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Biomedical subjects

T Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to T Kubo.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Chiral discrimination with regioselectively substituted cellulose esters as chiral stationary phases

Four kinds of cellulose derivatives, including two regioselectively substituted cellulose esters (6-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-benzoyl cellulose and 2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-benzoyl cellulose), were synthesized so that the effects of their functional group distribution on their chiral discrimination ability could be examined. The degree of substitution by functional groups appeared to have a critical effect on the separation in most cases, but the type of the functional group at the C-6 position also significantly influenced chiral discrimination when a series of neutral arylalcohol derivatives were used as racemates. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Journal Article↗

In vitro effects of estradiol and aromatase inhibitor treatment on sex differentiation in Xenopus laevis gonads.

Gonads, still in the indifferent stage, were taken from tadpoles of Xenopus laevis and maintained in organ culture. These gonads were kept in good condition by frequent replacement of the culture medium and then underwent sexual differentiation. When the indifferent gonads were cultured in estradiol for 14 days, 90% of the explants showed female histological characteristics. The estradiol treatment of gonads in vitro gave results identical to those obtained from tadpoles treated in vivo. The gonads of X. laevis were successfully maintained for 14 days in vitro in a medium containing 20 microg/ml aromatase inhibitor (CGS 16949A). All the gonads treated with aromatase inhibitor showed the histological characteristics of the male phenotype. These results suggest that estradiol is important for ovarian differentiation in X. laevis.

Animals↗

Metachronous carcinoma of the vulva and fallopian tube.

BACKGROUND: Metachronous carcinoma of the vulva and fallopian tube is an unusual co-occurrence of gynecological malignancies. A report of such a case that developed and recurred over a 7-year period is presented. CASE: A 53-year-old G3P3 female presented with a verrucous carcinoma of the vulva and a serous papillary adenocarcinoma of the left fallopian tube metachronously. To investigate a possible association between the co-occurrence of the rare neoplasms and factors associated with multiple gynecological malignancies, we analyzed the status of human papillomavirus infection and DNA mismatch repair deficiency as indicated by microsatellite instability. All samples analyzed were negative for these factors. CONCLUSION: The present results support the possibility that metachronous carcinomas of the vulva and fallopian tube involve unknown etiological factors or arise independently.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

Secretory granules of pituitary adenomas: quantitative study of hormonal antigenicity.

Ultrastructurally, the antigenicity of major pituitary hormones in secretory granules was quantitatively investigated in five growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas, five prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenomas and eight clinically non-functioning (CN-F) adenomas. Sparsely granulated cells with a few or several small secretory granules (60-100 nm) exhibiting little or only weak antigenicity of various biochemically unrelated hormones were commonly observed in CN-F adenomas and occasionally in GH- and PRL-secreting adenomas. GH- or PRL-secreting adenomas consisted of many densely granulated cells with medium-sized (200-250 nm) or large (over 250 nm) secretory granules and a few or several sparsely granulated cells with small secretory granules. The densely granulated cells showed intense GH or PRL antigenicity and slight to moderate antigenicity for other hormones in large secretory granules and little or only weak antigenicity for various hormones including GH or PRL in small secretory granules. Their secretory granules larger than 160 nm or 140 nm significantly exhibited intense GH or PRL antigenicity (Fisher's exact test; P < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Two CN-F adenomas showed sparsely and densely granulated cells as well as intermediate cells. The densely granulated cells closely resembled GH-secreting cells. The intermediate cells simultaneously included small and medium-sized or large secretory granules exhibiting little/slight and intense GH-antigenicity, respectively. This study indicates that sparsely granulated cells of different categories showing slight antigenicity for various hormones, antigenically share the same origin, and that their hormonality, single or multiple, may be selectively activated in the developmental course of secretory granules.

Adult↗

Bombelli's valgus-extension osteotomy for osteoarthritis due to acetabular dysplasia: results at 10 to 14 years.

Severe osteoarthritis due to acetabular dysplasia (n = 17) was treated with valgus-extension osteotomy, and the patients' clinical outcomes 10-14 years after operation were evaluated according to clinical factors (Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score; JOA score) and by roentgenography. The mean JOA score 10 years or later had improved by 22 points compared with the preoperative score. On roentgenography, joints which had preoperative roof osteophyte had better postoperative formation of roof osteophyte. The JOA score was higher in the 12 joints which had osteophyte 5 mm or longer than in those joints with osteophyte that was 5 mm or shorter. Postoperative joint space widening occurred in 15 joints (88.2%) 3-6 months postoperatively, and it reached the maximum at 3-5 years. In patients who had a large bone cyst in the femoral head preoperatively, the cyst collapsed, and deformation of femoral head occurred after operation, but remodeling of the joint surface occurred naturally and the congruity improved. In the 6 joints in which the preoperative acetabular head index was less than 60% and the acetabular angle was larger than 30 degrees, the JOA score at 10 years or later was lower than that of the other joints. Based on these findings, valgus-extension osteotomy was evaluated as a useful surgical method for advanced or terminal osteoarthritis in young or middle-aged patients. Predictive factors for long-term prognosis would be the preoperative length of roof osteophyte, joint space widening, and the degree of femoral head covering.

Adolescent↗

Variable number of tandem repeat loci in the mitochondrial genomes of beets.

We found four unrelated tandem repeat loci (TR1, TR2, TR3 and TR4) in the mitochondrial genomes of beets, with the TR1 locus embedded within a three-membered family of recombining repeat sequences (the rrn26-repeat). TR1 is composed of an array of 32-bp tandem repeats, the number of which varies from 2 to 13 among the seven beet genotypes examined. It is interesting to note that TR1 has 7-bp direct repeats flanking the array, which may be involved in the generation of the tandem repeat array. Such striking features are shared by the remaining TR loci, and this is thus the first description of minisatellite nucleotide sequences from a higher-plant mitochondrial genome.

Base Sequence↗

A 10- to 13-year follow-up study of Harris-Galante type prosthesis in total hip arthroplasty.

Long-term clinical results of Harris-Galante type prosthesis in total hip arthroplasty (THA) were evaluated in 27 hip joints of 25 patients (2 men and 23 women). Seventeen joints also received bone grafting on the acetabulum. Mean follow-up period was 11 years and 3 months. Clinical out-come was evaluated using the hip score of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, and the score was good and stable during the monitoring period. Implant stability, bone changes around the implant, and the occupancy rate of the stem in the medullary space were radiologically examined. As a result of stem, there was subsidence in 3 joints and loosening in 6. There were no cases of cup loosening. A pedestal was found in 12 joints, and 4 of them which were associated with a radiopaque line had stem loosening. Among the 21 joints without loosening, 8 had a pedestal but they were not associated with a radiopaque line. The 2 joints which developed osteolysis did not have loosening. Stem loosening was related to the stem occupancy rate in the distal part of the medullary cavity. Postoperative stem occupancy rate could be an important indicator for long-term clinical results. Stems for cementless THA should be designed to have a high occupancy rate in the distal part, and stems should also be carefully chosen to meet individual differences.

Adult↗

Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head treated with transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy combined with vascularized iliac bone grafting.

A 49-year-old Japanese man who had non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with a wide necrotic lesion received transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy combined with vascularized iliac bone grafting. After the bone graft (6 x 1.5 cm) was collected, the femoral head was anteriorly rotated by 90 degrees. A bone tunnel of 1.2 cm in diameter was prepared on the necrotic lesion adjacent to the intact area from the anterior part of the femoral neck to inside the femoral head. The bone graft was trimmed to the size of this bone tunnel, and inserted up to immediately below the articular surface. In the monitoring using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the low signal-intensity area between the bone graft and intact area had disappeared, and a high signal-intensity area on the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head had extended. With modifications on the insertion point of the bone graft, transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy combined with vascularized iliac bone graft would be a useful means to preserve the femoral head in large non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Bone Transplantation↗

Histological findings of bone marrow edema pattern on MRI in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on a 38-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus who had received corticosteroid and had developed non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The initial MR finding was a band lesion on the T1-weighted image, which had been present before the onset of symptoms. At the onset of symptoms, a diffuse bone marrow edema pattern, with a low signal intensity on T1 and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, was noted around the band lesion, extending to the femoral neck. Histopathologically, this region was found to consist of serous exudate, focal interstitial hemorrhage, and mild fibrosis, without any evidence of extension of osteonecrosis. It should be noted that extension of a low signal intensity area on MRI after the onset of hip pain may not be the result of the extension of osteonecrosis, but may represent concomitant edema due to collapse.

Adult↗

The 4G/5G polymorphism of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene is associated with severe preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is associated with thrombosis of the intervillous or spiral artery. A deletion/insertion polymorphism (4G or 5G) in the promoter of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) gene is suggested to be involved in regulating the synthesis of the inhibitor, 4G allele, being associated with the enhanced gene expression and plasma PAI-1 levels. We assessed the association between preeclampsia and the 4G/5G polymorphism of the PAI-1 gene in 115 preeclamptic patients, 210 pregnant controls, and 298 healthy volunteer controls. The frequency of the homozygotes for the 4G allele was significantly higher in the patients than in the control pregnant women (P = 0.04) or in the healthy volunteers (P = 0.02). The 4G allele frequency was also significantly higher in the patients than in the control group of pregnant women (P = 0.03) and in the healthy volunteers (P = 0.02). These results suggest that the presence of the 4G/4G genotype of the PAI-1 gene is one of the risk factors for preeclampsia.

Alleles↗

Creating a vertical stop for interocclusal records.

This article describes a method of making an accurate interocclusal record when the most distal tooth is an abutment of a fixed partial denture. The method uses conical stops, prepared in the enamel of the abutment or made of composite or a metal core covered with composite, to maintain the vertical dimension of occlusion and to act as a third point of reference for a stable occlusal relationship when occluding the definitive casts. This article also explains how to use the cones and how to make each variety.

Dental Abutments↗

Renal disease in women with severe preeclampsia or gestational proteinuria.

OBJECTIVE: To identify women with severe preeclampsia or severe gestational proteinuria at high risk of having underlying renal disease. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1999, 86 Japanese women who had severe hypertension, severe proteinuria, or both during pregnancy had postpartum needle biopsies of their kidneys. Diagnoses before biopsies were severe preeclampsia in 74 women and severe gestational proteinuria in 12. We compared clinical characteristics, such as antepartum hematuria and postpartum proteinuria, and maternal and neonatal outcomes with regard to presence of renal disease. RESULTS: Nineteen of 86 women (22.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.9%, 32. 3%) were diagnosed with underlying renal disease. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy was present in 12. Women with renal disease had a significantly earlier onset of proteinuria than those without (median 11 versus 32 weeks' gestation, P <.001). Eighteen of 19 women with renal disease had proteinuria, hypertension, or both before 30 weeks' gestation. Ten of 12 women with severe gestational proteinuria (83.3%, 95% CI 51.6%, 97.9%) had underlying renal disease. Eight of the 19 women had antepartum hematuria, and seven had elevated serum immunoglobulin A levels. In women with severe preeclampsia, onset before 30 weeks' gestation was the best predictor of underlying renal disease (odds ratio 34.1, 95% CI 3.8, 304.5). Women with renal disease had lower rates of severe hypertension (nine of 19 versus 59 of 67, P <.01) and small-for-gestational-age infants (four of 19 versus 34 of 67, P <.05) than those without renal disease. CONCLUSION: Women who had gestational proteinuria or preeclampsia before 30 weeks' gestation were more likely to have had underlying renal disease.

Adult↗

Saccular cerebral aneurysms in young adults.

BACKGROUND: The formation and rupture of cerebral aneurysms has been controversial. In order to clarify their nature, this study investigates the size and location of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in young adults and the results of surgery. METHODS: The subjects of this study are 35 patients with ruptured and two with unruptured aneurysms. They range in age from 20 to 39 years. The size and location of their aneurysms were determined by angiographic measure of their maximal inner diameters. Direct surgery was performed on 34 patients with ruptured aneurysms and on one with an unruptured aneurysm. RESULTS: Ruptured aneurysms in young adults increase in number and size as they grow older. In young adults showing no atherosclerosis or hypertension, ruptured aneurysms occurred in locations and with a frequency found in patients with hypertension. In young adults, aneurysms in the internal carotid artery larger than 3.5 mm (Fisher's exact test; p < 0.05) and the anterior communicating artery showed a tendency to rupture. The surgery produced excellent results in young adults with grade I to III by Hunt and Kosnik classification, but extremely poor results for those with grade IV resulting from vasospasm (Fisher's exact test; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is possible that aneurysms found in young adults might in fact have been present from childhood and adolescence, increasing sufficiently in size to rupture in the forties and fifties. Accordingly, while aneurysm formation may be related to fragile arterial walls, aneurysm rupture may be the result of aging factors such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Even in young adults, vasospasm had an impact on the outcome of surgery.

Adult↗

Dominant expansion of human T cells in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice implanted with human bone fragments.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an in vivo animal model in which human T cells develop and function normally, a step toward developing new vaccines or chemical compounds that modulate immune functions and toward understanding T-cell immunity in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human bone fragments were implanted into non-obese diabetes/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. The presence of human blood cells in the peripheral blood of these mice was monitored periodically by immunostaining and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. RESULTS: After implantation of bone fragments, dominant expansion of human T lymphocytes, rather than myeloid and B cells, was observed over a 3-month period. In some cases, the proportion of human T cells rose to 40% of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These T cells showed CD4/CD8 ratios similar to those observed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and had a broad repertoire of rearranged T-cell receptor genes. Graft-versus-host reaction was not noted in any organ analyzed. To assess the suitability of NOD/SCID mice implanted with human bone fragments (hu-bone-NOD/SCID mice) as an in vivo model for HIV infection, the mice were infected with a T-lymphotropic strain of HIV-1 (NL4-3) at 7 weeks posttransplant. Serum p24 gag was detected at 2 weeks after inoculation, after which total CD4-positive cell numbers declined, as seen clinically in patients infected with HIV. CONCLUSION: Although the precise mechanism is yet to be determined by which predominant expansion of human T cells occurs in hu-bone-NOD/SCID mice, such mice appear likely to serve as a useful and versatile model for studies involving human T-cell immunity.

Animals↗

Cholinergic inputs to rostral ventrolateral medulla pressor neurons from hypothalamus.

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) has cholinergic mechanisms responsible for pressor responses. Stimulation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) causes an increase of arterial pressure via activation of neurons in the RVLM. In this study, we examined whether PVN stimulation causes a pressor response via activation of cholinergic mechanisms in the RVLM. Male Wistar rats were used and they were anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated. Electrical stimulation of the PVN produced a pressor response. Microinjection of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine and the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine into the RVLM inhibited and potentiated, respectively, the pressor response induced by PVN stimulation. PVN stimulation also increased the firing rate of RVLM barosensitive neurons and the increase in the firing rate was inhibited and potentiated by scopolamine and physostigmine, respectively, iontophoretically applied on neurons. Microinjection of L-glutamate into the PVN produced a release of ACh in the RVLM. The inhibitory amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid injected into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) inhibited the pressor response induced by PVN stimulation. These results suggest that PVN stimulation causes an increase in arterial pressure via activation of cholinergic inputs in the RVLM. It appears that the pressor response is mediated, at least in part, via cholinergic inputs from the LPBN.

Acetylcholine↗

Postoperative results for cholesteatoma in children.

OBJECTIVES: to review the postoperative results for cholesteatoma in children. MATERIALS: 32 ears with acquired cholesteatoma in children operated on by a single surgeon between 1987 and 1995 and followed up more than 2 years. The mean follow-up period was 5.4 years. RESULTS: a one-stage operation was performed in seven ears (21.9%) and preplanned stage operation in 25 ears (78.1%). In the first operation, closed tympanoplasty was performed in 31 ears (96.9%) and open tymapanoplasty in one ear (3.1%). During the second stage operation, residual cholesteatoma was found in 16 ears (64.0%). Recurrent cholesteatoma was detected in 19.4% of ears treated with closed tympanoplasty. The mean postoperative air conduction hearing level was within 20 dB in 12.5%, 30 dB in 40.6% and 40 dB in 78.1%. The hearing results of type III tympanoplasty was better than those of type IV tympanoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: preplanned stage tympanoplasty is safer because of the high risk of recurrent and residual cholesteatoma. Surgical methods should be selected flexibly in individual cases depending upon cavity size, eustachian tube function and hearing level. Cholesteatoma in children should be operated on while stapes is present.

Adolescent↗

Radial magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings of acetabular labrum in dysplastic hips.

Radial MRI findings and pathological changes were comparatively examined in the acetabular labrum of 11 hips of 11 patients, who underwent total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis due to acetabular dysplasia. Diffuse high signal pattern on the radial MR images corresponded to histological degeneration of the labrum. High signal pattern which was equivalent to the synovial fluid, showed an intralabral tear. In the obscure areas of MR images, severe impairment of the labrum such as rupture, detachment, and displacement were found.

Journal Article↗