Biomedical subjects

S Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to S Watanabe.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Double-stranded RNA activates RANTES gene transcription through co-operation of nuclear factor-kappaB and interferon regulatory factors in human airway epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) is a member of the CC chemokine family and contributes to viral-induced airway inflammation including exacerbations of asthma. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is known to be synthesized during replication of many viruses and a ligand of Toll-like receptor 3. We hypothesized that dsRNA may mimic viral infection and induce RANTES expression in airway epithelial cells. OBJECTIVE: We first confirmed that dsRNA up-regulated RANTES mRNA and protein synthesis in the airway epithelial cells. We next focused our studies on the transcriptional regulation of RANTES. METHODS: Airway epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and normal human bronchial epithelial cells were used in vitro study. Levels of RANTES mRNA and protein expression were determined with RT-PCR and ELISA. Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation were assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and dual luciferase assay using RANTES promoter-luciferase reporter plasmids. RESULTS: Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was confirmed by nuclear protein binding to a DNA probe derived from the RANTES promoter. Activity of the RANTES promoter was increased by dsRNA. The stimulation with dsRNA was partially inhibited in plasmids mutated at either of the binding sites for NF-kappaB or IFN regulatory factors (IRFs). When both sites were mutated, the activation was totally abrogated. CONCLUSION: These results imply that dsRNA activates NF-kappaB and IRFs and these transcription factors activate transcription of the RANTES promoter and its protein expression in airway epithelial cells.

Bronchi↗

PubMed2004

Clonal structure and flowering traits of a bamboo [Phyllostachys pubescens (Mazel) Ohwi] stand grown from a simultaneous flowering as revealed by AFLP analysis.

Abstract Although many bamboo species are characterized by simultaneous flowering at long intervals of up to 120 years, few studies have revealed the length of the flowering interval for very-long-lived bamboo species by observing the whole life cycle of a single clone. The flowering interval of Phyllostachys pubescens had been determined to be 67 years by means of observation through the entire life cycle from 1912 to 1979. We observed and analysed the clonal structure and flowering traits of a P. pubescens community which had regenerated from seed in 1930 and began to flower in 1997. Although this interval was again 67 years, flowering and nonflowering culms were mixed, and the flowering event lasted three years in the community. AFLP analysis of DNA samples showed distinct genets that originated from the previous flowering event and that each genet had its own flowering time. This is the first report to show that (i) different genets are mixed in a community of a large bamboo species with a leptomorphic rhizome system, and (ii) a community that originated from a single flowering event can have a range of flowering years.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2004

Atrophic dermatofibroma.

Atrophic dermatofibroma, a newly proposed entity in recent times, is thought to be a specific variant of dermatofibroma. We report a typical case of atrophic dermatofibroma on the thigh of a 69-year-old female. The lesion consisted clinically of a light brown, intracutaneous nodule with a central crateriform depression, and histologically of fibrohistiocytic components in the thinning dermis. On elastica van Gieson stain, loss of elastic fibres and dense accumulation of elastic fibres around medium-sized vessels were observed in the lesion.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Review of combination of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis as a modality of treatment for end-stage renal disease.

Because the contribution of residual renal function (RRF) to total solute clearance is often significant in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), loss of RRF over time can lead to inadequate dialysis if appropriate prescription management strategies are not pursued. Additionally, declines in ultrafiltration caused by increases in peritoneal permeability may limit continuation of CAPD therapy. Peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis (PD + HD) combination therapy (complementary dialysis therapy) is an alternative method. This therapy allows the patient to maintain daily activities, as with CAPD, while undergoing once-a-week HD supplements for the insufficient removal of solutes and water. This therapy allows for the continuation of PD without shifting to total HD in PD patients who continue to have uremic symptoms even after individualization of the PD prescription. This treatment option is psychologically more acceptable to patients and may be expected to provide such accompanying beneficial effects as peritoneal resting, improvement of QOL and reduction in medical cost.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMed2004

[Perforating mediastinal mature teratoma associated with acute cardiac tamponade; report of a case].

We report a case of the mediastinal teratoma associated with acute cardiac tamponade followed by emergency operation. This tumor causes a variety of complications, but reports of acute cardiac tamponade have been rare. 20-year-old male admitted into our hospital with complaint of the chest pain, who was diagnosed with mediastinal tumor. She was admitted due to sudden fever up, and 5 days after admission, the complaint of severe epigastralgia and abdominal swelling were occurred. A chest X-ray film and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed cardiac tamponade. We carried out emergency surgical pericardial drainage and extirpation of the tumor. The tumor was composed of cystic part involving of dark green fluid macroscopically. The amylase level in this fluid was 42 U/l. We observed a small hole on the pericardial sac beside the base of ascending aorta. The amylase level in pericardial effusion was 19 U/l. Histopathological diagnosis was mature teratoma perforating into pericardiac sac, which included skin, bronchus and pancreatic tissue. We concluded that the progress of the tumor and the mechanical inflammation were major cause of perforation of the tumor into the pericardial sac, and autodigestion by enzyme from pancreas was minor cause of perforation.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Influenza B virus NS2, a nuclear export protein, directly associates with the viral ribonucleoprotein complex.

In Influenza A virus and Influenza B virus, the NS2 protein (nuclear export protein) has been proposed to mediate the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) by forming NS2-vRNP complexes. While the binding interactions of NS2 in these complexes have been well characterized for Influenza A virus, much less is known about Influenza B virus NS2 (B/NS2). In this report, we developed a specific antiserum against B/NS2 protein and demonstrated that B/NS2 was synthesized late in infection and packaged into virions after nucleocytoplasmic transport. Fractionation of detergent-disrupted virions in several conditions showed that B/NS2 remained associated with vRNP after separation of matrix protein M1 from vRNP, whereas Influenza A virus NS2 (A/NS2) was easily separated from vRNP and remained associated with M1, in accord with previous findings that A/NS2 associates with vRNP only through its binding of encapsidated M1. The results indicated that complex formation among vRNP, M1 and NS2 of Influenza B virus was different from that of Influenza A virus, and that B/NS2 associated with vRNP in the absence and presence of M1.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed2003

The spatiotemporal dynamics of the face inversion effect: a magneto- and electro-encephalographic study.

The neurophysiological basis of the face inversion effect was studied with magneto- and electro-encephalography in 10 normal subjects. Spatiotemporal analyses using dipole modeling was performed on combined evoked magneto and electro-encephalography data to hemifield presentation of upright and inverted faces and objects. Inferior temporal cortex, i.e. fusiform gyrus, and lateral temporal cortex near the superior temporal sulcus were activated simultaneously, but independently, at 140-200 ms post-stimulus to upright and inverted unfamiliar faces. Right hemisphere inferior temporal cortex and lateral temporal cortex were active in all subjects, and in the left hemisphere in half the subjects. Latencies to inverted relative to upright faces were longer in the right hemisphere, and shorter in the left hemisphere. For right hemifield stimulation ipsilateral activation delay was around 18-19 ms for both upright and inverted faces and was calculated from all 10 subjects. For left hemifield stimulation, and the data from 7 of 10 subjects, it was 22 and 29 ms to upright and inverted faces, respectively. In sum, the methods used in this study did not identify clear differences in anatomical location of activated regions to upright and inverted faces. We believe, however, that the differences in processing upright versus inverted faces are attributable to temporal processing differences rather than to processing of information by different brain regions.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency elevates and n-3 PUFA enrichment reduces brain 2-arachidonoylglycerol level in mice.

2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is a putative endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors and was suggested to play an important role in both physiological and pathological events in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in peripheral organs. The sequential hydrolysis of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA)-containing phospholipids has been proposed as a major biosynthetic route of 2-AG. On the other hand, the manipulation of the dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status changes the AA level in tissue phospholipids. We, therefore, conducted two separate experiments to confirm whether the dietary n-3 PUFA status influences the 2-AG level in the mouse brain. In the first experiment, we fed mice with n-3 PUFA-deficient diet, which resulted in a marked decrease in the docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) levels without a change in the AA level in brain phospholipids as compared with the mice fed with an n-3 PUFA-sufficient diet. The brain 2-AG level in the n-3 PUFA-deficient group was significantly higher than in the n-3 PUFA sufficient group. In the second experiment, we found that short-term supplementation of DHA-rich fish oil reduced brain 2-AG level as compared with the supplementation with low n-3 PUFA. The decrease in the AA level and the increase in the DHA level in the major phospholipids occurred in the brains of the mice fed the fish oil diet compared with those fed the low n-3 PUFA diet. Our results indicate that the n-3 PUFA deficiency elevates and n-3 PUFA enrichment reduces the brain 2-AG level in mice, suggesting that physiological and pathological events mediated by 2-AG through cannabinoid receptor in the CNS could be modified by the manipulation of the dietary n-3 PUFA status.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

pp60c-src activation in lung adenocarcinoma.

Nine src family members are known including c-Src, c-Yes, c-Lck, c-Fyn, c-Hck, c-Lyn, c-Blk, c-Fgr and c-Yrk. They encode proteins with molecular weights of 55-62 kilodaltons (kDa), which are either cytoplasmic or membrane-associated protein tyrosine kinases. A close correlation exists between an elevated pp60c-src tyrosine kinase activity and cell transformation. However, the level of activation of pp60c-src in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) remains obscure. The aim of this study was to examine the level of activity of pp60c-src in NSCLC. pp60c-src expression and in vitro protein tyrosine kinase activity in lung cancer tissue samples were measured by western blotting and in vitro kinase assays and compared with those in the surrounding non-tumour lung tissue from the same patient. pp60c-src phosphorylation was assessed by two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping. The kinase activity of pp60c-src was significantly activated in NSCLC, especially in adenocarcinomas. In addition, the pp60c-src kinase activity increased with the size of the adenocarcinoma. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping showed dephosphorylation of pp60c-src at Tyr 530 in adenocarcinomas. The proto-oncogene product, pp60c-src, was activated in NSCLC, especially in adenocarcinomas, in part through the dephosphorylation of Tyr 530. Our results suggest that activation of pp60c-src might play an important role in the progression of lung adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Carcinomatous transformation of eccrine syringofibroadenoma.

BACKGROUND: While squamous cell carcinoma and pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia have been documented as pre-existing lesions in cases of reactive eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA), to the best of our knowledge carcinoma occurring in a solitary ESFA has not yet been reported. We present one such case in a 91-year-old female who had a dome-shaped, reddish tumor on the extensor side of the left forearm. METHODS: We review the histopathological, immunophenotypical and ultrastructural findings of this tumor, including the keratin expression profile. RESULTS: Histopathologically, long, branching, anastomosing, thin and thick strands of small cuboidal epithelial cells were extending from the surface epidermis into the dermis. In the center of the tumor, there were irregular-shaped nests of atypical tumor cells invading downward into the dermis. Ultrastructurally, duct-like lumina lined with cuboidal tumor cells were present in the epithelial cords. From these findings, the present case was diagnosed as solitary eccrine syringofibroadenocarcinoma (ESFAC). Keratin expression studies revealed that cells of the thick strands, except for the luminal and basal cells, were positive for differentiation-specific keratins, keratins 1 and 10, and that cells of the thin strands were positive for keratins 5 and 14. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological, immunophenotypical and ultrastructural evidence, as well as the pattern of keratin expression, suggest differentiation of the present malignant tumor towards the eccrine dermal duct. This case is the first reported case of ESFAC as far as we know.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Serum stem cell growth factor for monitoring hematopoietic recovery following stem cell transplantation.

Stem cell growth factor (SCGF) is a novel cytokine for primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. Although it has burst-promoting activity and granulocyte/macrophage colony-promoting activity in vitro, its significance in hematopoiesis in vivo has not been elucidated. In this study, we have established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify human SCGF and measured serum cytokines in normal volunteers and 27 patients undergoing stem cell transplantation (SCT), including six autologous and 21 allogeneic transplants. SCGF levels gradually increased after SCT regardless of graft-versus-host disease or type of transplant. The maximum level of SCGF was observed during the rapid granulocyte recovery phase in patients subjected to an autologous transplantation, and during the granulocyte stabilization phase in allogeneic patients. SCGF levels in PBSCT patients began to rise earlier than in BMT patients. Two patients with no increment of SCGF after SCT showed delayed engraftment. The source of SCGF was further analyzed by RT-PCR and we found that SCGF was highly expressed in bone marrow (BM) CD34(+) and CD34(-)CD33(+) cells, but not in BM CD34(-)CD33(-) cells, BM stromal cells and peripheral blood cells. The cell population expressing SCGF in BM possess the colony-forming cell activity. Therefore, serum SCGF can be an indicator of hematopoietic recovery following SCT.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for hemorrhagic cystitis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

To establish the most appropriate prophylactic therapy and risk factors for predicting hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after stem cell transplantation (SCT), we retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 450 transplant patients treated from 1982 to 2002. In all, 81 patients developed early- and/or late-onset HC (early=29, late=48, both=4). For the incidence of early-onset HC, administration of cyclophosphamide (CY) (p=0.0079, odds ratio (OD)=5.109, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.533-17.030), busulfan (BU) (p=0.0015, OD=3.336, 95% CI=1.584-7.027), BU+CY (p=0.0001, OD=4.369, 95% CI=2.055-9.292), antithymocyte globulin (p=0.0009, OD=3.368, 95% CI=1.642-6.911), nonradiation (p=0.0163, OD=2.564, 95% CI=0.181-0.841), 2-mercaptoethane sodium sulfonate (Mesna) (p=0.0001, OD=7.519, 95% CI=2.847-19.858), and bladder irrigation (p=0.0001, OD=4.950, 95% CI=2.328-10.523) were risk factors. By Fisher's exact test, the combination of BU and Mesna was a more significant risk factor (P<0.001) than Mesna alone (p=0.008) compared to the administration of neither agent. By multivariate analysis, prophylactic administration of Mesna (p=0.0105, OD=5.301, 95% CI=1.477-19.026) and bladder irrigation (p=0.0001, OD=9.469, 95% CI=3.872-23.156) were significant risk factors of early-onset HC. We conclude that (i). high-dose BU as well as CY is a cause of HC, (ii). protective bladder irrigation has an opposite effect, and (iii). Mesna possibly has a toxic effect on bladder mucosa.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Effects of staphylococci on cytokine production from human keratinocytes.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus skin infection is characterized by the infiltration of numerous neutrophils within the epidermis; however, the precise mechanism of epidermal infiltration of neutrophils during skin infection with staphylococci is not well understood and the factors regulating the neutrophil recruitment are yet to be determined. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of staphylococci on cytokine production from keratinocytes, specifically to elucidate the mechanisms of neutrophil infiltration within the epidermis in cutaneous microbial infection. METHODS: Cytokine production from human keratinocytes was examined after stimulation with heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and S. intermedius. RESULTS: Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were detected in the culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay but IL-1beta, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were not. IL-6 and IL-8 mRNAs were also confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in the keratinocytes stimulated with killed staphylococci for 1, 3, 6, 10 and 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: These results could explain the epidermal infiltration of neutrophils in cutaneous infection with staphylococci, suggesting that the analysis of cytokines might add valuable information for the pathogenesis of cutaneous infection with Staphylococcus species.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2003

Seminal immunoreactive relaxin in domestic animals and its relationship to sperm motility as a possible index for predicting the fertilizing ability of sires.

Although immunoassayable relaxin has been detected in human and boar seminal plasma, there is no evidence suggesting the existence of immunoreactive relaxin in the seminal plasma of other domestic animals. The first objective of this study was to determine whether immunoreactive relaxin was present in the seminal plasma of bulls, rams and he-goats. In addition, the correlation of immunoreactive relaxin with sperm motility as an index for predicting the fertilizing ability of bull sires was investigated. Semen with normal sperm motility was collected from bulls, rams and he-goats, and the relaxin immunoreactivity of the semen samples was measured using a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) for porcine relaxin that we developed. The presence of relaxin immunoreactivity was demonstrated in seminal plasma from bulls, rams and he-goats. The level of immunoreactive relaxin in seminal plasma was the highest in bulls followed by humans, rams, boars and he-goats in that order, when relaxin levels in boar and human semen having normal sperm motility were also assayed under the same conditions. When the correlation between the seminal plasma level of immunoreactive relaxin and sperm motility was examined in bull semen samples as an index for predicting fertilizing ability, it was found that the relaxin level was significantly correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa showing the most intensive motility (r = 0.64, p < 0.05). These results indicate that immunoreactive relaxin is widely found in the seminal plasma of domestic animals and that measuring the relaxin concentration of seminal plasma may be useful to identify subfertile sires or predict the fertility potential of individual sires.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Haemophilus parainfluenzae infection of respiratory mucosa.

The pathogenicity of Haemophilus parainfluenzae (Hpi) in the respiratory tract is unclear, in contrast to the accepted pathogenicity of its close relative non-typable H. influenzae. We have investigated the interaction of two Hpi isolates with the mucosa of adenoid and bronchial tissue organ cultures. The adherence of bacteria to the mucosa of organ cultures, the effect of broth culture filtrates on human nasal epithelium, and interleukin (IL)-8 production by A549 cell cultures was investigated. Hpi 4846 adhered infrequently in clusters of pleomorphic cocco-bacilli to areas of epithelial damage, mucus and unciliated cells in adenoid organ culture experiments at 24 h, but not bronchial mucosa. Hpi 3698 was seen in only one adenoid and no bronchial organ cultures at 24 h. In separate experiments, Hpi 3698 was cleared more rapidly from the centre of the adenoid organ culture and was not cultured at 24 h. Although not adhering to the mucosa at 24 h, Hpi 3698, but not Hpi 4846, caused an increase in the amount of epithelial damage in both types of organ culture. Broth culture filtrates of both strains caused immediate slowing of ciliary beat frequency that progressed, and disrupted epithelial integrity. Dialysed culture filtrates of both strains stimulated IL-8 production by A549 cells, with the culture filtrate of Hpi 3698 being most potent. We conclude that two strains of Hpi varied in their adherence to adenoid tissue, and neither adhered to bronchial tissue. These results lead us to speculate that Hpi is only likely to be a pathogen in the lower respiratory tract when impaired airway defences delay bacterial clearance.

Bronchi↗

PubMed2003

A case of gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed preoperatively by the detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA in endoscopically obtained gallbladder bile.

It is difficult to accurately diagnose the nature of polypoid lesions in the gallbladder. To increase diagnostic accuracy, we have developed an endoscopic technique for obtaining gallbladder bile, termed endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder (ETCG). We describe here a case of gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed preoperatively by the detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA, a catalytic subunit of telomerase, in gallbladder bile obtained using the ETCG technique. A patient with a polypoid lesion 15 mm in diameter in the gallbladder was admitted to our hospital for further examinations. Gallbladder bile collected by the ETCG technique was evaluated cytologically and also analyzed for telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA. Although the results for cytology and telomerase activity were negative, that for hTERT mRNA was positive. Open surgery was carried out and it was confirmed that the lesion was an adenocarcinoma invading the subserosa. The molecular biological analysis of gallbladder bile collected using the ETCG technique was shown to be effective for diagnosing the nature of the polypoid lesion in the gallbladder.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Endobronchial occlusion method of bronchopleural fistula with metallic coils and glue.

We describe our technique for endobronchial occlusion of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) with metallic coils and glue through a fiber-optic bronchoscope under local anesthesia. After anchoring the vascular embolization coils at the fistula bronchus, cyanoacrylate glue was sprayed. The sprayed glue obliterates gaps between the coils and stabilizes them. This procedure successfully occluded fistula bronchus except in one post-pneumonectomy case of large fistula. This method may be one of therapeutic options for BPF, especially in patients at high risk for curative surgery under general anesthesia.

Bronchial Fistula↗

PubMed2003

Intramucosal adenocarcinoma of the appendix: how to find and how to treat.

A colonoscopic examination of a 58-year-old man revealed a small elevated lesion inside the orifice of the appendix. Using a polypectomy snare, a nodular polypoid lesion with a diameter of ca. 20 mm was removed from the lumen of the appendix. Histopathology showed that it was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. This is the first report of an intramucosal adenocarcinoma of the appendix diagnosed preoperatively; laparoscopy-assisted colectomy with a D2 lymph-node dissection was carried out. Endoscopists should consider an appendiceal tumor when an erosion, elevation, or deformity is seen in the head of the cecum.

Adenocarcinoma↗