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Biomedical subjects

K Chikamori

Publications and source records attributed to K Chikamori.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Orchiectomy for tuberculous epididymitis: a report of two cases with intractable to antituberculosis treatment].

This paper describes two cases with tuberculous epididymitis. The first case was a 69-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of ulceration or right scrotum. Physical examination revealed a hard, rounded, a little bigger than egg-sized mass in the right scrotum. The second case was a 40-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of cough, fever and body weight loss. He was treated for pulmonary tuberculosis with isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin and pyrazinamide. Six months after admission, he complained of a painless swelling of the right scrotum. Physical examination revealed a hard, rounded, more than egg-sized mass in the right scrotum. Right orchiectomy was performed in these two cases, and they were cured.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Changes in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in Paramecium caudatum cells in culture as function of age.

SDH activity and its frequency distributions were determined cytophotometrically to investigate the change in respiratory oxidative energy metabolism in Paramecium caudatum (P. caudatum) cell populations during their growth in cell culture. Cells from 3 separate cultures were examined on day 2, 5 and 11 post-inoculation as measures of logarithmic, early and late stationary phases, respectively. SDH activity per individual cell is expressed as the increase in total absorbance (TA) at 590 nm of nitroblue tetrazolium (Nitro BT) formazans per min per cell area in a specimen (deltaTA/min/microm2) to exclude the influence of cell size on the data. On day 5, the mean SDH activity was higher, being approx 140% of that on day 2 and decreased significantly to only approx 11% at day 11. As the mean SDH activity rose, a certain portion of the cells demonstrated a wider range of activity than on day 2 leading to an increase in the width of the SDH activity-frequency distribution. Moreover, on day 11, approx 85% of cells shifted toward the lowest range of activity with further increase in width of the distribution as the mean activity declined. These findings suggest that the respiratory oxidative energy metabolism in P. caudatum cells rise while the cells change from logarithmic to early stationary phases and decays during late stationary phase with increase in its extent of variety within cell populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Possible contaminant origins of the red cosmetics decorating ancient burial sites in Japan.

Marker elements were estimated from the red cosmetics collected from different ancient burials and mine ruins in three separate districts of Japan. Element levels were displayed in reference to the relative amount to sulfur (RA/S), by which the cosmetics were divided into five types: I--a low Hg/S with a low Fe/S; II--both moderate Hg/S and Fe/S; III--a moderate Hg/S with a high Fe/S; III 2--a high Hg/S with a moderate Fe/S; IV--a high Hg/S with a high Fe/S. The cosmetics can be further characterized by referring to other contaminants such as Zn, Cu, and Mn. These combined analyses with contaminant metals were capable of characterizing the origins of the cosmetics; it is useful to compare them to each other. The cosmetics were identified as being due to several groups of contaminants from ancient mines in Japan, and also with this system analysis of the markers it is possible to identify them from neighboring countries.

Archaeology↗
PubMed2000

Effects of short-term pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Although the rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves both exercise capacity and quality of life, a standard protocol for COPD patients has not been established. To clarify whether physiologic and quality-of-life improvements can be achieved by an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program 5 days per week for 3 weeks, 18 patients with COPD were enrolled in a rehabilitation program. The physical exercise training regimen consisted of respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics and cycle ergometer exercise training. Pulmonary function tests, an incremental ergometer exercise test, a 6-min walking test, and a quality of life assessment by the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire were administered before and after the program. The peak VO2, an indicator of maximal exercise capacity, did not increase, although the 6-min walking distance, an indicator of functional exercise capacity, increased significantly after rehabilitation. There was a significant improvement in the quality of life in terms of dyspnea, fatigue, and emotional state. These findings suggest that even a 3-week program may be beneficial for COPD patients. Increases in functional exercise capacity, even without an increase in maximal exercise capacity, are helpful for reducing dyspnea and improving quality of life parameters in patients with COPD.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Fractionated administration of irinotecan and cisplatin for treatment of lung cancer: a phase I study.

A combination chemotherapy of irinotecan (CPT-11) and cisplatin (CDDP) has been reported to be active for lung cancer. In the previous trial, however, diarrhoea and leucopenia became the major obstacle for sufficient dose escalation of CPT-11 to improve the treatment outcome. We conducted a phase I study to investigate whether the fractionated administration of CDDP and CPT-11 at escalated dose was feasible and could improve the treatment outcome. Twenty-four previously untreated patients with unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or extensive disease of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were eligible. Both CDDP and CPT-11 were given on days 1 and 8, and repeated every 4 weeks. The dose of CDDP was fixed at 60 mg m(-2) and given by 1-h infusion before CPT-11 administration. The starting dose of CPT-11 was 40 mg m(-2), and the dose was escalated by an increase of 10 mg m(-2). The maximally tolerated dose of CPT-11 was determined as 60 mg m(-2) because grade 4 haematological or grade 3 or 4 non-haematological toxicities developed in six patients out of 11 patients evaluated. Diarrhoea became a dose-limiting toxicity. The objective response rates were 76% for NSCLC and 100% for SCLC. The recommended dose of CPT-11 and CDDP in a phase II study will be 50 mg m(-2) and 60 mg m(-2) respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in single Paramecium caudatum cells.

We measured in situ the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), one of the mitochondrial marker enzymes, in single Paramecium cells. SDH activity was detected with nitroblue tetrazolium (Nitro BT). Images of cells were captured every 30 sec at 590 nm, nearly the isosbestic wavelength of two reduction products of Nitro BT, by using a microphotometric system for image analysis. Activity was estimated by the slope of linear regression lines representing the relationship between total absorbance of the processed image and delta reaction time (real reaction time minus 30 sec). To investigate individual differences in Paramecium cell populations, SDH activity was measured in cells at various succinate concentrations. Paramecium SDH showed bimodal activity distribution patterns at three of four succinate concentrations tested. This result suggests that there are two groups of Paramecium populations with different SDH activity under control culture conditions. On the basis of the relationship between SDH activity and succinate concentration, mean Vmax and apparent Km values were estimated. A Km of 3.2 mM was found for Paramecium.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Phosphohydrolytic activity in Paramecium caudatum at neutral pH.

Phosphohydrolytic activity was cytochemically characterized in Paramecium caudatum, a ciliated protozoa, at neutral pH. We stained cells in the presence of several mononucleotides as substrates, namely adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP), adenosine 2'-monophosphate, guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) and beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GLP) using a lead capture method at 37 degrees C. Cells were also incubated in the presence of 5'-AMP with the inhibitor for alkaline phosphatase, tetramisole. In all cases, varying amounts of final reaction product, lead sulfide, was observed in Paramecium cytoplasm. Tetramisole did not have any effect on Paramecium 5'-AMP hydrolytic activity. The phosphohydrolytic activity was measured as the increase in total absorbance of "test minus control" reactions at 440 nm per unit time after 20 min of incubation using a microphotometric system for image analysis that has been developed by us. From the relationship between the concentrations of 5'-AMP and activity, an apparent K(m) value was estimated to be 0.20 mM. These results suggest that mononucleotides and phosphate monoesters are hydrolyzed by one or more enzymes with wide substrate specificity in P. caudatum. All the activity distribution patterns in Paramecium cultures, that were tested, were monomodal. The mean activity for 5'-AMP hydrolysis widely varied in these cultures. To investigate substrate affinity, distribution patterns and mean activity with 5'-AMP as substrate were compared with those in the presence of 2 other substrates, 5'-GMP and beta-GLP. Affinity of the enzyme(s) was similar for 5'-AMP and 5'-GMP and lower for beta-GLP.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical evaluation of benign asbestos pleurisy].

Seventeen cases of benign asbestos pleurisy were evaluated clinically. All cases were male and almost all cases were more than 60 years-old. Most cases presented with chief complaints of chest pain and dyspnea, but 2 cases had no complaints. Pleural effusion appeared predominantly in the right side. Six cases had 2 or 3 episodes of pleural effusion, and 1 case had 5. Ten cases had an occupational history of asbestos exposure in shipyards and 5 other cases had a history in building construction. Almost all cases had more than 30 years of exposure to asbestos and benign asbestos pleurisy appeared after more than 30 years from the first exposure to asbestos. Among the patients, 6 cases had diffuse pleural thickening and 2 cases had malignancies. Pleural fluid was bloody in 14 of 17 cases (82%) and all pleural fluid showed an exudate. Lymphocytes represented 70% and eosinophils 15% of the cellular population of the pleural fluid. Hyaluronic acid in pleural fluid in cases of benign asbestos pleurisy averaged 29.5 micrograms/ml, which was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Leukocytosis in peripheral blood and a high CRP value were uncommon in benign asbestos pleurisy.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Audiological findings of sensorineural deafness associated with a mutation in the mitochondrial DNA.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate audiologic features and the lesion site of sensorineural deafness with mitochondrial DNA mutation at position 3243. STUDY DESIGN: Case review. SETTING: The study was conducted at the Kochi Medical School. PATIENTS: A case of sensorineural deafness in a patient who had a mitochondrial DNA mutation was presented. The incidence of deafness and diabetes mellitus (DM) was very high in the patient's family, but she did not have DM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patient's mitochondrial DNA was examined. Furthermore, the pure-tone audiogram, the Bekesy audiogram, an auditory brain stem response, and the electrocochleogram were analyzed. RESULTS: The patient's mitochondrial DNA had a point mutation at codon 3243 (A-->G). The pure-tone audiogram showed moderate sensorineural deafness. An auditory brain stem response showed normal latencies. The electrocochleogram showed an enhanced negative summating potential. CONCLUSIONS: It was speculated that the lesion site of the auditory system was the inner ear. The possible sites in the inner ear were hair cells, the stria vascularis, and the endolymphatic sac.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Free thyroxine concentrations in serum measured by equilibrium dialysis in chronic renal failure.

The serum concentration of free thyroxine (FT4) is often low in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) with low serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3). We evaluated the serum FT4 concentration by using both an equilibrium dialysis RIA kit (D-FT4) and a labeled-antibody kit (M-FT4) in two different groups of CRF patients, undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD, n = 145) or not (non-HD, n = 30), and in a group of normal healthy subjects (n = 58). Thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies were not detected in any patient. Serum FT4 concentrations (mean +/- SD, pmol/L) by the D- and M-FT4 assays were, respectively, 21.5 +/- 4.6 and 16.6 +/- 2.0 in the healthy subjects, 17.8 +/- 4.3 and 13.9 +/- 3.6 in the non-HD patients, and 16.9 +/- 4.9 and 10.7 +/- 1.9 in the HD patients. By the D-FT4 assay, results for both CRF groups were significantly different from those for the healthy group (P <0.01), as were the results for each pair of groups by the M-FT4 assay (P <0.01). FT4 values were reported as being within the healthy reference range by D-FT4 in 73 of 113 HD subjects who had low T3 and low M-FT4 values. Serum FT4 concentrations measured by both assay kits showed a significant inverse correlation with the serum concentration of creatinine (P <0.01), but the serum concentrations of sex-hormone-binding globulin did not differ significantly among the three groups. Our results indicate that the low FT4 concentration measured by D-FT4 in patients with CRF, particularly those on HD, probably reflects the actual, mild nonthyroidal illness of renal failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer].

Here we review the current treatments for small-cell lung cancer. Cisplatin and etoposide, combined with concurrent or alternating thoracic irradiation, have been considered to be the standard therapy for patients with limited disease. Dose-intensive weekly chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation have failed to increase survival in patients with extensive disease. Promising new drugs such as irinotecan and taxol may improve survival in patients with extensive disease.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1995

[The relationship between blood sugar control and vascular complications in elderly diabetic patients--investigative study in 17 hospitals of Kochi Prefecture. Kochi Working Group on Diabetes Mellitus].

The aim of this study was to clarify whether the control state of fasting blood sugar can influence the occurrence of diabetic microangiopathy and macroangiopathy even in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. In Kochi Prefecture 18 internal physicians participated in evaluating clinical courses of 898 patients, consisting of 466 males and 432 females, for an average of 69 months. Elderly cases aged 65 years or more old (group 1) consisted of patients who were aged 71.8 +/- 5.2 years old (M +/- SD). The average age of 481 adult cases under 65 years of age (group II) was 54.4 +/- 8.4 years old. Between the good and poor control groups, there was no difference in terms of blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and serum lipids. Arteriosclerotic diseases such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and arteriosclerosis obliterans appeared about as frequently in both the good and the poor control groups, while microangiopathies such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy were significantly more frequent in the poor control group compared to the good control group. The same tendency concerning these complications was seen in group II. Concerning treatment, diet treatment without drug treatment was significantly more frequent in the good control group compared to the poor control group, while hypoglycemic agents and subcutaneous insulin injection were used more often in the poor control group, the more severe state of diabetes mellitus in the latter group. Concerning the main reasons for good control, successful diet treatment was cited most often, followed by regular intake of medications. On the other hand disturbed diet treatment was the most frequent reason for poor control, indicating the strategic importance of diet treatment. Arteriosclerotic diseases were found more often in group I than group II, while the frequency of microangiopathies was similar. Concerning sexes, male patients tended to suffer more often from arteriosclerotic diseases than female patients, but the frequency of microangiopathy was similar. From the above findings it was concluded that poor control of fasting blood sugar level was related to microangiopathies in both non-elderly adult and elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Dependence on exercise intensity of changes in electrolyte secretion from the skin sampled by a simple method.

Secreta from the palm and forearm was sampled for 1-min periods by a new technique, using a glass cylinder. Subjects exercised for 10-min periods at successive intensities of 40%, 50% and 65% VO2max with a leg ergometer operated in the supine position. Changes in the concentrations (values) of Na+, K+ and Cl- in their secreta during exercise were investigated. Significant positive correlations were found between the values of any two electrolytes in samples from the palm or the forearm, but the correlations between values for any one of the three electrolytes from the two sites were not significant. Values for concentrations of the electrolytes were significantly higher in samples from the palm than in those from the forearm at rest, 10 min after the beginning of exercise and at the end of exercise. No significant correlation was found between values for electrolytes in samples from the palm and the exercise intensity, but values for Na+ in samples from the forearm increased stepwise with increase in exercise intensity, and similar tendencies were observed for values of K+ and Cl-. The values for the three electrolytes in samples from the forearm, but not the palm, were significantly correlated with values for blood lactate, the percentage of VO2max and the heart rate. These results suggest that the present technique is suitable for successive samplings of secreta from the forearm, and that values for the electrolytes in samples are useful indices of exercise intensity.

Chlorides↗
PubMed1988

Asymptomatic hyperbromidaemia detected as pseudohyperchloridaemia measured with an ion selective electrode meter.

Six patients were found to have increased serum chloride concentrations when these concentrations were determined with an ion-selective electrode, but not when determined by continuous flow mercuric thiocyanate colorimetry or amperometric-coulometric titration. Their serum bromide levels of 1.8-8.0 mmol/l were much higher than those of 0.07-0.13 mmol/l in normal controls. The urinary bromide excretion, measured in two of these patients, was higher than that in normal subjects. No common symptoms or abnormalities in laboratory findings except hyperbromidaemia were found in these patients, who claimed not to have taken any drugs containing bromide. For determination of the incidence of subclinical hyperbromidaemia, the serum bromide concentrations were measured in sera of 1,323 outpatients sent to Tokushima University Hospital for routine measurements of blood chemistry over a one-month period. Five samples showed abnormally high bromide levels. It is concluded that subclinical hyperbromidaemia is not as rare as generally thought, though the aetiology of this state is unknown. Chloride determination with an ion-selective electrode can be used to screen for hyperbromidaemia, since increased levels of bromide ion result in apparently high chloride values.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Topographic estimations by component spectroanalysis of two formazans of nitroblue tetrazolium in tissue sections.

A component-spectroanalysis technique was used to study the multicolor properties of histochemically stained tissue sections. We developed a method that makes it possible to obtain separately both the spectral patterns and spatial distributions of different color components in tissue sections. To illustrate the application of this technique, we examined the extinction spectrum of reduced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), which is used for the detection of dehydrogenase activity. Upon the reduction of NBT, mono- and diformazans are formed, and these exhibit over-lapping extinction spectra. When succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in rat liver lobules was examined using NBT, monoformazan was found to be present at higher concentrations than diformazan and to have a uniform distribution, whereas the concentration of diformazan increased with a steep gradient between the center and periphery of lobules. In rat skeletal muscle fibers, diformazan was present at higher concentrations than monoformazan. The level of SDH activity was topographically represented by the hydrogen concentration calculated from the concentrations of the two formazans. This method is effective for separating multiple components such as mono- and diformazans in histochemical reactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

In vivo and in vitro effects of angiotensin II on the release of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity.

The effect of angiotensin II (A II) on the release of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) in rats was studied in vivo and in vitro. Intravenous injection of 1 microgram/100 g body weight of A II resulted in significant increase in the plasma beta-END-LI level after 10 and 20 min. Intraventricular injection of 1 ng/100 g body weight of A II also resulted in significant increase in the plasma beta-END-LI level after 10 min. A II at concentrations of 10(-12) M-10(-10) caused dose-dependent stimulation of beta-END-LI release from dispersed cells of rat anterior pituitary. On gel chromatography, the beta-END-LI released by incubation of the cells with 10(-10) M A II separated into two components which eluted in the same positions as human beta-lipotropin and human beta-endorphin, respectively. The ratio of beta-LPH to beta-END in these fractions was 5:1 on a molar basis. A II did not stimulate beta-END-LI release in Ca++-free-medium. [Sar1, Ala8]-A II at concentrations of 10(-9) M - 10(-7) M did not stimulate beta-END-LI release from the cells. Addition of [Sar1, Ala8]-A II to the incubation medium inhibited A II-induced beta-END-LI release from the cells. These results indicate that A II acts, at least in part, directly on anterior pituitary cells to stimulate beta-END-LI release and that calcium ion is involved in the mechanism of this effect.

Angiotensin II↗