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Biomedical subjects

M Asai

Publications and source records attributed to M Asai.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Association between dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III polymorphism and novelty seeking in Japanese subjects.

This study was designed to assess the association between novelty seeking and D4DR gene polymorphism in the Japanese population. The 48 bp repeat polymorphism in the third exon of the dopamine D4 receptor gene of 153 normal female students was correlated with personality feature results from the Japanese version of Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory. The Novelty Seeking subscale of Exploratory Excitability had a significant association with long alleles of the polymorphic exon III repeat sequence of D4DR. Our results suggest that there is an association between long alleles of the polymorphic exon III repeat sequence of D4DR and the personality traits of the Novelty Seeking subscale of Exploratory Excitability, regardless of racial differences in the frequencies of D4DR exon III repeat polymorphism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Versatility of the free anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of head and neck defects.

OBJECTIVE: The anterolateral thigh flap has many advantages in head and neck reconstruction. However, it has not yet come into widespread use because of the anatomic variations of its perforators. Herein, we describe a safe operative technique related to the patterns of the perforators and discuss its wide versatility. SETTING: A national cancer center hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight anterolateral thigh flaps were transferred. Confirmation and dissection of the flap pedicle were simultaneously performed with tumor resection. The design and elevation of the flap were carried out immediately after the tumor resection was completed. RESULTS: From the study of the anatomic variations of the perforators, septocutaneous patterns were recognized in 10 cases (26.3%) and musculocutaneous patterns in 28 cases (73.7%). All flaps were easily and safely elevated with our techniques. Thirty-six flaps survived. Partial necrosis was noted owing to excessive thinning procedure in one patient and total necrosis was noted owing to venous thrombosis at the anastomosis part in another patient. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the anterolateral thigh flap has numerous advantages. It is possible to perform the flap elevation and the tumor resection simultaneously. The flap is generally thin and is suitable for reconstruction of intraoral defects. Combined flaps with neighboring tissues and other, distant flaps can be used. Furthermore, since our technique minimizes the problems of confirmation and dissection of the perforators, we conclude that this flap can be successfully used to repair a variety of large defects of the head and neck.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Preservation of the larynx after resection of a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx: versatility of a free flap patch graft.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of the larynx after resection of a pharyngeal tumor remains a challenging problem for the head and neck surgeon. METHODS: Nine patients with T1 or T2 carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx (UICC 1987), who were treated surgically between 1984 and 1994, were studied. All patients underwent surgical resection of the tumor with laryngeal preservation and immediate reconstruction with free flap transfer. A free forearm flap was transferred in four patients and a free jejunal patch graft, in five patients. RESULTS: There was one flap loss, due to venous thrombosis. Successful larynx preservation was achieved in the remaining eight patients (89%). Although there was one local control failure, three patients remained free of disease for more than 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal preservation surgery using a free flap patch graft has proven very beneficial in selected cases with a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasoactive actions of a Japanese kampo medicine, Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to.

Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (TJ-12) is a Japanese kampo medicine used clinically for the treatment of hypertension and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of TJ-12 on the contraction of rat thoracic aorta induced by norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and high potassium. TJ-12 relaxed endothelium-denuded rings, which had been precontracted with 1 microM norepinephrine, in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 50 micrograms/mL. However, in the presence of TJ-12, endothelium-intact rings initially showed enhanced norepinephrine-induced contraction, followed by relaxation. Interestingly, TJ-12 dose-dependently reversed nitric oxide (2 microM)-induced relaxation of norepinephrine-induced precontraction ofendothelium-denuded rings, with an IC50 of 20 micrograms/mL. In serotonin-contracted rings, TJ-12 caused slight, though statistically significant, relaxation only at high doses (> 200 micrograms/mL). In constrat to these receptor-mediated contractions, TJ-12 failed to affect the tension produced by high potassium 40 mM). These results suggest that the antihypertensive effects of TJ-12 could be related to inhibition of norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction. In addition, our in vitro experiments revealed an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide-induced relaxation.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Low superoxide dismutase activity in schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia.

BACKGROUND: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a therapy-resistant adverse effect of neuroleptics. Although the exact pathophysiology of TD is unknown, oxygen radicals have been speculated to play a role in TD based on several lines of evidence. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a key enzyme which scavenges oxygen radicals. The authors investigated the association between erythrocyte SOD activity and TD. METHODS: Erythrocyte SOD activities were measured, blinded as to the presence or absence of TD. In 30 patients with schizophrenia who had been on typical neuroleptics for more than 10 years. TD severity was independently assessed, using the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS), by two raters. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in erythrocyte SOD activity in the definite TD group (N = 10) as compared with the no TD (N = 8) and questionable TD (N = 12) groups. Erythrocyte Cu,Zn-SOD activities correlated with AIMS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TD had low SOD activities as compared to those without TD. As a causal link between SOD activity and TD was not established in this study, larger prospective studies are warranted to determine whether patients with low SOD activity are susceptible to neuroleptic-induced TD.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Immobilization stress increases mRNA levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in various rat brain regions.

1. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), as well as the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) gene response to immobilization stress (IMS), was examined in the rat brain. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine mRNA levels. 3. IL-1 beta and IL-1Ra mRNA levels peaked at approximately 0.5 and 2-4 hr, respectively. The maximum mRNA levels of IL-1 beta were 15-fold higher than pre-IMS levels, whereas those of IL-1Ra were 250-fold higher in the hypothalamus. 3. After the biosynthesis of IL-1 beta has peaked, IL-1Ra may contribute to attenuation of the IL-1 activity which has been enhanced by IMS.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Acoustic effect of malleus head removal and tensor tympani muscle section on middle ear reconstruction.

In the reconstruction of ears with a missing incus, an incus replacement prosthesis (IRP) is commonly used to connect malleus and stapes. In some cases, it is necessary to resect the malleus head and/or section the tensor tympani muscle (TTM) tendon. The acoustic effects of these maneuvers have not been well studied. We performed experiments in a temporal bone model to measure the effect of these maneuvers on middle ear sound transmission. Measurements of umbo and stapes displacement were made before and after malleus head removal and TTM section plus incus replacement with an IRP. After malleus head removal, there was a peak gain in stapes displacement of 6 dB below 0.5 kHz and 8 dB above 2.5 kHz. TTM section had a similar but lesser effect. A clinical example is described.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1997

Impact of sociodemographic and diabetes-related characteristics on depressive state among non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

One hundred and fifty-one non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were assessed to detect sociodemographic, psychological and disease-related characteristics that were related to depressive state among diabetic patients. Depressive state in the patients was correlated with poor social support and low economic status, premorbid neurotic personality and the presence of complications, retinopathy in particular. However, depressive state did not correlate with age, gender, education, serum level of HbA1C or duration of diabetes. The severity of the depressive state in diabetic patients may vary with the cultural background of the patient and/or the country in which he or she is living. In treating diabetic patients, doctors need to pay special attention to these factors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

[Antibacterial actin of vinegar against food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Part 1). Examination of bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities].

Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of vinegar products against food-borne pathogenic bacteria including enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7, and other bacteria were examined. By the presence of spirit vinegar at 0.1% acidity, the growth of 34 strains of bacteria was completely inhibited. Grain and rice vinegars also inhibited the growth of bacteria at the same acidity. These results suggest that vinegars have strong bacteriostatic activity. Bactericidal activity of vinegar products was measured. The order of their activities against E. coli O157:H7 strains was spirit vinegar > grain vinegar > rice vinegar. Susceptibility of 7 EHEC strains (6 E. coli O157:H7 isolated from 3 outbreaks and 1 E. coli O26:H11 from a sporadic case) to spirit vinegar was similar to each other, and much lower than that of an enteropathogenic E. coli O111:K58:H- strain. It indicates that these EHEC strains are rather acid-tolerant. The bactericidal activities of vinegars were independent of bacterial inoculum sizes, but were dependent of growth phase. Bacteria of logarithmic growth phase were more sensitive than those of stationary phase. Bactericidal activity of spirit vinegar profoundly depended on the reaction temperature. At higher temperatures, spirit vinegar killed bacteria much more rapidly. In 2.5% acidity vinegar, the times for the log3 reduction of cells were 4,516 min at 10 degrees C, 739 min at 20 degrees C, 137 min at 30 degrees C, 14.4 min at 40 degrees C, and 0.84 min at 50 degrees C, respectively. These results suggest that treatment with vinegar solution at handy temperatures ranged 40-50 degrees C may be one of the useful methods to prevent bacterial food poisoning.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed1997

[Antibacterial actin of vinegar against food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Part 2). Effect of sodium chloride and temperature on bactericidal activity].

Bactericidal effects of various kinds of AWASEZU (processed vinegar, 2.5% acidity) on food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other bacteria were examined. the order of bactericidal activities was NIHAIZU (3.5% NaCl was added) > SANBA-IZU (3.5% NaCl and 10% sucrose were added) > plain vinegar (spirit vinegar) > AMAZU (10% sucrose was added). This indicates that their activities were enhanced by the addition of sodium chloride and suppressed by the addition of sugar. On the other hand, when soy sauce was used instead of sodium chloride, the order of bactericidal activities was plain vinegar > AMAZU > NIHAIZU > SANBAIZU. This is mainly because their activities were suppressed by the increase in the pH value. The effect of sodium chloride (0.01-15%) and temperature (10-50 degrees C) on bactericidal activities against E. coli O157:H7 in spirit vinegar (0.5-2.5% acidity) was further examined. When vinegar was used in combination with sodium chloride, predominant synergism on the bactericidal activity was observed. Their activities were markedly enhanced by the addition of sodium chloride in proportion to the concentration. In addition to this, at higher temperatures spirit vinegar killed bacteria much more rapidly. It should be noted that the bactericidal activity of spirit vinegar was extremely enhanced by the combined use of the addition of sodium chloride and the rise of temperature. For example, in 2.5% acidity vinegar, the time required for 3 log decrease in viable cell numbers at 20 degrees C was shortened to 1/140-fold by the addition of 5% sodium chloride, shortened to 1/51-fold by the rise of the reaction temperature at 40 degrees C, and shortened to 1/830-fold; 0.89 minutes by both the addition of 5% sodium chloride and the rise of temperature at 40 degrees C. In order to propose the methods to prevent food poisoning by bacterial infection, bactericidal activities of vinegar solution containing sodium chloride on cooking tools and raw vegetables were examined. Vinegar solution (1-2% acidity, 3-7% NaCl) produced more than 3 log decrease in viable cell numbers of E. coli O157:H7 on the surface of cutting board, and cabbage and cucumber at 20-50 degrees C. These results suggested that the treatment with vinegar solution containing sodium chloride may be one of the useful methods to prevent food poisoning.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical study of acute supraglottitis as a disease entity].

Adult supraglottitis is an acute inflammation of the supraglottic structures first reported by Shapiro et al. While multiple anatomical sites in the larynx and oropharynx are inflamed, the epiglottis is not always the most involved area. In this paper, we refer to "adult supraglottitis" as "acute supraglottitis" because pediatric supraglottitis is rare in Japan. There have been no reports of acute supraglottitis in Japan to date. We report a clinical study of 15 cases of acute supraglottitis. In addition, we investigated whether acute supraglottitis can be recognized as a special form of acute laryngitis, the same as epiglottitis. Thirteen of 15 patients had severe sore throat or pain on swallowing. Oropharyngeal and laryngeal examinations revealed that the most involved area in the oropharynx and larynx was the aryepiglottic folds and the arytenoids. Five patients with edema extending from the aryepiglottic folds to the arytenoids complained of referred otalgia on swallowing. Strep. Pyogenes, Strep, pneumoniae, alpha-strep., and Staph aureus were isolated from the oropharynx. All patients were hospitalized because of severe presenting symptoms. Treatment consisted of intravenous antibiotics, including piperacillin, clindamycin, flomoxef, aspoxicillin, and cefotiam. Nine patients also received intravenous steroids. Signs and symptoms of supraglottitis resolved within 10 days in every case. No patient required airway intervention. Acute supraglottitis manifested more severe clinical symptoms than acute laryngitis. the local inflammatory findings of this disease were different from those of acute laryngitis and epiglottitis. therefore, we propose that acute supraglottitis is a special form of acute laryngitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Dexamethasone and nitric oxide synthase gene expression in brain.

Systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which causes endotoxemia and systemic inflammation, has been reported to induce expression of the gene for type II inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in peripheral organs. This study was carried out to examine whether intraperitoneally injected LPS elicits the expression of iNOS messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the rat brain. We also investigated whether intraperitoneal treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) prevents this induction. To determine levels of iNOS mRNA, a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was employed. Treatment with LPS induced the expression of iNOS mRNA in various brain regions, accounting for approximately 1 x 10(5) to 4 x 10(5) molecules per micrograms of poly A+ RNA, and these inductions were markedly suppressed by DEX. The results suggest that, during systemic inflammation, iNOS mRNA induction occurs in brain through a DEX-sensitive mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

How to decrease false-positive cases of ovarian cancer screening by transvaginal sonography.

Screening for ovarian cancer is an important step in improving ovarian cancer mortality. This is a report of screening for ovarian cancer using transvaginal sonography (TVS) on 2,095 asymptomatic women during the past four years. Ovarian tumors over 30 mm in diameter were detected in 87 women (4.2%). Fourteen tumors were morphologically classified as complex type and 73 as cystic type. Only 12 tumors were palpable on bimanual vaginal examination. Seven women with complex type tumors underwent laparotomy and their pathological diagnoses revealed 3 dermoid cysts, 3 endometrioid cysts and 1 ovarian cancer. Two women with cystic type tumors underwent laparotomy and their pathological diagnoses revealed 1 paraovarian cyst and 1 endometrioid cyst. Many ovarian tumors were detected at prolonged cycle of menstruation and 69% of them disappeared in repeated TVS. Sixty percent of ovarian cystic tumors under 50 mm in diameter also disappeared in repeated TVS. Close attention to menstrual cycle and morphologic findings is needed to decrease false-positive cases in TVS screening for ovarian cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of vestibular rehabilitation on postural control.

We evaluated the effects of vestibular rehabilitation on postural instability in 2 patients with unilateral and bilateral reduced vestibular function. Another patient with unilateral vestibular disorder was treated with drugs without vestibular rehabilitation. The outcome of postural control in these 3 patients was measured using an EquiTest. With this apparatus, improvement of postural stability and change of postural strategy were measured under the condition eyes closed and platform movement was dependent on the subject's anterior-posterior sway. The observations suggest that the vestibular rehabilitation had a positive effect not only on postural stability but also on postural strategy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Induction of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mRNA by chronic treatment with various psychotropics in widespread area of rat brain.

We investigated whether psychotropics orally administered to rats affect levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) mRNA in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, frontal cortex, and brain stem, using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. The psychotropics tested were chlorpromazine, haloperidol, imipramine, maprotiline, fluvoxamine, and diazepam. Treatment for 28 days raised the levels of both mRNAs. The increase in IL-1Ra mRNA was 6-112 times larger than that of IL-1 beta mRNA in most brain regions examined. These results suggest that chronic treatment with psychotropics causes greater amplifying effects on IL-1Ra mRNA than IL-1 beta mRNA in the brain.

Animals↗