Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Ueda

Publications and source records attributed to S Ueda.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Local administration of interferon for malignant brain tumors.

We investigated the effects of local administration of interferon (IFN) on 13 patients with recurrent brain tumors. Histologic diagnoses were glioblastoma (eight patients), medulloblastoma (one), ependymoma (one), ependymoblastoma (one), pontine glioma (one), and astrocytoma (one). When tumor recurrence was evident local administration of IFN was started through an Ommaya reservoir, which was placed during repeat craniotomy. No tumor regressions were seen in the patients given weekly injections of IFN; however, in two of six patients given daily injections, a decrease of tumor volume and augmentation of natural killer activity were seen.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Protein components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from non-smokers and smokers.

The protein components in concentrated bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) from 10 healthy smokers and 10 non-smokers were analysed, using a differential quantitative method to measure bronchial secretory IgA(sIgA). In 3 volunteers the effect of increasing the volume of lavage fluid was also examined, indicating an increased recovery of each protein component but no change in the ratio of the different proteins. Albumin (Alb), alpha 1-antitrypsin, IgG and sIgA were consistently found, and IgE, C3-activator and C4 were sometimes found in BALFs, whereas, characteristically, IgM could never be detected. IgG/Alb ratio was not different from the serum value, reflecting passive transudation of IgG from the serum. However, some bronchial IgG could also be produced locally, especially in smokers, because their bronchial IgG/Alb ratio was significantly higher than in non-smokers. For IgA/Alb ratio, BALFs values were much higher than in serum, implying that most of the bronchial IgA was synthesized locally. In smokers, the amount of bronchial IgA tended to be decreased, suggesting that cigarette smoking suppresses bronchial IgA production and, hence, disturbs the local immunity of the lung.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Interferon therapy for brain tumor patients (author's transl)].

Nine cases of recurrent and metastatic brain tumors were treated by Hu-IFN-alpha. It was given intramuscularly and singly to those who finished the usual treatments of surgical removal and 60Co irradiation more than 6 months before, to exclude their effects on tumors. They were divided into 2 groups of small dosage (fifty thousands units weekly) and large dosage (3 million units every other day). The total dosage of IFN varied from about 2 million units for the small dosage group to 264 million units for the large dosage group. No side effects were noted. In two cases of six which were followed up over 4 months, the tumors regressed about 50% on serial CT. However, IFN was not effective on the tumors which had already showed a rapid growth before IFN administration. Almost all the patients showed improvements in their general condition, PPD and PHA skin test, peripheral lymphocyte counts and natural killer cell activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Decreased synaptic areas on Purkinje spines in the cerebellar cortex of the mutant Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica.

'Dark frayed feather nervous disorder' (dn) is a neurological mutation in quails in which the cerebellar cortex is abnormally organized. Purkinje cells are not aligned in a single row and show hypoplasia of the dendrites. The synapses between the parallel fibers and the spines of the Purkinje cell dendrites were examined with the technique of serial sections in electron microscopy. The postsynaptic thickenings were obviously decreased in the mutant quail despite the same density and size of dendritic spines of Purkinje cells. In addition, ectopic spines and postsynaptic differentiations free of parallel fibers were not found on the dn Purkinje cell. Because of the poor dendritic arborization, the total number of spines and the total synaptic area are, therefore, reduced in the dn Purkinje cell. According to the results obtained the dn mutant genetic locus is considered to affect primarily Purkinje cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The nucleotide sequence of the mouse immunoglobulin epsilon gene: comparison with the human epsilon gene sequence.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the immunoglobulin epsilon gene cloned from newborn mouse DNA. The epsilon gene sequence allows prediction of the amino acid sequence of the constant region of the epsilon chain and comparison of it with sequences of the human epsilon and other mouse immunoglobulin genes. The epsilon gene was shown to be under the weakest selection pressure at the protein level among the immunoglobulin genes although the divergence at the synonymous position is similar. Our results suggest that the epsilon gene may be dispensable, which is in accord with the fact that IgE has only obscure roles in the immune defense system but has an undesirable role as a mediator of hypersensitivity. The sequence data suggest that the human and murine epsilon genes were derived from different ancestors duplicated a long time ago. The amino acid sequence of the epsilon chain is more homologous to those of the gamma chains than the other mouse heavy chains. Two membrane exons, separated by an 80-base intron, were identified 1.7 kb 3' to the CH4 domain of the epsilon gene and shown to conserve a hydrophobic portion similar to those of other heavy chain genes. RNA blot hybridization showed that the epsilon membrane exons are transcribed into two species of mRNA in an IgE hybridoma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Long terminal repeat-like elements flank a human immunoglobulin epsilon pseudogene that lacks introns.

There are at least three immunoglobulin epsilon genes (C epsilon 1, C epsilon 2, and C epsilon 3) in the human genome. The nucleotide sequences of the expressed epsilon gene (C epsilon 1) and one (C epsilon 3) of the two epsilon pseudogenes were compared. The results show that the C epsilon 3 gene lacks the three intervening sequences entirely and has a 31-base A-rich sequence 16 bases 3' to the putative poly(A) addition signal, indicating that the C epsilon 3 gene is a processed gene. The C epsilon 3 gene sequence is homologous to the five separate DNA segments of the C epsilon 1 gene; namely, a segment in the 5'-flanking region (100 bases) and four exons, which are interrupted by a spacer region or intervening sequences. Long terminal repeat (LTR)-like sequences which contain TATAAA and AATAAA sequences as well as terminal inverted repeats are present in both 5'- and 3'-flanking regions. The 5' and 3' LTR-like sequences do not, however, constitute a direct repeat, unlike transposable elements of eukaryotes and retroviruses. The 3' LTR-like sequence is repetitive in the human genome, but is not homologous to the Alu family DNA. Models for the evolutionary origin of the processed gene flanked by the LTR-like sequences are discussed. The C epsilon 3 gene has a new open frame which codes potentially for an unknown protein of 292 amino acid residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Immunohistochemical studies on the serotonergic innervation of the pia mater.

The direct innervation of the pial blood vessels by serotonin neurons has been demonstrated with a modified peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique in the mammalian central nervous system. The pia mater covering the ventrolateral surface of the medulla oblongata is innervated by numerous varicose serotonin fibers originating from the serotonin neurons of the lower brainstem. Scattered serotonin fibers were observed in the pia mater in every part of the brain and spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of sustained-release theophylline administration on pituitary-thyroid axis.

The effect of therapeutic doses of theophylline on the pituitary-thyroid axis was studied in four normal adults and in 15 asthmatic children on theophylline treatment. In the four normal adults, sustained-release theophylline was administered every 12 hr for 60 hr, and serial determinations of serum theophylline, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), thyrotropin (TSH), and cyclic AMP (cAMP) were done. In all four cases, serum T4 increased significantly (134% +/- 4% vs basal level) with significant correlation to plasma cAMP level (r = 0.67, p less than 0.05). Changes in T3 and rT3 showed a marked individuality; an increase in T3 occurred in a subject with severe side effects, while the increase in rT3 was observed in a subject with mild side effects. Of the 15 children on theophylline treatment, a higher T4 level was found in 12 and a lower T3 level in nine at 1 wk, but these values returned to the previous level after 4 wk. These results indicate that the therapeutic doses of theophylline significantly but transiently increased the serum T4 level. In most cases, T4 is metabolized to rT3, an inactive metabolite of T4, but in a few cases it is metabolized to T3, which might double the side effects of theophylline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Structure of human immunoglobulin gamma genes: implications for evolution of a gene family.

We have cloned five human immunoglobulin gamma genes from a fetal liver gene library. Four of them encode the known human immunoglobulin gamma chains gamma 1, gamma 2, gamma 3 and gamma 4. A fifth gamma gene seems to be a pseudogene. Nucleotide sequence determination demonstrates that the gamma 3 gene contains four separate hinge exons. Comparison of these hinge exons with those of the other gamma genes indicates that the first hinge exon is homologous to that of the pseudogene, and that the other three hinge exons are homologous to that of the gamma 1 gene, suggesting that the gamma 3 gene ancestor is a hybrid gene created by unequal crossing-over between the ancestral gamma 1 and psi gamma genes. Amplification of the gamma 1-type hinge exon probably followed to complete the gamma 3 gene. This hypothesis inevitably postulates the gene order 5'-gamma 1-gamma 3-psi gamma-3'. Cloning of overlapping chromosomal segments demonstrates that the gamma 2 gene is located 19 kb 5' to the gamma 4 gene. These analyses indicate that the human gamma-gene family has evolved by several types of DNA rearrangemet, including duplication of a complete gene; duplication of a hinge exon; and reassortment of exons by unequal cross-over between two adjacent genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of equine infectious anemia.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was elaborated for the detection of specific antibody to equine infectious anemia (EIA) antigen. Sera from horses experimentally infected with EIA virus were assayed by ELISA, complement fixation (CF) and immunodiffusion (ID) tests for antibody to EIA antigen. The ELISA technique was found to be much more sensitive than CF and ID tests. In addition, EIA specific antibody could be detected by ELISA at an earlier stage of infection than by CF or ID techniques. The applicability of the technique to diagnosis of EIA is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Buckthorn neuropathy in vitro : evidence for a primary neuronal effect.

The neuropathy produced by toxins isolated from the buckthorn shrub (Karwinskia humboldtiana) has previously been proposed as a model for primary PNS demyelination in vivo. These toxins have been suggested to act through a metabolic effect on the Schwann cell. The aim of the present study was to use myelinated organotypic cultures of nervous tissue to dissect further the pathologic effects of these compounds. Combination cultures of mouse spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia were exposed to buckthorn toxins T/496 or T/544 at doses of 1-5 microgram/ml for periods of 48 hours (h) to 14 days. Ultrastructural findings from toxin-treated cultures indicated a primary effect upon the PNS axon, both myelinated and unmyelinated. The effect was expressed mainly as a widening of the periaxonal space, and also as a redistribution of most axonal organelles to a marginal position within the axon or to their close association with stacks of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, leaving more central regions occupied largely by neurofilaments. These changes were followed by focal axonal swelling, floccular disruption of the axoplasm and, ultimately, Wallerian degeneration. Myelin degeneration and chromatolytic changes in ganglion cell bodies appeared to be secondary to axonal alterations. This tissue culture model reproduces many of the features of buckthorn intoxication in vivo. However, the present results suggest that the toxic effect is primarily upon the axon rather than the Schwann cell, and would appear to be consistent with an abnormality in axoplasmic transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Purification and characterization of a new peptide antigen extracted from dermatophyte mycelia.

A highly purified peptide antigen was produced from the cultured mycelia of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Mycelia were extracted with 0.1 N-HCl at 37 degrees C repeatedly. The protein fraction was precipitated with picric acid and the final product was tentatively designated as Trichophyton mentagrophytes peptide (TMP). Total yield of TMP was about 3% of the original mycelia. When skin tests were done on sensitized guinea pigs, TMP showed a delayed-type reaction. The minimal dose which gave a positive reaction was 3 micrograms (0.1 ml of 30 micrograms/ml solution). Chemical analyses showed that TMP was almost exclusively of a peptide nature and digestion with bacterial peptidase (pronase) completely destroyed its skin test activity, thereby suggesting that protein fraction carried the entire antigenic activity. With chemical and/or physical processings, TMP showed firm stability; the skin test activity was unchanged after heating to 120 degrees C or after processing with HCl or NaOH. Fractionation of TMP by gel filtration demonstrated a considerable heterogeneity in its molecular size, while the antigenic activity was virtually the same in all the fractions. Disc electrophoresis also showed a wide-spread heterogeneous pattern. In the MIF test using peritoneal exudate cells from sensitized guinea pigs, 100 micrograms/ml of TMP had definite inhibitory effect on cell migration.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Adhesion of Haemophilus paragallinarum to cultured chicken cells.

Adhesion of Haemophilus paragallinarum to chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) in vitro was investigated in correlation with its virulence. Under the scanning electron microscope, the organisms were seen adhering to CEF exposed to the bacteria. By transmission electron microscopy, the organisms appeared to attach to the plasma membrane of CEF by their fuzzy material. They were enclosed in membrane-limited vesicles and appeared morphologically intact. Specific fluorescence was seen in the cytoplasm of CEF in later stages of infection. There was a good correlation between pathogenicity of the organisms for chickens and their ability to adhere to CEF. This correlation was reinforced by the fact that the ability of a pathogenic strain to adhere to the mucosal surface of the chicken trachea was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1982

Elimination of plasmid-linked polyglutamate production by Bacillus subtilis (natto) with acridine orange.

Treatment of Bacillus subtilis (natto) strains Asahikawa, F, and M with acridine orange resulted in the conversion of approximately 64.2% of the Asahikawa population, 22.4% of the F population, and 9.2% of the M population to polyglutamate-nonproducing colonies. Such curing is suggestive of the involvement of plasmid DNA. Samples of cleared lysates of both parental and their cured strains were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis to determine the plasmid composition. Parental strains were found to possess a plasmid, but polyglutamate-nonproducing derivatives were missing the plasmid. The plasmid-linked polyglutamate production, which was originally isolated from B. subtilis (natto), could be transformed in B. subtilis.

Acridine Orange↗