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Biomedical subjects

N Taguchi

Publications and source records attributed to N Taguchi.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Serial determination of serum neuron-specific enolase in patients with neuroblastoma and other pediatric tumors.

The importance of determination of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in patients with neuroblastoma has been emphasized by several authors. However, the specificity and sensitivity of NSE have not yet been well studied in tumors of infancy and childhood, nor is the role of serial determination of NSE in monitoring these patients fully understood. Concentrations of serum NSE were determined by a newly developed radioimmunoassay technique in 241 samples from 111 patients. NSE was also assayed in sera of nude mice bearing human pediatric tumors (16 samples), as well as in 30 tumor specimens. Eighty-two serum samples from 19 patients with neuroblastoma all showed NSE values (mean 120.2 ng/mL, range 16.2 to 722.0 ng/mL) elevated beyond the upper border of the normal range (14.6 ng/mL), even though four of the 19 patients had normal urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (VMA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylacetic acid (HVA). Twelve of these patients were monitored with serial NSE determinations, and their serum NSE were found to correlate well with the tumor burden, but were transiently modified by chemotherapeutically induced cell death. All 68 samples from nine patients, free of neuroblastoma at assessment, showed NSE values within the normal range. Thirteen of 25 patients with tumors other than neuroblastoma, however, showed serum NSE values mildly elevated beyond the upper border of the normal range (mean of the 25 patients 36.7 ng/mL, range 5.0 to 234.0 ng/mL). Results from our nude mouse study and from NSE analysis of the tumor extracts paralleled the clinical results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Bone metastasis of malignant solid tumors in childhood].

A total of 452 cases of childhood malignant solid tumors were treated over the last twenty years at the National Children's Hospital. These included 175 cases of neuroblastoma, 64 cases of Wilms' tumor, 65 cases of malignant lymphoma, 45 cases of soft tissue sarcoma, 31 cases of hepatoma, 20 cases of malignant teratoma, 17 cases of testicular tumor, 7 cases of ovarian tumor and 28 cases of other forms of malignant solid tumor. Bone metastasis was observed in 62 of 175 cases of neuroblastoma, 3 of 64 cases of Wilms' tumor, one of 65 cases of malignant lymphoma, 4 of 45 cases of soft tissue sarcoma, one case of pulmonary blastoma and one case of osteogenic sarcoma, giving a total occurrence of bone metastasis in 72 of the 452 cases. The main sites of bone metastasis in neuroblastoma were the skull (61.4%), femur (56.8%), orbit (27.3%) and spine (22.7%). The average values of serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase activity showed no significant difference. The patients with bone metastasis were treated with a combination of radiation therapy and intensive chemotherapy, resulting in temporary improvement. The survival of patients with stage IV neuroblastoma with bone metastasis was worse than that of similar patients without bone metastasis.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1983

Genetic characterization of a gene for prolipoprotein signal peptidase in Escherichia coli.

A mutation (lspA, prolipoprotein signal peptidase) rendering the prolipoprotein signal peptidase temperature-sensitive in Escherichia coli has been analyzed. The mutation was mapped in the dnaJ-rpsT-ileS-dapB region by interrupted mating with various Hfr strains and P1 phage transduction. lambda transducing phage lambda ddapB2 that carries the rpsT-ileS-dapB region was shown to complement the lspA mutation. Plasmid pLC3-13 which had been isolated from Clarke and Carbon's collection as a plasmid carrying the lspA locus was shown to carry the dnaJ and rpsT loci. Complementation analysis with plasmids carrying various DNA fragments derived from pLC3-13 showed that the lspA locus is between the rpsT and ileS loci. The wildtype allele was dominant over the lspA allele.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1980

Three-dimensional observation of the temporomandibular joint disk in the rhesus monkey.

The three-dimensional ultrastructure of the TMJ disk of two normal rhesus monkeys was investigated using the SEM. The upper and under surface of the TMJ disk consists of a close network of delicate collagen fibrils. On the undersurface, they have an undulating configuration, with the elevations running in one direction. On the upper surface, irregular and gentle waves can be observed. The matrix of the TMJ disk is composed of two main parts: one is the collagen fibrils that run in a sagittal direction making up the central fibrous core, and the other consists of the collagen fibrils that enclose the fibrous core. The collagen fibrils running in a sagittal direction show a wavy, winding appearance, and these structures are more numerous on the side of the TMJ disk facing the condyle. It is concluded that the wavy, winding structure and undulated configuration of the collagen fibers results in an elastic quality, opposes stress, and functions to absorb shock.

Animals↗