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Biomedical subjects

E Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to E Watanabe.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[A case of ALL complicated with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst caused by L-asparaginase ].

We reported a case of ALL complicated with acute pancreatitis caused by L-asparaginase (L-Asp). The patient was a 42-year-old man, who showed eosinophilia in peripheral blood and an increase of lymphoblast in bone marrow. He was diagnosed as ALL (L2) and treated by JALSG '87 protocol. Remission induction chemotherapy including L-Asp was administered by 5,000 IU i.v. for 10 days. The day after giving all dose of L-Asp, slight epigastralgia developed and then became severe. After two days, s-amylase was markedly elevated, and the patient was diagnosed as acute pancreatitis caused by L-Asp. He was treated conservatively, but hyperglycemia occurred. The epigastrial tumor was palpable and gradually grew in size. CT-scan and abdominal ultrasonography revealed pancreatic pseudocyst, so he was treated by percutaneous cyst drainage. The patient died of a relapse of ALL. The prophylaxis and early diagnosis of the pancreatitis and hyperglycemia caused by L-Asp are very difficult. We have to examine more cases and pay greater attention to the chemotherapy, including L-Asp.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

cDNAs and deduced amino acid sequences of subunits in the binding component of mouse bactericidal factor, Ra-reactive factor: similarity to mannose-binding proteins.

The complement-dependent bactericidal factor, Ra-reactive factor, binds specifically to Ra polysaccharide, which is common to some strains of Gram-negative enterobacteria, and its is a complex of proteins composed of a polysaccharide-binding component and a component that is presumably responsible for the complement activation. The former component consists of two different 28-kDa polypeptides, P28a and P28b. We determined the partial amino acid sequences of P28a and P28b, and the results indicated that these polypeptides were similar to two species of mannose-binding protein, MBP-C and MBP-A (alternative names, liver and serum mannan-binding proteins, respectively), which have been isolated from rat liver and/or serum [Drickamer, K., Dordal, M. S., & Reynolds, L. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 6878-6887; Oka, S., Itoh, N., Kawasaki, T., & Yamashina, I. (1987) J. Biochem. 101, 135-144]. Thus, we cloned the respective cDNAs, using as probes synthetic oligonucleotides for which the sequences had been deduced from the amino acid sequences of P28a and P28b and of rat MBP cDNAs. The primary structures of P28a and P28b deduced from the cloned cDNAs are homologous to one another. They have three domains, a short NH2-terminal domain, a collagen-like domain, and a domain homologous to regions of some carbohydrate-binding proteins, as has been reported for rat MBPs. Southern and Northern blotting analyses using these cDNAs indicated that the P28a and P28b polypeptides are the products of two unique mouse genes which are expressed in hepatic cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

ATPase activity of SopA, a protein essential for active partitioning of F plasmid.

The sopA, B, C genes of the F plasmid play an essential role in plasmid partitioning during cell division in Escherichia coli. In this paper, the products of the sopA and sopB genes were isolated and their biochemical activities studied. [alpha-32P]ATP was cross-linked to the SopA protein by UV irradiation; this cross-linking was observed only in the presence of magnesium ion, and was competitively inhibited in the presence of non-radioactive ATP, ADP and dATP, but not other NTPs or dNTPs. In contrast, no ATP binding activity was detected for the SopB protein. The SopA protein showed a modest magnesium ion-dependent ATPase activity and this activity was stimulated in the presence of DNA. The ATPase activity in the presence of DNA was further stimulated by addition of the SopB protein. However, the SopB protein alone failed to stimulate the ATPase activity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

Neosporosis in the aborted fetus and newborn calf.

Protozoal encephalitic lesions were found in four aborted fetuses and one dead newborn calf. The organism was identified as Neospora caninum by immunoperoxidase. The brain lesions were of two forms. One was observed in three fetuses of 5 months gestation and was characterized by multifocal necrosis. The other was found in a 7-month fetus and in a newborn calf, and showed severe infiltration with macrophages and plasma cells containing IgG. This association, between the age of fetus and inflammation, may reflect development of the immune system in bovine fetuses.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1991

Biosensor system for continuous flow determination of enzyme activities. II. Simultaneous determination of plural enzyme activities.

A biosensor system for continuous flow determination of plural enzyme activities was prepared from the combination of two pyruvate sensors, a prereactor and a flow cell. This system was applied to the simultaneous determination of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in the same sample. These enzyme activities can be determined by measuring pyruvate produced by the enzyme reactions as follows. The amount of pyruvic acid can also be determined from the amount of oxygen consumed upon oxidation of pyruvic acid by pyruvate oxidase. (Formula: see text). Therefore, both of the detectors for the determination of lactic dehydrogenase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities were prepared from the combination of a pyruvate oxidase membrane and an oxygen electrode. Pyruvate oxidase was covalently immobilized on a membrane prepared from cellulose triacetate. A linear relation was obtained between the output current and LDH or GPT activities in the range of 50 to 3,600 IU l-1 or 6 to 1,000 IU l-1, respectively. Each assay of these enzyme activities was completed within 15 min. The results obtained had a precision of ca. 4%. The sensor was stable for more than 25 days at 5 degrees C.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1991

Microbial sensor system for nondestructive evaluation of fish meat quality.

A microbial sensor system consisting of the bacterium (Alteromonas putrefaciens) immobilized within membranes, a flow cell, an oxygen electrode, peristaltic pumps, a buffer tank, a thermostatically controlled bath and a recorder, was constructed for the nondestructive quality evaluation of bluefin tuna. The chemical compounds on fish meat surfaces which are the indicators of fish meat quality were rapidly determined by using the proposed sensor system. Fish meat quality was determined from the rate of current decrease of the sensor. Good correlations were obtained between fish meat quality and sensor response. One assay could be completed within one minute.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Delayed hearing loss after surgery for acoustic neurinomas: clinical and electrophysiological observations.

In a series of 26 patients with medium-sized and large acoustic neurinomas and documented hearing before surgery, 7 patients had preservation of hearing initially after the procedure but then developed delayed hearing loss. The most prominent intraoperative electrophysiological finding in these cases was a gradual deterioration of brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), especially of Wave V. Four additional patients with a similar gradual intraoperative loss of BAEP and severe postoperative hearing deterioration received vasoactive treatment after surgery (low-molecular weight dextran). In all 4 patients, including 1 patient with documented total deafness after surgery, hearing was preserved. Initial preservation of cochlear nerve function after the removal of an acoustic neurinoma does not guarantee postoperative hearing. Intraoperative BAEP help to identify patients at risk for delayed postoperative hearing loss. The pathophysiological mechanism can be attributed to disturbances of the microcirculation in endoneurial vasa nervorum caused by the mechanical manipulation of the cochlear nerve.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Open surgery assisted by the neuronavigator, a stereotactic, articulated, sensitive arm.

A new computed tomographic-stereotactic device that translates the operating point onto preoperative computed tomographic (CT) images, the Neuronavigator, has been developed. We have applied this system to various neurosurgical procedures to examine its usefulness. The system consists of a 6-joint sensing arm and a 16-bit personal computer. It projects the location of the arm tip onto a corresponding CT slice with a cursor that guides the surgeon toward the intracranial target during open surgery. The system also projects the location of the tip onto angiograms, and when used in conjunction with echography or a transcranial Doppler (TCD) flow meter, the surgeon's ability to navigate is enhanced. Sixty-eight patients underwent operation with the Neuronavigator. The navigation system worked as the core of a multimodal three-dimensional data base that proved to be useful during surgery. The maximum detection error was 2.5 mm, which was considered sufficient for open microsurgery. It also proved useful in designing the position of a craniotomy, in targeting deep-seated mass lesions, and in tracing the tumor edge, which had been identified on a CT scan. When the angiogram was combined with the navigator, it became easy to identify key vessels within a small operating field. The system was also combined with a TCD flow meter. This combination makes it possible to translate the measuring point of the TCD directly into CT coordinates, improving the precision of location of the TCD probe. The Neuronavigator combines various diagnostic images into one database and effectively guides the surgeon during surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Magnetoencephalographic studies on spike foci using a 37-channel biomagnetometer system].

We report the results of a clinical trial of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) on spike foci in patients with epilepsy, which was performed from December 1990 to June 1991 at The University of Tokyo Hospital. Fifty patients with focal epilepsy; 26 primary epilepsy, 24 secondary epilepsy (7 brain tumor, 4 arteriovenous malformation, 4 encephalitis, 3 porencephaly, 2 arachnoid cyst, 1 brain abscess, 1 hemimegaloencephaly, 1 Lance-Adams syndrome, 1 hygroma), and ten normal subjects were enrolled in this study. MEG data were recorded using a 37-channel biomagnetometer system SMI-1001 (BTi Magnes, Biomagnetic Technologies, Inc., San Diego). A simultaneous 19-channel EEG recording with linked-ear reference was also obtained. The overall study was completed safely and none of the normal subjects showed abnormal paroxysmal MEG activity. Two patients showed interictal EEG spikes which would not have been noticed without first noting the presence of corresponding prominent MEG spikes. On the whole, the MEG signal seemed to have a wider frequency bandwidth than EEG. In most cases, the source localization predicted by MEG corresponded well with the EEG findings. The relative accuracy of MEG spike source localization was estimated to be within a cubic centimeter from the cases which showed tightly clustered localization of individual spikes. High-pass filtering reduced interference by superimposed slow wave activity, thereby improving the localization of spike sources. These results demonstrate that 37-channel biomagnetometer system could be a useful tool for analyzing epileptic spike sources.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[The reduction in the local anesthetic dose required for a caudal epidural block in infants and children using a Teflon cannula].

We investigated the spread of mepivacaine mixed with a radio-opaque substance in caudal epidural anesthesia for hernioplasty in 37 patients aged from 3 months to 5 years. All patients were placed in the left lateral position. Conventional caudal epidural anesthesia was performed on one group of patients (Group C) using a 23 gauge needle (25 mm in length). This new method was also performed on another group (Group N) using a 23 gauge Teflon cannula (63 mm in length), which was introduced as close to the S1 segment as possible. The volume for 9 segmental anesthesia (7.0 +/- 2.3 ml) was determined by following Takino's formula: Volume (ml.segmental-1) = 0.067 x [body weight (kg)] + 0.06. The amount was injected from the S1 in Group N patients, and the cephalad spread of the anesthetic reached Th12.8 +/- 0.8 on left side, and L1.1 +/- 0.7 on right side. When the volume for 13 segmental anesthesia (11.5 +/- 2.8 ml) was injected in Group C patients, the cephalad spread of the anesthetic reached Th12.6 +/- 1.2 on the left side, and Th12.5 +/- 1.1 on the right side. In conclusion, we detected no significant difference between Group C and Group N in the cephalad spread of the anesthetic. The required dose of local anesthetic for caudal epidural anesthesia using the Teflon cannula was about two-third the volume of that used for the conventional local anesthetic method.

Anesthesia, Caudal↗
PubMed1991

[Three dimensional CT reconstruction system on a personal computer].

A new computer system to produce three dimensional surface image from CT scan has been invented. Although many similar systems have been already developed and reported, they are too expensive to be set up in routine clinical services because most of these systems are based on high power mini-computer systems. According to the opinion that a practical 3D-CT system should be used in daily clinical activities using only a personal computer, we have transplanted the 3D program into a personal computer working in MS-DOS (16-bit, 12 MHz). We added to the program a routine which simulates surgical dissection on the surface image. The time required to produce the surface image ranges from 40 to 90 seconds. To facilitate the simulation, we connected a 3D system with the neuronavigator. The navigator gives the position of the surgical simulation when the surgeon places the navigator tip on the patient's head thus simulating the surgical excision before the real dissection.

Brain↗
PubMed1990

Cell attachment to and neurite outgrowth on tissue sections of developing, mature and lesioned brain: the role of inhibitory factor(s) in the CNS white matter.

Chick neocortical cells were cultured on cryostat tissue sections of the brain. Cells preferentially attached to the gray matter of adult rat central nervous system (CNS) tissues. In contrast, they attached to any part of the brain when cultured on developing rat or mature frog brain tissues. Transection of fiber bundles at the superior cerebellar peduncle decussation of adult rat, which reportedly causes regeneration of cerebellofugal axons, made nearby white matter permissive to cell attachment. Superimposition of the gray matter of one section onto the white matter of another, converted the former into a nonpermissive substrate for cell attachment, evidence suggesting that preferential cell attachment to the gray matter of adult rat CNS is due to inhibitory factor(s) localized in the white matter. This inhibitory factor appears to be absent in frog brain and developing rat brain. These results taken together suggest possible involvement of this factor in the regulation of axonal elongation in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Weekly CHOP chemotherapy in the treatment of intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas--cooperative group study by seven institutes].

Between 1985 and 1988, 49 previously untreated patients with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LSG classification large cell 35 including 11 large cell immunoblastic by Working Formulation, medium-sized cell 7, mixed 7) were treated with the Weekly CHOP regimen (three successive weekly administration of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) as a cooperative group study by seven institutes (Nagoya Lymphoma Study Group). Complete remission was achieved in 63.3% with Weekly CHOP alone and finally in 79.6% after the addition of radiotherapy and/or combination chemotherapies including etoposide, methotrexate, procarbazine, bleomycin. Patients with T cell phenotype, high grade PS and the presence of bulky mass had significantly lower rates of CR. After a median follow-up 36 months Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that overall survival was 60.4%, disease-free survival 51.4% and relapse-free survival 64.6%. The major toxicities were alopecia, leukopenia, infection, neuropathy and gastrointestinal symptoms. No treatment-related deaths were observed. Survival was adversely affected by high LDH level, poor PS, T cell phenotype, the presence of B symptoms and the bulky mass. But these characteristics gave no significant effects on relapse rate and relapse-free survival. Thus, Weekly CHOP is an effective treatment for intermediate-grade NHL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Preferential adhesion of chick central neurons to the gray matter of the central nervous system.

Dissociated chick neocortical neurons were cultured on cryostat sections of the rat central nervous system. The neurons adhered to and grew on the gray matter of the tissue derived from various parts of the central nervous system (CNS), but were not seen on the white matter. However, cell attachment was seen on sciatic nerve. This preferred adhesion to and growth on the gray matter of the CNS was abolished by irradiation of ultraviolet light which is supposed to denaturate proteins without disturbing tissue architecture. These observations suggest that differential cell adhesion to the gray and white matter could be ascribable to localization of some adhesive molecule(s) in the gray matter or to localization of nonpermissive molecule(s) in the CNS gray matter.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Purification and characterization of the sopB gene product which is responsible for stable maintenance of mini-F plasmid.

The mini-F plasmid has the trans-acting sopA, sopB genes and the cis-acting sopC DNA which are essential for plasmid partitioning. In this paper, we report the purification of the sopB gene product from extracts of cells harboring a pBR322 derivative carrying the sopB gene. The purity of the final preparation was more than 95%, as determined by densitometry. The amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal region of the protein for the 17 residues identified was identical to that predicted from the DNA sequence of the sopB gene. Therefore, it was concluded that the protein was the sopB gene product. Using anti-SopB serum, the SopB protein was detected in the cell lysates of F+, F', and Hfr strains. The SopB protein bound to the plasmid DNA of a pBR322 derivative carrying the sopC DNA segment, but not to the vector plasmid pBR322.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Neurophysiologic monitoring in posterior fossa surgery. I. Technical principles, applicability and limitations.

In 135 cases of posterior fossa surgery almost exclusively in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) intraoperative monitoring of brain-stem acoustic evoked potentials (BAEP) and partly somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) was performed. The series consisted of 20 microvascular decompressions, 63 acoustic neurinomas, 7 vascular lesions and 45 other space occupying lesions, mostly in the CPA. BAEP monitoring alone was employed in 76 cases, combined BAEP and SEP monitoring less frequently. The technique of anaesthesia and intraoperative monitoring is presented in detail including an analysis of technical problems (17 in 135 = 13% of cases) and technical failures (11 of 135 = 8%). The results of monitoring brainstem pathways contralateral to the lesion are detailed. It is concluded that the technical principles of evoked potential monitoring in posterior fossa surgery are well established. The applications and limits of this technique including its modifications are described.

Cranial Fossa, Posterior↗