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Biomedical subjects

M Kawamoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Kawamoto.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Age and gender differences in normal myocardial adrenergic neuronal function evaluated by iodine-123-MIBG imaging.

UNLABELLED: Myocardial sympathetic nervous function has been evaluated with 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging in various cardiac diseases. Heterogeneous distribution of this tracer has been reported. This study was undertaken to assess whether such heterogeneity is related to age and gender. METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects (18 men, 11 women; age range, 21 to 79 yr; mean age 42 +/- 17 yr) with no cardiac disorders were studied. Early (15 min) and late (3-4 hr) planar images were taken, and SPECT images were also obtained 3-4 hr after MIBG injection (111 MBq). The mean counts of the whole heart, mediastinum and the anterior and inferior regions of the heart were obtained to calculate heart-to-mediastinum count ratios, myocardial washout rates and the inferior-to-anterior wall count ratio. On a bull's-eye map of the SPECT images, the left ventricular myocardium was divided into nine sectors to calculate the inferior-to-anterior wall count ratio. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the heart-to-mediastinum count ratio based on age or gender, but there was a significant inverse correlation between the inferior-to-anterior wall count ratio and age (r = -0.51 on late planar images and r = -0.69 on SPECT; p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). This correlation was valid in men (r = -0.74 and -0.83, respectively; both p < 0.001), but not in women (r = -0.25 and -0.34, respectively; p = ns). CONCLUSION: Inferior wall uptake of MIBG decreased with age in individuals without cardiac diseases, especially men. Such age- and gender-related heterogeneity should be considered in the interpretation of MIBG images.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

New crystal forms and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex from bovine heart.

Two new crystal forms of the cytochrome bc1 complex (ubiquinol:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase, EC. 1.10.2.2) from bovine heart mitochondria were obtained by the batch method with polyethylene glycol 4000 as the precipitant, when buffer was exchanged from Tris-HCl to potassium phosphate. The first crystal form belongs to the hexagonal space group P61 or P6(5) with unit-cell constants of a = b = 131 A and c = 720 A. The reproducibility of crystallization and the quality of this crystal form were improved by an addition of ZnCl2 to the protein solution. The second crystal form, obtained from the enzyme preparation purified by crystallization, belongs to the tetragonal space group P4(1) or P4(3) with unit-cell constants of a = b = 190 A and c = 445 A. Both crystals diffracted X-rays to 6.5 A resolution and gave sharper diffraction spots than the previous monoclinic form. X-ray intensity data to 8.0 A resolution for the hexagonal crystal and to 7.0 A resolution for the tetragonal one were collected with synchrotron radiation.

Animals↗

Identification and hypotensive activity of proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP).

Proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) is a candidate for a novel biologically active peptide processed from an adrenomedullin precursor. Using a radioimmunoassay for human PAMP, major and minor immunoreactive PAMPs were purified from porcine adrenal medulla and complete amino acid sequences were determined. The major immunoreactive peptide was PAMP itself with an amidated carboxy terminus. The minor one was determined to be PAMP[5-20]. An intravenous bolus injection of human PAMP in anesthetized rats caused a rapid and strong hypotensive effect in a dose dependent manner. The present data indicate that PAMP is an endogenous biologically active peptide which is processed from adrenomedullin precursor.

Adrenomedullin↗

Breast cancer diagnosis by lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in nipple discharge.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of breast cancer based on nipple discharge, often the only clinical manifestation of early breast cancer, is currently unsatisfactory. Because M subunits of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) have been noted to increase in cancer tissue, the author assessed the value of using LDH isozyme patterns in nipple discharge for the diagnosis of breast cancer. METHODS: LDH isozyme levels in (1) nipple discharge of patients diagnosed as having breast cancer, intraductal papilloma, mastopathy, drug-induced nipple discharge, mastitis, or benign nipple discharge; (2) control samples of normal nipple discharge (milk) 6 days, 1-5 months, and 6 months to 2 years postpartum; (3) the serum of patients presenting with nipple discharge; and (4) normal and cancerous breast tissue extracts were measured using a Ciba-Corning LDH isozyme system (Ciba Corning Diagnostic Corp., Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS: LDH isozyme levels in the nipple discharge of patients with benign breast diseases displayed various patterns. Levels in the nipple discharge of patients with breast cancer, including noninvasive carcinoma, tended to increase in ascending order from LDH1 to LDH5. This pattern was similar to that in breast cancer tissue and was unrelated to the pattern in serum. CONCLUSION: LDH isozyme assay of nipple discharge may be a useful technique for providing a supporting diagnosis of breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Immunoreactive adrenomedullin in human plasma.

A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for adrenomedullin has been developed. Half-maximal inhibition of binding of radioiodinated adrenomedullin was observed at 4 fmol/tube. The radioimmunoassay recognized the entire adrenomedullin molecule and has little crossreactivity with adrenomedullin fragment peptides. Adrenomedullin-like immunoreactivity was found to circulate in human plasma at considerable concentration (3.3 +/- 0.39 fmol/ml). The immunoreactivity of adrenomedullin was eluted at almost the same position as synthetic adrenomedullin on gel-filtration chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, suggesting that circulating adrenomedullin recognized by the present radioimmunoassay is identical or very similar to authentic adrenomedullin. Plasma immunoreactive adrenomedullin significantly increased in patients with hypertension, with a progressive rise proportionate to disease severity.

Adrenomedullin↗

Distribution and characterization of immunoreactive adrenomedullin in human tissue and plasma.

A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for human adrenomedullin has been developed and distribution and characterization of immunoreactive adrenomedullin in human tissue were investigated. The radioimmunoassay specifically recognizes its carboxyterminal region and half maximal inhibition of binding of radioiodinated adrenomedullin(40-52)NH2 was observed at 11 fmol/tube. Immunoreactive adrenomedullin was abundant in adrenal medulla (47.7 +/- 26.1 fmol/mg, mean +/- S.D.) and was ubiquitously found in all tissue examined. The mean plasma concentration of adrenomedullin in three normal individuals was 17.2 +/- 6.4 pg/ml (mean +/- S.D.). By analysis with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with the radioimmunoassay, most immunoreactive adrenomedullin in the adrenal medulla, atrium and lung was found to be adrenomedullin(1-52)NH2.

Adrenal Glands↗

Glucose metabolism in relation to perfusion in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

In order to correlate myocardial perfusion and residual metabolism in patients with coronary artery disease, the regional metabolic rate of glucose (rMRGlu) was compared with regional perfusion under glucose loading state (GL) and fasting state (FA). Fluorine-18 deoxyglucose dynamic scan was obtained in ten patients after oral GL and in 16 patients under FA. rMRGlu in seven segments was calculated using Patlak graphic analysis for comparison with normalized percent uptake of nitrogen-13 ammonia at rest in each segment. When perfusion was less than 45%, no segment showed an increase in rMRGlu (> or = 0.3 mumol/min/g) under either FA (0/6 segments) or GL (0/8 segments), indicating a certain threshold of perfusion for maintenance of glucose metabolism. When perfusion exceeded 45%, rMRGlu was higher in GL (0.37 +/- 0.18 mumol/min/g) than FA (0.15 +/- 0.12 mumol/min/g, P < 0.001) but there was very wide scatter of rMRGlu values under both states. Thus, both myocardium with preserved and myocardium with reduced glucose metabolism may exist when the perfusion exceeds 45%. In conclusion, a minimum threshold of perfusion for the maintenance of glucose metabolism may exist under both FA and GL. Below the threshold, irreversible damage may occur in the myocardium. Above the threshold, quantitative analysis of glucose metabolism should play an important role in differentiating reversibly injured myocardium from necrotic myocardium.

Ammonia↗

Combined study with I-123 fatty acid and thallium-201 to assess ischemic myocardium: comparison with thallium redistribution and glucose metabolism.

To assess the clinical value of combined SPECT imaging with I-123-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-methyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) and thallium-201 (Tl), the findings were compared with those obtained in a stress Tl study and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in 22 patients with myocardial infarction. In 20 patients who underwent a stress Tl study, among 75 hypoperfused segments, 27 segments exhibited less BMIPP uptake than Tl (discordant segments), and the remaining 48 segments showed a similar decrease in BMIPP uptake (concordant segments). Twenty-two of 27 discordant segments (81%) exhibited redistribution on stress Tl study. On the other hand, only one of the 48 concordant segments had redistribution (p < 0.001). In 10 patients who underwent a FDG PET study, among 33 hypoperfused segments, seven segments were discordant segments, and the remaining 25 segments were concordant segments. Seven of the eight discordant segments (88%) demonstrated an increase in FDG uptake. In contrast, only five of 25 concordant segments (20%) showed increase in FDG uptake (p < 0.01). Thus, the segments showing discordant BMIPP uptake are considered to be ischemic but viable myocardium. We conclude that combined imaging with BMIPP and Tl is a useful mean for evaluating tissue viability in patients with coronary artery disease, but it may underestimate the extent of tissue viability, compared with FDG PET imaging.

Adult↗

Preliminary report on an automated screening test for detection of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in whole blood.

We developed and evaluated an automated screening test for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) using EDTA-2Na-treated whole blood and an extract of paper disk-absorbed dried whole blood from 60 hemophiliacs infected with HIV-1 and 210 diseased and healthy controls. The specificity and the sensitivity of this system were judged to be 100% with both the whole blood and the extract. This test allows measurement of HIV-1 antibody in whole blood and dried whole blood on a small paper disk and gives a result within 13 minutes; the system can process 150 samples per hour. Therefore, it may be useful at many testing sites, such as emergency departments, intensive care units, blood banks, and commercial laboratories, as well as for mail-order testing from remote areas and developing countries.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Sevoflurane inhibited beta-adrenoceptor-G protein bindings in myocardial membrane in rats.

The effects of sevoflurane on the beta-adrenoceptor (beta AR) system, consisting of the receptor, stimulatory guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding protein (Gs), and adenylate cyclase (AC), were studied in rat myocardial membrane. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production rate was measured as cAMP generation stimulated by l-isoproterenol, guanosine 5"-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), and forskolin, respectively. The receptor studies were performed by using the dihydroalprenolol ([3H]DHA) binding method. Nonspecific binding was determined in the presence of l-propranolol. beta AR binding capacity determined by the maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) and the dissociation constant (Kd) for [3H]DHA were calculated. beta AR affinity for agonists was assessed by an inhibition constant (Ki), calculated from the concentration of l-isoproterenol to produce half-maximum inhibition of [3H]DHA binding (IC50). At 2.0 mM sevoflurane, cAMP production rate was significantly depressed by 87.1% +/- 4.8% with l-isoproterenol and by 79.4% +/- 7.0% with GTP gamma S, but not significantly depressed by forskolin. In the presence of 0-2.0 mM sevoflurane, Kd for [3H]DHA and Ki for l-isoproterenol increased in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas Bmax remained unchanged. The ratio of high affinity state against the high and low affinity state of the adrenoceptor decreased significantly from 0.60 +/- 0.15 to 0.35 +/- 0.12. We conclude that sevoflurane might depress the beta AR signal transduction system by reducing ligand-receptor bindings and disrupting the relationship between the receptor and Gs.

Anesthetics↗

[Assessment of the volume of the mastoid air cell system using digital image processing].

There has been a great deal of controversy concerning the development of pneumatization in the temporal bone. Many reports on the size of the mastoid air cell system have been discussed a planimetric X-ray method, however, there have been no techniques for direct volume measurement based on high-resolution computed tomography (CT). Discussion of the relationship between ear disease and pneumatization of the temporal bone requires three-dimensional measurement of the temporal bone in vivo. Recently, we developed such a technique by using digital image processing to measure the volume of the mastoid air cell system. With this technique, only the air cells and tympanic cavity, with a grey scale level similar to air outside the skull were easily selected on the CT films. Then, after image processing called "thresholding", only the areas and volumes of these extracted pneumatized parts were calculated. The volumes of the pneumatized parts of the temporal bone were calculated separately as partial volumes divided by several CT planes. The sum of the partial volumes was calculated as the total volume of the aerated cavity. This technique also made it possible to reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) model of the air cell system for visual presentation. CT images of 43 normal temporal bones were analyzed. The average volume temporal bone pneumatization (including air cells and tympanic cavity) was about 6ml. There were no differences between pneumatization on the two sides in either sex. Comparisons of partial volumes of pneumatization in the temporal bone revealed that the volumes of portions including the tympanic cavity and its surrounding air cells and those of the antrum and its surrounding air cells were larger than those of other portions. 3D models of the air cell system revealed a variety of shapes. These findings indicated that this technique is not only useful for quantitative analyses but for easy subjective morphological analyses.

Adult↗

[Noninvasive and simple method for the estimation of myocardial metabolic rate of glucose by PET and 18F-FDG].

To estimate regional myocardial metabolic rate of glucose (rMRGlu) with positron emission tomography (PET) and 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), non invasive simple method has been investigated using dynamic PET imaging in 14 patients with ischemic heart disease. This imaging approach uses a blood time-activity curve (TAC) derived from a region of interest (ROI) drawn over dynamic PET images of the left ventricle (LV), left atrium (LA) and aorta. Patlak graphic analysis was used to estimate k1k3/(k2+k3) from serial plasma and myocardial radioactivities. FDG counts ratio between whole blood and plasma was relatively constant (0.91 +/- 0.02) both throughout the time and among different patients. Although TACs derived from dynamic PET images gradually increased at later phase due to spill over from the myocardium into the cavity, there were good agreements between the estimated K complex values obtained from arterial blood sampling and dynamic PET imaging (LV r = 0.95, LA r = 0.96, aorta r = 0.98). These results demonstrate the practical usefulness of a simplified and noninvasive method for the estimation of rMRGlu in humans by PET.

Aged↗

Myocardial tomography using technetium-99m-tetrofosmin to evaluate coronary artery disease.

UNLABELLED: To assess the clinical value of the 99mTc-labeled myocardial perfusion agent, 99mTc-tetrofosmin, the findings of stress and rest myocardial tomography were compared with those of stress and 3-hr delayed 201Tl tomography and coronary arteriography. METHODS: Twenty-five patients who had coronary arteriography were studied with both stress tetrofosmin and 201Tl tomography. RESULTS: The image quality of tetrofosmin was superior to that of 201Tl despite a shorter acquisition time. Both the tetrofosmin and 201Tl studies were quite sensitive to detect coronary artery disease (100% and 95%, respectively) (p = ns). The two studies showed similar sensitivity (75% and 73%) and specificity (80% and 77%, respectively) for the detection of significant (> or = 75% diameter) coronary artery stenosis. Stress distribution of tetrofosmin tended to be slightly higher than that of 201Tl (% uptake: 63.3% +/- 13.5% versus 60.4% +/- 12.2%, p = 0.0006; uptake score: 2.33 +/- 1.03 versus 2.22 +/- 1.07, p = 0.007), indicating less defect contrast in the former. A high concordant rate (89%) of the stress perfusion score was observed between the two radiopharmaceuticals. Reversible perfusion abnormalities were observed to be similar between stress-rest tetrofosmin and stress-delayed 201Tl studies. CONCLUSIONS: Stress tetrofosmin perfusion tomography is a valuable method to detect coronary artery disease and to assess tissue viability with accuracy similar to that of stress 201Tl tomography.

Aged↗

[Usefulness of the interchangeable medical bibliography: introduction of "reference transform utility" program for Macintosh].

We made a text file format exchange program on HyperCard 2.0 for medical bibliography. Some database applications on Macintosh to manage the medical bibliography were available. FileMaker ProJ, EndNotePlus and Microsoft Excel were well known as popular databases and spread sheet application for Macintosh. The data format among the applications is not uniform. We need to translate a data format into another format to share the same data among these database applications. But it requires a lot of time and labor to make this conversion by manual operation. We have developed a file conversion utility program with HyperCard as a user friendly software.

Bibliography of Medicine↗

Prognostic value of an increase in fluorine-18 deoxyglucose uptake in patients with myocardial infarction: comparison with stress thallium imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the prognostic value of an increase in fluorine (F)-18 deoxyglucose uptake compared with clinical, angiographic and stress thallium findings in patients with myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using F-18 deoxyglucose has been applied to assess tissue viability in patients with coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that patients with a myocardial segment with augmented F-18 deoxyglucose uptake are at high risk for a future cardiac event. METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight consecutive patients with myocardial infarction referred for F-18 deoxyglucose PET and stress thallium scans were studied. Follow-up was obtained in 84 patients at a mean interval of 23 months to investigate prognostic implications of radionuclide studies. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had a cardiac event during the follow-up interval. Univariate analysis showed that an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake was the best predictor of a future cardiac event (p = 0.0006), followed by the number of stenosed vessels (p = 0.008). In the multivariate analysis, when an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake was entered into the model, only angiographic variables had an independent prognostic value, whereas no other radionuclide variables showed significant prognostic value. Among patients who did not show redistribution, a future cardiac event was observed more often in patients with than in those without an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake seemed to be the best predictor of a future cardiac event among all clinical, angiographic and radionuclide variables in this study of stable patients with myocardial infarction. Even when a stress thallium-201 scan does not show redistribution, those patients who have an increase in F-18 deoxyglucose uptake in a PET study may be at risk for a future cardiac event, and these patients may need aggressive treatment to prevent a future cardiac event.

Aged↗

Adrenomedullin: a novel hypotensive peptide isolated from human pheochromocytoma.

A novel hypotensive peptide was discovered in human pheochromocytoma by monitoring the elevating activity of platelet cAMP. Since this peptide is abundant in normal adrenal medulla as well as in pheochromocytoma tissue arising from adrenal medulla, it was designated "adrenomedullin". The peptide, consisting of 52 amino acids, has one intramolecular disulfide bond and shows slight homology with calcitonin gene related peptide. It was found to elicit a potent and long lasting hypotensive effect. The peptide circulates in blood in a considerable concentration, but it was not found in brain. These data suggest that adrenomedullin is a new hormone participating in blood pressure control. Occurrence of adrenomedullin indicates the possible existence of a novel system for circulation control.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗