Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Kitagawa.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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BACKGROUND: Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are hypervascular and arise in the liver with chronicity. Spiral volumetric CT (SVCT) is a new rapid-scan technique that offers whole-liver scanning during the arterial-dominant phase. The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the detectability of hypervascular HCC with SVCT as compared with ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. METHODS: Forty-three hypervascular HCCs in 512 patients with chronic liver disease were examined with US, precontrast SVCT, postcontrast SVCT during the arterial-dominant phase (CT-ADP) and during the equivalent-phase (CT-EP) noncontrast MR imaging and angiography including SVCT during arteriography and arterial portography. Angiographic and follow-up findings were used as the gold standard if the lesion was not confirmed histologically. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 61% with precontrast CT, 84% with CT-ADP, 58% with CT-EP, 70% with US, 72% with MR, and 95% with the combination of these five modalities. Five HCCs (12%) were detected with only CT-ADP. The vascularity of HCC was correctly evaluated as hypervascular in 38 nodules (88%) with the combination of precontrast CT and CT-ADP. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the combination of precontrast SVCT and CT-ADP is an essential modality to screen for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease. CT-EP did not contribute to the detection of hypervascular HCC.
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The intracerebrally administered dynorphin-B produced not only an antinociceptive response but a motor dysfunction such as "barrel-rolling", circling, jumping or ataxia in mice. These two effects were observed in a same dose range. Both responses were also produced by a nonopioid fragment, des-Tyr-dynorphin-B. Bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, markedly potentiated the antinociceptive response induced by dynorphin-B but not the motor dysfunction. Bestatin did not affect the responses produced by des-Tyr-dynorphin-B. In the presence of bestatin, low doses of dynorphin-B produced an antinociceptive response without the motor dysfunction. Naloxone antagonized the potentiated antinocicpetion but had no effect on the motor dysfunction. These results suggest that dynorphin-B produced an analgesia through opioid receptors and that this peptide also induced a motor dysfunction through a nonopioid receptor.
A hypothalamic tridecapeptide, neurotensin, and its C-terminal partial sequences down to the dipeptide were synthesized. These peptides were assayed for smooth muscle contracting and blood pressure lowering properties using preparations of isolated stomach fundus, uterus and duodenum of the rat, isolated guinea pig ileum and rabbit carotid artery. Sequences of 6 or more terminal amino acids produced a strong stomach fundus contracting effect, the potencies of the fragments being approximately equivalent to or slightly more than that of the parent tridecapeptide. These fragments also elicited the ileum contracting activity, but the potencies were only one fifth to one tenth that of neurotensin. The tetra- or dipeptide hardly stimulated either the fundus or the ileum. The stimulating effect on the uterus or relaxing effect on the duodenum of neurotensin was not consistent. Rabbit blood pressure was lowered markedly by neurotensin and weakly by its dodecapeptide. From these results, the arginine or arginine-arginine residue down to the C-terminal leucine appears to be essential for the smooth muscle contracting activity of neurotensin. The full length sequence may be needed for the hypotensive effect.
SAM-P/6 is a recently developed strain of osteoporotic mice. In this study we tried to determine whether calcium, vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and estrogen modified the peak bone mass of young SAM-P/6 mice, and whether the effect of these medications persisted after treatment had been discontinued. Calcium supplement, PTH, and estrogen treatment increased the peak bone mass of SAM-P/6 mice. To clarify the process by which bone mass was increased in these treated mice, we evaluated their bone formation and resorption by histomorphometry and measured the levels of ions and serum enzymes relevant to bone metabolism. We found that bone formation was increased by calcium supplementation, and bone resorption was decreased by estrogen treatment. Furthermore, the effectiveness of calcium supplement on peak bone mass was retained after treatment had been discontinued, but the effect of estrogen treatment on peak bone mass was reduced after estrogen treatment had been discontinued. The results of this study indicate that calcium supplementation and estrogen and PTH treatment each increased peak bone mass at the midpoint of the femur of SAM-P/6, and that the effect of calcium supplementation, but not that of estrogen treatment, persisted after treatment was discontinued.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical aspects of patients with primary cornea guttata and the specular microscopical findings/morphology in their corneal endothelial cells. METHODS: Twenty-three patients consulting Kanazawa Medical University Hospital or related hospitals in Ishikawa or Fukui prefectures and diagnosed with primary cornea guttata by slit-lamp examination underwent an analysis of their clinical features and corneal endothelial cells. RESULTS: Most cases were middle-aged to elderly women. None of them complained of visual impairment due to cornea guttata. The 46 eyes of these cases were included in this study. Specular microscopical findings revealed that the size and density of dark areas varied, with asymmetry noted in some cases. The parameters of the endothelial cells comprising mean cell area, the proportion of hexagonal cells, and the coefficient of variation, were almost within normal limits except for 1 eye of a 79-year-old man who was speculated to be at an early stage of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Three cases had undergone cataract surgery, but did not show significant changes in endothelial morphology before and after surgery. In a statistical study on endothelial cell morphology, cell parameters except for minimal cell area correlated significantly with age. Although the density and size of dark areas correlated with each other, neither correlated with any of the cell parameters. CONCLUSION: Cornea guttata does not lead to visual impairment or abnormalities in corneal endothelial cell parameters except for a small number of cases that must be considered to be at an early stage of Fuchs dystrophy.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine on the elevation of aqueous flare and intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by prostaglandin (PG) E(2) and PGE(2) receptor (EP) agonists. METHODS: PGE(2) or EP agonists (11-deoxy PGE(1), EP(2) agonist; 17-phenyl trinor PGE(2), EP(1) and EP(3) agonist; or sulprostone, EP(1) and EP(3) agonist), 25 microg/mL, were transcorneally administered to pigmented rabbits. Animals were pretreated with tetramethylpyrazine intravenously (10 or 30 mg/kg) or topically (0.1% solution). Aqueous flare was measured using a laser flare-cell meter, and the intensity was expressed as the area under the curve (AUC). Intraocular pressure was measured using a noncontact tonometer. RESULTS: After administration of PGE(2), aqueous flare and IOP increased and then gradually decreased. The AUC of eyes pretreated with tetramethylpyrazine, 10 or 30 mg/kg, intravenously, or topical 0.1% solution, was significantly smaller than that of the controls. The mean Delta IOP of eyes pretreated with tetramethylpyrazine, 30 mg/kg intravenously, was significantly lower than that of the controls. After administration of 11-deoxy PGE(1), aqueous flare increased and then gradually decreased. 17-phenyl trinor PGE(2) and sulprostone did not disrupt the blood-aqueous barrier. The AUC of eyes pretreated with tetramethylpyrazine, 10 or 30 mg/kg, intravenously, before 11-deoxy PGE(1) application was significantly smaller than that of the controls. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that tetramethylpyrazine inhibited PGE(2)- or 11-deoxy PGE(1)-induced elevation of aqueous flare and IOP.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of topical betaxolol on experimental ocular inflammation. METHODS: Transcorneal diffusion of 25 microg/mL (7.09 x 10(-2) mmol/L) of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), placed in a glass cylinder, was employed to induce aqueous flare elevation in pigmented rabbits. Betaxolol was administered topically before PGE(2) application. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare cell meter. RESULTS: Four-, two-, and one-time topical instillations of betaxolol inhibited the PGE(2)-induced aqueous flare elevation by 44% +/- 8%, 32 +/- 7%, and 8 +/- 6%(mean +/- SD), respectively. The inhibition of flare elevation was dependent on the number of betaxolol instillations. CONCLUSION: Topical betaxolol has an inhibitory effect on PGE(2)-induced aqueous flare elevation in rabbit eyes.
A 75-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis complained of proptosis of the left eye. On examination, 6-mm left proptosis was seen. A hyperemic and swollen optic disc was visible in the left fundus. Laboratory test results showed positive rheumatoid factor. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass lesion in the left orbit. Histopathologic study of the excised specimen revealed centrocyte-like cells and lymphoplasmocytoid cells. Immunohistochemical study showed positive staining of CD 20 (B cells) and lambda light chain (immunoglobulin). The combination of rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the orbit, as demonstrated in our patient, is rare.