Biomedical subjects

M Hara

Publications and source records attributed to M Hara.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

[Neuronal intracellular chloride ion concentrations and their regulatory mechanisms].

Intracellular chloride ion concentration ([Cl-]i) plays an important role in cellular functions including the control of membrane potential and excitability. In neurons, Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl) is lower or higher than the membrane potential (Em), suggesting that [Cl-]i is lower or higher than that expected from passive distribution. As the mechanisms to control [Cl-]i, active outwardly or inwardly directed Cl- transport systems have been reported. The former includes Na(+)-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, K+/Cl- cotransporter and ATP-dependent Cl- pump; and the latter includes Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter and amino acid-dependent Na+/Cl- cotransporter. In hippocampal pyramidal cells, recent studies using a Cl(-)-sensitive fluorescent probe to monitor [Cl-]i revealed the presence of an ATP-dependent Cl- pump and a Na+/K+2Cl- cotransporter, and an uneven distribution of [Cl-]i (cell body less than dendrite) and these Cl- transport systems. Intracerebroventricular administration of an inhibitor of the ATP-dependent Cl- pump, ethacrynic acid, induces status epilepticus in mice. Thus, it appears to be necessary to elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms of Cl- transporters and their control systems for a better understanding of Cl(-)-related functions in neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Chromosome-sized DNA of Malassezia pachydermatis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

The genome of Malassezia pachydermatis isolates from dogs was resolved into six chromosomes by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and their molecular sizes were calculated as 820, 1,100, 1,400, 1,470, 1,660 and 1,820 Kb, respectively. Comparison of electrophoretic patterns suggested that the chromosomes of M. pachydermatis were homozygous.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

PubMed1992

Mexiletine and disopyramide suppress ventricular premature contractions (VPC) irrespective of the relationship between the VPC and the underlying heart rate.

The effects of mexiletine (300 mg/day, 24 patients) and disopyramide (300 mg/day, 20 patients) on ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) were studied using a 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram. The VPC frequency was evaluated as a function of the underlying heart rate (HR). The VPC-HR correlation was classified into 2 major types, depending on whether the frequency of the VPC increased with the increased HR (positive type) or not (nonpositive type). The effects of the drugs were assessed based on the VPC-HR correlation and on the percent reduction of the VPC frequency. Mexiletine and disopyramide significantly decreased the frequency of the VPCs of both the positive and nonpositive types. Each drug was assumed to be effective when the percent reduction of the VPC frequency exceeded 70%. Mexiletine (300 mg/day) was 58.5% effective in positive type patients and 33.3% effective in nonpositive type patients, with a total efficacy of 45.8%. Disopyramide was effective in 50% of total cases with 44.4% in positive type patients and 54.5% in nonpositive type patients. However, the efficacy of these drugs on the 2 different types of VPCs was the same statistically. The findings strikingly contrasted those obtained with diltiazem and atenolol, which predominantly suppressed VPCs of the positive type which share similar characteristics with a triggered activity in vitro. We conclude that the mode of action of class I antiarrhythmics on the VPCs differs from that of class II or IV antiarrhythmics, as viewed from the VPC-HR relationship, and that the difference probably comes from the different arrhythmogenesis for positive and nonpositive types of VPCs, in addition to the different electrophysiological actions of mexiletine and disopyramide.

Cardiac Complexes, Premature↗

PubMed1992

Cytomegalovirus infection associated with acute pancreatitis, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure.

The occurrence of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure associated with cytomegaloviral infection is rare. A 27-year-old housewife was admitted to our hospital with complaints of thirst, muscle weakness, abdominal pain and oliguria. There was no past history of diabetes, drinking, fever or drug habituation and a negative family history. Laboratory tests revealed myoglobinuria, hyper-pancreatic type amylaseuria, hyperglycemia, azotemia and highly increased creatine phosphokinase in the plasma. She was treated with hemodialysis and insulin therapy. Serological studies showed a 4-fold increase in cytomegalovirus antibody titers 4 weeks after admission. Muscle biopsy specimens showed hyaline degeneration and infiltration of T cell lymphocytes in the muscle. Renal biopsy specimens showed acute tubular necrosis and some myoglobin casts. No cytomegalovirus antigen was found in renal specimens by immunofluorescence study. From these results, it was determined that a systemic cytomegalovirus infection triggered pancreatitis which caused diabetic ketoacidosis, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

Poliovirus surveillance: isolation of polioviruses in Japan, 1980-1991. A report of the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Agents in Japan.

This report presents an overall distribution of poliovirus isolations in Japan, where poliomyelitis has been under control over two decades as a result of legal administration of two doses of the trivalent live oral poliovirus vaccine of the Sabin strains (OPV) to children under 48 months of age. During the past 12 years from 1980 through 1991, a total of 1,126 poliovirus isolations from humans and 268 isolations from sewage/river water were reported by respectively 49 and nine of the participating laboratories. Type 2 was most frequently isolated from children after administration of one dose of OPV, followed by type 1 and type 3. On the contrary, after the second dose of OPV, the rate of isolation of type 3 exceeded those of type 2 and type 1. Seasonal and age distribution of poliovirus isolations from both humans and sewage/river water paralleled the OPV vaccination schedule in Japan. One percent of the isolations were, however, from infants younger than the vaccination-scheduled ages and 5% were from children older than those ages, including one each from 15 and 16 years olds. The data indicate that the poliovirus has silently been disseminated from vaccinated children to others and the community, thus suggesting repeated transmission of the viruses. The fact that some elder children had poliovirus colonization in their alimentary tracts indicates a potential risk of infection of such a population when exposed to a wild virus and of becoming a source of transmission to others.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

[A case of intrascrotal hemangioma].

Intrascrotal hemangioma is rare. A case is presented and the literature is reviewed. A 35 year-old male with the complaint of a painless right scrotal mass underwent right high orchiectomy because the mass was hard and difficult to separate from the right testicle in scrotal exploration. Histologic study revealed that the tumor consisted of a venous hemangioma and the greater part of it was displaced by organized connective tissue. It is extremely rare for a case of intrascrotal hemangioma to require orchiectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Effects of cepharanthin on leukopenia and thrombocytopenia induced by chemotherapy in lung cancer patients].

We studied the effects of Cepharanthin (CEP) on bone marrow suppression induced by chemotherapy in 18 primary lung cancer patients (14 NSCLC, 4 SCLC). NSCLC patients received IP (IFM+CDDP) therapy and SCLC patients received ION (IFM+VCR+ACNU) therapy. For the control, we chose the first course and we administered CEP (1 mg/kg) during the second course. The rate of leukopenia and neutropenia was significantly lower during the CEP course than during the control (p less than 0.01). The recovery rate (at 3 weeks) of leukopenia and neutropenia was significantly higher during the CEP course than during the control (p less than 0.05). But, obvious effects of CEP for lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were not obtained. Side effects by CEP were not observed in this study. These data suggest that the large dose of CEP contributes to the prevention of leukopenia, especially neutropenia, in patients who receive a sufficient amount of anticancer drugs.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Type III procollagen N-terminal peptide (P-III-P, prolyl hydroxylase (PH), and laminin P1 levels in serum and BALF of radiotherapy patients].

The etiology of pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear, and at present there are no definite biochemical markers of its activity. We measured serum and BALF levels of type III procollagen N-terminal peptide (P-III-P), prolyl hydroxylase (PH), and laminin P1 in patients who had undergone radiotherapy for malignant neoplasms, and investigated their value as biochemical markers in a model of pulmonary fibrosis. The following results were obtained: 1) Patients with abnormal liver function had significantly higher serum P-III-P levels and showed a tendency to have higher serum PH levels. If P-III-P or PH are to be used as markers of pulmonary fibrosis, the effect of liver function must be taken into consideration; however, no significant difference was detected with respect to laminin P1 levels. 2) Serum P-III-P levels were significantly elevated by radiotherapy. 3) Laminin P1 levels rose in a similar manner to P-III-P levels after radiotherapy, but no significant change was detected. 4) In most cases, the levels of all markers in BALF were below the threshold of detection, nevertheless all three markers were elevated in a patient who developed diffuse radiation pneumonitis during radiotherapy. Increases in the lymphocyte count were found in BALF of this patient. 5) BALF hyaluronic acid levels were negative in the 3 cases assayed. 6) A significant correlation between P-III-P and laminin P1 in serum was shown, but no significant correlations could be found between the other combinations of markers in serum. Thus it appears that serum P-III-P and laminin P1 are valid biochemical markers of pulmonary fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

PubMed1992

Cytokine regulation of prolyl 4-hydroxylase production in skin fibroblast cultures from patients with systemic sclerosis: contribution to collagen synthesis and fibrosis.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH) is an enzyme that catalyzes an essential step in procollagen synthesis. PH production, as measured by the new ELISA method, was significantly higher in fibroblast cultures from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; N = 7) than in cultures from healthy controls (NC; N = 5) (p less than 0.01). Transforming growth factor-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha significantly increased PH production, but recombinant interferon-gamma had a significant negative effect on PH production. Since the production of PH is relevant to collagen synthesis by fibroblasts of patients with SSc, regulation of PH production may have therapeutic value.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1992

Plasma thrombomodulin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex are elevated in active systemic lupus erythematosus.

Plasma levels of thrombomodulin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex were measured by ELISA in patients with rheumatic diseases. Thrombomodulin levels in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were significantly higher than those in patients with inactive SLE or in healthy controls. This suggests that thrombomodulin, normally a component of vascular endothelial cell membrane, is easily released to plasma in patients with active SLE. High titers of the thrombomodulin level and the correlated alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex elevations imply vascular injury, and consequently, excessive fibrinolytic processes in active SLE.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Effect of prolyl 4-hydroxylase inhibitor on fibroblast collagen production in vitro: an approach to the treatment of systemic sclerosis.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH), which catalyzes the conversion of prolyl residues to 4-hydroxyproline, plays a central role in the synthesis and secretion of collagen. We demonstrated that fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis produced significantly more PH than those from healthy subjects. To regulate excessive collagen production by scleroderma fibroblasts, we examined the effect of a PH inhibitor on collagen production by scleroderma fibroblasts. Fibrostatin-C, a PH inhibitor, significantly decreased the amount of procollagen (type I) production by scleroderma fibroblasts (p < 0.01). We suggest that this PH inhibitor might be a valid antifibrotic agent useful for the treatment of patients with scleroderma.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1992

[An autopsy case of malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA) which was difficult to distinguish from polyarteritis nodosa (PN)].

We encountered a patient who was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 15 years old and developed malignant RA (MRA) within one year. He suffered from mononeuritis multiplex and cutaneous infarction. Despite of treatment including steroid pulse therapy, neuritis progressed. Lung infiltration, pancreatitis and intestinal bleeding were accompanied. He died of disseminated intravascular coagulation on 153 days after admission. Autopsy revealed systemic rheumatoid vasculitis in coronary artery, pancreas, liver, small and large intestine, kidney and lung. These severe vasculitis occurred in young RA patient are rare case and it is important to consider the therapy and prognosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Spontaneous reflex sympathetic dystrophy (Sudeck's atrophy) syndrome associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenia.

A 37-year-old woman developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) (Sudeck's atrophy) syndrome in the right foot. Simultaneously, she had idiopathic thrombocytopenia. There was no history of injury or bone fracture before onset of RSD. Spontaneous RSD associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenia has rarely been described. A possible relationship between the 2 conditions is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[A case of giant pigmented nevus with multiple meningiomas].

A 36-year-old female had a giant congenital pigmented nevus on her anterior trunk. She complained of muscle weakness of the right arm and leg in August 1988, and she was admitted to our hospital to take medical examinations in September 1988. Neurological examination revealed right hemiparesis and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes. Three small falx meningiomas were shown on CT scans and MR images, but they did not appear to be causes of her symptoms. CT-myelography and MR images revealed an intradural extramedullary tumor spreading from the foramen magnum to C2. Oncotomy and C1 laminectomy were performed. Histological finding was compatible with transitional meningioma. Neurological symptoms markedly improved after operation. This patient is considered as a case of neurocutaneous syndrome with central nervous system tumors. Considering that both giant pigmented nevus and meningioma originate from neural crest, they appear to be closely related each other. Such a combination of giant pigmented nevus and meningioma has not yet been reported.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with extensive demyelinated lesion of the brain stem during complete remission].

A case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) which showed extensive demyelinated lesion of the brain stem during complete remission is presented. A 13 year-old girl who was diagnosed as ALL in February, 1987 was treated according to the TCCSG L84-11 protocol, which induced complete remission in June, 1987. Her condition had been stable until April, 1988 when she abruptly complained of gait disturbance, vertigo and anorexia. She was subsequently admitted to our hospital. At the time of admission, she had ataxic gait, horizontal nystagmus towards right at dextroversion, bilateral exaggerated patellar tendon reflex, emotional incontinence, urinary incontinence and left 6th and 7th nerve palsy. In the middle of May, right spastic hemipalesia and hypesthesia became apparent. Left caudal pontine-basal lesion was suspected and was confirmed by MRI. Her synptoms progressed. Five months after admission, suffered repeated central apnea and died. Autopsy disclosed extensive cervical spinal cord. Cerebrum and cerebellum were intact. No evident findings suggesting the etiology were obtained. Whole skull radiation, intrathecal methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside and hydrocortisone might have contributed to the development of the demyelinated lesion.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

[Percent home stay, an index for the clinical evaluation of home oxygen therapy].

To evaluate the usefulness of % home stay as an index for evaluation of the clinical effects of long term home oxygen therapy (HOT), we retrospectively examined 70 consecutive cases with chronic respiratory failure treated by HOT in the Ogaki area. The clinical data, underlying diseases, and survival rate of the cases were similar to recent official statistics in Japan; thus, we considered these cases to be a representative population. For evaluation, we tentatively used a % home stay of 70% as the standard level, which was determined by the 25th percentile line. To examine the usefulness of this standard, we classified the study population into 2 groups (the group with % home stay of greater than 70% (Group A, n = 54), and the group with % home stay of less than 70% (Group B, n = 16)), and compared the outcomes, survival rates, life situations, and background factors between these groups. As a result, there were significant differences in outcome (at home 34%, hospitalized 11%, and dead 22% in group A, and 6%, 44%, and 50%, respectively in group B, p less than 0.05), survival rate (p less than 0.05 by logrank test), and life situation between these groups. Thus, a % home stay of 70% is thought to be a useful standard for clinical evaluation, because it reflects both the prognosis and quality of life of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1992

[A case of endoscopic laser polypectomy for endobronchial hamartoma].

A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of left-sided chest pain and dyspnea. Chest X-ray film showed a tumor in the left main bronchus and left pleural effusion. On bronchoscopy, a tumor which moved with respiration was observed in the left main bronchus. We successfully performed endoscopic laser polypectomy. Pathological examination revealed non-chondromatous hamartoma.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

[Inflammatory cell infiltration around beta 2-microglobulin amyloid deposition: histologic comparison of beta 2-microglobulin amyloidosis with AA or AL amyloidosis].

Thirty-one autopsy cases of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) amyloidosis were pathologically investigated in comparison with 17 autopsy cases of AA or AL amyloidosis. In 20 cases (65%, 20/31) of beta 2M amyloidosis, inflammatory cells, mainly macrophages were seen infiltrating around beta 2M amyloid in intervertebral disks. The more beta 2M amyloidosis advances, the more macrophage infiltration tends to be prominent. In cases of severe beta 2M amyloidosis, the cytoplasm of macrophages around amyloid deposition were swollen with engulfed amyloid substance and were often transforming to foreign body multinucleated giant cells. In addition, granulation tissue was formed with infiltrating macrophages, foreign body multinucleated giant cells, capillary proliferation and fibrosis around beta 2M amyloid deposition. On the other hand, inflammatory cell infiltration around amyloid deposition was scarcely seen in AA or AL amyloidosis. Ultrastructurally, macrophages were abundant in phagocytic vacuoles containing amyloid fibrils. These macrophages were immunohistochemically positive for CD68, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. Thus, macrophage infiltration around beta 2M amyloid is thought to be responsible for local pain and tissue destruction of dialysis patients.

Amyloid↗