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Biomedical subjects

M Kawamura

Publications and source records attributed to M Kawamura.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Extracellular ATP stimulates steroidogenesis in bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells via P2 purinoceptors.

Effects of ATP and other purine derivatives on steroidogenesis in primary cultured bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells were examined. At concentrations higher than 1 microM, ATP showed a potent stimulative effect on the cortisol production of the cells. The potency order of the steroidogenic effect of the tested purine derivatives was ATP greater than ADP much greater than adenosine much greater than AMP. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP had no stimulative effect on the steroidogenesis at concentrations as high as 1 mM. Theophylline did not antagonize the steroidogenic effect of ATP. These results suggest that bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells possess the P2y purinoceptors that are linked to steroidogenesis.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1991

Enhancement of endogenous prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin) generation in vivo by a phenolic anti-inflammatory agent in the rabbit.

Angiotensin II (i.v.) increased the plasma level of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from 241 +/- 60 pg/ml (n = 8) to 612 +/- 108 pg/ml (n = 8) in anesthetized rabbits, which was further significantly increased by pretreatment with a phenolic anti-inflammatory agent, MK-447, to 1007 +/- 218 pg/ml (n = 8). MK-447 alone did not affect the level. The level of thromboxane B2 was not affected by these treatments. These results suggest that MK-447 may selectively enhance the PGI2 level by acting as a tryptophan-like cofactor of PG endoperoxide synthase.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1991

Mechanism of hyperalgesia in SART stressed (repeated cold stress) mice: antinociceptive effect of neurotropin.

Exposing mice to 24 and 4 degrees C in alternate 1 hr periods in the day time and maintaining 4 degrees C at night for several days decreases the tail clamp pressure required to evoke pain behavior. This model is referred to as SART (specific alternation rhythm of temperature) stress. An extract from inflamed skin of rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus (neurotropin) clearly normalized the hyperalgesia in this SART stress model. To clarify the mechanism of the hyperalgesia in SART mice and the mode of the antinociceptive action of neurotropin in this model, the influence of systemically administered neurotransmitter related drugs was studied. 1) Neurotropin, 5-hydroxytryptophan and L-dihydroxyphenylalanine significantly normalized the decrease in nociceptive threshold, and muscimol tended to inhibit it in nociceptive threshold in SART stressed mice. 2) Haloperidol, phenoxybenzamine, reserpine, bicuculline, scopolamine, physostigmine and naloxone alone did not influence the nociceptive threshold in SART stressed mice. 3) The antinociceptive effect of neurotropin was significantly attenuated by p-chlorophenylalanine, haloperidol and phenoxybenzamine; and it was completely inhibited by reserpine. 4) Naloxone, bicuculline, scopolamine and physostigmine had no influence on the antinociceptive effect of neurotropin. These results suggest that hypofunction mainly of the monoaminergic systems contributes to hyperalgesia in SART stressed mice and that neurotropin produces the antinociceptive effect by restoring these neural functions.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1991

Quantitative lymphoscintigraphy using 99Tcm human serum albumin in patients with previously treated uterine cancer.

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy using 99Tcm human serum albumin (99Tc-HSA) in assessing lymphoedema in the lower extremities, lymphoscintigraphy was performed by subcutaneous injection of 7.4 MBq of 99Tcm-HSA in 26 patients with uterine cancer, previously treated by operation (OP) and/or radiation therapy (RT), and in five controls. Radioactivity at the injection site in the lower extremities was counted for 3 min at 10 min (A) and at 3 h (B) after injection, and clearance of 99Tcm-HSA was defined as (1-(B)/(A)) x 100(%). Clearance in controls was 46.8 +/- 3.9%, which was significantly more than those in the other treatment groups. Clearances in patients treated with both OP and RT were less than those in patients treated with either OP or RT alone (30.1 +/- 11.4 vs. 41.9 +/- 8.9, 43.7 +/- 9.6%, respectively; p less than 0.01). The clearance in legs with lymphoedema was less than those without lymphoedema in patients treated with both OP and RT (16.6 +/- 7.7 vs. 34.9 +/- 9.3%; p less than 0.01) and in patients treated with RT (33.1 +/- 7.4 vs. 48.0 +/- 5.6%; p less than 0.01). There was a significant difference between clearance in controls and clearance in non-oedematous patients' legs treated with OP and RT (p less than 0.01). In patients treated with RT alone, radiation dose was closely correlated with 99Tcm-HSA clearance and with the development of lymphoedema. These data suggest that lymphoscintigraphy using 99Tcm-HSA is useful in evaluating lymphoedema and that radiation dose is one of the factors in the development of lymphoedema.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[A case of renal pelvic squamous cell carcinoma accompanied with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy].

A 74-year-old male was urgently admitted to our hospital because of consciousness disturbance. Laboratory data showed remarkable hypercalcemia (7.8 mEq/L), hypophosphatemia, low % TRP, low intact PTH level, normal nephrogenic cyclic AMP and normal 1,25 (OH)2D level. Serum bone Gla protein, which was thought to express osteoblastic activity, was low. Serum tartarate resistant acid phosphatase and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline, which were thought to express osteoclastic activity, were high. CT scan showed an enlarged mass in the left renal pelvis, which was found to be a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by biopsy through percutaneous nephroscopy. Bone scintigram appeared normal. Therefore, we diagnosed it as renal pelvic SCC with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) and performed left nephrectomy. After nephrectomy, serum calcium returned to normal. But after a few weeks, lung metastasis appeared and serum calcium was reelevated. As to PTH related protein (PTHrP) which was thought to induce HHM, PTHrP content of the resected tumor measured by RIA assay was 13 pmol/g wet weight of tissue, which suggested that this tumor might have been producing PTHrP.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Surgical results of small sized (less than 3 cm) advanced lung cancer].

We studied the surgical results in 31 patients with small sized but advanced lung cancer. Twenty-two patients had mediastinal lymph node metastasis, 6 had pulmonary metastasis, 3 had pleural dissemination. Histological type were adenocarcinoma in 21 patients, large cell carcinoma in 5 patients, small cell carcinoma in 4 patients. The 5-year survival rate in patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis (pT1N2) was 24.1%. The 5-year survival rate in patients (pT1N2) for clinical N0, N1 was 34.6%, but no patient with clinical N2 disease survived more than 2 years after the operation. In the patients with pulmonary metastasis or pleural dissemination none survived more than 5 years after the operation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[Cobb syndrome and Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome].

We reported two patients with neurocutaneous angiomatosis. Patient 1, a 36-year-old woman of Cobb syndrome had cutaneous portwine angiomas in the high back and spinal arteriovenous malformations at the level of Th4-11. She had also atrophy and livedo reticularis presenting during standing position in the left lower extremity. Patient 2, a 47-year-old man of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome had varices in the bilateral lower extremities, cutaneous portwine angiomas in the high back and bilateral lower extremities, and hypertrophy of the bilateral legs. Neuroradiological examination revealed abnormal vessels in the spinal canal at the level of C5 and Th4. These syndromes may have no essential difference because of the presence of neural and cutaneous angiomas at the corresponding level, venous system disorders and trophic changes (hypertrophy/atrophy).

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The appearance of "lambda" and "panda" sign on Ga-67 scintigraphy in sarcoidosis].

The lesions of sarcoidosis generally show relatively high Ga-67 uptake and the usefulness of scintigraphy using this agent in the evaluation of lesion activity is well known. In this report, we assessed characteristic uptake of Ga-67 in intrathoracic lymphnodes, the shape of which resembled the Greek letter Lambda (Lambda sign) and a symmetrical accumulation in bilateral lacrimal and salivary glands which resembled a Panda face (Panda sign) in patients with sarcoidosis. Our review of Ga-67 scans obtained from 15 patients with sarcoidosis and 1,779 patients with other disorders during the past 3 years revealed that the simultaneous presence of both Lambda and Panda signs was specific to patients with sarcoidosis and was not found in patients with various other disorders, although one of these signs might be observed in patients without sarcoidosis. When Lambda-like sign was observed, chest radiogram or CT was necessary for the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Panda sign was observed frequently among patients who had previously received irradiation of the neck. Our results confirmed that sarcoidosis must be suspected when both Lambda and Panda signs were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Patent urachus associated with abdominal abscess: report of a case].

A case of the patent urachus associated with abdominal abscess was reported. A 44-year-old woman was consulted to our clinic with the complaints of bladder irritability and discharge from the navel on October 27, 1987. A fist-sized tumor around the umbilicus was pointed out and the cystography from the umbilicus demonstrated that the contrast medium reached to the urinary bladder. The cystoscopy showed the protruded lesion on the dome of the bladder. The pre-operative diagnosis was patent urachus. She received resection of the urachus on November 11, 1987. The pathological finding was pyogenic granuloma of the urachus due to chronic inflammation.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1991

Rupture of pararenal pseudocyst in a patient with Down's syndrome.

A rare case of Down's syndrome with spontaneous rupture of a pararenal pseudocyst has been reported. The rupture of the pararenal pseudocyst was treated nonsurgically. The presence of this cyst in conjunction with Down's syndrome may be due, in part, to muscular hypotonia.

Down Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Aspirin injection test to predict angioplasty outcome in unilateral renovascular hypertension: preliminary report.

We examined the usefulness of aspirin DL-lysine for prediction of the outcome of renal artery angioplasty in renovascular hypertension. The study was carried out in eight hypertensive patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis: six were free from azotemia and two had slight azotemia. Before and 30 min after an intravenous injection of aspirin DL-lysine (18 mg/kg), renal venous and abdominal aortic plasma was sampled and assayed for prostaglandin E2 and plasma renin activity. Blood pressure and heart rate were serially measured at this time. Renal angioplasty was later performed and was technically successful in all patients. In the six patients without azotemia, aspirin inhibited renal prostaglandin E2 synthesis and suppressed renin release from the ischemic kidney, resulting in lowered blood pressure. Renal angioplasty caused plasma renin activity to become normal and lowered high blood pressure. The reduction in blood pressure by angioplasty was correlated with the responses of blood pressure and renin release to aspirin. However, in the two patients with azotemia, aspirin neither suppressed renin release nor lowered blood pressure. Their hypertension was not reduced by the angioplasty. These results indicate that an aspirin injection test could be useful for prediction of the outcome of angioplasty in unilateral renovascular hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Bone morphogenesis of rabbit bone morphogenetic protein-bound hydroxyapatite-fibrin composite.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) and fibrin have been implanted in patients and observed to be well tolerated in orthotopic sites. This is a report on a composite of HAP, fibrin, and rabbit bone morphogenetic protein and insoluble noncollagenous protein (BMP-iNCP). Drill holes in the femoral condyles of rabbits were packed with granulated HAP (200 mg), fibrin (0.3 ml), BMP-iNCP (5 mg), or various combinations of the two. The fibrin consisted mainly of sterilized human fibrinogen and thrombin, and BMP-iNCP was prepared from demineralized rabbit cortical bone. New bone formation was observed at one, two, four, and eight weeks after implantation. The BMP-iNCP augmented new bone formation in rabbit femoral condyles. Fibrin made the composite easier to manipulate and did not inhibit osteogenesis at any period. The composites of HAP with BMP-iNCP and of HAP with BMP-iNCP and fibrin produced higher yields of new bone than fibrin alone or HAP alone.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Tubuloglomerular feedback response in rats with antithymocyte serum-induced glomerular lesions.

Glomerular function and tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) responses were studied in rats treated with antithymocyte rabbit serum (ATS). Microscopic findings revealed extensive mesangial cell loss and injury, enlarged capillary lumen, and decreased tortuosity of glomerular capillaries. Whole kidney GFR and SNGFR were lower in ATS-treated rats than in control rats (1.04 +/- 0.04 vs 0.94 +/- 0.03 ml/min/g kidney weight, 32 +/- 2 vs 27 +/- 1 nl/min, respectively) due to a decrease in Kf (0.017 +/- 0.001 vs 0.021 +/- 0.001 nl/s/mmHg). The magnitude of the TGF responses of SNGFR was less in ATS rats than in control rats (17% +/- 4% vs 34% +/- 5%), but that of SFP was not significantly different (18% +/- 2% vs 23% +/- 1%). These results indicate that the mesangial cells are necessary for full expression of the TGF mechanism and suggest the involvement of changes in Kf in the TGF mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Study on flomoxef in the perinatal period].

The placental passage and the the therapeutic efficacy of flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S) were studied in patients in the perinatal period. A summary of the obtained results is as follows: 1. Concentrations of FMOX in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid obtained upon one-shot intravenous injections to 12 patients were compared with those obtained upon 1 hour drip infusions to 9 patients. It was found that the former means of administration gave higher concentrations that the latter. 2. Concentrations of FMOX in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid at 1 to 6 hours after administration through either method were all higher than MIC80's of recognized bacteria. 3. Clinical efficacies were evaluated in 10 patients with puerperal intrauterine infection, 7 patients with endometritis, 2 patients with pyelonephritis and 1 patient each with endo-cervicitis, amniotic fluid infection, mastitis and perineal wound infection. Clinical efficacies were excellent in 5 patients (21.7%), good in 17 patients (73.9%) and poor in 1 patient (4.4%), thus the overall efficacy rate was 95.7%. 4. Eradication of causative bacteria were obtained in all 8 cases tested, hence the eradication rate was 100%. 5. Mild diarrhea in 1 patient was the only side effect observed. No abnormal clinical laboratory test results were found in any patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy presenting localized radiculopathy as an initial symptom].

We reported a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), presenting localized radiculopathy as an initial symptom. The patient, a 38-year-old man, developed muscle atrophy of right shin and calf. In April 1988, neurological examination revealed decreased superficial sensation and muscle atrophy in right L-4 distribution. MRI of the lumbar spinal cord and myelography were negative. In April 1989, he was admitted to Chiba University Hospital. There were slight weakness of right ankle extension and flexion, muscle atrophy of bilateral shin and calf (that of the right leg was more marked), decreased sensation of polyneuropathy type in all modalities and generalized hypo- or a-reflexia. Nerve conduction study revealed marked prolongation of F response and focal conduction block in various site. The CSF was acellular and total protein was 177 mg/dl. Sural nerve biopsy disclosed decreased number of large myelinated fibers and scattered thin myelinated fibers. This case indicates that CIDP may present localized radiculopathy in early phase and is important to point out various mode of onset among CIDP.

Adult↗