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Biomedical subjects

M Tamaki

Publications and source records attributed to M Tamaki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Vanishing N = 20 shell gap: study of excited states in (27,28)Ne.

This Letter reports on the (1)H((28)Ne, (28)Ne) and (1)H((28)Ne, (27)Ne) reactions studied at intermediate energy using a liquid hydrogen target. From the cross section populating the first 2(+) excited state of (28)Ne, and using the previously determined BE(2) value, the neutron quadrupole transition matrix element has been calculated to be M(n)=13.8 +/- 3.7 fm(2). In the neutron knockout reaction, two low-lying excited states were populated in (27)Ne. Only one of them can be interpreted by the sd shell model while the additional state may intrude from the fp shell. These experimental observations are consistent with the presence of fp shell configurations at low excitation energy in (27,28)Ne nuclei caused by a vanishing N=20 shell gap at Z=10.

Journal Article↗

Anomalously hindered E2 strength B(E2;2+(1)-->0+) in 16C.

The electric quadrupole transition from the first 2(+) state to the ground 0(+) state in 16C is studied through measurement of the lifetime by a recoil shadow method applied to inelastically scattered radioactive 16C nuclei. The measured mean lifetime is 77+/-14(stat)+/-19(syst) ps. The central value of mean lifetime corresponds to a B(E2;2+(1)-->0(+)) value of 0.63e(2) fm(4), or 0.26 Weisskopf units. The transition strength is found to be anomalously small compared to the empirically predicted value.

Journal Article↗

Chronological changes of perihematomal edema of human intracerebral hematoma.

Recent investigations have indicated the importance of secondary brain damage in the pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), which includes ischemic brain damage and edema formation around a hematoma. The purpose of the current study is to investigate chronological changes of perihematomal edema in patients with human ICH and also the correlation between volume of perihematomal edema and neurological status. Fourteen patients with medium-sized putaminal hemorrhage (29.4 +/- 13.2 ml) without hematoma enlargement were included in this study. To investigate chronological changes of perihematomal edema, we performed CT scans prospectively on the day of hemorrhage and repeated them on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. We evaluated the patients neurologically using the NIH stroke scale on the day a CT scan was performed. The volume of perihematomal edema in human ICH increased rapidly three days after hemorrhage and the score on the NIH stroke scale showed a deterioration. The volume of perihematomal edema then increased slowly until day 14 after hemorrhage, and decreased thereafter. Despite progression of perihematomal edema, the score on the NIH stroke scale improved gradually after day 3.

Aged↗

Longitudinal study of functional spinal alpha motor neuron loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Using a microstimulation technique for obtaining motor unit number estimates (MUNEs) of the hypothenar and extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscles, we performed a longitudinal study on the natural course of change in the clinical rating scale (Appel score) and of loss of functional spinal alpha motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Appel score increased to about 150% of normal at 12 months after onset, about 225% at 18 months after onset, and about 370% at 24 months after onset. By contrast, MUNEs decreased to about 27% of normal at 12 months after onset, about 12% at 18 months after onset, and about 5% at 24 months after onset. The relative merits of these different approaches in detecting changes in the disease process in its early phase are discussed.

Action Potentials↗

[Subdiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst in the left crus of diaphragm: report of a case].

A 39-year-old man who had a subdiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst in the left crus of diaphragm received surgical treatment. The cyst was located in the retroperitoneum just below the diaphragm and was adhered to the left crus of diaphragm and unconnected with any other structures. The surgically resected cyst was 50 x 25 x 22 mm diameter and the wall was thin and contained white turbid mucus. Histologically, the cyst consisted of ciliated epithelium, mucus glands, smooth muscle, cartilage and this evidence established the final diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst. The post operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 10 days after operation. This is the 4th reported case of a subdiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst in the Japanese literature.

Adult↗

Involvement of disregulated c-myc but not c-sis/PDGF in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas.

We investigated the expression of c-myc and c-sis/PDGF mRNA and protein products in 20 cases of meningiomas of various grades: 10 benign, 5 atypical and 5 anaplastic meningiomas. All cases of atypical and anaplastic meningiomas were positive for c-myc protein and mRNA by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation, respectively, while all 10 benign meningiomas were negative for c-myc immunostaining, with only one benign tumour positive for c-myc mRNA. Expression of PDGF-BB protein and c-sis mRNA were seen in more than 80% of the meningioma cases and was not restricted to the histological grades of meningiomas. Semiquantitative analysis showed that the frequency of c-myc immunopositive cells positively correlated with Ki-67 proliferative indices. Our findings suggest that c-myc, but not c-sis/PDGF, has some concern to the malignancy of meningiomas.

Adult↗

Sensitization of human malignant glioma cell lines to tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis by cisplatin.

Most tumors, including gliomas, are resistant to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytotoxicity unless protein or RNA synthesis is inhibited. We investigated the effects of the combined use of TNF-alpha and cisplatin (CDDP) on cultured malignant glioma cells, T98G, U373MG, A172, and U87MG. All glioma cell lines were sensitive to treatment with CDDP but resistant to TNF-alpha during 24 h-incubation. The combined use of CDDP and TNF-alpha had synergistic effects on T98G and U87MG but not on U373MG and A172 cells. Sequential treatments showed that only pretreatment with CDDP for 2 h followed by TNF-alpha for 22 h was synergistic on cell cytotoxicity. Annexin V-flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling assay showed that TNF-alpha can induce apoptosis in cells treated with CDDP. Although only sensitive cell lines express transcripts for p75 TNF receptor 2, changes in TNF receptors were not found to contribute to the susceptibility to TNF-alpha. The production of interleukin-6, a representative cytoprotective cytokine, from glioma cells stimulated by TNF-alpha was suppressed by the combined use of actinomycin D, but not CDDP. Our results indicate that CDDP can sensitize glioma cells to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis by a mechanism other than blocking the cytoprotective protein production.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Fast, efficient and selective deprotection of the tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group using HCl/dioxane (4 m).

Fast, efficient and selective deprotection of the tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group of various amino acids and peptides was achieved by using hydrogen chloride (4 m) in anhydrous dioxane solution for 30 min at room temperature. In the cases studied in our laboratory, this protocol provided superior selectivity to deprotect Nalpha-Boc groups in the presence of tert-butyl esters and tert-butyl ethers, including thio-tert-butyl ethers, but not phenolic tert-butyl ethers.

Dioxanes↗

Association of Mycoplasma genitalium persistence in the urethra with recurrence of nongonococcal urethritis.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with recurrent symptomatic nongonococcal urethritis receive negative test results for Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum, and the cause of such recurrence usually is unknown. GOAL: To assess the association of Mycoplasma genitalium with recurrent nongonococcal urethritis. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, 72 men with nongonococcal urethritis were treated with levofloxacin. Before and after treatment, symptoms and signs were assessed and first-pass urine was examined for C trachomatis, M genitalium, U urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis by polymerase chain reaction-based assays. RESULTS: In 6 of 45 men who had no symptoms and no evidence of inflammation after treatment, nongonococcal urethritis recurred. Of these 6 men, 5 had positive test results for M genitalium before levofloxacin treatment, which remained positive afterward. After the second treatment for recurrent nongonococcal urethritis, one man was still had a positive test result for the mycoplasma and experienced a subsequent recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the persistence of M genitalium in the urethra may be associated with recurrence of nongonococcal urethritis.

Adolescent↗

The nutritional status of elderly bed-ridden patients receiving tube feeding.

Long-term enteral feeding by tube has become a frequently used procedure in elderly patients. However, only a few studies dealing with the nutritional assessment of such patients are currently available. This study was designed to clarify this issue. Anthropometric and biochemical variables, energy expenditure and dietary intake were investigated in 44 hospitalized bed-ridden patients with and without tube feeding over 65 years of age and 41 age-matched free-eating elders in a nursing home. All patients with tube feeding received enteral nutrition by nasogastric tube. The body weight, body mass index, mid-upper-arm circumference, arm muscle circumference and serum level of albumin were significantly lower in the patients with and without tube feeding, compared with free-eating elders of both genders (p<0.05). Energy intakes of the patients with tube feeding were 1,171+/-286 kcal/d (about 26 kcal/kg/d), which is comparable to the predicted total energy expenditure (1.2 x basal energy expenditure). Protein intake was 44.9+/-13.1 g/d (about 1.0 g/kg/d) and the percentage of protein per total energy was 15%. These intakes are generally considered to be optimal for bed-ridden patients receiving tube feeding. However, the incidence of protein-malnutrition, as evidenced by decreased arm muscle circumference (<80% of normal) and hypoalbuminemia (<35 g/L), in the patients with tube feeding was significantly higher than that in the healthy elders. In addition, the orally fed bed-ridden patients were also malnourished, suggesting that the bed-ridden patients easily became malnourished even if they were fed energy and protein which approximated calculated predicted values. These findings raise a problem concerning nutritional management of bed-ridden patients.

Aged↗

[Automated analysis for determination of PCBs in fish].

An automated analytical method for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish was developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) in combination with an automated sample preparation instrument (Prep) and GC/MS. By incorporating basic alumina with the sample in the extraction process, and optimizing the amount of carbon dioxide used, fish lipid was selectively reduced. The extract was cleaned up on a Florisil cartridge with Prep. The method was evaluated using naturally contaminated tissues and by comparison of automated analytical method results with those obtained by the conventional method. Mean recovery of PCBs from 3 kinds of fish including hairtail, mackerel and yellowtail were 69.8%, 90.2% and 81.1%, respectively. This method is less laborious and requires far less organic solvent than the conventional method, but produced comparable results.

Animals↗

[Clinical outcome of potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP/532) laser vaporization prostatectomy for benign prostate hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of vaporization prostatectomy by potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP/532) laser in men with bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to evaluate their clinical and voiding outcome 2 weeks and 6 months after operation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Laser vaporization prostatectomy with the KTP/532 laser at 20 W was performed in 21 BPH patients varying from 56 to 75 years of age. All cases were performed under the spinal anesthesia. The laser was produced by MODEL SL20/50 and ADD/Stat side-firing fibers were used. A urethral catheter was inserted post-operatively and was removed within 6 days after operation. The hemoglobin value was examined on the first day after operation and uroflowmetry was executed 2 weeks and 6 months after operation with the examination of the residual urine volume. IPSS and QOL score were recorded by patients 2 weeks and 6 months after operation. RESULTS: The prostate volumes ranged from 22 to 52 mL (mean 37.3 +/- 10.4). None of the 21 patients had any significant blood loss or any fluid absorption. The voiding parameters improved: mean peak flow rate increased from 7.1 to 16.5 mL/s 2 weeks after operation and to 15.2 mL/s 6 months after operation and residual volume decreased from 172 to 45 mL 2 weeks after operation and to 43 mL 6 months after operation. IPSS and QOL score improved significantly in Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. The ratio of excellent and good in efficacy criteria of Kawabe group was 71.4% 2 weeks after operation and that was 71.4% 6 months after operation. Mean catheterization term was 4.5 days. Only one patient showed transient urinary retention when the catheter was removed the third postoperative day. None had incontinence postoperatively. No other significant complications were recognized. The prostate volume was more than 50 mL in 3 cases and the postoperative 6 months outcomes of the 3 cases were all poor in their symptoms in the efficacy criteria of Kawabe group. CONCLUSIONS: KTP laser vaporization prostatectomy is safe and effective for obstructive prostates up to 50 mL in volume and produces good results 2 weeks post operatively that are sustained for 6 months after operation.

Aged↗

[Three cases of emergency video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous hemopneumothorax].

We experienced 3 cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous hemopneumothorax. All the patients had received emergent operations because of massive intrathoracic bleeding. At the operation, a 3 cm-minithoracotomy and 2 trocar ports were fashioned. In the head up position, massive blood clots in the apex in the thoracic cavity was removed by using grasping forceps and the source of bleeding point was detected easily. The bleeding was successfully stopped. It was difficult to remove massive blood clots from trocar port by suction, however it was easy to remove massive blood clots from a 3 cm-minithoracotomy window by using a large grasping forceps. Post operative course was satisfactory and the all patients discharged within 2 weeks after admission. We concluded that the spontaneous hemopneumothorax may be a good indication for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Adolescent↗

Effects of daytime activity on nocturnal sleep in the elderly.

This study investigates the relationship between the level of daytime activities and nocturnal sleep in the elderly using the wrist actigraph and ambulatory polysomnograph system. Five male and five female subjects (mean age = 73.8+/-3.05 years; range 69-77 years) participated in this study. The level of daytime activity was positively correlated with the sleep efficiency of the subsequent night only for male subjects, who were shown to be less active during the daytime. The results imply that increments in the time spent on physical activities may improve the quality of nocturnal sleep in elderly male subjects.

Aged↗