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Biomedical subjects

K Okamoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Okamoto.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Serum alpha 1-antichimotrypsin levels and cardiovascular risk factors in the Japanese elderly population.

In recent years, an elevated serum alpha 1-antichimotrypsin (ACT) levels is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer-type dementia. The relationship between ACT and conventional various cardiovascular risk factors were studied using 589 noninstitutionalized individuals aged 65 and older living in the community in Japan. Serum ACT levels had no significantly differences between men and women, and had no significantly association with age in both sexes. Serum ACT levels had no statistically significant associated with body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both sexes. There were no significant differences in mean of serum ACT levels between in subjects with prevalent and subclinical cardiovascular disease and in those who were free of disease. A prospective study design is needed to clarify the relation between ACT and the development of Alzheimer-type dementia.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1998

Serum of Behçet's disease enhances superoxide production of normal neutrophils.

Using an MCLA-dependent chemiluminescence technique, we evaluated superoxide production by neutrophils isolated from 7 patients with Behçet's disease. After stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or opsonized zymosan, neutrophils from the patients produced significantly more superoxide than those from 20 controls. Pretreatment of control neutrophils with serum prominently enhanced superoxide production, and serum from Behçet's disease patients had a significantly greater effect than that from controls. These findings suggest that serum from patients with Behçet disease contains the priming factor(s) that can enhance enhanced superoxide production by neutrophils in response to stimulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Relation between atherosclerotic risk factors and abdominal wall fat thickness].

We used ultrasonography to assess the accumulation of visceral fat and its relation to known risk factors for atherosclerotic disease, and examined its relation with atherotic changes in the common carotid artery. The subjects were 315 consecutive inpatients (173 men, 142 women; mean age, 68.3 years) hospitalized during a 21-month period. Those with a history of epigastric surgery or nutrition disorders that might affect fat thickness were excluded. A 7.5-MHz transducer was used to evaluate the maximum thickness of preperitoneal fat (Pmax) at the anterior surface of the liver, and the minimum thickness of subcutaneous fat (Smin) of the abdomen. The fat/height ratio was calculated. Age, gender, smoking status, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index ((total cholesterol-HDL-cholesterol)/HDL-cholesterol), blood sugar, serum insulin, and uric acid were examined as confounders. Pmax/height was found to be related to systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, and was positively associated with the thickness of the common carotid arterial wall. Pmax/height may be a useful means to evaluate known risk factors for atherosclerotic disease.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1998

[Effect of warm bathing on blood pressure in bedridden patients].

The effects of warm bathing on short-term and circadian rhythms for blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (PR), and endocrine function were studied in 10 bed-ridden patients (5 men and 5 women; age 78.9 +/- 10.5 years old) hospitalized in Nomura Municipal Hospital. The results indicated a transient elevation of BP with bathing and its rapid fall after bathing. Compared with the days when patients did not take bath, systolic BP was significantly lower for 12 to 16 hours (p < 0.005) after bathing and diastolic BP was also significantly lower during 8 to 12 hours (p < 0.01), 12 to 16 hours (p < 0.001) and 20 to 24 hours (p < 0.001). The PR was significantly higher from 0 to 4 hours after bathing (p < 0.01), but became significantly lower during 8 to 12 hours (p < 0.001) and 12 to 16 hours (p < 0.001). Plasma renin activity increased significantly after bathing (p < 0.05). Thus, the effects of bathing in lowering BP of bedridden patients in stable condition may continue for several hours after bathing.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

A case of cervical myelopathy with developmental canal stenosis at the level of the atlas. A case report.

The craniocervical junction is one of the most common sites of malformations. Only three cases of myelopathy due to hypoplasia of atlas have been reported previously. Among these malformations, the hypoplasia of atlas was first described by Wackenheim in 1974. Although developmental canal stenosis due to the hypoplasia of atlas seems to have a tendency of causing the cervical myelopathy, only three cases of cervical myelopathy due to this condition have been reported previously. A 77-year-old man with severe canal stenosis at the level of the atlas is reported. The clinical manifestations were 20-year history of progressive gait disturbance and paresis of both upper and lower extremities. The spinal cord was markedly compressed at the level of the atlas. The clinical manifestations improved after a resection of posterior arch of the atlas.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

An alpha2-macroglobulin-serine proteinase complex from human carcinomatous ascites and pleural effusion: isolation, monoclonal antibody preparation, and immunohistochemical study.

A protein with the apparent molecular mass of 720 kDa which hydrolyzes anilide substrates of p-guanidino-L-phenylalanine was purified from ascites and pleural effusion of patients with pulmonary, breast, gastric, and ovarian cancers by chromatographic techniques. When this protein was separated on SDS-PAGE on nonreducing conditions, two bands corresponding to 720 and 360 kDa were seen to have gelatin-digestive activity in zymography assay. Moreover, when it separated by SDS-PAGE on reducing conditions, it migrated as several bands up to 180 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence and immunoreactivity of anti-alpha2-macroglobulin polyclonal antibody revealed that the 180-kDa band was intact alpha2-macroglobulin. The hydrolytic activity of this complex was completely inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and p-amidinophenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride. In addition, the 65-kDa protein observed under reducing conditions bound 3H-labeled DFP. These results suggest that the purified protein is a complex of the plasma proteinase inhibitor alpha2-macroglobulin and a serine proteinase. Several monoclonal antibodies were obtained when the purified complex was used as an antigen. One of these antibodies, which was immunoreactive to this complex but not to alpha2-macroglobulin, gave a positive band corresponding to 65 kDa on SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Use of this antibody in immunohistochemical studies revealed immunoreactivities in numerous neoplastic tissues with strong activity in advanced gastric cancers (e.g., poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma). In addition, strong cross-reactivity was detected in glandular cells of the fetus intestine.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

[The majority of emergency calls are erroneous].

An emergency call system has been used to summon specialists for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Kumamoto University Hospital since 1986. Many improvements have been made to the system since it was established. We performed a prospective evaluation of calls made during the period from April 1, 1996 to March 31, 1997. There were a total of 36 calls, but only two of them were judged to be true emergencies. While at first we considered the number of calls reflected a growing awareness of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation team in the hospital, the large number of erroneous calls (94%) indicated other factors needed to be considered. Further investigation revealed the existence of a special, and little-known, telecommunication system connecting various administrative offices of the Japanese Government. Some of the phone numbers in this system are similar to the emergency call number. Thus many of the emergency calls were probably caused by administrative officers who misdialed. We are proposing to change this emergency call number.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1998

[Application of monoclonal antibody for drug delivery system--missile therapy for cancer].

Clinical applications of monoclonal antibody for selective delivery of anticancer drug, toxin and radioisotope were reviewed. The difficulties in preparation and clinical application of chemoimmunoconjugate were pointed out. Also the difficulties of immunotoxin in clinical trial due to its high toxicity had been discussed and it is assumed that development of blocked ricin may overcome many problems related to toxicities. Clinically most advanced immunoconjugate seems to be radioimmunoconjugate. Among three types of immunoconjugates preparation of radioimmunoconjugate is easiest and some promising clinical trials were introduced in this review.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Expression of interleukin-8 in human glomerulonephritis.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a cytokine, which possesses both chemotactic and activating properties for neutrophils, lymphocytes and basophils. Various evidence has indicated IL-8 to be implicated in the pathophysiology of immune-mediated renal diseases. We thus examined the expression of IL-8 in renal diseases. We detected the expression of IL-8 both in mRNA and the protein levels in renal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with IgA nephropathy and lupus nephritis. A significant correlation was found between the expression of IL-8 mRNA and the number of neutrophils in the glomerulus. We also found a negative correlation between the expression of IL-8 mRNA and creatinine clearance. Our study thus suggested IL-8 to be involved in the pathophysiology of proliferative glomerulonephritis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Clinical characteristics of polycystic kidney disease with end-stage renal disease. The Kanazawa Renal Disease Study Group.

AIMS: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of important causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, there have been few detailed reports on PKD patients with ESRD. The present study was designed to clarify the clinical characteristics of PKD patients with ESRD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We collected data from 22 renal divisions in our region, where 63 of 1246 patients with ESRD (male/female: 31/32) were proven to suffer from PKD (5.06%). RESULTS: The average age at the induction of renal replacement therapy was 52.4 +/- 10.0 years. Of these patients, 32 (50.8%) had some family members with apparent PKD. Three (4.8%) and 4 (6.3%) had a history of subarachnoidal hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage, respectively. One (1.6%) suffered from tuberous sclerosis. The prevalence of hypertension treated with antihypertensives, anemia treated with rHuEPO, hepatic cyst, pancreatic cyst, intracranial aneurysm and colonic diverticulum were 66.7%, 58.7%, 85.7%, 16.0%, 33.3% and 50.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was no marked difference in general characteristics or history between the present subjects and those described in previous reports. However, the prevalence of complications seemed to be higher than previously estimated.

Female↗
PubMed1998

Reversible hyperintensity of the anterior pituitary gland on T1-weighted MR images in a patient receiving temporary parenteral nutrition.

We report a patient with severe anorexia nervosa, treated with temporary total parenteral nutrition (TPN), in whom reversible hyperintensity of the anterior pituitary gland was seen on T1-weighted MR images. The anterior pituitary was isointense with white matter before TPN therapy and became markedly hyperintense after 3 months of treatment. The intensity normalized after TPN therapy was discontinued. The transient hyperintensity was also seen in the basal ganglia and dorsal brain stem. We believe the hyperintensity of the anterior pituitary may be attributed to the TPN therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[A case of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia].

A 56-year-old female was admitted on November 1995 to our hospital because of the abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray. Although the chest X ray film revealed diffuse reticulonodular shadows in the bilateral lung fields and right hilar lymphadenopathy, she had not any complaints. Furthermore, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia were noted. For a further examination, transcutaneous thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed on August 1996. The lung specimens showed a interstitial infiltration of small lymphocytes exclusively around bronchioles. And the diagnosis of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) was made. She had been suffered from bronchial asthma for 27 years. This is the first report of LIP accompanied with bronchial asthma. Its relationship between LIP and bronchial asthma remains unclear. In the 2 years of follow-up, she remained asymptomatic with unchanged chest radiogram. And her pulmonary function was preserved for the 2 years. But lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia may induce malignant lymphoproliferative disease potentially, we should carefully follow up.

Asthma↗
PubMed1998

Focal orbital amyloidosis presenting as rectus muscle enlargement: CT and MR findings.

We report a case of focal orbital amyloidosis involving rectus muscles, which is an extremely rare clinical condition. CT scans showed rectus muscle enlargement with punctate calcifications. Heterogeneous hypointensity was present on T2-weighted MR images, and homogeneous enhancement was seen on fat-saturated contrast-enhanced images of the muscles. These imaging findings seem to be suggestive of amyloidosis. Focal amyloidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of extraocular muscle enlargement.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1998

[Hemophagocytic syndrome associated with tuberculosis and mycoplasma infection in two patients].

Patient 1: A 48-year-old man was admitted to Osaka Red Cross Hospital because of fever and dyspnea. Laboratory examination revealed pancytopenia, liver dysfunction and hematostatic abnormality. Chest radiographs obtained on admission revealed ground-glass opacity in both lung fields, and an analysis of arterial blood showed severe hypoxemia (PaO2:46.8 Torr). Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone was started. Although the hypoxemia subsided and radiographic findings rapidly improved, pancytopenia persisted. Examination of bone marrow aspirate revealed mature histiocytes with marked hemophagocytosis. Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct tests of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, sputum, urine, and bone marrow were all positive, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from sputum and urine. Although the patient was taking antituberculous agents, his pancytopenia persosted. Treatment with etoposide induced remssion. Patient 2: A 19-year-old woman was admitted to Osaka Red Cross Hospital because of prolonged cough and fever. Laboratory examination revealed leukocytosis, liver dysfunction, and hematostatic abnormality. Serologic tests provided conclusive evidence of Mycoplasma infection and a CRP test was strongly positive. Chest radiographs obtained on admission revealed infiltration shadows in the middle and lower lung fields on both sides, with left pleural effusion. An analysis of arterial blood showed hypoxemia (PaO2: 54.2 Torr). Examination of bone marrow and pleural effusion samples revealed mature histiocytes with marked hemophagocytosis. Although treatment with antibiotics and pulse therapy with methylprednisolone was started, the patients respiratory functions deteriorated. Endotracheal intubation was performed. Therapy with etoposide induced remission. Hemophagocytic syndrome associated with Mycoplasma infection and tuberculosis appears to be exceedingly rare. In these 2 cases, it was difficult to achieve remission with therapy for the underlying infections, but etoposide treatment was effective.

Adolescent↗