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Biomedical subjects

K Kasai

Publications and source records attributed to K Kasai.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Effect of glucose and insulin on immunoreactive endothelin-1 release from cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells.

We measured the release of immunoreactive endothelin-1 (IR-ET-1) by cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells under normoglycemic (5.5 mmol/L) and hyperglycemic (27.5 and 55 mmol/L) conditions. Compared with cells incubated in the presence of a normal glucose concentration, cells incubated in 27.5 mmol/L glucose medium released 52% less IR-ET-1, and those incubated in 55 mmol/L glucose medium released 54% less IR-ET-1. The observed effects of elevated glucose on IR-ET-1 release were both sugar-specific and not due to increased osmolarity. Fetal calf serum (FCS)-stimulated IR-ET-1 release in the presence of elevated glucose was also less than that in the presence of a normal glucose concentration. In addition, the effects of two hormones, insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), on IR-ET-1 release were examined. Both insulin and IGF-1 dose-dependently stimulated IR-ET-1 release. Twenty micrograms/mL insulin and 10(-8) mol/L IGF-1 increased IR-ET-1 release by 38% and by 44%, respectively. These results indicate that hyperglycemic condition results in reduction of IR-ET-1 release from cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells and that insulin and IGF-1 stimulate its release. The possible relevance of these observations to physiological regulation of ET-1 release in vivo and pathological processes in diabetes remains to be established.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A case of sideburn reconstruction using a temporoparieto-occipital island flap.

A preliminary case is reported in which a large temporal bald scar including the sideburn was successfully reconstructed using a temporoparieto-occipital island flap in combination with a tissue expander. This flap is considered to be a kind of reverse-flow island flap of the occipital artery by means of the fine vascular connections with the temporal branch of the superficial temporal artery. This new method is potentially a good solution for sideburn reconstruction.

Alopecia↗
PubMed1991

A pulmonary large cell carcinoma cell line expressing neuroendocrine cell markers and human chorionic gonadotropin alpha-subunit.

A cell line producing the neuroendocrine cell surface antigen and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) alpha-subunit, designated as KTA7, was established from human large cell carcinoma using a serum-free medium, ACL-3. KTA7 continued to grow in the ACL-3 medium, showing the morphological characteristics of large cell undifferentiated carcinoma. The KTA7 cells reacted with antibodies such as 6H7 and MOC1 directed against the cell surface antigens and PGP9.5 directed against a cytoplasmic protein of neuroendocrine cells but did not possess either most epithelial markers other than low-molecular-weight keratin (Cytokeratin) or neuron-specific enolase. The KTA7 cells, by immunostaining with anti-hCG subunit antibodies, were shown to produce hCG alpha- but not beta-subunit. Northern blot analysis showed KTA7 RNA to synthesize hCG alpha-subunit mRNA but not that of the hCG beta-subunit. Thus, the hCG alpha-subunit alone was independently expressed in KTA7. Chromosome analysis showed loss of alleles of chromosome 3p and 17 in KTA7 cells but not loss of 13q. KTA7 was considered to be derived from large cell undifferentiated carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (large cell neuroendocrine tumor) and thus may fine use in studies on the pathobiology of large cell-type neuroendocrine tumors since it expresses at the same time marker substances of neuroendocrine differentiation and the hCG alpha-subunit.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1991

Transferrin enhances the antiproliferative effect of aluminum on osteoblast-like cells.

Aluminum (Al) retention in the body can cause metabolic bone disease. This disorder is characterized by reductions in the number of osteoblasts, a feature that suggests a disturbance in bone cell proliferation or differentiation. Because Al as well as iron (Fe) can bind to transferrin (TF) in plasma, the role of TF as a modifier of osteoblast proliferation was examined in UMR-106-01 osteoblast-like cells by measuring the incorporation of tritiated thymidine ([3H]-TdR) into DNA (counts.min-1.microgram cell protein-1, means +/- SE) during 48-h incubations in serum-free medium (SFM). In the absence of TF, DNA synthesis decreased when media levels of Al exceeded 6-10 microM. The mitogenic response to physiological levels of unsaturated TF (apo-TF) was attenuated however during incubations with TF that was partially saturated with Al (Al-TF). A similar inhibitory response was seen in cells incubated with the antiproliferative agent gallium (Ga) when added to SFM as partially saturated Ga-TF. TF produced a shift to the left in the inhibitory dose-response curve to Al in osteoblast-like cells; thus, DNA synthesis decreased at substantially lower media concentrations of Al in cells grown in SFM containing partially saturated Al-TF. The results indicate that TF is an important determinant of the inhibitory effect of Al on DNA synthesis by osteoblast-like cells at the micromolar levels of Al that can occur in plasma in vivo.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1991

Rapidly progressive renal failure associated with angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia.

The authors report a case of rapidly progressive renal failure associated with Castleman's disease. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with marked tubulointerstitial nephritis. This kind of renal lesion has never been reported in association with angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) or other immunoblastic disorders. The patient initially required hemodialysis therapy. However, steroid therapy was effective in treating the systemic manifestations of Castleman's disease and some renal function was recovered. The patient was finally withdrawn from hemodialysis therapy.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical evaluation of cefdinir 5% fine granules in pediatrics].

Clinical evaluation in pediatrics on cefdinir (CFDN, FK482) (5% fine granules), a new oral cephem, was performed. 1. CFDN was administered to 112 pediatric patients with ages between 1 month to 13 years with various infections. Dose levels used were 3.0-8.9 mg/kg (mean 5.1 mg/kg) t.i.d. for 3-14 days (mean 6.7 days). The studied patients included 2 patients with scarlet fever, 6 with acute pharyngitis, 6 with acute rhinopharyngitis, 52 with acute purulent tonsillitis, 8 with acute bronchitis, 24 with acute pneumonia, 7 with acute urinary tract infections, 1 with acute vaginitis, and 6 with impetigo. Total doses ranged from 0.6 to 4.05 g. One hundred eleven of the 112 patients were evaluated for clinical efficacy and all the patients were evaluated for safety. 2. Clinical effects were excellent in 51 cases, good in 57, and fair in 3 with an extremely high efficacy rate of 97.3%. Efficacy rates were 100% in scarlet fever, acute pharyngitis, acute purulent tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, acute vaginitis and impetigo, and 83.3%, 95.7%, 85.7% in acute rhinopharyngitis, acute pneumonia, and acute urinary tract infections, respectively. Good clinical effects were observed regardless of diseases. 3. Causative organisms were identified in 79 cases, of which 71 were found to be monobacterial infections and 8 were found to be multi-bacterial infections. In mono-bacterial infections, clinical efficacies were 100% for those caused by Staphylococcus aureus/Streptococcus pyogenes/Streptococcus pneumoniae/beta-Streptococcus except those in A and B groups with an overall efficacy of 100% against Gram-positive cocci (GPC) and they were 89.5%, 100%, 100% for those caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Escherichia coli, respectively, with an overall efficacy of 90.3% in Gram-negative rods (GNR). In multi-bacterial infections also, a clinical efficacy of 100% was obtained. 4. Bacteriological effects were studied for 89 strains in the 79 cases. The eradication rate for a few strains of S. pneumoniae was low, 25%, but it was 100% for S. aureus, with the same results for S. pyogenes, and beta-Streptococcus. The eradication rate on GPC was high 94.1%. Among GNR, 66.7% of E. coli, 50.0% of H. influenzae, and 71.4% of H. parainfluenzae was eradicated. The overall eradication rate for GNR was 55.3%, lower than that for GPC. Microbial substitutions were observed in 13 cases, with Haemophilus sp. replacing other bacteria. 5. Diarrhea and soft stools were noted in 4 and 2 patients, respectively. The severity of these side effects, however, was slight and it was possible to continue the CFDN treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Laboratory and clinical evaluations of flomoxef sodium in neonates].

Flomoxef sodium (FMOX) was evaluated experimentally and clinically in neonates. 1. Serum concentrations and urinary excretions of the drug were examined after a bolus intravenous injection at 20 mg/kg to 22 neonates 1-30 days after birth (durations of pregnancy 31-43 weeks, weights at birth 1,650-4,040 g) and 5 infants 50-95 days after birth (durations of pregnancy 33-40 weeks, weights at birth 1,720-3,308 g). Serum concentrations were 10.8-67.6 micrograms/ml (mean 32.7 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml) and 25.1-52.0 micrograms/ml (mean 38.9 +/- 4.3 micrograms/ml) in the neonates and the infants, respectively, at their peaks (0.5 hour value), decreased thereafter with half-lives of 0.96-5.59 hours (mean 2.20 +/- 0.26 hours value), and 0.97-1.54 hours (mean 1.22 +/- 0.12 hours value), respectively. Serum levels decreased to 0.2-17.1 micrograms/ml (mean 2.9 +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml) and N.D. -1.1 micrograms/ml (mean 0.4 +/- 0.2 micrograms/ml) after 8 hours, respectively. The urinary recovery rates of the drug in the first 8 hours after administration were 15.0-96.0% (mean 53.7 +/- 4.9%) and 29.9-73.3% (mean 62.4 +/- 9.4%) in the neonates and in the infants, respectively. 2. FMOX was administered to 78 neonates (durations of pregnancy 31-42 weeks, weights at birth 1,420-3,860 g) in whom bacterial infections were established or suspected, and clinical, bacteriological, and side effects were evaluated. In 47 neonates examined (1 with sepsis, 3 with acute upper respiratory infections, 18 with acute pneumonia, 1 with umbilical infection, 1 with impetigo, 4 with acute urinary tract infections, 1 with acute otitis externa, 1 with periproctal abscess, and 17 with intrauterine infections), the treatment was markedly effective in 41, and effective in 6, with an overall efficacy rate of 100%. The bacterilogical effects of the drug on 3 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 1 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 strain of Streptococcus agalactiae, 9 strains of Escherichia coli, and 2 strains of Haemophilus influenzae which were responsible for these infections were all rated as "eradicated". Moreover, the drug, administered with or without prophylactic intentions showed complete prophylactic effects in all 27 cases tested. No side effects were observed in any of the patients. Concerning abnormal clinical laboratory results, increases in GOT were noted in 2, eosinophilia in 1, and thrombocytosis in 1, but these abnormalities were invariably mild and the normalized in 1 patient without treatment. The results suggest that FMOX is useful and safe also in neonates.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical evaluation of cefixime in pediatric respiratory tract infections].

Cefixime (CFIX) was evaluated clinically in pediatric respiratory tract infections, particularly those caused by Haemophilus influenzae: 1. The total number of children in this study treated with CFIX was 232, out of which 215 cases were evaluated for clinical efficacy and 224 cases were investigated for safety. A daily dosage of 3-6 mg/kg/day was given divided into 2 to 3 times daily for 3-15 days. 2. Causative organisms were identified in 146 cases, out of which 128 cases were found to be single microbial infections and 18 cases were mixed infections. In single microbial infections, clinical efficacy was 100% for those caused by H. influenzae/Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and was 95% for Streptococcus pyogenes with an overall efficacy of 96.9%. In mixed infections, the clinical efficacy was 100% for those caused by a combination of H. influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the overall rate was 94.4%. An involvement of H. influenzae was observed in 108 cases with a clinical efficacy rate of 99.1%, and definite involvement of beta-lactamase secreting strains of H. influenzae was found in 32 cases with a clinical efficacy of 96.9%. 3. Bacteriological effect was studied for 164 strains identified in 146 cases, and eradication rates were 89.5% for H. influenzae, 100% for H. parainfluenzae and S. pyogenes, and 71.4% for S. pneumoniae. The overall eradication rate was 91.4%. Superinfection was observed in 21 cases. MICs against 78 strains of H. influenzae were in a range of less than or equal to 0.10 microgram/ml regardless of beta-lactamase production, and far superior to cefaclor and amoxicillin. MICs against S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae were in ranges of less than or equal to 0.10 microgram/ml and 0.39 micrograms/ml, respectively. 4. Clinical efficacy was 93.0% in 215 cases (excellent: 136, good: 64, fairly good: 10, poor: 5). CFIX attained a high efficacy in the range of 89.4-95.7% in acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis and acute pneumonia. 5. Safety was monitored in 224 cases and there were only one case of loose stool and another of diarrhea as side effects. There were no abnormal findings in 31 cases of the laboratory test. In conclusion, it was confirmed that CFIX is excellent and safe in the treatment of the respiratory tract infections.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Structure of chicken 16-kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin. Complete amino acid sequence, cloning of cDNA, and production of recombinant lectin.

The complete primary structure of chicken 16-kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin (C-16) was determined. It was composed of 134 amino acid residues and has an acetylated NH2 terminus. A cDNA was also cloned, but no signal sequence was found in the initiator region. The initiator methionine remained as the NH2 terminus of the mature lectin. Although C-16 is distinct from chicken 14-kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin (C-14), it proved to be a member of the vertebrate 14-kDa-type lectin family. Comparison of the primary structures between the vertebrate 14-kDa-type lectins suggests that C-14 and C-16 were produced by gene duplication of an ancestral lectin gene at a time close to the divergence of birds and mammals. Northern and Southern blot analysis indicated that these isolectins are encoded by individual genes which are differently regulated during the development of the embryo. A recombinant C-16 lectin was produced in Escherichia coli. The product was indistinguishable from the authentic C-16 lectin except that the NH2 terminus of the former was found to begin with free methionine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Slalom chromatography: size-dependent separation of DNA molecules by a hydrodynamic phenomenon.

Slalom chromatography, a size-dependent DNA fractionation method based on a new principle [Hirabayashi, J., & Kasai, K. (1989) Anal. Biochem. 178, 336-341], was systematically studied in detail. In this method, larger DNA fragments are eluted much later than smaller ones from columns packed with spherical microbeads. Elution of a series of DNA fragments was systematically examined by using columns packed with polymer-based packings of different diameter and different pore size for high-performance gel permeation chromatography. Packings of smaller diameter proved to be superior for resolving the smaller size range of DNA, while the reverse was the case for larger DNAs. Application of a faster flow rate led to larger retardation of every DNA fragment, while at the lowest flow rate applied (0.067 cm/min), all the fragments were eluted almost at the void volume. When the column temperature was lowered, retardation of DNA became larger. On the other hand, differences in the chemical nature and the pore size of packings, or in the hydrophobicity of the eluting solvent, had little effect on DNA retardation. Size-dependent fractionation of DNA was also achieved even on columns packed with nonporous packings having anionic groups (cation exchangers). In conclusion, these results confirmed the previous conclusion that slalom chromatography is not based on an adsorption or equilibrium phenomenon but should be attributed to a hydrodynamic phenomenon.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Tresyl-activated support for high-performance affinity chromatography.

A new activated support TSK gel Tresyl-5PW was evaluated for the coupling of antibodies, which was found to occur easily under mild conditions with high yields. Optimum coupling conditions were a 2-h reaction at 25 degrees C in 1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) when 2-3 mg antibody/ml support is to be coupled and a 6-7-h reaction when ca. 10 mg antibody/ml support is to be coupled. When antibodies were coupled under these conditions, antibody coupling yields greater than 80% and antigen binding efficiencies of 70-80% were achieved, probably owing to a selective attachment of the Fc region of the antibodies. Antigens (human serum proteins) could be separated rapidly without denaturation on antibody-coupled Tresyl-5PW.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1990

Relationships among expression, transcription and rearrangement of T-cell receptor beta gene in T-cell lymphomas.

The expression of T-cell receptors (TCR) in malignant lymphomas was examined immunohistochemically by monoclonal antibodies which react with the TCR beta or TCR delta chain. TCR beta was expressed in 16 out of 47 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. These included 15 T-cell lymphomas and 1 Ki-1 lymphoma. The anti-TCR beta chain antibody, beta F1, did not react with 26 B-cell lymphomas, 1 Ki-1 lymphoma or 6 Hodgkin's disease. This anti-TCR delta chain antibody, TCR delta 1, did not react with any type of malignant lymphoma. Although TCR beta and CD3 were co-expressed in normal lymphoid tissues and most T-cell lymphomas, 3 cases of CD3+ CD4+ CD8- T-cell lymphoma failed to express TCR beta. TCR beta and Ig JH gene configurations in malignant lymphomas were examined by Southern hybridization. Although each of 9 T-cell lymphomas had a rearranged TCR beta locus, TCR beta gene rearrangement in the 3 cases of beta F1- CD3+ T-cell lymphomas was demonstrated by Southern blot. No transcripts of the TCR beta gene could be found in 2 out of the 3 beta F1- CD3+ T-cell lymphomas by Northern blot, indicating the lack of TCR beta protein expression to be due to non-transcription of the TCR gene. Loss of TCR beta proteins in these T-cell lymphomas is thus quite likely to be associated with T-cell tumour activation and progression, since 3 beta F1- CD3+ T-cell lymphomas expressed CD25 (interleukin-2 receptor) to a high degree.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Immunoreactive endothelin concentrations in maternal and fetal blood.

Immunoreactive-endothelin (ir-ET) concentrations were determined in peripheral maternal blood and in umbilical cord blood just after delivery. The concentrations in both the umbilical artery (2.83 +/- 1.36 pmol/l plasma, Mean +/- SD) and vein (3.37 +/- 1.53 pmol/l) were significantly higher than those found in maternal venous blood (1.43 +/- 1.02 pmol/l). On the other hand, ir-ET levels in maternal blood were not significantly different when compared with those found in non-pregnant women (1.50 +/- 0.83 pmol/l). No significant difference of ir-ET levels between the umbilical artery and vein was observed. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.60, p less than 0.01) of ir-ET levels between the umbilical artery and vein was observed. Also, a significant correlation (r = 0.48, p less than 0.01) between umbilical vein and maternal vein ir-ET levels with a weaker correlation (r = 0.36, p less than 0.05) between umbilical artery and maternal vein ir-ET levels was demonstrated. The present study indicates that ir-ET may be actively secreted in fetal circulation and the plasma levels in maternal and fetal circulation may have a possible relation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition by protein kinase-C inhibitor and cycloheximide of phorbol ester- and epidermal growth factor-induced arachidonic acid metabolism in cultured porcine thyroid cells.

In an attempt to elucidate possible mechanism(s) for stimulated arachidonic acid metabolism by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in porcine thyroid cells, we examined the effects of protein kinase inhibitors, isoquinolinesulfonamide derivatives (H-7 and HA-1004), and cycloheximide. The production of PGE2 stimulated by either PMA or EGF was strongly inhibited by H-7, with an ID50 value of approximately 20 to 25 mumol/L in each case, as well as by cycloheximide, with an ID50 value of less than 0.5 micrograms/mL in each case. In contrast, 100 mumol/L of HA-1004 showed less inhibition of PGE2 production provocated by either PMA or EGF. On the other hand, PGE2 production in basal or stimulated condition by exogenously added arachidonic acid, was inhibited to an even lesser extent by both H-7 and cycloheximide. The EGF- and PMA-stimulated release of 3H-arachidonic acid from the cells was also strongly inhibited by H-7 and cycloheximide. These results suggest an induction of synthesis of some proteins responsible for the release of arachidonic acid, which might be attributed to protein kinase-C activation in arachidonic acid metabolism stimulated by PMA or EGF. Moreover, PGE2 production was potently induced by PMA and slightly by EGF in the cyclooxygenase-inactivated cells by acetyl salicylate pretreatment, which also suggests that both agents might induce the synthesis of cyclooxygenase in cultured porcine thyroid cells, although we did not measure its activity.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1990

Presence of high affinity receptor for interleukin-1 (IL-1) on cultured porcine thyroid cells.

Using 125I-interleukin-1 beta (125I-IL-1 beta) as a ligand, a specific receptor of high affinity dissociation constant (1.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(-10) M) with binding sites (350 +/- 40/cell) for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been demonstrated on cultured porcine thyroid cells. IL-1 alpha almost equally cross-reacted with the receptor (Kd = 1.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(-10) M and 350 +/- 50 binding sites/cell). TSH, IL-2 and other peptide hormones did not inhibit the binding of 125I-IL-1 beta to thyroid cells. Crosslinking study revealed a major band (approximately 95 kD) with a corrected molecular mass of approximately 78 kD. Moreover, both IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha stimulated prostaglandin E2 production of cultured porcine thyroid cells, although the potency of IL-1 alpha was slightly greater than that of IL-1 beta. These results suggest that IL-1 may be involved in the regulation of thyroid cell function.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Partial eyebrow reconstruction using subcutaneous pedicle flaps to preserve the natural hair direction.

Five cases of partial eyebrow reconstruction using subcutaneous pedicle flaps from the ipsilateral eyebrow are presented. Proper use of this method will enable safe one-stage transfer of the skin and the eyebrow hair, preserving the natural hair direction and properties. It will also leave minimal scars and dog-ears. This method is especially suitable for the reconstruction of moderate- to small-sized eyebrow defects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Split lamellae switch flap for upper eyelid reconstruction.

A new concept for elevating a switch flap from the lower eyelid and then closing the defect is advocated. This flap is composed of two different-sized lamellae, the horizontally extended anterior lamella and the conventional wedge-shaped posterior lamella and lid margin. The donor's defect is to be closed with each lamella; the posterior lamella is horizontally advanced and directly closed with the aid of lateral canthotomy and cantholysis, and the anterior lamella is closed directly by extending the incision laterally to the temporal region and advancing the skin superolaterally. The switch flap can be applied to previously unindicated, nontypical upper eyelid defects by means of the split lamella concept and procedure. An illustrative case is presented.

Adolescent↗