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Biomedical subjects

T Ishiguro

Publications and source records attributed to T Ishiguro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Urethral transitional cell carcinoma in a cat.

A 15-year-old, male neutered cat was referred for investigation of dysuria. A retrograde urethrography was performed which showed two space-occupying masses within the lumen of the mid-to-proximal urethra. Exploratory coeliotomy revealed two urethral masses. Segmental urethrectomy was performed to resect the mass, and the lower urinary tract was reconstructed by vesico-urethral anastomosis. Histopathology showed the mass to be a transitional cell carcinoma with incomplete surgical margins. Tumour regrowth was suspected when dysuria was found approximately 318 days after surgery. Clinical signs were palliated by radiation using weekly fractions of 6 Gy for three weeks. The cat died of unknown causes 386 days postoperatively.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Biological properties of allogenic articular chondrocytes on the surface of bovine cartilage explants in vitro.

Bovine cartilage explants were co-cultured with or without allogenic chondrocytes for 4 weeks. The attachment of the applied chondrocytes to cartilage after labelling with fluorescence was assessed using a confocal laser microscope. Morphological changes and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) of co-cultured chondrocytes on intact and damaged surfaces of cartilage were evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Co-cultured chondrocytes attached to and proliferated on the intact and damaged areas of cartilage, and a new layer was created there. The defects were also filled with ECM produced by the co-cultured chondrocytes. Glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II were detected in the newly formed ECM, and large numbers of rounded chondrocytes were observed at primitive lacunae in this matrix at 4 weeks of culture. The results suggest that chondrocytes have the ability to attach to, to proliferate on and to establish a new matrix on the intact and damaged surfaces of cartilage explants.

Animals↗

Universal heat transport in Sr2RuO4.

We present the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity kappa(T) of the unconventional superconductor Sr2RuO4 down to low temperatures ( approximately 100 mK). In the T-->0 K limit we found a finite residual term in kappa/T, providing clear evidence for the superconducting state with an unconventional pairing. The residual term remains unchanged for samples with different T(c), demonstrating the universal character of heat transport in this spin-triplet superconductor. The low-temperature behavior of kappa suggests the strong impurity scattering with a phase shift close to pi/2. A criterion for the observation of universality is experimentally deduced.

Journal Article↗

Simultaneous dissection of intra- and extracranial vertebral artery. Report of two cases and review of literature.

Two patients who developed subarachnoid haemorrhage are presented. The first patient was a 41-year-old woman whose angiograms showed right extracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissection starting at the C2 level extending to the intracranial VA near the VA union. Proximal occlusion of the right VA by the endovascular approach was performed. The second patient was a 57-year-old man whose angiograms showed the left intracranial VA dissection distal to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and an extracranial aneurysmal dilatation of the left VA at the C1 level and extracranial VA dissection in the V3 portion of the right VA. Left intracranial VA dissection was surgically trapped, and the remaining lesions were conservatively treated. Simultaneous dissection of the intracranial and extracranial portions of the VA is rare. Such lesions usually cause brain ischaemia, but may cause intracranial subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Adult↗

Transfemoral, transvenous embolisation of dural arteriovenous fistula involving the isolated transverse-sigmoid sinus from the contralateral side.

BACKGROUND: A dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the transverse-sigmoid (T-S) sinus which is occluded at its proximal and distal ends i.e., an isolated sinus, runs the risk of haemorrhaging or causing serious neurological deficits as a result of its retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage. While lesions of this type have not been considered to be treatable by percutaneous, transvenous embolisation, this paper challenges this view. CASE PRESENTATION: Two middle-aged men with dural AVFs involving the isolated left T-S sinus presented with motor aphasia due to focal brain edema or haemorrhage. Under local anaesthesia, transfemoral, transvenous embolisation was performed with a microcatheter that was passed through the occluded proximal transverse sinus from the right (contralateral) side. The isolated sinus was then occluded with platinum coils. This embolisation resulted in angiographic and clinical cure of dural AVFs in both patients. INTERPRETATION: Transfemoral, transvenous embolisation is a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of dural AVFs involving the isolated T-S sinus. Embolisation obviates the need for craniotomy and general anaesthesia, which are required for the established modes of treatment, i.e., direct surgery or direct percutaneous sinus packing.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

Successful liquid storage of peripheral blood stem cells at subzero non-freezing temperature.

Although non-frozen storage of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) has been extensively studied and utilized clinically, the optimal storage conditions have not been determined. In order to improve the maintenance of clonogenic capacity during storage, we evaluated the feasibility of subzero non-freezing preservation of PBSC and attempted to determine the optimal conditions. Human PBSC were stored in different non-cryopreserved conditions. University of Wisconsin (UW) solution was used as the storage medium for PBSC. The stem cell integrity was optimally maintained when PBSC were preserved in a supercooled state at -2 degrees C in UW solution without any cryoprotectants, and the highest values for nucleated cell survival (91.6%), CFU-GM survival (67.3%) and trypan blue viability (92%) were achieved at 72 h. CFU-GM survival in our storage conditions was significantly better than the survival achieved with hypothermic preservation in autologous serum and ACD-A solution at 4 degrees C (67.3 +/- 9.2% vs 42.9 +/- 15.3%; P < 0.01) or cryopreservation at -80 degrees C (67.3 +/- 9.2% vs 52.7 +/- 10.7%; P < 0.01). Thus, the combination of supercooling and UW solution was the optimal non-freezing method of preserving transplantable PBSC tested here. This method is of clinical utility in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for its simplicity and storage efficiency, and has value as a short-term storage method for PBSC to support dose-intensive multicyclic chemotherapy.

Blood Cells↗

Spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine-induced paranoid-hallucinatory states in female subjects: susceptibility to psychotic states and implications for relapse of schizophrenia.

In this study, we examined the relationship between increased sensitivity to stress associated with noradrenergic hyperactivity and dopaminergic changes, and susceptibility to subsequent spontaneous recurrences of methamphetamine (MAP) psychosis (i.e., flashbacks). The subjects were 81 physically healthy females. Plasma monoamine metabolite levels were assayed in: 19 flashbackers, of whom 11 experienced a single flashback and 8 exhibited subsequent flashbacks; 20 non-flashbackers with a history of MAP psychosis; 8 subjects with persistent MAP psychosis; and 23 MAP users and 11 non-user controls. All 19 flashbackers had undergone frightening and stressful experiences during previous MAP use. Mild psychosocial stressors then triggered their flashbacks. During flashbacks, plasma norepinephrine levels increased, with a small increase in plasma levels of 3-methoxytyramine, which is an index of dopamine release. Among the 19 flashbackers, the 8 with subsequent episodes had increased NE levels and slightly increased 3-methoxytyramine levels, while the 11 with a single episode displayed small increases in norepinephrine and 3-methoxytyramine levels. Thus, noradrenergic hyperactivity and increased dopamine release in response to mild psychosocial stressors may be responsible for the development of flashbacks. Robust noradrenergic hyperactivity with slightly increased DA release in response to mild stress may induce susceptibility to subsequent flashbacks. Flashbacks and schizophrenia may share the pathophysiology of susceptibility to recurrence of paranoid-hallucinatory states such as stress sensitization, and also noradrenergic hyperactivity and enhanced DA release. Thus, flashbacks may provide an appropriate model of susceptibility to paranoid-hallucinatory states of schizophrenia. The model psychosis is a potential tool for validating basic neurobiological concepts thought to be related to the schizophrenia. A better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of susceptibility to recurrence could provide useful information in the development of strategies for preventing relapse.

Adult↗

CD40 ligand promotes priming of fully potent antitumor CD4(+) T cells in draining lymph nodes in the presence of apoptotic tumor cells.

The presence or absence of CD4(+) T cell help can determine the direction of adaptive immune responses toward either cross-priming or cross-tolerance. It has been demonstrated that interactions of CD40-CD40 ligand can replace CD4(+) T cell help and enable dendritic cells to prime cytotoxic T cells. Here, we demonstrate that antitumor reactivity induced in regional lymph nodes (LNs) by s.c. injection of CD40 ligand (CD40L)-transduced tumor (MCA205 CD40L) showed far superior therapeutic efficacy against established brain tumors of a weakly immunogenic fibrosarcoma, MCA205, when adoptively transferred. Coinjection of apoptotic, but not necrotic parental tumor cells with CD40L-expressing tumor cells caused a strong synergistic induction of antitumor reactivity in tumor-draining LNs. Freshly isolated T cells from LNs immunized with apoptotic parental tumor cells and MCA205 CD40L were capable of mediating regression of the parental tumor in vivo. In contrast, T cells derived from LNs immunized without MCA205 CD40L required ex vivo anti-CD3/IL-2 activation to elicit therapeutic activity. On anti-CD3/IL-2 activation, cells from LNs immunized with MCA205 CD40L exhibited superior per cell antitumor reactivity. An in vitro depletion study revealed that either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells could mediate therapeutic efficacy but that the antitumor efficacy mediated by CD4(+) T cells was far superior. Cytosolic flow cytometric analyses indicated that priming of CD4(+) cells in LNs draining CD40L-expressing tumors was polarized to the Th1 type. This is the first report that fully potent antitumor CD4(+) T cell priming was promoted by s.c. injection of CD40L-transduced tumor in the presence of apoptotic tumor cells.

Animals↗

Susceptibility to subsequent episodes of spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine psychosis.

We examine susceptibility to subsequent spontaneous recurrences of methamphetamine psychosis (i.e. flashbacks) in 11 flashbackers with a single episode and in nine flashbackers with subsequent episodes. All had undergone frightening stressful experiences during previous MAP use. Mild psychosocial stressors then triggered flashbacks. During flashbacks, the nine flashbackers with subsequent episodes had more markedly increased norepinephrine levels, with slightly increased 3-methoxytyramine levels. The duration of imprisonment in this subgroup approached significantly long levels than in the 11 flashbackers with a single episode. Robust noradrenergic hyperactivity with slightly increased dopamine release may therefore predict subsequent flashbacks. Longer exposure to distressing situations may also contribute to robust noradrenergic hyperactivity.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Synthesis of branched cyclomaltooligosaccharide carboxylic acids (cyclodextrin carboxylic acids) by microbial oxidation.

Novel branched cyclomaltooligosaccharide carboxylic acid (cyclodextrin carboxylic acid) derivatives were synthesized by microbial oxidation using Pseudogluconobacter saccharoketogenes to oxidize five types of branched cyclodextrins, including maltosyl beta-cyclodextrin (maltosyl-beta-CyD). For each novel cyclodextrin carboxylic acid derivative synthesized, the hydroxymethyl group of the terminal glucose residue in the branched part of the molecule was regiospecifically oxidized to a carboxyl group to give the corresponding uronic acid. In addition, the physicochemical properties of cyclomaltoheptaosyl-(6-->1)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(4-->1)-alpha-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (GUG-beta-CyD) (1) and its sodium salt were studied more extensively, as these compounds are most likely to have a practical application.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Anisotropy of magnetothermal conductivity in Sr2RuO4.

The dependence of in-plane and interplane thermal conductivities of Sr2RuO4 on temperature, as well as magnetic field strength and orientation, is reported. We found no notable anisotropy in the thermal conductivity for the magnetic field rotation parallel to the conducting plane in the whole range of experimental temperatures and fields, except in the vicinity of the upper critical field H(c2), where the anisotropy of the H(c2) itself plays a dominant role. This finding imposes strong constraints on the possible models of superconductivity in Sr2RuO4 and supports the existence of a superconducting gap with a line of nodes running orthogonal to the Fermi surface cylinder.

Journal Article↗

Directly linked soluble IL-6 receptor-IL-6 fusion protein induces astrocyte differentiation from neuroepithelial cells via activation of STAT3.

Signals of interleukin 6 (IL-6) are transduced by binding of IL-6 to its cell surface receptor (IL-6R) and subsequent association of the resultant IL-6/IL-6R complex with gp130, the signal transducing receptor component utilized in common by all the IL-6 family of cytokines. A soluble form of IL-6R (sIL-6R), which lacks transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions, retains the ability to bind IL-6 and signal through gp130. We show here that a fusion protein of sIL-6R and IL-6 without a polypeptide linker, termed FP6, induces differentiation of astrocytes from fetal mouse neuroepithelial cells as potently as a representative IL-6 family cytokine, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). FP6 has a potential to activate a transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK1 and ERK2, in these cells as does LIF. FP6 activates a promoter of the gene for an astrocytic marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in neuroepithelial cells. This activation is virtually abolished by ectopic expression of a dominant-negative form of STAT3, or by introducing a point mutation into the STAT3 response element located in the GFAP promoter. These results suggest that FP6 induces astrocyte differentiation from neuroepithelial cells through STAT3 activation and that FP6 could be of use as a substitute for natural IL-6 family cytokines.

Animals↗

Angiosarcoma of the breast: report of a case and its findings of MRI.

A 67-year-old woman with angiosarcoma of the left breast is presented. Physical findings showed a hard mass in the left breast with skin discoloration and erythema. Mammography showed a high density shadow in the mass without microcalcification and spicula. On ultrasonography, a hypoechoic mass with an ill-defined boundary was detected. On MRI, the tumor had low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and higher signal intensity on T2-weighted images. MRI with Gd-DTPA images showed higher signal intensity on T1-weighted images with relatively lower intensity in the central area of the tumor. The artery supplying the tumor derived from the left inner thoracic artery and was visualized on three-dimensional dynamic MRI angiography. Initially misdiagnosed as inflammatory breast cancer, an arterial injection of CPA (100 mg) and 5-FU (500 mg) had been performed preoperatively. The definitive diagnosis of angiosarcoma was established by intraoperative frozen section examination. She underwent modified radical mastectomy and is now free of recurrence. This case emphasizes the difficulties in the clinical diagnosis of angiosarcoma of the breast.

Aged↗

Distal stump of an occluded intracranial vertebral artery at the vertebrobasilar junction mimicking a basilar artery aneurysm.

The distal stump of an occluded intracranial vertebral artery (VA) can mimic a basilar artery aneurysm of the vertebrobasilar junction. Their differentiation is crucial to establishing the appropriate treatment. We report two cases with occlusion of the distal stump of the VA due to atherosclerosis and arterial dissection. Magnetic resonance images with three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state sequences are useful in revealing the occluded segment as a continuous anatomical structure from the proximal VA to the basilar artery. This information may prevent unnecessary exploratory surgery for a suspected basilar artery aneurysm.

Adult↗

Role of macrophage scavenger receptors in response to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice.

Type I and type II macrophage scavenger receptors (SR-A I/II) recognize a variety of polyanions including bacterial cell-wall products such as lipopolysaccharide, suggesting a role for SR-A I/II in immunity against bacterial infection. SR-A I/II-deficient (MSR-A-/-) mice were more susceptible to infection with listeriolysin-O (LLO)-producing Listeria monocytogenes. After infection, Kupffer cells in wild-type (MSR-A+/+) mice phagocytized larger numbers of Listeria than those in MSR-A-/- mice. The number and the diameter of hepatic granulomas were larger in MSR-A-/- mice than MSR-A+/+ mice. L. monocytogenes replicated at higher levels in the liver of MSR-A-/- mice compared with MSR-A+/+ mice, and macrophages from MSR-A-/- mice showed impaired ability to kill Listeria in vitro. However, macrophages from MSR-A+/+ and MSR-A-/- mice showed similar levels of listericidal activity against isogenic mutant L. monocytogenes with an inactivated LLO gene. The listerial phagocytic activities of MSR-A+/+ macrophages treated with an anti-SR-A I/II antibody (2F8) and MSR-A-/- macrophages were significantly impaired compared with untreated MSR-A+/+ macrophages, indicating that SR-A I/II function as a receptor for L. monocytogenes. Electron microscopy revealed that most L. monocytogenes had been eliminated from the lysosomes of MSR-A+/+ macrophages in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, L. monocytogenes rapidly lysed the phagosomal membrane and escaped to the cytosol in MSR-A-/- macrophages and in MSR-A+/+ macrophages treated with 2F8 before phagosome-lysosome fusion. These findings imply that SR-A I/II plays a crucial role in host defense against listerial infection not only by functioning as a receptor but also by mediating listericidal mechanisms through the regulation of LLO-dependent listerial escape from the macrophages.

Animals↗

Enhanced signal transduction by a directly fused protein of interleukin-6 and its receptor.

In order to develop a new type of agonist for the interleukin 6 (IL-6) signal, the gene encoding a directly fused protein (DFP) was constructed by joining the N-terminal portion of IL-6 and the C-terminal (soluble) portion of IL-6R (sIL-6R) without using a flexible polypeptide linker. The biological activity if DFP from a recombinant Pichia pastoris was examined by growth stimulation of IL-6-dependent BAF130 cells expressing human gp130, a membrane receptor. The recombinant DFP exhibited a much stronger growth stimulation (10 times) than the independent IL-6 and sIL-6R (IL-6/sIL-6R), mainly because association of the IL-6 and IL-6R could be maintained even at lower concentrations of DFP. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis showed that DFP bound to the extracellular portion of gp130 in the biphasic mode, and the dissociation constants of DFP for two phases were the same as those of IL-6/sIL-6R. In cells treated with DFP, stimulation of Stat3 phosphorylation was maintained for a longer period (150 min) than in cells treated with IL6/Il-6R, suggesting that the signal mediated by the DFP was more durable than that mediated by IL-6/sIL-6R, although the signal transduction mechanisms are almost the same for both DFP and IL-6/IL-6R. Therefore, the stronger activity of DFP was attributed to the maintained association of its subunits and/or prolonged phosphorylation of Stat3.

Journal Article↗

Establishment and characterization of a new canine mast cell tumor cell line.

A new cell line (CoMS) was established from a 3-year-old male mongrel dog with mast cell tumor of the oral mucosa. CoMS cells grow in suspension with a doubling time of 27.0 +/- 0.7 hr. The cytoplasmic granules were formalin-sensitive, showed diverse appearances in their ultrastructural findings and contained heparin proteoglycan and neutral protease chymase. Calcium ionophore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A caused significant histamine release from CoMS cells, while compound 48/80 failed to release histamine. This cell line will make an available source for studies on canine mast cell tumors.

Animals↗