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Biomedical subjects

K Kono

Publications and source records attributed to K Kono.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Ganglioside composition of human melanoma and response to antitumor treatment.

Ganglioside composition of human melanoma was correlated with sensitivity of melanoma to antitumor treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. The cytotoxic effect of each treatment was evaluated on 16 melanoma cell lines using the human tumor colony-forming assay. Ganglioside fractions were extracted and purified from each cell line and analyzed for the four major gangliosides in melanoma (GM3, GM2, GD3, and GD2) by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and TLC scanner. GD2 content positively correlated with sensitivity to radiation (r = 0.753, p less than 0.001) and vincristine (r = 0.779, p less than 0.001). In contrast, GM3 content inversely correlated with sensitivity to radiation (r = -0.658, p less than 0.01) and vincristine (r = -0.692, less than 0.01). The gangliosides GD3 and GM2 were shown to have no significant correlation with any of these treatments.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Serum and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity among the inhabitants of a rural area in Japan--the effect of age and hypertension.

In this paper, the normal values, distribution, and variations in serum and urinary activities of the lysosomal enzyme, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), were estimated in a rural area of Japan. The frequency distribution of NAG activities both in the serum and urine of 1,152 males and females (aged 35 to 87), living in a rural area of Gifu Prefecture in Japan, showed an approximately log-normal distribution. Geometric mean values (with S.D. ranges) in healthy subjects (876 males and females) were 12.61 U/l (9.56-16.63) for serum NAG and 8.05 U/l (4.03-16.07) for urinary NAG. There was no significant difference between those of males and females. Serum and urinary NAG activities increased with advancing ages, and these NAG activities in hypertensive subjects were higher than those in normotensives. Since the serum and urinary levels of several commonly measured cytosolic chemicals were within normal limits, the above results could not be ascribed to tissue necrosis. Thus, the estimation of serum and urinary NAG could be a useful indicator discriminating the essential hypertensive patients from the normal subjects.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

[Platelet catecholamine changes in patients with pheochromocytoma].

In patients with adrenal tumor, the importance of platelet catecholamine was examined. In patients with pheochromocytoma, not only preoperative catecholamine concentrations in blood and urine but also platelet catecholamine content were abnormally high as compared to patients with other adrenal tumors (pheochromocytoma for NE 3383 and E 311, no pheochromocytoma for NE 235 and E 24 pg.mg-1 protein). In the patient with pheochromocytoma, plasma catecholamine concentration showed its peak during the manipulation of the tumor during operation, and it decreased rapidly and returned to normal level the day after operation. On the other hand, platelet catecholamine content showed its peak after operation and returned to normal range on the 7th postoperative day. These results suggest that determination of platelet catecholamine content is useful for pre-operative diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, and that catecholamine in platelet modulates sudden fluctuation in plasma catecholamine concentration.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

[A case of spinal anesthesia in a 104-year-old woman].

We gave spinal anesthesia for a super-aged patient (104 year-old female) who underwent insertion of prosthesis for femoral neck fracture. One point eight ml of 0.3% dibucaine was used as local anesthetic, and the analgesic below Th10 level was obtained. To monitor the respiratory and circulatory functions during operation, pulse-oximeter and invasive arterial pressure were used. Dopamine and metaraminol were given to prevent hypotension and the operation was completed uneventfully. This anesthetic experience suggests that, for the anesthesia of a super-aged patient it is mandatory not only to clearly identify the complications and the physical features of the patient but also to explain to the patient the anesthetic as well as operative procedures. Besides, we have to manage elderly patients receiving spinal anesthesia carefully, considering intraoperative problems as well as the possibility of resorting to general anesthesia.

Aged↗

[Anesthetic considerations for hepatic resection using veno-venous bypass].

Anesthetic experience of 4 cases of hepatic resection using veno-venous bypass was reported. Non-forced bypass (passive shunt) was used in case 1. Hepatic resection was performed while supporting hemodynamic stability during the subsequent anhepatic phase using pump-driven veno-venous bypass (active shunt) in case 2-4. Various problems arose in each case. In the non-forced bypass case, hypotension during the bypass created a problem; whereas, hypothermia was pronounced during bypass in the pump-driven bypass cases. Massive transfusion due to bleeding, hypocalcemia, and unintentional hypothermia after veno-venous bypass precipitated heart failure. Attention should therefore be directed toward, (1) preparation for massive transfusion, (2) measurement and correction of the plasma calcium ion concentration, (3) maintenance of body temperature, and (4) hemodynamic control with a Swan-Ganz catheter and an inferior vena cava catheter. Extracorporeal bypass using a pump-driven veno-venous bypass (Bio-pump) and splanchnic decompression system via the portal system appear to be advantageous.

Aged↗

[Anesthetic management of coronary artery bypass graft operation in a patient with hypothyroidism].

We experienced the anesthetic management of coronary artery bypass graft operation (3 vessels) in a patient with hypothyroidism. Prior to the operation, the substitution therapy for thyroid hormone was performed, but thyroid function could not be normalized. From 30 minutes after starting cardiopulmonary bypass, edema appeared on four limbs. Also, edema of intestinal tract and the distended abdomen was observed. By administering T4 preparation intravenously edema diminished within about 2 hours without exhibiting any change in ECG findings and hemodynamics. This case may suggest that the intraoperative substitution of thyroid hormone is a safe and effective method in a patient with hypothyroidism.

Aged↗

Platelet adhesion on to polyamide microcapsules coated with lipid bilayer membrane.

Polyamide microcapsules with diameters of 3-4 microns were coated with lipid bilayer membrane and their interaction with canine platelets was investigated. Platelet adhesion on to the microcapsules was significantly suppressed by the lipid-coating. Coating with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (liquid-crystalline state) reduced platelet adhesion on to the microcapsules to a greater extent than that with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (gel state) at 37 degrees C. The surface properties of the microcapsule in adsorption of plasma proteins were also changed by lipid coating. The amount of gamma-globulin and fibrinogen adsorbed on to the microcapsule was slightly decreased by lipid coating, while the amount of adsorbed albumin was increased. Platelet adhesion on to the lipid-coated microcapsules was suppressed most strongly in the presence of gamma-globulin. Apparently platelet adhesion on to the polyamide microcapsules is controlled by the nature of lipid membrane and gamma-globulin adsorbed on to the microcapsules.

Adsorption↗

Variations in hemodynamic and stress hormonal responses in open heart surgery with buprenorphine/diazepam anesthesia.

The use of buprenorphine-diazepam-N2O (60%)-O2 anesthesia in open heart surgery was investigated. The authors examined the hemodynamic changes produced and the response of stress hormones. Twenty adult patients with atrial septal defects undergoing surgical correction were studied in two groups of 10, receiving either 6 micrograms/kg of buprenorphine (B6) or 12 micrograms/kg of buprenorphine (B12) for the induction of anesthesia. Both groups received a subsequent dose of 6 micrograms/kg of buprenorphine with the commencement of extracorporeal circulation (ECC). With surgery, mean arterial pressure showed a transient increase in both groups and thereafter was stable. Heart rate in the B6 group was increased from the onset of surgery to the day after, while the B12 group showed no significant change. Filling pressures showed no change in either group. Plasma catecholamine concentrations in the B6 group, in contrast to the B12 group, increased significantly from midoperation to after completion of the operation (ECC 10 minutes, B6 group v B12 group: plasma norepinephrine 616 +/- 231 v 195 +/- 38 pg/mL, plasma epinephrine 1385 +/- 392 v 572 +/- 132 pg/mL, P less than 0.05). Plasma ADH levels in both groups rose with the commencement of surgery, reaching a peak at ECC 10 minutes (B6 group 88.1 +/- 8.4 v B12 group 124.4 +/- 27.2 pg/mL). However, in contrast to plasma catecholamines, the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels in the B12 group remained higher until the first postoperative day. Therefore, patients who received the larger dose of buprenorphine had better control of hemodynamics and catecholamines, but a greater elevation of plasma ADH levels.

Adult↗

[Clinical study of watershed infarct dementia].

This clinical study of watershed infarct was carried out in two hospitals for elderly patients. The purpose of this study was an investigation of the clinical specificity of this type of infarct as compared with other types of infarcts. The most important point was to determine which patients with this type of infarct usually become demented. The items of investigation were brain CT findings, measurements of the width of the ventricles and the extent of sylvian fissures from CT images, blood pressure, past history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, alcohol use and smoking, blood analysis of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, hematocrit, hemoglobin A1 and uric acid and the incidence of patients in whom dementia had improved from the previous state. From CT findings, we classified all patients with brain infarcts into 4 groups; 173 patients with central infarcts, 56 patients with watershed infarcts, 20 patients with subcortical lesions of the Binswanger type and 11 patients with occlusion of main brain arteries. Among all investigated patients, there were 56 non-demented and 162 demented (74.3%) patients. Among the patients with watershed infarcts, there were 10 non-demented and 45 (81.8%) demented patients. In the group of demented patients with watershed infarcts, females were four times as many as males. Demented patients with watershed infarcts in the right hemisphere were twice as frequent as those with infarcts in the left hemisphere, while the number of non-demented patients with this type of infarct in right hemisphere was the same as that in the left hemisphere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[Clinical study of chronic subdural hematoma and hygroma in two hospitals for elderly patients with dementia].

The authors have investigated the incidence of chronic subdural hematoma and hygroma (CSH) in two hospitals for elderly patients with dementia syndrome over a period of three years and nine months. All observed patients had been in the hospital for 2 weeks or more and had had brain computed tomography (CT) on admission. The total of 613 patients included 212 males and 401 females. Based on the CT findings observed in patients on admission, the authors found 47 patients with CSH. This was equivalent to 7.7% of all patients observed. After admission, almost all patients had brain CT twice per year, with a mean of 2.2 CT examinations during the observation period. Sixteen patients who had no CSH on admission developed CSH. Thus a total of 63 (10.3%) demented patients demonstrated CSH during the observation period. It was assumed that the high incidence of CSH in this study may be due to the practice of performing routine CT examinations in hospitalized patients and the fact that demented patients are prone to fall and hit their heads. From the investigation of past history, tastes, and patterns of daily behavior, we found the risk factors for CSH development to be male sex, alcohol abuse and wandering as a symptom of dementia. We performed CT examinations on all patients who showed subjective or objective neuro-symptoms related to the central nervous system, but we could find only 2 patients with high-density lesions in the subdural space that indicated acute bleeding. This was only 3.1% (2/65) of all patients who developed subdural effusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[The study of dementia patients who showed intellectual improvement after admission to a hospital where they could be given special therapy for dementia].

The authors evaluated the changes in the scores on Hasegawa's rating scale for dementia (HRSD) of demented patients in a hospital for dementia. The subjects in this study were 69 patients (12 males and 57 females) including 34 with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), 30 with multi-infarct dementia (MID) and 5 with mixed dementia. Their average age was 75.6 years and the mean period after symptom onset was 2.5 years. The observation period was 5 months after admission to the hospital. We rated HRSD on admission and each month after admission. During the observation period, 65 patients received drugs orally and 65 patients were given rehabilitation for impaired cerebral function. We tried to classify the pattern of change in the HRSD into 5 groups as follows; 1) no remarkable change or deterioration, 2) wavering, 3) improvement during only the first month, 4) improvement from the first month after admission, 5) improvement from admission. We assumed that the patients in group 3) had been underestimated on admission. Their mental states might have been confused on admission because of the change in their living environment. Thus we rejected this group for statistical analysis and compared the medical characteristics of those in the non-improved group (1 and 2) with those in the improved group (4 and 5). The period from onset of symptoms in the improved group was shorter than in the non-improved group (p less than 0.05). Moreover there was a tendency (p less than 0.1) toward less abnormal findings in the EEG and less cerebral atrophy on CT scan in the improved group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Current aspects of trace element research in environmental health.

The field of research on trace element and its relationship to human health and disease is one of the most rapidly advancing fields among the health sciences. The methods of measuring elements in the body can be classified into two categories: i.e., destructive and non-destructive method. The latter analysis includes X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, by which the authors determine fluorine (F) and elements in hair specimens among patients with chronic diseases and workers exposed to polluted elements. Some advantages offered by this method are a lack of necessity for the preliminary treatment of specimens and relative ease of operation. In this paper, the authors review the current aspect of trace element researches in the environmental health field, especially those in our laboratory.

Environmental Health↗

[The role of catecholamine content in human platelets; clinical implications in patients with pheochromocytoma].

UNLABELLED: This study examined if the platelet catecholamine content (CA) in healthy adults and patients with adrenal tumors reflected the activity of the sympatho-adrenomedullary system. RESULTS: (1) In 44 healthy adults, platelet norepinephrine (NE) levels ranged from 72 to 1175 pg.mg-1.protein-1 (mean: 473pg.mg-1.protein-1) and platelet epinephrine (E) levels ranged from 23 to 273 pg.mg-1.protein-1 (mean: 68 pg.mg-1.protein-1). These were used as normal ranges for this study. (2) In patients with adrenal tumors, plasma CA level, urinary CA elimination and platelet CA content were higher in patients with pheochromocytoma than in those with other adrenal tumors. Mean platelet NE and E levels for patients with pheochromocytoma were 2188 and 336 pg.mg-1.protein-1, respectively. These results indicate that a large amount of CA is contained in platelets (particularly in patients with pheochromocytoma), and that platelet CA level is very useful for preoperative diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The results also suggest that platelet CA level closely reflects the activity of the sympatho-adrenomedullary system.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

[A case of reexpansion pulmonary edema during fenestration of a giant hepatic cyst].

We experienced a case of reexpansion pulmonary edema during the fenestration of giant hepatic cyst. The patient was a 56 year-old female who had been suffering from dyspnea due to a large abdominal mass for 3 months. The preoperative chest X-ray revealed remarkable elevation of diaphragm (right third and left fifth intercostal spaces). The result of blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia and respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis. By the drainage of 12L of the cyst fluid for 30 minutes during operation, bloody and foamy bronchial secretion spurted out. Vigorous respiratory management using PEEP was promptly started and continued postoperatively in ICU. The endotrachial tube was withdrawn on the 2nd postoperative day. The ratio of protein in airway secretion in to plasma protein was 0.78, and it appeared that the pulmonary edema was mainly caused by increased permeability of pulmonary capillary vessels.

Cysts↗

[Clinical investigation of 200 patients with acute herpes zoster--factor influencing treatment of herpetic pain].

Two hundred patients were treated by various nerve blocks with (A; 100 cases) or without (B; 100 cases) acyclovir (ACV) for acute herpes zoster, and studied retrospectively to determine the factors influencing the duration of pain. All patients started to receive the treatment within 2 weeks after manifestation of herpetic rash, and were divided equally into two groups by the severity of pain. The severe (I) and moderate (II) pain groups had similar locations of skin lesions. Group I had significantly larger population of the aged, and higher proportion of patients who had preherpetic pain than group II. The period of pain was significantly longer in group I B than group I A, in group II B than group II A, in group I A than group II A and in group I B than group II B. However, distribution of the rash, age and occurrence of preherpetic pain were not related to the duration of pain in the groups with the same degree of pain and treatment. These results showed that ACV was effective in inflammatory pain and accelerated healing in the acute phase of herpes zoster. The severity of pain had the greatest influence on the duration of pain. The age and preherpetic pain closely correlated with the severity of pain.

Acute Disease↗

Quantitative determination of atracurium in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography.

The authors have established a new method for extraction and determination of atracurium in human plasma that employs a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This method made use of a fluorescent spectrophotometer at an excitation wavelength of 240 nm and an emission wavelength of 310 nm. The mobile phase was made of a phosphate buffer, distilled water and acetonitrile (20V : 30V : 50V). The analytical column used was a Little Champ C(18). In a Bond Elute C(18) extraction column, which had been prewashed with a phosphate buffer and a 50% methanol solution, atracurium was extracted from acidified plasma samples using a mixture of methanol and phosphate buffer. A standard curve was prepared by the internal standard method using metocurine. A high linear correlation between atracurium concentration and the ratio of the atracurium peak height to the metocurine peak height was observed (r = 0.9994). The lowest threshold for detection of atracurium was 15 ng/ml. When the plasma concentrations of atracurium were determined in 2 clinical cases, t(1/2Alpha) was 2.10 and 1.73 min and t(1/2Beta) was 15.57 and 21.57 min, respectively. These results indicate that this method of extraction and determination is appropriate for studying the pharmacokinetics of atracurium because it allows a high reproducibility, and provides an extremely accurate, simple and quick analysis.

Journal Article↗