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Biomedical subjects

M Tajima

Publications and source records attributed to M Tajima.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

[Cavernous hemangioma of the spermatic cord: a case report].

Cavernous hemangioma of the spermatic cord is a very rare disorder. A 26-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of right intrascrotal mass and hematospermia on October 19, 1990. Physical examination revealed a hard, non-transilluminated mass in the right spermatic cord. The mass was resected via the groin. Pathological examination showed cavernous hemangioma. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. This is only the fourth case of cavernous hemangioma of the spermatic cord to be reported in the literature in Japan.

Adult↗

Effect of cyclic RGD peptide on cell adhesion and tumor metastasis.

Several kinds of cyclic peptides containing an L-arginine-glycine-L-aspartic acid RGD sequence were synthesized by the liquid phase method, and we investigated their effects on the attachment of mouse B16 melanoma cells onto fibronectin-coated well. Cyclo (GRGDSPA) inhibited the cell attachment at a 20-fold lower concentration than the linear form. The cell adhesion was inhibited by the synthetic peptides with the following relative order of activity: cyclo (GRGDSPA) much greater than cyclo (GRGD) greater than cyclo (RGDS), cyclo (GRGDSP) greater than cyclo (GRGDS) greater than cyclo (RGDSP), cyclo (RGDSPA). Cyclo (GRGDSPA) was more effective at inhibiting cell attachment to vitronectin than it was at competing with fibronectin attachment, as reported in the case of GRGDSP. Moreover, cyclo (GRGDSPA) significantly reduced the formation of colonies in mice injected with B16-FE7 melanoma cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

JC virus detection by in situ hybridization in brain tissue from elderly patients.

Brains from 10 patients aged 68 to 96 years at time of death were studied for JC viral DNA and common papovaviral capsid protein. In situ hybridization of JC viral DNA was performed by affinity cytochemistry using a biotinylated fragment of JC viral DNA. Immunohistochemistry was performed on brain tissue by the avidin DH-biotinylated horseradish peroxidase technique using polyclonal antibody raised against the papovaviral capsid protein. Viral protein and DNA were detected in 4 of 10 patients. JC virus may be present in the brains of aged patients more frequently than previously suspected.

Adult↗

Application of ELISA-ABC method to the identification of minute human bloodstains.

Bloodstained threads (1 cm in length) were tested to identify human origin by a direct ELISA-ABC method using biotinylated antibody against human HbA0. By this method human bloodstains were clearly distinguishable from bloodstains of other species including Japanese monkey. The minimum detection limit of bloodstains prepared from undiluted human whole blood was 1:5, 120 (28 ng Hb) and that of bloodstains from diluted human whole blood was 1:640-1:1, 280. Human Hb was more easily detectable in bloodstains prepared from diluted human blood after extraction with 5% ammonia than after extraction with phosphate-buffered saline.

Animals↗

Primary culture of chicken bursal plical epithelium.

Plical epithelial cells were obtained by trypsin-EDTA treatment of chicken bursa of Fabricius and cultured in the presence of type IV collagen. The culture became confluent six to seven days after seeding. The grown cells showed a positive reaction for cytokeratin by immunostaining and had ultrastructural characteristics of the epithelial cells in vivo. The cell culture will be useful for parasitological and virological studies.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity of cloned cell lines established from a transplantable rat malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Four cloned cell lines, MT-7, MT-8, MT-9 and MT-10, were established from a transplantable malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of F344 rats to investigate the histogenesis of the tumor. Cells of MT-7, MT-9 and MT-10 had fine structures characteristic of histiocytes, such as numerous cell processes, many lysosomes and well-developed cytoplasmic organelles. They stained positively for histiocytic lysosomal and antigenic markers. In addition, MT-9 cells contained microfilaments and well-developed RER in their cytoplasm, suggesting that they may be facultative fibroblasts. MT-8 cells stained weakly for histiocytic markers and had scant cytoplasmic organelles. They were identified as undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. The tumors induced in syngeneic rats by inoculating MT-7 or MT-10 consisted of a mixture of the pleomorphic, myxoid and storiform types of MFH, and those by MT-9 were of the storiform type. Cells forming these tumors stained positively for histiocytic markers. Tumors induced by MT-8 consisted of undifferentiated cells negative to these stainings. The histogenesis of MFH is surmised to be related to various differentiation stages shifting from undifferentiated cells to histiocytic cells capable of acting as facultative fibroblasts.

Animals↗

[Human herpesviruses infections (I)--EBV infection and immunity in cancer patients].

Human herpesviruses have been known to be reactivated from latent infection iin immunosuppressed individuals. To assess the immunity, antibodies to human herpesviruses (VZV, HSV, CMV and EBV) were measured in patients with gastrointestinal cancer and normal persons ranging from 40 to 80 in age. CF antibodies to herpesviruses except for EBV were negative in normal persons below the age of 60 and cancer patients aged 60 and over. The CF antibody titer higher than 1:64 occurred only in young cancer patients and older normal persons. The titer of VCA antibody to EBV ranged from 1:40 to 1:160 in more than 80% of normal persons and was higher than 1:640 in less than 7%. The ratio those with antibody negative or below 1:40 increased with the age. In contrast, the titer was higher than 1:320 in 70% of the patients, and the antibody was negative in none of them. In addition, the low titer occurred only in less than 5%. The rate of patients having higher VCA antibody titers increased with age, and the titer was high in more than 50% of patients in the 8th decade. In cancer patients, the higher the VCA antibody titer was, the less number of mature B cells, target cells of EBV, and the B cell functions were observed. This suggests that reactivation of EBV in hosts bearing carcinomas results in a fall of production of the specific antibody.

Adult↗

Combined cisplatin and radiation therapy for advanced bladder cancer.

Since September 1985, 44 patients with advanced urinary bladder cancer have been treated by combined cisplatin and full-dose radiotherapy. The patients were 32 males and 12 females, and their ages ranged from 33 to 83 years, with a median of 67.4 years. Radiotherapy consisting of a tumor dose of 50-60 Gy was administered with cobalt-60. Cisplatin was infused 5 days at a daily dose of 20 mg on the 1st and 4th weeks of treatment. Of the 39 evaluable patients 27 (69.2%) achieved a complete response. Toxicity was also evaluated for those 44 patients. Mainly gastrointestinal toxicity was noted: loss of appetite in 28 (64%), nausea and/or vomiting in 21 (48%), and diarrhea in 8 (18%). Leukocytopenia was noted in 16 (33%) and mild thrombocytopenia in 5 (11%). Mild dermatitis was noted in 8 (18%).

Aged↗

Transplantable mononuclear cell leukemia in F344 rat with particular reference to nodular tumor developing at the transplant site.

A transplantable mononuclear cell leukemia (MCL) was established from spontaneous MCL in an F344 rat. In this work, we paid special attention to a nodular tumor, named MCL-YSK, developed at the subcutaneous transplant site. MCL-YSK was serially passaged in subcutaneous tissue of syngeneic rats up to the 19th generation. Transplants from MCL-YSK grew into nodules 3 cm in diameter and 11.3 g in weight 9 weeks after subcutaneous implantation. Neoplastic cells forming the nodules had azurophilic cytoplasmic granules, which ultrastructurally appeared to be lysosomes. The cells reacted positively for acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase, but not for alkaline phosphatase, alpha-1 antitrypsin and lysozyme, nor reacted with anti-rat monocyte/macrophage monoclonal antibody and anti-rat CD-8 monoclonal antibody. They possessed Fc-receptor. Leukemic cells first appeared in the peripheral blood 6 weeks after transplantation when subcutaneous nodules reached an average diameter of one cm. Subsequently, leukemic changes progressed in recipients as MCL-YSK grew larger. The recipients died during the period from 8 to 12 weeks after transplantation, showing anemia, depression, splenohepatomegaly and lymph node enlargement. Diffuse or focal proliferation of sprinkled tumor cells was present in many organs. Hematologic changes suggestive of hemolytic anemia, elevated plasma enzymes and decreased drug-metabolizing enzymes, indicative of hepatic malfunction, were seen in transplant recipients. MCL-YSK was easily transplanted into athymic nude mice. The transplanted mice showed leukemic changes similar to those observed in rats with transplanted MCL-YSK.

Animals↗

Genesis of pulmonary foam cells in rats with diet-induced hyper beta-lipoproteinaemia.

Hyper beta-lipoproteinaemia in rats was produced by feeding a standard diet to which was added excess cholesterol and cholic acid, with or without olive oil, for 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The beta-lipoprotein percentage in serum lipoprotein electrophoresis and lipid contents in very low density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein fractions in these rats were significantly higher than in the control rats fed the standard diet only. The percentage of foamy monocytes (FMs) to the total number of blood monocytes (BMs) from mononuclear leucocyte fractions and percentage of pulmonary foam cells (PFCs) to the number of alveolar macrophages (AMs) from bronchopulmonary lavage fluids in the rats increased with the extension of the feeding period and were significantly higher than those in the controls. An increase in the percentage of PFCs was closely correlated with that of FMs in the rats. FMs and PFCs had cytoplasmic fine vacuoles proved to be neutral lipid and cholesterol. Histologically, PFCs made an appearance in the lungs of all the rats as early as 4 weeks after the start of feeding. The degree of the PFCs' development increased as the feeding period lengthened. When latex particles were injected intravenously into rats at feeding week 4, the percentage of latex-ingested AMs to the number of AMs in the rats was significantly higher than that of the controls at 4 and 8 days post-injection. The percentage of latex-ingested PFCs to the number of latex-ingested AMs increased with the lapse of a day after injection and was significantly higher than that of the controls at 2, 4, and 8 days post-injection. The present findings suggest that the foamy transformation of BMs and their migration into the pulmonary alveoli may be a potential mechanism of the PFCs' development in rats with hyper beta-lipoproteinaemia.

Animals↗

[A case of prostatic hyperplasia in a young male].

Prostatic hyperplasia in young males is a very rare disease. A 28-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on June 24, 1989, with the chief complaints of intermittent macrohematuria and dysuria. Endoscopic examination revealed two papillary tumors in the prostatic urethra; no urinary bladder tumor was found. A transurethral resection was done for the urethral tumors. Pathological examination revealed prostatic hyperplasia. These lesions were considered ectopic prostatic tissue at first. However, imaging showed that this may in fact be prostatic hyperplasia of the apical region near the capsule. The post-operative course was uneventful and he is presently observed as an outpatient. This patient represents the seventh case reported in the literature.

Adult↗

Two enzymes concerned in peptide hormone alpha-amidation are synthesized from a single mRNA.

By expressing truncated rat pituitary 'peptidylglycine alpha-amidating enzyme' cDNAs in COS-7 cells, we found that the two reactions concerned in peptide carboxyl-terminal amidation, namely the peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylation reaction and the peptidyl-hydroxyglycine amidation reaction, were catalyzed by 37- and 53-K proteins, which were derived from the 5'- and 3'-coding sequences, respectively. The full-length cDNA directed the expression of both the 37- and 53-K enzymes, and in the combined presence of the two enzymes the full conversion of a glycine-extended peptide into the amidated product was achieved. These results indicated that two enzymes concerned in peptide hormone alpha-amidation are generated from a common precursor protein encoded by a single mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The reaction product of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating enzyme is a hydroxyl derivative at alpha-carbon of the carboxyl-terminal glycine.

The peptidylglycine alpha-amidating enzyme catalyzes a reaction that transforms a carboxyl-terminal glycine-extended precursor into a carboxyl-terminal alpha-amidated peptide. We purified an alpha-amidating enzyme from equine serum by simplified steps including substrate affinity chromatography. With the purified enzyme, we detected an intermediate of the alpha-amidating reaction by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The production of the intermediate required copper, oxygen, and ascorbate and increased linearly with incubation time. The structure of the intermediate was determined to be a hydroxyl derivative at the carboxyl-terminal glycine by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and by proton NMR. The intermediate was readily converted into an alpha-amidated product in alkaline conditions in a nonenzymic fashion. The nonenzymic conversion required no cofactor but was extremely accelerated by the addition of copper ion or at higher temperature. Our data suggest that the direct product of the alpha-amidating reaction is not an alpha-amidated peptide but a hydroxyl derivative at the alpha-carbon of the carboxyl-terminal glycine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rapid and sensitive identification of human blood by an ELISA-ABC method using a biotinylated antibody against human HbA0.

A direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using an avidin-biotin complex (ABC) system for the identification of human blood is described. In this ELISA-ABC method, in which biotin-labeled goat IgG antibody against human HbA0 was used, it was possible clearly to distinguish human blood from the blood of other species, including that of Japanese monkeys. It took about 3 h to obtain the results. Human Hb concentrations ranging from 22 ng to 169 micrograms produced a positive reaction, and the minimum detection limit in terms of the highest possible dilution of human blood was 1:640,000.

Animals↗

Idiopathic glomerulopathy in a young ICR mouse.

Idiopathic glomerulopathy of the kidneys was found in a female CRJ: CD-1 (ICR) mouse which died at the age of 33 days. The glomerular lesions were characterized by hyalinization of the glomeruli. There was thickening of the glomerular capillary walls and enlargement of the mesangial areas due to deposits of PAS-positive hyaline material. The hyaline material was distinguished from amyloid, fibrin, acid mucopolysaccharide and immunoglobulins by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries was partially thickened, double-contoured and discontinuous. Neither cellular proliferation nor inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the glomeruli. Ultrastructurally, low electron-dense, amorphous deposits were present in the subendothelial regions and basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries as well as in the mesangium. Atrophy of haemopoietic organs was accompanied by the above lesions.

Animals↗

The distributions of phytohemagglutinin-P and concanavalin A binding sites on equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The distributions of phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) binding sites were investigated for equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Non-B lymphocytes were collected from each PBL using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), and the numbers of PHA and ConA binding sites on their surfaces were counted. Most PHA binding sites on PBL of the three species were shown on the surfaces of non-B lymphocytes. On the other hand, the ConA binding sites on equine and canine PBL existed mainly on the surfaces of non-B lymphocytes, but B lymphocytes of these two species had many ConA binding sites. These results were confirmed by the results of two-parameter fluorescence analysis using FACS. It is, therefore, concluded that the different optimum concentrations of PHA and ConA in PBL blastogenic responses of each animal depended on the different distributions of their binding sites.

Animals↗

[Prevalence of the antibody against human polyoma viruses (JCV and BKV) in aged persons].

JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV) are known as small DNA type tumor viruses belonging to the human polyoma virus. The infectious state of these viruses has not yet been examined extensively in the aged persons; therefore, antibody measurements were made in 349 healthy volunteers from 20 to 90 years old and 383 cases of in-patients from 60 to 100 years old. As controls, measurements were made on the antibody titers to the herpes-type viruses which are known to be reactivated as the immunologic state of hosts decrease. The results obtained were as follows; 1) In the aged cases over 60 years old, the average HI antibody titers for JCV were significantly higher than that for BKV. 2) In the aged persons of the prevalence rate the high antibody titer (1024 less than) for JCV was also higher than that for BKV. 3) In the results with EIA (EIA test human polyoma viruses common antigen), the significant increase in the antibody titer was observed in the aged older than 70. 4) The average antibody titers of HSV and CMV, tended to increase as the age advanced until 60 and to decrease with age over 70. These results indicate that JCV is reactivated in a high rate in the aged (70 less than) persons.

Adult↗