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Biomedical subjects

M Ichimura

Publications and source records attributed to M Ichimura.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Spectral EEG analysis in children treated with high-dose methotrexate].

During the use of a therapeutic regimen of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) with leucovorin rescue in two cases of osteogenic sarcoma and malignant lymphoma without central nervous system (CNS) involvement, serial EEG monitoring before and after MTX infusion was performed with special reference to occipital basic activity. The EEGs were analyzed as to the power average spectrum using an ATAC-450 (NIHON KOHDEN). At 48 hours after the initiation of MTX, there was a transient but statistically significant slowing, such as a drop in the dominant frequency and a decrease in the alpha/theta ratio. Complete recovery of EEG changes occurred within one week. No clinical symptoms suggestive of CNS impairment were noted in either case. These data suggest that EEG alterations might be a reflection of subclinical CNS impairment. Therefore, serial EEGs might be a good early indicator for the detection of leukoencephalopathy in high-risk patients.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Effect of mealing on plasma and brain amino acid, and brain monoamine in rats after oral aspartame.

Aspartame (APM; L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester) was investigated for its ability to alter brain amino acids and monoamines in overnight fasted rats allowed to consume commercial diets for 60 minutes. In addition, the effects of mealing on the changes in plasma and brain amino acids and brain monoamines induced by glucose and/or insulin, and known pharmacologically active compounds, were studied. The consumption of the commercial chow largely prevented changes in blood glucose and amino acids, and brain amino acids and the monoamines dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin that might be expected to occur following glucose with or without insulin. Feeding failed to prevent changes in the above parameters when 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, p-chlorophenylalanine and reserpine were administered. The oral administration of up to 250 mg/kg BW APM with water or glucose followed by free feeding failed to alter brain monoamines. These studies demonstrate the potent ability of food to normalize biochemical parameters in blood and brain that otherwise might occur, and clearly show the lack of effect on brain monoamine levels of abuse doses of APM when administered with food.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

Dietary aspartame with protein on plasma and brain amino acids, brain monoamines and behavior in rats.

Aspartame (APM; L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), was investigated for its ability to alter levels of the large neutral amino acids and monoamines in overnight fasted rats allowed to consume meals with or without protein for two hours. Additionally, the possible long term behavioral consequences of APM in 25% casein diets with or without 10% sucrose were determined. Acute APM ingestion increased both plasma and brain phenylalanine and tyrosine levels, but brain tryptophan levels were not altered regardless of dietary protein. Brain norepinephrine and dopamine levels were unaltered by any of the diet while serotonin levels were slightly increased when a protein-free diet was consumed. But APM and/or protein ingestion minimized this increase of brain serotonin levels as much as controls. Chronic APM ingestion failed to influence diurnal feeding patterns, meal size distributions, or diurnal patterns of spontaneous motor activity. The chronic ingestion of abuse doses of APM produced no significant chemical changes in brain capable of altering behavioral parameters believed to be controlled by monoamines in rats.

Amino Acids↗

A case of polymyositis associated with Kawasaki disease.

We report a 3-year-old boy with proximal painful muscle weakness associated with Kawasaki disease. The muscle biopsy revealed inflammatory cell infiltration with vasculopathy. This unique coexistence of polymyositis and Kawasaki disease is quite uncommon and suggests a newly recognized complication during Kawasaki disease.

Biopsy, Needle↗

[Acute toxicity of lentinan in mice and rats (author's transl)].

A new anti-tumor polysaccharide, lentinan (beta-1, 3 Glucan) was studied on the acute toxicities using both sexes of mice (ICR) and rats (CD) treated by intravenously (i.v.) intraperitoneally (i.p.), subcutaneously (s.c.) and orally (p.o). LD50 values in mg/kg body weight were essentially the same regardless of species as well as sexes and estimated as follows: 250-500 (i.v.) greater than 2500 (i.p., s.c., and p.o.). Cyanosis, convulsion and death were observed in both species of animals administered (i.v.) with only higher dosages of lentinan. No remarkable toxic signs being specific from lentinan were observed in any cases of treatment, i.p., s.c., and p.o. Gross findings: enlargement of the spleen (i.v., i.p., s.c.) and coarse nodular surface of the kidney (i.v.) in the both species of animals, erythema of the ears (i.v., i.p., s.c.) in mice, mesenteric petechial hemorrhage of the lung and abdomen (i.v.) enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes (i.v.) and edema of the diaphragm and intestine (i.p.) in rats were observed. In parallel, another sample of lentinan for clinical use prepared by freeze-dried procedure was tested in both sexes of mice and rats treated by i.v. alone, comparing with a original sample mentioned above. So far as the acute toxicities of lentinans concerned, no significant differences between two preparations were observed.

Animals↗

[Subacute toxicity study of lentinan in rats. 5-week intravenous treatment (author's transl)].

Male and female JCL : SD rats were treated intravenously with lentinan in 5% mannitol solution at dose levels of 0, 0.03, 3.0 and 30.0 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks. Rats receiving 0.3, 3.0 and 30.0 mg/kg/day showed reddening in ear, tail and scrotum and edema in legs and scrotum after day 3 of treatment. Males receiving 30.0 mg/kg/day gained less body weight than control. Occult blood was found in the urine of rats receiving 30.0 mg/kg/day. With regard to haematology, rats from the treatment groups had low mean values relating to red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin, while high white blood cell count were recorded for these rats. Biochemical examinations revealed decreases in albumin level and A/G ratio and increases in beta-globulin and gamma-globulin levels for rats from the treatment groups. Slightly high values of BUN were showed for rats receiving 30.0 mg/kg/day. Organ weight analysis showed dose-dependent increase in the spleen, liver and adrenal. Histopathological changes attributable to treatment included (1) changes in reticuloendothelial system such as proliferation of reticular cells and micronodule of epithelioid cells in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes; (2) arteritis in many organs especially notable in epididymis, intestines and mesentery; (3) haemorrhagic changes in lung, intestines and urinary bladder and secondary changes such as increased chronic nephropathy, hypospermatogenesis, spermatic granuloma in epididymis and granulomatous inflammation in ear, tail and scrotum. The maxim safe dose was estimated to be smaller than 0.03 mg/kg/day for males and 0.03 mg/kg/day for females in the present study.

Animals↗