Biomedical subjects

T Aono

Publications and source records attributed to T Aono.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Close correlation between estrogen treatment and renal phosphate reabsorption capacity.

To determine the influence of estrogen on the activity of renal proximal tubular reabsorption of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in women, we examined the changes of the renal threshold phosphate concentration (also denoted as TmP/GFR), as well as the changes in the concentrations of mineral components in the circulation in two groups of women--one receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and one receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) therapy. We also examined the changes in the concentrations of serum PTH in the GnRH-a group. The patients in the HRT group were continuously treated with 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogens plus 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate per day. The patients in the GnRH-a group were treated with a monthly injection of 3.75 mg leuprolide acetate depot for 6 months. The values of TmP/GFR decreased in all of the patients who received HRT. The mean percentage change in TmP/GFR was -14.5% (range, -24.3% to -9.6%). In contrast, in all of the patients treated with GnRH-a, the values of TmP/GFR increased after 6 months of treatment (the mean percentage change was 28.5%; range, 18.2-78.3%) and returned to the preadministration level at 12 weeks after stopping therapy. In these patients, both the values of TmP/GFR and the concentrations of serum Pi correlated significantly with circulating estradiol levels (r = -0.767, P < 0.01 and r = -0.797, P < 0.01, respectively), but the concentrations of serum corrected calcium did not correlate. Moreover, in the same patients, the levels of serum intact PTH decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after 6 months of treatment, but at 12 weeks after stopping therapy the trends of these levels varied among individual patients. These results suggest that estrogen could act directly to suppress sodium-dependent Pi reabsorption in the renal proximal tubules.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Prognostic value of nighttime blood pressure in the elderly: a prospective study of 24-hour blood pressure.

Although it has been suggested in several reports that 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) is a better predictor than casual BP measured in a clinician's office of the incidence of cardiovascular (CV) events, little information is available concerning the prognostic value of nighttime BP in the elderly population. Therefore, to evaluate the clinical implications of the nighttime BP in the elderly, we prospectively followed-up 324 elderly individuals (mean age, 77.2 +/- 7.0 years) who had undergone ambulatory BP monitoring at an annual health examination over a mean follow-up period of 51.5 +/- 22.0 months, and the relationship between BP and CV events was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. For the analysis, 310 participants, excluding 14 subjects who were withdrawn due to non-CV events, were classed into two groups, one consisting of 134 individuals who were undergoing treatment with an anti-hypertensive drug (medicated group) and another consisting of 176 who were not medicated (nonmedicated group). New cardiovascular events developed in 43 cases in the medicated group and in 14 cases in the non-medicated group during the follow-up period. In the medicated group, a linear relationship was observed between BP and the event rates. The hazard ratio for CV events adjusted for age, sex, and other cardiovascular risks was 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 1.54, p< 0.05) for a 10 mmHg increase of 24-h systolic BP. Corresponding values in 24-h diastolic BP, nighttime systolic BP, and nighttime diastolic BP were 1.71 (1.19 to 2.46, p< 0.01), 1.34 (1.13 to 1.58, p< 0.01), and 1.67 (1.20 to 2.31, p< 0.01), respectively. In the non-medicated group, the event rate was least in the subgroup in the second-lowest quartile for nighttime systolic BP, with a slight non-significant increase in the subgroup of the lowest quartile. It was shown that insufficient control of nighttime BP in the elderly with hypertension is associated with the development of CV complications.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Evidence that Toki-shakuyaku-san and its ingredients enhance the secretion of a cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC/gro) in the ovulatory process.

We investigated the effects of Toki-shakuyaku-san and its crude ingredients in relation to the secretion of a cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant, CINC/gro, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) in the ovulatory process. Toki-shakuyaku-san significantly (p < 0.01) stimulated the secretion of 17 beta-estradiol but did not stimulate the secretion of progesterone in cultured whole ovarian dispersates. Toki-shakuyaku-san enhanced the secretion of CINC/gro in a dose-dependent manner and the production of CINC/gro at concentrations of 10 and 100 micrograms/ml of Toki-shakuyaku-san increased significantly (p < 0.01). Toki-shakuyaku-san also enhanced secretions of both IL-1 beta and TNF alpha, which are known to stimulate the secretion of CINC/gro in the ovulatory process. The production of TNF alpha increased significantly (p < 0.05) with 10 and 100 micrograms/ml of Toki-shakuyaku-san. Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma, Cnidii Rhizoma, Angelicae Radix, Paeoniae Radix and Alismatis Rhizoma, which are crude ingredients of Toki-shakuyaku-san, significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced the secretion of CINC/gro at concentrations of 100 micrograms/ml. The results of this study show that Toki-shakuyaku-san can stimulate the secretion of 17 beta-estradiol and stimulate the ovulatory process by stimulating the production of CINC/gro, IL-1 beta and TNF alpha in vitro. As a treatment for ovulatory disorders, Toki-shakuyaku-san may have stimulatory effects on both steroidogenesis and the ovulatory process.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Effect of activin on production and secretion of prolactin and growth hormone in cultured rat GH3 cells.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the growth factor activin A on the secretion of prolactin (PRL) and GH in cultured GH3 cells. METHODS: The concentrations of PRL and GH secreted from GH3 cells cultured in media with and without activin A were measured by RIA, and the expression of PRL mRNA and GH mRNA were analyzed using the Northern blot method. RESULTS: Activin A significantly inhibited PRL release from GH3 cells cultured for 48h in a dose-dependent manner (activin: 0.3-3nM). The inhibitory effects of 3nM activin A were observed in the culture from 12h to 48h (53.2% of control). Activin A (3nM) also significantly inhibited the expression of PRL mRNA at 24h (33.8% of control). In contrast, activin A significantly stimulated GH release from GH3 cells cultured for 48h in a dose-dependent manner (activin: 0.3-3nM). The stimulatory effect of 3nM activin A was observed in the culture for 48h (157.6% of control). Activin A (3nM) also significantly stimulated the expression of GH mRNA at 24h (183.6% of control). In spite of these significant changes in PRL and GH secretion, pit-1 mRNA levels were not significantly changed by activin A. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that activin A modulates PRL and GH secretion through the regulation of PRL and GH gene transcription in GH3 cells, but that these effects are unrelated to pit-1 gene expression.

Activins↗

PubMed2000

A patient with cyclic neutropenia complicated by severe persistent neutropenia successfully delivered a healthy baby.

We describe a 24-year-old pregnant woman complicated by cyclic neutropenia (CN), who was successfully treated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Her white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil count fluctuated from 2,600 to 4,600/microl, and 26 to 2,530/microl, respectively. The peak neutrophil count gradually decreased as pregnancy advanced, resulting in the disappearance of its cyclicity. At 39 weeks of pregnancy when the neutrophil count became 84/microl, the patient was started on G-CSF and her neutrophil count increased to 1,550/microl on the fourth day after delivery. She delivered a healthy baby without any complications at 39 weeks of pregnancy.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Fertilization failure and oocyte activation.

Recent reports have suggested that when unfertilized oocytes with a spermatozoon after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are properly activated, the activated oocytes develop normally similar to fertilized oocytes. However, human oocytes do not easily respond to universal activators of mammalian oocytes like ethanol or calcium ionophore A23187, which induce a calcium transient in ooplasm. Puromycin activates human oocytes at a rate of 90%, but more than two thirds of the parthenogenesis possess 2 haploid pronuclei or 1 diploid pronucleus without extrusion of the second polar body. Therefore, the activation method which produces one pronucleus with extrusion of the second polar body in oocytes without a spermatozoon is necessary for producing embryos with normal karyotypes. Recently, we found the oocyte activation method which produced parthenogenesis displaying one pronucleus with extrusion of the second polar body. Using our method (a combination of calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin), the activation rate was approximately 90% and the proportion of parthenogenesis displaying one pronucleus with extrusion of the second polar body was approximately 80% in human aged and mouse young oocytes. When human unfertilized oocytes following ICSI were activated by this method, two pronuclei were formed with extrusion of the second polar body in 30% of the oocytes. Four cleaved parthenogenesis (or embryos) showed normal karyotypes. However, the cytotoxic, teratogenetic and mutagenetic activity of Ca ionophore and puromycin should be approved prior to the clinical adaptation of the method.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Orexins, orexigenic hypothalamic neuropeptides, suppress the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized female rats.

It is well known that feeding disorders are deeply related to reproductive dysfunction, and some feeding regulatory factors may modulate the reproductive function. We examined the effect of orexins, the newly discovered orexigenic hypothalamic neuropeptides, on the pulsatile secretion of LH to clarify their influence on the reproductive function. We administered orexins or saline into the third ventricle of bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and measured the serum LH concentration by RIA in blood samples drawn every 6 min for 2 hours to analyze the pulsatile secretion. In the orexin-treated groups, the mean LH concentration and the pulse frequency were significantly reduced (p < 0.01), but the pulse amplitude did not differ significantly. These data indicate that orexins suppress the pulsatile secretion of LH by influencing GnRH neurons at the hypothalamic level.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

239 + 240Pu and 137Cs concentrations in fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, shellfish, and algae collected around the Japanese coast in the early 1990s.

Marine organisms, i.e. fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, shellfish, and algae, were collected in the early 1990s along the Sea of Japan coast and the Japanese Pacific coast and analyzed for their 239 + 240Pu and 137Cs concentrations. The 239 + 240Pu concentrations in muscle of fish were below 0.4 mBq/kg wet wt. and the lowest among the analyzed marine organisms. Most 137Cs concentrations in muscle of fish ranged from 100 to 300 mBq/kg wet wt. Higher concentrations of 239 + 240Pu, ranging from 1.6 to 5.7 mBq/kg wet wt., were observed in viscera of cephalopods than in their muscle. The 239 + 240Pu concentrations in whole soft tissues of bivalves varied approximately one order of magnitude from 0.8 to 6.1 mBq/kg wet wt., while 137Cs concentrations had little variation, being approximately 60 mBq/kg wet wt. The 239 + 240Pu concentrations in algae had a wide variation, ranging from 1.7 to 42.3 mBq/kg wet wt., and were higher than those of the other marine organisms. No statistically significant difference in mean concentrations of 239 + 240Pu was detected among the whole soft tissues of bivalves, viscera of cephalopods and crustaceans, and whole bodies of cephalopods and crustaceans within the 95% confidence limit. The mean concentrations of 137Cs became higher in the order, cephalopods and crustaceans and bivalves, algae, viscera of fish, muscles of fish. The mean concentrations of 239 + 240Pu were comparable for algae collected along the Japan Sea coast and the Pacific coast. Furthermore, the difference in mean concentrations of 137Cs in algae between the Japan Sea coast and the Pacific coast was not statistically significant within the 95% confidence limit. These results can be considered to indicate no definite influence from radioactive dumping into the Japan Sea by the former USSR and Russia with respect to radioactive pollution of marine organisms collected along the Japanese coast.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Multidirectional differentiation of endometrial carcinoma with special reference to tumor aggressiveness evaluated by Ki-67 expression.

To clarify the correlation between multidirectional differentiation and aggressiveness of endometrial adenocarcinomas, we assessed both proliferative activities (PA) using Ki-67 expression and squamous and/or endocrine differentiation. We divided 51 adenocarcinomas into 22 adenocarcinomas with typical squamous differentiation (>/=10% of tumor cells, typical SQ) classified into 10 adenoacanthomas (AA) and 12 adenosquamous carcinomas (AS), 17 adenocarcinomas with focal squamous differentiation (<10% of tumor cells), and 12 typical adenocarcinomas without morphological squamous differentiation (pure AC), according to the new WHO classification. Paraffin-embedded sections were stained using monoclonal antibodies against high-molecular-weight keratins (HMWK) to recognize squamous cells, chromogranin A to recognize endocrine cells, and Ki-67 antigen to recognize proliferating cells. Both AA and AS exhibited lower PA than pure AC. Typical SQ exhibited lower PA than pure AC. This difference was also significant after selecting only grade 1 or stage I/II cases. AA exhibited lower PA than AS and also after selecting only grade 1 or stage I/II cases. PA of adenocarcinoma with the expression of HMWK in >/=30% of tumor cells was lower than those without HMWK. PA of adenocarcinoma with the expression of chromogranin A in >/=10% of tumor cells was lower than those without chromogranin A. These differences were also significant after selecting only grade 1 or stage I/II cases. Squamous and/or endocrine differentiation is a good marker for a reduction of PA. Endometrial adenocarcinomas with multidirectional differentiation exhibited lower PA and were likely to be more mature than those with monodirectional differentiation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

Binding of human secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in uterine cervical mucus to immunoglobulins: pathophysiology in immunologic infertility and local immune defense.

OBJECTIVE: To identify an Fc receptor-like molecule in human cervical mucus. DESIGN: Controlled experimental laboratory study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing treatment for infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylimide gel electrophoresis and Western blot were used for analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): A water-insoluble protein with immunoglobulin-binding activity was purified from human cervical mucus by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The initial 21 amino acids of the N-terminus of the immunoglobulin-binding protein were determined and analyzed in a computer search for homology. RESULT(S): The purified fraction contained a 15-kd protein that binds immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin M, and all subclasses of human immunoglobulin G as determined by Western blot analysis. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminus is identical to that of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor. The capacity of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor to bind immunoglobulins was confirmed by Western blot analysis. CONCLUSION(S): A component in human cervical mucus capable of binding immunoglobulins was identified as secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor. The capacity to bind immunoglobulins is a unique property of the protein, providing additional support for the contention that it plays an important physiologic role in local tissue defense mechanisms. It also is involved in the pathogenesis of immunologic infertility by trapping sperm in the cervical mucus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Identification of the human sperm protein that interacts with sperm-immobilizing antibodies in the sera of infertile women.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the target antigen of sperm-immobilizing antibodies present in the circulation of infertile women. DESIGN: Laboratory research. SETTING: Academic research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Twenty-nine infertile women with sperm-immobilizing antibodies, 22 infertile women with other disorders, and 20 fertile women. INTERVENTION(S): Titers of antibodies to the sperm protein, rSMP-B, were determined by ELISA using as substrate the synthetic peptide segment (rSMP-230) that corresponds with the hydrophilic domain of rSMP-B. Tests for sperm immobilization and zona pellucida penetration were performed using the human IVF system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Human sera with sperm-immobilizing activity were assayed for the presence of antibodies to rSMP-230. Polyclonal antibodies to rSMP-230 were assessed for the same biologic activities as sperm-immobilizing antibodies. RESULT(S): Antibodies to rSMP-230 were detected in 10 (34%) of 29 sera obtained from women with immunologic infertility. In contrast, only one serum sample (2%) from women without sperm-immobilizing activity had a low titer of antibodies to rSMP-230. Polyclonal antibodies to rSMP-230 completely immobilized human sperm in the presence of complement and blocked sperm penetration across the zona pellucida. CONCLUSION(S): The human sperm protein, rSMP-B, probably is the target antigen of sperm-immobilizing antibodies.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Quality of embryo does not affect the implantation rate of IVF-ET in infertile women with antisperm antibody.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether low quality score of embryos and advanced maternal age affect the implantation rate in infertile women with sperm-immobilizing antibody. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: The IVF Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tokushima University Hospital. PATIENT(S): Four infertile groups were studied: 20 women with sperm-immobilizing antibodies; 169 with tubal; 129 with male factor; and 72 with unexplained etiology. INTERVENTION(S): All women were hyperstimulated with GnRH analogue and scheduled ovarian stimulation with FSH and hMG for oocyte retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Relationship of quality of transferred embryos, implantation rate and maternal age among four groups of infertile couples. RESULT(S): In the antisperm group, the fertilization rate (57.6%) and mean (+/- SD) score of transferred embryos (5.4+/-1.9) were significantly lower than those in the tubal group (72.4% and 6.2+/-1.9, respectively). However, the implantation rate in the antisperm group (23.6%) was significantly higher than those in other three groups (tubal, 8.6%; male factor, 9.5%; unexplained, 7.6%). With advancing maternal age, the implantation rate decreased in the three comparative groups. In contrast, the implantation rate in the antisperm group did not decrease with advancing maternal age. CONCLUSION(S): Women with antisperm antibodies have several disadvantages to overcome in order to achieve successful IVF-ET, such as a low fertilization rate and poor quality of transferred embryos. However, a high implantation rate was observed in this group, even in women at advanced age. The occurrence of a cellular or humoral immune reaction against sperm may augment the uterine receptivity for the implantation of fertilized ova or blastocyst.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effect of lysophosphatidic acid on the ovum transport in mouse oviducts.

The effects of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on ovum transport in mouse oviducts were studied. When excised oviducts were incubated at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2 in humidified air for 24 hours, addition of LPA at 10 microM to the medium significantly accelerated the rate of ovum transport, and 1 microM LPA slightly increased the ovum transport rate. These increases were not inhibited by 10 microM indomethacin, a cyclooxygense inhibitor, but were suppressed by 260 ng/ml of pertussis toxin or 10 microM verapamil, a voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker. These data suggested that LPA stimulates mouse ovum transport by contracting oviductual smooth muscle via a voltage-sensitive calcium channel mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein-linked receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Transvaginal Doppler assessment of fetal intracranial venous flow.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate physiologic blood-flow-velocity waveform patterns of the fetal cerebral venous system during normal pregnancies by transvaginal Doppler studies and to evaluate cases with abnormal venous-flow patterns. METHODS: Internal cerebral veins and the three dural sinuses, those of the superior sagittal sinus, vein of Galen, and straight sinus, were examined in normal cephalic-presenting fetuses of 20-40 weeks' gestation. For analysis, the venous index was defined as maximum minus minimum velocity divided by maximum velocity. Different cases with intracranial abnormalities were evaluated with emphasis on abnormal venous blood-flow patterns. RESULTS: Internal cerebral veins had pulsatile patterns with a venous index of 0.22 in 47.6% of fetuses, whereas all fetuses had pulsations in the dural sinuses. The vein of Galen had a significantly lower venous index (0.31) than the superior sagittal sinus (0.39) and the straight sinus (0.36), indicating that the amplitude of the intracranial venous pulsation might increase as the flow runs from the periphery toward the proximal portion. Significant regression lines of venous index were obtained, indicating the stability of the pulsation during pregnancy. A flat pattern of superior sagittal sinus flow was found in three cases of hydrocephalus and one of craniosynostosis. CONCLUSION: We showed the normal patterns of fetal cerebral venous blood-flow velocity and the abnormal patterns which might be associated with increased intracranial pressure. Doppler assessment of the intracranial venous system enabled us to evaluate intracranial abnormalities accompanied by increased intracranial pressure that might have prognostic clinical importance.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1999

Neonatal lupus erythematosus: results of maternal corticosteroid therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possibility of preventing cardiac or cutaneous manifestations of neonatal lupus erythematosus or treating the fetus with congenital heart block by administering corticosteroid therapy to the mother. METHODS: Eighty-seven offspring of 40 anti-Ro/SSA-positive mothers, followed up from 1979 to 1996, were evaluated. Autoantibodies against Ro/SSA and La/SSB antigens were detected by immunodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: None of 26 neonates whose mothers received corticosteroid maintenance therapy initiated before 16 weeks' gestation demonstrated congenital heart block, whereas 15 of 61 neonates whose mothers received no corticosteroids during pregnancy or began receiving steroid therapy after 16 weeks' gestation had congenital heart block. Complete congenital heart block, once developed, did not respond to corticosteroid treatment in utero. Four infants whose mothers received steroid treatment before 16 weeks' gestation had skin lesions of neonatal lupus erythematosus. CONCLUSION: Once established, complete congenital heart block was irreversible and maternal corticosteroid therapy did not effectively prevent cutaneous lupus erythematosus. However, prenatal maintenance therapy with prednisolone or betamethasone given to the mother starting early in pregnancy (before 16 weeks' gestation) might reduce the risk of developing antibody-mediated congenital heart block in the offspring.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1999

Production of lysophosphatidic acids by lysophospholipase D in human follicular fluids of In vitro fertilization patients.

Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are known to be normal constituents of mammalian serum, and they mimic some biological effects of the serum. We previously reported that lysophospholipase D (LPLD) was involved in the accumulation of LPAs in incubated rat plasma and serum. In this study we detected, by gas-liquid chromatography, various molecular species of LPA in follicular fluids collected from women programmed for in vitro fertilization. When the follicular fluid was incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 h, persistent increases in the amounts of LPAs were observed concomitant with decreases in the amounts of the corresponding lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), although the concentrations of saturated LPCs increased in the first 6 h of incubation. These results suggest that human follicular fluid has LPLD activity, and this was confirmed by experiments with follicular fluids mixed with an exogenous radioactive LPC. The LPLD showed preference for unsaturated over saturated LPCs, similar to plasma LPLD, indicating that it originated from the circulation.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effects of activin on hormone secretion by single female rat pituitary cells: analysis by cell immunoblot assay.

We investigated the effect of activin A on secretion of LH, FSH, and prolactin (PRL) by female cultured rat pituitary cells at the single-cell level by means of the cell immunoblot assay. Anterior pituitary cells from 8-week-old female rats were preincubated with or without activin A for 24 h, after which they were monodispersed and immediately used for cell immunoblot assay. The percentages of LH-, FSH- and PRL-immunoreactive cell blots detected were 5.5, 5.3 and 43.1%, respectively, of all pituitary cells applied to the transfer membrane. The percentage of LH-secreting cells and mean LH secretion per cell did not change after treatment with activin. In contrast, activin significantly increased the percentage of FSH-secreting cells and mean FSH secretion per cell to 136.0 and 114. 5% respectively. In addition, activin significantly decreased the percentage of PRL-secreting cells and mean PRL secretion per cell to 52.2 and 72.0% respectively. These results suggest that (1) activin A has effects on female rat pituitary cells that increase not only the amount of FSH secretion per cell but also the number of FSH-secreting cells, and (2) activin A decreases both the amount of PRL secretion per cell and the number of PRL-secreting cells.

Activins↗

PubMed1999

[Postoperative respiratory management in patients undergoing radical surgery with three fields lymph node dissection for thoracic esophageal cancer: clinical benefits of assisted ventilation with mini-tracheostomy].

The benefits of early extubation and assisted ventilation with mini-tracheostomy and preventive positive pressure ventilation in the early stage after thoracic esophageal cancer operation are examined and compared. Subjects were 23 patients who underwent radical operation for thoracic esophageal cancer in our hospital over a 5 year period. Ten patients (A group) underwent positive pressure ventilation with postoperative intubation for a certain period. Thirteen patients (B group) were extubated the day after operation, then immediately mini-tracheostomized, and then intermittent high-frequency jet ventilation during the daytime and pressure controlled ventilation during the nighttime were conducted. There were no differences in background factors between the two groups. The mean period of tracheal intubation was 8.8 days in the A group and 1.6 days in the B group. The mean period of stay in ICU was 13 days in the A group and 7 days in the B group. Both such periods were significantly shorter in the B group than in the A group. Respiratory control by early extubation and mini-tracheostomy after thoracic esophageal cancer operation is considered to have the following two benefits; 1. The method is performed safely, and makes sputum suction easier and assisted respiration conductible. 2. The method reduces the incidence of pulmonary complications and shortens the period of stay in ICU.

Aged↗