Biomedical subjects

T Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to T Inoue.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Risk factors for stiffness of the wall of the thoracic aorta in patients with mild atherosis.

Previous studies have suggested that aging is associated with progressive arterial stiffness and widening of the pulse pressure, and pulse pressure has been found to be a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of age, blood pressure (including pulse pressure) or atherogenic factors on thoracic aortic wall stiffness in patients with mild atherosis are unclear, so the present study used transesophageal echocardiography to examine 103 consecutive patients with various cardiovascular diseases. The extent of atherosis was evaluated in terms of intima-medial thickness (IMT), and 2 indices of wall stiffness in the aorta were calculated: elastic modulus and stiffness parameter (beta). In subjects with mild atherosis (IMT <1.0mm), age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglyceride level, and hypertension were factors significantly associated with high wall stiffness, and multiple logistic stepwise analysis revealed that age, pulse pressure, and triglyceride level were particularly significant.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Monophasic action potentials of the right atrium in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

To investigate the mechanism of atrial fibrillation (AF), monophasic action potentials (MAPs) from the atrial myocardium were studied in 7 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and in 7 control individuals. The MAPs were recorded using a contact catheter during sinus rhythm and continuous pacing at the high right atrium (HRA) with pacing cycle lengths of 600, 500 and 400 ms. MAPs were obtained from 6 sites in each participant. The MAPD90 was measured from onset to 90% of MAP repolarization. Average, maximal and minimal MAPD90 (avMAPD90, maxMAPD90 and minMAPD90) were obtained from all participants. The dispersion of MAPD90 (dispMAPD90) was defined as the difference between maxMAPD90 and minMAPD90. The width of each atrial potential (WAP) and the wavelength index (WLI=MAPD90/WAP) were determined. Average, maximal and minimal WLI (avWLI, maxWLI and minWLI) were obtained from all participants. The avMAPD90 and maxMAPD90 did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The minMAPD90 in the PAF group was significantly smaller than that in the control group at HRA pacing with cycle lengths of 500 and 400 ms (210+/-18ms vs 245+/-14 ms, p<0.05; 207+/-23 ms vs 238+/-20 ms, p<0.05; respectively). The dispMAPD90 was significantly longer in the PAF group than in the control group during sinus and HRA pacing. The WAP value did not differ between the 2 groups. The minWLI in the PAF group was significantly smaller than that in the control group at HRA pacing with cycle lengths of 500 and 400 ms (3.3+/-0.5 vs 3.8+/-0.3, p<0.05; 3.2+/-0.4 vs 3.7+/-0.3, p<0.02). A shortened and widened dispersion of atrial refractoriness may play an important role in the genesis of AF. Furthermore, smaller wavelengths may form in the atrium of patients with PAF.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2001

Linking phenomenon in dual atrioventricular nodal pathways.

The linking phenomenon is an electrophysiological phenomenon of conduction between 2 different pathways, such as bundle branches, atrioventricular node (AVN) and accessory pathways. The present study used electrophysiological studies to investigate this phenomenon in 14 patients with dual AVN pathways. Decremental ramp pacing at intervals of 10 ms was carried out in high right atrium until the atrio-His (A-H) interval was abruptly prolonged (onset), then subsequent incremental ramp pacing at intervals of 10 ms proceeded until the A-H interval abruptly shortened (offset). The linking window (LW) was defined as the difference between the paced cycle lengths of the offset and the onset. The linking phenomenon occurred in 9 patients (64%). The onset depended on the functional refractory period of the fast pathway and once the linking was established in the dual pathways, the LW was related to the difference between the A-H interval immediately before and after the restoration of anterograde fast pathway conduction. These findings suggest that the linking phenomenon in dual AVN pathways occurs because of anterograde conduction block in the fast pathway and the subsequent concealed retrograde conduction of impulses propagated from the slow pathway.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

High heart rate relates to clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in a screened cohort.

Increased heart rate (HR) is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality, so the present study used a screened cohort to investigate whether the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is associated with increased HR. Individuals who were receiving medication for hypertension or heart disease and those who did not have an ECG record or who had a record of arrhythmia were excluded. In total, 8,508 subjects (5,299 men, 3,209 women; age range, 18-89 years) were studied. Subjects were divided into 2 HR classes using the value of mean HR+ 1 SD as the cut-off point: low HR (HR < 77 beats/min, n=7,320) and high HR (HR > or = 77 beats/min, n=1,188). For logistic regression analysis, the dependent variable was HR class and the independent variables were the number of risk factors (ie, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia each of which was associated positively with HR class by multivariate analysis). The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the number of risk factors were 1.412 (1.216-1.640) for 1 risk factor, 2.800 (2.269-3.455) for 2, and 4.582 (2.815-7.459) for 3. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the number of risk factors from 0 to 3 correlated positively with high HR. HR increased significantly with clustering of risk factors even with low HR (regression coefficient was 1.147, p<0.0001). Modifying the risk factors may lower HR and reduce cardiovascular mortality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Localization of metallothionein (MT) and expression of MT isoforms induced by cadmium in rat dental pulp.

We investigated the induction of metallothionein (MT) by cadmium (Cd) in the dental pulp of rat incisors. Time-course studies of MT mRNA expression after single Cd injection were observed by Northern-blot analysis. The isoform-specific expressions of MT mRNAs (MT-I, MT-II and MT-III) were observed using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Both MT-I and MT-II mRNA levels increased within 3 h, peaked at 3 h and then decreased. These findings demonstrated that MT-I and MT-II mRNA were rapidly induced by Cd in dental pulp. MT-III mRNA was constitutively expressed in rat dental pulp, but the expression level did not change by Cd treatment. The localization of MT protein in Cd-treated rat dental pulp was determined by immunohistochemical staining using anti-MT antibody against MT-I and MT-II. MT protein was localized in the specific cell type of odontoblasts (secretory odontoblasts and resting odontoblasts). In conclusion, it is likely that stained MT in the immunohistochemical study should be MT-I and/or MT-II. Furthermore, MT-I and/or MT-II in Cd-treated rat dental pulp was localized in odontoblasts, in which accumulation of Cd were reported. The cell-specific synthesis of MT may be associated with its metal storage and detoxification role in dental tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Renal cortical retention on delayed CT and nephropathy following transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between renal cortical retention on delayed CT and contrast medium-associated and/or transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)-associated nephropathy following TACE. The authors reviewed the findings on 180 treatments in 121 patients with normal serum creatinine levels who underwent TACE for liver tumours. Nephropathy was defined as an increase in the creatinine level of greater than 0.5 mg x dl(-1) (44 micromol x l(-1)) and greater than 25% on days 1, 3, 7 or 14 post TACE. Renal cortical retention was recognized when CT values for the renal cortex showed either mild renal cortical retention (CT value >50) or severe renal cortical retention (CT value >100). There was evidence of renal cortical retention in 81 (45%) cases and of nephropathy in 11 (6%) cases. Only 2% of patients without renal cortical retention showed nephropathy, whereas 11% of those with renal cortical retention showed nephropathy (p=0.02). Stepwise selection using a multivariate logistic regression model showed renal cortical retention and gender to be significant factors for nephropathy following TACE. In conclusion, renal cortical retention is a useful predicator for nephropathy following TACE. Delayed CT could be used not only for assessment of lipiodol retention but also for predicting nephropathy.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Characterization of soluble protein extracts from keratinized tissues: identification of ubiquitin universally distributed in hair, nail, and stratum corneum.

Partial protein extracts were prepared from hair, nail, and stratum corneum in the absence of urea and interfacial surfactant. Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses of these extracts showed low-molecular weight protein-rich patterns apparently different from those of whole protein extracts, which mainly consist of keratin bands. Several protein bands characterized each keratinized tissue or its derived species. In addition, we identified a major band of approximately 7 kDa as ubiquitin, a ubiquitously distributed protein that mediates non-lysosomal protein degradation, through direct amino acid sequence analysis of the electro-blotted protein band. The partial extraction is useful for investigation of soluble proteins retained in the keratinized tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

The complete nucleotide sequences of L3 and S7 segments of Ibaraki virus encoding for the major inner capsid proteins, VP3 and VP7.

The complete nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding two of the major inner capsid proteins of Ibaraki virus (IBAV), belonging to epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2 (EHDV-2) were determined. The L3 RNA segment is 2768 nucleotides in length which encodes VP3 polypeptides of 899 amino acid residues (M.W. 103 kDa). The S7 RNA segment, which encodes the VP7 core protein, is 1162 nucleotides in length and encodes 349 amino acids (M.W. 38 kDa). These RNA segments had the characteristic consensus motifs of Orbivirus RNA segments in termini, namely 5'-GUUAAA... and ...ACUUAC-3'. The comparison of the IBAV L3 and S7 sequences with those of other two EHDV-2 isolates revealed the higher homologies of 93% and 92% against EHDV-2 Australia isolate (EHDV-2AUS) and lower homologies of 80% and 81% against EHDV-2 North America isolate, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis based on L3 and S7 genes also indicated close relationships between IBAV and EHDV-2AUS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for catamenial hemoptysis.

Catamenial hemoptysis is a rare condition, and only 36 cases have been reported since the first published case. We describe a woman with catamenial hemoptysis recurring over 8 years. The lesion was diagnosed using chest CT scan during menses and was also visualized clearly via thoracoscopy. The patient was treated successfully with a partial resection of the lung using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and has been asymptomatic for 14 months since the operation. We suggest that VATS for catamenial hemoptysis is a more effective treatment than medical therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Inverse correlation between the changes of lumbar bone mineral density and serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin after vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) treatment in children treated with glucocorticoid and alfacalcidol.

We have reported that alfacalcidol plus menatetrenone, a vitamin K2 with four isoprene units (menaquinone-4), treatment is useful for improving bone problems in children with skeletal unloading. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of menatetrenone on bone metabolism in long-term glucocorticoid-treated children with alfacalcidol treatment. Twenty children who had been treated with fixed dosages of prednisolone and alfacalcidol (0.03 microg/kg/day) for 24 weeks were enrolled in a prospective pilot study, and assigned to receive alfacalcidol (0.03 microg/kg/day) or alfacalcidol (0.03 microg/kg/day) plus menatetrenone (approximately 2 mg/kg/day). Bone biochemical markers and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at baseline and after the 12-week treatment. In the group receiving alfacalcidol plus menatetrenone, serum carboxylated osteocalcin (OC) (p =0.0022) and lumbar BMD (p=0.0029) increased and serum undercarboxylated OC (p=0.0004) decreased significantly in comparison to the group receiving alfacalcidol; further, the change of lumbar BMD showed an inverse correlation to the change of serum undercarboxylated OC (r=-0.744, p=0.0134) and positive correlations to the baseline values of bone turnover markers such as serum levels of intact OC, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and type I procollagen carboxyl extension peptide and urinary levels of deoxypyridinoline and N-telopeptide of type I collagen. No adverse effect was observed. This is a small short-term study, but its results suggest that menatetrenone effectively and safely increases lumbar BMD probably through carboxylation of OC in long-term prednisolone-treated children with alfacalcidol treatment who have a high bone turnover. Randomized double-blind controlled trials are needed to confirm our findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

A natural history of adrenocorticotropin-independent bilateral adrenal macronodular hyperplasia (AIMAH) from preclinical to clinically overt Cushing's syndrome.

A 49-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of gallstones in 1993. Bilateral adrenal nodular masses were detected incidentally by abdominal computed tomography. He had no clinical signs of Cushing's syndrome such as central obesity, striae of skin and diabetes mellitus. We performed cholecystectomy and partial adrenalectomy of right adrenal gland as a biopsy, and diagnosed him as preclinical Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocorticotropin-independent bilateral adrenal macronodular hyperplasia (AIMAH) based on endocrinological and histological examinations. We followed him up for 7 years. During the observation period, the sizes of both adrenal glands increased gradually, and finally serum cortisol level increased beyond normal range, and he showed a Cushingoid appearance such as moon face and central obesity. His skin became atrophic and very fragile, and the bone mineral density of his lumbar spine was extremely low. Serum cortisol level was elevated, and plasma ACTH level was always suppressed. Urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid and free cortisol were increased. Diurnal rhythm of cortisol and ACTH was completely lost and high dose (8 mg/day) dexamethasone did not suppress urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion. He became clinically overt Cushing's syndrome. We recommended total adrenalectomy, but he refused it. It is important to know the natural history of preclinical Cushing's syndrome due to AIMAH when choosing an adequate treatment.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗

PubMed2001

Incident-angle dependence of the sensitivity of second-harmonic generation of an oxacyanine dye in an LB film.

The second-harmonic generation of a cyanine dye in an LB film was investigated by varying the incident angle of the excitation laser. There was a clear dependence on the incident angle, which was simulated by a simple model. Thus, a highly sensitive determination should be carried out at such an angle where the efficiency of the second-harmonic generation shows its maximum.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Investigation of usefulness of sperm analyses in dogs for male fertility study.

The usefulness of sperm analyses in dogs, including sperm motion analysis, was investigated. Sperm motion analysis was performed with the CellSoft-4000 computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. First, we examined the conditions for preservation of optimal semen quality. We found that sperm retained more of their motility at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. Secondly, we observed sperm motion, concentration and morphology in dog semen continuously for 11 weeks. We collected semen samples during the test period, and the samples retained sperm motion, concentration and morphology. Finally, we administrated alpha-chlorohydrin, which decreases rodent sperm motion, at a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg to dogs. Sperm motion was inhibited immediately after alpha-chlorohydrin treatment, and recovered after 2 weeks. None of the experimental animals were sacrificed in the above-mentioned examinations. We thus confirmed that sperm analyses including motion analysis in dogs are useful in male fertility studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Collaborative study on rat sperm motion analysis using CellSoft Series 4000 semen analyzer.

A collaborative study was conducted to determine useful and sensitive rat sperm motion parameters in a CellSoft Series 4000 semen analyzer to detect the effects of compounds on sperm motion. The effects on the sperm motion parameters were investigated using alpha-chlorohydrin, boric acid, ethinylestradiol, ethyl methanesulfonate, nitrazepam, nitrobenzene, ornidazole, sulfasalazine or valproic acid which are well known to induce reproductive or testicular toxicities. All compounds used in this study decreased percentage of motile sperm (% motile). Curvilinear velocity (VCL), maximum and mean amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH max and ALH mean) were decreased by treatment with all compounds except for valproic acid. Treatment with alpha-chlorohydrin, ornidazole or sulfasalazine under mid-dosage regimens decreased only these parameters. Beat cross frequency (BCF) was increased by treatment with sulfasalazine. There were some treatments which caused either decreased or increased changes irrespective of dosage regimen in linearity, average radius, percentage of circular-swimming sperm out of motile sperm (circular/motile) and percentage of circular-swimming sperm out of all sperm (circular/all). Based on these results, we concluded that % motile, VCL, ALH max and ALH mean are considered useful and sensitive parameters for evaluating the effects of compounds on sperm motion. A parameter of BCF can be useful to detect the effects of specific compounds on sperm motion. Linearity, average radius, circular/motile and circular/all are not considered useful or sensitive indicators to detect the effects of compounds on sperm motion.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Anorexia nervosa with ischemic necrosis of the segmental ileum and cecum.

A 41-year-old woman with long-standing anorexia nervosa showed paralytic ileus and serum creatine kinase elevation. Surgical treatment showed necrosis of the segmental ileum and cecum with perforation. She died of septic shock 3 days after the operation. Postmortem examination revealed no occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery or its main branches, and no arteriosclerotic changes. Histological examinations confirmed non-occlusive mesenteric infarction. This case suggested that necrosis of bowels might have been caused by poor blood supply due to severe malnutrition and dehydration for many years, which could be one of the fatal complications of anorexia nervosa.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Multi-level disruption of the spinal nerve root sleeves in spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage--two case reports.

A 37-year-old male and an 18-year-old male presented with spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage from multiple nerve root sleeves. Both patients suffered abrupt onset of intense headache followed by nausea, dizziness, and one patient with and one without positional headache. Radioisotope spinal cisternography of both patients revealed that the CSF leaks were not localized in a special zone but distributed to multiple spinal nerve root sleeves. Magnetic resonance (MR) myelography suggested that the spinal CSF column was fully expanded to the root sleeves. The extraspinal nerve bundles demonstrated numerous high intensity spots. Both patients were treated conservatively, and their symptoms resolved within one month. Repeat radioisotope cisternography and MR myelography confirmed the spine was normal after recovery. We suggest that spreading disruption of the arachnoid membrane occurs at the nerve root sleeves due to CSF overflow into the spinal canal.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Spatial functional distribution in the corticospinal tract at the corona radiata: a three-dimensional anisotropy contrast study.

The spatial functional distribution of the nerve fibers was investigated in the corticospinal tract at the level of the corona radiata. Thirteen patients with corona radiata infarction underwent axial single-shot echo planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Image analysis used the three-dimensional anisotropy contrast (3DAC) method to demarcate the nerve fibers in the corticospinal tract. Axial 3DAC images demonstrated the corticospinal tract as a distinct area indicating nerve fiber integrity in all normal hemispheres and infarction as a dark or black area in affected hemispheres. Seven patients with upper extremity-dominant motor dysfunction had infarction located in the middle one third of the corticospinal tract. A patient with lower extremity-dominant motor dysfunction had infarction in the posterior one third. Five patients with equal motor dysfunction in the upper and lower extremities had infarction in both the middle and posterior one thirds of the corticospinal tract. The recovery of motor dysfunction at one month follow up correlated with the location of the corticospinal tract injury on the initial 3DAC images. The findings of the 3DAC images provide an indicator of the pattern and the recovery from acute and chronic motor dysfunction in patients with corona radiata infarction.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Hearing restoration from deafness after resection of a large cerebellopontine angle meningioma--case report.

A 61-year-old man presented with a large cerebellopontine angle meningioma manifesting as a 1-year history of deafness on the right side, in whom hearing was restored from the deaf state immediately after tumor resection. Neuroimaging demonstrated a large mass in the right cerebellopontine angle, originating at the region adjacent to the jugular foramen. Audiometry showed his hearing was off-scale (> 105 dB) on the right. The tumor was successfully removed through the retrosigmoid approach, and the integrity of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves was maintained. The patient regained hearing on the day after the operation, which continued to improve until near-normal. The 8th cranial nerve function may recover dramatically after removal of non-acoustic tumors, even if preoperative hearing loss is profound. To maximize the opportunity to regain hearing, approaches which devastate cochlear function should be avoided and more meticulous manipulation during tumor removal is needed.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗