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Biomedical subjects

S Ono

Publications and source records attributed to S Ono.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

A new neurological entity manifesting as involuntary movements and dysarthria with possible abnormal copper metabolism.

A few patients with an affected CNS involving abnormalities in copper metabolism have been described that do not fit any known nosological entities such as Wilson's disease or Menkes' disease. Three sporadic patients (two men and one woman) were examined with involuntary movements and dysarthria associated with abnormal concentrations of serum copper, serum ceruloplasmin, and urinary copper excretion. The onset of neurological symptoms occurred at the age of 15 to 17 years. The common clinical symptoms were involuntary movements and dysarthria. The involuntary movements included dystonia in the neck, myoclonus in the shoulder, athetosis in the neck, and rapid orobuccal movements. The dysarthria consisted of unclear, slow, and stuttering speech. Two of the three patients did not have dementia. A cousin of the female patient had been diagnosed as having Wilson's disease and had died of liver cirrhosis. Laboratory findings showed a mild reduction in serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations, whereas urinary copper excretion was significantly reduced in all three patients. Two of the three patients showed a high signal intensity in the basal ganglia on T2 weighted brain MRI. In conclusion, the unique findings of involuntary movements, dysarthria, and abnormal serum copper and urinary copper concentrations suggest that the three patients may constitute a new clinical entity that is distinct from either Wilson's or Menkes disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Generation of oxidative stress contributes to the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia.

Chronic hypoxia causes pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy associated with pulmonary vascular remodeling. Because hypoxia might promote generation of oxidative stress in vivo, we hypothesized that oxidative stress may play a role in the hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary changes and examined the effect of treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in rats. NAC reduced hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary alterations at 3 wk of hypoxia. Lung phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) increased at days 1 and 7 of the hypoxic exposure, and NAC attenuated the increase in lung PCOOH. Lung xanthine oxidase (XO) activity was elevated from day 1 through day 21, especially during the initial 3 days of the hypoxic exposure. The XO inhibitor allopurinol significantly inhibited the hypoxia-induced increase in lung PCOOH and pulmonary hypertension, and allopurinol treatment only for the initial 3 days also reduced the hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary vascular thickening. These results suggest that oxidative stress produced by activated XO in the induction phase of hypoxic exposure contributes to the development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed2001

Selective hypoaldosteronism due to combined defects of the conversion from inactive renin to active renin and the aldosterone biosynthesis from corticosterone.

A 24-year-old Japanese woman with IgA nephropathy exhibited a decreased serum aldosterone level with normal plasma renin activity after toxemia of pregnancy. Our studies revealed selective hypoaldosteronism with normal adrenoglucocorticoid functions. Levels of serum corticosterone and deoxycorticosterone were normal. Resting plasma renin activity was normal, and plasma levels of total and inactive renin were increased. Rapid ACTH administration failed to stimulate any secretion of aldosterone, whereas it adequately increased serum cortisol, deoxycorticosterone, and corticosterone concentrations. Responses of both plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone level to the furosemide-posture challenge were blunted. Angiotensin II also failed to stimulate any secretion of aldosterone despite a progressive rise in blood pressure and an appropriate increase in serum corticosterone. These results suggest that combined defects of the conversion from inactive renin to active renin and aldosterone biosynthesis are the causes of selective hypoaldosteronism in our patient.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2001

Increased monocyte activation in elderly patients after surgical stress.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate age-related changes in the host response to surgical stress. The clinical course, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, monocyte production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and monocyte expression of CD11b/CD18 were used as markers of the systemic response. METHODS: Patients with gastric cancer, undergoing distal gastrectomy were divided into 2 groups: >75 years of age (elderly group) and < or =75 years of age (young group). Serum IL-6 levels, TNF-alpha production and CD11b/CD18 expression by monocytes, and the postoperative clinical course were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: TNF-alpha production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes and CD11b/CD18 expression on monocytes after surgical stress were significantly higher in the elderly than in the young group. Moreover, serum IL-6 levels on the first postoperative day in the elderly group were significantly higher than those in the young group. The incidence and duration of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were significantly greater in the elderly than in the young group. CONCLUSIONS: The activation of monocytes and hypercytokinemia occur readily after surgical stress in the elderly and may therefore contribute to SIRS and increased susceptibility to postoperative complications.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Vasospasm in monkeys resolves because of loss of and encasement of subarachnoid blood clot.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We studied in monkeys why vasospasm resolves after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: Monkeys underwent angiography and right (n=17) or bilateral (n=8) SAH. Animals with bilateral SAH underwent angiography 1, 3, 5, and 7 days later. Animals with right SAH underwent angiography 7 days later. The clot was then not removed (n=5), removed and replaced with fresh clot (n=7), or removed and not replaced (n=5). At the same time on day 7, the removed clot (n=12) or fresh clot (n=5) was placed on the left side. Angiography was repeated every 2 days until day 14. RESULTS: SAH caused significant vasospasm on day 7 that resolved by day 14. Removal of clot on day 7 resulted in more rapid resolution of vasospasm. Placement of fresh clot onto arteries that had already been exposed to clot for 7 days produced vasospasm that persisted without resolving for an additional 7 days. Placement of 7-day-old clot from the right onto previously unexposed left arteries or of clot from blood removed from an animal 7 days after SAH caused significantly more rapid onset of vasospasm compared with de novo vasospasm. Microscopic examination of the clots showed they were surrounded by macrophages 7 days after SAH. Arterial compliance and contractility were reduced in relation to duration of the exposure of arteries to clot. CONCLUSIONS: Vasospasm resolves because of loss of subarachnoid blood clot. We hypothesize that reduced spasmogen release from the clot contributes to resolution of vasospasm. There was no response in the cerebral arteries that rendered them less responsive to the subarachnoid clot.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

The vasorelaxation of cerebral arteries by carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is known to increase cerebral blood flow, but the effect of CO on the vascular tone of large cerebral arteries is uncertain. We tested whether CO affects cerebral artery tone by measuring tension generated by ex vivo segments of dog basilar artery upon exposure to CO. In cerebral artery segments contracted with either KCl or prostaglandin F(2alpha), CO caused a concentration-related relaxation beginning with a concentration of 57 microM. Relaxation did not occur if CO was administered in the presence of bubbling carboxygen (95% O(2):5% CO(2)), which reduces greater than 99% of CO from the solution. Furthermore, the CO-induced relaxation of cerebral artery segments was reduced in the presence of the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10 microM)or the potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM). Neither ODQ nor TEA completely eliminated the relaxation caused by CO and there was no additive effect if ODQ and TEA were administered together. These results suggest that cerebral arteries are directly relaxed by CO and that this relaxation depends upon the activation of guanylyl cyclase and the opening of potassium channels.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Estimation of the number of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-degraders in soil and isolation of degraders based on the method of most probable number (MPN) using PHA-film.

A new method to estimate the number of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)-degraders in soil and to isolate degraders, called the film-MPN method, is proposed. The incubation time was measured by the first order reaction (FOR) model. This method was used to estimate numbers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)[P(3HB-co-3HV)]- and poly(3-hydroxyvalerate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)[P(3HB-co-4HB)]-degraders in garden soil (4.30 x 10(5) and 2.15 x 10(5) aerobic degraders per gram of dry soil, respectively). The number of P(3HB-co-3HV)-degraders in paddy field soil was 5.06 x 10(5) aerobic degraders per gram dry soil. Also, several P(3HB-co-3HV)-degraders were isolated directly from positive-growth tubes of high dilution.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2001

Effects of amino acids on the amidation of polyaromatic carboxylic acids by Bacillus cereus.

The soil bacterium Bacillus cereus Tim-r01 efficiently transformed polyaromatic carboxylic acids (PACA) such as 4-biphenylcarboxylic acid (4-BPCA), 4-biphenylacetic acid, and 4-phenoxybenzoic acid into their corresponding amides. The amidation activity was expressed at 37 degrees C (pH 7-8) in the presence of grown cells in nutrients under an aerobic atmosphere. Other strains of B. cereus, IFO 3001 and IAM 1229, also gave the amide from 4-BPCA. In phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the addition of normal amino acids was essential, while sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine drastically inhibited the amidation. Tracer experiments using N-15-isoleucine and N-15-alanine showed that the nitrogen atom of the amide came from an amino group of amino acids but not from ammonia or alkylamines.

Amides↗
PubMed2001

Infrastructure of pharmaceutical research and development in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the roles of different types of hospitals in implementation of multicenter Phase II/III trials in Japan, specifically focusing on two dichotomies: public versus private, and academic versus nonacademic. Possible explanation was sought as to why a hospital of one category was more likely to participate in specific types of trials in the Japanese medical environment. METHODS: A database containing attributes of published clinical trials (n = 217) was established from four journals featuring reports of clinical trial results. The preferences of public and academic hospitals for specific types of trials were estimated by applying a linear regression model. The trial compositions of these institutions were also estimated, taking the actual prevalence of trials in 1995 into consideration. RESULTS: Public sector hospitals, which were established for particular policy purposes in the national healthcare system, were more likely to accept trials in some fields (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, anesthesiology, antineoplastics, pediatrics) and of some kinds (e.g., Phase II rather than Phase III trials, trials supervised by the principal investigator in the public sector). Academic hospitals also showed preferences for some types of trials (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, dermatology; Phase II rather than Phase III trials). The analysis focusing on public hospitals suggested that policy purposes were achieved at least in some fields such as antineoplastics and anesthesiology. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese clinical trials were unevenly distributed between public and private sectors, and also between academic and nonacademic sectors. These data provide fundamental information about the clinical research environment for future pharmaceutical research and development strategies and policies.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2001

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrateco-3-hydroxyvalerate) from cottonseed oil and valeric acid in batch culture of Raistonia sp. strain JC-64.

A Ralstonia sp. strain JC-64 that is capable of accumulating poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (P[3HB-co-3HV]) from cottonseed oil and valeric acid was isolated. By using a high limiting-nitrogen (HLN) mineral medium as the medium for the second stage of the fermentation process and by adding the two carbon sources at different times, a range of copolymers with 12-62 mol% of 3HV were produced from a series of HLN mineral mediums containing different compositions of cottonseed oil and valeric acid by Ralstonia sp. JC-64. The melting temperature (Tm) of polyhydroxybutyrate from cottonseed oil was 174 degrees C and that of P(3HB-co-3HV) with the highest 3HV-mol fraction (62%) was 81 degrees C.

Carbon↗
PubMed2001

[Analysis for microbial contamination in production of Japanese-style confectionery "Monaka"].

Food hygiene in Japanese-style confectionery factories is hard to practice because the businesses are small. In a supporting system of voluntary-based hygienic management in this field, we microbiologically investigated the production processes of "Monaka" in a workshop in Tokyo. We microbiologically assessed the processing environments as well as the products in the workshop, then proposed some improvements in the production of the confectionery. After the improvements, microbial contamination of the processing environments was reduced and no microbial contamination was found in the sugared bean, or "An" produced, though the product "Monaka" was still contaminated, especially by molds. It was clarified that the molds came from contaminated baked wheat shells, or "Kawa" and further that the wheat shells were contaminated by molds during storage.

Food Handling↗
PubMed2001

[A lung cancer patient whose renal scintigram showed transient renal dysfunction after administration of contrast material for CT].

We encountered a patient whose renal scintigram showed renal tubular damage four days after administration of contrast material for CT. As no secretion of radioisotope to the urinary tract was observed on the scintigram and the renogram did not show a secretionary phase, renal tubular damage was suspected. As the renal damage disappeared six days after administration of the contrast material, the damage seemed to be transient, disappearing within five days. Caution is needed with the use of renotoxic drugs such as anti-tumor drugs, especially within five days after administration of contrast materials.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Experience with fatal interstitial pneumonia after operation for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients with lung cancer is increasing. This study was undertaken to realize the probability, fate and management of acute fatal postoperative complications. Since interstitial pneumonia was one of the most fatal postoperative complications, to know its incidence and fate is very important. METHODS: A total of 2667 patients who underwent thoracotomy caused by malignant tumors during the past 17 years were reviewed and studied. We performed investigations on medical records, chest X-rays, whole-body CT films, operative records and pathological specimens for all inpatients. RESULTS: Nineteen patients died in hospital 30 days after thoracotomy (operative death). Nine patients died in hospital more than 31 days after thoracotomy (hospital death). Eight cases out of 28 patients (operative and hospital deaths) developed and finally died by interstitial pneumonia. Each case was treated with steroids, neutrophil-elastase inhibitor, and/or immunosuppressive agents. These patients could not be selected by any preoperative laboratory examination, such as preoperative pulmonary function tests, serum biochemistry tests, and chest X-ray or CT films. Interstitial pneumonia as a complication of postoperative stage, was fatal and once developed, it was very difficult to save their lives. CONCLUSIONS: Since we reported the cases who died from acute postoperative complications, especially interstitial pneumonia, we could not present effective management. However, in this report, several therapeutic trials that may solve the problems of acute postoperative interstitial pneumonia were proposed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

[Three cases of multiseptate gallbladder].

Multiseptate gallbladder is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. We report three cases of this clinical entity. The third patient, a 70-year-old male who was asymptomatic with this condition, also had a gallbladder carcinoma. The three surgically removed gallbladders had multiple thin septa with a honeycomb appearance. Histologically, the septa contained a muscular layer that was continuous with the gallbladder wall. Furthermore, in the third patient, mucinous cystadenoma with focal carcinomatous change in the epithelium was observed. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a multiseptate gallbladder with carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[A case of pneumonectomy for lung cancer associated with scleroderma].

A 60-year-old female, diagnosed as scleroderma, was referred to our hospital because of symptoms of common cold and abnormal findings on a chest X-ray. The chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a mass in the left upper field, suspected to invade left anterior chest wall. Moreover, fibrotic changes were observed in the lung field. Cytology by bronchofiberscopy showed squamous cell carcinoma. Evaluation of pulmonary function, including unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion test (UPAO), revealed possibility of lung resection. Subsequently, pneumonectomy with combined resection of left 1st rib was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged. She was admitted again four months after the operation with appetite loss and body weight loss. Further examinations revealed arrhythmia, renal failure, pancreatitis and liver metastasis. Her general conditions grew worse and she died five months after the operation. In conclusion, UPAO was a useful method to determine the functional lung resectability for the case with scleroderma. However, effects of surgical stress for the development of scleroderma remain to be elucidated.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗