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Biomedical subjects

K Ota

Publications and source records attributed to K Ota.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Cranioplasty with split-thickness calvarial bone.

Cranioplasty with autogenous split-thickness calvarial bone was performed in 10 patients. Follow-up for a mean of 19 months (range 2-43 mos) showed satisfactory protection of the brain and cosmetic reconstruction. No serious complication was seen except in one patient with postoperative epidural abscess. Split-thickness calvarial bone graft is recommended in patients with previous infection or high risk of infection, in poorly vascularized recipient sites resulting from multiple operations or irradiation, and in younger patients aged more than 7 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[A case of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with slurred speech and mild dementia].

A case of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (IHP) is discussed with reference to a study of rats maintained on various low-calcium diets. A 45-year-old man complained of difficulty speaking, especially an inability to speak loudly and of fine finger tremors over the past 2 or 3 years. His brain MRI showed marked calcification in the bilateral basal ganglia and cerebellum and his in sera findings showed low calcium, extremely low levels in all kinds of examined parathyroid hormones and 1,25 (OH)2D, thus we diagnosed idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. His finger tremors stopped soon after administration of 1 alpha D3 2 microgram/day as verified by calcium, phosphorus and creatinine levels in sera, however, a brain CT one year later showed no changes in calcification. As reported earlier in studies of deposition in the soft tissues, especially central nervous system tissues of rats maintained on low-calcium diets, it is difficult to reduce calcium deposition if symptoms appear in adults. Therefore, it is necessary to start therapy as soon as possible in order to prevent additional calcium deposition in the early stage of IHP.

Brain↗
PubMed1995

[Expression of Fas-antigen on T cells in multiple sclerosis].

We reported the expression of Fas antigen and activation markers (HLA-DR,CD69) on T cells in 14 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls. The percentage of Fas antigen positive T cells was 29.7 +/- 7.8% in patients with untreated MS. This value was statistically higher than 17.7 +/- 10.5% of healthy controls (p = 0.03). But there was no significant difference in the rate of activation markers in peripheral blood between two groups. Fas antigen and activation markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with MS tend to be higher than those in peripheral blood. High expression rate of Fas antigen and activation markers on T cells in CSF may be reflecting increased induction of apoptosis on activated T cells.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1995

[Detected Epstein-Barr virus genome using polymerase chain reaction in peripheral mononuclear cells--subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis].

A 23-year old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia and cervical lymphadenopathy. From pathological findings of the cervical lymphnode she was diagnosed as subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis (SNL). Bone marrow aspiration was hypocellular with proliferation of mature histiocytes with hemophagocytosis. Lactate dehydrogenase was elevated to 1863 IU/l and mild liver dysfunction was observed. Hepatosplenomegaly, lymphnode swelling in abdominal cavity, pleural effusion and pericardial effusion were detected. After glucocorticoid therapy all such disorders were normalized. In this course, Epstein-Barr (EB) virus genome was detected by a polymerase chain reaction method from peripheral mononuclear cells. After normalization, EB virus genome became not to be detected. From present case we concluded that EB virus was expanded in clinical course and was associated with pathogenesis of SNL.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Early phase II trial of l-leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal cancer. l-Leucovorin and 5-FU Study Group].

We report the results of a multicenter clinical trial comparing three combination chemotherapeutic regimens including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and l-leucovorin (l-LV). One hundred and twenty-two patients were randomized to three regimens comprising 5-FU (600 mg/m2) plus high-dose l-LV (250 mg/m2) in six doses given weekly by i.v. injection midway during a 2-hr infusion of l-LV (regimen A), 5-FU (370 mg/m2) plus high-dose l-LV (100 mg/m2) given simultaneously for 5 consecutive days and a 23-day interval between treatments (regimen B) and 5-FU (370 mg/m2) plus low-dose l-LV (10 mg/m2) with the same dose administration schedule as regimen B (regimen C). The response rates were 32.4% (12/37 cases) in Regimen A, 20.0% (8/40) in regimen B and 11.1% (4/36) in regimen C. The most prominent side effects observed in regimen A were diarrhea (53.8%) and leukopenia (53.8%); however, they were within permissible levels. The combinations of high-dose l-LV and 5-FU (regimen A and B) had higher response rates than that of low dose l-LV and 5-FU (regimen C). Weekly administration of high-dose l-LV and 5-FU (regimen A) is now being expanded to late phase II trials.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Late phase II trial of high-dose l-leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal carcinoma. l-Leucovorin and 5-FU Study Group (Japan Eastern Group)].

A multicenter cooperative study was conducted from Dec. 1992 to April 1994 to evaluate the clinical efficacy of high-dose l-leucovorin (l-LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment in 76 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Treatment consisted of intravenous bolus injection of 5-FU (600 mg/m2) 1-hour after the initiation of a 2-hour infusion l-LV (250 mg/m2), 6 weekly treatments were administered followed by a two-week rest. These treatment were repeated until progressive disease or intolerable toxicity. Seventy patients were evaluated for response. Responses were the following: PR 21, NC 29, PD 20 and the overall response rate was 30%. Grade 4 hematological side-effect was observed in three cases, and severe diarrhea in one case. These data suggested that high-dose l-LV and 5-FU was effective for advanced colorectal carcinoma but showed some hematological toxicity, and a further investigation should be carried out.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[A randomized early phase II study of l-leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer. l-Leucovorin and 5-FU Study Group].

A randomized early phase II study using l-leucovorin (l-LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in gastric cancer was conducted. The administration schedules: Arm A was 250 mg/m2 of l-LV and 600 mg/m2 of 5-FU weekly, arm B was 100 mg/m2 of l-LV and 370 mg/m2 of 5-FU for 5 consecutive days, and arm C was 10 mg/m2 of l-LV and 370 mg/m2 of 5-FU for 5 consecutive days. PR was obtained in 10/28 (35.7%) of arm A, 7/28 (25.0%) of arm B and 0/17 (0%) of arm C, in complete cases. In eligible cases, 30.3%, 21.9% and 0%, respectively. Because there was no responder in arm C, the entry to arm C was stopped by controller at the point where 17 patients were treated with arm C. Median survival time was 9.6 months in arm A, 8.0 months in arm B and 5.9 months in arm C. Major toxicities were stomatitis, diarrhea and neutropenia. Stomatitis was seen more in arm B and C than in arm A. These data suggest that the high dose of l-LV and 5-FU seems to be a very promising combination, but there was no responder using low-dose l-LV schedule against gastric cancer. We thus selected arm A for the next late phase II study against gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Effects of calcium-deficient diets on manganese deposition in the central nervous system and bones of rats.

The presence of both aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) in central nervous system tissues (CNS) has been reported in Parkinson's disease and in parkinsonism-dementia (PD) on Guam. Epidemiological surveys on Guam have suggested that low calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and high Al and Mn in river, soil and drinking water may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Experimentally, low Ca-Mg diets with or without added Al have been found to accelerate Al deposition in the CNS of rats and monkeys. Although excessive deposition of Mn produces similar neurotoxic action to Al in CNS tissues, the mechanism of Mn deposition coupled with Al loading in the presence of low Ca-Mg intake is not yet known. In this study, the deposition and mental-metal interaction of both Al and Mn in the CNS, visceral organs and bones of rats fed unbalanced mineral diets were analyzed. Male Wistar rats, weighing 200 g, were maintained for 90 days on the following diets: (A) standard diet, (B) low Ca diet, (C) low Ca-Mg diet, (D) low Ca-Mg diet with high Al. Al and Mn content were determined in the frontal cortex, spinal cord, kidney, muscle, abdominal aorta, femur and lumbar spine using neutron activation analysis (NAA). Our results demonstrate that serum Ca levels were decreased in the following dietary order: C<D<B<A. Serum Mg levels were significantly lower in rats from Groups C and D, compared with those in Groups A and B, reflecting the content of Mg and other interacting minerals in the diet. There was no significant difference in serum Al, zinc and phosphorus levels. Ca and Mg contents in lumbar vertebrae and the femur were significantly lower and Al levels significantly higher in rats maintained on the low Ca-Mg diet with or without added Al. Al content in CNS tissues and visceral organs were highest in rats fed diets deficient in Ca alone or low in Ca-Mg with or without added Al. Bone Mn levels significantly increased in rats fed the low Ca-Mg diet with added Al. Mn content in the frontal cortex significantly increased in rats fed diets low in Ca-Mg with or without added Al. But the Mn content of other tissues including the spinal cord, kidney, muscle and abdominal aorta was unchanged in rats given Ca deficient diets. Intake of low Ca and Mg with added Al in rats led to the high concentrations of Mn and Al in bones and in the frontal cortex. We conclude that unbalanced mineral diets and metal-metal interactions may lead to the unequal distribution of Al and Mn in bones and ultimately in the CNS inducing CNS degeneration.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1995

[Clinical study of ambulatory cancer chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer].

To evaluate ambulatory cancer chemotherapy, the clinical response, toxicities and survival time were analysed among 32 patients with non-curative or recurrent colorectal cancer who were treated by l-Leucovorin (l-LV) plus 5-fluorouracil for the past four years. Twenty-nine patients were treated with 5-FU (370 mg/m2) plus l-LV (10-100 mg/m2) for 5 consecutive days and a 23-day interval between treatments. Three patients were treated with l-LV (250 mg/m2) administered as a two-hour infusion and 5-FU (600 mg/m2) intravenous push midinfusion weekly for 6 weeks of an 8-week cycle. Partial response (PR) was observed in 9 patients (28%), no change (NC) in 18. One-year survival ratio was 61% and 4 of 32 patients survived at the end of this study. The median survival time was 14 months. Although stomatitis, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, leukopenia and pigmentation were noted, no severe side effects were observed. These results suggested that l-LV plus 5-FU therapy might be a useful ambulatory cancer chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The content and its teaching method of nursing for the elderly in baccalaureate program].

PURPOSE: The study is intended to examine the content of gerontological nursing for the baccalaureate program in nursing and to review its teaching methods. METHODS: Articles and books were reviewed extensively, information was gathered from various gerontological health professionals and family caregivers were interviewed, and a survey was conducted by questionnaire on the students' views of the elderly people. RESULTS: The contents of gerontological nursing education included features of the elderly, trends of social situations for the elderly and characteristics of the gerontological nursing approach. Features of the elderly mean a comprehensive understanding of the elderly including physical, psychological and social aspects. Characteristics of gerontological nursing included assistance for the elderly, assistance for families, and intervention for the organization which supports the elderly. In providing assistance to the elderly, it is necessary to be sensitive and to respect their life, independence, dignity, and relation with society. The teaching method of gerontological nursing education should be organized according to the principles of learning, that is, from familiar subjects to unknown subjects, and from simple to complicated ones. For future study, a detailed examination of the contents and methods of gerontological nursing education is needed.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients after Surgery.

The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer patients after surgery. The QOL in 83 primary breast cancer patients after surgery was prospectively assessed using a newly developed Japanese QOL questionnaire: The QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs (QOL-ACD). The demographic and medical factors relating to the QOL score in the subjects were investigated by multiple regression analyses. Factors related to the four categories of the QOL-ACE (activity, physical condition, psychological condition, and social relationship) were also analyzed. The results revealed that only hospitalization had a strong negative relation to the overall QOL score. With regard to the four categories of the QOL-ACE, hospitalization had strong negative relations to the three categories (activity, physical condition and social relationship) and had weak negative relation to the psychological condition. Other demographic and medical factors such as types of surgery or adjuvant therapy had no significant association with the QOL score, except for the performance status which had positive, but not significant, association with the activity. In conclusion, this study yielded useful information concerning the management of the breast cancer patients after surgery. We had better be more concerned with the hospitalized period than other demographic or medical factors such as types of therapy to improve the QOL.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

The role of GABA in the central regulation of AVP and ANP release and blood pressure due to angiotensin and carbachol, and central GABA release due to blood pressure changes.

To assess whether GABA given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) affects vasopressin (AVP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release and changes in blood pressure in response to i.c.v. angiotensin (AT II) and carbachol (CB), or whether changes in blood pressure affect GABA release in the brain, experiments were carried out. In experiment I (Ex I), GABA (100 micrograms) with AT II (50 ng) or CB (25 ng) was i.c.v. administered in conscious rats (n = 12). The same dose of AT II or CB alone also was administered without GABA (n = 12). In experiment II (Ex II), AT II (100 ng/kg per min) or nitropuruside (NP, 10 micrograms/kg per min) was intravenously (i.v.) infused and GABA release in the area adjacent to the paraventricular nucleus was determined, using the microdialysis method, in conscious rats (n = 12). In the experiments, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), heart rate (HR), plasma AVP and/or ANP and plasma Na+ and K+ levels were measured. In Ex I, i.c.v. AT II increased plasma AVP and MABP without changes in HR and plasma ANP, but i.c.v. GABA never affected these responses. Icv CB also increased plasma AVP and MABP with decreased HR, but did not affect plasma ANP. Icv GABA abolished bradycardiac responses, but did not affect the others. In Ex II, the pressor response to i.v. AT II increased GABA release without apparent decreases in plasma AVP. However, the depressor response to NP produced decreases in GABA release with increased plasma AVP. These results shows that i.c.v. GABA did not affect AVP and pressor responses to i.c.v. AT II and CB, but changes in blood pressure modulates GABA release in the brain with changes in plasma AVP.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1994

Clonal expansion and persistence of human T cells specific for an immunodominant myelin basic protein peptide.

TCR rearrangements were used to probe the clonal origin of myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 7) and normal subjects (n = 3). The majority of MBP-specific T cell lines were specific for the immunodominant MBP(84-102) and MBP(143-168) peptides and were restricted by HLA-DR molecules. In two patients with the DR2 haplotype, the T cell response to MBP was focused on the MBP(84-102) peptide. In both patients, in vivo expanded population(s) (three expanded populations in the first patient, one expanded population in the second patient) dominated the response to the MBP(84-102) peptide. Two MBP(84-102)-specific T cell clones from a normal subject with the DR2 haplotype were also found to have identical TCR sequences. Clonality was proven by demonstrating that independent clones had identical TCR alpha- and TCR beta-chain sequences as well as identical sequences of a TCR gamma-chain or of a second TCR alpha-chain rearrangement. Repeated analysis of one patient after 13 mo demonstrated that the three expanded clones had persisted in vivo. A representative of one of the expanded clones was again obtained after 31 mo by IL-2 stimulation suggesting that this clone was activated in vivo. These data suggest that the response to human MBP is dominated in at least some subjects by expanded clones that may persist in vivo for relatively long periods of time.

Adult↗