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Biomedical subjects

N Handa

Publications and source records attributed to N Handa.

126 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Reversal of neurological deficits by levallorphan in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of the intramuscular injection of levallorphan tartrate (1.0 mg), a mixed agonist-antagonist opiate, on the neurological signs, symptoms, and vital signs in 19 patients with acute ischemic stroke. A temporary improvement of hemiplegia or hemiparesis was observed within several minutes after levallorphan injection in 13 of the patients. There were no significant alterations in blood pressure or pulse rate after injection. The findings indicate that levallorphan may have a temporary improving effect on neurological deficits in acute ischemic stroke. In addition, observation of the response to levallorphan may serve to predict the prognosis of the final neurological outcome in this type of patient.

Adult↗

Cerebral ischemic response-like hemodynamic changes induced by telencephalic ischemia in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

The effect of bilateral common carotid occlusion on systemic hemodynamics was investigated in the gerbil with and without bilateral carotid sinus denervation. Irrespective of the sinus denervation, telencephalic, severe ischemia produced significant changes in the heart rate and systemic arterial blood pressure, similar to those observed in cerebral ischemic response. These hemodynamic changes, associated with cerebral ischemia, may play an important role in affecting the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia itself.

Animals↗

Zinc and copper requirements during parenteral nutrition in the newborn.

Zinc and copper requirements and metabolism in surgical neonates on parenteral nutrition were monitored. Without a supplementation of zinc, the plasma zinc level decreased in the second week and became severe with time. In full-term babies, for up to 4 weeks of parenteral nutrition, 40 micrograms/kg/d was adequate to maintain the plasma zinc level within a normal range. For extended periods of parenteral nutrition, the dose of zinc can be reduced without excess loss of this mineral. However, premature babies in the zinc-supplemented group showed a decreased zinc level in the fourth week of parenteral nutrition, indicating that 40 micrograms/kg/d of zinc supplementation was inadequate for premature surgical babies. Infants with enterostomy require increased amounts of zinc, even up to 300 micrograms/kg/d. Copper levels revealed little change, up to 4 weeks of this feeding. In the presence of increased fluid loss through gastrointestinal fistulas, deficiency of copper occurred and the copper requirements increased. Careful monitoring is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of these minerals to surgical neonates.

Copper↗

Why are infant gerbils more resistant than adults to cerebral infarction after carotid ligation?

Younger gerbils have been found to be more resistant than adults to cerebral infarction after carotid ligation. In this study, the perfused cerebral area after bilateral common carotid occlusion was evaluated in infant, young, and adult Mongolian gerbils by the carbon black perfusion method to assess the existence and significance of collateral blood vessels between the vertebrobasilar and carotid circulations. Nineteen gerbils were divided into three groups (i.e., infant, young and adult gerbils aged 3-4, 5-7, and 10-17 weeks, respectively). After bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, carbon black was injected directly into the left ventricle by cardiac puncture through the closed thorax. In five of eight infant gerbils, the whole brain was perfused by carbon black, while in the remaining three, only the cerebellum and brainstem were stained well, and marked bilateral cerebral pallor was observed. On the other hand, carbon black did not perfuse the brain region supplied by the carotid arteries, both in young and adult gerbils (11 animals in total). These results suggest that infant gerbils might have a more highly developed network of collateral blood vessels between the vertebrobasilar and carotid circulations, and the existence of such a significant network might be the basis for the fact that infant gerbils are resistant to cerebral infarction following carotid ligation. We propose that gerbils should be used as a stroke model only when they are 5 weeks old or older.

Aging↗

Hemodynamics in Shy-Drager syndrome and treatment with indomethacin.

Hemodynamic studies were performed in a case of Shy-Drager syndrome with severe orthostatic hypotension. Marked depression of blood pressure was recognized immediately after the tilt-up, wherein decrease in cardiac output was detected (65 leads to 35 ml; stroke volume) during measurements by echocardiography. In association with the depression of blood pressure and decrease in cardiac output, Doppler sonograms showed the overall blood flow reduction in the brain-supplying arteries, suggesting some breakdown of autoregulation of the cerebral blood flow. Medication with indomethacin obviously limited the depression of blood pressure during the standing exercise. The pressor mechanism of indomethacin might be regarded as a result of increased vasoconstrictivity by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗

Antenatally detected ovarian cysts--a therapeutic dilemma.

Twenty-four instances of ovarian cysts detected antenatally are reported. Most cysts were functional in origin, histologically benign simple cysts. Pregnancy was clinically uncomplicated in all, followed by a spontaneous vaginal delivery in 20 cases between the 33rd and 41st week, four neonates were delivered by a cesarean section for obstetrical reasons. Nine cysts more than 5 cm in diameter at birth were treated surgically. The operative indications were as follows; 5 neonates had clinical symptoms caused by abdominal distention or vomiting. The remaining four showed a sign of hemorrhage following torsion. Thirteen cysts less than 5 cm in diameter, and two cysts more than 5 cm in diameter began to regress spontaneously within 6 months after birth and finally 10 of them disappeared between 2 weeks and 2 years.

Female↗

Effects of low-dose simvastatin therapy on serum lipid levels in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia: a 12-month study. The Simvastatin Study Group.

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and long-term effects on serum lipid levels of low-dose simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, in Japanese patients with moderate primary hypercholesterolemia. We assigned 201 patients (68 men and 133 women; mean +/- SD age, 61.3 +/- 10.2 years) with serum total cholesterol levels > or = 220 mg/dL to receive simvastatin 5 mg each evening; the treatment period was 1 year. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels decreased significantly in response to simvastatin therapy, and the changes were maintained throughout the treatment period. Mean total cholesterol decreased from 269.9 +/- 35.4 mg/dL to 215.2 +/- 34.5 mg/dL (20.3%), triglycerides decreased from 183.0 +/- 110.2 mg/dL to 155.5 +/- 88.5 mg/dL (15.0%), and LDL cholesterol decreased from 180.0 +/- 33.1 mg/dL to 130.1 +/- 35.1 mg/dL (27.7%). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol tended to decline when the pretreatment values were higher; the critical values and the bidirectional changes of the serum lipid levels were 188.1, 109.5, and 91.6 mg/dL, respectively. Although the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change significantly, it tended to increase more when the pretreatment values were lower; the "critical value" was 70 mg/dL. Nine patients experienced mild adverse events, but none discontinued simvastatin during the 12-month treatment period. We found that low-dose simvastatin therapy is effective in achieving long-term decreases in serum lipid levels and is well tolerated by patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin therapy may result in normalization of serum lipid levels.

Adult↗

Post-segregational killing by restriction modification gene complexes: observations of individual cell deaths.

Through a mechanism known as post-segregational killing, several plasmids mediate their stable maintenance by carrying genes that kill plasmid-free segregant cells. We demonstrated earlier that loss of plasmids carrying type II restriction modification (RM) gene complexes inhibits the propagation of a cell population and causes chromosome breakage. We now show the morphology of individual cells changes following loss of thermosensitive plasmids carrying EcoRI RM or PaeR7I RM after a shift to a non-permissive temperature. After a lag, many cells formed long filaments containing multiple nuclei as detected by DAPI staining. Several hours after the shift, many of these long filaments lacked nuclei. Fragmentation of chromosomal DNA down to 5 kb was detected by electrophoresis. These observations lend strong support to the concept of post-segregational cell killing by type II restriction modification gene complexes.

DNA Fragmentation↗

Cholelithiasis in infants: association with parenteral nutrition.

Reported herein are two cholelithiasis-afflicted infants with a common inability to tolerate enteral feeding necessitating parenteral nutrition. One of the infants received parenteral nutrition for 5 months because of intestinal dysfunction and enterocolitis secondary to extensive aganglionosis, while the second child was premature and placed on parenteral nutrition because of bowel dysfunction after surgery to repair high jejunal atresia and a right diaphragmatic hernia. The relationship between parenteral nutrition and cholelithiasis is discussed.

Cholelithiasis↗

Requirement of parenteral fat in infants with biliary atresia.

In a prospective study on infants with biliary atresia (BA) we measured the composition of the plasma fatty acid to determine the requirement of fat emulsion. In 14 infants who underwent initial operation for treatment of BA, a trend toward essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency was evident before the surgery. Fourteen infants given parenteral nutrition (PN) after surgery were grouped into three according to the dose of fat emulsion, fat free in 4, 10% of the total calories in 5 and 20% of the total calories in 5. After operation, EFA deficiency gradually progressed when on fat free PN. Improvement in EFA deficiency occurred with the administration of fat which corresponded to 20% of the total caloric intake. During PN including fat emulsion, abnormal changes in liver function tests and serum lipid values due to fat emulsion were nil. Infusion of fat which supplies 20% of the total calories is thus recommended for correction of EFA deficiency and is tolerable in infants with obstructive liver disease. However, clinical and biochemical monitoring should be carefully done.

Bile Ducts↗