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Biomedical subjects

K Tada

Publications and source records attributed to K Tada.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Alterations of serum bile acid profile in breast-fed infants with prolonged jaundice.

Serum bile acid conjugates in breast-fed infants with prolonged jaundice were analyzed by a newly developed procedure using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence labeling. Major bile acids were cholate and chenodeoxycholate conjugates. Some of the breast-fed jaundiced infants had high levels of serum bile acid conjugates (greater than 25 mumol/L), but the mean levels of individual bile acid conjugates found in jaundiced breastfed infants were not significantly different from those in breast-fed infants without jaundice. The glycine- to taurine-conjugated bile acid ratio in breast-fed jaundiced infants was significantly lower than in breast-fed nonjaundiced infants or bottle-fed nonjaundiced infants. In breast-fed infants, the portion of taurine-conjugated bile acids increased in proportion to serum bilirubin levels. These findings suggest that alteration in conjugated bile acid patterns of breast milk jaundice is related to an increased enterohepatic circulation of bile acids as well as bilirubin in infants fed on breast milk that contains high amounts of taurine.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Clinical trials of vitamin B6 and proline supplementation for gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina.

Five patients with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina were examined ophthalmologically, especially ophthalmoscopically, to evaluate trials of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) or supplementary proline. The oral administration of vitamin B6 was tried in two patients. The vitamin did not alter the serum ornithine level and the progression of chorioretinal atrophy in one patient (case 2). Despite a reduced serum ornithine level following vitamin B6 administration, chorioretinal atrophy progressed gradually in another patient (case 3). Supplementary proline was tried in four patients. Despite the supplementation the serum proline level did not increase, and the chorioretinal atrophy progressed in one patient (case 2) who received both vitamin B6 and proline. Supplementary proline minimised the progression of gyrate atrophy in the youngest patient (case 1) and halted the progression in two others (cases 4 and 5). Supplementary proline may possibly lessen the progression of chorioretinal lesions in gyrate atrophy.

Adolescent↗

Postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in heterozygotes of familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency.

Serum lipoprotein pattern, apoproteins and two postheparin triglyceride lipases were analyzed in a patient with familial lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency and her family. Serum of the patient showed extreme hyperchylomicronemia and her postheparin plasma LPL activity was distinctly decreased. None of heterozygotes had any type of hyperlipoproteinemia. The mother and brother of the patient had moderately decreased LPL activity. There were no consistent changes in hepatic triglyceride lipase (H-TGL) activity among heterozygotes. These results suggest that assay of LPL may be helpful for detection of heterozygotes in familial LPL deficiency.

Adult↗

Sulfated glycopeptides from middle ear effusions of secretory otitis media.

The middle ear effusion specimens were obtained by myringotomy and aspiration from 4 children of 4-7 years old, who had been diagnosed as patients with secretory otitis media on the basis of conductive hearing loss and tympanogram. In cases 1 and 2, their ear fluids were macroscopically serous, while those of cases 3 and 4 were mucous. These ear fluids were digested with pronase and the digests were analyzed by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis with alcian blue and high-iron-diamine stainings. All samples were found to contain glycopeptides possibly derived from sulfated mucin-type glycoproteins with small amounts of glycosaminoglycans. The glycoconjugates from cases 3 and 4 were further examined after hyaluronidase and chondroitinase ABC treatments, followed by heparitinase digestion. The resultant glycopeptide fractions appeared to be electrophoretically homogeneous and their chemical compositions suggested that they were typical mucin-type glycopeptides. Furthermore, they contained sulfates. The data suggest that in secretory otitis media, one of the major components of middle ear effusions is sulfated mucin-type glycoprotein.

Amino Acids↗

Determination of urine neuron-specific enolase levels in neuroblastoma patients.

Urine levels of neuron-specific enolase were determined in 3 neuroblastoma patients (1 in an advanced state and 2 in remission), 25 control children, 37 control adults and 4 children with hematuria by means of the double-antibody inhibition radioimmunoassay specific to the gamma subunit of enolase isozymes. The levels of neuron-specific enolase mean +/- S.D. ng/creatinine mg in an advanced neuroblastoma patient were elevated (1.25 +/- 0.29 before or after treatment and range 1.61-74.2 during treatment) when compared with those of control subjects (0.51 +/- 0.26 in children and 0.36 +/- 0.17 in adults). The levels in 2 neuroblastoma patients in remission were within normal range. Urine samples with hematuria were not used for the assay.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

[Study on transfer of aztreonam into female genital organs].

Aztreonam (AZT) is a newly developed beta-lactam antibiotic for use of intravenous injection. It is the first drug in the world of monobactam series with the structural characteristic of monocyclic beta-lactam. The antimicrobial spectrum of AZT is unique, having little or no susceptibility against Gram-positive organisms and anaerobes, but showing high susceptibility against aerobic Gram-negative rods including Pseudomonas. One gram of AZT was given intravenously to 32 patients prior to abdominal total hysterectomy for uterine myoma. Bilateral uterine arteries were clamped at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 or 12 hours after administration, and serum samples and uterine tissues were taken for the measurement of AZT concentration by bioassay method. Little difference was found in the serum concentration between cubital venous and uterine arterial serum, the half-lives of both being 2.11 hours. The initial concentrations were estimated to be 68.0 micrograms/ml and 63.9 micrograms/ml, respectively. While the peak concentrations of the portio vaginalis, cervix uteri, myometrium and oviduct were obtained at about 10 minutes, those of the endometrium and ovary were at 18.2 minutes and 31.3 minutes, respectively. They were as follows; the portio vaginalis 50.0 micrograms/g, the cervix uteri 43.6 micrograms/g, the myometrium 29.8 micrograms/g, the oviduct 44.7 micrograms/g, the endometrium 27.3 micrograms/g, the ovary 29.0 micrograms/g. After showing peak, tissue levels were kept fairly high up to 3 hours, then decreased gradually as time passed up to approximately 8 hours. Judging from its favorable transfer into the uterine tissues and MICs against main clinical isolates in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, AZT is evaluated to be clinically useful in the treatment of obstetrical and gynecological infections.

Adult↗

Deficiency of NK activity of HNK-1+ cells after transplantation of fetal thymus and liver or haploidentical soybean agglutinin-treated marrow cells in two severe combined immunodeficiency patients.

Two severe combined-immunodeficiency patients successfully transplanted with fetal thymus and liver or haploidentical lectin-treated marrow cells lacked NK activity, with a normal number of HNK1+ cell-defined NK cells. The defect was not due to the inhibiting factor in patients' sera. Their NK cells bound to their targets, but did not lyse them in a single-cell agarose assay, and did not respond to alpha-IFN or IL-2. IL-2 did not stimulated the development of mature NK cells that bear M1 antigens from precursors that lack M1 antigens.

Bone Marrow↗

Liquid-chromatographic assay of diazepam and its major metabolites in serum, and application to pharmacokinetic study of high doses of diazepam in schizophrenics.

In this rapid, sensitive method for simultaneously determining diazepam and its biologically active metabolites--nordiazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam--in serum, 250 to 1000 microL of serum is extracted with ether and the extracted compounds are quantified by "high-performance" liquid chromatography on a Shimpack FLC-C8 microparticulate column. Absorbance of the effluent is monitored at 254 nm. The limit of detection in serum is about 10 micrograms/L for each drug. Analytical recovery of each drug added to the serum varied from 91 to 102% for oxazepam and temazepam, from 82 to 99% for nordiazepam and diazepam. Within-day and between-day CVs ranged from 2 to 5% for oxazepam and temazepam, and from 2 to 7% for nordiazepam and diazepam. We also report results on using this assay in a pharmacokinetic study of high doses of diazepam used to treat chronic schizophrenic patients.

Administration, Oral↗

Gyrate atrophy of choroid and retina complicated by vitreous hemorrhage.

We describe two patients with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina who suffered from vitreous hemorrhages in adolescence. The diagnosis of gyrate atrophy was confirmed biochemically and clinically; hyperornithinemia and a deficiency of ornithine ketoacid transaminase were confirmed biochemically. Typical fundus changes of scalloped chorioretinal atrophies with sharp margins, deteriorated dark adaptation, non-recordable electroretinogram, flat electrooculogram, and constricted visual fields were noted. We believe that the vitreous hemorrhage is an ocular complication in this disorder.

Adult↗

Establishment of human monoclonal anti-DNA antibody producing cell lines.

We developed a useful method for the establishment of stable cell lines producing human monoclonal anti-DNA antibody by in vitro Epstein-Barr virus infection. The practical limitation for the cloning was overcome by 2 procedures. One was a microculture system using a small number of the culture. Another was enrichment of anti-DNA producing cells at an early stage and prior to the cloning. The combination of these procedures allowed ready derivation of the cell lines secreting monoclonal anti-DNA antibody. Sixteen cell lines were cloned by utilizing colony formation methods in soft agarose. About 14-32 micrograms per ml of IgM with specific antibody activity were obtained in the supernatant of the cells. The antibody reacted with double-stranded and/or single-stranded DNA. These cells have been continuously producing the specific antibody for more than 3 years. We may extend this procedure for obtaining other autoantibodies, such as anti-T cell antibodies.

Animals↗

A direct evidence for defect in glucose-6-phosphate transport system in hepatic microsomal membrane of glycogen storage disease type IB.

Uptake of glucose-6-phosphate by microsomes of hepatocyte in rats, human controls and patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia and Ib was studied. In rat the uptake of glucose-6-phosphate increased rapidly and reached to a plateau, but mannose-6-phosphate was not accumulated. These findings indicate that a glucose-6-phosphate specific transport system exists in the microsomal membrane. In human controls and patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia the uptake of glucose-6-phosphate was clearly observed. On the other hand, no accumulation of it was detected in a patient with glycogen storage disease type Ib. These data provide a direct evidence of the defect in the glucose-6-phosphate transport system of hepatic microsomal membrane in glycogen storage disease type Ib.

Animals↗

Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina: decreased ornithine aminotransferase concentration in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients.

A sensitive and convenient radioisotopic assay for ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) and an enzyme immunoassay for human ornithine aminotransferase were developed for studying decrease in activity of this enzyme in gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina with hyperornithinemia. Picogram amounts of human OAT could be detected by the enzyme immunoassay. The OAT activity in cultured fibroblasts from two patients was 6% and 2% of that in control fibroblasts, and did not increase on addition of a high concentration of vitamin B6. The decreased activity, assayed by enzyme immunoassay, was associated with decreased enzyme concentration, suggesting that deficiency of OAT in these patients is not due to production of a structurally altered enzyme lacking catalytic activity, but to decreased production of enzyme protein. When cells from patients were repeatedly subcultured, selective loss of both the activity and concentration of OAT was observed, without changes in activities of several other enzymes tested.

Atrophy↗

Central ray deficiency of the hand. Operative treatment and results.

Fifty nine hands were studied in 42 patients with central ray deficiency. Thirty one of the hands were treated surgically and this enabled analysis of the soft tissue abnormalities that were not constant throughout the group, requiring a sub-division of the usual classification. Four major surgical procedures and two minor procedures are described and the importance of creating a substitute for the deficient transverse intermetacarpal ligament and correction of any intrinsic muscle imbalance is emphasized. Of the 31 hands treated all but three gained useful grip and all but two gained useful pinch grip and a satisfactory range of motion. From the cosmetic standpoint all were satisfactory except for one case with a hypertrophic scar and six cases with overlapping of the fingers when grasping.

Child, Preschool↗

Follow-up study of a nation-wide neonatal metabolic screening program in Japan. A collaborative study group of neonatal screening for inborn errors of metabolism in Japan.

A nationwide neonatal screening program for phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), homocystinuria, histidinemia and galactosemia was started in Japan in 1977. The total number of infants screened had reached 6,311,754 by March, 1982. A follow-up study revealed the incidence of the disease in Japan: 1/108,823 for PKU; 1/450,840 for hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA); 1/1,577,939 for biopterin deficiency; 1/525,980 for MSUD; 1/1,051,959 for homocystinuria; 1/8,371 for histidinemia, and 1/788,969 for galactosemia type 1. The incidences of PKU, HPA, homocystinuria, and galactosemia (type 1) were found to be markedly low in Japan as compared with those in Caucasian countries. There was no great difference in the incidence of MSUD between both. On the other hand, the incidence of histidinemia was higher in Japan. It was found that most of the patients with PKU, HPA, MSUD, homocystinuria, or galactosemia are developing normally due to the early initiation of dietary treatment. These results clearly indicate that the neonatal mass screening program plays a great role in preventing the occurrence of handicapped children.

Biopterins↗

A therapeutic trial of caerulein to a long-term heavy marihuana user with amotivational syndrome.

A male marihuana user with amotivational syndrome who responded poorly to neuroleptic therapy was treated four times with weekly intramuscular injection of caerulein in a dose of 0.6 micrograms/kg. He was maintained on his previous neuroleptic medication during the study period. The BPRS was used to rate the patient's symptoms. There were remarkable improvements in the total scores and the psychosis subscale score, which consists of the following symptoms that do not respond well to neuroleptic therapy in chronic schizophrenia: emotional withdrawal, mannerisms and posturing, uncooperativeness, and blunted affect. These improvements persisted for two weeks after cessation of caerulein administration, after which the patient's condition gradually worsened. Nevertheless, the improvement recurred upon reinjection of caerulein. These findings indicate that the improvement observed seems to be due to caerulein, and suggest that caerulein may be a useful and effective therapeutic drug for marihuana user with amotivational syndrome.

Adult↗