Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to Y Tanaka.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Recovery of apparent diffusion coefficient after embolic stroke does not signify complete salvage of post-ischemic neuronal tissue.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been shown in previous studies that recovery of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water is not necessarily associated with a reversal of tissue damage. We examined the relationships between temporal ADC change and histological outcome after embolic stroke in rat using an experimental MRI scanner. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats underwent embolization of the right middle cerebral artery with autologous clot. ADC and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured consecutively for 3 hours after embolization. The brains were prepared for histological examination. RESULTS: Transient decline of ADC was observed during the initial 2 hours after embolization. In these areas, serial rCBF measurement revealed incomplete recovery. In some other areas, ADC decrease without rCBF recovery was observed during 3 hours postischemia. Histological examination revealed infarction in areas with persistent ADC decrease. Scattered neuronal death was noticeable in areas with a transient--in some areas less than 0.5 hour--ADC decrease. CONCLUSION: Consecutive MRI analysis demonstrated postischemic transient ADC decrease in an embolic stroke model of rat. The normalization of ADC does not signify normalization of postischemic tissue, since the areas often evolve postischemic neuronal death at a later time.

Animals↗

Comparison of structure-activity relations of corazonin using two different bioassay systems.

The structure-activity relations of [His(7)]-corazonin were studied using two different bioassay systems; i.e. inhibitory effect on spinning rate in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and darkening response in albino nymphs of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. Deletion of the N-terminus, shortening of the peptide and single amino acid substitutions reduced activity in a similar manner except for the minimum effective dose in the two insects. The results also revealed that the residues at position 1, 3 and 5 were particularly important for biological activity. Despite the different physiological affects, the two insect species exhibited similar structure-activity relationships, suggesting that they might have similar receptor systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sonoelectrochemical effects in electro-organic systems.

This paper describes recent studies in organic sonoelectrochemistry at Coventry University, including the oxidation of thiophene monoxides, degradation of dye pollutants, formation of conducting polymers and electrosynthetic modification of proteins.

Animals↗

Preoperative blood pressure and catecholamines related to hypothermia during general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated that preoperative blood pressure values affect intraoperative hypothermia during general anesthesia. We hypothesized that increased catecholamine secretion could be responsible for the relationship between preoperative blood pressure and hypothermia. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of preoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP) and plasma catecholamine levels on core temperature during general anesthesia, 40 male patients who were scheduled for open abdominal surgery were allocated to two groups: those whose preoperative SBP was 140 mmHg or greater (high SBP group, n = 20), and those whose SBP was less than 140 mmHg (normal SBP group, n = 20). Anesthesia was maintained with 0.4% isoflurane and opioids. RESULTS: The average age, height, and weight of the patients in the two groups did not differ. Preoperative SBP, mean blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the high SBP group were significantly higher than those in the normal SBP group. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations in the high SBP group were significantly greater than those in the normal SBP group before and 1 h after the induction of anesthesia. Tympanic membrane temperatures in the normal SBP group started to decline further just after the induction of anesthesia, more so than that in the high SBP group. The vasoconstriction threshold in the normal SBP group was significantly lower than that in the high SBP group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the higher levels of preoperative catecholamine secretion contributed to the lesser degree of intraoperative hypothermia observed in the high SBP group.

Abdomen↗

The vasoconstriction threshold is increased in obese patients during general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: In anaesthetized patients, body temperature decreases often, but overweight patients become less hypothermic. Obesity in itself protects body heat, and thermoregulatory reflexes may maintain normothermia in obese patients. We tested the hypothesis that even slight obesity increases the vasoconstriction threshold. METHODS: Twenty male patients aged 30-65 years scheduled for open abdominal surgery were allocated to two groups: body fat >/=25% (obese group, n = 10), or <25% (normal weight group, n = 10). Anaesthesia was maintained with 0.4% isoflurane and opioid. The thermoregulatory vasoconstriction threshold was defined by the tympanic membrane temperature at which the skin temperature gradient equalled 0 degrees C. Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and leptin were measured. RESULTS: Age, height, heart rate and blood pressure did not differ between the two groups of patients. In the obese group the vasoconstriction threshold was higher than that in the normal weight group: 36.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 35.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C. Consequently, after 4 h of anaesthesia, the core temperature was highest in the obese patients: 36.4 +/- 0.1 vs. 35.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that core temperature is maintained in obese patients because their vasoconstriction threshold to a low environmental temperature is high.

Adult↗

Aseptic meningitis during combined continuous spinal and epidural analgesia.

Continuous spinal analgesia (CSA) offers considerable advantages: (1) it requires 10% of the local anesthetic; (2) it may be instituted after patient positioning, thus minimizing the potential for cardiovascular instability; and (3) with low doses of dilute short-acting local anesthetic, the recovery period is shortened (1). Continuous spinal analgesia has been used for various procedures such as surgery and cancer pain control. However, CSA has not gained wide popularity because of its possible complications, such as headache, nerve injury, infection and accidental removal or migration of the catheter. Although real possibilities, these complications have been rarely documented. We describe an episode of aseptic meningitis during combined CSA and EA.

Abdominal Pain↗

Regression of an unresectable pancreatic tumor following nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation.

A 59-year-old female with an unresectable, large pancreatic tumor (10.0 x 8.0 cm(2) on CT scan) underwent nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation from her HLA-identical sibling. Pronounced tumor regression and relief from pain without acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were observed following transplantation. The patient is surviving (more than 300 days) after transplantation, with extensive chronic GVHD, and has tumor regression with an 80% reduction in tumor size. The observed clinical course may suggest a graft-versus-tumor effect on the pancreatic tumor following allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Clinical features and treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated gastric antral vascular ectasia.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) may occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and cause severe and prolonged gastric bleeding. The underlying pathology of transplant-associated GAVE (HSCT-GAVE) is poorly understood and an effective therapeutic strategy has not been established yet. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 230 consecutive allogeneic transplant recipients in our institution between January 1997 and June 2002. We identified five patients who developed HSCT-GAVE (2.2%). Four patients had bleeding from HSCT-GAVE and one patient had HSCT-GAVE discovered incidentally. The clinical features of these patients were similar in that they all received conditioning treatment with busulfan and had history of thrombotic microangiopathy. Furthermore, treatment with a beta-blocker apparently improved the outcome of HSCT-GAVE in three patients.

Adolescent↗

Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for patients with hematologic malignancies.

We conducted a multi-center phase I/II trial of nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation for patients with hematologic malignancies. The aim of this trial was to assess the safety and feasibility of this treatment modality for older or younger patients with significant organ dysfunction, who could not be treated with conventional high dose chemoradiotherapy. Twelve patients were treated with a conditioning regimen consisting of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical siblings. Nonhematologic toxicities were mild. Median time to absolute neutrophils above 0.5 x 10(9)/l, 1.0 x 10(9)/l and platelets above 50 x 10(9)/l were 8, 10 and 12 days, respectively. Donor dominant hematopoiesis was achieved in all patients, with or without donor leukocyte infusion. The cumulative incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 75 and 56%, respectively. Only one patient experienced early death within 100 days, caused by acute GVHD complicated by fungal infection. All patients except one achieved complete remission. With a median follow-up of 330 days, expected progression-free survival is 75%. Overall survival is 76%. Our study confirms that nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine conditioning is a safe and promising treatment for elderly patients with hematologic malignancies. A further study in large-scale setting is warranted.

Age Factors↗

Effects of exercise on platelet and aortic functions in aged rats.

AIM AND METHODS: To assess age- and exercise-related changes in platelet aggregation, we measured the magnitude of platelet aggregation with a four-channel aggregometer, plasma and aortic polyunsaturated fatty acids by gas chromatography and related prostanoids with a reagent kit in young and aged non-exercised and in aged exercised rats. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma induced by ADP (5 microm) in the primary wave increased with age. In the non-exercised groups, the basal levels of thromboxane B2 in platelet-rich plasma increased in aged rats compared with young rats. In aged exercised rats, the basal levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha in platelet-rich plasma were stimulated and those of thromboxane B2 were depressed, compared with non-exercised aged rats. The plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increased with age. Only aortic eicosapentaenoic acid in the aged group increased by exercise. In the aged non-exercised and exercised groups, the aortic, but not the plasma, levels of eicosapentaenoic acid correlated inversely with the basal levels of thromboxane B2 in platelet-rich plasma (r = -0.53, P < 0.05) and associated negatively with the magnitudes of platelet aggregation induced by ADP (5 microm) (r = -0.47, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that exercise in aged rats increases aortic eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations, which in turn depress the basal levels of thromboxane, B2 in platelet-rich plasma to modulate platelet aggregation.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Congenital fibrosarcoma of the jejunum in a premature infant with meconium peritonitis.

We report an unusual case of perforation of a congenital fibrosarcoma of the jejunum in utero and secondary meconium peritonitis. Prenatal ultrasound showed polyhydramnios and fetal ascites from 25 gestational weeks in the absence of other fetal congenital anomalies. A 2200 g baby girl was born at 34 weeks gestation, presenting with severe generalized edema and respiratory distress immediately after birth. Plain radiography revealed progressive abdominal distension and pneumoperitoneum. The baby subsequently underwent surgery at the age of one day. A perforation of the upper jejunum, which had resulted in meconium peritonitis, was discovered intraoperatively and the perforated section of the intestine was resected and anastomosed successfully. The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination confirmed that the perforation was caused by rupture of a congenital fibrosarcoma originating from the jejunum. Rupture of a malignant tumor is an extremely rare cause of peritonitis in the fetus and neonate.

Female↗

Catalytic activities of cytochrome P450 enzymes and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases involved in drug metabolism in rat everted sacs and intestinal microsomes.

1. The use of everted sacs of the small intestine as an enzyme source for studying the metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 (P450, CYP) enzymes and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases has been investigated. 2. Most of the drug oxidation activities for testosterone, bufuralol, ethoxyresorufin and 7-ethoxycoumarin resided in the upper part of the everted sacs and in intestinal microsomes. Testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activities in the everted sacs were about two times higher than those in the intestinal microsomes. By freezing and thawing treatment, the testosterone 6 beta- and 16 alpha-hydroxylase activities of the everted sacs were considerably decreased, and those of the intestinal microsomes were abolished. 3. Microsomal testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation, bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation, and pentoxyresorufin and ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation were inhibited by ketoconazole, quinine, metyrapone and alpha-naphthoflavone respectively. Immunoreactive proteins using anti-CYP2B1 and anti-CYP3A2 antibodies were detected in the upper and middle parts of the rat small intestine. 4. Except for morphine 3-glucuronidation, glucuronidation activities in intestinal microsomes or everted sacs were not dependent on the intestinal region. The lower part of the everted sacs exhibited about 10 times higher morphine-3-glucuronidation activities compared with those of the upper part. The glucuronidation activities of 4-nitrophenol in the everted sacs were 10 times higher than those in microsomes. 5. These results demonstrated that the upper part of rat small intestine serves as the major site for intestinal P450-mediated first-pass metabolism. CYP3A enzymes in rat intestinal microsomes may not be stable but probably play an important role in drug oxidations. The high activity of glucuronidation in the rat small intestine should also be considered in terms of drug metabolism.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗