Biomedical subjects

K Ogata

Publications and source records attributed to K Ogata.

706 records · Page 40Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The intra-articular effect of various postoperative managements following knee ligament repair: an experimental study in dogs.

The intra-articular changes in dog knees were studied following repair of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments under various postoperative managements: early mobilization, immobilization for 6 weeks in a plaster cast, and limited mobilization for 4 weeks in a cast-brace. The animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks after operation and osteoarthritic changes were graded according to the system described by Mankin et al. The osteoarthritic changes of the knee joints in the mobilized group were significantly less than those in the immobilized and in the cast-brace groups. Medial collateral ligaments were found well healed in most animals; however, anterior cruciate ligaments showed poor healing in the animals treated with early unlimited motion. Postoperative immobilization for more than 6 weeks causes considerable damage to the articular cartilage while early unlimited motion appears to compromise healing of the anterior cruciate ligaments.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Infectious complications in infant heart transplantation.

Previously we reported that the rate of mild to moderate infections and upper respiratory infections in infants who undergo transplantation under 1 year of age was the same as that of the general population. Despite this, serious infections continue to be one of the major complications in the first 3 to 4 months after heart transplantation. Among newborns and infants at Loma Linda University Medical Center, there have been 35 deaths from various causes: six (17%) were the result of infectious causes, three were in the early perioperative period, and three were late complications. There were no deaths caused directly by cytomegalovirus. From 1989 to 1992, 128 under 1 year of age underwent transplantation. Of these, 65 had at least one episode of serious infection ranging from bacterial meningitis to viral pneumonia. Of these infants, 19 had cytomegalovirus infections, with the vast majority having symptoms in the first 2 to 3 months after transplantation. Eight infants had Pneumocystis pneumonia and were treated successfully. The risk of cytomegalovirus is highest in the first 4 to 8 weeks after transplantation and in a seronegative recipient who has received an organ from a seropositive donor. Currently, our protocol to reduce the likelihood of active disease includes the use of intravenous immunoglobulin immediately after transplantation and during rejection episodes that are treated with aggressive immunosuppression and the use of oral acyclovir for the first 3 months after transplantation. If active disease develops, ganciclovir is initiated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heart Transplantation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prolonged artificial liver support in a child with fulminant hepatic failure.

In Japan, liver transplantation from brain dead donors has not yet started. The authors present the first report of a clinical experience with a child with fulminant hepatic failure in whom the combined treatment of plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration using a high-performance polymethylmethacrylate membrane was used successfully to sustain life for a period of as long as 54 days before liver transplantation from a living donor could be performed. The combination of plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration appeared to maintain blood coagulation and level of consciousness effectively. Although the combined use of plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration is still unsatisfactory as an artificial liver support, the authors suggest that this technique may be useful to support the life of a child who awaits liver transplantation.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bcl-2 expression as a predictor of chemosensitivities and survival in small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The bcl-2 gene belongs to a new category of oncogene that inhibits programmed cell death (apoptosis). No data are available on the frequency or clinical importance of its expression in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), although its expression is reported in SCLC cell lines. We investigated the correlation between bcl-2 expression and prognosis, including response to chemotherapy, in SCLC patients and report our findings here. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor specimens biopsied bronchoscopically in 38 SCLC patients were used for immunohistochemical study. Bcl-2 oncoprotein was detected by obtaining an immunostain using a specific monoclonal antibody, DAKO-bcl-2, 124. All patients received more than two courses of chemotherapy with 3- to 4-week intervals. RESULTS: We detected bcl-2 expression in 21 of the 38 SCLC patients (55%). In 17 patients with bcl-2-negative tumors, the objective response to chemotherapy was 76% with 12% complete response and in 21 patients with bcl-2-positive tumors it was 62% with 8% complete response. The difference in response rate was not significant. In patients with bcl-2-positive tumors, survival time tended to be shorter than in those with bcl-2-negative tumors. There was no significant correlation between bcl-2 expression and clinical factors (gender, age, smoking, performance score, staging). CONCLUSIONS: In 21 of the 38 SCLC patients bcl-2 oncoprotein was abnormally expressed and its expression may be associated with shorter survival times and poor response to chemotherapy.

Adult↗