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Biomedical subjects

Y Kobayashi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kobayashi.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Comminuted fractures of the olecranon. Management by bone graft from the iliac crest and multiple tension-band wiring.

Between 1993 and 1999, we treated ten patients with comminuted fractures of the olecranon by multiple tension-band wiring and a graft from the iliac crest. Their mean age was 35 years (19 to 56). The mean follow-up was for 28.5 months (15 to 46) and the mean time to union of the fractures was four months (3 to 7). No patient reported difficulties with activities of daily living or symptoms of instability of the elbow. The mean flexion was to 135 degrees (125 to 145) with a mean flexion contracture of 15 degrees (10 to 30). The mean pronation was 70 degrees (60 to 80) and mean supination 79 degrees (70 to 90). Only three patients had mild pain and loss of strength. Five patients had excellent and five good results with a mean Broberg and Morrey index score of 94.5 points (84 to 100). Our results compare favourably with those previously reported and the technique is thought to be a practical alternative to plate fixation in fractures with extreme comminution.

Adult↗

Acid attack and cathepsin K in bone resorption around total hip replacement prosthesis.

Normal bone remodeling and pathological bone destruction have been considered to be osteoclast-driven. Osteoclasts are able to attach to bare bone surface and produce an acidic subcellular space. This leads to acid dissolution of hydroxyapatite, allowing cathepsin K to degrade the organic type I collagen-rich osteoid matrix under the acidic condition prevailing in Howship lacunae. Using a sting pH electrode, the interface membrane around a loosened total hip replacement prosthesis was found to be acidic. Confocal laser scanning disclosed irregular demineralization of the bone surface in contact with the acidic interface. Cathepsin K, an acidic collagenolytic enzyme, was found in interface tissue macrophages/giant cells and pseudosynovial fluid. Tissue extracts contained high levels of cathepsin K messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. These observations suggest the presence of an acid- and cathepsin K-driven pathological mechanism of bone resorption, mediated not by osteoclasts in subosteoclastic space, but rather by the uncontrolled activity of macrophages in extracellular space.

Acids↗

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 directly stimulate the bone-resorbing activity of isolated mature osteoclasts.

Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) and 2 have been reported to inhibit bone resorption. However, here, we report the direct action of both TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 on isolated rabbit mature osteoclasts to stimulate their bone-resorbing activity at significantly lower concentrations (approximately ng/ml) than those (approximately microg/ml) required for the inhibition of bone resorption. The cell population used in this study consisted of a mature osteoclast population with >95% purity. TIMP-1 (approximately 50 ng/ml) and TIMP-2 (approximately 8-10 ng/ml) increased the pit area excavated by the isolated mature osteoclasts. The stimulatory effects of TIMPs were abolished by simultaneous addition of anti-TIMP antibodies. At higher concentrations, the stimulation of bone resorption decreased reversely to the control level. The magnitude of the stimulatory effect of TIMP-2 was more than that of TIMP-1. Metalloproteinase inhibitors such as BE16627B and R94138 could not replace TIMPs with respect to the bone-resorbing activity, suggesting that the osteoclast-stimulating activity of TIMPs was independent of the inhibitory activity on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). TIMPs stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins in the isolated mature osteoclasts. Both herbimycin A, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, and PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), completely blocked the TIMP-induced stimulation of osteoclastic bone-resorbing activity. On the plasma membrane of osteoclasts, some TIMP-2-binding proteins were detected by a cross-linking experiment. These findings show that TIMPs directly stimulate the bone-resorbing activity of isolated mature osteoclasts at their physiological concentrations and that the stimulatory action of TIMPs is likely to be independent of their activities as inhibitors of MMPs.

Acetamides↗

Serum concentration of androstenediol and androstenediol sulfate in patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Androstenediol (5-androsten-3beta, 17beta-diol, ADIOL) and androstenediol 3-sulfate (ADIOLS) are active metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), respectively, and have estrogenic activity and immunoregulatory function. We examined serum concentrations of ADIOL, ADIOLS, DHEA, DHEAS and pregnenolone sulfate (5-pregnen-3beta-ol-20-one sulfate, PREGS) in patients with Graves' thyrotoxicosis (male/female 9/14), hypothyroidism (11/20) and in normal controls (14/29). In hypothyroidism serum levels of all these steroids were significantly decreased in both genders. In hyperthyroidism, in contrast, serum levels of ADIOLS (male 1.49 +/- 0.69, female 0.64 +/- 0.31 micromol/l), DHEAS (male 7.43 +/- 3.91, female 5.13 +/- 2.03 micromol/l), and PREGS (male 1.13 +/- 0.58, female 1.07 +/- 0.85 micromol/l) were markedly increased, but serum concentrations of ADIOL and DEHA were not significantly different from controls (ADIOLS male 0.36 +/- 0.33, female 0.14 +/- 0.09 micromol/l; DHEAS male 2.88 +/- 1.70, female 1.86 +/- l1.03pmol/l; PREGS male 0.18 +/- 0.12, female 0.11 +/- 0.08 micromol/l; ADIOL male 3.76 +/- 1.35, female 1.91 +/- 1.17 nmol/l; DHEA male 9.23 +/- 3.49, female 13.5 +/- 10.8nmol/l). Serum concentrations of all these steroids correlated with the serum concentration of the thyroid hormones in these patients. Serum albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations were not related to these changes in the concentrations of steroids. These findings indicate that serum concentrations of ADIOLS, ADIOL, DHEAS, DHEA and PREGS were decreased in hypothyroidism, whereas serum ADIOLS, DHEAS and PREGS concentrations were increased but ADIOL and DHEA were normal in hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone may stimulate the synthesis of these steroids and sulfotransferase is speculated to be increased in hyperthyroidism. Increased ADIOLS might contribute to menstrual disturbances and gynecomastia in hyperthyroidism.

Adult↗

Naturally-occurring Neospora caninum infection in an adult sheep and her twin fetuses.

Neospora caninum tissue cysts were found in the brains of surgically delivered twin fetuses at 119 days of gestation. In the brains of both fetuses, there was an inflammatory reaction involving perivascular cuffings of mononuclear cells, glial nodules. The dam of these fetuses died because of metritis. Histopathological examination of the ewe revealed N. caninum tissue cysts and focal gliosis with mononuclear cell cuffings. A N. caninum-specific DNA fragment was detected in a brain homogenate of the ewe by the polymerase chain reaction method. This is the first report of N. caninum infection in twin ovine fetuses and in an adult sheep.

Animals↗

Isolation of Neospora caninum from the brain of a pregnant sheep.

Neospora caninum was isolated from the brain of a naturally infected pregnant sheep by inoculation of immunodeficient mice with a homogenate of the brain tissue. The ewe showed no clinical signs. Tachyzoites were observed in the tissues of the nu/nu mice injected with the brain tissue homogenate and the diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-N. caninum antibodies and by detecting N. caninum-specific DNA by polymerase chain reaction.

Animals↗

Climbazole is a new potent inducer of rat hepatic cytochrome P450.

We examined the effect of climbazole on the induction of rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450), and compared the induction potency with other N-substituted azole drugs such as clorimazole. We found that climbazole is found to be a potent inducer of rat hepatic microsomal P450 as clorimazole. Induced level of P450 by climbazole was almost similar in extent to clorimazole when compared with other imidazole drugs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Parallel to the increase in P450, climbazole increased aminopyrine and erythromycin N-demethylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, and androstenedione 16 beta- and 15 alpha/6 beta hydroxylase activities; however, clorimazole did not induce aminopyrine N-demethylase activity irrespective of its marked increase in P450 content. Immunoblot analyses revealed that climbazole induced CYP2B1, 3A2 and 4A1. The present findings indicate that climbazole is a new potent inducer of hepatic microsomal P450 and drug-metabolizing enzymes like clorimazole, but it may have some differential mechanism(s) for these enzymes' induction in rat liver.

Animals↗

An inferior mesenteric-caval shunt via the internal iliac vein with portosystemic encephalopathy.

We report here a case of an unusual extrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt in a 37-year-old woman without liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension, who developed portal systemic encephalopathy. Angiography demonstrated an inferior mesenteric-caval shunt characterized by the presence of direct communication of the inferior mesenteric vein with the left internal iliac vein. After the treatment with percutaneous transcatheter embolization of the shunt via a femoral vein approach using coils, she had no episode of portal systemic encephalopathy.

Adult↗

Trisomy 8 involved in myelodysplastic syndromes as a risk factor for intestinal ulcers and thrombosis--Behçet's syndrome.

Only 12 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cases with Behçet's syndrome have been previously reported and trisomy 8 was found to have accumulated in all these patients. Five of the cases had complications in the form of multiple intestinal ulcers, which is one of the symptoms of Behçet's syndrome. To investigate the relationship between trisomy 8 and multiple intestinal ulcers in MDS patients, we analyzed 46 MDS cases treated in our hospital over the last decade, and trisomy 8 was observed in eight of them. Three of these cases had complications of both multiple intestinal ulcers and thrombosis, and two cases showed episodes of thrombosis without intestinal ulcers. All these five cases featured trisomy 8, while the other 38 MDS patients without trisomy 8 had no episode of either intestinal ulcer or thrombosis. Two of the three cases suffering from multiple intestinal ulcers were treated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), which resulted in aggravation of the symptoms. Although the influence of G-CSF on such symptoms in MDS patients with trisomy 8 remains unclear, it seems advisable to exercise caution in the use of G-CSF when an MDS patient with trisomy 8 has intestinal ulcers or thrombosis.

Adult↗

Persistent behavioural changes in rats following inescapable shock stress: a potential model of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Behavioural changes in rats two weeks after inescapable shock stress were studied using a shuttle-box task (active avoidance/escape). Rats exposed to inescapable shock stress two weeks beforehand showed more frequent avoidance responses and greater within-group variation in both avoidance response and general activity during the test than rats in a control group. General activity during an unstressful period (before starting the test) did not differ significantly between groups. This relatively prolonged increase in responsiveness to external stimuli in the stressful context may be a useful experimental model of posttraumatic stress disorder, especially in relation to hypervigilance.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Pre- or post-ischemic treatment with a novel Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor, KB-R7943, shows renal protective effects in rats with ischemic acute renal failure.

We investigated the effects of pre- or post-ischemic treatment with KB-R7943, a new Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor, on ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) in rats, and these were compared with the effects of verapamil. Ischemic ARF was induced by clamping the left renal pedicle for 45-min followed by reperfusion, 2 weeks after contralateral nephrectomy. Renal function markedly decreased 24 h after reperfusion. Pre-ischemic treatment with KB-R7943 or verapamil attenuated the ARF-induced renal dysfunction. The ischemia/reperfusion-induced renal dysfunction was overcome by post-ischemic treatment with KB-R7943 but not with verapamil. Histopathological examination of the kidney of ARF rats revealed severe renal damage, and suppression of the damage was seen with post-ischemic treatment with KB-R7943. KB-R7943 markedly suppressed the increment of endothelin-1 (ET-1) content in the kidney at 2, 6, and 24 h after reperfusion. No significant changes in Na+/Ca2+ exchanger protein expression in renal tissue were observed with 45-min ischemia, 6 h after reperfusion and KB-R7943 treatment. These results suggest that Ca2+ overload via the reverse mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchange, followed by ET-1 overproduction, seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the ischemia/reperfusion-induced ARF. KB-R7943, which is effective in both cases of pre- and post-ischemic treatments, may prove to be an effective therapeutic agent for cases of ischemic ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[The techniques to identify the epidural space do not influence the success rate in combined spinal-epidural anesthesia: a comparison between loss-of-resistance and hanging-drop].

The hanging-drop (HD) technique has been attributed to a negative epidural pressure induced by making a tent of the dura by the Tuohy needle. We, therefore, hypothesized that the HD technique would result in more successful intrathecal placement of the spinal needle in combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) compared with the loss-of-resistance (LR). Seventy patients received CSEA using the needle-through-needle method with a spinal needle extending 9 mm beyond the Tuohy needle. Success rate in obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the first attempt was considerably low; 60% in HD and 57% in LR, which was not significantly different. Failure to obtain CSF after 3 attempts was not significantly different between the two techniques; 26% and 31% in HD and LR, respectively. In conclusion, there was no advantage of the HD technique for obtaining CSF in CESA compared with the LR. It seems that spinal needle length beyond the Tuohy needle should be more than 9 mm.

Adult↗

[Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by a factory humidifier. A case report].

A 64-year-old man was hospitalized for productive cough and dyspnea. Both chest radiographs and CT scans showed areas of ground-glass opacity in the middle and lower lung fields on both sides. The BAL and TBLB findings were compatible with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The serum was negative for antibodies against Trichosporon species, and the result of a lymphocyte stimulating test for administered drugs including a Chinese medicine was also negative. A humidifier was suspected as the cause because it had been used for more than 10 years in the factory where the patient had been working. An inhalation test using the humidifier fluid successfully provoked dyspnea, fever and fine crackle, and laboratory tests demonstrated hypoxemia, reduction in vital capacity and the elevation of CRP. Agar gel diffusion using the patient's serum showed a precipitating line against Cephalosporium acremonium, but this line did not fuse with any precipitating line formed between the humidifier fluid and the serum, indicating that no Cephalosporium was Present in the humidifier fluid. Since a high level of beta-D glucan was detected in the humidifier fluid, an unidentified fungus was suspected to be the antigen.

Acremonium↗

[Two cases of pneumothorax using the thoracic vent (TV) on an outpatient basis].

In case 1, a 73-year-old man developed dyspnea on exertion while travelling abroad. The symptom continued until the patient returned to Japan 5 days after onset and visited our clinic on the next day. SaO2 was 93% and chest radiography demonstrated pneumothorax with 75% collapse of the right lung. Insertion of a TV successfully prevented air leakage stopped within 2 days. The TV was removed after the lung collapse disappeared, as shown on the chest radiograph taken 4 days after its insertion. Case 2 occurred in a 62-year-old woman with underlying idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis, who had had dyspnea on exertion for approximately 5 years. The patient visited our clinic because the dyspnea on exertion became abruptly exacerbated. A TV was inserted after an SaO2 of 82% was measured and the chest radiograph revealed pneumothorax with a 50% collapse of the right lung. Air leakage stopped after 5 days, and the TV was removed on the 8th day after insertion. We concluded that TV is very useful for improving the QOL of patients and enables outpatient management of pneumothorax, resulting in a reduction in the cost of treatment.

Aged↗

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1999). I. Susceptibility distribution].

The bacterial strains isolated from patients diagnosed as having urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 institutions in Japan were supplied between the period of August 1999 to July 2000. Then, the susceptibilities of them to many kinds of antimicrobial agents were investigated. The number of them were 499 strains. The breakdown of these strains was Gram-positive bacteria as 31.3% and Gram-negative bacteria as 68.7%. Susceptibilities of these bacteria to antimicrobial agents were as follows; vancomycin (VCM), ampicillin (ABPC) and imipenem (IPM) showed strong activities against Enterococcus faecalis. The increase of low-susceptible strains which was noticed in the former year showed a slight recovery in this year. VCM showed a strong activity against MRSA preventing growth of all strains with 1 microgram/ml. In addition, the activity of arbekacin (ABK) was also strong with the MIC90 of 2 micrograms/ml against MRSA. However, MSSA and MRSA showing low susceptibilities were detected in one strain each (MIC: 16 micrograms/ml and 32 micrograms/ml, respectively). Carbapenems showed high activities against Citrobacter freundii and Escherichia coli. Meropenem (MEPM) prevented growth of all strains within 0.125 microgram/ml. Quinolone resistant E. coli decreased in this year compared with those in the last year, that percentage was less than 5%. Almost all drugs showed strong activities against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. MEPM and carumonam (CRMN) prevented growth of all strains within 0.125 microgram/ml. On the other hand, one strain of K. pneumoniae showing resistance to cefaclor (CCL) and one strain of P. mirabilis showing low susceptibility to most of cephems were detected. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, almost drugs were not so active. The MIC90s of carbapenems were 8 micrograms/ml and those of all other drugs were more than 16 micrograms/ml.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1999). II. Background of patients].

Five-hundred forty four bacterial strains isolated from 412 patients diagnosed as having urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 institutions in Japan were supplied between the period of August 1999 to July 2000. Then, the clinical background of patients were investigated such as sex, age and type of infections, infections and kind of bacteria, frequency of isolation of bacteria by age and infections, bacteria and infections by timing of administration of antibiotics, and bacteria and infections by surgical procedures. About the relationship between age and sex of patients and type of infections, the number of male patients aged less than 50 years was few, and complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter was the most frequent. In females, the number of patients aged less than 20 years was few. Complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter was the most frequent among female patients aged between 40 to 59 years, in other age groups, uncomplicated UTIs was most frequent. As for type of infections and kind of bacteria, Escherichia coli decreased when the infections became complicated, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis increased when the infection became complicated. Considering this result by age of patients, isolation frequency of E. coli was gradually decreased with aging in patients aged more than 20 years with uncomplicated UTIs or complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter. The isolation frequencies of E. faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus were gradually increased with aging in complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter. In patients with complicated UTIs with indwelling catheter, there was no difference between age group, and P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis were frequently isolated. As for type of causative organisms in UTIs before and after the administration of antibiotics, the isolation of bacteria was remarkably decreased after administration in patients with uncomplicated UTIs and complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter. E. coli decreased after administration of antibiotics, and P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis increased after administration in patients with all infections. As for type of causative organisms in UTIs and surgical procedures, E. coli were more frequently isolated in patients with uncomplicated UTIs when surgical procedures were experienced. Also, Klebsiella spp. and E. faecalis were more frequently isolated in patients with surgical procedures. However, in complicated UTIs, type of causative organisms had no relationship with surgical procedures.

Adolescent↗

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1999). III. Secular changes in susceptibility].

The bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) isolated from patients diagnosed as having urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 institutions in Japan were supplied between the period of August 1999 to July 2000. Then, the susceptibilities of these bacteria to various antimicrobial agents were examined and the results were compared with those obtained between 1991 and 1998. Comparison was made by classifying strains isolated from patients into those with uncomplicated UTIs and those with complicated UTIs (including with or without indwelling catheter). About E. faecalis, increase of low sensitive strains noted in the former year showed a decreasing tendency, however, one strain each with MIC of 4 micrograms/ml to vancomycin (VCM) was detected in patients with both uncomplicated and complicated UTIs. As for S. aureus, many sensitive strains to cephems, imipenem (IPM) and VCM were noted, and each MIC50 was better than that in the former years. S. aureus strains showing low susceptibility to arbekacin (ABK) were detected in patients with complicated UTIs in this year as well as in the former year, and one strain each with MIC of 16 micrograms/ml and 32 micrograms/ml was detected. Susceptibilities of E. coli were effective to all drugs except for penicillins and minocycline (MINO). Decrease of low sensitive strains was also noted in all drugs except for quinolones. Each MIC90 of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) and sparfloxacin (SPFX) in patients with complicated UTIs against E. coli was 3 degrees classes lower than that in patients with uncomplicated UTIs. As for Klebsiella pneumoniae, decrease of low sensitive strains to cephems was noted in patients with uncomplicated UTIs in 1998. In 1999, low sensitive strains decreased also in patients with complicated UTIs, and few were detected. Susceptibilities of K. pneumoniae to quinolones were effective as compared with those in the former years with the MIC80s of 0.125 microgram/ml or below without detection of low sensitive strains. One low sensitive strain of K. pneumoniae with MIC of 8 micrograms/ml was detected for gentamicin (GM). Susceptibilities of P. aeruginosa to carbapenems were notable. The MIC90 of meropenem (MEPM) and IPM was 4 micrograms/ml each which was 2 degrees better than that in 1998. Resistant P. aeruginosa strains to other drugs except for monobactams decreased in 1999.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗