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Biomedical subjects

M Murakami

Publications and source records attributed to M Murakami.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Aspergillosis following influenza A infection].

An 83-year-old man had an influenza-like upper respiratory infection that progressed to pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency during a period two weeks. After admission, anti-influenza A antibody increased 32-fold and antibiotic treatment had little effect on the pneumonia. Aspergillus antigen was detected from his serum and pleural effusion, however, culture of sputum was negative for aspergillus. Administration of amphotericin B reduced the serum level of aspergillus antigen, however he died due to the progression of respiratory insufficiency and bloody sputum. Aspergillus infection is generally thought to occur in immunocompromised hosts, but this patient had no apparent immunosuppressive conditions except for his age before the influenza A infection. His WBC and lymphocyte count temporally decreased to 2,000 x 10(6)/L (lymphocytes 160 x 10(6)/L) followed by aspergillus infection. This temporally reduction of lymphocytes is thought to have been responsible for the aspergillus infection. Complications of influenza infection are sometimes fatal and vaccination against influenza seems necessary in high risk individuals such as elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Statistical analysis of the age-adjusted incidence rates of human neoplasias: changes in time and space from early 1960's to mid 1980's with special reference to the steroid criminal hypothesis of carcinogenesis.

Our earlier reports indicated that the changes of age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) of any 2 tumors in time and space, as investigated by the sequential regression analysis, showed a good fitness to the equilibrium model under the control of the law of mass action. The purpose of this study is to investigate the problem of whether or not the changes of AAIRs of individual tumors in time and space show a similar fitness to the equilibrium model of the law of mass action. The cancer risk data set of: a) 20 neoplasias in scope; b) 6 cancer registration areas in space; and c) 5 sequential investigations from early 1960's to mid 1980's in time, were subjected to the sequential regression analysis - a modification of the least square method. Results obtained are as follows: a) out of 20 tumors tested, all tumors other than 5 tumor types showed a good fitness (P<0.05) to the equilibrium model of the law of mass action in their risk changes in space. The 5 tumor types that failed to fit to the equilibrium model were male gall-bladder cancer, male breast cancer, male thyroid cancer, female liver cancer and female laryngeal cancer. They were all classified as the members of low-risk gender in the cancer family with sex discrimination of cancer risk. b) All tumors other than male thyroid cancer of Birmingham-England showed a good fitness to the equilibrium model of the law of mass action in their risk changes in time. c) It is argued that the good fitness to the equilibrium model of the law of mass action and the poor fitness to the equilibrium model can be taken each as indication of the predominant expression of oncogene activation and the emergence of intervention of tumor suppressor gene inactivation to the full expression of oncogene activation in the mathematical structure of the cancer risk data set. The significance of the above findings as the supporting evidence of the steroid criminal hypothesis of carcinogenesis as well as the pertinence of the least square method to the mathematical analysis of cancer risk are discussed in the light of historical development of science from early 19th century to late 20th century.

Canada↗
PubMed1999

Topological transition of the parametric expression site of tumor suppressor inactivation as a marker evidence of environmental hormone-oriented cancer risk increase.

The present study is an extension of our recent study in which we attempted statistical analysis of the data assembly of age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) of a tumor without topological data manipulation for each of 20 individual tumors in scope, for each of 6 cancer registration areas in space, and for a period of early 1960's to mid 1980's in time. This time, a data assembly of log AAIR changes in time and space first passed through the process of topological data manipulation, and then underwent the sequential regression analysis so that we could assess the fitness of log AAIR changes either in space or in time to the equilibrium model of the law of mass action from the viewpoint of the interaction between oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene inactivation. For the sake of comparison, the fitness of the cancer risk data to the equilibrium model was assessed in the framework of 3 sets of coordinates: a) the original (x org, y org) coordinates in which most of the log AAIR data assemblies in their data variations were classified as the oncogene activation type in the field of centripetal force (r seq=-1.000). b) The rect (X rect, Y rect) coordinates in which the log AAIR data assemblies were very often classified as the tumor suppressor gene inactivation type in the field of centrifugal force (r seq=+1.000). c) The para (X para, Y para) coordinates in which the log AAIR data assemblies were mostly classified as the intermediate type as regards the fitness to the equilibrium model. The rect-coordinates and the para-coordinates, 2 variants of angular rotation of the original coordinates, were so designed as to allow their X-axes to run each at a right angle and parallel to the regression line of the original pair data block. The results obtained were as follows: a) poor fitness of the log AAIR changes in space to the equilibrium model in the rect-coordinates was found in male breast cancer, male thyroid cancer, female esophageal cancer, female laryngeal cancer and female lung cancer. The summation of the present study and the last study from our laboratory led to the conclusion that the members of low-risk gender in the tumor family with sex discrimination of cancer risk were inclined to show either failed expression of oncogene activation or failed expression of tumor suppressor gene inactivation or both. b) There was a subtle difference of the fitness of log AAIR data to the equilibrium model between the log AAIR changes in time and those in space in that the log AAIR changes in time within the framework of the rect-coordinates, which usually represented the field of centrifugal force or site of tumor suppressor gene inactivation expression, showed an increase in the number of oncogene activation type data sets as compared with the log AAIR changes in space. c) Upon further insight into the AAIR changes in time, consistent association of prominent cancer risk increase in time with the transition of tumor suppressor gene inactivation expression (r seq=+1.000) from the rect-coordinates to the para-coordinates was detected in skin cancer of both sexes, testicular tumor, liver cancer of both sexes and thyroid cancer of both sexes, all of which were related to the prevalence of environmental hormones as regards the recent boost of their cancer risks in the Western countries. In summary, the log AAIR, a cancer risk parameter, in its changes in time and space was found to provide useful information in assessing the interaction between the oncogene-tumor suppressor gene complex and the hormonal milieu of the host in the genesis of both environmental hormone-dependent and -independent human neoplasias. The significance of our statistical maneuver (the sequential regression analysis) is discussed in the light of the development of mathematics in early 19th century.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Induction of apoptosis by N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide in glioma cells.

N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (fenretinide) is a synthetic retinoid with anticancer properties. We investigated the effects of fenretinide on the growth of glioma cells. Four glioma cell lines (C6, 9L, Med3 and U87) were treated with fenretinide. Cell viability and independent growth was determined by MTS assay and soft agar assay, respectively. The induction of apoptosis was evaluated by microscopic examination, flow cytometric DNA content analysis, and in situ TdT methods. Fenretinide markedly reduced cell viability of all the glioma cell lines examined at a range of concentrations from 1 to 10 microM. In all cell lines examined, fenretinide also induced morphological changes consistent with apoptosis, including cellular shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Flow cytometric analysis also revealed an apoptotic pattern of the DNA content, and in situ detection of apoptosis showed increased incorporation of digoxigenin-nucleotide triphosphate in fenretinide-treated glioma cells. These findings indicate that fenretinide inhibits the growth of glioma cells via the induction of apoptosis, suggesting potential clinical use of fenretinide for treatment of glioma patients.

Agar↗
PubMed1999

[Dental treatment and oral health care on Tokashiki Island, Okinawa].

Okinawa Prefecture has been promoting dental treatment and oral health care in places where there are no dentists. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has been cooperating with eight dental colleges, including Tokyo Medical and Dental University, for promotion thereof since 1961. The 155th promotion was held on Tokashiki Island. The caries prevalence rate of the students on Tokashiki Island was relatively high compared with the average caries prevalence rate of the same age group throughout Japan, and most of the caries were thought to be due to too many soft drinks. Resin filling was the most popular treatment during this promotion. Severe periodontal disease was observed in middle-aged persons, but we could only perform initial periodontal treatment because of the limited treatment period. Complete or partial dentures were made or repaired for many elderly. The questionnaire study showed most of the denture wearers on Tokashiki Island were satisfied with their dentures, although many dentures did not fit, and the prescription was improved. The period of this promotion was too short to perform complete dental treatment and to prevent caries and periodontal disease, and primary prevention and higher dental hygiene education should be strengthened in no dentist areas like Tokashiki Island.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Clinical results and prognostic factors of radiotherapy for bone metastases from breast cancer].

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of initial radiotherapy for bone metastases (BM) from breast cancer and to investigate the prognostic factors. Between 1981 and 1995, 65 women (109 lesions) received initial radiotherapy for BM, aiming at a total dose of 50 Gy/25 Fr. Significant relief of pain was obtained in 61 (88.4%) of 69 estimable lesions according to the RTOG score. The control rates of pain including the prevention of pathological fractures or myelopathy were 80.4% at 5 years and 64.3% at 10 years. The median survival time of all patients was 11 months, and the survival rates were 56% at 1 year, 31.6% at 3 years, 17.9% at 5 years and 10.7% at 10 years, with five long-term survivors. Univariate analysis showed that a normal state of LDH, no other metastatic organs, a disease-free interval longer than two years, good performance status (0 or 1), BM limited to the axial bones, maintenance chemo-hormonal therapy and an age of more than 55 years were good prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that LDH, age and performance status were significant predictors of prognosis. It is important to note the prognostic factors at the initial treatment of BM from breast cancer. We consider that further prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment schedule, including radiotherapy and its combination with chemohormonal therapy, for BM.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Polyarteritis nodosa].

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is the systemic necrotizing vasculitis on small and median muscular vessels. Recent studies reveal that PAN consists of classical PAN and microscopic polyangitis (MPA). MPO-ANCA, which is one of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), is involved in the pathogenesis of MPA. In future, by the progress of research of ANCA, the definition or criteria of systemic vasculitis including PAN or MPA will be changed.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed1999

Blockade of CD28/CTLA4-B7 pathway prevented autoantibody-related diseases but not lung disease in MRL/lpr mice.

We studied the role of CD28/CTLA4 costimulatory T-cell activation pathway on the pathogenesis of MRL/lpr mice. Administration of CTLA4IgG from day 0 significantly inhibited autoantibody production such as anti-double-stranded DNA antibody and rheumatoid factor. In addition, end-organ diseases in kidney, salivary gland, and liver were significantly improved. Improvement of pathologic findings coincided with a significant improvement in survival. At 350 days of age, 90% of mice treated with CTLA4IgG from day 0 were still alive, compared with none of mice treated with hIgG. As expected, activation of conventional T cells was significantly inhibited after CTLA4IgG treatment. However, lung disease that was characterized by perivascular accumulation and interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages was not inhibited. Even after CTLA4IgG treatment from day 0, pathologic findings of lung disease were not improved. Additionally, the expression of activation markers such as B7-1, B7-2, CD71, ICAM1, and LFA1 on Mac1+ fraction in both spleen and lung and the concentration of TNFalpha in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were not significantly suppressed. These results demonstrated that lung disease was independent of the CD28/CTLA4-B7 pathway. Thus, this study emphasizes the differential dependence of the CD28/CTLA4-B7 pathway in development of diseases in MRL/lpr mice.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1999

Fra-2-positive autoregulatory loop triggered by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Fra-2 phosphorylation sites by MAPK.

We reported previously that activation of endogenous activator protein 1 (AP-1) in chicken embryo fibroblasts is essential for the cellular transformation induced by v-src, and we further showed that the activation of AP-1 is accompanied by elevation of Fra-2 and c-Jun expression and also high-level phosphorylation of Fra-2 by activated endogenous extracellular signal-regulated kinase [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)]. Here, we report that the transcriptional activity of Fra-2/c-Jun heterodimer was greatly enhanced by cotransfecting a constitutively active mutant of MEK1 gene (MEK-DD) into F9 cells, indicating that Fra-2 was converted into an active transactivator after phosphorylation by MAPK. High-level expression of MEK-DD alone was sufficient to induce clear cellular transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts, which caused constitutive activation of endogenous MAPK, hyperphosphorylation of Fra-2, and elevation of fra-2 and c-jun gene expression. These results indicate that phosphorylation of Fra-2 by MAPK plays an important role in stimulating endogenous AP-1 activity in a positive autoregulation mechanism, in which phosphorylated Fra-2 induces fra-2 expression through AP-1 binding sites present in its promoter. We also localized the Fra-2 phosphorylation sites by MAPK to three threonine and three serine residues in the COOH-terminal region by means of site-directed mutagenesis and showed that the threonine residues were more susceptible to MAPK.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Antacids have no influence on the pharmacokinetics of rabeprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor, in healthy volunteers.

AIM: This randomized, open-label, crossover study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a single dose of antacid, aluminum and magnesium hydroxide suspension, on pharmacokinetics of rabeprazole in healthy male volunteers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twelve subjects were randomly divided into 6 groups of 2 subjects each, and received 20 mg of rabeprazole either without antacid, concomitantly with antacid, or one hour after administration of antacid in three experimental arms with washout period of one week. The concentrations of rabeprazole in plasma were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Rabeprazole was well tolerated at the 20 mg dose level when given with or without antacid. The pharmacokinetic parameters, Cmax, t(max), AUC and t1/2, showed no statistically significant differences when rabeprazole was administered alone, concomitantly with antacid or one hour after antacid administration. CONCLUSION: No influence of single dose of antacid on pharmacokinetics of rabeprazole was observed.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed1999

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and renal pathology in Japanese children with IgA nephropathy.

Polymorphism of the gene that codes for angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is associated with increased severity of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy in adult patients. We evaluated the relationship between the polymorphism of ACE genotypes and the pathological and clinical findings in Japanese children with IgA nephropathy. Patients with moderate/diffuse mesangial proliferation, glomerular sclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage showed a significant increase of the D/D type compared to those who had mild/focal mesangial proliferation, without glomerular sclerosis or tubulointerstitial damage (p < 0.05). Proteinuria at the first renal biopsy was significantly higher in the former group compared with the latter group except glomerular sclerosis (p < 0.01). IgA nephropathy patients with tubulointerstitial damage also showed an increased serum creatinine level compared to patients without the damage (p < 0.03). We conclude that ACE gene polymorphism may be correlated with the prognosis of IgA nephropathy in Japanese children.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Complementary DNA cloning, tissue distribution, and synthesis of canine brain natriuretic peptide.

OBJECTIVE: To determine complimentary DNA (cDNA) sequence and tissue distribution of canine brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and to investigate whether synthesis of canine BNP increases in association with cardiovascular dysfunction. ANIMALS: 5 healthy adult mixed-breed dogs and 3 healthy adult Beagles. PROCEDURE: Total RNA was extracted from normal canine hearts and was used in a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure to isolate canine BNP cDNA. Sequence of the isolated cDNA was analyzed. Gene expression of canine BNP in various tissues from 2 mixed-breed dogs was investigated, using RT-PCR and northern blot analyses. Moreover, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of canine BNP, using northern blot analysis, was compared between grossly normal hearts from 3 Beagles and hearts from 3 mixed-breed dogs with acute myocardial infarction created by surgical ligation. RESULTS: The cDNA sequence and deduced amino acid residues of canine BNP precursor were 420 base pairs and 140 residues, respectively. Messenger RNA expression of canine BNP was detectable in the atria but not in the ventricles and the other tissues. Messenger RNA expression of canine BNP was, however, detectable in the infarcted portion of the ventricles. The amount of canine BNP mRNA in the infarcted ventricles was significantly increased, compared with that of noninfarcted ventricles. CONCLUSION: The cDNA sequence of canine BNP was determined. Expression of canine BNP mRNA was detected not only in the atria but also in infarcted ventricles. Synthesis of canine BNP increases in association with ischemic myocardial injury. Canine BNP may be used as an indicator of severity of ventricular myocardial injury.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

[Autoimmune thyroid disease induced by interferon therapy].

Interferon therapy, widely used in chronic viral hepatitis and in various malignant diseases, has been known to induce autoimmune phenomena, the most frequent being autoimmune thyroid disease. We have studied the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in patients who developed autoimmune thyroid dysfunction after interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Seventeen of 439 patients (3.9%) developed symptomatic autoimmune thyroid dysfunction after interferon-alpha therapy, including nine cases of hyperthyroidism and eight cases of hypothyroidism. The incidence of HLA-A2 in those patients was significantly higher than that in general population in Japan. The present results suggest that HLA-A2 is associated with interferon-alpha therapy-induced autoimmune thyroid dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1999

[Partial seizures during the course in patients with absence epilepsy].

We studied the incidence and clinicoelectrographic features of partial seizures in 46 patients with absence epilepsy. Ten patients (21.7%) showed obvious partial seizure symptoms during the course. Five patients had absence attacks with partial seizure symptoms, the ictal EEGs being a generalized 3 Hz spike-wave burst complex preceded by focal discharges. These absence attacks may be partial seizures with secondary bilateral synchronization, which originated from the frontal lobe. Three patients initially had partial seizures related to the frontal lobe, followed by absence attacks 8 months to 2.6 years after the start of CBZ therapy. The appearance of absence attacks may have been triggered by CBZ administration. Two patients had partial seizures at the relapse of epilepsy after the discontinuation of AED therapy for childhood absence epilepsy. This change of seizure types may be associated with the CNS maturation, or with localized cortical hyperexcitability subsequent to the foregoing generalized seizures. The prognosis of absence attacks in the all patients were excellent, and comparable to that of typical absence attacks. Our results suggest that localized cortical areas, especially the frontal lobe, are commonly involved in absence epilepsy. More detailed clinical observation is necessary to understand the pathogenesis of absence epilepsy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Optimal thoracic irradiation for stage IV lung cancer].

To investigate optimal thoracic irradiation (TI) for stage IV lung cancer, we retrospectively reviewed 150 patients. In all, 101 patients underwent radiotherapy for the primary lesion, and 130 had radiotherapy for metastasized sites. TI fields were basically divided into two groups; whole thoracic lesion irradiation (WTLI) and partial thoracic lesion irradiation (PTLI). Overall survival rates at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years were 58%, 27% and 11%, respectively, and MST was 7.1 months. There was no difference in survival according to histological type. On univariate analysis, the factors of good prognosis included good PS, free of bone metastasis, metastasis limited to a single organ, TI, chemotherapy, age (less than or equal to 75 years), and TN factors (T0-2 and N0-1). Multivariate analysis showed PS was the predominant factor. Among the patients treated with TI, survival rates of patients with PS 0-1 were superior to those of patients with PS 2-4. Radiation pneumonitis was more frequent in WTLI than in PTLI. The rates of thoracic failure death were 31.7% in patients treated with TI and 63.3% without TI. However, the size of the thoracic radiation field did not affect the rates of thoracic failure death. We concluded that TI for stage IV patients could reduce thoracic symptoms and increase the survival rate in the subgroup with good PS. Furthermore, we considered PTLI was worth while in the subgroup with poor PS.

Aged↗