Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Kawada

Publications and source records attributed to T Kawada.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Management of personal health examination data for a population by use of a portable computer].

A new system was developed for processing annual personal health examination data with a portable microcomputer utilizing commercial software by converting the IBM formatted data file of the law mandated health examination for adults into an MS-DOS file. The sequential data file was further transferred into a random access data file by a simple program and software was developed for the presentation of annual personal data by table and graphs. Printout of data and selected comments filed on disc by the public health nurse or physician could become retrievable. This system is easily operated by a beginner in micro-computers from conversion of the original data to actual demonstration. This system was utilized for a small village of about 700 adults. By using part of the main memory as a RAM disc, presentation of 5 years' data was possible. File capacity was dependent on population size and also on the type of software for Japanese language input. In the case of a larger population, use of hard disc or expansion of memory may be recommended to shorten computer start-up time. Once necessary data has been placed into the field buffer's memory, retrieval of data requires less than one second. The results of health examination were usually provided by hard copies to village. But by use of this system, a more effective transfer of data between computerized systems by using a floppy disc is possible.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

[A case report of ruptured mycotic aneurysm at the site of subclavian flap angioplasty].

Postoperative mycotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta at the site of subclavian flap angioplasty (SFA) is very rare. A 6-year-old boy was admitted with a history of high fever for 10 days. He had undergone SFA at the age of 14 days and patch closure of VSD at 10 months. The chest X-ray film on admission revealed no abnormality. But, 7 days later, he suffered from frequent hemoptysis and chest X-ray film showed an abnormal mass shadow at the left upper lung field. Contrast enhanced CT scan and IV-DSA revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch which had ruptured into the left upper lung. An extra-anatomical bypass was urgently made from the ascending aorta to abdominal aorta and the aneurysm was isolated by ligations of the aorta proximal and distal to the aneurysm. Aneurysmectomy combined with left upper lobectomy was carried out next day. Septic signs and hemoptysis dramatically improved after operation. Extra-anatomical bypass as a means of choice for the surgical treatment of the mycotic aneurysm greatly contributed to cure the severe ill patient. But a close follow up observation for the function of the graft is necessary.

Aneurysm, Infected↗
PubMed1992

Lipoprotein lipase enzyme expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes is posttranscriptionally down-regulated by retinoic acid.

The effects of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, synthesis and mRNA content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were studied. When fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to RA, dose-dependent suppression of LPL activity was observed. The loss of activity reached a maximum of 60% of the control level and appeared to be due to an effect on synthesis of the enzyme, as judged from the decreased incorporation of [35S] methionine and [35S] cysteine into immunoprecipitable LPL. The LPL mRNA level remained unchanged under the same conditions. In contrast, no significant reduction in glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity or change in the morphological signature occurred on 24 hr exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to RA. These results suggest that RA can specifically down-regulate LPL enzyme expression in adipocytes at the posttranscriptional level.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Taste preference and protein nutrition and L-amino acid homeostasis in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Changes in taste preference were investigated in a choice paradigm using rats under various states of protein nutrition. A preference for the umami taste substances, monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) with or without 5'-ribonucleotide (5'-guanosine monophosphate), was induced when dietary protein was within the normal range, but a preference for NaCl occurred under its marginal deficiency. A preference for both NaCl and glycine was induced under severe protein malnutrition, possibly reflecting the body's negative nitrogen balance. The strength of this preference paralleled the body's requirement for protein, and thus, like the protein requirement for normal growth, declined with age. When animals with L-lysine (Lys) deficiency consumed a Lys solution and began to grow normally, their intake of taste stimulus solutions changed from preferring NaCl and glycine to preferring MSG. The regulatory mechanism of preference for L-amino acid (AA) in rats deficient of an essential AA was related to the pattern of AA in plasma and brain. Data suggest that umami taste perception plays an important role in protein metabolism, and in maintenance of AA and ammonia homeostasis within normal limits.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

A case of epicardial cyst.

A rare case of epicardial cyst diagnosed at surgery was presented. A 64-year old woman was admitted for evaluation of a mediastinal mass shown by echocardiography to be adjacent to both ventricles. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were performed. On CT, there was evidence of an abnormal mass lesion at the lateral side of the outlet of the right ventricle. The CT number of the mass was 24.7, suggesting cystic lesion. MRI revealed that the intensity of the lesion signal was higher than that of subcutaneous fat on the T2 weighted image. On the T1 weighted image, a low intensity was identified in the same region. During operation a mass originating from the epicardium was diagnosed as an epicardial cyst.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed1991

[Thoracoabdominal aneurysm complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy--a case of surgical treatment following heparin pretreatment].

This article reports a case of a thoracoabdominal aneurysm complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). The thoracoabdominal aneurysm was successfully replaced with a prosthetic graft following the short terms of heparin pretreatment. Although heparin pretreatment had been effective for the temporal remission of DIC, a large amount of blood transfusion was necessary because of prolonged bleeding from surgical wound. However, hematological evidence of DIC and bleeding tendency were dramatically arrested in the immediate postoperative period. It was concluded that the definitive treatment for DIC was removal of the aneurysm. Heparin was usefull for the preservation of coagulation factors and platelet, but it did not lessen operative bleeding.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1991

[An evaluation of automated hematology analyzers in detecting abnormal blood cells].

We report the usefulness and capability of two hematology analyzers with different principles in characterization of abnormal cells such as immature granulocytes and blasts. We studied a total 1635 specimens which included 69 cases with hematopoietic malignancies. THMS H-1 (Technicon Instruments) and NE-8000 (Toa Instruments) were used as analyzers. An effort was made to determine the sensitivity and specificity of positive abnormal cell flag in comparison with the presence of abnormal cells seen on a manual differential. True positive rate for immature granulocytes in H-1 and NE were 43% and 30%, respectively. False positive rate for immature granulocytes in H-1 and NE were 0.01% and 0.03%, respectively. With both analysers, cases with low percentage of immature granulocytes generated negative flag for abnormal cells. True positive rate for blasts in H-1 and NE were 74% and 65%, respectively. False positive rate for blasts in H-1 and NE were 1.8% and 0.2%, respectively. With both instruments, in all cases with blast count over 100/microliters, blasts were detected. Only H-1 detected the cases with blast counts less than 100/microliters. In H-1 all cases with ATL, one case with AMMoL and another with ALL generated negative blast flag. Upon morphologic examination, these blasts were found to be large and peroxidase negative with convoluted and irregularly shaped nuclei. On the other hand, NE detected blasts regardless of those morphology. In conclusion, Both instruments are useful in screening abnormal blood cells, while their unique capability must be considered.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1991

A computer-aided analyzing system to examine the masticatory muscle EMG during mastication.

We developed a computerized analyzing system for masticatory muscle electromyograms (EMGs), parameters of which were burst-duration time, muscle activity and electromyographic power-spectrum density during mastication. The system was tested with healthy subjects to evaluate the fatiguing process and found to work satisfactorily. It may find applications in other neuromuscular systems where control mechanisms and/or coordination is of interest.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Spontaneous rupture of the ascending aorta--a case report of successfully treated by surgery].

We experienced a case of spontaneous rupture of the ascending aorta, which seems to be the second case reported in the Japanese literature. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of severe anterior chest pain and collapse. Dilatation of the ascending aorta associated with pericardial effusion was demonstrated on CT and echocardiography. There was, however, no evidence of intimal flap in the aorta. Emergency pericardiocentesis was done for cardiac tamponade which developed in spite of aggressive hypotensive therapy. But, persistent tamponade necessitated median sternotomy, and then, it was found that left lateral aspect of the ascending aorta was covered with fresh blood clot. Inspection from inside of the aorta after aortotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass revealed a small transmural perforation at the left side of the aorta at approximately 15 mm distal to the aortic anulus. The perforated wall was directly closed with a running 4-0 polypropylene suture, and the aortic root was wrapped around with a sheet of Teflon felt. Postoperative course was uneventful. When acute intrapericardial or intrapleural bleeding develops with no evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection, presence of spontaneous aortic rupture should be taken into consideration, although it happens very rarely.

Aorta↗
PubMed1991

[One-staged surgery for coarctation of the aorta associated with annuloaortic ectasia--a case report].

A 37-year-old man was admitted to St. Marianna University Hospital with an episode of severe anterior chest pain. Contrast enhanced CT scan and digital subtraction angiography disclosed an aneurysmal dilatation of the aortic root and almost completely obstructed aortic isthmus. Modified Bentall operation was performed with simultaneous graft bypass using a woven Dacron prosthesis between the ascending aorta and the abdominal aorta through the median thoracoabdominal incision. Histologically the aortic wall showed cystic medial necrosis, and the aortic valve showed myxomatous degeneration. Only 9 cases with coarctation of the aorta associated with annuloaortic ectasia have been reported in the Japanese literature, and this is believed to be the first report that one-staged surgery has successfully been done dealing simultaneously both the coarctation and the annuloaortic ectasia.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with Behçet's disease].

In patients with Behçet's disease, venous thrombosis has often been described as a complication. The pathogenesis of this complication, however, has not been fully understood. In this work, various parameters of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were studied in 20 patients with Behçet's disease and 13 sex-matched healthy volunteers. Patients were classified into three subgroups according to the number of clinical signs involved; group I (no sign): 4 patients; group II (one or two signs): 11 patients; group III (more than three signs): 5 patients. Patients with Behçet's disease, showed an activation of blood coagulation, such as the shortening of prothrombin time (p less than 0.001), decreases in concentrations and activities of plasma antithrombin III (AT-III) (p less than 0.01) and elevated levels of plasma thrombin-antithrombin-III complex (TAT) (p less than 0.01), compared to the control group. Plasma levels (p less than 0.01) and activities (p less than 0.01) of protein C (PC) and total protein S (PS) levels (p less than 0.05) were increased in the patients. Decreased levels of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (p less than 0.001) also indicated an activation of fibrinolysis in the patients. When analyzed among the subgroups, patients belong to group II and III showed higher levels of plasma FDP D-dimer (p less than 0.05) and lower levels of plasminogen (p less than 0.05), as compared with patients in group I or control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Protein factor obtained from rat adipose tissue specifically permits the proliferation of the 3T3-L1 and Ob1771 cell lines.

We have found the presence of protein factor in rat adipose tissue which permits the proliferation of 3T3-L1 and Ob1771 preadipocytes cultured in a completely defined serum-free medium containing only progression factors [epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin] as growth factors. This mitogenic activity of the protein factor was not detected in various other cell lines, in particular, Swiss 3T3 cells which could proliferate in response to a competent factor [platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or fibroblast growth factor (FGF)] in the same serum-free medium. This activity of the factor was heat- and pronase-unstable, and reductant-stable, and the apparent molecular weight of the factor was about 20,000. These results strongly suggest that the protein factor is different from PDGF or FGF and contributes to the formation of new adipocytes by specifically stimulating the proliferation of preadipocytes, acting like competent factor.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Significance of the excretion of urinary indicator proteins for a low level of occupational exposure to cadmium.

Urinary cadmium (Cd), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), metallothionein (MT), beta 2-microglobulin (BMG), and blood cadmium were determined in 79 workers who had been employed at a Cd pigment factory in Japan. The workers who had been dealing with Cd pigment manufacturing processes were estimated to be exposed to cadmium pigment dust at a maximum concentration of 3.0 micrograms/m3/8 h for about 20 years. The urinary Cd level ranged from 0.2 to 9.7 micrograms/g creatinine with a geometric mean of 1.02 micrograms/g creatinine. Pearson's correlation coefficients between logarithm of urinary Cd and that of NAG, MT, and BMG in urine were 0.45, 0.62, and 0.05, respectively. The correlation coefficients between blood Cd and urinary NAG, MT, and BMG were 0.21, 0.40, and -0.074, respectively. When partial correlation coefficients were calculated to exclude the contribution of age factor, urinary Cd turned out to be significantly correlated with urinary MT (r = 0.55) and NAG (r = 0.52). The present results indicate that urinary Cd is more closely associated with urinary MT and NAG than with BMG, and suggest that MT and NAG could be good indicators of Cd absorption in a Cd-exposed population whose mean urinary Cd level is relatively low, or less than 10 micrograms/g creatinine.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1990

Intermediate filament expression in pituitary adenomas.

Seventy-five formalin-fixed and 18 alcohol-fixed pituitary adenomas were studied immunohistochemically using antibodies to keratin, vimentin, neurofilaments (NFs), glial fibrillary acidic protein, desmin, actin, S-100 protein and a variety of pituitary hormones. The pituitary adenoma cells were positive for keratin, vimentin and NFs (68 kDa and 160 kDa) and in a few instances there was co-expression of these three types of intermediate filaments (IMFs). The pattern of keratin-specific staining showed diffuse cytoplasmic or patchy paranuclear reactivity and of NF- or vimentin-specific staining showed fibrillar or patchy paranuclear reactivity. The patchy staining seemed to decorate the fibrous body. There was no correlation between the distribution of IMFs and pituitary hormones in pituitary adenomas except that melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-positive reactivity was limited to the NF-positive adenomas. The pattern of IMF staining did not depend on hormone production in adenomas.

APUD Cells↗
PubMed1990

Comparative investigation of vitamins and their analogues on terminal differentiation, from preadipocytes to adipocytes, of 3T3-L1 cells.

1. The effects of 20 kinds of vitamins or their analogues on the growth rate of preadipocytes and the terminal differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes was systematically compared in 3T3-L1 cells. 2. The addition of vitamin C markedly increased the growth rate of preadipocytes at over 50 microM. 3. The addition of vitamin K3 slowed down the growth rate at over 0.1 microM. 4. In water soluble vitamins and their analogues tested, the vitamin B6 group and vitamin C significantly stimulated the differentiation, and consequently increased the glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity and triglyceride accumulation, to a concentration of over 10 microM. 5. Many fat soluble vitamins and their analogues (the vitamin A group, including beta-carotene, the vitamin D group, vitamin E and the vitamin K group) strongly inhibited the adipose conversion of 3T3-L1 cells at microM level.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a completely defined serum-free medium.

We have developed a completely defined serum-free medium that supports the growth of Swiss 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to nearly the same extent as Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. With ASF301 medium [former name, RITC 80-7; Yamane et al. Exp. Cell Res. 134, 470 (1981)], most of the 3T3-L1 cells survived for at least 10 days, but did not grow. ASF301 medium contains insulin and mouse-epidermal growth factor as growth factors, which are termed "progression factors". So we examined the effects of "competent factors" on the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Growth in the medium supplemented with competent factors reached a confluent monolayer in 6-7 days. Furthermore, it was confirmed that 3T3-L1 cells grown in the serum-free medium retained the properties of differentiation into adipocytes. Our serum-free medium should be a useful tool for research on the growth and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Adrenoceptor-blocking activity and cardiohemodynamic effects of carvedilol in animals.

The beta-blocking activities of a new beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug, carvedilol, evaluated in isolated atria and trachea of the guinea pig were 2.0 (beta 1) and 3.2 times (beta 2), respectively, as potent as those of propranolol. Carvedilol exhibited the alpha-blocking activities in the aorta of guinea pigs and rats. Carvedilol was 2 and 50 times less potent in guinea pigs and rats, respectively, than prazosin as an alpha-blocker. Thus, the alpha-blocking activities were twice as potent as the beta-blocking activity in the rat and one-fifth that of the beta-blocking activity in the guinea pig. In anesthetized open-chest dogs, the beta-blocking activity of carvedilol was 1.5 times more potent than that of propranolol and had 3.8 times the alpha-blocking activity. Thus, carvedilol is a nonselective beta-blocking drug with a potent alpha-blocking activity. Carvedilol and propranolol showed dose-dependent and significant decreases in the blood pressure, total cardiac output, left ventricular pressure, dp/dt, heart rate, coronary flow, and oxygen consumption in anesthetized open-chest dogs. Carvedilol decreased the total peripheral resistance significantly (the decrease was not proportional to the decreases in the blood pressure at high doses), while propranolol increased it significantly and dose-dependently. These results indicate the importance of alpha-adrenoceptor blocking activity in the decrease in blood pressure produced by carvedilol.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗