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Biomedical subjects

T Kazui

Publications and source records attributed to T Kazui.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Total aortic replacement for aortitis syndrome: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 35-year-old woman who was administered steroid therapy based on a diagnosis of aortitis syndrome. Despite this treatment, the symptoms of cardiac failure gradually progressed, and she was referred to our hospital to undergo surgery. Preoperative evaluations revealed a large aneurysm extending from the ascending aorta to the thoracoabdominal aorta. A two-staged total aortic replacement was carried out and postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed excellent reconstruction of the entire aorta.

Adult↗

Impending rupture of the descending aorta by enlargement of the false lumen after graft replacement with the elephant trunk technique: report of a case.

We report herein a case of an impending rupture of the descending aorta caused by an enlargement of the false lumen after a graft replacement using the elephant trunk technique. The patient was a 51-year-old woman who had received a graft replacement of the ascending aorta for an acute Stanford type A aortic dissection 6 years previously. An enhanced computed tomographic scan and digital subtraction angiography revealed pseudoaneurysms at the proximal and distal anastomotic site, and a residual dissection of the aortic arch. A graft replacement of the ascending aorta to the aortic arch was performed with the distal site using the elephant trunk technique. Five days after the operation, massive bleeding from the drainage tube occurred. A chest enhanced computed tomographic scan suggested an impending rupture of the descending aorta caused by an enlargement of the false lumen. A graft replacement of the descending aorta was carried out. Postoperatively she had no complications, and digital subtraction angiography showed an excellent reconstruction of the thoracic aorta. One month after the second operation, she was discharged from hospital.

Aortic Dissection↗

Feasibility of using the automatic generating system for quartz watches as a leadless pacemaker power source.

An automatic power-generating system (AGS) which converts kinetic energy into electric energy for quartz watches was tested as a power source for implantable cardiac pacemakers. An automatic power-generating mechanism and a capacitor (0.33 F) were removed from a quartz watch (SEIKO) and encapsulated in a polyvinyl case. Characteristics of the AGS were investigated by acceleration equipment. The capacitor in the AGS was charged to 2.0 V (0.66 J) by placing it on the equipment for about 30 minutes. The equipment has a 2 Hz cycle and generates +/- 1.7 G at the end of each half cycle. The AGS (fully charged to 2.0 V) was used as the power source for a pulse generator circuit built using commercially available CMOS IC. The circuit generated pulses of 0.5 ms width at 1 Hz (60 pulses min-1). The voltage of the AGS was maintained at 1.6 V while it was being charged by the accelerations. The generator supplied pulses of 0.75 V, 1.47 mA through a 510 omega load. With fully charged AGS, the generator was also used to pace a mongrel dog's heart at 140 beats min-1 for 60 minutes. During pacing, the AGS supplied 420 mJ to the circuit and the cardiac muscle. The AGS was placed on the right ventricular wall of the mongrel dog under anaesthesia. Energy of 80 mJ is stored in a capacitor by the heart beating at about 200 beats/min for 30 minutes. Thus the AGS generated 13 microJ per heart beat. This result suggests that the AGS may supply enough energy for use in a cardiac pacemaker.

Electric Power Supplies↗

Intrathoracic suture abscess after lobectomy for early lung cancer.

Intrathoracic suture abscess may occur around sutures on the pleura or in the lung parenchyma, although it is rare to encounter such cases clinically. We report on a 68-year-old woman with an intrathoracic (extrapulmonary) suture abscess, which was discovered on a chest X-ray film one year after right-middle lobectomy for early lung cancer. The abscess was removed surgically, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination showed that it was caused by braided polyester sutures.

Abscess↗

Pharmacokinetic advantages of a newly developed tacrolimus oil-in-water-type emulsion via the enteral route.

We developed an oleic acid oil-in-water (o/w)-type emulsion of a new tacrolimus formulation that presented an improvement in the delivery of the drug for oral absorption. This investigation was undertaken to assess a sustained release drug delivery system and selective drug transfer into the lymphatic system. The whole blood concentration profiles after oral administration at a dose of 2 mg/kg and bone marrow, spleen, liver, lung, small intestine, kidney, brain, and whole blood distribution after oral administration at a dose of 1 mg/kg of o/w emulsion formulation of tacrolimus (O/W group) were compared with those of commercially available formulation (T group) in the rat. The mean diameter of the o/w emulsion droplets was 0.47 microm immediately after preparation. The tacrolimus entrapping efficiency of o/w emulsion was 71.3+/-5.0% in 12 h and did not change for 2 d. The area under the whole blood concentration-time curve (AUC) in the O/W group was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in the T group. In contrast, the values of constant elimination rate and total clearance in the O/W group were significantly lower (P<0.01) than those in the T group, with a comparative bioavailability of 115.9%. The tissue concentration of tacrolimus in the O/W group was significantly higher levels in the bone marrow, spleen, liver, lung, and small intestine, and significantly lower in the brain and kidney, relative to the T group. The o/w emulsion of tacrolimus may be an improved dosage form via the enteral route.

Administration, Oral↗

Drug-induced apoptosis and p53, BCL-2 and BAX expression in breast cancer tissues in vivo and in fibroblast cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapeutic management of breast cancers is a difficult task as they show significant differences in chemosensitivity. The present study was undertaken to determine the usefulness of the apoptosis-related factors as indicators of tumor sensitivity to 5'-deoxyfluorouridine (5'-DFUR) in breast cancers. METHODS: (1) Forty-six breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to a group in which oral 5'-DFUR (1200 mg/day) was administered for more than 5 days before operation (24 patients) and a control group who received no preoperative chemotherapy (22 patients). Surgical specimens were examined for the frequency of apoptotic cells [apoptotic index (AI)] by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling method and for the expression of p53, BCL-2 and BAX by immunohistochemical staining. (2) Normal human diploid fetal lung fibroblast, IMR90 and SV40 transformed IMR90 were exposed to 5-FU. Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry and BCL-2 and BAX mRNAs by real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis. RESULTS: (1) No significant difference in the AIs or in BCL-2 and BAX scores was observed between the 5'-DFUR-treated and control groups. However, in the p53 negative subgroup (n = 36), AI and BAX scores were higher and BCL-2 scores lower in the 5'-DFUR group than in the control group (P = 0.006, 0.008 and 0.050, respectively). (2) The sensitivity of IMR90 was significantly decreased by SV40 transformation and the 5-FU-induced cytotoxicity was mainly due to induction of apoptosis. The BCL-2/BAX mRNA ratio was decreased in response to 5-FU in IMR90. These results correlated with our clinical data. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative treatment with 5'-DFUR induced apoptosis and changes in BCL-2 and BAX expression in p53 negative breast cancers. p53 status, AI and the BCL-2/BAX ratio may be useful information for the choice of postoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Surgical management for acute aortic dissection with organ ischemia].

In a series of one hundred and one cases of surgical treatment for acute aortic dissection between January 1986 and September 1997, we evaluated 29 cases presenting with organ ischemia. These consisted of 23 cases of acute type A dissection (type A) and 6 cases of type B dissection (type B). Organ ischemia was diagnosed by (1) aortography, (2) a retrospective review of the history and (3) physical examination or laboratory data. The 23 surgical cases of acute type A dissection consisted of, coronary ischemia 8 cases, cerebral and spinal cord ischemia 9 cases, intestinal ischemia 3 cases, lower extremities ischemia 10 cases, and plural organs ischemia 8 cases. In the 6 cases of acute type B, we noted 4 intestinal ischemias and 2 lower extremities ischemias. The operative mortality rates when subdivided according to ischemic organ were: coronary ischemia 50%, cerebral and spinal cord ischemia 11%, intestinal ischemia type A 33%, type B 50%, and lower extremities ischemia type A 33%, type B 0%. The operative mortality rates, especially for patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction or intestinal ischemia, were relatively high. In cases of acute aortic dissection when organ ischemia occurred, we believed that it was necessary to perform early thoracic aortic repair and reconstruction of the ischemic organ.

Acute Disease↗

Successful surgical treatment of primary aorto-duodenal fistula associated with inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm: A case report.

We report a rare case of a 50-year-old woman with intermittent gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and diagnosed as having primary aortoenteric fistula (PAEF) with inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA). She was transferred to our institution with suspected PAEF as assessed by duodenoscopy and CT scan. As the patient was in shock due to massive GI-bleeding two days after admission, we performed an emergency laparotomy. The fistula was closed and the aneurysm replaced by a Woven Dacron Graft with an inter-positioning omental flap. A high index of suspicion is the most important diagnostic aid to prevent overlooking this often fatal disease.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

[A case of stage IV esophageal cancer successfully treated by chemoradiation].

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our institution with a hard tumor on the left side of the neck. He was diagnosed as having advanced esophageal cancer (Stage IV) with a massive supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, and the lesion was thought to be unresectable. He was treated with chemotherapy (CDDP-VDS-5-FU) and radiation therapy, and all the tumors completely disappeared on endoscopic and CT examination. A stricture with scarring was detected in the esophagus at 6 months after treatment. No neoplastic tissue was detected in the lesion, and his dysphagia was relieved by dilation of the stricture. Recurrence on the left side of the neck was detected by CT at 2.5 years after chemoradiation therapy. However, the tumor has not grown over the 2-year interval since then, so it seems to be dormant. He has now survived with a good QOL for 5 years since the first hospital admission. We conclude that advanced esophageal cancer can be treated with chemoradiation therapy if the patient is in sufficiently good overall condition.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Laparoscopic surgery for gonadal dysgenesis in children.

Three pediatric phenotypic females presented with gonadal dysgenesis. Their gonads were removed laparoscopically. These phenotypically normal females, who do not have any intersex problems or ambiguous genitalia, represent a unique group of patients having a Y chromosome or a fragment of it in their genetic constitutions. We performed laparoscopic adnexectomy with Endoloop ligatures or an ultrasonically activated scalpel. No significant complication occurred in any of the cases. Pathologic examination revealed gonadoblastoma in one of the gonads of one patient. We propose that laparoscopic surgery is a safe and minimally invasive procedure for prophylactic gonadectomy to prevent neoplasia, even when performed on pediatric patients.

Child↗

Occlusion of the abdominal aorta caused by enlargement of the false lumen after graft replacement for a DeBakey type IIIb dissecting aneurysm: report of a case.

We report herein a case of abdominal aorta occlusion caused by enlargement of the false lumen after a graft replacement. The patient was a 70-year-old man who underwent a graft replacement of the descending thoracic aorta for a DeBakey type IIIb dissecting aneurysm. Digital subtraction angiography performed on postoperative day 18 revealed an abdominal aorta occlusion caused by enlargement of the false lumen. A new intimal defect was found in the aortic wall 2 cm distal to the suture line, the cause of which was suspected to be clamp injury during the initial operation. Graft replacement of the abdominal aorta was subsequently carried out. Postoperatively, he had no complications, and digital subtraction angiography showed excellent reconstruction of the abdominal aorta. The patient was discharged from hospital 1 month after his second operation.

Aged↗

[A case of graft replacement of the ascending aorta to the aortic arch and the partial descending aorta in a single stage for thrombosed aortic dissection (DeBakey type II + IIIb)].

We report here a case of graft replacement of the ascending aorta to the aortic arch and the middle portion of the descending aorta in a single stage for thrombosed aortic dissection. The patient was a 53-year-old male who was transferred to our hospital with a diagnosis of thrombosed aortic dissection. Conservative therapy was continued but three weeks after the onset, chest enhanced CT scan and digital subtraction angiography revealed an opacified false lumen in the ascending aorta and a ulcer like projection in the middle portion of the descending aorta. He was therefore diagnosed as having redissecction in DeBakey type II + IIIb thrombosed aortic dissection. Graft replacement of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and a part of the descending aorta was performed in a single stage via median stenotomy with the aid of extracorporeal circulation and selective cerebral perfusion. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed satisfactory reconstruction of the thoracic aorta. The patient is still leading a normal life two years after the operation.

Aortic Dissection↗

Apoptosis is involved in acute cardiac allograft rejection in rats.

BACKGROUND: Allograft rejection remains a major obstacle to long-term survival in heart transplantation. Recent studies have demonstrated that apoptotic cell death may occur in acute allograft rejection. The purpose of this study was to determine whether apoptotic cell death is involved in rat cardiac allograft rejection through both the perforin/granzyme pathway and the Fas/Fas ligand (Fas-L) pathway. METHODS: Groups of Lewis (RT1(1)) rats underwent heterotopic heart transplantation from disparate DA (RT1a) or syngeneic Lewis rats. The cardiac grafts were harvested 1, 3, or 5 days after transplantation and analyzed for apoptotic cell death using DNA nick-end labeling, immunocytochemistry, and electron microscopy. In addition, the expression of granzyme B, perforin, Fas, and Fas-L messenger RNA were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Apoptotic cell death of cardiac myocytes was prominent in allografts on day 5 after transplantation. Fas gene transcripts were constitutively expressed in both syngeneic and allogeneic grafts, whereas expression of Fas-L was only upregulated in allografts with ongoing rejection. Granzyme B and perforin gene expression were also upregulated in allografts with ongoing rejection. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that myocyte apoptosis through both the perforin-granzyme pathway and the Fas-Fas-L pathway may be involved in cardiac allograft rejection in rats.

Acute Disease↗