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Biomedical subjects

Y Itoh

Publications and source records attributed to Y Itoh.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Serum amyloid A1 alleles and plasma concentrations of serum amyloid A.

Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), the predominant isotype of acute phase SAA in plasma and the predominant precursor of fibrillar deposits in reactive amyloidosis, is encoded by a gene, for which six allelic variants have been described. Recent studies proposed that the allele SAA1.3 was positively correlated with the development of reactive amyloidosis in Japanese. This study examined whether the plasma concentration of total SAA is influenced by specific SAA1 alleles. Two hundred and eighty healthy Japanese subjects were examined to determine the allelic distribution of SAA1 and SAA2 genes by the PCR-RFLP method, and to measure the total plasma SAA concentrations. SAA concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in subjects with the allele SAA1.5 than those without it, suggesting that SAA1.5 may have a distinctive feature in the process of synthesis or catabolism. Subjects with the allele SAA1.3 had lower SAA concentrations, though not statistically significant, than those with SAA1.1. There was not significant correlation of SAA2 alleles with SAA concentrations. These results are discussed in terms of amyloidogenicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Monozygotic twins with suspected hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) type V].

We report a pair of 1-year-5-month-old female monozygotic twins with generalized loss of pain sensation, but without impairment of other sensory modalities and the diaphoretic function. Routine electrophysiological investigations revealed no abnormalities. Morphometric analysis of biopsied sural nerve showed that the number of small myelinated fibers was reduced and that of unmyelinated fibers was normal or mildly reduced. On the basis of these findings, we suspected a diagnosis of a rare disorder, HSAN type V, which has not previously been reported in Japan.

Diseases in Twins↗
PubMed1999

[Analysis of serum amyloid A1 alleles by PCR-RFLP].

Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), the acute phase isotype of SAA protein family, preferentially forms amyloid fibrils in reactive amyloidosis. Three alleles (alpha, beta, gamma) have been identified in the SAA1 locus. A recent study suggested the association of SAA1 gamma with amyloidogenesis in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, PCR-RFLP method was developed for SAA1 allele analysis. The use of two restriction enzymes, Ban I and Bcl I, for SAA1-derived PCR products, clearly identified six SAA1 genotypes. The frequency of SAA1 alleles was determined in the 100 healthy subjects, and resulted in 33.0%, 30.5% and 36.5%, for alpha, beta and gamma, respectively.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

[Assessment of left ventricular function by electrocardiogram-gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography using quantitative gated single photon emission computed tomography software].

Electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can assess left ventricular (LV) perfusion and function easily using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software. ECG-gated SPECT was performed in 44 patients with coronary artery disease under post-stress and resting conditions to assess the values of LV functional parameters, by comparison to LV ejection fraction derived from gated blood pool scan and myocardial characteristics. A good correlation was obtained between ejection fraction using QGS and that using cardiac blood pool scan (r = 0.812). Some patients with myocardial ischemia had lower ejection fraction under post-stress compared to resting conditions, indicating post-stress LV dysfunction. LV wall motion and wall thickening were significantly impaired in ischemic and infarcted myocardium, and the degree of abnormality in the infarcted areas was greater than in the ischemic area. LV functional parameters derived using QGS were useful to assess post-stress LV dysfunction and myocardial viability. In conclusion, ECG-gated myocardial SPECT permits simultaneous quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion and function.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMed1999

[Development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for protein 1/Clara cell 10 kDa protein using monoclonal antibodies].

Protein 1 (P1)/Clara cell 10 kDa protein is a dimer of identical subunits of 70 amino acids. Designed to expand its clinical significance, a sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for P1 was developed using two monoclonal antibodies, which were recently generated and characterized in this laboratory. The precision, reproducibility and specificity of the assay were quite satisfactory. Species specificity was also satisfactory. The detection sensitivity was 5 ng/l; high enough to quantify P1 in several body fluids. P1 was distributed in the value of 13 to 25 micrograms/l, 153-4300 micrograms/l and 145-8600 micrograms/l, in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and seminal fluids, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using protracted infusion of low-dose CDDP and 5-FU and radiotherapy for esophageal cancer].

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1994 and April 1998, concurrent chemoradiotherapy using protracted infusion of low-dose cisplatin (CDDP: 3-6 mg/m2/24h), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU: 200 mg/m2/24h) and radiotherapy was given to 26 patients. The median age was 70 yr, with a range from 58 to 86 yr. With regard to TNM classification (1987), six patients were stage II, five stage III, and 15 stage IV. Radiotherapy was performed by external irradiation alone in 23 patients and external irradiation plus brachytherapy in three patients. One patient underwent surgery after a dose of 40 Gy owing to the possibility of idiopathic bleeding from the stomach. RESULTS: Locally, primary effects resulted in complete response in 11 patients (42.3%) and partial response in 15 (57.7%). Acute toxicity was primarily hematologic. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia of grade 3 or 4 occurred in eight (30.7%) and six (23.0%) of 26 patients, respectively. In patients administered CDDP at more than 5 mg/m2/day, hemotoxicity was severe because in five of the 10 patients administered 5 mg/m2 CDDP and one of the two patients administered 6 mg/m2 CDDP, thrombocytopenia of grade 3 or 4 occurred. CONCLUSION: Protracted infusion of low-dose CDDP and 5-FU with concomitant radiation therapy is effective, but from the point of acute toxicity, the optimal dose of CDDP and 5-FU needs further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Effects of mild and moderate hypothermia on cerebral function and cerebral circulation of the rat in vivo].

Hypothermia in clinical use is for protection of the brain during cardiac surgery and resuscitation of post-traumatic brain injury or focal brain ischemia. In the present study, effects of hypothermia on evoked potential, long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal CA1, electroencephalogram (EEG) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were studied with use of anesthetized rats. In addition to brain function, the changes in systemic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory metabolism by means of the artery blood gas analysis and end tidal carbon dioxide concentration (ETCO2) were studied. After obtaining baseline recordings of evoked potential at 37 degrees C of brain temperature, rats were cooled by the iceslash-blanket method and were maintained at either 28 degrees C or 32 degrees C. Ninety minutes later, the animals were re-warmed up to 37 degrees C. When temperature was stabilized at 28 degrees C or 32 degrees C, the high-frequent stimulation (tetanus) was delivered. Responses were recorded for 60 minutes following the tetanic stimulation. Both heart rate and mean arterial pressure increased by cooling. CBF was reduced by cooling to 49.0 +/- 6.2% at 28 degrees C and 72.9 +/- 6.9% at 32 degrees C from the baseline. The amplitude of population spike in the hippocampal CA1 region increased to 194.6 +/- 10.6% (28 degrees C) and 168.4 +/- 6.9% (32 degrees C) by cooling. After re-warming, the amplitude was reduced to 146.8 +/- 12.9% in 28 degrees C group and to 131.9 +/- 9.7% in 32 degrees C group, but a significant difference from the baseline remained. The latency increased to 135.48 +/- 2.70% at 28 degrees C and 115.55 +/- 2.26% at 32 degrees C by cooling but recovered to the baseline levels by re-warming. LTP in the hippocampal CA1 was observed at 32 degrees C but not at 28 degrees C. These findings suggest that hypothermia may increase hippocampal synaptic transmission and may not disturb its plasticity at 32 degrees C.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

[The anesthetic management of a patient with a congenital mediastinal cyst undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)].

We recently conducted video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) on an 8-day-old boy in whom a congenital mediastinal cyst had caused obstruction of the left main bronchus. After the surgery, the cyst recurred and caused reobstruction of the airway. When he was 51-day-old, we conducted VATS again. We could not perform cystectomy by VATS because the left lung was inflated, and we conducted cystectomy by thoracotomy.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1999

Immunohistochemical expressions of prohormone convertase (PC)1/3 and PC2 in carcinoids of various organs.

In order to clarify the expression of prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 and PC2 in various carcinoids and non-carcinoid endocrine tumors, we performed indirect immunoperoxidase staining on total of 19 cases of carcinoids (9 cases of bronchial carcinoids, 4 cases of rectal carcinoids, 4 cases of gastric carcinoids and 2 cases of bile duct carcinoids). Our study also included 7 non-carcinoid endocrine tumors. Seventy-nine% and 26% of carcinoids highly or strongly expressed positive staining for PC1/3 and PC2, respectively. High and strong expressions (3+ or 4+) of both PC1/3 and PC2 were noted in only bronchial carcinoids. Strong expressions for only PC1/3 were noted in rectal carcinoids. Bile duct carcinoids also demonstrated higher expressions of PC1/3 than those of PC2. These results suggested that high expressions of both PC1/3 and PC2 in bronchial carcinoids might reflect their diverse and frequent peptide production. The expressions of PC1/3 mRNA and PC2 mRNA detected by in situ hybridization in the bronchial carcinoids and rectal carcinoids were correlated with immunoexpressions of both of the antigens. The granular immunoexpression pattern of PC1/3 and PC2 visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy would suggest the site of post-translational processing in the secretory granules. Non-carcinoid endocrine tumors showed low expressions (+ or 2+) of PC1/3 and PC2, except for thyroid medullary carcinoma showing high immunoexpression of PC1/3. Other non-carcinoid endocrine tumors (parathyroid adenomas and adrenal pheochromocytomas) revealed low immunoexpressions for both PC1/3 and PC2.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[A case of acute theophylline intoxication with repeated status convulsivus].

We report a 6-month-old female infant with status convulsivus which appeared during intravenous drip infusion of aminophylline. She had an extremely high serum theophylline concentration (79 micrograms/ml), which was effectively reduced by plasmapheresis and dialysis. Three days later, she developed status convulsivus again, though her serum theophylline was undetectable at that time. A CT on 14th day of illness revealed mild widening of frontal sulci and Sylvian fissure. The patient apparently recovered her healthy condition, but psychomotor developmental delay, especially in speech and social behavior, was noted at the age of 2 years 6 months (DQ = 55). A delay of myelination was observed on brain MRI at 4 year 1 months, suggesting an irreversible brain injury caused by theophylline intoxication.

Brain↗
PubMed1998

Effects of thyroid hormone on the sorbitol pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Sorbitol accumulation plays an important role in diabetic complications involving the kidney, nerves, retina, lens and cardiac muscle. To investigate the influence of thyroid hormone on the sorbitol pathway, we studied the effects of thyroid hormone on polyol metabolism in normal and diabetic rats. Rats were divided into three groups: controls, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic euthyroid rats (DM) and STZ-induced diabetic hyperthyroid (thyroxine-injected) rats (DM+HT). The sorbitol (Sor) concentrations in the kidney, liver and sciatic nerve (2.53+/-0.74, 0.97+/-0.16 and 24.0+/-5.1 nmol/mg protein, respectively) of the DM rats were significantly higher than those (1.48+/-0.31, 0.58+/-0.13 and 3. 1+/-0.6 nmol/mg protein) of the control rats. The Sor concentrations in the kidney and sciatic nerve of the DM+HT rats (1.26+/-0.29 and 9. 40+/-1.2 nmol/mg protein) were significantly lower than those in the DM rats. These values were reduced in the liver, unchanged in the kidney, and increased in the sciatic nerve from the hyperthyroid rats without diabetes. Thyroid hormone reduced the aldose reductase (AR) activities in the kidney, liver and sciatic nerve of the DM rats, and similarly reduced AR in the kidney and liver, but not in the sciatic nerve, of the non-diabetic rats. The sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities were decreased by thyroid hormone in the kidney and liver but not the sciatic nerve of DM rats. In the non-diabetic rats, this enzyme activity was decreased in liver, but not in kidney or sciatic nerve. A positive correlation between the Sor concentration and AR activity was observed in the kidney and liver but not in the sciatic nerve from control, DM and DM+HT rats. A negative correlation was observed between the Sor concentration and SDH activities in the same organs. These data suggest that thyroid hormone affects the sorbitol pathway, but the detailed mechanism whereby this hormone reduces the sorbitol content (especially in diabetic rats) remains to be clarified.

Aldehyde Reductase↗