[On the theory of a dual innervation of accommodation, and on the development of insufficiency of the ciliary explained by this theory].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Seki.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This is the first report to document pit cells in the human liver. These cells were identified by characteristic electron-dense granules and rod-cored vesicles. The granules of human pit cells were smaller in number and size than those of the rat. In the present case of autoimmune hepatitis, pit cells and conventional agranular lymphocytes migrated into hepatic parenchyma and contacted degenerating and immature hepatocytes. Pit cells show natural killer activity (Kaneda et al., 1983), and may participate in development of lesions and cellular damage.
When a small amount of Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide was intravenously injected into mice which had been injected with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes 7 days before, massive hepatic cell necrosis was induced and most of the mice died 24 hr later. However, when prostaglandin E1 was administered with lipopolysaccharide, remarkable improvements in the survival rate and in the histological changes of the liver were observed. In order to find out how prostaglandin E1 suppressed the induction of massive hepatic cell necrosis in this experimental model, we studied the effects of prostaglandin E1 on the activation of liver adherent cells, from which the cytotoxic factor is released, and on the protection of hepatocytes from the cytotoxic factor. As a result, prostaglandin E1 not only inhibited the activation of liver adherent cells and suppressed the release of the cytotoxic factor, but it also directly affected the hepatocytes and protected them from the cytotoxic factor.
Sex identification of forensic samples (bloodstains and decomposed tissue) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was investigated. Amplification of a segment of the amelogenin gene using a pair of primers revealed both Y- and X-specific bands at the same time. The gene has counterparts in both the X and Y chromosomes and a small deletion in the former made it possible to distinguish them. Analysis of the X-specific band is the most reliable method for sex identification. THe locus includes a single copy gene so a sample of 250 ng/tube of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is required for identification. Amplification of part of the DYZ1 locus was attempted as an alternative method for analysis of infinitesimal amounts of sample. Even DNA from putrefied tissue could be analyzed by PCR because the locus consists of thousands of copies of repeating units pHY10.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
1. Production of nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. However, the cells responsible for the production of NO in situ in the human colon remain unknown. 2. Surgical samples from 12 patients with ulcerative colitis, eight patients with Crohn's disease and 10 controls were studied. Possible generation of NO was visualized by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase activity in human colon. Immunohistological staining for various NO synthase (NOS) isoforms (endothelial, neuronal and inducible), nitrotyrosine and interleukin-2 was also performed. 3. Reduced NADPH diaphorase activity was not found in lamina propria mononuclear cells, but was found in colonic epithelium, endothelium and myenteric neurons and their processes. 4. The NADPH-diaphorase activity positive processes were significantly less common in colon from patients with Crohn's disease compared with control colon. 5. Endothelial NOS was constitutively expressed on colonic endothelium. 6. Neuronal NOS was constitutively expressed on myenteric neurons. 7. Expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) was increased in the epithelium and endothelium of the colon of patients with ulcerative colitis. 8. No correlation was found between expression of iNOS and NADPH diaphorase activity. 9. Nitrotyrosine was expressed by lamina propria leucocytes, but not by epithelium. 10. Interleukin-2 was expressed on both leucocytes and myenteric neurons. 11. Colonic epithelium, endothelium and myenteric neurons synthesize NO. Myenteric neurons were principally responsible for NO production and NO may act as a neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system.
Survival rates were calculated for 251 patients with cirrhosis of the liver but without hepatocellular carcinoma, primary biliary cirrhosis, or autoimmune cirrhosis who underwent laparoscopy during the past 21 years at the authors' hospital. The survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Stored serum was assayed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had significantly better survival rates than patients with HBsAg, HCV, or both. Differences in survival rates between patients with hepatitis B and C were insignificant. In both groups, habitual drinkers had a significantly lower survival rate. The results suggested that alcohol accelerates liver damage in subjects with viral hepatitis.
To identify the preneoplastic lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma and the fine structure of preneoplastic hepatocytes, we studied proliferative conditions in cirrhosis of the liver. In all, 46 foci of cellular alteration (FCA), three regions of adenomatous hyperplasia (ADH), and 21 small hepatocellular carcinomas (sHCC) were studied by published criteria for sHCC and by the proliferative activity of the lesions as examined with monoclonal antibodies against DNA polymerase alpha and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The four patients with FCA composed of basophilic hepatocytes were classified by the criteria as having sHCC; cells had features similar to those of sHCC. Two of these four patients with FCA were found to have HCC several years later. The number of hepatocytes stained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen was 72 and 81 per 1000 hepatocyte nuclei in the two patients who developed HCC. In one of the three patients with ADH, a sHCC was found 1 year later, and dysplastic hepatocytes from the region of ADH in this patient had features similar to those of HCC cells by light and electron microscopy. In this patient, the number of hepatocytes stained for DNA polymerase alpha was 452 per 1000 nuclei. Therefore, FCA and ADH might be preneoplastic lesions of sHCC in cirrhosis of the liver. Preneoplastic hepatocytes seem to be small cells with basophilic cytoplasm, with a large nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, finely indented nuclei with a smaller amount of condensed chromatin than normal, and poorly to moderately developed organelles.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ornithine decarboxylase is essential for cell growth. Its activity was high in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and was highest in poorly differentiated tumors. METHODOLOGY: To find if there are tumor-specific ornithine decarboxylases, we examined the ornithine decarboxylase cDNA sequences of 91 clones prepared from hepatoma tissue and non-cancerous tissue of resected liver specimens from 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: Ornithine decarboxylase gene mutations were more frequently detected in the hepatoma tissue. The incidence of mutation in hepatoma tissue was related to dedifferentiation. Mutation in regions rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine were detected in moderately and poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma only. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that the sequence of ornithine decarboxylase in hepatocellular carcinoma often is different from that in normal liver and that mutation of its gene is related to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the number of homeless persons is increasing worldwide, studies delineating the health status of these persons according to various medical perspectives, including hepatology, are limited. However, such studies are important for understanding the pathogenesis of diseases and their prevention. METHODOLOGY: Thirty homeless patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 15 with liver cirrhosis (LC) who were admitted to the Osaka Socio Medical center Hospital during the past 6 years were analyzed clinicopathologically. All were from the Airin district of Osaka City. RESULTS: The patients with HCC had a history of long stay (mean: 25 years) in the district and many infectious opportunities and most of them were malnourished. The main causes of liver disease in the patients with HCC were hepatitis C virus (HCV) (77%), alcohol abuse (73%), and the combination of HCV and alcohol abuse (50%). Serum HCV RNA concentration was 10(5.8 +/- 0.9) copies/50 microliters in the 21 HCC patients and 10(6.5 +/- 0.7) copies/50 microliters in the 14 LC patients (p < 0.02). Six HCC patients (20%) were positive for the GB virus C/Hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) RNA in association with HCV or hepatitis B virus (HBV). Only 2 patients with HCC underwent the curative operations and most of the HCC cases were in progressed stages. CONCLUSIONS: A long stay in a hygiene-poor environment increases the opportunity for infection in homeless people. The causative agents in the HCC and LC patients were mostly HCV, alcohol abuse, and a combination of the two. Since the quantification of HCV-RNA in the HCC patients was lower, the high level of HCV-RNA may not be a risk factor for the development of HCC. GBV-C/HGV may not also. The reversion to former healthy living conditions and reduction in alcohol consumption as soon as possible may contribute to low incidence of HCC and save the tax dollar expenditures among homeless people.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The evaluation of portal blood flow in hepatic mass is important for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. We have designed a new method to easily evaluate portal blood flow in hepatic mass using ultrasonography with injection of carbon dioxide into the intrahepatic portal vein by direct puncture with a fine needle. METHODOLOGY: We evaluated 29 masses in the liver of 20 patients ultrasonically with injection of carbon dioxide into the intrahepatic portal vein. RESULTS: Of 29 space-occupying lesions (SOLs), 13 were found to have portal blood flow and 16 were found to have no portal flow by this method. All 15 SOLs which had no portal flow were histologically confirmed to be hepatocellular carcinoma. Of 13 SOLs with portal flow, 5 were confirmed to be hepatocellular carcinoma. For 7 of 9 SOLs in which both this method and arterial portographic computed tomography were performed, the results were in agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonographic evaluation of portal blood flow using transhepatic carbon dioxide injection appears to be useful for the evaluation of portal flow in mass and may aid in the diagnosis and management of mass in patients with liver disease.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the mechanism of cancer metastasis has been gradually elucidated, less is known concerning the characteristics of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with metastatic potential. We examined the expression of molecules that mediate cell-cell or cell-substrate interaction, nm23-H1 expression, and ultrastructural features of several human HCC cell lines. METHODOLOGY: Expression of E-cadherin, integrin (alpha3beta1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and nm23-H1 protein was analyzed by immunocytochemistry or Western blotting, and ultrastructural features were further studied by electron microscopy in 4 human HCC cell lines, PLC/PRF/5, HuH-7, OCUH-16, and Nuk-1 which were originally established from metastatic cells in lymph nodes at our institute. RESULTS: Neither E-cadherin, integrin, nor ICAM-1 was immunocytochemically detected in any of the 4 cell lines. Expression of nm23-H1 protein was weakly detected in OCUH-16, Nuk-1, and Huh-7 cells by Western blotting, but was clearly detected in PLC/PRF/5 cells by Western blotting. Ultrastructurally, metastatic Nuk-1 cells exhibited the intracytoplasmic canaliculus-like structures found in fibrolamellar carcinoma and the intracytoplasmic glandular lumina found in bile-duct carcinoma, while the other 3 cell lines did not. In addition, Nuk-1 cells expressed neither cytokeratin 8 nor cytokeratin 19. CONCLUSIONS: Nuk-1 cells, which are human HCC cells with metastasis to lymph nodes, alone exhibited intracytoplasmic canaliculus-like structures and glandular lumina, as well as a marked reduction of nm23-H1 protein, but did not express E-cadherin, integrin, or ICAM-1. Formation of both intracytoplasmic canaliculus-like structures and intracytoplasmic glandular lumina is one of the characteristics that may be involved in metastasis of HCC cells to lymph nodes, as is reduction of nm23-H1 protein.
The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is characterized by arterial and venous thrombosis including hepatic veins. Although transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or liver transplantation have been considered for Budd-Chiari syndrome, treatment options for patients with complete obstruction of three hepatic veins including the junction with the inferior vena cava are limited. We describe a 27-year-old female, who suffered thrombotic obliteration of hepatic veins including the portion confluent with the inferior vena cava (Budd-Chiari syndrome) associated with marked ascites and liver dysfunction. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt using a Wall-stent (10 mm in diameter) between inferior vena cava and intrahepatic portal vein was performed. Intrastent coagulation and recurrence of thrombosis were prevented by combination therapy with warfarin potassium and ticlopidine hydrochloride. These treatments induced loss of ascites and improvement of liver function, and she has been able to resume daily life. The portosystemic shunt described above in addition to combination therapy with warfarin potassium and ticlopidine hydrochloride appeared to be one of the options for treating Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
While using a needle for suturing in a restricted operating space, surgeons change the direction of the needle holder by modifying needle grips. Such directional changes, however, have not been analyzed systematically. The "left-hand rule", similar to Fleming's rule in physics, is proposed as a guide in comprehending these changes. When the thumb is assumed to represent the direction of the holder in the standard grip, the long axis of the index finger represents that of a grip in which the needle is held obliquely [oblique (Ob) grip]. In the usual (tip-ward) Ob grip with ordinary suturing (advancing the needle by supination), the holder is shifted in the direction opposite to the fingertip (towards the arm) and, in that with reversed suturing (by pronation), towards it. The middle finger represents a grip in which the needle is held after rotation [rotated (Ro) grip]. In the usual (counter-clockwise) Ro grip, the holder is shifted in the direction opposite to the fingertip (towards the back of the hand) in both ordinary and reversed suturing.
The movements of the needle holder and the needle do not correspond when the needle grip is modified for suturing in awkward sites. In this study the range of movement of the needle holder was determined for three modified grips and the optimum suturing methods were determined for horizontal and vertical suturing fields and for restricted and open operating spaces. Gripping a needle obliquely resulted in a 90 degree counterclockwise rotation of the range of movement of the needle holder. Gripping it after rotation deviated the needle holder without altering the range of movement. A combined grip achieved by rotating after shifting had an intermediate effect. The optimum suturing for a restricted horizontal operating space was to use a half-circle needle in the first half of its range of movement with the rotated grip. With the oblique grip the last half of the range should be used and in the middle the combined grip is used although gripping the needle is most stable with the oblique grip. For a restricted vertical operating space, the third quarter of the movement range was allotted to the rotated grip and the last quarter to the combined grip.