Biomedical subjects

S Moriya

Publications and source records attributed to S Moriya.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Hepatitis B virus-associated nephropathy: 17 year progression from onset to end-stage renal failure.

Hepatitis B virus-associated nephropathy (HB nephropathy) was first described in 1971. There have been few reports on the long-term prognosis in children with HB nephropathy. A case is reported here of a child who presented with symptoms of acute glomerulonephritis at 12 years of age and progressed to end-stage renal failure 17 years after the clinical onset, in spite of the seroconversion of HB virus by formation of HBe antibody.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

Effects of sho-saiko-to on production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and superoxide from peripheral monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells isolated from HIV infected individuals.

The effects of Sho-saiko-to (SST), a traditional Chinese medicine, on the production of PGE2 from monocytes, LTB4 and superoxide from polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC) in HIV infected individuals were studied. SST inhibited the production of PGE2 from monocytes stimulated by opsonized zymosan in all groups including the healthy control group and also inhibited the production of superoxide from PMNC after stimulation with FMLP. On the other hand, SST enhanced the production of LTB4 when PMNC were stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187. These results suggest that SST has different effects on the production of prostanoids or superoxide from monocytes and PMNC. Furthermore, our data indicates that inhibition of PGE2 or superoxide production will lead to indirect suppression of HIV, and enhancement of LTB4 will contribute to the upregulation of the immune reaction in HIV infected individuals.

Dinoprostone↗

PubMed1996

[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in an 8-month-old infant].

An 8-month-old boy who presented with pyrexia and vomiting was referred to the pediatric clinic of Kitasato University Hospital. He was found to have hematuria, proteinuria and pyuria. Abdominal X-ray film showed calcification suggesting renal staghorn calculus in the bilateral kidneys. At 10-months and 11-months, we succeeded in treating him with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) without complications.

Humans↗

PubMed1996

[Membranous nephropathy in Japanese children].

Since 1973, 15 patients, consisting of 8 boys and 7 girls, were diagnosed as having membranous nephropathy (MN). The average age at detection was 8.2 years (2-14 years). The presenting symptom was edema in 1, pyrexia in 1 and upper respiratory infection in 1 case, in the all other cases, abnormal urinalysis was detected by the school or chance urinalysis. Surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBs) was positive in 6 patients and negative in 9. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was positive in 3 and negative in 11. In one patient, ANA was not tested. One patient who was negative for ANA was diagnosed as having SLE 4 years later. At the last follow-up, 10 patients continued to have urinary abnormalities. Among these was one case positive for HBs antigen who went into end-stage renal failure. In the other 14 patients, the serum creatinine level was below 1.4 mg/dl. All patients showed a normal mesangium or mild mesangial proliferation. The patient diagnosed as having SLE. 4 years later showed mesangial deposits at the first renal biopsy. In our experience, most patients with MN were detected by the school or chance urinalysis and six of the these had positive HBs antigen. Lupus nephritis must be ruled out in making a diagnosis of idiopathic MN.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is involved in TRE-dependent gene expression in response to arginine vasopressin.

We identified arginine vasopressin (AVP) as a potent activator of TPA-response element (TRE)-dependent gene expression in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts. In order to examine the involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in TRE-mediated gene expression, we examined the effect of the overexpression of PI3-kinase mutant. The overexpression of p110 alpha, the catalytic subunit of PI3-kinase, enhances TRE-reporter expression in response to AVP. On the other hand, the overexpression of the p110-EcoS mutant, which contains the binding site for the regulatory p85 subunit but lacks the catalytic domain, results in decreased TRE reporter expression in response to AVP. These results suggest that PI3-kinase is involved in TRE-dependent gene expression in response to AVP.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Gelsolin: a candidate for suppressor of human bladder cancer.

Human transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder frequently reveal chromosomal abnormalities that span a range between chromosome 9p12 and 9qter, even at early stages of bladder carcinogenesis. Because the gene that encodes an actin-regulatory protein, gelsolin, is localized in chromosome 9q33, we examined the expression of gelsolin in a number of human bladder cancer cell lines and tissues. In all 6 cell lines and in 14 of the 18 tumor tissues (77.8%), gelsolin expression was undetectable or extremely low in comparison with its expression in normal bladder epithelial cells. Furthermore, upon the introduction of the exogenous human or mouse authentic gelsolin cDNA into a human bladder cancer cell line, UMUC-2, gelsolin transfectants of UMUC-2 greatly reduced the colony-forming ability and the tumorigenicity in vivo. These results suggest that gelsolin plays a key role as a tumor suppressor in human urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Relationship between hepatitis C virus subtypes and clinical features of liver disease seen in alcoholics.

The influence of hepatitis C virus and its subtypes on the clinical course of liver disease in alcoholics was assessed. Hepatitis C virus infection was confirmed by a reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction method for the hepatitis C virus NS-5 region in the sera of alcoholics with various stages of histologically proven liver disease. The frequency of hepatitis C virus was significantly higher in alcoholics with chronic hepatitis (73%) than in those with liver fibrosis (18%), alcoholic hepatitis (17%), and fatty liver (0%). Hepatitis C virus subtypes, namely K1 and K2, were determined by dot-blot hybridization analysis of the polymerase chain reaction products with specific probes, and their frequencies were 68% and 32%, respectively. The proportion of patients whose serum transaminase levels returned to normal following 4 weeks of abstinence in hospital was significantly lower in alcoholics with hepatitis C virus viremia (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 53.8%; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 42.3%) than in those without viremia (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 86.2%, p < 0.01; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 89.7%, p < 0.01). When alcoholics with the K1 and K2 subtypes of hepatitis C virus were compared, normalization of transaminase levels was less frequent in alcoholics with K1 (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 42.8%; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 28.6%) than in those with K2 (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 88.9%, p < 0.05; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 77.8%, P < 0.05). These data indicate that hepatitis C virus infection is associated with a reduced rate of recovery of serum transminase levels following abstinence in subjects with alcoholic liver disease, more so in the K1 subtype than in the K2 subtype.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1995

Association of endothelin-1 with normal tension glaucoma: clinical and fundamental studies.

Impaired ocular blood flow is suspected to be one of the causes of normal tension glaucoma (NTG). We investigated whether endothelin (ET), a potent and continuous vasoacting peptide which was discovered recently, is associated with NTG. Plasma ET-1 levels of 52 patients with NTG but without systemic vascular or circulatory disorders were measured by radioimmunoassay, and were found to be significantly higher than those of 10 normal controls. The patients with NTG in the initial stage of visual field loss (Kosaki's classification) showed higher plasma ET-1 levels than those in the middle stage. These facts suggest that elevated plasma levels of ET-1 are correlated with NTG and its stages. We then studied the effects of ET-1 on rabbit eyes. Intravenous administration of ET-1 (10(-10) mol/kg) induced reductions in both intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood flow in the optic nerve head during three hours' observation, although it affected systemic blood pressure slightly and transiently. Blood flow in the choroid also decreased, but recovered at 90 minutes. Intravitreal injection of ET-1 (10(-5) M, 0.1 ml) also caused reductions in IOP (for 14 days) and in blood flow in the optic nerve head (during three hours' observation). Prolongation of VEP-N1 latency was observed for 14 days. These results indicate that ET-1 may be associated with NTG, especially with blood flow in the optic nerve head.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

The Bacillus subtilis dnaC gene encodes a protein homologous to the DnaB helicase of Escherichia coli.

Within the region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome assigned to us in the genome sequencing project, we found a gene, the product of which is similar to the DnaB protein (replicative DNA helicase) of Escherichia coli. Three B. subtilis dna gene mutations, dnaC30 and ts56 causing defects in elongation and ts199 causing a defect in the initiation of replication, were mapped in the gene by transformation and DNA sequencing. Both dnaC30 and ts56 have been located near the amino-terminal end of the B. subtilis DnaC protein. In contrast, ts199 has been located near the carboxy-terminal of the protein. Our results indicate that the B. subtilis dnaC gene encodes a counterpart of the E. coli dnaB helicase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Hepatic fibrosis produced in guinea pigs by chronic ethanol administration and immunization with acetaldehyde adducts.

Experimental hepatic fibrosis was produced in the guinea pig. We produced hepatic necrosis associated with inflammatory cell infiltration in guinea pigs immunized with acetaldehyde adducts and fed ethanol for 40 days. Extending the period of these treatments to 90 days resulted in producing hepatic fibrosis developing around individual hepatocytes in the terminal hepatic venule areas and portal areas, accompanied by an increase in hepatic hydroxyproline content. In contrast, no fibrosis was observed in the livers of the control groups that had been exposed to nothing, ethanol alone, or a combination of ethanol and immunization with unmodified human hemoglobin. Minimal fibrotic changes were observed in animals immunized with human hemoglobin acetaldehyde adducts but not fed ethanol. These results indicate that the formation of acetaldehyde adducts and the acquisition of immunity against them can produce hepatic fibrosis. Immune mechanisms against acetaldehyde adducts may, in part, be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis seen in alcoholics.

Acetaldehyde↗

PubMed1995

[Effect of systemic calcium antagonist on a model of ocular circulation disturbance induced by endothelin-1].

We studied the effect of generally applied calcium antagonist on endothelin (ET-1) treated rabbit eyes. Nicardipine (20 micrograms/kg) was injected intravenously 15 minutes before intravitreal injection of 10 microliters of ET-1 at 10(-6) M. We measured the relative caliber of the retinal artery (the caliber of the retinal artery at the edge of the optic nerve head (ONH)/that of ONH), the capillary blood flow in ONH, visual evoked potential (VEP), intraocular pressure (IOP), and blood pressure (BP). In the control group (0.4 ml/kg of saline), administration of ET-1 caused contraction of the retinal artery, decrease of the capillary blood flow in ONH, prolongation of the VEP latency, and reduction of IOP. But these effects were significantly reduced in the calcium antagonist group. These results showed that generally applied calcium antagonist inhibits the disturbance of ocular circulation induced by ET-1. However, it also caused significant reduction of BP until 45 minutes after application, so we will have to work to find the optimum dose of calcium antagonist.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Replication of a Bacillus subtilis oriC plasmid in vitro.

We constructed an in vitro replication system specific for a Bacillus subtilis oriC plasmid using a soluble fraction derived from cell extracts of B. subtilis. DNA polymerase III and two initiation proteins, DnaA and DnaB, were required for in vitro replication as observed in vivo. Both upstream and downstream DnaA box regions of the dnaA gene were required as cis-elements for in vitro synthesis of the B. subtilis oriC plasmid as well as for in vivo activity. The replication was semi-conservative and only one round of replication occurred within 15 min. These results indicate that in vitro replication faithfully reproduced in vivo replication. To elucidate the site of initiation and the direction of replication, we analysed replicative intermediates generated in vitro in the presence of various concentrations of ddGTP by two methods. First, analysis of restriction fragments around the dnaA gene showed a high level of incorporation of the radioactive substrate, indicating that replication began within the vicinity of the dnaA gene. Second, using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, bubble arcs were detected only on fragments containing the DnaA box region downstream of the dnaA gene, indicating that the initiation site resided within this region. The distribution of the bubble arcs suggested that both bidirectional and undirectional replication occurred in vitro.

Bacillus subtilis↗

PubMed1994

The treatment of multiple angiolipomas by liposuction surgery.

BACKGROUND: Recently, liposuction surgery has been widely accepted for body contouring or other noncosmetic applications, including lipoma and angiolipomatosis. OBJECTIVE: We treated a case of multiple angiolipomas at 49 years of age to confirm the utility of liposuction. METHODS: Liposuction under general anesthesia was performed for angiolipomas distributed over the trunk. RESULTS: The patient has been followed for 2 years without recurrence. CONCLUSION: We believe that liposuction is a safe and easy method of removing multiple angiolipomas.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1994

[Evaluation of bunazosin hydrochloride with a model of ocular circulation disturbance induced by endothelin-1].

We studied the effect of bunazosin hydrochloride, a selective alpha-1 blocker under development as an antiglaucomatous drug, on the circulation of the optic nerve head (ONH) in normal and endothelin-1 treated albino rabbit eyes. The effect was investigated by measurement of the capillary blood flow in the ONH, using a hydrogen gas clearance flowmeter (for 5 hours). The relative caliber of the retinal artery (the caliber of the retinal artery at the edge of the ONH/that of the ONH) was also measured, using fundus photography. Administration of bunazosin hydrochloride had no significant effect on the capillary blood flow in the ONH in normal eyes, but it inhibited the decrease of blood flow for at least 5 hours in the endothelin-1 treated eyes. The relative caliber of the retinal artery decreased in the endothelin-1 treated eyes (maximum at 5 hours), but previous administration of bunazosin hydrochloride inhibited the decrease. Thus, Bunazosin hydrochloride inhibits the disturbance of ONH circulation induced by endothelin-1 and promises to be useful also with regard to the ocular circulation.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

PubMed1994

Expression of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase mRNA after depletion of glutathione in rat liver.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) is the enzyme in the gamma-glutamyl cycle which mediates the first step of glutathione degradation. Recently, it has been reported that diethyl maleate, a glutathione-depleting agent, enhanced hepatic gamma-GT activity. In this study, we examined how gamma-GT mRNA was expressed after the depletion of glutathione by using the RT-PCR method and in situ hybridization technique with digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe. We could detect hepatic gamma-GT mRNA in the epithelial cell of bile duct and the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in the periportal area, even in control rats. Furthermore, we found that the expression of gamma-GT mRNA was expanded to hepatocytes of a whole lobule 12 hr after depletion of glutathione by diethyl maleate, followed by the return to the pretreatment condition under which gamma-GT mRNA appears to be controlled in correlation with hepatic glutathione levels. These results suggest that the depletion of glutathione may induce hepatic gamma-GT activity through an increased synthesis of its mRNA.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Influence of HCV infection and its subtypes on clinical course of alcoholic liver disease.

Since the assay of HCV antibody has been developed, it became clear that HCV is involved not only in patients with non-A non-B hepatitis but also in some alcoholic patients. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of HCV in chronic alcoholics and to elucidate the influence of HCV and its subtypes on pathogenesis and clinical feature of alcoholic liver disease. To that effect, sera from 100 alcoholics were tested for antibody against C100 of HCV by ELISA and for HCV RNA by reverse transcriptation and the PCR method. The incidence of HCV Ab/RNA was 0%/17% in patients with non specific reactive hepatitis, 0%/0% in fatty liver, 17%/17% in alcoholic hepatitis, 50%/73% in chronic hepatitis, 15%/18% in liver fibrosis and 19%/31% in liver cirrhosis. HCV Ab and RNA were positive in 21% and 31% of alcoholics, respectively. Subtypes of HCV were identified by dot blot hybridization method. Type K1, K2a and K2b were detected in 68%, 25% and 7% of 28 patients with positive HCV RNA, respectively. Type PT was not detected. In addition, serum transaminase activities were evaluated after 4 weeks abstinence. The incidence of normalization of the enzyme activity was lower in patients with positive HCV RNA than that with negative HCV RNA. Furthermore, when it was estimated in relation to HCV subtypes, the incidence of normalization in patients with type K1 was lower than that with type K2. In conclusion, the prevalence of HCV infection in alcoholic patients was much greater than general population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Heterogeneity of hepatic acetaldehyde adducts in guinea-pigs after chronic ethanol administration: an immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against acetaldehyde-modified protein epitopes.

The formation of acetaldehyde (AcH) adducts was immunohistochemically demonstrated in the livers of experimental animals after chronic ethanol consumption. Recently, we established a hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody against the adduct. Although the polyclonal antibody obtained from a rabbit immunized with adducts had affinities for AcH adducts produced with 20 microM, 1 mM and 10 mM of AcH, the monoclonal antibody could recognize only those produced with 1 and 10 mM of AcH, suggesting that there is a difference of antigenicity between the adducts formed with a high concentration of AcH and those modified with a low concentration of AcH. AcH adducts in the liver of guinea-pigs fed ethanol for 90 days were detected by immunohistochemical staining with the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The staining of liver specimens with polyclonal antibody was observed around both the portal and perivenular areas, whereas the reactions to monoclonal antibody were localized only in the perivenular area. These data suggest that AcH adducts are able to be formed around both portal and perivenular areas in the liver and that the perivenular area might be exposed to a higher concentration of AcH than the portal area after ethanol intake.

Acetaldehyde↗

PubMed1993

[Effects of intravitreal injection of endothelin on the visual system].

Endothelin, a novel, potent, and long-acting vasoconstrictor peptide, is thought to regulate retinal circulation and its autoregulation. A disturbance in the regulation of endothelin production might contribute to the pathogenesis of retinochoroidal or optic nerve diseases. We examined the effects of endothelin on the retina and the optic nerve using the electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP). Six male albino rabbits underwent intravitreal injection of 0.1 ml (10(-5) mol/l) endothelin-1 in the right eye. Six other male albino rabbits, which were injected intravitreally with 0.1 ml of Opeguard-MA in the right eye, were used as controls. Endothelin-1 caused marked constriction of retinal vessels and pallor of the optic nerve head. These findings persisted for 10 days after endothelin-1 injection. The amplitude of the b-wave and the latency of the oscillatory potential in the ERG were not significantly different from those in controls. On the other hand, prolongation of the VEP-N1 latency was observed for 14 days after the injection. These results indicate that endothelin acts on the circulation of the optic nerve head rather than that of the retina, and that effects persist for a relatively long period.

Animals↗