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Biomedical subjects

M Kubota

Publications and source records attributed to M Kubota.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Varicella-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy with a good prognosis.

A patient with acute necrotizing encephalophathy (ANE) following varicella infection with a good prognosis is reported. A somatosensory evoked magnetic field (SEF) study using a 37-channel-magnetoencephalography system demonstrated normal latency and strength of the first component (N20m) elicited by median nerve stimulation, despite bilateral symmetrical thalamic lesions on MRI. The normal SEF findings and the good prognosis suggested a reversible breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, and an edematous process as the brain pathology. Furthermore, our results support the idea of distinct generators for the three earliest cortical SEF components (N20m, P30m, N45m).

Chickenpox↗

The gene copy ratios of SMN1/SMN2 in Japanese carriers with type I spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with progressive weakness and atrophy of voluntary muscles. The survival motor neuron gene (SMN) is present in two highly homologous copies (SMN1 and SMN2) on chromosome 5q13. Homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of SMN1 is responsible for spinal muscular atrophy. In spinal muscular atrophy patients, SMN2 partially compensates for the lack of SMN1. Previously, we reported the relatively high incidence of a large deletion including the SMN1 region in Japanese spinal muscular atrophy type I patients. In order to further establish the genetic background of Japanese spinal muscular atrophy type I patients, we investigated the SMN1/SMN2 ratio in the carriers. In normal individuals, there is one copy of each gene on the chromosome (the SMN1/SMN2 ratio was 1). Among 15 carriers (14 parents and one carrier sibling of Japanese type I spinal muscular atrophy patients with homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of SMN1), we found that the SMN1/SMN2 ratio was 0.5 or 1 in 11 (73.3%) carriers. The remaining four carriers had an SMN1/SMN2 ratio of 1/3. This finding supports the idea that deletion rather than conversion is the main genetic event in type I spinal muscular atrophy. In addition, the ratio of SMN1/SMN2 among Japanese carriers, which was thought to be higher than that of the Western population, was compatible with the results obtained in Western populations. For further insight into the characteristic genetic background of spinal muscular atrophy in Japanese, determination of the gene copy number is essential.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5↗

Revascularization of an immature permanent tooth with apical periodontitis and sinus tract.

A necrotic immature mandibular second premolar with periapical involvement in a 13-year-old patient was treated. Instead of the standard root canal treatment protocol and apexification, antimicrobial agents were used in the canal, after which the canal was left empty. Radiographic examination showed the start of apical closure 5 months after the completion of the antimicrobial protocol. Thickening of the canal wall and complete apical closure was confirmed 30 months after the treatment, indicating the revascularization potential of a young permanent tooth pulp into a bacteria-free root canal space.

Adolescent↗

Outcome prediction in severe head injury: analyses of clinical prognostic factors.

Retrospective analysis of 272 patients with severe head injury was performed. Patient age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, pupillary abnormalities, impaired oculocephalic response, presence of subarachnoid haemorrhage, and multiplicity of parenchymal lesions on computerised tomography (CT) were examined. The CT findings were divided into 2 groups, diffuse brain injury (DBI) and mass lesion, according to the classification of the Traumatic Coma Data Bank. The DBI, basically, has no high or mixed density lesion more than 25 ml on CT, and was classified into 4 subgroups: DBI I includes injuries where there is no visible pathology; DBI II includes all injuries in which the cisterns are present with a midline shift of less than 5 mm; DBI III includes injuries with swelling where the cisterns are compressed or absent and the midline shift is less than 5 mm; DBI IV includes injuries with a midline shift of more than 5 mm. The mass lesions were categorised into 3 subgroups: epidural haematoma; acute subdural haematoma; and intracerebral haematoma. Outcomes were determined at 6 months following trauma using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. All DBI I patients recovered well. In the DBI II group, age, GCS score and detection of multiple parenchymal lesions on CT were significantly correlated with outcome. For the DBI III and IV groups, the only significant prognostic factor was the GCS score. In patients with a mass lesion, the GCS score was the only significant prognostic factor in the epidural haematoma group, but the GCS score and the presence of subarachnoid haemorrhage were predictive factors in the acute subdural haematoma group. Outcomes were unfavourable in the majority of patients with intracerebral haematoma. GCS score could predict outcome in all groups. The confidence of the outcome prediction ranged from 75.8 to 92.1%, depending on logistic regression analysis.

Adolescent↗

The effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats.

The effects of insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism of dietary lard, eicosapentaenoic acid-rich oil (EPA oil) or arachidonic acid oil (AA oil) in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were examined. Blood glucose was not different in each group at 30, 60, 120 min on an oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting blood glucose levels were lower in lard and AA oil groups than in controls. Hepatic triglyceride concentration and liver histochemistry revealed that the fat content was higher in the lard group and the AA oil group than in controls. The EPA oil group showed TG levels as high as the control group. Serum total cholesterol in the EPA oil group was lower, while the level in the AA oil group was higher than in the lard and control groups. HDL cholesterol was 1.5-fold higher in the AA oil group than in controls. Dietary EPA oil or AA oil supplementation showed different effects on lipid metabolism in this model.

Animals↗

Hazards of hepatic portocholecystostomy in biliary atresia.

A hepatic portocholecystostomy (HPC) has been recommended to avoid postoperative cholangitis in the case of a patent distal extrahepatic bile duct (PDEBD) for the treatment of biliary atresia (BA). We investigated the efficacy and clinical problems of HPC in BA. The clinical records of eight patients with BA and PDEBD were reviewed. The diameter of the common bile duct was compared between the patients with BA and PDEBD and age-matched patients with neonatal hepatitis (NH). Five of 8 patients with PDEBD underwent HPC. One patient had to be converted to a cholecystojejunostomy because of common bile duct stenosis at 19 years of age. The other two patients underwent a reoperation by a hepatic portojejunostomy due to poor bile drainage after HPC. Another patient became jaundice-free one month after HPC, but died of sepsis due to bile leakage 3 months thereafter. The mean diameter of the common bile duct in BA with PDEBD was significantly smaller than that of NH (0.76 +/- 0.16 mm (n = 8) in BA vs. 1.90 +/- 0.39 mm (n = 11) in NH, p<0.01). HPC was thus found to be an excellent operative method for preventing postoperative cholangitis in BA, however, many clinical problems still need to be overcome for such a narrow distal duct.

Biliary Atresia↗

Long-term Karnofsky performance status and neurological outcome in patients with neurohypophyseal germinomas.

Long-term posttreatment Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and neurological status of 16 patients with neurohypophyseal (NH) germinomas were retrospectively analysed, in order to deduce the best treatment modality to achieve a good outcome. The average age at treatment was 15.5 years (rouge 6-26) and they were followed up for 107.3 months (26-209). The KPS averaged 81.5 (0-100). Three patients were below 60 in the KPS. The first one had hemiparesis due to a delayed cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and the second became indifferent and inactive with recent memory loss. The third died from marginal recurrence of tumour and subsequent systemic metastasis. The low scores were all more or less attributable to complications related to irradiation: delayed CVA, diffuse cortical atrophy and inappropriate selection of irradiation field, respectively. The second case had the tumour origin at the hypothalamus, which indicates intraparenchymal tumour location as another factor to worsen the quality of life (QOL). Visual field and acuity, and EOM impairment were observed in eight and five patients, respectively. It improved in all patients but one. The visual and EOM dysfunction recovered satisfactorily and was not a disabling factor. The intraparenchymal lesion resulting in hemiparesis and higher cortical dysfunction due to either irradiation-related complications or tumour invasion is a major determining factor of lower KPS. Irradiation related complications are considered to be avoidable by reducing radiation dosage with appropriate chemotherapy and/or proper selection of irradiation field. Patients with smaller tumour size of less than 20 mm had higher KPS. Accordingly, repeated studies of tumour markers and neuroimages are required in patients with idiopathic diabetes insipidis, in order to detect the tumour, if present, at the small-sized and early stage.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of risk factors for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: results of a Japanese multicentre case control study for stroke.

The pathogenesis of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is still unclear. To evaluate the risk factors for aneurysmal SAH, we conducted a multicentre case control study. All aneurysms were detected by cerebral angiography and the patients with SAH other than ruptured aneurysms were excluded. Information on past medical histories and other possible risk factors for SAH were assessed by a structured questionnaire. Data on the total 127 pairs (59 male and 68 female) were analysed. In a univariate analysis, family history of SAH [odds ratio (OR) 9.45], systemic hypertension (OR 2.65), cigarette smoking (OR 2.54) and regular alcohol consumption (OR 1.92) were significant risk factors for aneurysmal SAH. Heavy alcohol consumption (>350 g ethanol/week) was significant (OR 3.22), whereas light consumption (=<350 g/week) did not to increase the risks (OR 0.95). Both light (<20 cigarettes/day, OR 2.44) and heavy smoking (>=20 cigarettes/day, OR 2.72) were associated with an increased risk of SAH. In a multivariate analysis, after adjustment for other risk factors, family history of SAH, cigarette smoking and hypertension remained significant.

Adult↗

Oedema along the optic tracts due to pituitary metastasis.

The MRI finding of oedema along the optic tract has been reported in patients with craniopharyngioma, as a useful diagnostic sign among common pituitary tumours. We report two patients with pituitary metastasis with this MRI finding. A 59-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man had diabetes insipidus and extraocular impairment due to a pituitary metastasis tracts. To our knowledge, this is the first MRI report of oedema along the optic pathway due to pituitary metastasis. Our cases and review of literature indicate that this MRI sign is non-specific. Appearance of the oedema well corresponded to the initiation of visual complaint, which make a good contrast to reported clinical presentations of craniopharyngioma. Clinical significance and pathomechanism of this MRI sign are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A case with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer completely responded to humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody.

This is a case report of a 57-year-old woman with a history of primary carcinoma of the right breast with metastases to the contralateral axillary lymph node. After a partial response (PR) was induced by high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, she underwent mastectomy with biopsy of the bilateral axillary lymph nodes. Six months after surgery, the patient had multiple lung metastases. She was then treated with five cycles of fluorouracil, mitoxantrone and vindesine. Although a PR was achieved, further chemotherapy could not be given because of cardiac dysfunction. Since immunohistochemical staining for the HER2 gene product was strongly positive on the surface of primary tumor cells, humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) was given intravenously. The metastatic lesion decreased in size and finally appeared to be only cicatricial. Twenty-one months after the initial administration of trastuzumab, the pulmonary lesion was excised. The pathological examination revealed no tumor cells in the resected specimen so further treatment was stopped. The relapse-free state has continued for 24 months after the pulmonary resection.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The progression of aging in klotho mutant mice can be modified by dietary phosphorus and zinc.

Reduction in klotho gene expression causes accelerated senescence in klotho mutant mice. We have now found two key substances, phosphorus and zinc, which affect the appearance of klotho phenotypes. Klotho mutant homozygotes fed nonpurified diet with a phosphorus concentration of 1.03 g/100 g showed typical klotho phenotypes. However, most of the klotho phenotypes no longer appeared in male homozygotes fed a 0.4 g/100 g phosphorus diet. These homozygotes were capable of spermatogenesis. In the kidneys of the rescued male homozygotes, klotho protein expression was clearly detected. On the other hand, female klotho mice required supplementation of 0.25 g/100 g zinc orotate to the 0.4 g/100 g phosphorus diet to be rescued. Unlike in the rescued male mice, klotho protein levels in the kidneys of the rescued females were quite low. Wild-type (C3H/He) mice fed 1.5 or 1.0 g/100 g phosphorus diets had lower klotho protein expression in the kidneys than those fed a 0.4 g/100 g phosphorus diet (Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary phosphorus and zinc modulate the phenotypes of klotho mice, and that klotho expression in the kidneys is regulated not only in klotho mutant mice, but also in wild-type mice.

Aging↗

Whole body PET for the evaluation of bony metastases in patients with breast cancer: comparison with 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy.

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential role of positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for the evaluation of bony metastasis compared with 99Tcm-methylene diphosphonate (99Tcm-MDP) bone scintigraphy in patients with breast cancer. Fifty-one female patients with breast cancer who had PET together with a bone scan within 1 month between September 1994 and March 1997 were included in this study. The median age was 49 years (range 29-79 years). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the bone scan were 77.7%, 80.9% and 80.3%, respectively. On the other hand, for the detection of bone metastases PET had a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 77.7%, 97.6% and 94.1%, respectively. In the diagnosis of bony metastasis derived from breast cancer, FDG-PET was statistically superior to bone scintigraphy in its specificity. In conclusion, FDG-PET appears to be a powerful tool not only in the diagnosis of the primary lesion and soft tissue metastasis, but also in the diagnosis of bony metastasis among patients with breast cancer.

Adult↗

A study of factors influencing prognosis after resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal and gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the absolute contraindication for hepatic resection for colorectal metastases and investigate the value of hepatectomy for gastric metastases by comparing it with the results of colorectal metastases performed with the same criteria. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients undergoing hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal (n = 64) and gastric (n = 17) carcinomas. Common predictive factors for both metastases were analyzed by the stratified Cox proportional hazard model. In this model, the different baseline hazard was set for each disease, whereas the risk of each covariate was assumed to be equal in both gastric and colorectal metastases. RESULTS: Overall 1-, 2-, and 5-yr survival rates after hepatectomy for colorectal and gastric metastases were 90%, 73%, 42%, and 47%, 22%, 0%, respectively. Factors controlling prognosis were as follows: age > or = 60, extrahepatic metastases, serosal invasion, grade of lymph node metastases, tumor cell differentiation of the primary lesion(s), carcinoembryonic antigen level, tumor-exposed surgical margin, and blood transfusion. In particular, presence of extrahepatic metastases showed the markedly high-risk ratio among these eight variables. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatectomy, if possible, is indicated in patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma if there are no extrahepatic metastases and if the primary disease is controlled. It is indicated only in carefully selected patients with metastases from gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗

[A pediatric case of acute focal bacterial nephritis; comparison with the reports in Japanese child cases].

We report an 8-year-old boy with acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN). At the age of 3 months, he had a history of urinary tract infection and vesicoureteral reflux. He was admitted to our hospital because of high fever and costovertebral angle pain. Although acute pyelonephritis was suspected, neither pyuria nor cultures of blood and urine were positive. An initial ultrasonogram (US) of his kidneys was normal except for bilateral hydronephrosis. Two days later, however, a computed tomography (CT) revealed a poorly enhanced mass in the upper pole of the right kidney. Similar findings were also observed by US. Under the diagnosis of AFBN, he received antibiotics for 3 weeks. Voiding cystourethrogram showed both-sided vesicoureteral reflux and he underwent an operation. At present the mass of the kidney still remains, albeit its size tends to decrease. We suggest that an early examination of US or enhanced CT is necessary in cases with fever of unknown origin, considering the possibility of AFBN even if neither pyuria nor cultures of urine are positive.

Acute Disease↗

New model of oropharyngeal candidiasis in mice.

We established a straightforward murine model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Mice were immunosuppressed with cortisone acetate, anesthetized, and then inoculated by placing cotton wool balls saturated with Candida albicans sublingually for 2 h. A prolonged, reproducible infection was induced. This model may be useful for antifungal screening or pathogenesis studies.

Animals↗

Alcohol consumption and frontal lobe shrinkage: study of 1432 non-alcoholic subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influences of chronic alcohol consumption on brain volume among social drinkers, as it is well known that alcohol misusers have a high risk of brain shrinkage. METHODS: Frontal lobe volumes on MRI were compared with the current alcohol habits of consecutive 1432 non-alcoholic subjects. RESULTS: After adjusting for other variables, age was found to be the most powerful promoting factor for the shrinkage with a odds ratio of 2.8 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.23-3.06) for each 10 years of age. Regarding alcohol habit, 667 of the subjects were abstainers, and 157, 362, and 246 of the subjects were light (average 88.2 g ethanol/week), moderate (181.2 g/week), and heavy (418.1 g/week) drinkers, respectively. Moderate alcohol consumption did not increase the incidence of frontal lobe shrinkage (odds ratio 0.98; 95% CI 0.73-1.33), whereas heavy drinkers were at a higher risk compared with abstainers (1.80; 1.32-2.46). The contributory rate of alcohol consumption for frontal lobe shrinkage was 11.3%. CONCLUSION: The brain tends to shrink physiologically with age. Heavy alcohol consumption seems to exaggerate this shrinkage in social drinkers. Moderate alcohol consumption does not seem to affect brain volume.

Adult↗