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Biomedical subjects

A Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to A Kondo.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Pemphigus vulgaris associated with transient acanthosis nigricans like lesion.

A patient with pemphigus vulgaris was treated with predonisolone and cyclosporin. At the sites of healing erosions, hyperkeratotic, hyperpigmented plaques developed; they were clinically and histologically similar to acanthosis nigricans. These lesions regressed after a few months. This case and others described in the literature suggest that such dermatoses might be caused by immunologically as well as mechanically mediated epidermal injury.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗
PubMed1998

[Significance of serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D) level in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

Elevated levels of serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D) have been previously reported in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. To determine whether the same change is seen in other pulmonary diseases, especially pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), we measured the serum SP-D levels in active pulmonary TB (smear and/or culture: positive), acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), IPF, acute exacerbation of IPF, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), pneumoconiosis, bronchiectasis, and bacterial pneumonia by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies to human lung SP-D, and compared them with those of healthy elderly subjects over 50 years of age. The SP-D level in the healthy elderly subjects was 57.6 +/- 38.4 ng/ml (mean +/- SD, n = 287). The levels in patients with active pulmonary TB (140.6 +/- 18.2 ng/ml, n = 49), AIP (1,021 ng/ml, n = 1), IPF (307.0 +/- 180.7 ng/ml, n = 42), acute exacerbation of IPF (817.7 +/- 283.6 ng/ml, n = 3), and HP (716.6 +/- 548.8 ng/ml, n = 4) were significantly higher than those in the healthy elderly controls (p < 0.05), whereas those of pneumoconiosis, bronchiectasis, and bacterial pneumonia, 121.9 +/- 92.8 ng/ml (n = 8), 93.9 +/- 72.9 ng/ml (n = 11), and 72.7 +/- 3.4 ng/ml (n = 4), respectively, showed no significant difference with the controls. In active pulmonary TB, the percentage of patients whose serum SP-D levels were over 134.6 ng/ml (mean + 2SD of healthy elderly controls) was 34.7%, and therefore we considered the serum SP-D level was not useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. However, it was significantly higher in the patients with cavity formation than in those without (p < 0.05), and there was a significant positive correlation between the serum SP-D level and the number of tubercle bacilli in the sputum (r = 0.416, p = 0.00165), erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 1 hr (r = 0.489, p < 0.01), and CRP level (r = 0.383, p = 0.003). These findings suggest that the serum SP-D level is a useful indicator of the disease activity in pulmonary TB.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) 1-40 but not Abeta1-42 contributes to the experimental formation of Alzheimer disease amyloid fibrils in rat brain.

Two major C-terminal variants ending at Val40 and Ala42 constitute the majority of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta), which undergoes postsecretory aggregation and deposition in the Alzheimer disease (AD) brain. To probe the differential pathobiology of the two Abeta variants, we used an in vivo paradigm in which freshly solubilized Abeta1-40 or Abeta1-42 was injected into rat brains, followed by examination using Congo red birefringence, Abeta immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. In the rat brain, soluble Abeta 1-40 and Abeta1-42 formed aggregates, and the Abeta1-40 but not the Abeta1-42 aggregates showed Congo red birefringence. Electron microscopy revealed that the Abeta1-40 aggregates contained fibrillar structures similar to the amyloid fibrils of AD, whereas the Abeta1-42 aggregates contained nonfibrillar amorphous material. Preincubation of Abeta1-42 solution in vitro led to the formation of birefringent aggregates, and after injection of the preincubated Abeta1-42, the aggregates remained birefringent in the rat brain. Thus, a factor or factors might exist in the rat brain that inhibit the fibrillar assembly of soluble Abeta1-42. To analyze the postsecretory processing of Abeta, we used the same in vivo paradigm and showed that Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 were processed at their N termini to yield variants starting at pyroglutamate, and at their C termini to yield variants ending at Val40 and at Val39. Thus the normal rat brain could produce enzymes that mediate the conversion of Abeta 1-40/1-42 into processed variants similar to those in AD. This experimental paradigm may facilitate efforts to elucidate mechanisms of Abeta deposition evolving into amyloid plaques in AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1997

Measurement of histidinohydroxylysinonorleucine and hydroxyproline in skin collagen by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate labeling.

A novel, highly sensitive method to quantify histidinohydroxylysinonorleucine (HHL), a trifunctional type of cross-link in skin collagen, was developed. HHL in skin hydrolysates labeled with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl) was separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that two FMOCs were bound to two primary amino acid residues, histidine and hydroxylysine, but not to lysine residue in one HHL molecule. Hydroxyproline was simultaneously measured to express the molar ratio of HHL to collagen. The detection range of HHL was from 1 to 10 pmol and that of hydroxyproline from 1 to 50 pmol. A 6-mm punch-biopsied human skin sample contained 0.40 to 0.69 mol of HHL per one molecule of collagen. This sensitive method is useful as it is rapid and can be used to examine the aging process or the change of HHL content in skin collagens of various pathologic states.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning, expression, and sequence analysis of the endoglycoceramidase II gene from Rhodococcus species strain M-777.

Endoglycoceramidase (EGCase (EC 3.2.1.123)) is a hydrolase that hydrolyzes the linkage between the oligosaccharide and ceramide of various glycosphingolipids. This paper describes the molecular cloning and expression of EGCase II, one of the isoforms of EGCases. The gene encoding EGCase II was obtained by screening of a genomic DNA library from Rhodococcus sp. strain M-777 constructed in pUC19 with oligonucleotide probes deduced from a partial amino acid sequence of the enzyme protein. Recombinant Escherichia coli cells in which the EGCase II gene was expressed produced 14 units of the enzyme per liter of culture medium but did not produce sphingomyelinase. Recombinant EGCase II was a functioning enzyme with substrate specificity identical to that of the wild-type enzyme. Sequence analysis showed the presence of an open reading frame of 1470 base pairs encoding 490 amino acids. The N-terminal region of the deduced amino acid sequence had the general pattern of signal peptides of secreted prokaryotic proteins. Interestingly, the consensus sequence in the active site region of the endo-1,4-beta-glucanase family A was found in the amino acid sequence of EGCase II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Adrenoleukodystrophy protein-deficient mice represent abnormality of very long chain fatty acid metabolism.

We have generated a line of mice deficient in adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP) by gene targeting in order to clarify the pathophysiology of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). ALDP-deficient male and female mice appeared normal clinically at least up to 12 months. Western blot analysis showed the absence of ALDP in the brain, spinal cord, lung, and kidney and normal expression of PMP70 in the liver, lung, and kidney. The amounts of C26:0 increased by 73-240% in the brain, spinal cord, lung, and kidney. beta-Oxidation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in cultured hepatocytes and fibroblasts was reduced to 35-50% of normal. Light and electron microscopy did not show demyelination in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve. Thus, the deficiency of ALDP in mice impairs the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation but does not duplicate the clinical and pathological abnormalities of the human ALD. These observations suggest that the accumulation of VLCFA alone is not sufficient to cause demyelination in the nervous system.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Mem↗
PubMed1997

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of Arthrobacter protophormiae endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in Escherichia coli.

The gene encoding endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Arthrobacter protophormiae (Endo-A) was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. A single open reading frame consisting of 1935 base pairs and encoding a polypeptide composed of signal peptides of 24 amino acids and a mature protein of 621 amino acids was found. The primary structure of Endo-A exhibited significant homology with FO1F.10 gene product from Caenorhabditis elegans and weak homology with peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum and chitinase from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis. However, the enzyme had no significant homology with any previously reported endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases. Transformed Escherichia coli cells carrying the 4.5-kb fragment expressed Endo-A activity. This enzyme activity was detected in the medium as well as in the periplasmic space of cells under the control of the Endo-A gene promoter. The recombinant Endo-A was efficiently isolated from the periplasmic space of the cells. N-terminal sequence analysis revealed that native and recombinant Endo-A have the same N-terminus. Recombinant and native Endo-A also showed very similar optimum pH profiles and transglycosylation activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Restoration of rat bladder function following release of short- and long-term partial outflow obstruction.

Detrusor dysfunction does not recover in some patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) even after prostate resection. 'We studied the functional restoration of the rat bladder after release of short- or long-term outflow obstruction. Bladder function was assessed by in vivo infusion cystometry and an in vitro organ bath technique. There were no significant differences in bladder weight and contractile strength induced by stimuli in detrusor muscle strips from obstructed rats and age-matched control rats. After short-term obstruction the whole bladder pressure generated in vitro by field stimulation, bethanechol, ATP, and KCl completely recovered to control levels. In contrast, after long-term obstruction, the whole bladder pressure in response to field stimulation remained significantly lower than in controls. Infusion cystometry variables, including the pressure at which micturition was induced, maximal voiding pressure, capacity, and residual urine volume, were similar between controls and rats subjected to short-term obstruction. However, the maximal voiding pressure after long-term obstruction was significantly less than that of controls.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Effect of ischemia and partial outflow obstruction on rat bladder function.

We investigated the effects of ischemia induced by ligation of the bilateral internal iliac arteries following partial outlet obstruction on changes in detrusor function in rat. Rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated control rats, rats with partial outlet obstruction, and rats with obstruction+ischemia. Bladder function was studied by the in vitro organ bath technique 7 days after surgery. The weight of the bladder was significantly increased in both the obstruction and obstruction+ischemia groups. The obstruction+ischemia group exhibited a greater increase in weight. The passive length-tension relationship of detrusor muscle strips showed that tissue elasticity was decreased and the active length-tension relationship demonstrated that the peak response was observed at a shorter tissue length in the obstruction+ischemia group compared with the other two groups. There was no difference in the passive and active length-tension relationships between the control group and the obstruction group. The contractile response to various kinds of stimulation (field stimulation, bethanechol, ATP, and KCl) increased in the obstruction group and decreased in the obstruction+ischemia group. These findings suggest that partial outflow obstruction alone increased bladder contractility in response to stimuli. However, ischemia reduced the contractility and elasticity of the bladder wall.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Introl bladder neck support prosthesis: international clinical experience.

The Introl bladder neck support prosthesis is a ring-shaped silastic device with two prongs located at one side such that when placed within the vaginal canal the bladder neck is suspended in a fashion similar to a surgical urethropexy. Since its initial description in 1988 the device has undergone clinical trials in the US and Japan, documenting its effectiveness in the treatment of stress and mixed incontinence in women. Introl is available for clinical use in the United States and has been well accepted by practicing clinicians. In Japan, exposure has occurred through clinical trials, which resulted in a high efficacy rate, i.e. 81% of the patients had either maximum benefit or benefit in the global usefulness rating, and 26% experienced minor adverse effects. This paper will summarize Introl clinical study findings and describe various clinical observations made during increased clinical usage.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1997

Clinical value of vaginal cones for the management of female stress incontinence.

In women with mild stress incontinence (mean urine loss of 3.7 g/h), pelvic floor training using vaginal cones resulted in a subjective success rate of 70% (19/27), that is complete cure or reduction by >50% of the original severity. However, in women with severe stress incontinence (mean urine loss of 20.7 g/h) cone therapy was successful in only 14% (7/50). The predictive value of six parameters (age, parity, urine loss by pad test, frequency of incontinence, contractile strength of the vagina, and perceived problems) was analyzed and two showed significant prognostic values: a smaller amount of urine loss and less frequent incontinence. It is concluded that vaginal cone therapy is one physical treatment option for stress incontinence but is of no clinical effect for those with severe incontinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Two distinct HLA-A*0101-specific submotifs illustrate alternative peptide binding modes.

Previous studies have defined two different peptide binding motifs specific for HLA-A*0101. These motifs are characterized by the presence of tyrosine (Y) at the C-termini of 9-mer and 10-mer peptides, and either a small polar or hydrophobic (S, T, M) residue in position 2, or a negatively charged (D or E) residue in position 3. In this study, the structural requirements for peptide binding to A*0101 have been further analyzed by examining the binding capacity of large sets of peptides corresponding to naturally occurring sequences which bore one or the other of these two A*0101-specific motifs. By correlating the presence of specific residue types at each position along the peptide sequence with increased (or decreased) binding affinity, the prominent influence of secondary anchor residues was revealed. In most cases, the two anchors in positions 2 and 3 appear to act synergistically. With the exception of the DE3 submotif in 9-mer peptides, a positive role for aromatic residues in position 1 and the center of the peptide (positions 4 or 5 of 9- or 10-mer peptides, respectively), and proline at C-3, were also consistently detected. However, secondary anchor residues also appear to differ significantly between the two different submotifs, demonstrating that A*0101 can utilize alternative modes in binding its peptide ligands. According to these analyses, specific refined submotifs were also established, and their merit verified by independent sets of potential A*0101 binding peptides. Besides providing useful insight into the nature of the interaction of the A*0101 allele with its peptide ligands, such refined motifs should also facilitate accurate prediction of potential A*0101-restricted peptide epitopes.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1997

Reactivation of thermally inactivated enzymes by free and immobilized chaperonin GroEL/ES.

Thermally inactivated bovine deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) and yeast enolase were reactivated by GroEL/ES from Escherichia coli. In both cases, GroEL/ ES was found to have the ability to reactivate inactivated enzymes in an ATP-dependent manner. GroEL/ ES can interact with the enzymes that were denatured at high temperature and convert them to the active conformations. To test the applicability of GroEL/ES to the reactivation processes of thermally inactivated enzymes, GroEL/ES was immobilized using formyl-Cellulofine (GroEL/ES-Cellulofine) and its performance was studied. GroEL/ES-Cellulofine retained a sufficiently high ability to reactivate enzymes. Moreover, GroEL/ES-Cellulofine could be used repeatedly, indicating high durability. These results indicate that immobilized chaperonin is effective for reactivation of enzymes that are thermally inactivated in various bioprocesses.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Bladder neck support prosthesis: a nonoperative treatment for stress or mixed urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness and safety of a bladder neck support prosthesis in patients with stress or mixed incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 57 women with stress and 20 with mixed incontinence completed a 12-week prospective clinical trial of a bladder neck support prosthesis. While indexes of incontinence episodes, leakage amounts and urgency along with a bothersome index were subjectively evaluated, a 60-minute pad test and urinary flow parameters were objectively evaluated. Three patients scheduled to undergo surgery for stress incontinence voluntarily used the device, and provided urodynamic data and cystourethrograms. Two prongs at 1 end of the ring, a type of elastic vaginal pessary, elevate the bladder neck against the pubic bone and facilitate pressure transmission around the bladder neck, resulting in urinary continence. RESULTS: Four subjective indexes significantly improved. There was no urinary flow obstruction. Urine loss decreased from 20.6 to 4.8 gm. per hour (p < 0.001) on the 60-minute pad test. Of the patients 22 (29%) reported complete continence and 39 (51%) had decreased severity of incontinence by more than 50%. Minor adverse effects occurred in 26% of the patients. Taking subjective evaluation, changes in objective parameters and adverse effects into consideration, 62 patients (81%) had some or maximum benefit according to the global usefulness rating. CONCLUSIONS: The bladder neck support prosthesis is safe, well tolerated and clinically effective for the treatment of stress or mixed incontinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Endoscopic transvesico-transurethral approach for repair of vesicovaginal fistula: initial case report.

Through an endoscopic transvesico-transurethral approach, we closed a vesicovaginal fistula that occurred after hysterectomy in a patient with uterine leiomyoma. The 3-mm fistula, located in the midportion of retrotrigone, was resected transurethrally and sutured in two layers through two 5-mm suprapubic trocars placed into the bladder and the urethral route under pneumobladder. The patient had no urine leakage from the vagina after surgery.

Cystoscopy↗
PubMed1997

Follow-up results of microvascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the follow-up results of microvascular decompression in 1032 patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and hemifacial spasm (HFS), who underwent operations between 1976 and 1991 and were followed for more than 5 years. METHOD: Patients were divided into two groups, and their follow-up results were compared and studied. The early series, Group A (1976-1986), comprised 588 patients (127 with TN and 461 with HFS) followed from 10 to 20 years (mean, 12.6 +/- 2.1 yr), and the recent series, Group B (1987-1991), comprised 444 patients (154 with TN and 290 with HFS) followed from 5 to 9 years (mean, 7.0 +/- 1.4 yr). RESULTS: The immediate postoperative cure rates were 92.9% in Group A and 96.7% in Group B for TN and 97.4% in Group A and 98.3% in Group B for HFS. Satisfactory results obtained by the follow-up study were 80.3% in Group A and 82.5% in Group B for TN and 84.2% in Group A and 89.0% in Group B for HFS. Incomplete cure rates were 7.1% in Group A and 3.3% in Group B for TN and 2.6% in Group A and 1.7% in Group B for HFS. Recurrence rates were 10.2% in Group A and 6.5% in Group B for TN and 8.9% in Group A and 6.9% in Group B for HFS. Postoperative hearing dysfunction occurred in 7.1% of patients with TN in Group A and 4.5% in Group B and 9.1% of patients with HFS in Group A and 3.7% in Group B. CONCLUSION: Improved methods of repositioning the affected vessels and of straightening the axis of the trigeminal nerve are important to obtain satisfactory follow-up results after microvascular decompression.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Choroid plexus papilloma in the posterior third ventricle: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The case of a 42-year-old woman with a choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) arising from the posterior wall of the third ventricle is described. This case is very unusual because the tumor did not have any connection with the choroid plexus but was attached to the normal brain parenchyma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient presented with the symptoms of increasing intracranial pressure. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus related to a small mass in the posterior third ventricle, occluding the aqueduct. INTERVENTION: Surgery confirmed that the tumor was located at the surface of the posterior commissure without having any connection to the normal choroid plexus. A histopathological examination revealed a CPP with no attachment to the choroidal tissue. CONCLUSION: A review of the literature demonstrates that CPPs without any connection to the choroid plexus are very unusual. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such a CPP that developed on the posterior wall of the third ventricle in which no choroid plexus was present. Furthermore, this tumor, to our knowledge, is also the smallest intraventricular CPP to be verified at surgery.

Adult↗