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Biomedical subjects

M Okada

Publications and source records attributed to M Okada.

At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources

Prognostic determinants of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--the results of the Shiga Cardiomyopathy Study.

Previous studies have reported that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are prone to sudden death. In this study, we retrospectively assessed the prognosis and any influencing factors in 83 patients (66 male, 17 female) with HCM. Twenty-two patients were obstructive, 40 were non-obstructive, 18 were apical HCM and 3 were unclassified. Four of the 83 cases progressed to left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction during the follow-up period. The mean age was 51.2 years (range 16 to 73) and the mean duration of follow-up was 6.7 years (range 0.3 to 15.1). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 98% and 89%, respectively. Five patients dies; 3 from cardiac events (two sudden deaths and one due to congestive heart failure) and 2 from malignant diseases. The lack of a family history of sudden death and the amplitude of the S wave in lead V1 (less than 2.0 mV) were associated with a favorable prognosis. None of the patients who were diagnosed before age 50 died, but this observation was not statistically significant. None of the patients with apical HCM died, but the classification of HCM was not significantly associated with the prognosis. None of the patients without medication died and medical treatment did not influence the prognosis. Sex, family history of HCM, the patient's symptoms and physical signs, NYHA classification of cardiovascular disability, thickness of the septum and the posterior wall of the left ventricle, dimension of the left atrium, and the left and right ventricles in echocardiogram, amplitude of the R wave in lead V5, the depth of the negative T wave and atrial fibrillation did not influence the prognosis.

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of the endothelin-converting enzyme by pepsin digests of food proteins.

Inhibitory activities toward the endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) were detected in pepsin digests of bonito pyrolic appendix and beef. After Sep-Pak C18 fractionation, this activity from bonito and beef was recovered in the 50% and 25% ethanol fractions, respectively. Activities were also recovered in the ultrafiltrate (< 5000 Da), and disappeared after a pronase treatment. Therefore, these inhibitory activities may have peptidic properties.

Animals↗

17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone suppresses neovascularization induced by HPLC-purified ovarian hyaluronic acid-like glycosaminoglycan in mice.

HPLC-purified glycosaminoglycans (hpGAG) prepared from extracts of non-luteal mouse (JcL:ICR strain) ovaries were assayed for neovascularization by implanting Elvax films, containing test samples, on the lateral wall of the sheath of m. rectus abdominis in adult female mice of the same strain. Neovascularization occurred in a dose-dependent manner, and was characterized by capillary outgrowth extending into the tissue surrounding the implant. The single major peak of purified GAG on a column of TSK gel DEAE got out of order after treatment with streptococcal hyaluronidase or nitrous acid. The activity of this fraction was also greatly reduced when treated with streptococcal hyaluronidase or nitrous acid. When hpGAG was embedded in the implant with 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone at a dose of 20 micrograms/film, neovascularization induced by means of hpGAGs was suppressed. Progesterone at a dose of 50 micrograms/film did not suppress the neovascularization induced by ovarian hpGAG. These findings suggest that 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone suppresses the angiogenic activity of hyaluronic acid-like hpGAG in the ovary.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Primary hypoparathyroidism in Turner's syndrome.

A case of hypoparathyroidism accompanied with Turner's syndrome is reported. On admission, a 44-year-old woman had facial dystonia, deafness, and primary amenorrhea. Laboratory examinations showed a decrease in serum PTH and mosaicism of 45,X and 46,XX(6:34). A brain CT revealed marked calcification in the basal ganglia, cerebellum and periventricular area. Antiparkinsonian drugs were found to be effective for the dystonia. This case therefore suggests that some relationship may exist between intracranial calcification and Turner's syndrome.

Adult↗

Human interferon-beta therapy for cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumors--two case reports.

A 5-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy presented with recurrent cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and were treated with intravenous administration of human fibroblast interferon (HuIFN-beta) which was continued as outpatient maintenance therapy. Both patients showed a partial response and were still alive 14 months and 2 years after diagnosis. Our results suggest that HuIFN-beta is an effective therapy for PNET, and can be used as long-term maintenance therapy without serious side effects.

Brain↗

Lower-limb speed and foot preference in children.

Foot preference and performance characteristics of gross-motor lower-limb speed of tapping were examined in 606 4- to 6-yr.-olds. Analysis indicated no effect for gender; however, speed of foot tapping increased significantly across the three ages, suggesting an association with selected developmental (neuromuscular) processes. Contrary to earlier reports on handedness, there was no statistical evidence that mixed- or left-footers were at a performance disadvantage compared to right-footers. All groups performed best with the right foot, limb differentiation (right versus left) being significant for the right- and mixed-footed groups. Speculation about maturational and environmental influences is given.

Child↗

Abolition of suppressive effect of acute myeloid leukemia cells on normal granulocyte-macrophage colony formation induced by interleukin-5 associated with eosinophilic cell induction.

The effects of recombinant interleukin-5 (rIL-5) on leukemic blasts obtained from 22 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients were investigated. Recombinant IL-5 stimulated leukemic colony formation in the leukemic blasts of 50% of the patients (11/22), and in 7 of these 11 cell cultures leukemic eosinophilic colonies were induced. Eosinophilic cell induction was associated with cellular proliferation, that is, colony or cluster formation. Leukemic blasts cultured with rIL-5 and forming eosinophilic colonies no longer suppressed normal granulocyte-macrophage colony formation, suggesting that functional differentiation of these leukemic blasts took place. Induction of this type of functional differentiation of leukemic blasts may be of clinical value in promoting normal hematopoiesis.

Acute Disease↗

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate modulates expression of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase gene by inactivation of glucocorticoid receptor.

The level of mRNA for cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (cAST) in the liver of vitamin B6-deficient rats was found to be 7-fold higher than that of the control rats. The administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized vitamin B6-deficient rats induced expression of hepatic cAST mRNA and the induction was suppressed by the simultaneous administration of pyridoxine. Since the 5' regulatory region of the rat cAST gene contains several sequences showing homology to glucocorticoid-responsive elements, we synthesized an oligonucleotide probe of glucocorticoid-responsive element sequence and assayed the binding activity of liver nuclear extract to the oligonucleotide by gel mobility shift analysis. We found that the binding activity of nuclear extract prepared from the liver of vitamin B6-deficient rats was far greater than that of the control rats, indicating that the DNA-binding activity of glucocorticoid receptor was enhanced by vitamin B6 deficiency. We further found that preincubation of the nuclear extract from the vitamin-deficient liver with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate brought about a rapid and extensive decrease in the binding of the extract to the glucocorticoid-responsive element. Congeners of pyridoxal phosphate, such as pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine and pyridoxine, did not show an inhibitory effect. These observations suggest that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate modulates cAST gene expression by inactivating the binding activity of glucocorticoid receptor to glucocorticoid-responsive elements.

Adrenalectomy↗

Effects of aminoguanidine and pyridoxal phosphate on glycation reaction of aspartate aminotransferase and serum albumin.

Effects of aminoguanidine (AG) on binding of glucose and pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) to albumin, and on glycation reaction of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (cAST) were examined in an in vitro system. AG was found to inhibit not only glycation of albumin but binding of PLP to albumin, indicating that distribution of PLP into tissues is inhibited by AG. AG bound to PLP directly to produce a new compound, and in this manner AG inhibited cAST activity. AG could also inhibit glycation of cAST and the extent of inhibition was varied with sugars used. It appears that, although AG is a useful inhibitor of glycation proteins, it may be toxic from the viewpoints of vitamin B6 as an essential nutrient and also PLP-dependent enzymes.

Animals↗

Evaluation of disease activity in patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis: comparisons between a new activity index and Truelove and Witts' classification.

OBJECTIVES: We have recently proposed a new activity index (AI) for ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to examine how AI would reflect the effect of medical therapy in comparison with Truelove and Witts' criteria. METHODS: In this trial, we studied 35 patients with extensive colitis who persisted with moderate disease for 2 wk. They showed no change in disease activity according to Truelove and Witts' classification despite 2 wk of corticosteroid therapy. Nine of the 35 patients underwent surgery (operated group), and 26 responded to the medical therapy and went into remission (nonoperated group). RESULTS: In the nonoperated group, AI values significantly decreased at 1 and 2 wk after treatment compared with pretreatment values, whereas there was no significant change in AI in the operated group during the clinical course. Remission occurred in all patients indicating below 180 of AI values 2 wk after therapy, whereas approximately 65% of patients indicating above 180 of AI values subsequently needed colectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that AI will be useful in evaluation of response to medical therapy and prediction of remission and colectomy in patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗

[A case of papillary muscle rupture associated with acute inferior myocardial infarction].

A sixty-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to prolonged left anterior chest oppression and hypotention. The electrocardiogram revealed acute inferior myocardial infarction, confirmed by the coronary angiography which showed occluded right coronary artery (RCA) at the segment 4AV. The intra-coronary pro-urokinase infusion and coronary angioplasty successfully revascularized the occluded 4AV segment. Although the 4AV segment perfused small area, he developed severe pulmonary edema on the second hospital day. A transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation due to posterior mitral valve prolapse by the ruptured tendineae with a mobile mass. The damaged mitral valve was replaced by the prosthetic mechanical valve (SJM 25M), resulted in stable hemodynamic state. He discharged one month after the operation.

Acute Disease↗

[A surgical case of aortic dissection Stanford type A caused by blunt chest trauma--a report of a successful case].

A case of successfully repaired traumatic aortic dissection was reported. A 66-year-old woman with a blunt chest trauma from the car accident was transferred to our hospital. The radiological examination revealed Stanford type A aortic dissection without aortic regurgitation. Because of disturbance of consciousness and respiratory failure due to the associated blunt lung injury, she was treated in the intensive care unit, and, after 1 month, a graft replacement of the ascending aorta by using deep hypothermia with retrograde cerebral perfusion was carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful. Blunt chest trauma is very rare to cause aortic dissection, and the operative indication should be determined with careful consideration of the associated organ injuries.

Aortic Dissection↗

[Use of epicardial leads for transvenous pacing lead insufficiency with venous thrombosis: a case report].

Recent progress in the electrode tip to prevent dislodgement makes difficult to extract itself in some patients. And when multiple leads are placed through a transvenous route, more frequent occurrence of venous thrombosis is easily suspected. We experienced a case of transvenous lead insufficiency with venous thrombosis. In this patient, two of unextractable transvenous leads were already placed, and venous thrombosis was detected by venography, so we implanted the new epicardial leads instead. In case of long-term placement of transvenous leads, especially when multiple, the possibility of venous thrombosis is ever thought, and the use of the extractable leads or anticoagulant therapy is recommended.

Aged↗

A further prospective evaluation of an equation to predict daily lithium dose.

BACKGROUND: Recently, one prospective study confirmed the safety and accuracy of a lithium-dose prediction equation created by Zetin et al., but no definitive conclusion on the reliability of the equation has been established as yet. METHOD: The authors applied the Zetin et al. equation to 18 chronic male schizophrenic inpatients. Predicted doses to reach the serum lithium concentration of 0.4 mmol/L were calculated and prescribed in the form of lithium capsules. At Weeks 1 and 3 after treatment initiation, morning blood samples were collected about 12 hours after the last lithium dose for the measurement of serum lithium concentrations. RESULTS: None of the 18 patients achieved the desired concentration (0.4 mmol/L) exactly. The mean +/- SD of serum lithium concentrations at Week 1 was 1.01 +/- 0.29 mmol/L (range, 0.2-1.5) and at Week 3 was 0.94 +/- 0.35 mmol/L (range, 0.2-1.8). Lithium concentrations were lower than 0.4 mmol/L in only 1 patient and were higher than 0.4 mmol/L in the other 17 patients. The deviations from the unexpected value were significantly correlated with the renal function (blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels) but not with the neuroleptic doses administered to the patients. Moreover, our patients were relatively older and weighed relatively less than the patients described in the previous prospective study. CONCLUSION: The Zetin et al. equation cannot always accurately predict a required lithium dose. Renal function data, even when they range within normal values, may be useful to improve the accuracy of the equation, particularly in patients who are older or weigh less than the norm.

Adult↗