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Biomedical subjects

A Yamada

Publications and source records attributed to A Yamada.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Characterization of biphenyl catabolic genes of gram-positive polychlorinated biphenyl degrader Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1.

Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1 is a gram-positive polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrader which can degrade 10 ppm of PCB48 (equivalent to Aroclor1248), including tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyls, in a few days. We isolated the 7.6-kb EcoRI-BamHI fragment carrying the biphenyl catabolic genes of RHA1 and determined their nucleotide sequence. On the basis of deduced amino acid sequence homology, we identified six bph genes, bphA1A2A3A4, bphB, and bphC, that are responsible for the initial three steps of biphenyl degradation. The order of bph genes in RHA1 is bphA1A2A3A4-bphC-bphB. This gene order differs from that of other PCB degraders reported previously. The amino acid sequences deduced from the RHA1 bph genes have a higher degree of homology with the tod genes from Pseudomonas putida F1 (49 to 79%) than with the bph genes of Pseudomonas sp. strains KF707 and KKS102 (30 to 65%). In Escherichia coli, bphA gene activity was not observed even when expression vectors were used. The activities of bphB and bphC, however, were confirmed by observing the transformation of biphenyl to a meta-cleavage compound with the aid of benzene dioxygenase activity that complemented the bphA gene activity (S. Irie, S. Doi, T. Yorifuji, M. Takagi, and K. Yano, J. Bacteriol. 169:5174-5179, 1987). The expected products of the cloned bph genes, except bphA3, were observed in E. coli in an in vitro transcription-translation system. Insertion mutations of bphA1 and bphC of Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1 were constructed by gene replacement with cloned gene fragments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Renal lesion of type Ia glycogen storage disease: the glomerular size and renal localization of apolipoprotein.

In order to investigate the glomerular size and renal localization of apolipoprotein in type Ia glycogen storage disease, a renal biopsy was performed in two proteinuric patients. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimens revealed focal sclerotic glomerular sclerosis in both patients. The mean glomerular area was 21.6 +/- 11.6 x 10(3) microns 2, indicating enlargement of the glomeruli. Immunohistochemical staining of the specimens for apolipoprotein showed localization of apolipoprotein AI on the inner side of the glomerular capillary wall, and in proximal tubular epithelial cells. In one patient with a history of several episodes of hypoglycemia, treatment with corn starch improved the carbohydrate and lipid metabolic profile and reduced the daily urinary protein excretion from 2.23 to 0.5 g. These results suggest that focal sclerotic glomerular lesions associated with type Ia glycogen storage disease may be related to disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Nucleotide sequencing of phenylalanine dehydrogenase gene from Bacillus badius IAM 11059.

The nucleotide sequence of the pdh gene coding for PheDH from Bacillus badius IAM 11059 was analyzed. The gene consists of an ORF of 1140 nucleotides which specifies a protein of 380 codons. The primary structure of PheDH is similar to PheDH from B. sphaericus, PheDH from Themoactinomyces intermedius, and leucine dehydrogenase from B. stearothemophilus, etc.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1995

The secular trend in the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage in Miyagi, Japan: 1979-1990.

Since 1978, a stroke registry has been carried out in Miyagi Prefecture (2.2 million in population), Japan. Approximately 2,000 cases of stroke were annually registered through 16 hospitals which have cerebrovascular disease units. The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage was 17.4 per 100,000 population in 1990. The incidence increased gradually during early 1980's and reached plateau during late 1980's. Further, the trend in the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage is compared with those in other communities in other countries as well as Japan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

A comparison of temporal muscle transfer and lid loading in the treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos.

Temporal muscle transfer (n = 78) and lid loading with a gold plate (n = 52) were compared in the treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos. Three sizes of gold plate (1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 g) were used. Lid loading was inferior to temporal muscle transfer in improving functional ability to close the eye, but it did protect the cornea from irritation. There were no significant differences among the sizes of plate, but there was most relief from corneal irritation when the 1.4 g gold plate was used. The plate had to be removed in 25% of the patients, but this did not make the condition worse than before lid loading. Lid loading has the advantage that patients can close their eyes without conscious effort. We therefore recommend lid loading as the first choice for correction of paralytic lagophthalmos, and that temporal muscle transfer should be undertaken after plate removal in only those patients for whom lid loading has not given a satisfactory result.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[A case of palatal polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma].

We present a 58-year-old male patient with bilateral cheek swelling and an extraorally protruding tumor who has had deaf mutism since birth. He underwent surgery of the right hard palate 11 years ago. Five years later biopsy was performed for a recurrent lesion diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma. He refused additional treatment and the size of the tumor subsequently increased slowly. As rapid tumor-growth had been observed since autumn of 1992, he was referred to Tokyo University Hospital. We took meticulous care of this deaf-mute patient, especially from the psychological aspect, which caused him to place great reliance upon us. We performed bilateral maxillectomy with partial resection of the right cheek skin and reconstructed his face and palate successfully using both latissmus dorsi and serratus anterior musculocutaneous free flaps with a rib. Histopathological diagnosis of the tumor was polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma, which was registered as a definite entity in the WHO Classification in 1991. There was no evidence of local recurrence or metastasis one year postoperatively.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[Observation of retinal vasculature in experimental renal hypertension rat using bis-benzimide].

The retinal vessels of experimental renal hypertensive rats (RHRS), spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRS), and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYS) were studied using bis-benzimide vital staining. In the bis-benzimide stained flat retinal preparations (B-FRP) of SHRS, it was only observed that the endothelial nuclei were elongated and their arrangement was irregular. In B-FRPS of RHRS, the arrangement was more irregular and the nuclei disappeared at the point where the caliber irregularity was marked. The nuclei of smooth muscle cells, which were arranged circumferentially, and the perivascular tissues were clearly identified. This finding suggests that hyperpermeability or disruption of the blood-retinal barrier did not occur in the mild hypertension but in the severe hypertension. The retinal vessels of RHRS in the regressive stage also showed seved the same kinds of findings in electron microscopy.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Tubulointerstitial nephropathy secondary to collagen-vascular diseases].

Although collagen-vascular diseases mainly affect glomeruli and vessels, tubulointerstitial (TI) involvements as well, are frequently demonstrated histologically. In renal biopsy specimens from patients with lupus erythematosus, tubular atrophy, mononuclear (MN) cell infiltration into the interstitium and interstitial fibrosis are demonstrated in nearly 50% of cases. Immunoglobulins and complement components are sometimes deposited along tubular basement membrane, suggesting an immune-complex mediated mechanism. Infiltrating cells are mainly T cells, but the surface marker studies are not conclusive as to the subset of T cells responsible for the inflammation. As for Sjögren syndrome, TI changes and renal tubular acidosis are the prominent features of the disease. MN cell infiltration in the renal interstitium is also reported in patients with systemic vasculitis.

Collagen Diseases↗
PubMed1995

Relation between parathyroid hormone and cardiac function in long-term hemodialysis patients.

Radionuclide ventriculographic and echocardiographic assessments of left ventricular cardiac function were studied in 46 long-term maintenance hemodialysis patients, and comparison of cardiac function pre- and post-parathyroidectomy in 10 hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism was investigated. In long-term hemodialysis patients, impairment of cardiac function was observed in 80.4%. In an overall study of 46 patients, no correlation between intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was observed, but a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation was observed in patients with an iPTh blood level over 200 pg/ml. A negative correlation between fractional fiber shortening and an iPTh level over 200 pg/ml was observed (p < 0.05). There was neither a correlation between the iPTH level and left ventricular (LV) mass, nor was there a correlation between the iPTH level and wall thickness. After parathyroidectomy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardiothoracic ratio, LVEF, and LV mass decreased significantly (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was detected in cardiac thickness. In summary, the present data suggest that high levels over 200 pg/ml of the iPTH in long-term hemodialysis patients adversely affect the myocardial function, induce cardiac hypertrophy and cause high arterial blood pressure. After parathyroidectomy, the cardiac function improved with a reduction of cardiac mass and an improvement of cardiac contraction.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Augmentation of coronary responsiveness to serotonin at the site of X-ray-induced intimal thickening in miniature pigs.

OBJECTIVE: X-irradiation is known to enhance atherosclerotic change. We tested whether coronary vasoconstrictor responses are augmented at the sites of X-ray-induced intimal thickening in Göttingen miniature pigs. METHODS: In 17 pigs, a major branch of the left coronary artery was denuded with a balloon catheter. In 10 pigs, the denuded portion of the left coronary artery was selectively irradiated with 15 Gy of X-rays twice at 3 and 4 months after denudation (group 1). The remaining 7 pigs were not irradiated (group 2). The effects of intracoronary administration of serotonin, histamine and phenylephrine on the coronary diameter were studied 3 (3M) and 5 months (5M) after denudation. After the angiographical study at 5M, the vessels were isolated and isometric tension was measured in an organ chamber. RESULTS: The percent reduction in coronary diameter evoked with 10 micrograms.kg-1 of serotonin increased from 39(s.e.m. 4)% before X-irradiation (3M) to 75(6)% after X-irradiation (5M) in group 1 (P < 0.01), while it did not differ in group 2 [39(6)% at 3M vs. 33(8)% at 5M[ [39(6)% at 3M vs. 33(8)% at 5M]. In group 1, serotonin-induced coronary constriction was frequently accompanied by ischemic ECG changes. Histamine (10 micrograms.kg-1)-induced vasoconstriction was also augmented but to a smaller degree [47(6)% at 3M vs. 62(4)% at 5M; P < 0.05] in group 1, while it remained unchanged in group 2[52(5)% at 3M vs. 44(7)% at 5M]. Phenylephrine did not cause detectable contraction in either group at 3M or 5M. Methysergide and ketanserin attenuated serotonin-induced hypercontraction in a dose-dependent fashion. In the in vitro studies, endothelium-dependent relaxation to serotonin was impaired at the denuded site with (group 1) and without (group 2) X-irradiation to a similar extent. Isometric tension of medial smooth muscle developed by serotonin was significantly greater at the denuded site with X-irradiation (group 1) than the control site and the denuded site without X-irradiation (group 2) (P < 0.05). Intimal thickening was significantly greater at the denuded sites with X-irradiation [group 1, 238(45) microns] than at the denuded sites without X-irradiation [group 2, 58(5) microns] (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that X-irradiation augments the coronary vasoconstrictor responses to autacoids, predominantly to serotonin, and that this augmentation is accompanied by enhanced intimal thickening. Serotonin-induced hypercontraction after X-irradiation resulted mainly from the hyperreactivity of medial smooth muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[A case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with peripheral neuropathy and autonomic symptoms].

We report a 28-year-old man with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with peripheral neuropathy and autonomic symptoms. Muscle biopsy from the quadriceps femoris muscle showed myopathic changes with ragged-red fibers and abnormal mitochondria. He experienced recurrent and acute weakness in his bilateral lower limbs. Needle electromyogram revealed neurogenic changes, and the amplitude of muscle action potential was low in the right posterior tibial nerve. Sural nerve biopsy showed a marked loss of both large and small myelinated fibers, and moderate to severe axonal degeneration was diagnosed. He experienced autonomic symptoms (nausea, constipation, hypoidosis and urinary retention) along with the weakness in his lower limbs which is considered to be a very rare situation. We hypothesized that autonomic symptoms in this case were due to the axonal degeneration that included unmyelinated fibers.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1995

[Histopathological assessment of renal biopsy specimens of subjects with urine abnormality].

Between April 1985 and April 1992, 25,672 men (age 47 +/- 9 years, mean +/- SD) and 9,791 women (48 +/- 9 years) underwent mass urinalysis in the Center for Adult Complete Physical Examination in our hospital. The results revealed proteinuria in 6.3% of the men and 4.4% of the women and hematuria in 17.4% of the men and 37.8% of the women. Thirty-five subjects with asymptomatic persistent proteinuria and/or hematuria identified as a result of follow-up testing by the nephrologists at our hospital underwent renal biopsy. All of the biopsy specimens obtained were examined by light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy. Histopathological findings in the biopsy specimens from these 35 subjects were as follows: One case (3%) of chronic pyelonephritis, 11 cases (31%) of IgA nephropathy, 4 cases (11%) of IgA nephropathy (severe type), 5 cases (14%) of membranous nephropathy, 4 cases (11%) of thin basement membrane disease (TMD), 7 cases (28%) of benign nephrosclerosis and 3 cases (9%) of minor glomerular abnormality. Light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy for histopathological assessment of renal specimens, especially for the diagnosis of TDM, which was not uncommon, were indispensable tools in our study. Moreover, it is essential for proteinuria and hematuria to be tested simultaneously using the same standard method in all the urine specimens collected.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[A case of spinal astrocytoma presenting spinal transverse sign due to hematomyelia].

An unusual case of cervical astrocytoma due to hematomyelia was reported. A 68-year-old man was admitted to our institute because of sudden onset of paraplegia and urinary and bowel disturbance. CT and plain X ray on admission showed no abnormal findings, but emergency MRI revealed a high signal intensity area in Th 8-9 level on T1 weighted image. Preoperative diagnosis was idiopathic hematomyelia and emergency laminectomy was performed. After the dural incision from Th 8-10, the intramedullary hematoma was totally removed, but at the cephalic portion within the hematoma cavity an abnormal tumorous tissue was detected. It was noticed with the bleeding sauce of hematomyelia, and it, too, was totally removed. The microscopic finding concerning the surgical specimen was fibrillary astrocytoma (grade 2), and its vascular component was relatively rich.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Free vascularized double muscle transplantation for the treatment of facial paralysis.

Two cases of free neurovascular double muscle transplantation for facial paralysis are reported, with detailed descriptions of the operative technique and follow-up study. The latissimus dorsi muscle segment is placed between the nasolabial fold and the zygoma to substitute for the zygomatic and levator labii muscles, while the serratus anterior muscle segment is placed between the lower lip and the mandibular margin to substitute for the depressor labii muscles. The thoracodorsal nerve is sutured to the stump of the cross-face nerve graft, and the lateral thoracic nerve is sutured to a part of the hypoglossal nerve. The procedure is able to restore a relatively symmetrical smile, especially in patients with a full denture smile. The satisfactory results of this procedure are expected to lead to new prospects in the treatment of facial paralysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[A case of facial diplegia in associated with reactivation of herpes simplex virus type I].

A 27-year-old Japanese man developed right peripheral facial palsy after suffering from a cold and low-grade fever for 7 days. Left peripheral palsy developed 4 days later. When he visited our hospital 3 days after that, neurological examination revealed no abnormalities except peripheral facial diplegia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was normal on admission and on hospital day 12. On admission, the patient had a transient increase of serum titers of HSV type I IgM (fluorescence assay). Then, serum titers of HSV type I IgG (ELISA) continuously increased. A diagnosis of peripheral facial diplegia due to reactivation of HSV type I was made clinically and serologically. Steroid pulse therapy was performed and his facial diplegia disappeared completely after 2 weeks. This case may support the hypothesis of virus etiology of Bell's palsy, and HSV type I should be considered as one of the possible causes of facial diplegia.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The present status and problems of phase III clinical trials of the new anti tumor drug-pharmaceutical company's view].

Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. obtained the Japanese manufacturing approval of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT.-11) in January 1994, which was developed through the collaboration with Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. Prior to the approval, the manufacturer submitted to the Japanese MHW the draft protocols for phase III studies of the drug required to be conducted after its approval under the Guidelines for the Clinical Evaluation of Anti-tumor Drugs, which was promulgated in February 1991. As these studies were to be conducted as part of post-marketing surveillance, the manufacturer encountered various types of questions and complicated problems in designing the studies. Thus, the present report describes the pharmaceutical company's view on the present status and problems of phase III studies of novel anti-tumor drugs in Japan.

Antineoplastic Agents↗