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Biomedical subjects

S Torii

Publications and source records attributed to S Torii.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Hypoglycaemic brain lesions in a dog with insulinoma.

A 5-year-old female Collie dog showed excessive salivation, vomiting and neurological signs, including hind-limb weakness, mental dullness and subsequent recumbency with paddling movements of the limbs. Blood glucose and insulin concentrations were 35 mg/dl and 70.0 microU/ml, respectively. At necropsy, two masses, one at the caudal edge of the pancreas and the other in the omentum, were found and diagnosed as insulinoma. Histological examination of the brain showed early signs of acute neuronal necrosis exclusively in the superficial layers of the cerebral cortex, in addition to spongy changes in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. The light microscopical findings were identical in character and distribution with those of naturally occurring hypoglycaemia in humans and experimentally induced hypoglycaemia in animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Observation of Multi-TeV Gamma Rays from the Crab Nebula using the Tibet Air Shower Array.

The Tibet experiment, operating at Yangbajing (4300 m above sea level), is the lowest energy air shower array, and the new high-density array constructed in 1996 is sensitive to gamma-ray air showers at energies as low as 3 TeV. With this new array, the Crab Nebula was observed in multi-TeV gamma-rays and a signal was detected at the 5.5 sigma level. We also obtained the energy spectrum of gamma-rays in the energy region above 3 TeV which partially overlaps those observed with imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes. The Crab spectrum observed in this energy region can be represented by the power-law fit dJ&parl0;E&parr0;&solm0;dE=&parl0;4.61+/-0.90&parr0;x10-12&parl0;E&solm0;3 TeV&parr0;-2.62+/-0.17 cm-2 s-1 TeV-1. This is the first observation of gamma-ray signals from point sources with a conventional air shower array using scintillation detectors.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Human Daxx regulates Fas-induced apoptosis from nuclear PML oncogenic domains (PODs).

Daxx was first identified as a protein that binds the cytosolic domain of Fas and links this receptor to an apoptosis pathway involving activation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). We show here that cells overexpressing the human homolog of Daxx (hDaxx) display enhanced sensitivity to apoptosis induced by Fas but not by several other cell death stimuli. hDaxx-mediated enhancement of Fas-induced apoptosis was correlated with accelerated activation of caspases but not with JNK induction. Although specifically enhancing Fas function, hDaxx does not bind Fas and instead is found in the nucleus where it localizes to PML oncogenic domains (PODs). Moreover, the hDaxx protein also exhibits the ability to repress transcription. Mutagenesis studies demonstrated a correlation between the localization of hDaxx to PODs and its ability to enhance Fas-induced cell death. Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)), an agent that accentuates POD formation, collaborated synergistically with overexpression of hDaxx to increase cellular sensitivity to Fas-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings argue that hDaxx promotes sensitivity to Fas from a nuclear location, probably by modulating the transcription of genes involved in Fas-induced caspase activation and apoptosis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1999

Successful surgical treatment of a solitary parapharyngeal metastasis from thyroid cancer, using the mandibular swing-transcervical approach: report of a case.

A 72-year-old man presented with a right parapharyngeal mass, 4 cm in diameter, which was subsequently diagnosed as a metastasis originating from papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The parapharyngeal tumor was successfully removed by the mandibular swing-transcervical approach with pharyngeal reconstruction, performed using a buccal mucosal island flap based on the facial artery. His postoperative course was uneventful, and the preoperative clinical symptoms such as dysphagia and headaches completely resolved after surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Expression of midkine in normal and burn sites of rat skin.

Expression of midkine (MK), a retinoic acid-inducible heparin binding growth factor, was examined immunohistochemically in normal and burn sites of rat skin. In the normal skin, MK was localized in the epidermis and dermal appendages such as hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Mast cells in the subdermal connective tissue also accumulated MK. After burn injury, MK-positive cells began to infiltrate into subdermal connective tissue, and the number of MK-positive cells in the region increased to a maximum at postburn day two and then decreased gradually. Western blotting analysis of both normal and postburn skin revealed a 30 kDa band reactive with anti-MK antibody; this band was concluded to be a dimer of MK. These findings were discussed from the viewpoint of the possible role of MK in wound healing.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The lumbar artery perforator based island flap: anatomical study and case reports.

A lumbar artery island flap can be elevated based on a single lumbar artery. We studied the vascular anatomy using 21 specimens of lumbar arteries in 11 cadavers, and investigated the skin territory of the artery using fluorescein injection. We observed lumbar perforators emerging through the lumbar fascia at the lateral border of the erector spinae muscle, situated 5-9 cm from the midline. The diameter of the vascular bundle at the site of perforation ranged from 1 to 5 mm. Perforators of the second and fourth lumbar arteries were much more developed than others. The cutaneous territory supplied by the second lumbar artery extended from the posterior midline to the lateral border of the rectus sheath, and at least 10 cm above the anterosuperior iliac spine. We transferred four clinical flaps for coverage of ulcers on the lower back. All flaps survived and their donor site defects were closed primarily. The cadaver dissection, the injection study and our clinical success have confirmed the feasibility of lumbar artery island flaps.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Heterogeneous reactivity of murine epidermal Langerhans cells after application of FITC: a histochemical evaluation.

To elucidate the detailed kinetics of epidermal Langerhans cells after topical contact sensitizer stimulation, we examined ATPase or Ia positive epidermal cells of BALB/c mice in a time-spaced manner after the topical application of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). We also performed double labeling of Langerhans cells in epidermal sheets with ATPase activity and Ia antigen or costimulatory molecules (B7-1 and B7-2) after the same stimulation. Observations showed that the density of ATPase positive cells and Ia positive cells decreased following a different time course; the former reached a nadir (77.4% of control) at 4 h but the latter reached a minimum (82.8% of control) at 16 h after the application of FITC. A double labeling technique revealed an increase in Ia single positive cells at 4 h as opposed to that of ATPase single positive cells at 16 h after application. Both costimulatory molecules were expressed on the dendritic processes of many Langerhans cells as a dotty pattern at 4 h after application; B7 positive and ATPase negative areas were observed at this time. On electron microscopic observation, a few activated Langerhans cells found in the dermis at 4 h after application had distinctive profiles compared with residual Langerhans cells in the epidermis. These findings suggest that there is a heterogeneity of reactivity to FITC in epidermal Langerhans cells, and that only a small portion of them migrates from the epidermis during sensitization. The findings also indicate the importance of the interaction between the Langerhans cell and its surrounding microenvironment in the epidermis for its activation. In addition, the results indicate that the enzymatic and the phenotypic markers do not definitively reflect the presence (or absence) of Langerhans cells.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1999

Cell extensions in PKC1 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

To obtain information on cell wall synthesis and its relationship to morphology, we examined the induction of cell extensions of yeast upon the addition of isoamyl alcohol in osmotically fragile mutants that had mutations in genes related to the cell integrity pathway through activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. We found that isoamyl alcohol induces cell extensions in pkc1 deletion mutants but not in mutants with mutations in genes positioned downstream or upstream of the PKC1 gene. These results suggest that Pkc1p functions not only in the integrity pathway but also in the induction. We characterized the elongated cells; many had two or more nuclei. We found no difference in cell surface structure between round and elongated cells from the results of chitin staining and cell wall extraction. Actin cytoskeleton was organized in elongated cells, as well as round cells. Cytochalasin D (0.08 mg/mL) inhibited the formation of actin cable but did not affect the induction of cell extensions.

Cell Wall↗
PubMed1999

[Development and evaluation of parent-related quality of life questionnaires for asthmatic children and their parents or caregivers--evaluation of treatment process with sustained-release theophylline dry syrup].

A quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for asthmatic children and their parents or caregivers was shown to exhibit reliability, factorial validity and possibility for application study in our previous report. The aim of this study was to examine longitudinal study of the questionnaires, including changes of QOL, responsibility to asthmatic symptoms, consistency with conventional asthma scores and clinical outcomes during treatment with theophylline dry syrup for about three months. Overall QOL scores increased significantly (p < 0.01) with improvement in clinical outcomes. Longitudinal changes of QOL were compared with differences (after-before) and changes of ratio [(after-before/before)] in QOL by correlation analysis between differences of asthma scores. Changes of ratio in QOL were reflected by the clinical outcomes. Results of investigation of correlation between differences in asthma scores and changes of ratio in QOL domains were considered as follows. Physical domain was correlated with asthma symptoms, given the moderate correlation (rho = 0.497). Social and family domains showed fair correlation (rho = 0.382 - 0.384 respectively), both domains were hard to correlate with differences in asthma scores. Emotional domain showed fair correlation (rho = 0.264) for reflecting family's emotion. Poor correlation (rho = 0.071) was observed in individual growth domain which was necessary to evaluate for longer term. Changes of ratio in QOL responded significantly (p < 0.01) to improved and worst-unchanged groups which were categorized by the differences in asthma scores. In conclusion, QOL questionnaires showed longitudinal validity for clinical outcomes and responsibility to asthmatic symptoms. It yields useful information for understanding how asthmatic symptoms affect parents or caregivers and investigating what treatments should be prescribed for the patients with asthma.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

[Development of parent-rated quality of life questionnaire for asthmatic children and their parents or caregivers--reliability and factorial validity].

We developed a questionnaire form on quality of life (QOL) designed for data entry by parents or caregivers of asthmatic children, which consisted of five domains: physical, social, family, emotional, and individual growth domains. QOL scores were determined according to the five-point scale by which one point was given for maximal impairment and five points for no impairment. The form included 23 questions for children under the age of four and 31 questions for children over the age of four. This study examined reproducibility, reliability, and factorial validity of the form. The numbers of asthmatic children, whose symptoms of asthma attacks had been stable for the 2 weeks before this study, were as follows: eight children under the age of four; and 26 children over the age of four. The intra-class correlation coefficients for these two categories of children were 0.879 and 0.793, respectively; therefore, reproducibility was shown. The values of Cronbach's alfa for the total scores of QOL were 0.6329 to 0.8829 in 102 asthmatic children, 40 healthy children, and 12 non-asthmatic children, e.g., children affected by cold. Therefore, internal consistency was shown. The rank-orders of the replies to the questions associated with the physical, social, family, and emotional domains other than the individual growth domain decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in asthmatic children as compared with healthy or non-asthmatic children. Factor analysis confirmed the five established domains and each facets therein at the cumulative variance of 60% or higher. In conclusion, this questionnaire form on QOL of asthmatic children was considered to have reproducibility, constitutional reliability, and factorial validity, to be applicable at the time of medication, and to be useful in investigating approaches for the management of bronchial asthma and the targeting of treatment.

Asthma↗
PubMed1999

Pedicle bone grafting versus transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head--four patients with both procedures.

The clinical and radiographic results of vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting (PBG) and Sugioka's transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy of the femoral head (ARO) for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head were compared. Four male patients with bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head were treated with PBG in the first hip and with ARO in the second. All patients had stage 2 or 3 involvement according to Ficat's classification. Average age at the time of PBG and ARO was 42 and 43 years, respectively. Average follow-up of PBG and ARO was 7.5 and 5.7 years. At final follow-up, the average Harris hip scores of PBG and ARO were 73 and 85, respectively. Collapse was observed in 3 PBG hips and in 1 ARO hip. Three patients were more satisfied with the ARO procedure than with the PBG treatment, and one patient was undecided. ARO was considered better surgical treatment than PBG from both a clinical and radiological perspective.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

De novo adipogenesis in mice at the site of injection of basement membrane and basic fibroblast growth factor.

Autografting of fat pads has a long history in plastic and reconstructive surgery for augmentation of lost soft tissue. However, the results are disappointing because of absorption of the grafts with time. The fate of transplanted fat is linked to adipose precursor cells distributed widely in connective tissues. Adipocyte precursor cells can proliferate and mature into adipocytes even in the adult body depending on microenvironment. When reconstituted basement membrane, Matrigel, supplemented with more than 1 ng/ml bFGF was injected s.c. into 6-week-old mice, the neovascularization induced within 1 week was followed by migration of endogenous adipose precursor cells, and a clearly visible fat pad was formed. The pad grew until 3 weeks after the injection and persisted for at least 10 weeks. Such de novo adipogenesis was induced reproducibly by s.c. injection of Matrigel and bFGF over the chest, lateral abdomen, or head. Adipogenesis could be induced even in ear cartilage or in muscle. Thus, our results demonstrated that an abundant population of adipose precursor cells is distributed widely in connective tissues of the adult body and that they migrate into the neovascularized plug of Matrigel for proliferation and maturation. These results suggest a technique of augmenting lost soft tissue in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed1998

Necrotizing toxoplasmic encephalitis in a child with the X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome.

UNLABELLED: We report on a 9-year-old boy with the hyper-IgM syndrome who presented with rapid impairment of consciousness. The brain CT scan showed multiple round lucencies, and the brain histology revealed necrotizing toxoplasmic encephalitis. This patient, whose CD40/CD40 ligand system was impaired, indicates the importance of this system for defence against toxoplasmic infection. CONCLUSION: Although disseminated toxoplasmosis is a rare complication of the hyper-IgM syndrome, it must be included in the differential diagnosis of infections.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Modulation of eosinophil chemotactic activities to leukotriene B4 by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Eosinophil accumulation induced by leukotriene B4 appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. We evaluated the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on chemotaxis to leukotriene B4 in guinea pig peritoneal eosinophils. Guinea pigs that were sensitized to polymyxin B were administered an intraperitoneal injection of polymyxin B (1 mg/animal) alone or combined with DHA (15 or 50 mg/kg, i.p.), EPA (50 or 100 mg/kg, i.p.), or with linoleic acid (LA) (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Forty hours later, eosinophils were obtained from the intraperitoneal lavage fluid and purified. The chemotactic and chemokinetic responses of eosinophils to leukotriene B4 were measured using a 96-well microchemotaxis chamber. DHA significantly decreased the chemotactic and chemokinetic responses of eosinophils in a dose-dependent fashion. A higher dose of EPA also significantly inhibited both of those responses, whereas LA had no effect. Our results suggested a possible mechanism for the improvement of allergic diseases by dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFA.

Animals↗