Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Hamana

Publications and source records attributed to K Hamana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Monitoring of circulating tumour-associated DNA as a prognostic tool for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Frequent allelic imbalances (AIs) including loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability on a specific chromosomal region have been identified in a variety of human malignancies. The objective of our study was to assess the possibility of prognostication and monitoring of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by microsatellite blood assay. DNA from normal and tumorous tissues and serum DNA obtained at three time points (preoperatively, postoperatively, and 4 weeks postoperatively) from 64 patients with oral SCC was examined at nine microsatellite loci. In all, 38 (59%) DNA samples from tumorous tissues and 52% from serum showed AIs in at least one locus. Patterns of AIs in the serum DNA were matched to those detected in tumour DNA. Of them, AIs were frequently detected preoperatively (44%, 28 of 64), and postoperatively (20%, 13 of 64). Moreover, among 12 cases with AIs during the postoperative period, six had no evidence of an AI 4 weeks postoperatively, and they had no recurrence and were disease free. In contrast, six patients with AI-positive DNA 4 weeks postoperatively have died with distant metastasis within 44 weeks. Thus, our results suggest that the assessment of microsatellite status in the serum DNA could be a useful predictive tool to monitor disease prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Accumulation of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase and alternatively spliced mRNAs as a delayed response of HeLa S3 cells following X-ray irradiation.

PURPOSE: A key enzyme of polyamine catabolism, spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase (SSAT), is responsive to antiproliferative agents. The role of SSAT in cellular responses to X-ray irradiation was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exponentially growing HeLa S3 cells were irradiated by X-rays, and mRNA levels for SSAT were measured as a function of post-irradiation time through Northern hybridization. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect alternatively spliced SSAT mRNAs. The intracellular polyamine content was measured by the o-phthalaldehyde method and the enzymatic activity of SSAT by the increased amount of acetylated spermidine after incubation. RESULTS: Not only SSAT mRNA, but also an alternatively spliced mRNA accumulated at the initial stage of growth inhibition after the first or second replication of irradiated cells. The maximum fold increase relative to the level of non-irradiated cells was 3.0-3.5 for both transcripts after 5-Gy irradiation. On the other hand, the mRNA of ornithine decarboxylase, a key enzyme of polyamine synthesis, was little influenced by X-ray treatment. Enzymatic activity of SSAT and the acetylspermidine level were elevated after X-ray irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of SSAT and the induction of alternatively spliced mRNA of the SSAT gene play an important role in regulating growth inhibition and cell death after X-ray irradiation.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2001

Proposal of the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto and three new genera, Sphingobium, Novosphingobium and Sphingopyxis, on the basis of phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses.

Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences by distance matrix and parsimony methods indicated that the currently known species of the genus Sphingomonas can be divided into four clusters. Some chemotaxonomic and phenotypic differences were noted among these clusters. Three new genera, Sphingobium, Novosphingobium and Sphingopyxis, are proposed in addition to the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto. The genus Sphingobium is proposed to accommodate Sphingomonas chlorophenolica, Sphingomonas herbicidovorans and Sphingomonas yanoikuyae. The genus Novosphingobium is proposed for Sphingomonas aromaticivorans, Sphingomonas capsulata, Sphingomonas rosa, Sphingomonas stygia, Sphingomonas subarctica and Sphingomonas subterranea. Sphingomonas macrogoltabidus and Sphingomonas terrae are reclassified in the genus Sphingopyxis. The type species of Sphingobium, Novosphingobium and Sphingopyxis are Sphingobium yanoikuyae, Novosphingobium capsulatum and Sphingopyxis macrogoltabida, respectively.

Alphaproteobacteria↗
PubMed2001

Polyamines of the hyperthermophilic archaebacteria belonging to the genera Thermococcus and Methanothermus and two new genera Caldivirga and Palaeococcus.

Cellular polyamines of eight new thermophilic archaebacteria were investigated to determine the chemotaxonomic significance of polyamine distribution profiles. Hyperthermoacidophilic Caldivirga maquilingensis belonging to the family Thermoproteaceae of the Crenarchaeota have a unique polyamine profile comprising spermidine, norspermidine and norspermine as the major polyamines. Within the order Thermococcales of the Euryarchaeota, the major polyamines of an extremely thermophilic terrestrial species of Thermococcus, T. zilligii, were spermidine and agmatine, whereas hyperthermophilic submarine species of Thermococcus and hyperthermophilic submarine Palaeococcus ferrophilus contained a quaternary branched penta-amine, N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine, as a major polyamine. A hyperthermophilic methanogen, Methanothermus sociabilis, belonging to Euryarchaeota, contained spermidine and spermine as the major polyamine.

Polyamines↗
PubMed2001

Polyamines of the thermophilic eubacteria belonging to the genera Thermosipho, Thermaerobacter and Caldicellulosiruptor.

Cellular polyamines of four new thermophiles located in three early branched eubacterial clades, were investigated for the chemotaxonomic significance of polyamine distribution profiles. The thermophilic anaerobic Thermosipho japonicus, belonging to the order Thermotogales, contained norspermidine, norspermine and thermospermine in addition to spermidine and spermine. The polyamine profile was identical to the polyamine composition of Thermotoga, Fervidobacterium and Petrotoga species of the order. Spermidine, norspermidine, spermine, N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine and agmatine were found in thermophilic aerobic Thermaerobacter marianensis. Some differences were observed in the polyamine compositions of the phylogenetically related thermophilic anaerobes, Moorella, Dictyoglomus, Thermoanaerobacterium and Thermoanaerobacter species. Thermophilic anaerobic Caldicellulosiruptor kristianssonii and Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis contained a linear penta-amine, thermopentamine, and two quaternary branched penta-amines, N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine and N4-bis(aminopropyl)norspermidine, as the major polyamines. A novel tertiary branched penta-amine, N4-aminopropylspermine, was found in the two Caldicellulosiruptor species.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2001

Polyamine distribution profiles in the eighteen genera phylogenetically located within the Flavobacterium-Flexibacter-Cytophaga complex.

Cellular polyamines of eighteen genera belonging to the Flavobacterium-Flexibacter-Cytophaga complex were analysed by ion exchange liquid chromatography. Homospermidine was the major polyamine in the genera Bergeyella, Riemerella, Ornithobacterium, Weeksella, Capnocytophaga, Polaribacter and Psychroflexus belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae. In the family Spirosomaceae, Runella, Spirosoma and Flectobacillus species contained spermidine whereas Cyclobacterium species contained homospermidine. Within a divergent cluster, Haliscomenobacter and Lewinella species contained spermidine whereas Saprospira grandis contained agmatine alone. The major polyamine of Chitinophaga and Sporocytophaga species was homospermidine. Flexithrix dorotheae contained spermidine. Microscilla marina, the type species of the genus Microscilla, contained spermidine and cadaverine. However, 'Microscilla sericea' contained homospermidine, 'Microscilla furvescens' contained spermidine, and 'Microscilla arenaria' lacked all polyamines. Polyamine profiles serve as a phenotypic chemotaxonomic marker for the reclassification of the genera belonging to the complex.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2001

Polyamine distribution profiles in newly validated genera and species within the Flavobacterium-Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Sphingobacterium complex.

Cellular polyamines of 58 strains belonging to the Flavobacterium-Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Sphingobacterium complex were analysed by HPLC. Homospermidine was found in all species of Flavobacterium, Chryseobacterium, Empedobacter, Myroides, Cellulophaga, Salegentibacter, Psychroserpens and Gelidibacter of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Flavobacterium ferrugineum located outside of this family also contained homospermidine. Cytophaga fermentans and C. xylanolytica belonging to the family Bacteroidaceae contained spermidine. Cytophaga marinoflava and C. latercula belonging to Flavobacteriaceae contained homospermidine. The Cytophaga hutchinsonii/C. aurantiaca group contained homospermidine which was the major polyamine in Flexibacter maritimus/ F. ovolyticus of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The Flexibacter sancti/F filiformis/ Cytophaga arvensicola group, F. elegans, F. ruber, F. canadensis, F. flexilis and F. tractuosus, were located separately in different six clusters, and contained homospermidine. The Flexibacter litoralis/F. polymorphus/F. aggregans group contained spermidine, which was detected in Flexibacter roseolus belonging to a divergent cluster. Sphingobacterium and Pedobacter species of the family Sphingobacteriaceae contained homospermidine. Polyamine profiles serve, as a phenotypic chemotaxonomic marker, for the classification of this complex.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2000

Prediction of non-responsiveness to intravenous high-dose gamma-globulin therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease at onset.

Children with Kawasaki disease (n = 82), treated with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) at a high dose, were classified as IVIG-responsive (defervescence within 5 days of starting IVIG, n = 69) or IVIG-non-responsive (consistent fever over a 6-day period since starting IVIG, n = 13). One patient in the IVIG-responsive group had a coronary artery abnormality during the acute phase (1. 4%) versus 5 in the IVIG-non-responsive group (38.5%). Age, duration of fever before the initiation of IVIG therapy, and laboratory data obtained on admission were tested by the Mann-Whitney U test. Serum levels of C-reactive protein, total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase were significantly higher (P =.002, P <.001, P <.034, and P <.038, respectively), and the hemoglobin value was significantly lower (P =.025) in patients in the non-responsive group. A multivariate analysis showed that serum levels of C-reactive protein (P =.006), lactate dehydrogenase (P =. 035), and total bilirubin (P =.046) on admission were independent correlates of the success of IVIG therapy. By defining the predictive values, patients with a C-reactive protein level >10 mg/dL, LDH level >590 IU/L, and/or hemoglobin value <10 g/dL are considered non-responsive to IVIG. Additional therapy at an early stage of the disease should be considered for patients who are predicted to be IVIG-non-responsive.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed2000

Distribution of diaminopropane, putrescine and cadaverine in Haemophilus and Actinobacillus.

Cellular levels of diaminopropane, putrescine and cadaverine, and decarboxylase activities to produce these diamines in six species (16 strains) of Haemophilus and four species (5 strains) of Actinobacillus belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae of the gamma subclass of the class Proteobacteria, were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Diaminopropane was ubiquitously distributed within all Haemophilus and Actinobacillus species, and L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid decarboxylase activity was detected in them. Putrescine and ornithine decarboxylase activity were found in H. aphrophilus, H. parainfluenzae and H. influenzae (type a, b, d, e and f except for type c) but not detected in H. aegyptius, H. parahaemolyticus, H. ducreyi and Actinobacillus species. Cadaverine occurred in H. aphrophilus, H. aegyptius, H. influenzae, H. parainfluenzae, A. actinomycetemcomitans, A. equuli and A. lignieresii, whereas their lysine decarboxylase activity was scarcely detected. Cadaverine was not found in H. parahaemolyticus, H. ducreyi and A. suis. The diamine profile serves as a phenotypic marker for the chemotaxonomic classification of the family Pasteurellaceae.

Actinobacillus↗
PubMed1998

Significant increases in the steady states of putrescine and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase mRNA in HeLa cells accompanied by growth arrest.

Polyamines are intrinsic polycations which play critical roles in cell proliferation. Ornithine decarbolylase (ODC) catalyzes the first step of polyamine biosynthesis converting ornithine to putrescine. In addition to polyamine degradation, spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase (SSAT) regulates interconversion pathway of spermine and spermidine to putrescine. We quantified the polyamines and mRNAs of ODC and SSAT in HeLa S3 cells at various stages during exponential and plateau phases of culturing. Unexpectedly, putrescine and SSAT mRNA levels increased remarkably at the plateau phase, in contrast to the decrease of ODC mRNA level. It will be suggested that the putrescine has a novel function linked to the arrest of cell growth in which the SSAT-mediated pathway producing putrescine takes part.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1997

Decrease in myocardial polyamine concentration in rats with myocardial infarction.

Cardiac polyamines are thought to protect the myocardium against harmful stimuli and to be regulated by sympathetic nerve activation. In the present study, polyamines concentrations in non-infarcted myocardium were investigated. Myocardial polyamines contents decreased significantly in the non-infarcted regions by day 3 in rats with myocardial infarction compared with sham-operated rats and with the untreated control rats. The cardiac catecholamine concentration decreased by day 1 after myocardial infarction. Myocardial ornithine decarboxylase activity also decreased in the non-infarcted regions; suggesting that the decrease in cardiac polyamines contents relate to an insufficiency of the ornithine decarboxylase activity in rats with myocardial infarction. These results suggest that the decrease in polyamines concentrations after myocardial infarction is associated with functional sympathetic nerve denervation and that the vulnerability of the heart after myocardial infarction may be due to a decrease in polyamine concentrations in the non-infarcted region.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Determination of bovine fetal sex by PCR using fetal fluid aspirated by transvaginal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis.

Fetal sex can be determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using cells from fetal fluid collected by transvaginal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis. A total of 35 aspirates from 30 cows, 15 Holsteins and 15 Japanese Blacks at 59 to 250 d of pregnancy were used. Five cows were aspirated twice at a 10-d interval. A 5.0 MHz convex array transducer connected to a scanner was inserted into the vagina under caudal epidural anesthesia. The transducer was equipped with a 65-cm long, 21-g needle within the probe carrier. A bovine male-specific primer and a bovine gender-neutral primer were used. Fetal fluid was obtained from all except 2 cows in early pregnancy. Five animals aborted within 1 wk following aspiration. A total of 33 samples, 29 of amniotic fluid and 4 of allantoic fluid, was subjected to PCR analysis. Fetal gender was verified in 31 33 samples (18 females and 13 males). Gender was also determined by gross examination of external genitalia of offspring after calving or abortion. Fetal gender was correctly identified by PCR analysis of aspirated fetal fluid in 16 16 females and in 13 15 males. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis followed by PCR analysis of aspirated cell DNA can be used accurately to determine fetal sex in cows at 70 to 100 d of gestation. The procedure requires considerable skill and is not without some risk to fetal viability.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Effects of eicosanoids on lipopolysaccharide-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine metabolism in the mouse liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: During endotoxic shock, arachidonic acid is released from the inflammatory cell membranes and is metabolized to form eicosanoids, which modify the deleterious effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on liver function. However, it is not known which prostaglandins (PGs) or leukotrienes (LTs) are produced or how they affect the LPS-treated liver. As LPS treatment elevates hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and affects the polyamine levels of the mouse liver, this study was carried out to examine the effects of eicosanoids and their inhibitors on the induction of ODC activity and polyamine levels in the LPS-treated mouse liver. METHODS: LPS in the presence or absence of other drugs was intraperitoneally administered to 6-week-old mice and the livers were then removed. The hepatic ODC activity, polyamine levels, and level of ODC mRNA were determined. RESULTS: The levels of LPS-induced ODC activity, the putrescine (PUT) and N1-acetylspermidine (A-SPD) were reduced by the administration of PGE1. ODC activity was enhanced by the administration of corticosterone, AA-2414 (an antagonist of thromboxane (TX) A2) and TXB2, whereas the A-SPD level was reduced by corticosterone and AA-2414 treatment. The level of ODC mRNA changed in parallel with the change in ODC activity. CONCLUSIONS: PGE1 may reduce the LPS-induced production of inflammation-accelerating cytokines and reduce the level of ODC activation. Corticosterone and AA-2414 treatment may attenuate the LPS-induced production of eicosanoids, and enhance the LPS-induced ODC activation. It is possible that the eicosanoids produced by LPS treatment inhibit ODC activation during endotoxic shock.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1996

Distribution of diaminopropane and acetylspermidine in Enterobacteriaceae.

Polyamines of 97 strains (60 species) belonging to 18 genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae were determined by high performance liquid chromatographic analysis. In addition to putrescine and cadavarine, diaminopropane was widely distributed in Enterobacteriaceae and almost ubiquitously within Enterobacter, Pantoea, Erwinia, Leminorella, Proteus, Leclercia, Morganella, Klebsiella, Hafnia, Rahnella, Serratia, and Tatumella species and sporadically within Citrobacter, Escherichia, Moellerella, Providencia, Yokenella, and Yersinia species. Histamine was detected in some cultures of Proteus and Morganella. Agmatine was sporadically spread. Heterogeneity in the occurrence of spermidine was observed within the spermidine-containing cultures. Distribution profiles of 18 genera. Acetylated spermidine was found concomitantly in the spermidine-containing cultures. Distribution profiles of diaminopropane, spermidine, and acetylspermidine in Enterobacteriaceae can serve as a chemotaxonomic marker to distinguish this family from other taxa of the gamma subclass of the class Proteobacteria.

Agmatine↗
PubMed1996

Antibody response to Mycoplasma bovis of calves introduced to a farm contaminated with the organism.

Antibody against Mycoplasma bovis in sera of 48 calves introduced to a farm, in which calf pneumonia associated with M. bovis had been occurring in the last 3 years, was detected by an indirect hemagglutination test. Significant rises of antibody titers in sera of calves belonging to the groups A (16 calves) and B (14 calves) were recorded by day 60 post-introduction. On the other hand, a significant increase of antibody titers of 18 calves in group C, which had been administered antibiotics as a preventive therapy, was demonstrated at day 248 after arrival. These results indicated that the spread of M. bovis infection occurred easily on the contaminated farm, and a preventive therapy could delay the outbreak of calf pneumonia associated with M. bovis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Alterations in polyamine levels of nematode, earthworm, leech and planarian during regeneration, temperature and osmotic stresses.

Free-living nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans and Dorylaimus fodori, contain putrescine and spermidine. Putrescine, spermidine and spermine occur in the parasitic Nematoda, Ascaris suum, Anisakis simplex and Dirofilaria immitis. Earthworms, Eisenia foetida, Tubifex hattai and Pheretima communissima and the leech, Hirudo nipponia (belonging to Annelida) and the planarian, Dugesia japonica (belonging to Platyhelminthes) contain homospermidine and spermine in addition to putrescine and spermidine. Regenerated heads of E. foetida and D. japonica are rich in putrescine indicating the stimulation of its synthesis during regeneration. Putrescine and spermidine levels temporarily increase after heat shock in C. elegans, E. foetida and D. japonica and cold shock and hypertonic osmotic shock treatments in D. japonica.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Taxonomic study of bacteria isolated from plants: proposal of Sphingomonas rosa sp. nov., Sphingomonas pruni sp. nov., Sphingomonas asaccharolytica sp. nov., and Sphingomonas mali sp. nov.

The taxonomic positions of 10 strains of 3-ketolactose-forming bacteria which were isolated from the roots of plants (Rosa sp., Psychotria nairobiensis, Ardisia crispa, Prunus persica, and apple trees) were investigated. The DNA base compositions of these strains ranged from 64.0 to 65.7 mol%, the isoprenoid quinone of each strain was ubiquinone 10, 3-hydroxy fatty acids were lacking in the cellular fatty acids of these organisms, and all of the strains contained a sphingolipid with the long-chain base dihydrosphingosin. These are characteristics of the genus Sphingomonas. On the basis of morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, together with DNA-DNA hybridization and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence comparison data, we propose the following four new species of the genus Sphingomonas: Sphingomonas rosa (type strain, IFO 15208) for the strains isolated from rose plants and formerly named [Agrobacterium rhizogenes]; Sphingomonas pruni (type strain, IFO 15498) for the strains isolated from Prunus persica; and Sphingomonas asaccharolytica (type strain, IFO 15499) and Sphingomonas mali (type strain, IFO 15500) for the strains isolated from apple trees. Two strains which were isolated from Psychotria nairobiensis and formerly named [Chromobacterium lividum] were identified as Sphingomonas yanoikuyae strains.

DNA, Bacterial↗