Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Amano

Publications and source records attributed to K Amano.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Murine macrophage interleukin-1 release by capsularlike serotype-specific polysaccharide antigens of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

Serotype-specific polysaccharide antigens (SPAs) were extracted from whole cells of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 29523 (serotype a), Y4 (serotype b), and NCTC 9710 (serotype c) by autoclaving and purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Sephacryl S-300 columns. Y4 SPA induced interleukin-1 (IL-1) release by P388D1 murine macrophages. Polymyxin B had virtually no effect on the release of IL-1. Rabbit anti-murine IL-1 serum strongly suppressed the proliferation of C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes induced with the culture supernatants of Y4 SPA-stimulated P388D1 cells and a submitogenic dose of concanavalin A. Gel filtration of the culture supernatants of Y4 SPA-stimulated macrophages on Sephacryl S-200 showed that an IL-1 peak at a point corresponding to approximately 16.5 kDa was eluted. The ability of SPAs from strains ATCC 29523 and NCTC 9710 to induce the release of IL-1 was lower than that of Y4 SPA. The IL-1-releasing ability of serotype a and c antigens was enhanced by deacetylation of both polysaccharides, suggesting that acetyl groups of these antigens might hinder the interaction between the antigens and macrophages.

Actinobacillus↗

[Morphological changes of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli under various culture conditions and the accompanied changes in the cell composition].

The morphological transformation from the spiral form to the coccoidal form Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli was studied under various conditions by such techniques as electron microscopy, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and chemical analyses. The conversion from the spiral form to the coccoidal form of Campylobacter in microaerophilic cultivation occurred in about 50% of the cells in 48 h and in about 90% of the cells in 72 h. At higher temperatures (37 C and 42 C) under aerophilic conditions, the spiral-form cells converted easily to the coccoidal form in phosphate-buffered saline. Electron-microscopic studies revealed that the envelopes of the coccoidal-form cells were soft in comparison with those of the spiral-form cells. The LPS and protein contents of the cells reached the highest levels after cultivation for 48 h under microaerophilic condition. The 33 K and 28 K polypeptide contents of 24-h and 48-h cultures were higher than those of 72-h and 96-h cultures.

Bacterial Proteins↗

[Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for plasma thrombomodulin].

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein which neutralizes thrombin clotting activity and accelerates thrombin-catalyzed activation of plasma protein C. Its role is considered to be very important to prevent thrombosis. Recently, TM has been found in circulating blood and the roles and the functions have been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the reliance and the clinical usefulness of a TM-measuring-kit by enzyme immunoassay (MGC-01-001: Mitsubishi Gas chemical company). Intraassay reproducibility test, dilution linearity test and in vitro recovery test was obtained satisfactory results. A correlation between plasma and serum on TM levels of healthy individuals was very good and the difference between them was not significant. Normal value of plasma TM levels was instituted 15.73 +/- 6.98 ng/ml by measuring 52 healthy adults. The difference between male and female was not significant. Plasma TM levels did not change significantly after venous occlusion test and on circadian fluctuation. Plasma TM levels in patients with occlusion test and on circadian fluctuation. Plasma TM levels in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was 40.15 +/- 22.68 ng/ml (mean +/- SD, n = 14). It is significantly higher than the levels in healthy adults. However, the levels in patients with angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction and aortic aneurysm were not significantly different from those of healthy adults. These findings suggest that the precision of this TM-measuring-kit is satisfactory and the measurement of plasma TM can be useful to diagnose of DIC.

Adult↗

[Measurement of quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis].

This study was designed to explore the health status or quality of life (QOL) in 366 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan. Physical, social, and emotional functions of the patients, namely the QOL, were measured by the modified health assessment questionnaire, the quality of well-being score, and the face scale, respectively. These functions were also evaluated by the new methods using visual analogue scales. The longer the duration of rheumatoid arthritis, the worse the QOL measures in these patients. A similar result was observed in the relationship between the stage classification of progression of rheumatoid arthritis and the QOL measures. In contrast, the traditional medical process measures, such as Lansbury activity index, sedimentation rate, and serum CRP concentration did not correlate with the duration of the disease. We conclude that the QOL measures in this study are useful for evaluation of the functional status and well-being of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the clinical usefulness of these measures for evaluation of effectiveness and/or side effects of anti-rheumatic drugs still remains unknown.

Adult↗

Structural and biological comparison of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Bordetella species.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Bordetella pertussis (Bp), B. parapertussis (Bpp), and B. bronchiseptica (Bbs) were analysed for their chemical composition, molecular heterogeneity, and immunological and biological properties. All LPS contained heptose, KDO, GlcN, uronic acid, phosphate, and fatty acids. The fatty acids C14:0, C16:0 and 3-OHC14:0 were common to all LPS preparations. By SDS-PAGE, Bp-LPS had two bands of low molecular mass, and Bpp- and Bbs-LPS showed a low molecular mass band together with ladder bands of high molecular mass. Immunological assays demonstrated that Bp-LPS reacted with antisera prepared from Bp and Bpp; Bpp-LPS reacted with antisera against Bpp and Bbs, and Bbs-LPS reacted with antisera against any of the three species. Bp-LPS showed biological activities comparable to those of E. coli LPS in terms of lethal toxicity, pyrogenicity, mitogenicity, macrophage activation, and induction of tumor necrosis factor. All activities of Bpp-LPS, except mitogenicity, were lower than those of E. coli LPS. Biological activities stronger or comparable to those of E. coli LPS were observed for Bbs-LPS.

Animals↗

Gastric collision tumor (carcinoid and adenocarcinoma) with gastritis cystica profunda.

We report a rare case of gastric collision tumor (carcinoid and adenocarcinoma) with gastritis cystica profunda that developed in a 49-year-old Japanese man. Early gastric cancer (moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma) was present at the edge of an ulcer in the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. In addition, a carcinoid tumor was found adjacent to adenocarcinoma. This tumor displayed ribbonlike or trabecular patterns, and numerous constituent cells were positive for the argyrophil reaction with Grimelius' stain and serotonin. Electron microscopic features of this tumor confirmed typical carcinoid. There was no merged appearance between both tumors, suggesting collision-type tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[CT-guided stereotactic surgery of brain abscess].

Seven patients with brain abscess underwent CT-guided stereotactic aspiration using Iseki's stereotactic apparatus. Three of them were under the age of fifteen and four were older than thirty. The lesions were single and round in four cases, multilobular in two and multiple in one patient. Operations were performed after systemic administration of antibiotics for more than two weeks and after capsule formation was confirmed on CTs. Preoperative volume of the abscesses was estimated from CTs. The target point chosen was the center of the ring of the largest diameter in the enhanced lesion. Abscess was aspirated under monitoring with intraoperative CT scan. No continuous drainage was performed and no antibiotics were given directly into the abscess cavity. In all cases the center of the abscess was punctured with a single trial. Average volume of the preoperative brain abscesses was 18.8ml. Aspirated volume at the time of the operation averaged 16.9ml and all the abscesses decreased to unmeasurable size on CTs. In five of seven patients abscesses were cured after a single aspiration, and in one case after the second operation. One case required extirpation of the lesion. During the follow-up period of four months to five and a half years six patients showed no recurrence. One patient died of unrelated cause four and a half years after the operation. No operative complication was noted. There was no operative morbidity or mortality. Using a CT guided stereotactic method, brain abscess is punctured so accurately, regardless of its location and size, that damage to the surrounding brain during operation can be minimized. Therefore it is highly possible to aspirate abscesses completely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Follow-up in mitral valve prolapse by phonocardiography, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography.

To assess the serial phonocardiographic and echocardiographic change in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), phonocardiograms and echocardiograms were reviewed retrospectively in 116 patients (48 men and 68 women, mean age 27 years) who had been determined to have MVP and were reexamined 4.3 years (range 1 to 14) later by phonocardiography and echocardiography between 1971 and 1988. Follow-up phonocardiograms showed periods when 5 of 18 patients with silent MVP developed mid- or late systolic clicks. Of 57 patients with mid- or late systolic clicks, 15 had silent MVP, 6 developed a late systolic murmur with or without systolic clicks and 1 developed a pansystolic murmur. Two of 9 patients with an isolated late systolic murmur developed a pansystolic murmur. M-mode echocardiograms showed that left atrial and left ventricular dimensions at end-diastole and end-systole increased in patients with systolic murmur (33 +/- 10 vs 35 +/- 11, 46 +/- 6 vs 50 +/- 7 and 29 +/- 4 vs 31 +/- 5 mm, respectively, all p less than 0.001) and no statistically significant changes in any of these dimensions were found in patients without a systolic murmur. The degree of MVP evaluated by the anteroposterior mitral leaflet angle on the 2-dimensional echocardiogram was more severe in patients with a systolic murmur than in patients without systolic murmur (157 +/- 12 vs 131 +/- 16 degrees, p less than 0.001). The degree of prolapse did not change during the follow-up periods. The number of patients with mitral regurgitation detected by pulsed Doppler echocardiography increased from 21 of 72 (29%) to 31 of 72 (43%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Recombinant human erythropoietin corrects anemia of blood loss: a study in the dog.

In order to evaluate the possibility of using recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) for the prevention and correction of anemia due to blood loss and as an adjuvant for autologous blood transfusion, its preventive and therapeutic effects were evaluated in beagles in which anemia was induced by repeated phlebotomies. Two hundred U/kg of rhEpo were administered i.v. four or nine times every two weeks for six weeks. Phlebotomies (25 ml/kg of body weight) were conducted three times at two-week intervals. rhEpo was found to successfully prevent and correct anemia caused by the phlebotomies. Concurrent administration of iron increased efficacy. The findings obtained in the present study suggest that rhEpo is useful both for the treatment of anemia caused by blood loss due to surgery and as an adjuvant therapy for pre-deposit autologous blood transfusion.

Anemia↗

Biological properties of lipopolysaccharides isolated from Bordetella.

Biological activity of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) separated from Bordetella, i.e., B. pertussis (Bp), B. parapertussis (Bpp) and B. bronchiseptica (Bbs), was determined and compared with that of an Escherichia coli LPS as a control. Two Bp-LPS preparations showed marked biological activities comparable to those of E. coli LPS in terms of lethal toxicity in galactosamine-sensitized mice, pyrogenicity in rabbits, mitogenicity in C3H/He spleen cell cultures, macrophage activation and tumor necrosis factor-inducing activity. All the activities except mitogenicity of two Bpp-LPS preparations were lower than or comparable to those of E. coli LPS. Activities stronger than or comparable to those of E. coli LPS were observed in two Bbs-LPS preparations. Among six LPS preparations from Bordetella tested, a Bbs-LPS from L3 strain exhibited the most intensive activities.

Animals↗

A cytotoxic monoclonal autoantibody from the BB rat which binds an islet cell surface protein.

The BB rat provides an excellent animal model for type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Cytotoxic autoantibodies against pancreatic beta cells have been found in the sera of both patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and BB rats. These antibodies have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, a monoclonal autoantibody, designated KT1, has been developed by the fusion of spleen cells from a BB rat and a mouse myeloma cell line. KT1 was found to be of the immunoglobulin M isotype and reacted specifically with islet cells. In microcytotoxicity assays KT1 was shown to mediate complement-dependent lysis of approximately 30% of a rat insulinoma cell line and 25% of rat pancreatic islet cells in culture. It did not cause lysis of the other cell lines tested. KT1 has been demonstrated, by indirect immunofluorescence, to bind specifically to a cell surface antigen on live and acetone-fixed islet cell cultures from Wistar rat neonates and to rat insulinoma cells. Western blotting experiments revealed reaction to a 68-kDa protein from rat insulinoma cell extracts. This monoclonal antibody may have clinical relevance as it exhibits properties similar to the islet cell surface antibodies present in the sera of BB rats.

Animals↗

Biochemical and immunological comparison of lipopolysaccharides from Bordetella species.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica were analysed for their chemical composition, molecular heterogeneity and immunological properties. All the LPS preparations contained heptose, 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid, glucosamine, uronic acid, phosphate and fatty acids. The fatty acids C14:0, C16:0 and beta OHC14:0 were common to all the LPS preparations. LPS from B. pertussis strains additionally contained isoC16:0, those from B. parapertussis contained isoC14:0 and isoC16:0, and those from B. bronchiseptica contained C16:1. By SDS-PAGE, LPS from B. pertussis had two bands of low molecular mass, and the LPS from B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica showed low molecular mass bands together with a ladder arrangement of high molecular mass bands. Immunodiffusion, quantitative agglutination and ELISA demonstrated that the LPS from B. pertussis strains reacted with antisera prepared against whole cells of B. pertussis and B. bronchiseptica; LPS from B. parapertussis reacted with antisera to B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica, and LPS from B. bronchiseptica reacted with anti-whole cell serum raised against any of the three species. From these results, it is concluded that LPS from B. bronchiseptica has structures in common with LPS from B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, while the LPS from B. pertussis and B. parapertussis are serologically entirely different from each other.

Agglutination↗

Biological properties of lipopolysaccharides from Bordetella species.

Biological activities of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) extracted from Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica were compared with those of Escherichia coli LPS. The LPS preparations from B. pertussis showed biological activities comparable to those of E. coli LPS in terms of lethal toxicity in galactosamine-sensitized mice, pyrogenicity in rabbits, mitogenicity in C3H/He spleen cell cultures, macrophage activation, and induction of tumour necrosis factor. All the activities of LPS preparations from B. parapertussis, except mitogenicity, were lower than those of E. coli LPS. LPS from B. parapertussis gave the greatest mitogenic action of all those tested. Biological activities stronger than or comparable to those of E. coli LPS were observed for LPS from B. bronchiseptica.

Animals↗

Chemical characterization of lipopolysaccharides from Proteus strains used in Weil-Felix test.

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) extracted from Proteus strains OX2, OX19, and OXK used as antigens in the Weil-Felix test, were characterized by chemical analysis and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). To separate the O-polysaccharide, core-oligosaccharide, and lipid A moieties, each LPS was treated with 2% acetic acid, centrifuged, and applied to Sephadex G-50 column. The core-oligosaccharides contained L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, D-glycero-D-mannoheptose, glucose (Glc), galactose, 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid, uronic acid, phosphate, glucosamine (GlcN), and galactosamine (GalN). The lipid A preparations contained GlcN, GlcN-phosphate, and three fatty acids (myristic, plamitic, and beta-hydroxymyristic acids). However, the O-polysaccharides of OX2- and OXK-LPS had different chemical compositions which consisted of Glc, GlcN, and quinovosamine, and Glc, uronic acid, and GalN, respectively, while OX19-LPS seemed to lack O-polysaccharide.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Immunological characterization of lipopolysaccharides from Proteus strains used in Weil-Felix test and reactivity with patient sera of tsutsugamushi diseases.

Immunological analyses of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Proteus strains OX2, OX19, and OXK used as antigens of Weil-Felix (WF) test, were performed by quantitative agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblotting. Antisera against LPS and whole cells (WC) of the three Proteus strains reacted with homologous LPS but not with heterologous LPS, and the reaction was inhibited by the O-polysaccharide fraction isolated from the homologous LPS except OX19-LPS, which lacked O-polysaccharide moiety. The immunological data support the findings that the O-polysaccharide moieties of LPS from OX2 and OXK strains possess different chemical composition (Mizushiri, Amano, Fujii, Fukushi, and Watanabe, Microbiol. Immunol. 34: 121-133, 1990). Antisera against Proteus strains reacted weakly with WC of Rickettsia prowazekii, Rickettsia typhi, and Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. Antisera from patients with tsutsugamushi disease reacted with OXK-WC by WF test when the sera were obtained 13 days after onset of fever. The immunoperoxidase (IP) test titers of these antisera began to rise 6 days after the onset of fever. By ELISA tests these antisera reacted with OXK-WC and OXK-LPS independently of the titers of WF or IP tests.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗