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Biomedical subjects

H Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to H Hashimoto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Over-expression of E2F-1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma correlates with tumor progression.

The transcription factor E2F-1, a downstream regulator of the p16-cyclinD-Rb pathway, is required for cell cycle progression. Evidence shows that overexpression of E2F-1 can either promote or inhibit the development of tumors, depending on tissue or experimental conditions. However, the clinical impact of E2F-1 expression on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. To analyze E2F-1 expression in ESCC, we investigated the immunoreactivity of E2F-1 and its correlation with clinicopathological features in 122 patients who underwent surgical resection for ESCC. Positive E2F-1 immunostaining was detected in 73 patients (59.8%). Positive E2F-1 immunostaining correlated positively with pathologic stage (P = 0.0103), p-Grade (P = 0.0014) and pT (P = 0.0192). The overall survival rate was worse in patients with E2F-1-positive tumors than in patients with E2F-1-negative tumors (P = 0.0290). Over-expression of E2F-1 is associated with tumor progression and a worse prognosis after surgery in ESCC.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Long term prognosis of children born to lupus patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long term prognosis of children of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Children of patients with SLE were invited to attend our clinic for physical examination and laboratory tests. A total of 195 children (aged 4 months to 26 years; male = 82, female = 113) were examined in 1991, 1995, 1997, and 1998. RESULTS: Two cases were diagnosed as SLE at the first visit and were excluded from the second visit. A significantly higher percentage (52/195 (27%)) of patients were positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) at a cut off serum dilution of 1/40 compared with controls (4/57 (7%)). ANA were detected more frequently in female subjects than in men (p<0.05). Forty four subjects were examined on more than two occasions. Nine of the 10 patients who were positive for ANA at the second visit were girls aged 4-8 years. The incidence of anti-DNA and antiphospholipid antibodies in children of patients with SLE was similar to that in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that children, especially girls, born to maternal lupus patients had a high positive rate for ANA suggests that a genetic factor is involved in SLE pathogenesis. Longitudinal observation of these patients may provide important clinical information and clues to the pathogenesis of SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Possible mechanisms of gender bias in SLE: a new hypothesis involving a comparison of SLE with atopy.

The prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is far higher in females than in males, and numerous investigations of this gender bias have been performed from several perspectives. Sex hormones, particularly estrogens, may be significant in causing the gender discrepancy. This article discusses the possible importance of estrogens in regulating the expression of and responsivity to autoantigens in SLE and in atopic disorders, which are associated with hyperreactivity to exogenous antigens. Estrogens seem to play an important role in the overexpression of endogenous autoantigens, such as human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), and this may be related to the existence of a gender bias in the incidence of SLE but not atopy.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed2004

Expression and activity analyses of CTLA4 in peripheral blood lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the expression and activity of CTLA4 in T-cells of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Expression of CTLA4 on freshly isolated peripheral blood T-cells was evaluated in 33 SLE patients and 25 controls using flow cytometry. The T-cells from 19 SLE patients and 22 controls were stimulated and cultured with Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing CD80 (CHO-CD80) or with CHO cells. T-cell proliferation was determined with [3H] thymidine incorporation (CPM), and the inhibitory effect of CTLA4 on T-cell proliferation was evaluated by the ratio of CPM for T-cells with CHO-CD80 cells to that of T-cells with CHO cells (the CHO-CD80/CHO ratio). Intracellular CTLA4 expression in freshly isolated peripheral blood T-cells was significantly higher in SLE patients than the controls (P < 0.05), but there was no correlation with clinical features or disease activity. The CHO-CD80/CHO ratio of SLE patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (P < 0.05). Among SLE patients, the CHO-CD80/CHO ratio of patients with lupus nephritis was significantly higher than that of patients without lupus nephritis (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that CTLA4 expression is not impaired in SLE patients, but there is a possibility of decreased inhibitory effect of CTLA4 involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effects of alpha-linked galactooligosaccharide on adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats and type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice.

alpha-Linked galactooligosaccharide (alpha-GOS) has been reported to change the composition of enteric microflora. In the present study, the antiarthritic effect of alpha-GOS was evaluated by employing adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in Wistar rats and type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice. The animals were given alpha-GOS orally. This substance had beneficial effects on both clinical signs, such as erythema and swelling of the limbs, and histopathological findings in the hind paw joints in a dose-dependent manner. alpha-GOS reduced the plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) level in rats with AIA. In the cell culture system employing peritoneal macrophages from rats with AIA, alpha-GOS enhanced interleukin-1 production without lipopolysaccharide stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that alpha-GOS stimulates peritoneal macrophages through modulation of enteric microflora. Since alpha-GOS modulates the composition of the enteric microflora, the antiarthritic effects of alpha-GOS could be partly attributable to its immunomodulating activity. Thus, alpha-GOS is a potential functional food for the treatment of human rheumatoid arthritis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mechanical compression of the extracranial vertebral artery during neck rotation.

Using duplex ultrasonography (US), the authors showed compression of the extracranial vertebral artery (ECVA) during neck rotation in 5.0% of 1,108 patients. Age (per 10-year increase, OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.96), vessel diameters (per 0.5-mm diameter increase, OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.79), and symptoms upon neck rotation (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.35 to 11.9) were associated with vessel compression. In one case, SPECT revealed decreased cerebral perfusion of the hindbrain during rotation. ECVA US is useful in identifying vessel compression, especially in patients with symptoms on neck rotation.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

In situ observation of the formation of Fe3O4 in Fe4N (001) due to electron irradiation.

gamma(')-Fe4N was subjected to electron irradiation with the dose rate of 6.8 x 10(23)e m(-2) s(-1) in a 400 kV transmission electron microscope. The first in situ observation of the formation of Fe3O4 (O) on Fe4N (gamma(')) with the orientation relationship of [100](O) parallel [100](gamma(')) and <001>(O) parallel <001>(gamma(')) has been made inside the microscope with the basic column vacuum of (5-6) x 10(-5) Pa. A mechanism is proposed involving the electron-stimulated dissociation of Fe-N chemical bonds, desorption of nitrogen from the surface, adsorption of oxygen to the surface, and the oxidization of excessive metallic iron on the surface.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Expression of NKB1 on peripheral T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

NKB1 inhibits cytoxic activity of T lymphocytes mediated by superantigens, which is one of the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we determined the expression of NKB1 on peripheral blood T cells in patients with RA. Our findings revealed that among patients with RA, NKB1(+) CD8(+ )T cells decreased significantly in comparison to controls (ratio: P < 0.05; absolute number: P < 0.005), and this decrease was not related to or influenced by HLA-Bw4 as a ligand of NKB1. This result may suggest that decreased expression of NKB1(+) CD8(+ )T cells contributes to the pathogenesis of RA mediated by the activation of CD8(+) T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Urachal anomalies: ultrasonography and management.

BACKGROUND: Fifty-six children with anomalies of the urachus remnant identified by ultrasound scan have been encountered in the authors' hospital over the last 4 years. METHODS: Twenty of these 56 cases were symptomatic urachal remnants, whereas the urachus remnants were seen incidentally by ultrasound scanning in the other 36 patients. Symptomatic cases were treated with antibiotics or observation. Then, symptomatic cases were divided into 2 groups. One group, surgical group, was treated with surgical resection of the urachal remnant. The other group, observation group, was followed up without its surgical resection. Forty-four patients, 11 cases of symptomatic urachal remnant and 33 asymptomatic cases, were followed up, excluding patients who had surgical treatment and who were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent periodical ultrasonographic examination during follow-up. In 9 cases, including 2 symptomatic cases, urachal remnants have disappeared during the follow-up period spontaneously. No symptom had developed during follow-up from asymptomatic cases. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with asymptomatic urachal remnants do not require follow-up, and urachal remnants, especially those under 1 year of age, do not require surgical resection unless the patient has multiple episodes.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2003

Miniature vibrating flow blood pump using a cross-slider mechanism for external shunt catheter.

The prototype of the miniature vibrating flow pump (VFP) is developed for the external shunt catheter. The cross-slider mechanism is applied to vibrate the tube, which causes the pumping effect. This mechanism results in successful development of the miniature and lightweight VFP. By the use of the prototype VFP, the experiment of the basic pump performance is made in detail based on the authorized procedure in the research field of fluids engineering. The typical H-Q curve of VFP, which is the relationship between the pump head and the flow rate, can be obtained. This result suggests that the miniature VFP developed here can be expected to be used as the booster pump for the external shunt catheter in clinical applications.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical↗
PubMed2003

DNA methylation in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Recent studies on epigenetics, including DNA methylation and its regulatory enzymes, seem likely to contribute to elucidation of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although the relationship between DNA methylation and SLE has long been the subject of investigation. To obtain a deeper understanding of the role of DNA methylation in the induction of SLE, we reviewed the relationship between DNA methylation and SLE based on findings reported in the literature and our own data. Various studies, including ours, have indicated the possible importance of DNA methylation, especially hypomethylation, in the etiology of SLE. These epigenetic studies may give us clues towards elucidation of the pathogenesis of SLE and development of new therapeutic strategies for this disease.

DNA Methylation↗
PubMed2003

Association of the TAP2*Bky2 allele with presence of SS-A/Ro and other autoantibodies in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We previously reported that a new allele of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) 2 gene, TAP2*Bky2 (Val577), was significantly increased in Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and had a strong association with SS-A/Ro antibody production. In the present study, it was investigated whether the association of TAP2*Bky2 with SS-A/Ro antibody production was also found in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Polymorphisms of the TAP1 and TAP2 genes were determined in 114 Japanese SLE patients by the polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method. The allele frequencies of the TAP1 and TAP2 genes in SLE patients were not significantly different from those in controls, although the allele frequency of TAP2*Bky2 was slightly higher in SLE patients than in healthy control subjects (9.2% vs 5.5%, P = 0.126). The allele frequency of TAP2*Bky2 was significantly higher in SLE patients with oral ulcers than in those without. It was noteworthy that TAP2*Bky2 was significantly associated with the appearance of not only SS-A/Ro antibody but also SS-B/La, nRNP, and Sm antibodies in the patients. The association of TAP2*Bky2 was found with the antibody production to both 60 and 52kDa SS-A/Ro antigens. As TAP2*Bky2 had a strong linkage disequilibrium with DRB1*08032, TAP2*Bky2 or its haplotype with DRB1*08032 may be involved in SS-A/Ro antibody production not only in SS but also SLE patients, indicating that TAP2*Bky2 may be a susceptible gene not only to the disease of SS but also to the SS-A/Ro autoantibody production.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2002

Photosynthetic light harvesting by carotenoids: detection of an intermediate excited state.

We present the first direct evidence of the presence of an intermediate singlet excited state (Sx) mediating the internal conversion from S2 to S1 in carotenoids. The S2 to Sx transition is extremely fast and is completed within approximately 50 femtoseconds. These results require a reassessment of the energy transfer pathways from carotenoids to chlorophylls in the primary step of photosynthesis.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed2002

Periodate-treated, non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene (NAC-HCPS) affects angiogenesis and inhibits subcutaneous induced tumour growth and metastasis to the lung.

Periodate-treated, non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene consists of about ten periodate-oxidized, alkaline-degraded low molecular weight-heparin chains linked to a polystyrene core and has a markedly lower anti-coagulant activity than heparin. In this study, we evaluated the effect of non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene on tumour growth and metastasis. Non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene has a higher activity to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor-165-, fibroblast growth factor-2- or hepatocyte growth factor-induced human microvascular endothelial cell growth than heparin, ten periodate-oxidized-heparin and ten periodate-oxidized-low molecular weight-heparin, which is probably due to the heparin-clustering effect of non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene. Non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene inhibited human microvascular endothelial cell, B16 melanoma and Lewis lung cancer cell adhesion to Matrigel-coated plates. Non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene also showed strong inhibitory activities in the tubular formation of endothelial cells on Matrigel and B16-melanoma and Lewis lung cancer cell invasion in a Matrigel-coated chamber assay. In vivo studies showed that growth of subcutaneous induced tumours and lung metastasis of B16-melanoma and Lewis lung cancer cells were more effectively inhibited by non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene than ten periodate-oxidized-heparin and ten periodate-oxidized-low molecular weight-heparin. Furthermore, non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene markedly reduced the number of CD34-positive vessels in subcutaneous Lewis lung cancer tumours, indicating a strong inhibition of angiogenesis. These results suggest that non-anticoagulant heparin-carrying polystyrene has an inhibitory activity on angiogenesis and tumour invasion and may be very useful in cancer therapy.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2002

Uveitis in adult patients with poststreptococcal reactive arthritis: the first two cases reported associated with uveitis.

We describe two adult patients with poststreptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA), both of whom concomitantly developed uveitis. These are the first two cases reported. Because uveitis may result in permanent damage to visual acuity, this complication should be widely recognised in patients with PSRA and antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered for those with recurrent streptococcal infection.

Adult↗