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Biomedical subjects

M Shimada

Publications and source records attributed to M Shimada.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Leucocyte distribution during sevoflurane anaesthesia.

We have examined if sevoflurane anaesthesia per se modified the number of circulating leucocytes in humans. Fifty-nine patients undergoing elective surgery were anaesthetized with sevoflurane in oxygen. The inhaled concentration was increased gradually to 5% and maintained for 20 min. Arterial blood samples were obtained before induction of anaesthesia and at 20 min. While the total number of leucocytes remained constant, circulating neutrophils decreased (mean 3370 (SD 1030) mm-3 to 3170 (940) mm-3; P < 0.01) and lymphocytes increased (1870 (520) mm-3 to 2040 (580) mm-3; P < 0.01). We conclude that high concentrations of sevoflurane modified the distribution of leucocytes in anaesthetized patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Molecular characterization of ST1C1-related human sulfotransferase.

Carcinogenic arylamines such as N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) are metabolically activated by mammalian sulfotransferases to form N-hydroxyarylamine O-sulfates. We previously showed that rat ST1C1 efficiently mediate these activations. These reactions occur in liver cytosols of humans as well as rats. However, the enzyme responsible for N-OH-AAF activation has not been identified in humans. In the present study, a human cDNA (ST1C2) encoding a sulfotransferase showing a high similarity with ST1C1, has been isolated from a human fetal liver cDNA library and expressed using a bacterial expression system. A clear difference was observed in the pH optima for p-nitrophenol sulfation between ST1C2 and ST1C1 expressed in Escherichia coli. In addition, ST1C2 did not mediate 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate-dependent DNA binding of N-OH-AAF. These results suggest that human ST1C2 has a clear different substrate specificity, in spite of the structural similarity, with rat ST1C1.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Detection of lymph node metastasis using desmoglein 1 expression in superficial esophageal cancer in relation to the endoscopic mucosal resection.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has recently been standardized for mucosal cancer of the esophagus. It may be hypothesized that EMR may be considered to be curative for superficial esophageal cancer (SEC), if the possibility of lymph node metastasis can be excluded beforehand. Ninety patients with p-T1 tumours who underwent esophagectomy were studied. Their primary lesions were stained with anti-Desmoglein 1 antigens using the ABC method. The p-T1 tumors were subdivided into three categories: carcinoma limited to the lamina propria mucosae (19 patients, SEC1), carcinoma invading the lamina muscularis mucosae or with invasion just into the submucosa (27 patients, SEC2), and carcinoma definitely invading the submucosa (44 patients, SEC3). Lymph node metastasis was not observed in the SEC1 patients but was observed in 19% of the SEC2 patients and 41% of the SEC3 patients. None of the SEC1 or SEC2 patients had lymph node metastasis when preserved Desmoglein 1 expression was obtained. The EMR appears to be appropriate therapy for SEC1. Our findings indicate that, for SEC2, preserved expression of Desmoglein 1 may be a helpful aid to exclude the possibility of lymph node metastases. Transthoracic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy should be selected in the SEC3 patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

A normative, community-based study of Mini-Mental State in elderly adults: the effect of age and educational level.

We investigated community-based data of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores of elderly residents along with the effects of age and educational level. MMSE was planned for all residents over 65 years of age in a town in northern Japan. The number of elders who took the MMSE was 2,266 (90%). The score significantly declined with age and lower educational level, although no effect of sex was apparent. For the MMSE subitems, all the values except for that of naming showed effects of both age and educational level. Those screened by MMSE who fell in the range of cognitive impairment (< 24) accounted for 21.8% and those with severe cognitive impairment (< 18) constituted 6.0%. Despite the differences in language and culture, the mean scores are remarkably similar between Japan and other countries. This is the first normative, community-based study of MMSE among elderly adults in Japan.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning, expression, and enzymatic characterization of rabbit hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase AST-RB2.

Cytosolic sulfotransferases, which consist of at least three gene families, play a major role in activation and detoxification of both endogenous and exogenous chemicals. We recently purified a rabbit sulfotransferase, AST-RB2, showing high activities to both hydroxysteroids and amines. To characterize this enzyme, a rabbit cDNA library was screened using anti-AST-RB2 antibodies. The isolated cDNA was judged to encode AST-RB2 (ST2A8) based on the amino acid sequences of peptide fragments obtained from purified AST-RB2. The cDNA showed high similarity to other mammalian hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases (ST2) at the amino acid level (58-68%), but low similarity to aryl sulfotransferases (ST1) (less than 37%). The protein expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzed sulfation of typical ST2 substrates. Therefore, ST2A8 was judged to belong to the ST2 family from both its primary structure and substrate specificity. The ST2A8 protein expressed in E. coli clearly differed from rat ST2A1 and ST2A2 on its localization (cytosol/insoluble fraction ratio). ST2A8 had no activity to lithocholate, but showed the highest catalysis on dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone among the four forms (ST2A1, ST2A2, ST2A3, and ST2A8), indicating a clear difference between ST2A forms in substrate specificity to endogenous chemicals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Prognostic factors after repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to identify prognostic factors in patients who developed recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after repeat hepatectomy and to elucidate the role of multicentric occurrence in the second tumor after a first hepatectomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: A repeat hepatectomy for recurrent HCC has been established as the most effective treatment modality, whenever it is possible. However, the prognostic factors for recurrent HCC after repeat hepatectomy have yet to be clarified. METHODS: Forty-one patients who underwent a curative repeat hepatectomy were retrospectively studied. Patient survival and disease-free survival after recurrence were univariately and multivariately analyzed using 38 clinicopathologic variables. The histologic grade of HCC at repeat hepatectomy was also compared with that at first hepatectomy. RESULTS: Patient survival after repeat hepatectomy did not differ substantially from that in 312 patients undergoing primary hepatectomy. However, the disease-free survival after repeat hepatectomy was significantly lower than that in patients with only a primary hepatectomy (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed only portal vein invasion in the first hepatectomy to be an independent and significantly poor prognostic factor. Regarding multicentric occurrence at repeat hepatectomy, only 6 of 40 patients (15%) whose specimens could be evaluated histologically were determined to be Edmondson and Steiner's Grade 1. CONCLUSIONS: The only prognostic factor identified in patients with recurrent HCC after repeat hepatectomy was portal vein invasion in the first hepatectomy. Most second tumors after the first hepatectomy are considered to be caused by metastatic recurrence, not by multicentric occurrence.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

Comparative toxic effects of iobitridol and iohexol on the kidney.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors compare the toxic effects of iobitridol and iohexol, which are nonionic contrast media with equivalent osmolalities and viscosities on the kidney. METHODS: In a rat acute renal failure (ARF) model, iobitridol or iohexol (both at the dose of 2.87 g I/kg) were injected to rats after pretreatment with indomethacin and N omega-nitro-L-arginin methyl ester. The effects on histopathology, creatinine clearance, and urinary N-acethyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity were assessed. In a rat renal slice system, the slices were exposed to iobitridol or iohexol (both at the concentration range of 17.5-70 mg iodine/mL) for 60 min. The accumulation of para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), an organic anion, and the intracellular potassium content as the indicators of renal tubular injury were measured to assess the direct effects of iobitridol and iohexol on renal tubules. RESULTS: In the ARF model, no significant difference was detected between the effects of iobitridol and those of iohexol on the creatinine clearance and urinary NAG activity 24 hours after the injection. However, iobitridol produced a lower degree and incidence of renal tubular injury of renal proximal tubules (P < 0.001) and distal tubules (P < 0.05) compared with iohexol. In the rat renal slice system, the iobitridol treatment had significantly less effect on the PAH accumulation compared with iohexol (P < 0.001). There were no changes in the intracellular potassium content. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that iobitridol has significantly less toxic effects on the kidney compared with iohexol under the condition of our experiment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

Two patients with premature labour associated with Mycoplasma hominis infection.

Because several reports have suggested that bacterial vaginosis causes premature labour and early rupture of the fetal membranes, the presence of a bacterial flora that causes bacterial vaginosis is thought to be a risk factor for premature labour. The present study investigated two patients with premature delivery and intra-uterine Mycoplasma hominis infection. In microbiological studies, Gram's staining of amniotic fluids revealed numerous neutrophils and epithelial cells but no micro-organisms. Culture of amniotic fluid before antibiotic therapy yielded only M. hominis under anaerobic conditions; aerobic culture was negative. Vaginal discharge taken on the day of delivery yielded no growth in case 1 and M. hominis and Enterococcus faecalis in case 2. Maternal sera showed specific antibodies to M. hominis by ELISA and immunoblotting. As no possible cause of premature labour other than M. hominis infection was detected, it is concluded that the intra-uterine M. hominis infection was associated with premature labour in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Using polymerase chain reaction for rapid sex-determination of a case of sirenomelia.

A rare case of sirenomelia with its autopsy findings is reported. The 1188 g infant was delivered by cesarean section at the 36th week of gestation, and died at 4 h of life. Physical and pathologic findings included sirenomelia (a single lower extremity mass), lung hypoplasia, bilateral renal agenesis, blind-ending colon, severe deformity of the bony pelvis, an imperforate anus, absence of the bladder, and a single umbilical artery. Because of the difficulty in determining the sex of the infant, PCR directed against the SRY gene was performed. The PCR-based sex determination is a rapid technique in patients with ambiguous genitalia.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1998

Kanji-predominant alexia in advanced Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Oral reading is preserved until the late stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is unknown whether reading of kanji and kana is differentially impaired in Japanese AD patients. The purpose of this study was to examine alexic pattern in AD as related to two script systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 18 severe AD patients, reading performance was compared among kana characters, monographic kanji words, and kana-transcribed words. Auditory comprehension was also examined. RESULTS: With increased severity of dementia, kanji reading was clearly more impaired than kana reading, which was relatively unaffected. Graphic complexity and frequency of the kanji influenced the performance variously among the patients. Dissociation between kanji reading and comprehension was also noted. CONCLUSION: As a result of multiple cognitive deficits, kanji reading is more impaired than kana reading in AD, but the difference is apparent only in the very late stage. Our findings suggest that kanji can be read correctly without meaning.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Nm23-H1 expression in intrahepatic or extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Decreased expression of nm23, a putative metastasis suppressor gene, has been reported to be related to either intrahepatic metastasis or a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to elucidate the true role of nm23-H1 expression in both intrahepatic and distant metastases of HCC. METHODS: Thirteen patients with single-nodule HCC, seven patients with HCC having satellite nodules and seven patients with HCCs having extrahepatic metastases were included in this study. The expression of nm23-H1 protein was immunohistochemically examined in both primary and metastatic nodules. RESULTS: Ten of 13 single-nodule HCCs were found to overexpress nm23-H1 protein. All main tumors, having satellite nodules, were found to overexpress nm23-H protein, except for two HCCs, which only partially expressed nm23-H1 protein. Regarding the nm23-H1 expression in intrahepatic metastases, most nodules overexpressed the protein. The expression of nm23-H1 was found to be low in only one intrahepatic metastasis specimen, while its primary tumor was also found to show a low expression of nm23-H1 protein. Microscopic portal vein invasion was found in three of the five patients studied, and all cancer cells in portal invasion overexpressed nm23-H1 protein. Nm23-H1 protein was expressed in all distant metastatic tumors and the staining intensity of most metastatic nodules was similar to that of the primary tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that nm23-H1 expression did not always decrease but instead tended to increase at both intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastatic sites. Based on these findings, nm23-H1 expression is not considered to be a reliable indicator of either intrahepatic or distant metastasis in HCC.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of phytolacain G, a cysteine protease from fruit of Phytolacca americana, with phytolacain R.

The enzymatic properties of phytolacain G, a protease isolated from green fruit of pokeweed, were compared with those of phytolacain R, a protease obtained from ripe fruit. The optimum pH of phytolacain G was 7.5-8.0 at 37 degrees C using casein as the substrate. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by iodoacetic acid and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, but not by diisopropyl fluorophosphate or EDTA. These results indicated that phytolacain G was a cysteine protease, like phytolacain R. Nine sites of oxidized insulin B-chain were cleaved by phytolacain G during 20 h of hydrolysis. The six sites cleaved by phytolacain G were also cleaved by phytolacain R. The substrate specificity of phytolacain G was broad, but the preference for hydrophobic residues at the P2 position was similar to the substrate specificity of papain. The amino-terminal sequence of phytolacain G was not identical with that of phytolacain R; however, the amino acid residues conserved in the papain family were also conserved in this enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Histologic distribution of insulin and glucagon receptors.

Insulin and glucagon are the hormonal polypeptides secreted by the B and A cells of the endocrine pancreas, respectively. Their major physiologic effects are regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, but they have opposite effects. Insulin and glucagon have various physiologic roles, in addition to the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. The physiologic effects of insulin and glucagon on the cell are initiated by the binding of each hormone to receptors on the target cells. Morphologic studies may be useful for relating biochemical, physiologic, and pharmacologic information on the receptors to an anatomic background. Receptor radioautography techniques using radioligands to label specific insulin and glucagon receptors have been successfully applied to many tissues and organs. In this review, current knowledge of the histologic distribution of insulin and glucagon receptors is presented with a brief description of receptor radioautography techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

First sporadic cases of non-pneumonic legionellosis, Pontiac fever in Japan.

Pontiac fever has rarely been found in sporadic cases. Here, we report the first sporadic cases of non-pneumonic legionellosis, Pontiac fever in Japan. Case 1. A 53-year-old man with spinocerebellar degeneration was presented to our hospital. He had an acute onset of high fever and consciousness disturbance. A chest X-ray film on admission was normal, but transient bilateral pleural effusions were revealed on hospital day 14. Case 2. A 77-year-old woman with gastric ulcer was presented to our hospital. She had an acute onset of high fever. A chest X-ray film on admission was normal, but transient bilateral pleural effusions were revealed on hospital day 7. High fever, resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, continued in both cases. Both had serologic confirmation of legionellosis by indirect fluorescent antibody assay for Legionella pneumophila without seroconversion for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae, and had a good prognosis. Both were thought to be sporadic community-acquired cases rather than epidemics.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Efficacy of five annual single doses of diethylcarbamazine for treatment of lymphatic filariasis in Fiji.

Annual single-dose treatments with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) at a dose of 6 mg/kg have been reported effective in reducing microfilariae (mf) rate and density and applicable to large-scale filariasis control campaigns. However, the efficacy of such treatments has not been studied quantitatively in relation to different pretreatment levels of endemicity. This study of 32 villages in Fiji revealed that five treatments repeated annually steadily reduced village mf rate, and that the degree of reduction was not influenced by pretreatment levels of mf density or rate. This indicates that an annual dosage scheme is applicable to high-endemicity areas. The results also suggest that such treatment affected juvenile forms of Wuchereria bancrofti and may prevent them from reproducing.

Animals↗