Biomedical subjects

S Takai

Publications and source records attributed to S Takai.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Virulence-associated plasmids in Rhodococcus equi.

Twenty-three strains of Rhodococcus equi from independent clinical cases were analyzed for the presence of virulence plasmid DNA. Of the clinical isolates, 19 contained an 85-kb plasmid and the remaining 4 contained a 90-kb plasmid. All of the isolates expressed 15- to 17-kDa antigens and were virulent in mice. Restriction enzyme and Southern blot analyses showed large regions of DNA homology between the 85- and 90-kb virulence plasmids. It was concluded tentatively that there are at least two virulence plasmids in R. equi and that they have a common origin.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1993

Mapping of the KREV1 transformation suppressor gene and its pseudogene (KREV1P) to human chromosome 1p13.3 and 14q24.3, respectively, by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The chromosomal location of the transformation suppressor gene KREV1 and its pseudogene (KREV1P) on R-banded human prometaphase chromosomes was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The KREV1 gene mapped to chromosome 1p13.3, whereas the KREV1P pseudogene mapped to 14q24.3. Our results substantiate the previous mapping data of Rousseau-Merck et al. (1990) and further confine the position of the RAP1A/KREV1 gene to a narrower region.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1993

Velocities for the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 skeletal maturity in northwest Japanese children.

This report describes the velocity of the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 skeletal maturity for some 6,300 Japanese children from Ogi Growth Study 1979-1988. The cubic B-spline function fitted the velocities for the Carpal, RUS and 20-bone scores on the smoothed velocity curves. The maturity velocity curves showed single peak around the adolescent period exclusive of a bimodal curve for girls' RUS velocity. Its first peak appeared at 10.9 years and the second, 13.9 years. Just after the first peak their height reached the maximal velocity (11.0 years). The RUS velocity curve for the boys showed the peak maturity velocity at 15.6 years. Their height attained the peak velocity (at 12.9 years) before the RUS maturity did. Although the Japanese children matured earlier for the RUS maturity than Europeans, it was comparable to that of other Asians. The study also showed that the skeletal maturation affected the height growth during the duration of height spurt for the boys, but only during the accelerating period for the girls.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Enhanced proliferative potential in culture of cells from p53-deficient mice.

Normal somatic cells are endowed with limited doubling potential in culture, and the process of immortalization is an inevitable step in neoplastic transformation of the cells. To examine the roles of p53 in this process, the cells of p53-deficient mice were examined for doubling potential. Fibroblast-like cells from a variety of tissues of these mice proliferated continuously without showing aging or crisis. The aneuploid cells overcome the population with passage, but cloning experiment indicated that chromosomal changes were not essential to this process. The enhanced proliferative potential in culture of cells from the p53-deficient mice was also observed in epithelial cells of lens, mammary glands and seminal vesicles and in neural precursor cells. Proliferation of bone marrow cells in response to stem cell factor was enhanced in long term culture, but not in in vitro colony assay; no permanent cell lines could be obtained. No effects of p53-deficiency were found in proliferation of cardiac muscle cells or hepatocytes.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed1993

[Analysis of 30 patients with hypercalcemia].

We have treated 30 patients with hypercalcemia from 1984 to 1991. Twenty four out of 30 patients were associated with primary hyperparathyroidism and the other six were associated with malignancy. Of 24 cases primary hyperparathyroidism, 15 were due to single parathyroid adenoma, five to MEN 1 and one to familial hyperparathyroidism. In the other three cases, it was difficult to identify the cause of the hyperparathyroidism. Following conclusions were obtained: 1. Hypercalcemia shows no specific and characteristic symptoms, so it is essential to keep hypercalcemia in mind in diagnosis of patients with vague or general complaints. Malignancy associated hypercalcemia shows high serum calcium level and PTH level. When considering malignancy, it is easy to diagnose that it might be the cause of hypercalcemia. 2. When serum PTH is over 2000pg/ml (high sensitivity PTH assay) in primary hyperparathyroidism, the probability of swelling of multiple parathyroid glands should be considered in evaluation of localization study and surgery. When serum PTH is high or swelling of multiple glands is found. It is essential to evaluate the possibility of MEN 1.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

A new method for determining cellular ATP content in hepatocytes.

We have developed a new ATP assay for hepatocytes which is simple, rapid and highly sensitive. ATP determination using luciferin-luciferase was performed on hepatocytes separated by perfusion of the liver with collagenase. There was a close correlation between the ATP content of hepatocytes and viable cell numbers. The ATP content of dead cells which were determined by trypan blue dye exclusion test had less than one per cent of levels of viable cells. ATP contents of isolated hepatocytes in Minimum Essential Medium was 6.8 +/- 0.6 x 10(-15) mol/cell at 2 hours after excision of the liver and showed no significant difference compared with that determined at 6 hours. This method was performed to evaluate changes in the cellular ATP content of hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy in rats and transcatheter portal embolization (TPE) in dogs. The ATP content in rat hepatocytes showed a remarkable increase after hepatectomy, with a peak value of 19.1 +/- 1.7 x 10(-15) mol/cell at 24 hours post-surgery. On the other hand, marked atrophy in the embolized lobes and compensatory hypertrophy in the non-embolized lobes were found following TPE in dogs. Cellular ATP content in the non-embolized lobes showed its highest level of 8.7 +/- 2.9 x 10(-15) mol/cell on the third day after TPE, but in the embolized lobes decreased immediately after TPE with significant differences compared with the non-embolized lobes (p < 0.05). Our method may also be applicable to the evaluation of other adenosine phosphate by use of converting enzymes for ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1993

[The effect of thyroid hormone on thyroid cancer growth].

Differentiated thyroid cancer, like breast cancer, prostatic cancer, and endometrial cancer of the uterus, is well known to be hormone sensitive. Experimental investigations have demonstrated that differentiated thyroid cancer cells have TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) receptor on the plasma membrane and that the growth regulation of differentiated thyroid cancer depends upon TSH. Therefore, suppression of TSH with thyroid hormone is rational for the treatment of recurrent thyroid cancer. Recurrent differentiated thyroid cancers reportedly cause regression in response to thyroid hormone administration, but the outcome of adjuvant therapy with thyroid hormone after operation for differentiated thyroid carcinoma is controversial. It is very difficult to analyze the difference in survival rate between the postoperative patient with and without thyroid hormone, because of the excellent postoperative survival rate of differentiated thyroid cancer patients. Further clinical studies and laboratory investigations about TSH suppression in adjuvant therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer are necessary to elucidate the impact of thyroid hormone on survival after operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Healing of the medial collateral ligament following a triad injury: a biomechanical and histological study of the knee in rabbits.

The effect of a partial medial meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection on medial collateral ligament (MCL) healing was studied in skeletally mature rabbits. Two groups of animals, group I (isolated MCL rupture) and group II (MCL rupture with ACL transection and partial medial meniscectomy), were examined. At 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively, histological examination of the healing MCL and biomechanical evaluation of the varus-valgus (V-V) knee rotation and tensile properties of the femur-MCL-tibia complex (FMTC) were performed. Group II animals experienced substantial joint degeneration by 6 weeks. Progressive osteophyte formation was observed adjacent to the MCL insertions along with proximal migration of the MCL tibial insertion between 6 and 12 weeks. Histologic examination of the healing MCL substance from both groups showed disorganized collagen, inflammation, and fibroblast proliferation that decreased over time. For group II knees, the V-V knee rotation was found to be significantly elevated (4.7 to 5.2 times the contralateral control), and did not decrease with time. In contrast, the V-V knee rotations of the group I specimens were 1.8 times greater than control immediately following injury, and approached control values by 12 weeks. Tensile testing of the FMTCs revealed that the ultimate load increased with time for both groups, but group I had significantly higher values than group II. The linear stiffness in group I was not different than that group II and did not increase with time. For the mechanical (material) properties of the healed MCL substance, the modulus of the healing tissue for group II was only 40% that of group I. The structural properties of the FMTC and the mechanical properties of the MCL substance from both groups at 6 and 12 weeks were significantly different from the contralateral controls. We further demonstrated that immediately after ACL reconstruction, the V-V rotation of group II knees could be restored to group I levels. Recent clinical studies of MCL healing following isolated complete ligament tears have suggested that nonoperative management without immobilization leads to excellent treatment outcome. However, in more severe injuries involving additional tissues, poor quality of the healed ligament tissue and articular degeneration are observed. Our results demonstrate the deleterious effects of an untreated triad injury on the healing of the MCL substance and its insertions. Examination of the MCL substance suggests that a much larger healing mass is formed following a triad injury, which partially compensates for inferior ligament mechanical properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Effect of aprotinin on metastasis of Lewis lung tumor in mice.

Kallikrein activity in human stomach tissue was measured and found to be about threefold higher in cancer tissue than in normal tissue. To clarify the physiological role of this tissue kallikrein, we investigated its effects on the spontaneous metastasis and tumor growth of Lewis tumors (3LL). Antiprotease, aprotinin, and gabexate mesilate (FOY) inhibited spontaneous metastasis but did not inhibit tumor growth, while tissue kallikrein and plasmin enhanced the spontaneous metastasis of 3LL. The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of aprotinin and FOY on metastasis are not only due to an inhibition of tumor cells released by tissue kallikrein, but that tissue kallikrein, a protease, also participates in metastasis. We thus conclude that aprotinin or FOY should be administered either before or immediately after operation to inhibit spontaneous metastasis.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Radical mastectomy with parasternal node dissection or radiation to the parasternal region for breast cancer of medial or central location.

In order to establish a therapeutic approach for primary breast cancer of medial and central origin, we reviewed 183 patients who had been treated by one of the following three modalities at the Second Department of Surgery, Osaka University Medical School between January, 1965 and December, 1980. Group A (n = 70): standard radical mastectomy alone; Group B (n = 34): standard radical mastectomy followed by postoperative irradiation to the parasternal and supraclavicular regions, and; Group C (n = 62): extended radical mastectomy that included removal of the parasternal lymph nodes. The background factors of the three groups were not significantly different. The overall survival five and ten years following surgery in the three groups were 91 percent and 79 percent in group A, 82 percent and 67 percent in group B, and 82 percent and 70 percent in group C, respectively, showing no significant difference in overall survival among the three groups. When the patients were classified according to the extent of axillary lymph node involvement, there was no difference in survival among the three treatments in patients who had less than three lymph node metastases in the axilla. However, treatment of the parasternal lymph nodes improved survival in the patients who had more than four lymph node metastases in the axilla. Parasternal lymph node involvement definitely worsened the prognosis, showing it to be a good prognostic factor. Thus, extended radical mastectomy should be considered for patients with breast cancer of medial or central location, when extended axillary lymph node involvement is found.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Prediction of affected MEN2A gene carriers by DNA linkage analysis for early total thyroidectomy: a progress in clinical screening program for children with hereditary cancer syndrome.

The gene predisposing to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) has been assigned to chromosome 10, and affected gene carriers can be identified before the development of associated malignancy in some informative families. We applied these advances in gene mapping to clinical screening for possible pediatric surgery. A family with MEN 2A, consisting of 88 members and their spouses, was studied to test the reliability of the provocation of plasma calcitonin with pentagastrin and the possibility of DNA diagnosis of mutated gene carriers with DNA probes closely linked to the MEN2A gene including RBP3 and FNRB genes. Nineteen of the 88 were diagnosed as MEN 2A carriers. Twelve of them were treated surgically and the others died of medullay thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or pheochromocytoma. A strikingly sensitive response of calcitonin was observed in all those with MTC. The genotypes cosegregating with the abnormal allele at MEN2A in this family could be deduced from clinically established affected members. The early detection of gene carriers allows us to concentrate our screening efforts on children at high risk and to release non gene carriers from repeated unnecessary testing. MEN2A is one of the first cancer syndromes for which DNA screening permits early detection of members at high risk.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Effect of tert-butyl hydroperoxide on cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid in rabbit platelets.

The effect of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) on the formation of thromboxane (TX) B2, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in washed rabbit platelets was examined. t-BOOH enhanced TXB2 and HHT formation at concentrations of 8 microM and below, and at 50 microM it inhibited the formation, suggesting that platelet cyclooxygenase activity can be enhanced or inhibited by t-BOOH depending on the concentration. t-BOOH inhibited 12-HETE production in a dose-dependent manner. When the platelets were incubated with 12-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE) instead of AA, t-BOOH failed to inhibit the conversion of 12-HPETE to 12-HETE, indicating that the inhibition of 12-HETE formation by t-BOOH occurs at the lipoxygenase step. Studies utilizing indomethacin (a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and desferrioxamine (an iron-chelating agent) revealed that the inhibitory effect of t-BOOH on the lipoxygenase is not mediated through the activation of the cyclooxygenase and that this effect of t-BOOH is due to the hydroperoxy moiety. These results suggest that hydroperoxides play an important role in the control of platelet cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

PubMed1992

Influence of inoculation route on virulence of Rhodococcus equi in mice.

Virulence of R. equi ATCC 33701 was compared by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.) routes in mice. Strain ATCC 33701 was more virulent by the i.v. than the i.p. route. The LD50 of strain ATCC 33701 by either route correlated with the initial number of bacteria in the liver and spleen at day 0.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

PubMed1992

Inactivation of the p53 gene is not required for tumorigenesis of medullary thyroid carcinoma or pheochromocytoma.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated RNase protection analysis was performed to detect subtle genetic alterations of p53 in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and pheochromocytoma. None of the 30 pheochromocytomas showed abnormal RNase protection patterns. Only one of 32 MTCs showed an abnormal pattern, and subsequent DNA sequencing of the PCR product revealed that it had a G to C transversion in codon 49 that resulted in a change from aspartic acid to histidine. However, this was a sporadic MTC with no specific clinicopathological characteristics. On the basis of a previous report that genes on chromosome 17p were not deleted in MTCs and were relatively infrequently deleted in pheochromocytomas, our results suggest that the p53 gene is not involved in tumorigenesis of MTC or pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1992

p53 gene mutations associated with anaplastic transformation of human thyroid carcinomas.

Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland, which is one of the most aggressive, malignant tumors in humans, is considered to originate from preexisting differentiated thyroid cancer. To define the genetic alterations associated with such progression, we examined nine cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma for mutation in exons 4-9 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Preliminary screening for mutation by RNase protection analysis demonstrated that two out of nine anaplastic carcinomas contained sequence alterations in the p53 gene. Subsequent DNA sequencing identified the mutated nucleotides in these two cases; one was a nonsense mutation at codon 165, and the other was a single-base deletion at codon 176 resulting in the creation of a stop codon downstream due to frameshift. The fact that no mutations were detected in coexisting foci of papillary carcinomas from the same patients shows that these mutations of the p53 gene occurred after development of papillary carcinomas. These results suggest that p53 gene mutation triggers the progression from differentiated into anaplastic carcinoma in the human thyroid gland.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

[Bacteriological study of traveller's diarrhoea. 4) Isolation of enteropathogenic bacteria from patients with traveller's diarrhoea at Osaka Airport Quarantine Station during 1984-1991].

During the last 8 years (1984 to 1991), 16,639,233 overseas travellers were quarantined at Osaka Airport Quarantine Station and 38,326 travellers reported that they were (or had been) suffering from diarrhoea. Bacteriological examination of stools from 12,573 persons revealed the following results. 1) Various enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated from 3,669 cases (29.2%) examined. The predominant species of bacteria isolated were as follows: Salmonella, 1049 cases; Plesiomonas shigelloides, 1030 cases; Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 789 cases; Shigella, 607 cases; enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, 422 cases; Vibrio cholerae non-O1, 212 cases. 2) There were no apparent seasonal variations in the isolation rate of these pathogens. 3) The suspected regions for infection with these pathogens were as follows: a) Salmonella, Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Plesiomonas, mainly South-East and South-West Asia. b) Shigella, South-West Asia, especially India (59.8%). c) V. parahaemolyticus and V. fluvialis, mainly South-East and East Asia. d) V. cholerae non-O1, V. mimicus, almost restricted to Asia, mainly South-East Asia. 4) 22 strains of V. cholerae O1 were isolated and 19 were Ogawa, E1 Tor. Of these strains, 13 were cholera toxin-producing strains and 9 were non-toxigenic strains. 5) Several pathogens (mixed infection) were isolated simultaneously from 670 cases. 6) The 1247 Salmonella strains were identified into 98 serovars. 7) Of 624 Shigella strains isolated, 57.9% were S. sonnei, 29.2% were S. flexneri, 8.6% were S. boydii, 4.3% were S. dysenteriae. 8) The most predominant serovar of V. parahaemolyticus was O4:K8. Of 1,247 strains isolated, 9.8% were not producing thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH). 9) 570 (91.3%) of 624 Shigella strains and 409 (32.8%) of 1,247 Salmonella strains isolated were resistant to any one of the drugs tested (SM. CP. TC. KM. ABPC. NA. OFLX). The resistance rate and the number of multiple drug-resistance strains increased year by year. 10) Enterotoxigenic E. coli was isolated from 422 cases (10.7%) of 3,939 cases. Cases with enterotoxigenic E. coli strains producing ST (heat-stable), LT (heat-labile) or both ST and LT were 53.8%, 24.2% and 14.2% respectively. The others were cases with mixed types of enterotoxin production.

Asia, Southeastern↗

PubMed1992

[The first cholera case diagnosed early in the clinical laboratory by DNA probe method].

An alkaline-phosphatase-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide probe was applied to detect the structural gene of cholera enterotoxin (ctx). This DNA probe has a complementary base sequence to 30 base of the CT-A subunit. This method was, for the first time, applied to diagnosis of a diarrheal patient. The probe detected ctx rapidly and simply as compared with reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and Beads-ELISA. The cfu minimal dose for detection with the probe was about 10(6-7)/ml. This method can be easily performed in any clinical laboratory because the procedure is safe, simple and rapid (it can be completed within about 3 hours).

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Rapid differentiation method for Shigella and Escherichia coli--application of Indole (tryptophanase), PGUA (beta-glucuronidase) and ONPG (beta-galactosidase) tests].

For the differentiation of Shigella from Escherichia coli, Indole (tryptophanase), PGUA (beta-glucuronidase) and ONPG (beta-galactosidase) tests were used. A total of 377 Shigella and 124 E. coli strains was examined for each sero- and biosero-type by using these tests. The results were as follows. 1) There were no Shigella strains showing positive reactions for both Indole and ONPG tests. 2) No E. coli strains with Shigella-like characteristics (negative for lysine-decarboxylase, motility and lactose-fermentation tests) showed negative results for both Indole and PGUA tests. 3) The abovementioned strains were classified into twelve types according to the results of these tests. Shigella strains, thus, were differentiated from antigenically Shigella-like E. coli strains. Additional use of these tests together with the conventional methods may valuable for the identification of Shigella strains.

Escherichia coli↗