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Biomedical subjects

H Takamura

Publications and source records attributed to H Takamura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Sclerosing therapy of internal hemorrhoids with a novel sclerosing agent. Comparison with ligation and excision.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with prolapsing internal hemorrhoids were treated with a novel sclerosing agent (OC-108), and the results were compared with surgery of ligation and excision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 20 years or older patients with prolapsing internal hemorrhoids who visited ten medical institutions in Japan from October 2000 to October 2002. Investigation on surgery was also performed. RESULTS: Comparing OC-108 and surgery in patients with third- and fourth-degree internal hemorrhoids according to the Goligher's classification, for which surgery has been generally indicated, at 28 days after treatment, the disappearance rate of prolapse was similar between OC-108 and surgery, 94% (75/80 patients) and 99% (84/85 patients), respectively. The 1-year recurrence rate was 16% (12/73 patients) in the OC-108 group, and this value was satisfactory because of its less invasive nature while it was more or less higher compared with 2% (2/81 patients) in the surgery group. The incidences of pain and bleeding were lower in the OC-108 group. CONCLUSIONS: OC-108 is a useful alternative treatment for hemorrhoids.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Multiple organ failure caused by end-stage liver disease successfully treated with living donor liver transplantation using perioperative percutaneous cardiopulmonary support: a case report.

A 54-year-old female diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) 10 years earlier was referred for a living donor liver transplant (LDLT). During her workup, she developed pulmonary edema and respiratory failure due to aspiration pneumonia, which required artificial ventilation. The PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio at that time was 60. Although continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) and plasma exchange (PE) were initiated, improvement in the P/F ratio was limited to 133. As transplantation was the only approach to save this patient, we performed LDLT using a right lobe graft aided by percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). The graft weight was 650 g and the graft weight/recipient weight ratio was 1.6%. During LDLT, the patient's cardiopulmonary function was stable with PCPS, and the surgical procedure was completed without complications. Following the surgery, she continued to have high-end inspiratory pressure and progressed to the chronic phase of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We treated her with low-dose steroid therapy and she improved gradually. The patient was weaned off mechanical ventilation and was discharged approximately 25 weeks after LDLT. In the condition of cardiac or respiratory failure, cadaveric liver transplantation using plasmapheresis is contraindicated because of the associated high mortality rate. Our case suggests that if infections are controlled, a patient with multiple organ failure (MOF) due to end-stage liver disease might be successfully treated with LDLT aided by plasmapheresis and PCPS.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed2001

Assessing systemic 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with serum cortisone/cortisol ratios in healthy subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure.

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD), an enzyme regulating mineralocorticoid like action of glucocorticoid, oxidizes active cortisol to inactive cortisone. Impaired activity of this enzyme is associated with apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) syndrome and is characterized by hypertension and hypokalemia. Recent investigations suggest the presence of hypertensive subjects with low activity of 11beta-HSD. The blood concentration ratio of cortisone/cortisol reflects the overall conversion of cortisol to cortisone and may be an index to assess the systemic activity of 11beta-HSD. We evaluated the peripheral blood concentration ratio of cortisone/cortisol as a possible marker to identify subjects with hypertension thought to represent impaired 11beta-HSD activity. We compared this ratio in healthy subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) or chronic renal failure (CRF). Peripheral blood samples were collected from 69 healthy subjects, 44 DM, and 36 CRF patients in the morning (9:00 to 11:00 AM). Twenty-six DM patients (59%) and 32 CRF patients (89%) met the criteria for having hypertension. Serum cortisol and cortisone concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All values for serum cortisone and cortisol levels were within the normal range. Serum cortisone/cortisol ratio in the healthy subjects was distributed with a range of 0.113 to 0.494 (median, 0.243). Compared with healthy subjects, DM and CRF patients had significantly low (P <.01) serum cortisone/cortisol levels (median, 0.188 [range, 0.092 to 0.313] in DM and 0.088 [range, 0.031 to 0.140] in CRF). Bimodal distribution of cortisone/cortisol, found in DM patients with hypertension, represented high- and low-ratio groups around the border of the ratio 0.2. Kidney function, DM duration, and complications varied between the high- and low-ratio groups. The low ratio group (<0.2), whose 11beta-HSD activity was considered low, had an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and experienced nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and prolonged DM duration when compared with the group with a ratio greater than 0.2. The data suggest that the serum cortisone/cortisol ratio reflects the change in 11beta-HSD activity and is dependent kidney function. This is a possible marker to evaluate glucocorticoid excess hypertension observed in DM and CRF patients.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2000

Genetic analysis of the ycgJ-metB-cysK-ygaG operon negatively regulated by the VirR/VirS system in Clostridium perfringens.

The 5'-flanking region of the metB-cysK-ygaG operon, whose expression is negatively regulated by the VirR/VirS system in C. perfringens, was analyzed. The region contained the ycgJ, mscL, and colA genes encoding a hypothetical protein, a large conductance mechanosensitive channel protein, and kappa-toxin (collagenase), respectively. Northern analysis revealed that the ycgJ gene was transcribed as a 4.9-kb operon together with the metB-cysK-ygaG genes and that this operon was negatively regulated by the VirR/VirS system. It is indicated that the pfoA (theta-toxin or perfringolysin O), colA, and ycgJ-metB-cysK-ygaG genes that belong to the VirR/VirS regulon are situated very close together in a 26.5-kb region of the chromosome, but do not form a pathogenic island.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2000

[Results of therapy for orbital malignant lymphoma].

PURPOSE: To elucidate the clinical and histopathological features of orbital malignant lymphoma, and to develop a protocol for effective treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study analyzed 18 cases of orbital lymphoma which were treated at Yamagata University Hospital over the last 14 years. The tentative strategy for choosing the treatment was to treat the cases of clinical stage I (Ann Arbor criteria) with curative intent and the cases of stage II-IV with palliative intent. RESULTS: Six patients had primary orbital lymphomas, 2 had secondary orbital lymphomas, and 10 had metastatic orbital lymphomas. Histopathologically, all the cases of primary lymphoma were of low-grade malignancy and all the cases of secondary lymphoma were of intermediate-grade malignancy. Of the metastatic lymphoma cases, 3 were of low-grade and 7 of intermediate-grade malignancy. The cases of primary lymphoma were Stage I and were treated by radiation or chemotherapy. The cases with secondary lymphoma were Stage II and were treated by both radiation and chemotherapy. The cases with metastatic lymphoma were Stage III or IV and were treated by chemotherapy and/or radiation. Control of orbital lymphoma was achieved in all 6 cases with primary lymphomas. Although the survival rate was 0% for secondary lymphomas and 50% for metastatic lymphomas, ocular complications were improved during the remainder of the patients' life. CONCLUSIONS: All the primary orbital lymphomas were treated effectively by radiation or chemotherapy. For secondary and metastatic orbital lymphoma, our strategy for treatment was beneficial by improving ocular complications and the quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Overexpression of laminin gamma2 chain monomer in invading gastric carcinoma cells.

Laminin (LN)-5, a heterotrimer of alpha3, beta3, and gamma2 chains, has been suggested to be involved in tumor cell invasion. The present immunohistochemical study investigated the distribution of the LN gamma2 chain in 48 different human gastric adenocarcinomas. The immunohistochemical analysis showed two distinct patterns of LN gamma2 chain expression: (a) extracellular deposition; and (b) cytoplasmic accumulation. The extracellular deposition of the LN gamma2 chain was typically observed at neoplastic basement membranes of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. The immunoreactivity was continuous along tumor basement membranes in these tumors but was irregular and diffuse in poorly differentiated carcinomas. These tumor cells coexpressed the LN alpha3 and beta3 chains, suggesting that the LN gamma2 chain was deposited as the LN-5 complex. In contrast, tumor cells at the invading fronts showed strong cytoplasmic staining for the LN gamma2 chain without any detectable signal for the LN alpha3 or beta3 chain in both well- and poorly differentiated carcinomas. On the other hand, in vitro analysis by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE demonstrated that human gastric carcinoma cells secrete a high level of LN gamma2 chain monomer in addition to the LN-5 complex into culture medium. These results indicate that the LN gamma2 chain can be secreted as a single subunit and might be involved in tumor cell invasion.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Assessment of outcome by EC/IC bypass with 123I-iomazenil brain SPECT.

We report two patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease who were examined by means of benzodiazepine receptor SPECT(BZR-SPECT) with 123I-iomazenil (IMZ) before extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery (EC/IC bypass). Preoperative low perfusion areas detected by cerebral blood flow SPECT (CBF-SPECT) were divided into two parts on BZR-SPECT images. In the low perfusion areas where the BZR were preserved, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) increased on postoperative CBF-SPECT, but where the BZR were not preserved, rCBF did not increase on postoperative CBF-SPECT. On visual inspection, the SPECT images of postoperative CBF-SPECT appeared similar to those of preoperative BZR-SPECT. For evaluation of the ischemic brain condition itself, instead of the cerebral metabolism, the distribution and activity of cerebral neurons indicated by BZR-SPECT with IMZ might be utilized.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery presenting as loss of consciousness due to the presence of a primitive hypoglossal artery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of ischemic attacks in the internal carotid system usually involve focal cerebral dysfunction, i.e., hemiparesis or aphasia. However, an ischemic attack in the vertebrobasilar artery system usually presents with combined symptoms. The variety of manifestations included in the vertebrobasilar profile makes the potential pattern of symptoms considerably more variable and complex than that in the carotid system. Manifestations can include syncope and also vertigo. METHOD AND RESULTS: A 42-year-old woman experienced frequent attacks of faintness with vertigo. Angiography demonstrated severe stenosis of the left internal carotid artery with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery just distal to the stenosis. The right internal carotid artery was normal and cross circulation through the anterior communicating artery was not well developed. Both vertebral arteries were hypoplastic. The patient underwent carotid endarterectomy and, thereafter the episodes of syncope completely disappeared. CONCLUSION: It was supposed that global ischemia including the brain stem occurred because of stenosis of the left internal carotid artery attributable to the presence of a primitive hypoglossal artery.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Ruptured persistent primitive hypoglossal artery aneurysm: case report].

Persistent primitive hypoglossal artery is less common than persistent primitive trigeminal artery. About one hundred examples of such hypoglossal arteries have been demonstrated by angiography. The origin of persistent primitive hypoglossal artery is the cervical segment of the internal carotid artery, usually at the level of the first to second cervical vertebrae. The artery then enters, with varying degrees of tortuosity, the anterior condyloid (hypoglossal) canal and joints the basilar artery immediately above its lower end. When enlargement of this canal is identified, the presence of a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery should be strongly suspected. The homolateral vertebral artery is frequently hypoplasia. A 66-year-old man was brought to our hospital due to faintness. CT showed thick subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography showed that a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery aneurysm was present, but the posterior communicating artery was absent. Right vertebral angiography showed extravasation due to re-rupture of the aneurysm. An operation was performed at day 0 using the left transcondylar approach despite deterioration of SAH grading. Intraoperative re-rupturing occurred and the lower cranial nerves clustered around the aneurysm, so the aneurysm was partially clipped on the dome. The second angiography was carried out at day 10, and there was no vasospasm. Palsy of the lower cranial nerves appeared transiently. A ventricle-peritoneum shunt was required due to normal pressure hydrocephalus, but the patient was discharged with no neurological deficits.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Wide distribution of laminin-5 gamma 2 chain in basement membranes of various human tissues.

Laminin 5 (LN5), a heterotrimer of laminin alpha 3. beta 3. and gamma 2 chains. is a laminin isoform which strongly promotes adhesion. migration. and scattering of cells through binding to integrins alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 6 beta 1 and alpha 6 beta 4. To get an insight into the physiological functions of LN5, we prepared a mouse monoclonal antibody to human laminin gamma 2 chain and used it for immunohistochemical analysis of laminin gamma 2 chain in normal human tissues. The basement membranes of various epithelial tissues, such as the skin, lung, small intestine, stomach, kidney and prostate, were immunostained with the anti-laminin gamma 2 chain monoclonal antibody. In addition, the basement membrane of the surface germinal epithelium in the ovary was also positive for laminin gamma 2 chain. These results suggest general roles of LN5 in the anchorage of various types of epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane and in the expression of their cellular functions. Moreover, deposition of laminin gamma 2 chain around small arteries and veins was observed in the thymus and spleen. This lymphatic organ-specific expression of vascular LN5 might provide a novel function of LN5 in immune responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

HPLC method for evaluation of the free radical-scavenging activity of foods by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

An HPLC method for evaluation of the free radical-scavenging activity of foods by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) is reported. The activity was evaluated by measuring the decrease of DPPH detected at 517 nm. By using this novel method, we determined the free radical-scavenging activity of several antioxidants: ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, Trolox, and cysteine. The results gave good correlation between the radical-scavenging activity determined by HPLC and by conventional colorimetry. This methodology was applied to determine the free radical-scavenging activity of 8 beverages. The activity of coffee was the highest, followed by red wine, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, rosé wine, white wine, and orange juice. The results well agree with those of previous reports. This method is expected to be useful for a simple and rapid determination of free radical-scavenging activity in colored foods, because coloring substances in foods do not interfere with the measurement.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1998

[A case of orbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma].

A 22-year-old male presented with proptosis of his right eye of one month's duration. No abnormalities were present regarding visual acuity, ocular motility, or fundus findings. Systemic examinations gave negative results. An orbital tumor, 25 mm in size, was detected by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the affected side. The tumor was located nasal-posterior to the eyeball and appeared to be in apposition with the orbital floor. The tumor was removed through a maxillary sinus approach. Histopathological studies led to the diagnosis of extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the fifth case reported in Japan of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. Originating in the orbit.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Immunohistological study of the nasal mucosa with reference to gamma delta-T cells].

The distribution of gamma delta-T cells (gamma delta-TCR positive cells) in nasal mucosa and polyps was studied in patients with nasal allergy and non-allergic patients. The biopsy specimens from the inferior turbinate and resected polyps were frozen at -70 degrees C and sliced at a thickness of 4 microns with a cryostat. Monoclonal antibodies (CD3 and TCR-gamma delta-1) and the Labelled Streptavidin Biotin method were used to detect T lymphocytes and gamma delta-T cells. The results were as follows: 1) The rate of gamma delta-T cells in the epithelium is higher than that in the lamina propria in patients with nasal allergy. 2) In non-allergic patients, on the other hand, the rate of gamma delta-T cells was almost the same in these layers. 3) The distribution of gamma delta-T cells in nasal polyps was uniform and their rate was relatively high. It has been reported that gamma delta-T cells can recognize a stress antigen such as heat shock protein. These cells are thought to play an important role in non-specific immunoreactions. This study suggests that gamma delta-T cells in the nasal mucosa play an important role also in specific immunoreactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Identification of integrin-dependent and -independent cell adhesion domains in COOH-terminal globular region of laminin-5 alpha 3 chain.

Laminin-5 is an isoform of laminin that consists of alpha 3, beta 3, and gamma 2 chains and has potent cell adhesion- and cell migration-promoting activities. In this study, five subdomains in the COOH-terminal globular (G) domain of human laminin alpha 3 chain were individually expressed in Escherichia coli, and their biological activities were investigated. Recombinant G2, G4, and G5 domains promoted adhesion to plastic plates of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells, A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells, and ECV304 vascular endothelial cells. For the cell adhesion activity, the G2 domain required a divalent cation and heat-sensitive conformation more strongly than G4 and G5. The cell adhesion to G2 but not G4 and G5 was effectively inhibited by an anti-integrin alpha 3 antibody. A cell adhesion sequence of 22 amino acids, alpha 3G2A, that was homologous to the integrin alpha 3 beta 1-binding sequence GD-6 of laminin alpha 1 chain was identified within the G2 structure. The cell adhesion to alpha 3G2A peptide was also inhibited by the anti-integrin alpha 3 antibody. The cell adhesion to G2, alpha 3G2A, G4, and G5 was strongly inhibited by heparin, but that to native laminin-5 was inhibited less effectively. Moreover, G5 potently stimulated chemotactic migration of rat liver epithelial cells in Boyden chambers, but G2 and G4 did not. These results indicate that the G domain of laminin alpha 3 contains multiple cell binding sites with different mechanisms and different functions. The G2 domain seems to recognize integrin alpha 3 beta 1, whereas G4 and G5 may interact with heparin-like molecules on cell surface.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Oxygenation of (3Z)-alkenal to (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-alkenal in soybean seed (Glycine max L.).

(3Z)-Alkenals, such as (3Z)-hexenal and (3Z)-nonenal, are produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids via lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase catalysis, but in soybeans (Glycine max L.) (3Z)-alkenals have a fleeting existence. In this study it was shown that soybean seeds possess two pathways that metabolize (3Z)-alkenals. One is a soluble (3Z):(2E)-enal isomerase that transformed (3Z)-hexenal and (3Z)-nonenal into the corresponding (2E)-alkenals. The other was a membrane-bound system that converted (3Z)-hexenal and (3Z)-nonenal into (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-hexenal and (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, respectively. The latter conversion was shown to absorb O2 with a pH optimum of 9.5. Little effect observed with lipoxygenase inhibitors suggested that oxidation was not catalyzed by lipoxygenase. Instead, a specific (3Z)-alkenal oxygenase was implicated in forming intermediate alkenal hydroperoxides. Hydroperoxide-dependent peroxygenase (epoxygenase) is known to reduce hydroperoxides to their corresponding hydroxides and is also known to be inhibited by hydrogen peroxide preincubation. Consequently, intermediate 4-hydroperoxy-2-alkenals could be observed after inhibiting hydroperoxide-dependent peroxygenase by preincubation with hydrogen peroxide. Because 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals are potent toxins, these compounds may be produced as nonvolatile plant defensive substances.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1996

[Histological and immunohistochemical study of nasal polyps].

Nasal polyps, in general, have been histologically classified as edematous, adenocystic and fibrous types. It has recently been pointed out that eosinophilic infiltration in nasal polyps has increased along with an increase in nasal allergy. The purpose of this study was to classify the nasal polyps histologically and to examine the mode of infiltration and activation of eosinophils by means of immunohistochemistry. The subjects were 101 patients who underwent surgery for nasal polyps. There were 66 males and 35 females ranging in age from 12 to 76 years. Resected polyps were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin, and sliced at a thickness of 4 microns. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and streptavidin- biotinyl peroxidase complex staining were used to detect eosinophils. The results were as follows: 1) The nasal polyps were, histologically, edematous in 88.1%, adenocystic in 47.5%, and fibrous in 19.8%. 2) The number and distribution of EG1-positive cells and EG2-positive cells were almost the same in the superficial layer of the lamina propria. This study suggests that eosinophilic infiltration into nasal polyps occurs mainly in edematous polyps and that the majority of the infiltrating eosinophils are activated.

Adolescent↗