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Hiroki Ohara

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroki Ohara.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Increase in terminal restriction fragments of Bacteroidetes-derived 16S rRNA genes after administration of short-chain fructooligosaccharides.

It is well known that short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) modify intestinal microbiota in animals as well as in humans. Since most murine intestinal bacteria are still uncultured, it is difficult for a culturing method to detect changes in intestinal microbiota after scFOS administration in a mouse model. In this study, we sought markers of positive change in murine intestinal microbiota after scFOS administration using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis, which is a culture-independent method. The T-RFLP profiles showed that six terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) were significantly increased after scFOS administration. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA partial gene sequences of murine fecal bacteria suggested that four of six T-RFs that increased after scFOS administration were derived from the 16S rRNA genes of the class Bacteroidetes. Preliminary quantification of Bacteroidetes by real-time PCR suggests that the 16S rRNA genes derived from Bacteroidetes were increased by scFOS administration. Therefore, the T-RFs derived from Bacteroidetes are good markers of change of murine intestinal microbiota after scFOS administration.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Direct cloning of genes encoding novel xylanases from the human gut.

The aim of this study was to identify a novel 1,4-beta-xylanase gene from the mixed genome DNA of human fecal bacteria without bacterial cultivation. Total DNA was isolated from a population of bacteria extracted from fecal microbiota. Using PCR, the gene fragments encoding 5 different family 10 xylanases (xyn10A, xyn10B, xyn10C, xyn10D, and xyn10E) were found. Amino acid sequences deduced from these genes were highly homologous with those of xylanases from anaerobic intestinal bacteria such as Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp. Self-organizing map (SOM) analysis revealed that xynA10 was classified into Bacteroidetes. To confirm that one of these genes encodes an active enzyme, a full-length xyn10A gene was obtained using nested primers specific to the internal fragments and random primers. The xyn10A gene encoding the xylanase Xyn10A consists of 1146 bp and encodes a protein of 382 amino acids and a molecular weight of 43,552. Xyn10A was a single module novel xylanase. Xyn10A was purified from a recombinant Escherichia coli strain and characterized. This enzyme was optimally active at 40 degrees C and stable up to 50 degrees C at pH 6.5 and over the pH range 4.0-11.0 at 25 degrees C. In addition, 2 ORFs (ORF1 and ORF2) were identified upstream of xyn10A. These results suggested that many unidentified xylanolytic bacteria exist in the human gut and may contribute to the breakdown of xylan which contains dietary fiber.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

[Blind-ending bifid ureter: report of a case].

A case of blind-ending bifid ureter is presented. A 33-year-old woman was admitted with the compliant of right flank pain. Drip infusion pyelography and retrograde pyelography showed a right blind-ending bifid ureter (about 26 cm in length) at a site about 4 cm superior to the right ureteral opening. No treatment was needed because her symptoms subsided spontaneously.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Comparative analysis of lower urinary tract symptoms and bother in both sexes.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Japanese men and women and to analyze the impact on bother in an age-stratified manner. METHODS: A consecutive series of 2328 men (mean age 49.5 years) and 1735 women (mean age 48.3 years) who underwent multiphasic health screening at our institution completed the self-administered International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire with quality-of-life (QOL) assessment. RESULTS: A significant age-related increase in the IPSSs and QOL scores was observed in both sexes. Age-stratified analysis showed that the total IPSS, voiding symptoms, and QOL score were significantly greater in men than in women, and the storage symptoms were not significantly different between both sexes. The percentage with moderate to severe symptoms (IPSS 8 or greater) among those younger than 40, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 years old or older was 7.9%, 12.0%, 23.7%, 32.0%, and 48.7%, respectively, in men and 6.5%, 8.3%, 12.1%, 13.8%, and 31.8%, respectively, in women. Within each category of the severity of IPSS, the distribution of the QOL score was very similar in both sexes, showing no sex difference in the impact of LUTS on bother. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed a similar age-related development of LUTS in both sexes, except that voiding symptoms were more prevalent among men. The impact of LUTS on bother was also comparable between men and women.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Prostate-specific antigen doubling time among Japanese men in an annual health screening program.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSA-DT) has been studied as a parameter reflecting the biological doubling rate of clinically localized prostate cancer treated expectantly. With the use of PSA-DT, we studied the natural history of PSA changes among Japanese men in a health screening program. METHODS: Between July 1994 and December 2002, a cohort of 1995 men aged 40-79 years underwent a total of 5700 PSA measurements in an annual multiphasic health screening program. Prostate-specific antigen doubling time was calculated using a log-linear regression model for 994 (49.8%) men who had three or more serial PSA measurements with a mean follow-up of 46.2 months. RESULTS: Of the 994 men, 192 (19.3%) had a PSA-DT of less than 10 years and 12 (1.2%) had a PSA-DT of less than 2 years. Median PSA-DT in 14 men with a subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer was 41.6 months (range, 12.2 to stable). A log-linear model statistically fitted 65 of 180 non-cancer patients with a PSA-DT of less than 10 years. The percentages of statistically fit cases increased with higher baseline PSA (5.3%, 7.7% and 8.7% among men with <1.0, 1.0-1.99 and 2.0-3.99 ng/mL, respectively) and older baseline age (3.7%, 8.5% and 6.9% among ages 40-49, 50-59 and 60 or older, respectively). CONCLUSION: In a small but significant portion of men, PSA increases exponentially when it is still less than 4.0 ng/mL, with a PSA-DT of less than 10 years. The clinical significance of this finding should be evaluated by a prospective screening including biopsy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Long-term treatment outcome of tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: The present study assessed the long-term efficacy (>12 months) of tamsulosin in 123 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: The patients received a starting dose of tamsulosin of 0.2 mg/day, with a further titration up to 0.4 mg/day until symptom relief. Subjective and objective clinical variables were assessed using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life (QoL) score, BPH impact index score, peak urinary flow rate (Q(max)) and postvoid residual urine volume. RESULTS: Except for Q(max), all clinical variables showed significant sustained improvements from baseline throughout the study period (median follow up, 43 months). Thirty patients (24.4%) withdrew because of surgical interventions. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that a baseline IPSS total score >or=15 (HR [hazard ratio] 2.13; 95% CI 1.04-4.34) was predictive of failure for tamsulosin therapy. Furthermore, during the first 12 months, a lowest IPSS total score >or=13 (HR 2.34; 95% CI 1.12-4.89), a lowest IPSS QoL score >or=3 (HR 4.16; 95% CI 1.26-13.68), and a lowest BPH impact index score >or=4 (HR 3.54; 95% CI 1.62-7.75) were also predictive of failure for tamsulosin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin treatment of BPH patients for more than 12 months showed a sustained, stable efficacy. Patients without short-term effects were prone to withdraw from tamsulosin therapy, but so did patients with a high baseline IPSS total score, even if therapy was effective for at least 12 months.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2004

[Periprostatic local anesthesia before transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy].

PURPOSE: We prospectively assessed the safety and efficacy of periprostatic local anesthesia before transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 178 consecutive men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy at our institution were enrolled in this study. From January to June 2001, 84 men underwent prostate biopsy without anesthesia (control group). From July to December 2001, 94 men received local anesthesia before prostate biopsies (anesthesia group). A 5-ml dose of 1% lidocaine was injected into the periprostatic nerve plexus on each side via a 22 gauge needle at 3 minutes before the procedure. Pain during and after biopsy was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Complications were evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The average pain score during biopsy was 3.18 in the anesthesia group versus 4.16 in the control group (p = 0.0067), while average pain score on the next day was 2.12 and 2.25, respectively (p = 0.7451). In the anesthesia group 13% of patients had a pain score > 5 versus 34% in the control group (p = 0.0043). The complication rate showed no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Periprostatic lidocaine injection is a safe and effective method of anesthesia for transrectal prostate biopsy.

Anesthesia, Local↗
PubMed2004

[Two cases of encrusted cystitis].

Encrusted cystitis is a type of severe cystitis, which progresses chronically and is characterized by excessively alkaline urine and calcifications within the bladder wall. We report two cases of encrusted cystitis. Both cases were high aged and had severe anemia with chronic cystitis. They complained of gross hematuria, voiding frequency and pain upon urination. Urine pH was 8-9, and urine cytology was negative. Urine culture contained Corynebacterium Group D2. Abdominal computed tomography and transurethral resection revealed wall bladder wall calcification and inflammatory change. We diagnosed it as encrusted cystitis. The patients underwent excision of plaques of calcified encrustation, adapted antibiotic therapy and acidification of urine. It is essential to diagnose encrusted cystitis early and to provide adequate treatment promptly.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Body image alteration after flank incision: relationship between the results of objective evaluation using computerized tomography and patient perception.

PURPOSE: We evaluated subjective and objective alterations in body image and configuration of patients who underwent urological surgery via a flank incision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible for study were 17 patients who underwent urological surgery via an 11th rib transcostal incision. Preoperative and postoperative abdominal computerized tomography were used for evaluation. The intra-abdominal contents surrounded by the vertebral bones and muscles forming the body trunk were divided into 4 subspaces. The areas of these 4 portions were measured and the calculated ratio of the contents of each portion determined preoperatively was compared with that determined postoperatively. Of the 17 patients 15 answered a questionnaire on the perception and bother of body image alteration. We compared their subjective answers with objective results using computerized tomography. RESULTS: The ratio of the ipsilateral-dorsal portion significantly increased postoperatively from 18.7% to 21.9% at the L2 level (p <0.001), 19.7% to 23.1% at the L3 level (p = 0.002) and 18.3% to 21.2% at the L4 level (p = 0.003). Posterolateral bulging was typically observed at the L2 level. Of the 15 patients who answered the questionnaire 9 (60%) perceived and 4 (27%) were bothered by body image alteration to at least a moderate extent. The ratio of increase in the ipsilateral-dorsal portion was significantly higher in the 9 patients who perceived at least moderate body image alteration than in the remaining 6 (2.2% versus 4.6%, p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The intra-abdominal contents deviated in the ipsilateral-dorsal direction with the patient supine after flank incision done via the 11th rib transcostal approach. This change, typically represented by posterolateral bulging, results in an altered patient body image.

Abdominal Wall↗
PubMed2003

Nocturia and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the frequency of and risk factors for nocturia in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and the degree of improvement of nocturia after treatment for BPH. METHODS: A total of 505 consecutively selected, newly diagnosed patients with symptomatic BPH were evaluated in studies examining frequency of and risk factors for nocturia. We analyzed the relationships between nocturia assessed by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and other parameters, including age, prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen level, and uroflow variables. Other studies examining the impact of conservative and invasive treatments on nocturia were also conducted using 165 patients receiving tamsulosin and 138 undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). RESULTS: Overall, 359 of the 505 patients (71.1%) answered that they arose at least twice for urination at night. Patient age, score of urgency, and functional bladder capacity were each significantly associated with nocturia. Tamsulosin therapy and TURP significantly reduced the number of episodes of nocturia in 17.9% and 32.2% of patients, respectively. These rates of improvement were lowest for nocturia among the seven individual symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS: In this study using selected cohorts, the frequency of nocturia in patients with BPH was higher than that in community-based studies. Although we cannot estimate patients' satisfaction by the observed changes in scores, the rates of improvement were lowest for nocturia among the seven symptoms of IPSS after conservative and invasive treatments for BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2003

Intraoperative electrical stimulation of cavernous nerves with monitoring of intracorporeal pressure to confirm nerve sparing during radical prostatectomy: Early clinical results.

BACKGROUND: We performed intraoperative cavernous nerve stimulation with an intracavernous pressure (ICP) monitoring system to confirm nerve sparing during radical pelvic surgery and assessed the results. METHODS: Nineteen cases of radical prostatectomy and three of radical cystoprostatectomy were examined. Electrical stimulation of the site where the neurovascular bundle (NVB) was determined to run was performed and changes in ICP were measured before and after prostate removal. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients, bilateral NVBs were preserved in six patients while unilateral NVB was preserved in 16. Before dissection, all NVBs examined exhibited positive responses (ICP changes of>5 mmHg) to nerve stimulation. After removal of the prostate, positive responses were observed in 22 (79%) of 28 macroanatomically preserved NVBs. Of 16 sides on which the NVB was not preserved, there were positive responses in five (31%). In these patients, some nerve fibers were macroscopically observed lateral to the original site of NVB. Finally, bilateral or unilateral nerve sparing was confirmed electrophysiologically in 20 (91%) of the 22 patients. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative stimulation of the NVB while monitoring ICP changes is a simple and reliable method of accurately evaluating the preservation of cavernous nerves. This system may provide further insight into the mechanism of postoperative erectile dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Isothermal titration calorimetric studies on the binding of a family 6 carbohydrate-binding module of Clostridium thermocellum xynA with xlylooligosaccharides.

The family 6 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) of Clostridium thermocellum XynA was expressed, and the binding equilibria of the CBM with xylooligosaccharides (degree of polymerization DP = 2-8) were observed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) at pH 8. The association constant, Ka, increased with increasing DP from 5 x 10(3) M(-1) (DP = 2) to approximately 5 x 10(5) M(-1) (DP = 5-8) at 20 degrees C. The Ka values at 60 degrees C were about 1/10 of those at 20 degrees C. The binding was found to be an enthalpy-driven reaction. The DP dependence of the thermodynamic parameters of the binding reaction suggested the size of the ligand-binding site to be 5 xylose units long.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2002

Retroperitoneoscopy-assisted total nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To apply retroperitoneoscopy-assisted nephroureterectomy (RTN) and examine its benefit compared with traditional open nephroureterectomy. The reference standard of treatment for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma is standard total nephroureterectomy (STN) with excision of a bladder cuff. METHODS: Retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy was performed, followed by open distal ureterectomy with excision of a bladder cuff. The specimen was removed en bloc from the lower pararectal incision that was used during distal ureterectomy. From January 1999, 17 patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma underwent this procedure at our institution. For comparison, the most recent 17 STNs were also reviewed. RESULTS: The operative time was longer in the RTN group than in the STN group but not to a significant extent (239.5 versus 286.8 minutes; P = 0.2663). On the other hand, the estimated blood loss, duration to potential discharge, and recovery to normal activities were significantly reduced in the RTN group (151.1 versus 299.6 minutes, 2.7 versus 4.2 days, and 15.9 versus 19.3 days; P = 0.0262, 0.0479, and 0.0363, respectively). From an oncologic standpoint, local recurrence occurred in 1 patient of the RTN group and 4 patients of the STN group (median follow-up of 8.8 and 23.0 months, respectively). No significant difference was detected in the disease-free survival rate between the two groups (P = 0.6775). CONCLUSIONS: RTN can make total nephroureterectomy less invasive. From an oncologic standpoint, although it revealed a disease-free survival rate comparable with the standard open procedure with limited follow-up, further follow-up of additional cases with simultaneous extended lymphadenectomy is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure.

Aged↗