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Biomedical subjects

H Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to H Hashimoto.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Significance of stem cell factor and soluble KIT in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

To determine the significance of stem cell factor (SCF) and soluble KIT (sKIT) in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), levels of SCF and sKIT in patients with SLE were estimated, and their correlations with clinical parameters were examined. The sKIT levels in SLE patients (n = 106) were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (n = 40). A significant negative correlation was found between the SCF and sKIT levels of SLE patients. Although the SCF levels correlated with the titre of anti-RNP antibody, no significant relationship was found between SCF levels and blood cell counts, such as white blood cell, red blood cell and platelet counts. sKIT levels were significantly correlated with the platelet count, and were negatively correlated with the white blood cell count, titre of anti-DNA antibody, and SLE activity index (SLEDAI). sKIT levels were also negatively affected by high doses of corticosteroid. These results indicate that serum sKIT levels may be more closely related than SCF to the haematological abnormalities in SLE patients, and may reflect the clinical status of SLE patients and the effectiveness of high-dose corticosteroid treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Very low-dose cyclosporin treatment of steroid-resistant interstitial pneumonitis associated with Sjögren's syndrome.

Cyclosporin is known to be effective for both transplantation and a spectrum of immune-mediated diseases. Because this agent also causes severe adverse effects, especially nephrotoxicity, careful monitoring is required for the development of such reactions. Here we report the successful treatment with extremely low-dose cyclosporin (1 mg/kg/day) of a patient who had steroid-resistant interstitial pneumonitis and Sjögren's syndrome.

Cyclosporine↗
PubMed1998

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with fibrosarcomatous areas. Molecular abnormalities of the p53 pathway in fibrosarcomatous transformation of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Fibrosarcomatous (FS) change in a rare, but well-known phenomenon encountered in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), and an increased chance in an adverse outcome has been suggested in patients with DFSP having FS areas (DFSP-FS). As altered p53 pathway has been suggested as having a potential role in tumour progression, we analysed the p53 gene and p53 protein together with the p53-related protein mdm2 and p21Waf1 in 5 cases of DFSP-FS and 13 of DFSP to ascertain whether the p53 pathway correlates to the fibrosarcomatous transformation of DFSP. Three of the five DFSP-FSs overexpressed p53 protein immunohistochemically, and one of them had a "missense" mutation of the p53 gene without immunohistochemical overexpression of mdm2 or p21Waf1. The other two DFSP-FSs with p53 overexpression demonstrated increased labelling indices of both mdm2 and p21Waf1. The three DFSP-FS patients with overexpression of p53 protein had frequent local recurrences, ranging from 3 to 5 in number with increasingly short intervals (mean 4.5 years), while one of the other two had no recurrences and the other, only one. None of the 13 DFSPs showed any alterations in the p53 gene or overexpressions of p53, mdm2 and p21Waf1, except for one DFSP having a "silent" mutation of the p53 gene. Three DFSPs had local recurrences once or twice with longer intervals to recurrence (mean 10.3 years). Although the number of cases examined is limited, the results suggest that alterations in the p53 pathway, such as overexpression of p53 protein by a mutated gene and mdm2 overexpression, are involved in fibrosarcomatous transformation in a subset of fibrohistiocytic tumours and possibly correlated with its more locally aggressive behaviour than that without p53 alterations or ordinary DFSP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Role of curdlan sulfate in the production of beta-chemokines and interleukin-16.

The blocking effect of curdlan sulfate (CRDS) on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been thought to be related to inhibition of the binding of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and CD4 molecules. However, recent reports have indicated that blocking the binding of gp120 to CD4 by CRDS only makes a small contribution to the inhibition of HIV-1 infection. We report here that the effect of CRDS on the production of beta-chemokines and cytokines might be important in the inhibition of HIV-1 infection, in addition to interference with the binding of gp120 to CD4+ cells.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1998

Detection of SYT-SSX fusion transcripts in synovial sarcoma by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using archival paraffin-embedded tissues.

The reciprocal translocation t(X;18)(p11;q11) is known to be highly characteristic of synovial sarcoma, and its consequence, an SYT-SSX fusion gene, is expected to be a diagnostic molecular marker. In this study, we conducted a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based assay to detect the SYT-SSX fusion gene transcripts using archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from a series of 32 synovial sarcoma cases including 6 tumors found in unusual anatomical sites. The SYT-SSX fusion transcripts could be detected in 30 of 32 paraffin-embedded specimens (94%). A subsequent sequence analysis using the polymerase chain reaction products confirmed that the detected messages were derived from either the SYT-SSX1 (22 cases) or SYT-SSX2 (8 cases) fusion gene. Of 23 SYT-SSX-positive monophasic tumors, 16 tumors had an SYT-SSX1 fusion transcript. Fusion transcripts were detectable in all the 7 biphasic tumors analysed, one of which had an SYT-SSX2 fusion transcript. All of the six tumors at unusual locations (lung; 3, metastasis to the abdominal cavity from a tumor of retroperitoneal origin; 1, sacral region; 1, iliopsoas muscle; 1) contained detectable messages. Our results indicate that this molecular assay can be applied to archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues as a feasible and reliable molecular technique for the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Isolation and structural analyses of positional isomers of 6(1),6m-di-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-cyclomaltooctaose (m = 2-5) and 6-O-alpha-(n-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl- cyclomaltooctaose (n = 2, 3, 4, and 6).

Eight positional isomers of 6(1),6m-di-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-cyclomaltooctaose (gamma CD) (m = 2-5) and 6-O-alpha-(n-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-D-mannopyranosyl-gamma CD (n = 2, 3, 4, and 6) in a mixture of products from gamma CD and D-mannose by condensation reaction of alpha-mannosidase from jack bean were isolated by HPLC. The structures of four isomers of 6-O-alpha-(n-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-D-mannopyranosyl-gamma CD were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. On the other hand, four positional isomers of 6(1),6m-di-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-gamma CD were determined by LC-MS analysis of degree of polymerization of the branched oligosaccharides produced by enzymatic degradation with bacterial saccharifying alpha-amylase (BSA), and combination of BSA and glucoamylase. Similarly cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase also digested these isomers.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1998

Dural arteriovenous malformation of the anterior cranial fossa occurring after bifrontal craniotomy.

A case of dural arteriovenous malformation of the anterior cranial fossa developing after bifrontal craniotomy is reported. The nidus was fed mainly by the left anterior ethmoidal artery. It was drained into the right sylvian vein and superior ophthalmic vein with patency of the superior sagittal sinus. A left frontal hemorrhage resulted from the nidus itself. This is the first reported case of an acquired dural arteriovenous malformation of the anterior cranial fossa verified by angiography. This rare lesion is discussed with regard to its etiology.

Cerebral Angiography↗
PubMed1998

Recurrence with histological transformation 40 days after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) for cutaneous CD30-negative large T cell lymphoma.

Localized cutaneous nontender nodules appeared on the back of a 52-year-old Japanese woman. Skin biopsy revealed atypical large T-lymphocytes infiltrating the dermis. CD30 staining was negative in tumor cells. The diagnosis was CD30-negative cutaneous large T cell lymphoma. There was no evidence of peripheral lymphadenopathy or bone marrow involvement. Six cycles of induction chemotherapy were administered and a complete clinical remission (CCR) was attained. Local irradiation was not given. As the clinical course of CD30-negative cutaneous large T cell lymphoma is recurrent and often incurable with conventional chemoradiotherapy, she received high-dose chemotherapy without total body irradiation (TBI) followed by unpurged autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). A relapse in the skin followed 40 days after APBSCT, but tumor cells transformed into a CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). We question the need for TBI in conditioning and for purged stem cells for APBSCT in patients with high risk cutaneous lymphomas.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1998

1alpha,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (tacalcitol) is effective against Hailey-Hailey disease both in vivo and in vitro.

We report a case of Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) in which 1alpha, 24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (tacalcitol) was effective both clinically (in vivo) and in explant cultures (in vitro) of a skin lesion. The patient was a 65-year-old man with HHD lesions in the axillary and inguinal areas bilaterally. We applied ointment containing 1alpha, 24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (tacalcitol), an analogue of active vitamin D3, to the lesions and assessed its clinical effectiveness. The HHD lesions in both groins disappeared after treatment with the 1alpha, 24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ointment, and the remission has continued to the present. A punch biopsy specimen of the lesion that had remitted showed no acantholysis. In addition, dissociation of migrating keratinocytes was observed when biopsy specimens of the HHD skin lesion were cultured in medium without 1alpha,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3, but inhibition of keratinocyte dissociation was observed in medium containing it. These results suggest the effectiveness of 1alpha, 24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 against HHD both in vivo and in vitro.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour of the lung: report of two cases.

AIMS: We report two unusual cases of intrapulmonary small round cell tumour with evidence that they are primitive neuroectodermal tumours. METHODS AND RESULTS: The patients were a 25-year-old woman and a 15-year-old man, in whom mass shadows were found by routine chest radiography. Both tumours were located in the pulmonary parenchyma, and there was no evidence of an extrapulmonary involvement by the tumour. The lesions showed morphological and immunophenotypic features consistent with peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour (pPNET). These features included a hypercellular diffuse growth pattern of closely packed small round cells occasionally forming abortive Homer-Wright-type rosettes and intense immuroreactivities to neurone-specific enolase and MIC2 gene product (O13). Unusual chondroid foci were present in one of the cases. This diagnosis was further supported by the cytogenetic and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) findings of the characteristic t(11;22) chromosomal translocation and EWS/FLI-1 fusion transcripts, respectively, in one of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: These morphological and cytogenetic findings substantiate pPNET as a subtype of intrapulmonary small round cell tumours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Binding of HIV-2 envelope glycoprotein to CD8 molecules and related chemokine production.

We recently found that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2 envelope glycoprotein, but not that of HIV-1, could bind to CD4 and CD8 molecules on T cells, and that the binding site of HIV-2 envelope glycoprotein was located on the alpha-chain (but not the beta-chain) of CD8. This study showed that the binding of HIV-2 envelope glycoprotein could induce phosphorylation of protein tyrosine kinase p56lck in CD8+ T cells. We also found that production of beta-chemokines in response to HIV-2 envelope glycoprotein was significantly higher than that in response to HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, and that CD8+ T cells were the main source of beta-chemokines production among the T-cell population. These findings indicate the possibility that the binding of envelope glycoprotein to CD8 molecules are related to signal transduction into CD8+ T cells and the resultant beta-chemokine production in HIV-2 infection. Our results may help to explain the differences in disease manifestations between HIV-1 and HIV-2, including the lower virulence of HIV-2 and the longer survival of HIV-2-infected individuals.

CD8 Antigens↗
PubMed1998

Hepatoprotective effect of propagermanium on Corynebacterium parvum and lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in mice.

Propagermanium is an organic germanium compound with immunopotentiating activity. We examined the hepatoprotective effect of propagermanium and its mechanism in an experimental animal model of acute liver injury induced with Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Oral pretreatment with propagermanium decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in a dose-dependent manner. Significant attenuation of ALT and AST activity was obtained at a dose of 3 mg/kg. Administration of propagermanium also inhibited the infiltration of mononuclear cells into the liver of mice induced by C. parvum/LPS. Immunohistochemical examination revealed infiltration of the liver by CD4-, CD8-, CD11b- and Gr-1-positive cells. Propagermanium prevented CD4- and CD11b-positive cells from infiltrating the liver. In this animal model, blood cytokine levels increased rapidly after LPS injection, causing severe hepatitis. Notably, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) are important mediators of the progress of liver injury. We demonstrated that propagermanium reduced IFN-gamma production by 53% at a dose of 3 mg/kg and also significantly inhibited the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12). These results indicate that propagermanium inhibits cell infiltration in the liver and cytokine production, and improves massive liver injury in C. parvum/LPS mice.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1998

Protection against concanavalin A-induced murine liver injury by the organic germanium compound, propagermanium.

Propagermanium (3-oxygermylpropionic acid polymer) is an organic germanium compound that activates the immune system. In this study, we investigated the action of propagermanium on T-cell-mediated murine hepatic injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A). Oral administration of propagermanium inhibited the development of liver injury about 10 h after ConA injection. Histological analysis demonstrated that propagermanium attenuated the extent of liver damage compared with controls, reducing infiltration by leucocytes, especially CD11b-positive cells. Infiltration by CD4-positive cells was not affected. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma are crucial for the development of hepatitis in this model. Propagermanium treatment induced significant inhibition of subsequent TNF-alpha production about 10 h after Con A injection, without affecting IFN-gamma, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4 and IL-12 production. This effect on TNF-production coincided with the inhibition of aminotransferase activity late in the progression of Con A-induced liver injury. These facts suggest that this compound affects the macrophages (Mphi) function in the liver sinusoid. Therefore, Mphi were cultured with liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) and the effect of propagermanium on TNF-alpha production in the presence of IFN-gamma was determined. TNF-alpha production was reduced significantly in the coculture of Mphi and SEC when Mphi was treated with propagermanium. These results might explain the mechanisms by which propagermanium inhibits Con-A-induced liver injury. That is, propagermanium improves hepatitis through mechanisms including the reduced production of TNF-alpha, without modification of Th1- and Th2-cell function.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Left heart bypass using the oscillated blood flow with totally implantable vibrating flow pump.

Aiming at a totally implantable ventricular assist device (VAD), a vibrating flow pump (VFP) was developed in Tohoku University. A transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS) using an amorphous fiber was developed for the totally implantable VAD system. The VFP works with a higher frequency than the natural heart of a biological system, a frequency of 10-50 Hz. In this research, animal experiments on left heart bypass were performed with healthy goats. Blood from the apex of the left ventricle was received and was sent to the aorta so that an adequate supporting effect of the left heart was provided. In particular, the depression effect of the left ventricle was obvious. As a result, sufficient artificial heart flow was provided. For a totally implantable type VAD, left heart bypass of almost 100% may become necessary in some situations. Therefore, apex approaches of left heart bypass may be desirable. From an anatomical consideration, an apex of the heart is suitable for the VFP of this totally implantable type. In the left heart bypass for which the apex of the heart was used, an almost 100% bypass was possible. This is a requirement that is important when waiting for recovery of sufficient cardiac function. It is also important that left heart circulation is maintained fully by an artificial heart of the complete implantation type. The VFP was considered to be useful as a totally implantable type artificial heart from the results.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Control of the pulmonary arterial resistance by the use of the oscillated assist flow.

In the clinical application of supporting circulation, the treatment of a patient with pulmonary hypertension is very important. We developed the electromagnetically driven vibrating flow pump (VFP) as a totally implantable type ventricular assist system. The artificial heart driven by electromagnetic forces creates high speed oscillation flow around 10-50 Hz. Assistance by high-speed oscillation flow has an interesting influence on the cardiovascular system. In this study, we carried out research on the influence such oscillation flow had on the pulmonary arterial vessels, and the supporting flow wave-form that controlled pulmonary vascular resistance was considered. Six healthy adult goats of both sexes were used in the experiments. We carried out inhalation anesthesia and performed intubation. The thorax was opened through left fourth rib resection. Right heart bypass was performed from the right atrium to the pulmonary artery. The flow of right heart assistance was maintained within 20-25% of total flow. Our purpose was to add flow of a specific high frequency to the right heart circulation. The hemodynamic parameters were recorded on a magnetic tape data recorder and input into a computer through an A-D converter. A result identified was that the pulmonary vascular resistance changed according to the alteration of the driving frequency of the VFP even during the same flow assistance. The resistance of the pulmonary arterial vessels became smaller when the driving of the VFP of 30 Hz was added to the right heart circulation. This was significant even when compared with continuous flow right heart assist. The characteristics of impedance appeared to have interesting alterations as well. Control of pulmonary vascular resistance by right heart assistance becomes possible if these results are applied. Accordingly, it may become one of the choices for treatment of a patient with pulmonary hypertension.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The effect of lesionectomy and the perilesional GABAergic neuronal changes in alumina cream-induced focal motor epilepsy in cats.

The effect of lesionectomy depends on the reversibility of the epileptogenic changes in the perilesional cortex. We studied how the perilesional GABAergic neuronal changes are related to the effect of lesionectomy in the alumina cream-induced focal epilepsy model in cats. Sequential changes of GABAergic neurons and spike activities were measured after the micro-injections of alumina cream (AC). Alumina granulomas were excised 15 days and 40 days after the injections. At day 20 following the AC injection, GABAergic neurons were decreased 25 to 40% compared with those in the contralateral intact cortex. At day 40, a significant increase of spike activities occurred. GABA positive cells were decreased more than 50% compared with those in the contralateral cortex. At day 80, significant cell loss in perilesional cortex was demonstrated. The effect of lesionectomy was greater in the early excised group than in the late excised group. Decrease of GABAergic neuron was more severe in the late excised group compared to the early excised group. Our results indicate that more than 50% reduction of perilesional GABA neurons may be a critical point in epileptogenesis in this model. Lesionectomy alone prior to a 50% reduction in perilesional GABAergic neurons may be sufficient for seizure control. With these data it is still unclear whether these findings contribute to the choice between lesionectomy alone and lesionectomy with resection of the perilesional cortex. Further study is needed to understand the difference between the AC epilepsy model and human chronic epilepsy.

Aluminum Oxide↗
PubMed1998

Existence of two isoforms of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in fish.

Full-length cDNAs for extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) were isolated from a carp ovary cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequences of carp ERK1 (cERK1) and ERK2 (cERK2) exhibited high degrees of homology to the known sequences of the ERK group. Northern blot analysis showed that cERK1 mRNA was not expressed in a tissue-specific manner, though the level of expression of cERK2 mRNA varied among tissues. Western blot analysis of the brain, kidney, and ovary confirmed the expression of cERK1 and cERK2 in carp. Our findings indicate that two isoforms of ERK, ERK1 and ERK2, exist in fish.

Amino Acid Sequence↗