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Biomedical subjects

M Hara

Publications and source records attributed to M Hara.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Relationship between limitation of daily life and prognosis in patients with sequelae of tuberculosis treated with long-term oxygen therapy].

The sequelae of tuberculosis (TBC) sometimes causes severe restrictive lung disorders. In Japan, lung tuberculosis was pandemic up to the 1950s, with TBC being a major underlying disease of chronic respiratory failure and cor pulmonale. Until the end of 1991, we encountered 95 cases of Home Oxygen Therapy (HOT) in Ogaki area, 30 of which were patients with TBC. To clarify factors affecting the prognosis of these patients, we examined background factors, directing special attention to daily activities. In this study, 10 inactive patients (Group A) whose daily activity was limited to indoors and 10 control patients (Group B) whose age, vital capacity and arterial PO2 were equal to inactive patients, from the 30 TBC cases were used. A comparison was made of the prognoses. Among the patients, activity was closely related to dyspnea grade and arterial PCO2. Group A patients showed more marked dyspnea and lower arterial PCO2 than those of group B patients. Percentage home stay and cumulative survival rates of Group A patients (percentage home stay, 59.2 +/- 38.7% and 3 year survival, 26.3%) were significantly less than those of Group B patients (91.0 +/- 16.4% and 87.5%, p < 0.05, respectively). Among chronic pulmonary emphysema patients treated with HOT, no significant relation between activity and prognosis could be found, when factors of age, arterial PO2 and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec were excluded. There would thus appear to be a close relation between activity and prognosis in TBC patients specific for underlying disease.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

[ATP radionuclide ventriculography; its usefulness for the evaluation of ischemic heart disease].

To evaluate the usefulness for the detection of ischemic heart disease (IHD), ATP first pass radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) was performed in 10 patients. Coronary angiography was performed in all patients. Among these patients, 2 had single vessel disease, 2 had double vessel disease, 3 had triple vessel disease, and 3 had normal coronary arteries. RVG was performed at rest, then, ATP was infused at the rate of 0.16 mg/kg/min and ATP-RVG was done 4 minutes later. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated, and the regional wall motion (RWM) was graded as normal, hypokinesis, akinesis, and dyskinesis. In the patients with coronary artery disease, RWM decreased in 5 of 7 patients and LVEF decreased in 6 of 7 patients by ATP. However, RWM and LVEF did not decrease in the patients with normal coronary arteries. These results suggested that ATP-RVG might provide useful information for the evaluation of IHD.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1993

[Diurnal secretion profile of melatonin in epileptic children with or without photosensitivity and an observation of altered circadian rhythm in a case of completely under dark living condition].

Diurnal secretion profile of melatonin was studied by measuring multiple serum melatonin levels in three photosensitive epileptic children (group P) and eleven epileptic children without photosensitivity (group E). In the group E patients a normal fluctuation pattern of serum melatonin levels was observed; low and stable during daytime and rapidly elevating and high in the night. Five out of eleven patients took midday naps, which did not cause any change of serum melatonin level, remaining at the low baseline level. In 2 out of 3 patients in group P, nocturnal peak levels were far lower than those in group E. The third case with severe photosensitive epilepsy was kept in a dark room with the aim of avoiding slightest light stimuli that may provoke seizures. During the period of the dark room therapy extending over 105 days, her circadian rhythm of sleep-wakefulness was prolonged from 24.00 hours to 24.27 hours. Nocturnal increment of melatonin was observed in this case. It was concluded that an endogenous circadian rhythm is operating in the melatonin secretion and that this mechanism is intact in epileptic children irrespective to the presence or absence of photosensitivity.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Duodenal hemorrhage and dermal vasculitis associated with mixed connective tissue disease.

We describe a 23-year-old woman with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) who developed duodenal bleeding responsive to treatment with corticosteroid and recurrent skin eruptions due to leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The endoscopic findings revealed patchy, reddened, edematous, friable mucosa with scattered small ulcers and oozing of blood in the second portion of the duodenum. Endoscopic pictures from the onset to healing are presented. This appears to be the first recorded occurrence of such findings in MCTD.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma using 131I-MIBG scintigraphy].

131I-MIBG scintigraphy was performed on 18 patients with pheochromocytoma and 25 patients with essential hypertension. In comparison of grade of 131I-MIBG accumulation in various organs the heart accumulation of pheochromocytoma group was significantly lower than that of essential hypertension group. And between the positive and false negative accumulation group of pheochromocytoma reverse relationship was observed between the heart and tumor. The results of 131I-MIBG scintigraphy for pheochromocytoma included 78% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 90% accuracy. False negative accumulation of tumors were shown at 6 lesions in 4 cases. On the bases of CT and operative findings, false negative accumulation was observed not only in very small tumors, but also in large cystic tumors with a small amount of tumor tissue or totally hemorrhagic necrosis within the tumor.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1993

Marked islet amyloid polypeptide-positive amyloid deposition: a possible cause of severely insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus with atrophied exocrine pancreas.

An insulin-deficient 51-year-old man was put on dietary therapy and sulfonylurea (SU). Although there was good glycemic control for 2 years, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level increased gradually over the subsequent 4-year period, and there was a marked increase in body weight. Secondary failure of SU therapy 20 years after the initial diagnosis led to insulin therapy. The FBG became unstable, and the C-peptide response disappeared. The patient died of nonketotic hyperosmolar coma and pneumonia at the age of 87. At autopsy, the pancreas showed marked atrophy (32 g) with extensive fatty degeneration. Islets replaced by islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)-positive amyloid (IAPP-AM) amounted to 77% in the tail, 74% in the body, and 73% in the head of the pancreas. All islets were positive for IAPP-AM throughout the pancreas, except for a pancreatic polypeptide-rich lobe, where none were positive. IAPP-AM-positive islets had also undergone fatty change of the surrounding pancreatic acinar cells. beta-Cells decreased remarkably in number and were displaced to the periphery of the islets by the IAPP-AM deposits. These findings suggest that IAPP-related diabetes could have a progressive course, with secondary oral hypoglycemic agent failure and the subsequent development of severe insulin deficiency similar to that seen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1992

Uneven distribution of intracellular Cl- in rat hippocampal neurons.

Electrophysiological observations of neurons suggest that perikarya and dendrites differ in local intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i), that has not been demonstrated yet. Regional [Cl-]i in cultured hippocampal neurons was estimated using a Cl(-)-sensitive fluorescent dye. Calibration showed that perikaryonic [Cl-]i was lower than dendritic [Cl-]i. Ethacrynic acid, an inhibitor of the outwardly directed Cl(-)-pump, increased the perikaryonic but not dendritic [Cl-]i. A decrease in [Cl-]i induced by furosemide or bumetanide, inhibitors of Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporters, was more prominent in dendrites than in perikarya. These findings suggest that uneven distribution of Cl- is generated by the region-specific localization of these transporters.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

An ultrasensitive system to detect IL-4: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) combined with an avidin-biotin and enzyme amplification system.

We established an ultrasensitive interleukin-4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by combining ELISA with an avidin-biotin and enzyme amplification system. The resultant system (AB-EA ELISA) was 250 times more sensitive than conventional ELISA and 2.5 times more sensitive than enhanced ELISA using an enzyme amplification system alone. The ultrasensitive assay was specific to IL-4 alone; there was no cross reaction with other cytokines. Using the ultrasensitive assay, we measured IL-4 synthesis in vitro by unstimulated and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with allergic rhinitis. PBMC from patients spontaneously produced measurable amounts of IL-4, whereas IL-4 production from PBMC of normal controls, if any, was below detectable levels. Stimulation of the cultures with LPS significantly increased IL-4 production in two of six patient PBMC cultures but in none of the control cultures; stimulation with Con A markedly increased IL-4 production in all patient PBMC cultures but in only two of seven control cultures. These results suggest that the AB-EA ELISA is a useful method to study the mechanism of IL-4 synthesis in type-I allergic diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Increased interleukin 1 receptor, type I, at messenger RNA and protein level in skin fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis.

Summary. To elucidate the mechanisms of the fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) through the action of a cytokine, interleukin 1 (IL-1), we studied the specific biologic and biochemical features of interleukin 1 receptor (IL-1R) as expressed on the surfaces of fibroblast cells in cultures from 3 SSc patients and 3 normal donors. 125I-IL-1 beta binding assays revealed a high density of IL-1R on the cell surfaces of SSc fibroblasts as compared to those of normal subjects. We also found an enhanced expression of IL-1R messenger RNA (mRNA) in SSc fibroblasts, using Northern blot or slot blot analysis. These findings indicate that the expression of IL-1R on SSc fibroblasts were spontaneously induced at the transcriptional level. It is suggested that SSc fibroblasts are more sensitive to IL-1, and that the signal transduction of IL-1 through IL-1R may be eventually involved in the fibrosis of SSc.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

The primary structure and gene organization of human substance P and neuromedin K receptors.

The gene organization and amino acid sequences of human substance P and neuromedin K receptors (SPR and NKR, respectively) are reported on the basis of molecular cloning and sequence determination of genomic DNA containing the respective receptor gene. The human SPR and NKR genes, unlike many other genes for G-protein-coupled receptors, (G protein, guanyl-nucleotide-binding-regulatory protein), contain introns which interrupt the protein-coding regions into 5 exons. The human SPR and NKR genes extend over 60 kb and 45 kb, respectively and are considerably larger than the human substance K receptor (SKR) gene consisting of 12 kb. All 4 introns, however, are located at equivalent positions of the three tachykinin receptor genes, suggesting that they evolved from a common ancestral gene. Human SPR and NKR consist of 407 and 465 amino acid residues, respectively, each possessing structural features characteristic of the members of G-protein-coupled receptors. The human and rat receptors show a common tendency of distinctly segmented sequence conservation and divergence among the three receptors, and the observed sequence conservation and divergence would contribute to the emergence of similar but distinct properties of the three receptors. Furthermore, the amino acid sequences and the gene sizes are more closely related between SPR and NKR than between SKR and NKR, suggesting that the SPR gene evolved from the primordial NKR gene after a gene duplication to form the NKR and SKR genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

QT interval shortening and ST elevation in intracoronary ECG during PTCA.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) can provide a unique model of transient and reversible myocardial ischemia. The aim of this study was to assess the serial changes in QT interval during elective PTCA-induced transient ischemia. The serial changes in QT interval before, during, and after PTCA of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were measured in patients who showed ST elevation in intracoronary electrocardiogram. Twelve consecutive patients who showed ST-segment elevation during PTCA-induced ischemia anterior precordial leads of the electrocardiogram (ECG) were enrolled in the present study. Target lesions for PTCA were all in the LAD. There were six patients with angina pectoris, two with non-Q-wave infarction, and four with Q-wave myocardial infarction. During balloon inflation, QTc interval shortened in both intracoronary ECG (ic-ECG) (0.472 +/- 0.013 vs 0.436 +/- 0.014) and surface ECG (0.462 +/- 0.012 vs 0.438 +/- 0.011). However, a significant shortening of the QT interval was more rapidly observed in the ic-ECG (20 s) than in the surface ECG (40 s). We conclude that the QT interval in both ic-ECG and surface ECG becomes shortened in PTCA-induced myocardial ischemia, and that the ic-ECG might be a good probe for detecting survived viable myocardium in the infarcted zone.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Caloric irregularity in experimentally induced perilymphatic fistula.

The term "caloric irregularity" was coined to refer to a gross irregularity in the amplitude and/or frequency of a caloric-induced nystagmus, having a variable slow-phase velocity and prolonged duration. Twelve of 46 guinea pigs with experimentally induced perilymphatic fistula had irregular responses to the ice-water caloric test 1 week after creation of a fistula. The long-term vestibular consequences in animals with caloric irregularities were either resolution and return to normal function (i.e. caloric return) or continuing deterioration to canal paresis. Morphological examination of ears with caloric irregularity revealed that there had been partial collapse of the membranous labyrinth and the creation of a floating labyrinth.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Correction of scattered photons in Tc-99m imaging by means of a photopeak dual-energy window acquisition.

We are proposing a new method for correcting of scattered photons in technetium-99m (99mTc) imaging by means of photopeak dual-energy window acquisition. This method consists of the simultaneous acquisition of two images and estimation of a scatter image included in the symmetric energy window (SW) image by the difference between these images. The scatter corrected image is obtained by subtracting the scatter image from the SW image. In order to evaluate this method, we imaged a planar and a SPECT phantom with cold lesions and calculated the contrast value with and without the scatter correction. In addition, we performed asymmetric energy window (ASW) imaging to compare with this scatter correction method for planar images. In the planar image with the tissue-equivalent material of 10 cm, the scatter correction method removed 32% of the counting rate of the SW image and improved from 0.81 to 0.94 of the contrast value for a 4 cm-diameter cold lesion, while the contrast value with the ASW was 0.87 for such a cold lesion. The scatter corrected SPECT image had a reduction of 18% of the counting rate of the SW SPECT image and improvement of approximately 11% in contrast for cold spot sizes larger than a 3 cm-diameter, compared with the SW SPECT image. In addition, a perfusion defect could be well visualized by this scatter correction method on 99mTc-HMPAO regional cerebral blood flow SPECT of a patient. Our proposed scatter correction method can improve both planar and SPECT images qualitatively and quantitatively.

Brain Concussion↗
PubMed1992

Presence of autoantibodies to peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (cyclosporin A-binding protein) in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Several autoantibodies against cytoplasmic or nuclear components of cells have been reported in autoimmune diseases. We report here a previously unrecognized autoantibody to peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PPIase, which catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides, has recently been found to be identical to cyclophilin, a specific binding protein of a potent immunosuppressant, cyclosporin A. IgG and IgM anti-PPIase antibodies were detected in 40 and 20% of unselected patients with SLE, respectively, by ELISA. The reactivity of these sera was confirmed by immunoblotting experiments. Sera from rheumatoid arthritis patients showed no reactivity and 1 of 8 sera from systemic sclerosis patients and 1 of 25 sera from normal controls showed only weak reactivity. Unexpectedly, the anti-PPIase antibody was unable to inhibit PPIase activity, indicating that the autoantibody recognizes an epitope of PPIase which is different from the active site of PPIase. The levels of the anti-PPIase antibody in SLE patients correlated with remissions and flares of the disease. The anti-PPIase antibody was higher in patients with active SLE than those with inactive disease. The prevalence of the active stage of the disease was significantly higher in IgG anti-PPIase antibody-positive SLE patients as compared to antibody-negative SLE patients. These data define the presence of a new autoantibody against PPIase and its association with the activity and certain clinical manifestations in SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) gene analysis in a Japanese diabetic with marked islet amyloid deposition.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is a major constituent of pancreatic amyloid deposits in many patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We analyzed the IAPP gene in a Japanese diabetic with marked islet amyloid deposition. Pancreatic specimens were obtained from an 87-year-old NIDDM patient who had had diabetes for 37 years. All islets (100/100) in his pancreas had IAPP-positive amyloid deposition, and 70% of the area of the islet was replaced by amyloid. We amplified the coding regions as well as the upstream region of the IAPP gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The products of PCR were sequenced, and the sequences of the coding regions were identical to the Caucasian ones. However, the nucleotides of two positions of 5'-upstream and one position of intron 2 were different from the Caucasian data: the upstream region of the IAPP gene in the patient had cytosine substituted for thymine at -259, and had two alleles including cytosine and adenine at -229, respectively. The nucleotide of position 539, that is guanine, was deleted. A possible difference in the IAPP promoting region between the Japanese and Caucasian population was suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Cloning and sequence analysis of the tyrosinase gene from a patient with tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism.

Tyrosinase is synthesized on membrane-bound ribosomes and transported into melanosomes through smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Melanin polymers are produced only in melanosomes but never in smooth endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus, indicating that posttranslational modifications of tyrosinase are completed with melanosomes where tyrosinase becomes an active form. Based on a working hypothesis that tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism is a consequence of the structurally altered tyrosinase due to a point mutation in the gene of its gene coding for a glycosylation site or a membrane-binding site, which leads to the impairment in the posttranslational modification of tyrosinase and its catalytic activity, we have cloned the tyrosinase gene of one patient affected with tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism and determined its nucleotide sequence. Thus demonstrated all exons' nucleotide sequence of the patient's tyrosinase gene was found to be identical to that of the wild-type gene. The results indicate that the patient's tyrosinase itself is not altered. We therefore propose that the molecular basis for the development of tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism exists as a defect in other proteins required for the activation of tyrosinase or in other regions of the tyrosinase gene.

Adult↗