Prevalence and clinical significance of hepatitis C in kidney transplantation.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Nojima.
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The prevalence and the clinical significance of hepatitis C (HCV) infection in recipients of kidney transplantation was assessed using second generation anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV-2). Out of 88 patients whose preoperative sera were available for anti-HCV-2 determination, 27 patients (30.7%) were positive. Transfusion units were significantly larger and the duration of hemodialysis was significantly longer in the patients with anti-HCV-2 than those without. In 10 patients whose preoperative sera were negative for anti-HCV-2, seroconversion was documented after the operation, so that the postoperative positive rate of anti-HCV-2 increased to 42.9% (39/91). Seroconversion from positive to negative was observed in only one patient. Out of 91 patients who were followed-up at least 3 months after operation, 66 patients (72.5%) developed liver dysfunction. According to the criteria of non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis established by the Japanese Society of Digestive Disease, 31 of 66 patients (34.1%) were diagnosed as "definite", 21 patients (23.1%) as "suspicious". The anti-HCV-2 positive rate was 90.3% in the "definite" group, which was significantly higher than the other groups. Liver dysfunction in the patients with anti-HCV-2 had a tendency for a chronic or prolonged course. Out of 20 patients in whom liver dysfunction continued for more than 1 year, 18 patients were positive for anti-HCV-2. It is concluded from this study that the prevalence of hepatitis C is very high in kidney transplant recipients with HCV as the main and most important etiologic factor of liver dysfunction, especially in chronic liver impairment.
A case of a 2-year-old female with right ectopic ureter opening in vestibule vaginae and without urinary incontinence is reported. Excretory urogram showed mild dilatation of the upper right segment with bilateral complete duplication. Right ectopic ureter some functioning upper segment of the kidney was reimplanted into the bladder to avoid surgical intervention for heminephrectomy. According to the retrograde ureterogram of ectopic ureter the running courses and shapes of the dilated distal portions of ureters were compared between two groups, ectopic ureter with incontinence and that without incontinence. We suppose the continence mechanism of ectopic ureter is kept when the running course of the ureter through some portion of the urethral sphincter musculature.
A statistic analysis was carried out on the 4,956 inpatients admitted to our Department of Urology from April 1972 to December 1991. The patients included 3,399 males and 1,557 females. A total of 4,105 operations including 255 renal allotransplantations were performed on 3,590 patients. Open surgery for upper urinary tract stones has been replaced by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the last three years.
The activities of serum aminopeptidases (APs) derived from the placenta rise during pregnancy. To confirm the localization of AP-A, which liberates N-terminal acidic amino acids, in placental tissue and to identify it in the serum of pregnant women, chromatographic separation was performed. When a placental extract was subjected to DEAE cellulose column chromatography, the Glu-MCA degradative activity, or AP-A, was separated into two entities. Inhibition testing revealed that the enzyme eluted in Fraction No. 20 from the DEAE-cellulose column consisted of typical AP-A with a molecular weight of approximately 500,000. When the Glu-MCA degradative activity was observed by filtering pregnant serum through HPLC TSK G3000 gel, the activity was found to be due to serum CAP rather than AP-A. What had been thought to be a biochemicophysiological action inherent in blood AP-A raised additional questions.
To evaluate the correlation between prolactin (PRL) secreting capacity and puerperal lactation, 66 women who had delivered normally without any complications during pregnancy were studied. They were divided into two groups depending on the lactating state a month after the delivery: The breast feeding group (group A, 40 cases), and the supplementary feeding group (group B, 26 cases), respectively. 10 mg of metoclopramide (MCP) loading was carried out in the 36th week of gestation and in the third day of the puerperium, and serum levels of PRL (at 0, 30, 60 min. after the MCP loading) were measured by RIA. Serum levels of insulin, glucose, triglyceride, free fatty acid, cholesterol and lipoproteins were also examined. There was no significant change in the serum levels of the various, substances during pregnancy and puerperium. Also, no significant change could be seen in the MCP loading test in the 36th week of gestation. However, on the third day of puerperium, serum PRL after 30 min. of the MCP loading showed a significant increase in group B compared with group A (587.1 +/- 202.9 vs. 431.2 +/- 196.6 ng/ml, p less than 0.02, mean +/- standard deviation). These results suggested that the MCP loading test during the early stage of puerperium might be an important index to use in determining whether the mother was ready to breast feed.
Present study was performed to elucidate the clinical features and the treatment of so-called endocrinological polycystic ovarian disease (PCO). 36 cases out of 189 infertile patients who had various ovulatory disturbances were subjected during past four years. They were selected by the definitions as follows; 1) serum LH levels greater than or equal to 30 mIU/ml and serum FSH levels less than or equal to 15 mIU/ml, 2) hyper-response of LH secretion by LH-RH (100 micrograms) loading test; maximum values greater than or equal to 250 mIU/ml. Serum androstenedione (ASD), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHA-S), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P, in the mid-luteal phase) and testosterone (T) levels were examined by RIA method for the purpose of the evaluation of the endocrinological background of the PCO in Japanese women. The same examinations were also done in 8 volunteer women who had normal ovulatory menstrual cycles for the control study. In 6 cases of the PCO patients who showed biphasic BBT charts, the endometrial biopsy was done in the mid-luteal phase at the same time of the blood sampling. And the correlation between various serum hormone levels and the endometrial morphology in the PCO patients was also discussed. Then bromocriptine (5 mg/day) was administered in these patients for more than 30 days and the effect of the treatment was investigated. Serum ASD levels in the PCO patients were significantly higher than those in the control (2.52 +/- 1.30 vs. 1.43 +/- 1.21 ng/ml, M +/- S.D., p less than 0.05), while serum E2 and P levels in the patients were significantly lower than those in the control (E2: 118.6 +/- 39.5 vs. 192.5 +/- 53.9 pg/ml, p less than 0.005. P: 7.26 +/- 5.08 vs. 124.4 +/- 4.6 ng/ml, p less than 0.005, respectively). There were no significant differences in serum levels of the other hormones. By the administration of bromocriptine, serum ASD levels decreased (1.62 +/- 1.34 ng/ml, p less than 0.05), and E2 (177.9 +/- 48.6 pg/ml, p less than 0.025) and P (11.8 +/- 4.3 ng/ml, p less than 0.005) levels increased significantly into the levels of control. Serum LH levels of the patients were also suppressed by the treatment of bromocriptine (42.5 +/- 13.7 vs. 27.4 +/- 12.0 mIU/ml, p less than 0.005), however there was no change in serum FSH levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Examination by scanning electron microscopy revealed differences between neuromuscular junctions in the muscle fibers of the zebra finch (bird) and rat. The neuromuscular junctions between the anterior and posterior latissimus dorsi muscles of the zebra finch were compared. The junctions of the former, exclusively slow tonic fibers, were small and numerous along the long axis of a single muscle fiber. The synaptic depressions per junction were few. The junctions of the latter, exclusively fast twitch fibers, were large and consisted of more synaptic depressions than the former. Junctional folds were occasionally found in some depressions. The neuromuscular junctions between the extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles of the rat were also compared. The former consisted almost entirely of fast twitch muscle fibers, whereas the latter consisted of both slow twitch fibers (75%) and fast twitch fibers (25%). The junctions in the extensor digitorum longus muscle were almost all labyrinthine gutters containing exclusively slit-like junctional folds. In the soleus muscle, two types of junctions were observed. One type was similar to that of the extensor digitorum longus muscle; the other was characterized by labyrinthine gutters containing sparse, narrow slit-like and pit-like junctional folds. We suggest from these structural differences of the subneural apparatuses that the junction of the fast twitch muscle is characterized by the subneural apparatus containing numerous slit-like junctional folds, and that of the slow twitch muscle fiber characterized by the apparatus containing sparse, narrow slit-like and pit-like junctional folds.
A 24-year-old male first experienced pollakisuria, dysuria, pneumaturia and diarrhea in May 1988. Intravenous pyelography showed a normal upper urinary tract but bladder wall irregularity at the dome was observed. Cystoscopic examination revealed bullous edema, erythema and presence of a mucous-like substance. Barium enema X-ray examination revealed inflammatory changes at the terminal ileum but no fistulous connection was noted. Mild ulceration was observed on colon fiberscopic examination. At operation, a severely inflamed lower ileum firmly adherent to the dome of bladder as well as to the sigmoid colon was observed. Fistulous communication between bladder and ileum was also noted. Resection of diseased ileum, sigmoid colon and partial cystectomy were carried out. The patient remains well, without enteric or bladder symptoms.
Morphological changes of the subneural apparatus (SNA) during denervation and reinnervation are demonstrated using the hamster peroneus longus muscle. One week after nerve section, synaptic grooves (SGs) were more shallow, with lowered sarcoplasmic ridges. After 4 weeks, the whole SNA area was elevated above the sarcolemma as a flat plate, which persisted as a fusiform bulge for more than 8 weeks. There was a rapid and progressive decrease in the number of junctional folds (JFs) and slit-to-pit transformation of their openings. There was no trace of the SNA after 16 weeks. By 4 weeks after nerve suture, SGs were flattened but did not form the plate-like elevation. Many shallow pit-like JFs still persisted. At 10 weeks, deep SGs started to be restored with an increased number of deep slit-like JFs. The SNA recovered its normal structural organization by the week 20. However, a few pit-like vestigial JFs were present outside the groove.
The effects of phosphatidyl-L-serine (PS) and/or vinculin on actin polymerization are examined by spectrophotometry, viscometry and electrophoresis. Actin polymerization is inhibited by PS alone and stimulated by PS and vinculin. The results suggest that actin does not directly adhere to cell membrane and that vinculin is a protein which is involved in structures connecting actin microfilaments to cell membranes.
Two major aminopeptidases, an aminopeptidase B and an aminopeptidase M-like enzyme, were purified from human skeletal muscle by DEAE-cellulose, HPLC gel filtration, and hydroxyapatite column chromatographies. The purified aminopeptidase B exhibits a molecular weight of 76,000 under both native and denaturing conditions. The activity of the aminopeptidase B is regulated by C1 ions and other anions in vitro. On the other hand, the aminopeptidase M-like enzyme is a monomeric protein having a molecular weight of 96,000. It is capable of significantly cleaving Phe-, Leu-, Arg-, and Ala-aminoacyl bonds in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The pH optima for both enzymes are around 7.0, and bestatin is an effective inhibitor of both enzymes.
Recently, the identification of several proteases of nonlysosomal origin has been reported. In this study, a high-molecular-weight protease, ingensin, was purified from human placenta, and the biological and physiological properties of this enzyme were investigated. The activity of ingensin was determined with a synthetic substrate, succinyl-leucyl-leucyl-valyl-tyrosine-methylcoumarinamide (SLLVT-MCA). The molecular weight of ingensin was calculated to be about 700,000 by HPLC gel filtration. Ingensin was separated into a major subunit of 70,000 and minor subunits of 105,000 and about 30,000, respectively, under the denaturating conditions. Maximum ingensin activity was observed in the presence of 0.06 to 0.08% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Ingensin was activated by linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. A subcellular fractionation study suggested that there was a large amount of ingensin activity in the microsome or cytosol fraction. An indirect immunofluorescent study showed that ingensin was localized in the trophoblast cell layer and epithelium of the vessel interstitial tissue. Ingensin hydrolyzed several proteins in human placental tissue, and had liberated ALP from the placental membrane. These results indicated that a new protease, ingensin, may be involved in protein turnover in placental tissue.
A case report of testicular tumors in non-twin siblings is presented. A 42-year-old male was admitted to Kansai Electric Power Hospital with the complaint of swelling of the left scrotal contents. Left radical orchiectomy was performed with the diagnosis of a left testicular tumor. Histological examination revealed a seminoma of the left testis. Fifteen years later, his 43-year-old younger brother was admitted to Osaka University Hospital with the complaint of painless swelling of the left scrotal contents. Left radical orchiectomy was carried out with the diagnosis of a left testicular tumor. Histological examination showed a seminoma of the left testis. The former patient had a history of a scrotal trauma, but there was no history of orchitis or cryptorchism in these two siblings. To our knowledge, there have been reported 44 sets of testicular tumors in siblings. Eleven of these sets appeared in twins, while the other 33 sets were described in non-twin siblings. We discussed the 45 cases including our case of testicular tumors in siblings.
A case of retroperitoneal liposarcoma is reported. A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of a palpable mass in her left abdomen. Intravenous pyelography, barium enema and an ultrasonogram revealed a huge left abdominal tumor. At operation, a huge yellow-brownish tumor found in the retroperitoneal space, was completely removed. The tumor was 32 x 24 x 12 cm and weighed 4,075 g. Histologically, it was a myxoid liposarcoma. Three courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (cis-platin) were administered. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has been free of disease for 16 months.
Thirty-four cases of tumor of the renal pelvis or ureter or both have been treated in our department during the past decade. The primary tumor was in the renal pelvis in 11 cases, in the ureter in 21 cases and in the ureter and renal pelvis in 2 cases, a co-existent tumor in the bladder was found in 4 cases. Seventeen patients had a tumor on the right side and 17 on the left side. The most frequent symptom was gross hematuria (70.6%) and flank pain was the presenting symptom in 7 cases (20.6%). On the intravenous pyelography, a filling defect in the renal pelvis or ureter (41.2%) and nonvisualization (53.0%) were frequent findings. Twenty-nine cases had undergone total nephroureterectomy with resection of a bladder cuff, 3 had simple nephrectomy and 2 had open biopsy alone. Postoperative radiation therapy was done in 1 case, chemotherapy in 10 cases, and 6 cases of them were treated by CAP therapy (cis-dichlorodiamine platinum, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide). Actual and relative 5-year survival rates were 53.8% and 63.5%, and no significant difference was found in survival rate between the patients with renal pelvic tumors and those with ureteral tumors.
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