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Biomedical subjects

M Imamura

Publications and source records attributed to M Imamura.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo BMT) was analysed using a semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA was increased during the development of GVHD and the degree of this increment depended on the severity of the disease. IL-2 expression was not detected at all and interferon-gamma expression was not much changed during GVHD. In patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), another transplantation-related complication, the expression of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha mRNA was increased but IL-6 mRNA expression showed little increase. These findings suggest that IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells play an important role in the development of GVHD. Furthermore, liver dysfunction due to GVHD or VOD may be distinguishable by this type of cytokine analysis. Analysis of cytokine mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may provide important information concerning the immune response and the cytokine network system in marrow transplant patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Up-regulation of IL-6-receptors by IL-3 on a plasma cell leukaemia cell line which proliferates dependently on both IL-3 and IL-6.

In this report we show that IL-3 up-regulates the expression of IL-6-receptors on a plasma cell leukaemia cell line which proliferates in response to both IL-3 and IL-6. Quantitative binding studies and Scatchard analysis revealed that HSM-2.3 has a single class of high-affinity IL-6 binding sites (200/cell, dissociation constant at the equilibrium 1.43 x 10(-11) M). After stimulation with IL-3, HSM-2.3 has 1200 binding sites. IL-6 receptor mRNA expression was detected in HSM-2.3 only after stimulation with IL-3.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Abnormal facilitative glucose transporter gene expression in human islet cell tumors.

Our previous studies have shown that increased expression of GLUT1/erythrocyte and GLUT3/brain type glucose transporter genes in human tumors is associated with cellular transformation. We have now determined the levels of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding these two glucose transporter isoforms as well as that of GLUT2/liver isoform in insulin-, glucagon-, and gastrin-secreting islet cell tumors. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA in all human islet cell tumors and normal islets examined. In contrast, GLUT2 mRNA, which is present at high levels in normal islets, was not detected in insulinomas or other types of islet cell tumors. These results imply that GLUT1 and GLUT3 are primarily responsible for glucose uptake by these tumors.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Different distribution of CA19-9 in carcinomas arising in the papilla of Vater. An immunohistochemical study.

The origin and pathogenesis of the carcinoma of the Vater's papilla were estimated by immunohistochemically analysing the distribution of CA19-9 in the tumor tissue. The material comprised surgical specimens from 29 patients with carcinoma of the Vater's papilla, 15 with carcinoma of the pancreas, 24 with carcinoma of the bile duct and two with carcinoma of the duodenum. A non-invasive adenomatous component (NAC) was shown to coexist with carcinoma of the Vater's papilla in 14 patients. Besides, normal papilla of Vater from ten autopsy cases were added as control. The presence of CA19-9 in the tissue was demonstrated by ABC method using a monoclonal antibody. The epithelia of normal pancreatic and bile ducts showed diffuse distribution of CA19-9, while at the common channel and the orifice of the papilla it was partially distributed. CA19-9 was not demonstrated in the duodenum. The NAC-positive carcinoma of the papilla of Vater showed partially distributed CA19-9. In contrast, NAC-negative carcinoma of the Vater's papilla and carcinomas of the pancreas and bile duct showed diffuse distribution of CA19-9. Moreover, the level of serum CA19-9 in most of the patients with NAC-positive carcinoma of Vater's papilla remained within the normal limit, while in patients with NAC-negative carcinoma, or with carcinoma of the pancreas or bile duct, the level was higher. Thus it was speculated that NAC-positive carcinoma of Vater's papilla may arise from the common channel, the orifice of the papilla, or the duodenum acquiring antigenicity against CA19-9 during the cancer development. On the other hand, NAC-negative carcinoma of the Vater's papilla may originate from the pancreatic or bile ducts.

Ampulla of Vater↗
PubMed1993

Improved radioimmunoassay of cholecystokinin (CCK) using OAL-656 by ethanol extraction of human plasma.

In the radioimmunoassay of human plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) using an antiserum OAL-656, it has been difficult to get stable fasting values as well as prominent postprandial increase. Therefore, we tried to extract human plasma with ethanol before the radioimmunoassay, and could solve these problems, that is fasting concentrations became stable (16.7 +/- 2.5 pg/ml) (mean +/- S.D., n = 9), and CCK concentrations were augmented promptly after feeding and were kept at higher levels for a certain period.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Chronic effects of camostate on growth and endocrine function of the pancreas in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Chronic feeding of normal rats with camostate, a synthetic trypsin inhibitor, stimulates the growth of the pancreas chiefly by increasing cholecystokinin release. We examined the effects of camostate on the growth and the endocrine function of the pancreas in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The pancreatic weight of the diabetic rats given camostate (200 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 14 days was significantly elevated by 120% over that of diabetic rats not given camostate, and was comparable to that in the nondiabetic rats given camostate. The total pancreatic contents of DNA, RNA, and protein in diabetic rats given camostate were also significantly higher than those in diabetic rats not given camostate, and did not differ from those observed in nondiabetic rats given camostate. The pancreatic growth seen in diabetic rats treated with camostate was associated with moderate hyperplasia and pronounced hypertrophy. By contrast, treatment with camostate did not improve hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, or low pancreatic content of insulin seen in diabetic rats. These findings demonstrate a marked growth of the pancreas in diabetic rats stimulated by camostate, and suggest that camostate-induced pancreatic growth is not affected by the reduced level of the endogenous insulin. The present study also indicates that camostate has no beneficial effects on the function of residual B cells, failing to improve diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Further study of Schellong testing in 152 young females].

Orthostatic dysregulation (OD) generally implies a systemic condition indicating poor circulatory function resulting from autonomic imbalance, which usually appears in a rather young population at or around puberty, predominantly in females. This condition can be recognized from the results of a questionnaire which has been proposed and prepared by the Pediatric OD Study Group of Japan as diagnostic criteria for OD. Schellong testing has also been developed as a screening method to determine OD or orthostatic hypotension. We carried out a survey and analyzed data collected with the questionnaire and Schellong test results among 152 young normal females ranging in age from 18 to 21 years in order to obtain the actual prevalence of OD in these subjects. Among 152 young normal females, 39 (25.7%) were confirmed to have OD based on the questionnaire. Although orthostatic dizziness was relatively common in this series of young females, regardless of the presence or absence of OD (90/152, 59.2%), this symptom, which is listed as one of the 5 major items on the questionnaire, was much more prevalent in subjects with OD (37/39, 94.9%). Similar prevalence patterns for fatigability or unexplained tiredness were also found in subjects with OD (28/39, 71.8%) when compared with total subjects (55/152, 36.2%). As for the positive rate of the Schellong test, subjects with and without OD showed 33.3% and 31.3%, respectively, and this difference was not statistically significant. There was, however, a highly significant difference in the fall in systolic pressure during the Schellong test procedure between subjects without OD and 10 subjects with OD in whom orthostatic dizziness frequently occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

In vitro expansion of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells in liquid cultures for bone marrow transplantation: effects of stem cell factor.

In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant stem cell factor (SCF), when used in combination with interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-3 and IL-1 plus IL-3, promoted the expansion of immature murine hematopoietic progenitor cells in liquid cultures. In cultures with IL-1 plus IL-3 plus SCF, high proliferative potential-colony forming cells (HPP-CFC) increased 7-8-fold compared with the increase in fresh bone marrow cells, while SCF alone had no effect on the expansion of HPP-CFC. SCF also increased the numbers of colony forming unit-spleen (CFU-S) cells in combination with IL-1 plus IL-3. Transplantation of bone marrow cells cultured with IL-1 plus IL-3 plus SCF resulted in reconstitution of hematopoiesis in lethally irradiated mice earlier than transplantation of fresh bone marrow cells. These results raised the possibility that in vitro expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells, carried out with SCF in combination with IL-1 and IL-3 in liquid cultures, can be utilized in bone marrow transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Loco-regional immunotherapy with OK-432 and cultured autologous lymphocytes for patients with metastatic cancer].

Metastases from breast or gastrointestinal cancers have been treated loco-regionally with immunotherapy using OK-432 and cultured autologous lymphocytes since 1983. Response rate for patients with liver, lung, or pleural metastases from breast cancer was 57%, 53%, 90%, respectively, and for those with liver metastases from gastric or colo-rectal cancer was 31% or 29%. Survival of the patients with liver, pleural metastases from breast cancer, or with peritoneal seeding from gastric cancer was prolonged when compared with historical controls. Immunotherapy was one of significant prognostic factor to prolong the survival in patients with pleural effusion from breast cancer, with Stage IV breast cancer, or with peritoneal seeding from gastric cancer. Moreover, concomitant regression of non-treated metastatic sites after the response of treated disease was often observed especially in breast cancer patients with both liver and bone metastases or with Stage IV disease. Thus, loco-regional immunotherapy can show a systemic beneficial effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Preventive measures against HIV infection].

It is reported that approximately 900 persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are present in Japan. Among them, almost 300 persons developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, we have to assure that more persons infected with HIV or patients with AIDS, which are not registered, appear to exist even in Japan like in other countries. Accordingly, it is just a matter of time for us to treat them in any hospital. At the present time when the curable treatment for AIDS has not been established, it is important to prevent further infection of HIV by spreading the proper knowledge on HIV and AIDS to many medical doctors, nurses, and other medical staffs as well as peoples. Medical staffs are needed to possess a better understanding of the disease status and the treatment. There is no need to have a overreaction to HIV infection and AIDS, since the route of infection and the source of infection are really restricted as in the case of hepatitis B or C virus.

HIV Infections↗
PubMed1993

[Two cases of acute eosinophilic pneumonia with precipitating antibody against Trichosporon cutaneum and Trichoderma viride].

Two cases of acute eosinophilic pneumonia are described. The patients presented with an acute febrile illness, dry cough, severe hypoxemia and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. Total cell count and the number of eosinophils were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The TBLB specimen showed eosinophilic infiltration of alveolar walls and spaces. Precipitating antibodies against Trichosporon cutaneum and Trichoderma viride were noted in the patients' sera, and environmental provocation tests gave positive results. The clinical features of acute eosinophilic pneumonia resemble those of summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. From these results, we consider that there is a certain degree of overlap between the two diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Bone marrow transplantation for hematological diseases in Hokkaido--June 1985 to December 1991.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was started in Hokkaido in 1985. In the present report we have reviewed the clinical outcome of patients treated with BMT for hematological diseases in Hokkaido. Fifty-eight allogeneic and 19 autologous transplants were registered by December 1991. The underlying diseases consisted of 47 leukemias, 14 lymphomas, 10 aplastic anemias and six myelodysplastic syndromes. Among the allogeneic BMT cases, 55 were human leucocyte antigen (HLA) identical and three were mismatched. Among the autologous BMT patients, two received their marrow purged with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide and five, with monoclonal antibodies and complements. The conditioning regimens used for malignancies were chiefly cyclophosphamide (CY) plus total body irradiation, or busulfan plus CY. In many cases, cytokines were used for rapid recovery of decreased leukocytes. Engraftment was observed in 50 out of 52 evaluated allogeneic and 18 out of 19 autologous transplants. Ten allogeneic patients suffered from severe acute graft-versus-host diseases (GVHD), and extensive chronic GVHD appeared in 16 patients. Relapses were observed in four cases of allogeneic BMT and six of autologous BMT. The major complications were interstitial pneumonitis (IP) and severe infections. Long-term survival rates were almost 60% in both allogeneic and autologous transplants. Mild acute GVHD and limited chronic GVHD increased the survival rates. The results indicated that substantial problems such as GVHD, IP and relapses must be controlled in the near future for an improved outcome to be made possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Transarterial immuno-chemotherapy including adoptive transfer of autologous cultured lymphocytes for stage IV breast cancer patients with locally-advanced tumor].

Immuno-chemotherapy via a catheter in the subclavian artery using sequential treatment with OK-432, chemotherapeutic agents (ADM, 5-FU), and cultured autologous lymphocytes, was performed for 9 Stage IV breast cancer patients with locally-advanced primary tumor. Tumor reduction of more than 50% was observed in 8 patients including 4 whose breast tumors had disappeared. Among 11 evaluable distant metastatic lesions, 7 (1 pleural effusion, 2 lung, 2 liver, 2 bone metastases) regressed after local immunotherapy of breast or additional regional immunotherapy (1 lung, 1 liver, 1 pleural effusion). Median survival time to date is 56 months. Five patients are currently alive, although 3 of them did not undergo mastectomy. Local immuno-chemotherapy may be useful because (a) toxicity is limited, (b) low doses of anti-cancer agents during the therapy (median dose of ADM, 60 mg) do not limit subsequent systemic chemotherapy, and (c) distant metastases often regress concomitantly with the primary lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A novel nonmuscle alpha-actinin. Purification and characterization of chicken lung alpha-actinin.

Two distinct alpha-actinin-like proteins were detected in chicken lung extract by immunoblot analysis with monoclonal antibodies against alpha-actinin. The mobilities of these proteins on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are very close (approximately 100 kDa). On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 6 M urea, however, one of the proteins migrates at 115 kDa and is clearly separated from the other protein (105 kDa). The 115-kDa protein was purified and shown to have at least three unique amino acid sequences which were not detected in other kinds of alpha-actinins: one locates at the extreme NH2-terminal region, and the others locate at the COOH-terminal half region. Immunoblot and proteolytic cleavage analyses revealed that the 115-kDa protein has structural divergence at the COOH-terminal region that includes Ca(2+)-binding EF-hand motifs. Falling-ball viscometric studies showed that although the 115-kDa protein-induced gelation of F-actin is sensitive to Ca2+, the gelation activity of the 115-kDa protein is much higher than that of Ca(2+)-insensitive gizzard alpha-actinin regardless of Ca2+. This indicates that the 115-kDa protein is distinct from other nonmuscle alpha-actinins by its Ca2+ sensitivity.

Actinin↗
PubMed1992

Complete primary structure and tissue expression of chicken pectoralis M-protein.

M-Protein (165 kDa) is a structural constituent of myofibrillar M-band in striated muscle. We generated a monoclonal antibody which recognized a 165-kDa protein from chicken pectoralis muscle in immunoblot analysis and stained the M-band under immunofluorescence microscopy. By screening a lambda gt11 cDNA library from chicken embryonic pectoralis muscle with this antibody, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding the M-protein. Northern blot analysis showed that M-protein mRNA is expressed in pectoralis and cardiac muscle but not in gizzard smooth muscle or non-muscle tissues. Moreover, the anterior latissimus dorsi muscle, which consists almost exclusively of slow fiber types, contains no detectable levels of the mRNA. The full-length cDNA sequence predicted a 1,450-amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 163 x 10(3). The encoded protein contains several copies of two different repetitive motifs: five copies of fibronectin type III repeats are in the middle part of the predicted molecule, and two and four copies of the immunoglobulin C2-type repeats are located toward the NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal regions, respectively. This indicates that M-protein, along with other thick filament-associated proteins such as C-protein, twichin, and titin, belongs to the superfamily of cytoskeletal proteins with immunoglobulin/fibronectin repeats.

Amino Acid Sequence↗