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Biomedical subjects

T Araki

Publications and source records attributed to T Araki.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Anti-atherogenicity in women does not prevent restenosis after balloon angioplasty.

To test the hypothesis that anti-atherogenicity in women exerts beneficial effects to prevent restenosis formation after coronary angioplasty, we studied 493 men (988 lesions) and 81 women (159 lesions), aged 40-60 years, who had undergone successful balloon angioplasty and had follow-up angiography, 4.9 +/- 4.1 months later. We compared the extent of restenosis between men and women, and between pre- and post-menopausal women, which was assessed by a categorical definition of restenosis (more than 50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) and by percent diameter measured immediately after angioplasty and at follow-up. Hypertension was more frequent in women and a significantly lower percentage of women smoked. In women, the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher. The location of dilated lesions, frequency of angioplasty for lesions with chronic total occlusion, and frequency of emergency angioplasty in patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction were similar in men and women. Restenosis formation, estimated by the categorical definition or percent diameter, did not differ between men and women, or between pre- and post-menopausal women. Menopausal status or sex was not an independent predictor of restenosis by multivariate analysis. Thus, the benefit of anti-atherogenicity in women does not play an important role in preventing restenosis after coronary angioplasty.

Adult↗

Tc-99m-MIBI scintigraphy for detecting parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia.

We performed scintigraphy with technetium-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) in 10 patients with parathyroid adenoma (7 lesions) or hyperplasia (9 lesions). Correlation between an amount of accumulation of MIBI and histological types of the lesions were evaluated with special reference to an amount of oxyphilic cell in the lesions. Selected lesions were also evaluated for mitochondrial density by electromicroscopy and showed increased mitochondrial density in the oxyphilic cells. All lesions equal to or above 220 mg showed positive scintigraphic results despite differences in cell types. Undetected lesions were all equal to or below 100 mg. The scintigraphic results for 2 lesions with abundant oxyphilic cells were both positive although those for 11 lesions with abundant chief cells only 6 were positive, probably because these lesions were smaller in the hyperplasia group. In conclusion, MIBI uptake in parathyroid lesions was not dependent on the cell type but either on the size or functional state of the lesions.

Adenoma↗

Scan findings of various myocardial SPECT agents in a case of amyloid polyneuropathy with suspected myocardial involvement.

A 31-year-old male having familial amyloid polyneuropathy underwent a Tc-99m(V)-DMSA study to evaluate the myocardial involvement. The patient also underwent T1-201, I-123-BMIPP and I-123-MIBG myocardial SPECT studies to evaluate blood perfusion, fatty acid metabolism and sympathetic function of the heart, respectively. Tc-99m(V)-DMSA SPECT showed uptake to the myocardium indicating myocardial involvement of amyloidosis. Both T1-201 and I-123-BMIPP studies showed normal uptake indicating normal blood perfusion and fatty acid metabolism but I-123-MIBG SPECT showed no uptake to the heart, indicating severe impairment of sympathetic function.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthetase activity in erythrocytes as a tool for the biological monitoring of lead exposure.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthetase (NADS) activity for the biological monitoring of lead exposure. METHODS: The subjects were 76 male lead workers and 13 normal volunteers (7 males and 6 females). NADS activity and blood lead concentration (Pb-B) was determined in each subject. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity was determined in 58 lead workers out of 76 subjects. RESULTS: NADS activity in the lead workers ranged from 0.08 to 1.1 mumol/h per g of hemoglobin (gHb) and decreased linearly (r = -0.867) as Pb-B increased up to 81.6 micrograms/dl. The pattern of depressed activity of NADS was different from that of ALAD activity, which decreased rapidly and reached a plateau at the Pb-B level between 40 and 60 micrograms/dl. The Pb-B levels inducing 50% inhibition of the enzyme activities were calculated to be 43 micrograms/dl and 20 micrograms/dl for NADS and ALAD, respectively. At the Pb-B level of 40 micrograms/dl, NADS activity showed high validity (1.77) with predictivity of 0.92 at the cut-off level of 0.4 mumol/h per gHb, which were higher than those of ALAD activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results show an apparent dose-effect relationship of NADS activity versus Pb-B. NADS activity can be used for the biological monitoring of lead exposure.

Adult↗

Technical report: coaxial catheter: a new technique for sequential spiral CT during arterial portography and hepatic arteriography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a coaxial catheter method to sequentially acquire spiral-computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP) and hepatic arteriography (CTA) at a single transfer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with malignant hepatic tumours (12 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, four with metastases) were studied using spiral CT. Depending upon the vascular anatomy revealed by conventional coeliac and superior mesenteric arteriography, an outer and inner catheter were selectively placed to perform CTA and CTAP, respectively. CTAP images were obtained first, while injecting contrast material through an inner catheter followed by the acquisition of the CTA images during injection through an outer catheter. In three patients, the resected specimens were available for comparison with the imaging findings. RESULTS: In 12 patients with standard hepatic arterial anatomy, high quality images of CTAP and CTA were obtained. More lesions were detected by the combination of CTAP and CTA than by CTAP or CTA alone in five patients. In one patient with breast carcinoma and a left hepatic artery arising from the left gastric artery, numerous hepatic metastases were delineated on both sets of images. In three patients with replaced or accessory right hepatic arteries, evaluation of the whole liver was difficult on CTA. These procedures were well tolerated by all 16 patients and no complication or technical failure was experienced. CONCLUSION: These preliminary data support this new technique as a promising method of performing CTA and CTAP in patients with standard hepatic arterial anatomy with a single catheter insertion.

Aged↗

Effects of L-dopa and bromocriptine on haloperidol-induced motor deficits in mice.

L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), the precursor of dopamine, and bromocriptine, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, were investigated in haloperidol-induced motor impairments in mice using both catalepsy and pole tests. In catalepsy test, subcutaneous treatment with haloperidol (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) caused a cataleptic effect in mice in a dose-dependent manner. This cataleptic effect was evident upto 7 hr after haloperidol treatment. In pole test, haloperidol (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) produced the prolongation of Tturn and TLA as a marker of bradykinesia in mice and the prolongation lasted at least 7 hr after haloperidol treatment. Intraperitoneal co-pretreatment with L-DOPA (400 mg/kg) + carbidopa (10 mg/kg) in mice decreased the catalepsy induced by haloperidol at a dose of 0.125 mg/kg, while co-pretreatment with L-DOPA (200 and 400 mg/kg) + carbidopa (10 mg/kg) dose-dependently decreased the haloperidol (0.125 mg/kg)-induced bradykinesia. The effect of LDOPA + carbidopa in pole test was more pronounced than that in catalepsy test. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with bromocriptine (2 and 4 mg/kg) in mice reduced the catalepsy and bradykinesia produced by haloperidol at a dose of 0.125 mg/kg. The effect of bromocriptine in pole test was relatively similar to that in catalepsy test. Also, co-pretreatment with LDOPA (400 mg/kg) + carbidopa (10 mg/kg) and pretreatment with bromocriptine (2 and 4 mg/kg) significantly decreased the catalepsy induced by haloperidol at a higher dose of 0.5 mg/kg. These results indicate that co-administration with L-DOPA + carbidopa and single treatment with bromocriptine can decrease haloperidol-induced catalepsy and bradykinesia in mice. Furthermore, our study suggests that pole test as well as catalepsy test is of value in the screening of drugs against neuroleptic-induced motor deficits.

Animals↗

Mucin carbohydrate antigens (T, Tn, and sialyl-Tn) in human ovarian carcinomas: relationship with histopathology and prognosis.

Altered glycosylation of mucins leading to the expression of T, Tn, and sialyl-Tn antigens has been shown in ovarian carcinoma, but its relationship with prognosis is still unclear. We investigated immunohistochemically the expression of these antigens in 38 (17 serous and 21 mucinous) ovarian carcinomas to assess their potential prognostic value as compared with stage of disease, histopathology of tumors, and survival time of patients. Eight benign ovarian tumors (four serous and four mucinous), and four normal ovarian tissues also were studied. Of the 38 carcinomas, 25 (66%) expressed T, 27 (71%) expressed Tn, and 33 (87%) expressed sialyl-Tn antigens. Most cases (83%) expressed two or all of the three types of antigens simultaneously. Normal ovarian epithelia showed no staining for these antigens, and benign ovarian tumors were either negative or occasionally expressed weak staining in less than 25% of epithelial cell areas. Statistical analyses showed strong associations between Tn and sialyl-Tn antigen expressions and disease stage as well as histological grade. In 19 ovarian carcinoma patients with available survival data, the overall survival times of patients with high Tn or sialyl-Tn antigen expression were significantly worse than those of the patients with negative and low expression (P < .05 and P < .01). In multivariate stepwise regression analysis, disease stage (P = .000) and Tn antigen expression (P = .02) were found to be significant independent parameters associated with the overall survival time. These findings suggest that, with exception of T antigen expression, the expression of Tn and sialyl-Tn antigens in ovarian carcinomas may provide additional prognostic information on patient outcome.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

Effects of vinconate on age-related alterations in [3H]MK-801, [3H]glycine, sodium-dependent D-[3H]aspartate, [3H]FK-506 and [3H]PN200-110 binding in rats.

We investigated the effects of age and (+/-)-methyl-3-ethyl-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1 H-in-dolo[3,2,1-de] [1,5] naphthyridine-6-carboxylate hydrochloride (vinconate), an indolonaphthyridine derivative, on calcium channels, neurotransmitter receptor systems and immunophilin in Fischer rat brain using quantitative receptor autoradiography. [3H]MK-801, [3H]glycine, sodium-dependent D-[3H]aspartate, [3H]FK-506 and [3H]PN200-110 were used to label N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, glycine receptors, excitatory amino acid transport sites, FK-506 binding proteins (FKBP) and voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels, respectively. [3H]Glycine and sodium-dependent D-[3H]aspartate binding significantly decreased in the frontal cortex, parietal cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, thalamus, substantia nigra and cerebellum of 24 month old rats in comparison with 6 month old animals. In contrast, [3H]MK-801, [3H]FK-506 and [3H]PN200-110 binding showed no significant changes in the brain of 24 month old rats. Intraperitoneal chronic treatment with vinconate (10 and 30 mg/kg, once a day for 4 weeks) dose-dependently ameliorated the significant reduction in [3H]glycine and sodium-dependent D-[3H]aspartate binding in the brain of 24 month old rats. These results demonstrate that glycine receptors and excitatory amino acid transport sites are more susceptible to aging processes than NMDA receptors, immunophilin and voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels. Furthermore, our findings suggest that vinconate may have a beneficial effect on age-related changes in glycine receptors and excitatory amino acid transport sites.

Aging↗

Effect of cerebral ischemia on dopamine receptors and uptake sites in the gerbil hippocampus.

Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and uptake sites were studied in the gerbil hippocampus, parietal cortex and thalamus 1 h to 7 days after 10 min of cerebral ischemia using the occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries. [3H]SCH23390 ([N-methyl-3H]R[+]-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-7-ol-be nzazepine) and [3H]mazindol were used as markers of dopamine D1 receptors and uptake sites, respectively. [3H]Nemonapride was used to label dopamine D2 receptors. No obvious alteration in [3H]SCH23390 and [3H]mazindol binding was found in the hippocampus up to 48 h after ischemia. These bindings showed a significant reduction in the hippocampus after 7 days of recirculation. In contrast, [3H]nemonapride binding was unaffected in the hippocampus during the recirculation periods. The parietal cortex and thalamus also exhibited no significant changes in [3H]SCH23390, [3H]nemonapride and [3H]mazindol binding after ischemia. MAP2 (microtubule-associated protein 2) immunoreactivity was unchanged in all regions up to 48 h after ischemia. Thereafter, a marked loss of MAP2-immunoreactive neurons was observed in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons 7 days after recirculation. These findings were consistent with histological observations with cresyl violet staining. Our results demonstrate that dopamine D1 receptors and dopamine uptake sites in the hippocampus are susceptible to cerebral ischemia, whereas dopamine D2 receptors in this region are particularly resistant. Furthermore, these findings suggest that dopamine transmission may not be major factor in producing ischemic hippocampal damage.

Animals↗

Loss of the xeroderma pigmentosum group A gene (XPA) enhances apoptosis of cultured cerebellar neurons induced by UV but not by low-K+ medium.

To study the involvement of the xeroderma pigmentosum group A gene (XPA) in neuronal apoptosis, we cultured cerebellar neurons from mice lacking XPA gene (XPA-/-) and induced apoptosis by exposure to UV irradiation or medium containing a low concentration of potassium (low-K+ medium). When cerebellar neurons from postnatal days 15-16 wild-type mice were treated with UV irradiation, apoptotic neuronal death was observed after 24-48 h. About 60% of neurons survived 48 h after UV irradiation at a dose of 5 J/m2. On the other hand, neurons from XPA-/- mice showed a significantly increased vulnerability to UV irradiation, and >90% of neurons died 48 h after UV irradiation at a dose of 5 J/m2. In contrast, low-K+ medium induced apoptosis of neurons from mice of each genotype with the same kinetics. These results suggest that the XPA gene is involved in neuronal DNA repair and that it thereby influences apoptosis induced by DNA damage in cultured cerebellar neurons.

Animals↗

Prognostic value of proliferative activity of ovarian carcinoma as revealed by PCNA and AgNOR analyses.

Proliferative activity of a malignant tumor is known to reflect its biologic aggressiveness. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a marker of cellular proliferation, and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) have been shown to correlate with ploidy and proliferative activity of cells depending on the method of assessment; the mean number of AgNORs per nucleus reflects ploidy, whereas the mean percentage of nuclei with five or more AgNORs per nucleus indicates proliferative activity. In ovarian carcinoma, the prognostic value of these markers has not been well defined. We studied PCNA expression and the AgNOR count in 43 ovarian carcinomas (25 serous, 13 mucinous, and 5 clear cell types) to assess their potential prognostic significance compared with the stage of disease and histopathologic features of the tumors. Eight benign (four serous and four mucinous) and six normal ovarian tissues were also evaluated. A standard colloidal silver staining and an immunohistochemical method were used. The mean percentage of PCNA positivity (PCNA index), the mean number of AgNORs per nucleus (mAgNOR), and the mean percentage of nuclei with more than five AgNORs per nucleus (pAgNOR) for each lesion were determined. In univariable analysis, PCNA indexes and mAgNOR and pAgNOR values were significantly higher in benign ovarian tumors compared with normal ovarian tissues and in adenocarcinomas compared with benign ovarian tumors. In multivariable analysis, PCNA indexes were significantly associated with histologic grade (P=.003), whereas associations of mAgNOR and pAgNOR values were highly significant with both histologic grade and disease stage (P=.0001). Histologic grade, but not subtype, was also associated with disease stage at a significant level (P=.008). Our findings indicate that differences in biologic behavior of ovarian carcinomas may, in part, be defined by differences in their ploidy and proliferative activity, and that whereas PCNA expression is of limited value, assessment of AgNORs holds promise in providing valuable prognostic information on the biologic behavior of the tumors.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

Ion transport systems in the uptake of 99Tcm-tetrofosmin, 99Tcm-MIBI and 201Tl in a tumour cell line.

The kinetics, intracellular distribution and effects of ion transport inhibitors on the uptake of 99Tcm-tetrofosmin, 99Tcm-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (99Tcm-MIBI) and 201Tl were investigated in a tumour cell line. Both uptake and washout of the tracers were measured at specific intervals. Cells were treated with ouabain, dimethyl amiloride (DMA) and bumetanide to observe the effects on uptake, while carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) was used to study the release of the tracers. The tracers showed similar uptake and washout kinetics. Ouabain inhibited 55-67% of 201Tl, 16-22% of 99Tcm-tetrofosmin and 8-14% of 99Tcm-MIBI. DMA inhibited the uptake of both 99Tcm-tetrofosmin (30%) and 99Tcm-MIBI (21%). Bumetanide stimulated the uptake of 99Tcm-tetrofosmin and 99Tcm-MIBI but inhibited that of 201Tl (37%). When cells were pretreated with various combinations of these ion transport inhibitors, the uptake of 201Tl was related to Na+,K+ pump, Na+,K+, 2Cl- co-transport systems, whereas the uptake of both 99Tcm-tetrofosmin and 99Tcm-MIBI was related to the Na+,K+ pump, Na+/H+ antiport systems. Addition of CCCP released 55% and 90% of accumulated 99Tcm-tetrofosmin and 99Tcm-MIBI respectively, indicating that the percentage released was related to mitochondrial uptake.

Amiloride↗

Mutational analysis of BRCA1 gene in ovarian and breast-ovarian cancer families in Japan.

We analyzed the alteration of BRCA1 in DNA obtained from 83 individuals of 13 Japanese site-specific ovarian cancer families and 6 breast-ovarian cancer families. Six germline mutations were detected in 7 families, which consisted of 4 breast-ovarian cancer and 3 site-specific ovarian cancer families, by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, followed by direct sequence determination. The mutations included three frameshifts, two nonsense mutations, and one missense mutation causing loss of a zinc-binding motif. The frequency of loss of heterozygosity at the microsatellite markers on the BRCA1 gene was 57% (8 of 14 cases) in site-specific ovarian cancer families, and 100% (6 of 6 cases) in breast-ovarian cancer families. All tumors of the patients carrying a mutation of BRCA1 showed deletion of wild-type alleles, implicating BRCA1 as a tumor suppressor gene. These results suggest that germline mutations of the BRCA1 gene play an important role in the carcinogenesis of breast and/or ovarian cancer in a majority of breast-ovarian cancer families and in some site-specific ovarian cancer families.

Adult↗

Post-ischaemic alteration of excitatory amino acid transport sites in the gerbil hippocampus.

Sodium-dependent [3H]D-aspartate binding as a marker of excitatory amino acid transport sites in the gerbil hippocampus was evaluated by quantitative receptor autoradiography 1 h to 7 days after transient cerebral ischaemia for 10 min. Sodium-dependent [3H]D-aspartate binding in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 sectors significantly increased in the early post-ischaemic stage. After 7 days, a conspicuous elevation of sodium-dependent [3H]D-aspartate-binding was observed in the hippocampal CA1 sector and dentate gyrus. However, no significant change in the binding was found in the hippocampal CA3 sector. A histological study revealed that transient ischaemia caused severe neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 sector and mild damage in the hippocampal CA3 sector. However, no ischaemic neuronal damage was observed in the dentate gyrus. An immunohistochemical study also showed that numerous reactive astrocytes were evident in the hippocampus, particularly in the hippocampal CA1 sector, 7 days after ischaemia. These results demonstrate that transient cerebral ischaemia can cause marked elevation in excitatory amino-acid transport sites in the hippocampus. Furthermore, our results suggest that the post-ischaemic increase in excitatory amino acid transport sites might reflect expression of reactive astrocytes. These findings are of interest in relation to the mechanisms of ischaemic hippocampal damage.

Animals↗

Age-related changes in [3H]nimodipine and [3H]rolipram binding in the rat brain.

Ageing is associated with changes in neurotransmission which might be correlated with abnormal calcium metabolism. Because there is evidence that nimodipine can enhance the learning abilities of ageing animals and rolipram can enhance the excitability of neurons, providing a functional basis for cognition-enhancing activity, age-related alterations in the binding of voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels and calcium/calmodulin-independent cyclic adenosine monophosphate-selective phosphodiesterase (cyclic-AMP PDE) were studied in 3-week- and 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month-old Fisher 344 rats by use of receptor autoradiography. [3H]Nimodipine and [3H]rolipram were used to label the voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels and calcium/calmodulin-independent cyclic-AMP PDE, respectively. [3H]Nimodipine binding showed no obvious change in all brain areas of 12- and 18-month-old rats, as compared with 6-month-old animals. In 24-month-old rats, however, [3H]nimodipine binding increased significantly in the striatum and hippocampal CA3 sector. In contrast, [3H]rolipram binding showed no significant change in most brain areas during ageing, except for a transient change only in the hippocampal CA1 sector of 12-month-old animals. [3H]Nimodipine and [3H]rolipram binding showed a significant increase in some brain areas of 3-week-old rats compared with 6-month-old animals. The results indicate that in rats voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels are more susceptible to ageing processes than calcium/calmodulin-independent cyclic-AMP PDE. Our data also demonstrate that voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels and calcium/calmodulin-independent cyclic-AMP PDE might play roles in developmental processes. These findings might help further elucidation of the relationship between age-related neurological deficits and behavioural pharmacology including cognitive function.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: preoperative assessment with helical CT versus dynamic MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To compare helical computed tomography (CT) and dynamic, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dynamic MR images obtained with breath holding, 256 phase- and 512 frequency-encoding steps, 5-mm section thickness, phased-array multicoil, and double-dose gadolinium were available from 21 patients. Dynamic MR images were retrospectively compared with helical CT images in the evaluation of tumor detection, local tumor extension, and vascular involvement. RESULTS: Tumors were detected on dynamic MR images of 19 of 21 (90%) patients and on helical CT scans of 16 (76%) patients. Dynamic MR imaging had equal or better sensitivity, accuracy, and agreement of tumor grade than did helical CT in the comparison of imaging findings and histopathologic findings. Dynamic MR imaging also had equal or better specificity than had helical CT in determination of local tumor extension and vascular involvement, except in the factors of duodenal invasion and portal venous system involvement. However, there was no statistically significant difference among any of these measurements. CONCLUSION: Dynamic MR imaging may be better than helical CT in the preoperative detection and evaluation of local tumor extension and of vascular involvement of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

Adult↗

Fetal plasma lipid peroxide levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

Fetal levels of a representative lipid peroxide malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as an index of oxidative stress in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (n = 19) and in normal pregnancy (n = 23). PO2, PCO2 and pH were also measured in umbilical venous blood obtained by cordocentesis. Plasma MDA levels rose an average of 26% above those of normal pregnancy (p < 0.05) and the elevation correlated inversely with umbilical venous PO2 and pH. The results indicate that fetal oxidative stress occurs in preeclampsia before the onset of labor.

Adult↗