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Biomedical subjects

K Baba

Publications and source records attributed to K Baba.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Effects of food intake, dietary habits and life style on health status as determined by clinical blood tests of adult men].

A survey of the frequency of various kinds of foods, dietary habits, life style, and health status was performed on 2,049 men aged from 40 to 59 living in an urban area who were participants in a "human dock" medical checkup. The relationships between these factors and health status were studied in order to identify a particular life style associated with good health status. The instrument utilized in this survey was a special form of a structured questionnaire. The results are summarized below. 1. The frequency of various kinds of foods were correlated with the kind of breakfast eaten, dietary habits, physical exercise habits, daily physical activity, smoking, and occupation. The strongest correlation to frequency of various kinds of foods was found to be with the kind of breakfast eaten and dietary habits. 2. Dietary habits were also correlated to various aspects of life style: smoking, drinking, the frequency of various kinds of foods, kind of breakfast eaten, daily physical activity, sleeping hours, habits related to physical exercise, and the frequency of meals eaten away from home. Dietary habits correlated most closely with the frequency of various kinds of foods and daily physical activity. The frequency of various kinds of food and dietary habits were found to correlate with various aspects of life style, and those subjects with good overall life styles were also found to have desirable dietary life styles. The correlation of desirable dietary habits, food intake and a suitable life style with good health status was confirmed by the results of clinical blood tests used as an index of health status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed1992

[A case of pulmonary blastoma].

A 45-year-old male with pulmonary blastoma was described. The patient suffered from headache and gait disturbance, and was diagnosed metastatic brain tumor. The histopathology of the removed tumor indicated metastasis from pulmonary blastoma. The pulmonary tumor, which had been detected on the chest x-ray film but misdiagnosed tuberculous lesion, was subsequently diagnosed pulmonary blastoma by TBLB. The patient underwent left upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection, but died 12 months after the operation. To our knowledge, only 54 cases with pulmonary blastoma have hitherto been reported in the Japanese literature.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Antibody response to the immediate early protein of cytomegalovirus in renal transplant recipients.

The antibody response to the immediate early protein (IEP) of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was examined in seven renal transplant recipients during CMV reactivation and associated clinical abnormalities. Three cases with antibody increase to the IEP in the week after CMV isolation had no CMV-induced disease. The four patients without antibody increase exhibited laboratory abnormalities and three of them had renal dysfunction. In this small number of patients, the antibody response to the IEP in the week after isolation of CMV was associated with absence of abnormal clinical laboratory findings including renal function, and the prognosis was good for graft function in renal transplant recipients with CMV reactivation.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1991

Similarity of the tdh gene-bearing plasmids of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The gene encoding a hemolysin similar to the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was previously cloned from a plasmid of Vibrio cholerae non-O1. The gene (designated as NAG-tdh) was subcloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined and compared with reported sequences of the four tdh gene copies encoding TDH, of which three were cloned from the chromosome and one was cloned from a plasmid of V. parahaemolyticus. In the coding region, the NAG-tdh gene had 100% homology with the plasmid-borne tdh gene (tdh4) whereas the NAG-tdh gene was 96.7-98.6% homologous to the three chromosomal tdh genes. The sequences of the NAG-tdh and tdh4 genes were nearly identical in the further upstream and downstream regions. The entire plasmids carrying the two tdh genes were found to be highly homologous when compared by restriction endonuclease and Southern blot analyses. The results suggest that the tdh gene has been transferred between V. cholerae non-O1 and V. parahaemolyticus by a plasmid, directly or indirectly, and that the nucleotide sequences of the tdh gene-bearing plasmids have undergone minor base changes in the respective genetic backgrounds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of the tdh gene cloned from a tdh gene- and trh gene-positive strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

A variant of the gene (tdh) encoding thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) was cloned from the chromosome of Vibrio parahaemolyticus AQ3860, which gave positive results in the hybridization tests with the tdh gene probe and the trh (tdh-related hemolysin) gene probe and showed a low level of reaction in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for TDH. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned gene (tdh5) provided no evidence that tdh5 is evolutionally closer to the trh gene than the other tdh genes. The tdh5 gene was flanked by 40 base-pair sequences constituting perfect inverted repeats, which may suggest association of the tdh5 gene with insertion sequence-like structure. These results suggest that the tdh5 gene and the trh gene were not originally produced by gene duplication in AQ3860 but rather that one of the two genes moved into AQ3860 from an external source.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Seroepidemiological study of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the rural community in Kenya--changing pattern of transmission model of HBV in Kenya].

The seroepidemiological study of HBV infection has been done against 9044 inhabitants in order to define a predominant transmission mode and a target population of HBV infection in Kenya. Results are as follows: 1) A total of 379 HBV carriers were identified. The prevalence of HBV carrier ranged from 4 to 9% in adults and 1 to 2% in children under 5 years of age. 2) The prevalences of HBs antigen and anti-HBc antibody in family members of carriers were 2 or 3 times higher than the other population. 3) 60 to 90% of the carrier children under 10 years old was positive for anti-HBe and 10 to 15% of the adult carrier and the pregnant carrier were found to be positive for e antigen. 4) Yearly infection ratio by horizontal route of transmission in the carrier family (1.4%) was 4 times higher than the control groups (0.3%). 5) 49% of the 96 carrier children was born to the carrier mother and in 40% the parent was negative for HBs antigen. 6) E antigen positive carrier mothers were highly infectious against their children than anti-HBe positive carrier mothers and fathers. These results suggest that HBV infection will happen more frequently within the family members of carriers either by horizontal and vertical infection. Marked reduction of carrier rate and infectivity observed in the children under 5 years of age infers that the improved way of mass immunization using disposable needles during infancy will deplete the incidence of horizontal mode of infection and that in the future mother to baby transmission appears to be the main route of HBV infection as in other developed countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Evidence for insertion sequence-mediated spread of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene among Vibrio species.

The tdh gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus which encodes the thermostable direct hemolysin has been found in some strains of other Vibrio species. Analysis of seven tdh genes cloned from V. parahaemolyticus, Vibrio mimicus, and non-O1 Vibrio cholerae revealed that all tdh genes were flanked by insertion sequence-like elements (collectively named ISVs) or related sequences derived from genetic rearrangement of ISVs. The ISVs possessed 18-bp terminal inverted repeats highly homologous to those of IS903 (2- to 4-bp mismatch) and were 881 to 1,058 bp long with less than 33.6% sequence divergence. These features and nucleotide sequence similarities among ISVs and IS903 (overall homologies between ISVs and IS903, ca. 50%) strongly suggest that they were derived from a common ancestral sequence. A family of ISVs were widely distributed in Vibrio species, often regardless of the possession of the tdh genes, and one to several copies of the ISVs per organism were detected. A strain of V. mimicus possessed two copies of the ISVs flanking the tdh gene and three copies unrelated to the tdh gene. However, the transposition activity of the ISVs could not be demonstrated, probably because they had suffered from base changes and insertions and deletions within the transposase gene. The possible mode of ISV-mediated spread of the tdh gene is discussed from an evolutionary standpoint.

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed1991

Antibacterial activity of two chalcones, xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin, isolated from the root of Angelica keiskei KOIDZUMI.

Two chalcones, xanthoangelol (I) and 4-hydroxyderricin (II), isolated from the root of Angelica keiskei KOIDZUMI (Umbelliferae) showed antibacterial activity against gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. The activity of I on Micrococcus luteus IFO-12708 (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), 0.76 microgram/ml) was the same potency as that of gentamicin, which is used as a standard. Although the activity of both chalcones on plant-pathogenic bacteria was lower than that of streptomycin sulfate, used as a positive control, they also exhibited growth-inhibitory effects. The antibacterial activity of I isolated from Angelica keiskei KOIDZUMI is being reported here for the first time. The growth-inhibitory effect of II on plant-pathogenic bacteria is also reported for the first time in this paper.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Inhibitory effects of 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene and 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl, the constituents of Cassia garrettiana on antigen-induced histamine release in vitro.

3,3',4,5'-Tetrahydroxystilbene (I) and 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl (II), isolated from the heartwood of Cassia garrettiana Craib (Leguminosae), showed inhibitory effects on antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro. The inhibitory effect of I (IC50 = 30.2 microM) was much stronger than that of II (greater than 100 microM). Compound II, as well as I (IC50 = 7.3 microM) reported previously, also inhibited the histamine release from human peripheral basophils induced by anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) in vitro, and its IC50-value was 68.0 microM. These results suggest that the trans-olefin structure in the molecule may be necessary for I to have an inhibitory effect on histamine release. Considering that disodium cromoglycate did not show any significant inhibitory effect on anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils, the strong inhibitory effects of I in both tests are of considerable interest.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The inhibitory effect of 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene, a constituent of Cassia garrettiana, on anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils in vitro.

3,3',4,5'-Tetrahydroxystilbene (I), a constituent of Cassia garrettiana, strongly inhibited the anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils in vitro at concentrations of 3 to 30 microM. Considering that disodium cromoglycate showed no significant inhibitory activity in this assay method, the strong effect of I should be emphasized.

Basophils↗
PubMed1991

Ruptured chordae tendineae in acromegaly. An autopsy case.

A 57-year-old woman with acromegaly associated with mitral chordal rupture is reported. She was noted to have abnormal development in the size of her hands and feet in childhood. She occasionally suffered from shortness of breath on exertion and nocturnal dyspnea for several years, and was diagnosed and treated as having congestive heart failure due to valvular heart disease. On admission to our hospital, chordal rupture was suspected on the basis of M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography. Seven years after discharge, she died of congestive heart failure. On autopsy, the heart weight and ventricular wall thickness were increased. Rupture of the posterior chordae was confirmed, but evidence of an old myocardial infarction was not found. There was severe interstitial fibrosis in the left ventricular wall. A possible etiology of the chordal rupture in this case was thought to be the excessive stretching caused by the disproportional visceromegaly of the heart.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1991

[Influences of balancing-side interference on jaw function].

The influences of experimental balancing-side interference on the jaw function were investigated on 6 subjects. A specially designed onlay was fabricated for the lower second molar, which acted as an artificial balancing-side interference in the lateral mandibular position. The subjects were asked to do maximum clenching, lateral gliding and gum chewing with and without the device. Electromyographic activity of the masseter and the anterior and posterior temporal muscles were measured and the related mandibular movement was simultaneously recorded during these tasks. Introduction of the experimental interference caused alteration in the muscle activity as follows: 1. When the subjects exerted maximum clenching efforts in the lateral mandibular position, the ratio of the temporal muscle activity on the working-side to the balancing-side decreased, while that of the masseter muscle remained unchanged. 2. There was a tendency for the activity in the working-side posterior temporal muscle to increase during gliding from intercuspation. The ratio of the temporal muscle activity on the working-side to the balancing-side decreased during gliding into intercuspation. 3. Prolongation of the occlusal phase associated with the increase of the muscle activity was observed during gum chewing on the side opposite to the interference. It was suggested that the balancing-side interference might provoke a specific muscle activity in the temporal muscles during parafunctional clenching or grinding.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effect of the adrenal inhibitor trilostane on the morphology of the adrenocortical cells of Dahl salt-sensitive and Dahl salt-resistant rats.

The effects of trilostane on the adrenal cortex of Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats were investigated morphometrically, histochemically, ultrastructurally and biochemically. The statistical analysis indicated that trilostane induced a significant increase in the adrenal weight and the surface area of cells and nuclei in the zona fasciculata (ZF) of the adrenal cortex of DS and DR rats (P less than O.OI). DS rats treated with trilostane revealed marked accumulation of large amounts of lipid droplets and a decrease in the activity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) in the ZF. Ultrastructurally, the mitochondria of the ZF in DS rats treated with trilostane revealed swelling of matrix with a loss of cristae and occasional interruption of the membranes of mitochondria. Some of them had a continuity with lipid vacuoles or SER, presenting a characteristic 'feather'-like appearance. Other characteristic findings in DS rats treated with trilostane were a marked villous proliferation of plasma membranes with numerous dense bodies, occasional coated pits, and pinocytic vesicles in the outer portion of the ZF. In DS and DR rats the plasma level of ACTH increased, and corticosterone decreased significantly (P less than O.OI) after treatment with trilostane. These morphological alterations were considered to be an expression of the inhibitory effects of trilostane on the adrenal steroidogenesis in DS and DR rats, more especially in DS rats. Simultaneously there were confirmed morphological alterations in the cells of the ZF, reflecting the feedback stimulation of endogenous ACTH. The cells of the ZF of DS rats were more responsive to suppression by trilostane than those of DR rats.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1991

[Expression of ras oncogene p21 in relation to prognostic factors of human breast cancer].

For the purpose of demonstrating the relationship between the expression of ras oncogene p21 protein and clinico-pathological characteristics which reflected the prognosis, 253 women with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy were analyzed. Ras p21 was detected in 133 (52.6%). In histological types, scirrhous carcinomas were more often ras p21-positive, and papillo-tubular carcinoma were usually negative. And histological grade was significantly correlated with ras p21. The degrees of invasion to fat tissues and infiltration into lymphatic vessels were also significantly correlated with ras p21. Tumors with lymph node metastases expressed higher levels of ras p21 than nonmetastasizing tumors in smaller tumors, especially in papillo-tubular carcinomas. And patients with elevated ras expression tended to have a poor prognosis. These results suggested that an elevated ras expression may play an important role in the development of aggressive tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[Three infants with severe myocardial ischemia diagnosed by echocardiography: investigation of the cause of transient myocardial dysfunction].

We examined 3 infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension. They also showed signs of heart failure. The signs of cardiac dysfunction noted in the acute phase were resolved after treatment with catecholamines and vasodilators. Contrary to the general concept that transient myocardial dysfunction is secondarily caused by persistent pulmonary hypertension, left myocardial dysfunction accompanied pulmonary hypertension and was followed by right myocardial dysfunction. High blood concentration of thromboxane B2 was reported in 2 neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension. We considered thromboxane A2 as a possible cause of coronary spasm, resulting in myocardial ischemia.

Catecholamines↗