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Biomedical subjects

H Imai

Publications and source records attributed to H Imai.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Diagnosis of atrial septal defect using magnetic resonance imaging].

We studied the morphological features of defects of the interatrial septum using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the sizes of defects and other abnormalities. MR images were obtained in 28 patients with atrial septal defect, including five cases with complicated anomalies (two with Ebstein's anomaly, one pentalogy of Fallot, and one anomalous pulmonary vein connection and azygos continuation). Images were also obtained in the control subjects including seven normal volunteers and 142 patients with various acquired heart diseases. The diagnosis of atrial septal defect was established by cardiac catheterization, angiography and two-dimensional echocardiography prior to the MRI studies, and in 14 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. The MRI unit had a superconducting magnet and operated at 0.25 or 0.50 Tesla. A spin echo pulse sequence was used with an echo time of 40 or 60 msec. At the beginning of this study, non-gated MRI images were obtained in the 28 controls and in three patients with atrial septal defect. Nongated MRI could not image the anatomical structure of the interatrial septa of 12 of the 28 controls, or any of the three patients with atrial septal defect. Nongated MRI was, therefore, inadequate for visualizing cardiac anatomy. Gated MRI images were obtained in 141 controls and in 25 patients with atrial septal defect. Gated MRI revealed the interatrial septum, interventricular septum, atrioventricular septum, mitral valve, tricuspid valve and other intracardiac structures in most subjects. In 17 control subjects (12%), however, there was a very faint signal from the central portion of the interatrial septum. In these instances, there was a gradual fading of the signal of the interatrial septum, so that they could be distinguished from the atrial septal defect. The sudden disappearance of the signal from the interatrial septum was observed by gated MRI in all 25 patients with atrial septal defect. The sizes of the defects by MRI coincided with the findings at surgery in all 14 patients. MRI showed right atrial dilatation, right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation, and pulmonary artery dilatation in most of the patients having atrial septal defect. Complex anomalies associated with atrial septal defect were also clearly shown by MRI, such as displacement of the tricuspid leaflets in two patients with Ebstein's anomaly, and anomalous pulmonary venous connection and persistent left superior vena cava in one patient. These results indicated that gated MRI is a valuable noninvasive method of diagnosing atrial septal defect and complicating anomalies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Familial cardiomyopathy with different clinical features in individual members].

The mother and three children of a family whose parents were consanguineous, each had cardiomyopathy with various patterns of hypertrophy and dilatation. All members had asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH), and three of them were characterized as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Another one had ventricular dilatation mimicking dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Case 1: The 57-year-old mother had a typical ASH pattern; her septal/posterior wall thickness ratio (IVST/LVPWT) was 2.5. Case 2: The 37-year-old daughter had basal septal hypertrophy. Case 3: The 32-year-old elder son had typical concentric hypertrophy. Case 4: The 30-year-old younger son had an episode of congestive heart failure, and showed DCM-like features with considerable dilatation and impaired wall motion of the left ventricle. The hypertrophic pattern in cardiomyopathies is thought to depend partially on the ages of the onset, or its evolution with aging.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Posterior commissural connections of area pretectalis and neighboring structures in cat, with special reference to pupilloconstrictory pathway via posterior commissure.

The overall distribution of posterior commissural connections of the area pretectalis and the neighboring structures was studied in the cat, by the methods of anterograde fiber degeneration and retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After a localized lesion was made within the posterior commissure, dense degenerated terminals were distributed in the most rostral part of the nucleus pretectalis posterior, the nucleus of posterior commissure, the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, and the central tegmental field. A medium amount of degenerated terminals were observed in the nucleus pretectalis anterior (pars reticularis), the dorsal part of the periaqueductal grey at its most rostral levels, the caudolateral parts of the nucleus pretectalis posterior and the nucleus of optic tract, the H field of Forel, parts of the somatic cell columns of the oculomotor nucleus and the trochlear nucleus. A small amount of degenerated terminals were seen in the ventromedial part of the caudal periaqueductal grey, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and the zona incerta. However, the amount of degenerated terminals was very small in the nucleus pretectalis medialis and the nucleus pretectalis olivaris. Following an HRP (dissolved in 5% alkyl-phenol ethylene oxide) injection into the unilateral area pretectalis where fibers of the posterior commissure fan out, retrogradely labeled cells were observed in all of the above described (posterior commissural fiber recipient) regions of the pretectal and neighboring structures, with the exception of the somatic cell columns of the oculomotor nucleus and the trochlear nucleus. The number of labeled cells appeared roughly proportional to the amount of degenerated terminals of the posterior commissural fibers described above with the apparent exception of the nucleus pretectalis anterior, pars reticularis, where only a few labeled cells were identified. The findings were discussed with special reference to the pupilloconstrictory pathway via the posterior commissure.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Mild interaction of proteins with butyl and hydroxyl groups on the surface of polymer gels TSK HW-65 and butyl toyopearl 650-M.

Interaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with butyl and hydroxyl groups on adsorbent gel surfaces was investigated by using TSK HW-65 and Butyl Toyopearl 650-M gels. It was found that BSA was adsorbed on the gel not only from highly concentrated ammonium sulphate but also from dilute perchloric acid, trichloroacetic acid, etc. Some eluent modifiers, such as organic solvents (30% aqueous methanol or acetonitrile), salt solutions (0.18-0.2 M phosphate) and hydrogen-bond breaking reagents (3-7 M urea, 10 M ethylene glycol, 0.1% triethylamine) were found to be effective in facilitating the elution of trapped BSA from the gel. The conformational change of BSA in these solutions was slight except for urea, and it was reversibly recovered after removal of the modifier from the aqueous solutions, except for the hydrogen-bond breaking reagents.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1986

The distribution of adrenergic receptors in cerebral blood vessels: an autoradiographic study.

The first morphological evidence of the existence of adrenergic receptors (alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta) within the vascular walls of the central nervous system were presented using the in vitro receptor autoradiographic technique. In the rat pial arteries all three types of adrenergic receptors were demonstrated, whereas the human pial arteries failed to show significant autoradiographic grains of alpha 1 type of adrenergic receptors indicating a considerable inter-species difference in the distribution of adrenergic receptors. alpha 2 and beta receptors in human pial arteries were found not only in the arterial smooth muscle layers but also in the endothelial layers. This suggests a possibility that circulating sympathomimetic agents play some role in controlling the tone or permeability of vascular walls within the central nervous system. A distinct distribution of alpha 1 receptors in cortical layer IV where the vascular plexus was richest may suggest a relation of alpha 1 receptors and blood flow of brain parenchyma.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Localization of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the rat peripheral nervous system--existence of MAO-containing unmyelinated axons.

Using a new coupled peroxidation method modified by adding nickel ammonium sulfate, we demonstrated the localization of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the rat peripheral nervous system. MAO was localized in the endothelial cells of endoneurial vessels, in Schwann cell cytoplasm encircling myelinated axons, and in some unmyelinated axons. The morphometric ratio of these MAO-containing axons to the total unmyelinated axons was 10-13%. These MAO-containing unmyelinated axons were assumed to coincide with postganglionic sympathetic noradrenergic ones passing in the sciatic nerve. Histochemical MAO staining may be utilized to identify the postganglionic sympathetic nerves in normal and pathological conditions at the electron microscopic level in particular.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed1986

The organization of divergent axonal projections from the midbrain raphe nuclei in the rat.

The intranuclear organization of divergently projecting neurons of the midbrain raphe in the rat was studied by using double retrograde axonal tracing. Paired injections of the tracers N-[acetyl-3H] WGA and horseradish peroxidase were made within known projection targets of the midbrain raphe (caudate-putamen, amygdala, hippocampus, substantia nigra, and locus coeruleus). After injections of either tracer in the aforementioned targets, retrograde labeled neurons were found mainly ipsilaterally and within midline portions of the dorsal raphe nucleus, its caudal B6 portion, and within the linear and superior central nuclei of the median raphe complex. There are discrete intranuclear distributions of raphe neurons that project to these forebrain and brainstem sites, and there is an overall rostrocaudal topographic order within the raphe with neurons projecting to the neostriatum, amygdala, and substantia nigra residing most rostrally and neurons projecting to the hippocampus and/or locus coeruleus occupying caudal portions of the B6 and superior central nuclei. Such distributions of projection neurons suggest the existence of an "encephalotopic" intranuclear organization within the raphe; that is, each central nervous system structure that receives midbrain raphe projections has its own unique representation within a topographically distinct portion of one or more of the raphe subgroups. These findings suggest an overall functional organization within the midbrain raphe nuclear complex whereby rostral portions are associated with the basal ganglia and related nuclei, and caudal portions relate to the limbic system. An intermediate representation of amygdala-projecting raphe neurons functionally conjoins the two. Collateralized neurons are found within complex zones of overlap in the topographically organized distributions of raphe neurons projecting to functionally related structures.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1986

Feasibility of UV-inactivated vaccinia virus in the modification of tumor cells for augmentation of their immunogenicity.

We compared the immunity induced by tumor cells modified with UV-inactivated purified vaccinia virus (UV-VV) and with live purified vaccinia virus (L-VV). C3H/HeN mice were inoculated i.p. with UV-VV or L-VV after whole-body irradiation with 150 rads of X-rays (priming). After 3 weeks the mice were immunized i.p. 3 times at weekly intervals with syngeneic X5563 or MH134 cells that had been absorbed in vitro with UV-VV or infected with L-VV and subsequently irradiated with 10(4) rads of X-rays. Then 1 week after the last immunization, the mice were challenged s.c. with X5563 viable tumor cells or challenged i.p. with MH134 viable tumor cells. The 50% lethal dose (TLD50) of X5563 in mice primed and immunized with UV-VV (UV-VV group) on s.c. challenge (10(6.06)) was the same as for mice treated with L-VV (L-VV group), whereas the TLD50 of unprimed or nonimmunized mice (control group) was 10(2.61). The TLD50 of MH134 in the UV-VV treated group on i.p. challenge (10(6.48)) was similar to that of the L-VV treated group (10(6.54)), while the TLD50 of the control group was 10(1.00). The difference between the TLD50 values of X5563 on s.c. challenge of mice primed and immunized with UV-VV or L-VV and control mice was 10(3.4). The difference between the TLD50 values of MH134 on i.p. challenge of primed and immunized mice and control mice was 10(5.5). These results indicate that the in vivo helper function of UV-VV is similar to that of L-VV and that the augmenting effect of this protocol depends on the kind of tumor.

Allantois↗
PubMed1986

Demonstration of sensory cutaneous nerve fibers in guinea-pig lip using endogenous oxidase histochemistry.

We developed a new histochemical method based on endogenous oxidase activity for the detection of cutaneous nerves in guinea-pig lips. After the application of a reaction mixture containing 0.14 mM 3,3'-diaminobenzidine(DAB) and 15 mM nickel ammonium sulfate in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.6), many blue-black sensory fibers were observed, i.e., dermal nerve fiber bundles, perifollicular plexuses, Merkel-cell endings, and Meissner-like nerve endings. The autonomic fibers of the skin were not stained. Electron microscopy revealed that the reaction product was mainly localized on mitochondrial cristae. The addition of 0.01 M sodium azide completely inhibited the reaction. This technique is simple and preferentially stains sensory nerves.

3,3'-Diaminobenzidine↗
PubMed1986

Three dimensional observation of the nerve fibers along the cerebral blood vessels.

Three dimensional observation of the nerve fibers along the cerebral blood vessels was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis was also performed in the cerebral blood vessels treated with peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemistry intensified by nickel ammonium sulfate. Nerve fibers (2-8 microns in diameter) formed a plexus on the outer surface of the adventitia. After branching, the nerve fibers penetrated the blood vessel adventitia. Substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers showed a meshwork pattern in the outer layer of the adventitia, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers revealed a spiral running pattern in the inner layer of the adventitia. Taken together with previous studies, these findings suggest that substance P nerve fibers in the cerebral arteries may not be related to arterial dilatation or constriction, but VIP nerve fibers may be vasodilative.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The morphology and divergent axonal organization of midbrain raphe projection neurons in the rat.

The morphology of dorsal raphe neurons was examined using intracellular injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the Golgi technique. Light microscopic examination of HRP-labeled projection neurons revealed a neuron type with radiating, poorly branched and sparsely spined dendrites and terminal dendritic thickets. The stem axon of these neurons left the nucleus ventrally but gave off a beaded collateral while still within the parent cell's dendritic domain. Somatodendritic morphology from Golgi-Kopsch stained material coincided with intracellular HRP findings and the dorsal raphe may consist of varieties of one basic morphological type of neuron. Intracellular recordings made during the HRP injection experiments confirmed that stimulation of the ventral medial tegmentum elicited an antidromic action potential and an inhibitory postsynaptic potential in dorsal raphe projection neurons. The order of axonal projections arising from the midbrain raphe nuclei was examined using a double retrograde axonal tracing technique. After paired HRP and [3H] wheat germ agglutinin injections within certain projection targets of the dorsal and median raphe neurons (caudate-putamen, amygdala, hippocampus, substantia nigra and locus coeruleus), each target structure was found to have its own unique representation within a topographically distinct portion of one or more of the raphe subgroups. Neurons projecting to the caudate-putamen and substantia nigra occupied rather rostral portions. Neurons projecting to the hippocampus and locus coeruleus resided more caudally. Neurons projecting to the amygdala were situated intermediately. Overall, rostrocaudal topography in the intranuclear distributions of raphe projection neurons resulted in the formation of complex overlap zones where collateralized neurons always resided.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1986

Many isoforms of fast muscle troponin T from chicken legs.

Troponin T from fast muscle of chicken legs was found to be composed of about 40 kinds of isoforms by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in conjunction with immunoblotting tests with an antiserum to chicken breast muscle troponin T. Almost all of the isoforms were found in the myofibril preparation and troponin preparation from the leg muscle, and they showed complex-forming ability with troponin I and troponin C. These isoforms existed in most of the fast muscle except pectoralis and posterior latissimus dorsi muscles, and they changed in composition during development. The breast muscle troponin T also showed different types of isoforms in the period soon after hatching. Since proteolysis was completely inhibited during two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and since the many isoforms were observed consistently in various muscles of chicken leg, they are most probably products of mRNAs generated by differential gene splicing.

Animals↗