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Biomedical subjects

M Yoshii

Publications and source records attributed to M Yoshii.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dermabrasion using an ultrasonic surgical aspirator.

We used an ultrasonic surgical aspirator on the epidermal surface to perform dermabrasion instead of the conventional motor-driven grinder. It was determined on histologic examination that it is possible to fragment the epidermis with greater selectively using the ultrasonic surgical aspirator. Abrasion also can be performed safely on spotty lesions and intricate, problematic regions with the ultrasonic surgical aspirator. We feel that the ultrasonic surgical aspirator is a promising device for use in dermabrasion.

Adult

Missense mutation of rhodopsin gene codon 15 found in Japanese autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

Heterozygous missense mutation in codon 15 of the rhodopsin gene was detected in a patient with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP), where a transition of adenine to guanine at the second nucleotide in codon 15 (AAT-->AGT), corresponding to a substitution of serine residue for asparagine residue (Asn-15-Ser) was detected. None of the remaining unrelated 42 ADRP, 24 autosomal recessive RP (ARRP) and 34 normal individuals had this alteration. Her funduscopic findings were sectorial in type similar to that of the patients with the same mutation found in an Australian pedigree (Sullivan et al., 1993). This study shows phenotypic similarities in patients with the same mutation of a different ancestry.

Amino Acid Sequence

Synthesis and metabolism of sodium 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-25,26-bishomo-5 beta-cholane-26-sulfonate in the hamster.

This paper reports the chemical synthesis of a new bile acid analogue, namely sodium 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-25,26-bishomo-5 beta-cholane-26-sulfonate (bishomoCDC-sul) from chenodeoxycholic acid and describes its metabolism in the hamster. The structure of the new compound was confirmed by proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. After intravenous infusion of [3H]-labeled sulfonate into bile fistula hamsters, it was extracted by the liver and secreted into the bile; more than 65% of the radioactivity was recovered in the bile within 1 h. Following intraduodenal administration of the [3H]sulfonate and [14C]chenodeoxycholyltaurine, both compounds were excreted into the bile more slowly; only 41 and 43% of the radioactivity, respectively, were recovered in the bile during the four-hour experimental period. In contrast, when the labeled compounds were injected into the terminal ileum, both the sulfonate and chenodeoxycholyltaurine were rapidly absorbed and secreted into the bile; 84 and 97%, respectively, of the radioactivity were recovered during a four-hour period. Chromatographic analysis demonstrated that in these short-term experiments most (> 95%) of the sulfonate was secreted into the bile without biotransformation regardless of the route of administration. When infused intravenously at increasing doses, bishomoCDC-sul induced cholestasis at an infusion rate of 1 mumol/min/kg. These results suggest that sodium 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-25,26-bishomo-5 beta-cholane-26-sulfonate was absorbed from the terminal ileum by active transport, extracted by the liver, and secreted into the bile in a manner similar to that of the natural bile acids.

Animals

Hypocholesterolemic effect of 5 beta-cholane-3 alpha,7 beta,24-triol-24- sulfate in hamsters.

We studied the effect of 5 beta-cholane-3 alpha,7 beta,24-triol-24-sulfate (UDC-O-sulfate) on ileal active transport of cholyltaurine, on hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity, on serum and liver cholesterol levels, on intestinal absorption of cholesterol, and on bile salt composition of gallbladder bile in hamsters. Experiments using the everted gut sacs show that UDC-O-sulfate inhibits the ileal active transport of cholyltaurine. In experiments feeding the diets with either UDC-O-sulfate, cholesterol, or both to hamsters, the addition of UDC-O-sulfate to the cholesterol-enriched diet reduced the elevation of serum and liver cholesterol levels caused by cholesterol feeding. Supplementation with UDC-O-sulfate to the standard diet was likely to reduce serum and liver cholesterol levels. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was higher in the two UDC-O-sulfate supplemented groups than in the two corresponding groups, the standard diet group and the cholesterol enriched diet group, respectively. Addition of UDC-O-sulfate to the standard and cholesterol diets did not change intestinal absorption of cholesterol. The change of the bile salt composition in hamsters fed UDC-O-sulfate may also suggest that the bile alcohol sulfate inhibits the intestinal absorption of endogenous bile salts. Hence the hypocholesterolemic activity of dietary UDC-O-sulfate is thought to be the effect of the partial interruption of the enterohepatic circulation of endogenous bile salts.

Animals

[A case of radiation optic neuropathy after resection of a pituitary adenoma].

A case of optic neuropathy after postoperative radiation therapy is reported. A 69-year-old woman had a partial resection of a pituitary adenoma in 1990 and was treated with 45Gy of irradiation to the postoperative pituitary lesion for one month. Seven months later she had sudden right visual field loss. Goldmann perimetry examination revealed remarked visual field defect in her right eye with visual acuity of 1.0. The right relative afferent pupillary defect was positive. The value of critical flicker fusion for her right eye was reduced and the amplitude of steady-state pattern-reversal visually evoked cortical potential was significantly less for the right monocular stimulation than that for the fellow eye stimulation, but Ganzfeld electroretinograms were normal for both eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging using Gadolinium-diethylene triaminepenta-acetic acid revealed enhancement on the right optic nerve, which had not been recognized immediately after the radiation therapy, without any suggestion of right optic nerve compression by the residual pituitary adenoma.

Adenoma

Enhancement of neuronal calcium channel currents by the nootropic agent, nefiracetam (DM-9384), in NG108-15 cells.

Effects of nootropic agents on neuronal calcium channels were studied in NG108-15 cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Nefiracetam (DM-9384) at a concentration of 1 microM increased a long-lasting component of calcium channel currents two-fold without affecting a transient component. The dose-response relationship yielded a bell-shaped curve with a peak at 1 microM. Similar, but slightly less potent effects were observed by aniracetam. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) also enhanced the currents, which were not further increased by nefiracetam, or vice versa. The currents enhanced by nefiracetam were markedly reduced by nifedipine (10 microM), an 'L-type' calcium channel blocker. Cells treated with pertussis toxin (PTX; 500 ng/ml, > 20 h) to inactivate inhibitory G-proteins were apparently insensitive to nefiracetam. The results suggest that the nootropic agents may enhance the activity of neuronal L-type calcium channels under the regulation of inhibitory G-proteins and possibly, cyclic AMP-dependent processes.

Animals

Comparative studies of metabolism of simultaneously administered chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid in hamsters.

We present the comparative studies of metabolism of chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid and their taurine conjugates in the liver and fecal culture from hamsters. When [24-14C]chenodeoxycholic acid and [11,12-3H]ursodeoxycholic acid were simultaneously instilled into the jujunal loop of bile fistula hamsters, both bile acids administered were recovered mainly as their conjugates with taurine and glycine in the fistula bile. The recovery of chenodeoxycholic acid was slightly but significantly higher than that of ursodeoxycholic acid. Chenodeoxycholic acid was more efficiently conjugated with glycine than ursodeoxycholic acid. The glycine/taurine ratio in the biliary chenodeoxycholic acid was 1.9, and that in ursodeoxycholic acid was 1.6. In addition, as much as 6.2% of ursodeoxycholic acid was excreted as the unconjugated form; on the other hand only 2.4% of unconjugated chenodeoxycholic acid was excreted. When [24-14C]chenodeoxycholyltaurine and [11,12-3H]ursodeoxycholyltaurine were simultaneously administered into the ileum loop of bile fistula hamsters, both bile salts were absorbed and secreted efficiently into the bile at the same rate. These results indicate that slightly lower recovery of ursodeoxycholic acid in the bile could be due to the less effective conjugation of ursodeoxycholic acid than chenodeoxycholic acid in the liver. Deconjugation by fecal culture from a hamster proceeded more rapidly in chenodeoxycholyltaurine than ursodeoxycholyltaurine. 7-Dehyroxylation to form lithocholic acid by fecal culture was also faster in chenodeoxycholic acid than ursodeoxycholic acid. The formation of 7-oxolithocholic acid from ursodeoxycholic acid was lesser than from chenodeoxycholic acid. In summary, bacterial deconjugation followed by 7-dehydroxylation to form lithocholic acid seems to be achieved more efficiently with chenodeoxycholic acid than ursodeoxycholic acid.

Animals

Possible noradrenergic dysfunction in schizophrenia.

In spite of extensive studies over the last 2 decades to find direct evidence in support of the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, no undisputed experimental data has been obtained. In contrast, estimation of noradrenalin (another major catecholamine) and its metabolites in postmortem brain and in the cerebrospinal fluid appears to be producing consistent results. To understand the meaning of this change for the pathogenesis of the illness, we have carried out animal experiments in which reproducibility of schizophrenic signs and symptoms by noradrenergic dysfunction, and treatability of the disorder by modulation of noradrenergic activity were studied. First, psychophysiological signs in skin conductance responsiveness (nonhabituating or nonresponding change) and smooth pursuit eye movement (spiky or stepwise pursuit) could be reproduced by enhancing or suppressing central noradrenergic activity. Behavioral abnormalities resembling schizophrenic symptoms are known to be reproducible by over- or underactivity of the system (overarousal or underarousal syndrome). Secondly, the action of various drugs capable of modulating schizophrenic symptoms was analyzed in relation to noradrenergic activity. Haloperidol, in particular, had a potent suppressing effect on skin conductance activity (spontaneous fluctuation rate and habituation rate) when administered chronically, suggesting its inhibitory action on noradrenergic activity.

Animals

A region of the muscarinic-gated atrial K+ channel critical for activation by G protein beta gamma subunits.

Complementary DNAs encoding two types of inwardly rectifying K+ channels, GIRK1 and IRK1, have been cloned from rat atrium and mouse macrophage, respectively. GIRK1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes was activated by acetylcholine when m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor was coexpressed. The acetylcholine-induced activation of GIRK1 was enhanced by coexpression with the G protein beta 1 gamma 2 subunit but not the beta 1 gamma 1 or alpha subunits. Deletion of the C-terminus of GIRK1 impaired the channel activation associated with the beta 1 gamma 2 subunit. Moreover, replacement of the C-terminus of IRK1 with that of GIRK1 produced a chimera channel that was activated by the beta 1 gamma 2 subunit, whereas intact IRK1 was not activated by the beta 1 gamma 2 subunit. These findings define the C-terminus of GIRK1 as a regulatory region for the G protein beta gamma subunit.

Animals

[Urethral opening pressure as a parameter for introduction of the proper voiding modality in myelodysplastic patients].

To introduce the proper voiding modality to patients with myelodysplasty, urethral opening pressure (UOP), an intravesical pressure just at the beginning urine flows out beyond the external urethral sphincter, was measured in 63 myelodysplastic patients. Among 45 renal units with any morphological or functional changes at the first UOP measurement, 37 units (82.2%) were included in the high UOP group (> or = 35 cmH2O). And among 41 ureters with VUR of more than grade 2, 32 (78.0%) were in the high UOP group. In addition, deformity of the urinary bladder was observed in 36 patients, and 26 (72.2%) of these bladders showed high UOP values. Therefore, all the patients could be divided into two groups: high UOP group (> or = 35 cmH2O, 28 cases) and low UOP group (< 35 cmH2O, 35 cases). Twenty-three patients (82.1%) with high UOP values had been mainly treated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). In contrast, 24 patients (68.6%) with low UOP values had been allowed to urinate by Credè' or Valsalva's method. In the followup study for 40 to 44 months, patients in the CIC group obtained good prognosis as for morphological or functional changes of the urinary tract. On the other hand, patients in the Credè' or Valsalva's method group showed a significantly higher deterioration rate in the high UOP group (80.0%) than that in the low UOP group (9.1%) (p < 0.005). From these results, hopely that in myelodysplastic patients with the underactive detrusor, CIC may be introduced for low pressure voiding to those who show high UOP values as early as possible. On the other hand, those who show low UOP values may be managed with Credè' or Valsalva's method as well as CIC. Thus, UOP is considered a possible prognostic factor for the morphological and functional changes of the urinary tract, which may be a useful parameter in decision of voiding modalities in myelodysplastic patients.

Adolescent

Bile salts of the toad, Bufo marinus: characterization of a new unsaturated higher bile acid, 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,26-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholest-23-en-27-oic acid.

The bile salts present in gallbladder bile of the toad, Bufo marinus, were found to consist of a mixture of bile alcohol sulfates and unconjugated bile acids. The major bile alcohol was 5 beta-bufol; 5 alpha- and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha, 26-tetrols occurred as the minor bile alcohols. Bile acids of Bufo marinus were cholic acid, allocholic acid, 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha- and 5 beta-cholestan-26-oic acids, 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha- and 5 beta-cholest-23-en-26-oic acids, 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha, 26-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-27-oic acid, and a C27 bile acid which has not been previously described. By chromatographic behavior, mass spectral data, and identification of the products of catalytic hydrogenation and ozonolysis, the structure of the new higher bile acid was elucidated as 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,26-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholest-23-en-27-oic acid. The bile salt pattern of Bufo marinus closely resembles that of Bufo vulgaris formosus, except for the absence of 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholest-22-ene-24-carboxylic acid, the major bile acid of the latter toad.

Animals

Differential inhibition of transient and long-lasting calcium channel currents by benzodiazepines in neuroblastoma cells.

The effects of diazepam, nitrazepam, clonazepam, and Ro5-4864 on transient (type I) and long-lasting (type II) calcium channels associated with low-affinity benzodiazepine receptors were investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Clonazepam (100 microM), a specific agonist for the central-type benzodiazepine receptor, reduced transient currents through the type I calcium channel by 40% without affecting long-lasting currents through the type II calcium channel. Diazepam and nitrazepam (100 microM), non-specific agonists for both the central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, reduced both transient and long-lasting currents equally by 25-30%. A similar non-selective inhibition was observed by Ro5-4864 (1-10 microM), a specific agonist for the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor. It is concluded that the two calcium channel types are regulated differentially by two different kinds of benzodiazepines; central-type for type I channel and peripheral-type for both type I and type II channels.

Animals

Peliosis of the spleen with intraperitoneal hemorrhage.

We encountered a patient with steroid-related peliosis of the spleen, a rare disease characterized by multiple blood-filled cavities in the splenic parenchyma, with spontaneous intraperitoneal hemorrhage. The ultrasonographic, computed tomographic, and angiographic images were compared with pathologic findings of the material obtained surgically.

Aged

Renal ablation with absolute ethanol for nonfunctioning hydronephrosis.

Six adult patients underwent renal ablation with absolute ethanol for nonfunctioning hydronephrosis due to various ureteral lesions. The procedure of renal ablation consisted of 3 separate sessions: placement of percutaneous nephrostomy; transarterial embolization of the renal artery with absolute ethanol, and sclerotherapy of the renal pelvis and ureter through nephrostomy with absolute ethanol. Marked shrinkage of the treated kidney was observed in all cases without any major adverse effects throughout the observation period. Renal ablation with absolute ethanol for nonfunctioning hydronephrosis constitutes a safe and less invasive alternative to surgical nephrectomy to preserve the quality of life of the patients.

Adult

Hyperparathyroidism--comparison of flash imaging with spin echo MR imaging.

MR images of the neck were prospectively studied in 19 patients with hyperparathyroidism. Fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence was performed in addition to T1- and T2-weighted spin echo (SE) sequences. FLASH images were obtained with 320/12/20 degrees (TR/TE/flip angle) using presaturation technique. TE of 12 ms was chosen to eliminate high signal of fat tissue. In the evaluation of detectability, a combination of T1-weighted SE and FLASH images (T1WI + FLASH) was compared with a combination of T1- and T2-weighted SE images (T1WI + T2WI). MR imaging correctly depicted 20 of 30 abnormal glands on both T1WI + FLASH and T1WI + T2WI. FLASH imaging effectively eliminated high signal of fat tissue. Nineteen abnormal glands demonstrated higher signal than surrounding tissues on FLASH images, whereas 12 glands were high-intense on T2-weighted SE images. We conclude that FLASH imaging provides improved tissue contrast and anatomic delineation and, thus, may replace T2-weighted SE imaging in the neck.

Adenoma

[Antireflux operation for vesicoureteral reflux in spina bifida patients].

A series of 32 patients with spina bifida, representing 50 renal units with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), was treated with antireflux operation. All but one patient underwent ureteral reimplantation with Cohen's technique. Another patient was treated with bilateral Politano-Leadbetter's technique. The overall success rates were 92.0% by renal unit and 87.5% by case, with a mean follow-up period of 42.5 months. These results were comparable to those in the recent literature. Failure included recurrence of VUR in 3 patients. Another patient who had undergone unilateral reimplantation developed new occurrence of reflux in the contralateral ureter. Possible masking of contralateral VUR should be taken into consideration in patients with unilateral high grade VUR. We also emphasize the importance of continuing clean intermittent catheterization in a proper manner to be free of VUR postoperatively.

Adolescent

[Unresolved issues concerning the operative indication of augmentation cystoplasty in spina bifida patients: a report of two cases].

Augmentation cystoplasty is evolving into a common method of surgical treatment for a low capacity and/or low compliance neurogenic bladder. Although an increasing number of successful results have been recently reported, the operative indication of augmentation cystoplasty is yet to be established. Herein, we report two cases of neurogenic bladder due to spina bifida which required abandonment of augmentation cystoplasty. The first case was in a 23-year-old female with a severely deformed bladder and right vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). She refused to undergo ileocystoplasty because we could not assure her of postoperative conception which she eagerly anticipated. The second case was in a 19-year-old male with a severely deformed bladder and right VUR. He experienced recurrent episodes of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (V-P shunt) difficulty which required exchanging the shunt tube each time, and each exchange proved to be very difficult or nearly impossible. Based on lengthy neurosurgical consultation, we came to the conclusion that ileocystoplasty was not a preferable treatment of choice for the correction of his disease due to the possibility of V-P shunt infection, which could be fatal. Alternatively, both cases were treated with Cohen's ureteral reimplantation, which resulted in the recurrence of VUR. These cases presented still unresolved issues concerning the operative indication of augmentation cystoplasty in spina bifida patients.

Adult

Bile acid sulfonates alter cholesterol gallstone incidence in hamsters.

The prevention of cholesterol gallstone formation by three bile acid analogs, sodium 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24- sulfonate, sodium 3 alpha,7 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-sulfonate and sodium 3 alpha,6 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-sulfonate, was examined in a hamster model of cholesterol cholelithiasis. Sodium taurochenodeoxycholate, sodium tauroursodeoxycholate and sodium taurohyodeoxycholate were studied simultaneously for comparison. Gallstones and cholesterol crystals were induced in 14 of 15 hamsters fed a bile acid-free, semipurified lithogenic diet containing 0.3% cholesterol and 4% butterfat for 6 wk. The addition of 0.1% sodium taurochenodeoxycholate and sodium tauroursodeoxycholate to the lithogenic diet had little effect on the formation of gallstones or biliary cholesterol crystals. In contrast, sodium 3 alpha,7 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24- sulfonate and sodium 3 alpha,7 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-sulfonate, when fed at the same dose, prevented cholesterol gallstone formation significantly. Sodium taurohyodeoxycholate and sodium 3 alpha,6 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane- 24-sulfonate inhibited cholesterol gallstone formation effectively. The cholesterol saturation index of bile was greater than 1.00 in all groups, with the exception of the group fed sodium 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-sulfonate. Liver and serum cholesterol levels tended to be lower in most of the groups that were fed bile acids. This effect was most pronounced in the animals receiving sodium taurohyodeoxycholate. At the end of the experiment, the administered sulfonate analogs were detected in gallbladder bile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals