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Biomedical subjects

H Nagashima

Publications and source records attributed to H Nagashima.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Simple technique for measuring regional contractility by a modified strain guage arch.

A simple modification of a commercially available gauge arch, namely the addition of pins to effect mechanical couplings to heart muscle rather than suturing, results in an isometric myocardial force sensor which is easy to insert, stable and relatively atraumatic to the myocardium. Compressing the pins by means of a machinist's vernier caliper which is removed after the sensor is implanted, insures controlled muscle stretch. Tests in open-chest dogs show that force sensed by this gauge is little affected by changes in heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or aortic pressure, but faithfully reflects the inotropic effects of isoproterenol or propranolol. Thus, the modified strain gauge arch is sensitive to changes in contractility but not to changes in preload or afterload.

Animals↗

Production of monozygotic mouse twins from microsurgically bisected morulae.

Mouse monozygotic twins were produced by bisection of the compacted morulae and transfer of the pairs of half-embryos after culture in vitro. The compacted morulae (about 16 cells) were microsurgically bisected, using a fine glass needle attached to a micromanipulator, without any supporting micro-instruments, after pretreatment for zona-softening and decompaction. About 80% of the morulae were bisected without visible cell damage. After 20 h in culture, the half-embryos were classified morphologically as eu-blastocysts, pseudo-blastocysts, or trophectodermal vesicles or non-integrated forms. After culture of 131 pairs of bisected morulae, 75 (57.3%) pairs of eu-blastocysts, 20 (15.3%) pairs comprising a eu-blastocyst and pseudo-blastocyst, and 9 (6.9%) pairs of pseudo-blastocysts, were obtained. The pseudo-blastocysts were considered to be derived from half-morulae in which some blastomeres were destroyed or dissociated as a result of micromanipulation. From 30 pairs of eu-blastocysts transferred to 21 recipients, 5 twin fetuses on Day 17 (18 pairs/9 recipients) and 3 twin male young (12 pairs/12 recipients) were obtained. Survival rate of the twin-embryo pairs was 27.8% at autopsy and 25.0% at term. None of the 20 pairs of pseudo-blastocysts transferred to 10 recipients gave rise to normal conceptuses.

Animals↗

Clinical and histological features of sporadic non-A, non-B hepatitis.

The incidence of hepatitis A (HA), hepatitis B (HB), and non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) was 27%, 30% and 43% among 73 patients with sporadic hepatitis. Epidemiological data (geographical distribution, seasonal variation, age, sex, and occupation) were not distinguishing of the type of hepatitis. Neither intrafamilial infection nor previous contact with viral hepatitis patients could be demonstrated in the NANBH cases. Fever and jaundice were less frequent in NANBH than in HA. Maximum levels of SGPT, serum bilirubin, ZTT, and gamma-globulin were significantly lower in NANBH than in HA and HB. Ten of 29 NANBH patients (35%) presented abnormal SGPT activities for more than 6 months, and four (14%) more than 12 months. In the ten patients with prolonged courses, jaundice was more frequent and maximum levels of SGPT were higher than in patients with transient courses. Histopathologic findings were not markedly different from those of HA and HB. Bile duct damage, fatty deposition, and giant multi-nucleated cells were recognized in 6, 12, and 2 NANBH patients, respectively. There were no characteristic ultrastructural changes in NANBH.

Adolescent↗

Nonicteric liver damage with a gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase level of 5,609 units/l in a renal-transplant recipient receiving azathioprine.

A 26-year-old male with renal allograft, who received immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine, presented marked elevations of serum biliary tract enzymes, such as gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (5,609 units/l) and alkaline phosphatase (60.5 Bessey-Lowry units), 14 months after transplantation. Two months later the patient became icteric; he died of respiratory failure 19 months after the renal allograft. Postmortem examination revealed intrahepatic cholestasis with minimal inflammatory cell infiltration, indicating drug hepatotoxicity.

Adult↗

Two cases of constitutional unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia with marked retention of indocyanine green.

Two cases of chronic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and marked retention of indocyanine green (ICG) are described. Since bilirubin uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronyl transferase activities were depressed in their liver, the patients seemed to have bilirubin metabolism similar to that in Gilbert's syndrome. However, the ICG fractional disappearance rates of the cases were rather low (0.018 and 0.019) compared to the rates reported for Gilbert's syndrome. These results suggest that the patients had a new metabolic disorder which results in constitutional unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and ICG intolerance.

Adult↗

Effects of sake and bourbon on liver histopathology and function in rats.

Sake or bourbon (8g ethanol/kg body weight) was intragastrically administered to rats for 12 days. An equal dose of ethanol in water or an isocaloric glucose solution was administered to control groups. Food was withheld, but water freely provided. Neither mortality nor liver and body weights were different between the alcohol-treated groups. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were more elevated in the sake group than in the other groups. Additionally, liver fibrosis was more pronounced, and vacuole formation or steatosis was less in this group. These results suggest that sake is more fibrogenic. Some components other than ethanol, such as long-alkyl chain alcohols, may have been responsible for the differential histopathology.

Alcoholic Beverages↗

Detection of serum blocking factors and antibodies to the albumin receptor on HBsAG particles in healthy persons and patients with liver diseases.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of serum blocking factors (BF), or antibodies to the albumin receptor on HBsAg particles, was developed, and its clinical usefulness was examined in healthy persons and patients with liver diseases. Thirteen of 80 anti-HBs-positive female (16.3%) had BF, but all 25 male anti-HBs-positive, 41 female and 32 male anti-HBs-negative subjects were negative for BF. The activity of BF in BF-positive cases was not associated with the positive reciprocal hemagglutination titer of anti-HBs. For a neutralization test of BF, the BFs from 5 cases were absorbed with IgG-immunobeads. It was determined that these IgG-BFs were antibodies to the albumin receptors on HBsAg particles. No significance between positive-BF and abnormal S-GPT levels was recognized. These results suggest that the present test for the detection of BF, or anti-albumin receptor antibody, different from anti-HBs, might be useful for diagnosis of hepatitis B and as a marker for HB virus.

Adult↗

Non-B hepatocellular carcinoma: influence of age, sex, alcohol, family clustering, blood transfusion and chronic liver disease.

In 144 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 166 cases of cirrhosis without HCC and 142 cases of chronic hepatitis, we examined HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in sera and compared the following factors between hepatitis B virus marker-negative and -positive patients: age, sex, alcohol consumption, family clustering of liver diseases, and histories of blood transfusion and post-transfusion hepatitis. Results of this study demonstrated several distinct differences in clinical backgrounds between non-B (negative for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) and B (positive for HBsAg) patients with HCC. Non-B patients were significantly older, had a lower frequency of familial tendencies for liver diseases, and more frequently had cancers other than HCC in their families. Some of these differences were also observed between non-B and B patients with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. Among patients with chronic hepatitis, the non-B patients had received blood transfusion or had post-transfusion hepatitis more frequently than the B patients. However, this difference was not apparent in patients with liver cirrhosis or HCC, suggesting that progression of non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis to cirrhosis and HCC may not be as frequent as progression to chronic hepatitis.

Age Factors↗

Prevention of methionine and ammonia-induced coma by intravenous infusion of a branched chain amino acid solution to rats with liver injury.

The prevention of hepatic encephalopathy by the intravenous infusion of a branched chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched solution was investigated in methionine and ammonium acetate-treated rats whose liver was already injured with carbon tetrachloride. A BCAA-enriched solution protected the rats from entering a coma. The brain BCAA contents became higher, and the brain methionine and tyrosine levels and the ratio of glutamine to glutamic acid in the brain diminished after administering the BCAA-enriched solution.

Acetates↗

Potentiation of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity by beta-phenethyl alcohol.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity was potentiated by pretreatment with beta-phenethyl alcohol, abundantly present in sake. The injury was determined by serum GPT levels and histological examination. Similar results were observed in ethanol- and phenobarbital-pretreated rats. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity was not accentuated by beta-phenethyl alcohol or ethanol pretreatment. The activities of liver microsomal enzymes, such as cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 reductase, aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase, were not altered in beta-phenethyl alcohol-pretreated rats. Thus, CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity potentiation by beta-phenethyl alcohol administration is postulated to be due to a mechanism other than increased free radical generation.

Acetaminophen↗

An adult case of chronic myelogenous leukemia with myeloblastic involvement of the central nervous system.

A 31-year-old female with chronic myelogenous leukemia, who developed myeloblastic involvement of the central nervous system during acute myeloblastic transformation of the disease, was treated with methotrexate intrathecally. The therapy produced prompt clinical response and complete reversal of abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings. However, the patient expired 10 months following the acute blastic crisis.

Adult↗

Clinical studies of resistant ascites in liver cirrhosis.

Resistant ascites was studied in 34 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites. The patients were initially divided into 3 groups on the basis of the weekly cumulative ascites retention curve: patients relieved of ascites within 3 weeks of admission, patients relieved between 4 and 12 weeks and patients with ascites persisting beyond 13 weeks. "Resistant ascites" was defined as "ascites persisting for more than 13 weeks after admission to the hospital". The patients were then reclassified into 3 groups : Group A being those patients relieved of ascites within 12 weeks, Group B being those with resistant ascites and group C being those who died within 12 weeks of admission. There were no differences in age and sex distribution, etiology of liver cirrhosis, past medical history or physical findings among the 3 groups. However, Group B had higher levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen than Group A on admission. Serum bilirubin was higher and serum albumin was lower in Group C than in Group B, which indicates that Group C had greater liver cell failure.

Adult↗

Clinical studies of hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis and ascites.

A comparison was made of the clinical findings of 59 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) accompanied with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (of which 35 had ascites and 24 did not at the time of admission) and 164 patients with LC, but without HCC (of which 39 had ascites and 125 did not). HCC patients were older and more often had hepatomegaly, vascular spider and pleural effusion than LC patients. Ascites was more frequently observed in HCC than in LC patients when the serum albumin level and the indocyanine green disappearance rate were relatively well maintained and when peripheral edema was absent. There was no difference in the ascitic protein concentration between LC and HCC patients. Malignant cells were detected in ascites only in 14% of the HCC patients. These facts indicate the presence of ascites-inducing factors in HCC patients which have no direct relation to serum colloid osmotic pressure and effective hepatic blood flow. Almost all of the HCC patients with ascites (96%) died with ascites, whereas 54% of the LC patients with ascites recovered from the ascitic condition.

Adolescent↗

Clinical significance of eosinophilia in the diagnosis of halothane-induced liver injury.

Three patients with severe halothane-induced liver injury are described. All patients received halothane anesthesia twice within a short period. High fever and jaundice were noticed soon after the second operation. The prothrombin time was less than 40%, and eosinophilia was greater than 7% prior to these symptoms. Other causes of liver injury were excluded. Diagnostic criteria for halothane-induced liver injury are proposed.

Adult↗

A case of cornstarch granuloma.

A 57-year-old female was diagnosed as having asymptomatic cornstarch granuloma. The disseminated small nodules over the peritoneum were incidentally discovered at operation for cholelithiasis, when she was misdiagnosed as carcinomatosis peritonei. Histological observations revealed a characteristic finding of tuberculoid granuloma with caseous necrosis, a rather rare histological type of cornstarch granuloma. Polarized light microscopic examination of biopsy specimens is particularly important for the diagnosis. We emphasize that cornstarch granuloma should once be considered when tuberculoid or unknown abdominal granuloma are observed in patients with history of abdominal surgery.

Female↗

A case of chronic neutrophilic leukemia with paraproteinemia (IgG Type lambda and IgA Type K).

An unusual case of chronic neutrophilic leukemia associated with paraproteinemia (IgG Type lambda and IgA Type K) was followed for 3 years. Clinical and hematological findings obtained during the entire course fulfil the previously reported criteria for the diagnosis of chronic neutrophilic leukemia. A marked infiltration of mature neutrophils in the spleen and liver was confirmed by postmortem examination.

Aged↗

[Role of oral administration of 1-hexyl-carbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) for multimodal treatment of inoperable cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma].

1-Hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) was orally administered at doses of 300-600 mg daily for 7-360 days to 27 inoperable cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma. They were simultaneously treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), and mitomycin C (MMC) injected into the hepatic artery and/or subcutaneous injection of OK-432. Efficient treatment according to the Koyama and Saito (PR and MR) and Karnofsky classification (I -A and I -B) was obtained in 40.7 and 29.6%, respectively, of all the patients; 81.8 and 54.5%, respectively, in the patients treated with TAE and intraarterial MMC injection and 25.0 and 12.5%, respectively, in those given MMC therapy. However, the total doses of HCFU administered (3-216 g) were not related to either efficient or inefficient treatment. Survival rate obtained 1 year following diagnosis of HCC was much better in the patients treated with TAE and/or MMC therapy (greater than 70%) than in those without these treatments (20%). TAE intervals in HCC patients given repeated TAE and intrahepatic MMC injection were slightly prolonged by oral administration of HCFU (more than 12 g). The results suggest that HCFU might be effective for prevention of HCC recurrence following TAE.

Administration, Oral↗

Association of gamma-glutamyltransferase with plasma lipoprotein and lipid-protein complex in cholestasis.

Distribution of plasma gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity among lipoproteins was studied by ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis of plasma from 2 normal controls, 7 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis, and 5 patients with biliary obstruction. Half the total plasma activity was associated with lipoproteins, and more than 90 per cent of the residue activity with macromolecular lipid-protein complex. Healthy subjects had the highest GGT activity in HDL, intermediate activity in LDL, and the lowest in VLDL. In cholestasis, GGT activity increased mainly by the following two mechanisms: 1) the appearance of cholestatic lipoproteins carrying GGT, such as lipoprotein X or Slow-Migrating HDL, or increase in concentration of lipid-protein complex with GGT activity and 2) increase in GGT activity per unit weight of HDL.

Cholestasis↗