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Volume 187 (1999)
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Volume 187, Issue 1
January
Displaying 1-11 of 11 articles from this issue
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Regular Contributions
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Hiromasa Goto, Tomohiko Onodera, Hiroko Hirano, Tadashi Shimamura1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 1-13
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSIn order to investigate how α2(VI) collagen gene is regulated by inflammatory cytokines in cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes, we examined the effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on this collagen mRNA expression. Polylayer cultures of chondrocytes were exposed to IL-1β (0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml). Quantitative detection of specific mRNA for this collagen was carried out by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, to investigate the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) on α2(VI) collagen mRNA expression by IL-1β, chondrocytes were exposed to IL-1β (10 ng/ml) in the presence of HA (0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/ml) with molecular weight of 900 kDa. Chondrocytes were also exposed to IL-1β (10 ng/ml) in the presence of HA (1 mg/ml) with molecular weights of 200, 900 and 2000 kDa. α2(VI) collagen mRNA expression was decreased significantly in chondrocytes cultured with 1 and 10 ng/ml of IL-1β. However, the addition of both IL-1β and HA (0.1, 1 mg/ml) or both IL-1β and HA (1 mg/ml) with all the molecular weight significantly suppressed these reduced mRNA levels. No tendency for this suppression to depend on the molecular weight was observed. These results suggest that suppression of transcriptional activity for type VI collagen will be associated with the reduction of cartilage matrix tissue and that HA will be associated with the suppression of the effect of IL-1β.View full abstractDownload PDF (1003K) -
Kazuki Iida, Kyoko Hidaka, Makoto Takeuchi, Masahiro Nakayama, Chikao ...1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 15-23
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSTo better understand the reguratory mechanisms in gene expression of human cardiomyocytes, we studied the expression of MEF2 genes encoding transcription factors during the course of cardiac development. Expression of all four MEF2 transcripts (MEF2A, MEF2B, MEF2C, and MEF2D) were detected in all developmental stage of the human heart, while Mef2b transcripts were down-regulated in mouse heart development. Although none of the MEF2 genes, besides mouse Mef2b, exhibited any remarkable quantitative change in their transcripts, qualitative changes in MEF2 transcripts were found during the course of cardiac development. In particular, MEF2D transcripts showed prominent changes by alternative splicing in the perinatal period. MEF2D transcripts containing the 21-base exon (exon b) were predominantly expressed after birth. At the same time, transcripts of the alpha myosin heavy chain (αMHC) gene increased after birth, as the splicing pattern in transcripts of the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) gene changed to decrease the transcripts of cTnT1 after birth. These changes seemed to be correlated with the alternative splicing changes of MEF2 genes, especially MEF2D. The alternative splicing as well as transcriptional regulation in MEF2 genes might be important for regulating the αMHC gene and the maturation of cardiomyocytes.View full abstractDownload PDF (856K) -
Hisako Yuasa, Yoshitatsu Fukabori, Yoshihiro Ono, Nao Tomita, Keiji Su ...1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 25-35
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSEpithelial cells of the rat seminal vesicle stained positively for nuclear estrogen receptorα (ERα). We studied these cells using immunohistochemical means. We demonstrated in a previous study that some glandular epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles of immature castrated rats treated with estrogen for 1-2 weeks had multilayer features. The present study shows that these glandular epithelial cells are nuclear ER and basal cell-specific cytokeratin (34βE12) positive. These findings suggested characteristics of basal cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that these cells express transforming growth factorβ1 (TGFβ1) as a result of castration and estrogen treatment. Our findings indicate that glandular epithelial cells with multilayer features, which stained positively for nuclear ERα have basal cell features and may play an important role in the expression of TGFβ1 through an epithelial-stromal interaction.View full abstractDownload PDF (878K) -
Kouhei Fukushima, Iwao Sasaki, Ken-ichi Takahashi, Hiroo Naito, Yuji F ...1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 37-42
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSBecause the beginning of extraction of lamina propria mononuclear cells is to obtain mucosal tissues that are exposed to luminal bacteria, the contaminated endotoxin in this step and/or the enzymes for mucosal digestion may activate mucosal macrophages and other cells. To address this issue, endotoxin levels in isolation solutions were evaluated during the extraction of lamina propria mononuclear cells from 8 control, 7 Crohn's disease and 8 ulcerative colitis specimens. Endotoxin levels were measeured using Toxicolor system based on the limulus tests. Endotoxin levels were consistently below 500 pg/ml, and more importantly, these in enzyme digestion solutions were comparable among control, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Therefore, comparative experiments using lamina propria mononuclear cells from these mucosae can be appropriately carried out, at least as far as in a comparable amount of contaminated endotoxin. However, careful consideration is required for the comparative and functional study using peripheral blood and lamina propria mononuclear cells.View full abstractDownload PDF (357K) -
Tetsuo Sakai, Akira Wakizaka, Yuji Nirasawa, Yasuo Ito1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 43-47
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSA short-segment Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) patient associated with 21 trisomy showing point nucleotidic changes in both the receptor tyrosine kinase (RET) proto-oncogene and the endothelin-B receptor (EDNRB) gene is reported. A T to A heterozygous transition at the splicing donor site of the intron 10 in the RET proto-oncogene, and a G to A heterozygous substitution in non-coding region in the exon 1 of the EDNRB gene were observed. The familial analysis with these genes revealed that the origin of the former mutation was de novo and the latter one was maternal. No patient has been reported with two points mutations in different pathogenetically susceptible loci for HSCR. There is genetic evidence that the RET and EDNRB genes may interact in their susceptibility leading to HSCR.View full abstractDownload PDF (382K) -
Yukio Goto, Yoshihiro Sugiura, Masahiro Yanagimoto, Yoshikazu Yasuda, ...1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 49-58
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSMany diabetics may have a high risk involving the cardiovascular system. In an attempt to predict the intraoperative risks of diabetics during anesthesia, we evaluated retrospectively the relationship among the biochemical assay or autonomic nerve function obtained as parts of the preoperative examination, and the blood pressure changes relating to the stimulation of intubation and extubation for anesthesia. In 40 diabetic surgical patients examined the biochemical assay (HbA1c, fructosamine level and blood glucose level) beforehand, the autonomic nerve function was quantified preoperatively by analysis of ECG R-R variability recorded in supine and subsequent standing position using an HRV analyzer, and some parameters of autonomic nerve function especially responsive sympathetic nerve activities were obtained. We assessed the correlation with systolic blood pressure changes in these cases at intubation for general anesthesia comparing to similar conditioned 40 non-diabetics. A diabetics with low vagal activity became larger systolic blood pressure afterdrop at tracheal intubation for anesthesia (r=0.513, p<0.001). Otherwise the blood pressure afterdrop at extubation became larger in a non-diabetics with high sympathetic activity (r=0.502, p<0.001). The preoperative fructosamine concentration in diabetics correlated positively with the responsive sympathetic nerve irritability index; “mRR(sup)-RRmin(std)” (r=0.432, p<0.05) and the responsive sympathetic nerve excitability index; “mRR(sup-std)” (r=0.448, p<0.05). However HbA1c had no correlation with these parameters of autonomic nerve function and blood pressure rise at tracheal intubation. Because of above correlation with blood pressure rise at intubation for anesthesia induction, the preoperative fructosamine examination and the responsive sympathetic nerve function test must be useful preoperative examination for detection of the unexpected heart events of diabetic patients during operation.View full abstractDownload PDF (576K) -
Zhong-Li Jiang, Tokutaro Sato1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 59-64
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSChanges in plasma glutathione were investigated under hypoglycemic status. Twelve rabbits were randomly divided into hypoglycemic group (n=6) and saline-injected control group (n=6). Hypoglycemia was induced by intravenous injection of insulin as 10 U/kg and recovered by intravenous glucose injection after 60 minutes. In the control group, saline was intravenously injected in stead of insulin. Plasma levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) rose significantly (p<0.01) and remarkably decrease in plasma GSH/GSSG ratio (p<0.05) accompanying increase in serum enzymes in the hypoglycemic group. These results suggest that hypoglycemia might cause change in plasma GSSG which is related to increase of serum enzymes by hypoglycemia.View full abstractDownload PDF (325K)
Case Reports
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Detection of Serum Antibody against Arrestin from Patients with Acute Disseminated EncephalomyelitisYoko Ikeda, Akira Sudoh, Susumu Chiba, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Takashi Nak ...1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 65-70
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSIn our previous study, we found the presence of serum autoantibody against arrestin in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), while such serum autoantibody was not detected from patients with other neurological diseases and control subjects. We suggested that serum arrestin antibody titers may be useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of the disease's course. In the present study we examined sera from 7 patients, who were initially diagnosed as having acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), for the presence of serum antibody against arrestin, in order to study the specificity of the serum antibody among demyelinated diseases. High titers were detected from 2 patients out of 7. One of the patients, a 4 year-old girl, presented with an additional neurological attack during the 6 months after the initial attack, resulting in change of diagnosis to MS. During her disease course the serum titers against arrestin fluctuated in correspondence with the disease's activity. These observations suggest that the presence of serum autoantibody against arrestin may be specific to MS and be helpful for differential diagnosis of ADEM and MS.View full abstractDownload PDF (413K) -
Toshiaki Saito, Masue Imaizumi, Kazuhiro Kudo, Masao Hotchi, Syuji Chi ...1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 71-77
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe difficulty and uncertainty encountered in diagnosing a systemic mycosis often lead to a delay in starting antifungal therapy. We reported a disseminated infection of multiple fungal isolates including Fusarium species during donor leukocyte transfusion (DLT) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a 20-year-old woman with a refractory leukemia. Skin lesions are the feature of Fusarium and occur in the early period of the infection. In this case, during immunosuppression state after DLT, she presented with the whole body ache and erythematous lesions which appeared rapidly on her trunk and extremities. While administration of amphotericin B was started, her condition was further deteriorated and she died. Autopsy materials revealed that she had multiple fungal infection with different isolates, including Aspergillus and Candida in the brain, lung and liver, but not in the skin. With the immunohistochemical staining with specific antibody, Fusarium or Aspergillus infection was identified from the biopsy skin or autopsy brain, respectively. This rapid and specific immunohistochemical method may be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infection without delay.View full abstractDownload PDF (869K) -
Atsushi Kanno, Miki Yamada, Masahide Abe, Yoshifumi Okamoto1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 79-82
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSIt is well known that mood disorder such as depression occasionally develops during interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic viral hepatitis. So far, however, IFN-induced manic disorder has been rarely reported. We present a case of manic psychosis which developed during IFN treatment for chronic hepatitis C. A 35-year-old man with chronic hepatitis positive for hepatitis C virus RNA in serum was treated with natural IFN alpha with a daily dosage of 5 million units. Six weeks later he complained of insomnia, and then became exhilarated, talkative, restless and aggressive. Since the mental state was compatible with manic disorder, IFN therapy was immediately ceased. Simultaneously, psychotropic drugs were administered. One week later, the psychiatric disturbances disappeared. He has been keeping his usual social interactions without the psychotropic drugs after that. It is suggested that manic psychosis happened secondary to IFN alpha treatment.View full abstractDownload PDF (237K) -
Takeshi Oshima, Katsuhisa Ikeda, Tomonori Takasaka1999 Volume 187 Issue 1 Pages 83-88
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: October 14, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSProgressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, sometimes described as Byler disease, is a lethal liver disease and its inheritance is autosomal recessive. There is a previous report on the occasional association between this disease and sensorineural hearing loss without any audiological findings. We report here two siblings, an 18-year-old female and a 16-year-old male, suffering from Byler disease and hearing loss. Pure tone, Bekesy and speech audiometries and auditory brain stem response examination were performed. Audiometric data showed hearing characteristics of cochlear origin, high-frequency loss and progressiveness. This sensorineural hearing loss possibly results from a genetic mutation. The mechanism of cochlear disorder in patients with Byler disease is unknown, however, a novel gene responsible for deafness might be found to be related to Byler disease.View full abstractDownload PDF (310K)
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