PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

A Matsumoto

Publications and source records attributed to A Matsumoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Increased nitric oxide in the exhaled air of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if nitric oxide output in exhaled air is increased in patients with liver cirrhosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENTS: 50 patients with liver cirrhosis, 6 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 15 healthy controls. MEASUREMENTS: Nitric oxide in exhaled air was measured using a chemiluminescence analyzer. Cardiac index was determined using echocardiography. RESULTS: Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis had higher levels of exhaled nitric oxide output (Child C patients, 190 +/- 11 nL/min per m2 body surface area) than controls (97 +/- 8 nL/min per m2 body surface area; P < 0.001), whereas patients with compensated liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis had levels of nitric oxide output similar to those found in controls. Cardiac index was greater in patients with liver cirrhosis (Child C patients, 4.3 +/- 0.3 L/min per m2 body surface area) than in controls (2.9 +/- 0.2 L/min per m2 body surface area; P < 0.001). Cardiac index correlated with nitric oxide levels (r = 0.621; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased nitric oxide output in exhaled air is associated with systemic circulatory disturbances in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Aged

Comparison of intestinal absorption of vitamin K2 (menaquinone) homologues and their effects on blood coagulation in rats with hypoprothrombinaemia.

To examine the physiological activities of vitamin K2 (menaquinone, MK) homologues with different numbers of isoprene units, MK with 1-14 isoprene units and menadione (MK-0) were administered to rats with hypoprothrombinaemia, and the absorption, concentration in liver and ameliorating effect of these MK on hypoprothrombinaemia were compared. Hypoprothrombinaemia was induced by giving a vitamin K-deficient diet and warfarin (0.06 mg/kg body weight) for 8 days. Before MK treatment, the MK were undetectable in plasma and liver. At 6 hr after oral MK administration (0.1 mg/kg): MK was not detected in the plasma in rats treated with MK with 1, 2, 3 or more than 12 isoprene units; the MK level in the liver was increased but blood coagulation activity was not improved in rats treated with MK with 0, 9, 10 or 11 isoprene units; the MK level in the liver was increased and hypoprothrombinaemia was slightly improved in rats treated with MK with 7 or 8 isoprene units; and the MK level in the liver was increased and hypoprothrombinaemia was markedly improved in rats treated with MK with 4, 5 or 6 isoprene units. Almost identical results were observed 3 hr after intravenous injection of MK with 4, 5 or 6 isoprene units (10 nmol/kg). These findings suggest that the number of isoprene units of MK is an important factor in its absorption and incorporation into the liver and that the ameliorating effect of MK on hypoprothrombinaemia does not parallel their concentrations in the liver.

Administration, Oral

Molecular cloning of human cDNA with a sequence highly similar to that of the dihydrofolate reductase gene in brain libraries derived from Alzheimer's disease patients.

A polyclonal antibody was raised against a serine protease purified from the extracellular fluid of familial Alzheimer's disease lymphoblastoid cells. Using this antibody, a cDNA library from familial Alzheimer's disease cells and two cDNA libraries from the brains of two Alzheimer's disease patients were screened independently. The familial Alzheimer's disease protein 1 (FADP1) cDNA clones isolated from these three libraries were subjected to DNA sequence analysis. The nucleotide sequence of FADP1 cDNA is highly similar to the 5' portion of the human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene, however, the sequence corresponding to exon 1 of the DHFR gene is completely disrupted and contains a 247-bp DNA insert with a sequence unique to FADP1. Moreover, FADP1 cDNA harbours a large open reading frame, including the unique insert, which has the potential to code an approximately 50-kDa protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of this protein contains 12 cysteine residues potentially involved in six disulfide bonds, a proline-rich segment and a hydrophobic segment. Northern-blot analysis with the unique insert DNA probe verified that FADP1 protein is expressed in both lymphoblastoid and brain cells derived from Alzheimer's disease patients.

Adolescent

The molecular mechanism of the induction of the low density lipoprotein receptor by chenodeoxycholic acid in cultured human cells.

In a cultured human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) induced LDL receptor mRNA levels approximately 4 fold and mRNA levels for HMG-CoA reductase and HMG-CoA synthase two fold. In contrast, the mRNA levels for mevalonate kinase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase and squalene synthase were not changed significantly. The pattern of the induction of the sterol-sensitive genes was similar to the induction by N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (ALLN), an SREBP degradation inhibitor, suggesting that CDCA may increase mature SREBPs. CDCA could inhibit the 25-hydroxycholesterol mediated inactivation of SREBP without affecting mRNA levels of SREBPs. These results suggest that CDCA can affect sterol metabolism by a novel mechanism involving the inhibition of the oxysterol-mediated inactivation of SREBP.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases

Usefulness of simple assays for serum concentration of hepatitis C virus RNA and HCV genotype in predicting the response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to interferon alpha 2a therapy.

The use of two new assays was evaluated for predicting the response to interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The genotype of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was established by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on genotype-specific recombinant peptides of the NS4 region (genotyping ELISA). The concentration of HCV RNA was measured by a branched DNA assay (bDNA assay). Seventy-eight patients received the same regimen of IFN alpha 2a. Of the 74 patients assessed who completed the program, 38 (51.4%) were responders; i.e., their serum aminotransferase levels remained normal for 6 months or longer after stopping IFN, while 36 (48.6%) were nonresponders. The results of the HCV genotype determined by the genotyping ELISA and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on genotype-specific primers were similar. The serum concentrations of HCV RNA as measured by the bDNA assay and by the competitive PCR assay correlated closely and significantly (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the serum concentration of HCV RNA determined by the bDNA assay, the HCV genotype determined by the genotyping ELISA, and the histology activity index (HAI) of the liver were independently associated with IFN efficacy. By using these three variables in combination, a predictive rate of 82.4% was obtained. A lower level of HCV RNA, genotype 2 and a lower HAI score for liver histology were predictive of a favorable response to IFN. Thus, the genotyping ELSIA and the bDNA assay appear to be useful for clinical management of patients receiving IFN therapy.

Adult

Metastases to the regional lymph nodes, lymph node recurrence, and distant metastases in nonadvanced papillary thyroid carcinoma.

To investigate the biological characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma from the perspectives of lymph node metastasis, lymph node recurrence, and distant metastasis, 746 patients with nonadvanced papillary thyroid carcinoma were retrospectively studied. There were 76 men and 670 women with a mean age of 42.7 years. The rate of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in young patients (aged less than 30 years). Lymph node recurrence was observed in 80 patients and distant metastasis in 13, being seen with significant frequency in the young and elderly (aged over 50 years) patients and in the men. The frequency of distant metastasis was significantly greater in the elderly patients and in those with lymph node recurrence. These findings indicate that the role of regional lymph nodes and the clinical meaning of lymph node recurrence differ between young and elderly patients.

Adult

Management of recurrent hyperthyroidism in patients with Graves' disease treated by subtotal thyroidectomy.

If the aim of surgical treatment for Graves' disease is not permanent hypothyroidism, it is difficult to avoid recurrent hyperthyroidism completely. The management of recurrent hyperthyroidism, however, is neither easy nor obvious. Improvement in the sensitivity of TSH assay has allowed the diagnosis of latent hyperthyroidism. Little is known about the clinical course of latent hyperthyroidism. We studied the management and outcome of recurrent hyperthyroidism in patients with Graves' disease treated by subtotal thyroidectomy. Between January 1988 and August 1991, 1115 patients with Graves' disease were treated by surgery. Postoperative thyroid function was evaluated by free T3, free T4 and TSH measurements. One hundred seventy-five patients with suppressed TSH secretion for at least 6 months were categorized as having recurrent hyperthyroidism. Eighty patients (45.1%) also had elevated thyroid hormone levels, (group 1). The remaining 95 patients (54.9%) had normal thyroid hormone levels with suppressed TSH values (group 2). In group 1, 58 patients were treated with antithyroid drug (ATD), 12 with iodine and 10 with radioiodine (RI). Remission of Graves' disease was obtained in 22 patients (11 by ATD, 1 by iodine and 10 by Ri). On the other hand, patients in group 2 were followed up without medication, and spontaneous remission was observed in 21 of theln (22.1%). It was difficult to induce remission of overt recurrent Graves' disease by ATD or iodine. In contrast spontaneous remission could be obtained in some patients with postoperative latent hyperthyroidism.

Adolescent

Effects of exercise on plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide in congestive heart failure with and without left ventricular dysfunction.

This study was designed to determine whether plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) increases in response to exercise in patients with congestive heart failure and to show what kind of hemodynamic abnormalities induce increased secretion of BNP during exercise. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and BNP and hemodynamic parameters were measured during upright bicycle exercise tests in seven patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and nine with mitral stenosis. At rest, there were no intergroup differences in cardiac output or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure; however, the group with dilated cardiomyopathy had higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressures and lower left ventricular ejection fractions than did the group with mitral stenosis. Plasma ANP levels were comparable between the dilated cardiomyopathy group (170 +/- 77 [SE] pg/ml) and the mitral stenosis group (106 +/- 33 pg/ml) (p, not significant), whereas BNP was significantly higher in the dilated cardiomyopathy group (221 +/- 80 pg/ml) than in the other group (37 +/- 10 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). The plasma concentration of BNP but not of ANP significantly correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and volume. Exercise increased plasma ANP and BNP in the two groups. The dilated cardiomyopathy group had a larger increment in BNP (+157 +/- 79 pg/ml) than did the mitral stenosis group (+17 +/- 5 pg/ml) (p < 0.05), although the increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was greater in the mitral stenosis group. Thus exercise increases plasma levels of BNP, and impaired left ventricular function may be a main factor in the greater increment in BNP during exercise in patients with congestive heart failure.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor

Influence of a delay on latissimus dorsi muscle flap blood flow.

The regional and total blood flow of canine latissimus dorsi muscle flaps (LDMFs) were examined to study the effect of a delay procedure, ligation of the perforators, before complete flap elevation. The regional blood flow of the middle and distal regions of the nondelayed LDMFs was poor and significantly lower than the proximal region at rest. The regional blood flow during the exercise test was improved and significantly higher in the middle (62% increase) and distal regions (187% increase) of the delayed LDMFs as compared with the nondelayed LDMFs. The mean total blood flow of the delayed LDMFs was 14 mL.min-1.100(-1) g at rest, increased to 30 mL.min-1.100(-1) g during exercise tests with intermittent burst electrical stimulation, and was maximal at 40 mL.min-1.100(-1) g immediately after the exercise. The phasic arterial blood flow of the delayed LDMFs was inhibited during contraction at 9 mL.min-1.100(-1) g, whereas it was 44 mL.min-1.100(-1) g during relaxation. In contrast, the phasic venous blood flow was accentuated during contraction to 32 mL.min-1.100(-1) g compared with 16 mL.min-1.100(-1) g during relaxation.

Animals

Morphologic alterations and cytokinetic studies of tracheal autograft epithelium in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Although tracheobronchoplasty has been used widely in the field of thoracic surgery, few details of the morphologic changes in and cytokinetics of the graft epithelium have been reported. The aim of this study was to focus on these aspects in autografted rabbit tracheas. METHODS: Resected cervical tracheas were anastomosed immediately after removal, retrieved on postoperative days 1 through 28, and examined morphologically. Mitotic and bromodeoxyuridine-labeling indices of the graft epithelium were analyzed. RESULTS: On postoperative days 1 to 4, the graft epithelium showed focal desquamation at the anastomoses. Ciliated cells disappeared during postoperative days 4 to 7 and then increased gradually. Nonciliated cells retained a somewhat columnar shape on postoperative days 4 to 7, except at denuded foci. Thereafter, the grafts were covered completely with pseudostratified mucociliary epithelium. On postoperative day 4, both indices were maximal and appeared higher at the anastomotic than midgraft sites. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the graft epithelium was preserved during acute ischemia and then started to regenerate. The increased regenerative activity near the anastomoses may be attributable to mechanical damage or different nutritional conditions.

Anastomosis, Surgical

Ganglioside characterization of a cell line displaying motor neuron-like phenotype: GM2 as a possible major ganglioside in motor neurons.

We have examined ganglioside compositions and the presence of sulfated glucuronyl glycolipids of immortalized motor neuron-like cell lines, neuroblastoma-spinal cord (NSC) hybrid cell lines established by fusing mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 with motor neuron-enriched embryonic spinal cord cells. Among NSC cell lines, only NSC-34 aggregates acetylcholine receptors on co-cultured myotube and expresses a receptor for S-laminin, a neuromuscular junction specific basal lamina protein. GM2, which is only a minor ganglioside component of CNS, was the major component in NSC-34 occupying almost 75% of total gangliosides, whereas GD1a and GM3 were major species in the parental N18TG2, which had only 8.5% GM2. These results indicated that NSC lines have unique ganglioside pattern that is distinctive from other nervous tissues, and this pattern, especially that of NSC-34 cells, might reflect the characteristics of mouse spinal motor neuron gangliosides. Sulfated glucuronyl paragloboside was demonstrated to be present in N18TG2, however, it could not be detected in either of NSC cell lines. Even though the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remains unknown, autoimmunological participation has been suggested. Because high-titered antibody against GM2 has been observed in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like disease, GM2 which is possibly expressed on the surface of motor neurons might serve as a potential target antigen in this disorder.

Animals

Mucin-producing tumor of the lung: CT findings.

Primary lung tumors and pulmonary metastases with a large mucin content are relatively rare, and reports of CT findings are scarce. We present the CT images of patients with mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and lung metastasis of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon. The CT findings include a uniform low attenuation (4.5 and 7.8 HU), irregular margins, and slight enhancement after intravenous injection of contrast medium.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar

The vicious cycle of nonhealing neointima in fabric vascular prostheses.

Delayed neointimal healing of a fabric vascular prosthesis was investigated in an animal study focusing on the relationship between red thrombus, fibrinolysis, and endothelialization on the luminal surface. Fabric vascular prostheses were implanted into the descending aortas of 72 dogs. Fifty-nine grafts were explanted from 1 h to 1,705 days after implantation. One hour after implantation, the graft wall was red in color due to fresh thrombus; however, at 1 day the luminal surface became white. Red thrombus reappeared at 1 week and remained present in the long-term. Microscopically the initial red thrombus contained numerous erythrocytes. The white thrombus at 1 day was composed of a dense fibrin network without erythrocytes. At 2 days numerous lacunae appeared in the fibrin layer, and at 3-5 days cavernae and low density fibrin areas were present secondary to fibrinolysis. These areas allowed the blood components to infiltrate into the fibrin layer, and as a result red thrombus reformed within it. The thrombi on the luminal surface in the long-term was always red in color and composed of complicated, multiple stages of thrombus formation, i.e., fresh thrombus with erythrocytes, dense fibrin without erythrocytes, low fibrin density areas, lacunae and cavernae in the fibrin layer, and blood component infiltration into these spaces. Thrombus was always newly formed and present, and involuted in parallel due to fibrinolysis, suggesting that these phenomena perpetuated in a vicious cycle. However, at the anastomoses fibrinolysis was present, but blood component infiltration was prevented by the endothelial cell lining. These results suggest that endothelialization may arrest the vicious cycle of nonhealing neointima in fabric vascular prostheses.

Anastomosis, Surgical

Transplantation of autologous tissue fragments into an e-PTFE graft with long fibrils.

An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) graft with long fibrils transplanted with bone marrow showed rapid and uniform neointima formation in a dog study. The e-PTFE grafts (fibril length, 90 microns; 6 mm internal diameter; length, 6-8 cm) transplanted with autologous bone marrow were implanted in the abdominal aortae of 10 dogs and retrieved at 3 weeks and 3 months after implantation. Control e-PTFE grafts without bone marrow treatment were also implanted in the same manner in 8 dogs. Macroscopically the treated graft wall appeared red in color; however, there was no thrombus deposition on the surface. Light microscopic observation revealed that the treated grafts were completely lined with endothelial cells at 3 weeks. The neointima was uniform without intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic sites. Inside the graft wall many capillary blood vessels were observed. At 3 months moderate intimal hyperplasia throughout the graft with complete endothelialization was observed. In the control grafts, endothelialization was observed at the anastomotic sites; however, half of the other areas were covered with a fibrin layer devoid of endothelial cells even in the 3-month grafts. These results indicated that neointima formation was effectively accelerated with the autologous bone marrow transplantation, but moderate intimal hyperplasia throughout the graft was inevitable in e-PTFE grafts even after complete endothelialization.

Animals

Sealing of a fabric vascular prosthesis with autologous adipose tissue: a preliminary report of its clinical application.

A new method of sealing fabric vascular prostheses with autologous adipose tissue was clinically applied as an alternative to preclotting with fresh blood. Thirty-six patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease were implanted with highly porous fabric prostheses. The prostheses were prepared by sealing the fabric pores with autologous adipose tissue that had been chopped up into small pieces and enmeshed in the fabric by forceful injection of the tissue suspension through a syringe. There was no complication related to the sealed graft such as graft bleeding after implantation. In-hospital mortality occurred in 4 patients: 1 case each of pneumonia, pulmonary infarction, sepsis, and acute myocardial infarction. During the period of 274 +/- 190 days, 3 prostheses were found to be occluded. All the other grafts were patent. The overall patency rate was 91.4%. Postoperative angiography revealed neither intimal thickening at the anastomotic sites nor irregularity of the prosthetic surface. The method proved safe and useful for implantation of smaller caliber artificial grafts.

Adipose Tissue

[Spontaneous cure of pneumonia caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae].

A 62-year-old male was admitted to our hospital after an abnormal shadow was pointed out by Chest X-ray in June, 1994, even though he was asymptomatic otherwise (first episode). The serum IgG antibody against Chlamydia pneumoniae was elevated up to 512-fold in the acute phase and decreased to 32-fold in the convalescent phase using the micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) test, indicating a C. pneumoniae acute infection. In fact, no other micro-organisms were detected. The patient recovered from the pneumonia without any treatment. He was admitted to our hospital again after having right chest pain in December, 1994 (second episode). An X-ray examination revealed a slight infiltration of the right lower lung field and pleural effusion. In this episode, he received therapy with carbapenem anti-bacterial agent and he recovered from the pneumonia 9 days after the administration of the antibiotic. The serum IgG titer against C. pneumoniae was elevated up to 1024-fold on admission, indicating mixed infection with bacteria and C. pneumoniae. It was concluded that both of these episodes indicated a spontaneous cure of the pneumonia which had developed from C. pneumoniae.

Antibodies, Bacterial

Phenotypic and genetic diversity of chlorine-resistant Methylobacterium strains isolated from various environments.

Strains of pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs which were isolated previously from various environments and assigned tentatively to the genus Methylobacterium were characterized in comparison with authentic strains of previously known species of this genus. Most of the isolates derived from chlorinated water supplies exhibited resistance to chlorine, whereas 29 to 40% of the isolates from air, natural aquatic environments, and clinical materials were chlorine resistant. None of the tested authentic strains of Methylobacterium species obtained from culture collections exhibited chlorine resistance. Numerical analysis of phenotypic profiles showed that the test organisms tested were separated from each other except M. organophilum and M. rhodesianum. The chlorine-resistant isolates were randomly distributed among all clusters. The 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence-based phylogenetic analyses showed that representatives of the isolates together with known Methylobacterium species formed a line of descent distinct from that of members of related genera in the alpha-2 subclass of the Proteobacteria and were divided into three subclusters within the Methylobacterium group. These results demonstrate that there is phenotypic and genetic diversity among chlorine-resistant Methylobacterium strains within the genus.

Bacterial Typing Techniques