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Biomedical subjects

H Murata

Publications and source records attributed to H Murata.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy for the detection of parathyroid lesions in patients with hyperparathyroidism].

The usefulness of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy for the detection of parathyroid lesions was evaluated in 17 patients with hyperparathyroidism. Delayed image was used to evaluate the lesions. Detectability of MIBI for parathyroid lesions was 86% (18/21). The smallest lesion detected was parathyroid hyperplasia weighted 270 mg. Ectopic parathyroid adenoma and bone metastases of parathyroid carcinoma were clearly demonstrated. Detectability of MIBI scintigraphy for the lesions including ectopic and metastatic lesions was the highest among those of ultrasonography, CT and MRI methods. MIBI scintigraphy was thought to be useful for the detection of parathyroid lesions, especially for ectopic and metastatic lesions.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Corneal epithelium in keratoconus.

Specular microscopy was employed to study the corneal epithelium of 20 keratoconus patients (17 male, 3 female, average age 23.9 +/- 6.6 years). The patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of the keratoconus; early, intermediate, and advanced. Initially, epithelial changes were limited to enlargement of the superficial cells. As the disease progressed, elongated cells became prominent. Irregularly configurated and nucleated epithelial cells were observed in all cases. Morphomeric analysis showed that the mean area of the corneal epithelial cells was 906 +/- 203 microns 2 in the early stage, 1,416 +/- 521 microns 2 in the intermediate stage, and 1,641 +/- 372 microns 2 in the advanced stage. The shape factor was 0.32 +/- 0.05, 0.76 +/- 0.22, and 0.81 +/- 0.17, respectively. Controls were chronic wearers of hard contact lenses without corneal pathology. Analysis of their epithelium revealed no abnormalities. This finding suggests that the epithelial changes observed in keratoconus are not due to the wearing of contact lenses, but rather to the disease itself.

Adolescent↗

[Medulla oblongata compression by tortuous vertebral artery: case report].

We reported a case of a 58-year-old woman who suffered from progressive tetraparesis and sensory disturbance caused by compression of the medulla oblongata brought about by bilateral tortuous vertebral arteries. The neurological examination on admission revealed tetraparesis, sensory disturbance in all modalities below the level of C2, onion-skin pattern sensory disturbance of the face, and motor weakness of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. X-ray films of the cervical spine showed OPLL at the level of C2.3, but on MRI the dural theca was not seen to be compressed at that level. MRI and vertebral angiography demonstrated ventrolateral compression of the medulla oblongata by bilateral tortuous vertebral arteries. After suboccipital craniectomy and C1.4 laminectomy, decompression of the medulla oblongata was performed. Both vertebral arteries were compressing the medulla oblongata at the ventrolateral side. Transposition of the vertebral arteries seemed impossible due to perforating branches to the medulla. After section of the dentate ligaments at C1 level, the medulla oblongata was decompressed and moved backward. Some small pieces of Dacron were inserted between the arteries and the medulla, in order to decrease the pulsatile effect of the vertebral arteries. Postoperatively, the patient's tetraparesis and sensory disturbance gradually improved. There are 6 reported cases concerning compression of the medulla oblongata by the vertebral artery. As MRI becomes more frequently used in neurological situations, it is important to keep the presence of such an entity in mind.

Female↗

[A study of rCBF measurement with autoradiography (ARG) method using N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (IMP) and SPECT--comparison of rCBF values between look-up table (TLU) and ARG methods, and evaluation of venous blood samplings as a substitute for arterial blood sampling].

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values obtained by the TLU method with two 123I-IMP SPECT scans and one point arterial blood sampling and rCBF obtained by the ARG method with one 123I-IMP SPECT scan and fixed distribution volume (Vd) values were compared in 17 cases. A case with post ischemic hyperperfusion or luxury perfusion was not observed in our cases. The correlation coefficients between rCBF values and Vd values obtained by the TLU method were 0.49 (p < 0.001) in 184 ROI without hypoactive areas on the early image, and 0.61 (p < 0.001) in 207 ROI with hypoactive areas, respectively. A high rCBF value with a low Vd value was not observed in any region. Mean Vd value was 44.0 +/- 7.0 (mean +/- SD) in all regions. The correlation coefficients between rCBF values using the TLU method and those using the ARG method with Vd fixed at 44 and 50 were also 0.98. Error of the rCBF value was larger in the region of high rCBF, however, noticeable error of the rCBF value was not observed in the ARG method. The ARG method is more convenient for quantifying rCBF. Venous blood radioactivity at 10 min after 123I-IMP infusion was smaller than arterial blood radioactivity, and the blood activity in the distal vein was larger than that in the proximal vein. The ratio of venous blood activity to arterial blood activity was 0.92 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SD) at the back of the hand, however, the ratio was a variant in each case. Arterial sampling was thought to be a reliable method to obtain more stable and precise rCBF.

Aged↗

[The clinical value of MIBG myocardial spect before and after CABG--comparison with TI myocardial spect].

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of MIBG scintigraphy, 25 CABG patients underwent myocardial imaging using MIBG and TI. The result of this study indicated that the sensitivity of the MIBG was equivalent to that of the stress TI in detection of ischemic lesions. In spite of successful recanalization, only 14 patients showed improvement of MIBG uptake, indicating that MIBG is not useful for detecting myocardial ischemia just after CABG. The decreased postoperative uptake of MIBG suggests that the CABG procedure may have caused denervation of the region.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

[T cell receptor repertoire of infiltrating T cells in the interstitial nephritis of patients with Sjögren's syndrome].

We examined the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of infiltrating T cells in the kidney, labial salivary glands (LSGs) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients with interstitial nephritis. The TCR V beta gene repertoire in kidney was more restricted compared with that in LSGs and PBLs. The TCR V beta 2 gene was predominantly expressed in six of seven kidneys (86%). Junctional sequence of TCR V beta 2 gene shows that some of these cells expanded clonally. The identical TCR clones in the kidneys were not detected in LSGs and the amino acid (Arg96) in the CDR3 region of V beta 2 gene was conserved specifically in kidneys. These findings suggest that T cells infiltrating in the kidneys from SS patients with interstitial nephritis identify different autoantigens from LSGs rather than superantigen.

Autoantigens↗

Identification of Ro(SSA) 52 kDa reactive T cells in labial salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the self-antigens recognized by autoreactive T cells in labial salivary glands from patients with Sjõgren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: T cells lines were established from infiltrating T cells in the labial salivary glands from 6 patients with SS, using interleukin 2 and phytohemagglutinin. Bulk cultured T cells and T cell lines were examined for the proliferative response to recombinant Ro(SSA) 52 kDa and SSB proteins. The usage of T cell receptor (TCR) V beta and V alpha genes from Ro(SSA) 52kDa reactive T cells was analyzed by family polymerase chain reaction. The sequences of complementary determining region 3 of TCR V beta genes were also examined. RESULTS: Three of 6 bulk cultured T cells and 4 of 16 T cell lines showed a significant proliferative response to Ro(SSA) 52 kDa protein. All T cell lines represented CD4+ alpha beta T cells by flow cytometry analysis. All 4 RO(SSA) 52 kDa reactive T cell lines utilized the V beta 2 gene and 3 lines used the V beta 13 gene, suggesting preferential usage of the V beta 2 and the V beta 13 genes in Ro(SSA) 52 kDa reactive T cells. Junctional sequences of TCR V beta genes from Ro(SSA) 52 kDa reactive T cell lines showed the conserved amino acid sequences in CDR3 region. CONCLUSION: These findings support the notion that Ro(SSA) 52 kDa is a possible autoantigen recognized by autoreactive T cells and that limited epitope is present on the Ro(SSA) 52 kDa antigen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Discrete structural domains determine differential endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transit times for glucose transporter isoforms.

The rate of movement of the glucose transporter isoforms Glut1 and Glut4 from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus was investigated by pulse labeling and monitoring endoglycosidase H resistance in mRNA-injected Xenopus oocytes and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, a cell line that naturally expresses both transporter isoforms. Despite their high degree of sequence identity, Glut1 and Glut4 exhibited dramatically different transit times. The t1/2 values for ER to Golgi transit for Glut1 and Glut4 were < 1 and 24 h, respectively, in oocytes and approximately 5 and 20 min, respectively, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Pulse-chase in conjunction with sucrose density gradient analysis revealed that the rate-limiting step in the ER to Golgi processing of Glut4 was exit from the ER and not retention in an early Golgi compartment. We analyzed the biosynthesis of Glut1/Glut4 chimeric transporters in Xenopus oocytes in order to determine whether specific domains in Glut1 and Glut4 were responsible for their distinct transit times. The first exofacial glycosylated loop and the cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal domain of Glut4 were crucial for its delayed exit from the ER. The first transmembrane, the first exofacial, and the cytoplasmic COOH-terminal domains of Glut1 were largely responsible for Glut1's rapid processing in the ER. Some of the chimeric transporters were not fully processed. Approximately 50% of chimeric molecules containing the cytoplasmic COOH-terminal domain of Glut1 and either the first transmembrane or first exofacial domain of Glut4 were retained in early Golgi compartments and prevented from complete maturation. Normal processing of these chimeras was achieved by replacing the cytoplasmic COOH-terminal domain of Glut1 with that of Glut4. These data suggest that amino acid residues within the glycosylated exofacial loop and the cytoplasmic COOH terminus participate in a rate-limiting step in the folding of both Glut1 and Glut4 or could act as transient ER retention signals. Additionally, these results show that even chimeric molecules constructed from two highly homologous proteins can exhibit aberrant folding and post-translational processing.

3T3 Cells↗

Purification and characterization of a novel superantigen produced by a clinical isolate of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

A superantigen designated as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen (YPM) was purified in an equal manner from both the culture supernatant and cell lysate of a clinical isolate (KUR-1) of Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b. A significant proliferative response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to purified YPM was detectable even at a concentration of 1 pg/ml. The N-terminal sequence of YPM which included 23 amino acid residues was determined, by automated Edman degradation, as Thr-Asp-Tyr-Asp-Asn-Thr-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ser-Leu-Arg-Ile-Pro-Asn-Il e-Ala-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Gly-. This sequence differed from not only all the, hitherto, reported superantigens but also known proteins. While molecular weights of known bacterial superantigens are more than 22,000, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry showed that the molecular weight of YPM was 14524.4. These results indicate that YPM comprises a novel superantigen with substantial structural differences from other bacterial superantigens produced by Gram-positive cocci.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Activation peptide of human factor IX has oligosaccharides O-glycosidically linked to threonine residues at 159 and 169.

O-Linked oligosaccharide chains were identified in the activation peptide (AP) of human blood coagulation factor IX. The peptide obtained from human factor IX was separated into three molecular species (AP alpha, AP beta, and AP gamma) by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid analysis showed that AP alpha, but not AP beta and AP gamma, contained galactosamine in addition to glucosamine, thereby suggesting the presence of an O-linked sugar chain(s) in the molecule of AP alpha. A nonapeptide (AP alpha-D4, residues 157-165) and an undecapeptide (AP alpha-D5, 166-176) derived from AP alpha contained Thr-159 and Thr-169, neither of which could be identified using a gas-phase protein sequencer. All other serine and threonine residues present in AP alpha were identified by peptide sequencing. Component sugar and sialic acid analyses of AP alpha-D4 and AP alpha-D5 revealed that they contained 1 mol each of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc), D-galactose (Gal), and sialic acid. Fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometric analysis of AP alpha-D4 suggested the existence of Gal-GalNAc-Thr, NeuNAc-(Gal-)GalNAc-Thr, and NeuNAc-Gal-GalNAc-Thr structures. On the basis of amino acid analysis after the isolation of AP alpha, it accounted for approximately 35% of the total activation peptide obtained. From these results, it was concluded that a part of the activation peptide of human factor IX in circulating blood has tri- and tetrasaccharides O-glycosidically linked to the threonine residues at 159 and 169.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A piggyback contact lens for the correction of irregular astigmatism in keratoconus.

PURPOSE: Although the combination of a hard contact lens "piggybacked" on a soft lens base for the correction of severe astigmatism in keratoconus has existed for two decades, little is known about its effect on the corneal epithelium and endothelium. This study involves two parts: the measure of oxygen pressure in rabbits, and the long-term effects on patients with keratoconus wearing these hybrid lenses. METHODS: A polarographic sensor was used to measure the oxygen pressure on rabbit corneas under two types of piggyback lenses: oxygen-permeable hard lenses on high water-content soft lenses, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lenses on low water-content soft lenses. In the clinical evaluation, 11 patients with keratoconus (8 men, 3 women; 25.1 +/- 4.9 years of age) who could not wear hard contact lenses due to constant pain or inadequate lens fitting were given oxygen-permeable piggyback contact lenses and were observed for at least 9 months. RESULTS: In the animal study, the oxygen pressure under piggybacked oxygen-permeable hard contact lenses was 95 +/- 14 mmHg after 5 minutes wear, but it was only 34 +/- 14 mmHg when PMMA and low water-content lenses were used. Ten of 11 patients were successfully treated using this technique, whereas one patient had persistent contact lens loss, requiring penetrating keratoplasty. Specular microscopic observation of the corneal epithelium and endothelium did not show any changes during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the efficacy and safety of the piggyback combination of oxygen-permeable hard and soft contact lenses for the correction of astigmatism in patients with keratoconus.

Adolescent↗

Viscoelastic properties of tissue conditioners--influence of ethyl alcohol content and type of plasticizer.

The effect of both the ethyl alcohol content of liquids and the type of plasticizer on the viscoelastic properties after gelation of tissue conditioners was studied by means of a stress relaxation test. The results are summarized as follows. The liquids containing the larger percentages of ethyl alcohol produced the larger flow after gelation. Furthermore, the ethyl alcohol content had a significant influence on changes in viscoelastic properties with the passage of time. Flow properties were found to reduce rapidly with time of storage with an increase in the ethyl alcohol content. The use of benzyl benzoate produced the larger flow after gelation than dibutyl phthalate, which in turn produced the larger flow than butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate. The type of plasticizer, however, was found to have no influence on changes in viscoelastic properties with the passage of time.

Dental Materials↗

Regulation of the production of extracellular pectinase, cellulase, and protease in the soft rot bacterium Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora: evidence that aepH of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora 71 activates gene expression in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica, and Escherichia coli.

The production of pectolytic enzymes (pectate lyase [Pel] and polygalacturonase [Peh]), cellulase (Cel), and protease (Prt) is activated in the soft rot bacterium Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora by aepA (activator of extracellular protein production) and celery extract (Y. Liu, H. Murata, A. Chatterjee, and A. K. Chatterjee, Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 6:299-308, 1993). We recently isolated a new class of mutants of strain E. carotovora subsp. carotovora 71 which overproduces Pel, Peh, Cel, and Prt. From the overproducing strain AC5034, we identified an activator locus, designated aepH*, which stimulated Pel, Peh, Cel, and Prt production in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora 71 or its derivatives. The nucleotide sequence of the aepH* DNA segment revealed an open reading frame of 141 bp that could encode a small (5.45-kDa) highly basic (pI 11.7) protein of 47 amino acid residues. Analyses of deletions and MudI insertions indicated that the activator function required the 508-bp DNA segment which contains this open reading frame. The wild-type locus, aepH+, is localized within a DNA segment upstream of aepA. An AepH- strain constructed by exchanging aepH+ with aepH*::MudI was deficient in Pel, Peh, Cel, and Prt production; exoenzyme production was restored upon the introduction of a plasmid carrying aepH+ or aepH*. Plasmids carrying either aepH+ or aepH* activated the production of Pel-1, Peh-1, and Cel in Escherichia coli HB101 carrying the cognate genes. The aepH effect in E. coli was due to the activation of transcription, as indicated by assays of pel-1 and peh-1 mRNAs. The aepH+ and aepH* plasmids also stimulated Pel, Peh, Cel, and Prt production in other wild-type E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strains as well as in E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. Although the stimulatory effect was generally more pronounced with aepH* than with aepH+, the extent of activation in the wild-type strains depended upon the bacterial strain and the growth medium. Southern blot hybridization revealed the presence of aepH homologs in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica, and provided physical evidence for linkage between aepA and aepH homologs in genomes of these bacteria. We conclude that aepH-mediated activation of exoprotein gene expression is a feature common to most strains of E. carotovora.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Influence of aging on acetohexamide reductase activities in liver microsomes and cytosol of male rats.

The influence of aging on the reductase activity of acetohexamide, an oral antidiabetic drug with a ketone group, was examined in liver microsomes and cytosol of male rats. Acetohexamide reductase activities in liver microsomes of male rats at 26 and 31 months of age were much lower than that in liver microsomes of male rats at 9 weeks of age. Testectomy markedly decreased acetohexamide reductase activity in liver microsomes of the 9-week old rats and the decreased enzyme activity was significantly increased by testosterone administration. These results indicate, at least in part, that aging decreases the enzyme activity by decreasing the secretion of testosterone from the testes. On the other hand, aging (26 months of age) did not affect acetohexamide reductase activity in liver cytosol of male rats, although the enzyme activity at 31 months of age was slightly but significantly lower than that in liver cytosol of male rats at 9 weeks of age. Testectomy or testosterone administration had no effect on the enzyme activity in liver cytosol of 9-week old male rats.

Aging↗

Effects of wearing compression stockings on cardiovascular responses.

To investigate the effects of wearing compression stockings on cardiovascular responses, the heart rate (HR), cardiac output (Q) measured by CO2 rebreathing method, and oxygen intake were measured at rest in a supine position for 40 min and standing position for 120 min. Six female subjects wore the compression stockings after 20 min of rest at supine position. The oxygen intake and ventilation showed no significant difference between with and without the stockings. Q at standing position was lower than that at supine position by an act of hydrostatic pressure. However this decrease was lower with stockings than that without stockings. The compression stockings used in this study might improve the venous return to the heart. However, the subjects complained of discomfort due to the high clothing pressure. In the second experiment, the authors estimated the minimum pressure required in improving the venous return. The subjects wore the trousers having two bladders inflated by air pressure. The trousers could compress the leg (contain the foot) and thigh individually. From the relationship between air pressure and Q, the estimated minimum pressures were 17 mmHg for the leg and 15 mmHg for the thigh.

Bandages↗

Successful treatment by surgical removal of bone metastasis producing PTH: new approach to the management of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma.

A 62-year-old woman had primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid carcinoma. In spite of surgical removal of the enlarged parathyroid gland, intractable hypercalcemia persisted. 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile scanning revealed bone metastatic lesions, although conventional 201T1-chloride scanning failed to demonstrate those lesions. Octreotide inhibited parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, although various means such as bisphosphonates, calcitonin and hydration were effective to reduce serum calcium level to some extent but failed to reduce PTH secretion at all. The CT-guided transcutaneous tumor marking facilitated the subsequent orthopedic surgery for successful removal of the metastatic focus of PTH secretion from the iliac bone.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Neurtrophil function and pathologic findings in Holstein calves with leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency was diagnosed in 4 Holstein calves from 1 to 4 months old. Calves had severe ulcers on oral mucous membranes, gingivitis, severe periodontitis, chronic pneumonia, and stunted growth associated with severe neutrophilia. Neutrophils from affected calves had function defect, characterized by severely decreased adherence, chemotactic movements, phagocytosis, luminol-dependent chemiluminescent response, and O(2-)-producing activities. Deficient CD18 expression (0.1 to 1.7%) on neutrophils was clearly detected by use of flow cytometric analysis. These affected calves were linked to a common ancestral sire that has been documented to be a carrier. Clinical features, leukocyte functional abnormalities, deficient expression of CD18, and mode of inheritance indicated that affected calves had leukocyte adhesion deficiency. In vitro leukocyte functional abnormalities were associated with deficiency in the expression of CD11/CD18. Pathologic findings indicated possible increased susceptibility to infection associated with this disease.

Analysis of Variance↗