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Biomedical subjects

T Kasai

Publications and source records attributed to T Kasai.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Carotid arterial impedance during oscillated blood flow.

Blood perfusion of systemic circulation is influenced by the physical characteristics of artery. Several investigations proposed that the physical parameters of vessels are determined by neurological factors, hormonal factors, and physical properties of arteries among others. In this study, arterial impedance was estimated because it may express the condition of vessels. To examine the change of arterial impedance according to the blood flow pattern, the typical sine wave blood flow (oscillated flow) was used during total cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) because it is considered the most simple pulsatile flow. CPB using oscillated blood flow was performed in acute experiments on adult goats. Total systemic flow was controlled to remain at approximately 80 ml/min. Carotid arterial flow, aortic pressure, central venous pressure, and systemic flow were measured. Total peripheral resistance, carotid arterial resistance, systemic impedance, and carotid arterial impedance were calculated to evaluate blood flow distribution during CPB. This study suggested that the parameters of carotid arterial blood flow changed according to the change of flow frequency during oscillated blood flow. This change may occur because arterial impedance was influenced by flow frequency; therefore, the blood flow of the carotid artery was significantly changed according to the change of the frequency component of blood flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Biological effects of inhaled magnesium sulphate whiskers in rats.

Male Wistar rats were exposed to two types of magnesium sulphate whiskers by inhalation for six hours a day, five days a week, for four weeks (sub-chronic study), or for one year (chronic study) to clarify the biological effects of the whiskers. There were few whiskers detected in the rat lungs even at one day after the exposure, suggesting that they are dissolved and eliminated rapidly from the lungs. To measure the clearance rate of the whiskers from the lungs, an intratracheal instillation was performed in golden hamsters. The half life of the whiskers in the lung was determined as 17.6 minutes by temporally measuring the magnesium concentration up to 80 minutes after the instillation. A histopathological examination indicated a frequent occurrence of adenoma and carcinoma in the year after chronic exposure, but it was not significantly different between exposed and control rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) therapy in granulopoetic patients complicated with sepsis.

A study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of therapy with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in 24 patients with granulocytopenia and sepsis who had failed to respond to antibiotics. The mean leukocyte count at the start of the study was 911 +/- 334/microliter. Patients were injected subcutaneously with 75 micrograms rhG-CSF once daily for a mean of 5.2 days. The plasma G-CSF concentration was measured by ELISA. The leukocyte count increased approximately 9-fold after 1 week in 19 patients and the percentage of granulocytes rose from 46.2% to 78.9%. These 19 patients survived, while the 5 patients with no leukocyte response to rhG-CSF died. High plasma G-CSF levels were found in patients with granulocytopenia. Plasma G-CSF levels decreased as levels of granulocyte increased in survivors. A high plasma G-CSF concentration persisted in the 5 non-responding patients resulting in a fatal outcome. This study suggests that rhG-CSF both increased the leukocyte count and was a useful therapeutic manoeuvre for sepsis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effects of upper limb muscle vibration on human voluntary wrist flexion-extension movements.

The effect of upper limb muscle tendon vibration during alternating step flexion-extension movements about the wrist was studied in 6 normal humans. A vibrator was mounted over either the wrist flexor muscle or the elbow flexor and extensor muscles. Vibration was applied either to a single muscle or simultaneously to both muscles during wrist flexion-extension movements. After a period of practice, subjects learned the required movements and were able to make them with their eyes closed. Simultaneous application of subthreshold vibration to the wrist flexor and the elbow extensor or flexor muscles during extension movements produced an undershooting of the required end-movement position. The observed results indicated the pattern of transjoint projections from elbow extensor and flexor muscles to motoneurons supplying wrist extensor and flexor muscles. It is also suggested that those transjoint projections play an important role in coordinated movement of wrist and elbow joints.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels in patients with multiple organ failure (MOF).

We measured soluble CD14 (sCD14), plasma endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in patients with multiple organ failure (MOF). The sCD14 level was significantly higher in septic patients with MOF than that in those without MOF and also higher in non-septic trauma patients with MOF than that in those without MOF. In the septic group with MOF, the sCD14 level correlated significantly with the TNF-alpha level but not the plasma endotoxin, IL-1 beta, IL-6, or IFN-gamma level. These results suggest that the sCD14 level reflects the degree of pathophysiology and that TNF-alpha is involved in stimulating sCD14 production.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Anatomical studies on the thumb muscles of the human hand].

The thenar muscles in 34 cases of 25 human adults were dissected using a stereoscopic microscope. The main supplying branch of the median nerve is often called the recurrent branch because of its characteristic recurrent course, and it enters the muscles between the abductor pollicis brevis and the superficial head of the flexor pollicis brevis. The other branch of the median nerve enters the latter muscle directly close to the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus laterally. This is called the direct branch, and was observed in 32 cases. Of these 32, it passed medial to the tendon in 7 cases. The deep terminal branch of the ulnar nerve supplies the transverse and the oblique heads of the adductor pollicis. One of the branches passes laterally piercing through the latter, and connects with the direct branch of the median nerve under the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus. The anastomosis between the two nerves was observed in 31 cases (91%). The obtained results concerning the nerve supply of the thenar muscles are summarized in Table 1. As seen in this table, the boundary of the supplying area between the median and ulnar nerves almost coincides with the position of the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus. In the other three cases in which a thick anastomosis, about 1 mm in thickness, existed between the median and ulnar nerves in the forearm (Martin-Gruber anastomosis), remarkable expansion of the supplying area of the ulnar nerve within the thenar muscles was observed, as seen in Table 2. According to the descriptions from clinical fields, the opponens pollicis and even the abductor pollicis brevis are sometimes supplied by the ulnar nerve. Such an extreme case may be explained by the existance of the anastomosis described above. The palmar interosseous muscle of the thumb has been described in textbooks. In this study, it is identified as the muscle fascicle of the adductor pollicis dorsal to the princeps pollicis artery, and was observed in 22 cases (65%). The macaca fuscata was also examined in 5 cases. In contrast to humans, all the thenar muscles can be identified without difficulty because no fusions are observed among them and because the nerve supply for each muscle is fairly constant.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase activity, type II phospholipase A2, and cytokine levels in patients with sepsis.

Platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity was measured in patients with sepsis, and its relationships with various cytokines and endotoxin were evaluated. PAF-AH activity was significantly higher (p = 0.0136) in 17 patients who died than 13 patients who survived. PAF-AH activity showed significant correlations with the plasma endotoxin, TNF-alpha, and IL-8 levels. These findings suggest that PAF-AH activity reflects the severity of the pathological condition.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha in sepsis.

To examine the roles of thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin I2, which are arachidonic acid metabolites found in patients with sepsis, we measured the serum levels of their respective stable metabolites, thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) in 22 patients with sepsis. Results were analyzed in relation to patients' survival. The levels of both TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were significantly higher in patients who died than in those who survived, thus reflecting the severity of the patients' illness. There was a significant correlation between the levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. These findings suggest that TXA2 and PGI2 are chemical mediators involved in the severity of clinical sepsis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1994

Serum complement levels and severity of sepsis.

The activities (C3a, C4a, C5a) and concentrations (CH50, C3, C4, C5) of serum complement were measured to evaluate the involvement of complement in sepsis. We studied 27 patients with sepsis who were divided into the survivors (Group 1) and the nonsurvivors (Group 2). The levels of C3a, C4a, and C5a were all significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 and closely reflected the severity of sepsis. Levels of C3 and C4 were significantly lower in Group 2 than in Group 1, presumably because these components were consumed as a result of activation of both the alternative and classical pathways. The levels of CH50 and C5 did not differ significantly between the two groups. These findings suggest that complement is closely involved in the exacerbation of the condition of septic patients, and that the measurement of complement activity is useful for evaluating the severity of sepsis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Significance of alpha-tocopherol and interleukin 8 in septic adult respiratory distress syndrome.

To elucidate the relationship between active oxygen and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in patients with septic adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we determined the serum levels of alpha-tocopherol, which has an antioxidant action, and IL-8 in seven patients with this disease. Serum alpha-tocopherol and IL-8 levels determined at the time of diagnosis of septic ARDS were 0.97 +/- 0.36 mg/dl and 0.98 +/- 0.99 ng/ml, respectively. A significant correlation was found between serum alpha-tocopherol level and IL-8 level (r = -0.758, p = 0.0473). These findings suggest that IL-8 activates neutrophils, which produce active oxygen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Perforation of dorsal branches of the sacral nerve plexus through the piriformis muscle and its relation to changes of segmental arrangements of the vertebral column and others].

To determine whether perforation of the dorsal branches arising from the sacral nerve plexus through the piriformis muscle is dependent on segmental migration of the vertebral column and others, the relationships between the perforating nerves (Fig. 1) and changes in the segmental composition of the following items were studied morphologically and statistically in 224 Japanese adults. Each of items 1) to 8) was classified in some mode or type depending on its composition and appearance. 1) Based on the length of the 8th rib and costal cartilage and whether or not the 8th to 10th ribs attached to the costal arch, the forms of the arch were classified into 6 types (Fig. 2-1). Type E, quoted commonly in many textbooks, in which the 8th to 10th ribs are all joined to the arch, was found in only 8 (6%) of 126 sides. A true 8th rib was found in 2 (3%), and a floating 10th rib was found in 59 (95%) of 62 sides. 2) The length of the 12th rib and costal cartilage, measured by a wet thread put on its inner surface, was classified into 4 types (Fig. 3-1): lacking (in this condition, the lumbar costal process appeared in 9 (2%) of 380 sides), short, normal (the length ranged from 5.1 cm to 13.4 cm) and long. Length varied from about 3 cm to 18.2 cm, with most cases concentrated in a range of 8 cm-14 cm. 3) Based on the number of presacral vertebrae, the vertebral column was classified as short (prefixed), normal, normal in number but abnormal in composition, and long (postfixed) (Table 4-1). The true "normal" type of 12 thoracic and 5 lumbar vertebrae was found in 196 (88%) of 224 bodies. Eleven thoracic and 5 lumbar, 13 thoracic and 4 lumbar, and 13 thoracic and 5 lumbar vertebrae were found in one body each, and thoracolumbar and lumbosacral vertebrae in 2 and 5 bodies, respectively. The long type of vertebral column appeared about twice as often as the short type. 4) Based on the height and appearance of the sacral promontory in the median plane, it was divided into 7 types (Fig. 5-1). The normal type, in which the promontory lay on the tip of the first sacral (25th) vertebra and projected sharply into the pelvic cavity, was found in 158 (71%) of 224 bodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between cytokines and leukotriene B4 in sepsis.

To clarify the relationship between cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites, we measured tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The subjects consisted of 30 patients with sepsis. The results were compared between patients who died (Group A) and those who survived (Group B). All TNF-alpha, IL-8, and LTB4 levels were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B, reflecting the severity of the disease. The LTB4 levels were significantly correlated with the TNF-alpha level and the IL-8 level. These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines, excessively produced due to inflammatory reactions, stimulate as a mediator the release of arachidonic acid, increasing LTB4 production.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Clinical effects of intramuscular administration of a small dose of polymyxin B to patients with endotoxemia.

The effects of intramuscular injections of minute amounts of polymyxin B were studied in 42 patients with endotoxemia. Plasma endotoxin was measured by means of an endotoxin-specific Endospecy test (Seikagaku Corp., Tokyo, Japan) after pretreatment of the plasma with a new perchloric acid method that we developed. The normal value of plasma endotoxin is less than 9.8 pg/mL. Polymyxin B was administered at a dose of 12,500 U every 6 hours. Plasma endotoxin rapidly decreased to the normal range in 40 of the 42 patients. Body temperature fell significantly. APACHE II scores were also significantly improved. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6) decreased in survivors, while tending to persist in high values in patients who died. No side effects were observed in any of the patients. In conclusion, intramuscular injections of small doses of polymyxin B were useful in the treatment of endotoxemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Predictable factors for estimating prognosis of patients after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have been concerned with a clarification of the relation between various clinicopathologic factors and the prognosis of operated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), few studies have focused on the prognostic predictability of mitotic index and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). METHODS: One hundred forty cases of HCC with hepatic resection were observed from 1 to 11 years, and the relationship among various clinicopathologic factors, including the mitotic index and anti-HCV, and prognosis was evaluated. RESULTS: Age at the time of operation, positive results for hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-HCV, accompanying cirrhosis, and the degree of tumor necrosis due to transarterial embolization did not influence the prognosis significantly. Patients with hepatitis C virus-related cases had a better prognosis than patients with hepatitis B-related cases. Patients with a single and small carcinoma smaller than 2 cm had a significantly better prognosis than those who had larger and/or multiple tumors. A better prognosis also was observed in the carcinomas with no histologic invasion into portal vein branches, low Edmondson grades, and low mitotic activities when compared with the counterpart of each group. Among these factors, the mitotic index was correlated best with prognosis in the current study. CONCLUSIONS: The examination of mitotic index was quite simple, and the index was a helpful factor in predicting prognosis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Bilateral traumatic hip dislocation in a child.

Traumatic dislocation of in children occurs less frequently than in adults, and bilateral dislocation is extremely rare. Manual reduction was performed in a 3-year-old girl with bilateral traumatic hip dislocation. The recovery course has been favorable for about 1 year.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1993

Traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in a child.

Dislocation of the shoulder joint is a rare occurrence in children. This paper reports on traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in a 3-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy, together with a discussion of the relevant literature.

Accidents↗
PubMed1993

Benign stricture of the extra-hepatic bile duct following hepatectomy for traumatic hepatic rupture.

Benign biliary stricture developing after hepatectomy is uncommon and its management remains controversial. We experienced a case of biliary stricture following hepatectomy for traumatic hepatic rupture, which was successfully treated with percutaneous transhepatic dilatation. Percutaneous transhepatic dilatation may be considered as one of the options in the treatment of anatomically complicated cases.

Adult↗