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Biomedical subjects

H Baba

Publications and source records attributed to H Baba.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

[Study of follow-up period and provocative tests for diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma].

How long should we follow up the patients with glaucomatous visual field defects to confirm the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)? What is the most important examination for the diagnosis of POAG? In order to answer these questions, 108 eyes of 60 cases were followed up for more than 4 years. All of these subjects presented both open angle and glaucomatous field defects. In the patients who did not present the increment of the intraocular pressure (IOP) within one month from the first visit, the relationship between the increment of IOP after one month and provocative tests, sex, age and refractions were evaluated. Of these, 47 eyes showed an increment of IOP within one month from the first visit. The other 61 eyes, suspected of low tension glaucoma (LTG), were followed up for the further course of IOP. Of these, 25 eyes showed an increment of IOP after one month to 6 years from the first visit, and the other 36 eyes did not for more than 4 years to 21 years. Follow-up for at least one year is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of POAG. In order to predict the increment of IOP in the subjects with normal IOP and glaucomatous field defects, the ratio Po/C after drinking water is the most sensitive examination.

Adolescent↗

Prognostic significance of serosal invasion in carcinoma of the stomach.

Two hundred and seventy-seven patients with advanced carcinoma of the stomach invading the serosa were studied with regard to the relationship between the length of the serosal invasion (LSI) and prognosis, with a division made between expanding and infiltrative types of tumors. Among patients with expanding types of tumors, five year survival rates were 40 per cent in patients with LSI less than 4.0 centimeters, 33 per cent in patients with LSI 4.1 to 6.0 centimeters and 13.0 per cent in patients with LSI more than 6.0 centimeters. Among those patients with infiltrative types of tumors, those with less than 2.0 centimeters of LSI had a better prognosis (five year survival rate of 53 per cent), whereas those patients with a LSI more than 2.0 centimeters had a very poor prognosis (five year survival rate of less than 20 per cent) and the significant LSI on prognosis was found to be 2.0 centimeters. Involvement of the lymph node and metastasis to the liver were not affected by LSI, whereas the rates of peritoneal dissemination and direct invasion to neighboring organs increased with an increase in LSI. Knowledge of these factors facilitates the planning of postoperative treatment.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Laser treatment for poor-risk patients with early gastric cancer: post treatment pathology.

Two patients with early gastric carcinoma and who were poor surgical risks underwent gastrectomy following repeated laser endoscopy. Pathological findings of the resected stomach were reviewed. Lesions in both patients were ulcerative, with evidence of destruction of the muscularis mucosae caused by laser irradiation. Complete coagulation did not occur in the case of infiltrative-type involvement of the submucosal layer. Gastrectomy was carried out when the clinical status improved and both patients are now cancer-free. We propose that laser treatment for early gastric cancer should be considered for poor-risk patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in extremely premature infants].

During the last 9 years, 25 extremely premature infants (less than 1,000 g, mean gestational ages of 26.6 weeks, mean birth weight of 838 g) underwent ligation of PDA in operating room. There were no deaths related to surgery. Nineteen (76%) of these infants with RDS were discharged from the hospital, but five died of sepsis, and one died with poor nutrition. In nineteen survivors, 12 infants (63%) with gestational ages under 28 weeks had complicated bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) but all developed normally with good nutrition due to sufficient lactation and fluid therapy after PDA ligation. Results indicate that PDA ligation in extremely premature infants is a safe and effective procedure, because it will prevent the development of BPD and give these infants body weight gain with good nutrition.

Ductus Arteriosus, Patent↗

Gene duplication and concerted evolution of the GPDH locus in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster.

The sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH, EC 1, 1, 1, 8) locus of Drosophila melanogaster is polymorphic with respect to the number of tandemly duplicated genes in natural populations. The duplicated genes were cloned and the nucleotide sequences were determined. The duplication deletes both the first and second exons and has a size of 4500 b.p. The fact that there is no sequence variation at the junction point of the duplicated units among strains suggests a single origin for the duplication event. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences among the duplicates indicates that the frequent transfer of genetic information occurs from one to the other of the duplicates on the same chromosome either by gene conversion or by unequal crossing over. Because the GPDH duplication is partial and therefore a kind of pseudogene, the observed polymorphism of the number of tandemly duplicated GPDH genes appears to have been driven mainly by random genetic drift.

Animals↗

Comparison of DNA content in gastric cancer cells between primary lesions and lymph node metastases.

Cytophotomtric DNA contents of tumor cells in primary lesions and the corresponding metastatic lymph nodes were compared in 61 cases of gastric cancer to determine whether the DNA content remains stable during lymph node metastasis. The DNA distribution patterns were grouped into three types, according to the proportion of aneuploid cell population. Changes in DNA patterns between primary and metastatic lesions were evident in 36 of 61 patients (59.0%); in the remaining 25 (41.0%), the same DNA distribution patterns were noted for both lesions. In 33 of these 36, DNA pattern in the primary carcinoma was transformed into a more narrowly scattered one in the metastatic lesion of the lymph node. Mean and modal values and the frequency of cells over tetraploid (4c) or hexaploid (6c) were significantly higher in the primary lesion compared with findings in the metastatic lesions. This reduction in DNA content in the metastatic lesions was a more frequent occurrence in differentiated (18 of 23) than in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma (15 of 35) (P less than 0.01). Therefore, in primary lesions with a widely scattered DNA ploidy, the tumor cells with a smaller DNA ploidy frequently metastasized to lymph nodes, particularly in cases of a differentiated carcinoma. Such observations may be pertinent in future designing of treatment protocols.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Mechanism of inhibitory action of peptide YY on cholecystokinin-induced contractions of isolated dog ileum.

In isolated canine ileal longitudinal muscle preparations, cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) produced a concentration-dependent contraction, which was suppressed by peptide YY (PYY) and was abolished by tetrodotoxin and atropine. PYY was approximately 2200-times as potent as CR1505, a CCK-receptor antagonist. PYY opposed the action of CCK-8 to a greater extent than that of nicotine and transmural electrical stimulation. Acetylcholine-induced contractions were not influenced by PYY. It seems likely that the CCK-8-induced ileal muscle contraction is associated with an activation of CCK receptors in cholinergic nerves, which generates nerve action potentials and releases acetylcholine, whereas CCK-8 acts on CCK receptors in gallbladder smooth muscle, producing contractions. It may be concluded that PYY inhibits the action of CCK-8 on ileal muscle strips, by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve terminals. On the other hand, in the gallbladder, PYY does not appear to block cholinergic nerve function.

Animals↗

The relation between EEG and mental development following cardiac surgery performed under simple deep hypothermia in children.

In order to assess the accuracy of electroencephalography (EEG), in children who have undergone cardiac surgery under simple deep hypothermia, the relation between IQ or schoolwork achievement and the duration of circulatory arrest was investigated in 75 such children. Abnormal preoperative EEG's were found in 16 per cent of the children while abnormal postoperative EEG's were found in 17 per cent. The children were divided into 4 groups, according to pre- and postoperative EEG results. Schoolwork achievement scores ranged between 3.0 and 3.2, the difference among the groups being insignificant. Moreover, no significant shift in IQ was found among the groups. Finally, regarding the number of children who were able to go on to a higher level of education, including high school then college or university, again no significant differences were found among the 4 groups. In a comparison with the number of such children in neighboring Nagasaki prefecture able to continue on to a higher level of education, no significant differences were seen either. The findings and statistics of this investigation therefore indicate that pre- and postoperative EEG's are not always a reliable reference for assessing the prognosis of cerebral activity.

Achievement↗

Circumspinal decompression for thoracic myelopathy due to combined ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and ligamentum flavum.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) combined with ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) in the thoracic spine can result in serious myelopathy, leading to circumferential compression of the spinal cord in advanced stages of the disease. The authors performed circumspinal decompression (circumferential decompression of the spinal cord) on these patients. This operation consists of two steps: posterior and lateral decompression of the spinal cord by removal of the OLF (first step) and anterior removal of the OPLL for anterior decompression (second step), followed by interbody fusion. In the first step, two deep parallel gutters, covering the extent of the OPLL to be removed anteriorly, are drilled down from the rear into the vertebral body along both sides of the dura to easily and safely remove the OPLL anteriorly at the second step. In the second step, the surgical approach varies according to the affected level; costotransversectomy in the upper thoracic spine and standard thoracotomy in the middle or lower thoracic spine. According to the authors, circumspinal decompression is not an easy procedure, but from their results in 10 patients, they identify it as a radical and promising surgical procedure.

Adult↗

The large isoform of myelin-associated glycoprotein is scarcely expressed in the quaking mouse brain.

Two polypeptide isoforms of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) with molecular masses of 72 and 67 kDa are produced by alternative splicing of the exon 12 portion. Our previous work has demonstrated that in the quaking mouse brain this alternative splicing is lacking and that the mRNA coding the large MAG isoform (L-MAG) is scarcely expressed, whereas that of small MAG isoform (S-MAG) is overexpressed. In the present study, we prepared antisera specific to the S-MAG and L-MAG amino acid residues, respectively. Immunoblots showed that the L-MAG band was scarcely detectable in the quaking mouse brain, whereas the S-MAG band had an apparently higher molecular mass than in the normal control. Our immunohistochemical study also showed that L-MAG was scarcely stained in the quaking mouse brain. These results seemed to reflect a reduction in content of L-MAG mRNA and abnormal glycosylation in the quaking mouse brain.

Animals↗

Adjuvant mitomycin-C prolongs survival time of patients undergoing extensive en bloc resection of carcinoma of the stomach invading the adjacent organs.

We retrospectively examined the long-term results of adjuvant chemotherapy with mitomycin-C (MMC) in 50 patients with gastric carcinoma invading the adjacent organs. All patients underwent gastrectomy and en bloc multiple resection of the invaded organs, with the intent of a potential cure. Evidence of direct invasion was confirmed histologically. These patients were classified into 3 groups, according to the dose schedule of MMC: 12 received prolonged, intermittent administration of the drug, in a total dose of 40 mg or more (group A); 19 were given a bolus injection at the time of surgery and/or on the following day, in a total dose of less than 40 mg (group B), and 19 were given no anticancer drugs (group C). These 3 groups were comparable with regard to various prognostic factors. The 5-year survival rates were 50, 32 and 17% in groups A, B and C, respectively. There was a statistical difference in survival between groups A and C (p less than 0.05). These results indicate that extensive en bloc resection plus intensive adjuvant chemotherapy prolong the survival time for those with gastric carcinoma invading the adjacent organs.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Mutation of the signal peptide-encoding region of the preproparathyroid hormone gene in familial isolated hypoparathyroidism.

Preproparathyroid hormone (preproPTH) gene mutation has been proposed as a cause of familial isolated hypoparathyroidism (FIH). We cloned the preproPTH alleles of a patient with autosomal dominant FIH and sequenced the coding regions, 5' flanking regions, and splice junctions. The putatively abnormal (based on previous linkage studies) allele differed from the other allele's normal sequence at only one nucleotide. This T to C point mutation changes the codon for position 18 of the 31 amino acid prepro sequence from cysteine to arginine, disrupting the hydrophobic core of the signal sequence. Because the hydrophobic core is required by secreted proteins for efficient translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum, the mutant protein is likely to be inefficiently processed. Indeed, in vitro studies demonstrated dramatically impaired processing of the mutant preproPTH to proPTH. In summary, we observed a point mutation in the signal peptide-encoding region of a preproPTH gene in one FIH kindred and demonstrated a functional defect caused by the mutation. Mutation of the signal sequence constitutes a novel pathophysiologic mechanism in man, and further study may yield important insights both into this form of hormone deficiency and into the role of signal sequences in human physiology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of nitric oxide in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve-mediated relaxation in dog duodenal longitudinal muscle strips.

Transmural electrical stimulation caused a relaxation in the dog duodenal longitudinal muscle strips treated with atropine, phentolamine and propranolol, which was abolished by tetrodotoxin. The relaxation was suppressed by oxyhemoglobin and L-NG-nitro-arginine (L-NA), but not influenced by D-NA. Inhibition by L-NA was reversed by L-arginine, but not by D-arginine. The response to transmural electrical stimulation was similar to that caused by nitric oxide or nitroglycerin. Nitric oxide appears to participate importantly in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve-mediated relaxation.

Animals↗

Influence of bestatin on production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.

Bestatin, (25, 3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyryl-L-leucine, enhanced proliferation of normal human bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells to form CFU-GM colonies in viscous methylcellulose medium in vitro. To elucidate the mechanisms of this effect, the levels of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) in culture supernatant of 1 x 10(6)/ml peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cocultured with various concentrations of bestatin were determined using our newly developed sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of granulocyte/macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) in the supernatant in the presence of 0.1 microgram/ml bestatin was 312 pg/ml by this ELISA. The production of GM-CSF increased with increasing amounts of added bestatin.

Cells, Cultured↗

[Tumor-regressing factor induced by antitumor polysaccharide in the serum of tumor-bearing mice].

A potent tumor-regressing activity was found in the serum of mice with S180 tumor undergoing rapid regression caused by antitumor polysaccharides. Beta (1-3) glucan including CM-TAK and lentinan and mannoglucan MGA induced such activity. It causes a rapid decrease in the number of tumor cells accompanied with a marked increase in neutrophiles in solid tumors. The entity of the activity was named as tumor-regressing factor (TRF) and was partially purified revealing a proteinaceous nature with an approximate molecular weight of 250,000. The factor was induced in a serum of tumor-bearing mice in various host-tumor combinations after the tumor growth had been established but only weakly in normal mice. The sensitivity of tumors to the factor was also dependent on the stage of tumor growth. The serum of normal mice or tumor-bearing mice without polysaccharide treatment exhibited similar activity as TRF after definite chromatographic step. The chromatographic behavior of the revealed activity was closely similar to that of the induced factor. It was postulated that a TRF-like activity exists in normal serum in a inactivated form being bound by antagonist(s) and the appropriate chromatography might remove the antagonist resulting in the active form of the factor. The concept was confirmed by reconstituting the chromatographic fractions, the revealed activity was again obscured after mixing with a certain fraction.

Animals↗

Cytophotometrically determined DNA content, mitotic activity, and lymph node metastasis in clinical gastric cancer.

Analyses of cytophotometrically determined DNA content and mitotic rate were carried out in 37 cases of gastric carcinoma to identify biologic significance of DNA abnormalities. Lymph node metastasis was also evaluated by DNA content and mitotic rate. According to the linear regression analysis, there were statistically significant correlations of mitotic rate with DNA variants such as the peak value, the mean value, and the frequency of cells with values exceeding tetraploid or hexaploid chromosome complement. There were significantly higher values for these DNA parameters in patients with lymph node metastasis compared with those without metastasis. Similarly, higher mitotic rates were observed in tumors with metastatic disease. Thus abnormal DNA fractions appear to be indicative of tumors with a high mitotic activity. The quantitative detection of the DNA abnormalities will provide pertinent biologic information required to predict the occurrence of metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

Cytophotometry↗