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Biomedical subjects

Y Kawaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kawaguchi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Study on oral health status and health behavior of workers at government office].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral health status and health behavior of the adult population in the workplace. In 1998, oral health examination of 388 workers (male: 287, female: 101) at a government office was performed. A questionnaire was administered to obtain data regarding oral symptoms and health behavior. The results were as follows: Overall, 48% needed treatment for dental caries, 44% needed calculus removal, and 23% needed treatment for periodontal disease. Although there were no oral health complaints, 20% had early caries, 40% had dental calculus, and 19% had periodontitis. Compared to males, more females brushed their teeth, had home dentists (44%) and received more regular dental health check-ups at least once a year (48%). For males, those with home dentists had higher FT and DMFT in the twenties and thirties. There was no relationship between oral health status and regular check-ups in both males and females. The results revealed that receiving regular dental check-ups from home dentists was not popular in Japan. Further, the role of home dentists is not preventive oriented. It was concluded that it is necessary to provide regular oral health examination and health promotion programs for adult population at the workplace in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Screening of urogenital malignancies by transabdominal ultrasonography in "human dry dock"].

BACKGROUND: Transabdominal ultrasonography (US) has been widely accepted as a diagnostic method with which to examine multiple organs simultaneously. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of trans-abdominal US to screen for urogenital malignancies. METHODS: From 1993 through 1997 109,077 men and 28,023 women underwent abdominal US to screen for abdominal and pelvic diseases as part of a regular health check-up program at the Tokyu Medical Health Center. RESULTS: Twelve renal cell cancers (RCCs), 7 bladder tumors (BTs), 4 prostatic cancers (PCs), and 1 testicular tumor (TT) were detected. All cancers were diagnosed pathologically and treated surgically except for one PC. Surgical pathological examination and conventional imaging revealed that all 12 RCCa and 6 of the 7 BTs were of less advanced stage than pT1N0M0. However, all 3 PCs and the TT were pT3N0-1M0 and pT1N3M0, respectively. The stage and grade of these 12 RCCs were significantly lower than those of 29 symptomatic RCCs. All 12 patients with RCC patients and 6 of the 7 patients with BT had no urological symptom, whereas 3 of the 4 patients with PC and the patient with TT had urogenital symptoms. Microscopic examination of the urine revealed both red blood cells and tumors cells in two of the seven patients with BT. All four patients with PC had serum levels of prostatic-specific antigen greater than 4 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that screening by transabdominal US as part of regular health check-ups can detect many types of urogenital malignancy. In particular, US is useful for detecting low-grade and low-stage RCCs and superficial BTs but is less sensitive for early-stage PCs and TTs.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Erosive duodenitis after eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori].

We studied the characteristics of erosive duodenitis after eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori (Hp). Fifty-nine patients with Hp-positive peptic ulcer disease were treated with a combination of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, lansoprazol, and polaprezinc Subsequently, erosive duodenitis developed in 18 (43.2%) of 44 patients in whom Hp was eradicated successfully. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the patients in whom duodenitis developed and those whom it did not, except that the incidence of duodenal ulcer before treatment was highte in the former group than in the latter. Erosions were located not only in the anterior wall of the first portion of the duodenum but also in the posterior wall or the second portion. Our results suggest that the development erosive duodenitis after Hp eradication therapy is a favorable, rather than an unfavorable, event, because erosive duodenitis appeared only in the patients with in whom Hp was successfully eradicated, moreover, the patients with duodenitis had no complaints and had a good prognosis without follow-up treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[A study of association between lean body mass and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients].

Malnutrition is one of the major issues associated with high mortality and morbidity in chronic dialysis patients. Several methods to evaluate the nutritional status of these patients have been attempted for example anthropometric measurement and biochemical parameters. Recently, it was reported that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been valuable for estimating nutritional status. In this study, we measured lean body mass (LBM) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), IGF-1 and other biochemical parameters in 35 patients on CAPD. Two years later, the second measurement of LBM was performed, and we assessed the percent changes of LBM and biochemical parameters. There was negative correlation between the percent changes of LBM and the duration of CAPD. In patients treated with CAPD for less than 36 months (group I) LBM increased, however, it decreased significantly in those treated for more than 36 months (group II). On the other hand, in group I there was a positive correlation between the percent changes of LBM and IGF-1. In group II there was no correlation between the percent changes of LBM and any other biochemical parameters. It could be concluded that IGF-1 is one of the predisposing factors for improving LBM of patients on CAPD for a limited duration.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1999

Blockade of CD28/CTLA4-B7 pathway prevented autoantibody-related diseases but not lung disease in MRL/lpr mice.

We studied the role of CD28/CTLA4 costimulatory T-cell activation pathway on the pathogenesis of MRL/lpr mice. Administration of CTLA4IgG from day 0 significantly inhibited autoantibody production such as anti-double-stranded DNA antibody and rheumatoid factor. In addition, end-organ diseases in kidney, salivary gland, and liver were significantly improved. Improvement of pathologic findings coincided with a significant improvement in survival. At 350 days of age, 90% of mice treated with CTLA4IgG from day 0 were still alive, compared with none of mice treated with hIgG. As expected, activation of conventional T cells was significantly inhibited after CTLA4IgG treatment. However, lung disease that was characterized by perivascular accumulation and interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages was not inhibited. Even after CTLA4IgG treatment from day 0, pathologic findings of lung disease were not improved. Additionally, the expression of activation markers such as B7-1, B7-2, CD71, ICAM1, and LFA1 on Mac1+ fraction in both spleen and lung and the concentration of TNFalpha in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were not significantly suppressed. These results demonstrated that lung disease was independent of the CD28/CTLA4-B7 pathway. Thus, this study emphasizes the differential dependence of the CD28/CTLA4-B7 pathway in development of diseases in MRL/lpr mice.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1999

National comparisons: optimal peritoneal dialysis outcomes among Japanese patients.

This paper describes the current status of chronic dialysis in Japan and the guidelines used to initiate dialysis (scoring system), and reports the outcome of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), focusing upon our center's experience. Fifty percent of CAPD technique survival was 6.9 +/- 1.3 years among those patients classified as "positive selection." The major causes of withdrawal from CAPD were ultrafiltration failure, the patients' inability to continue on CAPD by themselves, and peritonitis. The clinical issues that most concern nephrologists in CAPD management are prevention and management of ultrafiltration failure, prevention/therapeutic intervention in encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis, catheter-related infections, and prevention of underdialysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Axial symptoms after en bloc cervical laminoplasty.

Eighty-two patients were evaluated after cervical laminoplasty to explore measures that could minimize future postoperative axial complaints. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A--severe postoperative axial symptoms, and Group B--mild axial complaints. Japanese Orthopaedic Association outcomes scores were similar for the two groups. Radiologic studies demonstrated greater restriction of range of motion in Group A patients who had undergone longer and more extensive surgical procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Clinical evaluation of intermittent hepatic arterial infusion therapy with CDDP and 5-FU for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer].

Twenty-seven patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer were treated with intermittent intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for 5 years starting from 1993. Five to ten mg of CDDP, 250 mg of 5-FU and/or 3-6 mg of Leucovorin were administered weekly. In the case of nonresponders, the dose of 5-FU was allowed to increase toward 500 mg. The above schedule was repeated as long as possible. The average number of administrations in 12 out of 27 unresectable patients was 28.7. The response rate was 50% (CR; 4 cases, PR; 2), with 2 NC and 3 PD. Four patients given 500 mg of 5-FU showed some response. The 50% survival period was 466 days, and the 1- and 3-year survival rates were 66.7% and 18.3%, respectively. The average number of administrations in the group of patients who underwent prophylactic treatment and resection of the metastasis was 33.1. During an average observational period 681 days, 7 patients (46.7%) had a recurrence in the liver. The 5-year survival rate was 85.7%. The patients who were treated with 250 mg 5-FU experienced no severe side effects, but one who was given 500 mg 5-FU developed a duodenal ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Analysis of risk factor for patients and renal survival in anti-myeloperoxidase antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated glomerulonephritis].

We investigated the clinical and histological features and the outcome of 15 patients with antimyeloperoxidase antibody(MPO-ANCA) associated glomerulonephritis. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of renal functional outcome: Group 1 consisted of 7 patients where an initial deterioration in renal function was improved at the final observation. Group 2 included 8 patients who had a progressive deterioration in renal function leading to end stage renal disease or chronic dialysis, or who died. We compared the clinical and histological features at renal biopsy and the outcome following steroid therapy between the two groups. Group 1 patients had significantly lower levels of serum creatinine and UN, and higher values for creatinine clearance (Ccr) than Group 2 patients(1.9 +/- 0.6 vs. 6.7 +/- 4.7 mg/dl, 29 +/- 7 vs. 73 +/- 39 mg/dl, 30 +/- 9 vs. 10 +/- 5 ml/min, p < 0.05, respectively). Histologically, Group 1 patients had a significantly lower percentage of crescent formation than Group 2 patients(41 +/- 6 vs. 74 +/- 4%, p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in tubulo interstitial damage between the 2 groups. Moreover, in 4 patients of Group 1 where a second renal biopsy was performed two months after steroid therapy, marked attenuation in acute tubulo-interstitial changes was observed in association with a rapid improvement of renal function. These results suggest that diffuse tubulo-interstitial inflammatory changes despite a relatively low frequency of cellular crescent formation may be a prognostically important histological feature showing a good response to steroid therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Factors influencing residual renal function of CAPD patients].

It is generally accepted that residual renal function has significant meaning in dialysis adequacy of CAPD patients. However, the factors influencing the residual renal function have not been investigated yet. We evaluated the consequences of following factors on residual urine volume in 50 CAPD patients: deterioration rate of renal function (slope of I/serum creatinine) before dialysis, renal creatinine clearance at the initial point of dialysis and the episodes of rapid reduction of residual urine volume. There was no correlation between the deterioration rate of renal function before dialysis and the residual urine volume. On the contrary, there was significant correlation between renal creatinine clearance at the initial point of dialysis and the residual urine volume in the first 4 years on CAPD. We recognized 67 episodes of rapid reduction of residual urine volume after initiation of CAPD. Inappropriate management or complications attributed to the rapid urine volume reduction in 50 episodes. The residual urine volume did not recover to the previous level in 40 episodes. We concluded that early initiation of CAPD and evasion of decreasing residual urine volume caused by inappropriate management or complications have important meaning and will preserve residual renal function of CAPD patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A gene therapy or purified CTLA4IgG treatment of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

We examined whether multiple intraperitoneal injection of a soluble form of a chimeric protein consisting of an extracellular portion of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 and an Fc portion of human IgG1(CTLA4IgG) at the initiation phase could successfully control the subsequent development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). We demonstrated that CTLA4IgG treatment could delay the onset and reduce the severity of EAE in early phase of disease development. More importantly, CTLA4IgG treatment significantly reduced the incidence of EAE. This was in good agreement to that spleen cells obtained from CTLA4IgG-treated animals responded poorly to myelin basic protein (MBP) in vitro as compared to those from human IgG-treated animals. However, the CTLA4IgG-treated mice eventually developed EAE and after all, incidence of EAE was not significantly different from that in control group. We then tested whether a gene therapy using adenovirus vector containing CTLA4IgG (Adex1CACTLA4IgG) could inhibit the development of EAE. We demonstrated that incidence and severity of EAE were significantly inhibited by a single injection of intravenous Adex1CACTLA4IgG up to 8 months. Thus, this study demonstrated the efficacy of a single dose of adenovirus-mediated gene therapy in controlling EAE as compared to repeated injection of purified CTLA4IgG proteins.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1998

Effects of lidocaine on nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury. A neurophysiologic and histologic study of the pig cauda equina.

STUDY DESIGN: Application of autologous nucleus pulposus on nerve roots and treatment with local application of lidocaine in the pig. OBJECTIVES: Studies of the effects of lidocaine on nucleus pulposus-exposed nerve roots. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Nerve root infiltration may improve radicular symptoms beyond the pharmacologic duration of local anesthetics, but the mechanisms for this effect are not known. METHODS: Nucleus pulposus was harvested from a lumbar disc and placed onto the sacrococcygeal cauda equina in pigs. In Series 1, early lidocaine treatment of nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury, pigs received 2% lidocaine (n = 5) or saline (n = 5) before and after surgery. Nerve conduction velocity and histologic appearance were studied after 3 days. In Series 2, delayed lidocaine treatment of nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury, after 7 days 2% lidocaine was administered epidurally to nucleus pulposus-exposed (n = 4) and -nonexposed (n = 4) nerve roots. Nerve conduction velocity, muscle action potentials, and histologic appearance were assessed. RESULTS: In Series 1, early treatment with lidocaine limited the reduction in nerve conduction velocity. The epidural inflammation was less in lidocaine treated animals. In Series 2, nerve conduction velocity was lower in nucleus pulposus-exposed animals than in nonexposed animals. The initial reduction of nerve conduction velocity and muscle action potential was similar between the groups, but the recovery of muscle action potential was slower and less complete in nucleus pulposus-exposed nerve roots. There was minimal histologic nerve injury in both series and in both protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with lidocaine may reduce nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury. Lidocaine induced a delayed recovery in nerve roots exposed to nucleus pulposus. Further studies are needed to clarify the therapeutic effects of nerve root infiltration and the pathophysiology of nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMed1998

Preventive measures of back muscle injury after posterior lumbar spine surgery in rats.

STUDY DESIGN: Postoperative back muscle injury was studied in rats. Postoperative findings were compared among three groups: 2-hour continuous back muscle retraction, 5-minute retraction release after 1 hour of retraction, and 5-minute release at every 40 minutes of retraction. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intermittent release of the retractor during surgery is effective to prevent severe muscle injury. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In surgery performed on the extremities using a tourniquet, intermittent reperfusion intervals can permit extended tourniquet application when the operation is prolonged. However, there have been no specific studies on the effects of intermittent retraction release for postoperative back muscle injury. METHODS: The back muscle of rats was retracted using a self-retaining retractor for 2 hours. The 36 rats were divided equally into the following three groups: Group 1, 2 hours of continuous retraction; Group 2, two 1-hour retractions interposed with a 5-minute retraction release; and Group 3, three 40-minute retractions interposed with a 5-minute retraction release. In each group, the multifidus muscle was histologically analyzed at 48 hours, 1 week, and 6 weeks after surgery. The muscles were stained by a variety of histochemical methods. The level of serum CPK-MM isoenzyme was measured 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Postoperative back muscle degeneration was the most severe in Group 1. The concentration of CPK-MM in Group 1 was significantly higher than that in Groups 2 and 3. One week after surgery, the lesser diameter of regenerated fibers in Group 1 was smaller than that in Groups 2 and 3. The incidence of neurogenic muscle damage was the highest in Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: During posterior lumbar spine surgery, 5-minute retraction release after 1 hour or after 40 minutes of retraction was effective in preventing severe back muscle injury after surgery.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Noradrenergic excitation and inhibition of GABAergic cell types in rat frontal cortex.

Noradrenaline (NA) from the locus coeruleus and GABA from intracortical nonpyramidal cells exert strong influences on cortical activity. To assess possible interaction between the two, the effects of noradrenergic agonists on spontaneous GABAergic IPSCs as well as on the activity of identified GABAergic cell types were investigated by in vitro whole-cell recordings from the frontal cortex of 18- to 22-d-old rats. NA (3-50 microM) and an alpha-adrenergic agonist, 6-fluoronorepinephrine (FNE; 30-50 microM), induced an increase of IPSC frequency in pyramidal cells, but a beta-adrenergic agonist did not. This increase was reduced by tetrodotoxin, bicuculline, and alpha-adrenergic antagonists, suggesting that GABAergic cells are excited via alpha-adrenoceptors. Fast-spiking or late-spiking cells were depolarized by application of NA or FNE, but none demonstrated spike firings. The former morphologically included common multipolar cells with extended axonal arborizations as well as chandelier cells, and the latter neurogliaform cells. Most somatostatin-immunoreactive regular or burst-spiking cells, including Martinotti cells and wide arbor cells, were depolarized and accompanied by spike firing. In a few cases this was preceded by hyperpolarization. Cholecystokinin-immunoreactive regular or burst-spiking nonpyramidal cells, including large basket cells, were affected heterogeneously: depolarization, hyperpolarization followed by depolarization, or hyperpolarization resulted. The findings suggest that, similar to the effects of acetylcholine, the excitability of cortical GABAergic cell types is differentially regulated by NA and that NA actions are similar to cholinergic ones in some GABAergic cell types but not in others.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

Cloning of a novel member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family.

A gene encoding a novel transmembrane protein was identified by DNA sequence analysis within the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) locus IDDM4 on chromosome 11q13. Based on its chromosomal position, this gene is a candidate for conferring susceptibility to diabetes. The gene, termed low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 5 (LRP5), encodes a protein of 1615 amino acids that contains conserved modules which are characteristic of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor family. These modules include a putative signal peptide for protein export, four epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats with associated spacer domains, three LDL-receptor (LDLR) repeats, a single transmembrane spanning domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. The encoded protein has a unique organization of EGF and LDLR repeats; therefore, LRP5 likely represents a new category of the LDLR family. Both human and mouse LRP5 cDNAs have been isolated and the encoded mature proteins are 95% identical, indicating a high degree of evolutionary conservation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗