Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to T Kondo.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Ultrasound biomicroscopic analysis of the effect of pilocarpine on the anterior chamber angle.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to determine the effects of pilocarpine on the anterior chamber angle in healthy volunteers. METHODS: We measured changes in anterior chamber depth (ACD), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), angle opening distance at 250 and 500 microns from the scleral spur (AOD250 and AOD500), and iris thickness using ultrasound biomicroscopy in 48 eyes of 48 normal volunteers (ages 18-57 years, mean 34.8 years) before and 1 h after instillation of 2% pilocarpine. RESULTS: Pilocarpine altered the TIA by -18.6 degrees to +10.5 degrees (mean -4.16 degrees), and change in the TIA increased significantly and linearly in relation with decrease in the pretreatment TIA (r = 0.929). Pilocarpine altered AOD250 change by -136 to +94 microns (mean -38 microns) and AOD500 by -151 to +157 microns (mean -42 microns); changes in the AOD250 and AOD500 were significantly correlated to the pretreatment AOD250 and AOD500 values, respectively (r = 0.923 and r = 0.896, respectively). The pilocarpine-induced change in the ACD showed a linear relationship to the pretreatment ACD (r = 0.887). The changes in the TIA, AOD250 and AOD500 showed greater increases in association with lower pretreatment ACD (r = 0.848, r = 0.891, r = 0.842) and smaller change in the ACD (r = 0.834, r = 0.839, r = 0.812). CONCLUSIONS: The response of the anterior chamber angle to pilocarpine, narrowing or widening, depended on its pretreatment state. The ability to predict the pilocarpine-induced change in the angle before the instillation of pilocarpine would be helpful in treating patients with glaucoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Small bowel transit time and colonic fermentation in young and elderly women.

Small bowel transit time (SBTT) in 15 young and 13 elderly women was assessed by measuring breath hydrogen concentrations after they had consumed a solid test meal. The meal consisted of 200 g cooked rice, 50 ml miso (made from fermented soy bean curd) soup, a boiled egg, and 95.5 g of cooked soy beans with mixed vegetables. This meal provided 17 g protein, 14.1 g fat, 92.9 g carbohydrate, 7 g dietary fiber, and 565 kcal total energy. The SBTT, calculated by a mean 3 ppm increase in breath hydrogen, was 191 +/- 14.9 (mean +/- SE) min in the young and 188.1 +/- 16.8 min in the elderly group; the difference was not significant. Breath hydrogen levels, however, were higher in the young than in the elderly group (39.1 +/- 6.3 ppm, vs 22.2 +/- 4.3 ppm, P < 0.05). There was an initial peak of hydrogen concentration, reached almost immediately after the ingestion of the meal, and then a decline to baseline within 60 min. This initial peak was not as pronounced in the elderly subjects. A second peak, indicating the entry of the test meal into the cecum, was more pronounced in the young than in the elderly group. SBTT did not differ significantly between the two groups, but colonic fermentation was more pronounced in the young, both in the fasting and the postprandial state.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Enhanced pain management for postgastrectomy patients with combined epidural morphine and fentanyl.

PURPOSE: To determine whether clinical advantages could be demonstrated by epidural fentanyl given in addition to epidural morphine for postgastrectomy analgesia. METHODS: One-hundred and twenty two patients undergoing elective gastrectomy were prospectively studied in a randomised, double-blind fashion. All patients received epidural lidocaine 1.5% with epinephrine (1:200,000) followed by light general anaesthesia for surgical anaesthesia. They were assigned to four groups according to the combinations of each epidural opioid: 2 mg morphine alone, 2 mg morphine + 100 micrograms fentanyl, 4 mg morphine alone, and 4 mg morphine + 100 micrograms fentanyl. Morphine and fentanyl were given epidurally approximately 60 and 15 min, respectively, before the completion of surgery. RESULTS: Addition of epidural fentanyl to both doses of morphine not only decreased intensity of pain associated with coughing during the early postoperative period, but also prolonged the time until the first analgesic request at each morphine dose studied. Of the combination doses, 4 mg morphine + 100 micrograms fentanyl provided the longest time to the first request for analgesic, and was associated with least amount of postoperative analgesic supplement and best patient satisfaction without increasing incidence of side effects. CONCLUSION: The addition of 100 micrograms fentanyl to 2 mg or 4 mg epidural morphine provides clinical advantages over morphine alone for post-gastrectomy analgesia.

Analgesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1997

Interaction between carbamazepine and bromperidol.

OBJECTIVE: The interaction between carbamazepine and bromperidol was studied in 13 schizophrenic inpatients. METHODS: Before carbamazepine addition, the subjects were taking bromperidol 12-24 mg.day-1 for 1-20 weeks. Carbamazepine 400 mg.day-1 was coadministered for 4 weeks, and blood samplings were performed before carbamazepine addition and at weekly intervals after the addition. Plasma concentrations of bromperidol and its reduced metabolite were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Carbamazepine significantly decreased plasma concentrations of both bromperidol and reduced bromperidol for all weeks. On average, the plasma concentrations of bromperidol and reduced bromperidol at 4 weeks were 37% and 23% of the corresponding precarbamazepine values. Despite these decreases in plasma concentration, the Clinical Global Impression scores decreased slightly but significantly after carbamazepine addition. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that carbamazepine decreases plasma concentrations of bromperidol and its reduced metabolite by inducing the metabolism of these compounds. Nevertheless, adjunctive carbamazepine may be useful for schizophrenic patients treated with bromperidol.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Retrospective study on skin reddenings and petechiae in the eyelids and the conjunctivae in forensic physical examinations.

Skin reddening with or without additional changes such as pinpoint intracutaneous hemorrhages and/or minute superficial scratches was observed in 165 out of 739 physical examinations (reddening with additional changes: n = 81; reddening only: n = 84). The most common site where reddening was observed was the neck region (reddening with additional changes: n = 30; reddening only: n = 34). In over 85% of the cases, the postinfliction interval (Pi) was < or = 1 day, and there were 12 and 10 cases with 1 < Pi < or = 3 days, respectively. Among these 22 cases, there were 5 cases with 2 < Pi < or = 3 days, (reddening with additional changes: n = 4; reddening only: n = 1). The maximum Pis were almost 3 days, and 2 days and 13 h, respectively. These results demonstrate that reddening of the skin with and that without additional changes (in particular petechiae) were detectable up to approximately 3 and 2 days after the event, respectively. Furthermore, in 17 out of 64 cases with reddening in the neck, petechial hemorrhages were seen in the eyelids and/or conjunctivae (reddening with additional changes: n = 10; reddening only: n = 7). The maximum Pi in which petechial hemorrhages were detectable in the eyelids and/or the palpebral conjunctivae was 1 day and 21 h. The present study indicates that physical examinations within 2 or 3 days after the event seem to be more suitable to find skin reddening and/or petechiae in the eye lids and/or the conjunctivae.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1997

Species identification based on the point mutations of histo-blood group ABO genes by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing.

Using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing methods, 181 bp DNA fragments at the ABO blood group locus of human and eight different primates were examined. Through PCR amplification and digestion of the product with Hha-1 restriction enzyme, each of the amplified fragments of human, chimpanzee and green monkey was cut into two fragments of 147 and 34 bp, and the corresponding fragment of the other primates was digested into three fragment of 115, 34 and 32 bp. The 181 bp fragments of chimpanzee and green monkey were digested with Mva-1 into three fragments of 82, 58 and 41 bp, and 69, 58 and 54 bp, while the fragments of human and the other primates were separated into two fragments of 123 and 58 bp. Thus, using Hha-1 and Mva-1, human PCR-amplified product of a part of the ABO gene could be discriminated from those of the other primates examined. In addition, by direct sequencing of the 181 bp DNA fragment, two Mva-1 recognition sites and one Hha-1 recognition site were found in the fragments of chimpanzee and green monkey, one Mva-1 site and one Hha-1 site were detected in humans, and one Mva-1 site and two Hha-1 sites in the other primates. These results corresponded well with the data of PCR-RFLP. This method has a good potential for species identification at the DNA level.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1997

Longitudinal study on factors related to the course of vibration-induced white finger.

Follow-up surveys were conducted in 1982 and 1988 to investigate factors affecting the course of vibration-induced white finger (VWF). Subjects were 353 patients, aged 40 to 70 at the start of the 1982 survey, who were receiving treatment for hand-arm vibration syndrome. Between 1982 and 1988, the attacks of VWF decreased, while numbness and pain in the hand changed slightly. Finger skin temperature showed a tendency to increase, but recovery time in nail compression tests was unchanged. Vibration perception threshold and grasping power tended to become worse. Of the 177 patients with VWF in 1982, 55 (31%) had no VWF in 1988. The improvement in VWF depended on its severity assessed by the frequency of attacks, the extent of the affected finger phalanges and the Stockholm vascular (V) stage at the start of the 1982 survey. The improvement was observed in 46% of the 1V (mild) stage cases, against only 17% of the 3V (severe) stage cases. Patients in the 2V (moderate) and 3V stages had lower finger skin temperature than those without VWF (the 0V stage). Patients with milder VWF seemed more likely to improve. Continued use of vibratory tools was found to be an unfavourable factor for improvement of VWF. Age, smoking and drinking habits, and medical complications showed no significant effects on the course of VWF.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Ultrasound biomicroscopic findings in humans with shallow anterior chamber and increased intraocular pressure after the prone provocation test.

PURPOSE: To investigate ultrasound biomicroscopic findings in human eyes with shallow anterior chamber and risk of anterior chamber angle-closure glaucoma after the prone provocation test. METHODS: A total of 32 consecutive patients (64 eyes) with bilateral shallow anterior chamber who were at risk for primary angle-closure glaucoma underwent the prone provocation test in a lit room. Before and immediately after measurement of intraocular pressure in this test, high-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the chamber angle views were recorded at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o'clock positions. RESULTS: Ten eyes of six patients exhibited an increase in intraocular pressure of 8 mm Hg or more, a positive response, with the remainder showing a negative response to the test. In the eyes with a positive response to the test, the profile of the iris showed a markedly convex shape with a large space behind the posterior iris. However, the anterior chamber angle of each eye remained open, even during the high level of intraocular pressure caused by the provocation. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that no angle closure occurs during the initial increase of intraocular pressure after the prone provocation test. Such an initial increase of intraocular pressure was associated with high pressure in the posterior chamber because of the relative pupillary block. A time lag was observed between the high intraocular pressure caused by the pupillary block and the occurrence of angle closure.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1997

Changes in the anterior chamber configuration after small-incision cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To report quantitative changes in the anterior chamber configuration after small-incision cataract surgery with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy. METHODS: We examined the anterior chamber configuration of 20 eyes of 20 patients before and 3 months after small-incision cataract surgery (phacoemulsification and aspiration plus foldable intraocular lens implantation through a 3.0- to 4.0-mm self-sealing wound) by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy. The following variables were measured: the anterior chamber depth at the center of the cornea, the angle-opening distance 250 microns from the scleral spur (AOD250), the angle-opening distance 500 microns from the scleral spur (AOD500), and the trabecular-iris angle. RESULTS: The anterior chamber depth at the center of the cornea, AOD250, AOD500, and trabecular-iris angle increased significantly after surgery. The preoperative anterior chamber depth at the center of the cornea and trabecular-iris angle were negatively correlated with the differences between the postoperative and preoperative values (P < .01). The preoperative values of all variables examined were negatively correlated with the ratios of the postoperative value to the preoperative value (P < .002). CONCLUSIONS: The present results showed that small-incision cataract surgery significantly deepened the anterior chamber and widened its angle. The more shallow the preoperative anterior chamber was, the greater the postoperative change of the chamber was; and the more narrow the preoperative angle was, the greater the postoperative change of the angle was.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Measuring unilateral spatial neglect during stepping.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the diaschisis of faultless conventional neuropsychological tests of unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and defects of activities of daily living (ADL) functions. DESIGN: The evaluations of USN by assessments now in wide use were compared with newly developed assessments using a dual-task methodology in which a stepping activity was used as a "distracter" during USN assessment. SETTING: A rehabilitation unit in a medical school hospital. PATIENTS: Subjects consisted of 31 patients who suffered from stroke (right hemisphere lesions, 19; left hemisphere lesions, 12). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Observation of behavior of hemi-inattention, ADL evaluation (transfer and gait), and conventional tests of USN (line bisection, line cancellation, copying of flowers) were conducted. USN test during stepping was performed by stepping on two force plates connected to a microprocessor and to videocassette player so that the subject was required to step continuously. RESULTS: Most of the subjects who had exhibited USN in the written tests on admission showed no defects in the test after about 60 days even if hemi-inattention was observed in behavior. In the test during stepping, subjects with hemi-inattention behavior neglected some visual stimulations applied from the direction contralateral to the hemisphere lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Combined tests of visual attention and distracter activity (stepping) can more effectively reflect the ADL functions of USN patients than conventional tests.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Effects of activation sequence on monophasic action potential configuration in the dog.

The effects of altered activation sequence on the monophasic action potential (MAP) in in situ beating hearts are not known, although its effects on refractory periods are well documented. In nine anesthetized, open-chest dogs, complete atrioventricular block was produced, and the heart was driven by either right ventricular or left ventricular stimulation. The MAPs of the right and left ventricles were recorded by contact electrodes at cycle lengths of 1,000, 800, 600, and 400 ms. The MAP configuration was evaluated with regard to the difference between phase 1 and phase 2 MAP amplitudes and MAP duration at 50 and 90% repolarization. An MAP recorded from the ventricle that was being electrically stimulated was designated an ipsilateral ventricular stimulation, whereas the MAP recorded from the nonstimulated ventricle was termed a contralateral ventricular stimulation. The difference in amplitude and the 50% and 90% MAP durations for ipsilateral ventricular stimulation were consistently larger than for contralateral ventricular stimulation at all cycle lengths tested. Transient outward current did not appear to play a major role in producing such differences in MAP because intravenous treatment with 4-aminopyridine, a blocker of transient outward current, did not affect the configuration of the MAP. These findings provide an insight on the influence of ventricular activation sequence on the shape of the transmembrane action potential.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1997

Influences of The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on glycemic control in diabetic patients.

We investigated influences on glycemic control in 177 diabetic patients after The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake which occurred on January 17, 1995. Changes in serum HbA(1c) level were studied according to the worsen rate of dietary and living conditions. A significant temporary increase in the mean value of HbA(1c) level was found after the earthquake (8.34 +/- 2.07% in March, 1995 vs. 7.74 +/- 1.82% in December, 1994, P < 0.01). Ninety nine of them showed more than 0.5% in the rate of increase. Multiple regression analysis was applied to the following factors: inappropriate diet, discontinuation of drug uptake, reduction of exercise, destruction of house, long stay at shelter, sex, age, and pre-earthquake therapy. Among them, inappropriate diet demonstrated the highest partial regression coefficient to raise the mean value of the HbA(1c) level. The increased level of HbA(1c) declined gradually to the pre-earthquake level in September, 1995. This study emphasizes the importance of appropriate diet for diabetic patients during a natural disaster. To fulfil it, medical staff have to educate diabetic patients of their disorders tediously in ordinary time. In addition, it seems quite useful to supply a medical information card and a small medical bag containing essential drugs to each patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Plasma concentrations of trazodone and m-chlorophenylpiperazine at steady state can be predicted from those after an initial dose of trazodone.

1. The authors studied the correlations between plasma concentrations of trazodone and mCPP at steady state and those after an initial dose of trazodone. 2. Fifteen depressed patients received trazodone 150 mg at bedtime for 3 weeks, and blood samplings were taken 12 h after the initial dose and 12 h after the last dose at each week. Plasma concentrations of trazodone and mCPP were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. 3. Plasma concentration of mCPP, but not trazodone, was significantly higher at each week than after initial dosing. 4. For both trazodone and mCPP, significant linear relationships were found between plasma concentration after initial dosing and the average of 3 weeks' plasma concentrations. 5. The present study thus suggests that plasma concentrations of trazodone and mCPP at steady state can be predicted from those after an initial dose of trazodone.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Occurrence of apoptosis following cold injury-induced brain edema in mice.

Apoptosis has been known to contribute to neuronal death following a variety of brain insults. However, the role of vasogenic brain edema in neuronal apoptosis is unknown. We studied the temporal pattern of brain edema and neuronal apoptosis following cold injury. Cold injury-induced brain edema, which was detected by the increased water content in the injured hemisphere, reached its maximum level at 24 h and remained there at 72 h, whereas the blood-brain barrier breakdown detected by Evans Blue extravasation returned to the control value by 24 h after injury. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine-5'-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic cells were scattered in the center of the lesion at 1 h and were dispersed over the cold lesion at 24 h. The number of these TUNEL-positive cells was maximized in the periphery but decreased in the center at 72 h after cold injury. We postulate that secondary neuronal damage occurred not only through necrotic, but also apoptotic pathways, and that apoptotic neuronal death may result from vasogenic edema development and may contribute to the expansion of the lesion in both the acute and delayed phases after cold injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Video-microscopy for analysis of molecular dynamics in cells.

Real-time analysis of molecular dynamics in living cells was studied by developed video-microscopes. Two new detective methods were reported, one is for analysis of ciliary movement and the other is the qualitative analysis of exocytosis of insulin-containing granules with a video-enhanced light/fluorescent microscope. For analysis of ciliary movement, glass beads were migrated in the flow. The migration speed parallel to the flow produced by ciliary beating was used as an index of the beating activity. When tracheal epithelium isolated from mouse was incubated with ambroxol, and expectorant known to activate ciliary beat frequency, the floating speeds of glass beads were changed with 1 min of incubation. The results suggest that the present method is useful not only for screening of expectorants but also for the study of molecular mechanisms underlying ciliary beat of tracheal epithelium. Visualization of the moment of the release of contents from insulin-containing granules was achieved using video-enhanced fluorescent microscopy in MIN6 cells of mouse insulinoma cell line. A fluorescent amino acridine dye, quinacrine, was found to be incorporated into low-pH secretory granules, including insulin, in the cells. The granules which incorporated quinacrine emitted a slightly blue-green fluorescence. Upon stimulation with glucose, release of the quinacrine fluorescence from granules were observed. The present method would be useful for quantitative analysis of secretion of insulin from MIN6 cells as well as pancreatic beta-cells.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Electrophysiologic effects of sodium channel blockade on anisotropic conduction and conduction block in canine myocardium: preferential slowing of longitudinal conduction by flecainide versus disopyramide or lidocaine.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sodium channel blockade on anisotropic excitation propagation in the intact canine left ventricle. BACKGROUND: Anisotropic ventricular conduction- electric conductivity dependent on the myocardial fiber direction-is one of the important mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmia. However, the effects of sodium channel blockade, especially the differential effect of a subclass of this agent, on the anisotropic properties remain unknown. METHODS: In 28 anesthetized, open chest dogs, a small cannula was inserted into the left anterior descending coronary artery. Saline (control), disopyramide, lidocaine or flecainide was infused selectively into the cannula. An array of 64 epicardial electrodes was placed on the anterior surface of the ventricle. Activation time (AT) was measured along the longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) directions. RESULTS: High dose flecainide (100 microg/kg body weight per min) delayed the AT along the L direction markedly (mean [+/-SE] 227 +/- 38%, p < 0.02) and mildly (121 +/- 10%, p < 0.02) along the T direction in regular beats (p < 0.007, L vs. T). Lidocaine and disopyramide did not show direction-dependent prolongation of the AT on regular beats. When examined on premature beats, AT was delayed, depending on the coupling interval and the fiber direction when saline, flecainide or lidocaine was infused. The conduction blocks along the L direction were observed in three of seven dogs on regular beats after flecainide and ventricular fibrillation ensued in two of these three dogs. CONCLUSIONS: A peculiar slowing of L conduction by flecainide may relate to the character of proarrhythmia.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Oxygen-induced embryopathy and the significance of glutathione-dependent antioxidant system in the rat embryo during early organogenesis.

We investigated the effect of glutathione (GSH)-dependent antioxidant system against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formation in oxygen-induced embryopathy. Exposure of rat embryos to a high concentration of oxygen (20%) during early neurulation (day 9 to 10) significantly increased the incidence of neural tube defects compared with control embryos (10% vs 0%, p < 0.01) exposed to a low O2 concentration (5%). The concentration of GSH in 20% O2-exposed embryos was significantly reduced compared with that in control embryos (10.68 +/- 0.72 vs 12.34 +/- 0.65 nmol/mg protein, p < 0.001). The activity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS), the rate-limiting GSH synthesizing enzyme increased in 20% O2-exposed embryos (24.83 +/- 0.71 vs 21.00 +/- 0.94 microunits/mg protein). Increased activity of gamma-GCS was associated with increased expression of gamma-GCS mRNA. Substantial increases were also observed in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in 20% O2-exposed embryos. The formation of intracellular H2O2, measured by flow cytometer using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), increased in isolated embryonic cells of 20% O2-exposed embryos. The addition of buthionine sulfoxamine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of gamma-GCS, to culture media exposed to 20% O2 produced a marked decrease in the concentration of GSH in association with a further increase in the incidence of embryonic malformations (24.4% vs. 10%, P < 0.01). The addition of 2.0 mM GSH ester to culture media exposed to 20% O2 prevented the development of embryonic malformations through the restoration of normal GSH contents and reduction of H2O2. Our results demonstrated that oxygen-induced embryonic malformations were induced by increased production of H2O2 in the presence of an immature free radical scavenger system. We suggest that impaired responsiveness of the GSH dependent antioxidant system against oxidative stress plays a crucial role in oxygen-induced embryopathy.

Animals↗