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Biomedical subjects

J Akai

Publications and source records attributed to J Akai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Impaired autonomic nervous system in alcoholics assessed by heart rate variation.

The suppression of heart rate variation reflects cardiac autonomic nervous dysfunction and is known to be associated with a poor prognosis or sudden death in diabetic patients. We investigated consecutive changes in the heart rate variation in 51 alcoholics using the coefficient of variation of R-R interval (CVRR). To correct for age effects, a ratio of CVRR to the standard predicted value (CVP) was calculated. On the whole, CVRR/CVP was suppressed on admission and on the 7th day of abstinence and increased on the 30th day. However, alcoholics could be divided into two groups by their CVRR/CVP on the 30th day: one group with transient autonomic dysfunction whose CVRR/CVP was more than 0.8 (n = 32), and the other group with persistent autonomic dysfunction whose CVRR/CVP was less than 0.8 (n = 19). Withdrawal hypertension occurred more frequently (63% vs. 19%) and mean systolic pressure (159 +/- 24 mmHg vs. 138 +/- 17 mmHg) was higher in the latter group than in the former, suggesting that persistent autonomic damage might, at least in part, contribute to withdrawal hypertension. To investigate further the relationship between the persistent autonomic damage and other complications, the CVRR/CVP on the 30th day of abstinence was analyzed in an additional 85 alcoholics (total n = 136). Persistent suppression of the CVRR/CVP was more frequently found in alcoholics with leg paresthesia (64%, n = 22), the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (73%, n = 11), or diabetes mellitus (69%, n = 68), than in alcoholics without these complications (31%, n = 35).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Anatomo-pathological studies on alcoholic dementia: a review and up to date research.

Neuropathological studies of cerebral disorders in alcoholics which started by means of macroscopic observation have issued many important articles until now. However, we can not yet stretch out the essential core of alcoholic dementia. Plenty of animal experiments also suggest some possibility fo neurotoxicity by ethanol but do not offer a definitive resolution. Moreover, there is the strict criticism concerning neuropathological evidence on alcoholic dementia. Nevertheless, we know that there are some alcoholics who have no evidence of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, but manifest persistent cerebral impairment after long-term heavy drinking. Under such circumstances it might be necessary to consider and study cerebral disorders in alcoholics, particularly relating to subcortical lesions. Pathomorphological investigations in our laboratory have put forward some significant findings.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1989

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Japan: an epidemiological study done in a select prefecture between 1976 and 1986.

An epidemiological study was performed with respect to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a designated area in Japan. The subjects were observed in a small rural prefecture where the population generally remains within a limited radius throughout their lives. The patients' life-styles in each area were investigated in detail. Nine cases appeared in 11 years; 6 were definitive and 3 probable. They were all of the subacute type; there were no noteworthy sexual differences, age of onset, course and/or past histories. Three of the nine cases came from two families; the relationship between familial and isolated cases was examined. Revealed facts and time-space clustering were investigated statistically, but no indication of natural transmission was observable.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Consecutive changes of R-R interval variation on ECG after abstinence in male alcoholics].

Heart rate variation were studied in 37 male alcoholics (age: 46.0 +/- 7.4 years old, duration of habitual drinking: 23 +/- 8 years.) who were admitted in Kurihama National Hospital within 48 hours of last drinking. The coefficient of variation (CV value = (standard deviation/mean R-R interval) X 100) of 100 successive R-R intervals in ECG during supine resting position was measured consecutively on admission, 7th, and 30th hospital day. The CV values on admission (2.50 +/- 0.81) and on 7th day (2.60 +/- 0.87) were significantly lower than those on 30th day (3.41 +/- 1.06, p less than 0.001). In 10 alcoholics, CV values were also measured on 60th day (3.32 +/- 1.18), which were not significantly different from that on 30th day (3.17 +/- 1.18). The ratio of CV to standard prediction value (CV/(-0.066 X age + 6.480)) were 0.67 +/- 0.24, 0.68 +/- 0.21 and 0.90 +/- 0.28 on admission, 7th and 30th day, respectively. The ratio on admission and on 7th day were significantly lower than those on 30th day (p less than 0.001). These findings are suggesting that the disturbance of heart rate variation in alcoholics is reflecting the deterioration of autonomic nervous system on alcohol withdrawal stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Neuropathological study of the nucleus basalis of meynert in alcoholic dementia.

Intellectual impairment and mental disorders occurring in association with long periods of alcohol abuse are often irreversible; those persons who have difficulty leading normal daily lives because of such disorders are considered to have alcoholic dementia. We investigated this condition from the standpoint of pathomorphology. The subjects were nine autopsy cases of alcoholic dementia; three alcoholic autopsy cases of about the same age level but without dementia were also studied as a control group. In these two groups, the nucleus basalis of Meynert in the substantia innominata was selected as fixed site and nerve cells were counted; strict anatomical measurements were performed on this fixed site, and every effort was made to minimized artifacts in each case. The nucleoli of the nerve cells at this site were calculated in a fixed area on the basis of a fixed magnification; this was repeated in serial sections, and the number of nerve cells on a fixed volume was thus obtained. The "t" distribution test within the two groups was investigated; a probability value of less than 0.05 was obtained and the null hypothesis abandoned. Mean values were found to be different. The results obtained were compared with those found in literature, and important findings concerning lesions in alcoholic dementia were noted.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1987

[Dementia and disturbance of consciousness in thalamic degeneration].

A 53-year-old male with thalamic degeneration is presented. He had double vision, cerebellar signs, and pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts signs in addition to hypersomnia, decrease in spontaneity and attention, and impairment of memory as psychic symptoms. These signs and symptoms were progressive, and he subsequently developed akinetic mutism and died of pneumonia 17 months after the onset of the disease. His clinical diagnosis was considered as Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome due to progressive dementia, cerebellar signs and the other signs mentioned above. The postmortem pathological investigations, however, revealed thalamic degeneration. The pathological observations showed marked loss of nerve cells and glial proliferation in the medial and anterior nuclei of thalamus. The same pathological changes were more or less demonstrated in the pulvinar, the periaqueductal gray matter of midbrain, inferior olivary nucleus, the medial parts of globus pallidus, the substantia nigra and the dentate nucleus. In the early stage of the clinical course, it was difficult to know whether the main symptoms were caused by dementia or by the disturbance of consciousness. Retrospective considerations, however, showed that dementia had appeared at first, and subsequently the disturbance of consciousness had joined. As the result, it seems that they finally caused akinetic mutism. It is known as thalamic dementia that in the cerebrovascular disease the lesions in the medial and anterior parts of bilateral non-specific thalamic nuclei cause dementia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1986

Three-dimensional measurement of the occlusal surfaces of lower first molars of Australian aboriginals.

The occlusal surfaces of lower first molars of Australian Aboriginals were measured in three dimensions with the aid of Moiré contourography. Molar cuspal heights in this population were higher than in Japanese (Mongoloid) but lower than in Dutch (Caucasoid) populations. Intercuspal distances were considerably larger than those in the two other populations. Populational differences in occlusal features may influence both craniofacial structures and jaw movements in the three populations. Low correlations between the cuspal heights and the intercuspal distances in the other two populations were also found in this population, indicating that human molar cuspal height is independent of the transverse size of the crown. Mean values for the height of the three principal cusps in lower first molars were less than those in upper ones. However, the height of the hypoconid, which was the highest in the lower molar cusps, showed almost the same mean value as the height of the upper three principal cusps, indicating that the height of the main functional cusp, in both upper and lower first molars, was almost the same.

Asian People↗
PubMed1985

Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Japan. Three cases in a family with white matter involvement.

Three cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease occurring in one family have been clinicopathologically examined. Although the age at onset, duration, and age at death differed for each case, pathological findings, including diffuse neuronal loss, astrocytosis, spongiform changes and patchy and/or diffuse white matter involvement were similar. Life histories and inheritance patterns of the present 3 cases and 2 other families previously reported in Japan are compared with the general findings for familial cases in western countries.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

The inorganic content of pleromin in tooth plates of the living holocephalan, Chimaera phantasma, consists of a crystalline calcium phosphate known as beta-Ca3(PO4)2 (whitlockite).

The tooth plates in the living Holocephalan, Chimaera phantasma were studied by various techniques. They consisted of osteodentin and hypermineralized pleromin (kosmin). The degree of mineralization on the latter was as much as in the enameloid of Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes. Scanning electron microscope observation indicated that the pleromin consisted of large and granular crystals. X-ray powder diffractometry, electron microprobe analysis and analytical electron microscopy revealed that the inorganic constituent of pleromin included, as an essential element, a beta-Ca3(PO4)2 (whitlockite) structure containing a small amount of Mg.

Animals↗