced by methacholine (0.1 mM), caffeine (20 mM) or high-potassium medium (40 mM K+). Nerve growth factor pre-treatment significantly increased the population of neonatal superior cervical ganglion neurons which responded to methacholine, whereas almost all young adult and aged neurons responded to methacholine regardless of pre-treatment of nerve growth factor. Caffeine induced a cyclic alteration of [Ca2+]i (oscillation) in 45% of the neonatal superior cervical ganglion neurons when they were maintained without nerve growth factor, but nerve growth factor treatment suppressed the oscillation to 10% of neurons. In contrast to neonatal neurons, all of the young adult and aged neurons showed only a transient increase of [Ca2+]i in response to caffeine independent of nerve growth factor treatment. There was no significant effect of nerve growth factor on K+ depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i elevations at any of the ages studied. Nerve growth factor did not substantially alter the pattern of the transients induced by these three agents. Our results indicate that exogenous nerve growth factor is necessary to maintain normal acetylcholine receptor-mediated [Ca2+]i responses as well as Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular calcium storage in neonatal superior cervical ganglion neurons. In mature superior cervical ganglion neurons, Ca2+ homeostasis becomes independent of exogenous nerve growth factor, and Ca2+ homeostasis and its independency are well preserved in aged neurons.

Aging↗

Expression of mRNAs for neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, and NT-3) and their receptors (p75NGFR, trk, trkB, and trkC) in human peripheral neuropathies.

The steady-state mRNA levels of NGF, BDNF and NT-3, and the mRNA levels of their receptors p75NGFR, trk, trkB, and trkC were examined in various human peripheral neuropathies, to determine the correlation with myelinated fiber pathology and T cell and macrophage invasions in the diseased nerves. Steady state levels of p75NGFR mRNAs were significantly elevated in nerves with axonal pathology. In contrast, steady state levels of trkB and trkC mRNA levels were diminished. trk mRNA was not detected in the human nerves. The NGF, BDNF, and NT-3 mRNA levels were elevated in the diseased nerves. The increase in BDNF and NT-3 mRNA levels were proportional to the extent of invasion of the nerves by T cells and macrophages, but did not directly correlate with axonal nor demyelinating pathology, thus suggesting that inflammatory cell invasions are involved in the regulation of BDNF and NT-3 mRNA expressions. These neurotrophin and their receptor gene expressions in the diseased human nerves would be regulated by an underlying pathology-related process, and could play a role in peripheral nerve repair.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor↗

Somatic mosaicism of the expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in mRNAs for the responsible gene of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).

The CAG trinucleotide repeats in mRNAs for the responsible genes of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and X-linked spinal and bulbal muscular atrophy (SBMA) were examined in various neural and nonneural tissues of affected individuals. The tissue-specific variation of expanded CAG repeat alleles were apparent for mRNAs of all three genes. The expanded CAG repeats of the mRNA were shorter in the cerebellum than in other regions of the central nervous system in DRPLA and MJD, but not in SBMA, and were longer in the liver and colon in MJD. Transcripts of the responsible genes with expanded CAG repeats were detected in all tissues studied, and the tissue-specific variation in the CAG repeat size of the mRNA did not correlate with the tissue-specific severity of pathological involvement in these diseases.

Adult↗

Frequency analysis of autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias in Japanese patients and clinical characterization of spinocerebellar ataxia type 6.

Using a molecular diagnostic approach, we investigated 101 kindreds with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) from the central Honshu island of Japan, including spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), dentatorubral and pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). In our unselected series, MJD was the most common type of ADCA, accounting for 33.7% followed by DRPLA (19.8%), SCA2 (5.9%) and SCA6 (5.9%). No SCA1 mutations were identified. We analysed the clinical features of six molecular confirmed SCA6 kindreds: in each family, there was an expanded allele in the alpha1A-voltage dependent calcium channel comprising between 23 and 25 CAG repeats. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 43+/-13 years. The clinical features consisted predominantly of cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria and horizontal nystagmus, which was generally consistent with ADCA type 3. However several new clinical features were found in some patients: dramatic anticipation, rapid disease progression, severe ataxia associated with action tremor or action myoclonus, and very early onset, which are not described as the classical features of ADCA type 3.

Adult↗

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone and somatostatin inhibit each others release in vitro in the rat retina.

The effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), somatostatin (SS) or octreotide, an analogue of SS, on release of TRH or SS from the rat retina was studied in vitro. The retina was incubated in medium 199 (pH 7.4) with 1.0 mg/ml of bacitracin (medium) for 20 min. The amount of TRH or SS release into the medium was measured by individual radioimmunoassays. The TRH release from the rat retina was inhibited significantly in a dose-related manner by the addition of SS or octreotide. The SS release from the retina was inhibited by TRH, and the inhibitory effect of TRH on SS release from the rat retina was blocked by the addition of anti-TRH receptor antiserum immunoglobulin fraction. The findings suggest an interaction between TRH and SS in the rat retina by which the addition of one inhibits the release of the other.

Animals↗

Implications of gastric topical bioactive peptides in ammonia-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions in rats.

BACKGROUND: Ammonia, one of the pathogenic factors in Helicobacter pylori-induced mucosal injury, induces acute mucosal lesions in the rat glandular stomach. METHODS: The effect of ammonia administered intragastrically on gastric peptides was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. RESULTS: Gastric mucosal lesions were observed 5 min after 0.3% ammonia (4 ml/kg, intragastrically). Immunoreactive endothelin-1 (ET-1) and immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) concentrations in the gastric wall decreased significantly 2 min and 5 min after ammonia, respectively. A significant increase in gastric juice immunoreactive ET-1 and TRH levels was reciprocally observed. The severity of gastric mucosal injury and changes in gastric immunoreactive ET-1 and TRH concentrations were shown to be concentration-dependent 30 min after ammonia. Atropine (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, -20 min) prevented ammonia-induced injury accompanied by a block of changes in gastric immunoreactive ET-1 and TRH concentrations. BQ-485 (ET(A) receptor antagonist; 2 mg/kg, subcutaneously) also abolished ammonia-induced lesions and gastric immunoreactive TRH changes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that gastric ET-1 and TRH play a role in ammonia-induced gastric mucosal injury mediated via a muscarine and an ET(A) receptor.

Ammonia↗

Central action of adrenomedullin to prevent ethanol-induced gastric injury through vagal pathways in rats.

Adrenomedullin (AM), belongs to the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family and interacts with AM and CGRP1 receptors. Specific AM receptors and immunoreactivity are present in the rat brain. The effect of intracisternal injection of rat AM on ethanol-induced gastric lesions was studied in conscious Wistar rats. The peptide was injected intracisternally or intravenously under short anesthesia 20 min before intragastric injection of 70% ethanol. Corpus lesions were determined 1 h after ethanol. Intracisternal AM (75, 150, and 300 pmol) dose-dependently inhibited ethanol-induced gastric lesions by 40-72% and rat alpha-CGRP (150 pmol ic) by 76%. Intravenous AM (300 pmol) had no effect. The CGRP1 receptor antagonist CGRP-(8-37) (9.6-19.2 nmol ic) dose-dependently inhibited the protective effect of intracisternal alpha-CGRP but not that of AM. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and peripheral injection of atropine, indomethacin, or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) prevented AM protective action. L-Arginine but not D-arginine blocked L-NAME action. These data suggest that both AM and CGRP act in the brain to prevent ethanol-induced gastric lesions through interaction with their specific receptors. AM action may involve vagal cholinergic-dependent modulation of prostaglandins and nitric oxide protective mechanisms.

Adrenomedullin↗

[Serial MRI findings in patients with CNS cryptococcosis].

We reported the serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of two patients with central nervous system (CNS) cryptococcal infection without AIDS. The diagnosis of CNS cryptococcosis was made by visualizing the fungi in the CSF with the India ink test, detecting cryptococcal antigens, and culturing the fungus. Both patients had dilated perivascular Virchow-Robin (V-R) spaces, which were defined as small rounded lesions greater less than 3mm diameter that were hyperintense on T2-weighted images. They were present in the basal ganglia, brainstem and cerebral white matter. Case 1 had bilateral parietal arachnoid cyst which was thought to represent a focal collection of organisms and mucoid material within subarachnoid space. Abnormal optochiasmatic arachnoid enhancement detected in case 2, who had complete loss of vision. With disease progression perivascular V-R increased in size, resulting in the developing cryptococomas which were defined as rounded lesions greater than 3mm diameter, and were hyperintense on T2-weighted images in the basal ganglia, cerebellum and cerebral white matter. In follow-up MRI of those patients, radiological progression was seen despite appropriate treatment and falling CSF cryptococcal antigens. In conclusion, this spectrum of MRI appearances in CNS cryptococcosis reflects the pathological mechanism of invasion by the fungus, and may be relatively specific for cryptococcosis.

Aged↗

Radioimmunoassay for Aquaporin-2.

OBJECTIVE: To develop radioimmunoassay for aquaporin-2 (AQP-2). METHODS: Anti-AQP-2 antiserum has been raised in New Zealand white rabbits immunized with a conjugate of synthetic AQP-2 peptide (257-271) with bovine serum albumin. Radioiodination of synthetic peptide (tyrosine-AQP2 (257-271) was performed by chloramine T method, followed by purification of radioiodinated material on Sephadex G-25 column. RESULTS: The obtained antibody did not crossreact with vasopressin, pituitary hormones, hypothalamic hormones and neuropeptides. The assay was performed with a double antibody system. The values are expressed as an equivalent of synthetic AQP-2 peptide (257-271). The dilution curve of high AQP-2 urine in radioimmunoassay system was parallel to the standard curve. The recovery percentage of AQP-2 added to urine was about 100 % in this assay system. Intra-assay and inter-assay variation was 4.5 % and 7.2 %, respectively. Mean urinary excretion of AQP-2 was 1.16 ng equivalent of AQP-2 (257-271)/mg creatine and was lower in patients with diabetes insipidus. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that his assay system is a suitable to measure AQP-2 in urine.

Journal Article↗

The effects of Soybean Diet on Thyroid Hormone and Thyrotropin Levels in Aging Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of soybean diet on serum level of thyroid hormone, its metabolites and thyrotropin (TSH) during aging in rats. METHODS: Male Donryu rats were fed laboratory chow containing 40 (Group A) or 10 volume percent (Group B) soybean protein, while controls (Group C) received regular laboratory chow. Groups of 10 animals of each groups were sacrificed by decapitation at the age of 12, 18, 24 and 30 months. Serum total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (FT4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) and 3,3'-diiodothyronine (3,3'-T2) and TSH concentrations were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. RESULTS: In Group A the level of T3 decreased significantly at from the age of 18 months, while in other groups such decrease was found only from the age of 24 months. Such changes were closely resembled by these in the level of 3,3'-T2, while inverse changes were observed in the level of rT3 which was increased in Group A from the age of 18 months and in the other groups from the age of 24 months. Serum T4 and FT4 level was decreased in all groups at the age of 30 months and no changes were observed in the level of TSH. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the level of T4, FT4 and T3 with its metabolite 3,3'-T2 stepwise decreased with aging, while that of rT3 showed inversely and increase. These changes were influenced by the content of soybean protein in the diet, the most rapid changes being found in the group with the high content of such protein.

Journal Article↗