Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Takano

Publications and source records attributed to S Takano.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of eight-week course of recombinant alpha-interferon for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Forty-nine Japanese patients were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of alpha-interferon for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis: 24 patients received 3 million units of recombinant human alpha alpha-interferon (alpha-2a) thrice weekly for eight weeks, and 25 patients received placebo in a similar schedule. The mean serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) dropped from 155 +/- 91 (SD) to 69 +/- 72 during interferon treatment, but remained unchanged (158 +/- 140 to 147 +/- 130) during placebo treatment (P less than 0.001). Serum ALT level fell to the normal range in 29% of interferon-treated patients, but in only 4% of placebo-treated patients. Pre- and posttreatment liver biopsies were obtained in all but one case. Average histological activity indices (HAI) were markedly improved in the interferon-treated group (9.5 +/- 3.7 to 7.0 +/- 4.3), but were unchanged in the placebo group (8.5 +/- 4.3 to 8.5 +/- 4.9). In addition, we compared the efficacy of interferon treatment between anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive and negative groups. Biochemical and histological improvements were similar and statistically significant in patients with and without antibody to hepatitis C virus. These data indicate that a eight-week course of alpha-interferon induces biochemical and histological improvement in more than half the patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1991

A novel protein induced in cortical epileptic focus of rat cerebrum: a possible linkage to epileptogenesis.

To precisely evaluate a protein-related mechanism of epileptogenesis, we quantitatively analyzed the 70-kDa protein (namely, P70), a specific protein found in the cobalt-induced epileptic focus, and examined its effect on the electrocorticogram (ECoG) and cortical neurons in cerebral slices and its immunocytochemical localization in rats. Cobalt-induced cortical epileptogenic cortex exhibited a marked induction of P70. Its initiation time was ahead of the generation of epileptogenic activities. The anticonvulsant phenytoin (PHT) attenuated the cobalt-induced epileptogenic activities, but failed to suppress protein induction. Injection of this protein into the motor region of normal rat cerebral cortex elicited an epileptic ECoG and behavioral seizures. It also caused epileptiform activity with paroxysmal depolarization shifts in cortical neurons. These epileptogenic phenomena elicited by P70 were abolished by prior treatment with PHT or phenobarbital. Immunocytochemical analysis with an antiserum against P70 revealed that the reactivity was confined to pyramidal cells only in the region of the focus and was mainly localized on somatic, dendritic, and nuclear membranes and microtubles. These findings suggest that P70 may be linked to epileptogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Normal brain damage after radiotherapy of brain tumours.

A total of 106 patients were examined for adverse effects to the brain from 60Co or proton radiotherapy. Radiation induced change (RIC) developed within the irradiated field 40-60 months after doses of 800-1000 neuNSD or 70 TDF and in 10-20 months after doses of more than 1700 neuNSD or 100 TDF. The incidence of RIC increased significantly with increasing age. Furthermore pathological changes like oedema and infarction in the brain tissue may be an important factor for the development of RIC in the central nervous system (CNS).

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Fenestration of the intracranial internal carotid artery--case report.

A rare case of fenestration of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) was identified by angiography in a 51-year-old female with suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage. Only two similar cases have been reported previously. Fenestration tends to develop on the right side and near the bifurcation of the ophthalmic artery. Congenital factors at the 4 mm embryonic stage may be involved in the fenestration of the intracranial ICA.

Carotid Artery, Internal↗
PubMed1991

Central nervous system metastasis from gallbladder carcinoma--case report.

Systemic metastases from gallbladder carcinoma occur frequently, but involvement of the central nervous system is rare. We describe such a case in a 68-year-old female. Solitary brain metastasis from gallbladder carcinoma was completely removed 4 months after operation for the primary tumor. Planned chemotherapy was then given to prevent recurrence. She was leading a normal life 4 years later. Patients with solitary brain metastasis from gallbladder carcinoma can achieve a better outcome and longer survival after removal of the brain metastasis if there is no other metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[Ultrastructure of glioma vessel--morphometric study for proliferative potential of endothelial cell].

In this study we quantified the morphological abnormalities of human glioma vasculature in operated sample of low grade astrocytomas and malignant gliomas. Only those vessels with a diameter of less than 10 micron and containing one nucleus at least on axial section present in the marginal area of the tumors devoid of necrosis were subjected to the present study. A total of 58 vessels were analyzed with computer assisted morphometry for ultrastructural evidence of proliferative potentials of endothelial cells. 5 specific features of the endothelial cells and/or the capillaries which were not related to the vascular permeability were assessed: (1) Degree of vascular luminal narrowing (LN: Ratio of luminal area to abluminal area), (2) Thickness of basement membrane (BM), (3) Mean % ratio of the endothelial cells including Weibel-Palade bodies to whole endothelial cells (WPB-1) and the number of Weibel-Palade bodies in an endothelial cell section (WPB-2), (4) Irregularity of nuclear shape (NA: semiquantified grade 0 to 3). (5) Mitochondrial density (MIT). We found that: (1) LN was significantly stronger in malignant glioma capillaries (MGC, 28%) than low grade astrocytoma capillaries (LAC, 39%). (2) BM was significantly thicker in MGC (2.9 microns) than in LAC (1.2 microns), (3) WPB-1 and WPB-2 were significantly higher in MGC (34% and 0.92) than LAC (14% and 0.39). (4) NA was significantly higher in MGC (grade 2.1) than LAC (grade 1.3), (5) MIT was significantly higher in MGC (5.6%) than LAC (4.2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed1991

A large amount of endothelin-1 is present in human breast cancer tissues.

Endothelin (ET)-1 concentration was measured in tissue extracts from 157 human breast cancers, 26 benign breast tumors and 10 normal breast tissues. ET-1 was detectable in all tissue extracts by specific radioimmunoassay, the concentration ranging from 0.12 to 11.95 pg/mg protein. ET-1 concentration was significantly higher in tissue extracts from breast cancer than in those from benign breast tumor or normal control tissue, suggesting that this peptide is synthesized by breast cancer cells. When 157 breast cancer specimens were categorized into 4 groups in terms of clinical staging, no significant difference was found among these clinical staging groups. Furthermore, no significant associations were observed between ET-1 concentrations and the age of patients, tumor size, lymphnode involvement, histological type or steroid hormone receptor status.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A novel autoantibody reactive with a 48 kDa tRNA associated protein in patients with scleroderma.

We identify 4 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) possessing a previously undescribed serum anti-tRNA Ab (anti-Wa antibody). These sera yielded identical precipitin lines under double immunodiffusion using calf thymus extract and supernatant of pig spleen homogenate as antigen sources. Furthermore, all 4 sera were found to react with a 48 kDa protein using immunoblotting. This protein was subsequently found to be associated with tRNA when immunoprecipitation was conducted. In a survey of autoimmune patients' sera, anti-Wa Ab was observed in 3% (4 of 130) of patients with PSS, but not in other systemic rheumatic diseases. None of the 4 patients with PSS with anti-Wa Ab had myositis except that one patient complained of mild myalgia.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[A case of post-traumatic medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome].

Medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) syndrome recognized 2 days after a head injury is described. The patient was a 48-year-old man who had fallen from a ladder about 3m high. On his admission, scalp contusion on the left occipital area was noticed. Neurological examination revealed no neurological abnormalities except slightly disturbed consciousness. Plain skull X-ray films demonstrated a lineal skull fracture of the left occipital bone. Computed tomographic (CT) scans showed a slight subarachnoid hemorrhage within the bilateral sylvian fissures, but no parenchymal contusion in the brain stem was observed. On the 2nd day, when the patient regained full consciousness, impairment of adduction of the right eye and a fine nystagmus of the left eye on left lateral gaze were recognized. Convergence was intact. Right side MLF syndrome was diagnosed. This syndrome gradually disappeared followed by the initial improvement of adduction of the right eye, and the patient had completely recovered about 20 days after the head injury. Three major mechanisms leading to MLF syndrome caused by head injury are reported in the literature. They are: (1) primary brain stem injury, (2) secondary brainstem injury by trans-tentorial herniation, and (3) circulatory disturbance of perforating branches of the vertebro-basilar artery due to shearing force. In our case, the slightly disturbed consciousness at the time of the head injury indicates that this syndrome was not brought on by primary or secondary brain stem injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain Injuries↗
PubMed1991

[Bilateral traumatic hemorrhage in the basal ganglia: report of two cases].

Hematomas of the basal ganglia in head injury have long been recognized by pathologists with an interest in head injury but their mechanism has not been revealed clearly. We report two cases of bilateral traumatic hemorrhage in the basal ganglia. Case #1, a 17-year-old male was admitted to our hospital immediately after a traffic accident. Neurological examination revealed that the patient was comatose and had right hemiparesis. CT scan showed bilateral hemorrhage of the basal ganglia and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the perimesencephalic cistern. MRI showed high signal intensity areas in the bilateral basal ganglia, perimesencephalic cistern, cerebral white matter and corpus callosum. The patient was diagnosed as having diffuse axonal injury coinciding with bilateral hemorrhage of the basal ganglia. Stereotactic aspiration for the hematoma of the left basal ganglia was carried out. Case #2, a 75-year-old male was admitted immediately after falling from the roof of his house. Neurological examination revealed no neurological deficit except for headache and nausea. CT scan on the day of injury revealed no abnormality. But CT scan 12 hours following the injury showed bilateral hemorrhage of the basal ganglia. Blood pressure of the patient was within normal range and he was diagnosed as having traumatic bilateral intracerebral hematoma. Conservative treatment was carried out and the patient was discharged 7 days after injury with no neurological deficit. The mechanism of traumatic hemorrhage of the basal ganglia has not been clear. In case #1, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) may have played an important role in the bilateral hemorrhage. But in case #2, non-DAI factor such as vasoparalysis syndrome may have existed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1991

[Ultrastructure of glioma vessel--morphometric study for vascular permeability].

In this study we investigated the ultrastructure of human glioma capillaries in operated sample of low grade astrocytomas and malignant gliomas. Electronmicrographs of a total of 58 vessels were analyzed with computer assisted morphometry for ultrastructural evidence of permeability routes. All of these vessels were present in the marginal area of tumors devoid of necrosis, less than 10 micron in diameter and containing one nucleus at least on axial section. We found that: (1) The number of pinocytic vesicles was significantly higher in capillaries from malignant glioma (an average of 8.1 per 1 micron (2) cytoplasm) than those from low grade astrocytoma (an average of 4.0 per 1 micron (2) cytoplasm). In capillaries from malignant glioma, most of the pinocytic vesicles were arranged in the abluminal side of endothelium and some of them were fused each other. (2) Abnormal endothelial intercellular junctions which were defined as short tight junctions (less than or equal to 0.25 microns) were equally but infrequently seen in low grade astrocytomas and malignant gliomas. (3) Fenestrations in the endothelium were not seen. Therefore we suggest that the high vascular permeability and resultant brain edema in malignant gliomas is likely to increased pinocytic vesicles and rare but abnormal inter endothelial junctions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Plasma thrombomodulin in health and diseases.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblot analysis of plasma thrombomodulin concentrate revealed that four degraded forms of thrombomodulin with different molecular weights are present in plasma. Plasma concentrations of thrombomodulin in patients with various diseases were measured by two methods of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies. One method measures intact thrombomodulin and degraded forms of thrombomodulin; the other does not detect the two smaller degraded forms of thrombomodulin present in plasma. The results indicated that thrombomodulin was increased in the circulating blood of patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, pulmonary thromboembolism, adult respiratory distress syndrome, chronic renal failure, or acute hepatic failure. The different values obtained by the two methods indicate that the increase of plasma thrombomodulin found in these patients was mainly due to an increase of the smaller fragments of degraded forms, suggesting that the release of thrombomodulin from endothelial cells was accelerated in various disease states by proteolytic activity generated on the surface of the endothelium and may be removed from the circulation mostly by the kidneys and liver.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed1990

Activation of supraoptic neurosecretory cells by osmotic stimulation of the median preoptic nucleus.

In urethane-anesthetized male rats extracellular recordings were obtained from neurosecretory cells in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) while each of electrical stimulation and local osmotic stimulation produced by pressure injection of hypertonic saline was applied to the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) or to the medial septal nucleus (MS). Electrical stimulation of the MnPO produced orthodromic excitation or initial inhibition followed by strong excitation in most SON cells (59/61), and local osmotic stimulation of the MnPO excited majority of cells (39/51). On the contrary, local osmotic stimulation of the MS did not excite SON cells, although electrical stimulation excited all the cells (5/5). The results suggest that the MnPO is one of the osmosensitive sites controlling electrical activity of SON neurosecretory cells.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Electrophysiological evidence for neural connections between the supraoptic nuclei.

Effects of electrical stimulation of the contralateral supraoptic nucleus (SON) on the activity of neurosecretory neurons in the SON were studied in urethane-anesthetized lactating rats. Thirty-one out of 41 oxytocin neurons were excited and only two neurons were inhibited by contralateral SON stimulation. Eight out of 26 vasopressin neurons were excited and 8 were inhibited. These responses were not affected by suckling stimuli. Neither oxytocin nor vasopressin neurons tested were antidromically activated by contralateral SON stimulation. Thus monosynaptic connections between the bilateral SON neurosecretory neurons seem to be very few, if any. These results suggest that neural connections exist between the bilateral SON and that they are mainly polysynaptic.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Activation of phospholipase A2 in rabbit erythrocyte membranes by a novel hemolytic toxin (H-toxin) of Clostridium septicum.

A primary effect of a novel H-toxin of Clostridium septicum on the hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes was shown to be the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) associated with rabbit erythrocyte membranes by 20-fold that of controls. Furthermore, the activation of PLA2 induced by the H-toxin was enhanced in the presence of NAD. The H-toxin itself had no PLA2 activity. On the contrary, the H-toxin bound to palmitic acid at a molar proportion of 1:1 and lost its hemolytic activity. The PLA2 was not activated by the H-toxin bound to palmitic acid. These results suggest that activation of the PLA2 is responsible for development of the hemolytic activity of the H-toxin.

Animals↗