Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Kihara

Publications and source records attributed to T Kihara.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Renal cell carcinoma with solitary asynchronous adrenal metastasis].

We report 3 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with solitary asynchronous adrenal metastasis. Case 1; A 43-year-old female was diagnosed with ipsilateral adrenal metastasis 10 years after nephrectomy of RCC (T2, N0, M0). She is alive with no evidence of disease five years after adrenalectomy. Case 2; A 53-year-old female had contralateral adrenal metastasis 10 years after nephrectomy (T3, N0, M0). She died with distant metastasis fourteen months post-operatively. Case 3; A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with contralateral adrenal metastasis 3 years after nephrectomy (T3, N0, M0). He is alive with no evidence of disease twenty months postoperatively. Two of our three cases are alive and tumor-free. However, adrenal metastasis was found in case 1 and case 2, even though more than ten years had passed after nephrectomy. Therefore we should observe the patients periodically after radical nephrectomy for a long time.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Cleavage specificity of porcine follipsin.

Follipsin purified from the follicular fluid of porcine ovaries was studied for its specificity against various synthetic and peptide substrates. The enzyme cleaved only by an endopeptidase activity at the amide and peptide bonds of Arg-X, indicating strict specificity of the S1 pocket for arginine. The specificity for pocket S2 appears to favor either hydrophobic or basic side chains. A 10-residue peptide containing a portion of the activation site of human tissue plasminogen activator was synthesized and tested with the enzyme. The peptide was cleaved by follipsin at the Arg-Ile bond, as expected from the specificity deduced above. Furthermore, the enzyme successfully converted single-chain precursor tissue plasminogen activator (sctPA) to its active, two-chain form by cleaving the corresponding peptide bond. Comparison of the rates of single-chain precursor tissue plasminogen activator activation and tissue plasminogen activator peptide hydrolysis revealed that the former is a more efficient substrate than the latter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Role of neutrophils in radical production during ischemia and reperfusion of the rat brain: effect of neutrophil depletion on extracellular ascorbyl radical formation.

A growing body of experimental data indicate that oxygen radicals may mediate the brain injury during ischemia-reperfusion. One potential source of oxygen radicals is activated neutrophils. To study the role of neutrophils in radical production during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, we evaluated the effects of depletion of circulating neutrophils by administration of an anti-neutrophil monoclonal antibody (RP3) on radical formation in rats with 1-h middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. In the present study, we employed a new electron spin resonance method coupled with brain microdialysis. The method uses the endogenous ascorbyl radical (AR) concentration as a marker of oxygen radicals and requires no spin-trapping agents. In the vehicle controls, extracellular AR decreased during MCA occlusion. After reperfusion, AR significantly increased at 30 min and 1 h, returned to near basal level until 2 h, and increased again at 24 h after reperfusion. In the rats treated with RP3, AR decreased during MCA occlusion to the same extent as in the vehicle control. However, RP3 treatment completely inhibited the increase in extracellular AR after reperfusion. RP3 treatment exerted no effect on the changes in extracellular ascorbate or tissue PO2 throughout the experimental period. In conclusion, neutrophils are a major source of oxygen radicals during reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Direct detection of ascorbyl radical in experimental brain injury: microdialysis and an electron spin resonance spectroscopic study.

To examine the role played by free radicals in brain injury, we performed experiments to detect radicals in the frontal cortex of rats, using electron spin resonance (ESR) and microdialysis. A dialysis probe was inserted into the frontal cortex, and spin adducts in perfusates were immediately detected by ESR. We obtained a relatively stable doublet signal, with parameters of g = 2.0057 and aH = 0.17 mT. This signal corresponded with that of the ascorbyl radical. Ascorbyl radical in the perfusate collected from the frontal cortex was augmented by microinjection of H2O2 and FeCl2 adjacent to the dialysis probe. When the rats were challenged with cold-induced brain injury, ascorbyl radical and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the perfusate increased significantly. Pretreatment with superoxide dismutase and catalase attenuated the increase in ascorbyl radical and LDH level induced by the cold injury. Infusion of FeCl2 dissolved in perfusate caused a pronounced increase in ascorbyl radical and LDH level after the cold injury. We conclude that the direct detection of free radical formation further supports the hypothesis that free radicals play an important role in traumatic brain injury. Our findings also indicate that combined microdialysis with ESR spectroscopy is a useful in vivo method for monitoring free radical production in the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Detection of an increase in ascorbate radical in an irradiated experimental tumour system using ESR.

We measured Asc.- (ascorbate radical) produced by the reaction of AscH- (ascorbic acid) with HO. or O2.- after irradiation in mouse. It is possible to measure Asc.- easily using ESR and a dialysis method in which Asc.- was collected at room temperature in the interstitial fluid through the dialysis membrane. After irradiation, Asc.- increased in both normal muscle and tumour tissues (SCC-VII) in proportion to the radiation dose. Asc.- increased after treatment with the agents H2O2 and FeCl2, while it decreased after treatment with SOD and catalase. These results suggest that the amount of HO. and O2.- produced is reflected in the Asc.- production. Also, the increase in Asc.- production when WR-2721 was administered prior to irradiation was less than for experiments in which irradiation only was performed. This method is useful for the following reasons. First, no special treatment, such as freezing of the sample, and no administration of noxious agents are necessary to measure Asc.-. Second, irradiation using a dose of only a few Gy shows an increase in production of Asc.-. Third, this method does not require removal of organs. Using this method, Asc.- can serve as an indicator of the amount of HO. and O2.- produced by irradiation in vivo.

Amifostine↗
PubMed1995

Effects of nutritional factors on reproduction, growth, preweaning reflex development and postweaning learning performance in SHRSP.

1. Dietary high protein intake in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) induces a reduction of blood pressure and decreases the incidence of cerebral lesion. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of nutritional factors of dietary high protein on reproduction, growth, preweaning reflex development, postweaning behaviour and learning performance in SHRSP. 2. SHRSP were fed on a high protein rat diet (OA2 diet) and a standard rat diet for SHRSP (FSP diet). Rats were mated by brother-sister combinations and observed on reproductive performance, preweaning reflex development and postweaning learning performance among the 3rd to the 6th generations. 3. OA2 showed some advanced responses at the preweaning period compared to FSP in the surface righting, negative geotaxis and mid-air righting reflexes. 4. At the postweaning period, hyperactivity of OA2 was indicated at the open field test. In the ambulatory activity of the circadian rhythm, OA2 was better synchronized with running activity in the light and dark alternation cycle. 5. OA2 group indicated the higher postweaning learning performance in the water E, the water multiple T (Biel) and the Morris water-maze test as well as the acquisition of the conditioned avoidance response test. 6. In conclusion, dietary high protein intake in SHRSP produced some advanced effects on preweaning reflex development and postweaning learning performance.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1995

Effects of the neonatal vitamin A exposure on behaviors of adult rats.

The effects of neonatal vitamin A exposure on six behavioral parameters in adult Wistar rats were investigated. Newborn male rats were injected intraperitoneally with 80,000 IU/kg/day of retinol palmitate (vitamin A) dissolved in physiological saline or vehicle alone (controls) during 1-5 days after birth. The animals were examined using the open field test (at 36 weeks of age), the rotarod test (38 weeks), the Biel water-maze test (40 weeks), the conditioned avoidance test (42 weeks), the running-wheel activity with pentobarbital challenge test (44 weeks), and the tail flick test (45 weeks). The vitamin A-exposed rats made significantly more errors and took significantly longer times in the Biel water-maze test, and showed significantly slower responses in the tail flick test than the controls. No significant effects of treatment with vitamin A were observed in any of the other behavioral tests. These results indicate that a long-lasting defect in learning in water-maze task and depression of the heat-pain response are induced in rats exposed neonatally to vitamin A.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Dental care works and work-related complaints of dentists.

To clarify the relationship between daily performed dental practices and work-related physical complaints by dentists, we examined 16 male dentists who worked at their clinic in an urban district. Each subject answered a questionnaire concerning work-related complaints and was examined by a time study of daily actions. The electromyograms of back muscles were taken from ten different positions. Approximately 62% of the daily practice was occupied by the dental care work. The dental care postures were classified into 3 types according to the inclination of the body. The most common posture was a right-forward position. The prevalence of complaints including problems with eyes, hands and arms, neck and shoulders and low back differed among 3 types. The order of complaints was neck and shoulders, eyes, and low back. The amplitude of the electromyograms was increased by the extension of the muscles to lateral bending of 30 degrees and internal rotation of 15 degrees. These results suggest that the body positions of daily dental care practices cause an increase in work-related complaints in dentists.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A case of massive adrenal malignant pheochromocytoma: management of a large pheochromocytoma.

A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a left abdominal tumor measuring about 30 cm in diameter. Laboratory examination revealed an elevation of norepinephrine in plasma and of its metabolites in urine. CT scan disclosed a huge cystic tumor in the retroperitoneal space and an enlarged aortocaval lymph node, suggesting a diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma. The hemodynamic studies showed low blood volume and high vascular resistance, and therefore, he was treated with vasodilators and volume expansion. His hemodynamic status normalized and a complete excision was performed. Pathological examination revealed that the patient had a pheochromocytoma with metastasis to a lymph node. The total weight of the tumor was 5,930 g. Since pheochromocytomas can become a large with a risk of malignancy, they should be surgically excised as completely as possible with further treatment after making a definite diagnosis.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Effects of duloxetine, a new serotonin and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, on extracellular monoamine levels in rat frontal cortex.

The effects of duloxetine (LY248686), a new inhibitor of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) uptake on extracellular levels of NE, 5-HT and dopamine (DA), were studied in the rat frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, using in vivo microdialysis. The oral administration of duloxetine (3.125-12.5 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent increase in the output of both NE and 5-HT from the frontal cortex, this increase being maintained throughout the 4-hr observation period. Chronic administration of duloxetine (6.25 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days failed to alter basal NE and 5-HT levels in the frontal cortex, but augmented the duloxetine-induced increase in output of NE and 5-HT. Amitriptyline and maprotiline, administered p.o. at doses of 6.25 to 25 mg/kg, increased NE output, but the effect was weaker than that of duloxetine, and neither amitriptyline nor maprotiline changed 5-HT output from the frontal cortex. Duloxetine, amitriptyline, and maprotiline brought about increases in DA levels in the rat frontal cortex, the increase in DA levels induced by duloxetine being approximately two or three times more potent than that induced by amitriptyline and maprotiline. In the nucleus accumbens, duloxetine also produced a dose-dependent increase in DA output more potent than that produced by amitriptyline and maprotiline. These results show that duloxetine causes a potent and sustained increase in the output of both NE and 5-HT in the rat frontal cortex, related to its inhibition of NE and 5-HT uptake; these results also show that duloxetine increases DA output in the frontal cortex.

Amitriptyline↗
PubMed1995

Application of Stockholm criteria to patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome in a follow-up study.

We applied Stockholm criterion to patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) for assessing the therapeutic effects in comparison with the criterion of the Ministry of Labour in Japan (MLJ). Forty male patients recognized as an occupational disease were examined in two times (mean interval periods 3.0 years). The subjects were free from vibratory tasks during the mean period of 8.3 years. The clinical examinations and some laboratory tests were conducted with the same procedures by the two same occupational physicians. The criterion of MLJ was graded more severe than Stockholm one for the vascular component at the first examination. According to Stockholm criterion, 16 patients (40%) were classified into stage 0 in the vascular component, 11 (70%) of which complained of coldness in the fingers. At the second examination, 9 of 16 patients in stage 0 had Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). On the other hand, the criterion of MLJ could reflect an improvement of symptoms, for example, coldness. The findings may indicate that Stockholm criterion for vascular component is not enough to assess the clinical changes for light stages according to the severity of RP alone. For the sensorineural (SN) component, both criteria were almost compatible. From the viewpoint of preventive medicine, it was concluded that Stockholm criterion was not suitable for evaluating their clinical severity in the early stage of HAVS.

Disability Evaluation↗
PubMed1995

A new criterion proposed for the diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

To propose a new criterion for the diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), we evaluated the severity of the patients in comparison with the criterion of the Ministry of Labour in Japan (MLJ) and the Stockholm criterion. The characteristics of the Stockholm criterion was to classify severe cases with vascular disorders, because of evaluation due to the frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon alone. The Stockholm criterion diagnosed the HAVS separately in vascular and sensorineural disorders. The MLJ criterion was able to subdivide light stages. In vascular disorders, the MLJ criterion made serious consideration about cold sensation which appeared long before the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon. The MLJ criterion diagnosed the patients with vascular, sensorineural and motor (musculoskeletal) system disorders comprehensively. A new criterion which we proposed includes sensorineural, vascular and motor system disorders, the grade of which is evaluated in each system. The diagnosis might be done comprehensively.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed1994

Role of cell adhesion molecules in brain injury after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.

Activated neutrophils appear to be directly involved in tissue injury after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) and CD11/CD18 integrins have been implicated in ischemia-reperfusion induced neutrophil endothelial adhesion and transmigration. We therefore investigated the roles of CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1) and ICAM-1 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by using monoclonal antibodies, WT1 (anti-CD11a), WT3 (anti-CD18), and 1A29 (anti-ICAM-1). Rats were subjected to 1 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Individual antibodies were administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally at 15 min before ischemia and immediately after reperfusion. Rats were killed at 24 h after reperfusion, and brain edema, neutrophil infiltration and infarct size were measured. Sustained enhancement of ICAM-1 expression on capillaries was observed up to 24 h (beginning between 1 and 3 h after reperfusion). While, leukocytes began to infiltrate into the ischemic hemisphere between 6 and 12 h after reperfusion. Treatment with individual antibodies against cell adhesion molecules reduced edema formation and infarct size in addition to neutrophil accumulation 24 h after reperfusion. These results strongly implicate the invasion of neutrophils in the development of post-ischemic brain injury, and suggest that interactions between CD11a/CD18 and ICAM-1 contribute to neutrophil infiltration into the ischemic brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A phase II study of prophylactic intravesical chemotherapy with epirubicin in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. Tokyo Women's Medical College Bladder Cancer Collaborating Group.

Intravesical instillation of epirubicin was carried out to investigate the efficacy of this treatment in preventing postoperative recurrence of superficial bladder cancer. The subjects were 100 patients who had been treated with transurethral resection (TUR) for superficial transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder (classified as primary or recurrent superficial bladder cancer of pathological stage Tis, Ta, or T1 and histological grade G1, G2, or G3) at Tokyo Women's Medical College Hospital and its affiliated hospitals during the 2-year period ranging from April of 1990 through March of 1992. A solution of epirubicin was prepared by dissolving 20 mg in 30 ml physiological saline, and this was instilled into the bladder a total of 17 times during 1 year: once immediately after TUR, once every 2 weeks for the next 4 months, and then once per month for the following 8 months. Thereafter, the course of each patient was followed by performing urinary cytodiagnosis once each month and cystoscopy once every 3 months. Of the 100 patients, 83 were evaluable. The mean duration of follow-up was 461 +/- 222 days, and the recurrence rate was 30.1% (25/83 cases). The recurrence rate determined for primary cases was 19.7%, whereas that recorded for recurrent cases was 61.9%. Adverse effects occurred in 9.3% (9/97) of the patients, but these side effects were mild in severity and the instillation regimen did not have to be discontinued in any of the patients. Analysis of the risk factors for recurrence revealed significantly higher recurrence in the recurrent-patient group and the multiple-tumor group. On the basis of these findings, the authors surmised that when given in an intravesical instillation regimen, epirubicin causes few adverse effects, and its efficacy in the prophylaxis of recurrence of superficial bladder cancer is equivalent to that thus for reported for other drugs. At present, the authors are carrying out a controlled clinical study on epirubicin that takes into account the risk factors for recurrence of superficial bladder cancer.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed1994

Coexistence of ochronosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

We describe a 64-year-old female patient with ochronosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal column disclosed the destruction of vertebral disks, and a bony bridging in Th12 to L2. In addition, we observed joint space narrowing in the wrists as well as among the carpal bones, positive rheumatoid factor and the presence of rheumatoid nodules, in which the histological findings were compatible with those of rheumatoid arthritis. The co-existence of these two diseases has not yet been previously reported. Pre-existing ochronotic arthropathy might have masked the manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis and made the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis rather difficult.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1994

Immunohistochemical localisation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in follicle associated epithelium of Peyer's patches.

The epithelium covering domes of lymphoid follicles in Peyer's patches includes membranous cells, which are sites of entry for various macromolecules, absorptive cells, a few goblet cells, and many migrating lymphoid cells. The mechanism of migration of lymphoid cells into the follicle associated epithelium of lymphoid follicles in Peyer's patches is still unknown. This study investigated the relation between localisation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and the follicle associated epithelium of Peyer's patches immunohistochemically. It was found that subepithelial fibroblasts expressed ICAM beneath the follicle associated epithelium on lymphoid follicles, but not on surrounding villi. The results show that the massive lymphocytic traffic between follicle associated epithelium and lymphoid follicles may be related to ICAM-1 expression.

Animals↗