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Biomedical subjects

M Honda

Publications and source records attributed to M Honda.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Frontal and parietal networks for conditional motor learning: a positron emission tomography study.

Studies on nonhuman primates show that the premotor (PM) and prefrontal (PF) areas are necessary for the arbitrary mapping of a set of stimuli onto a set of responses. However, positron emission tomography (PET) measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in human subjects have failed to reveal the predicted rCBF changes during such behavior. We therefore studied rCBF while subjects learned two arbitrary mapping tasks. In the conditional motor task, visual stimuli instructed which of four directions to move a joystick (with the right, dominant hand). In the evaluation task, subjects moved the joystick in a predetermined direction to report whether an arrow pointed in the direction associated with a given stimulus. For both tasks there were three rules: for the nonspatial rule, the pattern within each stimulus determined the correct direction; for the spatial rule, the location of the stimulus did so; and for the fixed-response rule, movement direction was constant regardless of the pattern or its location. For the nonspatial rule, performance of the evaluation task led to a learning-related increase in rCBF in a caudal and ventral part of the premotor cortex (PMvc, area 6), bilaterally, as well as in the putamen and a cingulate motor area (CM, area 24) of the left hemisphere. Decreases in rCBF were observed in several areas: the left ventro-orbital prefrontal cortex (PFv, area 47/12), the left lateral cerebellar hemisphere, and, in the right hemisphere, a dorsal and rostral aspect of PM (PMdr, area 6), dorsal PF (PFd, area 9), and the posterior parietal cortex (area 39/40). During performance of the conditional motor task, there was only a decrease in the parietal area. For the spatial rule, no rCBF change reached significance for the evaluation task, but in the conditional motor task, a ventral and rostral premotor region (PMvr, area 6), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFdl, area 46), and the posterior parietal cortex (area 39/40) showed decreasing rCBF during learning, all in the right hemisphere. These data confirm the predicted rCBF changes in premotor and prefrontal areas during arbitrary mapping tasks and suggest that a broad frontoparietal network may show decreased synaptic activity as arbitrary rules become more familiar.

Adult↗

Study of the structure of struvite stones with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.

Topographic features of eight struvite calculi were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). Perpendicularly cracked fragments showed concentric laminations composed of compact and loosely packed strata alternately. Magnesium and phosphorus were detected in the compact strata with their characteristic dispersive X-ray spectra. There existed numerous spherular crystals with smooth or porous surfaces and scattered penta- or hexa-hedral coffin-lid shaped crystals in the loosely packed strata. The former crystals showed the dispersive X-ray spectra of calcium and phosphorus, and were estimated to be calcium phosphate (CaP). The latter ones were presumed to be magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) with EDX. The surfaces of the fragments were cracked like eggshells and displayed numerous CaP crystals and scattered MAP crystals in most cases, while in only 1 case some faces of pieces demonstrated wavy MAP phases, sundry areas which were rimmed with aggregated CaP spherulites. The mean molar ratios of Mg/P and Ca/P in each case were 0.88-1.03 and 1.25-1.52, respectively. Though EDX was inadequate to determine the accurate chemical formula of CaP and MAP crystals by detecting their molar ratios of Ca/P and Mg/P with EDX, SEM/EDX is useful to observe these urolith crystals and to surmise them to be CaP or MAP crystals by detecting their atomic elements with EDX.

Adult↗

Serum levels of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and the pyridinoline cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen as markers of bone metastases in patients with prostate carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate serum levels of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the pyridinoline cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) as possible markers of bone metastases in patients with prostate carcinoma (PCA) patients. METHODS: Levels of PICP and ICTP were measured by radioimmunoassay of serum from 29 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 17 patients with PCA without bone metastases and 29 patients with PCA and bone metastases. RESULTS: Serum levels of PICP in patients with PCA and bone metastases (mean +/- SD 304.3 +/- 365.9 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in patients with BPH (95.6 +/- 27.1 ng/ml) and in patients with PCA without bone metastases (111.1 +/- 44.6 ng/ml). No significant difference was observed between the BPH and the PCA without bone metastases groups. Serum levels of ICTP were significantly higher in the PCA with (10.4 +/- 10.3 ng/ml) and without bone metastases groups (7.7 +/- 6.0 ng/ml) than in the BPH group (3.7 +/- 2.0 ng/ml). There was no significant difference between the PCA groups with and without bone metastases. CONCLUSION: Serum PICP levels correlate well with results of bone scans, while serum ICTP levels increase in patients with PCA regardless of the presence of bone metastases.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Comparative ultrasonographic and angiographic study of carotid arterial lesions in Takayasu's arteritis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the usefulness of ultrasonography to that of angiography for studying arterial lesions in Takayasu's arteritis. Ultrasonographic and angiographic findings from 44 carotid arteries of 22 patients with Takayasu's arteritis (2 men and 20 women; mean age, 41.2 years) were compared. Angiography was used to classify the patency of the carotid arteries into three groups: nonstenotic, stenotic, and occlusive. Ultrasonography was also used to classify the same arteries into four groups: nonstenotic, mildly stenotic, moderately stenotic, and occlusive. Thickness of the wall (intima-media complex) of the carotid artery was measured with high-frequency transducers. Angiography showed 23 carotid arteries to be nonstenotic; 12, stenotic; and 9, occlusive; whereas ultrasonography showed 16 to be nonstenotic; 18, mildly stenotic; 7, moderately stenotic; and 3, occlusive. Results of the two diagnostic modalities correlated closely (P < 0.0001). Ultrasonography, aided by color flow imaging, detected six instances of a marginal but definite blood flow that angiography had failed to reveal. Arterial wall thickness correlated closely with the severity of ultrasonographic stenosis (P < 0.005). This thickness was 1.3 +/- 0.4 mm in the nonstenotic group, 1.6 +/- 0.5 mm in the mildly stenotic group, 2.2 +/- 0.8 mm in the moderately stenotic group, and 1.9 +/- 0.2 mm in the occlusive group. Even the walls of the nonstenotic arteries were significantly thicker than those of the normal carotid arteries (0.7 +/- 0.1 mm, P < 0.01). Ultrasonography appeared to be more useful than angiography in estimating stenotic severity of the carotid artery in Takayasu's arteritis. Characteristic ultrasonic findings included luminal stenosis or occlusion on two-dimensional ultrasonograms, decrease in or lack of flow shown by color Doppler flow imaging, and concentric thickening of the carotid arterial walls. Ultrasonographic mural thickness was the most sensitive indicator of early, latent inflammation.

Adult↗

Simple i.v. inoculation of HIV-1 to Thy/Liv SCID-hu mice induce reproducible HIV infection with narrowing of medulla in human thymic implant.

Human fetal thymus/liver engrafted SCID mice were constructed and studied for its susceptibility to HIVBRU infection by i.v. inoculation which seemed to represent an appropriate route of HIV infection in vivo. By the i.v. inoculation of HIV, the medulla in the engrafted thymus narrowed significantly when compared with that of the human thymic implant from virus-uninoculated mice. Further, immunohistochemical staining indicated the presence of HIV antigen predominantly in thymic epithelial cells in medulla of the engrafted thymus. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays resulted in amplifications of HIV genome in the implanted grafts as well as in lymph nodes and PBMC. The virus infections to the implants were confirmed biologically by coculturing with PHA-stimulated human PBMC and the graft cells from the HIV-inoculated SCID-hu mice. Thus, the i.v. inoculation of HIV into Thy/Liv SCID-hu mice induce narrowing of medulla of the engrafted thymus and may become an efficient and useful tool for screening candidate anti-HIV agents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Source of ATP, ADP, AMP and adenosine released from isolated rat caudal artery exposed to noradrenaline.

Purines of ATP, ADP, AMP and adenosine released from rat caudal artery with and without endothelium and the isolated smooth muscle and endothelial cells were examined, in order to determine the source. Treatment of intact segments of caudal arteries with noradrenaline (10 microM) for 3 min induced a large release of ATP, ADP, AMP and adenosine. However, if the artery segments had been denuded of their endothelial lining, noradrenraline induced only a slight release of purines. Endothelial cells in primary culture prepared from caudal arteries, when exposed to noradrenaline for 3 min released large amounts of purines, whereas vascular smooth muscle cells prepared similarly and passaged endothelial cells did not release purines upon exposure to noradrenaline. These results indicate that, of smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the vascular wall, only intact endothelial cells react to alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation by releasing adenine nucleotides and adenosine.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Experimental vasospasm produced without blood cell components--hypothesis for the development of cerebral vasospasm.

A canine model of cerebral vasospasm using noncellular blood material (fibrin glue) was designed to investigate the effect of cerebrospinal fluid obstruction. The arachnoid membrane covering the cerebral arteries in the basal cistern was dissected and fibrin glue was applied to the adventitial surface of the arteries in three groups of animals. In Group 1, the arachnoid membrane was extensively dissected and fibrin glue was widely applied to the cerebral arteries. In Group 2, the dissection and coating was less extensive. Group 3 was a control group in which the arachnoid membrane was dissected but fibrin glue was not applied. Cerebral angiography 1 week later clearly demonstrated vasospasm in all six dogs in Group 1 and in four of six dogs in Group 2. Vasospasm did not occur in Group 3. The dogs were sacrificed and the arteries in the basal cistern were removed. Histological investigation showed typical findings of vasospasm and inertness of fibrin glue to the tissue. Cerebral vasospasm can be induced by a noncellular material from the blood densely applied to the arterial surface suggesting that obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid circulation around the artery may be important in the development of cerebral vasospasm.

Animals↗

A case of hemangiopericytoma of the buccal mucosa.

We report a 46-year-old woman who presented with a hemangiopericytoma in the buccal mucosa. At the 2-year postoperative examination, there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. The findings in the present case are compared with previous reports in the Japanese literature, with regard to patient age and sex, and lesion size, location, malignancy, local recurrence and metastasis.

Endothelium, Vascular↗

[Examination of scanning technique for lung cancer screening with helical CT].

As a new application of helical CT scanning we evaluated the parameters for lung cancer screening with an extremely low doses and large helical pitch. On the phantom studies, the image quality obtained with the low dose parameter was not inferior to that of the usual screening technique but artifacts were increased with the large helical pitch. A scanning technique using 120 kv, 40-60mA, 10mmth, 20mm/ sec, and a reconstruction pitch of 2 was used for lung cancer screening (screening parameters) (50 cases), and comparison was made between the detectability of the screening parameters and the routine parameters (120 kv, 200mA, 10mmth, 10-13mm/sec, and a reconstruction pitch of 1-1.3). Detectability with the screening parameters was as follows: nodular lesions (< 5mm in size: 76%. 5-10mm: 90-93% 10mm < 100%), linear lesions: 94-95%, infiltrations: 93-100%. There were no false negative lesions, when the reconstruction pitch of the screening parameters was changed from 1 to 0.25. In conclusion, reconstruction pitch had the most influence on lesion detectability.

Adult↗

[Significant findings on CT performed before presence of post-surgical bowel obstruction].

We evaluated whether CT performed before the presence of bowel obstruction (pre-CT) is useful in predicting the presence of post-surgical bowel obstruction. Thirty-three patients with post-surgical bowel obstructions who had pre-CT were reviewed. The pre-CT findings were compared with the findings of CT performed after the presence of bowel obstruction (post-CT) in 16 patients, and with the intraoperative findings in 18 patients. Pre-CT demonstrated many interesting findings, such as a discrepancy in the caliber of the bowel, the presence of two adjacent collapsed loops, a beak-like appearance of the bowel, focal distention and/or wall thickness of bowel loops, and twisted mesentery. Twenty-three (70%) of 33 patients had one or more of these findings on pre-CT. All patients with a surgically proved closed loop obstruction had two adjacent collapsed loops on both pre- and post-CT. In six (86%) of seven patients who had focal dilated bowel loops and twelve (71%) of seventeen patients who had twisted mesentery on pre-CT, conservative management was proved ineffective. Pre-CT showed many significant findings. Attention should be paid to these findings, because they can predict the presence of post-surgical bowel obstruction. In particular, we stress that two adjacent collapsed loops on pre-CT is a sign of the presence of post-surgical closed loop obstruction.

Adult↗

[Proposal on new formulas for renal depth in the technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) scintigraphy].

UNLABELLED: Recently, camera-based techniques to measure effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) have become more popular than single plasma sample techniques because camera-based measurements avoid the necessity of delayed plasma samples and in vitro techniques. The measurements of ERPF are used to estimate the clearance of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3). However, camera-based techniques are dependent on an accurate estimate of renal depth to correct for soft-tissue attenuation. Then, new formulas for renal depth correction of technetium-99m-MAG3 clearance in place of Tønnesen's, M. Ito's, K. Itoh's, and Taylor's methods were tried to establish in this paper. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven hundred and seventy patients without any renal disease were objected. The data from measurement of renal depth using X-ray CT in supine position were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The depths of right kidney (Dr) and left kidney (Dl) were 7.33 +/- 1.27 and 7.07 +/- 1.27 cm. The correlation coefficients between Dr and height (H) body weight (W), body surface area (BSA: W0.425 x H0.725 x 0.007184 m2), age, and abdominal thickness (Ta) were 0.275, 0.709, 0.615, 0.087, and 0.743. The correlation coefficients between Dl and H, W, BSA, age, and Ta were 0.269, 0.732, 0.629, 0.029, and 0.812. Ta had best correlation with both Dr and Dl. The calculation formulas for Dr and Dl using Ta were as follows: Dr = 0.32 x Ta + 0.87 cm, and Dl = 0.36 x Ta - 0.08 cm. On the other hand, the multiplex calculation formulas of Dr or Dl with H, W, and Ta were as follows: Dr = 0.18Ta + 8.54 x (W/H) + 0.75 (r = 0.768), and Dl = 0.26Ta + 5.90 x (W/H)-0.16 (r = 0.823). CONCLUSION: The new regression equations provide superior estimates of renal depth compared to conventional equations. Application of these new formulas into camera-based protocols to determine renal clearances may lead to more accurate measurements of ERPF using technetium-99m-MAG3 scintigraphy.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical significance of myocardial 123I-BMIPP imaging in patients with myocardial infarction].

In order to clarify the characteristics of fatty acid metabolism in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), we performed myocardial imaging with 123I-beta-methyl-p-iodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) and we compared these findings with exercise stress (Ex) and resting myocardial perfusion imaging with 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and left ventricular wall motion index (WMI) which were obtained by left ventriculography. We studied 55 patients with MI, 14 patients with recent MI (RMI) and 41 patients with old MI (OMI), and myocardial images were divided into 17 segments and myocardial uptake of the radionuclide was graded from 0 (normal) to 3 (maximal abnormality). In 28 patients we compared segmental defect score (SDS) with WMI which were obtained by centerline method at the corresponded segments. As a whole, the mean total defect scores (TDSs) of BMIPP and Ex were similar and they were greater than the mean TDS of resting perfusion. In 30 patient (55%) TDS of BMIPP was greater than that of TDS of resting perfusion. In 24 patients perfusion abnormality developed by Ex and the location of BMIPP abnormality coincided with the abnormality of Ex. But in the other 6 patients Ex did not induce any abnormality and they were all RMI and infarcted coronary artery was patent. However in the group with TDS of BMIPP identical to TDS of resting perfusion (25 patients), 92% did not show myocardial perfusion abnormality after Ex. In the comparison of SDS and WMI, myocardial segments were divided into 3 groups; both SDSs of BMIPP and resting perfusion were normal or borderline abnormality (Group 1, 82 segments), SDS of resting perfusion was normal or borderline and SDS of BMIPP was definitely abnormal (Group 2, 10 segments) and both SDSs of BMIPP and resting perfusion were definitely abnormal (Group 3, 48 segments). In Group 1, WMS (-0.41 +/- 0.77) was significantly (p < 0.001) greater than those of Group 2 (-2.14 +/- 0.50) and Group 3 (-2.32 +/- 0.67). But there was no difference between Group 2 and 3. These findings suggested that in the segments with mismatch between BMIPP and resting perfusion reflects stunned myocardium. These results suggested that in half of the patients with MI, abnormal fatty acid metabolism may appear in viable myocardium such as jeopardized myocardium and myocardium which recently recovered from severe ischemia like acute MI and BMIPP imaging was useful to know the history of myocardial ischemia.

Adult↗

Combined therapy with external beam irradiation and hepatic arterial epirubicin infusion through an implanted port for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Nineteen patients with advanced stage IV hepatocellular carcinoma for which transcatheter arterial embolization and percutaneous ethanol injection were not indicated have been treated by combined therapy with external beam irradiation and repeated hepatic arterial epirubicin infusion through an implanted port. The response rate was 47%, and the median survival was 11.6 months (range, 4.0 to 27.1 months). Eighteen of the 19 patients were able to undergo the infusion therapy on an outpatient basis 3 to 7 weeks after initiation of therapy. This combined therapy was effective in improving tumor-bearing survival and less stressful for the patients because of the minimal therapy-related toxicity and brief hospitalization.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

[A case of concurrent bilateral adrenocortical adenoma causing Cushing's syndrome].

A 43-year-old woman presented with obesity and lumbago. Endocrinological examinations revealed normal plasma cortisol levels and a suppressed serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level. On venous sampling, markedly elevated plasma cortisol levels were observed for bilateral adrenal veins (243 and 62.3 micrograms/dl on the right and left sides, respectively). Although the computed tomogram revealed bilaterally enlarged adrenal glands, 131I-adosterol scintigram showed a strong uptake only on the right side. Right adrenalectomy successfully relieved Cushing's syndrome. Pathological diagnosis was adrenocortical adenoma, 3.5 cm in diameter. Cushing's syndrome recurred in 9 years. At that time, she underwent left subtotal adrenalectomy including a 3-cm adrenocortical adenoma. Postoperative convalescence has been uneventful with oral steroid supplementation. All 14 previously reported cases of bilateral adrenocortical adenoma (BAA) causing Cushing's syndrome as well as the present case were concurrent and dominant in females of reproductive age. This suggests that some cofactors other than ACTH, such as estrogen, contribute to the pathogenesis of BAA.

Adenoma↗

[Renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney: a case report].

A 69-year-old man presented for further examination for left renal mass. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogenous mass on the left side of a horseshoe kidney accompanied with renal vein thrombus. Aortography showed a hypervascular mass in the left kidney and aberrant arteries to the isthmus originating from the aorta. A left nephrectomy with the division of the isthmus was performed through an abdominal transperitoneal approach. Histological evaluation revealed grade 2, stage T3b, renal cell carcinoma. The patient was free of tumor, but died of intracerebral hemorrhage 5 months after the operation.

Aged↗

[Inhibitory effect of oral administration of Takusya on calcium oxalate crystallization in human whole urine].

We previously reported that Takusya had the inhibitory effect on in vitro calcium oxalate crystallization and in vivo stone formation in an animal model and it could be a prophylactic agent against calcium oxalate stone formation. We studied the effect of Takusya on calcium oxalate crystallization in human urine. Takusya (500 mg/day and 1,000 mg/day) was administered to 16 healthy men for 3 days and then 24-hour urine samples were collected to measure the urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, uric acid, creatinine, citric acid and oxalic acid. The urine samples before the administration of Takusya was used as a control. The size and distribution of crystals, which were formed in the urine samples by adding calcium chloride and sodium oxalate, were measured using the Coulter counter technique. Urinary magnesium excretion was significantly reduced by 1,000 mg/day of Takusya compared with the control (p < 0.05). The growth of crystals was significantly inhibited by 500 mg/day of Takusya in the large crystal formers whose urine created crystals more than 3.5 microns before the administration of Takusya (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that Takusya inhibited the growth of crystals formed in human urine.

Administration, Oral↗