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Biomedical subjects

S Shirahama

Publications and source records attributed to S Shirahama.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Membranous and soluble forms of Fas antigen in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

The role of Fas-mediated apoptosis in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) is still unclear, although the Fas/FasL system has been investigated in autoimmune diseases in relation to impaired apoptosis. In order to elucidate the connections between acute cutaneous LE (ACLE) and chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE), we determined the expression of membranous Fas antigen (mFas) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by flow cytometry and the levels of the soluble form of the Fas antigen (sFas) in sera. The ratio and the mean fluorescence intensity of mFas were much higher in ACLE patients than in others, including patients with CCLE and atopic dermatitis and normal healthy controls. The levels of sFas in ACLE and CCLE patients were also elevated, and there was a significant increase in sFas levels in ACLE patients over that in CCLE patients. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that Fas antigen was predominantly expressed on infiltrating cells around blood vessels and appendages in ACLE and CCLE patients. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the expression of Fas antigen is closely associated with the activation of circulating lymphocytes, especially in ACLE patients, but is not directly associated with keratinocyte damage.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Roles of E- and P-cadherin in the human skin.

The Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules, termed cadherins, are subdivided into several subclasses. E (epithelial)- and P (placental)-cadherins are involved in the selective adhesion of epidermal cells. E-cadherin is expressed on the cell surfaces of all epidermal layers and P-cadherin is expressed only on the surfaces of basal cells. Ultrastructural studies have shown that E-cadherin is distributed on the plasma membranes of keratinocytes with a condensation in the intercellular space of the desmosomes. During human skin development P-cadherin expression is spatiotemporally controlled and closely related to the segregation of basal layers as well as to the arrangement of epidermal cells into eccrine ducts. In human skin diseases E-cadherin expression is markedly reduced on the acantholytic cells of tissues in pemphigus and Darier's disease. Cell adhesion molecules are now considered to play a significant role in the cellular connections of cancer and metastatic cells. Reduced expression of E-cadherin on invasive neoplastic cells has been demonstrated for cancers of the stomach, liver, breast, and several other organs. This reduced or unstable expression of E- and P-cadherin is observed in squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and Paget's disease, but cadherin expression is conserved in basal cell carcinoma. Keratinocytes cultured in high calcium produce much more intense immunofluorescence of intercellular E- and P-cadherin than those cells grown in low calcium. E-cadherins on the plasma membrane of the keratinocytes are shifted to desmosomes under physiological conditions, and therein may express an adhesion function in association with other desmosomal cadherins. Soluble E-cadherins in sera are elevated in various skin diseases including bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris, and psoriasis, but not in patients with burns. Markedly high levels in soluble E-cadherin are demonstrated in patients with metastatic cancers.

Cadherins↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy of immunization of high-risk infants against hepatitis B virus evaluated by polymerase chain reaction.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a rapid and very sensitive method to detect viral genomes. In the present study, the efficacy of immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) of high-risk infants was evaluated by PCR. Twenty-nine infants born to 24 HBeAg-positive carrier mothers were given hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) at birth and thereafter received repeated inoculations of plasma-derived vaccine or HBIG, or both, within 1 year. Serum samples at 1 year following immunization were stored at -40 degrees C for later analysis using PCR to detect HBV-DNA. When HBV genomes were detected in infants, the DNA sequences in the S gene of HBV were determined. Of 29 infants, 2 were positive for HBV-DNA at the 1 year following immunization; one had the HBV containing only the wild-type sequence in the S gene and became negative for HBV-DNA during the follow-up period. In contrast, another had the HBV, which contained nucleotide substitutions that altered the expression of the common group-specific determinant "a" of the S gene and resulted in clinical hepatitis with viral persistence. PCR analysis suggests that immunization against HBV prevents effectively high-risk infants from mother-to-child transmission. Even then, however, it is possible that amino acid substitutions in the "a" determinant of the S gene are associated with failure of conventional immunization against HBV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of soluble cell adhesion molecules in atopic dermatitis.

Recent studies have indicated the importance of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) between the vascular endothelium and activated leukocytes in various inflammatory skin diseases. Soluble forms of CAMs (sCAMs) have also been detected in sera from such diseases. In order to elucidate the role of the soluble forms in skin inflammation, we determined the serum levels of E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we quantified sCAMs levels in 21 patients with atopic dermatitis and in 16 healthy controls. In severe AD patients, levels of these three types of sCAMs were markedly elevated. sE-selectin was significantly elevated in severe AD over the levels in mild AD. A positive correlation with individual clinical activity was found for changes in the sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels. sE-selectin levels were correlated with the serum IgE levels and the number of eosinophils. The sVCAM-1 level was also significantly correlated with the number of monocytes. Among these three molecules, sE-selectin appeared to be the most sensitive clinical parameter in monitoring the clinical course of AD patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

E- and P-cadherin expression in tumor tissues and soluble E-cadherin levels in sera of patients with skin cancer.

The expression pattern of epithelial (E)- and placental (P)-calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules was examined immunohistochemically in various skin tumors. E- and P-cadherin expression was preserved in nodular and superficial types of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), E-cadherin on the cell surface of the tumor was reduced but expression of P-cadherin was preserved more frequently at the peripheral sites of the tumor than in the central sites of the tumor. Paget's cells and melanoma cells did not express E- or P-cadherins in the nest of the epidermis. Immunoreactive E-cadherin levels in sera were significantly elevated in patients with invasive Paget's disease, metastatic malignant melanoma and severe types of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis when compared with those of normal controls. Reduced or loss of cadherin in localized tumor cells may be correlated with the proliferation, and the level of soluble E-cadherin in circulation may be a marker in the extent of damaged skin by tumor and/or inflammation.

Cadherins↗
PubMed1995

Cutaneous colonization with staphylococci influences the disease activity of Sézary syndrome: a potential role for bacterial superantigens.

It has previously been shown that circulating Sézary cells respond in vitro to superantigenic staphylococcal exotoxins in a manner that is restricted by their V beta usage. This study was conducted to examine whether cutaneous colonization with Staphylococcus aureus influences the activity of the skin lesions of Sézary syndrome, and whether S. aureus isolated from patients with Sézary syndrome stimulates circulating Sézary cells in vitro. Two patients with Sézary syndrome, whose skin was colonized with S. aureus, were treated with antibacterial agents, and the relation between the severity of the skin disease and the degree of S. aureus colonization was assessed. In addition, the patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of mitomycin C-treated S. aureus or superantigenic staphylococcal toxins. The antibacterial treatment improved the skin disease, and eliminated S. aureus in both patients. In one patient, 98% of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells bore V alpha 2V beta 17 of the T-cell receptor, indicative of the presence of an extremely high percentage of circulating Sézary cells. The peripheral blood lymphocytes from this patient responded well in vitro to superantigenic staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE), but not to SEA or toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, or to mitomycin-treated S. aureus isolated from the same patient. Cutaneous colonization by S. aureus influences the disease activity of CTCL, possibly by activation of Sézary cells by bacterial superantigenic exoproteins.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Malignant hemangioendothelioma.

BACKGROUND: The administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) has recently been reported to be favorable for treating malignant hemangioendothelioma (MHE). METHODS: Two patients with MHE responded well to intralesional injections of recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) without major side effects. The purpose of this study was to characterize cells infiltrating the regressing tumor following rIL-2 treatment. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on biopsy specimens taken from rIL-2-injected lesional skin. RESULTS: It was shown that CD8+ lymphocytes and CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells infiltrated at the rIL-2-injection sites, suggesting that these cells contributed to the tumor regression. In addition, MHE cells bore intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) whose expression was augmented by rIL-2 injections. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested, that rIL-2 not only induces lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and NK cells, but also facilitates these cytotoxic cells to adhere to MHE cells by enhancing ICAM-1 expression of tumor cells.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Disseminated pagetoid reticulosis: need for long-term follow-up.

A 54-year-old woman had an erythematous plaque on the left index finger for 2 years. Histologically there was a dense infiltrate of atypical mononuclear cells in the epidermis that produced a pagetoid appearance. A diagnosis of localized pagetoid reticulosis was made. Three years after total removal of the finger lesion, erythematous plaques appeared on her left thigh, followed by the development of similar plaques on the right thigh and lower abdomen. Histologically these skin lesions had the same pagetoid appearance as the plaque on the finger. This suggested development of the disseminated type of pagetoid reticulosis, long after removal of the initial skin lesion.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1994

Cadherins in cutaneous biology.

The role of cadherins in cutaneous biology has focused mainly on the classical cadherins, E- and P-cadherin. In this review, roles for cadherins in skin morphogenesis, keratinocyte differentiation, and cancer metastasis are discussed. E-cadherin is expressed on the surfaces of whole epidermal layer cells, and P-cadherin is expressed only on the surfaces of basal cells. Ultrastructural studies have shown that E-cadherin is distributed on the cytoplasmic membranes of keratinocytes with a condensation in the intercellular space of the desmosomes. During human skin development, P-cadherin expression is spatiotemporally controlled and closely related to the segregation of basal layers as well as to the arrangement of epidermal cells into eccrine ducts. In human skin diseases, E-cadherin expression is markedly reduced on the acantholytic cells of tissues in pemphigus and also in Darier's disease. Keratinocytes cultured in high calcium produce a much more intense immunofluorescence of intercellular E- and P-cadherin than do cells grown in low calcium. Ultrastructural studies show that E-cadherin on the cytoplasmic membrane of the keratinocytes is shifted to desmosomes under physiological conditions and therein expresses an adhesion function is association with other desmosomal cadherins. Cell adhesion molecules are now considered to play significant roles in the cellular connections of cancers and metastatic cells. Reduced expression of E-cadherin on invasive neoplastic cells has been demonstrated for cancers of the stomach, liver, breast, and several other organs. This reduced expression of E-cadherin is observed in squamous cell carcinoma and Paget's disease. Soluble E-cadherins in sera are elevated in various skin diseases, including bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris and psoriasis, but not in patients with burns. Markedly high levels in soluble E-cadherin are demonstrated in patients with metastatic cancers.

Cadherins↗
PubMed1994

A case of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a case of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The patient suddenly presented with a widespread blistering eruption on the trunk and neck during the course of treatment of SLE. A skin biopsy specimen showed subepidermal blisters, and direct immunofluorescence (IF) revealed deposition of IgA, IgG and IgM at the dermoepidermal junction. Indirect IF showed linear IgG deposition along the base of 1 M NaCl-split skin. Rapid resolution of the blisters occurred following treatment with dapsone 50 mg daily.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Pemphigus associated with metastatic carcinoid.

Patients with pemphigus are occasionally associated with neoplasms. We report a case of pemphigus with carcinoid. To our knowledge, this is the first case of coexistence of pemphigus and carcinoid.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Prevalence estimates for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in Japan from National Survey of Circulatory Disorders 1990 data].

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Japan was estimated from fructosamine and hemoglobin A1c measurement data obtained from the National Survey of Circulatory Disorders 1990, using a previously reported method which used the results of a screening test for estimating true prevalence. The prevalence for males was higher than that for females. The prevalences were less than 10% for those 49 years or younger and approximately 20% for those 50 years or older. The estimated values derived from fructosamine or hemoglobin A1c did not vary considerably.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[A method of estimation for prevalence of diabetes mellitus from fructosamine levels].

A method for estimating the prevalence interval of diabetes mellitus from fructosamine data is presented, which is based on the previously reported method for estimating prevalence from results of screening tests and on the results of 75 gram glucose tolerance test and fructosamine test in 1,359 examinees. Where true prevalences are 1-20% and population size is 100-10,000, the estimates for prevalence of diabetes mellitus are generally minimum when a screening level of 310 mumol/l of fructosamine is utilized. In our method, a screening level for fructosamine of 310 mumol/l was specified. Standard error ratios of estimated prevalence of diabetes mellitus to true prevalence in a population with an actual prevalence of 10% were about 40% for a population of 200 persons, and about 20% for 2,000 persons or more.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1993

[Efficacy of hemoglobin-Alc, fructosamine, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol in community screening for diabetes mellitus].

To evaluate the efficacy of hemoglobin-Alc, fructosamine, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol tests in screening for diabetes mellitus in communities, the sensitivity and the specificity of these tests were observed on the island of Ojika, Goto islands, Nagasaki prefecture Japan. A 75 gram glucose tolerance test was performed simultaneously on every participant, and WHO diabetes mellitus criteria were used to classify individuals. A total of 554 males and 820 females, older than 34 years, participated in the examination, representing a response rate of 42% and 52% respectively, and 86 were classified as diabetic. The sensitivity and the specificity of several screening levels were determined for each test. Each of the tests attained greater than 70% sensitivity and specificity simultaneously, but could not achieve greater than an 80% level simultaneously. If screening levels are selected for a sensitivity of as low as 50%, it is possible to produce a high specificity of 97-98%. These results provide valuable information for the planning of efficient diabetes mellitus detection programs in communities.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance studied by 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test in a rural island population].

A mass health examination was performed to assess the glucose tolerance of inhabitants of the island of Ojika, in the Goto islands, Nagasaki prefecture Japan. There were 554 males and 820 females older than 34 years who participated in the mass health examination, a response rates of 42 percent and 52 percent for males and females respectively. Serum glucose levels after overnight fasting and at 2 hours after a 75 gram oral glucose tolerance were used with WHO criteria to classify individuals. Among these subjects, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased with age, with a prevalence of diabetes mellitus of around 10 percent in the older subjects. The prevalence for males was higher than that for females. Prevalences of impaired glucose tolerance were roughly in the 15-25 percent range and did not show clear differences among different age groups and sexes. From a questionnaire survey of all island inhabitants, it was considered that the degree of bias of the results was small, if any. The true prevalence for all the inhabitants may be a little larger than the observed prevalence of these subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Epidemic patterns of hepatitis type B virus (HBV) and human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in two ATL-endemic islands in Kyushu, Japan.

To evaluate the relationships between human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and hepatitis virus type B (HBV) infections, we compared both individual and geographical distributions of carriers of HTLV-I and HBV, and antibody positives to HBV in two ATL-endemic islands in Kyushu, Japan. The positive rates of antibodies to HTLV-I (anti-HTLV-I-Ab) in sera among healthy inhabitants older than 30 years of age were 27.5% (617/2,232) in Nakadohri, Goto Island and 24.0% (500/2,048) in Shimo-agata, Tsushima Island. The positive rates for surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBs-Ag) in sera among the same subjects were 6.4% and 2.5%, respectively. In Nakadohri, the age-adjusted positive rates of HBs-Ag and antibody to HBs-Ag (anti-HBs-Ab) in anti-HTLV-I-Ab positives (so-called HTLV-I carriers) differed little from those in negatives. In Shimo-agata, the geographical distribution of HBs-Ag positives (so-called HBV carriers) showed no positive association with that of HTLV-I carriers. These results did not support the positive correlations between HTLV-I and HBV infections among the general population in ATL-endemic areas in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[The epidemiological study of hepatolithiasis in the Kamigoto district, Nagasaki where hepatolithiasis is high incidence].

Regional distribution, age, sex, type of disease and history of surgery of the biliary tract were examined in 134 patients with hepatolithiasis in the Kamigoto district. The ratio of patient to population was 1:126 in the region showing the highest incidence. When classified by age at establishment of the diagnosis, patient in their sixties comprised the largest portion in both sexes. The ratio of men to women was 1:1.2. When classified in accordance with the draft by Research Group for the Study of Hepatolithiasis, 103 cases (76.9%) were of the intrahepatic type, and 31 cases (23.1%) were of the intra-extrahepatic type. The stones were found in the right lobe in 58 patients (43.3%), the left lobe in 59 patients (44.0%) and the both lobes in 17 patients (12.7%). Forty-four patients (32.8%) had a history of surgery of the biliary tract. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen in junior high school students revealed hepatolithiasis in one. As a result, the intrahepatic type and the right lobe type are high frequency in this district, and epidemiological survey of the family history and the food habit in this district is necessary.

Adolescent↗