Biomedical subjects

N Kaku

Publications and source records attributed to N Kaku.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

[Acute subdural hematoma caused by mild head trauma in the aged].

We encountered 8 cases of acute subdural hematoma caused by mild head trauma in the aged. In this report, these cases were analyzed, taking into consideration clinical symptoms, CT scan, operative findings and outcome. The age ranged from 70 to 92 years (mean age of 79.7 years). 4 patients were male and 4 female. Head trauma was caused by falls in 4 patients, but in the other 4 patients the causes were unknown. Initial symptoms were headache, nausea and vomiting in 5 patients and mild disturbance of consciousness with lucid intervals in 3 patients. Seven patients had more than 100 on JCS and less than 9 on GCS on admission. Small craniotomy (HITT) was performed in 4 patients. Large craniotomy was performed in 2 patients, and decompressive craniectomy was carried out in 2 patients. The bleeding focus came from the cortical artery of the middle cerebral artery in 4 patients, cerebral contusion in 2 patients, and was unknown in 2 patients for HITT. CT scan on admission showed mixed density area of acute subdural hematoma in all of the patients, and intraventricular hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 3 patients. CT scan after operation revealed a new area of cerebral contusion in 3 patients, delayed traumatic intracerebral hematoma (DTICH) in 2 patients, and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage in 1 patient. Two patients recovered to good and fair without general complication. But the outcome in 5 patients with general complication was poor for 3 patients and fatal for 2 patients. In conclusion, large craniotomy is recommended because of bleeding from the cortical artery of the middle cerebral artery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1991

Spontaneous rupture of the ascending aorta.

A case of spontaneous non-traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta in a hypertensive patient is presented. The clinical findings suggested acute aortic dissection, and a large pericardial effusion was detected by echocardiography. The typical angiographic features of aortic dissection were not found. Autopsy revealed a longitudinal intimal tear and a rupture in the postero-lateral aspect of the ascending aorta. No false lumen was seen in the ascending aorta. When acute intrapericardial or intrapleural bleeding develops with no evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection, spontaneous aortic rupture should be suspected.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in male adolescence and adulthood.

A discrete deficiency of hepatic ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) was found in male patients who were 58, 46 and 17 years old. Each had developed hyperammonemic coma. The mother and a sister of the 17-year-old patient exhibited orotic aciduria either spontaneously or after protein loading, thus demonstrating heterozygosity. A sister of one other patient and a daughter of the third patient showed a smaller orotic aciduria after protein loading. These observations indicate that inherited deficiency of OTC should be included in the differential diagnosis of hyperammonemic states in adult male patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Clinical significance of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The clinical significance of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (TSAH) was studied in 20 head-injured patients. They were classified into mild (9) and severe (11) groups by their initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores. TSAH detected by computed tomography was localized in the Sylvian fissure in four of the nine mild group patients, but was also found in other basal subarachnoid cisterns in the other five. Except for one patient who developed delayed vasospasm and communicating hydrocephalus, all had favorable outcomes in this group. Massive TSAH was noted in the basal subarachnoid cisterns in 10 severe group patients and only one had a good outcome. Delayed intracerebral hematoma in the frontal or temporal lobe in the vicinity of the Sylvian fissure was found in two mild and two severe group patients with TSAH in the Sylvian fissures. Traumatic parenchymal lesions in the brainstem were minimal in one of the two autopsied patients and no evidence of diffuse axonal injury was found in both cases. Thus, TSAH in the Sylvian fissure is suggestive of focal brain contusion around the fissures. Massive TSAH in the basal subarachnoid cisterns is not necessarily associated with severe parenchymal injury of the brainstem.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Tc-99m RBC imaging for demonstrating intermittent intestinal bleeding.

A case of intestinal bleeding caused by multiple ulcerations near the terminal ileum is presented. Abdominal scanning with Tc-99m tagged red blood cells (Tc-99m RBC) demonstrated the intermittent bleeding in short intervals. Selective angiography did not demonstrate the bleeding site. Exploratory laparotomy showed 3 ulcers on the ileum at a site near the terminal ileum, with bleeding from one site. Tc-99m RBC abdominal scanning was very useful in this case for localization of the site of gastrointestinal bleeding before laparotomy.

Erythrocytes↗

PubMed1990

[Emergency perfusion lung scan for pulmonary embolism].

Six cases of pulmonary embolism were reported. As pulmonary embolism often becomes critical condition, early diagnosis and medical treatment is need. Perfusion lung scan for pulmonary embolism may be useful for a diagnosis and evaluation of the degree of its disease and therapeutic value.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Clinical feature and laboratory findings of multiple organ failure].

The pathology of multiple organ failure consists of tissue-cell damage (disruption of energy metabolism) and severe infections (host exhaustion). The impairment of the TCA cycle was mild in two-organ disease but was nearly arrested in three-organ disease, and the cells are considered to have been in lactic acidosis with a shift of the glycolytic system from pyruvate to lactate. Significant differences were observed also in the number and the function of lymphocytes between two-organ and three-organ diseases. Therefore, in multiple organ failure, infections are considered to worsen as the ability of antigen recognition is impaired and differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing cells is inhibited with a decrease in lymphocytes. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils did not decrease unless leukocytes were reduced.

Citric Acid Cycle↗

PubMed1988

Hemodynamic relationship between renal venous pressure and blood flow regulation during positive end-expiratory pressure.

The hemodynamic relationship between renal venous pressure (RVP) and renal blood flow (RBF) during PEEP was investigated using adult mongrel dogs. When continuous mechanical ventilation (CMV) with 10 cm H2O of PEEP was applied to dogs previously on CMV with zero PEEP, RVP increased from 6.6 to 8.7 mm Hg (p less than .01), and left RBF decreased from 66 to 57 ml/min (p less than .05). RBF recovered by 49% of the difference as soon as PEEP was discontinued when the RVP elevation was maintained at the level observed during 10 cm H2O of PEEP. With 20 cm H2O of PEEP, RVP increased further to 10 mm Hg (p less than .01) and left RBF decreased to 48 ml/min (p less than .05). When the left renal vein was occluded and the RVP was maintained at the level seen during 20 cm H2O of PEEP, left RBF recovered only 50% of the difference from the flow during zero PEEP. We conclude that the reduction in RBF with PEEP application is caused by several factors; however, RVP elevation during CMV with PEEP is influential in decreasing RBF.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Short-term and long-term changes in hepatic function in 60 patients with blunt liver injury.

We treated 60 patients with blunt liver injury over 14 years. According to Makiya's scale of severity, 22 of these lesions (37%) were of Type I, 23 (38%) of Type II, and 15 (25%) of Type III. The overall mortality rate was 23% (14 patients). Changes in hepatic function were studied in these patients. Transaminase levels showed abnormal elevations immediately after the injury but rapidly decreased to normal levels within about 40 days in both the patients who survived the injury and those who died. The alkaline phosphatase activity showed moderate gradual elevations with time, exceeding 20 K.A. units 10 days after the injury in those who died. The total bilirubin level increased to only about 4 mg/dl in those who survived but exceeded 8 mg/dl 10 days after the injury in about 80% of those who died. The total cholesterol level decreased below 100 mg/dl in those who died. In chloric cobalt reaction, the R-value shifted to the left in those who survived but to the right in those who died. Total plasma protein, which decreased to about 6.0 gm/dl immediately after the injury, gradually recovered in those who survived but further declined in those who died. Percentage of gamma-globulin increased but remained below 20% in those who survived but exceeded 20% within 10 days of injury in many of those who died. Hepatic functions 5 years after the injury were generally within the normal range.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987