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Biomedical subjects

K Iwahara

Publications and source records attributed to K Iwahara.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Keratoderma hereditaria mutilans. Etretinate treatment and electron microscope studies.

Keratoderma hereditaria mutilans is a rare inherited cornification disorder characterized by hyperkeratosis of palms and soles with a characteristic "honey-comb" appearance, keratotic constriction furrows of one or more digits (pseudo-ainhum) and threatening spontaneous amputation. Approximately 30 cases have been reported, but the ultrastructural features have not been well characterized. In this article, we describe the clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural findings in our patient. A biopsy specimen taken before treatment with etretinate showed hyperkeratosis with a well-preserved granular layer and acanthosis. Ultrastructural examination disclosed that the spinous cells and granular cells contained marked swollen mitochondria, many desmosomes, and that corneocytes contained many membrane coating granules (MCG) and lipid like vacuoles. After initiation of treatment, considerable clinical improvement was observed, but without significant histologic modification. The principal post-treatment ultrastructural changes were the reduction of mitochondrial swelling in spinous and granular cells and the reduction in the number of MCG in corneocytes. The intercellular spaces showed increased amounts of fine and coarse granular substances. Stimulation of Langerhans cells was observed. Marginal band formation occurred normally after treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Vulvitis circumscripta plasmacellularis treated successfully with interferon alpha.

A 74-year-old woman with vulvitis circumscripta plasmacellularis was successfully treated with intralesional injections of interferon alpha. Although the patient had been previously treated unsuccessfully for 5 years with topical administration of a potent corticosteroid, with cryotherapy, and with surgical procedures, the disease continually recurred. A course of interferon alpha resulted in a significant clinical improvement of the lesions, a histologically verified decrease of plasma cell infiltrate, and the disappearance of the antigen of herpes simplex virus that had been detected before treatment by direct immunofluorescence staining of the lesion. This clinical course demonstrates the effectiveness of local injections of interferon alpha into those lesions with vulvitis circumscripta plasmacellularis that did not previously respond to conventional therapy. Therefore an implication exists that herpes simplex virus infection may be one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Lactate dehydrogenase inhibition by immunoglobulin G in human serum.

Low lactate dehydrogenase (LD; EC 1.1.1.27) activity and an abnormal LD pattern in electrophoretograms of LD isoenzymes in the sera of two patients were caused by inhibition of LD by immunoglobulin G. One of these showed inhibitor activity in the serum upon direct analysis, while the other showed activity only after the immunoglobulin was stripped from the LD. As judged from the LD isoenzyme patterns in serum, the LD inhibitor appeared to act against M subunits. However, quantification of binding affinities to each isolated isoenzyme showed that the LD inhibitor had a stronger effect on LD isoenzymes 2 and 3 (H3M1 and H2M2, respectively).

Aged↗
PubMed1984

T-cell subsets and nuclear contour index of skin-infiltrating T-cells in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cases of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas including Sézary syndrome were used to evaluate nuclear contour index (NCI), nuclear cytoplasmic ratio (N/C), and helper/suppressor T-cell ratio. It was found that: (1) the average NCI measured in pan-T-cell monoclonal antibody positive cells (N = 100) is higher than that measured in non-T-cells (N = 100) in the same lesion; (2) NCI increased from erythematous stage to tumor or Sézary stage as disease process advances; (3) N/C was not significantly increased with disease process and did not correlate with NCI; (4) suppressor T-cells were significantly increased in early stages of the disease, whereas helper T-cells were dominant in late stage lesions; and (5) the majority of tumor cell infiltrating into the epidermis were helper T-cells in all stages. In control specimens from chronic and acute skin conditions in which lymphocytic infiltration is seen, cells with NCI greater than 6.5 did not exceed 20%. It is concluded that if 25% or more cells in the lesion have NCI greater than 6.5 in pan-T-monoclonal antibody positive cells, the diagnosis of CTCL is very likely. Varying numbers of OKT6 positive cells (Langerhans' cell, thymocyte) were admixed in the dermis of all cases, and had no significant correlation with the stages.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Immunoelectron microscopy related to T-cell monoclonal surface antigen in mycosis fungoides.

For the purpose of diagnosing and staging cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the nuclear contour index and subsets of T-cells in the lesions were studied. Nuclear contour index measured in T-cells identified precisely with monoclonal pan-T antibody was found to be higher than nuclear contour index measured in T-cell-like cells with significant nuclear convolution. Nuclear contour index increased as the disease progressed from erythematous to tumor stage or to the Sézary syndrome. The relative ratio of suppressor cytotoxic T-cells to helper T-cells was higher in the early rather than late stage of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1981

Immunoreactive GRP.

Radioimmunoassay specific for GRP was developed using C-terminal specific anti-synthetic porcine GRP sera. Measurement of the porcine gastrointestine and brain tissue extracts with GRP and with bombesin radioimmunoassays indicates that the bombesin-like immunoreactivity found in the porcine tissues is attributable to GRP or GRP-like materials. GRP-like immunoreactivity in extracts of porcine gastrointestinal tissues and pancreas was shown, by gel filtration, to comprise mainly two components: the first-eluting component corresponding to synthetic GRP and the second-eluting one to synthetic GRP(14--27) in their elution volumes. An extract of the hypothalamus also contained two similar components, while extracts of the medulla oblongata and cerebral cortex contained mainly the second-eluting immunoreactivity. Immunostaining with anti-GRP sera revealed positive nerve fibers in the myenteric nerve plexus of the porcine duodenum and in intrapancreatic ganglia, but no immunoreactivity endocrine cells in the mucosa of the porcine stomach and intestine. The results gave support to GRP as a new brain-gut peptide and suggested physiological significant of GRP as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Determination of estrogens in pregnancy urine by hemoagglutination inhibition reaction.

A simple and rapid hemoagglutination inhibition reaction system for the estimation of estrogens in pregnancy urine is described. Results obtained by this method showed a good correlation with those measure by a conventional radioimmunoassay method and Brown's colorimetric method. Ninety-seven pregnancy urine samples from various gestational weeks were subjected to the assay, and the usefulness of this method as a screening test for high-risk pregnancy is discussed.

Colorimetry↗