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Biomedical subjects

H Mohri

Publications and source records attributed to H Mohri.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Effects of cardiac surgery on intellectual function in infants and children.

Intellectual function was evaluated by Gesell's developmental quotient (DQ) and Binet's intelligence quotient (IQ) in 161 infants and children (61 ventricular septal defects, 49 tetralogies of Fallot, 15 transpositions of the great arteries, seven atrial septal defects, five complete atrioventricular canals, five double outlet right ventricles and 19 shunt cases; average age 3.6 years) before and after cardiac surgery. There were no significant differences in preoperative DQs and IQs among the patient groups. Although average DQ scores in 21 infants with hypothermic (13-24 degrees C) total circulatory arrest (36-70 min) were not significantly different from the preoperative values, 13 patients with an arrest time > 50 min showed a significant decrease in DQ scores. The postoperative DQ and IQ scores in patients without circulatory arrest or in shunt cases were not significantly impaired after surgery. It was concluded that cardiac surgery did not impair intellectual function in infants and children, although cerebral dysfunction might occur if circulatory arrest was > 50 min.

Adolescent↗

Structure-activity relationships of HIV-1 PR inhibitors containing AHPBA--II. Modification of pyrrolidine ring at P1' proline.

Systematic replacement in the 3- or 4-position of the pyrrolidine ring at P1' proline was carried out. Compound 26, which has a Cl atom in the 4(S)-position was the most active among inhibitors substituted with other halogen atoms or other substituents. Furthermore, the replacement of the Z group in compound 26 with five- or six-membered fused aromatic heterocycle carbonyl groups produced more potent inhibitors. 7-Methoxybenzofuran-2-carbonyl derivative (44) was the best of these and showed Ki = 4.5 nM against HIV PR and IC90S 0.58 microM and 0.06 microM in chronic and acute infections, respectively. These results suggest that the combination of the 4(S)-CI atom and fused bicyclic heterocycles may be effective in improving their cellular penetration.

Cells, Cultured↗

Is outer arm dynein intermediate chain 1 multifunctional?

The outer arm dynein of sea urchin sperm axoneme contains three intermediate chains (IC1, IC2, and IC3; M(r) 128,000, 98,000, and 74,000, respectively). IC2 and IC3 are members of the WD family; the WD motif is responsible for a protein-protein interaction. We describe here the molecular cloning of IC1. IC1 has a unique primary structure, the N-terminal part is homologous to the sequence of thioredoxin, the middle part consists of three repetitive sequences homologous to the sequence of nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and the C-terminal part contains a high proportion of negatively charged glutamic acid residues. Thus, IC1 is a novel dynein intermediate chain distinct from IC2 and IC3 and may be a multifunctional protein. The thioredoxin-related part of IC1 is more closely related to those of two redox-active Chlamydomonas light chains than thioredoxin. Antibodies were prepared against the N-terminal and middle domains of IC1 expressed as His-tagged proteins in bacteria. These antibodies cross-reacted with some dynein polypeptides (potential homologues of IC1) from distantly related species. We propose here that the three intermediate chains are the basic core units of sperm outer arm dynein because of their ubiquitous existence. The recombinant thioredoxin-related part of IC1 and outer arm dyneins from sea urchin and distantly related species were specifically bound to and eluted from a phenylarsine oxide affinity column with 2-mercaptoethanol, indicating that they contain vicinal dithiols competent to undergo reversible oxidation/reduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Calcium-dependent bidirectional power stroke of the dynein arms in sea urchin sperm axonemes.

Active sliding between doublet microtubules of sea urchin sperm axonemes that were demembranated with Triton X-100 in the presence or absence of calcium was induced with ATP and elastase at various concentrations of Ca2+ to examine the effects of Ca2+ on the direction of the power stroke of the dynein arms. Dark-field light microscopy of microtubule sliding revealed that the sliding from the axonemes demembranated with Triton and millimolar calcium and disintegrated with ATP and elastase showed various patterns of sliding disintegration, including loops of doublet microtubules formed near the head or the basal body. These loops were often thicker than the remaining axonemal bundle. In contrast, only thinner loops were found from the axonemes demembranated with Triton in the absence of calcium and disintegrated with ATP and elastase at high Ca2+ concentrations. Electron microscopic examination of the direction of microtubule sliding showed that the doublet microtubules in the axonemes demembranated in the presence of millimolar calcium moved toward the base of the axonemes by the dynein arms on the adjacent doublet microtubule as well as by their own dynein arms. Doublet microtubules in the axonemes demembranated in the absence of calcium moved toward the base of the axonemes only by their own dynein arms. Similar observations have been obtained from the axonemes from which the outer dynein arms were selectively extracted. From these observations, we can conclude that the dynein arms generate force in both directions and this feature of the dynein arms arises from at least the inner dynein arms.

Animals↗

Changes in viscoelasticity of the myocardium during cardioplegic arrest.

To evaluate the efficacy of myocardial preservation during open heart surgery, we measured the viscoelasticity of the canine myocardium during cardioplegic arrest. A transfer function method was used for the measurement with a monitoring system consisting of a vibrator, a function generator, accerometers and a signal processor. Six mongrel dogs were put on cardiopulmonary bypass and after measurement of control hemodynamics, they were subjected to cardioplegic arrest at myocardial temperatures ranging from 4 to 32 degrees C. Viscoelasticity was measured at every 15 min and the cardioplegic solution was added every 30 min. After two hr of cardioplegic arrest, the myocardium was reperfused and postischemic hemodynamics were measured after 30 min of non-working beating. Satisfactory myocardial function returned in 3 hearts with the myocardial temperatures below 24 degrees C with myocardial viscoelasticity within the control range. Moderately decreased myocardial contractility was noted in a heart kept at temperature of 27 degrees C and its viscoelasticity remained in the control range of 90 min of ischemia and then began to decrease. In 2 hearts kept at temperatures higher than 29 degrees C, severely depressed myocardial contractility was noted, and viscoelasticity decreased transiently at 45 to 60 min and then returned to control levels. These results suggested usefulness of continuous monitoring of the viscoelasticity in early detection of its degenerative alterations due to impaired myocardial preservation during open heart surgery.

Animals↗

[Chronic myelocytic leukemia associated with cytomegalovirus induced sialoadenitis after unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

A 26-year-old male with chronic myelocytic leukemia was admitted for unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). After BMT, he developed swelling of biateral submandibular glands accompanied with pneumonitis possibly due to cytomegalovirus (CMV). Biopsy from the left submandibular gland showed giant cells with nuclear inclusion bodies that were positive for anti-CMV-IE monoclonal antibody, there fore cytomegalic sialoadenitis was diagnosed. The administration of ganciclovir resulted in resolution of the pnumonitis and submandibular gland swelling. Although cytomegalic sialoadenitis is not a life-threating complication in BMT patients, it should be noted that biopsy is very useful for the diagnosis of systemic cytomegalovirus infection.

Adult↗

[Hypoplastic mixed lineage leukemia successfully treated with low-dose cytosine arabinoside].

A 54-year-old male was admitted because of dyspnea on exercise. His peripheral blood revealed pancytopenia with severely hypoplastic bone marrow. Bone marrow aspiration showed a marked hypocellular marrow with 62.4% of blast cells. Cytochemical studies showed that peroxidase activity, alpha-nephtyl buthylate esterase activity and PAS reaction were negative, and that only ASD-chroloacetate esterase activity was positive. Surface marker analysis of blast cells showed positive result for CD5, 7, 33 and 34 antigens. The T-cell receptor beta gene was rearranged, but the immunoglobulin H chain gene showed a germ line configuration. Terminal Deoxynucleotydyl Transferase (TdT) was positive, but cellular surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin were not recognized. A diagnosis of hypoplastic mixed lineage leukemia was made and treated with low dose cytosine arabinoside, he resulted in complete remission. The relation between hypoplastic leukemia, AML-M0 and mixed lineage leukemia was also discussed.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

[Acute appendicitis caused by mucorales in a patient with severe aplastic anemia: report of an autopsy case].

A male patient with severe aplastic anemia was admitted for bone marrow transplantation. While waiting for a donor, high doses of methylprednisolone, anabolic steroid and granulocyte colony stimulating factor were given without response. Deferoxamine was administered for prophylaxis of hemochromatosis because of high level of ferritin. Acute right lower abdominal pain and pyrexia developed. A diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made and appendectomy was performed. The histopathological examination of the resected appendix revealed necrotizing hemorrhagic appendicitis with numerous hyphae of Mucorales. Though anti-fungal agent (amphotericin B) administration was continued, he subsequently developed ileo-cecal abscess and eventually died due to myoglobinuric nephropathy caused by extensive necrosis of the iliopsoas muscle. Autopsy revealed dissemination of hyphae of Mucorales in lungs, kidneys, large vessels and muscle of the bilateral lower limbs. Systemic vascular invasion and embolization of fungal hyphae were also observed. However, culture of exudate sampled from ileocecum yielded no Mucorales. It was emphasized that antemortem diagnosis and effective anti-fungal treatments are essential for the management of intestinal mucormycosis. The relation ship between mucormyocosis and deferoxamine was also discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Acquired type 2A von Willebrand disease in chronic myelocytic leukemia.

Acquired von Willebrand disease (vWD) has been described in a few patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). We present here acquired type 2 vWD associated with CML and provide characterization of an inhibitor to von Willebrand factor (vWF) from this patient. His bleeding time was prolonged. Ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination was abolished whereas botrocetin-mediated aggregation was normal. Multimeric analysis of vWF from patient's plasma showed that larger sizes of multimers were reduced. His past and family histories were negative for bleeding tendency. These results suggested that acquired type 2 vWD was present during his clinical course. The inhibitor was purified by Staphylococcal protein A, suggesting an IgG antibody. Both binding of 125I-vWF to GPIb and platelet agglutination by ristocetin were inhibited by the patient IgG with the concentrations of competing substances necessary to inhibit specific binding by 50% (IC50s) of 260 micrograms/ml and 420 micrograms/ml, respectively. However, the IgG had no effect on these studies mediated by botrocetin. The IgG only reacted with intact vWF and a 39/34 kDa fragment of vWF. These results indicate that the recognition of GPIb binding site(s) on vWF by the IgG is a central pathogenesis of acquired type 2 vWD in this case.

Bleeding Time↗

Binding site in human plasma fibronectin to HL-60 cells localizes in the C-terminal heparin-binding region independently of RGD and CS1.

A 29-kDa monomeric dispase-digestive fragment of human plasma fibronectin has been purified by heparin affinity chromatography. The NH2-terminal sequence was determined as Ala1687-Val-Thr-Thr-Ile-Pro-Ala-Pro. By mass spectrometry the molecular weight was determined to be 30,241.9 with standard deviation of 3.9 amu. Therefore, we defined the C-terminal sequence of the 29-kDa fragment as Arg1957-Lys-Lys-Thr-Gly-Gln-Glu. This indicates that the fragment is composed of 277 amino acids. 125I-fibronectin and the 125I-labeled 29-kDa fragment bound to HL-60 (human acute promyelocytic leukemia) cells in a time-dependent, saturable, and reversible manner. Approximately 120 min was required to reach maximal binding. There were no differences in quantity or rate of binding of labeled fibronectin and 29-kDa fragment at temperatures of 4 degrees, 22 degrees, and 37 degrees C. The number of binding sites per HL-60 cell of fibronectin and the 29-kDa fragment were 140,000 with a Kd of 133 nM and 108,000 with a Kd of 250 nM, respectively. The binding of fibronectin to HL-60 cells was completely inhibited by this fragment, and by the peptides of RGDS and CS1 with IC50s of 3.6, 840, and 670 microM, respectively. Native fibronectin inhibited the direct binding of the 29-kDa fragment to HL-60 cells; however, RGDS peptide, peptide CS1, or two melanoma cell adhesion-promoting domain peptides in this 29-kDa fragment (peptide I; Tyr1906-Val1924, peptide II; Asp1946-Thr1960) did not block this binding. Neither heparitinase nor chondroitinase treatment of cells had any effect on these bindings. These results indicate that the C-terminal cell- and heparin-binding domain of fibronectin mediates HL-60 cell binding by direct interaction independently of RGD, CS1, and melanoma cell adhesion domains in this fragment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synthetic peptides demonstrate RGD-independent platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa recognition site in cell binding domain of human fibronectin.

Fibronectin binds to platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa in both an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-dependent and -independent manner. The identification of an RGD-independent binding domain(s) that interacts with GPIIb/IIIa may be the key to understand the mechanism of thrombus formation. A recombinant fibronectin fragment containing the residues from Ile1359 to Ser1436 (lacking the RGD sequence) had been shown to bind to GPIIb/IIIa in a divalent cation- and activation-dependent manner. To identify a minimal peptide ligand that participates in the recognition of GPIIb/IIIa, we synthesized peptides extending this region, which consist of 12 amino acid residues in length and overlapping by six amino acids. We obtained evidence that two 12-residue peptide sequences from this region (residues 1371-1382 and 1377-1388) inhibit fibronectin binding to GPIIb/IIIa by interacting directly with this receptor, with IC50s of 95 +/- 16 and 104 +/- 19 microM, respectively. These peptides inhibited the binding of fibrinogen to GPIIb/IIIa, as well as ADP-induced platelet aggregation. These results indicate that an RGD-independent GPIIb/IIIa binding site in the cell binding domain of fibronectin was localized within the residues His1377-Ile1382.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Transmission of hepatitis C virus from mothers to infants: its frequency and risk factors revisited.

A total of 16,714 pregnant Japanese women were tested for antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 163 (0.98%) were positive. None of these were infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). We conducted a prospective study to discover the rate of HCV infection in babies born to mothers who were HCV RNA-positive but had no evidence for hepatitis (so called "asymptomatic carriers"), and only 2 (2.3%) of 87 such babies became infected during follow-up. This rate was considerably lower than those from other reports which included mothers with clinically overt chronic hepatitis C. We conducted another study to follow babies born to mothers with chronic hepatitis C, and found two babies infected. All of the four infected babies were born to mothers who had HCV RNA in their circulations around delivery at high titers (greater than 5.0 x 10(6) Eq/ml by branched DNA assay). This confirmed the previous finding that virus load was an important risk factor. In addition, we found three families where mother-to-infant HCV transmission was suspected in a retrospective study by indexing HCV-infected pediatric patients. Throughout the seven families, siblings of infected babies were free from HCV infection, suggesting that maternal infection of HCV owes much to chance. Breast milk feeding was not regarded as a risk factor. We also assessed the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among 6-year old children, and only 10 of 10,446 (0.1%) were positive, suggesting low frequency of HCV infection during the period from birth to this age.

Carrier State↗

Predicting relapse of chronic myelogenous leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation by bcr-abl mRNA and DNA fingerprinting.

Fourteen patients treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for bcr-abl-specific transcripts. Nine patients were transplanted in the first chronic phase, three in the second chronic phase, and two in the accelerated phase. All patients achieved a complete cytogenetic and hematologic remission after bone marrow transplantation. Twelve patients are alive (median, 18 months; range, 5-54 months) and two patients died early. bcr-abl mRNA was persistently detectable for 6 to 54 months in four patients (patients 1, 3, 4, 6). From two of them, DNA fingerprint analysis showed only donor type DNA although bcr-abl mRNA was detectable. bcr-abl mRNA was never detectable posttransplant in three patients (patients 2, 5, 13). Six patients had detectable bcr-abl mRNA (patients 8-12, 14): by 6 months, all of these patients were bcr-abl mRNA negative. One patient (patient 7) had detectable full bcr-abl mRNA again at 12 months, but was then negative at 20 months. Ten patients (patients 2, 4-8, 10-13) had never detectable Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome t(9.22) translocation, whereas four patients had detectable Ph1 (patient 1, 3, 9, 14); by 6 months, three of four cases were negative. One patient (patient 1) had detectable Ph1 at 44 months, but was negative at 50 months. Three of six patients who initially had bcr-abl mRNA detectable posttransplant (patient 7-9) became negative for bcr-abl mRNA at the time of development of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). These results suggest that the detection of subclinical Ph1 positive cells by PCR is not associated with imminent clinical or cytogenetic relapse. Moreover, graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity may contribute to the treatment of minimal residual disease in CML after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗