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Biomedical subjects

H Tsuji

Publications and source records attributed to H Tsuji.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Physiologic changes of nerve root during posterior lumbar discectomy.

STUDY DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES: The effects of nerve root retraction in posterior discectomy on pressure, blood flow, and electrophysiologic changes of the nerve root were investigated. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the effects of nerve root retraction in posterior discectomy on pressure, blood flow, and electrophysiologic changes of the nerve root. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The effects of compression on nerve tissue have been clinically studied mainly in peripheral nerves. The potential risk for lumbar nerve root injury has not been evaluated precisely in humans. METHODS: Among 31 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, the correlation between retraction pressure and changes in blood flow of the nerve root was evaluated. Retraction pressure was continuously monitored during the discectomy and the length of the discectomy procedure was measured. Threshold and amplitude of compound muscle action potentials were monitored before and after discectomy. The relationship between intraoperative data on nerve root physiology and postoperative neurologic change was analyzed. RESULTS: Nerve root blood flow was decreased to 18-30% of the initial value under the pressure around 70 g/cm2. An abrupt decrease in nerve root blood flow was observed even within 1 or 2 mm of retraction distance. The threshold of the nerve root before retraction was minimal in the nerve root of the asymptomatic side, but increased in the affected root demonstrating sensory loss only, and significantly increased in the root showing sensory/motor deficit. Amplitude of compound muscle action potentials evoked by the stimulation at distal from herniated mass was lowest in the nerve root showing sensory/motor deficit. In 4 of 31 patients, high retraction pressure (> 170 g/cm2) was required and they showed temporary sensory deterioration after surgery. The length of discectomy procedure in these 4 patients was 14.1 +/- 4.1 minutes, but it was 9.9 +/- 2.7 minutes in the remaining 27 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In posterior lumbar discectomy, nerve root ischemia usually occurs during retraction. The magnitude of pressure and time of retraction may be potential risk factors for nerve root injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Subaxial lesions in rheumatoid arthritis. Radiographic factors suggestive of lower cervical myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: The present study focused on the radiographic and clinical parameters that suggest lower cervical lesions directly or indirectly related to lower cervical myelopathy in rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVES: The results provided the risk factor for predicting compressive myelopathy due to lower cervical spine lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The clinical pathology and radiographic risk factor for upper cervical myelopathy in rheumatoid arthritis has been well documented, but the compressive factors for lower cervical myelopathy due to subaxial lesions remain unclear. METHODS: Radiographic analysis on the lateral radiographs (neutral, flexion, and extension) of the cervical spine and neurologic evaluation were carried out in 100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Fifty-eight of these patients were followed-up for 5 to 10 years (mean, 5.4 years) radiographically and clinically. A comparative study on the incidence of radiographic abnormalities also was performed in 100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in age- and sex-matched patients with cervical spondylosis. CONCLUSIONS: Among the radiographic parameters of the lesions related to lower cervical myelopathy, marked destruction of spinous processes, axial shortening, and narrow spinal canal may be important factors that suggest myelopathy. Time-related deterioration of lower cervical myelopathy can be predicted by progressions of anterior slip, axial shortening, spinous process erosion, apophysial joint erosion, and intervertebral disc collapse. Younger patient age, longer duration of disease, higher dose of corticosteroid administration, and higher stage or class of rheumatoid arthritis also are thought to be significant general factors for myelopathy.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1995

Surgical management of adrenal metastasis from bronchogenic carcinoma.

Surgical treatment for metastatic lesions from lung cancer is seldom performed. We have treated three patients with a unilateral adrenal metastasis with adrenalectomy. Simultaneous resection of primary lung cancer and adrenal metastasis was performed in two cases. This is the first report of such surgical management. Adrenalectomy after lung resection was done in the third case. Two of the patients are alive and well more than 5 years after adrenalectomy. These cases are presented, and the literature is reviewed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Biosynthetic transport of a major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein, lamp-1: convergence of biosynthetic and endocytic pathways occurs at three distinctive points.

We studied the kinetics of the biosynthetic transport of lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein-1 (lamp-1) to the endocytic compartments in cultured rat hepatocytes. Newly synthesized lamp-1 (NS-lamp-1) was transported to the trans-Golgi from rough endoplasmic reticulum with a half time (t1/2) of 13 min. From the trans-Golgi, at least 25% of NS-lamp-1 was delivered to the cell periphery: to the cell surface and early endosomes with t1/2 s of 32 and 33 min, respectively. A comparison of the kinetics of the biosynthetic transport of lamp-1 to both compartments demonstrated that NS-lamp-1 takes two peripheral routes from the Golgi apparatus; it is delivered to early endosomes directly and after reaching the cell surface. A major portion of NS-lamp-1 follows a direct intracellular pathway to late endosomes (t1/2 = 45 min) and subsequently to lysosomes (t1/2 = 85 min). The kinetic data of the biosynthetic transport to these endocytic vacuoles suggested that a significant fraction of NS-lamp-1 returns to the late endosomes immediately after its arrival at lysosomes and that there is a unique retrograde delivery of NS-lamp-1 from late to early endosomes prior to its transport to lysosomes. Thus, in cultured rat hepatocytes, the lamp-1 biosynthetic and the endocytic pathways converge at the three distinctive points. Late endosomes are centrally situated in the complex biosynthetic route of lamp-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Endobronchial leiomyoma: report of a case treated by bronchoplasty and a review of the literature.

Endobronchial leiomyoma is extremely rare. Most endobronchial leiomyomas reported in the literature have been resected by either lobectomy or pneumonectomy. We herein report a case treated by sleeve bronchoplasty without pulmonary resection. A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy revealed a lobulated tumor arising from the medial wall of the right main stem bronchus. A sleeve resection of the right main bronchus including the tumor and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The histological diagnosis of the resected specimen was leiomyoma with no evidence of malignancy. The importance of early diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment to preserve pulmonary function are emphasized. Similar cases of an endobronchial type of pulmonary leiomyoma reported in the literature are also reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Laminectomy-induced arachnoradiculitis: a postoperative serial MRI study.

Time-related changes of laminectomy-induced cauda equina adhesions were investigated by MRI in ten patients with degenerative spinal disease who underwent posterior surgery to the lumbar spine; seven had disc herniations and three spinal stenosis. Axial MRI was performed before and 3, 7, 21 and 42 days after surgery. Cauda equina adhesions were most severe at the laminectomised levels L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 (n = 16); partial adhesions were found in 9 of 16 levels at 6 weeks after surgery. At the L3-4 or L5-S1 levels (n = 14), the area of laminar exposure without laminectomy, the cauda equina adhesions continued 1 week after surgery, but thereafter resolved; only partial adhesions were seen at 5 of 14 levels 6 weeks after surgery. Shrinkage of the arachnoid sac was also found at the level of the laminectomy, but it re-expanded 3 weeks after surgery in all cases. Cauda equina adhesions and shrinkage of the sac were correlated closely with laminectomy, with or without discectomy, suggesting that an inflammatory process of deep wound healing may be involved in the mechanism of a laminectomy-induced arachnoradiculitis which may be correlated with post-operative leg symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Abnormal integrity of the nucleolus associated with cell cycle arrest owing to the temperature-sensitive ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1.

A mouse cell mutant, ts85, containing the temperature-sensitive ubiquitin-activating enzyme was arrested in G2 phase at the non-permissive temperature. In the arrested cells, azure C, a nucleolus-specific stain, revealed a U-shaped or ring-shaped arrangement of nucleolar lobes with an unstained region in the center. Silver staining of the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rDNA both gave signals in azure C-positive regions. Electron microscopic examination revealed a cloud of unidentified electron-dense particles (diameter approximately 70 nm) in the azure C-negative center space. When the arrested cells were released into M-phase, we observed the association of NOR-bearing chromosomes with a pulverization-like abnormality. FISH with rDNA and NOR silver staining demonstrated that the pulverization-like abnormality was restricted to NORs. The frequent occurrence of persistent nucleolar material in prophase and prometaphase of the stressed cells after release indicated a delayed dissociation of the nucleolus that brought about the abnormal chromosomes in M-phase. ts85 cells transfected with the mouse E1 cDNA recovered growth at the non-permissive temperature and no longer showed abnormal nucleolar morphology. It seems that the ubiquitin system plays a role in the dissolution of the nucleolus, possibly involving the NOR-bearing chromosomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Immunomodulating effects of the new anti-rheumatic drug tenidap on collagen-induced arthritis.

We investigated the in vivo action of the newly developed anti-rheumatic agent tenidap, CP-66,248 (Pfizer Inc., New York), on arthritis in collagen-induced arthritic mice. The inhibitory effect of tenidap on the development of arthritis was statistically more significant than piroxicam. The serum anti-type II collagen antibody titer was markedly inhibited in the mice treated by tenidap. These results suggest that, unlike NSAIDs, tenidap inhibits the progress of collagen-induced arthritis through its immunomodulating effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of the antithrombin III Kyoto mutation by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Clarification of the molecular biologic abnormality underlying antithrombin III (AT III) deficiency is important to a complete understanding of the coagulation system. We have reported previously the deficiency of AT III Kyoto in which there has been a single substitution of thymine for guanine at codon 406 of exon VI. This results in the amino acid substitution of methionine for arginine. The nucleotide substitution at codon 406 in the mutant allele eliminates a Hae III restriction site. Accordingly, Hae III restriction analysis of the PCR fragments in this family could segregate the deficient members from the normal members, enabling the detection of the existence of Hae III restriction fragment length polymorphism of the PCR product (PCR-RFLP). Moreover, we confirmed by direct DNA sequencing with the polymerase chain reaction that the tested deficient members in an AT III Kyoto family inherit the same type of mutation in their genes. In conclusion, Hae III PCR-RFLP can be a useful method for screening of this mutant gene in the family.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Longitudinal study on selenium content in human milk particularly during early lactation compared to that in infant formulas and cow's milk in Japan.

239 samples of human breast milk were collected from 36 healthy Japanese women. Selenium content of the samples was determined mainly by highly sensitive fluorometric analysis with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene. The highest selenium content, 247 micrograms/kg, was found on the first day postpartum. The arithmetic mean of selenium content was higher in colostrum (< 4 days) 47 micrograms/kg (SD 42, n = 116) than in transitional milk 24 micrograms/kg (SD 13, n = 87) or in mature milk (> 10 days) 10 micrograms/kg (SD 4, n = 36). Selenium content was also determined for six brands of commercial infant formula powder (32-58 micrograms/kg) based on cow's milk, seventeen brands of cow's milk (10-25 micrograms/kg) and eight brands of powered cream for cofee (9-162 micrograms/kg). The average selenium content was significant lower in the liquid formula prepared for infant lactation, 6.0 micrograms/L, than in the human colostrum and transitional milk. The dietary selenium intake of newborns fed on colostrum is estimated to be in the range of 2-12 micrograms per day.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Detection of NG,NG-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase in human tissues using a monoclonal antibody.

Two endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis, NG-monomethylarginine (MMA) and NG,NG-dimethylarginine (DMA), are broken down by NG,NG-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) [EC 3.5.3.18]. This enzymatic activity is widely distributed in rat tissues, and is correlated with the distribution of free MMA and DMA, and the production of nitric oxide. In this study, immunoblotting analyses with a monoclonal antibody directed towards rat kidney DDAH showed that immunoreactive proteins exist in human pancreas, kidney, and liver. Enzyme activity was definitely detected in these tissues, but the specific activity was lower than that in the corresponding rat tissue. These results are interesting in connection with the idea that the enzyme might play a role as a regulator of nitric oxide generation in human tissues.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1995

Purification and characterization of a major kyotorphin-hydrolyzing peptidase of rat brain.

We purified a major kyotorphin (L-Tyr-L-Arg)-hydrolyzing peptidase (KTPase) from the rat brain, to electrophoretic homogeneity using conventional chromatographic techniques. KTPase was purified 1,660-fold with a specific activity of 161 mumol/min/mg protein and 6.8% recovery. The purified enzyme was composed of a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of 67 kDa and an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.5. KTPase has the ability to hydrolyze a variety of natural dipeptides. It also liberated NH2-terminal tyrosine from Tyr-Gly-Gly and Tyr-Tyr-Leu. Bestatin and arphamenine B were potent inhibitors of this enzyme, while amastatin and puromycin had little effect. An excess of anti-KTPase antibody raised in a white rabbit precipitated approximately 80% of the kyotorphin-hydrolyzing activity in the cytosol of rat brain. These data suggested that 67 kDa KTPase has a role in the degradation of kyotorphin within neuronal cells of the rat brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Tumor cell attachment to laminin promotes degradation of the extracellular matrix and cell migration in high-metastatic clone cells of RCT sarcoma in vitro.

We investigated the roles of extracellular matrix proteins, laminin and fibronectin, in promoting invasiveness through the extracellular matrix in high-metastatic [RCT(+)] clone cells established from poorly differentiated murine RCT sarcoma in C3H/He mice. Laminin stimulated the type IV collagenolytic activity of RCT(+) cells. After more than 6 h of incubation, the type IV collagenolysis of the cell-conditioned medium was significantly higher in laminin-treated groups compared with the control. The migration activity of RCT(+) cells was stimulated by laminin. However, fibronectin did not influence the type IV collagenolysis or cell migration in this clone cell. The amino acid sequence YIGSR, which is derived from laminin, inhibited the laminin-mediated cell attachment and the laminin-promoted type IV collagenolysis, as well as cell migration of RCT(+) cells. RGD derived from fibronectin did not influence the cell attachment to laminin or Matrigel in this clone. In the invasion assay employing a Matrigel coated filter in a Boyden chamber, YIGSR showed greater inhibition of invasion through the Matrigel than did RGD with RCT(+) cells. YIGSR might inhibit the promoted-matrix degradation and cell migration in response to the cell attachment to laminin by competing with laminin for binding to cell surface laminin receptor. We suggest that laminin-mediated cell attachment to the extracellular matrix may play a role in promoting the matrix degradation and cell migration during metastatic cascades.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Purification and structural determination of an inhibitor of starfish oocyte maturation from a Bacillus species.

Inhibitors of bacterial origins of starfish oocyte maturation were sought to obtain biologically active substances which act on either hormonal signal transduction or cell cycle regulation. An oocyte maturation-inhibiting substance found in culture fluid of a Bacillus species was purified to homogeneity. This substance possessed the nature of a detergent and specifically inhibited 1-methyladenine-induced oocyte maturation (50% inhibitory concentration, 3.3 microM) but not dithiothreitol-induced maturation. Its total structure was established to be the lactone of 3-hydroxy-13-methyltetradecanoyl-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Asp-Leu -Leu through COOH of the carboxy-terminal Leu. This structure is identical to surfactin, although although the configuration of the substance's amino acid residues has not yet been determined. Surfactin was shown to be identical with this substance in its inhibitory effect on starfish oocyte maturation as well as its chromatographic and electrophoretic properties. Therefore, it was concluded that the oocyte maturation-inhibiting substance produced by a Bacillus species is surfactin.

Adenine↗
PubMed1995

Biochemical properties and intracellular processing of lysosomal cathepsins B and H.

Lysosomal cysteine proteinases of cathepsins B and H were isolated to a homogeneous state from rat liver by employing Sephadex G-75, DEAE-Sephacel, CM-Sephadex, and Mono S column chromatography. Each of the purified cathepsins B and H was demonstrated to be composed of a mixture of a single-chain form and the processed two-chain form upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). To investigate the proteolytic maturation of lysosomal cathepsins B and H, turnover kinetics of these enzymes were studied by comparing the specific radioactivities of the incorporated [3H]leucine into either the single-chain form or two-chain form in vivo. The specific radioactivity derived from each protein band of lysosomal cathepsin H in SDS-PAGE at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the injection of a radiolabel showed that the peak of specific radioactivity of the single-chain form of cathepsin H appeared at 6 h and that after 6 h, the radiolabel was sequentially incorporated into the two-chain form, while the radiolabel in the single-chain form started to gradually decrease, suggesting that the single-chain form was processed to generate the mature enzyme after the enzyme was incorporated into the lysosomes. In contrast, in the case of cathepsin B, the appearance of a radiolabel in the single-chain form or in the two-chain form was observed almost concomitantly without time lag, indicating that the processing of cathepsin B occurred very rapidly in the lysosomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Micro-assay to measure the allergenicity of a Kunitz-type soybean trypsin inhibitor toward Balb/c mice by using RBL-2H3 cells.

The allergenicity of a Kunitz-type soybean trypsin inhibitor (KSTI) was investigated by a micro-assay of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase released from RBL-2H3 cells primed with the anti-KSTI serum. KSTI stimulated the release of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from RBL-2H3 cells primed with the antiserum. The response of RBL-2H3 cells to the reaginic activity of the mouse anti-KSTI serum correlates fairly well with that by the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test, the sensitivity of both assays appearing to be similar. These results suggest that measuring the beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase released from RBL-2H3 is a convenient way for studying the allergen or the reaginic activity of a murine serum in place of the PCA test.

Allergens↗