Studies of temporomandibular joint sounds; Part 4. Phase relations of TMJ sounds and jaw movement

A study was conducted to investigate the timing relationship of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds during mandibular movement, as evaluated by the location of the condyle, in relation to the articular fossa using axiograph recording. TMJ sounds during jaw opening and closing occurred over a wide range: opening sounds were observed within a range of 41-100% of maximum opening, while closing sounds occurred within 1-80% of maximum opening. In calculating the peak frequency of the joint sounds, it was noted that there was no correlation between the timing of the sound and its peak frequency. This study revealed that the acoustic characteristics of TMJ sounds may be unaffected by the location of the condyle.

Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding rat very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase

The cDNA encoding rat very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (VLACS) was cloned, using degenerative primers synthesized according to the partial amino acid sequences of the peptide fragments of the purified rat liver enzyme. The longest cDNA insert was 2972 base pairs with a 1860-base pair open reading frame encoding 620 amino acids. The calculated molecular mass of 70,692 daltons was consistent with size of the purified enzyme. In Northern blot analysis, a single band was detected at the position of about 3 kilobases, corresponding to the size of the cloned cDNA. cDNA-directed expression in Escherichia coli resulted in accumulation of expressed protein, as an inclusion body. An antibody was raised using this expressed protein to characterize the cDNA and the enzyme. The subcellular localization of VLACS in peroxisomes and microsomes was demonstrated in Western blot analysis. The specific activity and the substrate specificity of the cDNA expressed enzyme in COS-1 cells were consistent with those of the purified rat enzyme. The predicted amino acid sequence of VLACS had a high sequence similarity to fatty acid transport protein (Schaffer, J. E., and Lodish, H. F. (1994) Cell 79, 427-436), and was considered to have domains for adenylation and thioester formation. The entire structure of VLACS was dissimilar to that of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (Suzuki, H., Kawarabayashi, Y., Kondo, Y., Abe, T., Nishikawa, K., Kimura, S., Hashimoto, T., and Yamamoto, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 8681-8685), except for the domains.

Correction by gene expression of biochemical abnormalities in fibroblasts from Zellweger patients

Zellweger syndrome is a prototype of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders and a fatal autosomal recessive disease with no effective therapy. We identified nine genetic complementation groups of these disorders, and mutations in peroxisome assembly factor-1 (PAF-1) and the 70-kD peroxisomal membrane protein (PMP70) genes have been detected by our group F and Roscher's group 1, respectively. We now describe permanent recovery from generalized peroxisomal abnormalities in fibroblasts of a Zellweger patient from group F, such as biochemical defects of peroxisomal beta-oxidation, plasmalogen biosynthesis, and morphologic absence of peroxisomes, by stable transfection of human cDNA encoding PAF-1. In the light of these observations, we designed a gene expression system using fibroblasts from patients with peroxisomal biogenesis disorders. In Zellweger fibroblasts obtained from Roscher's group 1 and transfected with human cDNA encoding PMP70, peroxisomes were not morphologically identifiable, and peroxisomal function did not normalize.

A finite element model of the human face. Stress distribution around the chin due to articulation of the five vowels in Japanese

In this study the authors set out to investigate the stress distribution around the chin due to articulation, and to discuss whether the calculated stresses can cause bone remodeling. A finite element model of facial soft tissue was constructed and movements related to the articulation of the five basic Japanese vowel sounds were reproduced individually on the model. The stress distribution of each vowel depended on the shapes formed by the lips and the degree of mandibular opening. Stresses increased with the strain on the soft tissue of the lips. It seemed unlikely that the calculated stress alone was sufficient to produce a hypertrophic increase in modeling. However, it seemed that muscle forces might produce an effective strain load with a range sufficient to cause bone remodeling by accumulation of stresses around the chin.

A metalloprotease-disintegrin participating in myoblast fusion

Skeletal muscle development involves the formation of multi-nucleated myotubes. This is thought to proceed by the induction of differentiation (acquisition of fusion competence) of myoblast cells, their aggregation, and union of their plasma membranes. Various membrane proteins including N- and M-cadherins, N- and V-CAMs and integrins participate in myotube formation, but the molecular mechanisms of muscle cell fusion are poorly understood. Here we report the identification of three new, myoblast-expressed gene products, meltrin-alpha, beta and gamma, with homology to both viper haemorrhagic factors and fertilin (PH-30), a membrane protein involved in egg-sperm fusion. Meltrin-alpha, a member of the metalloproteinase/disintegrin protein family, appears to be required for myotube formation. Involvement of a fertilin-related protein in myogenesis suggests that there are common mechanisms in gamete and myoblast fusion.

Polymyositis associated with thymoma and the subsequent development of pure red cell aplasia

A 53-year-old woman with polymyositis associated with thymoma subsequently developed pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). She was hospitalized because of fever and muscle weakness, and diagnosed as having polymyositis by muscle biopsy. Remarkable clinical improvement followed administration of prednisolone. Progressive anemia became evident, however, while prednisolone was being tapered. Erythroid aplasia and the presence of thymoma confirmed the diagnosis of PRCA. Further examinations revealed that cytotoxic T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this case.

Development of transient thyroid disease and reaction during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon

Six of 50 (12%) patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with interferon developed thyroid disease or an autoimmune thyroid reaction while undergoing treatment. One patient developed silent thyroiditis, with an increase in serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free T3, free T4, and markedly suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, accompanied by the appearance of both antithyroglobulin (TgAb) and antimicrosomal antibodies (McAb). One patient developed hypothyroidism in association with moderately elevated TSH levels and high titers of McAb. TSH, TgAb, and McAb levels returned to the initial values at least 4 months after the end of interferon treatment (9 months of follow up). Four patients whose TgAb and/or McAb levels were elevated during treatment with interferon had been diagnosed as having subclinical autoimmune thyroiditis; however, their thyroid function remained in the normal range. These results suggested that treatment with interferon can cause a transient autoimmune thyroid reaction and disease as a side effect.

Clinical studies on thyroid CT number in Graves' disease and destructive thyrotoxicosis

The purpose of the present study was to investigate by a computed tomography (CT) the Hounsfield unit (H.U.) of the thyroid in hyperthyroid and euthyroid Graves' disease and destructive thyrotoxicosis. The mean thyroid CT number in 95 controls was 122 +/- 18 H.U. (+/- SD) and did not change significantly with advancing age. The mean thyroid CT number (+/- SD) of 85 +/- 22 H.U. in 60 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than either in normal controls or 116 +/- 22 H.U. in 11 patients with euthyroid Graves' disease (P < 0.001). Comparison of thyroid hormones and TSH receptor Ab values of untreated patients with a normal and an abnormally low thyroid CT number showed that serum total and free T3 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the latter group than in the former group. With respect to the effect of methimazole (MMI) on the thyroid CT number, in the untreated 10 patients with a low thyroid CT number, the initial mean CT number was 65 +/- 11 H.U. and increased significantly (P < 0.05) to 76 +/- 14 H.U. after treatment with MMI. In contrast, in 6 patients with a normal thyroid CT number prior to therapy, the initial mean thyroid CT number was 102 +/- 11 H.U. and fell significantly (P < 0.05) to 84 +/- 16 H.U. after treatment with MMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical studies on thyroid CT number in chronic thyroiditis

The purpose of the present study is to investigate by a computed tomography (CT) thyroid CT number (Hounsfield units; H.U.) in chronic thyroiditis (CH). The correlation of the CT value with the concentration of KI solution in the test tube of thyroid phantom for thyroid scintigram was linear. No significant correlation between thyroid CT number and the urinary iodine concentration was also observed in 36 patients with CH. A mean thyroid CT number (+/- SD) of 81 +/- 24 H.U. in 155 patients with CH was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than 125 +/- 18 H.U. in 95 normal subjects. The patients with CH could be arbitrarily divided into 3 groups according to the decrease in their thyroid CT number: normal (N) group (> or = 88 H.U.), moderately decreased (MD) group (70-87 H.U.) and the greately decreased (GD) group (< 70 H.U.). There was a significant difference in the thyroid volume among 21.2 +/- 9.1 cm3 in the N group, 32.2 +/- 18.1 in the MD group (P < 0.05 vs. N group) and 43.6 +/- 23.3 in the GD group (P < 0.01 vs. N and MD group). The mean serum TSH concentration of 38.95 +/- 54.61 microU/ml in the SD group was significantly (P < 0.1) higher than either 4.11 +/- 3.64 in the MD group or 2.00 +/- 1.43 in the N group. The serum TSH level in the MD group differed significantly (P < 0.05) from that of the N group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[PMP70, the 70-kDa peroxisomal membrane protein: a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporters]

We have isolated the cDNA of the 70-kDa peroxisomal membrane protein (PMP70) from rat and human liver cDNA libraries. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA of PMP70 contains an open reading frame of 1977 bp which encodes an amino acid sequence of 659 residues. Possible two domains were identified by hydropathy analysis. One is a hydrophobic region, which presumably contains six transmembrane segments. The other is a hydrophilic domain, which shows striking similarity to the sequences of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins, including bacterial periplasmic transport proteins, the human multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (MDR1), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and the putative adrenoleukodystrophy gene product (ALDP). Based on its transmembrane structure and the homology to ABC proteins, PMP70 may be involved in ATP-dependent transport through peroxisomal membrane.

Histological findings in asymptomatic hepatitis C virus carriers

There is controversy about clinical management of individuals who persistently have hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCVAb) but who have no symptoms or signs of liver disease. Liver biopsy samples were taken from 15 individuals, all of whom had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, to determine the prevalence of liver disease and whether HCVAb and HCV-RNA correlate with histological findings. Eleven patients with hepatitis C viremia had histological evidence of chronic hepatitis on biopsy. On the other hand, four HCV-RNA-negative individuals had almost normal liver histology. These findings indicate that serum HCV-RNA is a sensitive and specific marker of liver disease in HCVAb-positive subjects, independent of ALT levels. Furthermore, these results suggest that there are very few histologically healthy carriers of HCV among HCV-RNA-positive individuals.

An episode of silent thyroiditis in a patient with chronic thyroiditis and papillary adenocarcinoma following alpha interferon treatment for hepatitis C

In the present paper we described the first case report of silent thyroiditis following alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) treatment for chronic type C hepatitis in Japan. A 51-year-old woman with chronic type C hepatitis was treated with 6 million units of IFN-alpha three times a week for 24 weeks. Thyroid function was within normal limits and thyroid autoantibodies were negative before IFN therapy. Sixteen weeks after initiation of the treatment, she complained of increasing fatigue, palpitation and losing 7 kg in weight. Thyroid function tests at that time revealed an increase in serum T3, T4, free T3 and free T4 and a markedly suppressed TSH concentration. Both antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and antimicrosomal antibody (McAb) were positive in a dilution of 1: 400. The computed tomographic (CT) scan of the thyroid showed a decrease in the CT number (Hounsfield unit; H.U.) to 58 H.U. (normal, 95-167 H.U.). The 24-h thyroid uptake of 123I was 0.75%. Aspiration biopsy specimens from a nodule in the right lobe and the remaining struma disclosed papillary adenocarcinoma and Hashimoto thyroiditis, respectively. Thyroid function spontaneously returned to normal two months after the onset of thyrotoxicosis through the subclinical hypothyroid stage. After recovery of thyroid function, patient had an operation of papillary cancer without any complications. These clinical features and laboratory findings led to the diagnosis of silent thyroiditis developing in the course of the long-term IFN therapy, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported before in Japan.

[A case of latent Addison's disease with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and dwarfism]

A case of latent Addison's disease accompanied by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and dwarfism is described. A 20-year-old man was admitted to our department complaining of short stature and immature development of the external genitalia. Pigmentation was most evident on the fingers and face. Endocrinologically, serum ACTH level was very high, and serum cortisol level was in the lower limit of the normal range. Serum aldosterone and adrenal androgen levels were below their normal ranges. Based on these clinical and laboratory findings, the patient was diagnosed as having latent Addison's disease. Serum LH did not respond to a bolus injection of LH-RH. However, after 3 days administration of LH-RH, the response of serum LH to a bolus injection of LH-RH was enhanced. Serum testosterone level was not increased after the administration of hCG. These findings suggested a hypothalamic cause for the hypogonadism. It was indicated that short stature was apparently caused by GH neurosecretory dysfunction, since nocturnal GH secretion was below that in normal males and the response of GH to the administration of arginine was normal. In regard to the thyroid function, the peak of serum TSH after a bolus injection of TRH was delayed compared with normal subjects, and although serum T4 level was high, the basal metabolic rate was very low. This suggests that there is tissue resistance to the elevated thyroid hormone.

Nucleotide sequence of the human 70 kDa peroxisomal membrane protein: a member of ATP-binding cassette transporters

The cDNA sequence of human liver 70 kDa peroxisomal membrane protein (hPMP70) was determined. The nucleotide sequence contains an open reading frame of 1977 base pairs and encodes an amino acid sequence of 659 residues which exhibits 95.0% identity with that of rat liver PMP70. hPMP70 shares close similarity to the members of a superfamily of ATP-binding transport proteins.

An ACTH and FSH producing invasive pituitary adenoma with Crooke's hyalinization

We report on a patient with ACTH and FSH producing invasive pituitary adenoma complaining of cutaneous pigmentation. Elevations in plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin and cortisol levels as well as urinary 17-OHCS and cortisol excretion were found. Serum FSH concentration was just within the upper limit of the normal range, whereas serum LH level was reduced and alpha-subunit level was normal. Roentogenographic examination showed an almost complete loss of sellar floor and destruction of the posterior clinoids and dorsum sella. CT scan and MRI demonstrated an enlarged tumor invasion of the clivus and its extension to the sphenoid sinus. After subtotal removal of the large pituitary tumor, serum cortisol and plasma beta-endorphin levels as well as plasma ACTH concentrations returned to normal and serum FSH levels also remarkably decreased. Histologically, the tumor corresponded to a chromophobe, slightly PAS positive adenoma. These tumor cells exhibited positive immunostaining with antibody to ACTH (1-24), beta-LPH, beta-endorphin and FSH, while immunostaining of the adenoma cells was negative for LH, TSH, GH and prolactin. The immunogold technique also demonstrated ACTH and FSH particles in the secretory granules in the cytoplasm of the adenoma cells. Some of the tumor cells disclosed Crooke's hyalinization and type I microfilament occupied most of the cytoplasm. In the present study, a very rare case of ACTH and FSH producing invasive pituitary adenoma is reported.

Effects of bromocriptine on experimental GH3 cell tumors

Bromocriptine in concentrations up to 10(-4) M was studied for morphological and endocrinological effects upon the GH3 cell line as well as the GH1 and AtT-20 cell lines. The cells (10(5)/ml) were incubated with RPMI 1640 or in some experiments Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium supplemented with 10% FCS. Bromocriptine was added in concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-8) mol/L and aliquots of medium were obtained at 2 and 24 hs for the determination of growth hormone and prolactin. Significant reductions in concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin as well as cell number were observed with a concentration of bromocriptine of 10(-4) M at 24 hs. The electron microscopic appearance of GH3 cells treated with 10(-4) mol/L concentrations of bromocriptine for 24 hs demonstrated extensive and marked vacuolization in the cytoplasm which had already appeared 2 hs after treatment with bromocriptine. In bromocriptine-treated (10(-4) mol/L for 24 hs) GH1 cells and AtT-20 cells, the morphologic features were essentially unchanged, compared to the untreated group. Since many previous reports demonstrated a defective dopamine receptor system in GH3 cells, it must be concluded that bromocriptine has an extradopaminergic action which is selectively observed in GH3 cell.

cDNA cloning of rat liver 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase

cDNA clones of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase were isolated from rat liver cDNA libraries constructed in phages lambda gt11 and lambda gt10. Hybrid selected translation analysis revealed that 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase was translated as a polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 36,000, which was about 3,000 molecular weight units larger than mature reductase. Sequencing analysis revealed that the open reading frame encoded a polypeptide consisting of 335 amino acid residues (predicted molecular weight = 36,132), which contained an N-terminal extension peptide of 34 amino acid residues (presequence) in addition to the mature enzyme. Thus, 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is synthesized as a larger precursor polypeptide, and the N-terminal extension peptide may be acting as the mitochondrial import signal.

Transient subclinical hypothyroidism in early pregnancy

In the present study, a new clinical state of transient subclinical hypothyroidism in 12 early pregnant women is documented. The incidence of transient subclinical hypothyroidism was 18 (0.19%) among 9,453 pregnant women examined in this series in Sapporo. The characteristics of transient subclinical early gestational hypothyroidism in our study may be summarized as follows: temporarily increased TSH in the blood (11.7 +/- 6.3 microU/ml; mean +/- S.D.) in early pregnant women at 8.5 +/- 2.4 weeks of gestation, accompanied with or without reduced FT4 which spontaneously return to normal at 17.9 +/- 7.1 weeks; no subjective complaints and no previous history of thyroid disease; small struma; positive titers of antimicrosome antibody and antithyroglobulin antibody; normal serum hCG; negative results for TSH receptor antibody. None of the infants show any physical abnormality such as struma and none of the patients had neck pain or fever suggesting subacute thyroiditis. The presence of autoantibody to the thyroid gland and echographical findings strongly suggest the existence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in early pregnant women with transient subclinical hypothyroidism, although the cause of transient subclinical early gestational hypothyroidism remains obscure.

The 70-kDa peroxisomal membrane protein is a member of the Mdr (P-glycoprotein)-related ATP-binding protein superfamily

The 70-kDa peroxisomal membrane protein (PMP70) is one of the major integral membrane proteins of rat liver peroxisomes. cDNA clones for PMP70 were isolated and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence (659 amino acid residues) revealed that the carboxyl-terminal region of PMP70 has strong sequence similarities to a group of ATP-binding proteins such as MalK and Mdr. These proteins form a superfamily and are involved in various biological processes including membrane transport. Limited protease treatment of peroxisomes showed that the ATP-binding domain of PMP70 is exposed to the cytosol. The hydropathy profile, in comparison with those of several other members of the ATP-binding protein superfamily, suggests that PMP70 is a transmembrane protein possibly forming a channel. Based on these results, we propose that PMP70 is involved in active transport across the peroxisomal membrane.

[Fundamental and clinical studies of changes in endocrine conditions in cancer patients]

The aim of the present study was to investigate hypothalamic-pituitary function, pituitary-thyroid function as well as pituitary-adrenal function in cancer patients. 1. Hypothalamic-pituitary function: We already reported a tumor-related paradoxical increase of serum growth hormone (GH) in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and TRH test, which seemed to be due to changes in pituitary GH cell, not hypothalamus. The high incidence of the paradoxical increase of GH in OGTT was found in patients with hepatocellular cancer and pancreatic cancer, whereas in TRH test it was observed in patients with pancreatic, colonic and gastric cancer. The highly sensitive GH enzyme immunoassay demonstrated in 12 non-responder patients in OGTT a significant reduction of serum GH at 30 minutes compared to basal values. 2. Pituitary-thyroid function: We already demonstrated that a high incidence of low T3 syndrome in elderly cancer patients compared to younger patients and metabolic changes in glucose must be involved in the pathogenesis. In addition, this syndrome is significantly related to prognosis. There were no significant changes in thyroid function before and after curative operation for tumors except in patients with poor prognosis. 3. Pituitary-adrenal function: It was shown that cancer cachexia is characterized by hypercortisolemia, which must be due to a defect of negative feedback control.

Reports of two cases of selective adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and growth hormone (GH) deficiency: differential diagnosis from cases with isolated ACTH deficiency associated with transient GH insufficiency

An acquired partial pituitary insufficiency with selective ACTH and GH deficiency was demonstrated in two men aged 47 and 54, for which the clinical course over many years corresponds to Addison's disease. In one of the 2 cases, antibodies to anterior pituitary cell membrane, assayed by an immunofluorescence method with GH3 cells (rat GH and prolactin secreting cell) and AtT-20 cells (mouse ACTH secreting cell) as antigens, were positive. We also present a 55-year-old man with isolated ACTH deficiency associated with transient GH deficiency. In this case, hydrocortisone replacement corrected his subnormal, pre-therapy GH response to insulin tolerance and glucagon propranolol tests, although there was no response of serum GH to L-dops and arginine stimulation test before therapy. Selective ACTH and GH deficiency are very rare and the finding of transient GH insufficiency in a patient with isolated ACTH deficiency suggests that repeated testing while on hydrocortisone replacement therapy is of great diagnostic importance in order to distinguish between selective ACTH and GH deficiency and isolated ACTH deficiency accompanied by transient GH insufficiency.

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding the entire precursor of rat mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase

cDNA clones for rat mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase were isolated and sequenced. The most 5'-extended clone (RT2-6) consisted of 1,460 bases and contained a 1,272-base open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 424 amino acid residues. A coupled in vitro transcription/translation analysis of RT2-6 revealed that RT2-6 encodes the entire precursor of this enzyme. The amino-terminal sequence and amino acid composition of the purified enzyme agreed with the primary structure deduced from the cDNA. The calculated molecular masses of the precursor and the subunit of the mature enzyme are 44,694 and 41,364 Da, respectively. The primary structure of this enzyme was compared with those of four other thiolases (rat mitochondrial and peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolases, acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase of Zoogloea ramigera, and cytosolic acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase of Saccharomyces uvarum). Marked homology between any two of them (34-51% identity) indicates that the genes of thiolases have evolved from a common ancestral gene. It has been reported that this enzyme has two isoenzymes A and B. However, the purified isoenzymes were indistinguishable from each other in some analyses. Though 17 independent cDNA clones were isolated, no definite evidence indicating the presence of different cDNAs was found.