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Biomedical subjects

T Ohira

Publications and source records attributed to T Ohira.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Trends in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors among urban and rural Japanese males].

OBJECTIVES: To examine long-term trends in the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, and their risk factors among Japanese populations, we explored 32 years of surveillance data for male residents in urban and rural areas in Japan. METHODS: The surveyed populations were 40-79 year-old male residents in M community (population over 40 years old in 1995 was 11,121) of Y City in Osaka (urban area; Osaka) and I town (n = 3,571) in Akita prefecture (rural area; Akita). Incidence rates of coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris), sudden cardiac death, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stroke per 1,000 person-years were calculated for 1964-71, 1972-79, 1980-87 and 1988-95. Risk factors were evaluated by cross-sectional surveys conducted in the median years for each period. Dietary intake was examined by the 24-hour recall method in the latter three periods. RESULTS: Age-adjusted incidence of coronary heart disease per 1,000 men increased progressively from 0.27 in 1964-71 to 0.90 in 1988-95 (P = 0.222 for trend) among 40-59 year old residents in Osaka. Among their 60-79 year old counterparts, though the incidence was 2.62-3.11 and did not change over the periods studied, the combined rates for coronary heart disease and men who had a PTCA reached 3.79 in 1988-95. In contrast, the incidence of coronary heart disease among Akita residents did not change over time and stroke declined 70 percent between 1964-71 and 1988-95 (P < 0.001) in both 40-59 and 60-79 year age group: The decrease in cerebral infarction was less marked between 1980-87 and 1988-95 among 60-79 year old individuals. Significant increases in diastolic blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, body mass index, salt intake and total fat percent of total energy in Osaka, were associated with the elevation in the incidence of coronary heart disease. In Akita, blood pressure leveled off over the study period, but decreased less during the last decade whereas the prevalence of obesity increased. CONCLUSION: Trends in cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors differ among different geographical areas. The present long-term study, in particular, demonstrated an increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease among urban Japanese male residents in Osaka between the 1960s and the 1990s.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism in a patient with a non-functioning adrenal tumor].

A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with hypertension, hypokalemia, and left adrenal tumor at another hospital, and was referred to our hospital on suspicion of primary aldosteronism. Investigations revealed low plasma aldosterone concentration, and the left adrenal tumor proved to be nonfunctioning, not hyperfunctioning. "Licorice" had been prescribed for the treatment of recurrent cramps in his calf. After stopping the licorice, his condition changed to normokalemia strongly suggesting that his pseudoaldosteronism had been caused by the drug. We reviewed 140 reports on licorice-induced pseudoaldosteronism in Japan, and found a second patient who might have suffered a similar coincidental nonfunctioning adrenal tumor.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Determination of amino acid sequence and site of mRNA expression of four vitellins in the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Four major yolk proteins, designated as vitellins (Vns) Macr-VnA, B, C, and D, were extracted from mature ovaries of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. These were purified to homogeneity by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employing a unique separation system based on the hydrophobic properties of the Vn molecule. Using standard techniques of protein sequencing, more than 33 N-terminal and 57 internal amino acid residues were determined for each of the four Vns. The cDNA fragments encoding the four Vns were amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from the N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences. These cDNA fragments were cloned, sequenced, and used as probes to examine the transcription of mRNAs encoding the four Vns. Significant accumulations of these mRNAs were observed in female hepatopancreas only, while mRNA expression was not detected in male hepatopancreas or any other female tissue including ovary, subepidermal adipose tissue, gill, and muscle. This is the first occasion in Crustacea in which multiple Vns were demonstrated to be synthesized simultaneously in a single tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and expression of an otolith matrix protein cDNA from the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

The fish otolith is a hard tissue consisting of calcium carbonate and organic matrices. The matrix proteins play important roles in otolith formation, but little is known about the nature of these proteins. In this study, matrix proteins were extracted from the otoliths of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta. EDTA-soluble matrix proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE, revealing two major components in the otoliths of both species with apparent molecular masses of 55 and 43 kDa. N-terminal and some internal amino acid sequences of the 55-kDa otolith matrix protein were determined. A cDNA fragment encoding this protein of O. mykiss was amplified by reverse transcription PCR using two degenerate primers designed from the amino acid sequences. A cDNA encoding this protein was obtained by screening a saccular cDNA library using the amplified cDNA fragment as a probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA clone has a sequence of 2.5 kb and the open reading frame encoding 344 amino acid residues. Northern blot analysis showed that mRNA of this protein is expressed specifically in the sacculus, and consistently during the day.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Delayed stochastic systems

Noise and time delay are two elements that are associated with many natural systems, and often they are sources of complex behaviors. Understanding of this complexity is yet to be explored, particularly when both elements are present. As a step to gain insight into such complexity for a system with both noise and delay, we investigate such delayed stochastic systems both in dynamical and probabilistic perspectives. A Langevin equation with delay and a random-walk model whose transition probability depends on a fixed time-interval past (delayed random walk model) are the subjects of in depth focus. As well as considering relations between these two types of models, we derive an approximate Fokker-Planck equation for delayed stochastic systems and compare its solution with numerical results.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Human tissue distribution of TA02, which is homologous with a new type of aspartic proteinase, napsin A.

The N-terminal amino acid sequence of TA02 (molecular weight 35.0 kDa, isoelectric point 5.29), which is associated with primary lung adenocarcinoma, was determined and a fragment peptide was used to generate mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against TA02. The amino acid sequence suggested that TA02 might be homologous with napsin A, a new type of aspartic proteinase. In this context, we confirmed the expression of napsin A in primary lung adenocarcinoma using reverse-transcription polymerare chain reaction (RT-PCR) and showed that the TA02 mAbs reacted with glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-napsin A fusion protein. We concluded that TA02 is the same molecule as napsin A, and showed immunohistochemically that it is distributed mainly in type II pneumocytes, alveolar macrophages, renal tubules and exocrine glands and ducts in the pancreas. In particular, type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages showed high expression of TA02 among human normal tissues. In primary lung adenocarcinoma, 47 out of 58 (81.0%) primary lesions were positive. All well-differentiated adenocarcinomas except those of goblet cell type showed high expression of TA02. In addition, two out of seven (28.6%) large cell carcinomas showed low expression of TA02. The other histopathological types of primary lung cancer did not express TA02 at all. A few cases of renal cell cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer showed low expression, but the staining patterns were completely different from that of primary lung adenocarcinoma, which showed a granular staining pattern. Our novel mAbs should be valuable for immunochemical detection of TA02/napsin A.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the selected anger expression scale and age, sex, occupation and regional differences in anger expression among Japanese.

To examine the reliability and construct validity of the Japanese version of the Anger Expression Scale among four Japanese communities, and to examine distributions of anger expression scores according to sex, age, occupation, and community, we performed a cross-sectional study among 1,802 men and 3,229 women aged 20-70 in four geographic populations in 1995-97. We handed a self-administered questionnaire, which was selected from the Spielberger Anger Expression Scale, to the participants in the risk factor surveys and measured anger-in and anger-out as the anger expression scale. These scales had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.97-0.98 for anger-out and 0.77-0.86 for anger-in) and were of almost the same structure as the original. The Pearson correlation coefficients for the anger expression scale examined in 1995 and 1996 were 0.69 for anger-out and 0.57 for anger-in (both p < 0.001). The mean scores of both anger-out and anger-in were inversely associated with age. The mean anger-out score was higher for men than for women (p < 0.001), whereas the mean anger-in score did not vary significantly between the sexes. Furthermore, the mean scores of anger-out and anger-in varied among populations and occupational groups. The present study suggests that the Japanese version of the selected Anger Expression Scale is an acceptable scale for evaluating anger expression among Japanese.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of shift work on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and its variability among Japanese workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of rotating shift work on blood pressure in a comparison of ambulatory blood pressure and long-term changes in blood pressure between shift and day workers. METHODS: Ambulatory blood pressure was measured for 24-hour periods at an interval of 30 minutes for 27 shift workers and 26 day workers when they worked during the day. Blood pressure was compared between these 2 groups of workers for 4 time categories (awake, sleep, nonwork awake, and work periods). Their long-term blood pressures, recorded in annual surveys, were reviewed for long-term changes. These comparisons were adjusted for the effects of body mass index, alcohol intake, anger expression, and physical activity. RESULTS: On the average, sleep time was shorter and the anger-in (ie, anger suppressed) score was higher for the shift workers than for the day workers, but body mass index and alcohol intake did not differ between the 2 groups. Even after adjustment for these co-variables, the mean systolic blood pressure during the 24-hour, awake, and work periods were higher among the shift workers than among the day workers. The 24-hour standard deviations of the systolic blood pressures were also higher for the shift workers than for the day workers. Among the shift workers, but not among the day workers, a significant long-term increase was observed in systolic blood pressure measured in the annual surveys. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that shift work may increase systolic blood pressure levels among Japanese men.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Characterization and cDNA cloning of androgenic gland hormone of the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare.

The sex differentiation in crustaceans is known to be controlled by a peptide hormone called androgenic gland hormone (AGH). AGH was extracted and purified from the androgenic glands (AGs) of the male isopod Armadillidium vulgare by high-performance liquid chromatography. AGH consisted of two peptide chains and their N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined. A cDNA encoding AGH was cloned by PCR and sequenced. The cDNA had an open reading frame of 432 bp, which encoded a preproAGH consisting of a signal peptide (21 residues), B chain (44 residues), C peptide (46 residues), and A chain (29 residues). Through processing, the A and B chains might form a heterodimer interlinked by disulfide bonds. The A chain possessed a putative N-linked glycosylation site. A Northern blot analysis using the cDNA as a probe detected a hybridization signal with 0.8 kb in the RNA preparation only from the AGs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the central and peripheral motor pathways to the lingual muscles in cats.

OBJECTIVE: We have assessed a technique to stimulate the intracranial hypoglossal nerve with ease and reproducibility by using magnetic coils (MCs) and to detect a reliable site of excitation in animal experiments in order to establish a method to evaluate the motor pathway to lingual muscles. METHODS: We recorded the motor responses from the lingual muscles of 5 adult cats under general anesthesia by magnetic and electrical stimulation of the intracranial hypoglossal nerves. Figure of 8 and round MCs were used to investigate the optimal position and direction to evoke the motor responses. RESULTS: The round MC was useful for cortical stimulation. The figure of 8 coil, positioned in the back of the head of the examined side, parallel to the cervical spine, was essential for stimulation of the intracranial hypoglossal nerve. Analysis of the latencies, and the observation that the motor responses disappeared after transection of the nerves at the exit of the hypoglossal canal, demonstrated that the site of the excitation is at the exit of the hypoglossal canal. CONCLUSION: Magnetic stimulation using a figure of 8 coil can elicit tongue motor responses with ease and reliable reproducibility, stimulating the hypoglossal nerve at the exit of the hypoglossal canal.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The excitation site of the accessory nerve to the magnetic stimulation--the relationship between the orientation of the magnetic field and the excitation site.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between the accessory nerve excitation site and the magnetic field direction was investigated to prove whether the cranial nerve excitation site to the transcranial magnetic stimulation is constant or not. METHODS: Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) elicited by the transcranial magnetic stimulation were recorded from the trapezius muscles of 7 adult cats. The waveforms of CMAPs were detected before craniectomy, after craniectomy, and after cutting the accessory nerve at the C1, at the jugular tubercle, and at the jugular foramen. The optimal orientation was determined by rotating the coil clockwise in increments of 22.5 degrees from the rostral direction. RESULTS: The accessory nerve was stimulated by the magnetic stimulation at the C1, at the jugular tubercle or at the jubular foramen, and these excitation sites varied with coil orientation. The average angles of the optimal orientation of the magnetic coil were 77.1 degrees for C1, 122.1-263.6 degrees for the jugular tubercle, and 308.6-32.1 degrees for the jugular foramen. CONCLUSIONS: The accessory nerve excitation site varied with the orientation of the magnetic coil. This study suggested the possibility of a variety of the cranial nerve excitation sites to the transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Accessory Nerve↗
PubMed1999

Accelerated solvent extraction of paclitaxel and related compounds from the bark of taxus cuspidata

Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of paclitaxel and related compounds from Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew) bark has been investigated under various conditions. In ASE, pressure is applied to the sample extraction cell to maintain the heated solvent in a liquid state during the extraction. This method is able to shorten the extraction time and to increase the recovery of target compounds. In this study, ASE of paclitaxel, baccatin III, and 10-deacetylbaccatin III produced amounts of these compounds that were higher than those from ordinary solvent extraction at room temperature. The conditions providing the highest recovery of paclitaxel were as follows: solvent, MeOH-H2O (90:10); temperature, 150 degrees C; and pressure, 10.13 MPa (0.128% w/w recovery based on oven-dried sample powder). ASE does not require chlorinated solvents and can reduce solvent consumption because of its strong dissolving power. Moreover, with water alone, the recovery of paclitaxel and related compounds using ASE is much higher than with other extraction methods.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Complete disruption of the female urethra.

PURPOSE: We report a rare condition of complete rupture of the bladder neck with an anterior vaginal laceration secondary to blunt pelvic trauma in a 19-year-old woman. METHODS: Management consisted of a suprapubic cystostomy, followed by end-to-end anastomosis 3 days later. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: After 6 months, the patient is continent without any urinary disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[The effects of fish supplementation of platelet function, count and metabolism in healthy Japanese].

To investigate changes in platelet function, count and metabolism following fish intake among Japanese, we conducted an experimental intervention study of seven healthy Japanese volunteers (4 males and 3 females) aged 28-58 years. We supplemented their diets with an approximate daily intake of 200-400 g fish which is equivalent to about 10 g n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (about 3.5 g eicosapentaenoic acid plus 5.0 g docosahexaenoic acid) during the 17 days. The study continued until the 23rd day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The proportion of serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids increased two-fold on 5th day and three-fold on 15th day of fish supplementation, but decreased to one and a half-fold on the 2nd day and returned to the level before fish supplementation on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The proportion of serum n6-polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased by 17% to the level before fish supplementation on the 5th day, 33% on the 15th day of fish supplementation. However, the decrease was only 10% on the 2nd day and the proportion returned to the same level as before fish supplementation on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. As a result, the serum n3/n6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio increased four-fold on the 15th day of fish supplementation, and returned to the baseline level on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. Platelet counts decreased and the mean platelet volume increased during fish supplementation. Both parameters returned to the level before fish supplementation on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The counts and proportion of large type platelets increased significantly during fish supplementation. Although platelet aggregation by ADP (adenosine 5'-diphosphate) did not change significantly, platelet aggregation by collagen tended to decrease during fish supplementation. Platelet factor 4, one of the indices of platelet activity, decreased significantly during fish supplementation. The mean serum triglyceride level declined during fish supplementation, but returned to the level just before fish supplementation on the 2nd day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The mean plasma fibrinogen level tended to decline during fish supplementation and remained lower until the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. Habitual fish intake may attenuate the development of atherosclerosis and prevent ischemic heart disease through suppression of platelet activity, and by reducing platelet counts and serum triglyceride levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Expression of a recombinant molt-inhibiting hormone of the kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus in Escherichia coli.

The crustacean molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) suppresses ecdysteroid synthesis by the Y-organ. The MIH of the kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus has recently been isolated and its cDNA cloned. In this study, we expressed the MIH in Escherichia coli to obtain a large quantity of this hormone with biological activity. The MIH cDNA was processed and ligated into an expression plasmid. E. coli was transformed with this plasmid, and then the recombinant MIH (r-MIH) was expressed. The r-MIH was put through the refolding reaction and was purified by reverse-phase HPLC. N-terminal amino acid sequence and time-of-flight mass spectral analyses supported the idea that the r-MIH had the entire sequence. By in vitro bioassay using the Y-organ of the crayfish, the r-MIH was found to be comparable to natural MIH in inhibiting ecdysteroid synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

[The use of computers and networking in the neurosurgical field].

Due to the improvements in computer and network technology, we are able to use medical information easily and safely on the network in medical institutions. In our department, we constructed and used an original Intranet with light fibers. The network links the outpatient room, ward, operation room, staff room and the examination room. Moreover, many computers and medical instruments are connected to the Intranet. Since our original Intranet has no connection with the outside network, we are able to access the patient's medical information safely. Using access management of identity and a password on the server, the client can present the medical information with sound and movie upon request of the patients and their families, medical students, nurses and doctors. Doctors can also search and input the patient's most recent medical information on a network database of every client. By linking the examination machine and operation aided instrument to the Intranet, we were able to forward the patient's medical information to the operation aided instrument easily and quickly. Furthermore, we will be able to perform tele-medicine and tele-operation in the near future: that is, the medical staff can guide the neurosurgical operation outside of the operation room with a microscope and computer view using picture mutual communication devices. By strict access to the management of our Intranet, we are able to use the medical information effectively for patient's treatment, operation, education and study on the network with no connection to the outside network.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1999

[A case of enlarged infundibular dilatation diagnosed by vertebral angiograms with carotid compression and neuroendoscope].

A case of enlarged infundibular dilatation diagnosed by vertebral angiograms with carotid compression was reported. A 57-year-old woman suffered from headache. She underwent MRA which revealed left internal carotid artery aneurysm. Left common carotid angiograms suggested a left saccular internal carotid artery aneurysm (4 mm x 6 mm) without a posterior communicating artery. However, it was confirmed to be an enlarged infundibular dilatation on left vertebral angiograms with carotid compression. It was confirmed at operation microscopically and neuroendoscopically, and the dilatation was treated by coating. When carotid angiograms reveal no posterior communicating artery, it is difficult to differentiate the origin of posterior communicating artery from internal carotid artery-posterior communicating artery junction aneurysms. Vertebral angiograms with carotid compression is useful for the differentiation for the exact diagnosis.

Aneurysm↗