Biomedical subjects

H Iwata

Publications and source records attributed to H Iwata.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Clinical results of nonsurgical treatment for spinal metastases.

PURPOSE: In contrast with many analyses of surgical treatment for spinal metastases, there have been only a few recent well-documented publications assessing nonsurgical treatment. This paper is a study of the outcome of nonsurgical therapy for metastatic tumors of the spine. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred and one patients with spinal metastases were treated with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy without surgical intervention between 1990 and 1995, in prospective analysis, and had follow-up for more than 24 months. This study included 59 men and 42 women with a mean age of 61 years (range: 14 to 81). Mean follow-up periods were 11 months for patients dying of the disease and 53 months for the survivors. Neurological status, pain relief, functional improvement, and cumulative survival rate were assessed. RESULTS: Of the total treated, 67 patients (66%) were evaluated as being neurologically stable or improved after treatment. Pain relief was achieved in 67%, and 64% showed functional improvement. Primary lesion responsiveness to nonsurgical therapy influenced the survival, neurological recovery, pain control, and function. Neurological findings before therapy were useful in predicting ambulatory status after treatment. CONCLUSION: Nonsurgical treatment was often successful when primary tumors had responsiveness to radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. We found this to be evident even when neurological deficits were found, particularly in lumbar spines. Spinal metastases of tumors with less responsiveness, unless patients were neurologically intact, responded poorly to therapy. Most of the patients who were successfully treated enjoyed relief lasting nearly until death. Their functional ability was limited by general debility, rather than by local tumor regeneration.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Detection of DNA Fragmentation in Human Breast Cancer Tissue by an Antibody Specific to Single-stranded DNA.

While there have been many reports concerning the clinical significance of bcl-2 expression in human breast cancer, little is known about apoptosis in primary breast cancers. We immunohistochemically examined DNA fragmentation in 107 primary human breast cancers from Japanese women using an antibody specific to single-stranded DNA. The apoptosis index calculated as the product of the positive cell number and the cellularity coefficient, ranged from 0 to 48. The average incidence of apoptosis was calculated as 0.1% of tumor cells. No relationships were observed among the apoptosis index, expression of bcl-2, and the histological grade of the tumors. Almost all apoptotic cells were phagocytosed by surrounding tumor cells immediately after DNA fragmentation. Apoptotic body formation was rare. The apoptotic cells seemed to be degraded within phagocytes, leaving no trace of apoptosis except the tiny shells of nuclei. The intensive phagocytic reaction might be one of the main reasons for the low incidence of apoptosis in human breast cancers.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Establishment of a Salmonella tester strain highly sensitive to mutagenic heterocyclic amines.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that are present in cooked foods require metabolic activation to exert their genotoxicity. They undergo activation via N-hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), followed by O-esterification by O-acetyltransferase (OAT). To develop a Salmonella tester strain that is highly sensitive to mutagenic HCAs, we introduced a coexpression plasmid (p1A2OR) carrying human CYP1A2 and NADPH-CYP reductase cDNAs and an expression plasmid (pOAT) carrying Salmonella OAT to Salmonella typhimurium TA1538 to yield a TA1538/ARO strain. The TA1538/ARO strain was proven to express the enzymes, as indicated by high activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and isoniazid N-acetylase. The TA1538/ARO strain exhibited very high sensitivity to mutagenic HCAs 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline and a somewhat higher sensitivity to 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine compared with the parent Ames tester strain TA1538. The minimum concentrations of 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, IQ, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine giving positive results were defined by evidence that the number of colonies increased in a dose-dependent manner and reached a number two times higher than that obtained by vehicle alone as a control in the TA1538/ARO strain at concentrations of 0.3, 3, 30, and 1000 pM, respectively. When the membrane and cytosol fractions prepared from TA1538/ARO were added to a mixture containing the parental TA1538, the sensitivity of TA1538 to IQ was much lower than that seen with TA1538/ARO. These results indicate that the intracellular expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes makes the established strain of Salmonella highly sensitive to mutagenic HCAs.

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed1998

High catalytic activity of human cytochrome P450 co-expressed with human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase in Escherichia coli.

Forms of human cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP), such as CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4, were expressed or co-expressed together with human NADPH-P450 reductase in Escherichia coli. When P450 was expressed alone in E. coli, the expression level of holo-P450 ranged from 310 to 1620 nmol/L of culture. The expression level of holo-P450 decreased by co-expression with the reductase, and the level ranged from 66 to 381 nmol/L of culture. The expression level of the reductase varied depending on the forms of P450 co-expressed, and ranged from 204 to 937 U/L of culture. We assayed the catalytic activity of P450 using E. coli cells disrupted by freeze-thaw. When co-expressed with the reductase, human P450 catalyzed the oxidation of representative substrates at efficient rates. The rates appeared comparable to the reported activities of P450 in a reconstituted system containing purified preparations of P450 and the reductase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

The involvement of matrix metalloproteinases and inflammation in lumbar disc herniation.

STUDY DESIGN: Surgically obtained herniated lumbar disc specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or toluidine blue (for detection of proteoglycans) or were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies (CD68), antihuman interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-1) and antihuman stromelysin (MMP-3). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible correlation of matrix metalloproteinase activity to granulation tissue formation and lumbar disc herniation, depending on the type of herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Interstitial collagenase and stromelysin have been implicated in the degradation of the matrix of articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and degenerated disc tissues. However, their role in the herniation of the intervertebral disc has received little study. METHODS: Twenty-one specimens of lumbar disc herniation (classified as protrusions, subligamentous extrusions, transligamentous extrusions, and sequestrations) and four nonherniated discs were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or toluidine blue or were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies to CD20, CD45RO, and CD68, anti-MMP-1, and anti-MMP-3, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. The amount of granulation tissue and results of staining were graded to examine differences in histology among the four herniation types. RESULTS: In sequestration and transligamentous extrusion specimens, granulation tissue containing many CD68-positive macrophages was commonly observed. Most cells in granulation tissue, as well as chondrocytes, stained positively with anti-MMP-1 and anti-MMP-3 antibodies. Granulation tissue was less commonly observed in subligamentous extrusions and was absent from most protrusion specimens and all nonherniated specimens. B and T lymphocytes could not be demonstrated in granulation tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The increased staining of MMP-1 and MMP-3 associated with inflammatory cells of granulation tissue in herniated discs suggests a causal correlation of these proteinases to tissue degradation in herniation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Up-regulation of COX2 expression by uni-axial cyclic stretch in human lung fibroblast cells.

The effect of uni-axial cyclic mechanical stretch on the expression of cyclooxygenases (COX) was investigated in a human lung fibroblast cell line (TIG-1). In response to uni-axial cyclic stretch, the level of COX2 mRNA significantly increased and peaked at 3 h (9.09 +/- 3.82-fold, mean +/- standard error, n = 6, compared with that at 1 h). The level of the expression of COX2 protein peaked at 6 h, whereas the level of COX1 protein was not significantly changed. The involvement of stretch-activated (SA) channel was investigated in the stretch-induced COX2 production. The application of Gd3-, a blocker for SA channel, or the removal of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited the production of COX2 mRNA without any effect on the production of COX1 or GAPDH mRNA. These data strongly suggest that COX2 expression is up-regulated by uni-axial cyclic stretch via the activation of SA channel in human lung fibroblasts.

Calcium↗

PubMed1998

The presenilin 1 mutation (M146V) linked to familial Alzheimer's disease attenuates the neuronal differentiation of NTera 2 cells.

Mutations in presenilin 1 (PS1) gene are the major cause of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. The biological functions of PS1 remain elusive, although accumulating evidence suggests that PS1 may play an important role in development and differentiation. To learn about the significance of PS1 in the differentiation of neuronal cells, we established NTera 2 (NT2) cell lines stably expressing wild-type (wt) or M146V mutant human PS1, and compared the differentiation of both types of cell lines into postmitotic neurons upon retinoic acid (RA) treatment. After 25 days of RA treatment, a significant proportion of cells differentiated into neurons in NT2 cells expressing wt PS1 (27.7% of total cells), which was comparable to that in untransfected cells, whereas very few cells differentiated into neurons in NT2 cells expressing M146V mutant PS1 (2.6% of total cells). These results suggest that mutant PS1 attenuates the potentials of NT2 cells to differentiate into neurons.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed1998

Synthesis of monomeric and polymeric conjugates carrying a thrombin inhibitor through an ester bond.

Four kinds of monomers carrying a thrombin inhibitor, (2R,4R)-4-methyl-1-[N2-[(3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-quinolinyl)sulfon yl]-L-arginyl]-2-piperidinecarboxylic acid (argatroban), were synthesized. These monomers were copolymerized with acrylamide to yield water-soluble polymeric conjugates possessing the argatroban moiety in the side chain. Their antithrombogenic activities were determined from the inhibitory effect on thrombin action and the prolongation effect on blood clotting time. The monomeric conjugates of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (HBA) linked with argatroban through an ester bond were potent inhibitors of thrombin, prolonging the blood-clotting time, whereas a conjugate of amino methyl styrene (AMS) and argatroban through an amide bond was a less potent inhibitor than argatroban. None of the copolymers could prolong blood clotting when assessed just after preparation of their aqueous solutions, but the antithrombogenic activity of the aqueous solutions increased after incubation for 7 days at 37 degrees C for the polymeric conjugates through an ester bond. Free argatroban was detected in the aqueous solutions of polymeric conjugates after incubation, suggesting that argatroban was released by hydrolysis of the ester bond during incubation.

Antithrombins↗

PubMed1998

Increased pentosidine, an advanced glycation end product, in plasma and synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relation with inflammatory markers.

Pentosidine is an advanced glycation end product (AGE) formed by combined processes of glycation and oxidation (glycoxidation) between carbohydrate-derived carbonyl group and protein amino group. Recent studies demonstrated the increased pentosidine levels not only in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia but also in normoglycemic uremic patients due to increased oxidative stress. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a state of increased oxidative stress associated with chronic inflammation. This suggested an enhanced glycoxidation reaction and increased AGE levels in RA patients. In the present study, we therefore determined, by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay, the concentrations of pentosidine in plasma and synovial fluid from 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared their levels with those in 17 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), 26 diabetic patients, and 25 normal subjects. The levels of inflammatory markers and markers of tissue destruction, metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), were also measured in the same samples. Pentosidine levels in plasma and synovial fluid from RA patients were significantly higher than those in OA patients, diabetic patients, and normal subjects. There was a significant correlation between the pentosidine levels in plasma and those in synovial fluid. Among markers of inflammation and matrix destruction, pentosidine levels in plasma from RA patients were correlated with the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count, and platelet count. Multiple stepwise regression analysis reveals an independent influence of CRP on plasma pentosidine levels. In conclusion, pentosidine levels are significantly higher in plasma and synovial fluid from RA patients and may be useful as a biomarker of chronic inflammation in RA patients.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1998

Role of TAK1 and TAB1 in BMP signaling in early Xenopus development.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily members elicit signals through stimulation of serine/threonine kinase receptors. Recent studies of this signaling pathway have identified two types of novel mediating molecules, the Smads and TGF-beta activated kinase 1 (TAK1). Smads were shown to mimic the effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), activin and TGF-beta. TAK1 and TAB1 were identified as a MAPKKK and its activator, respectively, which might be involved in the up-regulation of TGF-beta superfamily-induced gene expression, but their biological role is poorly understood. Here, we have examined the role of TAK1 and TAB1 in the dorsoventral patterning of early Xenopus embryos. Ectopic expression of Xenopus TAK1 (xTAK1) in early embryos induced cell death. Interestingly, however, concomitant overexpression of bcl-2 with the activated form of xTAK1 or both xTAK1 and xTAB1 in dorsal blastomeres not only rescued the cells but also caused the ventralization of the embryos. In addition, a kinase-negative form of xTAK1 (xTAK1KN) which is known to inhibit endogenous signaling could partially rescue phenotypes generated by the expression of a constitutively active BMP-2/4 type IA receptor (BMPR-IA). Moreover, xTAK1KN could block the expression of ventral mesoderm marker genes induced by Smad1 or 5. These results thus suggest that xTAK1 and xTAB1 function in the BMP signal transduction pathway in Xenopus embryos in a cooperative manner.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed1998

Met-Gly-Cys motif from G-protein alpha subunit cannot direct palmitoylation when fused to heterologous protein.

To determine whether the N-terminal Met-Gly-Cys motif from G-protein alpha subunit can direct palmitoylation of protein, we have generated heterologous fusion proteins containing the first 10 amino acids of Gi1 alpha and Gs alpha using tumor necrosis factor as a model protein and determined their ability to incorporate palmitate using in vitro and in vivo expression systems. DNA sequences coding for the N-terminal 10 amino acids of Gi1 alpha and Gs alpha were fused to the 5'-end of the cDNA coding for the mature domain of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to give Gi1 alpha-TNF and Gs alpha-TNF cDNA. In vitro translation of the mRNA coding for the Gi1 alpha-TNF cDNA gave rise to an N-myristoylated fusion TNF with a molecular mass of 18 kDa as determined by the incorporation of [3H]myristic acid and by immunoprecipitation with anti-TNF antibody. In contrast, no incorporation of fatty acid was detected for Gs alpha-TNF. Baculovirus expression of the Gi1 alpha-TNF cDNA in Sf-9 cells gave rise to an N-myristoylated but not palmitoylated fusion TNF. This myristoylation was inhibited by replacement of Gly-2 with Ala but not Cys-3 with Ala, indicating the acylation reaction is entirely dependent on the N-myristoylation signal (Met-Gly-X-X-X-Ser) and Cys-3 is not involved. As is the case with in vitro translation, no incorporation of fatty acid was detected for Gs alpha-TNF. These results indicated that unlike the myristoylation signal Met-Gly-X-X-X-Ser/Thr/Cys, the Met-Gly-Cys motif found in G-protein alpha subunits itself is not sufficient to direct palmitoylation even if Gly-2 is myristoylated after removal of initiating Met. Thus, another structural determinant is implicated in this modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

The retention of abnormal type I procollagen and correlated expression of HSP 47 in fibroblasts from a patient with lethal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Various mutations of genes encoding type I procollagen chains have been linked to osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The mutations yield abnormal procollagen molecules that fold improperly. HSP 47, a stress-inducible protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of collagen-producing cells, may participate in collagen processing as a procollagen-specific molecular chaperone. The intracellular transport of abnormal procollagen molecules and the expression of HSP 47 have been studied in fibroblasts from a patient with OI. Normal and OI fibroblasts cultured with or without ascorbate were analysed by immunofluorescent double labelling with monoclonal antibodies to C-propeptide of type I procollagen and HSP 47, as observed by confocal microscopy. Procollagen and HSP 47 were also quantified by immunoprecipitation of normal and OI fibroblasts radiolabelled with 35S-methionine. By confocal microscopy, procollagen molecules were retained in the ER of both fibroblast types cultured in the absence of ascorbate, and were co-localized with HSP 47. In normal fibroblasts, 2 h after the addition of ascorbate, most of the procollagen had disappeared from the cells, while in OI fibroblasts, abnormal procollagen molecules and HSP 47 were still retained in the ER. By immunoprecipitation, procollagen was negligible in normal fibroblasts cultured with ascorbate; much larger amounts of procollagen were immunoprecipitated from OI fibroblasts despite ascorbate. Increased HSP 47 in OI fibroblasts was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with a specific monoclonal antibody. These results suggest the increase in HSP 47 in the ER of OI fibroblasts is related to its collagen-specific chaperone function.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed1998

Entrapment of islets into reversible disulfide hydrogels.

Currently, there are three types of devices for a bioartificial pancreas; microencapsulation, an extravascular diffusion chamber, and an intravascular diffusion chamber. The purpose of the present study was to provide a new extracellular matrix hydrogel for the devices of extra- and intravascular diffusion chamber types. As the sol-gel transition of this hydrogel is reversible, refilling of islets in vivo will be possible without a severe traumatic procedure. The hydrogel was produced from a polyacrylamide derivative carrying thiol groups synthesized by radical copolymerization of acrylamide and N,N'-bis-acrylcystamine, followed by reduction of the disulfide bonds in the copolymer. This water-soluble copolymer was used to entrap hamster islets by re-formation of disulfide bonds on the copolymer to produce a hydrogel. The formed hydrogel was easily reliquefied by reduction of the disulfide crosslinks to thiols. Insulin release from the islet-entrapped hydrogel continued for more than 1 month when examined in vitro. A static glucose stimulation test for the entrapped islets exhibited an increased insulin release.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Scintigraphic evaluation of transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Comparison between scintigraphy, radiography and outcome in 34 patients.

Scintigrams and radiographs of 36 femoral heads in 34 patients before and after Sugioka's transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head were investigated prospectively. Patients were followed for more than 3 years after the operation. The patterns of early scintigrams made within 3 months of the operation were classified into four categories. All 4 patients with a large cold area evidenced collapse within 1 year despite good recovery of the weight-bearing surfaces immediately after operation on conventional radiograms. Twenty-two hips with no cold area in the femoral head did not demonstrate collapse. Femoral head collapse after rotational osteotomy can be predicted by early postoperative bone scintigraphy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Rabbit models of bucket-handle-like meniscal tear.

After radial tears were artificially created in the periphery of the middle third of the lateral menisci in Japanese white male rabbits, the menisci were sampled postoperatively at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. We noted that radial tears often progressed to longitudinal tears, and the length of longitudinal tears increased with time. On the other hand, the areas in which radial tears had been artificially created were filled with granulation-like tissue. Radial tears thus created may lead to bucket-handle-like tears of the menisci.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Cloning and sequence of guinea pig interleukin 2 (IL-2).

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a T-cell proliferation factor released from TH0- and TH1-type helper T-cells and is an essential cytokine for certain immune responses. We reported here cloning and sequence of IL-2 cDNA in guinea pigs, which have been used for a long time in various immunological experiments and in vivo screening tests for skin sensitization potential of chemicals. Consequently, a cDNA clone was obtained encoding guinea pig IL-2 of 520 bp in length, which contained a complete open reading frame. Alignment of the amino acid sequence with human IL-2 indicates that guinea pig IL-2 is composed of 20 amino acids (aa) of a signal peptide and 132 aa of a mature peptide with a predicted molecular weight of 15133. Guinea pig IL-2 has an amino acid homology of 62% with human IL-2, 52% with murine IL-2, and 55% with rat IL-2. In addition, guinea pig IL-2 has a possible N-linked glycosylation site as seen in bovine and porcine IL-2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for medial gonarthrosis: 5 to 9 years follow-up evaluation of 77 knees.

A total of 77 knees in 60 consecutive patients were operated on for medial gonarthrosis using a cemented porous coated anatomical (PCA) unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Their average age was 71.3 years; 11 were men and 49 women. Clinically, the results in 67 knees were rated as being good to excellent, with mean preoperative and postoperative flexion of 123 and 122 deg, respectively. No deep infections or deep venous thrombosis occurred, but there was one dislocation of the femoral component. Overall clinical and radiographic results were satisfactory in 88% at 7.0 years' follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis indicated that the failure rate of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was 12% at average follow-up. In patients aged 70 years or more, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for medial gonarthrosis should be considered an excellent alternative to high tibial osteotomy.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Effects of hyaluronic acid on meniscal injury in rabbits.

Using a model of meniscal injury in rabbit, the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) injection into the joint on the rate of filling area and the cell shape in the defects were studied. After a cylindrical defect was made in the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus, HA was injected into the joint once a week. At 1 and 6 weeks after the beginning of the weekly injections, the meniscus was compared with a control, which was injected with phosphate buffer instead of HA. The healing in the defect progressed with time. HA administration caused a significant increase in the rate of filling area in the defect. The cell population in the repair tissue changed from fibroblast-like cells to chondrocyte-like cells with the progress of repair. At 6 weeks, the ratio of chondrocyte-like cells to all cells in the repair tissue of the HA-treated meniscus was higher than that of control. These data indicate that HA increases the healing rate of meniscal injury.

Animals↗