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Biomedical subjects

T Kawaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Kawaguchi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Expression of the chitinase III gene of Aeromonas sp. no. 10S-24 in Escherichia coli.

The chitinase III gene of Aeromonas sp. No. 10S-24 was expressed in Escherichia coli. Production of chitinase III by E. coli was 3-fold higher than that of chitinases in the culture supernatant of Aeromonas sp. The enzyme from E. coli was purified and characterized. The molecular weight of the chitinase III from E. coli was estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to be 55,000. This agreed with the calculated molecular weight of the mature chitinase III (54,111). However, it was different from that of the enzyme from Aeromonas sp. It showed that the chitinase III from Aeromonas sp. had an additional sugar chain, causing the higher molecular weight. Chitinase III from E. coli had almost the same enzymatic properties as chitinase III from Aeromonas sp., but the specific activity of the chitinase III from E. coli is slightly higher than that of the native chitinase III. Both enzymes hydrolyzed chitosan (80% deacetylated) well.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1996

Structures and activity of cellulase inhibitors enzymatically synthesized from cellooligosaccharides and 1-deoxynojirimycin.

Cellulase inhibitors were synthesized from cellooligosaccharides and 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) by transglycosylation, using a commercial cellulase. The structures of these cellulase inhibitors were proved to be 4-O-beta-cellobiosyl-DNJ, 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-DNJ and 6-O-beta-cellobiosyl-DNJ by the results of 13C- and 1H-NMR analyses. The inhibitory activity of each inhibitor was investigated against several carboxymethylcellulases.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗
PubMed1996

Peritumoral edema and seizure in patients with cerebral convexity and parasagittal meningiomas.

Epileptogenic factors associated with cerebral convexity or parasagittal meningiomas were investigated by retrospective analysis of clinical symptoms and computed tomographic findings in 83 consecutive patients. The patients were divided into Group A consisting of 27 patients presenting with epilepsy as the first symptom, and Group B consisting of 56 patients presenting with other symptoms. Tumor location, tumor size, histological subtype, and the amount of peritumoral edema were compared between the groups. Tumor size, location, and histological subtype did not differ significantly between the two groups, but the area of peritumoral edema was significantly greater in Group A than in Group B. Similar results were found in subgroups of patients with frontal meningioma, central meningioma, and fibroblastic meningioma. Generalized seizures tended to occur in patients with frontal or fibroblastic meningioma, and partial seizures in those with central or parietal meningioma. Peritumoral edema is a significant epileptogenic factor associated with both cerebral convexity and parasagittal meningiomas, and may be especially related to the occurrence of secondarily generalized seizures in frontal and fibroblastic meningiomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Multiple burr-hole operation for adult moyamoya disease.

Excellent results from multiple burr-hole operations for adult moyamoya disease are reported in this study. Ten patients had between one and four burr holes (mean 2.1) drilled in each hemisphere. In four patients new burr holes were added on the opposite side after depression of cerebral blood flow (CBF) was detected by follow-up single-photon emission computerized tomography imaging of the brain with N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 6 to 62 months (mean 34.7 months). Beginning at 6 months postsurgery, angiograms disclosed rich neovascularization at 41 of 43 burr holes, first from the middle meningeal artery, then from the superficial temporal artery. Neovascularization did not occur at two burr holes at which there was subdural effusion and local cerebral atrophy, respectively. Progression of stenosis of the major vessels was seen in six patients. Moyamoya vessels were decreased at six sites in four patients. The CBF study revealed that the reactivity to acetazolamide improved in all six patients tested. Transient ischemic attacks disappeared in all six patients presenting with this symptom, and preoperative symptoms improved in both of the patients who presented with cerebral infarction and in both patients with intraventricular hemorrhage. There was no mortality or morbidity, and no new neurological deficits or rebleeding developed during the follow-up period. The authors strongly recommend the multiple burr- hole operation as the surgical treatment of choice for adult moyamoya disease because of its safety and effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Intra-arterial chemotherapy for muscle-invasive urinary bladder cancer.

A total of 9 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (T3 or T4N0M0) were treated with a modified intra-arterial M-VEC (IA-M-VEC) regimen beginning in October 1992 to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy, and in 3 evaluable patients who subsequently underwent radical cystectomy, the possibility of bladder preservation was assessed. The responses of the 8 evaluable patients were rated as complete response (CRs) in 3, partial response (PRs) in 3 and no change (NCs) in 2. The objective response rate (PR + CR) was 75%. An obvious down-staging (T3 --> pT1b) was confirmed in 2 of the 3 evaluable patients, suggesting the possibility of bladder preservation. Otherwise similar changes to hemorrhagic cystitis with minimal muscular fibrosis were conspicuous in the normal bladder wall. These pathological findings corresponded with those obtained by dynamic single photon emission computed tomography (D-SPECT) using 99mTC-macroaggregate albumin (99mTC-MAA). Besides a buttock-to-perianal erosion with neuralgia on the injection side, mild to moderate sensory disturbance of the sacral plexus was observed.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Multiple bronchial varices].

A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of hemoptysis. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed irregular mucosa of the right B1, B2, B3, B8, B9, and B10, and the left B1+2 and B3. Bronchoscopic and histological findings indicated bronchial varices.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1996

[Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins with complement-regulatory activity on erythrocytes].

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and CD59 are major complement regulators linked to plasma membrane via glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and inhibit C3 activation and the formation of membrane attack complex, respectively. These factors have been shown to protect human erythrocytes from the lytic action of autologous complement. Here we overview structure and function of these molecules, and discuss about their physiological roles in controlling the complement activation, ie, defining the susceptibility of erythrocytes to complement.

CD55 Antigens↗
PubMed1996

[Adhesion molecules and carbohydrates in cancer metastasis].

Cancer metastasis is a complex phenomenon consisting of several sequential steps: invasion of primary sites, entry into blood or lymphatic vessels, transport, lodgement, extravasation, and growth at the target sites. These steps are achieved by peculiar interactions between tumor cells and host tissues. We developed several sublines from rat ascites hepatoma AH7974 that displayed different substrates adhesiveness and lung metastatic potential and demonstrated that the expression of 62 and 56kDa laminin-like substances with alpha-galactose residues on tumor cell surfaces is one of the determinants associated with the lung-colonizing potential of these cells. So, we expanded our investigation to detect the metastasis/prognosis-related carbohydrate antigens in primary cancers of the breast, lung, stomach, and large intestine by lectin histochemistry or immunohistochemistry. The results showed that certain types of carbohydrate antigen expressions in cancer cells are profoundly related to not only the mode of metastatic spread and the organ distribution pattern of metastasis but also the prognosis of cancer patients. Lymphatic metastasis was related to the expression of mucin core type carbohydrates (Tn antigen and Tn-like antigens) in common, whereas there were no conspicuous similarities in the hematogenous metastasis-related carbohydrates among the cancers. The expressions of blood group antigens such as ABH, Lewis and MN including their precursors appeared to be strong prognostic indicators of these cancers, although the relation of these antigens to each cancer varied. These results suggest that adhesion molecules and/or carbohydrates are one of the determinants of cancer metastasis and prognosis at least in part.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Relationship between medical expenditures and government-sponsored medical check-ups for the aged].

Japanese law provides for regular medical examinations for the aged. A simulation study to determine the relationship between medical expenditures of cardiovascular disease patients and government-sponsored health check-ups for the aged was conducted in a small community town in Kanagawa Prefecture. The results showed that medical expenditures decreased in accordance with an increase in health screening. However, medical expenditure for out-patients increased slightly with an increase in screening for those cardiovascular disease patients who had not received treatment prior to the government health checkup.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Role of gamma delta-T cells in the palatine tonsil.

Gamma delta-T cells in the tonsil were evaluated by flow cytometric analysis and immunohistological study using monoclonal antibodies to the gamma delta-T cell receptor. Flow cytometric analysis using TCR-gamma/delta-1 showed that 2.2%, of T cells in the tonsil obtained from patients with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis expressed the gamma delta-T cell receptor. Immunohistologically, gamma delta-T cells were found mainly in the extrafollicular area, i.e., the T-cell zone, and showed strong migration to the crypt epithelium in tonsils with infections. The comparison on number of gamma delta-T cells in cases with simple hypertrophic tonsil and in cases with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis showed that tonsils with repeated or chronic infections had a significantly greater number of gamma delta-T cells than tonsils without infection. To address the functional aspects of gamma delta-T cells in the tonsil, the production of IL-2 of separated gamma delta-T cells was measured by solid phase ELISA. Increased IL-2 production was observed with staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B stimulation, and this increase was blocked by antibody to the gamma delta-T cell receptor, indicating that the production of IL-2 may be triggered by the interaction between the gamma delta-T cell receptor and staphylococcal enterotoxin. Our results show that gamma delta-T cells in the tonsil, especially in the crypt epithelium, may be activated by various bacterial antigens or heat shock protein released from damaged epithelial cells. The activated gamma delta-T cells will produce cytokines including IL-2 and function as so-called 'first-layer' immunity.

Adolescent↗