Clinical Physiology

　In this course, we will focus on autonomic dysfunction, which is an important factor that determines life prognosis and ADL in various diseases and will develop new testing methods using blood biochemical methods and genetic analysis in addition to clinical physiological tests. As a result, 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy was established, radial artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation test using ultrasound, electrogastrography, electroenterography, near-infrared spectroscopic imaging, blood pressure overshoot phenomenon and the salivary stress protein quantification method are widely used for diagnosis, pathological analysis, and quantitative evaluation of mental stress in patients with various intractable neurological diseases or autonomic disorders. It has also greatly contributed to the selection of treatment methods for these patient groups.

　Additionally, in this course, we are conducting research on transthyretin-type familial amyloid polyneuropathy, which has a global patient focus in Kumamoto Prefecture and is often accompanied by autonomic neuropathy. We will clarify the density and function of gastric Cajal cells in patients with this disease, as well as the relationship between serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and gastrointestinal symptoms. We are deepening our research not only from a physiological perspective, but also from a clinical chemistry, molecular biology, and immunological perspective, such as clarifying the relationship with antibodies.