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Biomedical subjects

M Ohashi

Publications and source records attributed to M Ohashi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Tumor-specific gene expression in carcinoembryonic antigen--producing gastric cancer cells using adenovirus vectors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: An increase of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression is noted in about 40% of patients with gastric cancer. Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy using the CEA promoter was investigated as a way to specifically target human CEA-producing gastric tumors. METHODS: Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying a CEA promoter linked to the lacZ gene (AdCEA lacZ) or the cytosine deaminase gene (AdCEA-CD) were constructed. After infection with these vectors, CEA-producing (MKN45 and MKN28) and non-CEA-producing (MKN1) gastric cancer cells were analyzed for transgene expression and sensitivity to 5-fluorocytosine. RESULTS: The lacZ gene was expressed selectively in CEA-producing AdCEA-lacZ-infected cells in vitro and in vivo. Transduction of the vector containing the CEA-regulated cytosine deaminase gene (AdCEA-CD) resulted in extraordinary sensitivity of MKN45 and MKN28 cells to 5-fluorocytosine. This effect was not observed in MKN1 cells. Moreover, AdCEA-CD-infected MKN45 cells showed a profound in vitro neighbor cell killing effect in the presence of 5-fluorocytosine. This effect was attributed to the diffusion of 5-fluorouracil, resulting from conversion of 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil by the cytosine deaminase-expressing cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that use of a CEA promoter in an adenovirus vector could confer selective expression of the cytosine deaminase gene in CEA-producing gastric cancer cells, rendering the transduced cells susceptible to 5 fluorocytosine. This system may be useful in gene therapy that targets CEA-producing gastric carcinomas.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1996

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation in cirrhotic patients: removal of common bile duct stones without sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is a less invasive alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). This study reviews a series of cirrhotic patients with bile duct stones who were treated with EPBD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EPBD was used to remove common bile duct stones in nine cirrhotic patients (one in Child-Pugh grade A, four in grade B, and four in grade C). After the papilla was dilated with balloon-tipped catheter, the stones were removed with a retrieval basket catheter or a retrieval balloon, or both. Mechanical lithotripsy was required in two patients with stones of more than 1 cm in diameter. RESULTS: Clearance of the common bile duct was achieved in all patients without any serious complications such as hemorrhage or perforation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EPBD is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of common bile duct stones in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

P53 gene deficiency does not enhance instability of mouse minisatellites in somatic cells of normal tissues.

The effect of p53-deficiency on somatic mutation of minisatellites in normal tissues was examined using p53-deficient (-/-) mice. In total, 248 mice consisting of three different genotypes, +/+, +/ -and -/-, were obtained and DNA from their embryos was probed with two minisatellites, Pc-1 and Pc-2. The somatic mutation was detected by Southern blot hybridization as the presence of a third nonparental band reflecting mosaicism in tissues. Mutation frequency of Pc-1 for (+/+) and (+/-) was 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively, which is consistent with previous studies. On the other hand, none of the mice lacking the p53 gene (-/-) exhibited mutation. The Pc-2 probe did not show any somatic mutation in the three groups. These results suggest that the p53 deficiency does not enhance the genomic instability of the minisatellite loci in normal somatic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Two cases of protothecosis in Nagoya, Japan.

Two cases of protothecosis caused by Prototheca wickerhamii have been reported from Nagoya in a 12 year period in both cases the infection presented on the cheeks of otherwise healthy women. Biopsies showed numerous PAS positive staining organisms with the distinctive mulberry like endosporulation in the dermis. Prototheca wickerhamii was identified on sugar assimilation tests of colonies isolated from tissue on Sabouraud agar. Case 1 responded to 11 months of oral ketoconazole therapy. Case 2 might not respond to itraconazole. The source of the infections has not been identified.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of the hydroxyl radical on fibroblast-mediated collagen remodelling in vitro.

1. It has been reported that free radicals prevent wound healing. However, the mechanism of this effect is not yet clear. We attempted to clarify the influence of hydroxyl radicals on wound healing in vitro. 2. We used an ascorbate-copper ion system (ACS) to produce hydroxyl radicals in accordance with variables of time elapsed and concentration of copper ion. The effects of hydroxyl radical on fibroblast-mediated collagen remodelling, cell viability, the functions of fibroblasts and collagen fibrils were studied. 3. With a copper ion concentration of 100 mumol/L ACS significantly reduced contraction, while 10 mumol/L stimulated contraction. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was employed in observing these findings. ACS did not influence cell viability, the expression of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin and cellular fibronectin, or the cytoskeletal organization of fibroblasts involving actin until 3 h. A concentration of ACS at 10 mumol/L of copper ion induced the polymerization of collagen after 30 min, while ACS at 100 mumol/L induced collagen degradation; this finding was also established by using H2O2. Collagen reduced the amount of formaldehyde produced by trapping hydroxyl radical with dimethyl sulfoxide. 4. Our findings suggest that collagen is denatured by scavenging the hydroxyl radical before fibroblasts are damaged, so that the radical may influence the remodelling of collagen.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1996

Apoptotic cell death in formation of vesicular skin lesions in patients with acquired zinc deficiency.

We investigated the role of apoptotic cell death in the production of skin lesions in patients with acquired zinc deficiency. Nuclear condensation of keratinocytes was observed at an early stage of skin lesions in patients with zinc deficiency, especially around vesicular lesions. Nuclei of keratinocytes in perivesicular lesions of the epidermis were positively stained by the nick-end labeling specific for fragmented DNA. Lewis Y antigen was also expressed on perivesicular lesions. On the other hand, there were no such positively stained cells in hyperkeratotic skin lesions of the patients. Therefore, it was suggested that apoptotic cell death might play a role in the formation of vesicular skin lesions in patients with zinc deficiency, but not in the formation of hyperkeratotic skin lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 47 DNA in malignant lesions from epidermodysplasia verruciformis by protocols for precise typing of related HPV DNAs.

Our discovery of human papillomavirus type 47 (HPV47) in benign lesions from a patient suffering from epidermodysplasia verruciformis prompted us to examine whether the viral DNA also resided in malignant lesions from the same patient. By using newly devised protocols for amplifying a group of epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated HPV DNAs by PCR and differentially identifying them by reverse-phase dot blot hybridization, we demonstrated that HPV47 DNA, but not other HPV DNAs of the group, was abundant (about 10(3) copies per diploid amount of cell DNA) in DNAs prepared from three carcinomas. Using DNA from one of these carcinomas, we also confirmed that DNA of HPV5, HPV14, or HPV21, detected in significant amounts in DNAs from benign lesions from the patient, were present only in negligible amounts or not at all. The results suggest the involvement of HPV47 DNA in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrated by the Southern technique that most, if not all, of the HPV47 DNA consists of either a unit (or a nongrossly deleted unit) length of the viral genome carrying no (or no gross) internal rearrangements or tandem repeats. This and other results obtained by this technique indicated that a considerable amount of the viral DNA resides as a circular monomer a unit length of the viral genome in carcinoma cells, while the remainder reside as catenanes, concatemers, or both. The concatemers were considered more likely to be replicated without integration into cellular DNA than to be integrated, because no bands for the corresponding fragments including integration sites were detected by treatment with restriction enzymes that would have produced such fragments.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Effects of guizhi-fuling-wan on male infertility with varicocele.

Thirty-seven infertile patients with varicocele were treated with Guizhi-Fuling-Wan (7.5 g/day) for at least 3 months. Before and after the administration, semen qualities such as sperm concentration and motility were examined, and the varicocele was graded. A varicocele disappearance rate of 80% was obtained with 40 out of 50 varicocele, and improvement of sperm concentration and motility were found in 71.4% and 62.1% of patients, respectively. From these results, Guizhi-Fuling-Wan is considered to be effective for circulation disorders in varicocele as well as semen quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Role of adhesion molecules in the development of pustular lesions in patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris.

The expression of adhesion molecules and the ligands on endothelial cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells in lesional skin specimens from patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris was studied. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin were expressed on endothelial cells of microvessels in the papillary dermis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was also expressed focally on keratinocytes in the epidermis of the lesional skin. On the other hand, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, Mac-1 and sialyl Lewis(x) were expressed on infiltrating inflammatory cells. Further, flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that circulating leukocytes in peripheral blood from patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris expressed the ligands of adhesion molecules. It is therefore suggested that the expression of adhesion molecules and the ligands on circulating leukocytes, endothelial cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells and keratinocytes might be closely related to the formation of pustular lesions in patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[A case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate].

We experienced a case of mucin producing prostate carcinoma, which occurred 46-year-old male patient. Serum tumor markers of prostate carcinoma were all in normal levels, and physical findings were similar to those of benign prostate hypertrophy. Histopathological study showed poorly differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma occupying more than 30% of specimen. In literatures there seemed two types of mucin producing prostate carcinoma, the one is different from usual prostate carcinoma as our case and the other is a subtype of usual one, and so it was suggested that we must respect to this point on diagnosis and therapy of it.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1996

Cutaneous amyloidosis in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis.

It is rarely reported that amyloidosis occurs as a complication of progressive systematic sclerosis (PSS), in comparison with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We observed pigmentation on the upper back of six of sixty-six patients with PSS (9 percent), and recognized amyloid deposits in the skin on histochemical and electron microscopic examinations. These amyloid deposits were localized cutaneous type, according to results of morphologic and immunologic studies. Patients' levels of serum amyloid A were normal or moderately elevated. Two of the six patients had Barnett type I disease and four had Barnett type II; none had severe visceral involvement with PSS.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Pathogenesis and treatments of glucose intolerance with liver cirrhosis in men--lessons from the clinical cases of Fukuoka City Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan].

More than 30% of the end stage liver cirrhosis was complicated by the impared glucose tolerance, in some of which insulin supplements may be required to control the blood glucose level. However, there are many unsolved issues on the cause and cares of hyperglycemia in cirrhotic men. Here, we presented a case of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular caricnoma complicated by the severe glucose intolerance, and summarized our recent insulin therapy on the glucose intolerance of the decompensated liver cirrhosis in Fukuoka City Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1996

Secretory protein 7B2 response to oral glucose loading and intravenous glucagon injection in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Serum 7B2 concentrations in control subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus were measured following a 75 g oral glucose load and following intravenous glucagon infusion. In response to oral glucose, serum 7B2 levels increased in the controls (n = 10) and in the diabetic patients (n = 7). The increment of the serum 7B2 level was smaller in the diabetic patients than the controls. During the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (75g OGTT), serum 7B2 levels were significantly positively correlated with serum C-peptide levels. In contrast, following intravenous glucagon infusion, serum 7B2 levels increased only in diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (n = 20) and did not increase in controls (n = 5): the group having the highest insulin secretion activity in the present study, nor in diet or insulin-treated diabetic patients. No correlation between serum 7B2 levels and serum CPR levels was observed in the intravenous glucagon infusion study. These data suggest that an extra-pancreatic source which produces the observed serum 7B2 increase following oral glucose intake can not be excluded and that 7B2 may not be secreted concomitantly with insulin from the pancreatic beta cell in response to intravenous glucagon injection.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

An observation on subsurface defects of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene due to rolling contact.

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been used in artificial joints for a few decades, and wear of UHMWPE has been one of the main problems. Though many other materials have been tested over the years, the best clinical results are still achieved with UHMWPE. This makes the study of UHMWPE, especially in relation to artificial joints, very important. Frequently, more severe wear can be observed in artificial knee joints than in artificial hip joints especially when the flaking-like wear occurs. This flaking-like wear can lead to significant destruction of the artificial knee joint. Macroscopically, artificial knee joints have combinational movements of rolling and sliding in order to simulate the motion of the normal knee joint. The components of motion are separated to make study easier. Fatigue tests of UHMWPE under the rolling contact condition were performed in this study. Three ceramic spheres were rolled over the UHMWPE specimen using 37 degrees C distilled water as a lubricant. The UHMWPE specimen was observed by the scanning acoustic tomography, microscopy, and SEM. Some subsurface defects could be observed by SAT even before experiments. Although the apparent wear is not observed on the surface, there was an increase in the number of observable subsurface cracks in the UHMWPE specimen. This shows that cracks occur under the surface after a 10(7) rolling contact loading, which is very close to the cyclic loading and unloading with very little friction compared to the sliding contact.

Ceramics↗
PubMed1995

A role for phosphatidylinositol transfer protein in secretory vesicle formation.

Vesicular traffic in eukaryotic cells is characterized by two steps of membrane rearrangement: the formation of vesicles from donor membranes and their fusion with acceptor membranes. With respect to vesicle formation, several of the cytosolic proteins implicated in budding and fission have been identified. A feature common to all these proteins is that their targets, when known, are other proteins rather than lipids. Here we report, using a previously established cell-free system derived from a neuroendocrine cell line, the purification of cytosolic factors that stimulate the formation of constitutive secretory vesicles and immature secretory granules from the trans-Golgi network. One such factor, referred to as CAST1, was identified as the alpha and beta isoforms of the mammalian phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PtdIns-TP) (refs 3-5). The yeast PtdIns-TP, SEC14p (ref. 6), which has no sequence homology to mammalian PtdIns-TP (refs 7,8), was able to substitute for the mammalian PtdIns-TP in secretory vesicle formation. Our results suggest a highly conserved role for phosphoinositides in vesicle formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Changes in the mononuclear cell subpopulations of rat cardiac transplant recipients administered FK506 for the treatment of ongoing rejection.

The inhibitory effect of ongoing rejection and the changes that occurred in mononuclear cell subpopulations were compared between four groups of rats treated with FK506 or steroids. Group 1 was given no immunosuppressive drugs, group 2 was given FK506 from the day of grafting, group 3 was commenced on FK506 on the 4th day after grafting, and group 4 was commenced on methylprednisolone (MP) on the 4th day after grafting. The graft survival times in groups 2 and 3 were significantly longer than those in groups 1 and 4, and there were fewer CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in the groups treated with immunosuppressive drugs than in group 1. In group 4, the levels in both the peripheral blood and thymus were significantly lower than those in the groups treated with FK506 despite the fact that graft rejection occurred soon after the discontinuation of steroid administration. Moreover, the levels of interleukin-2 receptors and macrophages in groups 2, 3, and 4 were significantly lower than that in group 1 postoperatively; however, the number of macrophages in groups 2 and 3 was significantly lower than that in group 4 on the 10th day after transplantation. The findings of this study demonstrated that FK506, even if administered after rejection has begun, might inhibit the subsequent extensive allograft rejection more specifically and effectively than steroids, and that the measurement of a marker for macrophages in the peripheral blood could be useful for the detection of rejection following allograft transplantation in rats.

Animals↗