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Biomedical subjects

K Oishi

Publications and source records attributed to K Oishi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Primary paraganglioma of the urinary bladder with high serum CA19-9 level: a case report].

A case of primary paraganglioma of the urinary bladder with a high serum CA19-9 level is reported. A 44-year-old woman visited our hospital with the chief complaint of lower abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination incidentally revealed a cystic bladder tumor. Cystoscopy disclosed a broad-based non-papillary tumor on the posterior wall of the urinary bladder. With the diagnosis of a bladder submucosal cystic tumor transurethral needle puncture and biopsy were performed. The solution sampled with puncture was bloody. The patient suddenly complained of headache and blood pressure was elevated to 215/120 mmHg when we held the tumor with a cold cup biopsy forceps. Catecholamine levels of the solution in the tumor were abnormally elevated. The serum CA19-9 level was also raised. Ten days later, she underwent partial cystectomy. Histological findings of the removed specimen showed primary paraganglioma of the urinary bladder. The serum CA19-9 level decreased to normal limits on the 28th postoperative day. Our experience suggests that the level of serum CA19-9 may serve as a useful index for observing the clinical course of a patient with this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical features and etiology of community-acquired pneumonia at a general hospital between 1994 and 1997].

To characterize the clinical features and etiology of recently encountered cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), we carried out a hospital-based retrospective study of 120 episodes of CAP (115 patients) at Tagami Hospital, Nagasaki City between 1994 and 1997. We identified the causative pathogens in 55 episodes (50 patients) by sputum Gram stain and quantitative culture, for a determination rate of 45.8%. Streptococcus pneumoniae (17 episodes) and Haemophilus influenzae (15 episodes) were the primary causative organisms. It is noteworthy that two major nosocomial pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa; 5 episodes) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; 2 episodes), were also identified as causative agents of CAP. These two pathogens were isolated from patients with severe underlying diseases and patients who had been repeatedly hospitalized. The incidence of CAP due to P. aeruginosa and MRSA is increasing because patients with respiratory colonization by these nosocomial pathogens are often followed up on an outpatient basis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Overloading to neck extensor muscles is an aggravating factor to induce further neck drop in isolated neck extensor myopathy (Katz). A case report].

A 78-year-old woman was hospitalized because of progressive anterior neck drop over 4 months prior to admission. She was normal except for mild weakness of her neck, trapezius and biceps brachii muscles. EMG revealed mild myopathic changes in the neck extensors, trapezius, deltoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Bilateral splenius capitis muscles had high intensities on T2-weighted and STIR pulse-sequenced MRI. However, there were no inflammatory changes in the right splenius muscle biopsy. Accordingly, the abnormal MRI finding seems not to result from an inflammatory process but from an physiological increase of intracellular water content due to sustained muscle contraction. Because apparent neuromuscular diseases responsible for neck drop were excluded, her clinical features met the criteria of isolated neck extensor myopathy (INEM, Katz). After strict bed-rest for one month, her neck drop improved dramatically. When she returned to the previous life style after discharge, her symptoms of the neck drop reappeared. Although the cause of INEM remains unclear, the present case indicates that the condition is reversible at least in the early stage of the disease, and the overloading to the neck extensor muscles is an aggravating factor of the neck drop in INEM.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Fatal pancreatitis associated with systemic amyloidosis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient.

We report here a case of severe acute pancreatitis associated with systemic AA amyloidosis in a 69-year-old rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. AA amyloid deposition was detected on the walls of small pancreatic arteries and arterioles. The acute pancreatitis was resistant to various interventions, and acute necrotizing pancreatitis and multiple organ failure developed. Although AA amyloidosis in RA patients is rarely complicated with acute pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis in such cases could be severe and intractable and might result in a fatal outcome.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Interaction of PKN with a neuron-specific basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, NDRF/NeuroD2.

By the yeast two-hybrid screening of a human brain cDNA library with the amino-terminal regulatory region of PKN as a bait, a clone encoding a neuron-specific basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factor, NDRF/NeuroD2 was isolated. NDRF/NeuroD2 was co-precipitated with PKN from the lysate of COS-7 cells transfected with both expression constructs for NDRF/NeuroD2 and PKN. In vitro binding studies using the deletion mutants of NDRF/NeuroD2 synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate indicated that the internal region containing the bHLH domain of NDRF/NeuroD2 was necessary and sufficient for the interaction with PKN. In addition, recombinant NDRF/NeuroD2 purified from Escherichia coli could bind PKN, suggesting the direct interaction between NDRF/NeuroD2 and PKN. Transient transfection assays using P19 cells revealed that expression of NDRF/NeuroD2 increased the transactivation of the rat insulin promoter element 3 (RIPE3) enhancer up to approximately 12-fold and that co-expression of catalytically active form of PKN, but not kinase-deficient derivative, resulted in a further threefold increase of NDRF/NeuroD2-mediated transcription. These findings suggest that PKN may contribute to transcriptional responses through the post-translational modification of the NDRF/NeuroD2-dependent transcriptional machinery.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Induction of human beta-defensin-2 mRNA expression by Helicobacter pylori in human gastric cell line MKN45 cells on cag pathogenicity island.

Helicobacter pylori is an etiological agent of gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) is an antimicrobial peptide which belongs to one of the most important host defense systems against bacterial infection in several epithelial tissues. We studied the effect of H. pylori on the expression of hBD-2 mRNA in MKN45 gastric mucosal cells. H. pylori, but not culture filtrate, increased the hBD-2 mRNA level in MKN45 cells; the inductive effect of H. pylori was not detected with Intestine 407 cells. Among H. pylori strains, strain OHPC0002, which lacks a cag Pathogenicity Island (PAI), did not induce hBD-2 mRNA in MKN45 cells. These results suggested that H. pylori cag PAI is critical for the induction of hBD-2 mRNA in MKN45 cells. Exposure of MKN45 cells to Salmonella typhimurium, S. enteritidis, S. typhi, and S. dublin, but not Escherichia coli ML35, also resulted in induction of hBD-2 mRNA.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗
PubMed1999

Identification and characterization of PKNbeta, a novel isoform of protein kinase PKN: expression and arachidonic acid dependency are different from those of PKNalpha.

The cDNA clone encoding a novel isoform of protein kinase PKN, termed PKNbeta, was isolated from a HeLa cDNA library. PKNbeta had high sequence homology with PKNalpha, originally isolated PKN, especially in the repeats of charged amino acid-rich region with leucine-zipper like sequences (CZ region/HR1), in the carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain, and in approximately 130 amino acid stretch (D region/HR2), located between CZ region/HR1 and the catalytic domain. However, the amino acid sequence of PKNbeta differed from that of PKNalpha in the region immediately amino-terminal to the catalytic domain, which contained two distinct proline-rich sequences consistent with the class II consensus sequence, PXXPXR, for binding to SH3 domain. Distribution of PKNbeta differed from that of PKNalpha in the following two respects: (1) Northern blotting indicated that PKNbeta mRNA could not be detected in human adult tissues, but was expressed abundantly in human cancer cell lines; (2) immunochemical analysis indicated that PKNbeta localized in nucleus and perinuclear Golgi apparatus, and was almost absent in cytoplasmic region in NIH3T3 cells. Recombinant PKNbeta expressed in COS7 cells displayed autophosphorylation and peptide kinase activity, but was found to be significantly less responsive to arachidonic acid than PKNalpha. The identification of this novel isoform underscores the diversity of PKN signaling pathway.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1999

Molecular cloning of the cone-rod homeobox gene (Crx) from the rat and its temporal expression pattern in the retina under a daily light-dark cycle.

The primary structure of the cone-rod homeobox protein (CRX), a member of the OTX-like homeobox protein family, in the rat was deduced from the cDNA nucleotide sequence. The deduced protein consisted of 299 amino acid residues with motifs conserved in mammalian CRXs, and was 98% identical to mouse CRX. Northern blot analysis showed that Crx mRNA levels in the rat retina were constant under a daily light-dark cycle. These findings suggest that the expression mechanism of rat Crx in the retina was different from that in the pineal, where Crx mRNA exhibits a daily expression rhythm.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Clinical and molecular analysis of Japanese patients with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is one of the most common inherited neurological diseases in childhood. It occurs every 12,500 births in northern-European populations. Mental retardation, visual impairment, and seizures are common symptoms. The prevalence of NCL is variable depending upon the races or countries. Although a wealth information is available in Caucasian populations, there is little information about NCL in Asian people. Because a nationwide survey in Japanese patients with NCL has never been performed, we pursued an epidemiological survey. We identified 36 NCL patients in Japan. Patients with infantile, late infantile, juvenile, and adult type accounted for 2, 15, 15, and 4 cases, respectively. Seizures were a major initial symptom in the late infantile type. In the juvenile type, visual failure was present in 73% at onset. Recently, the juvenile NCL (Batten disease) gene has been isolated. Studies of the mutations in this gene demonstrated that a 1.02-kb deletion was the most prevalent mutation among Caucasian patients, accounting for 81% of total alleles. To determine the prevalence of this 1.02-kb deletion in Japanese patients, we performed a rapid allele-specific polymerase chain reaction test. No 1.02-kb major deletion was detected in 5 Japanese juvenile NCL cases. These data suggest that the distribution of NCL and clinical findings are similar to those of Caucasian subjects; however, prevalence of mutations in Japanese patients with NCL would be distinct from that observed in Caucasians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Protein kinase C promotes spontaneous relaxation of streptolysin-O-permeabilized smooth muscle cells from the guinea-pig stomach.

Isolated single smooth muscle cells from the fundus of a guinea-pig stomach were permeabilized by use of streptolysin-O (0.5 U/ml). Most of the permeabilized cells responded to 0.6 microM Ca2+, but not to 0.2 microM Ca2+, with a resulting maximal cell shortening to approximately 71% of the resting cell length. These cells were relaxed again by washing with the Ca2+-free solution (2.5 nM free Ca2+) for 3-5 min. Addition of 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh) resulted in both a marked decrease in the concentration of Ca2+ required to trigger a threshold response and an increase in the maximal cell shortening, indicating that the cells retained the muscarinic receptor function. When the cell treated with a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, K-252b (1 microM), for 3 min was exposed to 10 microM ACh in the presence of K-252b, the cell shortened within 2 min with a maximal cell shortening. When the cell shortening was induced by 10 microM ACh plus 1 microM Ca2+ in the presence of K-252b (1 microM) or more selective PKC inhibitors, such as calphostin C (1 microM) or PKC pseudosubstrate peptide (100 microM), the extension of the shortened cells, by washing with the Ca2+-free solution, was significantly inhibited. In contrast, K-252b (1 microM) did not inhibit the relaxation of Ca2+-induced shortened cells. These results suggest that the receptor-mediated activation of PKC in the process of ACh-induced cell shortening plays a role in the subsequent relaxation of the shortened cells.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1999

DNA restriction patterns produced by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in Moraxella catarrhalis isolated from different geographical areas.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of the genomic DNA of Moraxella catarrhalis was done in 172 strains isolated from sputum of patients with respiratory infections in Nagasaki (130 strains), Europe (14 strains), Thailand (6 strains), Uganda (3 strains), Bangladesh (5 strains) and Kuwait (14 strains). Restriction endonuclease with SmaI generated 4-16 DNA fragments ranging from 1000 kb to 24.25 kb and was classified into 31 major groups. It was found that there were wide variations of DNA restriction patterns of strains isolated from the same and different geographical areas. DNA restriction patterns of strains isolated in Nagasaki during the last 12 years showed dynamic changes of the predominant strains in each time period. We conclude from this study that PFGE is a suitable method to document interstrain variation in M. catarrhalis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Severe skeletal complications in Japanese patients with type 1 Gaucher disease.

To better characterize skeletal complications in Japanese patients with type 1 Gaucher disease (GD), we performed genotyping and clinical and radiological analysis of 35 patients, the vast majority of this population, Skeletal complications tend to be very common, severe and rapidly progressive in Japanese patients with type 1 GD. Twenty (57%) of these patients manifested end points of severe bone disease including avascular necrosis, pathological fracture and/or bone crisis. Mean time from presentation/diagnosis of GD until presentation of this involvement was 3 years 6 months +/- 4 years 1 month. Prevalence of severe bone disease is significantly higher in splenectomized than in non-splenectomized patients--81% (17/21) versus 21% (3/14) (p = 0.0007, Fisher's exact test). Four (29%) of 14 patients receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) manifested severe bone involvement for the first time during or after treatment. All cases occurred in children in whom ERT doses had been lowered after only brief administration of higher starting doses (n = 3) or partial donor marrow engraftment resulted in low glucocerebrosidase (GCR) activity (n = 1). These observations suggest that splenectomy may correlate with accelerated skeletal deterioration with severe skeletal disease, at least in patients with severe phenotypic expression. They also suggest that it is important that sufficient GCR is available in paediatric patients with severe phenotypic expression. Hence ERT dosages should be based on disease severity and on age, with sustained administration of full doses in patients at greater risk of important skeletal complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Mutations in a new gene encoding a thiamine transporter cause thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia syndrome.

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia syndrome (TRMA; MIM 249270) is an autosomal recessive disorder with features that include megaloblastic anaemia, mild thrombocytopenia and leucopenia, sensorineural deafness and diabetes mellitus. Treatment with pharmacologic doses of thiamine ameliorates the megaloblastic anaemia and diabetes mellitus. A defect in the plasma membrane transport of thiamine has been demonstrated in erythrocytes and cultured skin fibroblasts from TRMA patients. The gene causing TRMA was assigned to 1q23.2-q23.3 by linkage analysis. Here we report the cloning of a new gene, SLC19A2, identified from high-through-put genomic sequences due to homology with SLC19A1, encoding reduced folate carrier 1 (refs 8-10). We cloned the entire coding region by screening a human fetal brain cDNA library. SLC19A2 encodes a protein (of 497 aa) predicted to have 12 transmembrane domains. We identified 2 frameshift mutations in exon 2. a 1-bp insertion and a 2-bp deletion, among four Iranian families with TRMA. The sequence homology and predicted structure of SLC19A2, as well as its role in TRMA, suggest that its gene product is a thiamine carrier, the first to be identified in complex eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Oxidative stress and haematological changes in immobilized rats.

Immobilization stress induces formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to the oxidative injury in various tissues. In this study, the effects of immobilization stress on peripheral blood cells distribution, plasma level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and activities of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes were investigated in male Fischer rats. A significant increase in plasma TBARS was observed during and after the stress. Dramatic increases of neutrophils and monocytes imply that ROS formation resulted from their activation. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes were dramatically increased during and after the stress, while a large fall in erythrocyte number was observed. These findings suggest that the activation of immune cells can be a source of the immobilization-induced ROS production, and that antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes play an important role in preventing the ROS-induced injuries.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Orthotopic ileal neobladder in male patients: functional outcomes of 66 cases.

BACKGROUND: Orthotopic urinary diversion has become the preferred form of bladder reconstruction after cystectomy. We report on our experience with 66 male patients undergoing this procedure from November 1990 to February 1998. METHODS: A neobladder was constructed using an ileal segment with a Hautmann type bladder. Complications were assessed and subdivided into early and late types. Voiding function was evaluated in terms of voiding pattern and continence. Median follow up was 19.5 (range 3.5-87.7) months. RESULTS: There was one (1.5%) perioperative death. The most frequent pouch-related and unrelated early complications were persistent urine leak (7.6%) and prolonged ileus (16.7%), respectively, the majority of cases of which were managed conservatively. Analysis of late complications revealed 6.2% ureteroileal stenosis and 1.5% urethrointestinal stenosis rates, but no case of bladder stone formation. Of the 61 patients in whom voiding function was evaluable, 95.1% achieved excellent daytime continence, while only 67.2% had night-time continence. With regard to posture at voiding, 23 (37.7%) voided in a sitting position. Three of the patients (4.9%) were unable to void and required regular intermittent catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: An orthotopic neobladder can be constructed with acceptable morbidity and excellent functional results. We believe that orthotopic urinary diversion offers an attractive alternative to a bladder substitute when cystectomy is required.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Non-enzymatic nitric oxide generation in the stomachs of breastfed neonates.

Human breast milk contains high concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in the early postpartum period. The acidification of nitrite leads to the generation of nitric oxide (NO) in the gastric lumen. NO reportedly plays an important role in adult stomachs. The objective of the present study was to determine whether NO is generated in the stomach of breastfed neonates. We examined (i) the concentrations of nitrite and nitrate in human breast milk and formula milk, according to the method based on the Griess reaction; (ii) the concentration of NO in gases collected from the lumen of the neonatal stomach; and (iii) NO generation in acidified milks in vitro, using a NO chemiluminescence analyser. We found that breast milk contained high levels of nitrite, the NO level in the stomach gas of neonates fed only breast milk peaked on days 2 to 5, and NO was present on the milk surface in vitro. These findings suggest that a high concentration of nitrite in the stomachs of breastfed neonates enables a high production of NO. We propose that breast milk is important in regulating the mucosal blood flow and gastric motility and in achieving bacteriostasis via induction of NO generation in the neonatal stomach.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Induction of interleukin 8 (IL-8) production by Pseudomonas nitrite reductase in human alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) participates in the generation of dense neutrophil accumulations in bronchopulmonary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). We have recently reported that nitrite reductase, a bifunctional enzyme located in the periplasmic space of P. aeruginosa, induces IL-8 generation in bronchial epithelial cells (K. Oishi et al. Infect. Immun. 65: 2648-2655, 1997). We examined whether or not Pseudomonas nitrite reductase (PNR) could also stimulate human alveolar macrophages (AM) and pulmonary type II epithelial-like cells (A549) to induce IL-8 production and mRNA expression as well as the production of TNF alpha and IL-1beta. We demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent IL-8 protein synthesis and IL-8 mRNA expression, but no TNF alpha or IL-1beta production, by A549 cells in response to PNR. New protein translation was not required for PNR-mediated IL-8 mRNA expression in the same cells. Furthermore, simultaneous stimulation of PNR with serial doses of TNF alpha or IL-1beta resulted in additive IL-8 production in A549 cells. In adherent AM, PNR enhanced IL-8 protein synthesis and IL-8 mRNA expression in a time-dependent fashion. PNR similarly induced a time-dependent production of TNF alpha and IL-1beta by human adherent AM. Neutralization of TNF alpha or IL-1beta did not influence the levels of IL-8 production in adherent AM culture. We also evaluated whether the culture supernatants of the A549 cells or AM stimulated with PNR could similarly mediate neutrophil migration in vitro. When anti-human IL-8 immunoglobulin G was used for neutralizing neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) activities in the culture supernatants of these cells stimulated with 5 microg/ml of PNR, the mean percent reduction of NCF activities were 49-59% in A549 cells and 24-34% in AM. Our present data support that PNR directly stimulates AM and pulmonary epithelial cells to produce IL-8. PNR also mediates neutrophil migration, in part, through IL-8 production from AM and pulmonary epithelial cells. These data suggest the contribution of PNR to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary infections due to P. aeruginosa.

Cell Adhesion↗