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Biomedical subjects

H Yamano

Publications and source records attributed to H Yamano.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Time trends of the prevalences of hepatitis B e antigen positives among hepatitis B virus carriers in Japan.

In order to examine time trends of the prevalences of HBeAg positives among HBV carriers in Japan, we analysed data on HBeAg of HBsAg positive voluntary blood donors (23,560 males, and 8659 females) at the Osaka Red Cross Blood Centre between January 1977 and March 1984. Age-specific prevalences of HBeAg positives decreased year by year for both sexes, especially for those in their teens and twenties. The prevalences of HBeAg positives decreased with age, but at any given age it was lower for the later than for the earlier birth cohorts. Although reasons for the secular declines are unknown, the findings suggest that the prevalence of HBeAg positives among HBV carriers will continue to decrease in Japan. This, together with the immunization programme implemented this year, may lead to a future reduction in the risk of HBV related liver diseases in Japan.

Adolescent↗

Monoclonal gammopathies in Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

We report 10 Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) who developed monoclonal gammopathies (MG). One was of the IgG class, five of IgA, three of IgM, and one of IgG/IgM. The monoclonality of 7 of 10 M proteins was studied using antiidiotypic (Id) antibodies against M proteins. Four (three IgA and one IgM) of 10 M proteins had rheumatoid factor (RF) activity. Hemagglutination inhibition tests and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) showed that the RF activity was inhibited by anti-Id antibodies in all four monoclonal RFs. In two patients examined, many cells infiltrating into the salivary glands were stained with anti-Id antibodies. Our review of 19 Japanese SS patients with MG revealed that the non-IgM class predominated (13/19). This contrasts with 19 reported non-Japanese SS patients, among whom 14 were IgM. In both Japanese and non-Japanese patients there was a higher incidence of MG in primary than in secondary SS. The difference in the dominant heavy-chain class may reflect a difference in the genetic factors affecting B cell differentiation in immunologically disordered states.

Adult↗

Follow-up study of HBs Ag-positive blood donors with special reference to effect of drinking and smoking on development of liver cancer.

In order to confirm the close association between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in Japan, 8,646 male hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag)-positive blood donors (GPT less than or equal to 35 Karmen units) were followed up. Twenty liver cancer cases were observed during the follow-up period (average 6.2 years), the expected number calculated on the basis of age-specific incidence rates among the general population being 3.03. Therefore, the observed to expected ratio of liver cancer was 6.60, that is significantly higher than 1.0. During the same follow-up period, a total of 76 deaths were observed, of which 20 were due to liver cancers and 9 to liver cirrhoses, meaning that nearly 40% of deaths among the study subjects due to chronic liver diseases. Drinking and smoking habits in the liver cancer cases were compared with those observed in healthy male HBV carriers. A strong positive association between drinking habits and liver cancer was observed and there was a significant dose-response relationship after adjustment for cigarette smoking habits. A high risk of liver cancer was also observed among heavy smokers, but a significant dose-response relationship could not be found between smoking habits and liver cancer, partly because of the limited number of the study subjects. These findings suggest that HBV is a major etiologic agent of PHC in Japan where the HBs Ag prevalence rate is about 2%, and alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking may promote the process of HB viral hepato-carcinogenesis.

Adolescent↗

3-Chloro-D-alanine chloride-lyase (deaminating) of Pseudomonas putida CR 1.1. Purification and characterization of a novel enzyme occurring in 3-chloro-D-alanine-resistant pseudomonads.

A novel enzyme catalyzing cleavage of 3-chloro-D-alanine to pyruvate, ammonia, and chloride ion is distributed in some pseudomonads which have a resistance to high concentrations of 3-chloro-D-alanine. Pseudomonas putida CR 1-1 (AKU 867) was found to have the highest activity of enzyme, which was inducibly formed by the addition of 3-chloro-D-alanine to the medium. The enzyme, tentatively called 3-chloro-D-alanine chloride-lyase, was purified from P.l putida CR 1-1 in seven steps. After the last step, the enzyme appeared to be homogeneous by the criteria of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifuge, and double diffusion in agarose. The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 76,000 and consists of two subunits identical in molecular weight (approximately 38,000). The enzyme exhibits absorption maxima at 278 nm and 418 nm, which are independent of the pH (6.0-9.0), and contains 2 mol of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate/mol of the enzyme. The holoenzyme is resolved to the apoenzyme by incubation with phenylhydrazine and reconstituted by the addition of pyridoxal-P. The apoenzyme can be crystallized by adding ammonium sulfate. 3-Chloro-D-alanine chloride-lyase catalyzes an alpha, beta-elimination reaction of 3-chloro-D-alanine and also, but to a lesser extent, D-cysteine and D-cysteine. The enzyme also catalyzes a beta-replacement reaction of chlorine of 3-chloro-D-alanine with hydrosulfide to yield D-cysteine. The important role of this novel beta-lyase enzyme in the detoxication of e-chloro-D-alanine by P. putida CR 1-1 is also discussed.

Alanine↗