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Biomedical subjects

A Iguchi

Publications and source records attributed to A Iguchi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Aggressive natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma: report of a pediatric case and review of the literature.

We report a rare pediatric case of aggressive natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma, characterized by acute onset hepatosplenomegaly and respiratory distress, and infiltration by large granular lymphocytes with the phenotype of CD3-CD16-CD56+. The patient has remained in complete remission after short-pulse intensive chemotherapy, and myeloablative therapy followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We compare our case with 7 other children with NK cell leukemia reported from other institutions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Effects of administration of Clostridium butyricum to patients receiving long-term tube feeding].

In patients who require total parenteral or enteral nutrition the intestinal lining may atrophy and the ability to absorb nutrients may be lost. To prevent atrophy of the small intestine, we administered a suspension of Clostridium butyricum to elderly patients receiving tube feeding, and then measured the activation of serum diamine oxidase and the number, form, water content, and bacteria content of stools, indicators of intestinal structure. We found a significant increase in diamine oxidase activity and an improvement in stool condition: the number of stools per day decreased, form improved, and water content and the number of aerobic bacteria decreased significantly. These results indicate that in patients receiving long-term tube feeding, administration of Clostridium butyricum can restore condition to a near-normal state.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Gastro-esophageal reflux successfully treated with transgastrostomal jejunal tube feeding].

An 82-year-old man suffered from recurrent melena due to reflux esophagitis and aspiration pneumonia, which were caused by severe gastroesophageal reflux. We constructed a gastric stoma by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and fixed a transgastrostomal jejunal tube (TGJ tube) in the jejunum through the stoma. Direct administration of fluid into the jejunum was followed by a significant reduction in gastro-esophageal reflux. The reflux esophagitis and aspiration pneumonia did not recur. There was no vomiting, self-extubation, or restlessness that might have been caused by dementia, and the patient was could discharged cared for at into home.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[A case report: successful treatment of acute type B aortic dissection with renal and leg ischemia].

A 56-year-old patient of acute type B aortic dissection with renal and leg ischemia successfully underwent emergency replacement of the descending thoracic aorta. Prior to this operation, we reperfused the ischemic legs in a controlled manner using a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. This controlled limb reperfusion method could reduce reperfusion injury. Postoperatively, the patient also suffered from renovascular hypertension due to stenosis of the right renal artery. Renal stent angioplasty, performed 10 days after the operation, stabilized his blood pressure. Controlled limb reperfusion and renal stent angioplasty may be useful for managing branch complications associated with aortic dissection.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1997

[Antithymocyte globulin as conditioning regimen for bone marrow transplantation].

Bone marrow transplantation was performed with a conditioning regimen including antithymocyte globulin (ATG) for 8 patients with HLA-compatible unrelated donors or HLA mismatched donor. Administration of ATG was halted due to side effects in only 1 case, but the other cases were had no adverse reaction. During administration of ATG, platelet counts did not decrease rapidly, but platelet infusion was not effective in some cases. As compared between patients with conventional allogeneic BMT, autologous BMT or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and those with ATG administration, no obvious difference was seen between the two groups in lymphocyte counts, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD20 positive cells. No patient with ATG saffered graft failure or acute GVHD. However, cytomegalovirus infection was observed more frequently than in patients without ATG. In hematological malignancy, relapse was more frequent than in patients without ATG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in T lymphocytes and macrophages in vessels with advanced atherosclerosis.

While endothelial nitric oxide synthase is expressed in the endothelial cells of normal and atherosclerotic vessels, there are few reports about inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in atheroma. We investigated the expression of iNOS and its relation to inflammatory cells in atheroma. New Zealand White rabbits received a 1% cholesterol diet for 9 weeks (atherogenic diet) or a 1% cholesterol diet for 9 weeks then a normal diet for 36 weeks (reversible diet). The aortas were examined by immunohistochemical staining for anti-iNOS antibody, as well as antibodies for macrophages, T lymphocytes, and muscle actin. No iNOS was detected in normal aortas, intimal thickening, or fatty streaks. Although iNOS was detected in advanced plaques, it was not seen in smooth muscle-derived cells or endothelial cells, but was found in some macrophage-derived cells and in T lymphocytes. In regressive atherosclerotic aortas, iNOS was detected only in advanced plaques and not in macrophage-derived cells, but in T lymphocytes. These findings suggest that T lymphocytes and some macrophages induce iNOS through cytokine production in atheroma.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Migration of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells into non-crosslinked fibrin gels.

We evaluated the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells into fibrin gels, using an in vitro assay system. Vascular smooth muscle cells from bovine fetal aorta migrated into fibrin gels and showed a characteristic elongated spindle-shaped appearance with long cytoplasmic processes. Varying the concentration of thrombin (0.05-1 NIHU/ml) used to form the fibrin gel had little effect on cell migration although higher concentrations of thrombin inhibited the migration. Migration of the cells into fibrin gels was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis but not on DNA synthesis. The addition of antithrombin III, hirudin, and D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone after gel formation had no effect, suggesting that residual thrombin in fibrin gels had no influence on subsequent cell migration. Neither the factor XIII-induced crosslinking of fibrin nor the fibrinopeptides released during gel formation were involved in the present migration assay system. Tranexamic acid, an inhibitor of plasminogen activator, or aprotinin, a plasmin inhibitor, also had no significant effect, suggesting that fibrinolysis induced by plasmin was not involved in this system. These findings showed that fibrin gels themselves induce the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (haptotaxis) without other chemotactic or chemokinetic substances, suggesting an important role for fibrin in the development and progression of such vascular diseases as atherosclerosis, thrombosis and the development of restenosis following balloon angioplasty.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Protective effect of interleukin-6 against the death of PC12 cells caused by serum deprivation or by the addition of a calcium ionophore.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is known to differentiate the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 to neuron-like cells. We examined the effect of IL-6 on the death of PC12 cells. IL-6 significantly blocked the death of PC12 cells by serum deprivation. The protective effect of IL-6 was increased by preincubation of PC12 with IL-6 for 20 hr before serum deprivation. The inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide had no effect on the protective effect of IL-6 on the serum deprivation-induced cell death. IL-6 also inhibited the death of PC12 cells induced by addition of the calcium ionophore A23187 to the culture medium. Specific in situ labeling of DNA cleavage was observed in PC12 cells subjected to both serum deprivation and A23187 for 24 hr. IL-6 inhibited DNA fragmentation in PC12 cells following serum deprivation. These results suggest that the death of PC12 cells induced by serum deprivation or by the addition of calcium ionophore is apoptosis, and that IL-6 blocks apoptosis of PC12 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of endothelial cell differentiation on a glycosylated reconstituted basement membrane complex.

The vascular basement membrane is involved in the regulation of endothelial cell differentiation. The accumulation of advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs) has been demonstrated on these basement membranes in patients with diabetes. We examined the effect of AGEs on endothelial cell behavior on reconstituted basement membrane, Matrigel. Human umbilical vein-derived endothelial cells (HUVECs) stopped proliferating and differentiated into capillary-like tube-shaped structures on Matrigel. Laminin antibody partially blocked this process. HUVECs cultured on glycosylated Matrigel, however, proliferated and formed a monolayer without tube formation. The inclusion of aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of AGE formation, during the glycosylation of Matrigel restored HUVEC differentiation. Although the laminin adsorbed onto the plastic culture wells promoted HUVEC attachment and spreading, glycosylated laminin reduced HUVEC attachment by 50% and abolished cellular spreading. These effects were restored by aminoguanidine. HUVEC attachment to glycosylated laminin was further reduced by AGE-modified albumin, poly I, acetylated low-density lipoprotein, or maleylated albumin, ligands for a scavenger receptor. Coating the culture dishes with the laminin peptides RGD, YIGSR, and SIKVAV supported the attachment of HUVECs that was unaffected by glycosylation. Results suggest that AGE accumulation on the basement membranes inhibits endothelial cell differentiation by impairing the normal interactions of endothelial cell receptors with their specific matrix ligands. This process may be involved in diabetic angiopathy.

Albumins↗
PubMed1996

Immobilization stress-induced increase of hippocampal acetylcholine and of plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine and glucose in rats.

We investigated the role of the hippocampal cholinergic neurons during immobilization stress in rats using a microdialysis technique. Blood levels of glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine during immobilization stress were also determined. Acetylcholine release was initially increased by immobilization stress, then gradually decreased. Plasma level of epinephrine increased gradually and reached significance at 30 min after the start of immobilization and remained at the elevated level during immobilization. Plasma level of norepinephrine initially increased and reached significance at 30 min after the start of immobilization and remained at the elevated level during immobilization. Plasma level of glucose increased gradually and reached maximum and significance 45 min after the start of immobilization, then decreased. Fifteen min after immobilization, acetylcholine release increased again, while concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were still elevated. Thus the response of acetylcholine and the other responses to immobilization stress were not parallel.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Central administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor impairs spatial memory in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Nitric oxide is widely recognized as a putative retrograde messenger in the brain. We infused NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 25 mg/kg), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), continuously for a week into the dorsal third ventricle (D3V) of spontaneous hypertensive rate (SHR) by an osmotic infusion pump. Rats administered with L-NMMA showed impaired performance of a radial arm maze task compared with control rats administered with saline. We observed significant reductions of the NOx level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the rats administered with L-NMMA, but not in the control rats. Both groups showed no change in systolic blood pressure or serum NOx level. The results provide evidence of a more specific effect of NOS inhibition to the brain independent of alterations in the systemic hemodynamics.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Starvation reduces norepinephrine activities in both hypothalamus and heart in rats.

Norepinephrine (NE) activities in both hypothalamus and heart were simultaneously assessed in rats after food-deprivation for 2 days. The technique of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed for the analysis of NE and its primary neuronal metabolite, 3,4-dehydroxyphenylethylene glycol (DHPG), and the ratio of DHPG to NE was used as an index of NE activity. Hypothalamic DHPG/NE ratio was significantly decreased by fasting and was completely reversed by a single day of refeeding. These changes in hypothalamic DHPG/NE ratio were parallel to those in cardiac DHPG/NE ratio. Supporting the concept in which hypothalamic NE neurons play an important role in modulating the sympathetic outflow, it is suggested the decrease in hypothalamic NE activity contributes to the reduction in cardiac NE activity during fasting.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Endothelial-constitutive nitric oxide synthase exists in airways and diesel exhaust particles inhibit the effect of nitric oxide.

Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are an important cause of air pollution and are thought to be responsible for some respiratory ailments, but the exact mechanism is not known. We evaluated whether DEP inhibit nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in bronchi as NO is present in the exhaled air and has a physiological role in the respiratory tract. Aortic rings were also examined for comparison. We observed that acetylcholine (ACh) induced contraction of the bronchi was partially attenuated by the simultaneous release of NO. When bronchial rings were incubated either with NG-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMA): an inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS) or with DEP, the contraction to ACh was abolished. The source of the NOS was the bronchial epithelium and this endothelial-constitutive NOS was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. DEP like L-NMA inhibited the ACh induced endothelium dependent relaxation in the aortic rings. The inhibition of NO release by DEP and L-NMA from bronchial and aortic rings was also confirmed by a selective NO electrode. We conclude that inhibition of NO availability by DEP may in part be responsible for the adverse respiratory effects seen by inhalation of these particles in polluted air.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Successful engraftment of sibling cord-blood stem cell transplantation in a child with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Cord blood stem cell transplantation (CBSCT) was performed on a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The patient was a boy 3 years and 8 months old, who had shown complete remission following treatment with intensive chemotherapy. However, after the final course of consolidation chemotherapy, chromosome analysis of his bone marrow aspirates revealed 46XY, t(15,17)(q22;q21), and a PML-RAR alpha fusion gene was detected by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test. All-trans retinoic acid diminished the chromosomal abnormality, but the PML-RAR alpha fusion gene remained. The patient was then treated with CBSCT from an HLA-matched sibling donor. The number of nucleated cells in the cord blood was 2.2 x 10(7)/kg of body weight, and that of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units 0.6 x 10(4)/kg. Methotrexate was given, on days 3 and 6, as prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The neutrophil count rose to above 500/microliters on day 22. The platelet count exceeded 50,000/microliters on day 48. Platelet transfusions were given 12 times after CBSCT, the last one on day 36. Grade I acute GVHD was treated with steroids. The patient was well and discharged on day 103, without symptoms or laboratory data suggestive of relapse. Following this experience we instituted a project of the Kanagawa Cord Blood Bank, which is scheduled for expansion nationwide.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increase in insulin release from rat pancreatic islets by quinolone antibiotics.

1. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism(s) of hypoglycaemia caused by quinolone antibiotics. We investigated the effects of various quinolone antibiotics on insulin release in rat pancreatic islets. 2. At a non-stimulatory concentration of 3 mM glucose, lomefloxacin (LFLX) or sparfloxacin at 1 mM and pipemidic acid (0.1-1 mM) induced slight insulin release but tosufloxacin or enoxacin up to 100 microM did not. 3. At the stimulatory concentration of 10 mM glucose, all quinolones augmented insulin release in a dose-dependent manner. LFLX (100 microM) shifted the dose-response curve of glucose-induced insulin release to the left without altering the maximal response. 4. At 10 mM glucose, LFLX (100 microM) increased insulin release augmented by forskolin (5 microM) or 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (100 nM) but not by raising the K+ concentration from 6 to 25 mM. 5. Verapamil (50 microM) or diazoxide (50-400 microM) antagonized the insulinotropic effect of LFLX. 6. These data suggest that quinolone antibiotics may cause hypoglycaemia by increasing insulin release via blockade of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1996

Left ventricular function following conventional mitral valve replacement in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation.

Conventional mitral valve replacement (MVR) for patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) is usually associated with decrease in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). This study investigated the effect of preoperative LV size on LV performance and examined loading conditions before and after conventional MVR. Echocardiographic study was performed on 13 and 9 patients with LV end-systolic dimension of less than 26 mm/m2 (group A) or greater than 26 mm/m2 (group B), respectively. Postoperatively, the LV end-diastolic dimension and EF decreased significantly in both groups. There was a decrease in end-systolic wall stress after MVR. Preoperative LV forward flow estimated by the normalized aortic peak velocity increased significantly in both groups after surgery. The decrease in EF after MVR is not the result of increased systolic loading, and LV performance may not decrease after conventional MVR. Preoperative echocardiographic evaluation can provide important prognostic information in patients with MR undergoing MVR.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Hypersensitivity in the pupil dilation response to a cholinergic antagonist in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome].

In 1994, Scinto et al. reported hypersensitivity in the pupil-dilation response to topical application of a cholinergic antagonist, tropicamide, in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia. Similar tests on Japanese subjects showed significant differences in pupil response between subjects with Alzheimer-type dementia (under age 70 years) and age-matched controls. The present study included 24 patients with early-onset Alzheimer-type dementia, 29 patients with late-onset Alzheimer-type dementia, 15 healthy controls (all spouse of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia), 9 patients with vascular dementia and 5 patients with Down's syndrome. After adapting to semi-darkness (10 lux), a solution of tropicamide (Midrin-P, Santen Co, Ltd) was instilled into the right eye. Pupil diameters were measured every 5 to 10 min, and the maximum pupil diameter for each eye was used in the data analysis. The solution was diluted until the tropicamide concentration reached 0.01%. Pupil diameters were measured, and differences between baseline and maximum pupil diameter were computed. Among 18 patients with early-onset Alzheimer-type dementia (mean age 63.9 years) the pupils dilated by 1.12 +/- 0.52 mm (mean +/- SD) as compared with 0.20 +/- 0.75 mm in 7 age-matched controls (mean age 57.8 years); this difference was significant (T-test, p < 0.05). Correlations between the degrees of pupillary dilation and the scores on the revised version of Hasegawa's Dementia Scale were not significant. These data suggest that in subjects under 70 years of age, the diagnostic methods described by Scinto et al. can be used to distinguish those with Alzheimer-type dementia from those without dementia, but those methods may not be effective in subjects over 70 years of age.

Adult↗