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Biomedical subjects

T Horiuchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Horiuchi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[A case of Behçet's disease with chronic and repeated sudden hearing loss: successful treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy].

A 54 year-old man who had been diagnosed as Behcet's disease since 1985 was admitted due to sypmtoms of fever, bilateral chronic hearing loss and repeated sudden left deafness after a partial laparoscopic gastrectomy for IIa type of early gastric cancer. Pure-tone audiometry, Bekesy audiometry, speech audiogram and auditory brain stem response revealed sensorineural hearing loss. The findings of magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography ruled out a central nervous system disorder. The presence of an elevated C-reactive protein level, von Willebrand factor and plasmin alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex suggested vasculitis to be involved in the development of hearing loss. Although pulse-dose methylprednisolone therapy effectively arrested the acute progression of hearing loss, repeated audiograms showed that a modest dosage of oral prednisolone failed to maintain such improvement. However, after performing high-dose cyclophosphamide (CY) therapy, a significant improvement in the hearing loss (more than 10 dB) was observed. As a result, CY is thus considered to be a potentially important treatment for sensorioneural hearing loss.

Behcet Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Laparoscopically assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the procedure of laparoscopically assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (LAPPG), and to evaluate intra- and postoperative conditions of the patients. METHODS: We performed pylorus-preserving gastrectomy under laparoscopic observation, including regional lymph node dissection in early gastric cancer of the lower body. Seven patients were treated (two women and five men) using this procedure between April 1996 and April 1999. RESULTS: All the patients showed good postoperative recovery, and no signs of recurrence were recognized. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Less pain, a rapid recovery, and good cosmetic results were noted. The patients exhibited little weight loss after surgery, and none demonstrated the dumping syndrome. Endoscopic examinations performed postoperatively did not indicate the presence of reflux gastritis or esophagitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our procedure of LAPPG may be useful for early gastric cancer, especially intramucosal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Production efficiency of Japanese black calves by transfer of bovine embryos produced in vitro.

The objective of this study was to examine the production efficiency of Japanese Black beef calves after transfer of bovine embryos derived from an in vitro procedure. In vitro-produced (IVP) embryos were obtained from in vitro maturation and fertilization and in vitro development by co-culture with cumulus cells until 7 or 8 days after insemination. In vivo-developed (IVD) embryos from superovulated Japanese Black heifers and cows 7 days after artificial insemination were used as a control group. Bovine embryos were transferred nonsurgically to recipient cows on Day 7 +/- 1 of the estrous cycle. Pregnancy was diagnosed by palpation per rectum at Day 60 to 70 after estrus. Pregnancy, abortion, perinatal accident and birth rates were examined according to the origin of embryos (IVP or IVD), the number of transferred embryos (single or twin) and the storage status (fresh or frozen-thawed). In Experiment 1, production efficiency by twin transfer of fresh IVP embryos was examined. Higher pregnancy rates (52 1% vs 42 9%, P < 0.05) and birth rates (47.0% vs. 33.0%, P < 0.05) were obtained by twin transfer than by single transfer of fresh IVP embryos. Thus, the twin transfer of fresh IVP embryos was effective for production of calves, although the birth rates for single and twin transfers of fresh IVD embryos were still higher (55.5% and 76.1%, P < 0.05). But the abortion and perinatal accident rates for twin transfer of fresh IVP embryos were also significantly greater than those for single and twin transfer of fresh IVD embryos (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, production efficiency by twin transfer of frozen-thawed IVP embryos was examined. Either single or twin transfer of frozen-thawed IVP embryos resulted in a similar pregnancy rate (41.3% vs. 46.7%, P > 0.05) and birth rate (34.1% vs. 41.1%, P>0.05). Thus, in combination with frozen-thawed IVP embryos, the twin transfer did not enhance production efficiency. In conclusion, Japanese Black beef calves could effectively produce calves by twin transfer to Holstein recipients when using fresh IVP embryos, and by single transfer when using frozen-thawed IVP embryos.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed2000

Birth weight and birth rate of heavy calves conceived by transfer of in vitro or in vivo produced bovine embryos.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in birth weight and gestation length between Japanese Black calves obtained from transfer of bovine embryos produced in vitro (IVP) and those developed in vivo (IVD). An additional objective was to clarify the sire effect on birth weight and gestation length and to examine the birth rate of heavier calves. Two Japanese Black bulls breed at our experimental station were used as a semen source for production of IVP and IVD embryos. Thirty-eight Japanese Black heifers and cows of various genetic backgrounds were used as embryo donors for IVD embryos. Ovaries for IVP embryos were collected at random at a local slaughterhouse from Japanese Black cattle of various genetic backgrounds. IVP embryos were produced using co-culturing with cumulus cells in 5% CS+TCM 199. Both the IVD and IVP embryos were transferred non-surgically to Holstein recipients on day 7+/-1 of estrous cycle. In this study, the birth weights and gestation lengths of half-sib single calves for bull A and B were analyzed. The numbers of single calves born by transfer of IVP and IVD embryos for bull A and B were 133 and 121, 243 and 465, respectively. The birth weight of the IVP calves was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of the IVD (bull A: 31.0+/-0.4 kg versus 27.2+/-0.4 kg and bull B: 29.9+/-0.6 kg versus 26.6+/-0.2 kg). Gestation length of the IVP calves for bull A was significantly longer (P<0.01) than that of the IVD (291.9+/-0.9 days versus 283.6+/-0.5 days). However, for bull B, there were no differences in gestation length between the IVP and IVD calves (285.9+/-0.7 days versus 286.2+/-0.3 days). These results clearly indicated that IVP calves had heavier birth weights than IVD calves but that the average gestation length of IVP calves was not always longer than that of IVD calves. Furthermore, the birth rate of heavier calves and the incidence of stillbirth and perinatal mortality up to 48 h post partum in IVP calves (bull A: 11.3%, bull B: 7.8%) were greater (P<0.05) than those in IVD calves from both bulls (bull A: 4.1%, bull B: 3.7%).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Miniaturized thin-layer radial flow cell with interdigitated ring-shaped microarray electrode used as amperometric detector for capillary electrophoresis.

A chip-type thin-layer radial flow cell was developed as an amperometric detector for capillary electrophoresis. We fabricated a carbon film-based interdigitated ring-shaped array (IDRA) microelectrode with a 2 microm bandwidth and an almost 1 microm gap on a glass plate and used it as a working electrode. A fused-silica capillary was arranged above the IDRA electrode using a guide hole drilled through the acryl plate that formed the flow cell lid. A flow channel for use in connecting the outlet capillary was also fabricated in the acryl plate. We characterized the analytical performance of the IDRA electrode in the microchip flow cell in terms of linear concentration range, sensitivity and concentration detection limit. We achieved a collection efficiency and catechol redox cycle at the IDRA microelectrode of 65% and 1.71, respectively, and thus a high sensitivity and low detection limit of 392.9 pA/microM and 15 nM for dopamine hydrochloride. We examined the reproducibility of the detector and found that the run-to-run and detector-to-detector relative standard deviations were both less than 10%.

Catecholamines↗
PubMed2000

Sequence analysis of three family B DNA polymerases from the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis.

Three family B DNA polymerase genes, designated B1, B2, and B3, were cloned from the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis, and sequenced. Deduced amino acid sequences of B1 and B3 DNA polymerases have all exonuclease and polymerase motifs which include critical residues for catalytic activities. Furthermore, a YxGG/A motif, which is located between 3'-5' exonuclease and polymerization domains of family B DNA polymerases, was also found in each of the B1 and B3 sequences. These findings suggested that S. ohwakuensis B1 and B3 DNA polymerases have both exonuclease and polymerase activities. However, amino acid sequence of the B2 DNA polymerase of this organism contains several amino acid substitutions in Pol-motifs, and also lacks Exo-motif I and Exo-motif II. These substitutions and lack of certain motifs raise questions about polymerase and exonuclease activities of the corresponding gene product. The B3 sequence of S. ohwakuensis is more closely related to Pyrodictium, Aeropyrum, and Archaeoglobus DNA polymerase B3 sequences than to the Sulfolobus B3 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that crenarchaeal B1 DNA polymerases are closely related to each other, and suggested that crenarchaeal B3, euryarchaeal family B, and eukaryal epsilon DNA polymerases may be orthologs.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2000

Dominant expression of a novel splice variant of caspase-8 in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Caspase-8 is an apical and critical proteolytic enzyme in the cascade of apoptosis. As a result of alternative splicing, the generation of at least 7 isoforms of caspase-8 has been reported. The existence of multiple isoforms that lack the essential domains for apoptosis suggests the possible role of these isoforms on the regulation of apoptosis. Here we report a novel longer isoform of caspase-8 (caspase-8L) that was generated by alternative splicing of intron 8, thereby carrying a 136-bp insertion and frame shift of the transcript. The transcript encoded N-terminal two repeats of death effector domain (DED) of caspase-8, but lacking the C-terminal half of the proteolytic domain. Reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed the dominant expression of caspase-8L transcript compared to the intact form of caspase-8 in human peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) and T cells. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), imbalanced expression of caspase-8L transcript was identified. These results suggest the important role of caspase-8L in the modulation of apoptosis.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed2000

Carbon film-based interdigitated array microelectrode used in capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

A carbon film based interdigitated ring-shaped array (IDRA) microelectrode was applied to capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection to enhance the detection sensitivity on the basis of the redox cycling of electrochemical reversible species at the IDRA microelectrode. We propose a simple capillary-electrode connection device that consists of an X-Y-Z fiber aligner, an electrochemical cell, and a Nafion tubing joint that will enable the detection capillary to be aligned easily on the IDRA microelectrode and isolate the separation voltage from the electrochemical detection system. We used the off-column amperometric detection of aqueous ferrocene and catecholamines by capillary electrophoresis with an IDRA microelectrode to investigate the effects of the capillary-to-electrode distance and the separation voltage on the response currents in single and dual modes and the collection efficiencies (CE) and redox cycles (Rc) at the IDRA microelectrode. The results show that CE and Rc increase when we increase the distance and lower the separation voltage. The limiting currents also increase as the separation voltage decreases in the dual mode. Under optimum conditions, the CE and Rc of catechol, with good reversibility, reach 83.9% and 3.67, respectively. Our results showed that dual-mode detection with the IDRA microelectrode was capable of achieving lower detection limits than single-mode detection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Subnanoliter volume wall-jet cells combined with interdigitated microarray electrode and enzyme modified planar microelectrode

Miniaturized wall-jet type flow cells with an active volume of 0.042-15 nL were fabricated for use as highly sensitive electrochemical detectors for capillary electrophoresis/electrochemical detection and small on-line enzyme sensors. The cells consisted of three glass plates and a fused-silica capillary. Two of the plates had microfabricated flow channels and guide trenches for the capillary and working, reference, and counter electrodes. The other plate had a film electrode. When an interdigitated microarray electrode (total area, 66 microm x 64 microm; bandwidth and gap, 2 microm) was installed in the flow cell, the redox cycling enhanced the current at flow rates of less than 100 nL/min even though there were only eight pairs of microbands. A sharp dopamine peak enhanced by the redox cycling was observed when the cell was used for capillary electrophoresis. A square film electrode modified with glutamate oxidase and Os-poly(vinylpyridine) containing HRP was also installed in the flow cell and used to measure neurotransmitter release from cultured nerve cells. When the flow rate was relatively high, the response time of the modified electrode was comparable to that of a cylindrical carbon fiber electrode (33 microm o.d.) modified with the same enzyme and mediator. We observed a transient cathodic current response assigned to the glutamate release with the electrode in the flow cell in a suction mode measurement when we stimulated cultured nerve cells electrically with a dual microelectrode.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A new apoptotic pathway for the complement factor B-derived fragment Bb.

Apoptosis is involved in both the cellular and humoral immune system destroying tumors. An apoptosis-inducing factor from HL-60 myeloid leukemia cells was obtained, purified, and sequenced. The protein found has been identified as a human complement factor B-derived fragment Bb, although it is known that factor B is able to induce apoptosis in several leukemia cell lines. Monoclonal antibodies against fragment Ba and Bb inhibited the apoptotic activity of factor B. When the purified fragment Bb was used for apoptosis induction, only the anti-Bb antibody inhibited Bb-induced apoptosis, and not the anti-Ba antibody. The apoptosis-inducing activity was found to be enhanced under conditions facilitating the formation of Bb. Blocking TNF/TNFR or FasL/Fas interactions did not interfere with the factor B-induced apoptosis. CD11c (iC3bR) acts as the main subunit of a heterodimer binding to fragment Bb in the apoptosis pathway, and the factor B-derived fragment Bb was found to possess the previously unknown function of inducing apoptosis in leukemic cells through a suicide mechanism of myeloid lineage cells during the differentiation stage.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of fas ligand gene mutation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association of a Fas ligand (FasL) gene mutation(s) or polymorphism(s) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: For amplification of the introns of the FasL gene, long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using exon-based primers was utilized, followed by partial sequencing to construct exon-specific oligonucleotide primers for the analyses of FasL genomic DNA in SLE patients. Structural defects were studied by use of a composite analysis of reverse transcriptase-PCR/single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts of the FasL gene in 35 SLE patients and PCR/SSCP analysis of FasL genomic DNA in 143 SLE patients. RESULTS: The sizes of the introns were approximately 0.6 kb for intron 1, 4.3 kb for intron 2, and 1.3 kb for intron 3. By SSCP analysis, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms in the FasL mRNA transcripts or in any of the 4 exons or areas of the introns adjacent to the exons. CONCLUSION: Using the same methods used in the present studies (PCR/SSCP), one group of investigators identified a structural defect of the FasL molecule in 1 of 75 SLE patients evaluated. Among the 143 SLE patients in the present study, however, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms of the FasL gene. Our results suggest that a FasL defect is not the major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of SLE.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗
PubMed2000

Effect of soy protein on bone metabolism in postmenopausal Japanese women.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of the effects of soybean protein intake on bone mineral density and biochemical markers in 85 postmenopausal Japanese women. Nutrients in the diet of postmenopausal Japanese women visiting the osteoporosis unit, including subjects with normal lumbar spine bone mineral density (L2-4 BMD), were investigated by questionnaire, and the calculated daily energy, protein, soy protein and calcium intake were obtained. L2-4 BMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and assays done of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum intact osteocalcin (IOC) as bone formation markers and urinary pyridinoline (UPYR) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (UDPYR) as bone resorption markers. Soy protein intake was significantly associated with the Z-score for L2-4 BMD (r = 0.23,p = 0.038) and UDPYR (r = -0.23, p = 0.034). Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that soy protein intake is significantly associated with the Z-score for L2-4 BMD (beta = 0.225, p = 0.04) and UDPYR (beta = -0.08, p = 0.03) among four nutritional factors. These results suggest that high soy protein intake is associated with a higher bone mineral density and a lower level of bone resorption, but further studies are needed to confirm the causal dynamic mechanisms.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2000

Partial purification and characterization of thermostable acid phosphatase from thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

Thermostable acid phosphatase (APase) from thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius was isolated, partially purified, and characterized. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme for p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) as a substrate were 5.0 and 70 degrees C, respectively. The apparent K(m) value was 1.9 mM. This APase showed a native molecular mass of 20 kDa on a gel filtration chromatography. Of the APase activity, 60% remained after 60 min of heat treatment at 75 degrees C. To confirm whether the APase is active in the monomeric form, we attempted to elute the enzyme from SDS-polyacrylamide gels with Disk electrophoresis apparatus and renature the enzyme. The APase activity was recovered up to 50% in the 14- to 35-kDa range, and maximum around 25 kDa. These results suggest that this APase is monomeric protein.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2000

Phylogenetic analysis of archaeal PCNA homologues.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an essential component of the DNA replication and repair machinery in the domain Eucarya. Eukaryotes and euryarchaeotes, which belong to one subdomain of Archaea, possess a single PCNA homologue, whereas two distinct PCNA homologues have been identified from Sulfolobus solfataricus, which belongs to the other archaeal subdomain, Crenarchaeota. We have cloned and sequenced two genes of PCNA homologues from the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis. These genes, referred to as the Soh PCNA A gene and the Soh PCNA B gene, were found to encode 245 amino acids (aa) (27kDa) and 248 aa (27kDa), respectively. In deduced amino acid sequences of both PCNA homologues, the motif L/I-A-P-K/R, implicated in binding of PCNA with replication factor C (RFC), was identified. Phylogenetic analysis of all available archaeal PCNA homologues suggests that crenarchaeal homologues are divided into two groups. Group A consists of Soh PCNA A, one of the S. solfataricus PCNA homologues, and one of the Aeropyrum pernix PCNA homologues. The other crenarchaeal homologues form group B. Crenarchaeal PCNA homologues constitute a monophyletic subfamily. These results suggest that the evolution of crenarchaeal PCNA homologues has been characterized by one or two gene duplication events, which are assumed to have occurred after the split of the crenarchaeal and euryarchaeal lineages.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Anticentromere antibody as a risk factor for cancer in patients with systemic sclerosis.

This study has estimated the cancer risk among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using a population-based analysis. Using the inpatient and outpatient registries for patients at Kyushu University Hospital between 1982 and 1996, standardised incidence rates (SIRs) (ratio of observed-to-expected cancers) were calculated in 43 patients with SSc, 24 patients with polymyositis (PM) and 17 patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Risk factors predisposing to cancers were also investigated in the SSc patients. Compared with the Japanese general population, the SIR for developing cancer in SSc patients was 5.1 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-10.8), while the SIRs for cancer in the PM and DM groups were 4.7 (95% CI, 1.5-10.3) and 61.2 (95% CI, 46.8-77.6), respectively. A statistically significant risk factor for cancers in the SSc patients was positivity for anticentromere antibody (ACA) (p<0.05), while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration, serum gamma-globulin concentration, titre of antinuclear antibody and positivity for antitopoisomerase I antibody were not associated with cancer in SSc. Our population-based study confirms the increased risk of cancer among patients with SSc in Japan and provides new evidence that positivity for ACA should be considered as a risk factor for cancer in future monitoring of patients.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2000

The pathobiologic implications for treatment. Old and new strategies in the treatment of chronic asthma.

An increased understanding of the pathobiology of asthma has led to improved treatment for chronic asthma. This article discusses the old and new strategies of asthma therapy based on a pathobiologic approach. Therapeutic agents discussed include beta-adrenergic agonists, methylxanthines, corticosteroids, cromolyn, nedocromil, leukotriene modifiers, and new investigational agents.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗