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Biomedical subjects

M Shimura

Publications and source records attributed to M Shimura.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Plasma levels of activated FVII in various diseases.

Plasma activated factor VIIa (FVIIa) levels were measured in various diseases using mutant tissue factor (TF). FVIIa levels in thrombotic patients and patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects. The plasma FVIIa levels in thrombotic patients treated with warfarin were similar to those of control subjects. The plasma FVIIa levels in pregnant women and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, infection or malignancies were high. However, the levels in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were not significantly increased. DIC patients are in a severe hypercoagulable state, and exhibit severe consumption of coagulation factors. The slightly increased FVIIa level in the DIC patients observed is probably considered to be caused by consumption of coagulation factors. The plasma FVIIa level was poorly correlated with other hemostatic parameters except for protein C in our analysis of all cases. In the analysis of DIC and thrombotic patients treated without warfarin, the plasma FVIIa level was negatively correlated with TF antigen. Plasma FVIIa levels might reflect hypercoagulability in thrombotic diseases, and a normalized FVIIa level in patients with thrombotic diseases should be considered to be associated with DIC.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1996

Allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors in acutely dissociated neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced response was investigated in acutely dissociated suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons of 11- to 14-day-old rats, under the voltage-clamp condition of nystatin-perforated patch recording. At a holding potential of -40 mV, application of GABA induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner. Pentobarbital and 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (pregnanolone) similarly induced inward currents. GABA-induced inward currents were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner by pretreating neurons with a GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Bicuculline (3 x 10(-6) M) shifted the concentration-response curve of GABA to the left in a competitive manner. Reversal potential of the GABA response (EGABA) was -3.4 +/- 0.7 mV, close to the theoretical Cl- equilibrium potential of -4.1 mV. Pretreating SCN neurons with diazepam, pentobarbital, and pregnanolone enhanced the 3 x 10(-6) M GABA response. Diazepam (3 x 10(-8) M), pentobarbital (3 x 10(-5) M), and pregnanolone (10(-7) M) shifted the concentration-response curve of GABA to the left without changing the maximal amplitude of GABA responses. EGABA in the presence of diazepam, pentobarbital, or pregnanolone was the same as that in their absence. These results show that the GABA response in acutely dissociated SCN neurons is mediated by the GABAA receptor. Because the GABAA receptor of SCN neurons is allosterically augmented by diazepam, pentobarbital, and pregnanolone, similarly as in other regions of the central nervous system, the present study opens up ways to functionally modulate the GABAA receptors in SCN.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed1996

A new monitor with a zinc-oxide thin film semiconductor sensor for the measurement of volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air.

Halitosis, defined as unpleasant oral odor, is a concern among the general public. Halitosis is generally diagnosed by organoleptic examination and by gas chromatographic analysis of the main source of halitosis, volatile sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide. Gas chromatography requires a large-scale system and a long running time. We investigated the use of a zinc-oxide thin film semiconductor sensor for measuring trace volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air. Mouth air samples collected in teflon bags from 21 volunteers were analyzed by 3 methods: the monitor analysis, gas chromatography, and organoleptic examination by 3 judges. The readings of the monitor were correlated with the values of the total volatile sulfur compounds measured by gas chromatography (r = 0.75, P < 0.01) and also with the organoleptic scores given by the judges (r = 0.76, P < 0.01). The organoleptic scores were correlated with the gas chromatographic values (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). These results suggest that this new monitor with a zinc-oxide thin film semiconductor sensor may be used for the diagnosis of halitosis. Its small size and simplicity of handling may enable its use for routine chair-side study and field surveys of halitosis.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1996

[Plasma fibrin monitor level in DIC patients with a hematopoietic malignancy].

The Plasma level of soluble fibrin monomer (sFM) was measured in 218 patients with a hematopoietic malignancy. Of them, 198 were diagnosed with disseminates intravascular coagulation (DIC), 20 with Pre-DIC, and 20 with Non-DIC. Pre-DIC was retrospectively defined as the condition at least 1 week before the onset of DIC. The plasma levels of sFM, thrombin-anti-thrombin III complex (TAT), plasmin alpha 2-antiplasmin inhibitor complex (PIC), and FDP-D-dimer were significantly higher in patients with DIC than in those with Non-DIC. These levels were significantly higher in patients with Pre-DIC than in those with Non-DIC. Among these hemostatic parameters, the plasma sFM showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for DIC or Pre-DIC. These findings suggests that sFM is the most valuable marker hemostatic for the diagnosis of DIC and Pre-DIC.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1995

A Novel Transformation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Rhodococcus sp. Strain RHA1.

We have characterized a biphenyl degrader, Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1. Biphenyl-grown cells of strain RHA1 efficiently transformed 45 components in the 62 major peaks of a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture of Kanechlors 200, 300, 400, and 500 within 3 days, which includes mono- to octachlorobiphenyls. Among the intermediate metabolites of PCB transformation, di- and trichlorobenzoic acids were identified. The gradual decrease of these chlorobenzoic acids during incubation indicated that these chlorobenzoic acids would also be degraded by this strain. The effect of the position of chlorine substitution was determined by using PCB mixtures that have chlorine substitutions mainly at either the ortho or the meta position. This strain transformed both types of congeners, and strong PCB transformation activity of RHA1 was indicated. RHA1 accumulated 4-chlorobenzoic acid temporally during the transformation of 4-chlorobiphenyl. The release of most chloride in the course of 2,2(prm1)-dichlorobiphenyl degradation was observed. These results suggested that RHA1 would break down at least some PCB congeners into smaller molecules to a considerable extent.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Decreased plasma tissue factor pathway inhibitor levels in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

We measured plasma levels of tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) to examine the relationship between TFPI and vascular endothelial cell injury. TF antigen was detected in the plasma of healthy volunteers, and the levels were significantly increased in the patients with DIC, but decreased slightly in those with TTP. Plasma TFPI levels were significantly decreased in patients with TTP compared with those in healthy volunteers. The concentration of plasma thrombomodulin (TM) antigen was significantly higher in those with TTP than in normal volunteers. One month after treatment, TTP patients showed a significant decrease in plasma TM levels, and a significant increase in plasma TFPI levels, but plasma levels of TF antigen were not significantly increased. As plasma TFPI/TF ratio was significantly increased after treatment, the hypercoagulable state was therefore improved after treatment. There was no significant difference in plasma TF and TFPI levels between those who achieved complete remission (CR) and those who died. However, plasma TM levels were significantly higher in those who died than in those who achieved CR. Plasma TFPI levels might reflect injury of vascular endothelial cells as do plasma TM levels, and decreased plasma TFPI/TF ratio and vascular endothelial cell injuries might play causative roles in TTP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Outcome of disseminated intravascular coagulation in relation to the score when treatment was begun. Mie DIC Study Group.

We examined 395 patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) divided into two groups: non-leukemic and leukemic. In 58% of the patients as a whole, treatment of DIC resulted in complete or partial remission, while exacerbation and death occurred in 31%. The efficacy of DIC treatment in the non-leukemic group was less than that in the leukemic group, indicating that the outcome of DIC depended, in part, on the underlying disease. We examined hemostatic indicators in relation to DIC score: prothrombin time (PT) ratio, FDP, platelet count, and fibrinogen levels were found to be important indicators for the diagnosis of DIC, but not for Pre-DIC. Plasma levels of fibrin-D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex (PPIC) were significantly increased in pre-DIC. The efficacy of treatment in relation to the DIC score when the treatment was begun showed that greater efficacy was achieved in pre-DIC than in DIC patients. The outcome was poorer with increasing DIC score, suggesting that early diagnosis and early treatment are important. On examining the relationship between outcome and hemostatic indicators, we found that the PT ratio and the levels of antithrombin, plasminogen, PPIC, the PPIC/TAT ratio, and thrombomodulin were related to outcome, suggesting that very high consumption of blood coagulation factors, liver dysfunction, hypofibrinolysis, or organ failure caused a poor outcome. Although the outcome in DIC patients may not depend substantially on plasma levels of TAT and fibrin-D-dimer, we can use these indicators to treat DIC patients at an early stage.

Antifibrinolytic Agents↗
PubMed1994

p53 proteins accumulated by heat stress associate with heat shock proteins HSP72/HSC73 in human glioblastoma cell lines.

We investigated the accumulation of p53 proteins after heat stress and their association with HSP72/HSC73 using four human glioblastoma cell lines. Human glioblastoma cell lines U-87MG and A-172 exhibited no mutation in the region between the 2nd and 11th exons of the p53 gene, whereas A-7 and T98G had mutations in exon 5 and exon 7 of the p53 gene, respectively. In U-87MG and A-172, the levels of wild-type p53 protein were slightly increased by heat stress. Levels of mutant p53 protein were apparently increased by heat stress in A-7, but not in T98G. Furthermore, wild-type p53 proteins in both U-87MG and A-172 co-immunoprecipitated with anti-HSP72/HSC73 antibody and HSP72 and HSC73 in them co-immunoprecipitated with anti-p53 antibody as did the mutant p53 proteins. These findings suggest that p53 proteins accumulated by heat stress are associated with HSP72 and HSC73.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1994

Functional sites of cytochrome c and other electron carrier proteins: semi-empirical molecular orbital program PM3 applied to the conformational analysis of Cys-X1-X2-Cys peptides.

The semi-empirical molecular orbital program, MOPAC version 6.0, PM3 was applied to estimate the distance between two sulfur atoms of two Cys side chains in optimized conformers of Cys-X1-X2-Cys sequences, as well as the total energy of that conformer relative to the most stable one. Some Cys-X1-X2-Cys tetrapeptides found in cytochrome c were optimized to conformers whose sulfur-sulfur distances were just suitable for binding to heme, whereas some tetrapeptides not found in cytochrome c were unable to be optimized to heme-binding conformers. Similarly, Cys-X1-X2-Cys tetrapeptides found in [4Fe-4S]ferredoxin were optimized to [4Fe-4S]-binding conformers, etc. The tetrapeptides found in the redox site of thioredoxin were optimized to conformers in which the two sulfur atoms were in van der Waals contact, so that a disulfide bond may be formed during the function. The conclusion has been drawn that the combination of X1 and X2 in a Cys-X1-X2-Cys sequence may be determining for that sequence to be a functional redox site in an electron carrier protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Increased activated protein C-protein C inhibitor complex level in patients positive for lupus anticoagulant.

Activated protein C (APC)-protein C inhibitor (PCI) complex and APC-alpha 1antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) complex levels were measured in 29 patients positive for lupus anticoagulant (LA). LA was considered positive if two of the following three criteria were fulfilled: (1) prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time, (2) prolongation of the kaolin clotting time (KCT) and KCT mixing test, and (3) prolongation of the dilute Russell's viper venom time (DRVVT) and DRVVT/DRVVT with high lipid concentration. Plasma thrombin-antithrombin III (AT-III) complex and plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin inhibitor complex levels in patients positive for LA were increased slightly, but not significantly, and FDP-D-dimer and t-PA levels were not markedly increased. Plasma PAI-1 level in the LA-positive patients was significantly increased compared with normal volunteers. AT-III activity, protein C antigen, PCI antigen, and protein S antigen levels in the LA-positive patients were virtually normal, while protein C activity was slightly, but not significantly, decreased. APC-PCI complex level was increased in all LA-positive patients, and was not detectable in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and normal volunteers. APC-alpha 1AT complex was increased slightly, in only two LA-positive patients; it was not detectable in the other patients or in the normal volunteers. These findings suggest that patients positive for LA are in a hypercoagulable state and that protein C activity in such patients is decreased, due to the activation of this protein.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Clinical characteristics of halitosis: differences in two patient groups with primary and secondary complaints of halitosis.

Halitosis, defined as an unpleasant oral odor, has become a health concern among the general public. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of clinical characteristics of halitosis of the patients who visited dental clinics. Sixty-eight patients with primary complaints of halitosis and 19 patients with primary complaints of periodontal diseases but secondary complaints of halitosis were studied by organoleptic examination. The patients with primary complaints were diagnosed as having halitosis in fewer cases than the patients with secondary complaints-25% and 53%, respectively. Patient complaints for halitosis were further categorized, by questionnaire, into three types: Type 1, self-conscious; Type 2, conscious by the indication of others; and Type 3, conscious by presumptions from the attitude of others. Although 80% of the patients of both groups were of Type 1, only 24.1% of the Type 1 patients with primary complaint, in comparison with 50% of the Type 1 patients with secondary complaint, were actually found to have halitosis. The results suggest that the majority of patients with primary complaints of halitosis at the dental clinic did not actually have halitosis, but suffered from an imaginary halitosis due to presumptions based upon others' attitudes. After treatment, these patients were more likely to be dissatisfied than patients who had visited the clinic with halitosis as their secondary complaint.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Lipoprotein(a) as an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in male patients in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Relationship of the lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration as a risk factor independent of other factors with the severity of diabetic retinopathy were evaluated by multiple regression analysis. The subjects were 158 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Multiple regression analysis was carried with the severity of diabetic retinopathy as the dependent variable and 13 independent variables, namely the Lp(a) concentration, sex, age, body mass index, duration of diabetes, ischemic heart disease, fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, anti-diabetic treatments, and diabetic nephropathy. The analysis was performed separately in all subjects, males only, and females only. The standard partial regression coefficient of Lp(a) was significant (0.293, p < 0.01), and the multiple correlation coefficient was 0.611 in the males. However, the standard partial correlation coefficient of Lp(a) was not significant in all patients and in females only. The rank of contribution of Lp(a) to retinopathy was the third in males, following triglyceride and nephropathy and followed by anti-diabetic treatments. These results suggest that Lp(a) might be an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in male patients with NIDDM.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Three types of "mid-band" lipoproteins in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: relation to metabolic abnormalities and vascular complications.

A number of fine bands which occur in positions between the beta- and pre-beta-lipoproteins in polyacrylamide gell electrophresis are called mid-bands (MB). In this study, the relationship between the occurrence of these MB and metabolic abnormalities or vascular complications was evaluated in 181 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The incidence of MB in diabetic patients was significantly higher than that in 149 healthy control subjects (35 vs. 20%, p < 0.01). Analysis according to the type of MB revealed that the incidence of the central type in diabetic patients was significantly higher than that in healthy control subject (11 vs. 5%, p < 0.05). When the values of HbAlc were elevated, the incidence of MB and its central type slightly increased. The occurrence of the lower type of MB showed no relationship with the levels of HbAlc. The incidence of MB and its central type were significantly higher in patients with type IIb hyperlipidemia (86 and 41%, respectively) and with type IV hyperlipidemia (63 and 25%) than in those with normolipidemia (21 and 5%) (p < 0.01 of all). The incidence of the lower type of MB was significantly higher in patients with type IIa hyperlipidemia (25%) and with type IIb hyperlipidemia (36%) than in those with normolipidemia (11%) (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in the occurrences of MB and of the central and lower types of MB between the normolipidemic patients and healthy control subjects. The incidence of MB and its central type were significantly higher in patients with nephropathy (54 and 23%, respectively) than in those without nephropathy (32 and 9%) (p < 0.05 of all). There was no significant difference in the incidence of lower type of MB between patients with and without nephropathy. These results indicate that the incidence of central type of MB may be high in NIDDM, and that the occurrence of central type may be associated with abnormal metabolism of glucose or lipid and with diabetic nephropathy.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Different change in lipoprotein(a) levels from lipid levels of other lipoproteins with improved glycemic control in patients with NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate change both in lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and lipid levels in other lipoproteins in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) after short-term improvement of glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We compared Lp(a) levels in 210 NIDDM patients with those in 46 control subjects and evaluated the relationship between glycemic control and Lp(a) levels in diabetic patients. In addition, changes in Lp(a) levels and lipid levels were assessed after the improvement of glycemic control in 54 poorly controlled NIDDM patients. RESULTS: In NIDDM, Lp(a) levels in all patients, 62 patients with HbA1c < 6.0%, and 75 patients with HbA1c between 6.0 and 8.0%, were significantly higher than those in control subjects (19.1 [1.7-106.6], 19.2 [6.0-106.6], and 20.3 [2.7-75.3] vs. 15.4 [2.0-61.7] mg/dl, median [range], P < 0.05). Lp(a) levels in 73 patients with HbA1c of > or = 8.0% (18.7 [1.7-58.8] mg/dl) were not significantly different from those in control subjects. After glycemic control, lipid levels in plasma and in other lipoproteins fell significantly, but Lp(a) did not change (from 18.3 [1.7-58.8] to 18.4 [6.6-95.3] mg/dl). Changes in lipid levels, including Lp(a), did not correlate with those in fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that elevated Lp(a) levels do not reflect poor glycemic control and that Lp(a) levels are independent of lipid levels in other lipoproteins after improved glycemic control in NIDDM.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1994

[The "addiction trends" seen among the wives of alcoholics. Report 2].

It has been known that wives of alcoholics tend to show an unhealthy relation with their husbands. The test called ASTWA (Addictions Screening Test for Wives of Alcoholics), which we developed earlier and reported in the previous paper in detail, might be useful for both wives and therapists for helpful suggestions. In this report, the present authors try to evaluate the ASTWA scores obtained from the wives, which consist of "a total score," "caring trends", "dominating trends," "obsessive traits," and "trends toward lowering of self-esteem," making clear each of the critical points between normal and abnormal sifting trends with the help of a normal control study. The results are demonstrated graphically as in the YG Test. In this way, the reliability, the validity, and the usefulness of ASTWA were confirmed in the process of this study. A prospective study concerning the prognosis of alcoholism of their husbands in relation to the results of ASTWA was carried out. In the non-intervened group, wives of the abstinence group tended to show a lower score than in those of the slipped group in terms of the total score, the dominating trends, the obsessive traits, and the trends toward lowering of self-esteem. In the group in which three months of initial therapy for wives have been completed, a significant parallel correlation was found between the ASTWA results and the prognosis of abstinence of their husbands. These results suggest that the total score, the caring trends, dominating trends, and the involved traits would indicate a degree of healthiness or unhealthiness in the marital relationship, particularly in terms of a circular cause and effect relation in developing alcoholism, and also would be a prospective indicator of the prognosis of alcoholism of their husbands.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1993

Spa bathing activates fibrinolysis in patients with cerebral infarction.

The effects of spa bathing on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were studied in 20 patients with chronic cerebral infarction. Blood was obtained before and after a 10-minute period of spa bathing at 41 degrees C. Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, factor VIII activity, von Willebrand factor activity, and antithrombin III activity did not show significant changes after bathing, but euglobulin lysis time was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) and fibrin lysis activity was increased (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that spa bathing activates fibrinolysis without markedly changing blood coagulation in patients with chronic cerebral infarction. It is thought that the activation of fibrinolysis without the activation of coagulation has a favorable effect on blood circulation. The results of fibrin-plate assays using C1 inactivator indicated that tissue-type plasminogen activator was the major contributor to the activation of fibrinolysis during spa bathing.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Five-year statistical and clinical observations with the IMZ two-stage osteointegrated implant system.

This study evaluated patients who were reconstructed with the IMZ system, which consists of a cylindrical implant with an intramobile element for stress relief. It is placed through a two-stage surgical procedure resulting in osteointegration. During a 5-year period, 1,059 implants were placed in 322 patients. Twenty-one implants were lost to follow-up. A total of 28 implants failed over the 5-year period, of which 9 had not integrated at stage 2 surgery. Of the remaining implants, 19 failed primarily for periodontal and prosthetic reasons. The life table method was used for statistical analysis. The 5-year survival rate of all IMZ implants was 95%. Seventy-five percent of the implants were placed to restore partial edentulism, with a survival rate of 96%. The survival rate for totally edentulous patients was also 96%. Forty-four percent of the implants were placed in the maxilla, with a survival rate of 92%. The survival rate in the mandible was 99%. Sixty-six percent of the implants were placed in women, with a survival rate of 94%. The survival rate in men was 98%. Major factors that positively influenced long-term survival were use of the longest and largest-diameter implants appropriate for the clinical situation.

Adolescent↗