Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Tominaga

Publications and source records attributed to H Tominaga.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Structural organization of a cryptic plasmid, pMA1, from Microcystis aeruginosa f. aeruginosa Kützing.

The 2287-bp cryptic plasmid, pMA1, from Microcystis aeruginosa f. aeruginosa Kützing, a unicellular cyanobacterium originally derived from Kasumigaura lake, was completely sequenced and analyzed. The predicted amino acid sequence (253 residues) of an open reading frame had identities of 47%, 48%, and 53% with replication-associated proteins of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens's plasmid, pFTB14, B. subtilis BAA1's pBAA1, and B. coagulans's pBC1, respectively, when conservative amino acid substitutions were included. Such high-level identities were also shown with rep proteins and ori regions in a group of Gram-positive bacterial plasmids such as Lactococci and Staphylococci that are known to replicate via single-stranded intermediates. The pMA1 does hybridize with a plasmid, pUS1-3, derived from another unicellular cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Novel features of pMA1 are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

IgG-kappa-type plasmacytoma secreting salivary-type amylase in adult T-cell leukemia.

A IgG-kappa-type plasmacytoma secreting salivary-type amylase ectopically is reported in a patient with smouldering adult T-cell leukemia(ATL). The patient had plasmacytomas in the distal region of the right femur, the proximal region of left tibia, and the left paranasal sinus. Both his serum and urine contained high levels of amylase. The presence of IgG-kappa and S-type amylase in the plasmacytoma cells was confirmed immunocytochemically. In addition, he was also positive for the antibody against the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), and had abnormal lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei (ATL cells) in the peripheral blood. The monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA was demonstrated in the leukemic cells of the peripheral blood, but not in the plasmacytoma cells. Our case suggested that not only can HTLV-I infection play a role in the development of ATL, but may also induce a B-cell malignancy in an indirect manner, and even an ectopic amylase producing plasmacytoma.

Amylases↗

Structure of Drosophila virilis glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene and a comparison with the Drosophila melanogaster gene.

The complete glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene of Drosophila virilis isolated by screening with alpha GPDHM cDNA of the adult fly was sequenced. The gene contains eight exons spread over a total of approximate 8 kb DNA. Its exon/intron organization is identical to that of D. melanogaster. A single transcription initiation site was determined by primer extension. The stop codons are located at the 3' end of each of the exons 6 to 8. TATA and CAAT boxes are present upstream of the transcriptional start site. Adult alpha GPDH protein is encoded by exons 1 to 6 and exon 8. Comparison of the sequence with that of D. melanogaster showed that the homology of the nucleotide sequence of the coding region is 85% and that the homology of the amino acid sequence is 98%. On the contrary, the non-coding region is quite different in length and nucleotide sequence.

Animals↗

Alpha-fetoprotein-producing cancer of the ampulla of Vater.

A case of cancer of the ampulla of Vater producing alpha-fetoprotein is reported and the literature is reviewed. As far as we know, the literature contains no reports of such a case. The preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein was remarkably high (7,480 ng/ml), but it fell to normal values (under 5.0 ng/ml) after pancreatoduodenectomy, by means of which the lesion could be radically resected. In this case, the immunohistochemical findings at optical and electron microscopy clearly indicated the production of alpha-fetoprotein by the cancer cells of the ampulla of Vater.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[A case of ischemic mitral regurgitation treated by mitral annuloplasty (MAP) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)].

A 79-year-old woman with a previous history of myocardial infarction, suffered acute myocardial infarction again. A coronary angiogram revealed triple vessel disease, and a left ventriculogram showed severe mitral regurgitation. The patient fell into cardiogenic shock after cardiac catheterization, and IABP was started. She underwent MAP and saphenous vein bypass grafting to the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery. Although the postoperative course was complicated by acute renal failure and respiratory dysfunction, the patient recovered from the operation and was discharged on the 137th postoperative day. Since the operative mortality of conventional valve replacement combined with CABG in ischemic mitral regurgitation has been high, we preferred MAP for this case.

Aged↗

Syntheses of 5,7,8- and 5,6,7-trioxygenated 3-alkyl-3',4'-dihydroxyflavones and their inhibitory activities against arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase.

5,6,7- and 5,7,8-Trioxygenated 3',4'-dihydroxyflavones were derivatized by introducing alkyl groups of various chain lengths at the 3-position of the flavone skeleton. These compounds were tested as inhibitors for arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase purified from porcine leukocytes. Modification of the 3-position with an alkyl group of 6-10 carbons markedly decreased the IC50 values. 3-Hexyl-3',4'-dihydroxy-5,7, 8-trimethoxyflavone inhibited 5-lipoxygenase with an IC50 value of 58 nM. The platelet and leukocyte 12-lipoxygenases, 15-lipoxygenase of reticulocytes, and cyclooxygenase of vesicular gland were inhibited less potently (IC50 = 0.4, 0.4, 2.7, and 30 microM). Thus, the compound was a relatively selective inhibitor for 5-lipoxygenase.

Animals↗

[Mitral flow dynamics in patients with hemodialysis: assessment with pulsed Doppler echocardiography].

We investigated transmitral flow dynamics before (B) and after (A) hemodialysis (HD). Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was performed in 15 patients (10 males and 6 females, with a mean age of 51) with neither valvular disease nor heart failure. After HD, systolic and diastolic pressure declined significantly to [156 +/- 27----135 +/- 24mmHg (p less than 0.01) and 84 +/- 16----75 +/- 15mmHg (p less than 0.02)] respectively. However, heart rate did not change. Doppler derived indexes were peak early filling velocity (E), peak filling during atrial contribution (A), early filling time velocity integral (IE), atrial time velocity integral (IA), and percent atrial contribution [IA/(IE + IA) x 100] (%A) There was a positive correlation between E and peak systolic stress (r = 0.437, p less than 0.05). Conclusion; In HD, early diastolic filling is dependent on preload. It is necessary to consider preload when diastolic function is assessed.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[A case of acute myocardial infarction due to simultaneous occlusion of the right coronary artery and left anterior descending coronary artery].

We reported a rare case of a 53-year-old man who experienced acute myocardial infarction due to simultaneous occlusion in the right coronary artery and the left anterior descending coronary artery. He also experienced thromboembolisms on several occasions. So anticoagulant therapy is necessary for patients with exceedingly poor LV function.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Postural myoclonus associated with long-term administration of neuroleptics in schizophrenic patients.

Postural myoclonus associated with long-term administration of neuroleptics was demonstrated in schizophrenic patients. Sixty patients who had been taking neuroleptics for more than 3 months were investigated for myoclonus and the relationships between postural myoclonus and age, duration of illness, duration of medication, current daily dose, cumulative dose, occurrence of abnormal finger movement, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia were evaluated. Twenty-three patients (38%) showed postural myoclonus when holding the hands forward with the elbow joints flexed at about 90%. Male patients showed a higher incidence of myoclonus than female patients. Patients with myoclonus had been given significantly higher doses of neuroleptics than those without myoclonus. There was a significant correlation between the occurrence of myoclonus and abnormal finger movement. Electromyographic recordings in 7 patients with prominent myoclonus revealed that arrhythmic jerks occurred in the extensor carpi radialis and posterior deltoid muscles and that the jerks on the left and right side were not synchronized. Clonazepam reduced the frequency of the myoclonic activity.

Adult↗

HAF, hepatoma aggregation factor produced by Streptomyces sp. strain No. A-6143.

We searched for a new cell aggregation factor for hepatoma AH109A cells, and found one we called HAF in the culture filtrate of Streptomyces sp. strain No. A-6143 isolated from a soil sample. HAF was purified by salting-out with ammonium sulfate. DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and hydroxylapatite column chromatography, HAF was glycoprotein which had a molecular weight of about 73,000. HAF was stable from pH 6 to 8 at 37 degrees C and up to 40 degrees C at pH 8.0 and the aggregation activity of HAF was maximum around pH 8 at 30 degrees C. The activity was not influenced by some saccharides, but it was inhibited by EDTA and EGTA: moreover HAF activity was restored by the addition of calcium ions. HAF aggregated hepatoma AH136B and COS-7 cells as well as hepatoma AH109A cells, but it was inert to other cancer cells and human erythrocytes. These properties proved that HAF is completely different from other aggregation factors for cancer cells so far reported.

Animals↗

Single amino acid substitutions in sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase allozymes from Drosophila virilis.

The amino acid sequence was compared among the three allelic variants (allozymes) of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in D. virilis, which are detected by one-dimensional electrophoresis. The alpha GPDHf variant was different from the alpha GPDHm by only one substitution of 68-lysine for asparagine; alpha GPDHs differed from alpha GPDHm by substitution of 127-glycine for arginine. No electrophoretically 'silent' substitutions were found in a total of 352 amino acid residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Jerk-locked averaging and somatosensory evoked potential in tricyclic-induced myoclonus: a case report.

The authors describe a case of tricyclic-induced myoclonus in a 41-year-old depressed woman showing spike activity on electroencephalogram. The results of jerk-locked averaging and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) are presented. No jerk-related cortical spikes and enlarged evoked potentials were observed. These findings suggest that tricyclic-induced myoclonus may not be associated with excitability in the transcortical pathways detectable by SEP.

Adult↗

Endotoxin-specific chromogenic assay for plasma in pregnant women, umbilical cords, neonates and children.

The concentration of endotoxin (Et) was measured by means of a new endotoxin-specific assay (Endospecy) in 15 paired samples of maternal and umbilical cord (UC) blood, and 38 neonates and 5 children. The Et levels in maternal and UC blood with normal pregnancy and delivery were 0.8 +/- 0.4 and 1.3 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, respectively. In some cases of premature rupture of the membrane, Et in maternal and UC blood was slightly increased. The level in non-infectious neonates was 6.7 +/- 5.1 pg/ml and that in children less than 10 pg/ml. However, patients with infections showed a high Et level, which decreased on antibiotic treatment. In addition, the pattern of the changes in Et in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not parallel that in plasma. Therefore, in perinatal high-risk babies, the probability of affection with endotoxemia should be considered, but the effects of endotoxin on the central nervous system are presumably indirect because of the low permeability of Et through the blood-CSF-barrier.

Adult↗

Comparison of purified acid phosphatase allozymes in Drosophila virilis: differences in carbohydrate content and composition of the allozymes.

Three acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) allozymes (ACPH1, ACPH2, and ACPH4) of Drosophila virilis show different activities as measured by electrophoretic techniques. Recently, it was suggested that these differences are attributable to the variable ability of the allozymes to be incorporated into lysosomes (Narise, S., Genet. Res. Cambr., 45:143, 1985). Immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated that the activity differences between these electrophoretic variants coincided with differences in the amount of the enzyme protein in soluble fractions but not in whole cell-free extracts. These results support the idea that acid phosphatase allozymes in D. virilis are cell-localization variants. We examined the problem by structural analysis of both the protein and the carbohydrate moieties of these allozyme glycoproteins, since lysosomal enzymes are known to become localized in lysosomes through their carbohydrate moieties. The three ACPH allozymes were purified to homogeneity from their respective homozygotes and compared with respect to amino acid composition and carbohydrate content and composition. Amino acid compositions were similar, while content and compositions of neutral sugars were significantly different. The neutral sugar content of ACPH1 was 9.2%; that of ACPH2, 21.0%; and that of ACPH4, 7.3%. A trace of hexosamines, but no N-acetylneuraminic acid, was found in the ACPH allozymes. Isoelectric points varied corresponding to their electrophoretic mobilities, which were not changed by treatment with alkaline phosphatase and neuraminidase.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Meclofenoxate therapy in tardive dyskinesia: a preliminary report.

Tardive dyskinesia seems to occur as a result of diminished cholinergic and enhanced dopaminergic activity in the striatum. Meclofenoxate has been shown to increase cerebral cholinergic activity. To ameliorate the tardive dyskinesia, meclofenoxate was given orally, 600-1200 mg/day, for 6-12 weeks. The effects of the drug were evaluated by scoring the degree of involuntary movement. Among 11 subjects with tardive dyskinesia or dystonia, 4 improved markedly, 1 moderately, 2 slightly, and there was no improvement in 4. One patient with subacute oral dyskinesia, induced by administration of neuroleptics for 1 month, improved markedly. The possibility that meclofenoxate may be effective in dealing with dyskinesias that are induced by neuroleptics warrants further attention.

Administration, Oral↗