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Biomedical subjects

Y Sakurai

Publications and source records attributed to Y Sakurai.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in chronic gastric ulcer: a potential role of eosinophils in perforation.

Gene expression of matrix degrading enzymes was investigated in surgical specimens of perforated gastric ulcers. In these ulcers, the inflammatory cells infiltrating into the granulation tissue were granulocytes, particularly eosinophils. The extracellular matrix of the stomach wall consists mainly of collagen types I and III, which are selectively degraded by matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). MMP-1 mRNA was detected in the cytoplasm of infiltrating cells, suggesting that eosinophils play an important role in ulcer recurrence and in perforation of the stomach wall. The degree of eosinophil infiltration into an ulcer base may be a useful marker for the risk of perforation. Patients showing this marker may benefit from a prophylactic therapy for preventing severe complications. The control of MMP gene expression represents a potential strategy for the treatment of recurrent gastric ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Expression of interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1) in gastric cancers.

The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) gene and the presence of MMP-1 protein in gastric cancer were examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of the interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) gene was detected within the stroma of the neoplastic glands, and infiltration of eosinophils was observed to be associated with regions of MMP-1 gene expression. The degree of eosinophilic infiltration correlated with the level of MMP-1 mRNA expression. Immunostaining showed localization of MMP-1 protein in the stromal cells, and additionally in the neoplastic glands. These findings indicate that the stromal cells may play an important role in the expression of MMP-1, and suggest a pathophysiological role for MMP-1 in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Preschool sarcoidosis mimicking juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: the significance of gallium scintigraphy and skin biopsy in the differential diagnosis.

Preschool sarcoidosis occurring in children less than 6 years old is rare and characterized by the triad of skin, joint and eye manifestations without any pulmonary lesion. Because of similar clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of preschool sarcoidosis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is confusing. A girl with preschool sarcoidosis, initially diagnosed and treated as having JRA, is reported here. Ophthalmologic examinations revealed posterior involvement of the eye. A gallium scintigram of the head showed panda appearance. Biopsy of the cutaneous lesion demonstrated non-caseating granuloma. Gallium scanning may be an important clue to correct diagnosis.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1997

Transformation of Escherichia coli with a large plasmid of Acidiphilium multivorum AIU 301 encoding arsenic resistance.

Acidiphilium multivorum AIU 301 isolated from acid mineral water had strong arsenic resistance. This bacterium harbored a number of plasmids with different molecular sizes. A plasmid of 56 kbp, named pKW301, was isolated from A. multivorum AIU 301. When pKW301 was transferred into Escherichia coli JM109 by electroporation, an E. coli transformant carrying pKW301 exhibited resistance to sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate, and mercuric (II) chloride.

Arsenates↗
PubMed1997

Persisting childish behavior after bilateral thalamic infarcts.

We report a case with bilateral paramedian thalamic infarcts. The patient showed a dramatic personality change characterized by childish behavior and euphoria; which remained unchanged for 2 years after the onset. 'Vorbeireden' characterized by approximate answers was also observed. Anterograde amnesia had quite improved after 2 years, while retrograde amnesia for 1 year prior to the stroke onset and vertical gaze palsy remained unchanged. An MRI scan demonstrated bilateral medial thalamic and right midbrain infarcts without other lesions in the brain. A position emission tomography study showed that cerebral metabolic rate for glucose was markedly decreased in both thalami and in the cerebellum, and only slightly decreased in the parietal and occipital cortical regions. Cerebral metabolic rates of glucose in the frontal and temporal cortices were within normal range. The paramedian thalamic lesions per se may be responsible for the patient's personality change, 'Vorbeireden', and amnesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effect of phenylboronic acid groups in copolymers on endothelial cell differentiation into capillary structures.

Copolymers (IABb) composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (I), N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-acrylamide (A), 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (B), and a hydrophobic comonomer, n-butyl methacrylate (b), were synthesized as cell culture substrata since we previously learned that bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) cultured on the phenylboronic acid-containing copolymer (IAB) differentiated into capillary structures after 26 days culture. The synthesized IABb copo ymers contained higher boron and amine moieties than the IAB copolymer. The results of the dynamic contact angle measurement revealed that IABb copolymer-coated surfaces showed a relatively hydrophobic nature, changing to hydrophilic in response to the aqueous environment. BAECs cultured on the copolymer substrata developed into capillary networks after 7 days. This is probably due to the enrichment of boron and amine segments in the vicinity of the hydrophilic copolymer surface, enhancing more pronounced interaction of boronates with cell membrane glycocalyx. The introduction of n-butyl methacrylate into the polymers might enhance the diffusion of the hydrophobic segments to the bulk polymers and the concentration of relatively hydrophilic segments at the outermost polymer surfaces by contact with water. A copolymer (IAP) without boronic acid groups was also prepared using N-phenylacrylamide (P) as a comonomer instead of 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid in the IAB copolymer to investigate the effect of boronic acid moieties on the capillary formation of the cultured cells. Although the endothelial cells seeded on the copolymer without boronic acid groups adhered during the early culture period, these cells showed neither proliferation nor differentiation and detached from the surface after 13 days. These results strongly support the opinion that the phenylboronic acid groups in the copolymers are responsible for the specific induction of tissue formation of BAECs through the interaction with glycoconjugates on the cell membranes.

Acrylamides↗
PubMed1997

Nasal inhalation of l-menthol reduces respiratory discomfort associated with loaded breathing.

To test the hypothesis that stimulation of cold receptors in the upper airway may alleviate the sensation of respiratory discomfort, we investigated the effects of nasal inhalation of l-menthol (a specific stimulant of cold receptors) on the respiratory sensation and ventilation during the loaded breathing in 11 normal subjects. Subjects were asked to rate their sensation of respiratory discomfort using a visual analog scale (VAS) while breathing on a device with a flow-resistive load (180 cm H2O/L/s) or with an elastic load (75.5 cm H2O/L). The effects of inhalation of l-menthol on ventilation and respiratory sensation were evaluated by comparing the steady-state values of ventilatory variables and VAS scores obtained before, during, and after l-menthol inhalation. In 8 of 11 subjects inhalation of strawberry-flavored air instead of l-menthol was performed during loaded breathing. Both during the flow-resistive loading and the elastic loading, inhalation of l-menthol caused a significant reduction in sensation of respiratory discomfort (flow-resistive loading: 62 +/- 14 [mean +/- SD] VAS units before inhalation versus 36 +/- 16 during inhalation, p < 0.01; elastic loading: 68 +/- 13 before inhalation versus 55 +/- 17 during inhalation, p < 0.01) without a significant change in breathing pattern and ventilation. Comparison of the effects between the flow-resistive loading and the elastic loading also revealed that the reduction in VAS score was more during the flow-resistive loading than during the elastic loading (p < 0.01). Inhalation of strawberry-flavored air caused neither changes in VAS score nor changes in breathing pattern and ventilation, indicating that olfaction is not a contributing factor in the relief of respiratory discomfort. We concluded that stimulation of cold receptors in the upper airway with nasal inhalation of l-menthol reduces the sensation of respiratory discomfort associated with loaded breathing. This effect is more effective during the flow-resistive loading than during the elastic loading.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Concealed air leak associated with large tidal volumes in partial liquid ventilation.

Current ventilator strategies aim at maintaining an open lung and limiting both peak inspiratory pressures and tidal volumes to avoid alveolar distension. Perfluorocarbons, as well as being excellent solvents for oxygen and carbon dioxide, have the unique properties of being able to recruit dependent lung regions and improve pulmonary mechanics. Optimal ventilator strategies for partial liquid ventilation (PLV) have not yet been clearly defined. In the surfactant-depleted rabbit model, an approach involving a large tidal volume (VT) (15 ml/kg) and lung filled to FRC with perfluorocarbon (PFC) was compared with strategies involving a moderate VT (9 ml/kg) and partially filled lung (6 ml/kg), a moderate VT (9 ml/kg) and lung filled to FRC with PFC, and a large VT (15 ml/kg) and partially filled lung (6 ml/kg). PEEP was maintained at 5 cm H2O except in the moderate VT, partial-filling group, in which a PEEP of 9 cm H2O was used to maintain the rabbits for the duration of the experiment. Oxygenation was satisfactory in all groups, and peak inspiratory pressures were not significantly different. However, five of the 13 animals in the large-VT, PFC-filled lung group died of a pneumothorax prior to completion of the experiment. Of the eight animals in this group surviving the experiment, two had radiographic evidence of pneumothoraces, with an additional three animals having autopsy evidence of air leak. Of the 22 animals in the other groups, all survived with the exception of a single rabbit in the large VT, partial-filling group, which had both radiographic and autopsy evidence of air leak. We conclude that there is a significant risk of barotrauma in a PLV strategy in which a large VT is used in association with a lung filled to FRC with perfluorocarbon. Adequate gas exchange can be achieved with alternative ventilation strategies in combination with PLV.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Frontal pure agraphia for kanji or kana: dissociation between morphology and phonology.

We present two patients with frontal pure agraphia more impaired for either kanji or kana (two separate writing systems for the Japanese language). The lesion of patient 1 (preferentially disturbed for kanji) was restricted to the foot of the middle frontal gyrus and the adjacent anterior precentral gyrus, whereas the lesion of patient 2 (preferentially disturbed for kana) included the posterior two thirds of the middle frontal gyrus. Both patients made agraphic errors (impaired recall) for kanji and agraphic or paragraphic errors (changing into other symbols) for kana. The double dissociation and the difference in types of errors between kanji writing and kana writing suggests that there are two pathways involved in writing, i.e., a morphologic route and a phonologic route. We concluded that damage to the morphologic route may yield agraphia for kanji and that damage to the phonologic route may yield agraphia for kana.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Modification of the response of a quiescent cell population within a murine solid tumour to boron neutron capture irradiation: studies with nicotinamide and hyperthermia.

C3H/He mice bearing SCC VII tumours received 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) continuously for 5 days via implanted mini-osmotic pumps, to label all proliferating (P) cells. 20 min after intraperitoneal injection of sodium borocaptate-10B (BSH), or 3 h after oral administration of dl-p-boronophenylalanine-10B (BPA), the tumours were irradiated with thermal neutrons. To modify the uptake dose of 10B, nicotinamide (NA) was intraperitoneally injected 60 min before the administration of 10B-compounds and/or the tumours were heated to 41.5 degrees C for 20 min immediately before irradiation. After irradiation, the tumours were excised, minced and trypsinized. The tumour cell suspensions were then incubated with cytochalasin-B (a cytokinesis-blocker). The micronucleus (MN) frequency in cells not BrdU-labelled (quiescent (Q) cells) was determined using immunofluorescence staining for BrdU. With or without the administration of 10B-compounds, the sensitivity of Q cells was lower than that of total (P + Q) tumour cells. With thermal neutron irradiation in the presence of either BPA or BSH, the MN frequency in each cell population was increased. A greater increase in the MN frequency of total tumour cells was observed after thermal neutron irradiation in the presence of BPA than in the presence of BSH. The distribution of 10B from BPA into tumour cells was thought to be more dependent on the uptake ability of the tumour cells than that from BSH. Sufficient quantity of 10B from these two 10B-compounds to cause a highly lethal event inside the cancer cell with thermal neutron irradiation could not be delivered to Q cells. When NA and/or heat treatment were combined with 10B-compound administration, NA increased MN frequency in the BSH treated total cells, and heat treatment elevated MN frequency in Q cells. From the viewpoint of cell kill effect, the combined treatment with nicotinamide and heat treatment was more useful than treatment with either nicotinamide or heat treatment alone, not only in the total tumour cells but also in the Q cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Surgical strategy for patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction without choledocal dilatation.

It is well known that the frequency of an associated gallbladder cancer in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) without congenital choledochal dilation (CCD) is very high, while that of bile duct cancer with CCD is remarkably high, and that of bile duct malignancy without CCD is low. However, recent statistical evaluations have demonstrated that the coincidence rates of gallbladder and bile duct cancer with CCD are 11.5% and 4.6%, respectively, whereas without CCD the rates are 57.1% and 4.1%, respectively. Rates of bile duct cancer with CCD are comparable to those without CCD. We have performed biliary reconstruction after resection of extrahepatic bile ducts along with the gallbladder for PBM patients who had neither CCD nor cancer. Our surgical strategy for these patients without CCD with PBM was assessed from K-ras point mutations and overexpression of p53 protein in the epithelia of the cancerous portions and non-neoplastic portions of the gallbladder and bile duct affected by PBM regardless of choledochal dilatation. The mutation rate in the non-neoplastic gallbladder epithelium without CCD was 80%, that of the bile duct without CCD 57%, not significantly different from the 50% and 40%, respectively, with CCD. The frequency of p53 overexpression in the non-neoplastic bile duct epithelium without CCD was 14%, comparable to the 11% in gallbladder epithelium with CCD. Judging from the statistical data and the molecular biological data, resection of an extrahepatic bile duct with the gallbladder should be the treatment of choice for carcinogenesis prevention.

Biliary Tract↗
PubMed1997

Relationship between weight change in young adulthood and the risk of NIDDM. The Sotetsu Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the independent effect of weight change in young adulthood on the risk of prevalent NIDDM among middle-aged Japanese men. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in 895 male employees aged > or = 30 years of a railway company located in the vicinity of Tokyo. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for prevalent diabetes in each category of weight change (obtained from subjects' medical records) in young adulthood and adulthood. Adjustment for current age, initial BMI, and weight change in each age stratum was performed by the Mantel-Haenszel method or multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Weight change between 20 years of age and the age at maximum weight was not associated with the risk of NIDDM. Weight gain between 20 and 25 years of age was significantly and positively associated with the risk of NIDDM (OR 3.87 for gains > or = 10.0 kg, 2.53 for gains of 5.0-9.9%, and 3.73 for gains > or = 10.0%). On the other hand, moderate weight gain after 30 years of age was significantly inversely associated with NIDDM (OR 0.44 for gains of 5.0-9.9 kg, 0.15 for gains of 10.0-19.9%, and 0.38 for gains of 20.0-29.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Extreme weight gain between 20 and 25 years of age is a significant predictor of NIDDM, independent of current age, BMI at 20 years of age, and weight change within other age strata.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[A long-term histological prognosis after IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C].

In 72 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN, liver biopsies were performed before and after IFN treatment, and histological changes were examined. In complete responders, the grading score improved significantly since 6-mo after IFN treatment, and the staging score improved significantly since 12-mo after IFN treatment. In long-term responders underwent a following liver biopsy 4-5 yr after IFN treatments; 5 had normal liver histology. In partial responders, both the grading and staging score did not improve significantly. But, in the cases who had sustained normalization of ALT levels after IFN treatment, both the grading and staging score improved after treatment. In non-responders, both the grading and staging score did not improve significantly.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1997

[Ascending aortic aneurysms operated through redo median sternotomy under selective cerebral perfusion].

Case 1: A 34-year-old man who had received ventricular septal closure at 4 years old was found to suffer from annuloaortic ectasia with severe aortic regurgitation and giant ascending aortic aneurysm accompanying with dissection. Median sternotomy was performed under selective cerebral perfusion to control bleeding when the aorta was injured. He was successfully replaced the ascending aorta and the aortic valve with the composite graft including an aortic prosthetic valve by modified Piehler's procedure. Case 2: A 44-year-old man received mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty due to mitral regurgitation with tricuspid regurgitation. After surgery, he suffered from mediastinitis. Three months later, he was found to have pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta. During the sternotomy done under selective cerebral perfusion, the pseudoaneurysm was injured but bleeding was controlled easily. The defect of the aorta was closed successfully using a Dacron patch and covered with the right sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. Sternotomy under selective cerebral perfusion is very useful and safe for such patients as to have risks to injure the aorta or the heart during the sternotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[A neuropsychological study on a patient with the resection of the right lateral frontal lobe].

We report a patient who underwent a resection of the right lateral frontal lobe after a venous thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus. The patient showed inertia, obsessive-compulsive behavior and disinhibition two weeks after the operation and hyperlogia and hypergraphia four weeks later, all of which disappeared within six weeks. General intelligence, language and memory were consistently preserved, though the scores of the performance IQ and the visual memory were relatively decreased. A few months after the operation emotional and personality change such as impatience and apathy became evident. We suggest that the right lateral prefrontal area is concerned with personality and behavior and that the widespread resection holds general intelligence, language and memory within normal range but relatively decreases non-verbal cognitive function that requires manual responses.

Cerebral Infarction↗