[Detection of MRSA in National Leprosarium of Ohshima Seisho-En].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
N Kondo
Publications and source records attributed to N Kondo.
Defective calcium-dependent signal transduction in B lymphocytes of a certain common variable immunodeficiency.
Two different common variable immunodeficiency patients were studied. Patient 1 showed hypogammaglobulinemia in all major classes of gammaglobulins and slightly reduced percentages of circulating CD19+ cells, CD20+ cells and surface IgG-or IgA-bearing cells with a normal percentage of surface IgM-bearing cells. Patient 2 showed normal levels in IgM with IgG and IgA deficiencies and almost normal percentages of circulating CD19+ cells, CD20+ cells and surface IgM-, IgG- or IgA-bearing cells. The proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to B cell mitogen, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, were reduced in patient 1 but not in patient 2. The intracellular calcium concentrations in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) transformed by Epstein-Barr virus from patient 2 were increased after anti-mu stimulation. The concentrations were scarcely increased in LCLs from patient 1. These results suggest that B cells of patient 1 have a defective Ca(2+)-dependent signal transduction pathway, resulting in a failure of cell activation and cell proliferation. The defect in B cells of patient 2 may exist on immunoglobulin gene switching or expression rather than the Ca(2+)-dependent signal transduction pathway.
Agammaglobulinemia↗
[Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII: characterization of exonic point mutations and molecular heterogeneity].
We identified two different exonic point mutations causing beta-glucuronidase (beta G1) deficiency in three Japanese patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type VII. The beta G1-specific mRNA levels were normal. Sequence analysis of the full-length mutated cDNAs showed C-->T transitions, which resulted in a single Ala619-->Val change (case 1, a 8-year old female and case 2, a 24-year old male) and a Arg382-->Cys change (case 3, a 7-year-old female). Each of these two amino acid changes reduced the beta G1 activity of the corresponding mutant beta G1 expressed following transfection of COS cells with expression vectors harboring the mutated cDNAs.
Adult↗
Reduced responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes to heat-denatured food antigens in food-sensitive atopic dermatitis.
Although some patients with food-sensitive atopic dermatitis exhibit allergic symptoms to certain raw foods, they do not exhibit or scarcely exhibit allergic symptoms to boiled or cooked foods. In this study, although peripheral blood mononuclear cells responded to raw food antigens (ovalbumin or bovine serum albumin), the proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were reduced in heat-denatured food antigen-stimulation, in the hen egg- or cow milk-sensitive patients with atopic dermatitis who did not exhibit or scarcely exhibited allergic symptoms to the boiled or cooked foods although the patients exhibited allergic symptoms to the raw foods. Our results show that proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to heat-denatured food antigens are good parameters for diet counseling in food hypersensitivity.
Antigens↗
[Two cases of acute myocardial infarction with simultaneous occlusions of two main coronary branches].
We report two rare cases of acute myocardial infarction with simultaneous occlusion of two main coronary branches. Case 1 was a 66-year-old man. Emergent CAG demonstrated total occlusions of RCA-segment 1 and LCX-segment 13. The patient underwent a direct PTCA of the RCA occlusion and an intracoronary infusion of urokinase. Angiography before discharge revealed a 25% stenosis of the RCA and a 75% stenosis of the LCX. Case 2 was a 68-year-old man. His ECG showed ST elevation in inferior and anterior leads. Emergent CAG demonstrated a 99% stenosis of RCA-segment 1 and total obstruction in LAD-segment 6. The distal LAD was not visualized by antegrade and retrograde flow from collaterals. We considered the state of hyper-coagulability and reducing of coronary blood flow as the mechanism of simultaneous occlusions in our cases.
Aged↗
Magnetic-field penetration depth and the lower critical field of the quasi-two-dimensional superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Journal Article↗
Induction of cytokines in glial cells by trans activator of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), the cause of adult T-cell leukemia, is also associated with the neurological disease, TSP/HAM (tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I associated myelopathy). The HTLV-I genome encodes a protein, Tax, that trans activates viral and cellular gene transcription. To understand the mechanisms for the production of cytokines by HTLV-I in nervous tissue, we examined their expression in glial cells which carried the Tax-expressing vector. We demonstrated that Tax expression enhanced the production by glial cells of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta. We suggest that the excessive production of cytokines in nervous tissue may play a role in pathogenesis of TSP/HAM. Glial cells that carry the tax gene may provide a model useful for in vitro study of the mechanism of production of cytokines in the nervous system.
Animals↗
Identification of novel blood proteins specific for mammalian hibernation.
Mammalian hibernation is a unique physiological adaptation that allows the sustainment of life under extremely low body temperatures. In the chipmunk, we found four proteins related specifically to hibernation. These proteins started to diminish in concentration in the blood before and disappeared during hibernation. These proteins reappeared in the blood as hibernation ceased and remained during nonhibernation. The complete or partial amino acid sequences of the four proteins showed that three (27-, 25-, and 20-kDa) were previously unknown, whereas another (55-kDa) is highly homologous with alpha 1-antitrypsin. The three novel proteins are homologous, indicating that they are a family. In the NH2-terminal regions of these proteins, a collagen-like amino acid sequence is present, whereas in their COOH-terminal regions, two sequences, Ser-Ala-Phe-Ala-Val-Lys and Val-Trp-Leu-Glu, are conserved. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions and gel permeation chromatography under denaturating conditions revealed that the four proteins form a 140-kDa complex in the plasma fraction. The novel proteins were detected in blood of another hibernator, the ground squirrel, but not in rodent nonhibernators, namely tree squirrels and rats. The present finding is the first identification of a hibernation-specific protein. The presence of specific proteins in hibernators suggests the involvement of genetic factors in the control of hibernation. These proteins provide valuable tools for understanding molecular mechanisms of mammalian hibernation.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding ascorbate peroxidase from Arabidopsis thaliana.
A cDNA clone encoding ascorbate peroxidase (AP, EC 1.11.1.11) was isolated from a phage lambda gt11 library of cDNA from Arabidopsis thaliana by immunoscreening with monoclonal antibodies against the enzyme, and then sequenced. The cDNA insert hybridized to a 1.1 kb poly(A)+ RNA from leaves of A. thaliana. Genomic hybridization suggests that the cDNA obtained here corresponds to a single-copy gene. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis AP was determined by protein sequencing of the immunochemically purified enzyme, and proved to be homologous to the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the chloroplastic AP of spinach. The predicted amino acid sequence of the mature AP of A. thaliana, deduced from the nucleotide sequence, consists of 249 amino acid residues, which is 34% homologous with cytochrome c peroxidase of yeast, but less homologous with other plant peroxidases. Amino acid residues at the active site of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase are conserved in the amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis AP. The poly(dG-dT) sequence, which is a potential Z-DNA-forming sequence, was found in the 3' untranslated region of the cDNA.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Accelerated expression of secreted alpha-chain gene in anaphylactoid purpura.
The mechanisms of the elevation of serum IgA levels in anaphylactoid purpura were investigated. Serum IgA levels were significantly elevated within 2 weeks (5 to 14 days for all 12 patients) after onset in patients with anaphylactoid purpura. Serum IgM and IgG were not elevated. Although the percentages of surface IgA-bearing cells were not increased in the patients, the numbers of IgA-secreting cells within 2 weeks after onset in the patients with anaphylactoid purpura were significantly higher than those of controls. In northern blot analysis on lymphocytes, the secreted alpha (alpha s)-chain gene was well expressed compared with the membrane-bound alpha (alpha m)-chain gene, within 2 weeks after the onset of anaphylactoid purpura. Therefore, stimulation by a certain agent or a certain immune response may accelerate expression of the alpha s-chain gene in anaphylactoid purpura.
Blotting, Northern↗
Interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11: report of a case and review of the literature.
A 12-month-old female infant with developmental delay, growth retardation, and dysmorphic features including dolichocephaly, telecanthus, ptosis, flat nasal bridge, anteverted nares, high-arched palate, carp-shaped mouth, micro-retrognathia, and low-set and posteriorly rotated ears was found to have an interstitial deletion of chromosome 11 involving bands q14-q22. Immunoblot analysis of her fibroblasts revealed a normal amount of mitochondrial acetoacetyl-coenzyme A thiolase, of which gene locus has been assigned to chromosome 11q22.3-q23.1. This result suggested that the region around the boundary of 11q22.3-q23.1 was intact in this patient.
Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Asparagine-linked sugar chains of erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins from Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome are not impaired.
In both healthy controls and patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, the main oligosaccharide in asparagine-linked sugar chains of the membrane glycoproteins of erythrocytes was biantennary sugar chain with bisected GlcNAc (Gal2-GlcNAc2-Man3-GlcNAc-GlcNAc-Fuc-GlcNAcOT). Biantennary sugar chain with an alpha-fucosyl residue linked at the proximal GlcNAc was seen but biantennary sugar chain without an alpha-fucosyl residue at the proximal GlcNAc was not detected in each subject. There was no difference in quality and quantity of asparagine-linked sugar chains of erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins between healthy controls and the patients. These results suggest that asparagine-linked sugar chains in membrane glycoproteins of hematopoietic cells may not be impaired in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
Adolescent↗
Asparagine-linked sugar chains of plasma membrane glycoproteins from healthy and common variable immunodeficiency B lymphoblastoid cell lines.
Asparagine-linked sugar chains of plasma membrane glycoproteins, which are formed by glycosylation during B cell maturation, were examined with B lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) transformed by Epstein-Barr virus derived from healthy controls and patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI). Both two patients with CVI showed hypogammaglobulinemia and impaired B cell functions. LCLs from healthy controls and the patients showed CD19+ and HLA/DR+ in the cell surface and secreted IgM. In both healthy controls and the patients, the main oligosaccharide in asparagine-linked sugar chains of the membrane glycoproteins of LCLs was biantennary sugar chain with bisected GlcNAc (Gal2-GlcNAc2-Man3-GlcNAc-GlcNAc-Fuc-GlcNAcOT). Biantennary sugar chain with an alpha-fucosyl residue linked at the proximal GlcNAc was seen but biantennary sugar chain without an alpha-fucosyl residue at the proximal GlcNAc was little detected in each LCL. There was no difference in quality and quantity of asparagine-linked sugar chains between healthy controls and the patients. These results suggest that glycosylation during B cell maturation may not be impaired in patients with CVI.
Asparagine↗
Lymphocyte responses to food antigens in food sensitive patients with allergic tension-fatigue syndrome.
Scores of radioallergosorbent test (RAST) for cow's milk or buckwheat flour and proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to bovine serum albumin and beta-lactoglobulin or buckwheat flour were measured in cow's milk or buckwheat flour sensitive patients with allergic tension-fatigue syndrome. In all 3 cow's milk sensitive patients with allergic tension-fatigue syndrome, RAST scores for cow's milk were negative or slightly positive, but PBMCs well responded to bovine serum albumin and beta-lactoglobulin, but not to ovalbumin. In a buckwheat flour sensitive patient with allergic tension-fatigue syndrome, RAST scores for buckwheat flour were negative, but PBMCs well responded to buckwheat flour, but not to ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin and beta-lactoglobulin. Conversely, in cow's milk or buckwheat flour sensitive patients with immediate allergic symptoms, RAST scores for offending foods were positive although PBMCs did not respond to offending food antigens. These results suggest that proliferative responses of PBMCs to food antigens are very useful for detection of offending foods in allergic tension-fatigue syndrome.
Adolescent↗
Molecular analysis of a HTLV-IpX defective human adult T-cell leukemia.
Fresh and cultured leukemia cells from an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patient which possessed gag and env gene defective human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) provirus genome were molecularly analyzed. Cells from both fresh and the established cell line, named KB-1 showed identical surface markers of helper T cells, expressed the interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor and had an identical defective HTLV-I provirus genome with deletions of the gag and env genes involving pX gene exon 2. The KB-1 cells grew vigorously in vitro, even in the absence of IL-2 and the culture supernatant of KB-1 contained a large amount of IL-2. Neither pX mRNA nor p40(TAX) protein was detected in the KB-1 cells. The collective evidence suggests that the pX gene was not functioning in this particular ATL case. The biological function of the HTLV-I genes, especially the pX gene is discussed in relation to the early and late leukemogenesis of ATL.
Blotting, Southern↗
Inhibition of proliferative responses of lymphocytes to food antigens by an anti-allergic drug, N(3',4'-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (Tranilast) in children with atopic dermatitis.
Experimental studies have shown that N(3',4'-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (Tranilast) inhibits reaginic antibody-mediated hypersensitivity reactions, and it has been demonstrated to be an effective drug for patients with bronchial asthma. On the other hand, from the nature of the cellular infiltrate seen in eczematous lesions, it appears that some form of cell-mediated immunity may be involved in addition to IgE-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Moreover, we have previously reported that the proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to ovalbumin (OA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) in children with AD who are sensitive to hen's egg or cow's milk were significantly higher than those of healthy children and hen's egg or cow's milk sensitive children with immediate symptoms. In this study, we have showed that the proliferative responses of PBMCs to OA were dose-dependently inhibited by Tranilast on patients with AD. The responding cells to OA were shown, through separation experiments, to be T cells, and the proliferative responses of T cells to OA were also dose-dependently inhibited by Tranilast. Moreover, the inhibition was thought to occur at the initial stage of the proliferative reactions. These results suggest that Tranilast can be clinically applied to patients with AD.
Antigens↗
Reduced secreted mu mRNA synthesis in selective IgM deficiency of Bloom's syndrome.
Serum IgM concentrations were low although serum IgG and IgA concentrations were normal in both our patients with Bloom's syndrome. Although the percentages of surface IgM-bearing cells were not reduced, the numbers of IgM-secreting cells were markedly reduced. The membrane-bound mu (microns) and secreted mu (microseconds) mRNAs are produced from transcripts of a single immunoglobulin mu gene by alternative RNA processing pathways. The control of microseconds mRNA synthesis depends on the addition of poly(A) to microseconds C-terminal segment. In both patients, mu mRNA was well detected but microseconds C-terminal mRNA was scarcely detected, suggesting that microns mRNA was well transcribed but microseconds mRNA was not. There was, at least, no mutation or deletion in the microseconds C-terminal coding sequence, the RNA splice site (GG/TAAAC) at the 5' end of microseconds C-terminal segment and the AATAAA poly(A) signal sequence in both patients. Our results suggest that selective IgM deficiency in Bloom's syndrome is due to an abnormality in the maturation of surface IgM-bearing B cells into IgM-secreting cells and a failure of microseconds mRNA synthesis. Moreover, reduced microseconds mRNA synthesis may be due to the defect on developmental regulation of the site at which poly(A) is added to transcripts of the mu gene.
Adult↗
Common variable immunodeficiency with increased surface IgM-positive double-bearing B cells.
We report a case of common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) that shows low levels of IgG and IgA, but a normal quantitative or qualitative level of IgM. T-cell functions were not disturbed. Increased numbers of surface IgM (sIgM) and sIgD, sIgM and sIgG, sIgM and sIgA double-bearing B cells were observed as compared with a control. No IgG and IgA induction upon stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), or pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and rIL-4 or rIL-6 was observed, although there was proliferation. Although mu mRNA was expressed as much as in a healthy control, transcription of gamma mRNA and alpha mRNA was very low. Furthermore, no enhanced effects of gamma mRNA and alpha mRNA were recognized upon stimulation with rIL-4 and rIL-6. These results suggest that the patient's B cells might be defective at the switching process from mu, mu and delta, mu and gamma to gamma or mu and alpha to alpha.
Antibody Formation↗