Biomedical subjects

S Abe

Publications and source records attributed to S Abe.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Retention index of thallium-201 single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) as an indicator of metastasis in adenocarcinoma of the lung.

We examined the relationship between the retention of thallium-201 (201Tl) on a delayed scan and the metastatic potential of adenocarcinomas of the lung. We studied 43 patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung and divided them into two groups according to the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. 201Tl single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) was conducted twice: 15 min (early scan) and 120 min (delayed scan) after intravenous injection of 3 mCi of 201Tl chloride. We calculated the retention index in order to evaluate the degree of 201Tl retention in the primary tumour. The retention indices were significantly higher in the group that was positive for lymph node metastasis than in the negative group. In adenocarcinomas with high metastatic potential, 201Tl SPECT demonstrated slow washout or increased retention on the delayed scan. The retention index of 201Tl SPECT is a useful indicator of metastatic potential, thereby facilitating the prediction of prognosis, and provides insight into the relationship between 201Tl uptake and malignancy. This is the first report demonstrating a significant relationship between the retention of 201Tl SPECT and lymph node metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1994

Integrin expression and ability to adhere to extracellular matrix proteins and endothelial cells in human lung cancer lines.

We examined the integrin expression in 19 human lung cancer cell lines with monoclonal antibodies to the integrin subunits alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 6, beta 1, beta 2, and beta 4. We measured their ability to adhere to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Almost all lines expressed the beta 1 subunit and approximately half of the lines expressed the beta 4 subunit; by contrast, none expressed the beta 2 subunit. Subunits alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5 and alpha 6 were frequently expressed, whereas very few lines expressed alpha 1 and alpha 4. Most lines adhered strongly to ECM (type I collagen, laminin and fibronectin) in correspondence to their expression of integrins. Binding by most lines to fibronectin was completely inhibited by arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide. Three lines that expressed few or no integrins had very weak ability to adhere to ECM. Strong binding to HUVECs was found in most lines, but the three lines had very little ability to adhere to HUVECs. Binding to HUVECs was strongly inhibited at 4 degrees C, under divalent cation-free conditions and by antibodies to the beta 1 subunit. These results suggest that lung cancer cells adhere to ECM and endothelial cells through integrins, especially the beta 1 subfamily.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Glycolipids isolated from Aplysia kurodai can activate cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from rat brain.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-kinase) partially purified from the membrane fractions of rat brains was stimulated by novel phosphonoglycosphingolipids (glycolipids) derived from the skin and nerve fibers of Aplysia kurodai. Among various glycolipids tested, a major glycolipid from the skin, 3-O-MeGal beta 1-->3GalNAc alpha 1-->3[6'-O-(2-aminoethylphosphonyl)Gal alpha 1-->2](2-aminoethylphosphonyl-->6)Glc beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->1ceramide (SGL-II), was most potent, giving half-maximal activation at 32.2 microM. Activation of cAMP-kinase was maximal with 250 microM SGL-II using kemptide as substrate. The effect of SGL-II was additive on kinase activity at submaximal concentrations of cAMP. The kinase activity activated with SGL-II was inhibited by the addition of protein kinase inhibitor peptide, a specific peptide inhibitor for cAMP-kinase. Its inhibitory pattern was similar to that for the catalytic subunit. Of the various substrates tested, the glycolipid-stimulated cAMP-kinase could phosphorylate microtubule-associated protein 2, synapsin I, and myelin basic protein but not histone H1 and casein. The regulatory subunit strongly inhibited the activity of purified catalytic subunit of cAMP-kinase. This inhibition was reversed by addition of SGL-II, as observed for cAMP. SGL-II was capable of partially dissociating cAMP-kinase, which was observed by gel filtration column chromatography. However, the binding activity of cAMP to the holoenzyme was not inhibited with SGL-II. These results demonstrate that the glycolipids can directly activate cAMP-kinase in a manner similar, but not identical, to that of cAMP.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Reliability of data obtained by radionuclide angiocardiography in follow-up studies with special reference to intra- and interobserver variations.

The reproducibility of the data obtained by radionuclide angiocardiography was studied in terms of the intra- and intervariations of three technicians. Three parameters were chosen: the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the 1/3 filling fraction (1/3FF), and the ratio of the time from end systole to the point of peak filling rate against the entire diastolic period (TRPFR). First, each technician studied an independent consecutive series of 40 patients for the initial analysis. The original data of each patient, composed of 26 frames for one beat, were stored on an optical disc for the intra- and intervariation studies. In this study, analysis of the volume curve was performed by using both 3rd order and 4th order Fourier series. The region of interest (ROI) for the left ventricle, which was set for the initial analysis, was recorded by Polaroid photography to be used as a reference for the later analyses for the variation studies. The least variation was noted in the LVEF not only for the intravariation study but also for the intervariation study, no matter which order of the Fourier series was used. However, the 3rd order Fourier series seemed to give better curve fitting to avoid fluctuation of the diastolic parameters. The results indicate that we can expect more steady and reliable information from LVEF than from the diastolic parameters, even when various technicians perform the follow-up study of a particular patient.

Angiocardiography↗

PubMed1994

Inhibition of Candida albicans growth by murine peritoneal neutrophils and augmentation of the inhibitory activity by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and cytokines.

Anti-Candida activity of murine neutrophils and its regulation by immunomodulators were studied in vitro. Murine neutrophils which were prepared from peritoneal-exudated cells inhibited the growth of Candida albicans at an effector: target (E/T) ratio of 30/1 or above. This anti-Candida activity of neutrophils was augmented by lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli, murine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) but not by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) added to the incubation medium. Greater extent of augmentation was obtained when TNF plus GM-CSF or INF-gamma plus GM-CSF were used in combination. These results indicate that anti-Candida activity of murine neutrophils is regulated similarly to that of the human neutrophils reported previously. Therefore murine peritoneal neutrophils can be used as a favorable substitute for human neutrophils in studies on protective machinery against C. albicans infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

A rapid colorimetric assay for determination of leukocyte-mediated inhibition of mycelial growth of Candida albicans.

A staining method with crystal violet (CV) was demonstrated to be useful for a simple, quick and objective assessment of in vitro growth inhibitory activity of leukocytes against Candida albicans cells. Candida cells incubated with murine neutrophils or macrophages for 14 hr in microwells were stained with CV and, after washing with 0.25% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), treated with isopropanol containing HCl (0.04 N) to extract Candida cell-bound CV. Then the absorbance at 590 nm of the isopropanol extract was photometrically measured. The results showed that the photometrical absorbance was proportional to the amount of 3H-glucose taken up by C. albicans cells, which reflected the number of viable Candida cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Characterization of immunological activity of a low toxicity antitumor lipopolysaccharide from Bordetella pertussis.

Immunological properties of a low toxicity lipopolysaccharide (BP-LPS) extracted from Bordetella pertussis (Tohama strain) which was reported to have high antitumor activity against murine tumors were examined and compared with those of LPS extracted from other enterobacteria. The activation or stimulation of murine macrophages and lymphocytes by these LPS, including TNF induction, was found to be similar. However, BP-LPS was clearly less active in its stimulation of murine and human neutrophils as estimated by neutrophil-adherence assay and by their TNF production than E. coli LPS. Furthermore, BP-LPS also suppressed the activation of human neutrophils by Escherichia coli LPS. A comparative study with 7 LPS preparations indicated that their toxicity in terms of animal body weight loss correlated with their ability to induce human neutrophil adherence. The inability of BP-LPS to activate neutrophils may thus have some bearing on its low toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Suppression of anti-Candida activity of murine and human neutrophils by glucocorticoids.

Effects of glucocorticoid (GC) compounds on inhibitory activity of neutrophils to mycelial growth of Candida albicans were examined by in vitro crystal violet staining method with 14 hr coculture. Both GC hormones (hydrocortisone > or = 6 x 10(-7) M and corticosterone > or = 10(-6)M) and anti-inflammatory GC agents (prednisolone > or = 10(-7) M and dexamethasone > or = 10(-8) M) significantly suppressed anti-Candida activity of murine casein-induced neutrophils. Anti-Candida activity of human neutrophils prepared from peripheral blood was also suppressed by hydrocortisone (> or = 6 x 10(-7) M). These GC compounds did not affect the Candida growth in the absence of neutrophils. Steroidal compounds without anti-inflammatory activity, cholesterol, cholic acid, aldosterone did not suppress neutrophil activity. These results suggest that GCs at their physiological or clinical concentration may suppress anti-Candida activity of neutrophils in vivo.

Aldosterone↗

PubMed1994

Transgenic mice carrying the human poliovirus receptor: new animal models for study of poliovirus neurovirulence.

Recombinant viruses between the virulent Mahoney and attenuated Sabin 1 strains of poliovirus type 1 were subjected to neurovirulence tests using a transgenic (Tg) mouse line, ICR-PVRTg1, that carried the human poliovirus receptor gene. The Tg mice were inoculated intracerebrally with these recombinant viruses and observed for clinical signs, histopathological lesions, and viral antigens as parameters of neurovirulence of the viruses. These parameters observed in the Tg mice were different for different inoculated viruses. Dose-dependent incidences of paralysis and of death were observed in the Tg mice inoculated with any viruses used. This indicates that values of 50% lethal dose are useful to score a wide range of neurovirulence of poliovirus. The neurovirulence of individual viruses estimated by the Tg mouse model had a strong correlation with those estimated by monkey model. Consequently, the mouse tests identified the neurovirulence determinants on the genome of poliovirus that had been identified by monkey tests. In addition, the mouse tests revealed new neurovirulence determinants, that is, different nucleotides between the two strains at positions 189 and 21 and/or 935 in the 5'-proximal 1,122 nucleotides. The Tg mice used in this study may be suitable for replacing monkeys for investigating poliovirus neurovirulence.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Staining pattern of type IV collagen and prognosis in early stage adenocarcinoma of the lung.

AIMS: To examine the prognostic value of basement membrane expression in early stage adenocarcinoma of the lung. METHODS: Using antibodies to type IV collagen, basement membrane expression at the tumour-stromal border was immunohistochemically analysed in 30 patients with early stage adenocarcinoma of the lung (pstage I and pstage II). Two patterns of staining for type IV collagen were observed: in the first one the staining line was conserved or partially fragmented; in the second the staining line was widely fragmented or absent in more than 10% of the tumour area. The first staining pattern was categorised as continuous and the second as discontinuous. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients with pstage I adenocarcinoma, 12 (50%) cases showed a continuous pattern. In only one (16.7%) of the six patients with pstage II adenocarcinoma was this pattern evident. Five year survival was greater in pstage I adenocarcinoma (65%) than in pstage II adenocarcinoma (17%), but the difference was not significant. When the analysis was restricted to the 24 patients with pstage I adenocarcinoma, five year survival was better in continuous pattern cases (88%) than in discontinuous pattern cases (20.5%) (p < 0.05). The survival curve of 12 patients with pstage I adenocarcinoma and a discontinuous pattern resembled that of the six patients with pstage II adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that patients with pstage I adenocarcinoma and a discontinuous pattern have histopathologically unrecognised micrometastasis when they come to surgery. The staining pattern of type IV collagen could help in the prognosis of pstage I adenocarcinoma of the lung after surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1994

Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism for the HLA-DR gene in Japanese patients with sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: It is commonly assumed that some immunological disorder may play a part in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. Previous studies by several groups have shown a significant association with HLA-DR antigens in patients with sarcoidosis. In this study, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the HLA-DR gene was designed to confirm the association at the gene level and to look for a gene rearrangement which may influence susceptibility to sarcoidosis. METHODS: Thirty two unrelated Japanese patients with sarcoidosis were tested for HLA antigens and subjected to RFLP analysis after digestion with Eco RI, Pst I, Bam HI, Pvu II, and Hind III by using an HLA-DR beta cDNA probe. A group of 47 unrelated healthy Japanese subjects served as controls. Frequencies of each restriction fragment were compared between the patients and the control subjects. Correlation between fragment frequencies and clinical features were also analysed. RESULTS: No restriction fragments of HLA-DR beta gene were found specific to the patients with sarcoidosis. The RFLP analysis could detect polymorphism of HLA-DR beta genes that was not distinguishable by conventional serological methods. Several restriction fragments of the DR beta gene were seen only in DRw52 positive individuals, and showed higher frequencies in the patients than in control subjects. The patients with these DNA fragments were likely to have limited stage disease with no ophthalmic involvement. CONCLUSIONS: An association between HLA and sarcoidosis was noted at the DNA level, although no restriction fragments were specific for this disease. RFLP analysis of the HLA gene is a more useful method than the usual HLA typing, and should be the first step in identifying the gene sequence which is connected with susceptibility to sarcoidosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Serial changes in coagulant activities after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

Early reocclusion and bleeding complications are still unresolved problems in thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the present study, 16 patients treated with either fibrin-specific tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or nonspecific urokinase (UK) were studied to determine the effects of thrombolytic therapy on serial hemostatic states. Hemostatic states of each patient were estimated by measuring various plasma markers at one- to two-hour intervals during the first six hours of therapy, daily during the next three days, and subsequently on day 7. Two markers of plasma thrombin generation, thrombin antithrombin III complex (TAT) and prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F 1 + 2), showed an activated coagulant state immediately after thrombolytic therapy. The amount of thrombin generation indicated by these markers showed significant positive correlation with direct markers of fibrinolysis such as fibrin degradation products (FDP), while it did not show any correlation with the markers for plasmin generation. The potential for coagulation as indicated by prothrombin time (%) decreased with thrombolysis using fibrin nonselective agents, owing perhaps to destruction of coagulant factors by free plasmin. Fibrinolytic activity induced by thrombolytic therapy for AMI caused transient activation of the coagulant system, which could contribute to early reocclusion. Fibrin nonselective agents decreased the potential for coagulation by destroying clotting factor through the generation of free plasmin. These data provide theoretical support for simultaneous administration of anticoagulant therapy with fibrin-specific thrombolytic agents.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia progressing to lung fibrosis.

A 65 year old Japanese man was hospitalized with fever. Opacities distributed mainly in the subpleural regions were found on chest computed tomographic scan (CT), and these promptly cleared with corticosteroid therapy. Four years later, he presented with severe eosinophilia. Both chest X-ray and high resolution CT scan showed ground-glass opacities and honeycombing, suggesting lung fibrosis. A lung biopsy demonstrated intra-alveolar eosinophil infiltration, interstitial thickening with eosinophil infiltration, and a widely-distributed desquamative interstitial pneumonia-like reaction. With corticosteroid therapy, the ground-glass opacities decreased with a corresponding clinical improvement, although lung honeycombing and blood eosinophilia remained. In this case, circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and circulating and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid eosinophil granule proteins were felt to be more effective markers for evaluating disease activity than the blood eosinophil number.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Effect of orally administered heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 preparation on leukopenia in mice treated with cyclophosphamide.

Cyclophosphamide (CY) treated mice were orally administered heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 preparation (FK-23) to define the effect of FK-23 on leukopenia associated with chemotherapy. FK-23 had no inhibiting effect on CY induced leukopenia, whereas it augmented leukocyte reconstitution in CY-treated mice. The percentage of neutrophils increased in the mice orally given FK-23. Furthermore, an increase in a myeloid/erythroid ratio and neutrophilic lineages was found in bone marrow of FK-23 treated mice. These findings suggest that FK-23 may have a potent effect on the augmentation of leukocyte reconstituting capacity in patients receiving chemotherapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase in pulmonary sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase (2,5AS) is an enzyme induced by all types of interferon (IFN). We measured the levels of 2,5AS activity in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (SAR), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and normal controls (NC). In NC, the levels of BALF cell 2,5AS activity were approximately seven times as high as the levels of PBML 2,5AS activity. The measurement 2,5AS activity from isolated cells showed that the levels of 2,5AS activity are independent of cell differential from PBML and BALF cells. The levels of PBML and BALF cell 2,5AS activity in SAR were both significantly high in comparison with those in NC. In patients with IPF, the levels of PBML 2,5AS activity were significantly increased as compared with those in NC, whereas there was no significant difference regarding the levels of BALF cell 2,5AS activity between patients with IPF and NC. These results suggest the following: (1) in patients with SAR, IFN production is enhanced both in the alveolar space and peripheral circulation; (2) in patients with IPF, IFN production is greatly enhanced in the circulation, whereas IFN production is not enhanced in the alveolar space; and (3) IFN may contribute to the pathogenesis of SAR and IPF.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Increased level of circulating gamma/delta T cells in a patient with eosinophilic granuloma.

A patient with eosinophilic granuloma, histologically confirmed from open lung biopsy specimen, had a history of scarlet fever and a prominently high level of circulating gamma/delta T cells (25 percent) in comparison with normal levels (< 10 percent). Despite steroid therapy, the levels were persistently high. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an increased level of circulating gamma/delta T cells in a patient with eosinophilic granuloma.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Eosinophilic cationic protein in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia and eosinophilic granuloma.

We measured eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) concentrations in the circulation and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, patients with eosinophilic granuloma, and normal control subjects. Significantly increased ECP concentrations were found in the circulation of patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia and with eosinophilic granuloma compared with those found in control subjects. The ECP concentrations were well correlated to eosinophil counts in the circulation of patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, while they were not in patients with eosinophilic granuloma. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia patients had prominently increased ECP concentrations in BAL fluids compared with those found in control subjects, while eosinophilic granuloma patients did not. Those concentrations in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia patients were well correlated to eosinophil counts in the BAL fluid. Corticosteroid therapy remarkably decreased circulating ECP concentrations in three patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, but it had no significant effects in two patients with eosinophilic granuloma. Measurement of ECP concentrations seems to be useful to evaluate the disease activity of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Experimental and clinical studies on lower esophageal sphincter motor function with special reference to the influence of vagal denervation].

Dysmotility of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is common following gastric surgery. This may result in gastroesophageal reflux which frequently seen following gastric surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of various surgical procedures on esophagogastric motility in dog and human. Esophago-gastric motility was investigated by strain gauge transducers during fasted and fed state in conscious dogs. Motility recordings were performed in three groups of dogs; 1) control dogs, 2) with truncal vagotomized dogs (TV), 3) with selective proximal vagotomized dogs (SPV). In human, manometric recordings were performed before and after gastric surgery (SPV or distal partial gastrectomy). In control animals, lower esophagus and LES contracted simultaneously with each contractions of the stomach during interdigestive motor contractions in fasted state. In fed state, LES showed tonic contractions, while gastric body showed receptive relaxation. These motility pattern of LES was considered to prevent gastroesophageal reflux in both fasted and fed states. These coordinated LES contractions disappeared following SPV or TV. In human, the amplitude and velocity of esophageal propagating contractions deceased after SPV or distal partial gastrectomy. In conclusion, gastric surgeries such as SPV, TV and/or distal partial gastrectomy caused LES dysmotility. These phenomena explain frequent gastroesophageal reflux following gastric surgery. Supplementation of anti-reflux procedure for gastric surgery should be required in the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux following gastric surgery.

Animals↗