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Biomedical subjects

S Okamoto

Publications and source records attributed to S Okamoto.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have found an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of gastric cancer, many aspects of this relation remain uncertain. METHODS: We prospectively studied 1526 Japanese patients who had duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, gastric hyperplasia, or nonulcer dyspepsia at the time of enrollment; 1246 had H. pylori infection and 280 did not. The mean follow-up was 7.8 years (range, 1.0 to 10.6). Patients underwent endoscopy with biopsy at enrollment and then between one and three years after enrollment. H. pylori infection was assessed by histologic examination, serologic testing, and rapid urease tests and was defined by a positive result on any of these tests. RESULTS: Gastric cancers developed in 36 (2.9 percent) of the infected and none of the uninfected patients. There were 23 intestinal-type and 13 diffuse-type cancers. Among the patients with H. pylori infection, those with severe gastric atrophy, corpus-predominant gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia were at significantly higher risk for gastric cancer. We detected gastric cancers in 21 (4.7 percent) of the 445 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia, 10 (3.4 percent) of the 297 with gastric ulcers, 5 (2.2 percent) of the 229 with gastric hyperplastic polyps, and none of the 275 with duodenal ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric cancer develops in persons infected with H. pylori but not in uninfected persons. Those with histologic findings of severe gastric atrophy, corpus-predominant gastritis, or intestinal metaplasia are at increased risk. Persons with H. pylori infection and nonulcer dyspepsia, gastric ulcers, or gastric hyperplastic polyps are also at risk, but those with duodenal ulcers are not.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Anorectic effect of leptin is mediated by hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone, but not by urocortin, in rats.

Leptin is a key afferent signal that decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure by acting on the specific receptors in the hypothalamus. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its homologous peptide, urocortin, are also known to have a potent anorectic effect when given intracranially. To determine possible involvement of these two peptides in the leptin-induced anorexia, in the present study, food intake was measured in rats pretreated with antibodies against CRH and urocortin. In the control rats without antibody pretreatment, intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of leptin (0.1-1 microg/rat) suppressed nocturnal food intake. The anorectic effect of leptin was substantially attenuated in rats pretreated with icv injection of an anti-CRH antibody, but not with an anti-urocortin antibody. These results suggest that the anorectic effect of leptin is mediated by CRH, but not by urocortin, in the hypothalamus.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Collapse of the Ia3d cubic symmetry by uniaxial stretching of a double-gyroid block copolymer.

We report an experimental observation of collapse of the Ia3d symmetry by stretching of an elastomeric block copolymer that forms a double-gyroid (DG) microdomain structure. Some new diffraction spots were observed for a deformed DG structure. These spots were assigned to [110] and [200] reflections. For the Ia3d symmetry, these reflections are prohibited by the extinction rule and therefore none of them appeared for the sample before deformation. Appearance of these reflections indicates breakdown of the extinction rule and can be explained as a result of collapse of the symmetry of glide when three-dimensional DG networks are partially ruptured upon stretching.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

An allyltitanium derived from acrolein 1,2-dicyclohexylethylene acetal and (eta(2)-propene)Ti(O-i-Pr)(2) as a chiral propionaldehyde homoenolate equivalent that reacts with imines with excellent stereoselectivity. An efficient and practical access to optically active gamma-amino carbonyl compounds.

A chiral allyltitanium compound 2, prepared in situ by the reaction of optically active acrolein 1,2-dicyclohexylethylene acetal (3) with (eta(2)-propene)Ti(O-i-Pr)(2) (1), reacts with a variety of acyclic and cyclic imines 4 in a regiospecific way to afford alpha-addition products 5 as a mixture of the E- and Z-isomers in good combined yield, where the former is predominant in a ratio of 92:8 to >95:5. The mixture of (E)- and (Z)-5 and pure (E)-5 which could be isolated in several cases were respectively converted to the corresponding beta-amino ester 6 to confirm the absolute configuration and enantiomeric purity. The ee of the newly formed asymmetric center of 5 is more than 78% for the mixture of (E)- and (Z)-5 and more than 96% for pure (E)-5. By taking advantage of the versatility of the vinyl ether moiety in 5, optically active gamma-amino aldehydes 8, gamma-amino aldehyde acetals 7 and 10, gamma-amino acids 9, beta-amino esters 6, and pyrrolidinoisoquinolines 12 were readily prepared. In the reaction of 2 with optically active alpha-silyloxyimine 4n, remarkable double stereodifferentiation was observed; thus, the reaction of 2 derived from (S,S)- or (R,R)-3 provided syn- and anti-5n in a ratio of 55:45 or 0:100, respectively. Meanwhile, the stereochemistry of the product in the reaction of 2 with beta-silyloxyimine 4o was controlled mainly by 2. Thus, the reaction of beta-silyloxyimine 14 with 2 derived from 1 and (R,R)-3 afforded gamma-silyloxyimine 15 with 92% diastereoselectivity, from which 4-amino-6-hydroxypentadecanal dimethyl acetal (13), a key intermediate for the synthesis of batzelladine D, was synthesized.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Proinsulin C-peptide rapidly stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinases in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts: requirement of protein kinase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

It has been demonstrated that proinsulin C-peptide possesses several biological activities and that its specific binding sites are present on the surface of cell membranes. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of C-peptide actions are poorly known. In the present study we examined the possible involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in C-peptide effects. C-peptide induced the phosphorylation of MAPK [p44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and p42 ERK2] in Swiss 3T3 and 3T3-F442A fibroblasts but not in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and some other cell lines such as L(6)E(9) muscle cells. In Swiss 3T3 cells, C-peptide-induced phosphorylation of MAPK was dependent on time and concentration, being maximal at 1 min and at 1 nM C-peptide and was accompanied by an increase in MAPK activity and MAPK kinase (MEK) phosphorylation. The MAPK phosphorylation by C-peptide was abolished by treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) and also with a MEK inhibitor, PD 98059. In addition, MAPK phosphorylation was attenuated by treatment with a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor, wortmannin, and with a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, GF109203X, and by down-regulation of PKC by prolonged treatment with PMA. Similar effects of the inhibitors and PTX were found on the MAPK phosphorylation induced by neuropeptide Y. These results suggest that C-peptide activates MAPK through a putative G(i)/G(o)-linked receptor for C-peptide and through PI-3K-dependent and PKC-dependent pathways.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

Detection of viral interleukin-6 in Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-linked disorders.

Expression of a viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6) has been detected in certain Kaposi sarcoma (KS)--associated herpesvirus positive (KSHV(+)) lesions. The release of vIL-6 systemically and its contribution to the pathogenesis of HIV-related malignancies was studied. Serum vIL-6 was detected in 13 (38.2%) of 34 HIV(+) patients with KS, in 6 (85.7%) of 7 HIV(+) patients with primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and/or multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), and in 18 (60.0%) of 30 HIV(+), mostly homosexual, individuals without KS, MCD, or PEL. By contrast, serum vIL-6 was detected in only 3 (23.1%) of 13 patients with classic KS, 1 (2.5%) of 40 blood donors from the United States, and 4 (19.0%) of 21 blood donors from Italy. Circulating vIL-6 levels were associated with HIV(+) status (P <.0001). However, within the HIV(+) cohort, serum vIL-6 levels were not associated with the occurrence of KSHV-associated malignancies (P =.43). (Blood. 2001;97:2173-2176)

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed2001

Observation of orbital waves as elementary excitations in a solid.

A basic concept in solid-state physics is that when some kind of symmetry in a solid is spontaneously broken, collective excitations will arise. For example, phonons are the collective excitations corresponding to lattice vibrations in a crystal, and magnons correspond to spin waves in a magnetically ordered compound. Modulations in the relative shape of the electronic clouds in an orbitally ordered state could in principle give rise to orbital waves, or 'orbitons', but this type of elementary excitation has yet to be observed experimentally. Systems in which the electrons are strongly correlated-such as high-temperature superconductors and manganites exhibiting colossal magnetoresistivity-are promising candidates for supporting orbital waves, because they contain transition-metal ions in which the orbital degree of freedom is important. Orbitally ordered states have been found in several transition-metal compounds, and orbitons have been predicted theoretically for LaMnO3. Here we report experimental evidence for orbitons in LaMnO3, using Raman scattering measurements. We perform a model calculation of orbiton resonances which provides a good fit to the experimental data.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Fas-mediated apoptosis causes elimination of virus-specific cytotoxic T cells in the virus-infected liver.

Immunity to allogeneic MHC Ags is weak in rodent livers, raising questions as to the mechanisms that might control responses in this organ. Infection with an adenovirus vector reveals that T cell-mediated immunity to nonself-Ags in the liver is self-limiting. Virus-induced liver injury decreases and coincides with disappearance of virus-specific CTL, concomitant to an increase of apoptotic T cells early after infection. But whereas death in CD4 cells is independent of Fas, perforin, and TNF-alpha, that of CD8 cells requires Fas and not perforin or TNF-alpha pathways. Fas ligand is expressed on liver-infiltrating cells, pointing to death by fratricide that causes almost complete disappearance of virus-specific CTL 4 wk after infection. CTL elimination is virus dose dependent, and high doses induced high alanine aminotransferase values, elevated expression of Fas ligand on CD8 cells, and increased CD8 cell migration into the infected liver.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed2001

Regiocontrol of radical cyclization by Lewis acids. Efficient synthesis of optically active functionalized cyclopentanes and cyclohexanes.

[figure: see text] Treatment of alpha-alkylidenelactones 3a-d with Bu3SnH and a catalytic amount of Et3B effected a 5-exo radical cyclization preferentially to provide the corresponding 1 and 2 in a ratio of 70:30 to 100:0. Meanwhile, the reaction of 3a and 3b in the presence of Et2AlCl proceeded via a 6-endo cyclization pathway predominantly to afford 2a and 2b with 90% and 92% regioselectivity, respectively.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Expression of COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts in superficial adult fibrosarcoma suggests a close relationship to dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

The diagnosis of fibrosarcoma has become relatively rare since the recognition and definition of certain adult spindle-cell sarcomas, such as monophasic synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST), and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). Although most adult fibrosarcomas occur within intra- or inter-muscular fibrous tissues, some originate from superficial soft tissues (superficially located adult fibrosarcomas) (SAFs). Recently, the COL1A1-PDGFB chimeric gene resulting from a reciprocal translocation, t(17;22), and/or a supernumerary ring chromosome, r(17;22), has been identified, not only in conventional dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) but also in areas of DFSP with progression to fibrosarcoma (so-called fibrosarcomatous transformation) (FS-DFSP). Since many SAFs are clinically and histologically similar to DFSP or FS-DFSP, this study postulated that the two groups may be interrelated histogenetically. To test this hypothesis, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was conducted to determine whether COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts could be detected in six cases of SAF, using archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts were detected in four of six SAFs, whereas no such fusion transcripts could be amplified in five deep-seated fibrosarcomas, eight congenital/infantile fibrosarcomas or 28 other spindle-cell tumours and tumour-like lesions. These results show that at least some cases of SAF are genetically similar to DFSP and FS-DFSP, suggesting that some SAFs originate from DFSP or involve similar pathogenetic mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

T-helper (Th)1/Th2 imbalance in patients with previously untreated B-cell diffuse large cell lymphoma.

T-helper (Th)1/Th2 imbalance has been observed in a variety of pathological conditions, including malignant diseases. We evaluated the Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral blood Th cells by means of intracellular cytokine analysis in 19 patients with previously untreated B-cell diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) and in 18 patients with B-cell DLCL who had achieved complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy. The mean percentage of Th2 in CD4 cells in patients with DLCL (5.00 +/- 2.20) and that of Th1 in CD4+ cells in patients in CR (32.42 +/- 11.30) were significantly increased in comparison with those in healthy volunteers, respectively (Th1; 23.02 +/- 9.45, Th2; 3.25 +/- 0.90; P<0.01). The mean ratio of Th1/Th2 was significantly lower in patients with DLCL (4.74 +/- 0.52) than in patients in CR (9.31 +/- 1.06; P<0.01) and in healthy volunteers (7.25 +/- 0.65; P<0.01). We conclude that the Th1/Th2 balance was polarized to Th2 in untreated DLCL patients and to Th1 in patients in CR, which suggests that a Th1/Th2 imbalance could play a role in lymphomagenesis and durable remission.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

4-(Methylthio)-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, a principal antimutagen in daikon (Raphanus sativus; Japanese white radish).

The antimutagenic activity of n-hexane extracts from eight strains of daikon (Raphanus sativus; Japanese white radish) have been examined using the UV-induced mutation assay of Escherichia coli B/r WP2. A correlation was found between the potency of antimutagenicity and the amount of 4-(methylthio)-3-butenyl isothiocyanate (MTBITC) in their n-hexane extracts. Because the pure MTBITC also showed antimutagenicity, MTBITC is presumably the active antimutagen principle in n-hexane extracts of daikon. Among the eight strains of daikon studied, Aokubi, the improved common strain in Japan, contained 71.0 micromol of MTBITC in 100 g of fresh daikon. In contrast, Karami and Momoyama, which are original wild strains, contained much more MTBITC (363.5 and 168.0 micromol/100 g, respectively). In addition, phenethyl isothiocyanate was found in a lesser amount (5-33 nmol/100 g) in eight strains of daikon, and allyl isothiocyanate and benzyl isothiocyanate were not detectable in any strains (<3 nmol/100 g). The amount of total isothiocyanate in grated daikon was 7.0 times higher than that in cut daikon measured after 30 min of cooking. Through eating habits, humans might be able to consume substantial amounts of the antimutagen MTBITC from dishes using the grated form of wild strains of daikon. Therefore, it is possible to substantially increase the intake of the antimutagenic ingredient of daikon (i.e., MTBITC) by changing food preferences and preparation procedures (i.e., using the grated form of the wild strains).

Antimutagenic Agents↗
PubMed2001

Phase III study comparing tacrolimus (FK506) with cyclosporine for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We report the results of a phase III trial comparing tacrolimus (FK506) with cyclosporine for GVHD prophylaxis after allogeneic BMT. From February 1995 to July 1996, 136 patients were enrolled and followed up to September 1997. During the first 100 days post-transplant the incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (the primary end-point) was lower in the tacrolimus group (17.5%) compared with the cyclosporine group (48.0%, P < 0.0001). A significant difference was observed between the tacrolimus and cyclosporine groups when subset analyses were performed based on recipients from HLA-matched siblings (13.3% vs 41.3%, P = 0.015) or donors other than HLA-matched siblings (21.4% vs 53.8%, P= 0.0029). The incidence of chronic GVHD (47.3% and 47.8%) and Kaplan-Meier estimate of overall survival (62.9% and 65.2%) were similar between the tacrolimus and cyclosporine groups, respectively. The overall leukemia relapse rate was not significantly different between the tacrolimus and cyclosporine groups (19.6% and 11.4%, respectively). However, the relapse rate among recipients from HLA-matched siblings was significantly higher in the tacrolimus group (30.9%) compared with the cyclosporine group (3.6%, P = 0.013). These results suggest the merit of tacrolimus for the prophylaxis of acute GVHD, but a lack of merit for a graft-versus-leukemia effect among recipients from HLA-matched sibling donors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Quantitative monitoring of the PRAME gene for the detection of minimal residual disease in leukaemia.

PRAME (Preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma) has been previously identified as a melanoma antigen recognized by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and found to be expressed in a variety of cancer cells including leukaemic cells. We have screened 98 Japanese patients with leukaemia and lymphoma for expression of the PRAME gene using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Forty-one patients (42%) showed high levels of PRAME expression. Eight of these patients were then monitored using real-time PCR for a period of 10-37 months. Significant reductions in the PRAME expression were observed in all patients after chemotherapy. An increased expression was detected in the two patients who relapsed, one of which was before cytological diagnosis. These changes were correlated with those of other known genetic markers, such as the bcr-abl gene. Therefore, quantitative monitoring of the PRAME gene using real-time PCR method may be useful for detecting minimal residual disease and to predict subsequent relapse, especially in patients without known genetic markers. In addition, a PRAME-positive leukaemia cell line and fresh leukaemic cells were found to be susceptible to lysis by PRAME-specific CTLs established from a patient with melanoma, suggesting that the PRAME peptide can also be a target leukaemia antigen for T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Macrophage-derived IL-18-mediated intestinal inflammation in the murine model of Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with an increased number of infiltrating macrophages, which release a variety of proinflammatory cytokines. Interleukin (IL)-18 has been implicated in the modulation of mucosal CD4(+) T cells towards Th1 responses, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of CD. Here we assess the role of macrophages and of IL-18 in the murine model of intestinal inflammation that mimics the immunologic characteristics of human CD. METHODS: Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice immunized with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) followed by rectal administration of TNBS in ethanol. Mice were treated with either an antibody directed against macrophages conjugated to the ribosome-inactivating protein saporin (anti-Mac-1-saporin) or with a neutralizing antibody against IL-18. In addition, we assessed whether an identical TNBS immunization/challenge protocol could induce colitis in IL-18(-/-) mice. RESULTS: The colonic mucosa of TNBS-treated mice was marked by infiltration of Mac-1-positive macrophages and up-regulation of IL-18. The administration of the anti-Mac-1-saporin antibody or the neutralizing anti-IL-18 antibody resulted in a dramatic attenuation of mucosal inflammation in this model. In addition, TNBS was unable to induce significant colitis in the IL-18(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our data underscore the pivotal role of macrophages, and the macrophage-derived IL-18, in the establishment of TNBS-induced colitis in mice. Our results highlight the potential use of therapy directed against IL-18 in the treatment of patients with CD.

Animals↗