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Biomedical subjects

K Uchide

Publications and source records attributed to K Uchide.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of cytoplasmic calcium in platelet aggregation.

BACKGROUND: Although adherence and aggregation of platelets on an active surface such as exposed subendothelial matrix or foreign surfaces is integral to the occlusion of blood vessels, its mode of action is not fully understood. METHODS: The role of cytoplasmic ionized Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in platelet activation induced by contact with a glass surface under shear-stress was studied by employing confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) in conjunction with a parallel plate flow chamber. Changes in [Ca(2+)](i) and morphology of aggregating platelets on glass surface was simultaneously examined. RESULTS: Under static condition, contact with glass caused platelet adhesion to the surface, which was associated with [Ca(2+)](i) rise and morphological change; however, platelets did not develop a large aggregation on the surface. Under lower shear-stress, the number of the single platelets adsorbed on the surface was less than that under static condition. Although shear-stress increased the number of single platelets involved and enhanced morphological change in aggregating platelets in a shear-stress related manner, the peak [Ca(2+)](i) value in individual platelets were not increased. CONCLUSIONS: These observations may suggest the crucial roles of shear-stress in platelet aggregate formation at the site of arterial stenosis. Shear-stress might enhances platelet aggregate growth not through the enhancement of [Ca(2+)](i) rise.

Calcium↗

Term breech trial.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Breech Presentation↗

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tensile strength of fetal membranes in uncomplicated labor.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relation between tensile strength and levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 at a number of sites in human fetal membranes. METHODS: Tensile strengths of fetal membranes from five women who delivered vaginally at term were measured by the method of modified force application. A piece of membrane at each measured site was then dissected, and the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay. The relationship between tensile strength and enzyme levels was evaluated by Scheffé F test at a total of 81 sites on the five membranes. RESULTS: The mean tensile strength of the membranes was 45.3 +/- 19.8 (mean +/- standard deviation) mmHg/0.3 mm(2) (n = 81). When the measured sites were divided according to tensile strength into four groups (<25, 25-49, 50-74, and >/=75 mmHg/0.3 mm(2)), the level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (0.72 +/- 0.82 nmol/g protein, n = 12) in the less than 25 mmHg/0.3 mm(2) group was significantly higher than the other groups (0.35 +/- 0.22, 0.28 +/- 0.15, and 0.15 +/- 0.08 nmol/g protein; n = 39, 23, and 7, respectively). The significance level was still higher when the molar ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-9 to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 was used for comparison. CONCLUSION: An increased molar ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-9 to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 might be related to decreased tensile strength of human fetal membranes in uncomplicated labor.

Extraembryonic Membranes↗

Modifications to the modified Shirodkar operation.

In cases of cervical incompetence, the Shirodkar procedure is occasionally necessary when the McDonald procedure cannot be used due to poor cervical anatomic conditions. We have further facilitated a modified Shirodkar procedure with some modifications. A transverse incision over the anterior lip of the cervix is made and the bladder is separated from the cervix. One end of an atraumatic forceps is introduced deeply into the space between the bladder and the cervix, and the other end is pushed against the posterior fornix to grasp paracervical tissues, so that a needle is easily passed through at the tip of the forceps. The knot is placed anteriorly and a silk thread is passed around the tape in the posterior fornix to facilitate removal of the tape. This procedure resulted in no complications and greatly facilitated removal of the tape, resulting in a cervical cerclage which was comparatively easily carried out.

Female↗

Changes with aging of steroidal levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of women.

OBJECTIVE: Age-related changes of steroid levels in the central nervous system (CNS) are not well understood. To investigate whether steroidal conditions in the CNS of women change with aging and menopause, steroid levels have been measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and examined correlations with aging. METHODS: Serum and CSF concentrations of estradiol (E2), cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) and albumin were measured in 80 female patients who underwent operations for benign gynecological diseases. They had no endocrinological or neurological disorders and were aged 17-71 years; 62 patients were in premenopause and 18 were in postmenopause. RESULTS: Serum levels of E2 decreased markedly after menopause, while levels of DHEA and DHEAS decreased gradually with age. There was no significant change with age of serum cortisol levels. The CSF concentrations of E2 (0.2-3 pg/ml) decreased with age [correlation coefficient (r)= 0.31, P < 0.01]. The CSF DHEA levels (0.1-0.8 ng/ml) did not change with age although not significantly, but CSF cortisol levels (0.1-0.6 microg/dl) increased with age (r = 0.35, P < 0.01). The CSF DHEAS concentrations were below the sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) (1 ng/ml). The CSF/serum ratios of cortisol increased with age (r = 0.30, P < 0.01), as did those of DHEA (r = 0.55, P < 0.01). Although serum albumin levels did not change throughout life, CSF albumin levels and CSF/serum albumin ratios increased gradually with age (r = 0.28, P = 0.052; r = 0.23, P = 0.114, respectively), but there was no significance. There were marked decreases of serum E2 and DHEA levels and CSF E2 levels in postmenopausal women (P < 0.05), but CSF cortisol levels increased (P < 0.05) and DHEA levels in CSF were maintained after menopause. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that steroids in CSF become cortisol dominated and deficient in estrogens with aging, especially after menopause.

Adolescent↗

Pregnant women with transient gastric obstruction managed by Naso-Jejunal nutrition.

A pregnant woman with transient gastric obstruction was fed by enteral nutrition alone for 11 wk and 6 d. Her body mass index of 23.2 kg/m2 before pregnancy declined to 21.8 kg/m2 after delivery. Although she did not gain weight during enteral nutrition, fetal growth, estimated by ultrasonography, was normal, and she delivered a 3030-g female infant at 38 wk gestation. The blood laboratory data during pregnancy and the breast milk after pregnancy were also normal. The results suggest that factors other than maternal weight gain alone should be considered in the evaluation of nutritional status for the pregnant woman.

Adult↗

Subchorial hematoma: a probable cause of reversible nonimmune hydrops fetalis.

Nonimmune hydrops fetails diagnosed at 21 weeks' gestation with profound ascites, hydrothorax, and pericardial effusion receded gradually with regression of a subchorial placental lucencies immediately below the umbilical cord insertion. Careful inspection of the delivered placenta revealed that there was a yellowish lesion of fibrin deposits below the cord insertion site, which resulted from the absorption of hematoma. A subchorial placental hematoma, which detected as a subchorial placental lucencies by ultrasonography, can be a cause of reversible nonimmune hydrops fetalis.

Adult↗

Induction of ductal carcinomas by intraductal administration of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in Wistar rats.

Postpartum Wistar inbred rats (weaned on the 9th puerperal day) were injected intraductally in one mammary gland with 7,12-dimethylbenze (a) anthracene (DMBA) to selectively induce ductal carcinoma. The incidence of ductal hyperplasia increased with time until it peaked at 7 weeks (12/13 animals) and then decreased. Ductal carcinoma first developed at 9 weeks in 3/12 (2 non-invasive and 1 invasive lesion) and the incidence increased with time until invasive ductal tumors were observed in 9/11 at 20 weeks. Tumors developed only in the DMBA-treated mammary glands and no systemic effects of the carcinogen were observed. Degeneration and detachment of epithelioglandular cells were seen here and there in the ducts and terminal ducts, and epithelioglandular cells proliferated in terminal duct until 2 weeks. Residual trace DMBA powder was detected in terminal ducts and the epithelioglandular layer until 7 weeks. This trace DMBA was considered to be the cause of the development of atypical epithelial cells, inducing ductal carcinomas.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Purification and characterization of human brain ribonuclease inhibitor.

Ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) was purified about 1300-fold from human cerebrum (including a small portion of midbrain) by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ribonuclease A-Sepharose chromatography, and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. The purified RI appeared to be homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Using the same method, a homogeneous RI was also obtained from human hindbrain (brainstem and cerebellum). The cerebral RI appeared to be virtually identical with the hindbrain RI on the basis of the following properties: (a) Molecular mass was estimated to be 50 kDa on SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. (b) Composition analysis revealed that the RI was rich in leucine and cysteine residues and included no amino sugars. (c) The N-terminus was blocked and probably modified by N-acetylation. After treatment with trifluoroacetic acid, it became susceptible to Edman degradation and was sequenced as Ser-Leu-Asp-Ile-Gln-Ser-Leu-Asp-Ile-Gln-(Cys)-Glu-Glu-. (d) The RI, which showed sulfhydryl-dependent inhibitory activity on both secretory-type and nonsecretory-type ribonucleases, bound tightly to ribonuclease to form a 1:1 complex on a molar basis. (e) The RI cross-reacted strongly with anti-human placental RI antibody. These findings also indicate that human brain RI is quite similar to human placental RI. In contrast to the abundance of RI in human brain tissue (about 0.08% (w/w) of total protein), RI was undetectable in human cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that brain RI may not be a secreted protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Etiology of prune belly syndrome: evidence of megalocystic origin in an early fetus.

BACKGROUND: Prune belly syndrome is a rare and complicated condition affecting the genitourinary organs and abdominal wall. The etiology of abdominal musculature deficiency in prune belly syndrome is controversial. We present a case that should elucidate the etiology of this syndrome. CASE: A spontaneously aborted fetus at 12 weeks' gestation with an early stage of prune belly syndrome was investigated by necropsy and light and electron microscopy. Megalocystis resulting from urethral atresia was diagnosed. There was no hydroureter or hydronephrosis, and both light and electron microscopy demonstrated evidence of development of the abdominal musculature. Both testes were elevated as a result of the megalocystis. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that hypoplasia of the abdominal musculature and cryptorchidism might develop secondary to the presence of chronic megalocystis in this syndrome.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Parovarian fibroma with heterotopic bone formation of probable wolffian origin.

Parovarian neoplasms of wolffian duct origin are very unusual. This article presents the first report of a case of parovarian fibroma with heterotopic bone formation of probable wolffian duct origin. The tumor cells present among mature collagen bundles were fibroblast-like cells, while those at the sites of cellular proliferation were either undifferentiated mesenchymal cells or had differentiated into osteoblasts. In the bone matrix, the tumor cells had differentiated into osteoblasts and connective tissue had ossified.

Adult↗

Vulvar angioleiomyoma.

A rare case of vulvar angioleiomyoma was diagnosed, and examined by electron microscope. The tumor cells appeared to be derived from pericytes. Intracytoplasmic inclusions, which are sometimes observed in infantile digital fibroma, were noted in the myofibroblasts.

Adult↗