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Biomedical subjects

H Oku

Publications and source records attributed to H Oku.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Circulating atrial natriuretic polypeptide during exercise in patients with essential hypertension.

We studied the relationship between haemodynamic measurements and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels during exercise in patients with essential hypertension. The exercise protocol consisted of three fixed work loads (25, 50 and 75 W) using a supine bicycle ergometer. Plasma ANP levels and haemodynamic indices were measured before and during each stage of exercise. Plasma ANP levels and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) significantly increased at the maximum work load. Significant correlations of PAWP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) to plasma ANP levels were observed at four points obtained before and during each stage of exercise (PAWP, r = 0.83, P less than 0.001; MAP, r = 0.48, P less than 0.01). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation between shortening fraction (SF), estimated by M-mode echocardiography, and plasma ANP levels at 75 W work load was also observed (r = -0.66, P less than 0.01). These results suggest that the increase of circulating ANP levels during exercise in essential hypertensive subjects may be associated with elevated left atrial pressure and arterial pressure, or left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Adult↗

[Left ventricular wall motion abnormalities evaluated by factor analysis as compared with Fourier analysis].

Factor analysis was applied to multigated cardiac pool scintigraphy to evaluate its ability to detect left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in 35 patients with old myocardial infarction (MI), and in 12 control cases with normal left ventriculography. All cases were also evaluated by conventional Fourier analysis. In most cases with normal left ventriculography, the ventricular and atrial factors were extracted by factor analysis. In cases with MI, the third factor was obtained in the left ventricle corresponding to wall motion abnormality. Each case was scored according to the coincidence of findings of ventriculography and those of factor analysis or Fourier analysis. Scores were recorded for three items; the existence, location, and degree of asynergy. In cases of MI, the detection rate of asynergy was 94% by factor analysis, 83% by Fourier analysis, and the agreement in respect to location was 71% and 66%, respectively. Factor analysis had higher scores than Fourier analysis, but this was not significant. The interobserver error of factor analysis was less than that of Fourier analysis. Factor analysis can display locations and dynamic motion curves of asynergy, and it is regarded as a useful method for detecting and evaluating left ventricular wall motion abnormalities.

Adult↗

Dietary fat dependence of intestinal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in rats.

The effects of dietary fats on intestinal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity were studied in rats. Animals were fed experimental diets ad libitum for 7-13 d then killed in the morning for the determination of the reductase activity in an epithelial cell homogenate. When corn oil was the source of dietary fat, the specific activity of jejunal reductase depicted a biphasic pattern in response to dietary fat level with a peak activity when the diet contained 10% fat (by weight) whereas the specific activity of ileal reductase was independent of the fat level. Reductase activities were apparently independent of the degree of saturation of dietary fat (safflower oil, olive oil, lard and tallow) when each was fed as 10% of the diet. Both jejunal and ileal reductase activities were higher when trilaurin was fed than when other saturated fats (tricaprylin, trimyristin, tripalmitin and tristearin) were fed. The jejunum synthesized more cholesterol than the ileum. There was no significant correlation among the reductase activity, cholesterol content of the epithelial cells and the rate of fat absorption, suggesting a complex regulatory mechanism.

Animals↗

An adult case of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

A forty-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of dizziness, palpitations and an oppressive feeling in the precordium. Physical examination was normal. A chest roentgenogram revealed mild cardiomegaly and the electrocardiogram showed ventricular tachycardia of a left bundle branch block configuration which was terminated by the intravenous injection of procainamide. During sinus rhythm the electrocardiogram showed incomplete right bundle branch block, PQ prolongation and inverted T waves in leads V1 through V3. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed only moderate right ventricular dilatation. Right ventricular angiography showed severe right ventricular dilatation and hypokinesis of the right ventricular apex and pulmonary artery infundibulum. From these characteristics signs we concluded that this adult patient had arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), suggesting that this condition is not confined to children but may occur in adults as well.

Adult↗

[Cardiovascular hemodynamics in patients with essential hypertension during multi-stage exercise].

We investigated cardiovascular hemodynamics in patients with essential hypertension at rest and during exercise. Eight patients with borderline hypertension (Group B), 18 patients with sustained hypertension, and 10 normotensive subjects (Group N) were studied. Patients with sustained hypertension were categorized in two groups; 10 patients without cardiac hypertrophy (Group NH), and eight patients with cardiac hypertrophy (Group HH). To assess the cardiovascular hemodynamics, M-mode echocardiograms, electrocardiograms and carotid pulses were recorded during multistage exercise using a supine bicycle ergometer. Blood pressure was measured simultaneously by the cuff method. At rest, isovolumic relaxation times (IRT) in Groups NH and HH were significantly prolonged as compared with that of Group N. The IRT of Group HH was significantly prolonged as compared with that of Group NH (Group N: 0.06 +/- 0.01 sec, Group B: 0.07 +/- 0.01 sec, Group NH: 0.08 +/- 0.02 sec, Group HH: 0.09 +/- 0.01 sec, respectively). Only the atrial filling fraction of Group HH was significantly increased over that of Group N (Group N: 25.6 +/- 12.1%, Group B; 30.0 +/- 8.1%, Group NH: 27.9 +/- 11.3%, and Group HH: 41.4 +/- 13.1%, respectively). The total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) in Groups NH and HH was significantly increased over that of Group N (Group N: 1600 +/- 224 dyne/sec/cm-5, Group B: 1704 +/- 465 dyne/sec/cm-5, Group NH: 2370 +/- 608 dyne/sec/cm-5, and Group HH: 3290 +/- 1598 dyne/sec/cm-5, respectively). There was no significant difference in the cardiac index, ejection fraction or heart rate among all groups at rest and during exercise. However, the difference between TPR at rest and TPR at a load of 75 watt (delta TPR) was increased in Groups NH and Group HH over Group N (Group N: 558 +/- 166 dyne/sec/cm-5, Group B: 614 +/- 336 dyne/sec/cm-5, Group NH: 883 +/- 415 dyne/sec/cm-5, and Group HH: 1306 +/- 774 dyne/sec/cm-5, respectively). From these findings, we concluded that there is early diastolic left ventricular dysfunction in Groups NH and HH, and that the degree is more distinct in Group HH. It seems that systolic left ventricular function of both groups is normal during moderate exercise loads, and marked reduction of the TPR in both groups during exercise may be caused by marked peripheral vascular dilatation.

Adult↗

[Left ventricular function in essential hypertension during isoproterenol infusion].

The left ventricular function of 23 patients with essential hypertension was investigated during infusion of isoproterenol (ISP). These patients consisted of 13 without cardiac hypertrophy (Group NH) and 10 with cardiac hypertrophy (Group HH). Ten normotensive subjects served as normal controls. To assess left ventricular functions, M-mode echocardiograms were recorded at rest and after ISP infusion for 5 minutes (0.005 and 0.01 microgram/kg/min). There were no significant differences in peak negative dD/dt in all groups at rest. But peak negative dD/dt of Group HH significantly decreased after an infusion of 0.005 microgram/kg/min ISP (Group N: 3.43 +/- 0.69, Group NH: 3.15 +/- 0.61, and Group HH: 2.49 +/- 0.48 cm/sec, respectively). The peak negative dD/dt of Group HH was also significantly decreased after a dose of 0.01 microgram/kg/min. Among all patients with hypertension, peak negative dD/dt correlated inversely with left ventricular mass (LVM) after the infusion of ISP (0.005 microgram/kg/min: r = -0.64, p less than 0.001, 0.01 microgram/kg/min: r = -0.68, p less than 0.001). The peak positive dD/dt of Group HH was significantly decreased only when compared with that of Group N at rest (Group N: 3.15 +/- 0.75, Group NH: 3.02 +/- 0.86, and Group HH: 1.92 +/- 0.68 cm/sec, respectively). The difference between the peak positive dD/dt of Group HH and that of Group N was more prominent after the infusion of ISP than at rest. Among all patients with hypertension, the peak positive dD/dt was inversely related to LVM at rest (r = -0.64, p less than 0.002). There was a similar relation between the two indexes after the infusion of ISP. Peak positive dD/dt was related to peak negative dD/dt after a dose of 0.01 microgram/kg/min in Group HH (r = 0.67, p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in heart rate, change in blood pressure, or total peripheral vascular resistance after the infusion of ISP. It is concluded that diastolic left ventricular dysfunction and latent systolic left ventricular dysfunction are related to increased LVM in Group HH. It seems that after the infusion of ISP severe diastolic left ventricular dysfunction is related to latent systolic left ventricular dysfunction.

Adult↗

Reconstruction of pulmonary artery with substitute valve--with special reference to size of conduit and valve.

Operative risk factors and postoperative late results were evaluated in 26 patients undergoing pulmonary artery reconstruction with a substitute valve. Seventeen extracardiac conduits bearing a valve were used in 16 patients and an in situ pulmonary valve insertion was carried out in the other 10. The surgical results were influenced by complexity of the underlying cardiac lesions and pulmonary vascular status, with a high mortality rate in patients with several cardiac defects including single ventricle, asplenia syndrome, complete atrioventricular canal etc. The mortality rate was 6% in patients with an immediate post-repair Ppv/sv of less than 0.75 and 77.8% in those with a Ppv/sv over 0.75. Postoperative Ppv/sv was mainly regulated by valve area index and a close correlation was obtained for the regression equation Ppv/sv = 0.41/(VAI)2 + 0.36 (r = -0.61, p less than 0.05). To obtain excellent hemodynamics with a Ppv/sv of less than 0.50, valve area index should be over 1.7 cm2/M2, and to eliminate re-implantation of the conduit after reaching adulthood, the diameter of the conduit should be 18 mm or more and the valve size 23 A, or more when a SJM valve is used.

Adolescent↗

The distribution of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in the small intestine of rats fed raw or gelatinized starch as a carbohydrate source.

The effect of gelatinization of dietary starch (wheat, corn and potato) on the distribution of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase along the small intestine of rats was studied in villus and crypt cell populations isolated by graduated scraping. Gelatinized starch preferentially stimulated jejunal reductase activity in both villus and crypt cells and consequently retained the ileojejunal gradient for the reductase activity which is characteristic for rats fed on a sucrose- or glucose-enriched semi-purified diet. The distribution of the reductase in rats fed the raw starches, however, depended on the degree of gelatinization of the preparations; raw wheat starch maintained the ileojejunal gradient, whereas the corn or potato starch eliminated the gradient, and with the latter in particular, the reductase activity tended to be higher in the ileum than in the jejunum. The digestibility of dietary starches seems to be closely related to the intertissue distribution of the intestinal HMG-CoA reductase activity.

Animals↗

Reversible inactivation-reactivation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase of rat intestine.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in the ileum of rats was inactivated by Mg2+-ATP and reversibly reactivated by cytoplasmic activator from the liver. The mevalonate kinase reaction was presumably not involved in this inactivation. Studies of nucleotide specificity for the inactivation revealed that ATP was most effective in the reaction among the nucleotides tested. In contrast to the hepatic microsomal HMG-CoA reductase, more than one-half of intestinal reductase existed in an active form. These observations indicated the presence of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation mechanism for modulation of intestinal HMG-CoA reductase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗