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T Numahara

Publications and source records attributed to T Numahara.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Spatial data analysis by epidermal Langerhans cells reveals an elegant system.

Langerhans cells are dendritic cells situated in the mammalian epidermis. In human epidermis, the concentration is between 460 and 1000 mm(-2). Langerhans cells fulfill an essential role in skin immune responses. Numerous scientific reports on Langerhans cells have appeared, but with no systematic research on the pattern of the spatial distributions. On the contrary, in certain fields, a spatial distribution is an important theme, and spatial data analysis has a long history. We hypothesized that epidermal Langerhans cells were set in the best formation for their immuno-surveillance by a sophisticated mechanism. To prove this hypothesis, we have imported spatial data analysis into the study of epidermal Langerhans cells. Here, we show that the distribution is completely regular; the pattern of Voronoi divisions fits the territories; the random packing model simulates their bone marrow derivation; a repulsive interaction is demonstrated and a repulsive potential function is estimated. Spatial data analysis-based computer simulation will be a new method of Langerhans cell study. In addition, this procedure shows promise for future distribution research of certain cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Peripheral eosinophil counts relates the improvement of the skin lesions of atopic dermatitis patients more sensitive than serum eosinophil cationic protein levels].

We described the severity of skin lesions and detected peripheral eosinophil counts (Eos) and serum eosinophil cationic protein levels (s-ECP) in 81 patients with atopic dermatitis (male 33, female 48, age 20.7 +/- 8.8) at the first consultation. Eos were 583.3 +/- 560.2/mm3 and s-ECP were 18.0 +/- 21.7 micrograms/l (normal 6.88 +/- 3.46). After approximately 30 days treatment, the improvement of dermatitis were estimated and those lavatory findings were rechecked. Eos were 446.7 +/- 367.6/mm3 and s-ECP were 13.2 +/- 11.7 micrograms/l. At 5 percent level, positive correlations were observed between Eos and s-ECP (R = 0.75), Eos and the severity of dermatitis (R = 0.52) and s-ECP and the severity of dermatitis (R = 0.51) at the first consultation. We found a positive correlation between Eos and the improvement of dermatitis (R = 0.40) but no correlation between s-ECP and the improvement of dermatitis (R = 0.10). Eos related the improvement of the skin lesions of atopic dermatitis more sensitive than s-ECP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Mathematical assessment of the spatial distribution of Langerhans cells in guinea pig epidermis.

Two mathematical indexes, Hopkins-Skellam index (HSI) and Morisita index (MI), were applied to assess the distribution of ATPase-stained epidermal Langerhans cells (ELC) in the guinea pig skin. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which the degree of regularity has been expressed numerically by computation based on theoretical equations. The regularity of ELC in the normal skin was confirmed by the value of HSI (P < 0.0001). In the topical steroid applied skin, the number of ELC decreased significantly but the value of HSI was similar to that of the normal skin; while in the ultraviolet B (UVB) exposed skin, both number of ELC and regularity of ELC distribution decreased significantly. The graph of MI for the UVB exposed skin clearly showed that the distribution of ELC had local clumps. The two indexes, HSI and MI have been quite useful for determining the regularity of ELC. These indexes may have a wide application to other cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Significance of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen in psoriasis and generalized eczema. Preliminary report.

The serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC-RAG) were assayed in 15 cases of benign dermatoses. The SCC-RAG titers (2.0 ng/ml as the cutoff value) were elevated in all cases of wide-spreading psoriasis (7 cases, 2.4-96.1 ng/ml) and all cases of generalized eczema (3 cases, 11.2-33.6 ng/ml). The serum SCC-RAG levels correlated with clinical course of these dermatoses. Therefore, the increase in this cancer-related antigen is not specific for SCC but may also occur in a wide range of dermatoses.

Adult↗