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Biomedical subjects

K Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishimura.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Altered expression of p53 mRNA in the brain and pituitary during repeated immobilization stress: negative correlation with glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels.

In our previous study, apparent reduction of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA was seen in the hippocampus and the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) during repeated immobilization (IMO) stress, but not following starvation. Our laboratory has also shown that the sp1 activates, whereas tumour suppressor p53 represses the promoter activity of GR gene. In an attempt to reveal the possibility that transcription factors such as sp1 and/or p53 are involved in the regulation of GR mRNA expression in the hippocampus and in the PVN in vivo, we examined the expression of GR mRNA, p53 mRNA, and sp1 mRNA in the hippocampus and in the PVN during repeated IMO and following starvation. In addition, the expression of these mRNAs was examined in the anterior pituitary, another GR-rich area. GR mRNA in all subfields of the hippocampus was robustly decreased, while GR mRNA in the anterior pituitary was increased, 24 h following 4 x IMO (2 h daily, for 4 consecutive days) and immediately after 5 x IMO. GR mRNA in the PVN was significantly decreased immediately after 5 x IMO, but not at 24 h after 4 x IMO. Conversely, p53 mRNA in the PVN and hippocampus was increased, whereas p53 mRNA in the anterior pituitary was decreased, 24 h following 4 x IMO and immediately after 5 x IMO. Sp1 mRNA was unchanged in all areas examined following repeated IMO. Following 4 days of starvation, neither GR mRNA, p53 mRNA nor sp1 mRNA showed any changes in the PVN and the hippocampus, except there was a minor decrease in GR mRNA in CA1-2. In the anterior pituitary, 4 days of starvation induced a minor, but significant increase in GR mRNA, whereas it decreased p53 mRNA. Overall, regression analyses revealed a negative correlation between GR mRNA levels and p53 mRNA levels in CA1-2 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and in the anterior pituitary. GR mRNA in the PVN also showed a tendency towards the negative correlation with p53 mRNA levels. The results raise the possibility that p53 negatively regulates GR mRNA expression in the PVN, the hippocampus and the anterior pituitary during repeated immobilization stress.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in octogenarians].

We evaluate the outcomes of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in high-risk octogenarians. There are 20 cases in 5 years, which contain 1 re-operation case, and 10 emergency cases. Nineteen cases were performed off-pump CABG (OPCAB), and conventional CABG was performed for only 1 case because of unstable hemodynamics with intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP). We generally performed CABG with aorta no-touch technique. There is no death case, and no serious complication like stroke. We used 23 artery and 11 vein grafts for CABG, and mean number of grafts per patient was 1.8+/-0.7. And "hybrid therapy" with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was done for 5 cases. Octogenarians are at increased risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality after CABG, but we have performed OPCAB for them and have had good results. And we think that aorta no-touch technique, proper selection and use of graft are important.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Sawtooth oscillation in current-carrying plasma in the large helical device.

Sawtooth oscillations have been observed in current-carrying helical plasmas by using electron-cyclotron-emission diagnostics in the Large Helical Device. The plasma current, which is driven by neutral beam injection, reduces the beta threshold of the sawtooth oscillation. When the central q value is increased due to the plasma current, the core region crashes, and, when it is decreased, the edge region crashes annularly. Observed rapid mixture of the plasma in the limited region suggests that these sawtooth crashes are reconnection phenomena. Unlike previous experiments, no precursor oscillation has been observed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

A case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycotic cyst due to Exophiala jeanselmei complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis by Exophiala jeanselmei that appeared on the extensor surface of the left lower leg of a 34-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The superficial symptoms were a subcutaneous nodule 2.5 x 2 cm in size discharging a serous exudate from its center. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous changes including large numbers of neutrophils in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissues. In addition, periodic acid-Schiff-positive fungal elements consisting of many yeast-like cells and chains of cells with hyphae were seen. The statistics on E. jeanselmei infections in Japan indicated that 54 cases (24 in men and 30 in women) had been reported, of which 50 (21 in men and 29 in women) were phaeohyphomycosis, and about half had underlying diseases; and the sites of the lesions were mainly on the extremities.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Circulating KL-6 levels in patients with drug induced pneumonitis.

BACKGROUND: The circulating level of KL-6/MUC1 is a sensitive marker for various interstitial lung diseases. Previous case reports have suggested that KL-6 may also be increased in some patients with drug induced pneumonitis. A study was undertaken to determine whether serum KL-6 could be a marker for particular types of drug induced pneumonitis. METHODS: The findings of high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) chest scans of 30 patients with drug induced pneumonitis were reviewed separately by two independent observers. The pneumonitis was classified into four predominant patterns: widespread bilateral consolidation (diffuse alveolar damage, DAD; n=7), fibrosis with or without consolidation (chronic interstitial pneumonia, CIP; n=11), consolidation without fibrosis (bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia or eosinophilic pneumonia, BOOP/EP; n=8), and diffuse ground glass opacities without fibrosis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis, HP; n=4). Serum KL-6 levels were measured by a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity of serum KL-6 in detecting drug induced lung disease was 53.3%, which was lower than its sensitivity in detecting other interstitial lung diseases. However, the KL-6 level was increased in most patients with a DAD or CIP pattern (16/18; 88.9%) and was closely correlated with their clinical course. In contrast, serum KL-6 levels were within the normal range in all patients with a BOOP/EP or HP pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Particular patterns detected by HRCT scanning, such as DAD and CIP but not the BOOP/EP or HP patterns, are associated with increased circulating KL-6 levels in drug induced pneumonitis. Serum KL-6 levels may reflect the clinical activity of the particular disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Total aortic arch replacement with a right femur neck fracture on chronic renal dialysis; report of a successful case].

Although recent operative outcome for aortic arch aneurysm has been improved by various newly-devised assistant measures, satisfactory results have not been obtained in cases with serious preoperative complications, such as chronic renal failure. We present here an operative case of a 67-year-old woman on chronic hemodialysis with a calcified aortic arch aneurysm and a right femur neck fracture. First, we performed femur head replacement under careful hemodynamic control. After her mobilization was achieved, total aortic arch replacement was performed in "arch-first technique" using deep hypothermia plus retrograde cerebral perfusion in consideration of her calcified vessels. Her postoperative course was uneventful. We believe that early mobilization was a key for her recovery, because it was useful to prevent postoperative complications such as pulmonary infection and atelectasis. Our experience suggested that meticulous management throughout the whole perioperative course is very important for total aortic arch replacement in such complicated cases.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Is the quality of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting equivalent to that of conventional coronary artery bypass grafting].

We analyzed 44 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from November 2001 to March 2003. Of 44 patients, 40 patients (29 men and 11 women; mean age 68.1 +/- 9.2 years) underwent off-pump CABG (OPCAB) [90.9%]. The mean number of bypass grafts was 2.53 +/- 0.78. In-hospital mortality was none and major complications except for one case of reexploration for bleeding were not seen. The early patency rate of over-all grafts was 94.6%. The quality of OPCAB was considered to be equivalent to conventional CABG.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Relationships between matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases in the wall of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

AIM: The pathologic feature of aortic aneurysm is considered to be the remodeling of the aortic wall, involving fragmentation and decrease of elastic fibers in the tunica media. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-2 and MMP-9, have been implicated in collagen and elastin degeneration within the aortic wall. The precise relationship among MMPs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) is still unclear. We have studied the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 tissue inhibitor of metalloprotein-1 (TIMP-1), TIMP-2 and membrane type 1-MMP (MT-1-MMP) in the wall of small AAAs (30-45 mm), large AAAs (>45 mm) and controls (<25 mm). We investigated the relationship among expressions of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and MT1-MMP in the walls. METHODS: The aortic walls in the patients with AAA were harvested from the maximum diameter, while the aortic walls in autopsy cases were harvested as controls. We analyzed tissue distribution of cell types by immunochemistry, protein expression by Western blotting and mRNA expression by competitive polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: They consisted of 11 in controls, 8 in small AAAs and 26 in large AAAs. Among the MMPs-positive-cells, mainly macrophage, MMP-2-positive cells were in the intima, but MMP-9-positive cells in the intima and adventitia. In the small size, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA were higher than those of control. In the large size, MT1-MMP and MMP-9 mRNA were higher than those of the controls. In the mRNA level of the whole AAA, significant correlations were present between MMP-2 and MMP-9, between MMP-2 and TIMP-1, and between MMP-9 and TIMP-1. These expressions were confirmed by Western blotting. CONCLUSION: We concluded as follows: 1) MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play an important role in the developmental process of AAA. 2) TIMP-1 plays an important role of interacting MMP-2 and/or MMP-9. 3) MMP-2 and MT1-MMP may play an important role in the early stages of AAAs.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Biodegradation of triazine herbicides on polyvinylalcohol gel plates by the soil yeast Lipomyces starkeyi.

The soil yeast Lipomyces starkeyi was tested for its ability to degrade triazine herbicides. Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) was employed as a solid medium in culture plates instead of agar. The cell sizes of the control (without nitrogen source) on the PVA gel plate were much smaller than those on the agar gel plate. The difference between the diameters of the sample and control colonies on the PVA gel plate were almost twice those of the colonies on the agar gel plate (1.9 and 1.0 mm, respectively). Thus, the PVA gel plate is much better than the agar plate for evaluating the degree of utilization of a sole nitrogen source. The yeast grew well (more than 4 mm in diameter) with 1,3,5-triazine or cyanuric acid as nitrogen source. In addition, melamine and thiocyanuric acid inhibited growth of the yeast, and the sizes of colonies were smaller than those of the control. All triazine herbicides tested (simazine, atrazine, cyanazine, ametryn, and prometryn) could be degraded and assimilated by L. starkeyi.

Agar↗
PubMed2002

Island dynamics in the large-helical-device plasmas.

In the Large Helical Device plasma discharges, the size of an externally imposed island with mode number ( n/m = 1/1) decreases substantially when the plasma is collisionless ( nu(*)< approximately 1) and the beta is finite ( > approximately 0.1%) at the island location. For the collisional plasmas with finite beta, on the other hand, the size of the island increases. However, there is a threshold in terms of the vacuum island size below which the island enlargement is not seen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Benzylidene anabaseines act as high-affinity agonists for insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Benzylidene anabaseines are agonists selective for vertebrate alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), while they exhibit antagonist activity toward vertebrate alpha4beta2-nAChR. To investigate the effects of benzylidene anabaseines on insect nAChRs, we performed [3H]epibatidine-binding assays and neurophysiological experiments using American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) nerve-cord preparations. Of the six compounds tested, 3-benzylideneanabaseine (BA) and 6'-chloro-3-benzylideneanabaseine (CBA) displayed the highest potency in the binding assays, with K(i)s of 35.0 and 21.2nM, respectively. The introduction of a nitro group at the 4-position of the phenyl group led to a decrease in affinity by two orders of magnitude, while that of a chlorine atom at the 6'-position had little effect on affinity. In neurophysiological experiments, BA at 3.3 microg/ml increased the spike frequency observed with the nerve preparation, as observed with nicotine at 16.6 microg/ml. These findings suggest that benzylidene anabaseines act as high-affinity agonists in P. americana nAChRs and that they might therefore prove useful as probes for insect nAChRs.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Conventional multiple or microdissection testicular sperm extraction: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) with ICSI is becoming the first-line treatment for non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Recently, the sperm retrieval rate (SRR) by microdissection TESE was reported to be higher than by conventional TESE. However, a comprehensive comparison between multiple and microdissection TESE patients including histological findings has not been reported. METHODS: Patients with NOA who underwent microdissection TESE (n = 56) or multiple TESE (n = 37) were compared. Pre-operative characteristics were similar between groups. In addition, microscopic findings during microdissection TESE also were investigated. RESULTS: Operative time was significantly longer for microdissection TESE than for multiple TESE. Histological examination suggested that spermatogenesis was relatively more impaired in the microdissection TESE group than in the multiple TESE group. Despite this, SRR by microdissection TESE (42.9%) appeared higher than by conventional TESE (35.1%) although this observation failed to reach statistical significance. Seventeen of 26 patients (65.4%) with heterogeneous tubule were successful for sperm retrieval. No severe operative complications occurred in any patient in either group, and no patient required post-operative hormone replacement to treat hypogonadism. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical technique is safe and may improve SRR for TESE in a variety of patients with NOA, especially patients with heterogeneous testicular tubules.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Increased pericardial fluid concentrations of the mature form of adrenomedullin in patients with cardiac remodelling.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that adrenomedullin has autocrine or paracrine activities that oppose cardiac remodelling. However, it remains unclear whether it exerts those local functions in heart failure patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between plasma and pericardial fluid concentrations of adrenomedullin and left ventricular haemodynamic variables. DESIGN: Samples of plasma and pericardial fluid were obtained from 50 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. They were classified into two groups: group N (n = 27) with a left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) < or = 90 ml/m(2); and group R (n = 23) with LVEDVI > 90 ml/m(2). Plasma and pericardial fluid concentrations of total adrenomedullin (tAM) and mature adrenomedullin (mAM) were measured and related to the preoperative haemodynamic variables. RESULTS: Pericardial fluid concentrations of mAM were much higher than the plasma concentration in both group N and group R (mean (SEM), 10.6 (1.7) v 3.3 (0.2) fmol/ml, p = 0.0001; and 21.2 (2.8) v 3.9 (0.3) fmol/ml, p < 0.0001, respectively). The ratio mAM/tAM in pericardial fluid was significantly higher than in plasma (0.56 (0.02) v 0.28 (0.02), p < 0.0001). Pericardial fluid concentrations of mAM, but not plasma concentrations, were significantly correlated with LVEDVI, left ventricular end systolic volume index, left ventricular ejection fraction, and left ventricular mass index (r = 0.60, 0.63, -0.54, and 0.47, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Raised pericardial fluid concentrations of mAM may reflect the actions of adrenomedullin as a local mediator against cardiac remodelling in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Adrenomedullin↗
PubMed2002

In vitro activity of FK463, a novel lipopeptide antifungal agent, against a variety of clinically important molds.

The in vitro antifungal activity of FK463 against a variety of clinically important opportunistic molds was compared with amphotericin B, itraconazole and fluconazole by using the broth microdilution method M27-A specified by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. FK463 exhibited potent activity against Aspergillus species, which was superior to those of all other compounds tested. FK463 was also active against the dematiaceous fungi Cladosporium trichoides, Exophiala spinifera, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, and Exophiala dermatitidis except for certain clinical isolates. However, FK463 had no activity against Fusarium solani, Pseudallesheria boydii, and the zygomycetes Absidia corymbifera, Cunninghamella elegans, Rhizopus oryzae, and Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis. These results suggest that FK463 has potential utility for the treatment for infections caused by Aspergillus species and dematiaceous fungi.

Aspergillus↗
PubMed2002

Clinical study on the antiseptic effect of povidone-iodine solution for the surgical field of digestive tract operations.

Our previous study showed 10% povidone-iodine solution (Isodine) to be safe and effective for skin antisepsis in healthy young adults. The present study was carried out in 45 adult and old-age patients undergoing surgery (average age 62 years). 10% povidone-iodine solution was effective for skin antisepsis; however, after completion of the intra-abdominal procedures, contaminations were found due to the type II and IV operations with unprotected incision sites and wound walls. Diabetes was found to be one of the most important factors in surgical site infection. In conclusion, the antiseptic efficacy immediately after application of 10% povidone-iodine solution was evidenced in surgical patients with class II wounds. The solution was also effective for the prevention of postoperative skin wound infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Health status measured with the CRQ does not predict mortality in COPD.

One purpose of measuring health status is to predict future outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of health status derived from the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) to predict mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One-hundred and forty-three patients with COPD were recruited. Health status, using the CRQ, and pulmonary function were measured at entry. Mortality after 7 yrs was then assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to predict those factors related to mortality. Of all the patients, 13 could not be followed up and 40 had died. The survival rate was 69% at 7 yrs. Univariate regression analyses revealed that the dyspnoea and emotional function domains and the total score of the CRQ were weakly but significantly correlated with mortality from all causes. However, multivariate regression analyses revealed that age and forced expiratory volume in one second were the strongest predictors of mortality, and health status was not a significant factor. Although there was a weak but significant relationship between health status and subsequent mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it was not significant after an adjustment for age and pulmonary function. Mortality cannot be predicted from Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire scores.

Age Factors↗