Biomedical subjects

K Hirose

Publications and source records attributed to K Hirose.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Human and mouse chromosomal mapping of Stac, a neuron-specific protein with an SH3 domain.

Stac is a novel neuron-specific protein consisting of a cysteine-rich domain and an SH3 domain. We determined the chromosomal location of both the mouse and the human Stac genes (Stac and STAC). By linkage analysis using a mouse recombinant inbred (RI) strain panel (BXD), it was determined that Stac is located between D9mit15 and D9mit20 at the distal region of chromosome 9, around which two neurological disease genes, du and tip, have been found. This result was also supported by analysis using an interspecific backcross panel BSS. The mouse chromosomal location around Stac was syntenic with the human chromosome around 3p21-p23, where the gene for cerebellar ataxia (ADCA type II) was recently mapped. By radiation hybrid mapping, STAC was assigned to human chromosome 3p22-p24, and it was found to be distinct from the ADCA type II locus.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Saccadic slowing in myotonic dystrophy and CTG repeat expansion.

Recent studies have shown that the severity of the several clinical symptoms of myotonic dystrophy (DM) is closely related to the size of a CTG triplet repeat in the gene encoding myotonin protein kinase. Although neurotological findings, including saccadic slowing in patients with DM, have been reported, the relationship between these neurotological findings and elongation of the CTG triplet repeat has not been discussed to our knowledge. We made a case-control study that compared the saccadic velocity in 13 patients with DM and in 13 controls matched for age and sex. We also examined the correlation between the saccadic velocity in DM patients and the size of the expanded DNA fragment (EF) obtained by Southern blot analysis with EcoRI or BglI. We found: (1) The primary eye position was normal in 9 of 12 patients. Divergent strabismus was present in 3 patients. (2) The range of ocular movement was normal in 2 patients, nearly normal in 5 and minimally limited in the other 5. (3) Only 1 patient had lateral gaze nystagmus, which was fine and transient. (4) The horizontal saccades were essentially normometric in 11 of the 13 patients, slightly hypometric in 1 and obviously hypometric in 1. These last 2 patients had the second longest and longest EF sizes. The vertical saccades were essentially normometric in 8 of 12 patients, hypermetric in 3, and hypometric in the 1 with the longest EF size. (5) The saccadic velocity in the DM patients was significantly lower than that in the controls in the horizontal or vertical direction, the difference being more prominent in the horizontal direction. (6) The correlation coefficients between horizontal saccadic velocity and EF size, 0.801 (EcoRI) and 0.756 (BglI), had a strong negative correlation (P < 0.01 for both EcoRI and BglI). No statistically significant correlation was found between vertical saccadic velocity (upward and downward) and EF sizes. Although it was difficult to determine whether saccadic slowing was caused by central oculomotor system involvement or extraocular muscle atrophy, the absence of gaze-evoked nystagmus in almost all of the patients favours the latter. Our study shows that neurotological examinations that include a saccadic velocity test are very useful for detecting subtle eye movement abnormalities in DM and for quantitatively evaluating the clinical severity of DM.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Clinical significance of serum levels of CD44 variant exons 8-10 protein in colorectal cancer.

We examined serum levels of a CD44 splice variant that contained variant exons 8-10 (CD44v8-10) as a tumor marker in colorectal cancer patients. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 81 sera obtained from 71 colorectal cancer patients and 10 healthy controls. Serum CD44v8-10 levels were significantly higher in the colorectal cancer patients than in the healthy controls (0.209 +/- 0.098 versus 0.114 +/- 0.019 OD; P < 0.01). There was a close correlation between immunohistochemical expression and serum CD44v8-10 levels. Surgical resection of the tumors resulted in a reduction of serum CD44v8-10 levels. There was no significant correlation between serum CD44v8-10 level and serosal invasion or histologic type. However, a significant correlation was observed between serum CD44v8-10 level and lymphatic or venous invasion. In addition, serum CD44v8-10 levels were significantly higher in carcinomas associated with lymph node or liver metastasis than in those without metastasis. These findings suggest the usefulness of serum CD44v8-10 level in the prediction of colorectal cancer metastasis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed1998

Assessment of internal thoracic artery graft with intraoperative color Doppler ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative ultrasonography has the potential to provide anatomic and functional information about internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft, but this potential has been hindered by the relatively large standard probe. In this study, we used a color Doppler microprobe to evaluate ITA grafts. METHODS: The subjects were 15 consecutive patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting either with cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 14) or without (n = 1). All patients underwent anastomosis of the left ITA to the left anterior descending artery. The ITA graft was assessed before the chest was closed, with the microprobe placed directly on the graft. RESULTS: A good-quality color Doppler image of the ITA graft was easily obtained in all 15 patients within a few minutes. The ITA graft function was assessed by analyzing the shape of the pulsed Doppler wave. All ITA grafts were patent, and the mean graft diameter was 1.8 +/- 0.04 mm. The peak systolic velocity, peak diastolic velocity, and mean velocity were 52.0 +/- 14.9 cm/s, 58.3 +/- 22.4 cm/s, and 36.5 +/- 10.9 cm/s, respectively. The ratio of peak diastolic velocity to peak systolic velocity was 1.24 +/- 0.66. The ITA graft seemed to function well when the biphasic diastolic predominant flow appeared. The mean blood flow was 55.1 +/- 22.0 mL/min. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative ultrasonography using the microprobe provides adequate anatomic and hemodynamic information regarding ITA grafts. As the Doppler flow evaluation has high sensitivity and specificity, we suggest that intraoperative ultrasonography is useful for the assessment of these grafts.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1998

Tea and coffee consumption and the risk of digestive tract cancers: data from a comparative case-referent study in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that tea and coffee consumption have a protective effect against development of digestive tract cancers. METHODS: A comparative case-referent study was conducted using Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC) data from 1990 to 1995 in Nagoya, Japan. This study comprised 1,706 histologically diagnosed cases of digestive tract cancers (185 esophagus, 893 stomach, 362 colon, 266 rectum) and a total of 21,128 non-cancer outpatients aged 40 years and over. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data, adjusting for gender; age; year and season at hospital-visit; habitual smoking and alcohol drinking; regular physical exercise; fruit, rice, and beef intake; and beverage intake. RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR) of stomach cancer decreased to 0.69 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.48-1.00) with high intake of green tea (seven cups or more per day). A decreased risk was also observed for rectal cancer with three cups or more daily intake of coffee (OR = 0.46, CI = 0.26-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the potential for protective effect against site-specific digestive tract cancer by consumption of green tea and coffee, although most associations are limited only to the upper category of intake and have no clear explanation for site-specificity.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Evaluation of chewing activity in the elderly person.

In the present study, we examined the chewing performance of 70 elderly persons. Self-assessment of chewing problems and clinical classification using the modified Eichner index showed little correlation (Kappa value = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.05-0.51). The sensitivity and specificity were 0.52 and 0.76, respectively. On the other hand, the mastication score determined by evaluation of a questionnaire on food intake and classification using the modified Eichner index showed high agreement (Kappa value = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.50-0.96). The sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 and 0.95, respectively. The mastication score showed significant correlation with other masticatory functions such as maximum biting force, occlusal contact area and the number of missing teeth (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the use of a questionnaire on food intake would be informative for epidemiological surveys of chewing activity in the elderly.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Description of Arthrobacter creatinolyticus sp. nov., isolated from human urine.

Three strains of creatinine-hydrolysing bacteria isolated from human urine were characterized taxonomically. They were aerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-positive rods with the peptidoglycan of the cell wall containing lysine. MK-8 and MK-9 were found to be the major types of menaquinone. The G + C content of the DNA was 66-67 mol%. The 16S rRNA sequence of one strain (GIFU 12498) was determined and aligned with other high-G + C-content Gram-positive rods from different genera. Following phylogenetic analysis, this strain was placed in the genus Arthrobacter. Arthrobacter protophormiae was the most closely related species in the phylogenetic tree, and this species also showed the highest sequence homology value (97%) with GIFU 12498. However, DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that GIFU 12498 did not belong to A. protophormiae (33.8 +/- 3.5% chromosomal similarity). The three urine strains belonged to one species because they shared more than 95% DNA-DNA similarity. It is proposed that these strains are placed in the genus Arthrobacter as a new species, Arthrobacter creatinolyticus sp. nov. The type strain of A. creatinolyticus is GIFU 12498, which has been deposited in the Japan Collection of Microorganisms (JCM) with the accession number JCM 10102.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1998

Streptococcus peroris sp. nov. and Streptococcus infantis sp. nov., new members of the Streptococcus mitis group, isolated from human clinical specimens.

Taxonomic studies were performed on eight strains of alpha-haemolytic streptococci that showed very low DNA-DNA hybridization similarity values with all established members of the mitis group of the genus Streptococcus. These strains were isolated from the tooth surface and pharynx of humans. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that these strains belonged to the mitis group, but that they fell into two new branches. DNA-DNA hybridization demonstrated two new similarity groups. From the results of the present study, the names Streptococcus peroris sp. nov. and Streptococcus infantis sp. nov. are proposed for these new groups. The type strains are O-66T (= GTC 848T = JCM 10158T) and O-122T (= GTC 849T = JCM 10157T), respectively.

Base Composition↗

PubMed1998

Interleukin-15 may be responsible for early activation of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes after oral infection with Listeria monocytogenes in rats.

Exogenous interleukin-15 (IL-15) stimulates intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) from mice to proliferate and produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in vitro. To determine whether endogenous IL-15 is involved in activation of i-IEL during intestinal infection, we examined IL-15 synthesis by intestinal epithelial cells (i-EC) after infection with Listeria monocytogenes in rats. In in vitro experiments, invasion of L. monocytogenes into IEC-6 cells, a rat small intestine epithelial cell line, evidently induced IL-15 mRNA expression coincident with nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, which is essential for IL-15 gene expression. IL-15 synthesis was detected in rat i-EC on day 1 after an oral inoculation of L. monocytogenes in vivo. The numbers of T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta+ T cells, NKR.P1(+) cells, and CD3(+) CD8(+) alpha alpha cells in i-IEL were significantly increased on day 1 after oral infection. The i-IEL from infected rats produced larger amounts of IFN-gamma upon stimulation with immobilized anti-TCR gamma delta or anti-NKR.P1 monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that IL-15 produced by i-EC may stimulate significant fractions of i-IEL to produce IFN-gamma at an early phase of oral infection with L. monocytogenes.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Distribution of Staphylococcus species among human clinical specimens and emended description of Staphylococcus caprae.

By DNA-DNA hybridization on microplates, we identified 1,230 strains of staphylococci from human clinical specimens and determined the distribution of species. The 10 Staphylococcus species isolated most often were S. epidermidis (31.3%), S. aureus (23.3%), S. haemolyticus (12.2%), S. caprae (10.7%), S. simulans (4.4%), S. hominis (4.0%), S. capitis (3.9%), S. saprophyticus (3.6%), S. warneri (2.2%), and S. lugdunensis (1.3%). From these results, we realized that S. caprae strains were widely distributed in human clinical specimens. The description in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology indicates that no strains of S. caprae produce acid from fructose and mannitol, but all our S. caprae strains produced acid from fructose and mannitol. Consequently, many strains of S. caprae isolated from human clinical specimens have been misidentified as S. haemolyticus or S. hominis by conventional biochemical tests. In this paper, we propose an emended description of S. caprae.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

PubMed1998

In vitro amplification of the 16S rRNA genes from Mycoplasma bovirhinis, Mycoplasma alkalescens and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium by PCR.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) systems were developed for detection of 3 pathogenic bovine mycoplasmas, Mycoplasma alkalescens (Mak), M. bovigenitalium (Mbg) and M. bovirhinis (Mbr). The primers were selected from the sequences of the 16S rRNA from each of the mycoplasmas. Neither the Mbg-PCR system nor the Mbr-PCR system showed cross-amplification among 24 bovine, caprine-ovine and human mycoplasma species (including Acholeplasma and Ureaplasma species) tested. The Mak-PCR system showed cross-amplification with M. canadens ATCC29418T (T = type strain). The sensitivity of each PCR system to detect the proper mycoplasma was 10(3) colony forming units (CFU) when a pure culture was tested, and 2 x 10(3) CFU when the mycoplasma culture was spiked into a calf nasal swab sample. The target mycoplasmas in a clinical nasal swab sample that could be detected by the direct plate method could also be detected by these PCR systems.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Role of interleukin-6 in uncoupling of bone in vivo in a human squamous carcinoma coproducing parathyroid hormone-related peptide and interleukin-6.

OCC tumor has been established from a human squamous carcinoma associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) and shown to overproduce parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and cause aggressive hypercalcemia when implanted into nude rats. In the present study, we have demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis that OCC tumor also overexpressed interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA and that tumor-bearing animals exhibited a marked increase in plasma IL-6 as well as PTHrP concentrations. When a monoclonal antibody against human IL-6 was injected to block the activities of tumor-derived IL-6, bone loss in tumor-bearing animals was significantly prevented. Quantitative bone histomorphometric analysis revealed that treatment with anti-IL-6 antibody caused a substantial decrease in both osteoclast number and eroded surface (as parameters of bone resorption) and also a significant increase in the mineral apposition rate, but little effect on the osteoblastic surface. These results provide in vivo evidence suggesting that in tumors coproducing IL-6 and PTHrP, IL-6 is involved not only in the acceleration of osteoclastic bone resorption but also, at least in part, in the suppression of osteoblastic functions in HHM syndrome.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Indications for peripartum aortic pressure monitoring in Takayasu's disease. A patient with past history of intrapartum cerebral hemorrhage.

We describe a successful delivery by prophylactic cesarean section in a patient with Takayasu's disease who had a previous history of intrapartum cerebral hemorrhage during vaginal delivery. Aortography showed occlusion of the common carotid, subclavian and vertebral arteries on the left side, severe narrowing of the right subclavian artery, and moderate narrowing of the entire abdominal aorta. Blood pressure was managed by monitoring central aortic pressure at the thoracic aorta. During the peripartum course, we recommend monitoring the central aortic pressure in patients with Takayasu's disease in whom accurate blood pressure readings can not be obtained in any extremity.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Smoking and dietary risk factors for cervical cancer at different age group in Japan.

The importance of the major risk and protective factors for cervical cancer in women by age group was evaluated with the use of data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan. This study included 416 cervical cancer cases and 20,985 referents confirmed as free of cancer. Cases and referents were divided into three age groups: the younger, middle and older age groups (30-44, 45-54 and 55-69 years old, respectively). Logistic model was applied separately to the three groups to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of smoking, beverage and dietary habits with adjustment for marital and reproductive factors. The elevated OR of current smokers was observed consistently in all age groups, while alcohol intake did not show any increased ORs. Dietary control for health lowered ORs for all three age groups, and the effect appeared to be more pronounced among the older age group (OR = 0.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.30-0.80). Higher frequency intake of green-yellow vegetables consistently afforded lower ORs among all three age groups. This risk increment of smoking and risk reduction by dietary control were consistent in all age groups. These findings suggested practicable prevention strategy for the cervical cancer by modifying general life style.

Acculturation↗

PubMed1998

[Relationship between telomerase activity and clinicopathological findings in gastric cancer].

In recent, telomerase has been drawing the attention, because it plays important role in cell immortalization. Since Kim et al exploited TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay which detected telomerase activity efficiently, telomerase activity of various tissues have been detected. In this study, telomerase activity of gastric cancer of resected or biopsy specimen were detected. And we have examined relationship between telomerase activity and clinicopathological factors. In advanced cancer, telomerase activity is negative in 2 cases and positive in 17 cases. In case with lymph node metastasis, negative in 3 cases and positive in 14 cases. In differentiated type, negative 1 cases and positive 20 cases. In noncancerous gastric mucosa, telomerase activity is positive in only 2 cases of 9 cases with intestinal metaplasia. Previous results were same in biopsy specimen. In summary, telomerase activity was detected in 76.7% of gastric cancer and most of advanced cancer or differentiated type. Some intestinal metaplasia cases with telomerase activity suggested precancerous stage.

Humans↗

PubMed1998

[Detection of telomerase activity in intestinal lavage solution from colorectal carcinoma patients].

In terms of colorectal carcinoma, the fecal occult blood test is widely used for mass survey, but has many complicated problems to be overcome. Telomerase activity has been reported in a wide range of malignancies. We have examined telomerase activity of intestinal lavage solution collected from 16 colorectal carcinoma patients and from 10 volunteers (control) by the method of telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Patients drunk polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS) before examination. Sample solutions were collected by colonoscope at the beginning of colonoscopy. The telomerase activity from colorectal carcinoma patients were positive 9/16 (56.3%) including 2 cases of early stage. In volunteers, were positive 1/10 (10.0%). This method has, therefore, possibility for a new useful method of diagnosis for colorectal carcinoma.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

[Telomerase activity in colorectal carcinoma and its relationship to clinicopathological findings].

Telomerase is thought to be responsible for cell immortality. The telomerase activity in carcinomas has been remarked since 1995. We examined telomerase activity in colorectal carcinoma by TRAP (Telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay, and investigated its relationship to clinicopathological findings. We could analyse telomerase activities in 33 cases (66%) of 50 colorectal carcinomas, whereas the activity was not found in all 13 cases of noncancerous colorectal mucosa. There was no relation between the telomerase activity and the clinicopathological findings or metastatic status. We confirmed telomerase activities in much of colorectal carcinomas in spite of their progression. The carcinoma cells might be immortal from their early stage of progression by means of telomerase activity.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

PubMed1998

[A case of stage IV (N4) esophageal cancer successfully treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy].

A 71-year-old man with inoperable intrathoracic esophageal cancer was treated by concurrent chemoradiation. A dose of 48 Gy (neck) and 60.6 Gy (mediastinum) and four courses of 5-FU (500 mg/day)-CDDP (50 mg/week) were delivered. The esophageal tumor and metastatic lymph nodes of the neck showed a complete response (CR) to the treatment, whereas paraaortic lymph nodes evidenced no change (NC). The patient is doing well without symptoms at 13 months after treatment. The chemoradiotherapy produced effective improvement and quality of life in this patient.

Aged↗