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Biomedical subjects

M Okuda

Publications and source records attributed to M Okuda.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Usefulness of AlaSTAT, a new method for the measurement of IgE].

AlaSTAT is an enzyme-immunoassay method for the measurement of allergen specific IgE antibodies. This method has a special feature in that carbohydrate, nucleic acid and fat as well as protein allergens can be used as antigens. In this study, IgE antibodies were measured by the use of AlaSTAT kits which were able to detect IgE antibodies to protein or nucleic acid allergens, and the results were compared to those of skin tests and RAST. 1367 samples from 479 patients were examined with 20 allergens. The capacity in the AlaSTAT system was larger than that in the RAST system. The correlation coefficient between AlaSTAT and RAST was 0.90 (p less than 0.01) and the correspondence rate was 90.7%. When the rice allergen was used in RAST, a nonspecific reaction was observed at high concentrations of total IgE. However, no such reaction was observed in AlaSTAT, even with total IgE of 10,000 IU/ml. The sensitivity, specificity and correspondence rate to skin tests was 71%, 87% and 75% respectively. The specificity of AlaSTAT seemed to be slightly higher than that of RAST, but the sensitivity and the correspondence rate were similar to those of RAST. From these results, AlaSTAT appears to be a good or better method for the measurement of IgE antibodies in comparison with RAST.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

[A case of pseudo-TSH.PRL-producing pituitary adenoma with secondary hypothyroidism].

A 24-year-old housewife presented with weight gain of about 30 kg, constipation and pitting edema of extremity nine years after having a thyroidectomy. Hormonal examination revealed low levels of serum T3 and T4 and high levels of serum TSH and PRL. She also had enlarged pituitary gland (pituitary hyperplasia) with suprasellar extension on CT and MRI image. Thyroid replacement therapy and follow-up by MRI were performed without resort to surgery, because she had no visual disturbance. Within about 1 month after thyroid replacement therapy, serum TSH and PRL were normalized. And also thyroid function was normalized by thyronine (T3). Following this results, pituitary hyperplasia regression was seen on MRI image. About 1 year after thyroid replacement therapy, pituitary hyperplasia regression was more seen on MRI image. Prolonged hypothyroidism can result in hypertrophy of the pituitary thyrotropin-secreting cells and prolactin secreting cells. So, it can increase pituitary weight (pituitary hyperplasia). Radiological examination, abnormal sellar x-ray films suggesting intrasellar tumor are common in patients with primary hypothyroidism. Suprasellar extension of pituitary mass (pituitary hyperplasia) due to hypothyroidism was reported by radiological examination (PEG, CT and MRI image), and regression of pituitary hyperplasia was revealed by radiological examination after thyroid replacement therapy. The first choice of this type of pituitary hyperplasia is thyroid replacement therapy unless the patient has a visual disturbance. However, if this replacement therapy is not effective for diminution of the tumor, surgical removal of the tumor should be considered.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1991

Effects and arterial concentration of prostaglandin E1 during cardiopulmonary bypass.

The effects an infusion prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on both haemodynamics and PGE1 arterial blood concentration during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were studied in 15 patients (eight patients received PGE1 30 ng kg-1 min-1; seven served as controls and did not receive PGE1 administration). Mean arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance were significantly lower in the PGE1 group than in the control group during CPB. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to mean pulmonary-artery pressure, central venous pressure, and cardiac or perfusion index. The arterial blood concentration of PGE1 in the control group during CPB was about 50 pg ml-1. In the PGE1 group it increased rapidly after the beginning of CPB and reached a level of 1500 pg ml-1 at 60 min of CPB. After weaning off CPB, PGE1 concentration decreased rapidly to 70 pg ml-1 in spite of the continuous PGE1 infusion. It is concluded that the metabolism of PGE1 is strongly inhibited during CPB and the effects of PGE1 may be unexpectedly heightened. Therefore, the infusion rate of PGE1 during CPB should be 30 ng kg-1 min-1 or less in order to avoid severe hypotension.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluation of new system for the detection of IgE antibodies (CAP) in atopic diseases].

An evaluation of a newly developed IgE antibody assay system (CAP) was carried out. There was a clear correlation between IgE antibody titers measured by CAP single and RAST (= 0.642 to 0.979). It turned out that CAP single is more sensitive than RAST and non-specific adsorption of IgE immunoglobulin to the solid phase was assumed to be less in CAP than in RAST. Pathogenic allergens diagnosed either clinically or by in vitro assay systems were compared. The sensitivity and specificity of the CAP system were 94.2% and 87.3%, respectively. CAP multi which binds groups of multiple allergens on the solid phase, was examined for the screening of hypersensitivity to categories of allergens. Statistical sensitivities of CAP multi resided between 63.9% to 86.2%, while the specificities were 98% to 100%, indicating that CAP multi is useful for the exploration of causative allergens. Phadiatop, which fixes multiple inhalant allergens, showed a sensitivity of 89.6%. The specificity of phadiatop was 93.9%, when examined for intrinsic bronchial asthma patients, and 91.2% for normal subjects indicating that phadiatop is more useful than total IgE measurement for the screening of atopic trait.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Sweet's syndrome with pregnancy].

A 31-year-old pregnant woman had eruptions on her wrist, face and neck. We diagnosed her as having Sweet's syndrome from clinical symptoms, histopathological and laboratory findings. We successfully treated her with prednisolone and there are no relapses after delivery. We studied her polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity by the polarization assay with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine as a chemoattractant and it is higher than that of control. It is known that Sweet's syndrome is accompanied with collagen diseases and malignant diseases or others as underlying diseases or conditions. Three cases of Sweet's syndrome associated with pregnancy have been reported before and this is the first one in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Rate of ATP synthesis in the perfused rat liver by 31P cryo-NMR.

ATP concentrations in the perfused rat liver during normoxic perfusion, transient ischemia, and recovery from transient ischemia were measured using the modified 31P cryo-NMR method (Chance, B., Nakase, Y., Bond, M., Leigh, J. S., Jr., and McDonald, G. (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4925-4929). Transient ischemia was induced in the perfused livers of starved rats, and multiple freeze-trapped tissue samples were taken from each liver at short intervals (15-30 s) during ischemia or following reperfusion. The freeze-trapped tissue was pulverized together with an antifreezing agent and high energy metabolites were measured by 31P NMR at 243 K after thawing. By using the cryo-NMR technique, a biochemical time resolution of 2 s could be achieved. Absolute metabolite concentrations were calculated by comparing the peak areas with internal standards mixed into the samples. Good time resolution and reliable concentration measurements provided by the cryo-NMR method enable us to estimate the ATP synthesis rate in the perfused liver during reperfusion following transient ischemia. The rate of ATP synthesis in the normoxic perfusion was 1.95 mumol/min/g wet weight; the maximal ATP synthesis rate during the recovery phase from ischemia was 5.75 mumol/min/g wet weight.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding human ferrochelatase.

The cDNA encoding human ferrochelatase [EC 4.99.1.1] was isolated from a human placenta cDNA library in bacteriophage lambda gt11 by screening with a radiolabeled fragment of mouse ferrochelatase cDNA. The cDNA had an open reading frame of 1269 base pairs (bp) encoding a protein of 423 amino acid residues (Mr. 47,833) with alternative putative polyadenylation signals in the 3' non-coding regions and poly (A) tails. Amino acid sequencing showed that the mature protein consists of 369 amino acid residues (Mr. 42,158) with a putative leader sequence of 54 amino acid residues. The human enzyme showed an 88% identity to mouse enzyme and 46% to yeast enzyme. Northern blot analysis showed two mRNAs of about 2500 and 1600 bp for ferrochelatase in K562 and HepG2 cells. As full-length cDNA for human ferrochelatase is now available, molecular lesions related to erythropoietic protoporphyria can be characterized.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Luminol enhanced chemiluminescence of the perfused rat heart during ischemia and reperfusion.

We show that the production of Luminol reactive oxygen radicals in the perfused rat heart under ischemia and reperfusion can be monitored continuously by measuring the chemiluminescence of Luminol-perfused hearts. Luminol did not affect the monitored physiological parameters of the hearts. Chemiluminescence increased during ischemia and reperfusion. Superoxide dismutase treatment of the heart before ischemia, but not catalase, abolished these increases.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Enhanced resistance against Escherichia coli infection by subcutaneous administration of the hot-water extract of Chlorella vulgaris in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

The effects of Chlorella vulgaris extract (CVE-A) on the recovery of leukocyte number and the augmentation of resistance to bacterial infection were examined in CDF1 mice made neutropenic by cyclophosphamide (CY). They were treated intraperitoneally with CY (150 mg/kg) on day 0, and were given CVE-A (50 mg/kg) subcutaneously (s.c.) every other day from day 1 to day 13 after CY treatment. CVE-A accelerated the recovery of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the peripheral blood in CY-treated mice. The number of granulocyte/monocyte-progenitor cells (CFU-GM) in the spleen increased rapidly and highly after the administration of CVE-A in CY-treated mice, in contrast to the absence of change due to CVE-A in the number of bone marrow cells in CY-treated mice. Administration of CVE-A in CY-treated mice enhanced the accumulation of PMN in the inflammatory site and the activity of the accumulated leukocyte cells in luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. The mice became highly susceptible to an intraperitoneal infection with E. coli on day 4 after CY treatment, whereas the mice given CVE-A showed an enhanced resistance against E. coli infection, irrespective of the timing of challenge. The bacterial number in CY-treated mice increased explosively after inoculation, resulting in death within 24 h. A progressive elimination of bacteria was observed from 6 h in the peritoneal cavity, spleen and liver of CY-treated mice given CVE-A s.c. These results indicate that CVE-A can be used as a potent stimulant of nonspecific resistance to infection in neutropenic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Timing of injection and plasma concentration of lidocaine before endotracheal intubation.

The optimal time of intravenous lidocaine for attenuation of pressor responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation was evaluated in fifty adult patients and the correlation between plasma lidocaine level and its clinical effects were also studied. The plasma lidocaine levels were highest 0.5 min after administration of lidocaine 1.5 mg.kg(-1) intravenously. However, endotracheal intubation 0.5 min after lidocaine administration caused significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). Mean arterial pressure and HR increased with endotracheal intubation following 1, 2 and 3 min after lidocaine administration, but the magnitude of increase was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences in MAP changes among these three groups. It was concluded that the plasma lidocaine levels did not correlate with its suppressive effect on circulatory responses due to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation should be carried out at least 1 min after intravenous lidocaine administration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Effects of intravenous or endotracheal lidocaine on circulatory changes during recovery from general anesthesia.

Intravenous lidocaine (1.5 mg.kg(-1)) was not effective in attenuating the circulatory changes and the cough reflex induced by airway stimulation during recovery from general anesthesia, whereas endotracheal 4% lidocaine (3 ml) was effective. The arterial concentration of the intravenously administered-lidocaine peaked at a level of 9.52 +/- 0.81 microg.ml(-1) 0.5 min later. The arterial concentration of the endotracheally administered-lidocaine peaked at 1.44 +/- 0.13 microg.ml(-1) 15 min later. These findings indicate that the endotracheal administration of lidocaine may be superior to the intravenous administration for attenuating the circulatory changes and the cough reflex during recovery from general anesthesia, and that the arterial concentration of lidocaine did not correlate with the clinical efficacy for this purpose.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Accelerated restoration of the leukocyte number and augmented resistance against Escherichia coli in cyclophosphamide-treated rats orally administered with a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris.

The effects of oral administration of a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris (CVE) on the restoration of the leukocyte number and on the resistance against Escherichia coli infection were examined in cyclophosphamide (CY)-treated rats. Male Fischer rats (F344/DuCrj) were administered orally 1000 mg/kg of CVE for 14 days and injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of CY (50 mg/kg) (day 0) one day after the 14th CVE administration. CVE was further administered continuously after CY treatment until the rats were sacrificed for analysis. The number of bone marrow cells in the CY + CVE group was significantly higher on day 7 after CY treatment than that in the CY-treated group. The number of spleen cells in the CY + CVE group became significantly higher on day 11 than that in the CY-treated group. In the peripheral blood, the number of PMN recovered efficiently in the CY + CVE group in comparison with the CY-treated group on day 7. When E. coli was injected i.p. into normal, CY-treated, and CY + CVE-treated rats on day 6, the difference in number of bacteria among these three groups was most prominent before 6 h, that is, the number in the CY + CVE group was remarkably lower than those in the CY-treated group, and even in the control group, among all organs so far tested.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Effect of combined infusion of nitroglycerin and nicardipine on femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradient after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Nitrates and calcium channel blockers are frequently administered during cardiac surgery. We simultaneously measured femoral arterial pressure and radial arterial pressure to investigate whether nitrates, in conjunction with calcium channel blockers, would influence the central-to-peripheral arterial pressure gradient. Combined nitroglycerin and nicardipine infusion during cardiac surgery involving coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacement resulted in a significant increase above baseline levels in the femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradient at 60 min after cardiopulmonary bypass. In control patients there was no significant increase in the femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradient at 60 min after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass. A subsequent study in patients given nitroglycerin and nicardipine identified that the difference in the systolic arterial pressure between femoral and radial arteries was observed 15, 60, and 120 min after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass. However, there was no difference in the mean arterial pressure between femoral and radial arteries throughout the same period. We conclude that combined infusion of nitroglycerin and nicardipine, a new calcium channel blocker, intensifies the magnitude and duration of the femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradient after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Oral administration of Chlorella vulgaris augments concomitant antitumor immunity.

Chlorella vulgaris, an unicellular green algae, or its acetone-extract (Ac-Ex) were administered orally to Meth A tumor bearing BALB/c or (BALB/c x DBA/2)F1 (CDF1) mice. When CDF1 mice were fed daily with 10% dried powder of Chlorella vulgaris (CVP) containing diet before and after Meth A tumor inoculation, the growth of rechallenged Meth A tumor was significantly suppressed in an antigen-specific manner. Augmentation of antitumor resistance was exhibited also by Winn assay using lymph node cells of tumor-bearing mice orally administered with CVP or Ac-Ex. Antigen-specific concomitant immunity in these mice were mediated by cytostatic T cells but not by cytotoxic T cells. Natural killer cells seemed not to contribute in antitumor resistance in this system.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗