Biomedical subjects

H Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to H Watanabe.

At least 901 records · Page 50Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

[Endoscopic findings of esophagitis in concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for lung cancer].

We performed esophageal endoscopy with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for lung cancer in 19 patients. Endoscopical examination proved that seven patients (36.8%) had esophageal erosion or coating (grade 2), four patients (21.1%) had ulcer or bleeding (grade 3) confined to the radiation field, and only one patient (5.3%) had severe symptoms (WHO grade 3). There was a discrepancy between patients' symptoms and endoscopical findings. Endoscopically proven esophagitis, that is, erosion or coating (grade 2), and ulcer or bleeding (grade 3), was more frequent in the daily low-dose chemotherapy group (5/5) than in the full dose chemotherapy group (5/14) (p < 0.05). One patient with grade 3 endoscopial damage showed less recovery in spite of three months medication. In concurrent radiochemotherapy in which the radiation field includes the esophagus, careful attention should be given to radiation esophagitis, which may be underestimated when assessed on the basis of subjective symptoms alone. Therefore, endoscopy is recommended even if patients have few complaints, and once the esophageal ulcer is proven (grade 3), it should be closely followed up using endoscopy.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Diagnostic features and therapeutic outcome of erosive and ulcerous endobronchial tuberculosis.

SETTING AND OBJECTIVE: Erosive and ulcerous endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is distinct from pulmonary tuberculosis in some aspects. We evaluated the clinical features of 56 patients (26 males and 30 females) with EBTB to characterize the clinical features of the disease. RESULTS: The chief complaint in 70% of patients was intractable cough, particularly in those with tracheal tuberculosis. The predominant radiological features were patchy bi-apical infiltrates of variable intensity without cavitation; for six patients, however, plain radiographs revealed no abnormalities. The ulcerous lesions could be classified into three stages: active, healing and scarring. Furthermore, we divided scarring stage into two subtypes, polypoid and non-polypoid. Most of the patients were treated with isoniazid, rifampin, and streptomycin (SM) or ethambutol. Approximately one-third of the patients, not randomly selected, were treated with aerosolized SM and corticosteroids in addition to conventional oral therapy. CONCLUSION: EBTB involves typical clinical and radiographic features. In this uncontrolled series, it was our impression that the period of time to healing of ulcerous lesions seemed to be shorter in those treated with aerosol therapy including streptomycin and corticosteroids.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

KQT2, a new putative potassium channel family produced by alternative splicing. Isolation, genomic structure, and alternative splicing of the putative potassium channels.

Potassium (K+) channels are critical for a variety of cell functions, including modulation of action potentials, determination of the testing membrane potential, and development of memory and learning. Eleven mouse cDNA clones homologous to the new human putative K+ channel (designated HNSPC, which we recently reported) were isolated from the brain cDNA libraries. All these proteins coded by the isolated cDNAs were identical from the N-terminal to the sixth transmembrane domain, but exhibited differences in the sequence and length of the C-terminal cytoplasmic region. Analyses of the mouse genomic DNAs showed that these clones originated from a single gene located on mouse chromosome 2H3-4, which proved that these clones were generated by alternative RNA splicing. Since all isoforms showed significant structural identity with KVLQT1 (64% identity in the transmembrane domains), which is known to associate with IsK, they were designated mKQT2.1-mKQT2.11. Northern blot analysis indicated that the mRNAs of the mKQT2 isoforms were exclusively expressed in the brain. In the mouse cerebellum region, the localized expression of these clones in the Purkinje cell layer and Golgi cells was shown by in situ hybridization analysis. These transcripts were also detected in the mouse embryonic developmental stage (11th, 15th and 17th day); and in particular, the mRNAs for shorter forms (mKQT2.9, mKQT2.10 or mKQT2.11) were abundantly found on the 11th day after gestation. Although these mKQT2 isoforms had the characteristic structure of voltage-gated K+ channels, functional expression of K+ currents were not detected in Xenopus oocytes.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed1998

Attachment of the sphenomandibular ligament to bone during intrauterine embryo development for the control of mandibular movement.

The present study examined the relationship between jaw movement and the site of attachment of the sphenomandibular ligament, which is involved in the control of lateral jaw movement. Major fibers of this ligament are attached to the sphenoid spine and the mandibular lingula. During early stages of embryonic development, however, this ligament is not attached to the sphenoid spine. No consensus has yet been reached concerning the time at which this ligament becomes attached to this spine. The present study was performed to resolve this question and to analyze the relationship of this event of jaw movement. Attachment of the sphenomandibular ligament to the sphenoid spine was observed in fetuses at a gestational age of about 8 months (32 weeks). This may be because fetuses undergo functional changes (initiation of jaw movement such as mastication and swallowing) at this gestational age. This finding suggests that the attachment of the sphenomandibular ligament to the sphenoid spine may be related to fetal jaw movements.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗

PubMed1998

[A case of pheochromocytoma with a large pseudocyst].

We report a case of pheochromocytoma with a markedly large pseudocyst. A 51-year-old man with the complaint of headache and palpitation was referred to our hospital. Ultrasonography (US) revealed a right adrenal cystic mass. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed an adrenal cyst. MRI showed a high intensity mass in both T1 and T2-weighted-images, suggesting an adrenal hemorrhagic cyst. 131I-meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy showed a prominent accumulation at the right adrenal lesion. Considering the abnormal elevation of cathecholamines in blood and urine samples, we performed right adrenolectomy with the clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. 131I-MIBG scintigraphy was the most important diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

PubMed1998

[New approach from lipoprotein disorders to atherosclerosis].

To make diagnosis arteriosclerosis directly by biochemical markers is not easy, but to identify risk factors by biochemical markers is useful. Lipoprotein disorder is one such risk factor. Low density lipoproteins (LDL), remnants and small LDL were high risks of coronary disease in Japanese. Moreover, those incidences were significantly higher in diabetes mellitus, especially with nephropathy, and latter two lipoproteins frequently coexisted. Oxidizability of small LDL was the highest among LDLs, indicating that small LDL promotes atherosclerosis by forming oxidized lipids, which enhance complicated lesion of atherosclerosis. The mechanism by which the remnant is retained remains unknown. We measured LPL mass in preheparin serum. Preheparin LPL mass was negatively correlated with triglyceride, and positively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Further more, preheparin LPL mass was lower in remnant-positive persons, indicating that preheparin LPL mass might be involved in remnant clearance. Understanding the role and catabolism of LPL itself requires further study.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed1998

Severe corneal dystrophy phenotype caused by homozygous R124H keratoepithelin mutations.

PURPOSE: To determine the mutational status of the beta ig-h3 gene in five patients from four Japanese families affected with an unusual, severe form of corneal dystrophy. In these five cases, the corneas were remarkable for confluent round opacities in the superficial stromal layer. The beta ig-h3 gene coding for keratoepithelin was recently identified as the gene responsible for 5q-linked autosomal dominant corneal dystrophies. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from leukocytes of five patients with the severe form of corneal dystrophy. To screen for point mutations, exons of the beta ig-h3 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and were analyzed with the single-strand conformational polymorphism technique. Subsequently, the mutations were identified by a direct sequencing method and restriction enzyme digestion analysis. RESULTS: All five patients with the severe form of corneal dystrophy had homozygous R124H keratoepithelin mutations. Histopathologic examinations of the corneas obtained from two patients with the severe form showed granular, rod-shaped deposits. CONCLUSIONS: The severe phenotype was a pathologic variant of granular corneal dystrophy (GCD). All five patients had homozygous R124H keratoepithelin mutations. The R124H keratoepithelin mutation is the same mutation recently reported to be responsible for Avellino corneal dystrophy. The homozygous R124H keratoepithelin mutations are the cause of the severe variant of GCD characterized by juvenile-onset and confluent superficial opacity.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Management for the postoperative mediastinitis in infancy].

Postoperative mediastinitis is a rare but life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. We successfully managed three infants with postoperative mediastinitis. When the postoperative mediastinitis was suspected, intravenous infusion of antibiotics (Vancomycin) and local irrigation were performed. The reoperation for closure was planned when the value of c-reactive protein decreased to 1.0-2.0. An application of a pectoral musculocutaneous flap was effective when the sternum was destroyed by infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1998

[Prognostic significance of CD7 expression in adult acute myeloid leukemia].

To evaluate the prognostic significance of CD7 expression in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we studied 63 patients with AML who had been admitted to our hospital between September 1989 and January 1996. Even of the patients were later eliminated from the study (9 due to insufficient surface marker analyses, and 2 due to early death). The remaining 52 patients (median age: 42.5 years) were evaluated for morphologic subtype, immunophenotypic classification, complete remission (CR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). All 52 patients were grouped by the French-American-British classification system: 10 as M1, 16 as M2, 11 as M3, 8 as M4, 5 as M5, and 2 as M6. Ten of the patients expressed CD7 on their leukemia cells (positive rate > or = 25) and were classified as CD7(+)AML, with morphological subtypes as follows: 3 as M1, 6 as M2, and 1 as M3. Thirty-three of the 42 patients with CD7 + AML (78.6%) and 6 of the 10 patients with CD7 + AML (40%) achieved CR. DFS and OS rates for the patients with CD7(+)AML were 22.1% and 35.4%, respectively; those for the CD7(+)AML patients were 53.3% and 44.4%, respectively. No significant differences in gender hematological findings, clinical manifestations such as hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, or incidence of central nervous system involvement, CR rate, and DFS distinguished patients with CD7(+)AML from those with CD7(+)AML. These suggest that CD7 expression is unlikely to be a prognostic factor in AML.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Prostatic mass screening program and its technology].

In 1975, we originally developed a mass screening program for prostatic cancer (PC) using transrectal sonography (TRS). In the primary study, males more than the age of 55 years were examined by TRS and subjects with any pathological findings on the sonogram were referred to secondary examination. In the secondary examination, biopsy of prostate was carried out under ultrasonic guidance. Since 1984, we included digital rectal examination (DRE) in the primary study. We further studied prostate specific antigen (PSA) in 1987. From 1995, mass screening program for PC using PSA has been performed. In the primary study, subjects were examined by PSA and the cut-off values were set at 4 and 10 ng/ml. Subjects whose PSA level ranged from 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml (gray zone) were examined by DRE, TRS and PSA density (more than 0.15) in the secondary study, then the suspected subjects of PC underwent 6 sextant biopsies under interventional ultrasound. Subjects whose PSA level was more than 10.1 ng/ml were biopsied directly. According to a survey by the Foundation for prostate Research, the similar field screening has been performed in Japan by 32 groups for a total of 97,066 subjects, detecting 817 (0.8%) cancer cases up to 1995 and 431 of them (53%) were in the early stage. Prostatic screening is thus being recognized as an important part of preventive oncology at a national level in Japan.

Humans↗

PubMed1998

Noninvasive evaluation of bladder compliance in children using ultrasound estimated bladder weight.

PURPOSE: In healthy children as well as those with urinary disturbance we determined ultrasound estimated bladder weight with the aim of revealing its possible usefulness as a measure of bladder compliance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured ultrasound estimated bladder weight in 71 healthy children with a mean age of 10.3 years, and determined a standard value. A total of 82 patients with a mean age of 9.6 years with urinary disturbance also underwent ultrasound estimated bladder weight measurement as well as conventional urological examinations, including filling cystometry. RESULTS: In healthy children ultrasound estimated bladder weight increased with age, showing a significant linear correlation (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). Using the formula for linear correlation, 0.86 x patient age + 6.9 gm., we obtained an age matched estimated weight. In 82 patients the percent deviation of the estimate from age matched values was calculated using the formula, (measured ultrasound estimated bladder weight -age matched ultrasound estimated bladder weight)/age matched ultrasound estimated bladder weight x 100, and then correlated with bladder compliance. In 75 of 77 patients (97%) with compliance of 10 ml./cm. water or more the estimate was within 100% deviation. In contrast, 4 of 5 patients (80%) with a low compliant bladder (less than 10 ml./cm. water) had an ultrasound estimated bladder weight greater than 100% deviation. When the estimate was within 100% deviation, all but 1 patient (75 of 76, 98.7%) had compliance of 10 ml./cm. water or more compared to 33.3% (2 of 6) of those with an estimate greater than 100% deviation. As a result, with the use of a cutoff value of 100% deviation ultrasound estimated bladder weight predicted a low compliant bladder with a diagnostic accuracy as high as 96.3% (79 of 82 cases). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound estimated bladder weight may be used to evaluate bladder compliance in children. It seems to be a suitable noninvasive urodynamic test in children with suspected urodynamic abnormalities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Two cases of adrenal myelolipoma diagnosed by ultrasonically guided percutaneous biopsy].

We report 2 cases of adrenal myelolipoma which were diagnosed definitively by ultrasonically guided percutaneous biopsy to waive surgery. In case 1, a 39-year-old man presented with abdominal pain. A right adrenal mass was detected by abdominal ultrasonography. In case 2, a 64-year-old man presented with nocturia. A space-occupying lesion above the left kidney was detected by excretory pyelography. Both cases were suspected of adrenal myelolipoma by ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tumor size was 4 x 4 x 3 cm and 5 x 4.5 x 4 cm in cases land 2, respectively. In both cases percutaneous needle biopsy using ultrasonically guided puncture was performed. Histology showed a complex of hematopoietic and adipose tissues, corresponding to adrenal myelolipoma. The course has been uneventful without surgery for 58 months and 24 months, respectively. Percutaneous adrenal biopsy was useful to establish the definitive diagnosis and to select treatment options.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1998

[Desmoid tumor of the chest wall: a case report].

A 45-year-old man was referred to our hospital for recurrent desmoid tumor of the chest wall. He underwent chest wall resection with reconstruction of Marlex mesh. But we could not resect it enough widely, because the tumor invaded beside left subclavian artery and subclavian vein, brachioflexus. So he had additional radiation therapy (50 gry). The patient is now doing well without recurrence 1 year after the operation.

Fibromatosis, Abdominal↗

PubMed1998

[The examination of apoE phenotypes in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy].

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), which is reported to recognize the low density lipoprotein receptor and remnant receptor, mediates the delivery of cholesterol and other lipids to the cells all over the body. There are several phenotypes such as apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4. Recently, it is reported that apoE plays an important role in neurite outgrowth. To determine whether apoE phenotype is concerned in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, we investigated the incidence of apoE phenotypes in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy. The occurrence of retinopathy and nephropathy were not different in apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4. However, the frequency of diabetic neuropathy was higher in apoE4 than apoE2 and apoE3 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, as the stage of diabetic neuropathy advanced, the incidence of apoE4 increased. From these results we conclude that apoE phenotype influences the progress of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and that apoE4 contributes to the deterioration of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Evaluation of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries using selective intraarterial microsphere tracer after vascular reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To detect areas of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries after vascular reconstruction, we administered selective intraarterial microsphere tracer into the external carotid arteries and determined (via single-photon emission computed tomography [IA-SPECT]) whether the distribution of radiotracer matched the arteriographic distribution of contrast material as shown on external carotid angiograms. METHODS: We compared the extent of regional distribution of tracer after external carotid artery injection of 20 to 40 MBq of 99mTc-HMPAO or 99mTc-ECD with that of contrast medium on the external carotid angiograms in 582 cortical regions in 12 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease and in 18 patients with moyamoya disease. RESULTS: Marked accumulation of tracer was found only in the expected, specific, newly developed areas of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries. The regional distribution of tracer corresponded to that of contrast medium in 523 regions (90%) and did not correspond in 59 regions (10%). Significant overestimation of the distribution of contrast material relative to that of tracer was observed in the patients with moyamoya disease. CONCLUSION: SPECT showed slightly different distribution of tracer from that predicted by conventional angiography. IA-SPECT should enhance the analysis of newly developed areas of cerebral perfusion from the bypass arteries.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Two cases of functioning parathyroid cysts].

Two cases of functioning cysts are reported. The first patient was a 48-year-old man who underwent percutaneous cyst puncture for a palpable mass in the neck at another hospital. Hypercalcemic crisis brought the patient to Koga General Hospital. The second patient was a 69-year-old woman with the complaint of discomfort in the right neck of several years duration and with a palpable mass identified on physical examination at a local hospital. Both patients had high serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and were diagnosed as having functioning parathyroid cysts by imaging studies including ultrasonography, computed tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy. After parathyroidectomy, their serum calcium and PTH levels became normal, but calcium supplement was necessary in the first patient. To our knowledge, these are the 40th and 41st cases reported in the Japanese literature.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Clinical care of osteoarthritic knee with knee orthoses.

We reviewed the efficiency of knee orthosis wearing of 11 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA). The authors found that knee orthoses could increase mechanical stability of the OA knee joints and relieve pain subjectively, which improved patients' daily lives, particularly for those patients under low physiologic knee loading conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Longitudinal analysis of adolescent growth of foot length and stature of children living in Ogi area of Japan: a 12 years data.

Adolescent growth of foot length (FL) and stature were investigated in a sample of 586 children living in the Ogi area of Saga Prefecture Japan, who were traced longitudinally from 6.5 to 17.5 years of age. FL growth and its relationship to height were analyzed using the JPA2 model and the Optimal Kernel Method to fit the serial data of stature and FL. The results demonstrated that there was clear peak growth velocity (PGV) during the adolescent growth period of FL for most of the children; before 11.5 years of age there was no essential difference in mean foot length between girls and boys; the completion of FL growth was on average two years earlier than that of stature and two and a half years after the appearance of the peak height velocity (PHV); girls completed the FL growth two years earlier than boys; the longer the growth period for FL or the larger the value of FL at an early age the bigger the adult foot length; the foot grew in synchrony with the body as a whole.

Adolescent↗