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Biomedical subjects

K Morooka

Publications and source records attributed to K Morooka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[N-isopropyl-p-[I123] iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography (I123-IMP SPECT) and child neurology].

We studied the clinical usefulness of I123-IMP SPECT in 50 pediatric patients with CNS disorders, which were categorized into the convulsive disorder group (n = 20), the cerebrovascular disorder group (n = 10), the acute encephalopathy or CNS infection group (n = 10), the metabolic or degenerative disorder group (n = 6), the congenital abnormality group (n = 2) and the migraine group (n = 2). The findings obtained were compared with those of cranial CT. I123-IMP SPECT revealed abnormal findings in 45 out of the 50 patients (90%), although cranial CT showed abnormal findings in only 24 patients (48%). This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). In all groups except the migraine, we could find abnormal findings in more than 90% of the patients. Out of 28 patients without focal findings on the initial CT scanning, I123-IMP SPECT showed focal abnormalities in 26 patients (93%). Moreover in many patients with focal neurological abnormalities, we found focal abnormalities of I123-IMP SPECT related with neurological abnormalities of the patients. From these findings, we think I123-IMP SPECT might be better to CT scanning in examining a localized lesion. It was found that in many patients with focal abnormalities in CT scanning, I123-IMP SPECT showed larger abnormalities in CT scanning. By using I123-IMP SPECT we might be able to study the blood perfusional state surrounding the abnormal area shown by CT. In 3 patients with acute cerebrovascular disorders, I123-IMP SPECT revealed abnormal findings 3 to 11 days earlier than cranial CT.I123-IMP SPECT might be useful for early recognition of the pathological state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

[Meningoencephalitis in Kawasaki disease].

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a syndrome characterized by various degrees of vasculitis in small-and medium-sized arteries. We discussed the characteristic manifestations and prognosis of 5 KD patients (male 3, female 2) with meningoencephalitis in the acute stage. The incidence was 3.7% (5 of 138 patients) in our institute. The age of onset was between 3 months and 15 months. The clinical manifestations included disturbance of consciousness and seizures; disturbance of consciousness developed in all patients in the early acute stage. The duration was between 2 and 11 days; seizures developed as status convulsions in two. Electroencephalograms (EEG) demonstrated certain abnormalities in 2 of 4 patients studied. Computed-tomographic scanning (CT scan) revealed fluid collection in the frontal extracerebral space, and monocyte-predominant pleocytosis was observed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in all 5 patients studied. The age of onset in the 5 KD patients was significantly earlier than that in non-complicated cases (n = 138, P less than 0.01). Blood hemoglobin (P less than 0.05) and hematocrit (P less than 0.05), serum total protein (P less than 0.01), and serum albumin levels (P less than 0.01) were also significantly lower. Moreover the period until CRP values turned negative was significantly longer (P less than 0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in these 5 patients. It was considered that meningoencephalitis in KD may develop in cases having more severe and prolonged inflammatory changes; the clinical findings revealed a serious form of KD. We suggest that this might because by vasculitis of small arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and venules, which consists of infiltration of lymphocytes and large mononuclear cells, and edema. There was no neurological sequela in 4 of the 5 patients. However, one patient was found to have hearing difficulty 3 years after the onset. Therefore, the prognosis of meningoencephalitis in KD was considered to be generally favorable.

Brain↗
PubMed1989

[A patient with alternating hemiplegia in childhood].

Alternating hemiplegia in childhood (Verret, 1971) is a disorder presenting with frequent episodes of alternating hemiplegia from early infancy. We report a patient with this disorder, along with a pathophysiological study and a discussion about the available therapies for this disorder. The patient, an 11-year-old boy, visited our hospital with episodes of alternating hemiplegia from early infancy. His family history showed that many members suffered from migraine. He was born with asphyxia. Mental and motor developmental delays were seen from early infancy. The hemiplegic episodes with ipsilateral facial palsy had occurred frequently from early infancy. The episodes were frequently induced by emotional stress. The duration of hemiplegia varied from 10 minutes to 3 days. From the age of 11 years, he had begun to have migrainous attacks with or without hemiplegic episodes. Neurological examination revealed slight muscle hypotonia, choreoathetosis and dystonic movements induced by locomotion, positive Myerson sign, increased deep tendon reflexes and Babinski reflex. CAG, VAG and CAT revealed normal findings. EEG revealed diffuse generalized slowing during hemiplegic episodes. Measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) by 133Xe inhalation method revealed a slight decrease of bilateral CBF during a quadriplegic episode. Positron emission tomography using C15O2 revealed a slight decrease of CBF at the insula, putamen and claustrum of the left side during a right sided episode. Increased excretion of urinary 5-HIAA was seen during one episode. From our clinical and laboratory findings, we think this disorder may be a special type of migraine. Therapeutic trials of diazepam and flunarizine were both effective, but the initial effectiveness was decreased after 5 months.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

[Group dynamics].

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Group Processes↗
PubMed1983

Tuberous sclerosis: proline and hydroxyproline contents in serum.

The serum levels of proline and hydroxyproline were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using the post-labeled method with o-phthalaldehyde and sodium hypochlorite in 30 patients of tuberous sclerosis (TS) and compared with those in 32 pathological control subjects of similar age. No significant difference in the levels of serum free hydroxyproline was observed between TS and controls in any age group. In the age group of 9 to 18 years, TS showed significantly higher mean free proline levels in serum than controls with a difference of about 50 mumol/L. In both groups of TS and controls, total and free levels of hydroxyproline from ethanol-extractable serum showed similar age-dependent curves with peak values at age 12 years, and there was also no difference in the 2 levels between the 2 groups. It is suggested that this higher free proline level in TS with the autosomal dominant trait may be explained as the abnormal regulation of proline metabolism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

A study on simultaneous symmetrical motions.

Three right handed male subjects performed a simultaneous symmetical task involving the motions of reach and pressing buttons. Simultaneous performance time was investigated at several symmetical locations. The symmetrical locations were defined by the combinations of different levels of separation distance, angle and distance. Three levels of separation distance (3, 9 and 15 inches), seven levels of angle (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees from the frontal reference plane) and three levels of distance (6.5, 11.0 and 15.5 inches) were applied to both hands equally. It was found that separation distance, angle and distance were significant factors in simultaneous performance. The performance time was increased when the symmetrical angle region was varied from the 0--45 degrees region to the 45--90 degrees region. Specifically, the performance time was at the minimum at 15 degrees of symmetrical angle and at the maximum at 90 degrees of symmetrical angle. In addition, the performance time increased not only as the distance of the moves was increased, but also as the separation distance interval was increased (i.e., the separation distance interval varied from a 3--9 inch interval to a 9--15 inch interval).

Functional Laterality↗