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Biomedical subjects

I Sasaki

Publications and source records attributed to I Sasaki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effectiveness of an 'half elemental diet' as maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease: A randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although thiopurines have a proven role in maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease, an alternative therapy is needed for patients intolerant or resistant to thiopurines. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of home enteral nutrition as a maintenance therapy regimen in which half of the daily calorie requirement is provided by an elemental diet and the remaining half by a free diet. We refer to this home enteral nutrition therapy as 'half elemental diet'. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2005, 51 patients in remission from two hospitals were randomly assigned to a half elemental diet group (n = 26) or a free diet group (n = 25). The primary outcome measure of this study was the occurrence of relapse over the 2-year period. RESULTS: The relapse rate in the half elemental diet group was significantly lower [34.6% vs. 64.0%; multivariate hazard ratio 0.40 (95% CI: 0.16-0.98)] than that in the free diet group after a mean follow-up of 11.9 months. Compliance was similar in the two groups. No adverse event occurred in any of the patients throughout the study. CONCLUSION: This randomized-controlled trial shows the effectiveness of an half elemental diet, which is a promising maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The validity of a hyperventilation test for an investigation of autonomic failure: assessment in patients with multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease.

Although heart rate (HR) responses to hyperventilation (HV) have been used as a cardiovascular autonomic function test, autonomic involvement during HV remains uncertain. To clarify the relationship between autonomic activity and cardiovascular changes during HV, we compared cardiovascular responses during HV among subjects with different autonomic function, namely 16 patients with probable multiple system atrophy (MSA), 16 with possible MSA, 28 with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 28 healthy controls. Abnormalities of cardiovascular responses to head-up postural change and the Valsalva maneuver were definitely present in the order of probable MSA, possible MSA and PD, and abnormal HR and blood pressure (BP) responses during HV were observed in probable MSA and possible MSA, but not in PD. Unlike the significant difference in standard cardiovascular autonomic function tests, the HR and BP responses during HV were equivalent between probable and possible MSA. These findings suggest that cardiovascular control during HV may be affected not only by autonomic activity but also by other factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Two cases of subacute thyroiditis presenting in pregnancy.

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an extremely rare cause of thyrotoxicosis in pregnant women. Untreated, thyrotoxicosis may result in complications, such as prematurity and congenital malformations in the fetus. We report two cases of first trimester subacute thyroiditis, one mild and one severe. The severe case, as demonstrated by laboratory and ultrasound findings, was successfully treated with prednisolone. In this case, it was thought that the benefits of pharmacological therapy outweighed the risk of potential teratogenesis by the medication. In contrast, the milder case was managed conservatively and resolved without treatment. These cases illustrate how laboratory and ultrasound findings can be used to determine whether treatment should be initiated and, once begun, if medication levels need to be adjusted. In both cases, the pregnancies resulted in healthy full-term infants.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Changes in plasma ghrelin and growth hormone concentrations in mature Holstein cows and three-month-old calves.

We measured changes in plasma ghrelin and GH concentrations in mature Holstein cows and 3-mo-old female Holstein calves fed at scheduled times. Our objective was to determine the characteristics of ghrelin secretion in dairy cattle and its influence on GH. Animals were fed at 0800 and 1600 for 2 wk before and during experiments. Plasma was sampled for 24 h at 2-h intervals in Exp. 1. In mature cows, plasma ghrelin concentrations decreased (P < 0.01) just after 0800 but not at the 1600 feeding. Ghrelin concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in calves than in mature cows and they did not decrease after feeding in calves. The temporal relationship between ghrelin and GH remained unclear. In Exp. 2, plasma was sampled 2 h before and after both morning and evening feedings at 20-min intervals. Plasma ghrelin concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) 40 min after 0800 feeding and 60 min after 1600 feeding in mature cows. These results indicate that in mature cows, plasma ghrelin concentration decreased after feeding, but this decrease was not evident in 3-mo-old calves. Further studies are required to define the relationship between plasma ghrelin and GH concentrations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Abnormal baroreceptor-mediated vasopressin release as possible marker in early diagnosis of multiple system atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Although autonomic failure (AF) is a critical symptom of multiple system atrophy (MSA), it may not appear until late in the disease process. OBJECTIVES: To clarify whether a detailed investigation of the autonomic nervous system in patients with MSA without overt AF demonstrates latent lesions of central cardiovascular control circuits and facilitates the early diagnosis of MSA. METHODS: Autonomic function tests, and plasma noradrenaline (NA) and vasopressin (AVP) responses to head-up tilt (HUT), were studied in 12 patients with MSA with AF (probable MSA), 12 with MSA without overt AF (possible MSA), and 24 controls. RESULTS: Abnormalities of cardiovascular autonomic function tests were prominent in the first group but mild in the second. Plasma NA and AVP increments upon HUT differed significantly among all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that probable MSA involves diffuse degeneration of central cardiovascular control circuits. On the other hand, the discrepancies in possible MSA suggest a vulnerability of the noradrenergic (A1) neurones of the caudal ventrolateral medulla that are involved in AVP secretion. This finding also suggests that AVP increment may be useful as a diagnostic tool in the early stages of MSA.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Non-pathogenic bacteria modulate colonic epithelial gene expression in germ-free mice.

BACKGROUND: We established a bacterial reconstitution model to investigate epithelial cell-luminal bacteria interaction. The aim of the study was to identify the known genes directly or indirectly modulated by non-pathologic bacterial flora in the colonic epithelia of germ-free mice. METHODS: Germ-free mice were orally given a bacterial suspension prepared from specific pathogen-free counterparts (bacterial reconstitution). Colonic epithelial cells were isolated, then total and poly (A) RNA were extracted. We investigated differential gene expression in colonic epithelial cells among germ-free, bacteria-reconstituted, and specific pathogen-free mice by DNA microarray. Finally, differential expression was confirmed by Northern blot or quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Thirty genes were initially selected as differentially expressed genes in DNA microarray analysis. We confirmed that genes associated with growth (Reg IIIbeta, Reg IIIgamma, guanylate nucleotide binding protein 2), apoptosis (Bcl-associated death promotor), cytoskeleton (tubulin alpha4, erythrocyte protein band 7.2), and immune response (lymphocyte antigen complex 6) were induced by bacterial reconstitution. In contrast, genes possibly participating in extracellular oxidant defence (selenoprotein P, metallothionein 1) and cellular metabolism (cytochrome P450, HMGCoA synthase 2, alcohol dehydrogenase 1 complex, aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1, carbonic anhydrase 1, glycoprotein galactosyltransferase alpha1,3) were down-regulated by bacterial challenge. CONCLUSION: Non-pathogenic bacteria modulated colonic gene expression in germ-free mice, suggesting that non-pathogenic bacteria possibly initiate epithelial change in genetically normal and/or abnormal hosts. The present study provides a basis for the functional study of each molecule in symbiosis with luminal bacteria in healthy and diseased colon.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Intraduodenal capsaicin inhibits gastric migrating motor complex via an extrinsic neural reflex in conscious dogs.

The aim was to study the effect of intraduodenal capsaicin on interdigestive gastric contractions. Mongrel dogs were equipped with strain-gauge force transducers to measure gastroduodenal motility. The effects of intraduodenal capsaicin with or without pharmacological antagonists on spontaneous and motilin-induced interdigestive gastric contractions and on plasma motilin were studied in dogs with intact stomachs. The effect of intraduodenal capsaicin on gastric contractions was also studied in vagally denervated gastric (Heidenhain) pouch and vagally innervated antral pouch. Intraduodenal capsaicin inhibited spontaneous and motilin-induced gastric contractions. The spontaneous peak in plasma motilin was inhibited by intraduodenal capsaicin. The effect of intraduodenal capsaicin on motilin-induced gastric contractions was not affected by blockade of nitric oxide synthase, or by beta-adrenoceptor antagonist. Administration of alpha-adrenergic blocker inhibited basal interdigestive gastric motility. Intraduodenal capsaicin had no effect on contractions in the Heidenhain pouch but inhibited those in vagally innervated antral pouch. Duodenal afferent fibres stimulated by capsaicin inhibit gastric contractions via a nitric oxide-independent extrinsic neural reflex.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Impaired novelty P3 potentials in multiple system atrophy--correlation with orthostatic hypotension.

Although neuropsychological tests demonstrate frontal lobe dysfunction in multiple system atrophy (MSA), assessment of frontal function using event-related brain potentials (ERPs) has not been sufficiently performed in MSA. The correlation between frontal lobe dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension (OH), which is known to cause frontal hypoperfusion, remains unclear. Our objectives were to assess frontal lobe dysfunction in MSA patients using ERPs and to elucidate the relevance of OH to changes in ERPs. Nine consecutive patients with MSA and nine age- and gender-matched healthy controls were compared by performance in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and somatosensory ERPs to target and novel stimuli, namely, parietal maximal P3 (target P3) and fronto-central P3 (novelty P3), respectively. The correlation between novelty P3 and OH was evaluated in the MSA group. The MSA group showed a poorer performance in categories achieved (CA), total errors (TE) and perseverative errors by Nelson's (PEN) method in the WCST compared with the control group (CA and PEN: p<0.01; TE: p<0.02). Novelty and target P3s in the MSA group showed significantly prolonged latency (novelty: p<0.05; target: p<0.01) and reduced amplitude (novelty: p<0.02; target: p<0.01) compared with the control group. There was a significant negative correlation between novelty P3 latency and a drop in systolic blood pressure (r=0.76; p<0.02). Abnormalities of novelty P3 in the MSA group might reflect frontal lobe dysfunction, namely failure of attentional set-shifting, that was identified by the WCST. OH may play a role in the development of frontal lobe dysfunction in MSA.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Introduction of antisense CD44S CDNA down-regulates expression of overall CD44 isoforms and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in highly metastatic colon carcinoma cells.

We created antisense CD44 transfectants using LS174T, a colon adenocarcinoma cell line and assessed the effects of overall CD44 down-regulation on colorectal tumor growth and metastasis. The expression of antisense CD44s (the standard form of CD44) cDNA markedly inhibited the overall expression of CD44 variants. In vitro studies showed a significantly reduced ability of the stable antisense transfectants (LS174TAS1 and LS174TAS2) to bind hyaluronate and osteopontin, ligands for CD44. These cells developed tumors more slowly than controls (parental LS174T and mock transfectants) when the cells were subcutaneously injected into SCID mice. However, in vitro proliferation assays demonstrated no significant difference between the antisense transfectants and the controls on a hyaluronate-coated surface, suggesting the participation of ligands other than hyaluronate in tumor growth in vivo. Intrasplenic injection of parental LS174T cells produced colonies in the liver in 10 of 11 mice, whereas mice injected with the antisense transfectants were completely free of metastasis. In peritoneal dissemination, the weight of nodules and amount of ascites were significantly reduced in LS174TAS1 and AS2 compared with the controls. In vitro adhesion assays between the transfectants or controls and human peritoneal mesothelial cells revealed that the binding of LS174T cells to mesothelial cells was partly mediated by CD44-hyaluronate interaction. These data suggest that CD44-hyaluronate interaction plays a crucial role in peritoneal dissemination in colorectal carcinoma. The results of our study demonstrate the possible application of antisense CD44s to the treatment of colorectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Allelic loss of the NF1 gene in anal malignant melanoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1.

A 64-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) developed a primary malignant melanoma of the anus. Genetic analysis of the resected tumor confirmed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the NF1 gene. Anorectal malignant melanoma in NF1 is extremely rare, and genetic studies of the NF1 gene in such patients have not been reported. The allelic loss detected in the present patient supports the previously raised idea that NF1 can function as a tumor suppressor gene in the development of malignant melanoma in patients with NF1.

Anus Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Laparascope-assisted versus conventional restorative proctocolectomy with rectal mucosectomy.

To assess the advantages of a laparoscope-assisted proctocolectomy with ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis compared with conventional procedures, we retrospectively analyzed the results of the two procedures as follows: Eleven patients including five patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and six with ulcerative colitis (UC) underwent a laparoscope-assisted proctocolectomy and hand-sewn ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis at our department from June 1997 to November 1999. This laparoscope-assisted colectomy (LAC) group was then compared with a group of 13 patients who had undergone conventional ileal pouch anal anastomosis using a standard laparotomy from 1986 to 1997. The median operative time of the LAC group was 8h 23min, which was 81 min longer than that of the standard colectomy (SC) group. The number of days during which eating was prohibited were similar in the two groups but the median postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LAC group (24.1 days). In the LAC group, the small incisions showed better cosmetic results and there was also a remarkable reduction in the degree of postoperative pain. In conclusion, a laparoscope-assisted proctocolectomy with ileal J-pouch anal anastomosis can be employed widely in patients with FAP and also in selected patients with UC.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed2001

Intraduodenal and intrajejunal administration of the herbal medicine, dai-kenchu-tou, stimulates small intestinal motility via cholinergic receptors in conscious dogs.

The aim of the present study was to study the effect and mechanism of action of intraduodenal and intrajejunal dai-kenchu-to, an herbal medicine clinically effective for uncomplicated postoperative adhesive intestinal obstruction, on upper gastrointestinal motility. Five mongrel dogs were equipped with four strain-gauge force transducers on the antrum, duodenum, and proximal and distal jejunum to measure contractile activity. Dai-kenchu-to (0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 g) was administered into the duodenal or proximal jejunal lumen. The effect of atropine, hexamethonium, phentolamine, propranolol, and ondansetron on intraduodenal and intrajejunal dai-kenchu-to-induced contractions was studied. Plasma motilin was measured by specific radioimmunoassay. Intraduodenal and intrajejunal dai-kenchu-to induced phasic contractions in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, respectively, and those contractions migrated distally. Phasic contractions induced by intraduodenal and intrajejunal dai-kenchu-to were inhibited by atropine and hexamethonium at all sites. Plasma motilin was not affected by dai-kenchu-to. Intraduodenal and intrajejunal dai-kenchu-to stimulates upper gastrointestinal motility at and distal to the administration sites through cholinergic receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Two cases of colonic adenomatous polyps accompanied by a migrated surgical suture.

A 56-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, with histories of left colectomy and appendectomy respectively, were admitted to our hospital. In both cases, colonoscopy showed a pedunculated colonic polyp in the ascending colon, and a silk suture became visible in the stalk during polypectomy. The histological diagnosis was adenoma. These two cases constitute the first report of colonic adenomatous polyps accompanied by suture migration.

Adenomatous Polyps↗
PubMed2001

Effect of glucagon, glicentin, glucagon-like peptide-1 and -2 on interdigestive gastroduodenal motility in dogs with a vagally denervated gastric pouch.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that inhibition of gastric motility and hypertrophy of the small intestinal mucosa were observed after ileo-jejunal transposition which induced hypersecretion of enteroglucagon. Our aim was to study the effect of four enteroglucagon-related peptides (glucagon, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, -2 and glicentin) on gastroduodenal motility and their mechanisms of action. METHODS: The effect of these four peptides on motilin-induced interdigestive contractions was studied in dogs with vagally denervated gastric pouches equipped with four strain gauge force transducers on the pouch, gastric body, antrum and duodenum. Whether or not nitric oxide synthase inhibitor or phentolamine and propranolol reverses the inhibitory effect of those peptides was also studied. RESULTS: Glucagon inhibited contractions in the pouch and stomach but had no effect on duodenal contractility. GLP-1 inhibited contractions at all sites. GLP-2 inhibited contractions in the pouch but did not affect motility in the neurally intact gastroduodenum. Glicentin had no effect on contractions at any site. Pretreatment with either a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor or phentolamine and propranolol reversed the inhibitory effect of glucagon, GLP-1 and GLP-2 on contractions in the pouch, but did not alter the inhibitory effect of glucagon and GLP-1 on motility in the neurally intact stomach and duodenum. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the effects of four peptides on gastroduodenal motility differ, and changes occur in the enteric neural modulation of motor activity after chronic surgical extrinsic denervation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Postgastrectomy polyneuropathy with thiamine deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Polyneuropathy has been reported after gastrectomy performed to treat various lesions. Although thiamine deficiency is a possible cause of this neuropathy, the pathogenesis still remains to be clarified. Seventeen patients with peripheral neuropathy with thiamine deficiency after gastrectomy are described. METHODS: Seventeen patients with polyneuropathy after gastrectomy accompanied by thiamine deficiency were selected. Patients were restricted to those with total or subtotal gastric resection to treat ulcer or neoplasm. Patients who had undergone operations to treat morbid obesity were excluded. RESULTS: Intervals between the operation and onset of neuropathy varied from 2 months to 39 years. Most patients did not seem malnourished. Serum concentrations of B vitamins other than thiamine were nearly normal. Symmetric motor-sensory polyneuropathy, predominantly involving the lower limbs, had progressed over intervals varying from 3 days to 8 years. Relative degrees of motor and sensory impairment also varied extensively. Some cases that progressed rapidly mimicked Guillain-Barré syndrome. Electrophysiological and pathological findings were those of axonal neuropathy. Substantial functional recovery from polyneuropathy was seen in most patients by 3 to 6 months after initiating thiamine supplementation. Motor recovery was better than sensory recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Various symptoms were seen in patients with postgastrectomy neuropathy. Thiamine deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of motor-sensory polyneuropathy after gastrectomy.

Activities of Daily Living↗