Evaluation of a new bio-impedance spectroscopy device in healthy Japanese.

Background: The use of a new bio-impedance spectroscopy device (Body Composition Monitor, BCM) in the field of dialysis became possible in Japan. However, it is unknown whether the data obtained using this apparatus are indicative for Japanese dialysis patients.

Objective: To compare individual fluid status in healthy Japanese using the BCM device with the data obtained from healthy Caucasians.

Development of a new disinfectant with very strong anti-influenza viral activity: a preliminary report.

Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a disinfectant newly developed by our laboratories for use against influenza viruses.

Methods: The effectiveness of our new disinfectant against avian, swine and human influenza viruses was tested in ovo. The acute toxicity of this disinfectant to two different cultured cell lines was investigated.

[Evaluation of technetium-99m-MIBI scintigraphy in metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer--comparison study with 131I and 201Tl].

Detectability of metastasis in differentiated thyroid cancer using technetium-99m-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) was compared with that of 131I and 201Tl. Forty patients after total thyroidectomy were evaluated. The scan results were compared with those of 131I and 201Tl whole body scintigraphy per patient.

Identification of a novel splicing mutation and 1-bp deletion in the 17alpha-hydroxylase gene of Japanese patients with 17alpha-hydroxylase deficiency.

We report studies of two unrelated Japanese patients with 17alpha-hydroxylase deficiency caused by mutations of the 17alpha-hydroxylase (CYP17) gene. We amplified all eight exons of the CYP17 gene, including the exon-intron boundaries, by the polymerase chain reaction and determined their nucleotide sequences. Patient 1 had novel, compound heterozygous mutations of the CYP17 gene.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 associated with malignant lymphoma and other complications.

A 49-year-old female with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 associated with malignant lymphoma, lipoma, functioning adenomatous goiter, non-functioning adrenal tumor, polyneuropathy, postoperative primary hyperparathyroidism, and hepatitis B virus was a human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) carrier. She underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism at age 44. At age 49, examinations of the enlarged para-aortic lymph nodes revealed diffuse small non-cleaved B cell lymphoma in stage II, and other various complications were also found.

Thyroid anaplastic carcinoma producing granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor and parathyroid hormone-related protein.

A 65-year-old woman noticed a rapidly enlarging neck mass with tenderness and complained of dyspnea. She was diagnosed as having anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. She died of respiratory failure 14 days after admission.

Localization of human neutrophil peptide (HNP) and its messenger RNA in neutrophil series.

Human neutrophil peptides (HNPs) 1,2 and 3, also called defensins, have high antimicrobial activity and are cytotoxic to both normal and transformed human cells. The localization of HNPs 1-3 and their mRNAs in cells of normal human bone marrow and peripheral blood was investigated. Immunoreactivity for HNPs 1-3 appeared in the promyelocyte stage and increased with the maturation of the neutrophil series.

Measurement of anti-thyroglobulin IgG in urine of patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases by sensitive enzyme immunoassay (immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay).

Anti-thyroglobulin IgG in urine of patients with Graves' disease and chronic thyroiditis and healthy subjects was measured by a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay). Anti-thyroglobulin IgG in dialyzed urine was reacted simultaneously with 2,4-dinitrophenylated thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate. The immune complex formed consisting of the three components was trapped onto polystyrene balls coated with (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG, eluted with epsilon N-2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine, and transferred onto polystyrene balls coated with (anti-human IgG gamma-chain) IgG.

Improved measurement of anti-thyroglobulin IgG in urine of patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases by sensitive enzyme immunoassay (immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay.

Previously, antithyroglobulin IgG was assayed in dialyzed urine from patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases by a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay), and most of the assay results were useful as a diagnostic aid for autoimmune thyroid diseases. However, dialysis of urine was laborious and time-consuming, and some results were less reliable due to low levels of anti-thyroglobulin IgG in urine. This paper describes some improvements of the assay.

[A case of loxoprofen-induced pulmonary eosinophilia].

A 65-year-old female suffering from lumbago, headache, and hypertension had been treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensive drugs. On June 13, 1990, 2 weeks after the commencement of loxoprofen administration, she developed cough and low grade fever. She was treated with antibiotics and NSAIDs without improvement.

Plasma islet amyloid polypeptide levels in obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

We examined the response of plasma islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) to an oral glucose load in non-obese and obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and in non-obese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Plasma IAPP response to intravenous glucagon injection in NIDDM patients was also studied. Plasma IAPP concentration was determined by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and pancreatic islet amyloid deposition in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Twenty pancreata of non-diabetic patients and 17 pancreata of diabetic patients, including two patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, were immunohistochemically studied using antiserum against human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). The islet beta cells in non-diabetic patients were immunoreactive for both IAPP and insulin. Amyloid deposition immunoreactive for IAPP was detected in six of 20 pancreata of non-diabetic patients.

Identification and characterization of islet amyloid polypeptide in mammalian gastrointestinal tract.

We identified and determined the content and molecular form of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP/amylin) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of human, rat, mouse and cat. IAPP was isolated by anti- IAPP- IgG immunoaffinity chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassays for human and rat/mouse IAPPs. Human IAPP [1-37], [17-37] and [24-37] were identified in human stomach with IAPP [1-37] being the major molecular form.

Islet amyloid polypeptide in insulinoma and in the islets of the pancreas of non-diabetic and diabetic subjects.

Amyloid deposition is a common pathological feature in insulinoma and in the islets of the pancreas in type-2 diabetic patients. The present immunohistochemical study revealed that normal B-cells, insulinoma, and amyloid deposits in insulinoma and diabetic pancreatic islets were commonly immunoreactive with antiserum to C-terminal synthetic tetradecapeptide of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) (24-37). Amyloid fibrils in insulinoma were also positive to IAPP by immunoelectron microscopy.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas of man and rat.

An immunohistochemical study for islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) was made on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and pancreas of man and rat, using antisera raised against a synthetic peptide of C-terminal human IAPP (24-37) and a synthetic peptide of rat IAPP (18-37). A large number of IAPP-immunoreactive cells were found in the pyloric antrum, and a small number in the body of the stomach in both man and rat. Cytoplasmic processes extended out from the bipolar peripheral region of the immunoreactive cells, rather like neuronal processes, and some appeared to make contact with other immunoreactive cells.

Chicken atrial natriuretic peptide (chANP) and its secretion.

An immunohistochemical study using antiserum raised against synthetic chicken natriuretic polypeptide was used to investigate the distribution of this peptide in the chicken heart. Immunoreactive cells, both in the atrial and ventricular walls, were identified by electron microscopy, and electron-dense granules in the atrial and ventricular cardiocytes were revealed to be storage sites of the peptide. The electron-dense material, thought to be the peptide, was found in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and it is suggested that a secretory pathway of the peptide through the latter to extracellular space, may be present, in addition to an exocytotic one.

Atrial-specific granules in the hearts of normal and water-deprived rats.

The morphology of atrial-specific granules, which contain atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), was studied in the cardiac tissue of untreated controls and water-deprived rats by means of conventional and immunoelectron microscopy. Immature secretory vesicles or granules appeared to become buded off from the Golgi cisternae and then fused to form specific A-granules. An electron-dense plate with a fuzzy coat was frequently found on the limiting membrane at the end of such fusion.

Immunohistochemical identification of Purkinje fibers and transitional cells in a terminal portion of the impulse-conducting system of porcine heart.

The ultrastructure of porcine ventricular tissue was studied by electron microscopy and immunocytochemical techniques. Electron-dense specific granules were found in both Purkinje fibers and transitional cells in the ventricular walls, and were positively stained by the immunogold staining method using an antiserum against atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP). This suggests that both the Purkinje fibers and transitional cells display the same specific granules as atrial cardiocytes containing ANP.

Distribution of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP)-containing cells in the rat heart and pulmonary vein. Immunohistochemical study and radioimmunoassay.

The distribution of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) was immunohistochemically surveyed in the rat heart and lung using an antiserum raised against alpha-human ANP. The ANP-immunoreactive cells were seen to be distributed in the atrial walls and proximal portions of the pulmonary vein and venae cavae, but were absent from the aorta, pulmonary arteries, trachea, bronchus, and alveolar cells. The immunoreactive cells were present in a narrow region just beneath the endothelium of the pulmonary vein and vena cavae, and, ultrastructurally and immunocytochemically, were seen to be striated muscle cells with ANP-containing specific granules similar to those seen in atrial cardiocytes.

The distribution of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP)-containing cells in the adult rat heart.

The present study was performed to clarify the distribution of ANP-containing cells in the adult rat heart by immunostaining for ANP using antiserum against alpha-human ANP. ANP-immunoreactive cells were generally present in the atrial walls except for the sinoatrial node. In the ventricular walls, they were distributed in the impulse conducting system, particularly the left bundle branch, Purkinje fibers on the left side of the interventricular septum, and those in the false tendons in the left ventricle, while they were sporadically seen in the atrioventricular node and bundle of His.

Presence of atrial natriuretic polypeptide in the pulmonary vein and vena cava.

Striated muscle cells and storage granules observed in the atria were found in main branches of the pulmonary veins and superior and inferior venae cavae of the rat, pig, and ox. The presence of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in these veins was examined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a radioimmunoassay for ANP. The veins contained 0.

Immunohistochemical study of atrial natriuretic polypeptides in the embryonic, fetal and neonatal rat heart.

An immunohistochemical study of atrial natriuretic polypeptides was carried out on embryonic, fetal and neonatal rat hearts, using an antiserum raised against alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP). Weakly immunoreactive cells were seen in both atrial and ventricular walls at 11 days post coitum (pc). After this stage, the immunoreactive cells became more intensely stained in both atrial and ventricular walls.