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N Kawamura

Publications and source records attributed to N Kawamura.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Severe thrombocytopenia induced by radiographic non-ionic contrast medium].

A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of right hemiparesis. He had no allergies or previous exposure to radiographic contrast medium, and the platelet count on admission was within the normal range. On day 8 of hospitalization, he underwent computed tomography of the brain with 100 ml of iopamidol administered intravenously. Three hours later, his platelet count fell to 5,000/microliter, and he developed purpura. Because drug-induced thrombocytopenia was suspected, platelet transfusion was undertaken and corticosteroids were administered. The platelet count returned gradually to normal in 2 days. At the time, we were unable to ascertain the cause of the thrombocytopenia. To clarify whether the contrast medium had been responsible, iopamidol was added to the patient's heparinized whole blood. Subsequent platelet aggregation was observed microscopically and the platelet count decreased, suggesting that the thrombocytopenia had been due to contrast medium-induced platelet aggregation. Although thrombocytopenia after injection of contrast medium is extremely rare, such cases should be evaluated carefully because the condition can be life-threatening if severe.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Advanced bladder cancer in a young female: a case report.

We present a rare case of advanced bladder cancer in a young female. A 27-year-old woman had the chief complaint of proteinuria. A clinical examination revealed a papillary, broad-based bladder tumor with a clinical stage of T3, N3, M0. Preoperatively, 3 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with methotrexate, adriamycin, and cisplatin were performed, and proved to be effective. Radical cystectomy was done and the histopathologically it was diagnosis as Grade 2 transitional cell carcinoma, which did not show any p53 gene mutation. The patient's postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and she remained disease free for 27 months. Bladder carcinoma in patients under 30 years of age tends to have a early stage and a low grade. However, the above described 27-year-old female patient demonstrated the advanced stage bladder tumor. Therefore, it should be kept in mind to accurately evaluate young patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and not to rule out the possibility of advanced disease even though a patient is young.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Determination of carrier status for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome by flow cytometric analysis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is caused by defects in the WAS protein (WASP) gene on the X chromosome. Previous study disclosed that flow cytometric analysis of intracellular WASP expression (FCM-WASP analysis) in lymphocytes was useful for the diagnosis of WAS patients. Lymphocytes from all WAS patients showed WASPdim instead of WASPbright. Here we report that FCM-WASP analysis in monocytes could be a useful tool for the WAS carrier diagnosis. Monocytes from all nine WAS carriers showed varied population of WASPdim together with WASPbright. None of control individuals possessed the WASPdim population. In contrast, lymphocytes from all the carriers except two lacked the WASPdim population. The difference of the WASPdim population in monocytes and lymphocytes observed in WAS carriers suggests that WASP plays a more critical role in the development of lymphocytes than in that of monocytes. The present studies suggest that a skewed X-chromosomal inactivation pattern observed in WAS carrier peripheral blood cells is not fixed at the hemopoietic stem cell level but progresses after the lineage commitment.

Female↗
PubMed2000

The comet assay in eight mouse organs: results with 24 azo compounds.

The genotoxicity of 24 azo compounds selected from IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) groups 2A, 2B, and 3 were determined by the comet (alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis, SCG) assay in eight mouse organs. We treated groups of four mice once orally at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and sampled stomach, colon, liver, kidney, bladder, lung, brain, and bone marrow 3, 8, and 24 h after treatment. For the 17 azo compounds, the assay was positive in at least one organ; (1) 14 and 12 azo compounds induced DNA damage in the colon and liver, respectively, (2) the genotoxic effect of most of them was greatest in the colon, and (3) there were high positive responses in the gastrointestinal organs, but those organs are not targets for carcinogenesis. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that the assay detects DNA damage induced shortly after administration of a relatively high dose, while carcinogenicity is detected after long treatment with relatively low doses. The metabolic enzymes may become saturated following high doses and the rates and pathways of metabolic activation and detoxification may differ following high single doses vs. low long-term doses. Furthermore, considering that spontaneous colon tumors are very rare in rats and mice, the ability to detect tumorigenic effects in the colon of those animals might be lower than the ability to detect genotoxic events in the comet assay. The in vivo comet assay, which has advantage of reflecting test chemical absorption, distribution, and excretion as well as metabolism, should be effective for estimating the risk posed by azo dyes to humans in spite of the difference in dosage regimen.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Identification of a 1-Mb common region at 16q24.1-24.2 deleted in hepatocellular carcinoma.

To identify the location of one or more putative tumor suppressor genes that may be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined 96 such tumors for their patterns of allelic loss at 21 microsatellite marker loci distributed along chromosome arm 16q. Allelic loss at one or more loci was observed in 58 (60%) of these tumors. Detailed deletion mapping identified a distinct commonly deleted region located within an interval flanked by D16S534 and D16S3091 at 16q24.1-24.2. By constructing a physical map consisting of a YAC contig across the region, the extent of the deleted region was determined to be less than 1 Mb. Among the tumors for which clinical data were available, allelic loss at 16q24.1-24.2 was more frequent in tumors arising from liver cirrhosis compared to HCCs arising from chronic hepatitis (30/42, 71%, vs. 13/33, 39%; P = 0. 0054). Additionally, allelic loss at 16q24.1-24.2 was frequently observed in small tumors and early-stage tumors as well as in tumors of more advanced phenotype.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2000

Peristaltic squeezing of sperm bundles at the late stage of spermatogenesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Silkworm (Lepidoptera) males produce dimorphic sperm, nucleate eupyrene sperm, and anucleate apyrene sperm. The eupyrene sperm is the ordinary sperm fertilizing eggs, while the function of the apyrene sperm, which are about four times as numerous as the eupyrene sperm, is still uncertain. We found the peristaltic phenomenon at the very late stage of spermatogenesis. Peristalsis occurs in both eupyrene and apyrene sperm bundles. Through peristaltic action, cytoplasm of the eupyrene sperm and both cytoplasm and nuclei of the apyrene sperm are discarded from the posterior end of the sperm bundles. Peristaltic squeezing seems to be a process to eliminate the irregular nuclei of apyrene sperm while preserving the nuclei of eupyrene sperm.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Improved dysgammaglobulinaemia in congenital rubella syndrome after immunoglobulin therapy: correlation with CD154 expression.

UNLABELLED: A boy with congenital rubella syndrome developed dysgammaglobulinaemia with elevated serum levels of IgM. CD154 was not induced on his peripheral blood mononuclear cells when rubella virus RNA was detected in his throat swabs and peripheral blood by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Following intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, improvement of immunoglobulin abnormalities, disappearance of rubella virus and normalisation of CD154 expression were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: These findings implicate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for dysgammaglobulinaemia in congenital rubella syndrome and a role of CD154 for a prolonged virus infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2000

MRI of orbital schwannomas.

The literature on MRI of orbital schwannomas is limited. The appearances in three patients with an orbital schwannoma were reviewed. A superior orbitotomy through a subfrontal craniotomy revealed a schwannoma in all cases. MRI characteristics of very low signal on T1-weighted images and homogeneous postcontrast enhancement may be helpful for differentiating schwannomas from other intraconal masses.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Case of hemorrhagic shock due to hypermenorrhea during anticoagulant therapy.

We report the case of a patient with uterine myoma who developed uncontrollable massive hemorrhage from the uterus during anticoagulant therapy after cardiac valve replacement and required hysterectomy. There was a discrepancy between the laboratory findings regarding the blood coagulation system and the clinical manifestations, suggesting a combination of multiple factors, such as a hormonal imbalance. This was a case that demanded strict attention to the management of the uterine lesions during the conduct of anticoagulant treatment.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2000

Successful preoperative diagnosis of massive ovarian edema aided by comparative imaging study using magnetic resonance and ultrasound.

Massive ovarian edema (MOE) is a rare disease. Therefore, preoperative diagnostic method of massive ovarian edema (MOE) has not been established. We have succeeded in making a preoperative diagnosis of MOE aided by ultrasonogram and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the patient's ovaries were preserved. Characteristics and proposed diagnostic imaging criteria for MOE are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Genetic studies of three Japanese patients with p22-phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease: detection of a possible common mutant CYBA allele in Japan and a genotype-phenotype correlation in these patients.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a disorder caused by defects in the NADPH oxidase responsible for superoxide generation in phagocytes. Cytochrome b558, an essential component of this enzyme, is a heterodimer formed by a 91 kDa glycoprotein (gp91-phox) and a 22 kDa polypeptide (p22-phox). Mutations in the p22-phox gene (CYBA) locus in 16q24 result in one of the rare autosomal recessive forms of CGD. We performed mutation analysis in three female CGD patients suspected of having this form of the disease and found two novel mutations in CYBA. Whereas patient 1 with severe phenotype had a homozygous nonsense mutation in exon 1 (C-35 --> T, Gln-3 --> stop), patients 2 and 3 with mild phenotype shared the same homozygous missense mutation in exon 2 (G-98 --> A, Gly-24 --> Arg). None of the parents of patients 2 and 3 is related. Therefore, this mutation could be a hot-spot or a common mutation in the Japanese population. Patients 2 and 3, but not patient 1, were demonstrated to have detectable p22-phox expression and significant granulocyte respiratory burst (ROB) activity. In this study, we were able to demonstrate an excellent correlation between genotype, p22-phox expression, ROB activity and clinical phenotype in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients.

Effects of aromatherapy (odorless condition, lavender, and hiba oil) on mood and anxiety were investigated in 14 female patients who were being treated with chronic hemodialysis. A control period consisting of natural hospital smells was established before each test session, and then aromatic test conditions were systematically evaluated for odorless conditions as well as aromatic conditions containing lavender and hiba oil aromas. The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Hiba oil aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMD and HAMA, and lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA. The mean scores of HAMD and HAMA in an odorless condition were not significantly different from those of the control conditions. These results indicate that in chronic hemodialysis patients hiba oil is an effective, non-invasive means for the treatment of depression and anxiety, and that lavender alleviates anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Sonographic characteristics of massive ovarian edema.

Massive ovarian edema (MOE) is a very rare disease characterized by a tumor-like enlargement of the ovary. The ultrasound findings have been reported as a solid tumor-like mass or as a solid mass containing a cystic component. Recent reports using magnetic resonance imaging of MOE have demonstrated that multiple ovarian follicles situated around the periphery of the cortex of the enlarged ovary is the most important diagnostic indicator of MOE. This finding was first demonstrated by ultrasound in the case we present here. Thus we suggest that the ultrasound detection of multiple peripheral ovarian follicles in a solid ovarian tumor-like mass may make the preoperative diagnosis of MOE possible by ultrasound alone.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene mutation in Japanese children with Escherichia coli O157-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) may be involved in the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli O157-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). PAF is degraded to inactive products by PAF acetylhydrolase. In this study, we investigated whether a PAF acetylhydrolase gene mutation (G-->T transversion at position 994) is involved in HUS in Japanese children. A point mutation in the PAF acetylhydrolase gene (G994T) was identified using polymerase chain reaction in 50 Japanese children with E coli O157-associated HUS and 100 healthy Japanese. We then determined the relationship between the PAF acetylhydrolase G994T gene mutation and clinical features of HUS. There was no difference in genotype and allele frequencies between patients with HUS and healthy controls. The mean duration of oligoanuria was significantly longer in patients with the GT genotype than in those with the GG genotype (P = 0.012). Although 11 of 15 patients (73%) heterozygous for the mutant allele (GT) required dialysis, only 13 of the 35 wild-type homozygotes (GG; 37%) required dialysis (P = 0. 030). Mean plasma PAF acetylhydrolase activity was significantly less in patients with the GT genotype than in those with the GG genotype (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, we have shown an association between the G994T PAF acetylhydrolase gene mutation and the severity of renal damage in E coli O157-associated HUS. Our study suggests that analysis of the PAF acetylhydrolase gene mutation in Japanese children with E coli O157-associated HUS may allow the prediction of the severity of HUS.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗
PubMed2000

Reward linked to increased natural killer cell activity in rats.

In rats splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity was found to be significantly higher following chronic uncontrollable electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus in fully conscious rats, compared to sham-operated rats. In a pre-test study, all rats had demonstrated that the electrode site had self-stimulating properties, which supports the possibility that the experience of reward may be implicated in NK cell activity augmentation.

Animals↗