Biomedical subjects

Shinichi Konno

Publications and source records attributed to Shinichi Konno.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Acute calcific tendinitis of the thumb in a child: a case report.

Acute calcific tendinitis is rare in hand and digit, especially in children. We describe a rare case of acute calcific tendinitis of the thumb [extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon] in a 10-year-old boy. Plain radiographs showed a calcium deposit in the EPL tendon. Conservative therapy completely resolved all symptoms in 1 week. The calcium deposit shown on plain radiographs became smaller and completely disappeared within 6 weeks.

Calcinosis↗

PubMed2006

Discrepancy between disability and the severity of low back pain: demographic, psychologic, and employment-related factors.

STUDY DESIGN: Survey of a random sample of all registered residents of Japan between the ages of 20 and 79 years (n = 2966), focusing on those who had had low back pain (LBP) within the past month (n = 906). OBJECTIVE: To learn more about the characteristics of people in whom the severity of LBP and the disability attributed to that pain are discrepant. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LBP can cause disability, but levels of pain and of disability can be discrepant. Some people with severe pain are only slightly disabled, some with mild pain are very disabled, and others have no such discrepancy. METHODS.: Severity of LBP was measured with a visual analog scale. Disability was measured with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, which quantifies disability in many daily activities, not necessarily disability related to employment. The respondents also provided demographic information, and completed the SF-36 and questionnaires about perceived stress, employment, and satisfaction with employment. RESULTS: In about 45% of those patients with LBP, the severity of the pain and level of disability attributed to that pain were discrepant. People with a high level of disability despite only mild pain were older, felt more stress, were more depressed, worked more overtime, and were less satisfied with their job content, income, working conditions, and relationships with coworkers. People with little disability despite severe pain were the opposite in all those respects. CONCLUSIONS: A group of patients with LBP can be identified for whom the most appropriate interventions should consider psychosocial factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Mid-term and long-term follow-up data after placement of the Graf stabilization system for lumbar degenerative disorders.

OBJECT: The Graf pedicle screw and ligament device is designed to provide flexible stabilization to prevent abnormal spinal movement. The purpose of this study was to investigate radiographic and clinical outcomes during a minimal 5-year follow-up period. METHODS: Between 1991 and 1997, 43 consecutive patients (whose mean age was 61 years) with lumbar degenerative disease underwent decompression and stabilization in which the Graf system was placed. Data were available for 31 patients who attended follow up for the minimal 5-year period. In a retrospective review, the authors assessed measurements on radiographs, clinical results (using Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] Scale scores), and low-back pain (using a visual analog scale [VAS] score), preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 5, and/or 10 years. Radiographic measurements included sagittal and frontal range of motion (ROM), regional lordosis, and posterior disc height as well as the extent of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Final follow-up JOA and VAS scores were significantly better than preoperative scores. Sagittal and frontal ROM was significantly reduced at 1 and 5 years, respectively, compared with preoperative values, and a gradual reduction persisted throughout the follow-up period. Compared with its preoperative status, the disc height ratio (adjacent segments to the operated level) was reduced 5 years after surgery. A significant inhibition of the vertebral slippage was detected only in the flexion position. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of these data indicated that the Graf system eventually leads to successful fusion, suggesting the presence of stability in all three dimensions. The use of the Graf system should continue to be evaluated as an alternative device in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Inflammatory cytokines released from the facet joint tissue in degenerative lumbar spinal disorders.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of surgical cases of degenerative lumbar spinal disorders demonstrated inflammatory cytokines in the facet joint tissue. OBJECTIVE: To quantify various inflammatory cytokines released from the facet joint tissue in surgical cases of degenerative lumbar spinal disorders. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In degenerative lumbar spinal disorders, pain is often caused by osteoarthritis of a facet joint. There are inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes in facet joint tissue in lumbar spinal degeneration. However, no reports have studied if there are also inflammatory cytokines in the facet joint, which generated arthropathic changes in degenerative lumbar spinal disorder and if pain is caused by chemical factors associated with inflammation such as inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: Forty patients with degenerative lumbar disorders who had undergone operative treatment were included in this study. Fifty-five joint cartilages and 67 synovia were harvested from the lumbar facet joints in responsible intervertebral levels of patients. There were 24 male and 16 female subjects with average ages of 50 and 67 years, respectively, in 11 cases of lumbar disc herniation and 29 cases of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Using ELISA and CLEIA methods, joint cartilage and synovial tissues were harvested during surgery from the facet joint at the responsible upper levels to measure IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 in individual tissues. RESULTS: IL-1beta was detected in joint cartilage and synovium in both groups and its positive reaction rate was higher in LSCS than in LDH. There was no difference in IL-1beta concentration in cartilage tissue between the two groups. There was TNF-alpha in the synovium of LSCS. IL-6 was high in joint cartilage and synovium in both groups. The concentration was significantly higher in LSCS than in LDH. CONCLUSIONS: There are inflammatory cytokines in facet joint tissue at high levels in degenerative lumbar spinal disorders. Inflammatory cytokines have a higher concentration rate in lumbar spinal canal stenosis than in lumbar disc herniation. This finding suggests that inflammatory cytokines in degenerated facet joints may have some relation to the cause of pain in degenerative lumbar disorders.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Effects of 5-HT2A receptor antagonist on blood flow in chronically compressed nerve roots.

Neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) can be caused by compression of the cauda equina by spinal stenosis and is a major clinical problem. A reduction of blood flow is an important mechanism for inducing NIC and may be caused by a vasoconstrictive effect mediated by the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in chronic cauda equina compression lesions. This study assessed the effects of the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist on nerve vasculature in chronically compressed nerve roots. A plastic balloon was placed under the lamina of L7 and inflated to 10 mmHg and left for 1 week in several cauda equina compression models. All experimental animals received an acute administration of serotonin. One group received sarpogrelate hydrochloride (5-HT2A receptor antagonist: 5-HTRA) before administration of serotonin, and another group was administered 5-HTRA after administration of serotonin. Diameters and blood flow in the vasculature of S2 or S3 nerve roots were measured after injection of serotonin. In animals without compression of the cauda equina (sham), blood vessels contracted and the blood flow was reduced after administration of serotonin. In sham and compression animals receiving both serotonin and 5-HTRA, blood vessel diameter was not reduced and was significantly larger than that in the compression group receiving only serotonin (p<0.05). Likewise, the blood flow was not reduced in sham and compression animals receiving serotonin and 5-HTRA and was significantly greater in the compression group treated only with serotonin. 5-HTRA inhibited vasoconstriction and the reduction of blood flow in chronically compressed nerve roots challenged with serotonin. This fact suggests that 5-HTRA might be effective at improving blood flow in chronically compressed nerve roots in patients with spinal canal stenosis and changes in circulation levels of serotonin.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A histologic and functional study on cauda equina adhesion induced by multiple level laminectomy.

STUDY DESIGN: A histologic and functional study on cauda equina adhesion induced by multiple-level laminectomy was performed using rats. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation between the extent of laminectomy and histologic and functional changes of the cauda equina induced by laminectomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: It has been demonstrated that laminectomies may induce cauda equina adhesion, transiently or permanently. However, the relation between the extent of laminectomy and histologic and functional changes of the cauda equina induced by laminectomy is still unclear. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were used. They were divided into four groups: no-laminectomy group (n = 5) and single, double, and triple level laminectomy groups (n = 20, respectively). At 24 hours and 1, 3, and 6 weeks after laminectomy, rats in each group were killed, and specimens were obtained from L4 to L6. The histologic changes were assessed using the classification of Yamagami. Walking durations on treadmill test and ascending spinal nerve-evoked potential were assessed in laminectomy groups before laminectomy, then weekly for 1 to 6 weeks after laminectomy. RESULTS: With the greater extent of laminectomy, the decrease in cauda equina adhesions was more delayed. There was no difference in walking durations and ascending spinal nerve-evoked potential between pre- and postlaminectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The extent of laminectomy was related to recovery time of induced cauda equina adhesion. However, a delay in recovery from cauda equina adhesion may not produce a recognizable delay in recovery from clinical symptoms.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Validation of the Japanese version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.

The study was designed to validate a translated, culturally adapted questionnaire. We examined the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of the Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RDQ) when assessing disability in Japanese patients with low back pain. The RDQ is a reliable, validated scale used to measure disability caused by low back pain. However, no validated Japanese version of this questionnaire is available. A series of 214 outpatients with low back pain participated in this validation study. The patients were given the RDQ and the SF-36, and assessed their pain and global rating of health. Among them, 57 who were clinically stable were given the RDQ again 2 weeks later. The reliability was examined based on the test-retest method and internal consistency. Sufficient reliability was demonstrated with a Chronbach's. coefficient of 0.85, and the reproducibility for the 30 patients was r = 0.91. The principal component analysis showed unidimensionality. The RDQ score of the 133 patients was significantly improved after treatment. The Japanese version of the RDQ is a useful scale that is easy to use with reliability, validity, and responsiveness when assessing patients with low back pain.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Nerve vasculature changes induced by serotonin under chronic cauda equina compression.

STUDY DESIGN: An analysis of nerve vascular changes in nerve roots induced by serotonin in chronically compressed nerve roots. OBJECTIVES: To assess the hypotheses that serotonin might have a vasoconstrictive effect in chronically compressed nerve roots. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor is involved in serotonin-induced activation or sensitization of sensory nerve terminals. Serotonin exerts complex effects on pain and hyperalgesia through various receptor subtypes located at various levels of the pain transmission system. Serotonin induces endothelium-dependent contraction in vascular diseases. However, there is no knowledge regarding a response of nerve vasculature induced by serotonin in chronically compressed nerve roots. METHODS: A total of 45 dogs were used. A plastic balloon was placed under the lamina L7 and inflated to 10 mm Hg and left for 1 week. Four experimental groups were used: no operation (Group A, n = 15), the balloon was placed under the lamina but not inflated (Group B, n = 10), the balloon was inflated to 10 mm Hg for 1 week and the pressure was released just before the measurement (Group C, n = 10), and the balloon was inflated to 10 mm Hg for 1 week and inflation was maintained during the measurements (Group D, n = 10). The blood vessels of the second or third sacral nerve were defined after an intra-arterial injection of 0.5 micromol/L or 1.0 micromol/L serotonin using a specially designed operation microscope equipped with a video camera. In all groups 0.5 micromol/L serotonin (each group, n = 5) or 1.0 micromol/L serotonin (each group, n = 5) was injected. In Group A (n = 5) saline was injected. The measurements of diameter of observed blood vessels and blood flow index were performed on video recordings. All statistical assessments were performed by Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and Fisher's PLSD. RESULTS: In Group A, the diameter of blood vessels and blood flow did not change after administration of saline. In the noncompression groups (Groups A and B) the diameter of blood vessels and blood flow increased after injection of 0.5 micromol/L serotonin. In compression groups (Groups C and D) the blood vessels contracted after injecting 0.5 micromol/L serotonin and blood flow decreased. There was a significant difference in the diameter of blood vessels and blood flow between noncompression and compression groups (P < 0.01). There was no difference regarding diameter of blood vessels between released compression (Group C) and maintained compression during measurement group (Group D). In all groups blood vessels contracted and blood flow decreased after injecting 1.0 micromol/L. In electron microscopic observation tight junction of endothelial cells was destroyed in chronically compression nerve roots. DISCUSSION: The present study demonstrated that serotonin had a vasodilative effect on the intact nerve roots, whereas there was a vasoconstrictive effect to the chronically compressed nerve roots. There was no difference in the diameter of blood vessels between released compression and maintained compression during measurement group. Results suggested that dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by serotonin rather than mechanical compression itself might lead to contraction of blood vessels under chronic compression. CONCLUSION: Serotonin had a vasoconstrictive effect on the chronically compressed nerve roots.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Epidural application of nucleus pulposus enhances nociresponses of rat dorsal horn neurons.

STUDY DESIGN: An electrophysiologic study to examine responses of dorsal horn neurons in the rat L5 spinal cord to noxious stimuli after disc herniation or application of the nucleus pulposus to the L5 nerve root. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pathogenic role of nucleus pulposus in the neural mechanism underlying sciatica and low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Application of the nucleus pulposus to the lumbar nerve root induced morphologic, vascular, and functional changes in the nerve root, suggesting that some factors in the nucleus pulposus may be implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic changes. However, it has not been studied whether the epidural application of nucleus pulposus enhances nociresponses of pain-processing neurons in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. METHODS: Extracellular recordings were made from the L5 dorsal horn neurons in 20 Wistar rats. The wide-dynamic-range (WDR) neurons activated by electric stimulation of the ipsilateral footpad of hindpaw were selected, and their responses to noxious and innocuous stimulation were examined after L5-L6 disc herniation onto the L5 nerve root (Group A) and application of the autologous nucleus pulposus (Group B) or fat tissues (Groups C and D). RESULTS: The herniation of the nucleus pulposus (Group A) and application of the autologous nucleus pulposus (Group B) to the nerve root remarkably enhanced responses of WDR neurons to noxious stimuli for hours, whereas application of fat tissue scarcely enhanced nociresponses (Groups C and D). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that somewhat pathogenic factors in the nucleus pulposus may have a crucial role in the induction of hyperalgesia. This may help to elucidate the reason why a severe pain is sometimes induced without a visually identified protrusion.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2002

Cooling decreases fos-immunoreactivity in the rat after formalin injection.

The effects of cooling on inflammatory response after injection of formalin in rats were examined by counting Fos-labeled cells in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and evaluating swelling. A small amount of dilute formalin was injected into the right hindpaw of rats. The rats were divided into Cooling (-) and Cooling (+) groups and Fos-labeled cells in the spinal cord and paw volumes were compared between the two groups. In the Cooling (+) group, Fos-labeled cells were reduced significantly and the peak time of expression was delayed compared with the Cooling (-) group. Paw volumes were significantly smaller in the Cooling (+) group than in the Cooling (-) group. These results suggest that cooling therapy is effective by delaying the progress of inflammatory reactions and provides extra time for administration of analgesics or implementation of other clinical treatments.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Interferon-gamma enhances rhinovirus-induced RANTES secretion by airway epithelial cells.

Respiratory viruses, including rhinoviruses, infect respiratory epithelium and induce a variety of cytokines and chemokines that can initiate an inflammatory response. Cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, could enhance epithelial cell activation by inducing virus receptors. To test this hypothesis, effects of IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha on expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, rhinovirus binding, and virus-induced chemokine secretion on A549 and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) were determined. The results varied with the type of cell. IFN-gamma was a stronger inducer of ICAM-1 and viral binding on HBEC, whereas TNF-alpha had greater effects on A549 cells. In addition, IFN-gamma, but not TNF-alpha, synergistically enhanced regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) mRNA expression and protein secretion induced by RV16 or RV49. To determine whether IFN-gamma could enhance RANTES secretion independent of effects on ICAM-1 and RV binding, HBEC were transfected with RV16 RNA in the presence or absence of IFN-gamma. RV16 RNA alone stimulated RANTES secretion, and this effect was enhanced by IFN-gamma. These results demonstrate that IFN-gamma can enhance rhinovirus-induced RANTES secretion by increasing viral binding, and through a second receptor-independent pathway. These findings suggest that IFN-gamma, by upregulating RANTES secretion, could be an important regulator of the initial immune response to rhinovirus infections.

Antiviral Agents↗