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Biomedical subjects

N Taniguchi

Publications and source records attributed to N Taniguchi.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Salivary gland echography in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Ultrasonographic examinations of salivary glands were performed on 24 patients with Sjögren's syndrome. On B-mode echographic images, the submandibular glands of 21 of the patients (88%) showed a heterogeneous pattern, whereas all of the control subjects had homogeneous patterns. This distinction was further confirmed by the results of the analysis of the histogram patterns of echo intensity and echo frequency of the submandibular glands, which showed that the width of the echo level at 0% and 10% of the maximum normalized frequency was significantly greater in patients with Sjögren's syndrome than in the control subjects. Similar histographic findings were present in the parotid glands, although the heterogeneous ultrasonographic pattern was observed in only 8 of the 24 patients (33%). These results indicate that ultrasonography may be useful in the evaluation of salivary gland involvement in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to an N-linked oligosaccharide.

Two monoclonal antibodies to an N-linked oligosaccharide, MT-5 and MT-9, have been prepared by immunization with a pyridylaminated, asialylated, galactosylated, fucosylated, bisected biantennary sugar. The reactivity of these antibodies was monitored by their reaction with human asialoglycophorin in a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both antibodies reacted with the sugar chains of various human glycoproteins such as immunoglobulin G, transferrin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and alpha-fetoprotein. Treatment of asialoglycophorin with beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase or alpha-mannosidase resulted in reduction of the binding to these antibodies. The reactivity of MT-5 to asialoglycophorin was slightly inhibited by D-mannose and N-acetylglucosamine, whereas that of MT-9 was inhibited by D-mannose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, chitobiose, and L-fucose. The epitope specificity of MT-5 appears to be a sugar chain containing biantennary N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues, the bisected N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residue, and a trimannosyl core. The epitope to which MT-9 is directed may be a complex made up of beta-mannose, chitobiose, and L-fucose. These studies indicate that immunization with pyridylaminated sugars can produce antibodies that recognize N-linked oligosaccharides. Monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies to the N-linked sugar chains of glycopeptides would be useful in such studies of proteins.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Cytochrome P-450 and chromosome damage by cyclophosphamide in LEC strain rats predisposed to hereditary hepatitis and liver cancer.

LEC strain rats predisposed to hereditary hepatitis and liver cancer were examined for hepatic drug-metabolizing ability and the inducibility of chromosome damage by cyclophosphamide (CP) in somatic cells. Whereas the hepatic cytochrome P-450 contents and the activities of cytochrome P-450-catalyzed monooxygenases were lower in females than in males of both LEC and control LEA strains, male LEC rats exhibited significantly reduced cytochrome P-450 contents and monooxygenase activities compared with male LEA rats. When exposed to CP, a promutagen/procarcinogen requiring P-450-dependent metabolic activation, the frequencies of chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in bone marrow cells tended to be lower in females than in males of each strain and lower in LEC than in LEA rats of the same sex. In particular, the CP-induced SCEs were substantially lower in LEC rats. However, no such sex and strain differences were found in the SCE frequencies in regenerating hepatocytes of partially hepatectomized rats exposed to CP.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Leiomyoblastoma of the epididymis in a child.

A case of leiomyoblastoma of the epididymis in a 3-year-old boy is presented. Left high inguinal orchiectomy was performed. Light and electron microscopic examinations revealed a 3.5 X 2.3 X 1.5 cm. tumor continuous with the tail of the epididymis. The lesion proved to be a leiomyoblastoma of the epididymis. Leiomyoblastoma is a form of leiomyoma mainly composed of immature smooth muscle cells. The absence of keratin, epithelial membrane antigen and negative results by alcian blue stain indicated that there were no adenomatoid elements in the tumor.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

Developmental changes in beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic cholinoceptors and Ca2+ channels in rat ventricular muscles.

1. In an attempt to explain the previous electrophysiological data on the ontogeny of beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic interactions on cardiac Ca2+ current, biochemical studies were performed on the ontogeny of beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic cholinoceptors and Ca2+ channels in cardiac muscle of developing rats: 16-20 days old foetuses, 0-20 days old neonates, and 2-3 months old adults. 2. Developmental changes in cardiac beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic cholinoceptors, and Ca2+ channels were determined with the use of specific radioligands, [3H]-dihydroalprenolol (DNA), [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), and [3H]-nitrendipine (NTD), respectively. 3. The Bmax value (fmol mg-1 tissue) for [3H]-DNA binding started to increase on post-gestation day 20, reached almost its maximum level on neonatal day 6, kept almost the same level until neonatal day 20, and then decreased slightly to its adult level. 4. The Bmax value (fmol mg-1 tissue) for [3H]-QNB binding started to increase on post-gestation day 16, reached almost its maximum level on neonatal day 0, remained almost constant until neonatal day 15, and then decreased to its adult level. 5. The Bmax value (fmol mg-1 tissue) for [3H]-NTD binding increased with age between post-gestation day 18 and neonatal day 15, stayed almost constant until neonatal day 20, and then decreased to its adult level. 6. The Kd values for [3H]-DHA, [3H]-QNB, and [3H]-NTD bindings remained almost constant during the developmental period examined. 7. Isoprenaline (Iso) increased the kx of slow action potentials (APs) from post-gestation day 18, and the adult level was reached at about 2 weeks after birth; this developmental time course is similar to that of Ca2+ channels. The number of beta-adrenoceptors also started to increase a few days before birth, but attained its peak about one week earlier than did the Pax of slow APs or the number of Ca2 + channels. 8. Acetylcholine (ACh) almost completely abolished the Iso-induced increase in m,,ax observed from postgestation day 18 to neonatal day 20; this developmental time course for the ACh effect is consistent with the finding that the number of muscarinic cholinoceptors started to increase on post-gestation day 16 and reached a peak on the day of birth. 9. Previous electrophysiological and the present biochemical findings strongly suggest that the functional coupling between muscarinic cholinoceptors and Ca2+ current is already established when the coupling between beta-adrenoceptors and Ca2 + current starts to operate in developing rat hearts.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The capability of neonatal leukocytes to produce IL-6 on stimulation assessed by whole blood culture.

IL-6 is a cytokine with a wide variety of influences on the cells involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Defective production of IL-6 may be partly responsible for the impaired immune defense and inflammatory response often observed in the neonatal period. In our study, we used whole blood culture to examine the capacity of neonatal leukocytes to produce IL-6 in response to various stimuli. IL-6 activity was evaluated by growth promoting assay using an IL-6-dependent murine hybridoma clone. IL-6 activity was undetectable in fresh or unstimulated blood obtained from both newborns and adults. In contrast, incubation of whole blood with lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A resulted in marked IL-6 activity. After stimulation, IL-6 activity was induced as early as 2 h after culture and increased with time, reaching a plateau at around 12 h. Comparative examinations suggested that the IL-6 activity induced in neonatal blood on stimulation was similar to that seen in stimulated adult blood. Neutralization experiments with anti-IL-6 anti-serum confirmed the presence of IL-6 proteins in the stimulated blood, and induction of cellular IL-6 mRNA was demonstrated in the stimulated blood as well. In addition, immunocytochemical observations suggested that the major IL-6 producing cells in the stimulated blood may be monocytes. The results suggest that the production of IL-6 in response to specified stimuli is normal at birth.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Pharmacological profile of alminoprofen among four writhing models of mice caused by kaolin, zymosan, acetylcholine and phenylquinone.

The effects of alminoprofen and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the writhing reaction caused by kaolin, acetylcholine, phenylquinone and zymosan were studied. Aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen and diclofenac-Na, as cyclooxygenase inhibitors, showed similar potency ratios on four writhing tests, although, alminoprofen exhibited a somewhat rather higher potency ratio on kaolin- and zymosan-induced writhing models than on acetylcholine- and phenylquinone-induced writhing models. All NSAIDs, cyclooxygenase inhibitors except alminoprofen showed similar shapes in illustrations of potency ratio when the potency of aspirin was expressed as 1.0. The potency of alminoprofen produced a figure unlike those of other cyclooxygenase inhibitors. These results suggest that alminoprofen has a different pharmacological profile from other general NSAIDs in terms of analgesic action. This combination method with potency ratios for writhing reactions caused by the above four inducers could be a simple method for classification of pharmacological profiles of the analgesic actions of NSAIDs.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1990

[Micturition and uroflowmetric analysis of adult females].

Voiding parameters on the Uroflow Diagnostic Interpretation (UDI) were analysed in relation to the voided volume in 58 micturitions of 36 healthy adult females. The maximum flow rate (Qmax) and the mean flow rate during central 90% of the voided volume (QM90) increased linearly up to the voided volume of 400 ml. The voiding time (T100) took a value within a certain range independently of the voided volume from 100 to 400 ml and never exceeded 21 seconds in all micturitions. Voiding time for the central 90% of the voided volume (T90), time to Qmax (TQmax) and time from Qmax to 95% of the voided volume (Tdesc) were independent of the volume voided. The maximum rate of increase of flow rate (dQ/dT max) and the estimated bladder wall contraction velocity at 40 ml bladder contents (dL/dT 40) showed a tendency to increase depending on the volume voided. T100 showed a prolongation in 84.0% of 25 micturitions in 20 neurogenic bladder patients and in 66.7% of 27 in 21 chronic cystitis patients, always accompanied by a prolongation of T90. No other parameters were clearly different between healthy women and patients and/or between the two groups of patients. Voiding time is a useful parameter representing female micturition.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Antagonistic effects of interleukin 6 and G-CSF in the later stage of human granulopoiesis in vitro.

The effect of recombinant human interleukin 6 (rhIL-6) on the in vitro growth of human bone marrow myeloid progenitors (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units, CFU-GM) was investigated. Recombinant human IL-6 by itself did not induce colony formation. When rhIL-6 at various concentrations was added to the CFU-GM colony cultures containing recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) or recombinant human granulocyte-monocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF), rhIL-6 significantly suppressed the colony formation induced by rhG-CSF, but not by rhGM-CSF. This suppressive effect of rhIL-6 on rhG-CSF-induced, but not rhGM-CSF-induced colony formation was confirmed by using an MY10(+)-cell-enriched population. Neither interleukin 3 nor interleukin 1 alpha suppressed the growth of myeloid progenitors. The preincubation of bone marrow cells with rhIL-6 for a short time (30 min) resulted in a reduction of colonies induced by rhG-CSF, but not by rhGM-CSF. The suppressive effect of rhIL-6 on rhG-CSF-induced colony formation was not observed when the cells were preincubated together with rhG-CSF at a high ratio of rhG-CSF to rhIL-6. The rhIL-6-mediated suppressive effect was further confirmed by blocking the effect by the anti-IL-6 antibody. These results suggest antagonistic interaction between IL-6 and G-CSF in the later differentiation of myeloid progenitors.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[An autopsy case of extra-adrenal malignant pheochromocytoma].

An autopsy case of an extra-adrenal malignant pheochromocytoma in a 34-year-old woman is reported. On laparotomy, many advanced stage malignant tumors originating from the paraganglia along the abdominal aorta were found to have invaded the lumbar vertebrae. After a partial resection, Co60 radiation therapy of the paraganglia was instituted, as well as of the metastatic lesions, with little effect. It was found that alpha-methyl-tyrosine was effective in controlling the plasma catecholamine, but had to be discontinued because of an untoward effect (anxiety). The patient subsequently developed intractable hypertension and a paralytic ileus from excess catecholamine secretion. As an alpha 1 adrenergic blocker was not effective, we had to use large doses of phentolamine to control these complications. Despite various intensive therapies, however, the patient died of heart failure resulting from 4 years of severe hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Training effects on blood zinc levels in humans.

Effects of physical training on fasting erythrocyte and plasma zinc distributions were studied on seven previously sedentary male students. The training consisted of running over 5 km, 6 times/week for 10 weeks. Maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max) and 12 min walk-run performance increased significantly (p less than 0.01) after training. The erythrocyte concentrations of total zinc and of zinc derived from carbonic anhydrase I (CA-I) rose significantly (p less than 0.05) after training, whereas no such effects were noted in CA-II-derived zinc, Cu2Zn2 superoxide dismutase-derived zinc, and other zinc. On the other hand, no effect of training was found in total or alpha 2-macroglobulin-bound zinc in plasma, although albumin-bound zinc concentration declined significantly (p less than 0.05). Following the training period, however, the response to a VO2max test of the van Beaumont quotient (J Appl Physiol 1973;34:102-6) for total plasma zinc had decreased significantly (p less than 0.05), suggesting a relative reduction of the circulating exchangeable zinc. In addition, there were significant (p less than 0.05) decreases in plasma iron and ferritin concentrations after training, indicating latent iron deficiency anemia. These results may suggest that the changes in CA-I-derived zinc and/or albumin-bound zinc portend zinc deficiency during running training and that sports anemia precedes hypozincemia in athletes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B cells produce IL-6 as an autocrine growth factor.

The continuous proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-immortalized B cells is enhanced by autocrine as well as paracrine growth factors. In the present study, the possibility that EBV-immortalized B cells might produce interleukin-6 (IL-6) proteins in an autocrine manner was examined. It was found that culture supernatants from EBV-transformed B cells, but not from Burkitt's lymphoma lines, augmented the proliferation of an IL-6-dependent murine hybridoma clone, MH60.BSF2. This growth-promoting activity for hybridoma cells found in culture supernatants of EBV-transformed B cells was specifically neutralized by rabbit anti-recombinant (r) IL-6 antibody. The IL-6 activity in culture supernatants of EBV-transformed B cells, though much less than that of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes, was increased by the addition of phorbol myristate acetate. Western blot experiments using rabbit anti-rIL-6 antiserum demonstrated that supernatants from cultured EBV-transformed B cells contained the distinct forms of IL-6, with a peak of 23,000 MW. When examined by in situ hybridization analysis, it was found that IL-6 mRNA were expressed on EBV-transformed B cells. It was noted that a fraction, but not all, of these cells expressed IL-6 mRNA strongly, implying their cell cycle-dependent expression. In addition, it was shown that rIL-6 promoted the growth of EBV-transformed B cells at low cell densities. The results suggest that IL-6 serves as an autocrine growth factor in EBV-transformed B cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1990

[Superoxide dismutases: significances in aging, diabetes, ischemia and cancer].

Superoxide dismutases (SOD) and their changes in diabetes, aging, ischemia and cancer were studied, Cu, Zn-SOD undergoes glycation reaction in vitro and in vivo and loses its activity by formation of Amadori compounds. Two lysine residues of Cu, Zn-SOD, Lys-122 and Lys-128 are primary glycated sites which are located on the surface of the molecule. The sites are also located on the active site liganding loop which plays a major role in the activity. The glycated Cu, Zn-SOD increased in the red cells of diabetic patients, especially those with diabetic complications. Mn-SOD appears in the serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction in a biphasic manner. The enzyme appears in sera 16 hr and 108 hr after the attack as determined by ELISA. The Mn-SOD levels are also increased in the serum of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and it is a good marker for detecting and monitoring this cancer. Mn-SOD may play an important role in the ischemic and cancer tissues.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Immune status in two brothers with Omenn's syndrome: no discernible chimerism on FACS analysis using a monoclonal antibody specific for a maternally restricted HLA antigen.

Sequential immunologic examinations, including lymph node biopsies, in two brothers with clinical characteristics of Omenn's syndrome are presented in this study. Although the number of circulating T cells with mature phenotype (OKT3+, TCR1+) was within normal range, the lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogens was poor. Examinations of the lymph nodes revealed marked lymphoid depletion associated with eosinophilic infiltration and reticular cell proliferation. Over the clinical course of 5 months, circulating T cells also mostly disappeared. Thymic hypoplasia was noted at autopsy. Although intrauterine graft-versus host disease (GVHD) has been hypothesized as being the pathogenetic mechanism in this syndrome, maternal lymphocytes circulating in these patients were not identified either by karyotype and HLA typing or by highly sensitive FACS analysis and immunohistochemical studies using a monoclonal antibody, HLA-A9, specific for a maternally restricted HLA antigen, Aw24. In conclusion, the familial occurrence and the absence of maternal chimerism might be the essential features of Omenn's syndrome which should be differentiated from fetal GVHD.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

[Clinical evaluation of combination therapy with aspoxicillin and ceftazidime for severe infections complicating hematological disorders].

Clinical effects of a combination therapy using aspoxicillin (ASPC) and ceftazidime (CAZ) were investigated in 88 patients with severe infections which were complicating hematological disorders. ASPC and CAZ were administered intravenously at daily doses of 8 g and 4 to 6 g, respectively, in 2 to 4 divided doses for at least 3 days. The treatment was markedly effective in 20 cases; effective in 31; fairly effective in 4; and ineffective in 33 cases. Seventy-seven patients with whom detailed data were obtained showed an efficacy rate of 63.6%. Bacteria were detected in 9 patients, from whom 10 strains were isolated. The results of bacteriological effects were: 3 strains disappeared, 1 decreased, 3 unchanged, and 3 unclear. The bacteriological eradication rate was 42.9%. Of the detected 10 strains, 3 were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with 2 of the 3 strains eradicated and 1 decreased. An evaluation of the relationship between clinical efficacies and neutrophil counts before and after the ASPC-CAZ combination therapy showed that the patients with 500/mm3 or higher neutrophil counts before the therapy or those with increased neutrophils after the therapy tended to be more responsive to the therapy. Side effects were observed in 4 patients, but all of them disappeared upon discontinuation of the therapy. The combination therapy with ASPC and CAZ appears to be useful for the treatment of severe infections complicating hematological disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III in human serum, and liver and hepatoma tissues: increased activity in liver cirrhosis and hepatoma patients.

An N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III which catalyzes the addition of N-acetylglucosamine through a beta 1-4 linkage (bisecting N-acetylglucosamine) to the beta-linked mannose of the trimannosyl core structure of N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins was measured in human serum, and liver and hepatoma tissues. The enzyme activity in serum was significantly elevated in patients with hepatomas and liver cirrhosis, and the activity markedly decreased on the transcatheter arterial embolization treatment. High activities were also found in the hepatoma and cirrhotic liver tissues, indicating that the serum activity reflected the activity in the tissues. The assaying of the enzyme activity in serum appears to be useful for the detection and monitoring of primary hepatomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Purification and characterization of glutathione disulfide-stimulated Mg2+-ATPase from human erythrocytes.

We have previously shown the presence of two different forms of glutathione disulfide (GSSG)-stimulated Mg2+-ATPases in human erythrocytes. We have now investigated a low-Km form of the enzyme from human erythrocytes. Purification of the enzyme was performed to apparent homogeneity involving procedures of affinity chromatography and gel filtration. The enzyme was composed of two non-identical subunits of Mr = 82K and 62K. The enzyme reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles showed both GSSG-stimulated Mg2+-ATPase activity (285 nmol Pi released/mg protein/min) and active GSSG transport activity (320 nmol GSSG/mg protein/min). The amino acid composition of the enzyme was similar to that of the enzyme purified from cytoplasmic membranes of human hepatocytes. These enzymes were immunologically cross reactive. These results indicate that this enzyme functions in the active transport of GSSG as it possibly does in hepatocytes.

Biological Transport↗