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Biomedical subjects

H Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to H Watanabe.

At least 1,081 records · Page 60Linked to original sources

[Genes involved in the virulence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli].

Some of the virulent genes of enterohemorrhagic E. coli(EHEC) are described. stx, bfpA, eaeA and ehxA encode an enterocytotoxin homologous to Shiga toxin, bundle-forming pilus, intimin and an RTX toxin, respectively. In pathogenesis, although bfp and eae cause diarrhea, and ehx and stx seem to cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, many problems remain for prevention and treatment of these symptoms. In evolution, it is intriguining that the virulent genes of EHEC might be mediated by phages, plasmids and so on, because stx is derived from a bacterio-phage, bfpA is located in a plasmid in enteropathogenic E. coli(EPEC) though it has not yet been cloned in EHEC, eaeA is one of the genes in LEE(locus of enterocyte effacement), a putative genetic cassette ubiquitous for EPEC and EHEC, and ehxA is in a plasmid.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Intraarterial injection of amrinone for vasospasm induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage.

We describe two patients who had cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage that was refractory to intraarterial injection of papaverine. Both patients were successfully treated with intraarterial injection of amrinone after intraarterial injection of papaverine. It is suggested that intraarterial amrinone, which has a vasodilatory action, may be therapeutically useful for cerebral vasospasm.

Adult↗

[Three cases of mediastinal neurogenic tumors originating from the intrathoracic vagal nerve].

Three cases of mediastinal neurogenic tumors originating from the intrathoracic vagal nerve is reported. Two of those is neurilemmomas. One tumor was located in the site to the branching point of the recurrence nerve. The tumor was enucleated. Postoperative hoarseness arose. Another tumor was located in the vagal nerve. The tumor was resected. One of those is neurofibromatosis in the vagus nerve with the axillary tumor. The tumors arose from the vagus nerve was resected. Careful follow-up are required in two patients.

Adult↗

Trigonal splitting is a major complication of endoscopic trigonoplasty at 1-year followup.

PURPOSE: The long-term results of endoscopic trigonoplasty in patients with vesicoureteral reflux were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed endoscopic trigonoplasty in 28 patients with vesicoureteral reflux, including 6 girls 6 to 8 years old. Reflux was grade I in 14 reno-ureteral units, grade II in 15, grade III in 8, grade IV in 1 and grade V in 1. Median followup was 23 months. RESULTS: At a median of 3 months postoperatively vesicoureteral reflux was not apparent in 37 units (95%) and it was downgraded in 1 (3%). At a median of 12 months postoperatively 27 (79%) and 4 (12%) of the 34 ureters had cessation and downgrading, respectively. Of the 13 select patients who underwent cystoscopy 3 had retreating ureteral orifices and 5 had trigonal splitting 6 to 12 months postoperatively. Vesicoureteral reflux was demonstrated in 3 of the 5 patients (4 ureters) with trigonal splitting and in 1 (1 ureter) with retreating ureteral orifices. At a median of 24 months after surgery voiding cystography showed reflux in only 1 of 15 units. No postoperative upper urinary tract dilatation was noted at followup. CONCLUSIONS: Cessation rates of vesicoureteral reflux 12 months after endoscopic trigonoplasty were low with a high incidence of trigonal splitting. These unsatisfactory results mandate technical refinements to avoid trigonal splitting.

Adolescent↗

[DDD pacemaker implantation in the patient underwent Maze procedure].

We reported a 26-year-old man with mitral regurgitation and sick sinus syndrome. He underwent VVI pacemaker implantation, and admitted to our hospital due to congestive heart failure. Echocardiography and cineangiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation. Mitral valvuloplasty and modified Maze procedure were performed, and a DDD pacemaker was implanted after cardiopulmonary bypass. We recognized cross stimulation 7 months after operation. The reason of the cross stimulation was the position of the implanted atrial lead, which was the low right atrium. Thus, an atrial lead of DDD pacemaker should be carefully implanted in the patients underwent Maze procedure.

Adult↗

[A case of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma with a paraaortic lymph node metastasis].

A case of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma in a 22-year-old male is reported. Radiological examination revealed a gross metastatic mass in the paraaortic lymph node. Right high orchiectomy was followed by chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and adriamycin (IRS-III regimen 35). A complete response was seen 4 months after start of therapy. However, recurrent disease developed in the same paraaortic lymph node 25 months postoperatively. The patient died of tumor progression 11 months later.

Adult↗

[Clinical evaluation of low flow anesthesia machine ACOMA ACM-10].

We studied low flow anesthesia using ACOMA ACM-10 anesthesia machine in 39 patients undergoing elective surgery. Randomly, 29 patients were allocated to low flow anesthesia group and 10 patients were allocated to high flow anesthesia group. After the induction, anesthesia was maintained with 2 l.min-1 of oxygen, 4 l.min-1 of nitrous oxide and sevoflurane (high flow anesthesia). After 15 minutes of high flow anesthesia, the total gas flow was reduced to 300 ml.min-1 of oxygen, 300 ml.min-1 of nitrous oxide or reduced to 400 ml.min-1 of oxygen, 200 ml.min-1 of nitrous oxide in the low flow anesthesia group. In the high flow anesthesia group, the high flow was maintained. The inspiratory oxygen concentration was maintained during anesthesia more than 35% in the low flow group and 33% in the high flow group. The absolute humidity in the inspiratory gas and the soda lime temperature were significantly higher during low flow anesthesia. The sevoflurane consumption in the low flow anesthesia group was reduced to less than 1-8th that of high flow anesthesia group. In conclusion, we could perform low flow anesthesia safely and economically with the ACM-10 anesthesia machine.

Adolescent↗

The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia as a function of age, volume and ultrasonic appearance of the prostate.

PURPOSE: Our study was conducted to reveal quantitatively the relative effects of age and ultrasonic appearance of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on urinary symptoms as evaluated by the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index score. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 929 examinees (732 with a normal prostate and 197 with BPH) on a mass screening program for prostatic diseases using transrectal ultrasonography in Japan, the AUA symptom score was compared to age, prostatic volume and presumed circle area ratio using simple and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Simple regression analysis demonstrated the symptom score to correlate significantly with age (R = 0.162, p < 0.0001), prostatic volume (R = 0.072, p = 0.0281) and presumed circle area ratio (R = 0.150, p < 0.0001). However, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that age and presumed circle area ratio were significant independent determinants of the total symptom score. Among 7 symptoms included in the AUA symptom index weak stream and hesitancy scores were not influenced by age, prostatic volume or presumed circle area ratio. CONCLUSIONS: As a parameter representing the degree of BPH in terms of the severity of urinary symptoms, presumed circle area ratio was preferable to prostatic volume. Regression analyses confirmed again that the AUA symptom index was influenced considerably by age and was not specific to BPH.

Age Factors↗

C-Jun and JunD suppress maturation of chondrocytes.

To analyze the function of AP-1 in cartilage formation, two types of primary chondrocytes, LS and US cells, were prepared from caudal (lower) and cephalic (upper) regions of chicken sterna, respectively. All the known components of chicken AP-1 (c-Fos, Fra-2, c-Jun, and JunD) were detected in both cell types, but the expression level of c-Jun was much higher in LS cells, which are rich in less mature chondrocytes than US cells. In the sterna, the expression level of c-Jun was also lower in the maturating or hypertropic chondrocytes than in proliferating chondrocytes. When US cells were treated with parathyroid hormone (PTH), which prevented maturation as judged from the maturation-associated markers such as alkaline phosphatase and type X collagen, the expression levels of c-Jun and JunD were constitutively elevated. To analyze the possible relationship between differentiation status and expression levels of Jun family proteins, they were exogenously introduced into the entire population of US cells within 2 days by using high titer, replication-competent retroviral vectors. Maturation-associated markers in US cells were specifically lowered by exogenous expression of c-Jun or JunD to similar levels to those of LS cells or US cells treated with PTH. When US cells were infected with the virus encoding a dominant negative mutant of AP-1 (supJunD-1), maturation markers were moderately increased 10 days after infection. The potent induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in US cells by all-trans retinoic acid was annulled by exogenous expression of either c-Jun or JunD. These results suggest that Jun family proteins negatively regulate the maturation process of chondrocytes.

Animals↗

[A case of renal cell carcinoma associated with ossification].

A 40-year-old woman presented with left lumbar pain. A plain abdominal roentgenogram showed patchy calcifications dispersed in a diameter of 7.5 cm at the lower pole of the left kidney. Computed tomography and angiography revealed a hypovascular tumor 10 cm in diameter. A left radical nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma, clear cell subtype, pT2N0M0, accompanied with marked stromal calcification. The patient remains free of recurrence 42 months postoperatively. This is the 26th case reported in the Japanese literature.

Calcinosis↗

Physiological background of enuresis type I. A preliminary report.

The physiological background of enuresis Type I, which is due to a mild arousal dysfunction, has been investigated in two studies, one in rats and one in children with Type I enuresis. The results of these investigations suggest that in this type of enuresis, the fundamental arousal function following bladder distension, due to an arousal centre like the locus coeruleus and its network, is normal. In contrast, the process of multiplying the transient connection from light sleep to complete awakening, which probably relies upon functions of the thalamus and the further upper centrums, was thought to be abnormal.

Animals↗

[Factors affecting exercise capacity after coronary bypass grafting].

In order to determine the contribution of cardiac reserve and the peripheral muscle to exercise capacity in patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), 19 patients (18 males, 1 female, mean age 63.3 +/- 7.1 years, mean numbers of grafting 2.5 +/- 0.8) performed exercise tests at 1 week, 3 weeks, and 3 months after CABG. Ventilatory gas was analyzed throughout the testing and anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) was determined. During exercise testing, the cardiac index (CI) was measured, and the change in CI during exercise, delta CI = (CI at peak exercise) (CI at rest), was calculated. O2 delivery was derived from the product of CO and the oxygen content of arterial blood at peak exercise. The sectional area of the thigh muscles at the level of 10 cm above the patella was measured using a computed tomography before each test. Average peak VO2 at 1 week after CABG was 867 +/- 171 ml/min and it increased to 1,214 +/- 246 ml/min at 6 months. Average AT did not change from 1 week to 3 weeks, however, it increased significantly from 665 +/- 122 ml/min at 3 weeks to 873 +/- 181 ml/min at 6 months. The muscle area of the thigh increased significantly from 170 +/- 24 cm2 at 3 weeks after CABG to 186 +/- 27 cm2 at 3 months. delta CI showed a tendency to increase from 6.6 +/- 1.2 l/min/m2 at 1 week after CABG to 7.3 +/- 1.3 l/min/m2 at 3 weeks, and also showed a tendency to increase from 3 weeks to 6 months. Peak VO2 and AT correlated to delta CI at 1 weeks and also it correlated significantly to both the muscle area of the thigh and delta CI at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after CABG. The delta value of peak VO2 from 1 week to 3 weeks showed a significant correlation to those of delta CI and O2 delivery. Moreover, the delta values of peak VO2 and AT from 3 weeks to 3 months showed a correlation to those of delta CI and O2 delivery. These results suggest that both cardiac reserve and peripheral factors contribute to the exercise capacity up to 3 months after CABG, and, in particular, O2 delivery are important to increase exercise capacity.

Cardiac Output↗

Investigation of Vicia graminea lectin- and Vicia unijuga lectin-binding glycoproteins as novel oncofetal antigens in cyst and ascitic fluids of human ovarian tumors in benign, dysplastic, and malignant stages.

Perchloric acid-soluble fractions (PASFs) were obtained from cyst fluids of human benign ovarian mucinous cystadenoma, benign dermoid cyst, "borderline" mucinous cystadenoma, and malignant ovarian clear cell carcinoma, and from fluids of malignant embryonal carcinoma and malignant serous cystadenocarcinoma. PASFs from benign lesions did not react with Arachis hypogaea lectin (PNA), Vicia graminea lectin (VGA), or Vicia unijuga lectin (VUA). PASFs from "borderline" lesions reacted with PNA but did not react with VGA and VUA. PASFs from malignant tumors reacted with PNA, VGA, and VUA. These PASFs did not react positively against anti-M or -N sera. These results show that VGA- and VUA-binding glycoprotein (Vgu glycoprotein) exist in PASFs from malignant ovarian tumors, and that PNA-binding glycoprotein was present in PASFs from malignant and "borderline" ovarian tumors. Furthermore, we found the existence of Vgu glycoprotein in PASFs from various human cancer cell lines; however, the antigens were not found in PASFs from benign human cell lines.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

[Mass screening for prostatic cancer].

Two mass screening programs for prostatic cancer (PC) have been conducted at our institution. The first program, based on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), was performed between 1975 and 1995 in a total of 16,313 men over 55 years of age. Those showing abnormal findings on TRUS were referred to the secondary urological examination including needle biopsy of the prostate. PC was detected in 93 men (0.6%) and 43 of them were in the early stage. In 1995, a new mass screening program for PC was performed in an urban area of Kyoto. Of 3,749 men over 55 years of age who took the annual health checkup organized by the government, 2,387 wished to receive this screening. The primary examination consisted of Delfia prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay of dried blood samples on a filter paper. Men with PSA levels > 4.0 and < or = 10.0 ng/ml showing abnormal findings on TRUS and/or digital rectal examination, or PSA density > 0.15, underwent 6 sextant biopsies under transrectal ultrasonography, as well as men with PSA levels > 10.0 ng/ml. PSA levels were < or = 4.0 in 2,217 men, > 4.0 and < or = 10.0 in 107, and > 10.0 in 43. Prostatic biopsy was performed in 102 men. PC was detected in 28 men (1.2%) and 17 of them were in the early stage. These findings suggest that the PSA-based mass screening program for PC combined with the annual health checkup is suitable for future "national-level" screening.

Adult↗

Effect of progesterone therapy on arginine vasopressin and atrial natriuretic factor in premenstrual syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible role of natriuretic peptides and vasopressin in luteal phase fluid retention in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and to determine the effect of progesterone therapy on these hormones. DESIGN: Self-controlled prospective study. SETTING: University-based medical research centre. PATIENTS: Six patients with PMS were studied during the symptomatic luteal and asymptomatic follicular phases. The follicular phase response was used as the control for each subject. INTERVENTIONS: An intravenous infusion of 3% saline solution was administered on an early follicular and a late luteal phase day in 2 menstrual cycles. Progesterone was administered orally during the second luteal phase. OUTCOME MEASURES: Osmolality, arginine vasopressin (AVP), atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in plasma, osmolality, sodium, potassium, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 5'-phosphate (cGMP) concentrations in urine, and thirst sensation. RESULTS: Mean basal plasma ANF and osmolality levels and the threshold for AVP release and thirst were lower, and mean urinary cyclic nucleotide levels and AVP sensitivity (amount of AVP secreted per unit rise in plasma osmolality) were higher, in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. With saline loading, there was an increase in plasma osmolality, AVP and ANF and in urinary sodium and cyclic nucleotide levels. Plasma ANF and osmolality levels remained lower in the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase, but AVP levels at the end of the saline infusion were higher in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. Progesterone therapy caused an increase in plasma ANF and osmolality levels and the AVP threshold and a decrease in AVP levels and sensitivity and urinary cyclic nucleotide levels. BNP levels did not change with phase or treatment. The differences in AVP threshold with phase and treatment were statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a significant phase effect for plasma ANF (p = 0.02) and a significant or near-significant interaction effect of phase and treatment for plasma ANF (p = 0.06) and urinary cAMP (p = 0.047) and cGMP (p = 0.066). The effect of phase and treatment was not significant for the other measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Luteal phase fluid retention may be due to a relative deficiency of ANF and a lower threshold for AVP release. The symptomatic improvement produced by progesterone treatment may be due to its stimulation of ANF and inhibition of AVP release or synthesis.

Adult↗