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Biomedical subjects

K Okuda

Publications and source records attributed to K Okuda.

At least 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources

Pathology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan. 232 Consecutive cases autopsied in ten years.

The pathologic findings of 232 consecutive cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) autopsied during the past ten years at Kurume, Japan, were analyzed from the point of view of global epidemiology, in relation to clinical feature, and in regard to incidence, age, sex, etiologic factors, size of liver, changes in noncancer parenchyma, gross type of tumor, extrahepatic metastases, intravascular and intraductal growths, cancer cell histology, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in hepatocytes and cancer cells, liver cell dysplasia, and frequency and clinicopathologic characteristics of minute HCC. Furthermore, postmortem hepatic arteriography and portography were done in 152 livers for comparison with gross anatomy and celiac angiograms. It was found that: (1) epidemiologically, HCC in Japan is distinct from that in the West that it is frequently encapsulated, livers are generally small because of frequent and advanced cirrhosis and small cancer, minute HCC, is not uncommon at autopsy, cirrhosis most commonly associated is the one with thin stroma and medium size nodules, and micronodular cirrhosis is very rare despite frequent alcohol abuse; (2) HCC is increasing in incidence; (3) HBsAg is frequently found in parenchyma; (4) liver cell dysplasia is indirectly related to HBsAg with no evidence for premalignancy; (5) the lung is the most frequent site of metastasis but peritoneal dissemination is unusual; (6) intraportal tumor growth is very common and the hepatic vein is less frequently affected; (7) growth in the major bile duct is frequently associated with intraportal growth and clinically presents as obstructive jaundice; and (8) tumor is supplied solely by arteries and celiac arteriograms are closely correlated with gross pathologic findings.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Analysis of T cell hybridomas. III. Distinctions between two types of hapten-specific suppressor factors that affect plaque-forming cell responses.

The ability of two cloned T cell hybridomas and their products to specifically suppress the in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl hapten (NP) was studied. Supernatant from one hybridoma (TS1) was shown to suppress in the induction but not the effector phase of the immune response. Supernatant from the TS1 hybridoma was capable of inducing second-order (TS2) effector-phase suppressor cells in vitro but did not suppress the response of anti-I-J plus C-treated responder cells. In contrast, supernatant from a second hybridoma (TS3) was capable of suppressing PFC responses when added either in the induction or the effector phase of the response. TS3 supernatant was unable to induce effector-phase suppressor cells but was capable of suppressing the response of anti-I-J plus C-treated responder cells. In addition, specific suppressor factors isolated from supernatants of the TS1 and TS3 hybridomas were shown to bind to NP, bear NPb idiotypic and I-J-encoded but not immunoglobulin-constant region determinants. The factor secreted by the TS3 hybridoma appears to act directly on B cell targets. Mild reduction of this factor results in two separable moieties, only one of which binds NP. Reconstitution experiments suggest that both chains are required for function. The collective data indicate that these hybridomas represent cells from first- and third-order suppressor T cell populations described previously in contact sensitivity and in vitro PFC systems. The implications of the ability of these hybridoma products to affect both T and B cell-mediated immune responses are discussed.

Animals↗

Effects of intra- and extrahepatic portal systemic shunts on insulin metabolism.

To study the effects of intra- and extrahepatic portal-systemic shunts on insulin degradation, 11 patients with liver cirrhosis and 7 noncirrhotic patients with liver disease were studied with percutaneous transhepatic catheterization. Insulin levels in portal and peripheral blood were measured simultaneously for 1-2 hr after intravenous administration of glucose. The degrees of intra- and extrahepatic portal-systemic shunting were measured with this technique using 131I-macroaggregated albumin and 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin. The amount of insulin secreted and insulin degraded were assessed from the areas under blood concentration curves for portal and peripheral blood. Insulin degradation was significantly reduced in cirrhotics compared to noncirrhotics with liver disease, although there was no difference in the amount of insulin secreted between these two groups. It was also correlated significantly with the degree of intrahepatic shunting but not with the degree of extrahepatic shunting. These results suggest that intrahepatic shunting plays an important role in the reduction of insulin degradation in cirrhosis.

Glucose Tolerance Test↗

Decreased sensitivity of platelets to prostacyclin in patients with diabetes mellitus.

In order to ascertain the platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin (PGI2) in patients with diabetes mellitus, we determined the percentage inhibition of platelet aggregation and platelet ATP secretion following PGI2 addition in an in vitro system. The percentage inhibition of platelet aggregation caused by PGI2 in final concentration of 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 ng/ml was significantly lower in diabetics than in healthy controls. That of platelet ATP secretion by 1.25 or 2.5 ng/ml of PGI2 was also significantly lower in diabetics. These data suggested that in patients with diabetes mellitus, the decreased sensitivity of platelets to PGI2 will bring about hypercoagulability and may become one of the risk factors of diabetic microangiopathy in cooperation with lowered vascular PGI2 generation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

How to investigate cholestasis: utility of ultrasound as the first imaging study.

In modern gastroenterology, ultrasonography, particularly the real-time modality, is one of the most important diagnostic procedures, and the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cholestasis, and obstructive jaundice in particular, is indisputable. Although sector-type real-time ultrasonography has certain merits, for a routine examination, the linear scan is much more practical. It should be the first imaging investigation in patients with jaundice, along with the routine hematologic and biochemical tests. In obstructive jaundice, these studies are followed by ERC or PTC, and a definitive diagnosis is possible in the large majority of patients. Such a diagnosis very rarely requires correction at surgery.

Biliary Tract Neoplasms↗

Genetic control of mouse antibody production to human thyroglobulin.

Genetic control of immune responses in mice against human thyroglobulin was studied using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and passive haemagglutination test. Our results revealed that mice of H-2a, H-2d, H-2q, H-2k and H-2r haplotypes were high responders for antibody production to human thyroglobulin, while mice of H-2b and H-2s haplotypes were low responders. High responsiveness to human thyroglobulin was transmitted to F1 mice in a dominant fashion. Study of the genetic mapping of the immune responses to human thyroglobulin using various congenic mice showed that I-A subregion gene(s) control the immune response to human thyroglobulin.

Animals↗

Genetic control of PQ prolongation of the electrocardiogram in the mouse immunized with the killed group A streptococci.

Genetic control of PQ prolongation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the mouse, immunized with killed group A streptococci, was studied by using various congenic mice. Mice of H-2a, H-2k and H-2f haplotypes showed high frequencies of PQ prolongation, while haplotypes of H-2b, H-2d and H-2s showed low frequencies of PQ prolongation. Studies using various recombinant mice revealed that at least one immune-associated (Ir) gene mapped in the left side of the I-B subregion. High responsiveness of F1 hybrids of H-2b and H-2d, as well as B10.A(5R) and B10.A(3R), suggests the existence of a complementing gene. In addition, the differences between C3H and CKB, as well as differences between C3H.SW and CWB, indicate that another Ir gene maps in the immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) coding loci. Repeated injections of anti-I-J or anti-I-A antisera also modified this PQ prolongation. These results suggested that both the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and immunoglobulin (Igh) loci seem to be playing important roles in the pathogenesis of PQ prolongation.

Animals↗

False-positive liver scans due to portal hypertension: correlation with percutaneous transhepatic portograms in 33 patients.

Tc-99m-phytate scanning of the liver and percutaneous transhepatic catheterization of the portal vein were performed in 33 patients--26 with cirrhosis, 3 with chronic active hepatitis, 2 with idiopathic portal hypertension, and 2 with unresolved acute hepatitis. A discrete defect in the porta hepatis area was seen in 6 of 28 patients who had portal vein pressure above 200 mm H2O. In 5 of the 6 patients with a false-positive scan, the umbilical portion of the left portal vein branch was dilated (larger than 25 x 20 mm) on the portogram, with or without a patent paraumbilical vein. The anatomical basis of this phenomenon is discussed, and it is suggested that this area be given special attention.

Adult↗

Arterioportal shunts on dynamic computed tomography.

Thirty-two patients, 20 with hepatocellular carcinoma and 12 with liver cirrhosis, were examined by dynamic computed tomography (CT) using intravenous bolus injection of contrast medium and by celiac angiography. Dynamic CT disclosed arterioportal shunting in four cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and in one of cirrhosis. In three of the former, the arterioportal shunt was adjacent to a mass lesion on CT, suggesting tumor invasion into the portal branch. In one with hepatocellular carcinoma, the shunt was remote from the mass. In the case with cirrhosis, there was no mass. In these last two cases, the shunt might have been caused by prior percutaneous needle puncture. In another case of hepatocellular carcinoma, celiac angiography but not CT demonstrated an arterioportal shunt. Thus, dynamic CT was diagnostic in five of six cases of arteriographically demonstrated arterioportal shunts.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗

Duck hepatitis B virus and liver diseases.

The presence of duck hepatitis B virus in serum was studied in 61 ducks (24 from Chi-tung county, China, 20 from Changchun, China, and 17 from Chiba, Japan) with relation to liver disease. None of the 37 ducks from Chiba and Changchun was positive for duck hepatitis B virus as assayed by electron microscopy, endogenous deoxyribonucleic acid-polymerase activity, and hybridization with duck hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid. No liver disease was seen in these ducks. In contrast, viruslike particles were present in the serum of 12 of 24 (50%) ducks from Chi-tung, China. The presence of duck hepatitis B virus in serum was indicated by the hybridization spot test and deoxyribonucleic acid-polymerase activities. A variety of liver diseases including chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were seen in the livers of a majority of the ducks from Chi-tung. One duck hepatitis B virus-positive duck had multicentric hepatocellular carcinoma with underlying cirrhosis. Comparison of serum duck hepatitis B virus markers and liver disease in the affected flock revealed a tendency for seronegative ducks to have advanced liver diseases. Duck hepatitis B virus infection may be used as an experimental model to test various hypotheses concerning the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus-associated liver disease in humans.

Animals↗

Aldolase release rate and platelet function.

We have developed a new platelet function test which is a method to estimate the rate of release of aldolase from platelets into a low osmotic pressured artificial medium and into PRP, which we called the platelet aldolase release rate. As this aldolase release rate have a good reproducibility and correlate well with other platelet function test, this test can be utilized for clinical examination.

Blood Platelets↗