Biomedical subjects

M Murakami

Publications and source records attributed to M Murakami.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Extensive intraductal component (EIC) and estrogen receptor (ER) status in breast cancer.

The extensive intraductal component (EIC) of primary breast carcinoma is a special spread pattern observed in the breast. Extensive intraductal component may extend diffusely over the entire breast. Therefore, EIC is considered to be an important risk factor for local recurrence in breast-conserving therapy. However, the pathogenesis of EIC remains uncertain. Whether or not the estrogen receptor (ER) has an influence on its biologic behavior has not been fully studied. A consecutive series of 142 breast carcinomas submitted to the pathology department were examined on step gross sections of 5.0 mm thick. Extensive intraductal component was determined and divided into three types. Estrogen receptor was examined using both immunohistochemistry (ER-IHC) and enzyme immunoassay (ER-EIA). Extensive intraductal component was found in 78 of 138 (56.52%) invasive carcinomas including invasive ductal carcinoma with a predominant intraductal component. Estrogen receptor-IHC positivity was 42.96% (61/142) in the invasive breast carcinoma. Estrogen receptor positivity showed no significant difference between EIC-positive and -negative cases, as well as between EIC and invasive main tumor in the EIC-positive cases. But within the EIC-positive group, ER positivity was found to be higher in the peripheral type of EIC-II and EIC-III than in the central type of EIC-I (P < 0.05). Although ER may not play an essential role in the pathogenesis of EIC, it has shown some significance in the development of peripheral type EIC because of its higher presence in the peripheral type of EIC-II and EIC-III than in the central type of EIC-I.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1998

Changes in the duration of the urinary abnormality of purpura nephritis over the past 5 years.

BACKGROUND: The clinical features of patients with anaphylactoid purpura who were admitted to the National Tosei Hospital over the past 15 years were investigated to confirm whether the prognosis of renal involvement had improved. RESULTS: Of the 107 patients admitted to hospital, 43 (40.2%) had urinary abnormalities. The patients with renal involvement were older (P < 0.05) compared to patients without nephritis. Over the last 5 years (1991-95), the duration of urinary abnormalities was significantly shorter than in the period from 1981 to 1990 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The duration of the urinary abnormality of nephritis complicating anaphylactoid purpura appears to be changing.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed1998

Detection of Coxiella burnetii specific DNA in blood samples from Japanese patients with chronic nonspecific symptoms by nested polymerase chain reaction.

The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for direct species-specific detection of Coxiella burnetii in blood samples from 52 patients with chronic nonspecific symptoms, but no diagnostic or treatment history of Q fever. All patients had been in ill-health with general fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, etc., for one to more than 10 years. Seventeen (33%) showed evidence of C. burnetii infection, based on amplification of 438-bp fragments specific to C. burnetii by nested PCR, and 94% of positive patients reported close contact with animals. In contrast, five (9.6%) of 52 samples from healthy adult controls and two (2.8%) of 70 cord blood samples were positive by nested PCR. These data suggest a high prevalence of infection among adult patients with long term, nonspecific complaints who live in close contact with animals and the possible existence of a chronic post-acute Q fever syndrome in Japan.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Use of protease inhibitors to improve calcitonin absorption from the small and large intestine in rats.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of protease inhibitors on the absorption of calcitonin from different regions of the intestine in rats. The absorption experiments were investigated by in-situ use of closed intestinal loops in rats and stability of calcitonin was examined in mucosal homogenates and intestinal fluids. The intestinal absorption of calcitonin was evaluated by measurement of its hypocalcaemic effect. No substantial hypocalcaemic response was observed when calcitonin was administered into the jejunum or colon. A slight hypocalcaemic effect was observed after administration of calcitonin into the ileum. Of the co-administered protease inhibitors, bacitracin (20mM) strongly promoted calcitonin absorption from the jejunum, ileum and colon. A significant hypocalcaemic effect was also obtained after intestinal administration of calcitonin with soybean trypsin inhibitor (10mgmL(-1)), camostat mesylate (20mM) or aprotinin (2mgmL(-1)). In the stability experiment, bacitracin reduced the degradation of calcitonin in the different intestinal homogenates. Soybean trypsin inhibitor significantly reduced the degradation of calcitonin in the fluids of the small intestine. We also examined the different endopeptidases in gut luminal fluids and the different exopeptidases in gut mucosal homogenates of rats. The ranking order for the total endopeptidase activity of the intestinal fluids was jejunum > ileum > colon. That for total exopeptidase activity of the intestinal mucosa was jejunum > ileum > colon. These results suggest that endo- and exopeptidases might be responsible for the hydrolysis of calcitonin and that protease inhibitors might usefully improve absorption of calcitonin to the systemic circulation from the large intestine.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Goniodomin A, an antifungal polyether macrolide, increases the filamentous actin content of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.

Goniodomin A, a polyether macrolide isolated from the dinoflagellate Goniodoma pseudogoniaulax, caused morphological change in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Observation by scanning electron microscopy revealed that the shape of the cell became refractile from flat in response to goniodomin A. This morphological change was accompanied by the outgrowth of a needle-like structure from the cell surface. Goniodomin A increased the intracellular content of filamentous actin in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. It also caused the change in filamentous actin distribution in the cells. The elongation of filamentous actin was observed in goniodomin A-treated cells. These results suggest that goniodomin A induces morphological change by increasing the content of filamentous actin in non-muscle cells.

Actins↗

PubMed1998

A new system for stringent, high-titer vesicular stomatitis virus G protein-pseudotyped retrovirus vector induction by introduction of Cre recombinase into stable prepackaging cell lines.

We report here on stable prepackaging cell lines which can be converted into packaging cell lines for high-titer vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G)-pseudotyped retrovirus vectors by the introduction of Cre recombinase-expressing adenovirus. The generated prepackaging cell lines constitutively express the gag-pol genes and contain an inducible transcriptional unit for the VSV-G gene. From this unit, the introduced Cre recombinase excised both a neomycin resistance (Neo(r)) gene and a poly(A) signal flanked by a tandem pair of loxP sequences and induced transcription of the VSV-G gene from the same promoter as had been used for Neo(r) expression. By inserting an mRNA-destabilizing signal into the 3' untranslated region of the Neo(r) gene to reduce the amount of Neo(r) transcript, we were able efficiently to select the clones capable of inducing VSV-G at high levels. Without the introduction of Cre recombinase, these cell lines produce neither VSV-G nor any detectable infectious virus at all, even after the transduction of a murine leukemia virus-based retrovirus vector encoding beta-galactosidase. They reproducibly produced high-titer virus stocks of VSV-G-pseudotyped retrovirus (1.0 x 10(6) infectious units/ml) from 3 days after the introduction of Cre recombinase. We also present evidence that VSV-G-producing cells are still fully susceptible to transduction by VSV-G pseudotypes. However, in this vector-producing system, which regulates VSV-G pseudotype production in an all-or-none manner, the integration of vector DNA into packaging cell lines would be minimized. We further show that heparin significantly inhibits retransduction of VSV-G pseudotypes in the culture fluids of packaging cell lines, leading to a two- to fourfold increase in the yield of the pseudotypes after induction. This vector-producing system was very stable and should be advantageous in human gene therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

'Alice in Wonderland' syndrome as a precursor of depressive disorder.

A 54-year-old Japanese businessman who was found to exhibit the 'Alice in Wonderland' syndrome and went on to develop a depressive disorder is described. Lengthening and shortening of time experience continued intermittently for about 3 months, and metamorphopsia, distortion of body image, and the quick-motion phenomenon (alteration in time sense) persisted for almost 2 days without interruption. There were no abnormal physical findings. The authors review studies on 'Alice in Wonderland' syndrome and suggest that depressive illness may be a causal factor.

Body Image↗

PubMed1998

Apoptotic cell death of high polyploid cells in a cultured sarcoma cell line.

It is well known that DNA-ploidy is useful independent prognosticator of malignancy. However, the biological significance of polyploid cells and the relation between polyploidy and prognosis is not well understood. We analyzed DNA ploidy by flow cytometry in Meth-A cells (a cultured sarcoma cell line) after treatment with K252a, a protein kinase inhibitor, and showed induction of polyploidization. Apoptotic cell death of the high polyploid cells was verified by flow cytometry, morphological observation and gel analysis of DNA integrity. Expression of tumor-suppressor nuclear protein p53 investigated by immunohistochemistry was increased 10-fold or more in cells with 16C (C = haploid DNA content) relative to cells with 2C, suggesting that the overexpression of p53 was involved in the apoptosis. These results may be of clinical relevance since it has been known that both DNA ploidy and p53 expression have prognostic significance.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Saikosaponin b2 induces differentiation without growth inhibition in cultured B16 melanoma cells.

Treatment with 5 microM of saikosaponin (SS) b2 for 30 days was found to induce differentiation of B16 melanoma cells, with potentiation of expressions of melanogenesis and tyrosinase. To explore the mechanism of this effect, we observed the cell growth, cell cycle and morphology, and found that SSb2 did not affect any of these parameters. That is, SSb2 induced the differentiation of B16 melanoma cells without growth inhibition or cytotoxicity under conditions of low dose and long-term treatment. Phorbol ester, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, markedly inhibited the expressions of melanogenesis and tyrosinase in both the control B16 melanoma cells and the long-term treated B16 melanoma cells. Down-regulation of the PKC activity may be involved in the effects of SSb2.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Effectiveness and toxicity screening of various absorption enhancers using Caco-2 cell monolayers.

We studied the enhancing and toxic effects of five different absorption enhancers on the transport of FITC-dextran with an average molecular weight of 4000 (FD-4) across Caco-2 cell monolayers, and their enhancing effects were also compared with those in rat intestine. The enhancing and cytotoxic properties of these enhancers were characterized using the following tests: measurement of the permeability coefficients of FD-4 and the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in Caco-2, the release of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and intracellular mitochondrial dehydrogenase (MDH) activity. All the absorption enhancers increased the permeability of FD-4 across Caco-2 cell monolayers and a good relationship was observed between the enhancement and their toxic effects. However, EDTA and Na-Cap were effective for improving the transport of FD-4 across Caco-2 cells without serious cytotoxicity. At concentrations with low cytotoxicity, various absorption enhancers exihibited reversible effects on the TEER values in Caco-2 cell monolayers, except for 50 mM sodium salicylate (Na-Sal). Moreover, we obtained a good correlation between the enhancement of these enhancers in Caco-2 cell monolayers and in rat large intestine. This finding indicated that the effectiveness of absorption enhancers in the Caco-2 monolayer system was similar to an in vivo rat system. Therefore, the screening system using Caco-2 cell monolayers is useful for examining the effectiveness and toxicity of absorption enhancers.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Effects of fatty acid sucrose esters on ceftibuten transport by rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

The effects of fatty acid sucrose esters on membrane lipid dynamics and ceftibuten transport by rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were examined to clarify the differences in the action of mono- and poly-acyl sucrose esters on the drug transport. Fatty acid sucrose mono-acyl ester (SS) inhibited ceftibuten transport by BBMV similar to the action of polyoxyethylene sorbitans (Tweens), while fatty acid sucrose polyacyl ester mixtures (F-160 and F-140) did not affect the drug transport by BBMV. SS but not F-160 and F-140 caused an increase in the anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH)- and 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene iodide (TMA-DPH)-labeled BBMV in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, the uptake of ceftibuten by BBMV was strongly correlated with the lipid fluidity of BBMV, in the outer layer and in the inner hydrophobic regions; however, there was no strong correlation between the membrane lipid fluidity and the drug uptake by BBMV. The micelle size and the size distribution of F-160 and F-140 were larger and more widely dispersed, respectively, compared to those of SS and Tweens. These results suggest that the effects of fatty acid sucrose esters on ceftibuten transport by BBMV are related to the dispersion parameter of these pharmaceutical adjuvants.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of repetitive DNA sequences carrying 5S rDNA of the triploid ginbuna (Japanese silver crucian carp, Carassius auratus langsdorfi).

Repetitive DNA sequences (Hi-b; 209 bp in length) were isolated from the HindIII digests of the genomic DNA of the triploid ginbuna, Carassius auratus langsdorfi. Sequence analyses revealed that the Hi-b repetitive units were comprised of the complete coding regions of 5S rDNA (120 bp in size) and their 5'flanking regions. The sequences of the Hi-b units from the same individual were highly homogeneous. Southern blot hybridization to the Hi-b probe displayed intricate patterns that represented the presence of other repetitive units containing the Hi-b related sequences. A major family of repetitive sequences related to the Hi-b was then obtained by the polymerase chain reaction using asymmetry primers for the 5S coding regions. These 331-bp sequences (AZ5S's) contained 5S pseudogenes as well as the almost entire Hi-b sequences, and seemed to be the true 5S rDNAs. The tandem arrangements of the AZ5S sequences explained most of the complex results of Southern blots. Another class of intriguing repeat units (Hi-b-beta and Hi-b-gamma) were also isolated. Fluorescence in situ hybridization data revealed two major signals on a pair of homologous chromosomes and several minor signals on other chromosomes in the triploid ginbuna, indicating the existence of the 5S related sequences as several separate clusters. The major spots were shared with the tetraploid ginbuna and goldfish, but not with the diploid ginbuna. When the genomic organization of the Hi-b related sequences in other cyprinid fishes was examined, the hybridization patterns of the ginbuna were very similar to those of the goldfish, but were clearly different from those of the gengorobuna. The carp genome showed less complex patterns. Thus, the present 5S rDNA-related sequences could be candidates for phylogenetic molecular markers for the crucian carp.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The structure of the murine calcium channel gamma-subunit gene and protein.

The gamma-subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels is a membrane protein that is associated with the skeletal muscle type of voltage gated calcium channels. Using a subunit-specific polyclonal antibody, the gamma-protein was detected in mouse skeletal muscle but not in brain, where at least five additional types of voltage-gated calcium channels are expressed. Murine genomic clones containing the full coding sequence of the gamma-subunit were isolated, the exons were mapped and sequenced. The murine gamma-subunit is encoded by a single copy gene containing 4 translated exons which are distributed over approximately 14 kilobases of DNA. The intron placement within the mouse gene correlates with the previously revealed organization of the human gamma-subunit gene, although the primary structures of the gamma-subunits are only moderately conserved between the murine, human, rat and rabbit proteins (75% identity).

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed1998

Preserved activation of thyrotropin receptor antibody to stimulate thyroid function despite long-term treatment in euthyroid patients with Graves' disease.

Clinical evaluation was conducted to ascertain whether thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) in the normal range may still be involved in the regulation of thyroid function after prolonged treatment for Graves' disease. All patients (n = 33) were treated with antithyroid drugs for an average of 10.6 years and were under euthyroid conditions in which normal blood levels of tri-iodothyronine (T3) were significantly correlated with blood thyrotropin (TSH) levels, but not with titers of TRAb. A significant correlation was observed between TRAb titer and thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) activity. In contrast, this correlation was not found in normal subjects. After administration of T3 (75 microg daily for 8 days), the patients showed increased levels of T3 with concomitant suppression of TSH levels. Under these conditions, linear regression analysis showed significant correlations of TRAb titer and TSAb activity with 24-h thyroid radioiodine uptake (r = 0.641 and 0.621 respectively, P < 0.01), in contrast to declining blood thyroxine levels. Moreover, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) of the patients precipitated to a greater extent than IgG from normal subjects a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence near the terminus of the human TSH receptor. These findings indicated that TRAb at normal levels possessed significant unremitting activities on thyroid function despite long-term treatment in euthyroid patients with Graves' disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[A case of so-called carcinosarcoma of peripheral lung].

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with blood sputum. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by sputum cytological examination. A chest X-ray film showed a tumor shadow in the lower field of the right lung. The middle and lower lobes were resected and lymph node dissection was performed. Tumor was composed of well differentiated adenocarcinoma and spindle cell sarcomatous element, and diagnosed as so-called carcinosarcoma. Pathological staging was IIIA by pT1N2M0. Postoperative chemotherapy was not performed for side effect, so radiotherapy only was done. He died of recurrence and metastasis after about 1 postoperative year.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

[Clinicopathological study of multiple myeloma associated with hyperammonemia].

Of 5 multiple myeloma patients with hyperammonemia, autopsy was performed in 4 patients, while amino acid metabolism was examined in 3 patients. As a result they were classified into the following 3 types; A, liver dysfunction and severe liver infiltration of myeloma cells. B, severe liver infiltration without liver dysfunction. C, Neither liver dysfunction nor severe liver infiltration. In one type A patient, isoleucine decreased. In two patients without liver dysfunction (one type C patient and another patient in whom autopsy was not performed) valine, leucine and isoleucine decreased, and tyrosine decreased slightly. The Fischer ratio decreased in these 2 patients, while it decreased slightly in a type A patient. Clinically, in 4 patients hyperammonemia was observed during periods of poor general condition and when refractory to chemotherapy. In an aggressive type case, consciousness disturbance was developed rapidly and multiple myeloma was diagnosed. In all patients, consciousness disturbance was noted. Hyperammonemia might have been caused by hepatic failure or systemic-portal shunt in patients with liver infiltration. In those without liver infiltration, it was suggested that hyperammonemia was caused by myeloma related humoral factors that influence amino acid metabolism.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

[Radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer with postoperative intrathoracic recurrence].

We reviewed patients with intrathoracic recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer after surgery, with reference to the feasibility of radiotherapy. The series consisted of 46 patients (39 males and 7 females) treated by radiotherapy from 1982 to 1995. Histology included squamous cell carcinoma (28 patients), adenocarcinoma (17), and large cell carcinoma (1). Clinical stage by UICC classification (1987) was as follows: stage I(2 patients), stage II(1), stage IIIa(13), stage IIIb(23), and stage IV(7). Recurrences were noted in bronchial stump (18 patients) and surgical scar (4). Metastases occurred in hilar-mediastinal lymphnodes (15), lung fields (7), and pleuropericardium (2). The mean interval from surgery to recurrence was 27 months. Delivered dose ranged from 45 to 80 Gy, and 19 patients received combined chemotherapy. Therapeutic results were as follows: complete response in 16 patients, partial response in 27, no response in 12 and progressive disease in 1, Overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 17% and 11%, respectively, and 10 months in MST. On univariate analysis, significant prognostic factors were sex, stage at recurrence, recurrence pattern, performance status and initial response to radiotherapy, while multivariate analysis showed sex and initial response. From these data, we are encouraged by effective radiotherapy for postoperative intrathoracic recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer, especially in patients with stump or lymphnode recurrence.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

[Results of radiation therapy for limited small-cell lung cancer].

Results of radiotherapy were reviewed in 68 patients with limited small-cell lung cancer from the aspect of local control. Thirty-one patients achieved CR (46%), while the other 31 remained at PR. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 57%, 28%, 21%, and 16%, respectively, for 15 months in MST. Thirty-six patients developed local recurrence (53%) and 46 had distant metastasis (68%). The thirty-one patients with CR had a 43% 2-year-survival rate and 23 months in MST. The remaining 37 patients (PR + NC) had respective figures of 13% and 13 months (p < 0.025). There was no statistically significant difference between radiation dose and local thoracic failure among the patients. Of the 31 patients with CR, 28 had achieved CR at 45Gy (17 received 55Gy or more, and 11 less than 55Gy). In the former, the local control rate, 2-year-survival and MST were 94%, 53% and 44 months, while in the latter these were 45%, 27% and 17 months, respectively. Thirty-five patients were irradiated by the shrinking field technique according to tumor reduction; however, this technique did not influence the treatment results. To obtain better results, it is first necessary to achieve CR at initial chemo-radiotherapy. As to irradiation, randomized trials between 50Gy and 60Gy would require patients with CR at 45Gy.

Aged↗