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Biomedical subjects

S Kimura

Publications and source records attributed to S Kimura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Induction of apoptosis in an estrogen-responsive mouse Leydig tumor cell by leukotriene.

For estrogen-responsive B-1F cells, established from estrogen-responsive mouse Leydig cell tumor, it has been reported that the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) metabolic pathway appears to be associated with cell growth. The addition of 5-LOX inhibitor 2-(12-hydroxydodeca-5,10-diyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (AA861) to the medium resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell yield as described previously. When the growth of the palpable tumors was measured, AA861 had stimulated in vivo tumor growth in adult male mouse inoculated B-1F cells. The effects of AA861 and 17beta-estradiol (E2) on the contents of various arachidonic acid metabolites in B-1F cells and their conditioned medium were examined. Although AA861 and E2 decreased the contents of leukotrienes (LTs), the two did not significantly change those of prostaglandins, thromboxan, prostacyclin, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and 15-HETE. In immunohistochemical study B-1F cells show positive staining for 5-LOX in the E2-depleted condition, while E2 decreased the expression of 5-LOX. The decrease of the intensities of 79-kDa 5-LOX protein and 403-bp RT-PCR product bands was observed. The growth of Morpholino-anti oligo delivered B-1F cells was higher than that of Standard control oligo delivered cells. The delivery of Morpholino-anti oligo into B-1F cells caused the decrease of contents of LTs and 5-HETE in the cells and medium, and the reduction of 5-LOX activity. When LTD4 was added in the culture medium, the increasing concentrations of LTD4 resulted in a significant inhibition of cell yields of E2-treated B-1F cells. Morphological changes such as nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and DNA ladder pattern were demonstrated in E2-stimulated B-1F cells treated with LTD4 as well as in control cells cultured in the basal medium. These results implicate that 5-LOX at least plays an important role in the growth of B-1F cells and LD4 induces the apoptosis of B-1F cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A third-generation bisphosphonate, minodronic acid (YM529), successfully prevented the growth of bladder cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Minodronic acid (YM529) is a third-generation bisphosphonate (BP) that has been shown to directly and indirectly prevent proliferation, induce apoptosis, and inhibit metastasis of various types of cancer cells. In this study, we have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of YM529 against bladder cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. YM529 inhibited geranylgeranylation as well as farnesylation and reduced the growth of all seven bladder cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro. YM529 demonstrated a good synergistic or additive antiproliferative effect when administered in combination with cisplatin or paclitaxel. Immunohistochemical study revealed YM529 inhibited the prenylation of Rap1A in vivo. YM529 administered systemically did not markedly inhibit the growth of visceral metastases but it showed a significant anticancer effect on bone metastases monitored by an in vivo imaging system. Moreover, intravesical YM529 demonstrated significant growth inhibition in a bladder cancer orthotopic model. No adverse effects were associated with the systemic as well as the intravesical treatment regimens. In conclusion, our study suggests that YM529 may be a potent anticancer agent for bladder cancer. The efficacy and safety of this BP as an agent for combination chemotherapies against bladder cancer should be verified by early-phase clinical trials.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Immobility reduces muscle fiber necrosis in dystrophin deficient muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle disease, which is caused by the abnormality of dystrophin. Spina bifida is characterized by paralysis of the feet, with most of the upper extremities not being affected. We report here on the first case of Becker muscular dystrophy coinciding with spina bifida. The muscle biopsy specimens of the patient showed dystrophic changes in upper extremities, but clearly less in lower extremities. The results show that the restriction of excessive exercise is important for dystrophin deficiency disease.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2006

Optical pseudogap from iron states in filled skutterudites AFe4Sb12 (A=Yb, Ca, Ba).

Optical investigations are presented of the filled skutterudites AFe4Sb12 with divalent cations A=Yb, Ca, Ba. For each of these compounds a very similar pseudogap structure in the optical conductivity develops in the far-infrared spectral region at temperatures below 90 K. Highly accurate local-density approximation electronic band structure calculations can consistently explain the origin of the pseudogap structure generated largely by transition metal 3d states. In particular, a 4f-conduction electron hybridization or strong correlations can be ruled out as origin for the pseudogap.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Endoscopic in vivo evaluation of tissue atypia in the esophagus using a newly designed integrated endocytoscope: a pilot trial.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: A newly designed magnifying endoscope featuring an endocytoscopy function provided by ultrahigh magnification was evaluated in a pilot study in patients with various types of benign and malignant pathology in the esophagus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients were included in the study from 15 March to 21 December 2005. Twenty-nine patients with specific esophageal lesions that had been detected by regular or narrow-band imaging, or both, were further evaluated using endocytoscopy, followed by tissue biopsy or resection. During the endocytoscopic examinations, the esophageal mucosa was stained with 0.5 % methylene blue. The endocytoscopic findings were graded from 1 to 5 in an endocytoscopic atypia (ECA) classification. The final histopathological diagnoses based on biopsies or resected specimens were as follows: category 1 in the Vienna classification, n = 4; category 2, n = 6; category 3, n = 1; category 4, n = 10; and category 5, n = 7. The endocytoscopic diagnoses were compared with the histopathological diagnoses. RESULTS: Clear endocytoscopic images were obtained in all cases. In definitely malignant lesions, the cell nuclei had an enlarged and irregularly arranged appearance (grade ECA 5). The positive predictive value for malignancy (grades ECA 4 and 5) was 94 %; the false-negative rate was 16.7 %, and the false-positive rate was 6.3 %. The overall accuracy of endocytoscopy for differentiating between nonmalignant tissue (categories 1 - 3 in the Vienna classification) and malignant tissue (categories 4 and 5) was 82 %. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that incorporating endocytoscopy facilities into a standard endoscope may be helpful in characterizing tissue in a variety of esophageal lesions. The potential clinical impact of this method in relation to other gastrointestinal organs requires further study.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2006

Propofol EDTA and reduced incidence of infection.

Propofol formulated in a lipid vehicle supports the growth of microorganisms. There have been worldwide reports of extrinsic microbial contamination of propofol leading to outbreaks of serious postoperative nosocomial infections. Therefore it is essential that medical professionals follow strict aseptic precautions when handling propofol, as recommended by manufacturers of propofol and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non-adherence to these recommendations increases the risk of nosocomial postoperative infections, which impose a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality and have serious economic consequences. It has also been recommended that the use of EDTA-containing formulations of propofol be considered. In vitro studies have confirmed that EDTA added to propofol retards microbial growth. Data on the incidence of nosocomial infections before and after the introduction of propofol with EDTA indicates that there have been no further cluster outbreaks and individual nosocomial infections appear to have been reduced. The addition of EDTA is an additional safety precaution to good aseptic practice.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗
PubMed2005

Testicular dynamics in Syrian hamsters exposed to both short photoperiod and low ambient temperature.

The object of this study was to determine the details of morphological dynamics of spermatogenesis in Syrian hamsters exposed to both short photoperiod and low ambient temperature. Eight-week-old male hamsters, kept in a long photoperiod (14 h L, 10 h D), were transferred to a short photoperiod (6 h L, 18 h D) and kept there for 13 weeks to induce testicular regression. Some hamsters were then transferred from the room at 23 degrees C to that at 5 degrees C (5 degrees C group). Remaining hamsters were continuously kept at 23 degrees C (23 degrees C group). Thereafter, the morphology was examined. As a result, it took only 8 weeks until spermatogenesis recovered in the 23 degrees C group. However, it was not until 20 weeks that spermatogenesis was recognized in the 5 degrees C group. As the regulation of seasonal testicular activity is characterized by coordinated shifts in the relationships among mitosis, meiosis, and apoptosis, the changes in the proliferative and apoptotic activities were examined. Although no significant difference in proliferative activity of spermatogonia between the 5 degrees C and the 23 degrees C groups was confirmed, a notable increase in the rate of apoptosis was observed in the 5 degrees C group. Furthermore, this increase was more salient during the hibernation period. These findings suggest that both cold ambient temperature and hibernation caused the delay of testicular recrudescence and this delay arose from the increase of apoptotic activity but not the change in proliferative activity in spermatogonia in the 5 degrees C group.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Streptococcus anginosus infection in oral cancer and its infection route.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate a possible involvement of Streptococcus anginosus in oral cancer, we assessed the frequency of S. anginosus infection in oral cancer tissues, and investigated its infection route. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The tissue specimens were obtained from 46 oral cancer and three precancerous leukoplakia subjects. Frequency of S. anginosus infection was assessed by a species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The genotype of the clinical isolates taken from cancer tissue and dental plaque samples was analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: S. anginosus DNA was frequently detected in squamous cell carcinoma (19/42), but not in other types of cancer (lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma) or leukoplakia samples. A subject-based analysis revealed that S. anginosus was solely detected in dental plaque and not in saliva from all 19 S. anginosus-positive squamous cell carcinoma cases. Further, the genotype of S. anginosus isolated from cancer tissue was identical to that from dental plaque of the same patients. CONCLUSION: Infection of S. anginosus could occur frequently in oral squamous cell carcinoma and that dental plaque could be a dominant reservoir of the S. anginosus.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

The evaluation of autonomic nervous function in a patient with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV with novel mutations of the TRKA gene.

We report on a 10-year-old girl with anhidrosis and insensibility to pain, but no severe mental retardation or self-mutilation, diagnosed as hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV). Genetic analysis of her TRKA gene, which is responsible for HSAN IV, revealed two novel missense mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain. Cardiovascular autonomic nervous system function tests showed normal muscle sympathetic nerve activity associated with arterial baroreflex, reduced skin sympathetic nerve activity in the second and fifth fingers and palms, and abnormal circadian rhythm of cardiovascular autonomic nervous system. These findings have never before been reported in HSAN IV and may provide a clue to the neurological pathophysiology of this disease.

Autonomic Nervous System↗
PubMed2004

PCR-based identification of Staphylococcus epidermidis targeting gseA encoding the glutamic-acid-specific protease.

The frequency of the gseA gene encoding a glutamic acid-specific serine protease, GluSE, of Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated. DNA hybridization analysis demonstrated that gseA existed exclusively in S. epidermidis but not in other bacteria examined. A single step PCR assay with a set of designed primers yielded amplification of gseA from all 69 clinical isolates of S. epidermidis taken from patients and healthy adults, whereas production of GluSE was observed in 74% (51/69) of the isolates. Furthermore, none of the 46 clinical isolates of other species of coagulase-negative staphylococci and 45 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus showed amplification, except a Staphylococcus capitis strain. However, this strain was positive for a S. epidermidis-specific DNA region and the DNA sequence of the 16S rRNA gene showed 99% identity with that of S. epidermidis. Therefore, these results indicated that the present PCR assay for gseA was ubiquitous and highly specific for detection of S. epidermidis.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2003

Interface motion and nucleation of solid helium-4 induced by acoustic waves.

Crystallization and melting of helium-4 was experimentally observed to be induced by acoustic radiation pressure where the liquid-solid interface is highly mobile at low temperatures. We discuss the observed anomalous reversal of this effect as a function of temperature and the nucleation by acoustic wave pulses of crystals in the liquid phase or liquid bubbles in the solid phase. A high-speed camera was used for the in situ observation of large interface velocities as high as 1 m/sec.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Intracranial plasma cell granuloma with genetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Plasma cell granuloma of the central nervous system is rare and less than 30 cases have been reported in literature. METHOD/FINDINGS: A 64-year-old woman complained of headache, and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain revealed a tumour at the right anterior-third parasagittal region which led us to diagnose a parasagittal meningioma. We performed total resection of the tumour and the pathological diagnosis was plasma cell granuloma. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangements produced no monoclonal band. This patient underwent no supplementary treatment and no recurrent tumour was observed for 3 years. INTERPRETATION: A case of plasma cell granuloma which is diagnosed with genetic analysis is presented. An analysis of the clonality using the PCR procedure would play an important role in supporting the pathological and clinical diagnosis.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed2003

Variable manifestation in natural killer cell leukaemia.

Natural killer (NK) cell leukaemias are a relatively rare group of haematological disorders, now entitled in the T/NK lymphoproliferative disorders in the new WHO classification. Recent studies have clarified their biological and clinical manifestation gradually. However, some cases with NK malignancies still remain difficult to diagnose and differentiate into their subtypes in the absence of a distinct diagnostic hallmark, especially at initial presentation. We describe herein five patients with NK leukaemias with respect to the clinical, cytological, immunological and cytogenetic characteristics, varied among each case. Cytologically, two aggressive NK cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ANKL/L) cases were a morphologically hypogranular variant form. Clinically, one with ANKL/L was presented as haemophagocytic syndrome without leukaemic infiltration. Systemic chemotherapy resulted in complete remission in one ANKL/L and two blastic NK cell leukaemia/lymphoma (BNKL/L) patients; however, a good long-term outcome was achieved in only one CD4-positive BNKL/L patient with allogenic bone marrow transplantation. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that recurrent chromosomal aberration was rare; however, two had aberrations at 10p11 and 11q13. From these findings, we conclude that comprehensive individual studies should be carried out in these patients to obtain a correct diagnosis and to design an optimal therapeutic approach.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The PPL filtration treatment for highway runoff.

The purpose of this research is to design a device which can treat highway runoff, especially runoff during initial rainfall with high pollution intensity, by connecting it with the draining grid sink of a drainage ditch on a highway, through which runoff flows. Porous polypropylene (PPL) particles were used as a treatment agent. The device treated highway runoff during initial rainfall by filtration and adsorption. It had a capacity to treat highway runoff in an area of 7.0 m x 20.0 m when rainfall intensity was up to 10 mm/hr. Two cases of rainfall intensity were set for the experiment: 5 and 10 mm/hr. The relationships between the efficiency of SS and COD removals and the rainfall intensity were investigated. Using artificial highway runoff with constant flow and SS concentration, results of 70% or more of SS removal with 5 mm/hr and 50% or more with 10 mm/hr were obtained. COD removal efficiency was about 90% of SS removal efficiency. This device was effective to remove non-point source pollutants in runoff on highways.

Filtration↗