Biomedical subjects
T Katayama
Publications and source records attributed to T Katayama.
Phylogenetic position of Acoel turbellarians inferred from partial 18S rDNA sequences.
Primitive platyhelminths, especially Acoel turbellarians, are thought to be key to understanding the origin and evolution of metazoa. In order to infer their phylogenetic position within the phylum Platyhelminths, we determined and compared the complete nucleotide sequence of a region of about 750 base pairs in the central part of an 18S rDNA for ten turbellarians, including two species of the group Acoela, six species of the group Polycladida, and two species of the group Tricladida. The deduced phylogenetic tree suggests that the three groups examined form discrete and separate entities. In addition, the tree suggests an earlier emergence of the Acoel turbellarians than the other platyhelminths. This animal may not be derived by means of secondary reduction from advanced acoelomates but may be nearest to its metazoan ancestors.
The effect of prior transfusion history on blood donor anti-hepatitis C virus antibody.
In Japan, the major transfusion-associated disease is non-A, non-B hepatitis. We studied the relationship between transfusion history and blood donor antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV). The positive rate of antibodies to the HCV nonstructural protein (c100-3) depended on age and the time elapsed since transfusion. The anti-c100-3 ratio for subjects with transfusions made prior to 20 years ago was high. One quarter century ago, a change occurred in national blood policy from paid to non-paid voluntary donations. We also have studied the anti-HCV positive rate among donors with prior transfusion using a second generation HCV test kit which includes anti-HCV core antibody detection. The anti-HCV positive rate for the second generation test was higher than that for the anti-c100-3 test. Introduction of the second generation test is therefore more useful in screening than the anti-c100-3 test for blood programs.
[A case of metastatic urinary bladder tumor from colon carcinoma].
A 62-year-old female patient underwent an operation for a brain tumor. The pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was metastatic adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells. The primary lesion was found in the ascending colon. In addition, a non-papillary and pedunculated tumor was found on the right wall of the bladder on cystoscopy. Biopsy of the bladder tumor showed adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells, which was the same as the histologies of the colon and the brain tumors. Under the diagnosis of metastatic bladder tumor, transurethral resection of the tumor was performed. This is the first case of metastatic bladder carcinoma from the colon reported in Japan.
Experimental testicular ischaemia: time course of the effect on rat spermatogenesis.
Protection of the spermatogenic cells against anticancer drugs can be performed by temporarily interrupting testicular blood flow during drug administration. In our study we investigated the effect of ischaemia on spermatogenesis, using mature male Sprague-Dawley rats. Eight and 16 weeks after a 1 h period of left testicular ischaemia, left testicular weights significantly decreased compared with the controls (both, p < 0.05). The decreased testicular weights returned to almost normal values at 24 weeks. Sperm counts in the left cauda epididymis were significantly reduced 8, 16 and 24 weeks after ischaemia (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Sperm motility also decreased 8 and 16 weeks after the procedure (both, p < 0.01). These parameters returned to normal at 48 weeks. The diameter of seminiferous tubules in the left testis was diminished 8 and 16 weeks after testicular ischaemia, and increased tubular wall thickness on the left side was demonstrated 8 weeks after ischaemia (each, p < 0.05). No changes in the parameters at any interval after ischaemia were observed in the right testis. The serum levels of LH, FSH and testosterone showed no alteration throughout the experiment. The present study reveals that testicular damage induced by ischaemia up to 1 h is completely reversible and no contralateral orchiopathy is produced by this procedure.
[Clinical studies on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections].
We experienced 20 cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection from April 1991 to September 1992. Of them, 9 showed substantial morbidity and their clinical courses are herein reported. The clinical presentations of these cases were wound infection and enterocolitis. Although in 8 cases MRSA was eradicated in 14 to 160 days by effective antibiotics administration, one had a fatal outcome. All strains isolated showed similar drug-sensitivity pattern suggesting hospital infection. Sensitivity to vancomycin and arbekacin, however, remained high and these drugs were effective clinically. It should be stressed that treatment strategy of MRSA infection should consist of isolation of patients with MRSA from other patients, use of disposable equipment and products, and serious and continuing concerns of medical personal on communicability of MRSA.
[Strangulation of the penis by a metallic ring].
An 81-year-old male patient visited our hospital on November 13, 1992 for the treatment of penile edema that had been caused by a metallic ring which he placed for fun 4 days prior to the visit. He had placed the metallic ring on the base of the penis and subsequent penile edema made it impossible to remove the ring. He had no problem with urination. The ring was successfully removed with a metal-cutting tool. But 3 days later, infected penile ulceration occurred at the base of the penis and the necrotic tissue was resected. It took 25 days for the wound to heal. It is stressed that penile strangulation is a serious injury and prompt removal is necessary.
[Reexpansion pulmonary edema after removal of a huge localized mesothelioma].
A 70-year-old female with hypoglycemia was admitted to our hospital for progressive dyspnea. In chest X-ray film, a mass occupied two thirds of the left hemi-thorax followed by the right shift of the mediastinum. Thoracotomy revealed that a huge tumor grew from the left upper lobe and the diaphragm without invasion. The resected tumor was 2550 g in weight. Histological diagnosis was benign fibrous mesothelioma. A large amount of expectoration started soon after the resection of the tumor. Measurement of protein in tracheal fluid and serum revealed that the event resulted from the reexpansion of the left lung after the huge mass removal. The patient recovered from pulmonary edema followed by steroid administration and respiratory management. We consider that it is useful to measure the protein in tracheal fluid and serum for diagnosis of reexpansion pulmonary edema.
[A survey of the initial course of tuberculosis chemotherapy under compulsory hospitalization on the basis of the revised Tuberculosis Prevention Law--report of the 32nd C series of controlled trials of chemotherapy--Cooperative Study Unit of Chemotherapy of Tuberculosis of the National Sanatoria in Japan].
We studied 2247 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were hospitalized for the initial course of chemotherapy under the provision of the revised Tuberculosis Prevention Law issued by Japanese Ministry of Welfare. The results were as follows. 1) There were more males than females with a ratio of 2.6: 1. 2) There were two peaks in their ages, 20s and 60s. 3) The average admission periods were 5.2 +/- 2.7 months for men and 5.1 +/- 2.8 months for women. 4) The average compulsory admission periods were 6.8 +/- 2.5 months for men and 6.4 +/- 2.3 months for women, so that the actual admission periods were shorter in the majority of the patients. 5) The sputum cultures were converted negative in three months in about 80 percent of the patients who were smear and/or culture positive on admission. 6) The appearance rate of INH-resistant and RFP-resistant strains were 2% and 1.4% respectively. 7) Most of the death from tuberculosis was observed in the early stages of admission. 8) With regards to the cost, there seemed to be no difference whether treated under the new or the old provisions. 9) The newly approved extension of the admission periods for those who had complications such as diabetes mellitus or pneumoconiosis and those who had INH and/or RFP positive bacilli seemed to be appropriate.
Involvement of calcium-dependent cysteine protease in fibronectin-induced chemotactic migration of NIH-L13 fibroblasts.
Fibronectin (FN)-induced chemotactic migration of NIH-L13 fibroblasts was suppressed by the inhibitors of cysteine proteases, leupeptin (IC50 = 3 microM), and the epoxysuccinyl derivatives [E-64c (10 microM), SUT-8801 (45 microM), and SUT-8818 (28 microM)], but hardly by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (> 1 mM) and 1-tosyl-amido-2-phenylmethyl chloromethyl ketone (> 1 mM). E-64d, a membrane-permeant derivative of E-64c, was much more effective (IC50 = 4 microM) than E-64c in preventing the cell migration. Furthermore, the FN-induced cell migration was blocked partially with EGTA and was reversed by addition of Ca2+ ion. These results suggest that intracellular Ca(2+)-dependent cysteine proteases may be involved in the FN-induced chemotactic migration of NIH-L13 fibroblasts.
[Testing for heterogeneity in genetic polymorphism of N-acetylation using isoniazid by metameters--probit, logit, and arcsine transformation].
To investigate genetic polymorphism of N-acetylation in Japanese population we measured isoniazid (INH) and acetylisoniazid (AcINH) in the urine of 340 unrelated Japanese subjects. For the detection of polymorphism, we used probit analysis, logit analysis, and arcsine transformation of the logarithm of molar acetylation ratio (log (INH/AcINH)). The observed antimodes were -0.85 and -0.325 for the probit, 4.899 and 7.154 for the logit, 43.85 and 71.57 for the arcsine analysis plot. Probit and arcsine analysis were sensitive for the separation of intermediate from slow acetylators, while logit analysis was sensitive for the separation of rapid from intermediate acetylators. Clinically it is important to know to which genetic group the patient belongs because we may have to increase the dosage for the rapid acetylators to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, while we may have to reduce the dosage for slow acetylators in whom the incidence of side effect is high.
[A case of parenchymal pulmonary endometriosis with recurrent chest pain].
A 36-year-old woman was admitted to Nagasaki Citizens Hospital because of severe pleuritic chest pain associated with small amounts of hemoptysis. This episode occurred with the onset of her menses 2 months after a surgical abortion. Chest X-ray revealed a nodular shadow in the left middle lung field. ECG showed no abnormal findings. Pulmonary perfusion scintigram and arteriogram showed no evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism. Over the next 5 years she suffered 5 further episodes of chest pain without hemoptysis, in which every episode coincided with her menses and disappeared within several days after the end of the menses. Chest X-rays disclosed transient nodular shadows on 4 of 6 of the above mentioned episodes. In the earlier episodes one nodular shadow was noted in the left upper lobe S5 a. Later, it was accompanied by an additional nodular shadow in the S5b. Those shadows disappeared in accordance with the diminution of chest pain. From these findings the diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis was confirmed. Consequently, the antigonadotropin danazol was administered for 6 months. After this, she had no recurrence of her symptoms. Catamenial hemoptysis is usually the most striking symptom of pulmonary endometriosis, which might be an important clue for its diagnosis. The case presented here was characterized by severe chest pain with paucity of hemoptysis.
Four different types of glucans synthesised by glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus sobrinus.
Four different kinds of glucosyltransferases (GTFs) were purified from the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus sobrinus AHT. One of them (GTFP3) produced water-insoluble glucan with the alpha-1,3 linkage, exclusively. The others (GTFP1, P2 and P4) produced water-soluble glucans. GTFP2 produced oligosaccharides with linear 1,6-alpha-D-glucan structure. Since GTFP1 and P4 produce similar molecular weight glucans, the structural differences between these glucans remain unclear. To clarify the difference between GTFP1 and P4 products, the glucan structures were investigated by methylation analysis with gas liquid chromatography and gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The glucan synthesised by GTFP1 was 1,6-alpha-D-glucan with a high percentage (25.9 mol%) of 1,3-alpha-D-linked units. The other glucan synthesised by GTFP4 contained 1,6-alpha-D-glucan with 1,3,6-alpha-D-glucose (18.5 mol%).
[Interferon-alpha therapy in the myeloproliferative variants of hypereosinophilic syndrome].
Two cases of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) that seemed to be myeloproliferative disorders were treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Case 1 was a 45-year-old man with HES who was unresponsive to prednisolone. Because Flaum's hematologic grading score was 8 points, he was diagnosed as a myeloproliferative variant of HES. Although his condition was well controlled by hydroxyurea (HU), cardio-pulmonary insufficiency with refractory eosinophilia developed after 4 years. Instead of HU, IFN-alpha dramatically decreased eosinophil counts, and the clinical situation has stabilized since. Case 2 was a 30-year-old man with HES whose grading score was 9 points. IFN-alpha therapy was started when an accelerated phase of neutrophil dominant with chromosomal abnormality (8 trisomy) occurred. However, he died because of no response to IFN-alpha and other chemotherapy. In both cases, studies of eosinophil colony formation revealed no excess of eosinophil colony-stimulating factor from their lymphocytes. Flaum's hematologic grading score was useful for the diagnosis of myeloproliferative variants of HES. IFN-alpha successfully induced hematologic remission in one case, and this therapy may be beneficial for these patients as a first line agent.
[Cyclosporin for pure red cell aplasia caused rapid improvement of anemia and increase of CD4/8 ratio].
Ciclosporine (CS) caused rapid improvement of anemia and increase of CD 4/8 ratio in two patients with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). One case was a 45 year old female who were unresponsive to steroids, plasmapheresis and high dose cyclophosphamide, and another was a 61 years old man with diabetes mellitus (DM) without any treatment for PRCA. In both cases hemoglobin increased soon after the initiation of CS and CD 4/8 ratio also rose from 0.80 to 1.47 and 1.78 to 1.98, respectively. There was no side effects to interrupt the course of the therapy. CS seems to inhibit the production of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and it damages the activated suppressor/cytotoxic T cells. CS is an effective drug for not only refractory cases but the first step therapy for the untreated patients.
[Antinuclear antibody measurement as a screening test for sterile and infertile women with immunological abnormality].
The efficacy of examining antinuclear antibody (ANA) was investigated as a screening test detecting subclinical immune disorders in infertility and sterility. ANA was measured in 116 unexplained infertile or sterile patients. The ANA positive rate was 43.5% in group A (habitual abortion, n = 23), 38.1% in group B (consecutive miscarriages, n = 21), 30.0% in group C (one miscarriage, n = 10), 16.7% in group D (one or more deliveries n = 12) 22.0% in group E (primary sterility, n = 50), and 22.4% in the control group (n = 54). The positive rate for all the infertile patients (group A+B) was 40.9% and significantly higher than that in for the control group (p < 0.05). Ten patients with positive ANA had 12 deliveries and 20 patients with negative ANA had 23 deliveries. The frequency of preeclampsia in the patients with positive ANA was higher than in those with negative ANA (41.7% versus 4.3%, p < 0.05). A higher incidence of premature deliveries was recognized in the patients with positive ANA than in those with negative ANA (41.7% versus 8.7%, p < 0.1). Average birth weight (> 35 week) for patients with and without positive ANA was 2,976g (n = 8) and 3,122g (n = 19) respectively. The former tends to be smaller than the latter (p < 0.1).
Interleukin-4 enhances in vitro mineralization in human osteoblast-like cells.
The effect of human interleukin-4 (hIL-4) on mineralization in human osteoblast-like cells was investigated. Confluent cells were incubated with hIL-4 for 16 or 30 days in the presence or absence, respectively, of alpha-glycerophosphate (alpha-GP), which accelerates the mineralization process. hIL-4 (0.3 ng/ml) induced mineralization with 1.9-, 26- and 37-fold increases of hydroxyproline, calcium, and osteocalcin content, respectively, in the presence of alpha-GP. Mineralization was not induced with other cytokines, hIL-1, hIL-2, hIL-6, or mIL-4. hIL-4 also induced mineralization in the absence of alpha-GP in a manner different from that of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2 vitaminD3 (1,25(OH)2VD3). These findings suggest that IL-4 may play an important role in bone formation.
A new bioabsorbable material for rat vascular cuff anatomosis: establishment for the long-term orthotopic liver transplantation model.
Rat vascular anastomosis was performed using a newly synthesized bioabsorbable material (LA-GA copolymer) cuffs and the ordinary polyethylene cuffs. The LA-GA copolymer cuff which anastomosed the portal vein and the inferior vena cava were patent and developed no collateral veins even after 6 months, keeping the transplanted liver normal. By contrast, the polyethylene cuff anastomosed portal vein was completely occluded and the collateral veins were highly developed, with the transplanted liver showing the fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and numerous regenerative nodules. It is concluded that the LA-GA copolymer cuff is a suitable material for the short and long term study of rat orthotopic liver transplantation.