Biomedical subjects

H Endo

Publications and source records attributed to H Endo.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Acidic stimulation induces a negative regulatory factor that affects alternative exon selection in vitro in human ATP synthase gamma-subunit pre-mRNA.

Tissue-specific alternative RNA splicing in human F1gamma pre-mRNA produces muscle- and nonmuscle-type isoforms. Muscle-specific exclusion of exon 9 of the F1gamma gene is cell-specifically induced by acidic treatment of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 and rhabdomyosarcoma KYM-1 cells. We constructed an F1gamma minigene containing parts of exon 8, intron 8, and exon 9 of the human F1gamma gene and then analyzed a negative factor that inhibited inclusion of exon 9 via an in vitro splicing assay using acid-stimulated HT1080 cell nuclear extract. In vitro splicing of the F1gamma minigene, similarly to the beta-globin minigene used as a control, was observed in HeLa cell nuclear extract. Next, we performed supplemental experiments using HeLa and HT1080 cell nuclear extracts. The splicing reaction of the F1gamma minigene was specifically inhibited by supplementation with nuclear extract from acid-stimulated HT1080 cells, whereas that of human beta-globin was not inhibited. These results indicated that acidic stimulation induced a negative factor that blocked inclusion of alternatively spliced exon in the F1gamma minigene in vitro, and a regulatory factor acted in a sequence-specific manner for muscle-specific alternative splicing in F1gamma pre-mRNA.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of thin polymer films by X-ray reflectometry with synchrotron radiation.

X-ray reflectivity (XR) measurements with a synchrotron radiation source were carried out for thin polymer films on a glass plate. From the XR data, the film thickness and surface and interface roughnesses could be determined. In addition, the appropriate conditions and precision for measurements were also discussed. Kiessig fringes were observed clearly for specular XR measurements of poly(methylmethacrylate) thin film. Analysis of the XR data allowed the determination of the film thickness very precisely. By a curve-fitting procedure of the XR profile, the film-surface roughness and film-substrate interface roughnesses were determined. A Fourier transform of the XR data was performed as an alternative method of evaluating the film thickness. The values for the film thickness obtained by the curve-fitting procedure and Fourier-transform procedure were slightly different from each other. One possibility for the cause of this difference may be an integral error and/or cut-off effect in the Fourier-transform procedure. The XR technique with synchrotron radiation is a very powerful tool for structural characterization of thin polymer films.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Three-dimensional and ultrastructural ICAM-1 distribution in the choroid plexus, arachnoid membrane and dural sinus of inflammatory rats induced by LPS injection in the lateral ventricles.

To investigate immunological environment in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system, ultrastructural and three-dimensional localization of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was studied in the choroid plexus, arachnoid membrane and dural sinus of LPS-stimulated rats with immuno-SEM and TEM. The choroid plexus epithelial cells expressed rich ICAM-1 along the microvilli. The arachnoid trabeculae fibroblast-like cells demonstrated ICAM-1 expression on both sides facing the subarachnoid space moderately. The dural sinus endothelial cells, however, showed only few ICAM-1 expression and no specific localization. These results suggest that the choroid plexus and arachnoid membrane may play an important mutual role for leukocyte migration in the CSF system, and that the CSF system may function in immunoreaction independently of the vascular system with the aid of up-regulated ICAM-1 expression.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Temporal structure of implicit motor imagery in visual hand-shape discrimination as revealed by MEG.

We investigated the spatio-temporal brain activity on the time scale of several milliseconds related to the mental rotation task requiring judgements of hand orientation, using a whole-cortex MEG (magnetoencephalography) system. Neuronal activity in the visual cortex was observed approximately 100-200 ms from stimulus onset, and that in inferior parietal lobe followed (after 200 ms). Both of these activities showed a contralateral dominance to visual stimulus hemifield. Premotor activity started later than the inferior parietal lobe activity, and these activities partially overlapped. Activity in primary motor and/or motosensory areas was observed in some subjects. The whole-cortex neuromagnetic measurements provided the time course of activity in the human brain associated with the implicit motor imagery: visual cortex-->inferior parietal lobe<-->premotor cortex. This process is considered to be the transformation process of retinotopic locations into a body-centered reference frame necessary for the mental rotation task.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

MyoD is indispensable for muscle-specific alternative splicing in mouse mitochondrial ATP synthase gamma-subunit pre-mRNA.

Muscle-specific alternative RNA splicing is an essential step during myogenesis. In this paper, we report that a muscle-specific transcription factor, MyoD, plays a central role in the induction of muscle-specific alternative splicing during myogenesis. Recently, we reported that muscle and nonmuscle isoforms of the mitochondrial ATP synthase gamma-subunit (F1gamma) were generated by alternative splicing and that acidic stimulation promoted this muscle-specific alternative splicing (Endo, H., Matsuda, C., and Kagawa, Y. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 12488-12493). In this report, mouse myoblasts are shown to express the muscle-specific isoform of F1gamma after induction with low-serum medium (differentiation medium) or acidic medium, although myotube formation was not detected after acidic induction. RNA blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of both MEF2 and myogenin were increased by low-serum induction, but not by acidic induction. High expression of MyoD mRNA was observed after both types of induction. Overexpression of exogenous MyoD in fibroblasts showed that MyoD was necessary for muscle-specific alternative splicing in both types of induction. Exogenous Id, a negative regulator of MyoD, blocked muscle-specific alternative splicing of F1gamma pre-mRNA by both types of induction. In addition, MyoD induced several muscle-specific alternative splicings, including structural protein pre-mRNAs such as beta-tropomyosin and neural-cell adhesion molecule and transcriptional protein pre-mRNAs such as MEF2A and MEF2D. Our analysis of the two induction systems shows a common MyoD-dependent mechanism of muscle-specific alternative splicing in several genes, independent of MEF2 and myogenin.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1998

Circulating platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor increases in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is an angiogenic factor that is expressed in various cancer tissues. Little is known regarding plasma PD-ECGF levels in patients with chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis (CH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis. The expression of PD-ECGF in HCC tissues also remains to be clarified. METHODS: Plasma PD-ECGF levels in patients with chronic liver disease were determined with an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay system using the mouse monoclonal antibodies specific to PD-ECGF. These were cross-sectionally compared among groups of normal persons, CH, cirrhosis, and HCC patients. The HCC patients were classified into two groups based on TNM stage: early and advanced stage disease groups. PD-ECGF expressions in HCC tissues were immunohistologically examined. RESULTS: The plasma PD-ECGF levels from the normal individuals and those with CH, cirrhosis, and HCC specimens were 4.2+/-0.5, 4.3+/-0.6, 4.6+/-1.1, and 6.0 +/-2.5 U/mL, respectively. The plasma PD-ECGF concentration was highest in HCC (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found among the normal subjects, CH, and cirrhosis specimens. Plasma PD-ECGF concentrations were significantly higher in the advanced stage disease HCC group compared with the early stage disease group (6.75+/-2.62 U/mL vs. 4.19+/-0.34 U/mL) (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical expression of PD-ECGF in HCC cells increased significantly compared with normal liver cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating PD-ECGF plasma level might be a new tumor marker for progression in patients with HCC. Immunohistological findings correspond to elevation of the plasma PD-ECGF in HCC patients. It is possible that increased production of PD-ECGF in HCC cells causes abundant neovascularization.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Abnormal physiological conditions in acute schizophrenic patients on emergency admission: dehydration, hypokalemia, leukocytosis and elevated serum muscle enzymes.

This study investigated varieties and incidence of abnormal physiological conditions in acute schizophrenic patients on emergency. Laboratory data obtained prior to treatment from patients, admitted on an emergency basis during an 18-month period, were evaluated retrospectively, as well as demographics and clinical characteristics. Of 259 male acute schizophrenic patients (ICD-10: F2), 6.9% revealed dehydration, a third had hypokalemia and leukocytosis, and two thirds showed elevated serum muscle enzymes. These percentages were statistically significant compared with those of outpatients. In addition, the former three of these conditions in the F2 group were as frequent as those in alcohol and/or psychoactive substance abusers (ICD-10: F1) on emergency admission, although elevated serum muscle enzymes in the F2 group was less frequent than that in the F1 group. In order to prevent these abnormal physiological conditions from worsening and becoming life-threatening, one fourth of the F2 group [dehydration, 6.9%, severe hypokalemia (< 3.0 mEq/l), 2.3%, and markedly elevated serum muscle enzymes (creatine phosphokinase > 1000 IU/l), 16.5%] required medical management such as fluid therapy and various types of monitoring. In cases of a behavioral emergency, laboratory screening and monitoring of urinary output were essential. Due to their lack of cooperation, case history, physical examination, and initial vital signs did not contribute to detection of their medical condition.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1998

Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a possible tumor marker for metastasis in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is closely related to angiogenesis in various human cancers. However, little is known of its circulating levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined circulating VEGF levels in chronic liver disease to assess their clinical significance. Plasma VEGF concentrations were determined, by enzyme immunoassay, in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH; n = 36), liver cirrhosis (LC; n = 77), and HCC (n = 86) for a cross-sectional study. Plasma VEGF levels in healthy controls (n = 20) and CH, LC, and HCC patients were 17.7 +/- 5.4 (mean +/- SD), 30.6 +/- 22.8, 34.4 +/- 27.0, and 51.1 +/- 71.9 pg/ml, respectively. The levels were significantly elevated in the HCC group, compared with the control, CH, and LC groups. Plasma VEGF levels in stage I, II, III, IVA, and IVB HCC patients were 27.6 +/- 16.1, 26.5 +/- 13.7, 35.8 +/- 15.3, 45.4 +/- 39.4, and 103.1 +/- 123.2 pg/ml, respectively. The stage IVB patients with remote metastasis showed significantly marked elevation compared with the patients at the other stages. Platelet numbers were weakly correlated with plasma VEGF levels in the HCC group. Plasma VEGF level was highly elevated in patients with HCC, particularly those with metastatic disease. We consider that plasma VEGF is a possible tumor marker for metastasis of HCC. Circulating VEGF may be derived mainly from the large burden of tumor cells, and partly from platelets activated by the vascular invasion of HCC cells.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Juxta-adrenal cortical cell nests or nodular formation in the younger generation: what does it mean?

The number and size of juxta-adrenal cortical cell nests or nodular formation (JACN) and their histology were examined in autopsy material from 255 successive subjects of various ages (from fetuses to elderly patients). The study of number and size showed that JACN occurred significantly more frequently among subjects aged 0-year-old (0Y0) to 10Y0 (p < 0.01) than among other age groups. The study of numbers within each nodular size range (large nodular formations [LNF; nodules with a minor axis measuring 0.25 mm or more] and small nodular formations [SNF; smaller than LNF]) showed that the number of SNF and the SNF to LNF ratio decreased according to age, while the number of LNF remained relatively constant. Immunohistochemical examination of proliferating adrenal cortical cells using the mouse anti-human antibody MIB-1 demonstrated many positive cells in subjects with many JACN. No nodular proliferation of adrenocorticotrophic hormone positive cells occurred in the adenohypophysis. Fibrous thickening of the adrenal capsule increased gradually with age or medication. JACN was very frequently observed among subjects with conditions such as asplenic syndrome, acute lymphocytic leukemia and Down's syndrome. These data suggest that JACN might be an anatomic variant but that certain factors could increase the size and number of JACN after birth.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1998

Functional anatomy of gliding membrane muscles in the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).

In order to clarify the morphological adaptation for gliding behavior in the marsupial mammals, the gliding membrane muscles in the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) were observed. Unlike the styliform cartilage in flying squirrels, the sugar glider has a well-developed tibiocarpalis muscle in the most lateral area of the gliding membrane. The gliding membrane substantially consists of the humerodorsalis and tibioabdominalis muscle complex. We believe that the thick tibiocarpalis bundle and the humerodorsalis and tibioabdominalis muscle complex may serve as a membrane controller in the gliding behavior. A characteristic thin membranous structure between the cutaneous and deeper muscles was observed. In addition to the direct powerful control exerted by trunk and limb movement, we suggest that indirect power conduction by this thin membranous structure may contribute to gliding membrane control.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Clinical significance of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor in gastrointestinal cancer.

Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured in gastric and colorectal cancer patients using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Firstly, serum and plasma samples were collected from 20 normal controls to compare the values of VEGF and to determine which specimen type was most suitable for detecting circulating VEGF. Seventeen of 20 normal controls had plasma VEGF levels under the limit of detection (15 pg/ml) and the levels of the remaining three controls were 21, 22 and 38 pg/ml. In contrast, all serum samples indicated high levels of VEGF (mean 238 pg/ml), ranging from 44 to 450 pg/ml. In a time-course test of two normal controls serum VEGF values increased markedly between 30 and 60 min and remained high, whilst plasma VEGF values were low up to 480 min. Thus, plasma samples are more suitable for the measurement of circulating VEGF. Next, plasma VEGF levels were examined in 44 patients with gastric cancer (8 early, 7 advanced without remote metastasis and 29 metastatic), 13 with colorectal adenoma (2 with focal cancer) and 26 with colorectal carcinoma (8 advanced without metastasis and 18 metastatic) before treatment. An extremely high plasma concentration of VEGF was seen in some cancer patients with metastasis. To discriminate these patients, a cut-off level was determined, considering both the distribution of the sample concentration and the upper limit of 95% confidence area of VEGF in the cancer patients without metastasis. The cut-off value was 108 pg/ml and most cancer patients without metastases had VEGF levels below the cut-off value. In 11 of 29 metastatic gastric cancer patients (38%) and 9 of 18 metastatic colorectal cancer patients (50%), plasma VEGF levels were higher than the cut-off value. Survival was also analysed in the patients with metastasis. It was significantly longer in the patients with low VEGF levels (below the cut-off) than in those with high VEGF levels (logrank test, P = 0.042). 34 patients with metastasis (19 gastric cancer and 15 colorectal cancer) were treated with systemic chemotherapy, and their pretreatment levels of plasma VEGF and conventional tumour markers (CEA and CA19-9) were evaluated in relation to response. The response to chemotherapy was significantly higher in patients with low VEGF levels (< or = 108 pg/ml) than in those with high VEGF levels (P = 0.047). Such a difference was not observed with CEA/CA19-9. In conclusion, plasma VEGF is a useful marker for tumour metastasis and patient survival, and a possible predictive factor for the response of patients with gastrointestinal cancer to chemotherapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism with parathyroid carcinomas: clinical and molecular features.

OBJECTIVE: Familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism (FIHP) is a rare hereditary disorder. We present four patients from a single family with FIHP, and genetic analysis of their parathyroid adenomas and parathyroid carcinoma. DESIGN: DNA was extracted from tumours resected at surgery. Tumours were examined for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) with microsatellite polymorphic markers. PATIENTS: The 27-year-old proband (Patient 1) died of parathyroid carcinoma with metastases to the lungs and chest wall. Sixteen years later, his 34-year-old sister (Patient 2) presented with a neck tumour and primary hyperparathyroidism. Family screening revealed parathyroid tumours in his 36-year-old sister (Patient 3) and 29-year-old cousin (Patient 4). Histological examination of resected tumours showed parathyroid carcinoma and adenoma in Patient 2, a parathyroid adenoma in Patient 3, and an atypical parathyroid adenoma in Patient 4. Autopsy of the proband ruled out multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1, and the three patients who underwent parathyroidectomy did not exhibit any abnormalities in the pancreas or the pituitary gland. RESULTS: Analysis of tumour DNA from one parathyroid carcinoma (Patient 2), the atypical parathyroid adenoma (Patient 4), and two parathyroid adenomas (Patients 2 and 3) showed limited LOH on chromosomes 13q12.3-q32 in an adenoma of Patient 2 and 9p21-p22 and 13q12.3-q32 in an adenoma of Patient 3. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the possible contribution of tumour suppressor genes including the retinoblastoma gene and the hereditary breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA2) on 13q to parathyroid tumours in this family.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1998

A risk for obstruction of the airways in the parenteral use of levomepromazine with benzodiazepine.

Arrhythmogenic effects of phenothiazines appear to be associated with sudden death, whereas respiratory complications have received little attention. In this report we describe 5 cases with accompanying obstruction of the airways after intramuscular injections of levomepromazine (LPZ), a potent sedative phenothiazine, in combination with intravenous injections of benzodiazepine (BZ) during a 3-month period in a psychiatric intensive care unit. Two out of 5 cases were unpredictable because obstruction of the airways occurred 2 hours or more after the last injection. As compared with patients who received parenteral (intravenous or intramuscular) injections during the same period, the dose of intramuscular LPZ was significantly large in the 5 cases with obstruction of the airways. All 5 of these cases received intramuscular LPZ 0.52 mg/kg or more. In contrast, there was no patient with obstruction of the airways who received only intramuscular LPZ, the combination of LPZ and HDL, or BZ and HDL. The occurrence of obstruction of the airways among patients who received both intramuscular LPZ and intravenous BZ was significantly higher than among patients who received other drug regimes. These preliminary results suggest that the intramuscular use of LPZ with intravenous BZ may be a risk for obstruction of the airways.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Production and immunohistochemical characterization of monoclonal antibodies against ovarian antigen of the common tree shrew (Tupaia glis).

To study the ovarian function of the common tree shrew (Tupaia glis), monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against its ovarian antigen were produced. Several positive hybridomas were cloned and MAb-T2C9 (IgG) was examined for reactivity. Strong immunoreactivity of MAb-T2C9 was localized within the cytoplasm of luteal cells and in the theca interna cells of Graafian follicles. MAb-T2C9 reacted also with testicular interstitial cells and adrenocortical cells, except those of the zona glomerulosa. Similar reactions were seen in the goat and sheep. Western blotting analysis of the ovine corpus luteum after reaction with MAb-T2C9 revealed a single positive band of approximately 60 kDa. These findings suggest that MAb-T2C9 recognized protein molecules related to steroid synthesis.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMed1998

Histochemistry of complex carbohydrate in the major salivary glands of hoary bamboo rats (Rhizomys purinosus).

The major salivary glands (parotid glands, monostomatic sublingual glands and submandibular glands) were obtained from hoary bamboo rats (Rhizomys purinosus) and fixed in Bouin's solution. Paraffin sections were subjected to a battery of staining methods including lectin staining for demonstration of complex carbohydrates. Among the three major salivary glands, unique histochemical features were observed in the submandibular gland. Different from most myomorpha species, submandibular glands of the hoary bamboo rats have two types of secretory cells in the secretory endpieces. One type of cells showed positive reactions with Alcian blue (AB)(pH2.5), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and some lectins (peanuts agglutinin, Griffonia simplicifolia I, Maclura pomifera agglutinin). The granular ducts, which exist in animals belonging to suborder myomorpha, were not observed in the submandibular glands of this animal.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The guttural pouch is not present in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum); morphology of the eustachian tube and nasopharynx.

The nasopharynx and eustachian tube (auditory tube) were morphologically examined in the white rhinoceros. The narrow nasopharynx cavity was enlarged dorsoventrally. The most lateral part of both sides sharply rises in a dorsal direction and the volume is estimated at 173 cc. The eustachian tube is 145 mm in length from the auditory bulla to the nasopharynx. The hyaline cartilage is well-developed in the middle region of the eustachian tube wall. The results demonstrated that the white rhinoceros does not have a guttural pouch. We suggest that the occurrence of the guttural pouch may not be dependent on the phylogenetic status of perissodactyls such as horse, donkey and tapir.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Stimulative effect of high-level hypergravity on differentiated functions of osteoblast-like cells.

The exposure of freshly isolated osteoblasts and osteoblast-like cells to high-level hypergravity caused the inhibition of cell growth, elevation of cAMP content, and the stimulation of differentiated functions such as alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, and osteocalcin synthesis. Blockage of elevation of cAMP by SQ22536, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, resulted in the inhibition of the hypergravity-stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity, indicating that cAMP is the intracellular mediator of this action of hypergravity. H89, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), further inhibited the cell growth that was already inhibited by the hypergravity, and further stimulated the alkaline phosphatase activity that was already stimulated by hypergravity. If cAMP acts through the PKA system, H89 should have blocked the changes in cell function effected by the exposure to hypergravity. Therefore the elevated intracellular cAMP by the exposure of hypergravity caused the changes in cell function by a PKA-independent pathway.

Adenine↗

PubMed1998

An osteometrical study of the cranium and mandible of the lesser mouse deer (Chevrotain), Tragulus javanicus.

The lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) is one of the most primitive ruminants. Skulls of lesser mouse deer were measured to evaluate their growth. The age was estimated from the eruption and attrition of molars on the mandible. A total of 95 specimens was divided into five age groups, and the growth pattern in each sex was established for some measurements. The relative growth coefficients were calculated for the head and body length and several parts of the cranium and mandible against the profile length. Sexual dimorphism could not be found on the skull in any age group except for measurements related to the upper canine. However, females showed a higher value in head and body length in the oldest group. This feature was consistent with an interpretation of mouse deer society as monogamous. Growth was more rapid in length than in width. Various statistical analyses showed that the visceral cranium related to masticatory facility was much better developed than the neurocranium. However, observations on the shape of the mandible ramus and of the premolars implied that the masticatory function was not suitable for taking roughage. This speculation agreed with previous reports on the feeding habits and digestive organs of the mouse deer.

Age Determination by Teeth↗