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Y Ohashi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ohashi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel prevents adhesion formation and reformation in mouse uterine horn model.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel (HA gel) as an adjuvant for postoperative adhesion prevention, in a mouse uterine horn model. In experiment 1 uterine horns were abrased with iodine. HA gel was applied to the injured surface before closure in the treatment group. In experiment 2, after injuring the uterine horns, three stitches were placed at equal distances around the uterine horns to appose the injured medial surfaces of the two horns during healing. HA gel was inserted between the uterine horns in the treatment group. In experiment 3 prevention of adhesion reformation was assessed. After lysis of adhesions that were induced as in experiment 2, HA gel was introduced between the serosal surfaces of apposing uterine horns. Untreated animals served as controls in each experiment. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's t-test. The adhesion score was significantly lower in the HA gel group on the 14th day compared with controls in all the experiments: in experiment 1, 0.3 +/- 0.4 versus 1.7 +/- 1.2; in experiment 2, 0.9 +/- 1.0 versus 2.6 +/- 0.5; and in experiment 3, 1.5 +/- 0.9 versus 2.2 +/- 0.6 respectively. Cross-linked HA gel significantly reduced de-novo adhesions (P< 0.03) and adhesion reformation (P < 0.03).

Animals↗
PubMed2001

High frequency of XY disomy in spermatozoa of severe oligozoospermic men.

Frequencies of disomy and diploidy in spermatozoa for chromosomes X, Y and 18 were compared among severe oligozoospermic men (<5x10(6) spermatozoa/ml), oligozoospermic men (5-20x10(6) spermatozoa/ml), and normospermic men using three-colour fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). Semen samples were collected from 10 severe oligozoospermic men aged 26-49 years, 10 oligozoospermic men aged 27-48 years and seven normospermic men aged 25-31 years. Karyotypes in lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood were all 46,XY. In severe oligozoospermic men, analysis of 200 interphases per individual using FISH showed XY constitutions for sex chromosomes in all cells. A minimum of 10 000 sperm nuclei per individual for each chromosome was evaluated in severe oligozoospermic men and oligozoospermic men, and a minimum of 6000 sperm nuclei per individual in normospermic men. In total, 245 707 sperm nuclei were evaluated. The hybridization efficiency was 99.8%. The severe oligozoospermic men showed significantly higher frequencies of XY disomy (0.41%) and diploidy (0.49%) compared with oligozoospermic men (0.16%, P < 0.01; 0.22%, P < 0.05) and normospermic men (0.18%, P < 0.05; 0.21%, P < 0.05) (Mann-Whitney U-test). The data suggest that when severe oligozoospermic men undergo intracytoplasmic sperm injection, there can be an increase in the rate of conceptuses with 47,XXY chromosomes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Projected number of diabetic renal disease patients among insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus children in Japan using a Markov model with probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

BACKGROUND: To plan prevention programmes for the diabetic renal disease among insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) children, projections of future trends for the disease is crucial. We projected future trends in the number of diabetic renal disease patients among IDDM children and assessed an impact of treatment dissemination in Japan. METHODS: We used a Markov model to describe the clinical courses of diabetic renal disease. Future trends in the number of patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were projected from the year 1995 to 2015. We made three scenarios for assessing an impact of the dissemination of new treatment. We performed a probabilistic sensitivity analysis for the uncertainty of transition probabilities. RESULTS: The results showed that the number of patients with DN was 790.5 (5th to 95th percentile: 652.5-955.1), ESRD was 253.3 (5th to 95th percentile: 207.3-310.0) in year 2015 on basic scenario. Considering the dissemination of intensive insulin therapy, under the scenario of the gradual increase of the treatment, the result showed that the number of patients with DN was 713.1 (5th to 95th percentile: 546.2-930.6), ESRD was 231.0 (5th to 95th percentile: 176.6-296.2). Under the scenario of the immediate change of the treatment, the results showed that the number of patients with DN in 2015 was 418.9 (5th percentile; 345.4; 95th percentile; 506.1) and with ESRD was 133.4 (5th percentile; 109.0; 95th percentile; 163.8). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the projection showed a gradual increase in the number of patients with DMN and ESRD. Examination of three possible scenarios showed that the programme of dissemination of intensive insulin therapy prevented the progression of diabetic renal disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Treated natural history of superficial bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to examine the natural history of superficial bladder cancer. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four patients with superficial bladder cancer who had been treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBt) alone were analyzed. RESULTS: The non-recurrence rate was 64.8% at 36 months and 61.2% at 60 months after TURBt. When the non-recurrence rate after TURBt was analyzed by background variables, the rate differed significantly between the solitary tumor group and the multiple tumor group. The tumor recurrence hazard curves for the entire population had one high peak before 500 days and another slight peak around 1500 days after TURBt. CONCLUSIONS: These results will provide basic information useful when evaluating new regimens of intravesical instillation therapy for prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer after our complete TURBt in the Nara Uro-Oncology Research Group.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

A large family of class III plant peroxidases.

Class III plant peroxidase (POX), a plant-specific oxidoreductase, is one of the many types of peroxidases that are widely distributed in animals, plants and microorganisms. POXs exist as isoenzymes in individual plant species, and each isoenzyme has variable amino acid sequences and shows diverse expression profiles, suggesting their involvement in various physiological processes. Indeed, studies have provided evidence that POXs participate in lignification, suberization, auxin catabolism, wound healing and defense against pathogen infection. Little, however, is known about the signal transduction for inducing expression of the pox genes. Recent studies have provided information on the regulatory mechanisms of wound- and pathogen-induced expression of some pox genes. These studies suggest that pox genes are induced via different signal transduction pathways from those of other known defense-related genes.

Gene Expression Regulation, Plant↗
PubMed2001

Nitrous oxide activates GABAergic neurons in the spinal cord in Fischer rats.

BACKGROUND: Findings to date indicate that nitrous oxide exerts its antinociceptive effect by activating descending noradrenergic neurons. The mechanism whereby descending inhibitory neurons, including noradrenergic neurons, produce antinociceptive effect remains unclear. Using c-Fos protein as a marker for neuronal activation, we examined whether spinal cord neurons activated by nitrous oxide are y-aminobutyric acid-mediated (GABAergic) neurons. METHODS: Adult male Fischer (a strain in which nitrous oxide shows strong antinociceptive properties) and Lewis (a strain in which nitrous oxide lacks antinociceptive properties) rats were exposed to either air (control) or nitrous oxide. Frozen sections of the spinal cord were either stained for c-Fos or double-stained for c-Fos and glutamic acid decarboxylase (a rate-limiting enzyme for GABA synthesis) and analyzed by standard or confocal microscopy. RESULTS: In Fischer rats, 90 min of 75% N2O administration increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the spinal cord approximately threefold as compared with the control group. The c-Fos-positive cells induced by nitrous oxide were almost entirely colocalized with glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive cells. In contrast, exposure did not change the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the spinal cord in Lewis rats. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to nitrous oxide activates GABAergic neurons in the spinal cord. The dose-dependence of GABAergic neuronal activation in the Fischer rats and its absence in the Lewis rat correlate with antinociceptive responses previously reported in these same circumstances. Together, we interpret these data to indicate that activation of GABAergic neurons in the spinal cord are involved in the antinociceptive action of nitrous oxide.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗
PubMed2001

Antiinflammatory effects of amniotic membrane transplantation in ocular surface disorders.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the sequestration of inflammatory cells plays a role in the antiinflammatory effects of amniotic membrane transplantation to the ocular surface. METHODS: Amniotic membrane grafts were prepared from placental tissue procured from mothers undergoing planned Cesarean sections. A detailed explanation was given to all donors, and a written consent was obtained before processing. Amniotic membrane tissue was dissected into 3- x 3-cm segments, rinsed in phosphate buffered saline, and stored in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions at -80 degrees C until use. In a clinical series, amniotic membrane patches of the ocular surface were performed in 20 eyes of 20 patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects, or as a prophylactic measure after corneal limbal transplantation. Amniotic membrane patches were harvested after a 1-week observation period and were subjected to histopathologic examinations by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Inflammatory cells trapped within the amniotic membrane were labeled by immunocytochemistry using anti-CD14, CD4, CD8, and CD20 antibodies. TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) staining was done to observe cells undergoing apoptosis. The T cell line Molt 4 was co-cultured with amniotic membrane in vitro to observe adhesion of T cells to amniotic membrane. RESULTS: Various degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in all clinical samples of amniotic membrane patches. Most of the inflammatory cells stained positively with anti-CD14 antibodies, indicating that these cells were of monocyte/macrophage lineage. Subsets of T cells included both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, whereas CD20(+) cells were sparse. TUNEL assays revealed that trapped inflammatory cells exhibited characteristics of cells undergoing apoptosis. Molt 4 invaded within amniotic membrane in an in vitro assay, which was not inhibited by blocking antibodies to beta1 and beta2 integrins. CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane attracts and traps inflammatory cells infiltrating the ocular surface, which may explain some of the antiinflammatory properties of the fetal tissue.

Amnion↗
PubMed2001

Endothelial NO synthase overexpression inhibits lesion formation in mouse model of vascular remodeling.

NO produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays important roles in the regulation of vascular tone and structure. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of eNOS-derived NO on vascular remodeling by use of eNOS-transgenic (eNOS-Tg) mice. The common carotid artery was ligated just proximal to the carotid bifurcation. Four weeks later, the proximal carotid artery of the ligation site was histologically examined. In this vascular remodeling model, the endothelium remains uninjured, but neointimal and medial thickening occurs in combination with a reduction in vascular diameter at the proximal portion of the ligation. At 4 weeks after ligation, the respective neointimal and medial areas in wild-type mice were 17 200+/-1100 and 24 300+/-1500 microm(2), whereas both were reduced to 8000+/-1900 (P:<0.01) and 18 400+/-700 microm(2) (P:<0.01) in eNOS-Tg mice (n=8). Total vascular area was not different between the 2 genotypes. N:(G)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester treatment increased neointimal and medial areas to the same extent in both genotypes. Leukocyte infiltration was observed in the luminal side of the vessel, but the number of infiltrating cells was significantly attenuated in eNOS-Tg mice compared with wild-type mice. This reduction of leukocyte infiltration in eNOS-Tg mice was associated with reduced expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 on the endothelium. In conclusion, chronic eNOS overexpression in the endothelium reduced leukocyte infiltration and inhibited neointimal formation and medial thickening. Our data provide the evidence for the regulatory role of NO from the endothelium on vascular structure integrity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Reduced hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling by nitric oxide from the endothelium.

We examined whether overproduction of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) can prevent hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling by using endothelial NO-overexpressing (eNOS-Tg) mice. Male eNOS-Tg mice and their littermates (wild-type, WT) were maintained in normoxic or 10% hypoxic condition for 3 weeks. In normoxia, eNOS protein levels, Ca(2+)-dependent NOS activity, and cGMP levels in the lung of eNOS-Tg mice were higher than those of WT mice. Activity of eNOS and cGMP production in the lung did not change significantly by hypoxic exposure in either genotype. Chronic hypoxia did not induce iNOS expression nor increase its activity in either genotype. Plasma and lung endothelin-1 levels were increased by chronic hypoxia, but these levels were not significantly different between the 2 genotypes. In hemodynamic analysis, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in eNOS-Tg mice was similar to that in WT mice in normoxia. Chronic hypoxia increased RVSP and induced right ventricular hypertrophy in both genotypes; however, the degrees of these increases were significantly smaller in eNOS-Tg mice. Histological examination revealed that hypoxic mice showed medial wall thickening in pulmonary arteries. However, the increase of the wall thickening in small arteries (diameter <80 microm) by chronic hypoxia was inhibited in eNOS-Tg mice. Furthermore, muscularization of small arterioles was significantly attenuated in eNOS-Tg mice. Thus, we demonstrated directly that overproduction of eNOS-derived NO can inhibit not only the increase in RVSP associated with pulmonary hypertension but also remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and right ventricular hypertrophy induced by chronic hypoxia.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota-fermented milk stimulates indigenous Lactobacilli in the pig intestine.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a probiotic, i.e. fermented milk prepared with Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, on indigenous Lactobacilli in the pig large intestine. This fermented milk was given as a probiotic to experimental pigs for 2 weeks. The fecal organic acid concentration increased with the fermented milk; acetate and propionate increased significantly (p<0.05). At the same time, lactate and butyrate tended to increase. The fecal pH was significantly reduced by the fermented milk (p<0.05). Although the number of bacteria of strain Shirota in the intestinal contents was much smaller than those of indigenous Lactobacilli, 10(4) vs 10(8) (cfu/g), the numbers of indigenous Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in the pig intestine appeared to increase with the fermented milk. In addition, the phenotypic diversity (phenotypic group numbers) of indigenous Lactobacilli increased from 3 to 8 with the fermented milk supplementation. Thus the fermented milk affected the indigenous Lactobacillus population and constitution.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Strain gauge force transducer and its application in a pig model to evaluate the effect of probiotic on colonic motility.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotic, i.e., fermented milk prepared with Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, on colonic motility by the strain gauge force transducer (SGFT) in a pig model. The contractions of the circular muscle layer of the cecum, upper colon, lower colon, and terminal colon in pigs were directly measured in conscious status by this method. This method was useful for quantitatively evaluating the effects of stimuli on colonic motility. Feeding significantly stimulated the motilities of the upper and lower colon. Defecation significantly stimulated the motilities of the upper and terminal colon. Two weeks' feeding of the fermented milk significantly activated the response to feeding in four portions of the large intestine. It increased motility of the terminal colon that did not promote defecation. The frequency of defecation from 9:00 to 10:00 (the period just after the morning meal) increased significantly, but from 0:00 to 1:00 (the midnight period) it decreased as a result of the ingestion of fermented milk. Such effects of the fermented milk on motility of the terminal colon are discussed in relation to the movement of digesta. The effects may relate to the stimulation of colonic fermentation as shown by a decrease in fecal pH.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A comparison of low versus standard dose pravastatin therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular events in the elderly: the pravastatin anti-atherosclerosis trial in the elderly (PATE).

Treatment with low drug doses is generally recommended in the elderly. However, the efficacy of low dose 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor treatment in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients has never been examined. Therefore, we compared the effect of low-dose with standard dose pravastatin, an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, on the incidence of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia in a randomized prospective trial. Subjects aged > or = 60 years (73 +/- 6 years) with serum total cholesterol (TC) levels of 220-280 mg/dL were randomized to the low-dose (groupL, 5 mg/day; n=334) or standard dose (groupS, 10-20mg/day; n= 331). Baseline TC levels were similar in the 2 groups (253 +/-15 mg/dL). Patients were followed for 3-5 years (mean 3.9 years). TC levels decreased from baseline by 11-13% in group L and by 15-17% in groupS. TC levels at 1 year in S and L group were 209 +/- 2 mg/ dL (16 +/- 1% decrease) and 221+/- 2 mg/dL (12 +/- 1% decrease), respectively. Forty two and 29 CVEs occurred in group L and S, respectively. The incidence of CVEs was significantly lower in group S than in group L (P = 0.046, generalized Wilcoxon test; P = 0.096, log-rank test). The risk ratio for group S compared with group L was 0.674 (95% confidence interval: 0.423-1.074). Subgroup analyses suggested that the difference in the incidence of CVEs between the 2 groups was more clear in subjects without diabetes mellitus, with TC levels of < 253 mg/dL, and with TG levels of > or = 133 mg/dL. The incidence of CVEs in group S was significantly lower than that in group L in subjects without both diabetes mellitus and previous cardiovascular disease (P = 0.026, generalized Wilcoxon test; P = 0.032, log rank test). These findings suggest that standard-dose pravastatin (10-20 mg/day) is more effective in reducing the incidence of CVEs in the elderly than low dose pravastatin (5 mg/ day), especially in nondiabetic elderly patients with mild hypercholesterolemia or previous cardiovascular disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Successful diagnosis of fetal gender using conventional PCR analysis of maternal serum.

BACKGROUND: Fetal DNA has been found in maternal plasma and serum. Diagnosis of fetal gender using maternal plasma and serum has been attempted in an effort to develop a new noninvasive method of prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 61 pregnant women at 10-17 weeks of gestation before amniocentesis. DNA was extracted from 800 microL of each plasma or serum sample. To detect the Y-chromosome-specific sequences DYS14 and DYZ3 in the maternal plasma and serum, 40 cycles of PCR were carried out for each DNA extract. The PCR products were analyzed by 2.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining, and the results were compared with the results of the cytogenetic analyses of amniocentesis. RESULTS: Cytogenetic analysis of amniocentesis revealed that 31 pregnant women had a male fetus and the remaining 30 pregnant women had a female fetus. Both DYS14 and DYZ3 were detected in 27 of the 31 plasma samples obtained from pregnant women carrying a male fetus and in all of 31 serum samples obtained from the same women. Neither DYS14 nor DYZ3 was detected in either the plasma or serum samples obtained from any of the 30 pregnant women carrying a female fetus. CONCLUSION: PCR analysis of maternal serum can be used to diagnose fetal gender.

DNA↗
PubMed2001

[Study of functional rating scale for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: revised ALSFRS(ALSFRS-R) Japanese version].

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is progressive, degenerative, fatal disease of the motor neuron. No efficacious therapy is available to slow the progressive loss of function, but several new approaches including neurotrophic factors, antioxidants and glutamate antagonists, are currently being evaluated as potential therapies. Mortality, and/or time to tracheostomy, muscle strength and pulmonary function are used as primary endpoints in clinical trials for treatment of ALS. The effect of new therapies on the quality of patients' lives are also important, so we sought to develop a rating scale to measure it. The revised ALS Functional Rating Scale(ALSFRS-R), which has addition of items to ALSFRS to enhance the ability to assess respiratory symptoms, is an assessment determining the degree of impairment in ALS patients' abilities to function independently in activities of daily living. It consists of 12 items to evaluate bulbar function, motor function and respiratory function and each item is scored from 0(unable) to 4(normal). We translated the English score into Japanese one with minor modification considering the inter cultural difference. And we examined reliability of the translated scale. As a measure of reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) was evaluated for total score and the Kappa coefficient proposed by Cohen and Kraemer was calculated for each item. Moreover, we examined sensitivity to clinical change over time and carried out the factor analysis to analyze the factorial structure. The subjects were 27 ALS patients and each was scored twice for reliability or three times for sensitivity by 2 to 5 neurologists and if possible, nurses. The ICC for total score was 0.97(95% C. I.; 0.94-0.98). Extension of the Kappa coefficients were 0.48 to 1.00 for inter-rater reliability and the averaged Kappa coefficients were 0.63 to 1.00 for intra rater reliability, respectively. Concerning the factorial structure, the contribution of the first factor(the first principal component) were 53.5% principal factor solution. The factor loadings of items were 0.52-0.91 except "salivation" and this factor almost equal to the simple sum of all items was interpreted as the general degree of deterioration. The promax votation revealed the riginally supposed factor structure with 3 factors(groups of items): neuromuscuclar function, respiratory function and bulbar function. The rating scale correlated with Global clinical impression of change(GCIC) scored by neurologists and declined with time, indicating its sensitivity to change. On the bases of these results, ALSFRS-R(Japanese version) is considered to be highly reliable enough for clinical use.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

[Platinum compounds in cancer therapy--past, present, and future].

Platinum cytotoxics play an important role globally in the management of solid tumours. Cisplatin sets the standard for efficacy in both regions with careful administration to reduce nephrotoxicity. Carboplatin is associated with neurotoxicity, but has become the leading product in the US due largely to the easier to manage toxicity profile. Both agents have been widely used in both registered and non registered indications and are frequently combined with other cytotoxics. In Japan, cisplatin has been used successfully at low doses in combination with 5-FU based regimens and appears to achieve a synergistic effect, but controlled data are not yet available. More recently oxaliplatin (Europe) and nedaplatin (in Japan) have been introduced, but their clinical roles in therapy have yet to be established. One of the limiting features of the first generation of platinum compounds is that a significant proportion of tumours develop cross resistance to platins due to either changes in uptake or excretion, intracellular detoxification or accelerated DNA repair. The forum discussed the possibility for the development of better new platinum compounds, A new platin agent which had lower toxicity and higher efficacy across a wide range of cancers without the development of resistance would be a significant step forward. If the tolerability profile was suitable, an oral formulation may improve the quality of life for patients but this must not be at the expense of efficacy. Even after the introduction of new target based drugs, platinum cytotoxics are likely to be used to reduce the tumour mass and in some cases can be expected to potentiate the effects of the new agents. In preclinical studies, ZD0473 has been shown to by-pass some major mechanisms of resistance and has the potential to achieve these objectives and is now being evaluated in clinical studies in both Japan and the West.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2001

[Comparison of management of advanced cancer in various organs].

The management of advanced cancer presents the greatest challenge to physicians involved in oncology. There will usually be a large burden of disease; cure is unlikely; and the needs of the patient in terms of pain control and palliation will also be important over and above the direct treatment of the disease. Different issues will arise depending on the site and pathological type of the cancer. Increasingly over the past few years, treatment protocols and guidelines have been developed for different cancers, but these can only be rough guides rather than definite treatment recommendations. Additionally in most cancers advanced disease offers the opportunity for evaluation of new treatments in Phase II studies and other trials. With the new generation of molecular targeted therapies, such as EGFR inhibitors, striking results are being seen in advanced disease that compare favourably with what has been seen previously. Other agents such as those which attack the tumour vasculature may also have promise in this setting. Palliation is also an important aspect of the management of advanced disease, and pain control in particular is an important component of patient management. In summary, the treatment of advanced disease provides a test bed for new agents, but this need to develop better cancer therapies must be balanced against patient needs for a pain-free and comfortable end to life.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗