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Biomedical subjects

M Shimizu

Publications and source records attributed to M Shimizu.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

Severe cutaneous and venous damage after DIC therapy.

A 79-year-old woman with skin ulcers caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) therapy is reported. The patient had been treated by injection of drugs, including gabexate mesilate, into the right great saphenous vein. The maximum concentration of gabexate mesilate was calculated as 0.893%. Although the drugs did not extravasate, purpura initially appeared around the affected vein, followed by brown pigmentation with infiltration and ulcers with widely necrotic tissue from the middle portion of her thigh to the malleolus along her right great saphenous vein. As the ulcer showed no tendency to heal for more than 3 months, surgical debridement and skin grafts were performed.

Aged↗

A case of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, systemic sclerosis and Sjögren syndrome.

We report the case of a 42-year-old Japanese woman who developed multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MR) complicated by systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Sjögren syndrome (SS). The patient complained of tender nodules on the left hand, polyarthralgia in the finger joints and knees, and xerostomia. The skin nodules were distributed mainly on her hands and fingers with skin sclerosis. The serum anti-nuclear test revealed anti-centromere antibody and the discrete speckled pattern of anti-nuclear antibody. The biopsy specimens from the finger nodule and the sclerotic finger skin showed a perivascular infiltration of multinucleated giant cells with ground-glass cytoplasm and dermal thick collagen proliferation, respectively. The lip biopsy and sialography specimens showed periductal lymphocyte infiltration and apple tree-like changes. Systemic corticosteroid treatment improved the polyarthritis, xerostomia, and skin sclerosis rapidly but suppressed the nodular lesions only gradually. This is the first report of a combined case of MR, SSc and SS. This multiple autoimmune complication suggests the involvement of an immunological disturbance in the pathogenesis of MR.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix uteri: a case report.

We report a rare case of adenoid basal carcinoma of the uterine cervix, unexpectedly found in a uterus resected for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3. The patient was a 47-year-old Japanese female. She received a total abdominal hysterectomy under a diagnosis of CIN 3 of the cervix. Grossly, there were no significant findings in the surgical specimens. Microscopically, in seven of the 12 blocks of the cervix examined, scattered small nests of uniform small cells, which extended 4 mm below the epithelial surface, with dark nuclei and scant cytoplasm were observed. Peripheral palisading as well as the formation of gland-like or acinar structures were noted. The latter were positive for mucicarmine. Stromal reaction was not obvious. There were also foci of squamous differentiation in some portions of the small nests. Occasional mitoses as well as large atypical cells were also seen in this area. Immunohistochemically, the foci of squamous differentiation were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. The epithelial surface in other portions showed CIN 3 with crypt extension. Distinction between adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix and other diseases, such as adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with basaloid features, is important for clinical management because the clinical behavior of adenoid basal carcinoma is less malignant.

Carcinoma↗

[Trend of bacterial meningitis in children over a 14 year period (1981 through 1994) in Japan--an analysis based on studies in 27 institutions].

We observed 266 children with purulent meningitis in 27 institutions in Japan during the 14 years from 1981 on dividing these years into 3 periods, 1981-1985, 1986-1990 and 1991-1994, and studied the trend of causative organisms identified in 254 among the 266 patients. Their ages were less than 3 months after birth in 50 children and 3 months or older in 216: there were 141 boys and 125 girls. The causative organisms were H. influenzae in 134 patients and S. pneumoniae in 50, most of them being aged 3 months or older. Next to the above bacteria ranked S. agalactiae in 29 and E. coli in 12, many of the patients were aged less than 3 months. Staphylococcus spp. was found in 7 patients and about 70% of them were aged 3 months or older. L. monocytogenes was found in 4 patients and N. meningitidis in 3 and they were aged 3 months or older in both patient groups. S. pyogenes, Enterococcus spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., P. Mirabilis and Enterobacter spp. were detected each in 1 patient. The causative organism was unknown in 21 patients and there was no double infection. H. influenzae were detected in 18 patients in 1981-1985 period (36.7%), in 56 in 1986-1990 (54.9%) and in 60 in 1991-1994 (63.8%) showing an increasing tendency, but S. pneumoniae exhibited neither an increasing nor decreasing tendency. There was a decreasing tendency with S. agalactiae and E. coli, but the details were not clear because there were few patients aged less than 3 months. Although the period of coexistence of 4 main bacterial species was not made clear in this study. Listeria is considered to develop mainly in the early childhood, and we believe that the conventional way of using a cephem preparation and ampicillin combined for patients under 6 years need not be altered. However, panipenem (phonetic) is likely to be effective for insensible S. pneumoniae for the time being.

Escherichia coli↗

Partial purification and characterization of manganese-oxidizing factors of Pseudomonas fluorescens GB-1.

The Mn(2+)-oxidizing bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens GB-1 deposits Mn oxide around the cell. During growth of a culture, the Mn(2+)-oxidizing activity of the cells first appeared in the early stationary growth phase. It depended on the O2 concentration in the culture during the late logarithmic growth phase. Maximal activity was observed at an oxygen concentration of 26% saturation. The activity could be recovered in cell extracts and was proportional to the protein concentration in the cell extracts. The specific activity was increased 125-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by reversed-phase and gel filtration column chromatographies. The activity of the partly purified Mn(2+)-oxidizing preparation had a pH optimum of circa 7 and a temperature optimum of 35 degrees C and was lost by heating. The Mn(2+)-oxidizing activity was sensitive to NaN3 and HgCl2. It was inhibited by KCN, EDTA, Tris, and o-phenanthroline. Although most data indicated the involvement of protein in Mn2+ oxidation, the activity was slightly stimulated by sodium dodecyl sulfate at a low concentration and by treatment with pronase and V8 protease. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, two Mn(2+)-oxidizing factors with estimated molecular weights of 180,000 and 250,000 were detected.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Doppler assessment of pulmonary artery pressure in neonates at risk of chronic lung disease.

AIM: To evaluate the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) change in very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants at risk of chronic lung disease (CLD). METHODS: The time to peak velocity:right ventricular ejection time (TPV:RVET) ratio calculated from the pulmonary artery Doppler waveform, which is inversely related to PAP, was used. The TPV:RVET ratio was corrected for different heart rate (TPV:RVET(c)). Seventy three VLBW infants studied on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 were enrolled for the analysis. RESULTS: Twenty two infants developed CLD with a characteristic chest radiograph at day 28. Fifty one did not, of whom 17 were oxygen dependent on account of apnoea rather than respiratory disease, and 34 were non-oxygen dependent. The TPV:RVET(c) ratio rose progressively in all three groups over the first three days of life, suggesting a fall in PAP. In the oxygen and non-oxygen dependent groups, the mean (SD) ratio rose to 0.53 (0.09) and 0.57 (0.09), respectively, on day 7, then remained relatively constant thereafter. The CLD group rose more slowly after day 3 and had a significantly lower mean ratio from day 7 onwards compared with the other two groups (day 7: P < 0.001, days 14-28: P < 0.0001), and fell significantly from 0.47 (0.11) on day 7 to 0.41 (0.07) on day 28 (P = 0.01), suggesting a progressive rise in PAP. The mean (SD) ratios at day 28 of all infants were: CLD group 0.41 (0.07); oxygen dependent group 0.66 (0.15); and the non-oxygen group 0.67 (0.11). The CLD group had a significantly lower ratio than the oxygen dependent group and the non-oxygen group (P < 0.0001). Using the TPV:RVET(c) ratio of < 0.46, infants at risk of developing CLD could be predicted on day 7 (predictive value 82.8%, sensitivity 54.5%, specificity 94.1%). CONCLUSION: The non-invasive assessment of PAP using the TPV:RVET(c) ratio may be useful in the longitudinal monitoring of PAP change in VLBW infants, and for prediction of chronic lung disease.

Blood Pressure↗

Echocardiographic assessment of patent ductus arteriosus shunt flow pattern in premature infants.

AIMS: To identify the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) shunt flow pattern using Doppler echocardiography; and to assess whether it could be used to predict the development of clinically significant PDA. METHODS: Premature infants weighing under 1500 g, who required mechanical ventilation, and in whom daily echocardiography could be performed from day 1 until the ductus closed, and on day 7 to confirm closure, were studied. The PDA shunt flow was identified from four Doppler patterns, and the closed pattern of a closed duct was also presented. Clinically significant PDA was diagnosed when there was colour Doppler echocardiographic evidence of left to right ductal shunt associated with at least two of the following clinical signs: heart murmur (systolic or continuous); persistent tachycardia (heart rate > 160/min); hyperactive precordial pulsation; bounding pulses; and radiographic evidence of cardiomegaly or pulmonary congestion. RESULTS: Of 68 infants enrolled into this study, clinically significant PDA developed in 31. The most recordable sequence of transition change of shunt flow pattern for clinically significant PDA was: pulmonary hypertension pattern, to growing pattern, to pulsatile pattern, to closing pattern, to closed pattern. And that for non-clinically significant PDA was: pulmonary hypertension pattern, to closing pattern, to closed pattern. The growing and the pulsatile patterns were mostly documented in infants with clinically significant PDA. The first documented growing pattern to predict clinically significant PDA gave a sensitivity of 64.5% and a specificity of 81.1%; the first documented pulsatile pattern gave a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 100%. CONCLUSION: Doppler echocardiographic assessment of PDA shunt flow pattern during the first 4 days of life is useful for predicting the development of clinically significant PDA in premature infants. At that stage, the closing or closed Doppler pattern indicates that infants are not at risk of developing clinically significant PDA; the growing or pulsatile Doppler pattern indicates a continuing risk of developing clinically significant PDA.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Beta 2 microglobulin haemodialysis related amyloidosis: distinctive gross features of gastrointestinal involvement.

Two cases of beta 2 microglobulin amyloidosis following long term haemodialysis found during necropsy are reported. The patients were 59 and 65 year old Japanese men, respectively. In both cases, systemic distribution of beta 2 microglobulin amyloid deposits was observed. The gastrointestinal tract including the stomach, small intestine, and colon showed the distinctive gross feature of rippled appearance, which was characterised by serosal wrinkles along the muscle layer arrangement. These areas were confirmed to contain deposits of beta 2 microglobulin in the muscularis propria. Although the outline of the muscle layers was preserved, most muscle fibres, encircled by the amyloid deposits, were atrophic or had disappeared microscopically. In neither case could a definite diagnosis of amyloidosis be made while the patient was alive. Interestingly, the oesophagus presented less involvement compared to the remainder of the gastrointestinal tract. In comparison with the AA or AL type of amyloidosis, beta 2 microglobulin haemodialysis related amyloidosis showed a rippled appearance of the serosal rather than mucosal changes, which may explain the difficulty in diagnosing amyloid deposits using biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Aged↗

Endometrial ossification in a postmenopausal woman.

A case of endometrial ossification in a 62 year old woman is reported. The patient presented with increased vaginal discharge. On transvaginal ultrasonography, a hyperechoic area within the uterine cavity, suggestive of an intrauterine foreign body, was noted. Histological examination of the endometrial curettage showed mature bone with neutrophilic infiltration. There was no evidence of malignancy. Endometrial ossification in postmenopausal women is very rare; most women presenting with this condition are between 20 and 40 years of age. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility of endometrial ossification as a differential diagnosis of intrauterine foreign body on ultrasound, even in older patients. In addition, pathologists should be aware of this rare entity to avoid a misdiagnosis of malignant mixed müllerian tumor in the endometrial curettage specimen, which may result in unnecessary hysterectomy.

Endometrium↗

Lithium associated autoimmune thyroiditis.

A case of autoimmune thyroiditis after long term treatment with lithium is described in a 29 year old Japanese woman with manic depression. Positive serum antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies, diffuse goitre, and microscopic chronic thyroiditis, as well as the clinical history of long term lithium treatment were suggestive of lithium associated autoimmune thyroiditis. Microscopically, there was a mild degree of interstitial fibrosis and a moderate degree of lymphocytic infiltration. Some areas showed a moderate degree of stromal fibrosis and atrophic thyroid follicles. Lymphoid follicles with germinal centres, disrupted thyroid follicles with lymphocytic infiltration, and Hürthle cells were also observed. The differential diagnosis in patients presenting with these histological features includes painless (silent) thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis and lithium associated autoimmune thyroiditis. A detailed clinical history is essential if the correct diagnosis is to be reached.

Adult↗

A simple technique for identifying the adrenal glands at necropsy.

There is no detailed and practical description of how to identify the adrenal glands at necropsy. A simple technique is described, based on anatomical location. After removing the aorta by the Rokitansky method, the inferior vena cava is opened. The orifice of the right adrenal vein is identified just above the right renal vein, and a probe is inserted into it as a marker. The right adrenal gland is identified at the centre above the line of the probe after separation of the diaphragm, which is attached to the liver. The left adrenal vein arises as the first bifurcation of the left renal vein after its origin from the inferior vena cava. A probe is inserted into it and the vein is opened along the probe. The left adrenal gland is identified at the left side of the left adrenal vein, embedded in fat. This method is also useful in cases with severe adhesion, fibrosis, or metastases.

Adrenal Glands↗

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix with raised serum carcinoembryonic antigen concentration: clinical and pathological features.

A case of mucinous cystadenoma mimicking ovarian cancer is reported. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration was raised, and computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a long oval shaped cystic mass measuring 9 cm in length on the right anterior side of the uterus. Because of possible right ovarian cancer, laparotomy was performed and the mass was found to be a mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix. This case indicates that mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix may show an unusual presentation including its location as well as the high serum CEA, mimicking ovarian cancer. Therefore, gynaecologists as well as gastroenterologists should consider its possibility as a differential diagnosis of the right adnexal mass in a patient without previous appendectomy.

Aged↗

Solitary cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct.

A 31 year old man was hospitalised with general fatigue and epigastric pain. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic lesion in the left lobe of the liver. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography and percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography revealed a localised dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct without any obstruction. However, a large mass of mucinous material was noted in the saccular intrahepatic duct and the common bile duct. There was no evidence of a choledochal cyst, anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union, or congenital cystic change of the kidneys. A possible diagnosis of mucinous cystic neoplasm of the intrahepatic bile duct was made and a left hepatectomy performed. Cholangiography of the resected specimen showed a non-obstructive solitary cystic dilatation of the left hepatic duct. Histologically, the dilated duct was lined with columnar biliary epithelium without any papillary proliferation and/or atypia. Neither malignancy nor hepatic fibrosis was observed; the term "solitary cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct" perhaps is more descriptive and the concept easier to understand.

Adult↗

Tumorous necrotic nodule in the liver: unexpected effect of the microwave tissue coagulator.

The microwave tissue coagulator (MTC) is used in hepatectomy because it provides excellent haemostasis during the procedure. A 59 year old man underwent partial hepatic lobectomy with MTC, for metastasis from colon cancer. A tumorous necrotic nodule was discovered in the liver. The nodule measured 2.5 cm at its largest diameter. Microscopically, it showed extensive coagulation necrosis and massive sinusoidal dilatation. To date, such a necrotic mass clinically mimicking neoplasm has not been reported as a complication of hepatectomy using MTC. Although it is unknown how the rounded necrotic nodule was formed in this case, clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon to avoid unnecessary operations. Likewise, pathologists should recognise such histological changes and review the clinical history of the patient when coagulation necrosis with massive sinusoidal dilatation is observed in a biopsy or hepatectomy specimen.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

GB virus C and hepatitis C virus infections in hemodialysis patients in eight Japanese centers.

RNA of a putative non-A to E hepatitis virus, designated GB virus C (GBV-C), was detected in 40 (6.2%) of 645 hemodialysis patients, at a frequency significantly higher than in 3 (0.9%) of 336 blood donors in Japan (p < 0.001). A history of transfusion was more frequent (88 vs. 58%, p < 0.001), the duration of dialysis was longer (13.2 +/- 7.9 vs. 7.9 +/- 6.5 years, p < 0.001), and the detection of hepatitis C virus RNA was more often (38 vs. 18%, p < 0.01) in the 40 patients with GBV-C RNA than in the 605 patients without it. The prevalence of GBV-C RNA varied widely from 0 to 10% among the 8 dialysis centers. These results indicate that hemodialysis patients would be at increased risk of GBV-C transmitted by transfusions. The detection of GBV-C RNA in the 5 patients without a history of transfusion and a high prevalence restricted to certain dialysis centers would reflect nosocomial infection.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Possible participation of Fas-mediated apoptosis in the mechanism of atherosclerosis.

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that plays a major role during development, homeostasis, and in many diseases. Recent evidence has demonstrated the death of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within advanced human atheroma. In the rat balloon-injury model, apoptotic cells were specifically identified in the neointima. The presence of apoptotic cells was demonstrated by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). To clarify the mechanisms that trigger apoptosis in atherosclerotic lesions, we examined whether cytokines released from macrophages can modulate Fas, a death signal, in cultured human VSMCs. Simultaneous treatment with interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) but not with each cytokine alone induced upregulation of Fas in VSMCs. However, coincubation with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, inhibited the upregulation of Fas induced by IL-1 and TNF-alpha. Incubation with sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, also induced upregulation of Fas in VSMCs. Furthermore, fluorescent nuclear staining with Hoechst 33258 revealed that monoclonal antibody to human Fas significantly enhanced NO-induced apoptotis in VSMCs. These findings suggest that macrophage-derived cytokines can induce upregulation of Fas through a NO-dependent mechanism in VSMCs. Thus, Fas-mediated apoptosis may regulate apoptotic death of VSMCs during atherogenesis.

Animals↗

Effect of enalapril maleate on cerebral blood flow in patients with chronic heart failure.

The effect of enalapril on cerebral blood flow (CBF) was studied in 11 patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA II or III, dilated cardiomyopathy in 6 and old myocardial infarction in 5). CBF was evaluated by analyzing the Patlak-Plot curve obtained from radionuclide angiography with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTC-HM-PAO). Cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume (SV) were simultaneously measured by impedance cardiography. These measurements were performed before and at four weeks after daily administration of 5 mg enalapril. The stroke volume, cardiac index, and heart rate were not significantly changed after four weeks of enalapril administration. However, CBF was increased by 6.5% from 36.72 +/- 4.66 to 39.13 +/- 5.65 mL/100g/min (P < 0.05). These results suggest that enalapril increased cerebral blood flow, which was not related to increased cardiac output in congestive heart failure. Patlak-Plot analysis of radionuclide angiography using 99mTC-HM-PAO may be available for quantitative assessment of brain perfusion.

Aged↗