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Biomedical subjects

Y Haruna

Publications and source records attributed to Y Haruna.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in liver tissues by an in situ hybridization technique.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of cells in liver tissues was determined by detecting HCV RNA by an in situ hybridization technique using synthetic oligonucleotide probes derived from the 5'-non-coding and core regions of HCV genome. Aggregated silver grains indicating hybridization with HCV RNA were observed over the nuclei as well as the cytoplasm of hepatocytes with none on non-parenchymal cells. The specificity of the hybridization was confirmed by absence of autoradiographic signals after ribonuclease predigestion, addition of an excess of non-labeled probes, or application of an M 13 probe. The hepatocytes with HCV RNA-positive signals were scattered in the periportal and mediolobular zones of liver lobules rather than in the pericentral zones. Fifteen out of 33 biopsy specimens from patients with chronic HCV infection studied had the HCV RNA-positive hepatocytes. These cells were more frequently detected in specimens with advanced periportal, bridging and intralobular necrosis but showed no correlation with the extent of inflammatory cell infiltration. These findings suggest a close correlation between the detection of HCV RNA in hepatocytes and advanced necrosis of the specimens.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cardiovascular responses to cold pressor and LBNP tests before and after 20-day-bedrest.

The orthostatic hypotension after weightlessness has been suggested mainly because of the blood volume reduction, and decrease in stroke volume and cardiac output as its consequence. However, since bedrest is characterized as removal of orthostasis and exercise, which are major physiological stressors to the autonomic nervous system in normal daily life of humans, thus it may be possible that general autonomic activity itself would be deconditioned in the central nervous system after bedrest. Thus, we hypothesized that 20-day bedrest may modify the cardiovascular responses to cold pressor test, which has been used to evaluate the autonomic response and which might be independent of blood volume changes. And also it was hypothesized that if there were any changes in the response to the cold pressor test, they may be related to the changes of responses to lower body negative pressure (LBNP) test.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Immunohistochemical detection of hepatitis C virus-infected hepatocytes in chronic liver disease with monoclonal antibodies to core, envelope and NS3 regions of the hepatitis C virus genome.

The localization of hepatitis C virus-infected hepatocytes in the human liver remains unclear despite the development of a serological assay for the antibody to hepatitis C virus. We studied their localization immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies to core, envelope and NS3 antigens of hepatitis C virus. We examined 48 liver biopsy samples from C100-3 antibody-positive patients with chronic liver disease (chronic persistent hepatitis, 5 cases; chronic active hepatitis, 41 cases; cirrhosis, 2 cases) and 12 liver biopsy samples from C100-3 antibody-negative patients with chronic liver disease (type B chronic hepatitis, 8 cases; alcoholic liver disease, 4 cases). In the C100-3 antibody-positive group, positive immunostaining for core antigen, envelope antigen and NS3 antigen was found in 23% (11 of 48), 24% (11 of 45) and 24% (11 of 46), respectively. Negative results were obtained in the C100-3 antibody-negative group. Hepatocytes with positive staining were scattered in the lobules, and they were found in the same regions irrespective of whether the antibody to core antigen, to envelope antigen or to NS3 antigen was used. Each positive cell was strongly stained in the cytoplasm; these decorations disappeared after absorption of the primary antibody with purified antigen. mean ALT levels in the patients with positive immunostaining for core, envelope or NS3 antigen (174.8 +/- 105.7 U/L) tended to be higher than in those with negative immunostaining (142.0 +/- 93.8 U/L). On histological evaluation of liver specimens with a scoring system of the histological activity index, intralobular inflammation and fibrosis had higher scores for samples with positive rather than negative immunostaining (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Serum pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens as prognostic markers in interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

We investigated the changes of serum pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens before and after interferon therapy in 35 carriers with HBeAg, to examine their clinical significance in the therapy. Both antigens were measured quantitatively by solid-phase enzyme immunoassays using monoclonal antibodies specific to each antigen. The titers of these antigens of responders before therapy were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than those of non-responders (6.23 +/- 1.09 versus 8.65 +/- 2.09 and 4.46 +/- 1.27 versus 6.50 +/- 1.50, respectively). The titers decreased significantly 6 months after interferon therapy in the responders (p less than 0.05), whereas they did not change in the non-responders. Our findings indicate that pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens have a close correlation with hepatitis B virus replication and are valuable markers for predicting the responsiveness to interferon therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Expression of X protein and hepatitis B virus replication in chronic hepatitis.

The X protein can act on the enhancer of hepatitis B virus in an in vitro system and elevate the transcriptional level of hepatitis B virus. However, because no relationship had been reported between X protein expression and hepatitis B virus replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B, we focused on its expression in the liver in comparison with markers of hepatitis B virus replication. Liver biopsy samples and sera from 59 carriers with HBsAg were examined immunohistochemically for X protein using rabbit IgG against recombinant X protein. There was a significant difference in the serum hepatitis B virus DNA level between X protein-positive and -negative patients (p less than 0.001). Serum pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens were also measured quantitatively by enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies specific against each antigen. The titers of pre-S1 antigen in patients positive for X protein were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than those of the X protein-negative patients (3.02 +/- 0.99 vs. 2.00 +/- 0.59, respectively). Similarly, the titers of pre-S2 antigen were 2.98 +/- 0.91 vs. 1.94 +/- 0.54, respectively (p less than 0.001). The rate of positivity of the X protein was higher (38 of 49; 77.6%) in the replicative group (serum HBeAg, serum hepatitis B virus DNA or HBcAg in liver positive) compared with that observed in the nonreplicative group (3 of 10; 30%--serum HBeAg, serum hepatitis B virus DNA and HBcAg in liver negative) (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Uncommon calcification of a pheochromocytoma: a case report].

A 62-year-old man with a 2-year history of hypertension was referred for evaluation of severe back pain, but his blood pressure was normal during his hospital stay. Plain radiography and excretory urography demonstrated central and eggshell-like calcification in the left suprarenal area. Computed tomographic scan confirmed similar shapes for the left adrenal calcifications. Laboratory examination revealed that the urinary normetanephrine was elevated. Left adrenal venography showed that the mass was in the middle to lower portion of the left adrenal gland. The most likely diagnosis was, calcified pheochromocytoma. The left adrenal tumor was removed surgically through a thoracolumbar incision on September 19, 1985. The blood pressure rose to 186/102 mmHg at the time of tumor manipulation. The tumor was a markedly hard mass, which was 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.0 cm and weighed 20 g. The histopathologic diagnosis was calcified pheochromocytoma. The patient remained symptomless after the operation.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗