Biomedical subjects

S Tanoue

Publications and source records attributed to S Tanoue.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Basal cell adenoma of the parotid gland: MR imaging findings with pathologic correlation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Basal cell adenomas (BCAs) are rare tumors of the parotid gland. Only a few case reports describing MR imaging features of BCA have been published. The aim of this study was to describe and characterize the MR findings of BCAs of the parotid gland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR images of BCA with pathologic correlation in 8 cases (2 men and 6 women; age range, 52-82 years) collected between January 1992 and August 2004 from our pathologic data base. All MR images were retrospectively evaluated with respect to the marginal morphology, signal intensity (SI), and enhancement behavior by 2 experienced radiologists. RESULTS: On pathologic examination, 5 tumors were solid type, 2 were trabecular type, and 1 was membranous type. All of the tumors were well circumscribed with smooth contours. Cystic changes were seen in 4 cases. On T1-weighted images (T1WI), 7 tumors showed homogeneously low SI equal to muscle and one showed heterogeneously low SI. On T2-weighted images (T2WI), all of them showed slightly lower SI than that of surrounding parotid tissue. On gadolinium-enhanced T1WI, 6 tumors demonstrated moderate enhancement and one demonstrated strong enhancement (membranous type). Dynamic studies were performed in 4 cases. All showed rapid and prolonged enhancement. CONCLUSION: MR imaging findings of BCA were well-defined and smooth marginal morphologies, relatively low SI on both T11W and T2WI, and rapid and prolonged enhancement on dynamic study. Although BCAs are rare, they should be suspected when a tumor shows all of the characteristics noted here.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2006

Para-cavernous sinus venous structures: anatomic variations and pathologic conditions evaluated on fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient-echo MR images.

BACKGROUND: The cavernous sinus communicates with several para-cavernous sinus venous structures, receiving blood flow from the superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV), the sphenoparietal sinus (SPS), and the superior ophthalmic vein, and draining into the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses and pterygoid and basilar plexuses. Anatomic variations of these veins have been previously reported; however, some details, such as the relationship between the SPS and the SMCV, are incompletely characterized. The anatomic variations of para-cavernous sinus veins, especially drainage patterns of the SMCV, were evaluated on MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients, including those without any lesions affecting the cavernous sinus or para-cavernous veins and patients with carotid cavernous fistulas, were examined by using fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced 3D fast gradient-echo MR imaging. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the images on a viewer, regarding the normal anatomy and the pathologic findings of the para-cavernous sinus veins. RESULTS: The fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient-echo MR images clearly depicted the para-cavernous sinus venous structures in all patients. SMCVs had 4 variations in the drainage patterns. The most frequent pattern was drainage into the SPS (39%), and other types were draining into cavernous sinus, pterygoid plexus, and tentorial sinus. The SPS had 3 variations. The most frequent pattern was drainage into cavernous sinus (72%), and others were the hypoplastic type or those draining into pterygoid plexus. CONCLUSION: The fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient-echo MR image is useful for evaluating the venous structures in the skull base. Knowledge of the variations is important for diagnosis and endovascular treatment of the cavernous sinus lesions.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Molecular characterization of a membrane-bound cGMP dependent protein kinase from the silk moth Bombyx mori.

The cGMP signalling pathway has been suggested to be involved in the signal transduction of various physiological functions in insects; olfaction, antidiuresis and eclosion. However, the cGMP signalling mechanism has remained elusive. We isolated two cDNAs of the cGMP dependent protein kinase, designated BmPKG-Ialpha and BmPKG-Ibeta. The deduced amino acid sequences indicate that both BmPKG-Ialpha and BmPKG-Ibeta appear to consist of an amino terminal region, a cGMP binding domain and a protein kinase domain. Transcripts of BmPKG-Ialpha and BmPKG-Ibeta were detected in various tissues: flight muscles, antennae, midgut, legs, head, thoracic ganglia and Malphighian tubules. Recombinant BmPKG-Ialpha bound to lipid membranes, while BmPKG-Ialpha with a deleted amino terminal region failed to bind to lipid membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

A quantity control mechanism regulating levels of the HapE subunit of the Hap complex in Aspergillus nidulans: no accumulation of HapE in hapC deletion mutants.

The Aspergillus nidulans CCAAT-binding complex (Hap complex) consists of at least three subunits, HapB, HapC and HapE. To investigate the quantity control mechanisms of the subunits during assembly of the Hap complex, reconstitution studies with the recombinant subunits and extracts prepared from the respective hap subunit deletion mutants were carried out. Furthermore, Western blot analysis of the Hap subunits and Northern blot analysis of the hap genes with the respective deletion mutants were also performed. From all the results together, it was suggested that the number of the HapC molecule could adjust that of the HapE molecule by forming stable heterodimers prior to assembly of the Hap complex.

Aspergillus nidulans↗

PubMed2002

Comparative study on the use of solid media: Löwenstein-Jensen and Ogawa in the determination of anti-tuberculosis drug susceptibility.

A total of 53 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were examined to evaluate the consistency of susceptibility tests using two solid egg-based culture media, Ogawa and Löwenstein-Jensen (L-J), in order to assess the inter-media differences in susceptibility tests for anti-tuberculosis drugs. Fifty-three M. tuberculosis strains were tested for resistance against isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, streptomycin and other alternative drugs on L-J and Ogawa media. Data from isoniazid (INH) revealed 31 strains were susceptible and 11 strains were resistant in L-J medium. On the other hand, one strain showed resistance against INH only on Ogawa medium. This gave a consistency ratio of 97.7% for INH between these two media. Similarly, the methods had 100% compatibility with rifampicin, 86.0% with ethambutol and 88.4% with streptomycin. When 41 of these strains were tested against ethionamide, enviomycin, para -aminosalicylate, sparfloxacin, and levofloxacin, the same numbers of strains were shown to be resistant or susceptible to L-J and Ogawa media. Similarly, the consistency ratio was 75.6% for kanamycin and 61.0% for capreomycin. There are inconsistencies between results obtained with L-J and Ogawa media, Ogawa medium had a tendency to produce results that indicated more resistant strains. However, the differences were statistically negligible.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2002

Bactericidal activities of commonly used antiseptics against multidrug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Seventeen clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were selected in order to study the bactericidal activities against drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. The effects of different antiseptics against multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were examined. Each of the test strains was cultured on the surface of an agar slant containing Löwenstein-Jensen medium. 0.05 ml of the bacillary suspension was poured into a test tube, and 0.45 ml of various antiseptics was added. After the bacilli had been exposed to the antiseptic solution with 2% human serum for various periods of incubation time, the antiseptic was inactivated by addition of 0.45 ml neutralizer, a mixture containing 10% Tween 80, 3% soybean lecithin and 0.5% sodium thiosulfate. As the results, povidone-iodine (PVP-I) at a concentration of 0.2% killed 99.9% or more of all strains tested within 30 s. All of the strains tested with PVP-I were killed almost completely within 60 s. There was no difference in bactericidal activities of PVP-I between standard strain H37Rv and MDR-TB. 99.9% or more of all strains tested were killed after exposure to 1.0% cresol for 60 s. In the case of cresol however, the exposure time of 30 s was not enough to get satisfactory effects. 2.0% glutaraldehyde needed 5 min to kill 99.99% or more of the bacilli tested, and 0.2% alkyldiaminoethylglycine hydrochloride required 60 min to do so. The results of bactericidal activities of common antiseptics against MDR-TB were similar to those against H37Rv. We conclude that the commercially available PVP-I product is a useful antiseptic against MDR-TB similar to other M. tuberculosis.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

PubMed2001

A receptor-type guanylyl cyclase expression is regulated under circadian clock in peripheral tissues of the silk moth. Light-induced shifting of the expression rhythm and correlation with eclosion.

The mechanisms by which the circadian clock controls behavior through regulating gene expression in peripheral tissues are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that the expression of a receptor-type guanylyl cyclase (BmGC-I) from the silk moth Bombyx mori is regulated in the flight muscles in a circadian fashion. BmGC-I mRNA was expressed from the end of the light period through the middle of the dark period. BmGC-I protein expression and cGMP levels were high around the initiation of eclosion events at the beginning of the photoperiod. The rhythm of the BmGC-I and cGMP levels free-ran in constant light and synchronized to the environmental photoperiodic cycle. The circadian regulation of BmGC-I expression was also observed in the legs but not in other tissues examined. BmGC-I therefore represents a circadian output gene that regulates eclosion behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

AoHapB, AoHapC and AoHapE, subunits of the Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding complex, are functionally interchangeable with the corresponding subunits in Aspergillus nidulans.

Two genes, AohapB and AohapE, encoding subunits of the Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding complex were cloned and sequenced. The polypeptides encoded by AohapB and AohapE were expressed in Escherichia coli and used to reconstitute a DNA-binding complex with recombinant AoHapC. The DNA-binding activity was observed only in the presence of all three subunits, indicating that AoHapB, AoHapE and AoHapC are essential for CCAAT-binding. Furthermore, introduction of the AohapB, AohapC and AohapE genes into the A. nidulans hapB delta, hapC delta and hapE delta strains, respectively, revealed that the A. oryzae Hap subunits are functionally interchangeable with the corresponding subunits in A. nidulans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Metallosphaera sedula TA-2, a calditoglycerocaldarchaeol deletion strain of a thermoacidophilic archaeon.

A spherical thermoacidophilic archaeon, strain TA-2, was obtained from acidic hot springs located in Ohwaku Valley, Hakone, Japan. This isolate is an obligate aerobic chemoorganoheterotroph that grows optimally at about 75 degrees C, pH 2.8. The G + C content of DNA from TA-2 is 47 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene from TA-2 showed more than 99% similarity with those of Metallosphaera sedula and Metallosphaera prunae and less than 92% similarity with other members of the order Sulfolobales. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed more than 93% genomic DNA homology among TA-2, M. sedula DSM5348T, and M. prunae DSM10039T. However, TA-2 lacks calditoglycerocaldarchaeol derivatives, which are usually found in the membrane lipids of members of the order Sulfolobales. Therefore, calditoglycerocaldarchaeol may not be essential for survival in thermophilic and acidophilic environments. The isolate was deposited as Metallosphaera sedula TA-2 (JCM 9064, IFO 15160).

Adaptation, Biological↗

PubMed2001

Potential use of Amplicor PCR kit in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis from gastric aspirate.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of mycobacteria from gastric aspirate for the diagnosis of tuberculosis is not fully evaluated up to now. A total of 116 gastric aspirate specimens were collected from patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. The breakdown of diagnosis was 67 pulmonary tuberculosis, 16 nontuberculous mycobacterial infection, 5 extra pulmonary tuberculosis, and 28 other lung diseases. The conventional methods were shown to have a sensitivity of 47.8% and a specificity of 79.6%; on the other hand, Amplicor had 34.9% and 97.0%, respectively. The Amplicor provided a more rapid and specific method for diagnosing tuberculosis and was more useful than the conventional.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Identification of a receptor type guanylyl cyclase in the antennal lobe and antennal sensory neurons of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori.

Sensory neuron-specific guanylyl cyclases (GC), which were recently identified in rodents and nematodes, are thought to be a new family of odorant/pheromone receptors. In the antennae of the male silkmoth Bombyx mori, receptor type GC are supposed to mediate signaling of pheromone. Structure of receptor type GC expressed in insect sensory neurons has remained unidentified. Here we report the isolation of cDNA of the receptor type GC, designated BmGC-I, from the male silkmoth antennae. The deduced amino acid sequence indicates that BmGC-I appears to consist of four domains: an extracellular, single transmembrane, kinase-like and a guanylyl cyclase domain. BmGC-I is most closely related to the mammalian natriuretic peptide hormone receptor A (GC-A) and retains all the cysteine residues that are conserved within the extracellular domain of the mammalian GC-As. Transcripts of the BmGC-I gene were detected in various tissues; the flight muscles, midgut, legs, ganglion, Malpighian tubules, testis and the head. Immunohistochemical study revealed that the BmGC-I protein localizes in the antennal-lobe glomerulus and in the soma and axon of sensory neurons. We thus suggest that BmGC-I plays functional roles in the odorant information processing and the modulation of excitability in the antennal sensory neurons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Acute respiratory failure caused by leukaemic infiltration of the lung of a dog.

A seven-year-old crossbred male dog with a suspected leukaemic condition was referred for investigation and treatment. A bone marrow aspirate revealed an acute myeloid leukaemia. Combination chemotherapy was administered and the dog initially improved, but 18 days after the initiation of therapy its body condition deteriorated and the animal developed acute respiratory distress. On postmortem examination, extensive leukaemic pulmonary infiltrates were evident.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in relation to the mutations of pbp 1a, pbp2b and pbp2x.

A total of 210 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) were selected randomly to examine drug susceptibility which were obtained from out- and in-patients who visited Kurume University Hospital and other affiliated hospitals through May 1998 to September 1999. The prevalence of penicillin resistant S. pneumoniae in this study was 39.5% and was compatible with those of previous reports in Japan. From the clinical aspects, the resistant strains of S. pneumoniae have been shown not to be so highly virulent comparing with sensitive strains that only few severe or mortal cases had been reported. Carbapenems, glycopeptides, and fluoroquinolones were shown to be highly active against penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains as evidenced by the low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) though LVFX showed 4 micrograms/ml or higher MICs against some strains. Regarding to the mechanisms of penicillin resistance, penicillin binding proteins coding gene (pbp1a, pbp2x and pbp2b) mutations that cause modifications in these proteins were also examined for all isolates. The multivariate analysis showed statistically significant correlation between higher MIC of penicillin and cephem and pbp1a mutation while no significant contribution of pbp2x and pbp2b to the resistance was demonstrated. Additionally, no significant correlation between pbp mutation and MIC of carbapenem was observed. Furthermore, there were two highly penicillin resistant S. pneumoniae strains with no pbp mutations. Thus the pbp mutations alone were not responsible for the elevation of MIC all beta-lactams. Nevertheless the pbp mutations were detected in advance of actual MIC elevations by inducement experiment in vitro. It indicated that penicillin resistance might be detected earlier than conventional methods. In previous reports some other responsible genes for penicillin resistance were demonstrated. Therefore, it might be possible to presume exact values of MICs of beta-lactams against resistant strains of S. pneumoniae by detecting still unknown genes other than pbps.

Aminoacyltransferases↗

PubMed2001

Ocular symptoms associated with a dural arteriovenous fistula involving the hypoglossal canal: selective transvenous coil embolization. Case report.

The hypoglossal canals are an unusual location for dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) to appear. One previous report of dural AVFs involving the hypoglossal canal has been published. In the present paper, the authors describe a dural AVF within the hypoglossal canal, which presented with ocular symptoms and was successfully treated by selective transvenous embolization. Magnetic resonance imaging and contralateral carotid arteriography were useful for determination of the exact location of the fistulous pouch, which was later packed with coils. Selective transvenous coil embolization with careful assessment of the location and pattern of the venous drainage of the dural AVF is a safe and effective treatment.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

TH protein and mRNA in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons are down-regulated by continuous but not intermittent apomorphine.

Levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and TH mRNA were measured after administration of dopamine agonists for a long period of time to elucidate the long-term feedback inhibition of dopamine synthesis in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Continuous infusion, which desensitized presynaptic dopamine receptors, but not repeated administration, down-regulated TH and TH mRNA levels. This suggests levels of TH protein and mRNA are only feedback inhibited by the continuous stimulation of postsynaptic dopamine receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Three-dimensional reconstructed images after rotational angiography in the evaluation of intracranial aneurysms: surgical correlation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional reconstructed images from rotational digital subtraction angiography in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with 34 intracranial aneurysms underwent biplane angiography (40 degrees per s, 4.5 degrees per image, 8.8 frames per s). Three-dimensional (3-D) reconstructed images were obtained at a separate Advantage 3.1 workstation (General Electric, Milwaukee, WI) after the rotational images were transferred. The available visualization techniques included maximum intensity projection, shaded surface display, and virtual endoluminal view. All images were evaluated in correlation with intrasurgical visual data recorded on digital videotapes. RESULTS: 3-D reconstructed images correlated well with surgical findings. The shape of the aneurysms, their neck size, and their relationships to the parent vessels and other branches were depicted clearly, especially compared with images obtained by two-dimensional conventional digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance angiography. CONCLUSION: 3-D digital subtraction angiography enables the surgeon to understand the 3-D structure of lesions and is very useful in planning the surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

PubMed2000

[Evaluation of CT appearance of Mycobacterium avium complex infection--comparison with bronchiectasia].

We compared computed tomographic pictures (CT) of primary pulmonary mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection with bronchiectasia (BE). These patients were examined during the period from 1988 to 1996. There were 51 patients of pulmonary MAC infection group (13 males and 38 females) with a mean age of 67.5 years and 27 patients of BE group (8 males and 19 females) with a mean age of 53.9 years. The results were as follows: 1. In both groups, bronchiectasis was most commonly found in the middle lobe and in the lingula. In pulmonary MAC infection group, 38 patients (74.5%) had bronchiectasis in the middle lobe, and 40 patients (78.4%) had them in the lingula. In BE group, 18 patients (66.7%) had them in the middle lobe and in the lingula respectively. In the lower lobe, bronchiectasis of BE group was observed more frequently. And in pulmonary MAC infection group, 15 patients (29.4%) had bronchiectasis in the central zone, 42 patients (82.4%) had them in the intermediate zone, and all 51 patients had them in the peripheral zone. On the other hand, in BE group, 18 patients (66.7%), 27 patients (100%) and 21 patients (77.8%) had them in the central zone, in the intermediate zone and in the peripheral zone respectively. Bronchiectasis of pulmonary MAC infection was observed in peripheral zone more frequently than that of BE group. 2. By the type of bronchiectasis, saccular bronchiectasis was observed more frequently in BE group than in pulmonary MAC infection group. 3. Nodules were seen in pulmonary MAC infection group significantly more than in BE group. They were seen in 96% of lobes with bronchiectasis, and 50% of lobes without bronchiectasis in pulmonary MAC infection group. It was thought that the bronchiectasis with nodules predominantly in the peripheral zone was a characteristic CT finding of primary pulmonary MAC infection. As this finding was different from that of BE, it is suggested that primary pulmonary MAC infection caused this type of bronchiectasis.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Giant cell interstitial pneumonia in two hard metal workers: the role of bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnosis.

Two cases of hard metal lung disease and pathological findings of giant cell interstitial pneumonia are reported. The cases worked in different factories manufacturing hard metal parts from tungsten carbide and cobalt. Pathological specimens were obtained by percutaneous thoracoscopy and transbronchial lung biopsy. X-ray microanalysis detected only tungsten carbide in the lung specimen of one case. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed diagnostic bizarre macrophages in the lavage fluid.

Adult↗