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Biomedical subjects

Y Miki

Publications and source records attributed to Y Miki.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[CT of hypersensitivity pneumonitis].

High resolution computed tomography (CT) was applied to seven patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis clinically confirmed. The CT findings include; (1) granular pattern with acino-centric distribution, (2) increase in density of haziness in the lung fields, (3) multiform high density areas, and (4) "subpleural curvilinear shadow" localized posteriorly. Of these findings, which severally varied degree during clinical course, the haziness showed the most remarkable fluctuation. It was especially of interest that the relapsed haziness distributed quite in the same regions. High resolution CT may be an effective adjuvant tool for hypersensitivity pneumonitis when applied to the opportune evaluation through the clinical course.

Adult↗

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) functions as an in vitro autocrine growth factor in renal cell carcinomas.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be a growth factor of renal cell carcinomas Furthermore, renal cell carcinomas freshly isolated from the patients expressed mRNA of IL-6 and secreted biologically active IL-6 under the culture conditions where the tumor cells could grow, but they did not produce IL-6 nor proliferate in the absence of fetal calf serum. The production of IL-6 by the tumor cells was also demonstrated by immunostaining of the IL-6-producing cells utilizing anti-IL-6 antiserum. Moreover, anti-IL-6 antiserum specifically inhibited the in vitro tumor growth. All data indicated that IL-6 functions as an in vitro autocrine growth factor of renal cell carcinomas.

Blotting, Northern↗

Human skin histology using high-resolution echography.

Normal and abnormal human skin echograms were made using new 25-MHz and 40-MHz ultrasonic sector scanners, and were compared with histologic sections. The malpighian layer of the epidermis was demonstrated as an echolucent zone under a strongly echogenic, linear corneo-malpighian junction in normal palms and soles. Cross sections and longitudinal sections of hair follicles and hypertrophic sebaceous glands were also demonstrated as echolucent structures.

Humans↗

Radiation-induced oesophageal stricture in a case of Bloom's syndrome.

A case of Bloom's syndrome with lung cancer treated by radiation therapy is described. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung responded well to a tumour dose of 50.4 Gy. The most serious complication of therapy was an oesophageal stricture induced by only 30.6 Gy to the mediastinum. Brief reviews of radiation-induced oesophageal stricture and radiosensitivity in Bloom's syndrome are presented.

Adult↗

The hypotensive effect and antifungal activity of 3,3'-dihydroxy-alpha,beta-diethyldiphenylethane.

3,3'-Dihydroxy-alpha,beta-diethyldiphenylethane (I), an isomer of hexestrol (II), was found to have a strong hypotensive effect on rats and antifungal activity against some pathogenic fungi. The hypotensive effect of I (-100.0 +/- 21.0 mmHg, 10 mg/kg, i.v.) was stronger than that of II (-40.0 +/- 2.60 mmHg, i.v.). Unlike II and other oxystilbene-related compounds already tested, I showed prolonged hypotensive action at the dose of 10 mg/kg, and the blood pressure was not restored to the original level within 20 min. I also showed antifungal activity against all fungi tested (minimal inhibitory concentration: 10-120 micrograms/ml). It should be emphasized that by shifting the phenolic hydroxyl group to m-position, the biological activities were greatly increased.

Animals↗

Disappearance of specific antibodies in patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica by treatment with praziquantel.

We tested effects of praziquantel, an antischistosomal compound, on clinical and immunological parameters of chronic schistosomiasis japonica. Two Japanese patients, who had high antibody titers to Schistosoma japonicum antigens but no fecal schistosome eggs or no or mild symptoms complained, were treated with praziquantel. Within two years after treatment, anti-schistosome antibodies in sera from the patients became negative in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was no significant alteration in cellular immunity to the parasite. Although S. japonicum infection is believed to have been eradicated in Japan, our present results seem to suggest the possibility that a few Japanese individuals, who have high anti-schistosome antibody, still harbor live parasites.

Animals↗

[DS-bronchial arteriography; demonstration of metastasized lymphnodes of lung cancer--with special reference to the primary effect in BAI].

We analysed the 44 DS-Bronchial arteriograms (DSBAG) of lung cancer with an attention to the demonstration of metastasized mediastinal lymphnodes. The stain of lymphnode is well demonstrated in the pericarinal region, such as station #7, #R4 along the course of bronchial arteries. The swollen nodes with stains on DSBAG show the good reduction rates (37.5%) after BAI that is analogous to the primary lesion (38.9%), in contrast to the nodes without stains (24.5%). DSBAG with excellent contrast resolution contributes to the BAI as verifying the infused area.

Aged↗

Bone marrow peroxidase in mice: determination of the level and the catalytic activity.

The level of myeloperoxidase and the peroxidase activity in the bone marrow were determined in the various strains of mice. The levels of myeloperoxidase, which was determined by a immunostaining coupled with sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), were ranged from 3 to 5 micrograms per mg protein in the bone marrow of various strains of mice. No strain difference of the enzyme activity toward guaiacol was observed among mice. On the other hand, the activity toward KI of C3H/He mice was lower than C57BL/6, Balb/c and ddY mice.

Animals↗

[High resolution computed tomography of diffuse interstitial pneumonia during treatment].

HRCT was carried out in twenty patients with diffuse interstitial pneumonia: 13 cases of IIP, 3 of BOOP, 2 of drug-induced pneumonia, 1 of rheumatoid lung and acute interstitial pneumonia of unknown origin. With special attention to inflammatory activity, the patients underwent HRCT periodically during the treatment. Correlative investigation between HRCT image and grade of accumulation in 67Ga scintigraphy was also performed. Response to steroid therapy was clearly reflected on HRCT image, that was shown as decreasing pulmonary density or thinning of honeycomb wall. HRCT is considered to be useful in assessing the activity of diffuse interstitial pneumonia.

Aged↗

Probing stability and dynamics of proteins by protease digestion. II: Identification of the initial chymotryptic cleavage sites of homologous cytochromes c.

Three homologous cytochromes c from horse, rabbit and tuna were subjected to chymotryptic digestion and their initial cleavage sites were identified. The sites in oxidized cytochromes c are the COOH-terminal sides of Tyr-48, Phe-46 and Tyr-46 for horse, rabbit and tuna cytochromes c, respectively. The results show that the chymotrypsin attacks a single site in each protein; the sites are located at the almost identical position on the polypeptide chain. Through the time-course studies of digestion, it was found that the three cytochromes c have different chymotrypsin-susceptibility at the initial cleavage site in the order of horse less than rabbit less than tuna. Studies on chymotryptic digestion of tuna cytochrome c in the reduced form revealed that the haem-reduction does not alter the initial cleavage site but increases the resistance to the proteolysis at the site. The uniqueness of the initial cleavage site in each cytochrome c species suggests that the protease susceptibility reflects some overall properties of the protein. At the same time, it was clarified that the initial cleavage site is also affected by a neighboring region by the fact that another potential cleavage site is located near the site in question. In order to elucidate the initial cleavage site, several physical properties of tuna cytochrome c molecule deduced from the X-ray 3D structure, accessible surface area, temperature factor, effective hydrophobicity and electrostatic potential, were compared with the experimental results and it was concluded that these properties given by a residue have no direct relationship with the chymotrypsin susceptibility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Long-term electrocardiographic studies of patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

Sequential electrocardiographic changes in 31 patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) during a long-term follow-up study (over 7 years) were investigated. The patients were classified into 2 groups according to sequential changes in amplitude of the R wave in lead V1 (RV1): group I, in which RV1 decreased with age, and group II, in which it showed no consistent change with age. Group I consisted of 14 patients who died earlier (19 +/- 1 years) than those in group II (22 +/- 3 years). The highest RV1 values were similar in the 2 groups, but high RV1 values appeared at an earlier age in group I (10 +/- 3 years) than in group II (16 +/- 4 years). The amplitude of the R wave in lead V5 (RV5) decreased with age in both groups, and then increased at the age of 21 to 24 years in group II. The R/S ratio and depth of the Q wave did not show a consistent change during the follow-up period in most DMD patients. These results indicate that sequential changes in RV1 and RV5 are useful indicators of the severity of heart injury in DMD.

Adolescent↗