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N Chiba

Publications and source records attributed to N Chiba.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Case report of amyloidosis-like glomerulopathy with hepatic involvement.

A few cases of nephrotic syndrome with the glomerular deposition of an amyloid-like material which did not stain with Congo red have been documented. But extrarenal deposits have not been previously reported in this disease. We describe here a case of nephrotic syndrome associated with the deposition of an amyloid-like material in the liver as well as in the renal glomeruli. The deposits were made up of fibrillar structures which resembled those of amyloid when viewed through the electron microscope but they did not stain with Congo red. This is the first report of amyloidosis-like glomerulopathy with extrarenal deposits.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1991

Spatial distribution of late potentials assessed by signal-averaged body surface mapping.

In order to evaluate the spatial location of late potentials (LPs), we designed a new system for the body surface mapping of signal-averaged, filtered ECG using 45 thoracic unipolar leads (5 X 9 array). Signals from patients with old myocardial infarction (MI, N = 8), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (N = 1) and dilated cardiomyopathy (N = 2) were amplified and passed through a digital bandpass filter (60-300Hz). Departure maps, LP isopotential maps, and LP30 area maps were generated and superimposed. The LP30 duration was determined as the section between the filtered QRS endpoints and points 30 msec before. Isopotential maps of the LPs showed distinct positive and negative regions. In 8 cases with MI, the extreme was related to the zones indicated by departure maps, and LP30 area maps also corresponded to the departure areas. Most importantly, the spatial distribution for the LP30 area map was different for each type of disease. In conclusion, body surface LP isopotential maps and LP30 area maps may provide useful information concerning the spatial distribution of LPs.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1991

Central effects of yohimbine on copulatory behavior in aged male rats.

It is well known that yohimbine has a history of popular use because of its supposed aphrodisiac properties. The present study was done to determine whether yohimbine can modify the copulatory behavior of aged male rats. Adult male rats of the Wistar-Imamichi strain, 52 weeks of age and weighing 600-650g, were injected intracerebroventricularly with yohimbine hydrochloride (5, 10 micrograms/10 microliters/rat) or vehicle. Each male was then given the opportunity to mate with a receptive female for 30 min after administration of yohimbine or vehicle. Yohimbine produced significant decreases in the latency to initial mounting and significant increases in the number of mountings. However, there was no ejaculation in the yohimbine-and vehicle-treated males. This study is the first to clearly establish an important modulator of sexual arousal for yohimbine in aged male rats.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

[Immunohistochemical study on the extracellular matrix components in various renal diseases].

In order to clarify considerable alterations of the extracellular matrix components in various renal diseases, monoclonal antibodies against type IV collagen (IV col), 200-KD laminin (200-KD Lam), 400-KD laminin (400-KD Lam) and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) were applied to 142 renal biopsy specimens for the indirect immunofluorescence. These subjects included 5 cases with 1 hour specimen in the transplanted kidney, 32 minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), 30 mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN), 2 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FGS), 21 membranous nephropathy (MN), 9 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), 2 poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN), 13 diabetic nephropathy (DN), 16 lupus nephritis (LN), 9 diffuse sclerosing glomerulonephritis (DSGN), 2 amyloid kidney and 1 granulomatous nephropathy in sarcoidosis. In the transplanted kidney, the staining intensity of IV col was stronger than that of 200-KD Lam, 400-KD Lam and HSPG in general. IV col was predominantly distributed throughout the mesangium area and less along the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The positive stainings with 200-KD Lam along the GBM and that with 400-KD Lam in the mesangium area were weakly recognized. HSPG was mainly detected along the GBM in the linear fashion. In MCNS, the distribution of the extracellular matrix components was mostly identical to that in the transplanted kidney. In the group of the glomerulonephritis showed the proliferations of mesangial cells, such as PGN and MPGN, the staining intensity of both IV col and 400-KD Lam, particularly in the latter, was remarkably increased in the sclerotic lesions. In MN, the thickened GBM was strongly stained with both IV col and 200-KD Lam, and the stainings of 200-KD Lam were more intensive. And still more, by the double labelling method performed for the couple of IV col and immunoglobulins, the correlation between glomerular capillary walls and/or mesangial areas and immunoglobulins deposits became more clear. These findings suggest as follows: (1) both IV col and 400-KD Lam, in particular 400-KD Lam, are possibly involved in the process of glomerulosclerosis: (2) both IV col and 200-KD Lam, in particular 200-KD Lam, are greatly involved in the process of new basement membrane-like materials formation in MN.

Collagen↗
PubMed1991

Lysophospholipase L1 from Escherichia coli K-12 overproducer.

After screening 900 E. coli strains of the Clarke and Carbon collection for by lysophospholipase L1 activities, we isolated a clone bearing the plasmid pLC6-34, which showed an increased level of lysophospholipase L1 activity. Strains bearing the plasmid pC124, a subclone of pLC6-34 in plasmid vector pUC8, showed approximately 11.4 times higher lysophospholipase L1 activity than that of the parental strain. Starting from those overproducing strains, the lysophospholipase L1 was purified to near homogeneity by sequential use of ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephacryl S-300, DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatographies. The apparent molecular weight of the purified lysophospholipase L1 was estimated to be 20,500-22,000 both by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by gel permeation chromatography. The specific activity of the homogeneous lysophospholipase L1 was 10,400 nmol/min/mg protein when 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine was used as the substrate. The amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal portion of purified lysophospholipase L1 was determined and was different from that of lysophospholipase L2, which had previously been purified from the envelope fraction of E. coli strains bearing its cloned structural gene, pldB [Karasawa, K., Kudo, I., Kobayashi, T., Sa-eki, T., Inoue, K., & Nojima, S. (1985) J. Biochem, 98, 1117-1125]. The gene responsible for overproduction of lysophospholipase L1 activity was designated as pldC (phospholipid degradation C). Its restriction enzyme map was also different from that of cloned pldB. These results further confirmed that, in E. coli, there are two lysophospholipases with distinct characteristics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Experimental cedar pollinosis in rhesus monkeys.

In order to develop an experimental model for human cedar pollinosis, 4 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were subcutaneously immunized with crude cedar pollen antigen, which contained 1.0 microgram or 10 micrograms protein with aluminium hydroxide gel, six times every month. All 4 animals showed immediate-type cutaneous reactivity. Serum IgE antibody responses against the pollen antigen, as quantitated by the Prausnitz-Küstner reaction, were seen in 3 of 4 monkeys. Radioallergosorbent test scores increased in 2 monkeys and remained at higher levels throughout the study. Histamine release from leukocytes was positive in all animals. In conjunctival provocation tests, they showed clinical signs such as eye-scratching after the antigen was dropped into their eyes. This reaction is similar to that observed in humans and suggests this animal model might be useful in studying human cedar pollinosis.

Allergens↗
PubMed1990

[Zygomycosis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae].

Cunninghamella bertholletiae, an uncommon cause of human fungal infection, has been reported with increasing frequency in recent years in Western countries. We report a case of acute myelogenous leukemia terminated by an uncommon complication of zygomycosis caused by C. bertholletiae, which seems to be the first human case reported in Japan. In this case, the fungus disseminated many organs, including the thyroid gland.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Detection and properties of A-factor-binding protein from Streptomyces griseus.

The optically active form of tritium-labeled A-factor (2-isocapryloyl-3R-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone), a pleiotropic autoregulator responsible for streptomycin production, streptomycin resistance, and sporulation in Streptomyces griseus, was chemically synthesized. By using the radioactive A-factor, a binding protein for A-factor was detected in the cytoplasmic fraction of this organism. The binding protein had an apparent molecular weight of approximately 26,000, as determined by gel filtration. Scatchard analysis suggested that A-factor bound the protein in the molar ratio of 1:1 with a binding constant, Kd, of 0.7 nM. The number of the binding protein was roughly estimated to be 37 per genome. The "inducing material" virginiae butanolide C (VB-C), which has a structure very similar to that of A-factor and is essential for virginiamycin production in Streptomyces virginiae, did not inhibit binding. In addition, no protein capable of specifically binding 3H-labeled VB-C was found in S. griseus. Together with the observation that VB-C had almost no biological activity on the restoration of streptomycin production or sporulation in an A-factor-deficient mutant of S. griseus, these results indicated that the binding protein had a strict ligand specificity. Examination for an A-factor-binding protein in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) and Streptomyces lividans showed the absence of any specifically binding protein.

4-Butyrolactone↗
PubMed1989

A family case of IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis.

We describe a family case of IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. This is the first report involving IgA nephropathy in a child and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in a parent. It is suggested that the two were related etiologically as well as clinicopathologically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis with anterior uveitis.

Two patients with IgA nephropathy and a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis each associated with anterior uveitis are described. As anterior uveitis accompanying IgA nephropathy improved, renal manifestations were relieved. The patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis suffered from not only anterior uveitis but also keratitis. It is suggested that immune mechanisms which induce IgA nephropathy may play a role in the development of anterior uveitis and keratitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Characteristics of detergent-resistant phospholipase A overproduced in E. coli cells bearing its cloned structural gene.

Detergent-resistant phospholipase A (DR-phospholipase A) of E. coli is a 28K-dalton protein and is exclusively located in the outer membrane. We cloned the pldA gene of E. coli, which is responsible for the activity of DR-phospholipase A. Strains bearing the plasmid which contained the pldA gene yielded a large amount of the outer membrane protein with a molecular weight of about 28K daltons and overproduced 20 to 65 times as much DR-phospholipase A activity as the wild type strain. Experiments with minicells and maxicells revealed that the pldA-containing plasmid was coding for a 28K protein. These results strongly indicated that pldA is the structural gene for DR-phospholipase A. There was apparently no difference with respect to the association of the enzyme with the envelope fraction between the overproducer and the wild type strain. The overproduced enzyme was properly transported to the outer membrane. Neither the growth rate nor the phospholipid composition of the overproducer was remarkably different from in the wild type strain. Thus, the overproduction of DR-phospholipase A apparently caused no phenotypic variations. E. coli has very excessive ability to transport and integrate the outer membrane protein.

Bacterial Proteins↗