Biomedical subjects

K Kitamura

Publications and source records attributed to K Kitamura.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

The differences in the expressions of visual pigments and transducin in photoreceptor cell differentiation.

The distribution and accumulation of visual pigments, i.e., rod pigment, rhodopsin and red sensitive cone pigment, iodopsin, and transducin in the retina of chicken and chicken embryo were investigated immunohistochemically using their specific antibodies. The immunoreactivities of these proteins appeared at the early stage of photoreceptor differentiation (embryonal day 15) and increased in the photoreceptor cells appeared to reach maximum at the end of the embryonal period (embryonal day 20). On the other hand, although the immunoreactivity of beta gamma subunit of transducin (T beta gamma) was detected at embryonal day 15, the expression level of T beta gamma still remained in low level during the embryonal period. These observations suggest that both T beta gamma and visual pigments are expressed during the embryonic period in chicken photoreceptor cells, but their accumulations in the cells are different.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Early gastric cancer in young adults.

The clinicopathological features of 31 young patients with early gastric cancer, defined as under 40 years of age, were reviewed retrospectively from hospital records between 1969 and 1993. The results were compared with those for 549 patients 40 years of age or older. Early gastric cancer was found in 36.0% of the younger patients with gastric cancers and in 36.3% of the older patients with those. The gender ratio of m/f was 1.21 for the younger patients and 2.37 for the older patients. The macroscopic characteristics of early gastric cancer for the younger patients were superficial depressed lesions and a larger tumor size. The distinguished histologic features of early gastric cancer for the younger patients were a diffuse type of cancer and infiltrative tumor growth with a scirrhous stroma. More extensive lymph node dissection was performed on the younger patients than on the older patients. The younger patients had a prognosis similar to that of the older patients. We conclude that early gastric cancer in young patients possesses histological aggressiveness, but those patients rather show a similar survival to older patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Fight against infectious diseases.

During early Meiji era in Japan, there were frequent epidemics of fatal acute communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery and smallpox, and preventive measures and preparations for acute infectious diseases were urgently needed. Together with improvement of scientific preparations, the Communicable Disease Prevention Law was promulgated in 1897. Then gradually until 1940's, the focus of preventive measures have been shifted from acute infectious diseases to chronic ones, particularly tuberculosis. After the World War II, except the short period of social confusion, major legally-defined communicable diseases had been decreasing rapidly mainly due to the use of antibiotics and improvement of environmental sanitation. At the same time, the introduction of preventive vaccination marked a new era for the prevention of infectious diseases and was largely responsible for the remarkable decrease of infant mortality in Japan. Recently the concept of defense by vaccination against infectious diseases has evolved from group-oriented to individual-oriented, so that the Preventive Vaccination Law was drastically revised in 1994. Currently, effective counter-measures against newly emerged infectious diseases, as viral hepatitis, institution-acquired infection, viral hemorrhagic fever etc., have been implemented. For the future, improvement of infections disease surveillance, vaccine development and expansion of vaccination coverage along with monitoring side-effects, preventive health education on AIDS/STDs, addressing the special needs of foreigners living in Japan and international collaboration for disease control abroad are all vital to the success of protection of the public's health from infectious diseases in Japan.

Communicable Disease Control↗

PubMed1996

Mitochondrial DNA mutation at nucleotide 1555 in a patient with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of unknown etiology.

A mitochondrial DNA mutation at nucleotide 1555 in the ribosomal RNA gene was recently reported as a cause of maternally inherited non-syndromic sensorineural deafness. We assumed that the 1555 mutation is also associated with sporadic non-syndromic deafness and screened for the mutation in seven randomly selected sporadic cases with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of unknown etiology. The mutation was found in one patient, who first noticed hearing loss when she was in her early teens with subsequent gradual progression. The results suggest that the 1555 mutation may contribute to the etiology of idiopathic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss in some cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Adrenomedullin: changes in circulating and cardiac tissue concentration in Dahl salt-sensitive rats on a high-salt diet.

Adrenomedullin (AM), a novel hypotensive peptide, is suggested to be involved in defense mechanisms against hypertension, however, the detail mechanisms have not been clarified. To elucidate whether AM synthesis would be altered in a salt dependent hypertension, we have investigated the AM concentration and AM messenger RNA (mRNA) level in tissues of Dahl salt-sensitive rats on either low- or high-salt intake. The AM concentration in cardiac ventricle of the high-salt group was significantly higher than that of the low-salt group. The plasma AM concentration was also significantly higher in the high-salt group than in the low-salt group. Furthermore, the plasma AM concentration correlated well with the weight of left ventricle. RNA blot analysis revealed that the AM mRNA level in cardiac ventricle of the high-salt group was higher than that of the low-salt group. These results suggest that AM participates in the pathophysiology of salt dependent hypertension and plays a role in cardiac hypertrophy.

Adrenomedullin↗

PubMed1996

[Chemotherapy with low-dose consecutive cisplatin (CDDP) for patients with recurrent and distant metastasis of head and neck cancer].

Treatment with low-dose consecutive cisplatin (CDDP) was performed on six patients with recurrent and distant metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. All patients were men, and their ages ranged from 64 to 86 years with an average of 75. Primary treatments were radiotherapy and surgery in three patients, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in two patients, and radiotherapy, regional chemotherapy and surgery in one patient. Two patients had laryngeal recurrent carcinomas, one patient had nasopharyngeal recurrent carcinoma, one patient had recurrent metastatic neck lymph node and two patients had distant metastasis (lung and brain). CDDP was administered over consecutive seven days, with a daily dose of 10mg/m2 as continuous drip infusion for 148 hours from day 1 to day 7. Four patients received two courses, while two patients received one course. The overall response rate was 33%, which was restricted to a partial response in two patients. These patients were still alive about one year after treatment. No toxic effect was observed. The present study indicated that low-dose consecutive CDDP was safe and efficacious for patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

[Statistical analysis of recovery from sudden deafness among treatment groups].

This study examined 131 patients with idiopathic sudden deafness in whom the averaged of five frequency hearing levels was greater than 60dB. Since combined pharmacotherapy has been used in the treatment of idiopathic sudden deafness, it is hard to make a quantitative analysis of single-drug efficacy. We used a single-drug treatment in turn to assess the drug efficacy within 30 days after the onset. There was no significant difference among patients treated within 6 days and not less than 7 days after the onset with steroid therapy, PGE1 therapy, and defibrinogenation therapy. Similarly, there was no significant difference among patients treated within 6 days and not less than 7 days after the onset with steroid and defibrinogenation combined therapy, steroid and PGE1 combined therapy, and steroid, defibrinogenation and Lasix-Vitamin combined therapy. In case of no steroid effect, treatment with defibrinogenation, PGE1 and Lasix-Vitamin therapy could achieve hearing improvement.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

[Otorhinolaryngological medical care by the general practitioners in rural areas].

In the present study, a survey of otorhinolaryngological medical care by the general practitioner, including the relationship between general practitioners and otorhinolaryngologists in rural areas was carried out. A questionnaire for otorhinolaryngological medical care by the general practitioners was sent to 326 hospitals with less than 100 beds where non-otorhinolaryngological doctors who had graduated from Jichi Medical School were working. Of these hospitals 164 (50.4%) responded. Most respondents said that they had about 3 or 4 patients with otorhinolaryngological disease per month. The distance between most hospitals and the nearest otorhinolaryngologists was within one hour by available transportation facilities. About 70% of the respondents were provided with simple otorhinolaryngological instruments, such as an aural speculum, a nasal speculum and a head mirror. The most frequent otorhinolaryngological diseases which they treated were vertigo, allergic rhinitis and upper respiratory infection including acute tonsillitis and pharyngolaryngitis. Only 10 to 20% of the general practitioners had otorhinolaryngological training. We found several problems in otorhinolaryngological medical care in rural areas. Patients with otorhinolaryngological disease seek otorhinolaryngological care at the nearest medical facility where general practitioners with inadequate otorhinolaryngological experience examine patients with inadequate otorhinolaryngological instruments. Therefore, a close relationship between general practitioners and otorhinolaryngologists should be developed and the quality of otorhinolaryngological medical care should be raised in rural areas.

Hospitals↗

PubMed1996

[Chest wall reconstruction after the resection of primary chest wall tumors].

Between April 1983 and June 1994, we performed chest wall reconstructions on 9 patients (7 males and 2 females) out of 27 all of whom underwent the radical resection for the primary chest wall tumors. Histological diagnosis of tumors included 6 chondrosarcomas, 1 Ewing's sarcoma, 1 plasmacytoma and 1 giant cell tumor. Six lesions were located on the rib and 3 on the sternum. For the materials for reconstruction of the chest wall use a polyethylene plate in 2 patients, a Marlex mesh in 5 patients and a Marlex mesh with a methyl methacrylate utilizing the sandwich method in 2 patients. The polyethylene plate proved to be satisfactory for maintaining stability of the chest wall. However, our experience using this plate showed intensive foreign body reactions, and discovering these we have not use the polyethylene plate. Marlex mesh had an affinity with human tissue and was very easy to use and produced no complications. We use Marlex mesh for flat surfaces on the anterior or posterior chest wall. Marlex mesh and methyl methacrylate utilizing the sandwich method, combined the solidity and shaping of methyl methacrylate with the benefit such as easy fixation and excellent incorporation of the mesh.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Diagnosis and targeting therapy of colorectal cancer using antibody].

Application of monoclonal antibody for diagnosis and therapy of colorectal cancer was reviewed. The history and present status of radioimmunoimaging of cancer were presented. Immuno-guided surgery using radiolabeled antibody and hand-aided detector during surgery is a promising approach for complete excision of cancerous region. Also, a new antibody labeling method using a micro-magnet instead of radioisotopes may lead to a new era in immunodiagnosis of cancer. Finally, immunotargeting chemotherapy using antibody-anticancer drug conjugates was reviewed. A new type of immunoconjugate composed of human/mouse chimeric antibody and Neocarzinostatin seems to be one of the most promising drug formulas for immunotargeting chemotherapy.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed1996

[Application of tumor marker for immunotargeting therapy of cancer].

For many years, attempts have been made to utilize the monoclonal antibody against tumor markers for diagnostic purposes. On the other hand, studies with various form of immunoconjugate have demonstrated some therapeutic promise. In this paper, the ideal tumor marker for immunotargeting therapy will be discussed. Results of clinical trials of radioimmunoconjugates, immunotoxin and chemoimmunoconjugates will be reviewed and prospects of these new approaches for the treatment of cancer patients will be presented.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Adrenomedullin and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide in impaired renal function.

Proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) is a novel hypotensive peptide found in the N-terminal portion of the prohormone of adrenomedullin (AM), a vasodilator peptide. In this study, we examined the pathophysiological roles of the two peptides. Plasma concentrations of both peptides in patients with impaired renal function were measured and compared to those of the control subjects. Plasma AM concentrations in the study patients were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than in the controls with a serum creatinine of < 1 mg/dl (2.94 +/- 0.18 fmol/ml), and higher concentrations in those patients with a serum creatinine of > or = 2 mg/dl (Group II; 14.8 +/- 1.9 fmol/ml) were observed as compared to those at the 1 to 2 mg/dl level (Group I; 10.3 +/- 1.2 fmol/ml). Similarly, plasma PAMP concentrations tended to be higher in the Group I patients (0.82 +/- 0.05 fmol/ml) and significantly (P < 0.01) increased in the Group II patients (1.42 +/- 0.17 fmol/ml) when compared to the controls (0.53 +/- 0.04 fmol/ml). A significantly (P < 0.05) positive correlation was noted between the plasma AM and PAMP in the study patients. These findings suggest a potential role for these biologically active peptides in the regulation of blood pressure in impaired renal function.

Adrenomedullin↗

PubMed1996

[Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis treated by thoracoscopic resection].

A 37-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of an abnormal shadow in the right lower field on a chest roentgenogram. The lesion was calcified and was therefore suspected to be benign. Thoracoscopic resention was performed. The pathological diagnosis was cryptococcosis of the lung. The lesion was completely resected, so no antifungal drug was given. The patient was doing well as of 12 months after the operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Type of mutation in the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene (NF2) frequently determines severity of disease.

The gene predisposing to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) on human chromosome 22 has revealed a wide variety of different mutations in NF2 individuals. These patients display a marked variability in clinical presentation, ranging from very severe disease with numerous tumors at a young age to a relatively mild condition much later in life. To investigate whether this phenotypic heterogeneity is determined by the type of mutation in NF2, we have collected clinical information on 111 NF2 cases from 73 different families on whom we have performed mutation screening in this gene. Sixty-seven individuals (56.2%) from 41 of these kindreds revealed 36 different putative disease-causing mutations. These include 26 proposed protein-truncating alterations (frameshift deletions/insertions and nonsense mutations), 6 splice-site mutations, 2 missense mutations, 1 base substitution in the 3' UTR of the NF2 cDNA, and a single 3-bp in-frame insertion. Seventeen of these mutations are novel, whereas the remaining 19 have been described previously in other NF2 individuals or sporadic tumors. When individuals harboring protein-truncating mutations are compared with cases with single codon alterations, a significant correlation (P < .001) with clinical outcome is observed. Twenty-four of 28 patients with mutations that cause premature truncation of the NF2 protein, schwannomin, present with severe phenotypes. In contrast, all 16 cases from three families with mutations that affect only a single amino acid have mild NF2. These data provide conclusive evidence that a phenotype/genotype correlation exists for certain NF2 mutations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Platelet-activating factor and arachidonic acid metabolites in psoriatic inflammation.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), as well as PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity in the peripheral blood plasma of patients with psoriasis and palmoplantar pustolosis, was measured with a radioimmunoassay technique, and compared with leukotriene (LT) B4, LTC4, LTD4 and E4 (LTD4/E4), thromboxane (TX) B2 and prostaglandin (PG) E2 levels. In a normal healthy group (n = 12) PAF level was 25.9 +/- 6.5 pg/0.1 ml plasma (mean +/- standard error of the mean: SEM), and this was elevated in patients with psoriasis (68.1 +/- 11.8, n = 25, P < 0.01), without a change in the PAF-AH level. LTB4 showed a similar increase (115.0 +/- 21.6 pg/ml vs. 68.2 +/- 11.8 pg/ml, P < 0.05), while TXB2 and PGE2 showed insignificant (P > 0.05) changes. LTC4 and LTD4/E4 were around the level of the limit of detection. Patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (n = 33) demonstrated similar, but milder and statistically insignificant, increases in PAF, LTB4, TXB2 and PGE2 levels. Modulation of the mediator levels before and after treatment was compared in 16 patients with psoriasis and 11 with palmoplantar pustulosis. PAF in psoriasis significantly decreased after treatment (70.9 +/- 17.1 to 25.1 +/- 5.5, P < 0.05) and this was moderately correlated (r = 0.298) with clinical improvement as indicated by the psoriasis area and severity index (38.5 +/- 7.5 to 10.9 +/- 4.2, P < 0.01). TXB2 (180.2 +/- 100.4 to 34.1 +/- 13.5), PGE2 (3.7 +/- 0.7 to 2.9 +/- 0.5) and LTB4 (120.1 +/- 31.1 to 84.2 +/- 8.2), in psoriasis, mildly decreased without statistical significance. Patients with palmoplantar pustulosis demonstrated a similar decrease in all mediators without statistical significance. The results obtained suggest a role of PAF in psoriasis. As the priming effects of PAF have been shown, for leucocytes and endothelial cells, to enhance their inflammatory response, we assume that PAF has roles in the acute phase of psoriatic and leucotactic inflammation.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

PubMed1996

[A case of giant cell tumor originating in the rib].

We have experienced a rare case of giant cell tumor originating in the rib. A 25-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with the abnormal shadow in chest X-ray film. Chest CT, MRI, Bone scintigram showed tumor originating from the right 4th rib. Needle biopsy was performed. As the result, this tumor was suspected giant cell tumor of bone. The tumor was completely resected, and the chest wall defect was covered with the marlex mesh. The pathological diagnosis was a giant cell tumor of bone. The patient is now doing well without recurrence for 14 months after the operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Distribution and characterization of rat immunoreactive proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) and the augmented cardiac PAMP in spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) is a novel hypotensive peptide processed from an adrenomedullin precursor. In this study, high concentrations of immunoreactive PAMP (ir-PAMP) were detected in rat cardiac atrium and adrenal gland by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) for rat PAMP. The mean plasma concentration of rat ir-PAMP was 3.8 +/- 0.3 fmol/ml. Analysis in atrium, adrenal gland and plasma with high performance liquid chromatographies showed that most ir-PAMP emerged as one major peak at the position exactly identical to that of the authentic rat PAMP. We further investigated the tissue and plasma concentrations of rat ir-PAMP in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) to elucidate the role of PAMP in hypertension. The ir-PAMP concentration in heart tissue of SHR was found to be increased compared with that of the control rat. Especially, the atrial concentration of ir-PAMP of SHR (5.66 +/- 0.78 fmol/mg wet tissue) was significantly higher than that of the control (3.29 +/- 0.22 fmol/mg wet tissue). Cardiac PAMP might have a role for the protection from systemic hypertension.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1996

[Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials--studies on latency variability as a function of subject height and age].

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) to median nerve stimulation were studied in a group of 61 healthy volunteers (36 men, 25 women) between 15 and 79 years of age. The absolute peak latencies of peripheral N9, Erb, cervical N11 and N13, cortical N20, N32 and N60 were analyzed as a function of height and age. Three interpeak latencies, Erb-N13, Erb-N20 and N13-N20, were equally studied. There was no gender difference in the latencies and interpeak latencies of SEP in multiple correlation analysis involving height and age. Multiple regression analysis showed that except for N60 peak latency, the subject's height and age provided better prediction of other SEP latencies, and Erb-N13 and Erb-N20 interpeak latencies than simple and polynomial [correction of polynominal] linear regression. Multiple regression analysis was found to provide better optimal clinical upper limits for individual SEP latencies and interpeak latencies, and may increase the diagnostic sensitivity. The t-value of the multiple regression coefficient for standardized height and standardized age showed that the effects of age on N32 and N60 peak latencies, and on Erb-N13 and Erb-N20 interpeak latencies were a more important factor than those of height. A negative correlation was found between height and age in our subjects. Although this may be a characteristic of modern Japanese, it suggests the necessity of renewing regression models at intervals of 5 or 10 years.

Adolescent↗