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Biomedical subjects

T Harada

Publications and source records attributed to T Harada.

At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration in the management of anovulatory infertility associated with polycystic ovaries.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether or not transvaginal ultrasound (US)-guided follicular aspiration can effectively induce ovulation and facilitate pregnancy in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovaries (PCO). DESIGN: Eight patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and 10 patients with PCO were participants who failed to ovulate by the medical therapies. Most of persistent follicles were punctured, and their contents were thoroughly aspirated during the midluteal phase. The same ovarian stimulation regimen as used in the previous cycles were administered in the cycles after the aspiration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evidence of ovulation and a subsequent pregnancy was ultrasonically monitored after the aspiration, and the responsiveness of pituitary gonadotropins to gonadotropin-releasing hormone was tested in these patients. RESULTS: The ovulation rates were 87.5% per patient, 52.6% per cycle monitored in PCOD patients and 100% per patient, 63.3% per cycle monitored in PCO patients, respectively. Half of the patients both with PCOD and PCO achieved pregnancy after the aspiration. A significant decrease (P less than 0.05) of the basal and peak levels of serum luteinizing hormone was observed after the aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: The US-guided follicular aspiration seems to be a new surgical method for treating anovulatory patients with PCO.

Anovulation↗

Spontaneous ovarian tumour in a medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Swelling of the abdomen was found in an adult female medaka (Oryzias latipes). Multiple tumour masses occupying most of the abdominal cavity were found at necropsy. Histologically, the tumour consisted of homogeneous round cells arranged in islands and occasional trabecular structures with thin capsules. Ova at various stages of maturation were seen in the periphery of the tumour mass. Metastasis was observed in the vicinity of the thyroid gland with accompanying infiltration by lymphocytic cells and also abdominal muscles. The tumour cells were characterized by a large ovoid nucleus with no aggregation of heterochromatin, occasional mitotic figures and prominent nucleoli. Examination by electron microscopy showed cells with scant cytoplasm but many ribosomes and a few other organelles. Annulate lamellae and dense cytoplasmic masses were also frequently observed. Based on the above features, the tumour was diagnosed as an ovarian dysgerminoma, the first reported case in a medaka.

Animals↗

[Effectiveness of zotepine in therapy-refractory psychoses. An open, multicenter study in eight psychiatric clinics].

Zotepine was administered to 45 patients suffering from therapy-resistant psychoses hospitalized in eight psychiatric institutes (University Hospital Okayama and affiliated institutions). The psychoses of these patients were characterised by positive symptoms--predominantly hallucinations and delusions--and could not be influenced by a large variety of conventional antipsychotics, such as haloperidol. Previous medications were discontinued or administered together with zotepine. To assess changes in the pattern of symptoms, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was employed over a period of up to 12 weeks at 2-week intervals. Ten patients dropped out of the study because of undesirable effects or for other reasons. 35 patients completed the 12-week study according to schedule. There was a relation between general improvement and certain patient characteristics. Zotepine proved to be effective especially in the catatonic type of schizophrenia, in chronic schizophrenias with acute exacerbation (DSM-III) and in relatively young patients in whom the disease had existed for a short time only. In the 26 patients who were markedly, moderately or slightly improved, BPRS score had dropped significantly after only two weeks of treatment. This points to a rapid onset of the therapeutic action of zotepine.

Adolescent↗

Mass protection program of perinatal hepatitis B virus infection in Japan and impact of an optional booster vaccination on its efficacy.

We assessed the efficacy of a government-sponsored mass protection program in Osaka, Japan, for perinatal HBV infection in infants born to HBeAg positive HBV carrier mothers. We also evaluated the impact of optional follow-up procedures in such infants, including an evaluation of anti-HBs response and a booster dose of HBV vaccine for poor responders. The results demonstrated that this mass protection program protected 94.4% of the infants from perinatal HBV infection in the Osaka area. However, the proportion of infants with an unprotective level of anti-HBs was higher in the standard group than in the follow-up group both at 1.0 and 1.5 years of age, which was also the case for HBV events. Furthermore, the present study showed that a booster dose of vaccine in poor responders was very effective in promoting an anti-HBs response. In conclusion, we recommend that a follow-up blood test to confirm a response of anti-HBs to HBV vaccine should be performed at 4-8 weeks after the third injection of HBV vaccine in infants born to HBeAg positive HBV carrier mothers. We also recommend that a booster injection of HBV vaccine should be immediately given to poor responding infants who otherwise are at a considerable risk of developing HBV infection in late infancy.

Adult↗

Pathophysiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae otitis media: kinetics of the middle ear biochemical and cytologic host responses.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important bacterial pathogen in the pathophysiology of otitis media. To elucidate the inflammatory responses that occur during pneumococcal otitis media, the kinetics of the biochemical and cytologic middle ear responses to heat-killed encapsulated and nonencapsulated pneumococci were studied in the chinchilla model. Inoculation of the middle ear cavity with at least 10(6) S pneumoniae cells induced an early, brief vascular response with leakage of small (albumin) followed by larger (alpha 2-macroglobulin) proteins, followed by sustained influx of acute inflammatory cells and lysozyme. The threshold for a sustained lysozyme response was 1,000 times lower for nonencapsulated than for encapsulated pneumococci. These results indicate that nonviable S pneumoniae organisms with an intact envelope initiate the middle ear inflammatory response. Therefore, interventions that enhance the clearance of pneumococcal cells from the middle ear may reduce the inflammatory response and prevent chronic middle ear inflammation.

Albumins↗

Early biochemical events in pneumococcal otitis media: arachidonic acid metabolites in middle ear fluid.

The concentrations of four arachidonic acid metabolites, prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, leukotriene B4, and leukotriene C4, were measured in middle ear fluid of chinchillas 6 to 72 hours after middle ear inoculation of log-phase, heat-killed encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae organisms. Compared with saline-inoculated ears, significant increases in the mean concentrations of all four metabolites were observed in the pneumococcus-inoculated ears 24 hours after inoculation, but not after 6, 48, or 72 hours. Since pneumococcus inoculation caused an influx of inflammatory cells as early as 6 hours after inoculation, before the increase in arachidonate metabolites, the initial stimulus for inflammatory cell chemotaxis is probably not metabolic products of arachidonic acid such as leukotriene B4. These metabolites may, however, amplify the subsequent inflammatory response.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Middle ear fluid lysozyme source in experimental pneumococcal otitis media.

Middle ear infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is important in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic otitis media, and lysozyme in middle ear fluid (MEF) is an important inflammatory mediator in this disease. To determine the source of lysozyme during the early period of acute pneumococcal otitis media, chinchillas were irradiated to induce neutropenia, and their middle ears were inoculated with heat-killed, encapsulated pneumococci. The number of inflammatory cells and concentration of lysozyme were measured in MEF between 6 and 72 hours after inoculation. In pneumococcus-inoculated ears, the mean number of inflammatory cells but not lysozyme was significantly lower in MEF from irradiated animals than that from nonirradiated animals at 6 hours. Since lysozyme accumulated in MEF before the influx of inflammatory cells in irradiated animals, the initial release of this inflammatory mediator is most likely not from inflammatory cells; and mucosal epithelial cells, the only other known source of lysozyme in the middle ear environment, were the probable source induced by the direct stimulation of pneumococci. Inflammatory cells may contribute lysozyme later in the inflammatory response, since cellular and lysozyme concentrations in irradiated and nonirradiated animals were similar between 24 and 72 hours. These results suggest that future therapeutic interventions to limit middle ear inflammation in acute otitis media may need to recognize the direct action of pneumococcal cells or their envelope components on middle ear epithelium.

Acute Disease↗

A new cause of female pseudohermaphroditism: placental aromatase deficiency.

A description is presented of the first documented case of placental aromatase deficiency. The deficiency caused maternal virilization during pregnancy and pseudohermaphroditism of the female fetus. A 24-yr-old primigravida showed progressive virilization during the third trimester. Urinary excretion of estrogen was less than 14 mumol/day between 35-38 weeks of pregnancy, although nonstress tests showed reactive patterns and serum levels of human placental lactogen were above 460 nmol/L. Maternal serum levels of estrogens were low, and those of androgens were high in the third trimester. A dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate loading test induced a marked increase in maternal serum levels of androgens, whereas no such increase was observed in estrogens. The woman delivered vaginally a live full-term infant who exhibited female pseudohermaphroditism. Cord serum levels of estrogens were extremely low, while those of androgens were high. The aromatase activity of the placenta, determined by the conversion of [7-3H]androstenedione to 17 beta-[7-3H]estradiol and [7-3H]estrone, were less than 0.03 fmol/microgram protein.min (control, 9.6 +/- 2.2 fmol/microgram protein.min). The sulfatase activity of the placenta was 0.63 pmol/microgram protein.min compared to 0.46 +/- 0.16 pmol/microgram protein.min in controls. The rate of aromatization by normal control placentas was the same as that obtained during coincubation of samples of normal placentas and that of the patient. Thus, the presence of aromatase inhibitor in the patient's placenta was excluded.

Adult↗

[Metabolic study on chondroitin sulfates in rabbits].

The metabolic studies on three types of chondroitin sulfates in rabbits were performed. The analyses of chondroitin sulfates gave the following results concerning their metabolic behavior. 1) Desulfation of chondroitin sulfates on GalNAc C6 position was observed more clearly after the administration of low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate (molecular weight, 6000 and 16,000) than after that of high molecular weight one (molecular weight, 50,000). 2) The disappearance velocities of the administered low molecular weight chondroitin sulfates in the blood and those of excretion into the urine were faster than those of high molecular weight one. 3) Intact chondroitin sulfates were excreted into the urine after the administration of low molecular weight chondroitin sulfates, while chondroitin sulfates having more than 30000 molecular weight were not detected in the collected urine after the administration of high molecular weight one.

Animals↗

The effect of kallikrein on human sperm membrane function.

To illustrate the influence of kallikrein on the hypoosmotic swelling test, 84 human semen samples were classified into 4 groups: normospermia (n = 34, group A), oligospermia (n = 18, group B), asthenospermia (n = 8, group C), and oligoasthenospermia (n = 24, group D). Two aliquots of 0.45 ml were prepared from each specimen in all the groups: one was incubated for 3 hr in a glass tube containing kallikrein and the other was incubated without kallikrein (control). Quantitative and qualitative assessment of sperm motility and the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) were subsequently performed in each pair of samples. Percentage of motile spermatozoa, speed of forward progression of motile spermatozoa and the percentage of swollen sperm were significantly lower in the control samples than in samples treated with kallikrein in all the groups. Kallikrein was also proved effective in increasing the outcome of the HOST, the percentage of motile spermatozoa and the speed of forward progression of washed spermatozoa received from normospermic men (n = 15). It seems that kallikrein has a direct effect on sperm membrane and improves its properties and functions.

Cell Membrane↗

An 82 year-old patient with sarcoidosis.

An 82 year-old woman presented with bilateral uveitis suggestive of ocular sarcoidosis, which led to a clouded vision. She was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis because of an elevated level of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), findings from a Ga67 scintiscan and the bilateral uveitis, although her chest X-ray film was normal. This patient is one of the most oldest patients on record to have sarcoidosis.

Age Factors↗

[CT evaluation of the anterior epitympanic recess--comparison among non-inflammatory ear, chronic otitis media with central perforation and cholesteatoma].

The structures of the anterior epitympanic recess and its surrounding tissues were examined among non-inflammatory ear, chronic otitis media with central perforation and cholesteatoma, using axial scans of high resolution computed tomography. The length and width of the recess, as well as the number of the slices where the cog was determined, had no significant differences among them. Thus, the bony structure of the recess was considered to be seldom influenced by inflammatory processes. In the non-inflammatory ear, the degree of pneumatization around the recess was similar to that of the petrous apex cells and lower than that of the mastoid cells. In the chronic otitis media with central perforation and cholesteatoma, the pneumatization of the whole temporal bones was suppressed and the tendency was also found that the cells around the recess were less pneumatized than the mastoid cells. When cholesteatoma invaded into the anterior epitympanic recess, the destruction of the bony protrusion of the lateral wall between the recess and the epitympanum was recognized, as well as the disappearance of the cog. The bony protrusion was considered to be an inferior extension of the cog toward the anterior tympanic spine.

Cholesteatoma↗

[Psychological states and personality as factors in the morbidity of head and neck malignant tumors].

Many publications have repeatedly indicated that there seems to be a correlation between neoplastic disease and certain types of psychological situations. However, such studies subjected malignant tumors in head and neck region are scanty so far. We applied Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire (CMI) and Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) to collect medical and psychiatric data from 86 patients (56 males and 30 females) with head and neck malignant tumors and 115 control patients (73 males and 42 females) with head and neck diseases other than malignant tumors. Analysis of CMI data using Diagnostic Sheet, Fukamachi's method and Modification of Abe's method, and analysis of each of Extroversion-Introversion scale scores, Neuroticism scale scores and Lie scale scores of MPI led the following conclusion. 1) Both male and female patients with head and neck malignant tumors showed to be more depressive than their control patients were. Especially, between the two patient groups in males, there was a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) difference. 2) Regarding neurosis, autonomic nerve dysfunctioning and extroversion-introversion, none of these factors seemed to be related with the morbidity of head and neck malignant tumors. Further exploration of this issue, with a special attention to the relationship between depression and head and neck malignancy should be conducted, if possibly, from a prospective point of view.

Adult↗

[Effect of recognition of head and neck malignancies on patients' psychosomatic condition and personality].

In order to elucidate the effect of recognition of head and neck malignancies on patients' psychosomatic condition and personality, we applied the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire (CMI) and the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) and collected medical and psychological data from 35 male (42-78 years of age; average 62.5) and 15 female (20-76 years of age; average 54.7) patients with malignant head and neck tumors (10 nose and paranasal, 8 oral, 8 pharyngeal, 14 laryngeal, 6 thyroid gland and 4 others). The two tests were done twice for each patients; at first immediately before hospitalization for treatment of the tumors at Mie University Hospital and secondly just before discharge from the hospital. The period of hospitalization ranged 1 to 13 months, average 3.3 months. At the end of hospitalization doctors and nurses who had mainly taken care of the patients estimated the patients' recognition of their malignancy by analyzing behavior and information mainly from their family and classified patients into three groups; Group R (Patients who recognized that they were patients with head and neck malignancies) comprised 22 patients, Group N (who did not recognize the condition) comprised 15 and Group U (who could not be classified into Groups R or N) comprised 13. Comparison among the three groups revealed the followings. 1) Patients in Group R were relatively young (average 56.3 years) and extrovert (estimated by MPI) and their somatic and psychological complaints registered on the CMI were less than those in other 2 groups. Psychosomatic condition after recognition that they had been patients with malignant tumors was better than before.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Transurethral intracavitary irradiation for carcinoma of the prostate].

This paper describes a new technique and preliminary clinical results of remote after-loading transurethral irradiation for cancer of the prostate. As of January 1986, twelve patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate have been treated by our radiotherapy technique. Clinically, 3 patients were in stage B2, 3 in stage C, 3 in stage D1 and 3 in stage D2. These patients have been followed up for 13 to 33 months with a median follow-up period of 20.6 months. The dose of transurethral irradiation was 9-10 Gy. to the prostatic capsule and about 2 Gy. to the rectum in one procedure. We repeated this radiotherapy 3 to 4 times within an about 1-month period. Three patients in stage D1 and one patient in stage C received an additional external beam radiation (40 Gy.) to the entire pelvis. A needle biopsy was also performed every 4-6 months after irradiation. Local tumor response proved rapid and satisfactory as verified by a rectal examination and ultrasonography. The biopsies revealed a 70% negative rate within one year. The most common side effect was transient frequency observed in 7 patients. Severe complications such as incontinence, urethral stricture, or proctitis were not evident. This study suggests that intracavitary irradiation of cancer of the prostate is effective and safe. This method may have wider application.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Histopathology of the temporal bones in thanatophoric dysplasia.

The pathological findings of temporal bone in two cases of thanatophoric dysplasia were reported. Thanatophoric dysplasia is classified into type 1 and type 2, each of which has been reported to show specific clinical and radiographic-findings. The present study revealed that each type also showed specific characteristic in the structure of the temporal bones. The developmental mechanisms of hearing impairment in this disease were also discussed on the basis of the pertinent literature.

Autopsy↗