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Biomedical subjects

Masaru Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to Masaru Tanaka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Relationship between blood compatibility and water structure--comparative study between 2-methoxyethylacrylate- and 2-methoxyethylmethacrylate-based random copolymers.

We have proposed that the excellent blood compatibility of poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate (MEA)) is caused by freezing bound water contained in it on the basis of results on platelet activation (Tanaka and Mochizuki, J Biomed Mater Res A 2004; 68:684-695). To clarify the applicability of this mechanism to other indexes for blood compatibility, the relationship between complement activation and water structure was investigated by using two copolymers, poly(MEA-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA)) and poly(2-methoxyethylmethacrylate (MEMA)-HEMA), where HEMA content was varied from 25 to 90 mol %. ESCA analysis revealed that the surface compositions of these copolymers (dry state) agreed with the compositions determined by (1)H NMR. However, analysis by water contact angle (wet state) showed that their surfaces were quite different. The contact angle of poly(MEMA-HEMA) depended on the monomer composition, whereas the angle of poly(MEA-HEMA) was close to that of polyHEMA regardless of the monomer composition. The effect of HEMA content in the copolymers on complement activation (production of C3a) was investigated in an in vitro test. The activation by poly(MEMA-HEMA) was enhanced according to the HEMA content, while the activation by poly(MEA-HEMA) with 0-40 mol % of HEMA was weak and did not depend on the HEMA content. These properties are discussed from the viewpoints of the water structure observed by DSC and the surface structure.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed2007

Small-diameter porous poly (epsilon-caprolactone) films enhance adhesion and growth of human cultured epidermal keratinocyte and dermal fibroblast cells.

Autologous keratinocyte grafts provide clinical benefit by rapidly covering wounded areas, but they are fragile. We therefore developed biocompatible hexagonal-packed porous films with uniform, circular pore sizes to support human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Cells were cultured on these porous poly (epsilon-calprolactone) films with pore sizes ranging from novel ultra-small 3 microm to 20 microm. These were compared with flat (pore-less) films. Cell growth rates, adhesion, migration, and ultrastructural morphology were examined. Human keratinocytes and fibroblasts attached to all films. Furthermore, small-pore (3-5 microm) films showed the highest levels of cell adhesion and survival and prevented migration into the pores and opposing film surface. Keratinocyte migration over small-pore film surface was inhibited. Keratinocytes optimally attached to 3-microm-pore films due to a combination of greater pore numbers (porosity), a greater circumference of the pore edge per unit surface area, and greater frequency of flat surface areas for attachment, allowing better cell-substrate and cell-cell attachment and growth. The 3-microm pore size allowed cell-cell communication, together with diffusion of soluble nutrients and factors from the culture medium or wound substrate. These characteristics are considered important in developing grafts for use in the treatment of human skin wounds.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2006

Platelet adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on anionic hydrogel scaffolds.

In this work we describe experiments designed to understand the human platelet adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured on various kinds of chemically cross-linked anionic hydrogels, which were synthesized by radical polymerization. HUVECs could proliferate to sub-confluent or confluent on poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt) (PNaAMPS), and poly(sodium p-styrene sulfonate) (PNaSS) gels. The proliferation behavior was not sensitive to the cross-linker concentration of the gels. However, the platelet adhesion on the HUVECs cultured on these gels showed different behavior, as revealed by human platelet adhesion test in static conditions. Only a few platelets adhered on the HUVEC sheets cultured on PNaAMPS gels with 4 and 10mol% cross-linker concentrations, and completely no platelet adhered on the HUVEC sheets cultured on PNaSS gels with 4 and 10mol% cross-linker concentrations. On the other hand, a large number of platelets adhered on the HUVECs cultured on PAA gels with 1, 2mol% cross-linker concentrations and PNaAMPS gel with 2mol% cross-linker concentration. Furthermore, the study showed that promote of the glycocalyx of HUVECs with transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) decreased platelet adhesion, and degrade the glycocalyx with heparinase I increased platelet adhesion. The results suggested that the glycocalyx of cultured HUVECs modulates platelet compatibility, and the amount of glycocalyx secreted by HUVECs dependents on the chemical structure and cross-linker concentration of gel scaffolds. This result should be applied to make the hybrid artificial blood vessel composes of gels and endothelial cells with high platelet compatibility.

Anions↗
PubMed2006

Metals leachability from medical waste incinerator fly ash: A case study on particle size comparison.

This paper presents the results from a study of metals leachability of medical waste incinerator fly ash in Japan on the basis of particle size. Sequential extraction and Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis were carried out in order to quantify the leaching amount of metals in each categorized particle size. Sequential extraction was also subjected to identify the preference of binding matrix of metals. The results of sequential extraction showed an increase both exchangeable and carbonate associated chromium concentrations in the bigger particle size fractions. Likewise, concentrations of carbonate matrix of arsenic and tin tended to increase in the bigger particle size fractions. In contrast, exchangeable associated cadmium as well as both exchangeable and carbonate matrices of barium were found higher in the smaller particle size fractions. However, no correlation was found in Kendal-tau correlation analysis between particle size of the ash and metals leachability of the TCLP.

Barium↗
PubMed2006

Study on blood compatibility with poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate)--relationship between surface structure, water structure, and platelet compatibility in 2-methoxyethylacrylate/2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate diblock copolymer.

Diblock copolymers composed of 2-methoxyethylacrylate (MEA) and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) were firstly prepared (the composition ratio = 90/10, 79/21, 66/34, and 48/52 mol/mol) by anion living polymerization. ESCA analysis of their surface structures (dry state) revealed that PMEA segment was segregated to the top surface in all of the polymers, whereas the results of contact angle of water (wet state) showed that the surfaces were covered with PHEMA segment. In vitro platelet adhesion test showed that these polymers had the excellent compatibility with platelet compared to PHEMA homopolymer. Water structure in the hydrated copolymers was investigated by DSC and freezing bound water was observed for all the polymers like PMEA homopolymer, whereas it was not found in PHEMA homopolymer. Further investigation of water structure based on the results of DSC and EWCMS (equilibrium water content by moisture sorption) suggested that freezing bound water existed in PHEMA segment in addition to PMEA segment. We have proposed that the water plays a key role in the appearance of good blood compatibility of the copolymer, according to our previous works (Tanaka et al. Biomacromolecules 2002;3:36-41, Tanaka et al. J Biomed Mater Res A 2004;68:684-695).

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2006

Additive contribution of multiple factors in the development of pneumatosis intestinalis: a case report and review of the literature.

We describe a 53-year-old patient with dermatomyositis, who developed pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) accompanied by pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema of the neck. The development of PI in our patient was possibly attributed to the effect of factors such as dermatomyositis, corticosteroids, methotrexate, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (AGI). The coexistence of multiple factors associated with PI might enhance the risk of developing PI, even though each of them alone is not sufficient to induce it. In particular, the use of AGIs for patients treated with immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids requires evaluation.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2006

Quantitative assessment of tumour extraction from dermoscopy images and evaluation of computer-based extraction methods for an automatic melanoma diagnostic system.

The aims of this study were to provide a quantitative assessment of the tumour area extracted by dermatologists and to evaluate computer-based methods from dermoscopy images for refining a computer-based melanoma diagnostic system. Dermoscopic images of 188 Clark naevi, 56 Reed naevi and 75 melanomas were examined. Five dermatologists manually drew the border of each lesion with a tablet computer. The inter-observer variability was evaluated and the standard tumour area (STA) for each dermoscopy image was defined. Manual extractions by 10 non-medical individuals and by two computer-based methods were evaluated with STA-based assessment criteria: precision and recall. Our new computer-based method introduced the region-growing approach in order to yield results close to those obtained by dermatologists. The effectiveness of our extraction method with regard to diagnostic accuracy was evaluated. Two linear classifiers were built using the results of conventional and new computer-based tumour area extraction methods. The final diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by drawing the receiver operating curve (ROC) of each classifier, and the area under each ROC was evaluated. The standard deviations of the tumour area extracted by five dermatologists and 10 non-medical individuals were 8.9% and 10.7%, respectively. After assessment of the extraction results by dermatologists, the STA was defined as the area that was selected by more than two dermatologists. Dermatologists selected the melanoma area with statistically smaller divergence than that of Clark naevus or Reed naevus (P = 0.05). By contrast, non-medical individuals did not show this difference. Our new computer-based extraction algorithm showed superior performance (precision, 94.1%; recall, 95.3%) to the conventional thresholding method (precision, 99.5%; recall, 87.6%). These results indicate that our new algorithm extracted a tumour area close to that obtained by dermatologists and, in particular, the border part of the tumour was adequately extracted. With this refinement, the area under the ROC increased from 0.795 to 0.875 and the diagnostic accuracy showed an increase of approximately 20% in specificity when the sensitivity was 80%. It can be concluded that our computer-based tumour extraction algorithm extracted almost the same area as that obtained by dermatologists and provided improved computer-based diagnostic accuracy.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Dermoscopy.

First, a brief introduction about types of dermoscope and an explanation on the theory of dermoscopy are provided. Second, some introduction on the difference of dermoscopic pictures between benign and malignant neoplasm is given. Basically, benign lesions tend to show symmetrical dermoscopic structures and colors, whereas malignant lesions have a tendency to present irregular and atypical dermoscopic structures. Third, the relationship between dermoscopic images and anatomical structures will be shown. Acral melanocytic lesions have site-specific dermoscopic patterns, namely parallel furrow pattern or parallel ridge pattern. These parallel patterns are due to different distribution of benign and malignant melanocytes. Benign melanocytes (nevus cells) are mainly found on the tips of crista profunda limitans and supply melanin granules to the furrows of stratum corneum, making a parallel furrow pattern. To the contrary, melanoma cells proliferate mainly on the tips of crista profunda intermedia or rather diffusely and randomly, and supply melanin granules irregularly and diffusely to the ridges of stratum corneum, having parallel ridge pattern. Fourth, the global features of dermoscopic findings are described respectively with definitions of the technical terms. To analyze dermoscopic structures, it is easier to look at global features first and local features next. Basic global features include reticular, globular, cobblestone, homogeneous, starburst and parallel patterns. If a given dermoscopy image has two patterns, the more prominent pattern might be chosen. If it has more than three dermoscopic patterns, then multi-component pattern is the reasonable selection. If there are no particular dermoscopic structures, then the unspecific pattern will be selected. Finally, some comments on the relationship between dermoscopy and dermatopathology are given briefly. It is always useful to imagine dermatopathological features when examining a dermoscopic image. There are considerable relations between dermoscopy and dermatopathology.

Dermoscopy↗
PubMed2006

Electrical and electronic waste management in China: progress and the barriers to overcome.

Serious adverse impacts on the environment and human health from e-waste recycling have occurred in the past and continue to occur in China today, due to a lack of national management strategies. China has made great efforts to face the challenges of the approaching peak increase in the domestic generation of e-waste and the illegal shipment of e-waste from other countries. This study examined recent progress and analysed the main problems associated with this issue in China. It was found that the material and the financial flows of e-waste in China had their own specific characteristics. Nearly 60% of the generated e-wastes were sold to private individual collectors and passed into informal recycling processes. More than 90% of Chinese citizens are reluctant to pay for the recycling of their e-waste. This is due to their traditional understanding that there remained value in these end-of-life products. Regulations concerning e-waste in China have been drafted but their deficiencies are obvious. The extended producer responsibilities (EPR) have been introduced but are not well defined. Eight formal facilities have been planned and are under construction or are in operation along the eastern coast of China but it will be difficult for them to compete with the informal processes for the reasons identified during the study.

China↗
PubMed2006

Report on hazardous household waste generation in Japan.

Surveys of over 2000 households in Japan were conducted to investigate the characteristics of hazardous household waste (HHW) generation. In Japan, about 2.5 to 4.3 kg of HHW are produced per tonne of the residential waste stream. The percentage of used batteries in HHW was over 50%. Every household using spray (aerosol) cans had more than seven cans on average. The generation of HHW, in terms of both quantities and type of waste produced, appeared to vary with dwelling type. Detached dwelling residents tended to store HHW such as used batteries, whereas apartment residents tended not to store waste. The amounts of discarded HHW were larger at the end of the year in comparison with other months. The data accumulated were used to estimate the quantities of HHW disposed off annually, and the quantities and type of waste that might be received by a typical depot collection programme in Japan.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2006

Generation amount prediction and material flow analysis of electronic waste: a case study in Beijing, China.

The draft legislation on e-waste prepared by the Chinese national government assigns management responsibility to local governments. It is an urgent task for the municipal government to plan an effective system as soon as possible to divert the e-waste flow from the existing informal e-waste recycling processes. This paper presents a case study implemented in Beijing, the capital city of China, with the purpose of predicting the amount of obsolete equipment for five main kinds of electronic appliances from urban households and to analyse the flow after the end of their useful phase. The amount to be handled was 885,354 units in 2005 and is predicted to double by 2010. Due to consumption growth and the expansion of urbanization it is estimated that the amount will increase to approximate 2,820,000 units by 2020: 70% of the obsolete appliances will be awaiting collection for possible recycling, 7% will be stored at the owner's home for 1 year on average and 4% will be discarded directly and enter the municipal solid waste collecting system. The remaining items will be reused for about 3 years on average after the change of ownership. The results of this study will assist the waste management authorities of Beijing to plan the collecting system and facilities needed for management of e-waste generated in the near future.

China↗
PubMed2006

Inhibition of multidrug resistance of cancer cells by natural diterpenes, triterpenes and carotenoids.

The multidrug resistance (MDR) proteins are member of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily and are present in a majority of human tumors. Their activity is a crucial factor leading to therapeutic failure. It is likely that compounds which inhibit the function of the MDR-efflux proteins such as MDR1 will improve the cytotoxic action of anticancer chemotherapy. Therefore, a search for MDR reversing compounds was conducted among three classes of plant derived compounds such as diterpenes, triterpenes and carotenoids in a hope to find inhibitors without adverse effects in these natural compounds. The inhibition of efflux activity was determined by measuring the accumulation of substrate analogues such as rhodamine in tumor cells in the presence of potential inhibitors. Thus we determined the effect of structurally unrelated diterpenes, triterpenes and carotenoids on reversal of multidrug resistance in MDR-1 gene-transfected L1210 mouse lymphoma cells and MDR mediated multidrug resistance of human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 (HTB-26) and MCF-7. The majority of diterpenes, cycloartane triterpenes and carotenoids isolated from vegetables and medicinal plants were able to enhance rhodamine 123 accumulations of MDR-cells. Synergistic interaction was found between epirubicine and resistance modifier terpenoids in vitro. It is supposed that these MDR modulators bind into transmembrane domains and the action of ABC transporters is inhibited by induced conformational changes.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Correlation between the structure of water in the vicinity of carboxybetaine polymers and their blood-compatibility.

The structure and hydrogen bonding of water in the vicinity of carboxybetaine homopolymer (poly[1-carboxy-N,N-dimethyl-N-(2'-methacryloyloxyethyl)methanaminium inner salt] (PolyCMB), and a random copolymer of CMB and n-butyl methacrylate, Poly(CMB-r-BMA), with various molecular weights were analyzed in their aqueous solutions and thin film with contours of O-H stretching of Raman and attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectra, respectively. The relative intensity of the collective band (C value) corresponding to a long-range coupling of O-H stretchings of the Raman spectra for aqueous solution of Poly(CMB-r-BMA) was very close to that for pure water, which is in contrast with the smaller C value in aqueous solution of ordinary polyelectrolytes. The number of hydrogen bonds collapsed by the presence of one monomer residue (N(corr) value) of PolyCMB and Poly(CMB-r-BMA) (CMB, 45 mol %) (M(w), 1.14 x 10(4) and 1.78 x 10(4), respectively) could be calculated from the C value. The N(corr) values were much smaller than those for ordinary polyelectrolytes and close to those for nonionic water-soluble polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone). Furthermore, a water-insoluble Poly(CMB-r-BMA) with a large BMA content (M(w) = 347 kD, CMB 27 mol %) could be cast as a thin film (thickness, ca. 10 microm) on a ZnSe crystal for the ATR-IR analyses. At an early stage of sorption of water into the Poly(CMB-r-BMA) film, the O-H stretching band of IR spectra for the water incorporated in the film was similar to that for free water, which is in contrast with the drastic change in the O-H stretching band of water incorporated in polymer films such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA). The theoretical vibrational frequency for water molecules hydrating a betaine molecule calculated by using a density functional method supported the experimental results. The adhesion of human platelets to Poly(CMB-r-BMA) films was much less than that to PMMA and PBMA. With an increase in the content of CMB residue, the number of platelets adhered to the Poly(CMB-r-BMA) film drastically decreased and then gradually increased, probably due to the increase in the roughness of the film surface. These results suggest that the carboxybetaine monomer residues with a zwitterionic structure do not significantly disturb the hydrogen bonding between water molecules in both aqueous solution and thin film systems, resulting in the excellent blood-compatibility of the carboxybetaine polymers.

Betaine↗
PubMed2005

Biodegradable honeycomb-patterned film composed of poly(lactic acid) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine.

Honeycomb-patterned films have been reported to be useful for scaffolds of cell culture in tissue engineering. In the present study, we investigated a new compound, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), a naturally derived phospholipid having unsaturated fatty acid moieties, as a surfactant for fabricating honeycomb-patterned poly(d,l-lactide) (PLA) film. Only DOPE among commercially available phospholipids was useful as a surfactant, and it showed good solubility in PLA/chloroform solution and an excellent property for fabricating honeycomb-patterned film (the concentration of DOPE was from 0.2% to 20% by weight based on the weight of PLA). The pore size of the honeycomb was uniform, and all pores were interconnected with each other. The contact angle of water on the honeycomb-patterned film was affected by the amount of DOPE. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF-SIMS) data suggested that DOPE was concentrated on the surface of the honeycomb-patterned film. To investigate cell proliferation and adhesion on the honeycomb-patterned film, NIH3T3 fibroblast cells were cultured on the film. The NIH3T3 cells adhered well on the honeycomb-patterned PLA film with DOPE (PLA-DOPE) and showed good cell proliferation compared to that on honeycomb-patterned PLA film fabricated with a copolymer (CAP) of dodecylacrylamide and omega-carboxyhexylacrylamide (PLA-CAP). These results suggest that the honeycomb-patterned PLA-DOPE can be applicable as a scaffold for cells with better profiles in comparison with PLA-CAP.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels are elevated in acute coronary syndrome: a novel marker for early diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Markers of cardiac injury, including troponin-T (TnT), are used to diagnose acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, markers for plaque instability may be more useful for diagnosing ACS at the earliest stage. Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) appears to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and ACS onset. LOX-1 is released in part as soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) by proteolytic cleavage. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined serum sLOX-1 levels in 521 patients, consisting of 427 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography, including 80 ACS patients, 173 symptomatic coronary heart disease patients, 122 patients with significant coronary stenosis without ischemia, and 52 patients without apparent coronary atherosclerosis plus 34 patients with noncardiac acute illness and 60 patients with noncardiac chronic illness. Time-dependent changes in sLOX-1 and TnT levels were analyzed in an additional 40 ACS patients. Serum sLOX-1 levels were significantly higher in ACS than the other groups and were associated with ACS as shown by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Given a cutoff value of 1.0 ng/mL, sLOX-1 can discriminate ACS from other groups with 81% and 75% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively. sLOX-1 can also discriminate ACS without ST elevation or abnormal Q waves and ACS without TnT elevation from non-ACS with 91% and 83% of sensitivity, respectively. Peak values of sLOX-1 in ACS were observed earlier than those of TnT. CONCLUSIONS: sLOX-1 appears to be a useful marker for early diagnosis of ACS.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Structure of water incorporated in sulfobetaine polymer films as studied by ATR-FTIR.

The structure and hydrogen bonding of water in the vicinity of a thin film of a sulfobetaine copolymer (poly[(N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3'-methacrylamidopropanaminium inner salt)-ran-(butyl methacrylate)], poly(SPB-r-BMA)), were analyzed with band shapes of O-H stretching of attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectra. The copolymer could be cast as a thin film, of approximate thickness 10 microm, on a ZnSe crystal for the ATR-IR spectroscopy. At an early stage of sorption of water into the polymer film, the O-H stretching band of the IR spectra for the water incorporated in the film was similar to that for free water. This is consistent with the tendency for another zwitterionic polymeric material, poly[(2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine)-ran-(butyl methacrylate)] (poly(MPC-r-BMA). It is, however, contradictory to the drastic change in the O-H stretching band for water incorporated into films of polymers such as poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(butyl methacrylate). These results suggest that polymers with a zwitterionic structure do not significantly disturb the hydrogen bonding between water molecules incorporated in the thin films. The investigation into the blood-compatibility of both the poly(SPB-r-BMA) and the poly(MPC-r-BMA) films indicate a definite correlation between the blood-compatibility of the polymers and the lack of effect of the polymeric materials on the structure of the incorporated water.

Betaine↗
PubMed2005

Superhydrophobic and lipophobic properties of self-organized honeycomb and pincushion structures.

This report describes the simple preparation of superhydrophobic and lipophobic surfaces by self-organization. Microporous polymer films of a fluorinated polymer with hexagonally arranged pores were prepared by casting from solution under humid conditions. Hexagonally packed water microdroplets were formed by evaporative cooling on the surface of the casting solution. After solvent evaporation, a honeycomb-patterned polymer film was formed with the water droplet array acting as a template; the water droplets themselves evaporated soon after the solvent. Two porous polymer layers were stacked vertically, separated by pillars at the hexagon vertexes. After peeling off the top layer using adhesive tape, a pincushion-like structure was obtained. Here, we show that superhydrophobic behavior was achieved, with the maximum contact angle, 170 degrees, observed using these pincushion structures. Theoretical calculations fit the experimental results well. The lipophobic properties of the films are also discussed.

Letter↗