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Biomedical subjects

T Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to T Kubo.

At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Hypotension decreases GABA levels in brainstem regions of the rat.

Concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and other amino acids were measured in microdissected areas of the rostral ventro-lateral medulla (RVL), nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVL) of the rat, and effects on the amino acid levels, of hypotension induced by hexamethonium and nifedipine were examined. Hexamethonium and nifedipine decreased concentrations of GABA in all the regions studied, while concentrations of glycine, beta-alanine and taurine were not affected by these agents. Both agents caused a prolonged fall in blood pressure. These results strongly suggest that a decrease in blood pressure produces a decrease in GABA levels in the brainstem regions of the rat.

Alanine↗
PubMed1990

Genetically altered brain amino acid metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive rats: a study by using young spontaneously hypertensive rats and renal hypertensive rats.

Previously we demonstrated altered amino acid levels in brainstem regions of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). For comparison, in this study, we determined amino acid concentrations in discrete brainstem regions in young prehypertensive SHR and renal hypertensive rats. In prehypertensive SHR, the content of glutamate was increased in the rostral ventrolateral medulla and the caudal ventrolateral medulla, and the content of beta-alanine was decreased in the nucleus tractus solitarii. In renal hypertensive rats, there was no change in glutamate and beta-alanine contents in all the regions. The profiles of contents of glutamate and beta-alanine in the brainstem regions in young SHR but not in renal hypertensive rats are the same as those found previously in adult SHR. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that the altered amino acid metabolism in the brainstem of SHR may be genetically inherent.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

[A case of adenocarcinoma in the renal pelvis and urinary bladder in a patient with chronic renal failure].

The patient was a 61-year-old male who had undergone right nephrectomy for nephrolithiasis 35 years before. He had been on hemodialysis for 6 years for chronic renal failure caused by left renal staghorn calculus and hydronephrosis. He was admitted to our hospital because of macroscopic hematuria and sense of residual urine which had persisted for 3 months. Cystoscopic examination showed an extensive papillary tumor in the urinary bladder, which histologically was an adenocarcinoma. Giant left hydronephrosis associated with staghorn calculus noted by KUB and CT scan. Total cystectomy, intraoperative radiotherapy, and left nephrostomy were performed under the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder and left hydronephrosis. The bladder tumor was found to be a mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient died from a cerebral hemorrhage on the 17th postoperative day. At autopsy, tumors were found in the pelvis of the left kidney and the middle and lower regions of the ureter, which were adenocarcinoma like the bladder tumor. Adenocarcinoma occurring simultaneously in the renal pelvis and bladder has not been previously reported to our knowledge, in Japan or elsewhere.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1990

[Histological effects of endocrine therapy on prostatic cancer].

Histological effects of endocrine therapy were evaluated in one hundred and four prostatic cancer patients by new criteria presented by the committee of "General Rule for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Prostatic Cancer". Route and time of biopsy, clinical stage and histological grade were related to histological effects. Biopsy specimens taken within three months from the start of the therapy tended to score rather low marks and this tendency is especially apparent with low grade cancers. Histological effects evaluated by the present method correlated well with prognosis in localized stages (stage B, C and D1). In metastatic cases, however, local effects were not related to the prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Milk of calcium renal stone treated with endoscopic extraction: a case report].

The patient, an 18-year-old woman, visited a local doctor complaining of right flank pain. Characteristic findings obtained by X-ray examination suggested milk of calcium renal stone in the calyceal diverticulum of the right kidney, she was introduced to our clinic on February 16, 1989. Although examinations on admission showed no urinary tract obstruction or renal function disorders, since she repeatedly suffered from flank pain, we decided to remove the stone percutaneously and widen the mouth of the diverticulum. Conventional percutaneous nephrolithotripsy methods were used to endoscopically remove the stone but we were unable to ascertain the mouth of the calyceal diverticulum. Thus, we removed the nephrostomy tube. The stone was composed to 83% calcium oxalate and 17% calcium phosphate. She was released from the hospital with no particular postoperative complications and at present the flank pain has disappeared. Percutaneous treatments against milk of calcium renal stone are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Significance of twin to twin transfusion syndrome in the prognosis of twin pregnancies and its prenatal diagnosis by ultrasonography].

The reason why TTS worsen the prognosis of twin pregnancies was discussed with reference to case results for perinatal death, and antenatal diagnostic criteria for TTS by ultrasonography was established. Of 12 perinatal deaths in 71 twin pregnancies, eight fetuses were affected with TTS (1 acardia, 4 donors, 3 recipients). Perinatal mortality rate (39.3%), rate of preterm lobar (62.2%), rate of polyhydramnion (50.0%), mean amniotic fluid volume (3.310 ml) and cord cross section area ratio (2.38) in monochorionic discordant twins were higher than in the other three groups (monochorionic concordant twins, dichorionic discordant twins and dichorionic concordant twins). Eight fetuses among 12 monochorionic discordant twins were affected with TTS. All twins which showed a single GS in early pregnancy were monochorionic twins. Therefore TTS was considered to have a poorer prognosis than usually reported for all TTS, and to find monochorionic discordant twins with a high cord cross section area ratio must be the key in the screening of TTS. Antenatal diagnosis of TTS by ultrasonography is summarized as follows: 1) A single GS in early pregnancy. 2) Estimated body weight difference between the twins/estimated body weight of the larger twins greater than or equal to 0.2. 3) Cord cross sectional area ratio greater than or equal to 2.0.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Antitumor activity of UFT against murine renal cell carcinoma: a study on the suppression tumor metastases].

Experimental chemotherapy with UFT was performed against murine renal cell carcinoma (Renca) of spontaneous origin in BALB/c mice and the antitumor activity of UFT was compared with that of 5-FU. By oral administration started from the day after inoculation of Renca cells under the capsule of a kidney, the growth of tumor and formation of the spontaneous metastases to the lymph nodes, lung, spleen, and abdominal wall were inhibited significantly. The UFT or 5-FU treatment started on the 8th day after tumor inoculation also extended the survival time of the tumor-bearing mice and the anti-tumor effect of UFT was more marked than 5-FU. However, UFT treatment started on the 15th day did not prolong the survival time of Renca-bearing mice. From these results, UFT therapy seems to be beneficial for prevention of metastases after nephrectomy in the patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[A statistical study of the countermeasures to reduce the maternal mortality based on the relationship between the maternal mortality rate and perinatal mortality rate].

Although both the Japanese maternal mortality rate (MMR) and the perinatal mortality rate (PMR) have decreased remarkably in recent decades, the former is still high compared with other advanced countries. A statistical analysis on the relationship between the MMR and the PMR was performed to investigate this discrepancy. During the period of study, both rates fell by over 50 percent. There were definite statistical differences among the PMR for each prefecture but almost none among the MMR. The prefectures with high PMR remained generally high in the PMR and the prefectures with low PMR also remained low in the MMR. There was no significant correlation between the PMR and the MMR. Both maternal and perinatal deaths due to common causes decreased in number, and there were few regional differences concerning effective measures against them. The leading causes of maternal death which are irrelevant to perinatal death are emboli, bleeding, and some other rare medical complications. Emphasis should therefore be laid upon the early diagnosis and treatment of amniotic fluid embolism apart from measures against haemorrhage. Countermeasures for rare complications are also of great importance.

Embolism, Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1990

[A case of renal cell carcinoma with polymyositis].

We report a case of renal cell carcinoma with polymyositis. A 62-year-old female with a diagnosis of polymyositis was referred to our department because of the right renal mass discovered by computed tomography. An ultrasonography and renal angiography showed a solid and hypovascular area at the middle pole of the right kidney. A fine needle aspiration biopsy of the mass was performed and the cytology showed a papillary adenocarcinoma. Therefore, the right radical nephrectomy was carried out and her myopathic symptoms were slightly improved postoperatively. The patient has remained well without recurrence or metastasis for two years.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1990

[Basic and clinical evaluation of measurement of pancreatic cancer associated antigen, SPan-1].

Basic evaluation of SPan-1 assay (SPan-1 RIA. BEAD) and clinical significance of serum SPan-1 levels for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were studied. This assay was reproducible, reliable and simple to perform. It required minimal samples (duplicate 50 microliters) and may be done within 4 hrs. Normal subjects (N = 1182) had serum SPan-1 antigen levels which ranged 0 to 42.8 units/ml with a mean of 7.5 units/ml and above 40 units/ml was considered to be positive. SPan-1 antigen levels in cultured medium of four out of five pancreatic cancer cell lines showed more than 1000 units/ml by this assay. While over 90% of pancreatic cancer patients had elevated levels of serum SPan-1 antigen, only 0-17% of patients with other malignant and non malignant gastrointestinal diseases such as pancreatitis (chronic or acute), gastric cancer or colon cancer had above normal levels. Furthermore, levels of serum SPan-1 antigen correlated well with treatment and recurrence of disease in patients with pancreatic and gastric cancer. These results suggest that determination of serum SPan-1 antigen levels by this assay kit is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatic cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1990

[A histological evaluation of the therapeutic effects and the clinical findings in prostatic carcinomas].

A histological evaluation of the effects of therapy has been conducted on 22 prostatic carcinoma cases, according to the criterion proposed by the committee to establish the general rule for clinical and pathological studies judging the effects of therapy in cases of prostatic cancer. Studied in particular was the relation between the histological effects of therapy and the clinical course. Marked therapeutic effects were observed in cases of low grade tumors. Further, the patients' prognosis tended to be affected by the histological grade rather than by the histological effect of the treatment. The course of the serum total acid phosphatase levels tended to correlate with the histological effect of the treatment.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Experimental gastric cancer induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in rats.

MNNG-induced experimental gastric cancer developed in the pyloric glandular region. Many of the tumors produced were well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas of elevated type. According to the degree of depth invasion, a majority of the tumors were classified as early-stage lesions invading within submucosal layer. There were two poorly differentiated lesions, which were both recognized as serosal neoplastic involvements. The tumors were positively stained by toluidine blue (pH 4.1) to indicate the presence of stroma. The Brdu-LI determined for gastric mucosal epithelial cells was significantly higher in the MNNG-treated group than in the untreated control group. However, the LI for cancer tissue in the MNNG-treated group did not significantly differ from that for gastric mucosa in the same group.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Basic study on criteria for the reactivity of non-stress tests by means of computer simulation].

The non-stress test has become one of the most popular tests for antenatal surveillance in modern obstetrics. However, the fact that there are so many criteria for 'reactivity' in this test has made it rather difficult to interpret the results of these tests and compare them with each other. Using computer simulation of the occurrence of acceleration in fetal heart beats, the sensitivity and specificity of eight criteria which are in general use were studied. Diagnosis by Brown's criteria produced the best results for both sensitivity and specificity, but the long time necessary for this test is a drawback. However, the predictive value positive (probability of poor fetal outcome with nonreactivity) is only 62% even according to Brown's criteria when the test is done for antenatal care screening of an unrestricted population. The results of the test are far more convincing when it is reactive because the predictive value negative is more than 96%, even when strictly interpreted.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1989

Cloning and in vitro transcription of the Sarcophaga lectin gene.

A genomic clone for the Sarcophaga lectin gene was isolated. This gene was a compact single copy gene. Two transcription initiation sites were located by S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension. However, transcription from one of these initiation sites was much greater than that from the other site under all conditions in which this gene was expressed. This gene was found to be transcribed efficiently in a nuclear extract of NIH-Sape-4 cells, an embryonic cell line of Sarcophaga synthesizing Sarcophaga lectin constitutively, but not in that of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. These results suggested that the former extract contains a specific transcription factor(s) for this gene that is not present in the nuclear extract of Ehrlich cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Localization, origin and fine structure of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing fibers in the vestibular end-organs of the rat.

The localization, origin and fine structure of nerve terminals immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were examined in the vestibular end-organs of rats using immunocytochemistry. Many CGRP-like immunoreactive (CGRP-IR) fibers were observed in the vestibular sensory epithelial layer. By electronmicroscopy, CGRP-IR terminals were found to make synaptic contacts with the chalyces of the vestibular nerves terminating on type I cells. The origin of these vestibular CGRP-IR fibers was examined by a combination of a retrograde fiber tracing technique (using Fast blue) and immunocytochemistry. Injections of the tracer into the vestibular cistern, resulted in fast blue-labeled neurons bilaterally in the area dorsolateral to the genu of the facial nerve; these labeled neurons also contained CGRP. These findings indicate that CGRP-IR fibers originate bilaterally from the area dorsolateral to the genu of the facial nerve and that CGRP plays a modulatory role in the transmission of vestibular information from type I cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Functional difference in monoamine transmitters in the behaviorally abnormal mouse mutant (wriggle mouse sagami).

A mutant mouse (wriggle mouse sagami, WMS) with neurological disorders was found in a colony of the BALB/c strain. The clinical signs included tremor, dystonia and involuntary movements. The concentrations of the neurotransmitter substances, noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and acetylcholine (ACh), were measured simultaneously with their metabolites in dissected brain regions by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The turnover of 5-HT was significantly higher in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, midbrain and pons-medulla of WMS than of the genetic control, BALB/c. The intrastriatal DA and its metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid were increased. However, there was no evidence to suggest an increase in turnover rate of this neurotransmitter. An increase in concentration of and decrease in turnover rate of NA were observed in the cerebellum of this mutant. These findings suggest that multiple disturbance of the neurotransmitter system was largely responsible for the manifestation of the clinical signs of WMS.

Acetylcholine↗