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Biomedical subjects

Y Hirota

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hirota.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Clinical features of epithelial ovarian cancer in young reproductive women].

A 10-year retrospective review of epithelial carcinoma of the ovary was performed about 95 patients which were diagnosed and treated at the Oita Medical University Hospital. The patients' ages at the first diagnosis ranged from 15 to 85 years with a mean of 51.6 years. Twenty-two of 95 patients (23.2%) were below the age of 40. Most patients analysed in this study complained of lower abdominal pain, lower abdominal mass, and/or lower abdominal fullness. Sixteen of 22 patients under the age of 40 (72.7%) and 27 of 73 patients over the age of 40 (37.0%) were diagnosed as having mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The incidence of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma below the age of 40 was significantly higher than that over the age of 40 (p < 0.005, chi 2-test). Eleven patients below the age of 40 had FIGO stage Ia grade 1 disease and 2 of these patients were pregnant. The incidence of stage Ia disease under the age of 40 was significantly higher than that over the age of 40 (p < 0.005, chi 2-test). Both pregnant patients and 5 other patients with stage Ia disease were treated with only unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. All patient with stage Ia disease had no evidence of recurrence within 5 years. This suggests that conservative surgery may be considered as the treatment for the FIGO stage Ia grade 1 ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Blood polychlorinated biphenyls and manifestation of symptoms in chronic "Yusho" patients.

The correlation between blood PCB concentration and clinical manifestation of symptoms was investigated in 259 chronic "Yusho" patients, using the information obtained from the nationwide health examination conducted in 1988, twenty years after the outbreak. Concentrations of blood PCBs ranged 0.6-32.0 ppb (mean; 4.78), and they were categorized into approximate quartile for analysis. For general fatigue, odds ratios at 2.7+, 4.1+, and 6.1+ ppb were 2.4, 3.6, and 3.1, respectively, with a reference category of < 2.7 ppb (test for trend; p < 0.005). For numbness in extremities, the corresponding odds ratios were 2.8, 2.8, and 2.9(p < 0.005). For comedone, they were 1.4, 1.0, and 4.0 on face (p < 0.025); and 3.6, 4.6, and 9.5 on trunk (p < 0.005), respectively. A distinctive increase in odds ratio was observed at 2.7 ppb for these two subjective symptoms; and at 6.1 ppb for skin symptoms. The blood PCB concentrations among patients were relatively close to the normal subjects. Therefore, the observed correlations may be due to the effects of PCBs with a peculiar pattern in components, PCQs or PCDFs, taken and retained in the patients. Association with blood PCBs was also suggested for headaches; abnormal breath sounds; and acneiform eruptions in the genital region, but were statistically insignificant. None of the eye symptoms showed significant association with blood PCBs.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy with antimetabolites for cervical invasive cancer].

A series of 584 patients with cervical invasive cancer were included in the retrospective study on the efficacy of long-term oral maintenance chemotherapy with antimetabolites (Fluorouracil or Tegaful). The patients were histologically classified into the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) group and the adenocarcinoma (AD) group. In the SCC group (n = 518), 163 patients were given more than 300 mg/day of antimetabolite tablets for one year or more after the main therapy (hysterectomy or pelvic irradiation). In the AD group (n = 66), 36 patients were treated with the same dose of antimetabolites. The Kaplan-Meier overall and cancer specific survival analysis estimates that the chronic administration of antimetabolites did not improve the cumulative 5-year survival in the SCC group. In contrast, the cumulative 5-year survival rate in the AD group treated with antimetabolites (88%) was significantly higher than that without chemotherapy (64%) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. This significant improvement in the survival rate in the AD group due to antimetabolites was notable in patients in FIGO stage I or II treated with radical or semiradical hysterectomy, these results indicate that oral adjuvant chemotherapy with antimetabolites is useful for cervical adenocarcinoma, but not for squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Effects of an upstream DNA curvature on the strength of HSV thymidine kinase promoter.

The effect of an upstream DNA curvature on the strength of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) promoter was investigated by employing luciferase assay. A set of double-stranded oligonucleotides, each with an unique DNA configuration, were synthesized and substituted into an upstream region of the promoter. It was revealed from the assay that both plane and space curves exerted a negative influence upon the strength of the promoter.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

An echocardiographic study of interactions between pindolol and epinephrine contained in a local anesthetic solution.

An increasing number of dental patients are taking beta-adrenergic blockers for the treatment of hypertension or angina pectoris. If epinephrine-containing local anesthetics are administered to such patients, interactions between epinephrine and the beta-blocking agent may induce cardiovascular complications. We assessed in volunteers the effects of intraoral injection with 2% lidocaine containing 1:80,000 epinephrine (L-E) on cardiac function after pretreatment with the beta-blocking agent pindolol. M-Mode echocardiography was used for the assessment. The injection of L-E after administration of pindolol did not alter cardiac preload, whereas it reduced the stroke volume, due to an increase in afterload and a decrease in myocardial contractility. Reductions in stroke volume and heart rate led to a decrease in cardiac output. Because total peripheral vascular resistance increased markedly, blood pressure was elevated despite the reduced cardiac output. These results suggest that cardiac function of dental patients on beta-blocker therapy can be adversely affected by epinephrine-containing local anesthetics. Therefore, when such an anesthetic solution has to be used in patients on beta-blocker therapy, careful systemic monitoring is needed.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1995

The incidence of arrhythmias during induction of general anesthesia.

In this study, our induction methods of endotracheal anesthesia was evaluated with reference to electrocardiogram, hemodynamic status and arterial blood gas analysis on 153 patients. From the beginning of induction, electrocardiogram was recorded continuously to the completion of intubation. The blood pressure and heart rate were also measured. Arterial blood samples were taken at 40 seconds of apneic period after the mask was removed from the patient's face (CONT group), at 40 seconds of apnea with intratracheal spray (LIDO group), and after intubation following intratracheal spray (INT group). In the electrocardiographic survey, arrhythmias during intubation were rare (1/113, 0.9%). PaCO2 values in INT group showed a significant elevation (+ 14.0 mmHg; p < 0.01) compared to these in CONT group. As a result of careful and gentle induction techniques, the incidence of arrhythmias during intubation was very low. However, an elevation of PaCO2 was not avoidable, even in smooth and successful intubation. In conclusion, the importance of more adequate ventilation coupled with skillful intubation in a shorter period to avoid hypercapnia and arrhythmias is appreciated again in the endotracheal anesthesia for the maxillofacial surgical patients with anatomical airway problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Isolation of a cDNA encoding the chicken p50B/p97 (Lyt-10) transcription factor.

NF-kappa B is a transcription factor composed of the p50 and p65 subunits. Recent works identified another human gene which encodes a molecule related to the p50 subunit, termed p50B, p49 or lyt-10. Here, we isolated the cDNA clones encoding chicken p50B/p97 (Lyt-10). The deduced amino acid sequence of the precursor protein, p97, shows conservation of the overall structure, and 86% identity in the Rel homology domain (RHD) and 56% identity in the ankyrin repeat domain (ARD) to human p50B/p97. Expression of this gene is highest in the chicken spleen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Sudden death due to pulmonary tumor embolism in a patient with endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary.

Only 2 cases of fatal pulmonary tumor embolism have been described in patients having malignant tumors of the ovary. Both were diffuse microtumor emboli in the pulmonary arteries of elderly individuals. We present a teen-aged patient who died suddenly due to a massive tumor embolism of the right main pulmonary artery after a two-year remission of an endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary. Upon her first admission, she was treated with radical operation and insufficient chemotherapy. Two years later, she was readmitted to our hospital because of the sudden onset of dyspnea and shock; and she died 5 hours after readmission. A case of endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary with fatal pulmonary tumor embolism is described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Possible role of metallothionein in the cellular defense mechanism against UVB irradiation in neonatal human skin fibroblasts.

The role of metallothionein (MT) in protecting skin cells against UVB irradiation was investigated. Fibroblast strains from normal adult (HS-K) and neonatal (NB1RGB) human skins as well as keratinocyte strains from human skin (SV40-HSK) and newborn Balb/c mouse skin (Pam 212) were exposed to UVB irradiation. The sensitivity of HS-K and NB1RGB cells to UVB irradiation was similar; those of SV40-HSK and Pam 212 cells were two- and six-fold as sensitive to UVB irradiation as HS-K cells, respectively. The HS-K cells contained the greatest cellular reduced form of glutathione (GSH) levels compared to the three other skin cells: the levels were 13-, 7- and 6-fold of those in NB1RGB, SV40-HSK and Pam 212 cells, respectively. These results indicated that the sensitivity of skin cells to UVB irradiation was not always associated with their endogenous GSH levels. In particular, despite the fact that NB1RGB cells contained a relatively small amount of GSH, they were less sensitive to UVB irradiation. NB1RGB cells contained 4-30 times more MT than those in other skin cells examined. The sulfhydryl residues of MT molecules in the NB1RGB cells were estimated to be mostly unoccupied by metals, suggesting they act in a similar way to those of GSH. Moreover, NB1RGB cells in which the MT content was elevated by dexamethasone (1 microM) or Zn2+ (7 micrograms/mL) treatment were more resistant to UVB irradiation than nontreated ones. These results suggest that, at least in neonatal human skin fibroblasts, MT may play a role in protection against UVB irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Principles and methods of influenza epidemiology: with special reference to field evaluation of vaccine efficacy].

In Western countries, prevention of influenza has been a major public health concern, promoting the vaccination program to high-risk individuals including the elderly. On the other hand, in Japan, there has been no systematic approach to such a selective vaccination on the social basis. This is due to the deep-rooted skepticism on vaccine efficacy. A number of epidemiologic studies have so far reported conflicting results in this country. We investigated the principles and methods of influenza epidemiology focusing on the field evaluation of vaccine efficacy. General and methodologic problems in vaccine field trials with naturally occurring influenza include; unpredictability of the time of its occurrence; antigenic differences between the vaccine strains and epidemic viruses; preexistence of already-immune individuals; indirect effect of hard immunity by vaccination on nonvaccinees; possible difference in the virus exposure between compared groups, particularly when epidemic scale is small; possible misdiagnosis of cases, if not laboratory-confirmed. To cope with these, the following measures are essential in conducting epidemiologic study on influenza. 1) Influenza epidemics show differential occurrence by time and place. Therefore, much attention should be pain when analyzing the pooled data obtained from various study samples at different locations. 2) It should be the first step of a research to consider whether the outbreak of acute respiratory illnesses observed among subjects is caused by influenza virus exposures. 3) In general, failings to detect vaccine efficacy are attributable to the dilution of outcome with noninfluenzal illnesses; cases defined by clinical symptoms include substantial number of acute respiratory illnesses other than influenza. To minimize this nondifferential misclassification, three methods are thought to be important; confining observation period during the peak epidemic; applying a strict criteria to measure the outcome, preferably with laboratory examination; and conducting the study in the season with large-scale epidemic. 4) It is also important to take into account the preexistence of already-immune individuals. "Antibody efficacy" is a keen index to assess vaccine effectiveness in this instance. Besides, further research is required to clarify the individual characteristics related to influenza attack, which affect the validity of analytic epidemiologic study on vaccine efficacy by yielding bias or confounding effect.

Epidemiologic Methods↗
PubMed1994

Doxazosin withdrawal and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in normotensive subjects.

The effect of doxazosin withdrawal on normotensive subjects was examined by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) during twenty-four hours. Eight normotensive volunteers were treated with doxazosin for four weeks. ABPM was done the day before withdrawal and on the second and seventh days after withdrawal. The average systolic and diastolic BP were not altered by doxazosin withdrawal either on day 2 or day 7, but pulse rate (PR) decreased on day 2 and day 7. Daytime PR decreased on day 2, but both daytime and nighttime PR decreased on day 7. On withdrawal of doxazosin, the plasma norepinephrine concentration decreased and the plasma renin activity tended to decrease. Neither overshooting hypertension nor cardiovascular event was related to doxazosin withdrawal was observed. It is concluded that, in normotensive subjects, discontinuation of doxazosin may result in bradycardia without hypotension or signs of withdrawal syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The effect of pravastatin on prevention of restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Numerous attempts have been made to prevent late restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), but there is still no effective treatment. This report describes the effect of an oral lipid-lowering agent, pravastatin, on restenosis after successful PTCA. Sixty-six patients who underwent successful elective PTCA were assigned to a pravastatin-treated group (Group 1, n = 29) or an untreated group (Group 2, n = 37) in a prospective and randomized fashion. Pravastatin (5 mg or 10 mg twice a day) was given to Group 1 patients from day 3 after the procedure. Selective coronary angiography was repeated 3 to 5 months later, or sooner if the patient developed angina pectoris. The serum cholesterol level was decreased significantly in Group 1 (from 215.7 +/- 44.3 mg/dl to 181.2 +/- 30.3 mg/dl, p < 0.001), but not in Group 2 (from 191.9 +/- 30.8 mg/dl to 191.8 +/- 33.3 mg/dl, p = ns), at the time of repeat coronary angiography. However, there were no differences between the groups with regard to the recurrence of angina, the need for repeat PTCA, or restenosis, as assessed by quantitative analysis of coronary cineangiograms. These results suggest that oral pravastatin therapy does not effectively prevent late restenosis after successful PTCA by this mode of administration.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Doxazosin and 48-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in normotensive subjects.

The effect of long-term doxazosin treatment on normotensive subjects was evaluated by 48-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM). Eight normotensive volunteers were given 1 mg of doxazosin per day, and the dose was titrated every week up to 8 mg/day. The 48-hour ABPM, using a noninvasive device, was performed before treatment and during the 4th week of treatment. Doxazosin did not decrease the average 48-hour systolic BP, but diastolic BP decreased slightly (3 mmHg). This slight decrease in 48-hour diastolic BP was observed during the daytime. The 48-hour pulse rate (PR) was clearly elevated by doxazosin, which was attributed to tachycardia at night. Thus, the present study using 48-hour ABPM indicated that long-term doxazosin treatment may result in only slight daytime hypotension with apparent nighttime tachycardia in normotensive subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Excellent prognosis of Japanese patients with chest pain and normal or nearly normal coronary arteries--2- to 13-year follow-up of 274 patients after coronary cineangiography.

Although the prognosis of patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries is reportedly good in the Western literature, it is unclear in Japan. The purpose of this study was to examine the natural history of 274 consecutive patients with chest pain and normal or nearly normal coronary arteries, and to determine whether the possibility of minor coronary artery disease has clinical implications as a prodromal factor of other heart diseases. Six of the patients died during the mean observation period of 6 years (74.5 +/- 35.4 months): 2 cancer, 3 cerebro-vascular accident, and 1 renal failure death. Three additional patients suffered from nonfatal cerebro-vascular accidents. Eleven patients were readmitted for evaluation of chest pain, and 4 of these were diagnosed as having vasospastic angina. Progression of significant coronary artery disease was not detected in these 11 patients with repeated coronary angiography. None of the patients in this study developed fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction. A small number of patients (36/240, 15.0%) continued to suffer from chest pain. None of the patients developed cardiomyopathies or valvular heart diseases. Our observations indicate that the prognosis of chest pain with normal or nearly normal coronary arteries is better than that presented in the Western reports.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Delayed type hypersensitivity responses in mice transplanted with rat hepatocytes.

The delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to xenogeneic hepatocytes (HCs) was investigated in mice received subcutaneous (s.c.), intrasplenic (i.s.), or intravenous (i.v.) transplantation of rat HCs. The DTH response in mice preimmunized i.s. or i.v. with rat HCs (1 x 10(6) cells) was significantly lower than that in mice preimmunized s.c. with the same doses of rat HCs. Co-transfer of spleen cells from i.s. immunized mice with spleen cells from s.c. immunized mice to naive recipient mice did not suppress the DTH response induced by transfer of spleen cells from s.c. immunized mice. On the other hand, co-transfer of spleen cells from i.v. immunized mice with spleen cells from s.c. immunized mice suppressed the DTH response to rat HCs in recipients. Furthermore, the levels of DTH responses in recipients transferred with spleen cells from mice sensitized i.s. or i.v. with rat HCs, immunized s.c. with rat HCs 6 hr after transfer, and challenged with rat HCs 7 days later was almost similar to those in recipients transferred with spleen cells from s.c. immunized mice. These results suggest that antigen-specific suppression of DTH responses to rat HCs in mice is associated with the presence of suppressive spleen cells induced by i.s. or i.v. immunization with rat HCs.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Identification of a Ca(2+)-dependent agarose-binding protein in chicken serum.

A Ca(2+)-dependent agarose-binding protein was purified from chicken serum by affinity chromatography on SeaKem agarose gels followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. Purified protein was eluted in a symmetrical peak at the position of molecular weight of 146,000. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it was resolved into a single protein band with a molecular weight of 39,000 under nonreducing and of 41,000 under reducing conditions. Thus, the agarose-binding protein is suggested to be composed of noncovalently-associated identical subunits which contain intrachain disulfide bonds.

Animals↗