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Biomedical subjects

K Ota

Publications and source records attributed to K Ota.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

The incidence of reflux oesophagitis after cure of Helicobacter pylori in a Japanese population.

AIM: To investigate the incidence of reflux oesophagitis after antibacterial therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in our patient population. METHODS: Subjects were 451 H. pylori-infected patients (primary symptom: peptic ulcer disease in 347, nonulcer dyspepsia in 100, and reflux oesophagitis in four): 11 of these patients had reflux oesophagitis on study entry. H. pylori infection was treated by a proton pump inhibitor/amoxycillin-clarithromycin regimen for either 7 or 14 days. Each patient was examined by endoscopy before treatment and more than 6 months after treatment to compare oesophageal findings. In addition, 227 patients were interviewed regarding reflux symptoms, using symptom questionnaires, before and more than 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Among 440 patients who did not have reflux oesophagitis prior to antibacterial treatment (340 peptic ulcer patients and 100 nonulcer dyspepsia patients), 23 patients whose infection was eradicated developed reflux oesophagitis (5.4%). The 11 patients who had reflux oesophagitis prior to treatment were all successfully cured of infection. Six of these patients showed no change in their oesophagitis, while the condition improved in three and worsened in two. Symptom scores improved in 34 of the 36 patients who reported reflux symptoms. Among 19 patients who showed persistent infection, only one developed reflux oesophagitis (5.2%), while none complained of newly developed symptoms following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Development of reflux oesophagitis after treatment of H. pylori infection was observed in a Japanese population. However, the incidence of this condition was comparable between those with persistent H. pylori infection and those in whom the infection was eradicated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Neutrophil activation in immunoadsorption.

Immunoadsorption therapy (IAT) is used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Although IAT has been reported to modify humoral immunity by inducing chemokines and activating complements, much remains unknown about the biological effects of IAT on cellular components in peripheral blood. To define the influence of IAT on leukocytes, we determined leukocyte L-selectin (CD62L) and Mac-1 (CD11b) as parameters for activation of leukocytes in peripheral blood during IAT. Peripheral leukocyte L-selectin and Mac-1 were determined continuously by flow cytometry in 6 patients with neuroimmunological disorders in whom IAT was conducted using a Plasma Flow OP-05 (Asahi Medical Corp., Tokyo, Japan) as a plasma separator and Immusorba TR-350 (Asahi Medical Corp., Tokyo, Japan) as an adsorption column. Expression of neutrophils (PMN) L-selectin was decreased 30 min after starting IAT, with the decreases particularly marked at the end of IAT, while expression of mononuclear cells (MNC) L-selectin slightly increased during IAT. Expression of PMN Mac-1 was markedly increased at the end of IAT, whereas expression of MNC Mac-1 did not change during IAT. Leukocyte counts decreased 30 min after starting IAT, and then increased to the initial level or higher in parallel with L-selectin downregulation and Mac-1 upregulation on PMN. L-selectin downregulation and Mac-1 upregulation on PMN suggested that activation of PMN associated with changes in peripheral leukocyte counts occurred during IAT and might play some role in modulating the human circulating blood and immune systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The significance of serum homocysteine levels in diabetic patients on haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic diseases are the major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients on haemodialysis (HD). Furthermore, the prognosis of diabetic patients on HD is especially poor due to atherosclerotic complications. Because homocysteine (Hcy), a sulfur-containing amino acid, is emerging as an important risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease, we examined the significance of serum Hcy levels in diabetic patients on HD. METHODS: We measured total serum Hcy levels (tHcy) in 31 patients with diabetes mellitus on HD (DM group) and 37 non-diabetic patients on HD (N group), adjusting for age and HD duration. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation of multiple variables to tHcy. RESULTS: The proportion of atherosclerotic disease in the DM group was significantly higher than in the N group. However, serum tHcy, serum creatinine and per cent creatinine generation rate in the DM group were significantly lower than in the N group. In the DM group, serum tHcy was positively correlated with creatinine, albumin and per cent creatinine generation rate, respectively. This was not the case in the N group. CONCLUSIONS: The demethylation pathway in methionine metabolism in the liver, which is linked directly to the creatinine generation system, may be disturbed in diabetic patients on HD. This may be the reason why serum tHcy and creatinine in diabetic patients on HD are lower than in non-diabetic patients on HD. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the possibility of an altered relation between serum tHcy and vessel disease when evaluating the atherogenic risk in diabetic patients on HD.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

A practical quick staining method using hydrochloric acid-fast metachromatic dye for megakaryocytes.

A specific stain using violet polymethine dye (VPM stain) for megakaryocytes was first developed by Kass (1995). We have modified this method for practical use in bone marrow specimens. The modified VPM stain labels megakaryocytes very well, while other marrow cells are poorly colorized. This staining procedure was more stable, and its color intensity was finer and clearer than the original. Using this stain, morphologic classification of megakaryocytes in bone marrow specimens from 11 normal and 8 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients was performed. Many megakaryocytes observed in MDS patients were juvenile compared with normal subjects according to their morphology. Blasts from acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (M7) and from a megakaryoblastic cell line (Mo7e) were also clearly stained with our method. This staining method is practical and very useful for rapid identification of megakaryocyte distribution and morphology.

Bone Marrow Examination↗
PubMed2000

A 10-year follow-up study of renal transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine. Japanese Cyclosporine Kidney Transplant Study Group.

AIM: In this report a 10-year follow-up of Japanese multicentre trial of renal transplantation using cyclosporine is described. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1,323 recipients, including 1,055 (79.7%) living donor (LD) transplantations and 268 (20. 3%) non-heart-beating cadaveric donor (CD) transplantations, were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Favorable results; graft survival at 1, 5 and 10 years were 95.8%, 80.9%, 56.8%, respectively, for LD, and 88.7%, 74.2%, 58.8%, respectively, even for CD, were obtained. No serious adverse reactions or complications were observed in this group of patients excepting 28 cases (2.0%) of malignant tumors. There were no cases of abnormality in 49 babies delivered during the term. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the interesting findings that graft survival of non-heart-beating CD are surprisingly as good as that of LD and the safety issues are almost equal to other available data in other countries.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Treatment with interferon-alpha 2a in a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy].

We report an adult patient with refractory chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) who resisted conventional immunological therapies but could be successfully treated with interferon (IFN)-alpha 2a. A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with progressive distal dominant muscle weakness and sensory disturbance of all extremities. He was diagnosed as CIDP based on laboratory examinations which revealed conduction block on peripheral nerve conduction studies and demyelinating findings on sural nerve biopsy. He was given several immunological treatments, including immunoadsorption therapy (IAT), oral corticosteroid, immunosuppressive agents such as cyclophosphamide and mizoribine, but without satisfactory efficacy although transient improvement of muscle weakness was observed for two weeks after IAT. A session of IAT every four weeks was therefore continued to maintain his symptoms for nine months. He was then treated with IFN-alpha 2a intramuscular injections every other day. Four weeks after starting of IFN-alpha 2a therapy, the worsening of his symptoms stopped and his muscle strength improved gradually to normal level without IAT, suggesting that IFN-alpha 2a may be effective in some patients with refractory CIDP. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of IFN-alpha 2a for CIDP.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

[Vasopressin].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

[Continuous nursing of incurable patients at home--the case of a patient with Parkinson's disease].

At the Department of Neurology and Internal Medicine at our hospital, there are 22 outpatients who are nursed at home. Their diseases are Parkinson's disease, spinal cerebellar degeneration, dementia and other diseases. The problem is how we should care for and support these patients in the future, now that the official Care Insurance System has started. We discuss how we could support such patients, through the case of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease. The patient was a 69-year-old female. In 1991, she developed Parkinson's disease, accompanied with trembling in her right upper limb. Her condition was controlled at our hospital. Is April 1999, she lost strength in her right thigh without any previous notice, so she was hospitalized for treatment. For a period, she became aggressive from hallucinations and delusions and she had to be taken care of all day. Her only daughter lived apart and her 72-year-old husband was also suffering from Parkinson's disease. In spite of such conditions, she hoped to receive home care and her husband accepted that. We asked what they would want us to do. We had meetings together with the staff of the local administration, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The report from our hospital staff says, "It may be difficult for only her family to support her. She needs other supporting systems." She came to our hospital twice a month. We made an effort to understand her condition with the help of the report of a visiting nurse. However, her illusions and delusions made it difficult even to utilize the short-stay. Her husband sometimes uses violence and says. "I can't stand this any more--her unrest, micturition at night and refusal to eat." Nevertheless, she continues to say "I want to stay at home." They have had considerable trouble. The following are necessary for home care of some patients. 1. Understanding what a patient and her family want to do. Cooperating with the staff of the administration, in consideration of the Care Insurance System. 2. Studying with incurable neurology patients using pamphlets or other materials and supporting them, 3. Discussing how to act in concert with patients at home and outpatients at the hospital involving a risk without MSW.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical cases of acquired coagulation inhibitors].

The acquired coagulation factor inhibitors are classified into alloantibodies, which appear in association with supplementary treatment for congenital coagulation factor deficiency, and autoantibodies, which are spontaneously produced. We report here 2 cases of acquired factor VIII inhibitor and 1 case of factor V inhibitor. Case 1: A 52-year-old woman noted swelling of the right parotid region in March 1988. Though contrast examination was scheduled, she was admitted for detailed examination due to a markedly prolonged coagulation time. An APTT correction test suggested that decreased factor VIII activity was due to the presence of an inhibitor. Since antinuclear antibody and SS-A antibody were positive and infiltration by lymphocytes in the salivary gland acini in a lip biopsy specimen was detected, Sjögren's syndrome was diagnosed. Case 2: A 33-year-old woman had normal delivery of her second child in February 1998. In June 1998, she suffered slight contusion in the left lower limb. The affected site became swollen and painful, making walking difficult. Since both upper limbs became markedly swollen after 1 week, she visited our hospital. Prolonged APTT and a marked decrease in factor VIII activity were observed. Factor VIII inhibitor titer was high at 19 Bethesda units. Case 3: A 64-year-old man had had asymptomatic macroscopic hematuria since the beginning of August 1998 but was placed under observation since no abnormal findings were observed on various imaging tests. However, he was admitted to Osaka City General Medical Center because of vesicular tamponade. Factor V activity was markedly decreased to 1.0%. PT correction test suggested that decreased factor V activity was due to the presence of an inhibitor. The underlying disease could not be determined in this case. In patients with acquired coagulation inhibitors, bleeding symptoms are reported to be mild in many cases, and severe bleeding is rare. However, cases of death without severe bleeding or underlying disease have also been reported, indicating that the prompt diagnosis and treatment of this condition are necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy].

We reported a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (AIDS-PML), whose condition improved after highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of worsening left hemiplegia and disturbance of consciousness. During the past 30 years, he frequently traveled to the United States and southeast Asia. On neurological examination, he was somnolent and left hemiplegia with severe rigospasticity was present. The deep tendon reflexes showed hyper-reflexes with extensor plantar responses. Laboratory studies showed pancytopenia and positive HIV-1 antibodies. The CD4 cell count was 38/mm3 and his HIV viral RNA load in the blood was 9,500 copies/ml. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed asymmetrical high intensity white matter lesions in the right fronto-parietal, and left frontal regions and in the cerebellar hemisphere. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein elevated to 91 mg/dl with a normal cell count. The diagnosis of PML was confirmed by the detection of JC virus DNA in the CSF using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Three weeks after starting HAART with zidovudine, lamivudine, and indinavir, he was able to respond to simple commands. Two months later, the HIV viral RNA load decreased to less than 400 copies/mm3, and no JC virus DNA was detected in the CSF, with an increase of the CD4 cell count to 285/mm3 in the blood. A follow-up MRI of the brain showed a reduction in the cerebellar and cerebral white matter lesions. The recovering immune function by decreasing of the HIV load after HAART might suppress JC virus replication. It was suggested that HAART would become a beneficial treatment for patients with AIDS-PML.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase is involved in PMA-induced activation of HIV-1 in U1 cells by modulating the LTR function.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced HIV-1 production in U1 cells was markedly suppressed by inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Northern blot analysis revealed that the PARP-inhibitors suppressed the virus production at a level of transcription. In order to examine the effect of PARP on transcriptional regulation of HIV-1 genes, we transfected a reporter plasmid containing HIV-1-LTR-promoted luciferase gene to L-1210 cell clones, which expressed varying decreased level of PARP. In wild type L-1210 cells, the expression of LTR-promoted luciferase gene was stimulated approximately 4-fold in response to PMA, whereas the PMA-dependent response was almost abolished in mutant cells, which expressed only 8% of PARP of the wild type cells. The effect of decrease in PARP content on the function of HIV-1-LTR was confirmed also in human wild type cells, Jurkat and J111, which were co-transfected with the reporter plasmid and a plasmid expressing a PARP-antisense RNA: Down-regulation of PARP in the cells by the expression of the antisense RNA significantly suppressed the PMA-dependent, LTR-function of the reporter plasmid in both Jurkat and J111 cells. NF-kappaB, which is known to mediate the PMA-induced activation of HIV-1 in U1 cells, was found to be activated approximately 5-fold in PMA-treated U1 cells. PARP-inhibitor, unexpectedly, did not suppress but rather stimulated (approximately 2-fold) the NF-kappaB activation. Combining the results with the finding that the LTR-function was minimum in a PARP-defective mutant cells in spite of a very high level of the activated NF-kappaB in the cells, we suggest that PARP, in addition to activated NF-kappaB, is essential for the function of HIV-1 LTR.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1999

Cloning of rat fibrillin-2 cDNA and its role in branching morphogenesis of embryonic lung.

Fibrillin-2 is an extracellular matrix protein. It is associated with elastic fibers in several tissues and is believed to serve as a ligand for alphavbeta3 integrin, the latter being a known morphogen. In this study, the role of fibrillin-2 in lung development was investigated. Also, rat fibrillin-2 cDNA was isolated and sequenced and its spatiotemporal expression determined. It had approximately 88% homology with human fibrillin-2 and had Ca(2+) binding epidermal growth factor-like domains, transforming growth factor-beta binding protein motifs, and two RGD binding sites. Northern blot analysis revealed an approximately 10-kb transcript, and fibrillin-2 expression was developmentally regulated, and it paralleled that of tropoelastin. At day 13 of gestation, fibrillin-2 was expressed in the mesenchyme and at the epithelial:mesenchymal interface. From day 13 to 19 of gestation, its expression intensified and was confined around the tracheobronchial airways, while it lessened during the postnatal period. Immunoprecipitation revealed an approximately 350-kDa band by SDS-PAGE. Treatment with fibrillin-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide induced dysmorphogenesis of the lung explants. They were smaller and had rudimentary lung bud branches, collapsed conducting airways, and loose expanded mesenchyme. Concomitantly, fibrillin-2 mRNA, antibody reactivity in the explants, and fibrillin-2-specific radioincorporation were reduced. Anti-alphav and -laminin antibody reactivity and their respective incorporated specific radioactivities were unaltered. These data indicate that fibrillin-2 modulates organogenesis of the lung in the context of epithelial:mesenchymal interactions. Conceivably, the collapse of the conducting airways may also be related to the perturbed biology of the fibrillin-2 interacting protein, i.e., elastin, the latter being critical for the normal biophysiology of the lungs.

Actins↗
PubMed1999

HIV-1 Tat protein is poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated in vitro.

Purified recombinant HIV-1 Tat protein stimulated acceptor-dependent reaction of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of the reaction products by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting with anti-poly(ADP-ribose) antibody revealed that recombinant Tat proteins were covalently modified with poly(ADP-ribose) in the enzyme reaction. Eventhough no significant effect of the modification was detected in the activity of Tat to form a specific complex with TAR (a viral transactivation response element) RNA, the present results raise the possibility that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase is involved in the regulation of HIV-1 through the modification of a virus-encoded transactivator, Tat protein.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1999

Membrane perturbing factor in reticulocyte lysate, which is transiently activated by proteases.

Proteases have been used to examine the topology of proteins on various membranes. We reexamined the conditions of protease treatment for rough microsomal membranes and found that proteinase K degraded the lumenal proteins in the presence of reticulocyte lysate. The lysate treated with either heat or N-ethylmaleimide no longer promoted the degradation. The reticulocyte dependent degradation was also observed with papain, trypsin, and elastase. This activity was transiently generated by treating reticulocyte lysate short-term with trypsin. We thus concluded that a membrane perturbing factor(s) must exist in reticulocyte which is transiently activated by protease treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

A binding protein to the DNase I hypersensitive site II in HLA-DR alpha gene was identified as NF90.

We previously observed that IFN gamma-inducible expression of the human MHC class II, HLA-DR alpha, gene was enhanced by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) only in human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells, but not in HeLa cells. In the HLA-DR alpha gene, three DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHS) are known to be present in the promoter region (DHS-I) and first intron (DHS-II and -III) and are assumed to be involved in HLA-DR alpha gene regulation. In this study, we found a binding factor which recognized a unique palindrome sequence (DHS-22) in the region of the DHS II site of the HLA-DR alpha gene in THP-1 cells and HeLa cells. The binding activity of this factor was decreased by TPA treatment in THP-1 cells, but not in HeLa cells. This binding activity was also detectable in nuclear extracts of bovine brains. Thus, we isolated the DHS-22 binding factor from bovine brain nuclear extracts and finally identified it as NF90 on the basis of molecular mass analysis of Lys-C-digested fragments and amino acid sequences of the two peptides of the trypsin-digested binding protein. The DHS-22 binding protein(s) in THP-1 cells is (are) further confirmed by reactivity to an antibody against NF90, and we have demonstrated that the GST fusion protein of NF90 interacts with DHS-22 by electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA). The mRNA of NF90 was decreased by TPA treatment in THP-1 cells but not in HeLa cells. These results suggest that the binding of NF90 to the DNase I hypersensitive site II of HLA-DR alpha gene seems to negatively regulate HLA-DR alpha gene expression.

Animals↗