[Evaluation of the diaphragm in patients with COPD (emphysema dominant type) by abdominal ultrasonography].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to clarify whether the diaphragm in patients with COPD (emphysema dominant type) can be evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography. We therefore established a method for diaphragm scanning: The dome of the right hemidiaphragm was detected by epigastric right oblique scan passing through the right edge of the inferior vena cava and the zone of apposition. Diaphragmatic flattening, correlation between the flattening and %FEV1.

[Immunity tests for respiratory diseases--SP-A, SP-D, KL-6].

We present the measurement methods, physiological means and clinical utilities of surfactant protein-A (SP-A), surfactant protein-D and KL-6 of current immunity tests for pulmonary diseases in Japan. The measurement methods of SP-A and SP-D are Enzyme Immunoassays(EIA), and SP-D cannot be measured automatically. KL-6 can be measured directly by the Sandwich method, developed in 1985 by our co-researcher Professor Kohno.

[The expectations for the third generation clinical laboratories in Japan].

The author expressed his hopes and expectations for third generation clinical laboratory schemes or systems in Japan. The history of development of the clinical laboratory in Japan can be classified three generations after the Second World War, the first generation (1945-1975), the second generation (1970-2005) and the third generation (2001-). The third generation clinical laboratory can be called "the clinical laboratory for the 21st century".

[My hope for the future of the medical scientist--to the medical doctor of clinical laboratory medicine from internal medicine].

This is the essence of my last lecture to the medical students of Hiroshima University. My 38-year career as a medical school teacher can be sectioned three parts. My main four studies are shown at the third part.

Genetic ablation of the transcription repressor Bach1 leads to myocardial protection against ischemia/reperfusion in mice.

Bach1 is a transcriptional repressor of heme oxygenase-1 gene (Hmox-1) and beta-globin gene. Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is an inducible cytoprotective enzyme that degrades pro-oxidant heme to carbon monoxide (CO) and biliverdin/bilirubin, which are thought to mediate anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant actions of HO-1. In the present study, we investigated the role of Bach1 in tissue protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo using mice lacking the Bach1 gene (Bach1(-/-)) and wild-type (Bach1(+/+)) mice.

Differential impact of family history on age-associated increase in the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in male Japanese workers.

Family history and aging are independent risk factors for the development of hypertension as well as for the development of diabetes. However, it is unclear how the family histories influence the rate of age-associated increase in these diseases. Moreover, despite the fact that hypertension and diabetes often occur concomitantly, it is not known whether family history of hypertension increases the risk of diabetes or vice versa.

A semi-parametric method for describing the age-specific distribution of clinical measurements in cross-sectional study.

Age-specific distribution of clinical measurements in cross-sectional study is described in this paper. Since the distribution of measurements usually varies with age, a model with an age-dependent structure is needed. We propose here a statistical method for describing the age-specific distribution using an extension of the power-normal-model.

Beneficial effect of T-type calcium channel blockers on endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension.

Endothelial function is impaired in essential hypertension. T-type but not L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels were detected in the vascular endothelium. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the role of T-type Ca2+ channels in endothelial function.

[Nationwide surveillance of parenteral antibiotics containing meropenem activities against clinically isolated strains in 2004].

The antibacterial activity of meropenem (MEPM) and other parenteral antibiotics against clinical isolates of 907 strains of Gram-positive bacteria, 1790 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, and 192 strains of anaerobic bacteria obtained from 30 medical institutions during 2004 was measured. The results were as follows; 1. MIC90 of MEPM for almost all of enterobacteriaceae and Haemophilus influenzae were 4-fold to 32-fold lower than those of other carbapenems.

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in healthy male subjects.

Objectives: The goal of the present study was to determine whether seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori (HP), Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is associated with systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in healthy male subjects.

Background: Chronic infection with certain bacteria and viruses may play an important role in inflammation as the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Methods: The serum levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to HP, CP, CMV, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were determined in 81 healthy Japanese men (40 +/- 10 years of age).

[New monitoring test for sleep apnea syndrome].

We introduce change in pulse transit time (change in PTT: noninvasive intrathoracic pressure monitoring) as a new monitoring test of sleep apnea syndrome, which is being developed for clinical application. In addition, we report the kinetics of cardiogenic oscillation (CGO: noninvasive upper airway obstruction monitoring), which was published in this journal in 2003, and the response of the upper airway in clinical practice (under an endoscope). We also review diaphragmatic movement by abdominal echography (respiration generator monitoring).

[Lung function testing --the Official Guideline of the Japanese Respiratory Society].

This review article introduces the official guideline for the lung function testing firstly established by the Japanese Respiratory Society in November 2004. The members of the Japanese Society of Laboratory Medicine were also included in the working group to make the guideline. A central goal of the guideline is to standardize the skill of lung function testing and thus minimize its variability.

[Cardiogenic oscillation--utility of classifying types of sleep apnea].

Cardiogenic pulse waves that travel along the airway wall are captured as airflow variations synchronized with the electrocardiogram at the airway exit. We have used airflow variations caused by cardiogenic pulse waves (hereinafter referred to as cardiogenic oscillation) to classify types of sleep apnea. Pulse waves do not travel downstream if there is an airway obstruction or choke point (wave speed theory).

Telomere attrition in white blood cell correlating with cardiovascular damage.

Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Chronological aging does not always parallel biological aging, but there is no reliable biomarker for the latter. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that telomere attrition in white blood cells is related to endothelial dysfunction and the extent of atherosclerosis, and thus may serve as a useful marker for biological aging.

[Nationwide surveillance of parenteral antibiotics containing meropenem activities against clinically isolated strains in 2002].

The antibacterial activity of meropenem (MEPM) and other parenteral antibiotics against clinical isolates of 899 strains of Gram-positive bacteria, 1500 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, and 158 strains of anaerobic bacteria obtained from 28 medical institutions during 2002 was measured. The results were as follows; 1. MEPM was more active than other carbapenem antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria, especially against enterobacteriaceae and Haemophilus influenzae.

Significance of human neutrophil antigen-2a (NB1) expression and neutrophil number in pregnancy.

Background: Expression of human neutrophil antigen-2a (HNA-2a) is greater in women than in men. The size of the HNA-2a-positive neutrophil population increases with pregnancy.

Study Design And Methods: T he relationship between HNA-2a expression on neutrophils and monocytes, and their relative numbers, was investigated.

[Establishment of a clinical method for evaluating flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD) in brachial artery].

We have established a clinical routine method for evaluating the endothelial function in forearm circulation in humans. Flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD) was used as the endothelium-dependent and the response to nitroglycerin(NTG) as the endothelium-independent vasodilation. Diameter of the brachial artery was measured by high-frequency ultrasonographic imaging before and after hyperemia following artery occlusion.

[Fascinated by pulmonary function].

I would like to tell you about my 35 years of research, starting when I became a medical doctor, titled "Fascinated by Pulmonary Function". For the first 10 years, I studied the automation of pulmonary function tests and developed some automatic pulmonary function test apparatuses such as the spiro-computer, panspiro-computer, automatic respiratory resistant test apparatus and automatic respiratory central function test apparatus. For the next 15 years, I studied the relationships between some important pulmonary diseases and respiratory pulmonary functions.

Dopamine D2 receptor modulates sodium handling via local production of dopamine in the kidney.

We have recently demonstrated that a deletion of the dopamine D2 receptor gene caused suppression of urinary sodium excretion and salt-sensitive elevation of blood pressure in mice. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying this impaired sodium excretion, we studied renal dopamine production and dopamine-induced sodium excretion in 20- to 30-week-old male D2-receptor knockout (D2KO) mice and age- and sex-matched wildtype (WT) mice. Renal local dopamine synthesis, examined by 24-h urine free dopamine excretion (UDAV), was significantly (p < 0.

Immunohistochemical distributions of the tissue kallikrein-kinin system in ischemic and non-ischemic mouse heart.

Kinins have been shown to play a cardioprotective role during myocardial ischemia. However, the localization of each of the components of the kallikrein-kinin system in the heart has not been determined in a cell type-specific manner. Recently, mK1 has been identified as the major tissue kallikrein with the strongest bradykinin-forming activity among the products of the mouse tissue kallikrein gene superfamily.

Effect of amlodipine and cilazapril treatment on platelet Ca2+ handling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abnormal Ca2+ handling and enhanced aggregation response have been reported in platelets from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and patients with essential hypertension, and thought to be involved in the progression of target organ damage of hypertension. It is important to examine whether antihypertensive therapy can improve the abnormal platelet response in hypertension. We investigated the effect of antihypertensive treatment such as amlodipine and cilazapril on Ca2+ handling and aggregation response in SHR platelets.

Mnk1 is required for angiotensin II-induced protein synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates protein synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), possibly secondary to regulatory changes at the initiation of mRNA translation. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signal-integrating kinase-1 (Mnk1), a substrate of ERK and p38 MAP kinase, phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), an important factor in translation. The goal of the present study was to investigate the role of Mnk1 in Ang II-induced protein synthesis and to characterize the molecular mechanisms by which Mnk1 and eIF4E is activated in rat VSMCs.

Disruption of the type 2 dopamine receptor gene causes a sodium-dependent increase in blood pressure in mice.

Background: Dopamine D(2) receptors (D(2)Rs) are expressed in the kidney. It has not been determined whether D(2)Rs are involved in the mechanism of sodium handling and blood pressure (BP) control.

Methods: The function of D(2)Rs was investigated in mice disrupted with D(2)R gene (D(2)KO mice).

[Effort-independent pulmonary function tests].

Many pulmonary function tests require forced expiration, and the precision of the tests depends on the effort of the subjects. In elderly people, the reproducibility of test results may be inadequate because of insufficiency of the subjects' effort, and the diagnosis of COPD, which is frequently observed in elderly people, is often difficult. To improve the accuracy of the diagnosis, pulmonary function tests that do not require effort are needed.

[Pulmonary function tests].

The spirometry has been most valuable pulmonary function test and it defines pulmonary physiology. But the spirometry has not been widely used by general physicians in Japan. The spirometry is effort-dependent test, so, they seem to keep it at a distance.