Biomedical subjects
S Torii
Publications and source records attributed to S Torii.
Fatty acid compositions of plasma lipids in atopic dermatitis/asthma patients.
The proportions of linoleic acid in total plasma lipids and phospholipids were significantly greater and those of oleic acid were lower in pre-puberal and puberal atopic patients as compared with age-matched healthy controls. The n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio of the triacylglycerol fraction was also lower in atopic patients. However, no significant decreases in the proportions of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were observed in plasma lipids of atopic patients, suggesting that delta 6-desaturase activity is not impaired in atopic patients. We provide an explanation for the beneficial effects of raising the n-3/n-6 ratio of dietary oils in the context of suppressing allergic hyper-reactivity in humans.
[Allergic diseases: progress in diagnosis and treatment. III. Primary care of allergic diseases: therapeutic guidelines. 4. Food allergy].
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Search for point sources of ultrahigh energy gamma rays in the southern sky.
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Cosmic-ray deficit from the directions of the Moon and the Sun detected with the Tibet air-shower array.
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Localization of Kex2-like processing endoproteases, furin and PC4, within mouse testis by in situ hybridization.
By in situ hybridization analysis, we show here the localization of furin and PC4, which are both members of a growing family of endoproteases structurally related to the yeast precursor processing protease Kex2, within mouse testis. Furin transcript was detected in both germ and somatic cells, while PC4 transcript was found only in round spermatids. Proenkephalin transcript was also localized in round spermatids. These observations suggest that, within testis, PC4 is involved in processing of peptide precursors such as proenkephalin and may play a role in regulation of sperm maturation, while furin may serve as a more general processing endoprotease.
The gene loci for immunoglobulin heavy chains in precursor B cell lines from a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency appear able to participate in DNA rearrangement but have a germ-line configuration.
In a previous study (Immunogenetics 1988. 27:330) with Epstein-Barr virus, we established lines of precursor B cells from bone marrow cells of a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency in whom the numbers of B cells and T cells were markedly reduced. Although based on their surface markers these cell lines appeared to be at an early stage of B cell differentiation, the gene loci for immunoglobulin heavy chains (IgH) retained the germ-line configuration on both chromosomes in almost all the transformants. In this study, we found that the enhancer sequence, located between the JH and mu genes, was hypomethylated and an abundance of the germ-line Cmu transcript was detected in these cell lines by Northern hybridization. These results suggest that the chromatin structure of the IgH gene locus in these cell lines is accessible to VDJ recombinase and is able to participate fully in DNA rearrangement. By contrast, we did not detect transcripts of the RAG-1 and RAG-2 genes, which are required for V(D)J recombination at gene loci for immunoglobulin and T cell receptors. Thus, it seems likely that these cell lines fail to initiate the V(D)J recombination process because of some deficiency in the formation of VDJ recombinase, which includes the inability to express RAG genes.
X chromosome inactivation analysis to distinguish sporadic cases of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia from common variable immunodeficiency.
The X chromosome inactivation analysis of eight female relatives was performed to elucidate the X chromosome gene defect of six male hypogammaglobulinaemic individuals. The patients had diminished numbers of circulating B-cells and no relevant family history. The methylation status of three X-linked genes, phosphoglycerate kinase, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase and DXS255, was determined on DNA from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines established from the female relatives. The methylation pattern of at least one gene was informative in all eight females examined. While both alleles were equally methylated in four of eight females, the remaining four female relatives of three hypogammaglobulinaemia patients exhibited a non-random methylation pattern in their B-cells, suggesting that these three patients represented sporadic cases of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA). The clinical or immunological status of these three patients did not differ from the remaining two who had early onset hypogammaglobulinaemia and who were tentatively diagnosed as having common variable immunodeficiency. The sixth patient had recurrent infections after undergoing surgical removal of a brain tumour at 22 years of age, although his immunological features did not distinguish him from the other patients. X chromosome inactivation analysis can be useful in differentiating XLA from hypogammaglobulinaemia in male patients.
Combination gastric seromuscular patch and omental pedicle flap for bronchial fistula.
We report the successful closure of a recurrent bronchial fistula using a combination gastric seromuscular patch and omental pedicle flap. This new method provided an immediate airtight closure of the bronchial fistula. This technique appears superior to closure by omentum alone.
Poliovirus in cerebrospinal fluid from an infant with adenovirus infection.
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Identification and functional expression of a new member of the mammalian Kex2-like processing endoprotease family: its striking structural similarity to PACE4.
We used the polymerase chain reaction to identify a mouse cDNA which represented a new member of a growing class of mammalian endoproteases homologous to the yeast Kex2 protease involved in the processing of precursor proteins. This cDNA encoded a 915-residue protein, designated as PC6, containing a subtilisin-like catalytic domain closely related to those of other Kex2-like members (furin, PC2, PC1/3, PC4, and PACE4). It exhibited striking sequence similarity to PACE4 and contained similar protein domains, such as the COOH-terminal Cys-rich region. Northern blot analysis revealed that PC6 mRNA, as with furin and PACE4 mRNAs, was expressed in various tissues and cell lines, with the highest level in the intestine. Transfection experiments revealed that PC6 was capable of cleaving precursors at dibasic sites. These observations suggest that PC6 is a candidate for a processing endoprotease responsible for the maturation of gastrointestinal peptides.
Irradiation effects on wound contraction using a connective tissue model.
To analyze irradiation effects on wound contraction, fibroblasts harvested from human oral mucosa were irradiated (single 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-Gy exposures of x-rays). The irradiated fibroblasts were examined for growth ability, and they were cultured three-dimensionally in hydrated collagen gels. The irradiation inhibited growth of fibroblasts and contraction of collagen gels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, inhibition depended on the duration after exposure. The organization of actin filaments of fibroblasts in this model was examined with fluorescent dye-conjugated phalloidin. Many elongated cell projections were formed in cells of the control group, but the cell projections were almost disrupted in the irradiated cells. X-ray irradiation is thus shown to inhibit wound contraction by affecting the organization of actin filaments in fibroblasts.
Clonal haematopoiesis in children with acquired aplastic anaemia.
The methylation pattern of three X-linked genes, phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) and DXS255 detected by hypervariable M27 beta probe, was analysed to determine the proportion of aplastic anaemia (AA) with clonal haematopoiesis in Japanese children. Methylation analysis was performed on DNA from separated granulocytes and compared to that of bone marrow derived fibroblasts to exclude selective lyonization in all somatic cells. Of 20 female patients examined, the methylation pattern of at least one gene was informative in granulocyte DNA from 18 patients (90%). Of these, 8/20 patients (40%) were heterozygous for PGK, 8/18 (44%) were heterozygous for HPRT and 17/18 (94%) were heterozygous for DXS255. In 14/18 patients both alleles were equally methylated. Four patients exhibited a unilateral methylation pattern in their granulocytes. The same unilateral pattern was again demonstrated in fibroblasts from two of the four patients suggesting that in the latter one X chromosome was selectively inactivated in all of the somatic cells. The remaining two patients showed a unilateral methylation pattern that was restricted to their granulocytes, suggesting the existence of true clonal haematopoiesis. They responded well to antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) and presently have no evidence of a clonal disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). Although these results indicate that some children with AA exhibit clonal haematopoiesis, analysis of a greater number of subjects will be required to establish the clinical value of clonal haematopoiesis in patients with AA.
[Cross-allergenicity between rice and buckwheat antigens and immediate hypersensitive reactions induced by buckwheat ingestion].
Immediate hypersensitive reactions (IHR) induced by buckwheat ingestion are considered to be IgE-mediated. However we found 28 subjects without IHR to buckwheat ingestion out of 46 subjects who had positive RAST values for both buckwheat and rice antigens. The IHR-positive group showed significantly higher RAST values for buckwheat antigens (p < 0.01) but lower RAST values for rice antigens (p < 0.01) than did the IHR-negative group. RAST values for buckwheat and rice were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.01) in the IHR-negative group, but not in the IHR-positive group. An effective dose-dependent inhibition was obtained in a RAST inhibition assay between homologous combinations of inhibitor and disc antigens such as rice and rice or buckwheat and buckwheat. The IHR-positive group showed no significant RAST inhibition between heterogeneous combinations of rice and buckwheat antigens. In contrast, the IHR-negative group showed a significant decrease in IgE binding even in the RAST inhibition assay between heterogenous combinations. These results led to the conclusion that there is cross-reactivity with IgE antibodies between buckwheat and rice and that IgE antibodies from IHR-negative subjects might recognize the epitopes on buckwheat antigens which cross react with rice antigens, whereas IgE antibodies from IHR-positive subjects might bind to buckwheat-specific epitopes.
Simultaneous allografting and autografting of skin for ulcers in a bone marrow transplant patient.
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Indications and results of vascularized pedicle iliac bone graft in avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
Several reports describe methods of treatment for avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) involving 0 to 2 mm of collapse. Some cases of ANFH have good prognoses, requiring only non-weight-bearing treatment. Other cases rapidly progress to collapse and complete destruction with enlargement of the necrotic area. The progression of the necrotic area is related to the activity of the original disease, steroid treatment, and the size and location of the necrotic area in the early stages of the disorder. In this report, a vascularized pedicle bone graft was used to treat ANFH, particularly those cases identified as Stage II on the system established by the Japanese Investigation Committee. Surgery involved curettage of necrotic bone, implantation of spongy bone, and application of a vascularized pedicle bone graft. Grafts were taken from the ilium and included the superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA). A bony canal was made in the anterior femoral neck, from which the necrotic bone was curetted and to which the bone graft was applied. The deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) was also used in combination with the SCIA. The postoperative weight-bearing period was six months. Follow-up periods lasted one to six years. Seventeen of 23 Stage II joints (19 cases) achieved satisfactory results at a mean of three years after surgery. Three Stage II joints and three Stage III joints continue to have significant problems. One of these six has been converted to a dual-bearing type endoprosthesis. The unsuccessful results generally occurred in patients who were treated with steroids.
[A case of modified Fontan procedure for SLL single ventricular heart with bicaval total occlusion].
We successfully performed a modified Fontan procedure and bidirectional Glenn shunt for a 6-year-old boy with single ventricular heart (SLL). After the operation, the patient suffered from a severe pneumonia, so intravenous catheter had to be inserted for a long time. Post operative angiography revealed bicaval total occlusion. But, inspite of these several complications, this patient is doing well. We believe that if bilateral SVC without communication exist on such a candidate for the Fontan type procedure, LSVC should be anastomosed to PA. The bidirectional Glenn shunt will contribute to save a life of the patient when the systemic venous route was occluded. In addition, the anticoagulation therapy should be taken for the patients underwent the Fontan type procedure.