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Biomedical subjects

S Asano

Publications and source records attributed to S Asano.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Adult T-cell leukemia developing during immunosuppressive treatment in a renal transplant recipient.

We report a case of a 32-year-old male, an asymptomatic carrier of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), who underwent a renal transplantation and developed adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) during the course of posttransplant immunosuppressive treatment. He was treated with combination chemotherapies consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone, cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, etoposide, and methyl-prednisolone, without any improvement. Bestrabucil (KM2210), a conjugate of chlorambucil and estradiol, was administered as an alternative therapy; this therapy successfully suppressed his leukemic cell growth, and partial remission was achieved. Posttransplant immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone, mizoribine, and cyclosporin A might have been the predominant cause of the transition from an asymptomatic HTLV-1 infection to overt ATL. A careful approach is required with HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers who need organ transplantation followed by immunosuppressive treatment.

Adult↗

Electrophysiologic study of dysrhythmias after atrial operations in dogs.

Experiments were conducted with 159 dogs to investigate the mechanism of persistent dysrhythmias clinically encountered after atrial-level operations. Those found after incisions to the internodal pathways (INPs) of the right atrium were analyzed using cardiac mapping in an anesthetized or extracorporeally perfused state. Longitudinal incisions of the posterior INP often allowed inducible sustained atrial flutter, with circus movement of excitation around the right atrium near the tricuspid orfice. Sustained atrial flutter thus produced was modified in cycle length by coexisting division of the middle INP but inhibited by that of the anterior INP. Its incidence increased at chronic stage, with marked cicatricial changes. The disrupted anterior INP markedly prolonged conduction time to the atrioventricular node and A-H interval compared with the other disruptions. Persistent atrioventricular junctional rhythm developed in about 50% of the animals after disruption of all three INPs or anterior and posterior INPs; division of the anterior INP was the common potent factor, although no single blocked INP produced persistent junctional rhythm. Our results support the "summation theory." The incidence of junctional rhythm and hypoxia of the sinoatrial node (flow rate of less than 10 mL.100 g-1.min-1) were markedly enhanced by coexisting blockade of atrial feeding arteries in addition to division of the anterior INP. In conclusion, massive posterior INP disruption is a potent anatomic substrate in producing sustained atrial flutter, middle INP division a modifier, and anterior INP division an inhibitor. Division of the anterior INP is a potent anatomic substrate in producing junctional rhythm, and hypoxia involving the sinoatrial node reacts as its synergic factor.

Animals↗

Processing of delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1 and HD-73 by gut juices of various insect larvae.

Midgut juices were prepared from Adoxophyes sp., smaller tea tortrix (STT); Bombyx mori, silkworm (SW); Spodoptera litura, common cutworm (CCW); Plutella xylostella, diamondback moth (DBM); and Musca domestica, housefly (HF) and immobilized onto Sepharose 4B. delta-Endotoxins (ICPs) from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1 and HD-73 were digested by these immobilized gut juice proteases. All gut juices tested derived relatively proteolytic resistant cores from ICP. The molecular sizes of these cores, about 55 kDa in SDS-PAGE, were resulted. In the case of CCW, however, digestion was very strong and only 1/20 concentration of core protein remained relative to other digests. The N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the core proteins showed that they were truncated at the very end of the N-terminus of protoxin, CryIA, at different sites. Although housefly larvae were completely insensitive to active toxin, the gut juice produced the core, suggesting that the housefly may lack the binding sites for the core-active toxin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The preclinical safety evaluation of human monoclonal antibody against cytomegalovirus.

The human monoclonal antibody against cytomegalovirus (Mab C23) was examined pharmacokinetically and toxicologically as part of the preclinical studies prior to approval for human use. Rats given repeated intravenous administrations of Mab C23 produced no antibodies against Mab C23 and maintained a blood Mab C23 level in a dose-dependent manner. However, pregnant rabbits produced antibodies against Mab C23. The half-life of Mab C23 in plasma was 15.9 days in rats, which was similar to that of normal human serum gamma-globulin (NHSG). Neither behavioral effects nor circulatory disturbance was found in mice, rats, and dogs even after a single intravenous injection of 100 or 200 mg/kg, which corresponds to 50 or 100 times the intended clinical dosage. The repeated doses of 2, 10, or 20 mg/kg of Mab C23 on six occasions with 1- or 2-week intervals elicited a transient decrease in leukocyte counts in rats given 10 or 20 mg/kg, but no adverse effects in cynomolgus monkeys. Mab C23 did not cause any reproductive or developmental toxicity when administered to rats and rabbits at dose levels of 20 mg/kg or less. However, pregnant animals showed lower plasma levels of Mab C23 than non-pregnant animals. The chromosomal aberration test disclosed no clastogenicity in human lymphocytes. An immunostaining for Mab C23 revealed no localizations in several tissues of cynomolgus monkeys given intravenous doses of Mab C23.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Case report: alternation therapy with antileukemic agents and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for RAEB in transformation.

Under the assumption that in some patients with refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB), the abnormal clones might be less responsive to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor than normal clones, the authors tried alternation therapy with a recombinant form of this factor (rhG-CSF) and antileukemic agents in the treatment of two patients with RAEB in transformation. After repetition of the short-cycled alternation therapy, the hematologic findings of both patients were completely normalized and have remained so without any adverse side effects under the continuation of this therapy for more than 5 months. Judging from our clinical experience, the alternation therapy may be a new efficient therapeutic strategy for RAEB and some types of slowly progressive leukemia.

Adult↗

The treatment of osteoporotic-posttraumatic vertebral collapse using the Kaneda device and a bioactive ceramic vertebral prosthesis.

Twenty-two patients with neurologic deficit due to delayed posttraumatic vertebral collapse after osteoporotic compression fractures of the thoracolumbar spine underwent anterior decompression and reconstruction with bioactive Apatite-Wollastonite containing glass ceramic vertebral prosthesis and Kaneda instrumentation. Eighteen patients previously had minor trauma that resulted in a mild vertebral compression fracture without any neurologic involvement and were either conservatively treated or not treated at all. Four had no history of back injury. The preoperative neurologic status was incomplete paralysis in all patients. The average age at surgery was 66 (53-79) years. The average follow-up was 34 (20-58) months after surgery. All patients had returned to their daily living with neurologic recovery and stable spine. This type of anterior procedure is effective in the osteoporotic patients and there was a very low incidence of instrumentation failure and very low morbidity.

Aged↗

The mechanical properties of the human L4-5 functional spinal unit during cyclic loading. The structural effects of the posterior elements.

Cyclic axial compression-tension tests and cyclic torsional tests were performed on ten fresh human L4-5 functional spinal units to investigate the structural effects of the posterior elements on the mechanical properties of L4-5 functional spinal units. The stiffness of the functional spinal unit increased with the increase of displacement under every loading. This was same in the intact functional spinal units and the functional spinal units after removal of each posterior element, respectively. All the posterior elements contributed to the compressive, tensile, and torsional stiffness of L4-5 functional spinal units. The apophyseal joints had a significant effect on the compressive and torsional stiffness. The effect of the apophyseal joints on the torsional stiffness became greater according to the extent of displacement, whereas their effect on the compressive stiffness was constant. The posterior ligaments (supraspinous and interspinous ligaments) had a significant effect on the tensile stiffness.

Adult↗

The alloantigen-specific immunosuppressive activity of estradiol-chlorambucil conjugate (KM2210) and its beneficial effect on allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice.

KM2210, a conjugate of estradiol and chlorambucil (CBL), which was originally developed as an anti-breast cancer agent, inhibits proliferative response of human mononuclear cells to alloantigens in mixed lymphocyte culture in a dose-dependent manner, but has no effect on their response to phytohemagglutinin. Neither estradiol benzoate nor CBL alone showed these unique actions. The suppressive effect of KM2210 on MLC was abrogated by adding of anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) antibody to the culture, but was not affected by the addition of interleukin-2, suggesting that KM2210, unlike CBL, displays its actions via TGF-beta. In experimental allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using mice, daily oral administration of KM2210 (2 mg/kg/day) for 30 days posttransplant significantly inhibited the alloantigen-specific immune reactions. Furthermore, the survival rate of the KM2210-treated mice was significantly higher than that of the cyclosporine-treated (2 mg/kg/day, p.o.) mice, and no adverse effect of KM2210 on hematopoietic recovery was found. These results strongly suggest possible clinical benefits of KM2210 as a new immunosuppressive agent for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease and other allospecific immune reactions.

Animals↗

Permeability of insulin entrapped in liposome through the nasal mucosa of rabbits.

The permeability of liposome entrapping insulin through the nasal mucosa of rabbit has been studied and compared with the permeability of insulin solution with or without pretreatment by sodium glycocholate (GC). Insulin entrapped in liposome was not detected in the receiver cell using the diffusion cells with the nasal mucosa. On the other hand, permeability of insulin entrapped in liposome increased after the pretreatment of GC. The phospholipids which result from liposomes, were not observed in the receiver. Also, the GC remaining in the nasal mucosa was measured. Considering the mechanism of permeation of insulin entrapped in liposome through the nasal mucosa, the GC remaining in the nasal mucosa may cause the lysis of liposomes.

Administration, Intranasal↗

A case report of familial cyclic neutropenia.

A 34-year-old female with cyclic neutropenia is reported. Family studies showed that her three sons and her mother were also involved. Oscillations in the blood neutrophil counts were almost regular, with a periodicity of 21 days. Numbers of colony-forming unit--granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) formed from the bone marrow cells of normal volunteers co-cultured with the patient's serum or mononuclear cell-conditioned medium (MNC-CM) were examined. Her serum prepared during the neutropenic phase inhibited the growth of CFU-GM, while her MNC-CM stimulated it. Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) level in her serum was persistently high, with the peak occurring during the neutropenic phase. These results suggest that some inhibitory factors in the serum may be pathophysiologically important for cyclic neutropenia. To control infections, a pharmacological dose of hG-CSF was administered for 7 days around the early neutropenic phase. Her peripheral neutrophil counts oscillated from 1,200/mm3 to 17,000/mm3 with G-CSF, and from 150/mm3 to 1,800/mm3 without G-CSF.

Adult↗

Ouabain-insensitive, vanadate-sensitive K(+)-ATPase of rat distal colon is partly similar to gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase.

A membrane fraction from rat distal colon contained both ouabain-sensitive and -insensitive K(+)-ATPase activities, which were measured under Na(+)-free conditions. About 38% of the ouabain-insensitive K(+)-ATPase activity was inhibited by vanadate. It was determined whether the ouabain-insensitive, vanadate-sensitive K(+)-ATPase in the colon is similar or identical to gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase. This colonic K(+)-ATPase activity was inhibited completely by monoclonal antibody HK4001, which inhibits the hog gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase activity but not Na+,K(+)-ATPase or Ca(2+)-ATPase. The colonic ATPase activity was inhibited partly by SCH 28080, which is a specific reversible inhibitor of gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase. The colonic ATPase activity was stimulated by low concentrations of K+ (its half-maximal stimulating concentration was 1 mM) and inhibited by high concentrations of K+ (its half-maximal inhibiting concentration was 10 mM), indicating that high and low K+ affinity sites are present in the colonic enzyme as in gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase and that this enzyme is not fully operative under normal physiological conditions. Two other monoclonal antibodies, which inhibit the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase activity, did not inhibit the colonic K(+)-ATPase activity. The present results suggest that the colonic ouabain-insensitive K(+)-ATPase is partly similar but not identical to the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

[Function, molecular structure and gene expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor].

Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, a 19KD glycoprotein consisting of 174 amino acids, is one of the physiological regulators mainly produced by monocytes-macrophages, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, under various stimulations such as neutropenias and infections. The molecule specifically and markedly stimulates the production of neutrophils associated with an expansion of the hemopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells, proliferates myeloid leukemia cells, releases these cells into blood, and elevates the functional activities of neutrophils. Under the favor of the activities, recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor has now become an epoch-making agents for the treatment of various disorders.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Possible correlation between fusion pattern of BCR/ABL mRNA and clinical response to alpha-interferon in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Twenty six patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treated with IFN-alpha were classified on the basis of the fusion pattern of BCR/ABL chimeric mRNA determined by a reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The relationship between the fusion pattern of BCR/ABL mRNA and the clinical outcome was also analysed. Twelve patients showed M-bcr exon 3/ABL exon 2 (B3/A2) chimeric mRNA and nine had M-bcr exon 2/ABL exon 2 (B2/A2) mRNA. Eleven of the 12 patients with B3/A2 achieved complete hematological response with IFN-alpha therapy, as did three of the nine patients with B2/A2. The mean duration to blastic crisis was significantly longer in the B3/A2 patients (mean 52.4 months) than in the B2/A2 patients (mean 26.2 months) (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that the fusion pattern of BCR/ABL mRNA may affect the therapeutic response to IFN-alpha and clinical outcome in CML patients.

Adolescent↗