Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Ando

Publications and source records attributed to M Ando.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Utilization of triple-lumen balloon catheter for occlusion of the ascending aorta during distal aortic arch surgery with hypothermic retrograde cerebral circulation technique through left thoracotomy.

A technique of using a triple-lumen balloon catheter for occlusion of the ascending aorta in patients with distal aortic arch aneurysm during open proximal anastomosis utilizing hypothermic retrograde cerebral circulation technique through left thoracotomy was described. The balloon greatly facilitated (1) occlusion of the ascending aorta without cross clamping, (2) delivery of cardioplegic solution, (3) suctioning blood pooled in the aortic arch, and (4) prevention of entrance of debris into the left ventricle or coronary arteries.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis in Japan: data on a nationwide epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnostic criteria were prepared for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and a nationwide survey was conducted to investigate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HP in Japan. The results are presented with special focus on occupational HP and on the key to the diagnosis of HP. METHODS: A questionnaire was completed by 185 doctors from 185 hospitals (response rate 89.5%). All cases were verified according to diagnostic criteria; 835 cases were classified as HP (653 definite and 182 probable). These 835 cases (total HP) and 99 possible cases of HP diagnosed during the 1980s were analysed and presented as a case series study. RESULTS: Occupational HP was noted in 115 cases (13.8%). 21 occupations, and 20 aetiological antigens were listed. Farmer's lung: 68 cases (59% of occupational HP) was the most prevalent diagnosis followed by 19 industrial workers who handled chemicals (for example, isocyanate) and 10 office workers. Unique cases of mushroom, greenhouse, and silkworm farmers, and a new type of bagassosis are also described. Adverse environmental conditions, immunological findings on examination, antigen challenge, and pathological findings were all significantly lower for possible than for total HP. This was not true for clinical findings. The differences in antibody analysis (6% positive of possible HP v 59% of total HP) and environmental challenge (3% v 74%) were notable. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a careful interview about the environment and an antigen panel matched to variations in exposure are the key to the diagnosis.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1995

Antegrade and retrograde fluid transport through the vas deferens.

Intraluminal pressure of the seminal tract at seminal emission from the ejaculatory duct and the mode of transport of cauda epididymal contents were investigated to explore the mechanism of sperm transport. Direct electrical stimulation of any site of the cauda epididymis and vas deferens, which generated nerve-transmitted muscle contraction, caused elevation of the intraluminal pressure only at the cauda epididymis, whereas stimulation of the testis, caput, and corpus epididymis caused no response. The dye instilled in the cauda was emitted into the urethra during the stimulation. Shortly after discontinuation of the stimulation, retrograde movement of residual dye in the vas resulted in its ultimate reentry into the cauda epididymis. Significant decrease of the muscle tonus just after contraction was observed at the cauda. Distension of the wall of the vas generated elevation of the intraluminal pressure only at the site distended. The above results indicate the presence of rapid antegrade and retrograde movement of the sperm and the crucial role of the cauda epididymis on the sperm transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Evidence that PGF2 alpha-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig bronchi is mediated in part by release of tachykinins.

To investigate whether prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) stimulates the release of tachykinins and whether the tachykinins play a role in the PGF2 alpha-induced bronchial contraction, we examined the contractile response to PGF2 alpha in the presence or absence of a neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitor phosphoramidon in the guinea pig main bronchus in vitro. Because NEP effectively cleaves tachykinins, we hypothesized that the inhibition of NEP would enhance a PGF2 alpha-induced bronchial contraction if PGF2 alpha stimulates the release of tachykinins. Phosphoramidon significantly enhanced the concentration-response curve to PGF2 alpha. And it also significantly enhanced 10(-5) M PGF2 alpha-induced contraction. The enhancement was significantly attenuated in tissues where the tachykinins had been depleted by treatment with capsaicin. Furthermore, the enhancement of contraction was also significantly attenuated in the presence of tachykinin antagonist FK-224 (10(-5) M). Tetrodotoxin, a sodium-channel blocker that blocks nerve conduction, did not affect the enhancement. From these results we conclude that 1) PGF2 alpha causes the release of tachykinin-like substances, 2) these substances play a role in bronchial contraction in tissues where NEP activity is inhibited, and 3) nerve conduction is not necessary for the release of these substances in the guinea pig bronchus.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Magnitudes of neurological disorders in a farming town in Kyushu, Japan: frequency of neurological symptoms and signs.

We examined 1,270 elderly residents aged 60 years and over in a cross-sectional study of a standardized clinical examination to determine the frequency of 'abnormal' neurological findings in 27 randomly selected communities in the town of Mifune, Japan. The survey showed one or more neurological symptoms in 89.1%, and one or more signs in 94.4% of the examined elderly. Most of the symptoms and signs increased with age, especially after 70 years, indicating the importance of neurological afflictions in the community health of the elderly.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Chemotactic heterogeneity of eosinophils in idiopathic pulmonary eosinophilia.

Heterogeneity in the chemotactic response of eosinophils to 5 T cell line eosinophilic chemotactic factors (ECFs) was assessed in 5 patients with idiopathic pulmonary eosinophilia. Eosinophils from 2 patients responded to all 5 ECFs (group 1), whereas eosinophils from the other 3 patients responded to ECF-PI 5, PI 6, PI 7 and PI 8 but failed to respond to ECF-PI 9 (group 2). It was further found that group 1 showed an elevated level of lactate dehydrogenase and a positive tuberculin reaction, whereas group 2 showed neither. The effects of steroid therapy on the chemotactic responses of eosinophils were also examined. In group 1, the chemotactic response of eosinophils to ECF-PI 9 was significantly diminished after therapy; in contrast it was elevated in group 2. This change was accompanied by resolution of both clinical symptoms and pulmonary infiltration of eosinophils. These findings suggest that pulmonary eosinophilia can be divided into two types on the basis of eosinophil chemotactic response and laboratory findings. The heterogeneous responses of eosinophils to ECFs may provide a useful marker for classification of pulmonary eosinophilia and evaluation of therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Relationship of the structure of ureteral muscularis to in vitro spontaneous contractions.

We investigated the anatomical structure of the smooth muscle layers of the mid portion of the canine ureter. In transverse sections the inner muscle bundles appear to be oriented longitudinally and the outer muscle bundles appear to be oriented in a circular configuration. In sections cut parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ureter, the inner and outer bundles appear to be oblique and are oriented in a mesh-line manner. In oblique sections, cut parallel with the helically oriented ureteral muscle, bundles appear to be oriented in a lengthwise configuration. These anatomical studies show that canine ureteral smooth muscle is composed of spiral fibers in a mesh structure and that helical muscle strips which include a significant percentage of continuous bundles have a greater capacity to generate spontaneous contractions in vitro than do transverse and longitudinal muscle strips.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Coronary artery aneurysms develop in weanling rabbits with serum sickness but not in mature rabbits. An experimental model for Kawasaki disease in humans.

The involvement of the cardiovascular system in rabbits with serum sickness is similar of that in Kawasaki disease, both with respect to the histologic changes of the myocardium, the valves, the coronary arteries, and the aorta and to the sequence with which they appear. Although coronary arteritis appears the same histologically, aneurysms did not occur in mature rabbits, even in case of necrosis of an arterial segment with deletion of muscle and elastic tissue. On the other hand, weanling rabbits with serum sickness had a tendency to develop aneurysms of coronary arteries, despite little cellular infiltration and reactive fibrocellular hyperplasia. The age factor thus appears to play an important role in the development of coronary aneurysms in Kawasaki disease, irrespective of the underlying mechanism, be it a markedly increased permeability to mediators through degenerated endothelial cells, or primary degenerated muscle cells with marked thinning of the media without much inflammatory cellular reaction. Furthermore, this study provides an insight into the long-term prognosis of transient dilatation of coronary arteries in the acute stage of Kawasaki disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

[Vasodilating effects of NY-008 in ring preparation of rat aorta].

Vasodilating effects of NY-008 were compared to those of verapamil in isolated rat aorta. NY-008 at the dose of 3 x 10(-5) M relaxed 10-70 mM potassium chloride (KCl)-induced contraction. NY-008 relaxed preparations precontracted with 60 mM KCl concentration-dependently with an IC50 of (6.17 +/- 1.75) x 10(-6) M, and those precontracted with norepinephrine (NE) (10(-6) M) concentration-dependently, maximally by 90.0 +/- 2.86%, with an IC50 of (2.06 +/- 0.38) x 10(-5) M. At 10(-8)-3 x 10(-6) M, verapamil relaxed preparations precontracted with NE (10(-6) M) concentration-dependently, maximally by 55.9 +/- 5.56%. At 3 x 10(-5) M and 10(-4) M, NY-008 relaxed (10(-6) M)-induced phasic contractions in a Ca(2+)-free 1 mM EGTA-containing buffer, by 22.4 +/- 3.69% and 35.4 +/- 5.74%, respectively. In contrast, 3 x 10(-7) M verapamil did not. NY-008 concentration-dependently decreased the maximal responses to calcium chloride (CaCl2) in 60 mM KCl-depolarized preparations, and it shifted the ED50 values of CaCl2 to the right, whereas verapamil shifted the ED50 values of CaCl2 to the right without decreasing the maximal responses to CaCl2. At 10(-5)-3 x 10(-4) M, NY-008 concentration-dependently relaxed preparations precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha (10(-5) M) in a Ca(2+)-free, 0.5 mM EGTA-containing buffer, whereas 10(-7)-10(-5) M verapamil did not. These results suggest that NY-008 antagonized Ca2+ and decreased the Ca(2+)-sensitivity of contractile elements or inhibited contractile proteins in rat aorta.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone as inhibitors of killing function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone were isolated from an extract of mokko (Saussurea lappa Clarke) as inhibitors of killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Mokko lactone was also isolated as an inactive compound from the extract. The structure-activity relationship indicated that alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone is required for the inhibitory effect. Costunolide markedly inhibited the granule exocytosis and the production of inositol phosphates in response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) stimulation at a concentration that did not affect the binding of anti-CD3 mAb. Tyrosine phosphorylation induced by crosslinking of CD3 molecules was significantly inhibited by costunolide in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that costunolide inhibits the killing activity of CTL through preventing the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in response to the crosslinking of T-cell receptors.

4-Butyrolactone↗
PubMed1995

Involvement of the central nervous system in rheumatoid arthritis: its clinical manifestations and analysis by magnetic resonance imaging.

A rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient showed high signal intensity in the subcortical region of the frontal and occipital lobes on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Histopathological examination in the autopsy specimen revealed severe systemic vasculitis. Additional radiological and laboratory studies revealed that transient cerebral ischemia induced by vasculitis occurred in this patient.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1995

Summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (SHP), the most prevalent type of HP in Japan, is caused by seasonal mold contamination in the home environment. The causative agent of the disease is Trichosporon cutaneum. The fungus grows in warm, moldy, decaying organic matter, and scatters in the air from the colonizing places. The inhaled fungi sensitize susceptible patients intratracheally and induce the disease. Glucuronoxylomannan of the fungus has a potent antigenicity that causes granulomatous alveolitis. Assay of anti-T. cutaneum antibody is very useful to establish the diagnosis of the disease because the antibody activity is virtually positive in all cases of the disease. Elimination of T. cutaneum from the colonizing places prevents recrudescence. SHP, a new form of HP, had been considered to be peculiar to Japan, but the first case of SHP outside Japan was identified in Korea last year. Soon it will be recognized in many countries of temperate and tropical clime.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1995

Neurologic features of chronic Minamata disease (organic mercury poisoning) certified at autopsy.

To better understand the neurologic events related to chronic Minamata disease (organic mercury poisoning), we studied data from 77 patients with Minamata disease as certified at autopsies performed from 1976 to 1994 (mean age: 72.3 years). Major neurologic findings included: sensory impairment in 80.5% of the patients which was limited to the extremities in 42.9%. Impairment of lower extremity coordination was present in 35.8% of the patients, constriction of the visual fields in 28.8%, and retrocochlear hearing loss in 15.3%. There was no correlation between the degree of cerebellar incoordination and the methylmercury concentration in the cerebellum. Compared with the classic type of Minamata disease, the incidence of major neurologic findings was markedly decreased. In light of these findings, supplemental examinations including brain computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), short latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), or tremogram may be necessary to clinically diagnose Minamata disease, especially in atypical or mild cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Change in the age of onset in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy type I.

To investigate the influence of environmental factor(s) on the pathogenesis of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) type I, the age of onset in 33 FAP patients in the Arao district of Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan and in 20 of their ancestors to the 3rd prior generation was carefully examined. The age of onset in FAP patients progressively became younger. This tendency was more apparent in female FAP patients than in male patients. Since the pathogenesis of amyloid formation in FAP as well as other amyloidosis diseases is not still elucidated, this phenomenon may be of interest.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Dog liver microsomal P450 enzyme-mediated toluene biotransformation.

1. We studied toluene metabolism in dog liver microsomes and the major metabolite was benzyl alcohol with o- and p-cresol as minor metabolites. 2. The enzyme kinetics of toluene biotransformation were examined by means of Lineweaver-Burk analyses. The Michaelis-Menten values differed among the three pathways, the order being; Km, o-cresol > p-cresol > benzyl alcohol; Vmax, benzyl alcohol > o-cresol > p-cresol; and Cl(int), benzyl alcohol > p-cresol > o-cresol. 3. The formation of benzyl alcohol, o- and p-cresol from toluene was substantially inhibited by the P4502E inhibitors such as DDC (diethyldithiocarbamate) and 4-methylpyrazole in all pathways, with IC50's in the range of 0.02-0.59 mM. The P4502B inhibitors, metyrapone and secobarbital also inhibited benzyl alcohol and p-cresol formation, whereas o-cresol was not inhibited by these latter compounds. 4. Anti-rat P4502E1 antibodies inhibited benzyl alcohol, o- and p-cresol formation from 26 to 30% 0.2 ml serum/mg microsomal protein. Furthermore, anti-rat P4502B1/2 antibody inhibited benzyl alcohol and p-cresol formation (47 and 44% respectively), but not that of o-cresol. Anti-rat P4502C11/6 antibody also inhibited benzyl alcohol and p-cresol formation 31 and 24% respectively in a similar manner to that by the anti-rat P4502B1/2 antibody. 5. These results suggested that the P4502B, 2C and 2E isozymes in dog liver contribute to the formation of benzyl alcohol and p-cresol from toluene, and 2E isozyme preferentially contributes to the formation of o-cresol.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Interaction of tetrachloroethylene with rat hepatic microsomal P450-dependent monooxygenases.

1. We have studied the effects of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) on the kinetics of the P450-dependent monooxygenases in rat liver microsomes. 2. 7-Pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase (PROD) and 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylase (BROD) activities in phenobarbital (PB)-treated rat liver microsomes were substantially inhibited by PCE. The inhibition profiles were non-competitive for both enzyme activities; Ki's from Eadie-Hofsee plots were 0.16 and 0.29 mM for PROD and BROD respectively. In contrast, the enzyme activities in untreated, beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)-, isoniazid (ISN)- and pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN)-induced microsomes were not affected by PCE. 3. 7-Ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activity in PB-induced microsomes was competitively inhibited by PCE, with a Ki that was lower than those of other microsomes. 4. PCE inhibited 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in some microsomes slightly. The Ki for PCE was the lowest in untreated, followed by ISN-treated microsomes. 5. No effect of PCE upon aniline 4-hydroxylase (AN4H) and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase (TS6BH) activities was evident in any microsomal preparation. 6. These results indicate that PCE inhibits PB-inducible, P450-dependent monooxygenases in vitro non-competitively or competitively, and that the P450 enzymes of the P4502B subfamily may contribute to PCE toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

In vivo proviral burden and viral RNA expression in T cell subsets of patients with human T lymphotropic virus type-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

We used in situ hybridization combined with immunocytochemistry, cell sorting, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate clinical events in three asymptomatic carriers of human T lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) and ten patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The objective was to determine which T cell subset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), CD4 or CD8, were infected by HTLV-1 and the manner in which HTLV-1 proviral DNA was expressed at the level of the single cell. Both CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells of the PBMC from five patients with HAM/TSP were infected with HTLV-1. The proportion of HTLV-1-infected cells was 2.5-40% in the CD4-positive subset and 1.0-65% in the CD8- positive subset, when quantified by PCR using HTLV-1-infected MT2 cells as a positive standard. Proviral DNA of HTLV-1 was expressed in both CD4-positive cells and CD8-positive cells of the PBMC from six patients with HAM/TSP and three asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. In patients with HAM/TSP, the proportion of the cells expressing HTLV-1 proviral DNA was 0.02-0.1% in both subsets. In asymptomatic carriers, the expression of HTLV-1 proviral DNA was 0.01-0.02% in the CD4-positive subset and 0.01% in the CD8-positive subset. Therefore, HTLV-1 possessed similar in vivo cellular tropism for both CD4-positive cells and CD8-positive cells and HTLV-1 proviral DNA was expressed in vivo in both circulating T cell subsets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗