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Biomedical subjects

Y Fukuchi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Fukuchi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Swallowing rehabilitation in an elderly patient with Wallenberg's syndrome--role of videofluorography and the swallowing provocation test].

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our department due to severe dysphagia, dysarthria, and aspiration pneumonia. Dysphagia and dysarthria were caused by lateral medullary infarction (Wallenberg' s syndrome). After the patient recovered from pneumonia, the abnormality of swallowing was assessed by a swallowing provocation test and videofluorography. Two months after the start of swallowing training, a swallowing provocation test showed that the swallowing reflex had improved and videofluorography showed that the magnitude of aspiration to the trachea had decreased. The patient began taking food by mouth. These tests are useful for quantitative assessment of dysphagia and for deciding when to start oral intake in elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Two elderly patients with Rhabdomyolysis and respiratory infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae].

Rhabdomyolysis is not common in the elderly. Two elderly patients with rhabdomyolysis and respiratory infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The first patient was a 71-year-old woman with bronchiectasis who admitted to our hospital due to pneumonia. The second patient was an 84-year-old man who was admitted because of appetite loss, fever, and a cough producing of yellowish sputum. In both patients, sputum cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae, but blood cultures were not. The serum creatine kinase levels peaked on the day of admission at levels ten to thirty times higher than fold above the upper limit of normal; the serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were 1.5 times higher than the upper limit of normal. The creatine kinase levels returned to normal 5 to 7 days after admission, treated with antibiotics and recovered from pneumonia. The cases of these two patients, along with those described in previous reports of rhabdomyolysis associated with pneumococcal pneumonia indicate that measuring the serum creatine kinase level is important in detecting rhabdomyolysis, especially in elderly patients with respiratory infection caused by S. pneumoniae, and detection may help to prevent renal failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Duration of effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Pulmonary rehabilitation has been reported to be effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To investigate the effect of a moderate period of pulmonary rehabilitation combined with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in elderly patients with COPD, we instituted pulmonary rehabilitation for 60 weeks in five elderly patients (age: 65.4 +/- 3.7 SE years). IMT was performed for 15 min twice daily using a pressure threshold device. The inspiratory threshold was set at 15% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) of each individual. Maximal peak flow significantly increased from 3.0 +/- 0.6 (L/s) at baseline to 4.1 +/- 0.7 (L/s) after 12 weeks (p < 0.02) and was maintained at that level for 60 weeks. PImax increased significantly from 49.9 +/- 6.4 cmH2O at baseline to 67.3 +/- 3.0 cmH2O after 12 weeks (p < 0.05) and to 72.8 +/- 3.5 cmH2O (p < 0.02) after 60 weeks of rehabilitation. The 10-minute walking distance increased from 666.6 +/- 55.0 to 764.0 +/- 49.9 m (p < 0.05) after 12 weeks and was maintained at the same level. We conclude that pulmonary rehabilitation combined with IMT improves pulmonary function and inspiratory muscle strength in elderly patients with COPD between for 12 weeks after commencement, but occurs that no significant increase on lung function or 10-minute walking distance from 12 to 60 weeks. Respiratory muscle strength may further increase after 60 weeks.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

[The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation combined with inspiratory muscle training on pulmonary function and inspiratory muscle strength in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

It has been suggested that pulmonary rehabilitation compined with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) might improve pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To test this hypothesis, inspiratory muscle strength (PImax), expiratory muscle strength (PEmax) and resting pulmonary function were measured in 13 elderly patients with COPD (aged 70.3 +/- 2.7 years). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) was performed for 15 min twice a day, using a pressure threshold device, for a total of 12 weeks. The inspiratory threshold was set at 15% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) for each individual. Pulmonary rehabilitation was performed for 12-h sessions over a 12-week period. Patients with COPD were assigned randomly to two groups: pulmonary rehabilitation combined with IMT (group A) (n = 7), and conventional pulmonary rehabilitation only (group B) (n = 6). Functional residual capacity (FRC) decreased significantly from 4.3 +/- 0.4 L at baseline to 3.9 +/- 0.4 L after rehabilitation (p < 0.01), Vp significantly increased from 4.6 +/- 0.8 L/sec at baseline to 5.1 +/- 0.7 L/sec after rehabilitation (p < 0.05) and the PImax increased significantly from 51.5 +/- 5.4 cmH2O at baseline to 80.9 +/- 7.0 cmH2O after rehabilitation (p < 0.02) in group A. However, these variables did not change in group B. There was no improvement in the 10-minutes walking distance of group A, but there was a significant increase in that of group B. It can be concluded that pulmonary rehabilitation combined with IMT improves pulmonary function and inspiratory muscle strength in elderly patients with COPD.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Transfer of genes to human airway epithelial cells in vitro via DNA virus vectors].

Transfer of genes via DNA virus vectors to human airway epithelial cells is not fully understood. We tested the effects of multiplicities of infection (moi) and incubation time on the efficiency of gene transfer by adenovirus vectors and AAV vectors in cultures of human airway epithelial cells. The cells were exposed to Ad-CMV-lacZ or AAV-CMV-LacZ for 1 to 48 hours at different moi from 0.1 to 100. Efficiency of transduction was assessed as the percentage of cells that expressed LacZ, and was measured by using X-gal staining. A dose-dependent relationship was found between vector moi and the percentage of cells that expressed LacZ. For both vectors, gene expression was greater when incubation time was longer (up to 12 hours), which suggests that the uptake of vectors into the cells is not selective. Efficiency of transduction did not differ between adenovirus and AAV vectors at the same moi. These results suggest that (1) gene transfer via DNA virus vectors increases in a moi-dependent fashion, and that (2) gene expression of the DNA virus vector may be increased by prolonged exposure of the vector to human airway epithelial cells.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

[The effect of inhaled anticholinergic drug on dyspnea and on the physiologic function of respiratory system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The mechanism underlying the relief of the sensation of dyspnea during exercise following the inhalation of anticholinergic drug in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been fully elucidated. We examined pulmonary function, static respiratory pressure, and dyspneic sensations during exercise before and after the inhalation of oxitropium bromide (OTB) in 14 male patients with COPD. FEV1 and FVC were increased after the inhalation of OTB, whereas RV and the ratio of RV to TLC were decreased after inhalation. Maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax) was significantly increased after the administration of OTB. Dyspneic sensation during exercise, measured as a Borg scale slope (BSS, delta BS/ delta Vo2) were reduced after the inhalation of OTB. There were significant correlations among BSS, PImax and RV/TLC. These results suggest that a reduction in air trapping after the inhalation of OTB may enhance the ability of the to diaphragm generate pressure at a given neural input, resulting in a reduced sensation of dyspnea during exercise in patients with COPD.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

Airway and lung tissue behaviour during endothelin-1 induced constriction in rats: effects of receptor antagonists.

Endothelin (ET) 1, a 21 amino acid constrictor peptide, is one of the most potent agonists of airway smooth muscle and acts on two different receptors, i.e., ETA and ETB receptors. Recently, it has been shown that there are species and organ differences in physiological roles of each ET receptor. In rats, however, the physiological roles of ET receptors remain to be clarified. We questioned whether ET-1 might affect airway and lung tissue via different ET receptor subtypes in rats. To answer this question, we investigated the effects of ET-1 on lung behaviour in anesthetized, open-chested, mechanically ventilated (f = 1 Hz, VT = 9 mL/kg, PEEP = 3 cmH2O (1 cmH2O = 98.1 Pa)) rats in the absence or the presence of ETA and ETB selective antagonists, i.e., BQ-123 and BQ-788, respectively. Using alveolar capsules, we calculated lung elastance (EL), resistance of lung (RL), tissue (Rti), and airway (Raw), and hysteresivity (eta = 2 pifRti/EL) under control conditions and after intravenous administration of ET-1 (10(-8) mol/kg). ET-1 induced significant increases in RL, Rti, Raw, EL, and eta. BQ-123 did not affect ET-1 induced constriction, while BQ-788 significantly reduced delta RL, delta Rti, delta Raw, delta EL during ET-1 induced constriction. The effects of the combination of BQ-123 and BQ-788 were not different compared with BQ-788. Eta was not affected by BQ-123 and BQ-788. These data suggest that ETB, but not ETA, receptors may have significant physiological roles in rat lungs in response to ET-1.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1997

[Age-related changes in static maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures].

We evaluated 240 consecutive subjects (aged 20-91) without cardiopulmonary, endocrine or, neuromuscular disease consecutively regarding pulmonary function (TLC, VC, FEV1, RV) and static maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) pressures. PImax and PEmax declined with advancing age. PImax correlated with grip strength, VC, FEV1, height, weight, and RV/TLC. PEmax also correlated with grip strength, TLC, VC, FEV1, height, and weight. Age, height, weight, and grip strength were entered stepwise into multiple linear regression models with PImax or PEmax as the dependent variable. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that grip strength was an independent predictor for both PImax and PEmax. However, age itself was not an independent predictor for PImax or PEmax. These results suggest that static maximal respiratory pressures decrease with aging, and that age-dependent changes in respiratory muscle function may depend on other factors, including lung volume, skeletal muscle status, and body composition.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor on the transduction efficiency of an deno-associated virus vector in human airway epithelial cells].

We tested the effects of a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor (camptothecin; CPT) on the transduction efficiency of AAV vectors in cultured human airway epithelial cells. The cells were treated with CPT for 24 hours, then exposed to AAV-CMV-LacZ for 1 hour at different multiplicities of infection (moi). Transduction efficiency of AAV vectors was assessed using X-gal staining as the percentage of LacZ-expressing cells. The transduction efficiency was approximately 1.5 to 10 fold increased by treatment with CPT prior to AAV vector exposure. However, treatment with CPT after AAV vector infection did not enhance the transduction efficiency of the vectors. These results suggest that pre-treatment with CPT increases the transduction efficiency of AAV vectors, probably by nodulating cellular function.

Camptothecin↗
PubMed1996

Effects of activin A on proliferation and differentiation of human lung fibroblasts.

An increase in fibroblasts and associated connective tissue is a feature of pulmonary fibrosis. Activin A belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) supergene family and is known to have important roles in the induction of mesoderm and differentiation processes during development in early embryogenesis. It also modifies the growth and differentiation of various target cells. In this study we determined whether activin A could modulate human lung fibroblast (HFL1) activity, particularly with respect to proliferation and its differentiation into myofibroblast. A maximal effect on cell proliferation was observed at a low concentration of activin A (10(-11) M), and the effect of activin A was abolished by follistatin, an activin-binding protein. Activin A stimulated differentiation of HFL1 into myofibroblast in a dose-dependent manner. Thus activin A has potential effects on proliferation of lung fibroblast and its differentiation into myofibroblast, and may contribute to structural remodeling observed in pulmonary fibrosis.

Actins↗
PubMed1996

Effect of age on alteration of glutathione metabolism following chronic cigarette smoke inhalation in mice.

Cigarette smoke is the most common oxidant stress in daily life and may affect the antioxidant capacity in humans and animals. The antioxidant functions may play an important role in preventing age-related disorders. However, influences of chronic cigarette smoke on the antioxidant capacity of visceral organs have not been investigated in the age. Senescene-accelerated mice (SAM) are good models for studying physiologic and/or pathologic aging. A senescene-prone strain, SAMP2, shows characteristics of premature aging. The senescence-resistant strain, SAMR1, exhibits relatively normal aging. In this study we examined the effects of chronic cigarette smoke exposure on the glutathione (GSH) metabolism of visceral organs in the two strains of mice that were 6 and 18 months old. After a 4-week cigarette or air exposure, total GSH and oxidized GSH (GSSG) in the organs were examined. In the young (6-month-old) mice, exposure to cigarette smoke caused a significant decrease of GSH in liver, blood, and lung of SAMP2 but not in those of SAMR1. In the aged (18-month-old) mice reduced GSH with a marked increase of GSSG were found in liver of both strains of SAM following cigarette smoke exposure. The baseline values of GSH and the GSSG/GSH ratio after air exposure were slightly changed with age, and the values after exposure to cigarette smoke were changed markedly with advancing age. These results indicate that GSH metabolism may be impaired by chronic cigarette smoke exposure in mice and that aged mice are more susceptible to cigarette smoke than young mice.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Establishment of human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor producing transgenic SCID mice.

Previous work has shown the usefulness of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice as in vivo models for the growth of normal human haemopoietic cells and leukaemic cells. Many approaches have been made to improve the engraftment of human haemopoietic cells in SCID mice. We established transgenic mice producing human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) with the homozygote of the scid gene. Endogenous serum hGM-CSF levels were detected by ELISA [mean 9585 pg/ml (line A, n = 4); mean 1610 pg/ml (line B, n = 4)]. Expression of hGM-CSF was observed in all organs tested including the heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, thymus, bone marrow and brain of hGM-CSF transgenic (hGMTg) mice. Morphological analysis of organs and peripheral blood cell counts showed no differences between hGMTg mice and their littermates. Murine Ba/F3 cells expressing functional hGM-CSF alpha beta receptor (BAF/alpha beta cells) could be successfully engrafted in hGMTg SCID mice. The cells invaded multiple organs and caused death within a few weeks of transplantation, although they infiltrated only the spleen of their littermates. These results showed that these hGM-CSF-producing SCID mice are useful as an in vivo assay system for investigating leukaemogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Bullous emphysema.

Bullae are usually associated with varying degrees of emphysema, and bullous emphysema may be an appropriate term for bullous diseases. Recent advances in high-resolution computed tomography and thoracoscopic surgery allow us to improve both our knowledge of as well as the surgical outcomes for bullous emphysema. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of bullae and their association with emphysema are not yet elucidated. Further investigation, including animal studies, may be helpful in solving the questions from the perspectives of etiology, pathology, and function in bullous emphysema.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Detection of human T lymphotropic virus type I proviral DNA in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis.

In Japan a number of reported cases of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) have been associated with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. In this study the hypothesis that HTLV-I proviral DNA may be prevalent in DPB was examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the region of env or the two-step PCR for the pX region of this virus. The presence of HTLV-I proviral DNA was studied in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 10 patients with DPB. The presence of proviral DNA in PBMC in 12 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), eight patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), four patients disease were also studied as relevant controls. The lung tissue obtained from 11 patients with DPB, 12 patients with diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis (DAB) at autopsy, and the surgical lung samples obtained from 12 patients with bronchogenic cancer were also studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from one DPB patient and one bronchogenic carcinoma patient were positive for the HTLV-I pX region. The presence of the pX region was also found in the lung tissue of three DPB patients (27.3%) and one DAB patient (8.3%). None of other subjects were positive for HTLV-I proviral DNA, In conclusion, HTLV-I is not the causative virus in the pathogenesis of COPD, IIP, bronchiectasis and bronchogenic carcinoma. There is a likelihood that HTLV-I infection is associated with some cases of DPB; however this association needs further verification.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1996

Effects of lung volume on airway resistance during induced constriction in papain-treated rabbits.

It has been reported that both the elasticity of the cartilage and airway-parenchymal interdependence can modify shortening of the airway smooth muscle and airway narrowing during induced constriction. We hypothesized that induced softening of the cartilage could alter airway compliance and/or the forces of mechanical interdependence, resulting in an increased degree of airway narrowing in response to a contractile stimulus. To test this hypothesis, we compared the effects of changing lung volume on airway resistance (Raw) under baseline conditions and during methacholine (MCh)-induced constriction in papain-treated (n = 6) and control rabbits (n = 6). With use of the alveolar capsule technique, Raw was directly measured under baseline conditions at different levels of end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure (Ptp = 4-12 cmH2O). Then aerosolized MCh was delivered (0.2-25 mg/ml) and measurements were performed at different levels of Ptp (4 and 12 cmH2O). From measured tracheal flow and tracheal and alveolar pressure in open-chest animals during mechanical ventilation (tidal volume = 6 ml/kg, breathing frequency = 1 Hz), we calculated Raw by subtracting tissue resistance from lung resistance. Papain treatment significantly increased Raw both under baseline conditions and after induced constriction. We found that increasing Ptp decreased Raw before and after MCh in both groups; however, the effects of changing Ptp on Raw were less in papain-treated animals. These observations suggest that both cartilage elasticity and mechanical interdependence are important determinants of airway smooth muscle shortening. The observation that volume dependence of Raw was less in papain-treated animals is consistent with the hypothesis that papain effects significant changes in the parenchymal attachments.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1996

Lung tissue behavior in the mouse during constriction induced by methacholine and endothelin-1.

Recently, mice have been extensively used to investigate the pathogenesis of pulmonary disease because appropriate murine models, including transgenic mice, are being increasingly developed. However, little information about the lung mechanics of mice is currently available. We questioned whether lung tissue behavior and the coupling between dissipative and elastic processes, hysteresivity (eta), in mice would be different from those in the other species. To address this question, we investigated whether tissue resistance (Rti) and eta in mice would be affected by varying lung volume, constriction induced by methacholine (MCh) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), and high-lung-volume challenge during induced constriction. From measured tracheal flow and tracheal and alveolar pressures in open-chest ICR mice during mechanical ventilation [tidal volume = 8 ml/kg, frequency (f) = 2.5 Hz], we calculated lung resistance (RL), Rti, airway resistance (Raw), lung elastance (EL), and eta (= 2piRti/EL). Under baseline conditions, increasing levels of end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure decreased Raw and increased Rti. The administration of aerosolized MCh and intravenous ET-1 increased RL, Rti, Raw, and EL in a dose-dependent manner. Rti increased from 0.207 +/- 0.010 to 0.570 +/- 0.058 cmH2O.ml-1.s after 10(-7) mol/kg ET-1 (P < 0.01). After induced constriction, increasing end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure decreased Raw. However, eta was not affected by changing lung volume, constriction induced by MCh and ET-1, or high-lung-volume challenge during induced constriction. These observations suggest that 1) eta is stable in mice regardless of various conditions, 2) Rti is an important fraction of RL and increases after induced contriction, and 3) mechanical interdependence may affect airway smooth muscle shortening in this species. In mammalian species, including mice, analysis of eta may indicate that both Rti and EL essentially respond to a similar degree.

Airway Resistance↗