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Biomedical subjects

M Hirano

Publications and source records attributed to M Hirano.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

The accent method of voice therapy: effect of accentuations on FO, SPL, and airflow.

The effect of the increased flow rate (delta U) in response to the Accent Method exercises on fundamental frequency (FO) and sound pressure level (SPL) was studied in three subjects (professionally trained, trained, and untrained in this method). In all the subjects, the rhythmic accentuated exercises produced a variable degree of increase in FO (delta FO) and SPL (delta SPL). The professionally trained subject showed greater delta FO and delta SPL in response to the delta U in the fastest tempo, which requires higher skills. Both trained subjects showed a greater correlation between delta U and both delta SPL and delta FO, as well as between delta FO and delta SPL, as compared to the untrained subject. The effects of the accentuated exercises on FO and SPL in response to the increased airflow rate (delta U) thus appear to demonstrate the treating effectiveness of the Accent Method.

Adult↗

Distribution of SP- and CGRP-immunoreactivity in the cat's larynx.

The distribution of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive (ir) fibres in the cat's larynx was investigated utilizing immunohistochemistry. Many SP- and CGRP-ir fibres with varicosities were found within and below the epithelium and along the basement membrane of the mucosa of all different regions except in the membranous portion of the vocal fold. In the subepithelium, some SP- and CGRP-ir nerve bundles and nerve fibres were recognized around the vessels and glands. In the mucosa, the pattern of distribution and the density of SR-ir fibres were similar to those of CGRP-ir fibres. These reactive fibres were denser in the supraglottic region than in the subglottic region. In the taste bud-like structures, only SP-ir fibres appeared, whereas in the motor endplates, CGRP-reaction was found exclusively. The present findings suggest that the regional distribution of SP- and CGRP-immunoreactivity might be related with sensory and autonomic innervation in the larynx.

Animals↗

CGRP-immunoreactive cells supplying laryngeal sensory nerve fibres in the cat's nodose ganglion.

Through a combination of retrograde staining by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and immunohistochemistry, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-reactive sensory neurons projecting from the laryngeal mucosa were detected in the feline nodose ganglion. The size of the CGRP-immunoreactive cell which was regarded as a laryngeal sensory neuron, was about 60 microns in diameter: the shape of the immunoreactive laryngeal sensory neuron was unipolar. CGRP-reacted laryngeal sensory cells were found in the rostral part of the nodose ganglion extending to the middle part. They aggregated in the most rostral part, were sparse in other parts and were approximately 50 per cent of WGA-reactive laryngeal sensory neurons in number. Our results suggest that this neurotransmitter might play an important role in laryngeal peripheral sensory innervation.

Animals↗

Influence of a small number of mature T cells in donor bone marrow inocula on reconstitution of lymphoid tissues and negative selection of a T cell repertoire in the recipient.

Allo-chimerism and clonal elimination of self antigen (Ag) (Ia + Mls-1a) reactive V beta 6+ T cells were analyzed and compared between allogeneic bone marrow (BM) chimeras reconstituted with BM cells which had been treated with anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus complement (C) (T- chimeras) and BM chimeras which had been reconstituted with BM cells pretreated with anti-Thy-1 mAb alone (T+ chimeras). When lethally irradiated AKR (Mls-1a) mice were reconstituted with BM cells from B10 or B10 H-2 congenic mice, both T+ and T- chimeras were entirely free of signs of graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). However, complete replacement of the AKR lymphoid tissues by donor BM cells was accomplished at an early stage in T+ chimeras but not in T- chimeras. On the other hand, clonal elimination of V beta 6+ T cells reactive to the recipient Ag (Mls-1a) was abolished in T+ chimeras but successfully induced in T- chimeras. The V beta 6+ T cells not eliminated in T+ chimeras showed depressed responses against Mls-1a antigens. The findings herein demonstrate that T cells which contaminate a BM inoculum survive in recipient mice after treatment with anti-Thy-1 mAb without C in vitro followed by BMT. The surviving T cells have been estimated to represent fewer than 0.5% of the BM cells inoculated. These cells appear to accelerate the full replacement of recipient lymphoid tissues by donor cells. Furthermore, the T cells which survive in the marrow inoculum influence eventually the development of a tolerant state in the T cell repertoire of the donor.

Animals↗

An autopsy case of coexisting portal systemic encephalopathy and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

An autopsy case of portal systemic encephalopathy and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type coexisting in a 77-year-old man is described. The patient had suffered recurrent episodes of delirium after a subtotal gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. He died of DIC 45 months after the gastrectomy. A pathological examination revealed a vascular plexus around the liver which might have served as collateral circulation. Neuropathologically, spongy necrosis and Alzheimer type II changes of astrocytes were found in the basal ganglia and fronto-occipital cortices. In the same anatomical regions, only immunohistological staining using antibody against amyloid beta-protein and the periodic-acid methenamine silver method revealed abundant neuriticplaques, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and diffuse plaques. We discussed the clinicopathological findings in this case.

Aged↗

Hepatic arterial and portal venous oxygen content and extraction in liver cirrhosis.

We examined the oxygen content in the hepatic arterial, hepatic venous and portal venous blood to evaluate the oxygen supply to the liver and hepatic oxygen extraction in cirrhosis. The arterial-portal venous difference of the oxygen content was within the normal range in cirrhosis patients, although the oxygen content of the hepatic artery and portal vein was lower than in the control patients. The hepatic venous oxygen content was normal in the cirrhosis patients. The oxygen tension and saturation were always higher in the splenic vein than in the other branches of the portal system. Oxygen was supplied chiefly by the hepatic artery, and arterial oxygen extraction was normal in cirrhosis. In addition, there was no change in arterial extraction during oxygen inhalation by cirrhosis patients. Portal venous oxygen extraction was decreased in cirrhosis and was increased by oxygen inhalation. These findings indicate the autoregulation of hepatic oxygen through a mutual relationship between the hepatic arterial and the portovenous oxygen supply.

Female↗

Cytochrome C oxidase deficiency and neuronal involvement in Menkes' kinky hair disease: immunohistochemical study.

Antibodies against subunits II and IV of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and against complex III of the respiratory chain were used to study the expression of these proteins in the cerebellum, spinal cord, and other regions of the central nervous system in an autoptic case of Menkes' kinky hair disease (MKHD). We found a reduced expression of COX subunits in all examined areas whereas staining for complex III appeared normal. Immunostaining was altered in morphologically well-preserved neurons, suggesting that COX deficiency may have a pathogenetic role in the neuronal degeneration of MKHD.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Spectral analyses of activity of laryngeal and orofacial muscles in stutterers.

Previous studies have reported that the disfluent speech of stutterers is often associated with tremor in orofacial muscle systems. In the present report, spectral analyses of the amplitude envelopes of laryngeal and orofacial EMGs revealed that tremor-like oscillations of EMG activity, similar to those observed in orofacial muscles, are also present in laryngeal muscles during stuttered speech. Furthermore, tremor-like oscillations in orofacial and laryngeal muscles appear to be entrained in some subjects. It is speculated that autonomic systems may provide a mechanism whereby oscillations in different muscle groups may become entrained.

Adult↗

Ischemia-induced changes in brain monoamine metabolism in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Effects of aging on monoamine metabolism in transient cerebral ischemia were studied using adult and aged female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Tissue monoamine contents in discrete brain areas were quantified after 20 min of cerebral ischemia with or without 30-min recirculation. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was determined with a hydrogen clearance method in separate experiments. Dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) contents in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and septum decreased in ischemic aged SHRs, compared with those in ischemic adult SHRs. After 30-min recirculation, DA contents were actually unchanged with inconsistently increased DOPAC levels. Ischemic CBF decreased to < 20% of the resting CBF in the striatum and cortex, which was not different between the two age groups of SHRs. These results indicate that aging is primarily responsible for more severely impaired DA metabolism during cerebral ischemia in aged SHRs.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Two novel pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations affecting organelle number and protein synthesis. Is the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene an etiologic hot spot?

We identified two patients with pathogenic single nucleotide changes in two different mitochondrial tRNA genes: the first mutation in the tRNA(Asn) gene, and the ninth known mutation in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene. The mutation in tRNA(Asn) was associated with isolated ophthalmoplegia, whereas the mutation in tRNA(Leu(UUR)) caused a neurological syndrome resembling MERRF (myoclonus epilepsy and ragged-red fibers) plus optic neuropathy, retinopathy, and diabetes. Both mutations were heteroplasmic, with higher percentages of mutant mtDNA in affected tissues, and undetectable levels in maternal relatives. Analysis of single muscle fibers indicated that morphological and biochemical alterations appeared only when the proportions of mutant mtDNA exceeded 90% of the total cellular mtDNA pool. The high incidence of mutations in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene suggests that this region is an "etiologic hot spot" in mitochondrial disease.

Adult↗

Laser surgery for epithelial hyperplasia of the vocal fold.

A total of 88 patients with epithelial hyperplasia of the vocal fold were treated with endolaryngeal microscopic carbon dioxide laser surgery during the period from 1978 to 1990. The majority of the patients were male smokers. During the follow-up period ranging from 12 to 156 months, 15 patients developed recurrence(s). The recurrent lesion was benign epithelial hyperplasia in 8 patients and invasive carcinoma in 7 patients. The recurrences occurred only in preoperative smokers. Discontinuation of smoking following laser surgery did not affect the incidence of recurrence. The incidence of development of carcinoma did not differ between two histologic types: simple hyperplasia without cellular atypia and dysplasia associated with cellular atypia. The incidence of cancer development for dysplasia cases in the present series (6%) was lower than that in previous reports in which the carbon dioxide laser was not employed for the treatment. Postoperative improvement of vocal function was manifested in an increase of the maximum phonation time, a decrease of the mean airflow rate, and an increase in vibratory amplitude and mucosal wave.

Female↗

Vocal cord paralysis caused by esophageal cancer surgery.

Esophageal cancer surgery was the cause of paralysis in 111 (16.7%) of 664 patients with vocal cord paralysis seen from 1981 to 1990 at Kurume University Hospital. Eighty-six patients had unilateral paralysis, whereas 25 had bilateral lesions. Of the 111, 95 (86%) had hoarseness and 59 (53%) had aspiration. The crude survival rate was 63% for 1-year, 32% for 3-year, and 22% for 5-year follow-up. The average life expectancy was short. The general condition was poor in many patients. Thirty-four of the 136 paralytic vocal cords (25%) recovered mobility. An intracordal silicone injection was done in 30 patients, and a medialization procedure was performed in 1. The vocal function was improved in the majority of cases. In 4 patients, severe aspiration persisted following intracordal injection. Of the 4, 1 had cricopharyngeal myotomy and laryngeal suspension and 2 underwent total laryngectomy. The fourth patient died of aspiration pneumonia. The results of the review of the 111 patients have led us to the following treatment policy for patients with vocal cord paralysis caused by esophageal cancer surgery. When the patient has aspiration, vocal cord medialization should be performed as early as possible. If severe aspiration persists even after the medialization procedure, some additional intervention, including cricopharyngeal myotomy, laryngeal suspension, laryngotracheal separation, or total laryngectomy, should be considered. When hoarseness is the only major problem, the prognosis of vocal cord paralysis should be determined on the basis of the state of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and, if available, electromyography findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electromyography↗

Location of the preepiglottic space and its relationship to the paraglottic space.

An investigation was carried out to determine the location of the preepiglottic space (PES) and its relationship to the paraglottic space (PGS). Excised human adult larynges served as materials for this study. The distribution of the PES of the larynx was determined histologically in 3 whole organ serial sections: sagittal, horizontal, and coronal. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The PES exists not only anterior, but also posterolateral and inferolateral to the epiglottis. 2) Its posterior end is located in the vicinity of the anteroposterior midpoint of the thyroid lamina. 3) The PES is adjacent to the PGS posteroinferiorly and is separated by fibrous tissue (the thyroglottic ligament). Posterosuperiorly, the 2 spaces are not clearly delineated from each other.

Adult↗

Ca2+ transients and cell shortening in diabetic rat ventricular myocytes.

To investigate the role of abnormal Ca2+ metabolism in the diminished contractile function of diabetic myocardium, we measured the Ca2+ transients and cell contraction of diabetic rat myocytes. Isolated diabetic (8 weeks after 40 mg/kg streptozotocin, i.v.) and normal myocytes were loaded with acetoxymethyl ester of indo-1 (indo-1/AM). Ca2+ transients and cell circumferential shortening were measured simultaneously, using high temporal resolution video image analysis. The diastolic base and systolic peak of Ca2+ transients were significantly lower in diabetic myocytes than in normal myocytes (peak ratios: 0.49 +/- 0.02 vs 0.56 +/- 0.01, p < 0.05; base ratios: 0.43 +/- 0.01 vs 0.48 +/- 0.01, p < 0.01, Mean +/- SE). The cell circumferential shortening of diabetic myocytes was also significantly lower than that of normal myocytes (2.9 +/- 0.3% vs 5.2 +/- 0.9%, p < 0.05). Although isoproterenol (10(-8) and 10(-7) M) increased the peak of Ca2+ transients in both diabetic and normal myocytes, the peak value of Ca2+ transients in the diabetic group was significantly lower than that in the normal group. The decreased Ca2+ transients may be responsible for the decreased contractile function in diabetic myocardium.

Animals↗

Localization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in aural cholesteatoma.

Middle ear cholesteatoma is not a genuine tumor but has a remarkable proliferative activity which causes serious destruction of the mastoid bone. In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry with antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody on cholesteatomatous tissues to evaluate the localization of PCNA, as it has been said that PCNA is a very available protein for showing cell proliferative activity. Moderately concentrated PCNA was demonstrated within the germinal basal layer cells of the cholesteatomatous epithelium in three of eight surgical specimens. Furthermore, in one case of very active osteolytic cholesteatoma, PCNA activity was demonstrated in the mesenchymal cells, probably fibroblast-like cells, in direct contact to the destroying mastoid bone lesions. Although the etiology and histopathology of the invasive and proliferative activity of middle ear cholesteatomatous tissues are unclear, this observation suggests that immunohistopathological examination using PCNA antibody might be a useful tool for evaluating bone resorption activity and for establishing the prognosis of various types of cholesteatoma.

Adolescent↗

Ganglionic neurons in vagal and laryngeal nerves projecting to larynx, and their peptidergic features in the cat.

The distribution of cell clusters in the cervical vagal nerve (CVN), superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), and the peptidergic features of their ganglionic neurons projecting to the larynx, were investigated in the cat using a combination of retrograde tracing by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and immunocytochemistry. In the CVN, a few medium sized cell clusters at a level caudal to the nodose ganglion, and some small cell clusters along the course of the vagus, were found. In the SLN and RLN, some medium sized ganglia were located close to the laryngeal framework and a few small groups of cells occupied more rostral parts. Some neurons of the cell clusters in the CVN and most of the ganglionic cells in the SLN and RLN exhibited WGA-immunoreactive (IR) cells, which projected to the larynx. In these WGA-positive ganglionic neurons, many cells showed vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-IR neurons, some neuropeptide Y-IR, and a few substance P-IR and calcitonin gene-related peptide-IR cells were also identified. The present findings indicate that neurons of the cell clusters in the laryngeal nerves, particularly those in the vicinity of the laryngeal framework, project to the larynx and may be autonomic.

Animals↗

Factors contributing to labyrinthine ataxia.

Twenty-one normal adults were the subjects of this study. They were instructed to step in the same position with eyes closed for a total of 50 steps under two conditions: i) Immediately after simultaneous irrigation of the right and left auditory canals for 10 s with 30 degrees C water and 44 degrees C water, respectively, and ii) following irrigation of the right auditory canal with 30 degrees C water. The two conditions simulate two different types of imbalance of labyrinthine function: The former physiological and the latter non-physiological. Under the first condition, 33% of the subjects tended to fall to the right side during stepping. Under the second conditions, 86% showed ataxia. The difference was statistically highly significant, p < 0.01. The results indicate that physiological imbalance does not always cause ataxia. A physiological imbalance occurs during active turning. The motion brings about an ampullopetal lymphatic flow in the ipsilateral horizontal semicircular canal and an ampullofugal flow in the contralateral canal, as under the second condition. The former increases the function of the labyrinth, while the latter decreases it. This results in imbalance but no ataxia.

Adult↗