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Biomedical subjects

H Tsubouchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Tsubouchi.

156 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Hepatic gluconeogenic key enzymes in patients with hepatic cancer.

Key enzymes of gluconeogenesis in the liver, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [EC 4.1.1.32] and glucose-6-phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.9], were studied in patients with primary or metastatic hepatic cancer. Liver specimens for enzyme assay were obtained by necropsy performed within four hours after death. It was confirmed that both enzyme activities in rat liver preserved at 4 degrees C remained unchanged within nine hours after the removal of the tissue. Activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase decreased to below ten per cent of the control in neoplastic liver tissue of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied with liver cirrhosis. These two enzyme activities in cirrhotic tissue of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were lower than those in patients merely with cirrhosis. In patients with metastatic hepatic cancer both two enzyme activities further decreased and were scarcely detected not only in neoplastic tissue but also in non-neoplastic tissue. These results show that hepatic gluconeogenesis markedly decreases in patients with primary or metastatic hepatic cancer. The biochemical analysis of the blood in hepatic cancer, decreased in blood glucose and release in immunoreactive glucagon, also suggested the suppression of gluconeogenesis.

Adult↗

Effects of vitamin A administration upon Ito's fat-storing cells of the liver in the carp.

In the normal carp livers, Ito cells (fat-storing cells) could be identified with light and electron microscope within the hepatic sinusoidal wall and actually in the Disse's space, but they were almost lacking lipid droplets in the cytoplasm (empty Ito cells) in contrast to the majority of vertebrate species. After administration of large doses of vitamin A, fat droplets appeared in hypertrophic cytoplasm of enlarged Ito cells, and their size and number increased roughly in proportion to the amounts of vitamin A administered. This evidence was thought to demonstrate that the administration of large doses of vitamin A could convert empty Ito cells into lipid containing ones and further suggested that excess vitamin A administered might be stored in newly prepared lipid droplets of the Ito cells of the liver. In experimentally hypervitaminotic carp, hypertrophic Ito cells showed proliferation of fine filaments in addition to the accumulation of lipid droplets. The correlation between perisinusoidal fibrogenesis in the hepatic lobule and proliferation of cytoplasmic filaments in the Ito cells was discussed.

Animals↗

Hepatic imaging studies on patients with visceral larva migrans due to probable Ascaris suum infection.

Visceral larva migrans (VLM) is a disease usually observed in children in which the larvae of animal parasites invade and reside in human tissues for long periods. Although the common causal species of VLM are Toxocara canis and T. cati, we identified three adult patients with VLM, probably due to Ascaris suum, whose diagnosis was made by specific immunoserological tests. The patients complained of respiratory symptoms, and laboratory tests showed pronounced eosinophilia, but neither larvae nor eggs were detected in stool samples. We present the findings of various imaging studies of the patients. Multiple small hypoechoic mass lesions were demonstrated by ultrasound tomography, which disappeared after anti-helminthic therapy. Hepatic mass lesions were detected as low-density areas on computed tomography, as high signal intensities on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images, as space-occupying regions in liver scintigraphy, and as yellow-white nodules in laparoscopy. Although biopsied liver tissue specimens showed marked infiltrations of eosinophiles in the portal tracts and hepatic sinusoids, neither larvae nor eggs could be identified.

Aged↗

Epidemiology of genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Japanese patients with type C chronic liver diseases: a multi-institution analysis.

Sixteen medical institutions in Japan collaborated in this study of the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes. A total of 4176 patients with type C chronic liver disease, from the four main islands of Japan, were evaluated. Of those evaluated, 2794 had chronic hepatitis, 727 had liver cirrhosis and 655 had hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genotype of the patients was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on serological genotype 1- and 2-specific recombinant peptides (SG-1 and SG-2, respectively) of the NS4 region. The prevalence of SG-1 and SG-2 HCV was similar in the four main islands of Japan. SG-1 HCV predominated in each disease category (69-76%). The percentage of patients with SG-1 HCV increased by 7%, while that of patients with SG-2 HCV decreased by 7%, as liver disease progressed in severity from chronic hepatitis to carcinoma (P < 0.001). Patients with either SG-1 or SG-2 had a similar mean age and history of blood transfusion. In conclusion, SG-1 HCV was found to predominate in Japan, and the HCV genotype was found to be related to the stage of hepatitis C disease.

Adolescent↗

A survey of ochratoxin A and aflatoxins in domestic and imported beers in Japan by immunoaffinity and liquid chromatography.

Analyses of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AFs) in 94 imported beer samples from 31 producing countries and in 22 Japanese beer samples were performed by immunoaffinity column and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. Recoveries of OTA from beer samples spiked at 25 and 250 pg/mL were 86.1 and 88.2%, respectively. Recoveries of AFs were 98.4 and 98.9%, 95.4 and 95.5%, 101.2 and 97.8%, and 98.9 and 96.0%, respectively, from beer samples spiked at 4.1 and 41 pg AF B1, 4.45 and 44.5 pg AF B2, 4.7 and 47 pg AF G1, and 4.65 and 46.5 pg AF G2/mL. Detection limits were 1.0 pg/mL for OTA, 0.5 pg/mL for AFs B1 and B2, and 1.0 pg/mL for AFs G1 and G2. OTA was detected in 86 (91.5%) of 94 imported beer samples at a mean level of 10.1 pg/mL and in 21 (95.5%) of 22 Japanese beer samples at a mean level of 12.5 pg/mL. AF B1 was detected in 11 of 94 imported beer samples at a level of 0.5-83.1 pg/mL and in 2 of 22 Japanese beer samples at 0.5 and 0.8 pg/mL. Except for one beer sample from Peru, the samples contaminated with AFs were also contaminated with OTA. Although OTA was detected in most samples from various countries, AFs were detected in the beer samples from only a limited number of countries where AF contamination might be expected to occur because of their warm climate.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Liquid chromatographic determination of ochratoxin A in coffee beans and coffee products.

A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ochratoxin A in coffee beans (green and roast), instant coffee, and coffee drink is described. The sample is subjected to extraction with methanol-1% aqueous sodium bicarbonate (1 + 1) and C18 cartridge cleanup. The extract is chromatographed on a Nucleosil 5C18 column with a mobile solvent of acetonitrile-water-0.2M phosphate buffer pH 7.5 (50 + 47 + 3) containing 3 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as an ion-pair reagent. Ochratoxin A is detected with a fluorometer (excitation 365 nm, emission 450 nm). The sensitivity was increased 20-fold by using ion-pair resolution. The detection limits corresponded to 2 micrograms/kg for coffee beans, 5 micrograms/kg for instant coffee, and 0.2 microgram/kg for coffee drink. The recoveries from coffee products were generally better than 80.7% and the relative standard deviations were 3.43-5.93%. The peak coinciding with ochratoxin A can be confirmed by treatment using alcohol (methanol, ethanol, or n-propanol) and H2SO4.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination and confirmation of aflatoxin M1 in cheese.

A systematic method is proposed for determination and confirmation of aflatoxin M1 in cheese by liquid chromatography (LC). A sample of cheese is extracted with chloroform, cleaned up on 2 silica gel columns followed by a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, and chromatographed on a 5 microns octadecyl silica column with fluorometric detection. The sample extract or standard is treated with n-hexane-trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (4 + 1) for 30 min at 40 degrees C. Analysis by LC with TFA-treatment of the extract provides quantitative data. Multiple assays of 5 samples of Gouda cheese spiked with aflatoxin M1 at levels of 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05 ng/g showed average recoveries of 93.2, 91.6, and 92.4%, with coefficients of variation of 2.63, 3.97, and 4.52%, respectively. Assay of 5 naturally contaminated cheeses resulted in 0.051-0.448 ng/g of aflatoxin M1. Limit of quantitation is about 0.01 ng/g. The identity of aflatoxin M1 is confirmed by treating aflatoxin M1 or the M2a derivative with TFA-methanol (or ethanol) (3 + 1). The TFA-methanol reaction products of M2a could be detected quantitatively.

Aflatoxin M1↗

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma effectively treated with epirubicin aqueous vesicles in monodispersed iodized poppy-seed oil microdroplets.

A 64-year-old woman with a solitary mass (18 mm in diameter) of hepatocellular carcinoma underwent hepatic arterial infusion therapy with water-in-oil-in-water emulsion (W/O/W) prepared by the membrane emulsification technique using a controlled pore glass membrane. In the W/O/W, numerous microdroplets of iodized poppy-seed oil (IPSO), which contained many vesicles of aqueous solution of epirubicin, were suspended in the external aqueous phase. The mean diameter of the IPSO microdroplets was 30 microns. Seventeen milliliters of the W/O/W containing 40 mg of epirubicin and 5 ml of IPSO was infused into the proper hepatic artery. No severe side effects were encountered. Computed tomography taken 3 days after the treatment revealed a clearly defined deposition of IPSO within the tumor. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, 5.35x10(3) ng/ml, before treatment, decreased to 131 ng/ml on 38 days after treatment. The tumor was extirpated and histopathological examination revealed complete necrosis of the tumor.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Levels of human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) in peritoneal fluid after partial hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF), now known to be identical with scatter factor and tumor cytotoxic factor, is thought to be involved in the regeneration of the liver in humans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We measured the levels of immunoreactive hHGF levels in peritoneal fluid before and after partial hepatectomy in 37 patients, 10 with and 27 without cirrhosis. The presence of hHGF was confirmed in human peritoneal fluid with rat hepatocytes in primary culture and Western blot. RESULTS: Levels of hHGF increased significantly in peritoneal fluid after surgery, with its total concentration being correlated with the weight of resected liver 168 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the hHGF levels in peritoneal fluid may indicate the extent of hepatic damage following partial hepatectomy and other liver diseases.

Adult↗