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Biomedical subjects

S Yokota

Publications and source records attributed to S Yokota.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Epidemiological study of a food-borne outbreak of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O25:NM by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis.

This study investigated the applicability of molecular epidemiological techniques to the identification of the causal agent of an outbreak of diarrhea caused by ingestion of food contaminated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The outbreak occurred at four elementary schools in July 1996 and affected more than 800 people. Illness was most strongly associated with eating tuna paste (relative risk, 1.79; 95% confidence interval = 1.16 to 2.79; P = 0.0001). To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of the pathogen, the DNAs from numerous isolated ETEC strains were subjected to randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of nuclease S1-treated plasmid DNA, and analysis of genomic DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms. All ETEC isolates were of the O25:NM (nonmotile) serotype, which carries a heat-stable enterotoxin Ib gene. Genotypic analysis demonstrated that the strains isolated from the patients at all four schools were identical. The isolates of ETEC O25:NM obtained from the tuna paste that had been served for lunch at these schools were genetically indistinguishable from those isolated from the patients. Results suggest that this outbreak was food borne. The molecular biology-based epidemiological techniques used in this study were useful in characterizing the causal agent in this food-borne epidemic.

Animals↗

Rare alteration of genomic structure or expression of the DPC4 gene in myelogenous leukemias.

We examined homozygous deletion, point mutation and expression of DPC4 gene, a recently isolated candidate pancreatic tumor suppressor gene, in 53 patients with myelogenous leukemias and 5 cell lines. The patients consisted of 34 cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia including 22 in the chronic phase, 3 in the accelerated phase, and 9 in blastic crisis, and 19 with acute myelogenous leukemia including 9 at the initial presentation and 10 at relapse. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based deletion analysis for DPC4 exon 8 and PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism study for the entire coding region were carried out. Homozygous deletion or subtle mutation was not detected in any of the samples examined. However, 3 patients with various clinical phases showed a decrease of DPC4 expression. These results suggest that DPC4 alteration is not a crucial event in the development or the progression of myelogenous leukemias.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

Serum soluble interleukin-6 receptor and biochemical markers of bone metabolism show significant variations during the menstrual cycle.

We examined sequential changes of bone-resorbing cytokines and bone metabolic markers and the effect of ovarian hormones on bone metabolism during the menstrual cycle in 10 healthy Japanese women, aged 22-43 yr, with normal ovarian function. Serum soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) showed a significant variation; a rise during the early and late follicular periods followed by a fall during the early luteal period (P = 0.0423, P = 0.0334) and an increase during the mid and late luteal periods. There were significant changes in the levels of markers of bone formation: a rise in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) during the mid and late follicular (P = 0.0265) periods and a fall in serum carboxyl-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) during the midluteal period (P = 0.0161). As for the levels of bone resorption markers, urinary type I collagen C-telopeptide breakdown products (CTx) and free deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) decreased significantly during the early and midfollicular periods, urinary free D-Pyr and serum pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyl-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) (P = 0.0440) increased significantly during the early luteal period, and urinary CTx, free D-Pyr, and serum ICTP decreased significantly during the late luteal period (P = 0.0170-0.0008). The serum PTH level was significantly higher during the follicular than the luteal period (P = 0.0132). Serum sIL-6R significantly correlated with urinary CTx (r = 0.190, P < 0.05) and serum ALP (r = 0.209, P < 0.05) and serum estradiol with intact osteocalcin (r = 0.309, P < 0.0005) and serum ALP (r = 0.181, P < 0.05). These observations strongly suggest that cyclic variations in the levels of bone formation and resorption markers and of a bone-resorbing cytokine may be modulated by cyclic changes in serum steroid hormones during the menstrual period. In addition, the specific days of biochemical events in the menstrual cycle are crucial for evaluating osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities in pre- and perimenopausal women or in women starting GnRH agonist therapy.

Adult↗

Inhibitory effect of Coptidis Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix on azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci formation in rat colon.

This study was conducted to obtain effective cancer chemopreventive agents with low toxicity from medicinal herbs. The effect of aqueous extracts from 9 medicinal herbs with antiinflammatory effect were examined on the formation of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions of the colon. Male F344 rats were treated with 15 mg/kg body weight of AOM once a week for two weeks. Herbal extract consisting of 2% of the diet was administered from 1 d prior to the first carcinogen treatment. The number of AOM-induced ACF per colon was counted at 4 week. Extracts of Coptidis Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix significantly inhibited AOM-induced ACF formation. The number of ACF was decreased to 54% and 78% of that of the control by 2% Coptidis Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix extract in the diet, respectively. Berberine and Baicalin, major ingredients of Coptidis Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix, inhibited ACF formation at a dose equivalent to the amount in each herbal extract. Therefore, to investigate the mechanisms of action of berberine and baicalein which is the active substances of orally administered baicalin, their effects on cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 activities were studied. Berberine was found to inhibit cyclooxygenase 2 activity without inhibition of cyclooxygenase 1 activity, and baicalein inhibited cyclooxygenase 1 activity. Thus, Coptidis Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix suppressed experimental colon carcinogenesis, and their chemopreventive effects were explained from the inhibition of berberine on cyclooxygenase 2 activity and baicalein on cyclooxygenase 1 activity.

Animals↗

Cardioprotective effects of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, imidapril, and Ca2+ channel antagonist, amlodipine, in spontaneously hypertensive rats at established stage of hypertension.

The present study was performed to compare cardioprotective effects of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, imidapril, and of a Ca2+ channel antagonist, amlodipine, against the cardiac hypertrophy in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) at the established stage of hypertension. Fifteen-week-old SHRs were given imidapril (2 and 5 mg/kg/day) or amlodipine (10 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 8 weeks. Three hours after the 1st treatment, imidapril moderately reduced blood pressure without changing heart rate, while amlodipine caused a marked reduction in blood pressure accompanied by transient tachycardia. At the end of the treatments, ventricular weight in the imidapril-treated groups was markedly lower, but that in the amlodipine-treated group was only slightly lower than that in the vehicle-treated group. Myocardial collagen content in the imidapril-treated group tended to be decreased, and significant reduction was observed in the low-dose group. In another experiment, the isolated heart of the imidapril-treated animals demonstrated better cardiac compliance than that in the vehicle-treated animals. In contrast, amlodipine failed to improve cardiac function. The present results suggest that imidapril possesses advantageous effects to prevent cardiac hypertrophy and deteriorated cardiac function in SHRs of established stage of hypertension as compared with amlodipine.

Amlodipine↗

Repair of ulnar segmental defect by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in dogs.

The efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) combined with poly D, L lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)/gelatin sponge complex (PGS) as a carrier on the repair of segmental long-bone defects was evaluated using an ulnar model in dogs. The defect was 2 cm in length and was fixed with bone plating. After implantation of PGS with or without rhBMP-2, the repair process of the defect was evaluated by serial radiography until 16 postoperative weeks. All defects treated with 160 micrograms or 640 micrograms of rhBMP-2/PGS revealed bone union radiographically by 12 postoperative weeks, whereas all defects treated with PGS alone revealed no radiographic evidence of healing throughout the experimental period. In defects treated with 40 micrograms of rhBMP-2/PGS, new bone appeared partially at the defects but did not accomplish union. Bone mineral contents at the defect sites after harvest at 16 weeks postoperatively were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in those treated with 160 micrograms or 640 micrograms of rhBMP-2 than in those treated with 40 micrograms of rhBMP-2 or PGS alone. Histologically, defects radiographically diagnosed as having achieved union showed the appearance of cortical bone and bone marrow cells. These findings suggest the use of rhBMP-2/PGS as a potential bone graft substitute in reconstructive surgery in dogs.

Animals↗

Different roles of histamine and leukotriene C4 in the airways between patients with atopic and nonatopic asthma.

The release of histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and peripheral blood stimulated with Ca ionophore A23187 was compared between atopic and nonatopic asthma. The proportion of basophilic cells in BAL fluid was significantly higher in atopic than in nonatopic asthma (p < 0.01); however, no significant differences were present in the other BAL cells between the two asthma types. The concentration of histamine in BAL fluid was significantly higher in younger patients (20-59 years) with atopic than in nonatopic asthma (p < 0.01). In contrast, the concentration of LTC4 was significantly higher in nonatopic than in younger patients with atopic asthma (p < 0.01). The release of histamine from BAL cells (p < 0.001) and peripheral blood (p < 0.01) was significantly larger in younger patients with atopic than in nonatopic asthma. The generation of LTC4 by BAL cells was significantly larger in nonatopic than in younger (p < 0.01) and older patients with atopic asthma (60+ years) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that both histamine and LTC4 participate in the onset mechanism of atopic asthma, and only LTC4 participates in that of nonatopic asthma.

Adult↗

[Age-related changes of IgE-mediated allergic reaction in patients with late onset asthma--relationship between IgE-mediated allergy and age at onset].

We examined age-related changes in the IgE-mediated allergic reaction in patients with late onset asthma, whose asthma first occurred at over 40 years. 1. The number of patients with a high serum IgE level (over 300 IU/ml) was larger in patients with an age of onset between 40 and (40-49 years group) and in patients older than 60 at age of onset (60-year group) than in patients with an age of onset between 50 and 59 (50-59 year group). 2. A positive RAST score to house dust mite (HDm) allergen was more frequently found in the 40-49 year group and in the 60- year group than in the 50-59 year group. Frequency of positive RAST score to HDm in the 50-59 year group was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than in early-onset asthma patients (age at onset less than 39 years). 3 Frequency of family history of asthma in the 50-59 years group was high, being equal to that of early-onset asthma patients. 4 In the 50-59 year group, the frequency of severe asthma was comparatively higher than that of the other groups. The frequency of IgE-mediated allergic reaction changed in regard to age of onset of asthma, and allergic reactions in late-onset asthma partially resembled those of early-onset asthma. These results suggest that an atopic constitution is related to the onset of bronchial asthma in the elderly.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical analysis of 11 cases of juvenile dermatomyositis and polymyositis].

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is characterized by microvasculopathy of the striated muscle, which indicates different etiology, clinical manifestation and prognosis from the adult-onset dermatomyositis. We experienced 10 cases of JDM and 1 case of juvenile polymyositis (JPM) in the recent 14 years, and analyzed clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, treatment anrognosis. The cases were 9 girls and 2 boys. The onset of the disease was 2 years of age in 2 patients, and 9 to 13 years of age in 9 patients. During the follow-up courses, no cases were dead or complicated with neoplasm. Skin rash was the most frequent manifestation at the onset, and facial erythema was common. Muscle weakness was observed only in 4 cases at the onset, and in all cases muscle enzymes including creatine kinase and aldolase were elevated. The clinical course was classified into three groups; monocyclic (5 cases), chronic and recurrent (4 cases), and fulminant (2 cases). Prognosis depended not on the degree of the elevated serum muscle enzymes, but on the initial therapy employed at the onset of the disease. Five cases including 2 cases of fulminant type were initially treated with methylprednisolon pulse therapy, and all of these had no recurrence. On the other hand, 6 cases were started the therapy with p.o. prednisolone. Four of them had frequent recurrences in accordance with tapering of prednisolone. These cases were effectively treated with the combination with immunosuppressants. In previous reports, JDM and JPM were reported to be a disorder which had relatively favorable prognosis. But we found that one third of the cases had chronic and recurrent courses. Methylprednisolone pulses as initial therapy may be effective in preventing the chronicity and recurrence of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Saccharides as osmotic agents in peritoneal dialysate: determination of molecular weight essential for more efficient fluid removal.

Glucose has widely been used as an osmotic agent in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) but owing to its low molecular weight (MW), ultrafiltration (UF) in a 6-hour dialysate exchange does not appear sufficient. Thus, in the present study, a search was made to find saccharides that would ensure optimal UF, exceeding that obtained with glucose in a 6-hour dwell period. Rats were intraperitoneally infused with peritoneal dialysate (20 mL/body) containing the same molar concentrations (75.5 mM, 126 mM, or 204 mM) of various osmotic agents including glucose (monosaccharide, MW = 180.16) at concentrations of 1.36%, 2.27%, and 3.86%; maltose (disaccharide, MW = 342.30) at concentrations of 2.58% and 4.32%; maltotriose (trisaccharide, MW = 504.44), at concentrations of 3.81% and 6.36%; and maltopentaose (pentasaccharide, MW = 828.72) at concentrations of 6.26% and 10.4%. Intraperitoneal-fluid volume was measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours. With glucose as the osmotic agent, maximal UF was noted at 2 to 4 hours. UF was more efficient at 6 hours with maltotriose or maltopentaose as the osmotic agent. Even with a trisaccharide or pentasaccharide (molecular weights of 500 to 830), UF at 6 hours was found more efficient, as evidenced by the delay in peritoneal absorption. Fluid removal in 6 hours should be greater when using a dialysate containing oligosaccharides such as maltotriose or maltopentaose in place of glucose.

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo generation and kinetics of glycosylation products in peritoneal dialysis effluents.

There are indications that advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs) may affect in some manner the functions of the peritoneum. Only a few reports discuss the actual generation of glycosylated proteins and the intraperitoneal kinetics involved during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). To demonstrate the formation of AGEs and their time-courses in peritoneal dialysis (PD) effluents, measurements were made of furosine, carboxymethyl lysine (CML), and pentosidine as glycosylation markers in vitro and in vivo using PD effluents obtained every 2 hours for up to 8 hours from 3 nondiabetic CAPD patients. Furosine and CML were found to be generated relatively early (within 6 hours), and their de novo formation was markedly enhanced subsequent to glucose addition. Furosine and CML production increased in proportion to glucose concentration. Pentosidine production did not change with time for up to 24 hours, and was not induced by glucose during this period. Carboxymethyl lysine production appeared to be suppressed in vitro with the addition of serum protein. Furosine in the intraperitoneal dialysate was initially the same as that in the plasma, but increased to twice as much in just 2 hours in vivo. Production of CML increased, but apparently was suppressed with leakage of plasma protein into the dialysate; this possibly may have been due to dilutional or antiglycation effects in the plasma. No stimulation of pentosidine production could be detected in the intraperitoneal dialysate even at 8 hours. The initiation of glycosylation of peritoneal proteins, with generation of furosine and CML but not pentosidine, is clearly shown by the present results to occur relatively early in the intraperitoneal dialysate, i.e., within a matter of hours.

Adult↗

[Multiple cerebral infarction during anesthesia in a patient with hypergammaglobulinemia].

We experienced anesthetic management of two patients with hypergammaglobulinemia undergoing thoracoscopic lung biopsy, one of whom suffered from multiple cerebral infarction during anesthesia. Pathogenesis of this serious complication could not be elucidated. However, decrease in cerebral regional circulation caused by increase in blood viscosity would be most probable. We should preoperatively carry out measurement of blood viscosity and brain CT scan, and consider plasma exchange in patient with hypergammaglobulinemia, in whom symptoms and signs of hyperviscosity syndrome do not exist.

Adult↗

[Buckwheat allergy in 90,000 school children in Yokohama].

Hypersensitivity to buckwheat allergen frequently causes anaphylactic type reactions including urticaria, wheezing, dyspnea and/or shock. Though the susceptible pupil would be recommended to be careful for school lunch and picnic meals, the prevalence of buckwheat allergy in school children has not yet been elucidated. In this study, data on the children allergic to buckwheat were collected by sending questionnaire to 341 nurses in elementary school in Yokohama. Among the total subjects of this investigation, 92,680 children, the incidence of buckwheat allergy was determined 0.22% (140 boys and 54 girls). This percentage was not so low level besides the prevalence of such allergic diseases as bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and food allergy was 5.6%, 4.2%, 3.1%, 1.6%, and 1.3%, respectively. Although a large majority of clinical symptoms of buckwheat allergy were urticaria (37.3%), skin itching (33.3%), and wheezing (26.5%). Four children (3.9%) experienced anaphylactic shock having a need of medical emergency treatment. The incidence of anaphylactic shock due to buckwheat was higher than those due to egg and milk allergy. Actually 7 pupil was provoked allergic reaction by buckwheat noodle served at school lunch, and 1 pupil at picnic meals. Thus, school children allergic to buckwheat is not rare, and it is important to withdraw buckwheat food from school lunch and picnic meals.

Age Factors↗

[Clinical study on the inhibitory effect of a 5-HT3 antagonist, granisetron, for nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy (CHOP, VEPA, high-dose ETP) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

The antiemetic effect of granisetron on nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy (CHOP, VEPA, VEPA-B, massive dose of ETP) was studied in fifty patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There was almost no difference in the inhibitory effect by regimen, with the rates of perfect inhibition of nausea and vomiting standing at 55.6% to 60%. Nausea and vomiting was perfectly controlled in 60% of 35 patients receiving CHOP therapy. As a part of this study, a comparison was made of perfect inhibitory effect on nausea and vomiting by potency of chemotherapy under the potency scale of 750 mg/m2 of CPA as 1, revealing no significant difference in the rates of complete inhibition as 71.4% for a drug potency of less than 0.8 vs 52.4% for 0.8 or above (p = 0.26). However, it was clear that the higher the dose of chemotherapy, the lower the rate of complete inhibition. The results confirmed the high efficacy and safety of granisetron in the treatment of nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy.

Adult↗

[Treatment of children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with CCLSG NHL 855/890 protocols long-term outcome and incidence of secondary malignancies].

We report here on treatment results of consecutive CCLSG NHL studies (NHL855, 1985-1989; NHL890, 1989-1996). The NHL855 protocol consisted of an induction phase of five drugs (VCR, PRD, CPM, DXR, and high-dose MTX) and a maintenance phase of 7 drugs. The probabilities of EFS at 7 years were 78% (SE, 10%) for the patients with localized disease, and 38% (SE, 7%) for those with advanced disease. In the NHL 890 protocol, the patients were assigned to two different treatment groups according to their histology and received different consolidation therapy; non-lymphoblastic subtype was treated almost identically to NHL855 while LASP and VP-16 were newly added for the lymphoblastic subtype. The 7-year EFS improved to 91% (SE, 6%) for localized disease, and 61% (SE, 6%) for advanced disease. A remarkable improvement was particularly evident for lymphoblastic type with mediastinal mass. Optional trial of high-dose sequential chemotherapy and peripheral blood progenitor cell auto grafting resulted in an unfavorable outcome. The 7-year EFS according to main histological subgroups were as follows: 84% (10%) for large cell type, 67% (11%) for Burkitt's-type, 58% (10%) for lymphoblastic type. Secondary cancer occurred in two of the 163 patients studied. Both patients were AML (M0/M4) and MLL rearrangement was detected in the M4 case.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical significance of serum neuron-specific enolase in non-small cell lung cancer].

The present study was a retrospective analysis of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) assayed in 302 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before treatment. Serum NSE ranged from 0.6 to 183.0 ng/ml, with a mean value of 12.2 ng/ml, and exceeded 10 ng/ml in 145 patients (48.0%). The mean levels and rate of NSE positivity in 177 patients whose tumors were categorized as small, medium and large (from the product of the maximum and perpendicular axis of the tumor on chest X-ray), were highest in the large group. There was no significant relationship between serum NSE and the response rate to anticancer chemotherapy. The survival period of the patients with elevated serum NSE (median, 5.7 months) was significantly shorter, than those with normal serum NSE levels (median, 12.1 months). Serum NSE is of prognostic significance in a multivariate analysis (p < 0.01), but not predictive of response to chemotherapy in NSCLC.

Aged↗

Effect of oral clonidine premedication on hemodynamic response during sedated nasal fiberoptic intubation.

Although oral clonidine premedication is known to reduce the hemodynamic response under general anesthesia, effects of the hemodynamic response during sedated fiberoptic nasal intubation have not yet been examined. Our aim was to compare the effects of clonidine premedication on hemodynamic responses with those of atropine and hydroxyzine premedication during sedated fiberoptic nasal intubation. Thirty adult patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 patients (n = 15) were premedicated with atropine sulfate (0.01 mg/kg) and hydroxyzine hydrochloride (1mg/kg) intramuscularly, and group 2 patients (n = 15) were premedicated with clonidine (5 micrograms/kg) orally. We compared the hemodynamic response and sedation level in fiberoptic nasal intubation between the two groups. there were no significant differences in sedation levels and postoperative complaints between the two groups. But the oral clonidine premedication (Group 2) blunted hemodynamic changes during the fiberoptic intubation. No profound hypotension or marked bradycardia was noted in group 2. We concluded that the oral clonidine premedication might contribute to hemodynamic stability during sedated fiberoptic nasal intubation.

Administration, Oral↗