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Biomedical subjects

K Kouda

Publications and source records attributed to K Kouda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Urachal anomalies: ultrasonography and management.

BACKGROUND: Fifty-six children with anomalies of the urachus remnant identified by ultrasound scan have been encountered in the authors' hospital over the last 4 years. METHODS: Twenty of these 56 cases were symptomatic urachal remnants, whereas the urachus remnants were seen incidentally by ultrasound scanning in the other 36 patients. Symptomatic cases were treated with antibiotics or observation. Then, symptomatic cases were divided into 2 groups. One group, surgical group, was treated with surgical resection of the urachal remnant. The other group, observation group, was followed up without its surgical resection. Forty-four patients, 11 cases of symptomatic urachal remnant and 33 asymptomatic cases, were followed up, excluding patients who had surgical treatment and who were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent periodical ultrasonographic examination during follow-up. In 9 cases, including 2 symptomatic cases, urachal remnants have disappeared during the follow-up period spontaneously. No symptom had developed during follow-up from asymptomatic cases. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with asymptomatic urachal remnants do not require follow-up, and urachal remnants, especially those under 1 year of age, do not require surgical resection unless the patient has multiple episodes.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2001

Use of 5-FU plus hyperbaric oxygen for treating malignant tumors: evaluation of antitumor effect and measurement of 5-FU in individual organs.

PURPOSE: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been shown to increase tumor radiosensitivity. Several reports indicate that it also increases sensitivity to alkylating agents, but other reports suggest that it may speed angiogenesis and tumor growth. To throw light on these questions, we investigated the effects of HBO and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), individually and in combination, on Sarcoma 180 implants in mice. METHODS: We administered 5-FU at a dose of 0.75 mg/mouse six times per week and HBO at 2 atm absolute pressure for 90 min six times per week, both 17 times in total. In combination treatment, HBO was administered immediately after 5-FU injection. RESULTS: Over the treatment period, tumor diameter increased 277.8% in the untreated control group, 244.1% in the group receiving HBO monotherapy, 182.7% in the group receiving 5-FU monotherapy, and 138.5% in the group receiving combination therapy. Concomitant HBO increased accumulation of 5-FU in the tumors, liver, and kidneys, but not in the brain, of recipient animals. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above results, we conclude that concomitant HBO enhances the effects of 5-FU.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The relationship of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and glycoxidative damage marker pentosidine.

OBJECTIVES: 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Pentosidine is a biomarker of glycoxidation reaction. In this study, we investigated relationships among 8-OHdG, pentosidine and age. DESIGN AND METHODS: We determined the urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG and pentosidine in adults with mild hypercholesterolemia or/and mild hypertension (hypercholesterolemia group, n = 31; hypertension group, n = 25; hypercholesterolemia and hypertension group, n = 7). RESULTS: The strength of the relationship between 8-OHdG and age was the same as that between pentosidine and age (the correlation coefficient between 8-OHdG and age was 0.33, pentosidine and age was 0.37). In addition, there was a positive and significant correlation between 8-OHdG and pentosidine. On the other hand, mean values of 8-OHdG and pentosidine showed no significant difference among the three groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that both 8-OHdG and pentosidine levels increase similarly in degenerative pathologic conditions.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed2001

Five novel highly oxygenated diterpenes of Orthosiphon stamineus from Myanmar.

Five novel highly oxygenated diterpenes, orthosiphols K (1), L (2), M (3), and N (4) and norstaminone A (5), were isolated from the aerial part of Orthosiphon stamineus, together with three known diterpenes, orthosiphols A (6) and B (7) and neoorthosiphol A (8). Orthosiphol L (2) is an isopimarane-type diterpene with a hydroxyl group at C-12, which supports the biogenesis of staminane-type diterpenes, i.e., migration of a vinylic group from C-13 of isopimarane to C-12. Norstaminone A (5) has a staminane carbon framework and supports the biosynthetic pathway from staminols to norstaminols via staminolactones. All the isolated compounds showed mild to weak antiproliferative activities toward highly liver metastatic colon 26-L5 carcinoma and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed2001

Effects of dietary restriction on spontaneous dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.

In laboratory animals, dietary restriction prolongs life span, improves physiologic function, and prevents or lessens severity of several diseases including some experimental inflammatory states. We investigated the effect of dietary restriction on a spontaneously occurring mouse model of atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease. NC/Nga mice were assigned to a group fed ad libitum or to a restricted diet group receiving 60% of the amount of food consumed by the other group. Dermatitis was characterized according to extent, intensity, and scratching time. We then used computer-assisted image analysis to quantify immunologic findings in skin sections. Extent, intensity score, and scratching time in mice with restriction increased more gradually than in mice fed ad libitum. Infiltrating inflammatory cells (CD4-positive T cells, CD8-positive T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells) as well as interleukin-4 and -5 secreted into tissue were reduced in mice with restriction. In conclusion, dietary restriction delayed onset and progression of spontaneous dermatitis in NC/Nga mice, an effect possibly involving inhibition of inflammatory infiltration cell and cytokine secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Vegetarian diet ameliorates symptoms of atopic dermatitis through reduction of the number of peripheral eosinophils and of PGE2 synthesis by monocytes.

Many patients with atopic dermatitis are dissatisfied with conventional treatments based on topical steroids and have experienced some traditional remedies and alternative therapies. However, most of such therapies have not been evaluated scientifically and clinically by specialists. This study was designed to assess whether a certain vegetarian diet might be effective for atopic dermatitis and if so, to identify the mechanisms of this remedy through analyses of immunological parameters. An open-trial study was carried out in twenty patients with atopic dermatitis. An improvement of dermatitis was evaluated by SCORAD index and serological and immunological parameters were monitored. After a two-month treatment, the severity of dermatitis was strikingly inhibited, as assessed by SCORAD index and serological parameters including LDH5 activity and a number of peripheral eosinophils. A sharp reduction in eosinophils and neutrophils was observed prior to improvement in the skin inflammation. In addition, PGE2 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was reduced by this treatment. In contrast, serum IgE levels did not change during the same period. Although this study is an open-trial one, it suggests that this treatment may be useful for the treatment of adult patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Removal of broken pedicle screws. Technical note.

The authors describe a simple, new method for removing broken pedicle screws. Under microscopic visualization a straight, narrow slot is etched in the broken surface of the pedicle screw by using a power drill with a 2-mm diamond burr. A minus screwdriver is then inserted into the slot, and the broken screw is rotated and removed. There is no need to enlarge the screw hole around the broken screw or to use any special devices. The authors succeeded in removing broken screws in two cases, and there were no complications. This method allows preservation of both the pedicle and the screw hole. Consequently, it is possible to insert new pedicle screws into the same hole without losing the strength and stability of pedicle screw fixation. The authors recommend this simple and new method for removal of broken pedicle screws.

Bone Screws↗
PubMed2000

Low-energy diet in atopic dermatitis patients: clinical findings and DNA damage.

Undernutrition without malnutrition (low-energy diet) increases maximum longevity, reduces the incidence of several cancers and delays their onset, in animal studies. It has also been demonstrated by experimental study that caloric restriction provides a beneficial effect on various inflammatory diseases. In this study, we offered a low-energy diet to patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Nineteen adult patients (5 males and 14 females aged 15 to 36 years) were enrolled in the study which lasted 8 weeks. The energy intake was 55% of nutritional requirements; protein was 75%, calcium 180%, iron 130%, vitamin A 105%, vitamin C 250% and vitamin E 110% of the daily requirement. No patient experienced adverse reaction, and none dropped out of the trial. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), and systolic blood pressure had decreased significantly by the end of study. The SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) index, which combines objective (extent and intensity of lesions) and subjective (daytime pruritus and sleep loss) criteria, was reduced significantly. In 11 patients with severe AD, there was a significant reduction in oxidative DNA damage. The change in the inflammatory intensity score and the change in BMI caused by energy restriction showed a significant positive correlation. The change in oxidative DNA damage levels and the change in BMI showed a positive correlation. These results clarify the relationship between weight loss and the improvement of AD. It may be hypothesized that this low-energy diet which included several additional nutrients has a possibility to reduce inflammatory symptoms of patients with AD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Long-term endoscopic follow-up for peptic ulcer patients after eradication of H. pylori; comparison with the maintainance therapy by H2-blocker].

This study was aimed to clarify the endoscopic findings and the decline of serum IgG titer after successful eradication of H. pylori in long-term (from 2 to 7 years). Forty-six H. pylori-positive peptic ulcer (22 GU and 26 DU) cases were eradicated with antimicrobial therapy. Sixty-nine non-eradicated DU cases who received maintainance therapy with H2-blocker were control group. Biopsy urease test (BUT) and culturing was performed to diagnose the H. pylori infection. Anti-H. pylori IgG titer (EIA) were also measured in some cases, pre and 6, 12, 24 months after the eradication. In 3 cases, H. pylori were recrudescent and only in a case, DU recurred during 5 years after eradication. Meanwhile, in 55% of control cases, DU were recurred during same periods. In 62% of eradicated cases, serum IgG-antibody to H. pylori declined below the cut-off level during 2 years after eradication. It was certified that eradication therapy against H. pylori prevents ulcer recurrence for long time, and re-rise of serum IgG titer to H. pylori might predict a recrudescence of infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in urine as an index of oxidative damage to DNA in the evaluation of atopic dermatitis.

8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is one of the products which are excreted in urine as a result of oxidative damage to DNA. We investigated the feasibility of using 8-OHdG in urine as an index for oxidative damage to DNA in atopic dermatitis (AD). Seventeen patients with long-standing AD and 17 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The severity of AD was evaluated by SCORAD index. Eosinophils, total IgE and lactate dehydrogenase-5 in peripheral blood were measured as clinical parameters for AD. A newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure urine 8-OHdG. The AD patients showed significantly higher levels (P < 0.0001) of 8-OHdG in their urine than corresponding controls. Urine 8-OHdG levels showed as strong a positive correlation as other haematological parameters did using the SCORAD index. Thus, we conclude that the urine 8-OHdG levels can also serve as a biochemical index of tissue damage and can act as a useful tool in the clinical evaluation of AD.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed1998

[Stimulation of asialoglycoprotein receptor activity after transcatheter arterial embolotherapy in clinical study and continuous infusion of human hepatocyte growth factor in rat].

The concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was increased immediately after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We measured the changes in serum HGF levels and those of the asialoglyco-protein receptors (ASGP) in hepatocytes using 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) on 22 patients with HCC after TAE. HGF and Rmax were increased 33% +/- 32, 40% +/- 28, respectively. Effects of HGF administration were examined in normal rats. Liver weight, hepatocyte nuclear size, and number of hepatocytes (cells/mm2) were not altered by HGF, but GSA blood clearance per hepatocyte was significantly increased over the preinfusion rate. We conclude that increased HGF stimulates a hepatocytic function of the receptor-mediated uptake of ASGP.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Increased technetium-99m-GSA uptake per hepatocyte in rats with administration of dimethylnitrosamine or hepatocyte growth factor.

UNLABELLED: Technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl-human serum albumin (GSA) is a new scintigraphic agent that binds specifically to asialoglycoprotein receptors on hepatocytes, and can be used to evaluate hepatic function. Asialoglycoprotein receptor is a hepatocellular membrane receptor responsible for the endocytosis of asialoglycoproteins, and the function of this receptor is affected in various disease states. The aim of this study was to investigate GSA uptake per hepatocyte in the convalescent stage from hepatic damage. METHODS: We used rats with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic injury and rats with recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rhHGF) stimulation. Plasma clearance of GSA and the number of hepatocytes in whole liver were calculated. RESULTS: In the DMN-treated rats, the total number of hepatocytes and GSA plasma clearance were reduced significantly at 3 wk after the final administration of DMN. However, calculated GSA uptake per individual hepatocyte was significantly greater by 53.2% than in the normal controls. The area of hepatic nucleus was also significantly greater than in the normal controls. In the rhHGF-treated rats, an increase in the total number of hepatocytes was not demonstrated on the final day of rhHGF administration (Day 4). However, calculated GSA uptake per hepatocyte was significantly greater (59%) than in the controls. CONCLUSION: Augmented GSA uptake per hepatocyte during the convalescent stage after hepatic injury suggests a cellular compensation to the decreased number of hepatocyte. This mechanism may be caused by the secretion of some hepatotropic factors such as HGF.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1997

Validation of curve-fitting method for blood retention of 99mTc-GSA: comparison with blood sampling method.

We investigated a curve-fitting method for the rate of blood retention of 99mTc-galactosyl serum albumin (GSA) as a substitute for the blood sampling method. Seven healthy volunteers and 27 patients with liver disease underwent 99mTc-GSA scanning. After normalization of the y-intercept as 100 percent, a biexponential regression curve for the precordial time-activity curve provided the percent injected dose (%ID) of 99mTc-GSA in the blood without blood sampling. The discrepancy between %ID obtained by the curve-fitting method and that by the multiple blood samples was minimal in normal volunteers 3.1 +/- 2.1% (mean+/-standard deviation, n = 77 sampling). Slightly greater discrepancy was observed in patients with liver disease (7.5 +/- 6.1%, n = 135 sampling). The %ID at 15 min after injection obtained from the fitted curve was significantly greater in patients with liver cirrhosis than in the controls (53.2 +/- 11.6%, n = 13; vs. 31.9 +/- 2.8%, n = 7, p < 0.0001). There was a highly linear correlation between the %IDs of 99mTc-GSA and the plasma retention rate for indocyanine green (r = -0.869, p < 0.0001, n = 27). These results indicate that the curve-fitting method provides an accurate %ID of 99mTc-GSA and could be a substitute for the blood sampling method.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Stimulation of asialoglycoprotein uptake by recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor in normal and damaged rat liver.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a strong mitogen of hepatocytes. However, little is known about the effect of HGF on the asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) of hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to identify alterations in binding of ligand to ASGPR by recombinant human HGF (rhHGF) infusion. METHODS: RhHGF was administered to rats with either normal or dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-damaged livers. Technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl-human serum albumin (GSA) blood clearance was used to measure ASGPR activity. RESULTS: In normal and damaged rats, liver weight, hepatocyte nuclear size, and number of hepatocytes (cells/mm2) were not altered by rhHGF, but GSA blood clearance after rhHGF infusion was significantly increased over the preinfusion rate. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of proliferation of hepatocytes, rhHGF stimulates a hepatocytic function of the receptor-mediated uptake of ASGP.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Does physical status influence the axillary temperature among junior high-school students?].

The relationship between physical status and axillary temperature was examined in 373 junior high-school students. Axillary temperature was measured with a mercury glass thermometer, twice a day (8:15, 15:45) for a week, 10 minutes taken for each measurement. In addition, body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height. And the subjects were divided into two groups according to the mean value of BMI (19.20 [kg/m2]), i.e., the low BMI group (LB) and the high BMI group (HB). We then compared the axillary temperature between LB and HB. The temperature both in the morning and afternoon was significantly lower in the HB than in the LB (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). In conclusion, a high BMI was associated with a decrease in axillary temperature in junior high-school students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy presenting with protein-losing gastroenteropathy and serum copper deficiency: a case report].

We report a 56-year old female with mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE), presenting with protein-losing gastroenteropathy and serum copper deficiency. There was no neuromuscular disease in her family members. Three years prior to admission, she developed severe gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and ascites, and was diagnosed as having protein-losing gastroenteropathy based on alpha(1)-antitrypsin clearance and other tests. She was referred to our department when neurological symptoms were apparent. Neurological examinations revealed bilateral ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, hearing loss, facial and limb muscle weakness, mild sensory deficit of vibration on her feet and hypoactive deep tendon reflexes. Pigmentary retinopathy, cerebellar ataxia and heart block were not seen. Serum copper level was decreased to 45 micrograms/dl (normal: 83-155). Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction was proven by X-ray studies, and diffuse leukoencephalopathy demonstrated on brain MRI. On EMG, motor nerve conduction velocities were prolonged with temporal dispersion. Her muscle biopsy from biceps brachii muscle showed both neuropathic and myopathic changes, scattered ragged-red fibers and focal cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction analysis on mitochondrial DNA showed no deletions nor point mutations. The clinical and pathologic findings of the present patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) proposed by Hirano et al. There are few reported patients with MNGIE in Japan, but none presented with protein-losing gastroenteropathy and serum copper deficiency. Since the copper is a cofactor of cytochrome c oxidase, decreased serum copper level may aggravate the respiratory chain enzyme metabolism in mitochondria. Therefore, treatment for gastrointestinal tract disturbance and copper administration may be necessary to prevent disease progression.

Brain↗