Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Nagase.
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A state of peroxidation is one of the factors contributing to uremia. For example, we have reported that certain species of reactive oxygen, particularly the hydroxyl radical, play an important role in the biosynthesis of methylguanidine which contributes to toxicity in patients with uremia. However, it is uncertain which enzymes are involved in the synthesis of methylguanidine from creatinine. In this study, we attempt to show methylguanidine synthesis in the presence of peroxisomal enzymes that catalyze the beta-oxidation of fatty acids. In addition, we investigate the effect of clofibrate, which induces peroxisomal enzymes or glutathione peroxidase activity, on methylguanidine synthesis in the peroxisomal fraction. Male Wistar rats were fed with the chow containing 0.5% clofibrate to induce peroxisomal enzymes and control rats were fed with ordinary laboratory chow. Peroxisomal fractions were obtained from liver homogenates by centrifugation, and incubated with creatinine in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C. Results show that methylguanidine is synthesized from creatinine concomitant with the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from endogenous substrates in the peroxisomal fraction. This methylguanidine synthesis is inhibited by the addition of dimethylsulfoxide, glutathione, or sodium azide (p < 0.01). The rate of methylguanidine synthesis in clofibrate-treated rats was significantly less than that in control rats (p < 0.02). These results suggest that methylguanidine is synthesized in the peroxisomal fraction, and reactive oxygen species which are generated through this enzymatic reaction, participate in methylguanidine synthesis. Moreover, the induction of a scavenger system, especially glutathione peroxidase takes precedent over the generation of reactive oxygen species in peroxisomes treated with clofibrate.
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Recent studies have suggested the existence of one or several tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome arm 1p in colorectal tumors. To determine the localization of the putative tumor suppressor genes, we performed LOH analysis in 1p in colorectal tumors. A total of 48 paired normal and tumor DNAs of 46 colorectal tumor patients and 21 microsatellite markers on 1p32.1-p36.3 were used for PCR-LOH analysis. Three commonly deleted regions were found: i) 1p36.3 (10-cm); ii) 1p35.1-p36.3 (2-cm); and iii) 1p34.2-p35 (1-cm). These regions overlapped with those reported in several types of tumor. No significant associations were found between LOH and clinicopathologic features. The regions identified in the present study could harbor tumor suppressor genes that would also be associated with several types of human cancer.
The adjuvant effects of various fine particles [Kanto loam dust, fly ash, carbon black, diesel exhaust particles (DEP), and aluminum hydroxide (alum)] on immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody production in female BDF1 mice were examined. In experiment 1, animals both received 25 micrograms of each particle intranasally and were exposed to aerosolized Japanese cedar pollen allergens (JCPA) for 30 min/d at 1-wk intervals for the first 8 wk. This was followed by exposure for 30 min every 3 wk for the next 9 wk. As parameters of allergic rhinitis, measurements were made of JCPA-specific IgE and IgG antibody titers, the protein-adsorbing capacity of each type of particle, and nasal rubbing movements. The increases in anti-JCPA IgE and IgG antibody production in mice treated with aerosolized JCPA plus respective particles were significantly greater than that found with aerosolized JCPA alone. This was associated with no marked differences in the other allergic rhinitis parameters. In experiment 2, after the administration of particles as in experiment 1, about 160,000 grains of Japanese cedar pollen (JCP, native dry pollen) were dropped onto the tip of the nose of mice twice a week for 16 wk. Six weeks after the first immunization, the anti-JCPA IgE antibody titers of groups treated with the respective particles were greater than 1:20, whereas those of mice treated with JCP alone were 1:10. No significant differences in the anti-JCPA IgE and IgG antibody productions, nasal rubbing counts, or histopathological changes were observed after 18 wk. These results suggested the nature of the particles, their capacity to adsorb antigens, and/or their size may not be related to enhancement of IgG antibody production nor symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, IgE antibody production seemed to occur earlier in mice treated with particles than in mice immunized with allergens alone.
We previously identified two commonly deleted regions on chromosome bands 10q25-q26 in endometrial cancer: an 8-cM region and a 12-cM region. In the present study, we further studied the 8-cM region with 83 endometrial cancer specimens and 14 microsatellite markers and narrowed it down to a 1-cM region between D10S587 and D10S1723. This result was confirmed by two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. An association between histopathologically lower grade tumor and allelic loss (P = 0.03 by Fisher's exact test) was also observed. We also constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig and found that one YAC clone, which was 790 kb in size, harbored the whole 1-cM region of common allelic loss.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a biologically active molecule known to be enzymatically synthesized from L-arginine in the presence of NO synthetase (NOS). In this study, we demonstrate a novel non-enzymatic pathway for NO synthesis involving hydrogen peroxide and D- or L-arginine. We employed two measures of NO generation. The first consists in the demonstration of the oxidative metabolites of NO (NO2 + NO3 = NOx) and the second is the confirmatory finding of chemiluminescence derived from NO. The results show that NOx increases in the incubation mixture containing hydrogen peroxide coupled with D-arginine, L-arginine, L-canavanine, and even the NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). However, chemiluminescence was detected only from the reactions of hydrogen peroxide and D- or L-arginine and was diminished by the addition of carboxy-2-phenyl-4, 4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO), a specific scavenger of NO, confirming NO generation in the reaction.
Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was employed to survey genomic regions with increased and decreased copy number of the DNA sequence in 15 endometrial cancers [10 cases with microsatellite instability positive (MI+) and 5 cases with MI-]. Twelve of these 15 tumors (80%) showed abnormalities in copy number at one or more of the chromosomal regions. There were no regions with frequent chromosomal losses. Conversely, 11 of 15 cases (73%) showed gains on chromosome arms 1q (8/15; 53%) and/or 8q (6/15; 40%). Concordant gains of both chromosome arms 1q and 8q were observed in all three endometrial cancers of histological grade 3. These results suggest that these two chromosomal regions may contain genes whose increased expression contributes to development and/or progression of endometrial carcinogenesis. Two cases were further analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using three probes on chromosome 1 and two probes on chromosome 8 to more accurately determine increases in copy number. We found gains of chromosome 1q to 2.9-3.6 copies per cell and on 8q to 4.4 copies per cell.
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BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease are thought to be in a highly peroxidative state, based on studies showing decreased serum antioxidant activity and increased peroxidative products. In this study we confirm these findings by examining lipid peroxidation in subcutaneous fat tissue in uraemia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven subcutaneous fat samples were taken from patients with end-stage renal disease when they underwent intervention for arteriovenous fistula for haemodialyis or for catheter insertion for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The control samples were taken from 11 patients with normal renal function and without any history of renal disease who had surgical interventions. Lipid peroxides were measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. RESULTS: The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in subcutaneous fat tissue in the patients with end-stage renal disease is 1.223 +/- 0.636 nmol/mg fat tissue (mean +/- SD) whereas the level in the control group is 0.097 +/- 0.054 nmol/mg fat tissue. A comparison of the two groups by Student's t test revealed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the finding of a severe peroxidative state in patients with end-stage renal disease.
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There is considerable evidence that uremic patients are in a highly peroxidative state. The purpose of this study was to investigate the serum antioxidant activity that may regulate, or represent, the redox state in vivo. Serum from pre- and posthemodialysis patients and from healthy control subjects was added to a system generating the hydroxyl radical, and then the signal intensities of reactive oxygen species were measured by electron spin resonance and spin-trapping technique. The electron spin resonance signals of the reaction mixture containing prehemodialysis sera were significantly stronger than those of the reaction mixture containing healthy sera (P < 0.001, n = 19), and there was no significant difference in the signals between the reaction mixture containing posthemodialysis and healthy sera. These findings demonstrated that serum antioxidant activity in hemodialysis patients is significantly decreased, and this pathological condition is improved by hemodialysis treatment.
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A case in which the enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus may have served as bacterial superantigens is presented. This 71-year-old man developed proteinuria and renal dysfunction after contacting pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), coagulase type II. The infection occurred after surgery for recurrent lung cancer. Staphylococcus enterotoxins B, C, and TSST-1 were detected from the bacillus. Ten days after the onset of pneumonia, proteinuria was noted; urinary protein was as high as 1.8 g/day. The serum creatinine was elevated from 1.0 mg/dl to 3.7 mg/dl. Several immunological reactions were detected; the serum levels of IgG and IgA were increased, and the selective usage of T-cell receptor V beta (TCRV beta) was observed. Serum levels of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) were also elevated. Examination of the renal biopsy specimen by light microscopy showed minor to mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated the deposition of IgG, IgA, and C3, mainly along the capillary walls. Electron microscopy revealed electron dense deposits, mainly in the subepithelial areas, and injury to the glomerular basement membrane. When the pneumonia improved following antibiotic therapy, the renal function also improved, and proteinuria decreased. The levels of immunoglobulins and the usage of TCRV beta also decreased. Because staphylococcus enterotoxins act as superantigens, we believe this to be a typical case of superantigen-related glomerulonephritis.
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We made experiments of the inferior collicular potentials in acoustic and electrical stimulation for the purpose of studying fundamental issues for cochlear implantation. Guinea pigs with normal Preyer's reflex were used for this study. The results were as follows: (1) in acoustic stimulation relatively wide and large waveforms were gained but in electrical stimulation sharp and narrow ones were gained, (2) in acoustic stimulation the input-output curve of latency and amplitude was biphasic but in electrical stimulation it was monophasic. For this reason, in acoustic stimulation by click, when the intensity is low (under 80 dB SPL) stimulus site would be comparatively low frequency fibers. When the intensity is high (over 80 dB SPL) the stimulus site would shift to high frequency fibers. Therefore, many more neighboring fibers start responding. This results in biphasic input-output curves of latecy and amplitude. By electrical stimulation, however, it would be possible to stimulate only a restricted area among the bipolar electrode. Therefore, as the intensity increases, the response amplitude increases and becomes saturated at a constant level. This results in monophasic input-output curves of latency and amplitude.
To understand genetic events which play a role in the development and/or progression of human endometrial cancer, we studied allelotypes on all autosomal chromosomes, as well as chromosome X, with 42 microsatellite markers and 56 endometrial cancers. The most frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was observed on the long arm of chromosome 10 (14 of 30, 47%), which was commonly detected in grade 1 cancer. We constructed a detailed deletion map and defined two commonly deleted regions in 10q25-q26; one was the 8 cM region between D10S209 and D10S216, the other was the 12 cM region between D10S217 and D10S590. Replication errors at two or more loci were observed in 24 of 56 tumours (43%), suggesting that disruption of the DNA mismatch repair system also plays an important role in the course of endometrial carcinogenesis.