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Biomedical subjects

M Shimizu

Publications and source records attributed to M Shimizu.

At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources

In vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of the interferon inducer bropirimine.

In vivo and in vitro antitumor effects of an interferon (IFN)-alpha inducer, bropirimine (2-amino-5-bromo-6-phenyl-4(3H)-pyrimidinone), were examined in the murine tumor system. The antitumor effects were studied in Meth A cells, which were the most sensitive to bropirimine in the murine cell lines tested. The direct inhibitory activity of the drug was not reduced when Meth A cells were incubated with bropirimine and anti-IFNs, indicating that the inhibition is not due to autocrine IFN induction from tumor cells. The drug partially inhibited the uptake of [3H]thymidine, [3H]uridine and [3H]leucine. Cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry showed that the drug decreased G0/G1 phase and increased G2/M phase Meth A cells. The drug administered i.p. exhibited a remarkable antitumor effect against Meth A cells which were implanted i.p. These results suggested that the drug induced the in vivo antitumor effect by its direct antitumor activity.

Animals↗

I-123 MIBG imaging of metastatic carcinoid tumor from the rectum.

I-131 MIBG, a specific radiopharmaceutical agent for scintigraphic imaging and treatment of pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma may be useful for detection of apudomas. Scintigraphy with I-123 radiolabeled MIBG was performed in a patient with metastatic carcinoid tumor from the rectum. I-123 MIBG scintigraphic findings showed multiple areas of abnormal tumor uptake of hepatic and bone metastases from the rectal carcinoid. Bone scintigraphy demonstrated multiple metastatic lesions. Computed tomography revealed multiple solid tumors of the liver. This report describes accumulation of I-123 MIBG in the liver and bone metastases from the rectal carcinoid. Radioiodine MIBG scintigraphy may be useful for detecting metastatic lesions, for evaluating postoperative recurrence, and also for the treatment of the carcinoid tumor.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Remission of pustular psoriasis after cholecystectomy: role of focal infection in pustularization of psoriasis.

We report an 81-year-old male with long lasting psoriasis with exacerbation who showed remission of skin lesions after cholecystectomy. He consulted our clinic for impetiginous skin lesions and was treated with oral antibiotics without improvement. Several days later, he developed right hypochondralgia and was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis with gallstones. After cholecystectomy, the skin lesions significantly improved and disappeared within three weeks. Laboratory examination data indicated that acute inflammatory parameters normalized simultaneously. Although the role of focal infection in psoriasis is obscure, our case emphasizes the importance of focal infection in the pathogenesis of unstable psoriasis.

Aged↗

Primary Sjögren's syndrome and psoriasis vulgaris in a case of OKT4 epitope deficiency.

We report a 29-year-old female OKT4 epitope deficiency patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome and psoriasis vulgaris. Immunological investigations during the prolonged clinical course of her herpes zoster revealed that she has OKT4 epitope deficiency and primary Sjögren's syndrome. She had been treated for psoriasis vulgaris for 17 years without systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Flow cytometric study revealed that her OKT4 deficiency is heterogeneous and excluded interference with the OKT4 epitope by anti OKT4 autoantibodies. The rare coexistence of primary Sjögren's syndrome and psoriasis implicates an immune disturbance due to an unusual phenotype of CD4.

Acyclovir↗

Nodular scleroderma: focally increased tenascin expression differing from that in the surrounding scleroderma skin.

Nodular scleroderma is a rare variant of the disease, whose pathogenesis is uncertain. Tenascin is a recently cloned extracellular matrix protein which is thought to be a marker for tissue remodelling. To further investigate the pathogenesis of nodular scleroderma, we have followed up a case of this disease and studied tenascin expression in the nodular lesions and surrounding progressive systemic sclerosis skin. Previously, we demonstrated a long-lasting intermediate level of dermal tenascin expression in progressive systemic sclerosis; morphea and hypertrophic scar lesions showed strong but short-lived tenascin expression. In our current patient, high levels of tenascin were found in the nodules, which rapidly resolved. Thus, the time course of the clinical and histopathological findings together with the tenascin expression were more suggestive of hypertrophic scar than progressive systemic sclerosis. These findings imply that nodular scleroderma has a supplementary pathogenesis, such as itching, in addition to the proceeding systemic sclerosis.

Adult↗

Sinus arrest developed during gastric cancer operation in a progressive systemic sclerosis patient.

We report a case of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) who suddenly developed sinus arrest during an operation for gastric cancer under general anesthesia. No abnormalities in her cardiac, respiratory or renal functions had been detected before surgery. The cardiac functions evaluated by echocardiogram before and after pacemaking eliminated heart muscular involvement. We speculated that the operation stress induced by general anesthesia altered the asymptomatic fibrotic sinus into apparent sinus dysfunction. Care should be taken in general anesthesia for scleroderma patients who are free from detectable cardiac manifestations.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Immunoglobulins specific to mosquito salivary gland proteins in the sera of persons with common or hypersensitive reactions to mosquito bites.

Using the immunoblot technique, we analyzed the quality and quantity of IgG, IgG4, and IgE specific to mosquito salivary gland (hereafter abbreviate as SG) components of Aedes albopictus in the sera of volunteers with common reactions and of 3 patients with severe reactions. In the volunteers with delayed reactions only or with both delayed and immediate reactions, IgG against SG components of A. albopictus formed several faint or moderately stained bands. Those with immediate reactions showed several intense bands and many other weak bands. In volunteers, who had been bitten by Aedes sp. frequently but had no skin reaction, and in severe cases, many intense IgG bands were observed. IgG4 bound to SG components were found in the sera of the common reaction group at the levels of 24 and 48 kD, but, in one severe case, no bands were observed, although the total IgG was very high. IgE levels specific to SG components were much higher in severe cases than in the volunteers. These results indicate that high titers of specific IgG and IgE and lack of IgG4 for particular components of SG may lead to severe allergic reactions in severe cases. Immunoblotting analysis of the antibodies also verified the possibility of developing in vitro tests to identify causative species of the mosquito for severe cases.

Adult↗

Restoration of the cellular senescence program and repression of telomerase by human chromosome 3.

Telomeres, at the end of chromosomes, shorten with each cell division, resulting in cellular senescence. Tumor cells, unlike normal somatic cells, express a telomerase that maintains the telomere length. Deletion of a gene(s) on chromosome 3 is common in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and reintroduction of a normal chromosome 3 into an RCC immortal cell line restored the program of cellular senescence. The loss of indefinite growth potential was associated with the loss of telomerase activity and shortening of telomeres in the RCC cells with a normal chromosome 3. However, microcell hybrids that escaped from senescence and microcell hybrids with an introduced chromosome 7 or 11 maintained telomere lengths and telomerase activity similar to those of the parental RCC23. Thus, restoration of the cellular senescence program by chromosome 3 is associated with repression of telomerase function in RCC cells.

Base Sequence↗

Hyalinizing trabecular adenoma of the thyroid: its unusual cytoplasmic immunopositivity for MIB1.

The monoclonal antibody Ki-67 reacts with a human nuclear cell proliferation-associated antigen that is expressed in all active parts of the cell cycle and is well established as a marker of cell proliferation. However, the Ki-67 method requires fresh frozen material. Recently, MIB1 has been reported to give an immunohistochemical staining pattern identical to Ki-67 on paraffin-embedded tissue sections, frozen sections and cytological samples. This proliferation-associated antigen is apparently localized in the nucleus. Recently, we performed immunohistochemical staining using the monoclonal MIB1 antibody upon a variety of tumors and non-neoplastic conditions of the thyroid. Tumor cells of hyalinizing trabecular adenoma revealed an intense cytoplasmic immunopositivity for MIB1. In contrast, cytoplasmic immunostaining for MIB1 was negative in all other thyroid tumors and non-neoplastic lesions. Because of this unusual staining pattern, we repeated the staining of all cases and found the results to be reproducible. Therefore, we believe that positive cytoplasmic immunostaining for MIB1 is a characteristic finding of hyalinizing trabecular adenoma and is useful in differentiating it from other thyroid tumors.

Adenoma↗

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis associated with prenatal brain damage.

We describe a 15 year old patient with paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis. Neurological examinations revealed a paresis of the right arm and hand that was similar to ulnar nerve palsy, a right homonymous hemianopsia and an ocular movement disturbance of smooth pursuit to left. Attacks of dystonic spasms began abruptly, usually following running, and lasted less than 5 min. Magnetic resonance imaging displayed a linear area of increased signal in the T2-weighted images along the lateral margin to the left putamen, atrophies of the frontal and temporal opercula and a large porencephalic cyst in the left parieto-temporo-occipital region. A cerebral blood flow study with single photon emission computed tomography showed hypoperfusion of the lenticular nucleus and the regions corresponding to the atrophies and the porencephalic cyst. Electroencephalograms during the attacks could not demonstrate epileptic abnormality. Only the neuronal plasticity of an immature brain could explain the discrepancy between the observed huge lesions of the brain and the minor neurological symptoms present. Attacks of paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis might occur when the basal ganglia maturate to some extent, even if the lesions in the brain were caused before birth.

Adolescent↗

Enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation mediated by 5-HT after chronic amitriptyline treatment in NG 108-15 cells.

1. The effects of chronic in vitro administration of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor-mediated adenylyl cyclase activity was studied in the neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line, NG 108-15. 2. Treatment of NG 108-15 cells with 8 microM amitriptyline for 3 days increased forskolin-stimulated (0.1 microM) adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation. Addition of 5-HT (0.1-100 microM) increased forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in amitriptyline-treated cells in a concentration-dependent manner. However, 5-HT did not affect forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in untreated cells. 3. The 5-HT4 receptor agonist, 5-methoxytryptamine, significantly enhanced forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in amitriptyline-treated cells. In contrast, amitriptyline treatment failed to modify 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamine) tetralin-induced inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. 4. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin did not affect the 5-HT-induced enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation. 5. The 5-HT-induced enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation in amitriptyline-treated cells was attenuated by the 5-HT4 receptor antagonists, GR 113808 and ICS 205-930, with relatively low potency. However, spiperone, SCH 23390, and pindolol were completely ineffective against this 5-HT-induced enhancement. 6. Chronic treatment with amitriptyline did not modify the cyclic AMP production stimulated by prostaglandin E1 or cholera toxin. This treatment also had no effect on GTP gamma S-, NaF-, and Mn(2+)-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated cell membranes. 7. Chronic treatment with the 5-HT receptor antagonists, pindolol or ICS 205-930, did not inhibit the 5-HT-induced enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation.8. Chronic treatment with other antidepressant drugs, imipramine, mianserin or paroxetine, elicited the 5-HT-induced enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation.9. Taken together, these results suggest that chronic amitriptyline treatment of NG 108-15 cells causes 5-HT to enhance forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation by enhancing 5-HT receptor-mediated stimulation of adenylyl cyclase and not by reducing 5-HT-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. The 5-HT-induced enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation in amitriptyline-treated cells may result from changes at the level of the 5-HT receptor rather than at the level of G, proteins or adenylyl cyclase. It is unlikely that this enhancement of cyclic AMP accumulation is caused by long-term antagonism of the 5-HT receptor by amitriptyline.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Stereoselective production of (+)-trans-chrysanthemic acid by a microbial esterase: cloning, nucleotide sequence, and overexpression of the esterase gene of Arthrobacter globiformis in Escherichia coli.

The gene coding for a novel esterase which stereoselectively hydrolyzes the (+)-trans (1R,3R) stereoisomer of ethyl chrysanthemate was cloned from Arthrobacter globiformis SC-6-98-28 and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The cellular content of the active enzyme reached 33% of the total soluble protein in the recombinant E. coli JM105 cells and 5.6 g/liter of culture by high-density cell cultivation. The hydrolytic activity of the recombinant E. coli cells for ethyl chrysanthemate reached 605 mumol of chrysanthemic acid per min per g of dry cells, which is approximately 2,500-fold higher than that of A. globiformis cells. The stereoselective hydrolysis by the recombinant E. coli cells was efficient at substrate concentrations of up to 40% by removing the produced chrysanthemic acid by ultrafiltration. The (+)-trans-chrysanthemic acid produced had 100% optical purity. The amino acid sequence of the esterase was found to be similar to that of several class C beta-lactamases, D,D-carboxypeptidase, D-aminopeptidase, 6-aminohexanoate-dimer hydrolase, and Pseudomonas esterase. The sequence comparison also suggested that the Ser-X-X-Lys motif in the esterase was at the active site of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The G1/S boundary-specific enhancer of the rat cdc2 promoter.

Multiple species of G1 cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases are induced sequentially during G1 phase, and the expression of cyclin A and cdc2 genes is subsequently induced at the G1/S boundary. To analyze the mechanism of cdc2 promoter activation, the 5'-flanking region of the rat cdc2 gene was isolated and its structural features were characterized. The highly conserved sequence between human and rat cdc2 genes is present in the basal promoter region from positions -183 to -122, which contains the E box, SpI, and E2F motifs. The expression of 5' sequential deletion derivatives of the promoter fused to luciferase cDNA in rat 3Y1 cells revealed the presence of the enhancer element. The presumed enhancer region was further analyzed by the introduction of base substitutions and by the formation of DNA-protein complexes with cell extracts prepared at various times during the G1-to-S-phase progression. These analyses revealed that the enhancer sequence, AAGTTACAAATA, located from -276 to -265, confers strong inducibility on the basal promoter at the G1/S boundary. The base substitutions introduced into the motifs of transcription factors indicated that the E2F motif is essential for the enhancer-dependent activation of the cdc2 promoter at the G1/S boundary. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting showed that a factor which interacts with the enhancer element is induced late in G1 phase.

Animals↗

Single or repeated treatment with electroconvulsive shock increases number of serotonin uptake binding sites in the frontal cortex.

The effects of a single or repeated treatment with electroconvulsive shock (ECS) or imipramine on the central serotonin (5-HT) uptake binding sites were studied in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. The selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor citalopram and clomipramine potently inhibited the binding for [3H]paroxetine (5-HT uptake binding sites) in the frontal cortex. The antidepressant drugs imipramine and desipramine inhibited the binding moderately, but the 5-HT-related agents, 5-HT, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), mianserin and ketanserin inhibited it weakly. A single ECS increased the density of [3H]paroxetine binding sites, but did not alter the affinity, after 1 or 24 h, in the frontal cortex. Repeated treatment with ECS, but not with imipramine, increased the density of [3H]paroxetine binding sites in the same region. The hippocampal [3H]paroxetine binding did not change after any of these treatments. These results suggest that a single treatment with ECS causes a rapid increase in the neuronal 5-HT transporter complex and the increase lasts for 14 days in the frontal cortex.

Animals↗

Demonstration of an in vivo functional beta 3-adrenoceptor in man.

Although it is well established in several mammalian species that beta 3-adrenoceptors play a major role in regulating lipolysis and thermogenesis in adipose tissue, the functional existence and role of this receptor subtype in man has been controversial. We investigated whether the beta 3-adrenoceptor functionally co-exists with beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in vivo in human adipose tissue. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of healthy non-obese subjects was microdialyzed with equimolar concentrations of dobutamine (selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist), terbutaline (selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist), or CGP 12177 (selective beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist). All three agents caused a rapid, sustained, concentration-dependent and significant elevation of the glycerol level in the microdialysate (lipolysis index). However, only terbutaline stimulated the nutritive blood flow in adipose tissue, as measured by an ethanol escape technique. Dobutamine and CGP 12177 was equally effective in elevating the glycerol level (maximum effect 150% above baseline). Terbutaline was significantly more effective than the other two beta-agonists (maximum effect 200% above baseline). When adipose tissue was pretreated with the beta 1/beta 2-selective adrenoceptor blocker propranolol the glycerol increasing effect of dobutamine or terbutaline was inhibited by 80-85% but the glycerol response to CGP 12177 was not influenced. It is concluded that a functional beta 3-adrenoceptor is present in vivo in man. It co-exists with beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in adipose tissue and may therefore play a role in lipolysis regulation. It appears, however, that the beta 2-adrenoceptor is the most important beta-adrenoceptor subtype for the mobilization of lipids from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue because of its concomitant stimulatory effect on lipolysis and blood flow.

Adipose Tissue↗