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Biomedical subjects

K Kudo

Publications and source records attributed to K Kudo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Optical rotation per refractive index unit, or enantiomeric (e) factor, for screening enantioselective catalysts through asymmetric activation or carbohydrates.

A super high-throughput screening (SHTS) system can be constructed by combining high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), optical rotation (OR), and refractive index unit (RIU) to determine not only the enantioselectivity of the addition of diethylzinc to an aliphatic aldehyde catalyzed by a binaphthol-zinc complex through asymmetric activation with chiral Schiff bases, but also the enantiopurity of a carbohydrate. The enantiomeric (e) factor, which we define here as optical rotation per refractive index unit, is linearly related to the percent enantiomeric excess (%ee) and is independent of concentration.

Acetonitriles↗
PubMed2000

Undue concern for others' opinions deters caregivers of impaired elderly from using public services in rural Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether opinions of others may discourage the use of public services for the elderly. DESIGN: Users and non-users were compared regarding several variables including caregivers' concerns about opinions of others. SETTING: Matsuyama Town, located in a rural area of northern Japan. SUBJECTS: Seventy pairs of (1) elderly persons in need of care assessed by the procedure employed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and (2) their respective family caregivers. MEASURES: Cognitive function (Hasegawa Dementia Rating Scale), diagnosis of dementia, activities of daily living (ADL: Barthel Index), caregivers' burden (Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview), behavioral disturbances (Dementia Behavioural Disturbance Scale), caregiver interviews. RESULTS: A logistic regression analysis revealed that those who looked after the elderly with severe dependency in ADL were three times more likely to use public services (OR = 3.33, 95% CI = 1.02 - 10.88, p = 0.04). Those concerned about what others think or say were less likely to use public services (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.78, p = 0.01) than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers' undue concern for the opinions of others apparently deterred them from using public services. The overriding notion of care for the elderly as a family duty is still prevalent in rural Japan. It would be useful for the government to launch a public awareness programme to help caregivers understand the benefits of services available for the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for the detection of AML1-MTG8 fusion transcripts in t(8;21)-positive acute myelogenous leukemia.

Quantification of AML1-MTG8 fusion transcripts was performed by using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the clinical value of this method was evaluated in t(8;21)-positive acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). A t(8;21)-positive cell line, Kasumi-1, was used for constructing standard curves and the corrected AML1-MTG8 mRNA expression level relative to the expression of the GAPDH housekeeping gene was calculated. Bone marrow samples from 14 patients with t(8;21)-positive AML were sequentially examined. The corrected AML1-MTG8 expression level at diagnosis varied in the range from 0.4 to 2.7 (median, 1.5) among the patients. When samples at 1, 3 and 6 months were examined after diagnosis, the corrected AML1-MTG8 expression level was found to decrease sequentially in all but one. AML1-MTG8 fusion transcripts were also detected in four of eight samples from patients in remission for more than 1 year. In conclusion, real-time RT-PCR can provide a rapid and accurate quantification of AML1-MTG8 fusion transcripts. This system could be useful to reveal the prognostic relevance of minimal residual disease in t(8;21)-positive AML.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Monte Carlo simulation of gamma-ray response functions for a proportional counter used for neutron measurement

It is often required in neutron calibration fields to determine the dose of gamma-rays produced in a neutron source and in the surroundings, because some neutron detectors are sensitive both to neutrons and gamma-rays. As a first step estimating neutron and gamma-ray energy spectra and fluences simultaneously in a neutron field, the gamma-ray response function for a 3He proportional counter was calculated using EGS4/PRESTA code. In the simulation, the gas multiplication factor, which depends on the detection position in the gas region along an anode wire, was taken into account to obtain the precise response function. For comparison, we measured response functions using different reference gamma-ray sources such as 241Am, 137Cs, and 60Co, which were located vertically 55 mm away from the center of the anode wire. Calculated response functions agreed well with experimental ones. Monte Carlo code EGS4 is thus useful for the simulation of gamma response functions for neutron counters.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Sensitive determination of pentazocine in human tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The authors developed a simple, reliable and sensitive method for the determination of pentazocine in human solid tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography, combined with a three-step liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Levallorphan tartrate served as the internal standard. The extract was evaporated to dryness and dissolved in the mobile phase of acetonitrile/10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 4.0). The eluent was pumped at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min through a Spherisorb Ph (2.1 mm I.D. x 150 mm) column. A fluorescence detector with excitation at 247 nm and emission at 320 nm was used. The lower limit of detection was about 0.5 ng/g. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration ranges from 1 to 500 ng/g in each tissue examined and could be determined up to at least 10.0 microg/g by means of reduction of injected volumes. Using this method, the concentrations of pentazocine could be determined in the tissues of an autopsied individual for toxicological evaluation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Long-term outcome of acquired aplastic anaemia in children: comparison between immunosuppressive therapy and bone marrow transplantation.

A total of 100 children under the age of 17 years with acquired aplastic anaemia (AA) were initially treated with immunosuppressive therapy (IST) (n = 63) or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (n = 37) from an HLA-matched family donor. The projected 10-year survival rates were 55 +/- 8% and 97 +/- 3% respectively (P = 0.004). Because the IST group included 11 non-responders who were salvaged by BMT from an HLA-matched unrelated donor, we compared failure-free survival (FFS) between the groups. The probability of FFS at 10 years was 97 +/- 3% for the BMT group, compared with 40 +/- 8% for the IST group (P = 0.0001). Seven patients evolved to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with monosomy 7 and the estimated cumulative incidence of MDS 10 years after diagnosis was 20 +/- 7% in the IST group. We compared the outcome of children treated with IST during the two consecutive periods of 1983-91 (group A, n = 40) and 1991-8 (group B, n = 23) to assess the impact of combined therapy with antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin. The probability of FFS at 7 years follow-up was the same in the two groups (50 +/- 8% vs. 40 +/- 15%, P = 0.40). We recommend BMT as first-line therapy in paediatric severe AA patients with an HLA-matched family donor. Alternative donor BMT is recommended as salvage therapy in patients who relapse or do not respond to initial IST.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Absence of mutations in the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor gene in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukaemia occurring after treatment of aplastic anaemia with G-CSF.

The development of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukaemia (MDS/AML) has been reported in patients with aplastic anaemia (AA) after administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). Similarly, patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) have an increased risk of developing MDS/AML after treatment with rhG-CSF. Point mutations in the G-CSF receptor gene are found in about 20% of SCN patients who are predisposed to MDS/AML. We investigated the occurrence of mutations in the G-CSF receptor in eight patients with AA who developed MDS/AML. No mutations were detected around the cytoplasmic domain of the gene in our patients, indicating that the mechanisms of clonal evolution to MDS/AML in patients with AA might be different from those with SCN.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Factors associated with admission to a geriatric hospital in semisuburban southern Japan.

A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with admission to a geriatric hospital. Case studied were 13 Japanese elderly who were admitted to a geriatric hospital because their female caregivers had found it impossible to look after them at home. We used 35 pairs of elderly and female caregivers, who were receiving domiciliary visits by nurses, in the catchment area of the hospital. The present study revealed that elderly with dementia (vs without; Odds ratio = 6.69) and with moderately limited activities of daily living (Barthel Index 61 +) (vs severely limited activities of daily living: Barthel Index 0-60; Odds ratio = 6.62), caregivers being a daughter-in-law (vs other kinship; Odds ratio = 6.30), were risk factors.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

Compensatory coordination of release parameters in a throwing task.

The consistency and coordination of release parameters in ball-throwing movements were investigated. The authors used a newly developed index of coordination for release parameters (ICRP) that quantifies the degree of improvement of performance consistency caused by compensatory relationships among parameters (i.e., not caused by consistency of parameters). Eight participants practiced for 150 trials, with the nondominant hand, a ball-throwing task aimed at a stationary target. The magnitude of the ball-release velocity vector, among release parameters, as well as the performance was found to become consistent with practice. The ICRP score suggested that the release parameters were complementarily coordinated with one another, and that the coordination improved with practice. Those results indicate that compensatory relationships among varying release parameters contribute to reducing the variability of performance in a ball-throwing task whose goal is accuracy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Sensitive and selective determination of tetracaine and its metabolite in human samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and reliable method was developed for the determination of tetracaine and its metabolite, p-butylaminobenzoic acid, in human samples. Tetracaine and the metabolite, effectively extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure from 0.5 g of sample, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Tetracaine was analyzed without derivatization, and the metabolite was analyzed after tert-butylolimethylsilyl derivatization. Dibucaine and p-dimethylaminobenzoic acid were used as internal standards for tetracaine and the metabolite, respectively. The calibration curve for each compound was linear in the concentration range from 10 to 1,000 ng/0.5 g, and the lower limits of detection were 10 ng/g for tetracaine and 0.6 ng/g for the metabolite in whole blood and tissues. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated in whole blood and brain at the concentrations of 50 ng/0.5 g and 500 ng/0.5 g for tetracaine and 10 ng/0.5 g and 100 ng/0.5 g for the metabolite. The coefficients of variation ranged from 0.8 to 3.0% for tetracaine and 2.4 to 9.8% for the metabolite. We used this method to determine tetracaine and its metabolite in human whole blood and tissues of an autopsied patient who died during spinal anesthesia induced by tetracaine.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗
PubMed2000

Determination of azide in blood and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and simple method for determining azide in blood and urine using an extractive alkylation technique was devised. This inorganic anion was alkylated with pentafluorobenzyl bromide using tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride as the phase-transfer catalyst. 1,3,5-Tribromobenzene was used as an internal standard. The obtained derivative was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using the negative ion chemical ionization mode with isobutane as the reagent gas. The calibration curves for azide were linear over the concentration range from 1 to 200 nmol/mL in blood and urine, and the lower limit of detection was 0.5 nmol/mL for blood and urine. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated, and the coefficients of variation were found to be lower than 10%.

Forensic Medicine↗
PubMed2000

Expression of YAV proteins and vaccination against viral ascites among cultured juvenile yellowtail.

Yellowtail ascites virus (YAV) is a member of the family Birnaviridae and causes viral ascites among juvenile yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata). We have reported the cloning and expression of two viral cDNAs, the first being segment A encoding a polyprotein of viral capsid proteins (VP2 and VP3) and a protease (NS), and the second being VP2-epitope encoding serotype-specific epitope region on VP2, using a baculovirus expression system. Another viral cDNA encoding a polyprotein of NS and VP3 was cloned and expressed in this study. For the expression of NS/VP3 (YAV nt 1626 to 3066) in insect cells a 31-kDa protein, corresponding to VP3 was detected, indicating an appropriate posttranslational processing of NS/VP3 polypeptide by NS protease itself. The analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein showed that NS protease may cleave an Ala-Ser bond. A study of the potential for vaccination of yellowtail fry by injection of insect cell lysates infected with baculovirus, containing either cDNA of segment A, VP2-epitope, or NS/VP3 was undertaken. Only a vaccination with cell lysates infected with a recombinant virus carrying the full length of YAV segment A gene demonstrated approximately the same effect as that of inactivated YAV. This result suggested that all proteins VP2, VP3, and NS are required for an effective vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Immunohistochemical analysis of bronchial mucosa in severe asthmatics treated with long-term, high-dose inhaled BDP].

To analyze specific mucosal changes in asthmatic patients receiving long-term, high-dose beclomethazone dipropionate (BDP) inhalation therapy, we performed bronchial mucosal biopsies and immunohistochemical analysis of patients who had been treated with or without BDP-inhalation. Our study enrolled 6 chronic severe asthmatics who were treated with 1,800 micrograms/day or more of BDP with regular use for more than 3 years (HD-BDP group), 6 mild asthmatics who were not treated with BDP (non-BDP group), and 6 control subjects. Specimens of bronchial mucosa were stained with anti-EG 2 (eosinophils), anti-UCHLA-1 (T lymphocytes) and anti-tryptase (mast cells). Although limited eosinophil infiltration was observed in the HD-BDP and control groups, a significant increase was noted in the non-BDP group. The infiltration of both T lymphocytes and mast cells exhibited a statistically significant increase in the non-BDP group compared to the HD-BDP and control groups. In chronic severe asthmatics, airway mucosal cell infiltration was reduced by high-dose and long-term inhaled BDP therapy, and BDP also relieved their asthmatic symptoms. However, in mild asthmatics, bronchial mucosal cell infiltration remained high. For such patients, we concluded that initiating BDP therapy from an early stage may bring clinical improvement and help prevent cell infiltration.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2000

[Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with lung metastasis producing CA 19-9 and GM-CSF].

A 68-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital because of hoarseness, dysphagia and a mass on the right side of her neck. Chest radiographs showed multiple nodular shadows in both lung fields. Detailed investigations resulted in a diagnosis of multiple lung metastasis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma transformed from papillary adenocarcinoma. Both serum CA 19-9 and GM-CSF levels were elevated, to 70.5 U/ml (normal range: 0-37 U/ml) and 343.4 pg/ml (normal range: 0-8 pg/ml), respectively. Immunostaining disclosed that the primary and metastatic tumors were positive for CA 19-9, but not for GM-CSF antigens. Serum levels of these two parameters slowly decreased after chemo-radiotherapy, suggesting that the tumor may have produced GM-CSF as well as CA 19-9. Recent studies have indicated that the prognosis is poor for non-small cell lung cancers that produce G-CSF or CA 19-9. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma characterized by high serum levels of both CA 19-9 and GM-CSF, with metastasis to the lung and other organs.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗