Methylguanidine synthase from rat kidney is identical to long-chain L-2-hydroxy acid oxidase.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Horikawa.
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A 60-year-old man with cough and fever was admitted to our hospital. Chest radiography revealed multiple bullae and fungus balls in both lungs. He was treated with MCZ and FCZ for about 2 months, but the chest radiograph shadows did not improve and the fever continued. A two-stage operation was performed. The bullae were incised and the fungus balls were removed, then a muscle flap plombage was made with a pectoralis major muscle, a latissimus dorsi muscle and an intercostal muscle. The postoperative course was uneventful and respiratory function was preserved.
Clinical and serological studies of chlamydial pneumonia were done in six patients (three men and three women). The other three patients had no avian contact and showed almost the same clinical symptom. Acute infection with Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae were diagnosed in two patients and in one patient, respectively, by MFA. Because in some cases Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia and Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia are difficult to differentiate, it is necessary to use a test that allows different chlamydia species to be distinguished.
The efficacy of continuous five-day intravenous infusion of cisplatin (CDDP) and etoposide with concurrent chest radiation therapy was evaluated in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer. The first group of patients registered from February 1989 to September 1990 received three courses of chemotherapy (CDDP 20 mg/m2/day x 5 days, etoposide 40 mg/m2/day x 5 days) and concurrent chest radiation therapy on the third course with dose reduction of etoposide. The second group of patients registered after February 1991 received four courses of chemotherapy (CDDP 20 mg/m2/day x 5 days, etoposide 50 mg/m2/day x 5 days) and concurrent chest radiation therapy on the first and second courses with dose reduction of etoposide. The response rates were 91.7% and 93.3%, respectively. The median duration of survival was 32.0 months and 20.1 months, respectively. Major toxicity was leukocytopenia and 64% and 80% of patients encountered leukocytopenia of Grade 3 or 4. In conclusion, these regimens show remarkable efficacy with acceptable toxicity.
It is known that a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in rat liver can be induced by such azo dye carcinogens as 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB). Mammalian S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase exists as two isozymes, non-hepatic-type and liver-type enzymes, which are the products of two different genes. We have examined the expression of two AdoMet synthetase isozyme proteins and mRNAs in rat hepatomas induced by 3'-Me-DAB. The levels of non-hepatic-type enzyme protein and mRNA are clearly induced by 3'-Me-DAB feeding. On the other hand, the levels of liver-type enzyme protein and mRNA are nearly the same or slightly decreased during hepatocarcinogenesis. These results indicate that the expression of the non-hepatic-type isozyme gene is obviously influenced with the progression of carcinogenesis and that the non-hepatic-type isozyme is useful as a oncodevelopmental marker in the liver.
Mammalian S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase exists as two isozymes, liver-type and kidney(non-hepatic)-type enzymes. The developmental expression of these two isozymes proteins has been investigated in rat liver using immunohistochemical techniques. The liver-type AdoMet synthetase is expressed only in adult liver, but not in fetal liver. On the other hand, the kidney-type AdoMet synthetase is predominantly expressed in fetal liver and faintly detected in adult liver. It was also found that both isozymes were localized to the hepatocytes of rat liver. These results clearly show that AdoMet synthetase isozymes are developmentally regulated within hepatocytes. In addition, in rat kidney we have shown that the kidney-type AdoMet synthetase is predominantly localized to the distal tubule.
A slowly activating, delayed rectifier potassium current, IsK, was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes by injection of cRNA transcribed from a rat kidney cDNA clone. External acidification reversibly decreased the current amplitude. The effects were concentration dependent on protons with Kd at pH approximately 5.5 and a Hill coefficient of 1.0. External acidification reduced the maximal conductance (Gmax) without affecting the activation kinetics; this effect was not dependent on membrane voltages. These data suggest that H+ ions bind to the channel with a one-to-one stoichiometry, and this binding site may be located outside of the membrane electric field.
cDNA clones encoding the human kidney S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (kidney-type isozyme) were isolated. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA indicates that this enzyme contains 395 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 43,660 Da. The predicted amino acid sequence of this protein shares 84% similarity with that of human liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (liver-type isozyme). In addition, the developmental expression of these two isozyme mRNAs has been studied in the human liver using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients (151 women, 99 men, age 49.3 years) with symptomatic gallstones as diagnosed on ultrasonography underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy over a 12-month period. Preoperative intravenous cholangiography (IVC) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) were also performed in 203 and 200 patients, respectively. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully performed on 248 of the 250 patients (99.2%). Two patients required conversion to open cholecystectomy because of a pin hole injury to the portal vein in one case, and because of technical difficulties with the dissection due to severe adhesions in the other patient. Procedure time in the initial 100 cases decreased from an average of 216 minutes for the first ten cases to 87 minutes for the last 30 cases, including the time required for intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). Bile duct stones were found in 4 cases on IOC which were diagnosed by preoperative ultrasonography, IVC and ERC in 0, 2 and 3 cases respectively. An intraabdominal drain was inserted for two days in all cases. The mean hospital stay was 8.6 days (range 4 to 19 days) with no readmissions. No complications were seen at short-term follow-up one month after discharge. Although there was a significant learning period, the procedure was safe and effective and could be performed with minimal risk. The results show that physicians with experience in both endoscopy and laparoscopy are well qualified to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy after appropriate training.
Laparoscopic transcystic cholangioscopy (LTC) in combination with electrohydraulic lithotripsy may be an alternative treatment to ERCP and sphincterotomy in patients with both gallbladder and common bile duct stones undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Preliminary experience using LTC lithotripsy in 13 cases is reported. In 12 cases the stones were pushed out into the duodenum using the tip of the cholangioscope, in 8 of them stone disintegration via LTC lithotripsy also being required. In the remaining case the cholangioscope could not be inserted into the common bile duct via the cystic duct due to complete cystic duct obstruction. The average hospital stay was 9 days (range 6-16) in patients with LTC/lithotripsy, which did not differ significantly from 8.4 days (range, 4-19) (n = 330) in the group undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy alone. The patients usually resumed normal activity the day after discharge. LTC lithotripsy has the advantages over endoscopic sphincterotomy of a shorter treatment and preservation of a normal functioning sphincter of Oddi. Further technical improvements, especially the development of a cholangioscope for this purpose, are urgently required.
A 71-year-old man was noted to habitually snore loudly at night and have a predisposition to somnolence during the daytime. While dozing during the day, he developed cardiac arrest at the time when snoring stopped, and was resuscitated. By means of a respiration monitor, he was diagnosed as having sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) with a combination of obstructive, central, and mixed type. However, neither respiratory insufficiency nor cardiac insufficiency was observed, and there were no abnormal findings on laboratory tests and bronchoscopy. SAS complicated by cardiac arrest is usually seen in cases with concomitant symptoms such as excessive obesity, hypertension, arrhythmia, right heart insufficiency, secondary polycythemia, or mental disorder. The present case abruptly developed cardiac arrest in the absence of such symptoms. This case therefore suggests the importance of screening tests using a respiration monitor during sleep in subjects who have a loud snore or a predisposition to somnolence during the daytime. Although treatment with UPPP alone had no noticeable effect, UPPP treatment combined with sleeping in the lateral position was effective in the present case. The efficacy rate of UPPP has been reported to be 50 to 60%. The early establishment of a method for precise evaluation of the site of obstruction as well as criteria for appropriate application of UPPP are urgently required.
cDNA clone for human liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (liver-specific isoenzyme) was isolated from a cDNA library of human liver poly(A)+ RNA. The cDNA sequence encoded a polypeptide consisting of 395 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 43675 Da. Alignment of the predicted amino acid sequence of this protein with that of rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase showed a high degree of similarity. The coding region of the human liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase cDNA sequence was 89% identical at the nucleotide level and 95% identical at the amino acid level to the sequence for rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase.
In order to evaluate the relationship between referral and patient characteristics, 594 new patients utilizing Saga Medical School general clinic were studied using a questionnaire and chart review. Results obtained are as follows: 1) Fifty-eight patients (10%) came for follow-up of mass screening tests, 174 patients (29%) were self-referral, the remaining 362 patients (61%) were under previous care by other physicians. Only 64 patients (11%) had a referral letter. 2) Those patients who were not advised to visit our clinic by non-medical personnel, patients who were seriously ill, elderly patients, residents in distant area, and those with medical problems tended to have a referral letter. 3) Of the 64 patients having referral letters, 15 (23%) took the initiative in asking their previous doctor to write a referral letter. Patients who were highly educated had a greater tendency to request referral letters. 4) The reasons cited by the patients without a referral letter included "Did not think of the necessity" (22%), "Wanted to confirm diagnosis" (22%), "Did not want to make the doctor lose face" (16%), "No improvement in symptoms" (14%) These results indicate that education of patients and the general public, and establishing good physician-patient communication and trust are necessary for increasing the use of referral letter.
We previously reported the isolation of a cDNA encoding the liver-specific isozyme of rat S-adenosylmethionine synthetase from a lambda gt11 rat liver cDNA library. Using this cDNA as a probe, we have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones for the rat kidney S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (extrahepatic isoenzyme) from a lambda gt11 rat kidney cDNA library. The complete coding sequence of this enzyme mRNA was obtained from two overlapping cDNA clones. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNAs indicates that this enzyme contains 395 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 43,715 Da. The predicted amino acid sequence of this protein shares 85% similarity with that of rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. This result suggests that kidney and liver isoenzymes may have originated from a common ancestral gene. In addition, comparison of known S-adenosylmethionine synthetase sequences among different species also shows that these proteins have a high degree of similarity. The distribution of kidney- and liver-type S-adenosylmethionine synthetase mRNAs in kidney, liver, brain, and testis were examined by RNA blot hybridization analysis with probes specific for the respective mRNAs. A 3.4-kilobase (kb) mRNA species hybridizable with a probe for kidney S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was found in all tissues examined except for liver, while a 3.4-kb mRNA species hybridizable with a probe for liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was only present in the liver. The 3.4-kb kidney-type isozyme mRNA showed the same molecular size as the liver-type isozyme mRNA. Thus, kidney- and liver-type S-adenosylmethionine synthetase isozyme mRNAs were expressed in various tissues with different tissue specificities.
On the basis of the studies of autopsy cases and experimental animals, the pulmonary pathological findings of fat embolism syndrome (FES) have been reported to be (1) fat globules in the alveolar capillaries and the alveoli, (2) intra-alveolar hemorrhage, (3) alveolar edema and (4) foci of secondary infection. However, reports on lung biopsy in FES are rare, and no report has mentioned bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in FES. We experienced a case of FES, in which BAL was diagnostic. A 23 year-old man traffic accident victim was brought to our hospital by ambulance. His consciousness was clear and skeletal X-ray films revealed multiple fractures of the right femur, left tibia and left fibula. Direct traction of bilateral lower extremities was done. He remained stable subjectively, but anemia and thrombocytopenia progressed gradually in spite of blood transfusion. On the 4th hospital day severe hypoxemia, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and petechiae in bilateral axillary lesions appeared, and FES was strongly suspected. O2 inhalation by face mask and high dose methylprednisolone administration was started. The hypoxemia improved, but pulmonary infiltrates worsened. For differential diagnosis, bronchoscopy and BAL was done on the 7th hospital day. Bronchoscopy revealed much fresh blood in the left main, upper lobe and lower lobe bronchus but no bleeding point was found. BAL fluid was bloody. The Sudan III stain and Berlin blue stain revealed several fat globules and numerous hemosiderin-laden macrophages. The presence of intra-alveolar fat globules and intra-alveolar hemorrhage was proved and definite diagnosis of FES was established.
We have isolated cDNA clones encoding the rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase by means of immunological screening from a phage lambda gt 11 expression library containing cDNA synthesized from adult rat liver poly(A)-RNA. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA indicates that the rat liver enzyme for this protein contains 397 amino acid residues and has a molecular mass of 43697 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was 68% similar to those of yeast S-adenosylmethionine synthetases encoded by two unlinked genes SAM1 and SAM2. The rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase also shows 52% similarity with the deduced amino acid sequence of the MetK gene encoding the S-adenosylmethionine synthetase in Escherichia coli.
In spite of various problems involved in chemically cured resin (self-curing resin), e.g., irritability, and heat and shrinkage at polymerization, it has traditionally been the material of choice in the production of temporary restorations. However, light-cured resin, which does not have the disadvantages of chemically cured resin, has recently been developed and applied to clinical treatment. The present study was conducted to examine the clinical application of light-cured resin to temporary crowns. Two types of light-cured resin and one type of chemically cured resin were examined for their mechanical properties. The properties involved in handling and setting, and the methods of producing crowns were also studied. The results were as follows: 1) In the tensile strength test, there was no significant difference between the two types of light-cured resin, i.e., Triad and Unifast LC. The tensile strength of Unifast, a chemically cured resin, was slightly greater than the others, the difference being significant. 2) The Vickers hardness test showed no significant differences between the three types of resin. 3) The mechanical properties of Triad were not influenced by differences in the curing unit (the unit for general oral use or exclusive use) used for polymerization. 4) The test of setting properties revealed that Unifast LC needed longer than Unifast from the 2nd through the 4th clinical stage. In particular, Unifast LC required about 2.5 times the duration needed by Unifast at the 2nd stage in the tray method. 5) The heat generation test showed that the exothermic temperature in Unifast was significantly higher than in the two types of light-cured resin. 6) Heat generation associated with light curing was noted during the use of a light-curing unit for oral use.
In an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms that control the hepatic DNA replication, effect of low doses of actinomycin D on DNA synthesis and c-myc expression during the early stage of liver regeneration was investigated. Small amounts of actinomycin D, in amounts that had no effect on the rate of RNA synthesis in normal rats, were multiple injected at 0, 2 and 4 hours after partial hepatectomy. DNA synthesis and c-myc expression in these rats were compared with those in untreated rats. Hepatic DNA synthesis in the treated rats was delayed about 4 to 6 hours in comparison with control rats. In contrast, time course of c-myc expression in inhibitor treated rats was very similar to that in control rats.