Ueber die Beziehungen der Myocarditis zu den Erkrankungen der Arterienwandungen

Ohne ZusammenfassungHierzu Tafel XII.     

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and pregnenolone sulfate concentrations in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) have been suggested to have protective effects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, immune-modulated diseases, and aging. We examined serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEA-S, and pregnenolone sulfate (PREG-S) in patients with thyroid dysfunction. METHODS: Steroids extracted with methanol from serum sample were separated into an unconjugated fraction (DHEA) and a monosulfate fraction (DHEA-S and PREG-S), using a solid-phase extraction and an ion-exchange column. After separation of unconjugated steroids by HPLC, the DHEA concentration was measured by enzyme immunoassay. The monosulfate fraction was treated with arylsulfatase, and the freed steroids were separated by HPLC. The DHEA and PREG fractions were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the concentrations were converted into those of DHEA-S and PREG-S. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEA-S, and PREG-S were all significantly lower in patients with hypothyroidism (n = 24) than in age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 43). By contrast, in patients with hyperthyroidism (n = 22), serum DHEA-S and PREG-S concentrations were significantly higher, but the serum DHEA concentration was within the reference interval. Serum concentrations of these three steroids correlated with serum concentrations of thyroid hormones in these patients. Serum albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations were not related to these changes in the concentration of steroids. CONCLUSIONS: Serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEA-S, and PREG-S were decreased in hypothyroidism, whereas serum DHEA-S and PREG-S concentrations were increased but DHEA was normal in hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone may stimulate the synthesis of these steroids, and DHEA sulfotransferase might be increased in hyperthyroidism.     

Detection and full genomic analysis of G6P[9] human rotavirus in Japan

A rare genotype G6P[9] was identified in two human group A rotavirus strains designated as KF14 and KF17, that were detected in stool specimens from children with diarrhea in Japan. VP7 gene sequences of these two strains were identical and genetically closely related to G6 human rotavirus strains reported in European countries and the United States. To our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of a G6 human rotavirus in Japan. For further genetic analysis to elucidate the origin of the G6 rotavirus, nearly full-length sequences of all 11 RNA segments were determined for the KF17 strain. The complete genomic constellation of KF17 was determined as G6-P[9]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T3-E3-H3, a novel genotype constellation for human rotavirus. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that VP6, VP1-3, and NSP2 genes of KF17 clustered with bovine-like G6 human strains and some animal strains into sub-lineages distinct from those of common DS-1-like G2 human rotaviruses. On the other hand, KF17 genes encoding VP4, NSP1, and NSP3-5 showed high sequence identities to the human G3P[9] strain AU-1, and clustered with AU-1 and some feline strains within the same lineage. These findings suggested that the G6P[9] human rotavirus detected in Japan may have occurred through reassortment among uncommon bovine-like human rotaviruses and human/feline AU-1-like rotaviruses.     

TGF-beta1 suppresses T cell infiltration and VP2 puff B mutation enhances apoptosis in acute polioencephalitis induced by Theiler's virus

GDVII and DA strains of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) differ in VP2 puff B. One week after GDVII virus infection, SJL/J mice had large numbers of TUNEL+ apoptotic cells with a relative lack of T cell infiltration in the brain. DA viruses with mutation in puff B induced higher levels of apoptosis than wild-type DA virus, but levels of inflammation in brains were similar between DA and DA virus mutants. The difference in inflammation among TMEVs could be due to TGF-beta1 expression that was seen only in GDVII virus infection and negatively correlated with CD3+ T cell infiltration.     

Estrogen actions on lactotroph proliferation are independent of a paracrine interaction with other pituitary cell types: a study using lactotroph-enriched cells

The mitogenic action of estrogen on estrogen-responsive tissues is suggested to be mediated by paracrine growth factors secreted from neighboring estrogen receptor-positive cells. Using pituitary lactotrophs in primary culture, on which estrogen exerts both mitogenic and antimitogenic actions in a cell context-dependent manner, we investigated whether a paracrine cell-to-cell interaction with other pituitary cell types was required for estrogen action. In pituitary cells, enriched for lactotrophs by 85% using differential sedimentation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient, 17beta-estradiol (E2) showed an antimitogenic action on lactotrophs in the presence of IGF-I, which was similar to that in control unenriched cells. Mitogenic actions were also seen in lactotroph-enriched cells when E2 was administered alone, in combination with serum, or in combination with the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin. Similar results were obtained in 90% lactotroph-enriched cells collected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from transgenic rats expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein under the control of the prolactin promoter. The putative role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as a paracrine factor mediating the mitogenic action of estrogen was not supported by the results that: 1) bFGF inhibited lactotroph proliferation; 2) immunoneutralization of bFGF failed to block E2-induced proliferation; and 3) cellular bFGF levels were not altered by E2 treatment. These results suggest that the antimitogenic and mitogenic actions of estrogen on lactotrophs do not require paracrine signals from other pituitary cell types and that estrogen directly influences lactotroph proliferation.     

Massive residual stones after ESWL for staghorn cystine calculi were completely dissolved by oral administration of alkaline citrate: a case report

A 62-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for bilateral renal stones. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) revealed bilateral staghorn calculi and atrophic left kidney. She had extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for right renal stone during the first 6 months. However, ESWL was not effective and the patient did not want to continue this treatment. Her stone was composed of cystine. We started oral administration of alkaline citrate. Then massive residual stones were completely dissolved during the next 32 months.     

Validity and reliability of a Self-Implementable method to evaluate masticatory performance: Use of color-changeable chewing gum and a color scale

PurposeThe objective of this study was to confirm the validity of a Self-Implementable method to evaluate masticatory performance using a newly developed color scale and color-changeable chewing gum.MethodsWe developed a dedicated color scale that enables anyone to easily check the color of the chewing gum instead of using specialist equipment. To examine the reliability of evaluating the masticatory performance by the subjects themselves, three groups of six subjects were recruited: a group of dentists, a group of adults and a group of elderly adults were asked to check the colors of the chewed samples using the color scale. The correlation between the use of the color scale and the use of a colorimeter to determine the color of the chewing gum was studied to confirm the validity of the color scale. To assess the reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were determined.ResultsA strong correlation was found between the a* value measured by the colorimeter and the mean scores from the color scale. The ICCs for intra-examiner and inter-examiner consistency were more than 0.88 for all three groups.ConclusionsThis research confirmed the validity and reliability of colorimetric analysis of color-changeable chewing gum using a color scale as a Self-Implementable method of evaluating masticatory performance.     

Are There Enhanced MBP Autoantibodies in Autism?

Autoantibodies to central nervous system antigens, such as myelin basic protein (MBP), may play a role in autism. We measured autoantibody titers to MBP in children with autism, both classic onset and regressive onset forms, controls (healthy age- and gender-matched) and individuals with Tourette syndrome via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found a significant difference in autoantibody titers to MBP, not accounted for by age or medication, between Tourette and classic autism (both significantly lower) when compared to regressive autism, but not when compared to controls. Autoantibody responses against MBP are unlikely to play a pathogenic role in autism.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">TP53</Emphasis>codon 72 polymorphism and the outcome of adjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients

Introduction  

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in codon 72 of the TP53 (also known as p53) gene (rs1042522) and in the promoter region of the MDM2 gene (SNP309; rs2279744) have been suggested to play roles in many cancers. We investigated whether these SNPs were associated with patient outcome and the effect of adjuvant systemic therapy.