Lack of association between atopic asthma and polymorphisms of the histamine H1 receptor, histamine H2 receptor, and histamine N-methyltransferase genes.
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Asthma↗
Biomedical subjects
T Hara
Publications and source records attributed to T Hara.
Serum vascular endothelial growth factor: a new predictive indicator for the occurrence of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease.
UNLABELLED: We investigated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (SVEGF) levels in Kawasaki disease and determined whether these levels had any association with the development of coronary artery lesions. We measured SVEGF levels in 66 patients with Kawasaki disease, 18 patients with active infections and 18 afebrile controls. SVEGF levels of patients in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (0.0-2003.6 pg/ml, median 59.87 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those of patients with active infections (0.0-45.2 pg/ml, median 8.10 pg/ml; P < 0.05) or afebrile controls (0.0-49.8 pg/ml, median 7.75 pg/ml; P < 0.05) and decreased to undetectable or low levels in the recovery phase (n = 31, acute phase: 0.0-2003.6 pg/ml, median 62.50 pg/ml versus recovery phase: 0.0-146.5 pg/ml, median 26.90 pg/ml; P = 0.0007) of the disease. There existed a positive correlation between SVEGF levels and serum C-reactive protein concentrations in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (rs = 0.347, P = 0.0051). In addition, SVEGF level and duration of fever were found to be major risk factors for the occurrence of coronary artery lesions by univariate (P = 0.012 and P = 0.003, respectively) and multivariate (P = 0.037, OR 6.16 and P = 0.0059, OR 7.59, respectively) analyses. CONCLUSION: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor level, in combination with persistence of fever, could be a powerful predictor for the development of coronary aneurysms.
Biomarkers↗
Completion pneumonectomy for patients with recurrent lung cancer: the impact of microvessel density on outcome.
The effectiveness of performing completion pneumonectomy (CP) to treat recurrent lung cancer was assessed in 11 patients, 6 of whom had intrapulmonary recurrence, and 5, locoregional recurrence. The pathological types of cancer were adenocarcinoma in 5 patients, squamous cell carcinomas in 5 patients, and adenoid cystic carcinoma in 1 patient. The pathological stages of the recurrent lung cancer were stage I in 8 patients, stage II in 2 patients, and stage IV in 1 patient. The microvessels in the tumors were also examined and the results compared with those in the microvessels of 61 nonrecurrent tumors. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates after CP were 54.5% and 27.3%, respectively. The vessel densities within primary and correspondent recurrent tumors were able to be assessed in 9 patients and found to be significantly greater compared with the mean value for the nonrecurrent tumors (P < 0.0001). The vessel densities in the primary and recurrent tumors of 2 of 3 long-term survivors were found to be relatively low. These results indicate the high-grade malignant potential of recurrent tumors, which led us to conclude that the use of CP should be carefully evaluated in patients with recurrence. Assessing the vasculature in primary tumors may be a useful indicator for determining which patients could benefit from CP.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Comparative uptake of grepafloxacin and ciprofloxacin by a human monocytic cell line, THP-1.
The present study was designed to compare the uptake of grepafloxacin by a human monocytic cell line, THP-1, with that of ciprofloxacin. THP-1 cells were incubated with 20 microg/ml of either drug, and the entry of the drugs into the cells was determined using a velocity gradient centrifugation technique and HPLC assay. Antibiotic uptake by the cells was expressed as the ratio of the intracellular to the extracellular drug concentration (IC/EC). Grepafloxacin entered THP-1 cells readily within 5 min, and at steady-state (37 degrees C; 60 min), the IC/EC ratio of grepafloxacin (11.9 +/- 1.7; n = 13) was about 2.4-fold higher than that of ciprofloxacin (5.0 +/- 1.3; n = 13). The ratios decreased at low incubation temperature (4 degrees C), in paraformaldehyde-treated dead cells, and at low extracellular pH (pH 6.0), but were not influenced by high extracellular pH (pH, 9.0). Characterization of fluoroquinolone uptake suggests that these drugs penetrate the THP-1 membrane by passive diffusion, and also, in part, via an active transport system. We also examined the uptake of the two fluoroquinolones in phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated adherent THP-1 cells (THP-1 macrophages). The IC/EC ratios for both fluoroquinolones in the THP-1 macrophages were significantly higher than those in the THP-1 monocytes. Further the uptake of three other fluoroquinolones, levofloxacin, tosufloxacin, and sparfloxacin, by THP-1 monocytes was examined in comparative studies. The IC/EC ratio of grepafloxacin was comparable to that of sparfloxacin and significantly higher than that of the other fluoroquinolones. Our results indicate that grepafloxacin exhibits better intracellular accumulation than ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones in human monocytic and macrophage-like cells.
Anti-Infective Agents↗
Murine oncostatin M stimulates mouse synovial fibroblasts in vitro and induces inflammation and destruction in mouse joints in vivo.
Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional cytokine, a member of the interleukin-6/leukemia inhibitory factor (IL-6/LIF) family, that can regulate a number of connective-tissue cell types in vitro including cartilage and synovial tissue-derived fibroblasts, however its role in joint inflammation in vivo is not clear. We have analyzed murine OSM (muOSM) activity in vitro and in vivo in mouse joint tissue, to determine the potential role of this cytokine in local joint inflammation and pathology. The effects of muOSM and other IL-6/LIF cytokines on mouse synovial fibroblast cultures were assessed in vitro and showed induction of monocyte chemotactic protein-1, interleukin-6, and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1, as well as enhancement of colony growth in soft agarose culture. Other IL-6/LIF cytokines including IL-6, LIF, or cardiotrophin-1, did not have such effects when tested at relatively high concentrations (20 ng/ml). To assess effects of muOSM in articular joints in vivo, we used recombinant adenovirus expressing muOSM cDNA (AdmuOSM) and injected purified recombinant virus (10(6) to 10(8) pfu) intra-articularly into the knees of various mouse strains. Histological analysis revealed dramatic alterations in the synovium but not in synovium of knees treated with the control virus Ad-dl70 or knees treated with Adm-IL-6 encoding biologically active murine IL-6. AdmuOSM effects were characterized by increases in the synovial cell proliferation, infiltration of mononuclear cells, and increases in extracellular matrix deposition that were evident at day 4, but much more marked at days 7, 14, and 21 after administration. The synovium took on characteristics similar to pannus and appeared to contact and invade cartilage. Collectively, these results provide good evidence that OSM regulates synovial fibroblast function differently than other IL-6-type cytokines, and can induce a proliferative invasive phenotype of synovium in vivo in mice on overexpression. We suggest that OSM may contribute to pathology in arthritis.
Adenoviridae↗
Clinicopathological and biological assessment of lung cancers with pleural dissemination.
BACKGROUND: This study provides the surgical outcome of lung cancer patients with pleural dissemination, with the assessment of the clinicopathological and biological prognostic factors. METHODS: Forty-three patients who underwent operations were studied. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR/gp78) expression was immunohistochemically evaluated. RESULTS: In total, the overall 3 and 5-year survival rates were 31.4% and 13.1%, respectively. The patients who underwent the pleuropneumonectomy had a worse outcome than those who underwent limited operations (pleurectomy plus parenchymal resections were less than pneumonectomy). VEGF and AMFR/gp78 were highly expressed in primary tumors. Among the patients who underwent limited operations, pathological types other than adenocarcinoma and high expression of VEGF were significantly associated with a worse outcome. The pathological type was the only characteristic to retain a significant independent prognostic impact on overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply the validation of limited operation for lung cancer with pleural dissemination for the local control. High frequency of VEGF and AMFR/gp78 expression conform to the interpretation that patients with pleural dissemination have a high-risk of systemic disease.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Effect of the lipoprotein lipase activator NO-1886 on adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats.
Hyperlipidemia associated with nephrotic syndrome may play a role in the deterioration of renal function. Tsutsumi et al have previously reported that the novel compound NO-1886 increases lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, resulting in a reduction of plasma triglycerides and an elevation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in normal rats. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether NO-1886 suppresses the renal injury by treatment of the hyperlipidemia in an Adriamycin (Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, Tokyo, Japan) induced nephrosis rat model fed a high-protein diet that induced renal dysfunction and tubulointerstitial injury. Administration of Adriamycin caused hyperlipidemia, proteinuria, and edema with ascites in rats in 4 weeks. Furthermore, a combination of Adriamycin and a high-protein diet increased plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and decreased plasma albumin. Histologically, in Adriamycin-treated rats, marked interstitial cellular infiltration, tubular lumen dilation, and tubular cast formation in the kidney were observed. NO-1886 decreased plasma triglyceride and increased HDL cholesterol in Adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats. NO-1886 treatment reduced plasma creatinine and BUN levels and increased plasma albumin in Adriamycin-treated rats; it also ameliorated the ascites and proteinuria. Histologically, NO-1886-treated rats showed a quantitatively significant preservation of tubulointerstitial lesions. These data suggest that NO-1886 may have a protective effect against Adriamycin-induced nephrosis with tubulointerstitial nephritis in rats by a modification of the plasma lipid disorder.
Animals↗
Real-time fluorescence analysis on molecular mechanisms for regulation of cytochrome P450scc activity upon steroidogenic stimulation in adrenocortical cells.
Real-time fluorescence analysis revealed that the activity of cytochrome P450scc was related to Ca2+ signals arising from extracellular NADPH, ACTH and ATP stimulation in adrenocortical fasciculata cells. The side-chain cleavage reaction by cytochrome P450scc was measured with 3beta-hydroxy-22,23-bisnor-5-cholenyl ether (cholesterol-resorufin) by observing the distinct increase in fluorescence upon conversion of cholesterol-resorufin to resorufin and pregnenolone. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) induced a relatively small stimulation of the P450scc activity. A significant production of resorufin was revealed after stimulation of cell cultures with 100 pM, 1 nM of ACTH for 3 h. On the other hand, extracellular NADPH was found to rapidly and greatly stimulate the resorufin production in intact cells immediately after the addition of 50-500 microM NADPH. The extracellular NADPH stimulation was prevented by the addition of thapsigargin and EGTA which abolished Ca2+ oscillations induced by NADPH. Suramin, a specific antagonist of the P2y type ATP receptor, also completely abolished the NADPH-induced cholesterol-resorufin conversion. These results imply that extracellular NADPH (membrane impermeable) produced Ca2+ oscillations through its binding to ATP receptor thereby stimulating the activity of P450scc. The application of 45-500 microM extracellular ATP to cells did not, however, significantly increase the resorufin production. These three stimulators produced very different types of Ca2+ signals. ACTH induced mainly a series of Ca2+ spikes superimposed on a long-lasting basal Ca2+ elevation. The Ca2+ signals induced by NADPH showed predominantly a series of Ca2+ spikes without elevation of the basal Ca2+ concentration. Only long-lasting Ca2+ elevation was induced by extracellular ATP. The stimulation of cytochrome P450scc may thus be correlated with the different patterns of Ca2+ signals.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Immunophenotypic and functional characterization of CD33(+)CD34(+) cells in human cord blood of preterm neonates.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize CD33(+)CD34(+) cells, a major population in human cord blood (CB) CD34(+) cells of preterm neonates. MATERIALS: The proportion of CD33(+) cells was analyzed on CB CD34(+) cells from preterm and full-term neonates. CD33(+)CD34(+) cells were purified by cell sorting and analyzed on their clonogenic activity, proliferative activity in short-time liquid suspension culture, and GATA-2 mRNA expression by RT-PCR and Southern blot. RESULTS: The absolute numbers and proportion of CD34(+) cells in mononuclear cells inversely correlated with gestational age. CD33 was expressed on a majority of CB CD34(+) cells of preterm neonates but on only a minor population of them in full-term neonates. In addition, CD33 was dominantly expressed on CD38(-)CD34(+) cells or CD117(low)CD34(+) cells in CB of preterm neonates. CD33(+)CD34(+) cells of preterm cord blood had high proliferative and reproducible potentials compared with CD33(-)CD34(+) cells. CD33(+)CD34(+) cells as well as CD33(-)CD34(+) cells from preterm CB highly expressed GATA-2, in contrast to those from BM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CD33(+)CD34(+) cells, which are a major population in CB CD34(+) cells of preterm neonates, do not simply represent relatively mature myeloid lineage hematopoietic progenitor cells as those in adult BM CD34(+) cells, and may contain hematopoietic stem cells or primitive progenitor cells as in fetal liver.
Antigens, CD↗
Diagnostic usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in influenza-associated acute encephalopathy or encephalitis.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study was performed for a 20-month-old girl with an influenza type A infection who presented acute encephalopathy. Conventional MRI performed 8 days after the onset of encephalopathy, including T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging, revealed only vague lesions in the right frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. In contrast, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) then demonstrated the lesions much more intensively. On the 26th day, the lesions previously observed on DWI had become less discernible. The hyperintensity observed on DWI might reflect cytotoxic edema. Thus, DWI may be useful for evaluation of acute influenzal encephalopathy/encephalitis.
Acute Disease↗
Electric double-sleeved vacuuming microtrephine for lens refilling.
An automated electric double-sleeved vacuuming microtrephine has been developed that consistently creates a 0.8 to 1.0 mm tear-free hole in the anterior lens capsule. This hole is required for lens refilling to retain accommodation after cataract removal. The trephine is double-sleeved. The stainless-steel outer sleeve vacuums the internal anterior capsule; the stainless steel rotating inner sleeve, which has a blade on the head, then slides forward and cuts the taut anterior capsule. All manipulations are controlled automatically by depressing a foot pedal. Using this instrument, a 0. 8 to 1.0 mm tear-free microhole in the anterior capsule was created successfully in 80% of excised pig (n = 30) and eye-bank (n = 10) eyes. This trephine will be useful for lens refilling in the future.
Animals↗
Asymmetric sweating in a child with multiple sclerosis.
A 10-year-old male with multiple sclerosis complained of excessive sweating on the right side of the forehead and shoulder on relapse 3 months after the onset of multiple sclerosis. Because the neurologic evaluation revealed no abnormalities in the sudomotor function, it is likely that the hyperhidrosis resulted from a lesion in the central or preganglionic sympathetic nervous system. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a high-intensity lesion involving the left hypothalamus on T(2)-weighted imaging. Thus hypothalamic involvement might be the reason for the hyperhidrosis in this patient.
Abducens Nerve Diseases↗
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a female with hereditary neuropathy with susceptibility to pressure palsy.
A 7-year-old female presented with fever, urinary incontinence, mental regression, gait disturbance, and lethargy after diarrhea. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal T(2)-weighted hypersignal lesions supportive of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Her mother had been diagnosed with hereditary neuropathy with susceptibility to pressure palsy. The girl was also determined to have hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy, with a 1.5-Mb deletion in chromosome 17p11.2 encompassing the gene for peripheral myelin protein 22 detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Hereditary peripheral neuropathies may be a factor in triggering the autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease↗
Role of Oncostatin M in hematopoiesis and liver development.
Definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) first appear in the aorta/gonad/mesonephros (AGM) region and migrate to the fetal liver where they massively produce hematopoietic cells before establishing hematopoiesis in the bone marrow at a perinatal stage. In the AGM region, Oncostatin M (OSM) enhances the development of both hematopoietic and endothelial cells by possibly stimulating their common precursors, so-called hemangioblasts. During development of HSCs in the AGM region, the liver primodium is formed at the foregut and accepts HSCs. While fetal hepatic cells function as hematopoietic microenvironment for expansion of hematopoietic cells during mid to late gestation, they do not possess most of the metabolic functions of adult liver. Along with the expansion of hematopoietic cells in fetal liver, OSM is produced by hematopoietic cells and induces differentiation of fetal hepatic cells, conferring various metabolic activities of adult liver. Matured hepatic cells then lose the ability to support hematopoiesis. Thus, OSM appears to coordinate the development of liver and hematopoiesis in the fetus.
Animals↗
Reorganization of the primary somatosensory area in epilepsy associated with focal cortical dysplasia.
A 5-year-old boy with focal cortical dysplasia was referred to our hospital because of epileptic seizures. He showed mild weakness of the left hand without sensory disturbance. Brain MRI revealed extensive cortical dysplasia with pachygyria and microgyria around the right central sulcus. On EEG examination, interictal spikes were noted over the right fronto/centro/parietal region. A 37-channel magnetometer revealed that the sources of the spikes were in a small, restricted region of the normal frontal lobe adjacent to the dysplastic brain. Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields indicated that the location of the current source of N2O was in the same area. Our patient shows a unique case of plasticity and reorganization of the somatosensory function due to cortical dysplasia.
Cerebral Cortex↗
Quantitative analysis of glucose-6-phosphate translocase gene expression in various human tissues and haematopoietic progenitor cells.
We investigated the quantitative expression of the human glucose-6-phosphate translocase gene (G6PT1) and its splicing variants in human tissues. The G6PT1 gene was strongly expressed in liver, kidney and haematopoietic progenitor cells, which might explain major clinical symptoms such as hepatomegaly, nephromegaly and neutropenia in glycogen storage diseases type Ib. Reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR amplification of G6PT1 cDNA revealed several splicing variants in tissue-specific manners. The brain-specific isoform, which has an additional 22 amino acids between exons 6 and 8, was also identified in heart and skeletal muscle. A new splicing variant, although less prominent in quantity and lacking polypeptide loops corresponding to exons 2 and 3, may have a distinct substrate affinity or specificity in leukocytes and haematopoietic progenitors. In conclusion, the G6PT1 gene was expressed in various tissues, and alternative splicing variants exist in tissue-specific manners.
Adolescent↗
Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in mucosal epithelium under experimental denture bases in rats.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) counts in mucosal epithelium induced by continuous or intermittent compressive pressure exerted through experimental denture bases and to examine the relationships between the AgNOR count, histopathological changes and the intensity of the pressure under denture bases. Continuous or intermittent compressive pressure exerted through the denture bases was applied to the hard palate of the molar region in rats. A morphometric analysis of AgNORs was performed in denture-supporting tissue 3 days and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks after the denture insertion. From the results of this study, it was found that non-pressure contact of the denture bases with palatal tissues did not change the AgNOR count. The AgNOR count was decreased by continuous or intermittent compressive pressure, and then recovered to almost the same level as with the non-pressure contact at 20 weeks following a decrease of the pressure. The AgNOR counts in the epithelium under the denture bases were revealed to be related to the histopathological changes in the denture-supporting tissues and the intensity of the pressure under the denture bases.
Acrylic Resins↗
Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease after a cord blood transplant for Diamond-Blackfan anemia.
A 7-year-old boy with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) developed lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) after a cord blood transplant (CBT). 3.1 x 107/kg mononuclear cells from an HLA one-locus mismatched CB were transplanted after conditioning with total body irradiation (8 Gy), cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) and antithymocyte globulin (10 mg/kg). Complete engraftment occurred on day 33 post transplant. Despite the resolution of grade II graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), he died of lymphoma on day 130 post transplant. The tumor was of donor origin, indicating clonal proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells. This is the first report of EBV-LPD after CBT. Post-transplant LPD can be a serious EBV-associated complication of CB grafts. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 209-212.
Blood Component Transfusion↗