Biomedical subjects

K Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Hashimoto.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Pharmacological studies of the effect of Dai-kenchu-to on spontaneous contraction of isolated rabbit jejunum.

We studied the effects of Dai-kenchu to on the spontaneous contraction in isolated rabbit jejunum. Dai-kenchu-to (10(-3) g/ml) increased jejunal contraction, such as phasic like contraction and contractile amplitude. Zanthoxyli Fructus (2x10(-4) g/ml) exhibited an action identical to that of Dai-kenchu-to. While Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma (5x10(-4) g/ml) continuously decreased the amplitude of contraction. Ginseng Radix (3x10(-4) g/ml) and Saccharum Granorum (8x10(-3) g/ml) had no effect on spontaneous contraction. Dai kenchu-to and Zanthoxyli Fructus reversed the decrease of contraction produced by atropine. However, phasic like contraction induced in the absence of atropine was antagonized by atropine. Dai-kenchu-to and Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma further decreased spontaneous contraction in the presence of tetrodotoxin. It was clarified that Dai-kenchu-to possesses gastroprokinetic effect, and Zanthoxyli Fructus mainly contributed to this effect. It was suggested that the cholinergic and non cholinergic nervous systems were involved in increasing intestinal motility. It was also suggested that Dai-kenchu-to acted on multiple points of the intestine, and actions at these points might intensify to improve ileus.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and clinical profiles of periventricular leukomalacia.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 70 children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), examined between 1 year 2 months and 8 years of age (mean: 2 years 4 months of age), were analysed. Neurological assessments were made between 1 year 3 months and 15 years (mean: 4 years 9 months). The possible correlations between MRI findings and clinical profiles of PVL were investigated using three parameters of the MRI findings. The grade of ventriculomegaly correlated well with the severity of cerebral palsy (CP) but not with the severity of mental impairment. The grade of reduction of periventricular white matter correlated well with the severity of CP and mental impairment, and is the most reliable parameter for neurological prognosis. The degree of periventricular hyperintensity on T2-weighted images did not correlate well with severity of CP, but correlated to some degree with mental impairment. There was a significantly lower degree of periventricular hyperintensity in children at less than 28 weeks of gestation than at 28 or more weeks of gestation, but no significant difference in other parameters. The periventricular hyperintensity should be evaluated in view of the gestational age.

Cerebral Ventricles↗

PubMed1999

Additive triple DMARD combination therapy of a low dose of sulfhydryl compounds, sulfasalazine and methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical trial.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of additive triple disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) combination therapy of a low dose of sulfhydryl compounds ¿D-penicillamine, bucillamine or tiopronin¿, sulfasalazine (SSZ) and methotrexate (MTX) as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we studied a total of 33 Japanese RA patients (6 males, 27 females). At 1 or 2 months after simultaneous administration of the 3 above-mentioned DMARDs was begun, significant improvements were seen in markers of joint inflammation, i.e., erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in sera. At 6 months, clinical improvement judged by the physicians' overall assessment of joint symptoms and laboratory data was observed in 29 (88%) of the 33 RA patients. No marked effect was observed in the other 4 (12%) patients, however. We observed no significant adverse reaction to this therapy. This suggests that additive triple DMARD combination therapy of a low dose of sulfhydryl compounds, SSZ and MTX could be a useful drug therapy for the treatment of RA patients, even those who are refractory.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Colonic ulceration caused by administration of loxoprofen sodium.

A 54-year-old female with chronic headache was admitted to our hospital because of hematochezia. She had routinely taken loxoprofen sodium because of severe headache. Emergent colonoscopic examination revealed ulceration of the cecum. After administration of loxoprofen sodium was discontinued and administration of sulfasalazine was initiated, her intestinal bleeding subsided. Two months after discontinuation of loxoprofen sodium, the colonoscopic examination revealed scar formation at the site of cecal ulceration. In this case, it was conceivable that the administration of loxoprofen sodium might have induced colonic ulceration.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1999

The activation of the tissue plasminogen activator-plasmin system induced in the mouse hippocampus after injection of trimethyltin: possible proteolysis of highly polysialylated NCAM.

Trimethyltin (TMT) is a neurotoxicant that causes the death of granule cells and degrades highly polysialylated NCAM (PSA-NCAM) in the dentate gyrus. To investigate the role of the tPA-plasmin system in the degradation of PSA-NCAM, we injected trimethyltin (TMT) into mice. As a result, tPA activity was significantly increased in CA1-CA4 and the dentate gyrus after TMT injection. These results suggest that up-regulated tPA may contribute to the degradation of PSA-NCAM.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Development of X-ray TV M-mode and reconstructed ultrasound M-mode methods for investigating tongue movement during swallowing in humans.

There were two purposes of this study. The first purpose was to introduce the "X-ray TV M-mode waveform" which is reconstructed from sequential X-ray TV images and the "reconstructed ultrasound M-mode waveform" which is delivered from ultrasound B-mode images. The second purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of these two types of waveforms in the investigation of tongue movement during swallowing. The instrument system employed in this study consisted of ultrasound and X-ray TV synchronized by a time marker. After the X-ray images and ultrasound B-mode images were recorded on an optical disk, X-ray TV M-mode waveform and ultrasound M-mode waveform were reconstructed using an MC 68030/OS-9 computer. No significant differences in quality of images were observed between the X-ray TV M-mode waveform and the reconstructed ultrasound M-mode waveform. Therefore, both waveforms of the X-ray TV M-mode and the reconstructed ultrasound M-mode are equally useful in measuring tongue movement.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Mechanical and histological investigations on pressureless sintered SiC dental implants.

The effect of sinterability manufacturing conditions, such as Si/C ratio, additives, firing temperature on mechanical properties of pressureless sintered SiC having electrical resistivity and oxidation behaviour in moist were studied. In order to evaluate the possibility of dental implant application of SiC, the implant study using rat femurs was performed. SiC was implanted in the drilled hole of the femurs and the histologic reaction to SiC was investigated under light microscopy and CMR. SiC provoked endosteal as bone formation. At 1-3 weeks, it was observed the formation of callus around the SiC implant. Finally, the intervening fibrous tissue between the encapsulating bone and SiC was replaced by bone tissue which was outgowing from the encapsulating bone surface. The observed interface between bone and SiC was similar to the bone-HA interface as to morphology. These results indicate the clinical application of SiC as a dental implant.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Ferritin correlates with C-reactive protein and acute phase serum amyloid A in synovial fluid, but not in serum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ferritin concentration in serum and synovial fluid (SF) as a marker of activity of arthritis in comparison with C-reactive protein (CRP) and acute-phase serum amyloid A protein (A-SAA). METHODS: We determined the concentrations of ferritin, CRP and A-SAA in paired serum and SF in 34 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 21 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was also measured. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of ferritin, CRP and A-SAA were 93 +/- 76 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml, 4 +/- 5 mg/ml, 8 +/- 4 mg/ml in OA and 140 +/- 227, 59 +/- 34, 289 +/- 223 in RA, respectively. There was no significant difference in serum ferritin levels between OA and RA, and serum ferritin did not correlate with ESR, CRP or A-SAA. Both serum CRP and A-SAA levels were significantly higher in RA than in OA (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001), and correlated with ESR in all arthritis (r = 0.658, p < 0.0001, r = 0.404, p < 0.01), respectively. Serum CRP levels correlated with A-SAA levels in serum (r = 0.727, p < 0.0001). In SF, the concentrations of ferritin, CRP and A-SAA in RA (421 +/- 307, 25 +/- 20 and 39 +/- 41) were significantly higher (p < 0.01, p < 0.0001, p < 0.001) than those in OA (202 +/- 220, 2 +/- 2 and 2 +/- 2), respectively. There were significant correlations among SF ferritin, CRP and A-SAA. CONCLUSION: Ferritin levels in SF but not in serum are significantly elevated in RA more than in OA, and ferritin correlated with CRP or A-SAA in SF, but not in serum. Higher levels of SF ferritin, as well as SF CRP and SF A-SAA, seem to reflect greater degrees of joints inflammation in RA and OA.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed1999

Changes in coagulation factors and fibrinolytic components of postmenopausal women receiving continuous hormone replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on coagulation factors and fibrinolytic components in postmenopausal women was studied for 6 months to elucidate whether continuous HRT has an influence on thrombosis. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four postmenopausal women were divided into three groups according to treatment: 39 women who had undergone hysterectomy and oophorectomy received 0.625 mg/day of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) continuously (CEE therapy), 48 postmenopausal women received both 0.625 mg/day of CEE and 2.5 mg/day of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) continuously (CEE/MPA therapy) and 47 postmenopausal women received placebo as control. The following variables were measured before treatment as well as after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment: factor VII activity, protein C activity, fibrinogen level, antithrombin III activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) level and the plasma concentration of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). RESULTS: After 1 month of treatment, protein C activity increased by 9.6% and 11.4% of the initial value (p < 0.05), fibrinogen level decreased by 7.8% and 6.1% of the initial value (p < 0.05) and PAI-1 decreased by 19.4% and 14.3% of the initial value (p < 0.05) in the CEE therapy group and the CEE/MPA therapy group, respectively. Factor VII activity increased by 10.1% of the initial value (p < 0.05) in the CEE therapy group only. Antithrombin III and t-PA levels did not change throughout either treatment. CONCLUSION: Except for an increase in factor VII activity in the case of continuous CEE therapy, continuous HRT had no unfavorable effects on either coagulation factors or fibrinolytic components.

Antithrombin III↗

PubMed1999

Comparison of 26,27-hexafluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the resorption of bone explants ex vivo.

26,27-Hexafluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [F6-1,25-(OH)2D3] is more potent than 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] in stimulating bone resorption in vitro and in vivo. The reason why F6-1,25(OH)2D3 is more active remains unclear. To clarify the relationship between the bone-resorbing activity of each vitamin D3 analogue and the metabolism of each analogue, in the present study, we used an ex vivo method that was established by Reynolds et al (Calcif Tissue Res, 1974, 15, 333-339). The effect of F6-1,25(OH)2D3 or 1,25(OH)2D3 on 45Ca release from parietal bones, prepared at 3, 14 and 24 h after injection of 1.9, 3.8, 7.6 or 15.2 pmol vitamin D analog/g body weight, was examined. F6-1,25(OH)2D3 was more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 during each in vivo time period. 1,25(OH)2D3 at 3 h after the injection was more active compared to the control (no injection of 1,25(OH)2D3) but not at 14 and 24 h. The radioactivity of the bones after the injection of [3H]-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 was retained even at 24 h. In the case of [3H]-1,25(OH)2D3, the radioactivity of bones decreased with an increase in the in vivo period. In a HPLC analysis of the lipid extract of bone homogenate, [3H]-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 alone was detected at 3 h after the injection and both [3H]-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 and [3H]-26,27-hexafluoro-1 alpha, 23S,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 [F6-1,23,25(OH)3D3] were detected at 14 and 24 h after the injection. [3H]-1,25(OH)2D3 was highly detected at 3 h after the injection, but it decreased with an increase in the in vivo period. In the ex vivo test, the activity of F6-1,23,25(OH)3D3 was less than that of F6-1,25(OH)2D3 but similar to that of 1,25(OH)2D3. The present study indicates that F6-1,25(OH)2D3 is more active and more long-lasting than 1,25(OH)2D3 in the ex vivo method. A higher potency of F6-1,25(OH)2D3 is explained, at least partly, by the results that the amounts of both F6-1,25(OH)2D3 and its active metabolite, F6-1,23,25(OH)3D3, in the bones are higher than that of 1,25(OH)2D3, and that F6-1,25(OH)2D3 and its metabolite are retained in bones longer than 1,25(OH)2D3.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[Undiagnosed lung cancer complicated by intracavitary aspergillosis].

A 54-year-old man was treated with an antifungal agent (itraconazole) for post-tuberculous intracavitary aspergillosis. Though clinical and radiological findings indicated that the patient's symptoms had gone into remission, aspergillosis recurred 4 months after the cessation of antifungal chemotherapy, requiring that the patient undergo an operation. Intraoperative and pathological findings revealed a squamous cell carcinoma contiguous to the cavity containing the aspergilloma. Though a few cases of aspergilloma within cavitating pulmonary carcinomas have been reported in the literature, the case of lung cancer we report was thought to arise from preformed lung scars surrounding a post-tuberculous cavity that contained an aspergilloma. Although conclusive distinctions between neoplasms and fungal infections are difficult to make, careful observation of the radiographic features is necessary when treating patients with fungus ball-type aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis↗

PubMed1999

[Anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-lactoferrin antibodies in patients with IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura].

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) for two antigens, i.e. myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lactoferrin (LF) in sera from 19 IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 3 adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and 8 child HSP patients were examined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin isotypes. All of child HSP patients showed negative ANCA. On the other hand, one IgAN patient and two adult HSP patients showed weak positivity for IgA class anti-MPO antibody. There was no patients who showed positivity for IgG and IgM class anti-MPO antibody. In anti-LF antibody, one IgAN and one adult HSP showed positivity in IgG class; 2 IgAN and 2 HSP in IgA class and 2 IgAN and one HSP in IgM class. These results indicate that adult HSP patients have higher prevalence of IgA class anti-MPO antibody and anti-LF antibody than IgAN or child HSP.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Measurement of adenylate cyclase activity in the minute bovine ciliary epithelial cells during the pharmacological stimulation of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors.

Although essential to the secretion of aqueous humor, little is known about the signal transduction underlying postreceptor adrenergic and cholinergic processes in the ciliary epithelium. We adopted a highly sensitive fluorometric assay technique in order to examine adenylate cyclase activity in minute membrane preparations made from the bovine ciliary epithelial cells. The protein concentration of the preparation was 3-5 mg/ ml. Norepinephrine (10(-7), 10(-6) and 10(-5) M) and carbachol (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) were incubated with 10 microl of membrane preparation to analyze the extent of the receptor-coupled influences on the adenylate cyclase activity. Meanwhile, forskolin (10(-5) M) was used to estimate the maximum adenylate cyclase activity. After the initial enzymatic destruction of noncyclic adenine nucleotides and phosphorylated metabolites, the diester linkage of cyclic AMP was cleaved and then converted to ATP. The ATP was enzymatically amplified to about 10,000 times of fructose-6-phosphate. The NADPH, formed when the fructose-6-phosphate was converted to 6-phosphogluconolactone, was measured fluorometrically. Basal and forskolin-stimulated maximum adenylate cyclase activities (pmol/mg protein/min) were 29.6+/-7.6 and 86.6+/-7.2 (mean+/-SE), respectively. Norepinephrine increased the adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner, while carbachol hardly affected the activity. These results indicate that the adenylate cyclase activity can be measured in the minute ciliary epithelial cells and, moreover, that the current assay can be applied to assess the efficacy of newly available ophthalmic solutions or systemic drugs influencing adenylate cyclase activity in a discrete portion in the eye.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1999

[Management of mycobacteriosis in general hospital without isolation ward for tuberculosis patients. 2. The problems of management of the patients diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis after admission to the respiratory ward of university hospital having no an isolation ward for the tuberculous patients].

The management of 28 patients, diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis by bacteriological or pathologic findings after the administration to the Koshigaya Hospital of Dokkyo university school of Medicine from January 1994 through September 1997, which had no an isolation ward for tuberculosis patients was analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 50.6 +/- 16.7 (18-85), and the number of male and female patients was 22 and 6 respectively. The underlying diseases found in 10 patients were gastric cancer, breast cancer, osteochondrosarcoma, collagen disease, diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, pneumoconiosis, and bronchial asthma. Two patients were complicated by a lung cancer. Six of 28 patients showed smear-positive and culture-positive specimens and 22 of 28 patients showed smear-negative and culture-positive specimens. The detection of mycobacterial DNA in the samples after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) used in 15 patients and was positive for 7 of 15 patients. The pathological study of the specimens obtained by Transbronchial lung biopsy was performed for 14 patients. The pathological findings were compatible with tuberculosis in 7 of 14 patients. The chief complaints of the 11 patients admitted to the hospital with in 3 days after first visit, were fever in all patients and in 5 patients with pleural effusion. A few patients showed smear-negative and PCR positive specimens and complicated by lung cancer or other malignancy, were treated in non isolation ward in the particular case of emergency evacuation before admission, careful examination such as a tuberculin test, bacterial examination, and PCR of sputum should be performed in the patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis. The patients isolating tubercule bacilli after administration should be transferred to the hospital with isolated ward for tuberculosis or isolated room in general hospital in the particular case of emergency evacuation with the greatest care.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

[The effectiveness of glaucomatous visual field test using a size I stimulus].

PURPOSE: Perimetry using size I and III targets was conducted on glaucoma patients. The detectability of the visual field defects using a size I target and abnormal spatial summation was investigated. SUBJECTS & METHODS: Subjects were 14 eyes of 11 glaucoma patients with mild to moderate visual field defects and 11 eyes of 11 normal persons. Program 24-2 of the Humphrey Field Analyzer was applied to each subject. Based on the mean sensitivity and standard deviation at each coordinate in normal persons, the Z-score was calculated in the visual fields of glaucoma patients (absolute scotomas were excluded). RESULTS: The mean Z-score of retinal sensitivity, was less for size III than for size I in abnormal lesions, and less for size I than for size III in normal lesions (paired t-test, p < 0.01). Pathological spatial summation was found more frequently in normal lesions than in abnormal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In mild visual field defects, size I detects abnormalities with greater sensitivity than size III. Perimetry using the size I target can be effective as a supplementary diagnostic method to detect and follow the early glaucomatous visual field.

Glaucoma↗

PubMed1999

Local expression of acute phase serum amyloid A mRNA in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue and cells.

OBJECTIVE: Serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, a bioactive protein produced during inflammation, is present in synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Based on our recent finding that SF SAA concentration exceeded the serum counterpart in some patients with RA, we examined the local steady state concentration of SAA mRNA isoforms in synovia and in synovial cells cultured from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Total cellular RNA from synovial membranes of patients with RA or OA and from cultured synovial cells of patients with RA was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot. RESULTS: Acute phase SAA (A-SAA) mRNA isoforms were detected only in RA synovia, but not in OA synovia; however, the constitutive SAA (C-SAA) mRNA isoform was detected in similar abundance in both OA and RA synovia. There was evidence of C-SAA, but not A-SAA mRNA in cultured synovial cells at quiescence. After stimulation with both 1 mM dexamethasone and 10 ng/ml interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), the quantity of steady state A-SAA muRNA in cultured synovial cells was markedly increased. CONCLUSION: Both A-SAA and C-SAA mRNA are detectable in RA synovia, while only C-SAA mRNA is detectable in OA and in quiescent cultured synovial cells. The steady state A-SAA mRNA isoform in cultured synovial cells was markedly increased in the presence of dexamethasone plus IL-1beta. The local synthesis of A-SAA may contribute, at least in part, to the concentration of A-SAA protein in SF and may contribute to the altered molecular and cellular physiology in RA joints.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

[A case of secondary systemic amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis after 3-year disease duration].

A 63-year-old woman who started to have polyarthralgia in December 1993 has been diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and treated with muscular injection of gold sodium thiomalate. She began to have nausea, vomiting, anorexia and watery diarrhea in October 1995. A year later, she had to receive intravenous infusion on admission since more frequent watery diarrhea occurred more than ten times within a day. On admission in our hospital in December 1996, she had proteinuria in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms. The biopsy specimen from stomach, duodenum and kidney proved systemic amyloidosis associated with RA. In spite of steroid-pulse, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and colchicine therapy, profound proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome was continued in association with hypoproteinemia, anasarca and renal failure. She was treated on hemodialysis and intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) until November 1997 when A-V shunt operation on left forearm was performed. However, the shunt was not available for HD and she suffered from septicemia and died on December 1997. This patient was a rare case of secondary systemic amyloidosis associated with RA in early clinical course.

Amyloidosis↗

PubMed1999

[Pranlukast allows reduction of inhaled steroid dose without deterioration in lung function in adult asthmatics].

We undertook a community based case-control study to measure the effect of pranlukast on the reduction of inhaled steroid in adult asthmatics. Forty-one adults completed a run-in period of 4 weeks on 800 microgram of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) documenting twice daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) and symptom score and therapeutic score on a standard diary. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0), V50, V25 was measured once during the run-in period. Patients were then randomized to receive either pranlukast with 400 microgram of BDP or 400 microgram alone for 8 weeks. There was no difference in the symptom score and therapeutic between the two groups at any time point. However, morning and evening % PEF run-in expressed as a % of the PEF average during the run-in period was significantly lower at 8 weeks in the groups without pranlukast. There were subjects in the group without pranlukast (35.3%) compared to those with (20.8%) who had a 10% or more reduction in % PEF from the run-in period. The patients with an FEV1.0 < 80% predicted who were randomized to the control group were more likely (5 of 7) to have a fall in % PEF run-in and those randomized to received pranlukast were less likely to have a fall in % PEF run-in though this was not significant (2 of 6). In this study, pranlukast has demonstrated steroid sparing effect. Severe asthmatics (FEV1.0 < 80%) who deteriorate after reduction of inhaled steroid may benefit most from pranlukast. Larger studies are now required to explore this important effect.

Administration, Inhalation↗