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Biomedical subjects

S Harada

Publications and source records attributed to S Harada.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[A case of atopic dermatitis treated with stellate ganglion block--the change of serum IgE and blood eosinophil levels].

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) therapy was tried on a patient with severe adult type atopic dermatitis. SGB was performed 102 times in total and clinical symptoms improved gradually. Serum IgE and blood eosinophil levels, which correlate with disease severity, increased gradually following repeated SGB. After a series of SGB was stopped, clinical symptoms became worse and serum IgE and blood eosinophil levels increased again. We conclude that although SGB is presumably one of the effective therapies for severe adult type atopic dermatitis, it might be difficult to improve atopic constitution entirely because the patient was not cured completely following repeated SGB.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Expression and regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in osteoblasts.

Bone formation is linked closely to angiogenesis. Because prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a potent stimulator of bone formation, its effects were evaluated on vascular endothelial growth factor, a secreted endothelial cell-specific mitogen, and a potent angiogenic protein. Prostaglandin E2 increased vascular endothelial growth factor protein in conditioned media of osteoblastic RCT-3 cells within 3 hours. Prostaglandin E2 also increased the steady-state levels of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. The increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA produced by PGE2 was rapid (maximal at 1 hour) and was enhanced by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (5 micrograms/ml). The increase in vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA by PGE2 was inhibited strongly by pretreatment for 3 hours with dexamethasone (10(-7) M). Stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor by PGE2 and its suppression by dexamethasone implicate the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor in bone metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The antitumor effect of hyperthermia combined with fluorouracil and its analogues.

The effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), FT-207 and FT-207 + uracil in combination with two repetitions of 43 degrees C hyperthermia in the treatment of the Meth-A-Fibrosarcoma and Sarcoma-180 was examined in vivo in BALB/c mice. The antitumor effect was evaluated in terms of inhibition of tumor growth by measuring the tumor for 7 days. The 5-FU concentration in each tumor was also monitored. Hyperthermia combined with FT-207 or FT-207 + uracil showed a synergistic effect for the inhibition of growth of both tumors which was not observed with 5-FU. There were no significant differences in the intratumoral concentration of 5-FU in unheated or heated Sarcoma-180 for any drug treatment after the first hyperthermia treatment, except for significant decreases in the group given 5-FU with the first hyperthermia treatment. After the second hyperthermia treatment, significant decreases in the concentration of 5-FU and FT-207 + uracil were observed. In the Meth-A-Fibrosarcoma, the intratumoral concentration of 5-FU decreased significantly in the group given 5-FU and increased significantly in the group given FT-207 + uracil after the first hyperthermia treatment, while there were significant decreases in 5-FU, FT-207 and FT-207 + uracil administered with the second hyperthermia treatment. Hyperthermia combined with FT-207 or FT-207 + uracil is considered to be effective.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Polymorphisms of the beta fibrinogen gene and plasma fibrinogen concentration in Caucasian and Japanese population samples.

We reported previously that plasma fibrinogen was significantly higher in U.S. Caucasians than in Japanese, which may contribute to the higher mortality rate of coronary heart disease in the United States than in Japan. To examine the contribution of genetic variations to the race difference in plasma fibrinogen levels, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the beta fibrinogen gene were examined in 293 nonsmoking Caucasians and Japanese men and women aged 47-69 years. Three RFLPs were detected by digestion of genomic DNA using the BclI restriction enzyme, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products using HaeIII and HindIII. The alleles B2 (4.2 kb, BclI digestion), H2 (957 b, HaeIII) and Hd2 (465 b. HindIII) were associated with higher fibrinogen concentrations in previous studies. Because of a strong linkage disequilibrium between HaeIII and HindIII polymorphisms, the data of HindIII was presented. The frequency of the B2 allele was 22% (95% Cl: 17-27%) for Caucasians and 13% (10-17%) for Japanese (the difference: p < 0.01). The respective frequency of the Hd2 allele was 26% (21-31%) and 12% (8-16%) (p < 0.001). After controlling for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, triglycerides, fish intake, and for women, menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy, the adjusted mean fibrinogen level among Caucasians was 289 mg/dl for genotype B1B1 and 301 mg/dl for genotype B1B2 or B2B2 combined (p = 0.18), and 285 mg/dl for Hd1Hd1 and 306 mg/dl for Hd1Hd2 or Hd2Hd2 combined (p = 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Renal osteodystrophy in hemodialysis patients.

Patterns of bone loss in the axial and appendicular skeleton were studied in 88 chronic hemodialysis patients (59 males and 29 females) and 60 normal volunteers (30 males and 30 females). The hemodialysis patients were properly medicated with phosphate binders and 1 alpha-OH D3 where necessary. The metacarpal index (MCI), sigma gray scale/diameter (sigma GS/D) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured as bone mass indices, and the relationship investigated between clinical factors [age, duration of hemodialysis, serum phosphate (P), calcium (Ca), carboxy-terminal fragments of parathyroid hormone (C-PTH), osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphate (ALP) and Ca x P]. The bone loss in the hemodialysis patients was greater than that in the normal controls and was accelerated after menopause in women. However, the bone mass indices in a few of the hemodialysis patients of advanced age (over 60) showed higher values than those of the controls. The bone mass indices in male hemodialysis patients showed a negative correlation with the hemodialysis duration, C-PTH and OC, as did those in female patients with hemodialysis duration. On the other hand, BMC in female hemodialysis patients showed a negative correlation with P, C-PTH and Ca x P. In conclusion, age and the duration of hemodialysis are the most essential factors in skeletal and trabecular bone loss in male and female hemodialysis patients. Subsequent factors responsible for skeletal bone loss in male patients are C-PTH and OC, and those for trabecular bone loss in female patients are P, C-PTH and Ca x P. Control of the levels of C-PTH, OC, P and Ca x P is recommended for prevention of bone loss in hemodialysis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystis. Cell composition and a possible pathogenetic role of cell-mediated immunity.

Thirty-three cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) exhibiting the typical morphologic features were studied by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical techniques. Incidence of XGC was 4.2% of the surgically resected gallbladder diseases. Histologically, the granulomatous lesion of XGC principally consisted of accumulations of foam cells and lymphocytes. Variable numbers of multinucleated giant cells, granulocytes and fibroblastic cells were also noted. With respect to the origin of foam cells, it was considered that the vast majority of foam cells were derived from monocytes/macrophages because they were invariably positive for KP1, HAM56, CD11b and CD68. Interspersed among macrophage foam cells, many T lymphocytes were identified. The subtyping of T cells indicated a heterogenous population composed of both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes typically in a ratio of 1:2. Macrophages and T lymphocytes demonstrated a marked expression of HLA-DR antigen. Electron microscopic and immunohistochemical double-staining observation demonstrated intimate apposition of T lymphocytes to macrophages or macrophage foam cells. The results indicate that XGC is a granulomatous disorder characterized by accumulations of macrophage foam cells and T cells. Delayed type hypersensitivity reaction of cell-mediated immunity may be implicated in the pathogenesis of XGC.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Refined crystal structure of pseudoazurin from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 at 1.5 A resolution.

The crystal structure of pseudoazurin from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 (PAZAM1) has been solved by the molecular replacement method using copper-copper distances as translation parameters, which were obtained from difference Patterson maps calculated with the synchrotron radiation data containing the multiwavelength anomalous-dispersion effect. The structure refinement was carried out by the use of molecular dynamics optimization and the restrained least-squares method. The final crystallographic R factor was 19.9% for the 14 365 reflections greater than 3sigma between 1.5 and 8.0 A resolution. This report describes the characteristic features of the structure of PAZAM 1 as well as the effectiveness of synchrotron radiation for structure analysis of metalloproteins. The environment of the metal active site and the structural differences among blue-copper proteins are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of curculin. A new type of sweet protein having taste-modifying action.

A taste-modifying protein, curculin, has been crystallized by the vapor diffusion method using polyethylene glycol 400 as a precipitant. The crystals belong to orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions: a = 105 A, b = 271 A, c = 48.7 A. The crystals diffract X-rays to at least a resolution of 3.0 A and are suitable for X-ray crystallographic studies.

Crystallization↗
PubMed1994

Molecular cloning of a novel protein-tyrosine phosphatase containing a membrane-binding domain and GLGF repeats.

A full-length cDNA encoding a novel cytosolic protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), PTP-BAS, was cloned from human basophils. Due to in-frame deletions in the coding region, PTP-BAS exists in three isoforms: 7,455 bp (2,485 aa) for type 1, 7,398 bp (2,466 aa) for type 2 and 6,882 bp (2,294 aa) for type 3. All three isoforms contain a single PTP catalytic domain at the carboxyl termini as well as two distinct structural sequences. Amino terminal sequences of 300 amino acids are homologous to membrane-binding domains of cytoskeleton-associated proteins. Three 90 amino acid internal repetitive sequences are homologous to the GLGF repeats found in guanylate kinase proteins. PTP-BAS was expressed in various human tissues, especially highly in the kidney and lung. Interestingly, the BAS mRNA level in the fetal brain was remarkably high.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Retraction induced brain edema.

A local cerebral retraction apparatus which simulates cerebral retraction was devised in an effort to clarify the relationship among the retraction pressure, somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) by measuring these parameters both simultaneously and chronologically. Twenty seven cats were divided into three groups according to the retraction pressure (10,30 and 50 mmHg, respectively). Each group underwent 30 minutes' retraction. At a retraction pressure of 10 mmHg, the reduction rate of CBF was low and the recovery of SEP was excellent. With an excessive pressure of 50 mmHg, both SEP and CBF reduced to 60% of the control value during the retraction and the recovery of SEP was extremely poor. Marked hyperemia of the brain surface was seen immediately after the release of retraction in more than 50% of the animals. At 30 mmHg, the recovery of SEP was moderately disturbed but, nevertheless, with a satisfactory value of more than 60% of the control. When the N1 component of SEP was abolished, the residual CBF showed approximately 60% of the control value, which seemed relatively high as compared to cases where cerebral artery were occluded. Extravasation of Evans blue which is an indication of vasogenic brain edema due to disruption of the blood-brain barrier, occurred extensively in the cerebral cortex involving a deep-lying white matter and an increase of the retraction pressure, corresponding to a poor recovery of neuronal function.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Polymorphism of pentanucleotide repeats in the 5' flanking region of glutathione S-transferase (GST) pi gene.

The upstream sequence of the glutathione S-transferase pi gene contains pentanucleotide (ATAAA) repeats. Analysis of the region using polymerase chain reaction indicated that the repeat sequence was polymorphic and segregation of the polymorphic alleles was codominant heredity. Heterozygosity of the new VNTR was 0.818 in healthy Japanese and 0.794 in American whites. Allelic frequencies among healthy controls and alcoholics as well as other diseases were not significantly different.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Exposure of p19 matrix protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) on the surface of MOLT-4#8 cells after virus adsorption.

The p19 matrix (MA) protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was exposed on the surface of MOLT-4#8 cells in the very early step of the virus infection. Transfer of the virus-binding MOLT-4#8 cells from 4 degrees C to 37 degrees C resulted in increased detection of the viral gp46 and p19 MA protein on the cells, which was, however, inhibited by 4 degrees C or cytochalasin B treatment. These data showed that increased temperature and fluidity of the cell membrane were required for the increased detection of gp46 and p19 after viral adsorption. On the other hand, exposure of the p19 MA protein was not observed on the virus-treated U937 cells although gp46 was detected. This was not due to inefficient binding of the HTLV-I to the U937 cells, since the methanol-fixed cells were p19 MA protein-positive. MOLT-4#8 cells induced marked cell fusion when co-cultured with MT-2 cells, but U937 cells induced no fusion. All of these results indicated that these two cell lines differed in the property of plasma membrane in terms of degradation of HTLV-I envelope after viral adsorption. Uncoating of the HTLV-I might occur on the plasma membrane, especially on MOLT-4#8 cells.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1994

An unusual presentation of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum secondary to the rupture of a gas-containing pyogenic liver abscess: report of a case.

We describe a rare case of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum secondary to the rupture of a gas-containing pyogenic liver abscess in a 59-year-old man. The patient was diagnosed as having a hollow viscus perforation based on a sudden onset of acute abdominal pain along with radiological evidence of bilateral subphrenic feee air (pneumoperitoneum), and underwent an emergency laparotomy. Contrary to expectations, the surgery revealed no perforations of the hollow viscus, but instead a ruptured liver abscess at the dome of the right hepatic lobe was identified associated with suppurative peritonitis. To the best of our knowledge, such a case of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum secondary to the rupture of a gas-containing liver abscess is extremely rare.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1994

Postganglionic sympathetic nerve discharges can contain both central and pulse-related oscillations simultaneously in rabbits.

We examined whether modulation of sympathetic nerve discharges (SND) by changes in carotid sinus pressure (CSP) is influenced by the pattern of the rhythm of central sympathetic neurons and whether the rhythm of the sympathetic nerve derived from central sympathetic neurons and that from the inputs from baroreceptors can coexist in postganglionic renal SND. In alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rabbits with aortic denervation and vagotomy, firing of central sympathetic neurons was at first left spontaneous and then driven artificially at 3 Hz by peroneal nerve stimulation. Under these conditions, renal SND were recorded and compared while CSP was altered at low frequencies. When central sympathetic neurons were firing spontaneously and low frequency oscillation was applied to CSP, two kinds of oscillation were noted in SND; first oscillation at the same frequency as that of central sympathetic neurons, and second oscillation of CSP changes. Power spectra of SND also showed two peaks at these two oscillations. When central sympathetic neurons regularly discharged at 3 Hz by electrical stimulation and CSP was kept constant, the power spectra of SND had a discrete single peak at 3 Hz. When a regular oscillation was applied to CSP at 1 Hz, the amplitude of central sympathetic outflow at 3 Hz was modulated at 1 Hz without disturbance of the frequency of the central 3 Hz rhythm. In other words, two apparently different rhythms coexisted in SND. In the power spectra, two discrete peaks were noted at the frequency of CSP changes and at the central sympathetic oscillation. When SND were averaged by CSP-triggered summation during spontaneous or artificial 3 Hz central firing, it was revealed that the shape of these two averaged SND were completely same in spite of obviously different central firing patterns. Nadir of SND occurred about 400 ms after the peak of CSP during changes in CSP at several frequencies in these two conditions. Thus, these results indicated two points; (1) CSP changes modulate the amplitude of SND in the same manner irrespective of the frequency or pattern of discharge of central sympathetic neurons; (2) both of frequency components of SND induced by oscillatory changes in central sympathetic neurons and oscillatory inhibitory input from baroreceptors can coexist even if their frequencies were different.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1994

The mycoplasma-related inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase has a DNase activity and is present in the particle-free supernatants of contaminated cultures.

Drastic inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) by mycoplasma has been noted in many laboratories causing confusion in data interpretation. The mycoplasma-related inhibitor of HIV-1 RT was identified as a soluble protein in the particle-free supernatant of a contaminated culture. Gel filtration studies revealed the molecular mass of this protein to be about 70 kDa. This RT-inhibitor contained a DNase with strong activity on both linear and circular DNAs. Addition of this inhibitor after completion of reverse transcription still reduced the final outcome of the RT assay significantly, implying that the inhibitory mechanism occurred mainly by its DNase activity. Treatment of the culture with an antimycoplasma drug cured the mycoplasma contamination, removed the RT-inhibitor and abolished the DNase activity.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1994

Augmentation of host defense mechanisms against tumor by sperabillin polymers, new basic peptidyl biopolymers, in mice.

Sperabillin polymers, which have been shown recently to have antitumor activity, are new basic peptidyl polymers composed of a pseudo-peptide antibiotic, sperabillin A. The polymers, HP-2 (MW 9990), AP-2 (MW 20,100) and AB-2 (MW 35,000), were found to potently activate murine peritoneal macrophages. The phagocytosis-dependent respiratory burst and Fc gamma receptor expression of peritoneal macrophages from C57BL/6 mice were enhanced after in vitro cultivation with these polymers. When HP-2, a representative of these polymers, was intraperitoneally injected into mice, the number of peritoneal exudate cells increased and phagocytosis-dependent respiratory burst and class II (I-A) antigen expression of peritoneal macrophages were augmented. These macrophages showed strong inhibitory activity against the growth of murine tumor cell lines such as EL4 lymphoma and B16 melanoma. Nitrogen oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) might be required for this inhibitory activity. Moreover, in mice treated with HP-2, splenocyte counts also increased and non-specific killer activity of the splenocytes was augmented. These results indicate that sperabillin polymers are new macrophage activators.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1994

Mutations in the unc-41 gene cause elevation of acetylcholine levels.

Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans unc-41 gene result in an allele-dependent elevation of acetylcholine content. Eight recessive alleles (cn252, e268, e399, e650, e1175, e1199, e1294, and e870) lead to phenotypes including uncoordinated locomotion, slow growth, a small mature body, and resistance to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors as well as the elevation of acetylcholine content. The remaining two alleles, e554 and e1162, exhibit normal acetylcholine levels but display the short-body phenotype in a semidominant way. To determine the localization of the elevated acetylcholine content, a method for the isolation of synaptic vesicles from C. elegans was established. The elevation of acetylcholine content in the unc-41 mutants is accompanied by the accumulation of synaptic vesicles. We propose that at least one function of the unc-41 gene relates to the release of neurotransmitters.

Acetylcholine↗