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Biomedical subjects

K Noguchi

Publications and source records attributed to K Noguchi.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

An autopsy case of suicide by hanging with multiple stab wounds of the neck and chest.

We report, from the aspect of 'acting' capability, an autopsy case of suicide by hanging in which multiple deep stab wounds were observed in the neck and chest. A 49-year-old man was found dead in a state typical of hanging. His car was found about 100m away with a blood-stained climber's knife on the seat. Multiple incised and stab wounds were in the neck, with a lesion of the right inner jugular vein. Three penetrating stab wounds of the chest punctured the lungs, with pooling of about 500ml of blood in the left thorax and about 100ml in the right. Two other shallow stab wounds were in the chest. All the above wounds were explainable as self-inflicted. From the autopsy findings and the circumstantial evidence, it was concluded that he walked approximately 100m after stabbing his neck and chest and finally committed suicide by hanging.

Airway Obstruction↗

Ring fracture of the base of the skull and atlanto-occipital avulsion due to anteroflexion on motorcycle riders in a head-on collision accident.

This report concerns a head-on collision accident of a motorcycle at a very high speed (c. 80-100 Km/h) against a bonnet-type automobile, in which both the motorcyclist and pillion rider were injured at the base of the skull by violent anteroflexion of the head due to the force of inertia. A difference in their injuries was: the motorcyclist sustained a 'ring' fracture and the pillion rider an atlanto-occipital avulsion; dural tear. Anteroflexion without impact on the occiput such as described above seems to be a rare causal mechanism of the 'ring' fracture. In addition, the mode of action of the accelerating forces to the heads of the victims along with their physiques may explain the mechanism which caused the different injuries in this accident.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Acceleration of the N alpha-deprotection rate by the addition of m-cresol to diluted methanesulfonic acid and its application to the Z(OMe)-based solid-phase syntheses of human pancreastatin-29 and magainin 1.

In solid-phase peptide synthesis, the addition of m-cresol to diluted methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in dichloromethane accelerated the deprotection rate of the acid-labile alpha-amino protecting group, the p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl (Z(OMe)) group. Further, 0.1 M MSA, 20% m-cresol/CH2Cl2 was found to be a practically useful N alpha-deprotecting reagent system, since the deprotection of the Z(OMe) group occurred selectively within 30 min at room temperature, leaving intact the other side chain protecting groups, such as benzyloxycarbonyl, benzyl ester, S-p-methoxybenzyl and NG-mesitylene-2-sulfonyl groups. This reagent system was applied to the Z(OMe)-based solid phase syntheses of human pancreastatin-29 and magainin 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Changes of vinculin and extracellular matrix components following blunt trauma to rat skeletal muscle.

The purpose of the present study was to determine changes in the localization of vinculin, Type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin during the damage-repair process in the skeletal muscle over several days following acute blunt trauma. A single blunt trauma to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rat was induced by applying 1.57 J of kinetic energy to one leg. By day 2 after trauma, vinculin had disappeared rapidly from the intracellular submembraneous region corresponding to the costamere, whereas Type IV collagen and laminin persisted around the degenerating myofibers (corresponding to the basement membrane). Fibronectin could be observed filling the widened endomysium and in the ruptured myofibers. In the early phase of muscle regeneration (day 5 after trauma), newly synthesized vinculin, Type IV collagen, and laminin formed ring-like structures around the regenerating myotubes. Fibronectin could also be observed filling the widened endomysium around the regenerating myotubes. Further, when small newly formed or splitted myofibers were observed in the areas of regenerating myofibers (day 10 after trauma), vinculin, Type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin were localized in specialized regions corresponding to the costamere, basement membrane, and endomysium. These results demonstrated that restoration of the costamere, basement membrane, and endomysium are essential to the maturation of regenerating myofibers after injury.

Animals↗

Expression of an 87-kD-beta-1,3-glucanase of Bacillus circulans IAM1165 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by low-temperature incubation.

A DNA segment encoding a signal peptide from yeast invertase was fused in frame to bglH gene encoding 87-kD-beta-1,3-glucanase from Bacillus circulans IAM1165 and was expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the control of the GAL1 gene promoter. Yeast cells containing this fused gene produced active beta-1,3-glucanase in the medium after a long period of incubation at low temperature. The enzyme produced by yeast was heterogeneous in size, and larger than the enzyme produced by Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Erythropoietin production in hepatocellular carcinoma cells associated with polycythemia: immunohistochemical evidence.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma sometimes have erythrocytosis and high plasma erythropoietin levels. However, previous studies have not revealed direct evidence that the carcinoma cells produce the erythropoietin. To address this question, we carried out light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical studies, using a human erythropoietin antibody to the liver in three male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and erythrocytosis. alpha-Feto-protein localization was also examined in serial liver sections by light microscopic immunohistochemistry with an antibody to alpha-fetoprotein. All three patients demonstrated high hemoglobin levels (16.7, 17.6 and 18.1 gm/dl) and high plasma erythropoietin levels (227, 266 and 280 mU/ml). In one patient the plasma erythropoietin level in the hepatic vein was significantly higher than that in the hepatic artery. The levels of plasma erythropoietin, as well as such tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma as serum alpha-fetoprotein and plasma des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, were significantly reduced after treatment with an anticancer drug, cisplatin. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry showed that erythropoietin was definitely present in the cytoplasm of the hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but not in normal hepatocytes around the carcinoma lesion or in other nonparenchymal cells such as vascular endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. In electron microscopic immunohistochemistry, reaction products for erythropoietin were revealed in the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum in the carcinoma cells, suggesting the production of erythropoietin by these cells. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry showed that alpha-fetoprotein was localized in the hepatocellular carcinoma cells that were erythropoietin positive in the serial sections. These findings indicated that hepatocellular carcinoma cells produced erythropoietin as well as alpha-fetoprotein in these cases, leading to the complication of erythrocytosis.

Aged↗

An autoreactive T cell clone generated in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in a patient with gastric carcinoma.

Autoreactive T cell clones were established from a patient with early gastric carcinoma and a healthy control in order to investigate the mechanism of suppression of autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) and its significance in immune surveillance against tumor. Clone 3F6 from the gastric carcinoma patient responded to only autologous non-T cells with less reactivity than 4 clones from the control subject. The proliferative response of clone 3F6 to interleukin-2 and immobilized anti-CD3 antibody was also suppressed when compared with the control clones. Autoreactive T cells were able to kill tumor cells and autologous PHA-blasts. The cytotoxic activity of clone 3F6 was also markedly suppressed when compared with the control clones. This data suggests that autoreactive T cells may be impaired in cancer patients and that this immunological disorder might cause the defective immune surveillance against tumors.

Autoimmunity↗

Protective actions of YM737, a new glutathione analog, against cerebral ischemia in rats.

Effects of YM737[N-(N-r-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl)glycine 1-isopropyl ester sulfate monohydrate], a new glutathione (GSH) analog more readily transported into cells than GSH, on cerebral ischemia were compared with those of GSH and some other drugs in rats subjected to occlusion of the bilateral carotid arteries. YM737 significantly reduced lethality, increased brain-water levels as measured by both dry-wet and NMR methods, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the cerebral ischemic rats. On the other hand, pharmacological actions of GSH itself was less than those of YM737. In the ischemic rats used in the present study, there was no significant difference in 31P-NMR signals between the normal and the cerebral ischemic rats. These results suggest that YM737 showed anti-cerebral ischemic effects presumably due, in part, to inhibition of lipid peroxidative responses.

Animals↗

[A 62-year-old man with multiple cranial nerve palsies on the right side and a pelvic mass].

We report a 62-year-old man with a pelvic mass, who developed multiple cranial nerve palsies on the right side. He was well until the summer of 1977 when he developed a numb sensation in the sacral region. In the next year, a huge tumor was found in the sacral area in another hospital. Most of the tumor was resected at that time. Post-operative course was uneventful. In July 1988, there was an onset of weakness in his legs, gait disturbance, and dysuria. Myelography at the above hospital revealed a complete block at the seventh thoracic level. He was treated by laminectomy and post-operative radiation. In June 1990, he developed a neuralgic pan in his right leg. Two months later, he noted diplopia, deafness in his right ear, and swallowing difficulty. He was admitted to our hospital for further work up on January 14th of 1991. On admission, he was afebrile. General physical examination revealed a 4 cm had mass in his right anterior chest attaching the rib. Gynecomastia was noted bilaterally. Liver was felt by 5 cms under the right hypochondrium. The edge of the liver was firm. On neurologic examination he was an alert and mentally sound man. His higher cerebral functions were intact. In the cranial nerves, complete palsy of the abducens nerve, mild nerve deafness, paresis of the soft palate, atrophy and weakness of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezium muscles, all on the right side, deviation of the tongue to the right, slurred speech, and dysphagia were observed. The neck was supple. He was able to walk with a support. Mild weakness was present in his right lower extremity. Both legs were spastic. No ataxia or involuntary movements were noted. Deep reflexes were symmetric and normally active. No sensory loss was observed. No meningeal signs were present. Pertinent laboratory findings included moderate anemia (Hb 8.8 g/dl), LDH 2,631 U/l, CRP 7.4 mg/dl. The CSF was under an increased pressure (OP 260 mmH2O) containing 2 lymphocytes/ml, 43 mg/dl of protein, and 49 mg/dl of glucose. Radiologic examinations revealed a destructive change in the sacrum, lytic lesions in the seventh thoracic spine and in the clivus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cranial Nerve Diseases↗

Effects of pilsicainide on systemic hemodynamics and cardiac function of anesthetized dogs.

The effects of pilsicainide, propafenone and flecainide on systemic hemodynamics and cardiac function were compared in anesthetized open-chest dogs. Pilsicainide, propafenone and flecainide given intravenously at 1 and 3 mg/kg produced dose-dependent decreases in the mean aortic pressure. The heart rate was decreased by pilsicainide and flecainide, but not by propafenone. The three drugs increased the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and reduced the first derivative of left ventricular pressure and myocardial oxygen consumption. Pilsicainide decreased aortic, vertebral, coronary and renal blood flows in a dose-dependent manner at 1 and 3 mg/kg. Propafenone increased aortic and vertebral blood flows at 1 mg/kg and decreased coronary and renal blood flows at 3 mg/kg. Flecainide did not significantly change blood flow, except for an increase in the aortic blood flow with 3 mg/kg. The total peripheral, vertebral, coronary and renal vascular resistances were increased by pilsicainide, but not by flecainide. Propafenone decreased total peripheral and vertebral vascular resistances, but hardly affected the coronary and renal vascular resistances. The stroke volume was decreased by 1 and 3 mg/kg pilsicainide in a dose-dependent manner, and increased by 1 and 3 mg/kg propafenone, but not significantly changed by 1 or 3 mg/kg flecainide. The stroke work index was decreased by 3 mg/kg pilsicainide and 3 mg/kg flecainide. The effects of pilsicainide correlated with the changes in its plasma concentration with time. The results indicate that pilsicainide has a negative inotropic activity similar to that of propafenone and flecainide. Pilsicainide and flecainide show almost the same effects with a slightly different efficacy, while propafenone exerts different effects upon some cardiovascular functions.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗

Crystal structure of methyl 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (methyl beta-D-laminarabioside) monohydrate.

Crystals of methyl 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (methyl beta-D-laminarabioside) belong to the orthorhombic system, space group P2(1)2(1)2, with a = 14.548(2), b = 24.252(7), c = 4.938(1) A, and Z = 4. The crystal structure was solved by the direct method and refined by the full-matrix least-squares procedure to an R-value of 0.062 for 1099 observed reflections in the X-ray data. The molecular structure is similar to that of beta-D-laminarabiose. The torsional angles around the glycosidic bonds are influenced by both the existence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond at O-4'... O-5 and the exo-anomeric effect. In the nonreducing residue, the exocyclic O-5-C-5-C-6-O-6 and C-4-C-5-C-6-O-6 torsional angles are (+)gauche and trans, respectively, whereas the corresponding torsional angles in the reducing residue are (-)gauche and (+)gauche. One water molecule cocrystallizes with each disaccharide, and the crystal structure is stabilized mainly by intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds involving water molecules.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Axonal flow blockade induces alpha-CGRP mRNA expression in rat motoneurons.

Axonal flow of motoneurons was blocked in the sciatic nerve by the application of vinblastine at a low concentration (100 microM) not considered likely to cause axonal degeneration. The number of motoneurons expressing alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mRNA was significantly increased by vinblastine application, while the expression of beta-CGRP mRNA was not influenced. These findings suggest that the synthesis of these two peptides is differentially regulated and that alpha-CGRP mRNA is possibly down-regulated by unknown factor(s) which normally undergo retrograde transport from the periphery.

Animals↗

Contraction characteristics and ATPase activity of skeletal muscle fibers in the presence of antibody to myosin subfragment 2.

To investigate the role of the myosin hinge region in muscle contraction, we examined the contraction characteristics and Mg-ATPase activity of glycerinated muscle fibers prepared from rabbit psoas in the presence and absence of polyclonal antibody directed against the subfragment 2 (S-2) region of myosin. The antibody-induced reduction of Ca(2+)-activated isometric force was always accompanied by a parallel decrease of muscle fiber stiffness, so that the stiffness versus force relation remained unchanged by the antibody treatment. Force-velocity relations of the fibers, obtained by applying ramp decreases in force at steady isometric forces, indicated that the antibody had no effect on maximum shortening velocity or on the shape of force-velocity curves. Simultaneous measurements of Mg-ATPase activity and Ca(2+)-activated force showed that Mg-ATPase activity of the fibers remained unchanged despite the antibody-induced reduction of isometric force even to zero. These results indicate that when anti-S-2 antibody attaches to the S-2 region of myosin molecules, their heads still hydrolyze ATP but no longer contribute to both force generation and muscle fiber stiffness.

Animals↗

High-performance affinity chromatography system for the rapid, efficient assay of glycated albumin.

A high-performance affinity chromatographic system was constructed and shown to permit highly reproducible, rapid, automatic assays of serum glycated albumin (GA) by separation of albumin (Alb) on an anion-exchange column (Asahipak ES-502N) packed with a vinyl alcohol copolymer bearing diethylamino groups and consecutive separation of GA on a column packed with a vinyl alcohol copolymer bearing boronate groups. The first column selectively retained Alb free of other serum proteins and permitted at least a 95% recovery of sample Alb. The purity of the Alb peak was confirmed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Chromatographic analyses of human serum Alb incubated with glucose on the second column showed that the peak area for GA increased in accordance with the incubation time and suggested selective adsorption of GA on the second column. Optimization of the conditions for the two-column system reduced the analysis time to 10 min. Analyses of human sera with the present system showed GA to be 16.1 +/- 1.1% (mean +/- S.D.) of total Alb in non-diabetic children and 39.9 +/- 9.1% (mean +/- S.D.) in diabetic children (0-17 years old).

Adolescent↗

Defective autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) and killer activity generated in the AMLR in cancer patients.

The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) and the killer activity generated in the AMLR (AMLR-killer) in the spleen and the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer were investigated. The AMLR in cancer patients was suppressed, especially in the spleen, compared to that seen in controls. There was no correlation between AMLR activity and the stage status of the cancer. The cytotoxic activity of AMLR-killer cells against various tumor-cell lines was also suppressed in the spleen, and had a tendency to be suppressed in the peripheral blood of cancer patients. The autologous tumor-killing activity of AMLR-killer cells was developed in cancer patients with high AMLR activity, but was not induced in patients with low AMLR activity. Autotumor killing activity was decreased by the elimination of CD4+ cells, whereas the elimination of CD16+ cells resulted in a marked reduction in cytotoxicity against K562, indicating that the non-specific killer cells which lysed K562 were different from the specific killer cells that lysed autotumor cells. This suggests that AMLR activity is related to the differentiation and proliferation of lymphocytes with specific or non-specific cytotoxic activity and that this activity plays an important role in immune surveillance against tumors.

Adult↗

Clinical and immunological evaluation of intraoperative radiation therapy for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

The clinical efficacy of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and the changes of immunological parameters were investigated. Nine patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were treated with IORT (2,500-3,500 cGy) and the changes of various immunological parameters were compared with those in 11 patients with advanced cancer who received external beam irradiation therapy (XRT), 2,500-3,500 cGy. After IORT, 71% of patients obtained pain relief, two of the nine patients showed a partial response, and the serum CA 19-9 level decreased in six patients. However, the median survival was only 210 days. Natural killer activity, lymphokine-activated killer activity, and interferon gamma-activated killer activity were not inhibited by IORT, and phytohemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis was actually augmented after IORT, whereas all these parameters were inhibited by XRT. Thus, it is suggested that IORT may augment or at least stabilize systemic antitumor immunity.

Aged↗