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Biomedical subjects

F Kurimoto

Publications and source records attributed to F Kurimoto.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Antibodies of IgM type against small cell lung carcinoma and 29 kD neuronal antigen of rat in a patient with paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy].

62-year old man who had small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) with subacute sensory neuropathy had an antibody (IgM) recognizing the antigen on peripheral nerves. The antibody in the serum recognized cell surface antigen on small cell carcinoma cell lines and also reacted with peripheral nerves simultaneously, but not with central nervous system. Two months before admission, he felt difficulty in walking because of paresthesias in the extremities. He was found to have a tumor shadow in chest X-ray, and was diagnosed as SCLC by biopsy of right supraclavicular lymph node. Western blot analysis demonstrated that auto-antibody (IgM) in the serum recognizing the antigen on the neuronal axon with single band at 29 kD. Pathogenesis of carcinomatous neuropathy is still unexplained, but the findings presented here have given rise to the possibility that anti-SCLC antibody may cross-react with neuronal antigen, primarily resulting in neuronal disorder.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Increased levels of blood platelet-activating factor in bronchial asthmatic patients with active symptoms.

Levels of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in blood from 12 bronchial asthmatic patients (six atopic and six nonatopic) were measured by radioimmunoassay after lipid extraction and separation by high-performance liquid chromatography. None of the patients were given disodium cromoglycate and prednisolone, and they were instructed to take only regular medications during the tests. Blood was drawn from the patients in a fasting state, and PAF levels were compared between the times when they were free of asthmatic symptoms and when they had mild spontaneous attacks. Ten (six atopic and four nonatopic) out of 12 patients, when they had the asthmatic attacks, showed higher levels of PAF than when they were free of the symptoms. Blood PAF levels of the patients with the active symptoms were significantly higher than those of normal healthy control subjects, suggesting that PAF may play a role in bronchial asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Does plasma immunoreactive ouabain originate from the adrenal gland?

It was reported recently that the endogenous digitalis-like factor ouabain may mainly originate from the adrenal gland. To ascertain the pathophysiological significance of endogenous ouabain and to examine if it originates in the adrenal gland, we determined plasma immunoreactive ouabain levels in patients with various cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. Plasma immunoreactive ouabain levels were also determined in the adrenal venous blood by adrenal venous sampling. Plasma immunoreactive ouabain levels were significantly increased in patients with essential hypertension, primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, acromegaly, and chronic renal failure. Plasma immunoreactive ouabain levels were decreased in patients with primary aldosteronism after unilateral adrenalectomy, acromegaly after pituitary adenomectomy, and chronic renal failure after hemodialysis. Plasma immunoreactive ouabain levels in patients after bilateral adrenalectomy were similar to those in healthy subjects. There was no significant step-up of immunoreactive ouabain levels in the adrenal vein from the peripheral vein in three patients, whereas one patient with hypertension and right adrenal tumor but without any known adrenal hormone excess showed higher plasma immunoreactive ouabain levels in the right adrenal vein than those in the peripheral vein. These results suggest an important pathophysiological significance of endogenous ouabain in various cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. It is unlikely that the adrenal gland is a major source of plasma ouabain, although a possible excess production of ouabain by the adrenal tumor remains to be elucidated.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Age-related increase in neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid in women.

In order to investigate the age-related changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of men and women, we examined the concentration of NPY-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in CSF of a large population of Japanese men and women by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). The dilution curve of CSF extract paralleled the standard curve of RIA for human NPY. Gel chromatographic studies revealed the presence of two peaks of NPY-LI, one emerging at the elution position of synthetic NPY and another emerging at a higher-molecular-weight position. NPY-LI in the CSF in 201 men (aged 17 to 69y) and 118 women (aged 17 to 69y) was 124 +/- 4 and 136 +/- 6 pg/ml (mean +/- SE), respectively. NPY-LI in the CSF of women, but not of men, increased significantly with aging. This finding suggests that the level of NPY with aging in the central nervous system (CNS) may be regulated somewhat differently in men and women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Galanin as a physiological neurotransmitter in hemodynamic control of arginine vasopressin release in rats.

Previous neuroanatomical studies have revealed a localization of galanin in several nuclei in the brain stem which are involved in the hemodynamic control of arginine vasopressin (AVP) release. The present study, therefore, investigates the contribution of endogenous galanin to the plasma volume-mediated control of AVP release in conscious rats. Injection of synthetic rat galanin (12.5-50 pmol/rat) into the cisterna magna (i.c.s.) suppressed plasma AVP increased by polyethylene glycol-induced hypovolemia (2.45 +/- 0.24 pg/ml at 50 pmol/rat vs. the vehicle group 5.72 +/- 0.69 pg/ml, p < 0.01). In contrast, when plasma AVP was suppressed by isotonic plasma volume expansion, immunoneutralization of endogenous galanin by antigalanin-antibody i.c.s. significantly reversed the suppression (1.02 +/- 0.07 pg/ml vs. vehicle group 0.63 +/- 0.05 pg/ml, p < 0.01) without altering the mean arterial blood pressure. These results suggest that endogenous galanin is physiologically involved in the plasma volume-mediated control of AVP release through an inhibitory action on this pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Serum level of soluble ICAM-1 in subjects with nasal allergy and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in nasal mucosa].

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been reported to be instrumental in airway eosinophils and airway hyperreactivity. In nasal mucosa, ICAM-1 molecule is observed on the endothelium, around the nasal gland and just below the epithelium. In this study, we investigated the gene expression of ICAM-1 in nasal mucosa and the serum level of soluble ICAM-1. In subjects with nasal allergy sensitized with house dust, a pair of house dust antigen discs were placed on the inferior nasal mucosa on one side, while control discs free of antigen were placed on the other side. After six hours, the inferior nasal mucosa were bilaterally obtained separately. By Southern blot analysis following a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, we detected ICAM-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nasal mucosa. Although the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA was already observed in the nasal mucosa without antigen challenge, it increased six hours after the challenge. The serum level of immunoreactive soluble ICAM-1 in the subjects with nasal allergy and normal subjects was evaluated by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum level of soluble ICAM-1 in the subjects with nasal allergy was 380.7 +/- 105.2 ng/ml. It was significantly higher than that of the normal control, which was 278.6 +/- 64.6 ng/ml. These results suggested that the increased expression of ICAM-1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of nasal allergy by facilitating the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils and their functional activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Analysis of abnormal alkaline phosphatase in patient with high alkaline phosphatasemia].

We describe here a 69-year-old male with high serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity who was showed high alkaline phosphatasemia. High ALP level, 112.4 K.A. was found in his serum. But, except for ALP, all other laboratory data including cancer markers were within normal range in this case. An electrophoretic pattern of patient ALP isozyme without neuroaminidase digestion showed liver-type ALP, but the ALP isozyme pattern with neuraminidase digestion from Vibrio Cholerae was identified as bone-type ALP. Moreover, the patient ALP reacted with anti-bone ALP MoAb. The apparent molecular size of patient ALP was 160kDa similar to bone ALP. Furthermore, we investigated the multiformity of the sugar chain(s) of patient ALP by serious lectin affinity chromatographies. From these results, the increase of multiantennary complex type and/or bisecting GlcNAc type sugar chain(s) of ALP was shown in patient serum. These results suggested that the patient might have a distant metastasis as in a case of carcinoembryonic antigen described previously. Besides, patient urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline was high level comparing normal adult urine. From detailed bone survey, the patient was observed the bone metastasis of cancer. Thus, the measurement of ALP sugar chain subfractions may be useful for diagnosis of patient with bone metastasis of cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Fluctuations in serum cytokine levels in the patient with cyclic neutropenia.

The fluctuations of the levels of serum cytokines in a patient with cyclic neutropenia were studied. The greatest fluctuation was found in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha level fluctuated inversely with fluctuation of G-CSF, and oscillation of interleukin (IL)-6 level preceded that in G-CSF level. It is likely that the variations of the levels of cytokines play a significant role in regulating hematopoiesis in cyclic neutropenia. Our results suggested that the stage of the granulocyte-committed stem cell is the major step of the defect, and the defect at the stage of the multipotent stem cell or bone marrow microenvironment was also suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Western ligand blot assay for human growth hormone-dependent insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-3): the serum levels in patients with classical growth hormone deficiency.

The insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGFs), important growth factors both in vivo and in vitro, are known to have at least six binding proteins (IGFBP-1-6). In human serum, IGFBP-3 is a major binding protein and is considered to be GH-IGF-I-dependent. We have established a Western Ligand Blot (WLB) assay for IGFBP-3. The method is a densitometric analysis of IGFBP-3 bands on a film of WLB. The IGFBP-3 levels of patients with classical growth hormone deficiency (GHD, 5 isolated and 10 multiple hormone deficiencies with appropriate therapy) were studied. Before puberty there is no overlap between control (n = 31) and the patients with GHD (n = 10). However, IGFBP-3 levels of two of five pubertal patients with GHD were within the normal range (n = 16). We think that measurement of serum IGFBP-3 is a useful diagnostic marker for GHD, especially before puberty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Measurement of urinary epidermal growth factor by radioimmunoassay and its application].

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a polypeptide hormone originally discovered in the mouse submaxillary gland, stimulates growth in a variety of tissues in several species. This hormone has recently been identified in human urine. Herein, radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human EGF (hEGF) has been developed, using human recombinant EGF as reference standard and radioiodinated tracer and antibodies raised against hEGF. Its sensitivity was somewhat higher than that of RIAs reported formerly. This method had no cross reactivity with high molecular weight EGF. Urinary concentrations of hEGF in normal males and females were 30.2 +/- 13.0 ng/mg creatinine and 46.4 +/- 17.4 ng/mg creatinine, respectively. Urinary concentration of hEGF in patients with renal cancer was somewhat low. The patients with bladder cancer had lower urinary excretion of hEGF than normal adults (p less than 0.05). However, the role of hEGF in health and disease remains to be determined.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effects of water-immersion-induced stress and intraperitoneal administration of brain-gut peptides upon immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone and prostaglandin E2 concentrations in the rat stomach.

The effects of water-immersion-induced stress and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of selected neuropeptides on the levels of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were studied in the rat stomach. Water-immersion caused a significant decrease immunoreactive-TRH (ir-TRH) concentrations in the stomach, and a significant increase in ir-TRH concentrations in the gastric juice. The concentrations of PGE2 were significantly increased at 0.5-4 hrs, and significantly decreased at 6-8 hrs after water-immersion. In the experiment of i.p. administration of selected neuropeptides, the level of ir-TRH in the stomach was significantly decreased after VIP injection, whereas it was significantly increased after beta-endorphin injection. The concentration of PGE2 was significantly decreased in the stomach after i.p. administration of TRH and VIP. However, it did not change after beta-endorphin injection. These results indicate that some neuropeptides may participate in regulating the endogenous level of PGE2 and that these interrelations between neuropeptides and PGE2 may be important as ulcerogenic factors in stress ulcers induced by water-immersion in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Plasma immunoreactive endothelin, but not thrombomodulin, is increased in patients with essential hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

To ascertain an involvement of vascular endothelial cells in cardiovascular disease, we have determined plasma levels of two endothelium-derived substances, endothelin (ET) and thrombomodulin (TM), in essential hypertension (EH) and ischemic heart disease. Plasma ET was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) after extraction. Plasma TM levels were determined by enzymunoimmunoassay. Plasma ET levels were significantly elevated in patients with EH involving target organ damage, vasospastic angina pectoris (VSA), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), especially in those associated with cardiogenic shock. There was a weak but significant correlation between plasma ET levels and serum creatinine concentration in patients with EH. Plasma ET levels were elevated even before the coronary spasm in patients with VSA, whereas they did not show any further increase during the spasm. In contrast, plasma TM levels in patients with EH and VSA did not show a significant difference from that in normal subjects. These results suggest that ET plays an important role in the pathophysiology of EH and ischemic heart disease, and also that increases in plasma ET cannot be simply attributed to a leakage of the peptide from the injured endothelial cells.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical study of epidermal growth factor in the urine of the patients with urological malignant tumor].

We measured epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the urine of 54 untreated patients with malignant tumors (7 prostatic cancer, 11 renal tumor, 31 bladder cancer, 3 renal pelvic tumor, 2 ureter tumor) in the Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University Hospital. We also measured EGF in the urine of 77 normal subjects (43 males, 34 females). Urinary concentration of EGF in normal subjects decreased with increasing age. It was significantly higher in females than males (p less than 0.05). Urinary concentration of EGF in patients with prostatic cancer or renal tumor was similar to that in normal subjects. The patients with prostatic cancer controlled by estrogen showed a slightly high level of EGF in the urine. In patients with renal tumor, urinary concentration of EGF decreased after nephrectomy. Patients with bladder cancer showed a significant decrease of EGF in the urine compared with normal subjects (p less than 0.05), and urinary concentration of EGF in the patients with bladder cancer of high stage was remarkably low. Low concentration of EGF in the urine was recognized in patients with renal pelvic tumor or ureter tumor. However, the relationship between the decrease of urinary concentration of EGF in these urothelial tumors and the growth of these tumors remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Elevated plasma atrial natriuretic peptide level in the early phase of microalbuminuria in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels were examined in 66 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and in 9 age-matched normal controls and 18 hypertensive controls. The diabetic patients were classified into three groups according to random urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR, mg/g or mg/88.4 nM); group 1 (normo-albuminuria, ACR less than 20, n = 34), group 2 (borderline microcalbuminuria, 20 less than or equal to ACR less than 100, n = 17) and group 3 (manifest microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria, 100 less than or equal to ACR less than 2000, n = 15). Plasma ANP levels (pg per ml) were significantly elevated in group 2 (46.0 +/- 19.0 SD) when compared with either normal controls (23.8 +/- 14.2), group 1 (28.9 +/- 15.6) or group 3 (26.0 +/- 12.9). This increase in plasma ANP levels was not related to hypertension. Furthermore, plasma ANP levels correlated positively with log(ACR) among the patients with ACR under 100 (groups 1 and 2 combined, r = 0.4701, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that an elevated plasma ANP level in the early phase of microalbuminuria possibly plays a pathophysiological role in the development of nephropathy in NIDDM patients.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1989

Radioimmunoassay for endothelin and immunoreactive endothelin in culture medium of bovine endothelial cells.

Using a synthetic 21-residue endothelin as antigen, we have produced an antiserum for endothelin and developed a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for endothelin. The minimum detection limit of the RIA was 1 pg/tube. Immunoreactive (ir-) endothelin was extracted from the culture medium by Bondelute C8 column. The ir-endothelin in the culture medium of endothelial cells (EC) from bovine pulmonary artery and carotid artery was 1.48 ng/ml and 3.31 ng/ml, respectively. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with the RIA revealed that ir-endothelin in the culture medium comprised one major component corresponding to synthetic endothelin. In addition, the cultured EC of bovine pulmonary artery were specifically stained by immunohistochemical technique. These results suggest that endothelin could be produced in the EC of the pulmonary and carotid arteries besides the aorta. The RIA presented in this study could be an useful tool to investigate the pathophysiologic significance of endothelin.

Animals↗