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Biomedical subjects

H Kukita

Publications and source records attributed to H Kukita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical characteristics of female patients with coronary spastic angina: comparison with male patients.

There are many patients with vasospastic angina who have minor atherosclerosis, and in Japan the majority of them are male. No data exist concerning sex differences in patients with coronary spastic angina, so the present study sought to clarify the clinical characteristics between male and female patients with vasospastic angina. Between April 1991 and June 1998, 204 consecutive patients were diagnosed with vasospastic angina and of these, 26 (12.7%) were female. An acetylcholine test was performed with incremental doses of 20, 50, and 80 microg injected into the right coronary artery and 20, 50, and 100 microg into the left coronary artery. Ergonovine was injected in a total dose of 40 microg into the right coronary artery and 64 microg into the left coronary artery. Coronary spasm was defined as 99% or more luminal narrowing accompanied by ischemic changes on ECG. Compared with male patients, female patients had less organic stenosis (12 vs 33%, p<0.05), less history of smoking (15 vs 85%, p<0.01), and fewer focal spasms (31 vs 64%, p<0.01). There were no other differences between the 2 groups. In conclusion, Japanese female patients with vasospastic angina had the characteristics of diffuse provoked spasm, less organic stenosis, and less history of smoking, but only 1 in 10 of all patients with vasospastic angina are female.

Aged↗

New combined spasm provocation test in patients with rest angina: intracoronary injection of acetylcholine after intracoronary administration of ergonovine.

The incidence of provoked coronary spasm with the standard single spasm provocation test has been relatively low in patients with rest angina. The present study examined the clinical usefulness of a newly designed spasm provocation test, an intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (ACh) following an ergonovine (ER) test, in patients with rest angina who demonstrated low disease activity and atypical chest pain. Triple sequential spasm provocation tests were performed in 24 patients with atypical chest pain who had no ischemia and in 40 patients with rest angina who had distinct ischemia. Initially, an ACh test (20-100 microg) and then an ER test (40-64 microg) were performed and then, if no spasm was provoked, an intracoronary injection of ACh was given after the ER test to evaluate coronary spasm. Coronary spasm was defined as total or subtotal occlusion. In the 24 patients with atypical chest pain, no spasm was provoked by intracoronary injection of either ACh or ER, but coronary spasms were induced in 2 patients using the new method, with the remaining 22 not experiencing spasm (specificity of new method, 92%). In the 40 patients with rest angina, intracoronary injection of ACh induced coronary spasm in 22 patients (group I) and 6 (group II) demonstrated spasm with intracoronary injection of ER. Coronary spasm was not induced by either the ACh test or the ER test in 12 patients (group III). The intracoronary administration of ACh after the ER test provoked spasm in 11 of 12 patients. Diffuse spasms were provoked in 10 of 11 patients. In patients with rest angina, the frequency of chest pain attacks in 1 month experienced by patients in group III (0.8+/-0.8) was significantly lower than that of patients in group I (7.0+/-5.3, p<0.01) or II (3.5+/-2.3, p<0.05). No serious or irreversible complications related to this new combined method were observed. In conclusion, this method was safe and reliable for the induction of coronary spasm in patients with rest angina who may have low disease activity.

Acetylcholine↗

Investigation of the most effective provocation test for patients with coronary spastic angina: usefulness of accelerated exercise following hyperventilation.

This study sought to compare the clinical usefulness of the hyperventilation plus cold stress test or the hyperventilation combined with accelerated exercise test with other single tests in patients with coronary spastic angina. The study examined 24 patients (23 men, mean age 66 years) with angiographically confirmed coronary spastic angina and less than 50% stenosis. Moreover, none had spontaneous ST segment elevation before the study. Under no medication for at least 24 h prior, 4 procedures were performed from 09.00 h to 11.00 h: (i) a hyperventilation test for 5 min (HV(5)); (ii) HV(5) combined with a cold stress test for the last 2 min (HV(5)+CS(2)); (iii) a treadmill exercise test based on Bruce's protocol (TM(3)); and (iv) a treadmill exercise test accelerated at 1 min intervals according to Bruce's protocol immediately after HV(5) (HV(5)+TM(1)). The rate of appearance of chest pain and ischemia-induced ECG changes due to HV(5)+TM(1) were significantly higher than the other 3 tests. HV(5)+CS(2) was not superior to HV(5) alone. The incidence of provoked ST segment elevation due to HV(5)+TM(1) was higher than with the other 3 procedures. Thus, in patients with coronary spastic angina, no spontaneous ST segment elevation and near normal coronary arteries, HV(5)+CS(2) was no more useful than HV(5) alone. It is recommended that the newly designed HV(5)+TM(1) combination test be used for documenting evidence of ischemia in patients with coronary spastic angina, low disease activity and near normal coronary arteries.

Acetylcholine↗

A case of variant angina pectoris with similar findings on both rest and matched exercise thallium-201 studies.

A patient with variant angina showed similar findings on both the rest and matched exercise 201Thallium (201Tl) myocardial perfusion scintigrams. The 65-year old man was admitted to hospital because of rest angina. His electrocardiogram during the attack disclosed ST segment elevation on inferior leads. However, emergency coronary arteriogram showed no fixed stenosis. Intracoronary injection of acetylcholine induced a spasm on the distal right coronary artery, but not in the left coronary artery. In the rest 201Tl study, septal perfusion was low on the early image, although partial redistribution of this site was observed on the delayed image without the appearance of chest pain or electrocardiographic ischemic change. Similary, in the 201Tl exercise study undergone 2 weeks later, septal redistribution was diagnosed because the early image had decreased septal perfusion. Both the exercise 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine study and the rest 123I-betamethyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid study showed inferior abnormalities on the early and delayed images. Although a coronary spasm was not induced in the left anterior descending artery with the acetylcholine test, septal redistribution was observed on the delayed image of both the rest and exercise 201Tl studies. The mechanism of the redistribution on the rest 201Tl study was unclear.

Aged↗

[Usefulness of thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy during hyperventilation and accelerated exercise test in patients with vasospastic angina and nearly normal coronary artery].

The usefulness of thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial scintigraphy was studied in 109 patients with vasospastic angina who had nearly normal coronary arteries (degree of stenosis < 50%). Coronary spasm was confirmed by pharmacologic agents in all 109 patients from January 1991 to June 1996. The appearance rate of visual redistribution on 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy was compared between four groups, 34 patients performing graded bicycle ergometer exercise starting at a work load of 50 W with increments of 25 W every 3 min [Ergo (3) group], 14 patients performing hyperventilation for 5 min [HV (5) group], 31 patients performing bicycle ergometer exercise with increments of 25 W every 1 min after 5 min hyperventilation [HV (5) + Ergo (1) group], and 30 patients at rest (Rest group). The value of the visual redistribution rate on 201Tl myocardial scintigrams in the HV(5) + Ergo (1) group (65%) was higher than that in the patients of other groups [Ergo (3) 41%, HV (5) 43%, Rest 33%]. However, there were no significant differences between the four groups. Stress 201Tl imaging after hyperventilation and accelerated exercise is useful to disclose ischemic evidence in about two thirds of patients with vasospastic angina and nearly normal coronary arteries, whereas about 40% of patients had visual redistribution on 201Tl myocardial scintigrams by performing standard procedures.

Acetylcholine↗

[Clinical differences between variant and non-variant angina pectoris].

The differences in clinical characteristics were studied between variant angina pectoris with ST segment elevation during ischemic attacks and non-variant angina pectoris without ST segment elevation. Spasm provocation test was performed with either acetylcholine or ergonovine in 192 consecutive patients with vasospastic angina from January 1991 to June 1997. Thirteen patients were excluded because of insufficient data. Fifty-five patients had variant angina and 124 patients had non-variant angina. Coronary risk factors, serum cholesterol level, triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, history of syncope, the rates of second or third atrioventricular block and ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, the incidence of organic stenosis (> or = 50%), the number of vessels with provoked spasm, the dose of acetylcholine and ergonovine used, and duration from the first appearance of chest pain were compared between the 2 groups. Patients with variant angina had more fixed stenosis (p < 0.01), required more percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures, lower doses of intracoronary administration of acetylcholine for the induction of coronary arterial spasm and shorter duration from the first appearance of chest pains (p < 0.01) than patients with non-variant angina. However, there were no differences in other factors between the 2 groups. Variant angina pectoris has the same clinical characteristics as non-variant angina pectoris, although variant angina tends to cause higher spasmophilic activity and more fixed stenosis.

Acetylcholine↗

[Absence of induced spasm by intracoronary injection of 50 micrograms acetylcholine in the right coronary artery: usefulness of 80 micrograms of acetylcholine as a spasm provocation test].

This study investigated whether the maximal dose of 50 micrograms acetylcholine for the induction of coronary spasm in the right coronary artery is adequate. The acetylcholine test was performed in 388 consecutive patients to evaluate spasm from January 1994 to December 1997. Coronary spasm in the right coronary artery was induced in 43 patients, 37 men and 6 women with a mean age of 63 +/- 8 years by intracoronary injection of 80 micrograms of acetylcholine rather than 50 micrograms. These included 15 patients (35%) with rest angina, 23 patients with ischemic heart disease other than rest angina and 5 patients (12%) with non-ischemic heart disease. Acetylcholine was injected in incremental doses of 20, 50 and 80 micrograms into the right coronary artery. Positive spasm was defined as induction of more than 90% reversible narrowing associated with either usual chest pain or ischemic electrocardiographic changes. Clinical and angiographical characteristics was studied in these patients. Fifteen (35%) patients had rest angina and 4 patients had variant angina with ST elevation in the inferior leads. Two thirds of the patients had coronary spasm in the distal portion of the right coronary artery and one third of those disclosed spasm focally. Coronary spasm was induced in 38 (15%) of 246 patients with ischemic heart disease and in 5 (4%) of 142 patients with non-ischemic heart disease. The prevalence of positive spasm in patients with ischemic heart disease was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in patients with non-ischemic heart disease. A dose of 80 micrograms of acetylcholine, more than the maximal standard dose, might be clinically useful for the induction of spasm in the right coronary artery if coronary spasm of this artery is strongly suspected.

Acetylcholine↗

Effect of alacepril on 24-hour blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients.

The effect of administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, alacepril, on 24-hour blood pressure in the elderly hypertensive patients was investigated. Thirteen elderly hypertensive patients (mean age 71 +/- 5; 6 male and 7 female) participated in the present study. After 2 weeks of control period alacepril was administered 25-50 mg/day for 8 weeks. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with cuff-oscillometric method was performed at the end of both control and treatment periods. Alacepril administration for 8 weeks significantly decreased 24-hour blood pressure while it had little effect on heart rate. Daytime blood pressure was significantly decreased from 154 +/- 10/91 +/- 5 mmHg to 145 +/- 8/85 +/- 5 mmHg, while the change in nocturnal blood pressure was not significant: from 137 +/- 17/79 +/- 7 mmHg to 130 +/- 15/75 +/- 9 mmHg. Hyperbaric area of systolic blood pressure was also significantly decreased (from 295 +/- 185 mmHg x hour/day to 172 +/- 111 mmHg x hour/day), indicating that pressure load to the heart was effectively reduced. Administration of alacepril did not cause tachycardia in response to the decrease in blood pressure. Acrophase of both blood pressure and heart rate was changed to 11:00 a.m. These findings indicate that blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in the elderly hypertensive patients decreased blood pressure effectively without causing tachycardia or deterioration of diurnal variations of blood pressure. These hemodynamic changes produced by alacepril administration are favorable for the treatment of the elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.

Aged↗

A case of central diabetes insipidus with spontaneous remission after 8 years of the disease.

A 55-year-old male smoker developed polyuria and polydipsia in November 1983. A water deprivation study revealed a defect in the urine concentrating function, which was corrected by vasopressin. Plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was not increased by smoking. His condition was well controlled by deamino-D-arginine vasopressin. However, since February 1992 he has become completely free from the need for medication to control his urine volume. Re-evaluation studies with water deprivation and smoking revealed dramatic improvements in the urine concentrating function and ADH response. A patient with idiopathic diabetes insipidus with spontaneous remission after 8 years is reported.

Diabetes Insipidus↗

[A case of bronchial leiomyoma with obstructive pneumonia].

A 44-year-old man, who had suffered repeated episodes of pneumonia since 1984, was admitted with complaints of cough, low grade fever and sputum. Chest X-ray showed a mass shadow in the left lower lobe. Bronchofiberscopy revealed a tumor with a smooth surface which obstructed the B9 bronchus. Left lower lobectomy was performed despite the lack of evidence of malignancy because of the recurrent pneumonia. The resected specimen contained a smooth-surfaced tumor, 18 mm in size, protruding into a bronchial lumen. The pathological diagnosis was leiomyoma of the lower bronchus and the specimen showed organized pneumonia with necrosis in the left S8-S10 region. Primary benign tumors of the lung are rare and leiomyoma of the lung is particularly rare. Only 65 cases have been reported in the Japanese literature. We report here a case of leiomyoma of the lower bronchus.

Adult↗

Adult T-cell leukemia with a solitary lung mass.

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with supraclavicular lymph node swelling. On a chest x-ray film, a 4 x 4-cm nodular shadow was observed in the right middle lung field. The white blood cell count was 10,100/cu mm, showing 44 percent abnormal lymphocytes with lobulated nuclei. Since HTLV-I antibodies were markedly positive, she was diagnosed as having ATL. Transbronchial tumor biopsy revealed accumulation of ATL cells. Our patient is the first case with only a large nodular accumulation of ATL cells without diffuse infiltration of the cells in the lung.

Female↗

[A resected case of teratoma of the lung].

Teratoma of the lung in a 32-year-old female is reported. Abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film was noted at the age of 15 years. Her symptoms were subclinical fever, couch, hemosputum and frequent respiratory infections. Chest X-ray film and CT scan revealed a cyst with an intracystic solid mass in the left upper lung. Bronchogram demonstrated communication of the cyst with B5a and B5b bronchi. The left upper lobe was resected. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed a mature teratoma of the lung. Teratoma of the lung is very rare. This case was diagnosed at surgery and was confirmed by microscopic examination.

Adult↗

[A case of peripheral adenoid cystic carcinoma].

A case of peripheral adenoid cystic carcinoma in a 70-year-old woman is presented. She had a coin lesion in the left upper lung field on chest X-ray film. Before one month on admission to our hospital, she noticed a tumor in the left thigh and underwent simple resection. Histological diagnosis was liposarcoma. Lung metastasis of the liposarcoma or primary lung cancer were suspected. Lung wedge resection was performed and adenoid cystic carcinoma was diagnosed. Generally adenoid cystic carcinoma originates from bronchial gland, arising in the trachea or main bronchus. In this case, the tumor originated from the peripheral lung field.

Aged↗

[A case of secondary amyloidosis complicated with ulcerative colitis].

A 54 year-old woman who had had 4 years history of ulcerative colitis (UC) was admitted to our hospital because of recently developed proteinuria and leg edema. On admission, laboratory findings disclosed massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, acceleration of ESR and elevated of CRP. Her abdominal symptom was remitted. Renal biopsy showed amyloid deposition in glomeruli and arteriole. Amyloid deposition was also found on rectal biopsy. She had no evidence of familial amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. In this case, amyloid deposition might be developed after UC. Secondary amyloidosis due to UC was extremely rare, only 3 cases including ours were reported in Japan.

Amyloidosis↗

Clinical significance of measurements of serum apolipoprotein A-I, A-II and B in hypertriglyceridemic male patients with and without coronary artery disease.

To examine the relationship of hypertriglyceridemia to coronary artery disease (CAD), we measured serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, A-II and B in 82 male patients with angiographically defined CAD and 140 age-matched healthy controls. The CAD patients had significantly lower apo A-I and A-II and HDL-C levels, but had higher apo B and triglyceride levels than the controls. After adjustments of apolipoproteins for serum triglyceride, CAD patients had significantly higher apo B and lower apo A-I and A-II levels than the controls. Discriminant analysis showed that apo B was the best discriminator and that apo A-I was next. In the normotriglyceridemic subgroup HDL-C also had a sufficient power for discrimination between CAD patients and the controls, but in the hypertriglyceridemic subgroup HDL-C had no discriminative power. Both apo A-I and B had significant discriminative power between CAD patients and the controls, independently of the serum triglyceride level. These results indicate that measurements of serum apo A-I and apo B are useful for the study of coronary risk factor in hypertriglyceridemic subjects. Finally, it is necessary to sub-classify dyslipoproteinemia by serum apolipoprotein levels for predicting the future occurrence of CAD in the general population.

Adult↗

Plasma lipids and lipoproteins in Japanese male patients with coronary artery disease and in their relatives.

Plasma cholesterol (CH), triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured in 92 consecutive Japanese male subjects undergoing diagnostic coronary cineangiography. Sixty-nine of them were classified as having coronary artery disease (CAD), the remaining 23 subjects were classified as having normal coronary arteries (NCA). The CAD group had significantly lower HDL-C and higher TG levels than the NCA group. However, there was no significant difference in plasma CH between the two groups. First-degree relatives of the CAD patients were also investigated. The male blood relatives of the CAD patients also had significantly lower HDL-C and higher TG levels than the non-blood male relatives and healthy control males. The female blood relatives, however, showed no significant differences from the non-blood female relatives and the healthy control females in plasma CH, TG and HDL-C levels. These results suggest that low HDL-C and hypertriglyceridemia are the prevalent coronary risk factors, rather than hypercholesterolemia, in a population with a low fat intake such as the Japanese, and that these lipid abnormalities are related to sex and genetic factors.

Adult↗

Effect of clinofibrate, a new hypolipidemic agent, on biliary and serum lipids in patients with hyperlipidemia.

Clinofibrate was given to 15 patients with hyperlipidemia, for 6-8 weeks at the daily dose of 600 mg, and its effect on 3 biliary lipid components (cholesterol, bile acids and phospholipids) and on the lithogenic index was investigated. After clinofibrate treatment, 6 of the patients were given 1.5 g/day clofibrate for 6-8 weeks to compare the effect of clofibrate with that of clinofibrate. The molar percentages of biliary cholesterol and phospholipids to the total mol number of the 3 biliary lipid components decreased, and that of bile acids increased during clinofibrate administration. In this way, the molar ratio of bile acids to cholesterol increased during the treatment. Neither the lithogenic index calculated by the formula of Admirand and Small nor that of Hegardt, Dam and Holzbach was altered significantly by the treatment. There was no apparent relationship between the effect of the drug on the lithogenic index and any of the factors initial lithogenic index, rate of decrease of serum lipids, or type of hyperlipidemia. Although clofibrate had no significant effect on the maximum solubility of cholesterol in the bile, the molar percentage of biliary cholesterol was elevated and the lithogenic index increased as compared with the control and clinofibrate period. No significant influence on bile acid composition in the bile was observed, with either clinofibrate or clofibrate.

Adult↗