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Biomedical subjects

I Nakamura

Publications and source records attributed to I Nakamura.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[A retrospective study on postoperative pulmonary dysfunction as a function of the surgical injury].

Pre- and postoperative pulmonary function tests were studied retrospectively in 80 patients. They were divided into one of 5 groups: 1, surgery of the upper abdomen; 2, surgery of the lower abdomen; 3, surgery of the body surface; 4, thoracic surgery; and 5, extensive abdominal surgery. Postoperative pulmonary function tests were performed when the patients recovered to be able to sit up. The time necessary to reach this stage varied from 8 th postoperative day in groups 1, 2, and 3 to 24 postoperative day in groups 4 and 5. FRC, %FEV1.0, V25, and TV were unchanged in groups 1 and 2 postoperatively. There was a significant reduction in VC to 81.6 +/- 24.1% and 89.1 +/- 13.3% of the preoperative value in group 1 and 2, respectively. A significant decrease in TLC and a significant increase in RV were observed in group 1. The changes in pulmonary mechanics can be attributed to the muscle dysfunction during inspiratory and expiratory effort. A decrease in TLC and an increase in RV were also observed in group 2. All of the pulmonary function variables remained unchanged postoperatively in group 3. The restrictive pulmonary dysfunction with significantly reduced VC was observed in groups 4 and 5. V50 and V25 were significantly decreased in group 4. These changes could be attributed to the use of the extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery and the postoperative mechanical ventilation. TLC decreased significantly in groups 4 and 5, and RV increased significantly in group 5, but unchanged in group 4. The results indicate that the expiratory muscles function normally following the thoracic surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Expression of novel DNA-binding protein with zinc finger structure in various tumor cells.

We have isolated from B16 mouse melanoma cells a complementary DNA (Mel-18), whose deduced amino acid sequence possesses a characteristic zinc finger structure. Immunostaining with antibodies raised against partial Mel-18 peptide sequences demonstrated nuclear localization of the gene product. We have also demonstrated that this protein has DNA-binding capacity, and the zinc finger is responsible for the DNA binding. At the transcriptional level the Mel-18 mRNA was detected in all tumor cells examined as well as melanoma cells (ontogenically of neural origin) but was scarcely present in normal tissues except neural organs. The transcript is developmentally regulated. These data suggest that Mel-18 may play a role in transcriptional regulation and also in control of cell proliferation and/or neural cell development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Combination chemotherapy with methotrexate, vincristine, cis-platinum, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and bleomycin: MVP-CAB for disseminated urological cancer].

Twenty-eight evaluable patients with disseminated measurable malignancies of the genitourinary organs except testicular cancer were treated with MVP-CAB, between May 1985 and June 1988. Chemotherapy was given at 3 to 4 week intervals, as follows. On day 1, methotrexate 20 mg/m2, vincristine 0.6 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, adriamycin 20 mg/m2, and bleomycin 30 mg/body were administered. On day 2, cis-platinum 50 mg/m2, on day 1 to 3, prednisolone 20 mg/body were also administered. The administration of bleomycin and adriamycin were limited to 90 mg/body and 400 mg/m2. The median age was 59 years. The median follow-up duration was 11 months. The primary lesions were urothelial tract cancer (19 patients), malignant lymphoma (1 patient), renal cell adenocarcinoma, penile cancer, prostatic adenocarcinoma, and leiomyosarcoma (2 patients each). CR was observed in 2 patients, and PR in 11 patients with urothelial tract cancer. The overall response rate was 68% (13/19). The response rates in primary and metastatic lesions were 56% (5/9) in primary, 73% (8/11) in lymph node, 71% (5/7) in lung, 67% (2/3) in liver, and 20% (1/5) in bone. The median duration of survival in the responders was 13.5 months, and in the non-responders was 5 months. The 1 year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method was 70% in responders. On the other hand, the longest survival time in non-responders was 9 months. Marked improvement of survival time was noted in the responders. PR was observed in 1 patient with malignant lymphoma, prostatic adenocarcinoma, and leiomyosarcoma in each. The main toxic effect of MVP-CAB was bone marrow suppression. Leucopenia (WBC less than 4,000/mm3) was noted in 24 patients (86%), and 16 patients (57%) had a WBC count nadir below 2,000/mm3. Thrombocytopenia (plt less than 10 x 10(4)/mm3) was noted in 10 patients (36%). However, there were no deaths due to the bone marrow suppression.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Stress fibers in the mesenteric mesothelial cells of the large intestine of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana.

Actin-containing cytoplasmic fibers were visualized in the mesenteric mesothelial cells of the large intestine of bullfrog tadpoles by rhodamine-phalloidin staining of en face preparations of mesothelial cells. These fibers were concurrently stained by immunofluorescence using antibodies to myosin or alpha-actinin. Electron microscopy showed the presence of bundles of microfilaments in the basal cytoplasm of the cells. Such fibers in the mesothelial cells may be comparable to the stress fibers present in cultured cells. The mesothelial cells initially formed axially oriented stress fibers when they changed from a rhombic to a slender spindle-like shape. On the other hand, stress fibers disappeared as cells transformed from elongated to polygonal shapes during the period of metamorphic climax. Expression of stress fibers in these cells appears to be related to the degree of tension loaded on the mesentery, which may be generated by mesenteric winding. These stress fibers in the mesothelial cells may serve to regulate cellular transformation. They may also help to maintain cellular integrity by strengthening the cellular attachment to subepithelial tissue against tensile stress exerted on the mesentery.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1990

Decrease in twinning rate in a hospital in Tokyo during World War II.

In order to investigate changes in twinning rate during World War II and postwar years, when the people in Tokyo suffered from malnutrition, about 80,000 delivery records during 1924-86 at one hospital in downtown Tokyo were examined. The twinning rate decreased from 1.47% in the 1920s to 0.81% in the 1980s. During the 1940s, the rate was 1.03% for 1940-42 and 0.94% for 1948-49, but it dropped down to 0.70% for 1943-47. In 1945, when Tokyo was heavily bombed repeatedly to be burnt out, and the people suffered from severe malnutrition, only one case of twinning was found among 305 maternities at this hospital (0.33%). While the mean birth weight of term singleton babies was 2953 g in 1940-41, it decreased to 2918 g in 1943-47, especially to 2856 g in 1945. This change in birth weight evidenced that the nutritional conditions in Tokyo became worse in 1943-47. This report suggests that the twinning rate decreased also during this period in Tokyo when the people suffered from malnutrition.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Seasonality in early loss of one fetus among twin pregnancies.

Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 519 pregnant women in the first trimester at three hospitals in Tokyo from August 1985 to March 1987. Among 519 women, two fetal heart movements (FHMs) were confirmed in six cases. In two of these six cases, one of two FHMs disappeared two weeks later, and these were considered the "vanishing twin". In eight cases among those with ultrasonographic image of echo-free-space (EFS) in the uterus, the observed EFS was considered to be a probable empty gestational sac (GS-like-EFS-image). Seven of eight GS-like-EFS-images were observed in October-December (p less than 0.01) and two "vanishing twin" cases were also observed in the same season. Spontaneous abortion occurred in 11 cases and these were also more frequently observed in October-November (p less than 0.05). Some abortive factor is supposed to have prevailed in October-December. All six women having twin fetuses (including the "vanishing twin" cases) were born in January-May (p less than 0.05) and those having GS-like-EFS-images or terminating their pregnancy in spontaneous abortion were also born more frequently in the same season. Twin-prone and abortion-prone characteristics of the women born in this season are considered.

Diseases in Twins↗
PubMed1990

Ultrastructure of rectal biopsy specimens in unusual familial ataxia with cerebrospinal fluid abnormality.

The ultrastructure of rectal biopsy specimens from a 60-year-old woman of unusual familial ataxia with cerebrospinal fluid abnormality was investigated. She had two male siblings similarly affected and a close consanguinity in the family. Meissner's plexus neurons, Schwann cells, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells within the rectum contained intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions (IEIs) with or without intensely eosinophilic granules. Ultrastructurally the IEIs were composed of a membrane-bound, fine granular material with or without dense cores. The IEIs resembled intracytoplasmic inclusions seen in various cells of the central nervous system from a male autopsied sibling. The clinically and morphologically similar finding in the two siblings suggests an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder previously unreported.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1990

16;21 translocation in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with abnormal eosinophils: a unique subtype.

Two patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and t(16;21)(p11;q22) were studied. The patients exhibited such clinical and hematological pictures, characterized by M2 and M4 with eosinophilia (FAB classification), as relatively matured leukemic cells, low neutrophil alkaline phosphatase activity, abnormal eosinophils and a high count of monocytic cells in the bone marrow. The prognosis was poor in both patients. From these data, the chromosomal abnormality of t(16;21)(p11;q22) seems to be specifically associated with a unique subtype of ANLL.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Altered myocardial contractility and energetics in hypertrophied myocardium.

Alterations of myocardial contractility and energetics were examined in cardiac hypertrophy induced by different types of cardiac overload. Myocardial contractility was estimated by isometric contraction of isolated left ventricular papillary muscles. Myocardial energetics were assessed from ventricular myosin isoenzyme patterns obtained by pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by endurance swim-training and sustained pressure-overload by abdominal aortic constriction or volume-overload created by an arteriovenous shunt. In swim-trained hypertrophied myocardium, isometric developed tension (T) and dT/dtmax showed a tendency to increase and response of dT/dtmax to isoproterenol increased significantly as compared with sedentary rats. Training shifted the left ventricular myosin isoenzyme pattern toward VM-1, which has the highest ATPase activity. In pressure- or volume-overloaded myocardium, dT/dtmax decreased significantly and mechanical response to isoproterenol also decreased (or tended to decrease in volume-overloaded hearts) as compared with the respective sham-operated controls. In pressure- or volume-overloaded hearts, left ventricular myosin isoenzyme pattern shifted toward VM-3, which has the lowest ATPase activity. These results indicate that alterations in myocardial contractility, mechanical catecholamine responsiveness and myocardial energetics in hypertrophied myocardium do not always display the same trend, but are greatly influenced by the causes or duration of cardiac overload.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

On the changes in peripheral red cells in mice exposed to vinyl chloride monomer.

The diseases known as the Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) Syndrome include hepatic angiosarcoma, acroosteolysis and Raynaud's phenomenon. These, however, are known to be clinically recognizable from several to over 10 years after the actual exposure to VCM. By fluorescence microscopy the authors examined smeared samples of peripheral blood obtained from vinyl chloride workers, and observed the existence of basophilic stippled erythrocytes (BSE). In this paper, we report the changes of peripheral red cells during VCM exposure tests on mice. These changes in the peripheral blood could be observed as early as 24 hours after the start of the VCM exposure at higher concentrations, and in 72 hours even at comparatively lower VCM levels of 30 to 40 ppm. The tests have also confirmed that the rate of emergence of BSE differs according to the level of VCM and to the duration of VCM exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[An autopsy case of generalized seizures, myoclonus, blindness and deafness].

We have reported the clinical and autopsy findings in a case with generalized seizures, myoclonus, blindness and deafness which was accompanied by stroke-like episodes. This case was diagnosed as mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis & stroke-like episodes (MELAS) from these findings. Solitary and continuous lesions of softening were distributed in both hemispheres, more severely in the frontal and occipital poles. These lesions did not correspond to a vascular supply. The pulvinar, lateral and medial geniculate body of the thalamus, cerebellar vermis and dentate nucleus had small lesions of softening. The cortical lesions occurred mainly in layer 4, and the most prominent lesions among them appeared cystic, involving the subcortical white matter, but nerve cells in layer 1 and 2 were preserved. Proliferation of small blood vessels was seen around the softening areas. Electron microscopy revealed increased mitochondria in endothelial cells of these vessels, abnormal dense bodies in skeletal muscle cells and tightly packed mitochondria in choroid plexus epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical study suggested that vimentin positive cells were seen around lesions and proliferated vessels are different from those seen in the intact tissues.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1990

[Morphometric study of the magnocellular basal forebrain system in patients with Alzheimer's disease].

Morphometric study of neurons within the magnocellular basal forebrain system (MBFS) in the three normal controls and three cases with Alzheimer's disease (AD) was studied. Immunocytochemical staining using anti-acetylcholinesterase was performed to identify the measuring areas of the MBFS, and cross sectional areas of all neurons within the MBFS in one preparation was measured making use of cresyl violet staining. About 50% of the entire neuronal cells within the MBFS were decreased and case 2 had neurofibrillary tangles in the substantia innominata. In the septal nucleus neuronal cell depopulation was observed through the all range of the neuronal cell size, and in the diagonal band of Broca neuronal cells of which cross sectional areas were more than 200 microns2 were preferentially decreased and case 3 had inverse increase of the neurons of which cross sectional areas were less than 200 microns2. In the basal nucleus of Meynert in the substantia innominata neurons of which cross sectional areas were more than 250 microns2 were markedly decreased and neurons of which cross sectional areas less than 250 microns2 were well preserved. The large neurons within the basal nucleus and diagonal band of Broca were more affected in AD. In the septal nucleus and diagonal band it was suspected that non-cholinergic neurons were also decreased and these findings suggested that other series of monoamines also bore a relationship to the dementia and neuropsychological symptoms in AD.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1989

Cloning and sequencing of RNA-1 cDNA from cucumber mosaic virus strain O.

The complete nucleotide (nt) sequence (3369 nt) of RNA 1 of cucumber mosaic virus strain O (CMV-O) was determined. One open reading frame (ORF; 993 aa) could be deduced from the nt sequence. The homologies of the ORF between CMV-O and CMV-Q or CMV-Fny were calculated to be 85% or 97%, respectively. For CMV-O and CMV-Q, the first one-third of the ORF showed a higher degree of homology (89%), as compared with the other portions (82-85%); the first 224 aa showed more than 93% homology. A comparative study of the three viruses revealed that CMV-O is more homologous to CMV-Fny (subgroup I) [corrected]) than to CMV-Q (subgroup II) [corrected].

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

[A case of bilateral renal metastases from non Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma].

A patient with bilateral renal metastases from non Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma originating in the aortocaval abdominal lymph nodes was treated with chemotherapy. Initially, methotrexate (20 mg/m2), vincristine (0.6 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2), adriamycin (20 mg/m2), and bleomycin (30 mg/m2) were given on day 1, cisplatinum (50 mg/m2) was given on day 2, and prednisolone (20 mg/body) was given from day 1 to 3 (MVP-CAB regimen). Since the patient was 74 years old and had slight renal dysfunction, for the first and second courses of this therapy, methotrexate and cisplatinum were administered at 60% of the usual dose and the other 4 anticancer agents at 70% of the usual dose. Only prednisolone was given at the full dose. From the third course the 6 anticancer agents were used at 70% of the normal dose. Administration was performed every 4 weeks until the third course, and every 8 weeks after the fourth course (total number of cycles of MVP-CAB: 8 cycles). A marked improvement of the general state and a reduction of the tumor size were noted following treatment. Since regrowth of the residual tumor occurred, as second line chemotherapy cytosine arabinoside (100 mg/m2) on day 1, ifosfamide (1 g/m2) on day 1 to 2, etoposide (100 mg/m2) plus prednisolone (20 mg/body) on day 1 to 3 were administered (AraC-VIP regimen). The timing of administration was similar to that of the MVP-CAB regimen. More than 50% tumor reduction was obtained with this regimen. The total survival time since the beginning of chemotherapy is 2 years to date.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Constructions of compensating screen of chest radiography and its clinical applications--evaluation of normal anatomical structures].

We have constructed compensating screens which have different sensitivities for the pulmonary hilum and mediastinum in contrast to the lung. With these screens the regions of the mediastinal and retrocardiac areas are simultaneously displayed with optimal contrast on postero-anterior (PA) chest radiographs. The potential clinical use of compensating screens was evaluated in 67 patients for visibility of the anatomical structures in comparison with conventional screens. Confidence test was used to compare the detectability of the various anatomical structures of the chest. The chest radiographs obtained with compensating screens improved visibility of the anatomical structures including the tracheal bifurcation, right and left main bronchus, and paraesophageal line.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1989

Regulated expression of genes encoding soybean beta-conglycinins in transgenic plants.

Beta-conglycinin, an abundant storage protein in soybean seeds, is comprised of three subunits: alpha', alpha, and beta. Expression of genes encoding these subunits is tissue-specific and temporally regulated in soybean plants. Both the alpha'- and beta-subunit genes have been isolated and fully or partially characterized by DNA sequence analysis. Each has been transferred to transgenic plants and was found to be expressed in petunia and tobacco plants in a regulated manner as in soybean plants. Both the alpha'- and beta-subunit proteins were accumulated only in transgenic seeds during mid-to-late stages of seed development and assembled into multimeric forms with sedimentation coefficients of 7S and 9S. The alpha'- and beta-subunit genes were also introduced on the same plasmid into transgenic plants. When the promoters of the two genes were proximal to each other, there was an increase in the expression of the beta-subunit gene, suggesting that there is a strong cis-acting sequence in the alpha'-gene (promoter) that can affect expression of the beta-subunit gene. A series of deletion mutants was constructed in the alpha'-gene promoter, and each was introduced into petunia plants. The DNA sequence approximately 250 bp upstream of the transcriptional initiation site contains sufficient regulatory information for expression of the alpha'-subunit gene. The sequence about 200 bp upstream contains four 6-bp repeats A (AGCCCA) that may play an important role in regulating expression of the alpha'-gene. The function of this DNA sequence (-78 to -257) was tested in a chimeric gene construct containing the CaMV 35S promoter, the CAT coding sequence, and the 3' noncoding region of the alpha'- gene. A dramatic enhancement of the CAT gene expression (at least 40-fold) resulted when this DNA sequence was inserted into the 35S promoter at a position 90 bp upstream of the transcription start site, regardless of the orientation of the insert. There was a two- to threefold enhancement when the element was placed 6' to the CAT coding region and no enhancement when placed downstream of the 3' noncoding region. The enhancement was observed only in seeds during mid-to-late stages of seed development. This indicates that the 170-bp DNA sequence can function as a strong cis-acting element that controls seed-specific and temporally regulated gene expression. This element is defined as a seed-specific and developmentally regulated element (SDRE).

Antigens, Plant↗