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Biomedical subjects

T Himeno

Publications and source records attributed to T Himeno.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Respiratory function tests--current and future perspective].

The apparatus for the respiratory function test have recently made a great progress and become very easy to handle owing to the development of computer technology and medical ordering system. However, the respiratory function tests depend its result on the cooperation of patients. Thus, it is important for the medical technician to obtain the maximum efforts and cooperation of the patients in the testing. In the sense, the standardization of the testing should be done urgently regarding procedures, softwares, hardwares and maintenance of apparatus. In the future perspectives, we would like to emphasize following 3 points. First, more noninvasive and sophisticated testing methods and instruments should be developed, since the patients' age will become more and more old and vigorous active cooperation may not be possible for the assessment of respiratory function. The testing for the transplantation of lung should also be developed. Second, the development of screening test and its performance for the routine medical check for the local inhabitants have been important for the early detection, treatment, and follow up of respiratory diseases. Finally, the medical technician should be prepared so that the testing is available when it is needed.

Forced Expiratory Flow Rates↗
PubMed1997

Na+-dependent glucose uptake and collagen synthesis by cultured bovine retinal pericytes.

This study was performed to clarify the presence of sodium-dependent glucose uptake and its role in the synthesis of type IV and type VI collagen by cultured bovine retinal pericytes. The glucose uptake by retinal pericytes and retinal endothelial cells was measured using 3H-D-glucose in the presence or absence of sodium. Glucose uptake in the presence of sodium was twice as high as that observed in the presence of phlorizin and sodium or in the absence of sodium. Sodium-dependent glucose uptake was observed at different sodium concentrations, and its half-maximal stimulation occurred at 48 mM. These findings were not observed in retinal endothelial cells. Levels of type IV and type VI collagen produced by retinal pericytes were significantly increased at glucose concentrations higher than 20 mM. Phlorizin decreased both collagen synthesis and glucose consumption by retinal pericytes incubated with 30 mM of glucose to the levels observed with 5 mM of glucose. These data suggest that sodium-dependent glucose uptake is present in retinal pericytes and that excessive glucose entry into the cell is an important factor for overproduction of collagen. Phlorizin normalized the synthesis of type IV and type VI collagen with decreasing glucose consumption under high glucose conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Results of a survey of Japanese cedar pollinosis in Hachijyojima].

We performed a questionnaire survey of Japanese cedar pollinosis among 7,946 residents of the Sakashita region (Mitsune, Ogago) and Sakaue region (Kashidate, Sueyoshi, Nakanogo) of Hachijyojima who were at least 15 years of age. The response rate was 21.3%. The percentage of respondents who reported three or more nasal symptoms concurrentry with two ocular symptoms in early spring (from the end of February to the end of March) was 1.8% in the Sakashita region and 0.3% in the Sakaue region. About 1.5% of Hachijyojima residents were suspected to have Japanese cedar pollinosis. On scratch tests of symptomatic subjects, 9.2% showed positive reactions for Japanese cedar antigen, and 12.1% had an IgE RAST score of 2 or more. The peak Japanese cedar pollen concentration between February 11 and March 31, 1992 was 74/cm2 on March 6 in the Sakashita region and 127/cm2 on the same day in the Sakaue region. This survey confirmed the presence of a low incidence of Japanese cedar pollinosis in Hachijyojima, an isolated island 290 km from Tokyo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[The prevalence of orthostatic dysregulation complicated with bronchial asthma].

Orthostatic dysregulation (OD) has been reported to be complicated with childhood bronchial asthma. 42 patients (28 females and 14 males) with adult-onset bronchial asthma were selected randomly to investigate the prevalence of OD. OD was diagnosed by both questionnaire for subjective symptoms and tilting test (Schellong test and upright ECG). Our results revealed that 64.3% (both 64.3% in females and males) of the patients were complicated with OD. There was no significant difference in the duration of asthma, FEV0.1, %FEV1.0, serum IgE level, and severity of asthma between patients with OD and without OD. Furthermore, no significant difference in the results of tilting test were observed. In serum level of theophylline we couldn't detect any subjective difference between the two groups, however there was significant difference between positive patients and negative patients in tilting test. In conclusion, OD is frequently complicated with adult-onset asthma and we should be careful of the subjective symptoms concerned with OD.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Developmental potential of frozen-thawed human blastocysts.

PURPOSE: To examine the possibility of freezing human embryos at late cleaved stages (morula or blastocyst stage), we cryopreserved human embryos 5 days (day 5) or 6 days (day 6) after insemination and investigated their developmental potential after thawing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred nineteen morphologically good-quality human embryos from 43 women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment between 1991 and 1992 were frozen using dimethylsulfoxide as a cryoprotectant. The embryos were cryopreserved for 5 to 30 months. After thawing they were then cultured in vitro for 24 hr to investigate their developmental potential. Survival rates and developmental rates were morphologically assessed after 24 hr of in vitro culture. RESULTS: Developmental rates were significantly (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) lower than survival rates at every developmental stage. There was no difference in total survival rates between embryos frozen 5 days after insemination (78.2%; 54/69) and embryos frozen 6 days after insemination (70.0%; 35/54). However, the developmental rates after 24 hr of culture was significantly (P < 0.05) lower for embryos frozen 6 days after insemination (6.0%; 3/50) than for embryos frozen 5 days after insemination (18.8%; 13/69). Only two embryos developed into fetuses after transfer into the uterus (1.7%; 2/119). CONCLUSIONS: From the results, the developmental potential of frozen-thawed human blastocysts was found to be significantly reduced, even though the blastocysts were of morphologically good quality. Longer in vitro exposure of embryos appears to reduce their developmental potential.

Blastocyst↗
PubMed1995

The use of intra-endometrial embryo transfer for increasing the pregnancy rate.

It has been demonstrated previously that pregnancy can be achieved by the direct insertion of embryos into the endometrial stroma (intra-endometrial embryo transfer) of mice. In this study we evaluated whether intra-endometrial transfer resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than conventional embryo transfer. Mouse blastocysts (ICR strain), recovered on day 4 of pregnancy, were transferred into pseudopregnant day 2, day 3 and day 4 mice of the same strain; 1-, 2- and 8-cell embryos were also transferred into pseudopregnant day 4 mice. In intra-endometrial embryo transfer, a 27 gauge injection needle was inserted near the utero-tubal junction into the endometrial stroma and then removed; one blastocyst was transferred into each uterine horn with a glass micropipette. Conventional transfers were performed simultaneously as controls. The pregnancy rates and embryonic viability rates were evaluated 9 days after embryo transfer. Furthermore, the rates of live birth for intra-endometrial and conventional embryo transfers were compared when blastocysts were transferred into pseudopregnant day 4 uteri by both methods. In the transfer to pseudopregnant day 2 recipients, the pregnancy and embryonic viability rates were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in intra-endometrial [23.4 (11/47) versus 15.9% (15/94)] than in conventional embryo transfer [4.3 (2/46) versus 2.2% (2/92)]. In the transfer to pseudopregnant day 3 recipients, both rates were also higher (P < 0.01) in intra-endometrial [90.9 (40/44) versus 87.5% (77/88)] than in conventional transfer [67.4 (31/46) versus 64.1% (59/92)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Treatment and posttreatment effects of fluoride mouthrinsing after 17 years.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the treatment and posttreatment effects of a school-based, fluoride mouthrinse regimen. METHODS: Children in a nonfluoridated community in Japan participated in a daily rinse program using a 0.05 percent NaF solution in nursery and primary schools, and a weekly rinse with 0.2 percent NaF in junior high school. Students were examined at least annually for dental caries and dental treatment was provided in a public dental clinic through the ninth grade. Incipient carious lesions with no cavitation were not restored. RESULTS: The percent of children in grades one through nine (6-14 years of age) with caries-free permanent teeth increased from 13.4 percent in 1974 to 73.0 percent in 1991, while the mean DMFT decreased by 86 percent during this period. For 12-year-olds, mean DMFT scores declined to about one tooth per child after 1982. For adults 20 years of age, there was a 64 percent difference in DMFS between the treatment group who started the rinse regimen at 4 years of age and continued for 11 years, and the controls who lived in different districts and did not participate in a fluoride rinse regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Children who began rinsing at 4 or 5 years of age benefited the most from the program. The program was inexpensive, simple to implement and well accepted by families and teachers. The conservative treatment policy in the public clinic likely contributed to the benefits derived by participants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Investigation of Cryptomeria japonica pollinosis in Izu-Oshima].

We surveyed by questionnaire 4,673 residents of Izu-Oshima who were 15 or more years of age with regard to Cryptomeria japonica pollinosis. The response rate was 22.3%. In the early spring, nasal symptoms were reported by 8.9% of the respondents, ocular symptoms by 5.7%, and dermal symptoms by 8.1%. On scratch tests of symptomatic subjects, 13.8% were positive for Cryptomeria japonica antigen, and 33.3% had an IgE RAST score of 2 or more. The peak Cryptomeria japonica pollen concentrations between February and April 1990 were 118/cm2 on March 7 at the Northern Clinic and 271/cm2 at the Southern Clinic. A second questionnaire survey (response rate: 53.1%), designed to estimate the number of persons with Cryptomeria japonica pollinosis among all residents, revealed that 4.7% concurrently had three or more nasal symptoms and two ocular symptoms. By combining these results with those of a telephone survey of 100 randomly selected nonrespondents, 5.64% of all inhabitants were estimated to have suspected Cryptomeria japonica pollinosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between the day of embryo transfer and the outcome in human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

PURPOSE: To clarify the optimal date of embryo transfer (ET), we retrospectively analyzed the relationship between the day of ET and the outcome in human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHOD: Of a total of 307 human IVF-ET cycles performed at Kyoto University Hospital between January 1990 and March 1994, we focused on 207 cases of IVF-ET cycles in which two or three good-quality embryos were transferred. These 207 IVF-ET cycles consisted of 54 Day 2 ET cycles, 79 Day 3 ET cycles, 46 Day 4 ET cycles, and 28 Day 5 ET cycles. We compared the pregnancy and live-birth (plus ongoing pregnancy) rates among these four ET groups. RESULTS: The pregnancy rates of ET on Days 2 to 4 were not significantly different, whereas Day 5 ET produced a significantly lower pregnancy rate (Day 2, 29.6%; Day 3, 32.9%; Day 4, 30.4%; Day 5, 10.7%). Similar results were obtained for the live-birth (plus ongoing pregnancy) rates (Day 2, 20.3%; Day 3, 18.9%; Day 4, 17.9%; Day 5, 7.1%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the day of ET does not fundamentally affect the pregnancy rate in human IVF-ET provided that transfer is made before Day 5.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMed1992

Induction of synthesis of manganous superoxide dismutase in L-M(pNTnF) cells carrying an inducible TNF gene.

Based on findings that the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are closely related to levels of intracellular oxygen radicals, and on the results of TNF gene transfection studies, the hypothesis was made that endogenous TNF (enTNF) acts as a protective factor against exogenous TNF by inducing inhibitors or scavengers of oxygen radicals. In order to test this hypothesis, we investigated the intracellular levels of manganous superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione (GSH) in L-M(pNTnF) cells carrying a TNF gene induced by dexamethasone (DM). When L-M(pNTnF) cells were treated with DM they expressed enTNF, and acquired resistance to exogenous TNF. There was no change in the GSH concentration after enTNF induction, but a 1.9- to 3.9-fold increase in MnSOD levels was noted. Our findings suggest that enTNF exerts its protective function against the cytocidal effect of exogenous TNF by inducing MnSOD production.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes transfected with tumor necrosis factor gene could augment cytotoxicity to autologous tumor cells.

Human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) derived from pleural or ascitic fluid were incubated with recombinant interleukin 2 and transfected with human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha gene by the lipofection procedure. The resulting TILs secreted significant amounts of TNF in the culture supernatant and exhibited cytotoxicity against established cell lines, such as K562 and Daudi, and autologous tumor cells. The TNF gene-transfected TILs exhibited an augmented killing of autologous tumor cells.

Ascites↗
PubMed1990

Suppressive effects of intracellular glutathione on hydroxyl radical production induced by tumor necrosis factor.

Protective effects of intracellular glutathione (GSH) against the cytotoxicity of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were investigated. Three tumor cell lines (L-M, B-16, HeLa) were used as target cells. Exposure of these cells to buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or diethyl maleate (DEM) resulted in the depletion of intracellular GSH content to 5.2-43.0% of control values and enhancement of their susceptibility to TNF cytotoxicity. The hydroxyl radical production in L-M cells stimulated by TNF was increased by treatment with BSO or DEM. These results are consistent with the suggestion that intracellular GSH exerts its protective function against the cytocidal effect of TNF by inhibiting the hydroxyl radical production stimulated by TNF.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Expression of endogenous tumor necrosis factor as a protective protein against the cytotoxicity of exogenous tumor necrosis factor.

Based on the finding that expression of endogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which is not detected in TNF-susceptible cells was observed in TNF-resistant cells, the assumption was made that endogenous TNF may be a protective protein against the cytotoxic activity of TNF. In order to confirm this possibility, we investigated the relationship between expression of endogenous TNF and TNF susceptibility by using the gene transfection method. When L-M, TNF-highly sensitive murine fibrosarcoma cells were transfected with a human TNF gene, the stable transfectants expressed endogenous TNF and acquired resistance to TNF. Conversely, when endogenous TNF synthesis was inhibited by introducing an antisense TNF gene into HeLa, TNF-less sensitive human cervical cancer cells, the sensitivity was enhanced. These findings indicate that endogenous TNF is one of the protective factors against the cytotoxic activity of TNF.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the penicillinase antirepressor gene penJ of Bacillus licheniformis.

The penicillinase antirepressor gene, penJ, of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945a was cloned in Escherichia coli by using pMB9 as a vector plasmid. The penicillinase gene, penP, its repressor gene, penI, and penJ were encoded on the cloned 5.2-kilobase HindIII fragment of the recombinant plasmid pTTE71. The penJ open reading frame was composed of 1,803 bases and 601 amino acid residues (molecular weight, 68,388). A Shine-Dalgarno sequence was found 7 bases upstream from the translation start site. Since this sequence was located in the 3'-terminal region of the penI gene, penJ might be transcribed together with penI as a polycistronic mRNA from the penI promoter. Frameshift mutations of penJ were constructed in vitro from pTTE71, and the penJ mutant gene was introduced into B. licheniformis by chromosomal recombination. The transformant B. licheniformis U173 (penP+ penI+ penJ) turned out to be uninducible for penicillinase production, whereas the wild-type strain (penP+ penI+ penJ+) was inducible. Only when these three genes (penP, penI, and PenJ) were simultaneously subcloned in Bacillus subtilis did the plasmid carrier exhibit inducible penicillinase production, as did wild-type B. licheniformis. It was concluded that penJ is involved in the penicillinase induction. The regulation of penP expression by penI and penJ is discussed.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1986

Nucleotide sequence of the penicillinase repressor gene penI of Bacillus licheniformis and regulation of penP and penI by the repressor.

Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase genes, penP and penI, are coded on a 4.2-kilobase EcoRI fragment of pTTE21 (T. Imanaka, T. Tanaka, H. Tsunekawa, and S. Aiba, J. Bacteriol. 147:776-186, 1981). The EcoRI fragment was subcloned in a low-copy-number plasmid pTB522 in Bacillus subtilis. B. subtilis carrying the recombinant plasmid pPTB60 (Tcr penP+ penI+) was chemically mutagenized. Of about 150,000 colonies, two penI(Ts) mutant plasmids, pPTB60D13 and pPTB60E24, were screened by the plate assay at 30 and 48 degrees C for penicillinase. By constructing recombinant plasmids between wild-type and mutant plasmids, the mutation points were shown to be located in a 1.7-kilobase EcoRI-PstI fragment. The EcoRI-PstI fragments of the wild-type plasmid and two mutant plasmids were sequenced. A large open reading frame, composed of 384 bases and 128 amino acid residues (molecular weight, 14,983), was found. Since the mutation points were located at different positions in the protein coding region (Ala to Val for pPTB60D13 and Pro to Leu for pPTB60E24), the coding region was concluded to be the penI gene. A Shine-Dalgarno sequence was found 7 bases upstream from the translation start site (ATG). A probable promoter sequence which is very similar to the consensus sequence was also found upstream of the penP promoter, but in the opposite direction. A consensus twofold symmetric sequence (AAAGTATTA CATATGTAAGNTTT) which might have been used as a repressor binding region was found downstream and in the midst of the penP promoter and also downstream of the penI promoter. The regulation of penP and penI by the repressor is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Effect of in vitro DNA rearrangement in the NH2-terminal region of the penicillinase gene from Bacillus licheniformis on the mode of expression in Bacillus subtilis.

We have constructed secretion vector plasmids that have unique BglII sites within or near the signal sequence of Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase, and have also constructed penicillinase cartridges that lack either one, two or three of the processing sites for the membrane-bound, exo-large and exo-small enzymes. Each of these penicillinase cartridges was cloned on secretion vectors in Bacillus subtilis, and enzyme production was examined. The presence of both the signal sequence and the three host-specific processing sites on the secretion vector was required for an effective expression of the enzyme in B. subtilis. The presence of any of the processing sites on the cartridge reduced the accumulation of penicillinase in the culture medium. When a vector plasmid lacking part of the hydrophobic region of the signal sequence and lacking the three processing sites was used, total penicillinase production decreased and enzyme accumulation in the medium was extremely low, despite the complete or incomplete presence of the processing sites on the cartridge. Molecular mass determination of these extracellular penicillinases suggested the existence of a new cleavage site for the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica mutants that express temperature-sensitive synthesis of isocitrate lyase.

Four mutants specifically deficient in the activity of isocitrate lyase were independently isolated in the alkane yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica. Genetic analysis by means of protoplast fusion and mitotic haploidization revealed that the mutations were recessive and non-complementary at a single genetic locus, icl. icl is a structural gene for isocitrate lyase, because some revertants from icl-1 and icl-3 mutants produced thermolabile isocitrate lyase in comparison with the wild-type enzyme, and also because the gene dosage effect was observed on the specific activity of isocitrate lyase in icl+/icl-1 and icl+/icl-3 heterozygotes. The icl-3 mutation also gave rise to temperature-sensitive revertants that could grow on acetate at 23 degrees C but not at 33 degrees C, exhibiting temperature-sensitive synthesis as well as thermostable activity of isocitrate lyase. Studies on purified isocitrate lyase showed that this enzyme is tetrameric and that the enzyme synthesized at 23 degrees C by a temperature-sensitive synthesis mutant was indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme with respect to the subunit molecular weight (59,000), the isoelectric pH (5.3), the thermostability, and the Km value for threo-Ds-isocitrate (0.2 mM). When induced by acetate at 33 degrees C, the temperature-sensitive synthesis mutant did not express isocitrate lyase activity but did synthesize polypeptides whose electrophoretic mobilities were equal to that of the purified mutant enzyme. Hence, the temperature-sensitive mutation assumed in the structural gene for isocitrate lyase might have prevented the maturation of the polypeptide chains synthesized at the restrictive temperature.

Acetates↗