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Biomedical subjects

T Arai

Publications and source records attributed to T Arai.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

High sensitivity to streptozotocin in herbivorous voles, Microtus arvalis, compared to mice.

Herbivorous voles, Microtus arvalis, have characteristics similar to herbivores in that their hepatic glycolytic enzyme activities are relatively low. The effects of a single low dose (100 mg/kg body weight) of streptozotocin (STZ) in voles were studied and the difference in sensitivity to or toxicity of STZ in voles and C57BL/6 mice was compared. In voles which received STZ, the cumulative incidence of glycosuria reached 53% by 4 weeks after administration. The diabetic voles showed marked increases in their blood glucose and plasma free fatty acid concentrations and a significant decrease in plasma immunoreactive insulin concentrations. Their hepatic hexokinase, glucokinase, glutathione peroxidase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities decreased significantly and lesions were widely observed in the liver, kidney and pancreas. The activities of glutathione peroxidase, a scavenger of H2O2, decreased significantly in their liver and pancreas. These changes were not observed in C57BL/6 mice which received STZ. The higher sensitivity to and toxicity of STZ in voles than in mice are considered to be caused by the characteristically low activities of glycolytic enzymes and glutathione peroxidase in the tissues of voles. Voles may be a good model for studying the mechanisms of cytotoxicity by STZ in herbivorous animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Tl-201 uptake and retention in a Warthin's tumor.

We report scan findings of Tl-201 in a case of histologically proved Warthin's tumor. Dual isotopes acquisition was performed in a case of left parotid Warthin's tumor. Both early and delayed Tc-99m-pertechnetate (Tc-99m) images showed increased uptake at the tumor. Tl-201 scan also showed an increase of uptake on the early image and retention on the delayed image. The uptake ratios of Tl-201 were 3.0 (early) and 2.3 (delayed). Scan findings of Tl-201 in a case of Warthin's tumor were similar to those of Tc-99m, and the interpretation of Tl-201 images should be accompanied with Tc-99m images.

Adenolymphoma↗
PubMed1996

Application of Tc-99m-tetrofosmin as a tumor imaging agent: comparison with Tl-201.

Tc-99m-tetrofosmin SPECT was performed on 6 occasions in 4 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, lung carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma and maxillary plasmocytoma and compared with Tl-201 SPECT. All lesions accumulated both Tc-99m-tetrofosmin and Tl-201. Early uptake ratios of Tc-99m-tetrofosmin were about 2 but those of Tl-201 were much higher (more than 3). Washout rates of Tc-99m-tetrofosmin were higher than those of Tl-201. There was a good positive correlation between the early uptake ratio of Tc-99m-tetrofosmin and that of Tl-201. The delayed uptake ratio and washout rate showed poor correlation. In conclusion, early uptakes of both the agents were similar but their retention patterns were different. Tc-99m-tetrofosmin may be used for tumor imaging though more studies are required to evaluate diagnostic accuracy and the significance of delayed images.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Corticobasal degeneration with primary progressive aphasia and accentuated cortical lesion in superior temporal gyrus: case report and review.

A 57-year-old woman showed progressive sensory aphasia as an initial symptom, and then developed total aphasia within 6 years and, finally, severe dementia. Neuropathologically, the cerebral cortex was most severely affected in the superior and transverse temporal gyri, and subsequently in the inferior frontal gyrus, especially in the pars opercularis. The degeneration in the subcortical grey matter was most severe in the substantia nigra, and it was moderate to mild in the ventral part of thalamus, globus pallidus and striatum. Cytopathologically, in addition to achromatic ballooned neurons, massive taupositive types of cytosekeletal abnormalities were observed both in neurons and glia, mainly in the degenerating region. This cytoskeletal pathology coincided with that reported in corticobasal degeneration (CBD). On Bodian staining, only a few neurofibrillary tangles were found in the entorhinal pre-alpha layer and substantia nigra. Pick's bodies and senile plaques could not be found. This case is thought to represent a type of CBD, but with its cortical lesion focus located in the speech area instead of the frontoparietal region. A survey of 28 pathologically evaluated cases of CBD revealed two similar cases, both of which began with progressive aphasia and presented cortical degeneration in the superior temporal gyrus. An overview of CBD cases clarified the features in another group of cases, in which the cerebral accentuated focus was shifted forward from the central region, clinically resembling Pick's disease. The clinical manifestations in CBD seem to be the expression of these diverse cortical lesions. Primary progressive aphasia may include cases of CBD with involvement of the language center.

Aphasia, Primary Progressive↗
PubMed1996

Brain metastasis in resected lung cancer: value of intensive follow-up with computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases are a common mode of recurrence in resected lung cancer and are usually associated with an ominous outcome. METHODS: To assess the usefulness of follow-up using computed tomography of the brain for early detection and effective treatment of brain metastases, we prospectively studied 128 patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer. Follow-up computed tomographic scans were obtained every 2 to 6 months over 24 postoperative months in 69 patients and every 2 months for 6 postoperative months in 59. RESULTS: Brain metastases were discovered in 11 patients (8.6%), and 7 patients were neurologically asymptomatic when the metastases were diagnosed. Single metastasis was found in 5 patients and multiple metastases in 6. The maximal size of all but one lesion was less than 25 mm. The median survival time and 5-year survival rate in all 11 patients with brain metastases were 10 months and 24%, respectively. Furthermore, those in 7 asymptomatic patients were 25 months and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We consider intensive follow-up with computed tomography to be worthwhile for early detection and effective treatment of brain metastases in patients with completely resected lung cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Perioperative respiratory management with fiberoptic bronchoscopy in pediatric living-related liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative respiratory complications have been one of the largest obstacles to pediatric management of pediatric liver METHODS: The roles of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in perioperative respiratory management of pediatric liver transplantation were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: In a group of 162 children who underwent pediatric living-related liver transplantation, 44 underwent 222 bronchoscopic procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes during the perioperative period. Major indications for bronchoscopy were atelectasis/retention of airway secretion (n = 27), pneumonia (n = 19), pulmonary edema (n = 8), airway stenosis (n = 7), and airway bleeding (n = 6). Visualization of the airway was helpful in diagnosing respiratory complications; in seven infants, bronchoscopy revealed tracheobronchial stenosis that other diagnostic modalities failed to detect. In 16 of 19 patients with pneumonia, specimens taken by bronchoscopy were positive for specific pathogens. Bronchoscopy also proved to have significant therapeutic value, especially in airway cleaning; bronchial suctioning resulted in immediate reexpansion of the collapsed lung in 16 of 20 cases of atelectasis. No complications were noted other than severe hypoxia and bradycardia in one infant. CONCLUSIONS: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe and useful modality for perioperative respiratory management in pediatric liver transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Dome formation induced by v-H-ras oncogene in a human choriocarcinoma cell line.

To investigate the role of ras genes in trophoblastic cell lineage, we transfected the viral H- or K-ras oncogene into a human choriocarcinoma cell line, CCI, and analysed the biological properties of CCI cells expressing an activated ras oncogene. All v-H-ras-expressing clones distinctively formed the hemispherical domes, which represents an in vitro morphological expression of vectorial transport function and are characteristic of the polarized epithelial cells, but none of v-K-ras-expressing clones and control clones did. Microscopic observation demonstrated that those domes were cavities filled with fluid which accumulated between the cell layer and the surface of culture dish. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the domes were aggregates of round cells with long numerous microvilli and were morphologically similar to a blastocyst. Furthermore, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, which is associated with the vectorial fluid transport in transporting epithelial cells, was significantly higher in the v-H-ras-expressing clones than that in the v-K-ras-expressing clones and the parental cells. Those domes flattened within 24 h after treatment with a specific inhibitor of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, ouabain, and the number of domes decreased in dose-dependent manner, indicating that Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was required for maintainance of domes. These results suggest that up-regulated activity of H-ras but not of K-ras facilitates the vectorial fluid transport through a chorionic cell layer and leads to the dome formation. The function of II-ras in trophoblasts, may therefore, be essential for embryogenesis, especially for supplying the nutrients.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1996

Thrombocytopenia associated with hepatitis C viral infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated whether chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with thrombocytopenia. METHODS/RESULTS: Thrombocytopenia (<15 x 10(4) platelets/mu l) was diagnosed in 151 of 368 patients (41.0%) with chronic hepatitis C, a significantly higher proportion than that observed in patients with chronic hepatitis B (18.9%, p < 0.01). Elevated titers of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G were observed in 88.1% of patients with chronic hepatitis C and in 47.1% of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin G titers were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C (87.3 +/- 10.1 ng/10(7) cells) vs. those with chronic hepatitis B (30.3 +/- 6.4) or the control subjects (p < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between platelet-associated immunoglobulin G titers and platelet counts in both chronic hepatitis C and B cases. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin G titers were significantly higher in patients with type C cirrhosis than in those with type B cirrhosis. Interestingly, HCV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR in the platelets from 11 of 14 patients with hepatitis C virus. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that chronic infection with hepatitis C virus may produce a significant autoimmune reaction to platelets, leading to thrombocytopenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

CD4 expression is important but not essential for infection with exogenous mouse mammary tumor virus.

We studied local events in the popliteal lymph nodes of CD4-deficient mice following foot pad injection with an MMTV strain which carries the gene for a V beta 14-specific superantigen. Injection of the V beta 14-specific MMTV induced vigorous expansion of V beta 14+ CD4+ T cells and B cells in their lymph nodes of CD4+/- heterozygous control mice. On the other hand, CD4-/- mice injected with the MMTV showed a proliferation of V beta 14+ T cells among the population of TCR alpha beta + CD4-CD8- T cells, although to a lesser extent. This phenomenon was not accompanied by vigorous B cell expansion. A PCR assay revelated that the MMTV definitely infected the lymph nodes cells of the CD4-/- mouse. However, the infectivity of the MMTV in CD4-/- mice was approximately 20 times lower than that in CD4+/- mice. These findings indicate that, in MMTV infection of CD4-deficient mice, the superantigen-reactive T cells among the population of TCR alpha beta +CD4-CD8- T cells substitute for the superantigen-reactive CD4- T cells of normal mice, and that the absence of CD4 molecules decreased the infectivity of MMTV because of insufficient expansion of the superantigen-reactive T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparative alterations in p53 expression and apoptosis in the irradiated rat small and large intestine.

Temporal and spatial relationships between radiation-induced apoptosis and expression of p53 mRNA and protein were compared in rat small and large intestine. Apoptosis was quantified using morphological criteria, and p53 expression determined by immunohistochemistry or whole-tissue Northern analysis. In the small intestine, peak levels of apoptosis appeared earlier (4 h) than in the large intestine (6 h). p53 mRNA transcript levels in small and large intestine were not significantly altered from control levels at any time after treatment. However, in treated small and large intestine, cells showed increased positivity for p53 protein, increasing 10-fold over control levels 4-5 h after irradiation. A strong spatial relationship was found between high incidence apoptosis and p53 protein positivity. We compared published data of stem cell population positions for small and large intestine with our results. Target cells for apoptosis and p53 expression occurred at approximately fifth position from the crypt base of the small intestine, a zone coincident with stem cell population. Target cell position for apoptosis and p53 expression in the large intestine was again at fifth or sixth position from the base, but this zone is not the reported stem cell position (first or second position) for large intestine. Results from our model of radiation-induced intestinal apoptosis indicate that p53 protein is closely associated both temporally and spatially with the induction of apoptosis, and support the work of others in suggesting that p53 expression is modulated post-transcriptionally. Furthermore, our results support a hypothesis that apoptotic targeting of damaged stem cell populations, early response for apoptotic removal of DNA-damaged cells and/or early repair of these damage cells are all important parameters that determine differences in levels of tumorigenesis in the small and large intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Preferential in vivo incorporation of [3H]arachidonic acid from blood in rat brain synaptosomal fractions before and after cholinergic stimulation.

Awake adult male rats were infused intravenously with [3H]arachidonic acid for 5 min, with or without prior administration of an M1 cholinergic agonist, arecoline (15 mg/kg i.p.). Methylatropine was also administered (4 mg/kg s.c.) to control and arecoline-treated animals. At 15 min postinfusion, the animals were killed, brains were removed and frozen, and subcellular fractions were obtained from homogenates of whole brain. Total radioactivity and radioactivity in various lipid classes were determined for each fraction following normalization for exposure by use of a unidirectional incorporation coefficient, k*brain. In control animals, incorporation was greatest in synaptosomal and microsomal fractions, accounting for 50 and 30% of total label incorporated into membrane lipids, respectively. Arecoline increased incorporation in these two fractions by up to 400% but did not increase incorporation into the myelin, mitochondrial, or cytosolic fractions. Of the incorporated radioactivity, 50-80% was in phospholipid in microsomal and synaptosomal fractions, indicating that phospholipid is the major lipid affected by cholinergic stimulation. These results demonstrate that plasma [3H]arachidonic acid is preferentially incorporated into phospholipids of synaptosomal and microsomal fractions of rat brain. Cholinergic stimulation increases incorporation into these fractions, likely by activation of phospholipase A2 and/or C in association with acyltransferase activity, Thus, intravenously infused radiolabeled arachidonic acid can be used to examine synapse-mediated changes in brain phospholipid metabolism in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Histaminergic H2 action protects hippocampal CA1 neurons by prolonging the onset of the anoxic depolarization in gerbils.

The central histaminergic action on ischemia-induced neuronal damage was examined by evaluating the histological outcome and the direct current (DC) potential shift in the hippocampal CA1 region in gerbils. An intracerebroventricular administration of histamine (10-100 nmol) improved the delayed ischemic damage in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells produced by 3 min of transient forebrain ischemia. A high dose (75 nmol) of mepyramine, an H1 antagonist, aggravated ischemia-induced neuronal damage, but not a low dose (0.75 nmol). Administration of cimetidine (4 nmol) and ranitidine (3 nmol), H2 antagonists, aggravated the neuronal damage. An injection of histamine (100 nmol) prolonged the onset time of the ischemia-induced sudden shift in the extracellular DC potential (anoxic depolarization; AD) to 133% of that in control animals. Administration of mepyramine (75 nmol) did not markedly change the AD, whereas injections of cimetidine (40 nmol) and ranitidine (3 nmol) reduced the onset latency to 47 and 45%, respectively. These findings suggest that the central H2 action serves to protect neurons by delaying the onset of AD in gerbils.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Expression and localization of clusterin mRNA in the small and large intestine of the irradiated rat: its relationship with apoptosis.

Apoptotic elimination of intestinal cells following irradiation has been studied in the small and large intestine of the rat, and correlated with the level of expression and localization of clusterin mRNA. Clusterin was moderately expressed in normal intestine where only small levels of apoptosis were found. After irradiation, however, there was a temporal correlation between an increased apoptotic index and increased clusterin expression. Localization of clusterin mRNA by in situ hybridization identified extensive labelling in the lower part (Paneth cell region) of small intestinal crypt, whereas epithelial cells in the large intestine were diffusely labelled. Clusterin expression was not localized over apoptotic cells and its role may be as a cell protection factor for surviving cells, as had been suggested by others. Clusterin may also be involved in remodelling of the intestinal crypt after radiation damage, a process that includes altering cell-to-cell contact, apoptosis, and sloughing of the dead cells from the intestinal villi. Our results do show a close temporal link between apoptosis and clusterin expression, and, as such, expression of the gene may be a useful indicator of presence of apoptosis in the irradiated intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Does the reduced form of neopterin serve as an antioxidant?

The oxygen free radical scavenging activity of the reduced form of neopterin, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroneopterin (NPH-4), was investigated in vitro using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HPX-XOD) reaction system, NPH-4 suppressed the production of the superoxide spin adduct, but enhanced that of the hydroxyl radical spin adduct. The hydroxyl radical spin adduct was also observed in the solution containing NPH-4 and XOD but excluding HPX. These results indicate that NPH-4 is readily oxidized to some intermediates before the reaction with oxygen free radicals and that the substance which actually serves as an antioxidant in vivo is not NPH-4 but its metabolites.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1996

Real time observation of the binding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to immobilized heparan sulfate and the neutralization of HSV-1 by sulfonated human immunoglobulin.

A real time biomolecular interaction assay system involving an optical sensor was applied to quantitative analysis of the binding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to immobilized heparan sulfate, a cellular receptor component of HSV-1, and the neutralization antibody titer against this virus with a commercially available sulfonated human immunoglobulin preparation. The virus titer in a viral solution and the neutralizing antibody titer in the human immunoglobulin preparation could be successfully estimated in a short time with this system without any difficult cell culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of pre- and postischemic administration of thiopental on transmitter amino acid release and histologic outcome in gerbils.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism by which barbiturates protect neurons against ischemia is unclear, particularly when they are given after ischemia or reperfusion begins. Because an excess release of excitatory neurotransmitters causes postsynaptic membrane depolarization, which triggers neuronal damage in ischemia, the effects of thiopental on histologic outcome, ischemia-induced amino acid release, and anoxic depolarization in gerbils were studied. METHODS: The effects of different doses of thiopental administered before or after ischemia were examined morphologically by assessing delayed neuronal death in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells produced by forebrain ischemia for 3 min in gerbils. The ischemia-induced changes in output of aspartate, glutamate, glycine, taurine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid were measured using a microdialysis-high-performance liquid chromatography procedure, and the differences among a halothane-anesthetized group, a thiopental-administered group, and a group given thiopental after a period of ischemia were evaluated. The changes induced in the direct-current potential in the hippocampal CA1 area by forebrain ischemia were compared in animals anesthetized with halothane and those given thiopental. RESULTS: Preischemic administration of thiopental at all doses decreased the risks for delayed neuronal death (P < 0.01). Post-ischemic administration at a dosage of 2 mg.kg-1.min-1 for 60 min protected neurons, but the same dose for 10 min did not ameliorate the cell injury. Forebrain ischemia produced marked increases in all amino acids 3 to 6 min after the start of recirculation in the halothane-anesthetized gerbils, whereas thiopental anesthesia (2 mg.kg-1.min-1) reduced these increases throughout the experimental period, except for glycine (P < 0.01). The initiation of thiopental after reflow did not markedly diminish these increases. Thiopental anesthesia prolonged the onset of anoxic depolarization and reduced its maximal amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: Thiopental helps protect the brain from ischemia, although treatment with this agent after ischemia requires a larger dose than that before ischemia. The effect of preischemic treatment may be related to the suppression of the excitatory amino acid release and the direct-current potential shift.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Rapid diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia by nested polymerase chain reaction.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish a rapid and sensitive diagnostic method for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia in postoperative patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: As a result of diffusion and abuse of third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics in the 1980s in Japan, an outbreak of MRSA infection has been posed. In the field of surgery, severe postoperative infections with MRSA such as MRSA bacteremia, which may lead to multiple organ failure, have emerged with a high mortality. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with high fever (above 38.5 C) or watery diarrhea or both within 2 weeks after gastrointestinal major surgery and 6 healthy volunteers were examined. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect mecA and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) genes in blood specimens. RESULTS: The mecA and TSST-1 genes were not detected in the blood samples of any of the six healthy volunteers. In all 12 samples from which MRSA colonies were isolated by blood culture, mecA and TSST-1 genes were detected. Although it took at least 48 hours to identify MRSA by the blood culture method, the presence of mecA and TSST-1 genes was determined by nested polymerase chain reaction method within only 3 to 4 hours after blood sampling. CONCLUSIONS: This method, as a sensitive and rapid monitoring system for MRS bacteremia, would be clinically beneficial for prevention of cross infection and for early determination of appropriate treatment for infected patients.

Bacteremia↗