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Biomedical subjects

A Yamakage

Publications and source records attributed to A Yamakage.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Simultaneous analysis of [3H]-thymidine uptake and alpha 1(I) procollagen mRNA expression in systemic sclerosis skin fibroblasts--an in situ hybridization study.

Heterogeneity of DNA synthesis and collagen synthesis has been reported in skin fibroblasts from systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. The uptake of [3H]-thymidine and expression of alpha 1(I) procollagen mRNA by cultured skin fibroblasts from four normal controls and four SSc patients was analyzed simultaneously. The grains overlying the cytoplasm representing alpha 1(I) procollagen mRNA and overlying the nucleus representing [3H]-thymidine uptake were counted using computer-aided image analysis. The results were analyzed statistically. Procollagen mRNA expression by SSc fibroblasts was significantly greater than by control fibroblasts (P < 0.01). The distribution curve of [3H]-thymidine uptake showed two peaks representing low- and high-uptake cells. Significantly more SSc fibroblasts than control fibroblasts showed high [3H]-thymidine uptake (P < 0.05). The number of SSc fibroblasts expressing low amounts of alpha 1(I) procollagen mRNA was significantly lower than the number of control fibroblasts (P < 0.05). [3H]-thymidine uptake by SSc fibroblasts expressing high amounts of alpha 1(I) procollagen mRNA was significantly lower than by those expressing low amounts (P < 0.05). These results indicate that elevated DNA synthesis and elevated collagen mRNA synthesis in SSc skin fibroblasts are due to different clones with high DNA-synthesizing ability and high collagen-producing ability.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Digital ulcers and necroses: novel manifestations of angiocentric lymphoma.

We describe a patient with angiocentric lymphoma whose presenting features were multiple areas of digital ulceration and necrosis, including deep ulcers on both great toes. He lacked the lateral halves of both earlobes because of multiple ulcers. Skin biopsy revealed a patchy and diffuse infiltrate of lymphoid cells with nuclear atypia in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Angiocentric and angiodestructive features of the lymphoid cells, a prominent histiocytic infiltrate and some epithelioid cell granulomas were found. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed a T-cell phenotype, and showed positive staining for apoptosis. He died in July 1999. Peripheral vascular disturbances including Raynaud's phenomenon, digital skin ulcers and necroses are novel clinical symptoms in patients with angiocentric lymphoma, which should be added to the differential diagnosis in patients with peripheral vascular disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Quantitative analysis of alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA expression in systemic sclerosis skin tissue--an in situ hybridization study.

Human alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA expression in skin tissue from 15 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and from 7 normal control subjects was quantitatively analyzed using in situ hybridization. The grains accumulating in each area, representing procollagen mRNA expression per cell, were counted. To normalize the results from each subject, the number of cells and the number of grains per cell were divided by the area of the skin specimen (in square millimeters). The number of cells per square millimeter expressing alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA in SSc skin was significantly elevated compared with normal control skin (both P < 0.01). The number of grains per cell per square millimeter expressing alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA in SSc skin was also significantly elevated compared with normal control skin (P < 0.01). The relationship between procollagen mRNA expression and the histological findings in SSc was also studied. The numbers of cells and grains per cell per square millimeter expressing alpha 1(I) procollagen mRNA in fibrotic zone SSc skin were significantly elevated compared with normal control skin (both P < 0.01). The numbers of cells and grains per cell per square millimeter expressing alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA in SSc skin were significantly elevated compared with normal control skin (both P < 0.01) and with border zone SSc skin (number of cells P < 0.01, number of grains P < 0.05). These results indicate an increase in the number of cells showing elevated expression of alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA, and a close relationship between alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA expression and the histological findings in SSc.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A case of prurigo and lichenified plaques successfully treated with proton pump inhibitor.

A case of prurigo and lichenified plaques successfully treated with proton pump inhibitor is presented. She presented with pruritic eruptions, which showed marked lichenification and prurigo nodules, on her trunk and extremities. She had been treated with steroid ointment and H1-histamine receptor antagonist without success. Laboratory examinations revealed increased eosiophils and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. The skin biopsy specimen showed moderate acanthosis with spongiosis and lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltration into the upper dermis. Because of vomiting and epigastralgia, endoscopical examination was performed, and an ulcer was found at the angle of her ventricle. A biopsy specimen disclosed a benign gastric mucosa with moderate inflammation within the lamina propria, and organisms consistent with Helicobacter pylori. Treatment for gastric ulcer with proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole) and aluminium hydroxide gel improved her eruptions and her pruritus resolved. She was discharged with complete cure of her eruption and ventricular ulcer. Our case indicates that gastric lesions induced by Helicobacter pylori infection may play an important role in dermatological diseases. Proton pump inhibitors including omeprazole are one of the choices for the treatment of some dermatological diseases including prurigo and lichenified plaques.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The predictive value of quantitative nailfold capillary microscopy in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease.

The present prospective study was undertaken to follow the natural history of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and to document in these patients the frequency with which secondary disorders develop. Seventeen patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and 43 patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) were examined after 6-8 years to see whether they had developed into UCTD or systemic sclerosis (SSc), respectively. Their nailfold capillary parameters were analysed statistically to ascertain whether they would predict for the development of the diseases into UCTD or SSc. Two patients with PRP(12%) developed into UCTD, and 10 patients with UCTD (23%) into SSc. In PRP, all three parameters of the patients who developed into UCTD showed a tendency to be larger than in those who did not develop UCTD. In UCTD, the apical limb width (P < 0.02), capillary width (P < 0.01) and capillary length (P < 0.01) of the subjects who developed SSc were significantly larger than those who did not. Of the clinicolaboratory findings in patients with UCTD, the occurrence rate of abnormal apical limb width (relative risk 20. 7, P < 0.01), abnormal capillary width (relative risk 10.7, P < 0. 01), abnormal capillary length (relative risk 9.2, P < 0.02) and antinuclear antibody (relative risk 9.6, P < 0.05) showed a significant predictive value for the development of UCTD into SSc. These results indicate that quantitative nailfold capillary microscopy, as well as antinuclear antibody, will provide exact predictive information in patients with UCTD in clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Elevated expression of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in scleroderma.

Using in situ hybridization techniques, we examined the expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA in the skin of five patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and five normal controls. Sections treated with an anti-sense probe showed concentrated grains exclusively in the epidermis of SSc patients, but not in that of normal controls. Because our subcloned anti-sense probe specifically hybridizes with ODC mRNA, these findings indicate that the expression of ODC mRNA is elevated in SSc epidermis. Possibly polyamines have an important part to play in the skin changes of SSc.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Bandlike melasma mimicking linear morphea ("en coup de sabre" type).

A case of bandlike melasma on the median line of the forehead of a middle-aged woman is described. It was an atypical case for its clinical shape and distribution. At initial examination, it was diagnosed as linear morphea. Epidermal nevus was another differential diagnosis. Based on the presence of minor protuberance and the absence of atrophy, clinically, and the presence of sebaceous glands and the absence of swelling of collagen fibers, documented histologically, we revised our diagnosis to that of an atypical type of melasma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Nailfold capillary abnormality and pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSC) show a capillary abnormality of nailfolds with controversial correlation with organ involvement. Our purpose was to study the correlation between this nailfold capillary abnormality and pulmonary hypertension in patients with SSC. METHODS: We studied the nailfold capillaries, using capillary microscopy, and the pulmonary arterial pressure, using right-heart catheterization, in 44 patients with SSC. Canonical discriminant analysis was used to define the capillary abnormality in patients with SSC, which was then compared with that of 40 normal controls. The correlations between the patterns of nailfold capillaries and the cardiopulmonary findings, including the pulmonary arterial pressure, were examined using Fisher's test. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 44 patients with SSC could be differentiated from normal controls by our definition of the SSC pattern. The SSC pattern correlated significantly with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, as well as with pulmonary fibrosis, electrocardiographic abnormalities, decreased vital capacity, and decreased diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. All SSC patients with pulmonary hypertension showed this SSC pattern. In patients with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, capillary microscopy and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DCCM) showed the highest rate of abnormalities. A limited-type SSC significantly correlated with DCCM and with anticentromere antibody, and the diffuse-type SSC with pulmonary fibrosis and anti-sci-70 antibody. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that in patients with SSC, nailfold capillary abnormalities correlate with pulmonary arterial hypertension as well as with clinical and laboratory findings indicating pulmonary hypertension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Cutaneous localization of endothelin-1 in patients with systemic sclerosis: immunoelectron microscopic study.

BACKGROUND: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has some relation to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud's phenomenon. This study was performed to determine the localization of ET-1 in patients with SSc. METHODS: The localization of ET-1 on the specimen by skin biopsies from nine patients with SSc, was observed with immunoelectron microscopic techniques. RESULTS: High-density deposits existed on the ribosomes and on the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the endothelial cells of microvessels of the upper dermis. The same findings were also seen in the fibroblasts of the dermis, but not found in the skin of normal controls. The level of deposits in the endothelial cells and dermal fibroblasts seemed to have a positive correlation with the serum levels of ET-1 of patients with SSc. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it can be seen that ET-1 is produced much more from the endothelial cells and fibroblasts of the dermis in the skin of SSc patients than from the normal controls. It is suspected that ET-1 is one of the pathogenetic factors of SSc.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1996

Electron-microscopic study of sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease.

BACKGROUND: Sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (SC-GVHD) resembles systemic scleroderma (SSD) closely, both clinically and histologically. Our purpose was to try to define the morphologic differences of collagen fibers between SC-GVHD and SSD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using electron microscopy, we compared the morphology of collagen fibers in a 15-year old girl with SC-GVHD with those of three patients with SSD. RESULTS: In SC-GVHD, sclerosis is located in the superficial dermis and collagen fibers of irregular diameter are seen in the subepidermal area. In SSD, sclerosis is seen in the lower dermis and subcutaneous fatty tissue, and collagen fibers of irregular diameter are located in the deep dermis. Some of the collagen fibers were degenerative in the superficial dermis in SC-GVHD. We observed low-density, round structures in cross sections of collagen fibers. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in initial location and morphologic appearance of collagen fibers may indicate a different pathogenesis in SC-GVHD compared to SSD.

Adolescent↗