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Biomedical subjects

Y Taguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Taguchi.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Possible compensatory role of parathyroid hormone-related peptide on maintenance of calcium homeostasis in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Recent studies have revealed that altered mineral and vitamin D metabolism is observed in diabetic patients with the complication of osteopenia. In order to elucidate the role of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) on calcium homeostasis in diabetes, we have measured the serum level and urinary excretion of PTHrP as well as other serum calcium-regulating hormones in 106 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 43 control subjects. The serum concentration of intact PTH was 2.34 +/- 0.13 (mean +/- SEM) pmol/l in NIDDM patients, which is significantly lower than the value of 3.11 +/- 0.14 pmol/l in the controls (p < 0.01). Both serum calcium and calcitonin, however, were not statistically different from controls. On the other hand, circulating PTHrP in NIDDM was 40.1 +/- 1.4 pmol/l, which is significantly elevated when compared to 27.3 +/- 1.3 pmol/l in the controls (p < 0.01). Moreover, urinary excretion of PTHrP also was significantly higher in NIDDM (p < 0.01). In the present study, the circulating calcium level was well preserved in NIDDM patients, although the PTH levels were shown to be decreased. The elevated serum PTHrP might, therefore, have a physiologically compensatory role on the calcium regulatory systems in NIDDM. Furthermore, this elevation is most likely due to the excess production of this peptide and not to the decrease in urinary excretion.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Usefulness of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram for evaluating the block site of right bundle branch block following surgical correction of a congenital heart disease.

It is important to distinguish proximal right bundle branch block (RBBB) from distal RBBB because patients with both proximal RBBB and left bundle branch block may progress to a late atrioventricular conduction disturbance. Signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECGs) were investigated in 35 patients with RBBB following surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot or ventricular septal defect in order to determine the block site of RBBB noninvasively using a SAECG. The site of RBBB was first identified by a body surface map; 12 patients had proximal RBBB (group 1), and 23 had distal RBBB (group 2). The control groups consisted of 8 patients with RBBB without congenital heart disease (group 3) and 20 normal subjects (group 4). The mean of the filtered QRS duration in the group 1 patients was significantly longer than in the other 3 groups (p < 0.01). The number of fragmented signals in group 1 was significantly greater than that in the other 3 groups (p < 0.01). A filtered QRS pattern was divided into 4 different types (whole, early, late, and normal) according to the successive fragmented signals; the "whole" type was the most common in group 1 (83%). SAECG is successful in identifying those patients with proximal RBBB according to the following indices: a filtered QRS duration equal to or longer than 160 msec, a fragmented signal number greater than 10 and a "whole" type filtered QRS pattern. In conclusion, SAECG is a useful tool for distinguishing proximal RBBB from distal RBBB.

Bundle-Branch Block↗

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma with extraparenchymatous cyst--case report.

A large supratentorial tumor associated with an extraparenchymatous cyst and multiloculated intraparenchymatous cysts occurred in a 14-month-old infant. This case had all the characteristic features of desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma both clinically and histologically. The notable difference was the extraparenchymatous cyst. The extraparenchymatous cyst was probably caused by entrapment of cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space by some check-valve mechanism because the leptomeninges were commonly involved in the tumor. A similar mechanism may explain the etiology of the intraparenchymatous, disproportionately large cyst in desmoplastic infantile gangliogliomas.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

[Relationship between aseptic necrosis of femoral head bone and immunosuppression therapy, especially CsA administration].

We reviewed 224 patients, who underwent kidney transplantation to investigate relationship between aseptic necrosis (AN) and administration of steroid, Cyclosporin A (CsA), body weight gain. We classified patients into 4 groups by the type of immunosuppressant: the AP group had received Azathioprine (AZ) + Prednisolone (Pre); the CP group, CsA + Pre; the ACP group, AZ + CsA + Pre; and others. There were total 24 AN patients (10.7%). The incidences of AN is 18% in the CP group, 9.3% in the AP group and 0% in the ACP group. In the AP group, weight gain at 1 and 2 month after transplantation and cumulative steroid dose at 3, 4, 5 and 6 month after transplantation correlated with AN. In the patients with AN of the CP and ACP groups, CsA doses per kilogram of body were higher than those in patients without AN at 5, 6 and 12 month after transplantation. In the CP group, the incidence of AN is significantly higher, and administration dose of CsA was higher than that in the ACP group. However steroid dose and body weight gain were lower in the CP group. Therefore AN was associated with CsA in the CP group. In contrast, AN correlated with weight gain and early high cumulative steroid dose administration in the AP group.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of clonality of Epstein-Barr virus-induced human B lymphoproliferative disease in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency.

To improve the diagnostic accuracy and understanding of the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative diseases (LPDs) occurring in immunosuppressed transplant recipients (post-transplantation LPD), clonality of Epstein-Barr virus-induced human LPDs in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency was examined by analyzing: 1) human immunoglobulin genes and their products, 2) the clonality of Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and 3) genetic alteration of c-myc or bcl-2 genes. A spectrum of clonality was found in the LPDs comparable with that reported for post-transplantation LPDs, although rearrangements of c-myc or bcl-2 genes were not detected. It is confirmed that this system is useful in terms of clonality for understanding the early phases in the pathogenesis of post-transplantation LPD or LPD in immune deficient patients.

Animals↗

[Signal-averaged electrocardiogram in right bundle branch block patients after surgical repair for congenital heart disease].

Right bundle branch block (RBBB) type was investigated using signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) in 35 RBBB patients after surgical repair of ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot. The type of RBBB was first identified by body surface mapping; 12 patients had proximal RBBB, and 23 had peripheral RBBB. The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers. The following three findings were seen in most patients with proximal RBBB, and were useful for determining the type of RBBB; a filtered QRS duration equal to or longer than 160 msec, a fragmented signal number equal to or greater than 10 and the whole type of filtered QRS pattern. The sensitivity and specificity of SAECG for proximal RBBB were shown to be high. In conclusion, SAECG was found to be useful for non-invasive determination of RBBB types.

Adolescent↗

Histamine N-methyltransferase from rat kidney. Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression in Escherichia coli cells.

Complementary DNA clones encoding rat kidney histamine N-methyltransferase have been isolated using synthetic oligonucleotide probes based on partial amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides of the purified enzyme. The 1.3-kilobase cDNA consisted of a 5'-noncoding region of 8 nucleotides, a coding region of 885 nucleotides, and a 3'-noncoding region of 369 nucleotides. The encoded protein of 295 amino acid residues had a calculated molecular weight of 33,940.2. After introduction of a prokaryotic expression vector containing the isolated cDNA, Escherichia coli cells expressed histamine N-methyltransferase activity. The enzyme expressed in these cells was isolated and purified as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, whose mobility was identical to the natural enzyme purified from rat kidney. The recombinant enzyme had Vmax and Km values for both histamine and S-adenosylmethionine identical to those of the natural enzyme. All of the inhibitors of the natural enzyme tested showed similar Ki values on both recombinant and natural enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction and characterization of a fusion protein with epidermal growth factor and the cell-binding domain of fibronectin.

An efficient expression system was constructed for C-EGF, a fusion protein made of a fragment of the cell-binding domain of human fibronectin (FN) bound with epidermal growth factor (EGF). C-EGF was produced in Escherichia coli HB101 cells carrying the recombinant plasmid pCE102 as inclusion bodies, which were solubilized and refolded after purification. C-EGF had both cell-adhesive and EGF activities, so it might be more effective than EGF in therapeutic applications. This fusion system would be useful for the construction of a recombinant drug delivery system for cells that have fibronectin receptors (integrins).

Cell Adhesion↗

Comparative study of magnetic resonance and CT scan imaging in cases of severe head injury.

The distribution, frequency, and appearance of head injuries were evaluated with MRI and CT in a prospective study of 155 patients with acute (n = 124) and chronic (n = 31) head injuries. MRI was significantly more sensitive than CT in the detection of intraaxial injury at any stage. In severe cases, central structure lesions were detected in approximately 80% of patients. Severity on admission was compatible with MR findings. However it was difficult to decide on neurobehavioural prognosis from initial MRI findings only.

Adolescent↗

Progress in primary immunodeficiency.

Clinically, primary immunodeficiencies can be grouped into several well-defined syndromes. This consistent clinical picture, however, belies the enormous complexity of lymphocyte maturation and activation, and it has long been suspected that numerous distinct underlying defects give rise to primary immunodeficiencies. At a recent workshop, the molecular and genetic characterization of a handful of such defects provided tacit support for such suspicions.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Assessment of liver graft function after cold preservation using 31P and 23Na magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

We investigated the functional damages of the cytoplasm and the cell membrane of liver grafts in male Wister Kyoto rats after 24-hr and 48-hr cold preservations using the University of Wisconsin solution in vitro. Fructose (10 mM) or NH4Cl (50 mM) was added to the perfusate, and synthesis of fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P) and Na- and H-ion transports through the cell membrane were evaluated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), 31P-MRS and 23Na-MRS. After 30 min of reperfusion, beta-ATP/(inorganic phosphate: Pi) of the 48-hr preserved group was significantly lower than the control group and the 24-hr preserved group. The changes of F-1-P in the control group and the 24-hr preserved group were almost the same, but F-1-P synthesis was lower in the 48-hr preserved liver than those of the other groups. Intracellular pH began to drop after the cessation of NH4Cl loading, and then it recovered to the preloading level. At the same time Nain+ was increased in the control group. However, in the other two groups, the increasing rates of Nain+ were lower, and the recoveries of Nain+ were less. In conclusion, the function of cell membrane was more fragile than that of mitochondria and cytoplasmic sugar metabolism in the liver graft.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗