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Biomedical subjects

S Aoki

Publications and source records attributed to S Aoki.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Diurnal variation in intragastric pH in children with and without peptic ulcers.

Diurnal variation in intragastric pH in children with peptic ulcers has not been previously reported. Therefore, we monitored intragastric pH during a 24-h period in 82 subjects (10 children with gastric ulcers, 9 children with duodenal ulcers, 58 non-ulcer (comparison group) children, and 5 healthy adults) using a monopolar glass pH electrode. The percent of readings below pH 2, 3, 4, and 5 for each subject was calculated and compared between the comparison group and the two ulcer groups using means and slopes (i.e. changes in percent with age for each group) of percent readings for each pH analysis. In the comparison group children, gastric acidity increased with age and reached adult levels by 14 y. Mean readings for all pH analyses in gastric ulcer children were lower than those in age-adjusted comparison children (p < 0.05). The slopes of the relationships between age and the percent time below any pH for the gastric ulcer group were different from those in the comparison group (p < 0.05) and were negative for all pH analyses. The mean time below pH 2 in children with duodenal ulcers was greater than that in age-adjusted comparison children (p = 0.002). The slope of the relationship between age and the percent time below pH 2 in the duodenal ulcer group was different from that in the comparison group (p < 0.05). Gastric acidity in children with primary gastric ulcers was reduced during childhood, but in children with primary duodenal ulcer, gastric acidity was at or above adult levels.

Adolescent↗

Marine natural products. XXXVI. Biologically active polyacetylenes, adociacetylenes A, B, C, and D, from an Okinawan Marine sponge of Adocia sp.

Adociacetylenes A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4) were isolated as new polyacetylenes from an Okinawan marine sponge of Adocia sp. Their chemical structures have been elucidated on the bases of their chemical and physicochemical properties. Adociacetylenes A (1), C (3), and D (4) exhibited inhibitory activity in the in vitro endothelial cell-neutrophil leukocyte adhesion assay.

Acetylene↗

Induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia: a clinical study of 10 cases, including a fatal [correction of fetal] case with thromboembolism.

Ten patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) were treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Eight of 10 patients achieved complete remission (CR), and among the 8 newly diagnosed cases, 7 achieved CR. Five of 8 CR cases remained in CR after 8 to 30 months. Except for hypotension and a large gastric ulcer resulting from hyperhistaminemia, the adverse effects of ATRA were generally mild. Severe thrombotic tendency occurred in a patient treated with ATRA combined with tranexamic acid. Intensive chemotherapy consisting of daunorubicin (DNR) and other agents was scheduled for the patients who achieved CR with ATRA.

Adult↗

Localized fibrous mesothelioma with bronchogenic carcinoma.

We report a case of localized fibrous mesothelioma (LFM) of the pleura with bronchogenic carcinoma. LFM arose in the visceral pleura of the upper lobe in the left lung, and lung adenocarcinoma was located in the ipsilateral lower lobe. LFM is a rare mesenchymal tumor of the pleura. Concomitant occurrence with bronchogenic carcinoma has not been previously reported in the English literature.

Biopsy, Needle↗

[Interstitial pneumonia associated with mixed connective tissue disease--marked improvement with azathioprine].

A 55-year-old man who complained dyspnea on exertion was given a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia associated with mixed connective tissue disease, based on symptoms and on physical and laboratory findings. Soon afterward, he experienced an acute exacerbation of the interstitial pneumonia. He was given three courses of steroid pulse therapy and cyclophosphamide, but his condition worsened. After administration of azathioprine in addition to corticosteroids, his respiratory status improved. The dose of corticosteroids was tapered and the patient has been free of disease for two years. Pulmonary involvement in mixed connective tissue disease has been considered to be relatively benign and easily treated with corticosteroids. Recently, however, many cases of corticosteroid-resistant disease with poor outcome have been reported. Azathioprine was very effective against the interstitial pneumonia in this case, but general conclusions about the most effective type of immunosuppressive agent and the timing of its administration must await the results of further study.

Azathioprine↗

[Dietary patterns and intake of nutrients, energy, and dietary fiber in medical students].

The diet of 686 medical student at Hirosaki University were studies between 1986 to 1993. Food groups that showed a higher intake in males than in females were grains, meat, liquor, and others. On the other hand, the food groups that showed a higher intake in females were confectioneries, fruits, green vegetables, mushrooms, and seaweed. The nutrients that showed a higher intake in males than in females were energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins B1 and B2. On the other hand, only vitamin C showed a higher intake in females. Mean daily dietary fiber intake per student was 19.4 g by the Southgate method and 15.9 g by the Prosky method in males and 18.3 g by the Southgate method and 16.9 g by the Prosky method in females. These values were lower than the mean value for Japanese adults by about 4 g. Overall the intake from grains was disproportionately higher in males compared to females. Energy and nutrient intakes met recommended dietary allowance except for energy in females which was lower (93.7%).

Adult↗

[Evaluation of regional cerebral blood flow in hippocampus by 99mTc-ECD SPECT: comparison with 123I-IMP SPECT].

We evaluated regional cerebral blood flow in the hippocampus in 21 patients with neurological disorders by 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) SPECT and compared the findings with those by 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (IMP) SPECT. In all subjects, SPECT was taken using ECD (740 MBq) and IMP (167 MBq) using high performance SPECT (3-head SPECT, Toshiba GCA-9300A/HG) within 3 weeks interval. Regional uptake in the hippocampus was examined in the coronal sections and images parallel to the longitudinal axis of hippocampus. ECD and IMP showed similar hippocampal uptake in 9 cases, but ECD showed less uptake than IMP in 12 cases (57%). Regional counts in the hippocampus were related to the counts in the lateral temporal cortices and the mean count ratio was lower in ECD by 8.8% than that in IMP (0.73 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.11, p < 0.001). In 6 patients suspected to have hippocampal lesion (4 cases of memory disturbance and 2 cases of epilepsy), all cases showed decreased uptake of ECD in hippocampus, but only 3 cases showed decreased uptake of IMP. This is suggestive to be relevant to the difference in the retention mechanism of ECD and IMP, but further investigation should be performed.

Aged↗

[Long-term maintenance therapy of multifocal motor neuropathy by weekly administration of human immunoglobulin].

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) exhibits a beneficial, but temporary effect in most cases. We experienced a patient with MMN having a high titer of anti-GM1 ganglioside antibody. He was weekly administered human immunoglobulin, and his muscle strength was successfully improved and maintained at the improved level after high-dose human immunoglobulin infusion. The pattern of improvement and maintenance by weekly administration of human immunoglobulin was variable among the muscles; e.g. only a minimal improvement was observed in the most severely involved brachioradial muscles. Successive measurements with a hand-held dynamometer revealed in detail the changes in the strength of each muscle during treatment. Anti-GM1 ganglioside antibody titers did not significantly change during the treatment, but a slight improvement in motor conduction amplitudes and velocities was observed in mildly affected nerves. Our findings suggest that weekly administration of human immunoglobulin is a safe and effective therapy for MMN and that the anti-GM1 ganglioside antibody titer may not be a good indicator for this therapy.

Adult↗

[Clinical evaluation of azithromycin in pediatric infections].

Azithromycin (AZM) was studied for its clinical efficacy in pediatric infections. The study on AZM was carried out in 43 patients whose diagnoses were given as follows: pharyngitis in five cases, tonsillitis in one, bronchitis in four, pneumonia in four, Mycoplasma pneumonia in 14, scarlet fever in nine, impetigo in four, pyodermia in one and Campylobacter enteritis in one. The patients received AZM once daily at 1.6 approximately 20.0 mg/kg body weight for three to five days. Effectiveness of AZM was evaluated in 39 cases and the drug was rated "excellent" in 15, "good" in 19, "fair" in one, "poor" in four, resulting in an efficacy rate of 87.2%. Twenty bacterial isolates were identified as causative isolates in 19 patients: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Campylobacter jejuni and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. AZM eradicated 16 isolates but four persisted after therapy. One patient complained of loose stool, while two patients were found with decreases in white blood cell counts, and seven showed increases in eosinophils. However, no serious case of adverse event was reported.

Administration, Oral↗

Expression of the hepatocyte growth factor gene during chick limb development.

It has been shown that mirror-image duplications of the zeugopodia and digits are formed when MRC-5 fibroblasts producing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are applied to the anterior region of the chick limb bud (Yonei et al. [1993] Dev. Biol. 160:246-253). To evaluate the role of HGF in limb development, we observed the expression pattern of the HGF gene using in situ hybridization. The HGF gene was expressed in the mesoderm of the limb bud and in the central core region of mandibular arch and maxillary processes at stages 17 to 24. When both wing and leg buds begin to extend distally, the HGF gene is expressed in the mesenchymal cells, but not in the ectodermal cells and somites. Concomitant with establishment of the apical ectodermal ridge, distal mesenchymal cells of the limb bud express the HGF gene intensely with a gradient higher in the distal region. The HGF expression is later confined to the ventral and subapical mesenchyme of the limb bud, although no signal is detectable in the apical and non-ridge ectoderm. However, signal for the c-met proto-oncogene encoding the HGF receptor is not detectable in the limb bud at stages 17 to 24. These results suggest that HGF produced in the limb mesoderm may be involved in initial induction and maintenance of the apical ectoderm during limb development.

Animals↗

Tissue and subcellular distribution of glucokinase in rat liver and their changes during fasting-refeeding.

The distribution of glucokinase in rat liver under both normal feeding and fasting-refeeding conditions was investigated immunohistochemically. Under normal feeding conditions, glucokinase immunoreactivity was observed in both nuclei and cytoplasm of parenchymal cells. The nuclei were stained intensely and evenly, whereas the cytoplasm showed weak immunoreactivity of different degrees of staining intensity depending on the location of the cells. The cytoplasm of perivenous hepatocytes was stained more intensely, though not so much more, than that of periportal hepatocytes. The cytoplasm of hepatocytes surrounding the terminal hepatic venule (THV), of hepatocytes surrounding the portal triad, and of some other hepatocytes showed a stronger immunoreactivity than that of residual hepatocytes. The nuclear immunoreactivity in hepatocytes surrounding the portal triad and in some other hepatocytes was weak or absent, and positive immunoreactivity was detected at the plasma membrane of some of these cells. After 72 h of fasting, glucokinase immunoreactivity was markedly decreased in all hepatocytes. After the start of refeeding, the cytoplasmic immunoreactivity began to increase first in the parenchymal cells surrounding the THV and extended to those in the intermediate zone followed by those in the periportal zone. In contrast, the increase in nuclear immunoreactivity started in hepatocytes situated in the intermediate zone adjacent to the perivenous zone and then extended to those in the perivenous zone followed by those in the periportal zone. Hepatocytes surrounding either THV or portal triad showed a distinctive change in immunoreactivity during the refeeding period. After 10 h of refeeding, strong immunoreactivity was observed in both the cytoplasm and the nuclei of all hepatocytes, and appreciable glucokinase immunoreactivity was detected at the plasma membrane of some hepatocytes. These findings are discussed from the standpoint of a functional role of glucokinase in hepatic glucose metabolism.

Animals↗

Whole body X-ray irradiation to mice decreases ascorbic acid concentration in bone marrow: comparison between ascorbic acid and vitamin E.

The change in the ascorbic acid concentration in the bone marrow after whole body X-ray irradiation was compared with that in the vitamin E concentration. The ascorbic acid concentration in the bone marrow significantly decreased by 30% 1 h after exposure to 3 Gy of X-rays, whereas the vitamin E concentration in the bone marrow was significantly decreased 5 h after exposure, when the level of ascorbic acid was less than 10% of that in the control. At 24 h after exposure, the ascorbic acid concentration in the bone marrow was significantly decreased by 80% after exposure to 0.5 Gy, whereas the vitamin E concentration was significantly decreased after exposure to 1 Gy or more. In the bone marrow, the decrease in the ascorbic acid concentration was accompanied by a marked increase in the concentration of dehydroascorbic acid, an oxidized form of ascorbic acid. X-ray irradiation did not decrease either the ascorbic acid or vitamin E concentration in the serum or intestine. These findings suggest that the bone marrow is more highly susceptible to oxidative damage by radiation and that ascorbic acid plays an important defense role against it. On Day 8 after irradiation, the decreases in the vitamin E and ascorbic acid concentrations in the bone marrow showed recovery after exposure to 3 Gy, but not after the exposure to 6 Gy.

Animals↗