Biomedical subjects

Koichi Iwasaki

Publications and source records attributed to Koichi Iwasaki.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Relationship between liver injury and transglutaminase activities in guinea pigs and rats.

We investigated the effect of transglutaminase (TGase) on in guinea pigs and rats. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level increased 1 d after CCl(4) treatment of both in guinea pigs and rats since TGaese activity was greatly higher in guinea pigs than rats. However, serum ALT level in guinea pigs was very much lower than that in rats. Liver TGase activities decreased after CCl(4) treatment in both guinea pigs and rats. However, TGase activities in the liver from guinea pigs were higher than that from rats. Decreased TGase activities by CCl(4) in the liver from guinea pigs and rats were significantly recovered by retinoic acid treatment that was reported to increase TGase. Degree of recovery of serum ALT level by retinoic acid in rats was larger than in guinea pigs. These results suggested that the distinction of the effect of retinoic acid on serum ALT level in CCl(4)-treated animals was due to the different TGase activity that increased membrane stability.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed2004

Stent-supported coil embolization for carotid artery pseudoaneurysm as a complication of endovascular surgery--case report.

A 57-year-old male presented with right amaurosis fugax and left transient ischemic attack caused by stenosis of the intracranial segment of the right internal carotid artery (ICA). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting was successfully performed to dilate the stenosis. However, serial angiography revealed the development of a large pseudoaneurysm in the cervical ICA, probably as a result of carotid wall injury caused by the guiding catheter during the procedures. The patient underwent a second endovascular angioplasty. A Palmaz stent was placed across the aneurysm neck to stabilize the carotid wall. Guglielmi detachable coils were then inserted into the aneurysm cavity through the stent struts to successfully obliterate the aneurysm. Both the angiographical results and the patient's outcome were favorable. Stent-supported coil embolization is an effective and safe technique for medically refractory pseudoaneurysms, and may be a useful alternative to direct surgery.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

PubMed2002

Cerebellopontine angle epidermoids presenting with cranial nerve hyperactive dysfunction: pathogenesis and long-term surgical results in 30 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To provide the characteristics and long-term surgical results of patients who present with cerebellopontine angle epidermoids and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) or hemifacial spasm. METHODS: A total of 30 patients (23 women, 7 men) who presented with cerebellopontine angle epidermoids and TN (28 patients) or hemifacial spasm (2 patients) between 1982 and 1995 were reviewed, with emphasis being placed on the clinical manifestations, the mechanisms of symptom development, the long-term follow-up results, and the anatomic relationship between the tumor and the surrounding neurovascular structures. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 37.8 years at symptom onset and 49.3 years at the time of the operation. The tumor-nerve relationships were classified into four types: complete encasement of the nerve by the tumor, compression and distortion of the nerve by the tumor, compression of the nerve by an artery located on the opposite side of the unilateral tumor, and compression of the nerve by an artery on the same side of the tumor. Total resection was achieved in 17 patients (56.7%). Microvascular decompression of the respective cranial nerve was achieved in nine cases of direct arterial compression in addition to tumor removal. The symptom was relieved completely in all cases. In an average follow-up period of 11.5 years, three patients developed recurrent symptoms: two experienced tumor regrowth, and one had arachnoid adhesion. CONCLUSION: Hyperactive dysfunction of the cranial nerves, especially TN, may be the initial and only symptom that patients with cerebellopontine angle epidermoids experience. The occurrence of TN at a younger age was characteristic of TN patients with epidermoids, in contrast to patients with TN due to a vascular cause. The symptom is elicited by compression of the nerve by the tumor per se, by an artery that is displaced to the nerve, or by both. Careful resection of the tumor, whose capsule occasionally is strongly adherent to the neurovascular structures, is necessary, and microvascular decompression to straighten the neuraxis should be performed in some cases to achieve a complete, permanent cure of symptoms with a low rate of recurrence.

Adult↗