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Biomedical subjects

H Matsui

Publications and source records attributed to H Matsui.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immune response to human prostate cancer cell, PC-3: immunogene therapy using a highly secretable form of interleukin-15 gene transfer.

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is important for innate and adaptive immune cell homeostasis. The expression of IL-15 protein is controlled by posttranscriptional mechanisms. Here, we constructed a human IL-15 expression vector consisting of the human IL-2 signal peptide, the human IL-15 mature peptide-coding sequences, and an out-of-frame human growth hormone gene. Human prostate cancer cells, PC-3, transfected with this highly secretable form of the IL-15 gene, successfully secreted abundant bioactive IL-15 protein. In nude mice, the growth of PC-3 cells producing IL-15 was remarkably retarded. NK cell-depletion using anti-asialo GM1 antibody restored tumorigenicity. Histologically, tumors derived from IL-15-producing PC-3 cells contained necrotic areas with high apoptotic index. Splenocytes incubated with supernatant of transfectants killed target PC-3 cells and expressed a significantly high level of mIFN-gamma mRNA. These observations suggest that NK cell-mediated, anti-tumor effects of IL-15 could provide a potential rationale for gene therapy of prostate cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

The apolipoprotein E genotype influences the risk for vasospastic angina.

It has been suggested that people with the epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism and the deletion (D) allele of the insertion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzymes, are at a greater risk for coronary artery disease. However, only a few studies have examined the relationships between vasospastic angina (VSA) and genotype, especially with the apoE polymorphism. In the present study, 76 patients with VSA without significant fixed coronary artery stenosis, 149 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who had 75% or more luminal diameter narrowing and 213 healthy subjects were enrolled. The odds ratio for VSA of the epsilon4 allele carriers relative to the epsilon3/3 allele subjects compared with subjects with IHD and control subjects combined was 0.44 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.93, P=0.021), and that compared with control subjects alone was 0.36 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.78, P=0.005), implying that the presence of the epsilon4 allele indicates resistance to the development of VSA. In contrast, people with the epsilon2 allele showed a tendency to develop VSA more frequently than did patients with IHD (P=0.009), although the frequency of the epsilon2 allele did not differ between patients with VSA and control subjects. On the other hand, no recessive and dominant effects of the D alleles on VSA were found. These findings suggest that the risk of the occurrence of VSA may be reduced by the epsilon4 allele and increased by the epsilon2 allele. The ApoE polymorphism may be associated with IHD and VSA, probably due to the modulation of lipid metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Survival and viral load in four groups of HIV-1 infected hemophiliacs compared by three-way data clustering.

We assigned a total of 131 hemophiliacs infected with HIV-1 into four clusters by applying a 3-way data analysis method. Sequentially acquired CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts obtained longitudinally over an observation period from 1986 to 1992 were analyzed. During the successive observation in this interval, a clustering of patients is not always coincident over all the times, because the cell counts vary with time. Therefore, the 3-way data clustering is to obtain the optimal result of the classification of patients through all the interval of observation. Examining patients' survival after that period, the cumulative mortality rate was highest among the 36 hemophiliacs in Cluster 1. Less mortality was found in Cluster 2, consisting of 49 hemophiliacs and none was reported in Clusters 3 and 4, which included 33 and 13 hemophiliacs, respectively. However, a significantly lower blood viral copy number was found in Cluster 3 than in Cluster 4. A total of six long-term non-progressors was found, five in Cluster 3 and one in Cluster 4, while none was found in Cluster 1 or 2. As demonstrated in this analysis, 3-way data clustering may represent a good data mining technique for handling various types of clinical data.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗
PubMed2001

Lens epithelium-derived growth factor: increased survival and decreased DNA breakage of human RPE cells induced by oxidative stress.

PURPOSE: Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF) has been shown to be a growth and survival factor and to be present in a wide variety of cell types. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LEDGF enhances survival of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells when challenged by oxidative stress or by ultraviolet (UVB) irradiation in a culture system. METHODS: Primary RPE cells were cultured in standard Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 15% fetal bovine serum. Protein blot analysis with antibodies to LEDGF was used to detect LEDGF in RPE cells. Initially, RPE cells were cultured in the standard medium for 1 day to allow attachment to the culture plates and then cultured in serum-free DMEM, with and without LEDGF. The trypan blue exclusion method was used to test RPE cell viability. Single-cell electrophoresis was used to evaluate single strand breaks of genomic DNA after exposure to H(2)O(2) or irradiation by UVB. RESULTS: LEDGF was present in RPE cells, predominantly in the nucleus. RPE cells grew for 1 week and survived for 3 weeks in the presence of LEDGF. In the absence of LEDGF, they increased in number for the first week and gradually died in the following 2 weeks. LEDGF protected RPE cells against H(2)O(2) exposure and UVB irradiation. DNA damage induced by H(2)O(2) exposure or UVB irradiation was lower in the presence than in the absence of LEDGF. The expression of heat shock protein (Hsp)27 was elevated by LEDGF. CONCLUSIONS: LEDGF enhanced survival of RPE cells in culture when challenged by oxidative stress and UVB irradiation. LEDGF protected DNA from single-strand breakage and upregulated the expression of Hsp27. These results suggest that LEDGF may be a potential agent for protecting RPE cells under various stress conditions.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2001

Calcineurin inhibitor attenuates cardiac hypertrophy due to energy metabolic disorder.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that calcineurin may play a critical role in the signalling of cardiac hypertrophy in various experimental models. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether calcineurin is involved in cardiac hypertrophy due to energy metabolic disorder by using the juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mouse, which is a murine model of systemic carnitine deficiency. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiac hypertrophy in JVS mice (C3H strain) progresses gradually after birth and is present until eight weeks of age. In this study, calcineurin activity in JVS mice increased significantly at four weeks of age (the developing stage of cardiac hypertrophy) compared with age-matched control mice. Treatment with calcineurin inhibitor FK506 (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg/day) from the age of four to eight weeks attenuated cardiac hypertrophy without beneficially affecting cardiac function. Gene expression, accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy, was also suppressed by the FK506 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The activation of calcineurin is involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy in the JVS mouse, and calcineurin inhibition may be useful for reducing cardiac hypertrophy.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Laparoscopic pancreas-preserving total gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer. A case and technical report.

Although total gastrectomy with distal pancreatectomy has been the standard surgical treatment for advanced gastric cancer, this procedure is frequently complicated by leakage of pancreatic juice and postoperative diabetes mellitus. We present the case of a 74-year-old woman with proximal gastric cancer who underwent a laparoscopic modification of an open pancreas-preserving procedure first described by Maruyama et al. in 1995. With this novel technique, there is no pancreatic leakage, and at 12-month follow-up our patient remains free of diabetes. Herein we give the details of our new method and offer some caveats for its performance.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Prolongation of the QT interval and ventricular tachycardia in patients treated with arsenic trioxide for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Recently, arsenic trioxide has increasingly been used for relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, it is known to have several adverse effects, including acute cardiac toxicities. OBJECTIVE: To determine cardiac toxicities resulting from arsenic trioxide therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia. DESIGN: Phase II clinical prospective cohort study. SETTING: A university hospital in Hamamatsu, Japan. PATIENTS: 8 patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. INTERVENTION: Arsenic trioxide, 0.15 mg/kg of body weight, administered daily by 2-hour infusion for a maximum of 60 days. MEASUREMENTS: Continuous monitoring with ambulatory electrocardiography. RESULTS: Five patients (63%) achieved complete remission. During induction therapy with arsenic trioxide, prolonged QT intervals were observed in all patients. Ventricular premature contractions were noticed during 8 of 12 courses of therapy. Four patients developed nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and required treatment with antiarrhythmic agents. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac toxicity occurs during arsenic trioxide therapy in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Such patients should be monitored for prolonged QT intervals and ventricular arrhythmia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of pretreatment with SKF-525A on triphenyltin metabolism and toxicity in mice.

The effects of cytochrome P-450 inhibition by alpha-phenyl-alpha-propylbenzeneacetic acid 2-[diethylamino]-ethyl ester hydrochloride (SKF-525A), which inhibits the activity of a number of cytochrome P-450s, on triphenyltin metabolism and toxicity in mice were studied. At 24 h after triphenyltin administration, the triphenyltin levels in the tissues of SKF-525A-pretreated mice were about three times of those in the tissues of SKF-525A-untreated mice and the ratio of metabolites to parent triphenyltin in the tissues of SKF-525A-pretreated mice was lower than those in the tissues of SKF-525A-untreated mice. These data indicate that the pretreatment of SKF-525A decelerated the triphenyltin metabolism and increased triphenyltin accumulation in the tissues of mice. Although triphenyltin did not affect plasma glucose levels of in the SKF-525A-untreated mice, the triphenyltin produced marked hyperglycemia in SKF-525A-pretreated mice. These results suggest that the inhibition of cytochrome P-450 system enzymes by SKF-525A affects the metabolism and toxicity of triphenyltin and has a key role in inducing the hyperglycemic action of triphenyltin, i.e. by increasing triphenyltin accumulation in the mice.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2000

Identification and functional characterization of a novel subtype of neuromedin U receptor.

Neuromedin U is a bioactive peptide isolated originally from the porcine spinal cord. We recently identified neuromedin U as the cognate ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor FM-3. In this study, we isolated cDNA coding for a novel G protein-coupled receptor, TGR-1, which was highly homologous with FM-3. We found that neuromedin U specifically and clearly elevated the extracellular acidification rates, arachidonic acid metabolite release, and intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing TGR-1. Radiolabeled neuromedin U specifically bound with high affinity to membrane fractions prepared from these cells. These results show that TGR-1, like FM-3, is a specific and functional receptor for neuromedin U. We analyzed TGR-1 mRNA tissue distribution in rats using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and found it to considerably differ from that of FM-3 mRNA. TGR-1 mRNA was primarily expressed in the uterus, suggesting that TGR-1 mediates the contractile activity of neuromedin U in this tissue. The identification of specific and functional receptor subtypes for neuromedin U will facilitate the study of their physiological roles and the search for their specific agonists and antagonists.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Histochemistry and morphology of the multifidus muscle in lumbar disc herniation: comparative study between diseased and normal sides.

STUDY DESIGN: This comparative study was conducted on 19 patients (13 men and 6 women) with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The histologic and histochemical differences and changes in the back muscles of the diseased and normal sides were evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To determine the histologic differences in the back muscles between the diseased and normal sides in lumbar disc herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The morphologic changes of back muscles between the diseased and normal sides in lumbar disc herniation were examined using histologic and histochemical methods. Few studies have reported the difference in these changes based on quantitative analyses. METHODS: All samples were harvested bilaterally from the multifidus muscle at the level of L4-L5 or L5-S1 in patients with lumbar disc herniation and then were examined by histologic and histochemical methods (hematoxylin-eosin, Gomori trichrome, NADH-TR, and ATPase stains). The percentage, cross-sectional area (CSA), and lesser diameter (LD) of muscle fibers were measured using computerized image analysis. The Wilcoxon, paired t, Kruskal Wallis, and Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Both Type I and II fibers in the diseased side were significantly smaller than those from the normal side. In the diseased side, the potential strength of Type II fibers was weakened. Some pathologic changes (fiber type grouping, small angulated fibers, group atrophy, moth-eaten appearance, and internal nuclei, etc.) in the diseased side were more obvious than those in the normal side. When the straight leg raising test results were abnormal, both Type I and II fibers in the diseased side were smaller than those in the normal side. The Type I fibers of the diseased side were significantly smaller when the patients had symptoms of central low back pain. The size of the Type I fibers as well as of the Type II fibers did not differ between the diseased and normal sides in patients with unilateral and bilateral low back pain. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that there were differences in the characteristics of the multifidus muscle between the diseased and normal sides in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The changes in muscle characteristics primarily were related to the disc protrusion. In addition, different locations of the low back pain seemed to cause different secondary effects on the muscle characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Depression of long term potentiation in gerbil hippocampus following postischemic hypothermia.

To investigate the mechanism of chronic cell death following postischemic hypothermia, the change of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) were examined by immunohistochemistry of NMDAR1 and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 subfield of the gerbil hippocampus. At 1 week following postischemic hypothermia (32 degrees Cx4 h), all CA1 neurons survived; however, immunoreactivity of NMDAR1 increased in neuronal perikarya whereas decreased in dendrites in the CA1 neurons. The abnormality was still observed in remaining CA1 neurons at 1 month after hypothermia. LTP was also significantly depressed at 1 week after hypothermia. These results suggest that some abnormalities in the glutamate receptor may be caused by ischemia; such abnormality would persist in spite of hypothermia treatment, resulting in the depression of LTP.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Xylem-specific expression of wound-inducible rice peroxidase genes in transgenic plants.

A peroxidase gene, poxA, was isolated from a rice (Oryza sativa L.) genomic library. The gene consists of four exons whose combined sequences were identical to that of the prxRPA mRNA whose levels were dramatically stimulated by wounding as well as by treatment of rice shoots with ethephon or UV irradiation [H. Ito, F. Kimizuka, A. Ohbayashi, H. Matsui, M. Honma, A. Shinmyo, Y. Ohashi, A.B. Caplan, R.L. Rodriguez, Molecular cloning and characterization of two complementary DNAs encoding putative peroxidases from rice (Oryza sativa L.) shoots, Plant Cell Rep. 13 (1994) 361-366]. The temporal and spatial expression properties of the poxA gene promoter as well as that from a second related peroxidase gene, poxN, were analyzed in transgenic tobacco and rice plants using the uidA gene as a reporter. In transgenic tobacco, UV- and wound-responsive cis-elements were located within 144 bp from the translational start codon of the poxA gene. The poxN promoter, however, was inactive in the heterologous host as no significant GUS activity was evident. On the other hand, chimeric uidA genes containing 2.2 kb of the poxA promoter or 1.4 kb of poxN promoter were active in transgenic rice plants. Both peroxidase promoters directed GUS activities in a spatial and tissue specific manner coincident with the expression patterns exhibited by their mRNAs. Histochemical analysis of transgenic rice plants showed that both peroxidase genes are expressed in the vascular bundles of the shoot apex and lamina joint, and in xylem-parenchyma cells of the leaf blade and sheath.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Multiendoscope-assisted treatment for blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is characterized by gastrointestinal and cutaneous hemangiomas and gastrointestinal bleeding causing anemia. We report a unique case of this syndrome in an adult woman. It was associated with congenital heart disease, for which the patient underwent surgery at 12 months of age, and cutaneous hemangiomas, for which surgery was performed later in childhood. Gastrointestinal bleeding was diagnosed and treated when she was 21 years of age after a workup for iron deficiency anemia. Successful total resection of all gastrointestinal hemangiomas was performed by minimally invasive surgery with gastric, small intestinal, and colonic fiberscopy and laparoscopy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient could walk the day after surgery, and she was discharged from the hospital 14 days after surgery. Our experience and findings given in other reports suggest that total resection of hemangiomas should be the final goal and that minimal skin incision is preferable for this benign disease, with multiendoscope-assisted treatment to ensure that any hemangiomas remaining in the gastrointestinal tract are not overlooked.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Magnetic resonance imaging and histologic evidence of postoperative back muscle injury in rats.

STUDY DESIGN: Postoperative back muscle injury was evaluated in rats by magnetic resonance imaging and histologic analyses. OBJECTIVE: To compare the magnetic resonance imaging manifestation of back muscle injury with the histologic findings in rats and to subsequently clarify the histopathologic appearance of the high intensity regions on T2-weighted images in human postoperative back muscles. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In a previous study, it was found that the signal intensity on T2-weighted images of the postoperative back muscles was increased in patients who had postsurgical lumbar muscle impairment, especially in those with a prolonged surgery duration. However, the specific histopathologic changes that cause the high signal intensity on T2-weighted images remain unclear. METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group, 1-hour retraction group, and 2-hour retraction group. Magnetic resonance imaging and histology of the multifidus muscles were examined before surgery and at 2, 7, and 21 days after surgery. RESULTS: T2-weighted imaging was more useful than T1-weighted imaging to estimate back muscle injury. The high signal intensity of the multifidus muscles on T2-weighted images remained 21 days after surgery only in the 2-hour retraction group. Histologically, the regeneration of the multifidus muscles was complete at 21 days after surgery in the 1-hour retraction group, but the regenerated muscle fibers in the 2-hour retraction group had a small diameter, and the extracellular fluid space remained large. CONCLUSION: The high signal intensity on T2-weighted images of the postoperative multifidus muscles in the regenerative phase may be due to an increased extracellular space and incomplete muscle fiber regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Diverse expression profiles of 21 rice peroxidase genes.

Secretory class III plant peroxidases (POXs) catalyze the oxidation of various reductants, and are encoded by a large multigene family. In rice, 42 independent expressed sequence tags for POXs have been identified. By RNA gel blot analysis using specific probes, we show here that 21 rice POX genes are unique in their developmental, organ specific and external stimuli-responsive expression. This would suggest that encoded POX isoenzymes are involved in a broad range of physiological processes in rice plants, individually.

Expressed Sequence Tags↗
PubMed2000

Molecular and biochemical characterization of a serine proteinase predominantly expressed in the medulla oblongata and cerebellar white matter of mouse brain.

A full-length cDNA clone of a serine proteinase, mouse brain serine proteinase (mBSP), was isolated from a mouse brain cDNA library. mBSP, which has been recently reported to be expressed in the hair follicles of nude mice, is most similar (88% identical) in sequence to rat myelencephalon-specific protease. The mBSP mRNA was steadily expressed in the brain of adult mice with a transient expression in the early fetal stage during development. The genomic structure of the mouse gene for mBSP was determined. The gene, which is mapped to chromosome 7B4-B5, is about 7.4 kilobases in size and contains 7 exons. Interestingly, the 5'-untranslated region of the mBSP gene was interrupted by two introns. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that mBSP is expressed in the white matter of the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and capsula interna and capsula interna pars retrolenticularis of mouse brain. Further, mBSP was immunolocalized to the neuroglial cells in the white matter of the cerebellum. Recombinant mBSP was produced in the bacterial expression system and activated by lysyl endopeptidase digestion, and the activated enzyme was purified for characterization. The enzyme showed amidolytic activities preferentially cleaving Arg-X bonds when 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide-containing peptide substrates were used. Typical serine proteinase inhibitors, such as diisopropyl fluorophosphates, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, soybean trypsin inhibitor, aprotinin, leupeptin, antipain, and benzamidine, strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. The recombinant mBSP effectively hydrolyzed fibronectin and gelatin, but not laminin, collagens I and IV, or elastin. These results suggest that mBSP plays an important role in association with the function of the adult mouse brain.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effect of rabeprazole on histamine synthesis in enterochromaffin-like cells of mast cell-deficient (Ws/Ws) rats.

The effect of rabeprazole, the latest proton pump inhibitor, on the serum gastrin concentration, histidine decarboxylase activity and histamine content of the oxyntic mucosa in Wistar rats, mast cell-deficient (Ws/Ws) rats, and their normal type, +/+, rats was investigated. In Wistar rats, 2 weeks of treatment with rabeprazole (30 mg/kg/day, s.c.) induced a 1.8-fold increase in serum gastrin concentration and a 3.9-fold increase in histidine decarboxylase activity of the oxyntic mucosa over the control levels, whereas neither 2- nor 4-week treatment affected the histamine content of the oxyntic mucosa. In Ws/Ws and +/+ rats, the serum gastrin concentration, histidine decarboxylase activity and even histamine content of the oxyntic mucosa were increased significantly as compared with control levels after the 4-week treatment with rabeprazole. Immunohistochemistry using a histamine antibody confirmed the increase in the histamine content of the oxyntic mucosa after the 4-week treatment with rabeprazole. The finding that there were no differences in serum gastrin concentration and histidine decarboxylase activity between Ws/Ws and +/+ rats, both with and without the 4-week treatment, indicates that mast cells do not respond to endogenous hypergastrinemia elicited by acid-inhibitory treatment. Moreover, the present study clarified for the first time that enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in Ws/Ws rats synthesize and store histamine in response to gastrin.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗