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Biomedical subjects

M Uno

Publications and source records attributed to M Uno.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Findings of bedside swallowing assessment and brain computerized tomography in patients with chronic cerebral infarction, and their outcome].

To estimate the usefulness of the bedside swallowing assessment proposed by Smithard et al and neuroimaging findings characteristic for dysphagia, we studied the outcome of 102 patients with chronic cerebral infarction after assessment of swallowing by this test with brain computerized tomography (CT). All patients had a variety of motor disturbance and were admitted on a long-term medicare basis. They were divided into two groups according to the findings: the positive group (n = 33), who showed any of the listed types of difficulty in swallowing water, and the negative group (n = 69). Followed up to 2.2 years, their outcomes were studied. CT findings were studied on type of infarction, number and laterality of infarction, grade of periventricular lucency (PVL), presence of ventricular dilatation (VD), and severity of cortical atrophy (CA). The mean age was 76.4 years at registration and 61 were men. The frequency of severe dementia and disturbed ADL were significantly higher in the positive group. Eighteen patients died during the observation period and 15 of those were in the positive group, indicating higher annual death rate (29.9% vs 2.2% in the negative group). All of the 15 patients in the positive group died of pneumonia. CT findings showed high incidence of multiple infarction, bilateral hemispheric lesion, severe PVL, VD, and severe CA in the positive group. These findings indicated that this evaluation method was useful in screening swallow function for patients with cerebral infarction in the chronic phase. Furthermore, CT findings suggested that severe white matter lesion, VD, and severe CA as well as multiple infarction seen in bilateral hemisphere was related to dysphagia, probably due to multiple factors involving pyramidal- and extrapyramidal-tracts with higher brain function.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Automated analysis for determination of PCBs in fish].

An automated analytical method for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish was developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) in combination with an automated sample preparation instrument (Prep) and GC/MS. By incorporating basic alumina with the sample in the extraction process, and optimizing the amount of carbon dioxide used, fish lipid was selectively reduced. The extract was cleaned up on a Florisil cartridge with Prep. The method was evaluated using naturally contaminated tissues and by comparison of automated analytical method results with those obtained by the conventional method. Mean recovery of PCBs from 3 kinds of fish including hairtail, mackerel and yellowtail were 69.8%, 90.2% and 81.1%, respectively. This method is less laborious and requires far less organic solvent than the conventional method, but produced comparable results.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Association of Epstein-Barr virus with tumor cell proliferation: clinical implication in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by its association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Unlike other upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinomas, clinical and pathologic features are unable to predict outcome in NPC. EBV has been demonstrated to have transforming potential in B-cell systems so that its infection can rapidly and efficiently induce sustained lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. However, the relationship between cell proliferation and EBV infection in NPC has not been previously reported. This study was designed to determine the association of EBV infection and NPC tumor cell proliferation. Cell proliferation index, as measured by two markers, PCNA and Ki-67, were moderately correlated (r=0.534, p=0.033). Quantitative analysis of EBV positivity was highly correlated with both cell proliferation indices (r=0.802, p=0.0039 and r=0.720, p=0.0174 for PCNA and Ki-67, respectively). TNM staging did not demonstrate prognostic significance. NPC patients whose tumors were EBV positive demonstrated increased survival compared with patients whose tumors were EBV negative (p=0.043). These results indicate that EBV infection may regulate cell proliferation in NPC and the presence of EBV can be used as a positive prognostic factor.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Donepezil hydrochloride preserves regional cerebral blood flow in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this SPECT study was to investigate the effects of donepezil on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) using statistical parametric mapping. METHODS: rCBF was noninvasively measured using (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer in 35 AD patients with a Mini-Mental State Examination score > 16 on initial evaluation. Baseline and follow-up SPECT studies with a mean interval of 12 mo were performed on these patients. We used the adjusted rCBF images in the relative flow distribution (normalization of global cerebral blood flow for each patient to 50 mL/100 g/min with proportional scaling) to compare these groups through statistical parametric mapping. RESULTS: In the follow-up study, the adjusted rCBF was significantly preserved in the right and left anterior cingulate gyri, right middle temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobules, and prefrontal cortex of donepezil-treated AD patients, compared with placebo-treated AD patients. CONCLUSION: Treatment with donepezil for 1 y appears to reduce the decline in rCBF, suggesting preservation of functional brain activity.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Changes in brain morphology in Alzheimer disease and normal aging: is Alzheimer disease an exaggerated aging process?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Whether Alzheimer disease (AD) represents exaggerated aging rather than a disease is controversial. Data about the effects of normal aging on the human brain are essential for clarifying this issue; however, whether coherent common patterns of regional morphologic brain changes emerge in the normal aged brain is unclear. Clarification of regional morphologic changes in the brain associated with normal aging and AD was sought using MR imaging. METHODS: Ninety-two healthy volunteers and 26 mildly to moderately impaired patients with AD participated. Images were anatomically normalized, and voxel-by-voxel analyses were done. RESULTS: In healthy volunteers, an age-related decline in the volume of the prefrontal cortex, insula, anterior cingulate gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and precuneus was found. These decreases might contribute to the cognitive changes during normal aging. In patients with AD, a significant reduction of gray matter volume in the hippocampal formation and entorhinal cortex bilaterally was noted. CONCLUSION: Morphologic changes associated with normal aging are clearly different from those seen with AD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Associations between retrospectively recalled napping behavior and later development of Alzheimer's disease: association with APOE genotypes.

To evaluate putative risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we conducted a case-control study with exposure assessment performed after disease onset. In this study, we evaluated the effect of recalled habitual napping according to its duration and examined whether APOE genotype modifies the effect. The subjects were 337 patients (144 men, 193 women, age at onset and the time of study (years): 69+/-10, 73+/-9) with a diagnosis of probable AD based on the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Two hundred and sixty spouses of the subjects (94 men, 166 women, age at the time of study: 69+/-9) served as controls. We asked retrospectively about habitual (3 or more days per week) napping and its duration observed between 5 and 10 years before the onset of AD for cases, and between 5 and 10 years before the time of the study for controls. The analysis revealed that limited napping for up to 60 min had an apparently protective effect against the development of AD, especially for carriers of the APOEepsilon 4 allele. By contrast, napping for more than 60 min increased the risk of AD morbidity among the carriers of the allele. Habitual napping may modulate or disturb the physiological functions of sleep and circadian time-keeping according to its duration, and this might be associated with some mechanism that leads to the development of AD.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Wortmannin, a PI3-kinase inhibitor: promoting effect on insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells through a cAMP-dependent pathway.

To determine the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in the regulation of insulin secretion, we examined the effect of wortmannin, a PI3-kinase inhibitor, on insulin secretion using the isolated perfused rat pancreas and freshly isolated islets. In the perfused pancreas, 10(-8) M wortmannin significantly enhanced the insulin secretion induced by the combination of 8.3 mM glucose and 10(-5) M forskolin. In isolated islets, cyclic AMP (cAMP) content was significantly increased by wortmannin in the presence of 3.3 mM, 8.3 mM, and 16.7 mM glucose with or without forskolin. In the presence of 16.7 mM glucose with or without forskolin, wortmannin promoted insulin secretion significantly. On the other hand, in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose with forskolin, wortmannin augmented insulin secretion significantly; although wortmannin tended to promote insulin secretion in the presence of glucose alone, it was not significant. To determine if wortmannin increases cAMP content by promoting cAMP production or by inhibiting cAMP reduction, we examined the effects of wortmannin on 10(-4) M 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX)-induced insulin secretion and cAMP content. In contrast to the effect on forskolin-induced secretion, wortmannin had no effect on IBMX-induced insulin secretion or cAMP content. Moreover, wortmannin had no effect on nonhydrolyzable cAMP analog-induced insulin secretion in the perfusion study. These data indicate that wortmannin induces insulin secretion by inhibiting phosphodiesterase to increase cAMP content, and suggest that PI3-kinase inhibits insulin secretion by activating phosphodiesterase to reduce cAMP content.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed2000

Estrogen receptors in human myeloma cells.

It has recently been reported that the human myeloma cell line U266 proceeds to undergo apoptosis after cultivation with the antiestrogen tamoxifen, thus raising the possibility that antiestrogens may be candidates for use in myeloma therapy. To obtain basic information on the effects of antiestrogens on myeloma cells, we investigated the mRNA expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha, ER-beta, and coactivators and corepressors in nine human myeloma cell lines and compared them with those of seven human breast cancer cell lines including four ER-positive and three ER-negative lines. The alterations in cell growth and mRNA expression of the target genes of ER or those of cytokines in the myeloma lines by estradiol or antiestrogens (tamoxifen and toremifene) were also investigated. In addition, effects on membrane Fas expression, appearance of apoptosis, and cell cycle perturbation were analyzed. It was revealed that ER-beta and corepressors were dominantly expressed in myeloma cells, and antiestrogens induced growth inhibition through apoptosis mediated by a Fas-related pathway and G1 arrest of the cell cycle in myeloma cell lines.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMed2000

A tripeptide 'anticodon' deciphers stop codons in messenger RNA.

The two translational release factors of prokaryotes, RF1 and RF2, catalyse the termination of polypeptide synthesis at UAG/UAA and UGA/UAA stop codons, respectively. However, how these polypeptide release factors read both non-identical and identical stop codons is puzzling. Here we describe the basis of this recognition. Swaps of each of the conserved domains between RF1 and RF2 in an RF1-RF2 hybrid led to the identification of a domain that could switch recognition specificity. A genetic selection among clones encoding random variants of this domain showed that the tripeptides Pro-Ala-Thr and Ser-Pro-Phe determine release-factor specificity in vivo in RF1 and RF2, respectively. An in vitro release study of tripeptide variants indicated that the first and third amino acids independently discriminate the second and third purine bases, respectively. Analysis with stop codons containing base analogues indicated that the C2 amino group of purine may be the primary target of discrimination of G from A. These findings show that the discriminator tripeptide of bacterial release factors is functionally equivalent to that of the anticodon of transfer RNA, irrespective of the difference between protein and RNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative single photon emission tomography analysis for the diagnosis of transient global amnesia: adaptation of statistical parametric mapping.

We report two cases of transient global amnesia (TGA) diagnosed using a clinical criteria and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) with the aid of Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). Both patients underwent an initial SPECT study about 20 h after the disappearance of the amnesic episode, and a second study 3 weeks after the episode. We conducted quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) analyses using SPM on Matlab. This revealed regions with abnormal CBF in the first studies but not in the second. This method appears to be useful for diagnosis of TGA, especially in patients with suspected TGA in whom the amnesic episode disappears within a few days.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

All-trans-retinoic acid modulates expression levels of thyroglobulin and cytokines in a new human poorly differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line, KTC-1.

A new human thyroid carcinoma cell line, KTC-1, was established from the malignant pleural effusion of a recurrent thyroid carcinoma patient. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a normal karyotype, and no p53 mutation in exons 5-9 was detected. This cell line is tumorigenic in athymic nude mice. Histological findings by light and electron microscopy, such as the absence of follicular structures and the existence of intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions and psammoma bodies, indicated transplanted tumors to be a poorly differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma. A low expression level of thyroglobulin was detected by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 and PAX-8 was also detected. No mRNA expression of TSH receptors, thyroid peroxidase, or Na+/I- symporter was detected. Interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor were secreted into the medium. These findings suggest this cell line to be functionally poorly differentiated. Moreover, all-trans-retinoic acid increased the mRNA expression of thyroglobulin and decreased both the mRNA expression and secretion of interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor while significantly stimulating growth. RT-PCR analysis of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) revealed that KTC-1 cells express a moderate level of RARalpha and -gamma, but a low level of RARbeta. This cell line may be useful for studying redifferentiation therapy for thyroid carcinoma.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Effects of healthy aging on the regional cerebral blood flow measurements using 99mTc-ECD SPECT assessed with statistical parametric mapping].

To clarify the effects of normal aging on the cerebral blood flow, regional cerebral blood flow measurements++ using a Patlak Plot method of 99mTc-ECD were performed in 53 normal volunteers aged 18 to 87 years old (mean = 47.9 years). The subjects, 29 men and 24 women, were normal on clinical examination, and had neither a history of neurological nor psychiatric disease and no abnormal CT or MRI images. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used for automatching and an objective approach to analysis of SPECT image data. Global cerebral blood flow showed a significant decline with age (r = 0.406). The SPM analysis (voxel height; p < 0.001, Bonferroni correction; p < 0.05) demonstrated significant age-related decrease of relative rCBF in prefrontal cortices, anterior cingulate giri, and insular cortices-temporal poles bilaterally, these affected areas belonged to limbic or association cortices. Therefore, these decreases in rCBF may suggest cognitive changes that occur during normal aging.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Expression of cell cycle regulator genes in KB, a human squamous cell carcinoma cell line, after irradiation.

DNA damage induced by irradiation causes overexpression of the p53 gene, and subsequently the upregulation of p53 downstream genes involved in cell cycle modification. Irradiated malignant cells which possess wild-type p53 have been known to undergo G1 arrest due to p21/Cip1/Waf1 upregulation. Other p53 downstream genes related to the modification of the cell cycle such as gadd45 may cause G2 arrest. Many of the genes which regulate the cell cycle progression have been identified, including the G1 phase specific ink4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDK-I), another group of CDK-Is, which affect the cyclin-CDK complexes ubiquitously, and S/G2 accelerator genes. The sequential changes in these cell cycle regulator genes after irradiation has not been clarified. We analyzed the appearance of the apoptotic fraction and cell cycle perturbation after irradiation using KB, a human squamous cell carcinoma line derived from oral floor, and examined the alteration of gene expression for cell cycle regulator genes. The KB cells proceeded to undergo apoptosis in a time and dose dependent manner after irradiation and showed G2 arrest accompanied by upregulation of p53, ubiquitous CDK-Is, and S and G2 accelerator genes.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2000

[Diagnostic usefulness of KL-6 measurements in patients with pulmonary complications after administration of amiodarone].

Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is one of the major complications in patients receiving administration of amiodarone. KL-6 is a useful indicator to evaluate the activity of interstitial pneumonitis. We studied the clinical utility of KL-6 as a marker for amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity. We investigated 6 patients in whom chest radiography revealed abnormal consolidations after administration of amiodarone from 1997 to 1999. All patients were male aged 56 to 76 years (mean 66 +/- 7 years). The indications for amiodarone included sustained ventricular tachycardia in 5 patients and atrial fibrillation in one patient with refractory heart failure. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 31 +/- 12% (22-52%). KL-6 levels were measured by a sandwich type enzyme immunoassay using a murine monoclonal antibody (KL-6 antibody), and the cutoff level was determined at 520 U/ml. Complications occurred from 17 days to 45 months after treatment with amiodarone. The KL-6 levels were abnormally high (2,100 and 3,000 U/ml) in 2 patients with amiodarone-induced pneumonitis but under the cutoff level in the non-pneumonitis patients. In one patient with amiodarone-induced pneumonitis, the KL-6 level increased from 695 to 2,100 U/ml concurrently with worsening interstitial changes shown by high resolution computed tomography. We conclude that KL-6 has practical uses as a marker for the detection and evaluation of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Longitudinal evaluation of early Alzheimer's disease using brain perfusion SPECT.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this SPECT study was to determine the initial abnormality and longitudinal changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). METHODS: rCBF was noninvasively measured using (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer SPECT in 32 patients complaining of mild cognitive impairment, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score more than 24 at the initial study, and 45 age-matched healthy volunteers. All patients satisfied the diagnostic criteria of AD during the follow-up period of at least 2 y. Follow-up SPECT studies were performed on the patients at a mean interval of 15 mo. We used the raw data (absolute rCBF parametric maps) and the adjusted rCBF images of relative flow distribution (normalization of global cerebral blood flow [CBF] for each subject to 50 mL/100 g/min with proportional scaling) to compare these groups with SPM. RESULTS: In the baseline study, the adjusted rCBF was significantly and bilaterally decreased in the posterior cingulate gyri and precunei of patients compared with healthy volunteers. In the follow-up study, selected reduction of the adjusted rCBF was observed in the left hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. These areas showed the most prominent reduction in absolute rCBF on each occasion. Moreover, further decline of the absolute rCBF was longitudinally observed in extensive areas of the cerebral association cortex. CONCLUSION: SPM analysis showed the characteristic early-AD rCBF pattern of selective decrease and longitudinal decline, which may be overlooked by a conventional region-of-interest technique with observer a priori choice and hypothesis. This alteration in rCBF may closely relate to the pathophysiologic process of this disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical evaluation of the diagnosis of neuronal reversibility with acute cerebral infarction using ADC by diffusion weighted echo planar imaging].

The possibility of diagnosing neuronal reversibility with acute cerebral infarction was studied using ADC measured by diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). The subjects were eleven patients who underwent DWI within 24 hours of onset. The area of abnormal signal on DWI during the acute stage was visually compared with that on T2-WI in the subacute phase. ADC was calculated in the two different abnormal areas on DWI, which were differentiated by the presence or absence of abnormality on T2-WI in the subacute phase. The abnormal signals of three cases showed an obviously narrowed area on DWI in the acute phase compared with the abnormality on T2-WI in the sub-acute phase. ADCs of the ischemic areas in DWI abnormalities that showed no abnormality on subacute T2-WI were slightly higher than those of the infarct areas with remaining abnormal signals on T2-WI. However, no statistically significant difference was found between these two regions, because there were large variations within each pixel. We considered that the diagnosis of neuronal reversibility in acute cerebral infarction was difficult using ADC values only and that other parameters such as perfusion or blood volume will be necessary to improve diagnostic quality prior to determining therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid levels of serum amyloid P component in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a normal plasma constituent that is observed both in senile plaque and in neurofibrillary tangle in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we evaluated the SAP levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 72 patients with AD, 11 frontotemporal dementia and nine normal control subjects. There was no significant difference in the SAP levels between the AD group and other groups. However, among AD patients, cognitive function was rated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and was correlated with the SAP level (R = 0.38, P < 0.05). Our results suggest that measurement of the SAP levels in CSF can be useful for assessing the degree of cognitive impairment in AD patients.

Aged↗