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Biomedical subjects

K Taura

Publications and source records attributed to K Taura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha production and neutrophil infiltration during ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver after heat shock preconditioning.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Heat shock preconditioning provides the liver with ischemic tolerance. In this study we examined the effects of heat shock preconditioning on hepatic nonparenchymal cells in light of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production and neutrophil infiltration. METHODS: Rats were exposed to heat shock pretreatment at 42 degrees C in the heat shock group (group HS) and at 37 degrees C in the control group (group C). After a 48-h recovery, the left hepatic lobes were given a 90-min ischemia and reperfused. Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Liver tissues were checked for the presence of TNF-alpha mRNA. Histological staining for CINC and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) was also evaluated. RESULTS: In group HS, plasma TNF-alpha levels were significantly more suppressed than in group C (P<0.0001). Expressions of TNF-alpha mRNA in the liver was suppressed in group HS. Production of CINC 2 h after reperfusion was reduced in group HS (P<0.05). PMN infiltration was significantly reduced in group HS (P<0.01). In group HS, liver histology revealed less cellular damage and the plasma level of ALT was significantly reduced (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Heat shock preconditioning suppressed the production of TNF-alpha and CINC in the liver during reperfusion and consequently reduced neutrophil infiltration.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2001

In situ pedicle resection in left trisegmentectomy of the liver combined with reconstruction of the right hepatic vein to an inferior vena caval segment transpositioned from the infrahepatic portion.

A combination of an in situ pedicle resection of the liver and a hepatic vein reconstruction using a cranially transpositioned segment of the IVC after implantation of an ePTFE graft at the missing IVC was useful in treating a patient who suffered from a huge liver tumor involving all of the hepatic venous confluence and the IVC. Although early tumor recurrence remains an unresolved problem for such patients, a surgical approach is feasible. This technique can be justified as a therapeutic modality, not only because it improves quality of life, but also because it provides patients with an opportunity for additional treatment.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed2001

Prognosis of patients with rounded atelectasis undergoing long-term hemodialysis.

We present 4 patients undergoing hemodialysis in whom thoracic computed tomography (CT) suggested a diagnosis of rounded atelectasis (RA) with pleural effusion. The clinical setting and follow-up CT of all 4 patients confirmed this diagnosis. The pleural fluid of each appeared serosanguineous or hemorrhagic and predominantly consisted of lymphocytes. Biochemical analysis of this fluid revealed high levels of total protein, lactate dehydrogenase and glucose. Bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was negative. Pleural biopsy specimens from 2 of the 4 patients showed evidence of fibrinous change and mesothelial cell hyperplasia. Pleural effusion from all 4 patients did not respond to either fluid restriction or aggressive hemodialysis-induced dehydration. The subsequent clinical course and thoracentesis were repeated, and in 1 patient, this was followed by tetracycline pleurodesis. However, 2 patients died during pre-pleurodesis and 1 died during post-pleurodesis, all due to respiratory failure. We propose that the clinical setting and follow-up thoracic CT and thoracentesis of patients receiving long-term hemodialysis confirmed a diagnosis of rounded atelectasis with uremic pleural effusion. We also propose that the prognosis of patients with refractory pleural effusion receiving long-term hemodialysis would be improved by early pleurodesis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Expression of heat shock proteins 47 and 70 in the peritoneum of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal sclerosis, characterized by collagen accumulation, is a serious complication in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy. Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is a collagen-specific molecular chaperon and is closely associated with collagen synthesis. METHODS: We determined the expression of HSP47 and HSP70 (nonspecific for collagen synthesis) by immunohistochemistry in peritoneal tissues of patients on CAPD. The tissue for collagen III, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and CD68 (a marker for macrophages) were also stained. Thirty-two peritoneal samples were divided into three groups (group A1, 11 patients who had no ultrafiltration loss; group A2, 9 patients who had ultrafiltration loss; and group B, 12 specimens who had end-stage renal disease prior to induction of CAPD. RESULTS: In group B, staining for HSP47, HSP70, and collagen III in peritoneal tissues was faint, and only a few cells were positive for alpha-SMA and CD68. In contrast, HSP47, HSP70, and collagen III were expressed in areas of thickened connective tissues in fibrotic peritoneal specimens of CAPD patients. The expression level of HSP47, HSP70, collagen III, and alpha-SMA and the number of CD68-positive cells in group A2 were significantly higher than those in groups A1 and B. HSP47/HSP70-positive cells were mesothelial cells, adipocytes, and alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts. Furthermore, the expression level of HSP47 was significantly higher in peritoneal specimens from patients with refractory peritonitis than without it and was significantly higher in patients with more than 60 months of CAPD therapy than that in patients with less than 60 months of CAPD. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that CAPD therapy may induce HSPs in the peritoneal tissue, and that peritonitis in CAPD patients may be associated with the progression of peritoneal sclerosis at least through HSP47 expression and chronic macrophage infiltration. Our data also suggest that the progression of peritoneal sclerosis in such patients is associated with deterioration of peritoneal ultrafiltration function.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome].

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) in a 25-year-old female is described. The patient suddenly manifested butterfly rash and proteinuria was first pointed out on March, 1994. On admission, her skin biopsy indicated SLE. Subsequently, she developed nephrotic syndrome. Urinalysis showed heavy proteinuria (4.1 g/day), with no other abnormalities in the urinary sediment. Immunological examination revealed positive antinuclear antibody at a titer of 1:80 with a speckled pattern. Anti-ssDNA and anti-SS-A antibodies were positive, but other antibodies were negative. Serum complement (CH50) was within the normal range (30.5 U/ml). The renal biopsy showed no apparent cellular proliferation or increase of extracellular matrices in glomeruli by light microscopy. Slight deposition of IgG, IgM, C3 and C1q was focally seen in the mesangium and capillary wall by immunofluorescence. Electron microscopic examination revealed small and scattered dense deposits in the mesangium, subepithelium and subendothelium, associated with diffuse fusion of the foot processes of epithelial cells along the glomerular basement membrane. According to the WHO classification, the histological features were compatible with those of lupus nephritis (LN), class Ib. The patient was treated with PREDNISOLONE, Mizorbine and Dilazep, resulting in the disappearance of proteinuria and a normal serum level of total protein. The association of LN and MCNS is very rare. We also investigated the relationship between the intensity of proteinuria and histological types of 53 cases with LN examined in our laboratory. The cases with heavy proteinuria were mostly classified as WHO-Class IV and Class V. We report here a case of LN associated with MCNS and also review the literatures.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Visualization of RNA secondary structures using highly parallel computers.

Results of RNA secondary structure prediction algorithm are usually given as a set of hydrogen bonds between bases. However, we cannot know the precise structure of an RNA molecule by only knowing which bases form hydrogen bonds. One way to understand the structure of an RNA molecule is to visualize it using a planar graph so that we can easily know the geometric relations among the substructures such as stacking regions and loops. To do this, we consider bases to be particles on a plane and introduce a repulsive force and an attractive force among these particles and determine their positions according to these forces. A naive algorithm requires O(N2) time but we can reduce it to O(NlogN) with an approximation algorithm which is often used in the area of N-body simulation. Our program is written in parallel object-oriented language 'Schematic' which is recently developed. Efficiency of our implementation on a parallel computer and results of visualization of secondary structures are presented using cadang-cadang coconut viroid as an example.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

Nephrotic syndrome in the elderly--clinicopathological study.

Clinical and pathological findings and the effects of therapy were investigated in 90 cases of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in elderly patients aged over 60 years. Membranous nephropathy was the most frequent type of primary NS. Amyloidosis and malignancy were common causes of secondary NS. Damage to the interstitium in the kidney, such as focal mononuclear cell infiltration, fibrosis and thickening of the small arterial wall in membranous cases, was often observed. Stage I and II based on electron-microscopy, were mainly observed in the patients, with membranous nephropathy. Prednisolone and immunosuppressive agent were most effective in these patients with membranous nephropathy. Prednisolone alone was the most effective on minimal change NS in the elderly. In the course of therapy, side effects such as pneumonia, sepsis due to fungus infections, such as aspergillus and candida, and infection, such as cytomegalovirus and herpes zoster, were more frequently observed, especially in the cases of MPGN, DPGN with moderate to severe mesangial proliferation, with a decline in renal function (Ccr < 50 L/day) and secondary NS. In secondary NS, the prognosis of amyloidosis was very poor and the findings pointed to a relationship between malignancy and nephrotic syndrome.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Influence of tooth-to-denture-base discrepancy on space closure following premature loss of deciduous teeth.

Influence of tooth-to-denture-base discrepancy on so-called physiologic migration of the first molar was studied on serial dental casts of 116 boys and girls, obtained through a dental health program for school children in an area in which there was no dentist. The alteration of spaces following premature loss of deciduous molars was examined comparing the anterior to posterior discrepancies between tooth and denture base. Modes of space alteration showed positive correlation with the size of the discrepancy, especially in the mandibular dental arches. The space deficiency in the posterior region seemed to have a positive effect on the mesial migration of the first molar. Mesial migration of the first molar seems to be pathologic rather than physiologic and is strongly affected by tooth-to-denture-base discrepancies. Space maintenance does not seem to be useful, because it is not necessary in minimum discrepancy cases and is not effective in severe discrepancy cases.

Adolescent↗