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H Asakura

Publications and source records attributed to H Asakura.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Effect of gamma-immunoglobulin in experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate].

To clarify the mechanisms of action of immunoglobulin (IgG) in intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for the ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, we studied the therapeutic effect of IgG on experimental rat colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium and on the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha and IL-8. The administration of rat IgG demonstrated to suppress the development of blood stool and the induction of the ulcerative lesion in large intestine. The levels of TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha and IL-8 were increased in blood and mucosa of the large intestine in this model. Rat IgG showed a tendency to decrease the levels of the cytokines in colonic mucosa. This result seems to provide a piece of explanation of how massive administration of IgG shows an improvement in the ulcerative lesion of UC patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Allelic losses and metastatic ability of mouse tumor cell clones derived from a heterozygous mouse.

Some chromosomal or subchromosomal deletions observed in a variety of cancer cells may be related with metastatic properties of the tumor cells. Thus, relationship between allelic losses and metastatic ability is here investigated of ten in vitro clones obtained from 505 cells that are derived from a fibrosarcoma induced in a F1 mouse between C3H and C57BL strains. Allelic loss was examined using 61 microsatellite markers spanning all autosomes and deletions of various loci were observed in all of the clones. One clone showed a metastatic ability higher than the parental 505 cells and the other clones. This particular clone specifically lost a chromosome 16 derived from C57BL, suggesting an association of this chromosome deletion with the metastatic ability. Consistently, examination of metastatic nodules derived from 505 cells and one in vitro clone showed that the cells with deletion of the C57BL chromosome increased in number during metastasis. These results suggest that mouse chromosome 16 may harbor a gene(s) involved in metastasis.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) are elevated in patients with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

The mechanisms underlying clinical abnormalities associated with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS) have not been elucidated. We measured plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], the active form of plasminogen activator inhibitor (active PAI), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and soluble thrombomodulin (TM), to investigate the relationship of these factors to thrombotic events in APAS. Mean plasma levels of Lp(a), TAT, active PAI and TM were all significantly higher in patients with aPL than in a control group of subjects. Plasma levels of Lp(a) and active PAI were significantly higher in patients with aPL and arterial thromboses than in patients with aPL but only venous thromboses. There was a significant correlation between plasma levels of Lp(a) and active PAI in patients with aPL. These findings suggest that patients with aPL are in hypercoagulable state. High levels of Lp(a) in plasma may impair the fibrinolytic system resulting in thromboses, especially in the arterial system.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1994

[Ultrasonographic blood flow velocimetry in maternal and umbilical arteries during maternal exercise].

To see hemodynamic changes induced by exercise in pregnant women, we performed blood flow velocimetry with an ultrasonic pulsed Doppler in femoral (FA), external carotid (CA), uterine (UA) and umbilical arteries (Umb A) of pregnant women before and after aerobic dancing at an intensity of approximately 65% maximal heart rates. The subjects were 21 volunteer pregnant women at from 34 to 40 weeks of gestation without obstetrical problems. The velocimetry was done at intervals of five minutes for only one artery of the four arteries. The measurement was repeated 4 times. The following results were obtained: (1) Both pulse rates and blood pressure (BP) increased significantly five minutes after the onset of exercise (p < 0.05) and tachycardia continued for 20 minutes. The intensity of exercise was equivalent to 68.8 +/- 1.1% of the maximal heart rates (mean +/- S.E.). (2) Systolic peak velocity in the FA of the pregnant women increased by 130%, flow volume per minute jumped by 337% (p < 0.05), and the pulsatility index (PI) decreased by 80% (p < 0.05). (3) Neither the systolic peak velocity nor the PI of CA and UA changed significantly. (4) The FHR became tachycardic due to exercise from 142.2 +/- 2.5 bpm to 161.1 +/- 3.8 bpm, associated with the increase in maternal pulse rates. (5) The PI of Umb A was decreased from 0.95 +/- 0.04 to 0.80 +/- 0.03 by exercise. The PI showed a negative correlation (r = -0.37, p < 0.05) with the FHR, not different from a correlation shown without exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Mechanism of the induction of autoimmune disease by graft-versus-host reaction. Role of CD8+ cells in the development of hepatic and ductal lesions induced by CD4+ cells in MHC class I plus II-different host.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-like hepatic lesions were induced in (bm12xB6)F1 mice undergoing graft-versus-host reaction with major histocompatibility complex class II disparity. In this paper, we report on a new experimental system, enabling establishment of more progressed stages of PBC-like lesions and clarification of the role of CD8+ cells in the development of the lesions. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Recipient (bm12xbm1)F1 mice were thymectomized and administered anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibodies intraperitoneally to deplete host CD8+ cells as completely as possible. The treatment was necessary to induce autoimmune hepatic lesions in this type of F1 mice. Recipients were divided into five groups: group 1 received B6 CD4+ cells on day 0 and 2 weeks later, B6 CD8+ cells; group 2, only B6 CD4+ cells on day 0; group 3, only B6 CD8+ cells on day 14; group 4, B6 CD4+ on day 0 plus F1 CD8+ cells 14 days later. Cell transfer was not done in group 5. All of the mice were killed on day 28 for examination by light and electron microscopy and also by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: PBC-like hepatic lesions without tissue destruction were induced in the mice of group 2, as was previously reported. In addition to similar lesions to group 2, destruction of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelia was induced in the mice of group 1. Weak lymphocytic infiltration and periductal concentric fibrosis were observed in the mice of group 3. PBC-like hepatic lesions without tissue destruction were induced in mice of group 4 as were those of group 2. However, the cellular infiltration was much weaker. CONCLUSIONS: For the animal model of PBC, we have devised a new experimental system in which the role of donor or host type CD8+ cells is assessable. Tissue-destructive lesions were induced only in mice that received donor CD4+ cells followed by CD8+ cells. The PBC-like lesions were suppressed by host type CD8+ cells. These results suggest that destructive hepatic lesions of PBC might progress through CD8+ cells in cooperation with CD4+ cells, and that host type CD8+ cells could act as "regulatory" T cells for the progression of the lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Intrapartum, atraumatic, non-asphyxial intracranial hemorrhage in a full-term infant.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage in a full-term infant is uncommon, is usually subarachnoid in type, and is usually associated with operative vaginal delivery or asphyxia. CASE: A 15-year-old primigravid woman at 37 weeks' gestation developed a prolonged second stage of labor associated with persistent occiput posterior position. With the onset of pushing, baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) decreased and variability increased. Thirty minutes before vaginal delivery, sudden fetal tachycardia (up to 210 beats per minute) was observed, with absent variability and minimal decelerations. At birth, the infant was apneic and hypotonic, but lacked biochemical evidence of acidemia or asphyxia; seizures developed in the early neonatal period. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was demonstrated by computed tomography of the head. CONCLUSION: The occiput posterior position, marked molding, and prolonged labor with compulsive pushing may be associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome, even unrelated to the details of delivery. The change in FHR pattern, to a lowered baseline rate and increased variability, suggests increased intracranial pressure. The sudden change to fetal tachycardia with absent variability before delivery suggests intracranial hemorrhage or injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Highly enhanced fucosylation of alpha-fetoprotein in patients with germ cell tumor.

BACKGROUND: We have recently reported that simultaneous determination of the fucosylation and glucosaminylation of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was useful in the differential diagnosis of various liver diseases. Here, we measured these indices in germ cell tumor and compared them with those in various diseases to reveal the characteristic feature of the carbohydrate moiety of AFP in this tumor. METHODS: Fucosylation and glucosaminylation indices of AFP were determined for 743 serum samples from 10 patients with germ cell tumor, 437 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 241 with benign liver diseases (24 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 99 with chronic hepatitis, and 118 with hepatic cirrhosis), and 55 with carcinoma metastatic to the liver from digestive organs (41 from stomach, 10 from gallbladder, 2 from pancreas, and 2 from colon) by crossed immunoaffinoelectrophesis in the presence of concanavalin A and Lens culinaris agglutinin. RESULTS: The fucosylation index of AFP in germ cell tumors (99% +/- 2%, mean +/- SD) was higher than those in HCC (39% +/- 31%), carcinoma metastatic to the liver (76% +/- 27%), and benign liver diseases (4% +/- 7%); the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The glucosaminylation index of AFP in germ cell tumor (45% +/- 20%) also was significantly higher than those in HCC (4% +/- 4%) and in benign liver diseases (1% +/- 4%) (P < 0.001). The difference in mean percentage of the glucosaminylation index, however, was not significant between germ cell tumors (45% +/- 20%) and carcinoma metastatic to the liver (39% +/- 23%). CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicates that the most characteristic feature of glycosylation of AFP in germ cell tumors is fucosylation rather than glucosaminylation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Structural analysis on the sugar chains of human alpha 1-antitrypsin: presence of fucosylated biantennary glycan in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chemical structures of the sugar chains of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and from healthy individuals with a different affinity for Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) were examined by pyridylamination of their oligosaccharides and stepwise exoglycosidase digestion in combination with reversed-phase and size-fractionation high-performance liquid chromatography. We found that the LCA-reactive species of AAT from patients with HCC carried both the biantennary sugar chain with a fucose residue at the innermost N-acetylglucosamine residue, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-6)GlcNAc-PA, and the biantennary chain without a fucose residue, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc-PA, at a ratio of about 1:0.6. The LCA-nonreactive species of AAT contained the biantennary sugar chain Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6(Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc as a major component. These results indicate that a characteristic feature of the carbohydrate chains of AAT from patients with HCC is an increment in fucosylation.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
PubMed1993

Clinical evaluation of the antibody against core protein of hepatitis C virus.

The authors measured antibody against the core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with acute or chronic hepatitis and healthy blood donors, and compared the results with the one obtained from anti-C100-3 assay. To characterize this antibody (anti-core), we also examined the patients with past posttransfusional acute non-A, non-B hepatitis and investigated how frequently viraemia of HCV persisted after the acute phase of hepatitis detecting HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Anti-core was detected in 109/128 (85.2%) of patients with chronic hepatitis and the detection rate of anti-C100-3 was 95/128 (74.2%), respectively. Twenty seven of 33 (82%) patients with past postransfusional acute hepatitis were still positive for anti-core concomitant with the presence of anti-C100-3, having accompanied the presence of HCV RNA in 24/33 (73%). Eight of 2,020 (0.4%) healthy blood donors who were negative for anti-C100-3 were anti-core-positive, and all 5 patients transfused with this anti-core positive blood suffered from posttransfusion hepatitis C. Thus, anti-core antibody was closely associated with the presence of HCV RNA and considered to be a reliable marker of the virus replication.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of genes within the HLA region affecting susceptibility to ulcerative colitis.

To clarify the molecular relationship between HLA loci and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Japanese patients, we performed HLA-DP genotyping by the PCR-RFLP method and studied tumor necrosis factor beta-chain genetic polymorphism by Southern hybridization, in addition to conventional serologic typing. Significant increase was observed in Bw52, DPw9 (DPB1*0901), and DR2 (DRB1*1502) in Japanese patients with UC. Linkage analysis indicated that A24-Bw52-DR2-DPw9 alleles constitute a common haplotype in Japanese UC patients. Among the patients not carrying Bw52, B13 was significantly increased and B44 was relatively increased. These Bw52, B13, and B44 alleles share the unique amino acids, serine and aspartic acid at positions 67 and 77, respectively. These positions are in the second hypervariable region of the alpha 1-domain of the HLA-B13, B44, Bw52, and B49 antigens (B49 is quite rare in the Japanese population). The inflammatory region in UC patients was found to vary depending on their HLA-B alleles. These results suggest that the HLA-B locus itself plays an important role in the susceptibility to Japanese UC.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Experience with laparoscopic hysterectomy.

We conducted laparoscopic hysterectomy on 62 consecutive patients; 12 had laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), 16 had total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), and 34 had supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy (SLH). The groups were comparable with regard to age, weight, history of abdominal surgery, number of additional procedures performed, and weight of specimens; 74% had previous abdominal surgery, and 69% had additional procedures at hysterectomy. The mean estimated blood loss associated with LAVH was 2.5 times greater than that with TLH and 3 times greater than with SLH. The length of surgery was influenced by patient selection, surgeon's experience, and equipment malfunction, with a mean of 213 minutes for LAVH, 244 for TLH, and 212 for SLH. The mean hospital stay for LAVH was 1.9 days and less than 1 day for TLH and SLH. There were nine total complications in the series (15%). Twelve (19%) of the specimens showed no abnormalities on pathologic examination. Total and supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy and LAVH are appropriate operations for selected patients and compare favorably with standard abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy. The procedures demand sophisticated instrumentation and a dedicated endoscopy team to ensure safe and efficient performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Carbohydrate structures of human alpha-fetoprotein of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: presence of fucosylated and non-fucosylated triantennary glycans.

Chemical structures of the sugar chains of various human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) species with different affinity for Concanavalin A (Con A) and Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) were examined by pyridylamination of their oligosaccharides and stepwise exoglycosidase digestion. Using reversed-phase and size-fractionation high performance liquid chromatography systems we identified six pyridylamino-sugar chains. The Con A-reactive and LCA-nonreactive species of AFP from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma contained a biantennary sugar chain, and the Con A-reactive and LCA-reactive species had a biantennary one with a fucose residue at the innermost N-acetylglucosamine residue. The Con A-nonreactive and LCA-reactive species contained a biantennary sugar chain both with a bisecting-N-acetylglucosamine residue at the trimannosyl core and with a focus residue at the innermost N-acetylglucosamine residue. The Con A-nonreactive and LCA-nonreactive species contained a fucosylated triantennary sugar chain as a major component, and two minor components: a triantennary sugar chain and a biantennary sugar chain with a bisecting-N-acetylglucosamine residue at the trimannosyl core. Thus, the fucosylated and non-fucosylated triantennary sugar chains were newly identified in human AFP. Essentially identical results were obtained for AFP from the patient with gallbladder carcinoma which metastasizes to the liver. These results indicate that the increment in fucosylation and branching to form new antennae is a characteristic feature of the carbohydrate chains of AFP from patients with neoplastic diseases of the liver.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1993

Successful treatment of a patient with idiopathic factor VIII inhibitor with double filtration plasmapheresis and steroid administration.

We report a 74-year-old Japanese woman who had bleeding due to a factor VIII inhibitor in the absence of diseases known to be associated with its development. She abruptly developed a large painful purpura extending from the right hip to the thigh followed by an intramuscular haematoma of her left anterior chest. Examinations revealed a marked depression of factor VIII activity (5%) and the presence of 31 Bethesda units/ml factor VIII inhibiting activity. The phenotypes of these inhibitors were of the IgG-kappa and IgG-lambda types. She was treated with oral prednisolone and double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP). The inhibitors rapidly disappeared after three sessions of plasmapheresis and her plasma factor VIII activity increased to a normal level. During this treatment, no major adverse effects such as thrombosis and infection were observed and transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was not necessary. Heterogeneity of idiopathic factor VIII inhibitors in elderly patients is common and spontaneous disappearance or elimination of such inhibitors by treatment is often difficult to achieve. However, the combination of oral prednisolone and double filtration plasmapheresis is effective and safe for idiopathic factor VIII inhibitors and is a worthwhile approach to treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Disappearance of palmitic acid from plasma of fetal and newborn sheep.

These studies were undertaken to measure the kinetic constants that characterize the disappearance of a representative free fatty acid (FFA) from the plasma of fetal and newborn sheep. A bolus of albumin-complexed [14C]palmitic acid was infused intravenously, and during the next 8 min, 24 arterial samples were collected to characterize the disappearance curve. Palmitic acid disappearance from plasma was well described by a double-exponential model. When birth was simulated in utero, kinetic values were not changed by cooling. However, after intrauterine ventilation with O2, the volume of distribution of the FFA increased 29%, its plasma clearance rate decreased 26%, and its apparent half-life in the plasma lengthened from 0.8 to 1.2 min (all P < 0.01, n = 8). After umbilical cord occlusion, plasma clearance rate decreased a further 19% and half-life lengthened to 1.4 min. About 60% of the increase in FFA concentration during simulated birth is explained by increased release from adipose stores, and 40% is explained by decreased clearance. Further experiments tested the influence of FFA concentrations themselves. After infusion of unlabeled FFA, clearance of the tracer decreased 23% (P < 0.05, n = 5), a result consistent with a saturable membrane transporter of FFAs.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Changes in plasma levels of prothrombin fragment F 1 + 2 in cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment F 1 + 2 (PTF) and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) were assayed in 86 cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A significant elevation of both parameters was observed in most cases of DIC, which suggested that the in vivo generation of thrombin is highly accelerated by the cleavage of the prothrombin molecule by factor Xa. On the contrary, no significant elevation of plasma levels of PTF was observed in cases of DIC with severe hepatic failure or fulminant hepatitis in spite of significant elevation of TAT. Plasma levels of PTF were directly proportional to those of TAT in 86 cases of DIC as a whole (r = 0.682, p < 0.001). The measurement of both parameters was considered to be useful to estimate the hemostatic activation in DIC.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMed1993

Effects of direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty treatment of acute myocardial infarction on plasma levels of haemostatic and fibrinolytic factors.

Although thrombolytic therapy is used widely for treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), thrombolysis itself increases thrombin activity and may cause reocclusion of infarct-related vessels. Direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is an effective treatment for AMI; however, it is not clear what effects PTCA has on coagulation and fibrinolysis. We investigated coagulation and fibrinolytic factor concentrations before and after direct PTCA. Plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), D-dimer, plasmin-(alpha 2-antiplasmin complex (PAP), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 antigen were followed in twelve patients treated with direct PTCA for AMI. Before PTCA, only TAT concentrations were significantly elevated compared to normal controls. D-dimer, TAT, PAP and PAI-1 concentrations were similar before and after PTCA. Eleven patients had no recurrent ischaemia and no restenosis on follow-up coronary angiography. These data confirm that direct PTCA is less likely than thrombolysis to affect coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Aged↗