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Biomedical subjects

K Nishihara

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishihara.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Ossification of the thoracic ligamentum flavum presenting with intercostal neuralgia. Case report].

A 46-year-old female was admitted complaining of progressive, severe girdle pain consistent with the left Th3 dermatome. Neurological examination on admission revealed dysesthesia and radiating pain in the left Th3 territory. Plain X-rays and tomograms of the thoracic spine revealed a beak-like bony excrescence arising from the lamina and projecting moderately to the Th3/4 intervertebral foramen, suggesting ossification of the thoracic ligamentum flavum (OYL). Myelography showed the dural sac compressed from laterally just below the left Th3 pedicle, which suggested that the Th3 nerve root was compressed by the OYL. After Th3 nerve root decompression through hemilaminectomy and foraminotomy, the girdle pain disappeared. OYL is known to cause thoracic radiculomyelopathy, but presentation with intercostal neuralgia only is very rare. The authors review the literature and stress the importance of myelography for diagnosis.

Female↗
PubMed1991

The levels of urinary epinephrine during daytime REM sleep deprivation.

Urinary excretion of epinephrine during REM sleep deprivation in the daytime was examined in an attempt to determine whether epinephrine excretion during sleep is related to the structure of disturbed sleep. Six healthy males were subjected to two experimental conditions: 1) day sleep without interruption, as a control condition, and 2) day sleep with REM sleep deprivation. Under both conditions, epinephrine excretion levels of five of the subjects were found to be distributed along a basal regression line, expressing the relationship of epinephrine excretion and percent of waking time, as calculated in a previous study. The epinephrine levels of the one remaining subject exceeded the values predicted by the regression line. His sleep structure was not only distorted under REM deprivation conditions but also under control conditions as well. These results suggest that the basal regression line is useful for observing the existence of sleep disturbance; indeed, a subject with epinephrine excretion levels much higher than those predicted by the regression line was found to have spontaneously disturbed sleep. More study is needed to clarify the relationship between high epinephrine levels and disturbed sleep.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical analysis of 270 cases of microsurgical lumbar discectomy].

Since 1983, the authors encountered 270 cases of lumbar disc hernia, which were operated on with the microsurgery. In the present study, the operative procedures were described and the results, especially the results of the reoperations were examined. Good results were obtained in 252 patients (93%). In nine patients, some kind of lumbago continued, which required other treatments, such as epidural block (3.3%). Reoperations were performed in nine patients (3.3%). In lumbar discectomy, extent of removal of the bony structures and the disc material seemed important. In "microlumbar discectomy", which was advocated by Williams, only the flavectomy with no bony structure removal was performed. In this procedure, discectomy is limited to the protruded disc material. On the contrary, some authors, who also adopt microsurgical lumbar discectomy as Wilson and Hudgins do, perform subtotal removal of the disc material with removal of some bony structures. In the present series, microsurgical lumbar discectomy following the procedures advocated by Wilson et al was performed. Reoperations after lumbar discectomy have been reported after all kinds of operations. In the present series, the rate of reoperation was 3.3%. As to the reasons for reoperations, true recurrence of disc hernia was the most prevalent. The hernias recurred at the same level and on the same side. Adhesion or fibrosis around the nerve root also played an important role. From the results of the present study, microsurgical lumbar discectomy with good illumination and high magnification has proved to bring satisfactory results. Recurrence, however, can occur after this procedure, so further inventions are required to ensure more satisfactory results.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of cholesterol absorption and synthesis in rats by sesamin.

The effects of sesamin, a lignan from sesame oil, on various aspects of cholesterol metabolism were examined in rats maintained on various dietary regimens. When given at a dietary level of 0.5% for 4 weeks, sesamin reduced the concentration of serum and liver cholesterol significantly irrespective of the presence or absence of cholesterol in the diet, except for one experiment in which the purified diet free of cholesterol was given. On feeding sesamin, there was a decrease in lymphatic absorption of cholesterol accompanying an increase in fecal excretion of neutral, but not acidic, steroids, particularly when the cholesterol-enriched diet was given. Sesamin inhibited micellar solubility of cholesterol, but not bile acids, whereas it neither bound taurocholate nor affected the absorption of fatty acids. Only a marginal proportion (ca. 0.15%) of sesamin administered intragastrically was recovered in the lymph. There was a significant reduction in the activity of liver microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase after feeding sesamin, although the activity of hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, drug metabolizing enzymes, and alcohol dehydrogenase remained uninfluenced. Although the weight and phospholipid concentration of the liver increased unequivocally on feeding sesamin, the histological examination by microscopy showed no abnormality, and the activity of serum GOT and GPT remained unchanged. Since sesamin lowered both serum and liver cholesterol levels by inhibiting absorption and synthesis of cholesterol simultaneously, it deserves further study as a possible hypocholesterolemic agent of natural origin.

Absorption↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical evaluation of lumbar disc hernia in the teenagers].

Lumbar disc herniation is a rare occurrence in teenagers. There are several questions as to its pathogenesis, relationship to trauma, and clinical manifestations compared with those in adults. In the present paper, we described nine cases of teen-age lumbar disc herniation, which accounts for about 3.3% of all the operated lumbar disc herniations in our clinic. In the discussion, 687 cases of teen-age lumbar disc herniation were analyzed from the world literature. The clinical signs and symptoms in teenagers showed no distinct difference from those in adults. Laségue's sign was found in nearly all the patients. Although direct or indirect trauma to the lumbar region may play an important role in causing disc herniation in teenagers, a more important factor seems to be the degeneration of the disc material, which begins in children earlier than usually suspected. Although surgical therapy has been advocated by many authors, it must be followed up for a long term before the efficacy of such treatment for teenagers can be confidently ascertained.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Efficient tumor suppression by glioma-specific murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes transfected with interferon-gamma gene.

We have recently shown that exogenous expression of the mouse interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene augmented the cell-killing potential of a line of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific against a murine glioma line (203-glioma). In the present work, we further investigated the in vivo antitumor effects of the E gamma-6 and E gamma-9 sublines of this CTL line transfected with the IFN-gamma gene. Using the Winn assay to test the neutralization of subcutaneous gliomas, we determined that these CTL sublines were more effective than the E-4 parent CTL line and that suppression of the tumor growth was dependent on the number of effector cells (CTLs). Moreover, intravenous injection of E gamma-9 cells was more effective in suppressing the tumor growth than intravenous injection of E-4 cells. These results suggest that transfection of antitumor effector cells with the IFN-gamma gene could improve the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy against cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Malignant eccrine tumor--a case report and a classification of tumors of eccrine sweat apparatus.

A case of malignant eccrine tumor and its histological findings were reported. In this case, we considered basal cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma clinically; however, the histological features matched those of malignant eccrine tumor. It has been said that it is very difficult to determine the origin of tumors of sweat apparatus; to contribute to this ongoing dialogue, the classification of tumors of eccrine sweat apparatus was also discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Histological and immunohistochemical studies on nevocellular nevi in the dermis. With special reference to the histogenesis of nevus cells].

The author has performed study on the histogenesis of the nevus cells in the nevocellular nevi. In the study, specimens of the intradermal nevi in 124 cases were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically and the following results were obtained: 1) Findings of hematoxylin eosin staining It was observed that three types of cells, including type A cells (epidermoid type cells), type B cells (lymphoid type cells), type C cells (neuroid type cells) were found to run through an intermediate stage from the upper part to the lower part of the nevocellular structure, although they disclosed different histological structures. In 39 (31.5%) of the 124 cases, Meissner's corpuscle-like cells were confirmed. 2) Findings of immunohistochemical staining i. Of the type A, type B and type C cells, the S-100 alpha protein stain was essentially negative. Meissner's corpuscle-like cells were selectively positive by this stain. ii. Although no particular difference was noted in the staining of S-100 protein between the type A and type B cells, a somewhat greater proportion of positive cells was noted in type C cells. In the Meissner's corpuscle-like cells, a notably higher positive conversion of cells was observed as compared to those of the three other types of cells. iii. Type A, type B and type C cells compared more or less similarly for the positive ratio of neuron-specific enolase but the ratio was unusually high in the Meissner's corpuscle-like cells. 3) Findings from routine electron microscopic staining i. Similar to the light microscopic findings, the nevus cells were found to change in shape uninterruptedly from the upper layer to the lower layer of the dermis. Unusually marked changes were noted both in the number and shape of the melanosome and premelanosome in the cytoplasm. ii. In the Meissner's corpuscle-like cells both melanosomes and premelanosomes were missing but a finding suggestive of a neuroid structure was affirmed. As noted above, the results of the histological, immunohistological and electron microscopic studies were in support of the general findings suggestive of a gradual shift of the nevus cells from the upper layer to the lower layer in the dermis, which prompted the author to support the so-called "neural crest origin hypothesis".

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[A novel experimental approach to immunotherapy against malignant brain tumor with the mouse IFN-gamma gene transfer].

To investigate the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the immunotherapy, we used the autocrinically stimulated system in which a mouse IFN-gamma cDNA was transferred by infection with a chimeric retrovirus containing the IFN-gamma gene. First, we established a tumor specific CTL clone (E-4) against 203-glioma cells (a 20-methylcholanthrene induced mouse ependymoblastoma line of C57BL/6 mouse origin), and then transferred murine IFN-gamma cDNA into E-4 by using retroviral vector (pSVX(Mu gamma delta A]. Out of five gene-transferred subclones, E gamma-4, E gamma-5, E gamma-6, E gamma-7 and E gamma-9, two subclones (E gamma-6 and E gamma-9) constitutively produced 8- to 10-fold amounts of IFN-gamma as compared with the parental E-4. Moreover, these two subclones exhibited two to three times higher killing activity against 203-glioma than the parental cells. The enhancement of the killing activities was abrogated by an adequate addition of anti-IFN-gamma antibody. No alteration was seen after the gene transfer in cell surface phenotypes, Thy-1+, Lyt-1-, Lyt-2+3+ and asialo-GM1-. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis showed that the surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I antigen, H-2Kb, of parental E-4 was augmented remarkably, and it was not altered by the IFN-gamma gene transfer, but the Class II antigen, I-Ab, was slightly enhanced on the two IFN-gamma-producing sublines. Since it is considered that in the vicinity of the constitutively IFN-gamma-producing CTL cells, tumor cells are exposed to a high concentration of IFN-gamma and may be stimulated to induce or enhance the expression of surface antigens including MHC antigens as well as tumor associated antigens in relation to immune recognition. The 203-glioma cells pretreated with IFN-gamma were more efficiently killed by both the parental E-4 and the gene-transferred sublines. It was thus suggested that the specific tumor killing activity of the gene-transferred CTLs was augmented by the constitutive production of IFN-gamma derived from the exogenous gene. As the next step, a mouse IFN-gamma cDNA was transferred into a neuroblastoma line C1300 of A/JAx mouse origin. Two infected subclones C gamma 3 and C gamma 22, were obtained as a low and a high producers, respectively. Both IFN-gamma gene transferred cells remained unchanged as regards in vitro cell growth, morphological appearance and differentiation antigen expression such as neurofilaments after the IFN-gamma gene transfer. On the other hand, expression of MHC Class I antigens of both subcloned lines was extremely augmented at the surface expression level as well as at the transcription level, re

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Exogenous expression of mouse interferon gamma cDNA in mouse neuroblastoma C1300 cells results in reduced tumorigenicity by augmented anti-tumor immunity.

To examine the influence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) on tumorigenicity, we established constitutively IFN-gamma-producing cell lines from a malignant mouse neuroblastoma, C1300, by retroviral transfer of a mouse IFN-gamma cDNA. The gene-transferred cells generally showed an enhanced high-level expression of the major histocompatibility complex class I antigens at the cell surface and the transcription levels, irrespective of their IFN-gamma-producing potential. Although in vitro cell growth of these cells was unaffected by the IFN-gamma production, their s.c. tumor growth in syngeneic A/J mice was dependent upon levels of IFN-gamma production; tumors induced by a low-producer line grew well at a rate similar to those induced by the parental one, but tumor growth of a high-producer line was strongly suppressed. This apparent tumor suppression was abolished by simultaneous i.p. injection of anti-Lyt2.2 and/or anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibodies, and subsequently large tumors of the high producer were generated. Anti-asialoganglioside GM1 antibodies allowed the high-producer line to induce a substantial but only transient tumor growth, whereas other antibodies, such as anti-Lyt2.1, anti-IFN-beta, and anti-activated macrophage, had no such effect. The mice immunized with the high-producer line were resistant to tumor growth of the parental cells but permitted another kind of A/J tumor line, Sa-1, to induce remarkable tumors. These results indicate that the reduced tumorigenicity of the IFN-gamma high-producer line was due to the augmented specific anti-tumor immunity, in which cytotoxic T lymphocytes seemed to play a decisive role, probably as a result of the immunomodulatory effects of the IFN-gamma derived from the tumor.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Primary malignant melanoma of the penis--a case report and a review of the literature.

A 50-year-old man had a primary malignant melanoma of the penis associated with granuloma telangiectaticum in the pigmented lesion. The patient had an operation for phimosis at the age of 20 and after the operation, he noticed a pigmented lesion at the operation site. We examined the literature and found 16 cases of primary malignant melanoma of the penis in Japan.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1988

Augmentation of tumor targeting in a line of glioma-specific mouse cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by retroviral expression of mouse gamma-interferon complementary DNA.

As an initial approach to experiments directed toward effective adoptive immunotherapy for cancer using lymphokine genes, we transferred retrovirally a complementary DNA encoding mouse gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) into a specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clone, designated E-4, against 203 glioma cells (a 20-methylcholanthrene-induced mouse glioma line) and confirmed the efficacy of IFN-gamma production from the exogenous gene on augmentation of tumor targeting. Of five, two gene-transferred subclones constitutively produced 8 to 10 times the amount of IFN-gamma as compared with the parental E-4. Correspondingly, these two subclones exhibited 2 to 3 times higher killing activity against 203 glioma than the parental cells; the enhancement of the killing activities was abrogated by an adequate addition of anti-IFN-gamma antibody. No alteration was seen after the gene transfer in cell surface phenotypes, Thy-1+, Lyt-1-, Lyt-2+,3+, and asialo-GM1-. The surface expression of a major histocompatibility complex Class I antigen, H-2Kb, was not altered remarkably, but the Class II antigen, I-Ab, was partially and slightly enhanced on the two IFN-gamma-producing sublines mentioned above on fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Since it is considered that in the vicinity of the constitutively IFN-gamma producing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte cells tumor cells are exposed to a high concentration of IFN-gamma, the cells may be stimulated to induce or enhance the expression of surface antigens including major histocompatibility complex antigens as well as tumor-associated antigens relevant to immune recognition. The 203 glioma cells pretreated with IFN-gamma were more efficiently killed by both the parental E-4 and the gene-transferred sublines. Taken together, the results suggested that the augmented specific tumor-killing activity of our gene-transferred cytotoxic T-lymphocytes was ascribed to the constitutive production of IFN-gamma derived from the exogenous gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The relationship between waking time and urinary epinephrine in bed-rested humans under conditions involving minimal stress.

The correlation between urinary excretion of epinephrine and percent of waking time during time allotted for sleep was evaluated for both daytime and nighttime bed-rest under minimally stressful conditions. The experiment was performed on 6 male subjects. Polysomnographic recordings were made throughout each 8-h bed-rest period, and free epinephrine excretion was measured at intervals of 2.5 h. Epinephrine excretion showed a strongly positive correlation with percent of waking time during bed-rest in the daytime and at night (average correlation coefficient: day: r = 0.89, P less than 0.001; night: r = 0.68, P less than 0.001). The possibility that levels of epinephrine excretion could be used as an indicator of sleep disturbance is discussed.

Adult↗