An immunohistochemical method was used to locate pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in the placenta and uterus. In addition to 10 placentae and basal plates from normal pregnancies, ranging in gestational age from 37 to 40 weeks, the following specimens were studied: three uteri obtained by hysterectomy during early pregnancy; and three placentae from patients with severe hypertensive pre-eclampsia. In early gestation, PAPP-A was localized in the villous cytotrophoblastic cell layer and the endometrial glands but was not found in the villous syncytiotrophoblast, the cytotrophoblastic cell columns or the decidual cells. On histochemical examination of placentae from cases of pre-eclampsia with hypertension, an increased number of villous cytotrophoblastic cells and so-called X-cells was observed. The monospecific antiserum to PAPP-A reacted strongly and evenly with the cytoplasm of these cells. The present study strongly suggests that the active production sites of PAPP-A are the villous cytotrophoblastic cells and the X-cells.

Female↗

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Hyperamylasemia associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Amylases↗

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Natural course of cavernous hepatic hemangioma.

Cavernous hepatic hemangiomas are benign liver tumors and present as incidental findings on sonographic examinations, but little is known concerning their natural course. Therefore, we performed a clinical and imaging follow-up of 64 cases of cavernous hepatic hemangioma in 50 patients during an average 18.8 month period. One case presented a symptom of slightly right upper quadrant pain and two cases showed thrombocytopenia. In one of the thrombocytopenia cases, cavernous hepatic hemangioma was resected because of Kasabach-Merrit syndrome. No case increased in size during follow-up, but one case decreased and disappeared. These results suggested that prolonged clinical and imaging follow-up of cavernous hepatic hemangiomas may be needed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-pressor effect of a Chinese-Japanese herbal medicine, saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on hemodynamics in rabbits.

Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (TJ-12) is a traditional Chinese-Japanese medicinal mixture clinically used for the treatment of hypertension and/or atherosclerosis concurrent with neurotic disorders. Study on the effect of TJ-12 on the vasoconstriction of cutaneous arterioles induced by nor-adrenaline (NA) was carried out using a rabbit ear chamber (REC) under conscious conditions. Before and after oral administration of TJ-12 everyday for 2 weeks, the same position of an arteriole within a REC was analyzed using an image shearing monitor every minute up to 15 min after varying doses (0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 micrograms/kg i.v.) of NA. The changes of mean arteriolar diameter and vasomotion amplitude, before and after feeding of TJ-12 (1% w/w) supplemented diet were compared in the same position. Consequently, the pretreatment with TJ-12 significantly attenuated the changes of mean diameter of NA-induced vasoconstriction and also shortened its duration. In addition, concurrent with its cutaneous microcirculatory response, the pretreatment with TJ-12 systemically suppressed the increase of blood pressure under NA-induced vasoconstriction. These results suggest that the anti-pressor effect of TJ-12 might be apparently attributable to the inhibition of NA-induced vasoconstriction.

Animals↗

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Impact of hepatitis B and C virus infection on the clinical prognosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

To elucidate the rates of appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the prognosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis upon infection with hepatitis virus, we retrospectively studied 190 consecutive patients. The patients were divided into three groups based on whether they were exposed either to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or not. The cumulative survival rate of the alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was significantly lower than that in those with hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). Most alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients without hepatitis virus infection died of liver failure, gastrointestinal (G1) bleeding, or other diseases. However, alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients with anti-HCV tended to die of HCC. The cumulative HCC appearance rate in alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients without HBsAg or anti-HCV was 7% at the end of the fifth year after the diagnosis of cirrhosis and 15% at the end of the tenth year. However; the HCC appearance rate was about 20% at the end of the fifth year after the diagnosis of cirrhosis and about 50% at the end of the tenth year in both alcohol drinkers with HBsAg or anti-HCV. These data suggest that hepatitis virus infection may modify the prognosis for alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, especially in the development of carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

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Comparison of screening methods for hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with cirrhosis.

To determine the most suitable screening methods for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), we investigated 45 cases with HCCs. Ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) scan and measurement of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were regularly performed. Thirty-two cases (72%) were detected initially by ultrasonography. Fourteen out of 23 cases (61%) with tumors 20 mm or less in diameter and 11 out of 12 cases (91%) with 21-30 mm tumors were detected initially by.ultrasonography. For the initial detection of tumors sized 20 mm or less, the mean interval of ultrasonography was 3.54 months, unlike the 5.67 months for tumors sized over 21 mm. There was no significant difference between tumor size and measurement interval in AFP levels or CT scan examinations. From these results, we suggest that a suitable screening schedule would be every three months by ultrasonography.

Aged↗

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Probucol therapy in the prevention of restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The effect of probucol, a drug that inhibits the secretion of smooth muscle cell-derived growth factor, was evaluated in the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In 67 patients who successfully underwent prospective PTCA for the first time, the effects obtained in 31 patients given 750 mg or 1000 mg of probucol daily (group P) were compared with those in 36 patients given 150 mg of dipyridamole daily (group D). Drug treatment was initiated at least 7 days before PTCA and was continued for 3 to 6 months after PTCA, at which time a follow-up angiography was performed. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics (age, sex, pre-PTCA severity of angina pectoris), the number of affected vessels undergoing dilatation, or the residual degree of stenosis. The restenosis rate was significantly lower in group P (6 cases, 19.4%) than in group D (15 cases, 41.7%). In the nonrestenosis subgroup, the degree of stenosis progressed from 28.0 +/- 13.9% just after PTCA to 32.4 +/- 20.5% at follow-up angiography in group P, while it progressed significantly from 28.6 +/- 15.6% to 40.1 +/- 21.2% in group D (P < 0.05). A significant drop in serum cholesterol was observed in group P. The restenosis rate was lower in patients with high cholesterol levels at PTCA. No adverse reactions were noted in any patient. We conclude that probucol is effective in preventing restenosis after PTCA.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Subchronic effects of static magnetic fields on cutaneous microcirculation in rabbits.

The subchronic effects of locally applied of static magnetic fields (SMF) on the cutaneous microcirculation within the rabbit ear chamber (REC) were evaluated under conscious conditions. The microcirculatory vasomotion within a REC was measured continuously and analyzed multilaterally by microphotoelectric plethysmography and an image shearing monitor. A SMF, a 180 mT (milli Tesla) cylindlical samarium-cobalt permanent magnet was attached on REC for 24 hours to 4 weeks Exposure to SMF for 1-3 weeks significantly induced long-lasting vasodilation with enhanced vasomotion as compared to control group. Thereafter the active vasomotion of SMF group was depressed and/or returned to initial values and there was no difference between SMF and control groups. The results suggest that the subchronic exposure of SMF can bidirectionally modulate microcirculatory vasomotion in cutaneous tissue.

Animals↗