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Biomedical subjects

A Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to A Watanabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Measurement of glutamate, aspartate and glycine and its potential precursors in human brain using high-performance liquid chromatography by pre-column derivatization with dimethylaminoazobenzene [correction of diethylaminoazobenzene] sulphonyl chloride.

This paper describes a high-performance liquid chromatographic technique, with dimethylaminoazobenzene sulphonyl chloride derivatization, for the measurement of glutamate, aspartate and glycine and its potential precursors in human brain tissue. The derivatization procedure is simple, sensitive and highly reproducible. The derivatized amino acids are stable and can be analysed by reversed-phase chromatography with visible detection at an absorption wavelength of 436 nm. A preliminary application to the determination of the concentrations of several amino acids in several regions of the human brain is described.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Prostacyclin administration suppresses the increase in hepatic levels of COL1A(I) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNAs in the rat treated with carbon tetrachloride.

Northern analysis using total RNAs from the component cells of normal rat liver indicated that COL1A(I) mRNA is present in fat-storing cells (Ito cells) and sinusoidal endothelial cells. A fraction for Kupffer cells also contained this mRNA. When CCl4 was given, COL1A(I) mRNA was increased in a factor of 1.5 in the fractions of these component cells. After 48 h of the drug administration, hepatocytes appeared to possess over 60% of liver COL1A(I) mRNA, although in normal hepatocytes its level was below the range detectable by our procedures. Under this injured condition of liver, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA level was elevated, while activity of this enzyme was lowered by 50% of the control value. All the changes were obviously suppressed by the simultaneous administration of prostacyclin.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Hemocompatibility of human whole blood on polymers with a phospholipid polar group and its mechanism.

The hemocompatibility of a polymer containing a phospholipid polar group, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate(BMA)), with human whole blood was evaluated. When human whole blood without an anticoagulant was contacted with polymers, the blood cell adhesion and aggregation on the polymer without the MPC moiety was extensive, and considerable fibrin deposition was observed. This phenomenon was suppressed with an increase in the polymer MPC composition. Thus, the MPC moiety in the copolymer plays an important role in the nonthrombogenic behavior of the copolymer. These results were also confirmed by the whole blood coagulation time on the polymer surface which was determined by Lee-White method. The adsorption of phospholipids and proteins from human plasma on poly(MPC-co-BMA) was investigated to clarify the mechanism of the nonthrombogenicity observed with the polymer. The amount of phospholipids was increased; whereas, adsorbed proteins were decreased with an increase in the MPC composition. From these results, we concluded that the phospholipids adsorbed on poly(MPC-co-BMA) play the most important role in the nonthrombogenicity of the MPC copolymer.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1992

Oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in patients with IgA nephropathy.

The production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) after stimulation and the infiltration of PMN in glomeruli were determined in 20 patients with primary IgA nephropathy. The H2O2 production of PMN after the stimulation was measured with a spectrophotometer using horseradish peroxidase as substrate. The results were as follows: 1) when PMN were pretreated with cytochalasin B, H2O2 production after stimulation with heat-aggregated IgG (IgG) or serum-treated zymosan (STZ) was significantly higher in patients with IgA nephropathy than in controls, and 2) there was an increased amount of PMN localized in glomeruli in patients with IgA nephropathy using immunofluorescence of monoclonal anti-PMN antibody. It appeared that the increased renal infiltration of PMN which have a high potential for production of reactive oxygen species might induce the glomerular injuries in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Primary malignant tumors of the small intestine: analysis of 40 Japanese patients.

Forty Japanese patients with primary malignant tumors of the small intestine were reviewed. Adenocarcinoma was the most common tumor type comprising 19 patients (47%), followed by malignant lymphoma, 11 (30%), leiomyosarcoma, 8 (20%) and carcinoid tumor, 1 (3%). Adenocarcinomas and leiomyosarcomas were primarily located in the duodenum or jejunum, whereas lymphomas were more common in the jejunum or ileum. Abdominal pain (65%) and nausea or vomiting (35%) were the most common symptoms with these tumors. Barium contrast studies were able to detect 83% of these tumors. Our results also suggest that computed tomography and ultrasonography are not reliable for diagnosing jejunal tumors while superior mesenteric angiography is effective for diagnosing ileal tumors. The duodenal and ileal tumors tended to metastasize to lymph nodes while jejunal ones tended to penetrate the serosa or to disseminate into the peritoneal cavity. The percentage of tumors potentially cured by surgery and the 5 year survival rates of the leiomyosarcomas (75% and 57%, respectively) were higher than those of adenocarcinomas (42% and 10%, respectively) and lymphomas (42% and 32%, respectively).

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Lymphocyte subsets in immune-mediated otitis media with effusion.

To examine the role of T-cell subsets in immune-mediated otitis media with effusion induced by keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), we used immunohistochemical methods to investigate the kinetics of immunocytes of the middle ear (ME) and eustachian tube (ET) in healthy BALB/c mice. Antibodies against murine macrophages and granulocytes (anti-Mac-1), helper T cells (anti-Lyt-1), suppressor T cells (anti-Lyt-2), immunoglobulins (anti-IgG, -IgM, -IgA), secretory component (SC) and KLH were used. The ME exhibited a substantial immune response, whereas the response of the ET was minor and was associated with a secondary ME immune response. After KLH challenge, an effusion with an extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells (Mac-1, IgG+ and IgM+ cells) was observed at days 1 and 3 in the ME cavity and rapidly disappeared by day 7. Within the ME mucosa, a large number of cells was observed at days 1 and 3, peaking on day 7 when a submucosal lymphoid infiltration was detected. In the immune response of the ME mucosa, Mac-1 cells were the predominant cell type followed by helper T cells, IgG+ cells, IgA+ cells and then IgM+ cells. Suppressor T cells were rarely detected after KLH challenge. SC was present within ME epithelial cells from days 1 to 14.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of transcatheter arterial embolization with epirubicin-lipiodol emulsion for hepatocellular carcinoma.

A total of 18 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with a 4'-epi-doxorubicin (EDX)-lipiodol emulsion. Infusion of the EDX-lipiodol emulsion (EDX-L) via the hepatic artery was followed by the injection of gelatin sponge in 12 cases. The response and survival of these 12 patients following EDX-L treatment were compared with those of 42 subjects treated with a doxorubicin-lipiodol emulsion (DX-L) and those of 23 patients treated by TAE with gelatin sponge (GS) only. In the group treated with EDX-L, nine cases were AFP-positive in sera and four showed a decrease in serum AFP values to less than 10% of the pretreatment level. Seven cases showed a partial response, and nine cases showed no change in the size of the tumor. In the group treated with EDX-L, nine cases are alive, and the oldest has survived for more than 431 days since the treatment. The half-year survival value was 57%, and the 1-year survival value was 49%. These values did not differ significantly from those calculated for the group treated with DX-L. The 1-year survival value determined for patients treated with a lipiodol emulsion (EDX-L or DX-L) followed by GS was 65%, and the 2-year survival value was 39%. These results rates are significantly better than those obtained in patients treated with GS only (1-year survival, 39%; 2-year survival, 13%.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Effectivity and safety of mannitol treatment for acute hepatic failure in rats.

In rats with D-galactosamine-induced hepatic failure, 14C-D-mannitol transport into the brain was accelerated through an increase of vesicular transport via the blood-brain barrier and thus brain mannitol contents increased. However, the osmolarity of the brain tissue changed little and the mortality was decreased by mannitol infusion to acute hepatic-failure rats. Experimental data indicate the effectivity and safety of hypertonic mannitol therapy for cerebral edema in acute hepatic failure.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A case of phacomatosis pigmentovascularis accompanied with esophageal varices due to hypoplasia of the portal veins.

Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis is a rare complex nevus accompanied with various types of developmental abnormalities. We experienced a case of phacomatosis pigmentovascularis with esophageal varices due to hypoplasia of the portal veins. Although computed tomography demonstrated marked atrophy of the right hepatic lobe and compensatory hypertrophy of the left hepatic lobe, laparoscopy revealed no signs of chronic parenchymal liver disease on the liver surface. In addition, no microscopically identifiable pathological findings were observed in the needle-biopsied liver specimens. Angiographic study revealed vascular hypoplasia not only in the portal veins of the right hepatic lobe but also in bilateral iliac veins. To our knowledge, this is the first case of phacomatosis pigmentovascularis accompanied with vascular hypoplasia in the portal veins as well as in systemic veins. It is suggested that the disorders associated with mesodermal developmental abnormalities (e.g. phacomatosis pigmentovascularis, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome) may be complicated with developmental vascular abnormalities in the portal veins.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Obliteration of portal systemic shunts as therapy for hepatic encephalopathy in patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension.

The effects of obliteration of portal systemic shunts (PSS) in 5 patients with non-cirrhotic hepatic encephalopathy is reported. All patients had a history of disturbance of consciousness for several years, and examinations revealed large PSS, most of which connecting the left gastric vein to the left renal vein. After the obliteration of PSS, portal vein pressure elevated, the shunt ratio of the portal blood flow decreased, the indocyanine green disappearance rate increased, and serum albumin increased. Blood ammonia (NH3) decreased significantly accompanied by disappearance of hepatic encephalopathy. This treatment may open a way to improve the quality of life in patients with large PSS without severe hepatic injury.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Dentin adhesion of "modified" 4-META/MMA-TBB resin: function of HEMA.

This study investigated adhesion to dentin of a modified 4-META/MMA-TBB resin (4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride in methyl methacrylate initiated by tri-n-butyl borane) which does not require PMMA powder to polymerize. Ground bovine dentin specimens were pre-treated with an aqueous solution of 10% citric acid and 3% ferric chloride (10-3). This solution removes the smear layer and demineralizes the dentin, exposing collagen. Improved bond strengths were obtained when a HEMA-primer was applied to 10-3 pre-treated dentin. SEM examination revealed the formation of a transitional zone of resin-reinforced-dentin (hybrid layer) in 10-3 pre-treated, HEMA-primed samples. The adhesive monomer impregnated exposed collagen fibrils and, upon polymerization, became entangled with them to create the hybrid layer, essential in achieving significantly high tensile bonding strengths. HEMA enhanced the penetration capability of dentinal substrates. After polymerization and formation of the hybrid layer, auto-cured acrylic resin, photo-cured composite and amalgam were all capable of adhering to the dentin. The modified 4-META/MMA-TBB resin created significant adhesive bonds to 10-3 pre-treated ground bovine dentin.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1992

Peptide synthesis by proteases in organic solvents: medium effect on substrate specificity.

The substrate specificities of alpha-chymotrypsin and subtilisins for peptide synthesis in hydrophilic organic solvents were investigated. Chymotrypsin exhibited high specificity to aromatic amino acids as acyl donors, while subtilisin Carlsberg and subtilisin BPN' were specific to aromatic and neutral aliphatic amino acids, in accordance with the S1 specificities of the enzymes for peptide hydrolysis in aqueous solutions. On the contrary, chymotrypsin exhibited higher specificities to hydrophilic amino acid amides as acyl acceptors (nucleophiles) for peptide synthesis with N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester, in contrast to the S1' specificity for peptide hydrolysis and peptide synthesis in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, nucleophile specificity changed with the change in water-organic solvent composition; the increase in water content led to increase in relative reactivity of leucinamide to that of alaninamide. It was also found that protection of the carboxyl group of alanine by amidation is much preferable to protection by esterification in terms of reactivity as nucleophiles.

Chymotrypsin↗
PubMed1992

Propagation of force and the induced bending displacement along eukaryotic flagellar axoneme.

The mechanical forces responsible for inducing the bending movement of eukaryotic flagellar axonemes have components that propagate at velocities different from those for the displacement of the medium. These forces are subject to the Third Law of Mechanics which states the null-conservation of acting and reacting forces. Experimental demonstration of the propagating internal tensile force along the axoneme, when not accompanied by simultaneous bending displacement, demonstrates that the active force for the bending of the flagellar axoneme is part of the process of counterbalancing the corresponding reactive force to the ATP hydrolysis underlying the force generation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Memory T-lymphocytes are the main population of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes obtained from human primary liver tumors.

The phenotypic characteristics of freshly isolated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) obtained from human liver tumors were analyzed by two-color flow cytometry. TIL consisted of mainly CD3+ T-lymphocytes (70-80%). The ratio of CD4/CD8 in TIL from primary and metastatic liver tumors and autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (A-PBL) was 1.3, 1.1 and 1.3, respectively. The majority of CD3+ T-lymphocytes (mean +/- SD; 95 +/- 11%) expressed T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha/beta, and gamma/delta TCR positive T-cells were only 5 +/- 4.5% in TIL from both primary and metastatic liver tumors. TIL showed significantly higher percentages of transient activation markers, such as CD25 (Tac) and HLA-DR, than A-PBL. TIL also contained significantly more populations of CD3+ CD45RO+ T-lymphocytes, which are considered to be expressed on primed (memory) T-lymphocytes, than A-PBL. Furthermore, TIL from primary liver tumors demonstrated significantly higher percentages of CD3+ CD45RO+ T-cells than those from metastatic liver tumors. These data indicate that TIL from human liver tumors are an apparently distinct population from A-PBL, and that local immune responses against human primary and metastatic liver tumors might be different. Moreover, TIL from primary liver tumors consisted of mainly activated or primed (memory) T-cells, suggesting that they were sensitized and activated by autologous tumor cells in vivo. These observations may imply the possibility of adoptive immunotherapy using TIL against human primary liver tumors.

Flow Cytometry↗
PubMed1992

Prognosis for surgically treated gastric cancer patients is poorer for women than men in all patients under age 50.

From 1965 to 1983, 1031 patients (689 men and 342 women) with advanced gastric cancer underwent gastric resection in our department. A retrospective study was done with special reference to the sex of the patients. The age, tumour size and location, Borrmann type, and histology were considered as the sex-related associations. The survival rate of women under age 50 years was lower than that of men, with a significant difference (P less than 0.01), and the 10-year survival rate was 39.2% for the men and 29.3% for the women. A multivariate analysis showed that the operative curability (relative risk: 2.11), lymph node metastasis (relative risk: 1.37), depth of invasion (relative risk: 1.30) and tumour size (relative risk: 1.05), all significant prognostic factors, differed between the men and women under age 50 years, and the survival rate for women was lower. Thus, early detection of gastric cancer is crucial to improve the survival of women under age 50 years. Postoperative chemotherapy may be considered for those with an advanced gastric cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Extracellular matrix formation in piecemeal necrosis: immunoelectron microscopic study.

Immunolocalization of Type I, Type III and Type IV collagens, laminin and prolyl hydroxylase (PH), a key enzyme in collagen synthesis, was examined to clarify the fibrotic process in chronic, active liver disease. In piecemeal necrosis of chronic, active hepatitis (CAH) and active liver cirrhosis (LC), fat-storing cells (FSCs) and transitional cells (TSCs), containing abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), were increased in number and stained intensely for PH. Immunodeposits of extracellular matrix (ECM) components were found in the RER, Golgi apparatus (GA) and vesicles of these cells, especially in cases with marked inflammation. On the other hand, in the periportal areas of chronic, persistent hepatitis (CPH) or inactive LC, immunoreaction of ECM components was seldom found in the RER of FSCs and TSCs. In the portal tract, immunodeposits of ECM components were seldom found in the organelles of fibroblasts, although ECM was increased there. These findings indicate that FSCs and TSCs in piecemeal necrosis might play a role in the production of ECM components in the progression of fibrosis during the development of chronic active liver disease. In addition, ECM component production by FSCs and TSCs is associated with marked inflammation.

Collagen↗
PubMed1992

[Dose finding study of cefepime for chronic respiratory infections].

In order to determine the optimal dose of cefepime (CFPM) for respiratory tract infections, a dose finding study was conducted in patients with chronic respiratory tract infections, and the clinical properties of the drugs were compared with those of ceftazidime (CAZ). Each drug was administered by intravenous drip infusion at the dose of 2 g/day of CFPM, 4 g/day of CFPM or 2 g/day of CAZ for 14 days. 1. The overall efficacy rates evaluated by the committee were 82.6% (19/23) for the CFPM 2 g/day group, 85.0% (17/20) for the 4 g/day group and 79.3% (23/29) for the CAZ 2 g/day group, with no statistically significant difference among the three groups. 2. The overall efficacy rates evaluated by the attending physicians were 91.3% (21/23) for the CFPM 2 g/day group, 78.9% (15/19) for the CFPM 4 g/day group and 75.9% (22/29) for the CAZ 2 g/day group, with no significant difference among the three groups. 3. Bacteriological eradication rates were 88.2% (15/17) for the CFPM 2 g/day group, 68.8% (11/16) for the CFPM 4 g/day group and 63.2% (12/19) for the CAZ 2 g/day group, with no statistically significant difference among the three groups. 4. The incidences of adverse reactions were 3.8% (1/26) for the CFPM 2 g/day group, 9.1% (2/22) for the CFPM 4 g/day group and 3.4% (1/29) for the CAZ 2 g/day group, with no significant difference among the three groups. The incidences of abnormal laboratory findings were 37.5% (9/24) for the CFPM 2 g/day group, 15.0% (3/20) for the CFPM 4 g/day group and 3.4% (1/29) for the CAZ 2 g/day group. There was a significant difference among the three groups. 5. Utility rates assessed by the committee were 81.8% (18/22) for the CFPM 2 g/day group, 76.2% (16/21) for the CFPM 4 g/day group and 75.9% (22/29) for the CAZ 2 g/day group. Utility rates assessed by attending physicians were 90.9% (20/22), 78.9% (15/19) and 72.4% (21/29), respectively. There was no significant difference among the three groups. From the above results, it is concluded that the optimal dosage of CFPM is 2 g/day for chronic respiratory tract infections.

Adolescent↗