Experimental study on the chronic cadmium poisoning in relation to calcium deficiency.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
M Sakamoto
Publications and source records attributed to M Sakamoto.
[Some observations on the use of amino acid solution as a plasma expander in surgery].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Amino Acids↗
Resection of liver granulomas under a diagnosis of metastases from breast cancer.
Three cases of liver granuloma mistakenly diagnosed as metastases from breast cancer are described. No common cause for granuloma formation in the liver was evident among the patients. Although surgical intervention to obtain a definitive diagnosis may occasionally be necessary, care needs to be exercised in the preoperative diagnosis of liver tumors. The growth rate of the lesions may be an important factor to consider.
Aged↗
Atrial natriuretic peptide and vasopressin in human plasma.
Using a specific radioimmunoassay for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), plasma immunoreactive ANP was measured in 17 normal subjects and 83 patients with various diseases. Plasma ANP concentration in normal subjects was 14.1 +/- 1.7 pg/ml (mean +/- S.E.). Relatively high plasma ANP concentrations were detected in patients with diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, atrial fibrillation and liver cirrhosis. Plasma ANP concentrations in the patients correlated positively with mean arterial blood pressure and plasma AVP concentrations. Plasma ANP concentrations in the patients also had positive correlations with left atrial dimension and left ventricular diastolic dimension determined by echocardiography. Another positive correlation was observed in the patients between plasma AVP concentrations and mean arterial blood pressure. These results suggest that ANP is a volume regulatory hormone but also that ANP may be involved in the blood pressure regulating system.
Adolescent↗
Cadmium-induced alteration of glycosaminoglycans with an enhancement of heparin-like activity in cultured vascular endothelial cells.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), especially heparan sulfate, are involved in the anticoagulant property of vascular endothelium. It was observed that heparin-like activity on the surface of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells was enhanced by cadmium at 1.0 microM or more after a 24-h incubation. The incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into GAGs, a marker of GAG synthesis, was markedly increased by cadmium at 0.5 microM or more in both the cell layer and the conditioned medium; however, the incorporation of [35S]sulfate, a marker of the GAG sulfation, was significantly reduced by the metal at 2.0 microM or more. Similar changes were observed in a cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell layer. Characterization of GAGs in bovine endothelial cell layer revealed that cadmium (2.0 microM)-induced alterations mostly occurred in the major component heparan sulfate rather than in other minor GAGs. Stimulation of [3H]glucosamine incorporation by cadmium at 2.0 microM occurred even in the presence of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside but disappeared in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that cadmium might induce the production of proteins which are involved in GAG synthesis. The present data suggest that vascular endothelial cells are capable of enhancing the potential anticoagulant activity on their surface via induction of heparan sulfate synthesis. This response of endothelial cells may be a defensive one to the procoagulant state of blood which can be induced by cadmium.
Animals↗
Plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic polypeptide in essential hypertension.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst with solid tumor appearance on CT.
We report a patient with a rare cystic hepatic tumor that was demonstrated as a high density mass by unenhanced CT and as a cystic mass with high echoic spots by ultrasonography. At surgery, the tumor was a unilocular cyst containing viscid tan fluid. Histopathologically, it was lined by ciliated epithelium and diagnosed as ciliated hepatic foregut cyst. We discuss the correlation between radiological imaging and content of the cyst.
Aged↗
CT of nodular hyperplasia of the liver in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
During follow-up of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a 60-year-old man, multiple hepatic small lesions were incidentally found by sonography. Dynamic CT disclosed enhancing masses in both the right and left lobes and faint arterioportal shunting in the left lobe of the liver. These findings were confirmed by angiography. Portal hypertension was, however, not present. Exploratory laparotomy revealed nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver. The nontumorous liver was normal.
Humans↗
Findings in primary hepatic carcinoid tumor: US, CT, MRI, and angiography.
Two asymptomatic patients with surgically proven solitary primary hepatic carcinoid tumors are reported. Ultrasonography showed hyperechoic masses containing multiple small cystic areas in both cases. On unenhanced CT, one tumor was of low density and one was isodense with multiple low density foci. One tumor showed marked retention of contrast medium on post-angiographic CT. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed low intensity masses on T1-weighted images and high intensity tumors with multiple areas of higher intensity on T2-weighted imaging. The small low density areas in these masses corresponded histopathologically to multiple vascular lakes. Late enhancement of the mass was presumed to correspond with proliferative fibrous tissue within the mass.
Adult↗
Long-term prognosis and prognostic factors of liver cirrhosis in the 1980s.
The prognosis of 174 patients with cirrhosis during the 1980s (1981-89) was analysed. The estimated survival rates were 87.3% in 3 years and 68.5% in 5 years. During the follow-up period, 58 patients died: 20 of hepatocellular carcinoma (37.7%); 11 of hepatic failure (20.8%); eight of gastrointestinal bleeding (15.1%); and 14 of other causes (26.4%). Multivariate analysis revealed that serum albumin, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min and white blood cell count were significantly associated with prognosis. The results were also compared to our previous study covering the 1970s (1971-80). The estimated survival rate was significantly improved compared to that during the 1970s (54.3% in 5 years, P < 0.001). In the 1980s, hepatic failure mortality significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and non-liver-related mortality significantly increased (P < 0.05). In summary, the prognosis of cirrhosis has improved in recent years, and changes of death cause and prognostic factors were observed. It was concluded that to evaluate the severity and prognosis of cirrhosis, new indices and appropriate classification were necessary.
Adult↗
Transarterial chemotherapy with zinostatin stimalamer for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Zinostatin stimalamer (SMANCS) is a lipophilic intra-arterial chemotherapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty HCC patients underwent transcatheter arterial injection of 4 mg SMANCS-lipiodol emulsion. Their responses were evaluated by computed tomography 1 month after treatment. Complete response (CR) was defined as disappearance or 100% necrosis of all tumors. Partial response (PR) was defined as > or = 50% reduction and/or > or = 50% necrosis. We regarded the lipiodol accumulation in tumors as being necrotic. CR and PR were observed in 8 patients (27%) and 4 patients (13%), respectively, and the overall response rate (CR + PR/all patients) was 40% (12/30). Of 12 patients whose serum alpha-fetoprotein levels had been more than 200 ng/ml before treatment, 5 patients (42%) showed more than 50% reduction in this level within 1 month after treatment. Toxicity was quite acceptable, although grade 4 toxicity (WHO) was observed as liver dysfunction in 1 patient. Transarterial chemotherapy with SMANCS, which is well tolerated, appears to have moderate antitumor effect in patients with HCC.
Adolescent↗
A second primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in a radial forearm flap used for reconstruction of the hypopharynx.
A 63-year-old man had undergone hypopharyngectomy for hypopharyngeal carcinoma in 1985. A free radial forearm flap was used for reconstruction of the pharynx. Ten years after the surgery, a second primary squamous cell carcinoma occurred in the neopharynx. Persistent exposure to alcohol, saliva and foodstuffs was considered as a possible cause of second primary carcinoma. Long-term follow-up is indicated in patients undergoing reconstruction using cutaneous or musculocutaneous flaps.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
Significant survival benefit to patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer from treatment with clarithromycin.
We carried out a randomized study of 49 consecutive patients with unresectable primary lung cancer to determine whether clarithromycin (CAM), a 14-membered ring macrolide, can improve outcome. A total of 49 patients (42 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and 7 patients with small-cell lung cancer) had received prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both during their hospital stay. They were randomly allocated into two study groups on the first visit after discharge: 25 patients (22 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, 3 patients with small-cell lung cancer) were assigned to receive CAM (400 mg/day, orally), and 24 patients (20 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, 4 patients with small-cell lung cancer) did not receive CAM. CAM treatment after randomization was open and the treatment was to be continued as long as the patients could tolerate CAM. There was no significant difference in the median survival time for small-cell lung cancer between the CAM group and the non-CAM group. However, CAM treatment significantly increased the median survival time for non-small-cell lung cancer patients, the median survival for the CAM group was 535 days and that for the non-CAM group was 277 days. Analyses of prognostic factors showed that only treatment with CAM was predictive of longer survival for non-small-cell lung cancer, and other tested covariates had no effects on the prognosis. There were no remarkable side effects observed in the CAM group throughout treatment. We conclude that long-term treatment using CAM is beneficial for unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer patients and that it can increase the median survival of patients with advanced disease.
Aged↗
Delusional parasitosis accompanied by word deafness due to cerebral infarction: folie à deux.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
Carnitine deficiency following massive intestinal resection: a morphological and biochemical study.
A 65-year-old man with progressive muscle weakness and liver dysfunction following massive small bowel resection showed myriad lipid-filled vacuoles in type I muscle fibers. Carnitine was significantly decreased in muscle, serum and urine. Carnitine supplementation was followed by clinical improvement and decreased lipid droplets in biopsied muscle. He had been receiving carnitine-deficient total parenteral nutrition. This form of carnitine deficiency may be due to a defect in carnitine biosynthesis, as well as dietary carnitine deficiency.
Aged↗
Epidermal growth factor contents in seminal plasma as a marker of prostatic function.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), first identified in extracts from submaxillary salivary glands of adult male mice, acts as a potent mitogen in a wide variety of cells and tissues in culture. Human EGF, a polypeptide of 53 amino acids isolated from human urine, has been identified in several biological fluids, including prostatic fluid and seminal plasma. Epidermal growth factor content in seminal plasma was measured by RIA. The EGF content in seminal fluid did not change after bilateral vasectomy and the first fraction of sample obtained by split ejaculation contained a significantly larger amount of EGF than the second fraction. Seminal EGF originates from the prostate. There was a close correlation between EGF and zinc contents in seminal fluid. The seminal fluid EGF content was lowered in patients with prostatitis and systemic androgen deficiency. The EGF content in seminal fluid seems to be a reliable indicator of prostatic function.
Adult↗
Hypoosmotic swelling test with a medium of distilled water.
The functional competence of the human sperm membrane is assessed by studying the swelling reaction of sperm when suspended in a medium of distilled water (water test). Eighty-seven patients with idiopathic infertility were investigated by the water test and the results were compared with various semen parameters. High correlations with the percentage of b-g type swollen sperm in the water test were observed for sperm concentration (r = .53, p < .05) and percent motility (r = .62, p < .01). The sperm swelling values obtained by the water test correlated well with those obtained by the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST). Correlation coefficients in b-g and g swelling pattern were 0.89 and 0.71, respectively. The percentage of g-type swelling obtained by the water test was significantly larger than that obtained by the HOST (p < .05), although the two hypoosmotic procedures gave similar percentages of b-g swelling pattern. The percentage of g swelling pattern obtained by the water test correlated well with percent motility (r = .70, p < .001). These findings suggest that the water test is more useful for assessing the integrity of the sperm membrane than the HOST. The relationship between this test and subsequent fertility, as well as to other sperm function tests, needs further investigation.
Adult↗
Acrosome-reacted sperm in infertile and fertile men using the triple-stain technique.
By means of a triple-stain technique, the acrosome reaction in infertile and fertile males was investigated. The highest correlations with the percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm were found for motile sperm concentration (r = .60, p < .01) and percent motility (r = .58, p < .05). Significant correlations were also demonstrated between acrosome reactivity and both sperm concentration (r = .50, p < .05) and velocity (r = .40, p < .05). There was only a weak correlation between the percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm and that of swollen sperm. The ratio of acrosome-reacted sperm demonstrated in oligoasthenozoospermic patients was significantly lower than that observed in normozoospermic or fertile males (both, p < .05). There was no significant difference in the ratio of acrosome-reacted sperm between normozoospermic and fertile males. However, all the cases in the latter group had 15% or more acrosome-reacted sperm, whereas the parameter was widely distributed in the former group and some in this group had a decreased ratio. It would appear that a disturbance of the acrosome reaction is one of the causes of reduced fertility potential in normozoospermic males.
Acrosome↗