Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Okuda.
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The influence of ovarian hormones at different estrous stages on the bactericidal activity of the uterus in rabbits was investigated. When Escherichia coli cells were inoculated in ligated uteri, the survival period of the bacteria in the uterus at the luteal phase was clearly longer than that at the follicular phase. At the luteal phase, high levels of plasma estradiol-17 beta and progesterone were detected. A luteolytic treatment with prostaglandin F2 alpha and human chorionic gonadotropin at the luteal phase lowered plasma progesterone levels and prompted bacterial clearance from the uterus. In ovariectomized rabbits, E. coli from the uterine exudates was not detected 6 days after the inoculation in both the nontreated and estradiol-17 beta-treated animals. In the progesterone-treated rabbits, the survival period of E. coli was longer than that in the nontreated and estradiol-17 beta-treated animals. When estradiol-17 beta and progesterone at the ratio of 1:100 were administered concurrently, E. coli survived for the longest period in the rabbits treated with various doses of different hormones. Formalin-killed E. coli cells were inoculated into the uterine lumen, and 4 h later the proportion of heterophils phagocytizing the bacteria dropped in the progesterone-treated rabbits and in the estradiol-17 beta- and progesterone-treated rabbits, but there was no significant difference in heterophil numbers among the rabbits treated with different hormones. The present results suggest that progesterone inhibits the bactericidal activity of the uterus and that estrogen concurrently secreted at the luteal phase promotes the inhibitory action of progesterone, although estrogen alone hardly affects the uterine defense. In addition, the lowering of the bactericidal activity of the uterus at the luteal phase may be attributable to lower activity of phagocytosis by heterophils infiltrated into the uterine lumen.
Monoclonal antibodies against the various surface antigens of Bacteroides gingivalis were obtained by the fusion of murine myeloma cells (SP2/0-Ag14) with spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with the whole cells. Two monoclonal antibodies reacted with lipopolysaccharide, and the other two reacted strongly with capsule antigen. One showed reactivity with the hemagglutinin of the cells. The five monoclonal antibodies reacted with sonicated antigen from all B. gingivalis strains tested. No cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibodies with antigens from nine species of other black-pigmented Bacteroids strains was observed. An immunoblotting test involving the use of these monoclonal antibodies indicated that the epitope of B. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide was polysaccharide with a high molecular weight of 40,000 to 60,000. The immunoblotting test also demonstrated that the epitopes of capsule antigen and of hemagglutinin were 27,000- and 40,000-molecular-weight proteins, respectively.
This study assesses the diagnostic value of Lipiodol (iodized oil) and computed tomography (CT) in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Twenty-four patients who were suspected of having HCC received injections of a small amount of Lipiodol, along with an antitumor agent, in the hepatic artery following routine celiac angiography. CT scans obtained 7-10 days after Lipiodol administration demonstrated HCC in distinct contrast to the surrounding noncancerous parenchyma. In particular, the CT-Lipiodol procedure disclosed many small HCC lesions that were not shown by celiac angiography, scintigraphy, CT with and without contrast medium enhancement, and ultrasonography. Although this procedure may miss very small or highly fibrotic lesions, it is recommended for patients suspected of having HCC and for patients for whom hepatic resection is being considered.
An ultrasonic sector scanner and pulsed Doppler flowmeter were combined to measure portal venous velocity in 19 patients with portal hypertension and compared with cineangiographic mapping of a droplet of oil released into the portal vein. In 12 patients, measurements were made before and after pitressin [7] or ranitidine [5]. With the Doppler method, maximum basal portal venous velocity was 17.0 +/- 3.9 cm/sec., while average cineangiographic velocity was 8.5 +/- 2.7 cm/sec., a significant difference (p less than 0.001). After pitressin, velocity decreased to 8.3 +/- 2.7 cm/sec. with the Doppler method and 3.6 +/- 1.0 cm/sec. with cineangiography. Ranitidine did not produce an appreciable change. Doppler and cineangiographic velocity measurements exhibited significant correlation over a wide range of values (r = 0.960). Thus the pulsed Doppler method may give accurate values of portal venous velocity if they are corrected to cineangiographic values. Flow can be calculated from velocity and the cross-sectional area of the portal vein as measured on the sonogram. The Doppler method is simple and noninvasive and is particularly useful in studying changes in portal hemodynamics.
Selective left gastric venography was performed via percutaneous transheptic catheterization in 100 patients with portal hypertension to study hemodynamics and left gastric collaterals. Flow was hepatofugal in 81 patients, while 63 had varices supplied by the left gastric vein; azygos/hemiazygos collaterals were seen in 27 patients, gastrorenal shunts in 18, and other collaterals in 58. In 79 cases, enlarged, tortuous veins arising from thin parallel vessels at the esophagogastric junction on venography corresponded with varices on endoscopy in both size and course. Venography failed to show small varices which were seen endoscopically, whereas endoscopy often interpreted non-tortuous veins as varices. Using endoscopy as a reference, the sensitivity of venography for varices was 76%, specificity 100%, and accuracy 78%. There was a significant correlation between venographic demonstration of varices and previous hematemesis. Left gastric venography is necessary prior to embolization of varices and is also useful in their diagnosis as well as study of hemodynamics and assessment of bleeding risk.
Changes of portal hemodynamics with the progression of chronic liver disease and changes caused by body posture and physical exercise were investigated using an ultrasonic pulsed Doppler flowmeter in healthy adults and in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Portal venous velocity was significantly reduced in patients with chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis without a large splenorenal shunt, and cirrhosis with a large splenorenal shunt, compared with normal subjects and patients with chronic persistent hepatitis. Portal venous flow, by contrast, was significantly reduced only in patients with cirrhosis and a large splenorenal shunt compared with normal subjects and with the other three groups; there was no significant difference in portal venous flow among the latter four groups. Both portal venous velocity and flow showed a tendency toward further reduction in patients with cirrhosis who had hepatofugal flow of part of the superior mesenteric venous blood into the splenic vein and a large splenorenal shunt. Both exercise and posture change from supine to sitting significantly reduced portal venous velocity and portal venous flow in normal subjects, as well as in the patients with chronic liver disease.
The relationship between the serum IgG antibody titer against seven species of Gram-negative periodontopathic bacteria and clinical parameters (including plaque index, gingival index, periodontal pocket depth, and alveolar bone loss) was studied in 38 subjects. IgG antibody titer against the sonicated antigens was determined by micro-ELISA. A statistically significant correlation was found between the serum antibody titer against B. gingivalis and the degree of clinical parameters, especially pocket depth. The serum IgG levels against the seven micro-organisms in 16 periodontal patients before and after clinical treatment were also determined. Responses to B. gingivalis decreased (p less than 0.001), whereas responses to E. corrodens (p less than 0.01) increased slightly. No marked differences were noted between pre- and post-treatment sera in titers against B. intermedius, B. loescheii, F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and C. ochracea.
A 58-year-old man with essential thrombocythemia terminating in myelofibrosis and myeloblastic transformation is described. He was treated with busulfan and lived for 6 years and 6 months. At autopsy, significant osteomyelofibrosis was noted. Moreover, myeloblastic infiltration with proliferation of megakaryocytes and erythroblasts was seen in the bone marrow and spleen. In the lymph nodes, myeloid metaplasia was noted. The past reports on this disease terminating in myelofibrosis and/or blast transformation have been reviewed.
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We studied the utility of a trial multivitamin preparation 'NK-041' for total parenteral nutrition. This preparation was used in 260 surgical patients during total parenteral nutrition, and changes in their blood vitamin levels were analyzed. Blood levels of all vitamins administered varied within the respective normal ranges, with few exceptional patients. During the administration of NK-041, avitaminosis, hypervitaminosis and side-effects were not observed. Laboratory examinations demonstrated that no abnormalities attributable to this preparation had arisen in these patients. Thus, these results seem to warrant the conclusion that NK-041 is useful as a multivitamin preparation for total parenteral nutrition, with no adverse effects.
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