Lack of polymorphism in genes encoding mGluR 7, mGluR 8, GABA(A) receptor alfa-6 subunit and nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor and panic disorder.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Yoshihiro Tanaka.
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Traumatic isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is not common. Oculomotor nerve palsy without internal ophthalmoplegia (pupil sparing) is extremely rare. We report a case of this condition in a child. An 11-year-old boy was transferred to our hospital after a head injury in a traffic accident. Neuro-ophthalmic examination showed that the left eye had limited adduction, supraduction, and infraduction, incomplete convergence and left ptosis, but no internal ophthalmoplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated mild bending of the ipsilateral oculomotor nerve at the posterior petroclinoid ligament. One month after injury, movement of the patient's eyes was normal on examination, but there was mild diplopia. The suggested mechanism of the oculomotor nerve palsy with pupil sparing in this case is stretching of the oculomotor nerve at the posterior petroclinoid ligament, maintaining an intact pupillomotor nerve.
It has been suggested that frontal brain asymmetry is associated with differences in basic emotional dimensions, particularly in activation of systems underlying avoidance-withdrawal behavior. We examined regional cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) levels in human medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) using near-infrared reflection spectroscopy (NIRS) prior to and during anticipatory anxiety to determine if NIRS could detect any anxiety-related changes. Transient anxiety was induced in 56 normal volunteers by anticipation and a painful shock to the right-hand's median nerve. Pre- and post-anxiety affective statuses were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Temperature Character Inventory (TCI). NIRS recorded from the left and right frontal brain regions. Right MPFC O2Hb was significantly increased relative to left MPFC O2Hb during anticipation of the shock. Right-sided O2Hb increases were significantly correlated with the TCI Harm Avoidance subscale. These results support the hypothesis that O2Hb levels in the right frontal region correlate with anxiety or heightened negative affect.
A 53-year-old man underwent partial glossectomy for tongue cancer on the right side (well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma T 1 N 0 M 0). One and 9 months later, cervical lymph node metastasis was observed bilaterally. After bilateral radical neck dissection, 2 courses of NDP/5-FU combined chemotherapy were administered. However, 2 metastatic lung cancers were observed 14 months after initial treatment. Stereotactic radiation therapy of 50 Gy in 5 fractions and 6 courses of docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU chemotherapy were administered. As a result, no recurrence was observed, and a complete response was obtained for 41 months after lung metastasis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of estrogen as a vasodilator or relaxing modulator during vascular tonus through chronic estrogen treatment. Experiments were conducted using isolated basilar arteries from ovariectomized female rabbits divided into two groups (the with and without estrogen replacement groups, respectively). Both acetylcholine and carbachol relaxed the basilar arteries of rabbits in the with estrogen replacement group (pre-contracted by 30 mM K(+)) more strongly than in the without estrogen replacement group. Vasodilatation effects of (+/-)-(E)-4-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3 -hexenamide (NOR1) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) were greater in rabbits in the with estrogen replacement group than the without estrogen replacement both with endothelium-intact and denuded preparations. On the other hand, vasodilatation effects of nicardipine, 17beta-estradiol and membrane-permeable cyclic-GMP or cyclic-AMP were the same in both groups. These results suggest that chronic administration of estradiol potentiates reactivity to nitric oxide (NO) in smooth muscle cells, which could be a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women.
PURPOSE: Lysophosphatidic acid, which is enriched in the peritoneal fluid of ovarian cancer patients, plays a key role in the progression of ovarian cancer. Lysophosphatidic acid can generate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal transactivation involving processing of EGFR ligands by ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family metalloproteases. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of EGFR ligands and ADAM family in the lysophosphatidic acid-induced pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined the expression of EGFR ligands and ADAM family members in 108 patients with normal ovaries or ovarian cancer, using real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization, and analyzed the clinical roles of these molecules. Statistical analyses of these data were done using the Mann-Whitney test, Kaplan-Meier method, or Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: Large differences in expression were found for heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and other EGFR ligands and for ADAM 17 and other ADAM family members. HB-EGF expression was significantly increased in advanced ovarian cancer compared with that in normal ovaries (P < 0.01). HB-EGF expression was significantly associated with the clinical outcome (P < 0.01). ADAM 17 expression was significantly enhanced in both early and advanced ovarian cancer compared with that in normal ovaries (both P < 0.01), although it had no clinical significance in the progression-free survival. HB-EGF expression was significantly correlated with ADAM 17 expression (gamma = 0.437, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that HB-EGF and ADAM 17 contribute to the progression of ovarian cancer and that HB-EGF plays a pivotal role in the aggressive behavior of a tumor in ovarian cancer.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective for treatment of several psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety disorder. However, some reports suggest that rTMS induced anxiety in normal volunteers. Consistent with this observation, we have reported that chronic rTMS induces anxiety in normal rats which was suppressed by chronic treatment, but not acute paroxetine treatment. The current study evaluates rTMS as animal model of anxiety by investigating the effect of rTMS on anxiety behaviors and the ability of standard anxiolytics to block expression of these behaviors. We found that 10-day rTMS induced anxiety in normal rats, as evidenced by expression of anxiety behaviors in the elevated plus-maze. This anxiety was suppressed by acute treatment with diazepam, alprazolam, or buspirone suggesting that chronic rTMS treatment provides a good animal model for anxiety.
OBJECT: Little is understood about the clinical manifestations of basilar artery (BA) dissections, which can present with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), brainstem compression, or ischemia. In any instance, the prognosis seems poorer than that for vertebral artery (VA) dissection. The authors analyzed clinical presentations and radiological features of BA dissection with and without rupture. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2003, the authors treated 10 patients (eight men and two women, ranging in age from 32-78 years; mean age 54 years) with BA dissection. Diagnosis was based on clinical and radiological findings, including those from magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiography studies. Of the 10 patients, five had impaired consciousness at disease onset. Among four patients presenting with SAH, two were treated conservatively and had fair outcomes without recurrent hemorrhage. The other two patients with SAH were treated using unilateral endovascular VA occlusion, but one of them subsequently suffered fatal rebleeding. A fifth patient presented with progressive signs of a mass involving the brainstem, whereas the remaining five patients showed brainstem ischemia; all were treated conservatively. Four patients could not return to their previous daily activities. CONCLUSIONS: Basilar artery dissections are rare lesions associated with significant morbidity and death. The natural course of and the treatment options for BA dissection differ considerably from those for VA dissections. Management of these lesions is controversial and difficult, and requires particular care.
Ovarian cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death among all gynecologic cancers. We demonstrate here that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced ectodomain shedding of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a critical to tumor formation in ovarian cancer. We found that among the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of growth factors, HB-EGF gene expression in cancerous tissues and HB-EGF protein levels in patients' ascites fluid were significantly elevated. The human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and RMG-1 form tumors in nude mice. Tumor formation of these cells was enhanced by exogenous expression of pro-HB-EGF and completely blocked by pro-HB-EGF gene RNA interference or by CRM197, a specific HB-EGF inhibitor. Transfection with mutant forms of HB-EGF indicated that the release of soluble HB-EGF is essential for tumor formation. LPA, which is constitutively produced by ovarian cancer cells, induced HB-EGF ectodomain shedding in SKOV3 and RMG-1 cells, resulting in the transactivation of EGFR and the downstream kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase. LPA-induced transactivation was abrogated by HB-EGF gene RNA interference or by CRM197. Introduction of lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase, which hydrolyzes LPA, decreased the constitutive shedding of HB-EGF, EGFR transactivation, and the tumorigenic potential of SKOV3 and RMG-1 cells. These results indicate that HB-EGF is the primary member of the EGFR family of growth factors expressed in ovarian cancer and that LPA-induced ectodomain shedding of this growth factor is a critical step in tumor formation, making HB-EGF a novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
We report an unusual case of a large solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the retroperitoneum. A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of a swelling in the right flank with dull pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and echograms showed a large encapsulated tumor compressing the right kidney and liver. At laparotomy, the tumor was found to be encapsulated but fixed to the capsule of the right kidney within a small area. Therefore, complete removal was achieved. The resected specimen was an encapsulated elastic hard tumor, 14 x 13 x 10 cm in size. Immunohistochemical studies revealed reactivity for CD34 and vimentin, but no staining for keratin, S-100, or alpha-smooth muscle actin, confirming a diagnosis of SFT. Although SFT is usually associated with a favorable prognosis, close follow-up is recommended because of the limited information on its long-term behavior.
BACKGROUND: In the acute stage following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), prolonged cerebral circulation time reflects increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which can lead to irreversible brain damage. We evaluated the ability of cerebral circulation time to predict outcome in SAH patients. METHODS: We prospectively studied 40 consecutive patients treated for SAH according to standard intensive care guidelines. Lateral views in preoperative carotid digital subtraction arteriograms (DSA) were used to determine arteriovenous transit time (AVTT), defined as interval from initial opacification of the intracranial internal carotid artery to that of the Rolandic vein. We then analyzed relationship of AVTT to other prognostic parameters and outcome. RESULTS: AVTT depended on initial Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS), ranging from 3.4 to 8.0 seconds (mean: 5.4) when initial GCS was 13 to 15; from 4.5 to 8.7 seconds (mean: 6.4) when initial GCS was 7 to 12; and from 5.8 to 15.0 seconds (mean: 9.1 seconds, excluding angiograms with nonfilling) when initial GCS was 3 to 6. AVTT correlated significantly with prognosis, longer AVTT predicting poorer outcome. No patient with an AVTT above 12 seconds recovered to a functioning state. CONCLUSIONS: AVTT obtained from routinely performed acute-phase DSA in SAH patients reflects ICP and functional prognosis, representing a cost-effective, practical, and reliable outcome predictor.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a spatial tagging sequence was used to measure the velocity distribution of clay that was forced past a sudden contraction. A spatial tagging sequence provided magnetic resonance images of clay that allowed measurement of the velocity distribution in the clay, which can provide profound insights on the deformation process of clay during the intrusion process. The experiments were conducted using a specially-designed vessel that could operate at up to 30 MPa. The vessel offers a rectangle test section with a sudden contraction step that had a ratio of contraction of 2:1. The vessel was installed into a commercial magnetic resonance imaging equipment and then the fluid motion of clay flowing into the narrow contracted channel was quantitatively investigated to examine behaviors of flowing clay as non-Newtonian fluid. MRI results are compared with those obtained by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation. Velocity distributions obtained from each tag displacement did not well agree with those predicted by CFD results near the contraction step where the fluid accelerated rapidly. However, a post-processing on calculation results, in which virtual tag displacement is calculated, gave better agreement with experiment and enabled us to compare MRI results with CFD results.