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Biomedical subjects

M Nakazawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Nakazawa.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Imperforate tricuspid valve with dysplasia of the right ventricular myocardium, pulmonary valve, and coronary artery: a clinicopathological study of nine cases.

Nine cases of imperforate tricuspid valve associated with dysplasia of the right ventricular myocardium, pulmonary valve, and right coronary artery are described. The mean frontal QRS axis of the electrocardiograms did not indicate left axis deviation in seven of the nine. Two-dimensional echocardiograms showed an imperforate tricuspid valve, normally aligned atrioventricular septum, and an irregular-shaped right ventricular cavity with a thin wall. In three cases with absence of the pulmonary valve, pulsed Doppler echocardiograms of the right ventricular outflow tract revealed antegrade flow during systole and retrograde flow during diastole, and selective angiography through a persistent ductus arteriosus showed retrograde filling of the blind-ended right ventricular cavity via the main pulmonary artery. Necropsy examinations showed an imperforate tricuspid valve with a thin-walled aneurysmal right ventricle in all six cases examined. Pulmonary atresia was observed in two cases, and the absence of the pulmonary valve in four. The right coronary artery was hypoplastic in four cases and absent in two. A shunt operation should be carried out in early infancy to prevent hypoxia after closure of the ductus arteriosus.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Color Doppler and transesophageal echocardiography of vascular sling.

Three patients with vascular sling were studied by two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography and angiocardiography. One case was associated with atrial septal defect and another with tetralogy of Fallot and patent ductus arteriosus. The third case had no associated intracardiac anomalies. Color Doppler flow mapping was performed in all three patients, and transesophageal echocardiography was studied in two patients. Color Doppler echocardiography showed the characteristic features of this congenital anomaly in all three patients, especially in detecting the site of anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery. A small patent ductus arteriosus was misinterpreted as the normal left pulmonary artery in one patient. Small pulmonary arteries in the patient with tetralogy of Fallot made the diagnosis difficult. Using transesophageal echocardiography, we clearly identified the trachea, esophagus, and abnormal left pulmonary artery.

Airway Obstruction↗

A simple method for detection of monoclonal isotypes.

A simple rapid method of enzyme labeled anti-isotype assay (ELIA) for detection of monoclonal isotype on hybridoma cells is proposed. This alternative method was first carried out on hybridoma cell lines 147C11 and 257C11 produced against Trypanosoma cruzi and male accessory secretion of Panstrongylus megistus, respectively. The monoclonal antibodies produced by these hybridoma were characterized by this method as IgM (147C11) and IgG1 (257C23) isotypes, allowing evaluation of isotype without having to wait until the concentration of antibody present in the supernatant itself rises. Results were confirmed by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion. The proposed method offers the advantages of a permanent rapid procedure for light microscopy.

Animals↗

Myocardial protection of neonatal heart by cardioplegic solution with recombinant human superoxide dismutase.

The effectiveness of high-potassium cardioplegic solution in the neonatal heart remains controversial. Our previous study indicated that the protection afforded by a cardioplegic solution was inadequate in the neonatal heart. On the hypothesis that oxyradicals were responsible for the ineffectiveness of cardioplegic solution in neonatal heart, the effects of a cardioplegic solution (a modified St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution) with recombinant human superoxide dismutase on the isolated perfused neonatal guinea pig hearts (within 2 days after delivery, body weight of 60 to 120 g) were studied in comparison with those on the adult hearts (6 to 8 weeks after delivery, body weight of 300 to 500 g). After arrest induced by modified St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution, hearts were subjected to 120 min of ischemia at 20 degrees C, during which time the cardioplegic solution was injected every 30 minutes. Then the heart was reperfused for 60 minutes at 37 degrees C. Under this condition, the left ventricular developed pressure recovered to 84.4% +/- 4.0% of the preischemic value in the adult heart, whereas the recovery was only 68.1% +/- 3.1% in the neonatal heart. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance level, a parameter of lipid peroxidation by oxyradicals, significantly increased during ischemic arrest both in the adult and neonatal heart. However, the increase was much greater in the neonatal heart than in the adult. Cardioplegia with recombinant human superoxide dismutase (300 and 1,000 U/mL) significantly inhibited this accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in the neonatal heart; at 1,000 U/mL, the myocardial function of the reperfused neonatal heart recovered to the level of the adult heart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Further evidence for calcium permeability of non-NMDA receptor channels in hippocampal neurons.

We have previously suggested that kainic acid (KA) increases the fluorescence of a fluoroprobe for Ca2+ via activation of the non-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptor in cultured hippocampal cells. The present study provides further evidence to support this suggestion. KA and NMDA increased the fluorescence occasionally in different subcellular loci of a single cell for each agonist, excluding the possibility that KA activated the NMDA receptor. KA elevated fluorescence in the cell whose membrane was voltage-clamped, thus eliminating possible Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent channels. A monophasic response to KA was found to occur in the cells identified immunochemically as neurons. Even when the cells were cultured at different embryonic stages, KA responsiveness reached a peak at a rather fixed timepoint through the total age of neurons, while NMDA responsiveness continued to increase. This suggests that the Ca(2+)-permeable non-NMDA receptor is expressed according to a genetic schedule, but not to an artifactual effect of cell culture.

Animals↗

The direct hydrolysis of proteins containing tryptophan on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes by mercaptoethanesulfonic acid in the vapor phase.

A procedure for the amino acid analysis of polypeptides that contain tryptophan on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes is described. Lysozyme, carbonic anhydrase, phytochrome, and ovalbumin were tested. The protein, which was separated from others by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, was blotted from the gel onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane and directly hydrolyzed by 3 N mercaptoethanesulfonic acid vapor in a vacuum at 176 degrees C for 25 min. The hydrolysate was extracted with 0.1 N HCl and 30% methanol and used for amino acid analysis. The tested proteins were adequately hydrolyzed, and the recovery of tryptophan was very efficient.

Amino Acids↗

Maturation, fertilization, and development of dog oocytes in vitro.

Preovulatory oocytes were collected from ovaries of beagle bitches that had received superovulatory treatment. They were cultured in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution containing 10% fetal calf serum and 30 mg/L gentamicin sulfate for up to 72 h. About 32% of oocytes reached metaphase II by 72 h of culture. When these in vitro-matured oocytes were inseminated with ejaculated beagle spermatozoa that had been preincubated for 4 h, sperm penetration of the zona pellucida started about 1 h after insemination, and both male and female pronuclei were seen in the ooplasm at 8 h after insemination. At 18-20 h after insemination, oocytes were transferred to Whitten's medium and cultured for 76-78 h. The first cleavage was observed at 48 h after insemination, and 15 of 45 oocytes developed to the 2-8-cell stage. These results demonstrate that in vitro-matured canine oocytes can be fertilized and develop to the 8-cell stage in vitro.

Animals↗

Oscillatory variations of cutaneous blood flow in newborns using a laser Doppler flowmeter.

Oscillatory variations of cutaneous blood flow were studied using laser Doppler flowmetry in 20 newborns. Simultaneous monitoring of cardiorespiratory state was also performed. The frequency and amplitude of oscillatory curve varied, even on identical skin regions in each infant. When their respiration and heart rate were irregular, the frequencies of oscillatory curves were significantly higher and with a larger amplitude than when cardiorespiratory function was regular. The frequencies of oscillatory curves at two symmetrical points of an individual were not different, but a significant difference in the oscillatory cycle was recognized at two asymmetrical points. Distributions of peak-to-peak time periods of oscillatory curves were studied in nine healthy and four sick newborns. Seven of nine healthy newborns had more than two peaks in their distributions, while only one peak with a narrowly-spread distribution was observed in the four sick newborns with almost exclusively periodic breathing throughout monitoring. In conclusion, we speculate that cardiorespiratory state and some neurogenic control affects the variations observed. In addition, the narrowly-spread distribution of each time period appeared to be an important indicator of morbidity.

Heart Rate↗

[Detection of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli using polymerase chain reaction from dairy cattle].

The vero cytotoxin (VT) is responsible for hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect VT-producing coliform bacteria from dairy cattle. It was found that 39 (33.3%) of the 117 fecal samples examined were recognized with VT genes in BGLB enrichment broth by the PCR method (named BGLB-PCR). Of the VT-positive samples, 31 samples (26.5%) were found to have VT-producing Escherichia coli. Frequencies of isolation in younger cattle (under 5 months) were 31.3-32.9%. On the other hand, the PCR method using the bacterial suspension of some colonies from DHL selective isolation medium (named DHL-PCR), was used for 105 samples. The DHL-PCR was validated according to the number of colonies tested for detecting VTEC. When using E. coli strains which have been stored after isolation by the conventional culture method, the VT-producing strains found were 7 (10.3%) of the 68 isolates tested. The 101 out of the 108 VTEC strains from cattle were classified into 14 O groups. 4 O serogroups (O26, O111, O145, O157) from 60% of VTEC positive cattle, were also the most common in humans with diarrhea. All E. coli O157:H7 isolates failed to ferment after 48 hrs and to hydrolyze 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG). These results suggests that cattle may play an important role in human VTEC infections. The BGL B-PCR technique is usefull in ecological studies for VT-producing pathogens.

Animals↗

[Isolation of vero-cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli from cattle and serotyping and toxin-typing of the isolated strains].

Two hundred and sixty-six piglets with diarrhea (from 4 farms), 73 healthy pregnant pig (from 2 farms), 27 calves with diarrhea (from 9 farms) and 47 healthy milk cows (from 1 farm) were examined for Vero-cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), and 52, 11, 15 and 67 strains of VTEC were isolated from 17 piglets, 11 pregnant pigs, 6 calves and 23 milk cows, respectively. All VTEC strains from the piglets produced only VT2vp, while the strains from the healthy pigs did not produce VT2vp, but did VT1 and/or VT2. Most VTEC strains from calves and cows produced VT2vhb and some produced VT2 and VT1. Serotyping of the isolated strains showed that many strains from the piglets belonged either O139:H1, O141:H4 or O141:HUT, but the strains from the pigs were either R-form or O-untypable. Many strains from the calves and cows were serotyped into O116 or O113, but there were several R-form and O-untypable. From these results, it is suggested that VTEC strains, especially from the pregnant pigs, calves with diarrhea and healthy milk cows, which produced the same type of Verotoxins to that produced by human isolates, may become sources of human infections.

Animals↗

Detection of genomic sequences of respiratory syncytial virus in otitis media with effusion in children.

The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and the nested polymerase chain reaction were used for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sequences in middle ear effusions collected from children with otitis media. Sequences of RSV were detected in 21 of 34 samples tested. These samples were collected during and/or after natural outbreaks of RSV infection in the community. In those patients from whose nasopharynges RSV was isolated, the viral sequences were highly detectable (75%) in the effusions. These observations suggest RSV as an important factor in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion.

Base Sequence↗

An acute mercuric mercury poisoning: chemical speciation of hair mercury shows a peak of inorganic mercury value.

A woman ingested a dose of sublimate (approximately 0.9 g) in an attempted suicide. She survived and recovered in response to a combination of therapies including chelate (BAL) therapy, plasma exchange, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Serum inorganic mercury concentration, urinary inorganic mercury excretion and hair inorganic and organic mercury and selenium concentrations, along the length from the scalp to the distal part, were measured. Longitudinal analysis of hair, revealed a peak in inorganic mercury corresponding to the time of mercury ingestion. Organic mercury and selenium in the hair had different patterns of longitudinal variation from that of inorganic mercury. The biological half-life (23.5 d) of serum inorganic mercury levels was in good agreement with values previously reported in the literature.

Adult↗

Prediction of surgical result of valve replacement for chronic isolated mitral regurgitation--the significance of preoperative estimation of postoperative left ventricular afterload.

Left ventricular (LV) afterload increases after mitral valve replacement, thus it would be useful to estimate postoperative LV afterload before surgery. We tested the usefulness of an index, wall stress, obtained from preoperative end-diastolic LV dimensions and diastolic blood pressure which would represent LV afterload after surgery. The data were compared with surgical mortality and morbidity. The wall stress ranged from 98 to 220 kdynes/cm2 and was 202 or higher in 3 patients who died. Five patients had wall stress above 200 kdynes/cm2. Among these, intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) was used in 4, and 3 died. Prolonged catecholamine support for greater than 10 days was given to all of the 4 patients, including two who died 14 and 23 days after surgery. Among 38 patients who had wall stress less than 200 kdynes/cm2, none died, IABP was performed in 3 patients, and prolonged catecholamine infusion was required in 5 patients. The incidence of mortality and morbidity were significantly higher in the high stress than in the low stress group (Chi-square analysis). Left ventricular end-diastolic index was larger in the high stress than in the low stress group (p less than 0.05). The mass/end-diastolic volume ratio was smaller in the high stress group than in the low stress group (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, this new index, predictive wall stress, is useful in selecting patients who would have high mortality and morbidity.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Production and some properties of cytotoxins produced by Campylobacter species isolated from proliferative enteropathy in swine.

Cytotoxin production by Campylobacter species isolated from proliferative enteropathy in swine was examined. Twenty-one of 29 strains of C. hyointestinalis, 10 of 27 strains of C. mucosalis and 10 of 10 strains of C. coli were cytotoxin positive. By the gel filtration chromatography of C. hyointestinalis culture filtrate, cytotoxin activities were observed in two peaks (fraction I and fraction II). Most of the cytotoxic activities lay in fraction I, which is heat-labile, trypsin-sensitive and the molecular weight was estimated at 40,000. On the other hand, fraction II cytotoxin was heat-stable, trypsin-insusceptible and molecular weight was approximately 1,000.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical observations on pneumonic lesions caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals.

An immunohistochemical analysis of Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia in 10 foals was performed by biotin-streptavidin system. The detection of R. equi was more sensitive in immuno-stain using anti-R. equi serum than in Gram's stain. This bacteria also reacted to anti-BCG serum. Lysozyme and alpha 1-antitrypsin were detectable in macrophages. A particularly intense staining was observed in association with intracellular bacteria. Though a degree of reaction for alpha 1-antichymotrypsin was very low in comparison with lysozyme and alpha 1-antitrypsin, it was also demonstrated in macrophages ingesting R. equi. These bacteria were almost intact under an electron microscope. Therefore, the surface components of R. equi may play important roles of protection from intracellular enzymes of macrophages. The cells containing intracytoplasmic IgM, IgG or IgA were a few in number and scattered predominantly around the pneumonic lesion. It is considered that the bactericidal activity by immunoglobulins may be weak in comparison with phagocytosis by macrophages.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

Expression and methylation of the beta-subunit gene of prolyl 4-hydroxylase: in erythrocytes, tendon and cornea of chick embryos.

It has recently been demonstrated that the beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (E.C. 1.14.11.2) is the same gene product as protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and cellular thyroid hormone binding protein (THP). Therefore, it is very likely that the beta-subunit of the prolyl 4-hydroxylase gene serves as a house keeping gene in most cell types. In the present study, we examined the distribution of the chicken beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase/protein disulfide isomerase (CPH beta/PDI) in erythrocytes, corneas and tendons of 13-, 17-, and 19-day-old chick embryos by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against CPH beta/PDI. Our data indicate that erythrocytes do not express the CPH beta/PDI gene whereas tendon cells express CPH beta/PDI at all developmental stages examined. The basal cells of corneal epithelium express CPH beta/PDI, but the superficial cell layers of stratified corneas of 19-day-old chick embryos do not. The expression of the CPH beta/PDI gene is also confirmed by in situ hybridization with cDNA encoding CPH beta/PDI. The results indicate that the expression of CPH beta/PDI in cornea is probably developmentally regulated. It has been suggested that methylation of genomic DNA is one of many possible regulatory mechanisms for gene expression. In order to examine whether methylation of genomic DNA may play any role in the expression of the beta-subunit gene, genomic DNA was isolated from corneas, tendons, and erythrocytes of individual 13-, 17-, and 19-day-old chick embryos. DNA samples were digested with Sma I and Eco RI, or Pst I and Sma I and followed by either Msp I, Hpa II, or Hha I and were then subjected to Southern hybridization with 32P-labeled genomic DNA fragments of CPH beta/PDI. Our results indicate that the CPH beta/PDI gene is methylated at the Hha I site in the 4th exon in erythrocytes whereas the same sites in tendon and cornea are hypomethylated. Examination of 5'-end flanking sequences of exon 1 of the CPH beta/PDI gene with the methylation sensitive endonucleases, Hha I and Hpa II did not reveal any difference in erythrocyte, cornea and tendon cells. Thus, our results indicated that DNA methylation may not play an important role in the expression of CPH beta/PDI.

Animals↗

[Immunocytochemical staining of decay-accelerating factor (DAF) on erythrocytes: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)].

Affected erythrocytes in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) have been detected as complement-sensitive cells by the complement sensitivity assay. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF), a molecular mass of 70 kDa complement-regulatory membrane glycoprotein, has been reported to be deficient on affected PNH blood cells. In the present study, DAF on erythrocytes from 12 patients with PNH were stained by an immunocytochemical method and the ratio of DAF+ erythrocytes was compared with their laboratory data concerning hemolysis, almost all normal human erythrocytes stained positively for DAF. In contrast, various percentages of DAF+ erythrocytes were found in the patients with PNH. The percentages of DAF+ erythrocytes correlated positively with the total amounts of DAF on erythrocytes measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), negatively with % hemolysis in Ham's test and in sucrose hemolysis assay and with percentages of PNH type III (PNH-III) erythrocytes. In some patients with PNH, subpopulations of erythrocytes weakly-positive for DAF were demonstrated in addition to DAF- erythrocytes. The immunocytochemical method for staining DAF on erythrocytes developed in the present study is useful for the detection of affected PNH erythrocytes and applicable to further studies on membrane defects in PNH.

Adult↗

[Assessment of long-term systemic ventricular function after the surgical repair in patients with atrioventricular discordance].

Long-term systemic ventricular function at rest and during supine bicycle exercise was studied in 12 patients with atrioventricular discordance (AVD group) using multigated radionuclide blood pool imaging. For comparison, similar measurements were made in eight children (control group). The mean age at the exercise test was 12.3 years in AVD group and was 14.8 years in the control group. In AVD group, ages at the operation ranged from three to 21 years (mean 12.3 years), and the exercise test was performed from one to 9.8 years after the operation (mean 5.3 years). The operative procedures in AVD group consisted of closure of the ventricular septal defect in 11 patients, extracardiac conduit between the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery in nine patients, postero-lateral left ventricular outflow reconstruction in two patients, tricuspid annuloplasty in one patient, and tricuspid valve replacement in one patient. Exercise tolerance of AVD group was less than that of the control group. Heart rate and blood pressure were significantly increased during exercise in both groups. In the control group, end-diastolic count index (EDCI) (= end-diastolic volume) remained unchanged and end-systolic count index (ESCI) (= end-systolic volume) decreased during exercise. In contrast, both EDCI and ESCI were decreased in AVD group. As a consequence, systemic right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) increased during exercise in the control group, but remained unchanged in AVD group. Although stroke count index (SCI) (= stroke volume index) did not increased during exercise in AVD group, output count index (OCI) (= cardiac index) increased with the increase of heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗