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Biomedical subjects

K Kasuga

Publications and source records attributed to K Kasuga.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Left renal pelvis of male neonates is predisposed to dilatation.

Dilatation of the renal pelvis has been observed as an ultrasonographic finding of ureteral reflux as well as hydronephrosis. However, little information is available on the prevalence of renal pelvis at dilatation in neonates. We measured the inner pelvis dimension of the kidneys in 511 apparently healthy neonates (279 boys and 232 girls) using an ultrasound scanner to determine the prevalence of renal pelvis dilatation. Ninety per cent of the neonates had an inner dimension of both renal pelvises below 5 mm. The prevalence of left renal pelvis dilatation of 5 mm or more was significantly higher in the boys than in the girls, 25 (9%) compared to 5 (2%). In contrast, no significant difference was found in the prevalence of right renal pelvis dilatation between the sexes. In the boys, the prevalence of renal pelvis dilatation of 6 mm or more was significantly higher on the left side than on the right. Moreover, the left renal pelvis dilatation of the male neonates had a tendency to persist at 1 month of age. These findings suggest that the left renal pelvis of the baby boy may be predisposed to dilatation.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1994

Ultrasonic indicators of ureteric reflux in the newborn.

There is controversy over the value of ultrasonic screening for detection of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in babies. We scanned 300 newborn babies and identified 53 with a dilated renal pelvis or other minor abnormalities. Eventually, 9 of these were investigated by voiding cystourethrography and 3 (5 kidneys) proved to have VUR exceeding grade II. In 3 babies the reason for cystourethrography was persistent renal pelvis dilation; in 3 it was urinary tract infection; and in 3 it was a new ultrasonic sign observed early in the series--ballooning of the renal pelvis during voiding. Whereas persistent dilation of the renal pelvis was a non-specific indicator (absent in 2 of the 5 affected kidneys and present in 5 of those unaffected), ballooning was consistently seen in all 5 affected renal pelvises. This sign, easily obtained in a baby who has been sleeping, deserves prospective assessment for its value in screening.

Dilatation, Pathologic↗
PubMed1994

3'-terminal sequence of a small round structured virus (SRSV) in Japan.

We determined the nucleotide sequence of about 1,000 bases from the 3'-terminus of a small round structured virus (SRSV), which caused a gastroenteritis outbreak in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in 1987. The sequence was compared with the corresponding sequence region of Norwalk virus; it consisted of a part of the open reading frame 2 (ORF2), whole ORF3, and 3'-noncoding region (NCR). The 624-base-long ORF3 had sequence homology of 68% with the corresponding region of Norwalk virus. (The amino acid sequence homology was 74%.) The 94-base-long NCR had 65% homology with Norwalk virus. We then selected two consensus-sequence portions in the above sequence between Chiba and Norwalk viruses for primers in the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Using this primer set, we detected 669-bp bands in agarose gel electrophoresis of RT-PCR products from feces containing Chiba or Norwalk viruses. Furthermore, in Southern hybridization with Chiba probes which were labeled with digoxigenin-dUTP in PCR, the bands of the two viruses were clearly stained under a low stringency condition. Since both Chiba and Norwalk viruses were detected by the above primer set although they are geographically and chronologically different viruses, our primer-pair may be useful for detection of a broad range of SRSVs which cause gastroenteritis in different areas.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

[Experimental scoliosis in the rat spine induced by binding the spinous processes].

The effects of limitation of spinal mobility in forward flexion on the development of scoliosis was studied in experimental animals. The spinous processes of three lumbar vertebrae of young female rats were sutured together to make persistent limitation in the forward flexion of the spine. The lumbar vertebrae of rats, which normally are kyphotic in their profile, frequently became flattened or lordotic after the operation. Scoliosis with a primary curve at the sutured site was produced, although the curve magnitude was mild in 38% of 73 operated rats, and appeared more frequently in those which had more limitation in the spinal mobility at the sutured vertebrae than in those with less limitation. In histological examinations, the coronal sections of vertebral specimens of scoliotic animals demonstrated wedge-shaped intervertebral discs, deviation in the vertebral nucleus pulposus toward the convex side of scoliosis, and a degeneration in the annulus fibrosus. Thickening of the cartilaginous endplates on the convex side and a rupture in them on the concave side were observed in some of the animals. These findings indicated that the experimentally produced scoliosis was structural. This experimental study suggested that a limitation in the spinal mobility in forward flexion has a causative effect on the development and progress of idiopathic scoliosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Phylogenetically different strains of a variant of coxsackievirus A 24 were repeatedly introduced but discontinued circulating in Japan.

Variations in the nucleotide sequence of 3 C proteinase of coxsackievirus A 24 variant (CA 24 v) were analyzed to define the route of transmission and spread of the virus which was introduced to Japan on three separate occasions, 1985-86, 1988, and 1989. The nucleotide sequences of isolates from the same year's outbreak in Japan were identical or closely related, while the isolates from different outbreaks were less closely related to one another than to those from other countries in the same year. All Japanese isolates from Okinawa and other prefectures in 1985 and 1986 were closely related to the Taiwan strains in those same years, indicating common-source outbreaks. Two 1988 isolates from Chiba Prefecture, Japan, were closely related to those from Singapore in 1987, China in 1988 and Hong Kong in 1988. All seven Japanese isolates from Chiba Prefecture in 1989 comprised a group together with the Taiwan and Singapore strains in 1988. The results indicate that CA 24 v was introduced into Japan on each occasion from the outside. Furthermore, in contrast to the explosive epidemics in Okinawa Prefecture in 1985 and 1986, the virus which was repeatedly introduced to other areas in Japan did not circulate endemically, and disappeared within a short time.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Detection of rubella virus antibody by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with parallel line method].

An attempt was made to measure the antibody to rubella virus in human sera by ELISA by calculating the relative potency by the method of the parallel line assay. As a standard serum, adult serum 8 months after rubella infection was used. Sample sera were collected from 42 infants before MMR vaccination and 8-10 weeks after the vaccination and 48 adults three years or more after rubella vaccination. In addition, three infant sera with rubella 6-19 days after onset of rash and three gamma immunoglobulin products were used. The dose response curve of the standard serum and that of the sample serum showed the lineality and the regression line of the sample serum was parallel to that of the standard serum. And the relative potency of sample sera was successfully calculated. The good correlation was observed between the rubella antibody titer by hemagglutination inhibition test and that measured by ELISA. The coefficients of variance of relative potency obtained from four repeated measurements for two weeks showed from 15% to 25% in four sera of HI high titer. The reproducibility of parallel line assay was also satisfactory.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Coronary artery bypass grafting for ischemic heart disease combined with aortitis].

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed in a 67-year-old woman with aortitis. She had a past history of right radical mastectomy. Preoperative coronary angiogram showed diffuse stenotic lesions in both right and left coronary arteries. The pressure gradient between ascending aorta and peripheral radial artery was 90 mmHg and the cause of coronary stenosis seemed to be hypertension due to stenotic distal aorta. The aortogram showed occluded bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITA) and stenotic abdominal aorta. The cephalic artery was supplied by a large meandering artery via dilated gastroepiploic artery (GEA). And thus the GEA was not useful for CABG. Quadruple CABG was performed with mild varicose saphenous vein (saphenous vein grafts to left anterior descending artery and third branch, and sequential saphenous vein graft to right posterior descending and atrioventricular branches). It seemed to be important to demonstrate the arterial lesion of ITA and GEA before CABG in patients with aortitis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Small round structured virus associated with an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in Chiba, Japan.

In an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis which originated in a restaurant in Chiba, Japan, in December, 1987, small round structured virus (SRSV) particles were observed by electron microscopy in 14 of 16 stool specimens from patients. The particles were 30 to 35 nm in diameter, possessed amorphous surface structure surrounded by fine projections and had a buoyant density of 1.36 to 1.37 g/ml in cesium chloride. Serological responses to the SRSV were found by immune electron microscopy and Western blot (WB) assay in paired sera of 12 of 19 patients. Furthermore, WB analysis revealed that the antibody against SRSV was cross-reactive to other SRSV, Tokyo 86/510.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

A radiological population study on the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the spine.

This paper reports the results of a radiological population study on the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in both the cervical and the thoracic spine among Japanese. The study was carried out in the Yachiho-mura district in the central part of Japan, where 5074 people were living. X-ray examinations were made of 1058 of the people; there were 440 men and 618 women, 50 or more years of age. The roentgenograms showed 34 cases of OPLL in the cervical spine (3.2%): 19 men (4.3%) and 15 women (2.4%). The condition was most frequently observed at the level of C-4. Radiological classification showed 18 cases of the segmental type, 11 of the continuous type, and five of a mixed type. There were eight cases of OPLL in the thoracic spine (0.8%), four in men (0.9%) and four in women (0.6%). OPLL in the thoracic spine was most frequently observed at the midthoracic levels. All eight cases showed a continuous type of ossification. There were three subjects with OPLL in both the cervical and the thoracic spine. Therefore, the number of subjects with OPLL in either the cervical or the thoracic spine was 39 (3.7%) total.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

An epidemiological survey on ossification of ligaments in the cervical and thoracic spine in individuals over 50 years of age.

An epidemiological survey on ossification of the spinal ligaments was performed on a total of 1,058 subjects over the age of 50 years by means of roentgenography of the cervical and thoracic spine. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine was detected in 34 subjects (3.2%) with a predilection for men, whereas OPLL in the thoracic spine was found in 8 (0.8%). There were 325 cases (30.7%) of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL) of stage II or above by Forestier's classification in the region from the cervical to thoracic vertebrae, and these cases included a significantly greater number of men. Ossification of the ligamenta flava (OLF) was observed in 48 cases (4.5%). As for the coexistence of ossification of these ligaments, 364 individuals (34.4%) had at least one instance of OPLL and OALL (stage II or above) in the region from the cervical to thoracic spine, and OLF in the thoracic spine.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1983

[Isoelectroforetic analysis of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG) in gynecological malignancy].

alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1AG) in the blood of gynecologic malignancy was measured by the S.R.I.D. method and analyzed by isoelectrofocusing. The usefulness of these methods for diagnosis and prognosis was examined. A. Quantitative analysis In normal healthy women alpha 1AG was measured (62.2 +/- 2.7 mg/dl) and did not increase before operation in benign gynecologic tumor. In cervical cancer, according to the development of cancer, a quantitative increase was apparent. Upon estimation, a significant difference from healthy women was observed at T1 but not T0. Two weeks after operation a quantitative increase was observed after which there was a gradual decrease but one year later not down close to the value before operation even in patients with good prognosis. In recurrent patients there was a marked increase. In ovarian cancer stage III, alpha 1AG markedly increased to 144.9 +/- 36.6 mg/dl before the operation, being a higher value. B. Isoelectrofocusing analysis Upon isoelectrofocusing, 9 bands were observed between pH3.1 and pH3.5. In normal healthy women I and IX bands were not recognized. In cervical cancer an increase in ratio groups I and II and groups VIII and IX and a decrease in ratio group (IV, V, VI) were seen according to development of the cancer. Ovarian cancer showed the same course as cervical cancer. The measurement and the isoelectrofocusing analysis of alpha 1AG were useful for diagnosis of gynecologic malignancy and its prognosis, and these methods are especially useful in case of ovarian cancer.

Endometriosis↗