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Biomedical subjects

S Shimizu

Publications and source records attributed to S Shimizu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Chorioamnionitis caused by Serratia marcescens in a non-immunocompromised host.

A 26 year old pregnant woman with antithrombin III deficiency developed recurrent septicaemia with Serratia marcescens. In spite of the administration of antibiotics, high grade fever persisted. She subsequently manifested lower abdominal pain, and spontaneous abortion occurred. After the abortion, she became completely afebrile. The amnion was turbid, and microscopic examination of the placenta showed haemorrhage and massive infiltration of neutrophils, suggestive of infectious chorioamnionitis. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis showed that isolates from the blood, urine, and vaginal discharge were genetically identical. Intravenous pyelography revealed that she had a bilateral completed double ureter. It was thought that a urinary tract anomaly caused infection with S marcescens, and the pathogen spread to the chorioamnion via the bloodstream. This is the first report of chorioamnionitis caused by S marcescens in a non-immunocompromised host. In addition, these findings indicate that the chorioamnion can serve as a site for persistent infection in normal pregnancies.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed2002

Enzymatic preparation of D-beta-acetylthioisobutyric acid and cetraxate hydrochloride using a stereo- and/or regioselective hydrolase, 3,4-dihydrocoumarin hydrolase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.

3,4-Dihydrocoumarin hydrolase (DCH) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus F46, which was previously found on screening for aromatic lactone-hydrolyzing enzymes, catalyzes the hydrolysis of several linear esters. The substrate specificity of the enzyme toward linear esters was quite characteristic, i.e., (1) it was specific toward methyl esters, (2) it recognized the configuration at the 2-position, and (3) it hydrolyzed diesters to monoesters. DCH hydrolyzed the methyl esters of beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and cetraxate. The products of these reactions were identified as D-beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and cetraxate, respectively, i.e., the hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by DCH were stereo- and/or regioselective. With recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing the DCH gene as a catalyst, stereospecific hydrolysis of methyl beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and regioselective hydrolysis of methyl cetraxate proceeded efficiently.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗
PubMed2002

Production of 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid by a delta5 and delta6 desaturation activity-enhanced mutant derived from a delta12 desaturation activity-defective mutant of Mortierella alpina 1S-4.

Enhanced production of 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid (Mead acid, 20:3omega9) was attained with a mutant fungus, Mortierella alpina JT-180, derived from delta12 desaturation activity-defective and delta6 desaturation activity-enhanced M. alpina M209-7. Production of 20:3omega9 by JT-180 was 1.4 times greater than that of the parent strain M209-7. This is thought to be due to its enhanced Delta5 desaturation activity, which was 3.3 times higher than that of M209-7. In both strains, 78.5-80.4% of the total lipids comprised triacylglycerol (TG), and 76.6-79.0% of 20:3omega9 was present in TG. Comparing the fatty acid compositions among various lipid species, the highest percentages (24.1-37.6%) of 20:3omega9 in total lipids were found in phosphatidylcholine. For optimization of 20:3omega9 production by JT-180, a glucose concentration of 4% in the culture medium and shifting of the growth temperature from 28 degrees C to 20 degrees C on the 2nd day were shown to be effective. Under optimal conditions, 20:3omega9 production by JT-180 reached 1.92 g/l culture medium in a 10-l jar fermentor (corresponding to 81.5 mg/g dry mycelia and 18.3% of total fatty acids), which is greater than that reported previously from M209-7 (1.65 g/l).

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗
PubMed2002

Gastrointestinal diseases and halitosis: association of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection.

The relationship between gastrointestinal conditions and halitosis is discussed. Few reports have suggested that gastrointestinal diseases may cause halitosis. H. pylori infection, which causes gastric ulcers, is considered as a possible cause for halitosis. Intensity of malodour of mouth air was found to be higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in negative patients. The levels of hydrogen sulphide and dimethyl sulphide in mouth air were also significantly higher in the positive patients than in the negative patients (P<0.05). When odour strength in exhaled breath was compared between the two groups, no significant difference was found. Hence, H. pylori infection might not cause a systemic condition producing breath odour. Although there were no significant differences in periodontal parameters or tongue coating between the positive and negative groups, H. pylori may be a frequent contributor to the production of malodour even though its role had not been suspected before. Further study would be necessary to clarify the reason for the increase of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) level in H. pylori infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma protein modulates inflammatory pain in the spinal dorsal horn.

Differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma (DAN) belongs to a novel gene family that includes the Xenopus head-inducing factor, Cerberus and the dorsalizing factor, Gremlin. It has been suggested that members of this family control diverse processes in growth, development and the cell cycle.Here, we demonstrate that the DAN protein is produced in the small neurons of the dorsal root ganglion and is transported to the nerve terminals in the spinal dorsal horn in adult rats. Furthermore, intrathecal injection of an antibody to the DAN protein suppressed inflammatory pain caused by the introduction of complete Freund's adjuvant or carrageenan into the rat hindpaw. The amount of mRNA for DAN in dorsal root ganglion neurons and of its expressed protein in the spinal dorsal horn were both increased in inflammatory models.Together, these data suggest that the DAN protein may be a novel neuromodulator in primary nociceptive nerve fibers.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2002

Palinopsia and perilesional hyperperfusion following subcortical hemorrhage.

We report a patient who exhibited transient palinopsia and visual hallucinations. Disturbances initially included an auditory component and increasingly were localized to the left visual field. These events occurred during recovery from a right subcortical hematoma with left homonymous hemianopia. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) demonstrated extensive perilesional hyperperfusion involving parts of the right parietal, temporal, and occipital cortex. Perilesional hyperperfusion disappeared as the visual abnormalities diminished. We believe that excitatory neuronal activation in perilesional cortex during recovery contributed importantly to the transient abnormal perceptions.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed2002

Association between IL-4 genotype and IL-4 production in the Japanese population.

We have identified that there are only two IL-4 gene haplotypes (I and II) in the Japanese population. There are significant differences among three genotypes (I/I, I/II and II/II) in the IL-4 producing proportion of peripheral Th cells using intracellular cytokine detection assay. These results make it likely that IL-4 genotype could influence the type of immune response.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2002

Predictive performance of serum digoxin concentration in patients with congestive heart failure by a hyperbolic model based on creatinine clearance.

OBJECTIVES: To formulate a simple equation for determining the daily dose requirements of digoxin by inclusion of creatinine clearance (Ccr) values as an explanatory variable. METHODS: We included 235 routine monitoring and clinical laboratory test data (steady-state serum digoxin concentration and Ccr values), obtained from hospitalized patients receiving digoxin for treatment of congestive heart failure. The 107 data sets were fitted to a hyperbolic model to account for the relation between the ratio of serum digoxin level to the daily dose (L/D) and the Ccr values determined by six methods. Their correlation coefficients (r) were computed by non-linear regression analysis. To evaluate the validity of the best-fitting model, the predictive performance of the L/D ratios was compared with those given by seven reference models previously published, using another 128 data sets. RESULTS: The hyperbolic model involving the Ccr values estimated by Cockcroft and Gault's equation showed the closest correlation (r = 0.81) between the actual and estimated Ccr values. Mean prediction error (ME), a measure of bias, of the L/D ratio (0.018 ng/mL) was almost negligible when other data were fitted to the proposed model, and this ME value proved to be much smaller than those calculated from the previously published prediction models. Mean absolute prediction error, a measure of precision, by the proposed model was also satisfactory for prediction. CONCLUSION: The newly developed model provided good predictive performance of serum digoxin level. Taking simplicity in practical use into account, the clinical application of the proposed model will allow for accurate and rapid determination of the initial maintenance dosing regimen of digoxin based on the individual Ccr value, without actual measurement of its serum concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: a summary of responses to a questionnaire on adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and the esophagogastric junction in Japan.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction is recognized as a distinct clinical entity; however, the choice of surgical approaches is controversial. To analyze the results of surgery among patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (type I) and the cardia (type II) based on Siewert's classification in Japan, surgical procedures, histopathologic characteristics, and outcome were re-evaluated according to the TNM classification in 1263 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (type I) and the cardia (type II) through a questionnaire sent to the members of the Japanese Society of Esophageal Diseases. One hundred and thirty-four (10.6%) patients had type I tumors and 1129 (89.4%) patients had type II tumors. There were significant differences in sex distribution and associated intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus between patients with type I and type II tumors. Although different surgical approaches were performed, the overall 5-year survival rate was 53% without any difference between the two groups. The significant prognostic factors in general linear models were R category, pN category, and differentiation, but not pT category. There was no difference in survival between patients with stage IIB and III disease. The survival rate of the patients who underwent a transhiatal approach was similar to that of those undergoing a transthoracic approach. The results suggest that Siewert's classification (type I and type II) is useful in planning treatment strategy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Lymph node metastasis was the most important prognostic factor, and staging based on the number of lymph node metastases or the extent of lymph node metastasis is necessary.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

The appearance of S-100 protein-positive dendritic cells and the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is a progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology. We investigated dendritic cells in idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) immunohistochemically, using anti-S-100 protein antibody and anti-HLA-DR antibody and also evaluated the relationship between the distribution of S-100 protein-positive dendritic cells (S- 100 DCs) and the lymphocytic subsets in the lung tissue of NSIP. Fifteen patients with the pathological diagnosis of idiopathic NSIP and six patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) were recruited into this study. Many S-100 DCs were observed in all the cases of idiopathic NSIP but S-100 DCs were not recognized in UIP cases invariably. In the mirror section method, most S-100 DCs showed a positive reaction of anti-HLA-DR antibody but a negative reaction for anti-CD1a antibody. CD8 and CD4 positive lymphocytes were infiltrated diffusely around S-100 DCs. It was demonstrated that the infiltration of CD8 positive lymphocytes predominated in the fibrosing areas and lymphoid follicles around S-100 DCs more so than CD4 positive lymphocytes.We speculate that the pathogenesis of NSIP is different from UIP and that DC and T cell-mediated immune mechanisms may play a role in the development and perpetuation of NSIP.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Activation of the alternative complement pathway by Agaricus blazei Murill.

Components of Agaricus blazei Murill have been demonstrated to have a wide range of immunopotentiating activities. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of A. blazei Murill upon activation of the complement system in human serum in vitro. Additional studies were performed to determine the cytotoxic effect of complement-opsonized particles of A. blazei Murill against human tumor cells in culture. A fine particle of A. blazei Murill (ABP), prepared by mechanical disruption, was used throughout the experiments. ABP activated the human complement system via the alternative pathway in human serum. Activation of the alternative pathway was both time- and dose-dependent. When the particles from fruiting bodies of A. blazei Murill (ABP-F) were reacted with human serum, the formation of complement-opsonized ABP, iC3b-ABP-F complexes, and binding of the complexes to human peripheral blood monocytes, were demonstrated in vitro by immunofluorescence. Further, the resident human peripheral nucleated cells incubated in the presence of iC3b-ABP-F complexes inhibited the proliferation of human tumor cell line TPC-1 in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Transforming growth factor beta1 gene polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease and synovial cells, antigen presenting cells, lymphocytes, and their cytokines might be associated with the disease. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) has been reported to have important roles in unresolved inflammation, immune suppression, fibrosing processes, and angiogenesis. TGFbeta1 is highly expressed in joints in RA and is considered to be a regulator of anti-inflammation in RA. Polymorphisms of TGFbeta1 have been reported to be associated with the production of TGFbeta1 protein, and to increase the risk of acquiring several diseases. It was speculated that these polymorphisms might also be involved in RA, and therefore the TGFbeta1 codon 10 T869C polymorphism in a series of patients and controls was investigated. METHOD: A total of 155 patients with RA and 110 healthy subjects were studied. DNA was extracted from peripheral leucocytes and TGFbeta1 codon 10 T869C polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment polymorphism. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of patients with RA with the T allele (CT type or TT type) was found compared with the CC type (p=0.039). CONCLUSION: The T allele, previously reported to be linked with production of TGFbeta1, may be associated with an increased risk of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Laparoscopic wedge resection of gastric submucosal tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of laparoscopic surgery for gastric submucosal tumor. METHODS: The records of 11 patients who underwent laparoscopic wedge resection (LR group) for gastric submucosal tumors were reviewed and compared with those of 8 patients who underwent open surgery (OS group). RESULTS: Mean operation time was 145 +/- 43 min in the LR group and 127 +/- 33 min in the OS group (p = 0.301). Mean blood loss was 97 +/- 107 and 107 +/- 47 g, respectively (p = 0.387). Patients in the LR group began walking 1.4 +/- 0.7 days after surgery, which was significantly earlier than those in the OS group (2.7 +/- 1.3 days, p = 0.021). The first flatus (1.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.6 days, respectively, p = 0.0004) and resumption of oral food intake (3.0 +/- 1.7 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.9 days, respectively, p = 0.020) were also earlier in the LR group. White blood cell count on the first postoperative day was lower (7,000 +/- 2,100 vs. 11,900 +/- 3,580/mm(3), respectively, p = 0.004) in the LR group than in the OS group, and the duration of fever (>38.0 degrees C; 0.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.8 days, respectively, p = 0.014) and the period of postoperative hospitalization (13.2 +/- 3.7 vs. 20.8 +/- 6.1 days, respectively, p = 0.014) were significantly shorter in the LR group than in the OS group. No complications occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery was superior to open surgery in terms of postoperative recovery time with comparable operation time and blood loss. Laparoscopic wedge resection is a promising surgical alternative for the treatment of gastric submucosal tumors.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Transforming growth factor-beta gene polymorphism in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis patients.

SETTING: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in many diseases, influencing as it does such processes as immune responses, fibrosing processes, and angiogenesis. Recently, polymorphisms have been described for TGF-beta that are associated with the risk of several diseases. In this study, we investigated whether TGF-beta 1 polymorphism has an effect on sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. OBJECTIVE: TGF-beta 1 Codon 10 T869C polymorphism was investigated in 110 healthy control subjects, 104 sarcoidosis patients, and 101 tuberculosis patients. DESIGN: The TGF-beta genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: We found no significant differences in TGF-beta genotypes between sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls or tuberculosis patients and controls. The long axis of the tuberculin skin test was larger in the CC type compared with the CT type. However, there was no association between the TGF-beta genotype and the roentgenographic stage, the disappearance of shadows, or organ involvement in sarcoidosis, nor any association between genotype, the extent or type of roentgenographic shadow, or detected volume of tubercle bacilli in tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: From the results, we believe that TGF-beta polymorphisms on the whole do not have a strong influence on disease onset or clinical progression in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, although this polymorphism might have an effect on the immune response in a tuberculosis host.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lactone-ring-cleaving enzymes of microorganisms: their diversity and applications.

Microbial lactonohydrolases (lactone-ring-cleaving enzymes) with unique characteristics were found. The Fusarium oxysporum enzyme catalyzes the reversible and stereospecific hydrolysis of aldonate lactones and D-pantolactone (D-PL), and is useful for the optical resolution of racemic PL. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens enzyme hydrolyzes several aromatic lactones, and catalyzes the stereospecific hydrolysis of PL like the Fusarium enzyme, but its selectivity is opposite. The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus enzyme catalyzing the specific hydrolysis of dihydrocoumarin belongs to serine-enzyme family, and is useful for enantioselective hydrolysis of methyl DL-beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and regioselective hydrolysis of methyl cetraxate. This enzyme also catalyzes the bromination of monochlorodimedon when incubated with H(2)O(2) and dihydrocoumarin.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗
PubMed2001

Residue size at position 87 of cytochrome P450 BM-3 determines its stereoselectivity in propylbenzene and 3-chlorostyrene oxidation.

We report here oxidation of propylbenzene and 3-chlorostyrene by wild-type cytochrome P450 BM-3 with high turnover (479 nmol 1-phenyl-1-propanol/min/nmol P450 and 300 nmol 3-chlorostyrene oxide/min/nmol P450). Furthermore, the residue size at position 87 of P450 BM-3 was found to play critical roles in determining stereoselectivity in oxidation of propylbenzene and 3-chlorostyrene. Replacement of Phe87 with Val, Ala and Gly resulted in decreases in optical purity of produced (R)-(+)-1-phenyl-1-propanol from 90.0 to 37.4, 26.0 and -15.6% e.e., respectively, and in increases in those of produced (R)-(+)-3-chlorostyrene oxide from -61.0 to -38.0, 67.0 and 94.6% e.e., respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Developmental expression and localization of IA-2 mRNA in mouse neuroendocrine tissues.

Islet antigen (IA)-2 is a novel autoantigen of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and belongs to a new class within the receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family characterized by lack of PTP enzymatic activity with conventional substrates. Its expression is restricted primarily to the pancreas, pituitary, and brain with the highest level in the brain. IA-2 mRNA expressions in the brain, pituitary and pancreas of 1-, 4-, and 8-week-old mice were examined. In situ hybridization of the brain revealed that IA-2 mRNA was expressed in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, choroid plexus, hypothalamus, Purkinje cells, and granular layer of the cerebellum. In the pituitary, IA-2 mRNA was located in the anterior and posterior pituitary by in situ hybridization. The pattern of IA-2 mRNA expression in normal male mouse brain at 1, 4, and 8 weeks of age by the Northern blot analysis was similar to that in the pituitary by RT-PCR analysis. The expression level was higher at 4 weeks and lower at 1 week of age. In the pancreas, IA-2 mRNA expressions detected by RT-PCR were highest at 8 weeks of age. These results indicated that the amount of mRNA expression increased in accordance to development in brain, pituitary, and pancreas.

Animals↗