Biomedical subjects

M Hojo

Publications and source records attributed to M Hojo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

[Tracheal carcinoma causing severe tracheal stenosis].

A 47-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of shortness of breath. She had wheezed for a long time before admission. A flow-volume curve showed a pattern consistent with a fixed obstruction of the trachea. CT findings also revealed severe stenosis of the trachea caused by a tumor mass. Tracheal carcinoma was diagnosed after transbronchoscopic biopsy. The patient received chemotherapy and radiation therapy concurrently for about six weeks. Her symptoms resolved, and a second flow-volume curve had a normal pattern. Tracheal carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of airway obstruction. In such cases, the flow-volume curve can be useful as a screening test.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1996

[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in an 8-month-old infant].

An 8-month-old boy who presented with pyrexia and vomiting was referred to the pediatric clinic of Kitasato University Hospital. He was found to have hematuria, proteinuria and pyuria. Abdominal X-ray film showed calcification suggesting renal staghorn calculus in the bilateral kidneys. At 10-months and 11-months, we succeeded in treating him with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) without complications.

Humans↗

PubMed1995

Idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in Japanese children.

The course of idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 41 Japanese children (21 boys, 20 girls) is reported. The mean follow-up period was 8 years, 9 months; 29 children with MPGN (71%) were identified by school urinary screening; 32 patients had type I MPGN, 2 type II and 7 type III; 10 patients were treated with multiple low-dose cocktail therapy (MLD), 8 with MLD followed by high-dose alternate-day (ALD) prednisolone and 21 with high-dose ALD prednisolone alone. In 1 patient, MPGN progressed to end-stage renal failure. The serum creatinine level in all of the remaining 40 patients was < or = 1.3 mg/dl at the last follow-up. Urinalysis was normal in 24 (59%). Of the 17 patients who still had urinary abnormalities, 4 had nephrotic syndrome. The incidence of remission of urinary abnormalities was highest in the patients treated with high-dose ALD prednisolone. Rebiopsy was performed in 33 patients, and revealed slight histological improvement in 11 (33%) patients, moderate improvement in 8 (24%), marked improvement in 5 (15%) and deterioration or no improvement in 9 patients (27%). Relatively few side effects of treatment were observed. The superior outcome of the MPGN patients in this compared with other studies may be the result of earlier detection and treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[A case of arteriovenous malformation successfully treated with functional mapping of the language area by PET activation study].

The authors report a case of temporal AVM safely treated by mapping the language area with PET activation study. The patient was a 50-year-old woman with temporal epilepsy as her chief complaint. MRI and angiography revealed a right temporal AVM. Before surgical treatment, we assessed the dominant hemisphere with PET activation study. We performed PET scanning while the patient was playing "capping" (called "Shiritori" in Japanese), from which we subtracted PET images performed when she was in a resting state, and then we superimposed those images upon MRIs. The blood flow increased in the left frontal operculum (Broca's area), the left caudal head, the left putamen and the right cerebellar hemisphere. We were thus able to determine that her left hemisphere was dominant, and that it was safe to undertake embolization and operation for the AVM. Postoperative course was uneventful and higher cortical functions were preserved perfectly. In cases of cerebral AVMs, unusual dominancy of cerebral hemispheres is often encountered, and so, preoperative evaluation of the relation of AVM to the eloquent cortex is essential. In our study, blood flow increased in some areas other than the language area, but they were considered to be areas related to phonation, and we think that we were able to map the language area. Though this method is still in its preliminary stage, we think it gives us useful information for surgical treatment of cerebral AVMs.

Brain↗

PubMed1995

[Inhaled beclomethasone in long-term management of asthma: optimal dose and optimal duration of treatment].

We studied the usefulness of 24 weeks of therapy with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) in the management of mild and moderately severe asthma in adults. To determine the optimal dose and treatment duration, the patients were divided into three groups. Patients in group I (n = 10) were treated with bronchodilators but no BDP. Patients in group II (n = 12) received bronchodilators and 450 micrograms/day of BDP. Patients in group III (n = 17) received bronchodilators and 900 micrograms/day of BDP. BDP was inhaled via a large spacer (Volumatic). Asthma scores were measured before treatment began, and again every 2 weeks for the duration of the study (26 weeks). Peak expiratory flows (PEF) were measured before treatment began, 2 weeks after treatment had begun, and again every four weeks until the end of the study. Vital capacity, FEV1, and bronchial reactivity to methacholine were measured before treatment began, and again 12 weeks and 24 weeks after it had begun. Adrenocortical function in patients in group III was measured with a rapid ACTH test, at the same time as the pulmonary functions were measured. The results were: 1) Asthma scores decreased more in patients who received the higher dose of BDP than in those who received the lower dose, especially during the second 12 weeks. 2) After two weeks of treatment, %PEF had increased significantly in both groups that received BDP, but after six weeks of treatment there was no further improvement. %PEF did not improve in the group given bronchodilators only. 3) In the patients whose baseline %PEF was less than 80%, only the higher dose of BDP significantly increased %PEF. 4) Only the higher dose of BDP increased the %VC, the FEV1%, and the PD20 for methacholine. 5) Asthma type and severity were not related to the usefulness of BDP therapy. 6) Results of the rapid ACTH test indicated that the higher dose of BDP did not suppress adrenocortical function. These data indicate that 900 micrograms of BDP per day is more effective than 450 micrograms/day as initial therapy for long-term management of mild or moderate asthma in adults, and that the dose of BDP should be reviewed after 3 months of treatment. Patients in whom asthma is well-controlled may tolerate a reduction in dose, and those in whom asthma is not well-controlled may require a higher dose.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1995

[Pulmonary involvement in immunoblastic lymphadenopathy: case reports and review of literature published in Japan].

To investigate pulmonary involvement in immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (IBL), we report five cases of IBL and 21 other reports from the literature published in Japan. Three of the present patients had respiratory symptoms and showed hypoxemia on admission. Radiographic findings in the present cases showed bilateral mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy (LA: 4/5), pleural effusion (PE: 5/5), interstitial shadow (Int S: 1/5), alveolar shadow (A1S: 2/5), and atelectasis (1/5). In the present cases and those previously reported in Japan, the following radiographic findings were observed; LA (56%), PE (40%), Int S (52%), and A1S (24%). Atelectasis was reported only in the present cases. The nine patients with Int S consisted of four with interstitial pneumonia and five with bronchopneumonia. Four of five patients with bronchopneumonia had an opportunistic infection (three had pneumocystis carinii and one had cytomegalovirus). Among the five patients with A1S, two had interstitial pneumonia and the others had bronchopneumonia. Pulmonary involvement was frequently seen in patients with IBL, and may be an important determinant of the outcome of the disease.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Calcium metabolism in normal and hypertensive pregnancy.

Calcium homeostasis is an important aspect of maternal and fetal physiology during gestation, and recent evidence implicates alterations in calcium metabolism in the pathogenesis of hypertension during pregnancy. Deficiencies in calcium intake have been linked to preeclampsia/eclampsia, and hypocalciuria and deviations in both 1,25(OH)2D3 and PTH have been shown in women with preeclampsia. Preliminary studies also suggest that calcium supplementation may lower blood pressure and prevent preeclampsia in pregnant women.

Calcium↗

PubMed1994

Erythromycin does not directly affect neutrophil functions.

To determine whether erythromycin could affect neutrophil functions, we measured N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced chemotaxis and superoxide generation of neutrophils in the presence of erythromycin at various concentrations. Erythromycin had no effect on either of them. We further confirmed that intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was not influenced by FMLP stimulation in the presence of erythromycin. Our results indicate that erythromycin has no direct effects on neutrophil functions in vitro, although it is reported that erythromycin inhibits the local migration of neutrophils in the small airways of subjects with asthma.

Asthma↗

PubMed1994

Effects of anti-allergy drugs on fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated superoxide generation in human neutrophils.

We examined effects of six oral anti-allergy drugs used to treat bronchial asthma on fMet-Leu-Phe (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine)-induced superoxide (O2-) generation and mobilization of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in human neutrophils. We also evaluated the direct action of these drugs on NADPH (reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate)-oxidase activity in cell lysate (cell-free system). Ketotifen (25 approximately 200 microM) enhanced fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated O2- generation and [Ca2+]i mobilization, although it directly inhibited NADPH oxidase in the cell-free study. Low concentrations of oxatomide (5-20 microM) enhanced O2- generation, but concentrations > 25 microM inhibited O2- generation. In concentrations below 20 microM, oxatomide had no effects on fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated [Ca2+]i mobilization, but at concentrations above 25 microM, it inhibited [Ca2+]i mobilization. Oxatomide inhibited NADPH oxidase activity at all concentrations examined. Azelastine, pemirolast, tranilast, and repirinast inhibited O2- generation and [Ca2+]i mobilization. Azelastine and pemirolast directly inhibited NADPH oxidase, but tranilast and repirinast did not. Our results indicated that except for ketotifen and low concentration of oxatomide, oral anti-allergy drugs used to treat bronchial asthma inhibited fMet-Leu-Phe-induced O2- generation in human neutrophils. Based on IC50 values, potency of drugs was as follows: oxatomide > azelastine > tranilast > pemirolast > repirinast.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Surgical treatment of atlanto-axial dislocation in a patient of athetoid cerebral palsy].

The authors report a case of successful surgical treatment of atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD) secondary to athetoid cerebral palsy. A 61-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital in July 1993 complaining of progressive weakness in the right upper extremity and gait disturbance. She had been suffering from athetoid movements of her face, neck and arms due to cerebral palsy. Neurological examinations on admission revealed down-beat nystagmus on downward gazing, motor weakness of extremities, pallhypesthesia, hyperreflexia exaggerated in the right side and bilateral positive pathological reflexes. Lateral tomogram of the upper cervical spine demonstrated instability of the atlanto-axial joint, increased atlanto-dental interval (ADI) by 5.5 mm (in flexion), and narrowed canal at C1 level. Myelogram showed narrowed dural sac and angulation of the spinal cord at C1 level. A halo vest was applied two days before operation for reduction of the atlanto-axial junction and external fixation. She underwent posterior internal fixation using a Hartshill Ransford Loop combined with posterior decompression. This loop was secured to the occiput, C1, C2 and C3 by sublaminar wiring, and foramen magnum decompression and laminectomy of C1 were performed. Postoperative course was uneventful. Postoperative plain X-ray film, tomogram and computed tomography demonstrated good fixation (ADI was 2.5 mm) and excellent stability. There has been no problem during 6 months since the operation. It is known that involuntary movements in patients with athetoid cerebral palsy sometimes cause cervical spondylosis (especially at C3/4 and C4/5 level). Recently, AAD due to athetoid cerebral palsy has been reported. Almost every case of AAD secondary to athetoid cerebral palsy is combined with incompetence of the odontoid process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Athetosis↗

PubMed1993

Treatment of severe pertussis by administration of specific gamma globulin with high titers anti-toxin antibody.

Our patient presented with severe respiratory distress and marked pleocytosis. She was mechanically ventilated and received gamma globulin with high titers of anti-pertussis toxin and anti-filamentous hemagglutinin. Her clinical signs improved and a notable decrease in white blood cell count was observed. Ten months after treatment, the patient showed normal physical and mental development and anti-pertussis toxin and anti-filamentous hemagglutinin titers were significantly increased. Recently, the effectiveness of gamma globulin therapy has been emphasized again. Our experience supports the use of iv gamma globulin infusion. Also, gamma globulin did not influence the patient's own immunologic response to pertussis. Gamma globulin therapy with high anti-pertussis toxin titers could be considered for treatment of severe pertussis.

Antitoxins↗

PubMed1993

Acute antihypertensive effects of the new generation calcium antagonist 3-pyridine carboxylic acid 5-[(cyclopropylamino)-carbonyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophen yl) octyl ester on conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats and renal hypertensive rats.

The acute antihypertensive effects of 3-pyridine carboxylic acid 5-[(cyclo-propylamino)carbonyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitroph eny l) octyl ester (NP-252, CAS 132031-81-3) administered orally to conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and renal hypertensive rats (RHRs) were evaluated using the impedance plethysmographical technique as a modified tail cuff method, and compared with those of nifedipine (NF). In the fitness test of this indirect method, the average value of blood pressure (BP) measured in 7 conscious SHRs was 201 +/- 6.9 mmHg. This value showed good correlation with that (201 +/- 8.8 mmHg) of systolic BP measured by the direct method in the same animals. In the comparative study of antihypertensive activities of the compounds on both models of hypertension using this method, NP-252 and NF dose-dependently lowered BP having a different peak time and restoration after dosing. Therefore, the antihypertensive activities were compared using a 20% effective dose (ED20) for producing hypotension, and the ED20 values of NP-252 and NF were 2.55 and 2.00 mg/kg in SHRs, and 1.25 and 0.67 mg/kg in RHRs, respectively. Moreover, the duration of actions of the compounds were evaluated by the simulated duration time (SDT) which was calculated from the peak time of BP-fall and the pharmacological half life time for the maximum BP-fall and the SDT values of NP-252 and NF were 1.85-4.70 and 0.90-0.75 h in SHRs, and 3.30-12.80 and 0.57-6.90 h in RHRs, respectively. Also, the BP-falls by the compounds were accompanied by an increase in heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[A case of Trichosporon beigelii peritonitis in CAPD].

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was introduced to Japan ten years ago and was established as the treatment for end-stage renal disease along with HD. Although the incidence of peritonitis in CAPD has decreased by educating the patients and parents and the improvement of various devises of CAPD, peritonitis is still one of the major complications of CAPD. Fungus is a rare pathogen for peritonitis in CAPD, but it must be considered as a causative agent in cases of intractable peritonitis. This report describes the first case of Trichosporon beigelii (T. beigelii) peritonitis in CAPD in Japan. A nine year old boy with chronic renal failure due to bilateral vesicoureteral reflux was given CAPD treatment four years prior to admission. This patient had been admitted to our hospital frequently because of recurrent bacterial peritonitis. The peritonitis in CAPD was usually treated by changing the peritoneal fluid and antibiotic treatment. In this case T. beigelii was proved to be a pathogen of peritonitis by culture of CAPD fluid and also serum antibody titers. T. beigelii infection was successfully eradicated from the peritoneal cavity by administration of MCZ and by the removal of peritoneal catheter. The patient was switched from CAPD to HD. In the case of intractable peritonitis in CAPD, rare fungal pathogens such as T. beigelii must be considered as a causative agent.

Child↗

PubMed1992

[Epidemiological and bacteriological study on gonococcal infections].

Epidemiological and bacteriological studies on Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Sapporo, Japan, in 1980 and 1991 performed and the following results were obtained. 1. The range of age in the patients infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae tended to be younger than those in the whole country. 2. Male patients in the early 20s or younger with gonococcal urethritis were often infected by bon-professional females but those in their late 20s or older were often infected from professional females, for example prostitutes and hostesses. 3. The rate of professional females who were positive to gonococci reached 17.4% and young females in their teens with cervicitis had the highest morbidity rate of gonococci than those in the older females. 4. The latent period in gonococcal infections tended to become longer gradually. 5. The isolation rate of penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) showed a peak of 23.9% (61/255) in 1985, but gradually declined thereafter and it was 3.7% (1/27) in 1991. 6. An investigation on auxotype showed a decline of proto and Pro-strains and an increase of AHU-strains in non-PPNG. And most of the PPNG belonged to proto or Pro-strains. 7. With the relationship between auxotype and sensitivity to AMPC, AHU-strains were more sensitive than proto or Pro-strains.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Cardiovascular effects of the new generation calcium antagonist 3-pyridine carboxylic acid 5-[(cyclopropylamino)carbonyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitropheny l) octyl ester.

The cardiovascular effects of 3-pyridine carboxylic acid 5-[(cyclopropylamino)carbonyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitro phenyl) oxtyl ester (NP-252, CAS 132031-81-3) were examined in anesthetized closed- or open-chest dogs and Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts, and compared with those of nifedipine (NF) and nicardipine (NC). In anesthetized closed- and open-chest dogs, NP-252 (i.v.) selectively increased vertebral and coronary blood flow with a fall in mean blood pressure (MBP). These effects were nearly equipotent with those of NF and NC, but more durable. A similar effect was obtained by intraduodenal administration of NP-252. Also, NP-252 (i.v.) decreased MBP, total peripheral resistance (TPR), left ventricular pressure and dLVP/dtmax while cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) increased without apparent changes in heart rate and myocardial contractility index. Decreases in MBP and TPR by NP-252 were equipotent with NF and NC, whereas increases in CO and SV were more potent than those of the two drugs. These actions of NP-252 were longer than those of the reference agents. Further, in perfused rabbit hearts, NO-252 increased coronary perfusion flow (CPF), accompanying a slight negative inotropy. Its effect in CPF was equipotent with NF and 2 times less than that of NC, however the duration was much longer than those of the reference drugs. On the other hand, the negative inotropic effect of NP-252 was less than NF, but greater than that of NC. In the preparations controlled by pacing, NP-252 and NF lengthened atrio-His bundle conduction time, without affecting His bundle-ventricular conduction time. Lengthening effect of NP-252 was about 4 times less than that of NF. These results suggest that NP-252 acts more selectively on vascular smooth muscle than cardiac muscle, and has almost equipotent but markedly longer vasodilating actions as compared to NF and NC. It may be expected that NP-252 is a new generation of tissue specific and long acting Ca2+ antagonist.

Anesthesia↗

PubMed1991

Pharmacological characteristics of NP-252, a new dihydropyridine slow Ca2+ channel blocker, in isolated rabbit vascular smooth muscle and guinea pig myocardium: vascular selectivity.

NP-252, a new dihydropyridine derivative, and nifedipine non-competitively inhibited contractile responses to KCl and responses to Ca2+ in Ca(2+)-free medium containing KCl in rabbit aorta and renal, mesenteric, coronary and basilar arteries, mesenteric veins and vena cava. The effects of NP-252 in these smaller arteries and veins were much greater than those in aorta. However, a similar differential selectivity was not seen with nifedipine. In aorta, only NP-252 reduced total La3+ resistant 45Ca binding. However, the increases in bound 45Ca at La3+ resistant sites and 45Ca unidirectional influx due to KCl were inhibited by both NP-252 and nifedipine. The displacement of [3H]nitrendipine binding to rabbit aorta was monophasic for both NP-252 and nifedipine. In guinea-pig papillary muscles, NP-252 (greater than 10(-7) M) slightly decreased action potential duration, developed tension and slow action potentials. The cardiac effects of NP-252 were much less prominent than those of nifedipine. These results indicate that NP-252 inhibits voltage-operated Ca2+ channels in small arteries and veins much more effectively than those in aorta, and this tissue selectivity is more apparent for NP-252 than nifedipine.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1991

[A case of small cell carcinoma originating at the site of pneumoplication of giant bulla five years later].

A 64 year-old man was performed pneumoplication for his left-sided giant bulla on December 15, 1983. After five years, consciousness loss and right hemiplegia occurred. Brain CT revealed a cystic lesion with enhancement in the left occipital lobe. Brain biopsy disclosed metastatic small cell carcinoma. Lung biopsy showed the same histopathology, so primary lesion was considered to be from the site of the previous pneumoplication. Lung cancer associated with emphysematous bulla have been mostly characterized by tumor shadow or niveáu in the bulla. In this case, the postoperative infiltrating shadow of pneumoplication had made early diagnosis difficult.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

PubMed1988

[Behavioral effects of quinupramine, a new tricyclic antidepressant].

The effects of a new tricyclic antidepressant quinupramine (5-(3-quinuclidinyl)-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz [b, f] azepine) on various animal behaviors were examined in mice and rats and compared with those of imipramine, amitriptyline and maprotiline. Quinupramine antagonized haloperidol-induced catalepsy and tetrabenazine-induced ptosis and potentiated methamphetamine- and apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior. These effects were almost the same as or even more potent than those of imipramine and amitriptyline. Quinupramine decreased locomotor activity in mice, but potentiated methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity to a greater degree than imipramine and amitriptyline. On the other hand, quinupramine inhibited muricide in accumbens-lesioned rats, but did not prominently inhibit muricide in olfactory-bulbectomized and raphe-lesioned rats. Quinupramine decreased the duration of immobility in low doses without affecting locomotor activity, and this effect was almost the same as that of imipramine and amitriptyline and more potent than that of maprotiline. Quinupramine antagonized physostigmine lethality and oxotremorine-induced tremor, suggesting that quinupramine has a central anticholinergic action. Quinupramine, like imipramine and amitriptyline, has no effect on conditioned avoidance behavior. In conclusion, quinupramine generally has the same behavioral profile as typical tricyclic antidepressants, but it has somewhat different effects from imipramine and amitriptyline since quinupramine has a potent central anticholinergic and a weak antimuricide effect.

Animals↗