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Biomedical subjects

T Sano

Publications and source records attributed to T Sano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A preliminary study of PEFR monitoring in patients with chronic cough.

It is important to make a differential diagnosis of cough variant asthma in patients with chronic cough. To examine whether or not peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is useful for the differential diagnosis of cough variant asthma in such patients, diurnal variation rates of PEFR were calculated in 23 patients who presented with dry cough lasting four or more weeks and who showed no abnormalities on chest radiographs. None of the patients had wheezes, and pulmonary function testing at the time of visit to the hospital revealed no abnormalities. During the control period, the mean diurnal variation rate of PEFR in 23 patients was 16.3 +/- 7.9%. Six, nine and eight patients had PEFR diurnal variations rates of <10% (Group 1), 10-19% (Group 2), and > or = 20% (Group 3), respectively. At week 3 of treatment with bronchodilators, only Group 3 showed a significant decrease in PEFR diurnal variation rate from 25.7% to 10.1%. The cough score decreased significantly in Group 3 only. These patients had enhanced bronchial hyperresponsiveness and showed eosinophils in induced sputum, leading to the diagnosis of cough variant asthma (CVA). After making the diagnosis of CVA, an inhaled corticosteroid or a Th2 cytokine production inhibitor suplatast tosilate was administered to patients; consequently, they showed no recurrence of cough. PEFR monitoring allowed the detection of morning dip and was suggested to be potentially useful for the differential diagnosis of cough variant asthma in patients with chronic cough.

Adult↗

Identification of a novel structural interaction in Columnea latent viroid.

Pairwise sequence comparisons suggest that Columnea latent viroid (CLVd) may have originated from a recombination event involving Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd). To examine the role of specific structural features in determining the host range of CLVd, we constructed a series of interspecific chimeras by replacing increasing portions of its terminal left and pathogenicity domains with the corresponding portions of PSTVd. Exchanges involving the left side of the pathogenicity domain led to lower rates of progeny accumulation in tomato, but one of the resulting chimeras was still able to replicate in cucumber. Exchanges involving the right side of the pathogenicity domain severely inhibited replication in tomato and appeared to abolish replication in cucumber. To identify potential interactions between nucleotides comprising the right side of the pathogenicity domain and other portions of CLVd, melting behaviors of circularized CLVd and PSTVd RNA transcripts were compared using a combination of temperature gradient gel electrophoresis and structural calculations. These analyses revealed an unexpected complementarity between the upper portion of the pathogenicity and terminal right domains of CLVd that facilitates breakdown of the rod-like native structure and formation of secondary hairpin II. Unlike secondary hairpin II, CLVd hairpin IV appears likely to act within the context of the genomic RNA.

Base Sequence↗

Prospective study of proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach.

BACKGROUND: Total gastrectomy with D2 dissection is the standard treatment in Japan for early upper-third gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to confirm the safety and radicality of proximal gastrectomy as an alternative operation. METHODS: Between 1993 and 1999, 45 patients with an apparent primary early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach were treated by proximal gastrectomy with jejunal interposition. The spleen was preserved, but the suprapancreatic nodes were cleared. RESULTS: Histology confirmed early gastric cancer in 37 patients while eight had advanced disease. Nodal metastasis was observed in six patients. There was no hospital death and no early postoperative complications. One patient died from nodal recurrence and two from unrelated causes. Two patients had reflux symptoms without endoscopic oesophagitis. Mean weight loss was 11.5 per cent of initial bodyweight. CONCLUSION: Proximal gastrectomy for early upper-third gastric cancer can be performed safely with an excellent cure rate. This procedure deserves further clinical evaluation to assess patients' quality of life.

Adult↗

Add-on effects of suplatast tosilate in bronchial asthma patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids.

Th2 cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. In the present study, we investigated the effect of suplatast tosilate, a selective Th2 cytokine inhibitor, on asthma control, in terms of subjective symptoms and pulmonary function in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Thirty-eight patients with bronchial asthma being treated with inhaled corticosteroids were given suplatast tosilate (100 mg three times daily) for 12 weeks, in a multicenter setting. During the study period, other medications were continued. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptoms, blood eosinophil count and serum IgE levels were monitored. Suplatast tosilate treatment was associated with a significant improvement in mean morning peak expiratory flow (from 295 L/min to 348 L/min, P < 0.01) and evening peak expiratory flow (from 313 L/min to 357 L/min, P < 0.01). The mean daily variation in peak expiratory flow was significantly reduced (from 11.6% to 7.3%, P < 0.01) by suplatast tosilate treatment. The greatest improvement in peak expiratory flow was observed in patients whose blood eosinophil counts were decreased by suplatast tosilate treatment. Treatment with suplatast tosilate improved pulmonary function in patients with bronchial asthma. Our results suggest the therapeutic effects observed may occur through suppression of eosinophilic inflammation.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Expression of smooth muscle markers in so called malignant fibrous histiocytomas.

AIMS: To obtain further information regarding the frequency and degree of positivity for smooth muscle markers in a large number of malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFHs), as an aid to accurate diagnosis. METHOD: The immunohistochemical features of 100 MFHs were studied and the results were compared with those for 30 leiomyosarcomas. Eighteen cases of MFH with smooth muscle actin (SMA) positivity were examined ultrastructurally. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for smooth muscle markers, such as desmin, SMA, muscle specific actin (MSA) and h-caldesmon (HCD), which is a specific marker for smooth muscle cells and their tumours, was found in 28, 30, 29, and 29 of 30 leiomyosarcomas. Immunoreactivity for desmin, SMA, MSA, and HCD was found in 17, 30, 14, and two of the MFHs. On electron microscopic examination, approximately half of the cases contained a varying proportion of myofibroblastic cells. The others had only fibroblastic or undifferentiated tumour cells. At least 30% of the cases were found to display features consistent with limited smooth muscle or myofibroblastic differentiation. CONCLUSION: A large subset of so called MFH in fact shows poorly differentiated smooth muscle or myofibroblastic features, and perhaps such tumours should be regarded as pleomorphic leiomyosarcomas and/or pleomorphic myofibroblastic sarcomas.

Actins↗

Comparative histology of the laminar bone between young calves and foals.

Laminar bone or primary plexiform tissue, not Haversian bone, shows an alternative concentric pattern of laminar-bone units or plates around the bone marrow periphery of long bones, although the laminar bone is gradually replaced by osteons during the growth period. One laminar-bone unit is constructed with a hypercalcified line in the center, woven bone on both sides of the line, and lamellar bone with laminated appositional lines. Such a laminar bone showing a homogeneous calcification has been reported in young calves and some young large animals, but it has not been reported in foals although a previous report proposed that the bone structure was distinguishable from plexiform tissue. In this study, we compared young calves with foals by backscattered electron imaging mainly of transverse ground sections of mid-diaphysis. Foals had many hypercalcified lines arranged concentrically around the bone marrow periphery, which were similar to those of young calves. However, rows of cylindrical osteon-like structures with Haversian canal-like canals running along the long-bone axis were arranged between the concentric hypercalcified lines. Each Haversian canal-like structure was enclosed with laminated appositional rings of lamellar bone deposited on the woven bone. In the developing period, the bone units containing the concentric hypercalcified lines were basically equal to the laminar-bone units. The osteon-like structures or 'pseudo-osteons' were gradually replaced by 'true osteons' during the growth period. The blood vessels in the Haversian canal-like canals of foals ran along the long-bone axis, whereas the blood vessels in the concentrically prolonged bone cavities of young calves ran transversely to obliquely against the long-bone axis. Thus, the long-bone cortex of foals showing an alternative concentric pattern of a row of the osteon-like structures arranged between the hypercalcified lines will be histologically classified into a variety of laminar bone caused by the different arrangement of blood vessels. Such a laminar bone may have a biomechanical structure against physical stress, especially the modified laminar bone of foals with osteon-like structures, when compared with the typical concentric laminar bone of young calves and also Haversian bone possessing variously calcified numerous osteons caused by bone remodeling.

Animals↗

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis after hip and knee arthroplasties in Japanese patients: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To document the incidence of proximal deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in 58 consecutive Japanese patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Patients were routinely examined for proximal deep vein thrombosis by B-mode ultrasonography before and after surgery. Those patients who had ultrasonographic findings of deep vein thrombosis were also investigated for pulmonary embolism by ventilation-perfusion lung scan. RESULTS: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis after total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty were 9.1% and 4.0% respectively, and the incidence of pulmonary embolism were 3.0% and 0%, respectively. There were no cases of fatal pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in Japanese patients may have increased over the last few decades.

Aged↗

Does decreased T1 signal intensity in the retrodiscal tissue of the temporomandibular joint reflect increased density of collagen fibres?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether decreased signal intensity on T(1) weighted MR images of the retrodiscal tissue of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reflects increased density of collagen fibres. METHODS: Corrected sagittal T(1) weighted MR images of six TMJs from six fresh cadavers (three males and three females; age range 76-87 years, mean 80.8 years) were obtained. Following MRI, slices of tissue samples were taken from the cadavers that exactly matched the planes of the MR image. These samples were fixed, decalcified and stained (haematoxylin-eosin stain, Elastica van Gieson's stain) for light microscopy. The samples were evaluated for density of collagen fibres according to Hall et al (1984) and for vascularity, arterial wall thickness, fat content and elastin. In these sagittal samples, the retrodiscal tissue was divided anteroposteriorly and vertically into six areas and each area was classified by histological parameters. The MR images were similarly divided into six areas. Areas with reduced signal intensity were classified as the low signal group and those with no reduced signals were classified as the control group. RESULTS: Collagen density assessed histologically differed between the low signal intensity group and the control group, and loose collage density on the histological samples was observed significantly more often in the low signal group (Fisher's exact test, P=0.03). There were no statistically significant differences in the other categories between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that reduced T1 signals of retrodiscal tissue do not necessarily reflect a dense distribution of collagen fibres.

Aged↗

[Sinus of Valsalva dilatation after replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve].

A 52-year-old woman, height, 149 cm; weight, 40 kg, was admitted because of anterior chest discomfort and palpitations. There was no family history of Marfan syndrome. She had undergone replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve 10 years prior for DeBakey II aortic dissection. Postoperative pathological examination of the resected aortic wall revealed cystic medionecrosis. Computed tomography(CT) 4 years after the surgery showed moderate enlargement of the preserved sinuses of Valsalva, and CT 10 years after the surgery showed enlargement of the sinus. She consented to a reoperation. The prostheses were explanted, and the aortic root was replaced with a composite graft. The right coronary artery ostium was completely closed, and no graftable portions of the distal right coronary artery were detected. Thus, the left coronary artery alone was reimplanted. The patient required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 10 days postoperatively, after which she recovered fully without complications. This case may indicate that the complete aortic root should be replaced during initial surgery of the ascending aorta or aortic valve in patients with potential risk of sinus of Valsalva dilatation.

Aortic Dissection↗

Secretory carcinoma of the breast: a tumour analogous to salivary gland acinic cell carcinoma?

AIMS: Acinic cell-like breast carcinoma is a newly recognized entity, and few acinic cell-like breast carcinoma cases have been reported. All reported acinic cell-like breast carcinomas were counterparts of the solid type of acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary gland. We report here three cases of secretory breast carcinoma with acinic cell differentiation, and discuss the similarity between secretory breast carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary gland. METHODS AND RESULTS: The cases were histologically identical to acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary gland: papillary-cystic type in case 1, a mixture of papillary-cystic, microcystic and follicular type in case 2, and microfollicular type in case 3. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells were positive for salivary-type amylase, lysozyme, S100 protein and alpha 1-antitrypsin, and negative or less reactive for gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 and oestrogen receptor. All three cases did not reveal metastasis or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: These cases were typical of secretory breast carcinoma, and were clinically, histologically and immunohistochemically analogous to acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary gland. We emphasize that secretory breast carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary gland may be identical lesions.

Adult↗

Cooperation during dental treatment: the Children's Fear Survey Schedule in Japanese children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate dental fear and cooperation during dental treatment using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). METHODS: From the behaviour assessment of regular patients of the Pediatric Dental Clinic in Niigata University Dental Hospital (aged 5-12 years old), the patients were classified into two groups: uncooperative and cooperative. CFSS-DS questionnaires were sent to a total of 295 patients, 186 of which were returned, 61 from the uncooperative group and 125 from the cooperative group. RESULTS: In the uncooperative and the cooperative groups, the CFSS-DS mean total scores were 31.79 and 24.02 (P < 0.05), respectively, and the ratios of the patients whose scores were equal to or more than 35 were 36.1 and 11.2%, respectively. Fear of 'injections' and 'the dentist drilling' had high scores in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that there are many uncooperative patients with low dental fear and cooperative patients with high dental fear.

Analysis of Variance↗

Acoustic characteristics of sounds from temporomandibular joints with and without effusion: an MRI study.

Joint effusion has been associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain but can only be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For screening of patients with suspected effusion a simple and less expensive method would be desirable. We recorded joint sounds during jaw opening and closing movement from 34 TMJs with internal derangement (ID). Seventeen joints had joint effusion seen on MRI. Spectrograms of the sounds were displayed as waterfall plots showing profiles of the consecutive Hamming windows. If the profiles were similar, as judged by initial evaluation, the displayed pattern was classified as stable. If some profiles were distinctly deviating in their pattern, this was classified as unstable. Joints with effusion showed unstable sound pattern more often than joints without effusion (P < 0.001). It was concluded that TMJ sound analyses have a potential to identify joints with effusion based on their unstable sound pattern.

Adult↗

The effect of cigarette smoking on soluble adhesion molecules in middle-aged patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of smoking on soluble adhesion molecules in middle-aged diabetic patients. METHODS: One hundred out-patients with Type 2 diabetes and 100 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic subjects without clinical macrovascular disease were selected. Soluble serum levels of adhesion molecules were analysed using enzyme immunoassay. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed using an ultrasound system. RESULTS: When compared with non-diabetic subjects, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and sE-selectin were found at significantly high levels in diabetic patients and significantly higher levels of sICAM-1, sE-selectin, and sP-selectin were observed in current smokers than never-smokers among diabetic or non-diabetic subjects, respectively. The combined, but not enhanced, effects of diabetes mellitus and smoking were observed in sICAM-1 and sE-selectin levels. Additionally, levels of sICAM-1 (P < 0.05) and sE-selectin (P < 0.01), but not sP-selectin, were high in ex-smokers when compared with never-smokers among diabetic patients. Diabetic smokers were also found to have marked carotid atherosclerosis, which was related to increased levels of sICAM-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study shows that levels of adhesion molecules were higher in diabetic smokers than diabetic non-smokers or non-diabetic smokers, and that cessation after chronic smoking did not restore the levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin, though sP-selectin levels were restored. These data suggest a possible mechanism for accelerated atherosclerosis induced by smoking in patients with diabetes.

Aged↗