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Biomedical subjects

Keiichi Hanaki

Publications and source records attributed to Keiichi Hanaki.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Lower brainstem dysfunction in an infant with persistent primitive trigeminal artery.

A 6-month-old boy with persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) presented with stridor, dysphagia, delayed motor development and postural neck and shoulder dystonia. Magnetic resonance imaging/angiography and ultrasonography revealed PPTA, with flow from the dilated basilar artery to the right internal carotid artery, lower brainstem compression by the dilated basilar artery, and cerebellar vermis hypoplasia. Evoked potentials showed lower pons and medulla oblongata functional disruption. These lesions may be related to vascular etiology in the lower brainstem or to congenital malformation syndrome involving infratentorial structures. The relationship of this condition to Möbius syndrome is discussed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Mutation at cleavage site of insulin-like growth factor receptor in a short-stature child born with intrauterine growth retardation.

CONTEXT: Mouse knockout models have clearly demonstrated the critical importance of IGF-I and IGF receptor type 1 (IGF-IR) for embryonic growth as well as postnatal growth. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that mutations of IGF-IR gene might predispose to short stature in children born with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). PATIENTS: Twenty-four children with unexplained IUGR (birth weight < -1.5 SD) and short stature (<-2.0 SD) were screened for abnormalities of the IGF-IR gene. METHODS: Direct DNA sequencing was used to identify IGF-IR gene mutations. Unprocessed IGF-IR proreceptor in fibroblasts was detected by immunoblot analysis. Functions of mutated IGF-IR in fibroblasts were evaluated by IGF-I binding, and IGF-I-stimulated DNA synthesis and beta-subunit autophosphorylation. RESULTS: We found the following results: 1) a heterozygous mutation (R709Q) changing the cleavage site from Arg-Lys-Arg-Arg to Arg-Lys-Gln-Arg was identified in a 6-yr-old Japanese girl (case 1) and her mother who also had IUGR with short stature (case 2); 2) fibroblasts from case 2 contained more IGF-IR proreceptor protein (189 +/- 26% of normal) and less mature beta-subunit protein (63 +/- 12%); 3) [125I]IGF-I binding to fibroblasts from case 2 was reduced, compared with normal control (0.61 +/- 0.16 x 10(6) vs. 1.14 +/- 0.12 x 10(6) sites per cell; P < 0.05); and 4) both IGF-I-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and IGF-IR beta-subunit autophosphorylation were low in fibroblasts from case 2, compared with those of control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings strongly suggest that this mutation leads to failure of processing of the IGF-IR proreceptor to mature IGF-IR and causes short stature and IUGR.

Adolescent↗

Underrecognition of the severity of asthma and undertreatment of asthma in a rural area of Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Revised guidelines were released in Japan in 2003 for the assessment, treatment, and management of adult asthmatics, and similar guidelines for child asthmatics were released in 2002. We reassessed the severity and possible undertreatment of asthma according to these guidelines in stable asthmatics. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 861 well-controlled asthmatic patients who, in April through June 2004 were cared for by 47 pulmonologists at 29 medical centers and 13 asthma clinics in a rural community in the San-in area of Japan. The physician obtained completed medical records about their symptoms and current treatment of the subjects, 726 adult and 135 children (aged 6 years or older) who were in stable condition and had had no exacerbations in the previous 3 months. The severity of asthma and current treatment for each patient were assessed according to the newly revised Japanese guidelines for the assessment, treatment, and management of adult and child asthmatics. RESULTS: In adult and child asthmatics, the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1.0) was smaller and has a narrower distribution range than the percentage of predicted peak expiratory flow (PEF). When the severity of asthma was classified according to symptoms alone, 50% and 35% of those classified as mildly asthmatics patients with adults and children, respectively, had moderate to severe airflow limitation. Inhaled corticosteroids were prescribed to 90.6% of adult and 14.9% of child patients. When we compared the treatments that patients were actually receiving against the optimal treatments indexed according to a combined symptoms-FEV1.0 classification, we found that 49% of adult asthmatics were overtreated, 21% were properly treated, and 30% were undertreated. Among children, the respective percentages were 35%, 25%, and 40%. CONCLUSION: In well-controlled adult and child asthmatics, the severity of asthma is poorly judged when symptoms alone are considered. We suggest that the severity of asthma should be assessed through a combination of symptoms and the measurement of FEV1.0 during office visits. We also suggest that the proper dose of inhaled steroid needed to maintain stable conditions should be judged according to this combined symptoms-FEV1.0 classification.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Compound heterozygous mutations of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase gene (POR) in two patients with Antley-Bixler syndrome.

Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS) is characterized by skeletal defects including craniosynostosis and radiohumeral synostosis. Although mutations in the FGFR2 gene have been found in some patients called ABS, genetic heterogeneity of this syndrome has been proposed. We have previously reported three ABS patients with unique abnormalities in steroidogenesis (apparent decreased activity of 17alpha-hydroxylase, 17,20-lyase, and 21-hydroxylase). Decreased activity of lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase has also been described in an ABS patient. Since all these enzymes require cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (encoded by POR) as an electron donor, we studied POR in two unrelated ABS patients with abnormal steroidogenesis. Direct sequencing of POR revealed that both patients had compound heterozygous mutations (1329insC and R454H in a male patient, 1698insC and R454H in a female patient). The two insertional mutations were assumed to generate truncated and unstable mRNAs. The R454H mutation was assumed to be deleterious because the R454 resides in the FAD-binding domain and is highly conserved among diverse species. Our results demonstrate that mutations in POR cause the ABS phenotype with autosomal recessive inheritance and with characteristic abnormalities in steroidogenesis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Re-evaluation of short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (P13, P14 and N18) for brainstem function in children who once suffered from deep coma.

One of the major clinical features of brain death is deep coma. Therefore, we re-evaluated retrospectively electrophysiological examinations of brainstem function in about 31 children who had once suffered from deep coma in order to reveal its pathophysiological characteristics. The patient age at coma ranged from 1 month to 10 years (mean 2 years 1 month). The electrophysiological examinations were performed, including any of short-latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and blink reflexes. We first compared results between the fair and poor prognostic groups, and then re-evaluated SSEP results on a few severely impaired patients with persistent vegetative state (PVS). Subsequently, SSEP clarified more specific findings for a deep coma condition than BAEP and blink reflex. A lack of P14, N18 and N20, and an amplitude reduction or vagueness of P13 in SSEP in these children strongly suggested high risk in their future neurological prognosis. In conclusion, electrophysiological examinations, especially SSEP (P13, P14 and N18), might be very useful in obtaining a long-term neurological prognosis after deep coma in children.

Blinking↗

Criteria for medical intervention in obese children: a new definition of 'obesity disease' in Japanese children.

The Committee of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity reported the new criteria for 'obesity disease' for Japanese adults in 2000. We defined the criteria for the diagnosis of obesity in children with medical problems, corresponding to the 'obesity disease' criteria in adults. Obesity in childhood was defined as follows: percentage of overweight (POW) and body fat exceeded the criteria. 'Obesity disease in childhood' was defined as obesity associated with health or medical problems, and with indications for medical intervention. Medical problems with indications for immediate intervention were grouped as A problems, which consisted of (i). hypertension; (ii). sleep apnea or hypoventilation; (iii). Type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance; and (iv). increased waist circumference or accumulation of visceral adipose tissue. Metabolic derangements or equivalent associated with obesity were grouped as B problems: (i). liver dysfunction; (ii). hyperinsulinemia; (iii). hypercholesterolemia; (iv). hypertriglyceridemia; (v). low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; (vi). acanthosis nigricans, and (vii). hyperuricemia. Obese children over 5 years of age with following conditions were diagnosed as 'obesity disease in childhood': (i). any 'A problem', (ii) POW >or= 50% and any 'B problem', or (3) POW < 50% and more than one 'B problem' or equivalent. We decided to take physicosocial problems related to obesity into consideration as the criteria. The resultant criteria are proposed by the Committee for Research of Appropriate Body Build in Children*.

Asian People↗

Aplastic anemia during growth hormone (GH) treatment in a girl with idiopathic GH-deficiency.

We report a 12-year-old girl with aplastic anemia accompanied by chromosome 8 trisomy during growth hormone (GH) therapy. When she was six years old she was diagnosed as idiopathic isolated GH deficiency, and GH therapy (0.175 mg/kg/week) was initiated. At the age 12, she began to exhibit petechiae in both lower limbs. Platelet count was 11,000/microL; serum hemoglobin level 11.8 gr/mL; white blood cell count 3,400/microL, with 37% neutrophils, 58% lymphocytes, 4% monocytes and 1% basophils. Bone marrow examination showed that total nucleated cell count and megakaryocyte were 17,000/microL and 0/microL, respectively, suggesting low formation. In addition, 13% of bone marrow cells contained the 3 signals of chromosome 8 marker (trisomy 8). She was diagnosed as aplastic anemia accompanied with chromosome 8 trisomy. GH therapy was stopped immediately, and simultaneous administration of methylprednisolone and anti-thymocyte globulin was initiated. Platelet count improved with treatment, and the 3-signal chromosome 8 abnormality disappeared from the bone marrow cells. The fact that a hematological adverse effect other than leukemia exists in conjunction with GH therapy warrants further investigation into possible hematological changes occurring during or after GH therapy.

Anemia, Aplastic↗