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Biomedical subjects

J Adachi

Publications and source records attributed to J Adachi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Endogenous formation of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3- carboxylic acid in man as the possible causative substance of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with ingestion of L-tryptophan.

1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) is now thought to be a possible causative substance of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with ingestion of L-tryptophan. In the present study a factor affecting endogenous formation of MTCA in 32 healthy men is studied. Urinary excretions of MTCA and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (TCCA) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorometric detection after administration of a high or low protein diet as well as peroral tryptophan (0.5 g) or ethanol (0.4 g/kg). Blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were determined by gas chromatography after ethanol consumption. Both, the high protein diet and tryptophan resulted in a significant rise of urinary TCCA. In contrast, ethanol intake caused increased excretion of MTCA, though a relationship between blood acetaldehyde level and urinary excretion of MTCA was not shown. We showed for the first time that an elevation of urinary excretion of MTCA following ethanol consumption in man without ingestion of L-tryptophan tablets implicated eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1991

A study on house fire victims: age, carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and hemolysis.

Correlation among age, concentrations of carboxyhemoglobin and hydrogen cyanide, oxygen density and hemolysis were studied in 120 house fire victims. Victims aged over 60 years comprised approximately 50% of the pooled subjects. Blood samples were mainly collected from the left ventricle, but sometimes from both the right and left ventricles. The concentration of carboxyhemoglobin ranged from 1-95%, of which 71 persons (59.7%) died with carboxyhemoglobin concentrations below 60%. Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations below 10% were found in 9 persons (7.5%). Most of these cases involved the elderly persons. In this paper, we report on the death of elderly victims as a result of low carboxyhemoglobin concentrations. A significant correlation of blood carboxyhemoglobin concentrations existed between the right and left ventricles. The concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the left ventricle was significantly higher than that in the right. Two out of 31 victims whose hydrogen cyanide concentrations were determined, succumbed to hydrogen cyanide poisoning, having a high concentration of hydrogen cyanide and a low concentration of carboxyhemoglobin. On analysis, oxygen density was found to be low in 13 persons. A negative correlation was shown between carboxyhemoglobin concentration and hemolysis. Inasmuch as hemolysis may indicate the extent of heat dissociation, hemolysis should provide an index of carbon monoxide dissociation from carboxyhemoglobin. In the present study of victims, possible causes of death i.e., carbon monoxide gas poisoning, hydrogen cyanide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, burning, shock due to burns and others were estimated. The survival time for elderly victims was considered to be short.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Identification of tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid in foodstuffs, human urine and human milk.

1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (TCCA), both precursors of mutagenic N-nitroso compounds (N-nitrosamines, 1-methyl-2-nitroso-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid and 2-nitroso-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid), were detected in various food-stuffs, urine from healthy human subjects and human milk. A purification procedure, involving a chemically-bonded material followed by HPLC combined with fluorometric detection, was used for the quantitative determination of these compounds, allowing the separation of two diastereoisomers of MTCA. An HPLC and mass spectrometry method was also developed for their identification. Comparing the concentration of MTCA and TCCA in fermented products and raw materials suggested that tetrahydro-beta-carbolines may have been produced through fermentation or by condensation of tryptophan and acetaldehyde formed from ethanol added as a food preservative. This is the first report of excretion of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in human urine and human milk. A comparison of the concentrations of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in urine from human infants and human milk indicates that tetrahydro-beta-carbolines may be synthesized endogenously in humans. A possible pathway of tryptophan metabolism in plants and animals is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Degrees of alcohol intoxication in 117 hospitalized cases.

The correlation among degrees of alcohol intoxication, facial flushing, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and blood acetaldehyde level was studied in 117 male alcoholic patients who underwent various tests to assess alcohol influence. Blood samples were collected and alcohol and acetaldehyde levels were determined. BACs ranged from 29 to 577 mg/dl in all patients and from 200 to 299 mg/dl in 48 of them. Fifty-one patients could stand erect (mean BAC [+/- SD] = 189 +/- 80 mg/dl), while 48 showed apparently normal reaction to a walking and turning test (mean BAC = 192 +/- 78 mg/dl). Some of the cases having BACs over 300 mg/dl could still stand and walk while others with BACs under 100 mg/dl already showed psychomotor impairment. Facial flushing was recognized in 75% of the subjects. Acetaldehyde concentrations in 27 patients ranged from 24 to 147 micrograms/dl. Appearance of facial flushing was correlated with relatively high concentrations of blood acetaldehyde. Seven out of 10 healthy volunteers given 1.6 to 2.0 g/kg of alcohol as a control could do nothing but sleep after reaching peak BAC (mean = 232 +/- 21 mg/dl). These findings are taken to indicate a great difference in response to alcohol between alcoholics and healthy men. This study is the first to report the occurrence of facial flushing and raised blood acetaldehyde concentration among Japanese alcoholics.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1991

Clinical usefulness of amitriptyline in fibromyalgia: the results of 23 N-of-1 randomized controlled trials.

Twenty-three double blind, randomized, multiple crossover trials (N-of-1 RCT) of amitriptyline were conducted in patients with fibromyalgia. The benefit of amitriptyline was assessed using a symptom questionnaire and count of tender points. To assess the usefulness of the method, the proportion of trials that provided a definite answer was examined. Completing the trial resulted in reaching a high degree of confidence in the final management decision in 74% of trials. In 35% of trials, results led to discontinuation of the drug which otherwise would have been continued indefinitely. The drug benefit, if present, was evident within first 2 weeks of therapy. We concluded that these results support the feasibility and usefulness of N-of-1 RCT in rheumatology practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Multiple liver metastases of a suprasellar germ cell tumor treated with combined chemotherapy of cisplatin and etoposide].

A 23-year-old man was admitted with progressively disturbed vision and easy fatigability. CT scans demonstrated an enhanced mass in the sellar region. Physical and endocrinological examinations revealed atrophy of both optic nerves, temporal field cuts in both eyes, and panhypopituitarism. Concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid were 12 and 33IU/L, respectively. On November 11, 1987, the tumor was partially removed using the transsphenoidal approach. The histological diagnosis was germinoma with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells. Following postoperative craniospinal irradiation (whole brain, 30Gy; local, 18Gy; spinal canal 28Gy), CT scans showed no residual tumor and the HCG levels decreased until they were undetectable. Eighteen months later, the patient complained of abdominal pain. His serum HCG level had increased to 2,554 IU/L. CT scans of the abdomen revealed multiple low density areas in the liver. Chest X-ray was negative. A Ga scintigram disclosed only liver metastasis. Administration of a chemotherapy was started on June 26, 1989. Cisplatin and etoposide in doses of 20mg and 40mg respectively were given for 5 consecutive days in one course. Following four courses of the combined chemotherapy, the tumor entirely disappeared on CT scans and the HCG level returned to normal. The patient is now able to work well without evidence of recurrence. Multiple liver metastases of an intracranial germ cell tumor had been fatal in previous reports. This may be the first case with liver metastases in which the victim is still alive. The present case indicates that combined chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide is effective for extraneural metastases of an intracranial germ cell tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Effects of chair restraint on plasma enzyme values in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)].

The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of chair restraint on plasma enzyme values in the rhesus monkey. Six monkeys were restrained to the monkey chair for eight hours. Creatine phosphokinase (CK) value increased significantly three hours after the onset of restraint and LDH value did eight hours after the onset of restraint. The increase in CK, GOT and GPT values continued for 1 or 2 days after the release from restraint. On the other hand, these plasma enzyme values in non-restraint monkeys showed almost no changes. These results indicate that it is necessary to establish a proper method for the adjustment to chair restraint in the rhesus monkey.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1990

[Effects of repeated chair restraint on physiological values in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)].

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of repeated chair restraint on some physiological values in the rhesus monkey. Although heart rate and blood pressure increased significantly at the onset of chair restraint, these increased values gradually decreased with repetition of restraint as well as with the lapse of time after restraining. Finally, no elevation of these levels was detected after repetitions lasting eight hours per day for five days. Plasma cortisol, CK and GOT values also showed similar trends. These elevated physiological values at the onset of chair restraint seemed to be due to high sympathetic tone and muscular activity used to try to avoid the restraint. It is concluded that repeated chair restraint has an accommodative component in monkeys resulting in the return of some elevated physiological values to the normal level.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

An attempt at embryo transfer as a means of controlling Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in the rabbit.

Embryo transfer was attempted in order to control disease in rabbits. Embryos were collected by flushing of the oviducts of donor rabbits on Day 2 of gestation, into small tubes containing the medium, transported within the body warmth of the person carrying the tubes and transferred into the oviducts of SPF pseudopregnant recipients. The time between embryo collection and transfer was 7-8 hours. Ten of 56 embryos derived from Bordetella bronchiseptica infected animals developed into newborns. As a result of bacteriological examination of intranasal exudate in six weanlings, no pathogens were detected. We suggest that embryo transfer is an effective and simple alternative to caesarean operation in Bordetella bronchiseptica infected rabbits.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A pharmacokinetic study of ethanol elimination--first pass metabolism and elimination rate.

In this study two pharmacokinetic dispositions of ethanol metabolism were investigated. To determine the existence of first pass metabolism (FPM), Japanese male volunteers with and without a low Km isozyme of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) received 0.1 and/or 0.4 g/kg dose of ethanol either perorally or intravenously. Blood ethanol level was lower and the area under the blood ethanol concentration-time curve (AUC) was smaller under peroral than under intravenous administration, although tantamount doses of ethanol were administered. The difference in AUC between peroral and intravenous administrations was apparent when a lower dose of ethanol was given. These findings were taken to indicate that a significant fraction of ethanol administered perorally was metabolized during absorption before reaching the systemic circulation and that this FPM of ethanol became clearer in smaller ethanol doses. In order to compare the parameters of Widmark's zero-order kinetics and Michaelis-Menten kinetics, sixty-one male volunteers, i.e. 30 subjects with normal ALDH and 31 with a deficiency of it, ingested 0.4 g/kg of ethanol perorally. The elimination phase of blood ethanol-time curve was fitted to a two-compartment open model with Michaelis-Menten elimination kinetics. A significant difference was seen in beta 60 between the normal ALDH group and the deficient one. Vmax in the normal ALDH group was relatively higher than that in the deficient one and Vmax was significantly correlated to beta 60. Km varied widely among the individual subjects. In the case in which high or moderate dose of ethanol is administered, the Widmark's method is sufficient for ethanol elimination studies in clinical and medicolegal practices.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Comparative study on ethanol elimination and blood acetaldehyde between alcoholics and control subjects.

Factors influencing ethanol elimination rate and blood acetaldehyde concentration with regard to age, blood ethanol concentration, and degrees of alcoholic liver disorder were studied in alcoholic patients vis-à-vis healthy subjects. Ninety-four male alcoholic patients were divided into five groups according to age and into three groups according to blood ethanol concentration which ranged between 4.21 and 0.29 mg/ml. It was noted that as age increased, blood ethanol concentration decreased. Groups A, B, and C consisted of subjects whose ethanol levels were more than 2.5, between 1.0 and 2.5, and less than 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. Average values of ethanol elimination rate in Groups A, B, and C were 0.26, 0.23, and 0.18 mg/ml/hr, respectively. The rate increased as blood ethanol concentration elevated. The rate in Group B was significantly higher than that in the healthy control subjects who had blood ethanol levels between 1.0 and 2.5 mg/ml. The rate of ethanol elimination was independent of liver disorder judged by liver function test values. Blood acetaldehyde concentrations in the patients were less than 1.48 micrograms/ml, with an average value of 0.58 microgram/ml, and were significantly correlated with blood ethanol levels in both alcoholics and healthy subjects.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Absorption of egg antigens by the gut observed by oral Prausnitz-Küstner (Walzer) reaction in atopic dermatitis.

Sera from 50 children (27 boys and 23 girls, under the age of 3 years) with atopic dermatitis allergic or not to hen's egg shown by skin test or radioallergosorbent test (RAST) were passively transferred to recipients which were then challenged with injection of egg antigen (Prausnitz-Küstner (P-K) test) or with ingestion of a raw egg (oral P-K test). Thirty-one patients showed positive P-K reaction with serum titers from 2 to 8,192. Fifteen of the P-K positive cases were also positive in the oral P-K test with titers from 2 to 256. The ratio of the oral P-K titer and the P-K titer in each positive case was from 1:2 to 1:32. The results indicate that a high percentage of atopic dermatitis patients with egg allergy have IgE antibody in the serum capable of reacting with an ingested egg.

Antigens↗
PubMed1989

Partition ratio of acetaldehyde between blood and breath after ethanol consumption.

Breath samples which were collected into Alcomille Breath Bags (Etzlinger Electronics, Geneve, Switzerland) were assessed for their acetaldehyde and ethanol levels by gas chromatography. Simultaneously, their levels in the venous blood were determined with the PCA method. A good correlation fit for acetaldehyde and ethanol levels was obtained in both blood and breath samples, respectively. The blood/breath partition ratio for acetaldehyde was 109 +/- 10 and that for ethanol was 2,300 +/- 100. The water/air, saline/air, and plasma/air partition ratios of acetaldehyde in vitro were 119, 120, and 155, respectively. Conversely, the water/air, saline/air, plasma/air, and blood/air partition ratios of ethanol were 2,160, 2,040, 1,920 and 1,720, respectively. The acetaldehyde in the bag was well preserved. In analyzing breath acetaldehyde, it is very important that only the end expiratory air is collected. Determination of acetaldehyde level with Alcomille Breath Bag is very useful to investigate alcohol metabolism, when some problems exist in the collection of blood samples and in the treatment for the analysis of blood acetaldehyde.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

[A homicidal strangulation by ligature, disguised as a suicidal hanging].

A naked 38-year-old woman was found dead, lying beside a bed in a guest room of a hotel. A cotton cord was looped around her neck, with one end tied to a bedpost. Thus it seemed that she had hanged herself in a lying position. Yet, certain suspicious factors gave rise to doubts. The hair and a necklace were intertwined with the cord and a man that had been staying in the same room had fled. On the postmortem examination, marked congestion and many petechial haemorrhages were seen in the face and the upper area of the neck, also in conjunctiva. A light-brown and highly dry ligature mark, about one centimeter in width, was found on the neck. The mark, crossing the front of the neck, was clearly evident from the back to the right side of the neck. The lower borders of the congestion and petechial haemorrhages in the face and neck were located 1 or 2 centimeters above the ligature mark. On the left side of the neck, another pale ligature mark with slight subcutaneous haemorrhages was seen between the dry mark and the lower border of the congested part of the neck. A similar ligature mark also was found on the back of the neck. On internal examination, congestion of the cervical lymph nodes and haemorrhages in the cervical muscles were recognized in the areas of the cutaneous congestion. These findings supported suspicions that the dry ligature mark had been caused by hanging after her death, and that the light ligature mark with slight subcutaneous haemorrhages on the left side and back of the neck had been caused by strangulation, which had brought on the victim's death. Therefore, it was decided that her death had been disguised as a suicidal hanging, after she had been strangled by ligature. A week later, her former husband was arrested and confessed his crime.

Adult↗