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Biomedical subjects

K Kodama

Publications and source records attributed to K Kodama.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Plasma fibrinogen and its correlates in elderly Japanese men living in Japan and Hawaii.

Plasma fibrinogen levels were determined using comparable methods for 329 Japanese men in Hiroshima Japan, and 3571 Japanese-American men in Honolulu Hawaii, aged 71-93 years. The age-adjusted mean fibrinogen level in Japanese-American men (307 mg/dl) was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than in native Japanese men (270 mg/dl). In multiple linear regression models, the fibrinogen level was associated significantly and positively with white blood cell count (WBC) and total cholesterol, and inversely with HDL cholesterol and hematocrit in both study samples. The strongest association with fibrinogen was shown for WBC, and this association was not mediated through cigarette smoking. The observed difference in fibrinogen levels could not be fully explained by WBC, total and HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, hematocrit, body mass index, and diabetes. Some unmeasured environmental or lifestyle variables such as diet and physical activity may be partly responsible for the observed difference in fibrinogen levels between native Japanese men and Japanese-American men in Hawaii.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Communication between the axillary and radial nerves in the human upper arm.

The communication between the axillary (Ax) and the radial (R) nerves, which was observed in eight upper arms from 602 arms of 301 Japanese cadavers, was studied to determine its origin and distribution. The brachial plexus and spinal segments contributing to the Ax and R in all cases where communication occurred had no distinct differences from those in cases having no communication. According to the direction, the communication is divided into two groups: the communication from the Ax to R (7 cases) and vice versa (2 cases). One specimen had both groups of communication. The origin of communicating branches in these groups extended into the overlapping area (C5 + 6) of the origin of the Ax with that of the R, mainly from the ventral layer of the posterior cord from C6. The distribution of the communicating branch varied in development according to specimens. The communication from the Ax to R has a tendency to invade, from proximally to distally, the distribution of the muscular branches of the R to the radial extensor muscles of the forearm including the supinator muscle. However, the development into the cutaneous branches has no distinct inclination. These findings in humans and some other comparative anatomical descriptions show that in phylogeny the radial extensor muscles of the forearm have a different origin from other extensor muscles of the forearm and have a close relationship with the Ax. Therefore, the communication between the Ax and R holds an important clue in clarifying the morphological significance of the extensor nerves and muscles of the forearm.

Arm↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of erectile response by continuous measurement of penile diameter in rats.

The present study was performed to determine whether measurement of penile diameter in an in vivo rat model is useful for pharmacologic and physiologic investigations on penile erection. Penile erection induced by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve was monitored by measuring the penile diameter sonomicrometrically with a pair of 10-MHz piezoelectric crystals glued to the opposite surfaces of the adventitia of the penile erectile chamber in anesthetized rats. Using this method, we examined the effects of a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and a well-known phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, zaprinast, on the maximal developed penile diameter (D-max) and the time from the maximum response to 50% recovery (T50%) of the maximum response as an index of the duration of penile erection. An intravenous injection of L-NAME at a dose of 10 mg/kg significantly inhibited D-max produced by cavernous electrical stimulation at 5 to 50 V, without affecting T50%. Sequential intravenous infusions of 10, 30, 100, and 300 microg/kg/min of zaprinast at 30-min intervals did not show any effect on D-max, heart rate, and systolic arterial pressure, although doses of 100 and 300 microg/kg/min significantly prolonged T50% and the maximum dose decreased diastolic arterial pressure. Moreover, zaprinast produced a more prominent increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels than cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in the plasma taken at the end of the maximum dose infusion. Measurement of murine penile diameter with a sonomicrometrical device, indicating that a NO-cGMP-PDE5 pathway plays a pivotal role in the penile diameter increase and its maintenance, would be useful for pharmacologic and physiologic investigations on penile erection.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Reliability of self-reported body height and weight of adult Japanese women.

The purpose of this study was to validate the self-reported body height and weight of adult Japanese women. The subjects were women, aged 20-42 years, who participated in a survey on eating disorders in women in 1995. Physically measured height and weight data were obtained for 368 (89.8%) of the 469 women who self-reported their height and weight. The report-based heights and weights were compared with the measured values. The correlation coefficients for height and weight were 0.990 and 0.963 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Mean reported height was 0.1 cm shorter and mean reported weight 0.2 kg lighter than the measured values. Shorter women tended to report a taller height than their actual height, and heavier women to report a lower weight than their actual weight. Despite these limitations, the self-reported heights and weights of adult Japanese women were precise and accurate, and their use in epidemiological surveys is considered acceptable.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Rest-redistribution thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphic study in cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Histopathological study in amyloid heart demonstrates that myocyte destructed by the extracellular deposition of amyloid protein together with viable myocyte is present. We hypothesized that rapid thallium washout may be found in amyloid heart as in regions which have a mixture of viable myocyte and scar tissue in patients with myocardial infarction. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent and severity of myocardial damage due to amyloid deposits using the washout rate of the tracer on rest-redistribution thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial scans in cardiac amyloidosis patients. METHODS: Rest-redistribution 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 5 patients with biopsy-proved systemic amyloidosis with cardiac involvement (amyloidosis group). The initial and delayed images were obtained 15 min and 4 h, respectively, after intravenous injection of the tracer of 111 MBq. Washout rate of the tracer was calculated. Twelve patients with no apparent heart disease served as controls (control group). RESULTS: Mean washout rate of the whole heart was higher in the amyloidosis group than in the control group (56 +/- 9% vs 36 +/- 6%, p < 0.001). Particularly, 4 of the 5 patients in the amyloidosis group presented a very high rate of thallium clearance which ranged from 57 to 61%, and died in less than a year. In the remaining 1 patient who had a normal washout rate of the tracer in the first study, it changed from 40 to 53% during the 5-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Washout rate in the setting of rest and delayed 201Tl images may represent the severity of amyloid depositions in the myocardium and may provide prognostic information.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Differences in health characteristics between native Japanese and Japanese-Americans.

Health characteristics were compared among 1193 Japanese in Hiroshima, and 2306 Japanese-Americans in Hawaii. Japanese women experienced later menarche, earlier menopause, and a shorter interval between menarche and menopause than Japanese-Americans. Japanese men and women were shorter and lighter and the men bad lower body mass index than Japanese-Americans. Differences between populations were also found for the prevalence of artificial menopause, number of live births, lactation period, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Within one or both populations, significant trends with birth year were found for age at menarche, age at menopause, interval between menarche and menopause, lactation period, height, weight, and body mass index, suggesting the existence of cohort effects. Some of these trends may also reflect age-related changes. Environmental factors likely contribute to the differences in physique and reproductive factors, which may explain differences in frequency of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer between the two populations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Two cases of pyoderma gangrenosum complicated with nasal septal perforation.

We report two patients with pyoderma gangrenosum complicated with nasal septal perforation. An 18-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man had typical lesions of pyoderma gangrenosum on the legs that responded well to oral prednisolone. Both patients complained of mild nasal discharge, and nasal fibroscopy revealed nasal septal perforation. Biopsy of the nasal lesions showed an active inflammatory infiltrate, mainly of neutrophils. Systemic investigations failed to show any pulmonary or renal lesions of Wegener's granulomatosis. Cytoplasmic immunofluorescent pattern antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was negative. In both cases, intense neutrophilic infiltration was observed not only in skin lesions but also in nasal lesions, which may indicate that the nasal lesions had a pathogenesis in common with the skin lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities in chronic solvent abusers.

This study aimed to reveal regional abnormalities of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and their relation to amotivational syndrome which causes poor social prognosis in solvent abusers Sixteen chronic solvent abusers (12 males and four females) along with five normal subjects underwent single photon emission computed tomography with N-isopropyl-p[123I]iodoamphetamine. The patients received a clinical evaluation with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. Using a semiquantitative method (normalized by the parietal cortex count), patients showed a statistically significant decrease in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the bilateral prefrontal cortices (P<0.01). In addition, the severity of hypoperfusion in the bilateral prefrontal cortices was related to the degree of severity of the avolition-apathy scale on SANS (left; P<0.05, right; P<0.01) even after excluding the effect of antipsychotics. These results suggest that rCBF abnormalities, especially in the prefrontal cortex, develop in chronic solvent abusers, and that this frontal hypoperfusion may be a biological basis of amotivational syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Successful removal of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the lung with gross extension into the left atrium.

We report here the successful multi-model treatment of a 31-year-old female demonstrating a primitive neuroectodermal tumor originating in the lower lobe of the right lung with gross extension into the left atrium via the inferior pulmonary vein. The tumor was markedly reduced by combination chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and ifosfamide. The residual tumor was completely removed through a combined left atrial resection and right middle and lower lobectomy, using a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Phase I study of cisplatin and docetaxel plus mitomycin C in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel, cisplatin and mitomycin C are some of the active drugs used in the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose of the three drugs in combination for such patients. METHODS: Chemotherapy-native patients with metastatic NSCLC were enrolled in this study. The doses of docetaxel and cisplatin were fixed at 60 and 80 mg/m2, respectively. It was planned to increase the dose of mitomycin C from 4 to 6 and 8 mg/m2. All drugs were administered on day 1 and repeated every 3-4 weeks. RESULTS: All six patients received 60 mg/m2 of docetaxel and 80 mg/m2 of cisplatin, three of them with 4 mg/m2 of mitomycin C (level 1) and the other three with 6 mg/m2 of mitomycin C (level 2). Two of the three level 2 patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in first cycle: febrile neutropenia and grade 3 hyponatremia. Based on these data, the MTD was concluded to be 60 mg/m2 for docetaxel, 80 mg/m2 for cisplatin and 6 mg/m2 for mitomycin C. Evaluation of the data from all of the cycles, however, showed that four of the six patients experienced DLTs. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of mitomycin C to docetaxel and cisplatin resulted in relatively high toxicities. It was impossible to use a high enough dose of mitomycin C to improve the survival of NSCLC patients. We therefore concluded that further evaluation of this combination is unwarranted.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of computed tomography and pathologic examination for evaluation of response of primary lung cancer to neoadjuvant therapy.

Twenty-four patients (nine with squamous cell carcinoma, 14 with adenocarcinoma, and one with large cell carcinoma) underwent neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection. The authors studied changes in tumor size, shape, and contrast enhancement on computed tomography (CT), and compared them with results of pathologic examination of surgical specimens. The size of tumors on CT was evaluated according to the criteria of the World Health Organization. Surgical specimens were evaluated histologically on the basis of the area of viable cancer cells. Of 14 patients considered to have a partial response on the basis of World Health Organization criteria, five had pathologic changes of complete response. After therapy, the residual tumors in these five patients showed irregular shapes with concave tumor margins on CT images and no enhancement. The authors found that CT size criteria tended to underestimate the therapeutic effect demonstrated by pathologic examination. On the basis of these results, the authors propose three CT criteria for complete response: 1) more than 50% size reduction, 2) a change in tumor morphologic features from round or oval to irregular after neoadjuvant therapy, and 3) disappearance of contrast enhancement.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and risks of dementia in the Japanese population: RERF's adult health study Hiroshima subjects. Radiation Effects Research Foundation.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence rate of dementia and its subtypes in Japan and to investigate the relationship of risk factors, such as demographic features and disease history, to the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. DESIGN: A prevalence study within a longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: The original Adult Health Study (AHS) cohort consisted of atomic-bomb survivors and their controls selected from residents in Hiroshima and Nagasaki using the 1950 national census supplementary schedules and the Atomic Bomb Survivors Survey. Since 1958, the AHS subjects have been followed through biennial medical examinations. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 637 men and 1585 women aged 60 years or older in the AHS cohort. Forty-eight subjects resided in hospitals and institutions. MEASUREMENTS: In addition to the biennial medical examinations ongoing since 1958, a screening test for cognitive impairment (CASI) was conducted by trained nurses between September 1992 and September 1996. The prevalence of dementia and its subtypes was assessed in 343 subjects suspected to have dementia and in 272 subjects with high CASI scores who were selected randomly. RESULTS: The prevalence of dementia based on DSM III/R criteria, using neurological examination, the IQCODE, and CDR > or = 1, was 7.2%. The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease was 2.0% in men and 3.8% in women, and the prevalence of vascular dementia was 2.0% in men and 1.8% in women. The relationship of risk factors to Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia was investigated by the multivariate logistic linear regression analysis. Odds ratios of Alzheimer's disease for age (in 10-year increments), attained education (in 3-year increments), history of head trauma, and history of cancer are 6.3, 0.6, 7.4, and 0.3, respectively. Odds ratios of vascular dementia for age, history of stroke, and history of hypertension are 2.0, 35.7, and 4.0, respectively. Neither type of dementia showed any significant effect of sex or radiation exposure. CONCLUSION: This study is the first study of Japanese dementia rates carried out with a protocol similar enough to that of a US study to allow meaningful comparisons. The prevalence rates demonstrated are more similar to US rates than were found in many previous reports in Japan.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Decreased regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with psychiatric symptoms.

To determine brain functional abnormality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with psychiatric symptoms, we evaluated 12 active SLE patients with or without psychiatric symptoms by means of [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing. Patients with psychiatric symptoms showed significantly poorer performance in tests which subserved attentional function. The PET study revealed that the psychiatric patients had significantly decreased regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose in the prefrontal, inferior parietal and anterior cingulate regions. Prefrontal, inferior parietal and anterior cingulate dysfunction may be related to attentional deficits that are involved in various psychiatric symptoms in SLE. PET is an invaluable tool to reveal such brain functional abnormality seen in SLE patients with psychiatric symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Synthesis and pharmacological activity of 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-[(2S,4S)-1-ethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-4- pyrrolidinyl]benzamide (TKS159) and its optical isomers.

Of 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-(1-ethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-4- pyrrolidinyl)benzamide, four optical isomers, (2S,4S)-1 (TKS159), (2S,4R)-25, (2R,4S)-26 and (2R,4R)-27, were prepared from optically active 4-amino-1-ethyl-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine di-p-toluenesulfonate [(2S,4S)-14, (2S,4R)-17, (2R,4S)-20 and (2R,4R)-23, respectively]. The requisites, (2S,4S)-14, (2S,4R)-17, (2R,4S)-20 and (2R,4R)-23, were prepared from a commercially available trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline. The absolute configurations of (2S,4S)-1 (TKS159), (2S,4R)-25, (2R,4S)-26 and (2R,4R)-27 were spectroscopically determined. Of the benzamide derivatives, four optical isomers, (2S,4S)-1, (2S,4R)-25, (2R,4S)-26 and (2R,4R)-27, showed a relatively potent affinity for 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) receptors in a radioligand binding assay ([3H]GR113808). The activities of 25-27 were less effective than that of 1 for the gastric emptying of a phenol red semisolid meal in rats. All this suggests that the most potent of the isomers was 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-[(2S,4S)-1-ethyl-2- hydroxymethyl-4-pyrrolidinyl]benzamide (1).

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Building aging level indices based on ability to perform personal care and household management activities].

Defining aging as deterioration of the ability required for the activities of daily living with increasing age, we developed a formula for estimating the age of aging. In 1994 and 1995, a questionnaire survey was conducted for 11,592 individuals (4,885 men, mean age 61.6, standard deviation 14.6; and 6,677 women, mean age 63.2, standard deviation 14.8) who were members of 7 cohorts (5 community-based cohorts and 2 cohorts of examiners at a health-promotion center). The questionnaire included three groups of questions related to medical treatment, aging-related symptoms, and personal care (ADL; Activities of Daily Living) and household management (IADL: Instrumental ADL). Multiple regression analysis was made by sex and age group (over 65 years old, under 65 years old) using age as a dependent variable and the three question categories as explanatory variables. Using multiple regression analysis by question category, five items were abstracted from each of the three groups, so that a total of 15 items were abstracted from all questions. Five items were then abstracted from the 15 by multiple regression analysis, and the predicted aging age for an individual is estimated using this statistical model from the results of the questionnaire survey. The predicted aging age is significantly associated with age (r = 0.40-0.49, p = 0.0001). The difference between the predicted aging age and age is greater among the older or younger people. The expected predicted aging age is estimated using regression analysis of the predicted aging age on age. Aging level indices by sex and age groups were determined by the difference between the expected predicted aging age and age. We are planning to carry out an epidemiological study on the risk factor for aging using the aging level indices in seven cohorts.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Modification of mutagenic activities of pro-mutagens by glyco-ursodeoxycholic acid in the Ames assay.

Mutagenicity, co-mutagenicity and anti-mutagenicity of glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) were examined by the Ames assay using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 with S9. As pro-mutagens, 2-aminoanthracene (2AA), Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), 3-amino-1-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4, 3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4, 5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3, 4-dimethylimidazo[4, 5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) were used. In addition to these pro-mutagens, blue-chitin extracts of human gallbladder bile (BCE) collected from the cholecystectomized patients with cholelithiasis were used in order to investigate the role of GUDCA on mutagen(s) actually existing in human bile. It was found that GUDCA did not show mutagenicity in this test system. Concerning the modification of mutagenic activities of pro-mutagens, GUDCA showed the different directions. GUDCA acted as co-mutagen, since it enhanced the mutagenic activities of 2AA and BaP. But, acted as anti-mutagen, since it suppressed the activities of Trp-P-2, IQ and MeIQ, all of which were classified as heterocyclic amines. GUDCA also suppressed the mutagen(s) in human bile. Because of the use of blue-chitin absorbed method for testing bile mutagenicity, the chemicals involved were considered to be heterocyclic amines and other polycyclic compounds. In these we suspect the bile mutagens are heterocyclic amines. Further examination should be directed towards the investigation into the mechanism of anti-mutagenic effects of GUDCA on mutagen(s) actually existing in human bile.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed1999

Life-style related factors and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy--a case-control study using pooled controls.

A case-control study was conducted to investigate how basic habits of life including dietary habit, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and drinking, are involved in the development of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Collection of cases was entrusted to the clinical research group of DCM, and national pooled controls established by sex and age category by the epidemiological research group of intractable diseases were used to ensure representativeness of the controls. Fifty-eight cases of DCM which developed in and after January 1991 were collected, and 5,912 controls matched with the cases by residential area, sex, and age were selected. Analysis of the results of the study showed that items in the questionnaire suggestive of viral infection, such as "susceptibility to common cold" and "susceptibility to diarrhea", items concerning dietary habit, including "taking no breakfast", "ingestion of salty food", and "ingestion of fatty food", and such items as "cigarette smoking" and "lack of sleep" tended to be observed in the case group at significantly higher frequencies. Since viral infection has been suspected as a causative factor of DCM, further research of this area is thought to be of particular importance for determining the etiology of DCM.

Adult↗