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Biomedical subjects

M Hamamoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Hamamoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Pericardioperitoneal fenestration for chronic exudative pericarditis using a subxiphoidal approach; report of a case].

A 77-year-old woman with a previous history of median sternotomy and collagen disease, presented with chief complaints of resting dyspnea as a result of recurrent pericardial effusions or restrictive ventilatory impairment. She experienced significant symptom amelioration after undergoing pericardioperitoneal fenestration. We weighed the positive against the negative of various pericardial effusion drainage methods in this study. This operative procedure is not innovative, but favorable because it can be carried out conveniently and safely, enabling early rehabilitation without appreciable postoperative complications.

Aged↗

Function of sigma1 receptors in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the mapping of sigma1 receptors in Parkinson's disease (PD) using [11C]SA4503 and positron emission tomography (PET), and to assess whether sigma1 receptors are involved in the damaged dopaminergic system in PD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied seven normal volunteers and six PD patients. The low density of dopamine transporters and the normal or high density of dopamine receptors were confirmed in the putamen of all patients using [11C]CFT and [11C]RAC PET. A dynamic series of PET data acquisition was performed with arterial blood sampling. We computed the binding potential (BP) of [11C]SA4503. RESULTS: In PD patients, the BP was significantly lower on the more affected than the less affected side of the anterior putamen, although there was no significant difference with respect to the BP between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Release of dopamine is reduced asymmetrically in the putamen of early PD. [11C]SA4503 PET is an indicator of presynaptic dopaminergic damage in PD.

Adult↗

Reliability of MIBG myocardial scintigraphy in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

AIM: To evaluate the reliability of [(123)I]meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy for diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD). PATIENTS/METHODS: A series of 391 outpatients showing one or more parkinsonian-like symptoms was longitudinally followed up for accurate clinical diagnosis. MIBG scintigraphy was performed in the patients and 10 normal controls of similar age. The heart to mediastinum uptake ratio was calculated in each person, and the values were considered abnormal if they were greater than two standard deviations below the control mean. RESULTS: MIBG uptake was decreased in most patients with PD (87.7%), and was seen in all advanced cases with Hohen-Yahr stage III or more; the sensitivity and specificity of scintigraphy for detecting PD were 87.7% and 37.4%, respectively. Surprisingly, over half of the patients without PD (66.5%) also exhibited low uptake, resulting in considerable overlap in the ratios between PD and the other disorders. CONCLUSION: MIBG scintigraphy is a sensitive, but not specific, test for PD. Low MIBG uptake does not necessarily indicate PD, but is essential for diagnosing advanced PD.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Cerebral blood flow index image as a simple indicator for the fate of acute ischemic lesion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of utilizing cerebral blood flow (CBF) index images, we attempted to investigate 1) whether CBF index images can reveal the resulting infracted area, 2) whether the CBF index can correlate other modality (SPECT). METHODS: DWI and DPI were obtained in 17 patients within 12 hours of stroke onset and follow up MRI. On three DPI delivered images, namely relative regional cerebral blood volume (rrCBV), uncorrected mean transit time (MTTu) and CBF index images, correlations between initial lesion volume of and follow up infarction volume of three images and rCBF images delivered with singular value decomposition (SVD) methods were assessed. Then 99mTc-ECD SPECT was taken immediately after MRI to correlate to MRI data. RESULTS: Among the three images, lesion volume of CBF index images against follow up infarct volume had the highest correlation (r = 0.995) to a linear fit and the slope was closest to 1.0 (0.91) and had identical accuracy to the regression coefficient of rCBF images. CBF index well correlated to SPECT delivered CBF. CONCLUSION: CBF index images can accurately predict final infarct volume. Evaluating CBF index images together with DWI can guide the initial assessment in the acute stage of cerebral ischemia.

Acute Disease↗

A case of micrographia after subcortical infarction: possible involvement of frontal lobe function.

Most reports of micrographia associated with focal brain lesions have related this finding to damage in the left basal ganglia. Here we describe the case of a 68-year-old man presenting with reversible micrographia accompanied by hypophonia in the absence of extrapyramidal signs after cerebral infarction in the left subcortical region. At the time of the patient's admission, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging sequence showed the lesion to principally involve the corona radiata, with some involvement of the putamen. Neurologically, mild right-sided brachiofacial hemiparesis and grasp reflexes - a frontal lobe sign - were observed. As his micrographia and hypophonia improved, the patient's grasp reflexes improved in parallel. In addition, recovery of regional cerebral blood flow in the left frontal lobe was confirmed by single photon emission computed tomography (technetium-99 m HMPAO). The present case suggests the possibility that the function of frontal-subcortical circuit might also be involved in the production and improvement of micrographia and that micrographia and hypophonia may share a common pathophysiology.

Aged↗

Ruptured left ventricular pseudoaneurysm penetrating into the left pleural cavity.

We experienced a rare case of ruptured left ventricular pseudoaneurysm penetrating into the left pleural cavity. A 77-year-old woman was first diagnosed with unstable angina due to sudden chest pain onset and abnormal electrocardiographic findings. In 2 days, massive left pleural effusion was recognized by chest X-ray, though subsequent computed tomographic scans did not show any aortic pathology. We observed her with left thoracentesis alone. Two days later, cardiac arrest suddenly occurred and emergency surgery was undertaken after resuscitation by percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. In surgery, a moderate amount of intrapericardial hematoma caused by rupture of a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm penetrating into the left pleural cavity was found and successfully repaired. This rare rupture of a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm penetrating into the left pleural cavity generated massive hemo-hydrothorax.

Aged↗

Distribution and identification of red yeasts in deep-sea environments around the northwest Pacific Ocean.

We isolated 99 yeast strains, including 40 red yeasts, from benthic animals and sediments collected from the deep-sea floor in various areas in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Comparing the yeast isolates from animals and sediments collected from shallow locations, the proportion of red yeasts differed considerably, comprising 81.5% and 10.6% of the isolates from animals and sediments, respectively. All of the red yeast isolates belonged to the genera Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces. On the basis of morphological and physiological characteristics, the isolates were identified as R. aurantiaca, R. glutinis, R. minuta and R. mucilaginosa of the genus Rhodotorula, and S. salmonicolor and S. shibatanus of the genus Sporobolomyces. Only R. glutinis and R. mucilaginosa were isolated from sediments. All of the others were isolated from animal sources. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and 5.8S rRNA gene sequences allowed us to establish the precise taxonomic placement of each of the isolates and thereby investigate the intraspecific relationships among the isolates. Twenty-two strains identified as members of R. glutinis, which showed a wide distribution in the deep-sea, and five isolates identified as R. minuta, which were isolated only from benthic animals, showed substantial heterogeneity within the species. The isolates phenotypically identified as Sporobolomyces species and R. mucilaginosa phylogenetically occupied the placements corresponding to these species. Some strains assigned to known species on the basis of phenotypic features should be regarded as new species as suggested by the results of molecular analysis.

Ascomycota↗

Rhodotorula lamellibrachii sp. nov., a new yeast species from a tubeworm collected at the deep-sea floor in Sagami bay and its phylogenetic analysis.

A new species of the genus Rhodotorula was isolated from a tubeworm (Lamellibrachia sp.) collected at a depth of 1156 m in Sagami Bay, Japan. Strain SY-89 had physiological properties quite similar to R. aurantiaca. Two phylogenetic trees, one based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and 5.8S rDNA sequences and the other based on the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (26S) rDNA sequences, united strain SY-89 to the type strain of Sakaguchia dacryoides through a considerable evolutionary distance. Strain SY-89 was differentiated from S. dacryoides by the G+C content of the nuclear DNA and differences in the ability to utilize specific carbon and nitrogen compounds. The low complementarity of strain SY-89 DNA to that of the type strain of S. dacryoides confirmed that this strain was genetically unrelated to previously known species. The tubeworm isolates are described as R. lamellibrachii sp. nov. The type strain of R. lamellibrachii is strain SY-89 (= JCM 10907). R. lamellibrachii formed a cluster with Erythrobasidium hasegawianum, R. lactosa, S. dacryoides and Sporobolomyces elongatus on the ITS and 5.8S rDNA phylogenetic tree. These five species shared a signature sequence in 26S rDNA, although this relationship was not supported by phylogeny based on the D1/D2 region of 26S rDNA.

Animals↗

Sporobolomyces yunnanensis sp. nov., a Q-10(H2)-containing yeast species with a close phylogenetic relationship to Erythrobasidium hasegawianum.

A ballistoconidia-forming yeast strain, CH 2.141T, isolated from a semi-dried leaf sample collected in Yunnan, China, was found to have Q-10(H2) as its major ubiquinone. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of small subunit (18S) rDNA and the internal transcribed spacer region (including 5.8S rDNA) indicated that the strain was closely related to the two described Q-10(H2)-containing yeast species, Erythrobasidium hasegawianum and Sporobolomyces elongatus, with a closer relationship to the former. A DNA-DNA reassociation experiment showed that strain CH 2.141T represents a new yeast species, for which the name Sporobolomyces yunnanensis sp. nov. is proposed.

Basidiomycota↗

Bensingtonia thailandica sp. nov., a novel basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from plant leaves in Thailand.

Ten strains which were characterized by the formation of ballistoconidia, the absence of xylose in whole-cell hydrolysates, the presence of Q-9 as the major ubiquinone isoprenologue, the inability to ferment sugars and positive diazonium blue B and urease reactions were isolated from plant samples collected in Thailand. These isolates were closely related to Bensingtonia phyllada based on the analysis of 18S rDNA sequences. On the basis of the morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic properties, the 10 isolates were assigned to the genus Bensingtonia. DNA complementarity showed that these isolates were genetically distinct from known species of the genus Bensingtonia. The isolates are described as Bensingtonia thailandica sp. nov. The type strain is strain TY-138T (= JCM 10651T).

Basidiomycota↗

Biochemical alterations during medication withdrawal in Parkinson's disease with and without neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome.

The object was to assess alterations in CSF concentrations of monoamine metabolites during withdrawal of medication in patients with Parkinson's disease in relation to the presence or absence of episodes resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). This syndrome is a fatal condition developing after neuroleptic therapy, and a neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome (NMLS) may also occur after withdrawal of antiparkinsonian drugs in patients with Parkinson's disease. Previous biochemical assays showed that the CSF concentration of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) is an independent prognostic factor for development of NMLS in patients with Parkinson's disease. In the present study, CSF concentrations of HVA, the noradrenaline (norepinephrine) metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol, and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The study population consisted of nine patients with Parkinson's disease with NMLS and 12 without NMLS, in whom metabolites were assayed during both withdrawal and remedicated periods. Concentrations of HVA in the CSF were significantly lower during the withdrawal period than the medicated period regardless of whether patients developed NMLS, and HVA concentrations were comparably increased after remedication in both groups. However, HVA concentrations were significantly lower in patients with NMLS than in those without NMLS during both withdrawal and medicated periods. Other metabolites showed no significant differences. The present data provide further biochemical evidence for extremely suppressed central dopaminergic activity during NMLS, which may indicate a narrow safety margin for medication withdrawal in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗

Polymorphism of the lipoprotein lipase gene and risk of atherothrombotic cerebral infarction in the Japanese.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an important role in plasma lipoprotein metabolism. Several studies have recently reported the presence of a relationship between Ser447Stop mutation of LPL and coronary artery disease. Other polymorphisms (HindIII and PvuII) of the LPL gene have already been shown to correlate significantly with dyslipidemia. We investigated whether these polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We recruited 177 CVD patients (atherothrombotic infarction, n=71; cardioembolic infarction, n=30; lacunar infarction, n=76) and 177 healthy control subjects. Subjects were genotyped for the Ser447Stop mutation and for HindIII/PvuII restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the LPL gene, and the findings were investigated for associations with the clinical subtypes of CVD and with lipid levels. RESULTS: The Ser447Stop mutation correlated significantly with CVD (0.107 versus 0.158; P=0.035). For the CG+GG versus CC genotype, the odds ratio between control subjects and CVD patients with atherothrombotic infarction was 0.42 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.99) (P=0.046). Serum HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not correlate significantly with the Ser447Stop genotype. HindIII polymorphism correlated significantly with CVD (0.234 versus 0.169; P=0.031), but the frequency of PvuII polymorphism was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the Ser447Stop mutation of the LPL gene is a novel genetic marker for low risk of atherothrombotic cerebral infarction.

Cerebral Infarction↗

Topographical relationships among the facial nerve, chorda tympani nerve and round window with special reference to the approach route for cochlear implant surgery.

The topographical relationships among the facial nerve (FN), chorda tympani nerve (CT), and round window (RW) in 22 temporal bone specimens were analyzed morphometrically in order to examine which route is widest through the facial recess between the FN and CT during cochlear implant surgery and in order to establish some criteria to assist in the evaluation of the best surgical approach. Two lines, i.e., the FN-RW line and CT-RW line, were speculated as limitations of a visual field for this surgery. According to the relative position of these structures, including the posterior wall of the external auditory canal (EAC) and an inserted pin-gage that indicates the hypothetical widest approach route, the relationships were classified into five types. Most frequently, the widest approach route through the facial recess did not point directly at the RW, but at the basal turn at the promontory. Moreover, this approach route crossed the FN-RW line in a posterior to anterior direction and the CT-RW line frequently crossed the posterior wall of the EAC. The latter seemed to provide a critical landmark for avoiding damage to the CT during cochlear implant surgery. Therefore, we recommend inserting the electrode into the basal turn.

Adolescent↗

Taxonomic significance of fucose in the class Urediniomycetes: distribution of fucose in cell wall and phylogeny of urediniomycetous yeasts.

The carbohydrate compositions of cell wall were determined in the strains of class Urediniomycetes, mainly ballistoconidium-forming yeasts and related taxa. The major component of cell wall was mannose, and glucose was included as the second component, but xylose was not detected in any strain. Out of 41 strains examined, 39 contained galactose, 14 contained arabinose and 12 contained rhamnose. As a minor component, fucose was detected in 30 strains but not in 11 strains. A phylogenetic tree based on 18S rDNA sequences indicated that the fucose-lacking strains, Erythrobasidium hasegawianum, Rhodotolura aurantiaca, R. lactosa, R. minuta, Sakaguchia dacryoidea, Sporobolomyces coprosmae, S. elongatus, S. folicola, S. gracilis, S. kluyverinielii and S. oryzicola, constituted a distinct cluster from those strains which contained fucose. This cluster corresponded to one of the five subclusters, the Erythrobasidium cluster, in the phylogenetic tree of class Urediniomycetes. The carbohydrate composition of cell wall is believed to reflect the phylogenetic relationships among basidiomycetous fungi. The presence or absence of fucose in cell wall should be regarded as an important phenotypic characteristic in the taxonomy of basidiomycetes.

Basidiomycota↗

Emended descriptions of Tilletiopsis washingtonensis, Tilletiopsis cremea and Tilletiopsis lilacina.

For species discrimination, DNA relatedness, nuclear DNA (nDNA) base compositions and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were studied in strains of the 'washingtonensis group' consisting of the type strains of Tilletiopsis washingtonensis, Tilletiopsis cremea and Tilletiopsis lilacina as wells as nine strains previously identified as any one of the three species. T. washingtonensis is the neotype of the genus Tilletiopsis while T. cremea and T. lilacina are currently recognized as conspecific with T. washingtonensis. The G + C content of the DNA of the strains examined in this study was 66-68 mol%. The type strains of T. washingtonensis, T. cremea and T. lilacina were clearly discriminated on the basis of DNA complementarity. These genospecies should be treated as species. Moreover, an unrooted dendrogram constructed from ITS nucleotide sequences showed that the 'washingtonensis group' was divided into three clusters, corresponding to the three species T. washingtonensis, T. cremea and T. lilacina, respectively. The species descriptions of T. washingtonensis, T. cremea and T. lilacina are emended accordingly.

Base Composition↗

Phylogenetic analysis of the ballistoconidium-forming yeast genus Sporobolomyces based on 18S rDNA sequences.

The 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences of 25 Sporobolomyces species and five Sporidiobolus species were determined. Those of Sporobolomyces dimmenae JCM 8762T, Sporobolomyces ruber JCM 6884T, Sporobolomyces sasicola JCM 5979T and Sporobolomyces taupoensis JCM 8770T showed the presence of intron-like regions with lengths of 1586, 324, 322 and 293 nucleotides, respectively, which were presumed to be group I introns. A total of 63 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences was analysed, including 33 published reference sequences. Sporobolomyces species and the other basidiomycetes species were distributed throughout the phylogenetic tree. The resulting phylogeny indicated that Sporobolomyces is polyphyletic. Sporobolomyces species were mainly divided into four groups within the Urediniomycetes. The groups are designated as the Sporidiales, Agaricostilbum/Bensingtonia, Erythrobasidium and subbrunneus clusters. The last group, comprising four species, Sporobolomyces coprosmicola, Sporobolomyces dimmenae, Sporobolomyces linderae and Sporobolomyces subbrunneus, forms a new and distinct cluster in the phylogenetic tree in this study.

Basidiomycota↗