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Biomedical subjects

K Minowa

Publications and source records attributed to K Minowa.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Case report of Farmer's lung disease in siblings in Kagoshima Prefecture].

Two cases of farmer's lung disease in siblings are reported. A 54-year-old male farmer, who had been engaged in stock work for 20 years, presented to our clinic for the second episode of fever, productive cough and shortness of breath. Chest roentgenogram revealed diffuse micronodular pattern, and mild hypoxemia was recognized on arterial blood gas analysis. Cytology obtained from BALF showed lymphocytosis, with especially increased OKT3, OKT4 positive cells and OKT4/8 ratio. The diagnosis was confirmed by highly positive reaction of precipitins to Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and granulomatous interstitial pneumonitis on histopathological examination. The second case was a 51-year-old female patient, the sister of the first case, who also worked as a stock farmer of another farm for 20 years. She presented with an episode of similar symptoms to the first case, one and a half years after the onset of her brother's symptoms. The findings of roentgenogram, BALF analysis, precipitins to T. Vulgaris and pathology were similar to those of the first case. The finding of high OKT4/8 ratio on BALF analysis in both cases is characteristic of formers lung disease, in contrast to the summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis which usually shows low OKT4/8 ratio in BALF. To our knowledge, this is the first report of farmer's lung disease in an area other than the northern part of Japan. Thus we conclude that farmer's lung disease may occur in Japan under any environmental conditions, and that some genetic factor may take part in the onset of this disease.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1990

[Application of the Ricketts analysis to children in the primary dentition. Fourth Report: development of lateral cephalogram analysis system and consideration of facial pattern].

A lateral cephalogram analysis system has been developed allowing an extended application of the Ricketts analysis to primary dentition. Using this system, we first examined the growth of facial patterns from the BA-NA ratio profilograms. As samples, we used records of children with normal occlusions stored at Nihon University School of Dentistry Department of Pedodontics. We then used the Fuzzy theory to change Vert's formula and obtained facial types. Lastly, we obtained compositional ratios of facial types within each age group. The results were as follows: 1) Facial patterns tended to show three divisions according to three age groups; from 3 to 5-year olds, from 6 to 7-year olds and from 8 to 10-year olds. 2) The Vert's values of the BA-NA ratio profilograms in each age group based on the data of 9-year olds tended to decrease as age increased. The change was mostly restricted to the range of Mesiofacial type. 3) As for the compositional ratio of facial types in each age group, a nearly normal distribution was observed mainly with the Mesiofacial type. 4) From the lateral cephalogram analysis system which has been developed and the profilograms of the average values for each age group which have been obtained by this system, we obtained the standard values for future evaluation of facial patterns of children with malocclusions.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Chronological relationship between neurological signs and electrophysiological changes in rats with methylmercury poisoning - special reference to selenium protection.

In order to see chronological relationship between electrophysiological changes and "early" neurological sign (tail rotation) elicited in rats poisoned with methylmercury, we made serial measurements of amplitude of compound action potential and sensory nerve conduction velocity of the tail nerve in rats with five dose schedules [methylmercury vs selenium, (1)20 ppm:0.1 ppm, (2)20: 0.3, (3)20: 0.6, (4)10: 0.1, (5)10: 0.6]. We observed the following sequence in the onset of neuro-electro-physiolo-somatic signs: fall in compound action potential greater than decrease in sensory nerve conduction velocity greater than tail rotation greater than weight loss. Protective potency of dietary selenium against neurotoxicity of methylmercury was observed with regard to both electrophysiological changes and neurological signs.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1983

Changes in dietary fiber intake among Japanese in the 20th century: a relationship to the prevalence of diverticular disease.

In view of the fact that Japanese dietary patterns have been undergoing rapid "Westernization," in part characterized by decrease in fiber, we assessed dietary and crude fiber content in the Japanese diet using food consumption tables for the period from 1911 to 1980, and studied the trend in the reported prevalence of diverticular disease of the colon. Fiber content declined in diphasic pattern: the first decline, which probably had started in the late 19th century, progressed until the Second World War. Although records during the war period were unavailable, the high fiber content of the Japanese diet in the period immediately after the war reflects the tendency to supplement rice with more fiber-rich cereals, and to increase the amount of rice through reduced polishing during the war time. The second decline in fiber content in the Japanese diet, which started in the 1950s and progressed throughout the period of "high economic growth," was mainly due to the decrease in cereal consumption. The changes in crude fiber content in the Japanese diet after the Second World War resemble the pattern of rapid decline noted in the United States during the 1930s to the 1950s. The prevalence of diverticular disease in both countries also shows sudden steep upward turns during the period between 1930 and 1950 in the United States and the late 1970s in Japan, suggesting the presence of threshold level(s) of fiber intake for the effective prevention of diverticular disease. The prevalence of diverticular disease is still relatively low in Japan. However, if the current dietary trend continues, it may rise to a level currently found in the "Western" countries in the coming few decades.

Dietary Fiber↗
PubMed1983

Neural activities during replacement of blood with fluorocarbon emulsion.

Exchange transfusion of the blood with fluorocarbon (FC) emulsion was conducted in the cat ventilated spontaneously with high oxygen tension gas, and responses of various neural activities to this replacement were studied. Animals survived in good physiological condition, at hematocrit values of less than 5%, more than 3 hours after the end of the FC transfusion. Electroencephalographic activity and afferent impulses of the carotid sinus nerve increased and sympathetic renal nerve activities decreased compared with the control activities before the replacement, indicating no impairment in the reflexogenic control of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Moreover, the amplitudes of the sensory evoked cortical potentials increased with lower hematocrit values during FC treatment. However, early components of auditory brain stem responses did not increase as markedly compared with the cortical responses. We concluded that the general condition of the animals and the neural responses examined were well preserved after FC emulsion exchange transfusion.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1980

Acute lead poisoning of the pigeon induced by single, intraperitoneal administration of lead acetate.

A single dose of lead acetate (either 30 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered to adult feral pigeons, Columba livia var and the effects of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (CaNa2EDTA), (0, 150, 300, 600 mg/kg), administered i.p. twice a week in the ensuing period were observed. Lead acetate caused dose related mortality and decreases in weight, hematocrit and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D). Acute toxicity of lead acetate in the pigeon, when given intraperitoneally, appeared approximately equivalent to that in the rat and mouse in terms of LD50. Blood lead (blood Pb) levels observed during the lethal stage were five to ten times less than those reported for chronic oral lead poisoning in the pigeon. Biological implications of elevated levels of blood Pb observed in the feral pigeon in the urban Tokyo area are discussed. CaNa2EDTA induced dose related recovery in ALA-D in 30 mg/kg group, and reduction of blood Pb levels in the group dosed with 150 mg/kg of lead acetate.

Animals↗