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Biomedical subjects

T Imai

Publications and source records attributed to T Imai.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Examination on aspirin-induced asthma and hypersensitivity to steroids--a questionnaire to 850 asthma on hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hypersensitivity to steroids].

We surveyed 850 patients with bronchial asthma and investigated such clinical features as the frequency of aspirin-induced asthma and hypersensitivity to steroids in the 457 available answers. We divided them into two groups, one was ASN: the asthmatics who had history of hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, another was non-ASN: the asthmatics who had no history of hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and compared the two groups. The survey showed that the frequency of ASN was 12.0%. Its frequency rose with the severity of asthma to a level of 29.0% in severe cases. In ASN it was more frequent rates of female, infectious type, severe cases, and ASN had more frequent histories of oral use of steroids, use of ambulance, treatment in emergency rooms, and hospitalization than non-ASN. The serum IgE level was lower in ASN. The patients were 6 in ASN, none in non-ASN who had histories of hypersensitivity to steroids. They were 1.3% in all patients. 5 of 6 had past asthma attack progressived severely by rapid injection of succinate ester steroids and 2 of 6 had past by rapid injection of phosphoric acid ester steroids. In conclusion it was considered that we had to avoid rapid injection of steroids to aspirin-induced asthma and severe cases who were doubtful of aspirin-induced asthma in case of treatment of asthma attack.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Clinical aerosol inhalation cine-scintigraphy to evaluate mucociliary transport system in diffuse panbronchiolitis.

UNLABELLED: This study evaluates the mucociliary transport system in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis using aerosol inhalation cine-scintigraphy (AICS). METHODS: Forty-one subjects, 10 healthy controls and 31 patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis, were studied. In addition, the mucociliary transport system was evaluated in 11 patients who had received erythromycin therapy for 3-8.3 yr. Following inhalation of 99mTc-human serum albumin aerosol for 3-5 min in a sitting position, the subjects were placed on the imaging table in the supine position and posterior images were obtained dynamically for 20 sec/frame over 2 hr with a gamma camera linked to a digital computer. The 360 20-sec serial frames were edited into a cinematographic presentation at 200-msec intervals. Clinical evaluation of the mucociliary transport system was based on the bolus movement of radioactive aerosol from the main bronchi to the trachea and the movement patterns, which were divided into four types using the movement in the controls as a standard (type I): type I, rapid and smooth movement; type II, slow movement; type III, stagnation at the carina; and type IV, complete stasis. RESULTS: All patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis had types III and IV, indicating that mucociliary transport system was severely impaired. Of the 11 patients on erythromycin therapy, 8 had movement pattern type IV and 3 had movement pattern type III before erythromycin therapy. In eight patients (72.7%), movement pattern was improved to type I or II after therapy. CONCLUSION: Aerosol inhalation cine-scintigraphy helps evaluate the clinical usefulness of erythromycin therapy in diffuse panbronchiolitis.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1995

pH-dependent activity change of superoxide dismutase from Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), purified from Mycobacterium smegmatis, was found to contain both manganese and iron. Since the Fe and Mn-reconstituted enzymes had specific activities of 190 and 2810 units/mg protein/g atom of metal/mol of subunit, respectively, the Mycobacterial SOD can be classified with SODs showing activity with either iron or manganese as the active-site metal (a cambialistic SOD). Mn-reconstituted enzyme showed an enzymatic reaction rate constant of 1.4 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 at pH 7.8. This rate only slightly increased with decreasing pH. Fe-reconstituted enzyme showed a rate constant of 2.7 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 at pH 7.8, but this rate increased with decreasing pH to become 1.7 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 at pH 5.7 with two pK values of 6.6 and 9.0. These results show that the metal specificity of the enzymatic activity of M. smegmatis superoxide dismutase shows manganese predominance at pH 7.8, but changes to be equal for either metal at acidic pH.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed1995

[A case of localized hypertrophic neuropathy in the sciatic nerve].

A 26-year-old male patient gradually developed muscular atrophy of the right lower leg over a two-year period. Neurological examination revealed absent Achilles tendon reflex and muscular atrophy of the right lower leg and right hamstring muscles. Conduction velocity of the F waves was delayed in the right posterior tibial nerve. A computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass lesion along the proximal segment of the right sciatic nerve. Exploration revealed a fusiformly swollen sciatic nerve. Histological examination showed that a swollen segment of the sciatic nerve was filled with onion-bulb formations of perineurial cells, consistent with the diagnosis of localized hypertrophic neuropathy. This condition should be added to several etiologies of monomelic amyotrophy. Electrophysiological studies and neuroimaging techniques were useful in obtaining differential diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Scoliosis in the patients with both severe mental retardation and severe physical disability--computed tomography of paraspinal muscles].

Patients with both severe mental retardation and severe physical disability, so-called "jushouji", often have scoliosis as one of the complications. The correlation between radiological findings of paraspinal muscles and progression of scoliosis was investigated by computed tomography (CT) in 15 patients. We took the CT of paraspinal muscles at the apical vertebral level in each patient, and measured the size of cross-sectional area and the CT value of paraspinal muscles of the both concave and convex side. There was no significant difference of the size of cross-sectional area of the muscles between the convex and concave side. The average CT value of the muscles was normal on the convex side, but abnormally lower on the concave side. Scattered low density areas were recognized in the fascicles of both sides like moth eaten appearance, which was speculated as fatty tissue. The CT value of remaining muscles was within normal range. The CT value on the concave side became lower as the degree of scoliosis progressed. The group who could not keep sitting position independently showed lower CT value on the concave side and had more severe scoliotic curves than the group who could sit independently or with slight support. From the above results, it may be concluded that the paraspinal muscles of the concave side become secondarily atrophic due to disuse, and may not be responsible for the progression of the scoliosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome: comparison with primary aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND: Removal of adrenal adenoma of Cushing's syndrome is believed to be more troublesome than primary aldosteronism because of large amount of retroperitoneal adipose tissue and bleeding from the fat. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome and comparison of the results of laparoscopic adrenalectomy between primary aldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome. METHODS: From January 17, 1992, to July 31, 1993, laparoscopic adrenalectomies for functioning adrenal lesions were performed in 14 patients (five men, nine women), three of whom had Cushing's syndrome and 11 of whom had primary aldosteronism. RESULTS: Operative times (mean +/- SD) for primary aldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome were 269.0 +/- 100.9 minutes and 253.7 +/- 57.9 minutes, respectively. No difference was noted in operative time, operative bleeding, and postoperative recovery between them. However, the weight of removed tissue from patients with Cushing's syndrome (20.00 +/- 8.17 gm) was greater than that from those with primary aldosteronism (6.64 +/- 2.01 gm). No operative complications occurred in patients with Cushing's syndrome. Ultrasonic aspiration and argon-beam coagulation were useful for laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing's syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Cushing's syndrome may be a good indication for laparoscopic operation.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

[Clinical evaluation of chemohormonal therapy as an initial treatment for stage D2 prostatic cancer--effect of UFT administration combined with hormonal therapy].

We evaluated the usefulness of hormonal therapy combined with UFT as initial treatment in comparison with hormonal therapy alone in 92 patients with Stage D2 prostatic cancer treated at the Department of Urology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine between 1974 and 1993. Twenty-six of these patients were treated with diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DESP) and castration (hormonal therapy alone group), and 23 patients were treated with UFT, DESP and castration (UFT combined therapy group). The 5-year survival rates calculated with Kaplan-Meier's method in the hormonal therapy alone group and the UFT combined therapy group were 34.6 % and 38.3%, respectively. However, the 3-year survival rates of pathologically poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in these groups were 30.0% and 50.0%, respectively. Based on these results, it was suggested that UFT administration combined with hormonal therapy is useful for pathologically poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in Stage D2 prostatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[Two cases of gross E-type tracheo-esophageal fistulae associated with interruption of the aortic arch and coarctation of the aorta in early infancy].

Two cases of Gross E-type tracheoesophageal fistulae associated with interruption of the aortic arch in one and coarctation of the aorta in the other in early infancy were treated radically at Nagano Children's Hospital during the preceding 4 months until January 1994. The tracheoesophageal fistulae were noticed after the first stage surgery for the aortic arch anomalies, because of the remarkable abdominal distension under the intubated and ventilated condition of general anesthesia. Both the bronchial and esophageal optical fiber examinations were performed which proved useful to detect the fistulae. In each case, the transcervical division of the fistula was performed on an emergency basis. The external diameter of the fistula was 4 and 5 mm respectively. The fistulae dilated synchronously with ventilation. The early detection and surgical correction of the tracheoesophageal fistula can prevent serious complications such as DIC as seen in the first case probably caused by respiratory infection associated with the prolonged mechanical ventilation. Successful intracardiac repair were performed in both cases on the 25th and 7th day following the correction of the fistulae respectively.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1995

Endothelin-1 as an autocrine growth factor for endothelial cells.

To elucidate the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) as an autocrine growth factor for vascular endothelial cells (ECs), we studied the effects of phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of ET-1-converting enzyme, on the production of ET-1-like immunoreactivity (LI), [125I]ET-1 binding activity, ETB receptor mRNA expression, phosphoinositide breakdown, and DNA synthesis in cultured bovine carotid artery ECs. Phosphoramidon dose-dependently decreased ET-1-LI production but reciprocally increased [125I]ET-1 binding capacity. ET-1 and ET-3 equipotently inhibited the binding of [125I]ET-1 only in the presence of phosphoramidon. Northern blot analysis revealed that ETB receptor mRNA expression was more evident in phosphoramidon-treated cells than in nontreated cells. In the presence of phosphoramidon, ET-1 and ET-3 equipotently stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation and [3H]-thymidine incorporation into cultured ECs. Both phosphoramidon and anti-ET-1 antibody inhibited basal [3H]thymidine incorporation. These data suggest that endogenous ET-1 constitutively secreted by ECs is an autocrine growth factor via ETB receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Autocrine regulation of the endothelin-1 gene in rat endothelial cells.

We studied whether endothelin (ET)-1 regulates its own transcription in cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (ECs) in an autocrine manner and attempted to elucidate its cellular and molecular mechanism. By Northern blot analysis using rat preproET-1 cDNA as a probe, ET-1 increased steady-state levels of preproET-1 mRNA as early as 30 min, which persisted during 4 h incubation. ET-1 also increased steady-state c-fos mRNA levels, which returned to an undetectable level by 2 h. ET-1 dose-dependently upregulated preproET-1 mRNA expression. The effect was inhibited by nonselective ETA/ETB receptor antagonist but not a selective ETA receptor antagonist. The ET-1-induced preproET-1 mRNA expression was suppressed by a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor and by pretreatment with phorbol ester, which depeleted engdogenous PKC. The approximate half-life of preproET-1 mRNA stimulated by ET-1 (approximately 20 min) was similar to that stimulated by phorbol ester. Our data demonstrate that ET-1 upregulates its own gene expression through ETB receptor-mediated PKC activation, suggesting a possible autocrine positive feedback system in vascular endothelium.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[An autopsy case of microscopic polyarteritis nodosa resembling Schoenlein-Henoch purpura].

A 86 year-old woman was re-admitted because of purpura of her upper and lower extremities, abdominal pain and blood stools. Seven weeks previously, she underwent a gastrectomy for gastric cancer. After re-admission, proteinuria and hematuria were noted, and the serum creatinine level increased. Two months, after the onset of purpura, she died of pneumonia. On autopsy examination, fibrinoid vasculitis of acute inflammatory stage (II) at small arteries and/or arterioles in the bladder, rectum, lungs, spleen and crescentic glomerulonephritis without immune deposits were observed. A diagnosis of microscopic polyarteritis nodosa (M-PN) was made based on these clinical and histological findings. M-PN refers to systemic vaculitis with segmental necrotizing glomerulonephritis. However, this condition may be difficult to diagnose because vasculitis such as Scholein-Henoch purpura (SHP) and/or hypersensitivity angitis, diseases in which the small arteries and arteroles are mainly affected, occasionally bears a clinical and histological resemblance to M-PN. Because differential diagnosis from SHP was required, this case provided abundant suggestions with regard to the entity of M-PN.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[A case of one stage-repair of interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect in neonate using a separated cardiopulmonary bypass].

We report a case of one stage-repair of interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect in neonate. The operation was performed at the age of 14 days. After a median sternotomy incision, a separated cardiopulmonary bypass was commenced through the ductus and a 4 mm EPTFE graft which was anastomoted to the right subclavian artery. Cerebral circulation was maintained through the graft during reconstruction of the aortic arch. Our method is useful regarding that brain damage can be avoided which may be induced by total circulatory arrest.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1995

Synergism of Ce (IV) and Pr(III) for the fastest non-enzymatic DNA hydrolysis ever.

By the synergistic catalysis of Ce4+ and Pr3+, DNA is efficiently hydrolyzed at so far the highest rate. When [Ce4+] = 10 mM and [Pr3+] = 5 mM, the half-life of dinucleotide hydrolysis at pH 7 and 50 degrees C is only 24 min. This catalytic activity is 9 times as large as that of Ce4+, which is the only prominent catalyst hitherto reported. The Ce(4+)-Nd3+ combination is also effective. These bimetallic catalytic systems are eminent tools for the future molecular biology and biotechnology.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1994

Preparation of high-molecular-weight DNA: application to mycobacterial cells.

A method for isolating high-molecular-weight DNA from bacteria is described. A special feature of the method is the treatment of whole bacterial cells with an organic solvent (chloroform-methanol (2:1, v/v) or ethanol-ether (1:1, v/v)) prior to DNA extraction from the cells. The DNA preparations obtained from organic solvent-pretreated bacterial cells such as Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. phlei, and Escherichia coli contained highly polymerized DNA, as revealed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis. The size and yield of the DNA obtained from E. coli pretreated with the organic solvent were quite similar to that of the DNA obtained from protoplasts. The results strongly suggest that the organic solvent pretreatment is effective for extracting very large DNA from bacterial cells and especially from bacteria whose protoplasts cannot be easily formed.

DNA, Bacterial↗