Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Kazama.
A new device for heart retraction during coronary artery bypass operations has been developed. It provides safe and steady support and an unobstructed view of the lateral, posterior, and inferior surfaces of the heart; in addition, it is easy to handle.
Antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were surveyed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on serum, colostrum and milk samples collected from sows and on sera of growing/finishing pigs in Japan. Only one of 196 specific-pathogen-free sows induced a low ELISA value, while 72% of 411 sows from conventional herds were seropositive. A seropositive rate in the conventional sows gradually decreased with an increase in farrowing frequency or with age. In 3267 growing/finishing pigs ranging in age from one to six months, a seropositive rate increased remarkably from the age of 4 months onwards, reaching the maximum at the age of 6 months. A survey conducted on 42 conventional farms revealed that the highest seroconversion occurred when pigs were 4 months of age. The level of maternal antibodies was proportional to that of the dam's colostral antibodies. After maternal antibodies waned, active immunity in newborn piglets from dams with high colostral antibodies appeared earlier and higher than that in piglets from dams with low colostral antibodies. In 950 slaughter pigs, there was a correlation between seropositiveness and the presence of pneumonic lesions, but the ELISA value did not correlate with the degree of the lesions. Pigs that were raised under unfavorable environmental conditions developed pneumonic lesions more frequently than pigs rearing under better conditions, regardless of their immune status. These results suggested that M. hyopneumoniae and some secondary respiratory pathogens may have been involved in the development of these pneumonias.
Five hundred and sixty-one endocardial pacing leads implanted in the right ventricle of 502 patients between 1971 and 1990 were followed for up to 17 years regarding their complications, stimulation threshold behavior, and overall longevity. Lead tip dislodgment occurred in 16 leads (2.9%), in 14 of which dislodgement occurred within 2 months after implantation. The incidence of dislodgement was significantly smaller in tined leads than in nontined leads. Lead conductor fracture occurred in 19 leads (3.4%), in 15 of which fracture occurred within 5 years after implantation. Two particular sites of lead fracture were identified; i.e., one within the pacemaker pocket and the other at a particular point in the subclavian vein between the clavicle and the first rib. Fixation ligature in the former site and the venopuncture point for lead insertion in the latter site are thought to be related to lead fracture. Other complications included insulator break in 3 leads (0.5%), exit block in 7 leads (1.2%), and poor sensing in 2 leads (0.4%). The cumulative survival of leads was 94.1 +/- 2.7% (mean +/- 95% confidence interval) at 5 years, 86.3 +/- 6.3% at 10 years, and 74.2 +/- 14.0% at 15 years after implantation. The minimal stimulation threshold, lead impedance and R wave amplitude were all found to be stable for up to 10 years, and there were no tendencies toward higher stimulation threshold during the observation period of this study.
The nucleotide sequences of the tRNASer (trnS), pseudo-tRNA, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 (nad3), and ribosomal protein S12 (rps12) genes from rice mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were determined. Both trnS and nad3 were confirmed to be single copy genes by Southern blot analysis. The nad3 and rps12 genes were arranged in tandem, and the two were co-transcribed. The order of the above four genes in rice mtDNA differed from the linear order observed for the wheat and maize genes. In rice mitochondria, the trnS and pseudo-tRNA genes were found upstream of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, instead of the nad3 and rps12 genes as observed in maize and wheat. Additionally, while the rice nad3 and rps12 genes remain paired, they too are in a different sequence environment from the wheat and maize genes. The apparent split of the two pairs of genes indicates the occurrence of a mitochondrial intramolecular recombinational event. Another peculiarity is that the sequence upstream of the translational initiation codon of the rice nad3 gene is different from that of the wheat and maize versions. The ATG initiation codon of wheat and maize nad3 is replaced by TTG in the rice nad3. A subsequent deduction of the amino acid sequence, accompanied by a primer extension analysis, indicates that the predicted rice NAD3 protein has an additional 37 amino acid residues at its N-terminus compared to the wheat and maize NAD3 proteins. cDNA sequence analysis showed no introns or the occurrence of RNA editing at the newly replaced TTG codon.
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Three ATPase subunit 6 (atp6) genes of rice mitochondria were isolated, one from normal and two from cms-Bo male-sterile cytoplasms, in order to determine whether the extra atp6 gene in cms-Bo rice plays a role in cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS). The nucleotide sequences of all three genes were determined and analysis showed a chimeric atp6 gene (urf-rmc) as well as a normal atp6 gene in cms-Bo cytoplasm, but only the normal atp6 gene in normal cytoplasm. The urf-rmc gene is completely homologous to the normal atp6 gene from at least position -426 in the 5' flanking region to position +511 downstream from the initiation codon ATG: however, the following downstream sequence shows no homology with the normal rice atp6 gene, or any other reported sequence. Introduction of the restorer of fertility gene altered transcription of the urf-rmc gene but not the atp6 gene, indicating participation of the chimeric gene in the expression of CMS. Southern blot analysis showed that the urf-rmc gene was generated by an intramolecular recombination event in mitochondrial DNA, and the homologous recombination point between the atp6 gene and the opposite ancestral sequence was identified as 5'-TTCCCTC-3'.
A new stereophonic stethoscope is presented. It is characterized by a single chest piece construction housing paired open-bell type sound accumulating chambers and paired diaphragm type sound accumulating chambers. A pair of separate ear tubes connected to each of the paired sound chambers establish two cross talk-free channels for collecting and delivering auscultatory sounds. Selective use of the open-bell and diaphragm sound chambers is assured with this new stethoscope. Advantages of stereophonic auscultation are discussed.
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Methods of preparation of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect specific antibody, and properties of the antigens, are described. The reactivity and specificity of antigen prepared by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography after treatment of M. hyopneumoniae cells with Tween 20 (S-300 antigen) were superior to those of antigen prepared by Sephadex G-25 column chromatography after treatment with Tween 20, or to lipid antigen. There were no differences among strains MI-3, J and VPP11 of M. hyopneumoniae. The S-300 antigen did not show cross-reactivity against porcine hyperimmune sera produced by M. hyorhinis, M. hyosynoviae, M. hyopharyngis, M. flocculare and Acholeplasma granularum. Antibody was first detected in sera of pigs inoculated intranasally with M. hyopneumoniae at two to four weeks after inoculation and seven to eight weeks after pigs were contact-exposed to the same mycoplasma.
The cases of two patients with cardiac rupture secondary to left ventricular venting are reported. In the first patient, who had an aortocoronary bypass grafting, rupture was found in the posterolateral wall of the left ventricle just before closing the chest. It was successfully managed by placing sutures. The cause of rupture was thought to be the advancing venting cannula tip introduced into the left ventricle from the superior right pulmonary vein. In the second patient, who had MVR, AVR, and VSD and ASD closure, rupture occurred in the posterior wall of the left atrium on the 4th postoperative day. The patient died instantly because of profound hemorrhagic shock. Rupture of the left atrium was thought to have occurred secondary to distension of the left atrial wall incurred by lifting the unusually large heart for inserting and removing the venting cannula. These experiences made us decide to abandon routine left ventricular venting.
In this study we intended to clarify the benefits of left ventricular venting by comparing the surgical results and clinical courses of 19 adult patients who underwent open heart procedures with venting and those of 44 adult patients who had open heart procedures without venting. All of the patients of both groups underwent operations for acquired heart diseases. The hospital mortality was 10.5% in the vent group and 2.3% in the no-vent group (NS). None of the deaths occurred due to the postoperative low output syndrome in either group. The incidence of spontaneous defibrillation was not different in the two groups, and no patients required postoperative IABP support in either group. The number of patients who needed catecholamine infusion for longer than 24 hours postoperatively were not statistically different in the two groups, and incidence of ventricular arrhythmias was not different in the two groups. The cardiac index determined 6 hours postoperatively was significantly higher in the no-vent group. The left atrial pressure in the no-vent group did not exceed 10 mmHg during cardiopulmonary bypass, if the central venous pressure was maintained below 7 mmHg. It was suggested that distension of the left ventricle and myocardial injuries do not occur during cardiopulmonary bypass without left ventricular venting, provided the central venous pressure is maintained below 6 or 7 mmHg.
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Preoperative and postoperative left ventricular cineangiograms of 26 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) were analyzed to calculate left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and systolic regional wall motion. Nine patients underwent commissurotomy (OMC group) and 17 patients underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR group). In both groups, postoperative EDV, SV and EF tended to increase, while ESV remained unchanged. In the OMC group, systolic wall motion of the left ventricle was found to be improved postoperatively, whereas systolic wall motion in the MVR group was found to be impaired postoperatively. The latter finding was assumed to be due to excision of the papillary muscles and chordae tendineae. Preservation of these structures is likely to be important for better postoperative functional recovery of the left ventricle.
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