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Biomedical subjects

F Takahashi

Publications and source records attributed to F Takahashi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[C.P. Thunberg and his voyage to Japan (4). Mercury water therapy for syphilis introduced into Japan by Thunberg].

During his 16-month stay in Japan from August 1775 to December 1776, Thunberg taught mercury water therapy to Japanese medical doctors and interpreters in order to help them treat syphilis, which was prevalent in Japan at that time. Kohgyu Yoshio, a Japanese-Dutch interpreter who was taught this therapy by Thunberg, recorded Thunberg's teaching in his "Kohmoh Hijiki." According to this book, the mercury water therapy that Thunberg introduced to Japan had been tested successfully by van Swieten, a Dutch doctor, about 20 years previously in Europe and used corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride), the active ingredient, dissolved in distilled water with honey. The formula is described, in measurement units used in Europe at that time, in a letter addressed by van Swieten to a doctor in Rotterdam in 1755. The formula recorded in "Kohmoh Hijiki" in measurement units used in Japan at that time gives a content of the active ingredient equivalent to that mentioned in van Swieten's letter. This fact indicates that van Swieten's formula introduced by Thunberg was correctly accepted by Japanese doctors and interpreters, who had acquired basic medical knowledge since the publication of "Kaitai Shinsho" in 1774.

Expeditions↗

[C.P. Thunberg and his voyage to Japan (5). Mercury water therapy fpr syphilis (continued)].

The formula for the mercury water therapy introduced into Japan by Thunberg for the treatment of syphilis was received in 1742 by van Swieten, a Dutch medical doctor who studied under Boerhaave and who later became a professor at Vienna Univ., from Sanchez, a Russian medical doctor. After trying it personally for the treatment of the sexual disease for 12 years, van Swieten tested it in 128 patients at St. Marx's Hospital in 1754. It spread throughout Europe when it was published by van Swieten after confirming its safety in these patients. The formula was listed in Pharmacopoeia of different countries from the 1830's to the 1930's under name "van Swieten Liquid." In Japan, it spread widely through Kohgyu Yoshio, a Japanese-Dutch interpreter who was taught it by Thunberg, and his pupils. The first (1886) through 5th (1932) edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia listed corrosive sublimate as an oral drug for syphilis. The indicated dosage is within the range of van Swieten's original formula.

Expeditions↗

[A case of unilateral brain-stem tumor and impaired ventilatory response].

A 44-year-old man with a unilateral brain-stem tumor (ganglioglioma) presented with marked hypoventilation and irregular breathing. His respiratory muscle strength was impaired slightly, and his ventilatory responses to chemical stimuli were markedly diminished. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brainstem revealed that the tumor was located in the left superior cerebellar peduncle and the medulla, and involved the left lateral portion of the medullary reticular formation, ambiguous nucleus, and solitary nuclear complex. From these findings, we conclude that the abnormality of ventilatory control may have been caused by damage to both the unilateral respiratory neuron group in the medulla and the afferent pathway to the respiratory motor unit on the opposite side.

Adult↗

[Basic evaluation of the new fully automated urine sediment analyzer (U-FCM) based on flowcytometric technology].

We developed a new automated urine sediment analyzer (U-FCM) based on Flow Cytometry with the cooperative technical aid of TOA Medical Electronics Co., ltd. Flow Cytometry using an argon laser (wave length 488 nm) is used as the method for detection. This instrument provides quick, easy and accurate screening for patients whose urinalysis abnormalities indicate the need for further testing. Abnormal patient samples are separated from patient samples whose parameters are totally normal, thus decreasing the need for additional testing. The instrument is useful as a diagnostic aid, and in monitoring the therapeutic effect. Also it is useful in the health checking service for visitors at the AMHTS office.

Autoanalysis↗

Structure and expression of hedgehog, a Drosophila segment-polarity gene required for cell-cell communication.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the coding region of hedgehog (hh), a segment-polarity gene in Drosophila melanogaster, was determined. The gene was found to include three exons which would encode a 421- (or 471-) amino acid (aa) polypeptide with a long hydrophobic stretch. The hh mRNA was about 2.3 kb long and expressed throughout development. The hh expression in an embryo occurred in stripes, while that in imaginal discs occurred in the posterior compartment. As a whole, the spatial expression pattern of hh mRNA was very similar to that of engrailed (en), a homeobox gene required for the formation of the anterior-posterior compartment boundary. Unlike en, no hh expression was observed in the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Assessment of optic disc topography with scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

Evaluation of the topography of the optic disc is of clinical importance to assess the degree of nerve damage. We conducted a study in 17 glaucomatous and 20 control subjects with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO; Rodenstock) and compared the results with those in conventional photographs. A tomographic image of the cup area in control subjects and the neuroretinal rim area in glaucomatous subjects obtained with the SLO was smaller than that in photographs taken with a conventional camera (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). In both the control and glaucoma groups, the optic disc area obtained with the SLO was significantly smaller than that in conventional photographs (P < 0.01). The coefficient of variation of the optic disc parameters studied with the SLO range from 4.2% to 9.1%. A correlation between the optic disc indices studied with SLO and the mean defect of the visual field was statistically significant. The tomographic images obtained by the SLO permit accurate assessment of optic nerve damage.

Fundus Oculi↗

Inhibition of glucose absorption by phlorizin affects intestinal functions in rats.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the mechanism of regulation of intestinal disaccharidase activity and glucose absorption, the effect of dietary intake of phlorizin, a potent and specific inhibitor of intestinal glucose transport, on intestinal disaccharidase activity and Na(+)-dependent glucose transporter was examined in rats. METHODS: Jejunal disaccharidase activity and the number of Na(+)-dependent glucose transporters were determined in rats maintained on a low-starch diet, a high-starch diet, or low-starch diets containing various amounts of phlorizin (0.1%-0.9% wt/wt). RESULTS: Jejunal disaccharidase activity increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Stimulation of jejunal disaccharidase activity only occurred when phlorizin was added to starch-containing diets, not when it was added to a carbohydrate-free diet. Addition of the same amount of phloretin and glucose (constituents of phlorizin), to the diet failed to increase disaccharidase activity. The maximum binding of phlorizin to brush border membrane vesicles was increased in the rats fed phlorizin, whereas the dissociation constant remained unchanged, suggesting an increase of glucose transporter expression. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary phlorizin increased the jejunal disaccharidase activity and Na(+)-dependent glucose transporter expression. The trigger for these changes may have been due to an increased luminal glucose content.

Administration, Oral↗

Diffuse nerve fiber layer loss in normal tension glaucoma.

14 eyes of 14 normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients with the maximum intraocular pressure (IOP) > or = 19 mmHg and 16 eyes of 16 NTG patients with the maximum IOP < 19 mmHg were examined. All patients had a scotoma confined to the upper or lower hemifield. Eyes with the maximum IOP > or = 19 mmHg showed significantly diffuse retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in the RNFL area corresponded to the spared visual hemifield as compared to those with the maximum IOP < 19 mmHg. The results suggests that, even in NTG, IOP may be an important factor causing optic nerve damage.

Female↗

[Pharmacokinetic studies of menogaril (TUT-7) with rats].

Menogaril (TUT-7) is a novel antitumor antibiotic belonging to anthracyclines. The pharmacokinetic parameters derived from plasma concentration-time profiles after repeated (for 14 days) or single oral administration of TUT-7 to rats were found to be not significantly different by either administration schedule. The rats with artificial liver dysfunction were obtained by subcutaneous application of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 1 ml/kg) for 3 days. After oral administration of TUT-7 to the rats with CCl4-induced liver toxicity (3 daily administrations of 1mg/kg, S.C.), the maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) and AUC of both the unchanged drug and its metabolite N-Demethyl menogaril, were increased. Also over all elimination was slower in animals with liver dysfunction.

Administration, Oral↗

[C. P. Thunberg and his voyage to Japan (2): medical studies conducted before arrival in Japan].

C. P. Thunberg (1743-1828) stayed in Japan for about 16 months as a doctor attached to the Dutch trading post. He taught medicine, pharmaceutical science and natural history to Japanese doctors and interpreters during his stay. In order to determine his educational, mainly medical, background, I made inquiries to the university and other facilities where he studied, as well as programs he followed. ...

Education, Medical↗

[C. P. Thunberg and his voyage to Japan (3): medical articles written before arrival in Japan].

Three medical articles written by Thunberg before his visit to Japan were reviewed. "De venis resorbentibus" is an article on the lumph duct written in Latin under the guidance of Professer Linné. ... "De ischiade" is a thesis written in Latin under the guidance of Prof. Sidrén. This thesis, examined in public on June 28, 1770, lists 8 major causes of lumbago and explains therapies for lumbago in each cause. ... "Händelse, at Blybvitt af förseende blif vit brukadt i mat" is a short article published in the Kungliga Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar, 1773. It relates his own experience of acute lead poisoning during his travel from Holland to South Africa by ship in January 1772. ...

Academic Dissertations as Topic↗

Experimental replantation of canine forelimbs after 78.5 hours of anoxia.

To assess the effect of ischemia on osteocyte survival and longitudinal growth in bone, one forelimb of eight puppies and seven dogs was amputated, perfused with iced Collins solution, maintained at 4 degrees C for 72 hours (78.5 hours total anoxia), and replanted. Five puppies were kept for 1 year to assess bone growth. Undergoing bone labeling on days 1, 8, and 15, the other animals were sacrificed at 22 days to assess osteocyte survival. Osteocytes survived replantation in all dogs and one puppy; most osteocytes died in two puppies. In five long-term puppies, central epiphyseal growth was disturbed, but the peripheral portions maintained nearly normal growth, with almost normal bone length being achieved at 1 year.

Animals↗

Effect of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine and an antiserum to rat growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor (GRF) on plasma GH secretory profile during a continuous infusion of human GRF in rats.

The effects of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT) and an antiserum specific to rat growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) on growth hormone (GH) secretory profile during a 6-h continuous infusion of human GRF(1-44) NH2 were observed in unrestrained adult male Wistar rats. All rats were provided with two indwelling cannulae; one in the right atrium for undisturbed blood collection and the other in the inferior vena cava for 0.9% NaCl or GRF infusion. GRF was administered by an infusion pump at a dose of 50 ng/kg b.wt./min ma GH levels during baseline period were low with little fluctuation. GH secretion was augmented significantly during continuous GRF infusion in control rats but interpeak intervals remained unaltered. When an antiserum specific to rat GRF was administered, episodic GH secretion was abolished. In these rats, pulsatile GH secretion indistinguishable from that of control rats was observed in the continuous presence of human GRF. Although alpha-MT inhibited episodic GH secretion, alpha-MT-treated rats exhibited high-frequency, low-amplitude episodic GH secretion and elevated baseline levels during the stimulation. There were no differences in the amount of GH secreted during GRF infusion between rats that had received either alpha-MT or antiserum to rat GRF. Since GH secretion to GRF is determined largely by somatostatin, the results suggest that phasic release of somatostatin plays an important role in determining the rhythmicity of episodic GH secretion, and that it is modulated by alpha-MT but not by the immunoneutralization of GRF.

Animals↗