Doppler measurement of mitral valve and ventricle wall velocities.
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Heart Function Tests↗
Biomedical subjects
S Ohta
Publications and source records attributed to S Ohta.
Cytobiological transformation in culture of normal rat liver cells by the treatments with NAGISA and DAB.
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Air↗
Effect of linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation on the chemiluminescence of human neutrophils and serum opsonic activity.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation on neutrophil chemiluminescence (CL) and serum opsonic activity. We used luminol- and lucigenin-dependent CL to detect the affected reactive oxygen species production process of human neutrophils and measured serum opsonic activity based on luminol-dependent CL. The linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation suppressed a maximum light emission (peak height) of luminol- and lucigenin-dependent CL in a dose-dependent manner. The findings suggested that the linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation suppressed the superoxide anion and hypochlorite production of human neutrophils. The serum opsonic activity was decreased by linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation, and this suppressive effect might be caused by inhibiting the activation of the classical and alternative complement pathway. Therefore, it is suggested that near-infrared ray irradiation may have an inhibitory effect against chronic pain via reduction of reactive oxygen species production and opsonic activity.
Acridines↗
Consumption of alcohol in the presence of hepatitis C virus is an additive risk for liver damage.
BACKGROUND: Whether alcohol consumption influences the development of hepatitis C in the presence of a latent infection needs to be determined. METHODS: The interaction between alcohol intake and hepatitis C virus infection with regard to development of liver injury was cross-sectionally investigated for 399 inhabitants of a town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. In this town, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection is 32.4%. RESULTS: The levels of indicators of liver function were significantly higher among subjects of both sexes who carried the antibody to hepatitis C virus than among those without the antibody. Among men, higher levels of liver function were more frequent among alcohol drinkers than among nondrinkers, suggesting that alcohol consumption may aid in the development of liver injury, even among subjects with a latent hepatitis C virus infection. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase activity was more sharply increased in relation to alcohol intake among subjects with hepatitis C virus infection than among those without it, suggesting that the presence of infection will influence alcohol-induced liver damage. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption and a concomitant hepatitis C virus infection apparently facilitate the development of hepatitis.
Adult↗
Alterations in respiratory function and hemodynamics during laparoscopic cholecystectomy under pneumoperitoneum.
Respiratory function and hemodynamics were studied during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) under a 10 mmHg pneumoperitoneum (PP) by carbon dioxide insufflation. Blood-gas analysis and measurement of cardiac function by using a Swan-Ganz catheter were performed. Creatinine clearance rate was measured preoperatively and intraoperatively. Compared with values obtained before the institution of PP, blood-gas analysis showed a significant increase in PCO2 (P < 0.01), and a significant decrease in pH (P < 0.01) and base excess (P < 0.05) during PP. With respect to cardiac function, there was no significant change in cardiac output, pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure. Intraoperative creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) was decreased in 29 of 48 cases, increased in 18 cases, and unchanged in 1 case, resulting in no significant difference overall between the values measured preoperatively and intraoperatively. However, in eight individual cases, the Ccr was found to have decreased significantly. Although alterations in respiratory function were observed, LC at 10 mmHg PP did not cause any crucial problems in respiratory or cardiac function. It should be kept in mind, however, that renal blood flow may decrease in some cases even at intraabdominal pressures under 10 mmHg.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗
Identification and quantification of p-hydroxyethylamphetamine as a novel metabolite of ethylamphetamine in rat by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Ethylamphetamine and two major metabolites in urine, obtained after intraperitoneal administration of the drug to rats, have been isolated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We have also synthesized an authentic sample of p-hydroxy-N-ethylamphetamine by a simple method. In rat, the metabolic pathway of ethylamphetamine is similar to that of amphetamine and methylamphetamine according to quantitative analysis of the major metabolites using a selected ion monitoring (SIM) method.
Amphetamine↗
Focal meningoencephalitis localized in the left occipital lobe.
A rare case of suspected focal meningoencephalitis localized in the left occipital lobe was described. A 2-year-old girl, following upper respiratory illness, suddenly became lethargic and experienced a right-sided hemiconvulsion beginning from a right-side gaze. Cranial MRI clearly demonstrated high intensity on T2-weighted imaging in the cortex, white matter, and leptomeninges of the left occipital lobe, which disappeared in the convalescent phase. We consider that the MRI abnormalities reflected focal inflammation and edema, and corresponded to the presumed ictal focus.
Brain Edema↗
Infantile subcortical leukohypodensity demonstrated by computed tomography.
We reviewed the computed tomography scans of 126 term infants, ages 1-6 months; leukohypodensity was found just under the cerebral cortex (subcortical leukohypodensity [SLD]) in 3 infants (2.4%) at 1-3 months of age. On subsequent computed tomography at over 4 months of age, SLD had disappeared and anterior horn predominant dilatation of the lateral ventricles had appeared. Only 1 patient with a distinct SLD had a poor neurodevelopmental outcome: spastic diplegia. SLD in our patients is believed to be closely related to subcortical leukomalacia because of the similar location and age distribution. Transient SLD may be a mild form of cystic SLD which would require careful computed tomography follow-up examination in early infancy.
Birth Weight↗
Relief of chronic burning pain in Fabry disease with neurotropin.
Neurotropin, an extract from the inflamed skin of vaccinia virus-inoculated rabbits, was effective in the relief of sharp or burning pain induced by pyrexia, hot weather, bathing, or exercise in 2 siblings with Fabry disease. Neither neurotropin nor carbamazepine mono-therapy relieved the episodic colicky pain in 1 patient; however, therapy with both drugs eliminated the pain completely. This result suggests that the mechanisms underlying the analgesic actions of both drugs may be complementary in ameliorating the pain of Fabry disease, even though the mechanism underlying the pain has not been clearly elucidated.
Adolescent↗
Clinical phenotype of a Japanese family with primary open angle glaucoma caused by a Pro370Leu mutation in the MYOC/TIGR gene.
PURPOSE: To present the phenotype of two patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) caused by a mutation of the myocilin/trabecular meshwork-inducible glucocorticoid response (MYOC/TIGR) gene. METHODS: Complete ocular examinations were performed on the 13-year-old proband, her father, mother, and sister. DNA analysis was performed to detect the mutant gene. RESULTS: The proband and her father were found to have a mutation of the MYOC/TIGR gene. Both patients carried a heterozygous mutation in the 1,109th nucleotide, which corresponds to the 370th amino acid residue of the MYOC/TIGR gene. The clinical characteristics of both patients were: (1) development of POAG at an early age, (2) high peaks of intraocular pressure. and (3) poor response to medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The phenotype of these patients with a mutation of the MYOC/TIGR gene agreed with reports of other patients with mutations at other loci in this gene. The discovery of the MYOC/TIGR gene not only makes early detection of glaucoma possible, but also presents a new direction for investigating the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
Adolescent↗
The hemoglobin gene of the deep-sea clam Calyptogena soyoae has a novel intron in A-helix.
The cDNAs encoding two dimeric hemoglobins, Hbs I and II, of the deep-sea clam Calyptogena soyoae were amplified by PCR and the complete nucleotide sequences determined. The cDNA-derived amino acid sequences agreed completely with those determined chemically. Many of the molluscan intracellular globin genes have a characteristic four-exon/three-intron structure, with the precoding and two conventional introns conserved widely in animal globin genes. In this work we have determined the exon/intron organization of two hemoglobin genes of the deep-sea clam C. soyoae. Surprisingly, this gene has no precoding intron but instead contains an additional intron in the A-helix (A3.1), together with the two conventional introns (B12.2 and G6.3). This observation suggests that the precoding intron has been lost and the insertion of intron in A-helix occurred in the genes of Calyptogena. Alternatively, the sliding of intron from precoding to A-helix might have occurred.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
DNA microarray analysis of genes involved in the process of differentiation in mouse Leydig cell line TTE1.
A Leydig cell line, TTE1, was established from the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen transgenic mice. The cells showed temperature-sensitive growth characteristics and a differentiated phenotype at a nonpermissive temperature. To identify differentially expressed genes in the process of Leydig cell differentiation, the authors carried out microarray analysis of TTE1 cells cultured at permissive and nonpermissive temperatures. The resulting fluorescence-labeled cDNAs synthesized from mRNAs were hybridized with Clontech's Atlas glass mouse 1.0 microarrays. Of the 1081 genes analyzed, the levels of 31 genes were changed, with 24 genes showing increased levels of expression and the remaining 7 genes showing decreased levels. Tie2 was the most changed transcript, with a 13.5-fold upregulation under the differentiated condition. The authors believe this to be the first report of broadscale gene expression in Leydig cell differentiation using the microarray technology. The ability to analyze broadscale gene expression in this manner provides a powerful tool for investigating the molecular mechanisms of Leydig cell functions.
Animals↗
Establishment of Leydig cell line, TTE1, from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.
A Leydig cell line, TTE1, has been established from transgenic mice harboring a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (tsSV40) large T-antigen gene. The cells grew at a permissive temperature (33 degrees C), but growth was markedly prevented at a nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C). T-antigen was expressed in the nuclei at 33 degrees C but disappeared at 39 degrees C, indicating that the cells show a temperature-sensitive growth phenotype reflected by the tsSV40 large T-antigen. TTE1 cells did not show any colony-forming activity in soft agar and form tumors in subcutaneous tissue in nude mice, indicating that the cells were not transformed. Alkaline phosphatase and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) activities or expression of cytokeratin and vimentin were observed. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that TTE1 cells expressed mRNAs encoding 17beta-HSD types 1 and 3, and inhibin-alpha. The cells with unique characteristics, therefore, should serve useful model study the function of Leydig cell.
17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
Comparison of the effects of amlodipine and losartan on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Effects of amlodipine (AML), a long-acting calcium antagonist, and losartan (LOS), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on 24-hr blood pressure profile were compared in 15 patients with essential hypertension. After 4 weeks of placebo period, the patients were treated with AML or LOS in a random crossover design for 12-16 weeks each. Either drug was given once daily at 0800 and the doses were titrated so that the office blood pressure was reduced lower than 140/90mmHg. At the end of each period, 24-hr blood pressure was monitored. Average office blood pressure was lowered from 158 +/- 2/ 98 +/- 2 mmHg to 134 +/- 1/87 +/- 1 mmHg by AML and 134 +/- 2/88 +/- 1 mmHg by LOS. Average 24-hr blood pressure was also reduced from 144 +/- 3/ 92 +/- 2 mmHg to 131 +/- 2/84 +/- 2 mmHg by AML and 135 +/- 3/85 +/- 2 mmHg by LOS. The averaged 24-hr systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in AML than in LOS (p < 0.05). Then, the 24-hr blood pressure was analyzed for four segments; morning (0530-0900 h), daytime (0930-1800 h), evening (1830-2300 h) and night (2330-0500 h). Although the daytime blood pressure was comparable between AML and LOS, systolic blood pressure in the evening and morning hours were lower in AML than in LOS (133 +/- 2 vs. 138 +/- 3mmHg,p<0.01; 129 +/- 3 vs. 134 +/- 4,p<0.05). Troughtopeakratio of antihypertensive effect on systolic blood pressure was significantly greater in AML than in LOS (62 +/- 5% vs. 55 +/- 4%, p < 0.05). Either drug did not cause reflective increase in pulse rate over 24 hours. These results suggest that both AML and LOS are equally effective in lowering daytime blood pressure without eliciting reflex tachycardia, however, the antihypertensive effect of AML lasts longer than that of LOS. Such information seems important to achieve 24-hr blood pressure control using these drugs.
Adult↗
Early detection of cerebral ischemic lesion using diffusion-weighted MRI.
We performed serial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in a patient with right middle cerebral arterial occlusion using 1.0 T MRI. The initial DWI demonstrated suppression of water diffusion in the gray matter in the ischemic lesion as a high signal area 4 h after stroke onset, when T2-weighted imaging failed to detect any parenchymal injury. Repeat DWI 9 h after onset demonstrated the whole infarct, whereas it was not demonstrated by T2-weighted imaging until 48 h. Furthermore, the regional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) had already decreased significantly in both the gray and white matters of the ischemic lesion 4 h after onset, even though hyperintensity was not visible in the white matter on the DWI. The features in this case indicate that DWI in conjunction with the assessment of regional ADC can provide important information regarding the evolving infarct at a very early stage even when a relatively low tesla clinically available MRI unit is used.
Brain Ischemia↗
An infant with neuroblastoma and MYCN amplification found through mass screening.
PURPOSE: This report describes an extremely rare case of an infant with neuroblastoma involving MYCN amplification found through mass screening (MS). PATIENT: An 8-month-old boy was referred to our hospital after screening for neuroblastoma showed positive results. A firm tumor was found above his left kidney and completely resected. RESULTS: The tumor arose from the left adrenal gland. The disease was classified as stage I according to the International Neuroblastoma Staging System. Although the tumor showed a favorable histology, MYCN was amplified to 20 copies. After surgery, the infant underwent chemotherapy, but a new mass in the right adrenal gland was found. After chemotherapy, the tumor was excised. Despite several courses of chemotherapy, multiple metastases in both lung fields appeared. More intensive chemotherapy and allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation were performed, but the infant died from pulmonary hemorrhage after the transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with neuroblastoma found through MS have a good outcome. However, some patients have poor prognostic factors, like our patient with MYCN amplification. There is a need to develop a suitable protocol for babies with high risk features younger than 1 year of age found through MS.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
Biological defence mechanism in the pathogenesis of prolonged cerebral vasospasm in the patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms.
We examined the relationship between the biological protective mechanisms of scavengers and free radicals that are elicited by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the pathogenesis of prolonged vasospasm following ruptured intracranial aneurysm. The study included 25 patients treated by early surgery (within 72 hours after SAH). Lipid peroxides concentrations and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured. The concentration of lipid peroxides increased significantly more (p less than 0.05) during the first 4 days after SAH in patients with symptomatic vasospasm than in those without. Patients with symptomatic vasospasm had a marked decrease in SOD activity on Days 3 and 4 followed by a gradual decrease, whereas the patients without spasm showed little change (difference between the groups, p less than 0.05). There was a significant difference in catalase activity reversal to SOD activity, but no difference in GSH-px activity. Thus, correlation was close between the increased lipid peroxides concentration and the decrease in SOD activity in CSF (p less than 0.05), suggesting an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of vasospasm.
Adult↗
Fibromuscular dysplasia complicated by primary thrombocythemia presenting recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular accidents: a case report.
A patient with fibromuscular dysplasia associated with primary thrombocythemia is reported. The patient, a 46-year-old female, had recurrent episodes of ischemic cerebrovascular accidents. Cranial CT scans revealed multiple low density areas in the right frontal and parietal lobes, and cerebral angiograms showed evidence of multiple embolisms. In addition, occlusion of the right internal carotid artery developed. To our knowledge, this is the first report on fibromuscular dysplasia complicated by essential thrombocythemia. The pathogenesis of the severe thrombotic tendency is discussed.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗