Increased expression of the ornithine decarboxylase gene in mouse skin by ultraviolet light: detection by in situ hybridization technique.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Hamada.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This binding was investigated with a simplified method: whole saliva and mucin bound to C. albicans in significantly greater quantities than other proteins such as whole serum, albumin, lysozyme or fibrinogen; and the enzymatic treatment of C. albicans with chymotrypsin, papain or mannosidase decreased the amounts of these proteins bound. These results, taken together, suggest that salivary proteins or mucin may bind to the mannoprotein of C. albicans.
The effects of crude drugs on fungi have been used for a thousand years in China and Japan. These drugs include: Saussureae radix, Magnoliae cortex, Cinnamomi cortex, Hydrangeae dulcis folium, and Artemisiae capillarius flos. The activity of Coptidis rhizoma and Phellodendri cortex was stronger than other crude drugs against the three fungi. Berberine hydrochloride, which is a component of the two crude drugs, was investigated. Minimal inhibitory concentration values of berberine hydrochloride were 1, 0.125, and 0.5 mg/ml against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata, respectively. In C. glabrata, compared with C. albicans and C. tropicalis, berberine hydrochloride greatly inhibited the growth of fungi.
Sixty-two consecutive patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were classified into 2 subgroups: group A, consisting of 16 patients who had shown acute transverse myelopathy (ATM) during the course of illness; and group B, 46 patients without ATM. The clinical features of these 2 groups were analysed prospectively for certain periods, and some significant differences were found. There was (1) later onset, (2) less frequent occurrence of brain stem, cerebellar and cerebral symptoms, (3) more frequent and severe involvement of the optic nerve, (4) a smaller proportion of patients with abnormal findings on brain MRI in group A compared with group B. The clinical features of group B were quite similar to those of previous Western series, while group A seemed to constitute a distinct clinical subgroup in patients with MS.
Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured in a hydrated type I collagen lattice. When collagen fibers were arranged in one direction, fibroblasts were arranged in the same direction. Cell proliferation was markedly suppressed in the collagen lattice as compared with that on plastic, with growth being arrested after day 5. No differences in proliferation were observed between aligned cells and randomly oriented cells. Flow cytometry with DNA staining was performed to analyze each phase of the cell cycle of fibroblasts. Among the 10,000 cell population, S phase cells on day 2 of culture accounted for 43% on plastic but were markedly inhibited to 25% in the lattice. On day 4, S phase cells accounted for 33% on plastic but only for 10% in the lattice. These findings suggest that cell advancement to the S phase is markedly inhibited in the collagen lattice, resulting in accumulation of most of cells in the G0G1 phase. The present study clearly showed that culture in the collagen lattice allowed alignment of fibroblasts with a definite orientation as observed in vivo and produced a status resembling that in vivo in terms of proliferation and cell cycle phase composition.
Four types of fibroblastic cell lines at various stage of differentiation, which had been derived from syngeneic mice, were cultured in collagen lattices (reconstituted dermis model). Lattice contraction, growth in the lattice, and cell morphology were compared. The following cell lines were used: [I] precrisis cells within several subcultures derived from the skin of Balb/c mice, [II] an established normal cell line derived from syngeneic mice (Balb/3T3 clone A31), and [III] two transformed lines (Balb/3T12-3, 3T3-B-SV40) originating from [II]. The cells adopted a bipolar spindle form in the collagen lattice. Lattice contraction was the most marked with cell type [I] followed in order by [II] and [III]. Relative growth in the lattice occurred in the reverse order (III greater than II greater than I). These findings suggested a correlation between lattice contraction and growth in the lattice and also between the extent of differentiation and lattice contraction.
As the first step in developing an in vitro model of melanoma cells infiltrating the dermis, B16 murine melanoma cells were cultured on and in type I collagen gels. Under these conditions, the melanoma cell adopted an elongated or dendritic form. Cell proliferation was suppressed in the culture system using the collagen gel as compared with the conventional monolayer culture on plastic. Microcinematographically, this suppression was found to be due to an extension of the cell cycle time of each individual cell. On the other hand, there were no appreciable differences in proliferation pattern between the cells cultured on type I and IV collagen film and those cultured on plastic. These results suggest that there are interactions between type I collagen in the gel form and melanoma cells, especially with respect to cell growth.
The effects of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on human keratinocytes cultured in a serum-free medium were investigated. TNF-alpha markedly suppressed cell growth. The growth-inhibitory effect was reversible and cytostatic at a concentration of 1-5 U/ml, but appeared to be irreversible and cytocidal at 10 U/ml. The growth suppressive effect was more marked when TNF-alpha was added in the late growth phase or preconfluent phase than when it was added in early or mid-growth phases. No effects of TNF-alpha on cell adhesion to the substrate were observed. These results indicate that TNF-alpha is a very potent anti-proliferative agent for human keratinocytes.
A patient with diabetes mellitus who developed the typical classic lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma is described. Our patient presented with a reddish-purple papulonodular lesion on the right foot of five months' duration. A skin biopsy specimen showed a proliferation of spindle cells forming numerous vascular slits and a diffuse extravasation of erythrocytes. The patient's sera was negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies. Ultrastructural examination demonstrated fibroblast-like spindle cells phagocytosing and digesting red blood cells to form vascular spaces. The patient died, due to gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and the autopsy revealed an extensive visceral involvement of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Melanoma cells were cultured on type I collagen gel, and the infiltration of of those cells into the gel was observed. B16 murine melanoma cells initially adopted a spherical form on the gel, but they assumed a dendritic form after infiltration into the interior. The degree of infiltration increased very rapidly and was time-dependent. No correlations between the growth rate or melanogenic activity and infiltrative potential were observed. When Syrian hamster and human melanoma cell lines were cultured, the degrees of infiltration varied. This culture system using collagen gel is considered to be a useful in vitro model of tumor cell invasion.
A case of generalized granuloma annulare associated with temporal arteritis is described. The patient, a 79-year-old man, noticed numerous asymptomatic lesions on his trunk and extremities for 3 months. Four months later, he suffered from headache and loss of vision. Both were successfully treated by oral administration of prednisolone.
Three patients with subungual exostoses, two involving the great toe and one the fourth toe, are presented. Local excision was performed, and the specimens were processed for light and electron microscopy. Light-microscopic study revealed that the tumours consisted of a proliferative fibrocartilaginous cap that merged into mature trabecular bone at its base. Electron-microscopic examination revealed that the tumour was composed of two types of cells: one was rich in cell organelles including rough endoplasmic reticulum, well-developed Golgi apparatus, and glycogen granules; the other cell had few such cell organelles. The former cells seemed to be osteoblasts actively engaged in bone formation, and the latter to be osteocytes related to those situated deeper in bone matrix in normal bone. However, ossification or calcification in subungual exostosis is rather casual, and osteocytes in this disorder may lack the capacity to elaborate compact bone.
A case of solitary pigmented neurofibrosarcoma involving the lateral side of the face in a 19-year-old female is described. Clinically it resembled a haemangioma, and angiography showed hypervascularity of the tumour. Light-microscopic study revealed that the major cellular element of the tumour was composed of bizarre neoplastic cells with large pleomorphic, hyperchromatic nuclei, conspicuous nucleoli and moderate to abundant amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures and multinucleate cells were present in most fields. Neurofibrosarcoma is one of the most highly malignant tumours; however, in the present case, there was no evidence of recurrence during a follow-up period of 5 years.
In order to measure the viscoelastic properties of tissue conditioners, a series of stress relaxation tests was carried out using poly ethyl methacrylate polymer powders and liquids composed of butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate/ethyl alcohol mixtures, respectively. The analysis method using the Maxwell model analogy is discussed. The results may be summarized as follows. (i) In this study it was feasible to make the stress relaxation curves for 30 min analogous to the Maxwell model, using a model with a maximum of 5 elements. (ii) The elastic modulus Ei, the coefficient of viscosity eta i, and relaxation time tau i, for each element, and the instantaneous modulus E0, tended to increase with time. These values in the element of the longest relaxation time were most marked in the increase among those in all the elements. Furthermore, in every element the rate of increase of eta i was greater than that of Ei. The method described is considered to be one of the most useful techniques available for the study of the viscoelastic properties of tissue conditioners.
We report a case of microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) occurring on the upper lip of an 82-year-old woman. Microscopically the tumor showed both pilar and sweat gland differentiation, involved the entire dermis and subcutaneous tissue, and invaded perineural spaces. Immunoperoxidase studies revealed carcinoembryonic antigen to be present in the ductal lining cells and in the amorphous content in the lumen, confirming sweat gland differentiation. The S-100 protein was positive in dendritic cells within the solid cell nests, but negative in cells lining cystic spaces. Ultrastructural study confirmed that the neoplasm was composed of two components, with pilar and eccrine differentiation. The former showed concentric layers of squamous epithelial cells with well-developed desmosomes and cytofilaments. The latter had ductal and alveolar structures; the ultrastructural features included: i) numerous villous folds of plasma membrane to interdigitate each other by focal desmosomes, ii) aggregates of cytofilaments, and iii) basally located myoepithelial cells which were separated from the surrounding stroma by rather thick basement membrane. In addition, distinct amyloid deposition was also observed on ultrastructural examination. To our knowledge, amyloid deposition has not been previously reported in MAC.
A primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the skin is reported. Light microscopy revealed pseudocysts. PAS-positive basement membrane and true glandular lumen, which in aggregates are specific for adenoid cystic carcinoma. Perineural invasion was also observed. Ultrastructural examinations revealed three types of cystic spaces; pseudocysts, true glandular lumens and intercellular spaces. Enzyme histochemical examinations showed positive reactions for eccrine enzymes, including phosphorylase and succinic dehydrogenase and negative for apocrine enzymes. Immunolocalization of collagens and laminin revealed that basement membranes of the pseudocysts involve Type V collagen as well as Type IV collagen and laminin.
An improved method of extraction of residual monomer from acrylic resin has been described for determination of the concentration of residual monomer by gas chromatography. Four kinds of organic solvent selected according to their physicochemical properties (methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate and methyl ethyl ketone) were tested for their capacity to extract residual monomer at varying temperatures and time periods. Extraction with methyl ethyl ketone at 4 degrees C was found to be the most effective. The method is simpler and more effective than others reported so far, and therefore seems to be suitable for clinical laboratory use.
The influence of topical PUVA on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and its gene expression was investigated in the skin of hairless mouse. After 1 h of application of 0.3% 8-methoxypsoralen, irradiation of 3 J/cm2 of ultraviolet A (UV-A) was administered. The ODC activity markedly increased and peaked at 24 h following UV-A irradiation. The ODC mRNA level, analyzed in dot-blot analysis, elevated to about 5 times that of control at 24 h after treatment. These results show that the PUVA-induced ODC activity is due in part to an increase in ODC gene expression.