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Biomedical subjects

T Taira

Publications and source records attributed to T Taira.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The distribution of 3H-labeled endotoxin in the kidney of liver cirrhotic rats.

Although the etiology and pathogenesis of progressive renal failure is largely unknown, endotoxin is supposed to be one of the contributory factors. However, the distribution of endotoxin in liver cirrhosis has not been clarified. Therefore we studied the distribution of 3H-labeled endotoxin in the kidney in rats with CCl4-induced liver injury. Daily inhalations of CCl4 on rats for 6 and 10 weeks produced liver fibrosis (LF group, N = 5) and cirrhosis (LC group, N = 5), respectively. At 6 or 10 weeks, animals were sacrificed 24 hours after an intravenous injection of endotoxin labeled with 3H at the galactose moiety (12,000 cpm/1 g body weight). In the liver, 3H-labeled endotoxin was taken up mainly by Kupffer cells as determined by autoradiography. Compared to control rats, in rats of the LC or LF group the measured amount of 3H-labeled endotoxin per gram kidney or ml blood increased, while that of the liver was significantly decreased. A positive correlation of the amount of 3H-labeled endotoxin per weight or volume respectively was shown between kidney and blood, but not between lung or spleen and blood. These results suggest that overflow of endotoxin due to decreased inactivation in the liver causes endotoxemia in liver injury and that the resulting endotoxemia may directly affect the kidney. The resulting endotoxin-induced vasoconstriction may be a contributory factor for the progressive renal failure frequently observed in liver cirrhosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Endotoxin-induced acute tubular necrosis in cirrhotic rats.

In order to clarify the role of endotoxin in acute tubular necrosis in liver cirrhosis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected to rats with liver injury with exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) inhalation. Rats showed liver cirrhosis with ascites retention after 10 weeks' CCl4 treatment and liver fibrosis after 6 weeks' CCl4 treatment. Histopathological grading of kidney injuries after LPS treatment was more severe either in cirrhotic rats or in liver fibrotic rats than in normal rats. All cirrhotic rats had severe acute tubular necrosis after either dose of LPS, but only small necrotic foci of tubuli were seen in a few normal and liver fibrotic rats. The results indicate that endotoxin, which overflows due to disturbance of inactivation in the cirrhotic liver, may contribute to acute tubular necrosis. This effect of endotoxin is supposed to be a direct hemodynamic damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[A case of spontaneous biloma accompanied with incarcerated choledocholithiasis].

A 55-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain and nausea. CT-scan and US showed no abnormal findings. On the 5th hospital day, a large mass was palpable on the upper abdomen, and CT-scan (7th hospital day) demonstrated a large, cystic mass below the left lobe. A thoracentesis under ultrasound guidance obtained bile-stained fluid. PTCD revealed choledocholithiasis and severe dilatation of the common bile duct and the left branch. After conservative treatment, cholecystectomy and choledocholithotomy were performed. Biloma occurred mainly traumatically or iatrogenically. This case had a spontaneous biloma, and only 11 cases have been previously reported as spontaneous biloma in Japan.

Bile↗
PubMed1992

c-myc protein complex binds to two sites in human hsp70 promoter region.

We investigated the binding of partially purified (enriched) c-myc protein to the human hsp70 promoter region by band shift and ultraviolet crosslinking assays. In the hsp70 promoter region, two sites were found to be homologous to the c-myc protein complex binding sequence in the c-myc gene. These sites are located at positions -230 and -160 bases relative to the transcription initiation site, overlapping with the region reported for the regulation of hsp70 gene expression by c-myc, and upstream of other regulatory sequences including the heat shock element and the serum responsive element. The results shown here suggest that the c-myc protein complex from human HL-60 cells binds to the two sites of the region directly and sequence specifically. It is therefore suggested that the c-myc protein or protein complex contribute to the regulation of hsp70 gene expression by binding directly to the promoter region.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1992

Unexpected movement disorders in neurosurgical practice: report of three cases.

Hyperkinetic movement disorders may develop as a complication of stereotactic thalamotomy or pallidotomy. However, such movement disorders are uncommon after nonsterotactic intracranial operations. The authors report three cases of involuntary movement disorders unexpectedly developing after intracranial operations. The patients had undergone clipping of an internal carotid aneurysm, removal of an intracerebral hematoma, and resection of a tentorial meningioma. Two patients developed choreic movements and a dystonic posture of the unilateral upper extremity. One patient showed a tremor that had features of both parkinsonism and essential tremor. The symptoms of these patients were medically uncontrollable, and they were successfully treated with stereotactic ventrolateral thalamotomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Collagen engineering for biomaterial use.

Collagen is a typical biological macromolecule having been utilized for a long period of time as a material like cellulose. However, its application is becoming comprehensive, ranging from classical applications such as the leather, gelatine and food industries to the current one, namely, biomaterial and biotechnological uses. The diversification of collagen applications was enhanced by two factors, the accumulation of the scientific knowledge that permitted proper engineering of collagen for a biomaterial use, and the demand for new biomaterials with characteristic biological properties including interaction with cells. The collagen engineering described in this paper is designed for biomaterial use, based on the fundamental chemical and biological properties of collagen; however, it would be useful also for other applications apart from biomaterials.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1992

pH transients due to monosynaptic activation of GABAA receptors in rat hippocampal slices.

Extracellular pH transients were evoked in rat hippocampal brain slices by activation of a monosynaptic inhibitory pathway following pharmacological blockade of glutaminergic transmission. Repetitive stimulation in stratum radiatum near the recording site in stratum pyramidale evoked an immediate alkaline shift which was potentiated by pentobarbital and blocked by picrotoxin but not by 2-hydroxy-saclofen. Benzolamide, a poorly permeant inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase (CA), and prontosil-dextran 5000, a macromolecular CA inhibitor, abolished the alkaline transients evoked by stimulation and by exogenous GABA. Thus an extracellular CA is involved in regulating interstitial pH in brain, and the stimulation-induced alkaline transients are caused by net influx of CO2 into CA1 neurons in response to efflux of bicarbonate across postsynaptic GABAA receptor channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Stereotactic mesencephalotomy for pain relief. A plea for stereotactic surgery.

Rostral mesencephalic reticulotomy (RMR) for pain relief was performed in 34 patients with intractable pain. Most of these patients have been followed for a long period of time postoperatively, the longest follow-up period being 11 years. Contrary to the commonly prevailed bias in the past that mesencephalotomy may be a surgical intervention with potential risk, these patients of RMR have continued to substantial improvement postoperatively in terms of their preoperative intractable painful dysesthesia after a long period of time. The results of pain relief for denervation pain as well as for nondenervation pain are surprisingly good even after unilateral procedures. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative disturbance of ocular motility has been reduced. RMR has its scientific basis in that the medial part of the reticular formation rather than the classical lateral spinothalamic tract has more significance in the central conduction of nociceptive impulses through the midbrain level, which was verified by intraoperative neuronal recording with a tungsten microelectrode. The present report emphasizes that stereotactic mesencephalotomy, if performed meticulously and precisely, is a safe surgical procedure for pain relief. Results of MRI and sensory manifestations of a patient 11 years after RMR are also presented.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1992

Equine haptoglobin: isolation, characterization, and the effects of ageing, delivery and inflammation on its serum concentration.

Haptoglobin (Hp) was isolated from equine serum by ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Equine Hp which migrated to the alpha 2-globulin region in electrophoresis, contained 2 fractions with molecular weights (NW) of 108,000 and 105,000, and each fraction consisting of 2 subunits. Quantitative measurement of Hp in equine serum was performed by the single radial immunodiffusion method using anti-equine Hp serum. In clinically normal horses, the highest concentration of serum Hp was found in newborn foals and a high value was maintained until 12 months of age. The concentration then decreased with age. Normal Hp values were 5.25 +/- 2.36 mg/ml in foals (less than or equal to 12 months old), 2.19 +/- 1.54 mg/ml in adult horses (greater than or equal to 18 months old) and 3.62 +/- 0.81 mg/ml in all horses. Serum Hp concentration in mares during the perinatal period in comparison with the normal adult female was high for 4 months pre-partum, a passing increase at delivery, and then decreased at 2 weeks post-partum returning to normal within 1 month of delivery. In horses with experimentally-induced inflammation, serum Hp concentration began to increase immediately after treatment and reached the highest value, 1.5 to 9 times higher than those of pre-treatment at 2 to 5 days, then decreased within 4 weeks. It was also elevated in most cases of horses with clinically inflammatory signs.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

[Zonisamide induced tremor--report of two cases].

Zonisamide is a new antiepileptic drug which has a wide range of antiepileptic efficacy. This drug is becoming widely to be used for patients with refractory epilepsies. The author reports two patients who developed resting and postural hand tremor after administration of zonisamide. The tremor was confined to the upper extremities and was enhanced with the emotional stress. The tremor has 4-5 Hz frequency and was severe enough to disturb their daily activities. Mild cogwheel rigidity was seen, but neither akinesia nor gait disturbance was recognized. The symptoms disappeared completely after cessation of the drug. This side effect should always be kept in mind in the treatment with zonisamide.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Aggravation of minimal change nephrotic syndrome by administration of human albumin.

Human albumin infusions are frequently administered to patients with nephrotic syndrome. We reviewed the clinical course of 27 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) in which 16 patients were treated with human albumin (group A) and 11 were not (group B). The percent of body weight gain, serum total protein, serum albumin, urine protein excretion and renal function were equivalent in both groups as was the initial dose of corticosteroid and amount of dietary protein intake. The period from the start of corticosteroid therapy to complete remission for group A (73.4 +/- 19.2 days, mean +/- SEM) was significantly longer than that for group B (17.1 +/- 3.6), (p less than 0.05). 10 patients of group B (10/11 = 90.9%) showed complete remission within 20 days from the start of corticosteroid therapy, but more than 20 days were needed for 9 cases (9/16 = 56.3%) of group A. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between the period required for remission and the duration of albumin administration (p less than 0.01) or the total volume of albumin infused (p less than 0.01). Proportion of relapsers within 2 years after discharge was also higher in group A (68.8%) than in group B (9.1%), (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, administration of albumin may delay the response to corticosteroid therapy and induce more frequent relapses after remission, possibly due to more severe glomerular epithelial changes induced by albumin infusion in addition to preexisting glomerular epithelial changes from the MCNS.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Changes of urinary human epidermal growth factor excretion in 16 patients with acute renal failure].

In order to evaluate the clinical significance of urinary human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) in patients with acute renal failure (ARF), urinary hEGF levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, and were corrected for creatinine (creat.) concentrations in 16 patients with ARF and 12 healthy controls. The urinary hEGF levels significantly decreased in patients with ARF in acute phase compared with normal control subjects (0.98 +/- 0.20 vs 13.74 +/- 1.18 ng/mg creat. p less than 0.01), and it subsequently increased during recovery phase (6.10 +/- 0.73 ng/mg creat. p less than 0.01 vs acute phase). A significant correlation between the urinary hEGF levels and creatinine clearance (r = 0.712, p less than 0.001) and an inverse correlation between urinary hEGF levels and fractional excretion of sodium (r = -0.406, p less than 0.05) was demonstrated. The remarkable decrease of urinary hEGF excretion preceded the increase of urinary beta 2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase levels. Our data suggests that urinary hEGF originates from renal tissues in humans and measurement of urinary hEGF is useful for diagnosing renal damage and recovery of renal tissues from severe tubular injury.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from horses, and its evaluation as an acute-phase reactive protein in horses.

Equine alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1AG) was isolated from equine serum by successive ammonium precipitation, anion- and cation-exchange chromatographies, and gel filtration. Purified equine alpha 1AG had a molecular weight of 46,000 +/- 1,000, and contained 31.4% carbohydrate. Gel isoelectric focusing revealed an isoelectric point range of 2.8 to 3.7. With immunoelectrophoresis, it was found that alpha 1AG migrated to the alpha 1-globulin region. Single radial immunodiffusion was used for quantitative measurement of alpha 1AG in equine serum. In clinically normal foals, serum alpha 1AG was undetectable (less than or equal to 20 micrograms/ml) in less than or equal to 7-day-old foals, but was detected by 14 days. The alpha 1AG concentration (mean +/- SD) increased to reach mean adult values of 99.23 +/- 26.90 micrograms/ml by 1 year of age. The alpha 1AG concentration in pregnant mares decreased at 2 to 3 months before parturition, then gradually increased until 1 day after parturition, when a brief decrease was observed. The concentration increased again at 2 weeks after foaling, then a decrease was observed, after which the alpha 1AG concentration increased again by 2 to 4 months after parturition. The concentration of serum alpha 1AG quickly rose to peak values 2 to 3 days after castration and jejunojejunostomy in adult horses, returning to baseline values by 14 to 28 days after surgery. The alpha 1AG was concluded to be an acute-phase reactive protein in horses.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1991

Effects of atipamezole, a novel alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, in open-field, plus-maze, two compartment exploratory, and forced swimming tests in the rat.

The behavioral effects of atipamezole (0.5-4.5 mg/kg), a new and highly selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, were studied in four behavioral models: open-field, elevated plus-maze, two compartment exploratory test and forced swimming test. Atipamezole (1.5 and 4.5 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent suppression of locomotor activity in the open field test. In the two compartment exploratory test, the same doses of atipamezole decreased locomotor activity in a 5 min test but not in a 10 min test. The numbers of transitions between the compartments were not significantly affected by atipamezole. Doses of 0.5-4.5 mg/kg did not significantly change the time spent in the open arms or the total number of arm entries in the plus-maze, and doses of 1.5 and 4.5 mg/kg decreased defecation marginally. Vocalization during the forced swimming test was increased by atipamezole (1.5 mg/kg) but the duration of immobility was not increased over the dose range (0.5-1.5 mg/kg) of atipamezole used. Our results suggest that, in the rat, atipamezole decreases motor activity in the early phase of the exploration of new surroundings. In the doses used, atipamezole may suppress defecation and increase vocalization in rats.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1991

Goldberg-Shprintzen syndrome: Hirschsprung disease, hypotonia, and ptosis in sibs.

We describe a brother and sister with Hirschsprung disease, hypotonia, and ptosis. Their condition resembles that in 2 sibs reported by Goldberg and Shprintzen. We conclude that the clinical characteristics in 8 reported cases with similar clinical manifestations represent a distinct autosomal recessive syndrome, Goldberg-Shprintzen syndrome.

Blepharoptosis↗