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Biomedical subjects

N Aoki

Publications and source records attributed to N Aoki.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[An epidemiological study on osteoporosis using ultrasound bone densitometry].

Ultrasonic bone density measurements were performed in a population to study the relationship of bone density to age, body size, fracture, hip and back pain, and their diagnostic value for osteoporosis. In additions other factors related with osteoporosis diagnosed using ultrasonic measurements values were examined. The study subjects were thirty-eight men and sixty-three women who participated in community health examinations in 1993 in Akabane, Aichi prefecture. Indices evaluated for ultrasonic bone density measurement were speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and stiffness index (SI). 1) In men, means for SOS and SI values declined with age from the forties to the seventies, but BUA was not related to age. In premenopausal women, SOS, BUA and SI were not related to age, but an age related decline was observed in postmenopausal women. 2) BUA was positively related to body weight in men and women, while the relationship with SOS and SI was not as strong. 3) Two postmenopausal women experienced fractures due to osteoporosis, and their SI values were less than 59%. About fifty percent of the subjects had hip and back pain but no clear association of SI to prevalence rate was observed. 4) Osteoporosis was diagnosed using SI values. Cases of osteoporosis were relatively older, had more years since menopause, were lower in height, body weight and thickness of skinfolds, but had higher serum total cholesterol levels others. 5) Further prospective epidemiological studies should be performed to evaluate the validity of this diagnostic criterion using SI values, and to clarify the relationship of lifestyles to ultrasonic bone density measurement and osteoporosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[A comparison between a food frequency and amount questionnaire and 7-day diet record with weighing].

A nutritional evaluation questionnaire to assess usual dietary intake was developed with the aim of achieving an accuracy level of a seven consecutive day diet record with weighing (DRW). With this questionnaire (FAQ), weekly frequencies and amounts for eleven food groups and three dishes per meal were assessed. The FAQ was conducted twice with 19 female students with a week interval (FAQ-1 and FAQ-2) in October or November of 1992. Concurrent with FAQ-2 each subjects' weekly diet was analyzed using the DRW for seven consecutive days. 1) The Spearman's correlation coefficient between the weekly frequencies obtained from FAQ-2 and those from DRW was more than 0.40 in thirty-seven of forty-one food items. 2) Nutrient intakes evaluated by DRW was highly correlated with food intake for several foods. Nutrient intake was estimated using multiple regression equations with food intake obtained from FAQ-2. 3) Compared to DRW derived values, mean values of most nutrient intakes estimated from FAQ-2 showed deviations within ten percent. Correlation coefficients between the nutrient intake estimated from FAQ-2 and those for DRW were high for calcium, vitamin C, retinol, sugar and vitamin B2, but rather low for total energy, protein and fat. 4) These results show that for some nutrient intakes, FAQ reflected those obtained from DRW for these subjects. The use of FAQ in population-based epidemiological studies should be the subject of future evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Enhanced presence of thrombomodulin in the glomeruli of lupus glomerulonephritis.

The intraglomerular presence of thrombomodulin (TM) was examined in 19 patients with lupus glomerulonephritis (GN). TM is a cell surface glycoprotein found on endothelial cells and plays a key role in the protein C anticoagulant pathway. Renal biopsy specimens of patients with lupus GN and several kinds of renal disease other than lupus GN, i.e., membranous GN, IgA GN, minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) were examined by indirect immunofluorescence, using three kinds of monoclonal antibodies against human TM: KA-2, KA-3 and KA-4. It has been reported that KA-3 and KA-4 bind to enzyme-digested TM as well as intact TM, while KA-2 recognizes intact TM only. In the glomeruli from both normal subjects and patients with MCNS, only very weak staining of TM was found. Patients with HUS showed negative TM staining in the glomeruli. In contrast, positive to strongly positive staining of KA-2 as well as of KA-3 and KA-4 was observed mainly along the capillary wall of glomeruli from patients with lupus GN. Some patients with non-lupus GN showed positive staining of these monoclonal antibodies, but the staining was far more intense in most patients with lupus GN than in the patients with non-lupus GN. Staining of albumin and transferrin by the indirect method was negative in all cases of lupus GN that showed positive staining of TM. There was no relationship between the intensity of TM staining and the degree of proteinuria, creatinine clearance or histologic types of lupus GN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The organization of the BCL6 gene.

The chromosomal translocation involving 3q27 has been recently described in B-cell malignancies, especially in diffuse large cell lymphomas. We have previously cloned the breakpoint cluster region of 3q27 designated as the BCL6 locus, previously known as BCL5, and subsequently cloned the cDNA for the BCL6 (we previously reported it as BCL5) gene encoding a novel Cys2-His2 zinc-finger protein, which locates adjacent to the breakpoints and is activated through the translocation. To elucidate whether rearrangements occur within the BCL6 gene, we characterized the genomic structure of the gene. The BCL6 gene encompasses about 26 kilobases (kb) and consists of nine exons. Translation start site is located in exon 3 and zinc-finger motif is distributed in the exons 6 to 9. We have identified at least two types of mRNA alternatively spliced, which contain or do not contain exon 2 of 134 bp coding for the 5' untranslated region. A large intron 1 of 9 kb is not efficiently spliced out, which might result in the creation of minor 10-12-kb transcripts observed in the Northern blot analysis in addition to major 3.8-kb transcripts. The breakpoints are clustered around the first exon, and the putative regulatory region of the BCL6 gene is removed through the translocation, leading to the over-expression of the gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

[Caregiving burden of elderly caregivers who provide at home care for infirm elderly].

In order to elucidate the degree of feeling burdened and factors affecting caregiving burden of elderly caregivers, a questionnaire survey was performed on 241 female caregivers of infirm elderly. The surveyed group consisted of 138 caregivers under 60 years of age (young group) and 103 aged 60 and over (old group). The major results of this survey were as follows, 1) Conditions perceived as unfavorable in the old group were related to caregiving assistants, number of the family members and health condition of the caregiver. 2) Greater number of infirm elderly with serious ADL problems and higher average body weight of the elderly cared for were seen for the old group than the young group. 3) The old group had a larger number of problem incidents and expressed more eager desire for transfer of elderly to institutional care than providing the young group. 4) A feeling of burden in daily care appeared larger for night care, body discharge disposal and bathing care of the elderly and was more frequent in those above 70 than under 70 years of age. 5) Hours in bed were longer and range of movement by wheel chair was more limited for infirm elderly as the caregiver's age increased. These results suggest that the above-mentioned unfavorable conditions in elderly caregivers promote a state of becoming bedridden and a lowering of ADL ability of infirm elderly.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

[A case of crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with anti-myeloperoxidase antibody presenting as alveolar hemorrhage].

A 77-year-old man was admitted because of hemoptysis. Chest roentgenograms initially showed progressive infiltrative shadows, which improved spontaneously in 3 months. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens obtained during the first admission revealed alveolar hemorrhage with neither granuloma nor vasculitis. Alveolar hemorrhage associated with renal dysfunction recurred 9 months later. Serum creatinine level was elevated to 3.5 mg/dl. No other organ than lungs or kidneys was involved. Renal biopsy was performed to confirm the pathological diagnosis of crescentic glomerulonephritis. Anti-basement-membrane antibody was negative, whereas anti-neutrophil-cytoplasmic antibody was positive for perinuclear pattern (P-ANCA) by indirect immunofluorescent (IF) method. He was diagnosed as having idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis complicated with alveolar hemorrhage, and the presence of anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody in serum was anticipated. Anti-MPO antibody level in his serum evaluated by ELISA was markedly elevated. Although myeloperoxidase has been considered as a common antigen to P-ANCA and anti-MPO antibody, the determination of P-ANCA has been clinically unreliable because of equivocal results. In contrast, the presence of anti-MPO antibody is highly specific for idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis complicated with alveolar hemorrhage or its incomplete variant case. Also, it is a better index of disease activity. Therefore, there is a possibility that those patients diagnosed as having idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis or pulmonary-renal syndrome may be categorized into the one disease, anti-MPO antibody-associated disease, and the measurement of anti-MPO antibody may lead to prompt treatment prior to the histological diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[A case of acute suppurative thyroiditis associated with thyroid papillary carcinoma].

A sixty-one-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in October 1988 because of fever and a right neck mass associated with redness and tenderness. The size of the thyroid mass had gradually increased over 3 months. Two masses were detected in the thyroid by ultrasonography and MRI. She has positive thyroid autoantibodies, high CRP levels and high erythrocyte sedimentation rates. While she had normal white blood cell counts, massive neutrophils were obtained from her thyroid mass by aspiration biopsy, indicating acute suppurative thyroiditis. However, we could not find any bacteria to cause suppurative thyroiditis either in the blood or in thyroid aspirates. Serum levels of thyroid hormone were slightly elevated but she did not complain of any thyrotoxic symptoms. Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) of the thyroid gland was markedly decreased (2%/24h). Following treatment with antibiotics, her inflammation and symptoms immediately improved, and pus spontaneously ran from the collapsed thyroid mass. Then serum thyroid hormone levels and RAIU were normalized and the right thyroid mass disappeared. She was discharged in December 1988. There were no signs of recurrence of suppurative thyroiditis until now. She received a pharyngo-esophageal barium examination in search of the route of infection 4 times, but no fistula was revealed. However, as her left thyroid mass consistently remained thereafter, an operation of the left thyroid mass was performed in December 1989. The histologic examination of the resected thyroid revealed the coexistence of encapsulated follicular adenoma, minute papillary carcinoma and chronic thyroiditis. There are few reports of such a case having a combination of suppurative thyroiditis, thyroid cancer and chronic thyroiditis observed in an elderly female.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

A change in soybean agglutinin binding patterns of bovine milk fat globule membrane glycoproteins during early lactation.

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) glycoproteins were prepared from bovine milk at different stages of early lactation. Western blot analyses using several lectins revealed that reactivity of MFGM glycoproteins, especially 47K and 80K bands, to soybean agglutinin (SBA) remarkably increased during the lactation, while no change was observed for Ricinus communis agglutinin-I (RCA-I) binding. Sialidase treatment of MFGM glycoproteins revealed that the number of SBA-positive bands and the amount of SBA-positive oligosaccharides in these bands are increased during the lactation. Since SBA binds N-acetylgalactosamine terminated oligosaccharides, the results indicated that N-acetylgalactosaminylation of bovine MFGM glycoproteins is stimulated during the lactation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Level of preadipocyte growth factor in rat adipose tissue which specifically permits the proliferation of preadipocytes is affected by restricted energy intake.

We previously reported the presence of a protein growth factor in rat adipose tissue which specifically permits the proliferation of 3T3-L1 and Ob1771 preadipocytes [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1990;171:905-912, ref. 1] and which is hereinafter referred to as PAGF (preadipocyte growth factor). In this study, the effects of long-term restricted energy intake on the PAGF activity in rat epididymal and perirenal adipose tissue toward 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. When rats were subjected to restricted energy intake for three weeks, PAGF activity increased with energy intake. The body weight, epididymal and perirenal fat depot weights and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity also increased with the energy intake, whereas the lactate dehydrogenase activity remained almost constant in all energy intake groups. These results suggest that the PAGF in fat depots functions in response to energy intake and contributes to the de novo formation of adipocytes and the growth of adipose tissue. This factor may provide a useful tool for further elucidation of the relationship between energy storage in adipose tissue and adipose tissue development.

3T3-L1 Cells↗
PubMed1993

Subdural-peritoneal shunt: one-piece design with a large flushing device.

In an effort to maximize the effectiveness of subdural-peritoneal shunting for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma in infants, the author developed a new shunt system. The characteristics of this shunt include a large-caliber catheter, a very low pressure slit valve, and a one-piece design with a large flushing device. This shunt is particularly useful for patients without increased intracranial pressure, who are usually refractory to treatment using a conventional ventriculoperitoneal shunt system.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

Pontine gliomas causing locked-in syndrome.

The terminal phase of pontine glioma is reportedly characterized by disturbance of consciousness. The authors retrospectively reviewed 8 children who died of pontine gliomas in their hospitals. The hospital records were analyzed specifically in regard to neurological status and terminal case. All children became mute and quadriplegic with cranial nerve palsies. The oldest child, 17 years in age, unquestionably showed the classical locked-in syndrome for the last 4 months. Six of the remaining 7 (average 5 years of age), while labeled as semicomatose, responded to calling by blinking and/or vertical eyeball movement. The authors consider that they were indeed awake in the locked-in state until very near death. This would raise a serious ethical problem of whether or not they should be intubated and kept ventilator-dependent at the time of respiratory failure, which often occurs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The coexistence of cancer cells of different origin within the same lymph nodes.

The coexistence of two differently originating cancer cells within the same lymph node is reported. An 83-year-old male patient died from severe carcinomatous lymphangitis of the lungs five months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. At autopsy, prostatic cancer metastasis to lymph node was found. Histologically, the prostatic carcinoma cells had a cribriform pattern and the gastric cells showed papillary and tubular features. Immunohistochemically, the former was immunoreactive to prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the latter was stained positively for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Fifty-one of the retroperitoneal and intrapelvic lymph nodes were histologically examined; the coexistence of both types of cancer cells was found in two lymph nodes. Both types were adjoined at the hilum, as was also confirmed by an immunohistochemical double staining technique. These two lymph nodes were located in the pre-aortic and left lateral aortic areas, and they belonged to the terminal lymph node group of both the intra-pelvic and intra-abdominal intestinal organs.

Adenocarcinoma↗