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Biomedical subjects

K Kasai

Publications and source records attributed to K Kasai.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Pulmonary large cell carcinoma expressing neuroendocrine markers: the morphological, biological, and neuroendocrine features of their cell lines and surgical cases.

A cell line expressing neuroendocrine (NE) markers, designated as KTS9, was established from a human large cell carcinoma of the lung using serum-free medium, ACL-3. KTS9 cells showed morphological characteristics of large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (LCUC) and expressed some general NE markers including neuron-specific enolase (NSE), protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), synaptophysin and neurofilaments (NF) of 200 kd. Some cells of this cell line were positive to chromogranin-A (CG-A), but did not express Leu7 or aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). Such a cell line derived from LCUC with NE properties has not previously been reported. The biological and NE properties of the KTS9 cell line were compared with those of 2 surgical cases of LCUC with NE markers and of the KTA7 cell line previously reported to derive from large cell carcinoma and to possess NE markers such as alpha-hCG, PGP9.5 N-CAM and AADC. Tumor cells of 2 large cell carcinomas expressed NSE, PGP9.5, N-CAM and NF. The KTS9 and KTA7 cell lines and 2 large cell carcinomas were thus considered to be LCUCs with NE differentiation. Both lines had the morphological characteristics of LCUC, relatively short doubling time and discordant expression of NE markers, indicating them to be closely related to the variant type of small cell carcinoma cell lines and thus possibly to represent high-grade malignancy. They may be useful for examining the biological behavior and NE features of large cell-type NE tumors of the lung.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Case report of primary cardiac lymphoma. The applications of PCR to the diagnosis of primary cardiac lymphoma.

A 75-year-old man initially complained of pollakiuria and low abdominal pain, and died of massive bleeding from an exacerbated gastric ulcer. The diagnosis of primary cardiac lymphoma was made postmortem. The tumor involved only the epicardium and myocardium, which met the criteria of primary cardiac lymphoma as defined by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. The lymphoma consisted of large cells and expressed the B cell marker, CD20. Although chronic inflammation due to chronic renal failure was observed in the pericardium around the lymphoma, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to detect monoclonality at the DNA level in lymphoma cells, which were shown to comprise a monoclonal population.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of transmural and subendocardial infarction by typing and grading of ischemic lesions in autopsied human hearts.

Two types of myocardial infarction, transmural and subendocardial, were macroscopically examined, and the gross and microscopic findings were correlated. The transmural type usually consisted of yellowish-brown coagulation necrosis in the center of an infarcted focus and coagulative myocytolysis at the marginal zone. The subendocardial type was characterized by coagulative myocytolysis throughout the entire focus. Wavy fiber and colliquative myocytolysis of non-specific ischemic lesions were seen only microscopically in both peripheral and subendocardial areas of infarcted foci. Coagulation necrosis was associated with obstructive thrombus formation in 79% of cases as a result of absolute ischemia in the transmural type. Coagulative myocytolysis was associated with obstruction by plaque hemorrhage in 27% of cases, and multivessel disease was frequently encountered in the subendocardial type due to insufficient blood supply. Based on histochemical and immunohistochemical examinations, the ischemic lesions were graded in descending order of coagulation necrosis, coagulative myocytolysis, wavy fiber, and colliquative myocytolysis. The close relation between coagulation necrosis and the transmural type as well as that of coagulative myocytolysis with the subendocardial type suggests two different pathogenetic mechanisms of transmural and subendocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A case report of inflammatory pseudosarcoma of the urinary bladder.

A case of inflammatory pseudosarcoma of the urinary bladder in a 35-year-old Japanese male is presented. This benign lesion can easily be mistaken for spindle cell sarcoma since it consists of rhabdomyoblast-like elongated strap cells showing infiltrative growth, and whether it is benign or malignant is difficult to determine by microscopic examination. In this case, spindle cell proliferation extended among bundles of the superficial muscle layer. However, no abnormal mitoses, severe nuclear atypia or cellular pleomorphism could be seen, thus indicating inflammatory pseudosarcoma. Although the lesion was not completely resected, no recurrent disease has been clinically observed for two years following transurethral resection. Urologists and surgical pathologists must be able to detect this lesion in order to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of a phorbol ester on immunoreactive endothelin-1 release from cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells.

This study was designed to examine how protein kinase C (PKC) regulates the release of endothelin-1 (ET-1) from cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells. We measured the release of immunoreactive (IR)-ET-1 from cells cultured for up to 72 h in the presence or absence of a phorbol ester TPA. The release of IR-ET-1 from control cells (no TPA) increased according to time for up to 72 h. In the presence of TPA, the release of IR-ET-1 from the cells was higher than the control level for up to 8 h, but was lower thereafter and reached a plateau after 48 h. TPA dose-dependently stimulated IR-ET-1 release during incubation for 4 h, but suppressed it after incubation for 72 h. Stimulation of PKC by diacylglycerol mimicked the early (4 h) action of TPA. On the other hand, pretreatment of cells with TPA to downregulate PKC significantly suppressed basal and thrombin- or FCS-stimulated IR-ET-1 release. These findings suggest that the activation of PKC is related to the stimulation of ET-1 release and that down-regulation of PKC leads to the suppression of ET-1 release from cultured endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary blastoma. Comparison between its epithelial components and fetal bronchial epithelium.

Three cases of pulmonary blastoma exhibiting biphasic epithelial and stromal patterns, and a case of fetal lung-type adenocarcinoma, were examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy (EM) and compared with fetal bronchial epithelium in order to explore the multidirectional differentiation of their epithelial components. The glandular cells of all four tumors resembled fetal bronchial epithelial cells in the pseudoglandular stage. Neuroendocrine (NE) cells were also present; they were argyrophilic and expressed pan-NE markers, neurosecretory granules and peptide hormones. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) was strongly expressed on the cell membranes of glandular cells, as in the case of proximal bronchial epithelial cells at the pseudoglandular stage in fetal lung. Sialosylated Lewis X was also expressed, indicating that the epithelial cells were possibly of endodermal origin. Two of the four cases showed considerable immunoreactivity for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The epithelial cells of pulmonary blastomas may occasionally de-differentiate into cells functionally resembling fetal hepatic, foregut and yolk sac cells expressing AFP. Tumor examination by immunohistochemistry and EM suggested that the glandular cells of the tumors may differentiate to some extent like those of fetal large bronchi at the pseudoglandular stage, but there was concordance and discordance in the expression of neuroendocrine and oncofetal markers between blastomatous tumors and fetal bronchial epithelium.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[A case of granulomatous hypophysitis].

The patient was an unmarried, 25-year-old woman who presented herself with amenorrhea and lactation as her chief complaints. Radiography revealed a tumor in the sella turcica. Upon neurological examination at the time of admission, there were no abnormal findings affecting the field of vision or visual acuity, and no abnormalities were seen in the fundus oculi. In endocrinological tests, the basal plasma values of pituitary hormones were normal except for that of prolactin, which was 69.1 ng/ml. The preoperative diagnosis was nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma, and this neoplasm was resected by the transsphenoidal approach. Postoperative histological investigation showed vermiculous destruction of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, and also scattered lymph follicles accompanying infiltration by numerous lymphocytes and multinucleated foreign-body giant cells, and deposition of calcium. These findings, together with the epithelioid cells gathered around them, pointed to a diagnosis of granulomatous hypophysitis. The causes of granulomatous hypophysitis are known to include syphilis, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, mycotic granuloma, and foreign-body granuloma due to the rupturing of a Rathke's cleft cyst, but no evidence of any of these was found in this patient. Another known source of inflammatory lesions in the hypophysis is lymphocytic hypophysitis, which resembles Hashimoto's autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, and which is characterized both by the formation of lymph follicles and by extensive lymphocyte infiltration. In relation to the cause of granulomatous hypophysitis, thinking that it might possibly be an autoimmune disease, we conducted an immunological investigation, and also made a serological study of autoantibodies, but obtained no positive results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical study on cefprozil in pediatrics].

Clinical efficacy and safety of cefprozil (CFPZ, BMY-28100), a newly developed oral cephalosporin, were studied in our pediatric department. Clinical effectiveness, bacteriological effectiveness and side effects were studied in 116 pediatric patients with ages ranging 4 months to 11 years. CFPZ was given 4.6-14.1 mg/kg daily in 3 times for 3-10 days. Clinical efficacies were evaluated in 112 patients, and the therapeutic effectiveness were excellent in 1 and good in 6 for 7 patients with acute pharyngitis, excellent in 24 and good in 26 for acute purulent tonsillitis, excellent in 3, good in 8 and fair in 1 for acute bronchitis, excellent in 21, good in 7, fair in 1 and poor in 1 for acute pneumonia, excellent in 1 acute purulent parotitis, excellent in 2 and good in 7 for acute UTI, good in 1 impetigo, fair in 1 periproctal abscess and good in 1 acute enteritis. The effectiveness rate was 96.4%. Bacteriologically, 4 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (beta-lactamase producing strains), 1 strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis (beta-lactamase producing strain), 2 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 2 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae, 4 strains of beta-Streptococcus, 1 strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae (beta-lactamase producing strain) and 1 strain of Salmonella C2 were all disappeared, and of 22 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, 20 strains were disappeared, 1 was decreased and 1 was unknown, of 5 strains of Escherichia coli (3 beta-lactamase producing strains), 4 were disappeared and 1 was decreased, of 29 strains of Haemophilus influenzae (14 beta-lactamase producing strains), 14 were disappeared, 11 were decreased, 3 persisted and 1 was unknown and of 2 strains of Haemophilus parainfluenzae (1 beta-lactamase producing strain), 1 was disappeared and 1 persisted. The bacteriological eradication rates for Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria were 97.1% and 56.8%, respectively, and the drug was especially effective against Gram-positive bacteria. No side effects nor refusal of ingestion were observed. As abnormalities in laboratory test results, 3 cases of elevation of eosinophil counts and 1 of elevation of platelet counts were observed. In conclusion, CFPZ was considered to be a safe and highly effective antibiotic in pediatric infections.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1992

Esophageal stenting with a self-expandable metallic device: a preliminary study.

This study was designed to investigate the potential of the Gianturco-Rosch Z stent in the alimentary canal, using the rabbit esophagus as the animal model. Single stents were implanted in four animals, which were followed up for predetermined periods, lasting from 48 hours to 6 weeks. All the stents remained in place. A florid tissue reaction was noticed, initially manifesting primarily as submucosal cellular infiltration, and mucosal erosion. Over the ensuing six weeks, the acute changes gave way to mucosal regeneration, and the appearance of granulation tissue in the submucosa. The stented segments remained patent, and feeding difficulties were limited to the immediate post-procedure period. These preliminary results suggest that peristaltic activity is no contraindication to the use of Z stents, though measures to limit the tissue response need to be identified.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effect of amino acid substitution by sited-directed mutagenesis on the carbohydrate recognition and stability of human 14-kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin.

The roles of selected amino acid residues of human 14-kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin were studied by site-directed mutagenesis. Ten mutant lectin proteins were produced, in each of which one of the residues regarded as possibly related to the stability of the lectin (6 cysteine residues) or one of those highly conserved in the vertebrate beta-galactoside-binding lectin family (Asn46, Trp68, Glu71, and Arg73), was substituted. All the mutant lectins in which one of the cysteine residues had been substituted with serine (C2S, C16S, C42S, C60S, C88S, and C130S) proved to have sugar binding ability comparable with that of the wild-type lectin. In addition, one of the mutants in which Cys2 was substituted (C2S) was found to have become considerably more stable under non-reducing conditions. It retained asialofetuin binding activity for over a week in the absence of beta-mercaptoethanol, while the wild-type lectin lost it within a day. This suggests that oxidation of Cys2 could be a key process in the inactivation of human 14-kDa lectin. Substitution of highly conservative Trp68 to tyrosine (W68Y) slightly reduced lactose binding ability, but the mutant was still adsorbed strongly on asialofetuin-agarose. Other mutant lectins in which conservative hydrophilic amino acids were substituted (N46D, E71Q, and R73H) failed to bind to the asialofetuin agarose, with no sign of retardation. Thus, conservative hydrophilic residues proved to be more important in carbohydrate recognition than the cysteine and tryptophan residues, contrary to the widely accepted concept that these latter residues are essential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Elevation of plasma endothelin concentrations during endotoxin shock in dogs.

The effect of endotoxin on the release of endothelin, a novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide, was examined in anesthetized dogs and in cultured endothelial cells. Administration of 2.63 mg lipopolysaccharide, E. coli 0111:B4/kg body weight caused shock in the animals and produced a long-lasting increase in the plasma immunoreactive endothelin-1 level that remained higher than the basal level (1.83 pg/ml as mean level) from 30 to 120 min after the injection, with a peak at 90 min (8.15 pg/ml as mean level). In vitro immunoreactive endothelin-1 in a culture medium, in which calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells were incubated in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, increased dose dependently with the concentration of added lipopolysaccharide between 0.01 and 10 micrograms/ml. These data indicate that plasma endothelin increases during endotoxin shock and that stimulation by endotoxin, per se, in the presence of serum participates at least partially in the mechanism for its release.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1991

Effector and regulatory cells in autoimmune oophoritis elicited by neonatal thymectomy.

(C57BL/6 x A/J)F1 (B6AF1) mice thymectomized between days 1 and 4 of age develop autoimmune oophoritis (D3TX oophoritis) 4 to 6 wk later. Oophoritis can be adoptively transferred to young recipients, and the disease in D3TX mice is prevented by reconstitution with normal adult spleen cells. The present study was further defined the nature of the effector and suppressor cells. Contrary to an earlier report, oophoritis is transferred to syngeneic and not allogeneic recipients. The spleen cells from D3TX mice when stimulated in vitro with Con A, also transfer oophoritis to adult recipients. The effector cells are CD4+: oophoritis transfer is abrogated by CD4 antibody and not by CD8 antibody and C. Spleen cells from D3TX male mice transfer disease less efficiently than female cells, thus endogenous ovarian Ag may be required for activation of effector T cells. T cells from normal adult spleen that suppress D3TX oophoritis also appear to be of CD4+ phenotype. These cells are likely to be derived from adult thymus because adult thymocytes also suppress D3TX disease. We were unable to substantiate the earlier claim that suppressor cells in normal mice are ovarian Ag specific. Thus male and female spleen cells suppress disease with comparable efficiency, and deprivation of endogenous ovarian Ag by neonatal ovariectomy of cell donors had no observable effect on disease suppression.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

High-performance affinity chromatography of a chick lectin on an adsorbent based on hydrophilic polymer gel.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (SIA4-5) which reacts with a chick 14K lectin (C14K) was covalently attached to a new support for high-performance affinity chromatography, TSKgel Tresyl-5PW, which is a preactivated, polymer-based particle. The immobilized antibody (SIA4-5-5PW) thus prepared proved to be useful in measuring not only the molecular properties of C14K but also specific interactions of C14K with SIA4-5 and hapten sugars. The C14K preparation was fractionated according to the oligomeric structure and with slight differences in affinity to SIA4-5 although the former was homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Application of the method for quantitative analytical purposes was successful.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1991

Immobilized urokinase column as part of a specific detection system for plasminogen species separated by high-performance affinity chromatography.

Immobilized urokinase was used as part of a post-column reactor for the specific detection of human plasminogen species which were fractionated using a high-performance affinity column. After on-line activation of each peak, plasmin activity was measured by mixing the eluate with a specific fluorogenic substrate and the product was detected by a fluorescence monitor. This detection system gave linear calibration graphs for both purified plasminogens (0.1-50 micrograms) and plasminogens contained in plasma (25-100 microliters). Relative standard deviations for the determination of plasminogens in plasma were 6.1-6.6% (n = 12), showing good reproducibility. The detection limit was as low as 0.1 micrograms of plasminogen. Immobilized urokinase was very stable and no appreciable decrease in activity was found after 100 cycles of operation. In combination with an immobilized benzamidine column, this system made it possible to separate and detect Glu-plasminogen and Lys-plasminogen contained in human plasma samples as small as 100 microliters without any pretreatment.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1991

Human breast carcinoma cDNA encoding a galactoside-binding lectin homologous to mouse Mac-2 antigen.

A galactoside-binding lectin (Mr 29,000) has previously been identified in rat, mouse and human tissues. It is an abundant cell-surface component of inflammatory macrophages and their major non-integrin laminin-binding protein. It has also been found in the nucleus of other cell types. Here, we report the cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding the human galactoside-binding lectin from a breast carcinoma. The clone encodes a protein of 250 amino acids (aa) that is over 80% identical to its mouse and rat counterparts. The aa sequence has an N-terminal and a C-terminal, 'carbohydrate-binding', domain. The N-terminal domain consists of two parts. The first 41 aa are homologous to a transcription factor, i.e., the serum response factor. The adjacent part (aa 42-106) contains an unusual repeating element, that occurs seven times in human protein compared to nine times in rat and mouse. The C-terminal 'carbohydrate-binding' domain (aa 115-250) shows homology to L-14, another galactoside-binding lectin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Complete primary structure of a galactose-specific lectin from the venom of the rattlesnake Crotalus atrox. Homologies with Ca2(+)-dependent-type lectins.

The complete primary structure of a galactose-specific lectin contained in the venom of the rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox, was determined. The lectin is composed of two covalently linked, identical subunits, each consisting of 135 amino acid residues. Under physiological conditions the lectin proved to be highly aggregated. The venom lectin contained 9 half-cystines, 8 of which formed four intrasubunit disulfide bridges (Cys3-Cys14, Cys31-Cys131, Cys38-Cys133, and Cys106-Cys123), while Cys86 was involved in an intersubunit disulfide bridge. Because of the high content of disulfide bridges, the intact lectin was extremely resistant to tryptic digestion. The determined amino acid sequence was found to be homologous with those of the so-called carbohydrate recognition domains of Ca2(+)-dependent-type lectins in animal. Among them, 8 amino acid residues (Cys31, Gly69, Trp92, Pro97, Cys106, Asp120, Cys123, and Cys131) were completely conserved. Leu40, Trp67, and Trp81 were also well conserved. The rattlesnake venom lectin showed high hemagglutinating activity. These results, together with the occurrence of similar lectins in crotalid venoms, suggest that these lectins have evolved in order to make the venom a more effective weapon to capture prey animals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗