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Volume 206 (2005)
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- Issue 3 Pages 187-
- Issue 2 Pages 85-
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Volume 206, Issue 2
June
Displaying 1-13 of 13 articles from this issue
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Regular Contributions
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Oben Baysan, Kürsat Kaptan, Kürsad Erinç, Yesim Ö ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 85-90
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSAlthough moderate alcohol consumption seems to be protective against atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease rate increases with its higher doses. Platelet aggregation is an important process which contributes to the atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether heavy ethanol consumption stimulates or inhibits platelet aggregation. Fourteen adult male Wistar rats were used. Ethanol (7.2%, v/v) in a modified liquid diet was given to eight rats for 21 days, which mimicked characteristics similar to human chronic alcoholism. Six rats constituted the control group. Adenosine diphophate (ADP) and collagen-induced platelet aggregation was measured in whole blood. We found reduced ADP-induced mean maximal aggregation in the alcoholic rat group compared to the control group at dose of 5 μM (p < 0.005). We also found decreased platelet aggregation responses to collagen in the alcoholic group (p < 0.006 for 2 μg/ml collagen, and p < 0.05 for 5 μg/ml collagen). In conclusion, chronic heavy ethanol consumption results in the decreased platelet aggregation in a rat model of alcoholism. Therefore, increased mortality from coronary artery disease in chronic alcoholism may be explained by other factors such as dietary imbalances and coexisting conditions, which include hypertension and depression.View full abstractDownload PDF (301K) -
Yusuf Tamam, Kenan Iltumur, Ismail Apak2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 91-98
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSAcute phase proteins (APPs) have been implicated to play important roles during both acute and chronic inflammatory processes in different diseases including ischemic stroke. Though there are several studies showing the importance of APPs as inflammation markers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the time course of these proteins during acute phase of AIS is not well known. Thus, the aim of this study was to show the changes in plasma levels of six APPs (i.e., haptoglobin [Hp], ceruloplasmin [Cp], high-sensitive C-reactive protein [h-CRP], fibrinogen, complement 3 [C3] and complement 4 [C4]) during the first 10 days after acute stroke. The study group consisted of 34 female and 19 male patients (n = 53; mean age 65 ± 12 years), who had first acute ischemic stroke (AIS). An age-matched control group (n = 53; 32 female and 21 male subjects, mean age 62 ± 6 years) was also included. To evaluate the plasma levels of six APPs, the blood samples of patients with AIS were withdrawn on admission (day 1), and after 3, 5 and 10 days, whereas only one measurement was performed in the control group. In addition, several cerebrovascular risk factors were determined. The peak levels of APPs were higher in the AIS group than the control group (p < 0.0001). In serial measurements, the levels of h-CRP, Hp, C3 and C4 showed alterations during 10 days after AIS (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). The alterations in levels of fibrinogen and Cp were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). After stroke, h-CRP, C3 and fibrinogen reached their highest values on the third day, Cp and C4 on the fifth day, and Hp on the tenth day. The plasma levels of h-CRP correlated positively with other five APPs studied (p < 0.05). These findings support the importance of inflammation processes after stroke. We suggest that the differences in levels of APPs could be used in predicting the outcome of stroke patients.View full abstractDownload PDF (317K) -
Bowel Habits before and during Menses in Japanese Women of Climacteric Age: A Population Based StudyShinsaku Fukuda, Masashi Matsuzaka, Ippei Takahashi, Takao Oyama, Taka ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 99-104
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSA good deal of data are available on the bowel habits of pre-climacteric females during menstruation. Few studies have examined the same subject in females of climacteric age but who are still menstruating, so the present study was undertaken to examine the bowel habits in menstruating females in this age group. Subjects (n = 246) were residents of a city in northern Japan, aged from 45 to 55 years old and who were still menstruating. Their every-day state of defecation and fecal characteristics were assessed with regard to four parameters: bowel movement frequency, defecation state, fecal appearance and fecal consistency. Based on a perfect match to these four criteria, the subjects were assigned to two groups, the normal group and the constipation group, and changes were assessed by enquiring how their bowel habits differed immediately before and during menses compared with their usual state. Immediately before menstruation, in the constipation group feces became harder and looser in 22.1% and 13.7%, respectively, compared with 8.7% and 9.5% in the normal group. On the other hand, during menstruation in the constipation group, feces became harder and looser in 11.6% and 16.8%, respectively, compared with 5.7% and 8.9% in the normal group. In other words, the constipation group showed a greater change immediately before and during menstruation compared with the normal group, though the differences were not significant. Our data thus suggest that the changes in the bowel habits of women of climacteric age at menstruation are greater for those suffering from constipation than those who are not.View full abstractDownload PDF (263K) -
A. Cevik Tufan, N. Lale Satiroglu-Tufan, Batu Aydinuraz, M. Hakan Sati ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 105-115
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWhile the correlation between the CAG repeat length of the androgen receptor (AR) gene and idiopathic male infertility is still unclear, ethnic background of the population studied may play an important role in this association. The objective of this study was to determine whether changes in the CAG repeat length are associated with spermatogenic defects in Turkish infertile men. Reproductive hormone concentrations and the CAG repeat length in exon 1 of the AR gene in 47 idiopathic infertile men and 32 fertile controls were analyzed. The mean serum luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were significantly higher in the infertile group than those of the control group (p < 0.0001 for both comparisons), whereas the mean serum testosterone level in the infertile group did not differ significantly from that in the control group (p = 0.16). The mean CAG repeat length of the AR gene in the infertile group did not differ significantly from that in the control group (22.28 ± 0.37 vs 22.41 ± 0.54, respectively; p = 0.84). In addition, the frequency of having a CAG repeat number (≥ 24) was also comparable between the infertile patients and fertile controls (31.9% vs 40.6%, respectively; p = 0.21). In conclusion, reproductive hormones with elevated LH and FSH, and normal or low testosterone levels were suggestive of partial impairment of testicular function. However, no statistically significant relationship between the length of the CAG repeat and idiopathic impaired sperm production was observed in the Turkish population studied. These results support the findings of previously published European studies, but are contrary to the findings from Caucasian and North American population studies. Thus, ethnicity and genetic backgrounds seem to be important in this association, and studies from a variety of different ethnic and genetic backgrounds using comparable patient subgroups are valuable to further evaluate this association.View full abstractDownload PDF (687K) -
Syunichi Funakosi, Junko Hayashi, Takamichi Kamiyama, Takashi Ueno, To ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 117-124
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSExcretory dysfunction associated with congenital anal anomalies (a generic term that includes anal atresia and Hirschsprung's disease) is presumed to greatly affect the psychology of the affected children. In this study, we conducted a survey on the psychological status of children with excretory dysfunction, and investigated the relationship between the affected children and their families in addition to their social life. Four children with fecal dysfunction due to a congenital anal anomaly and their mothers were interviewed. The results of psychological tests in the children and mothers along with our findings in the interviews with the children and mothers, were included in the data analysis. We found that regardless of the degree of excretory dysfunction, the child's state of mind was influenced by whether the mother exhibited warmth or criticism towards her child and whether there was a support system for the mother and child. We suggest that psychiatric consultation is necessary for these children.View full abstractDownload PDF (266K) -
Köksal Yuca, Hüseyin Çaksen, Yunus Feyyat Sakin, Sevi ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 125-130
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSMyiasis is a disease caused by fly larvae. The term “myiasis” is derived from the Greek word “myia” meaning fly. Aural myiasis is a rare clinical state and occurs frequently in children. In this article, six children with aural myiasis, caused by the fly larvae, are reported because of unusual presentation. All of the children with aural myiasis were associated with chronic otitis media. In the treatment, a combination of suctioning and alligator forceps was used to remove maggots under the light microscopic field. Additionally, antibiotics were used in all children. Thus, aural myiasis is successfully treated by direct extraction of larvae and application of preventative methods.View full abstractDownload PDF (267K) -
Ali Cetinkaya, Ertan Bulbuloglu, Ergul Belge Kurutas, Harun Ciralik, B ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 131-139
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSUlcerative colitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory bowel disease in which oxidative stress has been implicated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible protective effects of N-acetylcysteine against acetic acid-induced colitis in a rat model. Rats were administered intrarectal saline (control group) or acetic acid (colitis model group). Rats with acetic acid-induced colitis were treated by intraperitoneal or intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine (500 mg/kg) (treated group). Another series of rats were pre-treated by intraperitoneal or intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine, then administered intrarectal acetic acid (pre-treated group). The degree of tissue injuries was assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of the colonic mucosa. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels were measured in tissue extracts of the dissected colon. Administration of N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally or intrarectally ameliorated macroscopic score alterations produced by acetic acid in treated groups. In addition, microscopical improvement was observed in all N-acetylcysteine-treated rats compared to untreated animals with colitis. In the colonic tissues of the acetic acid-induced colitis, myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels were elevated, while the reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased. However, intraperitoneal or intrarectal treatment with N-acetylcysteine reversed these parameters, compared to the untreated colitis group. Notably, intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine elevated the reduced glutathione levels more markedly compared to the other treatment groups. Superoxide dismutase levels were increased in intraperitoneally or intrarectally N-acetylcysteine-treated groups significantly compared to the control, colitis and pre-treated groups. But there was no significant increase in catalase activity. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine could be beneficial as a complementary agent in treatment of ulcerative colitis.View full abstractDownload PDF (700K) -
Yan L. Wu, Atsushi Ohsaga, Takako Oshiro, Kazuie Iinuma, Yoshiaki Kond ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 141-150
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSPolyphenols are ubiquitous plant metabolites with multiple pharmacological properties. Using whole-cell patch-clamp current recording techniques, we studied the effects of polypnenols extracted from red wine (purity > 90% from Cabernet Sauvignon grape wine) on the activities of voltage-operated Na+-, K+-, and Ca2+-channel currents in mouse dorsal root ganglionic neuronal cells. The polyphenols suppressed all of the channel activities with half-effective concentrations of about 2.5, 4.0, and 0.8-1.5 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, they showed no noticeable effects on the ion channels in other types of cells, including large conductance K+-channels in mouse lacrimal acinar cells. Thus, the polyphenols suppress firings of the action potential in the neuronal cells and could show a sedative effect on the excitation. We expect that red wine can be used as a remedy for excessive sensory stimuli.View full abstractDownload PDF (752K) -
Yousuke Takemura, Yutaka Sakurai, Shoji Yokoya, Junji Otaki, Takeshi M ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 151-154
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSOpen-ended questions, which allow patients to discuss their concerns freely, are widely considered an efficient method gathering medical information from patients during a medical interview. However, few studies have examined the relationship between the use of open-ended questions and the amount of information obtained from patients during the medical interview. This study examines this relationship using a relatively large sample size under more standardized conditions than in previous studies. The Japanese Group for Research on the Medical Interview undertook this research in 2002-2003. A total of 1,527 medical students conducted medical interviews with standardized patients, and 1,220 met the inclusion criteria for this study. The interview was limited to five minutes. Evaluators (medical school faculty physicians) evaluated the use of open-ended questions during the medical interview. The reliability of the evaluation sheet was also examined. The amount of information obtained was measured through the medical interview evaluation sheet. The use of open-ended questions was positively related to the amount of information elicited from the patients (F = 41.0, p < 0.0001). This study provides data to support the hypothesis regarding the favorable relationship between the use of the open-ended questions and the amount of information from the patients.View full abstractDownload PDF (204K) -
Mehmet Kanter, Omer Coskun, Ferah Armutcu, Yesim Hulya Uz, Gulnur Kizi ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 155-162
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThis study was designed to investigate the protective effects of vitamin C and vitamin A on oxidative renal tissue damage. Male Wistar rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml saline (control) or 0.5 ml solution of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg), which caused endotoxemia. Immediately (within 5 min) after the endotoxin injection, the endotoxemic rats were untreated or treated with intraperitoneal injection of vitamin A (195 mg/kg bw), vitamin C (500 mg/kg bw) or their combination. After 24 hours, tissue and blood samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical investigation. Endotoxin injection caused renal tissue damage and increased erythrocyte and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum nitric oxide (NO), urea and creatinine concentrations, but decreased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities compared to the parameters of control animals. Treatment with vitamin C or with vitamins C and A significantly decreased the MDA levels and serum NO, urea and creatinine levels, recovered the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GSH-Px and CAT), and prevented the renal tissue damage in endotoxemic rats. In contrast, vitamin A alone did not change the altered parameters except for creatinine levels. Notably, the better effects were observed when vitamins A and C given together. It is concluded that vitamin C treatment, alone or its combination with vitamin A, may be beneficial in preventing endotoxin-induced oxidative renal tissue damage and shows potential for clinical use.View full abstractDownload PDF (505K) -
Masateru Iwamoto, Sonoo Mizuiri, Michitsune Arita, Hiromichi Hemmi2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 163-171
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSActivation of a transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), is a key step in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated the role of P-selectin, a platelet-derived adhesion molecule, in diabetic nephropathy by examining the activation status of NF-κB in the renal cortex of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. The STZ treatment induced pathogenetic parameters such as increased creatinine clearance, increased blood glucose and massive albuminuria in a time-dependent manner. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) with a specific probe, representing the P-selectin gene promoter, revealed the activation status of NF-κB in the STZ-treated rats, as judged by the time-dependent increase in the formation of the specific protein-DNA complexes. This increase was associated with the increased pathogenetic parameters. Supershift assays with specific antibodies revealed that p50, but not p52, p65, Rel B, or c-Rel, may be involved in the activation of NF-κB, though the component primarily responsible for the increase could not be determined. Western blot analysis confirmed an increase in P-selectin in STZ-treated rats. Notably, treatment with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, an antioxidant and inhibitor of NF-κB, inhibited the activation of NF-κB in STZ-treated rats and decreased P-selectin in the renal cortical tissue. Our results indicate that expression of the P-selectin gene is induced through the activation of NF-κB and that P-selectin may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.View full abstractDownload PDF (459K)
Case Reports
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Futoshi Nagasaki, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Yutaka Mano, Takehiko Igarashi, Kaic ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 173-179
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSHepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the major causative agents of acute hepatitis in many developing countries. Recent intensive examination has revealed the existence of non-imported cases in industrialized countries. The patient was a 25-year-old Japanese female with acute hepatitis. Laboratory test demonstrated positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA) and high level of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG). The patient was negative for serum markers of hepatitis A, B or C virus infection. She demonstrated a clinical course similar to severe autoimmune hepatitis, including response to prednisolone therapy. After a few years, with the availability of tests for the serum antibodies to HEV, we examined the frozen stocked sera of the patient and found her exact diagnosis was acute hepatitis E. Although we could not detect HEV-RNA, which is positive only in limited period of acute phase, serum IgA and IgG antibodies to HEV were positive and the titer of IgA and IgG antibodies were declined with the time course. In conclusion, we must take into consideration of HEV infection for the diagnosis of acute cryptogenic hepatitis including autoimmune hepatitis. Further studies are feasible to understand the pathogenesis of liver injuries induced by HEV infections.View full abstractDownload PDF (356K) -
Norimasa Arita, Yoshiki Mikami, Minako Yoshida, Ichiro Konishi, Norio ...2005 Volume 206 Issue 2 Pages 181-185
Published: 2005
Released on J-STAGE: May 12, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe report a case with pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung in a 70-year-old man. Pleomorphic carcinoma is characterized by a heterogenous composition that includes epithelial and mesechymal malignancies. In the present case, the tumor was composed of a mixture of unequivocal squamous cell carcinoma and spindle cell components resembling sarcomatous overgrowth. The spindle component did not include a heterologous mesenchymal element characterized by overt differetiation for bone, cartilage, neuron or muscle tissue. To evaluate a state of differentiation of the spindle cell component, we immunohistochemically examined expression of the antigens including vimentin, cytokeratin, sarcomeric actin, α-smooth muscle actin, S-100 protein, CD34, Factor VIII, and CD68. The results showed sole expression of vimentin in the spindle cell component, suggesting an immature state of the mesenchymal lineage. Furthermore, the spindle cell component of this case was genetically characterized by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at a codon 234 of exon 7 of the p53 gene. This mutation causes an amino-acid replacement (Tyr to Cys), which was previously proven to attenuate p53 function. The present case may suggest a relation between somatic alteration of the p53 gene and histogenesis of pleomorphic carcinoma.View full abstractDownload PDF (503K)
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