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Biomedical subjects

N Kuroki

Publications and source records attributed to N Kuroki.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Genes coding for the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and Theta 1 (GSTT1) proteins are polymorphic in humans and these genes are absent, or homozygous null, in 10-60% of different ethnic populations. These enzymes catalyze the conjugation of glutathione to numerous carcinogenic chemicals and previous epidemiologic studies have associated the null genotypes of these GST genes with higher risk of cancer. In this study the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes was determined in Japanese patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma and compared to frequencies determined in a community-based control group. The frequency of the null GSTM1 genotype in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (56.8%) showed a statistically significant increase compared to the control group frequency (43.6%) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.05-2.76). The frequency of GSTM1 null individuals was also higher among all colorectal adenocarcinoma cases, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. After grouping by tumor site, the GSTM1 null genotype was a risk factor among the subgroup with distal colorectal tumors (61.1%) (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.06-3.90). No consistent difference was observed between smoking patients and corresponding controls for the frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype for either cancer, although a large risk (OR = 5.76; 95% CI 1.18-28.3) was associated with the GSTM1 null genotype in the low smoking group of gastric adenocarcinoma patients. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were observed in the frequency of null GSTT1 genotypes in gastric (47.5%) or colorectal (48.5%) adenocarcinoma patients when compared with the control population (44.4%). These results suggest that the GSTM1 null genotype may be associated with susceptibility to gastric adenocarcinoma and distal colorectal adenocarcinoma in Japanese; however, the associations observed were relatively weak and additional studies will be needed to confirm these findings.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

[An autopsy case of "diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification", multiple infarctions and hyaline arteriosclerosis].

"Diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification (DNTC)" is a slowly progressive form of presenile dementia characterized by localized temporal atrophy, pronounced calcareous deposits and numerous neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) without senile plaques. We report a 70-year-old woman with DNTC, multiple infarctions and hyaline arteriosclerosis. This case was clinically characterized by persistent delusional ideas and personality changes. Intellectual deterioration was mild, and no focal manifestations were noted. Neuropathologically, numerous NFTs were seen distributed primarily in the hippocampal region, and massive calcareous deposits were observed in the cerebrum, basal ganglia and cerebellum. There were no senile plaques. Although the findings in this case were compatible with a diagnosis of DNTC, certain additional findings were also noted. The first was the presence of multiple infarctions in the basal ganglia and hyaline arteriosclerosis. Although these lesions may have been induced by hypertension, our review of previous reports of DNTC revealed a high incidence of arteriosclerosis. The second was the absence of lobar atrophy, which may have been due to the cerebral edema caused by the subdural hemorrhage or related to the relatively short duration of the illness. The dilatation of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle and prominent NFTs in the hippocampal region indicate the initial occurrence of the disease in this region.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Patients with methamphetamine psychosis admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Japan. A preliminary report.

To examine the clinical characteristics of methamphetamine (MAP) psychosis in Japan, we evaluated 104 patients with MAP psychosis (80 men and 24 women) admitted to the closed psychiatric units of Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital between 1988 and 1991. There has recently been a steep increase in the number of admissions for MAP psychosis, reflecting the growth of the epidemic of MAP abuse in Japan. Although more than half of the patients were discharged within one month, 16 patients were hospitalized for more than 3 months. Most of the patients showed paranoid psychotic state similar to schizophrenia, consistent with previous reports. Despite the abstinence from MAP and antipsychotic medication, psychotic symptoms tended to persist in some of the patients. The etiological role of MAP psychosis in the development of long-lasting psychotic state was discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Regional cerebral blood flow in diabetic patients].

N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine (IMP) was used to quantify the regional cerebral blood flow (r-CBF) in 11 diabetic patients (average age; 67.9 years) and 12 non-diabetic subjects (average age; 67.4 years), none of whom had CVD (Cerebrovascular disease) on CT studies. A reference sampling method by continuous arterial blood sampling was used to quantify r-CBF. There were no significant differences in physiological or laboratory data between diabetic and non-diabetic groups except for fasting plasma glucose and HbA1C levels. The average of r-CBF in each region of cerebrum and cerebellum was significantly lower in diabetic group than that in the control group (p < 0.01). These observations show that r-CBF of diabetic patients is reduced, even in the absence of findings of CVD on a CT study.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Application of psychoimmunotherapy in patients with alopecia universalis.

Mental stress and immunological abnormality have recently been listed as causes of alopecia universalis. This disease is difficult to treat with only ordinary pharmacotherapy. Thus, from the standpoint of psychoneuroimmunology, stress was relieved by relaxation and image therapy, and administration of small doses of a strong immunosuppressant was effective, leading to clinically favorable results. In addition, changes were recognized in the subpopulation of peripheral lymphocytes and in beta-endorphin before and after relaxation and image therapy. The treatment of alopecia universalis favorably changed the subpopulations of T cells. A patient suffering from alopecia is always under stress. Alleviating this stress facilitates recovery of immunological competence. Our method was effective in 5 of 6 cases with refractory alopecia universalis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Renal tubular lesions induced by human Bence Jones protein in the rat: N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase as a sensitive marker.

The renal tubular lesion induced by human Bence Jones proteins (BJPs) in the rat was investigated to elucidate the initial role of BJPs in the genesis of renal tubular damage in myeloma kidney. Human BJP extracted from the urine collected from a patient with lambda light chain myeloma was given intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley rats with a daily dose of 300 mg/day for 5 days (BJP group, n = 16). Daily urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), which may represent the intensity of tubular damage, was measured. On days 10 and 20 after start of the injection, the kidneys were removed and examined by light and electron microscopy. The renal content of NAG was also measured to estimate the lysosomal activity. Both urinary and renal tissue NAG were significantly higher in the BJP group than in control rats injected with bovine serum albumin (n = 16). The most characteristic changes were found in the proximal tubules of the BJP group; the number and size of lysosomes were increased, and some showed enlargement with autophagic vacuolation. However, these were not found in the control group. There were no obvious changes in the distal tubules in either group, and the glomeruli appeared to be intact. These results suggest that BJP directly damages the proximal tubules via the process of catabolism, resulting in injury to these cells, and that the urinary NAG is a sensitive marker to detect early tubular damage by BJP.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1990

Factors contributing to blood pressure levels in chronic glomerulonephritis: an analysis of 105 biopsied patients.

Clinical data from 105 biopsied cases with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) were analyzed to determine factors contributing to blood pressure (BP) levels. Significant univariate correlations were found between BP and 11 parameters such as age, body mass index, pathological subgroup of CGN and creatinine clearance (Ccr). These were used as independent variables in multiple regression analysis, where five factors including Ccr and subgroups of CGN were significantly associated with BP. The results indicate that glomerular filtration and glomerular pathology contribute independently to BP levels in CGN.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intersegmental connection with aberrant hepatic duct.

A 66-year-old Japanese woman whose cystic duct drained into an aberrant bile duct was found to have an intersegmental connection bridging the right anterior and posterior ducts. The patient had cholelithiasis but no history of hepatic trauma, lending support to congenital etiology for the intersegmental duct. In the presence of aberrant bile ducts, a meticulous search may reveal such biliary communications.

Aged↗