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Biomedical subjects

K Kojima

Publications and source records attributed to K Kojima.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Analysis of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus by a molecular typing method based on coagulase gene polymorphisms.

A molecular typing method for Staphylococcus aureus based on coagulase gene polymorphisms (coagulase gene typing) was evaluated by examining a total of 240 isolates which comprised 210 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 30 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) collected from a single hospital. By AluI restriction enzyme digestion of the PCR-amplified 3'-end region of the coagulase gene including 81-bp repeated units, the MRSA and MSSA isolates examined were divided into 6 and 12 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, respectively, whereas five patterns were commonly detected in MRSA and MSSA. MRSA isolates that showed a particular RFLP pattern were considered to be predominant in the hospital. Coagulase typing with type-specific antisera was also performed for all S. aureus isolates for comparison. Coagulase types II and VII were most frequently detected and included isolates with four and five different AluI RFLP patterns, respectively, whereas each of the other coagulase types corresponded to a single RFLP pattern. These results indicated that RFLP typing was more discriminatory than serological typing, for typing S. aureus and demonstrated its utility in epidemiologic investigation of S. aureus infection in hospitals.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1995

Transforming growth factor-alpha in human submandibular gland and saliva.

A sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) utilizing a polyclonal antibody that recognizes limited epitopes of both human TGF-alpha and rat TGF-alpha in combination with a monoclonal anti-TGF-alpha IgG1 galactosidase conjugate was developed. This assay shows no cross-reactivity with human epidermal growth factor. We can quantify the TGF-alpha level in not only human TGF-alpha (detection limit: 1 pg/ml), but also rat TGF-alpha (detection limit: 10 pg/ml) by virtue of cross-reactivity. Employing this assay system, we demonstrated that TGF-alpha is present in both human submandibular glands and submandibular/sublingual saliva.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor in human placenta: a possible role for LIF in the growth and differentiation of trophoblasts.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a cytokine that displays multiple activities in various tissues and is essential for blastocyst implantation in mice. In the human uterus, LIF is expressed in endometrial tissue and the decidua. To elucidate the role it plays, the mRNA levels for two LIF receptor (R) subunits, LIF-R and gp130, were examined in human endometrium, placenta and decidua by Northern blot hybridization. The expression of LIF-R gene was detected in the chorionic villus during the first trimester, in term placenta, and at lower levels in the decidua. The expression of LIF-R gene was not detectable in non-pregnant endometrium. The expression of the gp130 gene was detected in all tissues examined. During pregnancy, there was no significant change in the mRNA concentration of LIF-R in the placenta, while that of gp130 increased after the second trimester. The human choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo, was found to express LIF-R and gp130. LIF inhibited forskolin-induced human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-beta production by BeWo in a dose-dependent manner, and it ameliorated forskolin-induced growth suppression. These findings suggest that LIF plays a regulatory role in trophoblast growth and differentiation during pregnancy in human placenta.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

[Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from throat swab by polymerase chain reaction].

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers directed against the 16S-rRNA gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was used to diagnose M. pneumoniae infections, and the results were compared with those of culture and serology methods. Eighty (22%) of 363 throat swab samples from patients with acute respiratory complaints gave positive results by using the PCR method. Sixty-seven (18.5%) of the samples were positive in culture method. Of 35 samples which were unreliable culture results due to contamination with other bacteria, 13 gave positive results in the PCR method. Of the 97 cases obtained throat swabs and paired sera, 28 (28.9%) showed positive results by the PCR assay, and 29 (29.9%) by serology method (particle agglutination test). The positive rate was increased to 36% by using both the PCR and the serology methods. From these results it was concluded that the PCR method is useful for laboratory diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infections.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

C1Q complexes with beta-2-microglobulin and amyloid P-component in sera of patients with dialysis-associated amyloidosis.

We studied complexes composed of C1q and beta 2-microglobulin (C1q.beta 2M) or serum amyloid P-component (C1q.SAP) in the sera of 38 patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and 20 healthy control subjects using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. We also compared complex levels in HD patients with and without symptoms of HD-associated amyloidosis (HA). Serum C1q-beta 2M levels were significantly higher in HD patients without HA than in healthy control subjects and significantly higher in HD patients with HA than in HD patients without HA. Serum C1q.SAP levels were significantly lower in patients with HA than in those without HA. These results suggest that C1q.beta 2M may contribute to HA.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1995

Induction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 gene expression during in vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.

Endometrial stromal differentiation (decidualization) is essential for implantation of the developing blastocyst. To investigate the process of progesterone (P)-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (ESC), a complementary DNA library enriched with P-induced genes was constructed from cultured human ESC by subtractive hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction. One of the isolated clones was the complementary DNA for the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3), a recently identified member of the human TIMP family. When human ESC were cultured in the presence of P for 6 days, the induction of TIMP-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was observed by Northern blotting. In contrast, the marked induction of PRL mRNA expression and morphological changes were observed after 9 days of culture. P-induced TIMP-3 mRNA expression was dose dependent, and this induction was inhibited by the antiprogestin RU486. Estrogen did not induce TIMP-3 mRNA expression under similar conditions. In situ hybridization analysis of endometria from nonpregnant women revealed that the TIMP-3 mRNA expression was restricted to predecidualized stromal cells. At the feto-maternal interface, TIMP-3 expression was observed in fetal extravillous trophoblasts that had invaded the maternal decidual tissues as well as in the maternal decidual cells. These findings suggest that TIMP-3 is a sensitive indicator of ESC decidualization, and that the induction of TIMP-3 expression in decidual cells and trophoblasts may be important in the regulation of trophoblast invasion.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of sex steroid receptor gene expression by progesterone and testosterone in cultured human endometrial stromal cells.

Progesterone (P) is known to regulate sex steroid receptors in uterine cells. However, its precise regulation at the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level is unclear. In this study we examined the effects of P and testosterone (T) on the regulation of sex steroid receptors in cultured human endometrial stromal cells (ESC), using the quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method. We isolated ESC from human endometrial tissues and cultured them with or without P (10(-6) mol/L) or T (10(-8) mol/L) for 9 days. Incubation with P decreased progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor, and androgen receptor mRNA levels in cultured human ESC to 0.56 +/- 0.04-, 0.53 +/- 0.08-, and 0.84 +/- 0.04-fold (mean +/- SE), respectively. T also decreased PR, estrogen receptor, and androgen receptor mRNA levels in cultured human ESC to 0.48 +/- 0.06-, 0.52 +/- 0.05-, and 0.82 +/- 0.04-fold (mean +/- SE), respectively. These decreases by P and T occurred in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the sex steroid receptor levels in human ESC cultured for 0, 3, 6, and 9 days. The PR mRNA level in ESC without P was increased in a time-dependent manner. This increase was also inhibited by P, and the mRNA level in the presence of P was almost constant throughout the culture period. Our results demonstrated that P or T is a regulator of sex steroid receptors in ESC and that this regulation may influence the responsiveness to P of decidual change in ESC.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Veno-occlusive disease in hypereosinophilic syndrome.

A 68-year-old male with hypereosinophilic syndrome developed acute hepatic veno-occlusive disease. The diagnosis of veno-occlusive disease was made mainly based on clinical symptoms and hepatic phlebography. Although veno-occlusive disease caused hepatic failure complicated with massive ascites, consciousness disturbance and coagulation abnormality, all of these manifestations subsided shortly after the start of corticosteroid therapy for hypereosinophilic syndrome. Since eosinophils cause direct tissue damage and local hypercoagulation, it is suggested that hypereosinophilia may be actively involved in the development of hepatic veno-occlusive disease in the course of the disease state.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Enlargement of multiple cavernous hemangioma of the liver in association with pregnancy.

Four cavernous hemangiomas were found in a 34-year-old woman after the first delivery. All four hemangiomas became enlarged after the second delivery. Due to complaints of symptoms of compression, and to rule out malignancy, surgical intervention was employed. Histologically, the tumors were typical cavernous hemangiomas. Although a relationship between enlargement of hemangiomas and estrogen was suggested, estrogen receptors were not detected in the tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced liver metastases from lung cancer via implantable vascular access: report of six cases].

Six patients with advanced liver metastases judged as a survival limiting factor from lung cancer were treated with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy employing totally implantable vascular access. The treatment regimen included 5-FU/CDDP/EPIR/MMC/etoposide in various combinations and this therapy was repeated as long as possible. There were no serious side-effects or complications, such as bone marrow suppression or gastrointestinal symptoms. The therapy could be continued for a mean duration of 7.2 months (ranging from 2 to 13 months). Cause of death was due to extra-hepatic lesion in all 5 patients. The direct effect on liver metastases reviewed on CT scan was 83.3% (CR: 1, PR: 4, NC: 1), and the median survival period was 108 days (for small-cell group: 92 days; for non-small-cell group: 407 days). We conclude that this therapy is useful in the treatment of liver metastases from lung cancer because of its limited toxicity and high direct effect.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[Prediction of postoperative pulmonary function using 99mTc-MAA perfusion lung SPECT].

In order to predict postoperative pulmonary function, 99mTc-MAA perfusion lung SPECT and spirometry were performed preoperatively in 52 patients with resectable primary lung cancer; 44 underwent lobectomy, eight pneumonectomy. Local pulmonary function (called local effective volume) was evaluated according to the degree of radionuclide distribution of each voxel in the SPECT images. The total effective volume was defined as the sum of the local effective volume, and the residual effective volume was the total effective volume excluding loss after operation. Predicted pulmonary function (VC and FEV1.0) was calculated by the following formula: Predicted value = preoperative value x percent of the residual effective volume. Postoperative pulmonary function was predicted in the same patients by means of 99mTc-MAA perfusion lung planar scintigraphy and X-ray CT. The patients were reinvestigated with spirometry at one and four months after surgery, and the values were compared with the predicted values. The correlations between the predicted values using SPECT and measured postoperative pulmonary function were highly significant (VC: r = 0.867, FEV1.0: r = 0.864 one month after operation; VC: r = 0.860, FEV1.0: r = 0.907 4 months after operation). The predicted values calculated using SPECT were accurate compared with the predicted values calculated using planar scintigraphy or X-ray CT. The patients with predicted FEV1.0 of less than 0.8 liter required home oxygen therapy. This method is valuable for the prediction of postoperative pulmonary function before the surgical procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[MR diagnosis for metastasis or non-metastasis of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes in cases of primary lung cancer: detectability, signal intensity, and MR-pathologic correlation].

The detectability and signal intensity on MR imaging of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes were studied in cases of lung cancer. Additionally, short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) images and pathologic findings were compared. In the detection of resected metastatic mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes (n = 146), the STIR image (82%) was superior to the T1-weighted image (71%) and the T2-weighted image (60%). On STIR imaging, 212 (60%) of 412 resected non-metastatic mediastinal nodes and 38 (33%) of 116 resected non-metastatic hilar lymph nodes were detected. Characteristics of signal intensities of metastatic nodes were mainly low on T1-weighted images, high on T2-weighted images, and very high on STIR images. The rate of these characteristics of signal intensity of metastatic nodes was 59%. However, the rate of very high signal intensity of metastatic nodes on STIR imaging was 81%. Pathologically, lymph nodes with high or very high signal intensities on STIR images were metastatic, reactive and hyperplastic, or non-metastatic. Lymph nodes with slightly high signal intensity or high intensity with a low focus on STIR images were anthracotic, anthrasilicotic, caseous necrotic, calcified, or fibrotic. Thus, when the signal intensity of a lymph node was decreased on the STIR image, there was no definite evidence of metastasis excluding micro-metastasis or coagulation necrosis of a metastatic tumor. We conclude that the signal characteristics on STIR imaging are useful for distinguishing between macro-metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes when enlarged nodes are detected by various other types of medical imaging.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[Successful treatment of refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation with cytarabine ocfosfate].

A 58-year-old female was diagnosed as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) [refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB)]. Although melphalan was administered, no response was obtained in the peripheral blood. Sixteen months after diagnosis, she developed RAEB in transformation (RAEB-t), and then overt leukemia. White blood cell (WBC) count elevated to 28,600/microliters with 34% of blasts. She was administered cytarabine ocfosfate (200 mg-->300 mg/day) orally, resulting in decrease of WBC count and blasts in peripheral blood. The drug has been given for 11 months, and her hematological data have now remained stable in RAEB. Cytarabine ocfosfate might be a useful drug for the treatment of high risk MDS such as RAEB and RAEB-t.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Inhibition and down-regulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase results in a marked resistance of HL-60 cells to various apoptosis-inducers.

In a previous report we described that adenosine-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells was blocked by the pretreatment of cells with a potent inhibitor (3-aminobenzamide) of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The pretreatment of the cells with nicotinamide, another inhibitor of the enzyme, also suppressed most effectively the adenosine-induced apoptosis. This inhibition was reversible and observed during apoptosis mediated by other known apoptosis inducers such as actinomycin D and staurosporine (group I inducers), but nicotinamide was ineffective on the apoptosis mediated by VM 26, camptothecin and A23187 (group II inhibitors). In addition to the enzyme inhibition, a down-regulation of the enzyme level caused by the pretreatments of cells with differentiation-inducing agents, retinoic acid (RA) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) also resulted in a marked resistance of the cells to the apoptosis inducers. A pretreatment of the cells for a limited time of 24 hrs. by these agents decreased the PARP level to 66-75% of the untreated cells and the cells showed a quite similar resistance to the group I apoptosis inducers like the cells treated with the enzyme inhibitors, whereas they were still sensitive to the group II inhibitors. A more prolonged treatment for 48 hrs. of the cells with RA and DMSO resulted in further down-regulation of the cellular PARP reaching respectively 50 and 43% of control cells and at this stage, the cells became resistant to all the inducers of both groups. These results suggest that the pathway, by which both groups of the inducers initiate and progress apoptosis, is not identical but include at least two different processes which are differently affected by PARP-inhibition or by different levels of cellular PARP.

Adenosine↗