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Biomedical subjects

K Murakami

Publications and source records attributed to K Murakami.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Substrate specificity of alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus niger 5-16.

This paper describes the specificity of Aspergillus niger 5-16 alpha-galactosidase toward various oligosaccharides having terminal galactose or stub galactose or both on the oligosaccharide. The galactosidase rapidly hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside, but hardly liberated galactose from melibiose, manninotriose, 6(3)-alpha-D-galactosylmannotriose, etc. On the other hand, the enzyme tore off the stub galactoses attached to the inner mannoses of the main-chain of galactomannooligosaccharides, but not the terminal galactoses attached to the non-reducing-end mannoses of the main-chain. Thus, the substrate specificity of A. niger 5-16 alpha-galactosidase is quite different from that of Mortierella vinacea alpha-galactosidase.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed1991

[Surgical indication based on prognostic factors in pT1 tumors of the lung].

Among 385 patients of surgical resected lung cancer, 88 (22.8%) were pT1 tumors. The overall five year survival rate of these patients was 75.8%. There was statistically significant difference in survival rate depending on the pTNM staging, degree of differentiation and cytological atypia (CAT). Among these prognostic factors, CAT was most important. CAT may be an indicator to predict the postoperative prognosis of the patients and may contribute to the determination of the surgical indication.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[Immunohistochemical study of lung cancer using monoclonal antibody against human pulmonary surfactant apoprotein].

To evaluate the clinical significance of monoclonal antibody against human pulmonary surfactant apoprotein (S-AP), surgically resected lung cancer from 122 patients was studied. Paraffin embedded tissues were used for the immunohistochemical study by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. The results were as follows. 1. Adenocarcinoma showed highest immunoreactivity for S-AP compared to the other histologic types. Among subtypes of adenocarcinoma, type II alveolar epithelial type, clara cell type and mixed type of these two types were strongly positive (100%, 77.8% and 66.7% respectively). These results indicate that this antibody may be a good marker for the subtyping of adenocarcinoma. 2. There were some positive cases in other histologic types especially in peripheral type of squamous cell carcinoma. These findings suggest that this antibody was useful for the histological differentiation of lung cancer. 3. As to the immunohistochemical reactivity there was a good correlation between tissue and cytological specimens, which indicate cytological studies may be adequate for this kind of histopathological studies. 4. In our study, there were no patients with S-AP positive carcinomas other than patients with lung cancer. These results indicate that this antibody could be used for the differential diagnosis between primary and secondary lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 2',3'-dideoxypurine nucleosides as potential antiretroviral agents.

In order to study the structure-activity relationships of 2',3'-dideoxypurine nucleosides as potential anti-retroviral agents, various purine derivatives have been synthesized and tested against rous sarcoma virus (RSV) in chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells, and against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in human CD4+ T cells (ATH8). Some of the new purine derivatives found to be significant antiretroviral activities. And the correlations of activity between anti-RSV and anti-HIV have shown fairly good values so far.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Glutathione metabolism in erythrocytes from patients with diabetes mellitus].

The metabolism of glutathione and activities of its related enzymes were investigated in erythrocytes from patients with diabetes mellitus. A decrease in the levels of the reduced form of glutathione and an increase in the levels of glutathione disulfide were observed in erythrocytes from diabetics whose fasting plasma glucose was more than 140 mg/dl. The activity of glutathione reductase decreased in diabetics, while that of glutathione peroxidase did no change. ATP-depended outward transport of glutathione disulfide also decreased in diabetics. These data suggest that the increase in the levels of glutathione disulfide in erythrocyte from diabetics is brought about by the decreased transport activity of glutathione disulfide through the erythrocyte membrane together with a decrease in the activity of glutathione reductase. The activity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was significantly lower in diabetics than in normal controls. Glycated gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase determined using a boronate affinity column chromatography was higher in diabetics than in normal controls. The rate of glutathione synthesis using (H3)-glycine decreased in diabetics. The decrease is the levels of reduced form of glutathione is erythrocytes of diabetics is thought to be brought about by impaired glutathione synthesis. In order to study the mechanism by which glutathione synthesis is impaired, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was purified from human erythrocytes. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 60K. A single band was observed on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When the purified enzyme was incubated with glucose, the enzyme activity decreased dependent on the incubation time. These data suggest that the impaired glutathione synthesis in diabetics is brought by glycation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase. As conclusion, glutathione metabolism is impaired in erythrocytes from diabetics which weaken the defence mechanism against oxidative stress in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The role of surgery in cases of diagnostic difficulty].

Pulmonary resections for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis are decreasing, and nowadays most of them are for the open lung biopsy to make histological diagnosis, because differentiation between tuberculosis, AM and lung cancer is critical. In 1980-1990 forty-three patients, in whom the diagnosis was not established by conventional diagnostic methods, had pulmonary resections for open lung biopsy because of abnormal chest X-ray shadows. Of these, 31 (72%) were non-tuberculous (lung cancer 8, hamartoma 7, lung abscess 5, fungus infection 3, sclerosing hemangioma 2, bronchogenic cyst 2, and others 4, and 12 (28%) were tuberculous or AM. The type of chest film abnormality was solitary pulmonary nodule (coin lesion) in 9 out of 12 patients with tuberculosis or AM, in all eight patients with lung cancer and in 14 out of 23 patients with other diseases. In patients with coin lesions, the incidence of lung cancer was as high as 50% when the diameter was more than 21mm, while it was only 11% when it was 20mm or less. 24 patients with tuberculosis or AM complicated by lung cancer or other diseases were resected. There were 8 smear or culture positive patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (or AM) (Group 1), of whom 7 had lung cancer and 1 pneumothorax. Of 8 patients who were wrongly diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis (Group 2), there were 5 lung cancers and 3 other diseases. In the remaining 8 patients (Group 3) both old tuberculosis and lung cancer coexisted and in 3 they were found in the same lobe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Role of surgical treatment in atypical mycobacteriosis of the lung].

During the 15 year period from January, 1976 to September, 1990, we treated 77 patients with atypical mycobacteriosis (AM) of the lung surgically with satisfactory results. There were 56 men and 20 women, a ratio of 2.9 : 1. The age of the patients ranged from 20 to 76, with an average of 50.7 years. The operative rate was 3.7% against the patients admitted with a diagnosis of atypical mycobacterial infection. The number of the patients and the types of bacilli classified according to Runyon's criteria were 4 for Group I (M. kansasii), 63 for Group III (M. avium complex), 3 for Group IV, and 7 unknown. The operative indications we adopted were, 1) the resistance to most antituberculotics, 2) localized lesion, and 3) progressive deteriorations. Sensitivity study showed that over 90% of the patients had bacilli with complete or incomplete resistance against all antituberculotics except cycloserine. The area of major involvement was localized in the upper lobe in 47, but was bilateral in 14 patients. The period of conservative therapy prior to the surgical treatment ranged from 2 to 164 months, with an average of 28 months. As to the operative procedures, 58 had lobectomy, 12 pneumonectomy , 11 segmentectomy or wedge resection, 12 thoracoplasty, and 17 combined procedures. The incidence of post-operative complication was 16.9%. The recurrences were observed in 8 patients (10.4%), who had multiple and bilateral lesions. Complete cure rate was 83.1% and 64 patients were able to resume normal life. Our results indicate that, if properly selected, time required for the treatment may become shorter and the patients with AM may get better results by surgical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Effect of protease inhibitor on primary glomerulonephritis and the mechanism of the effect].

Effect of serine protease inhibitor Camostat Mesilate (Foipan) on primary glomerulonephritis and it's mechanism were evaluated. Forty-two patients having primary glomerulonephritis (13 cases of IgA nephropathy, 11 cases of membranous nephropathy and others), aged 18 to 81 years were selected for this study. At the start of our study, twenty-one patients had received other drugs (13 cases of dipyridamole and 13 cases of prednisolone). A control period of four weeks was established to confirm that the levels of proteinuria and renal functions were stable. Patients were orally administered with 600 mg of Camostat Mesilate per day for four weeks. Effect of Camostat Mesilate was judged by urinary protein excretion, hematuria, serum total protein, albumin, Ccr, creatinine and BUN. In order to reveal the mechanism of the effect laboratory data such as granulocyte elastase, CH50, C3, C4, fibrinogen, platelate factor 4, beta-thromboglobulin, thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin F1 alpha were evaluated before and after the treatment. Parameters were analyzed by using paired t-test. Mean (+/- SEM) urinary protein excretion reduced from 4.31 +/- 0.91 to 2.80 +/- 0.43 g/day (p less than 0.05), and score of hematuria decreased from 1.8 +/- 0.16 to 1.5 +/- 0.15. A significant decrease in urinary protein excretion was seen in membranous nephropathy and a significant decrease in hematuria was seen in IgA nephropathy. In combination therapy (dipyridamole, prednisolone) urinary protein excretion markedly decreased (p less than 0.05) and in Camostat Mesilate therapy score of hematuria markedly decreased (p less than 0.05). Camostat Mesilate had no effects on renal function assessed by Ccr, creatinine and BUN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by polymerase chain reaction].

The low-affinity penicillin-binding protein (PBP 2') is associated with methicillin-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and its structural gene (mecA) not present in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus could be detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, in which a 533 bp region of mecA was amplified and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. Survey for the mecA gene in 210 clinical isolates of S. aureus revealed that, while there was a gross correlation between the presence of the mecA gene and the resistance level to beta-lactams, three strains of mecA (+) tested showed beta-lactam susceptibility similar to those of mecA (-) strains. These three strains did not produce a detectable amount of PBP 2' constitutively nor inducibly, which was the cause of their high susceptibility to beta-lactams. One of them yielded a typical methicillin-resistant variant at a low frequency with a concomitant recovery of PBP 2' production when the bacterial cells of high density were spread onto an agar plate containing 10 micrograms/ml of oxacillin. These findings suggested that typical methicillin resistant S. aureus occurred during chemotherapy with beta-lactam antibiotics even when resistant strains could not be detected by the susceptibility test and thus all mecA (+) strains including those with high susceptibility should be precisely detected.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of human renin and angiotensinogen genes.

We have constructed pUCSV0cat with low background of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity and pUCSV3cat (positive control), both containing a SV40 polyadenylation signal 5' to the CAT-coding gene and to the SV40 promoter, respectively. Using this modified pUCSV0cat, we found that human embryonic 293 cells have the ability to activate the promoter of the human renin gene. In addition, we identified the cis-acting sequences responsible for cell-specific expression of the human angiotensinogen gene in its 5'-flanking region.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of the acute hemodynamic and coronary vasodilating effects between nicorandil and glyceryl trinitrate.

Acute hemodynamic and coronary vasodilating effects of nicorandol (SG-75, Sigmat; CAS 65141-46-0) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN, nitroglycerin) were examined in 20 subjects under cardiac catheterization and coronary arteriography. Nicorandil 4 mg i.v. produced significant increases in heart rate, cardiac index and stroke volume index and significant decreases in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, left ventricular enddiastolic pressure, systemic vascular resistance and total pulmonary resistance. Degree of percent changes in these parameters by nicorandil were similar to that by GTN 0.3 mg i.v. Coronary vasodilating effects of both drugs were also at the same degree. Results indicate that nicorandil has cardiovascular and coronary vasodilating effects similar to those of GTN when administered intravenously.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The interrelation of urinary calcium and sodium intake in healthy elderly Japanese.

To evaluate whether habitual excess sodium intake is significant as a risk factor for calcium loss in elderly Japanese, a relationship between calcium excretion and sodium excretion was studied in 39 male and 44 female Japanese, aged 60 and over. They are healthy, free-living and consuming a self-selected diet. A significant positive correlation between urinary calcium excretion and sodium excretion per 24-hour was observed both in males (r = .415, p less than 0.01) and in females (r = .330, p less than 0.05). The relationship was still significant even after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, alkaline phosphatase levels and protein as well as calcium and phosphorus intake. It was estimated that the increase in urinary calcium excretion was about 1.0 mmol/day per 100 mmol increase in urinary sodium excretion.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Intracellular production of adrenal renin in the fetal mouse. An immuno-electron microscopical study.

Renin-containing cells in fetal adrenal glands of the mouse were investigated with the protein A-gold immunocytochemical technique. On Day 14 of gestation, a small number of specific granules were weakly immunoreactive and were distributed in the Golgi region. Sometimes, apparent exocytosis of gold-labelled particles could be seen opening into the extracellular space. On Day 16 of gestation, numerous gold particles were demonstrated in the Golgi region as well as in the specific secretory granules. Immunoreactivity of the specific granules was increased as compared with Day 14, though some granules were observed to have no reaction with the antibody. On Day 18 of gestation reactivity for renin decreased, while a few clustered immunoreactive granules were demonstrated just beneath the cell membrane. No gold particles were observed in the Golgi apparatus during this period and more granules negative for renin were noted than on Day 16 of gestation. These results suggest that renin is produced and released temporarily by adrenal cortical cells in the late fetal life of the mouse.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1991

[Problems of Mason-Likar lead system in treadmill exercise electrocardiography].

A Mason-Likar (M-L) leads system has been widely used in the exercise electrocardiography (ECG) using treadmill for the detection of myocardial ischemia. In routine treadmill exercise ECG using M-L lead, we often observe different patterns of ST-T forms those of II, III and aVF on bipolar leads. In this study, on 213 patients, conventional 12 lead ECG and the M-L lead placement ECG were recorded both at supine and standing positions. A careful analysis was made on all the records of patterns, durations, and amplitudes of QRS and T waves. We also evaluated the ST trendgram of patients with no ischemic changes proven exercise TI-201 myocardial single photon emission tomography (SPECT). Quantitative examination showed no significant differences between those in precordial leads of the standard and the M-L lead system in any subjects. The augmented amplitude of QRS and T waves, the disappearance of abnormal Q-waves in II, III, aVF lead, the negative inversion in QRS phase in lead aVL an left axis deviation were often recognized with M-L lead placement. In treadmill exercise ECG, ST depression more than 1 mm in II, III, aVF lead was noted 14 out of 17 patients with no ischemic changes. The all ST-T changes showed "not-decrescendo" type in ST trendgram. We concluded that rigorous evaluation for electrical axis, the configuration of ST-T waves and the existence of myocardial ischemia in leads II, III, aVF was necessary on treadmill exercise ECG using M-L lead replacement.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1991

[The surgical treatment of chronic empyema--from the stand point of preservation and improvement of pulmonary function].

During the period of 1978 to 1990, 247 patients with chronic empyema were operated. The cure rate was 88.3%. The operation was not successful in 29 patients (11.7%), of whom 19 were operative death and 10 were those whose condition never improved to the level of discharge. The pulmonary function improved post-operatively in those patients who underwent decortication and air-plombage, but not in those who underwent pleuropneumonectomy and thoracoplasty (modification of Grow's method). Most remarkable changes of pulmonary function were seen in patients who underwent thoracoplasty. Air-plombage was found effective in controlling empyema and for the preservation and improvement of post-operative pulmonary functions.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1991

[Gross anatomical study of veins in the orbit].

The aim of this study is to clarify the major route of venous return in the orbit. Minute dissections were performed in 10 adult cadavers (5 males and 5 females) after being fixed in a 10% formalin solution. The superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) and its ascending anastomotic branch were consistently well-developed (the average maximum diameter: 6.2mm and 3.2mm, respectively) and these two veins formed the main venous channel from the orbital contents. The ascending anastomotic branch ran between the optic nerve and the medial rectus just behind the eyeball and joined the SOV. A large number of veins, including the inferior ophthalmic vein, which originated from the inferior contents of the orbit, drained into the ascending anastomotic branch. Arteries and/or nerves did not accompany their respective veins in the orbit, except for the lacrimal and ethmoidal veins. The posterior end of the SOV was severely narrowed lateral to the aponeurosis of the lateral rectus, while being conspicuously dilated just behind the eyeball. The above findings suggested that the dilated portion of SOV may act as a reservoir of the venous return of the orbit.

Adult↗