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Biomedical subjects

Y Funahara

Publications and source records attributed to Y Funahara.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Interaction between endothelial cells and thalassemic red cells in vitro.

Erythrocytes from 45 patients with thalassemia and/or hemoglobinopathies were studied for their cytoadherence property to the vascular endothelial cells in vitro. In plasma free medium, erythrocytes from patients with beta-thal/Hb E both splenectomized and nonsplenectomized, HbH diseases (alpha-thal 1/alpha-thal 2 and alpha-thal 1/Hb Constant Spring genotypes) and homozygous Hb E subjects bind to endothelial cells at a greater number as compared to the binding cell number of normal erythrocytes (p-value < 0.05 in all types). Addition of autologous platelet-rich plasma or whole blood to the culture system causes further increase in the number of adhering beta-thalassemia red cells. Platelet-rich plasma had more enhancement effect than the whole blood. However, no such enhancement of both platelet-rich plasma and whole blood was demonstrated in the culture of normal or alpha-thalassemia erythrocytes. Increased binding between red cells and endothelial cells may contribute to the greater risk of vascular occlusion in thalassemic patients.

Blood Platelets↗

Thalassemic serum impairs endothelial cell growth in vitro.

Endothelial cells cultured for 3 days in the presence of hemoglobin H pooled sera had significantly decreased cell proliferation compared to those in normal serum. Inhibition was demonstrated at a concentration of 20% pooled serum in the cultured medium. Further decrease was shown in the presence of 30% pooled hemoglobin H sera. Sera from two genotypes of Hb H disease (alpha-thal 1/alpha-thal 2 and alpha-thal 1/Hb Constant Spring) had the same degree of inhibitory effect. Pooled sera from beta-thal/Hb E patients (both splenectomized or nonsplenectomized cases) had no such inhibitory effect. However, at day 4 and 5, the growth pattern relatively declined. Bilirubin at a concentration greater than 4.0 mg% in the medium 199 also caused significant decrease in cell proliferation. Since the diluted Hb H serum had bilirubin less than 4.0 mg%, the inhibitory effect of the pooled HbH serum is thus not due to effect of bilirubin. The difference between HbH and beta-thal/HbE sera in terms of inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation is the new finding that needs further investigation to explain vascularization and hemostasis in the patients of these two genotypes.

Bilirubin↗

Cytoprotective effect of dilazep on hydrogen peroxide-perturbed vascular endothelial cells.

The effect of dilazep and dimethyl thiourea (DMTU) on the hydrogen peroxide-derived injury of culture pulmonary artery epithelial cells (CPAEC) was assessed by colorimetric assay of MTT formazan (MTT formazan assay). When CPAEC were treated with hydrogen peroxide, neither cell lysis nor detachment of the cells from surface of the well was observed. However, the MTT formazan formation was decreased in a time and dose dependent manner. The decrease in the formation was significantly suppressed in the presence of dilazep (0.1 to 10 microM) or DMTU (0.01 to 0.3 microM). CPAEC treated with hydrogen peroxide in the same way enhanced an activation of prothrombin, and this enhancement was significantly inhibited in the presence of dilazep (1 to 3 microM). These data indicate that dilazep exerts a cytoprotective effect against challenges of intracellular oxidant produced by hydrogen peroxide and suppresses augmented procoagulant activity of injured cells.

Animals↗

Increase in spontaneous platelet aggregation in beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E disease: a consequence of splenectomy.

Clinical symptoms related with disturbances of the circulatory system are often observed in beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E (beta-thal/HbE) patients after splenectomy. Pulmonary thrombosis is one of the important contributing factors. However, the pathogenesis of this phenomenon was not known. Previous studies on platelet functions were controversial as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was employed for all of the studies. By centrifugation, most of the hyperactive platelets were excluded before platelet aggregation tests were performed. Besides, the role of red cells related to platelet aggregation was not investigated. In this study, a platelet function test was designed to avoid these two handicaps of previous work as mentioned, by using whole blood from 15 normal and 40 beta-thal/HbE patients (15 nonsplenectomized and 25 splenectomized) to study spontaneous platelet aggregation. The principle of the test was to evaluate platelet number in whole blood by electronic platelet counter at time 0 (45 minutes after blood collection) and this number was used as 100% of free unaggregated platelets. Then the same specimen of whole blood was incubated at 37 degrees C with continuous stirring by magnetic stirrer in an aggregometer for 8 minutes; at 1 minute intervals free unaggregated platelets were evaluated and calculated as a percentage of the initial control value. The results indicated increased spontaneous platelet aggregation in whole blood of post-splenectomized beta-thal/HbE patients. The residual free platelet number were 24% at 8 minutes after incubation. Effects of red blood cells on spontaneous platelet aggregation were studied by mixing autologous beta-thal/HbE red cells obtained from splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients with platelet rich plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Development of a new method for detection of platelet factor 3 like activity.

We asked the question, "Can thalassemic erythrocytes play some role in alteration of the hemostatic system?", because clinical examination of thalassemic patients shows symptoms and signs related to alterations in hemostatic and circulatory systems, and thalassemic erythrocytes are different from normal erythrocytes. We obtained one of the answers to the question: The erythrocytes of postsplenectomized patients of beta-thalassemia/HbE disease could stimulate their own platelets to aggregate spontaneously. To know the role of erythrocytes in platelet aggregation, we wanted to examine the effect of thalassemic erythrocytes on the coagulation system by focusing of PF3-like activity of erythrocytes, because PF3-like activity of the ghosts of erythrocytes had been reported. For the study, we tried to develop a technique that was accurate and sensitive enough to detect PF3-like activity of blood. The system we developed was the following: 1) We activated the intrinsic coagulation pathway of commercial standard plasma by ellagic acid. 2) CaCl2, a fixed amount of PF 3 and synthetic thrombin inhibitor MD 805 were added to the reaction mixture. 3) At a fixed time, thrombin activity in the mixture was measured by using S-2238 as a substrate. At full activation of the contact system by ellagic acid, the amount of thrombin formed in a certain time depended on the amount of PF3-like substances such as cephalin, freeze-thawed platelets or ghosts of erythrocytes added to the test system, indicating that PF3-like activity of those substances can be measured by the activity of thrombin generated in a fixed time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Coagulation Tests↗

Detection of PF3 availability in whole blood from volunteers and beta-thalassemia/HbE patients: a promising method for prediction of thrombotic tendency.

The platelet factor 3 (PF 3) plays a very important role in activation of coagulation factors and is regarded to be available during activation of platelets. However, membrane fraction of erythrocytes is also shown to have PF 3-like activity, suggesting that the abnormal erythrocytes may accelerate the activation of platelet by forming thrombin on their abnormal membrane or by way of other factors of the abnormal erythrocytes, and may increase the availability of PF 3 in whole blood (WB). To examine this hypothesis, we developed a method for determination of PF 3 activity, because the method now available for the PF3 determination could not detect changes in PF 3 activity with time. The principles of our method were as follows: 1) The reaction system was adjusted so that the amount of thrombin generated in a fixed reaction time correlates with the amount of PF 3. 2) To avoid inhibition of thrombin activity by antithrombin III, a synthetic thrombin inhibitor, MD 805, was added to the system and the activity of thrombin generated was measured by synthetic thrombin substrate S-2238 using A405 as an indicator of the availability of PF3. The results obtained by the method were the following: WB taken from volunteers showed A405 of 0.12 +/- 0.02 at 30 minutes after blood collection and then the A405 increased to 0.27 +/- 0.03 at 90 minutes. However, one volunteer showed the value of 0.59 at 90 minutes, though the value at 30 minutes was 0.16. The platelet number in his WB did not change during the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Protein C and protein S deficiency in thalassemic patients.

To investigate the status of the protein C-protein S anticoagulant pathway in thalassemic patients, we measured protein C and protein S levels of plasma of 30 adults and 18 children with beta-thalassemia/HbE disease, beta-thalassemia major and HbE disease. Mean +/- 1 SD values of protein C, protein S and other coagulant proteins produced by the liver were as follows: protein C 50.4 +/- 17.2%; protein S 58.8 +/- 25.5%; antithrombin III 78.1 +/- 12.8%; PLG 86.4 +/- 18.4%; prothrombin 71.0 +/- 13.1%; factor VII 72.7 +/- 21.5%; and factor X 79.2 +/- 15.6%. Protein C and protein S levels of thalassemic patients were significantly lower than those of other coagulant proteins produced by the liver. Decrease in protein C level was stronger than that of proteins S. gamma-Carboxylated protein C levels of splenectomized patients were significantly lower than those of nonsplenectomized patients. Severe decrease of protein C and protein S may be responsible for occurrence of thrombosis in thalassemic patients.

Adolescent↗

Size distribution curves of blood cells in thalassemias and hemoglobin H diseases.

Thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies in Thailand have been examined with a blood cell counter based on electroimpedance principle and obtained size distribution curves of red cells and platelets. Among various disorders, beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E and homozygous hemoglobin Constant Spring showed severe anemia. Their red cell size distribution curve shifted to the left and overlapped with the platelet size distribution curve. Red cell distribution width expressed by coefficient of variation and the degree of the overlapping were stronger in beta-thalassemia/HbE than HbH. Heterozygous beta-thalassemia showed a narrow red cell distribution curve width with small standard deviation and low England's value. Although the overlapping of size distribution curves cause inaccurate red cell count and platelet count, careful observation of the size distribution curves was proved to have high diagnostic value.

Blood Platelets↗

An evaluation of prothrombin assay method using MD805 by means of warfarin-treated plasma.

The prothrombin assay method using the synthetic thrombin-inhibitor MD805 was standardized by fixing the concentrations of MD805 and S-2238 through their extinction coefficients (epsilon 333 for MD805 and epsilon 316 for S-2238). The prothrombin assay was directly proportional to the concentration of plasma up to 200% of the normal level and was not significantly influenced by the variety of three kinds of commercially available tissue thromboplastin preparations. Using plasma from Warfarin-treated patients and healthy volunteers, the correlation was studied between the prothrombin assay and the conventional coagulation tests such as Prothrombin time (INR), Thrombotest and Hepaplastintest (Normotest), and the correlation coefficients of -0.85, 0.81 and 0.94 were obtained respectively. FUT-175 and MD805 in the test plasma hardly affected the prothrombin assay in the concentration ranges which affected remarkably the conventional coagulation tests. These results indicated that the prothrombin assay was useful for monitoring the hyper- or hypoprothrombin state even on anticoagulant therapy. Eighteen healthy volunteers at 18 to 20 years old showed the mean and standard deviation of 0.96 +/- 0.097.

Adolescent↗

Analysis of hematological data of thalassemia cases in Thailand.

We analyzed the complete blood count (CBC) obtained from patients with various types of thalassemia in Thailand. As a control, samples from healthy donors and patients with iron deficiency anemia were also collected. Most cases of thalassemia could be differentiated from iron deficiency anemia by using a discrimination function equation. This screening method is applicable for mass-screening of patients with latent thalassemia in Thailand.

Erythrocyte Count↗

DHF characterized by acute type DIC with increased vascular permeability.

Decreases in platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, factor VIII, antithrombin III and alpha 2-antiplasmin activities, increase in FDP-D fraction, and pleural effusion were observed transiently at early fever stage of DHF at grade II, indicating DHF patients had manifestations of the acute type of DIC with increased permeability of vascular wall.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗

Protection against marked plasma leakage in dengue haemorrhagic fever by infusion of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (AC-17).

Patients diagnosed clinically as having grade II dengue haemorrhagic fever, and confirmed serologically to have been recently infected by dengue virus were randomly assigned to two groups, to assess suppression of plasma leakage by intravenous administration of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate(AC-17). The double-blind prospective study over three successive epidemic periods included 39 patients in the placebo group, and 38 in the AC-17 group. The effects of the administration were evaluated with respect to pleural effusion of the chest X-ray films. A clear difference between the two groups was found in the numbers of patients with pleural effusion and severity of the pleural effusion thus the administration of AC-17 may be useful in eliminating the risk factors of severe bleeding and shock in dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Adrenochrome↗

Three possible triggers to induce thrombocytopenia in dengue virus infection.

Changes in platelet count by dengue virus-platelet interaction and the participation of anti-DV antibody to such changes were studied in vitro with the aim to investigate a mechanism of how the DV causes prominent thrombocytopenia characteristically seen in DHF. The results obtained showed that: (1) DV antigen attached to human platelets without immune-mediated reaction, (2) a decrease in platelet count was more markedly demonstrated by the binding of anti-DV antibody on the DV antigen associated with platelets than by the binding of the antigen-antibody complex on platelets, (3) a modulation of endothelial cell by the infection of DV to the cell was suggested as one of the causes of the thrombocytopenia.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Enhancement of collagen-induced aggregation of platelets in whole blood.

In order to elucidate the features of platelet aggregation in whole blood, studies were carried out on human blood. The platelet aggregation reaction was monitored by counting the residual free platelet number with an electronic particle counter (Coulter). Platelets in citrated whole blood were aggregated by a very small amount of collagen which did not aggregate platelets in citrated plasma. Such enhancement was not observed if ADP or epinephrine was used. By addition of isolated erythrocytes to platelet rich plasma, enhancement of the platelet response to collagen was obtained. The erythrocyte membrane stabilizer, Dilazep, abolished the enhancement effect of erythrocytes. Those results indicated that erythrocytes enhanced the platelet response to collagen. Although participation of ADP from the erythrocytes in the enhancement was suggested, the results of ADP determinations on suspensions of erythrocytes indicated that other factors of the erythrocytes might be involved in the enhancement.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Increase in factor VIII clotting activity in the perfusate of isolated dog hind leg and heart by components of kallikrein-kinin system.

Transient increase in Factor VIII clotting (F.VIIIc) activity was observed by infusion of kallikrein or bradykinin (BK) to the isolated dog leg or heart preparation which was perfused with physiological solution, but the increase in Factor IX activity was not observed, suggesting that the increase in F.VIIIc activity was not due to contaminated plasma components of the perfusate. The increase coincided with the increase in prostacyclin (PGI2) which was determined by immunoassay of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and by platelet aggregation inhibiting activity. Although increase in PGI2 by BK was inhibited by the pretreatment of the preparations with indomethacin or tranylcypromine, the increase in F.VIIIc activity was not inhibited, suggesting that the increase in F.VIIIc activity was not mediated by PGI2.

Animals↗

Plasminogen activator activity of cultured endothelial cells derived from canine coronary vessel and human umbilical artery and vein.

The present study was undertaken to determine which cells participate in plasminogen activator (PA) release from the vascular wall. Canine coronary vessel was confirmed to release PA when various agents were administered in perfusion experiments. Endothelial cells from the coronary vessel were then isolated and cultured for 2 days. PA activity was observed in lysates of the cultured cells, and the medium used for the cultivation was found to contain little PA activity. This suggests that the endothelial cells participate in PA release from the vascular wall. In addition, the PA synthesis was also studied in cultured endothelial cells from human umbilical artery and vein. Both contained little PA activity, indicating that vascular endothelial cells may vary in PA synthesis and release according to the vessel.

Animals↗

Prostacyclin release from the coronary vascular wall by vasoactive substances.

Which vasoactive substances that are synthesized in vivo could induce the release of a sufficient amount of prostacyclin (PGI2) to inhibit platelet aggregation from the vascular wall was investigated in the isolated dog heart perfused by a modified method of Langendorff. Infusion of 5 microM bradykinin or 25 u/ml crude thrombin into the heart for 30 sec resulted in the transient appearance of inhibitory activity of platelet aggregation. The inhibitory activity was stable at alkaline pH but unstable at acidic pH and thermolabile. The appearance of the inhibitory activity was prevented by treatment of the coronary vessel with 30 microM indomethacin or 1 mM tranylcypromine. These results indicated that the inhibitory activity was caused by PGI2. When 25 microM acetylcholine, 25 microM noradrenaline, 25 microM isoproterenol, 10 microM adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 5 microM adenosine, 1 microM angiotensin II, 25 microM histamine or 1 microM serotonin was infused for 30 sec, no inhibitory activity of platelet aggregation was observed. Bradykinin (5 X 10(-9) approximately 5 X 10(-6) M) and purified thrombin (1 X 10(-9) approximately 1 X 10(-7) M) induced a dose-dependent release of PGI2 which was assayed using a radioimmunoassay for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha).

Adenosine↗

Features of DIC in dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Collaborative studies on hemostasis in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients by Indonesian and Japanese teams revealed that all DHF patients had manifestations of the acute type of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Prolongations of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time and decreases of platelet counts, fibrinogen, prothrombin, factor VIII, plasminogen and antithrombin III activities were observed transiently during the acute stage of DHF. It was also found that alpha 2 antiplasmin was decreased in the acute stage to 32% of the normal level on the average. This may characterize the hemorrhagic diathesis of the DHF patients.

Acute Disease↗