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Biomedical subjects

N Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to N Watanabe.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources

Transient unilateral reverse ventilation/perfusion mismatch in a patient with lung cancer.

The authors report a transient, unilateral reverse ventilation/perfusion (V/P) mismatch in a patient with squamous cell lung cancer. The right lung was well perfused but not ventilated (unilateral reverse V/P mismatch). However, lung imaging performed 3 days later demonstrated the absence of both perfusion and ventilation (V/P match). Reverse V/P mismatch may be a transient process.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Enhancement of lysosomal enzyme activity by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor and its role in tumor cell killing in vitro.

We investigated the effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on the lysosomal enzyme activity of various established cell lines in vitro. Incubation of 1 x 10(6) TNF-sensitive mouse tumorigenic fibroblasts (L-M cells) in the presence of TNF (100 U/ml) for 48 h increased the total (the sum of the enzyme activities in the lysosomes and the cytoplasm) acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase activities by 3.7- and 4.2-fold, respectively. The same increase was observed even when 1 U/ml of TNF was added to some cultures and no further augmentation occurred at 10 or 100 U/ml. Measurement of total and free enzyme activities showed that TNF stimulation not only enhanced the total intracellular enzyme activity but also accelerated the conversion into free (cytoplasmic) enzyme activity. Addition of a lysosomotropic agent (methylamine) suppressed both the enhancement of lysosomal enzyme activity and the cytotoxicity of TNF. A similar enhancement of lysosomal enzyme activities was also detected in various TNF-sensitive tumor cell lines, and a strong correlation (acid phosphatase: r = 0.836, beta-glucuronidase: r = 0.910) was observed between the enhancement of enzyme activity and sensitivity to TNF. No such increase was detected in TNF-resistant human diploid cells. These results show that TNF induces the activation and release of lysosomal enzymes in TNF-sensitive cells, and suggest that such events may play an important role in TNF-mediated cytotoxicity.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Mechanism of synergistic cytotoxic effect between tumor necrosis factor and hyperthermia.

We previously reported that recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF) and hyperthermia had a synergistic effect against tumors, in vitro and in vivo. We have now investigated the mechanism of this synergy by measuring the lysosomal enzyme activity and hydroxyl radical production of L-M cells treated with rhTNF and/or hyperthermia. A synergistic activation of lysosomal enzyme and the induction of hydroxyl radical production in L-M cells treated with both rhTNF and hyperthermia was observed. A synergistic cytotoxic effect was observed when rhTNF and hyperthermia were combined, and was inhibited by the addition of a reactive oxygen scavenger, dimethyl sulfoxide or bipyridine. The results show that the augmenting effect of hyperthermia on lysosomal enzyme activation and induction of hydroxyl radical production by rhTNF plays an important role in the synergistic cytotoxic effect.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Occurrence and characteristics of hypodense eosinophils in rats infected with Trichinella spiralis.

Hypodense eosinophils are observed in peripheral blood and tissue from patients with eosinophilia due to helminthic infections. In this study, the variation in eosinophil density was examined in rats during Trichinella spiralis infection. Hypodense eosinophils were observed in the peripheral blood in association with Trichinella infection. In peritoneal fluid, which was representative of tissue fluid, a majority of eosinophils were hypodense regardless of the infection. During the course of tissue eosinophilia after the infection, there was a particular increase in the lowest dense cells in the population of hypodense eosinophils. Eosinophils with lower density, demonstrated larger diameters and had more potent cytotoxic activity.

Animals↗

The 11q- syndrome with mosaic partial deletion of 11q.

A female child with mosaic partial deletion of 11q is reported. At 1 month of age she was presented with cogenital glaucoma, trigonocephaly and multiple minor anomalies. She exhibited growth retardation and the typical phenotype of 11q- syndrome. G-banding analysis failed to show any abnormality, although subsequent high resolution banding revealed the abnormal karyotype 46,XX,del(11)(q23.3 q24.2)/46,XX,del(11)(q23.3 q25). This case is a second case of mosaic 11q- syndrome and her karyotype suggests that the region of 11q23.3-11q24.2 is critical in 11q-syndrome. Congenital glaucoma has never been reported as a complication of 11q- syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Tau 2: a probe for a Ser conformation in the amino terminus of tau.

We have determined the epitope for Tau 2, a monoclonal antibody that intensely stained tangles, plaque neurites, and curly fibers in the tissue section, and strongly labeled bovine tau, but only very weakly labeled human tau on the blot. The epitope has been localized to Ala95 through Ala108 of bovine tau. Ser101 is critical for Tau 2 reactivities; the replacement of Ser by Pro, which is found in rat, mouse, and human tau, brings about very weak Tau 2 reactivities. The strong Tau 2 staining of tangles and its effective absorption with a synthetic Ser peptide (Ala95 through Ala108) suggest that the tau in paired helical filaments takes a Ser conformation, rather than a Pro conformation, in its amino-terminal portion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[O serogroup and virulence factors of motile Aeromonas].

A total of 182 isolates of motile Aeromonas from patients with diarrhea and environmental sources was investigated for hemolytic activity to rabbit erythrocyte and cytotoxicity to HeLa 229 cell. Furthermore, the relation between O serogroup and virulence factors, which were lethal to mouse and autoagglutination, were investigated. There were many strains possessing both the hemolytic and cytotoxic activities in A. hydrophila from overseas traveller's diarrhea, suggesting that these activities were associated with intestinal pathogenecity. Although there was a clear correlation between hemolytic and cytotoxic activities in A. hydrophila from overseas traveller's diarrhea, the correlation was not found in A. hydrophila from domestic cases of diarrhea and A. sobria from overseas traveller's diarrhea. Especially, some A. hydrophila isolates from domestic case of diarrhea produced only hemolysin. These results indicated that there was a difference in specificity between the toxins accounted for hemolytic and cytotoxic activities, and more than two different toxins were developed. O serogroups 11, 34, 14, 16, and 35 in that order were the most frequent serogroups. About half of O11 and O34 strains possessed lethal activity to mouse. Autoagglutination phenomenon did not seem to be associated with the lethal activity. In O11 strains, high cytotoxic titer was more frequently found in lethal activity positive-strains than in the activity negative-strains, suggesting that cytotoxicity contributed preferentially to lethal activity to mouse. But such a correlation was not found in O34 strains, so other virulence factors than hemolysin and cytotoxin may be associated with the lethal activity.

Aeromonas↗

In vitro evaluation of E1077, a new cephalosporin with a broad antibacterial spectrum.

E1077 is a novel parenteral cephalosporin with a wide spectrum of potent antibacterial activity against aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, E1077 was twice as active as cefpirome, with an MIC for 90% of strains tested (MIC90) of 0.78 micrograms/ml. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was moderately to highly resistant to E1077, but E1077 was at least twice as active as other beta-lactams tested. Against Enterococcus faecalis, E1077 was the most active of the cephalosporins tested (MIC90, 12.5 micrograms/ml) and was at least fourfold more active than cefpirome and ceftazidime. At concentrations of less than or equal to 0.78 micrograms/ml, E1077 inhibited 90% of streptococci and most of the members of the family Enterobacteriaceae tested, with the exceptions of Serratia marcescens and Proteus vulgaris, for which the MIC90s of E1077 were both 3.13 micrograms/ml. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E1077 was two- to fourfold more active than cefpirome and ceftazidime. For the anaerobes, E1077 was as active against Bacteroides fragilis as was cefuzonam, and its activity was fourfold higher than those of cefpirome and ceftazidime. E1077 was at least as resistant as cefpirome to hydrolysis by various beta-lactamases, and these enzymes had a low affinity for E1077.

Cephalosporins↗

Nucleolar organiser regions as a marker of growth rate in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

BACKGROUND: The numbers of nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) per cell has been considered as an indicator of the cellular proliferative activity. A study was carried out to examine whether AgNOR numbers relate to the growth rate in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. METHODS: AgNORs were stained by a one step silver method, and examined in representative paraffin sections from 45 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung treated by surgical resection of the primary tumour. RESULTS: The mean (SD) AgNOR numbers per cell in squamous cell carcinomas (5.3 (0.9)) were significantly higher than those in normal bronchial epithelium (1.2 (0.1)). There was no statistical difference among tumours of different post-surgical stages (stage I = 5.2 (0.8), II = 5.9 (1.4), III A = 5.5 (1.3)). The tumour volume doubling time in these cases ranged from 74 to 208 days (120.7 (40.4)). There was a high inverse correlation between the AgNOR numbers and doubling time. CONCLUSION: The AgNOR numbers were related to the growth rate of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Thus the AgNOR count could be used as a useful marker for investigating the cellular proliferative activity.

Aged↗

Detection of antibodies against streptococcal peptidoglycan and the peptide subunit (synthetic tetra-D-alanyl-bovine serum albumin complex) in rheumatic-diseases.

Serum antibodies reactive with streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan (PG) and its peptide subunit (synthetic tetra-D-alanine) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), osteoarthritis and acute rheumatic fever (RF) compared with healthy subjects. Using 'checkerboard' titrations, anti-PG antibody in human serum was detected at a concentration of PG antigen at 10 micrograms per well with serum dilutions of 1:1,000. For measurement of anti-tetra-D-alanine antibody, the antigen, (D-Ala4)31 was used at 0.5 micrograms per well and sera were diluted to 1:200. When the IgG antibody levels to the PG and the tetra-D-alanine of the sera of patients with RA, JRA and RF were compared with sera from healthy subjects, the sera of the patients had significantly higher levels than did healthy subjects. Antibody that reacted with the PG in serum was absorbed with purified group-specific C-carbohydrate (A-CHO), but A-CHO was not capable of absorbing anti-(D-Ala4)31 antibodies. Therefore, the peptide subunit should be used as antigen in order to measure the specific antibody to PG. Both anti-PG and anti-tetra-D-alanine antibody in human sera primarily belonged to the IgG2 subclass.

Adolescent↗

Reproducibility of data obtained by a newly developed anterior eye segment analysis system, EAS-1000.

The reproducibility of data obtained from the recently developed anterior eye segment analysis system (EAS-1000) was evaluated. 40 normal eyes and 62 cataractous eyes were examined at Kanazawa Medical University Hospital or Yayoi Hospital. The radius of the corneal curvature, the corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, whole lens thickness, anterior chamber angle and the scattering light intensity were all observed on a slit section of the lens, and the intrapupillary area of the cataractous shadow was measured from a retroillumination image. The measurements were made twice at an interval of 14.2 days. There were no significant differences between the data of the 1st and 2nd examination in either place.

Adolescent↗

In vitro and ex vivo Ca-antagonistic effect of 2-methoxyethyl(E)-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl(+/-)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl- 4-(3- nitrophenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (FRC-8653), a new dihydropyridine derivative.

The characteristics of calcium antagonism and vascular effect of 2-methoxyethyl(E)-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-yl(+/-)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dime thyl-4-(3- nitrophenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (FRC-8653) were investigated. FRC-8653 inhibited an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration during membrane depolarization in PC12 cells. FRC-8653 also inhibited the specific binding of 3H-nitrendipine to cardiac membranes, in a similar manner to nifedipine and nicardipine. FRC-8653 inhibited KCl- and CaCl-induced contractions in isolated rabbit aorta, but failed to affect norepinephrine-induced contraction. The vasorelaxing effect of FRC-8653 in rabbit aorta developed more slowly than those of nifedipine and nicardipine. In ex vivo experiment, the inhibitory effect of orally administered FRC-8653 against KCl-contraction in rat aorta lasted longer than that of nifedipine. These findings suggest that FRC-8653 dilates blood vessels by blocking calcium influx via dihydropyridine-sensitive, voltage-dependent calcium channels and that the vascular effects are slow in development and long in duration.

Animals↗

A case of glomerular lipidosis accompanied by familial combined hyperlipidemia and panhypopituitarism.

This is a report of a case of glomerular lipidosis with familial combined hyperlipidemia and panhypopituitarism. A 60-yr-old woman was admitted for evaluation of hyponatremia. Administration of hydrocortisone normalized the level of serum Na. A pituitary hormone-stimulating test and brain computed tomography revealed panhypopituitarism with an empty sella. Glucocorticoid deficiency due to secondary hypoaldosteronism was thought to have caused the Na loss. She had been treated for thyroid dysfunction and hyperlipidemia with replacement of thyroid hormone and a lipid-lowering drug. Hyperlipidemia changed from type V into IIa in 4 yr. Furthermore, one of her brothers and one of her sons were suspected to have type IV hyperlipidemia. Familial combined hyperlipidemia accompanied by secondary hypothyroidism was thought to have increased the levels of both total cholesterol and triglyceride. Two renal biopsies in 3 yr showed lipid deposits in the mesangial cells and indicated a positive correlation between the levels of serum lipids and lipid deposits in glomeruli, which suggested an important role of abnormal lipid metabolism in the progression of glomerular lipidosis.

Empty Sella Syndrome↗

Serum tumor necrosis factor activity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels in 33 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were measured by using a sensitive enzyme immunoassay. Four of five Crohn's diseases (CD) and nine of twenty eight ulcerative colitis (UC) had elevated levels of serum TNF. In active CD or UC, a greater fraction of patients studied had significantly increased serum TNF levels (3/3 for CD and 8/11 for UC). Production of TNF by peripheral blood monocytes when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide was also increased in these patients and correlated with their serum TNF levels. These results suggest that TNF may have some pathoetiological meaning in IBD.

Adult↗

Circadian blood pressure variation in patients with renovascular hypertension or primary aldosteronism.

Circadian blood pressure (BP) variation were studied in patients with renovascular hypertension (RVH) and primary aldosteronism (PA). Ambulatory BP (ABP) was monitored every 5 min for 24 hrs in a ward setting in 23 patients with PA and 17 patients with RVH (13 patients with unilateral renal arterial stenosis and 4 with bilateral stenosis). In patients with RVH, ABP was monitored before and after treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was high before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in almost all patients with RVH and low in those with PA. Ordinary circadian BP variation, i.e. nocturnal fall and diurnal rise in BP, was confirmed in the patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty successfully normalized both BP and PRA in those with RVH. Normal circadian BP variation was observed in those with RVH before the treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as well as during treatment with the former and after treatment with the latter. Circadian BP variation in the patients with RVH was affected by the pathogenesis of renal artery stenosis alone, i.e, fibromuscular hyperplasia and atherosclerosis; with fibromuscular hyperplasia normal circadian BP variation was observed, while with atherosclerosis, nocturnal BP fall was restricted or eliminated. Circadian BP variation in those with PA before and after excision of adrenal adenoma was essentially similar to that in normal subjects and essential hypertensive patients. From these it seems that in patients with RVH or PA, circadian BP variation is not affected by hypertension per se or by pathogenesis of hypertension.

Adenoma↗

Role of the aminothiadiazolyl group in the antipseudomonal activity of cefclidin.

Cefclidin (E1040), which has an aminothiadiazolyl group in the 7 beta-side chain, showed about four-fold higher activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than its aminothiazolyl counterpart. Cefclidin had lower affinity and a higher Vmax value for the chromosomal type I beta-lactamase (cephalosporinase) from P. aeruginosa than its aminothiazolyl counterpart. No differences between the affinities of both compounds for the most of the sensitive essential PBPs were observed. Hydrophilicity of cefclidin was higher than that of its counterpart. The antipseudomonal activity of cefclidin, which was increased by the introduction of the aminothiadiazolyl group, was suggested to have resulted mainly from higher resistance to cephalosporinase hydrolysis at pharmacologically relevant low concentrations due to its low affinity for cephalosporinase, and secondarily from good penetration of cefclidin through the outer membrane due to increased hydrophilicity.

Bacterial Proteins↗

[Clinical application of anticancer cytokines].

The clinical application of anticancer cytokines (interferons, interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor) are reviewed. Although anticancer cytokines have confirmed its usefulness against some tumors which are refractory to the treatment using anticancer drugs, the results of clinical trials have generally been disappointing because the target spectrum and efficiency is somewhat limited. Recently, combined efficacy between interferon and anticancer drugs was reported in some malignancies such as multiple myeloma and colorectal carcinoma. For the development of effective combination treatment, we need more basic and clinical information on dose, schedule and sequence of drug administration.

Humans↗