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Biomedical subjects

A Higashi

Publications and source records attributed to A Higashi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Hair copper and zinc concentrations in handicapped children treated with anticonvulsants.

Hair copper and zinc contents were measured in 95 handicapped children aged from 4 to 17 years and 48 age- and sex-matched control children. The patients consisted of 5 groups: children untreated with anticonvulsants (n = 7), those treated with phenytoin and phenobarbital (n = 32), those treated with phenytoin, phenobarbital and diazepam (n = 18), those treated with diazepam alone (n = 16) and those treated with phenobarbital alone (n = 12). The patients were all institutionalized in the same medical care unit and received the same diet, containing decreased amounts of copper (75% of control) and sufficient amounts of zinc. The patients belonging to all of the 5 groups had less amounts of hair copper (p less than 0.05) and erythrocyte hemoglobin (p less than 0.01) in comparison to controls. The patients receiving diazepam alone or in addition to other anticonvulsants had significantly less hair zinc content (p less than 0.05) in comparison to controls or other patient groups. Thus, diazepam seemed to have an adverse effect, producing zinc deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Effect of low-content zinc and copper formula on infant nutrition.

The zinc (Zn) content of commercially available formula milks in Japan is less than that of breast milk obtained during the first three months of lactation, but is similar to that at five months of lactation. The copper (Cu) content of the formula milks is much lower than that of breast milk obtained during the five months. These two trace elements were measured in serum (at birth, one, three, and five months of age), hair (at birth and at five months of age) and urine (at one, three and five months of age) of twenty-one breast fed and twenty formula fed full term infants. Despite the differences in Zn and Cu intakes, these parameters were similar in these two infant groups, except for urinary Zn at one and three months of age. These were significantly higher in breast fed infants (P less than 0.005 and P less than 0.05). Weight and length increments were not different in either infant group. It appeared that normal, full term infants tolerated low-content Zn and Cu formula milks well. This observation, however, is not at variance with the FAO/WHO recommendation for prevention of Zn and Cu deficiency.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Xanthine oxidase inhibitor in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The treatment with xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, was evaluated in 17 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (aged 2 years 9 months to 13 years 9 months) using the double blind technique. The total observed period was 27 months. The results of 100-point scale of graded functional abilities revealed that an improvement, unchange and progression of dysfunction were found in 2, 2 and 6 patients, respectively, in allopurinol group and in 0, 2 and 5 patients, respectively in placebo group. The patients' age and stage of the disease seemed to be related to the effectiveness or allopurinol treatment.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Zinc and copper contents in breast milk of Japanese women.

Longitudinal studies of zinc and copper contents of breast milk were performed in 65 Japanese mothers during their lactation period until 5 months postpartum. They experienced no problems during pregnancy and at delivery. All women had full term healthy infants. Forty-five were multiparous and 20 primiparous. The highest level of zinc content was found in the colostrum, and subsequently the levels declined (p less than 0.005), as lactation progressed. Copper content was stable during the first month of lactation, and then declined gradually (p less than 0.005). Both mineral levels in breast milk ranged with great variance among the subjects at any stages of lactation. Significantly lower zinc level (p less than 0.01) and higher copper level (p less than 0.005) were found in the serum of lactating women three months postpartum, when compared with non-lactating control women. Factors including lactation history, age of lactating women, serum levels and contents of zinc and copper in the hair did not affect the contents of these trace minerals in the breast milk.

Colostrum↗
PubMed1982

Serum zinc and vitamin E concentrations in handicapped children treated with anticonvulsants.

Serum zinc and vitamin E concentrations were measured in handicapped children aged 4-17 years, treated (n = 32) and untreated (n = 13) with phenytoin and phenobarbital. The mean serum zinc levels were 81 +/- 16 and 82 +/- 7 micrograms/dl in the treated and untreated children, respectively. The difference was not significant between these two groups. Hypozincnemia (below 70 micrograms/dl), however, was found in 7 of the 32 treated patients and in none of the 13 untreated children. The serum vitamin E level was 0.58 +/- 0.18 mg/dl in the treated and 0.67 +/- 0.17 mg/dl in the untreated children, indicating significantly lower levels in the treated patients (p less than 0.005). A significant positive correlation was found between the serum zinc and vitamin E levels (r = 0.45, p less than 0.005). Thus, long-term use of anticonvulsants results in a vitamin E and zinc deficiency, which may produce several unfavorable problems in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Bioavailability of phenobarbital by rectal administration.

Phenobarbital was administered to five patients, eight to 20 years of age, by four different administration routes: Intravenous, intramuscular, oral, and rectal. At each administration, extent of bioavailability, elimination rate constant, absorption rate constant, and volume of distribution of phenobarbital were calculated using a one-compartment open model. The results obtained suggest that rectal administration of phenobarbital is more reliable than intramuscular or oral administration of the drug for rapid treatment in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Serum vitamin E concentration in patients with severe multiple handicaps treated with anticonvulsants.

Serum vitamin E concentrations were measured in 47 severely handicapped patients, aged from 4 to 23 years, and in 22 controls. Thirty-three of the handicapped patients with seizures were treated with phenytoin and phenobarbital; the remaining 14 patients were not treated. The serum vitamin E levels were lower in the handicapped than in controls. Among the handicapped, those treated with anticonvulsants showed much lower levels of serum vitamin E than those untreated. Ten patients under anticonvulsant therapy were selected to receive d-1-alpha tocopherol acetate, 100 mg/day, based on their low serum vitamin E levels (range of 0.27 to 0.61 mg/100 ml). After one month of tocopherol treatment, both their serum vitamin E levels and hemolysis tests returned to normal. During a three-month tocopherol treatment period, both the frequencies of seizure attacks and the electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns remained unchanged. Supplementation with vitamin E is recommended in some patients under anticonvulsant therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in children with severe multiple handicaps treated with phenytoin.

Peripheral lymphocyte counts, T-cell and B-cell populations, DNCB skin reactions, Mantoux reactions, mitogenic transformation using PHA, and determination of serum phenytoin concentration were carried out in 45 children with severe handicaps. Twenty two of these patients were receiving phenytoin treatment. When compared with control subjects, the skin reactions were significantly depressed in the handicapped children, amongst whom those treated with phenytoin had more impaired reactions than those who were untreated. No significant relationship between the results of the skin reactions and the other parameters was found.

Adolescent↗