Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Kawanami.
We describe the CT findings in two pediatric cases of intrathoracic desmoid tumor arising from the chest wall. In both cases, CT showed heterogeneously enhanced intrathoracic masses with destruction of the ribs.
To search for brain molecules that share epitopes with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) proteins, we investigated non-AIDS human brains by immunohistochemical and Western blotting methods, and detected a 23 kDa protein which was immunoreactive with antibodies against HIVp17, a core protein of HIV with a molecular weight of 17 kDa. The 23 kDa protein was localized mostly in reactive astrocytes in and around pathologic areas of the brain, but some neurons also had it. We propose that any HIV vaccine must be checked up if it induces a cross-reacting antibody to a human brain or other organs.
This work expands recent observations that Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats show little or no pancreatic expression of the cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor gene. We examined whether the CCK-A and -B receptor genes were expressed in the brain (hypothalamus) of OLETF rats in comparison with control (Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka = LETO) rats. CCK-A receptor mRNA was detected in the hypothalamus of LETO rats but not OLETF rats. The CCK-B receptor gene was expressed in the hypothalamus in both strains. Cerebroventricular administration of CCK-8 sulfate inhibited daily food intake in LETO rats, but not in OLETF rats. These results show that in OLETF rats the absence of CCK-A receptor gene expression in the hypothalamus results in hyperphagia because of lack of satiety.
We examined the inferior olivary nucleus from four cases of olivary hypertrophy and six control cases immunohistochemically with an anti-synaptophysin (SYP) antibody. Our study revealed the altered SYP-immunoreactive pattern in the hypertrophied olives, consisting of an increased number of SYP-immunoreactive dots on neuronal cell bodies in spite of its decreased immunoreactivity in the neuropil. Because SYP is a marker protein for presynaptic vesicles, presynaptic terminals in the inferior olivary nucleus seem to change their distribution during the course of olivary hypertrophy.
The anatomical site of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is at the capillary endothelium mainly, with some contribution from astrocytes. Electron microscopic observations of endothelial cells and perivascular astrocytes comprising the BBB in brain edema and other pathological conditions are reviewed in this article. The tight junctions of cerebral endothelial cells open under several conditions such as infusion of hyperosmolar solutions. Pinocytotic vesicles increase under various pathological conditions and fenestrae appear in blood vessels of certain brain tumors and several non-neoplastic lesions. Inflammatory cells penetrate between or through endothelial cells. In long standing lesions, endothelial cells containing various tubular structures such as Weibel-Palade bodies proliferate. Other alterations include surface infoldings of endothelial cells and fluid diffusion through damaged endothelium. Astrocytic alterations include abnormal junctions between astrocytic processes in certain gliomas. In vivo and in vitro studies suggest that astrocytes maintain or develop certain functions of BBB. As the BBB is disrupted, edema fluid infiltrates the brain parenchyma. Because the white matter consists of nerve fibers without demonstrable junctions, it invades between nerve fibers. In the gray matter, expansion of the fluid is limited by complicated anatomical structures. In myelinated nerve fibers, edema fluid accumulates in five separate compartments of extracellular space.
Cholecystokinin, a brain gut peptide that stimulates gall bladder contraction and pancreatic exocrine secretion, also acts as a neurotransmitter. In this study, we demonstrated that small amounts of cholecystokinin precursor mRNA were expressed in the heart, lung, and kidney, as well as in the brain and the small intestine. The nucleotide sequences of the coding regions of the cholecystokinin precursor mRNA in these tissues were identical to those of the small intestine, indicating that cholecystokinin precursor proteins produced in these tissues are identical to those in small intestine. This is the first report demonstrating that the cholecystokinin precursor gene is expressed in the heart, lung, and kidney, as well as in the gastrointestinal tract and brain.
This report concerns the study of synaptophysin (SP) expression in the anterior horn of three cases of lower motor neuron disease (L-MND). All patients studied had anterior horn cell degeneration without neuropathological evidence of corticospinal tract degeneration. Spinal cords from six patients with no neurological disease served as controls. Immunocytochemical techniques were used. The results show that in L-MND there is decreased SP immunoreactivity of the anterior horn neuropil, but preservation of immunoreactive dots around the cell body and proximal processes, and the presence of some residual neurons in the affected gray matter that are surrounded by a dense accumulation of immunoreaction products. These findings resemble those of classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), indicating similarities in the distribution patterns of presynaptic terminals in the anterior horn of L-MND and classical ALS.
OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver is a localized mass consisting of a fibrous stroma and chronic inflammatory infiltrate without anaplasia. Diagnosis of this rare disease is important to avoid surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if CT is useful in the diagnosis of this lesion. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: CT scans of nine patients with a proved diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver were reviewed. Diagnosis was made by the surgical resection in three patients and by percutaneous biopsy in six patients. Six patients had symptoms and laboratory data suggesting active inflammation caused by the pseudotumor. The remaining three patients were asymptomatic. CT scans were performed with IV administration of the contrast material; scans were obtained in the portal venous and delayed phases in six patients and in the delayed phase in three patients. CT scans were analyzed for the number and size of the hepatic masses, and the degree and pattern of contrast enhancement on portal venous phase and delayed-phase images. RESULTS: Eight patients had a solitary hepatic mass, and one patient had two masses on the CT scan. The average size of the masses in the symptomatic patients (8.3 cm) was larger than that in the asymptomatic group (3.6 cm). CT scans in the portal venous phase showed a variable degree of contrast enhancement (seven masses). At least a part of seven masses, six of which were in symptomatic patients, showed greater contrast enhancement on delayed-phase CT scans than on the normal liver parenchyma. No constant pattern of enhancement was observed on delayed-phase CT scans in asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver should be included in a differential diagnosis in patients with a hepatic mass on a CT scan, especially when patients are symptomatic and the mass is fairly large and solitary showing contrast enhancement greater than that of liver parenchyma on delayed-phase CT scans. Percutaneous biopsy should be performed to obtain a histologic confirmation.
To clarify whether ubiquitin is expressed in atherosclerotic lesions, and, if so, the expression is influenced by diabetes mellitus, we examined atherosclerotic (AS) lesions from Wistar fatty (WF) and Wistar lean (WL) rats immunohistochemically using an antibody against ubiquitin (AUb). Ten-week-old male WF and WL rats were treated to cannulize a silicon tube from the left carotid artery (LCA) to the descending aorta under chloral hydrate anesthesia and the tube was fixed. Age-matched WF and WL rats without cannulization were served as controls. Eight weeks after operation, 1 ml of 0.1% Evans blue solution was injected to all rats from the tail vein. 15 min latter, the aortae were removed, fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Immunohistochemical staining with AUb by the ABC method, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and elastica-Goldner (EG) stains were performed. In the cannulized group, focal areas of the luminal surface of the aorta were stained blue with Evans blue and these areas were microscopically confirmed as AS lesions in all WF and WL rats. In the control group, no Evans blue staining or AS lesions were observed. The destruction of the internal elastic lamina in AS lesions were seen with EG stain in the cannulized aorta of both WF and WL rats. No significant difference of the area ratio of intima/media was present between WF and WL rats in the cannulized group. Ubiquitin immunoreactivity was observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells in AS lesions of both WF and WL rats. The present study suggests that ubiquitin plays a role in the formation of AS, and the condition of diabetes mellitus has little influence on ubiquitin expression and AS formation in this experimental model.
A 39-year-old woman presented clinical features of adult onset Still's disease. Seven years after the onset, she developed renal insufficiency and biopsy studies revealed amyloid deposits involving amyloid A protein, P component, lambda chain and kappa chain in the kidney and rectum. She died in 1992, primarily due to cardiac failure associated with amyloidosis, indicating that amyloidosis should be considered one of the fatal complications in adult onset Still's disease with a long history.
The aim was to elucidate the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) metabolism in stress situations and in the behavioral improvement produced by chronic antidepressant treatment. Rat cerebral cortex slices were used for the purpose. Forced swimming for 15 min and longer induced changes in behavioral activities of rats associated with a significant reduction of 5-HT-stimulated PI metabolism, without any changes in density and affinity of 5-HT2 receptors. This suggests that modulation of the receptor coupling process but not of the 5-HT2 receptor binding characteristics may be responsible for the significant reduction of 5-HT-stimulated PI metabolism in stress situations. Chronic antidepressant treatment tended to reduce 5-HT-stimulated PI metabolism. This treatment improved significantly the behavioural activities during forces swimming, and prevented the forced swimming-induced reduction of 5-HT-stimulated PI metabolism. It is postulated that chronic antidepressant treatment may improve behavioral activities in relation to PI metabolism in stress situations.
We have established the radioimmunoassay for ubiquitin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and measured the ubiquitin concentration in CSF from 4 cases of neuropathologically verified Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), 10 cases of multi-infarct dementia (MID), 7 cases of senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), and 18 controls. The normal values were determined to range from 7.3 to 21.0 ng/ml, 14.3 +/- 1.1 ng/ml in the mean +/- S.E.M. The CSF ubiquitin levels in the cases of MID and SDAT were 16.6 +/- 6.4 ng/ml and 21.3 +/- 6.1 ng/ml, respectively. In the cases of CJD, the CSF ubiquitin was markedly increased at the early and middle stages of the disease (230.6 ng/ml in Case 1, 107.6 ng/ml in Case 2, 212.5 ng/ml in Case 3, and 377.0 ng/ml in Case 4) and these gradually decreased as the disease progressed. The measurement of CSF ubiquitin seems useful to make an early diagnosis of CJD.
1. The present study was carried out in order to elucidate the influence of the acute stress on alpha 1-adrenergic, serotonin-2 (5-HT2) and muscarinic cholinergic (M-Ach) receptors-mediated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in rat cerebral cortex slices. 2. In rat cerebral cortex slices, noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5-HT) and carbachol stimulated [3H]inositol-monophosphate (IP1) accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. The forced swimming test (FST) for 15 min induced a significant reduction of 5-HT-stimulated [3H]IP1 accumulation, but this stress situation did not produce a significant alteration of NA- and carbachol-stimulated [3H]IP1 accumulation. 4. The FST for 15 min did not affect the density and affinity of alpha 1-adrenergic, 5-HT2 and M-Ach receptors. 5. In a mild acute stress situation, the intracellular signal transduction mediated by 5-HT was promptly inhibited as compared to the signal transduction mediated by NA or carbachol. This inhibition may be induced by an acute uncoupling of 5-HT2 receptor-mediated intracellular signal transduction.
1) The urinary 5-S-CD contents in malignant melanoma subjects (n = 135) and non-melanoma subjects (n = 204) were measured by HPLC. These results suggest that, as a biochemical marker, periodic measurement of urinary 5-S-CD is quite useful for evaluating the determinations of stage classification (UICC, 1987), and the detection of metastases, the therapeutic efficacy of operation or immunochemotherapy against malignant melanoma. 2) Quantitative analyses of 5-S-CD values in tissues from primary malignant melanoma lesions (n = 24) and pigmentary tumors other than melanomas (n = 136) showed 80.6-821.4 ng/mg and N.D.-55.0 ng/mg respectively. In view of the above findings, it was suggested that the pigmentary tumors can be diagnosed as malignant melanoma if the 5-S-CD value in the tissues is higher than 100 ng/mg.
The lumbar cords from 3 cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS), one case of vincristine neuropathy, and two control cases were examined with an antiserum to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The anti-CGRP intensely labelled the spinal posterior horns in all cases. In the anterior horns, several perikarya and cord-like neuritic swellings, mostly axons, were labelled with the antibody in the fALS cases, whereas CGRP-positive structures were extremely rare in the cases other than fALS. It is possible that the accumulation of CGRP in the proximal axonal swellings and perikarya may result from entrapment of CGRP during the anterograde axonal transport, causing loss of, or decrease in, CGRP at the neuromuscular junction and producing weakness and atrophy of the muscles.
The spinal cords from seven autopsy cases of sporadic motor neuron disease (MND) and two controls were immunohistochemically examined using antibodies directed to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and to neurofilament proteins (Nf). CGRP immunoreactivity was observed in the posterior horns, especially in the laminae I and II, of all the spinal cords examined. In MND cases, in addition, a considerable number of spheroids in the anterior horns were labelled with the antibody. In some spheroids, their entire area was homogeneously immunostained, whereas in others the immunoreactivity was confined to a focal area(s) within the profile of the spheroids and between these two forms of staining several variations of the staining patterns were seen. The anti-Nf intensely and homogeneously labelled all spheroids and there was no appreciable difference in the Nf-immunoreactive pattern between CGRP-positive and -negative spheroids. It is possible that the accumulation of CGRP in spheroids may result from entrapment of CGRP during the anterograde axonal transport, causing loss of CGRP at the neuromuscular junction and producing weakness and atrophy of the muscles.
From 1981 to 1989 seventeen cases of pediatric patients with urachal remnants have been treated at the Fukuoka Municipal Children's Hospital (2 patent urachus, 5 urachal cyst, 9 urachal sinus, 1 urachal diverticulum). The cases of patent urachus were discovered in the neonates due to a urine discharge from the umbilicus; in the older children, cysts or sinuses accompanied by an infection led to the diagnosis of the urachal anomaly. In 8 of 11 cases, fistulography established the diagnosis. In 9 of 12 cases, ultrasound imaging was diagnostically successful, as was CT in all 3 cases that were given scans.
This paper presents a rare case of infantile infiltrating lipoma in the buttock. The usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging of the tumor in the follow-up study is discussed.