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Biomedical subjects

T Ohata

Publications and source records attributed to T Ohata.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A new X-ray spectrometer for high-resolution Compton profile measurements at SPring-8.

An X-ray spectrometer for high-resolution Compton profile measurements using 90-120 keV X-rays has been designed and constructed at SPring-8. A Cauchois-type triply layered bent-crystal analyzer was employed for the energy analysis. A novel use of a solid-state detector with a large active area was devised as a position-sensitive detector. A resolution of 0.10 atomic units in electron momentum has been achieved at an incident X-ray energy of 115 keV. A Compton profile of a single crystal of Nb was measured with a counting rate of 30 counts s-1 at the Compton peak, which demonstrates that the spectrometer is capable of measuring Compton profiles of heavy-element materials.

Journal Article↗

Effect of hemodilution on the adequacy of cerebral perfusion under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: Open heart surgery without transfusion has been performed even in children. However, the critical limit of the hemoglobin level has not yet been ascertained. Here, we have assessed experimentally the effect of the hemoglobin level on brain metabolism under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Brain tissue pH was measured in 14 rabbits that were put on bypass with a different degree of hemodilution. Cardiopulmonary bypass was started at 37 degrees C and cooled down to 25 degrees C. After maintaining the bypass at 25 degrees C for 60 minutes, the animal was rewarmed to 37 degrees C for 30 minutes and then kept on-bypass for another 30 minutes. The perfusion flow was maintained as 10 ml/kg/min. RESULTS: The lowest hemoglobin level in each rabbit was from 2.5 through 8.5 g/dl. During hypothermic bypass, brain tissue pH increased from 7.21 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- SD, at the normothermic baseline) to 7.55 +/- 0.27 except 2 cases (6.91 +/- 0.16) whose hemoglobin level was lower than 3.0 g/dl. The brain tissue pH after 60 minutes on hypothermic bypass had a good correlation with the hemoglobin level (r = 0.831). After rewarming for 60 minutes, the brain tissue pH was decreased to 7.18 +/- 0.31. In 4 rabbits with less than 4.0 g/dl of hemoglobin, the brain tissue pH (6.67 +/- 0.24) was lower than the baseline level. In the other 10 rabbits, the brain tissue pH (7.22 +/- 0.16) was almost the same as the baseline level. The correlation coefficient between the brain tissue pH and the hemoglobin level after rewarming for 60 minutes was 0.778. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that severe hemodilution in cardiopulmonary bypass promoted acidosis in brain even during hypothermia.

Animals↗

Acute myocarditis with transient eosinophilia and serum hyper-IgE-emia in a patient with atopic dermatitis.

A 14-year-old girl with acute myocarditis, transient eosinophilia, and hyper-IgE-emia associated with atopic dermatitis is described. The patient was admitted because of severe heart failure and shock, and severe atopic dermatitis was seen. Blood examinations showed moderate eosinophilia (1917/mm3) and hyper-IgE-emia (830IU/ml). The response to treatment with dopamine was excellent, and the congestive heart failure was gradually ameliorated, followed by improvement in her atopic dermatitis. In addition, rapid improvement in eosinophilia and hyper-IgE-emia was observed. Histopathological examination of the right ventricular myocardium obtained by endomyocardial biopsy showed mild interstitial fibrosis and mild infiltrations of inflammatory cells, indicating myocarditis. We speculated that the transient eosinophilia and hyper-IgE-emia in the present case indicated that an allergen induced strong allergic reactions, including type 1 allergy, and caused both acute myocarditis and deterioration of the atopic dermatitis; specifically noteworthy is that the patient's disease rapidly improved without corticosteroid treatment.

Adolescent↗

Tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation in adult patients with Ebstein's anomaly.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation (TVSI) has been performed for adult patients with Ebstein's anomaly at our hospital for several decades. TVSI is characterized by reliable reduction of tricuspid annulus size without affecting the conduction system; by prevention of residual tricuspid regurgitation (RTR) through preservation of the native tricuspid valve; and by implantation of the bioprosthesis at a supra-annular site. METHODS: Ten adult patients with Ebstein's anomaly underwent TVSI. The right ventricular diameter and residual tricuspid regurgitation were evaluated by echocardiography preoperatively, at discharge, 1 year after the operation, and over the long term (12.4 +/- 5.5 years). Actuarial survival rate, actuarial freedom from structural valve deterioration rate, and postoperative occurrence of arrhythmia were also evaluated. RESULTS: The actuarial survival rate at 19 years was 76 +/- 15%. Tricuspid regurgitation disappeared in 8 patients just after operation. Right ventricular diameter was significantly smaller at discharge than preoperatively (63 +/- 11 vs 37 +/- 9, p < 0.01), and there were no significant differences between values at discharge and at follow-up. The actuarial freedom from structural valve deterioration rate and the reoperation rate were both 100%. There were no fatal complications related to arrhythmia or thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: TVSI is useful for adult patients with Ebstein's anomaly. The absence of complications related to fatal arrhythmia and thromboembolism, good durability of the bioprosthesis, and a simple operative procedure are merits of this therapy.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Comparison of durability of bioprostheses in tricuspid and mitral positions.

BACKGROUND: Few reports have assessed differences in the durability of mitral and tricuspid bioprostheses after simultaneous implantation of the same bioprosthesis in both positions. We investigated the long-term outcome after simultaneous mitral valve replacement (MVR) and tricuspid valve supraannular implantation (TVSI) with the Carpentier-Edwards bioprostheses in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation and advanced mitral valve disease. METHODS: Between 1982 and 1998, 37 patients in our hospital underwent MVR and TVSI with Carpentier-Edwards bioprostheses. The mean age of the patients was 55+/-11 years. The average postoperative follow-up was 7.9+/-4.5 years after surgery (range 0 to 14.6 years, 315.1 patient-years). The follow-up rate was 100%. We evaluated the actuarial survival rate, the actuarial freedom from structural valve deterioration (SVD) and reoperation, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The overall actuarial survival rate at 13 years after the operation was 69%+/-31%. The actuarial freedom from SVD and reoperation in the mitral and tricuspid positions were 78+/-22 and 100% and 70+/-30 and 90%+/-10% (p = 0.03), respectively. No patient had systemic or pulmonary thromboembolism, or complications associated with fatal arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the bioprostheses in the tricuspid position yield significantly better long-term results than those in the mitral position after simultaneous MVR and TVSI.

Actuarial Analysis↗

SLC7A7 genomic structure and novel variants in three Japanese lysinuric protein intolerance families.

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare inherited disease caused by defective transport of the dibasic amino acids at the basolateral membranes of epithelial cells in the renal tubules and small intestine. The metabolic defect leads to brain dysfunction caused by hyperammonemia with a functional impairment of the urea cycle. Recently, mutations in the human SLC7A7 cDNA coding for y(+)LAT-1, which express dibasic amino acid transport activity, were reported to be responsible for LPI. In the present study, we examined the genomic structure of SLC7A7 by DNA sequencing of PCR products, and determined that the gene had 11 exons and 10 introns spanning about 18 kb of genomic DNA. We also identified an alternative RNA splicing at the 5' untranslated region of the SLC7A7 mRNA in human peripheral blood leukocytes, cultured lymphoblasts, and fibroblasts. As a result of mutational analysis of SLC7A7 in three Japanese LPI families, we found a nonsense mutation (R410X), a splicing mutation(911+1G>A) in intron 4, and four silent polymorphisms (201C/T, 445A/G, 784C/T, 946T/C). Identification of the genomic structure of SLC7A7 may provide a molecular basis for a genetic survey for LPI.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Difference in structural change in the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valves implanted in the mitral and tricuspid positions.

We report a 29-year-old patient with prosthetic valve dysfunction with severe calcific stenosis in the mitral position but no structural change in the tricuspid position after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation with same bioprostheses at the seven years before. The difference in structural change between the mitral position and the tricuspid position might be due mainly to the effect of mechanical stress on the cusps, rather than to any difference in serum calcium levels. However, some hormonal effect other than that of the parathyroid hormone on the systemic and pulmonary circulation might be related to the early progression in cusp calcification in the systemic circulation.

Adult↗

Role of nitric oxide in a temperature dependent regulation of systemic vascular resistance in cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVES: Nitric oxide is the most potent vasodilator among inflammation-mediated vasoactive substances. Tepid cardiopulmonary bypass has been known to maintain low vascular resistance and nitric oxide may also be involved. There has been no previous clinical study elucidating a role of nitric oxide in a temperature dependent regulation of systemic vascular resistance in cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Thirty-one patients who underwent valvular surgery were randomly divided into two comparable groups; consisting of the hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (28 degrees C:14 patients) and the tepid cardiopulmonary bypass group (34 degrees C:17 patients). The serum levels of nitric oxide (NO(2)(-)+NO(3)(-)), prostaglandin E(2), bradykinin, 6-keto PGF1alpha, thromboxane B(2), endothelin-1, systemic vascular resistance index were measured before, 0, 12 and 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: The pattern of change in systemic vascular resistance index and nitric oxide during and after cardiopulmonary bypass were significantly different between the two groups (P=0.0008, P=0.02). The tepid group showed significantly lower levels of systemic vascular resistance index after cardiopulmonary bypass than the hypothermic group (0 h: 2278+/-735 vs. 4387+/-1289, 12 h: 1827+/-817 vs. 2817+/-1146 and 24 h: 1690+/-548 vs. 2761+/-641 dyne s cm(-5) m(2), P=0.0001, P=0.03, P=0. 0006). The nitric oxide levels were significantly higher at 0, 12 and 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass in the tepid group than those in the hypothermic group (84.7+/-33.3 vs. 46.3+/-18.1, 69.8+/-31.1 vs. 40.1+/-17.5 and 80.1+/-38.5 vs. 39.1+/-15.6 micromol/l, P=0.008, P=0.03, P=0.01). The prostaglandin E(2) levels in the tepid group was significantly higher just after cardiopulmonary bypass than that in the hypothermic group (37.3+/-20.0 vs. 15.8+/-8.6 pg/ml, P=0.02). The bradykinin level in the hypothermic group was significantly higher just after cardiopulmonary bypass than that in the tepid group (2.40+/-0.32 vs. 1.85+/-0.21 log(10) (pg/ml), P=0.005). Only nitric oxide showed a significant negative correlation with the systemic vascular resistance index both during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (r=-0.60, P<0.0001) as compared with prostaglandin E(2) and bradykinin. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that serum nitric oxide levels in tepid cardiopulmonary bypass were significantly higher than those in hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Nitric oxide correlated with systemic vascular resistance. Thus, nitric oxide may play a pivotal role in a temperature dependent regulation of systemic vascular resistance in cardiopulmonary bypass.

Biomarkers↗

Surgical strategy for severe tricuspid valve regurgitation complicated by advanced mitral valve disease: long-term outcome of tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation in eighty-eight cases.

OBJECTIVE: Although annuloplasty has been the most commonly performed surgical modality for severe tricuspid regurgitation, tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation has been performed in our hospital for more than a decade. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation in a subgroup of patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, those who also had advanced mitral valve disease. METHODS: Mitral valve replacement in conjunction with tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation was performed on 88 patients at our hospital between 1984 and 1998. The patients (mean age 57 +/- 11 years) were followed up for an average of 7.2 +/- 4.5 years after the operation (range 0-14 years); total follow-up was 643.1 patient-years. All patients except 2 (97.6%) were included in the follow-up. We evaluated the mortality, the cause of death, survival, the freedom from structural valve deterioration and reoperation, postoperative complications, and long-term echocardiographic findings. RESULTS: Overall survival at 14 years was 69% +/- 7.7%. Freedom from structural valve deterioration at 14 years was 100% and from reoperation, 88% +/- 9. 4%. There were no instances of pulmonary thromboembolism or of complications associated with fatal arrhythmias. Echocardiography showed little residual tricuspid regurgitation, no atrophic and stenotic change in the native tricuspid valve, and no thrombus formation between native valve and the implanted bioprosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure's simplicity, the good long-term durability of the bioprosthesis, and the absence of fatal arrhythmias and pulmonary thromboembolism indicate that tricuspid valve supra-annular implantation is a useful procedure for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation complicated by advanced mitral valve disease.

Bioprosthesis↗

Clinical role of blood heparin level monitoring during open heart surgery.

Protamine has been used for neutralizing heparin and its dosage is decided by the initial fixed dose of heparin. Adequate protamine neutralization is very important to reduce complications. To attenuate excess reactions, in particular, whole blood heparin concentration during and after cardiopulmonary bypass was measured using Hepcon, and the efficacy of optimal protamine dose in open heart surgery was evaluated. Twenty patients were randomly divided into two comparable groups, P and C. In the C group, heparin was neutralized with an initial fixed dose of protamine, 1.67 mg protamine per milligram total heparin (n = 8). In the P group, protamine dose was determined for residual heparin concentration (n = 12). In the P group, blood heparin concentrations at 60 minutes after the establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, just after cardiopulmonary bypass and first protamine administration were 2.35 +/- 0.14, 2.31 +/- 0.17 and 0.13 +/- 0.08 U/ml, respectively. Concentrations reached zero with the second protamine administration. The requirement of transfusion (659 +/- 224 vs. 1559 +/- 323 ml, p = 0.0314), pulmonary vascular resistance index just after the protamine administration (190 +/- 22 vs. 286 +/- 18 dyne.s.cm-5.m2, p = 0.0137) and the IL-8 levels (just after protamine: 26.9 +/- 5.1 vs. 43.5 +/- 5.9 pg/ml, p = 0.0499, 12 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass: 37.1 +/- 12.1 vs. 86.8 +/- 20.0, p = 0.0435) in the P group were significantly lower than those in the C group. These data suggested that heparin level monitoring in whole blood may be useful to determine the optimal dose of protamine resulting in the decrease of a requirement of blood components in open heart surgery and attenuating in transient pulmonary hypertension and excess protamine-induced inflammatory reactions.

Anticoagulants↗

Selectin on activated platelets enhances neutrophil endothelial adherence in myocardial reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVES: The glycoprotein P-selectin is an adhesion molecule that is rapidly expressed on the surface of platelets and endothelium during the inflammatory process. P-selectin on endothelium has been reported to play an important role in reperfusion injury. However, little is known regarding P-selectin on platelets in contributing to the pathophysiology of myocardial reperfusion injury. In this study, we hypothesized that P-selectin on platelets may enhance neutrophil endothelial adherence and this may play a role in neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury. METHODS: Endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, platelets and neutrophils were isolated from adult rats. Endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes were cultivated in a co-culture system. After exposure to hypoxia and reoxygenation, neutrophil adherence and migration were examined. RESULTS: After exposure to 6 h of hypoxia, endothelial cells co-incubated with platelets showed significantly greater neutrophil adherence (63.1 +/- 4.0%) and migration (78.2 +/- 6.7%) than endothelial cells alone (adhesion: 44.2 +/- 2.8%, migration: 57.9 +/- 4.9%). These increases were significantly inhibited (adhesion: 42.1 +/- 3.5%, migration: 65.5 +/- 3.8%) by an anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody. Moreover, the superoxide-anion production was significantly elevated when activated platelets were added to neutrophils. This enhanced production was also inhibited by anti-P-selectin antibody. CONCLUSION: The presence of activated platelets enhanced neutrophil adhesion and migration process after hypoxia reoxygenation. This process may occur following platelet-neutrophil interactions via P-selectin and subsequent neutrophil activation.

Animals↗

Studies on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Due to Laboratory Medical Analysis.

We encountered 64 patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia between April 1993 and March 1994. Mean patient age was 54 years. There were 46 males and 18 females. Underlying diseases mainly consisted of traffic accident (10 patients), valvular heart disease (5 patients), chronic renal failure (5 patients), leukemia (5 patients), pneumonia (3 patients), and malignant lymphoma (3 patients). The common clinical laboratory findings of MRSA bacteremia included decreses in total protein, albumin and hemoglobin as well as increases in white blood cells (neutrophils) and C reactive protein. In particular, an increase in C reactive protein by 10 mg/dl or more may be useful for diagnosing bacteremia. Laboratory findings were compared between surviving and non-surviving patients. There were significant differences in albumin, cholesterol, bilirubin, creatinine, and CRP. In 18 patients (28.1%), bacteremia was caused by infection due to contamination of central venous catheters. Since medical treatment with intra-vascular devices may cause bacteremia, sufficient caution is needed.

Journal Article↗

Hybrid artificial lung with interleukin-10 and endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene-transfected endothelial cells attenuates inflammatory reactions induced by cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the research on hybrid artificial organs such as heart, liver, and kidney has been reported to yield new possibilities for clinical use. However, there have been few reports on the practical use of a hybrid artificial lung, primarily due to difficulties in the concept for its application and techniques for cell attachment. In this study, we investigated the possibility for developing a novel strategy: a hybrid artificial lung with constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and interleukin (IL)-10 gene-transfected endothelial cells to attenuate inflammatory reactions induced by cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS AND RESULTS: First, we performed an in vitro study to confirm the efficacy of our gene transfection into endothelial cells. Constitutive nitric oxide synthase and IL-10 cDNA were transfected into endothelial cells according to the hemagglutinating virus of Japan-liposome method. Levels of nitric oxide released from the endothelial constitutive NOS (ecNOS)-transfected endothelial cells were significantly higher than those of control cells (24 hours after the stimulation by lipopolysaccharide: 284.5 +/- 54.0 versus 95.7 +/- 27.9 mumol/L, P = 0.0001). On the other hand, IL-8 levels in the transfected endothelial cells were significantly lower than those in the control group (48 hours after stimulation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha: 3.1 +/- 2.4 versus 62.1 +/- 1.3 ng/mL, P = 0.0002), and IL-10 was detected in the transfected group but not in the control group. Next, we performed an in vivo study to evaluate the possibility of developing a hybrid artificial lung. One-hour partial cardiopulmonary bypass with this lung was established in rats undergoing femorofemoral bypass. Artificial lungs with no cells (group C; n = 5), that were coated with untreated endothelial cells (group E; n = 5), or that were coated with ecNOS and IL-10 gene-transfected endothelial cells (group T; n = 3) were used. At 45 minutes after the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, group T showed higher nitric oxide levels than groups C and E (T versus C versus E: 75.2 +/- 6.8 versus 67.2 +/- 4.3 versus 68.6 +/- 5.2 mumol/L, P = NS). The serum IL-8 levels just after cardiopulmonary bypass in group T were significantly lower than those in group C (1728 +/- 282 versus 4275 +/- 145 pg/mL, P = 0.0151). The Pao2 levels in group T just after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass were significantly higher than those in group C (271.3 +/- 41.7 versus 136.6 +/- 12.3 mm Hg, P = 0.0362). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that a hybrid artificial lung with IL-10 and ecNOS gene-transfected endothelial cells inhibited IL-8 release and increased nitric oxide production. This suggests the possibility of developing a hybrid artificial lung capable of preserving native lung function by attenuating cardiopulmonary bypass-induced inflammatory reactions via inhibition of IL-8 release and enhanced nitric oxide production.

Animals↗

Experiences of 23 patients > or = 90 years of age treated with radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To present 23 patients > or = 90 years old treated with radiotherapy, and to retrospectively evaluate the results of radiotherapy and tolerance in these patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The clinical records of 27 patients over 90 years of age who were treated with radiotherapy at the Department of Radiology, Shinshu University Hospital, and eight affiliated general hospitals from 1990 until 1995 were reviewed. The strategy of radiotherapy was individually planned depending on the stage of the disease and performance status (PS) of the patient; however, it was not modified, based solely on chronologic age. The overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring criteria of acute and late reactions of radiation therapy were used. RESULTS: This group of patients accounted for 0.37% of all patients treated with radiotherapy in these hospitals. Of these, 23 patients in whom cancer was pathologically confirmed and whose follow-up data were available for retrospective analysis were included in the final evaluation of data. The age of the 23 patients ranged from 90 to 96 years (median 93). Tumor was untreated and in the early stage in five patients, locoregionally advanced in 13, recurrent in four, and systemic in one. Definitive radiation therapy was administered in 12 patients (13 sites), preoperative intent in one, and palliative intent in 10. The period of observation ranged from 2.5 to 6 years (median 18 months). Seven patients were alive for 15-67 months. Fourteen patients died because of intercurrent diseases or senility associated with active cancer, and two because of senility without evidence of cancer. The overall and relapse-free survival rates were 65% and 30% at 1 year and 30% and 21% at 2 years, respectively. Definitive radiation therapy was completed in 13 of 13 patients (100%), and local control was attained in 9 of 13 patients at 6 months (62%). Palliative radiation therapy was completed as intended in 7 of 11 (64%), and effects of palliation were observed in 9 of 11 patients (81%). Acute dermatitis, mucositis, pharyngitis, esophagitis, and cystitis of grade 2-3 related to the definitive radiation therapy were tolerable for the patients with good PS. It took 3-7 weeks (median 5) for acute moist desquamation of six lesions of skin cancer to heal. Depending on the radiation doses, grade 1-2 atrophy of skin and telangiectasia were documented for eight patients followed up for more than 1 year. A brief description of representative case is presented. CONCLUSION: Patients older than 90 years with good PS may tolerate the acute effects of radiotherapy administered according to conventional fractionation schedules. Definitive radiation therapy should be considered, when applicable, even for patients older than 90 years.

Aged↗

SPring-8 beamline control system.

The SPring-8 beamline control system is now taking part in the control of the insertion device (ID), front end, beam transportation channel and all interlock systems of the beamline: it will supply a highly standardized environment of apparatus control for collaborative researchers. In particular, ID operation is very important in a third-generation synchrotron light source facility. It is also very important to consider the security system because the ID is part of the storage ring and is therefore governed by the synchrotron ring control system. The progress of computer networking systems and the technology of security control require the development of a highly flexible control system. An interlock system that is independent of the control system has increased the reliability. For the beamline control system the so-called standard model concept has been adopted. VME-bus (VME) is used as the front-end control system and a UNIX workstation as the operator console. CPU boards of the VME-bus are RISC processor-based board computers operated by a LynxOS-based HP-RT real-time operating system. The workstation and the VME are linked to each other by a network, and form the distributed system. The HP 9000/700 series with HP-UX and the HP 9000/743rt series with HP-RT are used. All the controllable apparatus may be operated from any workstation.

Journal Article↗

[Evaluation of cerebral circulation during cardiopulmonary bypass using near-infrared spectroscopy].

Cerebral oxygenation level during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy as a monitor of cerebral circulation in 30 patients. Six adult cases with thoracic aortic aneurysm were operated on using selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). CPB was established under moderate hypothermic temperature in 9 adult cases (hypothermic group, lowest blood temperature during CPB; 25 degrees C) and under normothermic temperature in 9 adult cases (normothermic group, lowest blood temperature during CPB; 34 degrees C). In congenital cases (n = 6), CPB was established under moderate hypothermic temperature (congenital group, lowest blood temperature; 25 degrees C). The oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) level showed a significant positive correlation with cerebral blood flow during SCP (r = 0.715). There was no significant correlation between SjO2 and HbO2 in the SCP group. The HbO2 levels in the hypothermic group after 30 and 60 min, from the initiation of CPB and 30 min. before the weaning of CPB were significant lower than the control level (p < 0.05). HbO2 levels in the congenital group after 0, 30 and 60 min. from the initiation of CPB and 30 min. before the weaning of CPB were significantly lower than the control level (p < 0.01). The deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) level in the hypothermic group after 30 and 60 from the initiation of CPB and 30 min. before the wearing of CPB were significantly higher than the pre level (p < 0.05). The mixed venous saturation (SvO2) in the normothermic group showed significant lower levels than those in the hypothermic group (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in HbO2 levels between the two groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that near-infrared spectroscopy may be a noninvasive and useful technique for the cerebral circulation monitoring during CPB.

Adolescent↗

Evidence of an increased risk of hearing loss in heterozygous carriers in a Wolfram syndrome family.

Wolfram syndrome (MIM 222300) is characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. Previous linkage analyses in the United States and UK families have indicated that the gene for Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is localized on the short arm of chromosome 4. We herein confirm the linkage of the WFS locus to D4S3023 on 4p with a two-point LOD score of 3.42 in a large Japanese family with Wolfram syndrome. Multipoint linkage analysis revealed the maximum LOD score of 4.82 between D4S3023 and D4S394. We also evaluated putative health risks in carriers by multiple logistic analysis with independent variables, age, gender, and numbers of affected haplotypes and with dependent variables, such as hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, polyuria, incontinence, psychological illness, and visual acuity. The results showed that the putative disease haplotype increased a risk of hearing loss (odds ratio =35.68, 95% confidence interval =4.12-308.95) and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio =7.57, 95% confidence interval =2.03-28.23) independently. This is the first report of an increased health risk of illness in carriers, other than for psychiatric disease.

Adolescent↗