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Biomedical subjects

S Asai

Publications and source records attributed to S Asai.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Glucose intolerance after percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEI) in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

We studied the effect of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEI) on glucose tolerance in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. All of 10 patients underwent PEI and aspiration biopsy of the tumor on separate day. Two-time oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), before and after PEI, were performed in all patients. There were no significant changes in blood glucose and insulin chronologically measured on aspiration biopsy and PEI. To detect changes in glucose tolerance, we compared the results of OGTT before PEI with those of OGTT after PEI. On the basis of results of OGTT before PEI, patients were classified to impaired glucose tolerance group (4) and diabetes mellitus group (6). Blood glucose at 180 minutes on OGTT after PEI showed significantly higher value than that of OGTT before PEI, but insulin response was not suppressed. From these experiments we speculate that exaggerated insulin resistance due to injected ethanol may be one of the factors influencing glucose tolerance after PEI.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Upstream mechanisms of glycogen synthase activation by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I. Glycogen synthase activation is antagonized by wortmannin or LY294002 but not by rapamycin or by inhibiting p21ras.

This study was undertaken to define intracellular signaling pathways upstream to glycogen synthase activation. First, we examined the role of the two pathways of insulin signaling, Ras-dependent and wortmannin/LY294002-sensitive, in glycogen synthase activation. Although negative dominant Ras (Ras17N) induction in PC12 cells markedly decreased activities of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) and pp90 S6 kinase in response to insulin or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), activation of glycogen synthase by these agents was unaffected by negative dominant Ras induction. In contrast, wortmannin and 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, antagonized glycogen synthase activation in response to insulin or IGF-I. Next, we examined the contribution of pp70 S6 kinase, one of the wortmannin/LY294002-sensitive signaling molecules on glycogen synthase activation. Immunosuppressant rapamycin completely blocked activation of pp70 S6 kinase by insulin or IGF-I, but rapamycin alone or in combination with induction of negative dominant Ras failed to antagonize glycogen synthase activation by these hormones. These data suggest that 1) activation of Ras-MAP kinase is not necessary for stimulation of glycogen synthase and 2) activation of wortmannin/LY294002-sensitive pathway, independent of pp70 S6 kinase, plays a key role in glycogen synthase regulation in PC12 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Myoepithelial carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland type, occurring in the mandible of an infant.

A rapidly growing mandibular tumor occurred in a 17 month old female infant. Tumor outgrowth showing a periosteal reaction was radiographically seen on the lower surface (base) of the mandible. Under the biopsy diagnosis of osteosarcoma, high-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate was performed, resulting in little effect. The right hemimandibulectomy specimen disclosed intraosseous infiltrative growth of pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland type, associated with chondroid stroma and reactive bone formation. The highly proliferative small-sized cells retained immunohistochemical features of myoepithelial cells, with positive reactivity of cytokeratin, vimentin, S-100 protein, alpha-smooth muscle actin, epithelial membrane antigen, CA15-3, type IV collagen, laminin and p53 protein. No heterotopia of the salivary gland was identified within the bone tissue. The tumor recurred 2 months later. Due to uncontrollable local growth, the patient died 8 months after operation. At autopsy, reactive ossification was closely associated with malignant myoepithelial proliferation. No distant metastasis was noted. This osteosarcoma-like tumor can be regarded as myoepithelial carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma, originating from intramandibular heterotopic salivary gland tissue.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗
PubMed1995

Growth Kinetics of Thiobacillus thiooxidans on the Surface of Elemental Sulfur.

The growth kinetics of Thiobacillus thiooxidans on elemental sulfur in batch cultures at 30(deg)C and pH 1.5 was studied by measuring the time courses of the concentration of adsorbed cells on sulfur, the concentration of free cells suspended in liquid medium, and the amount of sulfur oxidized. As the elemental sulfur was oxidized to sulfate ions, the surface concentration of adsorbed cells per unit mass of sulfur approached a maximum value (maximum adsorption capacity of sulfur particles) whereas the concentration of free cells continued to increase with time. There was a close relationship between the concentrations of free and adsorbed cells during the microbial sulfur oxidation, and the two cell concentrations were well correlated by the Langmuir isotherm with adsorption equilibrium constant K(infA) and maximum adsorption capacity X(infAm) of 2.10 x 10(sup-9) ml per cell and 4.57 x 10(sup10) cells per g, respectively. The total concentration of free and adsorbed cells increased in parallel with the amount of sulfate formed. The total growth on elemental sulfur gave a characteristic growth curve in which a linear-growth phase followed the period of an initial exponential phase. The batch rate data collected under a wide variety of inoculum levels (about 10(sup5) to 10(sup8) cells per ml) were consistent with a kinetic model assuming that the growth rate of adsorbed bacteria is proportional to the product of the concentration, X(infA), of adsorbed cells and the fraction, (theta)(infV), of adsorption sites unoccupied by cells. The kinetic and stoichiometric parameters appearing in the model were estimated from the experimental data, and the specific growth rate, (mu)(infA), and growth yield, Y(infA), were 2.58 day(sup-1) and 2.05 x 10(sup11) cells per g, respectively. The proposed model and the parameter values allowed us to predict quantitatively the surface attachment of T. thiooxidans cells on elemental sulfur and the bacterial growth in both initial exponential and subsequent linear phases. The transition from exponential to linear growth was a result of two competing factors: an increase in the adsorbed-cell concentration, X(infA), permitted a decrease in the unoccupied-site fraction, (theta)(infV).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in bronchial lavage cytology: report of four cases.

Four cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis were diagnosed by cytological detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in bronchial lavage. Three patients had underlying diseases, but not HIV infection. The chest X-rays showed 2 patients with nodular lesions and 2 with cavitary lesions. The cryptococcal antigen in the serum was positive in all four patients. In the cytology of bronchial lavage, Cryptococcus neoformans was detected after period-acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and was cultured in Sabouraud-dextrose agar. The cytology of bronchial lavage is useful for the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A clinical study of mortality due to asthma.

BACKGROUND: Despite identification of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of asthma and improvement in therapy, asthma mortality has not decreased in recent years. OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology and asthma-related death preventive measures were investigated with a physician-based questionnaire survey. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to physicians primarily involved in treating asthma in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The clinical characteristics of 32 patients who died of asthma (fatal cases) from 1984 to 1992 were compared with those of 17 patients with severe asthma who survived as a result of treatment by mechanical ventilation (nearly fatal cases). RESULTS: The number of deaths due to asthma increased in the last 2 years. Fatal cases and nearly fatal cases included patients with severe asthma as well as patients with mild asthma. Analysis of the clinical histories of patients judged to have died suddenly revealed the presence of persistent wheezing in these patients for a few days prior to the fatal episode. Airway obstruction was more marked and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was greater in fatal cases compared with those of a group of 70 patients without a history of nearly fatal acute asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The following measures may help prevent asthma deaths. Both patients and physicians should realize that even mild episodes can lead to severe, even fatal acute asthma. The severity of asthma should be evaluated not only by symptoms and peak expiratory flow rates but also bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Treatment should include reduction of bronchial hyperresponsiveness using oral or inhaled corticosteroids.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Evaluation of the pulmonary vascular bed by digital subtraction angiography].

We studied the usefulness of digital subtraction angiography for evaluating the pulmonary capillary bed. Four individuals underwent the procedure. One was a healthy volunteer and the others were patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema. During catheterization, an 8 F balloon catheter was manipulated into the right pulmonary artery. A total of 20 ml of contrast material was injected at a rate of 10 ml/sec at full inspiration. In the normal subject, the capillary bed filled homogeneously and no defect was seen. In the patients, the pulmonary artery was nearly normal, but severe defects were observed in the pulmonary capillaries. Contrast resolvability was greater with digital subtraction pulmonary angiography than with pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy or pulmonary arteriography. This technique makes possible the visual evaluation of the pulmonary capillary bed.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[A case of MRSA sepsis treated by the sequential combination therapy netilmycin and minocycline].

A sixteen year old female was feverish from June 12, 1993. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the blood, the diagnosis of MRSA sepsis was established. Vancomycin (2 g/day) was administered for eighteen days, but MRSA was not eradicated in the blood culture. Then she was administered a combination therapy of arbekacin (200 mg/day) and imipenem/cilastain (1 g/day) for seven days, but MRSA in the blood was cultured continuously. The sequential combination therapy of netilmycin (200 mg/day) and minocycline (200 mg/day) was started, MRSA was eradicated from the blood culture after four days. The sequential combination therapy netilmycin and minocycline was seemed to be effective for MRSA infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[A case of brain abscess associated with enterococcal endocarditis].

Enterococcal infections involving the central nervous system are uncommon clinical entities. A 74-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on November 3, 1991 for high fever. Nuchal rigidity was observed at neurological examination. All four blood cultures yielded E. faecalis. The MIC value of ABPC against the isolated E. faecalis was 0.25 microgram/ml. Vegetation on the mitral valve and mitral regurgitation were revealed by an echocardiogram. Enhanced CT scan showed low density area with ring enhancement in the right basal ganglia and a CSF examination suggested bacterial meningitis. He became better after ABPC 8 g/day was intravenously administered. Then the vegetation on the mitral valve and the brain abscess disappeared. He was discharged with no complications. We reported a rare case of brain abscess associated with enterococcal endocarditis.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Six cases of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis].

Six cases of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) were evaluated. In four cases, diagnosis and steroid therapy were delayed, which resulted in irreversible pulmonary dysfunction. The important points for early diagnosis were: (1) Differentiation from pulmonary tuberculosis, (2) the presence of bronchial asthma was not essential for diagnosis, and (3) fungi other than Aspergillus fumigatus might cause this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Expression and prognostic indicators of type 1 and type 2 Lewis blood group antigens in colorectal cancers].

The immunohistochemical analysis using the monoclonal antibodies to the blood group antigens was performed on the tissues of 387 colorectal cancers and 307 normal colonic tissues, and the relation between expression of these antigens and prognosis of the patients with stage 2 was also investigated. La, Le(b), and CA 19-9 were used for type 1 antigens, and Le(x), Le(y), and Sialyl Le(x) for type 2, respectively. Expression of Ca 19-9 and Silyl Le(x) remarkably increased in cancers throughout the colorectum. Le(b) and Le(y) were expressed in only 0-17% of the normal distal colon, but in almost colonic tumors. Therefore CA 19-9 and Sialyl Le(x) are tumor-associated antigens in the whole colorectum, and Leb and Le(y) in the distal colon. Expression of CA 19-9 in primary tumor provided more prognostic information and risk of liver metastasis than other Lewis blood group antigens.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[A comparison of pathohistological findings of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections].

The pathohistological findings of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) were compared between Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (group A) and Mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MOTT) infections (group B). The number of positive pathological findings in TBLB were 14 (70%) in group A and 2 (16%) in group B, respectively. Eleven cases (55%) in group A were positive for acid-fast bacilli in TBLB by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and 3 cases of group A showed granulomatous lesion in TBLB. In pathohistological findings of group B, 2 cases (16%) were granulomatous lesion, 4 cases (33%) were fibrosis, and 3 cases (25%) were inflammatory changes. The pathohistological examination of TBLB was more useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis than for MOTT infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[A clinicobacteriologic study on sultamicillin fine granules in pediatric sinusitis].

We carried out clinical and bacteriological studies on sultamicillin (SBTPC) in pediatric sinusitis at 10 general practice settings. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The major isolated organisms from purulent nasal discharges were Streptococcus pneumoniae 27.5%, Haemophilus influenzae 32.4% and Moraxella catarrhalis 9.9%. Similar results were observed for the major isolates from nasopharynx. 2. 33% of the isolated S. pneumoniae were penicillin-insensitive S. pneumoniae (PISP) against which the MICs were equal to or higher than 0.1 microgram/ml. 3. PISP was isolated from 14% of all cases. 4. The clinical efficacy rate was 77.5% and was deemed satisfactory. 5. In the bacteriological study, persistence rate of PISP was 38.5% among the PISP from purulent nasal discharge and 60.0% among the PISP from nasopharynx which and these values were significantly higher than persistence rates of PSSP, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. 6. Adverse reactions were observed in 21.5% of all cases, involving diarrhea and loose stool.

Ampicillin↗