Endoscopic appearance of the GI lesions associated with Sweet's syndrome.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Sakata.
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Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a rare tumor and the case reported here presented as constrictive pericarditis. The patient's symptoms progressed day by day despite treatment with digitalis, diuretics and catecholamines. Although a computed tomographic scan of the chest, echocardiography and pericardiocentesis were performed, a preoperative definitive diagnosis could not be obtained. Emergency pericardiectomy and partial resection of the tumor were carried out with the aid of a percutaneous cardiopulmonary supporting system, but the patient died of cardiac failure on postoperative day 3. The tumor appeared to be the biphasic type of diffuse malignant mesothelioma. The prognosis for pericardial mesothelioma is extremely poor due to its late presentation and difficulty in completely removing it surgically and, unfortunately, there still is not a radical therapy for this tumor.
We carried out the surgery of thoracic aortic aneurysm in fifty-eight patients from June 1994 to February 1999 (including aortic dissection in twenty-six patients). The mean size of grafts were 28.1 mm in ascending graft replacement, 25.8 mm in both ascending and arch graft replacement and 23.8 mm in descending graft replacement. The grafts for ascending aortic aneurysm were significantly larger than those for descending aortic aneurysm. In two of twenty-six patients undergoing both ascending and arch graft replacement, different size of grafts were used for ascending replacement and for arch replacement with satisfactory results in terms of bleeding from the anastomotic sites. Case 1; A 45-year-female with aortitis syndrome and aortic regurgitation due to annuloaorticectasia and thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent simultaneous aortic root replacement with composite graft (25 mm St. Jude Medical valve and 28 mm Hemashield graft) and total arch replacement (30 mm Hemashield graft with two side branches). Case 2; A 64-year-female was diagnosed as chronic type II dissecting aneurysm combined with acute type I aortic dissection. Ascending aorta was replaced with a 26 mm Hemashield graft, and the aortic arch was replaced with a 24 mm Hemashield graft with three side branches.
The patient was a 67-year-old male with aortic regurgitation and ascending aortic aneurysm. We noticed the type A retrograde aortic dissection occurring from the cannulation site through the right femoral artery. We discontinued cardio-pulmonary bypass immediately, and established selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) eleven minutes after retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP). We underwent simultaneous aortic valve replacement and ascending and arch graft replacement with an aid of SCP combined with RCP and systemic low flow perfusion. Postoperative course was satisfactory, although patient had a transient neurologic deficit. Intraoperative aortic dissection is a rare but potentially fatal complication. RCP may be a simple and useful method in emergency operation for intraoperative retrograde type A aortic dissection to avoid serious cerebral damage.
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel hypotensive and vasodilator peptide. We previously examined the localization of AM in human, rat, and porcine tissues using a polyclonal antibody against synthetic human AM[40-52]. We demonstrated that AM is widely distributed in the endocrine and neuroendocrine systems, but not in the heart, kidney, or blood vessels, although high levels of AM mRNA were detected in the latter tissues. In this study, we further investigated the distribution of AM by using two newly developed monoclonal antibodies against synthetic human AM peptides, [12-25] and [46-52]. AM immunoreactivity was observed in cardiac myocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and renal distal and collecting tubules. In addition, AM-immunoreactive (IR) cells were found in mucosal and glandular epithelia of the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems, as well as the endocrine and neuroendocrine systems. These findings indicate that AM-IR cells are more widely distributed in human tissues and suggest that AM might play multiple biological roles in humans.
AIMS: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel hypotensive and vasorelaxing peptide recently isolated from human phaeochromocytoma tissue, and is widely distributed in various organs. In this study we examined the localization of AM-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the gastric mucosa and AM-IR cell density in antral atrophic gastritis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Gastric mucosal tissues were taken from the gastric body and antral mucosa of 52 patients (27 men, 25 women; mean age 56.0 (range 20-86) years). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AM-IR cells were present in the pyloric glands, but not in the fundic glands, and that AM-IR cells were stained positively for chromogranin A and gastrin. The percentage of AM-IR cells vs chromogranin A- and gastrin-IR cells was 42 and 56%, respectively. The number of AM-IR cells decreased with the progression of severity of atrophic changes in the pyloric gland, and also of mononuclear cell infiltration. There was no correlation between the number of AM-IR cells and the degree of neutrophilic infiltration. Similar findings were also obtained for gastrin-IR cells. CONCLUSION: AM-IR cells are present in the endocrine cells including gastrin-IR cells in the pyloric glands. These results suggest that AM may contribute to gastrin secretion in the pyloric glands.
Guanylin and uroguanylin are intestinal peptides that stimulate guanylate cyclase C and cause chloride secretion. These peptides show topological instability due to two disulfide bonds. The disulfide bonds were reduced and S-carboxymethylated to cleave the bonds and obtain stable and sole derivatives. We established a new and reliable RIA system for the stable derivatives from both peptides. With the use of this system, the response of the peptides to salt loading of the rat small intestine was evaluated. The lumen of the small intestines of Sprague-Dawley rats was perfused in vivo with Krebs-Ringer solution containing different concentrations of salt or mannitol. Mature guanylin, proguanylin, and mature uroguanylin were found in the perfusate in the basal state. The highest salt loading (200 mM NaCl for 20 min) increased the guanylin secretion about threefold (1.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.5 pmol/min), with the effect lasting for 60 min. The uroguanylin secretion was less affected. Hyperosmolar mannitol also caused a significant but smaller increase of guanylin secretion. Increased guanylin could lead to increased salt and water secretion of the intestine; thus members of the guanylin family have potential roles in the regulation of water and salt metabolism in the small intestine.
The present investigation assessed the effect of lesions of the septum on male courtship and aggression in the territorial field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) and the colonial zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). In addition, pair-bonding and a variety of other social behaviors were examined in the zebra finch and dawn song (both the strictly agonistic song type and the multipurpose song type) was examined in the field sparrow. Zebra finches were tested in three phases both before and after receiving bilateral electrolytic lesions of the septum or sham surgery. These phases were: (1) competition tests in which a subject and a stimulus male were exposed to a female in an adjacent cage; (2) sexual behavior tests with a female; and (3) 10-day group cage tests in which subjects were in a mixed-sex environment. Aggressive behaviors (chases, threats, beak fences and pecks) were significantly reduced by septal lesions but not by sham surgery. Directed song (courtship) was significantly reduced in sexual behavior tests, with similar trends in other testing phases. Male field sparrows were tested 2 days pre-surgery and 2 days post-surgery in outdoor aviaries placed in their natural habitat. Tests consisted of dawn song observations and observations of courtship and aggression following introduction of a female to the subject's aviary, which was followed 10 min later by the introduction of another male (without removing the female). Septal lesions significantly facilitated both overt aggression (chases) and the number of simple (multi-purpose) songs. These results provide evidence that the septum participates in the regulation of male aggression and song in songbirds, and further suggest that variations in septal function may exist between territorial and colonial species.
Six cases of thymic carcinoma (mean age 48.5 years old, one male and 5 females) were treated in our hospital from September 1990 to September 1998. The histological subtypes of thymic carcinoma were squamous cell in 4, undifferentiated in one, and small cell in one. All cases underwent midsternal thoracotomy, 4 had total resection of the tumor and 2 had exploratory thoracotomy due to tumor invasion of the aorta and the main pulmonary artery. Within 2 years after operation, 2 cases without radiation therapy were died of the carcinoma and one case was died of asthma. However, two cases of squamous cell carcinoma have been alive and disease free for 3 and 5 years since the operation followed by mediastinal irradiation. We think that radiation therapy is very effective to control the disease because one of them underwent only exploratory operation prior to irradiation. Another one case who survives 5 years after total resection of the tumor following irradiation revealed swelling of numerous mediastinal lymph nodes, pathologically consisted of non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas without metastasis of carcinoma, at the time of operation. These lymph nodes were diagnosed as "sarcoid-like reaction" because there was no clinical evidence of generalized sarcoidosis. The "sarcoid-like reaction" may contribute to the 5-year survival of the patient because it is thought to be a local immune response against the cancer cells. A remaining patient, alive 6 months after total resection of the thymic small cell carcinoma following irradiation, received preoperatively three cycles of the intra-arterial administration using CBDCA via bilateral internal mammary arteries. This induction chemotherapy had no response of the tumor size, but it was considered to have a possibility of reducing the size of thymic carcinoma by the use of other agents (CDDP, VDS etc.) because the tumor was fed mainly by the highly developed internal mammary arteries.
The present investigation assessed the effect of lesions of the septum on male courtship and aggression in the territorial field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) and the colonial zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). In addition, pair-bonding and a variety of other social behaviors were examined in the zebra finch and dawn song (both the strictly agonistic song type and the multipurpose song type) was examined in the field sparrow. Zebra finches were tested in three phases both before and after receiving bilateral electrolytic lesions of the septum or sham surgery. These phases were: (1) competition tests in which a subject and a stimulus male were exposed to a female in an adjacent cage; (2) sexual behavior tests with a female; and (3) 10-day group cage tests in which subjects were in a mixed-sex environment. Aggressive behaviors (chases, threats, beak fences and pecks) were significantly reduced by septal lesions but not by sham surgery. Directed song (courtship) was significantly reduced in sexual behavior tests, with similar trends in other testing phases. Male field sparrows were tested 2 days pre-surgery and 2 days post-surgery in outdoor aviaries placed in their natural habitat. Tests consisted of dawn song observations and observations of courtship and aggression following introduction of a female to the subject's aviary, which was followed 10 min later by the introduction of another male (without removing the female). Septal lesions significantly facilitated both overt aggression (chases) and the number of simple (multi-purpose) songs. These results provide evidence that the septum participates in the regulation of male aggression and song in songbirds, and further suggest that variations in septal function may exist between territorial and colonial species.
A 41-year-old male was transported to our emergency room 25 minutes after blunt chest trauma. The chest X-ray film and CT scanning demonstrated left pulmonary atelectasis, hemothorax, and widening of mediastinum possibly due to hematoma. Hundred and fifty minutes after arrival to the hospital, we were rush to bring him to the operation theater suspecting serious injury of the thoracic organs in association with bleeding from left thoracic drainage tube without detection of the aortic rupture. The left standard thoracotomy disclosed no injury of the left lung, good continuity and no dilatation of the thoracic descending aorta. But visual blood flow observed through the adventitia of the aortic isthmus led us to the final diagnosis of the aortic rupture. After aortic clamping, the intima of the injured aorta was found to be completely disrupted for a length of 6 cm and was repaired with a vascular prosthesis under the partial cardiopulmonary bypass using a centrifugal pump. His postoperative course was uneventful. We reported a case of complete circumferential aortic rupture without widening of the pseudoaneurysm in the acute stage of the disease.
Surgical stabilization of multiple rib fractures in 5 male patients was successfully achieved with the use of orthopedic A-O metalic plates, which are called reconstruction plates. In each patient, we prevented deformity of the rib cage and flail chest which frequently occurs after multiple rib fractures. Three of these patients received emergency operations because of severe hemopneumothorax and flail chest due to crushing injuries to the chest. They were treated by the standard thoracotomy, hemostasis of intrapleural bleeding, and stabilization of fractured ribs with reconstruction plates, in addition two of the patients underwent a single lobectomy to control the pulmonary hemorrhage. Another two patients were treated with mechanical ventilation and closed-tube thoracotomy following the chest trauma because their thoracic bleeding from drainage tubes was tolerable. But flail chest and respiratory insufficiency did not improve, in spite of positive controlled ventilation as a mode of internal pneumatic stabilization. Then surgical stabilization of the fractured ribs with these plates was carried out ten to twelve days after the accidents in each case. All patients tolerated the surgical procedures well and were successfully removed from the respirator, demonstrating complete stability of the chest wall. The long metal reconstruction plates with many perforations were very useful for the external fixation of segmentary fractured ribs as an external brace. This was because they were long enough to cover the whole length of the fractured ribs and moderately soft enough to be appropriately bent or twisted by hand at the time of operation. Moreover a number of holes in it allowed the suture to pass through the plate and rib, avoiding displacement of the prosthesis. This is the first report which describes the usefulness of orthopedic reconstruction plates for the stabilization of multiple rib fractures.
The aim of this study was to investigate the regional distribution, molecular forms, and gene expression of adrenomedullin in the rat gastrointestinal tract and to examine physiological changes in gastric adrenomedullin after 24-h fasting. The tissue concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. The molecular forms were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. mRNA levels were quantified by Northern blotting and cells positive for adrenomedullin immunoreactivity were localized by immunohistochemistry. A high concentration of adrenomedullin was found in stomach, cecum, and colon (450-520 fmol/g wet tissue). Adrenomedullin immunoreactivity was also detected in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (200-250 fmol/g wet tissue). Transcripts of the adrenomedullin gene were widely expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The major form of adrenomedullin immunoreactivity in stomach and colon corresponded precisely with authentic adrenomedullin peptide. Adrenomedullin immunoreactive cells were present in the gastrointestinal endocrine system. The concentration and mRNA level of gastric adrenomedullin after fasting were significantly increased compared with findings in controls. Adrenomedullin is ubiquitous in the gastrointestinal tract, and may be produced by endocrine cells. The results suggest that adrenomedullin, through its potent vasodilating activity, may play some role, in the stomach including the regulation of the mucosal blood flow.
The mechanisms that control growth and reproduction have received considerable attention by molecular and cellular endocrinologists, yet there has been relatively little effort to link these two aspects of physiology. On the other hand, evolutionary biologists have long commented on the relationship between growth and reproduction in many species, yet have generally neglected the mechanisms underlying such complex traits. An approach that integrates the multiple proximate levels promises to provide significant insight into the evolution of neuroendocrine control mechanisms. In this chapter, we take this approach in reviewing environmental influences on growth and reproduction in the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius. In this species, incubation temperature during embryonic development not only determines gonadal sex, but also underlies within-sex differences in growth, adult morphology, aggressiveness, reproductive physiology and behaviour, and brain organization. Thus, the leopard gecko is an excellent model to elucidate the developmental interactions among the environment and the endocrine and nervous systems that control growth and reproduction.
BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to compare the effect of histidine-triptophan-ketoglutalate solution (HTK) with that of cold blood cardioplegic solution (CBC) in mitral valve surgery. METHOD: Forty-six patients who underwent mitral valve replacement between January 1994 and December 1996 were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients received HTK (HTK group), while 27 patients had CBC (CBC group) as myocardial protection. HTK was given as a single high dose, whereas CBC was used in the usual multidose format. RESULT: The doses of inotropic agent at the end of extracorporeal circulation did not differ between the HTK group and the CBC group. Creatine kinase values (units) on day 1 and day 2 were 1140+/-412, 921+/-436 for the HTK group and 904+/-335, 816+/-420 for the CBC group, respectively (p = NS). Spontaneous defibrillation occurred in 26% of the CBC group and 90% of the HTK group (p < 0.05). Pacing was temporarily used in 20% of the HTK group and 44% of the CBC group after extracorporeal circulation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that HTK provided more adequate myocardial protection in mitral valve surgery.
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a biologically active peptide recently isolated from phaeochromocytoma. We report here the distribution and characterization of immunoreactive AM and gene expression of AM in human gastrointestinal tissue. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay system for the peptide, immunoreactive human AM was detected in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. The AM concentration of these tissues was about 0.4-0.8 pmol/g wet tissue. Reverse phase and gel filtration high-performance liquid chromatographies showed that most of the immunoreactive AM in stomach and jejunum was identical to authentic human AM. By northern blot analysis, human AM mRNA was found to be expressed ubiquitously in the human gastrointestinal tissues. Furthermore, an immunohistochemical study revealed that immunoreactive AM cells were present in the gastrointestinal glands. These results suggest that AM may play some role as a gastrointestinal hormone.
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide with potent vasodilatory and hypotensive properties. Plasma AM levels in rats with experimentally induced hypertension, such as Dahl salt-sensitive rats and two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats, are higher than those in normotensive rats. We previously noted, however, that plasma AM levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are similar to those in Wistar-Kyoto rats. To define the role of AM in rats with severe hypertension, we investigated changes in circulating and tissue AM levels in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP/Izm). The immunoreactive rat AM levels in plasma, urine, and tissue measured with a sensitive radioimmunoassay, and the AM mRNA levels in various tissues in 15-wk-old SHRSP/Izm were compared with those in age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY/Izm). The plasma and urinary AM levels in SHRSP/Izm were significantly lower than those in WKY/Izm [plasma AM, 2.14+/-0.06 (SE) vs. 3.24+/-0.16 fmol/ml, p< 0.001; urinary AM, 16.36+/-3.21 vs. 36.12+/-6.09 fmol/ml, p< 0.01]. A negative correlation was found between the plasma AM level and the systolic blood pressure in both SHRSP/Izm and WKY/Izm. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the molecular components of plasma immunoreactive AM in SHRSP/Izm were similar to those in WKY/Izm. Furthermore, tissue AM levels in various organs in SHRSP/Izm were not lower than those in WKY/Izm. In conclusion, low levels of circulating AM may contribute to the maintenance of high blood pressure in 15-wk-old SHRSP/Izm. These low plasma AM levels may be caused by accelerated metabolism of circulating AM in SHRSP/Izm.
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