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Biomedical subjects

K Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishimura.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Enhancement of phorbol ester-induced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha by thalidomide.

The effect of thalidomide [racemic (DL-) form and optically pure (D- and L-) forms] on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha production by human leukemia cell lines (HL-60, K562 and U937) stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was investigated. Though thalidomide has been regarded as a specific inhibitor of TNF-alpha production, our study indicated that all forms of thalidomide enhanced (but did not inhibit) the TPA-induced TNF-alpha production by the human leukemia cell lines investigated. The effects of thalidomide on TNF-alpha production might be cell type-specific.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1994

Phospholipid analysis of alveolar macrophages and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid following bleomycin administration to rabbits.

Changes in the lipid metabolism of the lung during pulmonary injury were investigated by quantitative and qualitative analysis of phospholipids in pulmonary surfactant and alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained from rabbits that had been given a single transtracheal injection of bleomycin hydrochloride (BLM) 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days previously. BLM treatment increased the phospholipid content of both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) supernatant fluids and BAL cells. Furthermore, the proportion of phosphatidylcholine (PC) showed an increase in BAL cells during the development of pulmonary injury, and BLM treatment appeared to cause transformation of AM to foamy AM. Lipid analyses of the foamy AM revealed that their phospholipid content was increased, and that the percentage of PC with palmitic acid was elevated. Thus it appears that accumulation of phospholipids derived from pulmonary surfactant contributes to the increase in phospholipids and PC in BAL cells. These findings indicate that BLM treatment produces an alteration in the amount and composition of AM phospholipids, and also in BAL supernatant fluids.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Emphysematous changes assessed by selective alveolobronchography and bronchodilator response in chronic airflow obstruction.

To investigate the relationship between the emphysematous changes and bronchodilator responses in patients with chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), we studied the correlation between bronchodilator response to 10 mg inhaled metaproterenol and the extent of emphysema, using selective alveolobronchogram (SAB). Fifty-one patients with CAO were classified into 3 groups by the extent of emphysematous changes detected by SAB. In group 1, no or mild emphysematous change was observed on SAB (n = 9); in group 2, there were significant emphysematous changes but the involved area was less than 75% (n = 17); in group 3, emphysematous change was extensive and covered more than 75% (n = 25). The post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) of patients in group 3 was significantly lower than in groups 1 and 2. The mean value of changes of FEV1 as a percentage of predicted FEV1 of patients in group 3 was significantly lower than in groups 1 and 2. These results indicated that the extent of emphysematous change correlated positively with the severity of fixed airflow obstruction, and negatively with the bronchodilator response.

Bronchography↗
PubMed1994

Keratinocyte differentiation is induced by cell-permeant ceramides and its proliferation is promoted by sphingosine.

Ceramide and sphingosine have been suggested to be intracellular modulators of cell growth and differentiation. The effects of these sphingolipids on the growth and differentiation of keratinocytes were examined using cultured human keratinocytes (the squamous cell carcinoma cell line, DJM-1). The synthetic short-chain cell-permeant analogues of ceramides, N-acetylsphingosine, N-hexanoylsphingosine and N-octanoylsphingosine, significantly promoted differentiation as confirmed by upregulation of cornified envelope formation, synthesis of involucrin and increased transglutaminase activity, and inhibited proliferation as shown by a reduction in cell numbers, DNA amount and thymidine incorporation. Generally, these activities were greater the longer the N-acyl carbon chain. On the other hand, sphingosine at an appropriate concentration modestly stimulated the proliferation of cultured cells. Our results suggest the possibility that the growth and differentiation of keratinocytes are at least partially regulated by ceramide and sphingosine.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1994

Molecular species analysis of glycosphingolipids from small intestine of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix Japonica by HPLC/FAB/MS.

Neutral glycosphingolipids were isolated from quail small intestine and their structures were analysed. They contained: Gal beta 1-4GlcCer(LacCer), Gal alpha 1-4GalCer(Ga2Cer), Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4GlcCer(Gb3Cer), GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcCer(Lc3Cer), GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4GlcCer(Gg3Cer), GalNAc beta 1-4[GalNAc beta 1-3] Gal beta 1-4GlcCer(LcGg4Cer), and GalNAc alpha 1-3GalNAc beta 1-3Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4GlcCer (Forssman glycolipid) as well as glucosylceramide, galactosylceramide (Nishimura K et al. 1984) Biochim Biophys Acta 796:269-76) and the LeX glycolipid, III3 Fuc alpha-nLc4Cer (Nishimura K et al. (1989) J. Biochem (Tokyo) 101:1315-18). The molecular species compositions of these glycosphingolipids were examined using fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry linked with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. By such analysis, we could classify the quail glycosphingolipids into at least three classes: glycolipids rich in species having four hydroxyl groups in the ceramides (GalCer, Gg3Cer, LcGg4Cer and LeX), those rich in the ceramides of N-acyl trihydroxysphinganine with normal fatty acids (Lc3Cer), and glycolipids rich in the ceramides of N-acyl sphingenine with normal fatty acids (LacCer, Gb3Cer and Forssman glycolipid). Immunohistochemical observation implies that the differences in the hydrophobic moieties specified the localization of glycosphingolipids in the tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Pleoanamorphic life cycle of Exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis.

The anamorph life cycle of the black yeast Exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis is described. The fungus is dimorphic, yeast cells being the prevalent form of propagation. The fungus is strongly hydrophilic, probably completing its anamorph life cycle in submersion. Adaptation to dry conditions is slow. Types of conidiogenesis comprise annellidic, phialidic and sympodial reproduction, in addition to isotropic development. Phialoconidia fail to germinate under the conditions tested, and thus may have a function other than dispersal. Sterile, multicellular bodies resembling a Capronia teleomorph are described.

Exophiala↗
PubMed1994

Serotypes and mating types of clinical strains of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated in Taiwan.

Twenty-one strains of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from patients in Taiwan were characterized for serotypes and mating types. Slide agglutination test was performed with 8 factor-specific sera (Iatron Company, Japan) to determine the serotypes. Wheat bran agar (WBA) and malt extract agar (MEA, Wickerham) media were used for the mating tests. Twenty of the isolates were of serotype A, and one was serotype B. Except for 2 strains of serotype A, all of the serotype A strains mated with Filobasidiella neoformans var. neoformans, mating type a. The only serotype B strain mated with F. neoformans var. bacillispora mating type a in MEA medium. These data revealed the low prevalence (1/21; 4.8%) of C. neoformans var. gattii in Taiwan, a subtropically located isoland.

Cryptococcosis↗
PubMed1994

Predictive performance of the Bayesian analysis: effects of blood sampling time, population parameters, and pharmacostatistical model.

The present paper reports theoretical equations for the predictive performance of the Bayesian forecasting method. The precision of parameter estimates and predicted concentrations for an individual was described by general equations with the aid of a variance-covariance matrix of parameter estimates that involved the Bayes theorem. The equations were applied to assess the predictive performance of the one-point Bayesian method in association with blood sampling time, the population parameters, and the pharmacostatistical model. The simulation study showed that the prediction error in parameter estimates essentially depended upon the sampling time but the magnitude of dependency was affected by the size of inter- and intraindividual variances. With a smaller value of interindividual variance, the dependency on sampling time was less apparent. Effects of sampling time were further examined using clinical data obtained from 20 patients taking theophylline, and the results were in good agreement with the theoretical consideration. The present general equations are useful to investigate the sampling strategy as well as structural and variance modeling on the predictive performance of the Bayesian method.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A simple method for determination of stereospecificity of aminotransferases for C-4' hydrogen transfer of the coenzyme.

A simple method was established for determination of the stereospecificity of C-4' hydrogen transfer of the coenzymes (pyridoxal and pyridoxamine). The method is based on the findings that aspartate aminotransferase of pig heart and D-amino acid aminotransferase of Bacillus sp. YM-1 catalyze the abstraction of the pro-S and pro-R proton at C-4' of pyridoxamine, respectively. Pyridoxal is a poor coenzyme, but readily released from the enzyme. It reacts in 3H2O with a substrate amino acid and an apo-aminotransferase whose stereospecificity for C-4' hydrogen transfer is to be determined. The resultant pyridoxamine which is tritiated at C-4' is incubated with an apo form of aspartate aminotransferase or D-amino acid aminotransferase and a substrate, alpha-keto acid. The stereospecificity for the C-4' hydrogen transfer examined is determined by measurement of radioactivity retained in the pyridoxal formed. We showed by means of this method that C-4' hydrogen transfer of coenzyme occurs on the si face of the external Schiff base in the transamination reactions of two aspartate aminotransferases of Bacillus sp. YM-2 and Escherichia coli, and aromatic amino acid aminotransferase of E. coli.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1994

Problems of long-term hospitalised cervical spinal cord injury patients in university hospitals.

Of the 215 cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) patients treated in Tokai University Hospital over the last 17 years, 42 who were hospitalised for more than 90 days were selected as the subjects for this survey. They were divided into two groups: group A: patients hospitalised for 180 days or more; and group B: patients hospitalised for more than 90 but less than 180 days. The aspects surveyed were: the number of days of hospitalisation, type of injury, level of spinal cord injury, extent of spinal cord paralysis, assessment based on Frankel's classifications, whether a tracheotomy was performed or not, surgical treatment, complications, and the clinical course after discharge. The most common injury for the 13 patients in group A (average stay 281 days) was a fracture-dislocation, followed next by those with a burst fracture. The majority of the 28 patients in group B (average stay was 117 days) had a central type of spinal cord injury. Characteristics observed in group A in particular were: higher segment injuries to the cervical spinal cord, complete paralysis, respiratory complications such as pneumonia, tracheotomy, or a waiting time of at least 6 months before discharge, in cases where a transfer to a rehabilitation hospital was possible. The major problems of treating CSCI patients in university hospitals are that severe cases, which are concentrated in university hospitals, are forced to occupy private rooms for long term treatment, and there is a difficulty in transferring these patients to rehabilitation hospitals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis caused by the basidiomycetous fungus Schizophyllum commune.

We describe, to our knowledge, the first case of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) caused by the basidiomycetous fungus Schizophyllum commune in an otherwise healthy woman. Bronchoscopic analysis repeatedly disclosed S. commune hyphae in the bronchi of the lingular lobe; these hyphae were originally misidentified as Aspergillus because the presence of clamp connections was overlooked. A lingular infiltrate with ectatic proximal bronchi, eosinophilia, an elevated serum level of IgE, and antibodies to S. commune supported the diagnosis. It is sometimes difficult to isolate and identify S. commune in clinical specimens, and hence only a limited number of cases of ABPM might have been correctly diagnosed in the past. We suspect, therefore, that some cases of ABPM caused by an allergic reaction to S. commune may be misdiagnosed as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or eosinophilic pneumonia of unknown origin. The significance of S. commune in allergic bronchopulmonary diseases is discussed.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1994

The role of microfilaments and microtubules during pH-regulated morphological transition in Candida albicans.

Yeast cells of Candida albicans produced germ tubes in a salt-glucose medium containing 4% calf serum at pH 7 and 37 degrees C. Hyphal growth continued for 24 h and the filaments did not revert to yeast cells. When cells were grown at pH 4, reversion to yeast growth was observed, despite the presence of serum. The elongation of hyphae was inhibited within 30 min. The distribution of microtubules and microfilaments during pH-regulated morphological transition was studied by an immunofluorescence technique using an antitubulin antibody with a FITC-conjugated secondary antibody, and by staining with tetramethylrhodaminyl phalloidin for filamentous actin and actin granules. After changing to acidic conditions, microtubules were distributed normally in the cytoplasm; however, microfilaments disappeared from hyphal cells, and actin granules were localized at the site of budding. These results show that microfilaments play an important role during pH-regulated morphological transition.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1994

Bronchial responsiveness and acute bronchodilator response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diffuse panbronchiolitis.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is characterised clinically by chronic airflow limitation and respiratory tract infection, and pathologically by chronic bronchiolar inflammation. To elucidate the functional differences between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and DPB the bronchial responsiveness to methacholine was compared in 64 patients with COPD and 32 patients with DPB, and the bronchodilator response was compared in 72 patients with COPD and 49 with DPB. METHODS: Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine was determined by the dosimeter method and expressed as PD20FEV1, and bronchodilator response was measured as the change in percentage predicted response with 5 mg nebulised salbutamol. RESULTS: Baseline FEV1 was similar in the two groups of patients. Patients with COPD were more responsive to methacholine than were those with DPB (geometric mean PD20FEV1 8.87 v 48.0 cumulative units). Reversibility of air flow obstruction, expressed as the difference between the percentage predicted postbronchodilator FEV1 and prebronchodilator FEV1, was significantly larger in patients with COPD than in those with DPB (7.87 (6.52)% v 4.16 (4.43)%). CONCLUSIONS: The observation that patients with DPB differ substantially in bronchial responsiveness from those with COPD is thought to reflect the difference in the mechanisms of these two diseases--that is, airway disease in DPB and more parenchymal disease in the group of patients with COPD. The nature of bronchiolar inflammation in COPD and DPB is also different, possibly explaining the difference in bronchial responsiveness. More fixed airflow limitation as a result of structural bronchiolar lesions in DPB will explain the smaller reversibility of airflow obstruction.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Enhancement of phorbol ester-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by 2,6-dimethylphenylphthalimide.

The effect of phenyl- and benzylphthalimide analogs on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production by a human leukemia cell line, HL-60, stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was investigated. Though non-substituted phenyl- and benzyl-phthalimide had no effect on TNF-alpha production after TPA-induction, introduction of methyl group(s) onto the phenyl group resulted in the appearance of potent enhancing activity on TNF-alpha production.

Cell Division↗