Biomedical subjects

I Nozawa

Publications and source records attributed to I Nozawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Fosfomycin nebulizer therapy to chronic sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: effects of Fosfomycin (FOM) nebulizer therapy were studied in patients with chronic sinusitis. METHODS: about 28 patients with chronic sinusitis were administered 2 ml of FOM sodium (3% w/v) by nebulizer three times per week for 4 weeks. Levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha in nasal lavage were also measured before and at the end of treatment. RESULTS: the overall efficacy of this treatment on the basis of both subjective and objective symptoms, was 'excellent' for 28.6%, 'good' for 10.7%, 'fair' for 39.4%, and yield 'no change' for 21.4% of the patients. Both IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations were significantly decreased after treatment. Although the IL-8 level did not significantly decrease, it seems to be related to the overall efficacy. TNF-alpha was not detected in all of the samples. CONCLUSION: FOM nebulization therapy is highly effective in treatment for chronic sinusitis, and efficacy may be due to an immunomodulatory mechanism, as well as its bactericidal effect.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Identification and characterization of a 500-kb homozygously deleted region at 1p36.2-p36.3 in a neuroblastoma cell line.

Loss of heterozygosity of the distal region of chromosome 1p where tumor suppressor gene(s) might harbor is frequently observed in many human cancers including neuroblastoma (NBL) with MYCN amplification and poor prognosis. We have identified for the first time a homozygously deleted region at the marker D1S244 within the smallest region of overlap at 1p36.2-p36.3 in two NBL cell lines, NB-1 and NB-C201 (MASS-NB-SCH1), although our genotyping has suggested the possibility that both lines are derived from the same origin. The 800-kb PAC contig covering the entire region of homozygous deletion was made and partially sequenced (about 60%). The estimated length of the deleted region was 500 kb. We have, thus far, identified six genes within the region which include three known genes (DFF45, PGD, and CORT) as well as three other genes which have been reported during processing our present project for the last 3(1/2) years (HDNB1/UFD2, KIAA0591F/KIF1B-beta, and PEX14). They include the genes related to apoptosis, glucose metabolism, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, a neuronal microtubule-associated motor molecule and biogenesis of peroxisome. At least three genes (HDNB1/UFD2, KIAA0591F/KIF1B-beta, and PEX14) were differentially expressed at high levels in favorable and at low levels in unfavorable subsets of primary neuroblastoma. Since the 1p distal region is reported to be imprinted, those differentially expressed genes could be the new members of the candidate NBL suppressor, although RT-PCR-SSCP analysis has demonstrated infrequent mutation of the genes so far identified. Full-sequencing and gene prediction for the region of homozygous deletion would elucidate more detailed structure of this region and might lead to discovery of additional candidate genes. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4302 - 4307

Carrier Proteins↗

PubMed2000

Identification of the homozygously deleted region at chromosome 1p36.2 in human neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: We have identified for the first time a homozygously deleted region within the smallest region of overlap at 1p36.2-3 in two neuroblastoma cell lines. PROCEDURE: The 800-kb PAC contig covering the entire homozygously deleted region was made and sequenced. To date, approximately 70% of sequencing has been accomplished, and the estimated length of the deleted region was 500 kb. RESULTS: Currently, we have found six genes within the region, which include three known genes as well as three other genes that have been reported during processing of our present project for the last 3(1/2) years. We report here the results of expression and mutation analyses of those genes. CONCLUSIONS: Full sequencing for the region of homozygous deletion as well as further analyses of the genes mapped within the region may reveal whether or not there is a neuroblastoma suppressor gene as proposed by the Knudson's two-hit hypothesis.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed2000

Hunting the subset-specific genes of neuroblastoma: expression profiling and differential screening of the full-length-enriched oligo-capping cDNA libraries.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma (NBL) has a distinct nature in different prognostic subgroups. PROCEDURE: To understand the molecular mechanism of NBL's genesis and biology as well as that of the neural crest development, we constructed full-length-enriched cDNA libraries by an oligo-capping method from two different subsets of primary NBL, one with favorable biology and the other with MYCN amplification. RESULTS: Sequencing analysis of these libraries revealed that the expression profile was markedly different between both subsets. To identify the genes differentially expressed between the subsets, semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses are proceeding. CONCLUSION: So far, 54 transcripts have been found to be expressed at high levels in favorable NBLs, and significantly at low levels in unfavorable NBLs.

Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic↗

PubMed2000

[Nephrotoxicity of piperacillin combined with furosemide in rats].

Nephrotoxicity of piperacillin (PIPC) was evaluated in rats after combined administration with furosemide. After intravenous administration of PIPC (1600 mg/kg), the rats showed no change in urinalysis, biochemical analysis of plasma and histopathological analysis. The rats receiving furosemide (100 mg/kg) showed elevation of urinary NAG, BUN and creatinine concentrations, and showed slight degeneration of the renal proximal tubules. The rats receiving PIPC (1600 mg/kg) and furosemide (100 mg/kg) showed elevation of BUN and creatinine concentrations, and showed slight degeneration of the proximal tubules. These changes were comparable to those in rats receiving furosemide alone. The rats receiving cephaloridine (1600 mg/kg) showed elevation of urinary protein, BUN and creatinine concentrations, and showed moderate degeneration and necrosis of the proximal tubules. The nephrotoxicity was enhanced by combination with furosemide. In conclusion, no enhanced effect of nephrotoxicity was observed by combination of PIPC with furosemide.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Psychosomatic aspects of patients complaining of dizziness or vertigo with orthostatic dysregulation.

Eighty-five patients (26 males and 59 females) with orthostatic dysregulation who visited our clinic complaining of dizziness or vertigo between December, 1990 and August, 1996 were analyzed using the Japanese Edition Cornell Medical Index-Health Questionnaire and the Yatabe-Guilford Personality Test. The condition of OD was most commonly noted in 29 patients (34.1%) with dizziness or vertigo of indeterminate etiology, followed by in 14 (16.5%) with Meniere's disease, in ten (11.8%) with hypotension and CNS disorder each, and in 22 (25.9%) with other disorders. The percentage classed as Type III (possible neurotic) or Type IV (probable neurotic), was 46.1% in males and 47.4% in females. The percentage classed as Type B or Type E, suggestive of emotional or psychological disturbance, was 38.5% in males and 37.3% in females. There was good correlation between the Japanese Edition Cornell Medical Index-Health Questionnaire and the Yatabe-Guilford Personality Test results as to psychosomatic aspects. We conclude that, in the treatment of patients with orthostatic dysregulation, it is necessary to consider both physical and psychological aspects of the condition.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Age-related changes in the compound action potentials of the eighth nerve in guinea pigs.

The eighth nerve compound action potential (CAP) in 95 guinea pigs was measured using click stimuli to investigate age-related changes in their neural auditory thresholds. The animals were separated into three groups: group A (n = 43, 86 ears; 2-4 months old); group B (n = 29; 58 ears, 13-15 months old); and group C (n = 23; 46 ears, 23-25 months old). With increasing age, a gradual elevation of CAP thresholds was clearly seen among the three groups. The negative peak (N1) latencies of the CAP were prolonged, and the N1 amplitudes of the CAP decreased. There were significant differences in N1 latencies among the three groups and in N1 amplitudes between groups A and B, and between groups A and C. However, the rate of decline of the thresholds as well as the input-output function curves of the CAP varied in some of the oldest animals, suggesting that there were some individual differences in degenerative aging processes of the auditory system.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1997

The relationship between orthostatic dizziness and hypotension in male medical students.

We carried out a questionnaire survey regarding symptoms of orthostatic dysregulation (OD) and administered the Schellong test (orthostatic test) to 123 normal male medical students aged 21-29 years to investigate the relationship between orthostatic dizziness and hypotension. OD was identified in 15 (12.2%) of the subjects based on the questionnaire results. Orthostatic dizziness was noted in 40.7% of the subjects (50/123). The occurrence of orthostatic dizziness was most significantly related to systolic pressure decrease during the procedure for the Schellong test. These results suggest that the testing procedure introduced by Schellong can be useful, and clinically applicable to the assessment of orthostatic dizziness, since it presents the advantage of being simple enough to carry out in clinical practice.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The relationship between psychosomatic factors and orthostatic dysregulation in young men.

We carried out a questionnaire survey regarding symptoms of orthostatic dysregulation and administered the Japanese Edition of the Cornell Medical Index-Health Questionnaire (JCMI) and the Yatabe-Guilford Personality Test (Y-G test) to 151 male medical students (mean age, 24.6 yr). Orthostatic dysregulation was identified in 19 (12.5%) of the subjects based on the questionnaire results. The percentage classed as types III (possible neurotic) and IV (probable neurotic) according to the health questionnaire was 47.3% in the 19 with orthostatic dysregulation and 8.9% in the controls (n = 78). The percentage classed as types B and E, suggestive of emotional or psychological disturbance according to the personality test, was 42.1% in those with orthostatic dysregulation and 8.9% in the controls. These differences were significant (P < 0.01). These results suggest that psychosomatic factors influence the occurrence of orthostatic dysregulation in young men.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed1997

Interaction between oral alpha-streptococci and group A streptococci in patients with tonsillitis.

The incidence of oral alpha-streptococci with inhibitory activity against group A streptococci, as a defense mechanism against bacterial infection in the oral cavity, was investigated in 141 patients with streptococcal tonsillitis. The study population included both children (n = 79) and adults (n = 62). Infection by group A streptococci appeared to be more common in children than in adults, as the detection rates of inhibitory alpha-streptococci in healthy children (29.7%), as well as pediatric patients with tonsillitis (14.9%), were lower than those in adults (63.0%; p < .01). It is possible to consider oral alpha-streptococci with inhibitory activity to be among the indications for tonsillectomy in patients with streptococcal tonsillitis, since the detection rate of inhibitory alpha-streptococci in surgical cases (10.9%) was significantly lower than that in nonsurgical cases (31.1%; p < .01). The high detection rate of these strains during the postoperative state supported the observation that the incidence of group A streptococcal infection was decreased postoperatively. Accordingly, it is useful to investigate bacterial interference between oral alpha-streptococci and group A streptococci in patients scheduled for tonsillectomy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Clinicopathologic study of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis involving the temporal bone.

The temporal bone pathology of a 71-year-old man with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and facial paralysis caused by diffuse metastatic leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is described. The origin of this malignant disease was an extremely rare entity, a transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Histopathologic study of the temporal bone demonstrated that tumor cells filled the internal auditory meatus, infiltrated into the Rosenthal's canals, and reached the scala tympani of the basal turn of the bilateral cochleas. The vestibulocochlear nerve and facial nerve trunks in the internal auditory meatus had been destroyed by the bilateral tumor invasion. Case reports of temporal bone metastases of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis published since 1965 were reviewed. In leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, it is suggested that tumor cells infiltrate the internal auditory meatus of both ears simultaneously from the cerebrospinal fluid, involving the seventh and eighth nerve trunks, and then cause bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and facial paralysis.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Clinical observations on acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss. Survey and analysis of 137 patients.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 137 patients who were treated at our clinic for acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss of unknown cause over a period of 8 years. The analyses of the clinical records indicated the following clinical characteristics: female preponderance; peak incidence during the fourth decade of life; frequent accompanying tinnitus, sensation of ear fullness, and/ or autophony; suspicion of bilateral involvement; and association with autonomic imbalance. The hearing in most of the patients completely recovered, but some selected patients experienced fluctuating hearing loss or progression to Meniere's disease. Our results suggest that a subgroup of patients with severe initial hearing loss should be carefully followed up, although it is difficult to predict the outcome of this disorder.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

The relationship between orthostatic dysregulation and the orthostatic test in dizzy patients.

The orthostatic test was administered to 134 dizzy patients (37 males and 97 females) who were identified as having orthostatic dysregulation from December 1990 through November 1994. The mean age of the male and female patients was 42.5 and 44.6 years, respectively, and the peak age decade was the 50s. Among the questionnaire items for orthostatic dysregulation, orthostatic dizziness was the most frequent major symptom and occurred in 116 of the patients (86.6%). Fatigue was the most frequent minor symptom and was found in 97 (72.4%). The incidence of positive orthostatic test results in the patients with orthostatic dysregulation (50.7%) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in the control subjects (27.8%). There was also a significant difference (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) between systolic pressure decrease during the orthostatic test procedure in the patients with orthostatic dysregulation and that in the control subjects. These results suggest that autonomic imbalance as reflected by the orthostatic dysregulation questionnaire and orthostatic test results is closely related to the occurrence of dizziness or vertigo.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Analysis of defense mechanisms against bacterial infection by oral streptococcus in normal flora.

The incidence of oral alpha-streptococci with inhibitory activity against pathogens as a defense mechanism in the oral cavity was investigated in healthy individuals. Inhibitory strains were isolated from tonsil, tongue, cheek, saliva and dental plaque, and the detection rate of these strains isolated from tonsil was the highest. These results suggested that tonsillar flora is most important as a defense mechanism of the oral cavity. With respect to the effects of antibiotics against inhibitory alpha-streptococci, minimal inhibitory concentration of 90% of cells (MIC90) of PCG, ABPC, CCL, CFIX and EM against inhibitory alpha-streptococci, and relative detection rates of inhibitory alpha-streptococci before and after antimicrobial therapy were investigated. MIC90s of all antibiotics against these strains were low and sensitive to antibiotics tested. However, in vivo, detection rates of these strains before and after therapy did not differ significantly. Therefore, inhibitory strains were not affected by antibiotics as their MIC90 were low during short term medication.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Age-related alterations in the auditory brainstem responses and the compound action potentials in guinea pigs.

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) and the eight nerve compound action potential (CAP) were measured using click click stimuli to investigate the age-related alteration in the auditory function in 66 guinea pigs consisting of four age groups. With advancing age, a gradual elevation of the thresholds in both the ABR and CAP was clearly seen, together with the prolonged latencies for waves I, II, III, and IV to clicks at 95 dBpeSPL in the ABR. There were some individual differences in either threshold elevation or latency prolongation of both the ABR and CAP in aged guinea pigs. These findings suggest that the effect of individual differences on degenerative aging processes of the auditory system should be considered in selected aged animals, although a significant elevation of the neural auditory threshold is clearly found with advancing age as a whole.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1996

Psychosomatic aspects of healthy young women with orthostatic dysregulation.

The Japanese Edition of the Cornell Medical Index-Health Questionnaire and the Yatabe-Guilford personality test (Y-G Test) was given to 56 young women (mean age 19.2 years) who were identified as having orthostatic dysregulation among a total of 280 healthy young women. The percentage classed as types III (possible neurotic) and IV (probable neurotic) according to the Health Questionnaire was 37.5% in the 56 with orthostatic dysregulation and 9.2% in the controls (n = 65). The percentage classed as types B and E, suggestive of emotional or psychological disturbance according to the personality test, was 59.0% in those with orthostatic dysregulation and 23.1% in the controls. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation (P < 0.01) between the two test results for the frequency distribution of the 280 women. These results suggest a possibility that psychosomatic factors influence the occurrence of orthostatic dysregulation in young women, even if these subjects have not sought treatment for dizziness or vertigo, nor for psychosomatic disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Participation in causing O.M.E. with nasopharyngeal alpha-Streptococcus].

The role of normal pharyngeal flora in the defense mechanism against infections in the upper respiratory tract was studied in 50 children with otitis media with effusion (O.M.E.). In the bacteriological study of the nasopharynx, the incidence of H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, M. catarrhalis and group A Streptococcus was about 46%, 24%, 20%, 12% and 8%, respectively. The incidence of these species in the cases with O.M.E. was higher than that in the cases with chronic tonsilitis or control cases. In 41 O.M.E. cases with alpha-streptococci (82%), the incidence of alpha-streptococci with inhibitory activity against 5 pathogens (H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, M. catarrhalis, group A Streptococcus) was examined. The detection rate of alpha-streptococcal strains with inhibitory activity against 5 pathogens derived from the nasopharynx in the cases with O.M.E. was significantly lower than that of the strain in the chronic tonsilitis cases and the control cases. Moreover, the detection rate of inhibitory alpha-streptococci from the nasopharynx was lower than that of from the tonsil. These findings suggest that the decline of inhibitory activity against pathogens by normal flora in nasopharynx is one of the factors causing O.M.E.

Child↗

PubMed1995

[Relationship between orthostatic dizziness and/or giddiness, and hypotension in young normal females--a survey of 301 subjects].

Orthostatic dysregulation (OD) generally implies a systemic condition indicating poor circulatory function resulting from autonomic imbalance. It frequently appears in younger individuals at or around puberty, and is predominant in females. It is also known that individuals with this condition experience orthostatic dizziness and/or giddiness, fainting on standing and other various non-specific, subjective symptoms. Three hundred and one young normal females ranging in age from 18 to 21 years were examined using the Schellong test and the OD questionnaire to investigate the relationship between orthostatic dizziness and hypotension. Orthostatic dizziness and/or giddiness was the most frequent symptom, noted in 171 of 301 young subjects (56.8%), regardless of whether or not the subjects were actually diagnosed as having OD based on the questionnaire. Both low systolic blood pressure (90 mmHg or loss) in the supine position and systolic pressure decrease (11 mmHg or more) in the standing position during the procedure for the Schellong test were significantly related to the occurrence of orthostatic dizziness and/or giddiness. It may be reasonable to conclude from the present study that orthostatic dizziness is even more commonly observed in young normal female subjects than expected and correlates more closely with both hypotension and systolic pressure decrease in the standing position than previously thought. Thus, in our opinion, this testing procedure introduced by Schellong can be useful, and is clinically applicable to the assessment of orthostatic dizziness and/or giddiness and OD, since this test has the advantage of being simple enough to carry out in clinical practice.

Adolescent↗