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Biomedical subjects

T Hara

Publications and source records attributed to T Hara.

At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources

Systemic lupus erythematosus of childhood onset: correlation between T cells expressing early and late activation antigens and disease activity.

Correlation between T cell phenotypes, especially activated T cells expressing early (EA1) and late (HLA-DR) activation antigens and clinical features were investigated in 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) of childhood onset. Percentages of T cells expressing EA1 and HLA-DR in 22 patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls. Comparison of T cell phenotypes between patients with active and inactive SLE showed that eight patients with active disease had significantly increased percentages of HLA-DR positive T cells than 14 with inactive disease (P less than 0.01). Serial examinations showed that the percentages of HLA-DR positive T cells were decreased after therapy in seven with active non-renal or active non-renal and renal diseases but not in one with only active renal disease. A possible significance of T cells expressing EA1 and HLA-DR in the management of patients with SLE is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Administration of recombinant IL-2 augments the level of serum IgM in an IL-2 deficient patient.

A patient with ataxia telangiectasia was treated with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and the resulting immunological effects evaluated. The patient lacked IL-2 production, and immunoglobulin synthesis was also impaired. Treatment with IL-2 selectively increased serum IgM without any significant side effects. Therapy also restored B-cell function in vitro. IgM production as well as the proliferative response to Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I. These results suggest that IL-2 treatment may correct both T-cell and B-cell defects.

Adolescent↗

Recurrent parotid gland enlargement as an initial manifestation of Sjögren syndrome in children.

Recurrent parotid gland enlargement is a common disorder in children, while that of auto-immune aetiology is rare. Three children with recurrent parotid swelling had autoantibodies including antinuclear antibody, anti-SS-A (Sjögren syndrome-A), SS-B (Sjögren syndrome-B) antibodies and rheumatoid factor, abnormal sialograms and lymphocytic infiltration of salivary glands, which were consistent with Sjögren syndrome. Initially, all three lacked symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. During follow up, two patients developed xerostomia and were diagnosed as having primary Sjögren syndrome. Recurrent parotid enlargement appears to be important as an initial manifestation of Sjögren syndrome in children.

Adolescent↗

Primary small intestinal adenocarcinoma diagnosed by endoscopic examination prior to operation.

Progress in diagnostic procedures has made it possible to diagnose neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract preoperatively. However, preoperative diagnosis of tumors of the small intestine remains difficult. We report here detection of an adenocarcinoma of the jejunum by endoscopic examination prior to operation. A 73-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of intermittent periumbilical pain, nausea, and vomiting. An upper gastrointestinal series showed an abnormal segmet 10 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure. Small intestinal endoscopic examination revealed a tumor with a crater and an irregular surface of mucosa near the duodenojejunal flexure, and annular constriction due to tumor extension, and endoscopic biopsy specimens contained tissue from a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Wide resection, including the duodenum, proximal jejunum, and adjacent mesentery was performed. The resected tumor was confirmed histologically to be a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the jejunum.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Positron emission tomography using pyruvate-1-11C in two cases of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using pyruvate-1-11C was carried out to investigate the in vivo metabolism of pyruvate in the brains of patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and Leigh's disease. Two epileptic patients were studied as control subjects. Radioactivity was eliminated from the brain tissue of the epileptic patients soon after injection of pyruvate-1-11C. PET images of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy patients showed an increase in radioactivity in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus, with elimination of radioactivity being slower than that of epileptic patients. One patient with Leigh's disease showed similar PET images. PET using pyruvate-1-11C is useful for the evaluation of mitochondrial energy metabolism in the brain.

Brain Diseases↗

Retinal-binding protein as a shuttle for retinal in the rhodopsin-retinochrome system of the squid visual cells.

The molluscan visual cell is characterized by having two photopigment systems, rhodopsin and retinochrome. In connection with these systems, located separately in the rhabdomal microvilli and in the nucleated cell bodies, the physiological role of retinal-binding protein (RALBP) was investigated in the squid (Todarodes pacificus) by using 3-dehydroretinal (retinal 2) as a tracer for retinal chromophore. In dark-adapted eyes, squid RALBP is combined abundantly with 11-cis-retinal. However, upon incubation with an excess of all-trans-retinal or retinol, RALBP took up great amounts of each of them, releasing its native retinoid ligands. When an all-trans-retinal-rich RALBP thus produced was incubated in the dark with metaretinochrome 2-carrying membranes, the RALBP released all-trans-retinal to the membranes to regenerate retinochrome, taking up 11-cis-retinal 2 from metaretinochrome 2. Upon further incubation of this 11-cis-retinal 2-rich RALBP with metarhodopsin-carrying membranes, the RALBP released the 11-cis-retinal 2 to the membranes to form rhodopsin 2, receiving all-trans-retinal from metarhodopsin. These findings show that squid RALBP is capable of serving as a shuttle during the recycling of retinal in the rhodopsin-retinochrome conjugate system to maintain the photoreceptive function of the visual cells.

Animals↗

Micronucleus test with 6-mercaptopurine monohydrate administered intraperitoneally and orally.

The effect of route of administration on the induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) was examined. 6-Mercaptopurine monohydrate (6-MP) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally (p.o.) to 2 strains of mice, MS/Ae and CD-1. From the results of an acute toxicity test and a pilot micronucleus test, the doses selected for the final micronucleus test were 12.5-100 mg/kg for the i.p. route and 25-200 mg/kg for the p.o. route. The sampling time was 48 h. Frequencies of MNPCEs increased dose-dependently by the i.p. route but peaked at 50 or 100 mg/kg for the p.o. route. 6-MP induced MNPCEs more efficiently after p.o. administration than after i.p. treatment in both strains.

Administration, Oral↗

Usefulness of myelography in brachial plexus injuries.

Ninety brachial plexus lesions have been examined by myelography and the results classified into six types. These were compared against the level of lesion found at exploration of the brachial plexus with electrophysiological investigations carried out during the operation. The results show that myelography can be a reliable and useful pre-exploratory measure to assess the level of the lesion of each injured root.

Adult↗

Improved survival rates in children over 1 year of age with stage III or IV neuroblastoma following an intensive chemotherapeutic regimen.

Combined chemotherapeutic regimens of (1) cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg x two days), (2) cisplatinum (20 mg/m2 x five days) plus VM-26 (100 mg/m2), and (3) Adriamycin (60 mg/m2) plus DTIC (250 mg/m2 x five days) were prescribed for 42 Japanese children greater than 1 year of age with stage III or IV neuroblastoma. The protocol was separated into three forms (A, B, and C) from the combination pattern of three such high-dose courses. The cumulative survival rates for those with stages III and IV 48 months after initiation of therapy were 76.2% and 20.1%, respectively, and the overall rate was 36.7%. The tumor disappeared during the course of treatment in 25 of 42 children (59.5%). The 48-month survival rate was superior in patients greater than 5 years of age than younger patients (P less than .01). Even in patients with a tumor originating in the suprarenal region, the 48-month survival rate was 30.5%. Among 12 patients in whom the N-myc oncogene was measured, one of five with one to ten copies of amplification died, whereas all seven with greater than ten copies died or had a recurrence. Thus, the present chemotherapeutic regimens, in particular alternate administration of each high-dose course, considerably improved the survival of patients with stage III neuroblastoma. More aggressive protocols are needed for those with stage IV neuroblastoma who are greater than 1 year of age, particularly in those with an amplified N-myc oncogene.

Adolescent↗

Direct nerve crossing with the intercostal nerve to treat avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus.

One hundred seventy-nine patients with root avulsion brachial plexus injuries were treated with direct nerve crossing with the intercostal nerve and 159 cases were followed more than 1 1/2 years after the operation. When suture was done to the musculocutaneous nerve, 90% of 10 children who had operation within 7 months of injury and 81.8% of 110 adults, younger than 40 years with operation within 6 months of injury regained grade 3 or 4 elbow flexion power. This direct method seems to produce better results than those of nerve crossing, which uses intermediary nerve grafts.

Adolescent↗

Further development of experimental techniques for refilling the lens of animal eyes with a balloon.

Various techniques for experimental refilling of the lens of animal eyes are possible. We describe two new methods: Balloon insertion after endocapsular phacoemulsification and after phacoemulsification with circular capsulorhexis. The feasibility of these techniques was tested in both rabbit eyes and pig cadaver eyes. With organo-silicone gel as the balloon filling material, post-operative refractive changes of up to 4 diopters of residual hyperopia were achieved; accommodation changes were up to -1 diopter. The technique of refilling the lens with a balloon to avoid leakage of filling material warrants further study.

Animals↗

Purification and catalytic properties of a cross-linked complex between adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin.

A stable covalent complex was prepared by cross-linking adrenodoxin reductase with adrenodoxin using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide. The covalent complex was purified extensively until free components were removed completely. The major component of the complex had a molecular weight of 63 kDa, which corresponds to a 1:1 stoichiometric complex between adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin. NADPH-cytochrome c reduction activity of the covalent complex was comparable to that of an equimolar mixture of adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin (native complex), and the NADPH-ferricyanide reduction activity of the complex was equal to that of the native one. In contrast to the native complex, the covalent complex produced much less superoxide upon NADPH-oxidation, and the covalent complex was found to be more stable than the native complex, suggesting that the complex state is more favorable for catalysis. From these results, we conclude that the adrenodoxin molecule does not need to dissociate from the complex during electron transfer from NADPH to cytochrome c.

Adrenodoxin↗

Active complex between adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin in the cytochrome P-450scc reduction reaction.

In order to elucidate the mechanism of the electron transfer reaction of mitochondrial steroid hydroxylase, the reduction reaction of cytochrome P-450scc (P-450scc) catalyzed by covalently cross-linked complexes between adrenodoxin reductase (AR) and adrenodoxin (AD) was studied. The reduction rate with the covalent AR-AD complex was very slow (0.030 min-1, as the flavin turnover number) compared with the reduction catalyzed by AR and AD (4.6 min-1). When free AD was added to the reaction mixture containing the AR-AD complex, the rate increased about 30 times. The AD dimer [(AD)2], and a complex between AR and the AD dimer [AR-(AD)2] were then prepared. The Vmax for the P-450scc reduction activity of AR with (AD)2 was 50% of that of AR with AD. The Km value for the total concentration of AD in the P-450scc reduction reaction mixture containing AR and (AD)2 was found to be the same as that in the reaction mixture containing AR and AD. P-450scc reduction by AR-(AD)2 was about 5 times faster than that by AR-AD. The addition of free AD to the AR-(AD)2 complex enhanced the P-450scc reduction about 30 times. AR-AD and AR-(AD)2 were able to reduce external AD, cytochrome c, and acetylated cytochrome c.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenodoxin↗

Elucidation of the phenotypic change on the surface of Had-1 cell, a mutant cell line of mouse FM3A carcinoma cells selected by resistance to Newcastle disease virus infection.

Had-1, which was isolated from mouse FM3A carcinoma cells, was a non-permissive mutant cell line to Newcastle disease virus infection. Comparative study of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of the surface glycoproteins of the mutant and its parental cells revealed that galactosylation of the complex-type sugar chains is extensively reduced in the mutant. Assay of galactosyltransferase in the two cell lines, however, showed that the enzymatic activity in Had-1 cells is virtually identical to that in FM3A cells. Somatic cell hybridization analysis indicated that the mutant has the same defect as Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant Lec 8, which is deficient in UDP-galactose transport into Golgi vesicles.

Asparagine↗

Treatment of CNS involvement of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with short-term cerebrospinal irradiation, high-dose chemotherapy, and autologous bone marrow transplantation. A case report of a 12-year-old patient.

A 12-year-old patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who developed central nervous system (CNS) relapse, was successfully treated with the following new regimen: cerebrospinal irradiation (CSpRT), high-dose chemotherapy, and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). He received remission induction therapy comprising intrathecal methotrexate and systemic chemotherapy, followed by cranial and spinal irradiations in doses of 2,000 cGy in 10 fractions over 5 days, and 1,200 cGy in 6 fractions over 3 days, respectively. He then received chemotherapy comprising 4 infusions of 1 g/m2 cytosine arabinoside and an intravenous injection of 4 mg/kg ACNU. His bone marrow, collected and cryopreserved after the remission induction therapy, was infused immediately after the high-dose chemotherapy. The granulocyte and platelet counts reached the nadir level on days 10 and 6 after ABMT, respectively, gradually recovering to the normal level in about 1 month. Neither severe infection nor bleeding was noted during the aplastic phase. No neurological deficits have been observed for 12 months. The short-time CSpRT and high-dose chemotherapy followed by ABMT are thus demonstrated to reduce neurotoxicities and bone marrow toxicities and to produce a good therapeutic effect against CNS involvement in lymphoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient with pituitary dwarfism under treatment with growth hormone.

An 18-year-old male with pituitary dwarfism, who had been on replacement of growth hormone (GH) and thyroxine for 3.5 years, developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The GH replacement was discontinued, and he was treated with a conventional protocol for ALL. A complete remission was obtained after 10 weeks. Maintenance chemotherapy was given with reduced doses (1/4 to 1/2) of cytotoxic drugs. The platelet count soon reached 200,000/microL, but the hemoglobin level and white blood cell count improved only slowly, reaching 10.0 g/dL and 1,500/microL, respectively, after five months. He has been in complete remission with a hypocellular bone marrow for nearly 15 months. Since GH can stimulate the proliferation of some normal and leukemic hemato-lymphoid cells, the slow remission induction and the prolonged anemia and leukocytopenia after remission, may have been related to the absence of GH in this patient.

Adolescent↗