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S Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to S Nishimura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Age-related changes in the intramuscular distribution of melanocytes in the Silky fowl.

1. The characteristics of melanocyte distribution in skeletal muscles in the Silky fowl were investigated in association with growth. 2. Pectoralis (PT) and iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) muscles from 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-, 20- and 30-week-old Silky males were weighed and collagen type I was detected in frozen sections immunohistochemically. 3. Melanocytes were observed in the collagen type I-immunopositive endomysium and perimysium in both muscles. 4. Image analysis indicated that the total area occupied by melanocytes in histological sections sharply decreased from 0.61% to 0.16% in PT muscle and from 1.67% to 0.33% in ITL muscle at 1 to 3 weeks, and then gradually decreased. The melanocyte area was larger in ITL muscle than in PT muscle until 10 weeks of age. 5. We concluded that the proportion of intramuscular melanocytes in the Silky fowl differs between types of muscles in the early stages of development, and it decreases with growth.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

Effects of nutritional level on muscle development, histochemical properties of myofibre and collagen architecture in the pectoralis muscle of male broilers.

1. The effects of nutritional level on muscle development, histochemical properties of myofibre and collagen architecture in the pectoralis muscle were evaluated using male broilers of Red Cornish x New Hampshire stock, reared on diets of high nutritional value for up to 80 d (H80d) and low nutritional value for up to 80 d (L80d, same age as H80d) or 95 d (L95d, same body weight as H80d). 2. The total live weight and the weight of pectoralis muscle were lower in L80d than in both H80d and L95d. The muscle weight as a percentage of live weight was 8.7% in L80d, 10.7% in H80d and 11.5% in L95d. 3. Pectoralis muscle was composed only of type IIB myofibres and showed no differences in myofibre type composition among the chicken groups. The largest diameter of type IIB myofibres was observed in L95d, followed by H80d and the smallest in L80d. 4. The total amount of intramuscular collagen did not differ among the chicken groups (1.92 to 1.99 mg/g). Types I and III collagens were immunohistochemically detected in both the perimysia and endomysia. The thin perimysia around the primary myofibre fascicles showed larger width in H80d than L80d and L95d, and also the thick perimysia around the secondary fascicles in H80d than L80d. 5. The collagen structure of the perimysium was most developed in H80d, followed by L95d and on the least in L80d. The development of perimysial collagen fibres could be enhanced by a rapid growth rate of the muscle induced by high nutritional level and depressed by a slow growth rate with low nutritional foods. 6. The endomysial collagen architecture was observed as a felt-like tissue of the fibril bundles with many slits. The thinnest endomysial wall was observed in L80d, followed by H80d and the thickest in L95d. 7. From these results, it was indicated that foods of high nutritional value could enhance growth of the pectoralis muscle of broilers, and this is accompanied by hypertrophy of the type IIB myofibres and development of the perimysial collagen architecture.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Exploration of genes showing intramuscular fat deposition-associated expression changes in musculus longissimus muscle.

Marbling, as defined by the amount of intramuscular fat, is an economically important trait in beef cattle. Intramuscular fat deposition is postulated to arise mainly from a series of adipogenic events in intramuscular adipocyte-lineage cells and in the physiological or anatomical milieux surrounding them. This study was designed to investigate gene-expression patterns associated with fat deposition in musculus longissimus muscle, including adipocyte-lineage cells and part of the milieux. Differential-display PCR (ddPCR) was used to examine expression differences between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups at 8, 10, 12 and 14 months of age, encompassing the time that marbling starts to appear. Seventy-four of 2114 total bands on ddPCR gel-bands were significant (P < 0.05) for the group effect, the interaction effect between group and age, or both the group and the interaction effects. Sequence analysis of 72 of these bands revealed 77 genes, including 35 annotated genes and 42 novel sequences. Among the 35 annotated genes, 6 (BTG2, PDHB, SORBS1, TRDN, TTN and MGP) have been related to changes in intramuscular fat deposition, possibly by exerting effects on adipocyte-lineage cells or on the milieux surrounding them.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

PACAP stimulates the release of interleukin-6 in cultured rat Müller cells.

We have investigated the in vivo effect of PACAP on rat Müller cells that are the predominant glial element in the retina. Müller cells were treated with PACAP38, either alone or in the presence of the PACAP-selective antagonist, PACAP6-38. Cellular proliferation was determined by measuring the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine, while interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the culture medium were examined using a B9 cell bioassay. In cultured rat Müller cells, the expression of PACAP receptor (PAC1-R) was assessed with immunohistochemistry using a PAC1-R-specific antiserum. PACAP stimulated IL-6 production in Müller cells at a concentration as low as 10(-12) M, which was not sufficient to induce cell proliferation. This elevation of IL-6 production was significantly inhibited by PACAP6-38. These data suggest that Müller cells are one of the target cells for PACAP, stimulating the release of IL-6, and providing a mechanism whereby PACAP exerts a significant neuroprotective effect in the retina.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Etiologic agents of acute gastroenteritis among Japanese infants and children: virus diversity and genetic analysis of sapovirus.

A total of 371 fecal specimens from infants and children with acute gastroenteritis in Maizuru, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan from July 2002 to June 2003 were tested for the presence of diarrheal viruses by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse passive hemagglutination (PRHA), RNA-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), latex agglutination and sequence analysis methods. Among diarrheal viruses detected, group A rotavirus was the most prevalent (42.2%) followed by norovirus (28.9%), group C rotavirus (8.4%), sapovirus (6.7%), adenovirus (5.3%) and astrovirus (0.9%), respectively. There was the high rate (7.6%) of viral mixed infections. Sapovirus was classified into 6 genotypes (GI/1, GI/4, GI/5, GI/6 and GII/1 and one novel tentatively called GII/5). It is noteworthy that genogroup II sapovirus can be classified into 5 genotypes. Our findings confirmed the presence of many diarrheal viruses co-circulating among Japanese infants and children and showed the great genetic diversity among sapoviruses.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

The effect of an old surgical scar on sentinel node mapping in patients with breast cancer: a report of five cases.

AIMS: To study the significance of lymphatic drainage disruption due to a surgical scar in sentinel node mapping (SNM) in breast cancer patients. METHODS: We reviewed patients with stage I breast cancer who had undergone SNM and had an old surgical scar in the ipsilateral breast. RESULTS: Of 534 breast cancer patients who had undergone SNM, five patients had an old scar in the ipsilateral breast. Inter-pectoral nodes, internal nodes, intramammary nodes, and contralateral axillary nodes were identified as sentinel nodes in three cases. In the remaining two cases, no sentinel lymph nodes were identified. CONCLUSIONS: An old surgical scar in the breast may cause lymphatic drainage disruption, resulting in abnormal radioactive colloid uptake during SNM.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

T-kininogen can either induce or inhibit proliferation in Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts, depending on the route of administration.

T-kininogen (T-KG) is a precursor of T-kinin, the most abundant kinin in rat serum, and also acts as a strong and specific cysteine proteinase inhibitor. Its expression is strongly induced during aging in rats, and expression of T-KG in Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts results in inhibition of cell proliferation. However, T-KG is a serum protein produced primarily in the liver, and thus, most cells are only exposed to the protein from the outside. To test the effect of T-KG on fibroblasts exposed to exogenous T-KG, we purified the protein from the serum of K-kininogen-deficient Katholiek rats. In contrast to the results obtained by transfection, exposure of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts to exogenously added T-KG leads to a dose-dependent increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation. This response does not require kinin receptors, but it is clearly mediated by activation of the ERK pathway. As a control, we repeated the transfection experiments, using a different promoter. The results are consistent with our published data showing that, under these circumstances, T-KG inhibits cell proliferation. We conclude that T-KG exerts opposite effects on fibroblast proliferation, depending exclusively on the way that it is administered to the cells (transfection versus exogenous addition).

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Isolation of gene sets affected specifically by polyglutamine expression: implication of the TOR signaling pathway in neurodegeneration.

Transcriptional dysregulation as a result of sequestration of essential transcription factors into protein aggregates formed by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansions can lead to late-onset progressive neurodegeneration. DNA microarray analysis of Drosophila expressing polyQ in the compound eye over time revealed large numbers of transcriptional changes at the earliest stages of the disease including repression of the transient receptor potential calcium channels in a polyQ-induced cell death specific manner. While significant differences in expression profiles were found between the Drosophila compound eye and polyQ-sensitive neural cells, a number of possible key overlapping regulators were extracted. Among these, PDK1 was shown to act as a mediator for polyQ-toxicity, suggesting the involvement of the TOR pathway in polyQ-induced neurodegeneration.

3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed2004

Identification of zonal flows in a toroidal plasma.

This Letter presents experimental confirmation of the presence of zonal flows in magnetically confined toroidal plasma using an advanced diagnostic system--dual heavy ion beam probes. The simultaneous observation of an electric field at two distant toroidal locations (approximately 1.5 m apart) in the high temperature (approximately 1 keV) plasma provides a fluctuation spectrum of electric field (or flow), a spatiotemporal structure of the zonal flows (characteristic radial length of approximately 1.5 cm and lifetime of approximately 1.5 ms), their long-range correlation with toroidal symmetry (n=0), and the difference in the zonal flow amplitude with and without a transport barrier. These constitute essential elements of turbulence-zonal flow systems, and illustrate one of the fundamental processes of structure formation in nature.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Phase I-II study of irinotecan (CPT-11) plus nedaplatin (254-S) with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Combination chemotherapy with irinotecan (CPT-11) and platinum compounds is effective for treating cervical cancer. Nedaplatin (254-S) is a new cisplatin analogue that achieves a high response rate (53%) in patients with primary cervical cancer. We performed a phase I-II study of combination chemotherapy with CPT-11 plus 254-S for advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. The inclusion criteria were stage IV disease or recurrence. CPT-11 and 254-S were administered intravenously on day 1, while rhG-CSF (50 microg) was given on days 3-12. This regimen was repeated after 4 weeks. Dose escalation was carried out in tandem (CPT-11/254-S: 50/70, 50/80, and 60/80 mg m(-2)). A total of 27 patients (stage IV=seven, recurrence=20) were enrolled. The phase I study enrolled eight patients. At dose levels 1 and 2, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. At dose level 3, the first two patients developed DLTs. The maximum tolerated dose of CPT-11 and 254-S was 60 and 80 mg m(-2), respectively, and the recommended doses were 50 and 80 mg m(-2). Grade 3/4 haematologic toxicity occurred in 67% in phase II study, but there were no grade 3 non-haematologic toxicities except for nausea or lethargy. In all 27 patients, there were two complete responses (7%) and 14 Partial responses (52%), for an overall response rate of 59% (95% confidence interval: 39-78%). Among the 12 responders with recurrent disease, the median time to progression and median survival were 161 days (range: 61-711 days) and 415 days (range: 74-801 days). This new regimen is promising for cervical cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Interferometry of direct photons in central 208Pb + 208Pb collisions at 158A GeV.

Two-particle correlations of direct photons were measured in central 208Pb+208Pb collisions at 158A GeV. The invariant interferometric radii were extracted for 100<K(T)<300 MeV/c and compared to radii extracted from charged pion correlations. The yield of soft direct photons, K(T)<300 MeV/c, was extracted from the correlation strength and compared to theoretical calculations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of two-year and five-year tamoxifen use in Japanese post-menopausal women.

AIM: Large multicenter, randomized trials have revealed the advantages of using tamoxifen for 5 years vs 2 years in breast cancer patients. The aim of this report is to confirm the optimal duration of tamoxifen administration in a study of Japanese breast cancer patients. METHODS: Japanese post-menopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy were randomly assigned to either a 5-year or 2-year course of tamoxifen. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival, with secondary endpoints of overall survival and a reduction in the development of metachronous contra-lateral breast cancer. RESULTS: A total of 256 breast cancer patients were randomized to a 5-year or 2-year tamoxifen administration group. After a median follow-up time of 81 months, there were no significant differences seen in terms of disease-free or overall survival (p=0.65 and 0.56, respectively). Furthermore, the impact of the 5-year use of tamoxifen on the development of contra-lateral breast cancer did not reach statistical significance (p=0.0511). However, 5-year tamoxifen use was closely associated with gynaecological complications (p=0.0081). CONCLUSION: We could not show a beneficial effect of using tamoxifen for 5 years over 2 years in Japanese estrogen receptor-positive patients. This is likely due to the small number of patients enrolled in our study; however, racial disparity may influence this result. A reevaluation is necessary to study the advantages of the 5-year use of tamoxifen in the Japanese racial subgroup.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Growth changes of the collagen content and architecture in the pectoralis and iliotibialis lateralis muscles of cockerels.

1. Growth changes of the collagen content and architecture in the pectoralis (PT) and iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) muscles were examined using cockerels from 1 to 14 weeks of age. 2. Total collagen content in PT muscle showed little change, but in ITL muscle reached a maximum at 5 weeks and thereafter decreased slightly until 14 weeks. The collagen content was markedly larger in ITL muscle after 5 weeks. Pyridinoline content of collagen increased abruptly from 5 to 14 weeks in both muscles, but no difference between muscle types was detected. 3. The cell size of the endomysial honeycombs increased with the development of myofibres, and the mesh size of the perimysium around the honeycombs enlarged. 4. In both muscles endomysia were an incomplete network of collagen fibrils with many foramina at one week, became a very thin membrane of felt-like fabric in 2 to 5 weeks and thereafter increased in thickness until 11 to 14 weeks. 5. Perimysial width around the secondary fasciculus differed between the muscle types after 5 weeks. In the wider perimysium of ITL muscle, the collagen fibres increased in number and size to make a stack of collagen bands around the fasciculus. In the narrower perimysium of PT muscle, a few platelets of collagen fibres also developed. 6. The perimysial collagen fibre at 1 to 2 weeks had a smooth surface and appeared to be composed of fine collagen fibrils. The fibre at 11 to 14 weeks showed a rugged surface and was composed of coarser collagen bundles that combined with each other into a net-like configuration with very slim meshes. 7. Our results showed that the collagenous components of chicken intramuscular connective tissue changed markedly during the early period of muscle growth in distribution, architecture and quality but with little difference in quantity.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Developmental states of the collagen content, distribution and architecture in the pectoralis, iliotibialis lateralis and puboischiofemoralis muscles of male Red Cornish x New Hampshire and normal broilers.

1. Developmental states of the collagen content, distribution and architecture in the pectoralis (PT), iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) and puboischiofemoralis (PIF) muscles of male Red Cornish x New Hampshire (RN, 80 d, body weight 2.9 kg) and normal (3.1 kg) broilers were evaluated. 2. In PT muscle the total amount of collagen was significantly greater in RN broilers (3.33 mg/g) than in normal ones (1.71 mg/g). This higher collagen content in RN broilers was based mainly on the closer mesh sizes of endomysial honeycomb. The collagen structures in the perimysia also differed between broiler types, when more collagen fibres were observed in RN broilers. 3. ITL muscle contained total collagen of 4.10 to 5.00 mg/g. Types I and III collagens were distributed on the perimysia at higher percentages in RN broilers (31.6%, 37.2%) than normal (15.6%, 30.8%), respectively. The thick bands of tough collagen fibres characteristic of ITL muscle perimysium in cockerels had not yet developed in these broilers. 4. Total collagen was 4.63 to 6.29 mg/g in PIF material with fascia. In PIF muscle the perimysial collagen fibres had not yet attained their full growth but consisted of densely packed fibrils. PIF muscle was characterised by the earlier maturing collagen structure. 5. These results show that a perimysial collagen structure in broilers is still in an undeveloped state. It is supposed that tenderness of broiler meat is attributed mainly to characteristics of the collagen distribution, in which the majority of types I and III collagens is distributed on the closer mesh of endomysial honeycomb.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Release of short and proline-rich antihypertensive peptides from casein hydrolysate with an Aspergillus oryzae protease.

Angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory activities were measured after hydrolysis of casein by 9 different commercially available proteolytic enzymes. Among these enzymes, a protease isolated from Aspergillus oryzae showed the highest angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory activity per peptide. The A. oryzae peptide also showed the highest antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats when the systolic blood pressure was measured 5 h after oral administration of 32 mg/kg of various enzymatic hydrolysates. Significant antihypertensive effects were observed with dosages of 9.6, 32, and 96 mg of the A. oryzae peptide/kg of body weight (BW), and the effects were dependent on these peptide dosages. Analysis of peptide length showed the A. oryzae hydrolysate was the shortest of all tested casein hydrolysates; the peptide mixture had an average value of 1.4 amino acids (AA) in the sequence. To further characterize the A. oryzae hydrolysate, we analyzed the AA sequence of the whole peptide mixture. Various AA were detected at the first AA position, however, an increased number of Pro residues were observed at the second and third position of the A. oryzae hydrolysate. No strong signals were detected after the fourth AA position of the A. oryzae hydrolysate. These results suggest that the casein hydrolysate of A. oryzae, which expressed potent antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats, mainly contain short peptides of X-Pro and X-Pro-Pro sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

The potential for oral combination chemotherapy of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, a 5-FU prodrug, and cyclophosphamide for metastatic breast cancer.

Preclinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic anti-tumour activity of combination therapy with the oral cytostatics, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and cyclophosphamide (CPA), in human breast cancer xenograft models. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this oral combination chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In all, 101 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in the study, and the data for 94 eligible patients of these were evaluated. The patients received twice daily oral combinations of 5'-DFUR (1200 mg/body/day) and CPA (100 mg/body/day) for 2 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest period. After a median of 19 treatment cycles (range 1-66 cycles), 16 patients (17.0%) had a complete response, and 40 patients (42.6%) had partial responses. The response rate was 59.6% (95% CI, 49.0-69.6%). The median time to progression and overall survival times were 11.7 and 40.3 months, respectively. The toxicity was mild and tolerable, and the related grade 3/4 clinical adverse effects consisted of haematological toxicity in 21 patients (22%) and nonhaematological toxicity in five patients (5%). These results suggest that the oral combination chemotherapy of 5'-DFUR and CPA has low toxicity and is a novel, very convenient and effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

[Local advanced lung cancer invaded thoracic vertebral bodies with unruptured cerebral aneurysm].

A 57-year-old man presented with the chief complaint of left shoulder pain in June 2001, and paridrosis of left upper trunk and left upper limb in July 2001. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed 8 mm sized unrupture aneurysm of left middle cerebral artery, and chest computed tomography (CT) showed the lung tumor invaded thoracic vertebral bodies. The local advanced lung carcinoma (cT4N0M0) and unrupture aneurysm of left middle cerebral artery was diagnosed. The prevented clipping of unrupture aneurysm was performed at 11th September 2001, and left upper lobectomy, hemivertebrectomy and reconstruction of thoracic vertebral body (Th 3-5) with Modul' ICS at 12th October 2001. The pathological findings revealed squamous cell carcinoma. The staging was pT4N0M0, IIIB. The postoperative course was uneventful. After the radiotherapy (50 Gy), chemotherapy (gemcitabine and vinorelbine) was performed. But the radiation pneumonia was occurred and chemotherapy was intermitted. The steroid was administrated due to the radiation pneumonia, and the complication was improved. He discharged at 17th April 2002 and had no recurrence. The prevented clipping of unrupture cerebral aneurysm and the reconstruction of thoracic vertebral body (Th 3-5) with Modul' ICS were useful for the radical operation of the local advanced lung cancer.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗