Molecular mimicry between human endogenous retrovirus clone 4-1 and HLA class I antigen with reference to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Antibodies, Viral↗
Biomedical subjects
H Kaneko
Publications and source records attributed to H Kaneko.
Developmental competence, after transfer to recipients, of porcine oocytes matured, fertilized, and cultured in vitro.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the developmental ability of early porcine embryos produced in vitro and transferred to recipient gilts. Porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in modified North Carolina State University-37 solution for 44-46 h (in vitro maturation, IVM). In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed with frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa. Inseminated oocytes were cultured in vitro (IVC) for 0, 24, or 48 h in modified NCSU-37 solution. Embryos were surgically transferred to the oviducts of recipients in which estrus had been synchronized with eCG and hCG. On the 29th day post-IVF, the uteri of some recipients were surgically examined for pregnancy; then pregnant females were hysterectomized in order to examine number and weight of the fetuses. Developmental rates to fetuses for IVM/IVF oocytes cultured for 24 and 48 h were significantly lower (p < 0.05, 1.7% and 2.0%, respectively) than that of IVM/IVF oocytes without IVC (6.7%). However, the weights of fetuses (1.0-1.2 g) did not differ among the experimental groups. The other recipients were examined for pregnancy using an ultrasound pregnancy detector, and pregnant females were allowed to go to term. Healthy piglets were delivered by some recipients to which embryos cultured for 0 or 24 h had been transferred; however, no farrow was obtained from embryos cultured for 48 h before the transfer. The results indicate that the viability of in vitro-produced porcine embryos is decreased by IVC after IVF; however, these embryos have competence to develop to term. An improved IVC system of porcine IVM/IVF oocytes is needed to generate advances in this field.
Animals↗
Intravital laser confocal microscopy of pulmonary edema resulting from intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.
OBJECTIVE: To observe pulmonary edema resulting from intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. We used a newly developed laser confocal microscope to observe the subpleural capillary network and the superficial alveoli under intravital conditions, and created three-dimensional images of the pulmonary microcirculation to analyze the time course and spatial pattern of pulmonary exudative changes during intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, unblinded study. SETTING: Laboratory of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: The rats were injected intravenously with bovine serum albumin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and subjected to 60 mins of intestinal ischemia, followed by 180 mins of reperfusion. During mechanical ventilation, the upper lobe of the right lung was examined in the intravital state using a high-speed confocal fluorescence microscope. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Interstitial edema and alveolar leakage were recognized as changes of interstitial fluorescence in the subpleural capillary network and as changes of alveolar fluorescence in the alveolar cross-sectional view. Although exudative changes in the interstitium and alveoli were observed during intestinal ischemia, there was a marked increase in both interstitial edema and alveolar leakage after intestinal reperfusion. CONCLUSION: We observed pulmonary edema under intravital conditions and demonstrated the utility of a newly developed laser confocal microscope. This system not only enabled us to analyze the development of pulmonary edema three-dimensionally, but also allowed us to evaluate the pulmonary microcirculation.
Analysis of Variance↗
Intestinal Behçet's disease: a case report and review of Japanese reports in children.
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Behcet Syndrome↗
Multineuronal spike classification based on multisite electrode recording, whole-waveform analysis, and hierarchical clustering.
We proposed here a method of multineuronal spike classification based on multisite electrode recording, whole-waveform analysis, and hierarchical clustering for studying correlated activities of adjacent neurons in nervous systems. Multineuronal spikes were recorded with a multisite electrode placed in the hippocampal pyramidal cell layer of anesthetized rats. If the impedance of each electrode site is relatively low and the distance between electrode sites is sufficiently small, a spike generated by a neuron is simultaneously recorded at multielectrode sites with different amplitudes. The covariance between the spike waveform at each electrode site and a template was calculated as a damping factor due to the volume conduction of the spike from the neuron to the electrode site. Calculated damping factors were vectorized and analyzed by hierarchical clustering using a multidimensional statistical test. Since a cluster of damping vectors was shown to correspond to an antidromically identified neuron, spikes of different neurons are classified by referring to the distributions of damping vectors. Errors in damping vector calculation due to partially overlapping spikes were minimized by successively subtracting preceding spikes from raw data. Clustering errors due to complex spike bursts (i.e., spikes with variable amplitudes) were avoided by detecting such bursts and then using only the first spike of a burst for clustering. These special procedures produced better cluster separation than conventional methods, and enabled multiple neuronal spikes to be classified automatically. Waveforms of classified spikes were well superimposed. We concluded that this method is particularly useful for separating the activities of adjacent neurons that fire partially overlapping spikes and/or complex spike bursts.
Action Potentials↗
Organ-dependent modifying effects of caffeine, and two naturally occurring antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and n-tritriacontane-16,18-dione, on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-induced mammary and colonic carcinogenesis in female F344 rats.
Modifying effects of caffeine, alpha-tocopherol, and n-tritriacontane-16,18-dione (TTAD) on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-induced mammary and colonic carcinogenesis were investigated in female F344 rats. Groups of 20 rats, 6 weeks old, were given 0.02% PhIP (in diet) alone, or together with 0.1% caffeine (in drinking water), 0.5% alpha-tocopherol (in diet) or 0.1% TTAD (in diet) for up to 54 weeks. Groups of 10 females receiving basal diet or one of the test chemicals without PhIP supplementation were also maintained. The final combined incidences (adenomas plus adenocarcinomas) and multiplicity (No./rat) of mammary adenomas and adenocarcinomas were significantly lowered in the PhIP plus caffeine group (10%, 0.10) as compared to the PhIP alone value (40%, (1.50). Incidences of mammary tumors in the PhIP plus alpha-tocopherol or TTAD groups tended to be decreased while their multiplicities were significantly lowered. With regard to colon tumor development, on the other hand, rats given PhIP plus caffeine exhibited an elevated incidence (75% versus 15% in the control), whereas alpha-tocopherol and TTAD had no effect. Surprisingly, metabolic activation of PhIP was inhibited by addition of caffeine in an in vitro assay. The results indicate that caffeine exerts a potent chemopreventive action against PhIP-induced mammary carcinogenesis, but acts as a co-carcinogen for PhIP-induced colonic carcinogenesis.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Allergic contact dermatitis and osteomyelitis due to sternal stainless steel wire.
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Aged↗
In vitro inhibition of the growth of Helicobacter pylori by oil-macerated garlic constituents.
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Garlic↗
Characteristics of two forms of alpha-amylases and structural implication.
Complete (Ba-L) and truncated (Ba-S) forms of alpha-amylases from Bacillus subtilis X-23 were purified, and the amino- and carboxyl-terminal amino acid sequences of Ba-L and Ba-S were determined. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the alpha-amylase gene indicated that Ba-S was produced from Ba-L by truncation of the 186 amino acid residues at the carboxyl-terminal region. The results of genomic Southern analysis and Western analysis suggested that the two enzymes originated from the same alpha-amylase gene and that truncation of Ba-L to Ba-S occurred during the cultivation of B. subtilis X-23 cells. Although the primary structure of Ba-S was approximately 28% shorter than that of Ba-L, the two enzyme forms had the same enzymatic characteristics (molar catalytic activity, amylolytic pattern, transglycosylation ability, effect of pH on stability and activity, optimum temperature, and raw starch-binding ability), except that the thermal stability of Ba-S was higher than that of Ba-L. An analysis of the secondary structure as well as the predicted three-dimensional structure of Ba-S showed that Ba-S retained all of the necessary domains (domains A, B, and C) which were most likely to be required for functionality as alpha-amylase.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in mycobacterial infection in IL-18-gene-disrupted mice.
Immunity to mycobacterial infection is closely linked to the emergence of T cells that secrete cytokines, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), resulting in macrophage activation and recruitment of circulating monocytes to initiate chronic granuloma formation. The cytokine that mediates macrophage activation is IFN-gamma, and, like IL-12, IL-18 was shown to activate Th1 cells and induce IFN-gamma production by these cells. In order to investigate the role of IL-18 in mycobacterial infection, IL-18-deficient mice were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur, and their capacities to control bacterial growth, granuloma formation, cytokine secretion, and NO production were examined. These mice developed marked granulomatous, but not necrotic, lesions in their lungs and spleens. Compared with the levels in wild-type mice, the splenic IFN-gamma levels were low but the IL-12 levels were normal in IL-18-deficient mice. The reduced IFN-gamma production was not secondary to reduced induction of IL-12 production. The levels of NO production by peritoneal macrophages of IL-18-deficient and wild-type mice did not differ significantly. Granulomatous lesion development by IL-18-deficient mice was inhibited significantly by treatment with exogenous recombinant IL-18. Therefore, IL-18 is important for the generation of protective immunity to mycobacteria, and its main function is the induction of IFN-gamma expression.
Animals↗
Effect of age and weaning on gastric mucosal injury in developing rats.
We evaluated ethanol- and HCl-induced mucosal damages in developing rats. The degree of damage induced by ethanol and HCl was greatest in 1-week-old rats and decreased significantly with age until 4 weeks; thereafter it increased again. To evaluate the effect of weaning on the maturational changes in mucosal defense, we compared ethanol-induced mucosal damage among three groups of newborn rats: (1) receiving milk only; (2) receiving only rat chow from 14 days of age, and (3) having free access to milk and chow. There were no significant differences at 18 and 21 days of age. The mucus thickness increased with age until 8 weeks and was not affected by weaning. In conclusion, developmental changes occur in gastric mucosal protection in rats. Weaning does not have a significant effect on these changes.
Aging↗
Analysis of gastrointestinal sounds in infants with pyloric stenosis before and after pyloromyotomy.
BACKGROUND: Although recent advances in computer technology enable us to analyze gastrointestinal sounds data objectively with ease, this clinical application has been investigated in only a few disorders. To investigate one potential role of this approach in pediatric practice, we recorded and analyzed gastrointestinal sounds in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), a motility-related disorder that is common in children. METHODS: In 15 infants with pyloric stenosis, gastrointestinal sounds were collected with a microphone placed 3 cm below the umbilicus for 60 minutes before pyloromyotomy and at 9 to 12 hours, 20 to 24 hours, 40 to 48 hours, and 112 to 120 hours after the operation. Data were entered into a computer to sum the amplitude of sound signals as a sound index (SI; mV per minute). In 12 infants, gastric emptying was measured immediately before each sound recording, using a marker dilution-double sampling method. RESULTS: Before surgery, the mean SI was 4.6 +/- 1.0 mV per minute, significantly less than in healthy controls (31.7 +/- 8.4 mV per minute). The SI remained in a similar range until 12 hours after operation, after which it began increasing to reach the normal range by 48 hours after operation (30. 0 +/- 9.4 mV per minute). Gastric emptying, also low in HPS before pyloromyotomy, increased by 4 to 5 times after surgery. There was a significant positive correlation between SI and gastric emptying. The incidence of postoperative symptoms (such as vomiting) were correlated significantly with SI at 24 hours after surgery. CONCLUSION: This study found decreased gastrointestinal sounds to be among physical findings suggestive of HPS and a useful indicator of gastric emptying and bowel motility after pyloromyotomy. Computer-assisted analysis of gastrointestinal sounds might be helpful in clinical practice for pediatric patients with some gastrointestinal disorders.
Analysis of Variance↗
A quantitative comparison of induction and challenge concentrations inducing a 50% positive response in three skin sensitization tests; the guinea pig maximization test, adjuvant and patch test and Buehler test.
The sensitivities of three skin sensitization tests such as the Guinea pig maximization test (GPMT), Adjuvant and patch test (APT) and Buehler test (BT), were quantitatively compared with reference to induction and challenge concentrations. Four chemical which had different physico-chemical properties (octanol-water partition coefficient (logP) and reactivity with NH2-group) were used in order to clarify the effect of the physico-chemical properties of chemicals on the sensitivity of the different methods. The induction concentrations inducing a 50% positive response (IC50) demonstrated extreme variation with the three methods. For example, the BT/GPMT ratio of IC50 values for 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene was 33, whereas that for maleic anhydride was 300,000. The results were thought to be caused by difference properties such as the logP and reactivity of chemicals. This correlation was confirmed by using 2-dodecen-1-yl succinic anhydride, which had the same reactivity but higher logP than that of maleic anhydride. On the other hand, the challenge concentrations inducing 50% positive responses (CC50) were less affected by the methods and the BT/GPMT ratios for CC50 values were all within a 10-fold range. These results suggest that the sensitivity might be strongly different with reference to induction concentration, but not challenge concentration among the three methods.
Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
Circulating levels of beta-chemokines in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence suggests the role of beta-chemokines and their receptors in human immunodeficiency virus infection. We examined the serum levels of beta-chemokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: The serum levels of beta-chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-1beta, RANTES, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in patients with SLE were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the patients with SLE and healthy controls in the serum concentrations of RANTES (p < 0.001) and MCP-1 (p < 0.01), but not MIP-1alpha (p = 0.07) and MIP-1beta (p = 0.68). A decrease of RANTES and an increase of MCP-1 was observed with the progression of disease activity in the patients with SLE. CONCLUSION: Changes in the serum levels of RANTES and MCP-1 may indicate an interaction between SLE disease activity and the production of beta-chemokines.
Adolescent↗
Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Mycobacterium-induced granuloma formation in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-deficient mice.
To study the role of TNF-alpha in mycobacterial infection, we generated TNF-alpha-knockout (KO) mice, in which the third and fourth exons of the TNF-alpha gene were disrupted. The C57BL/6 KO mice were injected with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Kurono or avirulent bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Pasteur (10(6) colony-forming units), through the tail veins. The major organs were removed at weekly intervals, and morphologic observation, assays of IL-1, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression, and colony counts in the lungs and spleen were performed. Peritoneal macrophages from BCG- and H37Rv strain-treated mice produced significant levels of nitric oxide after stimulation in vitro. Formation of abscesses was seen only in the Kurono-treated groups, and these abscesses contained large numbers of mycobacteria. The administration of recombinant TNF-alpha significantly ameliorated the mycobacterial lesions. IFN-gamma mRNA was expressed significantly in virulent H37Rv-treated groups with time, and the number of mycobacterial colonies per unit weight increased remarkably with time. Nitric oxide production was not observed in H37Rv-treated groups but was seen in BCG-treated groups. We concluded that TNF-alpha played an important role in protective immunity against virulent mycobacteria. Because avirulent mycobacteria did not induce granulomas in TNF-alpha-KO mice, TNF-alpha played an indirect role in granuloma formation.
Animals↗
[Pulmonary tumor mass aberration into the bronchus of the intact right lung during total left lung resection].
A 77-year-old male with lung cancer underwent a total left lung resection. During surgery, there was no ventilatory trouble such as hypoventilation or hypoxia. However, a mass was found in the right main bronchus by endobronchial fiberscopy before extubation. Because the mass could not be aspirated through the endobronchial fiberscope, we extracted it using basket-foreceps. We speculated that surgical procedures may have caused the tumor mass to move to the bronchus of the contralateral intact lung. Accordingly, fiberscopic examination of the airway before extubation should be mandatory, even if there is no ventilatory trouble during lung resection.
Aged↗
Pharmacologic characteristics of non-prostanoid, non-nitric oxide mediated and endothelium-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig aorta in response to substance P.
The pharmacologic characteristics of the non-prostanoid (prostacyclin, PGI2), non-nitric oxide (NO) mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to substance P were examined in the guinea-pig aorta. Substance P, in a concentration-dependent manner, relaxed the ring preparations of guinea-pig thoracic aorta preconstricted with norepinephrine (NE) in an endothelium-dependent manner. Substance P-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was not affected by indomethacin (3 x 10(-6) M) as in the case of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. Although N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 3 x 10(-5) M), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, significantly inhibited substance P-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the presence of indomethacin, about 50% of the vasorelaxant response to substance P remained in the combined presence of L-NNA and indomethacin. By comparison, indomethacin-resistant component of endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was mostly suppressed by the treatment with L-NNA plus indomethacin. Substance P-induced non-PGI2, non-NO mediated vascular relaxation was attenuated markedly in high (40 mM) KCl solution or by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 5 x 10(-3) M). Furthermore, substance P-induced non- PGI2, non-NO mediated vascular relaxation was not appreciably affected by glibenclamide (10(-6) M), apamin (10(-7) M), iberiotoxin (1(-7) M), but was greatly attenuated by the combined treatment with charybdotoxin (10(-7) M) plus apamin (10(-7) M), which suggesting that endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor(s) (EDHF(s)) mediates the response. Interestingly, after applied repetitively, the substance P-induced vasorelaxant component remaining in the combined presence of indomethacin and L-NNA was decreased more profoundly than the response to substance P in the presence of indomethacin alone. Possible contribution of non-PGI2, non-NO vasorelaxant(s) (EDHF(s)) from the endothelium to the total relaxation response to substance P was greater in thoracic aorta isolated from adult guinea-pigs than that from neonatal ones. These findings suggest that 1) endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation of guinea-pig thoracic aorta in response to substance P is attributable to the release of both NO and EDHF(s); 2) possible release of EDHF(s) from the endothelium of guinea-pig thoracic aorta decreases after repetitive stimulation with substance P; and 3) contribution of EDHF(s) to substance P-induced functional relaxation of the thoracic aorta is greater in adult guinea-pigs than neonatal ones.
Aging↗
[A case of triple cancers with gastric, jejunal and colonic cancers].
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Adenocarcinoma↗