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Biomedical subjects

M Honda

Publications and source records attributed to M Honda.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Inaudible high-frequency sounds affect brain activity: hypersonic effect.

Although it is generally accepted that humans cannot perceive sounds in the frequency range above 20 kHz, the question of whether the existence of such "inaudible" high-frequency components may affect the acoustic perception of audible sounds remains unanswered. In this study, we used noninvasive physiological measurements of brain responses to provide evidence that sounds containing high-frequency components (HFCs) above the audible range significantly affect the brain activity of listeners. We used the gamelan music of Bali, which is extremely rich in HFCs with a nonstationary structure, as a natural sound source, dividing it into two components: an audible low-frequency component (LFC) below 22 kHz and an HFC above 22 kHz. Brain electrical activity and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured as markers of neuronal activity while subjects were exposed to sounds with various combinations of LFCs and HFCs. None of the subjects recognized the HFC as sound when it was presented alone. Nevertheless, the power spectra of the alpha frequency range of the spontaneous electroencephalogram (alpha-EEG) recorded from the occipital region increased with statistical significance when the subjects were exposed to sound containing both an HFC and an LFC, compared with an otherwise identical sound from which the HFC was removed (i.e., LFC alone). In contrast, compared with the baseline, no enhancement of alpha-EEG was evident when either an HFC or an LFC was presented separately. Positron emission tomography measurements revealed that, when an HFC and an LFC were presented together, the rCBF in the brain stem and the left thalamus increased significantly compared with a sound lacking the HFC above 22 kHz but that was otherwise identical. Simultaneous EEG measurements showed that the power of occipital alpha-EEGs correlated significantly with the rCBF in the left thalamus. Psychological evaluation indicated that the subjects felt the sound containing an HFC to be more pleasant than the same sound lacking an HFC. These results suggest the existence of a previously unrecognized response to complex sound containing particular types of high frequencies above the audible range. We term this phenomenon the "hypersonic effect."

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Trends in stroke incidence and acute case fatality in a Japanese rural area : the Oyabe study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke mortality in Japan has significantly declined during recent decades. To determine the cause of this decrease, we studied the trends in stroke incidence and case fatality within 28 days after stroke in a rural area in Japan. METHODS: We used a population-based registry during 1977-1991 in Oyabe, a rural area in the central part of Japan. The average population aged 25 years and older numbered 32 859 persons. Changes in age-standardized stroke incidence rate were calculated and compared between the 3 periods 1977-1981, 1982-1986, and 1987-1991. The 28-day case fatality rate was evaluated and also compared between the 3 periods by onset year. RESULTS: The total number of strokes was 2068. The age-standardized incidence rate of all strokes decreased during the 15-year period, from 605 to 417 per 100 000 in men and from 476 to 329 per 100 000 in women. A marked decline was found during 1977-1986 but was not apparent during 1987-1991. Moreover, there was an increase in the group aged 75 years and older. The 28-day case fatality rates for all strokes improved from 18.0% to 14.2% in men and from 26.8% to 19.1% in women during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that declines in the stroke incidence and the 28- day case fatality have been associated with a marked decrease in stroke-related mortality in Japan.

Acute Disease↗

A novel mutation of the MEN1 gene in a Japanese kindred with familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP) is a variant of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) we analyzed the MEN1 gene in such a kindred. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study included the 70-year-old proband and nine relatives. Blood was drawn for biochemical evaluation and germline mutation analysis by direct sequencing of the MEN1 gene amplified by PCR. A hyperplastic parathyroid gland obtained from a family member served for a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) study. RESULTS: Three members from two generations in this kindred were found to have primary hyperparathyroidism, while none had clinical or biochemical evidence of MEN1, MEN2 or hyperparathyroidism--jaw tumor syndrome. Analysis of germline DNA in the proband showed a missense mutation (GGC-->GAC) at codon 305 in exon 7 of the MEN1 gene that predicts an amino acid change from glycine to aspartic acid (G305D). This mutation segregated with primary hyperparathyroidism in the kindred, and, in addition, there were two asymptomatic mutant-gene carriers at relatively advanced ages. In contrast, the mutation was not detected in genomic DNA from five unaffected individuals and from 50 healthy subjects. The LOH study showed a loss of the wild-type allele, which confirmed that a functional defect of the MEN1 gene product, menin, is etiological for FIHP. CONCLUSIONS: FIHP is a genetically heterogeneous disease with a subset linked to MEN1, most likely representing a variant of MEN1. The late onset and the reduced penetrance of disease found in this kindred may be related to the site and the type of mutation, although the precise mechanism involved is unknown at present.

Adult↗

Upgrading of flow cytometric analysis for absolute counts, cytokines and other antigenic molecules of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) by using anti-human cross-reactive antibodies.

In order to effectively use cynomolgus monkeys as animal models for human diseases, more than 300 anti-human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were studied as to their cross-reaction with various antigens from cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Two hundred twenty-nine of 339 (67.55%) anti-human mAbs that react with human antigens of CD-defined molecules, chemokine receptors, and T cell receptors were cross-reactive with the monkey antigens. Using the cross-reactive antibodies and the fluorescenced beads for calibration, the procedure for the absolute count of monkey lymphocyte subsets was developed and the mean values for CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were 718 and 573/mm3, respectively. Moreover, intracellular cytokines, IL-2, IL-4 and IFN gamma, and intracellular apoptosis-related proteins, Bcl-2, FADD and active form of caspase-3 could be detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as various tissue cells. It is therefore practicable to detail the phenotype of leukocytes, assess the production of intracellular cytokines and enumerate T-lymphocyte subsets by using the cross-reactive human antibodies with respective antigens of cynomolgus monkeys.

Animals↗

Malignant pheochromocytoma lacking clinical features of catecholamine excess until the late stage.

A malignant pheochromocytoma is described in a 71-year-old man. Osseous metastases became manifest 12 years after successful removal of the primary tumor which originated in paraganglionic tissue near the right adrenal gland. Although the patient had no symptoms of catecholamine excess initially, hypertension, tachycardia and excessive sweating appeared several months before his death, concomitantly with a sharp increase in noradrenaline secretion due to an accelerated growth of metastatic tumors. Since there is no histologic criterion of malignancy in this neoplasm, it would be prudent to consider every case of pheochromocytoma as potentially malignant and to follow-up carefully for a long time after removal of the primary tumor.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Beta-cell transcription factors and diabetes: no evidence for diabetes-associated mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor-3beta gene (HNF3B) in Japanese patients with maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

Mutations in the transcription factors hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4alpha and -1alpha, insulin promoter factor-1, and HNF-1beta are the causes of four forms of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY1 and 3-5, respectively). The winged-helix transcription factor HNF-3beta has been implicated in the regulation of expression of each of these MODY genes, suggesting that mutations in the HNF-3beta gene (HNF3B) may also cause MODY. We have tested this hypothesis by screening a panel of 57 unrelated Japanese subjects with a clinical diagnosis of MODY for mutations in HNF3B. This analysis revealed four frequent polymorphisms that were not associated with MODY, including one in the promoter region (-213A/G), two silent mutations in the codons for Ala 97 (291C/T) and Gly 279 (837A/G), and one in the 3'-untranslated region (1424C/T). Two rare substitutions in the 5'-untranslated region, -156C/T and -67A/C, were found in a heterozygous state in two subjects, and two subjects were heterozygous for putative missense mutations, S109N (326G > A) and A328V (983C>T). The two missense mutations were not found in 106 normal chromosomes from nondiabetic subjects. It was not possible to test for co-segregation of these mutations with diabetes and thus, it is unclear whether or not these mutations can cause MODY. The results of our study suggest that mutations in HNF3B are not a common cause of MODY in Japanese subjects.

Adult↗

Fetal demise with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome confirmed by tissue sterol analysis and the absence of measurable 7-dehydrocholesterol Delta(7)-reductase activity in chorionic villi.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), an autosomal recessive condition with multiple malformations, mental retardation, and growth failure, results from markedly reduced activity of the final enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, 7-dehydrocholesterol Delta(7)-reductase (DHCR7). We diagnosed SLOS in a fetus following intrauterine demise at 32 weeks' gestation. Chorionic villus (CV) sampling had been performed at 30 weeks because oligohydramnios and atrioventricular septal defect were noted on fetal ultrasound. On fetal post-mortem examination, a midline U-shaped soft palate cleft, micrognathia, postaxial polydactyly of the fingers with single transverse palmar creases bilaterally, and cutaneous syndactyly of toes two-three bilaterally suggested SLOS. We hypothesized that SLOS could be confirmed by analysis of tissue sterols despite extensive autolysis, and by measurement of enzyme activity in CV cells. Measurement of DHCR7 activity in CV cells was undertaken using ergosterol as a substrate. CV cells were unable to convert any ergosterol to brassicasterol after a 72 h incubation period while control CV cells reduced 12.6-71.8% of ergosterol to brassciasterol in a 72 h period. SLOS was confirmed by measurement of elevated 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) in the CV cells. Measurements of sterols were made in multiple fetal tissues. All tissues analysed showed elevated 7-DHC with markedly increased 7-DHC/cholesterol ratios.

Adult↗

[Renal inflammatory pseudotumor after embolization for arteriovenous malformation: a case report].

A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of asymptomatic macrohematuria. Because he was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation of the right kidney by angiography, embolization was performed. However, 2 years and 3 months later, bleeding from the right kidney was detected. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a low density area (1.8 cm) in the right kidney protruding to the renal pelvic adjacent to the old embolized lesion. Since we could not make a conclusive diagnosis as malignant disease by ureteroscopy and angiography, we have decided to follow the case carefully. Nine months later, macroscopic hematuria worsened, and the low density area by CT in the right kidney expanded. Therefore, we finally decided to perform right total nephroureterectomy. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as renal inflammatory pseudotumor. This is the 14th case reported in Japan. We here report the renal inflammatory pseudotumor with a review of the Japanese literature.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

[Alphaherpesvininae--dermatology].

The subfamily alphaherpesuvirinae contains herpes simplex virus(HSV) and varicella-zoster virus(VZV) in the Dermatology. HSV infectious diseases are herpetic gingivostomatitis, herpes labialis, facial herpes simplex, Kaposi's varicelliform eruption, genital herpes, lumbosacral herpes simplex, and herpetic whitlow. The primary form of VZV infection is varicella, and the reactivation form is herpes zoster. These infectious diseases in the dermatological clinics usually occur in adult. In this paper we mention clinical manifestations and treatment.

Adult↗

[Quantitative evaluation for scatter and attenuation correction in 99mTc SPECT--multicenter cooperation phantom study].

A multicenter cooperation phantom study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of a triple energy window scatter correction technique in combination with various attenuation correction methods for 99mTc single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Six centers participated in this research and the data obtained with seven SPECT instruments were analyzed. The phantom used in the experiment was a 20 x 10 cm cylinder filled with homogeneous 99mTc solution, containing two kinds of cold spots (cold rod phantoms). One had a water-filled cylinder 5.5 cm in diameter positioned 2.5 cm from the center. The other contained 6 water-filled cylinders of various sizes. Contrasts of cold regions were in the range from 74% to 120% (true 100%). Another phantom had the shape of a pie-chart divided into six chambers symmetrically positioned in a cylinder 20 cm in diameter and 10 cm in height. Each chamber had volume of 480 ml and contained homogeneous 99mTc solution of different concentrations. This phantom was used to test for linearity between the radio activity concentration and reconstructed count density (linearity phantom). The intercept of the regression line obtained from the linearity phantom was 8.4 kBq ml-1 without scatter correction and -6.8 kBq ml-1 with scatter correction. Contrast was in the range from 78% to 132% (true 100%). The mean relative error for the measured activity concentration was 4.9% +/- 3.5% (mean +/- sd).

Phantoms, Imaging↗

[The mental health of school children after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake: I. Epidemiological study and risk factors for mental distress].

UNLABELLED: We conducted surveys to study the magnitude and nature of psychological consequences of school children affected by the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, which occurred in Kobe on January 17th, 1995. It measured 7.2 in magnitude, killed more than 6000 people and destroyed at least 170,000 buildings and houses. The investigations were carried out 4 months following of the disaster. SUBJECTS: About 9000 school children in the 3rd grade, the 5th grade, the 8th grade living in the disaster areas. About 2000 children living in distant areas were also surveyed as control subjects. METHOD: The questionnaire was in a self-descriptive format and consisted of 10 items regarding situation and behavior when the earthquake occurred and 22 items about mental health condition. The responses were rated from 1 to 4 depending on the frequency of the symptoms, and statistically analyzed. RESULT: By factor analysis, three factors were elicited. Factor 1 was interpreted as being related to fear and anxiety, factor 2 as related to depression and physical symptoms, and factor 3 as related to pro-social tendencies. The highest mean score of factor 1 was associated with the most heavily damaged areas. Less severe damage was associated with a lower mean score, and the control areas showed the lowest score. These results show that the children in the damaged areas were strongly affected. Factor 2 shows a different pattern from factor 1. The score of heavily damaged areas is conspicuously high. However, the differences between the other areas were not significant, the control areas had scores almost the same as these of the slightly damaged areas. These results may mean that in less damaged areas than in more heavily damaged areas, there was a more remarkable "heroic phase" after the disaster, which hid depressive moods and lasted longer than in the more severely damaged areas, where people had to face stern reality in the early stages. Factor 3 shows the reverse pattern of factor 2. The slightly damaged areas had the highest score. This result also shows the influence of the "heroic stage". As for the mean scores of factors 1 and 2, younger children showed higher scores. There were no differences in the scores of factor 3 between students in the 3rd grade and 5th grade. The score of the students in the 8th grade was the lowest among all. It can be seen that adolescents generally lessen their consideration for society as a developmental stage in their growth. All of the mean scores of factors 1, 2 and 3 of females are higher than those of males. In the heavily damaged areas, factor 1 is associated with an experience of being rescued and injuries of the children themselves. Factor 2 is associated with injuries of the children themselves. In the moderately damaged areas, factors 1 and 2 are associated with injuries of the children themselves and taking in victims in the children's homes. In the slightly damaged areas, factor 1 is associated with injuries within families. Factor 2 is associated with injuries within families and taking in victims in the childrens' homes. CONCLUSIONS: School-aged children exposed to a high-magnitude natural disaster had 3 categories of emotions: "fear and anxiety," "depressive mood and physical symptoms" and "pro-social tendency." The severity of disaster, younger age, and female gender were high risk factors for distress. In the heavily damaged areas, an experience of being rescued and injuries of the children themselves had a great influence on the mental health of children. In lesser damaged areas, taking in victims in the childrens' homes and injuries within families had an influence.

Adolescent↗

[A case of urinary stone in ureterocele extracted transurethrally after ESWL].

A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital with chief complaints of difficulty in urination and terminal micturition pain. Ureteroceles were identified bilaterally, and a ureteral stone (19 x 12 mm) existed in the right ureterocele. After crushing the stone by extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), we removed the stone transurethrally with a small incision in the right ureterocele. The vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was not detected postoperatively. Now, we recommend the combination of ESWL and a small transurethral incision of the urelerocele for the treatment of ureteral stones in a ureterocele in order to prevent postoperative VUR.

Aged↗

[Successive myocardial fatty acid metabolic imaging in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: usefulness as a prognostic indicator].

To evaluate the prognostic value of fatty acid metabolic imaging in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), we performed myocardial imaging with 123I-BMIPP (BMIPP). We studied 23 patients with DCM who were admitted because of congestive heart failure (CHF) and after discharge the stable condition persisted for more than one year. BMIPP imaging was obtained when CHF recovered (first study) and the second study was performed one year after the first study. From BMIPP imaging we calculated % Uptake (percentage of cardiac uptake of isotope to total injected dose) and Defect Score (degree and extent of regional abnormality in BMIPP uptake, DS). In the first study, we performed myocardial imaging with 201T1 to calculate Uptake Ratio of BMIPP (% Uptake of BMIPP divided by % Uptake of 201T1, UR). During the follow up period of 18.2 +/- 9.5 months (4.5-39.6 months) after the second study, cardiac event developed in 8 patients (cardiac death; 4, deterioration of CHF; 4). On univariate analysis, the following indices differed significantly between the event and event-free groups; left ventricular end-systolic dimension, graded DS, UR and % Uptake of 201T1 at the first study, % Uptake of BMIPP and DS at the second study, difference of % Uptake of BMIPP and DS between the first and second study, and newly designed index from graded DS of the first study and its change in the second study (Defect Index, DI). Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that DI (p = 0.0026) and age (p = 0.0262) were independent predictors of cardiac events. In patients with DI > or = 3, the relative risk of cardiac event was 25.0 times greater than that in patients with DI < or = 2. These data suggested that the extent and degree of regional abnormality of BMIPP uptake (DS) and its changes with time were useful for evaluating the prognosis in patients with DCM even though a clinically stable condition is persisting.

Adult↗

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis in 21 Japanese children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 21 Japanese children aged 1.2 to 14.9 years with biopsy-proven acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN; 5 drug-induced, 7 infection-related, 3 tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU), and 6 unclassified) for clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and outcome to clarify the clinical features of the entity. All developed acute renal failure with peak BUN values from 25 to 164 mg/dl (mean 83 mg/dl) and peak serum creatinine values from 1.5 to 15.1 mg/dl (mean 6.5 mg/dl). All the 7 infection-related ATIN were associated with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection. Four of the 21 patients underwent dialysis therapy for anuria and 1 patient in the unclassified ATIN showed progression to chronic renal failure. RESULTS: In 20 patients, renal insufficiency lasted for 6 to 73 days: 5 drug-induced; median and ranges 25 (12-33) days, 7 infection-related; 15 (6-22) days, 3 TINU; 65 (55-73) days, and 5 unclassified; 24 (6-34) days. Oral steroid therapy was introduced to the 3 TINU patients because of the prolonged renal dysfunction. Although it was effective in all, 2 of them showed a deterioration of clinical symptoms or renal function after reducing the dosage of steroid. CONCLUSION: Consequently, TINU patients required a longer period of time for the improvement of renal function compared to the other etiologies.

Acute Disease↗