Generation of small-divergence soft x-ray laser by plasma waveguiding with a curved target.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
K Murai
Publications and source records attributed to K Murai.
Decreased reactivity to PPD among HTLV-I carriers in relation to virus and hematologic status.
Data on human T-cell lymphotropic-virus-type-I (HTLV-I) status and hematology from 528 individuals were analyzed for associations with low reactivity to the purified protein derivative (PPD) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis recall antigen. Subjects were classified as HTLV-I carriers with abnormal lymphocytes (Ably), carriers without Ably, and seronegatives. All carriers had a significant 2.6-fold risk of being low responders to PPD compared with the seronegatives, carriers with Ably having the highest relative risk. Carriers with HTLV-I-antibody titer > or = 1:256, or with other detectable markers of virus status such as antibody to tax and proviral DNA, had increased risk for low response to PPD similar to the estimate for HTLV-I seropositivity alone, compared with the seronegatives. Subjects with a low lymphocyte count had 3.5 times the risk for being low responders to PPD, compared with subjects with high counts. Similarly, subjects with a low monocyte count had 2.0 times the risk for low reactivity of those with a moderate to high count. Results were not confounded by age, sex, smoking or alcohol drinking. Using multiple logistic regression, only HTLV-I seropositivity and low lymphocyte and monocyte counts were predictive of low reactivity to PPD. Analysis indicates that suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity is associated with HTLV-I infection per se, and not with viral replication or load. Furthermore, this effect may occur in part via changes in the number and function of lymphocytes and monocytes. Such a mechanism may involve altered cytokine production in carriers and concomitant changes in cell populations involved in delayed-type hypersensitivity.
Carrier State↗
The delta-crystallin enhancer-binding protein delta EF1 is a repressor of E2-box-mediated gene activation.
The repressor delta EF1 was discovered by its action on the DC5 fragment of the lens-specific delta 1-crystallin enhancer. C-proximal zinc fingers of delta EF1 were found responsible for binding to the DC5 fragment and had specificity to CACCT as revealed by selection of high-affinity binding sequences from a random oligonucleotide pool. CACCT is present not only in DC5 but also in the E2 box (CACCTG) elements which are the binding sites of various basic helix-loop-helix activators and also the target of an unidentified repressor, raising the possibility that delta EF1 accounts for the E2 box repressor activity. delta EF1 competed with E47 for binding to an E2 box sequence in vitro. In lymphoid cells, endogenous delta EF1 activity as a repressor was detectable, and exogenous delta EF1 repressed immunoglobulin kappa enhancer by binding to the kappa E2 site. Moreover, delta EF1 repressed MyoD-dependent activation of the muscle creatine kinase enhancer and MyoD-induced myogenesis of 10T1/2 cells. Thus, delta EF1 counteracts basic helix-loop-helix activators through binding site competition and fulfills the conditions of the E2 box repressor. In embryonic tissues, the most prominent site of delta EF1 expression is the myotome. Myotomal expression as well as the above results argues for a significant contribution of delta EF1 in regulation of embryonic myogenesis through the modulation of the actions of MyoD family proteins.
Base Sequence↗
Clinical study of audiograms in the initial stage and fixed stage of sudden deafness.
Audiograms in the initial stage and the fixed stage of sudden deafness were analyzed in 79 cases using the following 5 criteria; i) the onset is sudden and time of onset definite, ii) hearing loss at 1 kH is more than 35 dB, iii) the course of hearing recovery is clear, iv) unaffected ear has normal hearing, and v) the first examination and treatment is within 15 days after onset. Consequently, at least in cases receiving treatment within 6-15 days after onset, it was considered that the prognosis of hearing recovery could be established rather than the pattern of hearing loss than by the period of treatment after onset.
Adolescent↗
Study on self-recording audiogram of sudden deafness.
Self-recording audiograms of sudden deafness in 54 patients were studied for the relationship between type of Jerger's classification, hearing loss at the initial examination, and prognosis of hearing loss. Type I of Jerger's classification was shown in patients with slight to profound hearing loss, whereas Type II + IV was shown more frequently in cases with profound hearing loss. Many patients of Types I and II were among those who recovered completely or markedly, while patients of Type II + IV were found more frequently among those who recovered or had unchanged hearing.
Audiometry↗
[Association of cell cycle and protein kinase C with the expression of cytoskeletal protein in cultured rat mesangial cells].
We conducted a study to investigate whether expression of the contractile proteins in cultured rat mesangial cells (MC) was associated with the cell cycle and protein kinase C (PKC). When growth-arrested MC were stimulated with 100 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 24 hours, an increased expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin and vimentin was detected by immunocytochemistry. A proportion of the S- and G2/M-phase in MC was increased in accordance with the enhanced expression of contractile proteins on flow cytometry. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 100 nM PMA stimulated expression of alpha-actin and vimentin as a single band. These results indicate that expression of contractile proteins, such as alpha-actin and vimentin, is dependent on the cell cycle and PKC, suggesting a phenotypic change in which MC assume smooth muscle cell characteristics.
Animals↗
Establishment and characterization of an immortalized bovine glomerular endothelial cell line.
Bovine subcultures (second passage) of glomerular endothelial cells (GEN) isolated from one-year-old kidney were successfully transfected by recombinant plasmids containing the simian virus (SV)-40 T antigen (Tag) using a lipofectin-mediated procedure. One cell clone was selected, propagated and characterized. This clone can be grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The advantage of this cell line is the cultivation of bovine GEN without the addition of fibroblast growth factor or a coating of fibronectin or gelatin on the culture plate. More than 80 passages were achieved and the doubling time was 32 h. The Tag was easily identified in transfected-GEN by indirect immunofluorescence. These cells weakly expressed factor VIII-related antigen, slightly took up acetylated-low density lipoprotein and secreted a detectable amount of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Immunocytochemical staining for UAE-1 was also positive. Moreover, oncoproteins, such as Ki-67 and p53, were expressed in these cells. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry revealed that the percentages of G1, S, and G2/M stages in cycling transfected-GEN culture in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum were 34%, 52.9%, and 13.1%, respectively. The conditioned medium from confluent transfected-GEN stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into glomerular mesangial cells. This cell line may provide a useful tool for examining modulators of mesangial cell growth. Thus this cell line is the first immortalized bovine GEN that retain the morphologic, phenotypic, and functional characteristics of bovine GEN.
Animals↗
The distribution of T-cell subsets among HTLV-I carriers in Japan.
Data on T-cell subsets from 89 human T-cell lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I) carriers and 25 seronegative people were analyzed to identify differences in T-cell subset values among three subgroups: HTLV-I carriers with abnormal lymphocytes (Ably; n = 24), carriers without Ably (n = 65), and HTLV-I seronegatives (n = 25). Estimates of mean values were adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and alcohol drinking, as appropriate. The percentage of CD25+ T cells was elevated in carriers with Ably (mean, 16.7 +/- 1.0) compared with the seronegatives (11.4 +/- 1.4; p = 0.0002); individuals with CD25 T-cell percentages above the median for the seronegatives had a corresponding 5.4-fold risk for being a carrier with Ably. Similarly, the percentage of CD4 T cells was elevated in carriers with Ably. Conversely, the percentage of CD8 T cells was lower among both groups of HTLV-I carriers than in the seronegatives. There was a corresponding significant increase (p = 0.0004) of the CD4/CD8 ratio among carriers with Ably (1.57 +/- 0.12) compared with the seronegatives (1.22 +/- 0.12). Among subjects with CD4/CD8 ratios above the median for the seronegatives, there were 6.8- and 4.5-fold risks for being carriers with or without Ably, respectively. The percentage of CD7 was lower among carriers with Ably (75.6 +/- 1.6) than among seronegatives (78.9 +/- 1.5; p = 0.13). The percentage of beta-interleukin-2-receptor-positive T cells did not vary among the three subgroups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Alcohol Drinking↗
Association of HTLV-I antibody profile of asymptomatic carriers with proviral DNA levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
The human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) antibody profile of 216 asymptomatic carriers in Miyazaki, Japan, was analyzed in conjunction with the HTLV-I proviral DNA levels in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) determined by the semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The geometric mean HTLV-I titer by particle agglutination assay (PA) of 58 subjects (27%) with a high DNA level was 1:1, 240; 94 (44%) with a medium DNA level, 1:740; 38 (18%) with a low level, 1:476; and, 26 (12%) with an undetectable level, 1:263. Moreover, when the subjects were divided into four groups according to titer from high to low, the correlation between DNA level and antibody titer level was highly significant (p < 0.0001). HTLV-I antibody subclass by Western blot (WB) was determined for 78 randomly selected samples from these carriers. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibody was detected in 35 (45%). The mean PA antibody titer was higher in carriers with IgM antibody than in those without, at each detectable proviral DNA level. These findings suggest that HTLV-I antibody titer is related to proviral DNA level and also to the presence of IgM antibodies among those with proviral DNA of the same level. Seven carriers (9%) were negative for IgG antibody by WB, among whom the proviral DNA level was low or undetectable and the PA titer was also low. Three of these were positive only for IgM antibody.
Aged↗
Delta-crystallin enhancer binding protein delta EF1 is a zinc finger-homeodomain protein implicated in postgastrulation embryogenesis.
We investigated nuclear factors that bind to delta 1-crystallin enhancer core and regulate lens-specific transcription. A nuclear factor delta EF1, which binds to the essential element of the delta 1-crystallin enhancer core, was molecularly cloned from the chicken by a southwestern method. The protein organization of delta EF1 deduced from the cDNA sequence indicated that it has heterogeneous domains for DNA-binding, two widely separated zinc fingers and a homeodomain, analogous to Drosophila ZFH-1 protein. The C-terminal zinc fingers were found to be responsible for binding to the delta 1-crystallin enhancer core sequence. delta EF1 had proline-rich and acidic domains common to various transcriptional activators. During embryogenesis, delta EF1 expression was observed in the postgastrulation period in mesodermal tissues; initially, in the notochord, followed by somites, nephrotomes and other components. The expression level changed dynamically in a tissue, possibly reflecting the differentiation states of the constituent cells. Besides mesoderm, delta EF1 was expressed in the nervous system and the lens, but other ectodermal tissues and endoderm remained very low in delta EF1 expression. Cotransfection experiments indicated that this factor acts as a repressor of delta 1-crystallin enhancer. Possession of heterogeneous DNA-binding domains and its dynamic change of expression in embryogenesis strongly suggest that delta EF1 acts in multiple ways depending on the cell type and the gene under its regulation.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Blindness due to non-ketotic hyperglycinemia: report of a 38-year-old, the oldest case to date.
We report a 38-year-old woman with a mild form of hyperglycinemia complicated with optic nerve atrophy and convulsion. She was normal at birth and showed normal mental and physical development. After the age of 13, her visual acuity rapidly decreased. At the age of 33, she had numerous episodes of tonic seizures lasting for 1-2 minutes. She had optic atrophy, but no intellectual impairment. Glycine levels of the plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid were markedly increased, but the CSF/serum glycine ratio was slightly higher than the normal range. Although there is one case of retinal impairment of hyperglycinemia in the literature, this is the first report of blindness with hyperglycinemia in a 38-year-old woman.
Adult↗
[Clinical views of cases with discontinuity of the ossicular chain].
It is well known that reconstruction for discontinuity of the ossicular chain, without inflammatory disease, has a good prognosis. Eleven cases of congenital ossicular chain malformation without ossicular fixation and 6 cases of ossicular chain injury due to the head trauma or an earpick , were treated surgically. The method of reconstruction and the prognoses, according to short-term and long-term follow up, were studied in these 17 cases. The following results were obtained: 1) In almost all cases, the pure tone audiograms were flat or slightly rising types, and the mean air conductive hearing loss was about 60 dB. Only 2 cases showed the falling type with conductive hearing loss. Connective tissue was observed at the incudo-stapedial joint intraoperatively in these two cases. 2) Mean hearing improvement was in 31.8 dB in the low frequency region (125, 250, 500 Hz), 22.7 dB in the middle frequency region (500, 1000, 2000 Hz), and 12.9 dB in the high frequency region (2000, 4000, 8000 Hz), within 3 weeks after operation, in all 17 cases. 3) No clear changes in hearing level were seen postoperatively, for the four periods evaluated; 1-3 weeks, 1-3 months, 4-6 months and over 7 months in all cases. 4) The cases in whom the reconstruction was performed between the incus and stapes, especially the foot plate of the stapes, showed poor hearing recovery. 5) There was no relation between hearing recovery and the prostheses used in reconstructions. However, it was thought that pieces of the patient's own cartilage or bone should be used whenever possible.
Adolescent↗
[Indications of G-CSF in patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis].
Bone marrow findings at the onset of disease were analyzed in five patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis to detect simple indices for a determination of the indications G-CSF therapy. Two patients showed severe marrow hypoplasia, extremely low ME ratio and complete absence of myelocytes or more mature neutrophils in their bone marrow. In these cases, the periods for recovery to 500 or more peripheral neutrophils per microliter were 5 and 9 days in a G-CSF-treated patient and a non-treated patient, respectively. On the other hand, the bone marrow of other three patients revealed normal or slightly high cellularity, moderately low ME ratio and appearance of myelocytes and more mature neutrophils. In the latter cases, the periods for recovery to 500 or more peripheral neutrophils were 3 days in all cases, regardless of whether G-CSF was administered or not. These findings suggest that G-CSF should be administered to drug-induced agranulocytic patients with severe marrow hypoplasia, extremely low ME ratio and absence of marrow neutrophilic cells.
Adult↗
[A case of intrapleural rupture of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula].
The hemothorax due to rupture of arteriovenous fistula is very rare and only 6 cases of this complication have been reported in Japanese literature. 44-year-old male complained of chest pain and dyspnea. A chest roentgenogram revealed right pleural effusion and an abnormal pulmonary shadow. By further examination including pulmonary angiography, the rupture of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula into right pleural cavity was diagnosed. Partial resection of the right lung containing arteriovenous fistula was successfully performed and postoperative course was uneventful.
Adult↗
[Role of glomerular mesangial cells in the regulation of glomerular endothelial cell growth].
Because of difficulties of propagating and cultivating glomerular endothelial cells (GEN), the role of glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) in the regulation of GEN growth is still unknown. We cloned individually GEN and GMC from the same adult bovine kidneys, and a direct coculture system was established to examine the interactions between GEN and GMC. When cocultured with GMC which was growth arrested by mitomycin C, the GEN growth was inhibited by 63% after 8 days of the beginning of coculture. No inhibitory activity was detected when media conditioned by individual culture of GMC. In contrast, media conditioned by GEN cocultured with GMC inhibited bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake of GEN detected by flow cytometry. Addition of anti-transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta antibody to media conditioned by coculture blocked the inhibitory actions of conditioned media on GEN growth. Western blotting analysis of conditioned media by coculture revealed an existence of TGF-beta in the media. These results indicate that latent TGF-beta is produced by these cells and activated in coculture of GEN and GMC.
Animals↗
[Intracavitary suction for treating giant bulla].
Examination was made of 9 consecutive patients who underwent intracavitary suction for giant bulla. A second operation was required for one patient who had multiple giant bullae. In the other 8 patients, improvement of pulmonary function and symptoms was obtained immediately following the operation. This was particularly more apparent in patients with poor pulmonary function. The following results were obtained. Functional recovery was evident from the early postoperative phase. A one-stage operation was possible. Reduction in postoperative drainage time was realized by bronchial occlusion. The present operation is particularly applicable to compromised patients. Computed tomography scanning is essential for evaluation of the drainage site. For giant bulla with some septation and multivesicular, the present mode of treatment would not be indicated.
Adult↗
[Minitracheotomy].
Twenty-four consecutive patients undergoing minitracheotomy were reviewed. Postoperative sputum retention was the major indication. In one case the procedure was not possible. Nineteen patients made an uneventful recovery, and decanulation was done in 17. In four patients minitracheotomy treatment was discontinued because formal tracheotomy was performed subsequently. This method is much simpler, less invasive, and more advantageous than formal tracheotomy. It can also be used for the patients after median sternotomy. On the other hand, in the patients with misswallowing because of recurrent nerve palsy etc., conventional tracheotomy should be performed.
Aged↗
[Long-term maintenance of platelets by IFN alpha-2b in a case of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to prednisolone therapy].
A 63-year-old female with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to prednisolone therapy was treated with interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha-2b). Initially, the patient received 2 courses of short-course therapy in which 1.5 million IU and IFN alpha-2b was subcutaneously injected 3 times a week every other day for 4 weeks. During the first course, the platelet count rose from 1.0 x 10(4)/microliters to 12.4 x 10(4)/microliters 3 weeks after the beginning of the therapy, but the effect was transient. In the second course the platelet-increasing effect was lower than that in the first course. Then, intermittent injections of 3 million IU of IFN alpha-2b once a week were subsequently begun. Consequently, the patient's platelet count has been maintained at 5 to 9 x 10(4)/microliters for more than 19 months since the beginning of intermittent IFN alpha-2b therapy.
Drug Resistance↗