Biomedical subjects

Y Hiraga

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hiraga.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Neither too sweet nor too sour: problem peers, maternal control, and problem behavior in African American adolescents.

This study examined whether maternal control protects African American adolescents from the negative influence of problem peers. Two forms of control were examined, behavioral control and psychological control. It was hypothesized that there would be a curvilinear relation between control and adolescent problem behavior, with the strength of the relationship and the amount of control optimal for adolescent development varying by the level of peer problem behavior. In general, data supported this model, particularly in regard to behavioral control, where the predicted curvilinear interaction occurred even after controlling for initial levels of problem behavior. The predicted curvilinear interaction between psychological control and peer problem behavior was statistically significant if initial levels of problem behavior were not controlled for but was not significant after controlling for initial problem behavior. These findings suggest that high-quality parenting can play a modest but critical role in the face of environmental adversity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

HLA class II genotyping of sarcoidosis patients in Hokkaido by PCR-RFLP.

To confirm the significant association of sarcoidosis with HLA-DR5, -DR6, and -DR8 associated DRB1 alleles, in sarcoidosis patients from the eastern Japan (Kanto) area found in our previous study, we used HLA class II genotyping of patients in another region-Hokkaido, in northern Japan. The annual incidence of sarcoidosis in Hokkaido is about three times that of eastern Japan, and Hokkaido has one of the world's highest incidences of this disease. For the HLA class II (HLA-DRB1, -DRB3, -DQA1, -DQB1) genotyping, we used the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method with 150 subjects: 40 sarcoidosis patients and 110 healthy controls. The frequencies of DRB1*12, DRB1*14, DRB1*08, DQA1*0501, and DQB1*0301 were significantly increased in the patients, compared with the controls. Our finding of a high frequency of DRB1*08 (which lacks the DRB3 gene encoding the DR52 antigen) in patients living in both eastern Japan and in Hokkaido, confirms that it is the HLA-DRB1 locus, rather than that of the HLA-DRB3, -DQA1, or -DQB1, which determines the susceptibility to sarcoidosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Endoscopic treatment of submucosal invasive colorectal carcinoma with special reference to risk factors for lymph node metastasis.

A clinicopathological analysis of the risk factors for lymph node metastasis was performed in 177 patients with submucosal invasive colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The submucosal deepest invasive portion was histologically subclassified as well (W), moderately (M), or poorly (Por) differentiated. M type was further subdivided into moderately-well (Mw) and moderately-poorly (Mp) differentiated. The pattern of tumor growth was classified as polypoid growth (PG) and non-polypoid growth (NPG). Lymph node metastasis was detected in 21 (12%) of the 177 patients. Macroscopically, type IIc and IIa + IIc lesions showed a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (44% and 30%) than type IIa and I (4% and 8%). Regarding the histologic subclassification, Por and Mp lesions showed a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (67% and 37%) than W and Mw lesions (4% and 14%). NPG tumors showed a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (29%) than PG tumors (7%). The depth of submucosal invasion and lymphatic invasion (ly) were also significantly correlated with the incidence of lymph node metastasis (submucosal scanty (sm-s) invasion 4%, massive invasion 20%; ly(+) 23%, ly(-) 5%). None of the lesions with both sm-s invasion and of W or Mw type showed lymph node metastasis. These results indicate that submucosal invasive CRC with both sm-s invasion and of W or Mw type, which shows no ly, is the appropriate indication for endoscopic curative treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1995

[Incidence of herpes zoster in pediatricians and history of reexposure to varicella-zoster virus in patients with herpes zoster].

We found that pediatricians have enhanced specific cellular immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) compared with the general population, which may be due to reexposure to VZV from children with chickenpox. There have been some reported that the varicella vaccine enhance the specific cellular immunity. To estimate the efficacy of varicella vaccine for protection against herpes zoster in the elderly, we investigated the incidence of herpes zoster in 500 pediatricians and family practitioners with their fifties and sixties, and history of reexposure to VZV in 61 patients with herpes zoster by questionnaires retrospectively. Thirty-four of 352 pediatricians had a past history of herpes zoster. The incidence per 100,000 person-years of herpes zoster was 65.2 in those in their fifties and 158.2 in those in their sixties, which are 1/2 to 1/8 of other reports regarding the general population. Among 61 immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster, only 4 patients (6.6%) had the chance for reexpose to VZV before their herpes zoster. Only 7 (17.5%) of the 40 patients older than 50 years of age lived with their children less than 14 years of age. Twenty-three (57.5%) of them lived without their children and grandchildren. They are thought to be less chance to reexpose to VZV through children. We may think that the booster effect by reexposure to VZV plays an important role to prevent herpes zoster. Therefore, we can speculate that the varicella vaccine may protect against herpes zoster in the elderly by the enhanced specific cellular immunity due to the booster effect.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Reactivation of chickenpox contracted in infancy.

Varicella zoster virus DNA in mononuclear cells was studied by the polymerase chain reaction to obtain virological evidence of reactivation in the children who had contracted chickenpox in infancy. The results appear to explain why chickenpox in infancy is a risk factor for herpes zoster in immunocompetent children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Circulating gamma delta-T-cell-receptor-positive lymphocytes in sarcoidosis.

We investigated phenotypic surface markers of peripheral blood lymphocytes including expression of gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR gamma delta) in 185 patients with sarcoidosis and 42 normal subjects. The proportion of TCR gamma delta+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with sarcoidosis (5.5 +/- 5.4%) was significantly higher than in normal subjects (3.6 +/- 2.2%; p < 0.05). A number of patients with sarcoidosis had prominently increased levels of circulating TCR gamma delta+ lymphocytes. Successive measurements of circulating TCR gamma delta+ lymphocytes demonstrated the persistence of increased levels of circulating TCR gamma delta+ lymphocytes. We divided the patients with sarcoidosis into two groups, one with high, the other with low TCR gamma delta+ expression. Compared with the low-value group, the high-value group had significantly decreased levels of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes, decreased incidence of a positive tuberculin reaction, and higher levels of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme and lysozyme, suggesting that these two groups may differ in their immunological response and disease activity of sarcoidosis. Measurement of TCR gamma delta+ expression in the circulation seems to be useful for estimating the disease activity of sarcoidosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Ultrastructural features of alveolitis in sarcoidosis.

Seventy-nine specimens of lung parenchyma from 61 patients with sarcoidosis were examined ultrastructurally with a focus on alveolitis, and they were compared with specimens of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and the percentage of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Lymphocytes and monocytes were frequently observed in the capillary lumina, and these cells and macrophages were found in the interstitium of the alveolar walls in the specimens with alveolitis of sarcoidosis and HP. Increases in the percentage of lymphocytes in BALF correlated with the degree of alveolitis. Swelling and bleb formation of the endothelium of alveolar capillaries and changes in the capillary basement membrane were commonly found and were significantly increased in the specimens with alveolitis. The frequency of bleb formation was significantly higher in alveolitis of sarcoidosis than in that of HP. However, the changes in alveolar epithelium were not significant in sarcoidosis. Microvascular changes in alveolitis are not specific for sarcoidosis, but they are observed in other interstitial lung diseases. These alterations may play an important role in the development of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Use of Finapres during warming for postoperative patients].

We used Finapres during rewarming after extracorporeal circulation in 16 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. In patients with passive rewarming there were no differences in blood pressure measured with a Finapres and that by an invasive monitor. On the other hand, in patients rewarmed with the aid of nitroglycerin, there were statistically significant differences between blood pressures measured with indirect and direct methods.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

The frequency of sarcoidosis in Finland and Hokkaido, Japan. A comparative epidemiological study.

Finland and Hokkaido resemble each other; the four season climate with cold winters and cool summers is the same as is the frequency of tuberculosis. The size of the population is almost the same. From the 1984 Japanese nationwide sarcoidosis survey we got the data from Hokkaido (288 patients) in order to compare the information with similarly collected data in Finland from 1984 (1,378 patients). The crude prevalence of sarcoidosis was 28.2 per 100,000 in Finland and 3.7 per 100,000 in Hokkaido. The annual incidence was 11.4 per 100,000 in Finland and 1.0 per 100,000 in Hokkaido. The sex distribution was similar; 63% vs 67% women in Finland and Hokkaido, respectively. At diagnosis the Hokkaidoan patients were significantly younger. In Hokkaido more cases were detected via mass X-ray survey (43% vs 34%). Among symptomatic patients eye symptoms were more frequent in Hokkaido, whereas respiratory and joint symptoms and erythema nodosum were more frequent in Finland. Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) was equally distributed (82% vs 84% whereas parenchymal lesions were seen more often in Finland (49% vs 25%) as well as peripheral lymphadenopathy (16% vs 8%).

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[A comparative study of tazobactam/piperacillin and piperacillin in chronic respiratory tract infections].

The efficacy, safety and usefulness were evaluated for a combined antibiotic tazobactam/piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) consisting of a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, tazobactam (TAZ), and a broad spectrum penicillin antibiotic, piperacillin (PIPC), in chronic respiratory tract infections with PIPC as the control in a multi-institutional comparative study. The drugs used were a preparation containing 0.5 g of TAZ and 2.0 g of PIPC per vial (TAZ/PIPC group) and a preparation containing 2.0 g of (PIPC group). The drugs were intravenously injected one vial at a time twice a day for 14 days as a rule. The following results were obtained: 1. Clinical effect There was no significant difference between TAZ/PIPC (86% or 76/88) and PIPC (81% or 69/85). 2. Bacteriological effect There was no significant difference between TAZ/PIPC (93% or 42/45) and PIPC (88% or 36/41) in terms of bacterial eradication rates. In 34 patients with beta-lactamase-producing pyogenic bacteria, there was no significant difference between TAZ/PIPC (77% or 10/13) and PIPC (88% or 15/17). 3. Degrees of improvement in clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory findings The TAZ/PIPC group was likely to show reductions in fever and the amount of sputum soon after administration. 4. Side effects Incidences of side effects were 7% (7/96) in the TAZ/PIPC group and 3% (3/89) in the PIPC group, showing no significant difference between the two groups. The main symptoms were allergic reaction and gastrointestinal symptoms. 5. Abnormal clinical laboratory test values The incidence was 17% (15/89) in the TAZ/PIPC group and 21% (18/87) in the PIPC group. The main symptoms were eosinophilia and hepatic dysfunction, and most of these symptoms were mild. 6. Usefulness The usefulness rates in the TAZ/PIPC group were 80% (71/89) and 78% (66/85) in the PIPC group, showing no significant difference. Thus, TAZ/PIPC exhibited excellent clinical effects and presented no troubles with safety. When comprehensively evaluated, TAZ/PIPC appears to be a very useful drug for the treatment of chronic respiratory tract infections.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Near-stoichiometric interaction between the non-specific lipid-transfer protein of the yeast Candida tropicalis and peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase prevents the thermal denaturation of the enzyme in vitro.

A 14-kDa peroxisomal-matrix protein, named PXP-18, of the yeast Candida tropicalis is a structural and functional homologue of the mammalian nonspecific lipid-transfer protein (identical to sterol carrier protein-2). PXP-18 protected acyl-coenzyme A oxidase (ACO), the rate limiting enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids, from thermal inactivation at 48 degrees C or 70 degrees C. This effect was dose-dependent and not replaceable either by chicken egg white lysozyme, which is similar to PXP-18 (insofar as it is basic, small, and monomeric), or by bovine serum albumin, a carrier of lipids in the blood. ACO was irreversibly denatured by heat treatment at 70 degrees C for 15 min. However, when ACO and PXP-18 were similarly heat-treated, they formed a large complex at a molar ratio of PXP-18 to ACO subunit that was about one, independent of their initial ratio. This near-stoichiometric complex had ACO activity after a 500-fold dilution and was accompanied by ACO that was free of PXP-18 and indistinguishable from native ACO in size and activity. PXP-18 also protected urate oxidase, another peroxisomal enzyme, from inactivation at 66 degrees C for 15 min and facilitated the renaturation of ACO denatured by 2 M urea. These results indicated that PXP-18 is active in modulating the structure of peroxisomal enzymes in vitro. It is possible that PXP-18 functions as a stress protein or as a part of the system that keeps peroxisomal proteins intact.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗

PubMed1994

MRI findings of the upper eyelid and their relationship with single- and double-eyelid formation.

Before the invention of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it was impossible to observe an architectural deformation of the eyelid because of its movement. The authors observed MRI films of 15 eyelids in both closed and opened positions and obtained new information on the architecture of the upper eyelid and also the mechanism of single and double eyelids, and sunken eye formation. (1) Orbital fat is transposed when the lid moves. If the fat can not return into the orbit when the lid opens, it droops and interferes with the fold formation of the lid. (2) The thickness of the eyelid skin is associated with double-eyelid formation. The skin fold is observed at the junction between thick skin with subcutaneous fat and thin skin without it. (3) We could not confirm Doxanas and Anderson's assertion that septal insertion was lower in Orientals. However, we observed pretarsally drooped or herniated orbital fat in many slit-eye Orientals. (4) There are three angles at the tarso-levato-aponeurotic line: one at the junction with transverse ligament, one at the point of septal insertion, and another at the aponeurotic terminal on the tarsus.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1994

Adolescent problem behavior: the effect of peers and the moderating role of father absence and the mother-child relationship.

Examined the effect of peer problem behavior, the absence of a father or equivalent in the home, and the mother-adolescent relationship as predictors of adolescent problem behavior in a sample of 112 African American adolescents. Statistical analyses compared a moderator model to a mediational model and a cumulative risk model. As predicted, the moderator model was superior to the alternative models. Specifically, whereas the mediational model predicted that the effect of father absence and the mother-child relationship upon adolescent problem behavior would be mediated by peer problem behavior, neither effected peer problem behavior or adolescent problem behavior. Similarly, a cumulative risk index did not predict either child or parent reports of problem behavior and was not sensitive to specific contingencies that existed between the predictor variables. In contrast, an interactive, moderator model described the data quite well. This model suggested that father or equivalent absence magnifies the negative impact of peer problem behavior, while a positive mother-adolescent relationship attenuates this risk. A strong mother-adolescent relationship also served to protect adolescents in father-absent homes from the risk of peer problem behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Hippocampal serotonin 5-HT1A receptor enhances acetylcholine release in conscious rats.

We investigated changes in the extracellular levels of acetylcholine (ACh) following local application of serotonergic agents to the dorsal hippocampus of freely moving rats by means of perfusion using a microdialysis technique. Perfusion of serotonin (5-HT; 10 microM, for 30 min at a rate of 3 microliters/min), dissolved in Ringer's solution containing 10 microM eserine, showed no marked effect on the extracellular levels of ACh. 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT; 20 microM), a 5-HT1A agonist, increased ACh levels, whereas 7-trifluoromethyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline (CGS-12066B; 100 microM), a 5-HT1B agonist, decreased it. Clomipramine (2 microM), an uptake inhibitor of 5-HT, had no effect on ACh levels. Following perfusion of 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-phthalimido)butyl]piperazine (NAN-190; 10 microM), which is a selective 5-HT1A antagonist, the effect of 8-OH-DPAT was totally abolished, whereas CGS-12066B decreased extracellular ACh levels. 5-HT, as well as clomipramine, had a decreasing effect on ACh levels after pretreatment with NAN-190. These results indicate that the 5-HT1A receptor, which exists in the dorsal hippocampus, enhances the spontaneous ACh release, and that the mechanism of serotonergic modulation of ACh release partly depends on both the stimulatory control via the 5-HT1A receptor and the suppressive one via the 5-HT1B receptor in the dorsal hippocampus of rats.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

PubMed1994

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

ICAM-1 plays an important role in inflammatory diseases. To assess level of soluble ICAM-1 in the circulation and inflamed lesions, we measured levels of soluble ICAM-1 in the circulation and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and with pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) and of healthy volunteers (HV), and we also analysed ICAM-1 expression of BALF cells in some patients and HV. IPF patients had significantly higher levels of circulating ICAM-1 than HV, while PS patients did not. By contrast, significantly increased levels of BALF soluble ICAM-1 were found in PS patients compared with those of HV, but not in IPF patients. There were no significant differences in the proportions of ICAM-1+ BALF lymphocytes in IPF patients, PS patients and HV, whereas significantly increased proportions of ICAM-1+ pulmonary alveolar macrophages were found in PS patients compared with those of HV, but not in IPF patients. There was a significant positive correlation of BALF soluble ICAM-1 levels to BALF lymphocyte proportions in PS patients. Although the source of BALF soluble ICAM-1 is unclear, BALF soluble ICAM-1 appears to reflect the grade of local activity of sarcoidosis. An interesting discrepancy between soluble ICAM-1 levels in the circulation and BALF was found in IPF patients, and this might be an important clue to an understanding of this disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

[Three interesting pediatric cases with penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infection].

Since penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae first recognized in 1967, the rate of penicillin-resistant strains has been increasing worldwide. There have been up to 50% from pediatric specimens in Japan. We reported three pediatric cases with penicillin G resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infection to show some important clue from these cases for clinical practice against resistant pneumococcal infection. The first case was a typical acute mastoiditis, although we have experienced only masked mastoiditis recently. The second case was meningitis with septicemia, which did not show any abnormality in the first obtained cerebrospinal fluid. The third case was recurrent bronchitis in a child with cerebral palsy. The minimum inhibition concentrations of these isolated strains were 0.25 microgram/ml in the second case an 2.0 microgram/ml in the first and third cases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

[Serum pyridoxal concentration in children during theophylline therapy for bronchial asthma].

This study was designed to investigate the effect of sustained-release theophylline therapy on serum pyridoxal concentration in children with bronchial asthma. Forty-two children with bronchial asthma were divided into two groups according to duration of theophylline administration: The 22 children in group A had been treated with theophylline for less than 4 weeks, whereas the 20 children in group B had been treated for more than 5 weeks. The results obtained from this study were as follows: 1) The serum pyridoxal concentration in group B was significantly lower than that those in group A (p < 0.01). 2) The serum pyridoxal concentration was not significantly correlated with the serum theophylline concentration. These findings suggest that long-term theophylline therapy can depress vitamin B6 status in children with bronchial asthma. Theophylline-induced seizure may be caused by the possible decreased in gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration in the brain as a result of decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration in the brain as a result of decrease in vitamin B6 status, even if the serum theophylline concentrations are within the therapeutic range.

Asthma↗

PubMed1994

[An epidemiological study of clustering of sarcoidosis cases].

The clustering of sarcoidosis cases has been reported only in two places in the world; Vasterbotten Province, northern Sweden and Furano, central Hokkaido. In Furano basin, 45 sarcoidosis cases were histologically diagnosed during a 21 year period, 1972 through 1992. The incidence has recently re-increased, though it went down after the first notice of the clustering which promoted environmental improvement such as water supply and road pavement. 1) Of the 45 cases, 12 were males and 33 were females, with the preponderance of female cases over 40 years of age numbering 33. 2) Familial sarcoidosis was found in 4 families. 3) Furano cases tended to have persistent involvements of sarcoidosis with unfavourable prognosis. 4) Case-control studies did not elucidate any significant factors examined. 5) HLA examinations revealed a high rate in DR-9 and DRw53 and a low rate in DRw52.

Adult↗