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Biomedical subjects

T Muto

Publications and source records attributed to T Muto.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Status of health promotion program implementation and future tasks in Japanese companies.

This study was performed to elucidate the status of the implementation of health promotion programs (HPPs) and future tasks in occupational settings in Japan. A survey was conducted using a multiple type questionnaire mailed to 395 companies throughout Japan in 1993. The questionnaire was mailed back, after having been answered anonymously, with a response rate of 59%. Companies with more than 300 employees accounted for 76% of the sample. Approximately 70% of the companies implemented HPPs of which health guidance and fitness programs were the two most frequently adopted programs. Nutrition education and mental health programs seemed to be emphasized as future possibilities. Smoking cessation programs were not as common as segregation policies, such as zoning of smoking areas. Currently, 45% of the companies used only in-house health personnel for HPPs, but the prospective percentage in the future was 24%. Most of the companies shared the cost of HPPs with a Health Insurance Society. Lack of health personnel and budgetary restrictions on HPPs constituted the major barriers to the implementation of HPPs. Small-scale enterprises were noted to be particularly influenced by these barriers.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1996

Factors associated with male workers' participation in regular physical activity.

This study was conducted to clarify the factors associated with workers' regular physical activity in a Japanese company. The subjects were 515 male employees who responded to a questionnaire given to all male workers (n = 761) in a manufacturing company in central Japan. The effective response rate was 67.6%. According to multiple linear regression analysis using the stepwise method as the model-selection method, significant factors associated with workers' regular physical activity were self efficacy, current membership in a sports club, colleague support, perceived barriers to exercise, perceived benefits of exercise, and leisure time. Intervention to increase self efficacy for exercise and to diminish perceived barriers to exercising, together with social support, were thought to be a good potential strategy for increasing the proportion of workers participating in regular physical activity. Intervention programs to increase self efficacy should therefore be developed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Endoscopic transpapillary bile duct biopsy without sphincterotomy for diagnosing biliary strictures: a prospective comparative study with bile and brush cytology.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic transpapillary bile duct biopsy has a high sensitivity for detection of malignant biliary strictures, but is commonly performed after endoscopic sphincterotomy. We performed transpapillary biopsy without sphincterotomy, using a recently developed, malleable biopsy forceps, and prospectively studied the usefulness of this diagnostic procedure, compared with that of bile and brush cytology. METHODS: We succeeded in transpapillary biopsy without sphincterotomy in 45 (87%) of 52 patients. In 43 patients with biliary strictures (31 malignant, 12 benign) who successfully underwent all endoscopic samplings by bile aspiration, brushing, and biopsy, the diagnostic value of these three sampling methods was compared. RESULTS: Transpapillary biopsy (81%) had a significantly higher level of sensitivity for malignancy than bile (32%) and brush (48%) cytology. Transpapillary biopsy was more sensitive for bile duct cancer (88%) than for pancreatic cancer (71%), as were cytology techniques. No false positives were found in any of the three sampling methods. No complications accompanied the endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Transpapillary bile duct biopsy without sphincterotomy is a simple, safe, and effective technique for diagnosing biliary stricture. We recommend that this technique be performed routinely at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for patients with a stricture or filling defect of the extrahepatic bile duct.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A clinicopathological study of familial abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The purpose of this report is to document what we have observed in patients with familial abdominal aortic aneurysms (FAAAs) between 1987 and 1993. Patients with FAAAs were reviewed and compared with those without familial clustering with regard to age, sex, past history, laboratory data, smoking habits, and type of implanted graft. We identified 7 families among which a total of 15 members had AAAs. The incidence of familial clustering reached 5.4%. The mean age of the FAAA group was significantly younger than that of the non-FAAA group (mean age: 65.8 +/- 10.3 versus 71.0 +/- 7.3 years). In the FAAA group, furthermore, patients in the second generation were significantly younger than those in the first generation (mean age: 55.3 +/- 10.5 versus 69.6 +/- 7.4 years). FAAA was significantly more often complicated by ischemic cardiac diseases. There were no significant differences in other risk factors. Interestingly, however, we observed a morphological similarity in the shape of the aneurysms within each family. Histological examinations showed moderate or severe lymphocytic infiltration into the aortic adventitia in 6 out of 9 cases. FAAA is clinically important, because it can represent a high-risk group that may benefit from a screening program for early detection and elective management of AAA. Studies of FAAAs will be useful for elucidating the pathogenesis of AAAs.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Large-scale preparation and function of porcine hepatocyte spheroids.

To obtain a large number of porcine hepatocyte aggregates (spheroids) that have great potential in a bioartificial liver (BAL), we performed spheroid formation at a high cell density in a 1-L-scale spinner flask fitted with a silicon tubing apparatus for oxygen supply. We thereby obtained, within 24 hours, approximately fifty times more porcine hepatocyte spheroids as compared with the results of previous reports. The amount obtained corresponds to 2.5x10(9) cells and to roughly one-sixth of the cell number required for a BAL for a human patient. When we cultured spheroids continuously in suspension, they expressed three times more albumin secretion and twice the ammonium removal as compared with conventional monolayers during 10 days culture. Collagen gel entrapment of spheroids particularly lowered albumin secretion. We therefore conclude that the supension culture vessel of porcine hepatocyte spheroids is one of the most promising module types.

Albumins↗
PubMed1996

[Hemodynamic study for the assessment of atherosclerotic occlusive disease].

Of all modalities used for the assessment of the severity of ischemic limbs none has proved to be more simple, reliable and reproducible than Doppler ultrasonography. The critical level that endangers the leg in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans will be defined around 0.3 of ankle brahcial index by Doppler pressure measurement. Concerning the evaluation of the severity of intermittent claudication Doppler study may provide some standards to predict the state of muscle ischemia after exercise from the value measured at resting state. Near infrared spectroscopy is capable of direct continuous monitoring for the change of the state of oxygenated haemoglobin and deoxygenated one in the ischemic calf muscle during exercise. NIRS can be a new modality to asses the muscle ischemia during exercise in ASO patients. The objective diagnostic techniques should be reproducible, capable of intrinsic standardization, easily employed, relatively rapid to perform, adaptable to current recording equipment, and applicable to studies during and after exercise.

Arteriosclerosis Obliterans↗
PubMed1996

Development of a new bioartificial liver module filled with porcine hepatocytes immobilized on non-woven fabric.

We developed a new bioartificial liver module, a non-woven fabric (NWF) module, which was filled with hepatocytes immobilized on non-woven polyester fabric, and compared its efficacy with a suspension culture vessel. Porcine hepatocytes were isolated from whole pig liver, which formed spheroids in a 1L suspension culture vessel. Some of these spheroids were allowed to construct a 50 mL NWF module by inoculation onto 12 sheets of disk-shaped non-woven fabric then stuffed into a 50 mL column. The remaining spheroids were transferred to a 100 mL spinner flask and placed in suspension. The 50 mL NWF module maintained a much better metabolic and synthetic function than the 100 mL suspension culture vessel throughout the study. Based on these results, we developed a 200 mL radial-flow-type NWF module. This module filled with single hepatocytes showed promising efficiency.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Totally extracorporeal laparoscopy-assisted colon resection without pneumoperitoneum.

We describe a new totally extracorporeal laparoscopy-assisted technique without insufflation of the peritoneum in the treatment of benign and malignant ascending and sigmoid colon lesions. Colon resection is performed using specially designed instruments that allow the surgeon to avoid insufflation of the peritoneum and, in case of cancer, allow for conventional lymph-adenectomy. With this new technique, the restrictions associated with the laparoscopic technique are nullified, and the surgeon can directly examine intra-abdominal contents. Our preliminary results are encouraging and demonstrate the feasibility of this technique as well as its positive results in terms of curability in selected cases of colon cancer. Additional experience will delineate the real clinical value of this technique in the treatment of malignant disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The greater omentum is the primary site of neutrophil exudation in peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Peritonitis remains a major infectious problem. Neutrophil influx into the peritoneal cavity is one of the most important host defense mechanisms. However, no studies have focused on the site of neutrophil exudation. This study examined the primary anatomic site of neutrophil exudation in bacterial peritonitis. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-five rats were injected intraperitoneally with saline solution (control group) or 10(7) Escherichia coli (peritonitis group). In experiment 1, 1 x 10(6) fluorescein-labeled neutrophils were infused 3 hours after the challenge. Then, peritoneal-lavaged fluids and peritoneal tissues (the greater omentum, mesentery, parietal peritoneum, colon, and ileum) were obtained. Subpopulations of peritoneal exudative cells and numbers of labeled neutrophils in tissues were counted. In experiment 2, labeled neutrophils were infused at 10 minutes and at 1 and 5 hours after the challenge. Peritoneal tissues were also harvested. The number of labeled neutrophils in each tissue was determined. RESULTS: In experiment 1, numbers of labeled peritoneal neutrophils and exudative neutrophils were higher in the peritonitis group than in the control group. Numbers of exudative neutrophils showed a positive correlation with numbers of labeled peritoneal neutrophil. In experiment 2, at 1 and 5 hours after the challenge, the number of labeled neutrophils was higher in the peritonitis group than in the control group. The number of neutrophils in the omentum was higher than the number in other peritoneal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our fluorescence microscopic method is useful for detecting neutrophil adhesion. Neutrophil exudation into the peritoneal cavity was most marked in the omentum. The greater omentum may play an important role in host defense as a source of exudative neutrophils.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparisons of porcine hepatocyte spheroids and single hepatocytes in the non-woven fabric bioartificial liver module.

We previously developed a new bioreactor of the bioartificial liver composed of non-woven fabric. We have also experimented with hepatocyte spheroids, with the aim of improving the efficiency of this NWF bioreactor. In this study, we compared the efficiencies of NWF bioreactors employing hepatocyte spheroids versus single hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were isolated from a whole pig liver by Seglen's method. 1.0 x 10(10) single hepatocytes were immobilized in the NWF bioreactor. Another 1.0 x 10(10) hepatocytes were allowed to form spheroids by 24 hr suspension culture in a 4-L culture vessel, before being immobilized in the bioreactor. Hepatocyte spheroids were found to be functionally superior, on a per-cell basis, to single hepatocytes in the NWF bioreactor. However, the NWF bioreactor employing hepatocyte spheroids exhibited lower efficiency than thaT employing single hepatocytes, because the total number of the hepatocytes had decreased during the 24 hr suspension culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

An objective evaluation of muscle oxygen content in claudicants receiving drug therapy.

The effects of medical treatment with a prostaglandin I2 analog (beraprost sodium) were evaluated in 19 of 120 cases studied with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) from January 1993 to September 1994. The relative changes in oxygenated (Oxy) and deoxygenated (Deo) hemoglobin (Hb) in the calf muscle were measured during a treadmill walking test and the subsequent recovery period. After medical treatment in these 19 cases, recovery time of OxyHb decreased in 10 cases, increased in 7 cases and remained unchanged in two cases. Pressure studies did not facilitate the assessment of changes in the severity of claudication. Our results demonstrate that NIRS can provide objective information regarding the effects of medical therapy in claudicants.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

A study of the advantages of elastic stockings for leg lymphedema.

To assess the efficacy of compression therapy alone, we report herein the long-term results of leg lymphedema using elastic stockings. Between January 1965 and March 1993, 41 primary lymphedema and 74 secondary lymphedema of the lower extremities have been treated at our hospital. Ten patients had recurrence of cancer, and 5 patients had surgical therapy. The remaining 100 patients were analyzed for the clinical results following treatment with elastic stockings. During the follow-up period of 5 +/- 0.2 years, 3 of 39 limbs (8% or 30 patients) with primary lymphedema wearing elastic stockings experienced enlargement of limb circumference and 36 limbs (92% or 27 patients) showed decrease or no change. Without elastic stockings, 1 out of 13 limbs (8% or 8 patients) with primary lymphedema showed worsening of their symptoms. In contrast, only 1 of 61 limbs (1.7%) in 46 patients with secondary lymphedema who wore elastic stockings showed deterioration of their symptoms. Although elastic stockings did not influence the incidence of the lymphangitis, their effect in maintaining limb circumference was apparent in all the patients with inflammation caused by secondary lymphedema. Among 20 patients with secondary lymphedema who had recurrent lymphangitis, only 1 out of 19 limbs (5%) in 16 patients experienced deterioration of the symptom with the use of elastic stockings while 1 out of 4 limbs (25%) in 4 patients showed improvement or no change without elastic stockings. Our data demonstrate that compression stockings are associated with long-term maintenance of reduced limb circumference, especially in secondary lymphedema regardless of the association with recurrent lymphangitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Microsatellite instability in primary and metastatic colorectal cancers.

Microsatellite instability characterizes a sub-set of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs) as well as CRCs from patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In order to clarify when the cells acquire a replication-error phenotype (RER) during colorectal-tumor progression, we examined the incidence of RER in 80 primary tumors and 36 liver metastases at 8 microsatellite loci; 1 mono-, 5 di-, 1 tetra- and 1 pentanucleotide. RER were detected in 20.1% (17/80) of primary tumors, including 5 tumors showing RER at 2 or more loci (RER2), while the incidence of RER in liver metastases (22.2%, 8/36) was almost the same as that in primary tumors, and there was only one RER2 case in metastases. There were 3 cases in which both primary tumors and liver metastases had the same type of RER at the same locus, and there were 2 cases that showed RER in primary tumors but not in liver metastases. In contrast, there was no case in which RER was detected in a metastasis but not in the corresponding primary tumor. The RER phenotype did not show correlation with any clinicopathological parameters of cancer-cell aggressiveness, such as clinical staging, histological grade and survival. These results indicate that a sub-set of CRCs acquire the RER phenotype in the relatively early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, and that the RER phenotype is not associated with aggressiveness of CRCs.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The relationship of macroscopic shape of superficial esophageal carcinoma to depth of invasion and regional lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable controversy with regard to surgical strategies for the treatment of superficial esophageal carcinoma, which is characterized by tumor confined within the epithelium (EP), muscularis mucosae (MM), or submucosa (SM). The relationships among macroscopic shape, depth of invasion, and lymph node involvement in superficial tumors were investigated to devise therapeutic strategies for patients with such disease. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with superficial primary esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy with regional lymph node dissection (3 EP, 6 MM, and 24 SM). Tumors were divided into two types according to macroscopic characteristics: (1) tumors with elevated components and (2) flat or depressed tumors without an elevated component. RESULTS: Tumors with an elevated component (n = 19) showed invasion of the deep layer, and a high incidence of lymph node metastasis. Conversely, tumors without an elevated component (n = 14) showed varied depths of invasion, and, with one exception, had no lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of an elevated component in superficial esophageal cancer is an important macroscopic feature suggesting submucosal invasion and a high probability of lymph node involvement. More intensive treatment should be adopted for such tumors, whereas localized resection may be feasible for tumors without an elevated component.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Polypoid growth and K-ras codon 12 mutation in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: To clarify genetic changes in colorectal tumorigenesis, K-ras codon 12 point mutations were examined in 101 ordinary colorectal carcinomas and 6 that complicated ulcerative colitis (UC) with special attention to growth patterns. METHODS: The depths of invasion of ordinary carcinoma were submucosa (SMCa) in 39 cases, muscularis propria (PMCa) in 33, and far-advanced in 29. Growth patterns of SMCa and PMCa were classified into three types: polypoid-growth type without central depression (Type 1), polypoid-growth type with central depression (Type 2), and nonpolypoid-growth type. DNA samples were extracted from formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections, and K-ras codon 12 mutations were examined by two-step polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: K-ras mutation frequency was higher in Type 1 SMCa than in nonpolypoid SMCa, 56% (9/16) versus 6% (1/17), respectively, and in PMCa, 78% (7/9) versus 23% (3/13), respectively. In 6 UC carcinomas, a K-ras mutation was detected in only one polypoid carcinoma and none were detected in five nonpolypoid carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: These results and the authors' previous study suggest that nonpolypoid carcinomas may be derived from flat adenomas, whose K-ras mutation incidence also was low, and this pathway is different from a genetic model based on the ordinary adenoma-carcinoma sequence through polypoid adenomas.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

Detrimental effects of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (N-omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester) in a murine sepsis model.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on host elimination of bacteria, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, and survival in a murine sepsis model. DESIGN: Prospective randomized experimental trials. SETTING: Laboratory. MATERIALS: Female Balb/c mice. INTERVENTIONS: Balb/c mice were injected with Escherichia coli (10(8) colony-forming units per body) into the peritoneal cavity. N-omega-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, was given intraperitoneally at 10 mg/kg (N10 group) or 100 mg/kg (N100 group) 1 hour before bacterial challenge. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Thirty animals were observed for survival. Samples of peritoneal lavaged fluid (PLF), blood, liver, and lungs were obtained at 4 and 6 hours after bacterial challenge (n = 60). The peritoneal exudative cells were counted. Viable bacterial counts were determined in PLF, blood, and organs. The TNF levels also were determined in plasma, PLF, and supernatant samples of cultured peritoneal exudative cells. RESULTS: Survival times after E coli challenge were significantly reduced by pretreatment with L-NAME (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Numbers of viable bacteria in the peritoneal cavity and plasma TNF level 4 hours after E coli challenge were higher in both L-NAME-treated groups than in the control group. The number of bacteria in the blood and the plasma TNF level 6 hours after E coli challenge were higher in the L-NAME-treated group (N100 group) than in the control group. Conversely, the number of hepatic bacteria in the control group was significantly higher than in the L-NAME-treated groups. Plasma TNF level showed significant positive correlations with numbers of bacteria in the PLF and in the blood 4 hours after challenge. No significant differences were noted in TNF levels in PLF and peritoneal exudative cell cultured supernatants. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of nitric oxide production is detrimental in this gram-negative sepsis model.

Animals↗