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Biomedical subjects

A Kawamoto

Publications and source records attributed to A Kawamoto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Does increased QT dispersion in the acute phase of anterior myocardial infarction predict recovery of left ventricular wall motion?

QT dispersion has been recognized as an undesirable marker because of its association with arrhythmogenicity in patients with myocardial infarction, but the relation between QT interval dispersion and wall motion abnormalities has not been clarified. After the introduction of reperfusion therapy, it was recognized that T waves were inverted twice in the course of myocardial infarction. An investigation was made of the clinical significance of QT dispersion in relation to the presence of inverted T waves and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in 34 patients (mean age, 59 years) with acute anterior myocardial infarction who underwent successful reperfusion therapy. The amplitude of the deepest inverted T waves occurring within the first 3 days (T1) and after 3 days (T2) of myocardial infarction were measured in electrocardiographic (ECG) lead V3. On the ECGs on which T1 and T2 were recorded, QT dispersion was calculated (QTd1, QTd2), and T1 and T2 were correlated with QTd1 (r = .65) and QTd2 (r = .47), respectively. The difference between the extent of asynergy in the acute phase and the chronic phase, which was evaluated by the centerline method, was correlated with T1 (r = .63) and QTd1 (r = .67). Patients with a QTd1 of 0.1 second or longer showed a greater change in the extent of asynergy (23.4 +/- 13.1% vs 4.9 +/- 9.8%, P < .01) and less asynergy in the chronic phase (19.9 +/- 15.6% vs 46.5 +/- 14.0%, P < .01) than patients with a QTd1 of less than 0.1 second. Thus, QT dispersion in the acute phase of anterior myocardial infarction indicates recovery of left ventricular wall motion. Prolongation of the local action potential duration of the myocardium that recovers from severe ischemia may be a contributor to the increased QT dispersion that results in inversion of T waves in the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMed1998

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLP) concentrations in seminal plasma: SLPI restores sperm motility reduced by elastase.

In this study, we quantified secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and elastase in ejaculates from normal donors and infertile patients with or without leukospermia and investigated the effect of SLPI on sperm motility reduced by elastase. Western blot analysis revealed that SLPI protein was detected in the seminal plasma. The SLPI titre in the seminal plasma with leukospermia was lower than that in the seminal plasma without leukospermia and in the seminal plasma of fertile donors. The elastase concentration in the seminal plasma with leukospermia was significantly higher than that in the seminal plasma without leukospermia. A significant correlation between SLPI and elastase concentrations in the seminal plasma (r = 0.36, P< 0.01) was observed. There was a positive correlation between SLPI titre in the seminal plasma and sperm motility (r = 0.51, P < 0.001). SLPI recovered the sperm motility reduced by elastase in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that SLPI is a potential substance to treat infertile patients with leukospermia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Survey of human group C rotaviruses in Japan during the winter of 1992 to 1993.

Fecal specimens from patients with acute diarrhea were collected from 10 prefectures in Japan over a 6-month period (November 1992 to April 1993), and the specimens that were negative for human group A rotaviruses were screened for the presence of human group C rotaviruses (CHRVs) by the reverse passive hemagglutination test. Of 784 specimens examined, 53 samples (6.8%) that were collected in 7 of 10 prefectures were positive for CHRV, indicating that CHRVs are widely distributed across Japan. Most of the CHRV isolates were detected in March and April, and CHRVs mainly prevailed in children ages 3 to 8 years. The genome electropherotypes of eight strains isolated in five individual prefectures were surprisingly similar to each other and were different from those of CHRV strains isolated to date. The outer capsid glycoprotein (VP7) gene homologies of the isolates retrieved in 1993 were subsequently analyzed by the dot blot hybridization method. As a result, the VP7 genes of the isolates revealed very high levels of homology not only with each other but also with the VP7 gene of the OK118 strain isolated in 1988. These results suggest that a large-scale outbreak of CHRV occurred during the winter of 1992 and 1993 in Japan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Blood pressure and diastolic function in the elderly].

To evaluate the relation between blood pressure and diastolic function in the elderly, 28 apparently healthy volunteers underwent blood pressure measurements, echocardiographic examinations, and radionuclide angiography acquired in list mode. Casual blood pressure did not correlate with diastolic indices measured either by echocardiography or by a radionuclide method, except for peak filling rate during atrial contraction assessed by radionuclide angiography (r = 0.39, p < 0.05). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring revealed significant correlations between peak filling rate during atrial contraction assessed by radionuclide angiography and blood pressure measured over 24 hours, while awake and during sleep. The time to peak filling rate and the velocity of early diastolic filling were found to correlate with blood pressure, but the best correlation was between blood pressure during sleep and peak filling rate during atrial contraction (r = 0.53, p < 0.005). These results show a direct relation between blood pressure and diastolic function in the elderly, which is stronger during sleep than during wakefulness.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients with myocardial infarction].

This study investigated carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients with myocardial infarction. One hundred and two patients with acute myocardial infarction [Group MI: male 86, female 16, mean 62 (range 43-79) years] and 55 normal subjects matched for age and sex with negative responses to exercise electrocardiogram testing (control group: Group C) were included. Patients in Group MI were divided into 3 subgroups according to coronary angiographic findings as follows: 57 patients with one-vessel disease (Group I: mean 59 years), 34 with 2-vessel disease (Group II: mean 64 years), and 11 with 3-vessel disease (Group III: mean 64 years). Intima-media complex thickness (IMT) of the bilateral common carotid arteries (15 mm proximal to the bifurcation) and the internal carotid arteries (15 mm distal to the bifurcation) were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography, and the sum of maximum IMT of the bilateral carotid arteries (sigma IMT) were calculated. sigma IMT was significantly greater in Group MI (2.5 +/- 0.5 mm) than in Group C (1.8 +/- 0.3 mm), sigma IMT was 2.5 +/- 0.5 in Group I, 2.6 +/- 0.5 in Group II, and 2.7 +/- 0.4 mm in Group III. There was a significant positive correlation between sigma IMT and the number of involved vessels (tau = 0.45, p < 0.01). The percentage of patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis was 2% in Group C, 63% in Group MI, 54% in Group I, 68% in Group II, and 82% in Group III (p < 0.001). This study suggests that carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients with myocardial infarction is frequently complicated and severe, and more frequently complicated in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differences in sialic acid-galactose linkages in the chicken egg amnion and allantois influence human influenza virus receptor specificity and variant selection.

Human influenza viruses are more efficiently isolated by inoculating patient samples into the amniotic rather than the allantoic cavity of embryonated chicken eggs. This type of cultivation selects virus variants with mutations around the hemagglutinin (HA) receptor binding site. To understand the molecular basis of these phenomena, we investigated the abundances of sialic acid (SA) linked to galactose (Gal) by the alpha-2,3 linkage (SA alpha2,3Gal) and SA alpha2,6Gal in egg amniotic and allantoic cells and in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Using SA-Gal linkage-specific lectins (Maackia amurensis agglutinin specific for SA alpha2,6Gal and Sambucus nigra agglutinin specific for SA alpha2,3Gal), we found SA alpha2,3Gal in both allantoic and amniotic cells and SA alpha2,6Gal in only the amniotic cells. MDCK cells contained both linkages. To investigate how this difference in abundances of SA alpha2,3Gal and SA alpha2,6Gal in allantoic and amniotic cells affects the appearance of host cell variants in eggs, we determined the receptor specificities and HA amino acid sequences of two different patient viruses which were isolated and passaged in the amnion or in the allantois and which were compared with MDCK cell-grown viruses. We found that the viruses maintained high SA alpha2,6Gal specificities when grown in MDCK cells or following up to two amniotic passages; however, further passages in either the amnion or allantois resulted in the acquisition of, or a complete shift to, SA alpha2,3Gal specificity, depending on the virus strain. This change in receptor specificity was accompanied by the appearance of variants in the population with Leu-to-Gln mutations at position 226 in their HA. These findings suggest that lack of SA alpha2,6Gal linkages in the allantois of chicken eggs is a selective pressure for the appearance of host cell variants with altered receptor specificities and amino acid changes at position 226.

Allantois↗
PubMed1997

[The effect of coronary intervention on renal function in patients with chronic renal failure].

To investigate the effect of coronary intervention on renal function in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) we investigated 19 patients with CRF [serum creatinine (Scr) > 1.5 mg/dl] who underwent coronary intervention for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina recruited from 516 consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit of Nara Medical University Hospital from January, 1992 to July, 1995. Serum creatinine levels were measured at 3 points: on admission, at peak level, and at discharge. Nineteen patients were divided into two groups on the basis of increases in Scr (delta Scr): a worsened group (group A) (delta Scr > or = 1mg/dl after coronary intervention; 6 patients) and an unchanged group (group B) (delta Scr < 1 mg/dl ; 13 patients). In group A, except for one patient, the renal function recovered to the level before coronary intervention after adequate hydration or hemodialysis. The volume of contrast medium in group A (420 +/- 134 ml) was significantly higher than group B (253 +/- 97 ml) (p < 0.01). There was significant positive correlation (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) between delta Scr and the volume of contrast medium. In conclusion, coronary intervention for patients with CRF can be performed safely under treatment with adequate hydration and hemodialysis, even at higher serum creatinine levels of up to 4.0 mg/ml.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Power spectral analysis of spontaneous blood pressure and heart rate variability in elderly hypertensives.

To examine the influence of hypertension on cardiovascular variability in elderly subjects, we measured spontaneous beat-to-beat blood pressure (BPV) and heart rate variability (HRV) in elderly subjects with or without hypertension at rest and during tilting. The study group consisted of 23 community-dwelling, male elderly subjects (aged 62-75 years) and was divided into two groups, i.e., a hypertensive group (HT group; n = 11) and normotensive group (NT group; n = 12). According to the modeling and decomposing algorithm of an autoregressive process, we estimated the component power of low-frequency (LF; 0.03-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency components (HF; respiratory frequency) of BPV and HRV by power spectral analysis. We also measured plasma norepinephrine (PNE) levels in the two groups at rest and during tilting. In the HT group, we found that the amplitude of LF-BPV was greater (p < 0.05) and its relative change by postural tilting was smaller (p < 0.05) than those in the NT group. We found no significant difference in the amplitude of LF-HRV and HF-HRV between the two groups, and found no significant response of the amplitude of LF-HRV and HF-HRV to postural tilting. We also found no difference in PNE level between the two groups at rest or during tilting. These results suggest that the regulatory function of sympathetic vasomotor activity assessed by power spectral analysis of BPV is altered in hypertensive elderly subjects, although the influence of hypertension on the autonomic control of the heart is less dominant in the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[An autopsy case of systemic lupus erythematosus complicating leukocytosis, amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, interstitial pneumonitis, and pleulitis].

A 52-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in August 1988, for evaluation of purpura and gingival bleeding. Hematologic examination showed mild leukocytosis (12,400/microliter) and severe thrombocytopenia (1,000/microliter). On bone marrow examination, megakaryocyte count was normal and the number of myeloblasts was increased (7.2%). Serological examination was positive for anti-nuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody. She was diagnosed as having idiopathic or autoimmune thrombocytopenia, and received thrombocyte transfusion and gamma-globulin administration. Hematologic values improved temporarily, but leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia recurred. On the 22nd hospital day, leukocytes increased to 49,300/microliter and thrombocytes decreased to 10,000/microliter. Bone marrow myeloblasts were also increased to 18.8%, and she was suspected of having myelodysplastic syndrome. Then, hematologic values improved simultaneously, and she was discharged in November 1988. After the discharge, leukocyte count ranged from 6,000 to 16,500/microliter, but the number of bone marrow myeloblasts was normal. However, transient thrombocytopenia appeared in association with decrease or absence of bone marrow megakaryocytes and rise of platelet associated-IgG, (PA-IgG) to 99.6 ng/10(7) cells. From September to December 1989, she complained of fever, morning stiffness, multiple arthralgia, and oral ulcer. On serological findings, she was positive for LE cell. Therefore, she was diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In January 1990, she had a high grade fever and dyspnea. Bilateral pleuritis and interstitial pneumonitis were shown on the chest roentgenogram. She received gamma-globulin administration, methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and mechanical ventilation. However, hypoxia developed rapidly, and she died of respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed severe interstitial pneumonitis, fibrinous pleuritis, fibrinous pericarditis, and vasculitis in the arcuate artery of the kidney. This is the first report of SLE complicating thrombocytopenia associated with decrease of megakaryocytes and rise of the PA-IgG, and severe leukocytosis associated with increased bone marrow myeloblasts.

Fatal Outcome↗
PubMed1995

Two independent outbreaks of measles in partially vaccinated junior high schools in Tottori, Japan.

We analyzed retrospectively a relative risk of measles attacks in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated students using two independent outbreaks in Japan. The first involved 33/328 (10%) students where 64% students and 30% measles cases had been vaccinated. The second involved 27/241 (11%) students where 81% students and 48% measles cases had been vaccinated. The attack rates of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated students were significantly low (p < 0.001), but they accounted 25% in both episodes. The statistically significant clinical features among vaccinated and unvaccinated cases included the average duration of fever, 5.16 +/- 1.71 vs. 6.67 +/- 2.19 days (p = 0.01) and the incidence of complications, 0 vs. 25%, respectively. These results suggested that the measles in vaccinated cases were mostly due to secondary failures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of measles viruses isolated after measles vaccination.

Seven measles virus (MV) strains were isolated from children who developed clinical signs of fever and rash 3-9 days after measles vaccination. The nucleotide sequence of the H gene, the molecular size of the H protein, the haemadsorption activity on African green monkey red blood cells, and antigenicity as determined by virus neutralization revealed that one strain was of the vaccine type and the remaining six were the wild virus type. Isolation of the virus directly from patients suspected of a vaccine-induced side-reaction and subsequent characterization of such isolated virus may be useful in differentiation between vaccine-induced side-reactions and natural measles.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗