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Biomedical subjects

H Furukawa

Publications and source records attributed to H Furukawa.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

[MVP for MR associated with extensive calcification of the mitral valve annulus].

We experienced two surgical cases of MR associated with extensive calcification of the mitral valve annulus. For two cases we performed MVP which consisted of valve repair and annular remodeling. Annular remodeling was performed only on the annulus without calcification using 3 mm Gore-tex graft, because calcified annulus did not contribute to annular dilatation and would not dilate in the future. Both patients recovered uneventfully. Postoperative echocardiography revealed no MR in both cases.

Aged↗

Effect of ATP-potassium channel opener nicorandil on long-term cardiac preservation.

BACKGROUND: ATP-sensitive potassium channels have been shown to be one of the important protective mechanisms for the ischemic myocardium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of nicorandil, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, on myocardium during 6 hours hypothermic preservation. METHODS: Preserved rat hearts were randomly divided into 4 groups according to cardioplegia and preservation protocols as follows: (1) histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution (HTK) for both cardioplegic and immersing solutions (group A); (2) nicorandil-added HTK for cardioplegic solution and nicorandil-free HTK for immersing solution (group B); (3) nicorandil-free HTK for cardioplegic solution and nicorandil-added HTK for immersing solution (group C); and (4) nicorandil-added HTK for both cardioplegic and immersing solutions (group D). RESULTS: The recovery of postischemic cardiac function, including left ventricular developed pressure and end-diastolic pressure, was significantly improved in group B and group C as compared with the other groups (p<0.05). Postischemic intracellular calcium concentration was significantly lower in group B and group C than in group A (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that nicorandil-induced hyperpolarizing arrest could reduce ischemia-derived myocyte injury and inhibit the influx of calcium into the myocytes in long-term cardiac preservation.

Animals↗

[A case report of successful transcatheter arterial embolization therapy for osseous metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma].

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of severe local pain of the hip joint. Radiological findings showed a metastasized lesion on the left side of the pelvic wall originated from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the anterior segment of the liver. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy using epirubicin, Lipiodol and Spongel was successfully performed twice for primary HCC, and four times for osseous metastasis of HCC. After TAE therapy, the size of the metastasized lesion decreased with relief of pain, and an improvement in performance status of 4 to 2 was achieved. In conclusion, TAE therapy is thought to be very useful in the treatment of osseous metastasis of HCC with severe local pain.

Aged↗

[Intrapericardiac instillation of epirubicin for carcinomatous cardiac tamponade from breast cancer].

Three cases of carcinomatous cardiac tamponade from breast cancer are presented. All patients have had another recurrence and history of treatment. Though the prognoses were considered to be unfavorable, pericardiac drainage and the instillation of epirubicin were effective. Side effects of fever and dyspnea were experienced temporarily by two patients with no serious events. Following the systemic chemotherapy, two patients needed no supplemental drainage. All patients had a sufficient quality of life for about 1 year or longer. We found that positive therapy can be significant for such patients with advanced disease.

Aged↗

A study on the development and the deodorizing capability of metal-phthalocyanine processed stump socks for amputees.

The socks which were treated with Metal-Phthalocyanine, a derivative of an artificial enzyme, were developed by the author and called Kobe Stump Socks(KSS). KSS was made of a cotton cloth that had undergone an ammonium salt cationization process and also a Metal-Phthalocyanine process. The study from a bacteriological view and the moisture absorption effect of KSS revealed that the mechanism of the deodorizing ability was bared on the decomposition function of Metal-Phthalocyanine, while the antibacterial function came from the cationization and also that the high water absorption speed and capacity further enhanced these two functions. In this report, the author studied the deodorizing capability of KSS. To measure the adherence of an odor substance, ammonia, a testing device that measured this adherence was used. As a result, the adherence of ammonia to KSS was more than three times that of an unprocessed cloth. KSS had been used as stump socks on the stumps of amputees who were using prosthetic limbs, and a snuff test on the difference of the odor strength inside the socket was done. Of 33 subjects, 32 recognized a deodorizing effect. From these facts, KSS was proven to dry and deodorize the limb surface with the moisture absorption effect and deodorizing capabilities due to the Metal-Phthalocyanine process. These characteristics were never recognized in other stump socks. These date mentioned above suggested that KSS was the best material to deodorize prosthetic limb sockets.

Amputation Stumps↗

Anti-tumor-promoting effects of phenylpropanoids on Epstein-Barr virus activation and two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis.

In our joint project in the search for anti-tumor promoters from natural plant sources, we carried out a primary screening of 12 phenylpropanoids isolated from Boronia pinnata Sm. (Rutaceae) by examining their possible inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in Raji cells. All tested compounds in this study showed inhibitory activity against the EBV activation even at 1 x 10 mol ratio without any cytotoxicity. Among 12 phenylpropanoids tested, boropinal-C (1), boropinol-A (5), boropinol-C (9) and 3-(3'-methoxy-4'-prenyloxy)phenyl-1-propene (10), all having a 4'-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy) group, a so-called prenyloxy group, showed more potent activities. Furthermore, 3-(3'-methoxy-4'-prenyloxy)phenyl-1-propene (10) also exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on mouse skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test. This investigation indicated that certain phenylpropanoids might be valuable anti-tumor promoters.

Animals↗

Anti-tumor-promoting effects of 8-substituted 7-methoxycoumarins on Epstein-Barr virus activation assay.

In a search for anti-tumor-promoting agents, we carried out a primary screening of twenty-nine 8-substituted and four 6-substituted derivatives of 7-methoxycoumarins isolated from plants of the Murraya and/or Citrus species (Rutaceae), examining their possible inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells. This investigation indicated that the prenyl (3-methyl-2-butenyl) or 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl (or butenyl) unit as an isoprenoid moiety at C-8 on the 7-methoxycoumarin nucleus plays an important role in the anti-tumor-promoting activity. Some of the 8-substituted 7-methoxycoumarins isolated from Murraya species, murrangatin (7), minumicrolin (10) and chloticol (18), were found to significantly inhibit EBV-EA activation, and preserved the high viability of Raji cells, suggesting that 7, 10 and 18 might be valuable anti-tumor-promoting agents.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Frequency of clonally expanded T cells evaluated by PCR from a single cell.

In analyses of antigen-specific immune responses, it is essential to estimate the frequency of individual T cell clonotypes. This frequency has been estimated, however, only indirectly by the frequency of T cell receptor (TCR) mRNA. We have developed a method to determine T cell frequency directly by cell count using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of TCR beta genes from single cell-derived cDNA (single cell PCR). In a study of clinical samples, the frequency of clonally expanded T cells estimated by TCR frequency analysis was found to be higher than that by single cell PCR. Single cell PCR can estimate T cell frequency accurately, as it is not affected by skewed PCR amplification or different TCR mRNA expressions in individual T cells.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Substituted 7H-pyrido[4,3-c]carbazoles with potent anti-HIV activity.

Several substituted 7H-pyrido[4,3-c]carbazoles were synthesized from the natural product mukonal and tested for inhibition of HIV replication in H9 lymphocytes. 5-Methoxy-7-methyl-7H-pyrido[4,3-c]carbazole (7) had an EC50 value of 0.0054 microgram/mL and the highest therapeutic index (TI = 503) in the series.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Blood supply to the pancreatic head, bile duct, and duodenum: evaluation by computed tomography during arteriography.

HYPOTHESIS: Blood supply to the peripancreatic region is derived from the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries, complementary to each other. DESIGN: Cohort analytic study. SETTING: Tertiary care public hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) during superior mesenteric artery arteriography (SMAA-CT) and during celiac artery arteriography (CEAA-CT), in which a catheter tip was inserted into the common hepatic or gastroduodenal artery, was performed in 25 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Distribution and correlation of these areas of marked enhancement on SMAA-CT and CEAA-CT were analyzed. RESULTS: The right cephalic part of the pancreatic head that is derived from the dorsal bud was enhanced on CEAA-CT, and the left caudal part of the pancreatic head that is derived from the ventral bud was enhanced on SMAA-CT. Blood supply to the intrapancreatic bile duct, including the ampulla of Vater, is derived from the CEA. The boundary between the areas of the duodenum supplied from the CEA and SMA was in the second or third portion. CONCLUSION: The pancreatic head can be separated into 2 segments by the arterial supply, and each segment may be removed separately.

Angiography↗

Saccular descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with dysphagia.

A 76 year old woman had suffered from chest pain, back pain, and dysphagia for 8 months. She was diagnosed as having a thoracic aortic aneurysm by chest X-ray and chest enhanced computed tomography. Simultaneously, severe dysphagia developed. Chest enhanced computed tomography and chest aortic aortography at our hospital demonstrated a saccular descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Esophagography demonstrated that the esophagus was compressed by the aneurysm; therefore, a graft replacement for the saccular descending thoracic aortic aneurysm was performed on February 17th, 1998. A left sided 6th intercostal approach was made, and graft replacement for the aneurysm using a 22 mm Hemashield prosthetic graft was performed under temporary bypass from the thoracic aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery and to the left femoral artery. The postoperative course was uneventful, the severe dysphagia improved dramatically, but a pleural effusion of 1000 ml collected 3 weeks after the operation. Surgical cases of saccular descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with dysphagia are rare, and with this in mind, we report this case to the the medical literature.

Aged↗

Combined resection of the aorta for an esophageal carcinoma invading the aorta through a right transthoracic approach.

The prognosis of esophageal carcinoma invading the thoracic aorta has been extremely poor, as it has been either not resected or only palliatively resected. In recent years a remarkable improvement in survival has been achieved in advanced esophageal carcinoma through an aggressive dissection of the upper mediastinal lymph nodes. This implied that resection only of the aorta without lymph node dissection in these patients was not adequate for curability. Although a resection of the aorta would seem to be performed more easily through a left thoracotomy than through a right thoracotomy, the upper mediastinal lymph node dissection was unsatisfactory through a left thoracotomy. Therefore, we performed combined resection of the aorta using a temporary aorta-aorta bypass together with upper mediastinal lymph node dissection through a right thoracotomy for four patients with the esophageal carcinoma invading the thoracic aorta. This operative procedure was performed safely, and had the advantage that full observation on the extent of the carcinoma was attained together with subsequent radical lymph node dissection in the same field through only the right thoracic approach. This operation may provide a possibility for cure to patients with an esophageal carcinoma invading the aorta, who would otherwise receive only palliative treatment.

Aged↗

First case of cadaveric liver transplantation in Japan.

The first case of liver transplantation from a brain-dead donor in Japan is described. The recipient was a 43-year-old man with familial amyloid polyneuropathy who manifested various neuropathic symptoms and autonomic dysfunction at the time of transplantation. The graft had three arteries, for which a single trunk was created at the back table. A side-to-side cavacaval anastomosis was performed as an outflow reconstruction. To avoid portal congestion, a temporary shunt between the right posterior branch of the portal vein and the vena cava was constructed, instead of a venovenous bypass. The graft preservation time was 7.2 h and the operation time was 12.2 h. Although sufficient blood flow in the hepatic artery, portal vein, and hepatic vein was confirmed intra- and postoperatively, using Doppler ultrasound, transient graft dysfunction was observed immediately after surgery, but there was spontaneous improvement. The patient was discharged 100 days after transplantation.

Adult↗

Phase II study of limited surgery for early gastric cancer: segmental gastric resection.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic resection for treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) is widely performed. Recently, however, surgeons began performing a limited operation for EGC when endoscopic resection was not indicated. This report discusses the surgical technique and the results of the limited operation, which is generally referred to as "segmental resection" (SR). METHODS: Since 1990, a total of 50 patients with intramucosal invasive EGC of the middle stomach underwent SR. The procedure included a limited gastrectomy, limited lymph node dissection, and preservation of the vagal nerve. We examined the surgical risk, postoperative complications, and patient survival rates and compared the results for the SR-treated patients (group A) with results for patients with EGC who underwent subtotal gastrectomy and systemic lymph node dissection (group B). RESULTS: Blood loss was less in group A (239 +/- 180 ml) than in group B (342 +/- 176 ml) (P < .05). The incidence of postoperative complications was also lower in group A (2.0%) than in group B (14.0%) (P < .05). The incidence of postoperative cholelithiasis was lower in group A (4.0%) than in group B (18.0%) (P < .05). All patients in both groups are alive without recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with distal gastrectomy, SR for EGC of the middle stomach decreased the surgical risk and postoperative complications without increasing the recurrence rate.

Female↗