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Biomedical subjects

K Morimoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Morimoto.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Alteration of leukotriene C4 levels in experimental spinal cord injury].

Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production in the guinea pig spinal cord following compression injury was determined by radioimmunoassay, in the same way thromboxane B2 (TXB2), a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), was also measured. When the spinal cords were compressed under a 20 gram weight for 10 minutes, LTC4 levels reached peak values (2.2 +/- 0.4 pmol/g cord) 10 minutes after release, then gradually decreased until being undetectable 60 minutes later. TXB2 levels reached peak values (146.8 +/- 6.2 pmol/g cord) 5 minutes after the release from compression, the TXB2 level then gradually decreased, but remained at about 1/2 of the peak level even 60 minutes after the release. When the spinal cords were compressed with various weights, TXB2 production depended on the degree of compression, while LTC4 production was not affected by the compression injury. The LTC4 production confirmed in the injured spinal cords is suggestive of its relation to secondary disorders after spinal cord injury, spinal edema, in particular.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Bone metastases in breast cancer and its risk factor--follow up study by bone scintigraphy].

Breast cancer is considered to often involve bone metastasis. Early detection and treatment of bone metastasis are essential in improving the prognosis of this disease. In 47 patients with bone metastasis confirmed with bone scintigraphy, we examined the appearance time of bone metastasis; bone metastasis was frequently observed with the progress of stage, but no association with the appearance time was found. Age was not associated with the incidence of bone metastasis but was found to be closely related to its appearance time. That is to say, patients with breast cancer below 40 years of age showed relatively early bone metastasis. Bone scintigraphy is required every 6 months at least for 3 years after the operation. In patients over 40 years of age, on the other hand, bone scintigraphy is required only once a year but has to be continued for 5 years or more, because they often show relatively late bone metastasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The study on the degradation of prostacyclin activity in tissue culture supernatant of human placental villi].

To clarify the role of placental villi in maintaining microcirculation in the placenta, we investigated the action to protect the activity of prostacyclin in the tissue culture supernatant of human placental villi. 1. The platelet aggregation inhibiting activity of prostacyclin was decreased very rapidly in Ringer buffer. 2. The tissue culture supernatant of human placental villi has an action which protects the activity of prostacyclin. On the other hand, in the tissue culture supernatant of human placental decidua no such action is prominent. 3. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) also has an action which protects the activity of prostacyclin. These results indicated that human placental villi play an important role in maintaining placental microcirculation by producing substances which have a protective on the activity of prostacyclin.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1991

[Cefepime in the treatment of patients with surgical infections].

Between March 1988 and June 1990, we gave cefepime to 5 subjects after surgery and studied the pharmacokinetics of the drug. In the same period, we treated 23 patients with surgical infections with the same drug and evaluated its clinical efficacy. In the pharmacokinetic study, 1 g was given intravenously to each individual over a 30 minutes period. The peak levels in the plasma, 59.9-118 micrograms/ml, were obtained at around the end of this time. The peak levels in the bile, 7.1-28.2 micrograms/ml, were reached at 1-5 hours after administration, depending on the patient. At hours 5 and 6, the range of plasma concentration was 3.7-12.3 micrograms/ml. In the 22 patients with surgical infections, clinical efficacy of the drug was excellent in 12, good in 5, fair in 1, and poor in 4, with an overall efficacy rate of 77%. The bacteriological response was evaluated in the 16 patients for whom the species of the probable causative organisms were identified. Those bacteria were eradicated in 10 patients, decreased in 3, and were persisted in 3, with an eradication rate of 63%. Against 5 strains of Escherichia coli isolated, the highest MIC was 0.05 micrograms/ml, and against 2 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated, the MIC was 1.56 micrograms/ml, so this drug should be highly effective toward these species. Three strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated, one of which was resistant to methicillin. It was not eradicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Age-related changes in various hemopoietic progenitor cells in senescence-accelerated (SAM-P) mice.

The effect of aging process on the hemopoietic system in senescence-accelerated (SAM-P) mice with respect to numbers of hemopoietic progenitor cells was investigated. The numbers of femoral granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (CFU-GM), mast cell progenitors (mast colony-forming units, CFU-Mast), erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E), and erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) in old mice (30-35 weeks old) decreased to 96%, 81%, 83%, and 87% of those of young mice (8-12 weeks old), respectively. The numbers of femoral fibroblast colony-forming cells (CFU-F) in old mice increased to 315% of those of young mice. The numbers of splenic CFU-GM, CFU-Mast, BFU-E, and CFU-E in old mice decreased to 7%, 43%, 25%, and 40% of those of young mice, respectively. In contrast, significant changes in these progenitor cells were not observed in the bone marrow. These findings suggest that the effect of the aging process on hemopoietic tissues in SAM-P mice is predominantly in the spleen.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

[Extremely low birth-weight infant with hydrocephalus; management of hydrocephalus using a miniature Ommaya's reservoir].

Use of the miniature Ommaya's reservoir in the treatment of extremely low birth-infant (under 1,000 mg) with hydrocephalus was studied in a series of five patients. The reservoir has a small-caliber with a 3 cm ventricular catheter. For these infants, this miniature Ommaya's reservoir is extremely useful for protection of the cortical mantle until a definitive procedure can be carried out after increase of body weight. The clinical course in five cases are summarized.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical study on fleroxacin in surgical infections].

We conducted clinical studies on fleroxacin (FLRX), a new pyridone carboxylic acid derivative, for the treatment of periproctal abscess, secondary infections (due to wounds, burns or surgical operations), mastitis or areolitis and others with once daily dose of 200 mg or 300 mg. We obtained the following results. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in total 27 cases including periproctal abscess 11, secondary infection 8, mastitis or areolitis 6, phlegmon 1 and infected atheroma 1. Clinical efficacies were rated as excellent in 14, good in 9, fair in 4 cases. The overall efficacy rate was 85.2%. Bacteriological studies identified 14 strains of aerobic Gram-positive organisms, 12 of aerobic Gram-negative organisms and 6 of anaerobic organisms. The overall bacteriological efficacies were: eradicated in 26 strains, unchanged 2 and unidentified 4, hence the eradication rate was 92.9%. As for side effects, anorexia and nausea were observed in one of the 27 cases. In clinical laboratory tests, slight elevations of GPT and BUN were observed in 1 case each. We consider FLRX to be a useful antimicrobial agent at once daily dose for surgical infections.

Abscess↗
PubMed1991

[An autopsy case of adult T-cell leukemia complicated with metastatic calcification of the lung].

46-year-old male patient was born in Niigata Prefecture and thereafter lived in Tokyo. In late January 1985, he noticed swelling of the bilateral inguinal lymph-nodes followed by fever and lumbago. In February, he consulted a local doctor and hepatosplenomegaly, marked leukocytosis and renal dysfunction were pointed out and he was referred to our hospital on February 22nd. The clinical laboratory data on admission were as follows; WBC 23,200/microliter, serum-Ca 18.4 mg/dl, BUN 85.3 mg/dl, creatinine 5.4 mg/dl, antibody to ATLV x160. ATL was diagnosed by biopsy of lymph nodes and examinations of peripheral blood and bone marrow hemogram. Remission was achieved in March by the treatment with adriacin. Renal failure and hypercalcemia also improved. However his respiratory dysfunction gradually worsened. The chest radiographies++ showed pulmonary edema, although there was no clinical evidence of heart failure. When his condition became stable, TBLB was performed and revealed extensive deposition of calcium along alveolar septae, suggesting that pulmonary edema was induced by the metastatic calcification of the lung. After the second treatment for ATL, he died of pneumonia. The autopsy showed calcium deposition not only in the lung but in pyramids of the kidney and in sub-serous layer of the small intestine. There was no tumor cell invasion into the bone or parathyroid gland. High urinary c-AMP together with normal levels of PTH suggested that the hypercalcemia in this case was induced by PTH-related protein. It was concluded that careful treatment for hypercalcemia is important as regards the occurrence of pulmonary edema.

Calcinosis↗
PubMed1991

[The role of vitamin E during pregnancy--anti-platelet aggregation activity of alpha-tocopherol].

To clarify the role of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) during pregnancy, we mainly investigated the relation between platelet function and vitamin E and obtained the following results. 1. The concentration of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in plasma and platelet increased gradually during pregnancy. The concentration of vitamin E in plasma was 6.65 micrograms/ml in non pregnant women and 15.5 micrograms/ml in full term pregnant women. And the concentration of vitamin E in platelet was 99 micrograms/g protein in non pregnant women and 244 micrograms/g protein in full term pregnant women. 2. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and PAF(platelet activating factor). At a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml vitamin E almost completely inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and PAF. 3. There exists a strong platelet aggregation inhibiting activity in human placental brush border membrane vesicles. At a protein concentration of 20 micrograms/ml the brush border membrane vesicles almost completely inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and PAF. 4. With the co-existence of the brush border membrane vesicles, the platelet aggregation inhibiting activity of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) increased prominently. These results indicate that vitamin E plays an important role in the regulation of platelet function and might contribute to the maintenance of placental microcirculation by inhibiting platelet aggregation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Diagnosis and quantitative evaluation of secundum-type atrial septal defect by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography.

Transesophageal echocardiography (horizontal sector scan) was performed in 11 patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). In all 11 patients, transesophageal echocardiography presented the definite visualization of the defect and a clear laminar shunt flow that showed its 2 peaks in late systole and late diastole. We estimated the size of ASD and a shunt volume across the defect by using transesophageal echocardiography. The defect size determined by transesophageal echocardiography was correlated with the surgical measurement (horizontal width, r = 0.92, p less than 0.001; vertical length, r = 0.85, p less than 0.01). A significant high correlation was shown between the shunt volume measured by transesophageal echocardiography and that by Fick's method (r = 0.87, p less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation between the pulmonary to systemic flow volume (ratio) and the mean shunt flow velocity across ASD, although a high linear correlation was observed between the pulmonary to systemic flow ratio and the defect size in horizontal direction (r = 0.82, p less than 0.01). Transesophageal echocardiography used for diagnosis and quantitative evaluation of ASD could be performed easily and satisfactorily within 10 minutes. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography is a useful method in evaluation of the defect size and the shunt flow volume of ASD. The mean shunt flow velocity was not a reliable index for estimating the shunt flow volume. The defect size might be a valuable determinant of left-to-right shunt volume in ASD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Stereoscopic MR angiography of the abdomen].

We have developed a new method of stereoscopic MR angiography of the abdomen using gradient echo images. Consecutive coronal scanning of the abdomen was performed by fast scan during breath hold. These images were overlapped by means of MR angiography. Then two slightly different views that can give a true stereoscopic effect were constructed. The more precise spatial relationship of the abdominal vessels can be visualized with our new method.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1990

Colony promoting activity: differences from interleukin-3 and similarities to interleukin-6.

The supernatant of long-term bone marrow culture contains colony promoting activity (CPA) which does not have granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating activity (CSF) but which enhances granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony formation in the presence of CSF. CPA might consist of IL-3 or IL-3-like activity, since CPA stimulates proliferation and differentiation of more immature cells to CSF-responding granulocytes-macrophage progenitors (GM-CFC), and since IL-3 also stimulates immature hemopoietic cells to proliferate and differentiate to functional blood cells. IL-1 and IL-6 are also known to enhance GM colony formation. One or both of these molecules can accordingly be another candidate for CPA. In the present study, GM-CSF activity of IL-3 was dependent on the batch of serum: it was negative in the presence of fetal calf serum, but positive in the presence of horse serum. In contrast, GM-CSF and CPA showed no such dependence on the batch of serum. The addition of IL-3 to GM colony assay system did not enhance but rather suppressed GM colony formation. The supernatant of long-term bone marrow culture which contains substantial levels of CPA did not stimulate proliferation of IL-3 dependent DA-1 cells, but facilitated the proliferation of IL-6 dependent, MH60.BSF2 cells. No detectable level of IL-1 activity was found in the supernatant. These results indicate that CPA is different from IL-1, IL-3 or GM-CSF, but similar to or the same as IL-6.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

An analysis of anticonvulsant actions of GABA agonists (progabide and baclofen) in the kindling model of epilepsy.

The anticonvulsant action of progabide, an agonist of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A and GABAB receptors, was investigated in the kindling model of epilepsy in rats. Progabide shortened afterdischarge durations and attenuated the severity of the accompanying convulsive responses in previously kindled rats from the amygdala (AM), frontal cortex (FC), ventral and dorsal hippocampus (HIPP), in a dose-dependent manner. Although progabide was less effective in the dorsal HIPP kindled seizures, the efficacy was potent in AM, FC and ventral HIPP kindled seizures. On the other hand, the anticonvulsant action of baclofen, a selective agonist of GABAB receptors, was relatively weak in terms of the measurement of the afterdischarge duration of AM and HIPP kindled seizures even at toxic doses, compared with progabide. In addition, the anticonvulsant effects of progabide were partially reversed by treatment with the antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors, Ro 15-1788, whereas Ro 15-1788 administration alone did not alter AM kindled seizures. We concluded that the action of progabide may be mediated via the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex. These results support the hypothesis that a failure of GABAA-mediated inhibition is one of the bases of induction and generalization of seizures.

Animals↗