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Biomedical subjects

H Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to H Kondo.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Pancreatic pseudocyst associated with eating disorder.

We describe a patient with an eating disorder and hyperamylasemia originating from the salivary glands, who developed pancreatitis with a huge pancreatic pseudocyst. A 40-year-old woman was referred for the treatment of an eating disorder that had persisted for 9 years. She was admitted with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. She had bilateral parotid enlargement with marked elevation of total serum amylase level (3288 IU/l; normal range, 60-220) and an isolated increase of salivary isoamylase activity. After her symptoms resolved, oral intake of food was commenced. She subsequently complained of abdominal pain; this was associated with a slight elevation of serum pancreatic isoamylase and lipase levels, and a huge pancreatic pseudocyst was detected. Percutaneous drainage of the pseudocyst was successful. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated irregularity of the pancreatic duct. Based on these findings, the final diagnosis was parotid enlargement and acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis associated with a pancreatic pseudocyst in a patient with an eating disorder.

Adult↗

Hepatodiaphragmatic portosystemic shunt in cirrhosis.

A case of an unusual form of hepatodiaphragmatic portosystemic shunt arising from the periphery of left posterosuperior portal vein branch, running beneath the inferior aspect of left hemidiaphragm and draining into the left lateral abdominal wall is demonstrated and assessed with digital subtraction portography, maximum-intensity-projection images reconstructed from helical CT during arterial portography and pulsed Doppler sonography with flow velocity measurement. This is a reported case of this unusual intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and discussion on the utility of current radiological techniques.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Direct antiglobulin test negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with autoimmune hepatitis.

A case of direct antiglobulin test(DAT)-negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) associated with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is presented. A 54-year-old female was admitted with liver dysfunction and anemia. AIH was diagnosed based on the diagnostic criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. The patient was DAT-negative, and exhibited all the clinical features of warm type AIHA and elevated levels of red blood cell-associated IgG. Marked improvement of subjective symptoms, the return to normal of hematological and liver test values, and a decrease in the level of RBC-associated IgG were observed after the start of corticosteroid therapy. Although an association of AIH and AIHA is rarely reported, the measurement of RBC-associated IgG is recommended in cases of AIH with DAT-negative anemia, as both disorders are autoimmune in nature.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

Synthesis of sialyl Lewis X pentasaccharide analogue for high-throughput screening of selectin blockers.

We have developed an effective synthesis of sLe(x) pentasaccharide glycolipid analogue 2. As a part of application of sLe(x) pentasaccharide glycolipid 2 synthesized here, we have investigated the construction of a high-through-put screening system for discovery of selectin blockers. As a result, it was found that compound 2 was a useful ligand for in vitro ELISA assay and could be an important material for high-throughput screening of selectin blockers.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Platelet-like particle formation in the human megakaryoblastic leukaemia cell lines, MEG-01 and MEG-01s.

The platelet-sized particle formation in the human megakaryoblastic leukaemia cell line MEG-01 and its subline MEG-01s was examined. MEG-01 and MEG-01s cells spontaneously released platelet-sized particles into the culture medium, in which the cells occasionally extended cytoplasmic processes similar to those of megakaryocyte proplatelets. Scanning electron microscopic images showed cytoplasmic processes elongated from blebs on the MEG-01 and MEG-01s cell surface and were constricted between segments of platelet size. Immunofluorescence staining with anti-tubulin antibody showed that the cytoplasmic processes contained microtubules that were organized into a ring, which is a characteristic of circulating platelets. Some platelet-sized particles, probably released by ruptures at the sites of the process constriction, were metabolically active in an MTT assay (about 50%). Some particles also expressed the platelet-specific glycoproteins GPIIb, IIIa and GMP-140. Rarely, in response to thrombin, particles underwent a shape change from spherical to a shape with irregular membrane protrusions and fine filopodia, and aggregating with one another. The particles also had increased GMP-140 (P-selectin) expression with the addition of thrombin. These results show the usefulness of the MEG-01 and MEG-01s cell lines for the study of thrombopoiesis.

Blood Platelets↗

Diazepam potentiates the positive inotropic effects of histamine and forskolin in guinea-pig papillary muscles.

There have been diverse reports on the effects of diazepam on cardiac contractility. The purpose of this study was to examine whether diazepam modifies the inotropic response elicited by histamine on an isolated guinea-pig papillary muscle. The responses of electrically driven papillary muscle to histamine and cyclic AMP-related inotropic agents were recorded in the absence and in the presence of diazepam. Histamine and forskolin, which directly stimulate adenylate cyclase, significantly increased the contractile force in the papillary muscle in a concentration-dependent manner. A histaminergic H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine, but not a H1-receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, at 10 microM produced a rightward shift in the concentration-response curve for histamine. Diazepam (10 microM) shifted the concentration-response curve for histamine and forskolin to the left by 1.8 and 1.6 times, respectively. Neither a central type (fulmazenil) nor a peripheral type (PK11195) of benzodiazepine receptor antagonist modified the effect of diazepam on the histaminergic-evoked contraction. Phosphodiesterase blockade by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine shifted the concentration-dependent curve for histamine to the left. A combination of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine also produced a leftward shift of the curve. However, there was no significant difference between the 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine only group and the combination group. These results indicate that diazepam potentiates the positive inotropic effect produced by histamine, probably mediated via an increase in cyclic AMP levels induced by histamine.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer between points on tropomyosin and actin in skeletal muscle thin filaments: does tropomyosin move?

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectroscopy has been used to determine spatial relationships between residues on tropomyosin and actin in reconstituted muscle thin filament, and to detect a positional change of tropomyosin relative to actin on the thin filament in the presence and absence of Ca2+ ions. In addition to Cys-190 which is a single cysteine residue in rabbit skeletal muscle alpha-tropomyosin, a new site, Cys-87 which is a unique cysteine residue in a mutant alpha-tropomyosin, was labeled with a resonance energy donor molecule, 5-(2-iodoacetylaminoethyl)aminonaphthalene 1-sulfonic acid (IAEDANS). On the other hand, Gln-41, Lys-61, Cys-374, and the ATP-binding site of actin were selectively labeled with acceptor probes: fluorescein cadaverine, fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate, 4-dimethyl-aminophenylazophenyl 4'-maleimide, and TNP-ATP (or TNP-ADP), respectively. The distances between probes attached to position 87 of the mutant tropomyosin and Gln-41, Lys-61, Cys-374, or the nucleotide-binding site of actin on the reconstituted thin filament in the presence of Ca2+ ion were measured to be 43.2, 49.7, 45.4, and 35.2 A, respectively, and the distance between probes attached to position 190 of tropomyosin and Gln-41 or the nucleotide-binding site of actin were 51.6 and 43.1 A, respectively. The transfer efficiencies between these donor and acceptor molecules were large, so that the efficiency should be very sensitive to changes in distance between probes attached to tropomyosin and actin. However, the transfer efficiency did not change appreciably upon removal of Ca2+ ions, suggesting that tropomyosin does not change its position on the reconstituted thin filament in response to a change in Ca2+ ion concentration. The present results do not support the notion of tropomyosin movement on skeletal muscle thin filaments as proposed in the steric blocking theory.

Actins↗

Substrate specificities and kinetic properties of proteinase A from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the development of a novel substrate.

The substrate specificities and kinetic properties of proteinase A, an intracellular aspartic proteinase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were determined using a series of synthetic chromogenic peptides with the general structure P5-P4-P3-P2-Phe-(NO2)Phe-P2'-P3' [P5, P4, P3, P2, P2', P3' are various amino acids; (NO2)Phe is p-nitro-L-phenylalanine]. The nature of the residues occupying the NH2-terminal region of the substrate had a strong influence on the kinetic constants. Among those tested, Ala-Pro-Ala-Lys-Phe-(NO2)-Phe-Arg-Leu had the best kinetic constants (Km = 0.012 mM, kcat = 14.4 s-1, kcat/Km = 1,200 M-1.s-1). Compared with such aspartic proteinases as pepsin, cathepsin D, and renin, the substrate specificity of proteinase A was unique. Based on these results, a novel fluorescent substrate, MOCAc-Ala-Pro-Ala-Lys-Phe-Phe-Arg-Leu-Lys(Dnp)-NH2, was developed for the sensitive measurement of proteinase A.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

Expression of CD44 variants and its association with survival in pancreatic cancer.

Since the CD44 variant 6(v6) molecule has been noted as a marker for tumor metastasis and prognosis in several tumors, we examined whether or not v6 is a useful marker for evaluating the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. In addition, we attempted to assess the clinicopathological implications for pancreatic cancer of the variant 2 (v2) isoform using a recently developed monoclonal antibody against a v2 epitope. The expression of CD44 variants was evaluated immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded pancreatic cancer tissues from 42 patients who were confirmed surgically and histologically to have received curative resection. An indirect immunoperoxidase method was used with monoclonal antibodies against epitopes of the standard (CD44s) portion, v6 and v2. Protein expression data were evaluated statistically for any correlations with the length of survival or with histological parameters. The expression of CD44v6 and v2 was observed only in tumor cells, if at all. On the other hand, expression of total CD44 (including CD44v, as well as CD44s) was observed in both tumors and adjacent normal sites. Tumor tissue from 21 (50%) and 16 (38%) patients showed positive immunoreactivity with mAb 2F10 (anti-CD44v6) and mAb M23.6.1 (anti-CD44v2), respectively. The expression of CD44v6 and v2 was correlated with decreased overall survival (P = 0.0160 and P = 0.0125, respectively). A significant correlation was obtained between CD44v2 peptide expression and vessel invasion (P = 0.026). These results suggest that CD44v2 and CD44v6 may be useful markers for poor prognosis in curatively resected primary pancreatic cancer.

Antigens, CD↗

Early gastric stump cancer following distal gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Gastric stump cancer (GSC) is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and consequently the prognosis is poor. AIMS: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of GSC at an early stage to assist in its identification, and thereby improve its prognosis. METHODS: Forty three patients with resected early GSC were compared with 156 patients with resected primary early cancer in the upper third of the stomach. RESULTS: Sixty five per cent (28/43) of the early GSC patients showed the elevated type endoscopically, although the frequency of the depressed type in GSC has tended to increase in the past five years. This occurred in less than 26% (40/156) of the primary early cancers. Half of the early GSCs were located on the lesser curvature (47%), and revealed differentiated adenocarcinoma (81%) histologically. The male:female ratio of early GSC cases was about 6:1, which was much higher than that in patients with primary early cancer. The five year survival rates of patients with early GSCs and early primary cancers were 84% and 95%, respectively. GSC had a favourable prognosis, if it was detected at an early stage. CONCLUSION: To detect early GSC, our results suggest that special attention should be given to elevated as well as depressed lesions on the lesser curvature of the stomach, particularly in men, during endoscopic examinations.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Haematological effects of oral cobalamin preparations on patients with megaloblastic anaemia.

We investigated the haematological effects of a massive dose of oral cobalamin (vitamin B12) on patients with cobalamin deficiency anaemia who had severe anaemia with a few neurological impairments and found that oral treatment was almost as effective as conventional injection therapy. The recovery of haematological indices with oral cobalamin preparations was slightly slower than with parenteral preparations, although the subjective symptoms disappeared soon after the start of therapy. The results of this study indicate that oral treatment keeps the cobalamin body stores satisfactorily filled and might be useful for older patients in whom injecting might be difficult.

Administration, Oral↗

Intracellular electrolyte levels and transport of secretory granules in exocrine gland cells

We demonstrate the intracellular transport of secretory granules of a silk protein, fibroin, from the Golgi region to the apical cytoplasm with special reference to microtubule organization, electrolyte concentrations and the acidic intragranular pH of normal and mutant posterior silk gland cells, using the techniques of electrophysiological microelectrode and microprobe analysis and of light and electron microscopic autoradiography. The silk gland cells of a recessive mutant making only flimsy cocoons were defective in the microtubule systems, did not stain with an anti-tubulin antibody in immunofluorescent microscopy, and accumulated intracellular granules in the apical and basal cytoplasm. The increase in intracellular calcium concentration and levels of chloride secretion were also reduced in the mutant cells. A carboxylic ionophore, monensin, which collapsed the granular H+ gradient, induced the transport of chloride and an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration, while it blocked the intracellular transport of granules from the Golgi region to the apical cytoplasm in normal cells. Thus, we conclude that the H+ gradient across the membrane of secretory granules is responsible for the intracellular transport of the secretory granules along the microtubule systems in silk gland cells, while Ca2+ is thought to be required for the exocytosis of the granules.

Journal Article↗

Tonic block of the sodium and calcium currents by ketamine in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

Effects of ketamine on the sodium (INa) and L-type calcium currents (ICa) were examined by using whole-cell patch clamp techniques in guinea pig single ventricular myocytes. The mode of action of ketamine was compared with those of quinidine, a sodium channel blocker, and verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. Ketamine (30-300 microM) inhibited both INa and ICa in a concentration-dependent manner. Quinidine (30 microM) and verapamil (0.1 microM) produced use-dependent depression of INa and ICa, respectively. The amplitude of INa elicited by the first depolarizing pulse after a long quiescent period was slightly decreased by quinidine. During a train of depolarizing pulse the current amplitude decreased gradually, and reached a steady state level in the quinidine-treated cell (use-dependent block, UDB). Verapamil produced a similar mode of inhibition of ICa, i.e., UDB. In contrast, ketamine produced significant decrease in INa and ICa elicited by the first depolarizing pulses and the decreases of both currents were not augmented during a train of depolarizing pulses. From these results, it can be concluded that ketamine produces tonic block of the cardiac sodium and calcium channels and the mode of inhibition is clearly different from UDB by quinidine and verapamil.

Animals↗

Serological survey of antibody to Neospora caninum in Japanese dogs.

Prevalence of antibody to Neospora caninum (NC) in Japanese dogs were examined. The antibody was positive in 15 of 48 dogs (31.3%) reared in the dairy farms that had case of the abortions due to NC infection or had the cattle seropositive to NC, whereas the prevalence was 7.1% (14 of 198 dogs) among the dogs kept in urban areas. In one dog breeder, all 17 Shetland sheepdogs older than 7 months were seropositive, and one pup was diagnosed as neosporosis 2 months before the first serological examination. The antibody titers of the dogs kept at this breeder were almost unchanged for 1.5 years. Serological evidence of the dogs in the dairy farms and urban areas indicates the transmission of NC between dogs and cattle. Also serological results of the dogs in one breeder may suggest the potential horizontal transmission among dogs.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Identification of a single cytosine base insertion mutation at Arg-597 of the beta subunit of the human epithelial sodium channel in a family with Liddle's disease.

We describe a family with Liddle's disease caused by a novel mutation of the beta subunit of the human epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). A 15-year-old Japanese female was referred to our outclinic because of hypertension. The physical examination showed no abnormal findings except mild hypertension, but the laboratory data revealed low levels of plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and serum potassium. A comprehensive analysis of steroid hormones showed only high levels of urinary free cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. During loading tests, blood pressure and serum potassium responded well to triamterene and slightly to spironolactone, but did not respond to dexamethasone. In addition, the normal ratio of tetrahydrocortisol plus 5alpha-tetrahydrocortisol to tetrahydrocortisone in a 24 h urinary excretion test strongly suggested a diagnosis of Liddle's disease rather than apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome. DNA sequence analysis of members of this family revealed a single cytosine base insertion at Arg-597 of the beta human ENaC in the proband and her mother, leading to a loss of the last 34 amino acids from the normally encoded protein as the result of a frameshift. We conclude that a de novo cytosine insertion into the final exon of the C-terminus of the beta human ENaC is responsible for Liddle's disease in this Japanese family.

Adolescent↗

Differential localization of mRNAs for mammalian trps, presumptive capacitative calcium entry channels, in the adult mouse brain.

Mammalian homologues for Drosophila trp are likely to be candidates for capacitative calcium entry channels. By in situ hybridization histochemistry, we have demonstrated that the mRNAs for four species of the mouse homologues (Mtrps-1, -3, -4, -6) were differentially expressed in the adult mouse brain. Mtrp-1 mRNA was expressed widely throughout the gray matters, while the expression for Mtrp-3 was dominant in the cerebellar Purkinje cells, the olfactory mitral cells and the striatal large-sized intrinsic neurons. Mtrp-4 mRNA was evident in the olfactory bulb, the septum, the hippocampal neuronal layers, and the cerebellar granule cell layer, while the expression for Mtrp-6 was rather confined to the dentate granule cell layer. Their differential localization suggests that the individual homologues exert their functions in region-specific and neuron-specific manners in the calcium signaling.

Animals↗