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Biomedical subjects

H Iwata

Publications and source records attributed to H Iwata.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Mental health and stress coping among hospital nurses by stress & stress-coping questionnaire].

This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between the mental health level and stress coping style in a group of female subjects in a public hospital. A self-administrated questionnaire including questions on nursing work, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) as well as the Stress and Stress Coping questionnaire (SSCQ) was used. The subjects of this study were 225 female nurses. The subjects' age and working experience (mean +/- SD) were 34.0 +/- 10.3 and 10.6 +/- 8.3 years, respectively. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Either of the following determinants was related to negative mental health: experience of 1-2 years; working in the operating room or in-patient department. 2) The subjects whose working experience was < 5 years or > or = 10 years had higher scores in the SSCQ. These subjects were among those who did not have higher scores in the GHQ. It was suggested that these subjects need to receive a guidance in stress coping. These findings suggest that because working conditions have a negative influence on mental health, educational system for both inexperienced and experienced nurses is needed to develop an effective stress-coping style in medical institutions.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Peripheral hemodynamics evaluated by acceleration plethysmography in workers exposed to lead.

To clarify the effect of lead exposure on peripheral hemodynamics, acceleration plethysmography (APG) was performed for 48 male subjects occupationally exposed to lead (exposure group) and 43 male subjects with no history of occupational exposure to lead (control group). In the exposure group, the blood lead concentration (Pb-B) was also measured. Each APG parameter was assessed by comparing measured data with the standard aging curves. A significant negative correlation was obtained between the parameter--b/a and Pb-B. The exposure group showed significantly lower values of parameters--b/a (p < 0.01) and d/a (p < 0.05) than the control group. The parameter--b/a in the exposure group dose-dependently decreased with increases in length of working career (duration of exposure to lead) and Pb-B. The parameter--b/a significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in subjects with working careers of 5 years or more and in subjects whose Pb-B was 40 micrograms/100 ml or more. These results suggest that lead exposure affects peripheral hemodynamics as evaluated by APG.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A four-year follow-up study on subjective symptoms and functional capacities in workers using hand-held grinders.

Fifty-three grinders in the metal industry were re-examined 4 years after their first examination. Information about age, occupation, daily vibration exposure, drinking and smoking habits, and presence of subjective symptoms such as vibration-induced white finger (VWF), and numbness and pain in the fingers was collected during the first and second examination. Cold provocation test (10 degrees C/10 min) was also employed to evaluate disturbances in the peripheral circulatory and peripheral nerves in all subjects. The frequency-weighted vibration acceleration of various types of hand-held tools was measured. There was no subject with VWF at the first examination; however, during the course of follow-up, two cases (3.8%) of VWF with latent interval of more than 25 years were diagnosed. Prevalence of numbness in the fingers and shoulder stiffness was significantly higher at the second examination. When the prevalence of subjective symptoms was tested by the subjects' total operating time (TOT) during the 4-year follow-up period, those whose TOT was equal to or more than 2500 hours showed higher prevalence compared to the other subgroup. The paired values of recovery rate of finger skin temperature and vibration sensation threshold after the cold water immersion test were significantly different at the first and second examination. On average, the diminution of hand-grip force during the 4-year follow-up course was 7.4%; the difference being significant at 0.01 level. Significant differences in the paired data of pinching power and tapping ability could be detected. The frequency-weighted vibration acceleration of various tools was in the range of 1.1-4.6 m/s2. It was concluded that: (1) prolonged occupational exposure to the vibration of hand-held grinding tools should be considered as a risk factor causing disturbances in the hand-arm system of the operators; (2) the results of recovery rate of finger skin temperature and the vibration sensation threshold seemed to be appropriate indicators for the assessment of peripheral vascular and peripheral nerve disturbances in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration; and (3) to reduce the subjects' physical stress, attention should be paid to ergonomic factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A study on the effects of countermeasures for vibrating tool workers using an impact wrench.

The aims of this study were (1) to measure frequency-weighted vibration acceleration and (2) to study the effects of introducing a vibration-proof impact wrench on VWF in workers. The subject pool was 383 male workers who were regularly using an impact wrench and taking special medical examinations for vibration syndrome in a factory from 1982 to 1999. The prevalence of workers with VWF increased gradually after 1982, reached a peak value (4.8%) in 1986, gradually decreased after 1987, and disappeared in 1994. Sixteen subjects who had had VWF at least one time during the observation period were selected for this study. The stages of VWF were at stage I on the Stockholm Workshop scale in all subjects. After the vibration-proof impact wrench was introduced in 1986, the vibration acceleration of the impact wrench measured on the handle decreased from 8.6-11.1 m/s2 to 5.1-7.1 m/s2. The actual time per day that subjects were assumed to use the impact wrench was 108 minutes. The subjects actually used an impact wrench more than the occupational exposure limit allowed. However, VWF disappeared after the introduction of a vibration-proof impact wrench. This might have resulted from the combined effect of introducing the vibration-proof impact wrench and certain countermeasures that were taken against cold working environments.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Increase of the cellular growth of old human diploid fibroblasts by radical scavenger: methanolic extract of broad beans.

The methanolic extract from broad beans (MEBB), which is comprised of phenolic compounds, has free-radical scavenging activity. The effects of MEBB on cytosolic antioxidant enzymes and cell proliferation were examined in cultures of old (78-84% life-span completed) WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts. Because catechin is polyphenol and has radical scavenging activity, it was used as the control in experiments. We observed that MEBB increased cellular growth when added to the cell culture. In MEBB at 40 and 120 micrograms/mL, the cell proliferation increased by 14 and 27%, respectively, as compared to the control. In catechin, cell proliferation increased as well. Regarding cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, treatment of old cells with MEBB at 40 and 120 micrograms/mL resulted in decreases as compared to the control. In contrast, catechin showed no similarities to the modification of GSH-Px activity. Cytosolic SOD activity was increased by treatment with 40 micrograms/mL MEBB, and the activity showed a gradual decrease with increased MEBB concentrations. A similar trend occurred in the cells treated with catechin (4-20 microM). These results suggest that cytosolic antioxidant enzyme activities in old cells may be modulated by MEBB treatment. We conclude that there may be a relation between the optimum MEBB concentration for the increase of cellular growth and the MEBB concentration required to exhibit a decrease in GSH-Px activity.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1999

The SHAP-HA complex in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum derived hyaluronan (HA) associated protein-hyaluronan (SHAP-HA) complex in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) and determine levels of the complex in comparison with those of hyaluronan (HA), in order to assess the role of the complex as an indicator of joint inflammation. METHODS: ELISA and HA binding assays were used for quantitation of the SHAP-HA complex and HA levels in serum samples from 142 patients (114 with RA, 28 with OA) and 31 healthy controls. Clinical evaluations were also performed. RESULTS: In some RA sera, SHAP-HA complex levels were extremely high compared to control levels, but in OA sera no marked increase was observed compared to controls. This was also the case with the HA levels compared between RA and OA sera. However, in RA the levels of the SHAP-HA complex appear to be more related to clinical variables than are levels of HA, and the most significant correlations between levels of SHAP-HA complex and HA were found in the RA group. CONCLUSION: Quantitation of the SHAP-HA complex in sera may be useful as a joint marker that directly correlates to the degree of joint inflammation in RA, and offers new insight into the pathogenesis of arthritis. It may also serve as an independent criterion in the subsequent classification of RA and OA.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[A case of solitary metastatic lung tumor from follicular carcinoma of the thyroid in hemodialysis patient].

A 61-year-old female was admitted for abnormal shadow of chest X-ray film. The patient has been treated with hemodialysis for chronic renal failure since February 16, 1982, and was performed total thyroidectomy for follicular carcinoma of thyroid on October 24, 1989. Chest X-ray on September 8, 1994 showed the abnormal shadow of right lower lung, chest CT revealed tumor shadow which is suspected to malignancy. We performed partial resection of right lung including tumor on October 19, 1994. Histological examination certified the lung metastasis of follicular carcinoma of thyroid. Postoperative course has been uneventful and there has been no episode of recurrence for 3 years and half after the surgery. We reported this very few case with solitary metastatic lung tumor from follicular carcinoma of thyroid with a review of the literature.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed1999

[Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in ambient air in the city of Gdańsk].

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides such as DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, HCB and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in ambient are samples collected in city of Gdańsk in 1991-1992 to understand concentrations, sources and seasonal distribution. Polyurethane foam plugs were used as adsorbents for collection of persitent organochlorines in ambient air samples. Identification and quantification of organochlorines were carried out using a capillary column gas chromatography and ECD (63Ni) detection. HCB, alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD and PCBs were detected in all samples, while the constituents of technical chlordan were absent in concentration above the detection limit of the method (trans-chlordane < 14 pg/m3, cis-chlordane < 8.1 pg/m3 and trans-nonachlor < 7.4 pg/m3). The concentrations of HCB and PCBs were depended on the air temperatures, hence their main source can be related to a process of degasing from the soil.

Air↗
PubMed1999

Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation treatment on lengthened callus.

We examined the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO2) treatment on lengthened callus. The left tibias of 18 immature rabbits were progressively lengthened 14 mm by external fixator. They were divided into three groups of six each. The early HBO2 treatment group was exposed to HBO2 (3 atm abs, 2 h x day(-1)) once a day for the waiting period and the elongation period (17 days), the late HBO2 treatment group was exposed to HBO2 (same condition) for 17 days after the elongation period, and the control group received no HBO2 treatment. The radiographic examinations showed a tendency toward rapid callus formation in the early HBO2 treatment group. The percentage of bone mineral density evaluated using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in the early HBO2 group was significantly higher than that in the control group for 4 wk after the elongation period. These results suggest that HBO2 in the waiting and elongation periods enhances lengthened callus formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Pedicle bone grafting versus transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head--four patients with both procedures.

The clinical and radiographic results of vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting (PBG) and Sugioka's transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy of the femoral head (ARO) for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head were compared. Four male patients with bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head were treated with PBG in the first hip and with ARO in the second. All patients had stage 2 or 3 involvement according to Ficat's classification. Average age at the time of PBG and ARO was 42 and 43 years, respectively. Average follow-up of PBG and ARO was 7.5 and 5.7 years. At final follow-up, the average Harris hip scores of PBG and ARO were 73 and 85, respectively. Collapse was observed in 3 PBG hips and in 1 ARO hip. Three patients were more satisfied with the ARO procedure than with the PBG treatment, and one patient was undecided. ARO was considered better surgical treatment than PBG from both a clinical and radiological perspective.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the Vistula river water].

The composition and loads of organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCBs, HCHs, CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) transported with the Vistula River waters to the Gulf of Gdansk in 1991-1992 has been determined. The method of organochlorine compounds measurement was capillary gas chromatography with ECD after adsorption of the analyte on Ambertlite XAD-2, resin and subsequent elution, clean-up and HPLC fraction of the extract. The concentrations of DDTs, HCBs, HCHs, CHLs and PCBs in the Vistula River water ranged between 120-840, 7.6-52, 1600-410,000, 8.1-57 and 120-300 pg/l, respectively. During 12 months period of the study the total load of DDTs, HCBz, HCHs, CHLs and PCBs transported with the Vistula River water to the Gulf of Gdańsk was assessed on 10.54, 0.73, 1377, 0.38 and 5.02 kg, respectively.

Environmental Pollutants↗
PubMed1999

Analysis of urinary concentrations of calcium phosphate crystal-associated proteins: alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, prothrombin F1, and osteopontin.

It has been reported that prothrombin F1 and osteopontin (OPN) have strong inhibitory effects on calcium oxalate crystallization and are produced in stone-forming kidneys in animal models. It is important to evaluate urinary concentrations of these proteins for patients with renal stones and healthy control subjects. Urinary macromolecules were collected from nine healthy individuals, nine stone-formers, and five patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Each 50-mg aliquot of urinary macromolecules was mixed with calcium phosphate solution, and calcium phosphate crystal-precipitated proteins (alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, prothrombin F1, and OPN) were obtained. The proteins were analyzed by anion-exchange chromatography. Furthermore, OPN levels in whole urine from 18 healthy individuals, 31 stone-formers, and two patients with HPT were measured using a new enzyme immunoassay system. The elution peaks for prothrombin and OPN were significantly smaller for the stone-formers and patients with HPT, compared with the healthy control subjects. Urinary concentrations of OPN assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay were significantly lower for stone-formers. Lower urinary excretion of prothrombin F1 and OPN by stone-formers might be one of the reasons for stone formation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of sodium hyaluronate on experimental osteoarthritis in rabbit knee joints.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of intraarticular administration of hyaluronan (HA) on cartilage degradation. Using a partial menisectomy model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the rabbit knee, the authors investigated the catabolic and anabolic changes induced by intraarticular injection of HA. To analyze anabolic changes, the authors assessed cell proliferation by measuring [3H] thymidine uptake, and proteoglycan biosynthesis by noting [35S] sulfate incorporation. For catabolic changes, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in cartilage and synovium were detected with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of significance for blocking the development of early OA in chondrocytes was the finding that total proteoglycan synthesis in the HA treatment group was significantly higher than in the controls. At the mRNA level in cartilage and synovium, HA inhibited MMP-3 and TIMP-1 production in the same way in the HA treatment group, while not affecting MMP-1 production. Thus it can be concluded that HA affects cartilage catabolism and anabolism to prevent the progress of OA.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Virtual reality in a children's hospital.

We used virtual reality technology to improve the quality of life and amenity of in-patients in a children's hospital. Children in the hospital could enjoy a zoo, amusement park, and aquarium, in virtual. They played soccer, skiing and horse riding in virtual. They could communicate with persons who were out of the hospital and attend the school which they had gone to before entering hospital. They played music with children who had been admitted to other children's hospitals. By using this virtual technology, the quality of life of children who suffered from psychological and physiological stress in the hospital greatly improved. It is not only useful for their QOL but also for the healing of illness. However, these methods are very rare. Our systemic in our children's hospital is the first to be reported in Japan both software and hardware of virtual reality technology to increase the QOL of sick children need further development.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Effects of concurrent exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene and vitamin A on fetal development in rats.

To investigate the effect of the environmental pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on retinoic acid-induced teratogenesis, all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) dissolved in corn oil (120 mg/kg) was administered orally to pregnant rats at the 11th day of gestation with and without the prior intraperitoneal treatment with 10 mg/kg 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) for 3 days. Dams were killed on the 20th day of pregnancy. The examinations of fetuses revealed that 3-MC barely enough to cause induction of P-450 in pregnant dams had profound embryo-toxic effects: the fetal resorption amounted to approximately 60% of total number of implantations. The fetuses survived weighed less than the control fetuses. All of RA-treated mothers had fetuses with abnormalities, and the main malformations were absence of tail (100%), caudal and sacral malformations (100%), and cleft palate (42%). Pregnant dams received both 3-MC and RA had a reduced severity of tail anomaly (33%), while the rest, 67%, had short vestigial tail. Caudal and sacral malformations were detected but at a milder degree. We did not observe cleft palate in this group. The concurrent treatment of dams with 3-MC and RA led to an increased inducibility of cytochrome P-450 and subsequently, CYP1A1 dependent enzyme activity higher than those observed after the injection of 3-MC alone. UDP-glucuronyl-transferase activity was also markedly induced in concurrent 3-MC and RA group higher than that in 3-MC alone. We suggest that the induction of P-450 and alteration of metabolic enzyme activities may play an important role in reducing the teratogenic potency of RA. However, RA-treatment did not retard the embryo-toxic effect of 3-MC but rather potentiated.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1999

Effects of vector-averaged gravity on NF-kappa B activation in human osteoblast-like cells.

We have recently demonstrated that a transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), plays a key role in the production of cytokine and cell adhesion molecules in osteoblastic cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of vector-averaged gravity (clinostat rotation) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappa B in human osteoblastic HOS-TE85 cells. After a 72-hr clinostat culture, the cells were treated with TNF-alpha for 30 min. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay using the nuclear extracts revealed that the DNA-binding activity of NF-kappa B was substantially reduced in clinostat-cultured cells compared with the stationary control. Concomitantly, the transactivation of NF-kappa B was examined by a transfection study. The cells were transfected with a plasmid expressing a luciferase reporter gene driven by multimerized NF-kappa B sites. They were cultured in the clinostat for 48-hr, followed by a 4-hr treatment with TNF-alpha. Clinostat culture resulted in a significant decrease in the luciferase activities, being consistent with the decreased binding of NF-kappa B. These results indicate that exposure of HOS-TE85 cells to vector-averaged gravity impairs NF-kappa B activation by TNF-alpha.

DNA↗
PubMed1999

Matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, and glycosaminoglycans in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of metalloproteinase (MMP) -2, -3, and -9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and -2, chondroitin 4-, 6-sulfate (deltadi-C4S, deltadi-C6S), hyaluronic acid (deltadi-HA), antigenic keratan sulfate (KS), and radiologic grade in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to assess the clinical value of these factors as disease markers. METHODS: Enzyme linked immunoassays and high performance liquid chromatography were used. SF samples were collected from 52 patients with RA. Radiographic (Larsen grade) and clinical evaluations were also done. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the concentrations of MMP, TIMP, and deltadi-C4S, deltadi-C6S, deltadi-HA, and antigenic KS. No significant correlations were found between the radiologic grade and the concentrations of MMP or TIMP in SF. There was a significant increase in the concentration of antigenic KS and deltadi-C6S/deltadi-C4S ratio in SF from patients with Larsen grade 2 compared to grade 5. A significant correlation between deltadi-C6S and antigenic KS concentrations in SF was observed. CONCLUSION: Although there were large variances between the samples in this study, proteoglycan metabolism in the cartilage matrix of the patients with RA might have been increased in the early phases of tissue destruction and decreased in advanced stages because of scanty cartilage tissue. The concentrations of MMP-2, -3, -9 and TIMP-1, -2 in SF did not seem to be influenced by the amount of residual cartilage.

Aged↗