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Biomedical subjects

N Itoh

Publications and source records attributed to N Itoh.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Mechanism of induction of endogenous tumor necrosis factor in ascites of ovarian cancer patients by OK-432, a streptococcal preparation.

In four ovarian cancer patients with malignant ascites, 10 KE of OK-432 was intraperitoneally administered four times every other day for priming, and 40 KE of OK-432 in a single dose by the same route on day 13 for triggering. The changes in peripheral blood monocytes and intraperitoneal macrophages and the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and ascitic lymphoid cells (ALC) were examined. In two of the four patients in whom TNF was induced in the ascites, the TNF production by PBMC and ALC was noted during priming, and after triggering, an increase in both the number of intraperitoneal macrophages and the TNF production by ALC was noted. In two other patients in whom TNF was not detected in the ascites, the ratio of intraperitoneal macrophages to ALC did not change throughout the whole period, and the TNF production by ALC was not augmented. These findings suggest that the priming administration of OK-432 can induce both intraperitoneal macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes into a primed state, and the triggering administration of OK-432 can increase the number of intraperitoneal OK-432-primed macrophages and induce TNF release from these cells.

Ascites↗

[Two cases of so-called extragonadal germinal tumor with "probable" retroperitoneal origin].

In a rare case of germinal tumor, the patient usually presents complaining of an abdominal mass as an initial symptom without an apparent tumor in his testis. Clinical strategy for such patients is based on that for testicular cancer. However, it often fails to produce a satisfactory response. The poor response may contribute to several "poor prognostic feature" found in most of these patients.

Adult↗

Acute-phase response of angiotensinogen in rat adjuvant arthritis.

The plasma level of angiotensinogen during the chronic phase of inflammation was studied for comparison with those of other acute-phase reactants in rat adjuvant arthritis. In response to a single injection of Freund's complete adjuvant, this level exhibited a transient increase during the first 24 h. By contrast, increased levels of plasma T-kininogen and alpha 2-macroglobulin, typical acute-phase reactions in the rat, were maintained during the 4-week experimental period. These results suggest that the hepatic synthesis of angiotensinogen is stimulated only in the early phase of chronic inflammation, and therefore that the mechanism underlying the acute-phase response of angiotensinogen is distinct from those currently suggested for other acute-phase reactants.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

[A case report: occlusal guidance of Angle Class II malocclusion with dysfunction of the masticatory system].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the condylar changes induced by Bionator therapy. The pre and post treatment Cephalometric, tomographic, and dental cast record were evaluated. An 11-Year, 8 month-old boy with malocclusion class II div. 1 was referred to the Pedodontic clinic of the Nippon Dental University Hospital with a chief complaint of Brxism and Protrusion. The medical history was non-contributory. The period of the observation was 3 years 2 months. Normal permanent occlusion was obtained after treatment. The cephalometric findings showed a favorable relationship between the results of the skeletal and dental changes. Also the results showed an effect on the maxilla and mandible stimulation, class II skeletal correction. Favorable changes in the mandibular condylar position using the Bionator were observed in tomographic records before and after treatment.

Activator Appliances↗

[A clinical study of congenital adrenal hyperplasia].

We have compared three treatments of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) for their effect on physical development. Thirteen girls and two boys with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency were treated with three different treatments, hydrocortisone (HC), dexamethasone (DXM) and cyproterone acetate (CA). The results showed that height growth was better with HC and CA than DXM, and bone excessive maturation was more suppressed with DXM and CA than HC. A dose-dependent relationship was revealed between body weight and dose of HC. Iatrogenic obesity was found in 42.9% and 38.1% of the patients treated with DXM and HC, but none of the patients treated with CA did became obese. Physical growth was better with CA treatment than HC or DXM treatment, but CA may have a suppressive effect on the pituitary-adrenal axis observed carefully, especially on prepubertal and pubertal cases.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

Time-dependent enhancement of xylazine-induced, alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in isolated and perfused canine pulmonary veins.

By using the cannula inserting method, vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine (a mixed alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist), phenylephrine (a selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor agonist), clonidine and xylazine (selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists) were investigated in the isolated and perfused canine pulmonary vein. The segment of vessels was perfused by Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution at a constant flow rate at 37 degrees C. Two hours after setting up the perfusion preparation, norepinephrine and phenylephrine induced dose-dependent increases in perfusion pressure. Xylazine and clonidine, however, did not induce any significant responses at this time. Although the vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine and phenylephrine did not change statistically during 11 hr after setting up, xylazine-induced responses were perfusion-time-dependently and significantly enhanced 5, 8 and 11 hr after setting up. On the other hand, clonidine induced no significant vascular responses during 11 hr. Xylazine-induced responses were antagonized by DG-5128 (a selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist), but not by bunazosin (a selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist). Furthermore, even in the endothelium-removed preparation by treatment with saponin, the enhancement of xylazine-induced responses were similarly observed in a time-dependent manner. These findings suggest that, in the isolated and perfused canine pulmonary vein, xylazine-induced alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor response was time-dependently enhanced with the presence and absence of the endothelium. In contrast with xylazine, clonidine did not induce significant vasoconstriction during the experiments. This result suggests that clonidine has little activity at the alpha-2 adrenoceptors which mediate latent xylazine-induced vasoconstriction in the isolated, long-time-perfused canine pulmonary veins.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

[Adrenal tumors discovered incidentally on ultrasonography: three case reports].

A series of three adrenal tumors is reported. They were discovered incidentally on ultrasonography for screening. One case was a benign pheochromocytoma and the others were non-functioning adrenocortical adenomas. They were hypoechoic on ultrasonography and were 4.5 x 3.5 x 4.0, 3.0 x 2.5 x 2.5 and 3.5 x 2.5 x 2.0 cm. Non-functioning adrenal tumors of a diameter smaller than 3.0 cm generally tended not to require surgery. Ultrasonography is useful for screening and evaluating patients with an adrenal mass without surgery as well as is computed tomographic scan.

Adenoma↗

[Experience with MAGPI (meatal advancement and glans plasty incorporated), modified MAGPI and Mathieu's technique of hypospadias repair as the last stage operation].

Over a 1-year period, 6 patients with retracted urethral meatus after two-stage hypospadias repair, underwent MAGPI and modified MAGPI technique. Only those cases with subcoronal lesions and without residual chordee were included in this series. Excellent cosmetic and functional results were achieved in all cases without any complication, furthermore, the operative technique is very simple. These are recommended as the operative procedures of choice for the retracted urethral meatus after hypospadias repair.

Adolescent↗

[Effects of o,p'-DDD on pituitary-gonadal function in patients with Cushing's disease].

O,p'-DDD has a cytotoxic action and inhibits the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, 11 beta-hydroxylase, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase coupled with delta 5 to 4 isomerase and 21-hydroxylase of the adrenal cells. However, the effects of o,p'-DDD on gonadal steroidogenesis are still unknown. In the present study, the effects of o,p'-DDD on Plasma cortisol, pregnenolone, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OH-pregnenolone), progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-progesterone), 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), delta 4-androstenedione (androstenedione), estradiol, and LH and FSH were investigated in 3 patients with Cushing's disease before and after the administration of o,p'-DDD. The results are presented here. In Case 1 (18 yr old female) who had had secondary amenorrhea for 2 years, the plasma levels of cortisol, pregnenolone, 17-OH-pregnenolone, DHEA, androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol and corticosterone were elevated. The basal levels of plasma LH and FSH and the responses of both gonadotropins were lower than those of women with eumenorrhea. The plasma levels of progesterone, DHEA and testosterone decreased to normal 2 months after the beginning of the administration of o,p'-DDD. She restored menstrual cycles ranging from 40 to 50 days 3 months after the administration of o,p'-DDD, but with anovulatory bleeding. She showed a biphasic body temperature pattern with plasma progesterone and estradiol levels indicating corpus luteum formation 11 months after the start of the treatment, when plasma cortisol as well as progesterone and androgen were reduced to normal. The basal levels of FSH and LH and responses of these gonadotropins were slightly improved at that time. The plasma levels of cortisol, DHEA and androstenedione were high in Case 2 (38 yr old male) and Case 3 (45 yr old male), whereas plasma testosterone level was normal in Case 2 and low in Case 3. The plasma levels of these 3 steroids were normalized 28 days after the beginning of the o,p'-DDD administration. These results suggest that o,p'-DDD does not interfere with gonadal steroidogenesis in Cushing's disease.

Adolescent↗

Organization of the gene for batroxobin, a thrombin-like snake venom enzyme. Homology with the trypsin/kallikrein gene family.

We have isolated and analyzed the gene for batroxobin, a thrombin-like snake venom enzyme. Three overlapping DNA segments containing the entire batroxobin gene were identified. Sequence analysis revealed that the batroxobin gene spans 8 kilobase pairs and contains five exons. Mature batroxobin is encoded by four separate exons, 2 to 5. The catalytic residues of batroxobin, His-41, Asp-86, and Ser-178, are encoded by separate exons, exons 2, 3, and 5, respectively. The exon/intron organization of the batroxobin gene is different from that of the prothrombin gene but very similar to those of the trypsin and kallikrein genes. These results indicate that batroxobin is not a member of the prothrombin family but one of the trypsin/kallikrein family. The snake venom gland is assumed to originate from the submaxillary gland. Therefore, batroxobin is expected to be a member of the glandular kallikrein family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Studies on abnormalities of adrenal steroidogenesis in essential hypertension, primary aldosteronism and renovascular hypertension: responses of plasma steroids to angiotensin III].

In the present study, effects of angiotensin on the adrenal steroidogenesis were studied in essential hypertension, primary aldosteronism and renovascular hypertension (RVH). Angiotensin III(A III), an analogue of angiotensin II, was administered to 17 normal volunteers (9 male and 8 female), 44 patients with essential hypertension (EH) (15 with high renin; HREH, 15 with normal renin; NREH and 14 with low renin; LREH), 8 patients with primary aldosteronism (5 with adrenal adenoma; APA and 3 with bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia; IHA) and 5 patients with renovascular hypertension. In all the patients with hypertension and normal subjects, blood pressure (BP) and plasma concentrations of progesterone (P), corticosterone (B), aldosterone (Aldo), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone(17-OHP) and cortisol(F) were measured before and after intravenous administration of A III (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 10, 20 and 40 ng/kg/min, for 15 min, respectively). 1) BP rose from 164 +/- 19/88 +/- 8 to 180 +/- 19/112 +/- 10 mmHg [systolic BP(SBP); P less than 0.01, diastolic BP(DBP); P less than 0.01] in HREH, from 162 +/- 12/96 +/- 7 to 186 +/- 11/118 +/- 8 mmHg in NREH(SBP; P less than 0.01, DBP; P less than 0.01), 165 +/- 12/94 +/- 8 to 202 +/- 12/126 +/- 9 mmHg in LREH(SBP; P less than 0.001, P less than 0.001) and 118 +/- 8/72 +/- 7 mmHg to 136 +/- 11/88 +/- 8 mmHg in controls (SBP; P less than 0.01, DBP; P less than 0.01). The elevation in NREH and LREH was greater than that in HREH and controls. The elevations of BP both in APA and IHA were remarkably greater than that in controls and as similar as LREH(APA; 174 +/- 21/103 +/- 12 to 204 +/- 18/136 +/- 8 mmHg, IHA; 176 +/- 10/104 +/- 4 to 206 +/- 17/138 +/- 10 mmHg). The elevation in RVH was similar to that in NREH(173 +/- 9/108 +/- 8 to 194 +/- 13/132 +/- 10 mmHg). 2) Plasma P increased from 25.5 +/- 7.5 to 39.5 +/- 13.8 ng/100 ml(P less than 0.001) in HREH, from 28.0 +/- 7.7 to 45.3 +/- 12.7 ng/100 ml(P less than 0.001) in NREH, from 23.8 +/- 8.2 to 47.2 +/- 19.4 ng/100 ml(P less than 0.001) in LREH and 26.6 +/- 11.0 to 43.4 +/- 14.6 ng/100 ml in controls. The increment in HREH or NREH was similar to that in controls(P less than 0.1, respectively), whereas greater than controls in LREH(P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗

Stimulation of hepatic T-kininogen production by interferon.

T-kininogen is known to be an acute-phase reactant as well as a kininogen in rat plasma. Three kinds of cytokines, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor and interferon, were assayed for their abilities to stimulate hepatic production of T-kininogen. Of these cytokines, interferon was able to stimulate hepatic production of T-kininogen, but few effects were observed for interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. In addition, the stimulatory effect of interferon was inhibited by tumor necrosis factor. Our data suggest that interferon is a candidate for the leukocyte-derived factor mediating the acute-phase response of T-kininogen.

Animals↗

Substrate specificity, regiospecificity and stereospecificity of halogenation reactions catalyzed by non-heme-type bromoperoxidase of Corallina pilulifera.

Many organic compounds were found to be substrates for halogenation reactions catalyzed by the non-heme-type bromoperoxidase found in the red alga Corallina pilulifera. Anisole, 1-methoxynaphthalene and thiophene were converted to o and p-bromoanisoles, 1-methoxy-4-bromonaphthalene and 2-bromothiophene respectively. Regiospecificity of the enzymatic bromination of anisole was tested and found to be the same as in the chemical reaction with NaOBr. The enzyme also acted on substituted alkenes such as styrene, cyclohexene, trans-cinnamic acid, trans-cinnamyl alcohol and cis-propenylphosphonic acid, to give the respective bromohydrin compounds or decarboxylated bromo compound. These bromohydrin compounds were always mixtures of stereoisomers. In the light of the above findings together with the previous studies concerning the halogenation mechanism, the bromoperoxidase of C. pilulifera was considered to have no specific restriction site for these substrates.

Alcohols↗

Chiari I malformation with quadriplegia and respiratory disturbance in an infant.

Chiari I malformation consists of variable downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils. Quadriplegia, respiratory disturbance and pain are common in Chiari I malformation in adults. However, there are no reports of this syndrome in early childhood. We report the case of a 9-month-old girl with Chiari I malformation who had quadriplegia with muscle weakness and who developed respiratory disturbance as an early symptom. The causes of the symptoms of Chiari I malformation are discussed. The use of MRI is proposed as a more useful diagnostic technique than myelography for these patients since MRI is less likely to aggravate the respiratory disturbance.

Age Factors↗

Coupled transcription-translation of silkworm cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus injected into oocytes of the frog, Xenopus laevis.

The cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, contains a ten-segmented, double-stranded RNA genome and five species of polypeptides, V1 (Mr 146,000), V2 (Mr 140,000), V3 (Mr 128,000)), V4 (Mr 62,000), and V5 (Mr 32,000). The virus contains an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that transcribes the duplex genome RNA to form mRNA either in the infected animals or under appropriate conditions in vitro. We co-microinjected the virus, [alpha-32P]GTP and actinomycin D into oocytes of the frog, Xenopus laevis, and found that at least eight species of mRNA were formed in the oocytes. Virus-injected oocytes were labeled with [35S]methionine and cell extracts were treated with rabbit anti-cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus immunoglobulin G. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that V1, V2, and V3 were produced in the virus-injected oocytes whereas V4 and V5 were not. By injecting the separated double-stranded genome segments immediately after heat-denaturation into oocytes, it was found that V1 was coded for by segment 1 with a chain length of 4.2 kilobase pairs, V2 by segment 2 or 3, whose chain lengths are both 4.0 kilobase pairs, and V3 by segment 4 with a chain length of 3.2 kilobase pairs. These results demonstrate that the Xenopus oocyte is a very useful system for the coupled transcription-translation of double-stranded RNA viruses.

Animals↗