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Biomedical subjects

T Hara

Publications and source records attributed to T Hara.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

A long-term follow-up study of patients with non-toxic diffuse goitre in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: Although non-toxic diffuse goitre is a common disorder, little is known of the clinical course of patients. We therefore decided to investigate the long-term clinical outcome of patients with non-toxic diffuse goitre. DESIGN: A retrospective study. PATIENTS: Of 850 patients with non-toxic diffuse goitre who met our criteria and were seen in our thyroid clinic between 1977 and 1985, 108 who had been followed for from 5 to 14 years (mean 8 years) were entered in this study. All patients fulfilled our criteria having soft diffuse goitres, normal serum TSH and T4 concentrations, and undetectable antithyroglobulin and antithyroid microsomal antibodies. MEASUREMENTS: A family history of thyroid disease was obtained and the occurrence of Graves' ophthalmopathy was noted. Serum TSH and T4 concentrations, and antithyroglobulin and antithyroid microsomal antibodies were measured during the follow-up period. Thyroidal radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU), serum free T4 and free T3 concentrations, and TSH binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) activities were determined in all patients who were subsequently found to have abnormal serum TSH or T4 concentrations or signs of Graves' ophthalmopathy. RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 108 patients (33%) had a family history of autoimmune thyroid disease. Elevated serum T4 or free T4 concentrations and depressed serum TSH concentrations were found in six patients during the follow-up period. Hyperthyroid Graves' disease was diagnosed in four of the six patients, subacute thyroiditis in one, and transient post-partum thyrotoxicosis in one. Hypothyroidism was found in one patient who was diagnosed as having transient post-partum hypothyroidism. Euthyroid Graves' disease was diagnosed in one patient. Furthermore, six of these eight patients had a family history of autoimmune thyroid disease in first-degree relatives. CONCLUSION: During a prolonged follow-up period of patients with non-toxic diffuse goitre, Graves' disease was found in five of 108 patients (four hyperthyroid Graves' and one euthyroid Graves'), post-partum thyroid dysfunction in two, and subacute thyroiditis in one. Six of these eight patients had a family history of autoimmune thyroid disease in first-degree relatives. Long-term follow-up is necessary for patients with non-toxic diffuse goitre, especially those who have a family history of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Frontal lobe tumor associated with late-onset seizure and psychosis: a case report.

This is a report of a 55-year-old woman with a 6-year history of uncontrollable complex partial seizure and severe delusion. A computed tomography (CT) brain scan showed a nonenhanced low density area with an ill-defined mass located at the right frontal lobe. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an area of hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. After a tumorectomy, the patient gradually recovered from the seizures and delusion. A histological diagnosis showed a mixed oligoastrocytoma or dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT). The clinical and pathological features of the tumor as well as its relation to psychosis were discussed.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1993

Psychiatric liaison referral of elderly inpatient in a medical school hospital.

A retrospective study of elderly inpatient referral was carried out at Saga Medical School Hospital in order to assess the effectiveness of consultation-liaison service. A total of 51 patients aged 65 and over were referred to the Psychiatric Department. Their referral rate, clinical characteristic, diagnosis and psychiatric recommendation were reviewed from the records. A comparison of various aspects concerning the referral for the periods before and after the installation of an effective psychiatric consultation-liaison service showed a mild change. The striking finding was that the referral rate increased significantly for male patients under 75 years of age.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Peripheral expansion of gamma delta T cell receptor-positive cells in a patient with Crohn's disease.

A 13 year old boy with Crohn's disease had a prominent expansion (over 40%) of gamma delta T cell receptor-positive cells (gamma delta T cells) in the peripheral blood. The gamma delta T cells were gradually decreased from 48 to 22% in 18 months. Anti-gamma delta T cell receptor-triggered cytotoxicity was evident at onset and after 1 year. The significance of peripheral expansion of gamma delta T cells in a patient with Crohn's disease is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Current issues in Kawasaki disease.

The most important clinical aspect of Kawasaki disease is the cardiovascular problems. This article reports on the cardiovascular spectrum in acute Kawasaki disease, analysis of myocardial infarction and fatal cases, a follow-up study on the natural history of coronary artery lesions, long-term cardiovascular problems including premature atherosclerosis, problems in the adult cardiology and the treatment of acute Kawasaki disease. The etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are still unknown. Current hypotheses and leading studies on the etiology and the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease are also reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The conformational analysis and photoisomerization of retinochrome analogs with polyenals.

3,7-Dimethyl-2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentaenal was synthesized for reconstitution of the retinochrome analog. Its opsin shift was 1000 cm-1 smaller than that of native retinochrome, whose chromophore contains the same number of double bonds. The conformational change from 6-s-trans to 6-s-cis, as figured in a retinal molecule, plays an important role in the formation of the retinochrome analog, based on the estimation of opsin shifts for retinal analogs locked in the 6-s conformation. Thus the conformation of the 6-7 single bond in the native retinochrome was suggested to be 6-s-cis. Analysis of the circular dichroic spectra of retinochrome analogs revealed that the 6-s conformation is independent of the appearance of the beta-band. The stereoselectivity in the photoisomerization of the retinal analogs by a retinochrome template depends on the hydrophobic binding in the region of the beta-ionone ring.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1993

Sporulation-inhibitory gene in pock-forming plasmid pSA1.1 of Streptomyces azureus.

A plasmid, pSA1.1, of Streptomyces azureus elicited conjugative pocks and inhibited the sporulation of its host mycelia. pSA1.1 was studied with a kanamycin resistance gene derived from S. kanamyceticus as a selective marker. The deletion analysis and sequencing of the derivative plasmid found an open reading frame (ORF909b) that was involved in the sporulation-inhibitory function of pSA1.1 and in pock formation. The nucleotide sequences of ORF909b were compared with those of the genes registered in GenBank, but no similarity was found. However, the predicted amino acid sequence of ORF909b showed a significantly high similarity with that of the spoIIIE gene of Bacillus subtilis. This detected gene might be a new sporulation-regulatory gene in streptomycetes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Effect of the new calcium antagonist (+/-)-(R*)-3-[(R*)-1-benzyl-3- piperidyl] methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(m-nitrophenyl)-3,5- pyridinedicarboxylate hydrochloride (KW-3049) on cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), we studied the effects of a new calcium antagonist, (+/-)-(R*)-3-[(R*)-1-benzyl-3-piperidyl] methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(m-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate hydrochloride (KW-3049) on the development of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. When KW-3049 was administered orally to 5-week-old SHR, a stage before the onset of hypertension, for 12 consecutive weeks, it showed a dose-dependent and marked antihypertensive action. Administration of 3 mg/kg of KW-3049, once a day, significantly suppressed the rise in blood pressure to a similar extent to 15 mg/kg of nicardipine, twice a day. After 12 weeks of administration, the heart weight was decreased or tended to be decreased. Co-administration with propranolol markedly decreased the heart rate, but little affected the heart weight, suggesting changes in the heart rate during the long-term administration of KW-3049 did not largely affect cardiac hypertrophy. KW-3049 did not increase plasma renin activity (PRA) or plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC). There was no significant change in the myocardial DNA and RNA contents. These results suggest the clinical usefulness of KW-3049 as an antihypertensive drug.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1993

Superior vena cava syndrome due to Graves' disease.

We encountered a patient with Graves' disease showing superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. The patient was a 72-year-old woman with diffuse nontoxic goiter (diagnosed as chronic thyroiditis); she developed Graves' disease during L-T4 administration. Radioiodine-131 therapy failed to give sufficient effect, and the intrathoracic goiter became enlarged in association with increases in thyroid stimulating antibody activities, followed by the development of SVC syndrome. The surgically excised thyroid gland was diffuse without any nodules. Microscopic findings revealed adenomatous hyperplasia. The present case, though extremely rare, seems important for the understanding of the mechanism of onset of SVC syndrome in relation to thyroid gland enlargement.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Cytokine-mediated regulation of the surface expression of complement regulatory proteins, CD46(MCP), CD55(DAF), and CD59 on human vascular endothelial cells.

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP), decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and CD59 are complement (C) regulatory proteins that protect human hematopoietic cells from damage induced by autologous complement. Using monoclonal antibodies in both western blotting studies and flow cytometry, we found that endothelial cells (EC) expressed on their surface MCP, DAF, and CD59 molecules. We tested whether stimulation of endothelial cells by known EC activators such as LPS, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-4 regulates the expression of these C regulatory proteins. EC activation was assessed in this study by an up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression. Treatment of EC with various concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, or IL-4, at different incubation times did not increase MCP expression on EC surface membrane. In contrast, the level of DAF was altered during EC activation: LPS or IL-1 beta treatment resulted in a slight increase of DAF expression; the most up-regulatory effect was obtained with IL-4. Up-regulation of surface DAF on EC required prolonged treatment of cells with these agents. The level of CD59 was far greater than that of DAF or MCP on EC, and was slightly up-regulated by TNF-alpha and down-regulated by IL-1 beta. These findings indicate that the levels of C regulatory proteins are regulated in an independent fashion on EC, MCP is not regulated by any cytokine tested, while DAF is an EC activation antigen, although it has a different augmentation profile from ICAM-1 since IL-4 up-regulates DAF but not ICAM-1.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1993

PET imaging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma with carbon-11-methionine: relationship between radioactivity uptake and flow-cytometric parameters.

Carbon-11-methionine PET scans were obtained from 24 patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma for whom surgical treatment was considered. The tumor mass was visualized with clear delineation. After PET scanning, the tumor was removed by lobectomy or pulmonectomy. The tumor tissue was first processed to yield tumor cell suspensions and then subjected to DNA flow cytometry. Comparison between 11C uptake rate and flow-cytometric data gave the following results: 11C uptake rate in the tumor correlated well with the cellular DNA content (DNA index) of tumor cells at the resting state of cell division (G0 + G1-phase) (r = 0.67). The correlation between 11C uptake rate and S-phase cell percentage was markedly high (r = 0.76), and the correlation between 11C uptake rate and S+G2/M-phase cell percentage was extremely high (r = 0.86). It was concluded that the tumor uptake rate of 11C-methionine was representative of tumor growth rate in this tumor type.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Distribution of 11C-(R)nicotine in human brain measured by positron emission tomography: measurement of cerebral blood flow.

We synthesized 11C-labeled (R)nicotine (11C: a positron-emitting radioisotope with a half-life of 20 min, produced in a cyclotron), and utilized it for blood flow measurement in the human brain. The positron emission tomography was employed for the data acquisition and image reconstruction. The behavior of the isotope was formulated by a mathematical model, consisting of a blood compartment and a tissue compartment, and the time-activity curve in various parts of the brain was analyzed in a computer to obtain a mathematically simulated curve which fell in consistence with both the arterial blood curve and the brain curve. The cerebral blood flow (CBF) value thus determined was compared with the value obtained by the standard C15O2 inhalation method (= H2(15)O method). The nicotine method always gave a higher value than the standard method by 27-34%. It seems that CBF determined by the 11C-(R)nicotine method is more accurate than the value determined by the standard method, because our tracer is superior as a CBF indicator to radiolabeled water.

Brain↗
PubMed1993

Pregnancy decreases the threshold for cocaine-induced convulsions in the rat.

The objective of this study was to test our hypothesis that pregnancy modifies the central nervous and cardiovascular toxicity of cocaine. Ten chronically catheterized term pregnant rats and 13 chronically catheterized nonpregnant female rats were infused with cocaine (2 mg/kg/min) intravenously to observe the sequential toxic manifestation of cocaine from mild central nervous stimulation (hyper-locomotor activities) to fatal cardiovascular collapse. Arterial blood samples were withdrawn at the onset of major toxic signs or symptoms--namely convulsion, hypotension, and circulatory collapse--for determination of cocaine concentrations and plasma cholinesterase activity. The dosage and plasma concentrations of cocaine associated with the onset of convulsions and cardiovascular depression were significantly lower in pregnant rats when compared with the nonpregnant animals. The mean time required to develop convulsions in the pregnant rat was significantly shorter (21 minutes) than that in the nonpregnant animal (33 minutes). However, once convulsive activity had developed, the time interval to achieve circulatory collapse was similar in both groups. Although the baseline plasma cholinesterase activity was higher in the pregnant rats than in the nonpregnant ones, the values in the samples obtained from the pregnant group at the onset of circulatory collapse were similar to the baseline values for the nonpregnant group. These findings suggest that a higher enzyme activity does not protect the development of toxic manifestations in the pregnant rat as compared to the nonpregnant animal when cocaine was administered at the same infusion rate.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Dysphagia in Parkinson disease].

Clinical studies were carried out on 97 patients with Parkinson disease. Radiological and manometric studies were performed on 9 patients. The patients histories revealed about 30% had a feeling of dysphagia. Recognition of dysphagia especially in the second phase increases with an increase in duration of the disease and with deterioration of ADL. More than 40% of patients who suffered more than ten years or whose conditions were more severe than third degree of Yahr's scale complained of dysphagia. Some patients felt the disturbance in the first or the third phase of swallowing from the early stage. X-ray studies disclosed abnormal findings in 6 patients including delayed initiation of swallowing (3 patients), vallecular stasis (3 patients), aspiration (2 patients) and slight dilatation of lower esophagus (2 patients). Abnormal findings in oral phase were more severe than those in pharyngeal phase. Manometric study showed high intraluminal resting pressure of the lower esophagus and loss of negative wave in the lower esophageal sphincter after swallowing, suggesting the disturbance of smooth muscle of esophagus. Cricopharygeal dysfunction and disturbance of peristaltic wave of esophagus were not obvious. Pharynx and striated muscle of esophagus were not so severely involved. Dysfunction of tongue and lower esophagus are thought to be probably due to the disturbance of the extrapyramidal system and the autonomic nervous system, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Dysphagia in multiple system atrophy--radiological and manometric study].

Clinical, radiological and manometric studies on 27 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) were performed to investigate the characteristics of dysphagia. Patients of MSA were divided into 4 groups: 9 patients of OPCA I (duration < 5 years), 6 patients of OPCA II (duration > or = 5 years), 8 patients of SDS (duration < 5 years) and 4 patients of SND (duration < 5 years). A clinical history was taken to distinguish the two types of dysphagia, that is to say, swallowing disturbance in a narrow sense and passage disturbance. In the radiological study, each phase of swallowing was observed by X-rays with contrast medium (Dionosil). In the manometric study, intraluminal resting pressure in the esophagus and pressure of esophageal contraction after swallowing were measured. The results were as follows: 13 patients (OPCA I 2, OPCA II 6, SDS 2, SND 3) experienced the sensation of swallowing disturbance in a narrow sense and 4 patients (OPCA I 1, OPCA II 1, SDS 1, SND 1) had the feeling of passage disturbance. X-ray studies showed 6 patients (OPCA I 0, OPCA II 1, SDS 1, SND 4) had disturbance of lingual movements, 11 patients (OPCA I 1, OPCA II 5, SDS 3, SND 2) had pooling in piriformis sinus and 14 patients (OPCA I 3, OPCA II 4, SDS 5, SND 2) had slight dilatation of the lower esophagus. In the manometric study, 12 patients (OPCA I 4, OPCA II 4, SDS 3, SND 1) were shown to have low intraluminal resting pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Prostatic cancer presenting monoclonal gammopathy: report of two cases.

Two cases of prostatic cancer accompanied by monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) are reported. Both cases presented IgG-lambda type hyperimmunoglobulinemia and Bence Jones protein (BJP) in the urine. A characteristic of both cases was significant multiple bone metastasis, and one case also demonstrated a severe immunological disorder. During the treatment, one patient recovered from MGUS. We recommend that elderly male patients manifesting MGUS be examined for prostatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗