Biomedical subjects

G Suzuki

Publications and source records attributed to G Suzuki.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Influence of thoracic radiotherapy on exhaled nitric oxide levels in patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: To determine the physiological role of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: We investigated changes in exhaled NO levels in 29 patients undergoing thoracic radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. The exhaled NO level was assessed using a chemiluminescence analyzer. RESULTS: The level of exhaled NO was higher in patients with lung cancer before treatment than in controls. With radiotherapy, the exhaled NO level decreased for patients undergoing 40 Gy irradiation and post-radiotherapy. However, five patients showed elevated levels of exhaled NO three times or more than that before radiotherapy. Three of these patients showed signs of radiation pneumonitis. However, none of the other patients showed signs of radiation pneumonitis (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy can lower exhaled levels of NO and the levels of exhaled NO may be a useful index for the early prediction of radiation pneumonitis.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Physical arrangement of retrotransposon-related repeats in centromeric regions of wheat.

Cereal centromeres commonly contain many repetitive sequences that are derived from Ty3/gypsy retrotransposon. FISH analysis using a large DNA insert library of wheat identified a 67-kb clone (R11H) that showed strong hybridization signals on the centromeres. The R11H clone contains Ty3/gypsy retrotransposon-related sequences; both integrase and CCS1 family sequences were identified. Subsequently, we isolated additional 23 large-insert clones which also contained the integrase and CCS1 sequences. Based on the number of the integrase repeats in the clones determined by DNA gel blot analysis, we concluded that the retrotransposon-like sequences are tandemly repeated in wheat centromeres in ca. 55-kb interval on average. This conclusion is consistent with the results of FISH analysis on the extended DNA fibers.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Radiological findings of accidental radiation injury of the fingers: a case report.

This case report describes the medical follow-up of a 46-y-old (at the time of exposure) man who in 1971 accidentally exposed the fingers of his right hand to gamma-ray radiation from an iridium source that was used for nondestructive testing [estimated radiation dose: 26 Gy to 90 Gy (2,600 rad to 9,000 rad)]. No prominent acute injury was detected except for leukocytopenia (800 mm(-3)) and thrombocytopenia (15,000 mm(-3)). Three years later, the first, second, and third fingers presented repeated infection and started to develop contracture. Twenty-two years after exposure, he underwent amputation of the first and second fingers, and a toe graft was done. Radiological examinations prior to and following the operation revealed atrophic change of the finger bones and arterial injuries. Angiographic findings coincided with the region and extent of radiation injury of the fingers, which indicates that arterial damage is involved in the development of this chronic disorder.

Angiography↗

PubMed2001

A pollen coat protein, SP11/SCR, determines the pollen S-specificity in the self-incompatibility of Brassica species.

Many flowering plants have evolved self-incompatibility (SI) systems to prevent inbreeding. In the Brassicaceae, SI is genetically controlled by a single polymorphic locus, termed the S-locus. Pollen rejection occurs when stigma and pollen share the same S-haplotype. Recognition of S-haplotype specificity has recently been shown to involve at least two S-locus genes, S-receptor kinase (SRK) and S-locus protein 11 or S-locus Cys-rich (SP11/SCR). SRK encodes a polymorphic membrane-spanning protein kinase, which is the sole female determinant of the S-haplotype specificity. SP11/SCR encodes a highly polymorphic Cys-rich small basic protein specifically expressed in the anther tapetum and in pollen. In cauliflower (B. oleracea), the gain-of-function approach has demonstrated that an allele of SP11/SCR encodes the male determinant of S-specificity. Here we examined the function of two alleles of SP11/SCR of B. rapa by the same approach and further established that SP11/SCR is the sole male determinant of SI in the genus Brassica sp. Our results also suggested that the 522-bp 5'-upstream region of the S9-SP11 gene used to drive the transgene contained all the regulatory elements required for the unique sporophytic/gametophytic expression observed for the native SP11 gene. Promoter deletion analyses suggested that the highly conserved 192-bp upstream region was sufficient for driving this unique expression. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the protein product of the SP11 transgene was present in the tapetum and pollen, and that in pollen of late developmental stages, the SP11 protein was mainly localized in the pollen coat, a finding consistent with its expected biological role.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

PubMed2001

BAC FISH analysis in Allium cepa.

Onion (Allium cepa L.; 1C=15,000 Mb) is an agriculturally important plant. The genome of onion has been extensively studied at the conventional cytogenetic level, but molecular analyses have lagged behind due to its large genome size. To overcome this bottleneck, a partial bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of onion was constructed. The average insert size of the BAC library was about 100 kb. A total of 48,000 clones, corresponding to 0.32 genome equivalent, were obtained. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) screening resulted in identification of BAC clones localized on centromeric, telomeric, or several limited interstitial chromosomal regions, although most of the clones hybridized with entire chromosomes. The partial BAC library proved to be a useful resource for molecular cytogenetic studies of onion, and should be useful for further mapping and sequencing studies of important genes of this plant. BAC FISH screening is a powerful method for identification of molecular cytogenetic markers in large-genome plants.

Centromere↗

PubMed2001

Identification and chromosomal location of tandemly repeated DNA sequences in Allium cepa.

A 314-bp tandemly repeated DNA sequence, named pAc074, was characterized in Allium cepa by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses using random amplified fragment as probe. The nucleotide sequences of the clone pAc074 is partially homologous to the satellite DNA sequences, ACSAT1, ACSAT2, and ACSAT3, of A. cepa with 81%, 81% and 78% similarity, respectively. Our sequential C-banding and FISH with pAc074 probe also clearly showed a close relation between Cheterochromatin at telomeric region and pAc074 sequences on all the chromosomes except on chromosome 6. On the long arm of chromosome 7, pAc074 sequences appeared as interstitial band which did not correspond to C-heterochromatin bands. Instead, the C-heterochromatin bands corresponded with the 5S rDNA signals. This is the first evidence of simultaneous banding of the 5S rDNA and C-band in A. cepa.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2001

OK-432 reduces mortality and bacterial translocation in irradiated and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-treated mice.

Bacterial translocation/Acute radiation syndrome/Endotoxin/G-CSF/OK-432 Acute radiation induces bacterial translocation from the gut, followed by systemic infection and sepsis. In order to reduce the mortality after acute whole body irradiation, it is essential to control bacterial translocation. In this study, we established a bacterial translocation assay as a sensitive method to detect minor mucosal injury by radiation. By utilizing this assay, we evaluated the adverse effects, if any, of hematopoietic reagents on the mucosal integrity in the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts. Bacterial translocation to the liver and spleen occurred after whole-body irradiation if the dose exceeded 6 Gy. The administration of G-CSF unexpectedly increased the bacterial translocation in 8 Gy-irradiated mice. The pharmaceutical preparation of low-virulent Streptococcus pyogenes, OK-432, significantly reduced the endotoxin levels in peripheral blood without any reduction of bacterial translocation. A combined treatment with G-CSF and OK-432 decreased bacterial translocation and prevented death. This result indicates that the early administration of G-CSF has an adverse effect on bacterial translocation, and that a combined treatment of G-CSF and OK-432 attenuates the adverse effect of G-CSF and improves the survival rate after acute irradiation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Initial symptoms of acute radiation syndrome in the JCO criticality accident in Tokai-mura.

A criticality accident occurred on September 30, 1999, at the uranium conversion plant in Tokai-mura (Tokai-village), Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. When the criticality occurred, three workers saw a "blue-white glow," and a radiation monitor alarm was sounded. They were severely exposed to neutron and gamma-ray irradiation, and subsequently developed acute radiation syndrome (ARS). One worker reported vomiting within minutes and loss of consciousness for 10-20 seconds. This worker also had diarrhea an hour after the exposure. The other worker started to vomit almost an hour after the exposure. The three workers, including their supervisor, who had no symptoms at the time, were brought to the National Mito Hospital by ambulance. Because of the detection of gamma-rays from their body surface by preliminary surveys and decreased numbers of lymphocytes in peripheral blood, they were transferred to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), which has been designated as a hospital responsible for radiation emergencies. Dose estimations for the three workers were performed by prodromal symptoms, serial changes of lymphocyte numbers, chromosomal analysis, and 24Na activity. The results obtained from these methods were fairly consistent. Most of the data, such as the dose rate of radiation, its distribution, and the quality needed to evaluate the average dose, were not available when the decision for hematopoitic stem cell transplantation had to be made. Therefore, prodromal symptoms may be important in making decisions for therapeutic strategies, such as stem-cell transplantation in heavily exposed victims.

Amylases↗

PubMed2001

Intraarterial corticosteroid infusion following radiotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma: feasibility and preliminary result.

To utilize the high lympholytic effect of corticosteroids with minimal systemic adverse effects, we used intraarterial corticosteroid infusion in the treatment of 8 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). One patient had recurrent PCNSL, while the other patients had primary disease. Following standard radiotherapy with or without some systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy, prednisolone (60-100 mg in total) or dexamethazone (12 mg in total) was rapidly infused through the carotid arteries in all patients and also through the left vertebral artery in 5 patients. No acute or late complications of this treatment were observed. All 8 patients achieved complete or partial response. Four patients died of the disease, while the other 4 were alive with (1 patient) or without (3 patients) disease at 8-37 months after treatment, giving a 2-year survival rate of 55%. Intraarterial administration of high-dose corticosteroids appears to be a feasible treatment modality. This method may be used in preradiotherapy setting to evaluate response of PCNSL in future studies.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2000

Highly divergent sequences of the pollen self-incompatibility (S) gene in class-I S haplotypes of Brassica campestris (syn. rapa) L.

Self-incompatibility (SI) enables flowering plants to discriminate between self- and non-self-pollen. In Brassica, SI is controlled by the highly polymorphic S locus. The recently identified male determinant, termed SP11 or SCR, is thought to be the ligand of S receptor kinase, the female determinant. To examine functional and evolutionary properties of SP11, we cloned 14 alleles from class-I S haplotypes of Brassica campestris and carried out sequence analyses. The sequences of mature SP11 proteins are highly divergent, except for the presence of conserved cysteines. The phylogenetic trees suggest possible co-evolution of the genes encoding the male and female determinants.

Alleles↗

PubMed2000

The S receptor kinase determines self-incompatibility in Brassica stigma.

The self-incompatibility possessed by Brassica is an intraspecific reproductive barrier by which the stigma rejects self-pollen but accepts non-self-pollen for fertilization. The molecular/biochemical bases of recognition and rejection have been intensively studied. Self-incompatibility in Brassica is sporophytically controlled by the polymorphic S locus. Two tightly linked polymorphic genes at the S locus, S receptor kinase gene (SRK) and S locus glycoprotein gene (SLG), are specifically expressed in the papillar cells of the stigma, and analyses of self-compatible lines of Brassica have suggested that together they control stigma function in self-incompatibility interactions. Here we show, by transforming self-incompatible plants of Brassica rapa with an SRK28 and an SLG28 transgene separately, that expression of SRK28 alone, but not SLG28 alone, conferred the ability to reject self (S28)-pollen on the transgenic plants. We also show that the ability of SRK28 to reject S28 pollen was enhanced by SLG28. We conclude that SRK alone determines S haplotype specificity of the stigma, and that SLG acts to promote a full manifestation of the self-incompatibility response.

Brassica↗

PubMed2000

The pollen determinant of self-incompatibility in Brassica campestris.

Many flowering plants possess self-incompatibility (SI) systems that prevent inbreeding. In Brassica, SI is controlled by a single polymorphic locus, the S locus. Two highly polymorphic S locus genes, SLG (S locus glycoprotein) and SRK (S receptor kinase), have been identified, both of which are expressed predominantly in the stigmatic papillar cell. We have shown recently that SRK is the determinant of the S haplotype specificity of the stigma. SRK is thought to serve as a receptor for a pollen ligand, which presumably is encoded by another polymorphic gene at the S locus. We previously have identified an S locus gene, SP11 (S locus protein 11), of the S(9) haplotype of Brassica campestris and proposed that it potentially encodes the pollen ligand. SP11 is a novel member of the PCP (pollen coat protein) family of proteins, some members of which have been shown to interact with SLG. In this work, we identified the SP11 gene from three additional S haplotypes and further characterized the gene. We found that (i) SP11 showed an S haplotype-specific sequence polymorphism; (ii) SP11 was located in the immediate flanking region of the SRK gene of the four S haplotypes examined; (iii) SP11 was expressed in the tapetum of the anther, a site consistent with sporophytic control of Brassica SI; and (iv) recombinant SP11 of the S(9) haplotype applied to papillar cells of S(9) stigmas, but not of S(8) stigmas, elicited SI response, resulting in inhibition of hydration of cross-pollen. All these results taken together strongly suggest that SP11 is the pollen S determinant in SI.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Effects of long-term therapy with bosentan on the progression of left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling in dogs with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the effects of long-term therapy with bosentan on the progression of LV dysfunction and remodeling in dogs with moderate HF. BACKGROUND: Acute intravenous administration of bosentan, a mixed endothelin-1 type A and type B receptor antagonist, was shown to improve left ventricular (LV) function in patients and dogs with heart failure (HF). METHODS: Left ventricular dysfunction was induced by multiple, sequential intracoronary microembolizations in 14 dogs. Embolizations were discontinued when LV ejection fraction (EF) was between 30% and 40%. Dogs were randomized to three months of therapy with bosentan (30 mg/kg twice daily, n = 7) or no therapy at all (control, n = 7). RESULTS: In untreated dogs, EF decreased from 35 +/- 1% before initiating therapy to 29 +/- 1% at the end of three months of therapy (p = 0.001), and LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) increased (EDV: 71 +/- 3 vs. 84 +/- 8 ml, p = 0.08; ESV: 46 +/- 2 vs. 60 +/- 6 ml, p = 0.03). By contrast, in dogs treated with bosentan, EF tended to increase from 34 +/- 2% before initiating therapy to 39 +/- 1% at the end of three months of therapy (p = 0.06), and EDV and ESV decreased (EDV: 75 +/- 3 vs. 71 +/- 4 ml, p = 0.05; ESV: 48 +/- 2 vs. 43 +/- 3 ml, p = 0.01). Furthermore, compared with untreated dogs, dogs treated with bosentan showed significantly less LV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and LV volume fraction of interstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with moderate HF, long-term therapy with bosentan prevents the progression of LV dysfunction and attenuates LV chamber remodeling. The findings support the use of mixed endothelin-1 receptor antagonists as adjuncts to the long-term treatment of HF.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Guidelines for irradiation of blood and blood components to prevent post-transfusion graft-vs.-host disease in Japan.

The Japanese Red Cross analysed the results of questionnaires sent in 1993 regarding post-transfusion graft-vs.-host disease (PT-GVHD) from hospitals; the majority of patients with PT-GVHD in 1993 were transfused for cardiovascular or cancer surgery, and about 10 patients had died yearly from PT-GVHD in the following few years. The Japan Society of Blood Transfusion (JSBT) organized a subcommittee for the prevention of PT-GVHD, and issued a fourth version of guidelines for the irradiation of blood to prevent PT-GVHD. These guidelines recommended transfusion of irradiated blood for cardiosurgery, cancer surgery, elderly recipients and severe trauma, as well as congenital immunodeficient recipients, newborn infants and other immunocompromised patients. Also recommended was irradiation not only of blood within 72 h after collection but also of blood stored for 14 days. Reported PT-GVHD has diminished to a few cases in recent years.

Blood↗

PubMed2000

Control of CD4 T cell fate by antigen re-stimulation with or without CTLA-4 engagement 24 h after priming.

After two consecutive inoculations with Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) at 24 h intervals in vivo, CD4 T cells became anergic to the antigen challenge in vitro. Administration of anti-CTLA-4 mAb in conjunction with the second SEB inoculation 24 h after antigen priming interfered with anergy and CD4 T cells became T(h)2 cells. However, the anergy induction was not ablated when SEB and anti-CTLA-4 mAb were administered 48 or 72 h after antigen priming. Moreover, anti-CTLA-4 mAb without SEB did not interfere with anergy nor promoted the T(h)2 differentiation. T-antigen-presenting cell (APC) interaction in vitro in the presence of high doses of antigen and anti-CTLA-4 mAb induced a T(h)2-polarizing cytokine IL-6 and IL-10. IL-10 then down-modulated a T(h)1-polarizing cytokine IL-12. The results demonstrate that 24 h after the initial antigen stimulation, CD4 T cells enter the critical activation phase where antigen re-stimulation with or without CTLA-4 engagement alters the fate of the cell, anergy or differentiation respectively. Once anergy is interfered with, T(h)2-polarizing cytokines produced upon prolonged T-APC interaction favor the T(h)2 differentiation.

Abatacept↗

PubMed2000

Effect of mometasone furoate by topical application on allergic rhinitis model in rats.

The effects of mometasone furoate on experimental allergic rhinitis in rats were studied in comparison with that of fluticasone propionate. Topical application of both drugs inhibited dose-dependently the increase of nasal symptoms (sneezing and nasal rubbing) after antigen challenge to the nasal cavity of actively sensitized rats. Mometasone furoate and fluticasone propionate at concentrations of 0.01 or 0.1% significantly inhibited both nasal rubbing and sneezing 1 h after topical application of both drugs. The relative potencies of mometasone furoate in nasal rubbing and sneezing compared to fluticasone propionate were 5.01 and 6.87, respectively. Mometasone furoate (0.02%) and fluticasone propionate (0.1%) significantly inhibited the increase of antigen-induced nasal rubbing even 6 h after topical application, indicating that both drugs have a long-lasting effect.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2000

[Intrathoracic neurofibroma originating in the left vagus nerve].

A 20-year-old man was admitted because of an abnormal mass shadow on chest X-ray film. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed a mass lesion in the superior portion of the left mediastinum. CT scans showed a well-defined mass with low density. Axial MRI rendered the mass lesion with intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The preoperative diagnosis was bronchogenic cyst. Video-assisted thoracic surgery revealed that the tumor originated in the truncus of the left vagus nerve. The resected tumor was 90 x 24 x 18 mm in size. The postoperative course was uneventful and hoarseness did not develop. The pathologic diagnosis was benign mediastinal neurofibroma without von Recklinghausen's disease. Such cases are extremely rare in the Japanese literature.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Transcriptional regulation of the gene for epidermal growth factor-like peptides in sea urchin embryos.

Exogastrula-inducing peptides (EGIPs), which are epidermal growth factor-related peptides of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina, are substances that elicit abnormal gastrulation (exogastrulation) during embryogenesis of the sea urchin. In the present study we have examined the regulation of the expression of the EGIP precursor gene (EGIP) in sea urchin embryos. Whole mount in situ hybridization showed that EGIP is zygotically expressed afterthe onset of gastrulation in subdomains of the embryonic and larval ectoderm. The expression is confined in early gastrulae to small ectodermal regions adjoining the vegetal plate, which progressively expand to almost the entire ectoderm except the oral hood and postoral tips of the arms in later stages. In adults the expression is restricted to the ovary. Zygotic EGIP expression is sensitive to dissociation of embryonic cells, as well as to disruption of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with 5-cis-hydroxyproline, suggesting requirements for interaction with neighboring cells and/or with the ECM. The expression of reporter genes (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase and green fluorescent protein) under the regulation of the 4.6 kb upstream region of EGIP is temporally and spatially similar to that of the endogenous gene, showing that EGIP expression is regulated at the transcription level during embryogenesis by the cis-elements within the 4.6 kb upstream region.

Animals↗