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Biomedical subjects

T Ueno

Publications and source records attributed to T Ueno.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

[Information processing deficits in depression in terms of event-related potentials: in comparison with schizophrenics and normal controls].

Information processing deficits characteristic of remitted major depression, which may be a vulnerability marker for the disease, were examined from two aspects by means of visual event-related potentials (ERPs) obtained during simple and discriminative response tasks: 1. To clarify the difference in cognitive dysfunction between both depressives and schizophrenics in remission, we compared the ERPs in remitted depressive patients (n = 11) and remitted schizophrenic patients (n = 9) with those of age, and sex-matched controls (n = 10). 2. To clarify the influence of aging on information processing in remitted depression, ERPs in young remitted depressives (20-46 years old, n = 11) were compared with those in older remitted depressives (52-75 years old, n = 11) in contrast to young (n = 10) and older (n = 11) controls. The remitted schizophrenics showed a retardation in NA and N2 latencies and a reduction in P3 amplitude. However, P1 increased in amplitude exclusively in the remitted depressives. The effect of stimulus discrimination on N1 seen in the controls was absent in both patient groups. The results suggest that the remitted depressives had an attentional deficit in early information processing reflected on P1 and N1 potentials, while the remitted schizophrenics had an extensive cognitive dysfunction reflected on N1, NA, N2, and P3 potentials. Although the effect of stimulus discrimination on N1 was absent in both young and older remitted depressive patients, older patients showed no effects of normal aging on ERPs such as P1 increase or N1 increase during discrimination tasks. Significant interaction effects between diagnosis and aging were found by ANOVA only in the laterality of the P1 amplitude. Older remitted depressives showed an unbalanced right-predominance in P1 amplitude. These results suggest that older remitted depressives had the same early information-processing deficit seen in the young remitted depressives as well as an overactivation over the right hemisphere in the attentional mechanism, irrespective of normal aging.

Adult↗

[A case of far-advanced gastric cancer treated with continuous 5-fluorouracil injection and intrahepatic arterial infusion of low-dose cisplatin].

A 57-year-old man suffering from gastric cancer with esophageal invasion and liver and paraaortic lymph nodes metastases was treated with continuous 5-FU injection and intra-hepatic arterial infusion of low-dose cisplatin following non-curative surgery. The patient had shown a partial response (PR) in both metastatic lesions with little side effect. In the period following his operation, he was able to sustain a relatively good quality of life and died 16 months after the operation. Continuous injection of 5-FU and low-dose cisplatin infusion could become one of the effective pre-operative chemotherapies for patients with far-advanced gastric cancer when performing a curative resection.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[New molecular target of cancer therapy--angiogenesis regulator VEGF].

Recent studies on angiogenesis in human solid tumors have underlined its importance as therapeutic target. In particular, of interest is to suppress the function of several positive regulators including vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor and thymidine phosphorylase, because they are evident to be responsible for the promotion of neovascularization in a variety of tumor types. In this review, we picked up VEGF, probably one of most promising target, and discuss about the therapeutic tools for controlling VEGF function in human tumors.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Long-term smoking impairs platelet-derived nitric oxide release.

BACKGROUND: Long-term smoking impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which is mediated by nitric oxide (NO). However, it is unknown whether long-term smoking impairs the platelet-derived NO release, which regulates platelet aggregation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Platelet-derived electrical current induced by collagen was measured with an NO-selective electrode in 12 smokers and 11 nonsmokers. Collagen-induced intraplatelet cGMP and platelet aggregation was measured in smokers and nonsmokers. S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine, a direct NO donor, dose dependently increased in electrical current (r = .99). Collagen induced platelet aggregation and dose dependently increased electrical current (r = .94). Collagen-induced electrical current and cGMP were significantly augmented by L-arginine, a precursor of NO, and attenuated by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthesis. Significant correlation was found between collagen-induced electrical current and cGMP (r = .73). These findings indicate that the change in electrical current reflects the NO release through the L-arginine-NO pathway in platelets. Collagen-induced electrical current (6.7 versus 13.8 pA; P < .001) and cGMP (1.2 versus 3.0 pmol/10(9) platelets; P < .005) were significantly lower in smokers than in nonsmokers. Although L-arginine increased cGMP levels in both smokers and nonsmokers, the level was still lower in smokers than in nonsmokers. The inhibitory effect of L-arginine on collagen-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower in smokers than in nonsmokers (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that platelet-derived NO release is significantly impaired in long-term smokers, resulting in the augmentation of platelet aggregability.

Adult↗

Dynamic changes of cathepsins B and L expression in the monkey hippocampus after transient ischemia.

Enzymatic activities, expressions, and the immunohistochemical localization of lysosomal cystein proteases, cathepsins B and L, were analyzed in the monkey hippocampus after transient ischemia to clarify the mechanism of delayed cornu Ammonis (CA)-1 neuronal death. By enzymatic assay, the activity of cathepsin B increased in CA-1, 24 h after the ischemic insult, while that of cathepsin L decreased. On Western blotting, the protein contents of both cathepsins B and L increased immediately after ischemia. By immunohistochemistry, cathepsins B and L were stained as coarse granules in the perikarya of control CA-1 neurons, but in postischemic CA-1 neurons they were released from lysosome granules. In contrast, in CA-2 and the remaining sectors, enzymatic activities increased after ischemia, and immunoreactivities of cathepsins B and L increased only within lysosome granules. These results suggest that cathepsins B and L may play an important role in the breakdown of certain cell proteins in the postischemic CA-1 neurons.

Animals↗

Two amine oxidases from Aspergillus niger AKU 3302 contain topa quinone as the cofactor: unusual cofactor link to the glutamyl residue occurs only at one of the enzymes.

Amine oxidases (EC 1.4.3.6) from Aspergillus niger, AO-I (2 x 75 kDa) and AO-II (80 kDa), were examined to determine the cofactor structure. Inactivated with p-nitrophenylhydrazine, they showed absorption and fluorescence spectra similar to those published for other copper amine oxidases and to topa hydantoin p-nitrophenylhydrazone. After digestion by thermolysin and pronase, cofactor peptides were purified by HPLC and sequenced. For thermolytic peptides, a typical topa consensus sequence, Asn-X-Glu-Tyr, was obtained for AO-II, although in case of AO-I it overlapped with Val-Val-Ile-Glu-Pro-Tyr-Gly. For pronase peptides of AO-I, only the latter sequence was obtained. NMR and mass spectroscopy confirmed the residue X as topa p-nitrophenylhydrazone in AO-II and revealed the presence of a residue Z attached to the Glu in the peptide Val-Val-Ile-Glu(Z)-Pro of AO-I. This residue was separated from the peptide by hydrolysis and identified as a product derived from topa quinone. The data, together with amino-acid sequence of AO-I, confer strong evidence for topa quinone as the cofactor, bound in the typical consensus sequence. Raman spectra of the p-nitrophenylhydrazone derivative of AO-I and its pronase peptide showed essentially the same peaks matching to a model compound for topa p-nitrophenylhydrazone. However, there may exist an unusual ester link between the topa-404 and Glu-145 in the native enzyme.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation with duodenal ulcer. Demonstration by color Doppler ultrasonography.

We report the color Doppler ultrasonography features of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the pancreas, a very rare disease. The patient was a 52-year-old man with congenital AVM of the pancreas and a duodenal ulcer that had been resistant to medication. Endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography (color Doppler EUS) revealed many abnormal color signals showing pulsatile wave form at the portion of the duodenal wall involving the duodenal ulcer. Extracorporeal color Doppler ultrasonography revealed a mosaic-like color signal, caused by turbulent flow, in the portal trunk. Angiography demonstrated a vascular network with extensive proliferation at the pancreatic head and early portal filling. It is possible that the pancreatic AVM had caused the duodenal ulcer. Color Doppler EUS can be a useful modality for detection of vessel abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

Cutaneous metastases from pancreatic cancer.

Cutaneous metastases originating from pancreatic cancer are relatively rare. Five cases of metastatic pancreatic cancer to the skin are presented and discussed with a review of 17 previous case reports. In 20 cases, the cutaneous metastases were present prior to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The most common site of cutaneous metastases originating from pancreatic cancer was the umbilicus. Although such cases are rare, it is important to note that metastatic lesions in the skin may be the first sign and one type of distant metastases originating from pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Surgical atrial septostomy without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Surgical atrial septostomy using a special atriotomy knife without cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with obstruction of the left-sided atrioventricular valve and complex cardiac anomalies is described. This procedure is effective, safe, and economical for patients in the acute stage after intracardiac repair, and available for patients with a closed fossa ovalis.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Altered endogenous negativities of the visual event-related potential in remitted schizophrenia.

Visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a simple response task (SRT) and a discriminative response task (DRT) in remitted schizophrenic outpatients and age-matched controls to examine 2 endogenous negative potentials: NA and N2c. The NA potentials were derived by subtracting the ERPs for SRT from those for non-target stimuli in DRT. Other subtracting wave forms, N2c potentials, were calculated as the difference between ERPs for target and non-target stimuli in DRT. Schizophrenics showed retardation in NA and N2c peaks and degradation in N2c amplitude relative to controls. The NA peak latency increased as much as the latencies of N2c and reaction time for DRT in schizophrenia. The NA peak emerged prior to the N2c peak, while the NA peak latency correlated closely with the N2c latency. These results indicate that the retarded NA peak latency may serve as a physiological marker for neurobiological vulnerability of schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

Cranial defect and decrease in cerebral blood flow resulting from deep contact burn of the scalp in the neonatal period.

A case of cranial defect in the anterior fontanelle region is reported. The patient suffered a deep contact burn on the right parietofrontal region in the neonatal period. At age 3 years, a bone defect of 30 x 20 mm was observed in the right parietofrontal region, including the anterior fontanelle, and the pulsation of the brain was palpable. Moreover, scintigraphy of cerebral blood flow using SPECT with 99mTc-HMPAO demonstrated extensive decrease in blood flow in the right parietosquamosal region. Cranioplasty was performed at 3 years and 4 months using split ribs grafts and at age 5 years and 4 months using split-thickness calvarial bone grafts. After the cranioplasty, there was no bony defect and no region of reduced blood flow. The child is developing well.

Brain↗

Surgical treatment for acute aortic arch dissection.

Between March 1983 and December 1993, 24 consecutive patients with acute aortic dissection resulting from a tear located in the aortic arch or at the base of the innominate artery underwent surgical treatment. Before 1988, 11 patients (group 1) underwent either isolated ascending aorta replacement (eight cases) or composite graft replacement (three) by the conventional method. In this group, the hospital mortality rate was 36.4%; two of seven surviving patients required reoperation for aortic arch. After 1989, 13 patients (group 2) underwent either hemiarch replacement (five cases), total arch replacement (three), extended ascending aortic replacement or composite graft replacement with hemiarch replacement (one) under a brief period of circulatory arrest (mean 33.3 min) at a mean(range) rectal temperature of 20.8(18-23) degrees C by open distal anastomosis. The operative mortality rate in group 2 was 15.4%. Ten of 13 surviving patients are free from reoperation (mean follow-up 40 months). In most patients with acute type A dissection in which the tear is located at the proximal aortic arch or at the base of the innominate artery, the use of an open technique during a brief period of hypothermic circulatory arrest is advocated to: (1) perform a more secure distal anastomosis; (2) provide a more accurate assessment and resection of intimal disruption; and (3) avoid further aortic injury from the cross-clamp.

Acute Disease↗

Repair of aortopulmonary window in an infant with extremely low birth weight.

Although transaortic patch repair under cardiopulmonary bypass is a suitable procedure for aortopulmonary window, another method without cardiopulmonary bypass may be the only one for an infant with extremely low birth weight. We describe a successful repair of an infant with extremely low birth weight (758 g) by closing the window with a clip through a left thoracotomy. Cardiac catheterization 7 months after the operation showed no residual shunt and no stenosis of ascending aorta, pulmonary artery, or coronary arteries in the patient, whom we believe to be one of the smallest with successful repair.

Aortopulmonary Septal Defect↗

Evaluation of hyaluronic acid binding ability of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells in rats with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In liver cirrhosis, the binding and degradation of hyaluronic acid in the hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells are considered to be reduced by development of hepatic sinusoidal capillarization, resulting in high serum hyaluronic acid concentration. The aim of this study is to clarify the cause of high blood hyaluronic acid concentration in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Liver cirrhosis was induced in rats by thioacetamide administration. In vivo observation of sinusoidal capillarization, in vitro immunolocalization of factor VIII-related antigen and CD44, and [14C]hyaluronic acid binding in cultured sinusoidal endothelial cells were determined. RESULTS: Basement membranes were observed on the basal side of sinusoidal endothelial cells. The fenestrae and fluorescent intensity of anti-CD44 bound to the cells decreased with progression of hepatic fibrosis. Immunofluorescent reactive products of factor VIII-related antigen were more abundant in the cirrhotic rats compared with the controls. Amount of [14C]hyaluronic acid binding was significantly decreased in the cirrhotic group compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS: One reason that the blood hyaluronic acid concentration increases markedly in liver cirrhosis is considered to be the reduction in hyaluronic acid receptors of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells and in the amount of hyaluronic acid binding to the cells.

Animals↗