Measurement of serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome: a sensitive non-invasive marker of cardiac disorder.
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Biomarkers↗
Biomedical subjects
R Taniguchi
Publications and source records attributed to R Taniguchi.
Serial circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-6 in patients with acute left heart decompensation.
BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-6 has recently been shown to have negative inotropic effects, and several studies have reported increases in circulating concentrations of this cytokine in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and chronic left heart failure. However, most previous clinical studies have measured cytokines in compensated chronic heart failure. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal evolution of circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines in patients with cardiomyopathy and acute cardiac decompensation, free of infection and unstable angina. METHODS: The time course of circulating concentrations of CRP, an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-4, and a proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 were studied in eight patients with cardiomyopathy and acute cardiac decompensation in the absence of infection or unstable angina. Control samples were obtained from eight age-matched asymptomatic subjects. RESULTS: Increased circulating concentrations of CRP (2.6 +/- 0.8 mg/dl), IL-4 (164.6 + 36.5 pg/ml), and IL-6 (17.1 +/- 5.1 pg/ml) were found in all eight patients during acute cardiac decompensation; these values decreased significantly with the resolution of symptoms of cardiac decompensation (0.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, 77.8 +/- 23.6 pg/ml, 2.3 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.05 for both). There was a significant correlation between peak CRP and peak IL-6 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute left heart decompensation in the absence of infection or coronary events, CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 increased and returned toward normal levels as the symptoms of heart failure resolved. Since the changes in concentrations of CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 in patients with heart failure are dynamic, the distinction between compensated and decompensated state is important when discussing the significance of acute reactive proteins or cytokines in the pathogenesis of heart failure.
Aged↗
Identification of a new variable sequence in the P1 cytadhesin gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae: evidence for the generation of antigenic variation by DNA recombination between repetitive sequences.
A Mycoplasma pneumoniae cytadhesin P1 gene with novel nucleotide sequence variation has been identified. Four clinical strains of M. pneumoniae were found to carry this type of P1 gene. This new P1 gene is similar to the known group II P1 genes but possesses novel sequence variation of approximately 300 bp in the RepMP2/3 region. The position of the new variable region is distant from the previously reported variable regions known to differ between group I and II P1 genes. Two sequences closely homologous to this new variable region were found within the repetitive sequences outside the P1 gene of the M. pneumoniae M129 genome. This suggests that the new P1 gene was generated by DNA recombination between repetitive sequences and the P1 gene locus. The finding of this new type of P1 gene supports the hypothesis that the repetitive sequences of the M. pneumoniae genome serve as a reservoir to generate antigenic variation of the cytadhesin P1 gene.
Adhesins, Bacterial↗
Serum concentration of cardiac troponin T in patients with cardiomyopathy: a possible mechanism of acute heart failure.
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Biomarkers↗
A case of aldosterone-producing adenoma with severe postoperative hyperkalemia.
It is known that some patients with primary aldosteronism show postoperative hyperkalemia, which is due to inability of the adrenal gland to secrete sufficient amounts of aldosterone. However, hyperkalemia is generally neither severe nor prolonged, in which replacement therapy with mineralocorticoid is seldom necessary. We report a case of a 46-year-old woman with an aldosterone-producing adenoma associated with severe postoperative hyperkalemia. After unilateral adrenalectomy, the patient showed episodes of severe hyperkalemia for four months, which required not only cation-exchange resin, but also mineralocorticoid replacement. Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) was low, although PAC was increased after rapid ACTH test. Histological examination indicated the presence of adrenocortical tumor and paradoxical hyperplasia of zona glomerulosa in the adjacent adrenal. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the enzymes involved in aldosterone synthesis, such as cholesterol side chain cleavage (P-450scc), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), and 21-hydroxylase (P-450c21), or the enzyme involved in glucocorticoid synthesis, 11beta-hydroxylase (P-450c11beta), were expressed in the tumor, but they were completely absent in zona glomerulosa of the adjacent adrenal. These findings were consistent with the patterns of primary aldosteronism. Serum potassium level was gradually decreased with concomitant increase in PAC. These results suggest that severe postoperative hyperkalemia of the present case was attributable to severe suppression of aldosterone synthesis in the adjacent and contralateral adrenal, which resulted in slow recovery of aldosterone secretion. It is plausible that aldosterone synthesis of adjacent and contralateral adrenal glands is severely impaired in some cases with primary aldosteronism, as glucocorticoid synthesis in Cushing syndrome.
Adenoma↗
Molecular heterogeneity of hCGbeta--related glycoproteins and the clinical relevance in trophoblastic and non-trophoblastic tumors.
We analyzed immunoreactive hCG/hCGbeta (IR-beta) in the sera and urine of patients with trophoblastic diseases and non-trophoblastic tumors by using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) specific for intact hCG, free hCG beta, and beta-core fragment of hCG (beta-CF). In trophoblastic diseases, while intact hCG and free hCGbeta were contained in both serum and urine, the beta-CF could be detected only in the urine of the patients. The relative contribution of the beta-CF to the total urinary IR-beta accounted for about 30-50% in normal early pregnancy and hydatidiform mole, and more than 60% in choriocarcinoma. We conclude that intact hCG should be measured in the serum rather than in the urine as a tumor marker for trophoblastic diseases, and suggested that the ratios of intact hCG, free hCGbeta, and beta-CF to each other may be useful indices in the differential diagnosis of trophoblastic diseases. Ectopic IR-beta was also investigated in the sera and urine of the patients with cervical, endometrial, ovarian, lung, and bladder carcinomas. We found that even when IR-beta could not be detected in the serum, the urine of the same patients with cancer often contained the significant amounts of IR-beta. The chromatographic study indicated that these urinary IR-beta were essentially attributed to beta-CF, leading to the evaluation of urinary beta-CF as a tumor marker. The positive rated of urinary beta-CF were 48% for cervical, 38% for endometrial, and 84% for ovarian, 40% for lung, and 42% for bladder carcinomas. We conclude that ectopic production of hCG beta by non-trophoblastic tumors is not a rare phenomenon and it can be recognized as a tumor marker when beta -CF is measured in urine of the patients.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
Expression of alpha and beta genes of human chorionic gonadotropin in lung cancer.
To confirm the ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in lung cancer, we attempted to detect the presence of mRNA transcripts of the alpha and beta genes for hCG in lung cancer tissues obtained from surgical operations. Although we were able to show the presence of hCG beta mRNA transcripts in lung cancer tissue by Northern blot, the sensitivity of the assay was too low for a precise analysis of hCG beta mRNA transcripts in most lung cancers. Using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis, however, various amounts of mRNA transcripts of hCG beta genes 3, 5, 7 and 8 were demonstrated in 9 of the 14 lung cancer tissues examined, while no mRNA transcripts were detectable in 12 normal lung tissues from the same patients. Our results are consistent with a clear difference in serum and urinary hCG beta levels observed between normal subjects and lung cancer patients. The expression of the hCG alpha gene, however, was detected in normal lung tissues more frequently than in lung cancer tissues using RT-PCR Southern blot. Our results strongly suggest the production of hCG beta as being part of the phenotype of malignantly transformed lung cells and further strengthen its superior specificity over intact hCG or hCG alpha as a tumor marker for lung cancers.
Aged↗
Cloning of the cDNA encoding rat Presenilin-1.
We isolated rat presenilin-1 (PS-1; also called S182 previously) cDNA from total brain RNA by using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique with primers homologous to the conserved sequences of human and mouse PS-1. Rat PS-1 cDNA encoded 468 amino acids (aa) and the deduced aa sequence was highly homologous to those of the human (88.4%) and mouse (92.7%). Northern blot analysis of the rat PS-1 cDNA revealed two mRNA species in rat neurotypic pheochromocytoma and glioma cell lines (PC-12 and C6, respectively) that migrated at rates corresponding to approximately 3.0 and 7.5 kb.
Alzheimer Disease↗
Influence of oocyte aging on developmental ability of reconstituted embryos produced from oocyte cytoplast and single blastomeres of two-cell stage embryos.
The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of aging of recipient oocyte on the developmental ability of reconstituted mouse embryos produced from the cytoplast of oocytes and single blastomeres of early or late 2-cell stage embryos by electrofusion. Oocytes were obtained at 14 (newly ovulated oocytes), 18, 22 (oocyte that time passed after ovulation; aged oocyte) hr after hCG injection and oocyte cytoplast was produced by manual enucleation using a fine glass needle under the dissecting microscope. The aging of the oocytes significantly influenced on the fusion rate of the reconstituted embryos (14 hr: 42.7-47.2% vs. 22 hr: 75.3-77.6%). Similarly, the cleavage rate of reconstituted embryos increased with aging of the oocytes (14 hr: 50.8-56.3% vs. 22 hr: 82.2-90.7%). The percentage of reconstituted embryos produced from cytoplast of aged oocytes (22 hr post hCG) and single blastomeres of late 2-cell stage embryos developing to the blastocyst (20.8%) was significantly higher than that of reconstituted embryos produced by other combinations (2.0-8.2%: P < 0.01). Although cell cycle stage of donor nuclei influenced to developmental ability of reconstituted embryos, these results are probably related to the aging of the oocytes since aged oocytes can be activated more easily by electrical stimulation than newly ovulated oocytes.
Animals↗
Pharmacy benefit management companies.
The principal services offered by pharmacy benefit management companies (PBMs) are described. A PBM contracts with employers, insurers, and others to provide accessible and cost-effective benefits to those groups' members. PBMs vary in their organization and services because they originate from different types of businesses. Many PBMs have been formed by publicly traded companies that have combined traditional ways of controlling cost and use, such as formularies, with new elements to form organizations whose primary function is managing the pharmacy benefit. Often, the PBM is paid a fixed amount for which it must provide all contracted services. PBMs may provide pharmacy services themselves (e.g., mail order prescription service is offered by Medco, one of the largest PBMs); more often, they subcontract with others to provide certain services. Full-service PBMs have the following functions: establishing networks of pharmacies for use by plan members; processing claims electronically at the time a prescription is filled and thus maintaining a database on drug use and cost; using these data to generate various reports; encouraging the use of generic products; managing existing formularies, helping to establish customized formularies, or providing a national formulary; providing information to support formulary guidelines (counter-detailing); offering programs in which prescriptions for maintenance medications are filled less frequently with larger amounts, often by mail order; negotiating volume-based rebates from manufacturers; performing drug-use review; developing disease management programs based on clinical practice guidelines and measurements of patient outcome; and evaluating outcomes by combining data on drug therapy with information about other parts of the patient's care.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Contract Services↗
Suppression of water shift into intracellular space by TA-3090 (calcium entry blocker) measured with NMR.
In order to clarify the effects of TA-3090 (calcium entry blocker) on the suppression of water after ischaemic events, 16 measurements of T2f were continuously performed on brain biopsy (for 2-60 min) obtained from treated and control Wistar rats. The time constant (k) and NMR parameters (T2f,(O) delta T2f, T2fmax(T2f(O) + delta T2f) were obtained from 16 values of T2f. The values of k in Wistar rats treated with intravenously administrated TA-3090 (0.5 mg/kg) were significantly prolonged as compared to that of control. There were no significant differences of maximum prolongation of T2f(T2fmax(T2f(O) + delta T2f) among three groups. Since the prolongation of T2f after biopsy reflects the water shift from extra to intracellular space, the increments of time constant indicates that TA-3090 suppresses the water shift into intracellular space. Our present results suggest that TA-3090 prevents some processes involved in irreversible cell damage and suppresses the cytotoxic brain oedema in the incomplete ischaemic area where non-competitive calcium channel is inactive.
Animals↗
Headaches in dementia.
We investigated 288 elderly subjects with various degree of dementia, focusing on headaches. Seventy-three of 288 elderly subjects (25.3%) complained of some headaches. The most common type was the tension-type headache, from which 43 of the 73 subjects with headaches (58.9%) suffered. The degree of cognitive disturbances, evaluated by Hasegawa's intelligence scale, significantly correlated to the prevalence of headaches, and indicated that patients with dementia appeared to have less headaches. The methodological issues and views on headache research in dementia were assessed, and it is concluded that the field is a difficult one, with potential for error.
Activities of Daily Living↗
[Tracheoesophageal anastomosis for intractable aspiration pneumonia].
Permanent tracheostomy and tracheoesophageal anastomosis were performed as a means of surgical intervention for the treatment of intractable aspiration pneumonia. Conventional method of tracheoesophageal anastomosis has entailed various problems. The improved technique by the authors utilized the special histological features of the situation and makes possible safe and reliable anastomosis. This technique retains the tracheal perichondrium to strengthen the anastomosed portion of the trachea, and can thus prevent suture insufficiency due to tension upon the anastomotic site.
Aged↗
Influence of arm positions on EMG-reaction time of the biceps brachii for elbow flexion and forearm supination.
The influence of starting positions of the arm on EMG-RTs of the biceps brachii muscle for elbow flexion and forearm supination was examined using 16 normal subjects. Two angles of the elbow joint, 45 degrees and 110 degrees flexion, and two positions of the forearm, 45 degrees supination and 90 degrees pronation, were used as the factorial combinations of all four. The EMG-RT for elbow flexion decreased in the order of 110 degrees Pronation greater than 45 degrees Pronation = 110 degrees Supination greater than 45 degrees Supination, and that for forearm supination decreased in the order of 45 degrees Supination greater than 45 degrees Pronation = 110 degrees Supination greater than 110 degrees Pronation. These results were kinesiologically interpreted that variations of EMG-RTs were based on the change in the number of synergic muscles participating in an intended movement and the muscle length of the prime mover at the start of the movement.
Adolescent↗
Monitoring methenamine therapy: data from a geriatric population.
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Aged↗
Effects of postural change of the shoulder on EMG reaction time of triceps brachii.
Postural dependence of electromyographic reaction time (EMG-RT) of triceps brachii in normal subjects was examined at neutral (N) and facilitating (F) positions. EMG-RT was faster at F than at N; moreover, the slower one's EMG-RT, the larger the difference of EMG-RTs. F position of arms causes the shifting of EMG-RT through two biasing systems. The action of one system arises from either arm and acts on both arms, as the facilitation and its intensity depend on one's EMG-RT. The other system arises from one arm, and facilitates the ipsilateral arm but inhibits the contralateral arm; its intensity is independent of one's EMG-RT. The amount of the shift is determined by the added contribution of those two actions.
Adolescent↗
Postural dependence of reaction time after a VL thalamotomy.
Postural dependence of the EMG-RT of the triceps brachii muscles was measured in 68 parkinsonian patients of which 38 underwent a ventrolateral thalamotomy. A thalamotomy did not affect patients' EMG-RT per se, but it changed the postural dependence of the EMG-RT. After left thalamotomy the position changes of both shoulders did not influence the EMG-RT of the right triceps, and after right thalamotomy the position change of the left shoulder had no influence on the EMG-RT of both triceps. As for the sensorimotor function, it is assumed that the right thalamus has bilateral control on the input system and the left thalamus has bilateral control on the output system.
Adult↗
Dependence of reaction times on movement patterns in patients with Parkinson's disease and those with cerebellar degeneration.
Premotor times (PMTs) of both biceps muscles in flexion and supination of the forearms were examined in 13 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 10 with cerebellar degeneration (CD) and 14 control subjects. Compared with the control, PMT of CD increased definitely but that of PD was within normal range. The difference of PMTs between flexion and supination was lost in PD, but not in CD. It is assumed that the basal ganglia and the right cerebral cortex are functioning for the selection of movement patterns at the initiation of movements.
Adult↗