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Biomedical subjects

K Yuasa

Publications and source records attributed to K Yuasa.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Ultrasonographic texture characterization of salivary and neck masses using two-dimensional gray-scale clustering.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of texture analysis in ultrasonography (US) of head and neck masses. METHODS: Sixty-one cases with salivary or neck masses were examined by US with a linear 7.5MHz array. Images were digitized and quantitatively evaluated by two-dimensional gray-scale clustering using two texture indices, M and SD, as measures of coarseness and homogeneity respectively. RESULTS: Coarseness of Warthin's tumors was significantly higher than that of the other salivary tumors. Malignant lymphomas had finer texture values than other lymph node lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative texture analysis appears to be a useful complement in diagnostic US.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1997

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy-induced renal laceration.

After extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), perinephric hematomas, while uncommon, are a serious complication involving the risk of blood transfusion and subsequent impairment of renal function. We report a rare case of ESWL-induced renal laceration in which an expanding retroperitoneal hematoma required blood transfusion but was treated successfully without surgical intervention.

Hematoma↗
PubMed1997

DNA sequence of Bacillus subtilis (natto) NR-1 gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase gene, ggt.

The ggt encoding gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) from Bacillus subtilis (natto) was cloned and sequenced. The DNA sequence contains a single open reading frame of 1761 bp that might be translated to a protein of 587 amino acid residues, and indicates that B. subtilis (natto) GGT is synthesized as prepro-GGT and processed later into large and small subunits. The putative catabolite responsive element (CRE) was located upstream of the ggt coding region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

[A case of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma].

We report a case of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma. A 59-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with asymptomatic gross hematuria. Abdominal computerized tomography showed an approximately 4 cm. minimally enhancing mass in the left kidney. Angiography revealed a hypovascular tumor in the left kidney. Under the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma, left radical nephrectomy was performed. The cut surface of the tumor was beige in color with few foci of hemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of the cells with voluminous reticulated cytoplasm stained lightly with routine hematoxylin and eosin. Hale's colloidal iron staining demonstrated a positive cytoplasmic reaction. Pathological diagnosis was chromophobe cell renal carcinoma. Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma is a recently established subtype of renal cell carcinoma, which has rarely been reported in Japan.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1997

[Introduction of rod-deleted dystrophin cDNA, delta DysM3, into mdx skeletal muscle using adenovirus vector].

The 6.3 kb mini-dystrophin cDNA, has been successfully introduced in dystrophic mdx mouse and phenotypes of muscular dystrophy has been considerably improved. We generate a dystrophin cDNA construct deleted more for rod domain of minidystrophin, resulting only one rod repeat with two hinge segments, 3.7 kb delta DysM3. Recombinant adenovirus vector, Ax delta DysM3 has been made using COS-TPC method. 125 kDa delta DysM3 was expressed in the cultured skeletal muscle cells, when Ax delta DysM3 was infected. delta DysM3 can effectively accumulate in sarcolemma and considerably recover of dystrophin-associated proteins when transferred into skeletal muscle of mdx mouse. This small-sized rod-deleted dystrophin can be incorporated into adeno-associated virus vector, which was recently proven to be good tool to carry the gene into skeletal muscle.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1996

IS431mec-mediated integration of a bleomycin-resistance gene into the chromosome of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated in Japan.

A methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain B-26, isolated clinically in Hiroshima University Hospital, is resistant to bleomycin together with kanamycin. In the present study, we analysed the nucleotide sequence of the 5.1-kb HindIII fragment containing the bleomycin- and kanamycin-resistance genes, which were previously cloned [Bhuiyan et al. (1995) Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 43: 65-69] from the chromosomal DNA of MRSA B-26. The present study found that the DNA sequence contains the duplicated target sequence (GATTAGAT) consisting of 8 bp for transposase and the entire nucleotide sequence of the plasmid pUB110, together with the sequence of inverted repeats (16 bp), designated IR-r and IR-1 in IS431 mec. The 8-bp duplication sequence, produced by the transposable element, was first found by us. We proposed that bleomycin resistance in MRSA B-26 is attributed to the IS431 mec-mediated integration of pUB110 into the chromosome.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1996

[A case of empyema caused by Salmonella enteritidis in a patient with sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis].

A 69-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on Jan. 10, 1995 complaining of bloody sputum, left back pain and fever of 39 degrees C. He had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis 45 years ago. His chest X-ray and CT showed the presence of air-fluid level in the left pleural cavity with thickening and calcification of the pleura. Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from the sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and stool. He was diagnosed as suffering from Salmonella-empyema with an internal fistula. Based on the in vitro sensitivity test, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was started. However, the efficacy of the antimicrobia was not sufficient. He then underwent left pleuropneumonectomy. Salmonella was cultured also from the specimen obtained at the operation. His course after operation was uneventful. Thus, although Salmonella Enteritidis is known as a common pathogen of food poisoning, it can cause empyema, especially in a case with an impaired host defence system.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[A case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis accompanied with Aspergillus meningitis].

A 53-year-old female was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest pain and gait disturbance. Examinations on admission showed that she was immunocompetent except the negative tuberculin test. The chest X-ray showed infiltrative shadows with old tuberculous lesions in the bilateral upper lung fields. In CT, a mass lesion was revealed in the lesion, which destructed the fifth thoracic vertebra and invaded into the epidural space. She died of meningitis on the 18th day after admission. On autopsy, it was made clear that the mass lesion was caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, and that the meningitis was the result of the invasion of the fungus into the epidural space.

Aspergillosis↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of the measurement of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in patients with pulmonary aspergillosis.

The value of the measurement of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a major and common cell wall constituent of fungi, for diagnosing pulmonary aspergillosis was assessed in comparison with that of conventional examinations. The concentrations of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in sera was elevated in 7 out of 8 patients with active aspergillosis, but not in cases without active diseases, except for one sample. Further, the concentrations well reflected the activity of the aspergillosis in each case. Regarding conventional examinations, with the immunodiffusion test it was difficult to detect the present activity of the disease. The radioallergosorbent test was useful for diagnosing bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, but not for other types of aspergillosis. The Aspergillus-specific component, galactomannan, was insensitive and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay gave highly variable results. Thus, although the assessment of the specificity of the assay is still necessary, compared with other tests, the assay of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan has the advantage of diagnosing pulmonary aspergillosis and also of assessing the disease activity.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1996

Quantitative analysis of the submandibular gland using computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the normal variation in size of the submandibular gland from computed tomographic (CT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT was performed parallel to the Frankfurt horizontal (FH) and mandibular (MP) planes in 130 subjects (64 men and 66 women) with healthy submandibular glands, six patients with sialoadenitis and four with masseteric hypertrophy. RESULTS: The mean (s.d.) maximum cross-sectional area (MCSA) of the submandibular glands for FH was 324 (89) mm2 and for MP 364(101) mm2. There was a high correlation between individuals' right and left glands. There was no significant difference in the mean MCSA between the right and left, which varied by less than 10%. The mean (s.d.) volume of the gland was 8072 (2574) mm3. With a high correlation with mean MCSA in both scanning planes, the mean MCSA may be an indicator of the volume of the gland. MCSA increased significantly with body height, weight and body mass index, but decreased with age. The MCSA of the affected side in patients with sialoadenitis and masseteric hypertrophy was larger than both that of the normal side and the predicted values. CONCLUSION: MCSA is a useful indicator of gland volume, and differences of greater than 10% between the two sides may be used in the diagnosis of submandibular gland disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of cardiac sympathetic nervous function by 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in insulin-treated non-insulin dependent diabetics with hypoglycemia unawareness.

The association between the lack of adrenergic symptoms during hypoglycemia and myocardial 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) accumulation was investigated in 12 insulin-treated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients who had no evidence of heart disease. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of adrenergic symptoms during hypoglycemia. Autonomic function tests revealed significantly severe autonomic dysfunction in group B compared to that in group A. Insulin infusion test indicated no significant difference in the catecholamine response between the two groups. 123I-MIBG scintigraphy showed that the heart/mediastinum ratio of MIBG uptake was significantly lower, and scintigraphic defect was greater in group B than in group A. There were no significant differences in the washout rate between the two groups. These results suggested that the lack of adrenergic symptoms during hypoglycemia may be associated with cardiac sympathetic nervous dysfunction in insulin-treated NIDDM patients, and this dysfunction is mainly due to cardiac sympathetic denervation.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1996

[Pryce type I intralobar pulmonary sequestration].

A 53-year-old woman had a abnormal shadow in the left lower lung field on a chest radiograph, and occasional bloody sputum. CT scans and an MRI showed an abnormal vessel shadow between the aorta and the heart. An aortogram showed an abnormal artery originating from the descending aorta and entering the left lower lobe, and a pulmonary angiogram revealed no blood supply to the left basal segments. Pryce type I pulmonary sequestration was diagnosed. The patient underwent surgery, and the abnormal artery, 13 mm in diameter, was found to be connected from the descending aorta to the left lower lobe. The abnormal artery was dissected, and the left lower lobe was removed. The postoperative course was uneventful. We collected data on 24 cases of Pryce type I pulmonary sequestration reported in Japan. Such cases are comparatively rare and males are affected more often than females. The patient in the present case was the oldest woman to have undergone surgery for this condition in Japan. In patients who underwent surgery the greatest diameter of the abnormal artery was 18 mm.

Bronchopulmonary Sequestration↗
PubMed1996

Rapid detection cytomegalovirus pneumonia in recipients of bone marrow transplant: evaluation and comparison of five survey methods for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

To detect cytomegalovirus-associated interstitial pneumonia (CMV-IP) in recipients of BMT in its earliest stage, five CMV methods were assessed for their usefulness using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as the test specimen. Of the 43 cases enrolled in the study, PCR was positive in 12 cases, shell vial in eight, culture in eight and cytology in three. There were no positive cases in in situ hybridization. Based on this result, the 43 cases were classified into four groups: Group 1, three cases: positive in PCR, shell vial and cytology; Group 2, five cases: positive in PCR and shell vial; Group 3, four cases: positive only in PCR; and Group 4, 31 cases: negative in all CMV tests. Cases in Group 1 were judged as having the highest risk of overt CMV-IP. They were successfully treated with a combination of ganciclovir and immunoglobulin. Group 2 was diagnosed as having active CMV infection and ganciclovir monotherapy was effective for these patients. Groups 3 and 4 were not given anti-CMV therapy, but they were free from CMV-related manifestations throughout the study. The sensitivity and specificity of each survey method for the detection of Groups 1 and 2 were 1.0 and 0.89 in PCR, 1.0 and 1.0 in shell vial, 0.88 and 1.0 in culture, and 0.38 and 1.0 in cytology. Similarly, the positive and negative predictive values were 0.67 and 1.0 in PCR, 1.0 and 1.0 in shell vial, 1.0 and 0.97 in culture, and 1.0 and 0.88 in cytology. Thus, CMV survey on bronchoalveolar fluid was thought to be useful in detecting post BMT CMV-IP in its earliest stage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Bleomycin-induced beta-lactamase overexpression in Escherichia coli carrying a bleomycin-resistance gene from Streptomyces verticillus and its application to screen bleomycin analogues.

A bleomycin-resistance gene, designated blmA, has been cloned from bleomycin-producing Streptomyces verticillus by Sugiyama et al. (Gene 151 (1994) 11-16). The present study shows that Escherichia coli harboring the blmA-carrying pUC plasmid overproduced beta-lactamase, encoded by an ampicillin-resistance gene on the plasmid, when cultured in the presence of bleomycin, which suggests that bleomycin may act as an inducer (or an activator) for the expression of the specific gene in the presence of blmA. We constructed a vector, designated pMAB50, which senses bleomycin and produces a pigment, using blmA and a Streptomyces tyrosinase gene located under the control of beta-lactamase promoter: E. coli harboring pMAB50 produced the melanin pigment in the presence of bleomycin-type antibiotics, suggesting that the transformed E. coli can be employed as a reporter organism to screen bleomycin analogues.

Acetyltransferases↗