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Biomedical subjects

K Kaneda

Publications and source records attributed to K Kaneda.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Anterior correction of thoracic scoliosis with Kaneda anterior spinal system. A preliminary report.

STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of the clinical results of 20 patients with thoracic scoliosis treated by anterior procedure with Kaneda anterior spinal system. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of the anterior surgical correction procedure with a new anterior instrumentation in thoracic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Posterior correction and fusion with posterior instrumentation has been a main component of the surgical management of thoracic scoliosis. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no clinical results of anterior instrumentation surgery for thoracic scoliosis have been published in the English literature. METHODS: Anterior correction and fusion using Kaneda anterior spinal system was performed in 20 patients with thoracic scoliosis (3 patients with King Type II curve, 13 with Type III, and 4 with Type IV). The average follow-up was 3 years, with a range of 2 years, 3 months to 4 years, 1 month. There were 1B patients with idiopathic scoliosis (13 adolescents and 5 adults) and 2 patients with a single thoracic curve caused by other etiologies. All patients had correction of scoliosis by fusion within the major thoracic curve. Radiographic evaluations were performed to analyze frontal, sagittal, and rotational deformities of the spine. RESULTS: The average correction rate of scoliosis was 71%. Above the instrumented levels, the correction rate was 75%. Preoperative kyphosis of the instrumented levels of 7 degrees was corrected to 14 degrees of kyphosis. The trunk shift was improved from 17 mm before surgery to 9 mm at final follow-up evaluation. The average improvement of the tilt-angle in the lower and vertebra of fusion was 81%, and was 83% in the stable vertebra. Apical vertebral rotation showed correction rate of 15% in patients without performing resection of the rib head joints and rod rotation maneuver (n = 6). However, the correction rate was improved to 58% after introduction of the technique discussed (n = 14). The angle of tangential rib deformity (rib hump) showed a correction rate of 50%. There was 1.2 degrees of frontal plane and 1.0 degree of sagittal plane correction loss within the instrumented area at final follow-up evaluation. At final follow-up, nonunion at the uppermost segment of the fusion range developed in one patient, and decompensation in the lumbar spine was observed in one patient with Type II curve. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior correction with Kaneda anterior spinal system provides excellent correction of the frontal curvature and sagittal alignment by fusing within the range of the major curve, without a significant loss of correction and implant failure. Rigid rotational deformity of the thoracic scoliosis is effectively corrected by resection of the rib head joints and rod rotation maneuver. However, too much correction of the thoracic curve should be avoided, to prevent decompensation of the lumbar curve, especially in Type II curves.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effects of B vitamins on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in retinal cultures.

The effects of B vitamins on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity were examined using primary cultures obtained from the rat retina. Cell viability was markedly reduced by a brief exposure to glutamate followed by incubation with glutamate-free media for 1 h. Glutamate cytotoxicity was reduced in the cultures that had been maintained in thiamine-, pyridoxine- or nicotinamide-containing medium before the exposure to glutamate. Glutamate cytotoxicity was also reduced by chronic application of thiamine pyrophosphate and pyridoxal phosphate, which are active coenzyme forms of thiamine and pyridoxine, respectively. By contrast, chronic application of riboflavin, pantothenate, biotin, folic acid and inositol did not affect glutamate cytotoxicity. None of the B vitamins tested had any effect on glutamate cytotoxicity when added only during the exposure to glutamate. These findings suggest that chronically applied thiamine, pyridoxine and nicotinamide protect retinal neurons against glutamate cytotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Risk factors and probability of vertebral body collapse in metastases of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

STUDY DESIGN: The associations between vertebral body collapse and the size or location of the metastatic lesions were analyzed statistically to estimate the critical point of collapse. OBJECTIVES: To determine risk factors for collapse, to estimate the predicted probability of collapse under various states of metastatic vertebral involvement, and to establish the criteria of impending collapse. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Pathologic vertebral collapse brings about severe pain and paralysis in patients with cancer. Prevention of collapse plays a significant role in maintaining or improving their quality of life. Because no previous study has clarified the critical point of vertebral collapse, however, the optimum timing for prophylactic treatment has been unclear. METHODS: The size and location of metastatic tumor from Th1 to L5 were evaluated radiologically for 100 thoracic and lumbar vertebrae with osteolytic lesions. The correlations between collapse and the following risk factors (x1-x4) were determined by means of a multivariate logistic regression model: x1, tumor size (the percentage of tumor occupancy in the vertebral body [% TO]); x2, pedicle destruction, x3, posterior element destruction; and x4, costovertebral joint destruction. RESULTS: Significant risk factors were costovertebral joint destruction (odds ratio, 10.17; P = 0.021) and tumor size (odds ratio of every 10% increment in %TO, 2.44; P = 0.032) in the thoracic region (Th1-Th10), whereas, tumor size (odds ratio of every 10% increment in %TO, 4.35; P = 0.002) and pedicle destruction (odds ratio, 297.08; P = 0.009) were main factors in the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine (Th10-L5). The criteria of impending collapse were: 50-60% involvement of the vertebral body with no destruction of other structures, or 25-30% involvement with costovertebral joint destruction in the thoracic spine; and 35-40% involvement of vertebral body, or 20-25% involvement with posterior elements destruction in thoracolumbar and lumbar spine. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the timing and occurrence of vertebral collapse, there is a distinct discrepancy between the thoracic and thoracolumbar or lumbar spine. When a prophylactic treatment is required, the optimum timing and method of treatment should be selected according to the level and extent of the metastatic vertebral involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of in situ freezing and stress-shielding on the ultrastructure of rabbit patellar tendons.

The effects of in situ freezing and the combination of in situ freezing and stress-shielding on the microstructure and ultrastructure of the patellar tendon were studied with use of 20 mature rabbits. The patellar tendon was frozen in situ with liquid nitrogen to kill fibroblasts and then was completely released from stress by chronically pulling a stainless-steel wire installed between the patella and the tibial tubercle. Microstructurally, the freezing treatment induced separation of collagen fiber bundles and fibroblast necrosis at 3 weeks, although the separation disappeared at 6 weeks. Ultrastructurally, small collagen fibrils with a diameter of less than 90 nm were predominant; at 6 weeks, the area occupied by collagen fibrils had decreased. In the frozen-shielded tendon, numerous large spaces were observed in the matrix at 3 weeks. This treatment increased the number of fibrils with a diameter greater than 360 nm and decreased the number of collagen fibrils per unit of area and the area occupied by collagen fibrils at 3 weeks. This study demonstrated that in situ freezing and the combination of in situ freezing and stress-shielding leads to a smaller volume of collagen fibrils per unit of cross section of the patellar tendon by mechanisms that remain to be defined.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Granuloma formation activity and mycolic acid composition of mycobacterial cord factor.

We analyzed the mycolic acid composition of trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) obtained from Mycobacterium, using thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Utilizing TDM, whose structure was confirmed, granuloma formation in mice was investigated. All TDM used exhibited considerable granuloma formation activity in the lung and spleen. In particular, TDM from M. bovis showed the greatest activity and toxicity among mycobacterial TDM. We therefore discussed the relationship between the chemical structure and granuloma-forming activity of TDM, especially in relation to the structure of mycolic acid in TDM.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The tumor-bearing state induces augmented responses of organ-associated lymphocytes to high-dose interleukin-2 therapy in mice.

A high-dose bolus regimen for interleukin(IL)-2 administration to cancer patients frequently causes serious side-effects in which various organs are involved. In order to reveal the mechanism of toxicities associated with this regimen, we compared the augmenting effect of high-dose IL-2 on murine organ-associated lymphocytes between neoplastic and non-neoplastic states. Intraperitoneal administration of IL-2 at a dose of 10(5) JRU (Japanese Reference Units) twice daily for 3 days led to the death of all the syngeneic MH134-hepatoma- or X5563-myeloma-bearing mice, whereas it had no lethal effect on non-tumor-bearing mice. Histological and morphometric analyses demonstrated that tumor-bearing mice displayed more extensive infiltration of large granular lymphocytes and agranular lymphocytes in the liver and lungs than did the non-tumor-bearing mice. Large granular lymphocytes had the ultrastructural characteristics of lymphokine-activated killer cells. Lymphocytes often underwent extravasation into the interstitial space and exhibited local proliferation without causing any direct injury to apposed parenchymal cells. Flow-cytometric analysis of hepatic mononuclear cells demonstrated that IL-2-receptor-beta (IL-2R beta)-bearing lymphocytes, i.e., natural killer cells and intermediate CD3 cells, were increased in number in the neoplastic state before the IL-2 injection. The present study indicates that the tumor-bearing state increases the number of organ-associated IL-2R beta + lymphocytes, which are then greatly amplified by the challenge of high-dose IL-2, leading to the functional disturbance of organs. We have further demonstrated here that an intermittent low-dose IL-2 regimen has a potential therapeutic effect on tumor regression without causing lethal side-effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Establishment of a new continuous clear cell sarcoma cell line. Morphological and cytogenetic characterization and detection of chimaeric EWS/ATF-1 transcripts.

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS), a rare tumour of deep soft tissues, often has a t(12; 22) (q13; q12) translocation that induces the formation of a hybrid EWS/ATF-1 gene. To investigate these alterations further, we established a new continuous cell line directly from a CCS taken from a 9-year-old girl. The cultures were characterized with respect to morphological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and karyotypical features and were tested by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for chimaeric EWS/ATF-1 transcripts. The continuous cell line, designated KAO, is tumorigenic in nude mice, and the resultant tumours resemble the primary CCS. The tumour cells and the cultured cells have melanosomes in their cytoplasm and are immunoreactive with the melanoma-specific antibody HMB45, but do not express S-100 protein. The cultured CCS cells have the t(12; 22)(q13; q12) translocation and express the hybrid EWS/ATF-1 gene. No transcripts of the hybrid gene were detected in a malignant cutaneous melanoma tested simultaneously. Although CCS and malignant melanoma are morphologically related, the present results suggest that their geneses differ at the chromosome and molecular levels. They also indicate that chromosome analysis and detection of fusion EWS/ATF-1 transcripts may be useful adjuvant tools for the diagnosis of CCS.

Activating Transcription Factor 1↗
PubMed1997

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor induces phagocytosis of foreign particles by macrophages in autocrine and paracrine fashion.

Exposure to foreign particles sometimes causes inflammatory reactions through production of cytokines and chemoattractants by phagocytic cells. In this study, we focused on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) to evaluate its pathophysiological role in the phagocytic process. Immunohistochemical analysis of human pseudosynovial tissues retrieved at revision of total hip arthroplasty showed that infiltrating mononuclear and multinuclear cells were positively stained by both an anti-CD68 antibody and anti-human MIF antibody. For in vitro study, MIF was released from murine macrophage-like cells (RAW 264.7) in response to phagocytosis of fluorescent-latex beads in a particle dose-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis showed marked elevation of the MIF mRNA level in the phagocytic macrophage-like cells. Moreover, pretreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with rat recombinant MIF increased the extent of phagocytosis by 1.6-fold compared with the control. Taken together, these results suggest that MIF plays an important role by activating macrophages in autocrine and paracrine fashion to phagocytose foreign particles.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Effects of carboxy-PTIO on systemic hemodynamics, liver energetics, and concentration of liver metabolites during endotoxic shock in rabbits: a 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO), a nitric oxide scavenger, on the lipopolysaccharide-induced hypotension, hepatocellular dysfunction, and liver damage in endotoxic rabbits. DESIGN: Experimental, comparative study. SETTING: Laboratory of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighteen Japanese white rabbits (3.0 to 3.2 kg body weight) anesthetized with ketamine-xylazine were studied. INTERVENTIONS: We randomly divided the rabbits into three groups: saline controls (group 1, n = 5); animals receiving lipopolysaccharide (400 micrograms/kg) alone (group 2, n = 8); and animals receiving lipopolysaccharide plus carboxy-PTIO at a rate of 0.17 mg/kg/min for 3 hrs (group 3, n = 5). Blood gases and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored. In vivo phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectra were continuously obtained every 30 mins. In addition, the livers were sampled and underwent fractionation at 7 hrs after lipopolysaccharide administration. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic extracts from the livers were analyzed by in vitro hydrogen-1 and phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After the administration of lipopolysaccharide, the first phase of decrease in MAP within 30 mins was followed by partial recovery within the next 30 mins. In group 2, MAP started to decrease progressively within 180 mins after lipopolysaccharide administration (second phase) and decreased by 33% from the baseline value to 49 +/- 9 mm Hg at 420 mins. In contrast, the infusion of carboxy-PTIO significantly attenuated the second decrease in MAP (68 +/- 10 mm Hg, at 420 mins). In group 2, a slow and progressive decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and increase in inorganic phosphate concentrations occurred from 120 mins after lipopolysaccharide administration, and continued throughout the observation period. These changes were accompanied by a progressive decrease in intracellular pH. On the other hand, in group 3, there were no significant changes in ATP and inorganic phosphate concentrations compared with the controls from 120 to 360 mins after lipopolysaccharide administration. Moreover, restorations of both arterial and hepatocellular acidosis were observed in group 3. The differences of the degree of liver damage--as determined by the total amount of phospholipid, free fatty acids concentration, and membrane fluidity--were not significant among the three groups. Three of eight rabbits in group 2 died within 7 hrs, but no animal in the other two groups died during the study. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the infusion of carboxy-PTIO: a) prevented the delayed hypotension associated with endotoxic shock in rabbits; b) returned the hepatocellular ATP concentrations nearly to the level of the controls and alleviated hepatocellular acidosis; c) normalized various hydrophilic metabolites, such as lactate and alanine in the liver; and d) did not exacerbate liver injury after the administration of lipopolysaccharide. These findings indicate that carboxy-PTIO, a nitric oxide scavenger, may have a positive vasopressor effect during hypodynamic septic shock without exacerbating liver injury.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1997

In vivo induction of apoptosis in the thymus by administration of mycobacterial cord factor (trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate).

It is reported that some bacteria or bacterial components cause thymic atrophy via the apoptotic process. The present study demonstrated for the first time in vivo induction of apoptosis in the mouse thymus by mycobacterial cord factor (CF) (trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate). When 300 microg of purified CF from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was intravenously administered to BALB/c mice in the form of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion, thymic atrophy and pulmonary granulomas were induced with a peak on day 7, whereas, in the form of liposomes, CF induced thymic atrophy on days 14 to 21 in parallel with the development of hepatic granulomas. Thymic atrophy resulted from the depletion of cortical lymphocytes via apoptosis as revealed by DNA fragmentation and karyorrhectic changes. In contrast, mycobacterial sulfatide (2,3,6,6'-tetraacyl trehalose 2'-sulfate) caused neither thymic atrophy nor granuloma formation. Compared to lipopolysaccharide-induced thymocyte apoptosis, CF (w/o/w)-induced thymocyte apoptosis developed more slowly, reached a maximum later, and lasted longer but was less intense. Although serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in CF-treated mice were not significantly elevated, administration of anti-TNF-alpha antibody almost completely inhibited thymic atrophy and granuloma formation. Serum corticosterone levels were only slightly elevated by CF administration. The present results indicate that mycobacterial CF induces thymic atrophy via apoptosis, which is closely linked with granuloma formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Glycosphingolipid-binding protein of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

The binding of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, to glycosphingolipids present in various types of cells was examined. B. burgdorferi bound specifically to galactosylceramide (GalCer) and glucosylceramide (GlcCer) but not to other glycosphingolipids, as determined by a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) overlay assay. The binding specificity of B. burgdorferi to various glycosphingolipids suggested that the binding receptor in this species is ceramide monohexoside. The levels of binding of B. burgdorferi virulent strain 297 to GlcCer, sulfatide, lactosylceramide, and galactosylgloboside were 56.2, 1.6, 15.9, and 9.7%, respectively, relative to that to GalCer. Virulent low-passage strains of B. burgdorferi were serially subcultured in BSK II medium, and the resultant high-passage strains were not capable of infecting mice and did not induce footpad swelling. The levels of binding of the low-passage strains to GalCer on TLC plates and to CHO-K1 cells in vitro were threefold higher than those of high-passage strains. Binding was not affected by pretreatment of Borrelia with monospecific anti-outer surface protein C (OspC) antiserum. These results indicated that the binding of Borrelia to glycosphingolipid expressed on the cell surface plays an essential role in infection of mammalian hosts. However, OspC was not associated with binding. The necessity of the sugar and N-acyl moieties in GalCer for the binding of Borrelia was shown by a TLC overlay assay using chemically modified GalCer. Furthermore, three proteins, 67-kDa protein, 62-kDa Hsp60, and 41-kDa flagellin, were involved in binding of B. burgdorferi to GalCer, as shown by blotting assay using biotinylated GalCer as a probe.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Free vascularised fibular strut graft for anterior spinal fusion.

A vascularised fibular strut graft was used for anterior spinal fusion in 16 patients with spinal kyphosis. The procedure was abandoned in three because of difficulty in establishing a vascular anastomosis and in one because the grafted fibula dislodged two days after operation. One patient died after five days. Of the 11 remaining patients, there were seven males and four females. Their ages at the time of operation averaged 30.9 years (12 to 71). The number of vertebrae fused averaged 6.7 (5 to 9) and the length of fibula grafted averaged 10.9 cm (6.5 to 18). Average follow-up was 54 months (27 to 84). Bone union occurred at both ends of the grafted fibula in all 11 patients, with an average time to union of 5.5 months (3 to 8). We did not see a fracture of the grafted fibula. Two patients had postoperative complications; the graft dislodged in one and laryngeal oedema occurred two days after operation in the other. A vascularised fibular strut graft provides a biomechanically stable and long-standing support in spinal fusion because the weak phase of creeping substitution does not take place in the graft.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Anterior decompression and stabilization with the Kaneda device for thoracolumbar burst fractures associated with neurological deficits.

One hundred and fifty consecutive patients who had a burst fracture of the thoracolumbar spine and associated neurological deficits were managed with a single-stage anterior spinal decompression, strut-grafting, and Kaneda spinal instrumentation. At a mean of eight years (range, five years to twelve years and eleven months) after the operation, radiographs showed successful fusion of the injured spinal segment in 140 patients (93 per cent). Ten patients had a pseudarthrosis, and all were managed successfully with posterior spinal instrumentation and a posterolateral arthrodesis. The percentage of the canal that was obstructed, as measured on computed tomography, improved from a preoperative mean of 47 per cent (range, 24 to 92 per cent) to a postoperative mean of 2 per cent (range, 0 to 8 per cent). Despite breakage of the Kaneda device in nine patients, removal of the implant was not necessary in any patient. None of the patients had iatrogenic neurological deficits. After the anterior decompression, the neurological function of 142 (95 per cent) of the 150 patients improved by at least one grade, as measured with a modification of the grading scale of Frankel et al. Fifty-six (72 per cent) of the seventy-eight patients who had preoperative paralysis or dysfunction of the bladder recovered completely. One hundred and twenty-five (96 per cent) of the 130 patients who were employed before the injury returned to work after the operation, and 112 (86 per cent) of them returned to their previous job without restrictions. We concluded that anterior decompression, strut-grafting, and fixation with the Kaneda device in patients who had a burst fracture of the thoracolumbar spine and associated neurological deficits yielded good radiographic and functional results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Maturation of the posterolateral spinal fusion and its effect on load-sharing of spinal instrumentation. An in vivo sheep model.

UNLABELLED: We investigated the temporal relationship among the biomechanical, radiographic, and histological properties of a posterolateral spinal fusion mass to elucidate the changes in load-sharing of the spinal instrumentation and that of the fusion mass throughout the healing process. Destabilization of the posterior spinal column and transpedicular screw fixation at the segments between the third and fourth and the fifth and sixth lumbar vertebrae was performed in twenty-four sheep. A posterolateral spinal arthrodesis with use of autologous corticocancellous bone graft was done randomly at one of the two segments; the other segment (without bone graft) served as the instrumented control. Six animals each were killed at four, eight, twelve, and sixteen weeks postoperatively. Biomechanical testing showed that the posterolateral fusion mass had increased mechanical stiffness after the fourth week. The strain on the hardware, measured with use of rods instrumented with strain-gauges, decreased significantly (p < 0.01) beginning at eight weeks. Radiographically, three independent observations of each of the six animals at each time-period showed that, although all of the fusion masses were considered solid unions at sixteen weeks, bridging of trabecular bone was noted during only ten of eighteen observations at twelve weeks, three of eighteen observations at eight weeks, and none of eighteen observations at four weeks. Computerized tomography and histomorphometric analyses demonstrated that mineralization in the fusion mass increased in a linear fashion even after eight weeks. Histologically, the fusion mass consisted predominantly of woven bone at eight weeks; thereafter, it was gradually trabeculated. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We found a great discrepancy between biomechanical stability and histological maturation of the posterolateral fusion mass. The biomechanical properties of a stable spinal fusion preceded the radiographic appearance of a solid fusion by at least eight weeks, suggesting that immature woven bone provided substantial stiffness to the fusion mass. The spinal instrumentation was subjected predominantly to bending stress rather than to axial stress, and the load-sharing of the spinal instrumentation decreased concurrently with the development of the spinal fusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

CJ-12,954 and its congeners, new anti-Helicobacter pylori compounds produced by Phanerochaete velutina: fermentation, isolation, structural elucidation and biological activities.

Seven new phthalide compounds with anti-Helicobacter pylori activities were isolated from the basidiomycete Phanerochaete velutina CL6387. The two most potent phthalide compounds, CJ-12,954 and CJ-13,014, have MICs of 5 ng/ml. The structure-activity relationship shows that the presence of a spiroketal part in addition to the phthalide part, greatly enhances the activity. The phthalide compounds appear to be specific for H. pylori, since they did not show antibacterial activities when tested against a panel of other microorganisms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses of in situ activation of hepatic stellate cells around Propionibacterium acnes-induced granulomas in the rat liver.

Stellate cells embrace the hepatic sinusoids as pericytes. To demonstrate their activation in juxta-sinusoidal location, we induced hepatic granulomatous inflammation, which did not accompany liver injury nor fibrosis, by administrating a low dose (10 mg/kg b.w.) of heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes into rats. Macrophages and lymphocytes migrated out of the sinusoid and made compact granulomas in the space of Disse. Stellate cells which faced on the granulomas were closely attached to the sinusoidal endothelial cells and extended projections into the spaces between the constituent mononuclear cells of granulomas. They did not migrate into granulomas nor displayed mitosis. Immunohistochemically, stellate cells around the granulomas expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), whereas those in the non-granulomatous regions did not. Small deposits of type III collagen were found at the periphery of granulomas. Biochemical analysis showed an increased amount of alpha-SMA protein and type III collagen mRNA in the granuloma-bearing liver. Transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor were detected within the granulomas. The present study has revealed that stellate cells are activated in situ by extrasinusoidal macrophages in a paracrine manner without being detached from the sinusoidal wall.

Animals↗