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Biomedical subjects

T Tamai

Publications and source records attributed to T Tamai.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Plasma thrombomodulin concentration in diabetes mellitus.

Thrombomodulin is an endothelial cell membrane protein acting as a cofactor for the activation of plasma protein C. Recently, it was found that soluble forms of thrombomodulin exist in plasma. Although the physiological significance of circulating thrombomodulin is presently obscure, it may reflect injury of the endothelial cell. In the present study, we examined plasma thrombomodulin concentrations in 106 Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. Plasma thrombomodulin was determined by a sandwich ELISA employing monoclonal anti-thrombomodulin antibodies. The patients with proteinuria had higher plasma thrombomodulin concentrations (61.0 +/- 36.0 ng/ml) compared to the patients without proteinuria (33.6 +/- 9.5 ng/ml, P less than 0.001) and control subjects (32.8 +/- 6.5 ng/ml, P less than 0.001). Plasma thrombomodulin concentrations were positively correlated with the level of serum creatine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary albumin and urinary beta 2-microglobulin (P less than 0.001 for each), but not with fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c or fructosamine. Elevated plasma thrombomodulin was also observed in the patients with pre-proliferative (63.4 +/- 28.9 ng/ml) or proliferative retinopathy (57.4 +/- 34.7 ng/ml), but not in the patients with non-proliferative retinopathy (33.5 +/- 12.9 ng/ml) or those without retinopathy (32.4 +/- 8.9 ng/ml). Even in the 81 diabetic subjects without proteinuria as determined by a dip and read method, and whose serum creatinine was lower than 1.0 mg/dl, the plasma thrombomodulin concentration was significantly higher in the patients with pre-proliferative (41.5 +/- 4.4 ng/ml) and proliferative retinopathy (41.0 +/- 12.8 ng/ml) compared to the patients without retinopathy (32.2 +/- 8.8 ng/ml) and those with non-proliferative retinopathy (31.9 +/- 7.8 ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biomarkers↗

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles in pre- and post-menopausal middle-aged runners.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles were compared in middle-aged trained and untrained women before and after menopause. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups: (1) pre-menopausal trained (Pre-T: n = 17, aged 42 +/- 5 years, body fat 19 +/- 5%, training distance 53 +/- 20 km week-1, VO2max 49 +/- 4 ml kg-1 min-1, mean +/- SD); (2) pre-menopausal untrained (Pre-UT: n = 26, 42 +/- 5 years, 24 +/- 7%, 34 +/- 6 ml kg-1 min-1); (3) post-menopausal trained (Post-T: n = 16, 54 +/- 3 years, 20 +/- 4%, 43 +/- 19 km week-1, 41 +/- 5 ml kg-1 min-1); and (4) post-menopausal untrained (Post-UT: n = 15, 55 +/- 3 years, 25 +/- 6%, 31 +/- 3 ml kg-1 min-1). There were no significant differences in total cholesterol (range 173-194 mg dl-1), triglyceride (56-72 mg dl-1), and HDL-cholesterol (HDLC: 76-85 mg dl-1) among the four groups. LDL-cholesterol (LDLC) in the post-menopausal women (Post-T: 96 +/- 32 mg dl-1; Post-UT: 104 +/- 23 mg dl-1) tended to be higher than in the premenopausal women (Pre-T: 86 +/- 25 mg dl-1, Pre-UT: 81 +/- 23 mg dl-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Metabolic risk factors in the normolipidemic male patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease.

The relationship of plasma lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations and plasma insulin response to oral glucose load to angiographically determined coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated in 65 normolipidemic (plasma cholesterol less than 230 mg/dl and plasma triglyceride less than 150 mg/dl) males. According to the results of coronary angiography, the patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with normal coronary artery, NCA group (n = 21); and patients with coronary artery disease, CAD group (n = 44). No significant differences in concentrations of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride were observed between the CAD and NCA groups. In the CAD group cumulative lifetime tobacco consumption was higher and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration was lower than those in the NCA group. The variables that correlated with the severity of CAD, defined by the number of lesions and percent stenosis, were levels of plasma apo A-I and apo B. Prevalence of subjects with reduced oral glucose tolerance did not differ between 2 groups. However, hyperinsulinemic response to oral glucose load was present in the CAD group. HDL-cholesterol concentration, the sum of plasma insulin levels and the magnitude of the early insulin response during oral glucose challenge were accurate predictors of the presence of but not the severity of CAD. Multivariate analysis of the data confirmed the independent effect of plasma levels of apo A-I and apo B on the severity of CAD. The present data indicated that plasma levels of apo A-I and apo B were powerful discriminators in the normolipidemic CAD patients and that a high insulin response might be an indicator of enhanced susceptibility to the distinct coronary atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

[Blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia with blasts expressing both immature B lymphocyte- and myelomonocyte-associated antigens and differentiating into basophils in vitro].

A 43-year-old woman with Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was diagnosed as having blastic crisis. The phenotype of blasts was CD9+, CD10+, CD19+, CD11b+ and CD33+, suggesting the B Lymphoid and myeloid mixed lineage. Two color analysis of CD10 and CD33 revealed that 50% of blast cells had both B lymphocyte- and myelomonocyte-associated surface markers. Rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was detected. After culturing blasts with 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13 acetate (TPA), basophilic granules appeared in cytoplasm of the cells. These granules were positive for toluidine blue staining. This finding that the biphenotypic blasts expressing both B lymphoid and myelomonocytoid features differentiated into basophils suggests that blasts of this case are derived from a common progenitor of B lymphoid and myeloid lineages including basophil.

Adult↗

[Gynecologic tumor].

The image diagnosis of a gynecologic tumor is progressing with the propagation of magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI), fast X-ray computed tomography (CT), and transvaginal probe. We introduce you the role which an image diagnosis should play in the decision of the therapeutic plan and the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of a uterine cervical cancer, a uterine endometrial cancer, and an ovarian cancer. In a uterine cervical cancer, MRI is useful to grasp the stage and the tumor size, and contributes toward determining a therapeutic plan. In addition, we may guess the response to the therapy, and judge the existence of a residual tumor during or immediately after an irradiation or an intraarterial injection. In a uterine endometrial cancer, MRI will contribute toward demonstrating a cervical invasion and toward assessing a myometrial invasion, therefore may help us to modify a therapeutic plan. To stage an ovarian cancer, it is necessary to visualize a small disseminated lesion. However, as all imaging modalities has a limitation to reveal the small disseminated nodules, they will not replace probe laparotomy. The probability of X-ray CT to take the place of second-look operation by an improvement has been suggested. MRI is poor at the visualization of a dissemination, however it is sometimes helpful for the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of a localizing tumor with demonstrating the changes of the signal intensity. We suppose that also an image diagnosis leaves room for expectation to contribute toward deciding the therapeutic plan of an ovarian cancer.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

[Pulmonary lesion of paraquat poisoning on high resolution CT].

It is well known that paraquat causes severe organ-toxicity and pulmonary damage. We observed the progress of a patient who survived paraquat poisoning, and we recorded the changes in the lung by high resolution CT. The patient was a 35-year-old man who attempted suicide by paraquat (Guramoxone 100 ml) ingestion. At the time of hospitalization, there was no respiratory involvement. Five days after ingestion, an X-ray examination showed only indistinct vascularity of both lung fields, but high resolution CT showed increased density in the central part of both lung fields. According to the clinical progress after ingestion, mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema were noted by chest X-ray examination. On the other hand, severe interstitial pneumonia progression of severe lung fibrosis with a decrease in lung volume and interstitial pulmonary emphysema in addition to mediastinal, subcutaneous emphysema were seen by high resolution CT. High resolution CT is useful for detecting morphologic change and diagnosing clinical stages. Observing the course of changes by high resolution CT is useful for deciding the course of clinical therapy, and we have no hesitation in affirming that it should be used in such cases.

Adult↗

Clinical values for an index predicting postoperative residual liver function by pre-operative liver-scintigraphy in patients with liver disease.

Hepatic resection is essential in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. However, before an operation, it is difficult to predict the functional reserve in the remnant following massive resection. We devised an original method by which effective liver volume was measured by liver scintigraphy. In order to predict the residual liver function before hepatic resection in a preoperative radiocolloid study, we obtained a predictive index by combining the K values with effective liver volumes which seemed to have the estimated residual liver function. Twenty-one patients with liver or biliary tract disease were selected at random for the present study. We divided them into 3 groups in accordance with prognosis after hepatic resection. There were statistically significant difference between the deceased group who died from hepatic failure and the group who died from causes other than hepatic failure; and between the deceased group who died from hepatic failure and the living group in the preictive index (p less than 0.01). Our data suggest that if the predictive index is above 0.45, the probability of hepatic failure after hepatic resection is low. We concluded that our predictive index is useful to use in preoperative prediction of post-hepatectomic residual liver function.

Aged↗

Relation of running distance to plasma HDL-cholesterol level in middle-aged male runners.

This study examined the relation of training distance to plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentration in runners. Forty-eight male endurance runners, aged from 30 to 57 years, were classified into three groups according to training distance (Grade I: n = 12, 30 km/week; Grade II: n = 22, 60 km/week; Grade III: n = 14, 100 km/week in average running distance), with 12 non-lean and 12 lean subjects as age-matched untrained controls. There were no significant differences in plasma total cholesterol among the groups (194-208 mg/dl on average). HDLC level was significantly higher in the untrained, lean group than in the untrained, non-lean men (63 +/- 13 vs. 46 +/- 8 mg/dl, mean +/- SD). HDLC levels in all the runner groups were significantly higher than in untrained, lean subjects, and no differences were observed among Grade I, II and III runner groups (76 +/- 15, 76 +/- 13, 77 +/- 11 mg/dl, respectively). This study suggests that further increases in HDLC could not occur in response to further elevation of training distance in well-trained runners.

Adult↗

Normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism in a case of isolated ACTH deficiency.

This paper documents the rare and hitherto unreported association between isolated ACTH deficiency and normoreninemic hypoaldosteronism in a 63-year-old woman. Baseline plasma aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone were extremely low. Both steroids did not respond to exogenous angiotensin II infusion, whereas they were increased in parallel to ACTH stimulation. Thus, acquired dysfunction or congenital dysgenesis of the zona glomerulosa was suspected. The upright posture-furosemide test showed a subnormal but definite plasma aldosterone response coupled with a normal increase in plasma renin activity, indicating that there may be a yet unidentified mechanism(s) underlying the postural increase of aldosterone.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗

Translocation t(1;3)(p36;q21) in sideroblastic anaemia.

An unique case of primary acquired sideroblastic anaemia (PASA) with hyperactive thrombopoiesis is described. Chromosome study revealed that the bone marrow cells of the affected patient contained t(1;3)(p36;q21). A prominent feature was marked megakaryocytic hyperplasia with dysmegakaryocytopoiesis. The platelet count temporarily exceeded 500 x 10(9)/1. In addition, we studied the cellular distribution of the unusual chromosome abnormality in this case. Few erythroid colonies (CFU-E and BFU-E) were observed and normal numbers of CFU-GM were formed. Some metaphases containing the clonal karyotypic abnormality were found in the granulocyte-macrophage colonies. However, no abnormal metaphases were apparent in preparations of T and B lymphocytes. The findings in the present case suggest that the long arm of chromosome 3 may contain a region involved in the regulation of megakaryopoiesis. Furthermore, our results strongly indicate that the target cell for chromosomal change is not a pluripotent stem cell (common to lymphoid and myeloid cells) but a progenitor cell common to all myeloid lineages.

Anemia, Sideroblastic↗

Effectiveness of long-acting nifedipine in pheochromocytoma.

In the present study, we report a case of pheochromocytoma whose high blood pressure was well controlled by single-agent therapy with long-acting nifedipine, in spite of the failure of the combination of labetalol and prazosin in lowering blood pressure satisfactorily. A 48 year old female was first noted to have hypertension (160/100 mmHg) at 45 years of age. Hypertension was not controlled by conventional antihypertensive drugs. She was admitted to Fukui Prefectural Hospital in September, 1985. Her blood pressure on admission was 210/110 mmHg. Extraction of the left adrenal gland containing a pheochromocytoma (30 x 37 x 10 mm) was performed in November, 1985. Her hypertension and abnormally high plasma noradrenaline (NA) concentration (1,760 pg/ml, normal value 40-350 pg/ml) were sustained even after operation. Combination therapy with labetalol (400 mg/day) and prazosin (6 mg/day) was unsatisfactory, and the addition of long-acting nifedipine (40 mg/day) produced a marked decrease in blood pressure. Furthermore, single therapy with long-acting nifedipine was effective. No reduction of urinary NA excretion was observed in our patient during long-acting nifedipine therapy, suggesting that the decrease in blood pressure was not caused by suppression of NA release from pheochromocytoma tissue.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Regulation of lipoprotein receptors on a rat hepatoma cell line.

The rat H-35 cultured hepatoma cell line expresses receptors for homologous lipoproteins. In previously reported experiments distinct receptors were identified for chylomicron remnants, HDL and LDL, by direct binding studies that yielded distinctive binding constants, cross competition assays, and by differential inhibitory effects of EDTA and suramin. In the present experiments, the regulation of expression of these receptors was assessed by growing cells either in the presence or absence of lipoproteins in the media and by growing cells to different densities (50-800 micrograms cell protein/dish). LDL binding to cells was increased by lipoprotein deprivation at all cell densities. LDL binding was inversely related to cell density when cells were grown in lipoprotein deficient serum (LPDS) but cell density did not affect LDL binding by cells grown in newborn calf serum (NBCS). By contrast HDL binding was not appreciably different whether cells were grown in NBCS or in LPDS. However, HDL binding was inversely related to cell density by cells grown either in LPDS or in NBCS. Binding of chylomicron remnants was increased by growth in LPDS at all densities, but altering growth density in either culture medium had little effect on the cellular binding of chylomicron remnants. The distinctive effects of these experimental perturbations on the binding of the 3 lipoprotein classes tend to confirm the presence of 3 separate receptor activities. The experiments also demonstrate that the responses at least of some of the receptors of the hepatoma cells in culture resemble those of hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effects of physical exercise on plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein metabolism in elderly men.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein metabolism in elderly men. We measured plasma concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins (apo) in 12 elderly runners (OR), 12 elderly sedentary controls, 16 young runners (YR), and 15 young sedentary controls. Although there were no significant differences in plasma levels of cholesterol (Ch), triglyceride, and phospholipid between two old groups and between two young groups, OR and YR had decreased levels of VLDL-Ch (42% and 59% of respective control) and LDL-Ch (90%, 94%), and increased levels of HDL-Ch (133%, 112%), apo A-I (109%, 101%), and apo A-II (109%, 105%). These data indicate that physical exercise may have favorable effects on plasma concentrations of lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in OR as well as in YR, and affect HDL-lipids, HDL-proteins, and ratio of HDL-proteins/HDL-lipids.

Adult↗