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Biomedical subjects

T Nakano

Publications and source records attributed to T Nakano.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Functional role of endogenous endothelin-1 in congestive heart failure treated with angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

Interactions between angiotensin (ANG) II and endothelin (ET)-1 receptor transduction pathways have been unclear in congestive heart failure (CHF). Therefore the objects of this study are, in CHF, whether production of ET-1 is modulated by ANG II and/or whether hemodynamic effects of endogenous ET-1 are modulated by ANG II. Twelve dogs were randomly assigned to two groups: untreated (n = 6) and treated with ANG II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist (TCV116, 1.5 mg/kg/d) (n = 6). After rapid ventricular pacing (240 bpm) for 4 weeks, plasma and cardiac ET-1 levels were compared between the two groups. Acute hemodynamic effects of a nonspecific ET(A&B) receptor antagonist, TAK044 (3 mg/kg plus 3 mg/kg/h i.v.) were examined in both groups by a conductance catheter and a micromanometer. After 4 weeks of pacing, plasma and cardiac tissue ET-1 levels were elevated in both groups to a similar degree. In the group treated with TCV116, TAK044 produced an increase in stroke volume and a decrease in total systemic resistance; heart rate was unchanged. The time constant of left ventricular (LV) relaxation was significantly decreased. The slope of LV end-systolic pressure-volume relation (E(ES)) was increased (p < 0.05), indicating an increased LV contractility. Thus endogenous ET-1 produces an arterial vasoconstriction and impairs LV contractility and relaxation in CHF with AT1 receptor antagonism. These hemodynamic responses to TAK044 in CHF treated with TCV116 were similar in untreated CHF. These results suggest that the production of ET-1 and the cardiac effects of endogenous ET-1 in CHF may be unaffected by ANG II acting through AT1 receptors.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed2001

Nuclear localization of bovine immunoglobulin G (bIgG) in the liver of rats injected with hydrocortisone-bIgG conjugate intravenously.

Bovine serum albumin conjugated with steroid hormone injected intravenously into rats can enter the hormone-target cell nuclei with its antigenicity kept intact (Nishimura and Nakano, 2000). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) such as immunoglobulin G (IgG) are found in some autoimmune diseases. To confirm immunocytochemically whether immunoglobulin G (IgG) conjugated with steroid hormone enters in the hormone-target cell nuclei, bovine IgG (bIgG) was conjugated with hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate. The hydrocortisone-bIgG conjugate was injected into the vascular system of adrenalectomized rats. Then the rats were killed 2 or 3 h after injection to detect bovine IgG in the hormone-target cell nuclei of the liver by fluorescein-isothiocyanate labeled-anti bovine IgG antibody under confocal laser scanning microscopy. In the liver of both rats injected with hydrocortisone-bIgG, the fluorescence was observed in not only the cytoplasm but also the nuclei of liver cells. In control rat injected with bIgG, few nuclei showed fluorescence. These results demonstrate that bovine IgG conjugated with steroid hormone can enter the hormone-target cell nuclei of rat with its antigenicity kept intact, and suggest that antinuclear antibody in some autoimmune diseases may be transported from blood plasma into the nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

"Variable echo sign" (ultrasonographical alteration of echogenicity) in cavernous hepatic hemangioma.

There are few reports describing cavernous hepatic hemangiomas with alteration of ultrasonographical imaging during examinations. We performed ultrasonographic examination of 64 cavernous hepatic hemangiomas and recognized 26 cases (41%) with an alteration of echogenicity during the examinations. We refer to this alteration of echogenicity of cavernous hepatic hemangioma as a "variable echo sign". We performed angiography of the cavernous hepatic hemangiomas with variable echo sign. Most of these imaging patterns showed mild or moderate pooling, suggesting that the alteration of echogenicity might be based on a slow blood flow exchange. We suggest that a variable echo sign is specific to ultrasonographic imaging with cavernous hepatic hemangioma and may be useful to differentiate cavernous hepatic hemangioma from other tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Combining transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for small size hepatocellular carcinoma.

For patients with unresectable small size HCC, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) is used as a non-surgical treatment because it is difficult to achieve complete tumor necrosis by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TAE) alone. However, some small HCCs (<21 mm in diameter) are resistant to PEIT with incomplete tumor necrosis, which is associated with insufficient ethanol injection to the tumor. For more effective treatment for HCC, we performed a combination of TAE and PEIT on patients with small size HCC and evaluated the cumulative recurrence and survival rates. The recurrence rate in patients treated with the combination was less than that of TAE or PEIT alone. There were five patients without tumor recurrence during the follow-up period and three out of these underwent the combination treatment. The period of no recurrence was 33.4 months on average. In conclusion, we recommend combination therapy with TAE and PEIT for patients to accomplish more effective treatment of small size HCC.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2001

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and the exacerbation of liver function.

We performed interventional treatments on 50 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyzed the relationship between these treatments and the exacerbation of liver function after treatment. The different treatments included transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT), selective segmental sclerotherapy (SSS), combined TAE and PEIT, or transcatheter arterial chemo-injection (TAI). Thirteen patients showed an exacerbation of liver function after treatment. The laboratory data on admission, showed the lower levels of serum albumin and cholinesterase in this group. In comparison to patients who did not show any exacerbation of liver function, these 13 patients had undergone combined TAE and PEIT. An analysis of cases after TAE and PEIT treatment revealed that the time from TAE to PEIT was shorter in the exacerbation group than in the non-exacerbation group, however, there was no significant difference in the amount of injected ethanol between the two groups. It is assumed that the values of albumin and cholinesterase before treatment, or the period from TAE to PEIT are related to liver failure after treatment. Combining TAE and PEIT treatment may be effective for HCC, however, we should pay special attention to liver failure after treatment.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2001

[Clinical evaluation of metallo-beta-lactamase producing bacterium].

The metallo-beta-lactamase producing bacterium are increasing in recent years. We characterized cases infected or colonized with blaIMP, which is metallo-beta-lactamase IMP-1 gene, positive gram-negative rods(GNRs). About half of the cases had malignant diseases as underliningg disease. When blaIMP positive GNRs were isolated, most of cases shows clinical signs of infection such as fever and elevation of C-reactive protein in serum. Most of strains were isolated from urinary samples and all patients from whom blaIMP positive bacterium were isolated from urinary samples were inserted urinary tract catheter. It was suggested that the insertion of catheters related to infection of blaIMP positive GNRs. No antibiotics were administered to several patients before the isolation of blaIMP positive GNRs although broad spectrum antibiotics such as carbapenems were administered to more than half of the patients. It is very important to prevent their dissemination in hospitals because most of blaIMP positive GNRs were isolated in same departments and showed identical pattern by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. And it is also important for treatment of the infectious disease due to blaIMP positive GNR to remove the catheter and improve general conditions of patients.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2001

Use of 201Tl SPECT for evaluation of biologic behavior in pituitary adenomas.

UNLABELLED: Although pituitary adenomas are regarded as benign tumors, some of them behave aggressively with malignant behavior of invasion and metastasis. Prediction of such biologic behavior in a tumor is important for therapeutic planning. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of 201Tl chloride SPECT (201Tl SPECT) for evaluation of biologic behavior in pituitary adenomas. METHODS: 201Tl SPECT was performed on 22 patients with pituitary adenomas. 201Tl uptake indices were calculated, and the results were compared between invasive pituitary adenomas and noninvasive pituitary adenomas. Correlation of the 201Tl uptake index and the MIB1 monoclonal antibody labeling index (MIB1 labeling index) of the tumors was also estimated. RESULTS: In comparison with noninvasive pituitary adenomas, invasive pituitary adenomas exhibited significantly higher 201Tl uptake indices on both the early and the delayed images (P = 0.0010 and 0.0019, respectively). A significant correlation was found between the 201Tl uptake index on the delayed image and the MIB1 labeling index (P = 0.0107). CONCLUSION: 201Tl SPECT can be useful for detecting biologic aggressiveness in pituitary adenomas.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

Membrane lipid components associated with increased filterability of erythrocytes from long-distance runners.

Deformability of red blood cells and the lipid composition of their plasma membranes were studied in ten long-distance runners, in comparison with ten sedentary matched controls. Mean corpuscular volume and corpuscular hemoglobin concentration did not differ between these groups, while the hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were lower in the former. Deformability was measured in terms of the erythrocyte suspension filterability through 5 microm microchannels, using an array flow analyzer, and was significantly elevated in athletes. Analysis of the membrane phospholipid composition of red blood cells revealed an increased ratio of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine and a decreased ratio of cholesterol to total phospholipids in athletes. The length and saturation levels of fatty acid acyl chains were unchanged. Multiple regression analysis showed clearly that these alterations of membrane lipids correlate with increased deformability and thus favor circulation in the microvasculature in long-distance runners.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[An approach for the quality control in clinical microbiology laboratory by antibiotic susceptibility].

It is important to develop a system for the prevention of various errors and the maintenance of the high quality level in the department of laboratory medicine. We developed a computer program to infer the species of microorganisms by assessing the minimal inhibitory concentration of respective microorganisms to various antibiotics, antibiotic susceptibility patterns(ASP). Retrospective analysis of 3,405 strains from 39 species using this program resulted in a sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 98.9%. Furthermore, in 1,660 strains isolated from September 1999 to August 2000, the efficacy of this program was evaluated using both this program and conventional identifying method such as VITEK, api and ATB. The discrepancy between this inferring method and conventional method was noted in 179 strains, revealing errors in 12 strains. We conclude that this ASP inferring program is useful for preventing errors and the maintenance of high quality examination by combining with conventional methods in the laboratory.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

[Psycho-oncology and its scientific background].

Psycho-oncology has two purposes corresponding to the psychosocial aspects of cancer: 1. to clarify the psychosocial impacts of cancer on the quality of life of the patient, family and staff; 2. to clarify the role that psychosocial and behavioral variables may have in cancer risk and survival. For these purposes, patient education, counseling, behavioral and psychopharmacological techniques have been applied to clinical oncology. In this paper, we review psycho-oncology and its scientific background, with respect to neuroradiology and molecular genetics, as well as psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology, pharmacology and immunology.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (1999)].

From October 1999 to September 2000, we collected the specimen from 430 patients with lower respiratory tract infections in 17 institutions in Japan, and investigated the susceptibilities of isolated bacteria to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics and patients' characteristics. Of 515 strains that were isolated from specimen (mainly from sputum) and assumed to be bacteria causing in inflammation, 506 strains were investigated. The breakdown of the isolated bacteria were: Staphylococcus aureus 78, Streptococcus pneumoniae 101, Haemophilus influenzae 104, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid) 58, P. aeruginosa (mucoid) 11, Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis 41, Klebsiella pneumoniae 18, etc. Of 78 S. aureus strains, those with 4 micrograms/ml or above of MIC of oxacillin (methicillin-resistant S. aureus: MRSA) occupied 57.7%. Vancomycin and arbekacin showed the most potent activities against MRSA without detection of ABK-resistant strain (MIC: 64 micrograms/ml) and decrease of VCM-sensitive strains those were found in 1998. The frequency of S. pneumoniae exhibiting low sensitivity to penicillin (penicillin-intermediate S. pneumoniae: PISP + penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae: PRSP) decreased to 34.7% from 46.0% in 1998. The frequency of PRSP was 3.0%, being the least number after 1991. Carbapenems showed strong activities against S. pneumoniae. Especially, panipenem inhibited the growth of all 101 strains with MIC of 0.063 microgram/ml. Generally, all drugs showed strong activities against H. influenzae with MIC80s of 4 micrograms/ml or below. MICs of ofloxacin ranged between 0.063 microgram/ml and 4 micrograms/ml in 1998, however, those were 0.125 microgram/ml or below in all H. influenzae in 1999 showing the strongest activity. Tobramycin and ciprofloxacin showed strong activities against P. aeruginosa (both mucoid and non-mucoid) with MIC80s of 1 microgram/ml. Number of isolated P. aeruginosa (mucoid) was little as 11, however, the susceptibilities to all drugs were better than P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid). K. pneumoniae showed good susceptibilities to all drugs except for ampicillin with decreasing of low-sensitive strains compared to those detected in 1998. Also, all drugs generally showed strong activities against M. (B.) catarrhalis. MIC80s of all drugs were 2 micrograms/ml or below. The drug which showed the strongest activity was imipenem inhibiting all 41 strains with MIC of 0.063 microgram/ml. On the patients' characteristics, the number of patients aged 80 years or older who had been increased was decreased in 1999 in the distribution by age. The percentage of the elderly patients aged 70 years or older was 47.0%, which occupied almost a half number of the total patients as in the last year. As for the incidence by disease, bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis were the highest. They were noted in 37.9% and 30.5% of the patients, respectively. In 1999, bronchial asthma was frequently observed as compared in recent years. It was noted in about 10% of the patients which is the same % as in bronchiectasis. We examined the number of strains from these patients with infections before and after administration of antibiotics. In patients with bacterial pneumonia, the number of isolated strains was almost the same between those before and after administration. However, in patients with chronic bronchitis, the number of strains remarkably decreased to less than the half of the total after administration of antibiotics in the last year, but it decreased to 2/3 of the total in 1999. On the administration of antibiotics and isolated bacteria by the day of administration, the bacteria which were isolated more before administration were H. influenzae in 28.4%, S. pneumoniae in 25.7%, M. (B.) catarrhalis in 12.0% and S. aureus in 10.6%. The frequency of S. aureus after administration over 15 days was almost the same as that before administration, but the frequency of P. aeruginosa (both mucoid and non-mucoid) was 36.8% which was higher than that before administration. The frequency of isolated S. pneumoniae was decreased after administration and none of them was isolated after completion of administration. However, that of H. influenzae was decreased to 7.1% after administration within 3 days, and many H. influenzae were isolated after completion of administration as 21.4%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Impaired blood rheology by remnant-like lipoprotein particles: studies in patients with fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver disease (FLD) characterised by a high plasma levels of lipoproteins and remnant-like lipoproteins (RLP) is a risk factor for impaired microvascular blood flow, endothelial cell dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Using an immunoseparation technique with a gel mixture containing human monoclonal antibodies to apo A-I and apo B-100, we separated and measured RLP cholesterol (RLP-C) levels which reflect RLP in patients with FLD (n=20). Whole blood transit time (TT) was determined by a microchannel method (MC-FAN) which allows blood flow to be viewed via a microscope connected to an image display unit. RLP-C levels were higher (P<0.01) in FLD, 15.6 +/- 1.0 mg/dl compared with 4.8 +/- 0.5 mg/dl for controls (n=20). Similarly, TT was longer (P<0.01) in FLD, 284.5 +/- 26.1 sec/100 microl compared with 82.8 +/- 1.0 sec/100 microl for controls. Since the liver is a major site for RLP formation and degradation, it is affected to a greater extent in patients with FLD. It is likely that high levels of RLP can impair microvascular perfusion in the liver tissue and contribute to the development and progression of FLD.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMed2001

Role of transcription factors in angiogenesis: Ets-1 promotes angiogenesis as well as endothelial apoptosis.

Angiogenesis is a complex phenomenon that requires at least migration, proliferation, and tubular morphogenesis of endothelial cells (ECs). Some genes are expressed in ECs during these processes, and therefore the regulation of gene expression in ECs is critical. Increasing evidence suggests that the Ets family of transcription factors plays an important role in angiogenesis. We observed that Ets-1, a prototype of the Ets family of transcription factors, promoted angiogenesis by inducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and integrin beta3 in ECs, and the elimination of the transactivation activity of Ets-1 by a dominant negative molecule inhibited angiogenesis. Apoptosis, a term used to describe the terminal morphological and biochemical events seen in programmed cell death, is critical for the development or reconstitution of multicellular organs. Apoptosis of ECs is observed at the initiation of angiogenesis, at the branching or communication with newly formed vessels, and at the regression of neo-vessels. The Ets family of transcription factors is generally thought to be anti-apoptotic. However, there are conflicting reports on the role of Ets-1 in apoptosis. We examined the role of Ets-1 in apoptosis of ECs and found that Ets-1 was pro-apoptotic to ECs by modulating the expression of several apoptosis-related genes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[A study of care workers of human resources in health-social services].

OBJECTS: In this study, we examine the relationship between job satisfaction(JS) and life satisfaction(LS) and the moderating effect of coping with JS and LS correlation (spillover) in order to obtain information of Human Resources Management for care workers in Health-Social service facilities. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to individuals working in geriatric care facilities and responses were returned from a total of 612 females aged 20 to 63. Subjects were classified into 3 groups according to their age. Relationships between JS and LS were examined by multiple regression analysis and the moderating effect of coping behavior on spillover was examined by comparison of correlation coefficients of spillovers between the high score group and low score groups based on scores for coping behavior. RESULTS: Several significant causal interrelations were seen between JS and LS such as JS of "work time and shift" and LS of "health", but a moderating effect of coping with spillover was seen only in the middle age group (35-49). CONCLUSION: The results showed the need in some way to consider non-work life besides work life in the actual personnel programs of Health-Social service facilities, and indicated that relationships between coping and spillover depend on the age.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

[Osteoporotic vertebral fracture and back pain].

The diagnosis of vertebral fracture is uncertain and there are few data concerning the descriptive natural course of vertebral fracture. We reviewed the pain of osteoporotic vertebral fracture. It is difficult that we diagnose the fresh vertebral fracture by plain X-ray film alone. We classified the vertebral fracture for the six types by the MRI findings of vertebral fracture and examined the relation with the MRI findings and the back pain. In the posterior wall damaged type, the back pain persisted long time. We concluded that the diagnosis of fresh osteoporotic vertebral fracture by MRI was useful for predicting the natural course of the back pain.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2000

Enhanced phospholipase C activity in the cultured skin fibroblast obtained from patients with coronary spastic angina: possible role for enhanced vasoconstrictor response.

OBJECTIVES: We measured phospholipase C (PLC) activity in the cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with and without coronary spasm and examined its correlation with coronary artery vasomotility. BACKGROUND: Coronary artery vasomotility is enhanced in coronary spastic angina (CSA), but no information is available for the intracellular signaling. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, PLC activity in the skin fibroblasts has been shown to be enhanced. METHODS: Skin fibroblasts obtained from 24 patients with CSA-14 with organic coronary artery disease (CAD) and 12 control subjects--were cultured by the explant method. Activity of PLC was determined by incubating the membrane fraction with 3H-phosphatidyl inositol bisphosphate and by quantifying 3H-inositol trisphosphate. In patients with CSA and control subjects, the relations between PLC activity and coronary artery basal tone and constrictor response to intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) were examined. RESULTS: Activity of PLC (pmol/protein [mg] per min) was 1.74+/-0.19 in patients with CSA; 0.90+/-0.12 in patients with CAD; and 0.65+/-0.07 in control subjects (p<0.001, patients with CSA vs. patients with CAD and control subjects; p = NS, patients with CAD vs. control subjects). According to the Lineweaver-Burk plot, Michaelis constant (micromol/liter) of PLC was 28+/-4 in patients with CSA; 49+/-14 in patients with CAD; and 56+/-10 in control subjects (p<0.05, patients with CSA vs. control subjects), whereas the maximal velocity was not different between the three groups. There were significant positive correlations between PLC activity and both basal tone (p = 0.0108) and response to ACh (p = 0.0053). Western blot analysis using membrane fraction demonstrated that 89% of PLC isoenzymes detected was of the delta1 isoform. CONCLUSIONS: Because the PLC activity measured was genetically defined and was positively correlated with coronary artery vasomotility, enhanced PLC activity may be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary spasm.

Angina Pectoris, Variant↗