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Biomedical subjects

T Kaji

Publications and source records attributed to T Kaji.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

T-zone lymphoma in association with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and T-zone lymphoma are described. On admission, both showed arthralgia, generalized lymphadenopathy, hypergammaglobulinemia and positive antinuclear antibody. Lymph node biopsies revealed diffuse infiltration of atypical T-lymphocytes in the expanded interfollicular area (T-zone), a finding characteristic for the T-zone lymphoma. Renal biopsy showed lupus nephritis and neoplastic lymphoid cell infiltration in the glomeruli of one patient, but only diffuse infiltration of neoplastic lymphoid cells and mature plasma cells were observed in the interstitium of the other patient. Both patients responded remarkably well to prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day).

Humans↗

[Time course study on the stability of the electrode in the oxygen consumption analyzer RM-200].

We investigated the stability of the polarographic electrode, the CO2 electrode and the expired minute ventilation value (VE value) in the oxygen consumption analyzer RM-200 over a 6-month duration. A total of analyses 363 were performed on 71 normal subjects. Two methods were used; one is the gas response curve which directly shows the property of the polarographic electrode and the CO2 electrode, and the other is the Douglas bag method which is considered to be a standard method of O2 consumption (VO2) and CO2 output (VCO2) measurement. The gas response curve analyses were performed just after setting a new polarographic electrode, at the third month and at the sixth month. Measurement by the Douglas bag method was usually done once a week. The effects of respiratory rate on the values of VE, VO2 and VCO2 were evaluated from the ratio of each value measured by RM-200 to that obtained by the Douglas bag method. Evaluation by the gas response curve, revealed that the polarographic electrode was stable for 3 months, but not at the six month. The Douglas bag method revealed that a decrease in VO2 value had already occurred after a 4-month use of the polarographic electrode. However, a definite correction of the time constant allowed the use of the electrode up to six months. The VCO2 value and the VE value were stable for 6 months. Increase in the respiratory rate caused a slight but significant difference between VO2 and VCO2 values measured by RM-200 and those obtained by the Douglas bag method, but did not influence the VE values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autoanalysis↗

[Occlusion of fistulas with fibrin glue].

Fistula formation is one of complications after surgery. Additional surgical intervention is recommended when fistula does not respond to conservative therapy. Eight patients with fistula were treated by using a baby feeding tube or double lumen angiographic catheter with fibrin glue. All the fistulas except one were successfully treated; 6 with complete occlusion and one with decreased discharge from fistula. It is emphasized that two deep fistulas could be occluded by using angiographic technique. Our preliminary result suggests fibrin occlusion therapy of fistulas is a safe and useful procedure, and an alternative to surgery for non-curative fistula.

Aged↗

Heparin cofactor II inhibits thrombin-stimulated release of tissue plasminogen activator from cultured human endothelial cells in the presence of dermatan sulfate.

To investigate the involvement of heparin cofactor II (HC II) in fibrinolytic system, endothelial cells from human umbilical vein were cultured in the presence of HC II or antithrombin III (AT III) combined with or without thrombin. Although AT III significantly inhibited thrombin-induced increase in tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag) release, HC II did not exhibit such a suppressive effect. In contrast, in the presence of dermatan sulfate, HC II inhibited thrombin stimulation of t-PA:Ag release more strongly than AT III did. The release of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1:Ag) was also stimulated by thrombin; this stimulation was inhibited only by the combination of HC II and dermatan sulfate. Comparatively high concentrations of HC II significantly suppressed thrombin stimulation of t-PA:Ag and PAI-1:Ag release but did not cause an obvious change of both release in the absence of thrombin. Based on these results, it was suggested that HC II may inhibit an increase in fibrinolytic activity mediated by thrombin-stimulated endothelial cells in the liquid phase through a suppression of thrombin stimulation of t-PA:Ag release, when plasma is exposed to vascular smooth muscle cells or fibroblasts which synthesize a significant amount of dermatan sulfate.

Antithrombin III↗

Heparin enhances thrombin-stimulated prostaglandin I2 production by cultured endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells from human umbilical vein were incubated in vitro with thrombin in the absence or presence of unfractionated heparin (UFH), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or dermatan sulfate (DS) to clarify the effect of these glycosaminoglycans on thrombin-stimulated prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) production. Although DS did not affect the thrombin stimulation, UFH and LMWH each enhanced it about 1.5-fold. Pretreatment of cells with either UFH or LMWH also enhanced the thrombin stimulation. In addition, UFH and LMWH each enhanced PGI2 production stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187, but did not affect that stimulated by arachidonic acid. From these results, it was suggested that UFH and LMWH might cause a physical change of cell membrane, which would caused an easier liberation of arachidonic acid by phospholipases.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Massive pancreatic pleural effusion: pathogenesis of pancreatic duct disruption.

Massive pancreatic pleural effusion is believed to be caused by pancreatic duct disruption. To elucidate the cause of the duct disruption, pancreas specimens resected from three cases of massive pancreatic pleural effusion were investigated histopathologically. There was no evidence of either chronic or acute pancreatitis except focal fibrosis along a single dilated duct in the resected pancreas. From our study, the pathogenesis of pancreatic duct disruption is suggested as follows: (a) alcohol ingestion can induce focal acute inflammation on a single branch of the duct system and elicit protein plug formation; and (b) focal stenotic change occurs on this branch at a point near the main pancreatic duct, and transient obstruction can occur by means of the protein plugs. The "upstream" extent of this branch will then dilate until it ruptures. However, on the frequency of this atypical pancreatitis, we have no clues to mention.

Acute Disease↗

A suitable culture medium for ossification of embryonic chick femur in organ culture.

To establish a culture medium which allows ossification in organ culture, 9-day-old embryonic chick femurs were cultured in variously supplemented BGJb-HW2 media. Changes of Ca and Pi concentrations in the BGJb-HW2 medium or the 10% addition of chick embryo extract (CEE) did not induce ossification. Furthermore, combinations of the 10% CEE with a high Ca x Pi product or with 5 mM beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP) or with 10% horse serum plus a high Ca x Pi product often caused pathological abnormalities in the periosteum. On the other hand, BGJb-HW2 medium supplemented with 5 mM beta-GP induced development of ossification. The Ca content of femurs and the diaphysial hydroxyproline content were markedly increased. Histological observation showed a formation of a thick and active periosteum, numerous osteoblastic cells, a sufficient amount of osteoid tissue and well developed calcified trabeculae without any pathological changes. Thus, the organ culture system using this medium was considered to be an appropriate one for studies on osteogenesis in vitro.

Animals↗

Gardenia fruit extract stimulates the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture.

We previously reported that Gardenia fruit extract had a stimulatory effect on fibrolysis in vitro. In the present study, we describe that the hot water extract from Gardenia fruit (GFE) stimulates the proliferation of cultured endothelial cells from bovine aorta. The cells were cultured in RPMI1640 medium supplemented 10% fetal bovine serum for up to 96 h in the presence of GFE (100 micrograms/ml and below). GFE at 25 and 50 micrograms/ml significantly increased the cell number after 48 h and above of the treatment. The incorporations of [3H]thymidine and [14C]leucine were significantly increased by 50 micrograms/ml GFE. The GFE stimulation of the proliferation was completely inhibited by 1 microM cycloheximide. The stimulatory activity of GFE was recognized in the low relative molecular mass (less than or equal to 10,000) fraction. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that a low molecular mass component of GFE stimulated endothelial cell proliferation and an increased protein synthesis was a essential component of this response. GFE may contain a useful compound to stimulate the proliferation of endothelial cells.

Animals↗

Possible mechanism of the stimulatory effect of Artemisia leaf extract on the proliferation of cultured endothelial cells: involvement of basic fibroblast growth factor.

To investigate the possible mechanism of the stimulatory effect of a hot water extract from Artemisia leaf (Artemisia princeps PANPANINI) (AFE) on the proliferation of endothelial cells, cells from bovine aorta were cultured for 72 h in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum in the presence of 5 micrograms/ml AFE. The AFE treatment significantly increased the cell number after culture, while in the presence of 10 micrograms/ml unfractionated heparin, AFE conversely decreased it. This implied that AFE enhanced the cell growth promotion by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The accumulation of bFGF was significantly increased in the culture medium, in the low-affinity (glycosaminoglycans-binding) fraction, and in the cell extract fraction, but was unchanged in the high-affinity (receptor-binding) fraction. The contents of [35S]sulfate-labeled glycosaminoglycans in both cell layer and the medium were not increased by AFE treatment. The proliferation of A10 cells, an established cell line of smooth muscle cells from murine aorta, was not stimulated by AFE. A10 cells did not produce a significant amount of bFGF in the presence or absence of AFE. Thus, the production of bFGF was considered to be involved in AFE stimulation of cell proliferation. In conclusion, it was suggested that AFE stimulated endothelial cell proliferation by increasing the production of bFGF rather than by an increase in the number of bFGF receptors and the content of glycosaminoglycans in the cell layer. The enhanced reserve of bFGF in the low-affinity fraction of cell layer and in the medium would cause the AFE-stimulated proliferation of endothelial cells.

Animals↗

A stimulatory effect of Artemisia leaf extract on the proliferation of cultured endothelial cells.

To investigate the effect of the hot water extract from Artemisia leaf (Artemisia princeps Panpanini) (AFE) on the proliferation of endothelial cells, the cells from bovine aorta were cultured for up to 96 h in the presence of 1, 5, 10 or 50 micrograms/ml AFE in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. After a 72 h culture, the cell number was significantly increased by AFE at 1, 5 and 10 micrograms/ml. An increase in the cell number by 5 micrograms/ml AFE observed after a 72 or 96 h treatment. The incorporations of both [3H]thymidine and [14C]leucine by the growing cells were significantly increased by 5 micrograms/ml AFE after a 72 h treatment. In addition, the incorporation of [3H]thymidine by either growing or confluent cells was significantly increased by 50 micrograms/ml AFE after a 72 h treatment. The stimulatory activity of AFE was recognized in the low-molecular-weight fraction (molecular weight less than or equal to 10000 dalton). These results clearly indicated that AFE contained some low-molecular-weight component(s) which stimulates the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro.

Animals↗

Comparison of various motion stimuli on motion sickness and acquisition of adaptation in Suncus Murinus.

Effects of various types of motion stimuli were compared to investigate optimum method to elicit motion sickness and adaptation in Suncus murinus (suncus). Three different direction of shaking in the horizontal plane, back and forth, right and left and revolving, induced emetic response to the similar extent. However, vertical shaking was far less effective in inducing motion sickness. Mild and severe horizontal shaking (15 min per day) was continued for 14 days and emetic response to standard motion stimulus was compared before and after the training. The severe daily acceleration strongly depressed the susceptibility to motion stimulus. The mild acceleration which was not emetic stimulus in itself also remarkably attenuated the vomiting response to standard motion stimulus. These results indicate that 1) the emetic responsiveness of the suncus does not depend on the modes of shaking as long as the direction is in the horizontal plane, 2) the suncus is relatively refractory to the vertical linear acceleration and 3) the adaptation to motion stimulus does not develop on the latest peripheral steps of the vomiting reflex pathways.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[Treatment of radioactive waste phenol with Fenton's oxidation].

A new procedure was developed for the waste treatment of radioactive phenol on a laboratory scale. Waste phenol was dissolved in water (2% as phenol), and ferrous ion (10 mg/l as Fe2+) was added. Hydrogen peroxide (6% as H2O2) was added separately in three steps, 20, 30, and 50% of the volume, in order to avoid rapid reaction. The solution was heated at 80-90 degrees C for several hours in a beaker covered with a watch glass till the color of the solution changes from red purple to pale yellow. Then, the solution was neutralized with sodium hydroxide and heated for 1 h to decompose excess hydrogen peroxide. When the procedure is carried out with four 2 l beakers on a hot plate, 100 ml of phenol (1,200 ml of the aqueous solution saturated with phenol) can be oxidized simultaneously.

Laboratories↗

Interaction of thrombin with heparin cofactor II and antithrombin III on prostacyclin production by cultured endothelial cells.

To investigate the physiologic function of heparin cofactor II (HCII), endothelial cells from human umbilical vein were incubated in vitro for 20 min with 0.5 NIH U/ml thrombin in the presence of HCII or antithrombin III (ATIII), and prostacyclin production determined by radioimmunoassay for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin. Although ATIII at 20 mInh.U/ml slightly but significantly inhibited thrombin-induced prostacyclin production, neither unfractionated heparin (UFH) nor low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) at 1 U/ml accelerated the inhibitory effect of ATIII. HCII at 10 and 20 mInh.U/ml did not decrease thrombin stimulation of prostacyclin production in the presence or absence of UFH or LMWH. However, HCII caused a marked decrease in the thrombin-stimulated prostacyclin prostacyclin production in the presence of 2 mg/ml dermatan sulfate (DS). The significant inhibition by HCII occurred when the DS concentrations were 0.2 microgram/ml and higher. From these results we suggest that HCII may prevent a prostacyclin-induced inhibition of platelet aggregation for hemostasis when plasma is exposed to vascular smooth muscle cells or fibroblasts which synthesize a significant amount of DS.

Antithrombin III↗