Biomedical subjects

H Kajiwara

Publications and source records attributed to H Kajiwara.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Pit-1 positive alpha-subunit positive nonfunctioning human pituitary adenomas: a dedifferentiated GH cell lineage?

Pit-1 is a transcription factor which has been reported to regulate differentiation toward GH, PRL and TSH in the anterior pituitary glands. In the human pituitary adenomas, Pit-1 is highly expressed in GH secreting and TSH secreting adenomas as it can well be anticipated. Interestingly, human non-functioning pituitary adenomas also express Pit-1, especially it was expressed in all alpha SU positive nonfunctioning adenomas. The human anterior pituitary cells are special in comparison with rodents in a finding that alpha SU is frequently colocalized with GH. As alpha SU is the first hormone appearing during fetal development in the rodent pituitary glands, it may be postulated that alpha SU Pit-1 positive cells undergo differentiation in the GH cell lineage. From this background, this paper proposes that "alpha SU positive Pit-1 Positive" cells are the ones in the GH cell lineage, more specifically a dedifferentiated cell lineage toward alpha SU/GH/Pit-1.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1999

Degenerative processes of elastic fibers in sun-protected and sun-exposed skin: immunoelectron microscopic observation of elastin, fibrillin-1, amyloid P component, lysozyme and alpha1-antitrypsin.

Degenerative processes of elastic fibers in sun-protected and sun-exposed skin were analyzed by light and electron microscopic (post-embedding) immunocytochemistry using antisera to elastin, fibrillin-1, amyloid P component, lysozyme and alpha1-antitrypsin. To assess the effect of aging and sun exposure, biopsy specimens of sun-protected skin (back) and severely and moderately sun-exposed skin (face and forearms) were obtained from a young age group (1-27 years), an adult group (31-56 years) and an old aged group (61-100 years). Elastin and fibrillin-1 were the essential components of elastic fibers; elastin being localized in the electron-lucent matrix and fibrillin-1 in the dense microfibrillar strands. Aging and sun exposure provoked degenerative condensed spots, which represented widened dense microfibrillar strands, in the matrix of altered elastic fibers in the reticular dermis. Amyloid P component was first deposited on the peripheral microfibrils, and then in the intermediate density zone of the spots. Lysozyme was observed in both the electron-dense core and in the intermediate density zone of the spots. Deposition of lysozyme correlated with basophilic degeneration of the elastic fibers. In the severely photodamaged facial skin of the aged, which showed solar elastosis in the upper reticular dermis, fibrillin-1 immunoreactivity was lost from the thickened and vacuolated elastic fibers that lacked condensed spots, and amyloid P component, lysozyme and alpha1-antitrypsin were diffusely deposited in the elastin-positive matrix. It seemed that amyloid P component deposition on the elastic fibers was closely associated with aging, while immunoreactive lysozyme was related to sun exposure. Vertically oriented, thin, elastic (oxytalan) fibers in the papillary dermis tended to decrease with age, with frequent deposition of amyloid P component but no lysozyme. In the facial skin of the aged, dermal papillae disappeared, with the formation of degenerative elastic globules beneath the dermal-epidermal junction. The present study demonstrated an intimate relationship between ultrastructural alterations and deposition of exogenous substances on the degenerative elastic fibers in sun-exposed and/or aged skin.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Modulation of Ca2+ transient decay by tension and Ca2+ removal in hyperthyroid myocardium.

We investigated the contribution of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the tension-dependent change in the decay of the Ca2+ transients (CaT) in euthyroid (Eu) and hyperthyroid (Hy) myocardium. Hy was induced by thyroxine treatment to enhance the rate of SR Ca2+ uptake. With the use of the aequorin method, CaT and tension in twitch contraction were simultaneously measured under various conditions (changing muscle length and Ca2+ concentration in solution). In both groups, the decay time of CaT (DT) showed a significant dependence on the developed tension, but the tension dependence of DT in Hy was significantly less than in Eu. In the presence of caffeine (3 mM), the tension dependence of DT in Hy became apparent as in Eu. Inhibition of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger by replacing Na+ with Li+ did not affect the dependence in Hy. The normalized extra Ca2+, which is the Ca2+ concentration change in response to a quick length change, in Hy was similar to that in Eu. pCa-tension relations of skinned trabeculae measured at different lengths (1.9 and 2.3 micrometer) were nearly identical in both groups. These results indicate that the tension-dependent change in the affinity of troponin C for Ca2+ works in both Eu and Hy myocardium and that the tension-dependent change in DT is influenced by the Ca2+ uptake rate of SR.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Alterations in contractile properties and Ca2+ handling in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat myocardium.

The mechanisms of the slower time courses of Ca2+ transients (CaT) and contraction in diabetic (diabetes mellitus, DM) myocardium were studied. The aequorin method was applied to papillary muscles of streptozotocin-induced DM and control rats. The time courses of CaT and tension of twitch in DM were slower than those in control, although the magnitudes of the CaT and contraction were identical. The dependence of CaT decay time and relaxation time on developed tension in DM and control rats differed. The length-tension relation in twitch and the pCa-tension relation in tetanus were identical in the two groups. The magnitude of extra Ca2+ (transient increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration induced by a quick release in tetanus) was identical in both groups. pCa-tension relations of skinned trabeculae at different sarcomere lengths were nearly identical. The cross-bridge cycling rate (CCR) in DM was slower than that in control. These results indicate that the tension-dependent change in the Ca2+ affinity of troponin C in DM myocardium functions as in control myocardium. The slower time courses of CaT and tension in DM myocardium are caused by slower Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the slower CCR.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Renal expression of insulin-like growth factor-l in acute renal failure: a preliminary report.

Renal expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was examined in the specimens obtained at renal biopsy from five patients with acute renal failure (ARF) at the recovering phase. IGF-I peptide and mRNA were demonstrated in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells of focal proximal tubules in four patients in whom renal function had been ameliorating. The stainings of IGF-I peptide and mRNA were intense in patients with favorable prognosis. Either IGF-I immunoreactivity or mRNA was not detected in the renal tissues in five cases with chronic renal insufficiency and four patients with renal carcinoma. Our preliminary findings suggest that IGF-I is locally produced in the kidney during the recovery period of ARF and might play roles in the repair processes, and extend the experimental observations in animal models into human pathophysiology.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed1999

Immunohistochemical expressions of prohormone convertase (PC)1/3 and PC2 in carcinoids of various organs.

In order to clarify the expression of prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 and PC2 in various carcinoids and non-carcinoid endocrine tumors, we performed indirect immunoperoxidase staining on total of 19 cases of carcinoids (9 cases of bronchial carcinoids, 4 cases of rectal carcinoids, 4 cases of gastric carcinoids and 2 cases of bile duct carcinoids). Our study also included 7 non-carcinoid endocrine tumors. Seventy-nine% and 26% of carcinoids highly or strongly expressed positive staining for PC1/3 and PC2, respectively. High and strong expressions (3+ or 4+) of both PC1/3 and PC2 were noted in only bronchial carcinoids. Strong expressions for only PC1/3 were noted in rectal carcinoids. Bile duct carcinoids also demonstrated higher expressions of PC1/3 than those of PC2. These results suggested that high expressions of both PC1/3 and PC2 in bronchial carcinoids might reflect their diverse and frequent peptide production. The expressions of PC1/3 mRNA and PC2 mRNA detected by in situ hybridization in the bronchial carcinoids and rectal carcinoids were correlated with immunoexpressions of both of the antigens. The granular immunoexpression pattern of PC1/3 and PC2 visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy would suggest the site of post-translational processing in the secretory granules. Non-carcinoid endocrine tumors showed low expressions (+ or 2+) of PC1/3 and PC2, except for thyroid medullary carcinoma showing high immunoexpression of PC1/3. Other non-carcinoid endocrine tumors (parathyroid adenomas and adrenal pheochromocytomas) revealed low immunoexpressions for both PC1/3 and PC2.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Characterization of positive inotropic effect of colforsin daropate [correction of dapropate] hydrochloride, a water-soluble forskolin derivative, in isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes.

The present study was undertaken to characterize the positive inotropic action of colforsin daropate [corrected] hydrochloride (NKH477), a novel water-soluble forskolin derivative, on isolated cardiomyocytes of adult rats. Simultaneous measurements of cellular contraction and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were carried out. The effects of isoprenaline and ouabain on these parameters were also determined for comparison. The contraction and maximum [Ca2+]i of NKH477-, isoprenaline-, or ouabain-treated cells were increased concentration dependently. Peak shortening of NKH477-treated cells was positively correlated with the shortening velocity and inversely with the time to peak shortening. Maximum, but not minimum, [Ca2+]i in NKH477-treated cells was correlated with the rate of increase in [Ca2+]i and inversely with the time to maximum [Ca2+]i. Similar results were obtained with isoprenaline. In contrast, ouabain increased both maximum and minimum [Ca2+]i. Treatment with either NKH477 or isoprenaline increased cellular cAMP content, but treatment with ouabain did not. These results suggest that the positive inotropic action of NKH477 is associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i and acceleration of its kinetics.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[Treatment policy for colon cancer liver metastases].

Hepatectomy provides the highest rates of cure among the methods for treating colon cancer liver metastases, but it cannot be performed in many cases. Hepatectomy is the treatment of choice for colon cancer liver metastases in our department, but we conduct transcatheter arterial embolization alone or in combination with MCT on patients in whom hepatectomy cannot be performed or those with residual tumor following hepatectomy. Transcatheter arterial embolization is conducted on patients shown to have tumor vessels, following a single intra-arterial shot of an anticancer drug. MCT is performed under general anesthetic percutaneously or by abdominal section in patients who have not responded well to transcatheter arterial embolization, in order to improve the effectiveness of treatment on the tumor overall. We consider the combination of transcatheter arterial embolization and MCT to be an effective treatment for patients with a colon cancer liver metastasis who present with tumor vessels.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Motif 2 in adenosine kinase homologous ginseng polypeptide showed affinity to D-ribose by capillary zone electrophoresis and surface plasmon resonance.

Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were applied to the analysis of anti-lipolytic acidic tetradecapeptide from Panax ginseng roots. The ginseng polypeptide (GPP) and modified GPPs were chemically synthesized and their affinity to D-ribose and adenosine was examined by ACE and SPR. GPP had affinity to D-ribose and adenosine and the binding constants (Kb) to GPP were calculated by both methods (Kb = 1.04 x 10(4) mol-1 to D-ribose by ACE and Kb = 1.91 x 10(4) mol-1 to adenosine by SPR). Most of the modified GPPs lost their affinity to D-ribose and adenosine through substitution or rearrangement of the amino acids.

Adenosine Kinase↗

PubMed1998

Capillary electrophoretic analysis of ginseng polypeptide.

A ginseng polypeptide (GPP) found in ginseng roots and its modified peptides were tested by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) under acidic as well as basic conditions. Modified peptides were synthesized for three purposes: (i) to analyze their functions in the first three acidic amino acid residues, (ii) to analyze their functions in three sequenced glycines, and (iii) to analyze the length of side chains in acidic amino acids. The roles of glycines, acidic amino acids and amino acid side chains in the binding of Mg2+ were studied at pH values less than 7.0. The migration times of GPP varied with the pH of various electrophoresis buffers, and electrophoresis patterns were significantly changed between pH 7.0-7.5. Based on the electrophoretic analysis, it was concluded that the binding mechanisms for Mg2+ or conformations of GPP changed between low pH and high pH.

Buffers↗

PubMed1998

Comparative analysis of genus Vigna seeds using antiserum against a synthesized multiple antigenic peptide.

Antiserum for 33 kDa vicilin-like seed proteins in V. angularis was prepared using a synthesized multiple antigenic peptide (MAP). The anti-MAP antiserum was applied to the protein analysis of all of genus Vigna seeds which are stored in the Gene Bank at the National Institute of Agrobiological Resources, Tsukuba, Japan. The anti-MAP antiserum specifically reacted with 33 kDa vicilin-like proteins and weakly with 55 kDa vicilin-like proteins of V. angularis by immunoblotting and could distinguish between these two types of vicilin-like 7 S proteins. Anti-MAP antiserum reacted with 33 kDa band both in wild and cultivated types of V. angularis (4 spots) and half species of V. radiata (2 spots). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the major immunoreacting spot in V. radiata seeds was analyzed. A partially homologous amino acid sequence with MAP was found in immunoreacted protein and the anti-MAP antiserum was able to be applied as a probe to identify homologous amino acid sequence in other proteomes. V. radiata species could be divided by their immunoreactivities into two groups: the group from Southeast Asia and Australia, which reacted with the anti-MAP antiserum, and the group from West Asia and Madagascar, which did not. The abundant proteins in V. mungo seeds at 55 kDa showed strong reactivity signals with anti-MAP antiserum. The existence of a homologous amino acid sequence with MAP was suggested in the 55 kDa proteins. The seed proteins in V. aconitifolia, V. umbellata, V. vexillata, V. marina, V. unguiculata, and V. oblongifolia did not show any reactions and they do not possess the homologous amino acid sequence with MAP in their seed proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Inhibition of adrenaline-induced lipolysis by ginseng polypeptide and its modified peptides.

The anti-lipolysis by ginseng polypeptide and its modified peptides was examined using porcine adipose cells. Ginseng polypeptides modified by amino acid substitution or proteolyzation reduced or lost the inhibiting activity of adrenalin-induced lipolysis. Correlation between the anti-lipolytic activity of ginseng polypeptide and its Mg(2+)- and ribose-binding activities is discussed.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1998

[A basic study of photodynamic therapy of experimental hepatoma with ME 2906].

We have studied effects of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in hepatoma as confirmed by the existence of hepatoma when using a new photosensitizer mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6. Japanese white rabbits were selected to perform abdominal incision under intravenous anesthesia and transplant VX2 tumor cells into the liver left lobe for the hepatoma model. Hepatoma of 1 cm in diameter (at one week after transplantation) was used experimentally to radiate a semiconductor laser (664 nm, 200 J/cm2) for treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Double squamous cell carcinomas, verrucous type and poorly differentiated type, of the urinary bladder unassociated with bilharzial infection.

A case of a 66-year-old Japanese woman with two synchronous urinary bladder tumors, namely verrucous carcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, is described. Both tumors were accompanied by widespread squamous metaplasia in the background and unassociated with bilharzial infection. The poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, having a satellite tumor in its proximity, was large and in an advanced stage. The verrucous carcinoma was small with minimal invasion to the muscularis propria. The boundary between both tumors was well defined, suggesting colliding growth appearance. Immunoexpression of cytokeratins of verrucous carcinoma was similar to that of squamous metaplasia, and significant differences between verrucous carcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma were demonstrated in their immunoexpression of cytokeratins.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

[A case of bicuspid aortic valve stenosis with single coronary artery].

A 62-year-old female who had a complaint of palpitation was diagnosed as bicuspid aortic stenosis and left single coronary artery by the echocardiographic examination, cardiac catheterization study and coronary artery angiography. Aortic valve replacement was performed and the patient was discharged 22 days after surgery with good post-operative course. Preoperative coronary artery angiography was important in the case of aortic valvular disease.

Aortic Valve↗

PubMed1996

Evidence of metal binding activities of pentadecapeptide from Panax ginseng.

A tetradecapeptide from ginseng (Panax ginseng) root showing anti-lipolytic activity in an isolated rat fat cell assay was chemically synthesized for analysis of metal binding activities in vitro. Binding activities against several metal ions were analysed by measuring mobility shifts during capillary zone electrophoresis experiments. The ginseng polypeptide (GPP) showed the greatest increase in effective molecular electrophoretic mobility in the presence of Mg2+. Mobility was also affected in the presence of La3+, Mn2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions. Analysis with the dye Stains-all revealed GPP to possess a cation binding site similar to those in Ca(2+)-binding proteins. GPP thus appears to be a metal binding peptide. The results of this analysis suggested that GPP may perform its anti-lipolytic activities through an ability to modulate the level of free cellular Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Adenocarcinoma arising within a colonic diverticulum.

A case of cancer arising in a diverticulum of the ascending colon in a 67-year-old male is reported. The 1.5 x 1.0 cm well-differentiated adenocarcinoma protruded from the base of the inverted mucosa of the diverticulum. The surrounding flat colonic mucosa was not involved by the cancerous process. Focal stromal invasion was seen in the subserosal tissue, without association of lymph nodal involvement. This is the third reported case of adenocarcinoma arising in the colonic diverticulum.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1996

[A case of embryonal carcinoma successfully treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy: report of a case].

A 20-year-old man was admitted with a complaint of cough and dyspnea. Chest X-ray revealed a large anterior mediastinal tumor. On chest CT scan, the inferior vena cava was found to be enclosed, and tumor invasion to the right pulmonary artery and left atrium was observed. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was increased. A diagnosis of primary mediastinal embryonal carcinoma was made by the needle biopsy. After three courses of chemotherapy, consisting of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin, the tumor became smaller and the serum AFP level became normal. Complete resection of the tumor was performed successfully. The resected tumor showed no evidence of active disease. The patient has been free of the disease for 3 years.

Adult↗