Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Kitagawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Kitagawa.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

The diagnostic value of serum pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in pancreatic diseases.

The diagnostic significance of serum immunoreactive pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was studied in 119 patients with pancreatic disease, 200 with various non-pancreatic disease, and 203 healthy controls using radioimmunoassay (RIA) specific to human pancreatic PLA2. This newly developed RIA using monoclonal antibody was satisfactorily sensitive and reliable. Serum PLA2 was elevated in all six patients with acute pancreatitis. Frequency of abnormal serum PLA2 levels was 60% in chronic pancreatitis (n = 52) and 67% in pancreatic cancer (n = 61). Serum PLA2 levels were low in chronic pancreatitis with severe exocrine insufficiency and advanced pancreatic cancer. In chronic pancreatitis, patients with low serum PLA2 level showed lower enzyme output in secretin test than patients with normal or high serum PLA2 level. Frequency of abnormal PLA2 levels was 27% in non-pancreatic disease and, in particular, patients with renal failure showed high PLA2 levels. Sensitivity (62%) and efficiency (69%) of serum PLA2 assay in pancreatic disease were superior to those of amylase. In conclusion, serum PLA2 determination using RIA was useful for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis by high serum PLA2 levels and the diagnosis of severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency by low serum PLA2 levels.

Amylases↗

Aberrant pancreas is not susceptible to alcoholic pancreatitis.

Three cases of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis associated with aberrant pancreas are reported. All three patients underwent laparotomy, and an aberrant pancreas was found in the jejunum of each of the three patients. Microscopic examination of the aberrant pancreas did not show any changes suggestive of chronic pancreatitis, despite severe chronic pancreatitis in the main pancreas.

Adult↗

Neoplastic argentaffin cells with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic granules in a gastric adenocarcinoma.

A case of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach with unique histological features is reported: in addition to characteristic adenocarcinoma cells, a large number of tumor cells contained bright eosinophilic and argentaffin granules in their cytoplasm. On routine histologic examination, the latter cells closely resembled the endocrine cells present in the normal human gastrointestinal tract, although the granules were distributed throughout the cytoplasm and did not show any polarity, which is usually subnuclear in normal endocrine cells. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated positive staining for lysozyme, CEA, gastrin and HCG. Electron microscopic examination revealed cytoplasmic neurosecretory granules, and some tumor cells were found to contain both secretory granules and mucinous material within the same cytoplasm. These neoplastic endocrine cells presumably originated from primitive digestive system elements capable of differentiating towards both endocrine and mucus-secreting varieties.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Risk determination in cases with an extra minute chromosome: prenatal diagnosis.

The interpretation of an extra minute chromosome (EMC) detected in utero presents both diagnostic and prognostic problems. Two EMC cases are presented and a flow-chart guideline is proposed for the determination of developmental risk. A prenatally detected EMC was familially inherited through a normal phenotype father. The pregnancy was continued and a normal baby boy was delivered. At one year his development was within normal ranges. The second EMC case was a mentally retarded girl examined at 4 years and 7 months of age. The EMC was identified with a combination of various staining techniques to be an inversion duplication (15). The importance of differential diagnosis of EMCs by DA/DAPI staining is emphasized.

Adult↗

Antiviral activity of oxetanocins against varicella-zoster virus.

Several new nucleosides with an oxetanosyl-N-glycoside group, named oxetanocins, were evaluated for their antiviral activities against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in human embryo lung cells. 9-(2-deoxy-2-hydroxy-methyl-beta-D-erythro-oxetanosyl)guanine (OXT-G) and 9-(2-deoxy-2-hydroxymethyl-beta-D-erythro-oxetanosyl)-2- aminoadenine were effective against not only thymidine kinase-positive (TK+) VZV (YS strain) but also thymidine kinase-negative (TK-) VZV (YSR strain), whereas carbocyclic OXT-G was effective against TK+ VZV but not against TK- VZV. [3H]OXT-G was incorporated into TK+ VZV-infected cells and TK- VZV-infected cells more than into mock-infected cells and was converted into the triphosphate form.

Adenine↗

Expression of ClpB, an analog of the ATP-dependent protease regulatory subunit in Escherichia coli, is controlled by a heat shock sigma factor (sigma 32).

Escherichia coli K-12 produces at least two ATP-dependent proteases, Lon (La) and Clp (Ti), the latter consisting of a regulatory subunit (ClpA) and a proteolytic subunit (ClpP). The gene clpB encoding an analog of ClpA had been found at 57 min on the E. coli chromosome. Cloning and examination of novel heat shock promoters led us to identify a major clpB promoter specifically controlled by a heat shock sigma factor, sigma 32 (the rpoH [= htpR] gene product). beta-Galactosidase synthesis from a PclpB-lacZ operon fusion was transiently induced upon temperature shift from 30 to 42 degrees C, and the induction depended on the rpoH function. Chromosomal clpB transcripts also increased upon temperature upshift and were totally absent in the rpoH deletion strain. In the in vitro transcription experiments, the clpB promoter was specifically recognized and transcribed by RNA polymerase-sigma 32. Nucleotide sequencing and determination of mRNA start sites permitted us to identify a major heat shock promoter located upstream of the clpB coding sequence. The results clearly indicate that clpB expression is under direct control of sigma 32. Since ClpP was recently shown to be a sigma 32-dependent heat shock protein, the present finding suggests the possibility that a potential ATP-dependent protease, ClpB-ClpP complex, plays an important role against thermal stress in E. coli.

ATP-Dependent Proteases↗

Susceptibility of neonatal lipoproteins to oxidative stress.

We compared peroxidizability of neonatal and adult lipoproteins exposed to oxidative stress initiated by an azo-compound. Oxygen uptake showed a two-phase pattern, with slow oxygen uptake in the first phase and faster uptake in the second phase. During the first phase, tocopherol was consumed progressively, inhibiting lipid peroxidation by scavenging peroxy radicals. After the tocopherol concentration fell below a critical level, extensive propagation of chain oxidative reactions produced the rapid oxygen uptake in the second phase. In the first phase of neonatal lipoprotein oxidation, a faster oxygen uptake was observed and the length of this phase was shorter than in adults. The oxygen uptake rate in the second phase was smaller in the neonatal lipoproteins. In other words, neonatal lipoproteins were more susceptible to oxidative stress than were adult ones when tocopherol remained in lipoproteins, but after tocopherol depletion the reverse was true. These results were consistent with the finding that in neonatal lipoproteins the tocopherol/lipid ratio was significantly lower (length of the inhibitory phase was closely correlated to the lipoprotein tocopherol content). In addition, the average number of active bisallylic hydrogen atoms, which are considered to determine the relative susceptibility of polyunsaturated fatty acids to oxidation, was significantly smaller (oxygen uptake rate in the second phase was closely correlated to the active bisallylic hydrogen number) in neonatal lipoproteins, and the ratio of active bisallylic hydrogen to tocopherol content (which closely correlated to oxygen uptake rate in the first phase) was also significantly lower compared with the adult ratio. Under physiologic conditions, an intensive oxidation of lipoproteins sufficient to cause lipoprotein tocopherol to fall below critical levels is unlikely to occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Aryloxy acetic acid diuretics with uricosuric activity. I. Polycyclic aryloxy acetic acids.

In order to obtain lead compounds for uricosuric diuretics, various polycyclic aryloxy acetic acids [isoindole derivative (7), quinazoline derivative (15), benzopyran derivative (20), xanthone derivative (24), benzofuran derivative (30) and indene derivative (36)] were prepared. These compounds were evaluated for diuretic activity in rats, uricosuric activity in rats and antihypertensive activity in 11-deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)/salt hypertensive rats. Among the compounds, 20 showed potent diuretic, uricosuric and moderate antihypertensive activities. Therefore, we selected 20 as a lead compound for development of new uricosuric diuretics.

Acetates↗

Aryloxyacetic acid diuretics with uricosuric activity. II. Substituted [(4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)oxy]acetic acids and the related compounds.

Di- and tri-substituted [(4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)oxy]acetic acids, and 4-oxo-3-phenyl-4H-furo[2,3-h]-[1]benzopyran-8-carboxylic acid were synthesized and tested for natriuretic and uricosuric activities. Among the compounds tested, 3,5-disubstituted [(4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)oxy]acetic acids (6c-f, h, n and x) showed potent natriuretic and uricosuric activities, whereas 4-oxo-3-phenyl-4H-furo[2,3-h][1]benzopyran-8-carboxylic acid (6dd) possessed only potent natriuretic activity. The structure-activity relationships are also discussed.

Benzopyrans↗

Exocrine pancreatic function in chronic liver diseases.

To confirm the respective influence of chronic alcoholism and liver disease on exocrine pancreatic function in cholecystokinin secretin (CS), tests were performed on patients with chronic liver cirrhosis (LC) and non-cirrhotic (nLC) disease of alcoholic (A) and nonalcoholic (nA) etiology. Results were compared in four subgroups (ALC, N = 26; AnLC, N = 45; nALC, N = 18; and nAnLC, N = 43). Volume of duodenal juice and bicarbonate output (BO) were increased and maximal bicarbonate concentration was decreased in ALC, compared with those in normal controls. Comparison of LC and nLC indicated that the volume, BO, and amylase output (AO) were greater in LC than in nLC of alcoholic etiology, but not in those of nonalcoholic etiology. The initial disappearance rate (KICG) of indocyanine green (ICG) excretion correlated with a parameter of CS test in alcoholic liver disease (vs. volume: r = -0.51, p less than 0.01 vs BO: r = -0.40, p less than 0.01), but not in nonalcoholic liver disease. Concurrent chronic pancreatitis with pain and definite exocrine insufficiency was observed in only one ALC patient and in four AnLC patients, but in none of the nonalcoholics. In alcoholic liver disease, exocrine pancreatic secretion tends to increase with severity of liver damage, but concurrence of definite chronic pancreatitis is not correlated with the severity.

Amylases↗

[A prospective trial of the mass survey for pancreatic cancer using serum markers and ultrasonography].

We designed a prospective trial of the mass survey for pancreatic disease, especially pancreatic cancer in consecutive 2576 subjects undergoing periodical health examination during 1989. In order to detect abnormality of the pancreas we measured serum amylase, elastase-1 and SPan-1 as serum markers and used ultrasonography (US). When abnormal elevation of serum markers or abnormal findings of US were obtained at the first screening, re-examination or further examination using ERCP, CT and endoscopic US were performed. Frequencies of elevated amylase, elastase-1 or SPan-1 were 0.9%, 3.4% or 1.7%, respectively. However, no pancreatic diseases were detected among the cases of elevated serum markers after subsequent further examination. Frequency of abnormal US findings of pancreas were 2.3% (59/2576), including dilatation of main pancreatic duct, cystic lesion, space occupying lesion and calcification. Subsequent further examinations on subjects with abnormal US revealed 8 cases of pancreatic diseases including one small pancreatic cancer. US may be an efficient tool of mass survey for pancreatic cancer in the health examination at present.

Adult↗

[Prolonged erythrocytic T activation, depression of blood group A and increase of fetal hemoglobin in a myelodysplastic syndrome evolving into erythroleukemia].

T cryptantigen can be exposed on the red cell membrane as a result of removal of terminal glycosides, either by bacterial enzymes or by incomplete synthesis of the cell membrane due to somatic mutation, usually caused by a neoplasm. T-activated erythrocytes have been observed in different pathologies, but they have not been seen associated with other abnormalities of red blood cell proteins described in myelodysplastic syndromes or acute leukaemias. A patient with initial diagnosis of refractory anaemia that evolved into erythroleukaemia showed prolonged T-activation, a depressed A blood-group antigen and an increase of foetal haemoglobin, simultaneously. The evolutive pattern of T-activation suggests more an abnormal erythropoiesis than an enzymatic effect and a certain relationship with the haemolytic syndrome.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Small cell carcinoma of the stomach: a clinicopathologic study of 17 cases.

Of 17 cases of small cell carcinoma of the stomach, three were early and 14 were advanced. Grossly, the tumors were mostly polypoid at the early stage, and as they advanced, deep ulcerations developed. Histologically, only one tumor was "oat cell type," and the other 16 were "intermediate cell type." With regard to tumor components, five were "pure" tumor, and 12 were "composite" admixing glandular and/or squamous differentiation. Argyrophil cells were seen in eight tumors. Immunohistochemically positive cells for chromogranin, neuron-specific enolase, and keratin were seen in 12, 10, and 7 tumors, respectively. Carcinoembryonic antigen was negative in the small cell component of most tumors as opposed to strong positivity in the glandular component. Electron-dense core granules were evident in seven of nine tumors examined. These findings suggest that histologic variety is quite characteristic of the small cell carcinomas of the stomach, and this type of carcinoma takes an aggressive clinical course like its counterparts in other organs.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Analysis of ferritin immunostaining in testicular tumors].

Localization of ferritin in testicular tumors was studied by the immunohistochemical method and the usefulness of ferritin was evaluated compared with the clinical course. Seven cases of seminoma and 9 cases of non-seminoma were used for the study. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained by the avidin-biotin complex method. Commercial rabbit anti-human ferritin polyclonal antibody in 1/100 dilution was allowed to react at room temperature for one hour. In normal testicular tissues, the epithelium in germinal cells was not stained for ferritin. In seminomas, some tumor nests were stained for ferritin. Interstitial cells, especially histiocytes, were also stained for ferritin. In stained tumor cells, cytoplasm was stained uniformly. Necrotic cells were not stained. The same findings were obtained in non-seminomas. In metastatic lesions and tumor thrombi in the vessels, some tumor cells were stained as intensely as in the origin. A case was calculated positive if more than 5% of the tumor cells in the specimen were stained. The positive rate in ferritin immunostaining was significantly higher than that of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunostaining with the same materials. The specimens from cases with abnormally high serum ferritin level, were stained more intensely than those from cases with normal serum ferritin level. The result suggests that ferritin might be a useful tumor marker in some of testicular tumors.

Adolescent↗

[Diagnostic value of serum level of alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin complex in pancreatic diseases using a colorimetric assay with a synthetic chromogenic substrate].

We measured serum level of alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin complex (alpha 2M-T complex) using a colorimetric assay with a synthetic chromogenic substrate, D-gamma-tert-butyloxy-Gly-Arg-3-carboxy-4-hydroxyanilide dihydrochloride. Serum level of alpha 2M-T complex was greater in acute pancreatitis patients than in chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer patients. In severe acute pancreatitis patients, both mean level and frequency of abnormal value of serum alpha 2M-T complex were significantly greater than in mild acute pancreatitis patients (13.1 +/- 12.9 vs 2.9 +/- 3.5 U/L, p less than 0.01; 100 vs 41%, p less than 0.01). In conclusion, the determination of serum level of alpha 2M-T complex can be useful for the diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

[A case of prolonged eosinophilic pneumonia with pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma diagnosed by open lung biopsy].

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of productive cough, dyspnea and stridor. Chest X-ray disclosed overinflation with micronodular infiltrates. Blood examination showed mild eosinophilia and IgE elevation. Pulmonary function test disclosed severe airway obstruction and diffusion capacity impairment. Although clinical improvement was achieved after bronchodilator therapy, laboratory abnormalities continued. Open lung biopsy demonstrated mononuclear cellular and eosinophilic infiltration at alveolar lumen and vessel walls without prominent fibrosis, which was compatible for prolonged eosinophilic pneumonia. From above findings, this case was thought as a prolonged eosinophilic pneumonia combined with pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma.

Aged↗