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Biomedical subjects

T Hirashima

Publications and source records attributed to T Hirashima.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[A case of multiple broncholithiasis caused by mucus retention].

The patient was a 57-year-old male with long-standing bronchiectasis who developed severe respiratory failure and died in 1991. Autopsy revealed multiple broncholithiasis in both lungs, but no calcified lymph nodes in the hilar region. Since histological examination of the broncholiths showed only stratified structures but no tissue structure, most likely cause was considered to be calcification of mucus in the bronchi. Analysis of the stone components revealed 78% calcium and 22% protein. This patient represents a case of multiple broncholithiasis caused by mucus retention, which is thought to be very rare.

Adult↗

Spontaneous long-term hyperglycemic rat with diabetic complications. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) strain.

A spontaneously diabetic rat with polyuria, polydipsia, and mild obesity was discovered in 1984 in an outbred colony of Long-Evans rats, which had been purchased from Charles River Canada (St. Constant, Quebec, Canada) in 1982. A strain of rats developed from this rat by selective breeding has since been maintained at the Tokushima Research Institute (Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Tokushima, Japan) and named OLETF. The characteristic features of OLETF rats are 1) late onset of hyperglycemia (after 18 wk of age); 2) a chronic course of disease; 3) mild obesity; 4) inheritance by males; 5) hyperplastic foci of pancreatic islets; and 6) renal complication (nodular lesions). Histologically, the changes of pancreatic islets can be classified into three stages: 1) an early stage (6-20 wk of age) of cellular infiltration and degeneration; 2) a hyperplastic stage (20-40 wk of age); and 3) a final stage (at > 40 wk of age). These clinical and pathological features of disease in OLETF rats resemble those of human NIDDM.

Animals↗

[Prognostic analysis for postoperative complications of abdominal surgery in the elderly].

In order to evaluate the prognostic importance of the conditions before abdominal surgery for patients over 60 years of age. Multivariate analyses of postoperative complications were performed in 634 patients (comprising 525 cases of elective abdominal surgery and 109 cases of emergency abdominal surgery). The Mortality rate was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the emergency group (11.9%) and relatively low among the elective abdominal surgery group (3.8%). In the emergency group, 13 patients died, and MOF (multiple organ failure) was found to be the direct cause of death in 11 (85%). Although, the majority (75%) of emergency operations were for benign disorders, the remainder (25%) had malignant tumors. It is noteworthy that among 25% of cases, obstructions and perforations due to large bowel cancers were found to be 59% and 19%, respectively. In the elective surgery group, postoperative pulmonary and cardiovascular complications were found in 11.6% and 9.6%, respectively. Death due to cardiovascular problems in rare (5%), however, postoperative pneumonia was the cause of death in 70% of all of postoperative death. Risk factors affecting postoperative pulmonary complications were malnutrition, advanced age, male sex, malignant disease, dementia, cerebrovascular disorders, impaired pulmonary function tests. Surprisingly, the risk factors were identical, except for impaired pulmonary function, for postoperative MRSA pneumonia. In our study, postoperative pulmonary death was not associated with impaired pulmonary function, and it appears to be rather affected by the presence of cerebrovascular disorders and malnutritional state. A poor nutritional states (< 40 according to Onodera's nutritional index) was present in over 50% of patients with cerbrovascular disorders and low ADL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdomen↗

[Stomal stenosis following gastrectomy in the elderly].

Seven hundred and thirty seven patients over 65 years of age (mean 76 years) undergoing gastrectomies from 1979 to 1991 were reviewed to evaluate the cause of stomal stenosis in the early postoperative period. Fifty seven (7.7%) patients, 24 males (5.6%) and 33 females (10.6%), had overt stomal stenosis or obstruction documented by radiological and endoscopic findings. The incidence of stenosis in females was significantly higher than in males (p < 0.05). Complications developed in 19 (20.0%) of 95 patients after gastroduodenostomy (Billroth-I), 29 (6.2%) of 465 after gastrojejunostomy (Billroth-II and others) and 8 (5.0%) of 159 after esophagojejunostomy (total gastrectomy). The incidence of complications in the first was significantly higher than in the other two (p < 0.01). The cause of stomal stenosis was classified into three groups; (1) transient stenosis due to stomal edema in 21 patients, (2) intestinal obstruction immediately adjacent to the stoma (kinking, invagination and volvulus) in 22, (3) organic stenosis of pathological origin (stomal ulcer, anastomotic leakage and strangulation by the proliferated mesocolon) in 14. The period of recovery from postgastrectomy retention was different in each group. It was 20.7 (mean) +/- 7.7 (SD) days in group (1), 29.7 +/- 12.6 days in group (2) and 62.1 +/- 30.0 days in group (3). These mean periods were significantly different from each other (p < 0.01). Group (1) and most of group (2) responded well to conservative management consisting of decompression by nasogastric suction and parenteral feeding but a reoperation was necessary for only two patients in group (2). Half of group (3) was treated by endoscopic dilatation and one third by reoperation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[Post operative upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the aged].

A 10-year experience with 2,441 patients over 65 years of age undergoing operations for non-upper gastrointestinal tracts was reviewed to evaluate both the incidence of postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the clinical risk factors associated with the complication. A total of 18 (0.7%, 7 males and 11 females) patients had overt postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding of non-variceal origin documented by endoscopic findings or blood transfusions. Of these, the complication developed in 10 (1.5%) of 646 patients after an operation for biliary or pancreatic disease, 1 (1.5%) of 64 for aneurysmal or obstructive arterial disease, 5 (1.1%) of 43 for colorectal cancer and 2 (0.3%) of 916 for hernia. The incidences of bleeding after an operation for obstructive jaundice (3.8%), for biliary or pancreatic malignancy (4.5%), and of unavoidable diversion colostomy for colorectal anastomosis (3.1%) were significantly higher than for non-jaundice (0.6%), for non-malignancy (1.1%) and of postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the present study. The origins of bleeding were gastric ulcer in 11, acute gastric mucosal lesion in 4, duodenal ulcer in 1 and other in 2. All cases of bleeding were treated and met success in hemostasis using H2-blockers. Of these, however, 5 patients died of multiple organ failure despite discontinued hemorrhage, prophylactic use of H2-blockers showed a decrease in occurrence of postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the present study.

Aged↗

New inbred strain of Long-Evans Tokushima lean rats with IDDM without lymphopenia.

Spontaneously diabetic rats with remarkable polyuria, polyphagia, and polydipsia were discovered in 1983 in an outbred colony of Long-Evans rats purchased from Charles River Canada in 1982. They have since been maintained at the Tokushima Research Institute (Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Tokushima, Japan). A strain of rats (Long-Evans Tokushima Lean [LETL]) with diabetes was bred from these rats. The characteristic features of the disease in LETL rats are 1) sudden onset of polyuria, polyphagia, hyperglycemia, and weight loss; 2) no sex differences in the rate of onset or severity; 3) lymphocyte infiltration into islets followed by destruction of beta-cells and disappearance of lymphocytes at the onset of diabetes; 4) no significant T lymphopenia; 5) lymphocyte infiltration into the salivary glands and lacrimal glands; and 6) at least two recessive genes involved in the pathogenesis of insulitis, one of which is closely linked with RT1u. These characteristics closely resemble those of human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Results suggest that the LETL rat is a useful animal model for analysis of genetic and immunologic factors relating to the pathogenesis of human IDDM.

Animals↗

[Manometric study of vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity].

Morbidly obese patients undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty were studied preoperatively and/or postoperatively to characterize its manometric pattern. The esophageal manometry using station pull through technique involved 14 preoperative patients with a mean age of 28 +/- 7 years who were a obesity index of 220 +/- 32% and 14 postoperative patients with a mean age of 30 +/- 7 years who were a obesity index of 158 +/- 23%. Preoperative lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure using gastric base line as O was 16.1 +/- 8.5 cmH2O and a LES length of 3.4 +/- 0.9 cm. Postoperatively, the vertical banded gastroplasty channel had a pressure of 17.7 +/- 7.1 cmH2O and a length of 8.2 +/- 1.7 cm which was higher than gastric base line. No difference was seen between preoperative LES pressure and postoperative channel pressure, however postoperative channel length was significantly (p less than 0.01) larger than preoperative LES length. We concluded that vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity created a longer high pressure zone in accordance with channel which would inhibit reflux of gastric juice.

Adult↗

Effects of esophageal transection combined with splenectomy on portal hemodynamics.

Portal hemodynamics were studied in 69 patients with cirrhosis and 29 patients with idiopathic portal hypertension to investigate the effects of an operative procedure for varices that consists of transabdominal esophageal mucosal transection, paraesophagogastric devascularization, pyloroplasty, and splenectomy. Portal venous flow measured by the pulsed Doppler flowmeter in 14 patients with cirrhosis and nine patients with idiopathic portal hypertension, who underwent operation 2-5 yr earlier, was significantly reduced compared with that in unoperated 49 patients with cirrhosis and 17 patients with idiopathic portal hypertension who had esophageal varices (410 +/- 158 versus 660 +/- 263 ml/min in cirrhosis; 443 +/- 185 versus 912 +/- 189 ml/min in idiopathic portal hypertension). In nine patients (six cirrhosis, three idiopathic portal hypertension), portal venous flow and portal vein pressure were measured before and after operation. In patients with cirrhosis, portal vein pressure did not change significantly postoperatively even though portal venous flow was reduced. In contrast, portal vein pressure decreased in two patients with idiopathic portal hypertension in whom portal venous flow was reduced. Portal vein pressure was elevated in one patient with idiopathic portal hypertension in whom portal venous flow was increased postoperatively as a result of resection of a large gastro- and splenorenal shunt conducted additionally.

Aged↗

Lactomer copolymer absorbable staples in gastrointestinal surgery.

We performed a series of experimental studies to determine the clinical feasibility of using lactomer copolymer absorbable staples in gastrointestinal surgery. The stapling properties, reliability of suture and wound healing, and degree of inflammatory response were compared to similar properties of standard metal staples and polyglactin sutures. The absorbable staples were used in partial gastric transection, Billroth II gastrojejunostomy, and to close the ileum and ascending colon as part of an ileocecal resection. There were no deaths or complications in the nine experimental animals. At sacrifice 2 and 4 weeks after operation, the absorbable staples were intact with little or no macroscopic or microscopic evidence of absorption. The mucosal and submucosal layers were completely healed at 2 weeks, but muscular and serosal layers, although in excellent approximation, were incompletely joined. Inflammatory reactions around the lactomer staples and polyglactin sutures were comparable, but greater than that observed around metal staples. The studies suggest that staple techniques using absorbable materials are feasible and safe in gastrointestinal surgery.

Animals↗

Transhepatic obliteration of esophageal varices using stainless coils combined with hypertonic glucose and gelfoam.

A total of 63 patients with variceal bleeding were included in this study. Fifty-six attempts at percutaneous transhepatic variceal obliteration were made using stainless steel coils followed by 50% glucose and Gelfoam in 27 emergency cases, in whom bleeding did not stop by conventional medical treatment; and in 18 elective cases, in whom bleeding did stop by conventional medical treatment. The remaining 18 patients, whose bleeding was controlled by conventional medical treatment, were used as a control for the elective cases (conservative cases). The overall success rate was 93%. In 92% of the 37 acute bleeders, bleeding ceased as soon as the varices were obliterated. In emergency cases, the cumulative variceal rebleeding rate at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after obliteration was 16%, 29%, 34%, 44%, 56%, and 56%, respectively. Its mortality within 1 month after the first bleeding was only 11%. In elective cases, the rebleeding rate at 1, 2, and 12 months was significantly lower; and the survival rate at 1 and 2 months was significantly higher compared with conservative cases. Follow-up portography in 10 active rebleeders and two nonrebleeders demonstrated new vessel formation in six, and recanalization of previously completely occluded varices in two. Complications included transient hemiparesis and partial stenosis of intrahepatic portal branches, but none was fatal. When compared with a conventional treatment, transhepatic variceal obliteration using steel coils followed by 50% glucose and Gelfoam proved to be an effective, safe emergency treatment for variceal hemorrhage. However, since the rebleeding rate was high, this procedure should be followed by an elective operation or other procedures for a lasting prevention of bleeding.

Embolization, Therapeutic↗

Morphology of lymphatics in the canine large intestine.

The finer distribution of lymphatics in the large intestine of adult dogs was morphologically examined by puncture injection of colored dyes, intra-arterial injection of silver nitrate mixed with India ink, and electron microscopy. In the lamina propria there was a double-layer of lymphatic channels - a shallow network (near the mucosal surface) and a deep compartment (just above the muscularis mucosae). Sparse lymph capillaries also extended vertically paralleling intestinal glands. Some lymphatics penetrated into the submucosa where they demonstrated prominent valves and formed collecting lymphatic trunks alongside blood vessels.

Animals↗

Clinical study of eighty-six cases of idiopathic portal hypertension and comparison with cirrhosis with splenomegaly.

The clinical features of 86 cases of idiopathic portal hypertension, the equivalent of hepatoportal sclerosis in the United States and of noncirrhotic portal fibrosis in India, are presented. This disease is characterized by overt splenomegaly with pancytopenia, portal hypertension, and relatively mild abnormalities in liver function tests. Although differential diagnosis from liver cirrhosis is not always easy, liver histology, laparoscopy, portography, hepatic venography, and measurement of wedged hepatic vein pressure are useful in diagnosis. Prognosis is relatively benign if variceal bleeding is controlled or prevented, and the disease does not progress to cirrhosis. The etiology is still undetermined, but the liver pathology characterized by occlusive changes of the intrahepatic portal radicles, portal and periportal fibrosis, and irregularly distributed parenchymal atrophies suggests some sort of portal venopathy that causes decreased portal perfusion of peripheral liver parenchyma. These patients with idiopathic portal hypertension were compared with 63 cases of cirrhosis with splenomegaly and 80 cases of cirrhosis without splenomegaly. There was some similarity in hematologic findings between idiopathic portal hypertension and cirrhosis with splenomegaly, but the basic disease process seemed distinctly different. The cause of marked splenomegaly does not seem to be simply congestion, and remains an enigma.

Adolescent↗