Cutting balloon-associated hemodialysis fistula rupture after failed standard balloon angioplasty.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Tajima.
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Paramagnetic beads have the superior advantages of easy separation and resuspension by controlling the magnetic filed. Previously, we have developed Magtration technology to automate paramagnetic bead handling and have built several automated instruments that handle 1-12 samples simultaneously. To achieve more high-throughput sample processing, two types of a 96-arrayed Integrated Magtration Unit (IMU) were developed, one installed with electromagnets and the other with thin rod-shaped magnets made of neodymium. A multipurpose robot (SX-96GC) equipped with the IMU was also developed for fully automatic processing of 96 samples in parallel. The cleanup of dye-terminator sequencing products was performed using the robot installed with the permanent magnet version of IMU. The results had quality comparable to those by the same protocol in manual handling or to those by the conventional protocols. The robot processed 96 samples in a microplate within 30 min. The protocol that can purify 384 samples within 1 h by processing two microplates concurrently was successfully designed.
PURPOSE: To clarify the effect of the contrast medium iopamidol on endothelial function and response of vasoactive peptide, as measured by changes in the levels of plasma endothelin, nitric oxide and atrial natriuretic peptide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirteen patients received iopamidol 300 mg I/ml intra-arterially during routine abdominal angiography. The mean volume of contrast medium administered was 208.1+/-32.5 ml. Endothelin, nitric oxide and atrial natriuretic peptide were measured before and after angiography. RESULTS: Endothelin levels increased significantly (from 1.45+/-0.12 pg/ml to 1.90+/-0.10 pg/ml) after exposure to contrast medium. Nitric oxide levels decreased significantly (from 34.56+/-2.23 micromol/ to 25.43+/-1.83 micromol/l). Atrial natriuretic peptide levels increased significantly (from 11.43+/-1.68 pg/ml to 21.28+/-2.89 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: Exposure to contrast medium in humans is associated with an increase in plasma endothelin levels and a decrease in nitric oxide levels, and atrial natriuretic peptide levels also increase following CM injection.
Various studies have described increased expression of cationic trypsinogen in malignant tumor cells. To explore the role of secreted cationic trypsinogen in invasion by cancer cells, we introduced cationic trypsinogen cDNA into Panc-1, a pancreatic adenocarcinoma-derived cell line that lacks expression of endogeneous trypsinogen. Four independent clones (designated Panc-1-Try-7, -9, -11 and -24) stably expressing cationic trypsinogen mRNA were isolated and processed for further study. In a zymographic analysis, gelatinolytic activity for cationic trypsinogen was detectable in serum-free conditioned media obtained from all 4 transfectants but not in media from mock-transfected or parental Panc-1 cells. A Matrigel invasion assay revealed that all trypsinogen-expressing transfectants acquired significantly greater invasive ability than that shown by mock-transfected and parental Panc-1 cells. In addition, enhanced invasiveness of the transfectants was suppressed by FUT-175, a serine protease inhibitor, to the level seen in parental cells. These results provide direct evidence that cationic trypsinogen can increase the invasive ability of carcinoma cells.
Through functional expression screening, we identified a gene, designated Humanin (HN) cDNA, which encodes a short polypeptide and abolishes death of neuronal cells caused by multiple different types of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and by Abeta amyloid, without effect on death by Q79 or superoxide dismutase-1 mutants. Transfected HN cDNA was transcribed to the corresponding polypeptide and then was secreted into the cultured medium. The rescue action clearly depended on the primary structure of HN. This polypeptide would serve as a molecular clue for the development of new therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease targeting neuroprotection.
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A rotational digital angiography system was newly developed by authors. During the rotation, a pulse exposure is done at every 1.25 degrees by computer control, so that 288 different projectional images can be acquired following a single injection of contrast medium. Because rotational image data can be easily reconstructed to 3-D images, more useful diagnostic informations are obtained. Rotational digital angiography was performed for 15 patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism, and massive thromboemboli were revealed in all patients. The diagnostic usefulness of this new system has also proven to be improved in the interventional procedures. At the appropriate angle, the thrombosed vessels were clearly distinguished. Thus, as the tip of the catheter was advanced to the target site, the thrombosed lesion could be exclusively treated by interventional techniques. The device has, therefore, been found to be of great value in the diagnosis and intervention of acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of direct MR arthrography for diagnosing plica synovialis mediopatellaris (PSM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two knees of 19 patients were examined by direct MR arthrography. In 19 of those knees, field-echo T2*-weighted transaxial images were obtained with intra-articular administration of 40 ml of saline ("direct MR arthrography"). In the other 3 knees, T1-weighted transaxial images were obtained with intra-articular administration of 40 ml of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Conventional MR images were evaluated prior to direct MR arthrography in 12 of the 22 knees. The results of direct MR arthrography and conventional MR imaging were compared with the arthroscopic findings. RESULTS: Direct MR arthrography demonstrated 17 of 19 PSMs proved on arthroscopy. The features of 16 PSMs on direct MR arthrography corresponded accurately with the arthroscopic classification. Conventional MR demonstrated only 3 plicae. CONCLUSION: Direct MR arthrography enabled accurate diagnosis of PSMs and could replace diagnostic arthroscopy.
Apoprotein (apo) C-III plays an important role in the development of hypertriglyceridemia by inhibiting triglyceride (TG) removal. However, the effect of apo C-III on TG production remains unclear. We measured TG secretion rate (TGSR) in apo C-III gene-disrupted (apo C-III-null) mice to investigate the influence of this protein on TG turnover. TGSR measured by the Triton WR-1339 method was increased twofold in these mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Obesity was induced by the injection of gold-thioglucose (GTG), which made the WT mice hypertriglyceridemic due to a threefold increase of TGSR. However, GTG-induced obesity failed to increase TG in apo C-III-null mice, although TGSR was increased 10-fold, suggesting substantial stimulation of TG removal. Apo E-null mice were severely hypercholesterolemic but were not hypertriglyceridemic, and TGSR was rather decreased. GTG-induced obesity made these mice hypertriglyceridemic because of TG overproduction to an extent similar to that seen in WT mice. These results suggest that apo C-III deficiency potently enhances TG turnover, especially when TG production is stimulated, and that apo E deficiency is not always rate limiting for TG production.
Magnetic particles are useful for simple and efficient nucleic acid extraction. To achieve fully automated nucleic acid extraction and purification using magnetic particles, a new method for operating magnetic particles, Magtration Technology, was developed. In this method, magnetic separation is performed in a specially designed disposable tip. This enables high recovery of magnetic particles with high reproducibility. The features of this technology are (i) a simple mechanism for process control and (ii) flexible software to enable adaptation to commercially available reagents. Automated instruments based on Magtration Technology were developed and used for nucleic acid extraction. Total DNA, total RNA and plasmids were purified by Magtration Technology at an efficiency comparable to that of manual methods.
Hydroxy isothiocyanates, especially 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl isothiocyanate (hITC), were examined for antimicrobial synergism with several antibiotics against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, using a multiwell plate system. hITC had antibacterial synergism, specifically with aminoglycoside antibiotics. The synergism was observed in synthetic medium (M9 minimal medium) or soybean casein digest broth, but not in nutrient broth. Synergism was seen in the presence of certain sugars such as glucose, fructose, and maltose in the medium.
The purpose of this study is to clarify the clinical usefulness of Gianturco-Z stent (G-Z stent) for the management of malignant and benign tracheobronchial stenosis. Seventy-three stents were used in 30 patients. In 20 cases, we used the so-called "stent-in-stent" method. Twenty-four patients were grade 5, and 6 were grade 4 according to the Hugh-Jones classification of respiratory status. The technical success rates, clinical condition, respiratory status, blood gas analysis, survival rate, and complications were reviewed on the basis of the patients'medical records and radiographs. All stents were successfully placed in the appropriate position. After the procedure, respiratory status improved in 97% (29/30) of the patients. PaO(2) increased statistically (p<0.05), and PaCO(2) decreased one week after the treatment. Mean survival of 30 patients after stent placement was 123 days. Mean survival in 9 malignant patients treated in combination with radiotherapy (182 days) was statistically longer (p<0.01) than in those treated without radiotherapy (65 days, n=20). The tracheobronchial burn patient who received a combination of stent placement and post operative radiotherapy survived 540 days. No major complications were encountered during or after the procedure. Only 3 minor complications were observed: 1 stent migration, 1 partial rupture of the stent, and 1 stent deformation. G-Z stent treatment with the "stent-in-stent" technique is useful for palliation of malignant and benign tracheobronchial stenosis, and should contribute to improving the quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.
OBJECTIVE: Fulminant hepatitis is a rare but fatal disease. In the present study, we examined the changes in etiology and prognosis of fulminant hepatitis in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan between 1980 to 1999. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with fulminant hepatitis admitted to our hospitals from 1980 to 1999 were examined with respect to the etiology and prognosis. RESULTS: Fulminant hepatitis was due to hepatitis A virus in 2 (12%) cases, hepatitis B virus in 18 (22%) cases, unknown etiology in 50 (62%) cases, and drug-induced in 11(14%) cases. The number of cases in the first half of the study (1980-1989) was 47 and that of the latter half (1990-1999) was 34 cases. The incidence of fulminant hepatitis type B also decreased from 14 cases (30%) to 4 cases (12%) during these periods. The overall survival rate of fulminant hepatitis was 32%; it was equal in fulminant hepatitis type B, fulminant hepatitis of unknown etiology and fulminant drug-induced hepatitis. The survival rate of fulminant hepatitis type A was 100%, though only two cases were identified. Retrospectively, the survival rate in patients with a pre-encephalopathy period of < or = 10 days and aged < or = 39 years was significantly higher than in patients > or = 40 years of age (p<0.01). There was no difference between the two age groups when pre-encephalopathy period was > or = 11 days. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of fulminant hepatitis especially that of fulminant hepatitis type B in Nagasaki Prefecture has decreased in recent years. The survival rate is significantly higher in younger patients with a short pre-encephalopathy period.
We describe a 27-year-old woman with disseminated intravascular coagulation and shock due to amniotic fluid embolism after Caesarean section who responded well to continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) therapy. The effectiveness of CHDF in treating amniotic fluid embolism is also discussed.
OBJECTIVE: A single surgeon conducted One hundred and twelve patients underwent minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting for the left anterior descending coronary artery 112 patients at Yamato Seiwa Hospital from September 1996 until August 1999. METHODS: All procedures were performed via left anterior short thoracotomy using a stabilizer during graft anastomosis. RESULTS: No operative deaths occurred but 3 patients died while hospitalized due to noncardiac events. Graft occlusion was seen in 3 patients early postoperatively. Other angiography graft failure such as stenosis was seen in 11 patients. Occlusive lesions of other coronary arteries occurred in 77 patients (69%) and 53 patients underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty the pre/postoperatively for those lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting is seen by cardiologists as a reasonable form of revascularization in conditioned patients having left anterior descending artery lesion, and that minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting has a spectrum of candidates different from that of conventional surgical revascularization for the coronary artery.
To elucidate the hypothesis that albuminuria in diabetic subjects reflects widespread vascular damage, plasma markers for vascular endothelial damage was measured in diabetic subjects with various degrees of albuminuria and compared to results in patients with primary renal disease. The groups consisted of 31 non-diabetic patient controls with normoalbuminuria, 109 type 2 diabetic patients with normo- micro- and macro-albuminuria, and 16 proteinuric patients with primary renal disease. Endothelial markers, plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) and thrombomodulin (TM), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosolvent assay and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods, respectively. Plasma vWF levels were similar in controls (119+/-7%, mean+/-S.E.M.) and diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (139+/-6), but significantly elevated in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (174+/-11) and macroalbuminuria (204+/-17), while the level was not increased in patients with primary renal disease (124+/-11). Because plasma TM level was strongly affected by kidney function, TM index (TM (FU/ml)/serum creatinine (mg %)) was used as an endothelial marker. The TM index was substantially increased in diabetic patients with overt nephropathy compared with controls (5.29+/-2.98 vs. 2.35+/-0.85), whereas this was not observed in patients with primary renal disease (3.25+/-0.29). Both vWF and TM index were significantly higher in diabetic patients with retinopathy than in the patients without retinopathy. These results suggest that generalized vascular endothelial damage occurs in diabetic nephropathy including the microalbuminuric stage, which is not attributed to kidney damage per se.
The potential of the (11)C-labeled selective sigma(1) receptor ligand 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine ([(11)C]SA4503) was evaluated in vivo as a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for mapping sigma(1) receptors in rats. SA4503 is known to have a high affinity (IC(50) = 17.4 nM) and a higher selectivity (sigma(1)/sigma(2) = 103) for the sigma(1) receptor. A high and increasing brain uptake of [(11)C]SA4503 was found. Pre-, co- and postinjection of cold SA4503 significantly decreased uptake of [(11)C]SA4503 in the brain, spleen, heart, lung, and kidney in which sigma receptors are present as well as in the skeletal muscle. In the blocking study with one of four sigma receptor ligands including haloperidol, (+)-pentazocine, SA4503, and (-)-pentazocine (in the order of their affinity for sigma(1) receptor subtype), SA4503 and haloperidol significantly reduced the brain uptake of [(11)C]SA4503 to approximately 30% of the control, but the other two benzomorphans did not. A high specific uptake of [(11)C]SA4503 by the brain was also confirmed by ex vivo autoradiography (ARG) and PET. Ex vivo ARG showed a higher uptake in the vestibular nucleus, temporal cortex, cingulate cortex, inferior colliculus, thalamus, and frontal cortex, and a moderate uptake in the parietal cortex and caudate putamen. Peripherally, the blocking effects of the four ligands depended on their affinity for sigma(1) receptors. No (11)C-labeled metabolite was detected in the brain 30 min postinjection, whereas approximately 20% of the radioactivity was found as (11)C-labeled metabolites in plasma. These results have demonstrated that the (11)C-labeled sigma(1) receptor ligand [(11)C]SA4503 has a potential for mapping sigma(1) receptors in the central nervous system and peripheral organs.
The clinical manifestations of the classical vasculitis syndromes are extraordinarily heterogenous with considerable overlap among them. Recently, several cases of unusual presentation of the vasculitis syndromes have been reported. We describe a patient who initially manifested with temporal arteritis and Raynaud's phenomenon and subsequently developed bronchial asthma, ie, a case of an atypical form of Churg-Strauss syndrome (allergic angiitis and granulomatosis) and discuss whether this case is a distinct clinicopathological entity.