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Biomedical subjects

M Nagashima

Publications and source records attributed to M Nagashima.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Bullous pemphigoid--a scanning electron microscopic study.

Skin blisters at different stages were taken from 4 patients with bullous pemphigoid and studied mainly by scanning electron microscopy. The under-surface of the roof of the newly formed blisters was composed of columnar or cuboidal epidermal cells. Their intercellular space was dilated. Most of the cells were degenerated and shed off into the blister fluid. The under-surface of the roof of the fully developed blisters was composed of flattened epidermal cells which were polygonal in shape. These findings suggest that the basal cells are degenerated and shed off into the blister fluid, so that the prickle cells become flattened and directly face the blister fluid during blister formation.

Aged↗

Major acute-phase alpha(1)protein in the rat: structure, molecular cloning, and regulation of mRNA levels.

Rat major acute-phase alpha(1)protein (MAP) was characterized by determining its secondary structure, ligand binding and partial amino acid sequence. A cDNA clone expressing MAP and coding for the entire mature protein was isolated from a cDNA library in E. coli prepared from rat liver mRNA. By hybridization to nick translated cDNA, mRNA for MAP was found only in liver, where it increased 17-fold during acute inflammation. Constant proportions of rates of leucine incorporation into MAP over mRNA levels in liver indicated that the regulation of the synthesis of MAP is due to a change in the rate of synthesis and/or the stability of mRNA for MAP, but not the rate of its translation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Lectin-binding pattern in extramammary Paget's disease by horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeling method--specific staining with Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA).

Lectin-binding pattern in extramammary Paget's disease was studied using seven different lectins (Con A, WGA, RCA-I, PNA, SBA, DBA, and UEA-I) by means of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeling method. By light microscopy it was observed that Con A, WGA, RCA-I, and DBA stained almost all the extramammary Paget cells, while PNA, SBA, and UEA-I stained only some of them. Normal keratinocytes and tumor cells from other diseases such as mammary Paget's disease, malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell epithelioma, Bowen's disease, and seborrheic keratosis were positively stained with Con A, WGA, and RCA-I, but not with DBA except in some of the mammary Paget's cells. By electron microscopy it was observed that DBA stained the cell membrane and the Golgi apparatus of the extramammary Paget cells. The present results suggest that DBA is a specific lectin for glycoconjugates in extramammary Paget cells.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

Usefulness of long-term ambulatory electrocardiography in heart disease screening system for school children and high school students.

Long-term ambulatory electrocardiography was utilized in a heart disease screening system for elementary school children and junior and senior high school students in Nagoya, Japan. The elementary school children, and junior and senior high school students who have serious arrhythmias or potential risk of syncope and sudden death are the subjects of ambulatory monitoring. Of 42 school children and students taking ambulatory electrocardiography for frequent ventricular premature contractions, 8 had Lown's grade 4A, 4B or 5. The cases with third-degree AV block showed ventricular tachycardia or frequent ventricular premature contractions during exercise in ambulatory electrocardiograms. These complex ventricular arrhythmias are possible risk factors of sudden death. It has been proved that ambulatory monitoring is beneficial in the screening and management of serious arrhythmias in the heart disease screening system.

Adolescent↗

[Systemic chemotherapy of mammary carcinoma: plasma and tissue concentrations of 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin, and result of CAF and CMF therapy of breast cancer].

Plasma and tissue concentrations of 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) were determined with bioassay method in 8 primary breast cancers. After oral administration of 200 mg/M2 of 5-FU. peak plasma concentration was detected fifteen minutes after administration. Concentration of 5-FU in normal breast tissue was only detected in one case out of seven: the concentration was 0.080 microgram/g. However, concentration of 5-FU in breast cancer tissue was detected in three cases out of seven, ranged from 0.041 microgram/g to 1.300 microgram/g. On the other hand, plasma and tissue concentrations of adriamycin (ADR) were determined with fluorometric assay in 6 primary breast cancers. 6-20 mg/m2 of ADR was administered intravenously. Plasma concentrations of ADR ranged from 0.74 microgram/ml to 0.13 microgram/ml, and ADR disappeared within one hour after injection. ADR was detected in all cases of normal breast tissues and of breast cancer tissues. The concentrations were 0.67 +/- 0.36 microgram/g (average +/- SD) in normal breast tissue, and 1.26 +/- 0.26 microgram/g in breast cancer tissue. Twenty-eight patients with recurrent breast cancers were treated with a combination chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU (200 mg/m2/day P 0 days 1-28), ADR (27 mg/m2 IV day 1, 8), and Cyclophosphamide (67 mg/m2/day P 0 days 1-28). Response was assessed to the U.I.C.C. criteria. The response rate was 39% (PR: 39%, CR: 0%), and duration of response was 11 +/- 8 months (average +/- SD). Metastasis to lung, liver and brain responded very well to CAF therapy. On the other hand, fifteen patients with recurrent breast cancer were treated with a combination chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU (200 mg/m2/day P 0 days 1-28), cyclophosphamide (67 mg/m2/day P 0 days 1-28) and ADR (27 mg/m2 IV day 1, 8). Response rate was 33% (PR: 33%, CR: 0%). These results indicate that anticancer agents with high tissue concentration have higher antitumor activities.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Messenger RNA activities of four acute phase proteins during inflammation.

Poly(A)+ RNA isolated from the livers of normal rats and of rats suffering from an acute inflammation was translated in a cell-free translation system from rabbit reticulocytes. The translation products were immunoprecipitated with specific antisera against alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 2-macroglobulin, transferrin, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and albumin. 15 to 21 h after intramuscular injection of turpentine 73-, 66-, 2.8-, and 2-fold increases in translatable mRNAs for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 2-macroglobulin, transferrin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, respectively, were observed. For albumin a decrease in translatable mRNA to about 30% of controls was measured.

Animals↗

Gangliosides of hog skeletal muscle.

The ganglioside content of hog skeletal muscle was 27 nmol/g wet weight when calculated as lipid-bound sialic acid. The elution profile on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography showed that the monosialoganglioside fraction (61% of total lipid-bound sialic acid) contained at least seven major gangliosides and that the disialoganglioside fraction (25%) contained four major ones. These gangliosides were purified by latrobeads column chromatography, and from the results of sugar analysis, specific enzymatic hydrolysis, a permethylation study and CrO3 oxidation, the structures of these gangliosides were determined to be as follows: A, GM3(NeuAc); B, GM3(NeuGc); C, sialosylparagloboside(NeuAc); D sialosylparagloboside (NeuGc); E, GM1(NeuAc); F, GM1(NeuGc); G, sialosyllactosaminylparagloboside(NeuAc) (monosialogangliosides) and H, GD1a(NeuAc, NeuAc); I, GD1a(NeuAc, NeuGc); J, GD1a(NeuGc, NeuGc); K, GD1b(NeuAc, NeuAc) (disialogangliosides), where NeuAc is N-acetylneuraminic acid and NeuGc is N-glycolylneuraminic acid as sialyl groups. The major fatty acids of gangliosides A, D and G were mainly C16:0, but those of the others, E, F, H, J and K, were C16:0, C18:0, C22:0 and C24:0. The long-chain bases were predominantly C18:1 sphingosine in all gangliosides.

Animals↗

The biosynthesis of acute-phase proteins in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The biosynthesis and secretion of alpha 2-macroglobulin, transferrin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor were studied in rat hepatocyte primary cultures. After labeling with [35S]methionine, two forms, which can be separated electrophoretically differing by molecular weight, were found for each of the four glycoproteins. The following molecular weights were estimated for the intracellular precursors and the secreted forms: alpha 2-macroglobulin, 176 000 and 182 000; transferrin, 84 000 and 86 000; alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, 39 000 and 43 000-60 000; alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, 49 000 and 54 000. Carbohydrate moieties could be removed from intracellular forms by treatment with endoglucosaminidase H indicating that their oligosaccharide chains were of the high-mannose type. The extracellular forms were sensitive to sialidase. They incorporated [3H]galactose and [3H]fucose showing that their oligosaccharide chains were of the complex type. Pulse-chase experiments revealed a precursor-product relationship for the high-mannose and the complex type glycoproteins. In the hepatocyte medium newly synthesized albumin was detected after 30 min and newly synthesized glycoproteins after 60 min. Unglycosylated alpha 2-macroglobulin (162 000), transferrin (79 000), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (23 000), and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (41 000) were found in the cells as well as in the medium, when the transfer of oligosaccharide chains onto the polypeptide chains was blocked by tunicamycin. Tunicamycin led to a marked reduction of the secretion of alpha 2-macroglobulin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, whereas the secretion of transferrin was less affected.

Animals↗

Distribution of glycoconjugates in normal human skin using biotinyl lectins and avidin-horseradish peroxidase.

Lectin binding patterns in normal human skin were studied using five different biotinyl lectins and avidin-horseradish peroxidase. The staining pattern was specific for each lectin. In the epidermis, peanut agglutinin (PNA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA) preferentially stained the cell membranes of keratinocytes in the spinous and granular cell layers, indicating changes in the saccharide residues during keratinocyte differentiation. In the secretory segment of an eccrine sweat gland, the superficial cells gave a strong granular staining with Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA). Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and SBA, on the other hand, strongly stained the basal cells. With these lectins, two types of cells in the secretory segment were clearly distinguished. These results show that (1) PNA and SBA binding sites increase during the course of keratinocyte differentiation, and (2) RCA, DBA, and SBA are good markers to distinguish two types of cells in the secretory segment of an eccrine sweat gland.

Avidin↗

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a rural area of Japan: by 75 g OGTT.

Tests for DM using the 75 g OGTT method (NDDG diagnostic criteria) were performed on 3145 persons living in rural areas of 8 different geographical regions of Japan (from Tohoku to Kyushu regions). Considerable regional difference was observed with western Japan tending to have higher DM and IGT rates than eastern Japan. The DM and IGT prevalence rates (for rural areas in Japan) were 3.9% and 6.9% respectively, and the DM detection rate was 2.8%. Comparison between normals and disturbance of glucose tolerance group (DM and IGT) on the basis of risk factors for atherosclerotic angiopathy showed that those with abnormal findings were definitely more numerous in the disturbance of glucose tolerance group.

Blood Glucose↗

Expression of the cDNA for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, a rat plasma protein, in Escherichia coli.

Polyadenylated RNA was isolated from acute-phase liver and transcribed into cDNA. After homopolymer tailing this was cloned into the PstI site of pBR322 which was used to transform E. coli RR1 cells. Clones containing cDNA corresponding to acute-phase proteins were identified by differential hybridization with 32P-labelled normal and acute-phase cDNA. A clone synthesizing about 10 ng of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein per E. coli colony was detected using a solid-phase based immunochemical procedure. The identification of the clone was verified by competition assay with authentic alpha 1-acid glycoprotein isolated from serum and by restriction analysis of the cDNA inserted into pBR322.

Animals↗