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Biomedical subjects

S Yoshida

Publications and source records attributed to S Yoshida.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Measurement of biochemical components in individuals with infrared spectroscopy].

We have developed the Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis system to measure constituents of human oral mucosa in vivo and clinically obtained serum for non-invasive diagnosis. The attenuated total reflectance(ATR) probe in rod shape was used for the measurements of both oral tissue and serum. The results indicate that the change of in vivo oral mucosal infrared spectra correlated with that of blood triglyceride level, and rapidly analyzed by artificial neural networks successfully. The serum glucose level was correlated with glycan-related infrared bands, although the correlation coefficient(r2) was not high enough(0.58). When more sophisticated analytical methods are developed for multiple infrared data sets using a miniaturized instrument, the application of Fourier transform infrared analytical technique would be more advanced in the field of non-invasive clinical diagnosis for individuals.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed2001

Sampling and detection of Legionella pneumophila aerosols generated from an industrial cooling tower.

Cooling tower water has frequently been cited as a source of infection in outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. However, there have been few reports on the presence of legionellae in aerosols from cooling towers. This paper describes our use of an impinger or a six-stage microbial impactor for detecting legionellae in air around a cooling tower contaminated with L. pneumophila (1.2+/-0.3x10(5) CFU/100 ml). Phosphate-buffered saline, Page's saline, 2% yeast extract solution and buffered yeast extract (BYE) broth were tested to evaluate their collection efficiency. These solutions were compared in laboratory experiments using an aerosol of L. pneumophila serogroup (SG) 1. Because BYE broth was the most efficient and storable collecting fluid among them, it was used for outdoor air sampling. In the outdoor air sampling, aerosolized L. pneumophila SG 6 was detected in the air around the cooling tower by the impinger (0.09 CFU/l. air). No legionellae were detected by the impactor with Legionella-selective agar plates (WYOalpha) because the plates were overgrown with fungi. Repetitive element PCR (rep-PCR) and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) were employed to assess the epidemiological relationship among Legionella isolates from the air sample and the cooling tower water samples. L. pneumophila SG 6 isolated from the aerosols produced rep-PCR and AP-PCR fingerprints identical to those of L. pneumophila SG 6 strains from the cooling tower water, suggesting that the bacterium was aerosolized from the cooling tower.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2001

[Chronotherapy of bronchial asthma: circadian rhythms in asthmatic symptoms. Report I: Survey on chronobiology acrophase of asthmatic symptoms].

We conducted a questionnaire survey on the onset time and frequency of asthmatic symptoms in adults with bronchial asthma who were regular clinic attendees in 17 sites in Chiba Prefecture, and analyzed 513 respondents. As a result, the frequency of wheezing was 54.6%, the highest of all symptoms. Feeling of chest discomfort was 32.2%, followed by asthma attack (13.8%), cough (8.7%) and dynpnea (6.8%). Asthmatic symptoms were highest from midnight to early morning, with the peak at around 4 o'clock am. The same pattern was seen regardless of the severity and types of asthma. This survey also showed that conventional anti-asthmatic therapies decreased the frequency of nightly asthmatic symptoms from the baseline: 7 times or more per week reduced from 44.9% to 16.1%, 3 times or more per week from 76.8% to 40.4%, and at least once per week from 94.4% to 71.5%. The results suggest that it is important to take another therapeutic strategy, which can administer medications at the appropriate time according to the circadian rhythms in asthmatic patients to better control asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Staged operation for right isomerism with total anomalous pulmonary venous return: report of a case].

A male infant with right isomerism, single ventricle, severe pulmonary stenosis (PS), and total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) underwent successful staged Fontan operation. Pulmonary vein drained into right superior vena cava without a stenotic lesion. Common pulmonary venous chamber was also connected with the atrium by a thin bridging vein. Blalock-Taussig shunt was performed at 2-month-old. Because of progressive pulmonary congestion, an anastomosis between common pulmonary venous chamber and the atrium followed 4 days after the first shunt. Bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt was performed 7 months after the second operation. Because of progressive atrioventricular valve regurgitation, repeated bandings of the shunt were required to regulate the pulmonary flow. Total cavopulmonary connection was completed 9 months after the BCPS. Staged operation is a useful strategy to acquire an appropriate pulmonary blood flow for the isomeric heart with TAPVR and severe PS.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2001

[Chemoradiotherapy and salvage surgery in a patient with advanced esophageal cancer].

We report a case of advanced esophageal cancer, which was treated by chemoradiotherapy combined with surgical treatment. Moreover, 14 advanced esophageal cancer patients treated by chemoradiotherapy are discussed. The chemoradiotherapy showed beneficial control of the tumor; however, it sometimes leads to esophageal stenosis and ulcer. We conclude that additional salvage surgery is needed for such complications.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2001

[Chronotherapy of bronchial asthma: circadian rhythms in peak expiratory flow. The report II: Circadian rhythms of peak expiratory flow in asthmatic patients and effect of sustained-release theophylline on various types of the circadian rhythms].

We monitored peak expiratory flow (PEF) in outpatients with adult bronchial asthma in 17 sites in Chiba prefecture 4 times daily for 2 weeks, using a peak flow meter to categorize the patients by circadian patterns of PEF. Then a sustained-release theophylline preparation formulated for once-daily dosing was administered to these patients grouped to examine the effect of the drug on circadian rhythms in PEF. Analysis was performed in 215 of total 245 patients enrolled as a result of excluding 30 ineligible patients. 187 patients (87.0%) exhibited a certain rhythm in their PEF, and 28 patients (13.0%) did not show any particular rhythm. These 187 patients with a certain rhythm in PEF were grouped into 63 patients (29.3%) of morning-dip type, 83 patients (38.6%) of peak type, 7 patients (3.3%) of evening-dip type, and 34 patients (15.8%) of flat type. And there were no trough-type patients. Uniphyl tablets were administered once a day at a daily dosage of 400 mg after supper to 124 patients of the above 187 patients grouped according to circadian patterns of PEF. Uniphyl was particularly effective in the morning-dip type and the peak type. This result suggests that it is necessary to take circadian rhythms of PEF into consideration in drug therapy for patients with bronchial asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Economic analysis of a filmless system based on the hospital information system.

A filmless system (FLS) based on a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) equipped with UNIX work- stations and a local area network (LAN) specialized for viewing radiographs has not been deemed acceptable, for reasons of economics. However, personal computers (PCs) have recently become more powerful, to the point where PCs approach UNIX workstations in terms of capabilities. As a result, a PC-based image viewing workstation (IVW) has sufficient functions for practical use. Diagnostic resolution is not equal to that of film, but is comparable. Since the hospital information system (HIS) includes many PC terminals connected by a LAN, the cost problem can be resolved by using these PC terminals as the IVWs. In order to investigate the practicability of this idea, two types of FLSs using HIS facilities were designed: one is a system based on the use of high-resolution cathode ray tubes (H-CRTs), and the other is based on the use of conventional CRTs and radiologist reports, minimizing the number of H-CRTs. The total costs of the two systems were analyzed. As a result, the former FLS was found to be about 15% more expensive than the latter, which was less expensive than a film-based system (FBS). However, whether the FLS is more profitable than the FBS from the viewpoint of hospital management strongly depends on the medical insurance system.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed2001

Reports of parasitic diseases and entomological cases in the Department of Medical Zoology, Jichi Medical School: accumulated cases from five years.

We summarized the consultation cases of parasitic diseases and entomological cases presented at the Department of Medical Zoology, Jichi Medical School. Among 173 consultations from January 1996 to December 2000, 64 cases were parasitologically or entomologically positive. We primarily diagnosed the cases morphologically and intermittently used sero-diagnosis methods. Ascariasis and diphyllobothriasis due to foods comprised the major consultation cases. Cases of malaria, second in frequency, were all imported from tropical countries. Some rare but important cases, including entomological cases, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Usefulness of 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile scintigraphy for preoperative localization of adenoma in primary hyperparathyroidism].

We evaluated the usefulness of 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI) dual phase scintigraphy for detecting hyperfunctioning parathyroid adenoma. We retrospectively reviewed 18 hyperparathyroid patients who received MIBI prior to neck exploration and compared the radiological findings of MIBI with ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fifteen patients were studied with MRI, and 17 patients were examined with US. All patients were found to have a solitary parathyroid adenoma histopathologically. MIBI correctly revealed the location of 17 adenomas among 18 confirmed tumors. In our series, there was one false-positive case that was found to have thyroid adenoma. The diagnostic sensitivity of MIBI MRI and US was 94.4%, 80% and 52.5%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 94.4% for MIBI, 81.8% for MRI and 92.3% for US. We conclude that MIBI is useful and accurate for the preoperative localization of adenoma in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

A chloroplast protein homologous to the eubacterial topological specificity factor minE plays a role in chloroplast division.

We report the identification of a nucleus-encoded minE gene, designated AtMinE1, of Arabidopsis. The encoded AtMinE1 protein possesses both N- and C-terminal extensions, relative to the eubacterial and algal chloroplast-encoded MinE proteins. The N-terminal extension functioned as a chloroplast-targeting transit peptide, as revealed by a transient expression assay using an N terminus:green fluorescent protein fusion. Histochemical beta-glucuronidase staining of transgenic Arabidopsis lines harboring an AtMinE1 promoter::uidA reporter fusion unveiled specific activation of the promoter in green tissues, especially at the shoot apex, which suggests a requirement for cell division-associated AtMinE1 expression for proplastid division in green tissues. In addition, we generated transgenic plants overexpressing a full-length AtMinE1 cDNA and examined the subcellular structures of those plants. Giant heteromorphic chloroplasts were observed in transgenic plants, with a reduced number per cell, whereas mitochondrial morphology remained similar to that of wild-type plants. Taken together, these observations suggest that MinE is the third conserved component involved in chloroplast division.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

[Indication of home oxygen therapy for terminal cancer patients--comparison with present standards--as the result from investigation of our patients and questionnaire survey to home care doctors].

As the result of the observation of our patients and a questionnaire answered by home care doctors, we think it is necessary to establish new standards for home oxygen therapy, based on the characteristics of terminal cancer patients and to put great emphasis on the QOL of patients.

Home Care Services, Hospital-Based↗
PubMed2001

The process of cardiorespiratory autoresuscitation in intact newborn rats.

To examine the process of spontaneous autoresuscitation and the recovery of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) after prolonged anoxia, we monitored respiratory frequency (f, by body plethysmography) and heart rate (HR, by ECG) in intact newborn rats (n = 12, day 2-4) before, during, and after 100% N2 exposure. The rat before anoxia showed signs of HVR: f changes at acute hypoxia (10% O2) and hyperoxia (100% O2). During anoxia, the spontaneous respiratory movement "gasping" appeared for 21 min (mean). At O2 restoration (with 100% O2), gasping stopped and no respiratory flow was detected for 1 min. One rat failed to autoresuscitate and had heart arrhythmia during the transient apnea, but 11 rats recovered respiration after the HR acceleration. Despite the successful autoresuscitation, the rats did not show HVR at 10 min into the recovery period and the recovery of HVR required more than 30 min. The results indicate that O2 inhalation is useful to trigger autoresuscitation even when the rat has already been in a state of profound hypoxic depression, but the rat becomes transiently insensitive to HVR after autoresuscitation. We estimate that reform of the respiratory control system in newborn rats is not yet firmly established to track HVR early in the recovery phase after prolonged anoxia.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Association between two types of vitamin d receptor gene polymorphism and bone status in premenopausal Japanese women.

Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene using ultrasound (US) bone mass and bone metabolic markers were investigated as potential genetic markers for osteoporosis in 126 premenopausal Japanese women aged 27.2 +/- 10.1 (mean +/- SD) years. The relationship between their VDR gene polymorphisms and bone states was determined. VDR genotypes were based on the absence (B) or presence (b) of the Bsm I restriction site (B polymorphism), and ATG (the M allele) and ACG (the m allele) sequences at the translation initiation site (M polymorphism). Genotype frequencies were 73.8%, bb; 24.6%, Bb; 1.6%, BB; 15.1%, MM; 51.6%, Mm and 33.3%, mm. The stiffness index of calcaneal bone minerals measured by an US bone densitometer was significantly higher in the mm types (P <0.05 versus MM) than in the Mm types (P <0.01 versus MM) and MM types. There was no significant difference between in B polymorphisms. Furthermore, bone mass was correlated with serum bone type alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and urinary deoxypyridinoline concentration in M polymorphisms. Because the distribution of B polymorphisms in each M polymorphism genotype did not differ, M polymorphisms were affected independently from B polymorphisms to bone mass or bone metabolic markers. No significant difference was observed in nutritional intake and food consumption among genotypes. In the MM and Mm types, the bone mass was closely related to the frequency of milk intake during the periods of elementary and junior high school. In contrast, bone mass was not associated with nutritional intake or the frequency of past milk intake in B polymorphisms. Therefore, the M polymorphism of the VDR gene is a stronger genetic indicator of osteoporosis than the B polymorphism in premenopausal Japanese woman.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Early carcinoma of the gastric cardia in Japan: is it different from that in the West?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia has increased recently in the West. However, in Japan, most patients with gastric carcinoma have disease that is situated in the body and the distal stomach. The objectives of this study were to compare the clinicopathologic findings of patients with early gastric carcinoma (EGC) arising at the cardia and those with carcinoma in more distal parts of the stomach, then comparing the findings with those from patients with carcinoma of the gastric cardia in the West. METHODS: Three thousand one hundred forty-four patients with EGC who underwent surgical resection between 1962 and 1997 at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo were studied. Seventy patients with EGC at the cardia were compared with those who had lesions in the middle and lower parts of the stomach. The body mass index (BMI), smoking, and drinking were evaluated using all patients with cardia EGC and 344 patients in a matched cohort in the latter group. RESULTS: Seventy patients had an EGC located just at the cardia, whereas 2796 patients had lesions in the lower two-thirds of the stomach. The former lesions were different from those in the distal two-thirds of the stomach: More often, they were of an elevated type (34% vs. 14%, respectively, they were histologically well differentiated in 89% (vs. 59%), and there were more submucosal tumors (53% vs. 41%). The BMI, smoking, and drinking in the two groups were not different. The incidence of Barrett esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with EGC were 2. 9% (2 of 70 patients) and 5.7% (4 of 70 patients), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were many significant differences in clinicopathologic characteristics between patients with carcinoma of the cardia and patients with carcinoma of the distal stomach in Japan. The incidence of early cardia carcinoma was very low in Japan, and obesity, smoking, drinking, Barrett esophagus, or GERD were not related to its occurrence, in contrast to reports in the West.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

A unique and common restriction fragment pattern of the nucleotide sequences homologous to the genome of vf33, a filamentous bacteriophage, in pandemic strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6 O4:K68, and O1:K untypeable.

Vf33 is a filamentous bacteriophage isolated from Vibrio parahaemolyticus. We performed Southern blot hybridization analysis to examine the distribution of Vf33-related genetic elements in the pandemic strains (O3:K6 strains isolated between 1995 and 1997, O4:K68 and O1:K untypeable strains isolated between 1997 and 1999) of V. parahaemolyticus. Nucleotide sequences homologous to the Vf33 DNA were detected in all 57 test strains including pandemic and non-pandemic strains. However, the profiles of hybridization, including the restriction fragment length polymorphism, with nine Vf33-derived DNA probes exhibited by the pandemic strains were identical and were different from those by the non-pandemic strains. The results support the hypothesis that the pandemic strains are clonal, and suggest a possibility that they have acquired (a) new gene(s) via a Vf33-like filamentous phage.

Bacteriophages↗