Ultrastructural localization of adhalin in normal murine skeletal myofiber.

The ultrastructural localization of adhalin and its relations to dystrophin, beta-dystroglycan, and beta-spectrin were studied in normal murine skeletal myofibers. The C-terminal peptides of adhalin and beta-dystroglycan were synthesized based on their cDNAs, and the affinity-purified antibodies against these peptides were produced. Single-immunolabeling electron microscopy showed that the adhalin was located just inside the muscle plasma membrane or inside the myofiber a short distance from the plasma membrane.

Microwave ablation of the adrenal gland: experimental study and clinical application.

Objective: To evaluate the heating effect of microwave irradiation on the dog adrenal gland and to assess the clinical feasibility of microwave ablation of adrenal tumours.

Materials And Methods: The thermal distribution and histology were evaluated after dog adrenal glands were irradiated at different intensities with microwaves. Irradiation at 70 W for 30 s was also performed after laparotomy, on the adrenal tumour of a patient with primary aldosteronism.

[Clinical significance of abnormal high signal intensity of left ventricular myocardium by gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

The significance of abnormal high signal intensity observed in left ventricular myocardium by gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients was assessed by comparison with T1-weighted MR imaging, thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial scintigraphy, radionuclide angiocardiography, M-mode echocardiography, electrocardiography, and chest radiography. The 16 patients were divided into three groups: 8 patients (group I) with abnormal high signal intensity before and after Gd-DTPA enhancement, 4 (group II) with abnormal high signal intensity only after enhancement and 4 (group III) without abnormal high signal intensity. Thallium-201 myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed 4 of the 8 patients in group I, 3 of the 4 patients in group II and only 1 of the 4 patients in group III had abnormalities of regional 201Tl uptake in the left ventricular myocardium.

TRH stimulation test in healthy elderly: paradoxical response of growth hormone is abnormal in normal aging.

The purpose of this study was to measure TSH (thyrotropin), PRL (prolactin) and GH (growth hormone) response to a TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone) stimulation test in 37 healthy elderly male subjects and determine if these responses correlate with the incidence of mental decline; and also, to determine if these responses occur more frequently in the elderly than in the general population. A hyperresponse of TSH was documented in 7 of our 37 elderly male subjects, a delayed response of TSH in 4, a low response of PRL in 29 and a significant paradoxical response of GH in 2. Those subjects with a significant paradoxical response of GH were 82 and 83 years of age and their HDS was 20.

Ultrastructural localization of the C-terminus of the 43-kd dystrophin-associated glycoprotein and its relation to dystrophin in normal murine skeletal myofiber.

We used single and double immunogold labeling electron microscopy to investigate ultrastructural localization of the C terminus of the 43-kd dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (43-DAG) and its relationship to dystrophin in normal murine skeletal myofibers. Single immunolabeling localized the antibody against the C terminus of 43-DAG to the inside surface of the muscle plasma membrane and the sarcoplasmic side of plasma membrane invaginations. Double immunolabeling co-localized antibodies against dystrophin and the C terminus of 43-DAG to the same site noted in the single immunolabeling localization of 43-DAG.

Freeze-fracture analysis of muscle plasma membrane in Becker's muscular dystrophy.

The intramembranous particle (IMP), orthogonal array (OA) and orthogonal array subunit particle (OASP) densities in skeletal muscle plasma membranes from eight patients with Becker's muscular dystrophy (BMD) were analysed by the freeze-fracture technique. The results showed almost normal IMP density with the significant decrease of OA and OASP densities in BMD. The group mean densities +/- SE of IMPs on the protoplasmic faces with and without OASPs, and on extracellular faces/microns 2 were 2137 +/- 207, 1839 +/- 68 and 895 +/- 108, respectively in controls; whereas those of BMD were 1989 +/- 259, 1837 +/- 203 and 900 +/- 239, respectively (P > 0.

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of C-terminus of 43-kDa dystrophin-associated glycoprotein in normal human skeletal myofibers.

Ultrastructural localization of the C-terminus of a 43-kDa dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (43-DAG) and its relation to dystrophin were investigated in normal human skeletal myofibers by using single and double immunogold labelling methods. The C-terminal end of 43-DAG antibody was localized ultrastructurally at the inside surface of muscle plasma membrane and the sarcoplasmic side of the plasma membrane invaginations. Double immunolabelling electron microscopy disclosed that signals of the C-terminal end of 43-DAG and dystrophin were often associated with each other and formed a doublet at the inside surface of plasma membranes in normal human skeletal myofibers.

[Limb myokymia with involuntary finger movement caused by peripheral neuropathy due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)--a case report].

A 24-year-old woman with SLE since the age of 12 developed sensory-motor peripheral neuropathy in 1990. Her sensory neuropathy was symmetrical in all limbs and distally dominant. Electrophysiological study showed marked reduction of motor and sensory conduction velocities.

Late potentials during left ventricular healing of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Late potentials and left ventricular remodeling are important factors in the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction. However, the relationship between late potentials and ventricular remodelling has not been fully evaluated.

Methods: We evaluated clinical characteristics, coronary angiographic findings and radionuclide angiographic measures about 1 month after an acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without late potentials.

Residual left ventricular pump function following acute myocardial infarction in postmenopausal diabetic women.

Background: The Framingham Study indicated that women with diabetes mellitus developed cardiac failure four times more often than those without diabetes mellitus after acute myocardial infarction. However, there is little information on residual left ventricular pump function after myocardial infarction in female diabetic patients.

Methods: To evaluate the difference between postmenopausal women and age-matched men in the impact of diabetes mellitus on left ventricular pump function during the first year after myocardial infarction, radionuclide angiography was performed during the third week after acute myocardial infarction and again 1 year later in 50 patients (21 women, 29 men) with diabetes mellitus and 62 patients (25 women, 37 men) without diabetes mellitus.

Difference between women and men in left ventricular pump function during predischarge exercise test after acute myocardial infarction.

To evaluate the difference in left ventricular (LV) pump function during predischarge exercise testing between postmenopausal women and age-matched men with myocardial infarction, global and regional ejection fraction, LV end-diastolic volume, and the ratio of systolic blood pressure to LV end-systolic volume were investigated using radionuclide angiography in 25 postmenopausal women and 37 age-matched men. There were no significant differences in the resting radionuclide angiographic indexes between women and men. Global and regional ejection fraction of noninfarcted area, and the ratio of systolic blood pressure to LV end-systolic volume decreased at peak exercise in women, but these indexes increased in men.

Right ventricular ejection fraction during exercise in patients with recent myocardial infarction: effect of the interventricular septum.

To investigate the effect of interventricular septum (IVS) on right ventricular function during exercise, radionuclide angiocardiography was performed in 50 patients with recent myocardial infarction. Twenty-five patients had involvement of IVS according to thallium uptake in IVS (group I), and 25 patients were free of IVS involvement (group II). Although there was no statistical difference between the two groups in right ventricular ejection fraction (EF) at rest (45% +/- 10% vs 48% +/- 8%), patients in group I had significantly lower left ventricular (LV) EF (40% +/- 11% vs 53% +/- 11%, p < 0.

[Gadolinium-DTPA magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of left atrial myxoma in the elderly].

A 85-year-old woman consulted our hospital with general fatigue, palpitation and chest discomfort changing with different postures. Her electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia, atrial premature beats and left atrial overload. 53% cardiothoracic ratio, slightly protruding third arch of the cardiac silhouette and dilated pulmonary artery were seen on the chest X-ray.

[A case of cough hemiplegia].

We reported a patient with internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO) who developed cough-induced transient hemiplegia. A 63-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experienced several episodes of cough-induced left hemiplegia during drinking and smoking. Selective cerebral angiography demonstrated right ICAO at the vessel origin, with 50% stenosis of the left internal carotid artery.

Left ventricular function during exercise after aortic valve replacement.

To evaluate the difference in left ventricular function during exercise after successful aortic valve replacement, left ventricular function was investigated using radionuclide angiography in 12 patients with normal resting left ventricular systolic function. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 was comprised of 5 patients after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and group 2 was comprised of 7 patients for aortic insufficiency. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly during exercise in both groups.

Size and localization of dystrophin molecule: immunoelectron microscopic and freeze etching studies of muscle plasma membranes of murine skeletal myofibers.

The ultrastructure and mode of existence of the dystrophin molecule and its relations to actin filaments were examined in murine skeletal myofibers. Electron microscopy of freeze-etched replicas of gold-labelled dystrophin molecules in quick-freeze, deep-etch, rotary-shadow preparations revealed rod-like structures 108.2 +/- 16.

Demonstration of cathepsins B, H and L in xenografts of normal and Duchenne-muscular-dystrophy muscles transplanted into nude mice.

The activities and contents of the lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsins B, H and L were examined in xenografts of biopsied muscles transplanted from age-matched normal subjects and Duchenne-muscular-dystrophy (DMD) patients into nude mice. The activity of cathepsin B increased 9-fold and that of B-plus-L increased 24-fold in the first week after transplantation in normal muscle xenografts. By the third week, the activity of cathepsin B increased a total of 20-fold and B-plus-L increased to 36-fold the original level.

High levels of nervous system-specific proteins in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with early stage Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Concentrations of several proteins that are characteristic of the nervous system were time-sequentially analyzed by radio- and enzyme-immunoassay in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). We found abnormally high levels of several proteins, such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S-100b protein, brain-type isozyme of creatine kinase (CK-BB) and alpha subunit of GTP binding protein G0 (G0 alpha) in the early stage of the disease. Generally, these protein levels were far higher in CJD patients than in normal controls and other neurological patients in the early stage before the typical clinical manifestations were evident.

[Detection of dystrophin with anti-peptide antibodies].

The analysis of dystrophin in skeletal muscles was performed to identify Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD) by means of immunohistochemical stain and Western blotting with antisera against synthetic dystrophin peptides. The control muscle specimens derived from normal healthy persons, and patients without DMD and BMD revealed clearly continuous stains of dystrophin at surface membrane. A band with 400 kDa of molecular size by Western blotting was positively stained by anti-dystrophin antibodies.

[Vesical ultrasonography and internal examination of female patients with urethral syndrome].

Transabdominal ultrasonography of the bladder and internal examination were performed in 80 female patients without pyuria. They were divided into 3 groups: urethral syndrome with trigonitis (49 cases), asymptomatic trigonitis (16 cases) and normal bladder (15 cases) by cystoscopy. Ultrasonography of trigonitis with or without symptoms showed focal dilation of the submucosal low echo zone and mucosal irregularity around the bladder neck.

[Bezafibrate myopathy in two patients with chronic renal failure].

Case 1, a 60-year-old man and case 2, a 70-year-old man had several year history of chronic renal failure with hypertension and hyperlipidemia due to diabetes mellitus. Treatment of hyperlipidemia was started by oral bezafibrate intake 1,200 mg per day in case 1 and 400 mg per day in case 2 respectively. Three to fourteen days later, both patients noticed symmetrical muscle pain and weakness.