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Biomedical subjects

T Baba

Publications and source records attributed to T Baba.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Real-time evaluation of the effectiveness of microwave coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using color Doppler imaging.

Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) is a new technique for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is difficult to distinguish those lesions in which necrosis has been induced from the viable residual lesions during the procedure, because the margin of the tumor becomes unclear during PMCT. We determined the area of necrotic lesions during the procedure using color Doppler imaging. PMCT was performed on 10 patients (17 lesions) with recurrent HCC. The electrode of the microwave delivery system was moved around the tumor and the surrounding area until color mosaic images disappeared from the entire area of the tumor. The areas in which necrotic tissue was indicated by color Doppler imaging were later confirmed by other modalities such as angiography or contrast-enhanced computed tomography. This leads us to believe that real-time, effective evaluation of PMCT is possible with color Doppler imaging.

Aged↗

MR of denervated tongue: temporal changes after radical neck dissection.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal changes of MR imaging in the denervated tongue after a radical neck dissection. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four consecutive MR studies in 116 patients with radical neck dissections for malignant tumors of the head and neck were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with tumors involving the tongue or hypoglossal nerve were not included in this study. RESULTS: Abnormal signal intensity and/or hemiatrophy on the side of the tongue operated on was seen in 22 patients who had hypoglossal paralysis after radical neck dissection. The denervated side of the tongue appeared hypointense to hyperintense relative to the normal side on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Signal intensity ratios of the abnormal to normal muscles were 0.9-1.6 on T1-weighted images and 1.3-2.8 on T2-weighted images. High signal intensity on T1-weighted images appeared 5 months or more after the dissection, whereas on T2-weighted images, the most prominent increases in signal intensity appeared in the first several months after denervation. Hemiatrophy of the tongue was observed on MR images obtained more than 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: MR findings in the denervated tongue are compatible with histologic changes and are characterized by an enlarged extracellular fluid space or fatty infiltration. The pattern of signal intensity and the degree of hemiatrophy suggest the duration of denervation.

Adult↗

MR sialography using half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) sequences.

We describe our preliminary experience with the half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) sequences for MR imaging of the salivary gland ducts. In the majority of patients, the main parotid and/or submandibular gland ducts and large branches within the glands were detectable on MR images obtained in 2 seconds per section and within 3 minutes for the entire examination. MR sialography using HASTE sequences can be combined with conventional MR studies for the salivary glands.

Adult↗

[A case of primary cardiac malignant fibrous histiocytoma].

In this article, we report a case of primary cardiac malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The patient, 74-year-old female, had been treated medically for heart failure with minimal improvement and was referred to our hospital. Echocardiogram revealed two cardiac tumors in the left atrium, one of which was obstructing the inflow of the mitral valve. Emergent surgical resection was performed successfully with shortterm ICU stay, but the patient died of DIC on the 24th day after surgery. The pathological examination revealed malignant fibrous histiocytoma and this report is the 40th case report of this kind of primary cardiac tumor.

Aged↗

MR evaluation of radiation otomastoiditis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of radiation otomastoiditis, on using T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, in relation to radiation fields, doses, intervals, and clinical symptoms after radiotherapy that included the temporal bone in the fields. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed follow-up MR examinations at various intervals after radiotherapy including the temporal bones for 270 ears of 114 patients with various diseases of the head and neck and intracranial regions. The middle ear and mastoid air cells on T2-weighted images were scored as follows; showing no high signal intensity, a local high signal intensity area, or a high signal intensity area occupying the entire middle ear and all mastoid air cells. The radiation fields as depicted on the lateral simulator films classed as anterior to the clival line, posterior to the clival line, or both. RESULTS: The incidence of radiation otomastoiditis depicted on T2-weighted MR images increased in the patients who had received irradiation doses of 50 Gy or more. In the patients with doses of less than 50 Gy, the incidence was 18% within 6 months following radiotherapy, 13% at between 6 and 12 months, and 8% after 12 months, whereas it was more than 50% at any period after radiotherapy in the patients with 50 Gy or more. The incidence of radiation otomastoiditis was quite high in the patients whose radiation fields included region both anterior and posterior to the clival line. CONCLUSION: The incidence of radiation otomastoiditis as demonstrated on T2-weighted MR images is increased at irradiation doses of 50 Gy or more. To reduce the incidence of severe radiation otomastoiditis, the irradiation fields of the temporal bone when the dose is 50 Gy or more should be limited to as small as possible. The clival line is considered to be a good landmark in reducing the irradiation field when doses of 60-70 Gy are delivered in curative radiotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Identification of likely genes on chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by correlating transcripts and nucleotide sequence data.

Most of the 97 transcripts of the genes on chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that were identified by a series of Northern hybridization experiments (Yoshikawa and Isono, Nucl. Acids Res., 19, 1189-1195, 1991) have been correlated with the open reading frames (ORFs) deduced from the nucleotide sequence data of this chromosome (Murakami et al., Nature Genet., 10, 261-268, 1995). This was performed by comparing the experimentally constructed physical map and the one produced from the nucleotide sequence data, as well as the sizes and positions of observed transcripts and those of sequenced ORFs. Thus, 75 ORFs of chromosome VI were correlated uniquely with the corresponding transcripts and 3 ORFs with two transcripts of different sizes. Comparing the relative abundance levels of individual transcripts with that of the RPO41 transcript, highly expressed genes of chromosome VI were found to be located almost exclusively on the Crick strand. Based on the correlation between the abundance level of the experimentally identified transcripts and the codon adaptation indices of the corresponding gene, the genes on chromosome VI of S. cerevisiae were classified into three groups. The data thus provides information concerning their chromosomal locations as well as their likely levels of expression in vegetatively growing cells.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Construction of a contiguous 874-kb sequence of the Escherichia coli -K12 genome corresponding to 50.0-68.8 min on the linkage map and analysis of its sequence features.

The contiguous 874.423 base pair sequence corresponding to the 50.0-68.8 min region on the genetic map of the Escherichia coli K-12 (W3110) was constructed by the determination of DNA sequences in the 50.0-57.9 min region (360 kb) and two large (100 kb in all) and five short gaps in the 57.9-68.8 min region whose sequences had been registered in the DNA databases. We analyzed its sequence features and found that this region contained at least 894 potential open reading frames (ORFs), of which 346 (38.7%) were previously reported, 158 (17.7%) were homologous to other known genes, 232 (26.0%) were identical or similar to hypothetical genes registered in databases, and the remaining 158 (17.7%) showed no significant similarity to any other genes. A homology search of the ORFs also identified several new gene clusters. Those include two clusters of fimbrial genes, a gene cluster of three genes encoding homologues of the human long chain fatty acid degradation enzyme complex in the mitochondrial membrane, a cluster of at least nine genes involved in the utilization of ethanolamine, a cluster of the secondary set of 11 hyc genes participating in the formate hydrogenlyase reaction and a cluster of five genes coding for the homologues of degradation enzymes for aromatic hydrocarbons in Pseudomonas putida. We also noted a variety of novel genes, including two ORFs, which were homologous to the putative genes encoding xanthine dehydrogenase in the fly and a protein responsible for axonal guidance and outgrowth of the rat, mouse and nematode. An isoleucine tRNA gene, designated ileY, was also newly identified at 60.0 min.

Base Sequence↗

New assay for glycated lipoproteins by high-performance liquid chromatography.

We developed an automated analytic system for glycated lipoprotein using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an affinity boronate column and a gel permeation column. This system can measure glycated lipoprotein (glycated LDL and glycated HDL) in a small (5 microliters) sample of serum in a short time (40 min/sample). Recovery with this system was 92.1%. Therefore a large number of samples can be measured in clinical use. The system should contribute to an elucidation of the role of glycated lipoprotein in atherosclerosis.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Granuloma formation activity and mycolic acid composition of mycobacterial cord factor.

We analyzed the mycolic acid composition of trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) obtained from Mycobacterium, using thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Utilizing TDM, whose structure was confirmed, granuloma formation in mice was investigated. All TDM used exhibited considerable granuloma formation activity in the lung and spleen. In particular, TDM from M. bovis showed the greatest activity and toxicity among mycobacterial TDM. We therefore discussed the relationship between the chemical structure and granuloma-forming activity of TDM, especially in relation to the structure of mycolic acid in TDM.

Animals↗

Dystrophin in rod spherules; submembranous dense regions facing bipolar cell processes.

It is known that the retina contains the protein dystrophin in the ribbon synapse, but the ultrastructural analysis is not yet fully elucidated. Our previous study reported that dystrophin is localized under the rod cell membranes in rat retinas. In the present study, we have investigated the relationship between dystrophin-rich regions of rod cell membranes and other neuronal processes in mouse retinas with a monoclonal antibody raised against the human dystrophin C-terminus. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence stainings, and immunoelectron microscopy were employed. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that mouse retinas possessed some of the dystrophin isoforms of approximately 260 kDa, 140 kDa, and 70 kDa molecular weight. Confocal images showed a punctate appearance in the outer plexiform layer, as previously described. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that dystrophin immunoreactive products were always observed at submembranous dense regions of the rod spherule abutting bipolar processes. These results suggest that retinal dystrophin may be closely involved in signal transmission from rods to bipolar cells.

Animals↗

Ubiquitously expressed dynamin-II has a higher intrinsic GTPase activity and a greater propensity for self-assembly than neuronal dynamin-I.

To begin to understand mechanistic differences in endocytosis in neurons and nonneuronal cells, we have compared the biochemical properties of the ubiquitously expressed dynamin-II isoform with those of neuron-specific dynamin-I. Like dynamin-I, dynamin-II is specifically localized to and highly concentrated in coated pits on the plasma membrane and can assemble in vitro into rings and helical arrays. As expected, the two closely related isoforms share a similar mechanism for GTP hydrolysis: both are stimulated in vitro by self-assembly and by interaction with microtubules or the SH3 domain-containing protein, grb2. Deletion of the C-terminal proline/arginine-rich domain from either isoform abrogates self-assembly and assembly-dependent increases in GTP hydrolysis. However, dynamin-II exhibits a approximately threefold higher rate of intrinsic GTP hydrolysis and higher affinity for GTP than dynamin-I. Strikingly, the stimulated GTPase activity of dynamin-II can be >40-fold higher than dynamin-I, due principally to its greater propensity for self-assembly and the increased resistance of assembled dynamin-II to GTP-triggered disassembly. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that self-assembly is a major regulator of dynamin GTPase activity and that the intrinsic rate of GTP hydrolysis reflects a dynamic, GTP-dependent equilibrium of assembly and disassembly.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Cerebral ischemic disorders and cerebral oxygen balance during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: preoperative evaluation using magnetic resonance imaging and angiography.

We compared the preoperative prevalence of small cerebral infarctions and carotid stenosis to jugular venous oxygen saturation (Sjvo2) during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Sjvo2 served as an indicator of whether cerebral oxygen supply meets demand in patients on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The study population consisted of 121 patients who were either older than 65 yr or had a history of cerebrovascular disease. The patients underwent preoperative cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cervical magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to detect small cerebral infarctions and carotid artery stenosis. Patients with atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta were identified by intraoperative epiaortic ultrasonography. Liberation of emboli from the aorta in these patients was prevented by modification of the standard operation. From preoperative MRI and MRA, 65 patients (54%) had small cerebral infarctions in the white matter or basal ganglia and nine patients (7%) demonstrated moderate or severe stenosis in the carotid arteries. Thirteen patients (11%) had moderate or severe atheromatous disease of the ascending aorta. The severity of aortic atherosclerosis was significantly correlated with the grade of carotid stenosis (P < 0.05). In patients with small infarctions, Sjvo2 was significantly lower than in patients without infarctions (controls) at initiation of CPB, 30 min after aortic cross-clamping, and during the rewarming period of CPB (P < 0.05). Thus, small cerebral infarctions were not uncommon in elderly patients undergoing CABG. Patients with small cerebral infarctions may be at risk for an imbalance in cerebral oxygen supply and demand during the rewarming period because they are unable to deliver the necessary compensatory blood flow.

Aged↗

Radial artery diameter decreases with increased femoral to radial arterial pressure gradient during cardiopulmonary bypass.

UNLABELLED: A clinically significant femoral to radial artery pressure gradient sometimes develops during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), but the mechanism responsible is not clear. We investigated when the pressure gradient developed and what mechanism could be responsible by comparing mean femoral to mean radial artery pressure and radial artery diameter in 75 male patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. A pressure gradient > or =5 mm Hg (High-P) occurred in 38 patients, and the remaining 37 patients had pressure gradients <5 mm Hg (Low-P) at sternal closure. In High-P group, the pressure gradient was significantly greater (4.8 +/- 3.1 vs 1.0 +/- 3.1 mm Hg; P < 0.001) than in Low-P group, and the ratio of radial artery diameter to the diameter after induction of anesthesia was significantly decreased (0.79 +/- 0.12 vs 0.87 +/- 0.14; P = 0.006) at 5 min after aortic clamping. The pressure gradient and the arterial diameter changes persisted until sternal closure. There was a negative linear correlation between the pressure gradient (deltaP) and the radial artery diameter ratio (D) at sternal closure (D = -15.0deltaP + 16.6, r = 0.39, P < 0.001). In a subgroup of 11 High-P patients, palm temperature was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of 11 Low-P patients during and after CPB. We conclude that the femoral to radial artery pressure gradient develops by 5 min after aortic clamping during CPB and persists until sternal closure, and that radial artery constriction could be responsible for the pressure gradient. IMPLICATIONS: A femoral to radial pressure gradient has been observed after cardiopulmonary bypass. Arterial vasodilation and vasoconstriction have been considered as causes for this gradient. We measured radial artery diameter using pulsed Doppler ultrasound and examined radial artery vasodilation versus vasoconstriction as possible mechanisms for the pressure gradient.

Aged↗