Biomedical subjects

N Kondoh

Publications and source records attributed to N Kondoh.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Presence of poorly stained myocytes in acute myocarditis predicts improvement in cardiac function.

Histological findings in the acute phase of myocarditis were evaluated as a prediction of hemodynamic state in the chronic phase in 20 patients with clinical and pathological diagnoses of myocarditis who were followed up with echocardiography for at least 1 year. Endomyocardial biopsy samples were obtained from the left ventricle within 1 year of the onset of symptoms. Azan-Mallory staining was performed on the myocytes, which were categorized as either well stained or poorly stained. The point counting method was used to determine the fraction of each type. The improvement in ejection fraction within 1 year correlated significantly with the fraction of poorly stained myocytes (r = 0.46, p < 0.05). The ejection fraction at biopsy was negatively correlated with the volume fraction of well stained myocytes (r = -0.64, p < 0.01). The staining condition of myocytes may be useful in predicting the hemodynamic recovery of patients with myocarditis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

Detection of aberrations in androgen receptor gene by analysis of single-stranded conformation polymorphisms in polymerase chain reaction products.

Analysis of single-stranded conformation polymorphisms in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (PCR-SSCP) is a sensitive method for detecting point mutations in genomic DNA. To investigate its utility in examining the androgen receptor gene, we analyzed data on a patient with the testicular feminization syndrome (TFS) with a known point mutation in exon C. We detected mobility shifts of fragments of the corresponding region. Since examination of the subject's brother (legally sister), who also has TFS, revealed an identical shift pattern, we sequenced the exon C of the sibling and detected a mutation identical to that in the former. We conclude that PCR-SSCP is available for screening mutations of the androgen receptor gene.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Clinical study of azoospermia.

This study evaluated how many patients with azoospermia might have fertility potential using assisted conception techniques. A total of 102 male patients with azoospermia were included in the study. Thirteen patients had sex chromosomal abnormalities. Testicular biopsy performed in the other 89 patients showed incomplete spermatogenesis in 47 of them whereas 42 had complete spermatogenesis. In the latter 42 patients, distal vasography demonstrated bilateral obstruction of the excurrent ducts in 14 patients whereas no distal obstruction of the ducts was found in 28. The 89 patients were divided into three groups according to the findings of testicular biopsy and distal vasography. In the 14 patients with both complete spermatogenesis and distal obstruction of the excurrent ducts, surgical procedures are applicable. The pathogenesis of the 28 patients with complete spermatogenesis but without distal obstruction of the ducts should be clarified for further treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

New indication of testis biopsy for azoospermia: a clinical study in Japanese patients.

Because of the progress made with assisted reproductive techniques, we decided to clarify the indication for testis biopsy in Japanese azoospermic patients. A total of 88 azoospermic patients were recruited with testis histologies obtained by bilateral biopsy. Testicular histology was evaluated using Johnsen's score count. Patients with at least 1 testis containing sperm were assigned to the active spermatogenesis group. Patients whose testes had no sperm were assigned to the hypospermatogenesis group. Differences in terms of the clinical data between the 2 groups were analyzed. Clinical data consisted of past history, physical examination and hormone concentrations. The unpaired t test was generally used to examine the statistical significance of any differences between the 2 groups. 1) There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the levels of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone. 2) There were markedly significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of testis volume and the concentration of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). 3) The smallest testis volume and the highest serum FSH value in the active spermatogenesis group were 7 ml and 32.7 mlU/ml (normal range 2.9-8.2), respectively. In conclusion, although the presence or absence of active spermatogenesis can be accurately predicted by measuring the testis volume and serum FSH, testis biopsy should be carried out in patients with a testis volume greater than 7 ml or a serum FSH less than 4 times normal when the use of assisted reproductive techniques are planned.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Identification of a colon mucosa gene that is down-regulated in colon adenomas and adenocarcinomas.

A cDNA, which we call DRA (for down-regulated in adenoma) has been isolated. Its mRNA is expressed exclusively in normal colon tissue, probably only in the mucosal epithelia. Expression of the DRA gene is significantly decreased in adenomas (polyps) and adenocarcinomas of the colon. The DRA gene appears to be a single-copy gene present on chromosome 7, a chromosome associated with colorectal tumorigenesis. The predicted DRA polypeptide is an 84,500-Da protein that contains charged clusters of amino acids, primarily at the NH2 and COOH termini. Together with potential nuclear targeting motifs, an acidic transcriptional activation domain, and a homeobox domain, these elements suggest a transcription factor or a protein that may interact with transcription factors. Such a function may be consistent with a role in tissue-specific gene expression and/or as a candidate tumor-suppressor gene.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

Which subgroup of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy would benefit from long-term beta-blocker therapy? A histologic viewpoint.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether the effectiveness of long-term beta-blocker therapy could be predicted before this therapy is started. BACKGROUND: Long-term beta-blocker therapy has recently been reported to provide a favorable effect in treatment of congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Several measurements including histologic variables before administration of metoprolol were retrospectively compared among 18 good responders (showing improvement of at least one New York Heart Association functional class or an increase in ejection fraction > or = 0.10 12 months after drug administration) and 12 poor responders without such improvement. RESULTS: Although there were no significant differences between the two groups in age, gender, functional class, heart rate, blood pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and ejection fraction, percent fibrosis estimated by the point-counting method in endomyocardial biopsy specimens was significantly lower in good than in poor responders (7.6 +/- 5.7 vs. 14.2 +/- 9.7%, p < 0.05). Moreover, when the types of fibrosis were classified as interfascicular and intercellular by the dominance of counted points, there were 13 cases of interfascicular fibrosis and 5 cases of intercellular fibrosis in good responders and 1 case of interfascicular fibrosis and 11 cases of intercellular fibrosis in poor responders (p < 0.001, sensitivity 72%, specificity 91%, predictive accuracy 80%). These results suggest that improvement with long-term beta-blocker therapy may be more likely to occur in patients with less myocardial fibrosis, with interfascicular fibrosis the dominant type. CONCLUSIONS: The extent and type of fibrosis may be important factors in the prediction of the effectiveness of long-term beta-blocker therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1993

New approach to the estimation of the extent of myocardial fibrosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: use of signal-averaged electrocardiography.

To determine whether the extent of myocardial fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy could be estimated noninvasively, signal-averaged electrocardiograms were recorded in 32 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, followed by left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. The root mean square voltage for the last 40 msec (V40), the duration of the filtered QRS complex (fQRSd) and the duration of low amplitude signals < 40 microV (LAS) were obtained by signal-averaged electrocardiography. The extent of fibrosis in all biopsy samples was measured by the point-counting method. The extent of myocardial fibrosis closely correlated with fQRSd (r = 0.623, p < 0.001), LAS (r = 0.570, p < 0.001), and V40 (r = -0.355, p < 0.05). When fibrosis was classified into intercellular and interfascicular types, the extent of intercellular fibrosis more closely correlated with fQRSd (r = 0.695, p < 0.0001), LAS (r = 0.640, p < 0.0001), and V40 (r = -0.533, p < 0.005). These results suggest that signal-averaged electrocardiograms might be useful for estimation of the extent of myocardial fibrosis, especially intercellular fibrosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Hormonal regulation of human testicular inhibin alpha and beta B subunit messenger RNAS.

Changes in messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) of human testicular inhibin alpha and beta B subunits induced by human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were assessed in vivo and in vitro. After a single administration of hMG, inhibin alpha mRNA in the human testis significantly increased, whereas inhibin beta B mRNA remained unchanged. Administration of hCG induced a slight increase in inhibin alpha mRNA without affecting inhibin beta B mRNA. In experiments in vitro using the testicular organ culture technique, an exposure to hMG for 24 hours induced a dose-related significant increase in inhibin alpha mRNA. Inhibin beta B mRNA was not affected by either hCG or hMG exposure. These results indicate that luteinizing hormone (hCG) as well as follicle stimulating hormone (hMG) may play a role in the regulation of human testicular inhibin alpha mRNA, although the mechanism of the LH action is not clear.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

A minute deletion of the Y chromosome in men with azoospermia.

We analyzed deoxyribonucleic acid from 50 Japanese men with azoospermia whose Y chromosomes were cytogenetically normal. A total of 26 loci was examined in each patient. Of these patients 6 had small interstitial deletions, each of which was located within the distal part of Yq11. Five of these 6 patients lacked the same 2 loci, DYS7C and DYS1, while 1 patient had a larger deletion including DYS7C but not DYS1. More than 10% of all men with azoospermia of unknown origin may have minute interstitial deletions of the Y chromosome surrounding the DYS7C locus. The proximal part of this zone presumably encompasses the gene deletion that causes azoospermia.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Significance of subclinical varicocele detected by scrotal sonography in male infertility: a preliminary report.

To assess the clinical significance of subclinical right varicocele, we used scrotal sonography for a prospective study of 68 infertile patients with a clinical left varicocele. A significant difference was found in the improvement in postoperative semen characteristics between sonographically diagnosed bilateral and unilateral groups. We conclude that a subclinical right varicocele is also detrimental for spermatogenesis in patients with a clinical left varicocele.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Studies on the existence of renin in the human testis].

Recent reports have shown the existence of renin in Leydig cells of the rat testis and immunoreactive renin activity in the human testis. But we could not rule out the possibility that the renin found in the testis is contamination of plasma components by endocytosis. In the present study we tried to demonstrate the renin production in the human testis by the following experiments. At first, we measured the plasma renin activity and testosterone in the internal spermatic vein simultaneously after treatment with hCG and obtained the results that suggested hCG-induced renin secretion in the human testis. Next, we showed the hCG-dependent renin production from the cultured human Leydig cell tumors in vitro. Thirdly, we demonstrated the existence of renin mRNA in the human testisusing reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fourthly, we detected significant signals of human renin mRNA in the human testicular tissues by in situ hybridization. From the above results, it was demonstrated that the human renin gene was hCG-dependently expressed in the human testis.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

[Experience of double Malecot intraurethral stent--analysis on complications].

Double Malecot type polyurethane intraurethral stent (IUS) was used on 5 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (once in 3 patients and twice in 2 patients). They were unfit for operation because of emphysema in 3 cases, asthma and heart disease in one case. IUS with an effective length 35, 40 or 45 mm was selected according to the length of the prostatic urethra and was inserted under fluoroscopic guidance. IUS was successfully placed at the first trials in all patients, but the stent could not be changed in two patients because of bladder tamponade. Peak flow rate (PFR) was improved in 3 cases, unchanged in 1 and worse in 1. The complications were bladder tamponade in 2 cases, urgency and frequency in 1 and encrustation in 1. These findings suggested that positioning the proximal basket of the stent at the prostatic urethra near the bladder neck is important.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

[Clinical results of transrectal hyperthermia in 15 patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis].

A prospective uncontrolled study of the safety and efficacy of transrectal hyperthermia was performed on 15 patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia. A total of 6 (1-2 per week) 1-hour sessions of hyperthermia were performed. Subjective improvement was fair in 2 cases and slight in 13 cases (about 87%). The uroflowmetry and the prostatic size measured by transrectal echography did not show any significant changes. The complications were epididymitis (1 case), UTI (1 case) and chlamydial urethritis (2 cases). In conclusion, this therapy seems to achieve the short-term improvement of chronic abacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Characteristics of frequency content of atrial signal-averaged electrocardiograms during sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

To clarify the characteristics of the frequency content of atrial signal-averaged electrocardiograms (ECGs) during sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, P wave-triggered signal-averaged ECGs were recorded in 28 patients with and 34 control patients without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Fast Fourier transform analysis was performed on the 100-ms segment starting 75 ms before the end of the P wave. An area ratio (AR50) was calculated by dividing the area under the spectrum curve between 20 and 50 Hz, multiplied by 100, by the area between 0 and 20 Hz. Magnitude ratios (MR20, MR30, MR40 and MR50) were calculated by dividing the magnitude at 20, 30, 40 and 50 Hz, respectively, multiplied by 100, by the maximal magnitude of the entire signal. AR50 was significantly greater in patients with than without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (62.3 +/- 34.2 vs. 42.4 +/- 18.4). MR20 and MR30 were also significantly greater in patients with than without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (MR20 76.1 +/- 15.2 vs. 60 +/- 20.2; MR30 41 +/- 18.8 vs. 26.6 +/- 14.4), although no significant differences in MR40 or MR50 were observed between the two patient groups. The difference in MR30 between groups remained significant even after taking into account the presence of organic heart disease. It is concluded that, irrespective of the presence of organic heart disease, the terminal portion of the P wave contained significantly more components in the 20- to 50-Hz range, especially around 30 Hz, in patients with than in patients without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. These results suggest that frequency analysis could characterize atrial signal-averaged ECGs of patients at risk for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Differential expression of S19 ribosomal protein, laminin-binding protein, and human lymphocyte antigen class I messenger RNAs associated with colon carcinoma progression and differentiation.

Three complementary DNA encoding S19 ribosomal protein (S19), laminin-binding protein (LBP), and HLA class I (HLA-I) genes were isolated from a colon tumor-enriched subtraction library. To evaluate this mRNA expression, surgically removed colon tumors as well as matched normal tissue and human colon carcinoma cell lines showing various differentiation states, anchorage dependence, and proliferation states were examined by Northern blot analysis. The mRNA level of S19 mRNA (0.6 kilobase) was higher in primary colon carcinoma tissue than in matched normal colon tissue in 5 of 6 cases. In 2 of 4 cases, the expression of LBP mRNA (1.2 kilobases) was higher in carcinoma than in normal tissue. In 12 human colon cell lines, the level of LBP mRNA was higher in poorly differentiated cells. On the other hand, HLA-I mRNA (1.7 kilobases) was higher in well-differentiated cells. Although the S19 mRNA was expressed in both well- and poorly differentiated cells, a concomitant increase with tumor progression was observed in two pairs of cell lines derived from the same patients (SW480 and SW620; COLO201 and COLO205). Anchorage dependence of butyrate-treated HT29 colon carcinoma cells was correlated with lower levels of S19 and LBP mRNAs and higher levels of HLA-I mRNA expression compared with untreated cells. While the expression of S19 and LBP mRNAs was not changed due to cell growth states, HLA-I mRNA levels were found to be low in proliferating HT29 cells but highly induced in contact-inhibited cells. In summary, therefore, high expression of S19 and LBP combined with low expression of HLA-I were well correlated with colon carcinoma cells of higher malignant potential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Dynamic process between the clotting and the lytic activities on intracardiac thrombi--its relationship with systemic embolization.

To clarify the relationship between clotting and lytic activities of intracardiac thrombi, and to elucidate whether this could be used to evaluate the embolic risk the ratio of indium-111 radioactivity accumulated on thrombi to that in the blood pool using dual-tracer technique %IE as a parameter of the clotting activity, and D-dimer, which is a fibrin specific degradation product, as a parameter of lytic activity were measured in 37 patients with intracardiac thrombi. Fifteen of the 37 patients had past histories of arterial embolization. The values of D-dimer correlated significantly with those of %IE (r = 0.758, p less than 0.01), e.g., the higher the values of D-dimer the higher the values of %IE. 37 patients were divided into 2 groups using the regression line for the D-dimer and %IE domains. Eleven patients above the regression line had thrombosis in excess of fibrinolysis but the remaining 26 patients under the regression line had fibrinolysis in excess of thrombosis. The incidence of past embolic episodes was 82% (9/11) in patients with thrombosis in excess of fibrinolysis but 23% (6/26) in patients with fibrinolysis in excess of thrombosis. These results demonstrated that intracardiac thrombi were under the dynamic process between the clotting and the lytic activities and moreover patients with intracardiac thrombi and thrombosis in excess of fibrinolysis had a substantial risk of arterial embolization.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

[Chromosomal aberrations in cases of male infertility].

Mitotic chromosomal analysis was done on 130 cases of male infertility, 85 with azoospermia and 45 with oligospermia. Eighteen cases of chromosomal aberrations were found, consisting of eight cases of Klinefelter's syndrome, four with 46, XYq-(including one mosaic case), three translocations, one with 47, XYY, one with 46, XY, 15p+ and one with normal variant. Among these, 46 XYq- is a notable karyotype because it cannot be accurately diagnosed without Q-banding, and because 46, XYq- is important for determining the role of the locus on the long arm of the Y chromosome which is supposed to include spermatogenesis. Eleven cases of 46, XYq- in azoospermic males, including our cases, have been reviewed in the Japanese literature. Statistical analysis of the values of testicular volume and serum hormones in these azoospermia cases, revealed obvious differences between normal and abnormal karyotypes and also between 46, XYq- and Klinefelter's syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Re-transformation of non-transformed hybrids between c-myc-activating mouse plasmacytoma cells and normal fibroblasts by transfection with activated c-Ha-ras but not c-myc.

In a mouse plasmacytoma S194, c-myc oncogene is rearranged with Ig gene by chromosomal translocation and is consequently activated. We previously reported that transformation of phenotype and expression of rearranged c-myc were repressed in independently isolated hybrid clones, I-1 and IV-10, between S194 and normal fibroblasts. In order to investigate the relationship between transformation of phenotype and oncogene expression, transcriptionally enhanced c-myc or activated c-Ha-ras was transfected into I-1 or IV-10I, a subclone of IV-10. Transfectants expressing high levels of c-myc were found to retain the non-transformed phenotypes. On the other hand, transfectants expressing activated c-Ha-ras showed the transformed phenotypes. These results suggest that enhanced expression of c-myc is not sufficient for re-transformation of the non-transformed hybrid clones between c-myc-activating plasmacytoma cells and normal fibroblasts, but expression of activated c-Ha-ras could diminish or overcome the tumor-suppressive activity of normal fibroblasts.

Animals↗