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Biomedical subjects

K Okamura

Publications and source records attributed to K Okamura.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

[Experience with microsurgical two-layer vasovasostomy].

Excellent results of vasectomy reversal have been reported by Silber and Owen in 1977 using microsurgical technique without splints. Herein, we report two cases of male sterility due to previous voluntary vasectomy in which fertility was restored by microsurgical vasovasostomy. The reason for vasectomy reversal in these cases was a subsequent marriage. Case 1: A 36-year-old male who had had vasectomy 3 years earlier, underwent vasovasostomy on September 20th 1976. The sperm granuloma was not found, but sperm was observed in the fluid from the proximal cut-end of the vas deferens at the time of operation. He fathered a baby on October 2, 1977. Case 2: A 43-year-old male who had had vasectomy 10 years ago underwent vasovasostomy on February 5th 1980. Sperm granuloma was observed at the time of operation. He fathered a baby on February 25th 1981. The important factors that determine the success of vasectomy reversal are the method and time of reversal. 1) Microsurgical two-layer vasovasostomy is the most reliable method among the various operations for vasectomy reversal. 2) A shorter duration between vasectomy and it's reversal, and the existence of sperm granuloma after previous vasectomy increase the possibility to restore fertility.

Adult↗

[Lectin binding of membrane proteins from human placental villi].

The binding of membrane proteins from human placental villi to lectins such as concanavalin A (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Riccinus communis agglutinin (RCA) was examined. Five major components of 66K, 69K, 100K, 130K and 170K dalton showed specific binding to WGA, whereas two other major components of 43K and 40K dalton had only weak binding. There were no membrane proteins which bound specifically to either Con A or RCA. The WGA-Sepharose column is considered useful for the purification of human placental membrane proteins. Although the function of these proteins is still unknown, a diagnostic method not only for determining the pathological state of the placenta, but also for cancer will possibly be developed by taking advantage of them.

Chorionic Villi↗

[The adverse effects of thioureylene antithyroid drugs (author's transl)].

The aims of the present study were to investigate the incidence of adverse effects of thioureylene antithyroid drugs and to see if there were any factors related to the development of the adverse effects. Methimazole or propylthiouracil was administered to 151 patients with Graves disease; 76 untreated cases and 75 treated cases. The overall incidence was 22.4% among the 76 untreated cases. The incidences were 26.7% (13/45 cases) for methimazole and 16.1% (5/31 cases) for propylthiouracil, respectively, which were significantly higher than those previously reported. Fourteen out of 17 cases with the adverse effects were given the other thioureylene. The successive incidence of the adverse effects was 28.6% (4 cases), which was not significantly different from that under the drug of first choice. The result suggests that methimazole and propylthiouracil may not have cross-reaction each other. On the other hand, antinuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody became positive in 2 out of the 4 cases. It would be a significant phenomenon, since antinuclear antibody was positive in only 3% of cases before the drug treatment. Thus, an immunological mechanism seemed to be involved in the problems, although there was no correlation between antithyroid autoantibodies and the development of the adverse effects. The adverse effects were observed within 2 months of administration of less than 250 tablets in total in most of the cases. The results imply that allergic mechanism rather than accumulating or toxic effect may concern the development of adverse effects of the thioureylenes.

Adult↗

The role of circulating immune-complex in pregnancy.

The circulating immune complexes (CIC) in pregnancy sera have been thought to be involved in immunosuppression and to be one cause of pre-eclampsia. We detected CIC in human pregnancy sera using Raji cell test. A significant positive correlation was observed between the titers of immune-complexes and the immunosuppression. Although there was no correlation between the titers of CIC and clinical symptoms of pre-eclampsia evaluated at 29 to 31 week, a strong correlation was observed between the titers of CIC at 29 to 31 week and clinical symptoms of pre-eclampsia evaluated just before delivery. These results suggest that CIC in pregnancy sera functions immunosuppressively and also causes pre-eclampsia. It is useful to measure CIC levels for predisposing pre-eclampsia.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Acute hemorrhagic pancreatic necrosis in mice. Induction in male mice treated with estradiol.

Acute hemorrhagic pancreatic necrosis (AHPN) is induced in young female mice fed fo 4 days a choline-deficient diet containing diet 0.5% DL-ethionine (CDE). Contrary to females, male mice do not develop AHPN when fed the same diet. For determination of whether estrogens are involved in the induction of AHPN, estradiol-treated male mice were fed the CDE diet. In such estrogen-treated male mice, the mortality rate, incidence of AHPN, and alterations in biochemical parameters of the pancreas and of serum were similar to those induced by the CDE diet in females.

Acute Disease↗

Successful excision of intracardiac teratoma.

A 6-year-old boy underwent successful extirpation of an intracardiac teratoma without injury to the myocardium or conduction system. Before operation, two-dimensional echocardiographic examination indicated a possibility of the teratoma. This is believed to be the seventh case to be reported and the second case of successful excision for an intracardiac teratoma.

Child↗

[Effect of carboquone (esquinone) on the development of urinary bladder tumors in rats induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine].

The effect of carboquone (CQ) by intraperitoneal administration on the development of urinary bladder tumors in Wistar strain male rats induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) was studied. Urinary bladder tumors were induced in 9 of 11 rats (81.8%) when they were given 0.05% BBN in drinking water for 8 weeks and then given water without BBN for 12 weeks. When CQ 0.25 mg/kg/day was administered intraperitoneally for 7 days after treatment with 0.05% BBN for 8 weeks, incidence of urinary bladder tumors was 19 of 26 rats (73.1%). When CQ 0.25 mg/kg/weekly was given for 12 weeks after treatment with BBN, incidence of urinary bladder tumors was 17 of 27 rats (63.0%). When CQ 0.5mg/kg. B.W./day was given for 7 days after treatment with BBN, tumors developed in the urinary bladder with low incidence as in 8 of 20 rats (40.0%) (P 0.1). When CQ 0.5mg/kg/weekly was given for 12 weeks after treatment of BBN, urinary bladder tumors were induced in 17 of 22 rats (77.3%). Hematotoxity was not observed in any animals treated with CQ. These results showed that CQ inhibited the development of urinary bladder tumors induced by BBN in rats.

Animals↗

Predominant T3 synthesis in the metastatic thyroid carcinoma in a patient with T3-toxicosis.

A metastatic mixed papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma synthesizing predominantly triiodothyronine (T3) producing thyrotoxicosis is described. There was a concentration of 131I in numerous masses on the lung as well as a mass in the neck. BMR was +38%. Serum T4, T3-RU and T3 were 6.6 microgram/100 ml, 35.1% and 9.0 ng/ml, respectively. Serum TSH was not detectable and was not increased by the injection of 500 microgram of synthetic TRH. Decompressive surgery, performed while the patient was receiving no thyroid medication, yielded tumor tissue for chemical analysis. The mass measured 4.5 cm X 4.0 cm X 3.0 cm. The normal thyroid tissue was found to be atrophic. Sedimentation pattern of the soluble protein revealed a small peak at 18 S without a 27 S peak, suggesting an accelerated hydrolysis of thyroglobulin (Tg). Both the Tg content of the tumor and the degree of iodination of the Tg were low, 0.53% (based on wet weight of tissue) and 0.07%, respectively. DIT-I, MIT-I, T4-I, and T3-I in hydrolysate of the tumor tissue were 17.8%, 29.1%, 7.1%, and 41.7%, respectively. Therefore, the high T3 in the serum in this case seems to arise mainly from the cancer tissue. Possible mechanisms for this predominant T3 production are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Defective iodide transport and normal organification of iodide in cold nodules of the thyroid.

Eleven thyroid follicular adenomas, cold on scintigram were analysed to determine whether defect in iodide organification or iodide transport causes low iodide uptake in cold nodules of the thyroid. The results were compared with perinodular tissue samples used as controls. In eight of eleven adenomas incubated in medium with 0.1 microM of iodide, newly organified iodide was 85.6 +/- 8.6% of total trapped iodide, which was significantly higher than 52.3 +/- 12.8% in controls. The remaining three adenomas showed a value as low as 4.0 +/- 2.7%. These data suggest that follicular adenomas are of two different groups; one with high organic iodinating activity and the other with none. These two groups were defined as FA-1 and FA-2. Thyroid:medium ratios of iodide of both groups were significantly depressed, indicating that the essential alteration in the thyroid follicular adenoma is a disturbance of iodide transport. In contrast to controls of organification of iodide was not inhibited by the addition of 100 microM iodide to the medium in FA-1 adenomas. In both FA-1 and FA-2, the degree of iodination of thyroglobulin (Tg) in equilibrium was significantly lower than that in controls. Therefore, in most cases with the follicular adenoma, the principal cause of decreased iodination of Tg was considered to be a depressed iodide transport, but not an impairment of organic iodination.

Adenoma↗

Elevation of serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels in rats fed Remington diets; opposing effects of nutritional deficiency and iodine deficiency.

In the course of experiments on iodine deficiency induced by Remington diets in rats, we observed that the Remington diet supplied by ICN Nutritional Laboratories, though very deficient in iodine (less than 20 micrograms I/kg), did not lead to the rapid loss of thyroid iodine and the rapid decrease in serum T4 expected on the basis of previous studies with a similarly iodine-deficient Remington diet from another source. In searching for an explanation for this observation, we noted that the ICN Remington diet was nutritionally much more deficient than Remington diets from other suppliers. We also noted that when rats were placed on the iodide-supplemented ICN Remington diet there was a marked increase in serum T3 and T4. In one experiment, rats receiving the ICN Remington diet plus KI in the drinking water for 16 days showed a serum T3 level of 109 +/- 16 ng/dl and a serum T4 level of 6.6 micrograms/dl compared to 52 +/- 7.8 and 4.4 +/- 0.8, respectively, in control rats on a stock diet. These elevations were not simply the result of increased binding to serum proteins. Serum protein-binding studies by the method of equilibrium dialysis showed a very slight decrease in the percent dialyzable fraction for T3 and T4. However, calculated free T3 levels were significantly elevated (P less than 0.001), and increases in free T4, though less striking, were also significant. These elevations were not accompanied by evidence of hyperthyroidism, as judged by measurements of O2 consumption or serum TSH. Although the specific nutritional factors and mechanisms have not yet been defined, our studies demonstrate that nutritional deficiencies in a Remington diet may act to oppose the effects of the iodine deficiency itself. Our observation that the iodide-supplemented ICN Remington diet has a marked serum T3- and T4-elevating effect offers a possible explanation for the blunted thyroidal responses of rats to the same diet lacking added iodide. Our studies also suggest that alteration of peripheral T4 and T3 conversion may not be the only mechanism by which nutritional factors affect serum T3 and T4 levels.

Animals↗