Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Igarashi

Publications and source records attributed to M Igarashi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibodies in a rural community without high mortality from liver disease in Niigata prefecture.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and factors relating to the HCV transmission were evaluated in a community without high mortality from chronic liver disease in Niigata prefecture. A total of 2,231 subjects were examined to detect anti-HCV core antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with synthetic peptides CP14 and CP9. The prevalence was 1.66% (95% CI; 1.17% to 2.29%) and tended to increase with age. The values were lower than those reported from districts with hepatic disease endemic. Histories of blood transfusion (relative risk (RR) 5.51; 95% CI 2.90 to 10.48) and surgery with hospital admission (RR 4.43; 95% CI 2.04 to 9.65) were significantly associated with the anti-HCV core antibodies positive. Multiple logistic analysis corroborated independency of these factors. Among 188 subjects who experienced surgery and/or blood transfusion after 1990, only one (0.5%) had HCV infection. By contrast, 8 (3.5%) were positive in subjects who experienced first acupuncture therapy after 1990. The acupuncture therapy in alternative medicine could be still related to the HCV transmission.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1998

Relationship of prison life style to blood pressure, serum lipids and obesity in women prisoners in Japan.

This prospective study of female prison inmates assessed the effects of prison labour life style on the blood pressure (BP), serum lipids, and body mass index of pre- and postmenopausal female prisoners. This study was carried out in the largest women's prison, located in a town in the North East of Japan. The prison serves a reasonably large community. Three hundred and twelve premenopausal female prisoners and 88 postmenopausal female prisoners in a women's prison participated in this study. Weight and height were measured to calculate the body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured with a sphygmomanometer. Serum samples were collected for serum lipid estimations. Base-line data of two groups were compared by unpaired t-test, and changes in these data from the initial values were tested by paired t-test. From our limited data, both the pre- and postmenopausal female prisoners showed decreases in systolic and diastolic pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and body mass index. Both also showed increases in HDL-cholesterol. Given that almost all the women in this prison had the same labour life style, the findings of this study suggest that BP, the serum lipids concentration and obesity can be changed effectively by prison labour life, but are less readily changed in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Study of optokinetic nystagmus and spino-motor functions with cyclo-rotatory optokinetic stimulus].

It has been shown that the neural channels from the otolith organs and the vertical semicircular canals connect to the cyclo-rotatory oculomotor system. However, only a few studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between the cyclo-rotatory optokinetic (COK) and the vestibular inputs. Accordingly, we have analyzed the cyclo-rotatory oculomotor output evoked by a COK stimulus, in 30 subjects; 21 normal adults, 4 elderly persons, and 5 persons with unilateral vestibular dysfunction. In addition, the spinal motor output was simultaneously recorded and comparatively analyzed. The increase in COK nystagmus (COKN) was less than that in horizontal and vertical OKN. There was a significant decline in the maximum slow phase eye velocity in the elderly subjects as well as in the subjects with unilateral vestibular dysfunction, compared to that in the normal adult subjects. Regarding the spinal motor output, in the subjects with unilateral vestibular dysfunction, a pronouned increase in the sway distance from the center of gravity was found with COK stimulus forward the lesioned side. However, with the COK stimulus, there was no significant correlation between the output functions of the cyclorotatory oculomotor system and those of the spinal motor system.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Optokinetic nystagmus under prolonged alteration in the direction of gravity].

Optokinetic Nystagmus (OKN) exhibit different responses depending on the direction of gravity, with respect to head and body. In 13 normal healthy volunteers (10 experimental subjects and 3 controls), we studied the OKN evoked by horizontal and vertical stimuli, in upright, side-lateral, and repeated upright positions during a long time course of six test stages. Stage 1 was an upright sitting position. Stage 2 was a 90-degree recumbent lateral position immediately after Stage 1. Stage 3 was the same position as in Stage 2, but 2h later. Stage 4 was the same position, another 2h later (total of 4h). Stage 5 was a return to the upright position (the same as Stage 1) immediately after Stage 4. Stage 6 was a return to the same upright position, 2h after Stage 5. The results showed continuous modifications of OKN. A lateral tilt produced different effects on the horizontal and vertical optokinetic oculomotor systems. The gain in horizontal OKN (HOKN) decreased during Stages 2-4 with time, and returned to normal in Stages 5 and 6. As for vertical OKN (VOKN), the gain of upward (the direction by slow phase) OKN increased during Stages 2-4, and returned to normal in Stages 5 and 6. But the gain of downward OKN did not show any clear modulation. We showed that the change in gravity direction has a clear effect on OKN, and that it takes some time to reach the maximal and desirable level of modification. The difference in time-dependent modifications between HOKN and VOKN should be due to the difference in OKN-producing mechanisms and velocity storage systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Evaluation of optokinetic afternystagmus (OKAN) induced by cyclo-rotatory optokinetic stimulation (C-OKst)].

It is not known whether the optokinetic afternystagmus (OKAN) can be evoked by cyclo-rotatory optokinetic stimulation (C-OKst) or not. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the problem by using a rotating white dome with random dots. Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and OKAN in standing upright, supine, and prone positions were recorded and analyzed with an infrared-ray CCD camera and computed picture analyzer. During stimulation, rotatory OKN showed clearly, but there was no slow-rise component. The OKAN was continuously recorded and analyzed. The component of this OKAN was found only in the head-horizontal direction (yaw axis) in all different head positions. It appeared fairly constantly in the prone posture. The velocity storage mechanism (VSM) had to be charged by the C-OKst, but the OKAN (1st phase) appeared only in the yaw axis, not in the roll axis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Prefectural health administration's view on otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas].

In a previous study, we investigated otorhinolaryngological care by the general practitioners in medical rural areas and demonstrated that a close relationship between general practitioners and otorhinolaryngologists was necessary. In the present study, a survey of prefectural health administration's views on otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas was performed. A questionnaire for otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas was sent to the divisions of health administration in the 47 prefectures of Japan. Of these prefectures, 46 (97.9%) responded. About 80% of respondents have medical rural areas, and the otorhinolaryngological care is inadequate in most areas. General practitioners of internal medicine or surgery are primarily demanded in about 75% of the prefectures. Otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas has never been considered in most prefectures. Because the need for otorhinolaryngological medical care will increase, prefectural health administrations need to pay more attention to otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas, and a close relationship between general practitioners, otorhinolaryngologists, and the administration should be established.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1998

Cremimycin, a novel 19-membered macrocyclic lactam antibiotic, from Streptomyces sp.

A novel 19-membered macrocyclic lactam antibiotic, cremimycin, was isolated from the culture broth of an actinomycete strain. The producing organism, designated MJ635-86F5, was identified as a member of Streptomyces. Cremimycin was isolated from the mycelial cake by extraction with CHCl3-MeOH and precipitation with hexane-MeOH. The structure of cremimycin was determined by spectroscopic study. Cremimycin showed broad antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Circulatory changes at the time of anesthetic induction and endotracheal intubation--comparison of thiamylal induction group and propofol induction group].

We examined the circulatory changes after intravenous thiamylal with additional injection of thiamylal 1 minute before intubation and after propofol at the time of anesthetic induction and endotracheal intubation. Sixty ASA I or II patients were studied after the institutional and informed consents. We compared the following three groups. Group I (n = 20): Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal 5 mg.kg-1 and intubation with the aid of vecuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1. Group II (n = 20): Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal 3 mg.kg-1 and vecuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1. One minute before the intubation, the patients received additional thiamylal 4 mg.kg-1. Group III (n = 20): Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.5 mg.kg-1 and intubation was performed with the aid of vecuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1. We examined the systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures, heart rate, and rate pressure product (RPP) in the three groups. The examinations were performed before and after induction, soon after intubation, and every one minute after intubation for 5 minutes. After the endotracheal intubation, the systolic blood pressure and heart rate increased in Group I. But the systolic and diastolic pressures were significantly more stable in Group II and Group III. The change of the RPP was slight and most stable in Group II compared with the other two groups. We conclude that additional injection of thiamylal 4 mg.kg-1 following induction of anesthesia with thyamylal 3 mg.kg-1 1 minute before endotracheal intubation is an effective method for minimizing the increase in blood pressure and circulatory changes at the time of rapid induction of anesthesia and endotracheal intubation.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗
PubMed1998

[A randomized controlled study of total parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition by elemental and polymeric diet as primary therapy in active phase of Crohn's disease].

We performed randomized controlled study to compare the short-term therapeutic effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), elemental diet (ED) and polymeric diet (PD) given as primary therapy in active phase of Crohn's disease. In hospital for Crohn's disease, twenty-eight patients were given nutritional therapy: 9 patients by TPN, 10 by ED, and 9 by PD. Nutritional state, inflammatory reactions, disease activity and clinical remission rate were assessed two weeks and four weeks after treatment, and morphological findings were assessed before and after each nutritional therapy by radiographic and colonoscopic findings. Inflammatory reactions were more effectively controlled by TPN and ED than by PD, and early improvement achieved by TPN and ED was especially note-worthy. Clinical remission rate after treatment by TPN was highest in three types of nutritional approach, but no significant difference was seen at any point. In nutritional state, disease activity and morphological findings, comparable changes were effected without preference. These results suggest that nutritional therapy by total parenteral nutrition and elemental diet is superior to polymeric diet for treating active phase of Crohn's disease with marked inflammatory reactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical experience at Uppsala University].

The author had a chance to study at the Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia at Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. About 12 hundred cases of open heart surgery and thoracic surgery are done by cardiothoracic anesthesiologists every year. Most of the cardiac anesthesia was performed with low flow anesthesia using mixture of oxygen-air-isoflurane, from economical and environmental view points. Early extubation is common at Uppsala University. The patients were extubated at the intensive care unit on the day of surgery. The author also visited the central surgery suite. More than 12 thousand surgeries per year, including hepatic and renal transplantation, are performed. General intensive care unit, emergency medicine were managed and organized mainly by anesthesiologists. The role of anesthesiologists are well appreciated and they are respected in Sweden.

Anesthesia Department, Hospital↗
PubMed1997

An improved method for the mouse liver micronucleus test.

We have developed a very practical method for performing the liver micronucleus test in mice. Using this method, we evaluated 11 different types of mutagens, including, 2-acetylaminofluorene, amsacrine, benzene, cyclophosphamide, diethylnitrosamine, 4-dimethylamino-3'-methylazobenzene, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, fluorouracil, mitomycin C, potassium chromate (VI) and selenious acid. In order to assess the sensitivity of our method, the peripheral blood reticulocyte micronucleus test was performed in the same mouse. Animals were given test chemicals once and underwent partial hepatectomy (PH) 24 h later in order to induce mitotic stimulation. Peripheral blood was sampled 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment. The incidence of micronucleated hepatocytes was determined 5 days after PH. As a result, diethylnitrosamine and 4-dimethylamino-3'-methylazobenzene, known as liver carcinogens, increased the incidence of micronucleated cells in the liver only. Positive reactions for benzene, on the other hand, were found in the peripheral blood reticulocytes only. The other chemicals showed positive reaction in the liver and peripheral blood reticulocytes with almost the same maximum response of micronucleus induction. Our method was found to have the advantage over Cliets' liver micronucleus test in that it required much less time and was easier to perform procedures and highly sensitive in detecting clastogens. It can be used in combination with the peripheral blood reticulocyte micronucleus test to evaluate test chemicals in two tissues, the liver and the bone marrow, in the same animal. We propose a method of combining this test with the peripheral blood reticulocyte micronucleus test for efficient screening for the clastogenic potential of new chemicals in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Depolymerized holothurian glycosaminoglycan (DHG) prevents neointimal formation in balloon-injured rat carotid artery.

The in vivo activity of depolymerized holothurian glycosaminoglycan (DHG), a newly developed polysaccharide anticoagulant, on neointimal formation induced by a balloon catheter in the left common carotid artery of rats was investigated. In every Sprague-Dawley rat weighing approximately 400 g, a Forgaty 2Fr balloon catheter was inserted from the left femoral artery to the left common carotid artery, and was passed through three times in order to denude the endothelium of the artery. These rats were divided into four groups by the following treatment protocols; DHG was given to rats by daily subcutaneous injection into their abdomens at a dose of 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg (D3 or D10 group). For controls, 250 microl saline was injected daily (C group). Furthermore, 1 mg/kg of unfractionated heparin was also injected daily as a comparison to DHG (H group). Each treatment was performed in six rats, and the injections were continued for two weeks after the catheterization. The area ratio of thickened intima/media (I/M ratio) treated with DHG decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. In addition, the ratio in the D10 group was significantly lower than in the control (P < 0.01). However, the ratio in the H group did not decrease. By anti-a smooth muscle actin antibody staining the intimal thickening layers were seen to be completely occupied by proliferated smooth muscle cells, and their amount in these layers was attenuated by the DHG treatment. This indicated that DHG has an inhibitory effect on intimal thickening induced by balloon catheterization, and that this might be due to the inactivation of aberrant smooth muscle cells by this agent.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1997

The soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attached protein receptor complex in growth cones: molecular aspects of the axon terminal development.

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attached protein (SNAP) receptor (SNARE) mechanisms are thought to be involved in two important processes in axonal growth cones: (1) membrane expansion for axonal growth and (2) vesicular membrane fusion for mature synaptic transmission. We investigated the localization and interactions among the proteins involved in SNARE complex formation in isolated growth cone particles (GCP) from forebrain. We demonstrated that the SNARE complex is present in GCPs morphologically without synaptic vesicles (SVs) and associated with growth cone vesicles. However, the apparently SV-free GCP was lacking in the regulatory mechanisms inhibiting SNARE complex formation proposed in SV fusion, i.e., the association of synaptotagmin with the SNARE complex, and vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-synaptophysin complex formation. The core components of the SNARE complex (syntaxin, SNAP-25, and VAMP) accumulated for several days before postnatal day 7, when SVs first appeared, and preceded the accumulation of marker proteins such as synaptophysin, SV2, and V-ATPase. Our present results suggest that the SNARE mechanism for vesicular transmitter release is not fully functional in growth cones before the appearance of SVs, but the SNARE mechanism is working for membrane expansion in growth cones, which supports our recent report. We concluded that the regulation of the SNARE complex in growth cones is different from that in mature presynaptic terminals and that this switching may be one of the key steps in development from the growth cone to the presynaptic terminal.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

BAYw6228 suppresses accumulation of macrophages in balloon-induced intimal thickening of rabbit carotid artery.

To determine the in vivo activity of BAYw6228 (BAYw), a newly developed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, we examined its effect on balloon catheterization-induced carotid arterial intimal thickening in Japanese white rabbits. In all rabbits weighing approximately 3.5 kg, a balloon catheter was inserted from a peripheral branch of the left external carotid artery to the aorta in order to denude the endothelium of the left common carotid artery. At day 12, they were divided into control and BAYw groups. The latter were subcutaneously injected with BAYw, 1 mg/kg/day, for the following 17 days. At day 15, the second balloon catheterization was performed in the same left common carotid artery in both groups. After another two weeks, the left common carotid artery was removed and stained with Elastica-Masson (EM) and anti-rabbit macrophage antibody (RAM 11). With RAM 11 staining, the number of positive cells in the intimal thickening was markedly decreased in the BAYw group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the area ratio of the thickened intima/media layer of the control group, that of the BAYw group was significantly decreased to 45% (P < 0.05). These results indicate that BAYw prevents accumulation of macrophages and consequently contributes to the inhibition of intimal thickening induced by balloon catheterization.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Intestinal Behçet's disease--pathognomonic changes in intramucosal lymphoid tissues and effect of a "rest cure" on intestinal lesions.

To clarify the pathognomonic changes of intestinal lesions of Behçet's disease and to determine effective therapeutic measures, we recruited 13 patients with the intestinal form of this disease for study. We performed pathology studies on the resected specimens of 7 patients and treated 5 of the other 6 patients with a low-residue diet. Pathology examination revealed that 6 of 7 had inflammatory ulcerations in the ileocecal region. The ileal ulcers were mainly on the antimesenteric side. We observed remnants of Peyer's patches at the margins of the major ulcerative lesions in 2 of 2 patients examined. There were aggregations of lymphocytes resembling destroyed lymph follicles in the superficial layer at the mouths of small fissuring lesions, and ulcer scars were also noted in Peyer's patches in 4 of 5 other patients. X-ray and endoscopic examinations revealed the disappearance of intestinal lesions in 5 patients within 1 month during, or following the low-residue diet treatment. We found the intestinal lesions of Behçet's disease at sites coinciding with intramucosal lymphoid tissue. The "rest cure" for the affected bowel was effective, i.e., there was significant alleviation of gastrointestinal symptoms and the intestinal lesions disappeared. We speculated that acute exudative inflammation, abscess formation, and consequent ulceration may occur in these tissues by the same mechanisms as those that operate in the positive needle-prick reactions seen in patients with Behçet's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Platelet activation with massive formation of thromboxane A2 during and after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxia and ischemia cause endothelial cell damage with consequent platelet activation. The hypothesis that human cardiac arrest accelerates platelet activation and the formation of prostanoids was tested. DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: Emergency Department and general Intensive Care Unit in a city hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Basic and advanced life support. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. The patients were classified into two groups, those who were resuscitated (n = 18) and those who died (n = 29). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Serial levels of platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 11-dehydro-TXB2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were measured. The results of measurements and demographic data were compared between the groups. Platelet counts decreased at the end of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the decrease of the platelet counts showed statistical significance especially in the patients who died (p < 0.001). Platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine and collagen decreased to the lower limits of normal during and after CPR. Although high values of TXB2 and 11-dehydro-TXB2 continued throughout the study period in the resuscitated patients, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha decreased to the normal range (22.7 +/- 3.6 pg.ml-1. p < 0.05 at -24 h after arrival at the Emergency Department. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet activation with the massive formation of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) occurs in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Successful resuscitation is not associated with the balanced production of PGI2 against the TXA2 formation.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Ionized hypocalcemia during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not due to binding by lactate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between ionized calcium concentrations and blood lactate levels during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Emergency department (ED) and general intensive care unit in a city hospital (tertiary care center). PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: 32 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; 14 of the patients had a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and 18 of the patients died. INTERVENTIONS: Basic and advanced life support. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Concentrations of ionized and total calcium, bicarbonate, lactate, and pyruvate and pH were simultaneously determined immediately upon arrival at the ED, and at 30 and 60 min. Upon arrival at the ED, all patients had ionized hypocalcemia (1.09 +/- 0.02 mmol/l). Ionized and total calcium concentrations progressively decreased during and after CPR, but pH and bicarbonate concentrations did not show any significant changes. In patients who had ROSC, a significant, but perhaps not clinically relevant, relationship was observed between the ionized calcium concentrations and pH (r2 = 0.152, p = 0.0117). In the patients who died, there were significant correlations between ionized calcium and pH (r2 = 0.382, p = 0.0001) and bicarbonate concentrations (r2 = 0.298, p = 0.0006). No definite correlations were demonstrated when comparing ionized calcium concentrations with lactate and pyruvate concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Ionized hypocalcemia during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and CPR is not due to binding by both lactate and pyruvate, but may be partly due to complexing by bicarbonate, with some modifications due to variations in pH.

Aged↗