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Biomedical subjects

T Tomaru

Publications and source records attributed to T Tomaru.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

High levels of nervous system-specific proteins in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with early stage Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Concentrations of several proteins that are characteristic of the nervous system were time-sequentially analyzed by radio- and enzyme-immunoassay in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). We found abnormally high levels of several proteins, such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S-100b protein, brain-type isozyme of creatine kinase (CK-BB) and alpha subunit of GTP binding protein G0 (G0 alpha) in the early stage of the disease. Generally, these protein levels were far higher in CJD patients than in normal controls and other neurological patients in the early stage before the typical clinical manifestations were evident. These levels increased to maxima when the disease activity was most prominent and returned to normal or mildly elevated levels in the terminal stage. The results imply that these protein levels can serve as biochemical markers for the presence of an active destructive process in CJD brain and provide us with a useful indicator for early diagnosis of CJD.

Brain

Salvage of infarcted myocardium by angiogenic action of basic fibroblast growth factor.

Coronary collateral vessels reduce damage to ischemic myocardium after coronary obstruction. Factors that stimulate collateral formation are expected to have ameliorating effects on myocardial infarction. In a canine experimental myocardial infarct model, intracoronary injection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) improved cardiac systolic function and reduced infarct size. Treatment with bFGF increased the number of arterioles and capillaries in the infarct. Thus, the angiogenic action of bFGF might lead to a reduction in infarct size. The application of bFGF might bring about a therapeutic modality for the salvage of infarcted myocardium.

Animals

[The vasospasmolytic effects of nicorandil, cromakalim and pinacidil on 3,4-diaminopyridine-induced phasic contractions in canine coronary arteries as an experimental vasospasm model].

The spasmolytic mechanisms of nicorandil, a novel antianginal drug, were investigated using 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP)-induced phasic contractions of isolated canine coronary arteries in comparison with those of cromakalim and pinacidil. Nicorandil (10(-4) M), cromakalim (10(-6) M) and pinacidil (10(-5) M) suppressed the phasic contractions. Pretreatment with glibenclamide (10(-6) M), a specific blocking agent of ATP-sensitive K+ channel, eliminated the suppression of phasic contractions by these drugs; glibenclamide completely eliminated the suppression by cromakalim, while the eliminations against nicorandil and pinacidil were incomplete. The recoveries of peak tensions were only 56.8% and 76.1% for nicorandil and pinacidil, respectively. Nicorandil and pinacidil may suppress the phasic contractions via K+ channel opening and additional mechanisms. Methylene blue (10(-7)-10(-5) M) alone, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, had no effect on the suppression of phasic contractions by nicorandil. In the presence of glibenclamide (10(-6) M), however, the pretreatment with methylene blue significantly augmented the recovery of peak tension for nicorandil. These results indicate that K+ channel openers may suppress the phasic contractions induced by 3,4-DAP via ATP-sensitive K+ channels, and that additionally, nicorandil may suppress the phasic contractility through guanylate cyclase stimulation, as a nitrate.

4-Aminopyridine

[Herpes zoster of the right cervical region associated with right facial nerve palsy and hoarseness].

A 69-year-old man was suffering from herpes zoster on his 2nd and 3rd right cervical spinal segments and 3rd branch of the trigeminal nerve. He came to our hospital on his 10th illness day and was treated with continuous cervical epidural block, intravenous infusion of acyclovir for five days, and oral paramethasone and Vitamin B12. Oh his 18th illness day, right facial nerve palsy and hoarseness became clear. His cerebrospinal fluid showed no abnormality except cell count 23 x 3 mm-2. No clear paralysis of vocal cords was detected on laryngoscopy. He was also treated with right stellate ganglion block starting on his 21st illness day. His pain and facial nerve palsy recovered completely by his 68th illness day, but hoarseness continued about two months. The hoarseness might be a result of spread of the disease 1) by cerebrospinal fluid, 2) by contact with the 3rd cervical nerve and vagal nerve via accessory nerve, and 3) direct effect on the vocal cords and the muscles controlling them. Herpes zoster on the head and neck region shows various complications and we should follow its course cautiously.

Aged

[Hemodynamic effects of infusions of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide in anesthetized dogs].

The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the hemodynamic effects of infusion of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) at three different doses. Mongrel dogs were anesthetized with 0.87% halothane in oxygen. alpha-hANP was infused for one hour with a constant rate at either 0.3, 1.0, or 10.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively. They were randomly divided into four groups. Group A-1 received 0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of alpha-hANP; Group A-2 received 1.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of alpha-hANP; Group A-3 received 10.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of alpha-hANP; and Group C received normal saline as the vehicle and served as the control. Control values were obtained before infusion of alpha-hANP or vehicle was started, and hemodynamic variables were measured at 30 minutes intervals for two hours. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the group C showed no significant changes from control value. During and after infusion of alpha-hANP, MAP in the group A-2 and A-3 was significantly lower than the control values. The decrease in MAP of the group A-2 was the greatest. Heart rate decreased significantly at 60 minutes after termination of the infusion in all four groups. The reduction of cardiac index (CI) in the group-3 was the greatest. In the group A-3, it decreased for 31% from the control value at 60 minutes during infusion. However, this change was not significant. In contrast, the reduction in CI of the group A-2 was minimal. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) of the group C showed no significant change from the control value. The patterns of changes in MPAP were similar to those of the alpha-hANP infused groups. It decreased progressively during the infusion. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was essentially unchanged in the group C. In the group A-2, SVR decreased slightly during the infusion period and then tended to increase after the infusion of alpha-hANP. In contrast, in the group A-1 and A-3, SVR increased progressively. The changes in left ventricular maximum dp/dt (LV dp/dt max) of the group C were minimal. The reduction in LV dp/dt max was more pronounced in group A-2 than in group A-3. In conclusion, our data show that hypotensive effects of alpha-hANP are associated with the reduction in cardiac output due to the decrease of cardiac contractility. However, the changes of hemodynamic variable are not dose-dependent.

Animals

[A new method for elimination of artifacts produced by collimator septum effect in gamma-camera images (author's transl)].

Collimator artifacts may be present within the images produced by collimators whose septal width approaches the inherent resolution of the gamma-camera system. As the inherent resolution of the gamma-camera is improved, collimator artifacts become more prominent. The purpose of this study is to eliminate collimator artifacts from gamma-camera images. To eliminate the septum effect produced by high-energy parallel-hole collimators with thick septa, the following method was used: X and Y signals from the detector are made to ride on the triangular waves changing periodically, and resultant position signals obtained by this processing are applied to the corresponding deflection circuits in the CRT display. The oscillation amplitude of processed position signals can be regulated by the frequency and amplitude of the triangular waves. Regulation of the oscillation amplitude of position signals, which would produce maximum reduction of collimator artifacts, was to approach the spatial frequency responses of the overall processed line spread functions obtained experimentally to those of the Gaussian functions with FWHM equal to the geometric resolution calculated from the equation given by Gerber and Miller. In images of a pancreas phantom containing 131I, collimator artifacts were clearly seen in the unprocessed case, but were eliminated in the processed case.

Models, Theoretical