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Biomedical subjects

A Nakajima

Publications and source records attributed to A Nakajima.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding asparagine synthetase from soybean (Glycine max L.) cell cultures.

A cDNA encoding glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase was isolated from dark-adapted Glycine max cell culture. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 76-89% identity with other plant sequences. The gene for asparagine synthetase is expressed predominantly in shoots as compared to roots of etiolated plants and the level of expression decreases following light treatment, suggesting that the gene expression is down-regulated by light.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning of cDNA for BRab from the brain of Bombyx mori and biochemical properties of BRab expressed in Escherichia coli.

From a brain cDNA library of Bombyx mori, we cloned cDNA for BRab, which encoded a 202-amino-acid polypeptide sharing 60-80% similarity with rab1 family members. To characterize its biochemical properties, cDNA for BRab was inserted into an expression vector (pGEX2T) and expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity with glutathione S-Sepharose. The purified GST-BRab bound [35S]-GTP gamma S and [3H]-GDP with association constants of 1.5 x 10(6) M-1 and 0.58 x 10(6) M-1, respectively. The binding of [35S]-GTP gamma S was inhibited with GTP and GDP, but with no other nucleotides. The GTP-hydrolysis activity was evaluated to be 5 m mole/min/mole of BRab. In the presence of 6 mM MgCl2, bound [35S]-GTP gamma S and [3H]-GDP were exchanged with GTP gamma S most efficiently. These results suggest that BRab, having a higher affinity for GTP than GDP, converts from the GTP-bound state into the GDP-bound state by intrinsic GTP hydrolysis activity and returns to the GTP-bound state with the exchange of GDP with GTP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[A case of systemic sclerosis complicated with pneumoperitoneum and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis].

Here we report a case of systemic sclerosis (SSc) complicated with pneumoperitoneum and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI). A 58-year-old woman who had been treated with oxygen therapy for chronic respiratory failure caused by interstitial pneumonia was admitted to Tokyo Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital because of abdominal fullness. On admission, laboratory data showed accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mild anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated level of lactose dehydrogenase (LDH). Anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-RNP antibodies, anti-Topoisomerase I antibodies, anti-Ku antibodies, and rheumatoid factor were positive. Chest and abdominal roentgenograms showed free air under the diaphragm, dilatation of small intestine and colon, and multiple intestinal cysts. The diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum and PCI was made with laboratory findings and radiographic findings. Her symptoms did not respond to medications altering colonic motility and oxygen therapy. Finally, abdominal symptoms and radiographic findings caused by pneumoperitoneum and PCI disappeared three weeks after treatment with 1,500 mg/day of kanamycin sulfate. PCI is rarely associated with SSc. Possible pathogenic relationship between these diseases was discussed.

Female↗
PubMed1998

Correlation of prognosis of breast cancer patients and expression of Ley which acts as a cofactor of tumor procoagulant.

Association between Ley expression and prognosis of breast cancer was investigated using monoclonal antibody (MoAb) FS01, which recognizes Ley as an epitope, inhibits the procoagulant activity of cancer cell-derived coagulating activity 1 (CCA-1). Expression intensity and procoagulant activity of CCA-1, tissue factor and HLA-DR on breast cancer cell lines were also examined. Immunohistochemical staining of Ley was performed on primary lesions of 223 breast cancer patients who received absolute curative operation. Flow cytometric analysis and clot timer was used to detect expression and activity of each procoagulant on cancer cell lines. The Ley expression was 73.5%, and no significant relation was observed between clinicopathological factors and intensity of Ley expression. The group showing strong Ley positivity had a significantly poorer prognosis than the Ley-negative group in 5-year disease-free survival (p=0.019). Multivariate analysis using the Cox's proportional hazards' regression model showed that Ley expression is an independent prognostic factor (p=0.018), following tumor size and lymph node metastasis. Ley expression on cancer cell surface is higher than tissue factor and HLA-DR. FS01 and anti-tissue factor MoAb inhibited the coagulating activity of tissue factor-expressing lines, but no cells were inhibited by staphylococcal enterotoxin A, which is known to inhibit the coagulating activity of HLA-DR. CCA-1 and tissue factor plays a important role in the blood coagulating activity of breast cancer cell lines. Breast cancer patients are thought to have a poor prognosis because Ley expression on the surface of the cancer cell induces blood coagulation via CCA-1.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Pneumoperitoneum with systemic sclerosis].

We report a case of systemic sclerosis (SSc) complicated with benign pneumoperitoneum without apparent pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI). A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of prominent abdominal distension in April 1997. Raynaud's phenomenon has been detected since 1991. She was suffering from recurrent diarrhea, constipation, and subileus. The diagnosis of SSc was made in 1996 based on the sclerosis in her face, forearms, and chest, and hypomotility of the esophagus. On admission, she presented no signs of peritoneal irritation. The laboratory data revealed that white blood cell count was 7,400/mm3 and C-reactive protein was 0.1 mg/dl. Chest and abdominal roentgenograms showed massive free air under the diaphragm, dilatation of small and large intestine, and air-fluid level. PCI was not apparent. Pneumoperitoneum was improved after four weeks with intravenous hyperalimentation. But she presented recurrent severe diarrhea and high fever whenever she tried to take food orally. Klebsiella pneumoniae was proved in her jejunal juice by bacteriologic examination. Intravenous prostaglandin F2 alpha and oral fosfomycin calcium intake made her condition better. Benign pneumoperitoneum without PCI is rarely reported in the patients with SSc. In her condition, weakness of intestinal wall, hypomotility of intestine, unusual bacterial overgrowth, and elevated intraluminal pressure made intraluminal gas go through the wall of the fragile intestine of SSc. As operation of intestine of SSc usually cause miserable outcome, pneumoperitoneum accompanied with SSc even if PCI is apparent or not must be treated with conventional manner while there is no signs of peritoneal irritation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[A patient with acute sarcoidosis associated with fever, polyarthritis, and erythema nodosum: a typical of Löfgren's syndrome].

A 26-year-old female was admitted to Aoyama Hospital in February 1996, for evaluation of abnormal chest shadows and polyarthritis. She visited our clinic in December 1995 with complaints of fever, fatigue, and polyarthralgia which lasted for 3 weeks. Two weeks later she developed erythema nodosum on her lower legs with the exacerbation of polyarthritis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 108 mm/hr and CRP 4.9 mg/dl. A chest radiograph showed hilar lymphadenopathy and multiple nodular shadows in both lung fields. On admission, she had arthritis of the shoulders and knees, erythema nodosum on her lower extremities, and keloid-like skin lesion on her left knee. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy of nodular lesion and skin biopsy of keloid-like lesion revealed noncaseating granuloma of epithelioid cells with lymphocytes, macrophages, and giant cells, confirming the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. She was cured in three months, and was well and free of the symptoms thereafter. Löfgren's syndrome is acute sarcoidosis, characterized by arthritis, erythema nodosum, and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. This syndrome is common in Europe and is closely related to HLA-B8 and DR-3. The frequency of HLA-B8 and DR-3 in Japanese is almost 0%, explaining the rare onset of this syndrome in Japan. Our case is the second report of typical Löfgren's syndrome in Japan, although the patient did not have these HLA loci.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Intraocular pressure during pneumatic retinopexy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A simplified method of monitoring intraocular pressure (IOP) during pneumatic retinopexy was devised and used clinically to decrease the risk of complications associated with unnecessary IOP elevation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intraoperative IOP and IOP immediately after sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) injection were monitored during pneumatic retinopexy in 22 eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Intraoperative IOP was measured with a sphygmomanometer connected to the side of a gas-filled syringe. RESULTS: Intraoperative IOP and IOP immediately after gas injection were 97.2 +/- 28.5 (mean +/- SD) and 46.5 +/- 19.6 mm Hg, respectively. Two eyes temporarily lost light perception immediately after the gas injection. The intraoperative IOP and the IOP immediately after the gas injection were 130 and 80 mm Hg, respectively, in one eye, and 180 and 90 mm Hg, respectively, in the other. CONCLUSIONS: In general, to ensure effective and safe results of pneumatic retinopexy, the authors recommend that the gas be injected either to approximately 90 mm Hg of intraoperative IOP or to the maximum acceptable volume (2.0 to 2.5 ml of 100% SF6).

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of uveitogenic sites in phosducin molecule.

PURPOSE: Phosducin, a retinal photoreceptor protein, induces experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). In this study, we attempted to determine the numbers of uveitogenic sites in phosducin using synthetic peptides. METHODS: Antigen peptides were synthesized according to the amino acid sequence of the rat-derived phosducin with a peptide-synthesizer and purified by reversed-phase HPLC. First, 13 peptides covering the entire sequence of phosducin were synthesized, and each was injected into the hind footpad of Lewis rats for immunization, and induction of EAU was examined clinically and histologically. Next, peptides that appeared to contain sequences of a uveitogenic site were newly synthesized and examined clinically and immunologically. RESULTS: Of the 13 peptides used in the first immunization, 7 induced inflammation. Similar to other EAU antigens, clinical changes began with fibrin deposition in the anterior segment and posterior synechia, followed by posterior chamber hypopyon. Histologically, inflammation was observed mainly in the outer segment of photoreceptor cells and outer nuclear layer, and serous retinal detachment was found in cases of severe inflammation. Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the pineal gland was also observed. In experiments designed to further specify the uveitogenic sites, the presence of inflammation-inducing sequences was inferred for amino acid sequences 1-20, 23-37, 79-91, 127-142 and 198-212. The rats immunized with these peptides also exhibited high value on lymphocyte proliferation assay. CONCLUSION: Phosducin has 5 uveitogenic sites. Among others, one of them has potent and others weak uveitogenicity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Acute sympathetic hyperfunction in overlapping syndromes of systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis.

A 20-year-old woman with arthralgia, serositis, thrombocytopenia, proteinuria, muscle weakness, elevated creatinine kinase, and positive anti-Sm antibody was diagnosed as having polymyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had persistent high temperature, sinus tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, mydriasis, visual disturbance, hallucination, and loss of consciousness. Levels of plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were all high. A diagnosis of sympathetic hyperfunction accompanied by central nervous system (CNS) involvement in SLE was made parenteral. Pulse administration of high dose corticosteroid therapy was effective. This is the first reported case of a connective tissue disease with CNS involvement manifesting as sympathetic hyperfunction with high plasma catecholamine levels.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1998

[A case of primary Sjögren's syndrome accompanied by transverse myelitis].

Here we report a case of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) accompanied by transverse myelitis. A 46-year-old woman with 7-year history of primary SS was admitted to Tokyo Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital in September 1997 because of muscular weakness in lower extremities. She had had a low grade fever, numbness, and pain in bilateral lower extremities since July 1992. Neurological examination revealed transverse myelopathy at the level of Th 4, and peripheral neuropathy in lower extremities. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed slight elevation of protein and the cell count. A diagnosis of transverse myelitis and peripheral neuropathy presenting as neurologic manifestations of SS was made. Treatment was initiated with 30 mg of prednisolone, followed by improvement of fever and neurological findings. Although central nervous system complications of SS have been presented in Western countries, little information is available about Japanese patients. To our knowledge, this is the second case report which describes the occurrence of transverse myelitis in Japanese patients with SS.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1998

[Lupus cystitis and peritonitis successfully treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy: a case report].

The patient, a 35-year-old woman, had been diagnosed as SLE since she developed butterfly rash, arthritis and hair loss with positive antinuclear antibody, anti-DNA antibody, and LE cells in 1989, and treated with daily 20 mg prednisolone (PSL). She had been suffering from nausea, vomiting and waterly diarrhea since 1992. In June 1995, she noted pollakisuria and sense of residual urine, followed by dysuria and nocturia in October. She was admitted to our hospital in January 1996 with progressive gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms. Computerized tomography (CT) depicted thickening of the wall of intestine and bladder, diminished volume of bladder, and bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Biopsy of the bladder revealed erosion of mucosa and moderate infiltration with inflammatory cells. The diagnosis of lupus cystitis and peritonitis was made and she was initially given intravenous methylprednisolon pulse therapy (500 mg/day) for 3 days, and then switched to 100 mg of daily intravenous PSL. She responded partially to this regimen, but gradually developed gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms again when PSL was tapered down to 70 mg/day. Therefore, monthly intravenous cyclophosuphamide pulse therapy was started. With this therapy, her bladder and bowel symptoms improved, and then the thickness of her bladder and intestinal wall, and the bladder volume normalized. Five months after institution of therapy, PSL was successfully tapered down to 30 mg/day and she was discharged. Intravenous cyclophosphamidepulse therapy is a choice of treatment for steroid-resistant lupus cystitis and peritonitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Roles of IL-4 and IL-12 in the development of lupus in NZB/W F1 mice.

Development of either Th1 or Th2 cell subsets has profound immunologic consequences, either pathogenic or protective, in several autoimmune diseases. However, it remains unclear which subset of Th cells plays a more critical role in lupus. In this study, we examined IL-4 and IL-12, which play decisive roles in the development of Th2 and Th1, respectively, in the IgG autoantibody production and development of lupus nephritis in NZB/W (B/W) F1 mice. Transfer of either IL-4- or IL-12-stimulated splenocytes from 5-mo-old B/W F1 mice into B/W F1 mice of the same age enhanced the production of IgG anti-dsDNA Ab. Consistently, administration of mAb against either IL-4 or IL-12 before the onset of lupus could inhibit the production of IgG anti-dsDNA Ab. However, only anti-IL-4 mAb was effective in preventing the onset of lupus nephritis. This discrepancy appeared to be explained by the differential effect on the production of IgG3-type autoantibody and TNF production. Interestingly, when combined, anti-IL-12 mAb abrogated the beneficial effect of anti-IL-4 mAb. These results indicate that both Th2 and Th1 contribute to the IgG autoantibody production, and IL-4 and IL-12 play key roles in the complexity of cytokine regulation in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity in lupus, but the former is more critical.

Adoptive Transfer↗
PubMed1997

Expression of Fas ligand and its receptor in cutaneous lupus: implication in tissue injury.

Fas ligand (FasL) is a type II membrane protein which belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family. Ligation of its receptor (Fas/APO-1/CD95) by FasL induces apoptosis of Fas-expressing cells. However, the in vivo function of these molecules in cutaneous immunity is presently unknown. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of Fas and FasL in the pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus by immunohistochemical methods. In normal skin, expression of Fas was observed on keratinocytes in the basal to granular layers. Unexpectedly, FasL was constitutively expressed on histiocytes in the dermis. In specimens of cutaneous lupus, Fas was expressed on infiltrating lymphocytes, as well as on keratinocytes as observed in normal skin. FasL was expressed on a portion of infiltrating CD4+ T cells and on histiocytes more frequently than those in normal skin. Double staining indicated that these FasL-expressing histiocytes were CD68 positive macrophages. Especially, FasL-expressing macrophages were distributed around appendages such as hair follicles. These results suggest the Fas/FasL interaction may be involved in the destruction of hair follicles which is a characteristic feature of cutaneous lupus.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of a potent uveitopathogenic site derived from rat phosducin.

Phosducin is a retinal and pineal phosphoprotein assumed to play an important role in visual phototransduction. Phosducin is also a uveitopathogenic retinal antigen, but its potency has been reported to be mild. During the course of studies aimed at identifying uveitopathogenic sites in phosducin, we found that rat phosducin possessed a potent uveitopathogenic site. In this study, we characterize the potent uveitopathogenic site by using synthetic peptides. Several synthetic peptides from this region plus adjuvants were injected into Lewis rats, and the uveitopathogenic core sequence was defined. We also determined the pivotal amino acid residues by using synthetic peptides with single residue substitution. Immunization with PDC(R)65-96 (amino acid residues 65 through 96 derived from rat phosducin) at doses of 0.83 nmol or more induced severe experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in all rats within 12 days. Experimental autoimmune pinealitis (EAP) was also observed in all rats after immunization with 0.83 nmol or higher doses of the peptide. The lowest dose of the peptide to induce EAU and EAP was 0.24 nmol. The smallest peptide that induced EAU as severe as PDC(R)65-96 was PDC(R)77-87, which consisted of 11 amino acid residues (YELIHQDKEDE). The core sequence within the uveitopathogenic site was a pentapeptide (LIHQD), amino acid residues from 79 to 83. To determine the role of individual residues within PDC(R)77-87, we tested the uveitopathogenicity of analogues of PDC(R)75-85 and PDC(R)77-89, respectively, in which each of the residues from 77 to 87 was replaced by alanine (A). Analogous peptides bearing a single residue substitution at 80 (I-->A) and 82 (Q-->A), respectively, were not uveitopathogenic. Our findings demonstrated the presence of a potent uveitopathogenic site in PDC(R)65-96 whose potency in Lewis rats was comparable to that of S-antigen. The pivotal amino acid residues for uveitopathogenicity were the residues at 80 (I) and 82 (Q). The clinical and histological features of this EAU closely resembled those of the EAU induced by S-antigen and recoverin.

Adoptive Transfer↗
PubMed1997

Acute toxicity, accumulation and excretion of organophosphorous insecticides and their oxidation products in killifish.

Acute toxicity, accumulation and excretion of four organophosphorous insecticides (diazinon, malathion, fenitrothion and EPN) and their oxidation products (diazinon oxon, malaoxon, fenitrothion oxon and EPN oxon) were studied for killifish (Oryzias latipes). The 48-hr LC50 was 4.4 mg l-1 for diazinon, 1.8 mg l-1 for malathion, 3.5 mg l-1 for fenitrothion, 0.58 mg l-1 for EPN, 0.22 mg l-1 for diazinon oxon, 0.28 mg l-1 for malaoxon, 6.8 mg l-1 for fenitrothion oxon, and 0.16 mg l-1 for EPN oxon. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) of diazinon oxon 0.5, malaoxon 1.1, fenitrothion oxon 2.3 and EPN oxon 11 in the whole body of the fish were much lower than those of diazinon 49, malathion 11, fenitrothion 122 and EPN 1124. As reference data, partition coefficients between n-octanol and water (Pow) were measured for these chemicals. The BCF values of each pesticide and its oxidation product were consistent with the Pow values. The excretion rate constants (k) from the whole body of the fish were 0.12 hr-1 for diazinon, 0.27 hr-1 for malathion, 0.11 hr-1 for fenitrothion, 0.02 hr-1 for EPN, 0.30 hr-1 for fenitrothion oxon and 0.59 hr-1 for EPN oxon. The rates of diazinon oxon and malaoxon could not be measured, but were presumed to be as rapid as or more rapid than those of fenitrothion oxon and EPN oxon. The results suggest that the contamination of fish and other aquatic organisms by the oxidation products in the environment is very low.

1-Octanol↗