Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Matsubara

Publications and source records attributed to N Matsubara.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Peritoneal mesothelioma: hypertrophic gastroepiploic and omental arteries identified by radioimmune angiography.

We report a first case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma examined by radioimmune (RI) angiography with technetium-99m human serum albumin. The RI angiography clearly demonstrated the characteristic findings including hypertrophic gastroepiploic arteries and dilated omental branches. These findings may be very helpful in distinguishing malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas from peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Adult↗

Specific and abundant secretion of a novel hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein from salt-adapted winged bean cells.

Winged bean callus was adapted to increasing concentrations of NaCl by sequential transfer to medium with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% (w/v) NaCl. When the culture media, after cell suspension cultures of callus adapted to 0.5 (SA-0.5), 1.0 (SA-1.0), 1.5 (SA-1.5), or 2.0% (w/v) NaCl (SA-2.0), were analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, six specific or enhanced polypeptide bands (SAP1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -6) were observed. SAP1, with a molecular weight of 84,000, was abundantly secreted in suspension cultures of SA-1.0 and SA-1.5, and was observed as the most striking polypeptide band. The SAP1 yield was about 4 mg/g cells fresh weight. SAP1 was abundantly secreted after the suspension culture of SA-1.0 in the presence of AlCl(3), but little was secreted in the presence of KCl, LiCl, CaCl(2), MgCl(2), mannitol, sucrose, or abscisic acid. SAP1 was purified from the culture medium after suspension culture of SA-1.0 in the presence of 1.0% (w/v) NaCl. Two steps, ammonium sulfate fractionation and CM-cellulose chromatography, were sufficient for purification to homogeneity. Finally, about 5 mg of SAP1 could be isolated from 7 g of fresh callus cells. Of the amino-terminal 32 amino acid residues of SAP1, 10 and 5 were found to be hydroxyproline and proline, respectively. SAP1 on an acrylamide gel was stained by the periodic acid-Schiff method. It is interesting that SAP1 has pentahydroxyproline blocks (Hyp(5)) instead of tetrahydroxyproline blocks (Hyp(4)) common to many hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins in dicotyledons. Thus, this novel hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein was shown to be abundantly secreted from NaCl-adapted winged bean cells.

Journal Article↗

Anti-proliferative effect on human pancreatic cancer cells of natural human tumour necrosis factor-beta combined with natural human interferon-alpha or interferon-gamma.

The anti-proliferative effects of natural cytokines, human tumour necrosis factor-beta, natural human interferon-alpha and natural human interferon-gamma, on three human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3) were investigated in vitro. The anti-proliferative effect was determined using the dye uptake method and analysed for synergism by the median effect principle. Tumour necrosis factor-beta, as a single agent, had little anti-proliferative effect on any of the three cell lines, whereas interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma exhibited a strong anti-proliferative effect against two cell lines (MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3) and one cell line (BxPC-3), respectively. When tumour necrosis factor-beta and interferon-alpha were administered together (ratio 1:1), a synergistic effect was observed against PANC-1 cells. The combination of tumour necrosis factor-beta and interferon-gamma (ratio 10:1) was synergistic against both PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. A synergistic anti-proliferative effect of tumour necrosis factor-beta and interferons was, therefore, observed even for cell lines that showed little biological response to each cytokine alone. The data suggest that some future improvement in the treatment of pancreatic cancer may be obtained by using combination cytokine therapy.

Cell Division↗

Chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer--from view point of dose intensity.

Results of chemotherapy trials for small cell lung cancer carried out for the past 5 years were analyzed from view point of dose intensity. Early study of CDDP+EP+ADM (1985 to 1987) showed moderate response rate (RR) of 72% with MST of 369 days. Succeeding alternative protocol of CDDP+EP+VCR/CPM+ADM+MTX (1989-1990) showed improved RR of 88% and MST of 13 months. Actual dose and interval for the alternating regimen was superior to the single arm regimen. Projected relative dose intensity against MAOP protocol including 6 drugs common to our regimen was 0.86 and delivered RDI was 0.61 with comparable RR and MST. The results may indicate that change of dose intensity within the conventional range does not result in major advantage or disadvantage for substantial prolongation of the survival in SCLC patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Clinical significance of respiratory infections associated with lung cancer patients].

An attempt was made to interpret the clinical significance of secondary infections associated with lung cancer. The incidence of secondary infections was 51.4% in 214 in-patients with lung cancer in our institution in 1988 and 1989, and almost all of them had respiratory infections caused by commonly encountered bacteria. The incidence of infection was high in lung cancer of cell types other than adenocarcinoma, and in those with hypoalbuminemia, impaired cellular immunity and obstruction of the airway. The prognosis in patients with infection was much poorer than that in patients without infection. Major pathogens responsible for infection were Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These pathogens, except for H. influenzae, were isolated in the terminal stage in cases with airway obstruction and post cancer chemotherapy. The efficacy rate of 194 therapeutic regimens against infection was 57.7%. It was thus found that the efficacy rate in 1988 and 1989 exceeded that in the 1970s. The effectiveness was very poor for infections caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and for cases with airway obstruction and marked impairment of pulmonary blood flow. The efficacy rate of single-drug regimens was 57.1% (80/140) and that of combined regimens was 59.3% (32/54). The above results indicate that a new combined therapy which includes a beta-lactam antibiotic as well as measures to improve the general health of compromised hosts are required in the treatment of secondary infections in these patients.

Adult↗

Antibody to a zinc finger protein in a patient with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

In some patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), autoantibodies against neural components have been identified. Here, we demonstrate a major 58 kd protein antigen in an immunoblot of human cerebellum by serum from a patient with PCD. Immunohistochemically, the serum recognized neural cells especially Purkinje cells in a human brain. To identify the details of the target antigens for the antibody, we isolated a cDNA clone from a human cerebellar library. Homology searches revealed a similarity with the zinc finger proteins. PCD related proteins reported here may be important to maintain neural cells especially those in the cerebellum, and further studies on this molecule may help us elucidate the causes of degenerative or autoimmune diseases in the cerebellum.

Aged↗

Antiproliferative effects of natural human tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-alpha, and interferon-gamma on human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines.

The antiproliferative effects of natural human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (nHuTNF-alpha), natural human interferon-alpha (nHuIFN-alpha), and natural human interferon-gamma (nHuIFN-gamma) were investigated in human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. HuP-T3, HuP-T4, and BxPC-3 carcinoma cells exhibited mild growth inhibition after treatment with nHuTNF-alpha. HuP-T3, HuP-T4, MIA-PaCa-2, and BxPC-3 cells exhibited mild or marked growth inhibition after treatment with nHuIFN-alpha. Incubation with nHuIFN-gamma caused marked growth inhibition of HuP-T4 and BxPC-3 cells, whereas HuP-T1, HuP-T3, and MIA-PaCa-2 cells showed only mild growth inhibition with the same dose of nHuIFN-gamma. Combined nHuTNF-alpha and nHuIFN-alpha (1:1) demonstrated marked synergism in comparison with their effects as single agents on HuP-T1, HuP-T3, and MIA-PaCa-2 cells. The combination of nHuTNF-alpha and nHuIFN-gamma (100:1) also demonstrated a marked synergistic effect in comparison with these cytokines alone in four out of five pancreatic carcinoma cell lines (HuP-T1, HuP-T3, HuP-T4, and MIA-PaCa-2 cell lines). The marked increase in efficacy brought about by using combinations of cytokines may enable some improvement in the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma patients in the future.

Cell Line↗

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a patient with a cadaveric dural graft.

We report a 26-year-old woman with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) who had received cadaveric dural material 33 months before the onset of neurologic symptoms. This is the fourth case in which a dural graft was the putative source of the CJD agent. All four cases had the grafting before changes in the sterilization procedure adopted in 1987 to inactivate the CJD agent.

Adult↗

Comparative antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil and its prodrugs in combination with hyperthermia in vitro.

We investigated the antitumor activities of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) and 1-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-5-fluorouracil (FT-207) in combination with hyperthermia in vitro. The antitumor effect of 5-FU (10(-4) M) was slightly enhanced by combination with hyperthermia (42 degrees C) for 2h, and the effect was determined to be additive. Synergistic enhancement of antitumor activity was obtained by the concurrent use of hyperthermia (42 degrees C, 2h) and 5'-DFUR (10(-4) M) or HCFU (10(-5) M). However, the antitumor effect of FT-207 (10(-4) M) in combination with hyperthermia was comparable that of hyperthermia alone. The synergistic enhancement of antitumor activity was not obtained for all drugs when the cells were preheated at 42 degrees C for 2h. On the other hand, when cells were pretreated with drugs before heat exposure, weak interactions were obtained after 5-FU and 5'-DFUR treatment, and a synergistic interaction was obtained after HCFU treatment. It is speculated that the metabolites of 5'-DFUR and HCFU enhance the cytotoxicity of 5-FU, or might change the threshold concentration for a cytotoxic effect of 5-FU in cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

The possible involvement of free radical scavenging properties in the actions of cytokines.

Among the cytokines which show an antiproliferative effect on certain tumor cells, we investigated the free radical scavenging properties of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-alpha, and interferon-gamma. The scavenging properties were determined in vitro by the ability to reduce DPPH free radicals. All of these cytokines exhibited marked DPPH free radical scavenging ability.

Bepridil↗

Production of hydroxyl radicals by tumor cells varies with cell type as measured by electron spin resonance spectrometry.

The hydroxyl radicals produced by two adherent cell lines, a human cancer cell and a mouse fibroblast, and six suspended human leukemia cell lines at different stages of differentiation were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. The concentration of hydroxyl radicals detected in these tumor cells increased in proportion to temperature and cell number. The addition of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (which do not permeate the cell membrane), reduced the amount of hydroxyl radicals detected. SOD decreased hydroxyl radicals somewhat but catalase eliminated hydroxyl radicals almost completely. These findings suggest that hydroxyl radicals are produced extracellularly consisted primarily of H2O2 but partially from superoxide radicals. Using the human leukemia cell lines at different stages of differentiation we demonstrated that cell differentiation may correlate with hydroxyl radical production. The earlier the stage of leukemic cell differentiation the more the greater the production of hydroxyl radicals. Moreover, the ability of SOD or catalase to eliminate hydroxyl radical activity correlated inversely with leukemic cell differentiation.

Animals↗

[Mixed connective tissue disease--various neuromuscular complications prior to the elevation of antibody to RNP].

A 47-year-old woman with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was reported. She developed various neuromuscular complications including carpal tunnel syndrome, narrowing of visual field, dysesthesia on face and extremities and weakness before elevation of antibody to RNP. On the examination of biopsied specimens of muscle and peripheral nerve, myositis and demyelination were suspected, respectively. Electroencephalography showed diffuse slowing which was without clinical evidence of the central nervous system involvement and was normalized by the treatment with prednisolone. Present case seems to provide some insights into the neuromuscular complications in MCTD.

Autoantibodies↗

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha induces translocation of protein kinase C in tumour necrosis factor-sensitive cell lines.

In this study we investigated whether the anti-proliferative effect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was associated with the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), using PANC-1 cells (TNF-alpha sensitive) and LoVo cells (TNF-alpha resistant). In combination with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent activator of PKC, TNF-alpha caused marked inhibition of the growth of LoVo cells. Inhibition of PANC-1 cell growth by TNF-alpha was blocked by pretreatment with TPA for 24 hr, along with down-regulation of PKC activity. Intracellular translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane was induced by TNF-alpha treatment in PANC-1 cells but not in LoVo cells.

Cell Division↗

Differing roles of protein kinase C on the antiproliferative effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta on LoVo cells.

In this study we examined whether the antiproliferative effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and beta were associated with the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), using the LoVo human colon cancer cell line which is resistant to both TNFs. In combination with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent activator of PKC, TNF-alpha caused marked growth inhibition of LoVo cells, but TNF-beta had little antiproliferative effect. There was no difference in the effect when TPA was added 1 h before or 4 h after TNF-alpha administration. A PKC inhibitor, H-7, not only decreased the sensitivity of LoVo cells to TNF-alpha but also caused a slight promotion of cell proliferation and dose-dependently blocked the growth inhibition induced by TNF-alpha and TPA. These results suggested a possible regulatory function of PKC within the TNF-alpha-mediated intracellular signalling pathway. PKC may act at a later stage in the transduction pathway.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Synthesis, photochemistry, and biological activity of a caged photolabile acetylcholine receptor ligand.

A biologically inert photolabile precursor of carbamoylcholine has been synthesized; it is photolyzed to carbamoylcholine, a well-characterized acetylcholine analogue, with a half-time of 40 microseconds at pH 7.0 and a quantum yield of 0.8. The compound, N-(alpha-carboxy-2-nitrobenzyl)carbamoylcholine, was synthesized from (2-nitrophenyl)glycine. The photolysis rates (of five compounds) and the biological activity (of two compounds) were determined, and both properties were found to depend on the nature of the substituents on the photolabile protecting group. Laser pulse photolysis at wavelengths between 308 and 355 nm was used to investigate the wavelength dependence, quantum yield, and rate of the photolysis reaction. Photolysis products were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by chemical and spectroscopic analysis and by their ability to activate the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. BC3H1 muscle cells containing those receptors and a cell-flow method were used in the biological assays. The approach described may be useful in the preparation and characterization of other photolabile precursors of neurotransmitters that contain amino groups. The importance of these rapidly photolyzed, inert precursors of neurotransmitters is in chemical kinetic investigations of the reactions involving diverse neuronal receptors; such studies have been hampered because the available techniques have an insufficient time resolution.

Carbachol↗

[Estimation of myocardial viability in left ventricular regions with akinetic wall motion by postextrasystolic potentiation using list-mode radionuclide ventriculography in an interesting case with silent ischemia and with premature ventricular complexes (quadrigeminy)].

For determining an indication of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA), a 73-year-old-man with silent ischemia and with ventricular premature complexes (quadrigeminy) were performed cardiac nuclear studies. This case had 99% stenosis in LCX (#11) and 90% stenosis in RCA (#1), and demonstrated akinetic wall motion in left ventricular (LV) inferior and posterior regions. Exercise-redistribution Tl-201 studies indicated myocardial viability in a portion of the inferior wall but not in the posterior wall. To estimate the potential contractile function in the regions with akinesis, from the list-mode data of radionuclide ventriculography, those of postsinus beats and postextrasystolic beats were separately selected and were analyzed for investigating LV wall motion and LV ejection fraction (EF). With the post-extrasystolic potentiation, LVEF increased from 36% to 45% and the systolic wall motion was augmented in the inferior wall but not in the posterior wall. From these findings we recognized the existence of myocardial viability in a portion of the inferior wall. After PTCA for the RCA lesion, improvements of the myocardial Tl-201 distribution and LV wall motion in the inferior wall were definitely observed and hence LVEF increased by 16% to contribute to an increase in exercise performance. Thus, this case indicates that the postextrasystolic potentiation is useful for determining an indication of PTCA in patients with LV asynergy, demonstrating the myocardial viability and the potential LV function.

Aged↗