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Biomedical subjects

H Miki

Publications and source records attributed to H Miki.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Prevalence of sleep apnea among Japanese industrial workers determined by a portable sleep monitoring system.

We developed a new portable sleep monitoring system and studied the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome among Japanese industrial workers. This device assessed three kinds of parameters: nasal airflow, tracheal sound and electrocardiogram (ECG), and digitally stored the clock time of the onset of apnea, apnea duration and R-R intervals by a built-in microcomputer. After monitoring, the portable sleep monitor was connected to a host computer, and apneic episodes, the so-called 'apnea index' as apneic episodes corrected by measuring time ('AI') and R-R intervals were analyzed. In 170 inpatients referred to our sleep clinic, sleep monitoring by this device was performed simultaneously with all-night polysomnography, and the sensitivity and specificity of this device was determined under different criteria of the apnea index (AI) (AI > 5, 10, 15 and 20 episodes/h) by polysomnography. In all AI criteria, the sensitivity was more than 90%, and the specificity was also reasonably high. Using this system, successive 2-night home sleep monitoring was performed on 168 healthy workers in one Japanese industrial company, and 159 people (140 males; 19 females) who had successful monitoring were analyzed. The percentage of persons who had 'AI' of more than 10 episodes/h was 7.5%. There were no significant correlations between 'AI' and age, body weight or scores estimated by sleep questionnaires. These results suggest that even in people who are seemingly healthy significant apneic episodes could be detected by the portable home sleep monitoring system. This system may therefore be useful in evaluating the occurrence of sleep apnea syndrome in general populations.

Adolescent↗

[Inhibitory effect of prior panretinal photocoagulation on experimental iris neovascularization].

We could produce iris neovascularization experimentally in rhesus monkey eyes, by occlusion of the major retinal vessels of the retina and persistent ocular hypotony. We confirmed that panretinal photocoagulation inhibits development of iris neovascularization. We evaluated the effect of panretinal photocoagulation one month before occlusion of major retinal vessels with secondary iris neovascularization in 3 monkey eyes. Rubeosis iridis appeared on day 5 and disappeared on day 14 after retinal vessel occlusion. Histologically, the newly formed vessels near the iris surface showed fenestrations and protruded into the anterior chamber. The endothelial cells were flat and similar to matured vessels. These findings were in sharp contrast to our previous experiments with panretinal photocoagulation after rubeosis iridis became manifest. The findings also showed that retinal scarring by preceding panretinal photocoagulation did not completely inhibit the iris neovascularization.

Animals↗

Incidence of ultrasonographically-detected thyroid nodules in healthy adults.

We studied the incidence of thyroid nodules in healthy adults, who had no history of thyroid disease, in Tokushima, Japan, where goiter is not considered endemic. Examination was performed by palpation and using a 10-MHz real-time sonographic scanner. Palpable thyroid nodules were present in two (0.9%) of 227 men and in four (1.8%) of 224 women. On the other hand, nodules were detected by ultrasonography in 42 men (18.5%) and 47 women (21.0%). There was no significant difference in the incidence detected by ultrasonography between men and women in any of the age groups, except in men above 60 years old. It is concluded that thyroid nodules are not an uncommon disorder even in men. Since, clinically, the incidence of nodularity appears to be higher in women than in men, there may be difference between men and women in the development of nodules until they become clinically detectable.

Adult↗

[The mechanism of pleural liquid transudation and absorption following a new hypothesis].

We have put forward a hypothesis that the pleural fluid is filtered at the arterial ends of the pleural blood capillaries and is absorbed mainly at the venous ends, partly at the lymphatic channels, as it is in the other tissues. Then we have calculated the pleural liquid pressure following the Starling equation applying the ordinary value of factors. The result is that the calculated pleural liquid pressure is low enough to expand the lung.

Capillaries↗

[A case of central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome associated with cerebral infarction].

Central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome (CAH), or Ondine's curse, is a very rare disease characterized by dysfunction of respiratory center in the brain stem. Here, we report a case of CAH associated with cerebral infarction. A 59-year-old man developed right facial sensory deficit at age 56. Then, the facial sensory deficit spread to the left side and dysarthria and dysphagia also developed. Since age 58, he often developed respiratory failure and consciousness disturbance. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed alveolar hypoventilation and respiratory acidosis. Disorders of peripheral organs such as lung, airway, thorax and neuromuscular diseases were ruled out. Brain MRI showed cerebral infarction in the brain stem. We diagnosed him as CAH associated with brain stem infarction.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Observation of the FeIV=O stretching Raman band for a thiolate-ligated heme protein. Compound I of chloroperoxidase.

The FeIV=O stretching vibration has never been identified for a cysteine-coordinated heme enzyme. In this study, resonance Raman and visible absorption spectra were observed simultaneously for transient species in the catalytic reaction of chloroperoxidase with hydrogen peroxide by using our original apparatus for mixed-flow and Raman/absorption simultaneous measurements. For the first intermediate, the FeIV=O stretching Raman band was observed at 790 cm-1, which shifted to 756 cm-1 with the 18O derivative, but the v4 band was too weak to be identified. This suggested the formation of an oxoferryl porphyrin pi cation radical. The second intermediate gave an intense v4 band at 1,372 cm-1 but no oxygen isotope-sensitive Raman band, suggesting oxygen exchange with bulk water.

Chloride Peroxidase↗

Regional distribution of histamine in the brain of non-mammalian vertebrates.

The histamine contents in the brains of various species of non-mammalian vertebrates were determined by an HPLC-fluorometric method. The whole brain contents of histamine in birds (200-500 pmoles/g) were comparable to those in mammals, but were higher in reptiles (1000-13500 pmoles/g) and amphibia (1600-2200 pmoles/g) and lower in teleosts (10-50 pmoles/g). In all species, histamine was unevenly distributed, being present at highest concentrations in the diencephalon, except in teleosts, in which its content was highest in the telencephalon. The brain histamine contents were proportional to the reported densities of histamine-immunoreactive fibers.

Animals↗

Thyroid carcinoma in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

There have been few reports of coexistence of secondary hyperparathyroidism (2 degrees HPT) and thyroid carcinoma. Eleven consecutive patients with 2 degrees HPT who underwent parathyroidectomy were analyzed. They consisted of six males and five females, whose age ranged from 34 to 55 years. None of the patients had a history of irradiation of the head or neck. Associated thyroid nodules were also present in seven patients (64%): four patients with benign nodules, and three patients with papillary carcinomas, and one with papillary carcinoma and two follicular adenomas. This incidence of thyroid carcinoma in the patient group with 2 degrees HPT (36%) was significantly higher than that of the autopsy group in the same geographical area (11%). The level of carboxyl-terminal parathyroid hormone in the patients with thyroid carcinoma was higher than that in the patients without thyroid carcinoma (P less than 0.05). The importance of searching for possible thyroid cancer in patients with 2 degrees HPT should be emphasized.

Adult↗

Estimated weight of the residual parathyroid gland after parathyroidectomy using plasma levels of the parathyroid hormone.

The possibility of estimating the total weight of the parathyroid glands based on the plasma concentration of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) would be of great help when searching for the parathyroid glands during surgery on patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Thus, we studied the relationship between the levels of carboxyl-terminal PTH (C-PTH), midportion PTH (M-PTH) and intact PTH, and the weight of the parathyroid glands resected for secondary hyperparathyroidism. The subjects studied were 11 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by chronic renal failure. The pre- and post-operative differences in the plasma C-PTH levels and plasma M-PTH levels were significantly correlated with the weight of the resected parathyroid glands (p less than 0.001 for both), but there was no correlation between the differences in the levels of intact PTH and the weight of the resected parathyroid glands. From these relationships we estimated the weight of the residual parathyroid gland after parathyroidectomy using the levels of each PTH. All patients in whom the residual parathyroid gland was estimated to be heavy based on the levels of M-PTH showed recurrence of hyperparathyroidism after the parathyroidectomy. We therefore found that estimation of the weight of the parathyroid glands from the levels of M-PTH is both possible and useful.

Adult↗

Electrophysiological follow-up of acute and chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat.

Cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (c-SEP) and flash visual evoked potentials (f-VEP) were serially recorded in acute monophasic and chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the Lewis rat. In acute EAE, a significantly delayed latency and broadened peak of the c-SEP were observed corresponding to the clinical onset, and then returned to normal with the disappearance of clinical signs. In chronic EAE, the c-SEP showed the same changes as in acute EAE, also reflecting the first attack, remission and relapsing phase. However, chronic EAE, when paralysis had recovered in the relapsing phase, showed c-SEP abnormalities suggestive of subclinical active lesions. In contrast, the f-VEP showed no obvious abnormalities in acute or chronic EAE. These findings suggest that the c-SEP is an objective and sensitive index for detecting clinical and pathological changes in acute and chronic EAE in the Lewis rat.

Animals↗

Glucagon-glucose (GG) test for the estimation of the insulin reserve in diabetes.

The residual B-cell function was examined by means of the plasma C-peptide response 6 min after a combined injection of glucagon and glucose (GG test) or conventional glucagon test (G test) in four insulin-dependent diabetic patients (IDDM group), in 18 diabetic patients treated with insulin (Insulin group), 31 treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (SU group) and 27 treated with diet only (Diet group) and in 22 borderline cases. By GG test, 6-min C-peptide values of the IDDM group were 0.27 +/- 0.05 nM (n = 4) and were significantly lower than those of the Insulin group (0.89 +/- 0.09 nM, n = 12), the SU group (1.42 +/- 0.10 nM, n = 13), the Diet group (2.47 +/- 0.22 nM, n = 11) and the borderline cases (3.38 +/- 0.22 nM, n = 11). Patients with a 6-min C-peptide concentration below 0.75 nM by GG test appeared to be insulin-requiring patients. In the G test, plasma C-peptide concentrations at 6 min were 0.35 +/- 0.08 nM in the IDDM group (n = 2), 0.72 +/- 0.20 nM in the Insulin group (n = 7), 1.08 +/- 0.09 nM in the SU group (n = 20), 1.40 +/- 0.19 nM in the Diet group (n = 17) and 2.05 +/- 0.21 nM in the borderline cases (n = 12). Some of the Diet group patients showed extremely low C-peptide responses. When comparing the GG test and G test in individual cases, a greater C-peptide response was seen with the GG test in all cases except for IDDM patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effects of posture on flow-volume curves during normocapnia and hypercapnia in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND: A high ratio of forced expiratory to forced inspiratory maximal flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF50/FIF50) may identify upper airway dysfunction. Since hypercapnia increases the motor activity of airway dilating muscles its effects on the maximum expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume curves (MEIFV) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and in normal subjects in different postures was studied. METHODS: The effects of posture on the maximum expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume curves during the breathing of air and 7% carbon dioxide in 11 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea were compared with those in nine normal subjects. Measurements were made in the sitting, supine, and right lateral recumbent positions. Forced expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity (FEF50), forced inspiratory flow at 50% vital capacity (FIF50) and FEF50/FIF50 were determined. RESULTS: In the normal subjects FEF50, FIF50, and FEF50/FIF50 were not affected by change in posture or by breathing carbon dioxide. In the patients there was a fall in FIF50 and an increase in FEF50/FIF50 when breathing air in the supine position compared with values in the seated and lateral position. While they were breathing carbon dioxide there was a slight increase in FEF50 when patients were seated or in the lateral position compared with values during air breathing. Hypercapnia abolished the effects of posture on FEF50/FIF50. Values for FEF50/FIF50 in the supine position while they were breathing air correlated with the apnoeic index but not with other polysomnographic data. CONCLUSION: In patients with obstructive sleep apnoea the upper airway is prone to collapse during inspiration when the patient is supine, even when awake; this tendency can be reversed by breathing carbon dioxide.

Adult↗

Effects of pharyngeal lubrication on the opening of obstructed upper airway.

We examined the effect of electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve and pharyngeal lubrication with artificial surfactant (Surfactant T-A) on the opening of obstructed upper airway in nine anesthetized supine dogs. The upper airway was isolated from the lower airway by transecting the cervical trachea. Upper airway obstruction was induced by applying constant negative pressures (5, 10, 20, and 30 cmH2O) on the rostral cut end of the trachea. Peripheral cut ends of the hypoglossal nerves were electrically stimulated by square-wave pulses at various frequencies from 10 to 30 Hz (0.2-ms duration, 5-7 V), and the critical stimulating frequency necessary for opening the obstructed upper airway was measured at each driving pressure before and after pharyngeal lubrication with artificial surfactant. The critical stimulation frequency for upper airway opening significantly increased as upper airway pressure became more negative and significantly decreased with lubrication of the upper airway. These findings suggest that greater muscle tone of the genioglossus is needed to open the occluded upper airway with larger negative intraluminal pressure and that lubrication of the pharyngeal mucosa with artificial surfactant facilitates reopening of the upper airway.

Airway Obstruction↗

Effects of repetitive airway obstruction on O2 saturation and systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure in anesthetized dogs.

We examined the effects of multiple repetitive airway obstruction (RAO) on arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure in eight anesthetized spontaneously breathing dogs. SaO2 was monitored at the tongue with a pulse oximeter. RAO created by an electrical valve that was attached to a tracheal cannula was alternated with seven consecutive spontaneous breaths until the nadir SaO2 (nSaO2) became constant or decreased to less than 35%. Tracheal occlusion durations of 15, 30, 45 and 60 s were chosen arbitrarily. In each animal nSaO2 decreased with every trial number in an exponential fashion, and the rate of nSaO2 fall was greater for the longer occlusion duration. In each animal the increases in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and systemic arterial pressure (SAP) were inversely related to the nSaO2 values, and the relationship between nSaO2 and PAP or SAP was identical for all occlusion durations. Moreover, when the animals breathed pure oxygen and SaO2 did not decrease, there were no significant increases in the PAP and SAP at similar levels of pleural pressure (Ppl). In another six dogs, the effects of RAO on PAP and SAP were compared with those of intermittent hypoxic exposure without apnea, which was achieved by the inhalation of hypoxic gas (4 to 6% O2, 5% CO2 in N2) instead of RAO, to examine the effects of interruption of ventilation. The relationships between nSaO2 and both pressures did not differ significantly from those during RAO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Airway Obstruction↗

Analysis of blood flow patterns in aortic aneurysm by cine magnetic resonance imaging--a review of case material.

Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (0.5-T) using rephased gradient echo technique was performed in 5 normal volunteers and 14 patients with aortic aneurysm to study the patterns of blood flow in aortic aneurysm. In the transaxial section, blood flow in normal aorta appeared as homogeneous and high intensity during systole. Blood flow in aneurysm appeared as inhomogeneous flow enhancement with flow void. In the sagittal scan, the homogeneous flow enhancement in normal aorta was also observed during systole, and its apex of flow enhancement was "taper." The blood flow patterns in aneurysm were classified as "irregular," "zonal," "eddy," and "obscure," depending on the contrast of flow enhancement and flow void. Their apexes were "taper" or "round." When the size of aneurysm became larger, the flow pattern in aneurysm tended to become "eddy" or "obscure" and the flow enhancement became "round." Though the exact mechanism of abnormal flow patterns in aneurysm remains to be determined, cine MRI gives helpful information in assessing blood flow dynamics in aneurysm.

Adult↗

[The effectiveness of anal submucosal injection of methotrexate for relapsed prostatic cancer--a case report].

The case is a 77-year-old man who was first examined in August 1980 (at age 67). Prostatic biopsy revealed a poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and clinically, diagnosis was made as stage B. Castration and DES administration were carried out. Subsequent chemotherapy with BLM, MMC, and 5-FU led to CR. A periodical check-up in September 1985 detected a pelvic lymph node metastasis, which was, however, completely remitted by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In April 1990, local relapse was noted in the left lobe of the prostate. Biopsy revealed a poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Three courses of intravenous administration of CDDP, THP, and VP-16 caused no change. From August 1990 on, anal submucosal injection of MTX was started. 20 mg of MTX administration once a week, for consecutive 5 weeks, followed by 4-week interruption on ambulatory basis formed one course. The tumor was distinctly reduced following one course, disappeared (MRI) following two courses and showed only a few viable cells (biopsy) following four courses. We consider that the present method is a hopeful new therapeutic approach.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The characteristics of interval breast cancer in mass screening.

To investigate the characteristics of interval breast cancer in mass screening, comparisons were made of the following three groups: interval group (21 interval breast cancer cases), mass screening group (87 breast cancer cases detected by mass screening) and outpatient group (266 breast cancer cases diagnosed at outpatient clinics). There were no differences among the three groups in terms of the case distribution by age or obesity, but significant differences in the case distribution according to nodal involvement and tumor size. Histological grading of the malignancy of the primary tumors disclosed that the incidence of breast cancer showing frequent mitoses was high in the interval group compared to the mass screening and outpatient groups. The 7-year cumulative disease-free survival rate was 75.3% in the interval group, 90.0% in the mass screening group and 83.1% in the outpatient group. The mean tumor size of the interval cases at the time of mass screening, back-calculated on the basis of the estimated tumor doubling time, was 1.5 cm in diameter, smaller than that of the mass screening group. It is surmised that interval breast cancer is characterized by marked proliferation of the tumor cells and has a poorer prognosis than the other group cases. These findings might be due to the marked proliferation of interval breast cancer rather than because of cases having been overlooked at the time of the last screening.

Adult↗

[A case of early onset cerebellar ataxia with hearing loss, mental disturbance and primary hypogonadism].

A 14-year-old girl, whose birth and developmental history were normal till the age of 7, was admitted to our hospital because of slowly progressive difficulties in walking, speaking and hearing. She also complained of absence of menstruation. She showed poor school records since the age of 7. On neurological examination, she showed limb and truncal ataxia. There was no nystagmus but slurred speech was found. Muscular power was good and her sensory system was normal. Tendon reflexes were equally present, and plantar reflexes were flexor. Bilateral moderate nerve deafness was also present. Mental deficiency was diagnosed on an intelligence test. Brain CT and MRI showed cerebellar atrophy. Gynecological examination revealed scanty pubic hair and small uterus. Karyotype was 46XX. Endocrinological studies demonstrated high level of FSH, low level of E2, and the normal response to pituitary stimulation with LHRH, indicating the existence of primary hypogonadism. Although the etiology of this multisystem disorder is unknown, it is possible that both nervous and endocrine disorders were genetically determined.

Adolescent↗