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N Itoh

Publications and source records attributed to N Itoh.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Rat FGF receptor-4 mRNA in the brain is expressed preferentially in the medial habenular nucleus.

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor family consists of four members, FGFR-1, FGFR-2, FGFR-3 and FGFR-4, that are closely related receptor tyrosine kinases. We examined the expression of rat FGFR-4 mRNA in the brain by in situ hybridization and compared it with that of the mRNAs for other FGF receptors. In contrast with FGFR-1, FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 mRNAs which are expressed widely in the brain, the FGFR-4 mRNA in the brain is expressed preferentially in the medial habenular nucleus neurons. The present finding indicates that FGFR-4 has a function specific to the medial habenular nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Differential gene expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor isoforms in rat ovary.

The gene expression of four fibroblast growth factor receptors (flg, bek, FGFR-3, and FGFR-4) in rat ovary cells was studied. Northern blot hybridization revealed that flg and bek mRNAs were detectable during all stages except a diestrus stage, whereas FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 mRNAs were almost undetectable throughout the cycles. In situ hybridization also demonstrated that only flg and bek gene expression was detectable. A modest flg mRNA signal was detected in developing antral follicles and it was more prominent in the theca-interstitial cells than in the granulosa cells. A modest to weak flg mRNA signal was seen in the hypertrophied theca-interstitial cells of atretic follicles and a very weak flg mRNA signal was observed in the corpora lutea. On the other hand, a weak bek mRNA signal was seen in granulosa and theca-interstitial cells in developing follicles and also hypertrophied theca-interstitial cells of atretic follicles, but not in the corpora lutea. Intense signals for both flg and bek mRNAs were unexpectedly found in the epithelium of paroophoron at the hilus. These results demonstrate that the bFGF receptor isoforms are expressed differentially in the rat ovary cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Spontaneous rupture of a bladder diverticulum: ultrasonographic diagnosis.

We report a rare case of spontaneous rupture of a large bladder diverticulum that was diagnosed accurately and promptly using abdominal ultrasonography. Instillation of saline and air into the bladder on ultrasonography demonstrated jetting from the wall of the bladder diverticulum. We recommend this useful imaging technique, which can be performed easily in the emergency room, in all suspected cases of bladder rupture.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Alteration of p53 gene in ovarian carcinoma: clinicopathological correlation and prognostic significance.

Inactivation of the tumour-suppressor gene p53 has been demonstrated in a variety of human tumours. We extracted DNA from paraffin-embedded tissues of 67 ovarian carcinoma samples (54 primary tumours, seven metastases and six tumours obtained after chemotherapy), and analysed allelic losses and mutations of the p53 gene using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of DNA fragments amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Allelic loss was observed in 24 of 32 informative cases. The mutation was detected in 14 of 54 primary ovarian carcinomas: eight serous cystadenocarcinomas (SCA), 42%), five endometrioid adenocarcinomas (EA, 42%) and one mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (14%). The incidence of the alteration was higher in SCA and EA than in other histological types, but the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of p53 gene abnormalities in ovarian carcinomas tended to be increased in patients with disease advanced (over FIGO stage II). Mutations were found in exons 5 and 7 only and consisted mainly of single nucleotide substitutions [9 or 14 (64%) in exon 7; 4 of 14 (29%) in exon 5]. In 13 of 14 cases, p53 gene mutations occurred concomitantly with losses of the normal allele. The status of the p53 gene in metastases and the tumours obtained after chemotherapy was identical to that in the primary tumours. The presence of p53 gene mutation did not correlate with histological grade, response to primary therapy and survival. These findings suggest that mutational alterations of the p53 gene are involved in the development of a significant proportion of some ovarian carcinomas (SCAs or EAs), especially in advanced stages. However, they may not be a marker predicting the biological behaviour or the outcome of the disease.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1994

Semi-quantitative analysis of DNA topoisomerase-I mRNA level using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in cancer cell lines: its relation to cytotoxicity against camptothecin derivative.

Expression of DNA topoisomerase (Topo)-I-mRNA in various cancer cell lines was detected using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The cytoplasmic polyadenylated RNA isolated from cancer cell lines was reverse-transcribed and the complementary DNA was amplified by PCR primed with Topo-I specific primers. Fidelity of the amplified sequence was confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blot hybridization. The level of Topo-I mRNA was correlated positively with the cytotoxicity of a Topo-I inhibitor, a camptothecin derivative. This RT-PCR method may be applicable to the assessment of sensitivity of cells to Topo-I targeted drugs, especially when only small quantities of cell samples are available.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges in EEG during recovery from hyponatremia: a case report.

PLEDs were observed in a case of undifferentiated schizophrenia, transiently during the course of recovery from hyponatremia, and diffuse EEG slowing remained even after the serum sodium had returned to normal range. It was considered that PLEDs had occurred transiently in relation to hemispheric ischemic disturbance induced by hyponatremia. The characteristics of PLEDs associated with hyponatremia will need to be studied further in more patients with hyponatremia.

Consciousness Disorders↗
PubMed1994

Immunohistochemical reactions for fibroblast growth factor receptor in arteries of patients with moyamoya disease.

The cause of moyamoya disease remains unknown, and pathophysiological mechanisms remain uncertain. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is a pluripotent polypeptide that has been shown to play roles in angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and many other processes. In a previous study, we demonstrated immunohistochemically that the amount of basic FGF was increased above normal in the superficial temporal artery (STA) of patients with moyamoya disease. To clarify the function of basic FGF in moyamoya disease, we have performed an immunohistochemical study of the STA using a polyclonal antihuman FGF receptor antibody and also have tested immunohistochemical reactions for basic FGF. Twelve surgical specimens of the STA from patients with moyamoya disease were studied. Twelve specimens of the STA from skin flaps of patients with other neurological diseases were also investigated for comparison. The sections of the STA from patients with moyamoya disease showed dense and strong FGF receptor and basic FGF immunoreactivity in endothelial cells, in cells scattered in the thickened intima, and in smooth muscle cells in the media. In contrast, the sections of the STA of control patients showed faint basic FGF immunoreactivity. The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference of basic FGF immunoreactivity between moyamoya disease and other neurological diseases (chi 2 = 23; P = 0.0001). Moderately intense FGF receptor immunoreactivity was observed in most control patients. However, the statistical analysis revealed a significant difference of FGF receptor immunoreactivity between moyamoya disease and other neurological diseases (chi 2 = 13.382; P = 0.0012).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Efficient transformation of pseudomonas strains with pNI vectors by electroporation.

The optimum conditions for electro-transformation of some Pseudomonas strains including P. putida, P. fluorescens, and P. flavida, were defined using the pNI105 vector, resulting in 100-10,000 fold increases in transformation efficiency compared with conventional chemical transformation with MgCl2. The growth phase of the cultured cells and the field strength were important in obtaining high transformation efficiency. Under optimal conditions, 3.2 x 10(7) transformants per 1 microgram DNA were obtained using a combination of pNI105 and P. fluorescens IAM12022. This value is the highest ever obtained for a Pseudomonas species. In addition, the procedures were applicable to the effective transformation of fluorescent Pseudomonas strains with pNI vectors.

Electroporation↗
PubMed1994

Sex hormone-binding globulin mRNA levels in human uterine endometrium.

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a specific steroid hormone-binding protein that plays a role in transporting dihydrotestosterone, testosterone and estradiol-17 beta (E2), altering their concentration in blood and influencing their biological action. Recently it has been reported that immunoreactive SHBG is localized in target tissues and that SHBG mRNA was identified in human endometrial and prostatic cell lines. In the present work, SHBG mRNA was detected in human normal endometrial tissues using Northern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction. Its level was higher (p < 0.02) in the secretory phase than in the proliferative phase. In the secretory phase, the endometrial SHBG mRNA level was correlated positively with serum E2 and progesterone level (p < 0.05). However, there was a negative correlation between endometrial SHBG mRNA level and serum E2/progesterone ratio (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that SHBG is synthesized in the uterine endometrium and a part of its synthesis is regulated complexly by sex steroid hormones such as E2 and progesterone.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia and increased serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen and neuron specific enolase.

We report a case of pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia (PIE), associated with increased serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC) and neuron specific enolase (NSE). The diagnosis of PIE was confirmed by examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and specimens of transbronchial lung biopsy. It was suggested that PIE was probably induced by a course of amoxicillin for a sore throat. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in clinical improvement of symptoms, resolution of pulmonary infiltrates on chest roentgenogram and reduction in serum levels of SCC and NSE.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1994

[The effect of subjective urinary symptoms on quality of life (QOL)--results of a field survey for prostatic diseases].

We investigated the effect of subjective urinary symptoms on quality of life (QOL) in 536 males who participated in a field survey for prostatic diseases in Hokkaido from 1991 to 1993. To quantitatively estimate the subjective urinary symptoms, we used a questionnaire that included questions about irritative symptoms such as "diurnal frequency", "nocturia", "sensation of residual urine", "urgency" and "frequent urination within 2 hrs.", and obstructive symptoms such as "difficulty to start urination", "intermittency during urination", "strain or pushing", "weak stream" and "stopping or starting urination". The incidences of participants with poor QOL increased as irritative and obstructive symptoms became apparent (p < 0.001). However, some participants, who had only mild urinary symptoms, could not tolerate the situation and felt impairment of QOL. In contrast, others did not feel a decrease of QOL in daily life in spite of severe symptoms. Thus, subjective urinary symptoms did not always correlate with QOL in some individuals. These results indicated that we should keep in mind not only subjective urinary symptoms but their effect on QOL whenever we determine an indication for medical or surgical intervention for patients having urinary symptoms.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

[Changes in the voiding condition with aging in elderly males--results of a field survey for prostatic diseases].

We investigated changes in the voiding condition with aging in 1476 males 50 years and older, who participated in a field survey for prostatic diseases conducted from 1982 to 1991 in Hokkaido. Voiding conditions were evaluated subjectively with a symptom index (weak stream, intermittency, nocturia, urge incontinence), and objectively with maximum flow rate. Digital rectal examination (DRE) revealed 10.3% (572 participants) of total evaluable participants to have moderate or marked enlargement of the prostate. The incidence of enlargement of the prostate apparently increased with aging. Subjective urinary symptoms, both obstructive and irritative, increased in the incidence and degree with aging. The maximum flow rate and maximum flow rate-nomogram also became worse with aging the incidences participants having urinary symptoms or decreased maximum flow rate increased in parallel with the size of the prostate on DRE. For each size of the prostate on DRE, the incidence of participants having urinary symptoms increased with aging. The maximum flow rate showed a similar tendency, decreasing with aging, irrespective of the size of the prostate. These results indicate that aging as well as the size of the prostate may affect the voiding condition in males aged 50 years and older.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

A new thymopoietin precursor gene from human thymus.

Thymopoietin-related peptide (TPRP) gene was identified and cloned from a human thymus cDNA library. The cloned cDNA encoded a mature TPRP including the active site of thymopoietin (TP) (residues 32-36). TPRP and bovine TP were very similar in amino acid sequence, each being a 49 amino acid linear polypeptide. TPRP differed in only one residue from bovine putative TP and in only five residues from bovine TP I; whereas TPRP differed much more, at 12 amino acid residues, from human TP from thymus. This suggests that TPRP is a novel peptide and a genuine counterpart of the bovine TP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

[Changes in the salivary testosterone level in aged].

Measurement of the level of free testosterone is important in the evaluation of testicular function. Because most of the testosterone in the saliva is in the free form, measurement of the salivary testosterone level is considered to be effective for the evaluation of testicular function. In the present study, a commercial kit was employed to measure the salivary testosterone level, and the change in the salivary testosterone level with age was investigated. The subjects of this study were 76 males, 20-89 years of age, with no endocrinological diseases. The concentration of testosterone in the saliva was measured for each of the subjects, and for 34 of the subjects the concentrations of total testosterone and free testosterone in the serum were also measured at the same time. Standard serum was diluted to have a testosterone concentration of 50 pg/ml, and the results indicated that it was sufficiently possible to measure the salivary testosterone. The coefficient of correlation between the salivary testosterone concentration and the serum total testosterone concentration was 0.479 (p < 0.01), while the coefficient of correlation between the salivary testosterone concentration and the serum free testosterone concentration was 0.732 (p < 0.001). These findings thus indicate that the correlation between the salivary testosterone concentration and the serum free testosterone concentration is better than that between the salivary testosterone concentration and the serum total testosterone concentration. It was also demonstrated that the salivary testosterone concentration decreased significantly with aging after the fifth decade of life. The correlation coefficient for that relationship was -0.606 (p < 0.001), and the change was similar to that seen in the serum free testosterone concentration as a function of aging. The findings suggested that measurement of the salivary testosterone concentration with the commercial kit is useful for the evaluation of testicular function.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Diffuse and broad podocytic detachment in a case of nephrotic syndrome associated with Kimura's disease.

We report a 49-year-old Japanese male with nephrotic syndrome associated with Kimura's disease. Renal biopsy revealed diffuse podocytic detachment from the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). He had an episode of nephrotic syndrome when complete remission was induced with steroid therapy six years prior to the present admission. However, complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome was not achieved by the steroid on this admission and massive proteinuria (5 g/day) persisted. We suggest that steroid-resistant proteinuria is closely related to podocytic detachment from the GBM and that the production of extracellular matrix by epithelial cells may participate in segmental sclerotic lesions in the patient.

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia↗
PubMed1993

Lethal effect of the anti-Fas antibody in mice.

During mammalian development, many cells are programmed to die most mediated by apoptosis. The Fas antigen coded by the structural gene for mouse lymphoproliferation mutation (lpr), is a cell surface protein belonging to the tumour necrosis factor/nerve growth factor receptor family, and mediates apoptosis. The Fas antigen messenger RNA is expressed in the thymus, liver, heart, lung and ovary. We prepared a monoclonal antibody against mouse Fas antigen, which immunoprecipitated the antigen (M(r) 45K) and had cytolytic activity against cell lines expressing mouse Fas antigen. We report here that staining of mouse thymocytes with the antibody indicated that thymocytes from the wild-type and lprcg mice expressed the Fas antigen, whereas little expression of the Fas antigen was found in lpr mice. Intraperitoneal administration of the anti-Fas antibody into mice rapidly killed the wild-type mice but neither lpr nor lprcg mice. Biochemical, histological and electron microscope analyses indicated severe damage of the liver by apoptosis. These findings suggest that the Fas antigen is important in programmed cell death in the liver, and may be involved in fulminant hepatitis in some cases.

Animals↗