PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Kitamura

Publications and source records attributed to A Kitamura.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Survival and disability in stroke by stroke subtype based on computed tomographic findings in three rural Japanese communities].

PURPOSE: We conducted an epidemiological study of survival and disability in stroke in three Japanese communities to seek community strategies for improvement in survival and disability. METHODS: A total of 297 first-ever strokes were identified between 1988 and 1992 in three rural communities (total population = 47,000) located in Akita and Ibaraki. We analyzed survival rates and activity of daily living by sex, age-group and stroke subtypes. Successful review of computed tomography (CT) for 84 percent of the strokes (249 out of 297) was possible and the data were used for subtype analyses. RESULTS: For all strokes (n = 297) survival rates were 85% for 30 day, 70% for one year, 62% for three year. The rates tended to be lower in women than in men. The rates were lowest in ages less than 60 at thirty day, and in ages 80 and older at the end of the first and third year. Intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture, subarachnoid hemorrhage and cortical cerebral infarction had lower survival rates than intracerebral hemorrhage without ventricular rupture and lacunar infarction. Based on Cox's proportional hazard model, risk ratio for death was 2.07 in ages 70-79, and 3.80 in ages 80 and older compared with ages 60-69. The risk ratio was 3.46 for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture, 3.38 for subarachnoid hemorrhage and 2.46 for cortical cerebral infarction compared with lacunar infarction. The proportion of stroke survivors who need assistance from others in the first and third years tended to be higher in women than in men. The proportion was higher in older patients than in the younger, and higher for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture and cortical cerebral infarction than in other subtypes of stroke. From logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for disability in the first year was 6.55 for ages 80 and older compared with ages 60-69. The odds ratio was 5.61 for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture, 4.53 for cortical cerebral infarction compared with lacunar infarction. In the third year the odds ratio was significant for ages 70-79, and decreased for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture (odds ratio = 2.98), and increased for cortical cerebral infarction (odds ratio = 6.06). CONCLUSIONS: Survival and disability in stroke depended on age and stroke subtypes. Even after age adjustment, stroke subtypes with large cerebral involvement had worse prognosis than stroke subtypes. Community-based hypertension control programs are important to prevent any subtypes of stroke. Stroke subtypes as well as age should be taken into account to develop effective care and medical treatments for strokes.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

[Characteristics and outcome of stroke patients discharged from hospitals in an urban area of Japan].

The purpose of this study was to obtain the overall characteristics and outcome in stroke patients in an urban area of Japan, in order to develop some strategies for a community-based care system for improvement of the prognosis and activities of daily life in stroke patients. The present study, based on 4 hospitals in Yao city in Osaka, showed results as follows: 1) The number of stroke patients discharged from 4 hospitals during a recent one year period was 377 (216 men and 161 women). 2) The proportion of patients who died was 27%. Of the living patients, the proportions of patients who had motor paralysis or speech disturbance at discharge were 54% and 27%, respectively. 3) The proportion of patients who were to return to their home was 77% for all living patients. The proportion of patients who were not able to walk by themselves, or needed assistance in at least one of the activities of daily life was 31% and 28%, respectively, for all living patients who were to return to their home. This study showed that stroke registry from major hospitals in an urban area is useful for obtaining the overall characteristics of stroke patients in the area and promote community-wide programs in the prevention and home care of stroke.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

A new meiotic endonuclease from Coprinus meiocytes.

Two different types of Coprinus meiotic nuclease have been previously reported by the authors which are believed to be involved in meiotic chromosome recombination [1,2]. A third meiotic endonuclease was purified from the cap tissues of the basidiocarp of Coprinus cinereus. The enzyme is a 60 kDa molecule composed of a monopolypeptide as revealed by SDS-PAGE and FPLC-Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The enzyme belongs to a type of endonuclease which can preferentially digest single-stranded DNA and requires divalent cations as a co-factor, most commonly Mg2+ ions. In the presence of this co-factor, the enzyme converts the supercoiled plasmid DNA (form I) to both the relaxed form (form II) and the linear form (form III). Ca2+ ions can also function as a co-factor, though, in this case, not only is form I plasmid converted to form II, but a few ladder bands between form I and form II are also produced. The Ca2+ ion effect as a cofactor can be prevented with ATP. Immunohistochemical observation shows that the enzyme is distributed in the surface of the gills, which contain the meiotic tissues. These characteristics clearly differ from those of the meiotic nucleases reported previously.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

NMR analysis of the hydrogen bonding interactions of the RNA-binding domains of the Drosophila sex-lethal protein with target RNA fragments with site-specific [3-15N]uridine substitutions.

It has been reported that a 183 residue fragment, consisting of the two RNA-binding domains (RBD1- RBD2) of the Drosophila melanogster Sex-lethal (Sxl) protein, strongly binds an oligonucleotide of the target RNA sequence (5'-GUUUUUUUUC-3') that regulates alternative splicing, and forms four or five hydrogen bonds with the imino groups of the RNA. In the present study, we used site-directed mutagenesis to improve the solubility of the didomain fragment of Sxl, and confirmed that this mutant fragment forms hydrogen bonds with the target RNA in the same manner as that of the wild-type fragment. The mutant fragment was shown to bind the cognate RNA sequences GUUUUUUUUC and AUUUUUUUUC more tightly than UUUUUUUUC. By using a [3-15N]uridine phosphoramidite, we synthesized a series of15N-labeled target RNAs, in which one of the uridine residues was specifically replaced by [3-15N]uridine. By observing the imino1H-15N coupling of the labeled uridine residue, we assigned all four of the hydrogen-bonded imino protons to U1, U2, U5 and U6, respectively, of the target RNA. The imino protons of U2 and U6 exhibited nuclear Overhauser effects with aliphatic protons of the protein. All these results indicate that the A/G, U1, U2, U5 and U6 residues in the target sequence of (G/A)UUUUUUUU are specifically recognized by the two RNA-binding domains of the Sxl protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor, a novel Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activator is a serine protease that is produced and secreted by the liver and circulates in the blood as an inactive zymogen. In response to tissue injury, the HGF activator zymogen is converted to the active form by limited proteolysis. The activated HGF activator converts an inactive single chain precursor of HGF to a biologically active heterodimer in injured tissue. The activated HGF may be involved in the regeneration of the injured tissue. In this study, we purified an inhibitor of HGF activator from the conditioned medium of a human MKN45 stomach carcinoma cell line and molecularly cloned its cDNA. The sequence of the cDNA revealed that the inhibitor has two well defined Kunitz domains, suggesting that the inhibitor is a member of the Kunitz family of serine protease inhibitors. The sequence also showed that the primary translation product of the inhibitor has a hydrophobic sequence at the COOH-terminal region. Inhibitory activity toward HGF activator was detected in the membrane fraction as well as in the conditioned medium of MKN45 cells. These results suggest that the inhibitor may be produced as a membrane-associated form and secreted by the producing cells as a proteolytically truncated form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy of an ultrashort-acting beta-adrenoceptor blocker (ONO-1101) in attenuating cardiovascular responses to endotracheal intubation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of ONO-1101, a new ultrashort-acting (half-life 3-4 min), cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blocker in attenuating the cardiovascular responses to endotracheal intubation in a dose-finding open study. METHODS: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were performed after induction of anaesthesia with thiamylal, followed by administration of succinylcholine, and saline or ONO-1101 0.1, 0.25 or 0.5 mg.kg-1, in 53 patients. Heart rate and blood pressure were continuously recorded beginning prior to administration until 5 min after administration of the drug, and the rate-pressure product was calculated. RESULTS: ONO-1101 was found to significantly blunt the increase in heart rate throughout the study. Administration of ONO-1101 0.25 or 0.5 mg.kg-1 decreased the incidence of tachycardia. However, these doses were not sufficient to suppress the increase in systolic blood pressure, although the maximal value in the ONO-1101 0.5 mg.kg-1 group was reduced. Rate-pressure product increased significantly after intubation in all groups, but the increase was suppressed in the ONO-1101 0.25 and 0.5 mg.kg-1 groups as compared with the saline group. Bradycardia was not observed in any patient, although hypotension might be caused by administration of ONO-1101 0.5 mg.kg-1. CONCLUSION: ONO-1101, especially at a dose of 0.25 mg.kg-1, due to its beta-adrenoceptor blockade and ultrashort action, was shown to be effective and well tolerated by patients in this study, when used to attenuate the cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1997

Linkage map of Syrian hamster with restriction landmark genomic scanning.

We have constructed the linkage map with precise genetic analysis of the Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, according to the restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) spot mapping method. Although only 3.2-6.6% of the total RLGS spots between the two strains, ACN and BIO 14.6, showed genetic variance, 572 loci were found to be polymorphic. Out of 569 RLGS loci and 3 other loci, 531 were mapped with the backcross (ACN x BIO 14.6) F1 x BIO 14.6. The cumulative map was 1111.6 cM, indicating that the spots/loci are located throughout the genome at 1.94 cM intervals on average. Thus, RLGS provides us with a rapid tool to construct the genetic map of any species, even if it has less genetic variation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Serotype determination of enteroviruses that cause hand-foot-mouth disease; identification of enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus A16 from clinical specimens by using specific probe].

Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and enterovirus 71 (EV71) are known to be major causative agents of hand-foot-and-mouth disease prevalent in summer in Japan. Discrimination and identification of these viruses were often hampered by a nonneutralizable or nontypable virus. Therefore, a Southern blot hybridization that utilizes mixed probes specific to serotype was developed. Firstly, an approximately 650 bases spanning 5'-noncoding region to one third of VP2 including entire VP4 was amplified with a set of primers containing enterovirus common sequences and a genomic RNA as template. Secondary, the nucleotide sequences were determined using seven CA16 and eighteen EV71 strains including the standard strains, and the deduced amino acid sequences of VP4 were searched to find residues which are conserved in the same serotypes but diverged among different serotypes. Candidate positions for the mixed probes were defined at the carboxyl terminus of VP4. Thirdly, Southern blot analyses were carried out using thirty-nine enterovirus standard strains, seven CA16 isolates and sixty-six EV71 isolates previously identified by the neutralization test. The results revealed that each mixed probe exclusively bound to the homologous DNAs but not to the heterologous ones. In an attempt to determine serotypes without virus isolation, clinical specimens from hand-foot-and-mouth disease were examined. Of 78 throat swabs and 15 vesicular fluids, 71 (91.0%) and 13 (86.7%) specimens were clearly identified, indicating that the method described here offer advantages over the traditional neutralization assay: It is rapid, specific and less labor-consuming.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

High-efficiency full-length cDNA cloning by biotinylated CAP trapper.

We have devised a method for efficiently constructing high-content full-length cDNA libraries based on chemical introduction of a biotin group into the diol residue of the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNA, followed by RNase I treatment to select full-length cDNA. The selection occurs by trapping the biotin residue at the cap sites using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads, thus eliminating incompletely synthesized cDNAs. When this method was used to construct a mouse brain full-length cDNA library, our evaluation showed that more than 95% of the total clones were of full length, and recombinant clones could be produced with high efficiency (1.2 x 10(7)/10 micrograms starting mRNA). The analysis of 120 randomly picked clones indicates an unbiased representation of the starting mRNA population.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cell kinetics in mandibular ameloblastic fibro-odontoma evaluated by bromodeoxyuridine and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry: case report.

A case of ameloblastic fibro-odontoma in a 10-year-old Japanese male patient is presented. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry were applied to investigate the cell kinetics of this lesion. The tumour proliferation activity was individually evaluated through the labelling index (LI) at the epithelial and mesenchymal components. The LI of BrdU was 0.9% in the epithelial and 2.1% in the mesenchymal component, while the LI of PCNA was 2.2% in the epithelial and 7.7% in the mesenchymal component. These immunohistochemical investigations suggest that the mesenchymal component was more proliferative than the epithelial component. Such an immunohistochemical investigation may be useful in evaluating the proliferative potential of odontogenic tumours.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗
PubMed1996

Plasma fibrinogen and its correlates in urban Japanese men.

BACKGROUND: The intention of the study was to examine determinants of plasma fibrinogen concentrations in Japanese men. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1991 among 995 male employees aged 40-59 years in two urban companies. RESULTS: The overall mean value (standard deviation) of plasma fibrinogen concentration was 257 (57) mg/dl. There was a strong dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and plasma fibrinogen concentration. Plasma fibrinogen was positively associated with age and serum total cholesterol, and inversely associated with ethanol intake, dietary intake of sea foods such as squid, octopus or shrimp. Intake of other major protein and lipid resources such as meat, eggs and milk, or intake of vegetables was not related to plasma fibrinogen. An effect of dietary intake of sea foods on plasma fibrinogen was small but significant after controlling for the other covariates; an 80 g/week larger intake of sea foods was associated with a 3.9 mg/dl (95% confidence interval: 0.5, 7.3) lower fibrinogen concentration. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the relation of known coronary risk factors to plasma fibrinogen in Japanese men, and suggests that dietary intake of sea foods affects plasma fibrinogen concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of growth conditions on antimicrobial activity of DU-6859a and its bactericidal activity determined by the killing curve method.

The effect of growth conditions on the antibacterial activity of DU-6859a against Staphylococcus auerus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was compared with those of levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. This activity was not affected by different media, inoculum size or the addition of human serum, but was decreased under acidic conditions, in human urine, and in the presence of magnesium and ferrous ion, as were the other quinolones tested. Time-kill curve studies demonstrated the bactericidal action of DU-6859a against S. aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. Morphological alteration of these bacteria after exposure to DU-6859a also demonstrated its bactericidal activity. The frequency of spontaneous resistance to DU-6859a was less than or equal to those of the reference drugs.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1996

Epiduroscopic changes in patients undergoing single and repeated epidural injections.

Using a superfine fiberscope with an outer diameter of 0.75 mm, the effect of repeated injections through a single epidural catheter on the epidural space was examined in 18 patients. The subjects were divided into a control group of 10 patients who had not previously received epidural anesthesia (EA) and an EA group of 8 patients who had received repeated EA with 4-6 mL 0.25% bupivacaine through an epidural catheter, two to three times per day for 7-14 days. The epidural space was observed through a fiberscope passed through a 17-gauge Tuohy needle. The epidural space was occupied by large masses of fat, and the blood vessels and connective tissue were confirmed. Adverse reactions in the epidural tissue, such as hemorrhage or congestion with engorgement, were observed in four patients in the EA group. Five patients in the EA group experienced pain when the fiberscope was inserted into the epidural space. These investigations show that continuous EA might be followed by a high incidence of nonspecific epidural changes. Superfine fiberscope may be useful in the detection or diagnosis of local epidural reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Menstrual stage influences postoperative nausea and vomiting following epidural buprenorphine.

BACKGROUND: Although buprenorphine sometimes causes severe emesis, its relation to the menstrual cycle has not been reported. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on 68 reproductive-age women following lower extremity surgery under epidural anesthesia plus buprenorphine, to assess the effect of the day of the menstrual cycle on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The patients were divided according to the phase of the menstrual cycle into four groups: day 1-7 group, day 8-14 group, day 15-24 group and day 25 to end of the cycle group. RESULTS: Nausea and vomiting were reported in 46 patients (67.6%), and the incidence was higher in the day 25 to end of the cycle group than in the day 8-14 or day 15-24 groups, and higher in the day 1-7 group than in the day 8-14 group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that emesis after epidural buprenorphine is related to the menstrual cycle.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Investigation for VP4 region of coxsackie virus A16 RNA sequence from hand-foot-mouth disease patients at eastern district of Shizuoka prefecture in 1995].

In 1995 an investigation was made for VP4 regions of coxsackie virus A16 (CA16) RNA sequence from hand-foot-mouth disease patients in eastern district of Shizuoka Prefecture. Subjects were seven patients who were diagnosed as hand-foot-mouth disease due to CA16 at the Ohashi Pediatric Clinic in Susono City. Throat swabs of patients were extracted to RNA. Extracted RNA were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction that primers corresponded to VP4 resion of enteroviruses. PCR products were marked by dye-deoxy terminator methods and assayed by direct sequence methods. RNA sequences were classified into two types. Type 1 were three cases, and type 2 were four. The homology was 90.8% between type 1 and type 2. All cases of sixty-nine amino acids were the same as prototype strain. We concluded that the two type strains of CA16 were prevalented in eastern district of Shizuoka Prefecture in 1995. It was at the same time and was widely noted in the eastern district.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

A case-reference study on plasma fibrinogen concentrations and coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese.

To examine contribution of plasma fibrinogen concentrations to coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 1991 to 1993 for 169 myocardial infarction cases and 1 : 1 matched references. All cases had one to three coronary vessels with 50 percent or more stenosis. References were chosen out of Osaka residents who had no cardiac event by matching sex and age ((+)-3 years) with cases. Mean (SD) values of plasma fibrinogen concentration were 322 (81) mg/dl in men and 377 (77) mg/dl in women for cases, and were 282 (56) mg/dl in men and 277 (48) mg/dl in women for references; mean plasma fibrinogen was significantly higher in cases than in references for both men and women. Furthermore, mean plasma fibrinogen was progressively higher as the number of stenotic vessels increased for men, and similar trend was seen for women. The case-reference difference remained significant even after adjusting smoking status, hypertension, serum total cholesterol, serum HDL cholesterol. Although plasma fibrinogen concentration was reported lower in Japanese than in American Caucasians, plasma fibrinogen is suggested to be a risk factor for myocardial infarction among Japanese as so among Caucasians.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Selective epidural nerve root block using a superfine fiberscope].

A 65 yr-old male with severe scar pain on his right lower abdomen underwent selective nerve block through epidural space using a superfine fiberscope. A12-gauge Tuohy needle (internal diameter 2.2 mm) was inserted at the intervertebral space of Th12-L1. The fiberscope (external diameter 1.1 mm) was introduced through the needle and the epidural space was observed. When the dura mater of Th12 nerve root level was seen, the patient had pain on the scar area. Then 2% lidocaine 1.5 ml and 60% megumine sodium amidotrizoate 1.5 ml were slowly injected. Soon after injection of anesthetic, analgesia area (Th11-L1) was obtained, and Th12 nerve root was identified by X ray. Epidural blockade using a superfine fiberscope seems to be one of the useful and reliable methods for the selective nerve blockade.

Aged↗