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T Mori

Publications and source records attributed to T Mori.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Semiquantitative dynamic computed tomography to predict response to anti-platelet therapy in acute cerebral infarction.

We investigated whether dynamic computed tomography (CT) in patients with acute cerebral infarction could identify patients likely to respond to anti-platelet therapy. Seventy patients underwent semiquantitative dynamic CT within 6 h as well as cerebral angiography. All then received anti-platelet therapy with a thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor. Peak value (pv) and time-to-peak (tp) (time-density curves) for the Sylvian fissure were extracted from dynamic CT data and standardizing interpatient data, two indices, PV/TP index and TP index, were prepared following a standard semiquantitative manner. Both PV/TP index and TP index were effective in discriminating between 48 responders (modified Rankin scale (mRS): 0 to 2) and 22 non-responders (mRS: 3 to 5, or death: 6; both P<0.0001). High PV/TP index (>or=0.8) was a strong indicator of favorable response. Most of these patients maintained regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) via anterograde flow or collaterals, with a TP index 1.1) and non-compensated rCBF. Intermediate PV/TP values could not predict outcome. Dynamic CT prior to therapy can identify patients with acute cerebral infarction who are treatable with anti-platelet therapy alone.

Acute Disease↗

A new technique for two-trocar laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: New techniques for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) that reduce the number of trocars or use very thin instruments have been devised with the goal of further minimizing surgical invasiveness. METHODS: We performed two-trocar LC using an original new technique in 70 consecutive patients. A 10-mm trocar and a 5-mm trocar were inserted in the subumbilical and epigastrium positions, respectively. A 2-mm grasper forceps was inserted directly without a trocar below the costal margin. The fundus of the gallbladder was ligated and lifted up with a folded 0 silk string and a 16-gauge vessel cannula. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 73.2 +/- 23.5 min. A third trocar was added in two cases. None of the patients required conversion of the procedure to an open cholecystectomy, and there were no intraoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, we think that this technique is as safe and effective as the classic four-trocar technique; moreover, it has a cost benefit.

Adult↗

Mechanisms of the mass effect of cerebral contusion: ICP monitoring and diffusion MRI study.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral contusion is sometimes associated with a non-hemorrhagic mass effect which progresses rapidly within 12-48 hours post-trauma. In order to determine the mechanisms underlying such a mass effect, we analyzed data obtained from ICP monitoring and diffusion MRI in a total of 38 patients with cerebral contusion. METHODS: Diffusion imaging and ADC mapping were performed employing 1.5 T echo planar MRI. ADC values were expressed as a ratio relative to the values of intact brain areas. RESULTS: In 6 patients, ICP became uncontrollable medically and surgical resection of the contused brain tissue was eventually performed. Within 24 hours post-trauma, diffusion images revealed a low intensity core and a high intensity rim in the contusion. The ADC ratio increased in the central area (1.13 +/- 0.21) and decreased in the peripheral area (0.67 +/- 0.14). A crescent-shaped zone of very high ADC ratio (1.45 +/- 0.14) was observed at the border between these two areas during the period of 24-48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that the capacitance of edema fluid accumulation is elevated by cellular disintegration in the central area, whereas the resistance to edema fluid propagation is elevated by cellular swelling in the peripheral area. We suggest that such events facilitate extracellular edema fluid accumulation within contused brain tissue and contribute, together with cellular swelling itself, to the non-hemorrhagic mass effect of cerebral contusion.

Brain Concussion↗

Process of apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha in murine fibroblast Ltk-cells: continuous observation with video enhanced contrast microscopy.

Apoptosis is originally defined by unique morphological changes of dying cells, and the biochemical hallmark associated with apoptosis is internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. However, few report has shown the precise time course of the apoptotic events. The present study was designed to try to clarify apoptotic processes using a video-enhanced contrast-differential interference contrast (VEC-DIC) microscopy. The morphological changes of murine fibroblast Ltk-cells treated with TNF-alpha were divided into four stages: (i) pre-apoptotic, (ii) cytoplasmic shrinkage, (iii) membrane blebbing, and (iv) ballooning. Almost of the cells underwent cytoplasmic shrinkage and membrane blebbing within 6 hours after TNF-alpha exposure, and at about 9 hours, they were in the ballooning stage. Based on these data, we investigated the relationship between morphological changes and other biochemical features. The earliest event was exposure of phosphatidyl-serine at the cytoplasmic membrane, which was already observed in the pre-apoptotic stage. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in the cytoplasmic shrinkage stage. Caspase-8/-3 activities already started increasing in the pre-apoptotic stage, and reached their peak at 6 hours after TNF-alpha exposure. DNA fragmentation occurred in the late phase of the membrane blebbing.

Animals↗

Investigation of parenchymal cell differentiation in organotypic slice culture of mouse fetal liver under administration of sodium butyrate.

The fetal mouse liver tissues in our organotypic slice culture were spread and flattened for at least 3 weeks; small, round cells were distributed in the center and polygonal cells were seen in the periphery. Ultrastructurally, polygonal cells showed abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. They expressed albumin (ALB) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for at least 3 weeks, and Cx32-immunoreactivity was also seen in a plaque on the cells. Many proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells were observed at the periphery, and there were scattered CK-19-positive cells. The spreading of the fetal liver tissue in organotypic slice culture was reduced in medium containing sodium butyrate (SB). The expression of ALB was well maintained in polyglonal cells of the SB(+) group 3 weeks after culture and AFP-immunoreactivity was decreased in the SB(+) group. The concentration of ALB in the medium was significantly higher in the SB(+) than in the SB(-) group. CK-19-positive cells in the SB(+) group were increased in number more than those in the SB(-) group. PCNA-positive cells were less numerous in the SB(+) group, and Cx32-positive plaques were increased. SB can help immature hepatocytes to differentiate into the mature type and the cholangiocytic lineage, reducing their proliferation. These findings suggest that parenchymal cells in our organotypic slice culture of the fetal mouse liver can maintain structure and function as in vivo for the long term, and SB is shown to be a differentiation inducer of parenchymal cells in the slice culture.

Albumins↗

Comparison of the expression patterns of two LIM-homeodomain genes, Lhx6 and L3/Lhx8, in the developing palate.

OBJECTIVES: To compare and contrast the gene expression of two LIM-homeobox type transcription factors, Lhx6 and L3/Lhx8, in secondary palate formation. METHODS: In situ hybridization histochemistry with digoxygenin (DIG) labelled cRNA probes specific for Lhx6 and L3/Lhx8. MATERIALS: Serial cryo-sections of embryonic day (E)13.5, 14.5, and 15.5 mice (C57BL/6). OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparison of the signal intensities of NBT/BCIP precipitate by alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-DIG antibody. RESULTS: From E13.5 to E15.5, Lhx6 and L3/Lhx8 signals are detected in palatal mesenchyme, but the L3/Lhx8 signal is much more intense than the Lhx6 signal. In palatal epithelium, covering the mesenchyme, Lhx6 mRNA is transiently expressed at E14.5, while L3/Lhx8 mRNA expression is never detected throughout the development. CONCLUSION: Lhx6 and L3/Lhx8 functions may be partially redundant in the mesenchyme of the secondary palate, but not in the palatal epithelium.

Animals↗

Dose-adjusted preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus disease based on real-time polymerase chain reaction after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We have prospectively evaluated the efficacy of real-time PCR-guided preemptive therapy for CMV diseases in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with grades II-IV acute GVHD. The dose of ganciclovir was adjusted according to the viral load determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On detecting CMV reactivation in the plasma, ganciclovir was initiated at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight once daily, and the dose was increased to twice daily if viral load continued to increase after initiating ganciclovir. In 39 evaluable patients, CMV reactivation assessed by real-time PCR became positive in 30 (77%). One developed CMV gastroenteritis before PCR became positive. Thus the remaining 29 patients were treated preemptively with ganciclovir. The dose of ganciclovir was increased in 12 patients (41%) of preemptively treated patients for increasing viral load. CMV diseases were diagnosed in two patients (one gastroenteritis and one retinitis), and late CMV disease was diagnosed in one patient (gastritis). The treatment was generally well-tolerated, but three patients (10%) developed neutropenia (neutrophil count less than 1.0 x 10(9)/l). In conclusion, real-time PCR-guided preemptive therapy with decreased dose of ganciclovir is feasible and does not increase the frequency of CMV diseases if the dose is adjusted according to the viral load.

Adult↗

Immunohistochemical localization of CEA, CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 in hepatitis C virus-infected liver tissues.

AIMS: We investigated expression of CEA, CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 in liver tissues of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, measuring their serum value to clarify their clinical significance, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was assessed in serial sections to determine whether expression of these molecules in chronic liver disease was related to regeneration of biliary ducts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Liver tissues were biopsied under peritoneoscopy or echo-guidance and resected surgically among 63 patients with anti-hepatitis C virus-positive sera. There were 26 cases of chronic hepatitis, 21 cases of liver cirrhosis and 16 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (four cases of mixed type). They were simultaneously used for immunocytochemistry for CEA, CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2, and PCNA was demonstrated in serial liver tissues by immunohistochemistry. Serum CEA, CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 were measured by radioimmunoassay or enzyme immunoassay. In chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis CEA immunoreactivity was seen on membranes facing bile canaliculi and in bile ductules. Both CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 immunoreactivity were observed in bile ductules in chronic hepatitis liver cirrhosis and non-neoplastic areas surrounding hepatocellular carcinoma, and CA19-9 was also present in interlobular bile ducts. PCNA immunoreactivity was not detected in marker-positive bile ductules or interlobular bile ducts. In hepatocellular carcinoma CEA immunoreactivity was seen on membrane facing dilated bile canaliculi in glandular structures, and CEA, CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 immunoreactivity was observed in cholangiolar areas in mixed type of hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: CEA in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis is expressed not only in bile ductules but also on membrane facing bile canaliculi, and both CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 were seen in different levels of biliary ducts. These molecules were expressed in bile ductules in surrounding non-neoplastic areas of hepatocellular carcinoma, and their expression was not associated with regeneration of biliary ducts. CEA expression was present in the trabecular type of hepatocellular carcinoma, and CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 were observed in cholangiolar areas in mixed type of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Recurrent acute myositis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for myelodysplasia.

A 54-year-old woman developed polymyositis 6 months after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for acute myelogenous leukemia transformed from myelodysplasia. At the onset of myositis, the patient had oral dryness, and the histology of oral mucosa was compatible with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Muscle biopsy revealed focal muscle necrosis with massive lymphocytic infiltration. She was diagnosed with polymyositis, and the dose of cyclosporine was increased. Three months later, a complete resolution of myositis had been obtained, and the cyclosporine was tapered off. However, 51 months after the first episode of myositis, she again noted severe myalgia and was diagnosed with a recurrence of polymyositis based on high serum creatinine kinase (CK) and the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At that time, chronic GVHD in other organs was not present. She achieved a second remission of polymyositis with cyclosporine, and has remained in remission for 4 years. The pathogenesis of myositis can be attributed to the immunologic imbalance characteristic of the post-allogeneic BMT setting.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Maintenance of stable cuff pressure in the Brandt tracheal tube during anaesthesia with nitrous oxide.

BACKGROUND: The Brandt tracheal tube keeps cuff pressure constant during anaesthesia, but the mechanisms have not been examined. We assessed volume, pressure and gas concentration in the cuff and pilot balloon using the Brandt system. METHODS: The pressure in an air-filled cuff of the Brandt system (Mallinckrodt Brandt tracheal tube, n = 60) was recorded during anaesthesia with 67% nitrous oxide; gas volume and concentration in cuffs and balloons were measured for up to 12 h from the start of anaesthesia. The volume change of each gas was calculated to assess its contribution to the cuff pressure. We also measured cuff compliance in vitro. RESULTS: Cuff pressure increased slightly during anaesthesia (P < 0.05). The nitrous oxide concentration increased to 47.7 (8.2)% (mean (SD)) in the cuff and to 2.2 (0.9)% in the pilot balloon. The nitrous oxide volume in the cuff and pilot balloon increased by approximately 2 ml during the first 4 h of anaesthesia. The carbon dioxide volume increased slightly, and nitrogen and oxygen did not change significantly. The compliance of the Brandt tube cuff was six times greater than that of a standard tube cuff (Mallinckrodt Hi-Contour tracheal tube). CONCLUSIONS: The Brandt tracheal tube maintains stable cuff pressure during nitrous oxide anaesthesia because of a highly compliant balloon. The concentration gradient of nitrous oxide between the cuff and pilot balloon also contributes to the stable-cuff pressure because the high nitrous oxide concentration in the cuff reduces nitrous oxide influx.

Adult↗

Decorin expression during development of bovine skeletal muscle and its role in morphogenesis of the intramuscular connective tissue.

Decorin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan suspected of playing an important role in tissue morphogenesis. However, its role in the development of skeletal muscle is less clear. In the present study, the expression and spatial distribution of decorin in developing skeletal muscle of bovine fetuses were investigated, in order to provide a background for understanding the function of decorin in morphogenesis of the intramuscular connective tissue that supports muscle fibres. Western blot analysis showed that decorin already existed in skeletal muscle by 2.5 months of fetal development, and that decorin had a longer glycosaminoglycan chain in the early fetal stages than in later development, but its core protein was of the same size. Decorin mRNA was expressed at 1 month of fetal development, although its level was relatively low. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that decorin was located in the perimysium which consisted of collagen fibres, but not in the endomysium which was composed of collagen fibril networks in fetal skeletal muscle. The relatively integrated structure of the perimysium had already formed by 2.5 months of fetal development, when muscle fibres were not tightly assembled and the surrounding endomysium was not well organized. These results suggest that decorin contributes to the formation and stabilization of collagen fibres in the perimysium that support muscle fibres assembled with myogenesis.

Animals↗

Epidemiological transition of tuberculosis and future agenda of control in Japan: results of the Ad-Hoc National Survey of Tuberculosis 2000.

SETTING: In Japan, the incidence of tuberculosis (TB), which had improved continuously from 1951, has shown an upturn since 1997. OBJECTIVE: An Ad-Hoc National Survey was conducted to review the issues of TB control in Japan and to discuss the future direction of change. METHODS: TB registries kept at health centres in all prefectures were reviewed for the year 1998. Vital statistics and BCG vaccination records were reviewed separately. RESULTS: The survey revealed a 34.7% under-estimation of TB deaths in TB registers, and a 11.2% over-estimation of TB cases registered due to a change in diagnosis after registration. For treatment, the four-drug regimen advocated for smear-positive cases was used in only 54.8% of indicated cases, and treatment duration was very long; for example, 18.4% of first-time hospitalised cases over 15 years of age received in-patient care for more than 6 months and 29.8% continued treatment for more than 12 months. Apart from an increasingly elderly population, other factors contributing to an increase in TB included underlying health risk factors for increased susceptibility to TB and socio-economic risk factors for treatment failure. Regarding preventive measures, active case finding by health screening contributed to detection of only 8.7% of new cases aged over 60 years, but BCG vaccination appeared to be preventive among infants under 1 year of age. CONCLUSION: The National Survey revealed a changing profile of TB in Japan and suggested a need to review and revitalise the TB control programme.

Adolescent↗

The nationwide tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Mongolia, 1999.

SETTING: Mongolia, a country in the Western Pacific Region burdened with many cases of tuberculosis, with rapid expansion of DOTS over the last several years. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of resistance to major anti-tuberculosis drugs among tuberculosis patients who have never been treated previously. DESIGN: Sputum specimens were collected from all smear-positive tuberculosis patients identified from 1 November 1998 to 1 May 1999. RESULTS: Resistance to any of the four major drugs (streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol) was as high as 28.9% (95%CI 24.7-33.5), primarily due to high streptomycin resistance of 24.2% (95%CI 20.3-28.6). Isoniazid resistance was also high, at 15.3% (95%CI 12.1-19.1). Resistance levels to ethambutol and rifampicin were relatively low, at 1.7% (95%CI 0.8-3.5) and 1.2% (95%CI 0.5-2.9), presumably because these drugs were only recently introduced into Mongolia. Multidrug resistance was also rare, at 1.0% (95%CI 0.1-1.8). Drug resistance rates were higher in middle-aged patients than in younger and older age groups combined (P = 0.006). Males tended to have higher resistance than females, although this was of statistically marginal significance (P = 0.08). No significant regional differences in drug resistance were found. CONCLUSION: While multidrug resistance was rare, isoniazid resistance was very common, which necessitates closer monitoring of the treatment outcomes of individual patients as well as long-term follow-up for drug resistance on a nationwide scale.

Adolescent↗

Differentiation of chicken gonad as an endocrine organ: expression of LH receptor, FSH receptor, cytochrome P450c17 and aromatase genes.

The gonad is an endocrine organ secreting sex hormones and also a target of pituitary gonadotrophins. The expression of mRNAs encoding LH receptor (LHR), FSH receptor (FSHR), P450c17 and P450aromatase in the developing gonads of embryos between day 4 and day 6 of incubation was determined using a RT-PCR to elucidate the chicken gonad as a target organ of gonadotrophins. Although expression of mRNAs encoding LHR, FSHR and P450c17 was detected at day 4 of incubation in both sexes, mRNA encoding P450aromatase appeared at day 6 in female embryos only, indicating that mRNAs encoding gonadotrophin receptors can be identified before sexual differentiation. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that expression of mRNA encoding LHR and FSHR remained low in male gonads from day 4 to day 6 of incubation, whereas they increased on day 6 in female gonads. The sexual dimorphism in the expression of mRNAs encoding LHR and FSHR was confirmed in the sexually differentiated gonads of embryos at day 12 of incubation (LHR in ovary ratio LHR in testis = 7 ratio 1; FSHR in ovary ratio FSHR in testis = 9 ratio 1).

Animals↗

Current epidemiological trend of tuberculosis in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the recent epidemiological trend of tuberculosis and to determine the factors related to the deteriorating trend in incidence and mortality rates in Japan. DESIGN: Descriptive analyses of tuberculosis notification rates and mortality rates by age, sex, year and birth-cohort. RESULTS: The decline in the tuberculosis notification rate has started slowing down since around 1980. Among the cohorts born before 1950, the trend of notification rate by age has levelled off since around 1980. The reduction in the tuberculosis mortality rate has also recently begun to slow down, but later and to a lesser extent than that of the notification rate. Although deaths due to tuberculosis occur mostly among the elderly, the rate of decline in mortality among middle-aged males has slowed down recently. The trend in the mortality rate of birth-cohorts has recently shown an upward trend with age. CONCLUSION: A major cause of the current stagnation of the decline in notification rates is the increase in the elderly population with a high prevalence of tuberculosis infection in the past, who are more likely to develop the disease as they approach biological senescence. Other possible causes are a gradual shift of the tuberculosis problem to socio-economically deprived segments of the urban population, and behavioural changes causing delay in case-finding.

Adolescent↗

Homologous phases built by boron clusters and their vibrational properties.

We have found a series of new rare earth boron-rich solids in REBC(N) (RE: Y, Ho, Er, Tm, and Lu), systems and their structures are solved from single crystal and/or powder X-ray diffraction data. Structure analysis results show that they are homologous with B(4)C and also show trigonal symmetry. As the two basic structural units, boron icosahedra and octahedra in the new phases form in layers and stack in different sequences which form different phases. With increasing number of icosahedral layers stacking between two neighboring octahedral layers, the c-axis of the unit cell is increased and the other two edges of the unit cell are only changed slightly. Three monophases of the series have been synthesized both in powders and as single crystals. The vibrational modes of the homologous phases are analyzed from the Raman spectra and compared with that of B(4)C.

Journal Article↗

GnRH agonist Buserelin affects colony-forming efficiency of HHUA and Jurkat cells.

In this study, cell proliferation was examined at low and high cell densities, using HHUA and Jurkat cell lines as experimental models for the antiproliferative and proliferation-enhancing effects of GnRH agonist, Buserelin, respectively. For efficient evaluation of Buserelin activity at low cell density, the colony-forming efficiency assay was adopted. Buserelin markedly affected colony-forming efficiency in a dose-dependent manner at low cell density; however, Buserelin had no effect at high cell density. The conditioned medium of HHUA cells inhibited the Buserelin action, whereas that of Jurkat cells mimicked it. These results suggest that each cell line secretes some substances which regulate cell proliferation, and that these substances can also change the effects of Buserelin. The measurement of colony-forming efficiency is a very effective way of eliminating autocrine and/or paracrine effects, and is a highly sensitive method for measuring GnRH activity.

Animals↗