Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to A Kondo.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Pneumocephalus associated with benign brain tumor: report of two cases.

Two cases of spontaneous pneumocephalus, which developed after ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures for severe hydrocephalus caused by benign brain tumors, are reported. In both cases there was no previous history of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Operation revealed that both patients had many small defects of the dura mater and the bone in the middle cranial fossa, which were plugged by necrotic brain tissue. These defects were remote from the sites of the original tumors but may have been produced by long-standing raised intracranial pressure, and they presumably allowed air to enter after intracranial pressure was reduced by shunting. Repair of the defects prevented further intracranial air retention.

Adult↗

Age-related changes in the rat detrusor muscle: the contractile response to inorganic ions.

The effect of age on in vitro rat bladder responsiveness function in inorganic ions, CaCl2, KCl, BaCl2 and MgCl2, was investigated, and the results were compared between young (six months old) and aged (16 and 24 months old) rats. In the aged bladders the contractile strength and contractile speed responding to CaCl2 were significantly less compared to the young. On the other hand, the muscle contraction of the three groups following depolarization of the cell membrane by adding KCl and BaCl2 did not differ significantly. The change in muscle relaxation responding to MgCl2 was also insignificant. These results suggest that although contractile and relaxation mechanisms of the detrusor muscle per se are not affected by an aging process, the contractile ability which is related to calcium ion is impaired in the aged rats. It is likely that decreased membrane permeability to calcium ions and/or the change in the intracellular contractile mechanisms related to calcium ions may account for the decreased muscle contractility in the aged rats.

Aging↗

Engineering proteins to enhance their partition coefficients in aqueous two-phase systems.

We describe a novel method to partition recombinant proteins into the polymer-rich top phase in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)4000/potassium phosphate aqueous two-phase systems. The concept is based on fusion of a gene fragment encoding a short peptide sequence to the product gene of interest thereby changing the partitioning properties of the expressed product protein as a fusion to the peptide. The model protein in this study, ZZ, is a two domain molecule based on staphylococcal protein A (SPA) which distributes evenly in PEG/salt systems. A tetrapeptide sequence, AlaTrpTrpPro (designated the partitioning peptide), was designed by molecular modeling techniques to include exposed tryptophan residues and to have a coding DNA sequence which is possible to polymerize in an obligate head-to-tail fashion at the DNA level. Gene fragments encoding one and three partitioning peptides, respectively, were fused to the 3' end of the ZZ gene and the fusion proteins were produced intracellularly in Escherichia coli. The partition coefficients of ZZ proteins containing zero, one and three fused partitioning peptides were determined in three PEG 4000/potassium phosphate aqueous two-phase systems of different compositions. In all three phase systems, there were dramatic effects on the partition coefficient by the fused partitioning peptides. In the phase system with the largest effects, the partition coefficient was enhanced from 1.6 to 11.6 by fusing one tetrapeptide sequence to the 147 amino acid model ZZ protein. By the fusion of three partitioning peptides, the coefficient was increased to 96.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

CNS pathology in the neurological mutant rats zitter, tremor and zitter-tremor double mutant (spontaneously epileptic rat, SER). Exaggeration of clinical and neuropathological phenotypes in SER.

The pathological alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) were examined in three kinds of mutant rat; the zitter (zi/zi; Zi), the tremor rat (tm/tm; Tm) and the spontaneously epileptic rat (SER) which is a double mutant carrying both zitter and tremor genes. Two major alterations demonstrated in these mutants were hypomyelination and vacuolation or spongy degeneration. Hypomyelination was observed predominantly in SER and to a lesser extent in Zi, and was accompanied by a redundant or aberrant myelin sheath formation in addition to a decreased number of myelinated fibres. This appeared to be related to the occurrence of tremor. There was no abnormality in the structure of the myelin lamellae and oligodendrocytes or any destruction of myelin sheaths by phagocytic cells. The number of radial components in CNS myelin was increased almost equally in Zi, Tm and SER. Vacuolation was prominent in SER and Tm, especially in the brainstem and thalamus. Zi also developed mild vacuolation with advancing age. Vacuolation seemed to be related to the epileptic phenomena in SER and Tm. Vacuoles consisted mainly of swollen astrocytic processes and enlargement of the extracellular space, as well as occasional enlargement of periaxonal spaces. Thus both pathological findings--the hypomyelination derived from the zitter mutation with tremor, and the vacuolation from the tremor mutation with epileptic symptoms--were mutually exaggerated in SER. It is postulated that the two different genetic loci with zi and tm mutations interact and synergistically reinforce each other both clinically and pathologically in SER.

Aging↗

Accessory nerve neurinoma manifesting with typical jugular foramen syndrome.

A case of neurinoma arising from the accessory nerve is reported. The tumor was small and located entirely within the jugular foramen; the patient sought treatment for a jugular foramen syndrome. The lesion was visualized only on magnetic resonance imaging, and surgery confirmed that it originated from a cranial root of the accessory nerve. There have been no previous reports of a small, accessory neurinoma that is confined entirely to the jugular foramen, appearing with a typical jugular foramen syndrome.

Accessory Nerve↗

Diagnosis and treatment of neurogenic bladder due to partial sacral agenesis.

Fifteen patients with partial sacral agenesis were treated over a mean period of 68 months. Partial unilateral agenesis was present in 7 and bilateral sacral agenesis was present in 8. Three important diagnostic features are emphasised: symptoms referable to neurogenic bladder without an obvious neurogenic lesion (all 15 patients); skin or hair abnormalities in the lumbosacral region (9/15) and paraesthesia or other neurological disorders of the lower extremities (8/15). The definitive diagnosis can be made by careful inspection of a plain film of the lumbosacrum. Detrusor contractility was absent in 13 patients but preserved in 2; 11 patients were managed by clean intermittent catheterisation, 2 voided using detrusor contractility and 2 voided by means of the Valsalva/Credé manoeuvre. In 5 patients surgery in the intradural space preserved sexual function and prevented further deterioration in function of the lower extremities but could not restore bladder function that had already deteriorated. Complete continence was achieved in 11 patients and socially acceptable continence in 4. Early diagnosis and conservative treatment with clean intermittent catheterisation are extremely important in management. Should functional deterioration of the bladder and/or sensomotor function of the lower limbs occur, neurosurgery should be performed promptly.

Adolescent↗

Bladder compliance in myelodysplastic children: effect of anti-reflux surgery and conservative treatment. Paediatric urology.

Little is known about changes in bladder compliance and bladder capacity in myelodysplastic patients following anti-reflux surgery. A study group of 70 patients was divided as follows: group A included 20 myelodysplastic patients who had been operated on for reflux and whose subsequent treatment was conservative. Group B comprised 31 myelodysplastic patients who had been treated conservatively; a third group of 19 non-myelodysplastic patients, treated by anti-reflux surgery because of primary reflux, formed the control group. The follow-up period for group A averaged 61 months (extending from a urodynamic study 3 months after surgery to the most recent test). In group B the mean follow-up period between the initial test and the latest test was 86 months. Bladder compliance in group A patients did not increase significantly (from 5.5 to 6.9), but patients in group B did show a significant increase (from 5.9 to 10.7). Compliance in the 19 non-myelodysplastic patients decreased only marginally 6 months after surgery (from 29.6 to 26.3). Changes in bladder capacity showed a similar trend. In their most recent test, however, the bladder capacity of group A patients increased to the same volume as that of group B. A high correlation between radiological bladder deformity and bladder compliance was found. We propose a bladder compliance of 10.0 as the lower limit for myelodysplastic patients' preferred range. It was concluded that anti-reflux operations prevent any improvement in bladder compliance (but not in bladder capacity) compared with conservative treatment.

Adolescent↗

Bladder dysfunction due to human T-lymphotrophic virus type I associated myelopathy.

Bladder dysfunction is a major complication of human T-lymphotrophic virus type I associated myelopathy (HAM). Four patients (3 females and 1 male, aged between 23 and 44 years), who had suffered from HAM for an average of 6 years complained variously of difficulty in micturition, frequency, bed wetting and/or urge incontinence. They were investigated urodynamically. A significant amount of urine was retained in the bladder of 3 patients. During the storage phase, bladder sensation was well preserved in all 4 patients but severe uninhibited detrusor contractions were observed in 3. At micturition, detrusor contractility was present in 3 and completely lost in 1. Of the 4 patients with HAM, 3 suffered from detrusor hyper-reflexia and 1 from detrusor areflexia.

Adult↗

Host range expansion by recombination of the baculoviruses Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus and Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

The mechanisms of host specificity of nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) (Baculoviridae) were analyzed after coinfection of Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV) and one of four distinct groups of Spodoptera litura NPV (SlNPV), including an Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV) variant (S. Maeda, Y. Mukohara, and A. Kondo, J. Gen. Virol. 71:2631-2639, 1990), into various lepidopteran cell lines. Replication of BmNPV in nonpermissive cells (TN-386, SF-21, and CLS-79) was induced by coinfection with AcNPV but not with the other three SlNPV groups. These induced progeny NPVs were plaque purified in BmN cells, which are susceptible to only BmNPV, and characterized. Most of these isolates did not replicate in the cell lines in which they were produced, indicating the existence of a helper function of AcNPV for BmNPV replication in nonpermissive cells. Some of these isolates, however, were able to replicate in cell lines nonpermissive to BmNPV, indicating the appearance of a new virus with wider host specificity. DNA restriction endonuclease analysis showed that the isolates exhibiting wider host range were recombinant viruses between the parents, AcNPV and BmNPV, resulting from various types of crossovers of relatively large areas of their genomes. Expansion of host range was also observed in larvae.

Animals↗

Status and tasks of today's urodynamics.

The current situation of urodynamics and the ways of improving and reinforcing our investigational and treatment modalities are presented. Correct evaluation of the bladder dysfunction depends on sound evaluation of a patient's history, naked-eye observation and careful urodynamic investigation. The clinical and social significance of the following items is specifically discussed: urinary incontinence of elderly people, clean intermittent catheterization and artificial urethral sphincter.

Aged↗

In vitro intravesical instillation of anticholinergic, antispasmodic and calcium blocking agents to decrease bladder contractility.

We investigated the effect of intravesical administration of atropine, oxybutynin, verapamil, diltiazem, and imipramine on pressure responses of the rabbit in vitro whole bladder model. All drugs investigated suppressed the pressure responses to field stimulation and bethanechol in a time-dependent manner (maximum inhibition at 90-120 min). Atropine and oxybutynin suppressed the contractile response to bethanechol to a much greater extent than that to field stimulation. These results suggest that the use of self-intravesical instillation might be a good therapeutic approach for patients with detrusor hyperreflexia, especially those who are already managed by intermittent catheterization.

Administration, Intravesical↗

Influence of aging on the rat urinary bladder function.

We studied in vitro the change in bladder function with aging. The responses of muscle strips made from the rat bladder body to eight neurotransmitters and to four inorganic ions were examined. Six-month-old rats were used as controls and 16- and 24-month-old rats as aged rats. The results of this study are summarized as follows: (1) The contractile responses of the aged rat bladder to norepinephrine, adenosine triphosphate, and serotonin were significantly greater than those of young rat bladder. This may contribute to the development of an unstable bladder in elderly people. (2) In the aged rat bladder magnitude and speed of the response to calcium were significantly weaker which may account for the impaired detrusor contractility frequently observed in elderly persons. (3) There was no significant age-related difference in the response to other agents (acetylcholine, prostaglandin F2 alpha, angiotensin II, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, KCl, BaCl2, and MgCl2).

Aging↗

Bladder compliance in myelodysplastic children: does antireflux surgery compromise it?

We studied the impact of antireflux surgery on bladder compliance, which was an important clinical parameter in terms of urinary incontinence and upper tract deterioration, in 20 myelodysplastics (group A). For control groups, 31 myelodysplastic children with or without reflux who were conservatively treated (group B) and 19 non-myelodysplastics who were operated on for primary reflux were investigated. The follow-up period averaged 87 months for group A and 86 months for group B. Initial bladder compliance in group A (5.1 +/- 3.7 ml/cm H2O) and group B (5.9 +/- 4.9 ml/cm H2O) was significantly lower than that in nonmyelodysplastics (29.6 +/- 23.1 ml/cm H2O) (p less than 0.01). Antireflux surgery prevented a significant elevation of bladder compliance in group A (6.9 +/- 5.5 ml/cm H2O), while an increase of bladder compliance was significant in group B (10.7 +/- 8.1 ml/cm H2O) (p less than 0.01). In the nonmyelodysplastic group, bladder compliance slightly decreased postoperatively but remained well within the normal range (26.3 +/- 12.0 ml/cm H2O). There was significant correlation between bladder compliance and bladder trabeculation (p less than 0.01), i.e. the higher the bladder compliance, the more normal-appearing the cystogram. We propose a bladder compliance of 10.0 ml/cm H2O as the lower limit of the normal range. Analysis of the present data has led to the hypothesis that any surgical intervention on or around the urinary bladder will result in a low compliance in myelodysplastic patients. We have found, on the other hand, that those who have a normal cystogram, a large bladder capacity, absence of symptomatic urinary infection, and normal renal function before antireflux surgery have a good chance of obtaining the compliant detrusor muscle postoperatively.

Child↗

Endodermal epithelial cyst in the prepontine cistern extending into the fourth ventricle--case report.

The authors report a case of epithelial cyst, which recurred 32 years after the initial surgical treatment. Computed tomography showed no abnormality, but magnetic resonance (MR) imaging clearly demonstrated a well-demarcated mass in the prepontine cistern, extending into the fourth ventricle. The lesion showed extreme hyperintensity compared with the surrounding brain on both the T1- and T2-weighted images. The ultrastructural features of the cyst suggested an endodermal origin. MR imaging and electron microscopy are essential for correct diagnosis and exact pathogenetic identification of intracranial cystic lesions.

Brain Diseases↗

Trigeminal neuralgia caused by compression from arteries transfixing the nerve. Report of three cases.

The authors present three patients with trigeminal neuralgia due to compression by an artery that transfixed the sensory root of the fifth cranial nerve. These cases represented 0.8% of 384 patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated by microvascular decompression at the authors' clinic during the past 12 years. In the remaining 381 cases, the compressing vessels were successfully removed from the trigeminal nerve without much difficulty, for an initial cure rate of 94.3%. In the three cases reported, however, the compressing artery penetrating the nerve could not easily be maneuvered away from the nerve. In the first two cases, partial rhizotomy perpendicular to the axis of the nerve at the site of arterial transfixion made it possible to separate the artery from the nerve. However, these two patients developed postoperative facial sensory impairment. In the third case, rhizotomy was performed longitudinal to the axis of the nerve at the site of arterial transfixion, making it possible to reposition the artery peripherally beyond the root entry zone of the nerve without causing any postoperative sensory deficits of the face. No recurrent pain has developed in more than 2 1/2 years since surgery in any of these three cases. When performing microvascular decompression surgery on patients in whom the compressing artery penetrates the nerve, the technique used in our third patient is the procedure of choice.

Aged↗

[S100a0 protein and creatine kinase isozymes (CK-B & CK-M) in serum and urine might be useful markers for non specific tissue damages by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL)].

In order to demonstrate that the extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for urolithiasis causes a renal damage, we immunoassayed S100a0 protein and creatine kinase isozymes (CK-B & CK-M) in the serum and urine from patients with renal stone (N = 21) and those with ureteral stone (N = 18) before and after ESWL. S100a0 protein and CK-B, which are localized in the proximal renal tubules at relatively high concentrations, were enhanced more or less both in the urine and serum samples after the treatment in both groups of patients. Since CK-M, which is mainly localized in muscle tissue, also increased in both groups of patients, S100a0 protein and CK-B may be derived not only from kidney, but also from muscle tissues.

Adult↗

[Analysis of frequency volume chart in elderly people with pollakisuria. Comparison between the elderly and the adult].

Based on the frequency volume chart, 215 patients who complained of pollakisuria were clinically investigated. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: the elderly group was composed of 85 patients more than 65 years of age (mean of 72) and the adult group comprised 130 patients less than 64 years old (mean of 47). The elderly group was characterized by the fact that, during nighttime (after sleep), their urinary volume was larger, each voided volume was smaller and the number of voiding was greater than the other group. Clinical analysis of the causes of pollakisuria enabled us to subdivide them into 6 diagnostic categories. Among the elderly patients polyuria during sleep and unstable bladder were prevalent and among adult patients unstable bladder and over hydration were common. Medication was made in 80 patients (37%), while 108 (50%) needed neither medication nor surgery. It is stressed that the frequency volume chart is one of the important diagnostic tools to evaluate the cause of pollakisuria and to select appropriate treatment.

Adolescent↗