Both angiotensinogen M235T and alpha-adducin G460W polymorphisms are associated with hypertension in the Japanese population.
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Alleles↗
Biomedical subjects
S Tamaki
Publications and source records attributed to S Tamaki.
Acute interstitial pneumonitis during chemotherapy for haematological malignancy.
Fourteen adult patients with haematological malignancies (eight non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one multiple myeloma, one chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, two acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and two acute myeloid leukaemia) developed acute interstitial pneumonitis (IP) during the course of chemotherapy. All patients manifested high fever over 38 degrees C, bilateral diffuse pulmonary interstitial infiltrates in the chest radiograph and severe hypoxia without hypercapnia in the arterial blood gas analysis. Pathogenic microorganisms were not detected in repeated examinations in any patient. Chemotherapy given included various anti-neoplastic drugs. Five patients had received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for chemotherapy-induced leucopenia. The onset was associated with an increase of leucocytes in 10 patients. All patients were treated with high dose steroid hormone and broad spectrum antibiotics with or without anti-fungal agents, and three required mechanical ventilation. Eleven patients quickly recovered from these situations, whereas three died. Autopsies were done in two patients and disclosed pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonitis in one and non-specific pulmonary congestive oedema and fibrosis in the other. In conclusion, IP of unknown cause could develop in patients with various haematological malignancies especially at the recovery phase of chemotherapy-induced leucopenia irrespective of the previous G-CSF administration. High dose steroid hormone should be used as therapy for such patients as soon as possible after exclusion of an infective aetiology.
Acute Disease↗
A theory of electrical conductivity of molten salt. II.
In molten equivalent salts, a unified relation that the ratio of partial dc conductivities is always equal to the inverse mass ratio, viz. sigma(+)/sigma(-)=m(-)/m(+), has been confirmed in view of microscopic point starting from the generalized Langevin equation. It has been newly proved that the memory functions assumed to be an exponentially decaying form in the Langevin equation for cation and anion are equal to each other. Furthermore, the short time behaviors of moving ions are analyzed in terms of their velocity correlation functions, according to the combination of generalized Langevin equation and damped Einstein oscillator equation. A minor correction for the expression of common friction constant derived before has been given. Estimated results for conductivities are close to those obtained by computer simulation and also comparable to experimental values.
Journal Article↗
[Chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta; report of a case].
We report a rare case of chronic traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. A 23-year-old man flew down from the fifth floor of his apartment for an attempted suicide. He suffered right subdural hematoma, bilateral hemothorax, lung contusions, and many other traumas. He was paralyzed by the fracture and dislocation of the first lumbar vertebra. Posterior fixation of lumbar vertebra and the segmental resection of the jejum were performed on the first and third day, respectively. He recovered well; however, he complained his nocturnal dyspnea on the forty-fifth day. Detailed examinations showed that bilateral bronchi were compressed by the aneurysm of thoracic aorta. Elective operation was performed on the sixty third day. Psudoaneurysm, 5 cm in diameter, was disclosed in the aortic isthmus. Graft replacement was undergone with the cardiopulmonary bypass. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he was transferred for the rehabilitation of his paralysis on the eigty-eighth day.
Adult↗
A single administration of interleukin-4 antagonistic mutant DNA inhibits allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.
Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is essential for the switching of B cells to IgE antibody production and for the maturation of T helper (Th) cells toward the Th2 phenotype. These mechanisms are thought to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the allergic airway inflammation observed in asthma. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of DNA administration of murine IL-4 mutant Q116D/Y119D (IL-4 double mutant, IL-4DM), which binds to the IL-4 receptor alpha and is an antagonist for IL-4. Immunization of BALB/c mice with alum-adsorbed ovalbumin (OVA) followed by aspiration with aerosolized OVA resulted in the development of allergic airway inflammation. A single administration of IL-4DM DNA before the aerosolized OVA challenge protected the mice from the subsequent induction of allergic airway inflammation. Serum IgE level and extent of eosinophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from IL-4DM DNA-administered mice were significantly lower than those in BAL from control plasmid-immunized mice. In our study, IL-4 or IL-4 mutants were not detected in sera from mice that had received a single administration of IL-4DM DNA. The results of this study provide evidence for the potential utility of IL-4 mutant antagonist DNA inoculation as an approach to gene therapy for asthma.
Animals↗
Effects of posture on cardiac autonomic nervous activity in patients with congestive heart failure.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to clarify which recumbent position is preferred by patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and to evaluate whether cardiac autonomic nervous activity is different among three recumbent positions (supine, left lateral decubitus, right lateral decubitus) in patients with CHF. BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether cardiac autonomic nervous activity is different among three recumbent positions in patients with CHF. METHODS: We studied 17 male CHF patients (66+/-7 years) and 17 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (66+/-7 years). Each subject underwent 24-h ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. A channel was used to record the CM5 lead, and another to record the signal of the patient's posture with use of a newly developed small-sized detector (3.2 cm x 3.2 cm). By using spectral analysis of heart rate variability, frequency-domain measures were calculated and compared among the three recumbent positions. Normalized high-frequency (HF: 0.15 to 0.40 Hz) power was used as an index of vagal activity and the low frequency (0.04 to 0.15 Hz)/HF power ratio was used as an index of sympathovagal balance. RESULTS: In patients with CHF, the time for the right lateral decubitus position was two-fold longer than that for the supine and left lateral decubitus positions. The increased cardiac sympathetic activity and decreased vagal tone in CHF patients were normalized in the right lateral decubitus position. CONCLUSIONS: The right lateral decubitus position in patients with CHF may be a self-protecting mechanism of attenuating the imbalance of cardiac autonomic nervous activity.
Aged↗
Induction of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by in vivo electric administration of peptides.
Generally, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation of peptide antigens only occur for proteins' which are actively synthesized and processed intracellularly, so that immunization with a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) target peptide does not usually elicit effective CTL responses. In the present study, we explored the use of epitope peptides by in vivo electroporation to introduce directly into the cytoplasm for the vaccine elicitation of virus-specific CTLs in a mouse system. BALB/c mice were immunized with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) env (P18, residues 311-320) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5 (P17, residues 2423-2434) with or without electric pulses. Effector cells against peptide-labeled target cells were elicited in mice immunized with peptides with electric administration but not without electric administration. Moreover, cytolytic activities of CTL against peptide-labeled target cells were enhanced by the addition of plasmid having the immunostimulatory sequence (ISS) or cDNA of the B7-1 molecule in electric administration of peptides. The results of the present study suggest that a peptide vaccine against a virus using electric administration is effective in eliciting virus specific CTLs.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Flow cytometric analysis of hemetopoietic progenitor cells in peripheral blood stem cell harvest from patients with CD34 positive acute leukemia.
We analyzed CD34 positive cells in peripheral blood stem cell harvest (PBSCH) using flow cytometry. PBSCH from CD34 positive acute myelogeous leukemia (AML-M2) patient contained 1.87% CD34 positive cells, of which 1.21% was represented by MRD.PBSCH from CD34 positive acute lymphoblast leukemia (ALL) patient contained 3.14% CD34 positive cells, of which 0.11% was accounted for by minimal residual disease (MRD). If PBSCH from CD34 positive acute leukemia patient is analyzed for CD34 monoclonal antibody alone, the presence of CD34 positive MRD may escape attention so that CD34 positive hematopoietic progenitor cells may be overestimated. To avoid this risk, it is necessary to analyze PBSCH using both CD34 monoclonal antibody and characteristic markers of leukemia cells that were found pre-treatment.
Antigens, CD34↗
Superior survival of blood and marrow stem cell recipients given maternal grafts over recipients given paternal grafts.
During the reproductive period, mothers and offspring exchange hematopoietic cells and develop a form of immunological tolerance bidirectionally. To examine whether previous experience of such communication has any remote effect when maternal hematopoietic cells are later transplanted to the children, we retrospectively compared the outcomes of blood and marrow stem cell transplantation from maternal donors (n = 46) to those from paternal donors (n = 50) by using the database of the Japanese nationwide surveys for adult hematopoietic cell transplants between 1990 and 1998. At 5 years, recipients of maternal hematopoietic cells had a significantly higher overall survival than patients receiving paternal grafts (60% vs 32%, P = 0.006). Although no significant difference was observed in the occurrence of severe acute GVHD (grade > or =III) and the relapse of malignant diseases between two groups, the probability of non-relapse treatment-related mortality was significantly lower after maternal donor transplants. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that parental donor type was the only factor significantly associated with overall survival. In conclusion, our analysis indicates superior survival of maternally donated recipients in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantations from biological parents. This finding has important implications in the selection of alternative familial donors, and warrants further prospective analysis of parental donor transplantations.
Adolescent↗
Successful endovascular repair of juxtarenal and suprarenal aortic aneurysms with a branched stent graft.
This case report describes a new technique for repairing pararenal aortic aneurysms with a transluminally placed triple-branched stent graft with sidearms extending into the superior mesenteric artery and renal arteries. Endovascular repair with the branched stent graft was attempted in two patients with a pararenal aortic Aneurysm. Stent grafting was technically successful in both patients. Although postoperative transient renal function impairment and paralytic ileus occurred in patient 2, these complications were gradually resolved in the perioperative period. A substantial shrinkage of the aneurysm was revealed by means of computed tomographic measurements in patient 1. In both patients, complete exclusion of the aneurysm and patency of the bilateral renal arteries and the superior mesenteric artery were confirmed by means of follow-up computed tomographic images at 2 years. This minimally invasive approach for pararenal aortic aneurysms appears to be a viable therapeutic option for patients who are at high risk for open surgery.
Aged↗
Construction and molecular analysis of gene transfer systems derived from bovine immunodeficiency virus.
Because lentiviruses are able to infect nondividing cells, these viruses might be utilized in gene therapy applications where the target cell does not divide. However, it has been suggested that the introduction of primate lentivirus sequences, particularly those of human immunodeficiency virus, into human cells may pose a health risk for the patient. To avoid this concern, we have constructed gene transfer systems based on a nonprimate lentivirus, bovine immunodeficiency virus. A panel of vectors and packaging constructs was generated and analyzed in a transient expression system for virion production and maturation, vector expression and encapsidation, and envelope protein pseudotyping. Virion preparations were also analyzed for transduction efficiency in a panel of human and nonhuman primary cells and immortalized cell lines. The virion preparations transduced most of the target cell types, with efficiencies up to 90% and with titers of unconcentrated virus up to 5 x 10(5) infectious doses/ml. In addition, infection of nondividing human cells, including unstimulated hematopoietic stem cells and irradiated endothelial cells, was observed.
Adult↗
Intratracheal administration of activated protein C inhibits bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in the mouse.
It is well recognized that activation of the coagulation system plays an important role in bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury and fibrosis. The protein C (PC) pathway is an important regulator of the coagulation system. In this study, we evaluated the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentration of activated PC (APC) and the therapeutic effect of the intratracheal administration of APC on BLM-induced lung fibrosis in mice. APC levels in BALF were significantly lower in BLM-treated animals than in the saline-treated group. Fibrotic changes were progressive in mice treated with BLM and intratracheal instillation of vehicle (BLM/Veh) after 14 and 21 d of BLM infusion. Compared with the BLM/Veh group, histologic findings on Days 14 and 21 in mice treated with BLM and intratracheal instillation of APC (BLM/APC) showed less fibrotic lesions in the subpleural and central areas of the lung. The mean Aschcroft's fibrosis score in the BLM/Veh group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in the BLM/APC group. The lung hydroxyproline content on Day 21 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the BLM/Veh group (1.78 +/- 0.07 micromol/lung weight) than in the BLM/APC (1.30 +/- 0.06 micromol/lung weight) group. The ratio of plasminogen activator activity to thrombin level in BALF was significantly increased in the BLM/APC group compared with the BLM/ Veh group on Day 21. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta was significantly decreased in the lungs of the BLM/APC group compared with the BLM/Veh group on Day 14 after BLM infusion. These results showed that intratracheal APC administration inhibits the development of lung fibrosis in BLM-induced lung injury, giving further support to the important role that the PC pathway plays in the mechanism of lung fibrosis.
Animals↗
Increased plasma thrombomodulin as a vascular endothelial cell marker in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Several hemostatic and vascular endothelial cell markers were measured in 39 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)/hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and in 20 healthy volunteers to examine the relationship between the occurrence of hemostatic abnormality or vascular endothelial cell injury and patient outcome. The plasma levels of von Willebrand factor, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and the TPA-PAI-1 complex were significantly increased in TTP/HUS patients; however, the levels of these markers were not significantly different between TTP/HUS patients who survived and those who died, suggesting that these markers might not be directly related to outcome. The plasma levels of soluble granule membrane protein (GMP)-140 were significantly higher in TTP/HUS patients than in healthy volunteers, suggesting that platelets and vascular endothelial cells are activated or injured in TTP/HUS. There was no significant difference in GMP-140 levels between TTP/HUS patients with good and poor prognoses; this may be owing to the release of GMP-140 from platelets. The plasma thrombomodulin (TM) levels in TTP/HUS patients were significantly higher than in healthy volunteers; the plasma TM levels were significantly higher in patients who died than in patients who survived. These findings showed that TM levels reflect the outcome and that the outcome of TTP/HUS depends on the presence vascular endothelial cell injury. The plasma protein C and antithrombin levels were markedly reduced in TTP/HUS patients who died compared with those who survived. These findings suggest that reduced plasma antithrombin and protein C may be useful markers of systemic vascular endothelial injury. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the outcome of TTP/HUS is related to vascular endothelial cell injury and that plasma TM, antithrombin, and protein C levels may be useful markers of systemic vascular endothelial cell injury.
Adolescent↗
Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on sympathetic tone in patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
Sixteen patients with mild to moderate heart failure were examined to investigate whether sympathetic deactivation plays a role in the improvement in the failing heart by chronic angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Measurements, including echocardiography, blood examinations, neurohumoral samplings (atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), norepinephrine), and spectral heart rate variability analysis by Holter electrocardiography, were carried out before and 6 months after the administration of lisinopril (5-10 mg/day). Quality of life assessment was accomplished by the Specific Activity Scale (SAS) questionnaire. Treatment with lisinopril for 6 months resulted in a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure. The left ventricular diastolic dimension significantly decreased and fractional shortening significantly increased on echocardiography. Of the 16 patients, 8 had improvement in their symptoms as measured by the SAS. Lisinopril did not significantly reduce the plasma norepinephrine concentration, but there was a significant reduction in the plasma ANP and BNP concentrations. In the heart rate power spectral analysis, total spectral power, high-frequency components and low/high frequency ratios did not change significantly with lisinopril. The mechanism by which ACE inhibitors improve mild to moderate heart failure is not by suppressing sympathetic activity.
Adult↗
Lack of association between genetic polymorphism of CYP11B2 and hypertension in Japanese: the Suita Study.
Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of aldosterone. Recently, a polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region of the CYP11B2 gene [T(-344)C] has been reported to be associated with blood pressure and plasma aldosterone levels. We investigated the association between this polymorphism and hypertension in a large population-based sample of 4,000 Japanese. The genotype distribution in hypertensive subjects (n=1,535) was compared to that in normotensive subjects (n=2,514). In subjects not receiving antihypertensive medication, the influence of the genotype on blood pressure values adjusted for clinical covariates was analyzed. All analyses were performed separately for men and women. The genotype distribution did not differ between hypertensive and normotensive subjects in either men (frequency of C allele: 30.3% vs. 31.4%, p=0.48) or women (31.5% vs. 31.7%, p=0.93). There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or pulse pressure among the three genotypes in either men or women who had not received hypertensive medication. Our data suggest that the T(-344)C polymorphism of CYP11B2 is unlikely to influence blood pressure status in the Japanese population.
Aged↗
Right atrial myxoma associated with atrial septal defect: a case report and review of the literature.
We describe a case of right atrial myxoma with mild cyanosis due to a right-to-left shunt at the atrial level. The patient was a 31-year-old woman with a 10-month history of easy fatigability and shortness of breath. Echocardiography showed a right atrial tumor producing a partial dynamic tricuspid obstruction. Digital subtraction angiography via the superior vena cava disclosed a mass lesion which occupied the right atrium with early visualization of the ascending aorta. Successful excision of the tumor and repair of the atrial septal defect totally relieved her presenting symptoms. In a rare association of a right atrial myxoma with atrial septal defect, preoperative evaluation and operative management are discussed.
Adult↗
Defective T cell function for inhibition of growth of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) in patients with MAC disease: restoration by cytokines.
To define the immunopathologic mechanism underlying pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) disease in patients without AIDS, the ability of CD4(+) and gammadelta T cells to induce growth inhibition of MAC in monocytes was compared between patients and healthy control subjects. T cell-dependent growth inhibition and production of interferon-gamma and macrophage colony-stimulating factor decreased in patients. CD4(+) T and gammadelta T cells from patients were equally defective in inducing anti-MAC activity. The combination of these cytokines restored the ability of patients' T cells to control MAC growth. In experiments with allogeneic cocultures of gammadelta T cells and infected monocytes from patients and control subjects, healthy control T cells could augment growth inhibition of MAC in monocytes from patients, whereas patients' T cells could not, even in the presence of healthy control monocytes. These results indicate that the defect in T cells may be associated with impaired protective immunity against MAC in these patients.
Aged↗
Induction of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mice by an intrahepatic inoculation with an expression plasmid.
We assessed the possibility of intrahepatic inoculation with a plasmid encoding hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins to elicit HCV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in mice as a conventional animal model of HCV infection. BALB/c mice were intrahepatically or intramuscularly inoculated with an expression plasmid DNA encoding HCV structural proteins under the control of the elongation factor 1-alpha promoter. Expressions of HCV-core protein and envelope proteins (E1 and E2) in hepatocytes were detected immunohistochemically 6 days after inoculation. CTL responses were examined using target cells either pulsed with a specific peptide or infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HCV structural protein. Both intrahepatically and intramuscularly DNA-inoculated mice developed CD8(+), MHC class I-restricted CTL responses that recognized the peptide pulsed as well as HCV proteins expressing target cells. These studies demonstrated the usefulness of a murine model of HCV infection induced by direct intrahepatic DNA inoculation for understanding the immunopathogenic mechanisms in HCV infection.
Animals↗