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Hirotoshi Morii

Publications and source records attributed to Hirotoshi Morii.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Vitamin K(2) (menaquinone 4) reduces serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin level as early as 2 weeks in elderly women with established osteoporosis.

Twenty elderly osteoporotic women with vertebral fracture(s) were randomly allocated to two groups; women in the MK(4) group received calcium with menaquinone 4 (MK(4)) at a dose of 45 mg/day for 2 weeks, and women in the control group received calcium alone for the same period. Serum intact osteocalcin (OC) and undercarboxylated osteocalcin (uc-OC) levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay and enzyme immunoassay, respectively, at baseline and on the 7th and 14th days following the start of the treatment. There were no differences in the baseline data including age, weight, phylloquinone, menaquinone 4, menaquinone 7, OC, and uc-OC levels between the MK(4) group and the control group. Administration of MK(4) significantly raised the MK(4) level from 0.20 +/- 0.10 (mean +/- SE) pg/ml to 15.09 +/- 5.62 pg/ml ( P < 0.04), and reduced serum uc-OC levels from 2.80 +/- 0.93 ng/ml to 1.76 +/- 0.56 ng/ml ( P < 0.05) at the end of the study, respectively. No significant changes in these levels were observed in the control group. Serum OC levels were stable during the period in both groups. In this randomized prospective study, the MK(4) group shows a reduction in the serum uc-OC level within 2 weeks without any significant change in OC, suggesting that the uc-OC is changed to carboxylated OC. This early effect of MK(4) on bone metabolism may be estimated by the measurement of serum uc-OC in elderly osteoporotic women with vertebral fractures.

Aged↗

Body fat mass in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Changes in body fat mass in a large number of hemodialysis patients is unknown. METHODS: Body fat mass and lean body mass were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 561 patients with hemodialysis duration less than 180 months (62.3 +/- 11.5 years old; mean +/- SD). RESULTS: Fat mass tended to increase during the first 3 years of hemodialysis, and it tended to decrease thereafter. Between hemodialysis duration and the fat mass index, there was a significant positive correlation within the first 36-month period of hemodialysis (r = 0.124; P < 0.05; n = 245), and a significant negative correlation during the period of 36 to 180 months. (r = -0.192; P < 0.001; n = 316). There was no tendency of change in the lean body mass index. CONCLUSION: Considering the results together with the authors previous prospective study results, which show significant fat mass increase in the first year of hemodialysis, the present cross-sectional study may suggest that fat mass gradually increases in the first 3 years and decreases thereafter. Fat mass is suggested to be a nutritional parameter in hemodialysis patients.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Effect of endogenously generated nitric oxide on the energy metabolism of peritoneal macrophages.

To understand the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of cellular metabolism in peritoneal macrophages under physiological low oxygen tension, its effect on the respiration and energy metabolism was examined with casein-induced peritoneal macrophages from the rat. Intraperitoneal injection of casein transiently induced peritoneal infiltration of neutrophils (peaked on day 1) followed by the migration of macrophages that peaked on day 2. Western blotting analysis using antibodies against inducible type of NO synthase (iNOS) revealed that macrophages appeared in the peritoneal cavity during an early stage (approximately day 2) but not during the late stage (day 3 approximately) of inflammation expressed iNOS and generated substantial amounts of NO by a mechanism that was inhibited by N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine (NIO), a specific inhibitor of iNOS. Although NO reversibly but strongly inhibited the respiration of macrophages from both stages particularly under physiologically low oxygen tension, NIO markedly enhanced the respiration of macrophages obtained from the early period but not from the late period of inflammation. The ATP level in the macrophages from the late period but not from the early period was markedly decreased by NO. Biochemical analysis revealed that the glycolytic activity in the macrophages obtained from the early period was significantly higher than that from the late period of inflammation. These results indicate that significant fractions of cellular ATP in iNOS-positive peritoneal macrophages are synthesized by the increased activity of glycolysis particularly under physiological low oxygen tensions where the mitochondrial respiration is strongly inhibited by endogenously generated NO by macrophages and neutrophils.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Osteoporosis viewed from the standpoint of dental aspect].

Since periodontitis leads to the dectruction of alveolar bones as well as soft tissues around teeth, osteoporosis of jaw bones ensues. Osteoporosis of alveolar bones results in loss of teeth which makes patients to have limited nutrients for the preservaion of good bones. Bacteria which cause periodontitis produce cytokines promoting bone resorption. Thus anti-resorbing drugs are capable of improving bone changes which is accelerated by cytokines.

English Abstract↗

[Infant bone quantity measurement by the ultrasonic].

It seems that the maximum bone quantity in the young people will influence osteoporosis development in the later age. This study is to clarify the age-related change in the adolescence and the relations between bone density and exercise habit or diet habit, ultrasonic-measured bone density, physical capacity test and questionnaire survey were used. The values of SOS tended to increase along with the increase of age in both sexes when they were in the primary and middle school, but a decreased tendency was observed when they were in the high school. And the peak values were found in 17 - 18-year-old boys and 16-year-old girls. SOS correlated significantly with weight, and showed greater value in the exercise group compared with the sedentary group. And finally, the questionnaire survey showed that the regular diets were beneficial to increase SOS.

English Abstract↗

Sarcoidosis initially manifesting as symptomatic hypercalcemia with the absence of organic involvement.

A 53-year-old man was admitted to Osaka City University Hospital on July 21, 1998, for investigation of symptomatic hypercalcemia. Laboratory data on admission revealed that serum Ca had increased to around 12.6 mg/dl and there was a significant increase in urinary Ca excretion. The serum phosphate level remained normal. Although the serum PTH level was below the detection limit, serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) was increased. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis was supported by a negative tuberculin test and by the elevated levels of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), lysozyme activity, and CD4/CD8 ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage specimen; there was however no imaging evidence of sarcoidosis such as bilateral hilar lymphnode enlargement on chest X-ray, high resolution CT or 67Ga citrate scintigraphy. Biopsy specimens from the cervical lymphnode revealed no epitheloid cell granulomas or giant cells. Administration of prednisolone achieved a decrease in serum ACE and 1,25(OH)2D levels, followed by restoration of serum Ca and urinary Ca excretion to the normal range, and finally by an increase of serum PTH to the normal level. These observations suggested that the hypercalcemia could be explained by extrarenal production of 1,25(OH)2D. We report here on this rare case of sarcoidosis with initial symptoms of symptomatic hypercalcemia resulting from extrarenal production of 1,25(OH)2D.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

[Effect of alfacalcidol on bone and calcium metabolism in elderly women].

Oral administration of active vitamin D3 can reduce the loss of bone mass and the incidence of fractures in patients with osteoporosis in Japan. We conducted a prospective study to confirm the effects of 1 alpha(OH)D3 (Alfacalcidol, Alfarol Chugai Tokyo) on bone and calcium metabolism in elderly women with osteoporosis. Enrolled in the present study were 16 elderly osteoporosis women aged 72.6 +/- 4.5 years to whom 1 microgram of 1 alpha(OH)D3 was administered daily. Fasting blood and urine were obtained at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the treatment. Monitored parameters were vitamin D metabolites, intact-PTH, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and pyridiuium crosslinked type I collagen telopeptides (CTx). Serum 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D and PTH levels were significantly increased (p < 0.01) and decreased (p < 0.05), respectively at 1 week after commencing administration. There was a significant decrease of DPD (p < 0.05) at 12 weeks after commencing administration compared to the baseline levels. Serum levels of BAP and OC were found elevated at 1 week, and decreased at 12 weeks. In conclusion, the present study clinically confirmed that 1 alpha(OH)D3 stimulates bone formation in vitro. Long-term administration of 1 alpha(OH)D3 indirectly suppressed bone resorption through the suppression of parathyroid function in the elderly.

Aged↗

[Effect of statins: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on bone metabolism].

Since G. Mundy first reported in 1999 that a statin has bone forming action by increasing production of BMP-2 and accelerates proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast, many experimental and clinical studies have been performed. The mechanism of action may be mediated by inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, but further studies may be needed. BMD is not increased remarkably with the dosage used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, but some studies showed the effect of reducing fractures. There is a report showing the negative results also. Statins may not only help to clarify the physiology of bone but also serve as another way of treatment of osteoporosis.

English Abstract↗

Clinical trial of in-situ hybridization method for the rapid diagnosis of sepsis.

We evaluated the utility of in-situ hybridization (ISH) for the rapid diagnosis of sepsis. We applied this approach to polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-rich smears from patients with suspected bacterial infection. Positive results by ISH were obtained in the smears of 123 of 292 patients (42%), while only 32 of the 292 (11%) were positive by blood culture. These findings indicate that ISH is almost four times more sensitive than the culture method for the detection of sepsis. ISH results are obtained within 1 day, while 1 day to 2 weeks is required for the results of blood culture. Blood culture and ISH methods detected the same bacteria in two patients. ISH also successfully identified the same bacteria in blood and PMN-rich body fluid (bronchoalveolar lavage samples) in 6 patients. In 19 patients, ISH of blood detected the same bacteria as those found in subcultures from other sources (e.g., stool, sputum, nasal cavity). We discuss these results in comparison with blood culture results in terms of evaluating a rapid approach to the management of patients with sepsis.

Journal Article↗