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Biomedical subjects

K Okubo

Publications and source records attributed to K Okubo.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Interleukin-13 expression in the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is an IgE mediated atopic disease characterized by elevated levels of allergen specific IgE antibodies that play a central role in mediating allergic reactions. Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is a novel T-cell-derived cytokine that shares several functional properties with IL-4 and has been demonstrated to be capable of inducing IgE synthesis. The present study was designed to investigate the expression of IL-13 gene in the epithelial compartment of the nasal mucosa of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) to house dust mite, comparing it with that in the nasal epithelial compartment of chronic infectious rhinitis (CIR) patients and normal volunteers (NV). We also investigated the IL-13 gene expression in the peripheral blood of PAR patients. Nasal scrapings were collected from the inferior turbinate of patients undergoing conchotomy surgery and from outpatients, and the mRNA expression of IL-13 was analyzed by the RT-PCR method. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by density-gradient centrifugation and the expression of IL-13 gene was examined by the RT-PCR method. IL-13 expression at protein level and its cell source were analyzed by immunohistochemistry of inferior turbinate biopsies. The levels of total serum IgE and allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the serum were estimated by the PRIST and CAP RAST method, respectively. IL-13 gene expression was detected in the epithelial compartment of the nasal mucosa of 18/19 PAR patients but was undetected in normal volunteers and CIR patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Cytokines of nasal inverted papilloma: quantification and distribution].

We previously found that an increased number of mucosal mast cells accumulated in the tumor site of nasal inverted papilloma as well as in the epithelial layer of the allergic nasal mucosa. However, the mechanism of accumulation of mucosal mast cells has not yet been clarified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytokines produced by inverted papilloma cells, which would be important for the accumulation of mucosal mast cells. We found that the supernatant of the monolayer of cultured inverted papilloma cells contained GM-CSF, IL-6 and IL-8. IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 and IL-5 were not detected. Contrary to the quantities of cytokines detected in the supernatant of cultured allergic nasal epithelial cells, the quantities of IL-6 and IL-8 were greater in the supernatant of cultured inverted papilloma, whereas that of GM-CSF was less. Immunohistochemical study revealed the distribution of cytokines: GM-CSF was detected near the basement membrane of the tumor site, while IL-6 and IL-8 were detected in the superficial layer of nasal inverted papilloma. Interestingly, the tumor site near the basement membrane is also the site of accumulation of mucosal mast cells, suggesting that GM-CSF produced by nasal inverted papilloma cells may be one of the most important factors in the accumulation of mucosal mast cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Surgical treatment of apical invading lung cancer].

Operative technique and long-term results of seventeen patients with apical invading lung cancers were evaluated. External radiation therapy was administered preoperatively in all but one. Thirteen lobectomies, three wedge resections and one pneumonectomy were performed with combined resections of chest wall (and adjacent structures) 12, vertebra 3, brachicephalic vein 2, subclavian artery 1, lower part of brachial plexsus 3, sympathetic trunk 2 and phrenic nerve 1. Chest walls were reconstructed with marlex meshes in 5, the subclavian artery and one brachiocephalic vein were with artificial grafts. Operations were considered relative curative in 10, relative non-curative in 2 and absolutely non-curative in 5. Absolutely non-curative operations were due to cancer-positive stump of brachial plexus in the apex in four and metastatic lymph node invading aorta in one. Over all five-year survival rate was 35.3% and median survival was 20 months. Five-year survivals in patients with curative operations and non-curative operations were 60% and 0%, respectively, and the former was significantly higher. Surgical margin is a large factor for long-term result and invasion to the brachial plexus is thought to be a limiting factor for surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[A case of mediastinal fibrosarcoma].

Mediastinal fibrosarcoma is rare and comprises only 0.18% of mediastinal tumors. A case of mediastinal fibrosarcoma is reported. A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of chest oppression. Computed tomogram and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an anterior mediastinal tumor expanding beneath the diaphragm. The tumor invaded the pericardium, the left lung and the diaphragm, so extensively resected. The resection was non-curative because of the presence of bloody pericardial effusion and maligant stump of the pericardium. Pathological examination showed fibrosarcoma. Although she recovered well postoperatively, she died with recurrence of the tumor, especially direct oppression of the heart, 8 months after the operation. In this case adjuvant chemotherapy did not effective and noncurative operation did not improve the prorhylaxis.

Female↗
PubMed1995

[Two cases of Kniest dysplasia--ocular manifestations].

We report ocular findings from 2 children with Kniest dysplasia. Both eyes of the 2 patients had abnormal long axial length causing high myopia, and vitreoretinal degeneration. The vitreous cavity of case 1 (a 15-year-old boy) which contained fibrous clouded membranous structures floating in the retrolental space and dense opacity at the temporal-inferior portion, was optically empty. Case 2 (a 7-year-old boy) had cortical and posterior subcapsular opacity of the lens, and also veil-like vitreous opacity in the periphery. Their common retinal changes were characterized as perivascular lattice degeneration and white without pressure in various degrees. They have not yet shown cataract or retinal detachment which needs surgical treatment, but close ophthalmological follow up will be necessary for their favorable prognosis. The literature on vitreoretinal degeneration such as Wagner's disease or Stickler syndrome may indicate the relation of Kniest dysplasia to similar diseases. Because they might have different clinical courses and visual prognosis according to the original biosynthetic disorders, we emphasized the importance of orthopedic diagnosis regarding such vitreoretinal degeneration with constitutional bone diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin combination chemotherapy-added radiation therapy for advanced esophageal cancer--a case report].

Cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin combination chemotherapy added radiation therapy was performed for the treatment of 62-year-old male patient with advanced esophageal cancer who had liver cirrlosis. After the treatment, esophageal lesion disappeared. Only minimal side effect occurred during the treatment. Biochemical modulation chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy is useful for advanced esophageal cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1995

[Generation of tumor necrosis factor alpha by human nasal epithelial cells and inhibition by fluticasone propionate].

Accumulation of mast cells and eosinophils in the nasal epithelial layer occurs in nasal allergic reaction, However, the mechanism of accumulation of these cells has not yet been well clarified. We hypothesized that cytokines generated from the nasal epithelial cells contributed to the accumulation of these cells in the nasal epithelial layer. Recently tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was shown to promote polymorphonuclear neutrophils and eosinophils migration. And also TNF increased eosinophil binding to vascular endothelial cells. In this in vitro study we examined whether or not nasal epithelial cells can produce TNF-alpha and also whether or not glucocorticosteroid fluticasone propionate (FP) can modulate TNF-alpha production from nasal epithelial cells. Nasal epithelial cells constitutively produce TNF-alpha in accordance with the nasal epithelial cells' number and this was substantially increased in the state of nasal epithelial cell's proliferating. FP significantly reduced the level of TNF-alpha in the supernatant of cultured nasal epithelial cells for a period of 6 days. In addition, preincubation of nasal epithelial cells with FP for 6 days caused significant reduction of TNF-alpha level in the supernatant of cultured nasal epithelial cells during a further period of 6 days without FP. These data support the concept that structural cells play an active role in the control of allergic and related inflammatory processes.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Vagal efferent nerve-dependent inhibitory action of pancreatic polypeptide and peptide YY in conscious rats: comparison with somatostatin.

The release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and peptide YY (PYY) is regulated by the vagal nerve, and the inhibitory effect of these peptides on pancreatic exocrine secretion shows indirectly via a neural mechanism. To determine the role of the vagal nerve on the inhibitory action of these peptides on the pancreas, we compared the effect on the pancreatic response to bile and pancreatic juice diversion in conscious rats with and without vagotomy. We also studied this response in rats treated with capsaicin, because bile-pancreatic juice diversion is the most potent endogenous stimulation of pancreatic secretion in conscious rats. In addition, since somatostatin potently inhibits of pancreatic enzyme secretion, the effects of PP and PYY were compared with somatostatin. An intravenous infusion of 2.5 nmol/kg per h of PP and PYY significantly inhibited the pancreatic responses of bile and pancreatic juice diversion in animals with an intact vagal nerve and in those treated with capsaicin, whereas the same dose of peptides failed to inhibit pancreatic secretion in vagotomized rats. Somatostatin inhibited pancreatic secretion under all conditions tested. We concluded that the inhibitory action of PP and PYY on pancreatic secretion is fully mediated by the vagal efferent nerve although other multiple mechanisms are involved for the inhibitory action of somatostatin.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Chromosomal assignments of 3'-directed partial cDNA sequences representing novel genes expressed in granulocytoid cells.

Large scale cDNA sequencing of 3'-directed cDNA libraries allows the collection of hundreds of novel sequences (gene signatures) and understanding of their expression levels in various tissues. Granulocytoid cells were induced from the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line 60 (HL60) with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and more than 1000 gene signatures were collected from a 3'-directed cDNA library of the granulocytoid cells. By selecting appropriate sequences for primer design, we systematically assigned chromosomes of these novel gene signatures by means of the polymerase chain reaction. We used a monochromosomal hybrid cell panel DNA as the template and localized 155 gene signatures to individual chromosomes. The results showed that 125 of them were assigned to single chromosomes and 30 to more than one. Genes assigned to more than one chromosome tend to be expressed ubiquitously, and their sequences are often conserved among humans and rodents. A highly sensitive laser fluorescent analyzer and ethidium staining were used for simple and large-scale PCR mapping.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The addition of 5'-coding information to a 3'-directed cDNA library improves analysis of gene expression.

Large-scale sequencing of a 3'-cDNA library permits one to analyse gene expression profiles in various tissues. However, many such sequences lack enough information about the encoded proteins. To overcome this problem, we tested a new library, consisting of a 3'-directed cDNA sequence fused to a to a 5' sequence of about 300 bp. Such 'joint molecules' of about 600 bp were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. About 40% of these joint molecules included the 5' and 3' terminal portions of the mRNA, and most of the remaining clones contained the middle portion and 3' end of the mRNA. The upstream sequences contained sufficient information with which to search for similarity, ORFs, motifs and hydropathy, thus allowing the mRNAs to be categorized and their functions predicted. The rapid categorization of the cDNAs will help to sort those clones that merit further analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Chromosomal assignment of HepG2 3'-directed partial cDNA sequences by Southern blot hybridization using monochromosomal hybrid cell panels.

Large-scale sequencing of a 3'-directed cDNA library from the human liver cell line HepG2 has generated several hundred species of cDNA gene signatures, about 85% of which identify novel genes. They are useful molecular landmarks for human genome mapping. We used 160 of these novel signatures as probes for Southern hybridization to human DNA. We then identified the copy number of the corresponding genes and assigned them to chromosomes, with reference to monochromosomal hybrid cell mapping panels. The distribution profile of the expressing genes among chromosomes suggested that the expressing gene density is not uniform.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The use of overlapping and tailed short primers in the chromosomal assignment of short cDNAs by the polymerase chain reaction.

For the PCR-based chromosomal assignment of very short cDNA fragments specifically designed primers are required. We tested primers with very short core sequences that are identical or complementary to known cDNA sequences, with or without tails at the 5' ends. The lower limit of the core length for PCR using human chromosome templates was 14 nucleotides (nt) when they have tails. The minimal length of the tail was 2 nt when it was attached to the 5' end of a 14-nt core. In the absence of a tail, 15 nt are needed for the core to act properly. The overall size of the short cDNA fragments that could be assigned was further reduced by using a pair of primers that overlap at the 3' ends. The limits of the free energy of overlap were about -1.9 kcal/mol at 45 degrees C, -2.9 kcal/mol at 50 degrees C and -4.5 kcal/mol at 55 degrees C. A combination of these features in a primer pair allowed cDNA fragments as short as 30 nt to be assigned.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A human cDNA sequence homologue of bovine phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein.

Sequencing of about 1000 3'-directed cDNA clones from the human HepG2 cell line revealed that about half of them represent transcripts of abundantly or moderately expressed genes, about 70% of which are novel. We identified one of these clones as encoding the human homologue of bovine phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗