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Biomedical subjects

K Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to K Kondo.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Preoperative embolization of gastric arteries for esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: We developed a novel treatment of preoperative embolization therapy in an attempt to prevent anastomotic leakage after esophageal resection. We report the results of this new treatment. METHODS: Preoperative embolization therapy (PET) was performed in 24 cases of esophageal carcinoma. The femoral artery was punctured, and celiac angiography was performed. The left gastric artery and splenic artery underwent embolization. The right gastric artery then underwent embolization at a site beyond the second or third branch to the gastric wall. With a laser flow meter the stomach tissue blood flow was measured before and after construction of the gastric tube, and the change in blood flow was compared. RESULTS: The average decrease in gastric blood flow was 23% in patients with PET and 65% in patients without PET. Twenty-one (88%) of 24 cases maintained more than 50% tissue blood flow in patients with PET and in 1 (8%) of 12 in patients without PET (p < 0.001 by t test). No serious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative embolization therapy is a safe and uncomplicated technique, and tissue blood flow in the stomach was better preserved. This new technique is expected to reduce the frequency of anastomotic leakage after esophageal operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Osmoregulation of plasma vasopressin in diabetes mellitus with sustained hyperglycemia.

We studied osmoregulation of plasma vasopressin in 5 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. All patients showed typical symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus such as marked hyperglycemia, polyuria, and polydipsia, but did not have advanced diabetic complications. Vasopressin release was studied using 5% hypertonic saline infusion test twice: before treatment when the patient was hyperglycemic, and after treatment 1 to 2 months later when the patient was euglycemic. Plasma vasopressin was measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay. The mean basal plasma vasopressin value in the patients was significantly higher in the hyperglycemic compared with the euglycemic state (3.75 +/- 0.70 vs 1.18 +/- 0.46 pmol/l, respectively; P < 0.05). The relationship of plasma vasopressin with serum sodium, but not plasma osmolality, during hyperglycemia showed an apparent hypersecretion of vasopressin. In both cases, the sensitivity of the vasopressin response to osmotic stimuli was significantly decreased. During euglycemia, the sensitivity of vasopressin secretion to either sodium or osmolality was almost normal, although a slight rise in the osmostat was observed compared with normal subjects. Together, we found that the positive correlation of vasopressin with sodium or osmolality is maintained but significantly altered in patients with untreated diabetes mellitus. Especially noteworthy is the lowered threshold and decreased sensitivity of osmotically-induced vasopressin secretion during hyperglycemia, which may be caused by multiple factors such as diabetes-associated hypovolemia, osmogenic effects of glucose and other osmoles, depletion of the pool of vasopressin available for release, and the metabolic derangement of osmoreceptor/magnocellular neurons.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Severe acute metabolic acidosis and Wernicke's encephalopathy following chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin: case report and review of the literature.

A 28-year-old woman with inoperable gastric carcinoma was given continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) for 4 weeks while receiving intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH). Eleven days after her last treatment, she developed acute diplopia, deafness and gait ataxia, followed by severe confusion. She became markedly acidotic and hypotensive with a systolic blood pressure of 60 mmHg, necessitating intubation, dopamine treatment and hemodialysis for 7 h. She was also given thiamine. Thereafter, her blood pressure stabilized, the acidosis improved, and her deafness, diplopia, and confusion were resolved. This case suggests that FP (5-FU/CDDP) therapy toxicity, manifested as acute metabolic acidosis and Wernicke's encephalopathy, may be associated with IVH and thiamine deficiency.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1996

A putative receptor protein kinase gene in Ipomoea trifida.

We have characterized a cDNA clone, IRK1, for a putative receptor kinase from a stigma cDNA library of Ipomoea trifida. IRK1 protein contains an extracellular receptor-like domain and the consensus sequences diagnostic of serine/threonine protein kinase. Both the pattern of gene expression and the results of RFLP analysis indicate that the IRK1 gene is not primarily involved in the self-incompatibility system of Ipomoea.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Molecular genetic diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau disease: analysis of five Japanese families.

We analyzed deoxyribonucleic acids from blood samples of five Japanese von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease families (three familial cases, two new mutations) for the presence of VHL gene mutations by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing. Four of the five families showed germ line mutations in VHL gene, comprising 2 missense mutations, 1 deletion, and 1 splice-site mutation. Two families had VHL gene mutations at exon 1; 1 family at exon 3; and 1 family at the splice-site adjacent to exon 3. Presymptomatic patients were accurately diagnosed by these methods. However, one family did not show a VHL gene mutation in the germ line but showed a somatic mutation at exon 2 in the hemangioblastoma tissue. The consequence of the somatic mutation was a microdeletion leading to a frameshift mutation. Our study is the first report of VHL gene analyses of Japanese VHL disease families, and suggests that not only germ line mutation, but also somatic mutation can lead to development of a tumor associated with the VHL disease.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Heparin-coated cardiopulmonary bypass circuits in coronary bypass surgery.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a nonphysiologic environment for an organism. The damage of blood components may also lead to organ dysfunction, some-times recognized as postperfusion syndrome. One possible way to diminish the risk of these complications would be to reduce the thorombogenicity and to improve the biocompatibility of the artificial surfaces by using a heparin-coated CPB circuit. In this study, we compared a heparin-coated CPB circuit with a noncoated CPB circuit in terms of biocompatibility in 20 patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery. We employed a Duraflo II (n = 10) as a heparin-coated CPB circuit and a Univox IC (n = 10) as control subjects. Ten patients (Group C) were operated on using the heparin-coated CPB circuit. A total of 10 patients were given heparin in a reduced dose (2.0 mg/kg), and additional heparin was given if the activated clotting time (ACT) was below 400 s. The control group also included 10 patients (Group NC), who were operated on with noncoated devices. They received 2.5 mg/kg of heparin, and additional heparin was given if the ACT was below 450 s. All patients had normal coagulation parameters and did not receive blood transfusion. We measured complement activation levels (C3a, C4a), platelet count, thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels, D-dimer levels, and ACT during CPB and respiratory index postoperatively. The concentration of C3a in group NC was significantly higher than that in group C. Platelet reduction in group NC was significantly greater than that in group C. There were no significant differences in the remaining parameters between the 2 groups. We concluded that heparin-coated CPB circuits improved biocompatibility by reducing complement activation and platelet consumption and enabled us to reduce the dose of heparin required for systemic heparinization.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of vitamin E deficiency on inhibition of liver regeneration by long-term administration of alcohol.

The effects of vitamin E (VE) deficiency on liver regeneration suppressed by long-term administration of alcohol were studied. Male rats were divided into two groups: the alcohol group and the control group. In addition, each group was subdivided into two groups according to the presence or not of VE. Altogether, four groups were provided: a group maintained on the VE-deficient alcohol diet (group EA), a group maintained on the VE-deficient control diet (group EC), a group maintained on the ordinary alcohol diet (group A), and a group maintained on the ordinary control diet (group C). After pair-feeding for 6 weeks, partial hepatectomy was performed to determine the omithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, polyamine levels, lipid peroxide levels, and DNA synthesis, DNA synthesis at 24 hr after partial hepatectomy was suppressed significantly in the alcohol administration group, regardless of the presence or not of VE DNA synthesis at 48 hr after partial hepatectomy tended to show low values in group EA, compared with group A. As for the hepatic ODC activity, group EA showed the lowest value at 4 hr after partial hepatectomy. Of polyamines, the putrescine level in group EA at 4 hr after partial hepatectomy was significantly low, compared with the other three groups. The levels of spermidine and spermine decreased by long-term administration of alcohol, but the effect of VE deficiency was not found. The lipid peroxide level increased significantly in the VE-deficient diet administration group, but the effect of alcohol administration was not found. These results suggested that the decrease in putrescine after ODC suppression by VE deficiency in addition to the decrease in spermidine and spermine caused by long-term alcohol administration were concerned with suppression of DNA synthesis later.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

ST reelevation at reperfusion is associated with the occurrence of late potentials in patients with acute anterior infarction.

The relationship between ST reelevation at reperfusion and the occurrence of late potentials (LPS) in 35 patients with a first anterior infarction who had single vessel disease was investigated. All patients underwent a successful primary angioplasty and had a patent infarct related artery confirmed angiographically 4 weeks later. Patients were classified into groups based on changes in the ST level at reperfusion: patients with ST reelevation (group A, n = 22) and patients without ST reelevation (group B, n = 13). Signal-averaged ECG was performed 4 weeks after primary angioplasty to detect LPS. Cineventriculography was performed to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and evaluate regional wall motion of the infarct area (SD/chords). LPS were present in eight of the 22 group A patients (36%) and in none of the 13 group B patients (P < 0.05). Left ventricular function was impaired in patients in group A compared with patients in group B (LVEF: 5 1 +/- 12 vs 63 +/- 10, P < 0.01; SD/chords: -2.7 +/- 0.9 vs -1.9 +/- 1.1, P < 0.05). These data suggest that ST reelevation and myocardial damage at reperfusion are associated with the occurrence of LPS in patients with successfully recanalized infarct related arteries after acute anterior infarction.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

Preclinical Cushing's syndrome: report of four cases and analysis of steroid contents in adenomas.

We report 4 cases of preclinical Cushing's syndrome (PCS) that were discovered incidentally by computed tomography (CT) as adrenal incidentalomas. Routine endocrine examinations revealed a suppressed plasma ACTH level. A final diagnosis was made by means of precise endocrine assessments and adrenal scintigraphy with radiolabelled iodocholesterol. Although endocrine data varied, the positive accumulation of radioisotope in the adrenal tumor, with nonvisualization of the contralateral side, was observed in all cases. Endocrine studies and analyses of steroid contents in tumors by HPLC suggested that subtypes or heterogeneous forms of this disease entity may exist. One type shows small tumors with relatively elevated cortisol production, and a disturbed diurnal rhythm and suppression of plasma cortisol with dexamethasone (DXM). The other type showed large tumors with weak-to-average cortisol production, and the diurnal rhythm of cortisol was preserved.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1996

Centrally administered neuropeptide FF inhibits arginine vasopressin release in conscious rats.

There is evidence indicating that neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is an endogenous modulator of opioid systems. In the present study, we investigated the effect of centrally administered NPFF on arginine vasopressin (AVP) release in conscious rats. The plasma AVP increase in response to either hyperosmolality [i.p. injection of hypertonic saline (600 mosmol/kg)] or hypovolemia [i.p. injection of polyethylene glycol (PEG)] was significantly blunted when NPFF was injected into the lateral ventricle so that the given drug could act at the hypothalamus and also reach the brain stem (hypertonic saline with 10 micrograms/rat NPFF, 3.28 +/- 0.48 pg/ml; hypertonic saline alone, 7.85 +/- 1.78 pg/ml; PEG with 10 micrograms/rat NPFF, 4.07 +/- 1.40 pg/ml; PEG alone, 8.25 +/- 1.90 pg/ml). The plasma AVP increase in response to PEG-induced hypovolemia was also attenuated significantly and more potently when NPFF was injected into the cisterna magna so that the given drug could be readily accessible to the dorsal medulla where the nucleus of solitary tract is located (10 micrograms/rat; 2.71 +/- 0.14 pg/ml). In contrast, the NPFF injected into the cisterna magna had no significant effect on hyperosmolality-induced AVP release. Treatment with naloxone (10 mg/kg BW, sc) significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of NPFF on AVP release. These results suggest that central NPFF might play an inhibitory role via the hypothalamus in the osmoregulation of plasma AVP and via both the hypothalamus and the nucleus of solitary tract in the baroregulation, and that the intrinsic opioid systems are involved in the action of NPFF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Risk factors for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a reanalysis of case-control studies.

To review the evidence for risk factors of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), we pooled and reanalyzed the raw data of three case-control studies. The pooled data set comprised 178 patients and 333 control subjects. The strength of association between CJD and putative risk factors was assessed by computing the odds ratio as estimate of the relative risk. The risk of CJD was statistically significantly increased for subjects with a family history of CJD (odds ratio = 19.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 348.0). Further, there was a significant association between the risk of CJD and a history of psychotic disease (odds ratio = 9.9; 95% CI 1.1 to 86.1). Although not significantly increased, there was an elevated risk of CJD for subjects with a family history of dementia, a history of poliomyelitis, subjects employed as health professionals, and subjects ever exposed to cows and sheep. No association could be shown with organ meat consumption, including brain. The negative results of this reanalysis reassures the absence of a common risk factor in all CJD patients. However, the ongoing epidemiologic surveillance of CJD in several European countries may provide more evidence to exclude any environmental exposure early in childhood.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Structure-activity relationships of non-peptide vasopressin V1a antagonists: 1-(1-multi-substituted benzoyl 4-piperidyl)-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones.

During our systematic studies on the arginine vasopressin receptor V1a-antagonistic activity of 1-(1-benzoyl substituted 4-piperidyl)-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones, we found a general substituent effect on the benzene ring. Hydrogen-bonding ability at the ortho position was especially important for enhancement of the affinity of multi-substituted analogs. Details of the syntheses and structure-activity relationships for this series are presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Prostanoid receptor-mediated calcium signaling in cultured rat astrocytes.

We investigated prostanoid-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2-loaded cultured astrocytes. The thromboxane (TX) A2 analog STA2 (9,11-epithio-11,12-methano-TXA2) and/or prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha (each used at 1 microM) stimulated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in single cultured rat type 1 astrocytes. Three response patterns were observed: only STA2-sensitive, only PGF2 alpha-sensitive, and both prostanoids-sensitive cells. The Ca2+ response was prostanoid-dose-dependent (0.1 - 1 microM) and showed a rapid spike-like Ca2+ rise that peaked within 30 sec after the stimulation by the ligand. These observations suggest that type 1 astrocytes are heterogeneous with respect to the expression of receptors for TXA2 and PGF2 alpha, which are linked to Ca2+ mobilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Incidence of Minamata disease in communities along the Agano river, Niigata, Japan--patterns of the exposure and official diagnosis of patients].

Data obtained from all residents, who lived in the Agano river villages where Minamata disease occurred as of June 1965, were used to analyze its incidence patterns and to evaluate validity of the official recognition of the disease. The residents totaled 18,253 (8,911 males and 9,342 females), including 262 (151 males and 111 females) recognized patients and 378 (186 males and 192 females) rejected applicants. Consumption of the contaminated river fish was associated with hair Hg measurements (ppm), but there were few residents who denied the consumption but showed elevated Hg values, probably due to false-negative answers in the census survey in 1965. Incidence rates of the recognized patients increased with the upgrading codes for fish ingestion, but analysis of the association of fish ingestion among the recognized applicants indicated that there were ca. 50% false-positive diagnosis. This analysis showed that The Government made best efforts to help very mild cases despite the fact that such a generous attitude inevitably causes overdiagnosis. Incidence rates of the rejected applicants also showed a dose-response. This is extremely important because a rejection meant that compensation was refused by the polluting company. Protest groups insisted the existence of Minamata disease showing only sensory symptoms, but this concept has not been accepted by the Government and the polluters. The present study disclosed a dose-response relationship in the rejected cases giving positive ground for the opinions proposed by protest groups. Proportions of such "Hg-associated sensory disorders" (cases with unexplained sensory disorders which are associated with river fish ingestion) were 15-30% among the exposed applicants, 6.6-15% among the all rejected applicants, and 3.9-10% among the unexplained sensory disorders in the regional population. Owing to the river pollution, there was 5-11% increase of the unexplained sensory disorders among the local residents, in addition to recognizable Minamata disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Analysis of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in human serum obtained after ingesting green tea.

A method for analyzing the EGCg concentration in human serum was developed by using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. EGCg was detected in human serum after the ingestion of 5 g of green tea powder (matsu-cha) dissolved in 200 ml of hot water. The concentration of EGCg in the serum reached the highest level about 2 h after ingesting the green tea, and then decreased.

Antimutagenic Agents↗
PubMed1996

Cyclooxygenase induction is essential for NGF synthesis enhancement by NGF inducers in L-M cells.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) inducers, for example, 4-methylcatechol, pyrroloquinoline quinone, kansuinin A, and ingenol triacetate, stimulate NGF synthesis in L-M cells, but the mechanism of NGF induction by NGF inducers is not known. Using the four different types of previously described NGF inducers, we proved induction of cyclooxygenase activity by NGF inducers and detected prostaglandins D2 and E2 as metabolites of arachidonic acid. From the observation that the induction of NGF by each NGF inducers was inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitors or dexamethasone, cyclooxygenase activation is supposed to be an essential process for NGF induction.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in semi-thin sections of routine electron microscopic specimens digested with trypsin.

A simplified method of immunostaining of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analogue, for routinely paraformaldehyde or glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide-fixed and epon embedded specimens was established using regenerating rat liver. In the case of 4% paraformaldehyde fixed tissue, only removal of the epoxy resin with 10% Na-ethoxide solution was required to detect BrdU. In glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide-fixed specimens, 10% Na-ethoxide treatment and additional trypsin digestion enabled the detection of BrdU. HCl hydrolysis to denature DNA in the nuclei was not essential for the BrdU immunoreaction. This procedure is one of the most simple methods to detect BrdU with much better resolution. Thus, BrdU incorporated into DNA of S-phase cell is detectable in conventionally prepared specimens for routine electron microscopy.

Animals↗