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Biomedical subjects

H Sano

Publications and source records attributed to H Sano.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Case report: fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma in a Japanese woman: a case report and review of Japanese cases.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is an entity distinct from ordinary hepatocellular carcinoma and is very rare in Oriental countries. We present here a Japanese case of FLHCC in a 25 year old woman, and review Japanese cases of FLHCC. The patient had mild abdominal pain when the hepatic tumour was revealed by ultrasonography. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C antibody were negative and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was within the normal limit. Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy was performed and the tumour was histologically diagnosed as FLHCC. A right lobectomy of the liver was then performed. Macroscopically, the tumour (10 x 10 x 8 cm) was circumscribed, rather hard and yellowish white. Microscopically, neoplastic hepatocytes were polygonal and large with eosinophilic cytoplasm, which contained pale bodies. A number of fibrous stroma were arranged in thin parallel bands. Consequently, the case was diagnosed as FLHCC. In Japan, approximately 18,000 people die of ordinary hepatocellular carcinoma annually, while only nine cases (including the present case; six males, three females) of FLHCC in Japanese subjects have been reported previously. The mean age of the Japanese cases of FLHCC is 20.9 years old. One case with positive HBsAg, liver cirrhosis and high level of AFP was observed of nine cases. The nature of FLHCC in Japanese subjects may not be significantly different from that in Caucasians, except for male predominance.

Adult↗

Regional strengths of bonding agents to cervical sclerotic root dentin.

The regional bond strengths of three current-generation bonding systems (All Bond 2, Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, and Clearfil Liner Bond 2) were measured in natural wedge-shaped defects in the cervical area of extracted human teeth. A microtensile testing method was used to compare the strengths of resin bonds made to occlusal margins with those made to gingival margins. Controls consisted of normal teeth which had artificial wedge-shaped defects, of the same depth and dimension, created with a high-speed bur. The results indicated that there were no regional differences in bond strength, although bonds made to natural lesions were from 20 to 45% lower than those made to normal dentin in artificially created wedge-shaped defects, depending on the bonding agent. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that Clearfil Liner Bond 2 created the thinnest hybrid layers, which were difficult to measure in the natural lesions. The natural lesions contained sclerotic dentin, whereas the artificial lesions were composed of normal dentin. Although the bond strengths to sclerotic dentin were lower than those to normal dentin, the absolute values (ca. 16 to 17 MPa) were high relative to previous-generation bonding agents.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Advanced glycation end products and their recognition by macrophage and macrophage-derived cells.

Modification of proteins by long-term incubation with glucose leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGE proteins are taken up by macrophages via the AGE receptor, which is similar to the macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR). In the present study, we compared the ligand specificity of the AGE receptor with that of MSR by three different experiments. The endocytic uptake of 125I-acetyl-LDL by RAW cells was effectively inhibited by unlabeled AGE-bovine serum albumin (BSA), whereas the inhibitory effect of acetyl-LDL on 125I-AGE-BSA was partial. Polyanions showing an effective inhibition for endocytic uptake of AGE-BSA were not always inhibitory for endocytic degradation of acetyl-LDL. These data, together with those obtained by three-dimensional fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, indicate that AGE proteins are recognized by more than two receptors, of which MSR is at least one. Finally, we examined whether MSR could mediate the endocytic uptake of AGE proteins by Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing bovine type II MSR (CHO-SRII cells). 125I-AGE-BSA underwent endocytic degradation by CHO-SRII cells, and this was effectively inhibited by unlabeled acetyl-LDL. These results clearly show that MSR mediates the endocytic uptake of AGE proteins, suggesting a new role of MSR in biological recognition of AGE in vivo.

Animals↗

Hearing recovery and its process from the time of onset in sudden deafness.

A total of 547 patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss were divided into eight groups according to the days (1-8 days) of their initial visit after onset, and initial hearing thresholds, hearing recovery and its process were investigated. There were no significant differences in initial hearing thresholds and hearing recovery among the eight groups. However, a difference was noticeable in the distribution of the thresholds at the initial visit and that on the 7th day between groups 1, 2 and 7. Many cases showed rapid recovery in groups 1, 2 and 7. We speculate that the treatment influenced the hearing recovery process in patients who showed relatively rapid recovery.

Deafness↗

Idiopathic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss: its clinical study in cases with rapidly progressed deafness.

In a series of 127 patients with idiopathic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (IBSH) at the Hearing Clinic in the Department of Otolaryngology, Kitasato University Hospital, 20 cases showed rapid progression of hearing impairment. These patients had been treated with the same therapeutic regimen used in sudden deafness (SD). Improvement of hearing loss after treatment was generally less effective in the cases with rapidly progressed IBSH than in the cases with SD. However, hearing improvement was achieved in some cases with rapidly progressed IBSH when the treatment had started in the early stages after the onset of rapidly progressive hearing loss.

Adolescent↗

Effectiveness of fibronectin in myringoplasty using temporal fascia.

A study of myringoplasty with temporal fascia homograft employing fibronectin was conducted in 14 ears in which the same myringoplasty procedure without fibronectin (1-5 times) had failed to afford closure of tympanic membrane perforation. Closure was obtained in eight ears. These results suggest that fibronectin is effective in myringoplasty using treated temporal fascia homograft.

Adult↗

Cephalometric analysis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Cephalometry is useful as a screening test for anatomical abnormalities in patients having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In this study, various conventional parameters in cephalometry, such as the distance and angles determining the oropharyngeal space, and the areas of the soft palate, oral cavity, tongue and pharynx in both posterior-anterior and lateral view X-ray films, were measured before and after surgery in order to evaluate the preoperative predictability and usefulness of uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty and/or midline laser glossectomy (MLG) for the purpose of preoperative assessment and evaluation of surgical treatment. As test subjects, American adult patients with disturbed respiration in sleep observed at Oakland Otology and Apnea Clinic during 1989-1992 and Japanese patients with the same problems observed at Kitasato Univ. Hospital during 1992-1994 were used. The results were as follows: i) cephalometry revealed morphological abnormalities in the skull, and the measurement of soft tissue in the oropharynx provided useful anatomical data to assess the space of the upper airway in each patient before operation; ii) the areas of the soft palate, the whole tongue and the lower half of the tongue were significantly enlarged, and the lengths of MPH, SPL and PNS-H were longer in the apnea group than in the snoring group; iii) in MLG patients, increases in the area of the oral cavity and pharyngeal cavities and a decrease in the area of the upper half of the tongue were observed.

Adult↗

A novel chitinase inhibitor from a marine bacterium, Pseudomonas sp.

A new chitinase inhibitor, CI-4, was isolated from the culture broth of a marine bacterium Pseudomonas sp. IZ208. The structure of CI-4 was determined to be cyclo(L-Arg-D-Pro) by spectral studies and comparison with a synthetic sample. CI-4 showed inhibitory activity against chitinase.

Chitinases↗

Halymecins, new antimicroalgal substances produced by fungi isolated from marine algae.

Novel antimicroalgal substances halymecins A (1), B (2) and C (3) were isolated from the fermentation broth of a Fusarium sp. and halymecins D (4) and E (5) from an Acremonium sp. The structures of these halymecins, Fig. 1, were determined based on extensive 2D NMR studies as well as mass spectral data. These chemical structures are conjugates of di- and trihydroxydecanoic acid. Halymecin A showed antimicroalgal activity against Skeletonema costatum.

Acremonium↗

Highly sensitive ELISA for soluble Fas in serum: increased soluble Fas in the elderly.

We have developed and characterized a highly sensitive ELISA for soluble Fas (sFas) in the serum. The linearity of calibrator range was 0.06-2.00 micrograms/L and the detection limit was 0.01 microgram/L. The average within- and between-run CVs were 3.9% and 3.8%, respectively. The recovery of added sFas to serum was 93-118%. The effects of possible interferences (tryglyceride, hemoglobin, bilirubin) were negligible. We determined serum sFas in 155 healthy subjects, ages 20-69. The mean value of sFas in men (2.50 +/- 0.63 micrograms/L, n = 78) was significantly higher than that in women (2.01 +/- 0.53 micrograms/L, n = 77) (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between serum sFas concentration and age (men, r = 0.397, P < 0.001; women, r = 0.569, P < 0.001). Although the concentrations of sFas tended to increase with aging, it remains to be clarified how Fas-mediated apoptosis relates to aging.

Adult↗

Bond strength to crown and root dentin.

PURPOSE: To investigate (1) the tensile bond strengths of four commercial dentin bonding systems to bovine crown and root dentin and (2) the structure of the hybrid layers for each system bonded to the two dentin substrates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Superficial surfaces were exposed in bovine crown and root dentin. The teeth were embedded in plaster and a 3 mm diameter bonding area was demarcated. The four bonding systems used were All-Bond 2, Super-Bond D-Liner Plus, Clearfil Liner Bond II, and ProBond. Bonding procedures followed the manufacturers' instructions with the exception of Super-Bond D-Liner Plus where the primer was left in situ for 60 seconds. Tensile bond strengths were tested after 24-hour storage in 37 degrees C deionized water. Specimens were also prepared for SEM observation of the hybrid layer, after treatment with 10% phosphoric acid, and 10% phosphoric acid and 5% sodium hypochlorite. RESULTS: Statistically lower bond strengths to crown dentin when compared with root dentin were observed for All-Bond 2, whereas Liner Bond II showed the opposite (P < 0.01). Both ProBond and Super-Bond D-Liner Plus showed no statistical differences between crown and root dentin (P > 0.05). Hybrid layers could be observed for All-Bond 2, Liner Bond II and Super-Bond D-Liner Plus, with no apparent differences between the hybrid layers of crown and root dentin. In the case of ProBond, where the smear layer was not removed during the priming stage, it appeared that the primer had infiltrated and caused hybridization of the smear layer. The differences in bond strength were thought to be related to the different bonding mechanisms of each material, as well as possible variations in the crown and root dentin substrates.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Tobacco MAP kinase: a possible mediator in wound signal transduction pathways.

A complementary DNA encoding a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase homolog has been isolated from tobacco plants. Transcripts of the corresponding gene were not observed in healthy tobacco leaves but began to accumulate 1 minute after mechanical wounding. In tobacco plants transformed with the cloned complementary DNA, trans inactivation of the endogenous homologous gene occurred, and both production of wound-induced jasmonic acid and accumulation of wound-inducible gene transcripts were inhibited. In contrast, the levels of salicylic acid and transcripts for pathogen-inducible, acidic pathogenesis-related proteins were increased upon wounding. These results indicate that this MAP kinase is part of the initial response of higher plants to mechanical wounding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Advanced glycation end products stimulate plasminogen activator activity via GM-CSF in RAW 264.7 cells.

The effects of advanced glycation end products (AGE) on the plasminogen activator (PA) activity were investigated with murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells. AGE-bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed a dose-dependent induction for the urokinase-type PA (uPA) activity. The uPA induction by AGE-BSA was effectively suppressed by the antibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The uPA activity of these cells was also induced by ligands for the macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR). These data provide evidence that AGE-BSA stimulates the uPA activity via GM-CSF through MSR in RAW cells. These findings, taken together with a recent demonstration of endocytic uptake of AGE-proteins by MSR in vitro and the presence of AGE-proteins in atherosclerotic lesions, strongly suggest that the uPA induction by AGE-proteins via MSR plays an important role in human atherogenesis.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and structural characterization of the human histidase gene (HAL).

Histidase (EC 4.3.1.3) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the nonoxidative deamination of histidine to urocanic acid. Histidinemia, resulting from reduced histidase activity as reported in Cambridge stock his/his mice and in humans, is the most frequent inborn metabolic error in Japan. The histidase chromosomal gene (HAL) was isolated from a lambda EMBL-3 human genomic library using the human histidase cDNA as a probe. Restriction mapping and Southern blot analysis of the isolated clones reveal a single-copy gene spanning approximately 25 kb and consisting of 21 exons. Exon 1 encodes only 5' untranslated sequence of liver histidase mRNA, with protein coding beginning in exon 2. A rarely observed 5' GC, similar to that reported in the human P-450 (SCC) gene, is present in intron 20. All other splicing junctions adhere to the canonical GT/AG rule. A TATA box sequence is located 25 bp upstream of the liver histidase transcription initiation site determined by S1 nuclease protection analysis. Several liver- and epidermis-specific transcription factor binding sites, including C/EBP, NFIL6, HNF5, AP2/KER1, MNF, and others, are also identified in the 5' flanking region. Consistent with the hepatic and epidermal expression of histidase, this finding suggests that histidase transcription may be regulated by these factors. We further identify a polymorphism (A to G transition) in the histidase coding region of exon 16. The human histidase genomic structure presented here should facilitate the molecular investigation of symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of histidinemia.

Alternative Splicing↗