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Biomedical subjects

H Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to H Hashimoto.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Intraosseous microcystic meningioma.

Extradural ectopic meningioma is a rare tumor. We report on an example of microcystic meningioma arising in the skull of an elderly woman. Radiological examination revealed a localized osteolytic lesion in the left parietal bone. At surgery, it was discovered that the tumor was located within the skull without any evidence of extraosseous extension. The light microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features were consistent with a microcystic variant of meningioma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an intraosseous microcystic meningioma, and we believe that this type of meningioma should be considered in the differential diagnoses of myxoid bone tumors of the calvarium.

Aged↗

Sarcomatoid chordoma: chordoma with a massive malignant spindle-cell component.

We report a case of chordoma containing a spindle cell sarcomatoid component with a gradual transition from conventional chordoma. Immunohistochemically, many tumor cells in both conventional chordoma and sarcomatoid components were positive for cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, CAM5.2) and epithelial membrane antigen as well as vimentin. This report provides a rare example of sarcomatoid chordoma. Familiarity with this type of bone tumor should help to avoid confusion with dedifferentiated chordoma and other spindle cell sarcomas or carcinomas.

Aged↗

An Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding protein, AoCP, is involved in the high-level expression of the Taka-amylase A gene.

Aspergillus oryzae contains a nuclear protein designated AoCP, which binds specifically to a CCAAT sequence in the promoter region of the A. oryzae Taka-amylase A gene. A gene encoding a homologue of Aspergillus nidulans HAPC, a subunit of the A. nidulans CCAAT binding complex, was isolated from A. oryzae and designated AohapC. AoHAPC comprises 215 amino acids and shows 84% identity to A. nidulans HAPC. Transformation of the A. nidulans hapC deletion strain with the AohapC gene restored the CCAAT binding activity, resulting in both enhancement of taa gene expression and complementation for the poor growth phenotype of this strain. Furthermore, introduction of the AohapC gene also restored the expression of the A. nidulans eglA gene, encoding an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase, in the deletion strain. These results indicate functional interchangeability of the genes from two species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Insulin alters cardiac muscle creatine kinase activity.

The expression of mRNAs of creatine kinase (CK)-B and CK-M has been show to be affected by insulin, and myocardial CK-MB activity is suppressed in insulin-deficient rats. We investigated the dose-related effect of insulin on CK-MB activity in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: (1) control group, (2) diabetic group, injected with 65 mg/kg streptozotocin for 4 weeks, and (3) atenolol group, administered 30 mg/kg per day atenolol. Each group was further divided into three subgroups and administered either saline, or 20 (Ins 20) or 30 (Ins 30) U/kg per day insulin. After 3 weeks, the isoenzyme activity of CK and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the left ventricle of the heart (LV) and the major pectoral muscle (PM) was measured. Serum insulin increased and plasma glucose decreased in Ins 20 and Ins 30, dose-dependently, in all three groups. Both CK-MB and -BB activity in LV increased dose-dependently with insulin treatment in the control, diabetes, and atenolol groups, although these changes did not occur in skeletal muscles. CK-MB in LV correlated with the serum insulin levels in all rats, while no correlation was found in the skeletal muscles. These findings suggest that insulin possibly regulates the distribution of CK isoenzymes in rat heart muscle, and that the effect of insulin is not due to the sympathetic drive induced by hypoglycemia.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Activating Gs(alpha) mutation in intramuscular myxomas with and without fibrous dysplasia of bone.

Activating missense mutations in the Arg 201 codon of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of Gs, the G protein that stimulates cAMP formation, have been recognized as the cause of many endocrine diseases, McCune-Albright syndrome and isolated fibrous dysplasia of bone. On the other hand, intramuscular myxomas with fibrous dysplasia, so-called Mazabraud's syndrome, have been sporadically reported, but it has not been confirmed whether intramuscular myxoma, with or without fibrous dysplasia, is associated with the Gs(alpha) mutations. We investigated the presence of the Gs(alpha) mutations in intramuscular myxomas with or without fibrous dysplasia by a PCR-SSCP assay, using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. In five of the six intramuscular myxomas (three with and two without fibrous dysplasia), point mutations were detected as aberrant bands by SSCP, which were confirmed by a subsequent sequence analysis (three Arg to His and two Arg to Cys). This result suggests that the Gs(alpha) mutations are related to tumorigenesis in intramuscular myxoma and that intramuscular myxoma is one of the diseases induced by abnormal Gs(alpha) protein.

Adult↗

Wall imaging of cerebral aneurysms with a modified surface-rendering technique of spiral CT.

BACKGROUND: There has been no detailed documentation of the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) wall imaging of cerebral aneurysms. The usefulness of such endoscopic images obtained with modified spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) was therefore examined in comparison with conventional spiral CTA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). METHODS: Fifteen of 45 patients who underwent conventional spiral CTA in our department in the past 4 years, were further studied with a technical modification of surface-rendering reconstruction in spiral CT. Endoscopic images were obtained by regulating the lower and higher thresholds of spiral CT scans in processing. Digital subtraction angiography was also performed for 14 of the 15 patients. The 3D wall images of the cerebral aneurysms were assessed in comparison with findings from conventional CTA and DSA. FINDINGS: The true orifice of the aneurysms could be visualized with the endoscopic mode in all of the 15 cases. In paraclinoid aneurysms, particularly below the anterior clinoid process, the relationships to associated vessels and bone structures were more clearly disclosed with this mode. The endoscopic images of aneurysms with rigid clots or neighboring distended veins were not as adversely affected as conventional CTA. In 4 of the 15 the wall imaging precisely located the branches arising from the dome of aneurysms which DSA could not. INTERPRETATION: Wall imaging of complex or small cerebral aneurysms provided valuable information on their relationships to associated arteries and surrounding bony structures. The endoscopic mode, a simple modification of surface rendering, is easily available in commercial CT processing packages.

Adult↗

Development of outcome research for total joint arthroplasty.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are now the most common major orthopedic procedures in the world. Outcome research for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty is now the accepted method of choice for evaluating the results of surgery. This study design incorporates the use of patient-derived data collected from patient self-administered questionnaires that will capture data on the patient's experience of pain, functional disability, and general health status. These questionnaires do not replace traditional measures of clinical endpoints, such as mortality and complication rates, but will be additions to data collection. The patient-derived data allow orthopedic surgeons to assess the impact of total joint arthroplasty on the health status of their patients. The need to collect these data is increasingly necessary with the growing demands on orthopedic surgeons to demonstrate the efficacy of total joint arthroplasty to maintain funding from both public and private funding sources. This article introduces the development of outcome research for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

Elevation of carboxyl methylation activity on GTP-binding protein gamma-subunit in synovial tissues from rheumatoid arthritis: how does elevation of the methylation relate to the signal transduction system of rheumatoid arthritis?

We examined guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins (G-proteins) in synovial tissues obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The results of immunoblot analysis with anti-bovine G-protein betagamma-subunit antibody in the rheumatoid synovial tissue were similar to those in the osteoarthritis synovial tissue. On the other hand, the carboxyl methylation activity on G-protein gamma-subunit in the rheumatoid synovial tissue was enhanced compared with that in the osteoarthritis synovial tissues: Km and Vm values were 2.6 microM and 10 pmol/mg x min, respectively, for the rheumatoid arthritis, and 4.8 microM and 5.6 pmol/mg x min, respectively, for the osteoarthritis. These results suggest that G-protein-linked signal transduction, in reference to carboxyl methylation of the gamma-subunit, is affected in rheumatoid tissues.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Annihilation Behaviors of Athermal omega-Phase Crystals Due to Electron Irradiation.

Annihilation behaviors of athermal omega-phase crystals formed by cooling at 131 K for 10.8 ks under four different electron irradiation conditions of acceleration voltages of 200 kV and 160 kV, and beam currents of approximately 20 pA/cm(2) and 5 pA/cm(2) were investigated using in situ dark field and HREM observation methods at 131 K. The effect of acceleration voltages on the lifetimes is recognized, i.e., in the case of approximately equal electron beam current, lifetimes at 200 kV become shorter than those at 160 kV. Also, lifetimes depend on the electron beam current at 200 kV, i.e., the higher the beam currents, the shorter the lifetimes become. However, no distinct dependence can be seen at 160 kV. Since annihilations of athermal omega-phase crystals begin after the electron irradiation for a certain period in each condition, which depends on acceleration voltages and beam currents, it is suggested that the annihilation behaviors have incubation periods.

Journal Article↗

Transient treatments with L-glutamate and threo-beta-hydroxyaspartate induce swelling of rat cultured astrocytes.

We characterized swelling of rat cultured astrocytes induced by L-glutamate and its analogues. Among L-glutamate receptor agonists, L-glutamate, L-aspartate, L-cysteic acid, DL-homocysteic acid, quisqualate and (+/-)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) increased astrocytic intracellular volume (3H-OMG space), while kainate, and N-methyl-D-aspartate did not. Threo-beta-hydroxyaspartate (TBHA), D-aspartate and L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid, high-affinity substrates for Na+-dependent L-glutamate transporters, increased astrocytic 3H-OMG space. L-Glutamate (0.5 mM) increased astrocytic 3H-OMG space to 300% of control in 40-60 min. The increase in 3H-OMG space by 1 mM TBHA was comparable to the L-glutamate-induced one. After a 10 min-exposure to 0.5 mM L-glutamate, astrocytic 3H-OMG space was further increased to 200% even in the absence of L-glutamate. Astrocytes transiently exposed to L-glutamate did not increase their cell volume in K+-free medium and in the presence of 1 mM ouabain, a Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor. The increase after a transient exposure was also observed by a treatment of 1 mM TBHA, but not by 0.5 mM quisqualate. These results suggest that the volume increases after a transient treatment are mediated by activation of Na+-dependent L-glutamate transporter.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Analysis of T cell responses to the beta 2-glycoprotein I-derived peptide library in patients with anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibody-associated autoimmunity.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease that accompanies anti-phospholipid antibodies measured as either anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) or lupus anticoagulant. beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI) is the most common and apparently the best-characterized antigenic target for aCL. To investigate T-cell responses to beta(2)GPI, we stimulated PBMC of 18 APS or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients carrying anti-beta(2)GPI and 10 healthy controls, using a peptide library covering the beta(2)GPI sequence. We established seven CD4(+) T cell lines reactive with beta(2)GPI peptide. Three of four epitopes for patient-derived T cell lines were p244-264, whereas one T cell line from a control subject also recognized p244-264. Furthermore, there was no tendency for particular HLA class II molecules to present beta(2)GPI peptides. However, cytokine producing patterns were significantly different between T cell lines from patients and those from healthy individuals (p =.028); patients' T cells tend to exhibit higher IL-4 and lower IFN-gamma responses. These T cell lines did not react to beta(2)GPI purified from human plasma. These results indicate that beta(2)GPI-reactive CD4(+) T cells of APS/SLE patients mainly recognize cryptic p244-264 in the context of various HLA class II molecules, and exhibit Th0-Th2-type responses. Our findings may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of APS.

Adult↗

Endothelins increase tyrosine phosphorylation of astrocytic focal adhesion kinase and paxillin accompanied by their association with cytoskeletal components.

Astrocytic endothelin receptors are involved in the appearance of activated astrocytes upon injury of the brain [Ishikawa N. et al. (1997) Eur. J. Neurosci. 9, 895-901; Koyama Y. et al. (1999) Glia 26, 268-271]. To clarify signal transduction triggered by endothelin receptors, we examined the effects of endothelins on protein tyrosine phosphorylation in cultured rat astrocytes. Endothelin-1 (1 nM) increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin. The tyrosine phosphorylation was also induced by endothelin-1 (1 nM) and Ala(1,3,11,15)-endothelin-1 (10nM), an endothelin-B receptor agonist. BQ788 (100 nM), an endothelin-B receptor antagonist, inhibited the effects of endothelin-3. Orthovanadate (VO(4)(3-)), a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, but not bradykinin (1 microM), angiotensin II (100 nM), A23187 (5 microM) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (100 nM), increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin. The tyrosine phosphorylation by endothelin-3 was not prevented by pertussis toxin, Ca(2+) chelation, protein kinase C inhibitors (calphostin C and staurosporine) or wortmannin. Immunocytochemical staining showed that endothelin-3 and VO(4)(3-) induced redistribution of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin to focal adhesions concomitant with stress fiber formation in dibutyryl cyclic-AMP-treated astrocytes. Treatment with endothelin-3 and VO(4)(3-) increased focal adhesion kinase and paxillin associated with astrocytic cytoskeletal fraction. In the presence of cytochalasin B, an actin disrupting agent, endothelin-3 and VO(4)(3-) did not phosphorylate focal adhesion kinase and paxillin. Application of cytochalasin B after treatment with endothelin-3 and VO(4)(3-) stimulated dephosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin. These results suggest that the associations of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin with cytoskeletal components are required in the endothelin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the astrocytic proteins.

Androstadienes↗

Expression of the zinc finger gene fez-like in zebrafish forebrain.

Anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning in the neuroectoderm is established during gastrulation in zebrafish and amphibians. We isolated a novel zinc-finger gene fez-like (fezl) from zebrafish, which displays sequence similarities to Xenopus Fez. The fezl transcripts were detected in the anterior edge of neuroectoderm, the prospective dorsal forebrain, from the late gastrula (80% epiboly stage) to the mid-segmentation period. fezl was also expressed in the ventral forebrain overlying the prechordal plate at these stages. The expression of fezl was enhanced in embryos expressing the Wnt inhibitor Dkk1 and reduced in embryos expressing Wnt8b. The expression in the ventral forebrain was eliminated in the one-eyed pinhead mutant and the antivin RNA-injected embryos, which lack the prechordal plate. Radiation hybrid mapping revealed that the fezl gene is localized to linkage group 11.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

High-resolution electron microscopy observation of a new crystalline approximant W' of Mg-Zn-Y icosahedral quasicrystal

A new ordered structure W' with a lattice parameter (a = 2.05 nm) about three times as large as that of the fundamental face-centered cubic W phase (a = 0.6848 nm) has been found in the Mg-Zn-Y system by means of transmission electron microscopy. The W' and W phases have the cube-to-cube orientation relationship. Moreover, the strong electron diffraction spots of the W' phase showed pseudoicosahedral symmetry, implying that it is a crystalline approximant of the Mg-Zn-Y icosahedral quasicrystal. In the high-resolution electron microscopic images of the W' phase, Penrose tiles of pentagons and boats with an edge length of a(p) = 0.481 nm can be identified. A binary tile of crown subunit has also been deduced from such a tiling. Translation domains of the W' phase have also been observed and the translation vectors at the domain boundary are: a(p), tau x a(p) and (1 + tau) x a(p), respectively, where (1 + tau) x a(p) equals to the edge length a(r) of the big obtuse rhombus of the W' phase and tau = (1 + square root of 5)/2, is the golden ratio.

Journal Article↗

COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts in fibrosarcomatous areas of six dermatofibrosarcomas protuberans.

The fibrosarcomatous transformation of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) has been considered for some time to be associated with an adverse clinical outcome. However, the molecular and cellular mechanism underlying the tumor progression remains undetermined. As the chimeric gene, COL1A1-PDGFB, has been proposed to play an important role in the histogenesis of DFSP, we conducted a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay to ascertain whether the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts can be detected in both conventional DFSP and fibrosarcomatous components of DFSP with fibrosarcomatous areas (DFSP-FS), using a simple method of microdissection on sections of archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from six DFSP-FS cases. The COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts could be detected in FS areas in five of the six cases, whereas conventional DFSP areas of all cases expressed the chimeric mRNA. A subsequent sequence analysis of the polymerase chain reaction products confirmed that the detected messages were derived from identical gene fusions in the two different components of each of the five cases. Our results verify that the COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts are preserved in the FS areas of most DFSP-FSs. The expression of the fusion transcripts in both conventional DFSP and FS areas of DFSP-FS supports a common histogenesis of the two components.

Adolescent↗

Extrapleural solitary fibrous tumor: clinicopathologic study of 17 cases and molecular analysis of the p53 pathway.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) occurring at various extrapleural sites is sometimes difficult to diagnose because of its histologic variability. Although a solitary fibrous tumor is usually a slow-growing tumor with favorable prognosis, a small number of malignant cases have been reported. In the present study, we examined the clinical behavior, histologic, immunohistochemical and molecular features of 17 cases of extrapleural SFT. Four tumors were located in the pelvic cavity, two in the nasal cavity, two were confined to the pulmonary parenchyma, and there was one each in the meninges, kidney, mediastinum, retroperitoneum, temporal region, neck, groin, buttock and thigh. Histologically, all the tumors were characterized by the presence of areas consisting of a proliferation of bland spindle cells with variable amounts of thick, often hyalinized or keloid-like intercellular collagen bundles. Highly cellular areas were observed in three tumors, frequent mitoses in two, and cellular pleomorphism and tumor necrosis in one each. All 17 tumors showed immunoreactivity to CD34 and 15 (88%) to bcl-2 protein. The labeling indices of p53, mdm2 protein and Ki-67 were generally low. PCR-SSCP and a subsequent sequence analysis of the p53 gene disclosed point mutation at codon 161 in exon 5 in one of the 13 cases analyzed. According to follow-up information, none of the patients had developed local recurrence or distant metastasis. Our results suggest that most extrapleural SFTs behave in a benign fashion even in a higher histologic grade group, and it is difficult to predict their clinical outcome. Complete surgical excision in order to obtain clear margins and long-term follow-up is advisable for patients with an extrapleural SFT.

Adult↗

Cytokeratin expression of apocrine and eccrine poromas with special reference to its expression in cuticular cells.

BACKGROUND: There are no immunohistochemical studies on cytokeratin (CK) expression in large series of cases of apocrine poroma. In addition, detailed immunohistochemical analysis of cuticular cells, a specific type of constituent cells of poromas, has not been reported. METHODS: Using the avidin-biotin method, we compared immunostaining patterns of eleven different anti-CK antibodies in 12 cases of apocrine and 21 cases of eccrine poromas, and normal adult skin. RESULTS: Poroid cells were exclusively positive for CK1/5/10/14, CK5/8 and CK14, which were expressed in the outer cells of normal dermal sweat ducts. Poroid cells were heterogeneously stained with anti-CK7, CK8/18, CK 10/11 and CK19 antibodies, which reacted in the inner cells of dermal ducts and in the secretory cells of sweat glands. The cuticular cells showed constant expression of CK1/5/ 10/14 and CK10/11, and various expression patterns of CK5/8, CK6, CK7, CK14, CK8/18, CK17, and CK19. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the keratin immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells in eccrine and apocrine poromas are considered to be closely related to the cells of dermal sweat ducts. Also the cuticular cells are considered to occupy an intermediate spectrum between the inner and outer cells of the dermal ducts. Although it is difficult to differentiate apocrine poroma from eccrine poroma by keratin expression patterns alone, the data obtained here can be helpful in differentiation of apocrine poroma from other hair follicle-related neoplasms.

Acrospiroma↗