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Biomedical subjects

Y Nose

Publications and source records attributed to Y Nose.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Epitope analysis of HLA-DR-restricted helper T-cell responses to Der p II, a major allergen molecule of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

T-cell epitopes of Der p II, a major allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, were analyzed by using human T-cell clones. We tested 38 cloned T cells from two Japanese patients with allergic rhinitis, and identified at least two peptides (K33-T47 and I58-C73) as helper T-cell epitopes. The former epitope was shown to be restricted by HLA-DRB1*1502, and the latter by HLA-DRB1*0405, both of which are typical Japanese HLA-DR alleles, suggesting that those T-cell epitopes might be important for the onset of house-dust mite allergy in the Japanese population. We prepared 15 analog peptides of the HLA- DRB1*1502-restricted 15-mer peptide. Of those 15 residues, five (F35, L37, A39, F41, and E42) were critical for the epitope activity, and three residues (F35, A39, and E42) seemed to be included in anchor motifs for HLA-DRB1*1502. The epitope peptide was also recognized by HLA-DRB1*1502-positive healthy donors; however, only allergic T cells showed Th2 functions. Antigen-presenting cells of nonallergic donors were able to activate allergic T cells to express Th2 function. This seemed to suggest that antigen recognition of T cells, as well as additional unknown factors which promote Th2, rather than Th1, responses, might be important for the onset of house-dust mite allergy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1996

Analysis on allelic variation of the HLA-DMB gene in Japanese by PCR-RFLP as well as direct DNA sequencing and identification of a new DMB allele, DMB*0105.

In the HLA-D region, one of the class II genes, DMA and DMB have been identified between the DQ and DP genes, and four allelic polymorphisms in each of the DMA (DMA*0101 approximately 0104) and DMB (DMB*0101 approximately 0104) genes have been so far recognized. Several recent studies suggested that the DM molecule is required for class II antigen presentation pathway especially by promoting the binding of antigenic peptides to the classical HLA class II molecule. In this study, we have analyzed genetic polymorphism and allelic variation of the DMB gene in a Japanese population by the direct DNA sequencing technique and also by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method, and could recognize DMB*0101 (49.3%), DMB*0102 (23.2%), DMB*0103 (23.2%), and DMB*0104 (0.4%). Further, a new DMB allele, DMB*0105 characterized by the presence of Val and Ile at two polymorphic sites, codons 144 and 179, respectively was identified. Strong linkage disequilibria were found between DMB*0101 and DRB1*0101, DPB1*0402 and DRB1*1502, and also between DMB*0103 and DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602. HLA-DMB genotyping using the PCR-RFLP method established here will provide accurate evaluation of the effects of sequence allelism in the DMB gene on the HLA class II disease associations.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Serum cholesterol levels in school-aged Japanese children: the Hisayama study.

Hypercholesterolemia has been known to be an important factor in the development of atherosclelosis. Blood cholesterol screening and related health education in children, however, have not yet been widely practiced in Japan. From 1985 to 1990, blood samples were obtained from 5825 school children aged 6 to 14 years residing in Hisayama, Japan. The mean total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were determined. The mean TC levels ranged from 155 to 172 mg/dL for boys and from 156 to 170 mg/dL for girls, peaking at 9 years for both sexes. The TG levels also tended to increase gradually and to peak at 11 years for both sexes. The tendency for TG levels to be higher was much clearer than in US children and adolescents. The HDL-C levels were highest at 9 years of age for both sexes and the LDL-C levels also tended to peak at 9 years of age for boys and at 8 years of age for girls. Atherogenic Indices [(TC-HDL-C)/HDL-C] ranged from 1.7 to 1.9 for boys and 1.8 to 2.0 for girls. As the cholesterol level of Japanese children would be expected to rise steadily reflecting their westernized lifestyle, preventive programes on a nationwide base including health education at school environments should be emphasized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

HLA serological and class II genotyping in sarcoidosis patients in Japan.

To investigate the HLA alleles that contribute to the genetic susceptibility to sarcoidosis, HLA serological typing was performed in 75 patients with sarcoidosis and 150 controls using the standard complement-dependent microcytotoxicity method. The genomic DNAs of the 75 patients and 130 of the 150 controls were used to analyze HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, -DQB1 and -DPB1 alleles, utilizing the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Serological typing showed that the frequencies of HLA-DR52, -DR5, -DR6 and -DR8 were significantly increased in the patients compared to the controls. In PCR-RFLP genotyping, the frequencies of the DR52-associated DRB1 alleles (DRB1*11, DRB1*14), DRB1*08, DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0301 were significantly increased in the patients compared to the controls. The frequencies of the DRB1*12 alleles were also increased among the patients, but this increase was not significant. The frequencies of DRB1*0101, DQB1*0501, and DPB*0402 were significantly lower in the patients than in the controls. The significant increases in the frequencies of DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0301 could be due to the linkage disequilibrium between the DR52-associated DRB1 alleles and DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0301 alleles among the Japanese. The significantly increased frequency of the DR8 (DRB1*08) haplotype, which lacks the DRB3 gene encoding DR52 antigen, suggested that the DR5 (DRB1*11), DR6 (DRB1*14) and DR8 (DRB1*08) of the DRB1 alleles may determine the susceptibility to sarcoidosis among the Japanese.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Longitudinal characteristic curve of liver disease.

A longitudinal characteristic curve of chronic liver disease (LCC-LD) is derived for the first time by a new method of time series data analysis, where a hospital information system is utilized as a clinical research application of the database. It describes a typical pattern of development of disease from the beginning of chronic hepatitis to the final stage of cirrhosis. The LCC-LD is obtained by effectively using patient data with various stages of developments of liver disease and the present method is applicable to derive the LCC of other diseases. The obtained LCC-LD may be useful for a clinical decision making support such as the prospective assessment (for example, the onset time of cirrhosis) of liver disease in individual patients, an evaluation of drug effect, etc.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1995

Cloned primed lymphocyte test cells recognize the fourth, fifth, and sixth hypervariable regions at amino acid positions 65-87 of the DPB1 molecule.

Genetic polymorphisms of the HLA-DPB1 gene in Japanese and Caucasian panel cells defined by PLT were analyzed by the PCR-based genotyping technique PCR-RFLP, and suballeles of DPw3 (DPB1*03) and DP"Cp63" (DPB1*09) could be detected. PLT-defined DPw3 cells were typed by PCR-RFLP as either DPB1*0301 or DPB1*1401. On the other hand, PLT-defined DPCp63-typed cells were typed as DPB1*0901 or DPB1*1001. These results indicate that both DPw3 and DPCp63 are split into two subantigens. DPw2 and DPw4 are DPB1*0201 and 0202 and DPB1*0401 and 0402, respectively. Comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences of the DPw2-, DPw4-, DPw3-, and DPCp63-associated alleles revealed that the fourth (C), fifth (D), and sixth (E) hypervariable regions at amino acid positions 65-87 were shared within the same PLT-defined DP antigen groups, suggesting that these three hypervariable regions are recognized by cloned T cells in PLT, thus determining DP antigen specificity. On the basis of this model, 44 DPB1 alleles can be classified into 18 antigen groups, each of which may possibly represent a PLT-defined single DP specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Prognostic factors of vision in patients with Behçet disease.

BACKGROUND: Behçet disease is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disorder characterized by the triad of oral and genital ulcers and ocular lesions. The etiology is unknown. Although many of these patients become blind, some have good vision all their life. METHODS: To attain more accurate data on the prognosis of these patients, the authors studied 52 Japanese patients (101 eyes) seen at Kyushu University Hospital between 1980 and 1990. At the first visit, patients ranged in age from 21 to 61 years; at onset, they ranged in age from 17 to 55 years; and the disease duration at first visit was from 0 to 22 years. Thirty-five of the 101 eyes had a visual loss of more than five lines or the patients became blind. The authors divided the subjects into two groups--favorable group and unfavorable group. If an eye had more than five lines of visual loss or the patient became blind 3 years after the first visit, it was placed in the unfavorable group, and if not, it was classed in the favorable group. Thirty-two factors determined from clinical records were used to select statistically significant risk factors for visual loss, using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed the following four factors that were significantly different between favorable and unfavorable groups: sex, disease interval, other complications, and skin lesions (first year). Multivariate analysis showed that the following seven factors had mutually independent contributions to visual loss: skin lesions; arthritis; posterior attacks; other complications (experienced), including gastrointestinal, vascular, and central nervous system lesions; female sex; disease interval; and anterior attacks. The first four factors have effects of losing vision, whereas the others are related to vision retention. CONCLUSION: The authors find that skin lesions, arthritis, posterior attacks, and other complications are linked to loss of vision, whereas female sex, disease interval, and anterior attacks are related to retention of vision.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Anti-HLA antibody screening with extracted platelet HLA antigens by the mixed passive hemagglutination method.

For the detection of anti-HLA antibody in the serum of patients receiving frequent platelet transfusions, we developed a new method in which platelet antigens are extracted into physiological saline containing 3% sucrose and coated as a layer on a U-type Terasaki plate. In the present study, screening of anti-HLA antibodies was conducted with this plate by the mixed passive hemagglutination test although the plate contained both HLA and HPA. The reactivity determined by this method correlated well with antihuman immunoglobulin-lymphocyte cytotoxicity test (AHG-LCT) results (r = 0.963). The plate can be preserved for at least 2 years at -80 degrees C and is easier to handle than the frozen lymphocyte panels used in the LCT test in which lymphocytes must be kept alive. This new method is an alternative way to screen HLA antibodies. In addition, it is expected that this method will be used to screen anti-HPA antibodies.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1995

Relationship between intraocular pressure and age in the exfoliation syndrome.

We examined the presence or absence of exfoliative material and measured the intraocular pressure (IOP) of 220 residents of a nursing home. The prevalence of the exfoliation syndrome increased with age and the IOP of persons with the exfoliation syndrome was higher than that of persons without the syndrome. In eyes with the exfoliation syndrome, the IOP had a tendency to decrease with increasing age. Aging had little influence on IOP in eyes without the exfoliation syndrome. There were significant differences between the two groups with regard to the effects of aging on IOP.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Etiology and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.

We compared the etiology and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in patients age 60 and older with that of patients under age 60 during the 1980s (1981-89, n = 207). Non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) was significantly more prevalent in the elderly (p < 0.05), and the mean age of NANB and alcoholic cirrhosis (Alc) were significantly older than those with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (p < 0.05). Evaluation using hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody also revealed significantly higher mean age of HCV (p < 0.05). Male patient was predominant in the younger patients than in the elderly patients. (M/F = 2.94 and 1.33, respectively) The estimated 5-year survival rate was 73.1% in the younger patients and 60.2% in the elderly patients (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that male sex, a lower serum albumin level, and the presence of the encephalopathy were significantly associated with poor prognosis in the elderly, while a lower serum cholinesterase level and a higher indocyanin green retention rate at 15 minutes (ICGR15) were significantly associated with poor prognosis in younger patients. However, causes of deaths were not significantly different between the younger patients and the elderly patients, the proportion of deaths unrelated to liver disease predominated in the elderly patients. Thus, the etiology and the prognostic factors of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Blood pressure levels in school-age Japanese children: the Hisayama Study.

Blood pressure (BP) measurements were obtained on a total of 6325 children (3294 boys and 3031 girls), aged 6-14 years, in Hisayama, Japan. All BPs were recorded in a sitting position by trained observers in a standardised manner. Standard mercury sphygmomanometers were used with commercially available cuffs, selected according to the arm circumference. Cuff size no. 3 (bladder width 9 cm, length 23 cm) was the one most commonly selected in 84% of elementary schoolers aged 6-11 years and in 35% of junior high schoolers aged 12-14 years. Mean systolic BPs (SBPs) increased from 89 mm Hg at age 6 years to 108 mm Hg at 14 years (a 21% increase) for boys and from 88 mm Hg to 102 mm Hg (a 16% increase) for girls. Diastolic BP (DBPs, Korotkoff phase IV, KIV) increased from ages 6 to 14 years to the same degree, from 58 mm Hg to 72 mm Hg (a 24% increase) for boys and from 58 mm Hg to 70 mm Hg (a 21% increase) for girls. The increase in DBP (Korotkoff phase V, KV) was greater, from 48 mm Hg to 63 mm Hg (a 30% increase) for boys and from 48 mm Hg to 61 mm Hg (a 28% increase) for girls. The increase in mean SBP for adolescent boys was greater compared with that of girls; however, separation of age-specific values by sex was not observed for mean DBP (KIV) and DBP (KV). The cross-sectional relation between age and mean SBP levels was not linear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Microsoft Excel Program for creating attractive survival curves.

This paper describes the design of a Microsoft Excel Program which interactively creates attractive and outstanding survival curves. This program enables medical researchers to easily create quality presentation graphs of survival curves and obtain high quality slides and prints, which can be inserted in papers or used directly at medical meetings. Through the use of vertical bars, this program can display the exact points where censored cases occur on survival curves, making it possible to monitor censoring patterns between groups. Furthermore, this program can also create survival curves based on the proportional hazards model for specific patterns of covariate values, given estimated regression coefficients and baseline survival function. This program may be a most useful and effective tool in creating medical research papers containing survival analysis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

The organization of statistical activities at medical research institutions.

In this paper, we discuss the organizational structure for the conduct of statistical activities at medical Colleges and Universities. Here, we have particularly focused on two significant statistical activities, i.e., statistical consultation and research. The consulting service for medical researchers consists of practical statistical analysis, instruction on computer manipulation and software, response to reviewer's comments and statistical design of prospective studies. From our various experiences, we describe the actual implementation of statistical consultations for medical researchers. It has played an important role in supporting medical research. In addition, we also outline some research, with respect to new ways of applying statistics in medical science. This paper concludes that it may be practical for the existing computer center or department of medical informatics, in charge of the computing service, to conduct statistical activities until formal organizations are established at the academic institution. To realize the conduct of statistical activities by Department of Medical Informatics, it needs a team of biostatisticians, data analysts and computer personnel.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed1994

A flexible random allocation program for multi-institutional clinical trials.

This paper describes a flexible random allocation program that assigns treatments to patients according to their prognostic factors in multi-institutional clinical trials. The source lists are available in the appendix of this paper. This program is based on Pocock and Simon's minimization method and Zelen's method for institution balancing. The numbers of institutions, treatments, and prognostic factors can be set arbitrarily. The maximum number of institutions, treatments, or prognostic factors that can be accommodated by the program is limited only by the size of the main memory. For example, an IBM-PC with a 640KB main memory can run a program of 1500 institutions, 4 treatments and 20 prognostic factors.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Estimation of risk of major complications after hepatic resection.

To identify the risk factors predicting major postoperative complications from among preoperative and intraoperative variables, an extensive retrospective analysis of 209 patients who underwent hepatic resections was performed using multivariate logistic regression. The major complications were defined as liver failure, intractable ascites and pleural effusion, intraperitoneal infection, intra-abdominal hemorrhage requiring reoperation, major bile leakage, and gastrointestinal tract bleeding. First, detailed pre- and intraoperative data including medical history, laboratory data, portion and extent of hepatectomy, operative time, and amount of blood loss were univariately analyzed. Next, any significant variables were multivariately analyzed using the logistic regression method. Diabetes, increased intraoperative blood loss, resection of segment 8, and an increased serum blood urea nitrogen level were independent and significant variables predicting major postoperative complications. A higher level of serum cholesterol and a procedure involving a portion of left lateral segment were found to decrease the risk. Both more careful operative procedures and intensive management of DM and renal dysfunction in the perioperative period could result in a better quality of life after hepatic resection.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗
PubMed1994

Agarose-carrageenan hybrid polysaccharides from Lomentaria catenata.

Two polysaccharide fractions, PS1 and PS2 from Lomentaria catenata consisted of D-Gal, L-Gal, D-Glc, D-Xyl, D-GlcA and sulphate. Partial hydrolysis led to the isolation and identification of oligosaccharides indicating the co-existence of an agarose and carrageenan backbone structure, in which D-Glc and D-GlcA residues occur as single units branching at O-3 of -->4)alpha-D-Gal(1--> and O-4 of -->3)beta-D-Gal(1-->, respectively.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Molecular genetic studies of HLA class II alleles in sarcoidosis.

Previous HLA serological studies showed positive associations of the DR52 antigen, the DR52-associated antigens (DR3, DR5 and DR6) and the DR8 antigen with sarcoidosis. To investigate the HLA alleles that may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to sarcoidosis at the DNA level, HLA-DRB1, -DRB3, -DQA1 and DQB1 genotyping using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was performed in 63 Japanese patients with sarcoidosis. The frequencies of the DR52-associated DRB1 alleles (DRB1*11, DRB1*12 and DRB1*14 except DRB1*1302), DRB1*08, DRB3*0101, DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0301 were significantly increased in patients compared with healthy controls. The significant increase of DRB3*0101, DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0301 could be explained by linkage disequilibrium with the DR52-associated DRB1 alleles. It must be noted that the DR8 haplotype, which does not possess the DRB3 gene, also showed a significant increase in sarcoidosis. These results suggest that the HLA-alleles responsible for the susceptibility to sarcoidosis are located at the HLA-DRB1 locus rather than the HLA-DRB3, -DQA1 and -DQB1 loci. In contrast, DRB1*1302 may confer resistance to the disease.

HLA-DQ Antigens↗