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Biomedical subjects

T Kajiwara

Publications and source records attributed to T Kajiwara.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Cucumber cotyledon lipoxygenase during postgerminative growth. Its expression and action on lipid bodies.

In cucumber (Cucumis sativus), high lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1) activity has been detected in the soluble fraction prepared from cotyledons of germinating seeds, and the involvement of this enzyme in lipid turnover has been suggested (K. Matsui, M. Irie, T. Kajiwara, A. Hatanaka [1992] Plant Sci 85: 23-32; I. Fuessner, C. Wasternack, H. Kindl, H. Kühn [1995] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 11849-11853). In this study we have investigated the expression of the gene lox-1, corresponding to the LOX-1 enzyme. LOX-1 expression is highly coordinated with that of a typical glyoxysomal enzyme, isocitrate lyase, during the postgerminative stage of cotyledon development. In contrast, although icl transcripts accumulated in tissue during in vitro senescence, no accumulation of lox-1 mRNA could be observed, suggesting that lox-1 plays a specialized role in fat mobilization. LOX-1 is also known to be a major lipid body protein. The partial peptide sequences of purified LOX-1 and lipid body LOX-1 entirely coincided with that deduced from the lox-1 cDNA sequence. The data strongly suggest that LOX-1 and lipid body LOX-1 are derived from a single gene and that LOX-1 can exist both in the cytosol and on the lipid bodies. We constructed an in vitro oxygenation system to address the mechanism of this dual localization and to investigate the action of LOX-1 on lipids in the lipid bodies. LOX-1 cannot act on the lipids in intact lipid bodies, although degradation of lipid body proteins, either during seedling growth or by treatment with trypsin, allows lipid bodies to become susceptible to LOX-1. We discuss the role of LOX-1 in fat mobilization and its mechanism of action.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Contribution of lumbrical muscle activity to the paradoxical extension phenomenon induced by injuries to the finger flexor tendons.

The "Extensor habitus" phenomenon occurs in finger flexor tendon injuries and consists of a paradoxical extension of the interphalangeal joints after an attempt to flex the finger. The mechanism of extension is considered to be a contraction of the flexor digitorum profundus that is then transmitted via the lumbrical muscle structure to the extensor expansion. Using electromyography, we recorded the lumbrical muscle activity during the paradoxical extension phenomenon to determine whether the lumbrical muscle contributed to this event. Two patterns of electromyographical activity of the lumbrical muscle were observed. Group I (6 fingers) displayed electrical activities in the lumbrical muscle during flexion tasks, while group II (12 fingers) did not. In group I, the lesions were mainly located in zone V, and the response to range of motion exercises was satisfactory. In group II, nearly all of the lesion were located in zone II, and half of the cases required additional surgical interventions. Group II appeared to exhibit the "Extensor habitus" phenomenon, while group I exhibited an "Extensor habitus-like phenomenon." To distinguish between these two phenomena, an electromyographical examination of the lumbrical muscle must be performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[A case of esophageal cancer with excellent response to oral UFT treatment].

The patient was an 83-year-old Japanese male with the chief complaint of difficulty in swallowing. On Feb. 24, 1997, he was referred to our hospital under suspicion of esophageal cancer. X-P revealed an image of a protrusion at Im-Iu having a long diameter of 6 cm. Endoscopy revealed that the esophageal lumen was nearly completely obstructed due to the presence of an irregularly-shaped tumor. The pathological finding of biopsized specimen was a squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, this case was diagnosed as esophageal cancer, but surgery was deemed inappropriate due to the patient's advanced age. Accordingly, on March 12, treatment was started with oral administration of UFT-E granules (Tegafur, 450 mg/day). Initially, the patient was unable to ingest even liquids, but beginning around May the blockage of the esophagus disappeared. Endoscopic examination performed in June revealed that the tumor had shrunk to a about 1 cm in diameter. Although tumor tissue remained, the tumor was observed to have undergone further reduction in size at 6 months after the start of chemotherapy. Moreover, the patient gained weight. This is considered to be a very rare case of an excellent response of esophageal cancer to oral administration of only UFT agents.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

[A case of recurrent colon cancer with complete response to modulation chemotherapy using low-dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil].

We experienced a case of lymph node recurrence from colon cancer with complete response to modulation chemotherapy using low-dose leucovorin and 5-FU. The patient was a 68-year-old male. He underwent sigmoid colon resection for sigmoid colon cancer in October 1993. In June 1994, he complained of left lower abdominal pain. Swelling of retroperitoneal lymph node was detected by CT scan and cytology revealed cancer cells in urine. He was diagnosed as having lymph node recurrence. He then was given modulation chemotherapy of 30 mg of leucovorin and 500 mg of 5-FU that were bolus injected intravenously for 5 days. After 2 cycles of this regimen, the recurrent mass disappeared completely for further examination. Until May 1998, he had received 14 cycles. Since this regimen started, his survival period has been 46 months, and his response duration 42 months.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Acinic Cell Adenocarcinoma Arising in the Breast of a Young Male: A Clinicopathological, Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Study.

A 23-year-old man with acinic cell adenocarcinoma of the breast is reported. He presented with a 4.8 x 4.2 cm mass in his left breast, and excisional biopsy was performed. Under the light microscope, tumor cells had abundant periodic acid-Schiff-positive secretory granules and eosinophlic cytoplasms. Electron microscopy revealed the granules to have various electron densities, a finding characteristic of acinic cell adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were stained with salivary-type amylase. Electron microscpic and immunohistochemical investigation greatly facilitated the diagnosis of this acinic cell adenocarcinoma, which was in an unusual location. We believe this is the first case report of acinic cell adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland studied utilizing light microscopic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical techniques.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Asynergy of the noninfarcted left ventricular inferior wall in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction secondary to isolated occlusion of the left anterior descending artery.

There are patients in whom left ventricular (LV) wall motion decreases in the noninfarcted region and LV systolic function declines globally despite the presence of a localized myocardial infarct attributable to narrowing or occlusion of a single coronary artery. This study examines angiographic characteristics of patients with chronic hypokinesia of noninfarcted myocardium after anterior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to narrowing of a single coronary artery, namely, the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The LV ejection fraction, abnormalities in the motion of the noninfarcted LV inferior wall (SD/chord value by Sheehan's technique), the angiographic characteristics of the infarct-related coronary artery, the effect of acute reperfusion therapy, and presence of coronary risk factors were examined in 85 consecutive patients. The SD/chord value in the noninfarcted region showed a positive correlation with the LV ejection fraction (r = 0.505, p <0.0001). By multivariate analysis, hypertension (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36 to 0.80), an infarct-related narrowing proximal to the origin of the first diagonal branch (odds ratio = 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.84), and patency of the infarct-related lesion during AMI (odds ratio = 1.56, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.30) were independent predictors of wall motion in the noninfarct region. In some patients with single-vessel anterior wall AMI, the motion of the noninfarcted inferior LV wall decreases during the chronic stage and cardiac function declines severely. In most of these patients, the infarct-related narrowing or occlusion is proximal to the origin of the first diagonal branch of the LAD artery.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Cucumber root lipoxygenase can act on acyl groups in phosphatidylcholine.

A cDNA encoding cucumber root lipoxygenase was isolated and expressed in E. coli. The enzyme showed highest activity at pH 5.5 when alpha-linolenic acid dispersed with Tween 20 was used as a substrate but showed little activity at above pH 8.0. On the contrary, it showed the highest activity at pH 9.0 with trilinolenin emulsified with gum arabic. When the assay was performed with linolenic acid dispersed with different concentrations of Tween 20, little activity which could be seen up to the reaction solution became turbid as the linolenic acid/Tween 20 ratio increased, while the activity rapidly emerged afterward. The enzyme could also act on phosphatidylcholine, although the activity was strongly modified by freeze-thaw and sonication treatment on the lipid vesicles. Addition of deoxycholic acid to the phospholipid vesicles drastically enhanced the activity. Addition of free fatty acid was also revealed to be effective to enhance the activity. In the latter case, myristic acid exerted highest activity. Oleic acid enhanced the activity more highly than palmitic acid did. These lines of evidence suggested that the lipoxygenase strictly recognized a specific physical state of the phospholipid substrate in the reaction mixture. The enzyme was irreversibly inactivated as the reaction proceeded, however, the rate of the inactivation was much influenced by the additives. Furthermore, stoichiometry between consumed oxygen and formed conjugated diene could not be observed. (c) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

High proportion of missense mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Japanese breast cancer families.

Mutations in either of two recently identified genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are thought to be responsible for approximately two-thirds of all cases of autosomal-dominantly inherited breast cancer. To examine the nature and frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in Japanese families exhibiting a high incidence of breast cancer, we screened 78 unrelated families in this category for mutations of these two genes. Examining the entire coding sequences as well as exon-intron boundaries of both genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and multiplex-SSCP analysis, we identified possible disease-causing alterations in BRCA1 among affected members of 15 families and in BRCA2 in another 14 families. In 15 of those 29 families, the affected individuals carried missense mutations, although most germline mutations reported worldwide have been deletions or nonsense mutations. Our results, indicating that missense mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 tend to predominate over frameshifts or nonsense mutations in Japanese breast cancer families, will contribute significantly to an understanding of mammary tumorigenesis in Japan, and will be of vital importance for future genetic testing.

BRCA2 Protein↗
PubMed1998

ST-segment elevation in right precordial leads implies depressed right ventricular function after acute inferior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute inferior myocardial infarction is worse when it is complicated by right ventricular infarction. ST elevation in the right precordial leads is one of the reliable methods for detecting acute right ventricular infarction. The purpose of the study was to examine the relation between ST elevation in the right precordial electrocardiographic leads during acute inferior infarction and the severity of right ventricular systolic dysfunction. METHODS: This study analyzed the relation between ST elevation > or = 0.1 mV in V4R and the severity of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in 43 consecutive patients (men/women: 35/8; average age 62+/-9 years) with acute inferior myocardial infarction with a rapid-response Swan-Ganz catheter to measure the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). RESULTS: RVEF was significantly lower in patients with ST elevation (n = 18) than in those without (n = 25) (33%+/-6% vs 40%+/-9%, p = 0.010). If the infarct-related lesion was located in the proximal right coronary artery, RVEF tended to be lower than if the lesion was located in the distal right coronary artery or the left circumflex coronary artery (33%+/-10% vs 37%+/-9% vs 42%+/-9%, p = 0.101). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ST elevation in V4R was the only independent predictor of depressed RVEF (odds ratio = 5.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.28 to 22.1, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: ST elevation in lead V4R during acute inferior myocardial infarction predicts right ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Phase I study of TAT-59 (a new antiestrogen) in breast cancer. TAT-59 Study Group].

Phase I study of TAT-59 (Miproxifen), an antiestrogen developed in Japan for breast cancer, was conducted with the collaboration of 12 hospitals. A single dose of 1.25, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg, or 5 consecutive daily doses of 1.25, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/day, were given orally. After single dosing, no clinical adverse effects were found. Decrease of serum Na, Cl, Ca level and increase of serum LDH level were observed in one patient after a single dose of 5 mg of TAT. An increase in the serum LDH level was also observed in one patient after a single dose in the of 10 mg of TAT. An increase in the serum LDH level and total bilirubin, increase of eosinophil, K and milky serum were also observed in one patient after a single dose of 40 mg of TAT, respectively. All of these abnormal values returned to the normal level within 26 days after final administration of TAT. No adverse clinical findings nor abnormal laboratory findings were observed after consecutive administration of TAT. After postprandial single dosing, the time to reach the maximum serum concentration (Tmax) of DP-TAT, dephosphorylated metabolite of TAT, and its demethylated metabolite, DMDP, ranged from 5.0 to 7.3 hr and from 17.0 to 42.8 hr, respectively. The maximum serum concentration (Cmax) and AUC of DP and DMDP elevated in a dose-dependent manner. T1/2 of DP and DMDP ranged from 24.2 to 41.5, and from 91.9 to 214.7 hr, respectively. There were no significant differences between pharmacokinetics of TAT before and after food intake. Based on the above results, we concluded that a Phase II study should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and optimal dose of TAT.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

[Relationship between telomerase activity and clinicopathological findings in gastric cancer].

In recent, telomerase has been drawing the attention, because it plays important role in cell immortalization. Since Kim et al exploited TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay which detected telomerase activity efficiently, telomerase activity of various tissues have been detected. In this study, telomerase activity of gastric cancer of resected or biopsy specimen were detected. And we have examined relationship between telomerase activity and clinicopathological factors. In advanced cancer, telomerase activity is negative in 2 cases and positive in 17 cases. In case with lymph node metastasis, negative in 3 cases and positive in 14 cases. In differentiated type, negative 1 cases and positive 20 cases. In noncancerous gastric mucosa, telomerase activity is positive in only 2 cases of 9 cases with intestinal metaplasia. Previous results were same in biopsy specimen. In summary, telomerase activity was detected in 76.7% of gastric cancer and most of advanced cancer or differentiated type. Some intestinal metaplasia cases with telomerase activity suggested precancerous stage.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

[Detection of telomerase activity in intestinal lavage solution from colorectal carcinoma patients].

In terms of colorectal carcinoma, the fecal occult blood test is widely used for mass survey, but has many complicated problems to be overcome. Telomerase activity has been reported in a wide range of malignancies. We have examined telomerase activity of intestinal lavage solution collected from 16 colorectal carcinoma patients and from 10 volunteers (control) by the method of telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Patients drunk polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS) before examination. Sample solutions were collected by colonoscope at the beginning of colonoscopy. The telomerase activity from colorectal carcinoma patients were positive 9/16 (56.3%) including 2 cases of early stage. In volunteers, were positive 1/10 (10.0%). This method has, therefore, possibility for a new useful method of diagnosis for colorectal carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Th2-like response and antitumor effect of anti-interleukin-4 mAb in mice bearing renal cell carcinoma.

Tumor regression in experimental systems has been linked to the activities of Th1 cells. It is, therefore, conceivable that Th2 cells interrupt the expression of tumor immunity since interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 inhibit the generation of Th1 from precursors and modulate the competence of antigen-presenting cells to activate this lymphocyte subpopulation. Naive murine renal cell carcinoma (renca) cells (1 x 10(5)) were implanted into the subcapsule of the left kidney of Balb/c and Balb/c nude mice at 6-8 weeks of age. After 14 days, Th2 cytokine (IL-4 and IL-10) mRNAs as well as transforming growth factor beta1 mRNA, assessed by reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction were upregulated in the spleen of hosts upon naive renca tumor acceptance, while Th1 cytokine (IL-2 and interferon gamma) mRNAs were almost undetectable. In the renca tumor, IL-10 mRNA was detected but IL-2, interferon gamma, and IL-4 were not. Intraperitoneal administration of anti-(mouse IL-4) mAb (11B11) reduced the renca tumor size (P = 0.018) and prolonged host survival (P = 0.03), but did not reduce the acceptance rate of the tumor (P = 0.18). However, prior depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ cells with monoclonal antibodies abrogated the antitumor effects of anti-IL-4 mAb. In addition, the significant antitumor effect of anti-IL-4 mAb was not observed in Balb/c nude hosts. Renca cells were transfected with the mammalian expression vector pCAGGS containing murine IL-4 cDNA or vector alone, then stable IL-4 transfectants (RencaL or RencaH, low- or high-IL-4-producing respectively) and control renca cells (RencaC) were obtained. RencaL cells, RencaH cells, or RencaC cells (1 x 10(5) each) were implanted into the subcapsule of the left kidney of Balb/c, Balb/c nude, and allogenic C3H/HeJ mice, then tumor formation was evaluated 14 days later. When RencaH cells were innoculated into syngeneic Balb/c hosts, tumor volume was marginally suppressed (P = 0.03) and tumors tended to be rejected (P = 0.06) compared with RencaC cells. However, those effects were not observed in Balb/c nude mice. RencaC, RencaL, and RencaH cells were not accepted by allogeneic C3H mice with or without FK506 administration or donor-specific transfusion. The administration of anti-(mouse IL-4) mAb to Balb/c mice significantly suppressed renca tumor growth by a CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell-dependent mechanism. By contrast, relatively high levels of IL-4 production by renca cells and T cells seemed to be required to induce the rejection and growth suppression of IL-4-producing renca cells in syngeneic hosts.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of the tumor staining obtained by preoperative IV-DSA for breast cancer patients: density and metastasis correlation.

We examined the density of tumor enhancement on intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA) in patients with breast cancer in relation to disease-free survival. The subjects of the present study consisted of 103 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma measuring 5 cm or less treated from July 1988 to September 1993. In the 103 patients, 15 had distant metastasis. The region of interest was set in the areas enhanced by IV-DSA of the breast. The maximum density (MAX) was calculated by the time-density curve. When the patients were divided according to three classes of MAX, i.e., 0-5.0 pixels (group A, n = 23), 5.1-9.0 pixels (group B, n = 50), 9.1 pixels or more (group C, n = 30), disease-free survival was highest in group A followed by group B and C, respectively. The disease-free survival rate in group C was significantly lower than that of group A or B (p < 0.05). Thus, high values of MAX were associated with low rates of disease-free survival. Since the value of MAX was found to be independent from other prognostic factors by multivariate analysis, these results indicate that MAX has a close correlation with metastasis or recurrence of breast cancer, making IV-DSA a promising prognostic factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

MIB1-determined proliferative activity in intraductal components and prognosis of invasive ductal breast carcinoma.

Intraductal components of breast carcinoma may have prognostic significance. In this study, we divided 181 invasive ductal breast carcinomas into comedo and non-comedo groups based on intraductal component morphology, and differences between the two groups in clinicopathological variables, including proliferative activity and survival, were assessed. Proliferative activity was evaluated by using MIB1 antibody, which reacts with the cell-proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen, and was expressed as the number of MIB1-positive nuclei per 1000 cancer cells in intraductal components (MIB1 labeling index). We also investigated which variables had an impact on survival. The comedo group showed a significantly higher MIB1 labeling index than the non-comedo group (P < 0.0001). The differences in disease-free and overall survival between the two groups were not significant (P = 0.2477, P = 0.2069). Multivariate analysis of the entire series showed the MIB1 labeling index to be an independent prognostic factor predicting both disease-free survival and overall survival (P = 0.0160, P = 0.0035). When multivariate analysis was repeated separately for the non-comedo and comedo groups, the MIB1 labeling index remained the most important variable predicting disease-free and overall survival in the non-comedo group (P = 0.0122, P = 0.0040). Moreover, non-comedo patients with a high MIB1 labeling index had significantly shorter disease-free and overall survival than those with a low MIB1 labeling index (P = 0.0040, P = 0.0402). These findings imply that MIB1-determined proliferative activity of intraductal components is an independent predictor of survival, and is the most important predictor in non-comedo cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Changes of lipoxygenase and fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase activities in bell pepper fruits during maturation.

Developmental changes in fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPO lyase) and lipoxygenase (LOX) during the maturation of bell pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Kyonami) were examined by means of activity measurements, immunological detection of both the enzymes, and analysis of the volatile compounds formed upon homogenization of the fruits. Both the enzyme activities decreased with maturation, and immunological studies showed that the amounts of the enzymes concomitantly decreased. The amounts of six-carbon aldehydes and alcohols formed from bell pepper fruits upon homogenization also decreased during maturation, and with the fully ripened red fruits, these volatile compounds were hardly detectable. These results suggest that the major factor contributing to the changes in the composition of volatile compounds during the maturation of bell pepper fruits was changes in the amounts of HPO lyase and LOX.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1997

[The clinical study of radical cystectomy for lymph node positive bladder cancer].

BACKGROUND: The impact of pelvic lymph node dissection on the survival of patients with lymph node positive bladder cancer is controversial. We analyzed the records of the bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystectomy. METHODS: Between 1976 and 1993, 84 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were treated with radical cystectomy at Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome General Hospital. Sixteen patients (19.0%) had pathologically proved nodal metastases. These patients' records were reviewed with regard to pathological status, and the outcome compared with negative lymph node patients. The two patients with pN3, which we could not completely undergo lymph node dissection of, were excluded from the analyses for recurrence and survival. RESULTS: There were 10 males and 6 females, aged between 47 and 83 with a mean of 68.3 years. There were significant differences between the patients with positive lymph node and negative in the rate of grade 3 and the rate of infiltration of cancer to the vein and lymphatics of the bladder walls. The frequency of the patients of positive lymph node was 5.3% in pT1, 10.0% in pT2, 28.6% in pT3a, 32.0% in pT3b, 50.0% in pT4, and none in pTis, pTa and pT4is. The five-year survival rates estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method were 68.6% over all 82 patients, 75.7% for the patients with negative lymph node and 30.7% for positive. Of the patients with positive lymph node, two-year survival was 80.0% for pT2-3a, versus 0% for pT3b-4. This difference was highly significant (p < 0.01). But survival analysis for pT2-3a showed no significant difference between the lymph node negative patients and positive. The recurrence rate was 57.1% (8 of 14) in patients with positive lymph node and seven patients suffered from distant metastases. All the patients which had recurrent tumors died by bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: Radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection can provide favorable outcome in lymph node positive patients with low stage (pT2-3a). But the patients with high stage (> or = pT3b) were poor prognosis. Most of the patients died by distant metastases.

Aged↗