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Biomedical subjects

O Higuchi

Publications and source records attributed to O Higuchi.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Importance of the liver in plasma clearance of hepatocyte growth factors in rats.

After intravenous administration of 125I-labeled hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), trichloroacetic acid-precipitable radioactivity in the plasma disappeared rapidly with an early phase half-life of 4 min. The amounts of 125I-HGF distributed to the liver, adrenal, spleen, kidney, and lung tissues were much greater than those that could be accounted for by distribution to the extracellular space alone. The first-pass removal of 125I-HGF by the liver was approximately 26%; the liver accounted for approximately 70% of early-phase removal. The hepatic handling was also analyzed using a single-pass perfused liver system. The steady-state extraction ratio of tracer 125I-HGF was 0.48 but dropped to 0.23 in the presence of excess HGF (135 pM), demonstrating hepatic removal saturation of HGF. In the presence of excess HGF, the heparin-washable 125I-HGF, the heparin-resistant and acid-washable 125I-HGF, and the internalized 125I-HGF dropped to 54, 31, and 32% of the control values. The presence of at least two binding sites for HGF on the liver cell surfaces was made clear: the heparin-washable site and the heparin-resistant and acid-washable binding site, considered to have higher affinity for HGF. The internalization of 125I-HGF was observed to some extent even in the presence of excess HGF and phenylarsine oxide, known to be an inhibitor of polypeptides receptor-mediated endocytosis, suggesting the contribution of a relatively nonspecific internalization mechanism as well as receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Animals↗

Identification and change in the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor in rat liver after partial hepatectomy or induced hepatitis.

Specific binding of 125I-labeled human recombinant HGF to the primary cultured rat hepatocytes or liver plasma membranes was observed to be temperature- and time-dependent. Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of a single class of high affinity receptors with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 24-32 pM, a value in good accord with half maximum dose for HGF activity and a receptor density of about 500-600 sites/cell. Affinity cross-linking of the receptor with 125I-HGF revealed the HGF receptor in rat liver membranes to be a polypeptide of Mr approximately 220,000. After partial hepatectomy, specific binding of 125I-HGF to the membranes of residual livers decreased by 60-70% between 3 and 6 h, and was scanty at 12 h after hepatectomy. After one week, the binding was recovered to the 1.7 fold level in the untreated rat liver. This rapid down-regulation of HGF receptors was also observed in plasma membranes of rat livers in the presence of hepatitis induced by CCl4. We propose that HGF which can be immediately supplied to the liver after hepatic injury will function as a trigger for regeneration of this organ.

Animals↗

[Pulmonary embolism as a complication in neurosurgical patients].

The overall incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) among neurosurgical in-patients, whose ages ranged from 23 to 80, was 0.7%. Our report here is based on five cases of patients with PE. Four of these five patients were over 50 years of age. They had been admitted because of such reasons as brain tumor, spinal cord injury, intracerebral hematoma, and venous sinus thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was seen in four but none were diagnosed before they had developed PE. Decreased level of consciousness and prolonged bed rest appeared to be common risk factors for PE. Mean duration between admission and onset of PE was 31 days. Although non-specific, tachycardia, tachypnea and hypoxemia were the most common signs and symptoms. As a definitive diagnostic procedure, pulmonary angiography was performed in most of cases. One patient required surgical embolectomy and others were treated with anticoagulation or fibrinolytic agents. In order to prevent recurrent thromboembolic phenomena, ligation of the inferior vena cava was a useful mode of treatment when anticoagulation was not indicated. And this approach seemed to be valid in most neurosurgical patients. We conclude that PE and DVT were not uncommon complications among Japanese neurosurgical patients and they can be treated successfully in collaboration with a cardiovascular surgeon if the diagnosis can be made correctly.

Adult↗

A case of porencephaly associated with aneurysm.

A case of aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery with congenital porencephaly in the same region is reported. The cyst was opened and the aneurysm was wrapped with a muscle strip. The resected specimen of the cyst wall contained a parenchymal layer with hemosiderinladen macrophages. It is speculated that bleeding from the aneurysm during the perinatal period caused the porencephaly.

Brain Diseases↗