Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Maeda

Publications and source records attributed to S Maeda.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Combined portal vein and liver resection for carcinoma of the biliary tract.

Twenty-nine patients with advanced carcinoma of the bile duct or gallbladder underwent combined portal vein and liver resection. Segmental excision of the portal vein was performed in 16 cases and wedge resection of the vessel wall in 13. The operative mortality rate was 17 per cent. The median survival for the 24 patients who left hospital was 19.8 months. Actuarial survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years for all 29 patients were 48 per cent, 29 per cent, and 6 per cent respectively, whereas the median survival for 46 patients with unresectable carcinoma was 3 months and the 1 and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 13 per cent and zero respectively. This difference in survival times between patients undergoing hepatectomy with portal vein resection and those with unresectable carcinoma were statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Combined portal vein and liver resection is recommended as a reasonable surgical approach in selected patients with advanced carcinoma of the biliary tract.

Adult↗

Prevention of postanesthetic shivering with intravenous administration of aspirin.

There have been many reports of postanesthetic shivering (PAS); however, the causes have not been defined clearly, and the reported methods of inhibiting PAS are not always available clinically. In the present study, we assessed the effect of the intravenous administration of aspirin on the prevention of PAS in 62 patients undergoing oral or maxillofacial surgery, anesthetized with enflurane-nitrous oxide. Thirty of the patients were randomly selected, and received intravenous aspirin DL-lysine 900 mg (equivalent to aspirin 495 mg) before the end of surgery. No significant differences were noted in the rectal temperatures between the group given aspirin and the control group. Shivering was observed in 17 of the 32 patients of control group. In contrast, shivering was observed in 5 of the 30 patients who received aspirin. This was a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.01). These data indicate that intravenous administration of aspirin significantly inhibited PAS. The finding suggests that PAS is related to prostaglandin synthesis or to the formation of derivatives of arachidonic acid, since aspirin inhibits both the synthesis of prostaglandins and the formation of derivatives of arachidonic acid.

Clinical Trial↗

The basic DNA-binding protein of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus: the existence of an additional arginine repeat.

The basic DNA-binding protein of the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) was purified by HPLC and a sequence of 45 amino acids from the N-terminus was determined. There were no detectable modifications such as N-terminal blockage, glycosylation, or phosphorylation. The amino acid sequence showed high homology to the predicted amino acid sequences of the basic proteins of Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV) and Orgyia pseudotsugata NPV (OpNPV) (90 and 76%, respectively), however, the BmNPV basic protein possessed an additional sequence of 10 amino acids. A DNA fragment encoding the basic protein was identified in a BmNPV DNA library by screening for possible DNA sequences coding for the basic protein's amino acid sequence. The nucleotide sequence of the basic protein of BmNPV was more similar to that of AcNPV (97%) than to that of OpNPV (62%). Homology plot analysis of the nucleotide sequence indicates that the BmNPV basic protein internal repeat evolved very recently.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Insecticidal effects of an insect-specific neurotoxin expressed by a recombinant baculovirus.

The scorpion Androctonus australis has a peptide (AaIT) which selectively targets the insect sodium channel. This mode of action is similar to that of many widely used chemical insecticides. When Bombyx mori larvae were infected with a recombinant baculovirus carrying a synthetic AaIT gene, the expressed protein was secreted into the hemolymph and caused symptoms consistent with sodium channel blocking, including tremors and feeding cessation at 40 hr p.i. followed by paralysis and death by 60 hr p.i. Larvae infected with control virus died by 96 hr p.i. These results indicate that foreign genes can be used in recombinant baculoviruses to reduce insect feeding damage and increase the rate of insect kill.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ectopic pituitary adenoma in the suprasellar cistern: case report.

The case of a 56-year-old man with an ectopic pituitary adenoma is reported. Neurological examinations, neurodiagnostic imaging, surgical observation, endocrinological evaluation, histological examination, and immunohistological study demonstrated evidence of ectopic prolactinoma in the suprasellar cistern and the presence of a normal pituitary in the sella turcica. The patient underwent total removal of the suprasellar mass by a pterional approach, leading to a surgical and endocrinological cure.

Choristoma↗

Intercapsular cataract surgery with lens epithelial cell removal. Part IV: Capsular fibrosis induced by poly(methyl methacrylate).

Characteristic lens epithelial cell behavior in the pseudophakic eye was examined by comparing 30 eyes that had extracapsular cataract surgery by the intercapsular technique and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with lens epithelial cell removal but without anterior capsule capsulectomy and nine aphakic eyes that had the same procedure but without posterior chamber lens implantation over a mean follow-up period of 30 and 23 months, respectively. Fibrous anterior capsule opacification was observed in 83% of the pseudophakic eyes in the area of contact with the IOL, while the region beyond the margin of the IOL remained transparent. Fibrous anterior capsular opacification was not noted in the aphakic eyes. This suggests that the IOL material, poly(methyl methacrylate), stimulates lens epithelial cells to undergo fibrous metaplasia and to produce collagen fibers. Various cytokines such as IL-1 and TGF-beta synthesized by lens epithelial cells may play a crucial role as mediators in the process. We recommend that this effect be considered as a parameter of biocompatibility in developing and evaluating new biomaterials.

Adult↗

Dual mechanism of angiotensin II inhibits ANP-induced mesangial cGMP accumulation.

To evaluate an interaction between vasoconstrictive (Ang II) and vasodilating (ANP) peptides, we examined the effect of Ang II on ANP-induced accumulation of cGMP in cultured glomerular mesangial cells. ANP rapidly increased intracellular cGMP levels, with a peak stimulation at one minute in the absence of IBMX and at ten minutes in the presence of IBMX. The ANP-induced cGMP accumulation was significantly inhibited when the cells were treated with Ang II simultaneously with ANP for one minute in the absence of IBMX. This inhibitory effect of Ang II was completely abolished by IBMX and significantly reduced in calcium-free media or by W7, but not affected by H7. Similar inhibitory effect was observed when cells were treated with A23187 but not with TPA for one minute. In the presence of IBMX, Ang II inhibited ANP-induced cGMP accumulation when cells were treated with Ang II for 15 minutes prior to the stimulation by ANP. This inhibition by Ang II was blocked by H7. ANP-induced increase in particulate guanylate cyclase activity was significantly reduced in the cells treated with Ang II or TPA. This reduction of enzyme activity was also prevented by H7. These results indicate that Ang II inhibits ANP-induced cGMP accumulation in cultured glomerular mesangial cells through at least two mechanisms; one is the activation of calcium-dependent, calmodulin-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in the initial phase, and the other is the inhibition of guanylate cyclase resulting from protein kinase C activation in the maintenance phase.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Development of a recombinant baculovirus expressing an insect-selective neurotoxin: potential for pest control.

Recombinant nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) expressing insect-selective toxins, hormones, or enzymes could enhance their insecticidal properties. We have constructed a recombinant, polyhedrin-positive Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV) that is orally infectious and expresses an insect-selective toxin (AaIT), isolated from the scorpion Androctonus australis, under the control of the p10 promoter. Bioassays with the recombinant baculovirus on 2nd instar larvae of Heliothis virescens demonstrated a significant decrease in the time to kill (LT50 88.0 hours) compared to wild-type AcNPV (LT50 125 hours). Production of AaIT was confirmed by western blot analysis of larval hemolymph from infected H. virescens, and bioassays with larvae of Sarcophaga falculata.

Animals↗

Characterization of v-sis protein expressed in silkworm larvae using the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus vector.

The v-sis oncogene of simian sarcoma virus encodes a protein which is homologous to the human platelet-derived growth factor B-chain. The v-sis protein undergoes a series of processing steps including dimer formation and proteolytic digestion to generate several molecular sizes of the protein. Two of these v-sis proteins were expressed alone or as polyhedrin-sis fusion proteins using the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus vector. The polyhedrin-sis fusion proteins contained a collagenase-sensitive site at the junction. The expression levels of the fusion proteins whose polyhedrin portions consisted of only 8 amino-terminal amino acids were 3-4 times higher than those of non-fusion proteins. One of these fusion proteins was expressed in silkworm larvae and the v-sis protein was isolated from the fusion protein by collagenolysis followed by chromatography. Because the purified v-sis protein exhibited the same molecular size on SDS-polyacrylamide gels under reducing and non-reducing conditions, it was concluded to be monomeric in structure. It possessed chemotactic activity but lacked mitogenic activity. In addition, a small amount (approximately 1%) of monomeric v-sis protein was converted in vitro to the mitogenically active v-sis protein, which could be a homo-dimer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Activation of the osmoregulated ompC gene by the OmpR protein in Escherichia coli: a study involving synthetic OmpR-binding sequences.

Expression of the Escherichia coli outer membrane proteins, OmpC and OmpF, is regulated in response to the medium osmolarity. The OmpR and EnvZ proteins are transcriptional factors involved in this osmotic regulation of the ompC and ompF genes. In particular, expression of the ompC gene is activated by the positive regulator, OmpR, in response to high osmolarity of the medium. In this study, we succeeded in defining a functional OmpR-binding sequence by analyzing a set of synthetic oligonucleotides, and propose a consensus motif for OmpR-binding. It was also demonstrated that the asymmetric OmpR-binding sequence, thus identified, can activate the canonical ompC promoter in an orientation independent-manner, providing that this sequence is placed closely and stereo-specifically with respect to the -35 region.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Establishment and characterization of a plasma cell leukaemia cell line dependent for growth on IL-6 and a bi-phenotypic subclone dependent upon both IL-3 and IL-6.

A human plasma cell leukaemia cell line (HSM-2) and a subclone (HSM-2.3) have been established from the bone marrow of a patient with bi-phenotypic leukaemia. Proliferation assays using a variety of cytokines demonstrated that HSM-2 proliferated in response to recombinant interleukin-6 (rIL-6), but did not respond to rIL-1, rIL-2, rIL-3, rIL-4, rIL-5, recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rG-CSF), or recombinant granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (rGM-CSF), and that HSM-2.3 responded to rIL-3 and rIL-6. HSM-2 expressed the CD38 (OKT10), PCA-1, cytoplasmic-IgM, and surface kappa light chain. HSM-2.3 expressed the CD14 (My4), CD33 (My9), CD38 (OKT10), CD19 (B4), CD24 (OKB2), CD10 (J5), PCA-1. HSM-2 and HSM-2.3 are useful tools for analysing the possible role of IL-3 and IL-6 in the oncogenesis of plasma cell leukaemia.

Aged↗

[Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from urethral swab in male urethritis by polymerase chain reaction].

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Chlamydia trachomatis-specific primers was applied for detection of C. trachomatis from urethral swab in male urethritis. The results were compared with those of culture method for detection of C. trachomatis. Of 18 clinical specimens tested in this study, inclusion bodies of C. trachomatis were detected in 11 specimens by the culture method. For PCR, sample DNA was prepared from transport medium in which urethral smear was suspended and two oligonucleotides based on sequences within the major outer membrane protein gene from C. trachomatis serovar L2 were used as extension primers. In 12 of the 18 specimens, 242bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR and demonstrated to be the DNA fragment of C. trachomatis by Southern blot hybridization. No DNA of 242bp was amplified by PCR from five specimens in which any inclusion bodies of C. trachomatis were observed or from a specimen in which one inclusion body per cover slip was detected by culture method. C. trachomatis DNA of 242bp was amplified from all specimens in which 14 and more inclusion bodies per cover slip were detected by culture method. In two specimens concluded s negative by culture method, amplified C. trachomatis DNA were detected by PCR. Thus, the PCR would be a more simple and sensitive method for detection of C. trachomatis, compared with the culture method.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Host range expansion by recombination of the baculoviruses Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus and Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

The mechanisms of host specificity of nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) (Baculoviridae) were analyzed after coinfection of Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV) and one of four distinct groups of Spodoptera litura NPV (SlNPV), including an Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV) variant (S. Maeda, Y. Mukohara, and A. Kondo, J. Gen. Virol. 71:2631-2639, 1990), into various lepidopteran cell lines. Replication of BmNPV in nonpermissive cells (TN-386, SF-21, and CLS-79) was induced by coinfection with AcNPV but not with the other three SlNPV groups. These induced progeny NPVs were plaque purified in BmN cells, which are susceptible to only BmNPV, and characterized. Most of these isolates did not replicate in the cell lines in which they were produced, indicating the existence of a helper function of AcNPV for BmNPV replication in nonpermissive cells. Some of these isolates, however, were able to replicate in cell lines nonpermissive to BmNPV, indicating the appearance of a new virus with wider host specificity. DNA restriction endonuclease analysis showed that the isolates exhibiting wider host range were recombinant viruses between the parents, AcNPV and BmNPV, resulting from various types of crossovers of relatively large areas of their genomes. Expansion of host range was also observed in larvae.

Animals↗

Lack of correlation between P pulmonale and right atrial overload in chronic obstructive airways disease.

The correlation between P pulmonale and right atrial overload in chronic lung disease was studied. Right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac output were measured with a Swan-Ganz catheter in nine patients with chronic lung disease and P pulmonale on the electrocardiogram (P wave amplitude of greater than or equal to 2.5 mm (0.25 mV) in leads II, III, and a VF. The results were compared with those in six patients with an atrial septal defect (left to right shunt greater than or equal to 50%) and six patients with pulmonary hypertension (mean pressure greater than or equal to 30 mm Hg without left sided heart disease). Right atrial volume and wall thickness were measured in 10 cases of P pulmonale among 1000 necropsy cases and compared with 141 normal hearts from the same series. The patients with P pulmonale did not show a significant increase in right atrial or pulmonary artery pressures. None of the patients with an atrial septal defect or pulmonary hypertension had P pulmonale on the electrocardiogram. In the necropsy cases of P pulmonale mean (1 SD) in right atrial volume (32 (12) ml) and wall thickness (1.5 (0.7) mm) were not significantly increased (40 (14) ml and 1.4 (0.5) mm in the normal hearts). There was a significant inverse relation between the presence of P pulmonale and the cardiothoracic ratio. In all the patients with P pulmonale chest x ray showed a low cardiothoracic ratio, a considerably depressed diaphragm, and a pendulous heart. This study showed no correlation between P pulmonale and right atrial overload in chronic lung disease. A more vertical anatomical position of the heart, particularly of the right atrium, seems to be the major factor responsible for generation of P pulmonale in chronic airways disease.

Aged↗

Role of serum amyloid P component for systemic amyloidosis in transgenic mice carrying human mutant transthyretin gene.

The role of serum amyloid P component (SAP) for systemic amyloidosis in a transgenic mouse model for an autosomal dominant disease, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), was examined. For this purpose, two lines of transgenic mouse were produced by introducing the human mutant transthyretin (TTR) gene and the human SAP gene, respectively. Two lines of transgenic mice were mated to produce double transgenic mice carrying both human mutant TTR gene and human SAP gene. The serum concentration of human SAP in these transgenic mice was about 42 micrograms/ml and was about equal to that in human control serum. In case of single transgenic mice carrying human mutant TTR gene, amyloid deposition starts at around 6 months of age, and the amount of amyloid deposition increases gradually with age. Amyloid deposition is observed in many tissues including heart, kidney and thyroid gland, where amyloid deposition is commonly observed in FAP patients. In double transgenic mice, onset, progression and tissue distribution of amyloid deposition were the same as those in single transgenic mouse. These results clearly suggest that SAP is not important for the initiation and progression of amyloid deposition.

Age Factors↗

Differences in level and avidity of secretory IgA antibodies in breast milk of Swedish, Indian and Japanese mothers to soybean protein.

Colostrum was collected from Swedish, Indian and Japanese mothers. The samples were as a mean, collected 4.00-4.25 days after delivery of term infants. The level of specific IgA antibody to 2S, 7S and crude soybean antigen were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The avidity of the IgA antibodies to 7S soybean antigen was also measured with an ELISA system using different molarities of potassium thiocyanate for elution of the specific IgA antibody from solid phase-bound antigen. The level of specific IgA antibody to 7S and crude soybean antigen in the milk of the Indian mothers was significantly higher than in the milk of the Japanese mothers (p less than or equal to 0.01). In contrast, the avidity expressed as the molarity of KSCN for 50% elution of IgA antibody to 7S soybean antigen in the milk of the Japanese mothers was significantly higher than in the milk of the Indian mothers (p less than 0.01).

Antibody Affinity↗

Conversion of 3H-nitrendipine binding to the low affinity binding state following the treatment of hippocampal slices with morphine.

The effect of morphine on the binding of 3H-nitrendipine was studied in rat hippocampal preparations. Treatment of slices with morphine followed by the preparation of membrane fractions revealed the presence of low affinity binding sites. The effect of morphine was antagonized by naloxone. The effect was not observed when the membrane fraction was incubated with morphine. These results suggest that morphine changes the affinity of calcium for its channels and reduces its influx.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The role of myocarditis and myocardial fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy. Analysis of 28 necropsy cases.

The hearts of 28 necropsy cases with DCM and 10 control cases were analysed to elucidate the role of myocarditis and fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The extent of fibrosis and myocyte diameter were measured in the transverse sections of the left ventricle. The degree and pattern of fibrosis varied widely from case to case. The DCM cases were then classified into 3 groups: 1) Group Ia, 8 cases with mild diffuse fibrosis; 2) Group Ib, 9 cases with severe diffuse fibrosis and 3) Group II, 11 cases with segmental fibrosis. Myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy were significantly more prominent in Groups Ib and II than in the control group (p less than 0.01), but no differences were observed between Group Ia and the control group. Thus, it is reasonable to attribute the chronic CHF and LV dilatation in Groups Ib and II to the extensive myocardial fibrosis. In contrast, it is not reasonable to attribute the chronic CHF and LV dilatation in Group Ia to myocardial fibrosis. Focal lymphoid cell infiltration was graded to assess inflammatory changes. Group II showed more prominent inflammatory changes than the other 2 groups (p less than 0.05). Thus, it is possible that myocarditis is an etiologic factor for DCM with a segmental pattern of fibrosis.

Adolescent↗