Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Kojima

Publications and source records attributed to I Kojima.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Outcome of patients with Graves' disease after long-term medical treatment guided by triiodothyronine (T3) suppression test.

The value of the T3 suppressed 20-min uptake test for the prediction of post-treatment outcome was studied in 193 unselected patients with Graves' disease treated with thionamide drugs and T3. One hundred and twenty-nine of 193 patients were studied previously and followed thereafter (Group A). Sixty-four were newly treated patients: thirty-three (Group B) were treated at the same hospital as Group A; thirty-one (Group C) were treated at another hospital. In total 126 patients out of 193 satisfied our criteria for suppression (total suppression rate, 65%). The suppression rate for new patients (55% in Group B, 52% in Group C) was similar to that for Group A in 1977 (49%) after comparable duration of treatment. The suppression rate for Group A increased with prolongation of the treatment period (49% in 1977 and 71% in 1981). As to the time course of suppression, it was observed that about two-thirds of the suppressed patients satisfied the criteria for suppression within 3 years of starting treatment. The number of suppressed patients per year decreased thereafter as the treatment periods increased. However, the yearly suppression rate did not decrease with time. The time course of suppression in each patient could not be predicted from the results of initial thyroid function tests. The overall remission rate among the 120 suppressed patients followed for 1-13 (mean, 4) years was 96%, which was almost equal to the value obtained in Group A in 1977 (95%) with the average follow-up period of 2 years. Among the 46 patients in Group A followed for 5-13 (mean, 7) years, no increase in relapse was observed with prolonged follow-up periods. Examination on the relationship between the duration of treatment and the post-treatment outcome revealed that, as a whole, the duration of treatment for the patients with relapse were rather short as compared with those for the patients in remission. These results confirm the usefulness of our T3 suppression test for predicting sustained remission of Graves' disease after treatment, and clearly indicate that long-term medical therapy could increase the number of remissions in patients with Graves' disease.

Adolescent↗

Involvement of endogenous digitalis-like substance in genesis of deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension.

In an attempt to evaluate the role of endogenous digitalis-like substance in the genesis of deoxycorticosterone (DOCA) -salt hypertension, the effects of intravenous anti-digoxin antibody on the blood pressure response were observed in male Wistar rats that underwent heminephrectomy followed by treatment with DOCA and saline. Administration of anti-digoxin antibody caused a marked decrease in the blood pressure which continued for about an hour. Such a change in the blood pressure was not observed in pertinent control animals. Thus, it seems that endogenous digitalis-like substance plays an important role in the genesis of DOCA-salt hypertension.

Animals↗

Sources of calcium mobilized by alpha-adrenergic stimulation in perfused rat liver.

The glycogenolytic effect of catecholamine has been proposed to be mediated by calcium ions mobilized mainly from mitochondria. In this study, the contribution of mitochondria as a source of the mobilized calcium was evaluated by use of perfused rat livers. Phenylephrine-induced efflux of 45Ca from 45Ca preloaded liver was abrupt and transient, and almost ceased within 5 min. The perfusion with 5 microM phenylephrine for 5 min caused a significant decline in the content of 45Ca retained in the liver homogenate; control, 0.97 +/- 0.11 nmol of 45Ca/mg protein (mean +/- SEM) and phenylephrine, 0.41 +/- 0.08 nmol of 45Ca/mg protein (P less than 0.01), when calculated from the specific radioactivity of calcium in the perfusate used for loading perfusion. The contents of 45Ca in mitochondria isolated subsequently from the homogenate were 0.43 +/- 0.07 nmol/mg protein in controls and 0.22 +/- 0.03 nmol/mg protein (p less than 0.05) when phenylephrine was administered. Taking into consideration that mitochondrial protein is a fraction of homogenate protein, it is obvious that the decline in mitochondrial 45Ca represents only a small portion of the total reduction of radioactivity in the homogenate. In a series of experiments in which various perfusion periods were employed for 45Ca loading and for washing-out, it was found that phenylephrine induced 45Ca efflux also from a pool with a calcium turnover rate slower than that if mitochondria. These results suggest that alpha-adrenergic stimulation enhances release of calcium not only from mitochondria but also from other compartments with a slower turnover rate. The probability of plasma membrane is proposed as the other source of calcium released in response to alpha-adrenergic stimulation.

Animals↗

Isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency associated with polyglandular failure.

A female patient presented with isolated ACTH deficiency and diabetes mellitus. During the course of a year's replacement with hydrocortisone, goiter developed, which, on biopsy, was diagnosed as typical Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Four years later, she experienced tetany, and the diagnosis of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was made. Immunological studies revealed the presence of antithyroid antibodies in the serum and cell-mediated immunity to the thyroid and parathyroid. These data strongly suggest that the autoimmune process is involved in the genesis of some, though not all, forms of isolated ACTH deficiency.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Reversal by a dopamine antagonist of saline-induced attenuation of aldosterone response to angiotensin II infusion in man.

In an attempt to elucidate the dopaminergic involvement in the regulation of the effect of angiotensin II on the adrenals, plasma aldosterone response to angiotensin II infusion (5 ng/kg/min, for 60 minutes) was studied in five normal volunteers in various experimental conditions. Prior infusion of dopamine (3 micrograms/kg/min) or saline (1000 ml/hour) caused an attenuation of the aldosterone response to angiotensin II. Concurrent infusion of a dopaminergic antagonist, metoclopramide (10 micrograms/kg/min), abolished the inhibitory effect of dopamine and saline. These results suggest that the dopaminergic mechanism is involved in the adaptive aldosterone response of the adrenal to acute saline loading in man.

Adult↗

Factitious Bartter's syndrome induced by surreptitious intake of furosemide.

Studies on the electrolyte metabolism and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system were made in a 47-year-old female patient with factitious Bartter's syndrome induced by surreptitious use of furosemide. The diagnosis was confirmed later by detection of the diuretic in the urine. In metabolic studies patient exhibited abnormalities similar to those reported in Bartter's syndrome; viz, hypokalemic alkalosis, blunted response to exogenous angiotensin II, which reverted to normal by volume expansion with an albumin solution, and diminished fractional free water clearance per fractional distal sodium delivery. The above data, along with the known pharmacological effects of furosemide, suggest that the abnormality in Na+ or Cl- reabsorption in the ascending limb of Henle's loop is a primary cause of Bartter's syndrome.

Absorption↗

Studies on the OA-6129 group of antibiotics, new carbapenem compounds. II. In vitro evaluation.

The OA-6129 group of antibiotics, new carbapenem compounds, had relatively potent antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Synergism of compound OA-6129A in combination with conventional beta-lactam antibiotics was observed in antimicrobial activity against beta-lactamase producers such as Proteus vulgaris GN 76 and Citrobacter freundii GN 346. The new carbapenem compounds were slightly superior to PS-5 in stability to kidney homogenates of various animal species.

Animals↗

Lupus-like syndrome--a rare complication in thionamide treatment for Graves' disease.

A patient with Graves' disease who experienced various allergic reactions to both PTU and MMI is reported. She developed fever, skin rash, lymphadenopathy, liver damage and moderate leukopenia during PTU administration. Furthermore, she developed an MMI-induced lupus-like syndrome characterized by generalized lymphadenopathy, migrating, polyarthritis and myalgia, and results of tests for anti-DNA antibody and anti-nuclear antibody, and LE were positive. All these abnormalities reverted to normal upon discontinuation of medication after subtotal thyroidectomy.

Adult↗

The salt-resistance mechanism of Staphylococcus aureus examined by salt-sensitive mutants.

Two NaCl-sensitive mutants of S. aureus 209P (S-16 and S-23) were isolated after treatment of the parental strain with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Examination of the lipid components revealed that S-16 contained no cardiolipin and that S-23 contained only a small amount of cardiolipin. An increase of cardiolipin was indispensable for S. aureus proliferation in high NaCl medium.

Cardiolipins↗

Characterization of the glycolysis pathway and the plasma membrane of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.

The characteristics of the glycolytic pathway and the plasma membrane of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were studied. The enzyme system of glycolysis (hexokinase, glucokinase and pyruvate kinase) which is the main source of energy in the anaerobic condition was localized in the cell soluble fraction (cytoplasma) of all species examined. Neither electron transfer chain components nor oxidase activities were found in anaerobically cultured Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities were mainly localized in the plasma membrane, suggesting that membrane ATPase is playing a key role in membrane transport and ATP synthesis of anaerobic bacilla. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membranes showed remarkable differences between the polypeptides patterns of B. adolescentis and B. bifidum. Such peculiarities in polypeptide patterns among the same genus may be useful in the identification of species.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗