Hemorrhagic panesophagitis after acute organophosphorus poisoning.
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Accidents, Occupational↗
Biomedical subjects
K Aoyagi
Publications and source records attributed to K Aoyagi.
Production of radioactive endovascular stents by implantation of 133Xe ions.
A coronary stent was made radioactive by implantation of 133Xe ions for the purpose of suppressing the renarrowing of the part of blood vessel in which the stent is implanted. Electrons of relatively low energies emitted in the decay of 133Xe may give an antiproliferative effect of ionizing radiation to the intimal cells within a limited range of 1 mm. A 133Xe+ beam accelerated at 40 or 60 keV was directed to several stainless steel stents mounted on a target-holder table that could revolve and move up and down to distribute the 133Xe+ ions within a stent as well as among the stents. The radioactive stents produced contained up to 100 kBq of 133Xe and were implanted into the abdominal aortas of rabbits. Neointimal thickening was analyzed by histomorphometry for samples taken 4 weeks after stent implantation. The results indicate that the radioactive stents have a potential to suppress neointimal hyperplasia in rabbits.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
Imaging of hydroperoxides in a rat glomerulus stimulated by puromycin aminonucleoside.
BACKGROUND: To determine the locus of the increased oxidation induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), we imaged hydroperoxides in glomeruli stimulated by PAN in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) in cells makes dichlorofluorescein, a substance that fluoresces when reacted with hydroperoxides. Fluorescence was detected using a photon detection video camera connected to a microscope. Two kinds of isolated glomeruli of Wistar rats were examined. One was the glomerulus obtained from rats on the seventh day following the injection of PAN. In this case, glomeruli were incubated in a buffer containing 5 mM DCFH-DA. Another was the glomerulus collected at 30 minutes after a large amount of DCFH-DA was intravenously injected. These glomeruli were incubated with either PAN or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in Krebs-Henseleite bicarbonate buffer. RESULTS: The images from the glomeruli treated by PAN in vivo resemble pictures of a galaxy by telescope. When the glomeruli were treated by PAN in vitro, two localized points appeared in each glomerulus after 15 minutes of incubation with PAN, and after 75 minutes of incubation, the fluorescence spread throughout the glomerulus. When glomeruli were incubated with PMA, two points that gave a very strong fluorescence were observed in each glomerulus, but they did not spread throughout the glomeruli. In both experiments, glomeruli without stimulants did not fluoresce. CONCLUSION: Increases in hydroperoxides were observed in the glomeruli from rats made nephrotic by exposure to PAN, and were also observed in glomeruli following 15 minutes of incubation with PAN in vitro.
Animals↗
Polymorphism of heat-shock protein gene HSP70-2 in Crohn disease: possible genetic marker for two forms of Crohn disease.
BACKGROUND: Previous reports have shown that heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) may be associated with Crohn disease. However, genetic analysis of the HSP70 gene in Crohn disease has not been done. The aim of this study is to investigate whether HSP70-2 gene polymorphism is involved in susceptibility to Crohn disease in the Japanese population and whether it correlates with clinical manifestation of the disease. METHODS: A total of 108 genetically unrelated patients with Crohn disease and 108 healthy controls were typed for HSP70-2 PstI polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (alleles A and B). Patients with Crohn disease were classified into two types: either perforating or non-perforating. RESULTS: Genotype and allele frequency did not differ between patients and controls. In patients with Crohn disease, allele A frequency was significantly higher in the non-perforating than in the perforating type (P = 0.02). When patients with Crohn disease of more than 6.7 years' duration were assessed, the differences in genotype and allele frequency between the two groups became more significant (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that HSP70-2 gene polymorphic allele A is a possible genetic marker of less severe clinical phenotype in Japanese patients with Crohn disease.
Adolescent↗
Formation of guanidinosuccinic acid, a stable nitric oxide mimic, from argininosuccinic acid and nitric oxide-derived free radicals.
Guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA) is noted for its nitric oxide (NO) mimicking actions such as vasodilatation and activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. We have reported that GSA is the product of argininosuccinate (ASA) and some reactive oxygen species, mainly the hydroxyl radical. We tested for GSA synthesis in the presence of NO donors. ASA (1 mM) was incubated with NOR-2, NOC-7 or 3-morpholinosydomine hydrochloride (SIN-1) at 37 degrees C. GSA was determined by HPLC using a cationic resin for separation and phenanthrenequinone as an indicator. Neither NOR-2 or NOC-7 formed GSA. SIN-1, on the other hand, generates NO and the superoxide anion which, in turn, generated peroxynitrite which was then converted to the hydroxyl radical. Incubation of ASA with SIN-1 leads, via this route, to GSA. When ASA was incubated with 1 mM SIN-1, the amount of GSA produced depended on the incubation time and the concentration of ASA. Among the tested SIN-1 concentrations, from 0.5 to 5 mM, GSA synthesis was maximum at 0.5 mM and decreased with increasing concentrations of SIN-1. Carboxy-PTIO, a NO scavenger, completely inhibited GSA synthesis. SOD, a superoxide scavenger, decreased GSA synthesis by 20%, and catalase inhibited GSA synthesis only by 12%; DMSO, a hydroxyl radical scavenger completely inhibited GSA synthesis in the presence of SIN-1. These data suggest that the hydroxyl radical derived from a combination of NO and the superoxide anion generates GSA, a stable NO mimic. Meanwhile, synthesis of GSA by NO produces reactive oxygen and activates the NMDA receptor that generates NO from GSA, suggesting a positive feed back mechanism.
Argininosuccinic Acid↗
Knowledge, risk perception of AIDS and reported sexual behaviour among students in secondary schools and colleges in Tanzania.
A questionnaire survey was carried out among 1041 students in secondary schools and colleges in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania to evaluate the relationship between HIV-risky sexual behaviour and anti-condom bias, as well as with AIDS-related information, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes. Self-reportedly, 54% of students (75% of the boys and 40% of the girls) were sexually active, 39% had a regular sexual partner and 13% had multiple partners in the previous year. The condom use rate was higher than previous reports. However, 30% of sexually active respondents did not always use condoms (Risk-1 behaviour) and 35% of those with multiple partners in the previous year did not always use condoms (Risk-2 behaviour). Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that 'sex partner hates condom' had association with both Risk-1 behaviour (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.58-3.85) and Risk-2 behaviour (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.10-5.48). 'Use of condom prevents HIV infection' also had association with both Risk-1 behaviour (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.19-3.67) and Risk-2 behaviour (OR 3.73; 95% CI 1.28-11.03). Students engaging in risky behaviour were aware of the risk, even though they failed to change their behaviour. Reasons for the AIDS epidemic among Tanzanian students and the importance of more effective AIDS education are also discussed.
Adolescent↗
Two cases of psoas abscess with discitis by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a complication of femoral-vein catheterization for haemodialysis.
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Abscess↗
Accuracy of standardized uptake value measured by simultaneous emission and transmission scanning in PET oncology.
We assessed the accuracy of the standardized uptake value (SUV) measured by simultaneous emission and transmission scanning in cancer patients using FDG positron emission tomography (PET). Conventional, independent emission (E)/transmission (T) scans and simultaneous E/T scans were conducted consecutively in 30 patients who underwent FDG PET examinations. The SUVs of 35 mass lesions and 34 selected normal tissues were derived from the independent E/T scan and simultaneous E/T scan. Experimental studies using a cylindrical phantom were also conducted to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of the SUV derived from a simultaneous E/T scan. The SUVs of 18F solution in the phantom were estimated to be approximately 1, with high reproducibility in the range of total counts observed in the clinical examinations. There were no significant differences in the SUVs in 35 tumours derived from simultaneous E/T scans and those derived from independent scans, and there was a strong positive correlation between the two (r = 0.99, P < 0.01). There were also no significant differences in the SUVs in 34 normal tissue regions derived from simultaneous E/T scans and those derived from independent scans. In conclusion, simultaneous E/T scanning with FDG in patients with malignant tumours is a valid method, since the SUV derived from the simultaneous scan is accurate and reproducible.
Algorithms↗
Development of a simple and highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for hepatitis C virus core antigen.
A highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (HCVcAg) was developed, and its performance was compared with that of the AMPLICOR HCV test (Roche Molecular Systems). The developed one-step pretreatment method, 30-min incubation of the specimen with a solution containing three different types of detergents (Triton X-100, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate [CHAPS], and sodium dodecyl sulfate), does not require any special device. Because the interfering anti-core antibody in the sample was sufficiently inactivated by the pretreatment, HCVcAg in the sample could be detected. The immunoreactivity on gel filtration was shifted from void fractions to those corresponding to the molecular mass range from 20 to 25 kDa, which is equal to the estimated molecular mass of HCVcAg, after the pretreatment. By the recovery test with HCVcAg-positive serum, the recovery rate was 93.5 to 106. 5%. There was no interference with the EIA by anticoagulants or blood components in the serum. When the cutoff value was tentatively set at 0.5 mU/ml based on the distribution of healthy subjects' sera, the sera of all healthy subjects (n = 125) and patients with hepatitis B (n = 50) were negative. HCVcAg was detected in sera from 57 of 73 individuals (78.1%) with anti-HCV antibody. Similarly, HCV RNA was detected in sera from 59 individuals (80.8%) with the AMPLICOR HCV as the qualitative test (AMPLICOR HCV test) and in sera from 54 individuals (74.0%) by the AMPLICOR HCV Monitor as the quantitative test (AMPLICOR Monitor test). Concentrations of HCVcAg and HCV RNA (measured by the AMPLICOR Monitor test) correlated significantly (r = 0.8, P < 0.001). On seroconversion panels, HCVcAg was detected during the early stage of infection, when anti-HCV antibodies had not been produced. This assay for HCVcAg is simpler than assays for HCV RNA based on gene technology and shows specificity and sensitivity equivalent to those of the AMPLICOR HCV test.
Antibodies↗
Prevalence of joint pain is higher among women in rural Japan than urban Japanese-American women in Hawaii.
OBJECTIVE: Environmental factors such as farming contribute to the frequency of joint symptoms. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible role of environment (lifestyle), by comparing the prevalence of joint pain between Japanese in a rural farming district in Japan and in urban Hawaii. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Current or previous pain at specific joints was surveyed among 222 women in rural Japan and 638 Japanese women in urban Hawaii aged 60-79. The age adjusted prevalence was compared using logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain at one or more joints was approximately 70% in Japan and 50% in Hawaii. The prevalence of knee pain in Japan ranged from 36% at ages 60-69 years to 53% at 70-79 years (mean 41%), whereas knee pain affected only 20% of women in Hawaii in both age groups. The odds ratio (and 95% CI) was 3.2 (2.1, 4.8) for knee pain, and 4.0 (2.2, 7.4) for mid-back pain in Japan, compared with Hawaii. Pain was also significantly more common in Japan at the shoulder, elbow, and ankle, but not at other joints. Women in Japan were shorter and weighed less than in Hawaii. Adjustment for body mass index increased the odds ratios to 4.4 (2.9, 6.8) for knee, and 4.5 (2.4, 8.5) for mid-back pain. CONCLUSION: Although the potential influence of cultural factors or other sources of bias cannot be ruled out, the large differences in the prevalence of pain at specific joints suggest that environmental factors are probably responsible, because both populations are of similar genetic stock.
Aged↗
Assessment of macular function by multifocal electroretinogram before and after macular hole surgery.
AIM: To evaluate macular function before and after successful surgical closure of idiopathic macular holes using multifocal electroretinogram (ERG). METHODS: 40 patients (40 eyes) with idiopathic macular holes were examined using multifocal ERG both before and after vitreous surgery. The postoperative period was from 1 to 12 months. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the electrical retinal response densities in the foveal and the perifoveal area were apparently decreased. After a mean postoperative period of 3-6 months, the foveal and perifoveal area electrical retinal response densities improved to two to four times the preoperative level and the improvement continued to 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION: In macular holes, the decrease in retinal electrophysiological response was not limited to the fovea but involved an area of the perifovea of 1.6 disc diameters. The electrical retinal response density of these areas gradually improved after macular hole closure.
Aged↗
Experimental enteropathy in athymic and euthymic rats: synergistic role of lipopolysaccharide and indomethacin.
The aim of this study was to investigate the immunologic and microbiological bases of indomethacin enteropathy. Athymic nude and euthymic specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats were reared under conventional or SPF conditions. In each group, indomethacin was given intrarectally for 2 days. Indomethacin enteropathy was evaluated using a previously described ulcer index and tissue myeloperoxidase activity. Both euthymic and athymic nude rats developed intestinal ulcers to the same degree under conventional conditions but no or minimal ulcer under SPF conditions. Pretreatment of conventional rats with intragastric kanamycin sulfate, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, attenuated indomethacin enteropathy in a dose-dependent fashion. Interestingly, when lipopolysaccharide was injected intraperitoneally in kanamycin-pretreated rats, it fully restored enteropathy in these rats in a dose-dependent manner. We confirmed that kanamycin decreased the number of gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin concentration of the small intestine in a dose-dependent fashion. These results indicate that indomethacin enteropathy is bacteria dependent and does not require a T cell function. Synergy between indomethacin and bacterial lipopolysaccharide may play a major role in this enteropathy.
Animals↗
Age-related bone loss: relationship between age and regional bone mineral density.
We assessed the changes in regional bone mineral density according to age and examined the relationship between various regional bone mineral densities. The study was conducted in 985 Japanese women divided into < 50-years group (n = 435) and > or = 50 years group (n = 550). The total body bone mineral density and that of the head, arm, leg, thoracic (T)-spine, lumbar (L)-spine, ribs, and pelvis were measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. There was a significant generalized reduction of bone mineral density in all regions after the age of 50 years. The most marked age-related decrease was observed in the L-spine. Bone mineral densities in all regions significantly correlated to each other in both age groups, but the degree of significance varied among regions. The relationship between bone mineral density of the L-spine and that of T-spine regions was the most significant in both groups. In the < 50-years group, the correlation between bone mineral density of the pelvis and that of L-spine and T-spine was the highest, followed by that between the pelvis and the leg. On the other hand, in the > or = 50-years group, the correlation between bone mineral density of the pelvis and that of the leg was the highest, but not the L-spine or T-spine. Since spine measurements are affected by vertebral deformity and/or aortic calcification, our findings suggest the pelvis may be a useful region for screening measurements of bone mineral density, especially in older women.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Relationship of intra-abdominal adiposity and peripheral fat distribution to lipid metabolism in an island population in western Japan: gender differences and effect of menopause.
Intra-abdominal adiposity is associated with unfavorable serum lipid profiles (high total cholesterol or triacylglycerol, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) in obese people. However, the relation in mainly nonobese Japanese population is not well known. We examined the relationship between intra-abdominal adiposity measured by ultrasonography and body fat distribution with serum lipids in Japanese people living in an island in western Japan. Mainly nonobese healthy individuals (98 men, 72 premenopausal and 182 postmenopausal women) aged between 33 and 69 years were examined. Accumulation of intra-abdominal fat (Pmax) and abdominal subcutaneous fat (Smin) was measured by ultrasonography. We also measured triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses, and the concentrations of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. In men and postmenopausal women, Pmax correlated significantly with the majority of serum lipids after adjusting for age, body mass index and smoking habit. In premenopausal women, Pmax correlated significantly with only total cholesterol, but marginally with triacylglycerol and HDL/total cholesterol ratio after adjustment. Our findings suggest that intra-abdominal adiposity is related to unfavorable lipid profile in both genders among mainly nonobese Japanese population.
Abdomen↗
Histopathological findings of the lower esophagus after total gastrectomy in rat.
It is now accepted that the incidence of esophageal carcinoma is highest in the middle thoracic region. Esophageal carcinoma after gastrectomy, however, has a tendency to develop in the lower region. This study was designed to investigate the role of reflux of gastroduodenal juice in the genesis of carcinoma in the esophagus. We found a possible correlation between the development of esophageal carcinoma and gastrectomy, related to alkaline reflux into the esophagus. To elucidate this correlation, the role of alkaline reflux of duodenal contents in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was investigated in Wister rats. Gastrectomized rats with regurgitation of duodenal contents into the esophagus were not administered any carcinogen and were sacrificed some at the end of 8 weeks and others at 50 weeks for pathological examination. Hyperplasia was found in rats at 8 weeks, and the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was found in rats at 50 weeks. The carcinomas were found exclusively in the area of the reflux esophagitis and were accompanied by severe dysplasia. These results suggested that alkaline reflux of duodenal contents was strongly correlated to the development of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Animals↗
Submucosal gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis--a clinicopathological study.
We have reviewed the clinicopathological features of submucosal gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis. The degree of vertical submucosal infiltration was classified into three stages as sm1, sm2 or sm3. The number of cases with lymph node metastasis of sm3 was significantly more than that of sm1 or sm2. We found no correlation between the tumor size and the rate of lymph node metastasis from submucosal invasive cancer. Accordingly, we concluded that the vertical submucosal infiltration was a more important factor for lymph node metastasis than horizontal infiltration. Minimal invasive surgery was recommended for a tumor measuring 1 cm or less in size with vertical submucosal invasion of sm1 or sm2.
Gastric Mucosa↗
Daily response of blood pressure to day-to-day variation of urinary sodium to potassium ratio.
The relationship between blood pressure and urinary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio was assessed in eight healthy men, none of whom used antihypertensive medications. Blood pressure and urinary sodium and potassium concentrations were measured for 11 to 33 days without any dietary restriction. For two of the eight subjects, the urinary Na/K ratio significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.70 and 0.45, respectively), and in one of the two subjects, the urinary ratio also positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r=0.72). In the others, no relationship between the ratio and blood pressure was observed (r=-0.24 to 0.26). The results indicate that, in some individuals, the daily variation of urinary Na/K ratio is closely correlated with day-to-day changes in blood pressure level, and suggest that the urinary Na/K ratio is useful in the management of the daily sodium and potassium intake balance of hypertensive patients who need to restrict salt intake.
Adult↗
18F alpha-methyl tyrosine PET studies in patients with brain tumors.
UNLABELLED: We have developed 18F-labeled alpha-methyl tyrosine (FMT) for PET imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical application potential of FMT for patients with brain tumors. METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers and 20 patients with brain tumors were injected with 185 MBq (5 mCi) FMT. In 3 healthy volunteers, whole-body imaging and urinary and plasma analysis were conducted for the assessment of the biodistribution of FMT. The normal range of cortical standardized uptake value (SUV) as a reference for comparing tumor SUV of FMT was estimated by using PET data obtained at 30 min postinjection in 8 healthy volunteers. Dynamic PET scans were conducted for 100 min in 4 healthy volunteers and for 30 min in 15 patients with brain tumors. The 10-min static images in another 4 volunteers and all patients were obtained at 30 min postinjection. In 13 patients, FMT uptake in the brain tumor was compared with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Tumor-to-normal cortex count (T/N) ratio and tumor-to-white matter count (T/W) ratio and SUVs of brain tumors were determined on FMT and FDG PET images. RESULTS: Approximately 1480 MBq (40 mCi) FMT were produced in one radiosynthesis. Percentage injected dose (%ID) of FMT in the brain ranged from 2.8% to 4.9%, and approximately 50%ID of FMT was excreted in urine during 60 min postinjection, of which 86.6% was unmetabolized FMT. A faint physiological brain uptake with SUV of 1.61 +/- 0.32 (mean +/- SD, n = 8) was observed in healthy volunteers. Tumor SUV of FMT ranged from 1.2 to 8.2, with mean value of 2.83 +/- 1.57 (n = 23), which was significantly higher than that of the cortical area in healthy volunteers (P < 0.01). T/N and T/W ratios of FMT were significantly higher than those of FDG (2.53 +/- 1.31 versus 1.32 +/- 1.46, P < 0.001; 3.99 +/- 2.10 versus 1.39 +/- 0.65, P < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: FMT, like other radiolabeled amino acids, can provide high-contrast PET images of brain tumors.
Adolescent↗