PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Akazawa

Publications and source records attributed to Y Akazawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Significantly lower rate of smoking in female compared to male patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

To examine the relationship between smoking and lung adenocarcinoma in female patients, we performed a retrospective chart review for 470 patients with lung adenocarcinoma at our hospital. The proportions of non-smokers were higher in female patients than those of male patients. A significant difference in smoking history was found between female and male patients. Not only active smoking but also passive smoking may influence the development of female lung adenocarcinoma, which reinforces the need for effective programmes aimed refraining from smoking and cessation among men as well as women.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Visual deprivation myopia with translucent and black goggles.

To study how different visual deprivation conditions influence the degree of myopia, chicks were reared under conditions of unilateral and bilateral visual deprivation with translucent and black goggles in environments of a 12-hour light/dark cycle and complete darkness. Two weeks after hatching, the refractive errors and axial lengths of the eyes were measured. The deprived eyes of the light/dark-reared chicks exhibited severe myopia both unilaterally and bilaterally as well as axial elongations. The dark-reared chicks exhibited slight myopia in the eyes with goggles and no significant axial elongation. The experiments suggest that different degrees of visual deprivation can also cause severe myopia, that myopia develops independently in each eye, and that a light/dark environment is required for severe myopia to develop.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A candidate case for lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis mimicking a neurohypophysial tumor.

A 56-year-old Japanese man presented with a 2-month duration of polyuria and polydipsia. The diagnosis of diabetes insipidus was confirmed by water deprivation and vasopressin injection. The secretory function of the adenohypophysis was estimated as normal by a variety of provocative tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) displayed the loss of the hyperintense signal of the neurohypophysis and a tumor-like lesion confined to the neurohypophysis. The tissue specimen resected at transsphenoidal surgery showed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration. These findings suggest that this is a candidate case for lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypophysitis (LIN) that is not identical to classical lymphocytic hypophysitis. This patient will be followed up to determine whether this case simply represents an early stage of classical hypophysitis or a different clinical entity.

Diabetes Insipidus↗
PubMed1996

A case of uveitis associated with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Ocular complications of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) have rarely been reported. We describe a 7-year-old girl with CAEBV with associated uveitis. The patient was first observed to have recurrent fever and hepatosplenomegaly in August 1991. She presented with left facial nerve palsy in June 1993. Ocular examination showed right iridocyclitis. Both optic disks were swollen, and the retinal vessels were dilated. Antibody titers to EBV were markedly elevated. Treatment with topical steroids. systemic interleukin-2 and splenectomy dramatically relieved all her symptoms. including the ocular ones.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1996

Introduction of retired breeder F344/DuCrj rats for aging research.

Male retired breeder F344/DuCrj rats of 17 months of age were purchased in three lots and maintained for aging studies until 25 months of age. These rats were compared with male virgin rats of the same strain for survival percentage, body weight and food consumption. In the retired breeders, decrease in body weight and low food consumption were noted after delivery, and one or two months were required for these parameters to return to the delivery level. After recovery, the body weight and food consumption as well as survival percentage in the retired breeders were similar to those in virgins. From our results, we consider that it takes one to two months to acclimatize aged rats.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus by WHO criteria.

The recent data on the prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus in Japan are presented. The data were obtained in 1989-1992 based on the 1985 WHO criteria. The prevalence and incidence for childhood IDDM (0-18 years) were chiefly derived from the records of patients who received free medical care for diabetes. The prevalence was 10-15 per 100,000 and incidence was 1.2-2.0 per 100,000 in most regions of Japan. There is no increasing tendency from south to north. The prevalence of diabetes (mostly NIDDM) in the population aged 40 years or older studied using the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test ranged from 4 to 12%. Men were affected more frequently than women in most areas. There are problems with the data on the incidence of NIDDM obtained so far. The nation-wide survey of HbA1c suggests about a 2-fold difference in abnormally high HbA1c in different regions of Japan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of chronic complications in Japanese diabetic patients.

In November 1990, we carried out a survey of chronic complications of diabetes in more than 2000 diabetic patients who were seen on one day in 35 medical institutions including university hospitals, other hospitals and small clinics. More than 60% were aged 55-74 years. About 7% of patients had IDDM. Hypertension was present in 38.5%. Proteinuria was positive in 20% and 1% of patients were on dialysis therapy. 28% had visual disturbance and 2.9% had blindness in one or both eyes. Retinopathy was observed in 38% and proliferative retinopathy in 10%. The prevalences of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cerebral infarction and foot ulcer and gangrene were 2.1%, 4.7%, 5.7% and 2%, respectively, including the histories of these complications. Amputation of lower extremities was seen in only 0.6%. Microangiopathies were generally more frequent and more severe in IDDM than NIDDM. The prevalence of microangiopathy was as common as, but macroangiopathy seems less frequent than, the figures given in 'Diabetes in America'.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

WHO Collaborating Centre for Diabetes Treatment and Education.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a section for non-communicable diseases, where the public health problems related to diabetes are treated. The WHO has cooperated with the International Diabetes Federation for many years. The classification of diabetes and diagnostic criteria proposed by its committee is now widely used throughout the world. Many medical schools, hospitals and institutes have been designated as WHO Collaborating Centres, in order to gather and spread information, to moderate cooperative research and assist educational activities. In the field of diabetes, about 30 WHO Collaborating Centres were established. In Japan, one such Centre for Diabetes Treatment and Education was placed in Kyoto National Hospital. In April 1991, the First International Conference on Health Technology in the field of Diabetes was held under the auspice of the Centre (Chairman: Dr. Y. Akazawa). The Centre played a major role in the Japanese national diabetes program, particularly in the field of epidemiology. It is expected to make good contributions also to diabetes in other countries especially in Asia.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1994

Ocular pulse and pulsatile change of scleral strain in living in situ rabbit eyes.

We investigated ocular pulse (OP), pulsatile change of scleral strain (PSS), and intraocular pressure (IOP) to evaluate extensibility of the sclera in seven living rabbit eyes. OP and IOP were measured by a semiconductor pressure transducer and PSS was measured using a small foil strain gauge. Both OP and PSS generated similar bell-shaped curves in relation to IOP. Between OP and PSS, there was a linear relation, the gradient of which was considered to be an index of the modulus of elasticity of the sclera. With further refinement of the method, it is possible to apply this technique to human eyes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Trial of insulinlike growth factor I therapy for patients with extreme insulin resistance syndromes.

Extreme insulin resistance occurs in patients with primary defects in insulin action at the receptor or postreceptor levels. The condition commonly is associated with acanthosis nigricans and ovarian masculinization. Despite a marked increase in insulin secretion, some patients develop frank diabetes mellitus that does not respond adequately to insulin therapy. Insulinlike growth factor I exerts metabolic effects similar to those of insulin. This study assessed the potential effectiveness of IGF-I as a blood glucose lowering agent in patients with extreme insulin resistance syndromes, including type A insulin resistance, congenital generalized lipodystrophy, and leprechaunism. Among the 11 patients studied, some exhibited mutated insulin receptors, whereas others were suspected to have defects in postreceptor sites. In each patient, plasma glucose levels decreased in response to subcutaneous injections of recombinant human IGF-I (0.1-0.3 mg/kg body wt). The degree of the decrease was roughly comparable with that observed in normal individuals. IGF-I also reduced plasma insulin concentrations. A long-term trial of IGF-I (up to 16 mo) showed that IGF-I (0.1-0.4 mg/kg body wt twice daily) is effective in lowering both fasting and postprandial plasma glucose concentrations with decreases in both fructosamine and HbA1c values. Improvement of acanthosis nigricans was observed in some of the patients. These results suggest that recombinant human IGF-I could be used clinically as a hypoglycemic agent in diabetic patients with extreme insulin resistance in whom insulin treatment is ineffective.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗
PubMed1993

A multicenter study of typical retinitis pigmentosa in Japan.

A nationwide, multicenter study of typical retinitis pigmentosa was carried out in collaboration with 13 university hospitals throughout Japan. A total of 253 patients, 122 males and 131 females, with a wide range of ages (mean 48 years), were registered during a two-month period in 1989. Determination of inheritance pattern revealed 30.2% autosomal recessive cases, 15.4% autosomal dominant, 0.5% X-linked, and 48.9% simplex, indicating a relative decrease in autosomal recessive cases and a relative increase in simplex cases in recent decades. The age at onset, initial symptom, and visual functions including visual acuity, visual field and electroretinogram showed a marked interindividual variability, but statistical analysis demonstrated that visual defects progressed with increasing age and disease duration. A correlation between the phenotypic variation and the genetic type was observed. This survey of retinitis pigmentosa in Japan provides information for counseling and rehabilitation of patients and encourages basic and clinical research of this genetic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[An epidemiogenetic study of typical retinitis pigmentosa in Japan--a preliminary report of nationwide, multicenter study].

We performed a nationwide, multicenter study of typical retinitis pigmentosa with reference to the inheritance patterns of the disease. A total of 253 probands were registered during two months of 1989, and an analysis of the parental consanguinity of 182 probands with the method of inbreeding coefficient enabled us to estimate the relative prevalence of genetic types; autosomal recessive trait: 47.6%; autosomal dominant trait: 17.3%; sporadic cases: 34.6%. A comparison of the results with previous studies has indicated a decrease in the prevalence of the autosomal recessive trait and an increase in the sporadic cases, as would be expected from the decrease in consanguineous marriages and offsprings in the past few decades in Japan. X-linked retinitis pigmentosa was rarely identified, but precise evaluation of its frequency needs further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Influence of intraocular pressure on axial elongation.

The role of intraocular pressure (IOP) on axial elongation was studied by the following three experiments. 1) Thickness of the sclera in the lid-sutured-myopia of three monkeys was examined by light microscopy. The sclera of the experimental eye in the posterior pole was thinner than that of the control eye, but no differences were found in the equatorial and limbal parts of the sclera. 2) By increasing IOP, the scleral wall extensibility in 8 normal, enucleated rabbit eyes was measured by placing the foil strain gauges on the sclera. Extensibility of the sclera in the posterior pole showed a different response from that at the equator and in the limbus. 3) IOPs of the 184 human myopic eyes were measured by a Mackay-Marg tonometer in various postures. IOP elevations in high myopia and postural variations of IOP were obtained. From these experiments, it was suggested that IOP seemed to be one of the main factors in increasing the axis to the posterior pole.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

An analysis of subretinal fluid in bullous retinal detachment.

A patient with bilateral bullous retinal detachment underwent drainage of the subretinal fluid. The analysis of the subretinal fluid revealed a high protein concentration--17.4 g/dl OD, 27.5 g/dl OS--which was 3-5 times higher than that of the patient's serum. The protein fractionations of the subretinal fluid were almost the same as those of the serum. These findings may well explain the shifting fluid and support the theory that bullous retinal detachment is caused by the breakdown of retinal pigment epithelial function as a barrier between the choroid and retina.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Primary intrasellar microgerminoma detected by magnetic resonance imaging: case report.

A case of primary intrasellar germinoma in a 24-year-old woman is presented. Her initial symptoms were diabetes insipidus and headaches. The neurological examination found no abnormalities, but the endocrinological examination disclosed a deficiency in growth hormone secretion. Her skull x-ray revealed a normal sella turcica, and a computed tomographic scan revealed no abnormal mass in the pituitary fossa, but a slightly enlarged stalk. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small tumor in the posterior lobe. Transsphenoidal exploration revealed a germinoma in the posterior pituitary lobe. Six cases of primary intrasellar germinoma, including our case, were reviewed. Our case is considered to be the smallest intrasellar germinoma yet reported.

Adult↗