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Biomedical subjects

M Yunoki

Publications and source records attributed to M Yunoki.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Kupffer cell function in chronic liver injury and after partial hepatectomy.

The reticuloendothelial system (RES) plays an important role in the biological defense system. In the liver, Kupffer cells are the main constituent of the RES, and when their function is impaired postoperative complications may more often occur. By using 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin millimicrospheres (99mTc-HSA-MM) combined with assessment of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we have attempted to determine the function of Kupffer cells independently of the hepatic blood flow. First, Kupffer cell function in rats with chronic liver injury caused by CCl4 was studied. The hepatic uptake rate in chronic liver injury was decreased, and a reduced phagocytic activity of the Kupffer cells was noted. The parameter concerning Kupffer cell degradation, the excretion rate (k), was markedly decreased in the early period of chronic liver injury. Changes in Kupffer cell function after 30% and 70% hepatectomy were also studied. After 30% hepatectomy, the excretion rate was decreased on the first postoperative day (POD), and it was increased beyond that found after sham operation on the 3rd POD. In contrast, slower recovery of uptake rate was demonstrated. After 70% hepatectomy, both uptake and excretion rates were markedly reduced, and recovery was prolonged beyond the 5th POD. The hepatic uptake was not parallel with the excretion rate in either experiment. These results suggest that the method that measures the hepatic excretion rate may provide a better assessment of Kupffer cell function than the current uptake measurement with radiolabeled colloid.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Per-rectal portal scintigraphy with technetium-99m pertechnetate for esophageal varices.

Per-rectal portal scintigraphy is a non-invasive method in which a radioisotope is used for imaging of the portal collaterals. Per-rectal portal scintigraphy with 99m-technetium pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) was performed in 42 subjects to evaluate the portal hemodynamics. Ten healthy controls, 13 cases of liver cirrhosis without esophageal varices, 15 cases of liver cirrhosis with esophageal varices, and 4 cases of portal systemic shunt were included in this study. Moreover, in 4 patients who underwent transabdominal esophageal transection, per-rectal portal scintigraphy was repeated one month postoperatively. Portosystemic shunt index was calculated by the following equation. Shunt Index (%) = (99mTcO4 Counts of Heart/99mTcO4 Counts of Liver and Heart) x 100. The results, expressed as shunt index (SI) were: 8.8 +/- 5.2 in controls, 21.2 +/- 8.0 in cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices, 31.0 +/- 18.5 in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices, and 49.0 +/- 6.9 in patients with portosystemic shunt. After transabdominal esophageal transection, the shunt indices were decreased in all four cases. Morphological improvements of the esophageal varices were also observed. These results suggest that the shunt index measured by per-rectal portal scintigraphy may be useful for assessment of portal collaterals, especially for patients with esophageal varices.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The significance of post-hepatectomy changes in polymorphonuclear elastase and endotoxin levels.

We studied the association between polymorphonuclear elastase and endotoxin levels and complications following hepatectomy. The blood concentrations of polymorphonuclear elastase, endotoxin, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein were examined with the aim of clarifying their involvement in postoperative complications in twenty-five patients who underwent hepatectomy. Polymorphonuclear elastase increased significantly (p < 0.01) on the second postoperative day compared with preoperative levels, and decreased on the seventh postoperative day. The difference in the polymorphonuclear elastase level with and without liver cirrhosis was significant (p < 0.05) on the second postoperative day. Endotoxin changed in a manner similar to polymorphonuclear elastase, but no positive correlation was found between endotoxin and polymorphonuclear elastase. Neither parameter showed any significant positive correlation with the volume of hepatic resection. We were unable to find any relationship between the degree of elevation of endotoxin and complication after hepatectomy; further study will be needed.

Endotoxins↗
PubMed1992

Development of human monoclonal antibodies against human cytomegalovirus.

Human monoclonal antibodies (HMAbs) against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) have been developed by fusion of human spleen cells and human lymphoblastoid cell lines (NP101 and NP197). The cell line NP101 had great advantages in its high fusion frequency and the stability of the resultant hybridomas. The specificity of HMAbs was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence staining. Two of the six HMAbs obtained, which were IgG3 subclass, neutralized viral infectivity in the absence of complement. The neutralizing activity of one of these two HMAbs was enhanced in the presence of human complement, whereas the other was not. Another IgG1 subclass HMAb neutralized viral infection only in the presence of complement. The remaining three HMAbs showed no neutralizing activity. Those HMAbs may provide an important approach to studying human immune responses to HCMV. HMAbs having neutralizing activity may prove to be useful for passive immunotherapy of HCMV diseases.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Production of infectious particles from defective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-producing cell clones by superinfection with infectious HIV-1.

A total of 81 cell clones persistently infected with the LAV-1 or HTLV-IIIB strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was isolated from cells which were obtained by serial passage of some proliferating MT-4 cells after a drastic cytolysis of most cells by HIV-1-infection. These cell clones were classified into 8 types (I to VIII) in terms of the expression of HIV-1 antigens, syncytium formation capacity, and reverse transcriptase activity and infectivity of virus particles in the culture fluid. Type I cell clones were producers of infectious HIV-1 particles, while types II to VIII cell clones did not produce infectious HIV-1 or were producers of uninfectious defective HIV-1 particles. Immunoprecipitation followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) showed that the gag precursor protein in L-2 cell clone (type IV) was not cleaved to mature gag proteins, while the env precursor protein on L-3 cell clone (type III) was not cleaved to mature env protein. H-7 cell clone (type VIII) did not express any HIV-1 antigen. All these cell clones after the superinfection with infectious HIV-1 synthesized intact gag and env proteins, which were, at least in part, related to the HIV-1 genome persistently present in the cell clones before the superinfection, resulting in production of infectious HIV-1. For example, it was found that L-2 cell clone contained a single copy of the LAV-1 genome per haploid cell and produced doughnut-shaped particles. On the other hand, the cell clone isolated from the L-2 cell clone superinfected with infectious HTLV-IIIB contained the integrated HTLV-IIIB genome in addition to the LAV-1 genome present before the superinfection, and produced intact HIV-1 particles in addition to doughnut-shaped particles from a single cell. These results indicate that complementation and/or genetic recombination events in the superinfected cells may account for the production of infectious intact HIV-1 virions.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Focal sparing around the gallbladder in fatty liver: an useful sign in the diagnosis of borderline cases by CT].

The role of CT in the diagnosis of fatty liver is well established. CT has been proved to be a useful noninvasive tool for the demonstration of fatty infiltration of the liver. The characteristic finding is a diffuse decrease in the attenuation within the liver compared with that of the spleen. Commonly, fatty infiltration of the liver is generalized and both CT scans and sonograms can easily demonstrate changes related to this condition. Sometimes, fatty infiltration of the liver is focal and occasionally, it is generalized with focal sparing of the normal liver tissue creating some problems in the diagnosis. Recently, some reports have mentioned the appearance of a focal sparing area in the generalized fatty liver. We often found a high attenuation region around the gallbladder bed in the fatty liver patients on CT examination. There appears to be some relationship between the high density around the gallbladder area and the fatty liver. A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship. In this paper, we presented the CT scans of 57 fatty liver cases and compared them with the CT scans of 50 normal patients to discuss the possible cause of the phenomenon and its usage in the diagnosis of the fatty liver.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Estrogen and androgen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and in noncancerous liver tissue].

We have assayed both estrogen and androgen receptors in hepatocellular carcinomas, in the surrounding noncancerous liver tissue, and in normal liver tissue. Estrogen receptors (ERs) were detected in 5 out of 22 HCC tissues, 14 out of 22 surrounding noncancerous tissues, and in 5 out of 6 normal liver tissues. Androgen receptors (Ars) were detected in 4 out of 21 HCC tissues, in 7 out of 21 surrounding noncancerous tissues, and in 2 out of 5 normal liver tissues. These results suggest that the pathogenesis of some HCC may be dependent on estrogen or androgen. Hence, it may be beneficial to provide hormonal therapy for HCC, especially in cases that show high concentrations of ER and/or AR.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unilateral renal cystic disease.

Unilateral renal cystic disease (URCD) is a distinct entity that is one of the renal cystic diseases. URCD consists of a cluster of multiple cysts in part or most of one kidney with no association of cystic disease in the contralateral kidney. URCD is a nonfamilial, nonprogressive disorder and is not related with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We report a case of URCD with six-year CT follow-up. Confinement of the cystic disease to one kidney with an absence of cysts in other organs such as liver or pancreas distinguish URCD from ADPKD. Absence of an encapsulated mass and intervening normal renal parenchyma between the cysts can differentiate URCD from cystic renal tumors.

Aged↗