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Biomedical subjects

K Kikuchi

Publications and source records attributed to K Kikuchi.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Surgical treatment for tracheobronchial tuberculosis].

We treated thirty nine patients with tuberculous tracheobronchial stenosis. Age varied from 22 to 53 years old (mean 32y.o.). Thirty one were female and eight were male. Main stenotic sites of the tracheobronchus were trachea in 3 cases, tracheal bifurcation in 2 cases, right main bronchus in 6 cases, left main bronchus in 25 cases, right intermediate bronchus in 2 cases, right lower lobe bronchus in 1 case. The modes of operations were tracheal sleeve resection + 1t. pneumonectomy + T tube insertion to the trachea in 1 patient, laser irradiation + T tube insertion to the trachea in 2 patients, carinal reconstruction in 2 patients, bronchial dilatation by Gebauer in 1 patient, left sleeve upper lobectomy in 13 patients, sleeve resection of the left main bronchus in 9 patients, sleeve resection of the left main bronchus + left upper lobectomy in 2 patients, right upper sleeve lobectomy in 5 patients, right upper wedge lobectomy in 1 patient, sleeve resection of the right intermediate bronchus in 2 patients, right S6 sleeve segmentectomy in 1 patient. One patients died of pulmonary edema. Anastomotic stenosis occurred in 4 patients. We conclude tracheobronchial reconstruction and stent tube therapy is very useful technic for preserve pulmonary function in patients with tracheobronchial tuberculosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Gene expressions and activities of protein phosphatases 1 alpha, 2A and 2C in hepatocarcinogenesis and regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

The mRNA levels of protein phosphatases (PP) 1 alpha, 2A, and 2C were determined both in hepatocarcinogenesis and in liver regeneration. In the precancerous stage and during regeneration, the mRNA levels of PP1 alpha, PP2A, and PP2C were markedly increased compared with those in normal livers. In primary hepatomas, all three of these mRNA levels were decreased to the control levels. In poorly differentiated hepatomas, however, only PP1 alpha mRNA was specifically increased, in contrast to PP2A and PP2C, which were at the control levels or below. While PP1 activity in the non-nuclear fraction of partially hepatectomized livers was nearly constant, the activity in nuclei was increased about 2.5-fold over control levels at 12 h after partial hepatectomy, the time that corresponds to the G1 to S transition in the cell cycle of hepatocytes. On the other hand, PP2A activity in both fractions was nearly constant throughout. These results appear to suggest some involvement of protein phosphatases in regulation of hepatocyte proliferation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Further classification of dysmotility-like dyspepsia by interdigestive gastroduodenal manometry and plasma motilin level.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate interdigestive gastroduodenal motility with an infused catheter and measure plasma motilin levels in eight normal individuals and 18 patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia. METHODS AND RESULTS: All normal individuals had normal gastroduodenal interdigestive migrating complexes. Patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia were classified into three subgroups on the basis of gastric antral motility: 1) seven patients with normal interdigestive migrating complexes, 2) five patients without interdigestive migrating complexes and with gastric phase II predominant over phase I, and 3) six patients without interdigestive migrating complexes and with phase I predominance. The maximum and mean plasma motilin levels were significantly different in normal individuals from those in subgroup 3 (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dysmotility-like dyspepsia appears to be a heterogeneous condition. Abnormal motilin secretion may cause dysmotility in subgroup 3, but dyspepsia in subgroup 1 and the absence of interdigestive migrating complexes in subgroup 2 could not be explained only on this basis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Association between sleep apnea syndrome and coronary artery disease].

Patients with sleep apnea syndrome often suffer from cardiovascular disease, but the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) with coronary spasm in these patients is not known. In the present study, 14 of 37 men with sleep apnea syndrome diagnosed by all-night polysomnography were suspected to also have CAD, based on the results of non-invasive clinical examinations. Coronary angiography confirmed the diagnosis of CAD either organic stenosis or coronary spasm in 8 of the 14 patients. Those 8 did not differ significantly from the 21 patients without CAD, with regard to coronary risk factors or to the severity of their sleep apnea (apnea index, 4% desaturation ratio, and nadir of SaO2). Eleven patients received intracoronary injections of acetylcholine, which induced coronary spasm in 4 (36.4%) and coronary contraction in 2 (18.2%). Coronary spasm was induced in 4 of the patients with CAD (50.0%). Although the pathophysiologic link between sleep apnea syndrome and CAD is still unclear, these results suggest that patients with this syndrome frequently suffer from CAD, particularly from coronary spasm.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Elevated serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels are elevated, and whether they correlate with clinical features in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Serum samples from patients with limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) (n = 51), diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) (n = 30), and control subjects (n = 30) were examined by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum TNF-alpha levels were elevated in patients with ISSc and dSSc and correlated with the presence of pulmonary fibrosis and with the decreased vital capacity of the patients. CONCLUSION: Serum TNF-alpha may be one of the cytokines that contribute to the disease process, especially to pulmonary fibrosis in patients with SSc.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[The use of high resolution MR imaging for pre-treatment evaluation of breast cancer: detection of intraductal spread].

Thirty-two patients were examined in order to evaluate the role of high-resolution MRI in the treatment planning of breast cancer. A 1.5T Signa imager (GE Medical Systems) was used with dedicated receive-only breast coil. The pulse sequence based on RARE was used with the fat-suppression technique. After examining both breasts with larger FOV (30 cm), the affected breast alone was examined with smaller FOV (18 cm) and larger matrix (512 x 384) with Gd enhancement. Breast cancer showed more prominent and earlier enhancement compared with normal breast tissue. Linear or spotty continuous enhancement from the main tumor was considered to be suggestive of intraductal spread. Of 32 patients, 20 showed linear or spotty enhancement around the main tumor on MRI, and 15 of these 20 had intraductal spread. On the other hand, 12 out of 32 patients were considered to have little intraductal spread on MRI, and these findings corresponded to the pathological findings. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of detecting intraductal spread were 88%, 75% and 78%, respectively. In order to evaluate the extent of intraductal spread, further study using more precise correlation with pathology is necessary. High-resolution MRI was also considered to be useful for evaluating the presence of multifocal or multicentric focies or muscle invasion.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Coronary fibromuscular dysplasia presenting as sudden infant death.

We report an unusual case of sudden unexpected infant death in a 3-month-old boy who died of acute myocardial infarction. Histopathologic examination showed typical fibromuscular dysplasia (medial fibroplasia) in the left anterior descending coronary artery, with associated thrombus. The thoracic aorta and celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries also revealed mild intimal lesions. In addition to asphyxia at delivery, a viral infection may have provoked these extensive arterial lesions. The significance of coronary arterial lesions in sudden unexpected infant death is discussed.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1997

[Systemic oxygen demand and supply balance during warm heart surgery without blood transfusion].

We investigated systemic oxygen demand and supply balance during warm heart surgery without blood transfusion on 203 patients. The patients aged 63-years on average, for coronary artery bypass surgery, were assigned to extracorporeal circulation (ECC) with flow index of either 2.4 l.min-1.m-2 or 2.6. Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), cardiac index (CI), oxygen delivery (DO2), oxygen consumption (VO2) and oxygen extraction ratio (OER) were determined. The mean operation time was 314 min, and the mean ECC time was 94 min. In both groups, the initiation of ECC decreased Hb to 6.5 g.dl-1, and SVO2 decreased gradually during ECC. In addition, DO2 was lower than the pre-ECC level, which may indicate the shortage of oxygen supply, while VO2 and OER increased during ECC. OER increased by 0.38 in the group with flow index of 2.4, which is higher than 0.35 of the group with 2.6. The discontinuation of ECC improved oxygen profile, mainly due to the increase of Hb and CI. These findings indicate that oxygen demand and supply balance was maintained during normothermic ECC without transfusion, although longer duration o ECC may cause the shortage of oxygen supply. A higher flow may be required during normothermic ECC.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

Time correlation of commitment to calcium-induced apoptosis and terminal differentiation in human ectocervical keratinocytes in suspension cultures.

The terminal differentiation of epithelial keratinocytes has been proposed to be a specialized form of programmed cell death (apoptosis). We examined the time correlation of apoptosis and terminal differentiation by human ectocervical keratinocytes in a suspension culture that induces either of these events in epithelial cells. We found that a loss of cell anchorage did not result in the immediate onset of apoptotic DNA degradation but sensitized the cells to that triggered by calcium. This susceptibility appeared in parallel with the irreversible loss of growth potential and the accumulation of involucrin, suggesting that the ectocervical keratinocytes in suspension become competent to calcium-inducible apoptosis as they committed to terminal differentiation. Cycloheximide, which inhibited the calcium induction of DNA fragmentation, was also inhibitory to terminal differentiation. These correlations support the notion that terminal differentiation of keratinocytes couples with apoptosis. Apoptosis seemed to be independent of p53 because it was down-regulated in suspension cultures of ectocervical keratinocytes.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

HTLV-I pX transgenic rats: development of cytokine-producing mammary carcinomas and establishment of the pX mammary carcinoma cell lines.

In two lines of transgenic rats (pX rats) from WKAH and F344 strains and carrying the HTLV-I pX gene under control of the mouse H-2Kd promoter, mammary carcinomas developed predominantly in females starting at about 5 months of age. The incidence of the tumor reached about 40% when the rats were 12 months old. Histology of the tumor was undifferentiated carcinoma with massive infiltration of granulocytes into the tumor tissue. Systemic granulocytosis and hepato-splenomegaly due to extramedullary granulocytopoiesis were seen in pX rats and nude mice bearing pX mammary tumor. mRNAs of both pX and host genes, Gro and MIP-2, which are granulocyte chemoattractants of the IL-8 family, were highly expressed in the tumor tissue. Since expression and point mutation of several oncogenes and anti-oncogene, related with mammary carcinomas, were not demonstrated, hitherto unidentified novel oncogenic pathways may be transactivated by the pX transgene in these pX rats. pX mammary carcinoma cell lines, which have similar characteristics to the primary tumor, were established and the cells underwent apoptosis under the serum deprived conditions. The pX rats and the pX mammary carcinomas appear to be suitable models for analyses of HTLV-I pX oncogenesis and immune pathogenesis in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Models of HTLV-I-induced diseases. Infectious transmission of HTLV-I in inbred rats and HTVL-I env-pX transgenic rats.

To examine the pathogenic roles of HTLV-I in HTLV-I-induced diseases, we developed two models; namely HTLV-I carrier rats and HTLV-I env-pX transgenic rats. Among life long HTLV-I carriers in seven rat strains, only WKAH rats with the RT1k haplotype developed chronic progressive myeloneuropathy, resembling HAM/TSP clinically and histologically in humans, designated as HAM rat disease and after long incubation periods. Apoptosis of myelin forming cells, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells associated with HTLV-I infection appears to be the primary cause of HAM rat disease. Local activation of the pX gene and TNF alpha gene was evident in these rats. WKAH rats transgenic for HTLV-I env-pX gene were established and at age 5 weeks, swelling of the bilateral ankle joints began to develop and histological features of the affected joints resembled findings in cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA): high-titers of rheumatoid factors were present in these rats. A series of vascular collagen diseases such as polyarteritis nodosa-like angiitis, polymyositis, myocarditis, and Sjögren's syndrome-like sialodenitis together with RA were present, even in one individual animal. These transgenic rats as well as HAM rats appear to be suitable animal models for elucidating pathogenic mechanisms implicated in HTLV-I-induced diseases and also various demyelinating vascular collagen diseases of unknown etiology.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

HTLV-I env-pX transgenic rats: prototype animal model for collagen vascular diseases.

To evaluate the function of HTLV-I env-pX gene in vivo, we developed two lines of transgenic rats (env-pX rats) that expressed env-pX gene products, under control of own LTR promotor. In various tissues of the rats, env and pX mRNAs were constitutively expressed, irrespective of age. At age 5 weeks, swelling of the bilateral ankle joints histologically showing synovial lining hyperplasia, severe chronic inflammation, erosion of the joint cartilage, and bone destruction with pannus formation began to develop in these env-pX rats. These histologic features resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in man. High titered rheumatoid factors and low anti-dsDNA antibodies and hyper-gamma globulinemia were detected. Necrotizing arteritis resembling polyarteritis nodosa, polymyositis, myocarditis and Sjögren syndrome-like sialoadenitis developed, together with RA-like arthritis even in one individual animal. Thymic atrophy with low body weight was also observed. The evidence indicates that env-pX rats appear to be suitable animal models for elucidating pathogenetic mechanisms involved in not only HTLV-I related diseases but also various collegen vascular and autoimmune diseases of unknown etiology in man.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

[Functional MRI of higher brain function with gradient echo on clinical MR unit].

MR imaging of brain function has been successfully performed at 1.5 T clinical MR unit. In the early studies, functional MRI were performed with simple stimulation such as visual and motor. Recently, many investigators have attempted to demonstrate the specific brain localization of higher brain functions such as memory, imagination, language and so on. In this study, we attempted the functional MRI for motor and word imagination with gradient echo sequences on clinical MR unit. In our experiences, motor cortex was activated on motor imagination task and Broca area was activated on word imagination task, respectively. We demonstrated the higher brain functions were able to be demonstrated on clinical MR unit with gradient echo sequences.

Frontal Lobe↗
PubMed1997

[Secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide from the left ventricle and heart in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: relationship with hemodynamic and echocardiographic profiles].

This study investigated whether atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion from the left ventricle occurs and correlated any secretion with the hemodynamic or echocardiographic parameters in patients with hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy (HNCM). Volume overload was induced by intravenous injection of low-molecular weight dextran in 19 patients with HNCM and seven normal subjects (control group). Simultaneous measurements of plasma ANP concentrations in the aortic root, anterior interventricular vein and coronary sinus, and hemodynamic parameters were performed before and after volume overload. Echocardiographic parameters were measured under the basal conditions in the HNCM group. There was no difference in ANP concentrations between the aorta and anterior interventricular vein either before or after volume overload in the control group, whereas they were significantly higher in the anterior interventricular vein than in the aorta both before and after volume overload in the HNCM group, suggesting increased ANP secretion from the left ventricle. Moreover, the difference in ANP concentrations between these locations was enhanced by volume overload. In the HNCM group, the differences in ANP concentrations between these locations were positively correlated with the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure before and after volume overload, but not with left ventricular thickness or left atrial dimension. These results suggest that enhanced ANP secretion from the left ventricle in both basal and volume overloaded states occurs in HNCM, and this ANP secretion from the left ventricle is closely related to left ventricular end-diastolic pressure but not to wall thickness and mass index of left ventricle.

Aorta↗