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H Sasaki

Publications and source records attributed to H Sasaki.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Human airway submucosal glands augment eosinophil chemotaxis during rhinovirus infection.

BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations are frequently associated with rhinovirus (RV) infections. However, the contribution of airway submucosal gland (SMG) to exacerbations of asthma in RV respiratory infection has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to examine whether RV-infected human respiratory SMG cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines for eosinophils, and augment eosinophil transmigration across human airway epithelium. METHODS: We infected cultured human tracheal SMG cells with RV14, collected culture media at 1, 3, and 5 days after infection, and measured the chemotactic activity for eosinophils in the culture supernatant using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber and a (51)Cr-labelled eosinophil transmigration assay. RESULTS: Exposing a confluent human tracheal SMG cell monolayer to RV14 consistently led to infection. Human SMG cells with RV infection secreted soluble factors activating human eosinophil chemotaxis into the culture supernatant in a time-dependent manner, and the culture supernatant significantly augmented the transmigration of (51)Cr-labelled eosinophils through human airway epithelial cell layers from the basal to mucosal side. These effects were completely abolished by a mixture of a monoclonal antibody regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) and an antibody to granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that human respiratory SMG cells may augment eosinophil transmigration across the airway epithelium through the secretion of RANTES and GM-CSF after RV infection, and may contribute to exacerbations of asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Molecular analysis of age-related changes of Streptococcus anginosus group and Streptococcus mitis in saliva.

The purpose of this study was to survey the prevalence of streptococcal species, especially Streptococcus anginosus (which has been reported to be associated with cancer in the upper digestive tract), Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus intermedius in the saliva of different age groups. A sequence analysis of 16S rDNA was performed and DNA quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The S. anginosus level increased with age, whereas the levels of S. constellatus and S. intermedius did not change. Streptococcus mitis was the predominant species in the saliva of all the age groups but, unlike the S. anginosus, the proportion of S. mitis in the salivary bacteria decreased with age. The increase in S. anginosus with age should be carefully monitored because of its association with diseases, including cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

An anatomical study of an electric organ and its nerve supply in the electric ray (Torpedinidae Narke japonica).

Despite anatomist's great interest in the electric organ (EO) of the electric ray, its detailed morphology remains unclear. In order to understand more completely the architecture of the EO and the branchial organ, it is necessary to examine detailed relationships regarding the origin, course and distribution of nerves innervating the EO. We thus carried out a macroscopic and microscopic anatomical study, focusing on issues, using the 18 sides of nine electric rays. The following results were obtained: (i) the EO was innervated exclusively by the facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves; (ii) although these three cranial nerves consistently innervated the EO, variation in the number of the nerves innervating the EO was observed; (iii) cranial nerves innervated the EO in a segmental manner, at both entry and in the area of distribution. These results suggest that the EO of the electric ray might have differentiated from a non-constant branchial muscle anlage but preserves the branchial segments in terms of the craniocaudal, dorsoventral and proximodistal axes.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Acute aortic dissection 16 months after aortic valve replacement; report of a case].

A 63-year-old man complained of chest pain and back pain 16 months after aortic valve replacement. Computed tomography (CT) showed acute aortic dissection (Stanford A) and we decided to perform operation. We found an entry at aortotomy on operative findings. Under hypothermic circulatory arrest graft replacement of ascending aorta was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Effect of C/N ratio on nitrous oxide emission from swine wastewater treatment process.

To evaluate control parameters for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in the swine wastewater treatment process, the N2O emission was compared in the activated sludge from SBRs acclimated in different carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios. N2O emission from a denitrification phase was very strongly dependent on C/N ratio of swine wastewater, and the total N2O emission in the operating condition of BOD5/TN ratio of 2.6 was approximately 270 times greater than that in BOD5/TN ratio of 4.5. However, the effect of C/N ratio on N2O emission amount from nitrification was not significant in an oxic phase study. It is considered that stabilization of the C/N ratio through optimal solid-liquid separation of slurry or use of an external carbon source is indispensable for effective N2O emission control from nitrogen removal process of swine wastewater.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Arch aneurysm after coronary artery bypass grafting, report of a case].

A 63-year-old woman had undergone graft replacement for abdominal aortic aneurysm in 1992, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using saphenous vein grafts in 1995. At that time arch aneurysm (4.7 cm) was pointed out. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed dilated arch aneurysm (7 cm) in 2000. We performed an operation for arch aneurysm. As the bypass graft to obtuse marginal branch was close to aneurysm, aortic closs clamp was impossible. So we injected potassium chloride to aortic root and cardiac arrest was obtained. Total arch replacement for arch aneurysm was performed and postoperative course was uneventful.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed2004

Automatic control strategy for biological nitrogen removal of low C/N wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor.

To establish an automatic control system of external carbon addition in biological nitrogen removal, a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor with real-time control strategy was designed in this study. An oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) profile was used for automatic control of external carbon addition. The mean removal efficiency of total organic carbon was over 98%. Complete denitrification in an anoxic phase and complete denitrification and nitrification in anoxic and oxic phases were accomplished, respectively, because the oxic and anoxic periods were also appropriately controlled with ORP and pH profiles, respectively. Mean removal efficiency of total nitrogen was over 95%. When concentration of influent wastewater was changed, volume of additional carbon was automatically changed with the influent fluctuation, and flexible hydraulic retention time was achieved in this system.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2003

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma presenting as myelofibrosis associated with bone marrow involvement of lymphoma cells which secrete a large amount of TGF-beta.

We report here on a patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma presenting diffuse fibrosis of bone marrow and spleen. After splenectomy and chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsy demonstrated an improvement of fibrosis. Plasma concentration of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta was much higher in this patient than in those of age-matched non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients ( n=5) at diagnosis, decreasing after resolution of myelofibrosis. Immunostaining with the TGF-beta antibody revealed that the lymphoma cells in bone marrow and spleen were positive for TGF-beta. TGF-beta secreted by tumor cells was thought to stimulate the growth of fibroblasts and synthesize collagen in bone marrow and splenic fibroblasts, and play an important role in the development of marrow and splenic fibrosis in this patient. This is the first report of a patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma presenting as myelofibrosis associated with bone marrow involvement of lymphoma cells which secrete a large amount of TGF-beta.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

GNE mutations causing distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles with inflammation.

The authors describe a family in which two individuals have clinical distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV). While the clinical and most of the pathologic features in these patients were compatible with a diagnosis of DMRV, the presence of inflammatory changes in the connective tissue between muscle fibers was not. Gene analysis revealed a compound heterozygous mutation in these individuals, characterized by V572L and I472T.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

SAGE mRNA expression in advanced-stage lung cancers.

AIMS: SAGE and HAGE are recently isolated genes, which were thought to be expressed tumour-specifically, and are potentially coding for tumour-specific antigens recognized by T lymphocytes. The expression of these genes may serve as a useful diagnostic marker in detecting malignant disease. We report the correlation of SAGE and HAGE expression with clinicopathological features in patients with lung cancer who had undergone surgery. METHODS: Expression of SAGE and HAGE messenger RNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 102 lung carcinomas and adjacent histological normal lung samples using LightCycler. RESULTS: SAGE/GAPDH mRNA expression was not significantly different between the tumour of lung cancer tissue (3.777+/-10.802) and normal lung tissue (3.028+/-3.356, p=0.7283). There was no relationship between SAGE gene expression and age, gender or N-status. SAGE/GAPDH expression was significantly higher in stage III-IV lung cancer (6.180+/-16.475) than in stage I lung cancer (1.534+/-2.591, p=0.0393). SAGE/GAPDH expression was also significantly higher in T4 lung cancer (9.183+/-23.117) than in T2 lung cancer (2.676+/-5.943, p=0.0362) and T1 lung cancer (2.373+/-3.433, p=0.0371). CONCLUSIONS: Detection for SAGE mRNA expression is possible in lung cancer samples. There was no relationship between HAGE gene expression and clinicopathological factor, such that the usefulness of detection for HAGE mRNA expression is limited for lung cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed2003

FHIT mRNA expression in thymoma.

AIMS: The FHIT gene is located at 3p14.2 a region frequently lost in multiple tumour types. Loss of FHIT expression has been found to occur frequently in multiple tumour types. We wished to investigate that FHIT mRNA levels in a series of thymomas. METHODS: Expression of FHIT messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a LightCycler in 49 thymomas and 11 adjacent histologically normal thymus samples from patients. RESULTS: FHIT transcripts in tumour samples (28.6+/-35.8) at levels significantly lower than those in normal thymus samples (573.9+/-1028.0, p=0.001). No relationship was seen between FHIT gene expression and age, gender, or pathological thymoma subtypes. FHIT mRNA expression in invasive thymomas (stage II-IV, 34.5+/-39.2) was significantly higher than that in stage I thymomas (20.7+/-29.7, p=0.01). Immunohistochemistry showed that p21 protein positive thymoma had a tendency towards higher FHIT gene expression than in p21 negative thymoma. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased FHIT expression might be seen in early stage thymoma, suggesting that loss of FHIT expression may associate with tumorigenesis of thymoma.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗
PubMed2003

Clinical significance of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase mRNA expression in thymoma.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes which degrade extracellular matrix and basement membrane. There is much evidence that their increased expression is correlated with tumor aggressiveness in various carcinomas. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are the specific inhibitors of MMPs. MMPs and TIMPs are considered to play an important role in carcinoma invasion and metastasis. We hypothesized that MMPs and TIMPs also play an important role in thymoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 34 thymoma cases. The mRNA levels of MMP-1, -7, and -9, TIMP-1 and -2, and GAPDH were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction using LightCycler. We also performed immunohistochemistry for TIMP-1. RESULTS: The TIMP-1/GAPDH mRNA expression level was significantly higher in invasive (stage II-IV) thymomas (means +/- SE, 81.4 +/- 28.1) than in noninvasive (stage I) thymomas (30.9 +/- 8.3, P = 0.026). The MMP-1/GAPDH mRNA expression level was also higher in invasive thymomas (19.7 +/- 7.5) than in non invasive thymomas (2.26 +/- 1.72, P = 0.020). Immunopositivity of TIMP-1 was localized in stromal cells adjacent to the advancing margin of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that TIMPs and MMPs play an important role in the invasion of thymoma.

Gene Expression↗
PubMed2003

Angioarrestin mRNA expression in early-stage lung cancers.

AIMS: Angioarrestin is a recently isolated gene, which has a novel function as an angiogenesis inhibitor. Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumorigenesis. It has been reported that the angioarrestin expression was decreased in lung cancer. We attempted to determine the influence of angioarrestin expression on clinicopathological features in patients with lung cancer who had undergone surgery. METHODS: Expression of angioarrestin messenger RNA was evaluated by a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 93 lung carcinomas and adjacent histological normal lung samples using LightCycler. RESULTS: Angioarrestin/GAPDH mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the tumor of lung cancer tissue (86.676+/-123.505) than in the normal lung tissue (1154.218+/-2003.508, p<0.0001), although only four lung cancer tissues had more than one tumor/normal ratio of angioarrestin/GAPDH mRNA expression. There was no relationship between angioarrestin gene expression and age, gender or T-status. However, decreased angioarrestin/GAPDH expression was especially seen at stage I lung cancer (54.156+/-62.783) when compared to stage II-IV lung cancer (110.315+/-151.359, p=0.0316). Decreased angioarrestin/GAPDH expression was especially seen at N0 lung cancer (56.396+/-69.941) when compared to N2 lung cancer (137.522+/-180.489, p=0.0362). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased expression of angioarrestin mRNA was the early phase phenomena for tumor progression from lung cancer. Alternatively, loss of antianiogenesis might play a role in oncogenesis for lung cancer.

Angiopoietin-Like Protein 1↗
PubMed2003

Caveolin-3 gene mutation in Japanese with rippling muscle disease.

OBJECTIVES: Rippling muscle disease (RMD) is a rare myopathy characterized by percussion-induced rapid muscle contractions, muscle mounding, and rippling. Recently a caveolin-3 gene (CAV3) mutation was identified in patients with autosomal dominant RMD. The objective of this study was to determine whether a similar mutation was present in two Japanese families with this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical examination, mutational analysis, and muscle immunohistochemistry were carried out in six patients from two Japanese RMD pedigrees. RESULTS: Apart from the atrophy of the intrinsic muscles in their hands and a slight muscle weakness in their fingers, the clinical features of our patients were compatible with RMD. Our investigation revealed a CAV3 missense mutation, i.e. Arg26Gln in both families. Immunohistochemistry performed on a muscle biopsy specimen showed reduced caveolin-3 surface expression. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese RMD also appears to result from a CAV3 mutation.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma in Iceland: Reykjavik Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To establish the age- and sex-specific prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) subsuming pseudoexfoliation (PEX) in the city of Reykjavik. METHODS: Participants 50 years of age and older who were part of the Reykjavik Eye Study and classified as having glaucoma were divided into three categories:Category 1: two or more of the following based on optic nerve stereophotograph reading: vertical cup to disc ratio (VCDR) 97.5th percentile (>0.7), focal glaucomatous disc change, C/D asymmetry of 97.5th percentile difference between eyes (>0.2) as well as glaucomatous visual field defect (GVFD). Category 2: 99.5th percentile of VCDR (>0.8) and 99.5% percentile difference between eyes (>/=0.3), without a GVFD. Category 3: VA<3/60 and IOP>99.5th percentile or VA <3/60 and evidence of filtering surgery. For a glaucoma suspect, one of the following was present: VCDR>99.5th percentile (>0.8), focal glaucomatous disc change, C/D asymmetry of 99.5th percentile (> or =0.3), GVFD only, IOP> or =23 mmHg (97.5 percentile). PEX was diagnosed by the presence of a central shield and/or a peripheral band on the anterior lens capsule. RESULTS: Of 42 persons (22 males and 20 females) with OAG, 13 (31.0%) had PEX. The minimum prevalence of OAG was 4.0% (42/1045) (95% CI 2.8-5.2) for those 50 years and older and 10.3% (95% CI 8.5-12.2) for PEX. The prevalence of OAG increases with age (OR=1.10/year, 95% CI 1.07-1.13, P=0.000) and the same applies for the prevalence of PEX, OR=1.10 (95% CI 1.07-1.12, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: There is a 10% annual increase for both OAG and PEX in persons 50 years and older.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Endostatin gene therapy on murine lung metastases model utilizing cationic vector-mediated intravenous gene delivery.

Tumors require ongoing angiogenesis to support their growth. Inhibition of angiogenesis by production of antiangiogenic factors should be a viable approach for cancer gene therapy. In this study, we investigated whether intravenous administration of endostatin gene complexed with a cationic vector (GL67/DOPE or PEI22K) could inhibit the development of lung tumors in mice injected i.v. with NFSa Y83 fibrosarcoma cells (5 x 10(5)) which frequently form lung metastasis. mRNA and protein of the transfected gene were produced in the lung and other organs of the transfected mice as assessed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Single intravenous injection of the endostatin gene (60 microg) complexed with either GL67/DOPE or PEI22K on day 3 or day 7 after fibrosarcoma cell inoculation significantly inhibited tumor formation in the lung as evidenced by the reduced number of lung tumors and lung weight, and prolonged survival of the endostatin gene-transfected mice compared with control mice. These findings suggested that the endostatin gene therapy, using cationic vector-mediated intravenous gene transfer, might be a feasible strategy for organ-targeted prevention and regulation of possible disseminated cancers.

Animals↗