Crossed aphasia elicited by direct cortical stimulation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
O Sasaki
Publications and source records attributed to O Sasaki.
Experimental signature of medium modifications for rho and omega mesons in the 12 GeV p+A reactions.
The invariant mass spectra of e+e- pairs produced in 12 GeV proton-induced nuclear reactions are measured at the KEK Proton Synchrotron. On the low-mass side of the meson peak, a significant enhancement over the known hadronic sources has been observed. The mass spectra, including the excess, are well reproduced by a model that takes into account the density dependence of the vector meson mass modification, as theoretically predicted.
Journal Article↗
A chicken linkage map based on microsatellite markers genotyped on a Japanese Large Game and White Leghorn cross.
A detailed linkage map is necessary for efficient detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in chicken resource populations. In this study, microsatellite markers isolated from a (CA)n-enriched library (designated as ABR Markers) were mapped using a population developed from a cross between Japanese Game and White Leghorn chickens. In total, 296 markers including 193 ABR, 43 MCW, 31 ADL, 22 LEI, 3 HUJ, 2 GCT, 1 UMA and 1 ROS were mapped by linkage to chicken chromosomes 1-14, 17-21, 23, 24, 26-28 and Z. In addition, five markers were assigned to the map based on the chicken draft genomic sequence, bringing the total number of markers on the map to 301. The resulting linkage map will contribute to QTL mapping in chicken.
Animals↗
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with chronic renal failure: impact of diabetes mellitus.
AIMS: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and LV diastolic dysfunction are cardiac changes commonly observed in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) as well as hypertension. Although the impairment of LV diastolic function in patients with diabetes mellitus has been shown, little is known about the specific effect of diabetes on LV diastolic function in patients with CRF. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of diabetic nephropathy on LV diastolic dysfunction, independent of LV hypertrophy, in CRF patients. METHODS: In 67 patients with non-dialysis CRF as a result of chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 33) or diabetic nephropathy (n = 34), and 134 hypertensive patients with normal renal function, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed, and LV dimension, mass, systolic function, and diastolic function were evaluated. RESULTS: LV mass was increased and LV diastolic dysfunction was advanced in subjects with CRF compared with hypertensive controls. In the comparison of echocardiographic parameters between the two groups of CRF patients, i.e. chronic glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy groups, all indices of LV diastolic function were more deteriorated in the diabetic nephropathy group than in the chronic glomerulonephritis group, although LV structure including hypertrophy and systolic function did not differ between the groups. In a multiple regression analysis, the presence of diabetes (i.e. diabetic nephropathy group) was a significant predictor of LV diastolic dysfunction in CRF subjects, independent of other influencing factors such as age, blood pressure, renal function, anaemia and LV hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that LV diastolic dysfunction, independent of LV hypertrophy, is specifically and markedly progressed in patients with CRF as a result of diabetic nephropathy.
Aged↗
Evaluation of intrarenal hemodynamics by Doppler ultrasonography for renoprotective effect of angiotensin receptor blockade.
AIMS: It has been shown that both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB) have renoprotective effects via mechanisms that are independent of blood pressure reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intrarenal hemodynamic change with ARB by renal Doppler ultrasonography (RDU) and to assess the mechanism of ARB in patients with hypertension. METHODS: Thirty hypertensive patients with renal insufficiency caused by glomerular diseases, diabetes and hypertensive nephrosclerosis were included in this study. RDU was performed before and one week after taking ARB. Resistance index (RI) (peak systolic velocity - end diastolic velocity/peak systolic velocity) in the intrarenal segmental artery were calculated, and the amounts of urinary protein or albumin were determined. RESULTS: We defined patients whose microalbuminuria or proteinuria was reduced by greater than 30% by ARB as responders (n = 22) and defined other patients as non-responders (n = 8). There were no significant differences between the responder and non-responder groups in baseline characteristics. RI was significantly improved by ARB in the responder group, but not in the non-responder group. The reduction of RI after ARB treatment was most prominent in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in intrarenal hemodynamics might play an important role in the mechanisms of the renoprotective effect of ARB in patients with hypertension.
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers↗
Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting body weight, egg character and egg production in F2 intercross chickens.
Phenotypic measurements of chicken egg character and production traits are restricted to mature females only. Marker assisted selection of immature chickens using quantitative trait loci (QTL) has the potential to accelerate the genetic improvement of these traits in the chicken population. The QTL for 12 traits (i.e. body weight (BW), six for egg character, three for egg shell colour and two for egg production) of chickens were identified. An F2 population comprising 265 female chickens obtained by crossing White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red breeds and genotyped for 123 microsatellite markers was used for detecting QTL. Ninety-six markers were mapped on 25 autosomal linkage groups, and 13 markers were mapped on one Z chromosomal linkage group. Eight previous unmapped markers were assigned to their respective chromosomes in this study. Significant QTL were detected for BW on chromosomes 4 and 27, egg weight on chromosome 4, the short length of egg on chromosome 4, and redness of egg shell colour (using the L*a*b* colour system) on chromosome 11. A significant QTL on the Z chromosome was linked with age at first egg. Significant QTL could account for 6-19% of the phenotypic variance in the F2 population.
Analysis of Variance↗
Strongyloides ratti: the role of interleukin-5 in protection against tissue migrating larvae and intestinal adult worms.
To determine the role of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and eosinophils in protection against Strongyloides ratti, mice treated with anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) were infected with S. ratti larvae. Strongyloides ratti egg numbers in faeces (EPG) in mAb treated mice were higher than those in control mice on days 6 and 7 after inoculation. The numbers of migrating worms in mAb treated mice 36 h after inoculation were higher than those observed in control mice. Intestinal worm numbers in mAb treated mice 5 days after inoculation were higher than those in control mice. These results show that eosinophils effectively protected the host against S. ratti infection by mainly the larval stage in primary infections. The involvement of eosinophils in protection against secondary infection was also examined. Before secondary infection, mice were treated with anti-IL-5 mAb and infected with S. ratti. Patent infections were not observed in either mAb treated or control Ab treated mice. The numbers of migrating worms in the head and lungs of mAb treated mice increased to 60% of that in primary infected mice. Intestinal worms were not found in mAb treated mice or in control mice after oral implantation of adult worms. Eosinophils were therefore mainly involved in protection against tissue migrating worms in secondary infections.
Animals↗
Glomerulocystic kidney disease (GCKD) associated with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura: a case report and a review of adult cases of GCKD.
We report on a 71-year-old male with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP) who developed glomerulocystic kidney disease (GCKD) without congenital abnormality. He had mild renal dysfunction. Renal biopsy findings showed mild proliferation of mesangial cells and matrixes, and tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, cystic dilation of Bowman's capsule and atrophy of the glomerular tuft. The deposition of IgA and C3 in the mesangial area was observed with the fluorescent antibody technique. Therefore he was diagnosed with GCKD-associated HSP. This was the oldest patient among the previous case reports and the patient was the first case to be reported for concurrent GCKD and HSP. In this study, we also reviewed the patient to previously reported adult patients with GCKD.
Aged↗
Observation of rho/omega meson modification in nuclear matter.
We measured the invariant mass spectra of electron-positron pairs in the target rapidity region of 12-GeV p+A reactions. We have observed a significant difference in the mass spectra below the omega meson between p+C and p+Cu interactions. This difference indicates that the spectral shape of mesons is modified at normal nuclear-matter density.
Journal Article↗
Clonal evolution from trisomy into tetrasomy of chromosome 8 associated with the development of acute myeloid leukemia from myelodysplastic syndrome.
Tetrasomy 8, though rare, is usually associated with trisomy 8, a far more common chromosomal abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Yet the clonal relationship between trisomy 8 and tetrasomy 8 in the cases with these chromosomal abnormalities has been unclear. Here, we report a case of a 17-year-old male, diagnosed as having a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Chromosome analysis showed the presence of trisomy 8. Five years later, he developed overt AML exhibiting tetrasomy 8 only. After chemotherapy, the blast cells in the bone marrow decreased to 3.4%, and the karyotype showed trisomy 8 alone. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using a probe specific for chromosome 8 showed that the percentages of cells exhibiting 2/ 3 /4 signals were 7.8/89.2/2.0 at the MDS stage, 20.5/36.1/41.0 when overt AML developed and 24.0/72.1/2.4 after chemotherapy. These results suggested that tetrasomy 8 is derived from the AML clone, possibly evolved from the MDS clone with trisomy 8. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed case report of clonal evolution from trisomy 8 into tetrasomy 8 associated with the development of AML from MDS.
Adolescent↗
Nonlinear analysis of orthostatic posture in patients with vertigo or balance disorders.
The stabilometry signals involve irregular and unpredictable components. In order to identify the hidden dynamics that underlie the multi-link networks consisted of the multiple sensory systems, motor components and central integration, we applied a nonlinear analysis to these signals. We evaluated the postural control differences between eyes open and closed by means of the dynamical closeness between two states, known as similarity index, for the patients with vestibular disorders. We were able to demonstrate that some patients (eight of 21) showed a difference between the conventional and nonlinear measures. Especially, the similarity index tended to reflect the clinical course of the vestibular compensation and the findings in the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) demonstrated that its vestibular function may include various pathologies besides canalithiasis. These results suggest that nonlinear analysis can elucidate the complex postural control networks and this procedure may also be able to provide the new findings of the stabilometry examinations.
Adult↗
Gait initiation in bilateral vestibular loss.
OBJECTIVE: Gait initiation is a transient procedure between orthostatic posture and steady-state locomotion and includes anticipatory anteroposterior (AP) and lateral movements. Commands for this task are located in some levels of brain stem, which modulates activity of central pattern generator in the spinal cord. The purpose of this work was to explore the role of the vestibular system in this voluntary stepping. METHODS: Six patients with chronic bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) were measured by means of a large force plate (70 cm x 120 cm ) and the displacement of the center of pressure (COP) during gait initiation was calculated. Measurement parameters comprised maximum distance (MD), velocity (MV) in the AP and lateral direction as well as for pre-, first- and second-step stages, and the angle of the COP trajectory. RESULTS: For all stages, BVL patients registered lower values for both MD and MV in the AP direction than did normal subjects. In the lateral direction, however, neither MD nor MV in BVL patients showed any difference from those of normals. The step angle of the COP trajectory was obviously reduced. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in the AP direction, the vestibulospinal pathway can influence the locomotor related neural circuits, including the central pattern generator and supraspinal levels, by means of modifying the velocity and step length in order to stabilize the trunk. On the other hand, the control mechanism in the lateral direction may be different from that in the AP direction.
Adult↗
Effect of beta-blockers on circulating levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effect of beta-blockers on circulating cytokine levels in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). BACKGROUND: Elevated circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines have been reported in patients with DCM. However, alterations of the levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in association with beta-blocker therapy are unknown. METHODS: We studied 32 patients with idiopathic DCM who had been treated with digitalis, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In addition to this combination therapy, beta-blockers were started in all patients. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R1 and R2) were measured at baseline and 12 weeks after the initiation of beta-blocker therapy. We also measured plasma levels of neurohumoral factors, as well as left ventricular (LV) size and function. Ten age-matched subjects with no cardiac disease served as the control group. RESULTS: Baseline levels of IL-10, TNF-alpha and sTNF-R2 were significantly higher in patients with DCM than in control subjects (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between IL-10 and TNF-alpha levels (r = 0.545, p = 0.029). The TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio correlated well with plasma epinephrine levels (r = 0.677, p = 0.025), and the level of sTNF-R2 was closely related to LV size. Serum levels of IL-10, TNF-alpha and sTNF-R2 were significantly decreased during beta-blocker therapy (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that beta-blockers have an important immunoregulatory role in modifying the dysregulated cytokine network in DCM. This effect of beta-blockers may be partly responsible for the efficacy of therapeutic drugs for heart failure.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
Autoimmune neutropenia in pregnant women causing neonatal neutropenia.
Autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) can occur during pregnancy. However, neonatal neutropenia occurring in an infant born to a mother with AIN has only rarely been documented. Recently, we have experienced two cases of AIN during pregnancy, both of which caused severe yet transient neonatal neutropenia (< 0.3 x 10(9)/l), probably as a result of transplacental maternal anti-neutrophil autoantibodies. The anti-neutrophil antibodies seemed to be against antigens other than NA1/NA2 because the autoantibodies did not bind to neutrophils of specific NA types selectively in the granulocyte indirect immunofluorescence test. Although AIN is a relatively uncommon disease, neonatal neutropenia caused by maternal AIN may not be quite as rare.
Adult↗
Treatment of severe hypothyroidism reduced serum creatinine levels in two chronic renal failure patients.
Short-term hypothyroidism has been associated with a reversible rise in serum creatinine levels in patients with normal renal function. A remarkable decline in serum creatinine levels associated with a treatment of severe and prolonged hypothyroidism has rarely been reported so far. We present here 2 patients with chronic renal failure in whom treatment for hypothyroidism resulted in a significant and sustained reduction of their serum creatinine levels. These cases indicate that because hypothyroidism may aggravate the serum creatinine levels, TSH should be considered in screening procedures of patients with chronic renal failure presenting with recent accelerated aggravation of renal function. Hypothyroidism per se, one of its complications or one of its associated autoimmune diseases might play a role in modifying the underlying renal problem.
Adult↗
Hemostatic activation in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is no in-depth information available on the changes in hemostatic systems in patients in the acute phase of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study was conducted to assess the relationships between the changes in hemostatic systems and clinical parameters in patients in acute-phase ICH. METHODS: The records of 358 patients admitted within 6 hours of onset of ICH were reviewed to examine the relationships between changes in hemostatic systems and computed tomographic findings and clinical parameters. RESULTS: -The white blood cell counts and the levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex, plasmin-antiplasmin complex, and D-dimer in patients with intraventricular extension (IVE) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in patients without IVE or SAH. Most of the hemostatic system parameters in patients without IVE or SAH showed no significant differences compared with normal subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex significantly increased with an increase in the amount of SAH (P<0.001) and IVE (P<0.001). The levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex were not significantly associated with the volume of intraparenchymal hematoma. The level of the complex, however, was significantly (P<0.001) and independently associated with the presence of IVE or SAH (multiple logistic regression analysis). CONCLUSIONS: The systemic activation of hemostatic systems in ICH patients seems to take place only when blood reaches the subarachnoid space. The intraparenchymal hematoma itself seems unlikely to activate hemostatic systems in peripheral blood, although the hematoma is expected to cause local activation of hemostatic systems.
Antifibrinolytic Agents↗
Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries in a 65-year-old woman.
A 65-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to hospital because of exertional dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography showed diffuse hypokinesis of the left-sided ventricular wall, but was not clear enough to provide useful information because of the rotation of the cardiac apex and the presence of lung tissue. Systemic ventriculography showed that the left-sided ventricle with heavy trabeculations was morphologically similar to a normal right ventricle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clearly revealed corrected transposition of the great arteries. Because this patient had no severe associated cardiac anomalies, systemic ventricular dysfunction is thought to be the major cause of exertional dyspnea. MRI is a useful non-invasive method for the rapid evaluation of cardiac morphology.
Aged↗
Images in Cardiovascular Medicine. Neurogenic stunned myocardium.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗