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Biomedical subjects

S Matsubara

Publications and source records attributed to S Matsubara.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Improved white blood cell functions: additional effects of membrane plasmapheresis.

The changes in cellular functions were analyzed in 4 rheumatoid arthritis and 2 biliary cirrhosis patients. Impaired T-cell functions (low lymphocyte transformation reactivity (LTR) to Con A), seen in one cirrhosis patient before MP, improved with MP. MP also removed inhibitory factor(s) for LTR from the plasma of this patient. RA patients tended to have decreased Con A response and enhanced PWM response. MP enhanced LTR in 2 patients, but lowered LTR in patient who had been taking immunosuppressive drugs. Changes in lymphocyte populations occurred and included a substantial increase of T cells. A primary effect was an increase of helper T-cells. During MP, early leukopenia accompanied by complement activation and secondary leukocytosis were observed. Phagocytic PMNs activated by this process had significant augmentation of their O-2 generating activity as measured by chemiluminescence. This was evident in severe RA and in 2 cirrhosis patients with low phagocytic cell function before MP. This activation of phagocytes by MP may lead to additional beneficial effects by further lowering MMs such as immune complexes from plasma. A better understanding of these phenomena is necessary to assess the overall therapeutic response to MP, especially in patients where cellular mechanisms are important in pathogenesis of their disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Development of new hollow fiber membrane macromolecular filters.

Newly developed hollow fiber membrane filters made of ethylene-vinyl-alcohol designated as EVAL 2A, EVAL 4A, and EVAL 5A, were tested in vitro and applied clinically. EVAL 2A had the lowest molecular weight cut-off (30% rejection rate for 10(4) dalton dextran and 90% rejection rate for 10(5) dalton dextran); sieving coefficients (SC) of 0.78 for albumin, 0.59 for IgG, and almost 0 for IgM indicate its usefulness for separation of IgG from albumin when the recirculation flow on the filter was introduced. EVAL 4A and 5A showed higher cut-off levels (25% rejection of 10(5) dalton dextran and 80% rejection rate for 2 X 10(6) dalton dextran); SCs for albumin IgG, and IgM were 0.89, 0.83, and 0.24, respectively, indicating their usefulness in the separation of MMs of molecular size greater than IgG. IgM type cold agglutinin antibody (CAA), IC, and RF were effectively removed by these filters from CAA induced hemolytic anemia or rheumatoid vasculitis patients. Using recirculating flow to prevent filter plugging, one EVAL unit was found to be sufficient to treat 2-3 L plasma. These filter properties demonstrate the possible clinical application of EVAL filters for selective MM removal, when specific MM removal is indicated for the treatment of specific diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Ultrastructural changes of skeletal muscles in polyarteritis nodosa and in arteritis assoicated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Muscle biopsies from two cases of polyarteritis nodosa (PN) and one of arteritis in assoication with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined by electron microscopy. The histological changes were similar in all three cases. The endothelial cells of the small blood vessels were often hypertrophied. Inflammatory reaction was present mainly in the vicinity of the blood vessels. Individual muscle fibres showed mostly nonspecific degenerative changes. In a case PN, however, annulate lamellae were present in a small number of the muscle fibres. The annulate lamellae have been reported, to our knowledge, in the human skeletal muscles only in a few cases of polymyositis. In addition, two cases, one of PN and of arteritis with RA, showed fine filamentous inclusions in the muscle fibres. Changes were also noted in the motor end-plate. A sural nerve biopsy in a case of arteritis with RA showed changes both in axons and myelin sheaths, in addition to the changes in the blood vessels similar to those in the muscle.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Ultrastructural changes in granulomatous myopathy.

Muscle biopsies from four middle-aged to elderly women with a 3--16-years' history of slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness showed non-caseating granulomas. Although two of them had clinical features suggestive of sarcoidosis, the other two had not. No distinct differences in the structural changes of these cases were noted by light or electron microscopy. The granulomas were comprised of epithelioid cells, Langhans type giant cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, and small numbers of plasma cells, monocytes, and mast cells. Some lymphocytes appeared to be transformed. The damaged muscle fibres were mostly located near the granulomas. Some of them were infiltrated by epithelioid cells, macrophages and mononuclear cells similar to lymphocytes. These cells were seen between the basement and plasma membranes of the muscle fibres. The muscle fibres showed various degenerative changes. Regeneration of muscle fibres was also observed. Filamentous intranuclear inclusions were present in two cases.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Immunoreactive beta-endorphin in human cerebrospinal fluid.

To elucidate the nature of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its relationship with plasma beta-endorphin, plasma and CSF specimens were obtained simultaneously. Gel chromatography revealed that beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in CSF consisted of two components with elution positions compatible to those of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), respectively, and an additional larger molecule. The beta-endorphin level in CSF obtained from four nonendocrine patients was 17.9 +/- 2.3 pg/ml (mean +/- SE) and corresponded to 20% of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity. The predominant componet in CSF was either beta-LPH or the larger molecule. beta-Endorphin levels in CSF were consistently higher than those in plasma, and there seemed to be no relationship between them. One patient with Nelson's syndrome had a CSF beta-endorphin level of 14.8 pg/ml, although the plasma level was 784 pg/ml. On the other hand, one patient under glucocorticoid treatment had a CSF beta-endorphin level of 13.0 pg/ml and an undetectably low plasma level. It is concluded that 1) beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity consists of beta-endorphin, beta-LPH, and possibly the precursor molecule; and 2) there exists marked dissociation between plasma and CSF beta-endorphin levels, suggesting the possible central nervous system origin of beta-endorphin in CSF.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effects of washing on phytohemagglutinin responsiveness of lymphocytes from irradiated patients.

The peripheral lymphocytes from irradiated patients generally have a reduced capability to respond to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Whether a relationship exists between PHA-responsiveness and chromosome aberration frequencies was examined by washing the lymphocytes with culture medium. The results indicate that the defect in lymphocyte activation in patients receiving radiation therapy was caused by some reversible changes in the lymphocyte membrane directly associated with radiation exposure rather than by a radiation induced suppressor substance secondarily acting on the lymphocyte membrane.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Impaired induction of type II interferon in tumor-bearing mice.

The response of mice to type II interferon inducers such as purified protein derivative of tuberculin or OK-432 was significantly impaired after either the implantation of tumor cells or the injection of cell-free tumor ascitic fluids. Complete inhibition of type II interferon induction occurred in 3 to 5 days. This inhibitory effect persisted until the death of mice implanted with tumors or for 7 days after i.p. injection of 0.2 ml of tumor ascitic fluid. The inhibitory activity was seen even with 0.2 ml of the 10,000-fold dilution of the fluid and with its filtrate passed through a Diaflo UM-10 membrane (greater than 10,000-dalton exclusion), However, such tumor ascitic fluids did not affect the induction of type I interferon in mice by polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid or tilorone-HCl. Moreover, adjuvant-induced nontumorous ascitic fluid had no inhibitory activity. These results indicate that the in vivo induction of type II interferon is specifically impaired by tumor-mediated factor(s) with molecular weights of less than 10,000.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Isolation of an inhibitor of type II interferon induction from tumor ascitic fluids.

A low-molecular-weight fraction (M.W. approximately 700) that specifically impairs the induction of type II interferon in mice by purified protein derivative of tuberculin or OK-432 was isolated from the cell-free ascitic fluid of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Purification was achieved by ultrafiltration and gel filtration. The inhibitory activity of the isolated fraction was 10 times greater than that of the unfractionated starting material in the impairment of type II interferon induction. The significant inhibition was observed even when 0.2 ml of the 10,000-fold dilution of the fraction, which was previously adjusted to 0.25 A unit at 290 nm absorption, was once treated i.p. in normal mice 48 hr before challenge of type II interferon inducers. This fraction was stable to heating at 56 degrees for 60 min. The active component, however, did not affect the in vivo induction of type I interferon by polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid or tilorone-HCl. In parallel experiments, an identical low-molecular-weight fraction that impairs the type II interferon induction in mice was isolated from the ascitic fluids of rats bearing AH-100B ascites tumor and from a human hepatoma case with advanced cancer metastatic to the peritoneal cavity. However, nontumorous ascitic fluids obtained from adjuvant-stimulated mice and a human liver cirrhosis case did not contain any such inhibitory activity.

Animals↗