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Biomedical subjects

I Moriyama

Publications and source records attributed to I Moriyama.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Association of a decrease in antithrombin III activity with a perinatal elevation in aspartate aminotransferase in women with twin pregnancies: relevance to the HELLP syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Decreased antithrombin III (AT-III) activity and/or thrombocytopenia associated with an elevated serum level of aspartate aminotransferase in late pregnancy can threaten the lives of both the mother and the fetus. We investigated whether antenatal declines in AT-III activity and the platelet count occur in late twin pregnancy and whether reduced AT-III activity and/or thrombocytopenia precedes an increase in the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase. METHODS: The platelet count, AT-III activity, and the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase were determined weekly or biweekly in 237 women with twin pregnancies in a longitudinal and partly prospective study. RESULTS: Both AT-III activity and the platelet count decreased gradually in the last month of pregnancy, irrespective of the presence or absence of clinical signs of pre-eclampsia. A perinatal elevation in aspartate aminotransferase occurred in 36 (15%) of 237 women. The risk of a perinatal elevation in aspartate amino-transferase increased as the antenatal AT-III activity and/or the platelet count decreased. Pre-eclampsia developed in 60 women (25%). The relative risk of a perinatal aspartate aminotransferase elevation (95% confidence interval) for the 60 women with pre-eclampsia, the 60 women with a platelet count < or = the 25th percentile (164 x 10(9)/1), and the 60 women with AT-III activity < or = the 25th percentile (76% of normal) was 1.9 (1.0 to 3.4), 4.1 (2.3 to 7.5), and 5.9 (3.2 to 11.1), respectively, compared with the remaining 177 women. CONCLUSIONS: AT-III activity and platelet count gradually decreased in the last month of twin pregnancies. A perinatal aspartate aminotransferase elevation was preceded by marked decreases in these parameters in women with twin pregnancies. The monitoring of AT-III activity and platelet count in women who exhibit a gradual decline in these parameters may help to avoid the development of severe HELLP syndrome.

Adult↗

Maxillary osteomyelitis secondary to osteopetrosis.

A 41-year-old Japanese woman complained of a gradually enlarging swelling of her left cheek for seven months. She was diagnosed with osteopetrosis by standard skeletal radiographs, and her cheek swelling was diagnosed as maxillary osteomyelitis secondary to osteopetrosis. She underwent a left partial maxillectomy, and her post-operative course was stable with no complications. A literature review is also presented.

Adult↗

A new instrument for use with Nd:YAG in tonsillectomy.

In tonsillectomy, unexpected bleeding can be one of the most troublesome surgical procedures to perform. To resolve some inherent problems, we have developed a new elevator with contact Nd:YAG laser probe for blunt dissection around the tonsillar capsule. Of 63 cases of laser tonsillectomies performed over 5 years, 51 cases were performed using conventional contact Nd:YAG laser probe and a chisel type dissector. Tonsillectomy in the remaining 12 cases was undertaken by the newly developed elevator with contact Nd:YAG laser probe. We compared clinical evaluation between laser and conventional procedures. Additionally, the advantage of laser tonsillectomy is discussed.

Adult↗

[The significance of determination of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) antibody during pregnancy].

HHV-6 which was detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes of lymphocytic patients is now said to be an agent causing exanthema subitum. We investigated the titer of HHV-6 antibody in 100 primigravida and 30 patients with spontaneous abortion by means of the indirect immunofluorescence method (IF method). The positive incidence in which the titer of HHV-6 antibody was more than 10 times in 100 primigravida was 82%. That of HHV-6 IgM antibody was 3% in those who had no complication during pregnancy. This supposes that there may be some women who were infected or were reactivated while they were pregnant. The positive incidence in 30 spontaneous abortion patients was 90%. 3 of them had IgM antibody to HHV-6, and HHV-6 antigen was detected on the epitherium of the chorionic villi by the IF method with HHV-6 monoclonal antibody in two of them. This suggests that the infection or reactivation of HHV-6 may be one of the causes of spontaneous abortions.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

[The platelet aggregation inhibiting activity in human placenta--study on the ADP degrading activity of human placental villi].

We studied the platelet aggregation inhibiting activity and ADP degrading activity of human placental villi (tissue culture supernatant) and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) and obtained the following results. 1. There existed a platelet aggregation inhibiting activity in tissue culture supernatant of villi (S-villi) but not in that of decidua or amnion. The S-villi inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by ADP, but not that induced by collagen, arachidonic acid or ristocetin. And, there was also ADP degrading activity (ADPase activity) in the S-villi. ADP was quickly degraded by S-villi. When ADP was preincubated with S-villi, the platelet aggregation induced by ADP was completely lost. 2. There was very strong platelet aggregation inhibiting activity in placental BBMV. The BBMV almost completely inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, arachidonic acid and ristocetin. And there was very strong ADP degrading activity in the placental BBMV. ADP was quickly degraded by BBMV. When ADP was preincubated with BBMV, the platelet aggregation induced by ADP was completely lost. 3. The enzymatic character (heat stability, enzymatic kinetics, Ca++ dependency and pH dependency) of ADP degrading activity in BBMV was very similar to that in S-villi. 4. The ADP degrading activity of both S-villi and solubilized BBMV were fractionated by anion exchange column chromatography and gel filtration column chromatography in similar patterns, and it was shown that ADP degrading substance of both S-villi and solubilized BBMV had a molecular weight of about 60K.

Apyrase↗

The prevalence at birth of cogenital malformations at a maternity hospital in Osaka City, 1948-1990.

The frequencies of congenital malformations at St. Barnabas' Hospital, Osaka were studied during the period 1948-1990. There were 1,418 malformed infants diagnosed during the first week of life among a total number of 131,996 births during the period. Of the 1.07% of malformed children, 0.90% had single and 0.17% had multiple malformations. The birth prevalence was 1.07% in singletons and 1.20% in twins. There was significant difference in prevalence between males (1.15%) and females (0.97%). The prevalence was 0.88% for the period 1948-1958 and increased with each year cohort up to the recent period when the value was 1.38%. Varus deformities of feet was the most common defect (23.4 per 10,000 births), followed by polydactyly (finger) (7.8), anencephaly (7.1), cleft lip and palate (6.5), syndactyly (toe) (6.5), cleft lip (6.3), and Down's syndrome (6.1). The prevalence of conjoined twins was 1 in 65,551 deliveries. Significant differences occurred between males and females for cleft palate, cleft lip and palate, syndactyly (finger), oligodactyly (finger), and hypoplastic auricle. The prevalences for valgus deformities of feet, syndactyly (toe) and atresia ani increased significantly with the year cohort, whereas the prevalence of cleft palate decreased significantly with the year cohort. Overall prevalence was significantly higher in 1970-1990 (1.28% than in 1948-1969 (0.88%). Similar results were examined for cleft lip and palate, syndactyly (finger), syndactyly (toe), hypospadias, hydrocele testis, and Down's syndrome.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

Detection of IL-6 in human milk and its involvement in IgA production.

A large amount of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be contained in human whey. The concentration of IL-6 in colostrum was significantly higher than that in serum or in milk taken 1 month after parturition. Colostrum contained many more mononuclear cells than late milk. In terms of the proportion of monocytes, T cells and B cells, however, there is no difference between colostrum and late milk. There is a significantly positive correlation between the concentration of IL-6 and the number of mononuclear cells in milk. This demonstrates that IL-6 in whey is derived in part from mononuclear cells. Stimulation of human milk mononuclear cells by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I in the presence of anti-IL-6 antibody markedly decreased the production of IgA. This suggests that IL-6 contained in milk is closely associated with the local production of IgA in the breast.

Breast↗

The mechanism of human placental urea transport: a study using placental brush border (microvillous) membrane vesicles.

To elucidate the mechanism of placental amino acid transport, the transport of amino acids into brush border membrane vesicles was investigated using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) separated from the human full-term placenta. 1. The transport of l-alanine and l-glutamine into the brush border membrane vesicles prepared from either early gestational placenta or full-termed placenta disclosed a typical overshooting phenomenon in the presence of H+ concentration gradient (extravesicular pH greater than intravesicular pH). 2. The H(+)-dependent overshooting transport of urea into the brush border membrane vesicles disappeared in the presence of H+ ionophore. 3. The initial velocity of H+ concentration gradient dependent uptake of urea into the brush border membrane vesicles was regulated by the saturation kinetics determined by the concentration of urea. The values of Km and Vmax, calculated as the kinetic parameters of urea transport by reciprocal plotting of the initial velocity of uptake and the concentration of urea, were 10.8 mM and 410 mumol/mg protein/10 sec, respectively. The above results indicate that a transport system which transports urea in exchange for H+ exists in human full-term placental microvillous membrane.

Biological Transport↗

[Skin approximation using Nd: YAG laser in head and neck surgery].

Laser is useful for surgery to cut, coagulate, vaporize and weld the tissue. Recently, low power laser was utilized for the treatment of ulcer, pain and vascular anastomosis. We applied low power Nd: YAG laser irradiation for skin approximation. An experimental study was carried out by using the Nd: YAG laser in approximating the surgically cut skin wound of guinea pigs. Healing of the wound was observed on post operative days of 3, 7 and 21, respectively. Laser approximation for the incised skin showed less scaring and faster healing than conventional suture technique. This laser technique will be beneficial as one of the new procedures of skin suture in clinical practice. The results were discussed from either technical or cosmetic standpoint.

Adult↗

[The study on the degradation of prostacyclin activity in tissue culture supernatant of human placental villi].

To clarify the role of placental villi in maintaining microcirculation in the placenta, we investigated the action to protect the activity of prostacyclin in the tissue culture supernatant of human placental villi. 1. The platelet aggregation inhibiting activity of prostacyclin was decreased very rapidly in Ringer buffer. 2. The tissue culture supernatant of human placental villi has an action which protects the activity of prostacyclin. On the other hand, in the tissue culture supernatant of human placental decidua no such action is prominent. 3. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) also has an action which protects the activity of prostacyclin. These results indicated that human placental villi play an important role in maintaining placental microcirculation by producing substances which have a protective on the activity of prostacyclin.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

[A study of underlying immunoglobulin production by neonates].

During the prenatal period the ability of the fetus mononuclear cells (MNC) to produce antibodies is impaired. 1. In term infants, IgG production with only Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC) stimulation was significantly decreased (p less than 0.00005) as compared with adults. However, when adult MNC supernatant stimulated with Pokeweed mitogen (PWM-sup) was given to full term infants, antibody production significantly increased. 2. The activity inducing antibody production in the full term infant MNC is present primarily in the adult T cell culture supernatant. 3. B cell differentiation factor gamma (BCDF gamma) and BCDF mu, which induce IgG and IgM production, respectively, were significantly reduced in premature and full term infants (p less than 0.00005) as compared with adult. 4. By giving adult PWM-sup to the under 33-week-old infants MNC with SAC stimulation, the induction of both IgG and IgM was reduced, and IgG production was especially inadequate. From the above, it is thought that in full term infants, the production of BCDF gamma and BCDF mu which are produced by T cells is reduced compared to that of adults, and that this is mainly responsible for the reduced antibody production. In addition, in the under 33-week-old infants, the immaturity of B cells and inadequate BCDF production induce underlying poor or inadequate immunoglobulin production.

Adult↗

[The role of vitamin E during pregnancy--anti-platelet aggregation activity of alpha-tocopherol].

To clarify the role of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) during pregnancy, we mainly investigated the relation between platelet function and vitamin E and obtained the following results. 1. The concentration of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in plasma and platelet increased gradually during pregnancy. The concentration of vitamin E in plasma was 6.65 micrograms/ml in non pregnant women and 15.5 micrograms/ml in full term pregnant women. And the concentration of vitamin E in platelet was 99 micrograms/g protein in non pregnant women and 244 micrograms/g protein in full term pregnant women. 2. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and PAF(platelet activating factor). At a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml vitamin E almost completely inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and PAF. 3. There exists a strong platelet aggregation inhibiting activity in human placental brush border membrane vesicles. At a protein concentration of 20 micrograms/ml the brush border membrane vesicles almost completely inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and PAF. 4. With the co-existence of the brush border membrane vesicles, the platelet aggregation inhibiting activity of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) increased prominently. These results indicate that vitamin E plays an important role in the regulation of platelet function and might contribute to the maintenance of placental microcirculation by inhibiting platelet aggregation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Production of IL-6 (BSF-2/IFN beta 2) by mononuclear cells in premature and term infants.

The production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) was examined in premature neonates (48 cases, including 3 miscarried fetuses) and fullterm neonates (20 cases). The IL-6 production by mononuclear cells was measured after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan Strain I (SAC), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The production in full-term neonates was similar to that in healthy adults, whereas it was significantly lower in premature neonates without premature rupture of the membrane (PROM). However, in premature infants with PROM a normal level of IL-6 production was observed in mononuclear cells stimulated with SAC, PHA and LPS. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the IgM concentration in the cord serum and IL-6 production by LPS-stimulated mononuclear cells.

Humans↗

Identification of HTLV-I sequence in cord blood mononuclear cells of neonates born to HTLV-I antigen/antibody-positive mothers by polymerase chain reaction.

We developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method which has high sensitivity and simple technique in order to investigate the presence or absence of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) provirus in cord blood mononuclear cells of neonates born to HTLV-I carrier mothers. Out of 40, three subjects were found to contain the HTLV-I provirus genome. These three subjects remained HTLV-I sequence-positive in follow-up study. On the other hand, when examined by a conventional technique for detection of HTLV-I-associated antigen on peripheral mononuclear cells, all 40 neonates were HTLV-I-associated antigen-negative. These results suggest that PCR is more sensitive than the conventional antigen detection method and is useful in early detection of HTLV-I infection in neonates born to HTLV-I carriers.

Base Sequence↗

p24 protein of a human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) producing cell line (TCL-Kan) reacts with some normal pregnant women's sera.

Some HTLV-1 antibody carrying pregnant women, who are rated by the gelatin particle agglutination (PA) method, show no expression of HTLV-I antigen in their peripheral blood lymphocytes. Paying attention to this fact, the authors recently studied the reaction of the antibody contained in the PA-positive sera with the antigen protein used for the PA method. This study demonstrated that the protein responsible for non-specific reaction has a molecular weight of 24,000 and that the isoelectric point of this protein differs from that of HTLV-I specific protein.

Agglutination Tests↗