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Biomedical subjects

K Murata

Publications and source records attributed to K Murata.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Participation in school sports clubs and related effects on cardiovascular risk factors in young males.

The effects of belonging to sports clubs on male high school students was evaluated. The relationships between the type and extent of school-based exercise were examined in conjunction with percent body fat, blood pressure (BP), and other key metabolic parameters. A total of 264 male Japanese high school students (age range: 17-18 years old) were studied. Percent body fat was measured and blood was collected in the fasting state during a routine health check. Subjects were divided into two groups. The exercise (E) group (n=150) included students who had belonged to a sports club during the past 2 years. The non-exercise (NE) group (n=114) included students who did not belong to a sports club during the past 2 years. The body mass index was significantly greater in group E (21.7 +/- 2.3 (SD) kg/m2) than in group NE (20.7 +/- 2.6 kg/m2, p < 0.01). However, the percent body fat in group E (13.6 +/- 3.4%) was significantly lower than that in group NE (14.9 +/- 3.8%, p < 0.01). The diastolic BP and heart rate in group E (64 +/- 7 mmHg, 70 +/- 11/min) were significantly lower in group E than in group NE (66 +/- 8 mmHg, p < 0.05; 76 +/- 14/min, p < 0.01). The serum triglyceride level was significantly lower, and the HDL cholesterol level was higher in group E than in group NE. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, used as an index of insulin resistance, was similar in the two groups. However, the level of the HOMA index was significantly lower among the 62 subjects in group E who preferred highly dynamic exercise (1.50 +/- 0.46) than it was among those in group NE (1.66 +/- 0.49, p < 0.05). Results indicate that belonging to sports clubs influences the BP and lipid profiles of adolescent males, as well as their percent body fat. In view of the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, it is recommended that even young males practice regular exercise, especially aerobic exercise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Bioelectrical impedance analysis in the clinical management of a pregnant woman undergoing dialysis.

We report a case of successful pregnancy in a woman who was initially diagnosed with renal failure in mid-pregnancy. She was started on hemodialysis, and her fluid balance was serially monitored with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Her body weight decreased and bioelectrical impedance values increased, along with resolution of pulmonary edema in the process of the removal of excessive fluid retention with hemodialysis. The bioelectrical impedance values decreased immediately after the usual dose of oral ritodrine was administered, partly because producing sodium and water retention by ritodrine were enhanced in the setting of fluid imbalances. This decrease preceded the onset of pulmonary edema, while no changes were noted in maternal body weight before hemodialysis. These results suggest that the serial measurement of bioelectrical impedance values enables more reliable and earlier detection of abnormal water retention in pregnant women undergoing dialysis than the effect of body weight changes.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Intracranial hypotension due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage detected by radioisotope cisternography.

Seven patients, six females and one male aged 26 to 39 years old, presented with headache in the upright posture, which was completely relieved in the recumbent posture. Radioisotope cisternography with technetium-99m-human serum albumin detected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage at the cervicothoracic level in six patients, and at the high cervical level in one patient. The diagnosis was intracranial hypotension due to spontaneous CSF leakage. Complete bed rest for more than 2 weeks resulted in complete resolution of the headache in all patients, and follow-up cisternography showed no leakage. Radioisotope cisternography is useful for the diagnosis of spontaneous CSF leakage, and complete bed rest for more than 2 weeks may be the best method of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Does job stress affect injury due to labor accident in Japanese male and female blue-collar workers?

To clarify whether job stressors affecting injury due to labor accidents differ between Japanese male and female blue-collar workers, the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), assessing dimensions of job stressors based on the demand-control-support model, was applied to 139 blue-collar workers in a manufacturing factory. Of them, 24 male and 15 female workers suffered from injuries at work. In the female workers with the experience of work injury, the job demand score and job strain index (i.e., the ratio of job demand to job control) of the JCQ were significantly higher and the score of coworker support was significantly lower, than those in the female workers without the experience. High job demand (or, high job strain and low coworker support) was significantly related to work injury in all the female workers. Between the male workers with and without work injury, however, there was no significant difference in any job stressors. This pilot study suggests that high job strain (specifically, high job demand), as well as low coworker support, are important factors affecting work injury in Japanese female blue-collar workers. Further research with a large number of male blue-collar workers will be required to seek other factors that may be associated with work injury.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2000

[Reliability of electrogustatory threshold--electrogustometry using CNV].

CNV (contingent negative variation), an event-related potential, is induced when an oncoming imperative stimulus (S2) is anticipated after recognition of a warning stimulus (S1). With this in mind, we assessed the usefulness of electrogustometry using CNV as an objective gustatory test with an electric gustatory stimulus as a warning stimulus, S1. A gustatory test was performed on a total of 100 sides of the tongue in 50 subjects. Excluding no response cases on 5 sides in 5 subjects, the CNV threshold was successfully determined on 95 sides in 50 subjects. When the CNV threshold values obtained and the conventionally measured subjective threshold values were compared, a very high correlation was demonstrated between the two thresholds, with a correlation coefficient of 0.961. To assess the reliability of the CNV threshold, three additional measurements on 5 sides in 5 subjects with normal subjective threshold values were performed on different days, and the CNV threshold value variation among the three measurements in all 5 subjects never exceeded 13 microA. Separately, subjective threshold and CNV threshold values were compared in 4 patients with facial palsy (hence with gustatory abnormality) who consented to a follow-up examination. The difference between the subjective threshold and CNV threshold values in all 4 patients never exceeded 10 microA. These findings demonstrate that the reliability of the CNV threshold is satisfactory. Next, a gustatory imitation experiment was performed to assess the usefulness of electrogustometry using CNV as a means of detecting gustatory abnormality malingering. The experiment was performed on a total of 6 subjects: 3 physicians with knowledge of CNV (knowledge group) and 3 others with no knowledge of CNV (no-knowledge group). The differences between the imitated threshold and the subjective threshold values in all of these subjects never exceeded 10 microA, and the difference between imitated threshold and CNV threshold values never exceeded 13 microA. Comparison between the knowledge group and the no-knowledge groups showed that the imitated threshold values were very close to the subjective threshold and CNV threshold values. Based on the above results, it was concluded that gustometry using CNV is useful and can serve well as a method of objective evaluation of gustatory sensation. The results also suggested that it will be useful in diagnosing malingering.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[A clinical study of the nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve in seven patients].

Nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerves (NRILNs) are generally discovered during thyroid or parathyroid gland surgery. If the presence of the NRILN is unknown, nerve injury can easily occur during surgery. Here we report seven cases of NRILN, describe how to identify a NRILN, and discuss whether preoperative or postoperative examination is necessary. Between October 1998 and March 2000, we performed cervicotomy in 1889 patients for thyroid and parathyroid disease and identified a NRILN in 7 of them (0.37%). A NRILN was found in 7 of 903 patients (0.78%) on the right side but in none of 855 patients on the left. The NRILN branched off the vagus nerve at the level of the upper or middle third of the thyroid in 5 patients, and in the other 2 patients branched off the vagus nerve at the level of the lower third of the thyroid. We had not predicted the presence of NRILN before surgery in any of these 7 NRILN patients. Clinically, three patients with NRILN had mild dysphagia and the sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Three patients had abnormal chest X-ray findings showing a linear aortic arch shadow, a sign regarded as evidence of arteria lusoria. Three patients underwent MR angiography, and an aberrant right subclavicular artery was identified. Surgery was performed safely, and no postoperative vocal cord palsy occurred in any of the seven NRILN patients. It is to some extent possible to predict the presence or absence of NRILN by routine diagnostic examinations before surgery for thyroid and parathyroid disease. We emphasize that digital subtraction angiography, MR angiography, or barium esophagography is not necessary for all patients before surgery, since NRILN is a relatively rare anomaly, and such examinations are either invasive or not cost-effective. When a NRILN has been identified during surgery, there is no need to examine for the presence of a vascular anomaly: Its presence is a matter of course. Surgery must be performed however, with knowledge of the possibility of a NRILN.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2000

[Fatty degeneration of the parotid gland after ovariectomy].

We investigated the influence of ovariectomy on the salivary glands. Thirty-six rats received ovariectomies at the age of 15 weeks, and removal of parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands at the ages of 18, 21, 25, 27, 33, and 39 weeks. The weight of each gland and the total body were measured. Histological examinations noted the point of fatty degeneration. Twelve female rats were used as controls, each gland being observed at the age of 19, 28, and 41 weeks. Body weights of the ovariectomized rats were greater than those of the controls, but neither the weights of the parotid gland nor the submandiblar-sublingual gland were different. Fatty degeneration was observed only in the parotid glands and it increased gradually. There was no change in the parotid gland of the control group. The ratio of the area of fatty tissue showed a statistically significant increase over time. These results suggest that the parotid gland requires ovarian hormone to maintain its tissue.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

Expression of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V in colorectal cancer correlates with metastasis and poor prognosis.

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) is an enzyme that catalyzes beta 1-6 branching of N-acetylglucosamine on asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of cell proteins. Metastatic potential of various cancer cells has been shown to correlate with increase of GnT-V activity and concomitant beta 1-6 branching of N-acetylglucosamine. However, protein expression of GnT-V in human cancer tissue and its clinical significance have not yet been demonstrated. To clarify the possible relationship between metastasis and GnT-V in human colorectal cancer, protein expression of GnT-V was studied using surgically resected specimens. We established a monoclonal antibody against GnT-V and performed immunohistochemical analysis of 103 human colorectal cancer cases. Of 103 cases, 26 cases (25.2 %) showed specific expression of GnT-V in colorectal cancer tissues. The expression of GnT-V was significantly correlated with distant metastasis (P < 0.05, chi2 test). Overall 5-year survival rate was 52.8% for GnT-V-positive patients and 81.7% for GnT-V-negative patients (P < 0.01, Log-rank test). We showed direct evidence for the relationship between GnT-V and metastasis in human colorectal cancer. Screening of GnT-V expression in colorectal cancer may provide useful information for prognosis of postoperative patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

"Malignant struma ovarii" with peritoneal metastasis: report of two cases.

Malignant struma ovarii with metastasis in an extremely rare form of ovarian carcinoma. We describe two cases of malignant struma ovarii that demonstrated widespread peritoneal metastases. In the second case described here, furthermore, the tumor recurred II years later in the contralateral ovary and omentum, while the primary tumor previously was pure struma ovarii with no evidence of metastasis. Although thyroid tumors themselves are characterized by a long latent interval, patients with benign thyroid tissue arising in nonthyroidal organs with or even without dissemination should be managed with caution and need appropriate long-term follow-up after the initial surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Liposarcoma of the uterine cervix: case report.

A case of primary liposarcoma of the cervix is described in a 49-year-old woman with a fungating cervical mass which was diagnosed as liposarcoma on the basis of cytologic features and the intracellular lipids. Most of the adipocytes and vacuolated lipoblasts were positive for S- 100 protein. The mass was well circumscribed and limited to the superficial cervical stroma. A total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. There was no clinical evidence of metastasis two years after the operation.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Recovery of hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with severe aplastic anemia who obtained good clinical response with a combination therapy of immunosuppressive agents and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Seventeen patients with newly diagnosed acquired severe aplastic anemia were treated with a combination of immunosuppressive drugs consisting of anti-lymphocyte or anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporin A (CyA), methylprednisolone, and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Fourteen (82%) of the 17 patients achieved good response (GR), and 3 (18%) had no response. Among the 14 GR patients, 5 (36%) later evolved clonal diseases, 1 developed myelodysplastic syndrome, and 4 developed paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) and erythrocyte burst-forming units were markedly low or absent in all cases before therapy. After therapy, those numbers in 13 patients among 14 responders recovered to the level of the normal control at the time of GR. However, the CFU-GM number substantially declined after that but gradually recovered again to reach a normal level over longer clinical courses. The positive rate for HLA-DRB1*1501 was 60% (3/5) among 5 CyA-dependent patients, which tended to be higher than the 20% (1/5) among 5 CyA-independent patients. Thus, immunosuppressive therapy combined with G-CSF provides a high rate of good hematological response accompanied by the apparent recovery of the hematopoietic progenitor compartments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Kinetics of serum cytokines after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: interleukin-5 as a potential marker of acute graft-versus-host disease.

Cytokine levels in sera from 14 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT) or donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) were sequentially measured to evaluate the roles of cytokines in clinical graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In clinical courses, interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among the evaluable cases, 6 patients developed acute GVHD. Serum IL-5 levels increased to more than 100 pg/mL in 5 of the 6 patients before, or simultaneously with, the clinical manifestation of acute GVHD. Elevation of IL-5 was transient in 3 patients. In the other 2 patients who showed regimen-related toxicity and/or thrombotic microangiopathy as well as acute GVHD, remarkable and sustained elevation of the serum IL-5 level was observed. In 7 patients without acute GVHD, IL-5 levels remained below 100 pg/mL. An association of acute GVHD was less prominent with TNF-alpha than with IL-5 in our study. Elevation of IL-6 was associated with infections. In 2 patients with severe extensive chronic GVHD, serum IL-10 was elevated in parallel with exacerbation of clinical symptoms. Our findings suggest that an elevated serum IL-5 level may be a marker of acute GVHD.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Antifungal activity of plant extracts against Arthrinium sacchari and Chaetomium funicola.

Various plant extracts were examined for antifungal activity with the objective of improving the commercial sterility of aseptically filled tea beverage products in PET bottles. When the hot water extract and the methanol extract of 29 samples were measured for their antifungal activity against Arthrinium sacchari M001 and Chaetomium funicola M002 strains, five samples, Acer nikoense, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Psidium guajava and Thea sinensis, showed high activity. Of these, the extracts from A. nikoense, G. glabra and T. sinensis were fractionated by extraction with CHCl3, and the CHCl3-soluble fractions from G. glabra showed antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 62.5 and 125 microg/ml against the above-mentioned two fungi. When the EtOAc-soluble fraction of A. nikoense was used, the MIC against A. sacchari M001 was 62.5 microg/ml. However, none of the fractions from A. nikoense or T. sinensis showed high activity against C. funicola M002 and their MICs were greater than 500 microg/ml. A licorice preparation made from the commercially available oil-based extract of G. glabra showed a low MIC of 25 microg/ml against five tested strains of filamentous fungi, but not against Aspergillus fumigatus M008, in a blended tea. Consequently, the possibility of adding a licorice preparation made from the oil-based extract of G. glabra to tea beverages (aseptically filled into PET bottles) was suggested.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

The structure of aquaporin-1 at 4.5-A resolution reveals short alpha-helices in the center of the monomer.

Aquaporin-1 is a water channel found in mammalian red blood cells that is responsible for high water permeability of its membrane. Our electron crystallographic analysis of the three-dimensional structure of aquaporin-1 at 4.5-A resolution confirms the previous finding that each subunit consists of a right-handed bundle of six highly tilted transmembrane helices that surround a central X-shaped structure. In our new potential map, the rod-like densities for the transmembrane helices show helically arranged protrusions, indicating the positions of side chains. Thus, in addition to the six transmembrane helices, observation of helically arranged side-chain densities allowed the identification of two short alpha-helices representing the two branches of the central X-shaped structure that extend to the extracellular and cytoplasmic membrane surfaces. The other two branches are believed to be loops connecting the short alpha-helix to a neighboring transmembrane helix. A pore found close to the center of the aquaporin-1 monomer is suggested to be the course of water flow with implications for the water selectivity.

Aquaporin 1↗
PubMed1999

Potentiation by febrifugine of host defense in mice against Plasmodium berghei NK65.

The effect of febrifugine, the main alkaloidal constituent of an antimalarial crude drug, Dichroa febrifuga Lour., on protective immunity in mice infected with erythrocytic stage Plasmodium berghei NK65 was investigated. Febrifugine was administered orally, at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day, to mice before and/or after they were infected intraperitoneally with 2 x 10(6) parasitized red blood cells. Then, mortality and the levels of parasitemia and plasma NO3- [a degradation product of nitric oxide (NO)] were monitored. Febrifugine significantly reduced the mortality and the level of parasitemia. The plasma NO3- concentration began to rise within 2 days after treatment with febrifugine and declined to normal in 2 days when the mice were treated orally with febrifugine once a day for 3 consecutive days before parasite infection. This antimalarial activity of febrifugine was reduced by both N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine and aminoguanidine. These results indicate that the increased production of NO by febrifugine plays an important role in host defense against malaria infection in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase of Bacillus sp. GL1: novel enzyme prerequisite for metabolism of unsaturated oligosaccharides produced by polysaccharide lyases.

The bacterium Bacillus sp. GL1 assimilates two kinds of heteropolysaccharides, gellan and xanthan, by using extracellular gellan and xanthan lyases, respectively, and produces unsaturated saccharides as the first degradation products. A novel unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase (glycuronidase), which was induced in the bacterial cells grown on either gellan or xanthan, was found to act on the tetrasaccharide of unsaturated glucuronyl-glucosyl-rhamnosyl-glucose produced from gellan by gellan lyase, and the enzyme and its gene were isolated from gellan-grown cells. The nucleotide sequence showed that the gene contained an ORF consisting of 1131 base pairs coding a polypeptide with a molecular weight of 42,859. The purified enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 42 kDa and was most active at pH 6.0 and 45 degrees C. Because the enzyme can act not only on the gellan-degrading product by gellan lyase, but also on unsaturated chondroitin and hyaluronate disaccharides produced by chondroitin and hyaluronate lyases, respectively, it is considered that the unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase plays specific and ubiquitous roles in the degradation of oligosaccharides with unsaturated uronic acid at the nonreducing terminal produced by polysaccharide lyases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗