Effects of menstrual cycle on plasma melatonin level and sleep characteristics.
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
K Honma
Publications and source records attributed to K Honma.
Diffuse interstitial fibrosis in nonasbestos pneumoconiosis--a pathological study.
Pathological examinations of 233 consecutive autopsy cases with nonasbestos pneumonconiosis revealed evidence of diffuse interstitial fibrosis (DIF) in 64 (27.5%), among whom 45 (19.3%) showed bilateral involvement and 9 (3.9%) extensive disease closely resembling usual interstitial pneumonia. The patients with DIF were significantly older and had longer occupational histories as compared with those without DIF. There was no correlation between the occurrence of DIF and the type of the underlying disease (silicosis or mixed dust pneumoconiosis) except that an extensive DIF was more frequently associated with mixed dust pneumoconiosis. The extensive DIF developed an in situ malignancy much more frequently (33.3%) than the focal disease (2.6%).
Age Factors↗
[Analysis of ovalbumin-specific T cell lines established from patients with hen egg allergy].
Ten ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell lines (TCLs) were established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 6 patients with hen egg allergy, and the antigen recognition of these TCLs was characterized. Two OVA epitopes were determined by use of 3 synthetic OVA peptides which have been known as murine T cell epitopes. Blocking of antigen-specific T cell proliferation by anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibodies suggest that all 3 HLA class II molecules could act as restriction elements for T cell recognition of OVA. This is the first demonstration of OVA epitopes recognized by T cells in patients with hen egg allergy, as far as we know.
Cell Line↗
[Paramedian dorsal syndrome of mesencephalic tegmentum].
Two cases of brainstem infarction involving a unilateral side of the midbrain tegmentum showed a peculiar ocular symptom complex. The ocular syndrome consisted of (1) oculomotor palsy ipsilateral to the lesion, (2) monocular eyelid retraction and upward gaze palsy contralateral to the lesion, and (3) conjugate downward gaze and convergence palsy. By computed tomography and cerebral angiography, the lesion shared by the two cases was identified in the territory of median mesencephalic rami originating from the posterior cerebral artery. The lesion involved oculomotor nucleus on a side. Contralateral monocular symptoms and conjugate palsies could be attributed to a damage in their supranuclear tracts. Considering with two similar cases in the literature, it is strongly suggested that a unilateral ischemic lesion of the paramedian dorsal part of the midbrain tegmentum is responsible for this syndrome. Bilateral or unilateral eyelid retraction (Collier's sign) was considered to locate a lesion in the posterior commisure by Collier himself. The posterior commisure is, however, not involved in our two cases, and a paramedian lesion of the midbrain tegmentum deviated to a side may cause contralateral eyelid retraction. A combination of ophthalmoplegia ipsilateral to the lesion, upward or lateral (in the opposite direction to the lesion) gaze palsy, and hemiataxia on the contralateral side resembling our second case is sometimes erroneously called Nothnagel's syndrome. Nothnagel mentioned symptomatology of the quadrigeminal bodies for local diagnosis in his text in which he did not describe this combination of signs.
Cerebral Infarction↗
[Participation of environmental chemicals in experimental allergic conjunctivitis].
The effects of organophosphorus pesticides (trichlorfon and fenitrothion) and an organochlorine herbicide (paraquat) on experimental allergic conjunctivitis were studied quantitatively. Guinea pigs were passively immunized with antiserum to Japan cedar pollen. The above chemicals were administered subcutaneously 2 days prior to challenge with cedar pollen in the conjunctival sac, resulting in allergic conjunctivitis. The intensity of the conjunctival allergic reaction was quantitatively estimated by measuring the extravasation of Evans blue in the conjunctiva which had previously been administered intravenously. The allergic conjunctivitis was apparently aggravated by extremely low dosage level of organophosphorus pesticide (10(-4) approximately 10(-5) mg/kg) and organochlorine herbicide (10(-3) approximately 10(-4) mg/kg). The most intensive aggravating reaction was obtained 10(-5) mg/kg of organophosphorus pesticide and at 10(-4) mg/kg of paraquat dichloride. The aggravating effects of organophosphorus pesticide and organochlorine herbicide persisted at least two weeks after the single administration.
Animals↗
Triple lung cancers in a patient with silicosis.
A case of pulmonary silicosis associated with triple lung cancers is presented. Two of the three tumors were unexpected clinically. The discussion deals with the diagnostic difficulty in radiological differentiation between the pneumoconiotic mass lesion and superimposed tumor shadows, as well as the possible causal relationship between the two conditions. From the practical point of view, elderly patients with pneumoconiosis should be carefully monitored for the development of lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar↗
Light suppression of nocturnal pineal and plasma melatonin in rats depends on wavelength and time of day.
Effects of light on the pineal and plasma melatonin were examined in Wistar and Long-Evans rats at two different times in the dark phase (light off from 18.00 h to 06.00 h) using lights of two different monochromatic wavelengths but with the same irradiance. The green light pulse (520 nm) given at 24.00 h suppressed the pineal and plasma melatonin to the day-time level for at least 2 h, while the red light (660 nm) pulse given at the same time of the day suppressed pineal melatonin only transiently and did not suppress the plasma melatonin at all. Both green and red lights given at 4.00 h suppressed the pineal and plasma melatonin to a similar extent. The results demonstrated that the suppression of melatonin by light depends on the wavelength of light and the circadian phase.
Animals↗
Effects of vitamin B12 on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans: increased light sensitivity phase-advances the circadian clock?
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) was administered orally (3 mg/day) to 9 healthy subjects for 4 weeks. Nocturnal melatonin levels after exposure to bright light (ca. 2500 lx) were determined, as well as the levels of plasma melatonin over 24 h. The timing of sleep was also recorded. Vitamin B12 was given blind to the subjects and crossed over with placebo. We found that the 24-h melatonin rhythm was significantly phase-advanced (1.1 h) in the vitamin B12 trial as compared with that in the placebo trial. In addition, the 24-h mean of plasma melatonin level was much lower in the vitamin B12 trial than with the placebo. Furthermore, the nocturnal melatonin levels during bright light exposure were significantly lower in the vitamin B12 trial than with the placebo. On the other hand, vitamin B12 did not affect the timing of sleep. These findings raise the possibility that vitamin B12 phase-advances the human circadian rhythm by increasing the light sensitivity of the circadian clock.
Circadian Rhythm↗
Locomotor rhythms induced by methylphenidate in suprachiasmatic nuclei-lesioned rats.
A robust locomotor activity rhythm with a circadian period appeared by chronic treatment with methylphenidate or methamphetamine in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN)-lesioned rats whose circadian rhythms had been abolished. The appearance of the rhythmicity was accompanied by an increase in the activity level. However, significant circadian periods were detected only in rats whose locomotor activity increased more than 200% of the pretreatment levels. An increase in the activity level is necessary to generate and/or express the circadian locomotor rhythm in SCN-lesioned rats and there seems to be a threshold.
Animals↗
Seasonality in human sleep.
The timing of sleep and sleep EEG parameters in 10 healthy male subjects were investigated in four seasons under controlled conditions. The phase of nocturnal sleep was delayed about one and a half hours in winter as compared to that in summer. The duration of stage 4 sleep decreased and REM sleep increased significantly in winter compared with summer. The seasonality in the timing of sleep can be explained by photoperiodic time cues, but the changes in sleep EEG parameters are difficult to explain in terms of photoperiod.
Adult↗
Entrainment of methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity rhythm to feeding cycles in SCN-lesioned rats.
Suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN)-lesioned rats, showing a locomotor activity rhythm with a circadian period by chronic methamphetamine treatment, were subjected to the periodic food restriction (RF) of 4 h per every 27 h and 24 h. All rats were phase set by the feeding schedule of both 24-h and 27-h periods. Phase angle differences between the activity onset and food presentation were more positive under the RF with a period of 27 h than that of 24 h. Methamphetamine-induced locomotor rhythm showed a stable entrainment to RF of the 27-h period in all rats. Under the RF of the 24-h period, on the other hand, some rats showed circabidian rhythms, i.e., an activity band appeared at every second food presentation. After the termination of feeding schedule, the locomotor rhythm started to free-run from the phase set by the previous feeding schedule in all rats examined. Methamphetamine-induced locomotor rhythm was shown to be entrained by the RF with a predictable manner of an oscillation theory.
Animals↗
Roles of paraventricular catecholamines in feeding-associated corticosterone rhythm in rats.
Effects of local destruction of the brain catecholaminergic neurons were examined on the light- and feeding-associated circadian rhythms in plasma corticosterone in rats. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a selective and long-lasting neurotoxin of the catecholaminergic neurons, was microinjected into the following discrete areas of the brain: the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), median eminence (ME), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LH), and the ascending bundle of noradrenergic neurons (NAB). And the feeding-associated as well as the light-associated circadian rhythms in plasma corticosterone were determined. The light-associated circadian rhythm was assayed under a 24-h light-dark cycle with free access to food, whereas the feeding-associated circadian rhythm was measured under restricted daily feeding in which rats had free access to food at a fixed time of day. 6-OHDA reduced the norepinephrine concentrations in respective regions to 10-30% of the control value, except for the LH. The light-associated circadian rhythm was not affected by 6-OHDA into the SCN or PVN. By contrast, 6-OHDA into the PVN or ventral NAB suppressed the feeding-associated circadian peak. 6-OHDA into the VMH and LH showed some effects on plasma corticosterone level but not on the feeding-associated circadian rhythm. 6-OHDA had no systematic effect on plasma corticosterone level when injected into the SCN, ME, and dorsal NAB. These findings indicate that the catecholaminergic neurons projecting to the PVN are involved in the feeding-associated but not in the light-associated circadian rhythms.
Animals↗
Seasonal variation in the human circadian rhythm: dissociation between sleep and temperature rhythm.
The circadian rhythms of sleep-wakefulness, rectal temperature, and plasma melatonin were measured in 10 healthy male subjects for five consecutive seasons. To minimize direct effects of seasonally changing environmental factors, the subjects stayed in a living facility for 4 days in each season, where ambient temperature, humidity, and social contacts were controlled, while the light intensity of the living room was substantially influenced by natural daylight. Seasonal variations were found in the timing of sleep, the mean body temperature, the phases of circadian temperature and melatonin rhythms, and the phase relation between sleep and the rectal temperature rhythm. The subjects went to bed earliest in summer, intermediate in spring and autumn, and latest in winter. A similar but more pronounced seasonality was observed in the wake-up time, which was earlier in summer than in winter. The acrophases of the rectal temperature and plasma melatonin rhythms, which were calculated by fitting a cosine curve, were located in an earlier time of day in summer than in winter. The phase-angle difference of the rectal temperature rhythm to sleep varied seasonally and was more positive in summer than in winter. These findings indicate that not only the external (to the local time) but also the internal (between circadian rhythms) phase relations of the human circadian rhythms depend on season.
Adult↗
Dipyridamole electrocardiography test for the detection of severe coronary artery stenoses.
To investigate the relationship between dipyridamole-induced ST depression and the severity of coronary artery stenosis, the dipyridamole injection test (D) at 0.568 mg/kg/4 min, and the symptom limited treadmill exercise test (T) were performed separately in 16 normal volunteers and 167 patients who underwent coronary arteriography [91 patients without myocardial infarction (non-MI group) and 76 patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI group)]. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram and body surface mapping of 87 leads were recorded in both tests. None of the normal volunteers had significant ST depression (greater than or equal to 0.10 mV) in D or T. Regarding the non-MI group, D had as high an incidence of ST depression as T (83% vs 93%) in patients with maximal coronary stenosis greater than or equal to 90%, while in those with maximum coronary stenosis less than 90%, D had a lower incidence of ST depression than T (16% vs 48%, p less than 0.01). For the MI group, the incidence of ST depression was compared to the maximal coronary artery stenosis supplying the non-infarcted area. In patients with maximal coronary artery stenosis greater than or equal to 90%, D had as high an incidence of ST depression as T (71% vs 64%). While, D had a lower incidence of ST depression than T (19% vs 35%, p less than 0.05) in those with maximum coronary artery stenosis less than 90%. For the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis of greater than or equal to 90%, D had as high sensitivity (non-MI group, 82% vs 93%; MI group, 71% vs 64%) and higher specificity (non-MI group, 84% vs 52%, p less than 0.01; MI group, 81% vs 65%, p less than 0.05) compared with T. This study demonstrated that dipyridamole ECG is a sensitive and specific test to detect severe coronary artery stenosis.
Adult↗
[Diagnosis of food allergy based on rectal mucosal cytology].
We performed rectal and/or oral challenge tests on 8 patients with suspected but unproven diagnosis of food allergy based on detailed medical history and findings from radioallergosorbent tests (RAST). The cells appearing in the rectal mucosal smear serially for 48 hours after allergen challenge were examined. The following results were obtained: 1) Significant numbers of not only eosinophils but also mast cells appeared in the rectal smears after challenges with suspected-food allergens, but not with unrelated foods. This confirmed the antigen-specificity of the method. 2) In some cases, the appearance of mast cells and eosinophils was bimodal, suggesting the existence of a later allergic response in addition to an immediate-type reaction. 3) The food-specific appearance of mast cells and eosinophils was observed in association with clinical symptoms after challenge, even in patients whose IgE antibodies to the allergen were negative or commercially unavailable. In conclusion, we propose that rectal mucosal cytology in conjunction with rectal and/or oral challenge tests is a reliable and objective method to diagnose unproven or suspected food allergy.
Child↗
Longitudinal variations of biotin content in human milk.
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Biotin↗
[The penetration of cefpiramide into the skin].
To investigate the skin penetration of cefpiramide (CPM, SM-1652), a broad-spectrum and long acting cephem antibiotic, 1 g of CPM was administered by single bolus intravenous injection to patients under general anesthesia during operations for full-thickness skin grafting. The CPM levels in both the serum and the skin were determined by bioassay at specified time intervals, and the following results were obtained. 1. Peak CPM concentrations in the serum (mean: 292.78 micrograms/ml) were observed 10 minutes after administration, and declined very slowly thereafter. 2. Peak CPM concentrations in the skin (mean: 23.05 micrograms/g) were observed 2 hours after administration, and then also declined very slowly. 3. The ratio of skin to serum concentrations was 16% when the peak CPM concentrations in the skin were obtained (2 hours after the administration). These results show that effective CPM concentrations were maintained in the skin for a long period, indicating a good therapeutic action against skin infections.
Adult↗
Methamphetamine effects on rat circadian clock depend on actograph.
Methamphetamine effects on the rest-activity rhythm were examined in 12 blinded rats using two different actographs, an Animex and a running-wheel. D-Methamphetamine was administered chronically by dissolving it in drinking water. During methamphetamine treatment, the rest-activity rhythm measured by an Animex showed a clear sign of relative coordination in addition to the general enhancement of activity level. Analyses of pre- and posttreatment activity rhythms revealed that neither the phase nor the period was affected by methamphetamine treatment. On the other hand, the circadian period was lengthened by methamphetamine treatment when locomotor activity was measured by a running-wheel. These results confirmed our previous findings that the chronic treatment of methamphetamine modified the expression of the circadian rhythms but did not affect the underlying oscillation when measured by an Animex, and further indicated that methamphetamine could affect the underlying oscillation when rats had free access to a running-wheel. It is concluded that the effects of methamphetamine on the circadian clock depend on actograph.
Animals↗