Macroprolactinaemia in patients with hyperprolactinaemia: composition of macroprolactin and stability during long-term follow-up.

Objective: Macroprolactin, which comprises immunoglobulin G (IgG) or anti-prolactin (PRL) autoantibody-bound PRL, is one of the causes of hyperprolactinaemia. This study evaluated the composition and stability of macroprolactin and determined whether the condition was long lasting. We also investigated whether we could predict the composition of macroprolactin based on the ratio of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-precipitable PRL.

Factors predicting incomplete endoscopic hemostasis in bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers.

Background/aims: To investigate the factors contributing to failure of initial hemostasis in patients undergoing endoscopic hemostasis.

Methodology: A total of 316 patients underwent endoscopic hemostasis for bleeding peptic ulcers in a period of 4 years.

Results: For hemostatic procedures, application of hemostatic clips, band ligation, injection of hypertonic saline epinephrine solution, soft coagulation, and argon plasma coagulation were employed either singly or in combination.

Macroprolactinaemia: prevalence and aetiologies in a large group of hospital workers.

Objective: Macroprolactinaemia is one of the causes of hyperprolactinaemia and often leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, but the aetiologies are unclear. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of macroprolactinaemia in a healthy population and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development of macroprolactin.

Design: Observational study of the prevalence, causes, mechanisms and diagnosis of disease using excess sera after hepatitis B virus screening tests at a hospital in Japan.

Anti-prolactin (PRL) autoantibodies suppress PRL bioactivity in patients with macroprolactinaemia.

Objective: Macroprolactinaemia, mainly caused by anti-prolactin (PRL) autoantibodies, is frequently found in patients with hyperprolactinaemia. Characteristically, these patients lack clinical symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia, but the serum bioactive PRL concentrations in vitro measured by the Nb2 bioassay are usually high. In this study, we investigated the causes of the discrepancy and the true biological features of macroprolactin.

Evaluation of a 1 step TRAb assay for the detection of high-affinity components to hTSHR: evidences indicating superiority of the assay in the lower TRAb range.

The aim of this study was to develop an assay to selectively detect high-affinity components among TRAb. Using an rhTSHR-coated tube system, a 1 step TRAb assay method was developed that included 1) co-incubation with (125)I-bTSH, 2) a 50 microl serum sample, 3) an increased incubation volume (450 microl), and 4) a 1 hour incubation time. Sixty-one TRAb positive Graves' sera were studied.

Helicobacter pylori infection prevents nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough.

Background/aims: Nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB) is given attention as one of the factors that cause refractory reflux esophagitis. However, its clinical states and mechanisms are not yet clearly understood. We studied whether there will be a NAB outbreak or not among healthy Japanese male volunteers upon administration of omeprazole, as well as what kind of factors will be involved in case of an outbreak.

Immeasurably low and non-TRH-stimulatable TSH associated with normal I-123 uptake in two goitrous euthyroid patients: possible existence of other thyroid-hormone regulated thyroid stimulators other than TSH.

We described two euthyroid patients with normally functioning goiters, but with persistently undetectable and non-stimulatable TSH levels. Subject 1 was a 64-year-old woman with a large diffuse goiter who has been clinically and biochemically euthyroid without any medication for at least 19 years. Subject 2 was a 31-year-old woman with a small diffuse goiter who has been euthyroid for 4 years.

Differences in TSH receptor binding and thyroid-stimulating properties between TSH and Graves' IgG. Slowly-acting TSH receptor antibody moieties in Graves' sera affect assay data.

We analyzed TSH receptor (TSHR) effects, both binding and thyroid-stimulation, of TSH and Graves' IgG. A new TRAb assay system utilizes rhTSHR coated tubes and is comprised of two step incubation, the first incubation with patient serum followed by a second incubation with 125I-bTSH. We called TRAb measured by this method as hTRAb.

[Diagnosis of gastro esophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis by using the questionnaire].

QUEST can be carried out in a short time and having high susceptibility to the patients with reflux esophagitis. QUEST is also useful as a diagnostic tool for the patients with GERD.

Nuclear medicine practice in Japan: a report of the 5th nationwide survey in 2002.

Unlabelled: The Subcommittee on Survey of Nuclear Medicine Practice in Japan has performed a nationwide survey of nuclear medicine practice every five years since 1982 to provide detailed information on its current status.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to every institution known to the Japan Radioisotope Association to provide nuclear medicine examinations. The questionnaires address the number and kind of nuclear medicine examinations performed as well as the kind and dose of the radiopharmaceuticals used during the month of June 2002.

[A case report of distant lymph nodes metastases from prostate cancer imaged with 201Tl and 99mTc-MIBI].

Prostate cancer most often metastases to regional lymph nodes and bones by hematogeneous or lymphatic spread. The authors present a rare case of metastatic prostate cancer to supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes that were detected on 201Tl and 99mTc-MIBI imaging and confirmed on a CT scan. An 81-yr-old man with bilateral painful cervical lymphadenopathies was referred to our hospital with suspected thyroid cancer.