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Biomedical subjects

K Tokieda

Publications and source records attributed to K Tokieda.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Prenatal MR findings in a case of aneurysm of the vein of Galen.

We describe a case of aneurysm of the vein of Galen (AVG), which was diagnosed by intrauterine US, MRI and MRA. The baby girl was born at 35 weeks' gestation. She had severe clinical symptoms at birth and died at 29 h of age from intractable congestive heart failure. Intrauterine US detected an intracranial aneurysm and cardiomegaly due to excessive arteriovenous shunting. Intrauterine MRI (SSFSE) confirmed the diagnosis of AVG, and intrauterine MRA (2D-TOF) successfully demonstrated the anatomical structure of the AVG. MRA may be a useful additional sequence to evaluate AVG, and 2D-TOF is thought to be an appropriate technique for scanning fetal AVG.

Adult↗

Pulmonary epithelial cell maturation in hyperplastic lungs associated with fetal tracheal agenesis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cellular differentiation of pulmonary hyperplasia has not been reported in human cases. The authors studied surfactant protein expression and ultrastructure of pulmonary epithelial cells in fetal hyperplastic lungs associated with congenital tracheal agenesis. METHODS: The maturation of pulmonary epithelial cells was assessed by immunohistochemical examination for surfactant proteins (SP-A, mature SP-B, proSP-B, proSP-C, and SP-D) and transmission electron microscopy. As controls normal lung portions of 8 fetuses born at 21 weeks gestation were used. RESULTS: Mature SP-B and SP-D was detected in terminal airways in this case, but not in controls. In electron microscopy, lamellar bodies were recognized, and glycogen granules were less abundant in terminal airway cells. CONCLUSION: The differentiation of pulmonary epithelial cells appeared to be more advanced for the gestational age in pulmonary hyperplasia with congenital tracheal agenesis. J Pediatr Surg 36:1845-1848.

Adult↗

High-Resolution Fourier Transform Emission Spectroscopy of the B(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0)-X(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0) Transition of the PN(+) Ion.

Ultraviolet emission spectrum of the B(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0)-X(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0) transition of the PN(+) ion has been observed at a resolution of 0.05 cm(-1) by a Fourier transform spectrometer. The rotational analysis led to a great improvement of rotational constants in the B(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0) and X(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0) states as well as to the first determination of centrifugal distortion constants for both levels and spin-rotation interaction constant in the X(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0) state. Rotational perturbation in the B(2)Sigma(+) (v = 0) state was observed. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

Impact of uremia on female reproductive cyclicity, ovulation, and luteinizing hormone in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Impaired reproductive function accompanies chronic renal insufficiency (uremia) in both the human and experimental animal. Clinical hypogonadism occurs in both genders. The present studies were designed to investigate possible anti-ovulatory effects of uremia in the female rat, a species that produces multiple ova during the normal estrous cycle. METHODS: Renal insufficiency (uremia) was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. Two control groups comprised sham-operated animals fed ad libitum (sham) or pair-wise with the uremic animals (pair-fed). Estrous cycles were determined by cytology of vaginal lavage. We examined concomitant changes in the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge by radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), and bioassay. Repetitive LH measurements were made from blood samples taken by intra-atrial catheter throughout the afternoon and evening of proestrus. The following morning (estrus), ovaries were collected, and ova were enumerated per oviduct. RESULTS: Experimentally uremic animals manifested a threefold elevation of plasma creatinine and urea nitrogen and concomitantly a more than 50% impoverishment of ova production. Analyses of a large group of animals (N = 83) by RIA revealed uremia-associated attenuation of the preovulatory LH surge. Further measurements of the preovulatory LH surge by independent IRMA and LH bioassay (N = 26) corroborated this attenuation. Additional experiments indicated that these hormonal changes, but not changes in ovulation, might further reflect modulation of LH release by the anesthesia used in the preparative nephrectomy and catheterization surgeries. When normalized to body weight, the ovaries of uremic rats were found to weigh more than those of either the sham or pair-fed animals. CONCLUSIONS: The present experiments take advantage of an experimental uremic model to document a consistent decrease in the number of ova released during estrus in the uremic animal. Possible disruption of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian regulation is further highlighted by attenuation in the preovulatory LH surge. These results provide a basis for further studies of neuroendocrine pathophysiology in a rodent model of uremia-associated ovulatory disruption.

Amenorrhea↗

Intrauterine MRI with single-shot fast-spin echo imaging showed different signal intensities in hypoplastic lungs.

Ultrasonography is used for the prenatal diagnosis of hypoplastic lungs. However, ultrasound poses problems because of difficulties in getting the entire lung in perspective and the results depend on the skill of the examiner. When the alveolar formation of the fetal lung is retarded, the fetus is predicted to show an altered density on MRI using an SSFSE sequence due to a varied amount of alveolar lung fluid. We present a case of twins who showed a marked difference in signal intensity of the lung on MRI, which was useful for predicting the fetal pathophysiology. Intrauterine MRI provides the possibility of diagnosing hypoplastic lungs prenatally.

Adult↗

Clinical manifestations of Bacillus cereus meningitis in newborn infants.

Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) meningitis sometimes occurs in patients with risk factors, which are associated with central nervous system (CNS) anomalies, surgical or anaesthetic access to CNS. We observed two cases of B. cereus meningitis in neonates without such risk factors. The clinical courses of both neonates were fulminant, and routine antibiotic therapy failed. Intracranial haemorrhage was evident at autopsy. According to the previous neonatal case reports and our experience, we found that six of seven neonates were premature babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, five died within a week of onset of the disease, and six had intracranial haemorrhage. We speculate that B. cereus meningitis may occur in neonates, even without any of the risk factors previously described in adult case reports, and that the clinical manifestations of the meningitis might be characterized by the high incidence of intracranial haemorrhage and poor mortality.

Bacillus cereus↗

Surfactant protein-B-deficient mice are susceptible to hyperoxic lung injury.

Surfactant protein-B (SP-B) is a small, hydrophobic peptide that plays a critical role in pulmonary function and surfactant homeostasis. To determine whether SP-B protects mice from oxygen-induced injury, heterozygous SP-B(+/-) gene-targeted mice and wild-type SP-B(+/+) littermates were exposed to hyperoxia (95% oxygen for 3 d) or room air. Although specific lung compliance in room air in SP-B(+/-) mice was slightly reduced as compared with that in SP-B(+/+) mice, it was reduced more markedly during hyperoxia (46% versus 25% decrease, respectively). The larger decrease in lung compliance in SP-B(+/-) mice was associated with increased severity of pulmonary edema, hemorrhage and inflammation, lung permeability and protein leakage into the alveolar space. Hyperoxia increased SP-B messenger RNA (mRNA) and total protein concentrations by 2-fold in SP-B(+/+) and SP-B(+/-) mice, but decreased the abundance of SP-B protein in lavage fluid relative to total protein only in SP-B(+/-) mice. Hyperoxia increased SP-B expression, but apparently not enough to maintain SP-B function and lung compliance in the presence of increased protein leakage in SP-B(+/-) mice. Increased alveolar-capillary leakage and relative deficiency of SP-B may therefore contribute to oxygen-induced pulmonary dysfunction in SP-B(+/-) mice. These data support the concept that SP-B plays an important protective role in the lung.

Animals↗

Surfactant protein B corrects oxygen-induced pulmonary dysfunction in heterozygous surfactant protein B-deficient mice.

Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is a 79-amino acid hydrophobic surfactant protein that plays a critical role in postnatal lung function. Homozygous SP-B (-/-)-deficient mice die of respiratory failure at birth, associated with severe pulmonary dysfunction and atelectasis. Heterozygous SP-B (+/-)-deficient mice have 50% less SP-B protein, proprotein, and SP-B mRNA compared with control mice and are highly susceptible to oxygen-induced lung injury. In the current study, we tested whether the susceptibility of SP-B (+/-) mice to hyperoxia was restored by intratracheal administration of exogenous SP-B. After exposure to 95% oxygen for 3 d, opening pressures were increased and maximal lung volumes were significantly decreased in SP-B (+/-) mice compared with SP-B (+/+) mice. SP-B (+/-) mice were administered purified bovine SP-B (2%) with DL-alpha dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-( -glycerol)] (POPG) phospholipids or DPPC and POPG phospholipids intratracheally and exposed to 95% oxygen. SP-B-treated SP-B (+/-) mice survived longer in 95% oxygen. Although decreased lung function in SP-B (+/-) mice exposed to oxygen was not altered by administration of DPPC and POPG, administration of lipids containing 2% purified bovine SP-B restored lung function when assessed after 3 d in oxygen. Abnormalities in pulmonary function in SP-B (+/-) mice after oxygen exposure were associated with increased alveolar capillary leak, which was corrected by administration of SP-B with DPPC and POPG. Likewise, histologic abnormalities caused by oxygen-induced lung injury were improved by administration of SP-B with DPPC and POPG. Administration of phospholipids with the active SP-B peptide was sufficient to restore pulmonary function and prevent alveolar capillary leak after oxygen exposure, demonstrating the protective role of SP-B during oxygen-induced lung injury.

Animals↗

Intrauterine growth acceleration in the case of a severe form of mucopolysaccharidosis type VII.

We describe a Japanese male infant with mucopoly-saccharidosis type VII (MPS VII) who was born at 32 weeks of gestation presenting as a non-immune hydrops fetalis. His birth weight was 2900 g (+4.1 SD), his birth length was 48 cm (+2.2 SD), and thoracic spine length was 9.5 cm (+2.7 SD) at birth. Ossification center was already discernible bilaterally in coracoid process and distal femur at birth. In eight newborn infants with fetal hydrops of various other etiologies born in our institution, birth length ranged from -0.2 to -1.5 SD and thoracic spine length ranged from +0.5 to -1.7 SD, and neither ossification center of coracoid process nor distal femur were visible. The above data indicate that hydrops fetalis form of MPS VII is associated with intrauterine growth acceleration accompanied by early bone maturation. This feature may be useful in differentiating MPS VII associated hydrops fetalis from those of other etiologies.

Bone Development↗

Pulmonary dysfunction in neonatal SP-B-deficient mice.

Pulmonary function was assessed in newborn wild-type and homozygous and heterozygous surfactant protein B (SP-B)-deficient mice after birth. SP-B +/+ and SP-B+/- mice became well oxygenated and survived postnatally. Although lung compliance was decreased slightly in the SP-B+/- mice, lung volumes and compliances were decreased markedly in homozygous SP-B-/- mice. They died rapidly after birth, failing to inflate their lungs or oxygenate. SP-B proprotein was absent in the SP-B-/- mice and was reduced in the SP-B+/- mice, as assessed by Western analysis. Surfactant protein A, surfactant proprotein C, surfactant protein D, and surfactant phospholipid content in lungs from SP-B+/- and SP-B-/- mice were not altered. Lung saturated phosphatidylcholine and precursor incorporation into saturated phosphatidylcholine were not influenced by SP-B genotype. Intratracheal administration of perfluorocarbon resulted in lung expansion, oxygenation, and prolonged survival of SP-B-/- mice and in reduced lung compliance in SP-B+/+ and SP-B+/- mice. Lack of SP-B caused respiratory failure at birth, and decreased SP-B protein was associated with reduced lung compliance. These findings demonstrate the critical role of SP-B in perinatal adaptation to air breathing.

Animals↗

Rat macrophages in experimental IgA nephropathy.

To test whether the peripheral macrophage functions as early index of oxygen free radical release in association with the development of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), we studied female Lewis rats. IgAN was produced by treatment over 8 weeks with 0.1% bovine gamma globulin (BGG) in drinking water, followed by three daily intravenous injections of BGG, 1 mg/dose. Fifteen rats were divided randomly into three groups: control, IgAN, and IgAN fed vitamin E 100 IU/kg chow. At the end of the treatment period, rats were placed in individual metabolic cages for 24-h urine collections and then anesthetized with Inactin (100 mg/kg BW) for aspiration of peritoneal macrophages. The results (mean +/- SD) extended our previous data in male rats, confirming that the elevated proteinuria of IgAN (3.62 +/- 0.79 mg/day) was significantly reduced with vitamin E treatment (2.59 +/- 0.28 mg/day) in female rats (P < 0.002) More importantly, we indicated for the first time that oxygen free radicals production by peritoneal macrophages in IgAN was significantly reduced by vitamin E: 1.58 +/- 0.91 nmol/10(6) cells/15 min in the untreated group vs 3.28 +/- 0.54 nmol/10(6) cells/15 min in the vitamin E-treated group (P < 0.05).

Animals↗

Association of DQB1*0302 alloantigens in Japanese pediatric patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

We identified human leukocyte alloantigens (HLA) class II alleles in 24 Japanese children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing. The DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were identified using sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes for DQA and DQB. The frequency of DQB1*0302 was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls (54.0 vs. 16.0%, respectively; relative risk, RR = 6.2; pc < 0.00009. We also found that the frequency of DQA1*0103 in the patients was significantly lower than in the controls (RR = 0.194, pc < 0.04). Several studies have identified an association between certain HLA by serotyping. In the present study, we investigated the HLAs of Japanese patients with SSNS by DNA typing and observed a significant increase in the frequency of DQB1*0302 in patients with the disease. HLA-DQ3, which was proven to be associated with SSNS, consists of HLA DQ7, 8 and 9. DQB1*0302 is a component of HLA-DQ8. So we proposed the increase of DQ3 was due to an increase in DQ8.

Adolescent↗