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Biomedical subjects

H Ando

Publications and source records attributed to H Ando.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Serum bilirubin fractions in cholestatic pediatric patients: determination with Micronex high-performance liquid chromatography.

Bilirubin conjugates in the serum of cholestatic pediatric patients were investigated with Micronex high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum bilirubin was resolved into four fractions: delta bilirubin (Bd), bilirubin diglucuronide (BDG), bilirubin monoglucuronide (BMG), and unconjugated bilirubin (Bu). The conjugated bilirubin (BDG+BMG) fraction in preoperative patients with biliary atresia (BA) was 48.8 +/- 5.1%, which was significantly higher than that in patients with infantile hepatitis (P < .01). Among postoperative BA patients who recovered from jaundice, the Bd fraction increased during the first month, remained elevated (60% to 80%) for a while, and then gradually decreased. After 6 months, the Bd fraction decreased to 30% in the jaundice-free survivors, but was still higher than that in controls (7%). Even after the total serum bilirubin had normalized (< or = 1.0 mg/dL), distribution of bilirubin fractions remained abnormal, possibly reflecting impaired hepatic excretion of bilirubin. In conclusion, measurement of the conjugated bilirubin fraction enabled BA to be differentiated from infantile hepatitis, and the delta bilirubin fraction proved to be an important indicator of cholestasis in postoperative BA patients with normal serum bilirubin.

Biliary Atresia↗
PubMed1995

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction without choledochal cysts in infants and children: clinical features and surgical therapy.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) usually is associated with choledochal cyst. PBM without dilatation of the common bile duct is rare in infants and children. This rare type of the anomaly may lead to the development of malignancy of the bile duct in later life. The authors report the clinical presentation and surgical treatment of seven pediatric patients with PBM. Symptoms and signs included repeated episodes of abdominal pain (7 of 7), nausea and vomiting (6 of 7), intermittent jaundice (3 of 7), and acholic stools (2 of 7). Some patients presented with high levels of serum and urinary amylase. These symptoms and signs might have been related to the temporary obstruction of bile flow in the common channel, where endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) disclosed a protein plug in four of the patients. The common bile duct proximal to the junction of the main pancreatic duct was excised, and a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy reconstruction was performed. To prevent iatrogenic injury of the main pancreatic duct, repeat cholangiography was performed with the aid of radiopaque silver clips placed on the line of dissection to evaluate the distance between the site of dissection and the main pancreatic duct. All patients have been free of symptoms since the surgery. PBM without dilatation of the common bile duct can be detected more frequently if ERCP is performed on every patient who has repeated episodes of abdominal pain refractory to conventional therapy. Complete excision of the common bile duct and gallbladder followed by hepaticojejunostomy is recommended for PBM, while the goals of decreasing the high risk of carcinoma of the bile duct and preventing recurrent symptoms.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗
PubMed1995

Immunohistochemical study of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in hepatocytes of biliary atresia: a parameter to predict clinical outcome.

The hepatic lobulus was studied histologically and immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/Cyclin, a cell-cycle-related nuclear protein) in 27 patients with biliary atresia (BA) and six normal infants. The study showed that the labeling index (LI) for PCNA-positive hepatocytes was 37.21 +/- 17.75% in the patients with BA and 3.14 +/- 1.5% in the normal infants (P < .0001). LI for PCNA-positive cells was higher in the periportal area than the pericentral area (P < .01). LI was not related to the patients' age at the time of hepatic portoenterostomy. LI was 20.80 +/- 7.03% for patients whose jaundice cleared postoperatively and 48.49 +/- 13.43% for patients who had persistent jaundice (P < .001). Conventional histological studies of the same specimens showed common findings of BA, such as hepatocellular degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and giant cell transformation. Most patients with BA had 8.94 +/- 13.55% giant cell transformation among 1,000 hepatocytes. Patients who exhibited high giant cell transformation had an unfavorable outcome. Only 0.42% of giant cells were immunoreactive for PCNA. In conclusion, the PCNA expression of hepatocytes is closely related to the prognosis of patients with BA, and thus could be used as a prognostic indicator.

Biliary Atresia↗
PubMed1995

Recovering three-dimensional structure from motion with surface reconstruction.

This paper addresses the computational role that the construction of a complete surface representation may play in the recovery of 3-D structure from motion. We first discuss the need to integrate surface reconstruction with the structure-from-motion process, both on computational and perceptual grounds. We then present a model that combines a feature-based structure-from-motion algorithm with a smooth surface interpolation mechanism. This model allows multiple surfaces to be represented in a given viewing direction, incorporates constraints on surface structure from object boundaries, and segregates image features onto multiple surfaces on the basis of their 2-D image motion. We present the results of computer simulations that relate the qualitative behavior of this model to psychophysical observations. In a companion paper, we discuss further perceptual observations regarding the possible role of surface reconstruction in the human recovery of 3-D structure from motion.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1995

Structure-from-motion: perceptual evidence for surface interpolation.

Dynamic random-dot displays representing a rotating cylinder were used to investigate surface interpolation in the perception of structure-from-motion (SFM) in humans. Surface interpolation refers to a process in which a complete surface in depth is reconstructed from the object depth values extracted at the stimulus features. Surface interpolation will assign depth values even in parts of the object that contain no features. Such a "fill-in" process should make the detection of featureless stimulus areas ("holes") difficult. Indeed, we demonstrate that such holes in our rotating cylinder can be as wide as one-quarter of the stimulus before subjects can reliably detect their presence. Subjects were presented with a variation on the rotating cylinder in which all dots were oscillating either in synchrony or asynchronously. Subjects perceive a rigidly rotating cylinder even when such a percept is not in agreement with the physical stimulus. To reconcile this discrepancy between actual and perceived stimulus we propose that individual points contribute to a surface based object representation and that in this process the visual system looses access to the identity of the individual features that make up the surface. Finally we are able to explain a variety of previously documented perceptual peculiarities in the perception of structure-from-motion by arguing that the perceptual interpretation of the object's boundaries influences the surface interpolation process. These findings offer strong perceptual evidence for a process of surface interpolation and are also physiologically plausible given results from recordings in awake behaving monkey cortical areas V1 and MT. The companion paper demonstrates how such a surface interpolation process can be incorporated into a structure-from-motion algorithm and how object boundaries can influence the perception of structure-from-motion as has been demonstrated before and in this paper.

Depth Perception↗
PubMed1995

Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine images reflect intense myocardial adrenergic nervous activity in congestive heart failure independent of underlying cause.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to assess myocardial adrenergic activity using iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging in patients with heart failure. BACKGROUND: In patients with congestive heart failure, adrenergic nerve activity is accelerated. However, whether myocardial adrenergic nerve activity reflects the severity of heart failure and its relation to the underlying cause have not yet been elucidated. METHODS: Planar MIBG images were obtained from 96 patients with heart failure and compared with images from 9 age-matched healthy subjects. Groups 1 and 2 included 65 patients with heart failure related to impaired myocardial function and whose left ventricular ejection fraction was < 40% (group 1 = 40 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy; group 2 = 25 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy). Group 3 included 31 patients with heart failure related to a mechanical abnormality and whose left ventricular ejection fraction was > 40% (mitral regurgitation in 16, aortic regurgitation in 9, aortic and mitral regurgitation in 4, ruptured aneurysm of Valsalva in 2). Myocardial uptake of MIBG was calculated as the heart/mediastinal activity ratio. Storage and release of MIBG were calculated as percent myocardial MIBG washout from 15 min to 4 h after isotope injection. RESULTS: The heart/mediastinal activity ratio in the immediate images (15 min) showed a significant decrease only in patients with severe heart failure (groups 1 and 2). The myocardial washout was accelerated in all three heart failure groups. The level of myocardial washout was related to severity of heart failure and correlated well with New York Heart Association functional classification. CONCLUSIONS: In severe heart failure associated with cardiomyopathy, norepinephrine uptake is reduced. In addition, myocardial adrenergic nerve activity is accelerated in proportion to severity of heart failure, independent of the underlying cause.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1995

The concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in human amniotic fluid at second trimester: relation to fetal birth weight.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was measured in 28 samples of amniotic fluid, 1 of fetal urine and 5 of first neonatal urine. The mean level of HGF was 12.4 +/- 4.5 ng/ml (second trimester) and 10.5 +/- 6.6 ng/ml (third trimester). These values were extremely high compared to that in plasma from normal subjects and greater than the plasma levels from patients with acute hepatitis. The concentration of amniotic HGF at second trimester showed a significant inverse correlation both with birth weight (r = 0.47; p < 0.05) and birth weight deviation (r = 0.54; p < 0.02). The level of HGF in fetal urine (0.10 ng/ml) and in the first neonatal urine (0.08 +/- 0.02 ng/ml) were much less than that in amniotic fluid. HGF stimulated DNA synthesis of human fetal liver cells in vitro. While the effect was dose dependent, a maximal response was reached with about 0.2 ng/ml, attaining a 1.3-fold stimulation. The presence of extremely high levels of HGF in the amniotic fluid may be involved not in fetal growth, but rather in maturation of fetal organs such as the lung and the digestive tract.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1995

The prognostic significance of biliary bilirubin conjugates in biliary atresia.

Nine patients with biliary atresia (BA) were investigated from the aspect of biliary bilirubin conjugates. They were classified arbitrarily into the good prognostic group in which jaundice disappeared (serum total bilirubin equal or below 1.0 mg/dl), and the poor prognostic group in which persistent jaundice was observed for more than 12 months. The ratio of biliary bilirubin diconjugate (BDC) increased in all patients of the two groups by the first month after operation. Although there was no significant difference in daily bilirubin excretion within 1-3 postoperative days, the BDC ratio in the good prognostic group was significantly higher than that in the poor prognostic group (p < 0.01). The study indicated that the ratio of BDC was an early prognostic determinant of BA patients. The prognosis of BA patients was much influenced by the ability of bilirubin conjugation in the early postoperative days.

Bile↗
PubMed1995

Bile and bilirubin excretion in relation to hepatic energy status during hemorrhagic shock and hypoxemia in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relation between in vivo hepatocyte excretion of bile and bilirubin and hepatic energy status in rabbit models of hemorrhagic shock and hypoxemia. DESIGN: Randomized animal study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After creation of a total biliary fistula, hemorrhagic shock with mean pressure of 50 mm Hg (10 rabbits) or hypoxemia with Pao2 at 35 mm Hg (8 rabbits) was induced for 60 minutes. We determined bile flow, excretion of bilirubin and total bile acids, the plasma level of bilirubin, and arterial ketone body ratio, which reflects hepatic mitochondrial function. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Both the hemorrhagic shock and the hypoxemic models showed decreases in bile flow and excretion of bilirubin and total bile acids as well as increase in the plasma level of bilirubin in association with decreases in the hepatic energy charge and the arterial ketone body ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Bile flow and the excretion of bilirubin were correlated with the hepatic energy status.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Differential down-regulation of protein kinase C subspecies in normal human melanocytes: possible involvement of the zeta subspecies in growth regulation.

Normal human melanocytes are often grown in vitro in the continuous presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for growth in vitro. The expression of protein kinase C (PKC) subspecies, which are the major cellular receptors for phorbol esters, was examined in melanocytes after long-term treatment with TPA to investigate the role of PKC subspecies in TPA-dependent cell growth. The PKC enzyme activity detected in quiescent melanocytes was almost completely depleted in cells after incubation with 85 nM TPA for 48 h. Immunoblot analysis indicated that, among the PKC subspecies alpha, beta, delta, epsilon, and zeta expressed in quiescent cells, alpha-, beta-, delta-, and epsilon-PKC were significantly down-regulated, whereas zeta-PKC remained at detectable levels in TPA-treated cells. TPA did not significantly affect the expression or subcellular distribution of zeta-PKC in melanocytes. Immunoprecipitation assay revealed that the enzyme activity of zeta-PKC was increased in both the cytosol and particulate cell fractions, but the increase was much greater in the latter. The activation of zeta-PKC lasted for 24 to 48 h after the addition of TPA; thereafter, zeta-PKC activity returned to basal levels. DNA synthesis was shown to change concomitantly with the activation of zeta-PKC in TPA-treated cells. These results indicate that TPA induces not only the down-regulation of alpha-, beta-, delta-, and epsilon-PKC, but also long-term activation of zeta-PKC in melanocytes, and that activation of zeta-PKC parallels the growth of normal human melanocytes.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1995

Development of an isolated perfusion circuit with double bypass using automatic blood pumps.

Isolated perfusion of the liver is a useful and promising therapeutic method for various hepatic diseases. However, conventional techniques using a roller pump require a large priming volume and cannot run at the low flow rate without complications. These disadvantages do not allow the use of conventional techniques in smaller pediatric patients. The authors solved these problems successfully for the first time by using unique sac-type air-driven automatic blood pumps with an oxygenator primed with a blood volume of 65 ml in the total circuit. The usefulness of these blood pumps for liver perfusion was evaluated in small animals weighing 3.5-6.0 kg. A hepatic perfusion circuit was established between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. The blood pumps worked well without any trouble, and stable flow could be maintained. No hepatocellular damage or anaerobiosis of the liver was observed at a hepatic perfusion flow rate of 20 ml/min/kg. Isolated liver perfusion using these blood pumps can be applied in infants and young children.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Clinical features of sarcoidosis in relation to HLA distribution and HLA-DRB3 genotyping by PCR-RFLP.

BACKGROUND: Susceptibility to the development of sarcoidosis has been demonstrated to be associated with HLA-DR5, -DR6, and -DR8 encoded by the DRB1 gene. However, involvement of the DRB3 (HLA-DR52) gene in the development of sarcoidosis remains unclear. METHODS: HLA-DRB3 genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP method and the clinical features of the patients with and without the DR3, 5, 6, 8 group antigens were compared. RESULTS: HLA-DRB3 genotyping indicated an association between DRB3*0101 and sarcoidosis. The DR8 haplotype lacking the DRB3 gene has been found to be increased significantly in sarcoidosis, suggesting that the HLA-DRB3 gene is not a primary determinant of predisposition to sarcoidosis. The association of DRB3*0101 with sarcoidosis is attributable to linkage disequilibrium with DR5- and DR6-associated alleles. There were significant decreases in the DR3, 5, 6, 8 group (DR5, DR6, or DR8) antigen frequencies in patients with retinal perivasculitis, high intraocular pressure (or secondary glaucoma), and optic nerve and/or macular lesion. Correlations were observed among the DR3, 5, 6, 8 group antigens, early onset sarcoidosis and disease with fewer intraocular lesions. CONCLUSION: This established a molecular basis for some of the clinical heterogeneity observed in sarcoidosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Establishment and characterization of human fetal liver epithelial cell line transfected with SV40 T antigen.

The aim of the present study was to establish a stable cell line useful for the study of growth and differentiation of human fetal liver cells. We have established an immortalized human fetal liver cell line (designated NFL/T) by transfection with simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen, without any culture crisis. The cells showed growth properties similar to normal cells, including density-dependent cell growth. Electron microscopy demonstrated liver-specific differentiated morphological properties. Moreover, positive albumin and cytokeratin 7 production was detected immunologically. Thus, the NFL/T cell line is less transformed than the other fetal liver cell lines established by this method, and might be useful to study the growth and differentiation of human fetal liver cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Congenital stenosis of the intrahepatic bile duct associated with choledochal cysts.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies that report on stenosis of the intrahepatic bile ducts associated with choledochal cysts. We investigated the presence and clinical significance of stenosis of the intrahepatic bile ducts associated with choledochal cysts. STUDY DESIGN: We examined intrahepatic bile ducts in patients with choledochal cysts using cholangiography (93 patients), endoscopy and direct observation during surgery (19 patients), and histologic examination (12 patients). RESULTS: Stenosis of the intrahepatic bile duct was present in 75 (80.6 percent) of 93 patients with choledochal cysts. Endoscopic and direct observation detected membranous stenosis, which consisted of a diaphragm, in 11 of 19 patients. Septal stenosis, which consisted of a bridge-like septum, was present in eight of 19 patients. Stenoses consisted of mucosal and fibromuscular layers. Intrahepatic calculi developed in eight patients with stenosis following resection of the choledochal cysts. CONCLUSIONS: Membranous or septal stenosis of the intrahepatic bile duct is a characteristic feature of choledochal cysts. Our findings suggest that these stenoses should be treated surgically because of the risk of intrahepatic calculi.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Spontaneous perforation of choledochal cyst.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct in children is very rare and its etiology is unknown. We describe herein five patients treated for the spontaneous perforation of choledochal cyst and suggest the important factors leading to perforation. STUDY DESIGN: All patients were initially treated with T-tube drainage through the perforated site. Cholangiography through the T tube was performed intraoperatively and the important factors leading to perforation were examined. Furthermore, histological examination of the perforated wall of the common bile duct was performed. RESULTS: Cholangiography through a T tube revealed the presence of a pancreaticobiliary junction malformation and filling defects (protein plugs) in the common channel in all patients. Postoperatively, the T tube was gently irrigated with a physiological salt solution until the free flow of bile into the duodenum was established. Histological examination showed that the wall near the perforation was covered with a granulation tissue that was present only at the limited area. CONCLUSIONS: Perforation of the common bile duct was related to the abrupt increase in intraluminal pressure due to obstruction by protein plugs at the common channel.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗
PubMed1995

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 induces morphological changes accompanied by extracellular matrix reconstitution in cultures of avian retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

The mechanisms of cell differentiation have been extensively studied with an avian retinal pigmented epithelial cell (PEC) culture system. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been reported to have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on differentiation depending on tissue type. Although the mechanism by which TGF-beta exerts diverse effects is unknown, changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) are believed to be related to the effects of TGF-beta. Therefore, the effects of TGF-beta 1 on the cellular morphology and the distribution of ECM components such as laminin, tenascin, fibronectin, and types I and IV collagens were investigated in confluent cultures of differentiated PECs during a period of 6 days. We found that differentiated PECs with polygonal morphology and pigmented granules changed to pleomorphic and less pigmented cells 4 days after the addition of TGF-beta 1. These changes were preceded by changes in the distribution of ECM components, particularly laminin and tenascin after 2 days. The effects of TGF-beta on the differentiation of PECs are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Pharmacokinetics of transbronchially injected flconazole in pulmonary aspergillosis].

A 68-year-old woman had a pulmonary aspergilloma in the left upper lobe, with old cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. Surgery was not possible because of marginal ventilation, and the patient was treated by transbronchial injection of Fulconazole. After five injections of 50 mg of Fulconazole, the fungus ball had decreased in size. To study the pharmacokinetics of Fulconazole after transbronchial injection, its concentration in serum was measured. The values of serum Fulconazole concentration were 0.7 microgram/ml at 1 h, 0.8 microgram/ml at 4 h, 0.8 microgram/ml at 8 h, 0.7 microgram/ml at 12 h, 0.7 microgram/ml at 24 h, and 0 microgram/ml at 48 h after transbronchial injection. These results indicate that Fulconazole was absorbed well. Furthermore, these values are equal to those obtained after intravenous administration of 50 mg and are higher than those obtained after intravenous administration of 25 mg. Fulconazole may have been absorbed via the bronchial epithelium, because of destruction of alveoli, connective tissue proliferation in the cavitary wall and secondary bronchiectasis.

Aged↗