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Biomedical subjects

J Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to J Watanabe.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus in Japanese schoolchildren: comparison with adult blood donors.

A total of 1,442 schoolchildren in the Matsumoto City area were investigated for the prevalence of hepatitis virus-related serum markers, including antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and an abnormal serum transaminase level. Despite the large number of children tested, none was positive for anti-HCV antibodies or had been diagnosed as having viral hepatitis. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in children and adult blood donors in the same area increased significantly with age from 0% in the 6-15-year-old group to 1.14% in the 50-65-year-old group (P less than 0.001). Our results indicate that even if only the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results confirmed by the recombinant immunoblot assay are considered positive, the prevalence in children is significantly lower than that in blood donors (P less than 0.05). Six children were healthy carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV); all had been born to carrier mothers. These results indicate that apparently healthy schoolchildren in Japan have a low exposure to HCV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Presence of lower temperature-dependent antibody with low avidity to C100-3 (HCV) antigen in voluntary blood donors.

Serum samples with lower temperature-dependent antibody with low avidity to C100-3 (HCV) antigen were found in 0.19% of 23,197 voluntary blood donors at this blood center. They showed positive C100-3 antibody activity at 24 C but not at 37 C. The antibody activity bound to C100-3 antigen at lower temperature disappeared after incubation for 60 min at 37 C or treatment with 8 M urea. Other markers of hepatitis C virus infection, especially the presence of HCV-RNA were demonstrated in some of these serum samples and the importance of this phenomenon is discussed with regard to virus screening of blood donors for hepatitis C.

Antibody Affinity↗
PubMed1992

Effects of the herbal medicine "Sai-rei-to" on in vitro interferon-gamma production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The herbal medicine "Sai-rei-to" has been used in the treatment of swellings and edemas for about 3000 years in China. Recently, this drug has been prescribed as an adjuvant in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among Japan's western medicine doctors. It is thought to possess regulatory effects on the immune system, although its mode of action is not yet fully described. In the present in vitro study, we at first induced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy volunteers by adding pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2), or control medium. We then added "Sai-rei-to" to these cultures and investigated the effects of this drug on IFN-gamma production levels. The results demonstrated that "Sai-rei-to" had 2 different effects: (i) it inhibited the IFN-gamma production in cultures with PWM or PHA (which induced large volumes of IFN-gamma), and (ii) it increased IFN-gamma production in the cultures with IL-2 (IL-2 induced only small volumes of IFN-gamma). These findings indicate that "Sai-rei-to" possesses regulatory effects on the IFN-gamma production. IFN-gamma is an important cytokine in the immune system, and it has also attracted attention as a factor related to the pathogeneses of RA. Therefore, concomitant administration of such a medicine which can appropriately control IFN-gamma production in vivo could be beneficial for RA patients from the immunological viewpoint. Clinical experience in the past has shown that "Sai-rei-to" has a very low incidence of side effects, and can be administered orally for long periods. We expect that concomitant administration of "Sai-rei-to" with current therapy could be clinically useful in the management of RA patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1992

Quantitative analysis of rough endoplasmic reticulum in chondrocytes of articular and tracheal cartilage of rabbits following the systemic administration of hydrocortisone.

The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in chondrocytes was analysed stereologically in articular cartilage of knee joints and in tracheal cartilage of rabbits injected intramuscularly with 5 mg/kg hydrocortisone daily for 4 wk. In articular cartilage, RER area per unit cytoplasmic volume decreased in chondrocytes in all (superficial, middle and deep) zones, although the volume of glycogen deposits per unit cytoplasmic volume increased in the middle and deep zones. RER area per chondrocyte also decreased in the 3 zones without changes in average chondrocyte volume in the superficial and deep zones. Furthermore, the volume of glycogen deposits per chondrocyte did not alter in the 3 zones. These indicate a reduction of RER area in articular chondrocytes after hydrocortisone administration and suggest a decrease in the protein-synthesising capacity of these cells. In tracheal cartilage in which 2 zones were identifiable, RER area per unit cytoplasmic volume decreased in chondrocytes in both the superficial and main zones without changes in the volume of glycogen deposits per unit cytoplasmic volume. In addition, RER area per chondrocyte decreased in the main zone. The results suggest that the decrease in RER area in chondrocytes after corticosteroid administration is not specific to articular cartilage but is common to cartilage in various organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Alterations in femoral bone histomorphometry and vitamin D metabolism in neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

Histomorphometric examination and histological observation of femoral bone were performed on long-standing neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n2STZ, n5STZ) as a human model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The growth and strength of femurs decreased in the STZ diabetic rats. Histomorphometric parameters such as cortical bone thickness, number of metaphysical trabeculae and percent trabecular volume of metaphysical area all significantly decreased in the STZ diabetic rats. There were no significant differences in parameters between the n2STZ and n5STZ diabetic rats. Histological findings demonstrated no significant change in the number of osteoclasts in femur nor change corresponding to osteomalacia. Bone absorption in the STZ diabetic rats appeared unchanged. The plasma calcium level did not change in the STZ diabetic rats, although their plasma phosphate or A1-p levels increased. Circulating 24, 25 (OH)2D3 was significantly lower in the STZ diabetic rats than the controls. However, 25 (OH) D3 or biologically active 1, 25 (OH)2D3 was not different between the controls and STZ diabetic rats. Osteopenia is thus present in the femurs of long-standing neonatal STZ diabetic rats, due in part to abnormal vitamin D metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[A case of testicular tumor arising in the undescended testis].

A 42-year-old man with testicular tumor arising in the left undescended testis is reported. The patient had bilateral cryptorchidism and was admitted to our clinic on March 20, 1989, complaining of a mass in the lower abdomen. Colography indicated complete obstruction at the sigmoid colon, and computed tomography showed a larger mass in the lower abdomen and paraaortic lymph node swelling, as well as left hydronephrosis. We suspected that a testicular tumor had arisen in the undescended testis, and ileus was caused by the tumor mass. Since the patient was in a poor condition from preexisting ileus, chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, bleomycin and vinblastine (PVB regimen) was immediately started without confirming the histology. After two courses of PVB regimen, bilateral orchiectomy, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, and left nephrectomy were performed. Pathological examination of the testis and resected lymph nodes revealed no residual tumor cells, and we could not identify the original histology. Additionally, two courses of chemotherapy were performed after surgery. The patient is well without evidence of disease one year and ten months after surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Preliminary report on seroepidemiology of HCV and HBV infection in northern China.

1 141 serum samples from various population groups in north China were examined for C100-3Ab by ELISA. Antibody to C100-3 antigen derived from HCV genome (C100-3A) and HBsAg were measured in 438 normal population in Beijing. The C100-3Ab positive rate was 2.1% and the HBsAg positive rate was 2.5%. There is increased occurrence with age. In 649 cases of chronic liver diseases, the HBsAg positive rate was 87.1% in chronic persistent hepatitis (CPA), 88.8% in chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 64.9% in liver cirrhosis (LC) and 67.3% in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The C100-3Ab positive rate was 10.5% (CPH), 12.1% (CAH), 42.6% (LC) and 38.4% (HCC). It is noteworthy that the C100-3Ab positive rate significantly increased with disease progression from CPH to CAH, LC and HCC. Prevalence of cases positive for both C100-3Ab and HBsAg was 0% in the normal population, 6.7% in CPH, 8.4% in CAH, 31.1% in LC and 28.8% in HCC. Investigation of patients with HCV infection showed that only 36.8% had blood transfusions. HCV and HBV infection may play important pathogenic roles in CPH, CAH, LC and HCC in north China.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Plasmapheresis in the Tokai University Medical Center, 1983-1989.

There were 634 instances of plasmapheresis performed on 152 patients in the Kidney Center, Tokai University Hospital, in the seven year period from Jan. 1983 to Dec. 1989. The average number of plasmapheresis treatments per patient was highest for those with neurological and dermatological disease (6.7), followed by liver disease (5.6), and drug intoxication (1.2). The major treatment modalities for the liver, collagen, drug intoxication, hematologic, neurologic and hyperlipidemic disorders were plasma exchange (PE) and double filter plasmapheresis (DFPP). Recently, however, the use of plasma perfusion (PP) and immunoadsorbent plasma perfusion (IPP) has been increasing because of their ability to selectively adsorb various pathologic macromolecules.

Collagen Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Mechanical assistance of the left ventricle: acute effect on cardiac performance and coronary flow of different perfusion patterns.

Mechanical circulatory assistance by ventricular assist devices provides an opportunity to influence the aortic pressure pattern, which may affect ventricular loading and coronary perfusion. The effect of synchronous, pulsatile coronary perfusion of an assist device-supported left ventricle has not been studied. To analyze the effect of different perfusion patterns on left ventricular performance and on coronary flow, independent of pressure and volume loading, we used three different modes of aortic perfusion in an isometric, contracting, isolated canine heart model. The effect of nonpulsatile, counter-pulsatile, and copulsatile coronary perfusion was analyzed in four subgroups to simulate different, clinically relevant situations (using two different ventricular end-diastolic volumes [normal and high] and two mean perfusion pressures [normal and critically low]). Our experiments demonstrated that total coronary flow is optimized by making the perfusion pressure pulsatile and by synchronously timing the pump systole with ventricular diastole (counterpulsation). Under identical conditions of preload and mean perfusion pressure, coronary flow and left ventricular contractility were decreased during non-pulsatile and copulsatile aortic perfusion when compared with counterpulsatile flow. There were no significant differences between the nonpulsatile and copulsatile modes. We conclude from these data that a nonejecting, but contracting, left ventricle will have improved systolic function and coronary blood flow if the coronary perfusion pressure is synchronized in a counterpulsatile manner. This is a significant implication for mechanical left ventricular assist devices when used to promote myocardial recovery.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[A case of the diabetic nephropathy without hyperglycemia].

We report a case of diabetic nephropathy with impaired glucose tolerance. A 52 year obese woman with nephrotic syndrome and hypertension showed severe and remarkable edema, as her legs were elephantiasis. To be clear the etiology of nephrotic syndrome, we performed renal biopsy. The histological findings of the specimen showed glomerulosclerosis. Additionally the examination of ocular fundus revealed microaneurysm and avascular area. We concluded that diagnosis of this case must be non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗