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Biomedical subjects

H Horiuchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Horiuchi.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[Photoplethysmograph obtained from a small area of human gingiva].

We have established a method to observe circulation in a small area of the human gingiva. Reflected light photo-plethysmographs (RLP) and transilluminated light photo-plethysmographs (TLP) were recorded from healthy gingiva in 2 young adults of twenties. A tungsten-lamp, connected to a stabilized power source, was used to illuminate the gingiva. The reflected or transilluminated light was collected using a fibre-optic bundle. A CdSe photo-conductive cell was used as the photo-detector. The ECG was recorded simultaneously. The results were as follows: 1) RLP and TLP were both synchronous with the heart beat and showed a dicrotic-notched wave form. 2) When the light-collecting fibre was 0.5 mm from the surface of the gingiva, the dicrotic notch with TLP was clearer than that with RLP. 3) When the light-collecting fibre was placed less than 0.5 mm from the gingival surface, clear dicrotic notches were seen in RLP. 4) When the surface of the gingiva was covered with white opaque paint to prevent transilluminated light, definite dicrotic notches were observed with RLP. 5) RLP was produced mainly by the pulsation of the gingival surface, and the pulsatile movement of the tooth had a little effect on RLP. 6) RLP was consisted from the light reflected from the surface of the gingiva and also from the light reflected after penetrating some distance in the gingival tissue.

Adult↗

High-level secretion of a Rhizopus niveus aspartic proteinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The gene encoding an extracellular Rhizopus niveus aspartic proteinase I (RNAP-I) was introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast cell carrying a plasmid containing the intact RNAP-I gene under the control of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene promoter of S. cerevisiae did not synthesize RNAP-I at all. On the other hand, when the intron of the RNAP-I gene had been removed from the gene in the plasmid, the cell secreted RNAP-I with high efficiency. Processing of the pro-sequence occurred at the same region of the pro-enzyme during cultivation as observed in the culture of R. niveus. Moreover, the promoter and the terminator of the original RNAP-I gene were found to be weakly functional in the yeast cell with respect to expression of the intronless RNAP-I gene, although the initiation and termination sites were heterogeneous. The effects of vector-types on the extracellular production of RNAP-I were also investigated.

Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases↗

[Influence of diagnostic information on visual action of interpretation].

Pertinent information used in radiographic diagnosis consists mainly of abstract abnormal findings. Experience has show that the reasoning process required to interpret this information is the most important element of a proper diagnosis. Thus, it is important to combine the results of radiograms with information obtained through actual observation of oral cavities. To reveal the thinking process required while reading radiograms, it is important to have an objective study in which visual action is followed as a reference. For this reason, studies on visual action have been conducted in the fields of medicine and dentistry using eye movement recording systems. In the field of medicine, Kundel and Nodine reported on visual actions while subjects were engaged in reading chest radiograms. In the field of dental medicine, and especially in oral diagnostics, Yamano et al. introduced an eye mark recorder which quantitatively analyzed the visual action of dentists during radiographic diagnosis. This device may lead to important information which can be used in making diagnoses, especially quantitative information. They concluded that the eye mark recorder is effective for quantitative evaluation of the thinking process during radiographic diagnoses. Thus, we focused our attention on visual action in analyzing the thinking process during radiographic diagnosis and by means of such analytical techniques, studied how information obtained from oral diagnostics can affect the thinking process during radiographic diagnosis. (1) The equipment used was the visual action analysis system. (2) Seventy-five dentists were engaged in reading radiograms for this study. (3) The radiograms we used included two pictures of marginal periodontitis and periapical periodontitis. (4) Diagnostic information given. Group A: none, group B: chief complaints, and group C: chief complaints, present symptoms and history of the present illness. We investigated how prior presentation of such information would affect visual action during radiographic diagnosis, and obtained the following results. 1. Newly-developed correction system. The newly-developed correction system made it possible to detect the fixation point more precisely by correcting head movement in real time. 2. Effect of prior oral diagnostic information on visual action during radiographic reading. 1) Effect on total fixation time. For both marginal periodontitis and periapical periodontitis, the total fixation time was shorter in group C than in groups A and B. 2) Effect on the total fixation time spent on decayed teeth. For both marginal periodontitis and periapical periodontitis, the total fixation time spent on decayed teeth was longer in group B than in groups A and C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Decision Making↗

[A case report of an acute myelogenous leukemia (FAB M1) with Klinefelter's syndrome].

Reported is the second documented case in Japan of acute leukemia with Klinefelter's syndrome. The patient, a 52-year-old male, was admitted to hospital on July 9, 1983, after complaining of a fever and general malaise. The hematological examinations revealed a WBC count of 14,300/cmm with 32% being leukemic cells. Bone marrow aspiration disclosed a nucleated cell count of 687,000/cmm with 41.6% being leukemic cells consisting of myeloblasts. The endocrinic laboratory data showed a high level of urine gonadotropin and chromosomal studies revealed a 47,XXY karyotype. A diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (M1) with Klinefelter's syndrome thus was derived from these findings.

Humans↗

[Measurement of the DNA content in morphologically identified cells on a Wright-Giemsa stained smear].

4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining was applied to measuring nuclear DNA contents of single cells previously identified on a Wright-Giemsa stained smear. The smear was first photographed and the location of each cell was mapped. The smear was then destained with 50% acid ethanol and absolute methanol, and restained with DAPI (pH 7.4) at 4 degrees C. Blue fluorescence was observed in the nucleus, and the intensity of this fluorescence was proportional to the amount of DNA, with the lowest coefficient of variation of 3.6% in the case of staining the peripheral lymphocytes for 30 min. This method is useful for measuring DNA contents in heterogeneous cell populations.

Azure Stains↗

[Aplastic anemia associated with minimal serum M-protein treated successfully with repeated bolus methylprednisolone therapy].

A 61 year old woman was admitted to our hospital suffering from severe pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration revealed marked hypoplasia with 24.8% plasma cells. There was a small amount of IgA type M protein in serum. Multiple myeloma was ruled out on the basis that 1) the amount of serum IgA-M protein was minimal and no increase was observed, 2) no indication of monoclonality of bone marrow plasma cells was shown by immunofluorescent staining of immunoglobulins, 3) neither bone lesion nor other symptoms related to multiple myeloma were observed. Therefore, a diagnosis of aplastic anemia was made, and bolus methylprednisolone therapy (1,000 mg/day x 3 days) was performed, which brought the patient to complete remission. An oral dose of 15 mg of prednisolone is administered daily now and the remission state is being maintained. Bolus methylprednisolone therapy is performed quite often for the treatment of aplastic anemia. However, there are few reports in which remission was reached with the use of glucocorticoids alone, most having used androgens or other supportive drugs in conjunction. Here, we will discuss this case of aplastic anemia which responded to repeated bolus methylprednisolone therapy, with minimal side effects, and discuss its effectiveness. In addition, aplastic anemia associated with idiopathic monoclonal gammopathy is not reported, so this case is interesting immunologically.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

Indications, complications, and short-term clinical outcome of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy was performed in 106 consecutive patients. Significant symptomatic improvement was achieved in 97 patients (92%). Mean left atrial pressure decreased (from 18 +/- 8 to 11 +/- 8 mm Hg, p less than 0.00001), mean mitral diastolic pressure gradient decreased (from 12 +/- 7 to 7 +/- 6 mm Hg, p less than 0.00001), and mitral valve area increased (from 1.40 +/- 0.40 to 2.00 +/- 0.50 cm2, p less than 0.00001). Based on echocardiographic characteristics of the mitral apparatus, patients were grouped retrospectively in three categories: pliable (group 1, n = 37), semipliable (group 2, n = 59), and rigid (group 3, n = 10). Clinical success was achieved in 36 patients of group 1 (97%) and in 55 patients of group 2 (93%). Only six patients in group 3 (60%) improved symptomatically (p less than 0.001 vs. group 1, p less than 0.001 vs. group 2). The severity of mitral regurgitation increased in five patients of group 1 (14%), in 12 of group 2 (20%), and in three of group 3 (33%). Six patients had recurrent symptoms at 9 months after commissurotomy. Recurrence of symptoms was significantly more frequent in group 3 compared with the other two groups (group 1, 3%; group 2, 4%; and group 3, 50%; p less than 0.0001 vs. groups 1 and 2). Multiple regression analysis identified the previously mentioned echocardiographic characteristics of the mitral apparatus as the significant predictor for clinical outcome. Thus, percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy can be considered a safe and effective treatment for patients with pliable valves. Patients with semipliable or with rigid valves should be selected for operation very carefully.

Adult↗

[Acute myelogenous leukemia with recurrence of the meningeal, spinal cord and the optic nerve infiltration with remission induction by Co therapy and maintained by intrathecal chemotherapy with Ommaya reservoir].

A 42-year-old woman was diagnosed as having acute myelogenous leukemia (M 2 of FAB classification) in May, 1985. Complete remission was achieved with the BHAC-DP therapy (BHAC, daunomycin and prednisolone). Whole skull irradiation and intra thecal chemotherapy were performed by way of prevention. In 1986, she developed her visual disturbance and paraplegia. Myelography and metrizamide CT indicate intraspinal and meningeal infiltration of leukemic cells in the upper thoracic spine. Leukemic cells were found in the cerebrospinal fluid but not in the bone marrow. Complete remission was obtained by irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. In Dec. 1986, Ommaya tubing was repeated. Hematological and neurological examinations showed no evidence of malignancy for 3 years. In Oct. 1988, she admitted to our hospital for the maintenance of the remission state, and died of sepsis. The result of autopsy revealed no leukemic cells in her CNS. It is said the intraspinal infiltration of leukemic cells is rather rare. As it is said the intrathecal injection of anti-leukemic agents is not effective for the intraspinal infiltration, irradiation should be needed. Therefore it is very important to critically differentiated intraspinal from meningeal infiltration. Furthermore, Ommaya tubing is effective in order to maintain remission in a patient with CNS leukemia.

Adult↗

[The trial use of alpha-IFN in treating a case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia with splenic infarction].

A 75-year-old man, previously diagnosed as having chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, suffered an attack of severe left hypochondralgia in July 1986. A splenic infarction was diagnosed by both ultrasound tomography and computerized tomography. The patient was treated with alpha-Interferon (600 M.U./day i.m.) for cytoreduction in order to prevent a recurrence of the splenic infarction. Twenty-one days later, the peripheral white blood cell count decreased from 44,110 microliters to 9800/microliters and the monocytoid immature cells disappeared. However, severe dementia appeared and so alpha-Interferon therapy was abandoned. In this report the beneficial effects and side effects of alpha-interferon in the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia are discussed.

Aged↗

[The successful surgery of lung abscess formed from pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia during remission induction therapy].

This is a case report of a successful case of surgical treatment of a lung abscess formed from pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with a recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia during remission induction therapy. A 39 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for remission induction therapy of a recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia. We were successful in bringing her to a state of complete remission by a therapy of a intermediate-dose of Ara-C. Pulmonary aspergilloma was formed in the right lung during therapy. We performed transbronchial infusions to Amphotericin B which dissipated the fungus ball. However, a lung abscess was formed. We needed radical therapy, and there were no complications in the following surgical treatment. Recently, along with the tendency for the use of stronger chemotherapy treatment regimes for acute leukemia, there has been an increase of the number of mycosis cases such as the pulmonary aspergilloma case reported here. Accordingly, surgical treatment is becoming more and more a matter of necessity in the clinical course of leukemia patients.

Adult↗

[Reliability of the lipid emulsion test for reticuloendothelial system].

The reticuloendothelial system is important as one of the self defense mechanisms. We performed two investigations to confirm the reliability of the lipid emulsion test for determining the reticuloendothelial system function. 1) The lipid emulsion serum clearance was contrasted with the counts of lipid emulsions phagocytosed by Kupffer cells in liver. 2) Lipid emulsion clearance was contrasted with the hepatic uptake rate of 99mTc-phytate. The result demonstrated a positive correlation among lipid emulsion clearance, the counts of lipid emulsions phagocytosed by Kupffer cells and the hepatic uptake rate of 99mTc-phytate. These results confirm that the lipid emulsion test is sufficient to reflect Reticuloendothelial system function.

Adult↗

Restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: serial angiographic follow-up of 229 patients.

To further understand the temporal mode and mechanisms of coronary restenosis, 229 patients were studied by prospective angiographic follow-up on day 1 and at 1, 3 and 6 months and 1 year after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Quantitative measurement of coronary stenosis was achieved by cinevideodensitometric analysis. Actuarial restenosis rate was 12.7% at 1 month, 43.0% at 3 months, 49.4% at 6 months and 52.5% at 1 year. In 219 patients followed up for greater than or equal to 3 months, mean stenosis diameter was 1.91 +/- 0.53 mm immediately after coronary angioplasty, 1.72 +/- 0.52 mm on day 1, 1.86 +/- 0.58 mm at 1 month and 1.43 +/- 0.67 mm at 3 months. In 149 patients followed up for greater than or equal to 6 months, mean stenosis diameter was 1.66 +/- 0.58 mm at 3 months and 1.66 +/- 0.62 mm at 6 months. In 73 patients followed up for 1 year, mean stenosis diameter was 1.65 +/- 0.56 mm at 6 months and 1.66 +/- 0.57 mm at 1 year. Thus, stenosis diameter decreased markedly between 1 month and 3 months after coronary angioplasty and reached a plateau thereafter. In conclusion, restenosis is most prevalent between 1 and 3 months and rarely occurs beyond 3 months after coronary angioplasty.

Aged↗

Primary structure of a base non-specific ribonuclease from Rhizopus niveus.

The primary structure of a base non-specific ribonuclease from Rhizopus niveus (RNase Rh) was determined by nucleotide sequence analysis of the DNA fragment encoding RNase Rh gene including signal peptide sequence, and amino acid sequence analysis of the peptide obtained from RNase Rh and RNase Rh' (a protease-modified RNase Rh created during the course of purification). The sequence determined was: MKAVLALATLIGSTLASSCSSTA LSCSNSANSDTCCSPEYGLVVLNMQWAPGYGPANAFTLHGLWPDKCSGAYAPSGGCDSN RASSSIASVIKSKDSSLYNSMLTYWPSNQGNNNVFWSHEWSKHGTCVSTYDPDCYDNYE EGEDIVDYFQKAMDLRSQYNVYKAFSSNGITPGGTYTATEMQSAIESYFGAKAKIDCSSG TLSDVALYFYVRGRDTYVITDALSTGSCSGDVEYPTK (the sequence of signal peptide is underlined). The sequence indicates that the homology with the sequence of RNase T2 from A. oryzae with the same base specificity is about 42% and that the sequences around the two histidine residues which are supposed to be involved in the active site are fairly conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and sequencing of a genomic clone encoding aspartic proteinase of Rhizopus niveus.

A gene encoding Rhizopus niveus aspartic proteinase was isolated from an R. niveus genomic library by using oligonucleotides probes corresponding to its partial amino acid sequence, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. By comparing its deduced amino acid sequence with the amino acid sequence of rhizopuspepsin (5, 26), we concluded that the R. niveus aspartic proteinase gene has an intron within its coding region and that it has a preproenzyme sequence of 66 amino acids upstream of the mature enzyme of 323 amino acids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗