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Biomedical subjects

S Kitagawa

Publications and source records attributed to S Kitagawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Miniaturization of capillary electrochromatography using an ultrashort capillary column.

The instrumentation for miniaturization of capillary electrochromatography was devised and an injection method for this apparatus was proposed. By using an ultra short capillary column (15 mm packed length, 36 mm total length, 75 microm inner diameter, packed with cation exchange supports), the separation of five biochemical compounds was performed within 1 min. The high separation efficiency of 9780 plates was achieved by using an ultrashort capillary column. The miniaturized instrumentation for capillary electrochromatography might be utilized as one of the possible methods in microfabricated analysis or in an alternative approach to it.

Biochemistry↗
PubMed2000

Delayed infection of a lymphocele following mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction: report of a case.

We report herein a rare case of delayed infection of a lymphocele following mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. A 38-year-old woman presented to our hospital 7 months after undergoing a left-modified radical mastectomy with an immediate breast reconstruction, following the sudden development of a giant mass in the left thoracoabdominal region as well as a high fever and shivering. Ultrasonography and a computed tomographic scan revealed massive fluid retention extending from the left axilla to the lower abdominal region. Puncture drainage was performed three times and the injection of an antibiotic directly into the cyst resulted in resolution of the fluid. This massive retraction of fluid was considered to have resulted from a delayed infection of an axillary lymphocele.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Acute glomerulonephritis after human parvovirus B19 infection.

We evaluated clinical and histological characteristics of four adult patients who presented with acute glomerulonephritic syndrome with serological confirmation of recent HPB19 infection. All patients had generalized edema with urinary abnormalities. Body weight gain ranged from 3 to 10 kg. Three of the patients had contact with erythema infectiosum simultaneously with or within 10 days before development of flu-like symptoms. Two patients had an erythematous rash, and one patient had lower-extremity purpura. Joint pain was present in three of the patients. All patients had proteinuria and hematuria. Renal functions were normal except in one patient who had a serum creatinine of 3.2 mg/dL. Three of the patients had hypocomplementemia. All renal biopsy specimens were characterized by glomerular leukocyte infiltration and endothelial cell swelling. Mesangiolysis was seen in three of the patients. C3 was deposited in a coarse granular pattern along the capillary walls in all cases. Electron microscopic examination showed marked expansion of the subendothelial space of glomerular capillaries in all patients. Subendothelial electron-dense deposits were present in all patients. Immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal anti-HPB19 antibody showed that one of the four patients had positive staining in the glomeruli. DNA extracted from renal biopsy specimens contained HPB19 DNA, as shown by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis in all patients. PCR amplification of the renal DNA generated a 104-bp product, which hybridized to an HPB19-specific probe. No control group subjects contained HPB19 DNA as determined by PCR. This circumstantial evidence indicates that HPB19 infection may be one of the causes of acute glomerulonephritis in normal individuals.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Reduced expression of CD44 variant 9 is related to lymph node metastasis and poor survival in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.

Expression of CD44v9 was immunohistochemically studied in 120 biopsy specimens from primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue and correlated with clinicopathological findings of the SCCs. The tumors were classified into three groups according to immunostaining pattern of CD44v9; 53 cases with distinct positivity in all cancer cells except for those in the central part of nests (Group 1, non-reduced group), 42 cases with reduced expression in peripheral cells of nests (Group 2, reduced group), and 25 cases with complete disappearance of the expression in one or more nests (Group 3, negative group). Nineteen of 25 (76%) tumors in Group 3 and 14 of 42 (33%) in Group 2 exhibited lymph node metastasis, compared with only 8 of 53 (15%) in Group 1. The average survival time in Groups 1, 2 and 3 was 4496+/-204, 3866+/-379 and 2719+/-359 days, respectively and became shorter with the reduction of CD44v9 expression. These results suggest that the down-regulation of CD44v9 in SCC of the tongue may relate to the detachment of tumor cells from primary lesions, establishment of lymph node metastasis and consequently the death of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Ex vivo expansion of mature human neutrophils with normal functions from purified peripheral blood CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells.

Purified CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells were cultivated with stem cell factor, interleukin 3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) for 7 d, and thereafter non-adherent cells were divided into two groups. Cells in one group (group A) were further cultivated for 7 d with four cytokines, and cells in the other group (group B) were further cultivated for 7 d with G-CSF alone. On day 14, 220-fold and 130-fold increases in the numbers of non-adherent cells were achieved for groups A and B respectively. These cell preparations contained 65% granulocytes for group A and 95% granulocytes for group B. These cells gained the ability to respond effectively with chemotaxis, phagocytosis and superoxide (O2-) release. Cells in group B were appropriately primed by G-CSF, GM-CSF, tumour necrosis factor alpha and IL-1beta for enhanced release of O2 -. The responsiveness of these cells was identical to that of peripheral blood neutrophils, indicating that cells in group B may be in the resting state. In contrast, cells in group A were not primed by these cytokines for enhanced release of O2- and released a large amount of O2- spontaneously, indicating that cells in group A may be in the activated state. These findings indicate that mature neutrophils with normal functions were expanded ex vivo in group B and suggest that these cells could be used for possible autologous neutrophil transfusion to prevent bacterial infections during severe neutropenia after cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed2000

Decreased anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody titer by mesalazine in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Saccharomyces cerevisiae may contribute to the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease. We determined serum anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) ASCA was measured by using an ELISA in serum samples from 19 patients with ulcerative colitis, 18 patients with Crohn's disease and 7 healthy controls. The ASCA level was significantly higher in patients with ulcerative colitis and patients with Crohn's disease than in controls, and was significantly higher in patients with Crohn's disease compared with patients with ulcerative colitis. Age, gender, disease activity, extent of disease and small bowel involvement each did not affect ASCA levels. The use of elemental or polymeric diet therapy for Crohn's disease and administration of corticosteroids to patients with inflammatory bowel disease also did not affect ASCA levels. The ASCA titer was significantly lower in patients with Crohn's disease taking mesalazine than in those not taking it, although, serum IgG levels did not differ between these two groups, which might imply a suppression of IgG production by mesalazine at the intestinal level. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of increased serum ASCA titers in patients with inflammatory bowel disease suggests that Saccharomyces cerevisiae may play a role in the pathophysiology of this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of drug concentrations in tears in therapeutic drug monitoring: I. Determination of valproic acid in tears by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with EC/NCI mode.

A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of valproic acid in tears has been developed using gas chromatography/electron capture negative chemical ionization/mass spectrometry. Valproic acid was converted directly into its pentafluorobenzyl ester derivative without the need to perform any extraction from the biologic fluid. The concentrations in tears [C]t correlated very well with those of the free form in the plasma [Cf]p and those of the total form in the plasma [Cb+f]p. The ratios between valproic acid concentrations in tears and plasma were as follows: [C]t/[Cb+f]p = 0.10 +/- 0.02; [C]t/[Cf]p = 0.57 +/- 0.11. Ratios of [C]t/[Cb+f]p were in good agreement with previously published data.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2000

Effects of n-alkyltrimethylammonium on skin permeation of benzoic acid through excised guinea pig dorsal skin.

Effects of cetyltrimethylammonium and two other n-alkyltrimethylammoniums on the permeation of benzoic acid through excised guinea pig dorsal skin were examined. Cetyltrimethylammonium markedly increased both the flux and permeability coefficient in the concentration range of 0.5 and 5 mm. However, 50mM cetyltrimethylammonium decreased them. The presence of 2 mm cetyltrimethylammonium, which induced a maximal enhancement effect, also increased the fluxes of 4-methyl, 4-ethyl and 4-n-propyl substituents of benzoic acid, but the enhancement effects were less. Analysis of the free energy of transfer of the methylene group of the substituents from the aqueous phase to skin suggested that cetyltrimethylammonium made the skin relatively more hydrophilic. Electron spin resonance spectra analysis by a long-chain quaternary alkylammonium analog, 4-(N,N-dimethyl-N-pentadecyl)ammonium-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-ox yl iodide (CAT-15), showed that the spin label was present in a nearly solid state in both excised skin and its stratum corneum. This finding suggested the high affinity of the long-chain alkylammoniums to proteins in the stratum corneum and the involvement of the interaction between the cationic surfactants and the proteins in their improvement of the hydrophilic property of the skin, as well as their marked enhancement effects on the skin permeation of relatively hydrophilic drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Qualitative study of municipalities' maternal and child health promotion planning].

From 1997, basic maternal and child health services have been provided through municipalities. The ministry of Health and Welfare has requested all municipalities to publish a MCH promotion plan. We conducted a qualitative analysis of important contents of the plans using an evaluation index of original dichotomous variables. Out of 3,256 municipalities, 2,873 developed the plans for MCH promotion. Most of the plans present descriptions of the significance of MCH promotion planning, goals of the plans, problems of current MCH statistics and services, and plans of providing services. The proportion was low for plans which have needs assessment of target population, indicators of evaluation of plans, description of the relationship between objectives and services, importance of objectives, action plans, specific chapter or evaluation of the plan, monitoring of the plan, and plans for informing public of the MCH plan. Therefore, the MCH promotion plans have weaknesses in evaluation and action. The MCH promotion plans of middle sized cities were more likely to have these important contents. We will continue to analyze the processes for producing of excellent MCH promotion plans to extract universal promoting factors for producing MCH promotion plans.

Child Health Services↗
PubMed2000

Noninvasive approach for study of human reaction and transferring velocity of nervous system by using a new instrumentation devised for concurrent microscopic observation and analysis of sweat secretion on human body under 1G and microgravity.

Human sweating is generally caused by thermal and mental stimuli. The former role is well known as a response for thermo regulation. The insensible perspiration may be generally controlled by the autonomic nervous system, and the responses due to mental and/or emotional stress by the sympathetic nervous system. As human sweating is directly concerned with some nervous systems, sweating may be a good indicator for the body reactions of feeling, surprise, emotional stress and etc. The measuring of sweat secretion and microscopic observation of active sweat glands can be presented the direct information of working of sympathetic nervous system and sudomotor. In the present report, we devised an instrumentation for the estimation of time lag of sweating [correction of seating] after physical stimuli. Variation of gravity during parabolic flights is a kind of physical stimulus. Iwase et al reported the changes of sympathetic outflow to muscle in humans during short periods of microgravity. We studied also the variation of number of active sweat glands under this condition for the evaluation of human sympathetic nervous system.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Characterization of the 4C8 antigen involved in transendothelial migration of CD26(hi) T cells after tight adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers.

In extravasation of T cells, little is known about the mechanisms of transendothelial migration subsequent to the T cells' tight adhesion to endothelium. To investigate these mechanisms, we developed a monoclonal antibody (mAb), termed anti-4C8, that blocks transmigration but not adhesion in a culture system in which high CD26-expressing (CD26(hi)) T cells preferentially migrate through human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers cultured on collagen gels. Anti-4C8 reacted with all CD3(+) T cells and monocytes but not neutrophils or HUVECs. The structure defined by this antibody was an 80-kD molecule. The mAb at 1 mug/ml inhibited 80-90% of migration of CD3(+) T cells through unstimulated and interferon gamma-stimulated HUVEC monolayers without interfering with adhesion and cell motility. When added to the cultures after the adhesion, anti-4C8 completely blocked subsequent transmigration of adherent T cells. Phase-contrast and electron microscopy revealed that T cells are arrested at the intercellular junctions of HUVECs in the presence of anti-4C8. Anti-4C8 exhibited agonistic effects on resting T cells without other stimuli under culture conditions in which anti-4C8 can stimulate T cells. First, in the checkerboard assay using collagen gels, the antibody promoted chemokinetic migration of the cells in a dose-dependent manner from 0.1 to 10 mug/ml. The predominant population of T cells that migrated into collagen gels with impregnated anti-4C8 were CD26(hi). Second, solid-phase-immobilized anti-4C8 induced adhesion of T cells to the substrate, often with polarizations in cell shape and large pseudopods rich in filamentous (F-) actin. Third, soluble anti-4C8 augmented F-actin content preferentially in CD26(hi) T cells when added to T cells at a high dose of 10 mug/ml. Finally, both anti-4C8-induced chemokinetic migration and transendothelial migration were inhibited by pretreatment of T cells with pertussis toxin. These findings suggest that stimulation via the 4C8 antigen increases cell motility of CD26(hi) cells with profound cytoskeletal changes through signaling pathways including G proteins. The 4C8 antigen may be involved in preferential transmigration of CD26(hi) cells adherent to HUVECs.

Actins↗
PubMed1999

Cytokine-specific activation of distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase subtype cascades in human neutrophils stimulated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

To clarify the differences of the signaling pathways used by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF), we investigated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subtype cascades in human neutrophils stimulated by these cytokines. G-CSF exclusively tyrosine-phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). GM-CSF tyrosine-phosphorylated ERK strongly and p38 MAPK weakly, whereas TNF tyrosine-phosphorylated p38 MAPK strongly and ERK weakly. Consistent with these findings, MEK, an upstream kinase of ERK, was phosphorylated by G-CSF, GM-CSF, and TNF, whereas MKK3/MKK6, an upstream kinase of p38 MAPK, was phosphorylated by GM-CSF and TNF, but not by G-CSF. The potency of these cytokines to phosphorylate ERK and MEK was GM-CSF > G-CSF > TNF, whereas that to phosphorylate p38 MAPK and MKK3/MKK6 was TNF > GM-CSF. C-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) was not tyrosine-phosphorylated by any cytokine despite the existence of JNK proteins in human neutrophils, whereas it was tyrosine-phosphorylated by TNF in undifferentiated and all-trans retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells. Increased phosphorylation of ERK or p38 MAPK was detected within 1 to 5 minutes after stimulation with each cytokine and was dependent on the concentrations of cytokines used. MEK inhibitor (PD98059) reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK, but not p38 MAPK, induced by G-CSF, GM-CSF, or TNF. GM-CSF- or TNF-induced superoxide (O2-) release was inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the possible involvement of p38 MAPK in GM-CSF- or TNF-induced O2- release. The results indicate that G-CSF, GM-CSF, and TNF activate the overlapping but distinct MAPK subtype cascades in human neutrophils and suggest that the differential activation of ERK and p38 MAPK cascades may explain the differences of the effects of these cytokines on human neutrophil functions.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1999

Voltage-induced variation of distribution coefficient in electrochromatography.

Upon application of an electric field along a column packed with anion exchange support materials, the output of a recorder jumps beyond the baseline, and with continued application a peak is obtained. If, instead, the electric field is applied in a pulsed manner, two peaks result. These observations are explained as caused by a change in the concentration of the solvent. Applying positive and negative voltages produces positive and negative peaks, respectively. The peak height depends on the value of applied voltage. Simulations using the plate height theory agree well with chromatograms obtained experimentally. The value of the local applied voltage is also estimated. Overall, the behavior is something like an injection arising from the pulsed application of an electric field. We suggest that voltage pulsing might be used as a new technique for sample injection.

Chromatography, Liquid↗
PubMed1999

Study of the relationship between electrophoretic mobility of the diabetic red blood cell and hemoglobin A1c by using a mini-cell electrophoresis apparatus.

A mini-cell electrophoresis system using capillary tubing (50 microm inner diameter, length ca. 10 mm and volume ca. 20 nL) was applied to measure the electrophoretic mobility of red blood cells of 89 patients with diabetes on single cell level. A significant negative correlation was observed between hemoglobin A1c and the average electrophoretic mobility, with a correlation coefficient of 0.793. By statistically processing the electrophoretic mobility of each single red blood cell, it became clear that the reduction of the average value of electrophoretic mobility was caused by the reduction of the relative frequency of the red blood cell with high mobility. The cause of the average reduction was not the shift of electrophoretic mobility of all red blood cells to the lower mobility.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1999

Lymphoepithelioma-like esophageal carcinoma: report of a case.

We herein report the rare case of a patient suffering from lymphoepithelioma-like poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The patient was a 74-year-old woman in whom an esophageal tumor was found during an operation for thyroid cancer. After performing a subtotal thyroidectomy and cervical esophagectomy, esophageal reconstruction was performed using a free jejunal graft. Based on the results of the pathological examination, the esophageal tumor was diagnosed to be primary lymphoepithelioma-like esophageal cancer, not metastasis of either unknown nasopharyngeal cancer or thyroid cancer. Since surgery, she has survived postoperatively for more than 4 years with no evidence of recurrent disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region: A review.

Vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region has been the subject of numerous studies. However, several essential areas of confusion remain in interpretation of the vascular configuration. We note and discuss three key points in relation to this confusion: (1) a missing vascular arcade, (2) a rearrangement of the arcade by collateral and/or transverse vessels, and (3) a solitary vessel without an accompanying comites vein or artery. In addition, we consider that different interpretations as well as varying reported incidences depend on different "thresholds" when observations are made. Consideration of new aspects of vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region is required for further improvement of surgical procedures. In terms of the selection of lymph node resection procedure, we discuss mainly the inferior arterial origin. Special attention should be paid to the ligation of inferior arteries because of the high incidence of the common trunk formation of the upper jejunal and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. With regard to duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for benign tumors, our observations are introduced in view of either arterial or venous configuration. First, a communicating artery between the anterior and posterior arterial arcades is noted because of its possible critical role in blood supply to the papilla of Vater. Second, a venous drainage route from the duodenum to the retroperitoneal space in "normal" specimens is described.

Dissection↗
PubMed1999

Signal transduction pathways in normal human monocytes stimulated by cytokines and mediators: comparative study with normal human neutrophils or transformed cells and the putative roles in functionality and cell biology.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL) -3 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 92-kDa protein in normal human monocytes. We identified this 92-kDa protein as STAT5, but not as STATs1, 3, and 6 nor c-fes and vav protooncogene products, and demonstrated its translocation to the nucleus, enhancement of specific DNA binding capacity, and potentiation of trancriptional activity by GM-CSF. N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 42- and 44-kDa proteins, which were identified as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), in human monocytes. In marked contrast to neutrophils and MO7e cells, GM-CSF did not induce tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of ERK in monocytes. Among upstream signaling molecules of ERK, Shc was constitutively associated with Grb2 and was not tyrosine-phosphorylated by GM-CSF and FMLP, and Sos1 and c-Raf-1 were not phosphorylated by GM-CSF, IL-3, TNF, and FMLP in monocytes, whereas all these signaling molecules were affected and/or utilized by GM-CSF in MO7e cells. In contrast to neutrophils, p38 was constitutively phosphorylated and agonist-dependent phosphorylation and activation was not detected in human monocytes. Superoxide release stimulated by FMLP was inhibited partially by PD98059 or SB203580, a specific inhibitor of ERK or p38 pathway, and was almost completely inhibited by the combination of both inhibitors, whereas PMA-induced superoxide release was resistant to these two inhibitors in monocytes. PD98059 inhibited GM-CSF-dependent proliferation of MO7e cells. Present results indicate trancriptional roles of STAT5 and functional roles of ERK and/or p38 in normal human monocytes stimulated by physiological receptor-mediated agonists GM-CSF and FMLP. Possible roles of ERK in proliferation of transformed cells were also suggested.

Adult↗