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Biomedical subjects

A Fukushima

Publications and source records attributed to A Fukushima.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Lactase decline in weaning rats is regulated at the transcriptional level and not caused by termination of milk ingestion.

Lactase activity declines during postnatal development in rats, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon. We attempted to clarify whether the regulation was at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level and to examine the effects of dietary factors on that regulation. Newborn rats were divided into two groups, prolonged nursing and weaning, at d 21. The prolonged nursing rats were nursed for a further 6 d, whereas weaning rats were separated from their dams and fed nonpurified diet for the same period. The patterns of declining lactase protein and mRNA concentrations during weaning were determined by Western blot and Northern blot analyses, respectively, and compared with lactase activity. There were significant (P < 0.001) correlations between them: r = 0.97 for specific activity vs. protein, r = 0.99 for specific activity vs. mRNA and r = 0.96 for protein vs. mRNA. The lactase activity per milligram DNA showed a pattern similar to that of the specific activity. This result argues against the decline in lactase activity being due to the dilution caused by newly synthesized materials during the weaning period and suggests transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, the prolonged nursing rats showed the same results as weanlings for lactase protein, mRNA, specific activity and activity per milligram DNA. These observations indicate that the regulation of lactase expression is at the transcriptional level and that it is not affected by the termination of milk ingestion.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

[Unexpected hydrothorax occurring after a long gynecological laparoscopic surgery--a case report].

We experienced a case of the hydrothorax occurring after a long gynecologic laparoscopical surgery. The patient was a 36-year-old woman, weighing 51 kg and 151 cm in height. She had received a gynecological laparoscopy with no complication 5 years before. She showed no abnormalities in the preoperative examinations. The operative course was uneventful. Upon completion of the surgery, we examined the chest X-ray, and found the hydrothorax in the right thoracic cavity. A 16 gauge Angiocath was inserted into the 4th intercostal space, and found 770 ml of fluid containing saline solution, which had been used for irrigating around the uterus. We presumed the saline, which was withdrawn from the right thoratic space, had originated from vertebrocostal trigone in the diaphragm. Because blood gas data were improving, the tracheal tube was extubated. We emphasise that the routine chest X-ray examination is necessary after pneumoperitoneum of long duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Is laparoscopic cholecystectomy minor invasive surgery?].

We conducted a comparative study to investigate whether or not laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less invasive and safer than abdominal subcostal laparotomy, using findings in blood pressure, heart rate, blood gas and endocrinological functions. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the patients' hospitalization period and expense for surgery were markedly reduced. However, those patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy had increases in blood pressure, heart rate, plasma cortisol and norepinephrine concentrations; it was assumed that these increases might be the result of reduced venous return to the heart which accompanied increased intra-thoracic and abdominal pressures, with reduction of cardiac output. In conclusion, since laparoscopic surgery is very advantageous for patients, we consider that for the success of this surgical procedure, it will be necessary to conduct safe anesthetic managements as well as to select patients carefully.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Human lymphocyte responses against epitopes of a self antigen: a follow-up at different time points.

This study was aimed at examining the changes that may occur with time in the lymphocyte responses of an individual against peptide determinants of self antigens. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected from the same donor at seven different time points during a 10-month period and tested for their proliferative responses against whole human S-antigen and 40 overlapping peptides derived from the sequence of this uveitogenic retinal protein. Lymphocytes collected at different dates varied in their responsiveness to all tested antigens, as well as in the pattern of their response against individual peptides. The latter variability was expressed by differences in the hierarchical order of the most stimulatory peptides for lymphocytes collected at the seven time points. Despite the variability in their stimulatory capacity, six of the peptides exhibited their immunodominance by eliciting proliferation in lymphocytes collected at all time points. Our results thus indicate that data collected from a single sample of blood may be insufficient to accurately assess the level of cellular response to autologous antigens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Effect of MDP-Lys(L18) as a mucosal immunoadjuvant on protection of mucosal infections by Sendai virus and rotavirus.

To examine the effect of MDP-Lys(L18), a derivative of muramyl dipeptide (MDP), as a mucosal immunoadjuvant, we investigated its activity to augment host resistance against mucosal infections by Sendai virus and rotavirus in mice. In an experimental infection model using suckling mice (10-day-old) inoculated perorally (p.o.) with 1.5 x 10(6) p.f.u. mouse-1 of rotavirus strain SA11, intrarectal (i.r.) as well as p.o. administration of MDP-Lys(L18) (50 micrograms mouse-1) prior to virus infection markedly reduced rotavirus-induced diarrhea. Furthermore, when MDP-Lys(L18) was administered p.o. (1 mg mouse-1), i.r. (300 micrograms mouse-1) or intranasally (i.n., 100 micrograms mouse-1) various days before Sendai virus infection (2.6 x 10(4) HAD mouse-1), all the mucosal administration of MDP-Lys(L18) significantly protected a lethal infection of Sendai virus, showing a dose-dependent manner. However, the efficacy of MDP-Lys(L18) to induce the prophylactic activity against the viruses somewhat varied according to the administration route and timing. In time course analysis of virus isolation in vivo, the mice administered with MDP-Lys(L18) exhibited a significant reduction of both viruses in the lungs for Sendai virus and in the bowels for rotavirus. These results suggest that MDP-Lys(L18) is a potent mucosal immunoadjuvant to enhance nonspecific host resistance against two mucosal infectious viruses, Sendai virus and rotavirus.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1996

MB fraction of cumulative creatine kinase correlates with insulin secretion in patients with acute myocardial infarction: insulin as a possible determinant of myocardial MB creatine kinase.

To test whether insulin is a regulatory factor of myocardial MB creatine kinase content, we investigated the correlation between the ability of insulin secretion and the MB fraction of cumulative CK released in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We analyzed 18 patients who underwent successful direct angioplasty within 10 hours of the onset of their first myocardial infarction. Exclusion criteria were age more than 75 years, heart failure, severe obesity, multivessel disease, and history of diabetes mellitus. Cumulative activity of serum MB CK divided by that of total CK was defined as MB%, which was considered to represent myocardial MB CK content. Two weeks or more after the onset of myocardial infarction, 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test with serial determination of plasma glucose and serum insulin (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 hours) was done. Urinary and plasma catecholamines and echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) mass were measured. MB% significantly correlated with insulinogenic index (r = 0.564, p = 0.019), insulin area (r = 0.594, p = 0.012), insulin area/glucose area (r = 0.630, p = 0.007), and urinary adrenaline (r = -0.542, p = 0.025) and tended to correlate with plasma adrenaline (r = -0.431, p = 0.084). Age, body mass index, infarct size, glucose metabolism, and LV mass were not significant univariate predictors of MB%. Multivariate analysis showed that the ability of insulin secretion contributed to MB% more than catecholamines did and that insulin area/glucose area was the strongest independent predictor of MB% (t = 3.01, p = 0.015). Thus MB fraction of cumulative CK released, indicative of Myocardial MB CK distribution, strongly related to the ability of insulin secretion in subjects without overt insulin resistance. Regulation by insulin of myocardial MB CK is suggested.

Adrenergic Agonists↗
PubMed1996

[Anesthetic management of a patient with esophageal hiatal hernia accompanied with chest pain].

We experienced the perioperative management of the esophageal hiatus hernia (sliding type). As the patient had had severe and frequent chest pain attacks and abnormal ECG, it was essential to evaluate the degree of cardiac and pulmonary functions. To prevent aspiration pneumonia, the patient had been placed on intravenous hyperalimentation and H2-blocker, and tracheal intubation was performed by rapid anesthetic induction technic without using awake or crash intubation methods. The intraoperative course was uneventful and the chest pain diminished immediately after the operation. In summary, the key points were as follows; (1) accurate evaluation of cardiac and pulmonary functions, and (2) prophylaxis for aspiration pneumonia at the time of anesthetic induction.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1995

Monitoring cell physiology by expression profiles and discovering cell type-specific genes by compiled expression profiles.

A gene expression profile is the list showing the expressed gene species and the abundance of their transcripts in a given cell or tissue. This list is made by constructing 3'-directed cDNA libraries consisting of only the 3'-termini of mRNA and sequencing randomly selected clones from such libraries: genes are identified by the sequences, and the composition of mRNA, which reflects gene activities, is measured from the frequency of appearance of the gene transcripts. For practical reasons, the number of sequenced clones has been limited to approximately 1000 per library at present, but the resulting profile covers almost all highly or moderately expressed genes, along with many less active genes. We constructed expression profiles from the HL60 human promyelocytic cell line and two of its derivatives, granulocytoids induced by DMSO and monocytoids induced by TPA. In HL60, a significant fraction of the abundantly expressed genes was for protein synthesis. Upon induction, these genes were partially or totally silenced; transcripts for proteins that characterize the granulocytes and monocyte-macrophages became abundant. By compiling and comparing different expression profiles, genes can be categorized into those expressed in diverse cell types and those active only in limited cell types. Although at present, the number of expression profiles that can be compiled is limited and this categorization is applicable only to abundantly expressed genes, 13 novel genes that may represent granulocyte- or monocyte-specific functions have been discovered.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Structure, sequence and location of the UQCRFS1 gene for the human Rieske Fe-S protein.

We have identified and studied the chromosomal location of the human Rieske Fe-S protein-encoding gene UQCRFS1. Mapping by hybridization to a panel of monochromosomal hybrid cell lines indicated that a UQCRFS1 partial cDNA was derived from either chromosome 19 or 22. By screening a human chromosome 19 specific genomic cosmid library with a probe from this cDNA sequence, we identified a corresponding cosmid. Portions of this cosmid were sequenced directly. The exon, exon:intron junction and flanking sequences verified that this cosmid contains the genomic locus. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to localize this cosmid to chromosome band 19q12.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The relationship between HTLV-I-infected cell lines and uveitis.

BACKGROUND: Recently it has been revealed that human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection causes uveitis in human. We previously reported HTLV-I uveitis in a rabbit. To investigate the relationship between HTLV-I infection and uveitis, we established an HTLV-I-infected T-cell clone from the cells infiltrated in the anterior chamber of this rabbit and compared the viral production with that in other HTLV-I-infected cell lines. METHODS: The clonality was determined by Southern blot hybridization with various restriction enzymes. Flow-cytometric analysis was used for investigating the expression of cell surface antigens. To compare viral production, we performed reverse transcriptase assay of the culture media and inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the quantity of intracellular HTLV-I antigens. RESULTS: The established clone was Ia (MHC class II) positive T cell. This T-cell clone was able to produce about three times more HTLV-I antigens than other HTLV-I-infected cell lines tested. CONCLUSION: A T-cell clone established from anterior aqueous of an HTLV-I uveitis rabbit can produce more HTLV-1 antigen than other HTLV-I-infected cell lines tested and it can be recognized easily by the immune system. Therefore, this high virus production may have a causal relation to uveitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

CT scanning of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: specific appearances.

We reviewed CT scans in 38 cases with pathologically proved bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. CT revealed three CT patterns: solitary, pneumonic and diffuse forms. The solitary pattern (22 patients) had a high percentage of air bronchograms (95%), pleural indentation (77%) and spiculation (68%). The pneumonia-like pattern (16 lesions in 10 patients) had air bronchograms in all cases (100%), low attenuation (88%) and protrusion of interlobar fissures (63%). The diffuse form (six patients) had 2 or 3 mm diffuse small nodules scattered throughout the entire lung. CT of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma revealed many findings and was useful in recognizing the tumor distribution and extent. We conclude that CT is helpful for the diagnosis and evaluation of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar↗
PubMed1995

Evidence for involvement of a 12-residue peptide segment of the heavy chain in the neck region of smooth muscle myosin in formation of the 10S conformation.

Two synthetic peptides having amino acid sequences of the heavy chain segments in the neck region of porcine aorta smooth muscle myosin were used to study the formation of the 10S folded conformation. These peptides, MHC821-835 and MHC835-846, correspond to residues 821-835 and 835-846, respectively, of the chicken gizzard myosin heavy chain. The effects of these peptides on the filament formation of porcine aorta smooth muscle myosin were examined. The filamentous myosin fraction increased on the addition of MHC835-846 at NaCl concentrations lower than 0.25 M for both dephosphorylated and phosphorylated myosin, while the filament formation of dephosphorylated myosin was unaffected by the addition of MHC821-835 up to 30 microM. The filaments formed in the presence of MHC835-846 were observed by electron microscopy to be morphologically indistinguishable from those formed in the absence of the peptide. Rotary shadowed images of dephosphorylated myosin monomers revealed mostly the 10S form in the absence of MHC835-846, while the 6S form was predominant in the presence of the peptide. The results indicate that MHC835-846 inhibits the formation of the 10S conformation. On cosedimentation assaying with myosin, rod and light meromyosin, MHC835-846 bound to each of them with a stoichiometry of nearly 1 mol/mol heavy chain. Altogether, these results suggest that the region in the myosin heavy chain corresponding to MHC835-846 may be involved in the binding site for the light meromyosin portion of myosin for formation of the 10S conformation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A novel synthetic lipid A analog with low endotoxicity, DT-5461, prevents lethal endotoxemia.

Bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) causes severe damage to the host organism as a result of excessive release of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), from mononuclear phagocytes during gram-negative bacterial infection. We evaluated the ability of a novel synthetic lipid A analog with low endotoxicity, DT-5461, to antagonize LPS-induced IL-1 and TNF-alpha production in cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage and examined the protective effect of DT-5461 against lethal endotoxic shock in mice. The IL-1- or TNF-alpha-inducing activity of DT-5461 is 100,000 to 10,000 times less active than that of Escherichia coli LPS (EcLPS) or synthetic lipid A. DT-5461 significantly inhibited EcLPS-induced IL-1 and TNF-alpha release when murine peritoneal macrophages were incubated with DT-5461 2 h prior to EcLPS stimulation at the same concentration (1 microgram/ml). The antagonistic effect of DT-5461 on the production of IL-1 and TNF-alpha induced by EcLPS occurred in a concentration-dependent manner. DT-5461 also inhibited IL-1 and TNF-alpha induction when murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by LPS from Salmonella typhimurium or synthetic lipid A, as well as by EcLPS, but not by muramyl dipeptides. This indicated that DT-5461 specifically antagonized the action of LPS. DT-5461 also antagonized EcLPS-mediated activation of human peripheral blood monocytes. DT-5461 blocked the binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled LPS to murine peritoneal macrophages as well as it did the binding of EcLPS and synthetic lipid A, i.e., in a concentration-dependent fashion. Injection of DT-5461 2 h before EcLPS challenge prevented the production of serum IL-1 and TNF-alpha in D-galactosamine-treated mice. Furthermore, this treatment modality protected mice against LPS-induced lethal toxicity. This study suggests that DT-5461 possesses a potent LPS antagonistic effect and may be useful in a protective strategy against lethal endotoxemia caused by gram-negative bacterial infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Recent problems on the endocrine and chemotherapy].

The endometrial carcinoma, as well as the breast cancers and some kinds of ovarian cancers, was considered to a hormone dependent carcinoma. Even if we tried to do the endocrine therapy using such as medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA), we could expect only 30% of anti-tumor effects on the endometrial carcinoma. Endocrine therapy was thought to have a different action mechanisms from the other anti-cancer drugs. Whereas cisplatin (CDDP) has strongly an effectiveness for ovarian cancers, but the drug resistance of cancer cells for CDDP was causing a serious problem. This paper will be discussed about the problems of the endocrine and chemotherapy from the point of view of cell cycle analysis. Additionally, we would like to describe about the new anticancer drug such as Taxol.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1994

Chromosomal assignments of 3'-directed partial cDNA sequences representing novel genes expressed in granulocytoid cells.

Large scale cDNA sequencing of 3'-directed cDNA libraries allows the collection of hundreds of novel sequences (gene signatures) and understanding of their expression levels in various tissues. Granulocytoid cells were induced from the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line 60 (HL60) with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and more than 1000 gene signatures were collected from a 3'-directed cDNA library of the granulocytoid cells. By selecting appropriate sequences for primer design, we systematically assigned chromosomes of these novel gene signatures by means of the polymerase chain reaction. We used a monochromosomal hybrid cell panel DNA as the template and localized 155 gene signatures to individual chromosomes. The results showed that 125 of them were assigned to single chromosomes and 30 to more than one. Genes assigned to more than one chromosome tend to be expressed ubiquitously, and their sequences are often conserved among humans and rodents. A highly sensitive laser fluorescent analyzer and ethidium staining were used for simple and large-scale PCR mapping.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The addition of 5'-coding information to a 3'-directed cDNA library improves analysis of gene expression.

Large-scale sequencing of a 3'-cDNA library permits one to analyse gene expression profiles in various tissues. However, many such sequences lack enough information about the encoded proteins. To overcome this problem, we tested a new library, consisting of a 3'-directed cDNA sequence fused to a to a 5' sequence of about 300 bp. Such 'joint molecules' of about 600 bp were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. About 40% of these joint molecules included the 5' and 3' terminal portions of the mRNA, and most of the remaining clones contained the middle portion and 3' end of the mRNA. The upstream sequences contained sufficient information with which to search for similarity, ORFs, motifs and hydropathy, thus allowing the mRNAs to be categorized and their functions predicted. The rapid categorization of the cDNAs will help to sort those clones that merit further analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗