Publications by authors named "Chiako Watanabe"

Background: In the pathology of autoimmune hepatitis the immunity mechanism of T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells was recently evaluated. The purpose of the present study was to measure the mRNA levels in peripheral mononuclear cells and serum cytokines obtained from children with autoimmune hepatitis for a better understanding of the mechanism.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with autoimmune hepatitis and seven controls were enrolled.

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The cause of influenza to the brain was investigated using the A/NWS/33 influenza virus infected BALB/c mouse model. NOS-2 mRNA levels in the infected mouse brain was greater than in control mice in all brain regions examined, particularly in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus by 1 day p.i.

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To better understand the role of nitric oxide (NO) in pediatric nephrotic syndrome, we measured nitrite/nitrate (NOx) [NO2- and NO3-] in serum obtained from patients with several pediatric kidney diseases and investigated the locations of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). NOx in serum showed significantly higher levels than those in healthy controls (mean +/- SE: 297 +/- 55.7 vs.

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We present a rare case of hydranencephaly with cholestasis and giant hepatitis. Studies for infectious agents were all negative including for the detection of virus in liver tissue by using polymerase chain reaction. Although the anterior pituitary functions (cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone, free T4, human growth hormone) were normal, the patient revealed massive cholestasis and giant hepatitis.

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The aim of this study was to assess the validity of serum and CSF oxidative status of patients with IE in their initial stage through the d-ROM (Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolites, Italy) test, compared to those with other neurological diseases. The study was conducted on the following four groups: (1) influenza virus-associated encephalopathy (IE, n = 8), including four patients showing neurological sequelae or mortal; (2) influenza virus-associated febrile seizures (IFS, n = 11); (3) febrile convulsion (FC, n = 10): (4) enterovirus-associated encephalopathy (EE, n = 4), including one patient with neurological sequelae. The CSF d-ROM levels in the IE group were significantly higher than those in the IFS and the FC groups but not in the EE group.

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