Diastasis between the medial and the intermediate cuneiforms.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
K Hara
Publications and source records attributed to K Hara.
[Occupational dust exposure and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among conduit repair workers].
The amount of water supply in Japan was 16 billion ton as of 1989. Water from rivers and other sources is purified, sterilized and then supplied to the residents through conduits. When conduits are accidentally damaged, they must be repaired by the workers of the Waterworks Bureau of the local government. In this task, the workers are exposed to airborne dust which develops while digging and filling the ground and cutting the conduit and the concrete covering the road. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the airborne dust exposure level among the workers and to investigate its effect on their respiratory organs. First, we measured the total dust exposure concentration of 20 conduit repair workers and the total dust concentration in 10 office rooms. Second, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the employees of 119 Waterworks Bureaus. The subjects of the analysis were 322 conduit repair workers and as their controls 345 clerical/engineering workers. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) The average daily total dust exposure while repairing conduits ranged from 0.27 to 5.05 mg/m3 (mean = 0.91 mg/m3), while that while exchanging water meters from 0.23 to 0.52 mg/m3 (mean 0.41 mg/m3). These values were 4.6 and 2.1 fold higher than the total dust concentration in office rooms (mean = 0.20 mg/m3). 2) With the use of fluorescent X-ray method, iron and aluminum were detected in all samples collected while repairing conduits and the intensity of X-ray increased with increase in weight of collected dust. Iron exposure concentration ranged from 0.006 to 0.095 mg/m3, which is much higher than the levels in the air in urban areas. Iron and aluminum could not be detected by fluorescent X-ray method in most of the samples collected in office rooms. These findings indicate that the main element in the dust collected while repairing conduits is soil, while that in office rooms is tobacco smoke. 3) Among the smokers, the prevalence of cough and phlegm was significantly higher in conduit repair workers than in clerical/engineering workers. A similar tendency was observed among ex-smokers and non-smokers, but the difference was not significant.
Adult↗
Two cases of lung carcinoma with osteoplastic bone metastasis.
Two cases of lung carcinoma with osteoplastic bone metastasis are reported. The bone roentgenogram of a 66-year-old woman with pleuritis carcinomatosa revealed multiple sclerotic changes in the right forearm, lumbar spine, and pelvis. Biopsy at internal fixation of the left humerus revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma with osteoplastic change. In a 77-year-old man with small cell carcinoma of the lung, after chemotherapy, osteoplastic bone changes were detected in roentgenograms. An ivory vertebra formation was seen in L1, L2 and L4, and bone scintigram showed, additionally, uptake in the ilium.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Completely thrombosed giant fusiform aneurysm in a young patient--case report.
A completely thrombosed giant fusiform aneurysm of the peripheral anterior cerebral artery occurred in a 16-year-old female, with a familial and personal history of vascular headache for 4 or 5 years. She was admitted in a drowsy state with severe headache. Computed tomography revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage as a mottled and ring-like high-density area in the left paramedian frontal lobe not enhanced postcontrast. Left carotid angiography demonstrated an avascular mass and a 5 cm defect in the A3 portion of the anterior cerebral artery. The rupture of the giant fusiform aneurysm was confirmed intraoperatively.
Adolescent↗
Thoracic duct cyst of the mediastinum. Case report.
A mediastinal thoracic duct cyst was incidentally found in an asymptomatic 45-year-old man. The cyst, 6 cm in diameter, was soft and unilocular, with an extremely thin wall, and contained chyle. It was successfully excised.
Humans↗
Health problems among Vietnamese refugees resettled in Japan.
A medical examination of 932 Vietnamese refugees was conducted within 1 month of their resettlement in Japan between 1989 and 1991. A variety of abnormalities were detected, including parasitic disease (78% prevalence), anemia (12%), HBsAg positive state (14%), liver dysfunction (10%), hypertension (0.8%), active pulmonary tuberculosis (2%) and syphilis (0.7%). These rates were still as high as the prevalence in previous studies of earlier immigrants from Vietnam. The high frequency of infectious diseases in recent Vietnamese refugees compared with the Japanese community leads to a recommendation for continuing medical examinations and treatment for new Vietnamese refugees.
Adolescent↗
[Pulmonary cryptococcosis treated by combination therapy of fluconazole plus flucytosine].
The efficacy of the combination therapy of fluconazole plus flucytosine against pulmonary cryptococcosis was investigated. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of antifungal agents were measured by growth inhibition on Yeast-morphology agar plates, and the fractional inhibitory concentration index of each antifungal combination were calculated by checker-board titration. Eight of Cryptococcus neoformans clinical isolates showed sensitivity for AMPH, 5-FC, MCZ and ITZ. C. neoformans showed resistance against FLCZ. The combination of FLCZ plus 5-FC showed synergistic effect against C. neoformans. Three cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis were treated by combination therapy of fluconazole plus flucytosine. After treatment, C. neoformans isolates were eradicated and the chest X-ray improved remarkably. The combination therapy of fluconazole plus flucytosine was effective for the treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis.
Aged↗
[A case of pulmonary aspergilloma successfully treated with combination therapy of intracavitary injection of amphotericin B and intravenous administration of urinastatin].
A 57-year-old man with pulmonary tuberculosis underwent left upper lobectomy in 1984. In 1987, chest X-ray showed a fungus ball, and Aspergillus species was isolated from sputum. He was treated by intracavitary injection of amphotericin B (AMPH) in June, 1992. However, no change was observed in the chest CT scan after a total dose of 1,000 mg of AMPH. Combination therapy of intravenous administration of 100,000 units of urinastatin and intracavitary injection of AMPH resulted in complete disappearance of the fungus ball on chest CT scan. This report describes case of pulmonary aspergilloma successfully treated with the combination of AMPH and urinastatin.
Amphotericin B↗
[Studies of lymphocyte subpopulations of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in HTLV-I seropositive patients with uveitis].
To determine whether HTLV-I infection is associated with uveitis, we investigated the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells in 23 patients with uveitis. Of these, sarcoidosis was diagnosed in 13 patients, but could not be confirmed in the remaining 10 patients (non-sarcoidosis). Three of 13 patients (23.1%) with sarcoidosis and 7 of 10 non-sarcoidosis patients (70.0%) were HTLV-I seropositive. In BALF, no significant differences were observed between the HTLV-I seropositive and seronegative patients. However, in non-sarcoidosis patients, total cell counts, CD3+ and CD+ HLA-DR+ cells in BALF were significantly higher in seropositive patients than in seronegative patients. CD3+ CD25+ cells in BALF were markedly increased in 3 of 7 non-sarcoidosis seronegative patients. These findings indicated that BALF lymphocytes in HTLV-I seropositive non-sarcoidosis patients were more activated than those in seronegative non-sarcoidosis patients, supporting the hypothesis that HTLV-I infection may be associated with uveitis.
Adult↗
[A case of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with increased lung water during sleep].
A 22-year-old man was admitted to the department of plastic surgery in our university with diagnosis of ankylosis and microgeniea. His complaints were snoring and somnolence in the daytime, so we performed a Respigraph (Chest) that showed obstructive apnea during sleep. We diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. So we observed pulmonary circulation and measured lung water using the double indicator dilution method (Nihon Koden, MTV-1100) during sleep. During the period of apnea, arterial oxygen pressure and mixed venous saturation decreased, reversely, mean pulmonary arterial pressure rose, lung water (ETV) and central blood volume increased. We considered that the increase of lung water during sleep apnea is caused by hemodynamic change due to hypoxia and increase of venous return. After operation, the value of blood gas assay and apnea index were improved.
Adult↗
[True muscle hypertrophy of the unilateral calf in congenital myotonic dystrophy--a case report].
A 23-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of unilateral calf enlargement. On neurological examination, she was mentally retarded with mild dysarthria. Grip myotonia was bilaterally present. Muscle weakness including those of face, neck and extremities was noted. The right calf tight and firm on palpation, was markedly enlarged with a circumference of 35.0 cm compared with 30.0 cm on the other side. Computed tomographic scans of the skeletal muscles revealed marked hypertrophy in the right triceps surae muscle. Electromyographic studies demonstrated persistent myotonic discharge in the hypertrophied gastrocnemius muscle. A muscle biopsy specimen obtained from the right gastrocnemius showed many hypertrophied muscle fibers, with prominent internal and sarcolemmal nuclei. Histographic analysis indicated a hypertrophy factor of 2,025 for type 1 fibers and 1,102 for type 2 fibers. DNA analysis by Southern hybridization technique showed large DNA fragment, consistent with congenital myotonic dystrophy. In the present patient, unilateral calf enlargement was an unusual feature associated with myotonic dystrophy. Neuroradiological and pathological studies confirmed true muscle hypertrophy of unilateral calf muscle. A search of the literature failed to reveal any case similar to our patient.
Adult↗
[Angiotropic lymphoma presenting with subacute dementia: treatment with combination chemotherapy (CHOP) based on antemortem diagnosis--a case report].
We report a 64-year-old male with angiotropic lymphoma. He developed subacute dementia with right hemiparesis. Laboratory abnormalities included elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) (715 U/l) erythrocyte sedimentation rate (38 mm/hr) and CSF protein (90 mg/dl). Precontrast MR imaging of the brain demonstrated lesions involving the left internal capsule, subcortical white matter in the right frontal lobe and splenium within the atrophic corpus callosum. A brain biopsy revealed intravascular lymphoid cells, strongly suggestive of angiotropic lymphoma. By combination chemotherapy (CHOP), serum LDH and CSF protein normalized through the patient remained demented. He died of bronchopneumonia about 2 years and 5 months after the onset. Coronal sections of the brain showed infarct in the left internal capsule as well as markedly thin corpus callosum with necrotic lesions involving both the genu and splenium. Microscopic examination showed many small vessels occluded by lymphoma cells (B-lymphocyte) predominantly in the corpus callosum, cerebral white matter, thalamus, midbrain, medulla oblongata, thoracic and lumbar segments of the spinal cord. By combination chemotherapy, our patient survived longer than most of previous patients with angiotropic lymphoma. An early diagnosis and subsequent combination chemotherapy may improve neurological manifestations, and make possible longer survival in angiotropic lymphoma.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
The dysfunction of peripheral blood dendritic cells in patients with mixed connective tissue disease.
The morphological findings and functions of peripheral blood dendritic cells (DC) from patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) were compared with those of DC from normal subjects. DC from both groups possessed typical dendritic processes and showed HLA-DR antigens and C3bi receptor. The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and autologous concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T cell proliferation using DC as stimulating cells and accessory cells were significantly depressed in patients with MCTD. In the allogeneic MLR and allogeneic Con A responses, DC from patients with MCTD were poorer stimulating cells and accessory cells. The dysfunction of DC also, as one of the various immune abnormalities, must play a role in the appearance of clinical features.
Adolescent↗
Anticarcinogenic activity of green tea polyphenols.
The main physiologically active polyphenol in green tea extract is (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Green tea extract has an advantage over EGCG as a cancer chemopreventive agent for humans, as is apparent from the Japanese custom of injesting green tea on a daily basis. Green tea extract similarly inhibited protein kinase C activation by teleocidin, a tumor promoter, as did EGCG. In addition, EGCG and green tea extract showed inhibitory effects on the growth of lung and mammary cancer cell lines with similar potencies. An experiment using the estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cell line showed the mechanisms of action of these compounds to be inhibiting the interaction of estrogen with its receptors. Considering our previous results of a single application of EGCG to mouse skin inhibiting the specific binding of 3H-12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (3H-TPA) and 3H-okadaic acid, we postulated that EGCG and compounds in green tea extracts would block the interaction of tumor promoters, hormones and growth factors with their receptors: a kind of sealing effect. The sealing effect would account for reversible growth arrest, and may be induced by various kinds of compound.
Animals↗
Revised structure of a delta-aminolevulinic acid derivative.
The structure of the fluorescent derivative formed in the method of Okayama et al. (Clin Chem 1990; 36:1494-7) for determining delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) concentrations was reinvestigated after esterification. The molecular ion peak at m/z 303.1473 corresponded to the molecular formula of C17H21NO4 (calcd 303.1470). The infrared spectrum showed the presence of carbonyl and carboxyl groups. This compound contained two acetyl groups, two methyl groups, and one methoxycarbonylethyl group, as revealed by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and 13C-1H shift-correlated spectroscopy. Experiments with correlation spectroscopy via long-range coupling indicated that the main skeleton is 3H-pyrrolizine. The relative arrangement of functional groups was determined by means of nuclear Overhauser effect difference experiments. We were led to the conclusion that the methyl ester of the derivative is 2,6-diacetyl-1,5-dimethyl-7-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)-3H-pyrrolizine. This structure was unequivocally confirmed by x-ray analysis; therefore, the structure of the derivative itself is 2,6-diacetyl-1,5-dimethyl-7-(2-carboxyethyl)-3H-pyrrolizine.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
[Incidence of fungal isolation in clinical specimens from the respiratory tract].
The incidence of fungal isolation in 711 clinical specimens from the respiratory tract was investigated in 159 patients with pulmonary diseases. Fungi were isolated from 14/19 pharynx swab samples, 246/342 sputum samples, 34/147 bronchial aspirate samples, 18/97 bronchial lavage samples, 4/17 transbronchial lung biopsy samples, and 5/60 plugged catheter brush samples. Contamination by fungi in normal flora was prevented by using an aseptic procedure for sampling specimens from the respiratory tract. The isolation rate of Candida spp. from sputum was 70.0% (C. albicans: 151 strains, C. glabrata: 43 strains, C. tropicalis: 25 strains, C. lusitaniae: 4 strains, C. krusei: 3 strains, C. guilliermondii: 3 strains and C. paraspilosis: 1 strain). The isolation rates of C. neoformans and A. fumigatus from sputum were 6.4% and 8.8%, respectively. Isolated fungi from bronchial aspirate included 12 strains of C. albicans, 6 strains of C. tropicalis, 5 strains of A. fumigatus and 2 strains of C. neoformans. Isolated fungi from bronchial aspirate revealed 6 strains of C. albicans, 2 strains of C. glabrata, 1 strain of C. neoformans and 6 strains of A. fumigatus. The isolation rates of fungi from sputum obtained from patients with pulmonary aspergilloma and cryptococcosis were 66.5% and 50.0%, respectively. The isolation rate of fungi from sputum of patients with underlying diseases was higher than that of patients with no underlying disease.
Adolescent↗
Insulin-dependent formation of a complex containing an 85-kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1.
Monoclonal antibodies raised against the 85-kDa subunit (p85) of bovine phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase were found to recognize uncomplexed p85 or p85 in the active PI 3-kinase. Immunoprecipitation studies of Chinese hamster ovary cells, which overexpress the human insulin receptor when treated with insulin, showed increased amounts of p85 and PI 3-kinase activity immunoprecipitable with monoclonal anti-p85 antibody and no increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of p85. Insulin also induced an association of p85 with the tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and other phosphorylated proteins ranging in size from 100 to 170 kDa but not with the activated insulin receptor. In vitro reconstitution studies were used to show p85 in the active PI 3-kinase associated with the tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 but not with the activated insulin receptor. Competition studies using synthetic phosphopeptides corresponding to potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites of IRS-1 revealed that phosphopeptides containing YMXM motifs inhibited this association with different potencies, whereas nonphosphorylated analogues and a phosphopeptide containing the EYYE motif had no effect. Src homology region 2 domains of p85 expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins also bound to tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1. These results suggest that insulin causes the association of PI 3-kinase with IRS-1 via phosphorylated YMXM motifs of IRS-1 and Src homology region 2 domains of p85.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Sequential activation of MAP kinase activator, MAP kinases, and S6 peptide kinase in intact rat liver following insulin injection.
An insulin-stimulated phosphorylation cascade was examined in rat liver after insulin injection via a portal vein by the use of immune complex kinase assays specific to the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and S6 kinase II homologue (rsk) kinase. We have prepared an antibody against the peptide consisting of a carboxyl-terminal portion of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (alpha C92), one of the MAP kinases, and an antibody against the peptide consisting of the carboxyl terminus of the mouse S6 kinase II homologue (alpha rsk(m)C). In alpha C92 immune complex assay, maximal activation of rat liver MAP kinases (approximately 4.3-fold) were observed 4.5 min after insulin injection. We also observed an insulin-stimulated MAP kinase activity (approximately 3-fold) in liver extracts from insulin-treated rat in fractions eluted from phenyl-Sepharose with 30-50% ethylene glycol. Kinase assay in myelin basic protein (MBP)-containing gel after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by denaturation with 6 M guanidine HCl, and renaturation revealed that insulin injection stimulated the kinase activity of the 42- and 44-kDa proteins, which corresponded to the two distinct MAP kinases. In alpha rsk(m)C immune complex assay, maximal stimulation (approximately 5-fold) of the S6 peptide (Arg-Arg-Leu-Ser-Ser-Leu-Arg-Ala) kinase activity was observed 7.5 min after insulin injection. In addition, MAP kinases purified from insulin-treated rat liver were able to activate S6 peptide kinase activity in vitro in alpha rsk(m)C immunoprecipitates from untreated rat liver, accompanied by the appearance of several phosphorylated bands including a major band at 88 kDa. We also examined whether insulin injection stimulates the MAP kinase activator (Ahn, N. G., Seger, R., Bratlien, R. L., Diltz, C. D., Tonks, N. K., and Krebs, E. G. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 4220-4227) in rat liver. Using recombinant Xenopus MAP kinase, fractions of Q-Sepharose eluted early in the NaCl gradient were found to have MAP kinase activator activity accompanied by the phosphorylation of 42-kDa recombinant Xenopus MAP kinase. From these data, we demonstrate three tiers of a cascade composed of the MAP kinase activator, MAP kinases, and an S6 peptide kinase activity in rat liver under physiological conditions in the intact animal.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗