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Biomedical subjects

T Kuroume

Publications and source records attributed to T Kuroume.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Epidermal growth factor in cow's milk and milk formulas.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in human milk, cow's milk and 10 different milk formulas was measured by radioreceptor assay (RRA) using human placental membrane as an EGF receptor. The raw and pasteurized cow's milk contained 324.2 ng/ml and 155.0 ng/ml of RRA-EGF, respectively. These values were almost the same as that found in human milk, when the concentration was expressed as the proportion of protein contents in the samples. On the other hand, no trace of RRA-EGF was detected in 9 different milk formulas, and only one contained a very small amount of it.

Animals↗

Levels of growth hormone and growth-hormone-releasing factor in cord blood.

In order to evaluate the mechanism of high growth hormone (GH) secretion in perinatal life, the levels of GH and growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF) in cord blood were determined. Plasma-immunoreactive GRF was measured by a double antibody RIA method. The levels (mean +/- SD) of GH, GRF and somatostatin (SRIF) were 23.4 +/- 10.2 ng/ml, 49.5 +/- 11.7 and 41.5 +/- 10.4 pg/ml, respectively; they were remarkably higher than those of healthy adults. In statistical analysis, there were no significant relationships among the levels of GH, GRF or SRIF. We speculate that a high GRF release from the hypothalamus might increase the secretion of GH in the perinatal period.

Adult↗

Digoxin- and digitoxin-like immunoreactive substances in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and serum of neonates.

Using four different digoxin kits, it was disclosed that the majority of various samples including amniotic fluid, cord blood, and serum from neonates contained substantial levels of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance. The differences in data seemed to be due to the range of epitopes which are recognized by antidigoxin antiserum. The day-to-day studies on sera serially obtained from infants at birth to 48 days old revealed that the level of the substance (0.31 +/- 0.12 ng/ml) in sera of the 1-day-old neonates rapidly declined to the level of 0.1 ng/ml by the 2nd postnatal wk and thereafter gradually declined. The immunological specificity and accuracy of the detection of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance was confirmed by a sample dilution test, a recovery test for standard digoxin, and an absorption test with antidigoxin antiserum. The amniotic fluid and cord blood also contained four to eight times more of a digitoxin-like immunoreactive substance than they did digoxin-like immunoreactive substance. A significant correlation was observed between the levels of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance and of digitoxin-like immunoreactive substance (p less than 0.01).

Amniotic Fluid↗

Manometric study on the intestinal motility in a case of megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome.

We report on the intestinal motility in a case of megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) based on a total registered time of 9.5 h by means of a manometric method we recently developed for neonates. The characteristics of this case are as follows: (a) the frequency of the contractions in the stomach and duodenum was significantly lower than that of healthy infants; and (b) bands of rhythmic contractions, resembling phase III activity of the interdigestive migrating contractions in adults, were recorded in the duodenum, but their occurrence was less frequent and the amplitude was significantly lower than that of healthy infants. The present study indicates that "hypoperistalsis" in MMIHS means not only the low frequency, but also the low amplitude, of the contractions in the alimentary tract.

Colon↗

Studies of vascular permeability factor derived from T lymphocytes and inhibitory effect of plasma on its production in minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

Peripheral T lymphocytes from patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and controls were treated for their ability to produce vascular permeability factors (VPF) without concanavalin A stimulation. In vitro cultures of T lymphocytes from active MCNS produced VPF in the supernatant, whereas T lymphocytes from inactive MCNS or normal subjects did not. Furthermore, the plasma from patients with active MCNS markedly inhibited VPF production when compared with plasma taken from inactive MCNS or fetal calf serum alone. However, the plasma from MCNS in neither the active nor the inactive stage had any direct blocking effect on VPF activity. These results seem to suggest that the plasma from patients with MCNS in the active stage inhibits VPF production, but does not neutralize T lymphocytes derived VPF activity.

Child↗

Growth hormone responses to growth hormone releasing factor in neonates.

The response of growth hormone (GH) to synthetic human growth hormone releasing factor (hGRF) administered intravenously was examined in 32 neonates aged 3-28 days. GH peaked at 30 min after hGRF administration and the mean +/- SEM level of GH at maximal response was 66.4 +/- 6.2 ng/ml. In the comparison between the neonates less than 7 days old and those more than 8 days old, between the neonates less than 37 weeks and those more than 38 weeks in gestational age, between the neonates under 2,500 g and those over 2,501 g in birth body weight, and between males and females, no significant statistical differences were observed.

Birth Weight↗

Nonmigrating rhythmic activity in the stomach and duodenum of neonates.

We studied gastrointestinal motility in 20 infants, using a modified manometric method for neonates, and compared it to that in adults. Changes in the intragastric and intraduodenal pressures were recorded for 3 h after the ingestion of milk. Bands of contractions with the same rhythmicity as phase III activity in adults were frequently recorded. Some of them migrated caudally and were speculated to the equivalent of phase III activity of the interdigestive migrating complex (IMC) in adults. However, others did not migrate and showed some differences from phase III activity of adults and infants in the time of occurrence, duration and amplitude. The characteristic of gastroduodenal motility in infants was the frequent occurrence of these bands of nonmigrating rhythmic concentrations. Our findings indicated the following problems: (1) there are some differences in gastrointestinal motility between infants and adults and further investigations are required for the evaluation of the physiology or pathophysiology of this phenomenon; (2) in infants, many bands of rhythmic contractions of the alimentary tracts can exist without migration. This indicates the possibility that the occurrence of rhythmic contractions and their migration are regulated by different mechanisms.

Adult↗

Reevaluation of thyroid function in low birth weight infants based on free triiodothyronine and triiodothyronine.

We attempted to analyze the physiological meaning of abnormally low thyroid hormones in low birth weight (LBW) infants on the basis of cross-sectional data on free triiodothyronine (free T3) and T3 in addition to the other thyroid hormones. In LBW infants, the levels of free T3 and T3 were lower than those of normal infants, similar to the relation between free thyroxine (free T4) and T4. The ratio of free T3/T3 or free T4/T4, however, was not different between the groups. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormone-binding globulin and reversed T3 in LBW infants were not significantly different from those of normal infants.

Humans↗

Effect of inhaled procaterol hydrochloride in children with bronchial asthma, with particular reference to duration of effect.

This double-blind crossover trial evaluated the prolonged clinical effect of procaterol inhaled in a dose of 10 micrograms by nine asthmatic children with mild and stable respiratory disturbance. To compare procaterol with the placebo administered with a pressurized metered-dose inhaler 48 hr before or after procaterol, FVC, FEV1, V50, and V25 were followed up for 10 hr. FVC did not indicate a significant difference between the two treatments, while FEV1, V50, and V25 showed significantly greater changes after procaterol administration. The duration of action of procaterol in terms of FEV1, V50, and V25 was 6, 10, and 4 hr, respectively.

Adolescent↗

Beat-to-beat variation of the heart rate in children with allergic asthma.

Beat-to-beat variation of the heart rate in 53 allergic asthmatic children was quantitatively measured as a coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (CVR-R), and was compared with that of 284 nonallergic and 47 allergic children without asthma. Allergic children both with and without asthma had significantly higher mean CVR-R values (7.08 +/- 1.87 and 7.54 +/- 2.40 and p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively) than those of non-allergic children (6.32 +/- 1.88). These results confirm the previous reports that the increased cholinergic tone was related to the allergic state and not only to allergic asthma.

Asthma↗

Hyperresponsiveness of cough receptors in patients with bronchial asthma.

The hyperresponsiveness of cough receptors was evaluated using the acetic acid inhalation test in healthy adults, patients with bronchial asthma, and children with or without cough. The concentration of acetic acid inducing cough was more than 20% in all 16 healthy adults and 18 children in the control group. There were two groups of asthmatic patients: Those in group 1 showed normal response to more than 20% acetic acid (n = 46), and those in group 2 showed a sensitive reaction to less than 10% (n = 11). Mean age was 9.0 +/- 4.2 years in group 1 and 15.1 +/- 7.6 years in group 2 (statistical significance, P less than .001). Six of 11 asthmatic patients in group 2 were classified as nonallergic asthmatics, whereas only five of 46 patients in group 1 were nonallergic (P less than .01). Bronchoconstriction was not induced in any case, in spite of the production of cough. It is suggested that the hyperresponsiveness of individual cough receptors without the stimulation of irritant receptors be evaluated.

Acetates↗

Simple and rapid estimation of serum theophylline concentration using apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay.

Theophylline concentration was measured by the apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system using the Seralyzer system. The results were compared with those obtained employing high performance liquid chromatography and substrate-labelled fluorescent immunoassay. The results obtained by the above three methods were quite compatible with each other. Furthermore, the capillary method was quite compatible with the venous method which is useful for frequent measurement of theophylline concentrations, especially in children with asthma.

Apoenzymes↗

The evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with bronchial asthma.

Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and extended pH monitoring of the distal esophagus were assessed in 15 asthmatic children in order to evaluate the most important symptoms of suspected gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-asthma. As a result, episodes of asthmatic attacks after overeating were closely correlated with GER as determined by decreased LESP and high pH score.

Adolescent↗

A new method of estimating bronchial hyper-responsiveness in younger children.

By using the new device, the "Astograph," it is possible to measure the continuous changes of respiratory resistance (Rrs) during bronchial inhalation challenge. This method, however, is not suitable for younger children because of wide variations in Rrs. So we studied a technique using a transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcPO2) monitoring system. The bronchial reactivity and sensitivity were significantly correlated between Rrs and tcPO2 (P less than .001), and there was no correlation between cardiac output and Rrs. The tcPO2-method is useful for measuring bronchial responsiveness, especially in younger children.

Adolescent↗