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Biomedical subjects

T Endo

Publications and source records attributed to T Endo.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Intracaval endovascular ultrasonography for preoperative assessment of retrohepatic inferior vena cava infiltration by malignant hepatic tumors.

The accurate diagnosis of inferior vena cava infiltration is important not only for preoperative staging but also for performing surgery for hepatic tumor involving the inferior vena cava (IVC). We investigated the diagnostic value of intracaval endovascular ultrasonography (ICEUS) in the diagnosis of invasion of the IVC by a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients with hepatic tumors with possible invasion of the IVC. The procedure was performed using an 8F, 20-MHz intravascular ultrasonography (US) from the right femoral vein. Twenty-nine of the 30 patients underwent surgery, and the tumor was resected in 25 cases, including 3 cases of combined resection of the IVC. The diagnostic criterion for IVC infiltration with ICEUS was obliteration of a single echogenic layer of the IVC wall or intracaval tumor mass. The results of ICEUS were compared with those of computed tomography (CT), cavography, conventional US, and intraoperative US. Vascular invasion was identified in 7 of 30 cases and was subsequently confirmed by pathological examination of four resected specimens, including one autopsy and two operative findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of ICEUS for the diagnosis of the IVC invasion was 100%, 95.8%, and 96.7%, respectively, against 85.7%, 60.8%, and 66.7% for CT, and 71.4%, 73.9%, and 73.3%, respectively, for cavography. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of conventional US was 87.5%, 59%, and 66.7%, respectively; those of intraoperative US were 100%, 81.8%, and 86.2%, respectively. ICEUS is a useful technique that can precisely evaluate the IVC for possible hepatic tumor invasion.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Large-scale search for genes on which positive selection may operate.

We conducted a systematic search for the candidate genes on which positive selection may operate, on the premise that for such genes the number of nonsynonymous substitution is expected to be larger than that of synonymous substitutions when the nucleotide sequences of genes under investigation are compared with each other. By obtaining 3,595 groups of homologous sequences from the DDBJ, EMBL, and GenBank DNA sequence databases, we found that 17 gene groups can be the candidates for the genes on which positive selection may operate. Thus, such genes are found to occupy only about 0.5% of the vast number of gene groups so far available. Interestingly enough 9 out of the 17 gene groups were the surface antigens of parasites or viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis reduces coronary blood flow response but does not increase cardiac contractile response to beta-adrenergic stimulation in normal dogs.

Whether the nitric oxide (NO) system constitutively present in the normal myocardium and resistance coronary vessels regulates basal cardiac contractility and coronary blood flow (CBF), as well as their responses to beta-adrenergic stimulation in intact heart, remains controversial. We examined the effects of low and high doses of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 and 100 mu g/kg/min for 10 min), an NO synthase inhibitor, as well as D-enantiomer administered into left circumflex (LCX) artery on responses of left ventricular (LV) dP/dt, regional wall thickening in LCX region and LCX blood flow to graded intracoronary doses of isoproterenol (ISO 0.002-0.016 mu g/kg/min) in normal dogs. Intracoronary L-NAME, which was associated with dose-related reductions in acetylcholine (ACh)-induced coronary vasodilation, significantly reduced baseline LCX blood flow and its response to ISO. However, L-NAME did not change baseline LV contractility as assessed by LV dP/dt and regional wall thickening, nor did it increase its response to ISO. D-Enantiomer was ineffective in reducing baseline LCX blood flow as well as its response to ISO. These results indicate that constitutive NO formation in the vasculature contributes to basal coronary vascular tone as well as resistance adjustments during beta-adrenergic stimulation. However, NO formation in the normal myocardium did not influence basal cardiac contractility; nor did it increase cardiac response to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Short-pedicle vascularized nail flap.

We have reported three cases of vascularized nail flap transfer with a short pedicle to the index and little fingers. We consider that reconstruction of fingers should be conducted positively even in the case of the nail defect except the thumb, if a patient desires. Since these operations are aimed at cosmetic improvement, reconstruction with a short pedicle seems to be the method worth employing because it leaves short skin incisions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A non-randomized comparative study of visual laser ablation and transurethral resection of the prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been the preferred surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for the past 50 years. Alternative methods for treating BPH such as visual laser ablation (VLAP) have been established during the past decade. In order to assess the safety and efficacy of VLAP, this alternative method was performed using a Urolase fiber and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, and compared to results obtained in patients treated with TURP for BPH. METHODS: In this non-randomized comparative study, 100 BPH patients were equally split between treatment with VLAP or TURP, and their cases compared. The efficacy was assessed using an International Prostate Symptom Score, urinary flow rates, post-void residual urinary volume and an estimated prostate volume. RESULTS: There was a clinically significant improvement in all parameters in both groups. In the VLAP and TURP groups, 92.0% and 81.6%, 90.2% and 86.2 and 93.1% and 100.0% were categorized as effectively-treated cases at 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively, respectively. No severe side effect was seen in VLAP group. The total and post-operative lengths of hospitalization in the VLAP group were shorter, but the duration of post-operative bladder irrigation was longer in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although TURP remains the standard surgical treatment for BPH, VLAP is associated with less morbidity and the clinical outcome is similar compared to patients treated with TURP. VLAP in conjunction with TURP may result in less risk of postoperative urinary retention and vesical irritability.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on tracheal smooth muscle of guinea-pigs in vitro.

1. The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on airway smooth muscle is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether the action of CGRP on tracheal strips of guinea-pigs is modulated by epithelium and whether this peptide-induced action involves other mediators including nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET)-1. 2. CGRP produced a weak dose-dependent increase in guinea-pig tracheal tension in vitro (-logEC50 = 8.5 +/- 0.1, maximum contraction = 8.3 +/- 1.2% of 50 mM KCl-induced contraction, n = 6). In epithelium-depleted preparations, CGRP (10(-7) M)-induced contraction was significantly potentiated from 9.0 +/- 1.9% to 41.1 +/- 6.0% (n = 6). 3. L-NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M), which inhibits NO synthesis, enhanced the contractile response to CGRP from 9.0 +/- 1.9% to 31.2 +/- 1.1% (n = 6). Indomethacin (10(-5) M) also enhanced the response to CGRP, although the effect was weak (13.4 +/- 3.2%, n = 6). 4. Anti-ET-1 serum changed the CGRP-induced contraction into a relaxation. After incubation of the trachea with ET-1 (10(-7) M) to attenuate ET-1-induced responses, the CGRP-induced contraction also changed into a relaxation. BQ-123 (an ETA receptor antagonist) and BQ-788 (an ETB receptor antagonist) caused the same conversion of the CGRP response, from contraction to relaxation, although the relaxing effect elicited by BQ-788 was more potent than that by BQ-123. Maximum inhibitory responses were -31.0 +/- 3.3% and -13.0 +/- 2.3% of 50 mM KCl-induced contraction, respectively (n = 6). 5. In primary culture, guinea-pig tracheal epithelial cells released ET-1, and CGRP (10(-5) M) significantly increased the release of ET-1. 6. These data suggest that the action of CGRP is modulated by airway epithelium and this mechanism involves the release of NO and ET-1. Especially, the majority of contractile action elicited by CGRP consists of an action of ET-1 via the predominant ETB receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[An outbreak of waterborne Cryptosporidiosis in Kanagawa, Japan].

An outbreak of diarrhea due to infection with Cryptosporidium occurred among the staff members and customers who visited one of the 10 public houses or a dancing school in a building in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, at the end of summer in 1994. The epidemiological surveys by a questionnaire revealed that 461 out of 736 persons investigated complained of cholera-like or flu-like illness. The clinical manifestations included mucous and/or watery diarrhea (96.7%), abdominal pain (61.6%), fever (54.2%: lower than 39 degrees C = 84.1%, higher than 39 degrees C = 15.9%), malaise (37.1%), nausea (32.8%) and headache (29.3%). The polluted drinking water was strongly suspected to be the immediate cause of infection. Although several species of pathogenic bacteria were isolated both from stool and water samples, they were not supposed to be linked to the outbreak. No known enteropathogenic virus was found in either of the samples. Oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum were identified in 12 (48.0%) of the 25 stool samples. The oocysts were also found in tap water and other water samples from a receiving tank which was directly connected with the public waterworks, and an elevated tank on the roof, a wastewater pits, a soil pit and artesianspring water tank. These tanks and pits except for the elevated tank were built adjucent to each other on an underground floor of the building. These tanks and pits were connected with openings in the upperpart of the tank walls. These openings might have functioned to discharge excess of drinking water in the receiving tank to the wastewater pit. The water level of the wastewater pit is kept down below the openings by pumping out the sanitary sewage to the public drain. According to the declaration of the owner of the building, however, the wastewater pump was broken at the time of outbreak. Accidental malfunction of the drainage system caused contamination of drinking water with sanitary sewage through the connecting pipes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Subtle pulmonary disease: detection with computed radiography versus conventional chest radiography.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic efficacy of hard- and soft-copy computed radiographic (CR) images versus conventional screen-film images of the chest in the detection of subtle pulmonary abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty observes compared 87 hard-copy and soft-copy CR images with hard-copy screen-film images. Of 87 test images, 45 (including two identical sets of 12 images to test intra-observer variability) were abnormal and 42 (including two identical sets of 12 images) were normal. Of the 45 abnormal images, 15 (including two sets of four identical images) showed subtle abnormalities, 15 (including two sets of four identical images) showed mild abnormalities, and 15 (including two sets of four identical images) showed obvious abnormalities. Soft-copy viewing provided three differently processed images of every radiograph. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in receiver operating characteristic analyses were found among hard-copy screen-film images, hard-copy CR images, and soft-copy CR images, even in the group with subtle interstitial abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Hard-copy and soft-copy chest CR images are acceptable and available in place of screen-film images for primary interpretation of subtle interstitial lung diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Transfer function analysis of central arc of aortic baroreceptor reflex in rabbits.

While electrically stimulating the aortic depressor nerve (ADN) pseudorandomly, we recorded renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and systemic arterial pressure (SAP) in 19 alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rabbits with sinoaortic denervation. From the recorded signals, we determined the transfer functions from ADN stimulation by a pseudorandom binary sequence to RSNA [HCMD.RSNA(f)] and to SAP [HCMD.SAP(f)]. The modulus of HCMD.RSNA(f) was flat over 0.0122-0.8 Hz, whereas the phase lag increased linearly with frequency. Thus the central transduction appeared not to modify the relative amplitude of the signals from the baroreflex afferents but to provide a fixed time delay (approximately 400 ms). In contrast, the modulus of HCMD.SAP(f) decreased precipitously toward high frequencies, and the degree of the phase lag was larger than that of HCMD.RSNA(f). We conclude that 1) the transfer property of the central are does not significantly modify the relative amplitude of the frequency components of the baroreflex afferents but provides a fixed time delay and 2) the frequency independence of the modulus of the transfer property is not preserved when the analysis is extended to SAP.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Differentiation of rat preadipocytes is accompanied by expression of thyrotropin receptors.

To investigate the regulation of expression of the TSH receptor (TSHR) in extrathyroidal tissues, the level of TSHR messenger RNA (mRNA) and TSH-dependent signal transduction were determined in isolated rat adipocytes and cultured preadipocytes. The epididymal, sc, and perirenal, but not the interscapular brown adipose tissues, possessed TSHR mRNA and increased cAMP responses to TSH and were thus used as the source of preadipocytes. Morphological analysis revealed that the combination of insulin and T3 most effectively caused the differentiation of rat preadipocytes. These differentiated preadipocytes exhibited increased cAMP production in response to TSH. The addition of FCS to the culture medium inhibited the differentiation of rat preadipocytes as well as TSH-stimulated production of cAMP. The stimulation of differentiation was associated with an increased expression of TSHR mRNA levels, whereas the inhibition of differentiation was associated with a decreased expression of TSHR mRNA, as detected by Northern blot analysis. The results indicate that the expression and function of the TSHR in cultured rat preadipocytes are closely related to cellular differentiation. Cultured rat preadipocytes appear to provide a useful system for studying the mechanism of extrathyroidal expression of TSHR.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed1996

Effects of zinc and copper on uptake of cadmium by LLC-PK1 cells.

Effects of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) on cadmium (Cd) accumulation were investigated in LLC-PK1 cells. Coincubation with Zn or Cu decreased Cd uptake by the cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Cd accumulation data suggested that Cd is taken up by the cells via simple diffusion and carrier-mediated transport. Zn and Cu significantly increased the Km of Cd uptake with no or little effect on the Vmax. Pretreatment of the cells with ouabain and a metabolic inhibitor (FCCP) significantly decreased Cd accumulation, and coincubation with Zn or Cu led to an additional decrease in Cd accumulation by these cells. Overall, it seems that, in addition to simple diffusion, Cd is also taken up by LLC-PK1 cells via carrier-mediated mechanisms that are competitively inhibited by Zn and Cu.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[The transport of enoxacin in cultured kidney epithelial cells LLC-PK1].

In this study, the transport of enoxacin (ENX) was investigated in a LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cell line. The uptake of ENX by LLC-PK1 monolayers cultured in plastic dishes was shown to be temperature-dependent and concentration-dependent. Cimetidine and guanidine inhibited the uptake of ENX, whereas TEA and NMN did not. The basolateral to apical flux of ENX across LLC-PK1 monolayers cultured on permeable supports was about two times larger than the apical to basolateral flux. The basolateral to apical flux of ENX was remarkably inhibited by guanidine, whereas it was not inhibited by TEA, NMN and cimetidine. The apical to basolateral flux of ENX was inhibited by cimetidine and guanidine, whereas it was not inhibited by TEA and NMN.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Role of serotonin in emesis].

There are now abundant evidence to confirm the role of serotonin (5-HT) and in particular, 5-HT3 receptors in the control of cisplatin-induced emesis. Emesis caused by cisplatin is associated with an increase in the concentration of 5-HT in the intestinal mucosa and in the area postrema. The intestinal mucosa contains enterochromaffin (EC) cells that synthesize and secrete approximately 80% of all 5-HT produced in the body. A selective 5-HT3 agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT, induced a dose-dependent increase in 5-HT level from the ileum. Furthermore, a selective 5-HT4-receptor agonist, 5-methoxytryptamine also induced a concentration-dependent increase of 5-HT level. Both 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors may be involved in intestinal 5-HT release. It is proposed that anticancer drugs cause 5-HT release from the EC cells and that the released 5-HT stimulates the 5-HT3 receptors on the afferent vagal fibers, resulting in their deporalization. Electrical stimulation of the abdominal vagal afferents is capable of inducing emesis, and abdominal vagotomy suppresses cisplatin-induced emesis. These results indicate that the vagus is the major afferent pathway involved in the detection of emetic stimuli.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1996

[Changes in the production of reactive oxygen species from neutrophils following a 100-km marathon].

Recently, the numbers of city marathon runners and joggers have increased. They believe that exercise can enhance their fitness level and health maintenance. However, many researchers have suggested that exhausting exercise may increase the risk of infection and free radical generation. In this study, eight male and ten female city marathon runners who participated in the Akita Nairiku Resort Cup 100-km Challenge Marathon Race were studied using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) to examine the ability of their neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, serum opsonic activity using LDCL, serum concentrations of the third and fourth components of the complement (C3, C4), the total number of leukocytes, and proportion of leukocytes were also determined. Evaluation of LDCL was undertaken using the maximum light emission (peak height) and the time to reach the maximum light emission (peak time) in the response curve of LDCL. Following the race, the peak time was prolonged by 11% in males and 15% in females, and the peak height increased by 68% in males and 48% in females. These results suggest that exhausting exercise stimulates neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species. The total number of leukocytes increased about twofold, whereas the number of neutrophils increased about threefold after the race as compared to before. The rate of the increase in leukocytes was closely associated with that of neutrophils (r = 0.96, P < 0.01). Therefore, the leukocytosis observed in this study was dependent on neutrophilia. Serum opsonic activity and serum concentrations of C3 and C4 were not changed following the race. The increase in the ability of neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species and neutrophilia after the race, suggests that a large quantity of reactive oxygen species may be produced in vivo following exhausting exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Conversion of a cyanhydrin compound into S-(-)-3-phenyllactic acid by enantioselective hydrolytic activity of Pseudomonas sp. BC-18.

A Pseudomonas strain, named BC-18, which can convert racemic phenylacetaldehyde-cyanhydrin (3-phenyllactonitrile) enantioselectively to S-(-)-3-phenyllactic acid (S-PLA), was isolated from soil. Although PLA produced with intact cells contained the S enantiomers of approximately 75% enantiomeric excess (% e.e.), repeated crystallization gave a higher purity (99.8% e.e.) of the S configuration product. Production of S-PLA was significantly increased when 2.0% (w/v) of calcium chloride were added to the reaction mixture for precipitation of S-PLA. Chemical mutagenesis yielded a mutant strain, named BC348-9, with 16 times higher activity (40 mU/OD630), compared with that of the parent strain (2.5 mU/OD630). When the mutant strain BC348-9 was used, approximately 18 g/OD630 was produced, which is 12 times higher than that of the parent strain. The final accumulation of PLA exceeded 6.0%, 1.2 times higher than that of the parent strain.

Calcium Chloride↗
PubMed1996

Does inhibition of coronary nitric oxide synthesis alter coronary vascular tone in normal dogs?

To examine whether endothelial nitric oxide formation contributes to the vascular tone of resistance coronary vessels in vivo, we administered NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 and 100 micrograms/kg/min), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, as well as D-enantiomer into the left circumflex artery in normal dogs. Intracoronary L-NAME, which was associated with dose-related reductions in acetylcholine-induced coronary vasodilation, significantly reduced the baseline left circumflex blood flow by 6% and increased coronary vascular resistance of the left circumflex artery by 6%. D-enantiomer was ineffective in altering baseline coronary blood flow and vascular resistance of the left circumflex artery. These results indicate that continuous nitric oxide formation in the vasculature is important in the regulation of the coronary vascular tone of resistance vessels in vivo, and serves to maintain the vessels in a dilated state.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Blockade of ovulation in rabbits by RU-486, a competitive progesterone antagonist.

The effect of an anti-progesterone compound, RU-486, administration (20-150 mg) on ovulation in rabbits was investigated. All of the seven control oil-treated rabbits ovulated, whereas, ovulation was blocked in one (12.5%) of eight rabbits treated with 20 mg RU-486, and in 4-6 (66.7-85.7%) of the 6 or 7 rabbits treated with 40-150 mg RU-486. Two successive injections of 10 mg progesterone (P) 4 and 8 hr after RU-486 injection did however recover ovulation in 3 (75.0%) out of 4 rabbits. These results indicate that P secreted from mature follicles during the ovulatory LH surge also play a significant role in follicular rupture of the rabbit, a copulatory ovulator.

Animals↗