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Biomedical subjects

K Uchida

Publications and source records attributed to K Uchida.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Light- and temperature-dependence of the melatonin secretion rhythm in the pineal organ of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica.

To identify the characteristics of the oscillator located in the pineal organ, we examined the effects of temperature and light on melatonin secretion rhythm using pineal organs in cultures. At 20 degrees C, the melatonin rhythm was obvious: low secretion during the daytime and high during the nighttime. When the temperature was lowered from 20 to 10 degrees C, the melatonin rhythm disappeared. When the temperature was returned from 10 to 20 degrees C, the rhythm quickly reappeared. The plasma melatonin level was measured in living lampreys kept at 7 degrees C to establish the melatonin profile at low temperature in vivo: secretion was not significantly different between daytime and nighttime. Under continuous light conditions, the melatonin elevation normally seen during the subjective night became obscure after 72 h. When the LD cycle was shifted by 6 h (phase-advanced or phase-delayed), the melatonin rhythm shifted to remain in the same phase relation to the LD cycle. This re-synchronization took several LD cycles. The results indicate that, in cultures, the melatonin secretion rhythm in the pineal organ of the lamprey is both light- and temperature-sensitive, and that in vivo, the melatonin rhythm is not the critical factor maintaining the locomotor activity rhythm of the lamprey. The role of the pineal organ and melatonin in the circadian organization of the lamprey is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and phylogenetic analysis of canine beta-casein.

A canine beta-casein cDNA was isolated from mammary tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate primers. It encodes 250 amino acids protein containing the conserved sequence motif of beta-casein. It showed the highest homology with snow-leopard (Uncia uncia (55-62% identity). It also showed 44-53% identity with human, 33-42%, identity with mouse, 29-37%, identity with rat, 43-53% identity with rabbit, 41-48% identity with pig, 44-51% identity with cattle and 44-50% identity with sheep. A 1.2-kb mRNA was detected in mammary tissue by Northern blot analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that canine beta-casein formed a branch with lesser panda and snow leopard, which were grouped into carnivore.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Cyclooxygenase expression in the gallbladder.

The COX expressions were evaluated separately in the epithelium and in the stroma of gallbladder cancer, chronic cholecystitis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) and the normal gallbladder. In normal gallbladder COX-2 expression rate was significantly higher in the epithelium than in the stroma. The COX-2 expression rate in the epithelium of non-cancerous adjacent epithelium to cancerous lesion was significantly lower than those not only of cancer, but also chronic cholecystitis, XGC and normal gallbladder. In stroma, the COX-2 expression rate in cancer, chronic cholecystitis and XGC were significantly higher than that of the normal gallbladder. The rate in non-cancerous adjacent stroma to cancer is significantly lower than that of cancer and XGC. However, the difference of rate between of normal and of chronic cholecystitis was not significant. The COX-2 expression rates were significantly higher in both the epithelium and the stroma in the well and moderately differentiated cancer group than in the poorly and undifferentiated cancer group. Our results suggest that COX-2 expression in the gallbladder may be regulated by various factors and not directly related to carcinogenesis. The significance of its repression in the non-cancerous adjacent tissue to cancer lesion should be re-evaluated.

Cholecystitis↗
PubMed2000

[Intrascrotal tumors: a clinicopathologic study of 15 cases].

PURPOSE: We reviewed cases of intrascrotal tumors treated at our institution except for germ cell testicular tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1977 to 1998 (22 years), 120 cases of intrascrotal tumors treated at the University of Tsukuba. Of these, 15 cases (12.5%) were not germ cell testicular tumors. The patients' ages varied between 2 and 77 years with a mean of 49.6. RESULTS: The most common complaint regarding symptoms was painless testicular enlargement. Tumor weight ranged from 2 to 200 g, with an average of 104.6 g. The histological diagnoses of 15 patients were 8 malignant lymphomas, 2 paratesticular rhabdomyosarcomas, 2 metastatic tumors (origin; stomach and prostate), 1 epidermoid cyst, 1 cyst of tunica testis, and 1 adenomatoid tumor. As for the cases with malignant lymphoma, all of them were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma whose clinical stages were stage I in 2 cases and stage IV in 6 cases. Five 8 patients died in spite of systemic chemotherapy after an orchiectomy, whereas 2 cases with metastatic tumors died of primary cancer, and two cases with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma are still alive and have had no evidence of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Intrascrotal tumors except for germ cell testicular tumors are not common, and consist of various diseases. In particular, some kinds of malignant lymphoma mimic anaplastic seminoma histopathologically. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and precise treatment is important in the patient with intrascrotal tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

In vitro antifungal activity of a novel lipopeptide antifungal agent, FK463, against various fungal pathogens.

The antifungal activities of FK463 against various pathogenic fungi were tested by standard broth microdilution methods, and compared with the activities of five currently available antifungal agents; viz., fluconazole (FLCZ), itraconazole, miconazole, amphotericin B and flucytosine. Fourteen clinical isolates of Candida albicans categorized as FLCZ susceptible, FLCZ susceptible-dose dependent and FLCZ resistant were similarly susceptible to FK463 with geometric (GM) MIC values of 0.010, 0.011 and 0.015 microg/ml, respectively. All of 17 clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus were inhibited by FK463 at 0.0078 microg/ml or lower concentrations. The antifungal activity of FK463 against a wider range of medically important yeasts and filamentous fungi were studied using stock fungal strains. While Cryptococcus, Trichosporon, Fusarium, Pseudallescheria and Alternaria species or zygomycetes were scarcely or not inhibited by 16 microg/ml of FK463, two Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata), as well as all species of Aspergillus, Paecilomyces and Penicillium, were highly susceptible with GM-MICs of < or = 0.008 microg/ml. The other fungal species including several non-albicans Candida were less susceptible with GM-MICs ranging between 0.016 and 2 microg/ml. MICs of the reference drugs were within the range thus previously reported. These results suggest that FK463 be of use in the treatment of serious fungal infections.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2000

Development of an oral drug delivery system targeting immune-regulating cells in experimental inflammatory bowel disease: a new therapeutic strategy.

Several studies have indicated the involvement of macrophages and dendritic cells in active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Manipulation of these cells is considered a very important therapeutic strategy for patients with IBD. We evaluated the effect of a new drug delivery system targeting microfold cells and macrophages with poly(DL-lactic acid) microspheres containing dexamethasone (Dx). Colitis was induced in BALB/c mice by 5% dextran sodium sulfate. Dx microspheres (n = 10) and only Dx (n = 10) were orally administered to dextran sodium sulfate-treated mice. Thereafter, serum levels and tissue distributions of Dx were investigated. To estimate the efficacy of this drug delivery system, we measured the histological score, myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide production, and gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interferon-gamma in the colonic tissue. Serum Dx levels were not increased after oral administration of Dx microspheres. The tissue distribution of microspheres containing (125)I-labeled Dx in inflamed colon was significantly higher than in other organs. The histological score, myeloperoxidase activity, and nitric oxide production of the group treated with Dx microspheres were significantly lower than of those treated with Dx alone. Gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interferon-gamma were down-regulated in mice treated with Dx microspheres. Microspheres containing glucocorticoids such as Dx, which target microfold cells and macrophages, can facilitate mucosal repair in experimental colitis and could be an ideal agent for treatment of human IBD.

Administration, Oral↗
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

Development of a kinetic assay for band 5b tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in serum.

BACKGROUND: Band 5 tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TrACP; EC 3. 1.3.2) consists of two isoenzymes, bands 5a and 5b, of which band 5b TrACP is considered to be derived from bone. However, no kinetic method for the specific measurement of band 5b TrACP in serum is available. Our aim was to develop a kinetic assay method for the specific measurement of band 5b TrACP in serum. METHODS: Band 5b TrACP was measured kinetically in serum as tartrate-resistant fluoride-sensitive heparin-resistant ACP with 2, 6-dichloro-4-acetylphenyl phosphate as substrate at pH 6.6. RESULTS: Heparin inhibited band 5a TrACP but had no effect on band 5b TrACP in serum or in bone extract. The presence of EDTA or ascorbic acid had no effect, but dithiothreitol inhibited enzyme activity. The within-run (n = 20) and between-run (n = 20) CVs of band 5b TrACP activity were 3.3-5.8% and 5.0-7.3%, respectively. The mean +/- SD values of band 5b TrACP activity in males (n = 25) and females (n = 57) 20-29 years of age by this method were 8.0 +/- 2.2 U/L and 6.4 +/- 1.8 U/L, respectively. The band 5b TrACP value was significantly higher in females >50 years of age compared with the younger subjects (20-29 years). The highest band 5b TrACP values were among children younger than 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: This kinetic assay is a simple and specific method for the measurement of band 5b TrACP in serum samples and is useful in the evaluation of bone turnover activity.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2000

[Protective efficacy of BCG Tokyo 172 in the guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis].

BCG Tokyo 172 strain was examined for its protective efficacy against pulmonary tuberculosis in a guinea pig model. Guinea pigs were vaccinated with an intradermal injection of 10(3) CFU of BCG Tokyo 172 strain. BCG Copenhagen 1331 was employed as a control strain. Eight weeks after the vaccination, the animals were infected with about 10 CFU of M. tuberculosis H37Rv by a respiratory route in an aerosol chamber. Five weeks after infection, the animals were euthanized and their spleens, lungs and livers were obtained for enumeration of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and histopathological examinations. The mean log10 CFU of M. tuberculosis H37Rv recovered from right lower lung lobes of guinea pigs vaccinated with BCG Tokyo 172 (frozen), BCG Tokyo 172 (freeze-dried), BCG Copenhagen 1331 (freeze-dried) and placebo were 4.72, 4.23, 4.35 and 5.76, respectively. The mean log10 CFU of the bacteria recovered from spleens were 2.11, 1.51, 1.37 and 5.90, respectively. There was a significant difference in bacterial recovery from both lung and spleen between the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated groups. No significant difference was seen among the groups vaccinated with different strains of BCG in any organ. The lungs exhibited just small granulomatous nodules and the spleens showed no granulomatous nodules in the BCG-vaccinated guinea pigs. On the other hand, the lungs and spleens from non-vaccinated guinea pigs showed much larger granulomatous nodules with central necrosis. These histopathological difference between the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated guinea pigs was consistent with the difference of bacterial growth between them. The results of this study have clearly indicated that BCG Tokyo 172 strain possesses a significant protective efficacy against M. tuberculosis as well as BCG Copenhagen 1331 strain. These results have also shown that the respiratory infection model in guinea pigs is very useful to evaluate efficacy of vaccines against pulmonary tuberculosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Anesthetic management for neonates with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation].

We experienced two cases of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. The first case with type I CCAM underwent the resection of the right upper lobe 8 days after birth. Postoperative course was uneventful. The second case with type III CCAM developed non-immune hydrops, severe mediastinal shift, and polyhydroamnios at 29 weeks' gestation. At 30 weeks' gestation, cesarean section was performed. Immediately after birth, the resection of lung tumor for the neonate was performed. However, the neonate died on the 1st postoperative day.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2000

Lipid peroxidation and peroxynitrite in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether lipid peroxides play a role in retinal cell death due to ischemia-reperfusion injury, whether recombinant human thioredoxin (rhTRX) treatment reduces production of lipid peroxides of the retina, and whether such treatment reduces the number of cells expressing c-Jun and cyclin D1. METHODS: Retinal ischemia was induced in rats by increasing the intraocular pressure to 110 mm Hg for 60 minutes. After reperfusion, immunohistochemical staining for lipid peroxide, peroxynitrite, c-Jun, and cyclin D1 and propidium iodide (PI) staining were performed on retinal sections from animals treated intravenously with and without rhTRX, a free radical scavenger. Quantitative analyses of PI-, c-Jun-, and cyclin D1-positive cells were performed after the ischemic insult. Concentration of lipid peroxides in the retina was determined by the thiobarbituric acid assay. RESULTS: Specific immunostaining for lipid peroxides was seen in the ganglion cell layer at 6 hours after reperfusion, in the inner nuclear layer at 12 hours, and in the outer nuclear layer at 48 hours. Time course studies for PI-positive cells in the three nuclear layers coincided with those of specific immunostaining for lipid peroxides. The specific immunostaining was weakened by pre- and posttreatment with 0.5 mg of rhTRX. The number of PI-, c-Jun-, and cyclin D1-positive cells and the concentration of lipid peroxides were significantly decreased by treatment with rhTRX compared with those of vehicle-treated control rats (P: < 0. 01). CONCLUSIONS: Lipid peroxides formed by free radicals may play a role in neuronal cell death in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed2000

[A case of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection causing a buccal abscess complicated with multiple lung abscesses].

A 51 year-old man fitted with a dental prosthesis was hospitalized with buccal swelling, fever and chest pain. Laboratory data showed marked inflammatory changes, and chest radiography and CT scanning revealed small nodular shadows within the lung. A diagnosis of multiple lung abscesses secondary to a buccal abscess possibly caused by the prosthesis was made from needle aspiration biopsies of the lung nodules and of a buccal lesion. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from these lesions and from a blood culture. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and by surgical drainage of the buccal abscess. It is important to note that the patient was immunodeficient at the time as a result of diabetes and alcohol intoxication.

Abscess↗
PubMed2000

A case of pulmonary arteritis with stenosis of the main pulmonary arteries with positive myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies.

A 53-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with the main symptoms of productive cough, fever and exertional dyspnoea. Chest X-ray revealed enlargement of the left hilar shadow and cavitary infiltration in the right upper lobe. 99mTechnetium-macroaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) perfusion scintigram showed complete hypoperfusion through the entire right lung. A pulmonary angiogram revealed stenotic lesions in the right and left main pulmonary arteries. Right cardiac catheterization showed an elevated right ventricular systolic pressure. There was no evidence of systemic arterial lesions nor vasculitis. The patient was positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) (168 EU). The Mycobacterium avium complex sputum culture was positive. The pulmonary stenotic lesions were surgically resected. The resected pulmonary arterial lesions were pathologically diagnosed as non-specific vasculitis. The cavitary lesion disappeared 6 months after the surgery. Two years after the surgery, although the MPO-ANCA level had decreased to 12 EU, stenosis of the pulmonary arteries reappeared. It is suggested that the patient became positive for MPO-ANCA in association with the Mycobacterium avium complex infection, and that the presence of MPO-ANCA may not be related to the development of pulmonary stenosis of the main pulmonary arteries.

Angiography↗
PubMed2000

[Usefulness of arousals for the detection of sleep breathing disorder].

Because of the difference of sensitivity among measurement techniques, upper airway obstruction events cannot always be scored as apnea or hypopnea. We hypothesized that arousal accompanied with breathing disturbance is a more sensitive index for the diagnosis of sleep breathing disorders than others. We studied 75 patients with sleep breathing disorder by polysomnograph. Breathing disturbance related arousal (B-Ar) was defined as an arousal accompanied with at least one of the following (apnea, hypopnea, more than 4% oxygen desaturation, snoring), and the breathing disturbance indices were compared. There were close relationships between B-ArI and apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (DI), and percent of total sleep time with SpO2 below 90% in all patients (r = 0.93, r = 0.58, r = 0.92, respectively, all p < 0.001). In 25 patients whose AHI was below 20 per hour, no relationship between B-ArI and AHI was found, and B-ArI was significantly greater than AHI. Thus, B-ArI seemed to be more sensitive than AHI. In all 6 patients whose AHI was below 10, B-ArI was lowered decreased by continuous nasal positive airway pressure therapy. These results suggest that B-ArI may be more sensitive in the detection of sleep breathing disorders than the other indices when AHI is below 20 per hour.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Dramatic improvement of severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by corticosteroids despite lack of antipneumocystis therapy in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

A 30-year-old Thai man was admitted to our hospital complaining of general fatigue, pyrexia, dyspnea, and a productive cough. He was in serious respiratory failure and had a PaO2 of 45.9 Torr in room air. Chest radiography showed marked infiltration of both lungs. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was ruled out by a negative test for HIV antibody. He was given corticosteroids including methylprednisolone mini-pulse therapy and antibiotics. This therapy improved his condition and his radiological picture dramatically without antipneumocystis therapy. Bronchoscopy was performed and the transbronchial lung biopsy revealed PCP. On re-examination for HIV-1 antibody, the result was positive. Western blot analysis yielded a definite diagnosis of HIV-1 infection. Our experience strongly supports previous reports that advocated corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy for moderate to severe PCP associated with AIDS and gives us the significance of corticosteroids.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗