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Biomedical subjects

A Saitoh

Publications and source records attributed to A Saitoh.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[The thalamic changes in progressive supranuclear palsy].

This report is to investigate neuropathological changes of the thalamus observed in progressive supranuclear palsy. Six autopsy cases were examined. They were 5 males and a female, whose age was between 57 and 72 years old. They developed dementia in various degrees and three of the cases showed periodic stuporous state and akinetic mutism in the last stage. The paraffined thin-sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, luxol-fast-blue, Holzer, modified Bielschowsky, Gallyas and anti-tau stainings. The histological changes were evaluated in the aspects of neuronal loss, fibrillary gliosis and neurofibrillary tangles. In conclusion, there were three types in six cases. The first was seen in two cases and that there appeared many Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in medial nuclei, lateral and ventral nuclei as well as zona incerta and reticular nucleus. The second was observed in two cases and that the loss of nerve cells was severe, especially in medial nuclei and the dorsal part of lateral and ventral nuclei and fibrillary gliosis was observed beyond the lesions of neuronal loss. The third was that the appearance of NFTs was moderate in number and neuronal loss was minimal. Moreover, neuronal loss and NFTs of zona incerta were common in these cases. Argentophilic fibrillary inclusions were observed in the neuropil and astrocytes in all cases. It is important to investigate the correlations between neuropathological changes and clinical manifestations, especially in the peculiar type of dementia observed in PSP. The thalamic changes of PSP may play an important role in causing stuporous state and akinetic mutism as well as subcortical dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The usefulness of simultaneous determinations of glucosaminylation and fucosylation indices of alpha-fetoprotein in the differential diagnosis of neoplastic diseases of the liver.

The degrees of glucosaminylation (glucosaminylation index) and fucosylation (fucosylation index) of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were determined in serum samples of 351 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 47 with carcinoma metastatic to the liver from digestive organs, five with mixed cholangiocellular and HCC, and 176 with benign liver diseases. The glucosaminylation index of AFP in patients with carcinoma metastatic to the liver (42 +/- 23%, mean +/- SD) was significantly higher than that in patients with HCC (5 +/- 7%, P less than 0.001) or that in patients with benign liver diseases (2 +/- 4%, P less than 0.001). The fucosylation indices of AFP in patients with carcinoma metastatic to the liver, with HCC, and with benign liver diseases were 76 +/- 25%, 42 +/- 30%, and 4 +/- 6%, respectively. Thus, the fucosylation indices of AFP were high in two neoplastic liver diseases (carcinoma metastatic to the liver and HCC) and low in benign liver diseases, whereas the glucosaminylation indices were high in carcinoma metastatic to the liver but low in HCC and benign liver diseases. When the values of 30% and 80% were used as the level of the glucosaminylation and fucosylation indices, respectively, to discriminate carcinoma metastatic to the liver from HCC, 40 of 47 patients with carcinoma metastatic to the liver (85%) were able to be discriminated from HCC (sensitivity). The specificity, the positive predictive value, and the overall accuracy were 86% (302/351), 45% (40/40 + 47 + 3 - 2) and 86% (40 + 302/47 + 351), respectively. These data suggest that the combined information in these two indices provides a potent criterion for the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases of the liver.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMed1991

Comparative study on the cardio-respiratory change during prostaglandin E1-induced hypotension in the patients in the supine and prone position.

Prostaglandin E(1)-induced hypotension (25% reduction from the preadministration level in mean arterial pressure) was applied to thirteen patients. Eight patients among them were operated in the supine position (group I) and other five in the prone position (group II). The maintenance dose of PGE(1) was considerably lower in group II than in group I (0.067 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1) vs. 0.119 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1)). In group I, there was a significant increase in CI, with a significant decrease in SVRI and PVRI during PGE(1)-induced hypotension. Such a high dose of PGE(1) (0.119 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1)) was considered to have a direct dilating action on the systemic resistance bed as well as on the pulmonary vasculature. It was considered that the suppression of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction could be a mechanism to increase venous admixture during PGE(1)-induced hypotension. In group II, there was no significant increase in CI, and no significant decrease in SVRI and PVRI. PGE(1)-induced hypotension can be safely applied to the anesthetized patients, but we should be careful to apply it to the patients in the prone position, because lower dose of PGE(1) can induce severe hypotension, which is not accompanied by the increase in CI as occurres in the patients in the supine position.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

[Isolation of Legionella spp. from cooling tower water in Kinki District, Japan].

Distribution of Legionella spp. were surveyed two different times in Kinki District, Japan. The first time, eighty six building cooling tower waters were collected from Osaka, Hyogo and Nara Prefecture between April and December, 1987. The second time, thirty five waters were studied from Nishinomiya City in Hyogo Prefecture on July, 1989. BMPA alpha agar plate was used as the isolation medium for the first eighty six samples and MWY agar plate for the second thirty five samples. Legionella were isolated from forty two samples (48.8%) of the first eighty six samples. Three different species of Legionella were isolated simultaneously from one sample and two species from eight samples. L. pneumophila serogroup 1 was the most predominant species. Twenty three samples (65.7%) were positive in culture from the second thirty five samples. Three different species of Legionella were isolated simultaneously from three samples and two species from eleven samples. Legionella anisa was more predominant than L. pneumophila serogroup 1 in this study.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMed1991

Basic studies on visible light-curing resin for denture base. Part 8. The hardening depth of denture relining material after penetration of light through the denture base resin.

A study was performed to examine how the duration of irradiation at the time of relining with visible light-curing material influences the depth of hardening of the relining material, in relation to the thickness of the denture base placed between the denture and the relining material. It was found that for a range of denture base thickness of 1-2.5 mm, a desirable degree of hardening could be obtained using an irradiation time of 20 s for relining material with a thickness of up to 4 mm used for the basal surface.

Dental Materials↗
PubMed1991

Chemically induced tumors in transgenic mice carrying prototype human c-Ha-ras genes.

Three independent transgenic mouse lines carrying human prototype c-Ha-ras genes were established. Approximately 50% of the transgenic offspring of these lines developed spontaneous tumors within 18 months. Types of tumors were restricted to angiosarcomas, skin papillomas and lung or Harderian adenocarcinomas. Interestingly, all angiosarcomas (16/16) had point mutations at the 61st codon of the transgenes. Furthermore, they were also very susceptible to the chemical carcinogens, N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea (MNU) and dimethyl-benzanthracene (DMBA). Within 12 weeks after administration of MNU, the transgenic mice developed forestomach papillomas and then carcinomas very frequently, at the rate of almost 100% and almost all of the tumors had point mutations in their transgenes at the 12th codon from GGC (Gly) to GAC (Asp). All the carcinomas of the forestomach, lung and spleen induced by DMBA had point mutations at the 61st codon from CAG (Gln) to CTG (Leu). Because no somatic point mutations in the transgenes have ever been detected in normal tissues of the affected mice, these mutations seemingly activated the human prototype c-Ha-ras transgene. From these results, it is suggested that the somatic mutation of the human c-Ha-ras transgene plays a causative role in the occurrence of natural tumors and those induced by MNU or DMBA administration in transgenic mice. This transgenic mouse provides a unique screening system for chemicals that induce or suppress the tumorigenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Fusiform and dissecting aneurysm of the vertebrobasilar systems: differential diagnosis].

Fusiform aneurysms (FA) and dissecting aneurysms (DA) of the vertebro-basilar systems have been thought to be rare, but recently reports of these aneurysms have increased. The differential diagnosis between FA and DA is requisite for deciding therapy or for prognosis, but it is often difficult to distinguish these aneurysms even if angiographies are conducted. The authors have treated 6 cases with FA and 5 cases with DA during the past 17 years. As the initial symptom, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was noted in all 6 cases with FA. On the other hand, 2 cases of SAH, 2 cases of brain stem infarction, and 1 case of ischemic attack were noted in DA cases. The aneurysmal locations of FA were at the vertebral artery (VA) in all 6 cases, and those of DA were at the VA in 3 cases and at the basilar artery (BA) in 2 cases. As angiographic findings of DA, pearl & string signs were demonstrated in 3 cases, and retention of contrast medium was noted in 3 cases. Diagnosis of FA is comparatively easy on angiography but when angiospasm exists, it is difficult to differentiate DA from FA. Consequently, repeated angiography is recommended. MR imaging findings of 2 cases with FA were compared with those of 3 cases with DA. No abnormal findings, excepting a dilatation of the signal-void area corresponding to the arterial blood flow were shown in FA, but various abnormalities were detected in all of the 3 cases with DA. Namely, an intimal flap and a double lumen in 1 case, intra-mural hematoma in 1 case, and a hematoma adjacent to the parent artery in 2 cases were demonstrated. Thus, MR imaging was thought to be a useful means for distinguishing between FA and DA.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Overproduction of human immunodeficiency virus type I reverse transcriptase in Escherichia coli and purification of the enzyme.

Overexpression of the reverse transcriptase was designed in E. coli. For a high level of expression, HIV protein was expressed as a protein fusion with beta-galactosidase. When the proviral DNA fragment covering the 3' half of the gag gene and the entire pol gene was ligated to the 3' end of the lacZ gene to fuse the truncated gag to lacZ in frame, a small quantity of reverse transcriptase was produced, indicating that frameshifting and post-translational processing have occurred. Much more reverse transcriptase was produced when the entire pol region was directly fused to the lacZ gene. From a one liter culture of bacteria, 1 mg of highly purified reverse transcriptase consisting of approximately equimolar amounts of two species (p64 and p51) was obtained. These proteins had identical N-termini consistent with the deduced amino acid sequence and therefore, might be correctly processed from the fusion protein in E. coli by the protease encoded by the pol region. The purified reverse transcriptase was enzymatically as active as the enzyme purified from the virus particles, and immunoreactive to the sera of HIV carriers with high sensitivity and specificity.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1990

[An autopsied case of alcoholic cerebellar degeneration with spastic paraplegia and neuropathy].

A 45 year-old-female was admitted to Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center because of marked spastic paraplegia. There was no family history of neurological diseases. She had been drinking a great excess of alcohol since twenty years of age. Though she noticed the unsteadiness of gait several years prior to the admission, she had not been examined. On admission neurological examination revealed pyramidal weakness of both legs, and slight sensory impairment in distal part of the lower extremities. But she had neither difficulty in speech nor abnormal findings in the upper extremities. Her mentality was well preserved. Though computed tomography revealed cerebellar cortical atrophy, no signs of cerebellar impairment could not be found except spastic paraplegia. Blood chemistry failed to reveal liver dysfunction. There was no pernicious anemia. These symptoms were almost stationary until her death. At the age of 53, she died of gastric cancer. Postmortem examination disclosed marked degeneration of cerebellum and spinal cord. Cerebellar cortical degeneration, which was characterized by involvement of all layers of the cortex, showed unique distribution. The lingula, central lobule, culmen, superior portion of declive, anterior lobules and anteromedial half of simple lobule were severely degenerated, while other lobules were spared excluding moderate degeneration in inferomedian portion of the hemisphere. These cortical degeneration was prominent much more in vermis than in hemisphere. There was a mild myelin pallor in the lamellar white matter and slight fibrous gliosis. In the dentate nucleus, there were moderate neuronal loss with gliosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1990

Most tumors in transgenic mice with human c-Ha-ras gene contained somatically activated transgenes.

Two independent transgenic mouse lines carrying human hybrid c-Ha-ras genes with their own promoter region encoding prototype products, were established. In these lines, about 50% of transgenic offspring had tumors within 18 months. The tumors developed in restricted tissues and about 60% of affected mice had angiosarcomas. The transgenes were expressed both in the tumors and in all normal tissues. However, somatic mutational activation was detected only in the transgenes of the tumors. The point mutation at the 61st codon, from CAG(Gln) to CTG(Leu), was detected in all angiosarcomas (22/22), some lung adenocarcinomas (3/11) and Harderian gland adenocarcinomas (4/7) in both lines. The other point mutation at the 12th codon from GGC(Gly) to GTC(Val) was detected in two of the four skin papillomas. No mutations on these codons were detected in normal tissues of transgenic mice. Nontransgenic littermates had no tumors at all. From these results, it was strongly suggested that the mouse tumors do not develop only by the expression of the transgenes, and that definite somatic point mutation of the human c-Ha-ras transgenes in certain cell types may be a causative event in tumorigenesis in these transgenic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Intraperitoneal administration of the biological response modifier OK-432 and peritoneal recurrence following gastrectomy.

In patients with gastric cancer invading the serosa, there is often peritoneal dissemination. In an attempt to control such peritoneal recurrences, OK-432, a compound composed of penicillin G-treated, attenuated Streptococcus pyogens of human origin, was administered intraperitoneally at the time of gastrectomy. The non-specific antitumor activity of the peritoneal macrophages was investigated for its cytostatic activity against the cultured human lung cancer cell line, QG-90. OK-432 given intraperitoneally significantly increased the number of the peritoneal macrophages (p less than 0.05), and also enhanced the cytostatic activity (p less than 0.01). On the basis of these findings, OK-432 IP after gastrectomy was given to 13 of 68 patients with gastric cancer invading the serosa and who underwent curative resection. The five-year survival rate of patients given the drug was 63.5%, while the rate was 52.9% in those not given the drug. OK-432 IP seemed to be effective when lymph node involvement was nil or limited to around the area of the stomach. The peritoneal recurrence rate was, however, not affected by OK-432 IP. Elevation of body temperature and some dehydration were the only observed side effects of OK-432. In attempts to control peritoneal recurrences in patients with gastric cancer invading the serosa, randomized controlled trials on OK-432 IP are now being designed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary. Immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic demonstration of smooth-muscle differentiation.

Two cases of sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary (SST) are described. Immunohistochemical analysis of SSTs was performed using formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded materials in comparison with thecofibromas and normal ovaries. The existence of desmin- and smooth-muscle actin-positive isolated spindle cells in SSTs and also in cortical stroma of the normal ovary was characteristically demonstrated, whereas such smooth-muscle-like cells were absent from six thecofibromas. Immunohistochemistry of desmin and smooth-muscle actin is useful in distinguishing SST from thecofibroma. Ultrastructural study further evidenced the presence of smooth-muscle-like cells in SSTs. In addition, we histochemically demonstrated heterogeneous cellular components in SSTs, including fibroblastic, thecalike, smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Hence, it is suggested that SST is derived from pluripotent immature stromal cells of the ovarian cortex.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

[The reappraisal study of the ultrastructure of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles in three cases of progressive supranuclear palsy].

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is characterized by symptoms of disturbance of eye movement, nuchal rigidity, parkinsonism and subcortical dementia. Its pathology reveals that Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are situated especially in the nuclei of basal ganglia and brainstem. It has been pointed out that NFTs observed in PSP are composed of straight tubules, the width of which is about 15 nm. This report is to reappraise the ultrastructure of NFTs observed in three cases of PSP. They are case 1; 69-year-old male, case 2; 62-year-old female and case 3; 65-year-old male. The clinical features of three cases were characterized by above-mentioned symptoms. Many NFTs were observed in brainstem of case 1 and 3. NFTs seen in brainstem of case 2 were in a small amount. In case 1 and 2, there were many NFTs in cerebral cortex, especially in parahippocampal gyri and other limbic areas. We examined the portions of frontal cerebral cortex, parahippocampal cortex, the basal nucleus of Meynert, oculomotor nucleus, substantia nigra, pontine nuclei and locus caeruleus of case 1, substantia nigra, red nucleus and inferior olivary nucleus of case 2, and Ammon's horn, globus pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, oculomotor nucleus, pontine nuclei, locus ceruleus and inferior olivary nucleus of case 3. Ultrastructurally, NFTs of frontal cortex of case 1 consisted of twisted tubules and those of hippocampal and parahippocampal cortices of case 1 consisted of straight and twisted tubules, being observed separately in neurons. The NFTs of brainstem of case 1 and 2 were mainly composed of 12-17 nm straight tubules, and twisted tubules occasionally intermingled with straight components. In locus ceruleus of case 1, a single straight tubule could be seen in the bundles of twisted tubules. NFTs of case 3 were composed of only straight tubules, the width of which was about 15 nm. Twisted components were not observed in neurons of each nuclei of case 3. The characteristic ultrastructure of NFTs in PSP has been an appearance of straight tubules, however, twisted tubules were occasionally observed in this study. There are several case reports which demonstrated an appearance of both straight and twisted components. It is easily presumed that the process of aging takes part in the accumulation of twisted fibrils. However, it is now under consideration why twisted tubules are also observed in PSP. To summarize this study, the cases with many NFTs observed in widespread cerebral cortex may have a tendency to show both straight and twisted tubules.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[The use of PGE1 in an elderly patient with mitral valve regurgitation during general anesthesia].

PGE1 has a beneficial effect on cardiac failure with mitral valve regurgitation by decreasing the "after load". An 82-year-old female had a total cystectomy of a bladder tumor. The preoperative standard 12 lead electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation and incomplete right bundle branch block. The preoperative echocardiogram showed regurgitation of both mitral valve and tricuspid valve. Under heavy premedication, we intubated with fentanyl and pancuronium bromide, maintained anesthesia with enflurane. After incision, both pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure increased, and cardiac index decreased. Continuous injection of 100ng.kg-1.min-1 PGE1 made pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure to decrease, and cardiac index to increase. PaO2, however, decreased apparently. PGE1 was effective for cardiac failure with mitral valve regurgitation associated with pulmonary hypertension. But attention must be given to the decrease in PaO2.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Recurrent primary leptomeningeal astrocytoma of the lumbosacral spinal cord resembling schwannoma. A case report.

Primary leptomeningeal astrocytoma has been considered to be derived from ectopic glial cells in the leptomeninges. A case of recurrent primary leptomeningeal astrocytoma of the lumbosacral spinal cord is described. The original tumor was localized in the extramedullary space at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, and was solely composed of interlacing bundles of monomorphous spindle-shaped cells. The tumor was therefore diagnosed as schwannoma. The recurrent tumor removed one year after the first operation showed two distinct histologic patterns with increased nuclear atypia and mitosis. Namely, both schwannoma-like areas and astrocytomatous areas were observed. Silver impregnation clearly demonstrated an alveolar pattern in the schwannoma-like area. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells revealed a positive reaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein. This case particularly emphasizes the usefulness of silver impregnation in differential diagnosis from schwannoma.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed1988

Pituitary and adrenal functions during late asthmatic responses.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of low cortisol levels which were observed during late asthmatic responses (LAR). Selective functions of the adrenals and pituitary glands were studied in three groups of asthmatics who showed LAR, immediate asthmatic responses (IAR), and DAR (dual asthmatic responses). Serial plasma ACTH levels in each group showed no apparent abnormalities when compared with diurnal levels. The cortisol response to ACTH changed within the normal range in all three groups with minor differences. We suggest that low cortisol levels that appear during LAR are not principally due to any dysfunction in the pituitary adrenal system.

Adolescent↗