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Biomedical subjects

T Funato

Publications and source records attributed to T Funato.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Measurement of small quantities of alpha 2-macroglobulin in cell cultures by enzyme labelled immunoassay.

We established an enzyme labelled immunoassay (EIA) for the determination of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M). The sensitivity was high enough to measure trace amount of alpha 2M secreted into the medium of cell culture. The assay range in medium was from 2 to 140 ng/ml and the within-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were 10.1% and 6.7% at 31.2 ng/ml and 62.5 ng/ml, respectively. Between-day CV ranged from 9.3% to 15.9%. Using this method, alpha 2M was detected in the medium of a cultured human melanoma cell line. In addition, the immunoreactive alpha 2M in the medium was identified with serum alpha 2M by the method of SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Our results indicate that the EIA method could be a useful tool for the determination of alpha 2M in cell cultured medium.

Blotting, Western↗

[Umbilical blood-gas status at cesarean section for breech presentation: a comparison with vertex presentation].

Umbilical blood-gas status at elective cesarean section with oxygen inhalation for breech presentation (25 cases) was compared with that for vertex presentation (25 cases), so as to confirm the security of full-term breech fetuses delivered by cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Umbilical arterial oxygen levels were significantly lower in the breech group (Mean PO2:18.9 mmHg; SO2:37.3%; Oxygen content:7.6 ml/dl). The number of hypoxemic fetuses was significantly higher in the breech group (the breech: 7; the vertex; 0). The other umbilical blood-gas values revealed no significant differences between the breech and vertex groups, and were within normal limits in both groups. Oxygen extraction in the breech (Mean: 49.0%) was higher than that in the vertex (32.9%). Therefore decreased umbilical blood flow in the breech was suggested. The incidence of depression at 1 minute after delivery in the breech infants (24%) was significantly higher than that in the vertex infants (0%). It became obvious in the breech that as the interval between the uterine incision and delivery increased, umbilical arterial blood tended to acidosis and the 1 minute Apgar score decreased. Cesarean section for breech presentation requires sufficient and optimal incisions of the abdominal wall and uterus as well as a skillful manual delivery technique, because the fetus or neonate should be protected against asphyxia resulting from umbilical compression and prolonged delivery interval.

Adult↗

[Analysis of P-glycoprotein in patients with acute leukemias by flow cytometry].

The identification of a P-glycoprotein product of multidrug-resistant gene (mdr 1) was reported recently. To examine the expression of the P-glycoprotein in acute leukemias of various types, we have prepared leukemic blast cells from patients and measured their positivity of P-glycoprotein using monoclonal anti-P-glycoprotein antibody (C219) by flow cytometry. P-glycoprotein is expressed in 8 out of 44 cases including leukemic blast cells but not lymphocytes and monocytes. In these cases showed drug resistance was shown clinically. In addition, the expression of the P-glycoprotein was not observed in the drug-sensitive cases and at the time of initial chemotherapy. Our results suggest that measurement of P-glycoprotein in acute leukemias by flow cytometry may prove to be a valuable tool for the design of chemotherapy protocols.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

[Expression of P-glycoprotein (multidrug-resistance gene product) in haematological tumors].

The fact that cancer cell acquires multidrug resistance to carcinostatics at cancer treatment is a very important subject clinically. The mode of multidrug-resistance is complicated, but the gene associated with multidrug resistance (MDR 1) has been isolated. It has become evident that MDR 1 gene carries membrane glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein) which occurs in the cell acquired drug-resistance. Assessment has been made this time regarding the occurrence of P-glycoprotein in the tumorous cells and tissues by the use of monoclonal antibody (C 219) to P-glycoprotein. Occurrence of P-glycoprotein in malignant lymphoma exhibited positivity in 9 cases out of 36 immunohistologically. 170 KD P-glycoprotein was detected in 4 cases out of 10 at Western blotting analysis of the protein isolated from the nuclear cell in the peripheral blood in the patients with leukemia. Further, P-glycoprotein positive cases were all progressive cases clinically and showed resistance to treatment. From these results, it has been clarified that occurrence of P-glycoprotein in haematological tumors is related to multidrug resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

[Cytogenetic studies in couples with repeated spontaneous abortions].

Chromosome studies were carried out on both partners of 509 couples with a history of two or more spontaneous abortions. 1) Twenty-six individuals (2.6%) were carriers of a major chromosome abnormality. This incidence is at least six to seven times higher than that in the general adult population. 2) Of these, 10 were reciprocal translocations, 10 robertsonian translocations and 6 numerical aberrations of gonosomes. None of the carriers showed abnormal phenotypes. 3) Chromosome aberrations were more frequent in the women than in their husbands. There were 19 abnormalities in females and 7 in males. 4) The use of banding techniques in chromosome analysis improves the detection of balanced reciprocal translocations. 5) Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 5 subsequent pregnancies of 4 balanced translocation carriers. The fetal karyotypes were 2 normal and 3 balanced translocations. It would seem reasonable to recommend chromosome analysis for couples with repeated spontaneous abortions.

Abortion, Habitual↗

Low responsiveness of lymphocytes from normal individuals against the stimulation with pokeweed mitogen.

The responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) as B cell activator was studied in adult healthy subjects by immunoglobulin synthesis system in culture. We have shown that lymphocytes from some healthy subjects have low responsiveness in the polyclonal antibodies secretion following PWM stimulation but not PPD stimulation by Protein A-reverse hemolytic assay. In this system, when irradiated T cells (CD4+) as helper T cell were added to B cells from autologous or allogeneic subjects, helper T cell function of immunoglobulin synthesis on the low response groups to PWM significantly decreased. Whereas normal responses to PPD stimulation were observed in the presence of helper T cells (CD4+). The low responsiveness of lymphocytes stimulated with PWM but not PPD may be related to reduced functions of helper T cell populations. Thus the healthy subjects were classified into high, normal and low response groups with PWM on the basis of antibody production.

Antibody Formation↗

Expression of p21 ras protein in human melanoma cell lines.

Samples obtained from six human melanoma cell lines have been tested for the presence of p21 ras oncogene product by Western blotting analysis. The overexpression of p21 was detected in two cell lines out of the six samples. These DNA samples have not been shown to be transformants by transfection assay. Moreover, amplification or rearrangement of DNAs from these cell lines was not found by Southern blotting analysis. Northern blotting analysis, however, detected the expression of Ki-ras gene in RNA extracted from the two cell lines. Thus, it was suggested that the overexpression of p21 might be a result of increased normal mRNA transcript of Ki-ras gene.

Blotting, Northern↗

[Effects of maternal hyperventilation and oxygen inhalation during labor on fetal blood-gas status].

The effects of maternal hyperventilation and oxygen inhalation on fetal blood-gas status were studied in 54 fetuses, vaginally delivered of mothers without medical and obstetrical complications. The cases were divided into four groups according to MA (maternal arterial) pH and PCO2 values and by respiring either oxygen or room-air as follows. Group N: pH less than 7.5, PCO2 greater than 23 mmHg (normoventilation), without maternal oxygen inhalation, group H: pH greater than 7.5, PCO2 less than 23 mmHg (hyperventilation), without oxygen inhalation, group NO: pH less than 7.5, PCO2 greater than 23 mmHg, with oxygen inhalation and group HO: pH greater than 7.5, PCO2 less than 23 mmHg, with oxygen inhalation. Umbilical venous (UV) PO2 (27.8 mmHg: mean), SO2 (60.8%) and CO2 (oxygen content, 12.4 ml/dl), and umbilical arterial (UA) PO2 (17.9 mmHg), SO2 (35.6%) and CO2 (7.3 ml/dl) values in group H were significantly lower than those in group N. The fetal oxygenation in group HO was similar to that in group N, and the fetal oxygen values in group NO were significantly higher than those in the other groups. The fetuses in groups H and HO tended to respiratory alkalosis. The UV oxygen values had negative correlations with MA pH and positive correlations with the MA PCO2 value in both oxygen and no-oxygen groups. There was no significant correlation between maternal and fetal PCO2 values, and higher fetal oxygen extraction (41%: mean) in group H. These facts suggest that severe maternal respiratory alkalosis due to hyperventilation may lead to a disorder in placental circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Activation of N-ras gene in a rat hepatocellular carcinoma induced by dibutylnitrosamine and butylated hydroxytoluene.

DNA samples from eighteen rat hepatocellular carcinomas, including those induced by oral administration of dibutylnitrosamine (DBN) with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or DBN with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), have been tested for the presence of transforming activity by transfection assay with NIH3T3 cells. Of the eighteen samples, only one from a tumor induced by DBN and BHT gave transformants. the activated oncogene was identified as rat N-ras by Southern blot analysis.

Animals↗

[Ephedrine administration for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia].

Prophylactic ephedrine was administered to healthy parturients undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. The methods of ephedrine administration were as follows: intramuscular injection of 0.3 mg/kg, 15 minutes before the block (20 cases: group M), infusion of 0.02% solution immediately after the block (20 cases: group D), premedication with atropine 0.5 mg and infusion immediately after the block (20 cases: group AD). The mean ephedrine dosage was 18.8 +/- 2.2 gm (SD) in group M, 12.6 +/- 6.2 mg in group D and 5.2 +/- 0.7 mg in group AD, and there were significant differences among the three groups. The base line (a), the minimal postanesthetic (b) and the maximal postpartum systolic blood pressures (c) revealed no significant difference among the three groups, and 'b' was significantly higher than 'a' and lower than 'c' in all groups. Only one case (group M) was transiently hypotensive, while hypertension was not found in any of the subjects. One- and 5-minute Apgar scores were 8 or more in all, and umbilical acid-base values were within normal limits in all of them, though the base deficit in group AD was significantly lower than that in group M. Atropine premedication makes it possible to retrench the ephedrine dosage without any harmful effect on either mother or fetus, and ephedrine infusion makes it easy to cope with changes in maternal blood pressure. Consequently, for healthy parturients receiving elective cesarean section under spinal block, we recommend atropine premedication and minimal infusion of ephedrine immediately following the block.

Adult↗