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Biomedical subjects

M Ueda

Publications and source records attributed to M Ueda.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Increased stiffness in common carotid artery in hyperthyroid Graves' disease patients.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of hyperthyroidism on stiffness in the common carotid artery (CCA) in patients with Graves' disease (GD) and elucidate the mechanism by which arterial stiffness is increased in hyperthyroidism. The arterial stiffness index beta (stiffness beta) was evaluated in the CCA using an ultrasonic phase-locked echo-tracking system. Stiffness beta was defined as the logarithm of the ratio of systolic to diastolic blood pressure divided by the fractional diameter increase during the cardiac cycle and thus established as a measure of arterial stiffness uninfluenced by the change in blood pressure. Seventy euthyroid GD patients were measured for CCA stiffness beta to determine its relationship to retinal blood flow and plasma levels of vascular injury markers. To investigate the effect of hyperthyroidism, 27 GD patients were measured for changes during antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy in stiffness beta and in hemodynamic parameters, retinal blood flow and plasma vascular injury markers. In euthyroid GD patients, stiffness beta in the CCA showed a significant and positive correlation with systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, but not with peripheral blood flow in the central retinal artery. ATD therapy significantly reduced stiffness beta from 5.23 +/- 2.10 to 4.36 +/- 1.48. The fractional reduction of stiffness beta during ATD therapy correlated significantly with reductions in pulse pressure and retinal blood flow, but not with the reductions in systolic and mean blood pressure, or any of the plasma injury markers. In summary, the significant increase in stiffness beta in the hyperthyroid state may reflect the harmful effect of hyperthyroidism on the arterial wall, which may in turn result from increased stroke volume.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Relationship between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and periodontitis.

UNLABELLED: Recent studies have shown that vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism had regulatory effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover. The VDR gene has also been indicated as a candidate gene for the susceptibility of osteoporosis. However, it is unclear whether VDR genotypes could be associated with alveolar bone loss of patients with periodontitis, or whether vitamin D receptor gene could be a candidate gene for susceptibility to periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to answer these two questions. METHODS: Twenty-four cases of adult periodontitis (AP), 37 cases of early onset periodontitis (EOP) and 39 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Individual samples of venous blood and DNA were obtained from each subject. Genotypes of the TaqI VDR gene were determined by PCR and TaqI restriction endonuclease digestion. RESULTS: One out of 24 AP patients, nine out of 37 EOP patients and two out of 39 healthy controls were detected with Tt genotype, while the rest had the TT genotype. The detected frequency of Tt genotype was significantly higher in EOP patients (24.3%) than in AP patients (4.2%) and healthy controls (5.1%). The frequency of t allele was also significantly higher in EOP patients. There was no statistical difference in the distribution of TaqI VDR genotypes between AP patients and healthy controls. The study suggests that Tt genotype might be a risk indicator for the susceptibility to EOP. Carriage of the allele (t) of the TaqI VDR gene may increase the risk of developing EOP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Treatment of pure red cell aplasia after major ABO-incompatible peripheral blood stem cell transplantation by induction of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

This report concerns a case of long-lasting pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) with a duration of 178 days after major ABO-incompatible allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). The patient needed red blood cell transfusion every week from day 54 following PBSCT. He showed no evidence of GVHD and the dose of cyclosporin A (CsA) was reduced rapidly from day 123, followed by the development of chronic GVHD around day 145. The patient no longer needed transfusions from day 167, the reticulocyte count began to increase on day 179, and antidonor isohemagglutinin titers became undetectable. Chronic GVHD induced by tapering of CsA thus appeared to be related to improvement in PRCA.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed2002

Clarithromycin increases the release of heat shock protein B from Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Clarithromycin (CAM) may have certain indirect effects on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) other than its inhibitory activity on bacterial growth, as indicated in other infections with Gram-negative micro-organisms. In the present study, we examined the effects of lower concentrations of CAM on the release of heat shock protein B (HspB), one of the major antigenic proteins from H. pylori cells, as well as the changes in humoral immune response and histological degree of antral gastritis in patients who received eradication therapy with CAM. METHODS: The H. pylori strain 26695 and three CAM-resistant clinical isolates were cultured in broth with and without CAM (2-500 ng/mL). Expression of H. pylori proteins was examined by two-dimensional (2D)-electrophoresis followed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Changes in host immune response and histological degree of antral gastritis were monitored in patients with peptic ulcer disease who received H. pylori eradication therapy. RESULTS: 2D electrophoresis showed 26 spots in extracellularly released proteins with different profiles from those in cytoplasmic proteins. The release of HspB increased after incubation with CAM (30-500 ng/mL) in all three H. pylori clinical isolates tested. Patients with failed H. pylori eradication after triple therapy with CAM, but not those with failed eradication after dual therapy without CAM, showed an increase in serum IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies against HspB along with a decrease in the degree of neutrophil and H. pylori colonization density in tissue sections. CONCLUSIONS: CAM may induce a humoral immune response against H. pylori and a decrease in gastric mucosal inflammation through up-regulation of the release of HspB from the bacteria in infected patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Protean manifestations of human papillomavirus type 60 infection on the extremities.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus type 60 (HPV-60) induces a ridged wart or an epidermal cyst on the sole of the foot, exhibiting identical pathological changes, with a single refractile eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion body in infected cells. However, there is no information on the role of HPV-60 in the development of cutaneous lesions on other anatomical sites. OBJECTIVES: To perform the clinicopathological analysis of various cutaneous lesions of a patient in relation to HPV genotype. PATIENT: A 50-year-old male patient developed multiple papules, plaques and nodules on his hand, arm and legs. RESULTS: Clinicopathologically, the lesions were classified into three categories. A common wart on the finger showed papillomatosis and acanthosis characterized by numerous keratohyalin granules. Plane warts on the arm showed perinuclear vacuolization of the cells in the upper Malpighian layer. On the other hand, a pigmented papillomatous nodule on the finger, and the other lesions on the hands and legs exhibited similar histological features with a unique cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion body. All the three categorized lesions were equally positive for HPV capsid antigen by immunohistochemistry. By blot hybridization analysis for HPV sequences, it was revealed that a common wart on the finger and plane warts on the arm harboured HPV-27 and HPV-3, respectively, while all the other lesions harboured HPV-60. The histological localization of each viral DNA was confirmed in the corresponding lesions by in situ hybridization. CONCLUSIONS: HPV-60 is able to induce papular and nodular lesions on the extremities.

Arm↗
PubMed2002

Localized heat urticaria in a patient is associated with a wealing response to heated autologous serum.

We report a case of localized heat urticaria in a 71-year-old woman who developed weals and loss of consciousness after taking a bath. Exposing her skin to heat at 40 degrees C or immersing her hands in water at 40 degrees C produced urticarial lesions and increased her plasma histamine level. Desensitization with hot water improved her symptoms and normalized her plasma histamine level after heat challenge. An intracutaneous injection of her serum produced no reaction, while an injection of her serum that had been heated at 40 degrees C for 15 min induced a weal flare response. Further examination revealed that the weal-inducing activity of her heated serum remained for at least for 6 h and that treatment of her serum at 60 degrees C for 2 h did not abrogate its weal-inducing activity. These findings indicate that certain materials in her serum that are activated by heat are responsible for the development of her anaphylactic and urticarial reactions and that these reactions may be mediated by histamine.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Treatment of habitual temporomandibular joint dislocation with miniplate eminoplasty: a report of nine cases.

Eminoplasty using T-shaped titanium miniplate was performed on 15 joints in nine patients suffering from recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint with several general complications. After the conventional pre-auricular approach to the zygomatic arch and eminence, the bent over miniplate was inserted anteriorly against the articular eminence and fixed to the zygomatic arch with miniscrews to limit the over-movement of the condyle. In one case, the miniplate fractured, but no recurrence of dislocation was observed. In another case, it was possible to evaluate the mandibular movement by Sirognathograph analysis, which proved satisfactory function of the joints.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Gene expression of adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinases in endometriosis.

Various types of cell adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) seem to play an important role in the invasion process of endometriosis; however, limited investigation has focused on their gene expression in human peritoneal endometriotic lesions. A total of 63 endometriotic tissues were surgically obtained from 35 women with endometriosis, which included 43 pigmented and 20 non-pigmented lesions. Gene expression levels of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin, MMP-2, MMP-9 and membrane-type 1 (MT1)-MMP in these endometriotic lesions were compared with those in normal eutopic endometrium obtained from 12 women without endometriosis. MMP-2, MMP-9 and MT1-MMP mRNA expression in pigmented lesions was significantly higher than that in normal endometrium (p < 0.05), whereas E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin mRNA expression was not suppressed in endometriotic lesions. There was a close correlation between MMP-2 or MT1-MMP and E-cadherin, alpha- or beta-catenin gene expression in 63 endometriotic tissues examined (p < 0.01). Immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin in glandular epithelial cells was positive not only for all of seven cases with normal eutopic endometrium but also for 9 of 11 with ovarian endometriosis. MMP expression in ectopic endometrium was much greater than that in eutopic endometrium. These results suggest that endometriotic tissues expressing MMPs might be invasive and simultaneously possess cell-to-cell adhesion property in pelvic peritoneal foci.

Cadherins↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of stage progression in chronic myeloid leukemia by DNA microarray with purified hematopoietic stem cells.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Without effective treatment, individuals in the indolent, chronic phase (CP) of CML undergo blast crisis (BC), the prognosis for which is poor. It is therefore important to clarify the mechanism underlying stage progression in CML. DNA microarray is a versatile tool for such a purpose. However, simple comparison of bone marrow mononuclear cells from individuals at different disease stages is likely to result in the identification of pseudo-positive genes whose change in expression only reflects the different proportions of leukemic blasts in bone marrow. We have therefore compared with DNA microarray the expression profiles of 3456 genes in the purified HSC-like fractions that had been isolated from 13 CML patients and healthy volunteers. Interestingly, expression of the gene for PIASy, a potential inhibitor of STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins, was down-regulated in association with stage progression in CML. Furthermore, forced expression of PIASy has induced apoptosis in a CML cell line. These data suggest that microarray analysis with background-matched samples is an efficient approach to identify molecular events underlying the stage progression in CML.

AC133 Antigen↗
PubMed2001

[Outcome of rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury in the UOEH Hospital].

We investigated the outcome after patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were treated in our hospital. Subjects were 51 patients with TBI (43 men, 8 women; mean age 34.9 +/- 20.3 yr), who had been admitted to the department of rehabilitation in our hospital between 1980 and 2000. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records. Most injuries were due to motor vehicle accidents. The percentage of patients who suffered impaired cognitive and behavioral functions was 86.3%. The percentage of patients who were discharged to their homes was 70.6%, but none of them could return to work. Patients who were severely disabled in their daily activities or had cognitive and behavioral disturbances were difficult to discharge. We need to establish a comprehensive rehabilitation approach to cognitive and behavioral disturbances for patients with TBI.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2001

Design of polymer materials enhancing nucleotide hybridization for anti-gene technology.

Stabilization of nucleotide hybridization is considered important for improving gene therapy using oligonucleotides. We have designed comb-type copolymer consisting of polycation backbone (polylysine) and hydrophilic side chains as a stabilizer for double and triple helical DNAs. The copolymer considerably increased the thermal stability of triple helical structure but did not affect the reversible transition between triple helical and single-stranded DNA. An in vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the copolymer remarkably increased association constants of both Hoogsteen and reverse Hoogsteen-type triple helix formation. Moreover the triple helix-stabilizing efficiency of the copolymer was significantly higher than that of other oligocations like spermine and spermidine. Not only being good DNA triple helix stabilizer, it has also been shown to accelerate DNA strand exchange reactions between double helical DNA and its complementary oligonucleotides. From these, we conclude that this copolymer is capable of either 'stabilizing' or 'activating' DNA hybrids, and may useful for gene targeting employing oligonucleotides.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Microcircuits for night vision in mouse retina.

Because the mouse retina has become an important model system, we have begun to identify its specific neuron types and their synaptic connections. Here, based on electron micrographs of serial sections, we report that the wild-type mouse retina expresses the standard rod pathways known in other mammals: (1) rod --> cone (via gap junctions) to inject rod signals into the cone bipolar circuit; and (2) rod --> rod bipolar --> AII amacrine --> cone bipolar --> ganglion cell. The mouse also expresses another rod circuit: a bipolar cell with cone input also receives rod input at symmetrical contacts that express ionotropic glutamate receptors (Hack et al., 1999, 2001). We show that this rod-cone bipolar cell sends an axon to the outer (OFF) strata of the inner plexiform layer to form ribbon synapses with ganglion and amacrine cells. This rod-cone bipolar cell receives direct contacts from only 20% of all rod terminals. However, we also found that rod terminals form gap junctions with each other and thus establish partial syncytia that could pool rod signals for direct chemical transmission to the OFF bipolar cell. This third rod pathway probably explains the rod responses that persist in OFF ganglion cells after the well known rod pathways are blocked (Soucy et al., 1998).

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Single-molecule analysis of chemotactic signaling in Dictyostelium cells.

Single-molecule imaging techniques were used to reveal the binding of individual cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate molecules to heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein coupled receptors on the surface of living Dictyostelium discoideum cells. The binding sites were uniformly distributed and diffused rapidly in the plane of the membrane. The probabilities of individual association and dissociation events were greater for receptors at the anterior end of the cell. Agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation had little effect on any of the monitored properties, whereas G protein coupling influenced the binding kinetics. These observations illustrate the dynamic properties of receptors involved in gradient sensing and suggest that these may be polarized in chemotactic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Green fluorescent protein-transgenic rat: a tool for organ transplantation research.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic rats for use as a tool for organ transplantation research. The GFP gene construct was designed to express ubiquitously. By flow cytometry, the cells obtained from the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood of the GFP transgenic rats consisted of 77, 91, and 75% GFP-positive cells, respectively. To examine cell migration of GFP-positive cells after organ transplantation, pancreas graft with or without spleen transplantation, heart graft with or without lung transplantation, auxiliary liver and small bowel transplantation were also performed from GFP transgenic rat to LEW (RT1(1)) rats under a 2-week course of 0.64 mg/kg tacrolimus administration. GFP-positive donor cells were detected in the fully allogenic LEW rats after organ transplantation. These results showed that GFP transgenic rat is a useful tool for organ transplantation research such as cell migration study after organ transplantation without donor cell staining.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Enzyme processing of textiles in reverse micellar solution.

Scouring of cotton using pectinase enzyme, bioscouring, in reverse micellar system was studied. The effectiveness of bioscouring was evaluated by measuring weight loss of cotton, analyzing pectin and cotton wax remaining and by wetness testing. Pectinase enzyme showed excellent activity even in organic media, and the effectiveness of scouring was equivalent or better than that achieved by conventional alkaline process or bioscouring in aqueous media. Enzymatic modification of wool using protease enzyme in the same system was also studied. It has found that felting property and tensile strength of wool fabrics treated by protease in reverse micellar system were superior to those in aqueous media. Possibilities of utilization of the same system for the subsequent textile dyeing process were also investigated. It was found that cotton and polyester fabrics were dyed satisfactorily by reverse micellar system compared to conventional aqueous system.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Sak serine-threonine kinase acts as an effector of Tec tyrosine kinase.

The murine sak gene encodes a putative serine-threonine kinase which is homologous to the members of the Plk/Polo family. Although Sak protein is presumed to be involved in cell growth mechanism, efforts have failed to demonstrate its kinase activity. Little has been, therefore, elucidated how Sak is regulated and how Sak contributes to cell proliferation. Tec is a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) which becomes activated by the stimulation of cytokine receptors, lymphocyte surface antigens, heterotrimeric G protein-linked receptors, and integrins. To clarify the in vivo function of Tec, we have tried to isolate the second messengers of Tec by using the yeast two-hybrid screening. One of such Tec-binding proteins turned out to be Sak. In human kidney 293 cells, Sak became tyrosine-phosphorylated by Tec, and the serine-threonine kinase activity of Sak was detected only under the presence of Tec, suggesting Sak to be an effector molecule of Tec. In addition, Tec activity efficiently protects Sak from the "PEST" sequence-dependent proteolysis. Internal deletion of the PEST sequences led to the stabilization of Sak proteins, and expression of these mutants acted suppressive to cell growth. Our data collectively supports a novel role of Sak acting in the PTK-mediated signaling pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of the T-cell repertoire in autologous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): evidence for the involvement of antigen-driven T-cell response in the development of autologous GVHD.

Administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) after autologous stem cell transplantation elicits an autoimmune syndrome with pathology similar to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This syndrome, termed autologous GVHD, is associated with the appearance of autoreactive T cells directed at major histocompatibility class (MHC) class II antigens. In the rat model of autologous GVHD, clonal analysis reveals that the effector T cells are highly conserved and recognize a peptide from the invariant chain peptide presented by MHC class II. Although human autologous GVHD effector T cells share a similar phenotypic specificity, clonality of the response in humans has not been determined. To examine the human effector T-cell response, the T-cell repertoire of peripheral blood lymphocytes was assessed by complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) size distribution analysis and T-cell clonotype analysis in 26 patients treated with CsA after transplantation. Autologous GVHD developed in 3 of 4 patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*0701, and clonal expansions of beta-chain variable region (BV)16(+) T cells were shared. Clonal expansions within BV15(+) and BV22(+) T cells were also detected in 4 of 6 patients with HLA-DRB1*1501 and in 3 of 4 patients with HLA-DRB1*0401, respectively. Sequencing of BV16 cDNA for which the CDR3 size pattern exhibited apparent clone predominance revealed an identical CDR3 peptide sequence in 2 different patients, one with HLA-DRB1*0701 and the other with HLA-DRB1*1502. These findings indicate that the discrete antigen-driven expansion of T cells is involved in autologous GVHD. (Blood. 2001;98:868-876)

Adult↗