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Biomedical subjects

Y Asakura

Publications and source records attributed to Y Asakura.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Insulin insensitivity in nonobese, nondiabetic essential hypertension and its improvement by an alpha 1-blocker (bunazosin).

To investigate insulin insensitivity and its reversibility, we performed an insulin sensitivity test using the steady state plasma glucose (SSPG) method in 10 lean hypertensive subjects with normal glucose tolerance before and after treatment with alpha 1-blocker bunazosin, and 14 age body mass index-adjusted healthy control subjects. Steady state plasma glucose was significantly higher in the hypertensive subjects compared with the control group (182 +/- 10 mg/dL v 104 +/- 7, P < .01, mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM). Steady state plasma glucose significantly decreased to 136 +/- 12 mg/dL (P < .01) after the treatment with alpha 1-blocker bunazosin, with a decrease of blood pressure. Hypertensive subjects had shown an increased area under the curve of glucose and insulin during the oral glucose tolerance test compared with normal controls. The glucose area decreased significantly, but the insulin area did not change after the treatment. There was no difference in plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and fractional excretion of Na between normal and hypertensive subjects both before and after treatment with bunazosin at basal and during insulin sensitivity tests (2 h). Serum total cholesterol level decreased and HDL cholesterol increased significantly after treatment with bunazosin. A significant correlation was observed between SSPG and blood pressure, but not between insulin level and blood pressure. The results indicate that insulin sensitivity is better related than hyperinsulinemia to hypertension and that this insensitivity is partially reversible by alpha 1-blocker, bunazosin.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

[A case of myocardial infarction in a young man with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Apparently the incidence of coronary artery disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been increasing. However, most of the cases had been treated with corticosteroids, and had atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arterial tree. A 21-year-old man with latent and untreated SLE had an attack of acute myocardial infarction. Coronary arteriography showed eccentric stenotic lesion at the proximal segment of the right coronary artery. One week later, in the 2nd coronary arteriography, this stenotic lesion was not able to be recognized. We supposed that the coronary artery occlusion was due to thrombus formation, and was not related to atherosclerosis, arteritis and embolus. He had no coronary risk factors. Laboratory data showed lymphocytopenia, proteinuria, positive antinuclear antibody, and positive LE cell, and the case was diagnosed as SLE. Subsequent investigations showed the presence of antibodies to cardiolipin. It was suggested that anticardiolipin antibody and other thrombogenic factors were the causes of the coronary occlusive thrombosis in this patient with SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Application of improved coupling assay method for peroxidase of diseased thyroids: report of three cases.

Recently we have developed an assay method for peroxidase-catalyzed coupling of iodotyronine residues of thyroglobulin, which is applicable to human diseased thyroid tissues. In the present study, the assay method as well as usual peroxidase assay methods were applied to thyroids of three patients (No. 1: familial goiter with impaired thyroglobulin synthesis, No. 2: mild chronic thyroiditis, No. 3: dyshormonogenetic goiter) who showed organification of iodine with high TSH levels and low thyroid hormone levels in sera. In general, these patients showed relatively high activities measured by guaiacol oxidation assay, iodide oxidation and coupling assay compared with those of control thyroids. Iodothyronine content in thyroglobulin was very low except thyroxine in No. 2. These results indicate that factors other than peroxidase may be responsible for the cause of the hypothyroid state. The coupling assay method used here is therefore useful for the detection of the 'coupling defect' in patients in a hypothyroid state.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Subjective health and related factors among middle-aged men living in Tokyo--a comparative study].

Random samples of middle-aged (35-64) male residents of two different areas in Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, a low-mortality area (n = 767) and Koto-ku a high mortality area (n = 790) were interviewed between March and April in 1988, concerning health and life style. The two populations were compared regarding, 1) health status which was examined from the view point of fatigue, symptoms and self-rated health, 2) factors related to the three health indices. The main results were as follows: 1. No significant differences were seen between the two populations in the gross means for health indices. However when the health indices were stratified by age group, mental fatigue and minor symptoms were more prevalent in Bunkyo-ku than Koto-ku among young people, while prevalence of physical fatigue and major symptoms was higher in Koto-ku among old people. 2. The relationship between the health indices and job type, income, education and marital status was examined. In Bunkyo-ku, no relationship was seen after controlling for age, working conditions and life style. On the other hand, in Koto-ku, significant relationships were seen with age, job type and marital status, and health problems were prevalent not only among those with low socioeconomic status but also in other socioeconomic groups. These results were maintained even after controlling for age, working conditions and life style, similar to the analysis for Bunkyo-ku, indicating that health problems in this population do not appear to be solely the result of working conditions or life style.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Coronary flow reserve and stenosis as the determinant of exercise capacity in patients with stable effort angina].

The coronary flow reserve was evaluated in 33 patients with stable effort angina and single vessel disease of the left anterior descending artery. We used a catheter-tip Doppler flow probe with injection of contrast media to the vessel in order to induce so-called reactive hyperemia. The reactive change was used as an index of the flow reserve of the coronary artery. In 15 patients out of 33, PTCA was performed and the change in the coronary flow reserve was evaluated. There was a good correlation between the coronary flow reserve and the exercise capacity in the treadmill ECG exercise test. As theoretically expected, the exercise capacity was determined by the coronary flow reserve. There was a poor correlation between the degree of stenosis shown in coronary arteriography and the coronary flow reserve. The degree of stenosis did not relate with the exercise capacity. The coronary flow reserve was increased with the procedure of PTCA. Though the patho-anatomic findings in coronary angiography give us important information to evaluate patients with ischemic heart disease, we concluded that these findings were still insufficient to allow us to estimate the flow reserve in the coronary artery. The exercise capacity did not relate well with the degree of stenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Coronary flow characteristics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--a study with Doppler catheter].

UNLABELLED: We compared the pattern and reserve of coronary flow in 8 cases of hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy (H) with those in 20 cases of chest pain not accompanied by organic heart disease (N). A catheter-tip Doppler velocimeter was positioned in the proximal portion of the left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (LCX) and right coronary (RCA) arteries. Coronary flow velocity (Vs: systolic peak, Vd: diastolic peak, Vm: mean) was recorded and the area under the velocity curve was divided into systole (* s) and diastole (* d). The time interval between the dicrotic notch in aortic pressure and the peak of diastolic flow velocity was measured (Tpv). Vm was measured before and after intracoronary injection of 6 ml of contrast media, and peak to resting velocity ratio (PRVR) was calculated as an index of coronary flow reserve. RESULT: In LAD, N showed diastolic predominant coronary flow pattern without backward flow. In H, diastolic predominance was more prominent with systolic backward flow, resulting in decrease in * s/* d(H: 0.07 +/- 0.04, N: 0.25 +/- 0.02, p less than 0.01). In H, Vd (H: 20.1 +/- 2.8, N: 9.2 +/- 1.4 cm/sec, p less than 0.05) and Vm(H: 9.5 +/- 1.3, N: 4.9 +/- 0.7 cm/sec, p less than 0.05) were higher, while PRVR was lower (H: 1.7 +/- 0.1, N: 2.6 +/- 0.1, p less than 0.05). In both N and H, the flow pattern of LCX was diastolic predominant with two peaks (one in systole and the other in diastole).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Comparison between Kanagawa Prefecture and Ohio state of factors related to health behavior among older adults].

Factors related to health behavior of older adults in Japan and the United States were compared. A total of 900 persons from three age groups (45 to 59, 60 to 74 and 75 and over) were interviewed in three communities (major metropolitan, midsized city, and small town), in both Kanagawa Prefecture and Ohio State. To determine the reliability of the results, in addition to analysis for all subjects, each of communities were analyzed separately. Health behaviors were divided into 2 separate levels: 1) preventive health behaviors and 2) coping behaviors for symptoms which may be signs of a serious illness. The latter behaviors were classified into three types: 1) seeing a physician, 2) changing lifestyle and 3) taking OTC drugs. The following results were obtained: 1) In both Kanagawa Prefecture and Ohio State, good preventive health behaviors were unrelated to coping behaviors associated with potentially serious illness. Interviewees who used OTC drugs when experiencing a potentially serious illness had a low tendency toward seeing a physician. In Kanagawa Prefecture, individuals who saw a physician showed a strong tendency toward changing their lifestyle, for symptoms which were potential signs of a serious illness. 2) There were some differences in factors related to preventive health behaviors between Kanagawa Prefecture and Ohio State. In Kanagawa Prefecture, there were sex differences, with males exhibiting preventive health behaviors. In Ohio State, good preventive health behaviors were few among interviewees who were black. 3) There was little difference between Kanagawa and Ohio State as far as the tendency toward seeing a physician when experiencing potentially serious illness. In both places, interviewees with good self-rated health status and having strong self-treatment attitudes showed a lower tendency to see a physician when experiencing symptoms which were potential signs of a serious illness.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

[Anterior ST-segment deviation during inferior myocardial infarction: arteriographic correlations during the acute phase].

Electrocardiographic changes in the anterior wall lead in inferior myocardial infarction were studied in coronary angiographic findings in the acute stage. The subjects were 40 patients with initial inferior myocardial infarction due to right coronary lesions. ST segments were elevated in 7 patients, remained unchanged in 11 and were depressed in 22. Two patients predominantly perfused in the left coronary artery showed ST elevation. All seven patients who showed elevation of the ST segments had occlusion of the ventricular branch proximal to right. However, another 15 (68%) of the patients with occlusion of the same lesion did not show elevation of any ST segment. There was no difference in left ventricular ejection fraction between the groups. The regional ejection fraction at the left ventricular inferior wall was significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in the ST elevated group than in the ST depressed group. Elevation of the ST segments in the anterior wall lead was observed only when the right ventricular free wall sustained injury, and no elevation of any ST segment was observed when the range of injury in the inferoposterior wall was wide, even in the presence of injury to the right ventricular free wall.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[A comparison of coping behavior among middle-aged males with health problems in different types of communities in Tokyo].

Coping behaviors of middle-aged men living in areas of Tokyo with differing mortality rates were analyzed to determine if regional differences exist and if so why. Coping behaviors were divided into 3 separate levels: 1) coping behavior for slight symptoms, where a small change in lifestyle would seem to be a countermeasure, 2) coping behavior for symptoms which may be signs of a serious illness, and 3) coping behaviors for illness which have been identified and diagnosed by a physician. The sample was randomly selected from men 35 to 64 years of age living in two separate communities, Koto-Ward with a high middle-aged male mortality rate and Bunkyo-Ward where it is low. The following results were obtained. 1) In both communities, the proportion of interviewees who modified their lifestyle when slight symptoms occurred was associated with educational level and occupational status. The individuals who were junior high school graduates, and blue-collar workers in small enterprises, showed a low tendency toward changing their lifestyle when confronted with slight symptoms. College graduates, and white-collar workers who were members of large or medium sized enterprises, showed a strong tendency toward changing their lifestyle when confronted with slight symptoms. 2) In both communities, there were differences in coping behaviors when confronted with potentially serious illness dependent upon self-rated health and working hours per day. Interviewees with good self-rated health status and working more than ten hours a day showed a lower tendency to see a physician. 3) Compliance with the advice of a physician was lower among those interviewees who were younger and among those who did not have a family physician. In Koto-Ward, a correlation was seen between a low rate of compliance to physician advice and the non-availability of adequate medical facilities nearby. 4) In Koto-Ward where middle-aged male mortality is high, the proportion of interviewees who changed lifestyle in response to slight symptoms was significantly lower than in Bunkyo-Ward. The proportion of those who complied with the advice of a physician was also lower. 5) Regional differences in coping behaviors associated with slight symptoms appears to be due to differences in educational level and occupational status. Differences in availability of family physicians and nearby clinics could account for regional differences in the coping behavior of individuals with diagnosed illnesses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

[A six-year follow-up study of childhood behavior problems].

In order to study the outcome of childhood behavior problems and to investigate relationships between those behavior problems and mental health problems in later years, a survey which was conducted in 1977 was repeated after six years. Subjects were randomly selected children aged from three to seven years living in Bunkyo-ku in Tokyo in 1977. Out of 279 children, responses to the questionnaire were obtained for 201 children, with 39 refusing to co-operate and 39 having left the area. The main results were as follows: 1. Comparison of prevalence rates of individual behavior problems occurring in early childhood (from 3 to 7 years old), showed that behaviors such as overactivity, "difficult to control", persistence, stubbornness and poor relations with unfamiliar persons decreased rapidly with age. On the other hand, hypoactivity, withdrawal and shyness increased. For problems occurring in late childhood (from 9 to 13 years old), the prevalence of poor concentration and passive behavior problems increased with age, while aggressive behaviors decreased. Behaviors such as thumb-sucking, nail-biting, bed-wetting and tics decreased. 2. Over the six years of this study, many behavior problems in areas of activity, mood, volition, human relations and abnormal symptoms showed significant persistence, although the degree of the persistence was not very strong. 3. Significant relationships between behavior problems observed at age three to seven years and mental health problems such as refusal to attend school and antisocial behaviors after six years were not seen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[A study of attitudes toward medical care and health behaviors among older adults].

In order to understand the attitudes of older adults toward medical care, we interviewed 480 persons living in Yokohama, and 180 persons living in Aikawa, Kanagawa, aged 45 to 84 years old. The following results were obtained; 1) Attitudes toward medical care can be classified into four types; self-determined medical care, self treatment attitudes, high dependence on the medical care system, and distrust of medical care. Those interviewees who had high self-determination in medical care and self treatment attitudes showed strong distrust of medical care. 2) There were two groups with trend toward low compliance to the advice of a physician for a physician diagnosed illness: the group that had strong self-determination in medical care, and the group that had high distrust of medical care. The interviewees who had a strong tendency to see a physician for potentially serious illness had high self treatment attitudes, but disease prevention behaviors was not associated with all of four types. 3) In both communities, those interviewees who were younger and with higher educational levels showed strong distrust of medical care and had more self-determination attitudes. Those interviewees who had actually experienced problems in medical treatment showed less dependence on medical care and more distrust of medical care compared to those who had not. In Yokohama, distrust of medical care appeared to be higher among those interviewees who did not have a family doctor than those who had. 4) Distrust of medical care and self-determination in medical care was significantly higher in Yokohama than in Aikawa. The differences in the distribution of educational level and family doctors were a part of the reason for area differences in attitudes of distrust of medical care.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[A reliable method for evaluating the masticatory function in complete denture wearers, concerning a masticatory function evaluation chart based on food hardness].

The purpose of this study was to construct an evaluation chart to objectively and simply determine the extent of the masticatory function of complete denture wearers in daily clinical practice, and to describe the chart's clinical application. 58 different types of food were selected according to two criteria: their frequency of ingestion by complete denture wearers, and their convenience for determining the masticatory function. Then an anatomical artificial porcelain set of dentures was used to bite each food item, using only bicuspids and molars. Dentures were installed on an Instron Universal Testing Instrument to compression-cut the food. Food requiring the highest pressure was considered the hardest food. Then the masticatory function evaluation chart was constructed by using the hardness of the food as an index of relative masticatory difficulty. Using this chart, 95 complete denture wearers were tested to determine the masticatory function of their dentures. The following results were obtained: 1. The mean hardness of the 58 food items tested was 7.85 +/- 11.29 kg. The mean hardness of the 38 food items frequently ingested by complete denture wearers was 5.24 +/- 5.41 kg. 2. The differences in hardness of the foods tested were statistically processed, and the 58 food items were classified into 5 groups (I-V). This five-fold classification was used as a range for determining masticatory function. 3. A correlation coefficient of -0.697 (p less than 0.01) was found between the hardness of the food and the ease of eating the food. 4. A correlation coefficient of 0.548 (p less than 0.01) was found between the hardness of the food and the frequency of ingestion. 5. The masticatory function was determined on a 5-point scale from A to E according to the total number of food types that the subjects said that they could eat easily. The masticatory function increased progressively from A to E. The results of determining the masticatory function of the 95 complete denture wearers were as follows: Rank A 1.1%, B 10.5%, C 34.7%, D 29.5% and E 24.2%. 6. Persons who evaluated their own dentures positively comprised 86.0% of ranks D and E. On the other hand, persons who evaluated their own denture negatively were widely distributed from rank A through E, indicating that there were considerable individual differences. 7. It was concluded that the masticatory function evaluation chart was a reliable means of objectively and simply determining the masticatory function of complete denture wearers.

Bite Force↗
PubMed1989

The 24 h-urinary excretions of albumin, beta 2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in children with IDDM.

Microalbuminuria in diabetics is considered to be a sensitive indicator of early diabetic nephropathy. In this paper, 24 h-urinary excretions of albumin, BMG and NAG activity were measured in forty-one children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Moreover, the relationships between the urinary excretions of these substances and various clinical parameters of diabetes were analyzed. The mean values (mean +/- SD) of 24 h-urinary albumin, BMG and NAG activity in the diabetic children were 8.0 +/- 10.6 mg/day, 61.2 +/- 69.0 micrograms/day and 1.87 +/- 1.30 U/day, respectively. No significant differences were found between diabetic children and normal controls for these mean values. Nor were significant correlations between the various clinical parameters of diabetes and the urinary excretions of any of these substances found. However, nine of the forty-one diabetic children (22.0%) had higher levels of these urinary substances than those (mean + 2SD) in normal controls. Screening of the 24 h-urinary albumin, BMG and NAG activity should be performed routinely in young patients with diabetes.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1989

[Effects of articulating paper on mandibular paths in lateral and protrusive excursions].

Mandibular movements in 7 normal dentulous subjects during lateral and protrusive excursions were studied to investigate the effects of the clinical use of articulating paper on mandibular paths. Mandibular movements with or without the intraoral articulating paper (thickness: 35 microns) were detected as the lower incisal point displacement and were recorded three-dimensionally with the Selspot system. The date displayed on the X-Y chart recorder on the selected plane were analyzed quantitatively. 1. The paths of the mandible differed between the outward (from the intercuspal position) and the return (backward to the intercuspal position) movements. In lateral excursions the return path tended to be antero-inferior to the outward path, whereas in protrusive excursions the former tended to be dextro-inferior to the latter. 2. In lateral excursions the return path tended to be less stable than the outward path. In protrusive excursions no significant difference was found between the two paths. 3. In lateral excursions, 21-34% of the movements performed using the articulating paper deviated from the normal paths made without using the paper, and in the case of protrusive excursions, deviation was found in 21-50%. At or near the intercuspal position, the return path showed a greater deviation than the outward path. Near the edge-to-edge position, however, the relationship between these two path was reversed. 4. It is suggested that, when the articulating paper is used, the directions of the movement should be taken into account and sufficient care should be paid in occlusal adjustment because the range of functional movement may be overestimated.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed1989

[Continuous arterial infusion therapy of recombinant interleukin-2 and cyclophosphamide in hepatoma and liver metastasis].

The continuous arterial infusion of only recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was used in 9 patients with unresectable liver metastasis of colorectal or biliary cancer. This therapy was undertaken for the activation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), but was not effective. Then we tried continuous arterial infusion of rIL-2 and low-dose cyclophosphamide (CY) for liver metastasis. 3 of the patients who received rIL-2 and CY showed partial remission of disease. This therapy was possibly effective because of the activation of TIL and the suppression of tumor infiltrating suppressor lymphocytes.

Adult↗