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Biomedical subjects

A Uchida

Publications and source records attributed to A Uchida.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

A novel fucosylated glycosphingolipid with a Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-3Gal sequence in plerocercoids of the parasite, Spirometra erinacei.

A novel glycosphingolipid (SEGLx) has been isolated from the plerocercoids of a tapeworm, Spirometra erinacei. From the results of compositional analysis, methylation analysis, exoglycosidase hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, its structure was concluded to be [formula: see text] This is the first report of a glycosphingolipid with a novel carbohydrate structure which is characterized by i) the occurrence of a penultimate glucose molecule attached to the reducing end galactose through a beta 1-3 linkage and ii) the presence of a fucose attached to a glucose through an alpha 1-3 linkage. The ceramide contained sphinganine or 4-D-hydroxy-sphinganine, and either a nonhydroxy fatty acid with 16, 18, 26, or 28 carbon atoms, or hydroxystearic acid. Proton NMR analysis revealed that the chemical species of both the long chain base and fatty acid moieties affect the chemical shifts of the anomeric proton resonances of not only the reducing terminal galactose but also the penultimate glucose.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of sperm fertilizing capacity using the determination of acrosome reaction.

To evaluate the usefulness of the determination of acrosome reaction (AR) at 2 and 4 hours of incubation for predicting sperm fertilizing capacity in vitro, semen samples obtained from 45 partners of couples participating in the IVF (in vitro fertilization) program were examined. The population was divided into 2 groups, depending on the fertilization rate in the IVF program: Group A, with a good fertilizing capacity (> or = 50% fertilized oocytes); and Group B, with a poor fertilizing capacity (< 50% fertilized oocytes). The rate of acrosome reaction (%AR) was examined using the fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Concanavalin A lectin method. The efficacy of this procedure was compared with that of the zona-free hamster oocyte human sperm penetration assay (SPA) and sperm characteristics (SC) that appear in routine semen analysis. The sensitivities in the test of AR, SPA and SC were 91%, 86% and 82%, respectively. However, their specificities were 83%, 48% and 43%, respectively. Therefore, the screening procedure using the determination of acrosome reaction might be a useful tool in predicting IVF results.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1993

Experimental implant-related osteomyelitis treated by antibiotic-calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic composites.

The efficacy of locally implanted antibiotic-calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic composites was investigated for the treatment of experimentally produced, implant-related osteomyelitis in rats. High concentrations of antibiotics were detected at the site of infection and bacteria were eradicated without removal of the metal implants. Parenteral antibiotics and surgical debridement, alone or in combination with antibiotic-impregnated acrylic bone cement, all failed to eradicate the infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Anticholinergic therapy of urinary incontinence and urinary frequency associated with the elderly--with special reference to dementia].

Pharmacotherapy with anticholinergic agents was studied in a total of 80 patients aged 65 years or older with chief complaints of urinary frequency (4 patients) and/or ugency incontinence (76 patients). The subjects were 45 men and 35 women at the age ranging between 65 and 92 (mean 73.7). The patients received anticholinergic agents (terodiline hydrochloride 24 mg/day, oxybutynin hydrochloride 6 mg/day, propantheline bromide 60 mg/day separately or in combination) for more than two weeks. Subjective symptoms and objective findings were assessed before and after the administration. In addition, according to the result of Hasegawa's dementia rating scale the patients were divided into dementia group and non-dementia group for further evaluation of the study drugs. As a result, cystometrogram revealed significant increase of maximum bladder capacity in either dementia group or non-dementia group. There was no significant difference in rate of objective improvement between both groups. On the other hand, rate of subjective improvement was significantly higher in non-dementia group (40%) than in dementia group (15%). As mentioned above, improvement of cystometrogram findings was not associated with improvement of subjective symptoms in the demented patients. This suggests that the major cause of incontinence in demented patients is not the bladder dysfunction but the specific conditions of demented patients such as agnosia and apraxia.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Autologous tumor killing (ATK) and tumor metastasis in human cancer patients].

The present study has demonstrates that the ability of blood lymphocytes to kill freshly isolated tumor cells tested at the time of surgery predicts a favorable clinical course in patients who have primary localized solid tumor and receive curative operation. The strong correlation of autologous tumor killing (ATK) activity with tumor-free interval and total survival indicates that ATK activity is a meaningful prognostic indicator and provides evidence for immunological control of tumor growth and metastasis. According to these data, it is unlikely that cancer patients who remain tumor-free after 5 years of follow-up will develop recurrence or die from the disease. While there is no direct evidence that ATK effector cells play a critical role in regression of tumor and prevention of tumor metastasis and regrowth, the lack of ATK activity in patients who relapsed and died after surgery may not result from factors related to their poor performance status and other immunological functions since no differences have been observed in background factors between ATK-positive and-negative groups. The prognostic value of ATK activity in patients with documented metastatic tumors has not been established yet. In this respect, however, the induction of ATK activity by biological therapy has positively correlated with prolonged survival time, while such a correlation is not observed with other parameters such as NK cells or LAK cell activity. Based on the clinical and biological significance of ATK activity, clinical trials have been conducted to determine whether the induction of ATK activity before surgery by administration of BRM could improve the clinical outcome in patients who naturally have no such potential.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed1993

[Clinical study of the timed voiding schedule for urinary incontinence in demented elders].

Fourty-one demented elderly patients who had been diapered because of urinary incontinence in Hanwa-Senboku Hospital were treated with the one-week timed voiding schedule. Finally 14 patients (34%) became dry, and free from diapers for more than 1 week after the treatment. With regard to their cystometrogram findings, 10 (67%) of 15 patients having normoactive detrusor function, 3 (14%) of 21 patients having overactive detrusor function and 1 (20%) of 5 patients having underactive detrusor function became free from diapers after the treatment. Therefore a patient with normoactive detrusor function is thought to be a good candidate for the timed voiding schedule. Regardless of their detrusor function, those who showed good responsiveness to the treatment had better activities in daily life (better than D in the Katz index) and small amount of residual urine (less than 80 ml), indicating that not only the detrusor function but also both activities in daily life and the amount of residual urine are the important factors to reestablish voiding behavior in demented elderly patients. The timed voiding schedule is thought to be a useful method to treat incontinence in demented elderly patients, and should be tried first of all, although intermittent catheterization and/or other alternatives would be necessary for those with a large amount of residual urine with poor activities in daily life.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Activation of human natural killer cells by the protein-bound polysaccharide PSK independently of interferon and interleukin 2.

The protein-bound polysaccharide PSK was tested for the ability to activate human natural killer (NK) cells. When blood lymphocytes and purified CD3-CD16+ large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were treated in vitro overnight with PSK, they demonstrated enhanced NK cell activity against K562. The PSK-activated killer cells also lysed NK-resistant targets and freshly isolated autologous and allogeneic tumor cells. The PSK effect was observed with concentrations that could be obtained in the blood of cancer patients receiving oral administration of PSK. PSK-induced enhancement of NK activity was not abrogated by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that neutralized interferon (IFN) alpha, IFN gamma, or interleukin-2 (IL-2). In addition, mAb reactive with p55 (alpha chain) or p75 (beta chain) glycoproteins of IL-2 receptors had no effects on PSK-enhanced NK activity even when used simultaneously. These results indicate that the PSK could activate human NK cells independently of IFN and IL-2/IL-2R systems.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Slow release of anticancer drugs from porous calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic.

We have developed a new delivery system for sustained release of an anticancer drug (cis-platinum) by enclosure into blocks of porous calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic. The slow release of this drug from this system was confirmed in in vitro experiments. When this system was implanted into normal back muscle, or the tibia, sustained release of cis-platinum was observed during a 12-week period after implantation. The diffusion rate of cis-platinum into blood and other organs (liver, kidney, brain) was less than 10% of that at the implanted site. This delivery system placed into experimental tumors of mice also showed a uniform release of anticancer drug for more than 3 months. Inhibition of tumor growth was more marked after local implantation of this system than after intraperitoneal administration of cis-platinum. These results indicate that this new approach to a drug delivery system may well have an important role in cancer chemotherapy. In bone tumors it is attractive because the mechanical strength of calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic permits partial surgical excision and replacement of the bone defect at the same time.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Alumina ceramic prostheses for bone tumor surgery.

Between 1979 and 1990 reconstruction using a ceramic prosthesis with a polycrystal alumina segment and a monocrystal alumina stem was carried out in 65 patients after the resection of malignant or benign aggressive bone tumors. Resection of 18 osteosarcomas, 5 chondrosarcomas, 9 other sarcomas, 10 giant cell tumors, 20 metastatic bone tumors, and 3 other bone tumors was followed by replacement of 17 proximal femurs, 12 distal femurs, 12 proximal tibia, 11 proximal humeri, 3 distal radii, 5 midshafts of the long bone, 2 pelvises, and 3 other parts. Results were rated excellent in 4 cases, good in 43, fair in 13, and poor in 4. In the cases with benignly aggressive or low-grade malignant tumors and those with tumors of the proximal femur, proximal tibia, or midshaft, satisfactory results can be obtained. Four skin ulcers, three dislocations, three loosenings, two infections, and two breaks were noted. Close interfacing between the ceramic prosthesis and the bone was observed radiologically in all cases with cementless fixation except in cases with high-grade malignancies in the knee joint. These results demonstrate that the ceramic prosthesis can be beneficial for the management of patients with benignly aggressive or low-grade malignant bone tumors who have retained adequate muscle strength around the joint even after tumor resection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Effect of dexamethasone on nucleolar casein kinase II activity and phosphorylation of nucleolin in lymphosarcoma P1798 cells.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis in murine P1798 lymphosarcoma cells is reversibly inhibited by glucocorticoids. The effects of dexamethasone upon nucleolin phosphorylation and upon the amount and activity of casein kinase II have been examined. P1798 cells were exposed to 0.1 microM dexamethasone for 36 h. Cells were labeled in vivo with [32P]orthophosphate followed by immunoprecipitation with anti-nucleolin antibody. Nucleolin phosphorylation was reduced by 60% in dexamethasone-treated cells. Nucleoli were isolated and labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP in vitro. Nucleolin protein was reduced to 40% of control in nuclei from dexamethasone-treated cells. Nucleolin phosphorylation was reduced to 20% of control. Nucleolar casein kinase II activity and protein were also reduced (30-55% and 35-50% of control, respectively) by treatment with dexamethasone. Cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml for 3 h) reduced the amount and activity of casein kinase II, but did not cause a decrease in nucleolin protein. These observations are discussed relative to the hypothesis that glucocorticoids regulate the amount or activity of proteins of short biological half-life that are involved in the regulation of rRNA synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Usefulness of the hypo-osmotic swelling test for evaluation of human sperm fertilization.

We examined spermatozoa from 135 male patients consulting for infertility to evaluate the usefulness of the hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test of sperm fertility for the swim-up washing method. HOS test values significantly improved following the treatment of spermatozoa using the swim-up washing method. There were no differences in the rate of sperm motility between the normal group and the oligozoospermic group following treatment, but the HOS test identified significant differences in swelling rates in both groups before and after treatment. The results of the HOS test following swim-up washing were higher during fertilization attempts for 11 cases of successful intra-uterine insemination (IUI) than during unsuccessful IUI attempts; there were no significant differences between the control group and the successful IUI cases. Moreover, using the lower-normal limits for overall sperm swelling (52%) and g-type sperm swelling (30%) obtained from a normal control group, we found that swelling rates were higher when IUI was successful. These findings indicate that the HOS test is an effective measure of sperm fertilizing function when the swim-up washing method is used for sperm treatment. The score of g-type sperm swelling can be used as a substitute for overall sperm swelling.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic used as a delivery system for antibiotics.

Porous blocks of calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic were evaluated as delivery systems for the sustained release of antibiotics. We tested gentamicin sulphate, cefoperazone sodium, and flomoxef sodium in powder form placed in a cylindrical cavity in calcium hydroxyapatite blocks, using in vitro studies of elution and in vivo studies in rats. Gentamicin sulphate gave a maximum concentration within the first week, which gradually decreased but was still effective at 12 weeks, when 70% of the antibiotic had been released. Even at this stage the antibiotic concentration from a 75 mg dose was five times the minimum inhibitory concentration for staphylococci. In the in vivo studies the release of gentamicin sulphate into the normal bone of rats was at similar rates and levels. The bacteriocidal activity of the drugs was not affected by packing into calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic and the blocks were completely biocompatible on histology. This new system overcomes the disadvantages of other drug delivery systems, avoiding thermal damage to the antibiotics and a second operation for the removal of the carrier. Some mechanical strength is provided by the ceramic and healing may be accelerated by bone ingrowth into its micropores.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome].

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by unexplained, debilitating fatigue or easy fatigability lasting longer than six months. While a viral basis of infection is proposed to be the cause of CFS, other viral infections do not generally persist after several weeks. Immunological disorders, including abnormal functions and distributions of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and monocyte/macrophages, are described in CFS. NK cells are known to play an important role in host resistance against viral infection as well as in the regulation of the immune systems. Restoration of NK activity resulted in recovery from CFS. Taken together, immunological abnormalities, especially dysfunction of NK cells, may be involved in CFS.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1992

[Therapy of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by unexplained, debilitating fatigue or easy fatigability lasting longer than six months. While a number of clinical trials have been performed in CFS patients, there is currently no established therapy for CFS. Treatment with acyclovir of CFS patients is ineffective. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy appears to be effective, though the results are controversial. Antidepressants might help the associated depression and anxiety but not other symptoms. Trials with magnesium have improved the well-being of patients. Restoration of NK activity by biological response modifiers, such as sizofirann, resulted in restoration of NK cell activity and recovery from CFS. Taken together, immunological abnormalities may be involved in CFS, and its restoration may produce clinical benefit in CFS.

Antiviral Agents↗