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Biomedical subjects

T Jimbo

Publications and source records attributed to T Jimbo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Do OKT6 positive Langerhans cells play a role in the suppression of ultraviolet-induced carcinogenesis?].

Langerhans cells (LC) in epidermis are antigen presenting cells. LC may play a role in immune surveillance system and are considered to suppress development of ultraviolet (UV) induced skin cancers. We studied effect of UVB irradiation to LC of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and normal subjects by using OKT6 monoclonal antibody. When 3 minimal erythema dose (MED) of UVB were irradiated, density of OKT6 positive LC of XP began to decrease 6 hours after irradiation, and showed the least numbers on day 2 and returned completely to the pre-irradiation level on day 14. Further, after 3 MED irradiation, LCs of both normal subjects became the least on day 3 and returned to the pre-irradiation level on day 14. In XP variant and normal subjects, the number of LC in chronic sun-exposed skin decreased significantly in a similar way comparing to that of non-exposed skin. These results suggest that epidermal LC may not play an essential role in prevention of UV-induced tumor development.

Adult↗

[Dynamic changes in serum osteocalcin levels in the perinatal periods].

Osteocalcin is a bone-specific protein released into the blood proportional to the rate of new born formation. It is widely accepted that the level of serum osteocalcin is a clinical marker of bone turnover. Nephrogenic cAMP is a specific indirect parameter of the biologically active parathyroid hormone. For analysis of bone metabolism during pregnancy, we measured the concentrations of osteocalcin and nephrogenic cAMP in the maternal serum during pregnancy and in the cord serum at delivery. Nephrogenic cAMP values (n mol/dl GF: mean +/- SEM) increased from the first trimester (1.5 +/- 0.21) to the term (2.11 +/- 0.11). Osteocalcin values (ng/ml: mean +/- S.D.) conversely declined from the first trimester (3.17 +/- 1.66) until the term (1.48 +/- 0.71) and acutely increased in the puerperium (5.91 +/- 2.58). These results might indicate that pregnancy induces a state of secondary hyperparathyroidism, but bone turnover is suppressed. In the cases of uncomplicated deliveries, the concentration of osteocalcin in the umbilical vein was significantly higher than that in the cord artery. This result suggests that a protein immunologically reactive to the osteocalcin antibody might be produced in the human placenta.

Bone and Bones↗

The development of a computer-aided perinatal information system.

In the perinatal center of Kagawa Medical School, we have newly developed and introduced a computer-aided perinatal information system to realize an ideal management system for high-risk pregnancies. The system comprises 5 microcomputer subsystems. With this system, not only can the continuous full monitoring of the fetus during labor and delivery be easily realized, but also can the management of outpatients and perinatal statistics. This system also supports the telephone line network. Further, we have developed a highly convenient portable CTG that can easily be operated by the patient at home. Through the use of this portable CTG and the computer system, the information about fetal heart rate and uterine contractions of high-risk pregnancy can be easily and directly transmitted to the hospital from the patient's home. This system is indispensable to reducing the perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Computer Communication Networks↗

[Estimation of passive smoking during pregnancy by cotinine measurement and its effect on fetal growth].

Maternal cigarette smoking has been associated with some complications of pregnancy, including low birth weight and increased morbidity. Recently, it has been reported that maternal passive smoking also affects the fetal environment and causes fetal growth disturbance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of maternal passive smoking on pregnant women and their fetuses by measuring cotinine concentrations in maternal urine and umbilical cord blood. The results were as follows: 1) Among 259 pregnant women, 17 cases (6.6%) were active smokers. The women who were not aware of passive smoking at all, were only 39 cases (15.1%). More than 80% of the pregnant women smoked either passively or actively each day. 2) Cotinine concentrations in both maternal urine and umbilical cord blood increased with the increase in passive smoking. Those in maternal serum, however, did not correlate with the increase in passive smoking. 3) The relative birth weight (R.B.W.) of the newborn infants delivered by the mothers whose cotinine concentration was more than 9.0ng/ml (This value represented the mean +1.5SD of the cotinine concentration in the urine from the mother who did not passively or actively smoke) was significantly lower than that of the mothers whose cotinine concentration was less than 9.0ng/ml. It is concluded that the measurement of the cotinine concentration in maternal urine or umbilical cord blood is very useful in estimating the effects of passive smoking on pregnant women. And passive smoking as well as active smoking also has a harmful effect on the fetal growth mechanism.

Birth Weight↗

[Binding characteristics of RU 486 with glucocorticoid and progestin receptors].

RU 34886 (RU 486) has been proved to fully antagonize the actions of glucocorticoid and progestin at the receptor level. The binding characteristics of RU 486 with the thymic glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the uterine progestin receptor (PR) were investigated in order to elucidate the mechanism of these antagonistic actions. The ability of RU 486 was studied to promote the "activation" and the "nuclear translocation" of GR and RP. Under heat activation, RU 486 dissociated faster from the activated GR than the non activated, and the binding complex of RU 486 and GR showed lower affinity for DNA-cellulose than the glucocorticoid agonist-GR complex. Nearly undetectable amounts of RU 486 were recovered in the nucleus. Conversely, the RU 486-PR complex showed no difference of dissociation rate between the activated and the non activated condition. Its affinity for DNA-cellulose was the same as that of the activated progestin agonist-PR complex. A large amount of this compound was demonstrated in the nucleus.

Animals↗

Fetal pulmonary hypoplasia with hydrothorax.

Described is a case of fetal congenital malformation with hydrothorax, for which left pulmonary hypoplasia was initially presumed by ultrasonography and for which hypoplasia was diagnosed postnatally only in the left lower pulmonary lobe by a pulmonary technetium Tc-99m scintigram. The pathogenesis of this disease is discussed.

Adult↗

Small dose of 2-deoxy-D-glucose completely excludes the overgrowth of fibroblasts.

The present work has been undertaken to assess the effects of a small dose of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on proliferation of fibroblasts in culture by morphological criteria. Fibroblasts in culture medium with 2-deoxy-D-glucose proliferated only to a slight degree, but cell confluence was not achieved. They became swollen and the cytoplasm was increasingly occupied by lucent area. These changes became prominent on the 10th day of incubation. When cell mixtures of fibroblasts and TYK-nu (cell line of undifferentiated adenocarcinoma of the ovary) or TYK-nu only were incubated under the influence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose, the degenerative changes aforementioned were observed only in fibroblasts, while no significant changes were ascertained in the cell line of the cancer by morphological criteria. These results suggest that a small dose of 2-deoxy-D-glucose shows considerable promise in specific inhibition of fibroblastic proliferation during the process of establishing the cell line of the cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Plasma thromboxane and prostacyclin: comparison during normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by hypertension.

Plasma levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), stable metabolites of two prostanoids with opposing biological effects, TXA2 and prostacyclin, were measured by radioimmunoassay in normal pregnancy (controls) and pregnancy complicated by hypertension (PIH) from 32 to 36 (Period 1; P1) and from 36 to 40 (Period 2; P2) weeks of gestation. The plasma concentration of each compound in the control subjects was 265.6 +/- 58.4 (TXB2), 132.4 +/- 16.5 (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) for P1 (n = 10) and 142.6 +/- 11.8 (TXB2), 68.5 +/- 5.2 (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) for P2 (n = 10) respectively (pg/ml, mean +/- s.e). In the patients with PIH, TXB2 concentrations increased moderately for P1 (419.2 +/- 21.2; n = 7) and significantly (p less than 0.005) for P2 (452.8 +/- 31.0; n = 7) respectively (pg/ml, mean +/- s.e), while the plasma levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha revealed a slight to moderate decrease both for P1 (84.5 +/- 4.0; n = 7) and P2 (59.7 +/- 8.1; n = 7) respectively (pg/ml, mean +/- s.e). The physiological balance of TXB2 to 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was significantly greater (p less than 0.005) in the patients with PIH, where the TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratio was 5.2 +/- 0.7 for P1 and 9.4 +/- 2.3 for P2 respectively (mean +/- s.e) compared with that of the controls, where it was 2.4 +/- 0.4 for P1 and 2.0 +/- 0.2 for P2 respectively (mean +/- s.e).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Comparison of plasma prostanoid levels in the human cord artery in normal and fetal distressed deliveries.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TXB2; as a stable metabolite of TXA2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (as a stable end product of prostacyclin) have been measured by using specific radioimmunoassay in the plasma of the cord artery immediately after delivery before the cord was clamped. Plasma prostanoid concentrations in normal deliveries (n = 8, as controls) were 24.8 +/- 2.6 (PGE2), 246.8 +/- 37.0 (TXB2), 122.2 +/- 13.3 (PGF2 alpha) and 82.1 +/- 7.7 (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) respectively (pg/ml, mean +/- s.e). On the other hand, in fetal distressed deliveries showing continuous bradycardia (n = 6), they increased significantly to 275.4 +/- 20.1 (PGE2), 948.6 +/- 102.5 (TXB2), 218.0 +/- 21.4 (PGF2 alpha) and 1498.6 +/- 298.4 (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) respectively (pg/ml, mean +/- s.e, p less than 0.005). However, both PGF2 alpha/PGE2 and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratios declined significantly from 4.70 +/- 0.33 to 0.68 +/- 0.05 and from 3.07 +/- 0.37 to 0.68 +/- 0.12 respectively (mean +/- s.e, p less than 0.005) in the fetal distressed group compared with those of the controls. From these results, it may be concluded that the cord artery, which is known as the patent source for the production of PGE2 and prostacyclin, did exert a sufficiently strong reaction to overcome the undesirable haemodynamic changes to maintain the fetal well-being in utero.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Comparison of plasma prostaglandins in the non-pregnant and pregnant women: a longitudinal study.

Plasma levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were determined in women from 24 to 40 weeks of pregnancy with non-pregnant women as controls. The plasma levels of PGE2 showed no significant changes as gestation advanced except for late pregnancy only. Furthermore, there were no significant differences observed between the control and pregnant subjects except late in pregnancy. On the other hand, the concentrations of PGF2 alpha in the pregnant subjects revealed a significant increase (p less than 0.005) compared with those of the controls, though no significant changes were observed with the advance of gestation except for late pregnancy. The PGF2 alpha/PGE2 ratio showed a six to ten times rise during pregnancy (p less than 0.005) compared with that of the controls. Therefore, the results obtained in the present study may explain the effectiveness of prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors in suppressing preterm uterine contraction and they also indicate the involvement of some factors in the initiation and inhibition of the myometrium contraction.

Dinoprost↗

[Study on the histopathological abnormalities of the umbilical cord].

There have been very few reports of studies on histological abnormalities of the umbilical cord. In the present study, we have investigated various abnormalities of the cord with special emphasis on the cord vasculature and the vestigial remnants based on developmental abberations. The incidence of single umbilical artery was 1/509 (0.2%), by which no special relation was signified between the single artery and the occurrence of congenital malformations of the neonate. Supernumerary umbilical vessels were found in 5/509 (1.0%) of the cases examined. Three out of five revealed the umbilical cord with two arteries and two veins, while two of them showed the umbilical cord with the normal 3 vessels associated with an accessory fourth vessel. It is of a great interest to note that fetal distress with or without fetal acidosis was demonstrated in all cases with the accessory fourth vessel, whereas the presence of supernumrary umbilical vessels was least related to the occurrence of congenital malformations of the neonates. The incidence of vestigial remnants was 30/509 (5.9%). The vestigial remnants were classified into two groups according to their epithelial pattern, i.e. flat epithelium and cuboidal or columnar epithelium. The vestigial remnants with flat epithelium type, considered to originate in the allantoic duct, were found in 2/3 (66.7%) of all cases with vestigial remnants. The vestigial remnants with cuboidal or columnar epithelium, considered to originate in the omphalomesenteric duct, were found in 1/3 (33.3%) of all cases with vestigial remnants, one of which case was associated with congenital malformation of omphalocele of the neonate.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

[Quantitative studies on maternal perception of fetal movement with two ultrasonic real-time scanners].

In this study, the relationship between actual fetal movement in utero and maternal perception was investigated with the use of two ultrasonic real-time scanners and a cardiotocogram. The movements of body, arms, legs, fetal breathing, uterine contractions and maternal perception of fetal movement were quantitatively analyzed. 37% of all fetal movements were recognized by the mother. Only 15% of isolated movements of fetal extremities were perceived by the mother. 72% of strong body movements with both hands and legs were recognized. No relationship between the duration and times of fetal movement and gestational weeks was found. On the other hand, a close relationship between the maternal perception rate and gestational weeks was found (28-30W, 48%; 34-35W, 53%; 40W, 67%; R = 0.903). As for the parity of the mother, multiparous women were found to be more sensitive than primiparous women (p less than 0.005). (This study was supported by Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung in F.R.G.).

Adolescent↗