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Biomedical subjects

N Kotani

Publications and source records attributed to N Kotani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Tracheal mucosal bulla found on tracheal extubation in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris--a case report].

A 49-year-old female with pemphigus vulgaris underwent the removal of a meningioma under general anesthesia. Neither bulla nor erosion was observed on her skin and oral cavity mucosa. She had been on prednisolone 15 mg for six years daily to avoid the recurrence of skin lesion. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl. No adverse episodes were encountered during the operative procedure. We checked the tracheal mucosa using bronchofiberscope before extubation. A small bulla was found on the tracheal mucosa, where the cuff of the tracheal tube was located. The trachea was extubated slowly under bronchofiberscopic observation, and no other bullae were found. It would have been formed by mechanical stimulation of the tracheal tube. This case suggests that we have to pay careful attention to the formation of bullae at any part of the body by mechanical stimuli during anesthetic management of patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

Anesthesia, General↗

Impaired galactosylation of core 2 O-glycans in erythrocytes of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase knockout mice.

O- and N-glycans included in erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins from beta1,4-galactosyltransferase I (GalT-I) knockout mice were analyzed to examine how this enzyme deficiency affects glycosylation of proteins in erythroid cells. The results indicated that greater than 80% of core 2 O-glycans from GalT-I-/- mice are not galactosylated by beta1,4 linkage, resulting in the expression of Neu5Acalpha2 --> 3Galbeta1 --> 3(GlcNAcbeta1 --> 6)GalNAc, while core 2 O-glycans from GalT-I+/+ mice are fully galactosylated and occur as Neu5Acalpha2 --> 3Galbeta1 --> 3(Neu5Acalpha2 --> 3Galbeta1 --> 4GlcNAcbeta1 --> 6)GalNAc. On the other hand, beta1, 4-galactosylation of N-glycans of the mutant was approximately 60% that of the wild type. Thus, it is suggested that GalT-I is predominantly responsible for beta1,4-galactosylation of the core 2 O-glycan branch in erythroid cells.

Animals↗

Volatile anesthetics augment expression of proinflammatory cytokines in rat alveolar macrophages during mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate that anesthesia and surgery induce an inflammatory reaction in alveolar macro phages. However,they filed to independently evaluate the relative contributions of factors including mechanical ventilation, general anesthesia, and surgical stress. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that inflammatory reactions at the cellular level in alveolar macrophages are induced within 2 h of inhalation of volatile anesthetics under mechanical ventilation. METHODS: After administration of pentobarbital, rats were allocated to the nonventilated control or spontaneous or mechanical ventilation (n = 15/group) for 2 h at a fraction of inspired oxygen (FI(O2)) of 0.21. In a separate series of experiments, rats were mechanically ventilated without volatile anesthesia, or during exposure to halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane (n = 15/group). Pulmonary lavage was performed, and RNA was extracted from harvested cells. The mRNA for the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using beta-actin as an internal standard. Pulmonary lavage concentrations of these cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: The lavage cell count and cytology were similar in each series of the experiment. Gene expression of MIP-2 and TNF-alpha was greater during mechanical than spontaneous ventilation and nonventilation control However, the concentrations of cytokines except MIP-2 and TNF-alpha were less than detection levels. During exposure to volatile anesthetics, gene expression for IL-1beta, MIP-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha all increased significantly compared with mechanical ventilation alone. Significant increases in lavage concentrations of MIP-2 and TNF-alpha were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines increase after inhalation of volatile anesthetics under mechanical ventilation. These data indicate that inhalation of volatile anesthetics under mechanical ventilation induces an inflammatory response at the transcriptional level within 2 h.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

Exposure to cigarette smoke impairs alveolar macrophage functions during halothane and isoflurane anesthesia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Smoking alters numerous alveolar macrophage functions and is an important risk factor for postoperative pulmonary complications. The authors therefore tested the hypothesis that smoke exposure impairs antimicrobial and proinflammatory responses in alveolar macrophages during halothane and isoflurane anesthesia with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Thirty control rats and 30 rats exposed to cigarette smoke were mechanically ventilated with 1.5 minimum alveolar concentration halothane and isoflurane. Ten smoke-exposed and control animals were assigned to one of three different anesthetic durations (0, 2, and 6 h). The fraction of aggregated cells and cell distribution were determined. Opsonized and unopsonized phagocytosis was measured. Microbicidal activity was determined as the ability to kill Listeria monocytogenes. The expression of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was measured by semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Pulmonary lavage concentrations of these cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: During both halothane and isoflurane anesthesia, the fraction of aggregated macrophages increased, whereas unopsonized and opsonized phagocytosis and microbicidal activity decreased significantly over time in both groups. Responses observed in smoke-exposed rats were almost twice as great as those observed in the control rats. Gene expression and production of all proinflammatory cytokines except IL-6 increased 2-20-fold during anesthesia. The increases in IL-1beta, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the control rats were 1.5-8 times greater than those in the smoke-exposed rats. CONCLUSION: Antimicrobial and proinflammatory responses of alveolar macrophages during anesthesia were markedly suppressed by smoke exposure. Our data suggest that smoke exposure reduces the efficacy of immune defenses during anesthesia.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Expression of genes for proinflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages during propofol and isoflurane anesthesia.

UNLABELLED: Anesthesia and surgery induce macrophage aggregation and neutrophil influx, responses that characterize an inflammatory reaction in the distal airway. We thus evaluated the time-dependent expression of genes for proinflammatory cytokines during propofol and isoflurane anesthesia. We studied patients anesthetized with propofol (n = 20) or isoflurane (n = 20). Alveolar macrophages were harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage immediately, 2, 4, and 6 h after induction of anesthesia, and at the end of surgery. RNA was extracted from harvested cells and cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription. Expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was measured by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction using beta-actin as an internal standard. We observed two 10-fold increases in gene expression of all proinflammatory cytokines except IL-6. The increases in IL-8 and interferon gamma were 1.5-3 times greater during isoflurane than propofol anesthesia. Expression of the genes for IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was similar with each anesthetic. Our data thus indicate that the pulmonary inflammatory response accompanying anesthesia and surgery is accompanied by the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and that this expression was in some cases greater during isoflurane than propofol anesthesia. IMPLICATIONS: Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in alveolar macrophages increased significantly over time. The increases were greater during isoflurane than propofol anesthesia, suggesting that inflammatory responses at transcriptional levels in alveolar macrophages are modulated by the type and duration of anesthesia.

Anesthesia↗

Analysis of 2-aminobenzamide-labeled oligosaccharides by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with fluorometric detection.

To establish high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with fluorometric detection (HPAEC-FD) for the sensitive oligosaccharide analysis, the system for HPAEC with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) was modified by placing the anion micromembrane suppressor between PAD and fluoromonitor to neutralize the alkaline eluate and connecting the flow path. N-Linked oligosaccharides were released from various glycoproteins by hydrazinolysis followed by labeling with 2-aminobenzamide, and their asialooligosaccharides were analyzed by HPAEC-FD using an isocratic elution with 0.3 M NaOH solution. The results indicated that the new system using FD offers fine separation of oligosaccharides at the subpicomole level. Coinjection of reduced dextran oligomers as internal standards which are detected by PAD permits us to express elution positions of the fluorescent oligosaccharides as glucose units, resulting in a much more reliable analysis. The system was also effectively used for structural analysis of oligosaccharides by sequential glycosidase digestion. Thus, HPAEC-FD promises to be an alternative tool for the sensitive analysis of oligosaccharides.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Intraoperative modulation of alveolar macrophage function during isoflurane and propofol anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar macrophages are a critical part of the defense against pulmonary infection. Thus the authors determined time-dependent changes in alveolar macrophage functions in patients having surgery who were anesthetized with isoflurane or propofol. METHODS: Patients anesthetized with propofol (n = 30) or isoflurane (n = 30) during orthopedic surgery were studied. Alveolar macrophages were harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage immediately, and 2, 4, and 6 h after induction anesthesia and at the end of surgery. The fraction of aggregated and nonviable macrophages was determined. Then phagocytosis was measured by ingestion of opsonized and unopsonized particles. Finally, microbicidal activity was determined as the ability of the macrophages to kill Listeria monocytogenes directly. RESULTS: Demographic and morphometric characteristics of the patients given propofol and isoflurane were similar, as were their levels of pulmonary function and hemodynamic responses. The fraction of alveolar macrophages ingesting opsonized and unopsonized particles, and the number of particles ingested, decreased significantly over time, with the decrease slightly but significantly greater during isoflurane anesthesia. Microbicidal function decreased progressively during anesthesia and surgery, with the decrease almost twice as great during isoflurane compared with propofol anesthesia. The fraction of aggregated macrophages and recovered neutrophils increased over time in the patients given each anesthetic. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary immunologic function changed progressively during anesthesia and surgery. The data from this study suggest that pulmonary defenses are modulated by the type of anesthesia and by the duration of anesthesia and surgery.

Adult↗

Analysis of O-linked oligosaccharide alditols by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection.

To apply high-pH anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) to the accurate and sensitive analysis of O-linked oligosaccharide alditol, removal of glycopeptides and peptides from oligosaccharide samples obtained by beta-elimination was first investigated. The results obtained by using fetuin as a model glycoprotein indicated that (glyco)peptides derivatized by fluorescamine are easily removed from the beta-eliminated oligosaccharide sample by means of a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge due to their increased hydrophobicity. This clean-up procedure was also effectively applied to the beta-eliminated oligosaccharide sample obtained from delipidated sheep erythrocyte ghosts. Furthermore, structural analysis of the oligosaccharide alditols by HPAEC-PAD was successfully performed in combination with partial and complete desialylation, composition analysis, periodate oxidation, and glycosidase digestion and revealed that sheep erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins contain Gal beta 1-->3Gal-NAc and Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->3GalNac, to which one or two residues of Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc are attached in different combinations.

Animals↗

A rapid increase in foot tissue temperature predicts cardiovascular collapse during anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular collapse during anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions results from release of histamine and other vasoactive substances. Intense arteriolar vasodilation associated with severe allergic reactions is likely to increase convective transfer of heat and peripheral tissue temperature, and finally to provoke cardiovascular collapse. Therefore the authors tested the hypothesis that during anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions, an acute increase in peripheral tissue temperature precedes cardiovascular collapse and that the magnitude of the increase correlates with the severity of the reaction. METHODS: During a 13-yr period, approximately 120,000 patients were screened for clinical evidence of intraoperative anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions. Core temperature was measured in the distal esophagus, and "deep" foot tissue temperature was measured on the sole of one foot in all these patients. Otherwise unexplained cardiovascular collapse accompanied by bronchospasm and/or cutaneous signs such as urticaria, flushing, or angioedema occurred in 32 patients who were entered into a prospective diagnostic protocol. Among these, 15 met laboratory criteria for anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions. Anaphylaxis was confirmed in nine of them by a positive skin test to the suspected agent, the in vitro leukocyte histamine-release test, or the Praunitz-Küstner test. Reactions were considered anaphylactoid in six others when laboratory evidence did not support anaphylaxis, but plasma histamine or tryptase concentrations were much greater during episodes than 6 weeks later. RESULTS: Development of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions followed a characteristic pattern: (1) Foot temperature, which was initially 3.3 +/- 1.7 degrees C less than core temperature, increased to within 0.3 degrees C of core temperature 3.2 +/- 1.4 min after drug administration; (2) onset of cardiovascular collapse ensued 1.8 +/- 0.8 min later; and (3) core temperature increased from 34.7 +/- 1.0 degrees C to peak values 37.1 +/- 0.6 degrees C 13 +/- 5 min after drug administration. The most severe reactions were associated with shorter times to comparable core and foot temperatures, faster onset of cardiovascular collapse, and higher maximum core temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: The normal core-to-peripheral tissue temperature gradient was obliterated several minutes before hemodynamic consequences associated with anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions. Further, a rapid increase in deep foot temperature and maximum core temperature correlated with clinical severity.

Adolescent↗

Analgesic effect of a herbal medicine for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea--a double-blind study.

We evaluated the analgesic effect of Toki-shakuyaku-san (TSS) in women who had a combination of "deficiency," of "Yin," "cold," and "stagnated blood" syndromes, and were suffering from dysmenorrhea. A diagnostic scoring system was used for determination of these conditions. We treated patients with either TSS or placebo during 2 menstrual cycles with a double-blind technique, and we followed them for 2 additional cycles. A significant alleviation of dysmenorrhea was observed in patients treated with TSS as compared to those treated with placebo. Our results suggest that TSS is effective for treatment of dysmenorrhea in patients with the above-mentioned conditions.

Adolescent↗

Motor and sensory disability has a strong relationship to induction dose of thiopental in patients with the hypertropic variety of Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome.

In a prospective study, we determined the anesthetic induction dose of thiopental and the clinical variables influencing the appropriate induction dose of thiopental in 20 patients with the hypertrophic variety of Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome (CMT). As controls we chose 50 patients without CMT. Motor disturbance was evaluated in terms of muscle weakness of the distal lower and upper extremities. We examined sensory disturbance by evaluating loss of sensation in the index finger and great toe. The preinduction cardiac output was measured by echocardiography. Anesthesia was induced with repeated injections of 50 mg thiopental. The minimum induction dose of thiopental (MID) was confirmed when the eyelash reflex ceased. We maintained anesthesia with enflurane and nitrous oxide. The 95% confidence interval of the MID in patients used as the controls was 2.5-4.9 mg/kg. The MID in 11 patients with CMT was less than 2.5 mg/kg. MIDs in the patients with CMT were significantly smaller than those of the control patients (P < 0.0001). Also we found a strong relationship between the MID and the severity of both motor and sensory disturbances (P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively). There was no relationship between the MID and other clinical variables, such as age, gender, inherited type, body weight, and preinduction cardiac output. Because delay in the recovery from anesthesia can be caused by an inappropriate dose of thiopental in CMT patients in whom motor and sensory function is seriously impaired, the dose of thiopental probably should be reduced and based on the individual patient's response.

Adolescent↗

Loss of alveolar macrophages during anesthesia and operation in humans.

Pulmonary macrophages play an important role in the host defense against infection, and the importance of this role is probably enhanced when the upper airway defenses are circumvented by endotracheal intubation. Studies in animals suggest that exposure to volatile anesthetics compromises the viability and function of alveolar macrophages. We studied the effect of surgery and anesthesia on the alveolar macrophages of 41 human subjects undergoing lower abdominal procedures of varying lengths during nitrous oxide-isoflurane anesthesia. Alveolar macrophages were harvested from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained before incision and compared to those recovered just before emergence from anesthesia. Macrophages were analyzed for aggregation and viability, assessed by the ability of viable cells to exclude trypan blue dye. Operations lasting 2 h or less led to little aggregation and had little effect on viability. However, there was a strong correlation between loss of macrophages and the duration of surgery and anesthesia. Aggregation increased and viability decreased as a function of procedure length. Studies are needed to determine whether prolonged surgery contributes to the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications by disturbing the function and survival of alveolar macrophages in humans.

Adolescent↗

[Medical education in clinical anesthesia].

We use an angiofiberscope (AFS), an echocardiography (ECG) and a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as useful and productive tools for medical education perioperatively. We employed these monitors in the training of 5th-year medical students on general anesthesia in the operating room. A special intratracheal tube with small lumen (3 mm in diameter) for AFS (2.2 mm in diameter), was used for monitoring airway. Medical students are interested in and concentrate their attention on the monitor screen which has a continuous image from AFS. ECG was used routinely to evaluate preoperative cardiac function, while TEE was used during operation. These monitors play very useful role in medical education for students.

Anesthesiology↗

[Clinical study on total intravenous anesthesia with droperidol, fentanyl and ketamine--20. Summary of three thousand cases and the future of this anesthetic method].

Total intravenous anesthesia with droperidol, fentanyl and ketamine (DFK) was given to over three thousand patients during four years from April 1989 through March 1993. The patients ranged in age from three months to eighty seven years. They underwent surgical, orthopedic, gynecological, thoracic, plastic and otolaryngeal surgeries, but patients who underwent craniotomy and obstetric operations were excluded. None of them developed any serious complications primarily due to DFK. DFK has many advantages such as the broad safety margin for three agents employed in DFK, no accident by N2O, no air pollution, empty bowels, no increase in middle ear pressure etc, while this has disadvantages such as high blood pressure, slow awakening from anesthesia and unpleasant dreams. Calcium channel blockers are very effective for antagonizing high blood pressure, and rapid recovery from anesthesia can be easily obtained by reducing ketamine dose given and also by application of epidural block. Intraoperative dreams may be avoided by concomitant use of benzodiazepines. Thus we are convinced that DFK can be a good as well as convenient anesthetic method for clinical anesthesia.

Adolescent↗

Immunochemical studies and complete amino acid sequence of the streptokinase from Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) M type 12 strain A374.

The complete amino acid sequence of the streptokinase (SKase) of Streptococcus pyogenes M type 12 strain A374, isolated from a patient with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), was determined. The epitope domain for the monoclonal antibody N-59, which cross-reacts with SKases of both the PSGN-associated strain and S. equisimilis H46A (a non-PSGN-associated strain), was predicted to be localized in residues 370 to 374. The epitope domain specific for monoclonal antibody RU-1, which reacts only with the PSGN-associated SKase, was localized to residues 164 to 236.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amino acid sequence of the 8-kDa protein in photosystem I reaction center complex from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus.

The 8-kDa protein in Photosystem I (PS I) reaction center complex was isolated from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus, by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using TRIS-Tricine buffer system. The complete amino acid sequence of the protein was determined. The 8-kDa protein consisted of 73 amino acid residues giving a calculated molecular weight of 7,472. No significant sequence homology were observed with the known other small subunits in PS I reaction center complex, except for the 6.5-kDa protein in PS I from another thermophilic cyanobacterium, S. vulcanus. The 8-kDa protein was characteristically rich in hydrophobic amino acid residues, especially the content of leucine. These suggest that the 8-kDa subunit is an intrinsic structure component in PS I core complex for stabilization of the reaction center.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Severe bradycardia and hypotension during spinal anesthesia: a report of five cases without morbidity].

We reported five cases of sudden onset of bradycardia and hypotension during spinal anesthesia in which measurable parameters of the patients were monitored continuously by inter-operating-room local area network system. In the first two cases, episodes of bradycardia and hypotension were caused by incomplete spinal blockade. In the third patient, severe bradycardia was preceded by gradual decrease of heart rate following high spinal blockade. In the last two cases of high spinal anesthesia, no remarkable change of the heart rate was observed before sudden onset of bradycardia and hypotension. All five patients were easily and adequately treated and they showed no signs of hypoxia. We would like to emphasize the importance of adequate and continuous monitoring during spinal anesthesia.

Adolescent↗