Biomedical subjects
Y Fuse
Publications and source records attributed to Y Fuse.
Clinicopathologic studies on human epithelial autografts and allografts.
We compared the survival of cultured epithelial allografts and epithelial autografts applied to donor sites for split-thickness skin grafts. Before grafting, cultured epithelium was devoid of Langerhans cells (LCs) or lymphoid cells by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations. The autografts attached to the wounds permanently, without any clinical evidence of rejection. In contrast, allografts, which were mismatched for MHC and blood-type antigens, appeared to adhere firmly only until day 7. By the second week, signs of graft rejection were apparent: The graft changed color, and the underlying dermis underwent "microerosion" and denudation. By the third week, the area formerly occupied by the allograft had the same coloration as ungrafted wounds and apparently had undergone reepithelialization by the host. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies clearly demonstrated that host Langerhans-like cells (without Birbeck granules) appeared in both autografts and allografts. However, these cells were numerous and distributed widely throughout allografts, whereas they were scarce and confined to the basal layer of autografts. Typical Langerhans cells (containing Birbeck granules) were present in the prickle-cell layer of autografts by day 7. The present study strongly indicates that allografts of cultured epithelium are rejected. Furthermore, given the known ability of Langerhans-like cells to function as accessory cells in T-cell activation, our results point to a role for host Langerhans-like cells in immunologically mediated rejection of the epithelial allografts.
Prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus carrier state.
By means of passive and active immunization with hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccine, 396 of 407 babies born to hepatitis B antigen-positive carrier mothers, were protected from establishing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state during a follow-up period of 12 months or longer. Four infants developed the HBV carrier state before the completion of the immunoprophylaxis schedule, and another seven developed the state after the completion of the schedule. Seroconversion of anti-HBc was observed in 26.8% of the successfully protected infants. In Japan a nationwide program to prevent the vertical transmission of HBV with these procedures was established in 1986, and so liver diseases due to HBV are expected to be eliminated in the near future.
Parathyroid hormone-related protein as a cause of hypercalcemia in a B-cell type malignant lymphoma.
Hypercalcemia occurred in a patient with non-Hodgkin's (B-cell type) lymphoma when generalized lymphadenopathy developed. Despite low normal plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH), nephrogenous cAMP (NcAMP) was not suppressed, and serum and urine PTH-related protein (PTH-rP) levels were elevated. The plasma level of 1,25(OH)2D was within normal range. The combined chemotherapies successfully reduced the tumor size, serum Ca, PTH-rP, and lactic dehydrogenase. Serum osteocalcin was suppressed while the patient was hypercalcemic, and increased after chemotherapy. In the extract of the tumor tissue obtained post mortem, bioactivity stimulating the production of cAMP in osteoblasts was demonstrated along with the immunoreactive PTH-rP. This is the first report of a B-cell lymphoma producing PTH-rP and its association with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.
Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies on the ontogenic development of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in the rat: special reference to follicular dendritic cells.
The ontogenic development of lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of the rat was studied ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically. In the late foetal period, only the alveolar macrophages showed a weak positivity for leucocyte common antigen, but no immune region associated (Ia) antigen was detected by monoclonal antibody, MAS 043. Mast cells were present. At 6 days of age, Ia-positive cells were observed in the alveolar wall and peribronchial interstitial tissue, and ultrastructurally there was an aggregation of the fibroblastoid mesenchymal cells. By 10 days of age, the aggregation of lymphoid cells together with S-100-positive reticulum cells had formed a BALT-like periarterial lymphoid sheath. In the adult animals, an obvious B-cell area was present in the central part and subepithelium of BALT, whilst in this area, S-100-positive, strongly Ia-positive cells with a dendritic form were observed. These dendritic cells appeared to be identical to the follicular dendritic cells (FDC) seen in the secondary follicles of lymphoid organs. Those cells may be derived from the fibroblastic reticulum cells, and may function to present antigen to lymphocytes.
[Two cases of benign elevated lesions of the common bile duct].
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Is the follicular dendritic cell a primarily stationary cell?
The cell nature of follicular dendritic cells (FDC), a member of dendritic cell group, was examined to see whether or not they are recirculating cells on splenic implantation study. Slices of BALB/c mouse spleen were implanted into C57BL/6 mice neonatally thymectomized and reconstructed by F1 (BALB/c x C57BL/6) thymus grafting. On H-2 class I immunohistology 6 months later, host spleens consisted of only the cells including FDC of host (C57BL/6) type. On the other hand, FDC of regenerated splenic grafts were of splenic donor (BALB/c) origin and haematogenic cells including germinal centre lymphocytes were of the host (C57BL/6) origin. The fact that the FDC in the regenerated splenic grafts reside irrespective of the replacement by host recirculating cells indicates that FDC belong primarily to stationary cell populations but not recirculating cell populations.
[The assessment and management of cancer pain].
The accurate assessment of pain is essential in cancer pain treatment. As pain is a subjective experience, there is no precise method to quantitate it objectively. There are two approaches: the first is the use of laboratory techniques to measure the patient's reaction to experimental pain, such as sensory decision theory analysis. This method is a psychophysical procedure to distinguish between a person's criteria for reporting pain and the sensory experiences induced by noxious stimuli. The second is the use of tools to assess pain by the patient's description. Many kinds of rating scales, including visual analogue scales, have been used to evaluate the intensity of clinical pain, but they cannot assess the quality of pain. For the specification of both qualitative and quantitative properties of clinical pain, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) was constructed using 102 words that patients use to describe pain. The sensitivity and usefulness of the MPQ are no longer in doubt, but it cannot be used in Japan as such because of the difference in cultural background and language. Listening carefully to the patient's complaint is required not only for the precise assessment of pain, but also is a form of psychological treatment. Cancer pain should be relieved as soon as possible. Although WHO cancer pain relief is the first choice, nerve blocks and intraoperative radiotherapy, if indicated, must be taken into consideration in the early phase of the pain treatment.
Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes proliferation of rat glomerular visceral epithelial cells in vitro.
Glomerular visceral epithelial cells (vGEC) play an important role in the synthesis of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), and together with glomerular endothelial cells and the GBM, in glomerular ultrafiltration. Therefore clarification of the properties of vGEC is essential to investigations of glomerular morphology and function in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. This article demonstrates that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is mitogenic to vGEC in vitro. Its effect was found at concentrations as low as 1.25 ng/ml, and was synergistic with epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast, EGF by itself had no demonstrable mitogenic effect at concentrations of 1.25-100 ng/ml. In addition, mRNA for bFGF was identified in cultured vGEC by the method of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and the immunoreactivity of bFGF was found in GEC of the Sprague-Dawley rat kidney. These results suggest that bFGF stimulates the proliferation of vGEC in an autocrine manner in vivo. A unique relationship similar to that observed in endothelial cells may also exist among bFGF, vGEC, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In a word, bFGF may be produced by vGEC and stored in the ECM, that is the GBM, and may be one factor that stimulates vGEC to proliferate when vGEC are injured and lost in vivo.
Ontogeny of thyrotropin releasing hormone and precursor peptide in the rat.
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and its precursor peptide pGlu-His-Pro-Gly (TRH-Gly) were measured in serum and in a variety of tissues of developing rats using specific RIA. TRH and TRH-Gly immunoreactivities were detected in most tissues. TRH concentrations were highest in pancreas, in which mean (+/- SEM) TRH concentrations were 138 +/- 20 pmol/g wet tissue 2 d before birth and 644 +/- 80 and 586 +/- 86 pmol/g, respectively, 2 and 5 d after birth. Hypothalamic TRH levels gradually increased from 4 d before birth (12 +/- 2.5 pmol/g) to 77 d of postnatal age (348 +/- 33 pmol/g). Hypothalamic concentrations were lower than levels in pancreas until 13 d of age. The mean serum TRH level at 2 d was 80 +/- 20 pmol/L and fell to the adult range by 21 d. TRH-Gly concentrations were highest in small gut (371 +/- 64 pmol/g) during the neonatal period, falling gradually to adult levels (33 +/- 4.8 pmol/g) by 35 d. Mean hypothalamic TRH-Gly concentrations increased to a peak of 62 +/- 4.5 pmol/g at 13 d, falling thereafter. High TRH-Gly concentrations (greater than 100 pmol/g) also were observed in pancreas (at d 2), kidney, and pituitary gland (at d 21). Serum TRH-Gly concentrations were highest (mean 417 +/- 26 pmol/L) on the 2nd postnatal day and gradually decreased to the adult level by 35 d. Changes in the TRH-Gly/TRH ratio were inversely correlated with tissue TRH concentrations in hypothalamus, pancreas, and liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Influence of perinatal factors and sampling methods on TSH and thyroid hormone levels in cord blood.
To evaluate the effect of perinatal factors and sampling methods on thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone levels in cord blood, serum TSH, free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) concentrations were measured in 124 healthy term neonates. Eighty-eight infants were born in normal vaginal deliveries, 25 were delivered by vacuum extractor and 11 by Cesarean section. There was no significant difference among the three infant groups in the mean TSH levels. Birth weight, the infant's sex, duration of labor and uterotonic agents had no effect on cord serum TSH and free thyroid hormone levels in the neonates born by normal vaginal delivery. To assess the adequacy of specimen collection, mixed cord blood samples, obtained by a direct application of cord on a filter paper, and venous blood withdrawn with a plastic syringe were collected in another 200 infants. There was a significant linear correlation in the TSH concentration in mixed cord blood and cord venous serum from the same individuals, while a poor correlation was found in T4 values from two specimens. Our results suggest that the TSH value in cord blood is less influenced by perinatal factors, including the sampling method, and the mixed cord blood collected by this technique might be a feasible alternative specimen for a TSH screening program with cord blood which is useful in countries where neonatal blood is not available.
[Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis activities during normal pregnancy and fetal growth--study based on estimated fetal body weight].
There are many factors influencing the growth of the fetus. Since these factors have complex interrelations, they are difficult to clarify. The authors studied the effects of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis on the growth of the fetus during pregnancy, especially from the 2nd trimester into the 3rd trimester. The subjects were 86 normal pregnant women, and the subjects of study were blood coagulation, fibrinolysis activity of the mother, and estimated fetal birth weight after the 28th (2nd trimester) and 36th weeks of gestation (3rd trimester) in each case. 1. Changes in blood coagulation activity and fibrinolysis varied from the 2nd trimester into the 3rd trimester. The percentage of cases showing lowered platelets was 68.6% of the total, and the percentages of cases with reduced platelet ADP, epinephrine, and collagen aggregation were 60.5%, 55.8%, and 51.2%, respectively. The percentages of cases showing shortened prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were 58.1% and 51.2% of the total, respectively. The percentage of cases with reduced fibrinogen was 24.4% of the total. The percentages of cases with reduced antithrombin III, plasminogen, and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor activity were 66.3%, 55.8%, and 75.6% of the total, respectively. 2. The birth weight of babies in a group with shortened prothrombin time was 2,935.1 +/- 395.2g(n = 50, mean +/- SD), while that in a group with prolonged prothrombin time was 3,106.2 +/- 357.9g(n = 36). The estimated fetal birth weight gain from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester was 1,431.6 +/- 296.5g in the former group and 1,644.5 +/- 390.5g in the latter group. The differences were significant (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01). The birth weight of babies in a group with lowered antithrombin III activity was 2,960.1 +/- 341.3g(n = 57), and that in an acceleration group was 3,157.8 +/- 370.0g(n = 29). The estimated fetal weight gain from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester was 1,477.7 +/- 281.9g in the former group and 1,637.1 +/- 390.6g in the latter group. The differences were significant (p less than 0.02, p less than 0.05). 3. The estimated fetal weight gain from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester in the group showing prolongated prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in this period was significantly larger than in the group showing shortened prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (p less than 0.001). These results suggested that the changes in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis activity of mothers from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester affected the growth of the fetus.
Distribution and ontogeny of thyrotropin-releasing hormone degrading enzymes in rats.
The distribution and ontogeny of tissue prolyl endopeptidase and pyroglutamyl peptidase I activities were studied in the rat from the 7th day before birth to adulthood. While low levels of prolyl endopeptidase activity were demonstrable in many fetal tissues, activity in brain cortex, hypothalamus, lung, and kidney increased dramatically during the 2 wk after birth, gradually returning to adult levels. In adult rats, levels of tissue prolyl endopeptidase activity were highest in kidney, when compared with the intermediate levels in brain cortex, hypothalamus, and liver. Pyroglutamyl peptidase activity was widely distributed in adult rat tissues with high levels in kidney and liver that exceeded intermediate levels in brain cortex and hypothalamus. Pyroglutamyl peptidase activities in fetal gut, brain, and lung tissue were elevated above adult values. In contrast to the development changes in prolyl endopeptidase activities, pyroglutamyl peptidase activity remained elevated above adult levels only during the first week of life. These results indicate that both prolyl endopeptidase and pyroglutamyl peptidase activities in the rat are developmentally regulated.