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Biomedical subjects

M Arai

Publications and source records attributed to M Arai.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Maternal drinking and smoking and the risk of birth defects].

Maternal drinking or smoking and the risk of birth defects was studied in a case-control study, performed on 1,789 babies, born between 1990 and 1992 in the Tokai University hospital, and their mothers. The findings were as follows: The proportion of maternal drinking before or during pregnancy was higher in the mothers of children with birth defects (odds ratio 2.2; 95% confidence intervals 0.5-8.9). However, this difference was not statistically significant. Maternal smoking, defined as 11 or more cigarettes per day before pregnancy, was 13.5% in the mothers of children with birth defects, compared to 6.7% in the mothers of controls (odds ratio 2.2; 95% CI 0.6-7.4). This difference was not statistically significant. A total of 78 classified deformities were reported in the 52 children with birth defects, of which 24.4% were associated with maternal drinking and 16.7% were associated with maternal smoking, respectively. A significant association was found between premature birth and mothers who reported drinking during pregnancy (odds ratio 3.3 95% CI 1.1-10.9). The frequency of spontaneous abortion was higher among mothers who reported both drinking and smoking during pregnancy. In addition the frequency of complications during pregnancy was higher. Analysis of factors related to birth defects showed that the risk for birth defective infants was higher for mothers above 35 years of age than for those under 35 (p < 0.05). This study supports an association between maternal drinking during pregnancy and infant birth defects, but does not implicate maternal smoking because the number of mothers who smoked during pregnancy was too small to be of significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[A case of adenoid cystic carcinoma manifesting Garcin's syndrome--effectiveness of cerebrospinal fluid ferritin as a tumor marker in malignant CNS involvement].

We reported a 69-year-old man exhibiting Garcin's syndrome caused by adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right submandibular gland. The patient first experienced abnormal sensations in his right cheek, and the cranial nerves on his right side gradually became affected. He was admitted for hoarseness and dysphagia. Physical examination revealed a right submandibular mass, and neurological examination revealed that the first cranial nerve and the fifth to twelfth cranial nerves on the right side were affected. Laboratory examination showed a rise of both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ferritin, suggesting an intracranial invasion of the submandibular tumor. But other tumor markers, CSF protein and cell counts, CSF pathologic study and radiological studies for the central nervous system (CNS) were all negative. A submandibular tumor biopsy revealed adenoid cystic carcinoma. The radiation therapy, including the skull base, provided relief of the patient's symptoms, the tumor was reduced and serum and CSF ferritin level decreased. It is possible that CSF ferritin is a sensitive marker for CNS involvement of malignant tumor because of its permeability of the blood brain barrier and the absence of correlation between serum and CSF.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Measurement of serum neuron-specific enolase levels after subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage].

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is an enzyme involved in glycolysis and has a gamma-subunit. It is localized in neurons and axonal processes, and escapes into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid at the time of neural injury. In this study, the serum NSE levels in cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and intracerebral hemorrhage (HIH) were measured. The subjects were 20 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (mean age; 53.4 +/- 14.5, 12 men and 8 women) and 20 with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (mean age; 57.9 +/- 13.6, 11 men and 9 women). Although the serum NSE levels of all of these patients were measured on admission, measurement in patients with SAH were serially measured for an additional three weeks. There was no correlation between the serum NSE levels on admission in patients with SAH and consciousness level or clinical grade on admission, or prognosis. However, in Fisher's CT group 3 or 4, patients showed significantly higher levels of NSE than patients in group 2. Seven patients in whom vasospasm was observed by cerebral angiography during the course of treatment demonstrated elevated serum NSE levels from the 5th to the 15th days. In cases of HIH, there was also no correlation between the serum NSE levels from admission and consciousness level on admission or prognosis. However, the relationship between the size of the hematoma and serum NSE level on admission was significantly higher in patients in whom the maximum diameter was 5cm or more in comparison to those in whom the maximum diameter was less than 5cm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1994

[Alcoholic liver cirrhosis].

In alcoholic liver disease, it is well-known that ethanol and its metabolites induce hepatic fibrosis. With progress in injury, the accumulation of extracellular matrix, which consists of type I, III, IV collagen and laminine, occurs in the area of hepatic central vein and perihepatocytes. In these fibrotic areas, the activated lipocytes (transitional cell and myofibroblast, etc), which may be transformed from Ito cell by fibrogenic cytokines, are increased and may play an important role in the progression of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis. Actually, a recent study indicates that chronic ethanol consumption sensitizes the response of lipocytes to TGF beta. It is observed that acetaldehyde and lactate stimulate collagen production and that acetaldehyde increases collagen mRNA expression and collagen gene transcription in cultured human fibroblast. The extracellular matrix is degraded by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The collagenase activity is decreased in progression of liver cirrhosis and is regulated by fibrogenic cytokines. Acetaldehyde decreases by 50% of the collagenase mRNA expression in fibroblast. It is clear that hepatic fibrosis may progress under the balance of collagen production and degradation, which are associated with fibrogenic cytokines. Thus, in the search for mechanism of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis, it is important to elucidate how ethanol and its metabolites influence the activation of lipocytes through fibrogenic cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Peripheral blood T cell subsets as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

The present study was carried out to find out whether or not peripheral blood T cell subsets predict the prognosis of a gastric cancer patient preoperatively. In this retrospective study, we used preoperative T cell subset data from 34 patients with advanced gastric cancer who had been treated by resection. T cell subsets were measured by single color flow cytometry before surgery. Multivariate analysis, using the Cox proportional hazard model, was adjusted to the CD3 cell count, disease stage, the CD16 cell count and the CD4/CD8 ratio, and suggested CD3 cell count (chi 2 = 4.95, P = 0.026) and disease stage (chi 2 = 9.32, P = 0.002) to be statistically the most independent prognostic factors. Using the hazard ratio, the relative risks of the worst versus the best prognosis were 24.3 for the CD3 cell count and 10 for disease stage. For patients with more than 1483 CD3 positive cells, a longer than average survival time can be expected. The prospective hazard ratio (lambda (t)/lambda 0(t)) of an arbitrary gastric cancer patient can be calculated using the following expression: log(e) (lambda (t)/lambda 0(t)) = -0.00127 (CD3 cell count-1483) +2.31186 (Stage-0.606), where Stage III is assigned a value of 0 and Stage IV a value of 1. The survival curve of an arbitrary gastric cancer patient can also be predicted.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Specific expression of the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene (NF1) in the hamster Schwann cell.

The gene responsible for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) has sequence homology to the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) and demonstrates GAP activity against ras p21. To study tissue-specific and/or tumor-specific expression of the NF1 gene product, now called neurofibromin, immunostaining and immunoblotting were applied to the N-nitroso-N-ethylurea (ENU)-induced Syrian hamster neurofibromatosis model using polyclonal antibodies against the NF1 fusion protein and a synthetic peptide. Strong expression was observed specific to the Schwann cells of the normal peripheral nerves by immunostaining. Neoplastic Schwann cells showed specific binding of anti-NF1; however, the frequency of positive cells was diminished. Immunoblotting also revealed positive expression of the 250-kd NF1 gene product in the brain, the normal peripheral nerves, and 7 of 14 ENU-induced neurofibromas. Although ENU-induced melanoma and Wilms' tumor were negative for neurofibromin, foci of Schwannian differentiation in both primary and transplanted melanomas were positive. These results suggest that neurofibromin plays some role in differentiation and growth regulation of the Schwann cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Within-day and between-day quality control of white blood cell differential by moving-average method].

Since its first appearance several years ago, automated blood cell analyzers capable of calculating white blood cell (WBC)-differential by flowmetric system have been widely accepted. Although these analyzers are fast and reliable, any other suitable quality control (QC) methods than Levey-Jennings (X) method have not been established yet. In this report, we provide evidence that Bull's moving-average (MA) method is extremely useful for within-day and between-day QC of WBC-differential assayed with flowmetric NE-7000 system. Monocyte(Mon) content in the control blood cells used in X method were varied among each lot, and the percentage of neutrophil(Neu) showed a tendency to decrease, while the percentage of Mon and basophil(Bas) showed a tendency to increase during storage. On the other hand, real-time QC of WBC-differential was enabled by the MA method that calculated mean value of each batch consisting of twenty samples. Within-day and between-day coefficient of variation (CV%) of WBC-differential controlled by the MA method was ranged from 5.0 for Neu to 12.5% for eosinophil(Eos) in patients' samples, and from 2.37% for Neu to 11.57% for Mon in healthy adults' samples. Therefore, we set up the limit of CV% for QC of WBC -differential by the MA method as follows: 10% for Neu, 20% for Lymphocyte, 30% for Mon, 20% for Eos and 20% for Bas. In addition, we report our experience of one occasion when sudden decrease of Mon to below the lower limit of the CV% was indicated by the MA method and suitable adjustment was made at once. The change was not detected by X method. In conclusion, the MA method is applied to real-time, daily and weekly/monthly QC of WBC-differential.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Expression of human epidermal growth factor and its receptor of the gastric carcinomas with special reference to DNA ploidy patterns and nucleolar organizer regions].

In 68 cases of surgically resected gastric carcinomas, expression of human epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) were examined immunohistologically using the Avidin-Biotin Peroxidase Complex Method, and their relation with DNA contents and nuclear protein synthesis in the tumor progression were studied by measuring DNA ploidy patterns and nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), respectively with cytofluorometry and AgNO3 stain method. EGF and EGFR expression were respectively found only in 2 (7%) and 1 (4%) in 28 early cancers, and significantly increased in advanced cancers, 25 (63%) and 9 (23%) out of 40 cases. The ratio of aneuploid tumor and the NORs numbers per tumor cell also increased in advanced cancers, compared with in early cancers. EGF and EGFR respectively expressed in 19 (51%) and 9 (23%) in 37 aneuploid cancers, significantly more frequent than 8 (26%) and 1 (3%) in 31 diploid cancers. In the EGF-positive tumors, the NORs numbers showed 4.11 +/- 0.72, significantly higher than 2.68 +/- 0.61 in the EGF-negative tumors. These results suggested that expression of EGF and EGFR in the gastric carcinomas increases during the tumor progression from the early to advanced stage, stimulates synthesis of DNA and nuclear protein, and consequently enhances (strengthens, heightens, or intensifies) the proliferative activity of the tumors.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1994

[A case of oligomeganephronia--quantitative measurement of the glomerular surface area and the number of glomeruli with a color image analyzer].

We report here a nine-year-old boy with oligomeganephronia. The patient had proteinuria and morphometric analysis of the renal biopsy specimen confirmed the diagnosis of oligomeganephronia. We employed a color image analyzer (OLYMPUS Corp.) to determine the glomerular surface area and the number of glomeruli per mm2 of the renal cortex of the patient. All the scanned glomeruli showed marked hypertrophy; the mean maximal surface area for the 5 glomeruli was 46 x 10(3) microns 2, which is approximately 4 times larger than that of normal children of the same age. The number of glomeruli per mm2 of the renal cortex of the patient had decreased to 1. 11 per mm2, which is approximately one fourth that of normal controls with IgA glomerulonephritis. The color image analyzer proved to be useful for the diagnosis of oligomeganephronia enabling the quantitative measurement of the glomerular surface area and the number of glomeruli per mm2 of the renal cortex.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of in vitro mineralization in osteoblastic cells and in mouse tooth germ by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

We have examined the effect of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) on the in vitro mineralization during cultivation of both osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and the lower molar tooth germ from mouse embryo. PIPLC not only caused the release of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) from cell membranes into the culture medium but also produced a disturbance of in vitro mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells and in mouse embryonic tooth germ. These findings strongly suggest that ALP, functioning as an ectoenzyme, is involved in the physiological mineralization process of both bone and teeth.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition by the protein kinase inhibitor HA1077 of the activation of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils.

The effect of an inhibitor of protein kinase, HA1077 [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine HCl], and its hydroxylated metabolite, HA1100, on the activation of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils were studied. Cells were preincubated with each drug for 10 min and then activated by treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP). After activation, the rate of superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c was estimated. HA1077 and HA1100 inhibited the PMA-induced production of O2- by neutrophil NADPH oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 15 and 24 microM, respectively). The sensitivity of the FMLP-induced production of O2- to these drugs was similar. The production of O2- in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-treated HL-60 cells, which differentiated to macrophage-like cells, was also inhibited by the drugs. The extent of inhibition by HA1077 was almost the same as that by a calmodulin inhibitor (W-7) and by inhibitors of protein kinase (H-7 and H-8). In a cell-free lysate of neutrophils, the NADPH-dependent production of O2- can be induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). HA1077 at 100 microM had only a weak inhibitory effect on the cell-free, SDS-induced production of O2-, an indication that HA1077 inhibits the activation of NADPH oxidase, not the actual activity. The effects of H-7 and H-8 were similar to that of HA1077, whereas W-7 inhibited the production of O2- by the cell-free extract of HL-60 cells. This action of HA1077 could explain, in part, its ability to protect neuronal cells from death after ischemia.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of the neuroimmune protein F5: localization to the dendrites and perikarya of mature neurons and the basal aspect of choroid plexus epithelial cells.

F5 was identified originally as an interleukin-2-regulated gene in L2 cells, a murine helper T-lymphocyte clone. In adult mouse, F5 mRNA was expressed at a modest level in lymphoid tissues, at a high level in mature neurons in the nervous system, but not in other tissues. Although the F5 sequence is highly conserved over evolution, the function of the F5 protein is unknown. In the present studies, the putative F5 protein-coding region was translated in vitro using a reticulocyte lysate system and in Escherichia coli, yielding a protein with the predicted molecular weight of 42 kDa. Polyclonal rabbit anti-F5 antibody was generated against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of the F5 protein. This antibody specifically recognized recombinant F5 protein. Western blot studies demonstrated a strongly-reactive 42-kDa band and a faint 39-kDa band in extracts of adult mouse brain regions, the levels of which paralleled F5 mRNA expression. Immunoperoxidase studies of adult mouse brain demonstrated F5 immunoreactivity in neuronal perikarya and dendrites but not axons. Neurons expressing the highest levels of F5 protein corresponded to those with the highest levels of F5 mRNA. Choroid plexus epithelial cells also exhibited strong reactivity localized to their basal aspect. These observations suggest that the F5 protein, expression of which appears to be regulated predominantly at the RNA level, may be involved in the maintenance of the functional or anatomic polarity of neurons and choroid plexus epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Visualization of the morphology of purple membrane surfaces by monoclonal antibody techniques.

A monoclonal antibody technique for determining the surface morphology of the purple membrane (PM) has been developed. Two types of antibodies for distinguishing the extracellular surface and the cytoplasmic surface of PM were produced by immunizing the corresponding synthetic peptides to mice. The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method was employed to form a single-layer two-dimensional array of PM fragments on an electron microscope grid. The LB film was then treated with the antibodies which had been labeled with colloidal gold particles. Electron microscope observations visualized the morphology of the two surfaces of PM to be rough and smooth regions, respectively; thus the orientation of PM fragments was determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Appearance of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the upper layers of the rat superior colliculus after eye enucleation.

The effects of retinal deafferentation on a calcium-binding protein, calretinin, in the upper layers (superficial gray layer and optic nerve layer) of the rat superior colliculus were examined. In intact rats and on the ipsilateral side of unilaterally eye-enucleated rats, the superficial gray layer and optic nerve layer contained a few dispersed calretinin-immunoreactive cells. On the contralateral side to the enucleation, the number of immunostained cells in the superficial gray layer and optic nerve layer was increased. These findings suggest that retinal deafferentation results in an increase in contents of calretinin in some cell bodies within the upper layers of the superior colliculus.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1993

Neurofilament mRNA is reduced in Parkinson's disease substantia nigra pars compacta neurons.

Lewy bodies are filamentous neuronal inclusions characteristic of Parkinson's disease, and neurofilament triplet proteins are the major components of the filaments in Lewy bodies. Since the neurofilament proteins found in Lewy bodies are abnormally phosphorylated and partially degraded, the formation of Lewy bodies may be due to the defective metabolism of these proteins, and this could lead to impairments in the structure and function of neurofilament rich neuronal processes (i.e., large caliber axons). To gain further insights into the metabolism of neurofilaments in Parkinson's disease, we evaluated neurofilament mRNA levels by semi-quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry in postmortem tissues from Parkinson's disease and control subjects. Substantia nigra pars compacta neurons were examined with digoxigenin-UTP labeled cRNA probes to the heavy and light neurofilament mRNAs. The relative abundance of these mRNAs was measured by videodensitometric image analysis of chromogenic reaction product. Using this approach, we demonstrated that the levels of both heavy and light neurofilament mRNAs were reduced in Parkinson's disease substantia nigra pars compacta neurons. Additionally, the levels of heavy neurofilament mRNA were lowest in Lewy body containing neurons in the Parkinson's disease cases. These results suggest that the formation of neurofilament-rich Lewy bodies in substantia nigra pars compacta neurons is associated with reduced levels of the heavy and light neurofilament mRNAs in Parkinson's disease. Thus, it is possible that the accumulation of abnormal neurofilament proteins in Lewy bodies and diminished neurofilament mRNAs contribute to the degeneration of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons in Parkinson's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of somatostatin and its analogue on proliferation of human epidermoid carcinoma cells in vitro.

Somatostatin (SS) and its analogue inhibit the growth of some human tumors in vivo. Surprisingly, we found that SS-14 and its analogue (SMS 201-995) exhibited unexpected proliferative effects on two lines of cells, A431 and KB human epidermoid carcinoma cells, in vitro. The level of intracellular cyclic AMP, an important second messenger that controls the growth of A431 cells, was unaffected in A431 cells by either SS-14 or SMS 201-995. In contrast, SS-14 (20 nM) and SMS 201-995 (10 nM) reduced the level of intracellular inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate rapidly but transiently.

Binding, Competitive↗