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Biomedical subjects

S Shimura

Publications and source records attributed to S Shimura.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Central and peripheral airways as determinants of ventilatory function in patients with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma.

We studied central and peripheral airways as determinants of ventilatory function in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB), bronchial asthma (BA), and emphysema (CPE), which were identified using the selective alveolobronchogram (SAB) (see reference 14). First, the relationship between SAB and morphologic findings in the airway was examined in 16 autopsy lungs. The irregularity indices of both central (C-II) and peripheral airways (P-II), obtained from SAB, showed a significant correlation with pathologic abnormalities in both airways (p less than 0.01). Second, SAB were obtained in 38 CB, 25 BA, and 62 CPE patients in whom pulmonary function tests were performed. In CB, C-II were significantly correlated with P-II (p less than 0.001). In CB, inspiratory lung resistance (RL) was significantly correlated with P-II (p less than 0.001) and with C-II (p less than 0.01), and FEV/VC% was significantly correlated with P-II (p less than 0.0001) but not with C-II. In BA and CPE, little correlation was observed between any SAB parameter and RL or FEV/VC%. We conclude that the present SAB parameters represent morphometric abnormalities of the central and peripheral airways, and that in CB, peripheral airway abnormalities correlated well with chronic airway obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cellular analysis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in infiltrative and fibrotic stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

We performed cellular analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) from 20 patients in different stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and compared the results with those from 16 controls and 10 sarcoidosis patients. Patients with IPF were divided into infiltrative and fibrotic groups as diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy and chest x-rays. Total cell numbers counted from BALF in IPF patients were not different from those from controls and were lower than in sarcoidosis patients (p less than 0.01). Lymphocytes in BALF were significantly higher in the infiltrative type IPF than in the fibrotic type (p less than 0.05), but there was no significant difference in fibrotic type IPF and control subjects. Numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils counts were not significantly different between infiltrative type and fibrotic type. The neutrophil count in fibrotic type IPF was higher than in control subjects (p less than 0.01) but not in infiltrative type IPF. 67Ga scintiscanning uptake correlated with the lymphocyte population (r = 0.65, p less than 0.01) but with neutrophils. These findings suggest that lymphocytes play a major role in the pathogenesis of the infiltrative type of IPF and that neutrophils are related to the development of fibrotic changes in IPF.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1985

A role for interstitial matrix in tissue tension of alveolar wall.

Single alveolar walls subjected to length-tension studies in saline and Bicine (0.2 M) undergo a progressive decay in tissue tension (TTD). We have examined the effect of different solutions on this TTD and looked for corresponding changes in the ultrastructure. Lung parenchyma was dissected to single alveolar walls (30 X 30 X 150 microns) in phosphate-buffered saline (0.15 M). Transferred to a length-tension bath, the tissue was immersed in Bicine, saline, fortified Hank's solution, 0.25% Alcian blue in saline, or a sodium dodecyl sulfate solution, for variable periods. Cycled through a given extension with peak force measured over time, these same tissues were fixed in buffered glutaraldehyde/tannic acid and processed for electron microscopy. Single alveolar walls immersed in saline or Bicine showed a progressive TTD. Vacuoles or spaces appeared in the interstitium which with cellular disorganization progressed with the TTD. Seen within 0.3 h, the changes were well advanced at 0.6 h. In sodium dodecyl sulfate (70 mM), however, there was no TTD and structurally there was no interstitium, with only basement membranes and fibrous proteins remaining. In fortified Hank's solution or 0.25% Alcian blue the interstitial matrix, cell morphology and tissue tension were well preserved for 1 h. This study suggest that leaching of the interstitial matrix occurs in saline or Bicine, and an intact matrix is essential for the preservation of tissue tension.

Alcian Blue↗
PubMed1985

Late pulmonary response in guinea pigs after ascaris challenge.

Respiratory resistance of guinea pigs immunized with Ascaris suum was measured over 6 hr after aerosol challenge of the allergen by use of the oscillation method. These animals showed a biphasic pulmonary response to the aerosol challenge with Ascaris suum. Histological analysis of these animals revealed a narrowing of bronchial lumen, peribronchial edema and neutrophil-rich mucous in bronchial lumen at the late pulmonary response.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1984

Giant lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells of rats exposed to a low concentration of ozone.

The effect of a low concentration of ozone on pulmonary surfactant release was examined by the ultrastructural morphometry of lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells. Rats were exposed to approximately 0.3 ppm of ozone for 3 h daily for 16 consecutive days. The volume density of lamellar bodies, relative to the cell, increased significantly following ozone exposure. After 11 days giant lamellar bodies were found in ozone-exposed rats. These findings suggest that ozone exposure causes the impairment of pulmonary surfactant release.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Relation between selective alveolo-bronchograms and pulmonary function tests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We studied the relation between selective alveolo-bronchograms (SAB) and pulmonary function tests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) other than asthma. The SAB were obtained by the technique reported by Nakamura and coworkers (Tohoku J Exp Med 1969; 99:207). First, the relation between SAB and morphologic findings was examined in 14 autopsy lungs in order to confirm the morphologic bases of the shadows. The ring shadows that appeared in the SAB were histologically identified as alveolar ducts in normal lungs and as destroyed parenchymal air spaces in emphysematous lungs. There was a significant correlation between the mean diameter of ring shadow (DR) and the degree of morphologic emphysema (p less than 0.001). This correlation indicated a significant degree of emphysema when the DR exceeded 900 micron. The irregularity index of the airway in SAB also showed a significant correlation to the grade of pathologic abnormalities in the airways (p less than 0.01). Second, SAB were obtained in 64 patients with COPD in whom pulmonary function tests were performed. In these patients, the DR correlated significantly with most of the pulmonary function tests. This correlation was especially high with transfer factor (DLCO/VA). These 64 patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of the DR: In Group A, DR was more than 900 micron, whereas in Group B, it was less than 900 micron. In Group A, the DR also showed a significant correlation with DLCO/VA and with diffusing capacity (DLCO); in Group B, significant correlations were found in the irregularity index, especially with regard to pulmonary resistance and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to vital capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Frequency distribution of viscoelastic properties of sputum studied by the raised cosine pulse method: the effects of mucolytic agents.

We studies the frequency dependence of viscoelastic behavior of human sputum using our newly developed Raised Cosine Pulse (RCP) method. This method needs only 1.5 ml sputum, and allows us to estimate the responses of storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") to the change of angular frequency omega = 10(-3) -10(0) rad.sec-1 in only 2-3 minutes by applying one small pulse strain. Measurements were made at 37 degrees C and within 2 hours of expulsion. The results obtained by the RCP method and by a conventional method were compared and were roughly in agreement. From the behavior of G' and G", the presence of a relaxation region at omega = 3 X 10(-2) -3 X 10(-1) rad.sec-1 could be deduced. The magnitude of relaxation increased and relaxation frequencies decreased, as the purulence of sputum increased. We also observed differences in viscoelastic behavior of sputum resulting from the application of mucolytic agents in vivo, which suggest corresponding changes of mechanical structures to the different pharmacological actions of these drugs.

Elasticity↗
PubMed1983

Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivo.

We studied the effects of expectorants (mucolytic agents) in vivo on the relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity. Seven female and thirty-three male patients (56.8 +/- 19.3 yrs, range: 21 to 82 years old) with a chronic pulmonary disease except bronchial asthma were studied. They were randomly put into the control group or a group which would be given oral treatments with an expectorant for a week after a one week washout period. The groups were as follows: Group I (n = 8), control; Group II (n = 7), Bromhexine hydrochloride 24 mg per day; Group III (n = 10), Ambroxol 90 mg per day; Group IV (n = 9) alpha - Chymotrypsin buccle 100 ch.u. per day; Group V (n = 6), Serratiopeptidase 30 mg per day. In Groups IV & V, frequency dependence of sputum viscoelasticity at the range of omega = 10(-3) to 10(0) rad.sec-1 were clearly changed after the treatments, and the magnitude of the relaxation and its main relaxation time were significantly increased. On the other hand, in Groups I, II & III, no significant changes of the frequency dependences were observed. These findings suggest that proteolytic enzymes administered orally work on the molecular structure of sputum, and break down their linkages between subunits of the structure.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effects of long-term ozone exposure and dietary vitamin E in rats.

Rats fed on a vitamin E-deficient diet (E-depleted group) and a vitamin E-supplemented diet (E-supplemented group) were exposed to 0.3 ppm ozone for three hours daily, five days a week for seven months. Then animals from each group were sacrificed, and electron microscopic studies on the lung and biochemical examinations on the lung and liver were performed. 1) Vitamin E concentration in serum decreased following ozone exposure in the E-supplemented group, whereas it remained unaffected the E-depleted group. 2) Both TAB value and % release of lysosomal enzyme (acid phosphatase) of the liver were increased in vitamin E-depleted air-exposed rats, and showed even higher values following ozone exposure. Levels of both components were highest in the vitamin E-depleted ozone-exposed rats, thus demonstrating that there are a marked increase in lipid peroxide and the increased labilization of lysosomes in this instance. 3) Arachidonic acid (20:4) of total lipid, phospholipid and lecithin in the lung tissue showed a tendency to decrease in vitamin E-depleted air-exposed rats. Those in the ozone-exposed animals showed in both groups a tendency to increase in total lipid and lecithin, and to decrease in phospholipid. However, a change in the fatty acid composition following ozone exposure was generally mild. 4) The fatty acid composition of phospholipid in lung washings did not show a remarkable change following ozone exposure in either group, thus suggesting that it has the resistivity to oxidation. 5) Morphological observations on the lung with the scanning and transmission electron microscopes did not reveal any clear differences between the two groups. The defensive effect of vitamin E on ozone toxicity induced by long-term exposure to ozone was not made clear by the morphological or biochemical examination of the lung. However, biochemical findings in liver of rats exposed to ozone suggested the possibility that vitamin E deficiency permits the damaging effects of lipid peroxidation on biological membranes.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

A new cytoplasmic bar-like structure seen in type II alveolar cells of rat lungs.

Type II alveolar cells from healthy (control) and from pilocarpine-treated rats were studied using transmission electron microscopy of ultra-thin sections and freeze fracture replicas. In freeze-fracture preparations, a bar-like laminated structure about 0.4 micrometer in diameter and 1 similar to or approximately 6 micrometer in length was found in type II alveolar cells; it seemed to be identical to the membrane-bound slits containing electron dense materials which were also observed in ultra-thin sections. The frequency of this structure in the cells increased together with an increase in the number of lamellar bodies after injection of pilocarpine, suggesting a close connection between the bar-like structure and the formation of pulmonary surfactant.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Selective alveolo-bronchographic findings in type B chronic obstructive lung disease patients with particular reference to lesions in small airways.

Selective alveolo-bronchography (SAB) was performed in 14 patients with type B chronic obstructive lung disease to evaluate the morphologic changes of their "small airways". The distance from the branching portion of the segmental bronchus (B9) to the end of the conducting airway was divided into three equal parts (central, middle and peripheral). In the peripheral part, interruption of the airway with a rounded or tapering end was noted at a high incidence (9 cases). Dilatation of the bronchus, irregular outline of the bronchial wall and increased angle of branching were also conspicuous in this part. Inadequate lateral branchings of airways were often observed in the middle and the peripheral part, particularly in the latter (10 cases). Generalized narrowing of an airway and narrowing especially at a branching point were observed in about one half of the cases. Fringes and/or spikes were most often seen in the central part of the airway (9 cases). These pathological appearances are considered to reflect morphologic changes in "small airway disease", and thus SAB can serve as a useful method for detecting lesions of the small airways.

Adult↗