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Biomedical subjects

Y Hamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hamaguchi.

183 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Cathepsin B-like thiol proteases and collagenolytic proteases in middle ear effusion from acute and chronic otitis media with effusion.

Hydrolytic activity of cathepsin B-like thiol proteases and collagenolytic proteases was measured in middle ear effusions (MEE) from pediatric patients with acute and chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). Both activities were significantly higher in MEEs from acute OME than those from chronic OME (p less than 0.01). The ratio of hydrolytic activity in the extracellular portion to the total activity in MEEs from chronic OME was also analysed in both proteases. The ratio ranged from 20 to 100% in individual cases, indicating that the degree of the release of lysosomal thiol proteases including collagenolytic proteases from leukocytes is variable in MEEs with chronic OME. The kinetics of lysosomal thiol proteases including collagenolytic proteases in acute OME seems to be much more active than that in chronic OME, and the presence of these thiol proteases appears to be an important factor leading to chronic OME.

Acute Disease↗

Longitudinal analysis of serum KL-6 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with the activity of pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changes in serum KL-6 levels reflect the activity of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: KL-6 levels were determined by ELISA in 39 SSc patients. In a retrospective longitudinal study, 250 serum samples were analyzed during a follow-up period of 0.3-6.1 years. RESULTS: KL-6 levels at the first visit were higher in patients with SSc, especially with PF, compared with healthy controls. In the longitudinal study, KL-6 levels in 4 patients with anti-topo I Abs increased rapidly, parallel to the progression of PF. Four patients with inactive PF exhibited elevated, but stable levels of KL-6 during the follow-up. The 31 patients with almost normal KL-6 levels during the follow-up exhibited no deterioration or new onset of PF. CONCLUSION: Rapidly increased serum KL-6 levels during disease course were associated with new onset or deterioration of PF.

Adult↗

Activities of antiplasmin and antiplasminogen activator in serous middle ear effusions.

Antiplasmin and antiplasminogen activator activities in serous middle ear effusion (MEE) collected from adult patients were measured to analyze the kinetics of antifibrinolytic activity of protease inhibitors. No trypsin, plasmin, and plasminogen activator (PA) activity could be detected in the pooled serous MEE by either the fibrin plate method or the fluorometric assay. Antiplasmin activity in serous MEE was lower than that in plasma. The MEE had no antiurokinase activity. These findings indicate that 1) serous MEE has residual antifibrinolytic activity which may be attributed to mainly antiplasmin activity of unsaturated plasmin inhibitors and not to anti-PA activity, and 2) that serous MEE contains no secretory urokinase inhibitors.

Adult↗