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Biomedical subjects

M Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Hashimoto.

At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources

Aortic regurgitation: quantitation with MR imaging velocity mapping.

Aortic regurgitation (AR) in five healthy volunteers and 26 patients (mean age, 60.3 years; range, 25-83 years) was quantitatively measured with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging velocity mapping. Cine transverse images of the ascending aorta (32 phases per cardiac cycle) were acquired by using a gradient-echo sequence with a velocity-encoding bipolar pulse applied in the section-selection direction with a 1.5-T MR imaging unit. The aortic flow was calculated by integrating the product of area and mean velocity of the ascending aorta at each phase over a cardiac cycle. The negative and positive velocity values indicated antegrade and regurgitant flow, respectively, which allowed calculation of forward and regurgitant flow. Inter- and intraobserver variation of regurgitant fraction (RF) measurement was small (r = .956, standard error of the estimate [SEE] = 1.2%, n = 31; and r = .998, SEE = 0.35%, n = 10, respectively). RF determined with MR imaging agreed well with Doppler echocardiographic (n = 26) and aortographic (n = 9) grading of AR. Reproducible, quantitative, and noninvasive measurement of AR is possible with MR velocity mapping.

Adult↗

Dependence of endothelium-mediated relaxation on oxygen and metabolism in porcine coronary arteries.

Hypoxia has major effects on endothelium-dependent relaxation. To further understand the underlying mechanism(s), we investigated the O2 dependence of the endothelium-dependent relaxations elicited by ionophore A-23187 or agonists substance P (SP) or thrombin (TB) in porcine coronary arteries. A-23187 elicits an endothelium-dependent relaxation of KCl- or U-46619-induced contractures that can be described in terms of a rapid and slow phase. The duration of the relaxation was dose dependent. SP (10 nM) and TB (0.1 U/ml) also elicited endothelium-dependent relaxations that were rapid but transient. Hypoxic conditions (95% N2-5% CO2 instead of 95% O2-5% CO2; PO2 < 1%) abolished the A-23187 rapid phase and the SP and TB transient relaxation but not the A-23187 slow phase. Threshold PO2 for the rapid phase was approximately 35 mmHg. Pretreatment with cyanide (5 mM), to inhibit respiration, or 2-deoxy-D-glucose, to inhibit glycolysis, had little effect. Similarly, propranolol (10 microM) or indomethacin (10 microM) had no effect on the relaxation to A-23187, TB, or SP. In contrast, both NO synthesis inhibitors and ouabain blunted all endothelium-dependent relaxations studied. Our results suggest that the rapid relaxations to A-23187, SP, and TB are sensitive to O2 but not mitochondrial respiration. The slow sustained relaxation induced by A-23187, however, is characterized by a sensitivity to O2 that is distinct from that of the rapid phase, yet is dependent on an intact endothelium and is affected by NO synthesis inhibitors. Thus the endothelium-dependent relaxation to A-23187 is probably mediated by NO, but its sensitivity to O2 suggests that two distinct mechanisms may be involved.

Animals↗

Comparison of schizophrenic delusions between Japan and Germany.

The content of schizophrenic delusions of 150 German patients in the Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Tübingen and those of 324 Japanese patients (ICD-9:295) were compared according to the classification of Huber and Gross. The comparison revealed significantly higher frequencies of delusions of poisoning (18 vs. 8%; p < 0.01) and jealousy (6 vs. 1.9%; p < 0.05) in the German cases, but there was no significant difference in the incidence of comprehensive injury delusions. There was also no significant difference in the incidence of comprehensive grandeur delusions. However, comprehensive belittlement delusions were more frequent in the German group (24 vs. 13.3%; p < 0.01). Among the delusions of this type, the themes of guilt/sin (15.3 vs. 4.9%; p < 0.001), particularly those related to religion, were more frequent in the German group. Although religious delusions were more frequent in the German group (21.3 vs. 6.8%; p < 0.001), the difference regarding the incidence of 'delusions of world destruction' was not statistically significant. Among the persecution/injury delusions, themes of direct persecution from others (Verfolgungswahn) were conspicuous in the German group, whereas delusions of reference (Beziehungswahn) related to harassment, such as 'being slandered by others' or 'being known', were common in the Japanese group. Namely, the difference in the content of these persecution/injury delusions may derive from the different types of self in the two countries: the individually oriented self in Germany and the group-oriented self in Japan. Delusions of guilt/sin in the German group may reflect the characteristics of sin in Christianity.

Adult↗

Expression of follistatin, an activin-binding protein, in vascular smooth muscle cells and arteriosclerotic lesions.

Activin-A has a mitogenic effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and is produced by monocyte/macrophage lineage cells. Here, we studied the expression of follistatin, an activin-binding protein, in both A10 cells, a rat aortic SMC line, and vascular SMCs derived from adult rat aorta. Follistatin mRNA was detected in these cells by Northern blot analysis. Ligand blot and immunoblot analyses demonstrated that follistatin was produced in the conditioned medium at a higher level by A10 cells than by SMCs. Furthermore, immunostaining and in situ hybridization of the arteriosclerotic lesions showed that follistatin was highly expressed in the diseased artery, where abnormal proliferation of SMCs occurred. We suggest that follistatin is produced by vascular SMCs and is involved in the course of atherogenesis.

Activins↗

Protooncogene junB as a target for activin actions.

Activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta family of peptides, is implicated in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation in a variety of biological systems. We have sought to identify immediate early genes whose altered expression may provide a common nuclear event involved in activin-regulated phenotypic changes in many cell types. In both human K562 myelogenous leukemia and rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, activin treatment caused transient transcription-dependent and protein synthesis-independent increases of junB messenger RNA (mRNA) within 1 h, whereas neither c-jun nor c-fos mRNA were inducible. In K562 cells, this selective junB mRNA induction was synergistically augmented by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate but not affected by forskolin. Furthermore, in PC12 cells, the up-regulation of junB mRNA by activin was observable even after high-dose treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate for 48 h, indicating that junB mRNA expression by activin is independent of both A- and C-kinases. Our report suggests that induction of this ubiquitous gene product may be a critical event shared by a set of activin-responsive tissues.

Activins↗

Serum hemolytic activity of Babesia gibsoni-infected dogs: the difference in the activity between self and nonself red blood cells.

The serum hemolytic activity of Babesia gibsoni-infected dogs varied when assayed with nonself red blood cells from different dogs, whereas it did not vary when assayed with red blood cells, irrespective of self or nonself, from a particular dog throughout the experiment. The variety in activity determined with nonself red blood cells was not related to the type of red blood cell by DEA, D and J systems. Serum hemolytic activity with self red blood cells was different in the course of infection from that with nonself red blood cells, especially in the late stage of infection, when the activity with self red blood cells decreased more rapidly than that with nonself red blood cells. The results indicate that the serum hemolytic activity of B. gibsoni-infected dogs determined with self red blood cells probably reflects the in vivo activity, suggesting that the rapid decrease in activity in the late stage of infection is a way of acquired resistances for the host to recover from hemolytic anemia in the infection. The facts that the hemolytic activity increased by heating the serum at 56 degrees C, that the osmotic fragility of red blood cells remained almost on the same during the course of infection and that Coombs' test for red blood cells of the infected animal was negative suggest that the immune-mediated hemolytic anemia is not a possible mechanism for the progressive and severe anemia in B. gibsoni-infection. The present results support the previous notion that the increased serum hemolytic activity is at least one of the causes of anemia in canine B. gibsoni-infection.

Animals↗

A HTLV-I carrier who showed various symptoms and antibodies of autoimmune diseases.

We report a 37-year-old female HTLV-I carrier with complicating primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Serum anti-HTLV-I antibody titer was x256. Flower cells (4.5%) were found in the peripheral blood. Southern blot analysis showed no clonal integration in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) DNA. Polymerase chain reaction showed the HTLV-I genome in PBL DNA. As cholestatic liver dysfunction and serum titer of anti-mitochondrial antibody were found, a clinical diagnosis of PBC was made. This patient later developed MCTD. These diseases responded well to prednisone. The pathogenetic relationship of HTLV-I infection with various autoimmune diseases is discussed.

Adult↗

[Voice rehabilitation with esophageal speech in the laryngectomized].

From January 1988 to December 1990, 186 patients with laryngeal cancer or hypopharyngeal cancer underwent total laryngectomy in our hospital. We studied voice restoration in 110 of these patients by means of a direct interview method at the end of 1991. Seventy-six cases were excluded because of death (70) or being lost to follow-up (6). About 80% of the patients (89/110) attended esophageal speech classes, with a success rate of 78% (69/89). Seventy-four percent (51/69) had no problems with daily oral communication using esophageal speech. Neither radiation therapy nor post operative pharyngocutaneous fistula formation influenced the success rate. Neither did the site of the primary tumor in the larynx or hypopharynx exert an influence, although patients with laryngeal cancer were superior to those with hypopharyngeal cancer in terms of the quality of esophageal speech. It was found that age was the most important factor. Patients below 60 years old had a 90% success rate, between 60 and 75 the rate was 60% and above 75 it was only 10%. Unfortunately, 15% (17/110) of the laryngectomized patients used a pen and pad alone. Most were too old to attend esophageal speech classes.

Adult↗

[Correlates associated with desire by caregivers to transfer elderly from home care to institutions].

A questionnaire survey was performed on 183 caregivers of elderly listed on a roster for utilization of day service or short stay service in nursing homes in order to elucidate the following; actual conditions of care at home; percentage desiring to transfer to institutionalized care in hospital, nursing homes and geriatric intermediate care facilities, reasons for continuing care at home; and factors relating to desire for transferring to institutionalized care. Results are as follows; Major items of troubles expressed by caregivers were; "high stress and mental fatigue" (55.7%), "unable to freely go out from home" (54.1%), and "loss of personal time" (46.4%), "heavy burden from food preparation, body discharge disposal and bathing of the elderly" (40.0%). 41.5% of caregivers expressed desire for transfer of elderly to institutional care. Of those who desire transfer to hospital care, 21.1% were continuing home care due to non-availability of appropriate hospital, 44.7% because of inability to meet the demand for assisting in the nursing of the elderly during hospitalization, 26.3% because they were turned away by the hospital. Where transfer to nursing homes was desired but not realized, 20.0% reported lack of nursing homes nearby. Where desire was for transfer to geriatric intermediate care facilities, lack of such facilities was reported by 37.5%. Analysis was performed to elucidate the factors that determine whether a caregiver would demand a transfer to an institutions. Main factors were age of caregiver, family relationships, family finance, the frequency of occurrence of problems with home care, and whether or not they themselves would accept institutional care when that time came. Main factors associated with the cared elderly desiring institutional care were eating ability, speaking ability and mental status score. Analysis of the problems related to desire to transfer to institutional care showed their factors such as whether or not there was room available for home care, financial family burden, perceived interference with personal time by the home care, and perception of appropriateness of coping with symptom change of elderly, all have significant relationships.

Adult↗

[New surgical strategy for secondary hyperparathyroidism].

Extopic parathyroid glands and rudimentary glands which are not detected during initial parathyroidectomy may develop hyperplasia in the future, causing recurrence of hyperthyroidism. We have devised an improved surgical strategy to prevent the recurrence of hyperparathyroidism. The strategy is to dissect all central lymph nodes and fatty tissue according to the procedure of the dissection of thyroid cancer. The upper level of the dissection area is the upper edge of the thyroid cartilage and the lateral level of the dissection includes the lateral edge of the bilateral carotid sheath. Bilateral transcervical thymectomy is always included in this strategy. Upon confirming that more than 4 glands have been removed by intraoperative stamp cytology, total parathyroidectomy is terminated and 80 mg of glands is autotransplanted to the muscle of one forearm. We have performed this operation on 30 patients since 1987. More than 4 glands could be extirpated in every case, and supernumerary glands were detected in 6 cases (7 glands in 1 case and 5 glands in 4 cases). We have had no operative side effects in this series of 30 patients, and we have not experienced any persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism after any of these operations.

Adult↗

Cloning of a gene required for the alkaliphily of alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain C-125.

An alkali-sensitive mutant was obtained from alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain C-125. A DNA fragment required for the alkaliphily was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of strain C-125 by using the alkali-sensitive mutant as a host. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA fragment indicated the occurrence of several ORFs. Comparison of these ORFs with sequences in the available databases revealed no closely related sequences.

Bacillus↗

[Effect of enalapril on left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular function in patients with hypertension].

The aim of this study was to study the effect of enalapril (E) on left ventricular (LV) mass, LV function and blood renin-angiotensin (RA) in patients with hypertension. Sixteen hypertensives were included in this study (WHO I 8, WHO II 8, 49.5 +/- 10.5 yrs). They were examined for blood pressure and heart rate. Chest X-ray film, echocardiography (echo), X-ray computed tomography (CT) and RA before and after about 6 months of E administration were studied. The LV mass was calculated by CT. The LV function was measured by echo. RAS was unchanged during this study. LV mass was significantly reduced after E (121.4 +/- 25.6 vs 104.6 +/- 13.7 g/cm2). The LV systolic function was unchanged after E, but LV diastolic function improved. It was shown that the long-term administration of E improves LV hypertrophy and LV diastolic function without any change of RAS.

Adult↗

[Coronary revascularization using profound hypothermia with elective ventricular fibrillation and total circulatory arrest].

Profound hypothermia with elective ventricular fibrillation and total circulatory arrest was used in a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with severe calcification of the ascending aorta. A 76-year-old woman with unstable angina was referred for coronary revascularization. Ascending aorta was severely calcified with the exception of limited region of proximal ascending aorta, and the coronary arteriography showed high-grade obstruction of the left anterior descending (LAD) and dominant right coronary artery (RCA). The left internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to the LAD, and the saphenous vein graft to the RCA under systemic moderate hypothermia and elective ventricular fibrillation. During the proximal anastomosis of the saphenous vein graft to the non-calcified ascending aorta, profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest was instituted for 11 minutes. The wean from extracorporeal circulation was successful, and the postoperative course was uneventful.

Aged↗

[Clinical study on judgement of brain death by the nasopharyngeal lead with the aid of an automatic EEG analysis system].

We investigated the relationship between scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and nasopharyngeal EEG using Automatic EEG Analysis System in 10 patients with the age between 17 and 66 who were clinically presumed brain death because of flat line EEG and loss of auditory brainstem response (ABR). Among 10 patients, nasopharyngeal lead EEG showed low voltage and slow waves of 10-20 microV in 4 cases and flat line EEG in 6 cases. However, Automatic EEG Analysis system-assisted analysis of EEGs recorded on a magnetic tape revealed that equivalent electric potentials in the scalp EEG from these patients were smaller than those of healthy volunteers, but those in the nasopharyngeal EEG from all patients showed low voltage within the range of distribution in normal volunteers (delta:6, theta 1:6, theta 2:2, alpha 1:1, alpha 3:10, beta 1:6 in 10 cases). The present results show that in addition to the routine scalp EEG, it is clinically useful to employ simple and easy nasopharyngeal lead EEG method and to analyze data using Automatic EEG Analysis System for the judgement of brain death.

Adolescent↗

[A resected case of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma simulating fetal lung tubules which is a variant of pulmonary blastoma].

A case of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma simulating fetal lung tubules which is a variant of pulmonary blastoma is reported. A 31-year-old female with an abnormal shadow in the right upper lung field detected by chest X-P during a follow-up for sarcoidosis during pregnancy underwent right upper lobectomy. Post operative histological diagnosis was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma simulating fetal lung tubules. This tumor might be a variant of pulmonary blastoma lacking the sarcomatous features and showing one-sided development of the epithelial component. However, it has been reported by various names, and classifications of pulmonary blastoma differed slightly depending on the reporter. There are also some discrepancies in the clinical course and prognosis of the tumor. Therefore it is considered that further examination of this tumor is necessary.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Intraoperative assessment of left ventricular function with left ventricular pressure-volume relationships in patients with open heart surgery].

There are few reports on the assessment of the left ventricular function from left pressure-volume relationships intraoperatively in open heart surgery. LV Emax, Ea/Ees and EW/PVA efficiency were assessed intraoperatively by using a left ventricular conductance catheter in patients with aortocoronary bypass. After dobutamine administration (DOB, 10 micrograms/kg/min), LV Emax was increased by 33 +/- 23% during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and 60 +/- 38% after weaning from CPB. Ea/Ees changed from 2.14 +/- 1.36 to 1.08 +/- 0.47 after weaning from CPB with dobutamine administration. EW/PVA efficiency changed from 52 +/- 12% to 66 +/- 10%. The change of LV Emax after dobutamine administration was correlated with the change of LV Emax after weaning from CPB and was correlated with Ea/Ees and EW/PVA efficiency after weaning from CPB. We concluded that measuring LV Emax before and after dobutamine administration during CPB is useful to assess left ventricular contraction clinically.

Aged↗

[Functional capacity of the elderly: measurement by the TMIG Index of Competence].

The functional capacity of the elderly was assessed in a national representative sample of elderly community residents. A stratified multistage random sampling yielded, 2,240 eligible persons, and 80.8% of them (n = 1,810) were successfully interviewed. The respondents ranged in age from 65 to 96 years, and the average age was 72.5 years; 43.2% of them were men, and the remaining 56.8% were women. The TMIG Index of Competence, a standardized multidimensional 13-item index of competence, was used for measuring the functional capacity. The total score of the index (maximum 13 points) showed a negatively skewed leptokurtic distribution: 69.6% of the respondents scored 11 points or greater while the mean was 10.8 points. A multiple classification analysis of the total score utilizing age, gender, educational attainment, and size of community as independent variables showed significant effects of age and educational attainment; the score significantly decreased with age, and the highly educated elderly showed higher score than those with lower educational attainment. The results of this study show that the majority of the elderly living in the community are well in functional capacity though the capacity tends to decline with age. The distribution of total scores observed in this study can be considered as a national standard of distribution of functional capacity measured by the TMIG Index Competence.

Activities of Daily Living↗