Biomedical subjects

T Konishi

Publications and source records attributed to T Konishi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Long term follow-up in a case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

An adult patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery had no serious cardiac event for 19 years after closing the shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary trunk by ligation of the left main coronary artery. Although one-coronary arterial perfusion is considered to have worse prognosis than two-coronary arterial system, this patient proved to have an unexpectedly good long-term prognosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Rotavirus encephalitis mimicking afebrile benign convulsions in infants.

A 2-year-old-boy had rotavirus gastroenteritis and demonstrated afebrile partial seizures with secondary generalization. The presence of rotavirus genome and anti-rotavirus IgG was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. The genotype of VP4 was P8 and that of VP7 was G4. The imaging analysis by computed tomography and single photon emission computed tomography implied encephalitis. The seizures were well controlled by standard antiepileptic therapy, and the child experienced normal development with neither physical nor neurologic sequelae, which appeared to mimic benign infantile partial epilepsy.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1998

Structural changes in the oligosaccharide moiety of human IgG with aging.

In order to elucidate the relationship between glycosylation of IgG and aging, oligosaccharide structures of human IgG purified from sera of men and women aged 18 to 73 years were investigated. Oligosaccharides were liberated quantitatively from IgG by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and were tagged with p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester. The oligosaccharide structures were then analyzed by HPLC in conjunction with sequential exoglycosidase digestion. All IgG samples were shown to contain a series of biantennary complex type oligosaccharides which consisted of +/-Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-2Manalpha1-6(+/-GlcNAcbeta 1-4)(+/-Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-2Man(alpha)1-3)Man(beta)1-+ ++4GlcNAcbeta1-4(+/- Fucalpha1-6)GlcNAc and their mono- and disialo glycoforms in different ratios. In female IgG samples only, the incidence of non-galactosylated oligosaccharides with non-reducing terminal GlcNAc residues increased with aging (r>0.8), whereas that of digalactosylated oligosaccharides decreased (r<-0.8). A weaker correlation was observed between aging and the incidence of neutral and monosialo oligosaccharides in female IgG (r=0.461 and r= -0.538, respectively) and between aging and the incidence of oligosaccharides with a bisecting GlcNAc in both male and female IgG samples (r=0.566 and r=0.440, respectively). In addition, a significant change with aging in the galactosylation of IgG oligosaccharides was observed in females in their thirties, fifties, and sixties (p<0.02, p<0.01, and p<0.04, respectively). These findings may contribute to our understanding of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis in which glycosylation is involved.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Detection of disease-specific augmentation of abnormal immunoglobulin G in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Galactose-free immunoglobulin G (IgG), which is known to be higher in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, was prepared from IgG of healthy volunteers using enzymes. Its reactivity to lectins was analyzed. The galactose-free IgG showed no reactivity to Ricinus communis agglutinin 120 but displayed greater reactivity to concanavalin A and Lens culinaris lectin than did intact human IgG. Then, IgG in serum samples was bound to protein A immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane, and its reactivity to biotinylated concanavalin A was measured with streptavidin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase. When the reactivity to concanavalin A of IgG in sera from healthy individuals and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or hepatic disease was compared, higher levels were shown in patients with RA, notably in 60% of the seronegative patients and 80% of the early phase patients. Therefore, it was suggested that augmentation of the abnormal IgG in sera was highly specific to patients with RA and that this novel serum test could be very useful for an accurate diagnosis of this disease.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1998

Enhancement of hydroxyl radical generation in the Fenton reaction by alpha-hydroxy acid.

The effect of various organic acids on hydroxyl radical (.OH) generation in the Fenton reaction were examined by the ESR spin trapping technique, where 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyroline-N-nitroxide (DMPO) and alpha-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) were used as the spin trapping reagents. alpha-Hydroxy acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid and 2-hydroxy isobutyric acid were found to markedly enhance .OH generation in the reaction. In contrast, beta-hydroxy acid, alpha-keto acid, esters of alpha-hydroxy acids, aldehydes and other straight chain organic acids had no such enhancing activity. alpha-Amino acids had also no enhancing effect. The results suggest that the alpha-hydroxy acid moiety is prerequisite for the enhancement of .OH generation in the Fenton reaction. Superoxide dismutase did not inhibit the enhancing effect of alpha-hydroxy acids whereas catalase completely inhibited the .OH generation. Thus, alpha-hydroxy acids directly enhanced the .OH generation via the Fenton reaction but not the Haber-Weiss reaction. Possible role of lactic acid manipulating .OH generation is discussed in relation to the ischemia-reperfusion cell damage.

Catalase↗

PubMed1998

An increase in apparent affinity for sucrose of mung bean sucrose synthase is caused by in vitro phosphorylation or directed mutagenesis of Ser11.

A mutational analysis of mung bean (Vigna radiata Wilczek) sucrose synthase was performed by site-directed mutagenesis of the recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli, in which two different acidic amino acid residues (Asp or Glu) were introduced at Ser11 (S11D, S11E). Only the wild-type enzyme (Ser11) was phosphorylated in vitro by a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase from soybean root nodules, suggesting that this is the specific target residue in mung bean sucrose synthase. The apparent affinity for sucrose was increased in this phosphorylated enzyme and also in the S11D and S11E mutant enzymes, although the affinities for UDP-glucose and fructose were similar in the wild-type, phosphorylated wild-type, and mutant enzymes. These results suggest that a monoanionic (1-) side chain at position 11 mimics the Ser11-P2- residue to bind and cleave sucrose for the synthesis of UDP-glucose. Since the S11E mutant enzyme showed the lowest K(m) (sucrose) and the highest catalytic efficiency of the recombinant proteins, the enzymic properties of this S11E mutant were further characterized. The results showed that replacement of Ser11 with Glu11 modestly protected the sucrose synthesis activity against phenolic glycosides and altered the enzyme nucleotide specificity. We postulate that the introduction of negative charge at Ser11 is possibly involved in the enzymatic perturbation of sucrose synthase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Hyaluronan production in human rheumatoid fibroblastic synovial lining cells is increased by interleukin 1 beta but inhibited by transforming growth factor beta 1.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the regulatory roles of interleukin 1 beta (IL1 beta), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interferon gamma (IFN gamma) or transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) on hyaluronan (HA) synthesis by human fibroblastic synovial lining cells. METHODS: Concentrations of HA in culture supernatants of fibroblastic synovial lining cell line (RAMAK-1 cell line) with or without stimulation by IL1 beta, TNF alpha, IFN gamma or TGF beta 1 were measured by sandwich binding protein assay. Levels of HA synthase mRNA of the cells with or without stimulation were detected by reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction. Molecular weights of HA in the culture supernatants of the cells with or without stimulation were measured using high performance gel permeation liquid chromatography. RESULTS: HA synthesis by the cells was not significantly augmented by TNF alpha or by IFN gamma. It was significantly stimulated by IL1 beta but inhibited by TGF beta 1. Molecular weights of HA in the culture supernatants of the cells were unchanged by stimulation with TNF alpha. They were remarkably increased by stimulation with IL1 beta and IFN gamma, but reduced with TGF beta 1. CONCLUSION: IL 1 beta is an up regulator of HA synthesis, while TGF beta 1 is a down regulator. HA production in the synovial lining cells of inflamed joints (for example, rheumatoid arthritis) might be regulated by the balance of these cytokines.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1998

Novel staging protocol for non-small-cell lung cancers according to MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 gene expression.

PURPOSE: The transmembrane-4 superfamily (TM4SF) is a recently discovered family of genes. Of the TM4SF members, MRP-1/CD9, KAI1/CD82, and ME491/CD63 have been reported to modulate tumor progression or metastasis. In this study, we investigated the relationships between these three genes, MRP-1, KAI1, and ME491, in patients with non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Moreover, we assessed the prognostic value of evaluating the expressions of MRP-1, KAI1, and ME491 simultaneously in NSCLCs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-two patients up to stage IIIB NSCLC underwent radical surgery during the period of January 1991 through June 1994. Using a quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, we studied the expression of MRP-1, KAI1, and ME491 genes in these patients. RESULTS: We found that 109 patients (63.4%) had MRP-1-positive tumors and 42 patients (24.4%) had KAl1-positive tumors. Conversely, all 172 patients expressed ME491. No relationship was found between MRP-1 expression and KAI1 expression. We classified these patients into three groups. The 36 patients who were positive for both MRP-1 and KAI1 were defined as group A; the 79 patients with reduced expression of either MRP-1 or KAI1 were defined as group B, and the remaining 57 patients with reduced expression of both MRP-1 and KAI1 were defined as group C. This new classification was correlated with nodal status, tumor status, and pathologic stage (P = .0056, P = .0003, and P < .0001, respectively). In NSCLC patients, the 5-year survival rate of group A patients was significantly better than that of group B patients and much better than that of group C patients (86.8%, 53.9%, and 31.5%, respectively; P < .0001). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that this new classification in NSCLCs was a significant prognostic factor, as was the nodal status (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a low MRP-1 and KAI1 expression by tumors of the lung may be associated with poor prognosis. It is conceivable that the evaluation for MRP-1 and KAI1 expression may identify node-negative lung cancer patients who are at high risk for early disease recurrence, and thus need intensive adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Basic studies on N''-ursodeoxycholyldiethylenetriamine-N,N,N'-triacetic acid for the dissolution of calcified gallstones.

A novel calcium-chelating agent, N"-ursodeoxycholyldiethylenetriamine-N,N,N'-triacetic acid (UDCA-DTTA), was synthesized to study its ability to dissolve calcified gallstones. The chelating activity of the compound was demonstrated by dissolving calcium carbonate in vitro at a high dissolution rate. In the presence of the agent, sliced human gallstone with a composition of more than 50% calcium bilirubinate was thoroughly dissolved, indicating that calcium bilirubinate was dissolved from the gallstone. The ability to dissolve calcium was comparable to that of EDTA. However, the laminar structure of the sliced gallstone did not disappear in the presence of EDTA, whereas the structure disappeared in the presence of UDCA-DTTA. All these results indicate that UDCA-DTTA is an interesting compound as a parent substance for developing a prodrug for an oral or intravenous agent to dissolve calcium-containing gallstones.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1998

Anti-tumor-promoting activity of diterpenes from Excoecaria agallocha.

To search for possible anti-tumor-promoters, we carried out the primary screening of seventeen diterpenes (1-17) isolated from the resinous wood of Excoecaria agallocha (Euphorbiaceae) using an in vitro synergistic assay system. Of these diterpenes, ent-16-hydroxy-3-oxo-13-epi-manoyloxide (5), (13R,14R)-ent-8alpha,13;14,15-diepoxy-13-epi- labda-3beta-ol (8) ent-3beta-hydroxy-15-beyeren-2-one (10) and ent-15-hydroxy-labda-8(17),13E-dien-3-one (14) exhibited significant inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Furthermore, 10 exhibited remarkable anti-tumor-promoting activity in vivo on a two-stage carcinogenesis test of mouse tumor using 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene (DMBA) as an initiator and TPA as a promoter.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

PubMed1998

Aortic regurgitation in a patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome--a case report.

We present the case of a 39-year-old woman with aortic regurgitation that may have been induced by primary antiphospholipid syndrome. The patient had suffered recurrent miscarriages, thrombocytopenia, and deep-vein thrombosis for the previous 16 years, and had been diagnosed as having primary antiphospholipid syndrome 9 years previously because of a high titer of anticardiolipin antibody. She had been receiving medication for moderate hypertension for 7 years. The patient was admitted to Tenri Hospital because of heart failure, which was thought to be caused by moderate aortic regurgitation, moderate hypertension, and mild chronic renal failure. Echocardiography revealed thickened aortic and mitral valves. Primary antiphospholipid syndrome might have induced valve regurgitation as a result of valvular thickening.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a patient with adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism.

We describe a 60-year-old patient with adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism who experienced syncope as a result of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with long QT intervals. The deep inverted T waves and long QT intervals were normalized about 8 weeks after starting steroid replacement therapy. Although there have been some reports on electrocardiographic abnormality or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with adrenal insufficiency, the pathogenesis remains unknown. Hormonal disorders should be considered as a cause of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with long QT intervals, even if plasma electrolyte levels are normal, because life-threatening arrhythmia is treatable by supplementation of the hormone that is lacking.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

PubMed1998

Two cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with coronary vasospasm.

Chest pain in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy seems to be caused by relative myocardial ischemia due to the left ventricular outflow pressure gradient and myocardial hypertrophy. However, in 2 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy chest pain was associated with coronary vasospasm. Thus, chest pain in these cases was decreased not by a beta-blocker but by isosorbide dinitrate and a calcium antagonist. Because beta-blockers are commonly used for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and chest pain may be aggravated by beta-blockers in patients with coronary vasospasm, a combination of beta-blocker, isosorbide dinitrate and calcium antagonist was necessary for this hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with variant angina.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1998

Analysis of the oligosaccharide units of xyloglucans by digestion with isoprimeverose-producing oligoxyloglucan hydrolase followed by anion-exchange chromatography.

A method for rapidly identifying six of the most commonly found xyloglucan oligosaccharide units, XXXG, XLXG, XXLG, XLLG, XXFG, and XLFG was developed by high-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) before and after digestion with purified isoprimeverose-producing oligoxyloglucan hydrolase (IPase). Using this method, the compositions of oligosaccharide units of soybean and mung bean xyloglucans were re-examined. Significant amounts of oligosaccharides that have not previously been reported to be oligosaccharide units of soybean and mung bean xyloglucans were found.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗

PubMed1998

Problems in pharmacological evaluation of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: clinical analysis of more than 100 consecutive patients.

To address the problems of pharmacological evaluation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAf), we interviewed 108 consecutive patients with documented PAf regarding symptoms, frequency and trigger factors of PAf and analyzed the 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (Holter monitoring) records in relation to symptoms. Twenty-nine patients were totally asymptomatic, while 79 patients were symptomatic of which 49 patients had obvious trigger factors. PAf was documented by Holter monitoring in 22 of 79 symptomatic patients. On analysis of PAf-documented 25 Holter monitoring records, the patients checked event marks as PAf in only 20 of 155 PAf episodes. Six episodes of 26 event marks that patients thought to be PAf proved to be premature atrial or ventricular contractions. Nine patients in whom PAf persisted for more than 24 hours became asymptomatic. Patients suitable for pharmacological evaluation constituted about one-fifth of the PAf patients in our consecutive study. Even with the selection of these patients, pharmacological evaluation based on symptoms is difficult because disappearance of PAf may be associated with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Strongyloidiasis associated with nephrotic syndrome.

We report a nephrotic syndrome patient with eosinophilia who developed ileus, epigastralgia and malabsorption due to strongyloidiasis which became symptomatic by steroid therapy. The patient was then treated with thiabendazole and recovered. A percutaneous renal biopsy revealed minimal change nephrotic syndrome. This renal injury may be brought on by severe infection of Strongyloides stercoralis. It is important to rule out strongyloidiasis prior to corticosteroid therapy to patients from eosinophilia endemic areas.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed1998

Mutations of p53 and K-ras genes as prognostic factors for non-small cell lung cancer.

To evaluate the importance of mutations of p53 and K-ras genes in the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, one hundred and forty-four patients who underwent surgery were studied. DNA was extracted from frozen specimens. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing were performed to investigate mutations of p53 from exon 5 to 8, and mutations of exon 1 of K-ras. Mutations of p53 gene occurred in 35. 4% of patients, and mutations of the K-ras gene in 8.3%. The overall survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer patients with wild-type K-ras was better than that of patients whose tumors had mutations of K-ras (P=0.0330). Among patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung, the overall survival rate of patients with wild-type p53 was strikingly better than that of patients whose tumors had mutations of p53 (P=0.0234). Multivariate analysis with the Cox regression model of all patients with non-small cell lung cancer and those with adenocarcinoma indicated that mutations of K-ras best correlated with the overall survival rate (P=0.0005 and P=0.0361, respectively). In conclusion, evaluation of mutations of both the p53 and K-ras genes in the lung tumors might be useful for assessing the prognosis, especially in patients with adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

[A case of pyelitis cystica diagnosed with utilization of ureterofiberscope].

We herein report a case of pyelitis cystica in 65-year-old woman. She was referred to our hospital in order to have a treatment for a stone in the ureter on left side. Excretory urogram showed hydronephrosis on left, and multiple, small, smooth and round filling defects in the renal pelvis on right side. ESWL was performed to the ureteral stone, and the stone was discharged completely in 4 days. Then further examinations were made for the filling defects of right renal pelvis. Nonopaque calculi were ruled out on retrograde pyelogram and CT scan. Urinary cytology from the renal pelvis was class I. Our impression was pyelitis cystica of right kidney. Under spinal anesthesia, ureterofiberscopy was performed. Multiple small cysts were observed in the pelvis and calyx, as well as cystitis cystica. Cold cup biopsy was also done and histopathological finding ws pyelitis cystica, without malignancy. We compared endoscopic findings with radiographic findings in 18 cases of pyloureteritis cystica from the Japanese literature. The radiographic findings were multiple small, in a uniform size, and round filling defects with regular contour, and the endoscopic findings were multiple white or ocher colored, half sphere or sphere shaped, and small cyst with smooth surface in 15 of 18 cases. We thought these findings were characteristic ones in pyloureteritis cystica. Endoscopy and biopsy are mandatory for diagnosis of pyeloureteritis cystica.

Aged↗