Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Akagi

Publications and source records attributed to M Akagi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Anti-allergic constituents in the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum. (I). Inhibitory effect of oleic acid on histamine release.

The chloroform extract from Ganoderma lucidum broth markedly inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. From the active fractions, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were isolated. Oleic acid dose-dependently inhibited the histamine release and 45Ca uptake into mast cells induced by compound 48/80 and A-23187 at concentrations of 5 to 50 microM and 0.5 to 5 microM, respectively. Saturated fatty acids, however, had only a weak inhibitory effect on histamine release. Although linoleic acid and linolenic acid effectively prevented this release, these two compounds caused marked release at concentrations higher than 10 microM and 20 microM, respectively. Oleic acid induces membrane-stabilization in model membrane systems. It was concluded that one of the effective constituents obtainable from the chloroform extract of G. lucidum-cultured broth is oleic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Anti-allergic constituents in the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum. (II). The inhibitory effect of cyclooctasulfur on histamine release.

For centuries, Ganoderma lucidum has been used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of chronic bronchitis. Sequential fractions of the culture medium of this plant revealed that one of the active constituents was cyclooctasulfur. The latter effectively inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells and impeded 45Ca uptake into these cells without affecting the cyclic AMP content. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that cyclooctasulfur induced some changes in protein bands obtained from the membrane fraction of mast cells, suggesting that this compound interacts with membrane proteins so as to inhibit 45Ca uptake, and that this may be the main cause of histamine release inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Decreased interleukin generation in patients with cancer of the digestive system. A correlation between interleukin 1 and interleukin 2 production.

The generating capacity of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) was measured in 40 patients with digestive cancer (20 localized and 20 disseminated) and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The localized carcinoma patients showed normal IL-1 production and a significantly depressed IL-2 production (p less than 0.05) when compared to the healthy individuals. The disseminated carcinoma patients exhibited a significant impairment of both IL-1 and IL-2 production in comparison with the healthy controls (IL-1: p less than 0.001, IL-2: p less than 0.001) and the localized carcinoma patients (IL-1: p less than 0.001, IL-2: p less than 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between IL-1 and IL-2 generation in all the cancer patients (r = 0.458, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that progressive tumor growth may result in decreased interleukin production by the host PBMNC, and that related mechanisms, which are more susceptible to lymphocytes than monocytes, may be involved in the impairment of both IL-1 and IL-2 production.

Gastrointestinal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Immunohistochemistry of human gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen detected by monoclonal antibody PA 8-15.

A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb), PA 8-15, was produced against a newly established human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, SUIT-2. With the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique, PA 8-15 MAb reacted strongly with 27 of 28 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues. All six gall bladder carcinomas and all nine biliary tract carcinomas also showed positive reactions. In addition, PA 8-15 MAb reacted with gastric carcinomas (6/10), colorectal carcinomas (7/11), and some other primary adenocarcinomas. The distribution of PA 8-15 antigen on the same tissues of pancreatic cancer was different from those of CA 19-9 and DU-PAN-2 antigens and CEA. PA 8-15 MAb stained only the epithelium of the pancreatic duct, gall bladder and bile duct in normal adult tissues, and some normal fetal glandular epithelial cells. However, PA 8-15 MAb was not reactive with inflammatory or benign tumors of the digestive system except for the epithelium, as was seen in normal adults. Reactivity of PA 8-15 MAb with tissue specimens largely disappeared after treatment with neuraminidase, while oxidation with periodate or trypsin digestion did not alter the staining intensity, indicating that antigenic determinants may be at least partly of sialylated carbohydrate nature. These results suggest that PA 8-15 MAb detects a new oncofetal antigen in gastrointestinal cancers, especially of the pancreatico-biliary tract.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A case of a lymphoproliferative disorder: usefulness of DNA analysis in diagnosis.

We describe a patient in whom a suppressor/cytotoxic T cell lymphoma was suspected on the basis of histology and immunohistochemistry. DNA analysis of specimens from three different lesions, using restriction enzymes Eco RI and Bam HI, showed the same rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain genes. We consider this technique to be of value in the early diagnosis of malignant lymphoma when differential diagnosis from other lymphoproliferative disorders is difficult with conventional methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Intrahepatic ramification of the portal vein in the right and caudate lobes of the liver.

We defined the subsegmental divisions and the ramification patterns of the portal vein in the right and caudate lobes using 25 human liver casts. The ramifications of the portal vein and the subdivisions of the liver were classified based on the major portal veins with the largest diameter and those having a diameter of not less than two thirds of the largest vein in each subsegment. The following results were obtained. (1) The portal trunk showed three ramification patterns and the basic pattern was bifurcation (80%). (2) The anterior portal vein first ramified into several anterior-inferior portal veins (P5) and ran toward the superior direction to bifurcate into 2 major portal veins in the anterior-superior subsegment (S8). (3) There were three types of ramification patterns of the portal veins in S8: bifurcation (84%), trifurcation and one-pedicle type. (4) There were also three branching types of the largest vein (P5-max) in P5: ramification from the anterior portal vein, P8-anterior vein supplying the anterior region of S8 and P8-posterior vein supplying the posterior region of S8. (5) The posterior portal vein showed two ramification patterns of the bifurcation (36%) and nonbifurcation type. (6) The major portal veins in the caudate subsegment ramified at various sites such as the portal trunk, left, right and/or other portal veins.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Role of microfilaments in the exocytosis of rat peritoneal mast cells.

When rat peritoneal mast cells were treated with the potent histamine releaser compound 48/80 in the presence of tetramethylrhodamine-labeled G-actin, the fluorescent G-actin particles were bound to the surface of extruded granules and to the cell surface. When rhodamine-phalloidin was incorporated into permeabilized rat mast cells in a Ca2+-free medium, rhodamine fluorescence was observed on the cell surface accompanied by serpentine ridges which appeared in the resting state. After perfusion with a cytosol-like solution containing Ca2+, rhodamine fluorescence appeared on the cell surface as a distinct network formation. In some cases, circular fluorescences which appeared to surround the extruded pores were observed in the cell membrane. These findings indicate the existence of actin filaments in the cell membrane and/or subplasmalemmal network. In whole-mount preparations, the granules were surrounded very densely with microfilaments of various widths. After exposure to compound 48/80, granules protruding through the cell membrane were wrapped in many filaments. The extruded granules located in the periphery of the cells were connected by many filamentous structures and disruptions in the middle of these connections were occasionally observed. In some cases, circular configurations of microfilaments were observed at the bottom of the extruded granules and in others dense gatherings of microfilaments were seen just beneath the granules, as if the latter were being pushed up and out of the cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of bronchomotor tone in anesthetized guinea pigs by impedance plethysmography: a simple method for the evaluation of bronchodilator action.

The transthoracic impedance method for measurement of bronchomotor tone was studied in anesthetized guinea pigs. Impedance change (delta Z) recorded from the 2nd to the 6th rib level increased linearly in accordance with the increment of inspirated volume (delta V); the maximum ratio of delta Z to delta V with the least cardiac artifact was measured at the level of the 6th rib. Histamine (5 micrograms/kg, i.v.) caused an increase in intratracheal pressure and a decrease in delta Z in guinea pigs. The fact that the delta Z peak lagged behind that of intratracheal pressure indicated that air flow movement was disturbed at the restricted bronchioles. In anesthetized dogs, the waveform of DC-impedance was similar to that of both flow volume and intraesophageal pressure. The waveform of AC-impedance, the signals of which are differentiated from DC-impedance, was similar to that of the flow rate. Following histamine administration (10 micrograms/kg, i.v.), the flow rate amplitude increased during inspiration and decreased during expiration. In passively immunized guinea pigs, antigen challenge induced a rapid increase in intratracheal pressure and a concomitant decrease in the amplitude of AC -impedance. Pretreatment with fenoterol (5-20 micrograms/kg, i.v.) inhibited these changes dose-dependently. It was concluded that delta Z measurement is a beneficial method for investigating respiratory dynamics in guinea pigs and is especially useful for evaluating the efficacy of bronchodilating action of test compounds.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of estrogen receptors in human breast cancer by assays using monoclonal antibodies and by the dextran-coated charcoal method.

Estrogen receptors (ER) were analyzed in 63 human breast cancers by immunocytochemical assay, and by enzyme-immunoassay, using monoclonal antibodies against human ER protein, and also by the dextran-coated charcoal method. The specific staining was observed only in the nucleus of cancer cells by the immunocytochemical assay, and the presence of nuclear staining by this assay was closely associated with the estimation of the cytosolic ER content by both the dextran-coated charcoal method and the enzyme-immunoassay. In the latter, the cytosolic ER content correspondingly increased with the nuclear ER content. Both the cytosolic and nuclear ER contents correlated well with those obtained by the dextran-coated charcoal method. Furthermore, the cytosolic ER contents obtained by the enzyme-immunoassay and the dextran-coated charcoal method correlated significantly with the age of the patient, but not with the nuclear ER contents. These above mentioned results suggest that ER is present mainly in the nucleus of breast cancer cells and that the cytosolic ER obtained by these two assays is the unoccupied one released from the nucleus.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Reduction of estrogen and prolactin receptors in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumor by high doses of estrogen.

Daily injections of 100 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol, or 250 micrograms tamoxifen, for 10 days led to a regression of the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumor. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and prolactin receptor (PRL-R) in the regressed tumor were significantly reduced in the estrogen-treated rats. ER and PRL-R were low but PgR increased significantly in the tumor of the tamoxifen-treated rats. A single administration of 100 micrograms estradiol induced a transient decrease of ER and PRL-R, and an increase of PgR, in the DMBA-tumor. Similar decreases in ER and PRL-R and the increase of PgR were observed 8 hours after the 5th injection of 100 micrograms estradiol--a time when the tumor had already regressed. These results suggest that high dose-estrogen has a direct inhibitory effect on the concentration of both ER and PRL-R in the DMBA-tumor, and that this effect might be accumulative with repeated administrations. It is unlikely that the inhibition of the estrogenic effect caused by loss of ER is the sole mechanism of the regression of the DMBA-tumor, since the increased synthesis of PgR as a marker of estrogen action was observed even after the ER-reduction and tumor-regression.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1987

Antigen reversion of glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme in carcinoma and proliferative zone of intestinal metaplasia of the human stomach. An immunohistochemical study.

Specific antibodies to three purified glycogen phosphorylase isoenzymes, i.e., brain (or fetal), muscle, and liver types, were used to study the localization of these isoenzymes in carcinoma and the proliferative zone of intestinal metaplasia of the human stomach. Both the malignant cells of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and the proliferative zone of some intestinal metaplasia of the stomach were stained when the antibrain-type phosphorylase isoenzyme antibody was used, but not when the other two types were used. The results suggest that brain-type phosphorylase in gastric carcinoma could be one example of fetal protein expression in cancer, and that the proliferative zone of some intestinal metaplasia having brain-type phosphorylase may histogenetically relate to well-differentiated adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Gastric cancer diagnosed by biopsy of the uterine cervix.

Biopsy of the uterine cervix from a 46-year-old woman who suffered from epigastric pain and weight loss showed metastatic adenocarcinoma. The primary site of the tumor was the stomach. At laparotomy, disseminated adenocarcinoma on the peritoneum and Krukenberg's tumor in the right ovary were found. A palliative partial gastrectomy, resection of the right ovary, and postoperative chemotherapy were performed. The possible mechanism of metastasis of extragenital cancer to the uterus is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Endotoxin inactivation by the humoral components in the tolerant rat serum.

A rapid inactivation of endotoxin has shown to occur following its incubation in serum obtained from endotoxin-tolerant rats with the aid of the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. The tolerant rat had large quantities of lipopolysaccharide inhibitor (LPSI) activity, which does not appear to be complement. Heating tolerant rat serum for 60 min at 56 degrees C or the addition of lead acetate to the tolerant serum both resulted in the loss of LPSI activity. This paper focuses on the most unique properties of LPSI, namely it's alteration of activity after heating or the addition of lead acetate, compared with those properties of inhibitors for endotoxin which have been previously demonstrated by a number of investigators.

Animals↗