Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Tsujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Tsujimoto.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A Case of Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia Associated with Breast Cancer: Improvement with Chemoendocrine Therapy.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a term which describes the association of hemolytic anemia with red cell fragmentation caused by microangiopathy mechanically. This paper reports a 45-year-old woman with bone metastases from breast cancer. She developed MAHA and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Although the prognosis of MAHA associated with malignant tumor has been very poor, she achieved remission of the syndrome after chemoendocrine therapy.

Journal Article↗

Molecular cloning of a novel trypsin-like serine protease (neurosin) preferentially expressed in brain.

A cDNA encoding a precursor for a novel serine protease (neurosin) was cloned from a cDNA library prepared from a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, COLO 201. The sequence consisted of 155 bp 5' non-coding region and a 732 bp open reading frame which was followed by a 551 bp 3' non-coding region. The predicted protein consists of 244 amino acids which is possibly processed to an active enzyme of 223 amino acids that shows some similarity (< 30%) to other members of serine protease family. As found in other trypsin-like proteases, the enzyme contains the catalytic triad which is characterized as the essential amino acid residues for the activity. Northern blot analyses of the mRNA showed the strongest expression in brain followed by a lower but significant one in spleen. A construct of cDNA encoding chimeric protein that carries pro-sequence of trypsin II and putative mature neurosin starting from Leu22 was transfected to COS-1 cells. Successful production of the active neurosin was shown after treating the supernatant of the culture of the transfectants with enterokinase.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Immunohistochemical localization of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase in normal human placental, fetal and adult tissues.

While oxytocinase is known to exist in pregnancy serum and placenta, the present study describes the expression of the mRNA for this enzyme in a wide variety of other human tissues. Northern blot analysis was used to detect the mRNA, with a probe derived from a cDNA for oxytocinase/placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP). Both the distribution and localization of immunoreactive oxytocinase/P-LAP protein have been determined immunohistochemically by use of an anti-P-LAP antibody in normal placental, fetal and adult tissues. In placental tissues, only syncytiotrophoblasts were stained positively. In both fetal and adult tissues, positive staining was obtained in vascular endothelial cells, gastrointestinal mucosal cells, epithelial cells of hepato-biliary, pancreato-biliary, bronchial-alveolar and renal tubular systems as well as islet cells of pancreas and neurons in the central nervous systems. Sweat-gland cells, seminal vesicles and prostate gland in the adult, as well as adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells in the fetus were also stained. The widespread distribution of P-LAP suggests its involvement in a variety of physiological events not restricted to the regulation of the amounts of bioactive peptides such as arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) in pregnancy. The presence of P-LAP in syncytiotrophoblasts supports the idea that P-LAP in pregnancy serum is derived from the placenta.

Adult↗

[Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in three patients with HIV infection].

Gatrointestinal symptoms, which include diarrhea, are as common as respiratory symptoms in patients with HIV infection. Gastrointestinal symptoms may result from infections, neoplasma, HIV enteropathy or drug toxicity. Three HIV-infected patients admitted to our hospital complaining of diarrhea and fever. We confirmed their diagnosis as Campylobacter jejuni enteritis by bacteriological examination of their feces. All of them had eaten inadequately cooked meat in restaurants before the onset of their enteritis. Their symptoms immediately improved after the administration of antimicrobial agents. One strain of C. jejuni isolated in our cases, however, was resistant to ofloxacin. This case report suggests that we must counsel HIV-infected patients to avoid inadequately cooked food and observe resistant patterns of C. jejuni to antimicrobial agents in Japan in the future.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Analysis of prognosis of bronchopulmonary infectious disease with lung cancer].

Bronchopulmonary infection affects the prognosis of lung cancer patients. Thus, we investigated the relationship between the prognosis of bronchopulmonary infectious diseases and their causative bacteria isolated by transtracheal aspiration (TTA) in lung cancer patients. In the present study, we determined which factor is more predisposing for the outcome of bronchopulmonary infections, the type of causative bacteria or the host nutritional status. A total of 107 lung cancer patients, which consisted of 105 males and 5 females (mean age 67.3 +/- 8.0), were included in this study. The study was conducted from 1981 to 1994. They were classified into the survival group and the deceased group. Causative agents of infection were compared between these 2 groups. S. pneumoniae, alpha-Streptococcus sp., M. catarrhalis, and Neisseria sp. were predominant in organisms isolated from TTA-specimens of lung cancer patients with bronchopulmonary infections, regardless of prognosis. Nutritional status, as determined by serum levels of cholinesterase, albumin, and cholesterol, was poor in the deceased group than in the survival group. These results indicate that the outcome of bronchopulmonary infections in lung cancer patients are affected mainly by the nutritional status of the host.

Aged↗

[The evaluation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) level in peripheral blood of patients with chronic lower respiratory tract infection].

In the present study, we assessed the serum level of IL-6 and TNF-alpha by ELISA in patients with chronic lower respiratory tract infection. The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha of patients in acute exacerbation phase are higher than that of in stable phase. We also classified patients in acute exacerbation phase into two groups according to the microorganism of persistent infection. The serum level of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the patients with persistent infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were higher than that with Haemophilus influenzae. Moreover, the serum level of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were found to be related with malnutrition which assessed by clinical indices such as the serum level of albumin and cholinesterase. The present result suggests that IL-6 and TNF-alpha may have relationship with not only inflammation in airway but also indices of nutrition in patients with chronic lower respiratory tract infection.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

[Prognostic analysis of sepsis in patients with lung cancer].

Sepsis is one of the most serious infections occurring in patients with lung cancer. Thus, we determined what is most predisposing factor in prognosis of sepsis in lung cancer patients; the type of causative bacteria, neutropenia or host nutritional status. A total of 27 lung cancer patients with sepsis, which consisted of 23 males and 4 females (mean age 70.7 +/- 6.6), were included in this study. The study was conducted from 1991 to 1995. All subjects were classified into the survival group and the dead group. Staphylococcus aureus or Esherichia coli most frequently isolated from the blood of the patients in the survival group, while either E. coli alone or multiple organisms were predominant in the dead group. Neutropenia did not affect the outcome of sepsis in lung cancer patients. In contrast nutritional status, as determined by serum albumin levels, was closely related to the mortality in septic lung cancer patients. These results predict that the prognosis of sepsis is dependent on nutritional status of lung cancer patients.

Aged↗

[A case of multiple muscular abscesses of the lower limbs by Staphylococcus aureus after chemotherapy for lung cancer].

A 67-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of lung cancer and interstitial pneumonia. Cisplatin, vindesie and mitomycin C were administered for treatment of lung cancer. The leucocyte-counts declined to 1700/microliter on the eighth day after the chemotherapy. Though granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered, pain in the right thigh and high grade fever developed. Because Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the blood specimen, piperacillin was administered. But the high grade fever continued and the pain was expanded to the right hip, left hip, thigh and leg. Because a computed tomograph of the lower limbs showed low density areas in bilateral gluteus maximus muscle right adductor magnus muscle, left biceps femoris muscle and left soleus muscle and the culture of an aspirate from abscess of right leg detected S. aureus, multiple muscular abscesses of the lower limbs was confirmed. We changed the antibiotics from PIPC to imipenem/cilastatin and minocycline on nineteenth day after the chemotherapy. His symptoms improved after the change of antibacterial agents. But he died of acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia, after about two months of the chemotherapy. Muscular abscesses of the limbs are very rare in Japan. Only four cases with muscular abscess of the limbs were reported in Japan, since 1988. This case suggests that a muscular abscess must be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever in patients with neutropenia.

Abscess↗

Increased interleukin-1 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels in cervical mucus in the ovulatory phase in comparison with the follicular phase.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) levels in the cervical mucus of women in the ovulatory phase are significantly higher than those in the follicular phase. IL-1 titers of women in the ovulatory phase are also significantly higher than those in the follicular phase. A positive correlation between IL-1ra and IL-1 levels in the cervical mucus was observed. Immunohistochemistry using an anti-IL-1ra monoclonal antibody revealed positive staining in the epithelial cells of the endocervix. These results suggest that IL-1ra from cervical epithelial cells protects the reproductive system from the toxicity of IL-1 produced in the endocervix.

Adult↗

[Effect of cessation of erythromycin therapy on diffuse panbronchiolitis].

The effect of cessation of erythromycin (EM) therapy against diffuse panbronchiolitis was studied. Nine cases were examined. After cessation of EM therapy, the manifestations of disease were stable in five cases, but worsened in the other four. In the former five, the period from the onset of disease until EM therapy began was relatively short; when EM therapy was stopped the manifestations of disease had almost completely disappeared and chest roentgenography revealed resolution of diffuse, small, nodular opacities without remarkable bronchiectasis. In contrast, in the latter four cases, the clinical manifestations of disease did not disappear, and chest-roentgenographic evidence of bronchiectasis was common before the cessation of EM therapy. In conclusion, EM therapy for diffuse panbronchiolitis may be stopped if the clinical manifestations of disease (especially purulent sputum) disappear, if diffuse, nodular opacities resolve almost completely and if there is no evidence of bronchiectasis.

Adolescent↗

cDNA cloning and expression of intracellular platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase II. Its homology with plasma PAF acetylhydrolase.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase, which inactivates PAF by removing the acetyl group at the sn-2 position, is widely distributed in plasma and tissues. We previously demonstrated that tissue cytosol contains at least two types of PAF acetylhydrolase, isoforms Ib and II, and that isoform Ib is a heterotrimer comprising 45-, 30-, and 29-kDa subunits, whereas isoform II is a 40-kDa monomer. In this study, we isolated cDNA clones of bovine and human PAF acetylhydrolase isoform II. From the longest open reading frame of the cloned cDNAs, both bovine and human PAF acetylhydrolases II are predicted to contain 392 amino acid residues and to exhibit 88% identity with each other at the amino acid level. Both enzymes contain a Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly motif that is characteristic of lipases and serine esterases. Expression of isoform II cDNA in COS7 cells resulted in a marked increase in PAF acetylhydrolase activity. An immunoblot study using an established monoclonal antibody against the bovine enzyme revealed that the recombinant protein exists in the membranous fraction as well as the soluble fraction. Isoform II is expressed most abundantly in the liver and kidney in cattle, but low levels were also observed in other tissues. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA of isoform II had no homology with any subunit of isoform Ib. Interestingly, however, the amino acid sequence of isoform II showed 41% identity with that of plasma PAF acetylhydrolase. Combined with previous data demonstrating that isoform II shows similar substrate specificity to plasma PAF acetylhydrolase, these results indicate that tissue type isoform II and the plasma enzyme may share a common physiologic function.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Characterization of the bone morphogenetic protein-2 as a neurotrophic factor. Induction of neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells in the absence of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.

Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells are shown to express a single class of high affinity binding sites for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 (1,300 receptors/cell, Kd = 31.3 pM). Affinity cross-linking using radiolabeled BMP-2 demonstrated the presence of six components with apparent molecular masses of 170, 155, 105, 90, 80, and 70 kDa. BMP-2 induced morphological changes in PC12 cells with the concomitant expression of three neurofilament proteins. Thus, BMP-2 would appear to be another neurotrophic factor that, like nerve growth factor or basic fibroblast growth factor, stimulates the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. Unlike nerve growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor, however, BMP-2 failed to induce the activation of either 41- and 43-kDa mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases or the MAP kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK). Also, BMP-2 did not induce the expression of the c-fos gene in PC12 cells. Activin A was also capable of inducing the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells without activating MAP kinases and MEK. These findings show a clear dissociation between the requirement for the activation of the MAP kinase cascade and the ability of BMP-2 and activin A to induce PC12 cell neuronal differentiation. In addition, these results suggest that the activation of MAP kinases and MEK is not an absolute requirement for PC12 cell differentiation.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Role of ceramide in stimulation of the transcription of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase 2.

Several lines of evidence have implicated lipid second messengers in the signaling pathways evoked by tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In a previous study, we characterized TNF-resistant sublines derived from murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells. and demonstrated that TNF stimulation of arachidonate metabolism via cytosolic phospholipase A2, (cPLA2) was one of the pathways responsible for the killing of L929 cells. On the other hand, the sphingomyelin cycle, which generates ceramide, is also recognized as a pathway that participates in the apoptosis in certain types of cells. In this study, we evaluated the role of ceramide in TNF-signaling in L929 cells. L929 cells generated ceramide in response to TNF, whereas the TNF-resistant sublines did not. The addition of an exogenous cell-permeable ceramide analogue resulted in the elevated expression of cPLA2 and cyclooxygenase 2 mRNAs in the cells. These results suggest the role of ceramide to amplify the magnitude of signals generated through the PLA2 pathway.

Animals↗