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Biomedical subjects

N Furusawa

Publications and source records attributed to N Furusawa.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Osteoporotic vertebral collapse with late neurological complications.

This paper describes 27 patients who had a spinal fracture and underwent an anterior or a posterior spinal decompression, with or without spinal instrumentation, for late neurological compromise secondary to post-traumatic vertebral collapse associated with osteoporosis. Five males and 22 females were studied, with an average follow-up of 3.7 years. The patients developed delayed neurological compromise due to osteoporotic vertebral collapse 1 month to 1.5 years following insignificant spinal fractures. Abnormal hypermobility at the collapsed spinal level with gradual retropulsion of fracture fragments into the spinal canal appeared to contribute to late paralysis. This pathology is treated surgically either anteriorly or posteriorly, but we recommend transpedicular posterolateral decompression and stabilization with a screw-rod construct because of technical ease and minimum invasion.

Age Factors↗

Lumbar spinal stenosis causing intermittent priapism.

The current report concerns the unusual symptom of intermittent priapism, or what may be termed 'involuntary penile erection', associated with proven degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Seven patients who were treated for intermittent claudication and spontaneous priapism during walking were studied in terms of clinical presentation, imaging findings, and some electrophysiological testing. Varying degrees of walking and standing tolerance with these unusual symptoms appeared to be correlated with cauda equina constriction as was seen by radiological imaging. Although not statistically valid, external urethral sphincter evoked electromyography suggested the possibility of monitoring the unusual symptom during walking. Surgical spinal decompression is recommended to alleviate this symptom and the claudication.

Aged↗

Transfer of dietary sulphamonomethoxine and sulphadimethoxine into various tissues of laying hens.

1. Sulphamonomethoxine (SMM) or sulphadimethoxine (SDM) were fed to laying hens at a dietary concentration of 400 mg/kg. Concentrations (mg/kg) of SMM and SDM in the blood, kidney, liver, ovary, muscle and adipose tissue, collected at 4, 8, 16 and 24 h after the start of feeding, were determined by HPLC. 2. The relationships between the sulphonamide concentrations (mg/kg) in the tissues and times (h) after the start of the feeding were analysed statistically. 3. Dietary SMM and SDM were transferred throughout the whole body, and concentrations in all tissues became constant 8 h after the start of feeding. 4. Among the 6 tissues examined the constant values (mg/kg) of both SMM and SDM were highest in the kidney and were lowest in adipose tissue. 5. With the exception of adipose tissue, the values of SDM in the tissues were statistically greater than those of SMM.

Adipose Tissue↗

Postoperative bone re-growth in lumbar spinal stenosis. A multivariate analysis of 48 patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Forty-eight patients who underwent posterior decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis were studied. The effect of bone re-growth after posterior decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis on clinical outcome and the factors promoting the bone re-growth were investigated with a multivariate analysis model. METHODS: Bone re-growth at the sites operated upon was evaluated as a percentage of re-growth of the original laminectomy site based upon plain radiographs. The degree of bone re-growth was classified into four groups: 1) no significant re-growth (Group I, bone regrowth rate 10% or less); mild (Group II, 11% to 40%), moderate (Group III, 41% to 70%), and marked (Group IV, 71% to 100%). The average follow-up period was 4.5 years (range, 2 to 7 years). RESULTS: No significant bone re-growth was shown in 6% of the patients. Mild re-growth was shown in 50%, moderate re-growth in 29%, and marked re-growth in 15%. A multivariate analysis indicated that a total block in the preoperative myelogram, a follow-up period of more than 5 years, decompression at more than three spinal levels, and age under 60 years were associated with moderate or marked bone re-growth. Spinal instability accelerated the bone re-growth mainly in the mid and later follow-up intervals. Spinal levels adjacent to a fusion showed more bone re-growth. Patients with moderate and marked bone re-growth had poorer clinical outcomes than those with no significant and mild bone re-growth. CONCLUSION: Bone re-growth in a surgical defect will occur in most patients after posterior decompression. Moderate and marked postoperative bone re-growth are possibly related to recurrence of neurologic symptoms in the middle of and later on in follow-up periods.

Aged↗

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of residual sulphamonomethoxine, sulphadimethoxine and their N4-acetyl metabolites in foods of animal origin.

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of residual sulphamonomethoxine, sulphadimethoxine and their N4-acetyl metabolites in beef, pork, chicken and eggs by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The extraction of these compounds was performed using a mixture of 90% (v/v) acetonitrile solution and hexane (5:4, v/v) to minimize the fat content followed by purification by alumina column chromatography. These extracts contained sulphonamide analytes which were free from interfering compounds when examined by HPLC using a LiChrosorb RP-18 column. The average recoveries from spiked meat and egg were in excess of 80% with relative standard deviations between 0.4 and 5.0%. The practical limits of detection were 0.01 ppm for all samples.

Animals↗

Laminoplasty following anterior cervical fusion for spondylotic myeloradiculopathy.

Eighteen patients with spondylotic myeloradiculopathy who had undergone expansive laminoplasty after anterior cervical fusion were reviewed. The average period from the initial to the second operation was 7.8 years. Excellent neurological improvement occurred in 4 patients, good in 6, fair in 4 and poor in 4. Radiographs at the time of the second operation showed spinal canal stenosis in 11, and 12 showed dynamic spinal canal stenosis immediately above the fused area. A narrow spinal canal adds to the risk of recurrence. When spinal stenosis is treated by anterior cervical fusion, additional laminoplasty should be carried out to prevent structural compromise occurring adjacent to the fused vertebrae.

Adult↗

Anterior decompression and fusion for cervical myeloradiculopathy secondary to ossification of the posterior ligament.

The authors reviewed 85 patients who had undergone anterior decompression and cervical fusion for myeloradiculopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. There were 72 males and 13 females; the average follow up was for 8.3 years. Sixteen patients (group I) underwent one vertebra subtotal spondylectomy with fusion, 58 (group II) two vertebra subtotal spondylectomy, and 11 (group III) three vertebra subtotal spondylectomy. Neurological recovery was assessed on the grading system of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. The patients in group I had an average improvement of 75%, in group II 72% and in group III 23%. The severity of compromise of the spinal cord did not affect the postoperative improvement. Duration of disease, previous injury and advanced neurological symptoms all affected neurological recovery. Spondylectomy of at most two vertebrae, with fusion, is recommended for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. If there is more extensive involvement laminoplasty may be indicated.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

Intermittent priapism associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Nine patients with intermittent priapism associated with lumbar spinal stenosis are described. They had severe intermittent claudication and priapism when walking, and 7 had sensory disturbances affecting the lumbosacral nerve roots at rest. Radiographs showed degenerative central stenosis in 6, and degenerative spondylolisthesis in 3. Seven were treated by surgical decompression and 2 refused operation. Six of the 7 had improvement in their priapism, but symptoms recurred in one as a result of spondylolisthesis developing after operation.

Aged↗

Late radiographic findings after anterior cervical fusion for spondylotic myeloradiculopathy.

A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the radiographic changes that occurred at spinal levels adjacent to fused vertebrae after anterior cervical fusion. One hundred six patients with cervical spondylotic myeloradiculopathy (88 men, 18 women) were followed for an average of 8.5 years. The average age at follow-up was 64 years. Forty-two patients underwent a single-level fusion, 52 had a two-level fusion, and 12 had three levels fused. Seventeen patients who underwent additional surgery after anterior fusion also were reviewed, with an average follow-up period of 2.9 years. Postoperatively, cervical flexion-extension resulted in significantly increased movement about the vertebral interspace at the upper adjacent level. An increment of posterior slip of the vertebra immediately above the fusion level, with associated spinal canal compromise of less than 12 mm, significantly affected neurologic results. Patients with multilevel fusions notably exhibited these radiographic abnormalities at adjacent levels. Spinal canal stenosis, when associated with dynamic spinal canal stenosis in the vertebra above the fusion level, affected late neurologic results. Results of salvage laminoplasty were not satisfactory. Unnecessarily extended longer fusion must be avoided.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

Calcium crystal deposition in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine.

This article reports eight patients who underwent posterior decompressive surgery for myeloradiculopathy caused by calcium crystal deposition in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine. All were women with an average age of 72 years and showed neurologic improvement postoperatively. Four patients had diabetes mellitus, and knee meniscus calcification on radiographs were noted in four patients. The ligamentum flavum of C5-6 and C6-7 were sites frequently involved. Crystallographic examination confirmed resected deposits as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal in all patients and additional hydroxyapatite crystal in two. Histology confirmed marked degeneration in elastic fibers about the calcium deposits. This pathologic condition is possibly spinal manifestation of systemic calcium crystal deposition disease.

Aged↗

MR imaging of chronic alcoholism.

We evaluated the brain lesions of patients with chronic alcoholism (n = 34) in comparison with age- and sex-matched controls (n = 40) by MR imaging. T1-weighted sagittal and axial images and T2-weighted axial images were obtained with a 0.5 T superconducting MR unit. Various brain measurements were then performed, and the presence of regions of abnormal signal intensity was also compared between the two groups. The brain measurements revealed significant cerebral atrophy (characterized by lateral and 3rd ventricular dilatation, and widening of the interhemispheric fissure) as well as significant cerebellar atrophy (represented by 4th ventricular dilatation) in the alcoholic group. These changes were more prominent in patients in their fifties and sixties than in those aged in the thirties and forties. Focal hypointense lesions were observed in 20.6% of the alcoholics and in 5% of the controls (p less than 0.01), while focal hyperintense lesions were observed in 61.8% of the alcoholics and in 20% of the controls (p less than 0.001). The severity of these MR findings correlated well with the age of the patients. These observations suggest that alcohol is an important promoter of brain aging.

Adult↗

Mutagenicity and DNA-damaging activity of decomposed products of food colours under UV irradiation.

Five synthetic food colours Food Red Nos 3, 40 and 102 and Food Blue Nos 1 and 2, and their UV irradiated products were tested for mutagenic activity by means of the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. Food colours were irradiated with UV light for 14 days. Food Red Nos 3, 40 and 102 and Food Blue No. 1 were non-mutagenic before and after irradiation. UV irradiated products of Food Blue No. 2 were mutagenic in TA98 with or without S-9 mix. The mutagenic activity increased with increasing irradiation period, reached maximum potency on day 6, and then decreased. Moreover, Food Blue No. 2 showed DNA-damaging activity after 14 days of irradiation in rec-assay using Bacillus subtilis strains H17 and M45. The capillary electrophoresis was applied for the analysis of UV irradiated products of Food Blue No. 2. The original peak of Food Blue No. 2 was decomposed into seven peaks after UV irradiation.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Rapid and simple determination of oxytetracycline in chicken products.

A rapid and simple method for determining residual oxytetracycline (OTC) in chicken products (muscle, liver, and eggs) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. Samples were prepared by homogenization with acetonitrile-n-hexane (5 + 4, v/v) followed by centrifugation to minimize fat and protein contents. OTC in the acetonitrile layer was free from interfering compounds when examined by HPLC using a LiChrospher 100 RP-8 end-capped column, a mobile phase of acetonitrile-acetic acid-0.01 M disodium EDTA (28 + 2 + 70, v/v/v), and a photodiode array detector. Average recoveries from samples spiked with OTC (0.1, 0.2, and 1.0 ppm) were > 88%, with coefficients of variation between 2.3 and 5.1%. The limit of detection was 0.05 ppm.

Acetonitriles↗

Pathogenesis of calcium crystal deposition in the ligamentum flavum correlates with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the histological and immunohistochemical properties of degenerative changes and calcium crystal deposition in the lumbar ligamentum favum. METHODS: We examined the ligamentum flavum harvested from 119 surgical cases with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Sections of the ligament were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray micro-analysis, and were immunostained for S-100 protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and CD34. The results were compared with those of ligament tissue harvested from 10 cases of lumbar disc herniation. RESULT: The elastic fibres of the ligamentum favum showed regular, or sometimes irregular, and fragmented fibre bundles. Large areas of fibrosis with reduced elastic component and increased collagenous tissue were frequently seen in the degenerated ligaments. Calcium crystal deposits were observed in these fibrous ligaments, associated with many hypertrophic chondrocytes, and with small blood vessel formation. These chondrocytes stained positively for S-100 protein, VEGF and bFGF Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals were identified in the calcium deposit area. CONCLUSION: We believe that rupture of elastic fibre bundles is the first change to occur in degeneration of the ligamentum favum. Calcium crystal deposition was seen within these fibrous and chondrometaplastic areas. Hypertrophic chondrocytes regulate crystal formation and tissue reconstruction by secreting cytokines.

Adult↗

Calcium crystal deposition in the ligamentum flavum of the lumbar spine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the histological and immunohistochemical properties of the lumbar ligamentum flavum with calcium crystal deposition. METHODS: We examined the histological characteristics of the ligamentum flavum of the lumbar spine containing calcium deposits, obtained from 16 surgical cases with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Sections of the ligaments were also immunostained for elastase, chymotrypsin and S-100 protein, and examined by energy dispensive X-ray microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results were compared with those of ligaments without calcium deposits. RESULTS: The elastic fibres of ligaments with calcium deposits showed marked degeneration (irregular arrangement and fragmentation of the fibre bundles) and nodular granulomatous lesions. Calcium crystal deposits were present in this area and in the nodular granulomatous areas. The calcified areas were surrounded by neutrophils and new small blood vessels. Immunostaining for elastase and chymotrypsin was positive in these areas, and S-100 protein-containing chondrocytes were detected around and within the calcified areas. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals were identified in the calcified areas in all patients. CONCLUSION: Nodular degeneration of the elastic fibres of the ligament is probably caused by the action of proteolytic enzymes. Degeneration results in small granulomatous areas that form the nidus for calcium crystal deposition. Accumulated neutrophils, and S-100 protein-containing chondrocytes appear to precipitate the deposition of calcium crystals in the granulomatous lesions of the degenerated lumbar ligamentum flavum.

Adult↗

Gel permeation and florisil chromatographic cleanup and gas chromatographic determination of organochlorine pesticides in eggs.

Cleanup of residual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-BHC; aldrin; dieldrin; p, p'-DDE; o,p'-DDT; p,p'-DDD; and p,p'-DDT) in eggs by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and Florisil minicolumn chromatography is described. Ten OCPs in purified extract are determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The lipids extracted from whole egg are cleaned up first by GPC with an Envirogel column and an ethyl acetate-cychlohexane (1 + 1, v/v) mobile phase and then by Florisil minicolumn chromatography with 15% (v/v) diethyl ether-hexane eluant. Cleanup is highly efficient. Average recoveries of 10 spiked OCPs (0.0025-0.0125 ppm) ranged from 81 to 101%, with coefficients of variation between 1 and 14%. The detection limit was 0.001 ppm for the 10 OCPs.

Chromatography, Gas↗