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Biomedical subjects

Y Abe

Publications and source records attributed to Y Abe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Arthoscopic diagnosis of partial scapholunate ligament tears as a cause of radial sided wrist pain in patients with inconclusive x-ray and MRI findings.

To clarify the pathology of radial-sided wrist pain with inconclusive X-ray and MRI findings, we performed arthroscopic examinations of 11 wrists in 10 patients. Physical examination and various image investigations could not identify the cause of the pain. Arthroscopy revealed partial to complete tears of the scapho-lunate interosseous ligament and synovitis and/or chondral bone defects at the scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joint in all 11 wrists. Surgical procedures consisted of eight simple synovectomies, two ligament reconstructions and one percutaneous pinning. Pain relief was achieved in 10 wrists. One wrist which had a simple synovectomy did not recover, so underwent secondary scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal fusion. In conclusion, we found that various degrees of scapholunate interosseous ligament tear and scaphotrapezio-trapezoidal joint osteoarthritis were the main causes of radial-sided wrist pain with inconclusive X-ray and simple MRI findings.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Method for numerical simulation of two-term exponentially correlated colored noise.

A method for numerical simulation of two-term exponentially correlated colored noise is proposed. The method is an extension of traditional method for one-term exponentially correlated colored noise. The validity of the algorithm is tested by comparing numerical simulations with analytical results in two physical applications.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Elevated levels of soluble fibrin or D-dimer indicate high risk of thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Fibrin-related markers such as soluble fibrin (SF) and D-dimer are considered useful for the diagnosis of thrombosis. However, the evidence for diagnosis of thrombosis by fibrin-related markers is not well-established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cutoff values of D-dimer and SF in the diagnosis of thrombosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma concentrations of SF and D-dimer were measured in 784 inpatients suspected of having thrombosis between 1 August 2003 and 31 December 2004, and then correlated with thrombosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Plasma concentrations of D-dimer and SF were significantly higher in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and cerebral thrombosis, compared with those in patients without thrombosis. When cutoff values of > 3.0 microg mL(-1) for D-dimer and > 6.0 microg mL(-1) for SF were used for the diagnosis, more than 50% of patients (with the exception of liver transplant patients and postoperative patients) had thrombosis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that SF was more useful than D-dimer for the diagnosis of thrombosis (i.e. DVT and DIC). The cutoff value of D-dimer (7.87 microg mL(-1)) was the same for DVT and DIC, while that of SF was slightly lower for DVT (7.05 microg mL(-1)) than for DIC (8.60 microg mL(-1)). Our findings suggest that high levels of plasma fibrin-related markers reflect high risk for thrombosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Histological recovery of the hepatocytes is based on the redox system upregulation in the animal models of mutant superoxide dismutase (SOD)1-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Histological rescue of superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1)-mutated hepatocytes from mutant SOD1 stress is investigated from the viewpoint of upregulation of the redox system [peroxiredoxin (Prx) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)]. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against PrxI/PrxII/GPxI were carried out on specimens from four different strains of animal models of mutant SOD1-linked familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the livers of the ALS animal models in the presymptomatic stage without motor neuron loss, both swollen and eosinophilic hepatocytes with vacuolation pathology were observed. After developing motor deficits, this swelling and vacuolation ceased to be apparent. In the terminal stage when severe motor neuron loss was observed, these hepatocytes recovered and appeared normal. In redox system-related immunohistochemical preparations, almost all of the normal hepatocytes expressed the redox system-related enzymes PrxI/PrxII/GPxI. In the presymptomatic stage, some hepatocytes did not express redox system-related enzymes. After clinical onset, over 75% of hepatocytes showed overexpression of PrxI/PrxII/GPxI, i. e., upregulation of the redox system. At the end stage, near normal PrxI/PrxII/GPxI expression was observed again in the hepatocytes. Redox system upregulation in SOD1-mutated hepatocytes rescues hepatocytes from the mutant SOD1 stress that leads to motor neuron death.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed2006

Optimization of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha single chain Fv displayed on phages for creation of functional antibodies.

In this study, we converted the immunoglobulin-type anti-human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) monoclonal antibody (Mab) to a scFv-type antibody in order to assess its basic properties. The immunoglobulin VH and VL genes were isolated from the hybridoma that produced an anti-TNF-alpha neutralizing Mab, and they were then linked together to create scFvs of the VL-VH or VH-VL-form. The binding affinity to TNF-a was retained in both scFvs. Interestingly, the VL-VH-type scFv effectively inhibited the TNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity, while this neutralization activity was dramatically decreased in the VH-VL-type scFv. These results suggest that the VL-VH-type scFv is a suitable template to create improved versions of the anti-TNF-alpha antibody using a phage display system, and they also show that the structural format must be taken into account in manufacturing scFvs.

Antibodies, Blocking↗
PubMed2005

Intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography predicts regional and global left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction: comparison with low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in predicting functional recovery and regional or global left ventricular (LV) remodelling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared with low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LDSE). METHODS: 21 patients with anterior AMI and successful primary angioplasty underwent MCE and LDSE during the subacute stage (2-4 weeks after AMI). Myocardial perfusion and contractile reserve were assessed in each segment (12 segment model) with MCE and LDSE. The 118 dyssynergic segments in the subacute stage were classified as recovered, unchanged, or remodelled according to wall motion at six months' follow up. Percentage increase in LV end diastolic volume (%DeltaEDV) was also calculated. RESULTS: The presence of perfusion was less accurate than the presence of contractile reserve in predicting regional recovery (55% v 81%, p < 0.0001). However, the absence of perfusion was more accurate than the absence of contractile reserve in predicting regional remodelling (83% v 48%, p < 0.0001). The number of segments without perfusion was an independent predictor of %DeltaEDV, whereas the number of segments without contractile reserve was not. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the number of segments without perfusion predicted substantial LV dilatation (%DeltaEDV > 20%) more accurately than did the number of segments without contractile reserve (0.88 v 0.72). CONCLUSION: In successfully revascularised patients with AMI, myocardial perfusion assessed by MCE is predictive of regional and global LV remodelling rather than of functional recovery, whereas contractile reserve assessed by LDSE is predictive of functional recovery rather than of LV remodelling.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Evidence for a novel racemization process of an asparaginyl residue in mouse lysozyme under physiological conditions.

We examined chemical reactions in mouse lysozyme after incubation under physiological conditions (pH 7 and 37 degrees C). After incubation for 8 weeks, racemization was observed specifically at Asn127 among the 19 Asp/Asn residues in mouse lysozyme. Furthermore, analysis of the primary structure showed that the racemized residue was not Asp, but Asn, which demonstrates that deamidation and isomerization did not occur. These results mean that this racemization occurs without forming a succinimide intermediate. This is the first example of D-asparaginyl formation in a protein occurring during the racemization process under physiological conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Fatigue behavior of packable composites.

The aim of this study was to investigate the flexural fatigue behavior of 11 packable composites. Of each material 30 rectangular samples (1.2 x 5 x 35 mm) for flexural fatigue test were prepared. The clamped fracture strength and flexural fatigue limit (FFL) of each material were determined using a custom-made fatigue machine, after storage of the samples for one month in water at 37 degrees C. All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni/Dunn's test for multiple comparisons (p<0.05). Regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between elastic modulus (Abe et al., 2001), clamped fracture strength or FFL and inorganic filler fraction (vol%). The fracture strengths of all but two materials were in between those of the compact-filled densified composites and the microfine ones. The FFL of the packable composites tested were significantly lower than those of the compact-filled densified composites. Three of the tested materials showed even significantly lower FFL than did the microfine composites. There were statistically significant relationships between both the elastic modulus and the volumetric filler fraction (R(2)=0.974, p=1.990 x 10(-7)). The great diversity in packable composites makes clinical assessment necessary with regard to a justified use in posterior teeth.

Composite Resins↗
PubMed2005

Effect of betaxolol hydrochloride on heart rate variability indices during exercise stress testing in patients with hypertension.

Betaxolol hydrochloride is a beta1-selective antagonist that produces vasodilation in patients with hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The goal of the present study was to characterize the effect of betaxolol on heart rate variability indices (HRV), a well-established prognostic marker. Symptom limited-treadmill exercise testing was performed in 17 hypertensive patients (60.9 +/- 14.8 years-old) before and immediately a 3 weeks course of betaxolol hydrochloride (5 mg daily). Frequency domain HRV (high frequency spectra, HF; 0.15-0.40 Hz: low frequency spectra, LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) was measured during exercise treadmill testing using MemCalc software. Betaxolol hydrochloride significantly decreased the maximal systolic blood pressure and heart rate (184 +/- 29 vs. 156 +/- 26 mmHg, P < 0.01; 132 +/- 21 vs. 113 +/- 15 bpm, P < 0.01) and significantly increased HF and LF during exercise treadmill testing (HF, 32 +/- 36 vs. 56 +/- 55 men/Hz, P < 0.01; LF, 64 +/- 58 vs. 95 +/- 86 men/Hz, P < 0.01). Thus, treatment with betaxolol hydrochloride resulted in a decrease in blood pressure during exercise treadmill testing and in an increase in HRV. This suggests that this agent could have beneficial effects on long-term prognosis in patients with hypertension.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Reduced-intensity stem-cell transplantation for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective study of 33 patients.

Efficacy of reduced-intensity stem-cell transplantation (RIST) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated in 33 patients (median age, 55 years). RIST sources comprised 20 HLA-identical related donors, five HLA-mismatched related, and eight unrelated donors. Six patients had undergone previous transplantation. Disease status at RIST was first remission (n=13), second remission (n=6), and induction failure or relapse (n=14). All patients tolerated preparatory regimens and achieved neutrophil engraftment (median, day 12.5). Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed in 45 and 64%, respectively. Six patients received donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), for prophylaxis (n=1) or treatment of recurrent ALL (n=5). Nine patients died of transplant-related mortality, with six deaths due to GVHD. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 11.6 months (range, 3.5-37.3 months). The 1-year relapse-free and overall survival rates were 29.8 and 39.6%, respectively. Of the 14 patients transplanted in relapse, five remained relapse free for longer than 6 months. Cumulative rates of progression and progression-free mortality at 3 years were 50.9 and 30.4%, respectively. These findings suggest the presence of a graft-versus-leukemia effect for ALL. RIST for ALL is worth considering for further evaluation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Role of NF-kappa B in regulation of apoptosis of erythroid progenitor cells.

Erythropoietin (EPO) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) added to human erythroid progenitor cells purified from peripheral blood (erythroid colony-forming cells; ECFC) significantly reduces apoptosis as assessed by flow cytometry (FCM) using annexin V. To clarify the role of NF-kappaB in the regulation of the apoptosis of erythroid progenitor cells, cyclosporin A (CsA), which blocks dissociation of the NF-kappaB complex, was added to serum-free cultures of ECFC. CsA induced the apoptosis of ECFCs in the presence of EPO or IFN-gamma, but at different magnitudes. In the presence of a relatively low concentration of CsA (10 microm), apoptosis was induced only in cultures with EPO. The direct involvement of NF-kappaB was then assessed by Western blotting and confocal microscopy. In the presence of EPO, NF-kappaB was abundant both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, and nuclear expression was diminished after adding CsA. In contrast, NF-kappaB was undetectable in the nucleus in the presence of IFN-gamma. The effect of CsA on mitochondrial function was investigated by determining the DeltaPsim and reactive oxygen species production. CsA disturbed the transmembrane potential in the presence of either EPO or IFN-gamma, although the viability of the cells was maintained in the presence of IFN-gamma plus CsA. These results indicate that IFN-gamma reduced the apoptosis of erythroid progenitor cells through a unique signaling pathway that is independent of NF-kappaB translocation, and which is not mediated by modulating mitochondrial function, whereas EPO reduced apoptosis through NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2005

The first record of Dirofilaria immitis infection in a Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti.

Dirofilaria immitis infection is an important parastic disease in many mammals, especially canids, but has not been reported in bird hosts. Filarial worms were isolated from the lumen of the right atrium of the heart and the connective tissue of the lung of a captive female Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti, that died at a zoo in Japan. One of these worms was observed morphologically and identified as D. immitis by features such as 4 pairs of cephalic papillae, 1 pair of cervical papillae, esophagus divided into 2 regions, 4 pairs of pre-anal papillae, 5 pairs of post-anal papillae, and unequal spicules. In addition, the partial DNA sequence (234 bp) of mitochondrial CO / gene of the filarial worm was identical to that of D. immitis. This is the first report of D. immitis infection in a bird.

Animals↗