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Biomedical subjects

Tsuyoshi Matsumura

Publications and source records attributed to Tsuyoshi Matsumura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Gastroenterological endoscopic findings in alcoholic liver disease patients--comparison of daily drinkers at physical check up].

We compared findings of alcoholic liver disease patients used by gastroenterological endoscopes (31 patients hospitalized in Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki Hospital: AA group, and 156 patients hospitalized in Suma Red Cross Hospital: AL group) with physical checkup patients (48 daily drinkers: A group, and 99 non drinkers: C group). Esophageal varices were seen by the majority of AA group, and the frequencies of esophageal cancers were also high in the gullet changed to morbid state. Although these things were seen AL group, there were few as compared with AA group. Moreover, frequencies of esophagitises in AL group were higher than C group (p < 0.05), though it was the same level in C group and AA group. In a strange stomach trouble, as for AL and A group, there were a lot of gastric erosions compared with C group (p < 0.05). However, AL group compared with the other groups, the gastric polyps were few (especially C group, p < 0.01). In the duodenum, changing to a morbid state, ulcers were high frequency (5/31) in AA group compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Moreover AA and AL groups had a lot of polyps high frequency compared with C group (p < 0.05), and duodenitises were high frequencies in AL group compared with A and C group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). It seemed stronger that the digestive organs changing to morbid state was tendency depended on alcohol consumption and the influence of smoking was not able to be disregarded.

Adult↗

Tracheo-arterial fistula in tracheostomy patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

A tracheo-arterial fistula is a serious and life threatening potential complication of a tracheostomy. Since 1984, we experienced nine fatal cases of tracheo-arterial fistula among 60 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients who underwent a tracheostomy. Representative cases included a patient with lordosis (Case 8), in whom the fistula was located in the brachiocephalic artery close to the trachea, and another with severe scoliosis (Case 9), which caused the aorta to compress the trachea. Such anatomical changes can be the cause of a fistula between the trachea and brachiocephalic artery. The anatomical locations between the trachea and brachiocephalic artery are modified by thoracic deformities in DMD patients, and should be confirmed using computed tomography (CT) prior to a tracheostomy procedure. Further, during such a procedure, the tracheal stoma must be placed in a location clearly away from the arteries, and should be followed by regular post-operative examinations using CT and careful management to avoid a tracheo-arterial fistula.

Adolescent↗

Oral administration of branched-chain amino acids activates the mTOR signal in cirrhotic rat liver.

BCAA granules (a mixture of branched-chain amino acids) have been used to reverse the hypoalbuminemia of decompensated liver cirrhotic patients in Japan. Our previous studies showed that BCAA promoted albumin secretion through the mTOR signal transduction pathway in rat primary hepatocyte culture [Ijichi C, Matsumura T, Tsuji T, Eto Y. Branched-chain amino acids promote albumin synthesis in rat primary hepatocytes through the mTOR signal transduction system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003;303:59-64]. However, the mTOR-activating effect of BCAA in the experimental cirrhotic animals presenting with hypoalbuminemia has not yet been examined. The purpose of this study is to assess whether oral administration of BCAA induces mTOR activity in the livers of normal rats and CCl(4)-induced cirrhotic rats (CCl(4) rats). Biochemical analysis of liver extracts isolated from several rats showed that oral administration of BCAA (0.75g/kg body weight (BW)) induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and stimulated the enzymatic activity of p70 S6K. Both of these molecules act downstream of mTOR. From the results, we conclude that orally administrated BCAA augments albumin synthesis in the liver, not only by supplementation of material substrates for protein synthesis, but also by induction of an mTOR signal that is critical for translational initiation. Furthermore, we conclude that induction of mTOR signaling is one of the major pharmacological mechanisms by which BCAA granules reverse the hypoalbuminemia of cirrhotic patients.

Journal Article↗

Coagulation system activated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients with cardiac dysfunction.

We investigated basic abnormalities of coagulation and fibrinolysis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients with cardiac dysfunction. Forty seven patients with DMD, aged 13-37 years old, were enrolled. Based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) results determined by echocardiography, patients were divided into 3 groups: LVEF less than 30% (markedly depressed group), LVEF between 30 and 50% (slightly depressed), and LVEF greater than 50% (normal). We measured serum levels of total fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), as well as plasma fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragment (F1+2), and D-dimer. The levels of TAT and F1+2 in the markedly depressed group were significantly elevated compared with the other groups, whereas FDP, fibrinogen, and D-dimer levels did not differ among the groups. We concluded that activated coagulation is associated with cardiac dysfunction in patients with DMD.

Adolescent↗

Intravesical mass consisting of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

We report on a patient with an intravesical mass consisting of hyperplastic follicles in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Computed tomography and ultrasonography revealed two intravesical masses measuring 3.5 cm and 1.5 cm along the long axis. Imaging diagnosis was invasive tumors of the bladder. However, the pathological diagnosis on transurethral bladder tumor biopsy was a lesion in lamina propria consisting of hyperplastic follicles and lymphatic infiltrate between them with no cell atypia. Light microscopically, the lesion was considered to be reactive follicular hyperplasia. Antibiotic therapy resulted in an almost complete disappearance of the tumors. Such large follicular hyperplasia in the lamina propria of the bladder is rare.

Adult↗

[A clinical trial of creatine monohydrate in muscular dystrophy patients].

To investigate the effects of creatine monohydrate on muscle performance and cognitive functions in muscular dystrophy patients, we made an open trial. Twenty-nine individuals, including 14 myotonic dystrophy (DM), seven facioscapurohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), two limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and six healthy volunteers, were enrolled in this study and 27 participants completed it. All participants took creatine 20g/day for an initial week and 5g/day for successive eight weeks. Somatotonic measurements, global subjective assessment, muscle performance, cardiopulmonary function, cognitive function, laboratory studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were evaluated at both pre and post examination. Subjective improvements were reported from twelve individuals. Contrary adverse effects were also complained from ten individuals, although all these problems were not serious. Quantitative muscle power was slightly but significantly increased in the patients and the number of the patients who failed to complete cycle ergometer test was decreased. Phosphocreatine concentrations of left calf muscle were not different between pre and post trial examination. No obvious changes were detected in cardiopulmonary assessment, cognitive function and laboratory date. Creatine has certain expectance for muscular dystrophy patients in motor performance. The effect may be achieved not only by increase of energy buffer, because clinical improvements were observed in our study nevertheless no increase was detected in phosphocreatine concentration. The usage of creatine should be managed under medical monitoring since ideal protocol has not yet been established and adverse effects can not be ignored.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Erythrocyte from Duchenne muscular dystrophy is fragile].

Intermittent indirect hyperbilirubinemia was occasionally observed in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. We suspected that hyperbilirubinemia might be caused by hemolysis of fragile erythrocytes due to damaged endothelium, which was reported in DMD. To examine the fragility of erythrocytes, we performed osmotic resistance test in 25 DMD, 12 myotonic dystrophy (DM), 12 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 24 healthy volunteers (male 15, female 9). Minimum resistance (beginning point of hemolysis) of DMD (0.447 +/- 0.016%) was higher than that of age matched male controls (0.425 +/- 0.018%: p = 0.0008) and that of DM (0.440 +/- 0.015%) was also higher than that of total controls (0.423 +/- 0.016%, p = 0.0077). The number of poikilocytes was increased in DMD (35.45 +/- 41.17 per a high magnitude field), however no obvious correlation was detected between the ratio of poikilocytes and resistances. Total bilirubin showed correlation (p = 0.029) to minimum resistance. These findings suggested that erythrocyte membrane is fragile in DMD. Involvement of endothelial damage could not be proven, because all investigated patients showed normal tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Although the mechanism of fragile erythrocytes in DMD is still unknown, we should pay attention to interpret bilirubin in DMD, because hemolysis due to erythrocyte fragility may influence the value.

Aged↗

Protein and gene analyses of dysferlinopathy in a large group of Japanese muscular dystrophy patients.

Mutations in the dysferlin gene cause muscular dystrophies called dysferlinopathy, which include limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) and Miyoshi myopathy (MM). To clarify the frequency, clinicopathological and genetic features of dysferlinopathy in Japan, we performed protein and gene analyses of dysferlin. We examined a total of 107 unrelated Japanese patients, including 53 unclassified LGMD, 28 MM and 26 other neuromuscular disorders (ONMD). Expression of dysferlin protein was observed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and mini-multiplex Western blotting (MMW), and mutation analysis was performed. We found a deficiency of dysferlin protein by both IHC and MMW in 19% of LGMD and 75% of MM patients, and mutations in the dysferlin gene were identified in this group alone. 19% of dysferlin-deficient patients had 3370G-->T missense mutation and 16% had 1939C-->G nonsense mutation. The patients with homozygous 3370G-->T mutation showed milder clinical phenotypes. Twenty-five percent of MM muscles had normal dysferlin protein contents that suggested the genetic heterogeneity of this disease. Altered immunolocalization of dysferlin was observed in not only primary dysferlinopathy, but also in the several diseased muscles with normal protein contents. This result implies the necessity of other protein(s) for proper membrane localization of dysferlin, or some roles of dysferlin in the cytoplasmic region.

Age of Onset↗

Branched-chain amino acids promote albumin synthesis in rat primary hepatocytes through the mTOR signal transduction system.

The administration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to cirrhosis patients increases serum albumin levels and improves the blood Fischer's ratio. Although it has been reported that albumin synthesis in rat primary hepatocytes is diminished under lower Fisher's ratio conditions compared to normal Fischer's ratio conditions, the mode of action at the molecular level for these effects is still uncertain. It has been reported recently that the triggering signal for protein synthesis is transmitted through mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). We have had an interest in the mTOR signal transduction system. In the present study, we analyzed the mode of action of BCAA-induced albumin synthesis using rat primary hepatocytes. The BCAA mixture dose-dependently promoted the production of albumin, with leucine being the major effector half of which was inhibited by the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. We also showed that only leucine induces P70 S6 kinase activation and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation which are mTOR's downstream translational effectors. These activations were completely inhibited by rapamycin. Our results suggest that BCAAs, especially leucine, promote the production of albumin in rat primary hepatocytes through an mTOR signal transduction system.

Albumins↗

[Process of swallowing disturbance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--evaluation of videofluorography and respiratory function].

We investigated the process of swallowing disturbance in the patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Swallowing function of 11 patients with ALS (67.5 +/- 7.5 y.o.) was evaluated by videofluorography (VF) and swallowing part of ALS functional rating scale (FRSsw) more than 2 times during the course. Percent of forced vital capacity (%FVC) was also measured. VF measures were oral leakage, poor bolus formation, retention in oral cavity, abnormal transport to pharynx as oral stage and delayed swallowing reflex, laryngeal penetration, aspiration, nasal regurgitation, retention in valleculae and pyriform, and abnormal opening of pharyngo-esophageal segment as pharyngeal stage. FRSsw were defined as 4: normal eating habits, 3: early eating problems--occasional choking 2: dietary consistency changes, 1: needs supplemental tube feeding and 0:NPO (exclusively parental or enteral feeding). According to VF findings in the course of oral stage and pharyngeal stage, in some patients, the disturbance of oral stage preceded that of pharyngeal stage, while in the other patients, the disturbance of pharyngeal stage disturbance preceded that of oral stage, and in another patients were mixed course. There was poor relationship between the FRSsw and VF measure. Even in the patients of FRSsw 4 & 3. penetration/aspiration were found. %FVC was 70.0 +/- 17.3% in patients with FRSsw 4 & 3, 43.1 +/- 17.6% in patients with FRSsw 2 and 40.4 +/- 16.2% in patients with FRS 1 & 0. In the individual course, FRSsw decreased in parallel with %FVC. We conclude that there are various course of swallowing disturbance on VF findings, the oral stage disturbance proceed, the pharyngeal stage disturbance proceed or mixed. Swallowing function deteriorate in parallel with respiratory function in ALS patients. We have to take measures against the dysphagia even in early stage.

Aged↗

[A case of Duchenne muscular dystrophy showing coagulation cascade activation induced by muscle destruction due to convulsion].

A male patient with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) had tonic-clonic convulsion. He showed transient elevations of serum creatine kinase (CK) and plasma D-dimer. Serum CK, ordinarily 122-386 IU/l, was elevated to 9,262 IU/l, while plasma D-dimer, below 66 ng/ml in normal subjects, was at 543 ng/ml, and these levels were significantly correlated. Serum fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products levels were within a normal range. In the present case, acute muscle destruction due to tonic-clonic convulsion was considered to transiently activate a coagulation cascade. Plasma D-dimer elevation is the result of fibrin thrombus and can induce thrombosis, such as a pulmonary embolism. Thrombosis is a serious life-threatening complication of DMD, though the mechanism remains unclear. There were no thrombotic complications in the present patient, however, acute muscle destruction enhances the coagulation and fibrinolysis status in patients with advanced DMD and may be a candidate cause of thrombosis.

Adult↗

[A case of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis with antibodies against interferon-alpha--a clinico-immunological follow up of the symptoms and its titer].

A 73-year-old woman developed myasthenia gravis (MG) with thymoma. She had a very high level of serum antibodies against interferon-alfa (IFN-alpha). We observed the changes to her clinical symptoms and titer of the antibody during therapeutic course. Although she underwent thymectomy, intravenous methylprednisolone therapy, and oral tacrolimus administration, MG symptoms of the patient were not significantly improved and the antibody titer remained at a high level. IFN-alpha is a potent immunomodulating cytokine that regulates MHC class II expression on antigen presenting cells and activities of NK cells, B cells, and helper/suppressor T cells. This case suggests that IFN-alpha related immunological perturbation participates in the pathogenesis of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis.

Aged↗

Leucine promotes glucose uptake in skeletal muscles of rats.

Soleus muscles isolated from normal rats were incubated to evaluate whether or not leucine promotes glucose uptake under insulin-free conditions, using a labeled 2-deoxyglucose uptake assay. Glucose uptake was promoted by 2mM leucine. A metabolite of leucine, alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (alpha-KIC), also exhibited a similar stimulatory effect, although this was not as potent as leucine. Stimulation of glucose uptake by leucine was completely canceled by pre-treatment with either 10 microM LY294002, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), or 6 microM GF109203X, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC). No significant change was observed by pre-treatment with 1 microM rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These results suggest that leucine stimulates glucose transport in skeletal muscle via PI3-kinase and PKC pathways independently of the mammalian target of mTOR. They also suggest that leucine stimulates glucose transport by an insulin-independent mechanism.

Animals↗

Chromosome 4q;10q translocations; comparison with different ethnic populations and FSHD patients.

BACKGROUND: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the weakness of facial, shoulder-girdle and upper arm muscles. Most patients with FSHD have fewer numbers of tandem repeated 3.3-kb KpnI units on chromosome 4q35. Chromosome 10q26 contains highly homologous KpnI repeats, and inter-chromosomal translocation has been reported. METHODS: To clarify the influence on the deletion of the repeats, we surveyed three different ethnic populations and FSHD patients using the BglII/BlnI dosage test. RESULTS: The frequency of translocation in 153 Japanese, 124 Korean, 114 Chinese healthy individuals and 56 Japanese 4q35-FSHD patients were 27.5%, 29.8%, 19.3%, and 32.1%, respectively. The ratio of '4 on 10' (trisomy and quatrosomy of chromosome 4) was higher than that of '10 on 4' (nullsomy and monosomy of chromosome 4) in all populations. CONCLUSIONS: The inter-chromosomal exchange was frequently observed in all four populations we examined, and no significant difference was observed between healthy and diseased groups.

Aneuploidy↗

Isolation of Chinese hamster ovary cell pex mutants: two PEX7-defective mutants.

We searched for novel Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell mutants defective in peroxisome biogenesis by an improved method using peroxisome targeting signal 2 (PTS2)-tagged enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). From mutagenized TKaEG2 cells, the wild-type CHO-K1 stably expressing rat Pex2p and PTS2-EGFP, cell colonies resistant to the 9-(1(')-pyrene)nonanol/ultraviolet treatment were examined for intracellular location of PTS2-EGFP. Of six mutant cell clones two, ZPEG227 and ZPEG231, showed cytosolic PTS2-EGFP, indicative of impaired PTS2 import, and numerous PTS1-positive particles. PEX7 expression restored the impaired PTS2 import in both mutants. Cell fusion with fibroblasts from a patient with PEX7-defective rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata did not complement PTS2 import defect of ZPEG227 and ZPEG231, confirming that these two are pex7 mutants. Mutation analysis of PEX7 by reverse transriptase (RT)-PCR indicated that ZPEG227-allele carried an inactivating nonsense mutation, Trp158Ter. Therefore, ZPEG227 is a pex7 mutant possessing a newly identified mutation in mammalian pex7 cell lines.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Diagnosis of dystrophinopathy by skin biopsy.

We studied the expression of dystrophin in skin biopsy samples from 19 patients with neuromuscular diseases. Immunohistochemical procedures for dystrophin analyses were performed using monoclonal antibodies for three different domains. Arrector pili muscles, which are smooth muscles in the skin, expressed dystrophin in the patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (5), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (1), and spinal muscular atrophy (3), and in normal controls (2). The C-terminus of dystrophin was slightly expressed in the patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, whereas the rod domain and N-terminus were absent. In one patient with Becker muscular dystrophy, the expression of dystrophin was reduced. The mosaic of dystrophin positive and negative smooth muscle fibers was observed in a manifesting carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Our results suggest that skin biopsy is very useful for the diagnosis of Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy and manifesting carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and can be performed even at an advanced stage of the disease.

Biopsy↗

[An ambiguous pedigree of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy which showed double EcoRI/BlnI resistant short fragments].

We report a facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) pedigree having double short (25 kb and 33 kb) BlnI resistant (4 q-like) fragments. Two of three male siblings developed shoulder-girdle weakness and minimum facial involvement from their adolescence. Although the rest (third) brother had non-progressive hemi-palsy in face and upper-extremity and strabismus caused by birth trauma, he had no clinical symptoms of FSHD. Mother presented mild shoulder weakness after cholecystectomy at the age of 50 years, but with no facial involvement and normal serum creatine kinase (CK) level (45 IU/L). On the contrary, father had high CK level (450 IU/L) despite no neurological abnormalities. After EcoRI/BlnI double digestion, two short fragments were detected in the two affected siblings. Then, all family members were examined to determine pathognomonic fragment. Consequently, mother (25 kb and 90 kb) and the third non-affected brother (25 kb and 51 kb) had two 4 q-like fragments, however, three 4 q-like fragments were detected in father (33 kb, 51 kb and 130 kb), proband (25 kb, 33 kb and 130 kb) and affected brother (25 kb, 33 kb and 51 kb). These findings revealed that the 4 q-like 33 kb fragment actually located on 10q26 through inter-chromosomal exchange. Thus the 25 kb fragment inherited from mother was determined as co-segregating with the disease. To ensure genetic diagnosis for FSHD, investigation of family members is surely required.

Adult↗