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Biomedical subjects

M Kojima

Publications and source records attributed to M Kojima.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[The alteration of PyNPase activity in breast cancers due to preoperative oral administration of 5'-DFUR].

To estimate the alteration of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase) activity by 5'-DFUR, we determined its activity in the breast tissue of two patient groups. Group A (21 patients) were given 5'-DFUR (mean 9,000 mg) preoperatively, and group B (21 patients) were given no anticancer agents. There were no significant differences between the groups in background factors such as age, clinical stage and pathological features. Comparison of PyNPase activity in both groups among specimens of carcinoma, normal breast glands and lymph nodes revealed that the activity in carcinomas and lymph nodes was significantly higher than in normal breast glands. Comparison of group A with group B showed that group A had lower activity in carcinomas and lymph nodes than in group B, although the difference was not significant. An inter-group comparison of carcinomas was made in detail by subgrouping according to age and pathological features. In group B, PyNPase activity in older patients (> or = 50 y.o) was significantly higher than in younger patients (< 50 y.o), and papillotubular carcinomas had significantly lower activity than solid tubular and scirrhous carcinomas. However, in group A these data could not be determined. These results suggest that PyNPase activity in group A was possibly decreased by 5'-DFUR.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

[Efficacy of MR angiographic original images on surgery for posterior communicating artery aneurysms].

This study evaluated the usefulness of axial source images of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) on preoperative depiction of surgical topography around posterior communicating artery aneurysms. Twenty patients with posterior communicating artery aneurysms, two ruptured and eighteen unruptured, underwent conventional angiography as well as axial source and projection images obtained by three-dimensional time-of-flight MRA techniques. By comparing the topography based on these angiograms to that confirmed during surgery, we evaluated useful information specific to the source images of MRA. Source images of MRA visualized the posterior communicating artery and the anterior choroidal artery in eighteen cases (90%) and five cases (25%), respectively. The posterior communicating artery was recognized at a higher rate by source images of MRA than by conventional angiography (65%), while the anterior choroidal artery was recognized at a lower rate than by combined angiography (75%). We realized some specific information to the source images of MRA including the topographical relations between the aneurysmal neck and the orifice of the posterior communicating artery, the relations between the aneurysmal dome and the oculomotor nerve and the aneurysmal dome buried into the temporal lobe. The information suggested a satisfactory direction of safe aneurysmal clipping so as not to occlude the posterior communicating artery. It was concluded that the source images of MRA provided additional useful information on surgical topography in 60% of the cases involving posterior communicating artery aneurysms. Although not essential in every case, the information would be beneficial in cases with the aneurysmal dome suspected to be in the temporal lobe or when the surrounding topography can not be clearly understood by angiography.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia as a function of age, volume and ultrasonic appearance of the prostate.

PURPOSE: Our study was conducted to reveal quantitatively the relative effects of age and ultrasonic appearance of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on urinary symptoms as evaluated by the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index score. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 929 examinees (732 with a normal prostate and 197 with BPH) on a mass screening program for prostatic diseases using transrectal ultrasonography in Japan, the AUA symptom score was compared to age, prostatic volume and presumed circle area ratio using simple and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Simple regression analysis demonstrated the symptom score to correlate significantly with age (R = 0.162, p < 0.0001), prostatic volume (R = 0.072, p = 0.0281) and presumed circle area ratio (R = 0.150, p < 0.0001). However, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that age and presumed circle area ratio were significant independent determinants of the total symptom score. Among 7 symptoms included in the AUA symptom index weak stream and hesitancy scores were not influenced by age, prostatic volume or presumed circle area ratio. CONCLUSIONS: As a parameter representing the degree of BPH in terms of the severity of urinary symptoms, presumed circle area ratio was preferable to prostatic volume. Regression analyses confirmed again that the AUA symptom index was influenced considerably by age and was not specific to BPH.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

[Mechanisms for the development of quinolone resistance].

New fluoroquinolones have potent and broad antimicrobial activity and spectra, respectively, against gram-positive and -negative bacteria including P. aeruginosa. As a result of their frequent use, bacterial resistance to the quinolones has gradually developed and limited their therapeutic efficacy in infections, especially, with P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus (especially MRSA), and N. gonorrhoeae. Bacterial resistance to the quinolones probably results from : 1) mutations with chromosomal genes of DNA gyrase or DNA topoisomerase in E. coli and S. aureus, 2) decreased permeability of the cell envelope through OmpF, porin-forming protein, in gram-negative bacteria, and 3) activation of active efflux-mediated permeability through the cell membrane protein, either NorA in S. aureus or Opr in P. aeruginosa. Proper use of the quinolones is also proposed to prevent emergence of the bacterial resistance.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1997

Dharmendra antigen but not integral M. leprae is an efficient inducer of immunostimulant cytokine production by human monocytes, and M. leprae lipids inhibit the cytokine production.

Killed integral Mycobacterium leprae, Mitsuda antigen, and chloroform-treated M. leprae, Dharmendra antigen (Dh-Ag), have been used for the classification of leprosy patients based on cell-mediated immunity. Heat-killed M. leprae also were used as a component of the Convit vaccine. Human blood monocytes were stimulated with M. leprae or Dh-Ag and their cytokine-inducing ability was compared. Monocytes were cultured in the presence of fresh human serum because of the efficiency of cytokine induction and the phagocytosis of M. leprae have been shown to be optimal in the presence of fresh serum. M. leprae and Dh-Ag were equally phagocytosed by monocytes. Dh-Ag was more potent than M. leprae in the induction of immunostimulatory/proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In contrast, a comparable level of IL-1ra, an immunosuppressive cytokine, was induced by M. leprae and Dh-Ag. The lipids extracted from M. leprae induced none of these cytokines by monocytes. Nevertheless, when monocytes were pretreated with the lipids followed by stimulation with Dh-Ag, productions of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF were all inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. However, the lipids did not inhibit the cytokine production induced by other stimuli including BCG and lipopolysaccharide. Moreover the lipids did not affect the production of IL-1ra. These results suggest that the lipids from M. leprae are responsible for the poor cytokine-inducing ability of M. leprae, thus favoring their infection. These results also suggest that Dh-Ag rather than integral M. leprae may be useful as a vaccine candidate because Dh-Ag is able to induce a large amount of cytokines from monocytes.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1997

Sarcoid-like reaction in the regional lymph nodes and spleen in gastric carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study of five cases.

To clarify the occurrence of sarcoid-like reaction in the spleen of the gastric carcinoma patients, 100 consecutive specimens from gastrosplenectomy were examined. Sarcoid-like reaction was observed in the lymph nodes of 13 cases (13%) and the spleen of five cases (5%). All cases of the latter group were included in the former one. None of them showed any symptoms or signs indicative of systemic sarcoidosis. It seems that the cases with sarcoid-like reaction in the spleen ocurred more frequently in an advanced stage of the gastric cancer than those without this phenomenon. Epithelioid cell granulomas (EPGs) appeared to arise in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths of the spleen histologically, but were never found in red pulp or germinal centers. They were composed of groups of epithelioid cells and accompanied by the small lymphocytes and plasma cells. In three cases, scattered eosinophils were also observed among the epithelioid cells. Immunohistochemically, the majority of the intragranulomatous small lymphocytes had T-cell phenotype, while B-cells formed only the minor cellular population. None of the 13 cases contained EPGs in the primary tumor. Our study indicates that sarcoid-like reaction in the spleen is possibly not such a rare phenomenon in the gastric cancer as previously considered and more frequently seen in the advanced stage of the gastric cancer. Sarcoid-like reactions of the regional lymph nodes were more frequently seen in the patients with EPGs in the spleen than in those without. We also suggest that the incidence of sarcoid-like reactions in the spleen is closely related to those in pancreaticosplenic nodes and/or nodes of the hilus of the spleen.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Mass screening for prostatic cancer].

Two mass screening programs for prostatic cancer (PC) have been conducted at our institution. The first program, based on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), was performed between 1975 and 1995 in a total of 16,313 men over 55 years of age. Those showing abnormal findings on TRUS were referred to the secondary urological examination including needle biopsy of the prostate. PC was detected in 93 men (0.6%) and 43 of them were in the early stage. In 1995, a new mass screening program for PC was performed in an urban area of Kyoto. Of 3,749 men over 55 years of age who took the annual health checkup organized by the government, 2,387 wished to receive this screening. The primary examination consisted of Delfia prostate specific antigen (PSA) assay of dried blood samples on a filter paper. Men with PSA levels > 4.0 and < or = 10.0 ng/ml showing abnormal findings on TRUS and/or digital rectal examination, or PSA density > 0.15, underwent 6 sextant biopsies under transrectal ultrasonography, as well as men with PSA levels > 10.0 ng/ml. PSA levels were < or = 4.0 in 2,217 men, > 4.0 and < or = 10.0 in 107, and > 10.0 in 43. Prostatic biopsy was performed in 102 men. PC was detected in 28 men (1.2%) and 17 of them were in the early stage. These findings suggest that the PSA-based mass screening program for PC combined with the annual health checkup is suitable for future "national-level" screening.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[A case of primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma].

A 27-year-old man with primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma was reported. He was admitted with complaint of right chest pain and dyspnea. Chest X-ray film and computed tomography of the chest revealed a bulky mass at anterior mediastinum and right pleural effusion. Physical examination revealed bilateral gynecomastia, and the serum beta-HCG level was cap at 500 ng/ml. The specimens obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy of the mediastinal mass showed cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. He received 4 cycles of anti-cancer chemotherapy, and underwent resection for a residual mass, in which viable cancer cells remained in histological examination. In spite of additional chemotherapy, multiple lung metastasis developed rapidly. High dose chemotherapy, with carboplatine (200 mg/m2 x 4 days), etoposide (250 mg/m2 x 4 days) and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg x 2 days) was performed in combination with peripheral blood stem cell autotransplantation. However, brain metastasis set in and he died of respiratory failure 9 months after the onset of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of vacuum cleaning of room floors and bed clothes of patients on house dust mites counts and clinical scores of atopic dermatitis. A double blind control trial].

By a randomized double blind control trial we studied the effect of vacuum cleaning of room floors, mattresses and quilts for twelve months on clinical symptoms and laboratory data of atopic dermatitis patients. All patients used the identical new vacuum cleaners. Thirty patients (3-12 years of age) with relatively stable skin conditions were randomly allocated to either of the following two groups. In the monitor group we visited patient's home every three weeks and mite specialists cleaned drastically the room floors, mattresses and quilts and the patient continued to clean in the same way in-between. In the control group we visited similarly but the cleaning was made insufficiently which was also followed by the patient. But, at 2 occasions (the first and the last visits), cleaning was made drastically also in the control group. Thus the mite numbers were counted precisely at the start and the end of the experiment both in the monitor and control groups. Each patient was seen every six weeks by the same doctor and estimated of his symptoms using our unique scoring system (Fig. 1). At the start and the end of the study, total IgE and specific IgE antibodies to house dust mites in the serum were evaluated. The monitor group showed a tendency to count smaller number of mites than the control group after a year, when there was a significant difference only in quilts. However, a statistically significant decrease in the mite counts was observed only in room floors and not in mattresses and quilts both in the monitor and control groups (Fig. 2). Clinical scores after a year significantly improved only in the monitor group and not in the control group (Fig. 3). Serum IgE value and specific antibody titer to house dust mites were not changed significantly after the trial in both groups. As a conclusion, vacuum cleaning of the patient's room improved the clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis but this could not be related to the reduction of house dust mite number.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[A study of nursing systems in transition in developed countries].

The present study was designed to investigate nursing systems in other countries in comparison with the current system in Japan, and thereby assess how nursing personnel should be in order to improve the quality of nursing. The study focused on the actual situation of the nursing system and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or second-level nurses similar to LPNs in other countries. The survey was conducted in regard to six countries considered to be advanced in the development of nursing activities and likely to provide useful suggestions for the future direction of nursing in Japan: Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Questionnaires were sent to the heads or staff of a total of 29 organizations, including WHO Collaborating Centers and professional organizations for nursing, in these countries. Nineteen organizations responded (response rate: 65.5%), and an effective response with completed questionnaire forms was obtained from 15 organizations. In addition, an interview survey was conducted on three nursing administration and education experts in the United States in order to acquire clear understanding of the actual state of nursing in health care practice. The results were as follows: 1. Six countries (Japan included) excluding France had LPNs. Educational preparation for LPNs has been discontinued in the United Kingdom. 2. The number of nurses per 1,000 population was lowest in Japan: the total number of registered nurses (RNs) and LPNs in Japan was less than the number of RNs in the United Kingdom. Only in Japan the proportions of LPNs and RNs were similar, while in other countries of number of LPNs was one-third to one-fourth of the number of RNs. 3. In the five other countries having LPNs, the nurse's competency or scope of practice was clearly defined for both LPNs and RNs. In contrast, no clear line was drawn between the two in Japan. 4. The length of education required for LPNs ranged from 11 to 14 years (including the period of compulsory education) and was shortest in Japan (11 years). The educational requirement for admission to LPN school in Japan was 9 years of compulsory education (graduation from junior high school), whereas in other countries it was at the level of senior high school graduation. 5. Four countries had conversion programs for LPNs to become RNs, and the conversion courses were positioned within the framework of higher education comparable to the university level. 6. In the United Kingdom, where the educational preparation for LPNs has been discontinued, nurses are included in a single higher level profession. At the same time there was found to be a need to train and educate auxiliary personnel in order to maintain multi-level care services. Because of the increasing tendency toward advanced medical technology and highly specialized medical care associated with the rapidly increasing care needs in the community, the current educational preparation for LPNs in Japan in unsatisfactory as a training and educational system for nursing manpower to cope with the current situation. The above findings suggest that the education system for LPNs be reviewed with a view to discontinuing it and consolidating nursing education in Japan.

Australia↗
PubMed1997

[Participation in the IEC Workshop on Adolescent Sexual Health--a challenge to protect reproductive health/right in Latin America and Caribbean Region].

In order to explore the possibility of new global activity in nursing/midwifery to be performed by the WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing Development in Primary Health Care at St. Luke's College of Nursing, the center sent two faculty members to attend the IEC Workshop on Adolescent Sexual Health held in November 1996 in Mexico. The two representatives took part as resource persons and reported to the workshop on the activities of nurses and midwives for adolescent sexual health in Japan. During the session, they obtained information on the actual situation of adolescent sexual health in Latin America and Caribbean region and the novel strategies which were carried out in cooperation between governmental and non governmental organizations. The workshop also provided a good opportunity for international communication and information exchange with health workers in the region about adolescent sexual health. By participating in the workshop, we obtained first-hand information on various aspects of cooperation in international health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Interracial comparative study of prostate cancer in the United States, China, and Japan.

The interracial differences of prostate cancer progression have long been documented; however, underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain obscure. This study focuses on the histopathologic, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular characterization of prostate cancer tissues unselectively obtained from US, Chinese, and Japanese men. Histopathologic analyses indicate that 74.5% of the prostate cancers in Chinese patients were poorly differentiated, compared with 28.6 and 32.8% of the prostate cancers in US and Japanese men, respectively. These differences cannot be attributed to patient age, clinical stage of disease, or methods of tissue sampling. Furthermore, the high proportion of poorly differentiated prostate cancer tissues in the Chinese group was not related to the patients' access to medical service or their geographic origins within China. We found significantly higher levels of tumor angiogenesis (2- to 4-fold), serotonin (2- to 20-fold), and bombesin (7- to 16-fold), but not chromogranin A, in tissue specimens obtained from Chinese prostate cancer patients compared with those from US and Japanese patients. We also found marked differences in p53 protein accumulation among various ethnic groups. The p53 protein was frequently detected in prostate cancer tissue specimens from Chinese (90.2%), but less frequently in US black (3.7%), US white (17.4%), and Japanese (7.1%) men. Further analysis of 31 prostate cancer tissues from Chinese men indicated that mutational changes in the p53 gene occurred between exons 5 and 8.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1996

Post-translational processing of the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase gene product in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We have isolated a full-length cDNA clone of the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) pssC gene, which encodes mitochondrial phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. The cDNA clone is capable of increasing phosphatidylserine decarboxylase activity to 11-fold in CHO-K1 cells. The pssC gene product predicted from the cDNA sequence is composed of 409 amino acid residues. In an in vitro translation system coupled with in vitro transcription, the cDNA clone directs the formation of a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 46 kDa. In CHO-K1 cells, the cDNA clone leads to the production of two major peptides with apparent molecular masses of 38 and 34 kDa, as determined by Western blotting with an antibody raised against a recombinant pssC protein. When CHO-K1 cells transfected with the cDNA clone are labelled with [35S]methionine for a short period, proteins immunoprecipitated with the antibody lack radioactive 38 and 34 kDa peptides, but contain two radioactive peptides with apparent molecular masses of 46 and 42 kDa instead. The pssC gene product predicted from the cDNA sequence has, near its C-terminus, a unique Leu-Gly-Ser-Thr sequence which is known as a processing site for Escherichia coli phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. A mutant pssC cDNA clone, in which Ser378 in the conserved sequence is replaced by Ala, leads to overproduction of 46, 42 and 38 kDa peptides, but not a 34 kDa peptide. This mutant clone is incapable of increasing phosphatidylserine decarboxylase activity, in contrast to the wild-type clone. These results indicate that the processing at the Leu-Gly-Ser-Thr sequence is essential for formation of the active enzyme. Thus, the pssC gene product is converted into mature phosphatidylserine decarboxylase through multiple steps of post-translational processing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Stimulation of tryptophan hydroxylase production in a serotonin-producing cell line (RBL2H3) by intracellular calcium mobilizing reagents.

RBL2H3 cells showed a remarkable increase in their level of tryptophan hydroxylase (up to 25-fold), the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin biosynthesis, by stimulation with intracellular calcium mobilizers A23187, thapsigargin, and tBuBHQ as well as by stimulation with an antigen in the presence of IgE. The increase in the enzyme protein was visualized by Western blot analysis using anti-tryptophan hydroxylase antiserum. The enzyme turnover (Hasegawa et al., FEBS Lett., 368 (1995) 151-154) was not slowed down during the rise in tryptophan hydroxylase. Actinomycin D prevented the stimulation-induced elevation of the enzyme. These findings strongly suggest that this stimulation was achieved by the accelerated biosynthesis of tryptophan hydroxylase.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Isolation and characterization of vascular smooth muscle inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor.

myo-Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor of porcine aorta was purified to near homogeneity and its biochemical properties were compared with those of cerebellar InsP3 receptor of the same animal species. The aortic InsP3 receptor consisted of equal amounts of two polypeptides with slightly differing molecular masses of around 240 kDa and was found to possess a single population of InsP3-binding site (Kd of 1.2 nM). The InsP3 receptor purified from porcine cerebellum was also comprised of two polypeptides. However, the molecular mass was slightly but definitely larger, being 250 kDa, and the amounts of the two polypeptides were not equal. The aortic InsP3 receptor cross-reacted with polyclonal antibody specific to type 1 InsP3 receptor as did the cerebellar InsP3 receptor. The aortic InsP3 receptor bound to calmodulin-Sepharose in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, while the cerebellar InsP3 receptor did not. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis revealed two splicing variants of the type 1 InsP3 receptor in porcine aortic smooth muscle distinct from those of the type 1 InsP3 receptor of porcine cerebellum. The possible relevance of this difference to difference in calmodulin-binding property was discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗