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Biomedical subjects

S Ohno

Publications and source records attributed to S Ohno.

At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of neonatal pig testis: purification and some properties.

20 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was purified from a cytosol fraction of neonatal pig testes to homogeneity as demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and by isoelectric focusing. The molecular weight was estimated to be 30,500 using PAGE with sodium dodecyl sulfate and the gel filtration method. Molecular estimations showed that the purified enzyme consisted of a single polypeptide chain. It catalyzed the reduction of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one with NADPH. Furthermore, the C21-steroids, such as progesterone, pregnenolone, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, deoxycorticosterone, and deoxycortisol were also reduced by the purified enzyme. Apparent Km values for 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, pregnenolone, and deoxycorticosterone were 9.4, 1.5, 4.0, and 8.6 microM, respectively. The enzyme did not show 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. The maximum rate of enzyme activity was observed at 45 degrees C and optimum pH was at pH 5.5. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by heavy metal ions such as Hg2+ and Cu2+.

20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Lugol-combined endoscopic detection of minute malignant lesions of the thoracic esophagus.

Early-stage esophageal carcinomas, particularly cases of intraepithelial carcinoma and mucosal carcinoma, are extremely difficult to detect because the patients have no particular complaints, and findings on the x-rays are nil. At present, endoscopic examination is the only tool of any value for discerning such lesions. Lugol-combined endoscopy with biopsy has proven to be most effective for detecting the presence and spread of small malignant lesions of the esophagus. Studies were conducted on the diagnostic features of one intraepithelial, five mucosal and 29 submucosal carcinomas of the esophagus, detected through the use of Lugol-combined endoscopy.

Aged↗

On periodicities governing the construction of genes and proteins.

Inasmuch as all events in this universe are governed by multitudes of periodicities, it is a mistake to regard any coding sequence as unique implying the descent from random assemblages of four bases. Instead, each coding sequence is comprised of primordial and derived repeating units. In the case of families of proteins with transmembrane alpha-helices, the primordial repeating units of their coding sequences were base heptamers, thus, giving the heptapeptidic periodicity very conductive to alpha-helix formation to the original polypeptide chains. Even in modern coding sequences for these families of proteins, intact and base-substituted copies of these primordial heptamers are found in more or less even distribution along the entire coding sequence. In addition, there are now locally prominent tandemly recurring units that are only remotely related to primordial heptamers. In the case of Ca++ channel, local prominence of one such nonameric unit gave a unique tripeptidic periodicity to the fourth helix of each unit giving to it a girdle of positively charged residues. All these complex interplays between primordial and derived recurring units that characterize each coding sequence can best be appreciated by their musical transformation. The transformed musical score of a pertinent part of rabbit skeletal muscle Ca++ channel coding sequence is given.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Positron emission tomography in three cases of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

The true responsible lesion of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was not adequately elucidated. Three cases of this syndrome were investigated by using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET revealed the differences in the left and right sides, especially the hypometabolism from the frontal to temporal regions. With this finding we supposed that the L-G syndrome implies one type of partial epilepsy caused by damage in parts of the temporal or frontal lobe.

Adult↗

Polarized thyroid cells in monolayers cultured on collagen gel: their cytoskeleton organization, iodine uptake, and resting membrane potentials.

Porcine thyroid cells were cultured on collagen gel-coated cover glasses. They were reorganized into polarized monolayer cells; the basal cell membranes were in contact with the collagen gel, and the apical ones faced the culture medium. We studied cytoskeleton organization, resting membrane potentials, and iodine uptake of these cells. The quick-freezing and deep-etching replica method provided three-dimensional images of the cytoskeleton organization. Networks of microfilaments were observed under the apical cell membrane. In the deep cytoplasm and near the basal cell membranes, intermediate filaments predominated and were interlinked with the microfilaments. When the cells were cultured in the presence of TSH, TSH induced the formation of microvilli at the apical cell membranes and the accumulation of microfilaments under these membranes; in the deep cytoplasm, the intermediate filaments were more closely interlinked with the microfilaments. The microfilaments were immunostained with antiactin antibody. Thus, collagen is a factor in determining the cell polarity, and TSH further augments polarization through reorganizing the cytoskeletons. Electrophysiological study revealed that the resting membrane potential of cells cultured in the absence of TSH was -46 mV, and that of cells cultured in the presence of TSH was -58 mV. TSH hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials. These cells took up iodine. TSH in the medium augmented this uptake. TSH augments thyroid cell polarization through reorganizing the cytoskeletons and hyperpolarizing the resting membrane potentials and enhances iodine uptake by the cells.

Animals↗

[Clinical results and prospects of hyperthermia in the treatment of patients with esophageal carcinoma].

Hyperthermia using a radiofrequency system with an endotract antenna, combined with irradiation and chemotherapy, was prescribed for patients with resectable (n = 62) and unresectable (n = 31) squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, admitted to the 2nd Department of Surgery, Kyushu University Hospital from 1978. The histopathological effectiveness, according to the Guidelines for Clinical and Pathologic Studies on Carcinoma of the Esophagus, and the long-term results were compared between two groups of patients treated with hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy (HCR therapy) and those treated with chemo-radiotherapy but not hyperthermia (CR therapy). In the resected cases, preoperative HCR therapy resulted in a significantly higher histopathological effectiveness rate (66%) compared with that in cases treated by CR therapy (49%) (p less than 0.05). The five-year survival rates of patients with resectable carcinoma given preoperative HCR therapy or CR therapy were 43.2% and 14.7%, respectively, and the two-year survival rates of those with unresectable carcinoma were 15.5% and 1.2%, respectively. Thus, HCR therapy produced not only a significantly higher histopathological effectiveness rate but also a significantly longer survival without severe side effects. This treatment would contribute to improvement of the prognosis of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.

Adult↗

Clinical studies of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease.

We evaluated the clinical statistics of a total of 186 patients (101 men and 85 women) with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease seen in the Uveitis Survey Clinic of the Hokkaido University Hospital during the 18-year period from 1966 to 1983. The annual number of new cases showed some change. More new patients were seen in the spring and late autumn. Clinical examination at the first visit concerning ocular symptoms showed inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber in 56%, papilledema in 87%, and serous retinal detachment and/or retinal edema in 93% of the cases. During the course of the disease, 64% of the cases showed depigmentation of the ocular fundus, and 85% showed perilimbal vitiligo (Sugiura's sign). In addition, the clinical examinations concerning extraocular symptoms showed pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid in 84%, dysacousia in 74%, and scalp supersensitivity on touching the hair in 72% of the cases. Visual prognosis was generally favorable, but the final visual acuity in this disease was significantly affected by ocular complications, initial visual acuity, and the age at onset.

Adolescent↗

Three-dimensional ultrastructure of the Golgi region of the formative chondrocyte in newborn rat mandibular condyle.

The three dimensional ultrastructure of Golgi region of formative chondrocytes from newborn rat mandibular condyle was examined by means of the method based on dilute osmium maceration with a high-resolution scanning electron microscope. The large area of formative chondrocytes was occupied by the cytoplasmic organelles related to matrix-synthesis such as Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and mitochondria. The Golgi region of formative chondrocytes was composed of the limiting membranous structures such as some groups of the stacks of Golgi cisterns, vesicles, vacuoles, secretory granules, reticular constituents and small tabular or tubular RER. The Golgi cisterns were composed of both small tabular parts and rod-like parts arising from tabular parts. Small tabular parts were furthermore subdivided into three types of many, few and no penetrated ones. Reticular constituents were made up of limiting membrane visible as smooth image by scanning electron microscopy, therefore, are assumed to be one part of the GERL (Golgi apparatus-endoplasmic reticulum-lysosome).

Animals↗

[Augmentation of murine organ-associated natural immune responses by cepharanthin].

Oral administration of cepharanthin (bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid) to mice was effective in the organ-associated immune responses. Cepharanthin, as a biological response modifier (BRM), augmented natural killer (NK) activity of leukocytes isolated from the spleen, lymph node, lung, and liver. The degree of NK augmentation was almost the same in these organs without lymph node, and reached to the maximum levels 3 days after cepharanthin administration. In addition, adherent leukocytes (greater than 95% macrophages) isolated from the lung or liver following cepharanthin administration also exhibited an augmented macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity. These results suggest that such organ-associated immune responses may play an important role in the antitumor and/or antimetastatic effects mediated by cepharanthin.

Administration, Oral↗

Long-term effects of hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy and irradiation for the treatment of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.

Hyperthermia combined with irradiation and chemotherapy was prescribed for patients with resectable or unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The long term results were compared between two groups of patients; one group was treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hyperthermia (HCR), and the other was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but not hyperthermia (CR). The five year survival rates of patients with resectable carcinoma, given preoperative HCR or CR, were 43.2 and 14.7 per cent, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The two year survival rates of those with unresectable carcinoma and receiving HCR or CR were 15.5 and 1.2 per cent, respectively. In particular, for the patients classified as TNM Stages I and II, a significantly longer survival period was obtained with HCR. As severe side effects in patients given hyperthermia were nil, this treatment deserves serious consideration when treating patients with a malignant lesion of the esophagus.

Adenocarcinoma↗