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T Kurasawa

Publications and source records attributed to T Kurasawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Synthesis of branched cyclomaltooligosaccharide carboxylic acids (cyclodextrin carboxylic acids) by microbial oxidation.

Novel branched cyclomaltooligosaccharide carboxylic acid (cyclodextrin carboxylic acid) derivatives were synthesized by microbial oxidation using Pseudogluconobacter saccharoketogenes to oxidize five types of branched cyclodextrins, including maltosyl beta-cyclodextrin (maltosyl-beta-CyD). For each novel cyclodextrin carboxylic acid derivative synthesized, the hydroxymethyl group of the terminal glucose residue in the branched part of the molecule was regiospecifically oxidized to a carboxyl group to give the corresponding uronic acid. In addition, the physicochemical properties of cyclomaltoheptaosyl-(6-->1)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(4-->1)-alpha-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (GUG-beta-CyD) (1) and its sodium salt were studied more extensively, as these compounds are most likely to have a practical application.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2001

Histopathological study of kidney abnormalities in an experimental SIADH rat model and its application to the evaluation of the pharmacologic profile of VP-343, a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist.

The aim of this work was to investigate histopathologically the relationship between the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and kidney abnormalities and the therapeutic efficacy of VP-343 ((N-[4-[[(2S,3aR)-2-hydroxy-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-alqunoxalin-5(1H)-yl]phenyl]-4'-methyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxamide], a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, in an experimental SIADH rat model. In the model, which was prepared by continuously administering 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), histopathologic abnormalities, such as dilatation of tubules, basophilic changes in tubules, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mineralization were found in the kidney, accompanied by significant increases in the relative weight of the kidney, lung, liver, adrenal gland, and heart. VP-343 was shown to be effective in protecting the kidney from the histopathologic abnormalities and to normalize the relative weight of the kidney and several common pathophysiologic features, such as hyponatremia, hyposmolarity of plasma, hyperosmolarity of urea, and oligurea, as described previously. These results demonstrate the occurrence of histopathologic abnormalities in the kidney and the efficacy of VP-343 in improving abnormalities in the DDAVP-induced SIADH rat model.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The therapeutic efficacy of VP-343, a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, in the experimental SIADH rat model.

The aim of this work is to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of VP-343 ((N-[4-[[(2S,3aR)-2-hydroxy-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]qunoxalin-5(1H)-yl]phenyl]-4'-methyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxamide), a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, using the experimental SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone) rat model. In the model, which was accomplished by administering continuously 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), serum sodium levels (S(Na)) and serum osmolarity levels (S(Osm)) significantly and remarkably decreased, which was accompanied with hyper-osmolarity of urine and oliguria. VP-343 increased rapidly and dose-dependently S(Na) and S(Osm). VP-343 exhibited marked diuretic action and decreased urine osmolarity dose-dependently. In the SIADH rat model, all serum levels of chloride, calcium, creatinine, total cholesterol, and uric acid decreased when compared with normal levels. VP-343 increased all serum levels of chloride, calcium, and total cholesterol. These results indicate that VP-343 has efficacy to normalize the abnormalities in DDAVP-induced SIADH.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Pharmacological profile of VP-343, a novel selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, in rats.

The pharmacological profile of a novel selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, VP-343(N-[4-[[(2S,3aR)-2-hydroxy-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydropyrrolo[ 1,2-a]quinoxalin-5(1H)-yl]carbonyl]phenyl]-4'-methyl[1,1'-biphenyl ]-2-carboxamide) was characterized in several in vitro and in vivo rat models. The IC50 values of VP-343 for vasopressin V1A and V2 receptors were 110 and 0.77 nM, respectively. VP-343 inhibited dose-dependently the pressor response to exogenous arginine vasopressin (AVP; 30 mU/kg, i.v.) in pithed rats, with an ID50 value of 0.57 mg/kg (i.v.). VP-343 induced strong aquaresis in normal saline-loaded conscious rats. Antidiuretic activities of VP-343 have not been detected in AVP deficient Brattleboro rats, showing its lack AVP V2 agonistic activity. During repeated administration for 21 d (3 mg/kg, p.o.) and after recovery, the aquaretic action of VP-343 still remained. In the aged (17 month) saline-loaded conscious rats study, VP-343 (3 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited remarkable diuretic action. In a single dose oral toxicity study in mice, VP-343 did not produce any clinical signs and mortality at any of the tested doses. The results indicate that VP-343 is a potent, orally active, selective V2 receptor antagonist, suggesting that it can be expected to be useful as an aquaretic drug.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Isolated cardiac metastasis from sacral chordoma.

A 64-year-old woman presented with right heart failure caused by a cardiac tumor centered in the free wall of the right ventricle, accompanied by pericardial effusion. A match between the biopsy specimen and tissue removed 4 years earlier resulted in the diagnosis of a cardiac metastasis from a chordoma. Immunohistochemical staining was also useful in establishing the diagnosis. To alleviate the right ventricular outflow obstruction, a palliative operation was planned, resecting the tumor and performing a right ventriculoplasty, which was cancelled due to the extent of infiltration of the tumor, and instead a right atrium to pulmonary artery shunt was attempted using a vascular prosthesis, only to fail due to an inability to maintain blood flow through the prosthesis. Presently there are no definitive treatment options available, and some palliative chemotherapy is being performed. Single cardiac metastases from a chordoma are extremely rare.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed2000

[An outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in the dormitory of construction labors suspected to have been due to exogenous reinfection].

We report an outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a dormitory of construction labors, and this outbreak is suspected to have been caused by exogenous reinfection, based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and other findings. After a patient entered our hospital with active TB, 12 new other patients were discovered by contacts examination. These patients lived together in the same dormitory. They were all male and single, and were aged from 43 to 63 years old. Except one patient (No. 3) previously treated for TB for three months about 2 years ago and was suspected to be the index case of this outbreak, 12 other patients did not have a medical history of TB. The bacilli cultured from 11 patients (No. 1-11) were tested by RFLP analysis, three patterns were identified, and the fingerprints from 9 patients (No. 1-9) were identical, and the patterns of incomplete resistance of some antituberculous drugs were quite similar between No. 1-9 and No. 12 and between No. 10 and No. 13, respectively. The locations of the main lesions of TB on chest X-ray pictures were the apico-posterior segments of bilateral upper lobes. No signs suspected to indicate primary tuberculosis were detected. Considering the rate of tuberculous infection in Japan among the middle age and above as well as the identical RFLP results, most of patients in this outbreak except the index case No. 3 were suspected to have TB due to the exogenous reinfection.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[A case of primary tuberculosis, with subpleural infiltrative shadow, hilar lymphadenopathy perforated into bronchus, causing tuberculous pneumonia].

A 47-year-old asymptomatic female was referred to our outpatient department with pulmonary infiltration in the left S6. PPD skin test revealed 12 x 11 mm redness. The infiltration disappeared without treatment. Hilar lymphadenopathy appeared 2 months after the first visit. In 6 months after the first visit, the hilar lymphadenopathy disappeared without treatment, but infiltration appeared in the left S6 (different site to that of the first visit). A repeated PPD revealed 47 x 40 mm redness and 20 x 15 mm induration. Bronchoscopy revealed a polipoid lesion at the orifice of left B6, MTD (Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test) was positive from the bronchial washing of left B6. She was diagnosed as tuberculosis based on the courses and radiographic appearances. After antituberculous chemotherapy, the pulmonary infiltration and the polipoid lesion at the orifice of left B6 improved.

Bronchial Diseases↗
PubMed1999

Ratio of primary and secondary bile acids in feces: possible marker for colorectal cancer?

PURPOSE: Increases in fecal bile acids may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. The authors tested the hypothesis that high concentrations of primary and secondary bile acids are more common in patients with colon cancer than in patients with other gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: In this retrospective study the secondary bile acid deoxycholic acid and the primary bile acid cholic acid were measured in the feces by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in 63 patients with colorectal cancer, 24 patients with gastric cancer, 11 patients with biliary disorders, and 47 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the mean deoxycholic acid values tended to be higher and the cholic acid values were significantly lower in patients with colorectal cancer than in healthy subjects. Patients with other gastrointestinal diseases had lower deoxycholic acid and cholic acid values than healthy subjects. In healthy subjects the deoxycholic acid to cholic acid ratio ranged from 0.10 to 2.86 (mean, 0.88), but in almost two-thirds, the ratio did not exceed 1. In contrast, the mean preoperative ratio in patients with colorectal cancer was 2.26 (range, 0.06-7.17; P < 0.0001) and tended to be higher in patients with advanced cancer and in those with sigmoid and rectal tumors. If 1.1 is taken as the upper limit of normal for deoxycholic acid to cholic acid ratio, 67 percent of patients with colorectal cancer had an abnormal value preoperatively. CONCLUSION: A high deoxycholic acid concentration and deoxycholic acid to cholic acid ratio may be indicators of colorectal cancer. Further study is needed to improve sensitivity and specificity, perhaps by combining fecal bile acid measurements with other tests, and a large prospective trial may be warranted to determine whether these measurements have value in screening for this common cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Myocardial stunning caused by sympathetic nerve injury after an operation on cervical vertebrae.

In this case, electrocardiographic inverted T waves appeared after cervical laminaplasty and echocardiogram showed temporary wall motion abnormality. Myocardial metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake was obviously reduced in the same area where the wall motion abnormalities appeared in the echocardiogram, although no abnormalities were detected with myocardial thallium scintigraphy and coronary angiography. The myocardial stunning was caused by injury to the sympathetic nerves from a surgical procedure on the cervical vertebrae.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1999

[Hyperuricemia and arthralgia during pyrazinamide treatment].

We studied 51 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were initially treated with pyrazinamide (PZA) at our hospital between April 1996 and December 1997. PZA dosage was less than 1.5 g per day, and the chemotherapy course lasted 2 months. Uric acid levels of higher than 8 mg/dl were observed in 44 patients (86%). Arthralgia was observed in 9 patients. Acute gout was observed in only 1 patient who had hyperuricemia prior to PZA treatment and a predisposition for gout. The other 8 patients with arthralgia had symptoms in the shoulders and knees, but no gouty pain. Arthralgia was not related to serum uric acid level and disappeared after PZA treatment was stopped. We concluded that PZA can be used for up to 2 months without the combined administration of allopurinol or benzbromarone even if hyperuricemia or arthralgia develops.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed1999

[A case of middle ear tuberculosis; PCR of the otorrhea was useful for the diagnosis].

A 26-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever, cough, otorrhea and otalgia and progressive hearing loss of her left ear. Smears of her sputum were positive for acid-fast bacilli. Smears of her otorrhea were negative for acid-fast bacilli but PCR of her otorrhea was positive. Chest X-ray showed infiltrative shadows with the cavity. She was diagnosed as middle ear tuberculosis associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. After anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, fever, cough, otorrhea and pain of her left ear were improved, but her hearing level was not improved. In the case of middle ear tuberculosis, it is necessary to make an early diagnosis and treatment. This is the first reported case in Japan in which PCR of the otorrhea is positive.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[An autopsy case of lung cancer accompanied by pneumoperitoneum].

We report a case of pneumoperitoneum at the end stage of lung cancer. The patient was an 81-year-old man who experienced only mild abdominal pain and fullness. The pneumoperitoneum spontaneously disappeared. Ruptured viscera and peritonitis were not observed at autopsy. We speculated that air had moved from the lung cancer lesion to the mediastinum, and then through the retroperitoneal space into the peritoneal space. When pneumoperitoneum is observed, lung cancer and other intrathoracic diseases should be suspected as causes. Also, it may be necessary to carefully examine the patient for fever, general appearance, abdominal findings, and laboratory findings, including white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level, and on that basis differentiate from ruptured viscus, which requires an emergency laparotomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[A clinical study of pulmonary cryptococcosis. The Study Group of Respiratory Mycosis in Kyoto].

During the 7 years from 1990, thirty-two patients (20 in male and 12 in female, mean age; 53 years old) were diagnosed as having pulmonary cryptococcosis. To clarify the essential points for early diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis, we reviewed the clinical records and chest images. Three patients had a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis and eleven patients had underlying disorders such as malignancy, chronic pulmonary diseases and so on, but no HIV infection, which would affect this disease. Eighteen patients did not have any past history nor complications. The symptoms such as cough, sputum, chest pain and fever were generally of low-grade, 14 patients had no symptom at diagnosis. Except of some patients with severe infections and severe underlying disorders, laboratory findings such as inflamatory and nutritious markers were almost within near the normal range. On plain chest X-ray films the distribution of lesions was almost in proprtion to the volume of the lobes. The multifocal nudular and/or infitrative shadows wer observed in about 2/3 cases and single lesion in about 1/3. The width of lesions were minimal except of one case with interstitial pneumonia and two cases with multifocal segmental pneumonia. The cavity lesions were observed in 7 cases and hilar lymphadenopathy in 3 cases. On CT images, the lesions were almost located in the outer zone, the lesions which were adjacent to the pleura were observed in 15 cases. Cavitary lesions were almost smooth in edge and ubiquitous, the walls were also thick. The peripheral air-bronchogram in the nodular/infitrative shadows were observed in three cases. Pulmonary cryptococcosis is air-borne and almost a chronic infection except in AIDS patients, so careful planning for examination is essential with considerations of the characteristics of clinical and imaging features of this infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[A clinical study of causes of death from active pulmonary tuberculosis with chemotherapy].

We evaluated retrospectively the causes of death from active pulmonary tuberculosis by the review of records and chest radiograohs of 364 patients (male 282, female 82) with active pulmonary tuberculosis, who were admitted to our hospital during 1995 to 1998. 43 patients (male 33, female 10) were died under anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. 20 cases were tuberculous death; death from acute progression of tuberculosis without response to chemotherapy (acute progression group) in eight cases and death from debility in spite of partial response to chemotherapy (debility group) in eight cases. 23 cases were died from underlying diseases; death from malignant neoplasmas (malignant group) in nine cases and death from complication of bacterial pneumonia (pneumonia group) in seven cases. In acute progression group, the age (mean +/- SE) was 64.8 +/- 5.2 years old and the survival period from admission was 11.8 +/- 4.2 days. Five cases were laborer or unemployed. This group was characterized with far advanced diseases presenting extensive lung lesions complicated with DIC or hepatic dysfunction, low performance status (PS), severe malnutrition and lymphocytepenia. In debility group, the age was 70.8 +/- 3.9 years old and the survival period from admission was 254.6 +/- 90.7 days. Five cases were laborer or unemployed. This group was characterized with multiple underlying diseases, low PS, previous anti-tuberculous chemotherapy and resistance to INH and/or RFP. In malignant group, the age was 69.3 +/- 3.2 years old and the survival period from admission was 99.9 +/- 21.2 days. This group was characterized with relatively well nourished, relatively good PS in comparison with other groups, and lymphocytepenia. In pneumonia group, the age was 82.8 +/- 1.7 years old and the survival period from admission was 153.3 +/- 54.5 days. This group was characterized with remarkably advanced age, low PS related to underlying disorders of central nervous system. In the causes of death with active pulmonary tuberculosis under chemotherapy, inhomogenous groups were included. Extensive disease, low PS, malnutrition, lymphocytopenia, previous chemotherapy, resistance to INH and/or RFP, and poorer social circumstances seemed to be risk factors for tuberculous death. In contrast, underlying malignant nepolasma, lower PS, and far advanced age were seemed to be the risk factors for non-tuberculous death.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[A case of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with intracranial tuberculous abscess].

A 75-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever and cough. Chest X-ray showed infiltrative shadows with cavity, and sputum smears were positive for acid-fast bacilli. About 2 months after the initiation of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, suddenly generalized convulsion occurred. CT of the brain showed the solitary mass with the ring enhancement in the left subcortical area. About 4 weeks later, brain aspiration drainage was performed and pus was aspirated. He was diagnosed as intracranial tuberculous abscess. After the drainage, neurological symptoms disappeared completely and there were no recurrence of abscess. Attention should be called to the complication of intracranial tuberculosis, especially in cases worsened during anti-tuberculous chemotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical evaluation on causes of death in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis during the past 3 years (1994 to 1996)].

We evaluated the cause of death in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis during the past 3 years (1994 to 1996). Of 502 tuberculous patients, 58 (11.6%) patients died. Most of them were aged or under poor nutritional conditions. Of 378 active tuberculous patients, 39 (10.3%) patients died (group A). Of 124 old tuberculous patients or cases with extensive sequelae of tuberculosis, 19 (23.4%) patients died (group B). In the group A, 15 patients died in spite of improvements in tuberculosis lesions. All the intubated patients with active tuberculosis died. In the group B, most of patients died of respiratory failure or pneumonia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Roentgenological diagnosis of pulmonary mycobacteriosis].

For appropriate approach to diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, it is necessary to understand the pathological processes from primary infection and acquisition of cellular immunity to reactivation, progression and cure of the tuberculous lesions. The outlines for roentgenological diagnosis are reviewed, which are the process of primary infection and cure after acquisition of cellular immunity, the process of reactivation and progress of postprimary pulmonary tuberculosis, and roentgenological characteristics of primary and postprimary pulmonary tuberculosis. The outlines of roentgenological aspects of pulmonary mycobacteriosis due to M. avium complex and M. kansasii are reviewed, which are increasing in Japan.

Humans↗