Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Abe.
Plasma cell granuloma of the cecum was resected by endoscopic polypectomy. The immunohistochemical study demonstrated the polyclonal nature of the plasma cells and thus confirmed the diagnosis of plasma cell granuloma.
To investigate some of the problems associated with pregnancy and delivery in lupus nephritis, 13 pregnancies in 7 patients with inactive lupus nephritis and 5 pregnancies in one patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) were compared with 36 pregnancies in 22 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS). Furthermore, a follow-up survey during 0-8 years was made with 12 babies born to mothers with lupus nephritis. Some pregnancies during lupus nephritis were accompanied by disease exacerbation and worsening of renal function. There was a higher incidence of babies born with a low birth weight, and the incidences of fetal loss or premature birth and toxemia were higher in lupus nephritis than in NS. The number of babies with a low birth weight was significantly higher in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension or skin lesion due to lupus erythematosus. The presence of antibodies against SSA/RO in the mother was associated with the occurrence of congenital heart block. Birth weight of babies born to mothers with lupus nephritis was low, but there were no statistical differences in the growth of babies after 6 months of age compared with babies born to normal women.
By using front-surface fluorometry and fura-2-loaded strips of the rabbit femoral artery, the effects of 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (nicorandil) on cytosolic Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) and on tension development were measured simultaneously, and findings were compared with those of SG-209 (2-nicotinamidoethyl acetate), nitroglycerin and cromakalim. During contraction induced by 25 mM K(+)-depolarization or by 3 x 10(-7) M noradrenaline stimulation, application of nicorandil, nitroglycerin or cromakalim, decreased [Ca++]i and tension, in a concentration-dependent manner. With a given amount of reduction in [Ca++]i, the extent of relaxation was in the following order: nitroglycerin > nicorandil > cromakalim. The [Ca++]i-tension relations of the relaxations induced by nitroglycerin and cromakalim were shifted to the right and to the left from that observed with the nicorandil-induced relaxation, respectively. During the contraction induced both by 25 mM K(+)-depolarization and by 3 x 10(-7) M noradrenaline, glibenclamide almost fully antagonized cromakalim- and SG-209-induced relaxation, and partially antagonized the nicorandil-induced relaxation, but not the nitroglycerin-induced relaxation. In the absence of extracellular Ca++, the noradrenaline-induced contraction due to release of Ca++ from the intracellular store was inhibited by nicorandil and by nitroglycerin. Cromakalim and SG-209 had no such effects. Both nitroglycerin and nicorandil increased intracellular cyclic GMP content. We suggest that nicorandil relaxes the rabbit femoral artery both by directly reducing [Ca++]i and by directly controlling Ca++ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus, through second messengers. The reduction of [Ca++]i involves inhibition of the release of stored Ca++ and Ca++ influx, the latter due in part to opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.
The present investigation was designed to analyze the therapeutic efficacy of prednisolone in the development of pulmonary lesions in Mycoplasma pulmonis-infected mice. Mice were treated every day from day 3 to day 9 after M. pulmonis inoculation with minocycline (group M), prednisolone (group P), or with minocycline and prednisolone (group MP) and a control group was left untreated. Mice from each group were sacrificed at days 7, 14, and 21. The macroscopic lung lesion scores of group MP at days 7, 14, 21, and of group M at day 7 were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. Pathological findings in group M and MP showed reduction of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte response in the alveoli compared with the controls. However, infiltration of lymphocytes around the bronchioles and blood vessels of group M was not less than that in group MP. The titer of CF antibody in group MP was the lowest of the four groups. Among the four groups, M. pulmonis was cultured in the joints of group P. These results suggest that combination therapy with minocycline and prednisolone was effective because the mice of group MP had a more marked reduction of infiltration of lymphocytes around the bronchioles and blood vessels as compared with group M. Simultaneously, with prednisolone alone therapy, a risk of dissemination of the mycoplasma organism and diminution of antibody production were suggested.
A high proportion of synovial sarcomas contain the reciprocal translocation t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2). We have previously localized the breakpoint on the X chromosome between the X chromosome marker DXS255 and an ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) pseudogene region designated OATL2. Subsequently by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) we provided evidence that YACs corresponding to the OATL2 locus spanned the break-point. In order to confirm the position of this breakpoint cosmids corresponding to the OATL2 region were isolated. Most of these cosmids mapped to four cosmid contigs designated C1-C4. Analysis of two contigs, C1- and C4, using FISH established that in four of six synovial sarcomas examined the breakpoint occurs between these two contigs: C1 lies distal to the break-point while C4 is proximal. In contrast we provide evidence that the breakpoint in the remaining two tumours mapped to a second pseudogene region called OATL1 that is telomeric to the OATL2 locus. This heterogeneity of the breakpoint position on the X chromosome explains why in previous mapping studies there have been discrepancies between the results obtained by different laboratories.
Since the invention of Gruentzig AR in 1977, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has become a widely accepted therapeutic measure for the treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), as well as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The rate of initial success in PTCA elevated up to more than 90% recently, in accordance with the progress in technology and the operator's skill. The limitations of PTCA are acute coronary occlusion which occurs in a few percent during or just after the procedure, and restenosis which occurs in thirty to fourty percent within six months. Some new devices have been invented to add better results for the patients. Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) is one of the devices to remove atheroma in narrow segment, instead of splitting it. DCA can create a larger and smoother lumen than that created with PTCA, and it may be expected to reduce the restenosis rate. The therapeutic choice in IHD is still controversial. At present, several clinical trials are being conducted in order to evaluate and compare medical therapy, CABG, and PTCA. These results will provide informations to help the decision making in the management of the patients with IHD.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare X-linked disorder exhibiting renal resistance to the antidiuretic action of arginine vasopressin (AVP). Recent elucidation of the vasopressin V2 (renal type) receptor gene structure has enabled us to test the hypothesis that the genetic defect in the V2 receptor is the likely molecular basis of NDI. By using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-direct sequencing, we identified novel V2 receptor gene mutations in two unrelated Japanese kindreds with NDI. In the male patients of kindred A, a single codon deletion in one of two consecutive GTC triplets (nucleotide 832 to 837) was detected. This base change resulted in the loss of a valine residue in the 6th transmembrane domain. In the affected males of kindred B, a G to C substitution was found at nucleotide 428, altering codon 143 from arginine (CGT) to proline (CCT) in the second cytoplasmic domain. PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of family members demonstrated that the mutations cosegregated with clinically affected individuals and were absent in normal subjects. Our results suggest that different V2 receptor defects could be responsible for AVP resistance in individual NDI kindreds.
Using polymerase chain reaction-single strand polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and nucleotide analyses, p53 gene mutation was examined in 13 pontine gliomas many of which were of juvenile onset. A total of 15 mutations were detected in 8 cases, of which 5 revealed multiple or tandem mutations. The mutations included 6 G:C-A:T and 4 A:T-G:C transitions and 4 G:C-T:A and 1 A:T-T:A transversions. There was only 1 transition at the CpG site. Normal tissues of the same patients revealed no mutation, suggesting that these mutations were somatic, but not of germ line, in nature. The pattern of mutation characterized by frequent multiple or tandem occurrence, predominancy of transition at non-CpG sites and relatively frequent transversions suggested that pontine glioma might be related with some mutagenic or carcinogenic agents.
Human tear protein, which consists mainly of albumin, lysozyme, and lactoferrin, was assayed with high-performance liquid chromatography using a new ceramic hydroxyapatite column. Proteins were eluted at room temperature using a 20-min linear gradient from 95:5% A/B buffer to 0:100% A/B buffer (buffer A, distilled water; buffer B, 400 mM KH2PO4 containing 240 mM NaOH). The proteins eluted at 1.2 min for albumin, 8.5 min for lysozyme, and 20.4 and 21.7 min for lactoferrin, respectively. The assays may be performed in 30 min.
We have previously reported that serum and/or urinary human heart-type cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein (HH-FABPc) can be used as an early indicator of myocardial injury (Clin Biochem 1991; 24: 195-201). To confirm the usefulness of HH-FABPc as an early diagnostic indicator of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), its serum and urinary levels were measured in samples obtained within 6 h after the onset of acute coronary syndrome related symptoms. Samples were collected from 97 patients, who were composed of 63 with AMI, 24 with unstable angina and 10 with chest pain syndrome. The positivity of serum and urinary HH-FABPc and cardiac creatine kinase isozyme MB (CK-MB) was analyzed in these samples. Serum HH-FABPc levels in AMI were above normal in 91.4% (64/70) of the samples tested within 3 h of the onset of symptoms and in 100% (111/111) of those tested at 3-6 h. Elevated urinary HH-FABPc levels in AMI were obtained in 88.9% (8/9) of samples at 0-3 h and in 75% (6/8) at 3-6 h. CK-MB activity in AMI was positive in 20% (8/40) and 66.3% (53/80) of serum samples at 0-3 h and 3-6 h, respectively. HH-FABPc was always positive when a serum sample was positive for CK-MB. Serum HH-FABPc at 0-6 h in chest pain syndrome and in unstable angina were positive in 17.8% (5/28) and 56.7% (34/60), respectively. The elevated HH-FABPc in serum and urine was noted much earlier than that of CK-MB during the hyperacute phase of AMI. HH-FABPc showed high positive value in unstable angina, but it was low in normal coronary patients having chest pain. However, HH-FABPc level in unstable angina and chest pain syndrome was lower than that of AMI. Thus, HH-FABPc may be a valuable indicator for the diagnosis of hyperacute myocardial infarction.
The Fast Spin Echo (RARE: Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation enhancement) sequence for the dynamic MRI of the pituitary gland was performed in 18 patients suspected of the intracranial lesions. The SNR of the plain image of 5 pituitary glands was measured on the FSE 400 and 200/17/8/2 (TR/effective TE/echo train length/excitation) and the spin echo 100/11/2 (TR/TE/excitation) sequence. The FSE (TR = 400) provided the highest SNR than others, The FSE sequence was able to acquire increased spatial resolution and reduced acquisition time, and was the significant sequence for the dynamic MRI of the pituitary gland.
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1. The immunomodulating activity of antifungal drugs was reviewed. Although results are conflicting, all azole drugs tend to be immunosuppressive, except for fluconazole, which has no immunologic effect. In contrast, the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B (AMPH) is immunostimulatory. 2. AMPH induced host resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in mice, whereas no azole drugs did so. 3. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are activated by AMPH, but not by any azole drugs, in terms of the level of their adherence. 4. No azole drugs induce in vitro tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) production by macrophages, whereas AMPH slightly but substantially does so. 5. AMPH potently primes macrophages in vitro and in vivo so that they produce large amounts of TNF after the secondary stimulation (triggering) by bacterial lipopolysaccharides or a streptococcal preparation used for antitumor immunotherapy, OK432. 6. Viable or heat-killed Candida albicans cells are capable of inducing in vitro TNF production by macrophages. This activity of the fungal cells is enhanced by AMPH.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cytokine, and okadaic acid, a tumor promoter, strongly phosphorylated the same proteins, vimentin and heat shock protein 27, although their time courses were different. Human TNF-alpha at a concentration of 0.6 nM markedly stimulated transformation of BALB/3T3 cells initiated with 3-methylcholanthrene. The human TNF-alpha was about 1000 times more effective than the chemical tumor promoters, okadaic acid and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. TNF induced growth of v-Ha-ras transfected BALB/3T3 cells (Bhas 42 cells), whereas it did not induce growth of nontransfected BALB/3T3 cells. Okadiac acid induced mouse TNF-alpha from Bhas 42 and BALB/3T3 cells. The results suggest that a chemical tumor promoter induces the secretion of TNF-alpha from various cells. The TNF then acts as an endogenous tumor promoter in vivo.
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