Biomedical subjects

R Aoki

Publications and source records attributed to R Aoki.

78 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Immediate reaugmentation of the breasts using bilaterally divided TRAM flaps after removing injected silicone gel and granulomas.

The authors present eight cases of reconstruction of the breasts using bilaterally divided TRAM flaps after removing the injected silicone gel and granulomas. In Japan, we have the opportunity to examine many patients who have had foreign substance injections to the breasts for purposes of augmentation however, most of them are now suffering from delayed complications. Until now we have reconstructed breasts such cases by use of silicone bag prostheses after removal of granulomas; however, now it is difficult to obtain silicone prostheses. Thus, we have decided to reconstruct by the use of autogenous cutaneous and adipose tissue flaps as presented by us in this article.

Breast Implants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lifestyle determinants for social activity levels among the Japanese elderly.

We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to a total of 5239 elderly persons in four areas in Japan in 1993, which inquired about past lifestyles and present social activities. Based on the survey data, we first developed social activity measures, and then examined associations of the present total social activity measure with past lifestyles and physical conditions. The lifestyles significantly associated with high social activity after 65 years of age were 'high educational attainment'; having been 'healthy', 'plump', 'physically active' and 'having had hobbies' at about 50 years of age; and having 'frequent intake of many kinds of foods' during 30-50 years of age. Intake during 30-50 years of age of Japanese-style foods (rice, soybean paste soup, bean curd, pickles), noodles, beans, plant roots and potatoes was not significantly linked with the social activity levels at old age in either males or females. The same was true for smoking and drinking habits at about 50 years of age. Our findings essentially suggest the importance of a positive attitude at middle age to maintain and promote health status and improve lifestyles in order to attain high social activity at old age.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Swim-down separation of progressively motile sperm from poor quality human semen by the modified funnel procedure.

The simultaneous swimming up and down from identical semen specimens suggested that the separation efficiency of progressively motile sperm by the swim-down method was superior to that of the swim-up method. The swimming down was performed in a small plastic funnel, the bottom of which was plugged with a 2.5 ml disposable syringe. In this funnel, 2.0 ml of 70% Percoll was poured and then the sperm resuspension was overlaid. After 1 h, progressively motile sperm penetrating into the lower part of Percoll layer (1.6 ml) was collected in the syringe. The technical strategies to yield higher density of progressively motile sperm were found to be centrifugal concentration of the sperm from whole ejaculate prior to the swimming down, and subsequent re-centrifugation of the separated sperm after the swimming down. Oligo-asthenozoospermic semen (22 +/- 4.4 x 10(6) ml1, 5.5 +/- 4.4% motility, n = 8) was processed by the present method, yielding sperm qualities of 32 +/- 19 x 10(6) ml1, 74 +/- 14% in the final preparations. Overall improvement in fertility index (sperm density ml1 x motility % x 10(8)) reached 27-folds on average.

Cell Separation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intrauterine insemination with semen of oligozoospermic men: effectiveness of the continuous-step density gradient centrifugation technique.

There has been an argument as to whether the intrauterine insemination (IUI) substantially improves pregnancy rate in cases of oligoasthenozoospermia. The present study evaluates the efficiency of the IUI with the use of the life table analysis. The insemination was performed after washing and concentrating sperm using the continuous-step density gradient centrifugation reported in our previous papers. The number of IUI cycles studied was 222 (46 couples), in 13 cases of which pregnancy was established with a pregnancy rate of 28.3%. The cumulative probability of conception reached to 57% at the eleventh cycles of the IUI treatment. These results suggest that the potential efficiency of the IUI for the oligo-asthenozoospermic cases is high if the sperm is processed in a proper method.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A simplified technique for freezing human sperm for AIH: cryosyringe/floating platform of liquid nitrogen vapor.

A cryosyringe and floating platform were developed to simplify the procedures for human sperm cryopreservation without sacrificing post-thaw sperm quality. The cryosyringe was developed as a vessel for cryopreservation and as a device for post-thaw insemination. A platform-like polystyrene foam board 3-cm in height was floated on the surface of liquid nitrogen in a polystyrene foam freezing container. The cryosyringe containing sperm/KS-II medium mixture was placed on it for 5 min, then it was dropped into the liquid nitrogen. Freezing velocity was -27 degrees C/min. Poor quality semen specimens (40 +/- 14 x 10(6)/ml, 18 +/- 2.6% motility, n = 9) were concentrated (87 +/- 46 x 10(6)/nl, 29 +/- 9.1%) previously and then cryopreserved in the cryosyringe or in a commercial tuberculin syringe under the conditions established in the present study. The post-thaw sperm motility of the specimens in the cryosyringe (18 +/- 7.4%) was significantly superior (p less than 0.05) to that in the commercial tuberculin syringe (13 +/- 5.3% motility).

Cryopreservation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The cost of burn care and implications for efficient care.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the social issues and problems associated with burn care in Japan, based on a cost analysis of acute burn care. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of 71 patients admitted with burns at Nippon Medical School between January 1 and December 31, 1997. A cost analysis was performed for three major burn patients with a burn surface area (BSA) of 70% to 80% and three minor burn patients with a BSA of 20% to 30%. A questionnaire was administered to both burn patients and medical providers in all 127 emergency centers to help improve long-term quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: 80% of burn patients were under age 70. In the major burn cases, the amount of reimbursement according to the government-regulated fee schedule was much less than the cost of treatment. The ratio of the cost of both medication and materials to total cost of treatment was higher for patients with major burns. Patients responding to the survey acknowledged being generally happy despite suffering from psychological and financial problems. A total of 413 medical providers from 63 institutions responded to the survey regarding improving long-term QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Acute burn care is a costly service. The goal of burn care should shift from saving lives to allowing for a productive return to society. Quality improvement, outcome measurement, and technology assessment combined with health economics research for burn care should be carried out in Japan.

Adolescent↗