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Biomedical subjects

T Matsuto

Publications and source records attributed to T Matsuto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effect of electric arc vitrification of bottom ash on the mobility and fate of metals.

Increasing amounts of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues are treated prior to landfilling or reuse. In Japan, electric arc melting is used for bottom ash vitrification that generates a glasslike slag. The objective of this paper was to assess this pretreatment technique with respect to its effect on metal mobility and metal content. Both bottom ash and slag were sampled and analyzed on total solids (TS), fixed solids (FS), particle density (pp), specific BET surface area, particle size distribution, and total element content. A six-step wet sequential extraction procedure was used for assessing metal mobility. The results were qualitatively verified by scanning electron microscopy. The major conclusion was that the availability of various metals was affected differently by electric arc vitrification. Metals were solidified, stabilized, and/or separated from the slag. The mobility of Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ca was reduced. In slag, majorfractions of these elements were found in moderately reducible phases or in the residual slag lattice. The approximately three-fourths of Pb [174 +/- 7 mg (kg of FS)-1] and half of Zn content [676 +/- 352 mg (kg of FS)-1] were most likely removed from bottom ash through evaporation. The total content increases of Al, Cr, Ni, and Cd (51 +/- 3, 621 +/- 27, 138 +/- 19, and 99 +/- 32%, respectively) were probably caused by the wear of furnace refractories.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2000

Accessing endoscopic images for remote conference and diagnosis using WWW server with a secure socket layer.

Out of 137 hospitals in Niigata prefecture, 13 are connected to the Internet. The number of private clinics using the Internet has also increased. It is thought that an endoscopic information exchange over the Internet connection is useful for the cooperation between hospitals, clinics and organizations in related fields. A conventional World Wide Web (WWW) server of endoscopic images has been built around a compressed JPEG (Joint Panel Expert Group) format, for remote conferences and diagnoses. It has been made secure using a proxy server, a firewall server and a Secure Socket Layer (SSL). It is easy to access the server and view these endoscopic images using the usual homepage browsing method. Ordinarily, gastroenterologists would diagnose lesions with endoscopy in most cases. It is suggested that this conventional WWW server will be effective for remote conferences in some cases, even consultation will be possible.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗
PubMed1998

[The measurement of antioxidant activity in human plasma using cumene hydroperoxide].

We describe a new method using cumene hydroperoxide to determine antioxidant activity (AO) in human plasma. We used a kit (Determiner LPO: Kyowa Medex Co., LTD. Tokyo Japan) for the determination of lipid peroxides in plasma or serum. 30 microliters 1 of sample was mixed with 70 microliters 1 of cumene hydroperoxide (50 nmol/ml) and incubated at 30 degrees C for 120 min before analysis. Samples were mixed with 1.0 ml of reagent-I (Determiner LPO) and incubated at 30 degrees C for 5 min. Then 2.0 ml of reagent-II (Determiner LPO) was added and incubated at 30 degrees C for 10 min, at which time the absorbance at 675 nm was measured. AO were calculated using the following formula: AO nmol/ml = 35 nmol/ml-(Es-Eb)/(Estd-Eb) x 35 nmol/ml (Es = sample abs., Eb = blank abs., Estd = standard abs.). Within-run precision for plasma AO was 2.3%. AO in plasma samples stored for 4 h at 4 degrees C was decreased by 1 nmol/ml. After 3 h at room temperature, AO was decreased by the same amount. Because this method measured ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, glutathione peroxidase and quercetin as antioxidant compounds, we were able to measure antioxidant activity in human plasma. Our reference values were calculated from the volunteers group which consisted of 172 students and 82 soldiers. The reference intervals for plasma AO by this procedure were 15.4-20.9 nmol/ml.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Assessment of diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy by heart rate variability and pulse wave velocity].

Neuropathy is a frequent complication in diabetes mellitus. Since the involvement of the autonomic nervous system indicates a poor prognosis, early detection and subsequent management are important. Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) provides a quantitative measure of sympathovagal modulation activities on the heart and has been proven to be useful for the early assessment of the diabetic autonomic neuropathy. We recently developed a simple method of measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) to evaluate sympathetic nervous activity in the vascular system. In this paper, we examined 33 diabetic patients with and without peripheral neuropathy (15 and 18 respectively) using these methods. In time domain analysis, the mean heart rate, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of HRVs significantly differed between these two groups, whereas the indices of PWVs did not show a significant difference. In frequency domain analysis of HRV, both low and high frequency components were decreased, and the low frequency component in normalized unit did not increase after standing in patients with peripheral neuropathy. We previously reported that the mean PWV decreased after standing in patients with diabetic neuropathy. This disagreement suggests that beta sympathetic dysfunction precedes alpha sympathetic dysfunction in diabetic neuropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Communications between hospital laboratory personnel and physicians].

The availability of internet facilities have been spreading rapidly and widely over the past several years. We publish a laboratory data handbook every year and distribute this to physicians in our hospital. Recently we have moved the information to our web site of the Internet. Using the web site, physicians can refer to the information on a 24-hour basis. This information includes: reference ranges; correlation of data obtained by previous and new methods; procedures for ordering each type of laboratory test. Furthermore, anyone can send questions and opinions by E-mail through the web page. The graphs which show the average values of patient results for each day can be obtained by using our database. These graphs are useful for long-range quality management of precision. Another important application is displaying histograms showing the distribution of test results between patients with a specific disease and healthy subjects. The application is expected to facilitate progress in laboratory medicine.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed1997

Structural changes in oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein: investigation using lipid peroxidation products, surface charge, and spectrophotometric patterns.

It is well recognized that oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) accelerates atherogenesis of the arterial vascular wall. In this study, we examined the relationship between various methods of measuring the extent of oxidation, namely lipid peroxidation products, surface charge, and spectrophotometric patterns. LDL was isolated from fresh human normal plasma by centrifugation and was oxidized by incubating with copper ions. Apolipoprotein B was isolated from the LDL solution. We also prepared artificial lipid particles composed of cholesterol linolenate, triolein, and phosphatidylcholine. Our results suggest that lipid peroxidation begins drastically in 30-60 min, while the abolition of the positive charge on apoliproproteins is accelerated after 60 min. We found a characteristic change in the spectrophotometric pattern during the process and conclude that the spectrophotometric absorption ration at 232 and 203 nm is a useful measure of in vitro oxidation of LDL.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗
PubMed1997

Differences in the effects of cytokines on the expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVES: Expressions of adhesion molecules on arterial endothelial cells are crucial events in initiation of atherosclerosis. Our recent study has shown that endothelial cells express endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) significantly due to stimulation with oxidized LDL, H2O2, or hypoxia. This current study is aimed at investigating temporal relations of the induction of ELAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in cultured endothelial cells of the human thoracic aorta. METHODS: The activators examined were interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and interferon gamma (IFN gamma). Cells were incubated with each of the cytokines at 10 ng/ml for 0.5-48 hours. The adhesion molecules were determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: ELAM-1 appeared after stimulations by IL-1 and TNF alpha; ELAM-1 was induced by IL-1 after one hour, while it rose sharply after a 30-min stimulation by TNF alpha. The ICAM-1 expression was observed even in non-stimulated cells and further increased in proportion to duration of stimulation. No significant difference occurred between the effects of IL-1 and TNF alpha on the ICAM-1 expression. Weak expression of VCAM-1 was observed only by TNF alpha after 4-through 24-h stimulation. IFN gamma did not cause any changes in the expression of ELAM-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1. CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate a specific time course for each induction of ELAM-1 and VCAM-1, but not ICAM-1. Therefore, the combination of molecules may play a role for endothelial cells to discriminate monocytes from such other cells as neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Aorta↗
PubMed1996

[Usefulness of PCR-SSCP using non-RI coloration method as a routine genetic analysis].

The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis is considered as one of useful routine genetic analyses. However, that PCR-SSCP has been analyzed using radioisotope (RI) such as [32P] labeled compounds. So that, it was difficult to use this method routinely at clinical laboratories. In this paper, we compared with an RI mediated and a non-RI coloration mediated PCR-SSCP analysis regarding to those of sensitivity, time and money cost, respectively. The coloration method had enough sensitivity to detect one of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene mutations. The time and money cost of non-RI coloration mediated method were more advantageous than the RI mediated one. Therefore, it is shown that the non-RI coloration mediated PCR-SSCP analysis is very useful for the routine genetic analysis at clinical laboratories.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMed1996

[Abnormality of HDL subfractions in cholesteryl ester transfer protein deficiency].

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) deficiency is deficient in reverse cholesterol transport although HDL-cholesterol levels markedly increase in such patients. This may be responsible for the abnormal metabolism of pre beta 1-HDL, the initial acceptor of cell-derived cholesterol. To answer this question, we determined HDL subfraction levels in 8 CETP deficiency and 21 normolipidemic subjects. We also measured the rate of decrease in pre beta 1-HDL level by LCAT activity during the incubation at 37 degrees C for 90 min. We found that HDL2b was 2.4 times higher in CETP deficiency than in control [52.2 +/- 14.3, vs. 21.5 +/- 9.8% of plasma apoA-I(%AI), p < 0.005] while HDL2a and HDL3 were significantly lower in the former than in the latter (HDL2a; 25.5 +/- 8.0 vs. 40.4 +/- 6.5% AI, p < 0.005) (HDL3; 10.0 +/- 6.8 vs. 28.3 +/- 5.9% AI, p < 0.005). There were no significant differences in pre beta 1-HDL level between 2 groups (4.9 +/- 3.0 vs. 4.5 +/- 2.3% AI, NS). However, the rate of decrease in pre beta 1-HDL was significantly less in CETP deficiency than in control (-33.2 +/- 22.9 vs. -73.7 +/- 12.2%, p < 0.005). In conclusion, the metabolism of pre beta 1-HDL is delayed in CETP deficiency. It is suggested that the esterification of cell-derived cholesterol removed by pre beta 1-HDL may be deficient in CETP deficiency.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1996

Pre beta 1-high-density lipoprotein increases in coronary artery disease.

Pre beta 1-HDL promotes cholesterol efflux from cell membranes. Its plasma concentration is regulated by lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). To clarify whether the concentration of pre beta 1-HDL changes in coronary artery disease (CAD), we determined the distribution of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) among HDL subfractions in 20 CAD patients and 20 healthy controls, using nondenaturing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. We found that CAD patients had significantly higher concentrations of pre beta 1-HDL than the controls [7.6% +/- 3.4% vs 4.6% +/- 2.3% of apoA-I (P < 0.01)]. Even after correcting for apoA-I concentrations, this increase remained significant [87 +/- 37 vs 63 +/- 28 mg/L apoA-I (P < 0.05)]. The mean LCAT concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in CAD patients than in controls. These findings, that pre beta 1-HDL concentrations increase in CAD, strongly suggest that the process of reverse cholesterol transport could be altered in CAD.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Effects of modified low density lipoprotein and hypoxia on the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1.

OBJECTIVES: Expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM-1 or CD62E) plays a role as an early event of atherogenesis. It is well known that interleukin-1 (IL-1) expresses ELAM-1 on vascular endothelial cells. We have examined pathological factors that induce ELAM-1 expression on cultured endothelial cells. METHODS: Examined factors were native low density lipoprotein (LDL), oxidized LDL, glycated LDL, hypoxia, and IL-1. Peroxidation of LDL was performed by ultraviolet radiation. Hypoxia was reproduced by adding a hypoxic cell-culture medium that was deoxygenated by use of a vacuum pump and nitrogen gas. Endothelial cells were harvested from a porcine aorta and were allowed to proliferate to be subconfluent in slide chambers. Expression of ELAM-1 was evaluated by counting the number of cells that were characterized by positive staining with the immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: Without any stimulants, about 6.9% of the endothelial cells expressed ELAM-1. Weakly oxidized LDL (12 pmol/micrograms protein) significantly expressed ELAM-1 (14.8%) after an incubation period of 1 hour. Glycated LDL induced significant expressions (12.6%) in a fructosamine concentration of 65 pmol/micrograms protein. A one-hour incubation with a hypoxic culture medium expressed ELAM-1 in 16.3% of the cells. Native LDL did not cause any significant increases in the percentage. IL-1 expressed ELAM-1 in 30% of the cells even with as low a concentration as 3.1 U/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that not only IL-1 but also weakly oxidized LDL, glycated LDL, and hypoxia may be possible factors that cause the expression of ELAM-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A new enzymatic method for the determination of inulin.

A new enzymatic method for the determination of inulin in plasma and urine, using inulase (EC 3.2.1.7), fructokinase (EC 2.7.1.4), phosphoglucoisomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) is described. The assay is based on the hydrolysis of inulin or Inutest (INutest which is the injectable form of inulin), by inulase and the determination of fructose released. The assay was linear up to 2 g/L of Inutest. The within-batch and between batch coefficients of variation were 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Recovery of added Inutest from plasma and urine was 98-102%. There was no interference from glucose (27.7 mmol/L), fructose (1.7 mmol/L) or mannose (1.7 mmol/L). When inulin clearance (using this method) and thiosulphate clearance were compared in 37 patients the inulin clearance was 9.3 mL/min (12%) lower than the thiosulphate clearance. We conclude that this enzymatic method is a simple and specific method.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed1994

[Calculation of normal range using a nonlinear least squares method].

We developed a method to calculate the normal range of laboratory tests using nonlinear least squares method. Our method decomposes a histogram of laboratory test into constituent distributions assuming these constituents to be gaussian distributions. The proposed method has been applied to the histograms of serum total protein and serum lactate dehydrogenase, and good fittings were obtained assuming the histograms consist of 2 and 3 constituents respectively. Accuracy and precision were calculated for the stimulated data of known distribution pattern with contamination of abnormal values to examine the robustness of our method. With the contamination rate of 10%, accuracy less than 1% and precision less than 3% have been shown for the sample size more than 2,000. And the estimation was not markedly affected by the contamination rate up to 50%. Based on the parameters estimated by our method, we proposed a new measure for laboratory tests named abnormality index, which gives a probability to be abnormal.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed1993

[Detection of carbohydrate antigens of malignant cells in sputum with panel of monoclonal antibodies].

Serum tumor markers are useful for post-operative follow up, however, they are not necessarily useful for early stage diagnosis. Because the lesion is so small that it is unable to detect a tiny amount of their molecules in serum. If we could detect those antigens directly in cells from cytological specimens, it would provide a new diagnostic method for early stage cancers. The expression of carbohydrate antigens were examined with panel of specific anti-carbohydrate monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on cytological specimens of sputum. In total, 146 sputa were collected in Sacomano's solution; 69 malignant cases (35 squamous cell carcinomas, 13 adenocarcinomas and 21 other primary lung cancers), 19 benign cases (pneumonia and bronchitis) and 58 borderline-malignancy cases which were defined by the standard of Japan Society of Lung Cancer. After removing mucus, the cells were stained with Vector's ABC method. Evaluation was performed by counting positively-stained cells among benign or atypical cells. As we examined previously in lung cancer tissue sections, there was statistical significance of frequency of positive stain between malignant and benign cases especially in MAbs AH6, THK2, SH1 and SNH3. Borderline malignancy gave intermediate value which means certain number of cells with cancerous biochemical character are mixed in the borderline specimens. In most cases, cell membrane was positively stained and sometimes, cytoplasm. Although the high sensitivity was observed in AH6 and SNH3, their specificity was lower than that of SH1, and visa versa. Those results indicate that the combination of anti-carbohydrate MAbs is useful for cytological diagnosis of lung cancer.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1993

[Evaluation of serum protein fractions using nonlinear least squares method].

We developed a method to evaluate the contents of serum protein fractions using nonlinear least squares approach. Parameters that determined the distributions of fractions of a densitogram were estimated assuming that each fraction obeys Gaussian distribution. One hundred test results of patients and one hundred and fourteen simulated patterns were analyzed with the proposed method and the traditional method. For patient data, the traditional method tended to give higher values in beta-globulin fraction and lower values in alpha 2-globulin and gamma-globulin fractions compared with our method. For the simulated data, the traditional method also tended to give higher values in beta-globulin fraction and lower values in gamma-globulin fraction, whereas our method gave the correct values.

Blood Proteins↗