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Biomedical subjects

K Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to K Kondo.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Two cases of repeatedly recurrent atypical thymoma.

Two cases of repeatedly recurrent thymoma with myasthenia gravis are detailed here. A 41-year-old woman had 5 recurrent thymomas, including local recurrences and lumbar and lung metastases; she was alive at the time of this writing, which was 22 years after her first surgery. A 36-year-old man had 3 recurrent thymomas, including local recurrence, dissemination, and lung metastasis; he was alive at the time of this writing, which was 16 years after his first surgery. Both recurrent lesions were diagnosed as "atypical thymoma" with moderate nuclear atypia. The patients with atypical thymoma must be followed up carefully due to a possible recurrence. Surgical treatment with chemoradiotherapy can lengthen their survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Evaluation and improvement of medical and nursing service and caregiving for the elderly using MDS. 1. Diagnosis and some problems in dementias].

A Minimum Data Set (MDS) was recorded in two geriatric hospitals every 4 months for about 5 years. The initial records were available in a total of 1,735 disabled elderly. In MDS, about 360 trigger items were recorded. A selection was made to determine whether there were problems of care in 18 areas of Resident Assessment Protocols. We analyzed errors and biases in selection of the diagnosis in the chapter E of MDS disclosing that: 1) they were almost satisfactorily made in diseases except dementias, 2) diagnosis of dementias was biased in several ways, particularly Alzheimer's disease was overselected, and 3) preprinted diagnostic options in MDS were not suited with the Japanese practice and were insufficient for comprehensive medical/nursing service and caregiving.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Adriamycin activates E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion in human breast cancer cells.

E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion plays a crucial role in intercellular communication, which is related to the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Our previous study showed that decreased expression of MUC1 can induce E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion in human breast cancer cell lines proliferating in suspension without aggregation. Using such a cell line (YMB-S), we observed the effects of an anticancer agent, adriamycin, on cell-cell adhesion and expression of E-cadherin-catenin complex and MUC1. The cells showed E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion after 48 h exposure to 0.4 micromol/l adriamycin. And in these cells, expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin mRNA obviously began to increase, while expression of MUC1 mRNA decreased, as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. Such change in mRNA levels were followed by increases in E-cadherin and beta-catenin protein levels and a decrease in MUC1 protein level. Though expression of alpha-catenin mRNA began to increase on day 2, its protein level did not change. In immunohistochemical analysis, beta-catenin protein in untreated cells showed diffuse cytoplasmic localization, whereas beta-catenin in treated cells was present in cytoplasm with a clear submembranous localization, indicating that increased beta-catenin mainly bound with E-cadherin, participating in cell-cell adhesion. These findings show for the first time that adriamycin can induce E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion by increasing expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and decreasing expression of MUC1 during breast cancer cell apoptosis induced by this drug.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Labyrinthine fistulas in cholesteatoma].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical features of cases of cholesteatoma with labyrinthine fistulas, and in particular the pre and post-operative bone-conduction (BC). Cholestatoma patients with bone erosion or a defect found in the first stage operation were analyzed. The operations were conducted between 1992 and 1996. The patients were classified into four types, I, IIa, IIb, and III, according to Dornhoffer and Milewski's classification, which is based on different stages in the bone defect. A type I fistula is an erosion of the bony labyrinth with an intact endosteum. Type IIa is accompanied by an opened perilymphatic space with undisturbed perilymph while type IIb has a disturbed perilymph. A Type III fistula is an opened perilymphatic space with a disturbance of the underlying membranous labyrinth. Only 24 patients with type II and type III fistulas were included in this study. The location of the fistulas was the semicircular canals (SCCs) or/and the vestibula in 21 patients and in the cochlea in 3 patients. We examined the fistula by high-resolution computed tomography scan (CT scan) with 1 mm slice and 1 mm width axial-sections in 14 patients. A bone defect in the labyrinth was detected in 10 cases (71.5%) pre-operatively. Pre-operative BC was worse in the patients with cochlear fistulas than in those with fistulas located in SCCs or the vestibula. Within this latter group there were 13 type IIa (group IIa), patients and 8 type IIb or III (group IIb or III) patients. However, there was no difference in the pre-operative BC between these two sub-groups Tympanoplasty was conducted in all 24 patients. The postoperative BC of group IIa and group IIb or III were compared. Two of the 13 patients in group II a (15.4%) and 3 of 8 in group IIb or III (37.5%) had a deteriorated postoperative BC. Statistical analysis revealed that the postoperative BC was more inclined to become worse in patients with advanced stage IIb or III fistulas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Pharmacokinetics and safety of Z-321, a novel specific orally active prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor, in healthy male volunteers.

This study investigates the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of Z-321, (4R)-3-(indan-2-ylacetyl)-4-(1-pyrrolidinyl-carbonyl)-1,3-thiazoli dine, a novel specific orally active prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) inhibitor. Following a preliminary safety evaluation wherein 2 subjects received 3.75 and 15 mg doses and 2 other subjects received 7.5 and 30 mg doses, 16 subjects were assigned to two groups of 8 subjects each. In each group, 6 subjects were to receive active treatment, and 1 or 2 subjects were to receive placebo treatment. One group received 60 mg under fasted and fed conditions. A separate group of 8 subjects received 60 mg of Z-321 or a placebo in a bid regimen for 6 days and the morning dose on day 7. The concentrations of Z-321 and its main metabolites--R- and S-sulfoxide; RR-, SS-, and RS-indanol; and indanolsulfoxides in plasma and urine--were determined by the HPLC method. In the multiple-dose study, the cholinesterase activity was gradually increased and reached above the normal range on day 8 in 3 of 6 subjects given Z-321 and gradually returned to the normal range after completion of dosing. The elevation of plasma cholinesterase activity was considered to be an action of Z-321, but this remains to be verified. In a single-dose study at a dose of 30 mg, headache and vomiting were observed in 1 of 6 subjects. In the multiple-dose study, slight skin itching and eczema in 3 and 2 of 6 subjects, respectively, and headache in 2 of 6 subjects were observed, but all symptoms were not severe. There were no other abnormal findings in objective signs and laboratory findings, including blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, body temperature, hematology, blood chemistry, and urinalysis. The Cmax of Z-321 at 30, 60, and 120 mg in the fasting state were 63.7 +/- 23.9, 102.0 +/- 43.1, and 543.3 +/- 437.0 ng/ml (mean +/- SD), respectively, at 0.9 hours after administration, and the t1/2 was about 1.8 hours. There were no dramatic changes in the pharmacokinetics of Z-321 in the presence of food. In the multiple-dose study, there was no drug accumulation trend in plasma. These results indicate that Z-321 has acceptable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetics profiles for clinical use without any serious adverse events, as verified in healthy young male volunteers.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[A case of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome showing a neurological deterioration and infarct development over a month].

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a sudden onset of gait disturbance and behavioral abnormalities. On the admission, he had a moderate consciousness disturbance and right hemiparesis with left internal carotid artery occlusion. Eight days after the stroke, the patient further developed left hemiparesis in association with right internal carotid artery occlusion. Despite anticoagulation therapy and plasma volume loading, neurological symptoms deteriorated over a month, during which CT scan demonstrated a progressive expansion of infarct size. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of lupus anticoagulant. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome may be associated with a progression of ischemic stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[A comparative study of a thick and standard loop in transurethral resection of the prostate].

We compared the safety and efficacy of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with a thick loop and with a standard loop. We compared 36 consecutive men (median age, 70 years) with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperlasia (BPH) treated by TURP with a thick loop to a cohort of 36 men (median age, 72 years) treated by TURP with a standard loop. The safety parameters of evaluation included the operative time, blood loss, chronological changes in serum sodium, and complications. The efficacy parameters of evaluation included International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life assessment, peak urinary flow rate, and post-void residual urine volume. The operative time (median, 49.5 versus 43.5 minutes), blood loss (median, 179 versus 127 ml), and change in serum sodium (median, -4.0 versus -6.0 mEq/L) were not significantly greater in the thick loop group than in the standard loop group, respectively. There were no major complications in either group. Clinically significant improvement was observed in all efficacy parameters in both groups, with no difference between the two groups. These results suggest that TURP with a thick loop is not necessarily superior to TURP with a standard loop in terms of decreasing the blood loss and decreasing the operative time.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[A study of factors influencing determination of discharge disposition of stroke rehabilitation patients].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to statistically analyze medical and socioeconomic factors which influence discharge disposition from a stroke unit. METHODS: We investigated 126 stroke patients admitted to a community hospital within 30 days from the onset of the stroke. Mean age was 65.9 +/- 13.9 (SD) years old, profile of diagnosis was 89 infarctions was 37 hemorrhages, and mean length of stay was 79.7 +/- 45.1 days. Our rehabilitation team consists of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and a medical social worker. Our stroke unit accepted the stroke patients from the time of admission and attempted to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible. The patients and their families were informed about their options after discharge from the hospital. Eight factors were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: 1) Ninety-eight patients (77.8%) could return home (home group) and 28 patients (22.2%) were discharged to another hospital or a long-term care facility (LTCF group). 2) Mean age of LTCF group (70.3 +/- 12.0) was significantly higher than the home group (64.8 +/- 14.2, p < 0.05). The home group showed milder leg paresis (p < 0.01), better Barthel index (p < 0.01), a higher number of family members (p < 0.05), and a better substantial care ability (p < 0.01) than LTCF group. 3) Three factors, higher Barthel index (odds ratio: 1.36), higher number of family members (1.84), and better substantial care ability (1.94), were found to facilitate discharge to home. Two other factors, hemorrhage (0.39) and public assistance (0.04), adversely affected the likelihood of discharge to home. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a stroke unit could accelerate discharge home by improving the Barthel index. In addition, socioeconomic factors should be taken into consideration.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Clinical trial of prophylactic hepatic arterial chemotherapy for liver metastases in patients with Dukes' C colorectal cancer].

Preliminary results of a prospective non-randomized trial of prophylactic hepatic arterial chemotherapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer are presented. Twenty-two colorectal cancer patients (infusion group) in Dukes' C stage were given hepatic arterial infusion of 5-FU (500 mg/body for 1 hr per week, repeated 50 times) and peroral UFT-E (2.0 g/body, daily). Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Adverse effects and postoperative recurrence in the infusion group were compared with those of patients with UFT-E alone (control group). Complications related to hepatic arterial infusion in the infusion group were also demonstrated. There was no adverse effect in the control group, while diarrhea (grade 1) developed in one patient (5%) and pigmentation in five (24%) in the infusion group. Complications related to infusion were found in five patients (5%). Three patients in the infusion group presented with metachronous hepatic lesions, two of which were resected successfully. In the control group, one patient died of marked hepatic metastases, and one developed ovarian metastasis with lymph node involvement. Our regimen appears hematologically safe, however, the high frequency of pigmentation should be kept in mind. The oncological benefit of this chemotherapy would be clarified by a larger series of cases and longer follow-up.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

[Controversies in the new TNM staging system].

The latest revision of the International System for Staging Lung Cancer was published in June 1997. We discuss the following 4 major items in the new TNM staging system. 1) The fact that stage I was divided into stage IA (T1N0M0) and IB (T2N0M0) is reasonable, as the survival prospects for the subsets differ significantly. 2) The fact that stage II was divided into stage IIA (T1N1M0) and IIB (T2N1M0) is not appropriate, However, there is no significant survival difference between the T1N1M0 subset and the T2N1M0 subset, because there are fewer T1N1M0 cases. 3) The fact that the T3N0M0 subset was shifted into stage IIB is reasonable. Patients who undergo resection of tumors invading the parietal pleura, neighboring lobe, and main bronchus within 2 cm of the carina in the T3N0M0 group have a good prognosis, but those who undergo resection of tumors invading the rib, intercostal muscle, and diaphragm in the T3N0M0 group have a poor prognosis. 4) The decision to designate satellite lesions within the lobe of the primary tumor as T4 is controversial, because it is very difficult to determine whether satellite lesions are metastases from other lesions or if they are primary synchronous neoplasms.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Rotatory motion of a cemented acetabular component caused by aseptic loosening and dissociation of the polyethylene liner: a case report.

A 63-year-old woman without rheumatoid arthritis who had undergone cemented total hip arthroplasty developed coxalgia 1 year later. Radiography showed a clear zone at the cement-implant interface and rotatory motion of the acetabular component, so revision surgery was performed 4.5 years after the first operation. Aseptic loosening was noted and 7 spacers outside the acetabular component were broken and buried under the cement mantle. We consider that the rotatory motion may be caused by circumferential loosening of the acetabular component stemming from incomplete implant fixation and also dissociation of the ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) liner from the metal base plate.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed1999

[Computational study on antioxidation mechanism of catechins].

All C-H and O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE's) in catechins, (-)-epigallocatechin) were calculated by semi-empirical molecular orbital calculation using the SPARTAN program. The BDE's of benzyl hydrogens (C-2 position in catechins) were found to be quite low. This suggests that abstraction of benzyl hydrogen is crucial step for antioxidative activity. This is corroborated by the reported results of LC/MS and spectrophotometric analysis of reaction intermediates from catechins treated with AAPH.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1999

High level production of thermostable alpha-amylase from Sulfolobus solfataricus in high-cell density culture of the food yeast Candida utilis.

The alpha-amylase from Sulfolobus solfataricus has the commercially important ability to hydrolyze glycosyltrehalose and can be used for the production of trehalose from soluble starch. We have produced this enzyme in the food yeast Candida utilis at extremely high levels. Because the S. solfataricus gene was previously shown to be very poorly expressed, the gene was resynthesized based on codons preferentially found in the highly expressed C. utilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) gene. Expression of this synthetic gene under the control of the GAP promoter yielded biologically active alpha-amylase, accounting for more than 50% of the soluble protein. Comparison of the expression levels of various chimeric constructs of the synthetic and native genes indicated that the production level of the alpha-amylase was improved more than 2x10(4)-fold by substituting the native gene with the synthesized one. Northern analysis revealed the formation of short mRNAs in transformants with constructs containing native gene fragments, suggesting that premature termination of the transcripts is responsible for the low production level. The alpha-amylase-producing C. utilis cells were grown up to 92 grams dry cell weight per liter in a synthetic medium, yielding 12.3 g/l alpha-amylase which accounts for up to 27% of total cell proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Neuroprotective effects depend on the model of focal ischemia following middle cerebral artery occlusion.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the characteristics of the photochemical-induced thrombotic occlusion model and the thermocoagulated occlusion model of the middle cerebral artery in rats. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of a NMDA receptor antagonist, (+)-MK-801 (dizocilpine, (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptan-5,10-imine), an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor antagonist, YM90K (6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-7-nitro-2,3(1H,4H)-quinoxalinedione monohydrochloride), a Ca2+ channel antagonist, S-312-d (S-(+)-methyl-4,7-dihydro-3-isobutyl-6-methyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-thieno[2 ,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxylate), the radical scavengers, MCI-186 (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one) and EPC-K1 (L-ascorbic acid 2-[3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyl-tridecyl)-2H-1-be nzopyran-6yl-hydrogen phosphate] potassium salt), and a calcineurin inhibitor, FK506 (tacrolimus, Prograf). Although all tested agents in the present study attenuated the brain damage in the photochemical-induced thrombotic occlusion model, the radical scavengers did not attenuate the brain damage in the thermocoagulated occlusion model. The time course of brain damage and brain edema formation in the two models was examined. The time course of brain damage was not different in the two models, but the time course of brain edema was quite different. Brain edema formation in the photochemical-induced thrombotic occlusion model was significantly greater (P < 0.01) than that in the thermocoagulated occlusion model at all time point studied until 24 h after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The present study suggests that the photochemical-induced thrombotic occlusion model has characteristics of both permanent ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Role of histamine H1 and H2 receptor antagonists in the prevention of intimal thickening.

Vascular smooth muscle cell migration to the intima from the media and proliferation in the intima play key roles in atherosclerosis and restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Histamine released from adherent platelets at the injured artery and from mast cells in atheromas has stimulant actions on both smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, and histamine receptor antagonists abolish the effect of histamine in vitro. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of histamine receptor antagonists on intimal thickening. Endothelial injury in the mouse femoral artery was induced by a photochemical reaction between localized irradiation by green light and intravenously administered rose bengal. The histamine H1 receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, at a dose of 30 mg/kg or the histamine H2 receptor antagonist, cimetidine, at a dose of 200 mg/kg was intraperitoneally administered to mice for 21 days after endothelial injury. Twenty-one days after endothelial injury, morphometric analysis was performed to measure the cross-sectional areas of the intima and media. Diphenhydramine significantly reduced the intimal area to 1.1 +/- 0.3 (x 10(-3) mm2) compared with the value in the control group, which was 6.2 +/- 1.4 (x 10(-3) mm2), but cimetidine (5.5 +/- 1.9, x 10(-3) mm2) did not. Similarly, the ratio of intimal area to medial area in the diphenhydramine-treated group but not in the cimetidine-treated group was significantly reduced (83%). In the in vitro study, cimetidine inhibited neither proliferation nor migration of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). In contrast, diphenhydramine significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, but did not inhibit migration. These results suggest that diphenhydramine, a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, reduced the formation of intimal hyperplasia, at least in part due to inhibition of cell proliferation. However, cimetidine, a histamine H2 receptor antagonist, was ineffective. Histamine may play a key role in intimal thickening, in part via histamine H1 receptors in this model.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Down-regulation of protein kinase C alpha and gamma and enhanced TPA-induced neurite formation in DAN-transfected neuroblastoma cells.

DAN gene was first isolated by differential screening between rat 3Y1 and v-src-transformed 3Y1 cells and showed a tumor-suppressive activity toward v-src-transformed 3Y1 cells. When DAN-transfected neuroblastoma cells were treated with a tumor promoter phorbol ester, TPA, neurite-like processes appeared within 2 h whereas no apparent change was observed in the parent and vector-transfected cells up to 8 h. This suggests some difference in TPA-receptor, protein kinase C (PKC), between DAN-transfectants and the control cells. DAN-transfected SH-SY5Y cells showed complete loss in PKCalpha and a large decrease in PKCgamma. Similar down-regulation in PKCalpha and PKCgamma was also observed in DAN-transfected Ha-ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. The decreased level of PKCalpha was partially recovered after treatment with a calpain inhibitor, ZLLH. A 150-kDa proteolytic product of a calpain-specific substrate, non-erythroid alpha-spectrin, was detectable in DAN-transfected SH-SY5Y cells but not in the parent or vector-transfected control cells. This suggests that DAN-transfected cells contain activated calpain which may cause down-regulation of PKC and hence induce the altered TPA response.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1998

An ion channel of the degenerin/epithelial sodium channel superfamily controls the defecation rhythm in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Ultradian rhythms are widespread phenomena found in various biological organisms. A typical example is the defecation behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which repeats at about 45-sec intervals. To elucidate the mechanism, we studied flr-1 mutants, which show very short defecation cycle periods. The mutations also affect some food-related functions, including growth rate, the expulsion step of defecation behavior, and the regulation of the dauer larva (a nonfeeding, special third-stage larva) formation in the unc-3 (Olf-1/EBF homolog) background. The flr-1 gene encodes a novel ion channel belonging to the DEG/ENaC (C. elegans degenerin and mammalian epithelial sodium channel) superfamily. A flr-1::GFP (green fluorescent protein) fusion gene that can rescue the flr-1 mutant phenotypes is expressed only in the intestine from embryos to adults. These results suggest that FLR-1 may be a component of an intestinal regulatory system that controls the defecation rhythm as well as other functions.

Activity Cycles↗