Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to S Kubo.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[An autopsy case of Sjögren syndrome with organized and fresh subdural hemorrhage (hematoma)].

An autopsy case of Sjögren syndrome with organized and fresh subdural hemorrhages (hematoma) is reported. A 49-year-old woman who had been suffering from Sjögren syndrome had gradually lost her consciousness and was taken to the hospital where she died several hours later. Subsequently a doctor found the subdural hematoma of unknown origin on her Brain CT. At autopsy, her skin was dry and all of her teeth were missing. There were sporadic cutaneous purpura and subcutaneous hemorrhages in her trunk and limbs. The histopathological examination revealed that the submandibular gland had no normal acini, and was replaced by fibrous and adipose tissues with numerous lymphocytes. There were signs of fibrosis with inflammation in her liver, kidneys and lungs. The thyroid gland showed thyroiditis. Serological findings showed a significant high level of antinuclear antibody, positive RA factor and high gamma-globulinemia. The autopsy revealed that her cause of death was acute subdural hematoma and uncal herniation. There were no external injuries on her head or face. It is suggested that her acute subdural hematoma according to the hemorrhagic tendency, affected by her Sjögren syndrome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

[Two-stage hepatectomy with preoperative portal vein embolization in rats].

We studied the functional reserve and ability to regenerate of non-embolized liver made hypertrophic by portal vein embolization (PVE) to evaluate the usefulness of two-stage hepatectomy with preoperative PVE. Rats underwent one of four treatments: 1, 70% hepatectomy; 2, 70% hepatectomy 7 days after PVE; 3, 30% hepatectomy; and 4, sham operation. Liver weight, the bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (LI), and the mitotic index (MI) were calculated after surgery. The lipid peroxide level of the liver, serum hepatic enzyme activities, total bilirubin concentration, prothrombin time, and antithrombin-3 activity were also assayed after surgery in each group. Non-embolized lobes made hypertrophic by PVE regenerated further after resection of the embolized portion of the liver. The increases in liver weight, LI, and MI in group 2 were significantly lower than in group 1, but tended to be higher than in group 3. In group 2, lipid peroxidation in the liver and postoperative disorders of liver function and the coagulation system were significantly less than in group 1, and were similar to those in group 3. Preoperative PVE increases not only the weight but also the function of the residual liver, which makes extended hepatectomy safer.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Stimulation of phagocytic activity of murine Kupffer cells by tuftsin.

Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) is a natural immunomodulating peptide. We have investigated for the presence of a specific tuftsin receptor on murine Kupffer cells using fluorescein-labeled tuftsin, which retains full biological activity. After incubation with fluorescein-labeled tuftsin, Kupffer cells displayed clear binding of this compound on the plasma membrane. Excess tuftsin inhibited this binding, indicating the presence of specific tuftsin receptors on the Kupffer cells. We then investigated the effect of tuftsin on the phagocytic activity of these cells. Phagocytosis assays were performed on 24-well plates between murine Kupffer cells and fluorescent microspheres. The greatest stimulatory effect of tuftsin on percent phagocytic cells over the control value was observed when the cells were incubated with particles at 1 microgram/ml tuftsin for 15 min at 37 degrees C with a particle-to-Kupffer cell ratio of 50:1. Tuftsin also markedly increased the number of particles engulfed by Kupffer cells under the same conditions. These results indicate that Kupffer cells have specific tuftsin receptors; thus tuftsin can stimulate phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells, which constitute the majority of macrophages in the host and are situated strategically in the liver for host defense.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

The gene encoding mouse lymphocyte antigen Ly-49: structural analysis and the 5'-flanking sequence.

Genomic clones encoding the mouse cell-surface antigen, Ly-49, were isolated, and the gene organization was analyzed. The gene spanned approximately 19 kb, and contained seven exons and six introns. The lengths of introns ranged from 1.3 to 8 kb. A 1067-bp sequence in the 5'-flanking region was determined. Primer extension analysis and S1 nuclease mapping revealed a cap site at 158 bp upstream from the ATG coding the N-terminal Met of Ly-49. The 5'-flanking sequence contained a possible promoter sequence, a potential binding site for the T cell-specific transcription factor (TCF-1 alpha/LEF-1), and three sites for the basic helix-loop-helix-binding basic proteins (bHLH). However, no CAAT box-like sequence was present. These results provide important clues for understanding the mechanism of gene expression of lymphocyte antigens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis of omega-agatoxin IVA and its related peptides.

A potent and selective P type calcium channel blocker isolated from the venom of the funnel web spider Agelenopsis aperta, omega-agatoxin IVA, and its related peptides were synthesized by the solution procedure. Synthetic omega-agatoxin IVA was found to block high-threshold P-type calcium current in rat Purkinje neuron with the same potency as that reported for the natural product. Its disulfide structure was determined by amino acid analysis, gas-phase sequencing and mass spectrometry of the proteolytic fragments. The N-terminus biotinylated and truncated peptides showed the same disulfide-bond-forming profile and the same activities as those of omega-agatoxin IVA, indicating that the N-terminal basic tripeptide, Lys-Lys-Lys, is not important for both the folding and the expression of the biological activity. However, the Trp residue in the molecule might be essential for the toxin to bind tightly with the channel pores.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Hereditary recombined three-allele variant of the Gc system.

A three-allele variant with Gc 2, Gc 1F and Gc 1A2 alleles was detected in both a baby and his mother during paternity testing by isoelectric focusing. His father had a normal Gc phenotype, Gc 2-1F. Further examination of his mother's relatives revealed that his grandfather also had the same three-allele variant, while his grandmother and his aunt had normal Gc 2-1F and Gc 2-2. From these results, it was considered that the Gc 1F and Gc 1A2 alleles were on the same single chromosome. It was suggested that recombination had occurred between two chromosomes that had the Gc 1F and Gc 1A2 allele, respectively, forming the variant allele Gc 1F1A2 on a single chromosome.

Alleles↗
PubMed1993

cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) therapy for brain metastasis of lung cancer. I. Distribution within the central nervous system after intravenous and intracarotid infusion.

The distribution of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) was studied in 23 patients undergoing surgical resection of brain tumors metastatic from lung cancer. CDDP (100 mg/m2) was administered intravenously (i.v.) or intra-arterially (IA) at the time of surgery, and various fluids and tissues were sampled for measurement of drug concentration. Comparison of the two routes of administration disclosed that the plasma level was slightly lower after IA than after i.v. infusion, whereas there was no difference between the two routes in terms of drug diffusion into the brain tissue adjacent to the tumor. However, IA administration resulted in an intratumoral drug concentration twice as high as that achieved with i.v. infusion. The tumor:plasma and tumor:adjacent brain ratios of drug concentration after IA injection were also twice those measured after i.v. administration. The distribution pattern of CDDP is characteristic of water-soluble agents. All patients experienced tolerable nausea and vomiting. Creatinine clearance was moderately reduced in ten cases, but no serious renal toxicity was observed. Seizures occurred postoperatively in nine patients. Infrequent side effects were myelosuppression, ototoxicity, and postoperative intracranial bleeding. All adverse effects disappeared with conservative treatment or no intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) therapy for brain metastasis of lung cancer. II: Clinical effects.

Parenchymal brain tumors, which were metastases of primary lung cancer, were surgically removed from 25 patients. During the operation, patients were administered (intravenous or intracarotid) 100 mg/sq m of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) and postoperatively, they received intravenous CDDP at 3-month intervals for 1 year. The results of this mode of treatment were compared with those obtained in 25 patients who underwent the same surgery but received other anticancer agents and in 39 patients who received no postoperative chemotherapy. Patients in the CDDP-treated group survived much longer than both of the other treatment groups. In the CDDP, but not in the other two groups, survival was significantly longer in patients who had undergone resection of their lung tumors than in those who had not. The stage of lung cancer was not found to significantly influence survival time among CDDP-treated patients. Brain metastasis was the cause of death in 12% of the patients who received CDDP, in 16% those treated with other drugs, and in 26% of those who received no chemotherapy. The incidence of local and remote intracranial tumor recurrence, including meningeal carcinomatosis, was similar in the three groups. However, the mean interval from resection of the metastatic brain tumor to local or remote recurrence was longer in the CDDP-treated group than in the other two groups, and the 2-year-survival rate was significantly higher after CDDP administration. These results suggest that CDDP may be useful in the therapy of metastatic brain tumors derived from lung cancer.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Beta-D-glucan concentrations detected by Toxicolor and Endospecy tests in the urine of patients with urinary fungal infections.

Beta-D-glucan is an essential component of the cell wall of fungi. We measured its concentration in the urine of patients with funguria using the chromogenic endotoxin assay kits, Toxicolor and Endospecy. These assay systems use the same Limulus coagulation enzymes. Since the Endospecy test detects endotoxin but not factor G, which is activated by beta-D-glucan, the beta-D-glucan concentration can be calculated by subtracting the Endospecy value from the Toxicolor value. Concentrations of beta-D-glucan were found to be significantly higher in urine samples from patients with funguria (> or = 10(3) colony-forming units/ml) than in non-infected samples.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1993

Lanosterol and 27-norlanosterol oligosaccharides from the bulbs of Chionodoxa gigantea.

New lanosterol and 27-norlanosterol oligosaccharides were found in the bulbs of Chionodoxa gigantea. Their structures were established mainly by extensive 2D NMR analysis as well as by comparison with spectral data of known compounds. The inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by the lanosterol derivatives was assayed as the primary screening test to find new medicinal materials.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1993

Characterisation of a vindesine-resistant human small-cell lung cancer cell line.

We established a vindesine-resistant (x 11.6) human small-cell lung cancer cell line (H69/VDS) by stepwise exposure of parent line H69 to vindesine. H69/VDS showed cross-resistance to taxol (x 10.1), vincristine (x 6.9) and colchicine (x 3.4) but not to doxorubicin, cisplatin or etoposide. There was no significant difference in intracellular [3H]-vincristine and doxorubicin accumulation between H69 and H69/VDS cells. The human mdr1 mRNA was not detected in either of the cell lines. These results indicated that H69/VDS did not express a typical multidrug resistant phenotype. Addition of 20 microM verapamil enhanced the growth inhibitory effect of vindesine on both H69/VDS (x 12.0) and H69 cells (x 3.8). The amount of total tubulin in H69/VDS cells was lower than that in the H69 parental cells. No significant increase was observed in the amount of total and polymerised tubulins of H69 cells. In H69/VDS cells, however, verapamil increased the amount of total tubulin to the level of parental cells, but decreased the amount of polymerised tubulin. Modulation of tubulin may play a role in the resistance to vindesine.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1993

Metallic expanding biliary stents in malignant obstruction. Cases with stent in stent.

We reviewed a total of 13 stent (Gianturco-Rosch biliary Z-stent) placements in 11 patients with biliary obstruction due to malignancy and report the cases treated with the stent-in-stent technique for treatment of stent occlusion due to tumor ingrowth. Causes of biliary obstruction included cholangiocarcinoma (four cases), hepatic hilar metastasis of gastrointestinal carcinoma (five cases), and pancreatic carcinoma (two cases). After transient percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), the stents were successfully inserted by transhepatic route in all patients without any serious complication that needed further surgical intervention. Almost all patients were freed from the external PTBD tube about a week after stent placement and discharged from the hospital with improvement in quality of life as well as normal serum bilirubin levels. The technical advantages of stent placement include ease of insertion and the ability to drain both right and left biliary systems from a single transhepatic route by arranging the stents in a variety of configurations. Furthermore, it provides a second chance of stent placement when the previous stent has been occluded by tumor ingrowth.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Expression and secretion of an Arthrobacter dextranase in the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii.

We have constructed a plasmid to express and secrete dextranase in the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. The dextranase gene from Arthrobacter sp. strain CB-8 was linked to a promoter and a DNA sequence encoding the signal peptide of Streptococcus downei glucosyltransferase I (gtfI) followed by the Escherichia coli rrnBt1t2 terminator and inserted in the shuttle vector pVA838. S. gordonii transformed with this plasmid (pMNK-4) expressed and secreted mature Arthrobacter dextranase. The transformant was found to repress the firm adherence of water-insoluble glucan in a coculture experiment with cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus sobrinus, in the presence of sucrose. Such genetically engineered oral bacteria could provide a therapy to prevent dental caries.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Renal scarring is enhanced by phorbol myristate acetate following infection with bacteria with mannose-sensitive pili.

Renal scarring is considered to develop in the later stages of chronic pyelonephritis. In our experimental model of pyelonephritis, bacteria with mannose-sensitive (MS) pili on their surface promoted renal scarring following inoculation into the renal parenchyma. The administration of cyclophosphamide to induce leukopenia and of superoxide dismutase to inactivate superoxide released from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) at the infection site suppressed any renal scarring following the infection. Conversely, the administration of phorbol myristate acetate at an early stage of infection significantly enhanced the renal scarring. These findings suggest that the PMNs which infiltrate the infection site and the superoxide they release play an important role in any renal scarring following infection with MS-piliated bacteria.

Animals↗