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Biomedical subjects

K Matsuura

Publications and source records attributed to K Matsuura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Clinical significance of serum bile acid radioimmunoassay in hepatobiliary diseases--with special reference to the CG/SLCG ratio (author's transl)].

Both serum cholylglycine (CG) and sulfolithocholylglycine (SLCG) levels were radioimmunoassayed by PEG method in 209 samples (204 hepatobiliary diseases, 5 normal controls). 1) The results revealed that serum bile acid levels were excellent indicators for hepatic dysfunction in comparison with the conventional liver function tests. 2) Means of 19.4 +/- 9.3 microgram/dl for CG and 21.7 +/- 6.7 microgram/dl for SLCG were obtained in controls. Most hepatobiliary diseases demonstrated abnormally high bile acid levels, with extremely high CG values in conditions with bile stasis. 3) To differentiate various hepatobiliary diseases more clearly, the ratio of the primary and secondary bile acids (CG/SLCG ratio) was introduced (1.0 +/- 0.6 for controls). In cases of bile stasis, CG/SLCG ratios ranged from 7.8 +/- 4.8 for intrahepatic cholestasis to 34.8 +/- 27.6 for congenital biliary atresia, while other hepatic disorders demonstrated relatively low values. We conclude that the CG/SLCG ratio is a useful index for cholestasis. Diagnosis of the congenital biliary atresia could be possible.

Biliary Tract Diseases

Radioimmunoassay for human pancreatic amylase: comparison of human serum amylase by measurement of enzymatic activity and by radioimmunoassay.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human pancreatic amylase has been developed for the determination of human serum amylase content. The assay was shown to be sensitive (7 ng/ml), reproducible and specific, but human pancreatic amylase and salivary amylase could not be distinguished by the antiserum used. In normal subjects, the mean concentration of amylase determined by the RIA was found to be 122.1 ng/ml (range: 55--250 ng/ml). A good correlation was observed between the concentration of amylase and its enzymatic activity in normal subjects. In some instances with high amylase activity, however, the rise in enzymatic activity was not accompanied by increasing amount of amylase content.

Amylases

Effect of surface potential on the intramembrane electrical field measured with carotenoid spectral shift in chromatophores from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides.

Changes in the surface potential, the electrical potential difference between the membrane surface and the bulk aqueous phase were measured with the carotenoid spectral shift which indicates the change of electrical field in the membrane. Chromatophores were prepared from a non-sulfur purple bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, in a low-salt buffer. Surface potential was changed by addition of salt or by pH jump as predicted by the Gouy-Chapman diffuse double layer theory. When a salf was added at neutral pH, the shift of carotenoid spectrum to shorter wavelength, corresponding to an increase in electrical potential at the outside surface, was observed. The salts of divalent cations (MgSO4, MgCl-2, CaCl2) were effective at concentrations lower than those of monovalent cation salts (NACl, KCl, Na2SO4) by a factor of about 50. Among the salts of monoor divalent cation used, little ionic species-dependent difference was observed in the low-concentration range except that due to the valence of cations. The pH dependence of the salt-induced carotenoid change was explained in terms of the change in surface charge density, which was about 0 at pH 5--5.5 and had negative values at higher pH values. The dependence of the pH jump-induced absorbance change on the salt concentration was also consistent with the change in the charge density. The surface potential change by the salt addition, which was calibrated by H+ diffusion potential, was about 90 mV at the maximum. From the difference between the effective concentrations with salts of mono- and divalent cations at pH 7.8, the surface charge density of (-1.9 +/- 0.5) . 10(-3) elementary charge per A2, and the surface potential of about -100 mV in the presence of about 0.1 mM divalent cation of 5 mM monovalent cation were calculated.

Bacterial Chromatophores

Prolonged injection angiography for diagnosing intracranial cavernous hemangiomas.

A case of intracranial cavernous hemangioma displaying feeding arteries, tumor stains, and venous pools is presented. Tumors of this type may simulate avascular masses on angiography; however, when surgically excised, they bleed profusely. A correct preoperative diagnosis can help avoid unnecessary incisions. Prolonged injection angiography clearly depicts the tumors and their venous pools, which may be pathognomonic of cavernous hemangiomas.

Adult

[An investigation of the environment in a certain vanadium refinery (author's transl)].

An investigation of the environment of the working place was made as part of the investigation of damages to health that had broken out in a certain vanadium refinery; and the following conclusions were obtained: When the atmospheric dust volume and V2O5 concentration by unit working step were measured with a high volume air sampler, V2O5 exceeded the threshold limit value given by ACGIH in the P.O. flake production step, while the measurement of V2O5 concentration during one-shift working hours with a low volume air sampler gave 64.3 micrograms/m3 even in the grinding step where the maximum concentration was found, and values under 10 micrograms/m3 in all the other steps. Such concentrations may be considered to have been derived from the fact that P.O. casting in accomplished in a short time, and that the fume and dust that are transiently produced at high concentrations are dispersed outdoors by spontaneous ventilation. Damages to health such as a high prevalence of green tongue appeared to have resulted from failure in exercising elementary sanitary care such as imperfect facilities for safety and sanitation, and failure to thoroughly enforce wearing of masks.

Air Pollutants

[Results of the special physical examination of workers in a vanadium plant (author's transl)].

Special physical examinations were made in order to find out the actual status of damages to health that had broken out in a factory collecting V2O5 from iron sand; and the following results were found: 1. Pharyngitis and bronchitis were found in 25% of the workers exposed to vanadium, but neither pneumonia nor hepatitis was observed. 2. Among the subjective and objective symptoms, respiratory irritation and discoloration of the tongue were frequent. 3. Black spot-like pigmentations gathering in a zonal form 1-2 mm wide in the transitional part and oral mucosa of the upper lip were found. Prevalence rate of this sign was 14.3% in the workers exposed to vanadium. 4. The mean valus of total serum protein and the serum cholesterol in the exposed workers were lower than those in the controls. The difference in the values between both groups is statistically significant. 5. Both the mean values of vanadium concentrations in vurine and its creatinine ratios in the exposed workers were twice to three times those in the controls; however, these parameters decreased to about one third in two months by improving the health and environmental control-measures. 6. Draft items to be checked in special physical examinations of workers handling vanadium have been proposed.

Environmental Exposure

[Clinical significance of urinary CEA measurement as a screening test of bladder cancer (author's transl)].

Non-infected urine samples of twenty six preoperative bladder cancers were examined by urinary CEA radioimmunoassay and exfoliative cytology. There were 65% of urinary CEA positivity and 58% of cytological positivity (class III, IV, V). CEA measurements were positive in 8 of 11 negative cytology cases (class I and II). Exfoliative cytological examination failed to detect most of well differentiated transitional cell carcinomas, while urinary CEA study detected 4 of 6 such cases. Combination of both urinary CEA measurement and cytology resulted in 85% of positivity. Therefore we recommend routine use of this combination as a screening system of bladder cancer.

Adult

Modification of human pancreatic amylase isozymes by peptidoglutaminase I and II.

The effects of peptidoglutaminase (PGln-ase) I and II on human pancreatic juice amylase purified as an isozyme were investigated. Several amylase isozymes were formed which corresponded to minor components of pancreatic amylase isozymes, indicating that appearance of amylase isozymes are due to enzymic deamidation. A similar result was observed when the purified amylase isozyme was incubated with the supernatant of human pancreatic juice whose amylase was previously removed by adsorption onto raw corn starch. These findings are discussed in connection with amylase isozymes in the sera of the patients suffering from pancreatic inflammation.

Amidohydrolases