Biomedical subjects

T Horii

Publications and source records attributed to T Horii.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

[Cardiac surgery without homologous blood transfusion--the effectiveness and the indication of recombinant human erythropoietin].

In 376 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery using extracorporeal circulation between May 1989 and December 1991, we assessed the effectiveness of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and the indications for its use. A total of 174 patients received rHuEPO, which was administered intravenously (100 U/kg/day) or subcutaneously (400-600 U/kg/week). Of 348 elective surgeries, the operation was routine in 335 and was expected to require massive blood transfusion, such as reoperation and aortic surgery, in 13. The former group was divided into two subgroups, i.e., 292 patients with a hemoglobin of 12 g/dl or higher and 43 patients with hemoglobin levels under 12 g/dl. In the former subgroup, the rate of patients not receiving homologous blood transfusion was 96.3% following autologous donation with rHuEPO and 91.4% following autologous frozen blood donation for prolonged preservation period without rHuEPO. In contrast, even in the same subgroup, the rate was 82.5% for the patients who donated autologous liquid stored blood for a short time without rHuEPO. In the latter subgroup, the rate was 80.6% when rHuEPO was administered, and it was significantly higher than the rate of 25% in patients not receiving rHuEPO (p < 0.01). The rate increased to 91.3% when the anemia improved and autologous blood could be donated preoperatively. Autologous blood transfusion is generally not considered for patients undergoing reoperation and aortic surgery. In 70.0% of such patients, however, the operation could be completed without homologous blood transfusion when rHuEPO was administered and about 2000 ml of autologous blood was available. Subcutaneous use of rHuEPO was as effective as intravenous use.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1994

[The second coronary reoperation via the left thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass].

A 75-year-old female who had underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reoperation 2 years before was readmitted because of unstable angina. Two arterial grafts and one saphenous vein graft (SVG) were all occluded one and half year after the primary operation. The second operation was approached via the repeated sternotomy. LAD and RCA were revascularized with a Y-shaped SVG which had only one inflow. Coronary angiogram revealed stenosis of LMT and RCA and occlusion of the inflow of the Y-shaped SVG. We performed the 3rd CABG via the left thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass for revascularization of the LAD area. A new SVG was anastomosed from the descending aorta to the old SVG just proximal to the anastomotic site with LAD. Local coronary occlusion time was 7 min without any hemodynamic or electrocardiographic deteriorations. The operation was successfully performed in 3 hr 55 min. The patient recovered well uneventfully. Postoperative angiogram showed that the new SVG was adequately patent and she was discharged without angina. We conclude that CABG without cardiopulmonary bypass via the left thoracotomy is an useful alternative to decrease mortality and morbidity for reoperative myocardial reveascularization.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Purification, characterization and molecular cloning of an acidic amino acid-specific proteinase from Streptomyces fradiae ATCC 14544.

We have isolated a novel acidic amino-acid-specific proteinase from Streptomyces fradiae ATCC 14544, using benzyloxycarbonyl-L-Phe-L-Leu-L-Glu-p-nitroanilide (Z-Phe-Leu-Glu-pNA) as a substrate. A proteinase, which we propose to call SFase, was purified from the culture filtrate by salting out, repeated S-Sepharose chromatography, and affinity chromatography (CH-Sepharose-Phe-Leu-D-Glu-OMe). The purified enzyme showed a single band having an apparent molecular weight of 19,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When synthetic peptides were used as substrates, SFase showed high specificity for Z-Phe-Leu-Glu-pNA. Comparison with nitroanilides of glutamic acid and aspartic acid as substrates revealed that the reactivity was about 10-fold higher for a glutamyl bond than an aspartyl bond. SFase selectively hydrolyzed the -Glu-Ala-bond of two glutamyl bonds in the oxidized insulin B-chain within the initial reaction time until the starting material was completely digested. Diisopropylfluorophosphate and benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Leu-Glu chloromethylketone completely inhibited SFase, while metalloproteinase inhibitors, such as EDTA and o-phenanthrolin, did not inhibit the enzyme. The findings indicate that SFase can be classified as a serine proteinase, and is highly specific for a glutamyl bond in comparison with an aspartyl bond. To elucidate the complete primary structure and precursor of SFase, its gene was cloned from genomic DNA of the producing strain, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. Consideration of the N- and C-terminal amino-acid sequences of the mature protein of SFase indicates that it consists of 187 amino acids, which follows a prepropeptide of 170 residues. In comparison with the acidic amino-acid-specific proteinase from Streptomyces griseus (Svendsen, I., Jensen, M.R. and Breddam, K. (1991) FEBS Lett. 292, 165-167), SFase had 82% homology in the amino acid sequence. The processing site for maturation of SFase was a unique sequence (-Glu-Val-), so that the propeptide could be released by cleavage of the peptide bond between Glu and Val.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Role of tyrosine residue 264 of RecA for the binding of cofactor and DNA.

The tyrosine fluorescence of the RecA protein is quenched by about 15% upon binding of the cofactor analog adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S). This quenching is not observed with a modified RecA in which the tyrosine residue at position 264 (Tyr-264) is replaced for alanine by site-directed mutagenesis, a modification which also results in a decrease of binding affinity of cofactor. This indicates that Tyr-264 is responsible for the fluorescence change and that the residue is close to or within the cofactor binding site. Upon DNA binding, a change of tyrosine fluorescence is observed both with the modified protein and with wild type RecA, indicating that DNA binding affects the environment of other tyrosine residues than Tyr-264. However, the change is significantly smaller in the modified protein, suggesting that both Tyr-264 as well as other residue(s) may be affected by the DNA binding. Changed fluorescence properties of the remaining tyrosine residues as a result of a slightly different DNA binding mode of the modified protein are also possible. Tyr-264 may be an important residue for the allosteric effect induced by the cofactor for the binding of DNA to RecA. In the recent crystal structure of RecA-ADP published by Story and Steitz (Story, R.M., and Steitz, T. A. (1992) Nature 355, 374-376), ADP is stacked with Tyr-103 and does not interact with Tyr-264. The fact that we observe no interaction of ATP gamma S with Tyr-103 (as evidenced from absence of fluorescence change) but instead with Tyr-264 may suggest an important conformational difference between the RecA complexes with, respectively, ADP and ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1993

Oily contrast medium as a therapeutic agent for infertility because of mild endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of using oily contrast medium (Lipiodol; Kodama, Tokyo, Japan) to treat infertility because of mild endometriosis. DESIGN: Macrophages in the peritoneal cavity of ICR mice (Japan SLC, Shizuoka, Japan) were induced by administering OK-432 to simulate the condition of the peritoneal cavity of patients with mild endometriosis, and the pregnancy rate was examined after administration of Lipiodol and/or danazol (Bonzol; Tokyo Tanabe, Tokyo, Japan). Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), prostaglandin (PG)F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and PGE2 levels in the supernatant were measured after incubating macrophages of mice with Lipiodol and/or danazol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy rate (PR) and IL-1 beta, PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 levels. RESULTS: The PR of the Lipiodol group was significantly increased compared with that in control mice. Prostaglandin F2 alpha level in the supernatant was significantly increased, whereas that of IL-1 beta was reduced after incubation with Lipiodol. CONCLUSIONS: Lipiodol may elevate PGF2 alpha level and reduce IL-1 beta level in the peritoneal cavity, and this drug may increase the PR of ICR mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Plasmid-mediated AmpC-type beta-lactamase isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae confers resistance to broad-spectrum beta-lactams, including moxalactam.

Klebsiella pneumoniae NU2936 was isolated from a patient and was found to produce a plasmid-encoded beta-lactamase (MOX-1) which conferred resistance to broad spectrum beta-lactams, including moxalactam, flomoxef, ceftizoxime, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime. Resistance could be transferred from K. pneumoniae NU2936 to Escherichia coli CSH2 by conjugation with a transfer frequency of 5 x 10(-7). The structural gene of MOX-1 (blaMOX-1) was cloned and expressed in E. coli HB101. The MIC of moxalactam for E. coli HB101 producing MOX-1 was > 512 micrograms/ml. The apparent molecular mass and pI of this enzyme were calculated to be 38 kDa and 8.9, respectively. Hg2+ and Cu2+ failed to block enzyme activity, and the presence of EDTA in the reaction buffer did not reduce the enzyme activity. However, clavulanate and cloxacillin, serine beta-lactamase inhibitors, inhibited the enzyme activity competitively (Kis = 5.60 and 0.35 microM, respectively). The kinetic study of MOX-1 suggested that it effectively hydrolyzed broad-spectrum beta-lactams. A hybridization study confirmed that blaMOX-1 is encoded on a large resident plasmid (pRMOX1; 180 kb) of strain NU2936. By deletion analysis, the functional region was localized within a 1.2-kb region of the plasmid. By amino acid sequencing, 18 of 33 amino acid residues at the N terminus of MOX-1 were found to be identical to those of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpC. These findings suggest that MOX-1 is a plasmid-mediated AmpC-type beta-lactamase that provides enteric bacteria resistance to broad-spectrum beta-lactams, including moxalactam.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

[The long-term patency rate of saphenous vein grafts and vein graft disease in Japanese patients].

While annual attrition and high break-down rate of saphenous vein graft (SVG) used for CABG has widely noted in Western countries, no sizable studies have yet available in Japan. We studied 142 SVGs of 77 pts, which we divided into two groups; 80 SVGs of 44 pts in mid-term period (5 to 8 years after surgery) and 62 SVGs of 33 pts in long-term period (9 to 17 years after surgery). The patency rate of SVGs was 69% in mid-term and 77% in long-term. Whereas these patency rates at each periods were superior to those reported from USA and European countries, a quarter of SVGs in mid-term period and a half in long-term period had significant stenotic changes (over 50%). Of patent SVGs, diseased SVGs reached 36% in mid-term period and 73% in long-term period. In conclusion, although the patency rate of SVGs in Japanese patients was higher than that of the Western countries, vein graft disease apparently occurred in a large proportion of patent SVGs.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

[Two-staged repeat myocardial revascularization through the sternal re-entry and the left thoracotomy with coronary anastomosis under the beating heart].

A case report of serial repeat myocardial revascularization under the beating heart. A 56-year-old, hypertensive and hyperlipidemic male suffered from unstable angina who had undergone primary CABG with saphenous veins 10 years ago. The vein graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was solely patent but had a severely stenotic lesion. The stenotic LAD vein graft fed all coronary circulation. The second operation was approached through the sternal reentry but E-PTFE sheat for pericardial closure at the primary operation tightly adhered to an anterior aspect of the heart with abscess formation. So only gastroepiploic artery (GEA) could be anastomosed to the right coronary artery (RCA) under the beating heart without cardiopulmonary pump (CPB). While the postoperative angiogram showed GEA graft was patent, unstable angina recurred. Then the third operation was performed 2 weeks later through the left thoracotomy under the beating heart with CPB. A new saphenous vein was anastomosed from the descending aorta to LAD. He recovered well without any major complications. Postoperative angiogram showed two new grafts widely patent and he discharged with freedom from angina.

Angina, Unstable↗

PubMed1992

Inhibitory effects of N- and C-terminal truncated Escherichia coli recA gene products on functions of the wild-type recA gene.

The effects of the expression of Escherichia coli truncated RecA protein on the host recA functions were examined. The recA gene on a multicopy plasmid was manipulated to express the truncated RecA protein from its carboxyl (C) and amino (N) terminal ends where a maximum of four extra amino acid residues was added. The regulatory part of the recA gene was substituted by the lacUV5 promoter in the plasmid to facilitate the artificial control of recA expression. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analyses revealed great differences in accumulation of the truncated RecA proteins in the cell, depending on the location of the site of truncation. The expression of truncated proteins lacking 62, 77, 93 or 149 amino acid residues from the C-terminal end caused the host recA+ wild-type cell to become sensitive to ultraviolet irradiation and interfered with chromosomal recombination but did not interfere with the induction of lambda prophage. The expression of truncated RecA protein with 25 amino acid residues deleted from the C-terminal end caused the host cell to induce SOS functions constitutively. Truncated RecA proteins with 15 or 28 amino acid residues missing from the N-terminal end severely interfered with all of the host recA functions examined here. The effect of the loss of 41 amino acid residues from the N-terminal end of RecA was significant but less than the effect of proteins lacking 15 or 28 amino acid residues from the N-terminal end. A protein lacking 59 amino acid residues from the N-terminal end showed little interference with any measured recA functions, suggesting that the deletion of the region from around residues 41 to 59, which is rich in hydrophobic side-chains, influenced the ability of the truncated protein to interfere with the functions of wild-type RecA protein. We also constructed a mutant gene with an internal deletion whose product was missing a region from residues 184 to 204. That mutant RecA protein was stably accumulated in the cell. This protein had little effect on the function of host wild-type recA gene product. The possible function of the regions at the N and C termini are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

C-terminal truncated Escherichia coli RecA protein RecA5327 has enhanced binding affinities to single- and double-stranded DNAs.

RecA5327 is a truncated RecA protein that is lacking 25 amino acid residues from the C-terminal end. The expression of RecA5327 protein in the cell resulted in the constitutive induction of SOS functions without damage to the DNA. Purified RecA5327 protein effectively promoted the LexA repressor cleavage reaction and ATP hydrolysis at a lower concentration of single-stranded DNA than that required for wild-type RecA protein. A DNA binding study showed that RecA5327 has about ten times higher affinity for single-stranded DNA than does the wild-type RecA protein. Moreover RecA5327 protein binds stably to double-stranded (ds) DNA in conditions where the wild-type RecA protein could not bind. The binding of RecA5327 protein to dsDNA was associated with the unwinding of dsDNA, suggesting that RecA5327 binds to dsDNA in the same manner as does the wild-type protein. The fact that RecA5327 does not bind stoichiometrically but forms short filaments on dsDNA suggests that it nucleates to dsDNA much more frequently than does the wild-type protein. The role of the 25 C-terminal residues, in the regulation of RecA binding to DNA, is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1992

Subcutaneous use of erythropoietin in heart surgery.

The effect of subcutaneous administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in ameliorating anemia resulting from autologous blood donation was compared with intravenous administration of rHuEPO. Forty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass procedures were divided into three groups. Group I (12 patients) received intravenous administration of rHuEPO (100 U.kg-1.day-1) and intravenous iron preparations for 14 days before operation; group II (14 patients) had subcutaneous administration of rHuEPO (600 U/kg) on preoperative days 14 and 7 and oral iron preparations for 14 days; and group III (14 patients) received oral iron preparations alone and served as the controls. Each patient predonated 800 mL of blood in the 2 weeks before operation. The reticulocyte count increased significantly in groups I and II (p less than 0.01), but little in group III. The hemoglobin level just before operation was higher in groups I (p less than 0.01) and II (p less than 0.05) compared with group III. Four patients (29%) in group III required homologous blood transfusion versus none in groups I and II (p less than 0.05). Subcutaneous administration of rHuEPO once a week was as effective as daily intravenous administration. Preoperative autologous blood donation can be performed over a short period on an outpatient basis with subcutaneous administration of rHuEPO.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Involvement of rcsB in Klebsiella K2 capsule synthesis in Escherichia coli K-12.

Escherichia coli K-12 harboring a part of the structural genes for the Klebsiella K2 capsular polysaccharide (cpsK*) expresses a large amount of K2 capsular polysaccharide as a thick capsule in the presence of plasmids carrying rmpA and rcsB. We have previously shown that expression of the Klebsiella K2 capsule in E. coli HB101 harboring cpsK* depends on the presence of rmpA, a regulatory gene from a large plasmid of Klebsiella pneumoniae Chedid (O1:K2). E. coli K-12 JM109, however, produces only a small amount of K2 capsular polysaccharide, even in the presence of plasmids carrying rmpA as well as the cpsK* structural genes. Introduction of the rcsB gene, a positive regulator of colanic acid capsule synthesis in E. coli K-12 which was cloned from HB101 on a plasmid, into JM109 cells carrying cpsK* and rmpA, results in the expression of a thick K2 capsule. By Northern (RNA) hybridization analysis, rcsB has been found to enhance transcription of a long strand of mRNA (longer than 14 kb) from cpsK*. These E. coli transformants which produce a thick K2 capsule also express colanic acid production at high levels. Therefore, rcsB can act as a positive regulator of Klebsiella K2 capsule production and two capsular polysaccharides can be expressed in E. coli simultaneously. With a somewhat different strain background, we have found that both of the colanic acid regulators, rcsA and rcsB, contribute to the basal level of Klebsiella K2 capsule expression but that the presence of multicopy rcsB in either an rcsB or an rcsA mutant of E. coli is sufficient to increase the expression of K2 capsular polysaccharide. These results suggest further parallels between the regulation of colanic acid synthesis in E. coli and the regulation of Klebsiella K2 capsule synthesis.

Bacterial Capsules↗

PubMed1992

[A case report of isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis in a non-addicted adult person without underlying cardiac disease].

We report a rare case of isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis. A 46-year-old man who was non-addicted, non-alcoholic and had no underlying cardiac disease was admitted to our hospital for persistent pyrexia. Appropriate intravenous antibiotics therapy was unable to control the repeated infection and destruction of his tricuspid valve progressed. The patient was referred to our surgical division where on intraoperative inspection, tricuspid valve endocarditis was found to involve the entire anterior leaflet and part of the posterior leaflet. Following complete debridement of the infectious lesion, tricuspid valvuloplasty was not considered to be possible. So we performed tricuspid valve replacement using a mechanical valve (CARBOMEDICS 27 mm). His postoperative course was uneventful and he had no ventricular arrhythmia. After prophylactic antibiotic administration for 3 weeks, he was afebrile for 2 weeks without any medication. Thereafter he was discharged and has been free from any complications for over 1 year.

Endocarditis, Bacterial↗

PubMed1991

Effect of dietary alpha-linolenate on platelet-activating factor production in rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The effects of dietary alpha-linolenate (18:3, n-3) and linoleate (18:2, n-6) on platelet-activating factor (PAF) production were examined. Rats were fed an alpha-linolenic acid-rich (perilla oil) diet or a linoleic acid-rich (safflower oil) diet for 6 wk, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were elicited by peritoneal injection of casein. The overall phospholipid content and composition as well as the subclass distribution of choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids in PMN were not altered by these diets. However, with the perilla oil diet their content of a putative precursor of PAF, 1-alkyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was approximately 50% of that with safflower oil diet. On exposure to various concentrations of FMLP, PAF formation by PMN in the perilla oil group was less than 50% of that by PMN in the safflower oil group. A larger difference in PAF productions by PMN in the two dietary groups was observed on their stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187. These results demonstrate that PAF production is modulated in some as yet unknown way by changing the alpha-linolenate/linoleate balance of the diet.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Construction of a novel suicide vector: selection for Escherichia coli HB101 recombinants carrying the DNA insert.

We constructed a new type of cloning vector, pERISH2, that transforms Escherichia coli HB101 only when a foreign DNA fragment is ligated into the cloning site of the plasmid vector. Plasmid pERISH2 carries the rcsB gene which is derived from the chromosome of E. coli HB101 and is involved in the regulation of colanic acid production. When E. coli HB101 is transformed by this vector carrying the intact rcsB gene, the gene product RcsB blocks bacterial growth. However, if the rcsB gene is inactivated by the insertion of a foreign DNA fragment, this recombinant plasmid no longer inhibits the growth of E. coli HB101. Although E. coli HB101 is not stably transformed by pERISH2, E. coli K-12 strains such as JM109 and C600 can harbor this vector. Therefore, pERISH2 can be amplified in JM109 and be prepared from this strain in a large quantity using conventional methods. A chromosomal gene library of Klebsiella pneumoniae is constructed easily and efficiently by the utilization of this new cloning vector.

Blotting, Southern↗

PubMed1991

Platelet-activating factor detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from an asthmatic patient.

It recently has been recognized that platelet-activating factor (PAF) may be a mediator of asthma exacerbation. We had the opportunity to analyze bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from an asthmatic infant, which were characterized by neutrophil infiltration. The patient's lungs were washed on three occasions with saline during asthmatic attacks. PAF was found in each case on the basis of its ability to cause the immediate aggregation of washed rabbit platelets. The PAF detected was equivalent to 1-1.4 pmol of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, three quarters of which were recovered in cell-associated form. By contrast, we did not detect PAF in bronchoalveolar exudates from patients with laryngeal stenosis or with respiratory distress syndrome. LysoPAF, the direct precursor as well as initial metabolite of PAF, was also analyzed after being converted to PAF by acetylation. There was a wide variation in the amount of lysoPAF present in individual patients, suggesting that lysoPAF levels cannot be taken as an indicator for the presence of PAF.

Asthma↗

PubMed1991

An autopsy case of I-cell disease. Ultrastructural and biochemical analyses.

An autopsy case of I-cell disease in a 4-year-old Japanese girl is presented. In this report, the authors analyze the relationship between morphologic (including electron microscopic) and biochemical findings. Lymph node, spleen, and kidney, which were stained with Hale's colloidal iron method, contained large amounts of hexosamine. These substances had accumulated in lymphocytes of B-cell lineage.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1990

[Ovarian metastasis in patients with cervical cancer].

The study included a total of 634 patients with cervical cancer; 311 were in stage I b and 323 were in stage II. All patients received radical hysterectomy at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kinki University, between May 1975 and December 1986. One out of 311 patients in stage I b (0.3%) and eight out of 323 patients in stage II (2.5%) had ovarian metastases confirmed histologically. Nine patients who had ovarian metastases were investigated about stages, histological types of the cervical cancer (WHO and CPL classification), incidence of metastases in pelvic lymph nodes, corpus infiltration, parametrial infiltration, and peritoneal cytology. Results obtained were as follows: 1. As to histological types, patients with adenocarcinoma and/or PL type in CPL classification had high incidence of ovarian metastases. 2. Patients with corpus infiltration had high incidence of ovarian metastases. 3. Metastases to both ovary and pelvic lymph nodes tended to occur on the same side, but ovarian metastases and parametrial infiltration did not necessarily occur on the same side. We suggest removal of ovaries, even before menopause, in patients with cervical cancer who have cervical adenocarcinoma, or corpus infiltration, or are suspicious for metastases in more than two pelvic lymph nodes.

Adenocarcinoma↗