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Biomedical subjects

K Ueda

Publications and source records attributed to K Ueda.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Determinants of collateral development in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The presence or absence of collateral circulation to the infarct-related coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) significantly impacts on infarct size and resulting left ventricular function. However, the determinants of collateral development have not been clarified. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the determinants of collateral development in humans. METHODS: The study group consisted of 248 patients (178 men, 70 women; mean age 63 years) undergoing coronary angiography within 12 h after the onset of a first AMI. All patients exhibited complete occlusion of the infarct-related artery. The extent of collateral circulation to the area perfused by the infarct-related artery was graded as none, or poorly or well developed, depending on the degree of opacification of the occluded coronary artery on the contralateral injection of contrast. RESULTS: Well-developed collateral circulation was observed in 92 of the 248 patients (37.1%). The prevalence of well-developed collaterals was 57% in patients with a history of angina pectoris prior to AMI, which was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than the 26% in those without a history of angina. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was then applied to identify predictors of collateral development. Possible determinants of collateral development were long-standing preinfarction angina, severity of coronary artery disease, age, gender, and coronary risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking). This analysis revealed that only the presence of a history of angina pectoris prior to AMI was a significant predictor of collateral development (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A history of angina pectoris prior to AMI is a clinical marker for coronary stenoses. Since severe coronary stenoses can provide stimuli that lead to collateral development, it is reasonable that a history of angina would also be a clinical marker for collateral vessels.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Long-term prognosis of late spontaneous reperfusion after failed thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Early reperfusion improves left ventricular (LV) function and survival after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Thrombolytic therapy achieves early patency of the infarct artery in about two-thirds of patients. In nearly half of the remaining patients, in whom early reperfusion was not achieved with thrombolytic therapy, the infarct artery might reopen by the time of predischarge angiography. However, the impact of such late spontaneous reperfusion after failed thrombolytic therapy on LV function and long-term survival remained unclear. HYPOTHESIS: This study was undertaken to assess implication of late spontaneous reperfusion after failed thrombolytic therapy on LV function and long-term survival after acute MI. METHODS: The study consisted of 198 patients with anterior acute MI who underwent thrombolytic therapy and predischarge angiography: 160 patients with infarct artery patent early and late after therapy (persistent patency), 17 patients with infarct artery occluded early after therapy but patent at predischarge angiography (late spontaneous reperfusion), and 21 patients with infarct artery occluded early and late after therapy (persistent occlusion). RESULTS: Persistent patency was associated with enhanced improvement in LV ejection fraction (7.7 +/- 11.8%) compared with late spontaneous reperfusion (0.0 +/- 9.6%, p = 0.03) and persistent occlusion (-1.4 +/- 9.7%, p = 0.003). Persistent patency was associated with better long-term survival than with late spontaneous reperfusion (p < 0.001) and persistent occlusion (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis comparing persistent patency and late spontaneous reperfusion showed that early reperfusion was an independent predictor of long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Late spontaneous reperfusion after failed thrombolytic therapy was associated with poor LV function and long-term survival, emphasizing the importance of early reperfusion.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Intracellular single-chain antibody against hepatitis B virus core protein inhibits the replication of hepatitis B virus in cultured cells.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we used a single chain antibody (sFv), which is a man-made antibody with a strong affinity of immunoglobulin, to inhibit HBV replication. Because HBV replication can only take place in the viral nucleocapsid made of HBV core protein (HBc), we generated anti-HBc sFv and examined whether intracellular anti-HBc sFv could inhibit viral replication in the human hepatoblastoma-derived cell line that produces HBV (HB611). With respect to HBV replication intermediates, both single-stranded and partially double-stranded DNA intermediates were markedly suppressed in the cells expressing anti-HBc sFv, although HBV RNA intermediates were not affected. This suggested that intracellular anti-HBc sFv inhibited HBV DNA replication by inhibiting reverse transcription from HBV pregenome RNA to single-stranded DNA. Because the sFv-HBc complex was detected in the cells expressing anti-HBc sFv by immunoprecipitation analysis but the quantity of intracellular HBc was not affected, the anti-HBc sFv was suggested to inhibit HBV DNA replication by interfering with the function of HBc. These results indicate that intracellular sFv against HBc might be effective as a novel active molecule for gene therapy of hepatitis B.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Fish calcitonin genes: primitive bony fish genes have been conserved in some lower vertebrates.

Using the polymerase chain reaction method, we amplified calcitonin genes from the cDNA of the ultimobranchial glands or from the genomic DNA of the blood cells and liver of various fishes. The fishes examined were primitive bony fishes (lungfish, polypterus, sturgeon, and gar), 16 species of teleosts, and cartilaginous fishes (stingray). Sequenced calcitonin genes were compared among fishes and with those of reptiles and chickens. The similarity of the calcitonin genes was the highest between the reptile and chicken groups and the primitive bony fishes (sequence similarity of the nucleotides 81-90%). The values between teleosts and the primitive bony fishes were 70-81%, with the exception of eels. Eel calcitonin genes were very similar to those of primitive bony fishes (83-88%). Stingray calcitonin genes were relatively more similar to those of the primitive bony fishes (74-78%) than to teleosts (63-73%). In goldfish and sardine, two types of calcitonin genes were found. We concluded that the genes of primitive bony fish are placed at a fundamental position in this hormone, at least among these vertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Detection of a rectocele-like prolapse in the colonic J-pouch using pouchography: cause or effect of evacuation difficulties?

The functional outcome after a low anterior resection for rectal cancer is improved by a colonic J-pouch reconstruction. One functional problem with J-pouches is difficulty in evacuation, which is more common with large reconstructions. Since rectoceles are common findings on defecography in patients with evacuation difficulties, we proposed that a rectocele-like prolapse may be thus found in patients with large J-pouches. Pouchography was used to identify a rectocele-like prolapse (RP) in 26 patients with a 10-cm J-pouch (10-J group) and 27 patients with a 5-cm J-pouch (5-J group). Pouchography was performed at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Functional assessments were performed 1 year postoperatively. Clinical function was evaluated using a questionnaire. The evacuation function was evaluated by the balloon expulsion and saline evacuation test. No patients had an RP at 3 months or 1 year after surgery. An RP was significantly more common in the 10-J group than in the 5-J group at 2 years after surgery (P = 0.0374). An evacuation difficulty was significantly more common in the 10-J group than in the 5-J group. The evacuation function in the 10-J group was also significantly inferior to that in the 5-J group. An RP appearing 2 years after surgery is more common in patients with evacuation difficulties and large colonic J-pouch reconstructions.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Quantification of osteopontin in the urine of healthy and stone-forming men.

Osteopontin (OPN) is one of the most important components in calcium stone matrix, but its role in stone formation is not clear. Since quantitative data regarding the excretion of OPN are necessary to assess its role, we have developed a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for OPN, and measured the urinary OPN concentrations in urolithiasis patients. Forty-seven men with urinary stones composed chiefly of calcium oxalate participated in the study. The controls were 13 normal healthy male volunteers. Urine samples were collected early in the morning and analyzed by a quantitative ELISA employing purified polyclonal antibodies to synthesized OPN aminopolypeptides. The urinary ratio of the concentrations of OPN and creatinine (OPN/Cre) in the urolithiasis patients (0.039 +/- 0.029) was significantly lower than that in the control subjects (0.062 +/- 0.030) (P<0.05). Single stone formers (n = 26; 0.050 +/- 0.020) had significantly higher OPN/Cre ratios compared with recurrent stone formers (n = 21; 0.031 +/- 0.021) (P<0. 05). The results show that OPN excretion in urolithiasis patients was lowered, presumably because of the incorporation of OPN by kidney stones.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A novel histone variant localized in nucleoli of higher plant cells.

Immunofluorescence staining with antisera raised against p35, a basic nuclear protein that accumulates in the pollen nuclei of Lilium longiflorum, specifically stained the nucleoli in interphase nuclei of somatic tissues, including root and leaf, and in pachytene nuclei during meiotic division, whereas antisera raised against histone H1 uniformly stained the entire chromatin domain with the exception of the nucleoli in these nuclei. Further, p35-specific antisera stained the nucleoli in root and leaf nuclei of the monocotyledonous plants Tulipa gesneriana, Allium cepa and Triticum aestivum and of the dicotyledonous plants Vicia faba and Nicotiana tabacum. Thus, these novel antisera stained the nucleoli in cells of all higher plants examined, although the staining patterns within nucleoli were somewhat different among plant species and tissues. The full-length cDNA of p35 was cloned on the basis of the partial amino acid sequence. The deduced amino acid composition and amino acid sequence of p35 indicate that this nucleolar protein is a novel variant of histone Hl. Further, p35 was strongly bound to ribosomal DNA in vitro. The results of immunoblotting of histones extracted from each tissue of the various plant species with the nucleolus-specific antibodies also suggested the conservation of similar epitope(s) in both mono- and dicotyledonous plants. From these results, it is suggested that similar variants of histone Hl are specifically distributed in the nucleoli of all plant species and help to organize the nucleolar chromatin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Helicobacter pylori-negative gastric and duodenal ulcers.

It is unclear whether Helicobacter pylori infection is essential to the development of peptic ulcers. In this study, we examined the rates of H. pylori-negativity among patients with peptic ulcers. We also attempted to clarify the characteristics of H. pylori-negative peptic ulcers to throw light on the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers. The study included 215 consecutive patients with gastric ulcers (GUs) and 120 consecutive patients with duodenal ulcers (DUs). After routine endoscopic examination and phenol red dye endoscopy, forceps biopsies were performed for culture, histology, and the rapid urease test. A patient was considered H. pylori-negative when the serum anti-H. pylori IgG and the three tests on biopsied specimens were all negative. H. pylori-negative rates were 3.2% in the patients with GUs and 1.7% in the patients with DUs. Lack of atrophy of the gastric mucosa was significantly more common in the H. pylori-negative patients with GUs. A history of ulcer disease was less common and antral ulcers were more common in H. pylori-negative GU patients, but not significantly so. As the urea breath test had not been performed, the possibility of a false-negative result cannot be completely ruled out, but we believe that the H. pylori-negative rate in our study is more reliable than these rates in previous reports, because we visualized H. pylori distribution by phenol red dye endoscopy to avoid false-negative results in biopsies, and we used both biopsy and serum anti-H. pylori IgG findings to establish an H. pylori-negative diagnosis. Since H. pylori-negative peptic ulcers certainly exist, H. pylori infection is thought not to be essential to the development of peptic ulcers. There were few differences between the characteristics of H. pylori-negative and H. pylori-positive peptic ulcers in our study. A large-scale study is required to clarify the characteristics of H. pylori-negative peptic ulcers.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Decreased soluble interleukin-6 receptor in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The plasma level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, has been reported to be elevated in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In addition to a specific cell-surface IL-6 receptor, a soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) exists in plasma as an extracellular domain of glycoprotein 80. The pathophysiologic roles of IL-6 and sIL-6R in AMI are still unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured plasma levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in 17 patients with AMI to evaluate changes over time at 11 points in the acute phase and compared them with parameters of inflammation, myocardial injury, and atherosclerosis. IL-6 showed a triphasic increase with peaks at 3 hours (276.2 +/- 50.0 pg/mL), 2 days (153.6 +/- 35.7 pg/mL), and 5 days (180.7 +/- 52.3 pg/mL) after the onset of AMI. sIL-6R had biphasic dips at 12 hours (31.1 +/- 4.1 ng/mL) and 3 days (29.9 +/- 1.5 ng/mL) after the onset on AMI. The time-dependent changes in IL-6 paralleled those in sIL-6R from onset to 5 days. Thereafter, the changes in IL-6 and sIL-6R varied; that is, IL-6 gradually decreased from 5 days to 4 weeks, whereas sIL-6R gradually increased from 5 days to 4 weeks. Significant positive correlations were observed between the absolute increase in IL-6 and the decrease in sIL-6R and the changes in white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase, and lactic dehydrogenase. Neither IL-6 nor sIL-6R strongly correlated with parameters of coronary atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that IL-6 and sIL-6R are associated with the processes of inflammation and myocardial injury during the acute phase of AMI.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Correction of completely buried penis using the modified preputial island pedicle flap method.

The buried penis is a rare congenital abnormality caused by a deficiency of penile shaft skin and abnormal attachments of the dartos fascia to Buck's fascia. The basis for surgical correction is directed at freeing the penile shaft from abnormal dartos attachments, refixing dartos fascia to Buck's fascia to prevent retraction of the penis, and providing adequate shaft skin coverage with the inner preputial skin. The authors report a modified preputial island pedicle flap method for correcting the completely buried penis performed on 2 patients (ages 9 months and 1 year) at Nagoya City University Medical School.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Cerebrospinal fluid cytokine levels and dexamethasone therapy in bacterial meningitis.

OBJECTIVES: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha were measured to assess the effect and application of dexamethasone (Dex) therapy for bacterial meningitis. METHODS: associations between clinical findings and CSF parameters were first investigated, and prognosis was compared between 25 patients with Dex and 12 without Dex therapy. RESULTS: patients with the presence of disturbed consciousness showed higher CSF levels of TNF alpha (mean: 3015 pg/ml) or protein (mean: 215 mg/dl) than those without it (both, P < 0.O5). Simultaneous increase of TNF alpha (> 1000 pg/ml) and protein (> 100 g/dl) was observed in 80%, of patients with profoundly disturbed consciousness. Patients with Dex therapy presented higher TNF alpha/protein levels at diagnosis than those without Dex therapy (P < 0.05). Despite worse conditions at diagnosis, only one of 14 Dex-treated patients whose initial CSF TNF alpha levels exceeded 1000 pg/ml developed deafness. On the other hand, two of four patients without Dex therapy who had the same TNF alpha level suffered from psychomotor retardation. The differences in the frequency of sequelae between those with and without Dex therapy were significant in patients showing high TNF alpha level (P < O.05), but not in those showing high CSF levels of IL-1 beta or protein. The logistic regression analysis indicated that high CSF protein level (P < O.0001), or no Dex therapy (P=0.0001) was the independent risk factor for sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: although the study number was small, our observations suggested that CSF TNF alpha/protein levels reflected the neurologic severity, and implied that early Dex therapy might be beneficial for patients with prominently high TNF alpha levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Vitreous opacification after neodymium:YAG posterior capsulotomy.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical picture in eyes that developed vitreous opacification behind the intraocular lens (IOL) after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy and determine whether this type of opacification tends to occur in patients with diabetes. SETTING: Shinjo Eye Clinic, Miyazaki, Japan. METHODS: The clinical course in 728 eyes that had Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy was reviewed. RESULTS: After Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy, opacification developed in the vitreous in contact with the IOL in 9 eyes (1.2%). All occurred in diabetic patients, and the vitreous opacification developed within 1 month after the capsulotomy. A vitrectomy was performed in 8 eyes and in 1, the opacification spontaneously absorbed. Vitreous opacification occurred in 8.9% of 101 eyes of diabetic patients, and the prevalence in diabetic eyes was significantly higher than in nondiabetic eyes (P < .0001). Nine of the diabetic eyes were opaque and 92 nonopaque. In the opaque eyes, the prevalence of panretinal photocoagulation was higher than in the nonopaque eyes (P = .013), and hemoglobin Alc (P = .030) was higher; the interval between cataract surgery and Nd:YAG capsulotomy was shorter (P = .047) and the final visual acuity, lower (P = .045). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of vitreous opacification after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was significantly higher in diabetic than in nondiabetic eyes. Viterectomy was effective for this type of opacification.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Pharmacokinetic differences between rat tumour and lung tissues following isolated lung perfusion with cisplatin.

Isolated lung perfusion has been performed for the treatment of unresectable lung tumours; however, the pharmacokinetics of this procedure remain unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the changes in antitumour drug concentrations in tumour and lung tissues after isolated lung perfusion, using different perfusion times and perfusate drug concentrations. Isolated left lungs were perfused for 20, 40 or 60 min with 25, 50 or 100 micrograms/ml of cisplatin after solitary lung tumour nodules were established in rats, and the total platinum concentrations in the perfused lung and tumour tissues were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. The oedema in the perfused lung tissues was evaluated by histological examination and by the wet to dry weight ratios of the lungs. The total platinum concentration increased significantly with perfusion time and increasing perfusate cisplatin concentrations in the lung tissue, but it did not change in the tumour tissue. The wet to dry weight ratios of the lung tissues did not differ significantly among the perfusion groups. Oedema of the perfused lung tissue did not change significantly with the perfusion time or perfusate cisplatin concentration. The results of this study indicate the possibility that different pharmacokinetics exist between tumour and lung tissues following isolated lung perfusion with cisplatin, which could be used as a clinical guide for the selection of appropriate perfusion times and perfusate drug concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Disodium cromoglycate use in children and adolescents with asthma: correlation between plasma concentrations and protective effects for various inhalation methods.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have addressed the association between the plasma concentration of disodium cromoglycate and its protective effects on patients with bronchial asthma. OBJECTIVE: We measured plasma concentrations of disodium cromoglycate for various asthmatic treatments in children and adolescents and estimated plasma concentrations and protective effects. METHOD: Disodium cromoglycate as a 2-mg aerosol (n = 12), 4-mg aerosol (n = 5), or 20-mg nebulizer solution (n = 13) was inhaled by patients in remission. RESULTS: The plasma concentrations of disodium cromoglycate after 5 minutes of inhalation were 3.04 +/- 2.72 ng/mL in the 2-mg aerosol group, 2.95 +/- 0.86 ng/mL in the 4-mg aerosol group, and 7.72 +/- 4.65 ng/mL in the nebulizer solution group. Subjects who used the nebulizer exhibited markedly higher plasma concentrations of disodium cromoglycate. There was a significant correlation between the concentration of disodium cromoglycate at 5 minutes and the protective effect determined by a ratio of the difference in the asthma score between baseline and treatment periods to the baseline asthma score. CONCLUSION: When the plasma concentration of disodium cromoglycate is low, administration of larger aerosol dose or nebulization might be necessary.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Molecular scanning for mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor gene in obese/diabetic Japanese.

Decreased function of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) was reported to cause late-onset obesity and insulin resistance in rodents. Thus mutations in the MC4R gene drew strong attention as a possible cause of obesity and diabetes. We screened for mutations in the MC4R gene in extremely obese [body mass index (BMI) > or = 35 kg/m2] Japanese with diabetes by direct sequencing. A heterozygous mutation (V103I) was detected in one case (2.0 %), however the frequency was not significantly different from that in non-obese (BMI < or = 24 kg/m2) and non-diabetic subjects (2.7 %). No other mutations were detected. These results suggest that mutations including V103I in the MC4R gene are not a major cause of obesity or diabetes in Japanese.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Plasma concentrations of disodium cromoglycate after various inhalation methods in healthy subjects.

AIMS: To compare the plasma concentrations of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) following various inhalation procedures in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Nine healthy subjects inhaled 2 mg of aerosol, 20 mg of nebuliser solution only, 20 mg of nebuliser solution mixed with isotonic saline, or 20 mg of nebuliser solution mixed with saline and procaterol, a beta2-adenoceptor agonist, on separate occasions 2-3 weeks apart. Plasma concentrations of DSCG were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.). RESULTS: The peak plasma concentrations of DSCG were 1.5+/-0.7 (range 0.4-2.4) ng ml-1 in the aerosol group, 8.8+/-6.2 (range 5.3-19.9) ng ml-1 in the nebuliser solution only group, 17.2+/-16.3 (range 5.0-38.6) ng ml-1 in the nebuliser solution plus isotonic saline group, and 24.5+/-11. 9 (range 10.2-44.9) ng ml-1 in the nebuliser solution plus saline and procaterol group. Thus subjects who used the nebuliser had markedly higher plasma concentrations of DSCG than subjects who used the aerosol inhaler. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may have important implications for the evaluation of inhalation treatment with DSCG for bronchial asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Sonographic evaluation of antepartum development of fetal gastric motility.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the development of fetal gastric motility and emptying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of gastric motility sonographically in the human fetus. METHODS: The motility and peristalsis of the fetal stomach were sonographically studied in 76 normal fetuses at 12-39 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric motility was assessed by videotaping real-time ultrasonic images of the stomach for periods of 60 or more minutes. RESULTS: Gastric peristalsis appeared as early as 14 weeks of gestation, and was detected in all fetuses by 23 weeks. The frequency of peristaltic waves was constant, and was 2.2-3 times per minute at 14-39 weeks of gestation. The onset of fetal gastric peristalsis was sporadic and the period with no peristaltic waves was dominant before 24 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric peristalsis increased and consolidated into long-term clusters from 24 weeks of gestation. The mean duration of peristalsis increased from 4.1 +/- 1.2 min (n = 6) at 20-23 weeks to 14.1 +/- 3.2 min (n = 14) at 32-35 weeks of gestation, and remained constant thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal gastric motility was quantified and its development during pregnancy was assessed in this study. There was a critical point of development at around 24-25 weeks of gestation when grouped peristalsis was observed in all fetuses.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗