Biomedical subjects

N Tani

Publications and source records attributed to N Tani.

158 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in the glomerular pore size selectivity in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

We measured the urinary excretion rate and clearance of three plasma proteins, albumin, transferrin, and IgG4, each of which has a similar isoelectric point, but a different molecular weight. This study consisted of 86 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and 15 healthy subjects. In the patients, the degree of the urinary excretion rate and clearance of both transferrin (TER and Ctrans) and IgG4 IgG4 ER and ClgG4) closely correlated with that of the urinary excretion rate of albumin (AER). Although significant increases in the medians of TER and Ctrans were found even in the patients with AER of less than 5 micrograms/min, significant increases in the medians of IgG4 ER and ClgG4 were observed only in the patients with AER of more than 10 micrograms/min, in comparison with age-matched healthy subjects. Considering the biochemical properties of these proteins, our results indicate that an alteration in the glomerular size selectivity may appear even in patients with normoalbuminuria, and in patients with AER of more than 10 micrograms/min, more extensive damage in glomerular size selectivity may occur.

Albuminuria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute loading with proteins from different sources in healthy volunteers and diabetic patients.

To evaluate the effects of protein loading on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary excretion rate of albumin (AER), and plasma concentration of amino acids, 10 healthy volunteers and six diabetics were studied before and after eating tuna fish, egg white, cheese, or tofu. Furthermore, to study the possible role of glucagon, growth hormone (GH), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), or kallikrein in the responses of GFR, these substances were measured before and after protein loading. GFR increased significantly (p less than .001) after ingestion of tuna fish. No significant differences were seen between the GFR before and that after ingestion of the other foods. AER was unchanged following protein loading. Plasma concentrations of alanine, glycine, and arginine increased to a greater degree after ingestion of tuna fish than after digestion of the other foods. This result suggests that the response of GFR after protein loading may differ from one protein to another, and that these responses may not be directly mediated by glucagon, GH, ANP, or kallikrein.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hypercalciuria and hematuria in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

This study was undertaken to examine whether patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) are hypercalciuric and whether there is a pathophysiologic relationship between urinary calcium excretion (UCE) and the degree of diabetic nephropathy. Although UCE did not parallel the increase of urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) and the presence of hematuria was not corrected with the degree of UCE, we confirmed that 36% of diabetic patients have hypercalciuria and that the prevalence of hypercalciuria is more frequent in diabetic patients with normo- or microalbuminuria than in the controls. In 6 months, the AER of two hypercalciuric patients increased. However, the blood pressure and HbA1c of these two patients increased during the same 6 months. Therefore, it remains unclear whether hypercalciuria induced an increase in the AER of these patients.

Albuminuria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Asymptomatic ischemic heart disease and diabetic nephropathy: relationship between prevalence of asymptomatic ischemic heart disease and urinary albumin excretion rate.

To examine whether prevalences of asymptomatic ischemic heart diseases in type II diabetic patients are correlated with the degree of diabetic nephropathy, 201TI scintigraphies with dipyridamole loading were performed in 28 type II diabetic patients without any chest discomforts. Positive findings of ischemic changes were found in 5 (28%) of 18 patients with normoalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate, AER less than 20 micrograms/min) and 5 (50%) of 10 patients with micro- or macroalbuminuria (AER greater than 20 micrograms/min). Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in 6 of 10 patients with positive findings of 201TI scintigraphy. No stenotic findings were found in any patients, but wall motion was decreased in some patients and pulmonary artery pressure was increased in one patient. As stenosis of arteries with diameter of more than 0.3 mm can be detected by CAG, it seems likely that microangiopathy may play some role in the pathogenesis of asymptomatic ischemic heart disease detected with 201TI scintigraphy.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of vanadate on renal function in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The effects of vanadate on glycemic control (HbA1c) and renal function was assessed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ-D) with heminephrectomy. Vanadate-treated rats had a significantly lower HbA1c level compared with STZ-D rats without vanadate at 8 weeks after initiation of this study. In the STZ-D rats with vanadate, there were significant decreases in the urinary albumin and IgG excretion rates. The present findings suggest that glycemic control by oral administration of vanadate, which does not cause insulin release, improves diabetic renal function.

Albuminuria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of a somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) on renal function and urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats.

We evaluated the effect of a somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) on diabetic nephropathy using urinary albumin excretion as a marker in a streptozocin-induced diabetic unilateral nephrectomized rat model. Nondiabetic rats were injected with either 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) (n = 10) or SMS (n = 10). Diabetic rats were also injected with either 0.9% NaCl (n = 10) or SMS (n = 10). The control saline and SMS groups showed significant increases in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and albumin clearance. The diabetic saline-treated rats showed no significant changes in UAE or albumin clearance. The diabetic SMS-treated rats showed significant decreases in UAE (151 +/- 76 mg/day/kg to 98 +/- 46, P less than .005) and albumin clearance (5.85 +/- 3.34 mL/day/kg to 3.63 +/- 1.73, P less than .01). There was no significant difference in kidney weight between the two control groups, but a significant difference was found between the two diabetic groups (3.35 +/- 0.39 g vs. 2.68 +/- 0.26 g, P less than .001). The results suggest that in early diabetes with renal hyperfiltration and hypertrophy, the administration of SMS may prevent progression to late diabetic nephropathy.

Albuminuria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improved patency of an elastomeric vascular graft by hybridization.

A newly devised hybrid graft with high antithrombogenicity for small caliber vascular grafts was developed. The design concept was based on the incorporation of a compliant open cell structured graft, autogenous endothelial cells (ECs), and artificial basement membrane. The latter, a gel complex of type I collagen and dermatan sulfate that showed enhanced adhesion and growth of ECs but reduced platelet adhesion, was coated onto a microporous polyurethane graft (internal diameter, 3 mm; length, 4.5 cm), with near-natural compliance. Ten seeded grafts were implanted bilaterally into the carotid arteries of dogs; anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy was not administered. This hybrid graft showed a marked improvement in patency at 1 month compared with that of simply preclotted grafts (control specimens). This result was explained by the almost complete endothelialization when the graft was implanted, a high degree of adherent strength resistance to shear stress, and a high proliferative potential. Thus, this approach of combining biomechanical and cellular engineering designs may lead to an important functional small caliber graft.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the human gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND/AIM: There have been only a few studies on the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the human stomach, in which it was stated that CGRP fibers are rare in that organ. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunohistochemical localization of CGRP in the human gastric mucosa obtained by endoscopic biopsy from patients with gastric ulcers. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was carried out according to the indirect immunoperoxidase method using an anti-human CGRP antibody. Biopsies were taken from the ulcer margin in 18 patients (age 37-78, average 57.4 years) and from two endoscopically normal portions (antrum and body) in 7 other patients (age 36-65, average 51.0 years). One biopsy specimen was obtained from each portion. RESULTS: Twelve of the eighteen biopsy specimens from the ulcer margin, 6 of the 7 biopsy specimens from normal portions of the antrum and 3 of the 7 biopsy specimens from normal portions of the body showed CGRP-immunoreactive staining. Intense staining was more marked in the specimens from the ulcer margin compared to those of the normal portions. CONCLUSIONS: CGRP immunoreactivity was observed in the human gastric mucosa in considerable abundance, and it is presumed that CGRP might participate in a restoration mechanism of the ulcer.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Specific sorbent of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins for plasmapheresis. Characterization and experimental use in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Dextran sulfate was covalently bound to cellulose beads (LA01) and used as the specific sorbent of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. The binding profiles of very low density, low density, and high density lipoproteins to the material were consistent with simple Langmuir adsorption isotherms. Although the affinities of all lipoproteins for the sorbent were roughly similar, the surface area available for high density lipoprotein binding was much smaller than that for very low and low density lipoproteins (29, 927, and 1934 m2/liter of swollen beads, respectively). When human plasma was passed through a sorbent column, very low and low density lipoproteins were selectively adsorbed, while almost all the high density lipoproteins were recovered from the column together with the other major plasma components. An extracorporeal circulation system with this sorbent was used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemic rabbits (diet-induced and homozygous WHHL). With a 25 ml sorbent column, very low and low density lipoproteins were selectively removed from rabbit plasma, resulting in a reduction of plasma cholesterol concentration by 300 mg/dl.

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of neurological complications in isolated ACTH deficiency by glucocorticoid replacement.

The neurophysiological complications in ACTH deficiency have not been well documented. In this paper, we present a patient with isolated ACTH deficiency who developed various neurological signs. The neurophysiological abnormalities, including slow wave activity on electroencephalogram, delayed conduction velocity of the peripheral nerves and low amplitude of muscle action potentials, were improved by replacement of glucocorticoid. These findings suggested that glucocorticoid is directly involved in the function of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case of primary hypoparathyroidism complicated by heart failure.

We report a case of hypocalcemic heart failure without underlying myocardial disease. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography revealed dilatation and impaired contraction of the left ventricle, but did not show any valvular dysfunction. Cardiac catheterization showed a normal coronary artery, and cardiac muscle biopsy showed morphological changes in mitochondoria and endoplasmic reticulum, which may be due to metabolic changes. This patient was asymptomatic after the serum calcium concentration was normalized.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular detection of disseminated cancer cells in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer.

This study was designed to determine whether circulating cancer cells in patients with gastric cancer can be identified by a RT-PCR method and to assess the clinical significance of the hematogenic dissemination of cancer cell in gastric cancer patients. A total of 41 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood samples from 41 patients with gastric cancer were analyzed for CEA mRNA using RT-PCR. Of the 36 patients undergoing radical gastrectomy, eight had a positive CEA mRNA signal in their peripheral blood before the gastrectomy. In four patients, the CEA mRNA signal was negative, positive and then negative again, before, during and after the surgery, respectively. Of the five inoperable patients with peritoneal metastasis, four had positive CEA mRNA signals despite no metastasis in any other organs. The RT-PCR method is a useful diagnostic modality to determine patient selection for chemotherapy after surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Combined resection of the involved organs in T4 gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It remains controversial whether extended surgeries for gastric cancer can improve the postoperative survival rate. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined resection of the involved organs for improving the survival of gastric cancer patients. METHODOLOGY: Of the 1600 patients treated at our Department, from 1969-1993, 231 patients were found to have evidence of adjacent organ spread at laparotomy. Of the 231 patients, 174 underwent a combined resection of the adjacent organs with a gastrectomy due to direct invasion of these organs by the gastric cancer. The clinicopathological characteristics of 231 patients who had adjacent organ spread were compared retrospectively with 495 patients who had no adjacent organ spread. RESULTS: Although the postoperative survival rate of those patients who underwent a gastrectomy with a combined resection of the involved organs was poor, 14 patients survived for 5 years or longer after the surgery. The clinicopathologic factors characteristic of these 14 surviving patients were a lesser extent of lymph node metastasis and high operative curability. CONCLUSIONS: A combined resection of the involved organs with a gastrectomy should be performed when lymph node metastasis is not evident.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An in vitro endothelialized compliant vascular graft minimizes anastomotic hyperplasia.

The authors developed a hybrid vascular graft consisting of three components: a polyurethane (PU) graft (internal diameter = 3 mm; length: 5 cm) with a compliance similar to that of natural arteries; an artificial basement membrane composed of a complex gel of Type I collagen and dermatan sulfate; and an autogenous endothelial cell (EC) monolayer constructed before implantation. As a continuation of their previous study that focused on antithrombogenicity for as long as 1 month after implantation, the authors evaluated the antihyperplastic characteristics of their hybrid vascular graft for longer implantation periods. The hybrid grafts were implanted bilaterally into carotid arteries of dogs without anticoagulant or anti-platelet agents. The implantation period ranged from 6 to 26 weeks. The overall patency rate observed in this study was 70%. Histologic evaluation of grafts revealed that luminal surfaces of the arteries and grafts joined uniformly and smoothly. The mean initimal thickness of grafts was approximately 80 microns at 12 weeks; there was no statistically significant difference in the thickness between portions of the graft. Little additional increase was observed at 26 weeks. The intimal thickness of adjacent arteries was small. Thus, anastomotic hyperplasia was considered minimized. These encouraging results were explained in terms of synergistic activities of the compliant PU graft and durable EC monolayer as follows. The PU graft, which was fabricated to have the same compliance as that of natural arteries, minimized the compliance mismatch at the anastomoses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anastomosis, Surgical↗