The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Jun 2010
Distribution of type A and B synoviocytes in the adhesive and shortened synovial membrane during immobilization of the knee joint in rats.
Joint immobilization is commonly used for the treatment of joint injuries and diseases, but it also causes unfavorable outcomes such as joint contracture. The purpose of this study was to examine the morphological changes of the synovial membrane that is suspected as a cause of joint contracture, and localization of type A (macrophage-like) and type B (fibroblast-like) synoviocytes in the capsule after joint immobilization. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. ⋯ After 8 weeks, the adhesion area in the immobilized group became fibrous and hypocellular. The staining intensity of hyaluronic acid-binding protein was increased after 16 weeks. Adhesion and shortening of the synovial membrane and the structural changes of the adhesion area may contribute to the development of joint contracture.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2010
Polymorphisms in the surfactant protein a gene are associated with the susceptibility to recurrent urinary tract infection in chinese women.
Some risk factors for susceptibility to recurrent urinary tract infection (r-UTI) are well known, but the genetic role in acquiring the disease is poorly understood. Surfactant protein A and D (SP-A and SP-D) play an important role in modulation of lung inflammatory processes. The SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes encoding SP-A and the SP-D gene are highly polymorphic, and some of polymorphisms are associated with several infective diseases, including pyelonephritis. ⋯ The frequencies of 19Ala allele of SP-A1 gene (p = 0.038) and 223Gln allele of SP-A2 gene (p = 0.012) in the patients were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects. The serum SP-A and SP-D levels were increased and the urine SP-A and SP-D levels were decreased in r-UTI patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.05). r-UTI patients with 19Ala/Ala or 223Gln/Gln genotype were associated with high serum and low urine SP-A levels (p < 0.01). Therefore, the 19Ala allele of SP-A1 gene and the 223Gln allele of SP-A2 gene are risk factors for r-UTI.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Mar 2010
Hyaluronan inhibits prostaglandin E2 production via CD44 in U937 human macrophages.
Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is one of the key mediators of inflammation in affected joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Intra-articular injection of high molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) into RA knee joints relieves arthritic pain. Although HA has been shown to inhibit PGE(2) production in cytokine-stimulated synovial fibroblasts, it remains unclear how HA suppresses PGE(2) production in activated cells. ⋯ Anti-CD44 antibody reversed the inhibitory effects of HA on the LPS-mediated increase in PGE(2) production, COX-2 induction, and activation of NF-kappaB. These results indicate that HA suppresses the LPS-stimulated PGE(2) production via CD44 through down-regulation of NF-kappaB. Administration of HA into RA joints may decrease PGE(2) production by activated macrophages, which could result in improvement of arthritic pain.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Jan 2010
Clinical TrialAssociation of the G2014G genotype in estrogen receptor 1 gene with failure of the mifepristone-induced termination of early pregnancy.
Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound that has been applied to terminate early pregnancy for many years. However, about 15% of the women undergo failure in termination of early pregnancy, the causes of which remain largely unknown. We herein selected estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) as a candidate gene to determine whether single nuclear polymorphisms (SNPs) in ESR1 were associated with the failure of mifepristone-induce abortion. ⋯ The frequency of the GG (G2014G) genotype was higher in the failure group (86.7%) than that in the success group (60.0%) (p = 0.030), while the frequency of the G2014A heterozygote was lower in the failure group (6.7%) than in the success group (28.3%) (p = 0.013). Moreover, the frequency of the G allele was higher in the failure group (90%) and lower in the success group (10.0%) (p = 0.013). These results indicate that the GG genotype of the G2014A polymorphism is associated with the risk of failure in the mifepristone-induced abortion.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialThe herbal medicine Daikenchuto increases blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery.
Daikenchuto is a traditional herbal medicine that is used for the treatment of cold feeling in the abdomen, while Orengedokuto, also a traditional herbal medicine, is used for treating inflammatory and ulcerative diseases affecting internal organs. However, the effects of these herbal medicines on cardiac output (CO) and intestinal blood flow have never been investigated. This examiner-blinded randomized crossover study intended to clarify the influence of Daikenchuto and Orengedokuto on CO and blood flow volume in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). ⋯ SMA blood flow volume was significantly increased between 5 and 90 min after administration of Daikenchuto (p < 0.01) compared to the resting state. However, there was no significant change in CO after the administration of either agent. The present study indicates that Daikenchuto increases SMA blood flow volume without increasing CO.