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Biomedical subjects

T Sakai

Publications and source records attributed to T Sakai.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Prevalence and risk factors for diabetes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated risk factors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. METHODS: A total of 2932 participants aged 15 and above in Ho Chi Minh City were screened for diabetes in a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted from March-May 2001. Demographic, occupation, anthropometry and blood pressure were recorded. Blood glucose was calculated on fasting capillary and venous blood. The classification of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was carried out according to WHO and American Diabetes Association criteria. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of diabetes and IFG were 6.6 and 3.2%, respectively. After age, sex-adjustment to the Vietnam population census, the prevalence was 3.8 and 2.5%, respectively; approximately 40% of cases were found to be newly diagnosed diabetes. The crude prevalence of diabetes in the urban area was approximately 2.8 times higher than that recorded in the 1993 study (6.9 vs. 2.5%, respectively). In this study, there was a positive association between diabetes and sex, age, overweight, waist hip ratio (WHR), and having a history of delivering large for gestational age child; there was a negative association between diabetes and physical activity and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the age, sex-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and IFG in Ho Chi Minh City were 3.8 and 2.5%, respectively, a rapid increase in the recent decade. Our study also indicates that ageing, a high WHR level, overweight and a sedentary lifestyle may be important determinants of the increased prevalence of diabetes during this transition period in Vietnam.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Gastric myoelectrical activity increases after moderate-intensity exercise with no meals under suppressed vagal nerve activity.

Postprandial gastric myoelectrical activity recorded by electrogastrogram (EGG) with the subject in a supine position has shown to be enhanced after moderate-intensity pedaling exercise in an upright seated position, despite the suppression of vagal nerve activity. However, it is still unknown whether the effect is due to the exercise itself and/or a meal or how the position change has influenced the effects. To address this, we used a position-controllable cycle ergometer to examine the effects of the moderate-intensity exercise on EGG activity and the high-frequency (HF) component of heart rate variability (HRV), an index of vagal nerve activity. To eliminate the effect of position change, we carried out the exercise and the EGG recording in the supine position. The peak amplitude of the EGG was enhanced by prior moderate-intensity exercise with a reduced HF component of HRV, which did not differ for postexercise conditions with or without a meal. The small amount of meal itself, however, enhanced both the peak amplitude of the EGG and the HF component of HRV. The peak frequency of EGG was reduced and the instability coefficient of EGG was increased only after the exercise itself. Taken together, these results suggest that the enhanced amplitude of gastric myoelectrical activity can be induced by moderate-intensity exercise itself, even with suppressed vagal nerve activity, and that the mechanism underlying the exercise effects would differ from that underlying the effect of a meal alone.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Successful treatment with rituximab for autoimmune hemolytic anemia concomitant with proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus and monoclonal gammopathy in a post-nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant patient.

A 30-year-old Japanese woman who underwent nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation from her HLA-matched sister developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). There was proliferation of EBV-DNA in her peripheral blood and monoclonal gammopathy, both predictive factors of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). As conventional immunosuppressive therapy for AIHA could lead to overt PTLD, we decided to give her rituximab 375 mg/m(2) once weekly for a total of four doses. After this therapy, both her AIHA and monoclonal gammopathy were resolved and EBV-DNA became undetectable. Rituximab therapy deserves consideration for treatment of post-allogeneic stem cell transplant patients with AIHA, especially for patients who cannot be given immunosuppressive therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Delimitation of the fertility restorer locus Rfk1 to a 43-kb contig in Kosena radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

We are pursuing a positional cloning strategy to isolate the fertility restoration gene Rfk1 from radish. Random polymorphic DNA-sequence-tagged site (RAPD-STS) markers tightly linked to the gene in radish were isolated, and a RAPD map surrounding the Rfk1 locus was constructed. We surveyed 948 F2 plants with adjacent RAPD-STS markers to isolate recombinants for bulk segregant analysis. This analysis was effective in isolating tightly linked amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers surrounding the gene of interest. Ten tightly linked AFLP markers were obtained and used to construct a high-resolution map of the region. The closest AFLP-STS markers flanking Rfk1 were 0.1 cM and 0.2 cM away. Using the four adjacent AFLP markers, we screened lambda and cosmid libraries. The lambda and cosmid clones were aligned by examination of end sequences and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns for each clone, and by hybridization to the DNA isolated from recombinants. Finally, we constructed a 198-kb contig encompassing the Rfk1 gene and comprising 20 lambda and two cosmid clones. By analysis of the breakpoints in recombinants with the rfk1/rfk1 or Rfk1/- genotype, the Rfk1 locus could be assigned to a 43-kb region comprising four lambda clones and one cosmid clone. This pinpoint localization in the radish genome has made it possible for us to identify the gene by sequence analysis and genetic transformation of cytoplasmic male-sterile Brassica napus plants.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed2003

A low-molecular-weight fraction of bovine colostrum and milk enhances the oxidative burst activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Bovine colostrum and milk contain many immunomodulatory components. The low-molecular-weight fraction (< 10 kDa) was separated from colostrum and milk by gel filtration chromatography, and its effect on the oxidative burst of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was investigated in vitro. The oxidative burst activity induced by Staphylococcus aureus was considerably enhanced when PMNLs were incubated with this low-molecular-weight fraction. However, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not trigger a burst after priming with this fraction. The oxidative burst activity enhanced by this fraction was reduced after heating. These results confirmed that a low-molecular-weight substance(s) of less than 10 kDa, present in bovine milk and colostrum, enhances the oxidative burst activity of PMNL.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Granular lymphocyte proliferative disorder after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

A 57-yr-old woman with multiple myeloma underwent tandem autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). Fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, followed by the proliferation of granular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood occurred, after a second APBSCT. Clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor was detected using Southern blot analysis of peripheral blood samples. Granular lymphocyte proliferative disorders (GLPD) were diagnosed. After steroid therapy, the symptoms resolved. Lymphocytosis did not recur after the discontinuation of steroids. There have been a few reports of GLPD after solid organ and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. We report a first case of GLPD after APBSCT.

Clone Cells↗
PubMed2003

Medulloblastoma in a cat: clinical and MRI findings.

A two-year-old, castrated crossbred cat presented with loss of balance and anorexia. A mass of the caudal aspect of the cerebellum was revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The mass was hypointense on T1-weighted images, iso- and hyperintense on T2-weighted images and was enhanced by intravenous gadolinium contrast medium. The MRI characteristics of this case were similar to those of medulloblastoma of the cerebellar vermis in humans. The authors were able to remove almost all of the tumour. The cat was discharged from hospital on day 22 after surgery, but died on day 45. The excised tissue was histologically diagnosed as medulloblastoma.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Quadrigeminal cisterna arachnoid cyst diagnosed by MRI in five dogs.

Arachnoid cysts of the quadrigeminal cisterna are infratentorial cystic lesions located between the collicular plate and the incisural notch of the tentorium. We report here five cases of quadrigeminal cisterna arachnoid cysts in dogs. In this study, four of the five dogs were male, three showed signs of seizures, and one dog was over 10 years of age. In two of the dogs, cysts were discovered incidentally. In previous reports, most intracranial arachnoid cysts were located in the quadrigeminal cisterna. The presence of cysts should be considered in toy breeds presenting for seizures or ataxia.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation in elderly patients.

Between 1995 and 1999, 12 patients aged 65 years or more (mean 70.2) with lumbar disc herniation, underwent partial laminectomy and nucleotomy. The results were compared with those of 25 younger patients aged between 20 and 40 years (mean 30.1), who underwent the same surgical procedure. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was used to assess the clinical outcome. The minimum follow-up was 12 months. The pre- and post-operative total JOA scores and the rate of improvement of the JOA score were not significantly different between the elderly (11.1, 24.3 points, and 74.1%), and the younger group (11.6, 26.4 points and 84.5%). The results of this study indicate that the outcome of lumbar discectomy in elderly patients is as good as in younger patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Start-up of full-scale anaerobic digesters treating municipal solid waste.

Raising organic loading rate, and the behavior of dissolved CODcr (D-CODcr), VFA and specific methanogen activity, were investigated through a laboratory experiment for the start-up of a sludge recycling center. Moreover, application for MPN-PCR methods using a gene as a direct technique to measure the quantity of methanogen was attempted. It was recognized that specific methanogen activity depends on the quantity of methanogen, and that gas production does not reflect the condition of methane fermentation. The methane fermentation condition was checked through the specific methanogen activity and analysis of D-CODcr. The target organic loading rate was reached in the short period of about 30 days, and rapid start-up was successfully attained for a full-scale anaerobic digester.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2002

Characterization of the portal signal in a nonsteady hyperglycemic state in conscious dogs.

To characterize the "portal signal" in a nonsteady hyperglycemic state, the kinetic relationship between net hepatic glucose balance (NHGB) and either hepatic glucose load (HGL) or plasma insulin level was determined during glucose infusion using a catheter technique in 36 conscious dogs. Glucose was infused intraportally (Po group) and peripherally (Pe group) at 39, 56, and 83 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) over 2 h. There was a linear relationship between mean NHGB and either mean HGL or plasma insulin levels at each rate in either delivery (HGL: Po r = 0.99, Pe r = 0.95; insulin: Po r = 99, Pe r = 0.79). The threshold levels for net hepatic glucose uptake were 3.8 and 11.7 mmol/l for plasma glucose and 65 and 392 pmol/l for plasma insulin, respectively. The slope of the regression line against the abscissa was four times larger in portal than in peripheral delivery (HGL: Po 0.20 vs. Pe 0.05, P < 0.05; insulin: Po 0.19 vs. Pe 0.04, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the portal signal overrules the threshold of glucose for hepatic uptake by increasing hepatic extraction rate in a nonsteady hyperglycemic state.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Changes in the prevalence of rotavirus G and P types in diarrheic calves from the Kagoshima prefecture in Japan.

G8 bovine group A rotavirus was the most predominant serotype in calf diarrheal fecal specimens examined between 1995 and 1996 in Japan [Vet. Microbiol. 66 (1999) 301]. To date, no evidence that G8 was the most predominant in the typeable specimens has been observed outside Japan. To investigate whether G8 continues to be as common as G6 and G10, the incidence of the main serotypes was determined in the same area (Kagoshima prefecture) between 1997 and 1998 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. From a total of 104 rotavirus-positive specimens, we successfully identified G type in 79 (76.0%) and P type in 71 (68.3%). The combination of G and P types varied periodically; in 1995, G10P[11] was most common. The most predominant types changed drastically in 1996, and G8 and mixed P types were the most predominant. A dramatic shift of the most predominant type occurred again in 1997 when G6P[5] was most common. This frequency of G6P[5] also continued in 1998. These results suggest that the serotypes prevailing in certain areas change periodically.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Thoracoscopic treatment for spontaneous hemopneumothorax.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare clinical entity sometimes requiring an operation in the early stage. Two patients who underwent successful video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous hemopneumothorax are presented. In both cases, the bleeding point was clearly identified, and hemostasis was easily obtained by clipping the point and placing three access ports in the usual fashion. Furthermore, the evacuation of clotted blood and resection of bulla were performed with no difficulties. The postoperative courses were smooth, and no complications occurred, although the preoperative general condition in the second case was hemodynamically unstable. The advantages of VATS over conventional thoracotomy include less time required to access the pleural cavity, a better view, and more facilitated manipulation during surgery. Because spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a benign disease, VATS should be considered an initial treatment option in all patients with this condition, even those with active bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

E7 proteins from oncogenic human papillomavirus types transactivate p73: role in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

In common with other E2F1 responsive genes such as p14(ARF) and B-myb, the promoter of p73 is shown to be positively regulated in cell lines and primary human keratinocytes by E7 proteins from oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31 and 33, but not HPV 6. Mutational analysis revealed that transactivation of the p73 promoter by HPV 16E7 requires association with pRb. Expression of p73 in normal cervical epithelium is confined to the basal and supra-basal layers. In contrast, expression in neoplastic lesions is detected throughout the epithelium and increases with grade of neoplasia, being maximal in squamous cell cancers (SCC). Deregulation of expression of the N-terminal splice variant p73Delta2 was observed in a significant proportion of cancers, but not in normal epithelium. The frequent over-expression of p73Delta2, which has recognized transdominant properties, in malignant and pre-malignant lesions suggests a role in the oncogenic process in cervical epithelium.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2002

Association study of C825T polymorphism of the G-protein b3 subunit gene with schizophrenia and mood disorders.

Alterations of G proteins have been implicated in major psychiatric illnesses. A C825T polymorphism of a gene encoding the beta3 subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins (GNB3) was reported to be associated with several pathological conditions, such as hypertension and depressive disorder. We examined whether this polymorphism is associated with functional psychoses in a Japanese sample of 370 schizophrenics, 164 bipolars, 68 depressive patients, and 198 controls. We obtained no evidence for an association of the polymorphism with any diagnostic group.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Association of angiotensin-converting-enzyme gene polymorphism with the depressor response to mild exercise therapy in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

We studied the association of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism with the depressor response to exercise therapy in 64 Japanese subjects with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Each subject performed 10 weeks of mild (lactate threshold intensity: approximately 50% maximum oxygen consumption) exercise therapy on a bicycle ergometer. Systolic blood pressure (SPB), diastolic blood pressure (DPB), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly decreased by exercise therapy in subjects with the ACE-II and ID genotypes but not in DD subjects. The time-by-genotype interaction effects were significant for DBP and MAP. According to a multiple logistic regression analysis, the age- and baseline plasma renin activity-adjusted relative risk (odds ratio) for the lack of a depressor response conferred by the D allele (assuming an additive effect) was 2.72 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-6.91; p = 0.034]; for DD genotypes, as compared with the DI and II genotypes (assuming that the D allele is recessive), it was 11.7 (95% CI, 2.25-60.6; p = 0.003). ACE gene I/D polymorphism is associated with the depressor response of essential hypertensives to mild exercise therapy, which suggests that genetic features may underlie, at least in part, the heterogeneity of the depressor response in essential hypertensives to mild exercise therapy.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2002

Regulational effect of ghrelin on growth hormone secretion from perifused rat anterior pituitary cells.

Ghrelin, a novel growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide, was recently isolated from the rat stomach as an endogenous ligand to growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Ghrelin specifically stimulates the release of GH from the rat anterior pituitary gland, but the regulational effect of ghrelin on GH secretion has not yet been clarified. We used a perifusion system to examine the single effect and combined effects of ghrelin with growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin on GH secretion from rat anterior pituitary cells. The increase in GH concentration due to ghrelin stimulation showed a transitory peak that was almost the same as that previously reported for GHS, but apparently distinct from that of GHRH. Ghrelin (10(-10) M to 10(-8) M) stimulated GH secretion from the rat anterior pituitary cells in a dose-dependent manner. Serial ghrelin stimulation of the dispersed cells at 1-h intervals decreased the GH response, but the response recovered with stimulation at 3-h intervals, indicating that ghrelin strongly desensitized cells. Costimulation with ghrelin and GHRH elicited neither a synergistic nor an additive GH response from the rat pituitary cells. Furthermore, pretreatment to anterior pituitary cells with somatostatin strongly abolished ghrelin- and/or GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. In this study, we demonstrated that ghrelin caused weaker GH secretion than that caused by GHRH, and we also showed that costimulation with GHRH had no additive or synergistic effect on GH secretion, suggesting that ghrelin indirectly affects coordinated GH release from pituitary gland, as found in vivo.

Animals↗