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Biomedical subjects

M Noguchi

Publications and source records attributed to M Noguchi.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources

[A case of growth hormone-producing adenoma presenting as a non-functioning tumor at recurrence].

The authors report a case of recurrent pituitary adenoma, which changed its endocrinological function from GH producing to non-functioning. A 37-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of headaches, amenorrhea and acromegalic features. Skull X-rays showed marked ballooning of the sella turcica and mild thickening of the calvarium. X-rays of the hands and feet revealed moderate acromegalic changes. On pneumoventriculography, the tumor elevated the floor of the third ventricle. The serum GH level was 29.3 ng/ml, which did not respond to insulin induced hypoglycemia. Radical removal of the tumor was performed through a right frontal craniotomy. Histologically, it was diagnosed as a pituitary eosinophilic adenoma. Immunostains revealed the presence of many GH positive cells in the adenoma. Since the post-operative GH levels were still high (12-16 ng/ml), irradiation to the sellar region was carried out. The serum GH concentration gradually decreased to the normal level in one year after the irradiation. At that time no sellar tumor could be found on CT scans. The patient had been well for six years until she noticed hearing impairment of her right ear. She was re-admitted about seven years after the first admission because of cerebellar ataxia and hearing loss. CT scans revealed a recurrent tumor extending from the sellar region to the right cerebello-pontine angle. Serum GH levels on admission were within normal range (3-4 ng/ml). The tumor was partially removed by suboccipital craniectomy. Pathologically, the tumor was reported as a pituitary chromophobe adenoma. With immunostains, no GH positive cells could be found in the adenoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acromegaly↗

Histologic demonstration of antigens reactive with anti-p21 ras monoclonal antibody (RAP-5) in human stomach cancers.

The immunohistochemical reactivity of RAP-5, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to positions 10-17 of the ras gene product from T24 bladder carcinoma, was studied in 96 surgically resected stomach cancers of humans. The cytoplasm of cancer cells in 65 cases (68%) was positively stained with MoAb RAP-5, although the staining was heterogeneous among cancer cells. There was no definite correlation between depth of tumor invasion and reactivity to MoAb RAP-5. Cancer cells of poorly differentiated tumors showed a tendency to react less frequently and less intensely to MoAb RAP-5. In nontumorous gastric mucosa, parietal cells and some portions of intestinal metaplasia were stained with MoAb RAP-5. These findings suggest an increased expression of the ras gene product (p21) in about two-thirds of gastric adenocarcinomas and in some nonneoplastic gastric epithelial cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Urinary trehalase activity during normal pregnancy: tubular dysfunctions].

By measuring urinary trehalase which is localized in renal brush borders, we examined whether tubular dysfunction occurred or not during and after normal pregnancy. Urinary trehalase activity in 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, and 3rd trimester was increased significantly as compared with the controls (=non-pregnant women) (p less than 0.01). After delivery, urinary trehalase activity in puerperal 5th day was decreased to the level of the 1st trimester, and the activity of puerperal on the 30th day was in the range of the control value. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) in the 1st trimester and 2nd trimester was not increased significantly as compared with the controls. Urinary beta 2-MG in the 3rd trimester, however, was significantly higher than that in the controls. After delivery, the value for beta 2-MG in puerperal on the 5th day was not decreased significantly as compared with the 3rd trimester, and in puerperal on the 30th day, urinary beta 2-MG was decreased to the control value. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the 3rd trimester was significantly higher than that in the controls (p less than 0.01) and in the 1st trimester (p less than 0.02). After delivery, a significant decrease was observed in urinary NAG between 5th puerperal day and the 3rd trimester. Moreover, urinary NAG on the 30th puerperal day was the level of the controls. On the basis of these results, it is inferred that tubular dysfunction is observed during normal pregnancy.

Female↗

Evaluation of gastrointestinal function with isotopic tracers.

Nuclear medicine is the application of tracer methodology mainly to clinical diagnosis. We use chemical compounds labelled with radioisotopes as tracers. The examinations provide us with the information on regional function of tissues and organs. In this review we describe the nuclear medicine procedures for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases based on our experiences. The emphasis is put on the evaluation of the functional aspect of the gastrointestinal tract. The procedures to be described include diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum by gastric mucosal scintigraphy, measurement of esophageal, gastric and intestinal transit, detection of portocaval shunt and measurement of lactose absorption and detection of bacterial deconjugation of bile salts by means of breath analysis technique.

Bile Reflux↗

[A diagnostic imaging system for cancer localization using an excimer dye laser].

Hematoporphyrin derivative has an affinity for malignant tissue and emits a red fluorescence when exposed to excitatory light. Therefore it is theoretically possible to make a diagnosis of cancer localization by observation of this fluorescence. The authors have been developing a new imaging system for cancer diagnosis using an excimer-dye laser. The excimer pulse has a 308 nm ultraviolet beam emitted by XeCl. Simplification and accuracy of the fluorescence diagnostic procedure was achieved by utilizing the nature of the pulse and a polychrometer. The diagnostic system permits endoscopic examination under ordinary observation light. Investigations have been performed in animal tumor models including FM-mouse (breast cancer) and beagle dog (esophageal cancer). Tumor tissue showed a distinct fluorescence, but no fluorescence could be observed in normal tissue, 72 hours after hematoporphyrin derivative administration.

Animals↗

Effect of adriamycin entrapped by sulfatide-containing liposomes on ovarian tumor-bearing nude mice.

Sulfatide-containing liposomes showed the highest degree of adriamycin entrapment of all the liposomes tested. Adriamycin was bound to the sulfatide anions on the liposomal membrane, inserted into the membrane, and incorporated into the aqueous compartment of the vesicle. Liposome-entrapped adriamycin was maintained at a much higher blood level than free adriamycin, and reached a lower concentration in the heart than did the free drug, which might lead to lower cardiotoxicity of the drug. Incorporation of adriamycin into ovarian tumor transplanted into nude mice was increased when entrapped by the sulfatide-containing liposomes. Liposome-entrapped adriamycin did not induce the drastic loss of body weight which occurred with the free drug. The growth of ovarian tumor was inhibited by liposome-entrapped adriamycin to the same degree as free adriamycin. Having these advantages, sulfatide-containing liposomes could be useful carriers of adriamycin for cancer chemotherapy.

Animals↗

[Development of gait in children--characteristics of gait in children from the viewpoint of ground reaction force].

Walking patterns of fifty-seven normal children were studied using large-sized force plates and compared with those of normal adults. In the vertical component of the ground reaction force, the peak of the deceleration phase was higher than that of the acceleration phase in younger children. In the sagittal component, the peak of the deceleration phase was higher than that of the acceleration phase, particularly in younger children. The point of change from the deceleration phase to the acceleration phase appeared earlier than that of adults. The lateral component in younger children was relatively larger than that of the older children and adults. The period of change from the child walking pattern to the adult walking pattern in each component was as follows:--In the sagittal component it was about five years of age, in the vertical component at about six years of age and in the lateral component at about nine years of age.

Adult↗

Clinical significance of statistical discrimination employing serum TA-4, TPA, and CEA levels in uterine cervical cancer.

The serum levels of TA-4, TPA, and CEA were measured simultaneously in 52 patients with uterine cervical cancer and 99 healthy females. The findings were examined statistically by discriminant analysis method. The diagnostic usefulness of discriminant analysis employing the serum values for these three tumor markers was studied for uterine cervical cancer and compared with the diagnostic efficacy using each tumor marker alone. The following results were obtained: In the uterine cervical cancer patients, the frequencies of cases with the elevated serum levels were 55.8% for TA-4, 46.2% for TPA, and 36.5% for CEA. The functional formula, Z = 1.8395 log TA-4 + 3.5314 log TPA + 1.0130 log CEA-7.7352, was obtained by the stepwise discriminant analysis method. With the values obtained from this formula, 71.2% of patients with uterine cervical cancer were correctly classified in the uterine cervical cancer group. In the uterine cervical cancer patients, the values obtained from this formula increased according to the progression of the clinical stage and reflected the disappearance or persistence of tumor lesions after several therapies. From the above results, it was concluded that the discriminant analysis employing the serum values for three tumor markers was extremely useful in determining complete remission of uterine cervical cancers after several therapies, as well as for early diagnosis of the recurrences in uterine cervical cancer which were not detected by the cytologic smear examinations, compared with the measurement for each tumor marker alone. This discriminant analysis, however, was less effective for early diagnosis of uterine cervical cancer than the cervical cytologic smear test.

Analysis of Variance↗

Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to rat alpha 2-macroglobulin mRNA.

Rat alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is an acute-phase protein synthesized in the liver. Using an in vitro translation system coupled with solid-phase radioimmunoassay, alpha 2M mRNA activity was found to rise to a maximum level in 16-24 h after turpentine injection. Poly(A)+ RNA from turpentine-injected rat liver was converted to cDNA by the method of Okayama-Berg, and about 50,000 transformants were obtained. From these transformants, clones containing alpha 2M cDNA were selected using the following criteria: 1) alpha 2M cDNA should hybridize with synthetic oligonucleotides encoding portions of the alpha 2M amino acid sequence, 2) alpha 2M cDNA should hybridize preferentially with RNA which increases during inflammation, 3) mRNA which hybridizes with alpha 2M cDNA should encode a polypeptide which specifically reacts with antibody against alpha 2M, and 4) the cDNA should contain the nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequences of alpha 2M. We found clones which fulfilled these criteria. Using the cDNA clone as a probe, we demonstrated that the level of alpha 2M mRNA in the liver of inflamed animal markedly increased up to 1000-fold. The size of the alpha 2M mRNA was about 4800 nucleotides in length by Northern analysis.

Animals↗

Efficient chromatographic fractionation of steroids in human serum through regulation of liquid--liquid distribution ratios.

To improve the clean-up process in the analysis of biological fluid constituents, an efficient liquid--liquid distribution system was developed. Closed-bed columns containing fine diatomaceous earth granules were prepared by slurry packing for the fractionation of steroid hormones in human serum before quantitative assay by liquid chromatography or radioimmunoassay. Four columns were connected to construct the aqueous liquid--liquid chromatography--fractionation system. The first was coated with neutral water for distribution of serum, the second was weakly alkaline with sodium hydrogen carbonate for extrusion of strong acidic components, and the third was strongly alkaline with sodium hydroxide to capture oestrogens. The final column was acidic with sulphuric acid to remove basic components. Optimization of the stepwise gradient solvents was achieved on the basis of the results of a linear relationship between the logarithms of the capacity ratios and solvent composition determined from an analytical run. Neutral steroid hormones added to serum were eluted from the column system by a stepwise gradient elution technique to obtain first very non-polar materials, then progesterone and testosterone, and finally to extract the corticosteroids. Phenolic oestrogens were recovered from the strong alkaline column with a mobile phase solvent after the pH of the stationary phase had been adjusted with a phase transfer neutralizer. The fractional constituents were purified and enriched. This procedure was used to determine Solu-medrol, an acidic corticosteroid drug, in human serum.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Ontogenetic appearance of immunoreactive GRF-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamus.

Ontogenetic development of GRF-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamus was studied employing antisera which were generated against hpGRF (1-44)NH2 and rhGRF(1-43)OH: anti-hpGRF-C and -rhGRF sera recognize the species-specific C-terminal portions of the peptides, and anti-hpGRF-MC and -N sera recognize hpGRF(27-44)NH2 and the N-terminal portion of hpGRF(1-44)NH2, respectively. The anti-hpGRF-C and -rhGRF sera stained different neuronal cell bodies, which were localized in distinct hypothalamic areas. The former serum did not stain the axonal terminals in the median eminence, but the latter stained them strongly. The anti-hpGRF-MC and -N sera stained neuronal cell bodies, some of which corresponded to those immunolabelled with anti-hpGRF-C or -rhGRF serum. The anti-rhGRF serum first demonstrated immunoreactive perikarya in the ventral-lateral border of the arcuate nucleus of 19.5-day-old fetuses that had received an intraventricular colchicine administration 24 h previously. The immunoreactive fibers were recognized first in the external layer of the median eminence of untreated fetuses on day 19.5 of gestation, and then they increased in amount with development. No immunoreactive fibers, however, were found in the median eminence of colchicine-treated animals during the fetal period. It is concluded that in rats GRF may be synthesized in the perikarya on day 18.5 of gestation and conveyed to the median eminence without delay via axonal flow.

Aging↗

Analyses of H-2 restriction specificity of helper T cells in fully allogeneic bone marrow chimera in mice.

Using irradiation bone marrow chimeras to analyze restriction specificity of helper T cells, we found that recipient H-2 type dictated the H-2 type which the T cells recognize as self (adaptive differentiation). T cells from (H-2b----H-2k) chimeras cooperate with non-T cells bearing Iak to generate a vigorous PFC response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) in vitro, but not with genetically identical H-2b cells. However, when T cells from the chimeras and H-2b non-T cells were adoptively transferred into irradiated (donor X recipient) F1 mice with SRBC, marked responses were seen in recipient spleens where radio-resistant F1 macrophages might exist and act as antigen presenting cells (APC). From these in vitro and in vivo observations, we considered that in the primary antibody response to a T dependent antigen such as SRBC, only T cell-macrophage (APC) matching is required. In contrast, when T cells from H-2 incompatible chimeras which had been primed with SRBC in vivo were analyzed in vitro, these cells cooperated also with H-2b non-T cells. These findings indicate that there may be two separate stages of T cell differentiation during which the self restriction specificity is acquired: one appears to be responsive to intrathymic influences and is not associated with antigenic stimuli, and the other shows signs of being responsive to post-thymic stimuli and of involving antigenic presentation. Moreover, the latter appears to utilize the influence of donor type macrophages.

Animals↗

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA for the luminescent protein aequorin.

The luminescent jellyfish Aequorea contains a photoprotein, aequorin, which emits light by an intramolecular reaction in the presence of a trace amount of Ca2+. A cDNA library of Aequorea was constructed and clones carrying the cDNA for the Ca2+-dependent photoprotein were isolated by the method of colony hybridization using synthetic oligonucleotide probes. The primary structure of the protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence showed that the protein is composed of 189 amino acid residues and has three E-F hand structures that are characteristic for Ca2+-binding sites. The sequence also suggested that the protein has hydrophobic regions at which the protein may interact with its functional chromophore, coelenterazine.

Aequorin↗