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Biomedical subjects

Satoshi Kato

Publications and source records attributed to Satoshi Kato.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Recurrence of screwiness (Verschrobenheit, L. Binswanger) in chronic schizophrenia--psychopathological considerations of Mitwelt oriented screwiness ("Verschrobenheit")].

In this paper, we discuss "Verschrobenheit" of chronic schizophrenia to reconsider the recurrent deviant behavior of schizophrenics. According to Binswanger, "Verschrobenheit" is one of the fundamental disturbances of schizophrenia, characterized by morbidly thorough consistency, loss of intersubjectivity and transfiguration of the dasein like a "distorted screw" in the Mitwelt. From the viewpoint of interpersonal relationships, it manifests as a difficulty in establishing one-to-one relationships with other humans. We consider that Binswanger used the word "Verschrobenheit" to refer to 2 categories of "Verschrobenheit". The first is the behavioral aspects of screwiness without delusion, which is defined by two psychopathological features: 1) a static and morbid posture, such as an autistic attitude or unnatural position held for a long time; and 2) estrangement from the Mitwelt. The other category of "Verschrobenheit" is the behavioral aspects of screwiness with delusions. Of these aspects, the least consideration has been given to the latter. In order to discuss what screwiness means, we herein present preliminary consideration of the history of the concept of "Verschrobenheit". We report 2 cases of patients with schizophrenia who, after a certain time point following hospitalization, began to exhibit eccentric behaviors not previously observed. From examination of these cases of screwiness, and the comparison of these patients' screwiness and the former classical concepts, we determined that screwiness, has two pathological features: 1) delusional discourses confusing the surrounding people, and 2) Mitwelt-orientation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[A clinical study of hypochondriac symptoms in patients with depression].

In this study, the authors investigated the features of depression associated with hypochondriac symptoms. The subjects were inpatients of the psychiatry clinic of Jichi Medical School who were clinical diagnosed with depression and enrolled in the study between June 1, 1997, and June 30, 1999. Of 86 subjects enrolled, 49 exhibited hypochondriac symptoms ("hypochondriac group"). Patients in the hypochondriac group tended to be older at diagnosis and admission than those in the "non-hypochondriac group". Our findings suggested that symptoms of both hypochondriasis and depression are related to situational, psychological and organizational factors. As many patients consulted health professionals in specialties other than psychiatry, we emphasize that primary-care doctors need to keep the possibility of depression in mind when examining patients. The frequency of delusions associated with depression was higher in the hypochondriac group than in the non-hypochondriac group. We therefore suggest that hypochondriac attitudes are related to the three major diagnostic features in depressive delusions. Many hypochondriac subjects complained of constipation and pain as concrete symptoms, but the sites of hypochondriac symptoms showed considerable variation. In terms of symptoms of pain, however, affected sites were more localized, with many patients reporting headache or lumbago.

Delusions↗
PubMed2004

[A case of Williams syndrome who exhibited fetishism].

Williams syndrome is a rare congenital disease in which the etiological locus is a micro-deletion in chromosome 7. Here, we describe the case of a 22-year-old male who was diagnosed with Williams syndrome at the age of 3 years. As a child, the patient exhibited patterns of behavior characteristic of this syndrome including hyperactivity, attention deficit, and over-friendliness. He also showed persistent interest in construction vehicles, playgrounds, and gloves. He became interested in gloves after watching a television program in which the heroine fought her enemies while wearing gloves. Watching pornographic movies allowed him to attach strong sexual significance to gloves when he was 19 years old. Since that time, he has assaulted women wearing gloves four times to rob them of the gloves. The current paper discusses both the role of the cognitive profile unique to Williams syndrome and that of environmental factors in the development of fetishism in this case.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Analysis of the human APC mutation spectrum in a saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with a mismatch repair defect.

Somatic APC mutations in colorectal tumors with an RER phenotype reflect excessive frameshift mutations, especially in simple repetition tracts within the coding sequence. Because this type of mutation is characteristic of cells with a deficient DNA MMR system, the APC mutation signature of RER tumors may be attributable to a defect in the MMR system. However, there is little experimental evidence to prove that the spectrum of mutations and the APC gene distribution are directly influenced by MMR system defects. We therefore examined the mutation spectrum of the MCR of the APC gene after transfection into both MMR-proficient and MMR-deficient yeast strains and compared it with a previously reported human APC mutation database. Small insertions or deletions in mono- or dinucleotide repeats were more common in the MMR-deficient than in the MMR-proficient strain (91.2% vs. 38.1%, Fisher's exact test p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the 2 mutation hot spots, 4385-4394(AG)(5) and 4661-4666(A)(6), found in the yeast system corresponded with those in human tumors. Combining our data with those from human tumors, there appears to be hypermutable mutations in specific simple repetitive sequences within the MCR, which are more prevalent in MMR-deficient cells and RER tumors than in MMR-proficient cells and non-RER tumors. We therefore consider that the differences in the spectra of RER and non-RER tumors are attributable at least in part to the MMR system of the host cells.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein↗
PubMed2003

Diazepam and chlormethiazole attenuate the development of hyperthermia in an animal model of the serotonin syndrome.

The serotonin (5-HT) syndrome is the most serious toxic interaction of antidepressants, but no pharmacotherapy has yet been established. In the present study, we created an animal model of the 5-HT syndrome by intraperitoneally injecting rats with clorgyline (2 mg/kg) and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) (100 mg/kg) and evaluated the effectiveness of potent 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonists and GABA-enhancing drugs, including diazepam and chlormethiazole. The rectal temperature of the rats was measured, and the noradrenaline (NA) and 5-HT levels in the anterior hypothalamus were measured by microdialysis. In the group pre-treated with saline, the rectal temperature increased to more than 40 degrees C, and all of the animals died within 90 min after administration. Pre-treatment with potent 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonists prevented the development of hyperthermia and death in the rats. Pre-treatment with diazepam, 10 and 20mg/kg, and chlormethiazole, 50 and 100mg/kg, attenuated the development of hyperthermia. Although neither of these drugs completely prevented the rats from dying, they prolonged their survival time. Regardless of the type of therapeutic agents, the concentration of 5-HT increased to about 1100-fold the pre-administration level. The NA levels in the saline group increased to about 16-fold the pre-administration levels, but the increase was significantly lower in the rats that survived as a result of drug therapy. These results suggest that GABA-mimetic drugs may be effective against the 5-HT syndrome, although they have a somewhat weaker effect than the potent 5-HT(2A) receptor blockers, and that not only is 5-HT activity increased in the brain in the 5-HT syndrome, but the NA system is also enhanced.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed2003

Regulation of bovine corneal endothelial cell cycle by transforming growth factor-beta.

PURPOSE: The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family includes three multifunctional proteins, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3, expressed in ocular tissue, which are involved in regulating cell differentiation, cell proliferation and other cell functions. TGF-beta is present in aqueous humour and regulates corneal endothelial cells. This study explores the mechanism by which TGF-beta regulates the cell cycle in cultured corneal endothelial cells. METHODS: The expression of specific receptors for the TGF-beta family was investigated at the protein level by affinity cross-linking with radio-iodinated TGF-beta1 and immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies to TGF-beta receptors. Regulation of entry into the S-phase of the cell cycle was determined by 5-bromo-2' deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into the cells. The signal transduction pathways were investigated using various blocking agents for protein kinase transducers involved in intracytoplasmic signal transduction. RESULTS: Cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells were confirmed to express TGF-beta type 1 and type 2 receptors and endoglin. In the confluent state, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 stimulated the cells to progress to the S-phase of the cell cycle through platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) chain production and protein kinase C. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-beta accelerated cell cycle progression from the G0/G1 phase to the S-phase in cultured corneal endothelial cells, under our experimental conditions, through pathways involving protein kinase C. These pathways are related to the cross-talk between TGF-beta and other cytokines. The conditions employed in the present experiments may be useful for investigating the complex cross-talk between various cytokines and growth factors.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Use of telemedicine in periodic screening of diabetic retinopathy.

Telemedicine was used for taking ocular fundus images of diabetic patients, which were subsequently sent by electronic mail to experienced ophthalmologists at a university hospital. The ophthalmologists provided reports on the patients to the internists. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this telemedicine system. A total of 279 diabetic patients were admitted to the Third Department of Internal Medicine of Yokohama City University Hospital, School of Medicine, for blood sugar control or for education on lifestyle between April, 1999, and October, 2000. The subjects did not have eye disease nor diabetic retinopathy when evaluated by an ophthalmologist (at either Yokohama City University Hospital or other facility) within 3 months before enrollment in the study. After dilation of the pupil, fundus images were taken of each eye from four angles using a nonmydriatic fundus camera. The images were transmitted by electronic mail to the Division of Ophthalmology of Tokyo University Branch Hospital along with other patient information. The ophthalmologists there evaluated the images on the screen according to Fukuda's classification of diabetic retinopathy. They sent ophthalmologic reports to the internists at the Third Department of Internal Medicine of Yokohama City University Hospital, School of Medicine, and recommended whether the patient should be seen by his/her regular ophthalmologist earlier than the next scheduled visit. Fundus images were obtained at the time of admission, at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge, and at every 6 months thereafter. Out of the images of 1170 eyes obtained at various time points from the 279 patients, 1076 (92.0%) were successfully evaluated by the ophthalmologists at the University of Tokyo, while 60 (5.1%) could not be evaluated and there was a communication problem for the images of 34 eyes. The ophthalmologists determined that 5 eyes of 3 patients required further evaluation by the patient's regular ophthalmologist based on the images transferred by telemedicine. No patient dropped out during the study period.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Ocular factors relevant to anti-glaucomatous eyedrop-related keratoepitheliopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular factors contributing to keratoepitheliopathy in glaucoma patients treated with or without anti-glaucomatous eyedrops, and the influences of each anti-glaucomatous eyedrop to keratoepitheliopathy. METHODS: The presence and severity of keratoepitheliopathy was investigated in 193 eyes of 110 glaucoma patients. The ocular factors examined were the status of the lipid layer of the tear fluid as assessed by a specular reflection video-recording system, tear volume assessed by Schirmer's test, and tear film stability assessed by tear break-up time. The influences of combined anti-glaucomatous eyedrops and each anti-glaucomatous eyedrops to keratoepitheliopathy were investigated. RESULTS: The overall occurrence of superficial punctate keratitis was 29.0%. Superficial punctate keratitis was more frequently observed in patients who used more than two anti-glaucomatous eyedrops (35.9%) than in those who used without (19.7%) and one (30.9%). Results of Schirmer's test and break-up time were worse in patients who used combined medication. The occurrence of superficial punctate keratitis in patients who used timolol (46.2%) was significantly more frequent than in those who used carteolol (4.2%). Severity of superficial punctate keratitis and break-up time in patients who used timolol were significantly worse than in those who used carteolol. There were no differences of keratoepitheliopathy and ocular factors between patients who used latanoprost and unoprostone. CONCLUSION: The usage of multiple anti-glaucomatous eyedrops induces keratoepitheliopathy by reducing the tear volume and the tear film stability. Carteolol may be used more safely for corneal epithelium.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Mental disorders among Japanese-Brazilians in Japan: relationships to pre-migration and acculturative factors].

The current population of Japanese-Brazilians living in Japan consists mainly of second- and third-generation Japanese immigrants to Brazil. In the last 10 years, they have migrated to Japan, their ancestral country, mostly as industrial workers. The objective of this study was to examine possible relationships between mental disorders and both pre-migration psychosocial factors and acculturative status, among Japanese-Brazilians in Japan. We developed our own Portuguese acculturation-questionnaire to assess the their adaptation to Japanese society and their ethnic-cultural identity. Using the acculturation-questionnaire, the Portuguese version of the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) and an identification form with socio-demographic and clinical data, a community sample of 131 Japanese-Brazilian immigrants in Utsunomiya and outpatient sample of 32 Japanese-Brazilians in the psychiatric department of a medical school in the same region were compared. Analysis was done by chi 2 Fisher and multiple logistic regression. The socio-demographic data indicated that the outpatients were most likely to have past medical history (OR = 12.3), traumatic experience (OR = 10.1) in Brazil before immigration, short duration of residence in Japan (OR = 3.76), no occupation in Brazil (OR = 4.78) and to be living alone in Japan (OR = 5.71). The findings from the acculturation-questionnaire showed that outpatients were most likely to have sociability in Japan with either Brazilians or Japanese only (OR = 3.94) and to hope to hand down either Brazilian or Japanese culture only to their posterity (OR = 5.31). The findings from the acculturation-questionnaire showed that the community sample showed a higher acceptance of both the Brazilian and Japanese culture than the patient sample. We suggested that mentally healthy individuals have a stronger integration orientation as an adaptation modes i.e. to keep the original ethnic-cultural identity on one hand, and to accept the cultural values, attitudes, norms and customs of the host society on the other, than individuals predisposed to- or with mental disorders among Japanese Brazilians in Japan.

Acculturation↗
PubMed2003

[Music therapy used on a patient in the terminal stage of cancer who narrated a tale based on her fantasy].

Music therapy was used on a patient in the terminal stage of cancer who described a fantastic tale built around her imagined pregnancy. We believe that psychiatric intervention was successful through the introduction of music therapy as part of her palliative treatment. Particularly notable in this case was that the patient dealt with the development of ascites by telling a fantastic tale related to a pregnancy--i.e., becoming pregnant with the therapist's child. Her tale started by statements such as "I am pregnant and suffering from morning sickness" and "I am in the third month of pregnancy with the child of my therapist." This progressed in parallel with the actual changes in her physiological symptoms. Among the attending physician, the patient, and her family, this imaginary tale was an important means of communication. The theme of pregnancy, love, and family developed from an unconscious dynamic process between the physician and patient, which could be interpreted as a family-related story originating in the mind of a terminally ill patient. Through this family romance with a major theme of pregnancy, the patient was able to sense her physical crises. This process may be thought of as a product of the so-called "mythgenerating capacity" under limited conditions, which was proposed by Ellenberger. Being aware of this situation, the attending physician and others in charge of her care did not insist on negating her story: instead they accepted her fantasy, and through it they succeeded in establishing psychiatric communications. The process may be considered a form of the narrative approach that is currently attracting attention. In this example, the "process of mourning" and "stages of accepting death" in the terminal state found an outlet in the creation of a fantasy. We believe that this case illustrates the important role of communication between the physician and a patient through the acceptance by the former of a fantastic tale given by the latter; and of a psychotherapeutic intervention, i.e., a sincere interaction between them through music therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[A case of pregnant woman with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder successfully treated by modified-electroconvulsive therapy].

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is rare psychiatric disorder during pregnancy, and is often therapy-resistant. We report a 36-year-old pregnant woman with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder successfully treated by modified-electroconvulsive therapy. During the pregnancy, severe mysophobia and compulsive washing appeared, so severely that she was unable to lie down, endangering the life of the fetus. Since the pharmacotherapy was ineffective, modified electroconvulsive therapy (m-ECT) was performed in cooperation with the obstetrician and the anesthesiologist, along with monitored cardiotocography throughout the procedure. During the second therapy late deceleration on the fetal cardiotocogram occurred, but rapid intravenous administration of ritodrine led to the cessation of abnormal uterine contraction. Two courses of m-ECT markedly diminished her symptoms, and she delivered a healthy infant without complications. M-ECT can be an alternative treatment for pregnant patients with OCD.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Retinopathy in older patients with diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: We studied the effects of the age and/or disease duration in diabetics on the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: The population consisted of 3614 type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. The subjects were divided into three age groups (elderly, > or = 65 years old; middle-aged, 64-40 years old, and younger < 40 years old) for disease duration-adjusted comparison with and without DR and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Then, in 503 patients with 8-year follow-up data available, the frequency of development/progression of DR and the rate of progression to PDR were compared among the three groups. Thirdly, in the elderly patients, DR prevalence and the frequency of the development/progression of DR were compared between two groups with different diabetes duration (> or = 6 years and < or = 5 years). RESULTS: The prevalence of DR increased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The prevalence of PDR decreased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The overall frequency of the development and/or progression of DR increased significantly with age (P = 0.002); however, age was not related to the frequency of progression to PDR. In the patients with diabetes duration of 6-15 years, the frequency of the development/progression of DR and of progression to PDR after an 8-year follow up tended to decrease with age. Elderly patients with a diabetes duration of > or = 6 years showed significantly higher rate of prevalence of DR and frequency of development/progression of DR in an 8-year period than those with diabetes of a shorter duration (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: In elderly DM patients, the prevalence of DR was increased even in the short duration and development/progression rates of DR were increased, while the relative frequency of PDR was decreased. Older-onset DM patients appear to be at a lower risk for progression to PDR.

Adult↗