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Biomedical subjects

N Miyagawa

Publications and source records attributed to N Miyagawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Genetic risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm: HLA-DR2(15), a Japanese study.

PURPOSE: Autoimmunity has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Several autoimmune diseases are associated with specific HLA DR alleles. These experiments were carried out to determine whether the same HLA DR types that have been reported to be associated with AAA in a mixed North American population are similarly associated with AAA in a more homogeneous group of patients in Japan. METHOD: HLA DR typing was performed by a serologic method on samples of peripheral blood of patients with nonspecific infrarenal AAA in Nagasaki University Hospital in Japan. The frequencies of HLA DR antigens were compared with those of volunteers approximately matched for age and sex from the same referral area. RESULTS: HLA DR haplotypes were determined in 46 Japanese patients with AAA and in 50 patients in a control group. The HLA-DR2(15) antigen was observed in 27 (58.7%) patients (29 alleles 31.5%) with AAA and in 14 (28%) subjects (16 alleles 26.0%) in the control group (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that HLA-DR2(15) has an important role as a genetic risk factor for AAA in Japanese patients, as previously reported in a mixed North American population.

Aged

Hemodynamic effects of nicardipine and phentolamine in combination with norepinephrine in a canine low-output-state model.

Norepinephrine (NE) is one of the most potent positive inotropic drugs available for the treatment of low-output state following open-heart surgery. However, its inotropic effect is often masked by a significant increase of peripheral vascular resistance due to marked vasoconstriction. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the use of nicardipine (Nc) and phentolamine (Ph) in combination with NE could ameliorate the adverse vasoconstrictive action of NE. A low-output-state (LOS) model was produced by global myocardial ischemia due to electrically induced intermittent ventricular fibrillations in open-chest dogs. Twenty-eight dogs were divided into 6 groups according to the drugs infused after producing LOS. In the control group, hemodynamic changes similar to the clinical low-output state were observed, e.g., a decrease in cardiac output (CO) and left ventricular dp/dt, and an increase in the systemic vascular resistance (SVR). The use of NE alone produced marked increases in the systemic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate, and SVR, with a slight increase in CO. The infusion of Nc alone produced decreases in SVR and SAP with a slight increase in CO. The concomitant infusion of NE and Nc produced increases in SV and CO, and decreases in SAP and SVR. The infusion of Ph alone produced no significant hemodynamic changes. The combined use of NE and Ph produced increases in CO, SAP and heart rate, but not to a significant extent. These results suggest that there are major advantages in the concomitant use of NE and Nc for the control of LOS.

Animals

The role of low-density lipoprotein apheresis as postoperative care of bypass grafting for chronic arterial occlusion.

Since November 1989, low-density lipoprotein apheresis has been applied to patients with intractable hyperlipidaemia following bypass grafting for chronic arterial occlusion of the lower extremities. The treatment group comprised six patients (four men, two women) with arteriosclerosis obliterans. In five patients, the ankle pressure index deteriorated and intermittent claudication recurred due to atherosclerotic progression. Results of low-density lipoprotein apheresis were dramatic; the deteriorated ankle pressure index and intermittent claudication improved significantly after several applications of low-density lipoprotein apheresis. Significant angiographic improvement was obtained in two patients. It is concluded that low-density lipoprotein apheresis appears to be an efficient method to preserve graft patency and treat postoperative patients with deteriorated ankle pressure index.

Angiography

[Simultaneous mitral valve replacement and splenectomy in a patient with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

A 57-year-old female with valvular heart disease and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) underwent successful open-heart surgery. Preoperative administration of steroids and high-dose gamma-globulin increased the platelet count from 3 x 10(4)/microgram at admission to 10 x 10(4)/microgram before the operation. Splenectomy followed by mitral valve replacement (SJM 27M) were performed simultaneously. No platelet transfusion needed during and after the operation owing to rapid increase in platelets that would occur following splenectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The present simultaneous splenectomy and open-heart operation appears to be a safe and effective procedure for minimizing perioperative blood loss in patients with ITP and heart disease.

Chronic Disease

Myocardial recovery during post-ischemic reperfusion: optimal concentrations of Na+ and Ca2+ in the reperfusate and protective effects of amiloride added to cardioplegic solution.

The effects of Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations in the reperfusate on post-ischemic myocardial recovery were examined. Also, the myocardial protective effects of amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+/Ca2+ and Na+/H+ exchange systems, added to cardioplegic solutions were assessed, using an isolated working rat heart perfusion system. Global myocardial ischemia was induced by 30-min normothermic cardioplegic arrest, using St. Thomas' solution. The concentration of Na+ in the reperfusate varied, stepwise, from 75 to 145 mM/l, and that of Ca2+, from 0.1 to 2.5 mM/l. In this study post-ischemic functional recovery was best at 110mM/l Na+ and 1.2-1.8 mM/l Ca2+ in the reperfusate. A significantly greater post-ischemic functional recovery and a lower creatine kinase release were observed when amiloride was added to the cardioplegic solution. Ca2+ overload via Na+/Ca2+ and Na+/H+ exchange systems would, thus, appear to be due, at least in part, to post-ischemic reperfusion injury.

Amiloride

Protective action of aromatic compounds against cold-shock injuries in boar spermatozoa.

Butylated hydroxytoluene has been known to protect spermatozoa from cold shock injury. To determine whether such protective action is a common property of aromatic compounds, the effect of 14 hydrophobic and 2 hydrophilic aromatic compounds on the protection of boar spermatozoa from cold shock was investigated. The majority of the hydrophobic compounds tested provided protection; the hydrophilic compounds were ineffective. Of the aromatic compounds tested, naphthalene was most effective in reducing the effect of cold shock on motility and acrosomal integrity of boar spermatozoa.

Acrosome

Influence of melatonin on reproductive behavior in male rats.

The influence of melatonin on reproductive behavior was examined by administering it to pinealectomized male rats for 30 consecutive days. After the 30-d administration of melatonin or vehicle, each male rat was introduced into a female rat's cage on the day of proestrus and allowed to mate overnight. All rats administered the vehicle and the pinealectomized rats copulated; five of the twelve melatonin (8.0 mg/kg)-treated rats did not copulate. These findings suggest that melatonin inhibits the reproductive behavior of male rats.

Animals

Studies on the relationship between serum colloidal reactions (ZTT and TTT) and IgG subclasses, especially IgG1 and IgG2.

The relationship between zinc sulfate turbidity test (ZTT and thymol turbidity test (TTT), and IgG subclasses, especially IgG1 and IgG2, was studied. Serum colloidal reactions of specimens from patients with IgG-myeloma usually show abnormally high values in ZTT and low values in TTT. But in some cases, values in ZTT and TTT are both low, and in a few cases both values are abnormally high. In order to see the reason why IgG-myelomas are classified into these three groups according to serum colloidal reactions. IgG subclasses of monoclonal proteins (MPs) isolated by zone electrophoresis were determined by immunodiffusion with anti IgG-subclasses. Results revealed that IgG1-myeloma showed high ZTT and low TTT and IgG2-myeloma showed low ZTT and TTT. Only two out of our 29 cases with IgG-myeloma showed high ZTT and TTT. MP from one of them belonged to IgG1-kappa and that from the other to IgG2-lambda. We checked the relationship between turbidity tests and electrophoretic mobility of MP and also that between these tests and L-chains' type of MP, but did not find any relationship between them. These findings suggest that IgG1 innately reacts with ZTT but not with TTT, while IgG2 does not react with any of these tests. MP from cases showing high values in both ZTT and TTT may have a special idiotype.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Serum CA125 level is a good prognostic indicator in lung cancer.

The serum CA125 level was determined by a one-step immunoradiometric assay method in patients with lung cancer. Increased serum CA125 levels were observed in 37.8% of patients with squamous cell cancer, in 30.0% of those with adenocarcinoma and in 60.0% of those with small call cancer. Most patients with increased serum CA125 levels were in stages 3 or 4. Patients with pleural effusions or ascites showed high serum CA125 levels. The survival time was significantly shorter in patients with increased serum CA125 levels than in those within normal limits. Among patients with advanced disease (stages 3 and 4), an increased serum CA125 level was again a poor prognostic factor (P less than 0.01). The existence of a pleural effusion did not correlate with the survival time. We conclude that CA125 is a good indicator of disease extent and serum levels correlate to the length of survival.

Adult

Idiotypical identity of IgG myeloma protein with monoclonal IgM, Bence Jones protein, and Fv derived from one patient.

Serum from a patient (KK) with IgG2-lambda myeloma was shown to contain multiple paraproteins corresponding to an IgM-lambda monoclonal protein (MMP), a lambda-type Bence Jones protein (BJP), and a 30 kDa component in addition to the IgG2 myeloma protein (GMP). These proteins possessed common idiotypic determinants, as judged by their monoclonal reactivity with rabbit anti-GMP idiotype antibody (aId) in the immunofixation electrophoresis. Analysis with aId absorbed with either H or L chain of GMP revealed that the 30 kDa component shared both VH and VL with GMP and MMP, while BJP carried only the VL idiotype. The 30 kDa component, however, failed to react with antibody to either the mu, gamma, alpha, kappa, or lambda isotype, indicating that it had an Fv-like molecular composition. These results suggest that myeloma cells of KK had diverged from the same precursor B cell clone to produce MPs of different isotypes and altered molecular constructions.

Aged

[A double monoclonal IgG1-kappa and IgG3-lambda with electrophoretically same mobility in a single patient].

The serum from a 78-year-old male (SY) with abdominal aneurysm was shown to contain monoclonal protein (MP) of IgG. Immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) of SY serum revealed MP reacted with both of anti kappa and anti lambda antisera. To see whether the monoclonal IgG molecule possesses both types of light chains, an attempt to separate MPs isolated by zone electrophoresis was made by affinity chromatography using anti kappa and anti lambda Sepharose 4 B conjugates. Immunodiffusion (ID) of these separated MPs showed that kappa type of MP (MP-kappa) was IgG1, while lambda type of MP (MP-lambda) was IgG3. For preparation of anti-idiotype antibodies (Aid) against MP-lambda, antisera against MP-lambda raised in rabbits by immunization with affinity-chromatographic purified MP-lambda was absorbed with solid phase normal human serum. ID and IFE of these MPs (original MP, MP-lambda and MP-kappa) revealed MP-kappa did not react with Aid, suggesting idiotype of MP-kappa was different from that of MP-lambda. These results indicate that two types of MPs derived from different B cell clones happen to have same mobility electrophoretically.

Aged

[A case of a gastric cancer patient with high serum pepsinogen levels at relapse].

A rare case of a 68-year-old female cancer patient with an extremely high serum level of pepsinogens (PG) at relapse is presented. She had stage 3 Borrmann 3 type gastric cancer which was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Her postoperative serum PG levels had been within normal limits (23.0 ng/ml for PG-I and 3.2 ng/ml for PG-II), but at the time of the peritoneal relapse they were 5,630 ng/ml and 3,380 ng/ml, respectively. After was chemotherapy initiated, her serum PG levels decreased in parallel with an improvement of her clinical status. Immunohistochemical examination with monoclonal antibodies revealed PG-I and PG-II production in the primary and the metastatic lesions.

Adenocarcinoma

[A case of acute spinal epidural hematoma in a patient with antiplatelet therapy].

The authors report a case of acute spinal epidural hematoma occurring in a patient receiving antiplatelet drugs. A 76-year-old man with a history of cerebral infarction had been taking antiplatelet agents for one year. He suddenly developed severe back pain which woke him from sleep, and numbness of his lower extremities was then noted. He was hospitalized 15 hours later. Neurological examination revealed flaccid paralysis of both lower extremities with negative Babinski's reflex, and sensory disturbance below the level of L1. The bleeding time and prothrombin time were prolonged. Computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a biconvex, relatively hyperdense mass in the posterior spinal canal at the level of T12. Metrizamide myelography disclosed an incomplete blockage caused by an epidural mass at the level of T11. Post-myelographic CT scan demonstrated a sharply demarcated extradural filling defect at the level of T11. Seventeen hours after the onset of symptoms, an emergency laminectomy was performed extending from T12 to L3, and the epidural clot was totally evacuated. Histological examination of the capsule of the hematoma revealed no vascular anomalies. The patient made a good postoperative recovery. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous intraspinal hemorrhage in a patient taking antiplatelet drugs. Acute onset of persistent pain anywhere along the spinal axis and the development of spinal neurological deficits in a patient on antiplatelet therapy should raise the suspicion of a spinal epidural hematoma. It should be stressed that prompt neuroradiological diagnosis and rapid surgical decompression are essential to allow good recovery. The present case illustrates that neurological emergencies can occur in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy.

Acute Disease

[Evaluation of serum pepsinogen I and II of patients with gastric cancer].

Serum pepsinogen levels were examined by immunoradiometric assay method for evaluating its clinical usefulness in gastric cancer. In patients with gastric cancer, serum PG-I tended to decrease but PG-II stayed normal level, resulting in low PG-I/PG-II ratio. Combination of PG-I and PG-I/PG-II discriminated 53.7% of gastric cancer, 70.6% of scirrhous type gastric cancer, and 66.7-100% of those arisen in the upper portion of the stomach, but 13.7% of normal subjects. As the aged normal subjects tended to show decreased PG-I/PG-II ratio (about 30% of the normal subjects aged over 40 years were discriminated as abnormal), the usefulness for detection of gastric cancer seems to be limited, but some types of gastric cancer such as scirrhous type or one arisen in the upper portion may be discriminated by this method. It is also suggested that this method may detect the recurrence of the cancer in some patients.

Adult

Effect of C-reactive protein on peritoneal macrophages. I. Human C-reactive protein inhibits migration of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages.

The effect of human C-reactive protein (CRP) isolated and purified from pooled patients' sera on macrophage function, especially on macrophage migration, was studied. Peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from guinea pigs were used for macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) test of capillary method. Migration of either PEC or adherent purified macrophages exposed to CRP were inhibited dose-dependently. These findings indicate that CRP inhibits macrophage migration directly, not via activation of lymphocytes contained in PEC. As control, we examined the effect of normal human serum, anti C-polysaccharide antibodies isolated from patients' sera, and free endotoxin at the dose contaminated in CRP preparation on macrophage migration and found that none of them were effective. The effect of CRP on MMI of sensitized PEC exposed to antigen was also studied. Large amounts of CRP inhibited MMI induced by antigen, indicating the possibility that CRP may act on macrophages competitively with migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and may modulate MMI. CRP possesses MIF-like activity and may play a functional role at the site of tissue injury by causing the accumulation of macrophages.

Animals

Effect of C-reactive protein on peritoneal macrophages. II. Human C-reactive protein activates peritoneal macrophages of guinea pigs to release superoxide anion in vitro.

The effect of human C-reactive protein (CRP) on macrophage function was studied in an assay of superoxide anion (O2-) production. Peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) of guinea pigs exposed in vitro to various doses of CRP for 72 hr resulted in the development of O2- production dose-dependently, measured by increases in superoxide dismutase-inhibitable nitro blue tetrazolium reduction. The O2--producing activity of PEM cultured without CRP, used as a control, decreased markedly in proportion to incubation time. The O2- production by PEM exposed to CRP for 18 hr when control PEM were still high in O2- production, was decreased by larger doses of CRP, while PEM cultured without CRP for 72 hr, when O2- production by control PEM was very low, followed by incubation with CRP for another 18 hr, produced O2- CRP-dose-dependently as in the case of that observed after 72-hr incubation with CRP. These results indicate that CRP is capable of activating macrophages and acts on macrophage function as a modulator. CRP possesses migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-like activity (as reported in the preceding paper) and also macrophage-activating factor (MAF)-like activity, indicating that CRP may play a functional role at the site of inflammation and tissue damage by accumulating and activating macrophages.

Animals