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Biomedical subjects

K Okamoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Okamoto.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Regional lymph node metastasis as a predictor of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative survival of patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma is significantly worse than that in patients with other Borrmann types of gastric carcinomas. The most common pattern of recurrence in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma is peritoneal metastasis. We examined the predictors of developing peritoneal metastasis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between peritoneal metastasis and Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma. We also examined the dependence of the peritoneal metastasis on clinicopathological findings. RESULTS: Borrmann type IV was an independent prognostic factor of survival by multivariate analysis, and regional lymph node metastasis was an independent predictor of peritoneal metastasis in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Because type of lymph node dissection was not associated with developing peritoneal metastasis, early detection of cancer without lymph node metastasis may be the only means of improving survival in patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Cloning, overexpression, and mutagenesis of the Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AKU4429 gene encoding a new aldehyde reductase, which catalyzes the stereoselective reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate to ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate.

We cloned and sequenced the gene encoding an NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductase (ARII) in Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AKU4429, which reduces ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (4-COBE) to ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate. The ARII gene is 1,032 bp long, is interrupted by four introns, and encodes a 37,315-Da polypeptide. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited significant levels of similarity to the amino acid sequences of members of the mammalian 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-plant dihydroflavonol 4-reductase superfamily but not to the amino acid sequences of members of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily or to the amino acid sequence of an aldehyde reductase previously isolated from the same organism (K. Kita, K. Matsuzaki, T. Hashimoto, H. Yanase, N. Kato, M. C.-M. Chung, M. Kataoka, and S. Shimizu, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:2303-2310, 1996). The ARII protein was overproduced in Escherichia coli about 2, 000-fold compared to the production in the original yeast cells. The enzyme expressed in E. coli was purified to homogeneity and had the same catalytic properties as ARII purified from S. salmonicolor. To examine the contribution of the dinucleotide-binding motif G(19)-X-X-G(22)-X-X-A(25), which is located in the N-terminal region, during ARII catalysis, we replaced three amino acid residues in the motif and purified the resulting mutant enzymes. Substrate inhibition of the G(19)-->A and G(22)-->A mutant enzymes by 4-COBE did not occur. The A(25)-->G mutant enzyme could reduce 4-COBE when NADPH was replaced by an equimolar concentration of NADH.

Acetoacetates↗
PubMed1999

Evidence of horizontal transfer of the EcoO109I restriction-modification gene to Escherichia coli chromosomal DNA.

A DNA fragment carrying the genes coding for EcoO109I endonuclease and EcoO109I methylase, which recognize the nucleotide sequence 5'-(A/G)GGNCC(C/T)-3', was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of Escherichia coli H709c. The EcoO109I restriction-modification (R-M) system was found to be inserted between the int and psu genes from satellite bacteriophage P4, which were lysogenized in the chromosome at the P4 phage attachment site of the corresponding leuX gene observed in E. coli K-12 chromosomal DNA. The sid gene of the prophage was inactivated by insertion of one copy of IS21. These findings may shed light on the horizontal transfer and stable maintenance of the R-M system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Clinical outcome in three patients with myelodysplastic syndrome showing polyclonal hematopoiesis.

The clinical outcome of 3 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with polyclonal hematopoiesis is reported. All patients were heterozygous for the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene. The presence of polyclonal hematopoiesis was determined by the X-chromosome-linked restriction fragment length polymorphism-methylation method using the PGK gene as a marker. The patients were initially diagnosed as having refractory anemia (RA), RA with ring sideroblasts (RARS), and RA with an excess of blasts (RAEB), respectively. Their pancytopenia persisted during the follow-up period of 11.4 years for the RA patient, 19.5 years for the RARS patient and 0.8 years for the RAEB patient. Although the RARS patient continues to be in good health, leukemic transformation occurred in the other 2 patients. A karyotype change from 46,XX to 45,XX,t(3;21),-7 was observed at the time of disease progression in the RA patient. The coexistence of a monoclonal MDS clone and normal bone marrow cells is thought to be the most probable reason for the polyclonal hematopoiesis of these patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Digestibility of the hydrogenated derivative of an isomaltooligosaccharide mixture by rats.

The digestibility of the hydrogenated derivative of an isomaltooligosaccharide mixture (IMO-H) was investigated. In an in vitro experiment, the digestibility of IMO-H was examined by models of the digestive system. IMO-H was resistant to two types of alpha-amylase and to artificial gastric juice. Enzymes in the rat small intestinal mucosa hydrolyzed tri-, tetra- and higher saccharide alcohols to disaccharide alcohol, removing successive glucose units from the non-reducing ends of the chains. The hydrolysis ratio for IMO-H was intermediate between the values for maltose and maltitol. In an in vivo study, growing rats were fed on an experimental diet containing IMO-H, maltitol, or hydrogenated palatinose in the range from 5% to 20%. The growth parameters of the rats fed on the test sugar show that the availability of IMO-H was about 1.2 to 1.25 times that of maltitol or hydrogenated palatinose.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Human T cell leukemia virus type I-associated myelopathy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A case of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) with 14-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is reported. For 9 years, the numbness of the feet and sacral region progressed with occasional urinary incontinence and constipation. She was admitted to hospital due to gait disturbance and aggravation of SLE and the diagnosis of HAM/TSP was confirmed, indicating that HTLV-1 infection is associated with the development of not only HAM/TSP but also SLE.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1999

Migrated disc in the lumbar spinal canal--case report.

A 49-year-old man who had complained of back pain for 20 years presented with numbness and pain in his left leg persisting for 6 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a peripherally enhanced intraspinal mass at the L-3 level. The mass was completely removed. The operative and histological findings revealed degenerated disc fragments surrounded by granulation tissue. His symptoms were completely relieved. Migrated disc should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with a long history of back pain and an intraspinal mass.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

Cavernous angioma of the internal acoustic meatus--case report.

A 39-year-old female presented with an intrameatal cavernous angioma manifesting as hearing loss and tinnitus in the right ear which progressed over 8 months. Magnetic resonance (MR) images revealed an intrameatal lesion as ultra-high intensity, nearly as bright as cerebrospinal fluid, on the T2-weighted images, and isointensity on the T1-weighted images. Computed tomography (CT) showed the mass accompanied by stippled patterns of calcification. The patient underwent surgery under a diagnosis of calcified acoustic neurinoma. Histological studies were compatible with cavernous angioma. Intrameatal cavernous angioma is a rare disease which requires differential diagnosis from the more common neurinoma or meningioma in this location. Intrameatal lesion with ultra-high intensity on T2-weighted MR imaging and stippled patterns of calcification on CT is more likely to be cavernous angioma than acoustic neurinoma. These neuroimaging features are important information in deciding the treatment strategy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Agreement between self- and partner reports obtained by a self-administered questionnaire: medical and lifestyle information.

We examined agreement between the subjects' self- and partner-reports of such epidemiological information as medical and family history, smoking and drinking habit and physical activity. Information was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire which was completed by 224 workers (subjects) and by their partners in 1997. Agreement was assessed by calculating kappa statistic, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and per cent agreement. Per cent agreement ranged from a low of 76.2 for general life stress to a high of 98.0 for angina/myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus as present illness. Kappa values ranged from a low of 0.34 for general life stress to a high of 0.86 for smoking habit. Compared to subjects, their partners tended to report lower level of both exposures (continuous variables) and presence (dichotomous variables). The average kappa was 0.64 for wife-surrogates, whereas 0.53 for husband-surrogates. Overall, our finding suggested that partners could provide acceptable information for the concrete and directly-observable variables (e.g. such present illness as hypertension which required daily medication, or smoking/drinking habit itself), but not so for detailed/subjective variables (e.g. number of cigarettes smoked per day or general life stress).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Selective delivery of adriamycin to a solid tumor using a polymeric micelle carrier system.

The anticancer drug, adriamycin (ADR), was incorporated by physical entrapment into polymeric micelles for selective delivery to a murine solid tumor colon adenocarcinoma 26 (C 26). In vivo antitumor activity of ADR was greatly enhanced by this incorporation into polymeric micelles. Using one polymeric micelle delivery system, the tumor completely disappeared at two doses, while free ADR exhibited a fair inhibition effect on tumor growth only at the maximum tolerated dose. Biodistribution analysis revealed that the physically entrapped micellar ADR accumulated at tumor sites in a highly selective manner. These results indicate that these polymeric micelles are a promising system for delivering hydrophobic anticancer drugs selectively to solid tumor sites using a passive targeting mechanism.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[A study of the degree of burden and subjective sense of well being in care-givers involved in home care].

We investigated the degree of burden on care-givers and their subjective sense of well being, and studied the factors affecting them. Twenty people who were responsible for at least a year for constant care of elderly or bed-ridden patients under visitation care and nursing supervision of this hospital were registered. Regarding the care-givers, we investigated age, sex, duration of care, the relations between the care-givers and the cared-for, assistant care-givers, profession and hobbies, if any, of the care-givers, the depression scores; the social support, the degree of burden imposed by care, and the subjective sense of well being. As for the cared-for, we investigated their age, disease and degree of ADL. The burden felt by the care-giver became greater if the care-giver was a woman (p < 0.05), if the relationship with the cared or the health status of the care-giver was poor (p < 0.05, respectively), and if the scores for functional and emotional support networks were poor (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). As for the cared-for, the burden was greater if they were older (p < 0.05) and if it was difficult for them to leave bed (p < 0.05). The sense of subjective well being of the care-giver was greater if there was an assistant care-giver (p < 0.005); if the scores for the functional and the emotional support networks were higher (p < 0.05, respectively): and if understanding of information in terms of ADL was not adequate (p < 0.05). The present study suggested the importance of improving the emotional and functional support networks for the care-giver in helping them continue care by alleviating the burden and not suffering a loss in the subjective sense of well being.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Analysis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 gene and haplotype analysis: (CCG)1-2 polymorphism and contribution to founder effect.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 is a familial spinocerebellar ataxia with autosomal dominant inheritance. The gene responsible was recently cloned and this disorder was found to be the result of a CAG expansion in its open reading frame. We analysed 13 SCA2 patients in seven unrelated families in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. In four of the seven families, we detected CCG or CCGCCG interruptions in only the expanded alleles. Cosegregation of these polymorphisms with SCA2 patients was established within each family. Together with the results of haplotype analyses, we considered that at least two founders were present in our area and that these (CCG)1-2 polymorphisms may make analysis of founder effects easier. By sequencing analysis we found that although the number of the long CAG repeat varied in each subclone of expanded alleles, these polymorphisms did not change their configuration. This finding suggests that CCG or CCGCCG sequences are stable when surrounded by the long CAG repeat and a single CAG. Moreover, the presence of these polymorphisms may lead to miscounting the repeat size by conventional estimation using a size marker such as an M13 sequencing ladder. Therefore we should consider these polymorphisms and accurately determine the repeat size by sequencing.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

Recovery from metabolic impairments after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass: postoperative changes in arterial-venous carbon dioxide tension difference.

Arterial-venous carbon dioxide tension differences (Pv-aCO2) are known to increase during the resuscitation phase following several types of shock. We hypothesized that Pv-aCO2 increases immediately following hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) because of the metabolic impairments that occur during CPB. Fifty-six adult patients underwent hypothermic CPB for cardiac surgery. Arterial and mixed venous blood gases were analyzed every 6 hours for the first 24 hours following cardiac surgery. Immediately after surgery, the Pv-aCO2 was elevated (8.2 +/- 2.9 mmHg), but gradually returned to a normal range within 12 hours (6.2 +/- 3.2 mmHg, p < 0.001). Factors (X) which correlated significantly with the postoperative Pv-aCO2 (Y) included the minimum rectal temperature during CPB (Y= 27.3 - 0.664X, p = 0.011) and the duration of CPB (Y= 5.6 + 0.0172X, p = 0.047). The abnormally high Pv-aCO2 during the early postoperative period may be caused by metabolic impairments during hypothermic CPB. The recovery stage following open heart surgery is therefore similar to the resuscitation phase after shock.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Arterial oxygenation during one lung ventilation in obese patients].

To test the hypothesis that arterial oxygenation during one lung ventilation (OLV) is impaired more in obese patients than in non-obese control patients, we performed consecutive measurements of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) during OLV in 48 patients scheduled for pulmonary lobectomy. Minimum value of PaO2 during OLV was significantly less in 16 obese patients [body mass index (BMI) > 25] compared to 32 control patients (BMI < 25). Moreover, PaO2 value of left lung ventilation was significantly less than the value of right lung ventilation in obese patients while the difference was not statistically significant in the control group.

Aged↗