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Biomedical subjects

T Kuroume

Publications and source records attributed to T Kuroume.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Short arm deletion of chromosome 1: del(1)(p13.3 p22.3) in a female infant with an extreme tetralogy of Fallot.

High-resolution chromosome analysis showed the karyotype 46,XX,del(1)(p13.3 p22.3) in a female infant with an extreme tetralogy of Fallot and multiple congenital anomalies. The patient showed characteristic features: upper and lower eyelids connected to each other by a string-like epithelium, low hairline, epicanthal folds, saddle nose with a broad, flat root, micrognathia, short neck, high-arched palate, prominent xiphisternum, wide-spaced nipples, bilateral pes equinovarus, fifth toes that overlapped the fourth toes bilaterally, a deep fissure between the first and second toes bilaterally, and abnormal flexions of fingers and toes. Growth and psychomotor retardation were also noted. Cardiac catheterization revealed an extreme tetralogy of Fallot complicated by a patent ductus arteriosus. Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular premature beats developed during the neonatal period and did not respond well to anti-arrhythmic drugs. She died of the anoxia caused by closure of the patent ductus arteriosus when she was 7 months old.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Differences in level and avidity of secretory IgA antibodies in breast milk of Swedish, Indian and Japanese mothers to soybean protein.

Colostrum was collected from Swedish, Indian and Japanese mothers. The samples were as a mean, collected 4.00-4.25 days after delivery of term infants. The level of specific IgA antibody to 2S, 7S and crude soybean antigen were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The avidity of the IgA antibodies to 7S soybean antigen was also measured with an ELISA system using different molarities of potassium thiocyanate for elution of the specific IgA antibody from solid phase-bound antigen. The level of specific IgA antibody to 7S and crude soybean antigen in the milk of the Indian mothers was significantly higher than in the milk of the Japanese mothers (p less than or equal to 0.01). In contrast, the avidity expressed as the molarity of KSCN for 50% elution of IgA antibody to 7S soybean antigen in the milk of the Japanese mothers was significantly higher than in the milk of the Indian mothers (p less than 0.01).

Antibody Affinity↗

Ability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to generate active oxygen species in children with bronchial asthma. Use of chemiluminescence probes with a Cypridina luciferin analog and luminol.

Airway inflammation with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) may play an important role in bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). PMN generate superoxide anion (O2-) and other oxygen radicals that can damage lung tissue. We investigated the ability of peripheral PMN of children with bronchial asthma and control subjects to generate O2- and other active oxygen species using a 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin++ +-3-one, a highly sensitive and specific chemiluminescence (CL) probe for O2-, and luminol-dependent CL. The ability of PMN of subjects with asthma to generate O2- and other active oxygen species was significantly greater than that of PMN of control subjects when stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OZ), phorbol myristate acetate or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. Furthermore, in the same asthmatic children, the generation of O2- and other active oxygen species was significantly higher with attacks than without attacks when PMN were stimulated with OZ. We also demonstrated that O2- generation correlated with the degree of BHR to inhaled histamine. These results suggest that PMN of asthmatic children, especially those with attacks, generate more active oxygen species than that of control subjects and that airway inflammation caused by O2- may be closely related to BHR in subjects with bronchial asthma.

Adolescent↗

Effects of antiasthma drugs on superoxide anion generation from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes or hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system.

Airway inflammation with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) may play an important role in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. Superoxide anion (O2-) and other active oxygen species derived from PMNs cause tissue damage. To evaluate the effects of antiasthma drugs on airway inflammation or antioxidative actions due to the inhibition of O2- generation, we investigated the effects of antiallergic drugs, beta-adrenergic agonists, theophylline and corticosteroids, on the in vitro generation of O2- by human PMNs, using a chemiluminescence (CL) method dependent on a Cypridina luciferin analog (MCLA), a highly sensitive and specific CL probe for O2-. We found that azelastine, one of the antiallergic drugs, and isoproterenol inhibited FMLP-induced O2- generation in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas the other drugs exhibited no such inhibitory action except at very high concentrations. Furthermore, we found that isoproterenol inhibited O2- generation from the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system (an O2(-)-generating system) in a dose-dependent fashion, unlike azelastine and the other drugs. These results suggest that azelastine and isoproterenol inhibit the process of O2- generation from PMNs, while isoproterenol also scavenges O2-. These drugs may be beneficial in the treatment of airway inflammation due to O2- generation in bronchial asthma.

Adolescent↗

Studies of dialysates from Dermatophagoides farinae: partial purification and haptenic properties of dialysates from Dermatophagoides farinae.

Dialysates from Dermatophagoides farinae were partially purified. Fractionation on HPLC and anion exchange chromatography revealed that the dialysates consisted of 5 major fractions of glycoprotein whose apparent molecular sizes were 5.1, 4.1, 3.2, and less than 1.35 kD on HPLC. The apparent molecular size of two fractions was 5.3 and 2.9 kD on SDS-PAGE. They were basic glycoproteins which had a pI ranging from 7.46 to 8.71 on PAG-IEF. These fractions were allergenic in the RAST and ELISA inhibition tests but not in the skin prick test (SPT). Our results suggest that the dialysates from D. farinae have haptenic properties. The dialysates from D. farinae (low molecular weight) and its 5 fractions bound noncovalently to human serum albumin (HSA) at the free tyrosine residues of HSA. They proved to bind noncovalently to serum proteins and collagens. Once they bound to proteins, the conjugates became allergenic not only in the RAST and ELISA inhibition test but also in the SPT. Our results provide evidence that the dialysates from D. farinae have haptenic properties.

Agammaglobulinemia↗

[11 cases of anaphylaxis caused by grand keyhole limpet (abalone like shellfish)].

We reported 11 cases of patients who developed moderate to severe anaphylactic reactions induced by the ingestion of grand keyhole limpet (GKL) and abalone. Specific IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to these shellfish was demonstrated by history, skin prick test, RAST and immunoblotting. The RAST inhibition technique revealed cross antigenicity between GKL, abalone and keyhole limpet hemocyanin. By immunoblotting analysis, the major antigens of GKL are shown in the MW range of about 38 Kd and 80 Kd.

Adolescent↗

[Evaluation of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity including large local reactions among forest administration workers in Gunma prefecture].

We used a questionnaire to investigate Hymenoptera hypersensitivity in 715 forest administration workers in Gunma prefecture and measured venom specific IgE antibodies in those who had exhibited large local reactions (LLR). The results were as follows. 1) Almost all, i.e. 660 (92.3%), of the workers, including 156 (23.6%) hypersensitive workers, had been exposed to insect stings and 241 (36.5%) had experienced LLR. 2) Among the hypersensitive workers, 68.9% exhibited systemic reactions after having been stung no more than ten times and 18.2% experienced systemic reactions when they were stung for the first time. 3) About 60% of the hypersensitive workers had been stung on only one site when they exhibited systemic reactions. 4) An evaluation of venom specific IgE titer for the workers who experienced LLR revealed a relatively high rate of RAST positive results to yellow jackets (39.3%) and wasps (36.9%).

Adult↗

Recurrent pneumonia caused by diffuse oesophageal spasm.

A 14-month-old severely retarded girl with a history of regurgitation, aspiration, and recurrent pneumonia was found to suffer from diffuse oesophageal spasm. This diagnosis was made by oesophageal cineradiography. This case suggests that diffuse oesophageal spasm is an oesophageal motility disorder that causes respiratory disease in the retarded child.

Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse↗

N-terminal propeptide of type-III procollagen concentrations in the cord blood: an index of newborn maturity.

Cord serum concentrations of the N-terminal propeptide of type-III procollagen(PIIIP), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine were measured in 149 neonates, consisting of 22 small for gestational age, 95 appropriate for gestational age, 21 large for gestational age and 11 neonates of less than 24 weeks of gestation. Their gestational ages (GAs) ranged from 20 to 41 weeks. A significant negative correlation was found between PIIIP levels and GA (r = -0.83, p less than 0.001). No significant difference was found in PIIIP levels between SGA and LGA neonates, when there were no difference in their GAs, in spite of a significant difference in their birth body weights (p less than 0.01). The high concentrations of the cord serum PIIIP did not appear to be influenced by either IGF-I or thyroid hormones, nor was there any relationship between PIIIP and the birth body weight, but only with GA, suggesting that determining cord levels of PIIIP seems to provide a useful parameter for the assessment of newborn maturity.

Biomarkers↗

Levels of insulin-like growth factor I in full- and preterm human milk in comparison to levels in cow's milk and in milk formulas.

The content of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in human milk, cow's milk and cow's-milk-based infant formulas was determined by radioimmunoassay. The mean levels of IGF-I in full-term milk and preterm milk 0-4 days post partum 2.2 +/- 0.3 and 2.4 +/- 0.5 ng/mg protein, respectively. The IGF-I content in human milk was not affected by gestational age or birth weight and was constantly excreted up to 10 days post partum. The IGF-I content in human milk was significantly higher than that in cow's milk (0.6 +/- 0.1 ng/mg protein, p less than 0.01). IGF-I was not detected in the milk formulas. The IGF-I in human milk might be absorbed or could act locally in the intestine and may be of importance in the nutrition of neonates.

Animals↗

Anaphylaxis to grand keyhole limpet (abalone-like shellfish) and abalone.

We report five patients who developed moderate to severe anaphylactic reactions induced by the ingestion of grand keyhole limpet (GKL) and abalone. Specific IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to these shellfish was demonstrated by history, prick skin test, and RAST. RAST inhibition technique revealed the cross-antigenicity between GKL, abalone, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

Adult↗

Frequent lack of antibodies against human T-cell leukemia virus type I gag proteins p24 or p19 in sera of patients with adult T-cell leukemia.

Specificities of antibodies against human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) in sera of 27 patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) were studied. All sera were positive for HTLV-I antigens by immunofluorescence assay using cells expressing HTLV-I antigens; sera from five ATL patients, however, did not react or hardly reacted with p19 or p24 gag proteins of HTLV-I upon immunoprecipitation assay. Therefore, the relationships among antibody specificities against HTLV-I, the proviral structures of HTLV-I genomes in leukemic cells, and the expression of viral antigens by leukemic cells after cultivation in vitro for a few days were examined. Analyses of the genomic structures of the proviruses revealed deletions in at least seven cases. However, we could not detect deletions in the proviral genomes of four out of the five ATL patients who lacked antibodies against gag proteins. Furthermore, expression of p19 and p24 was detected in these patients' peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) cultured in vitro for a few days. Thus, some ATL patients could not or could hardly raise antibodies against gag proteins, although they harbored complete HTLV-I genomes and their PBL expressed gag proteins in vitro. All patients harboring deleted proviruses, so far tested, raised antibodies not only against viral proteins that should be encoded by the integrated proviruses, but also against viral proteins that should be encoded by the deleted regions. Antibodies against viral proteins were detected also in sera of ATL patients whose PBL did not express viral proteins after in vitro cultivation. Specificities of antibodies against viral proteins in ATL patients could not be predicted by the structures of proviruses in leukemic cells or by expression of viral proteins in vitro. Immune responses to HTLV-I antigens were weak or lost in some ATL patients.

Gene Products, gag↗

Effect of supernatants derived from T lymphocyte culture in minimal change nephrotic syndrome on rat kidney capillaries.

The effect on the kidney capillaries of T lymphocyte culture supernatants from patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome was studied by infusion into the left renal artery of rats. The supernatants of T lymphocyte cultures from nephrotic patients induced significant proteinuria and a reduction of anionic sites in the glomerular basement membrane of the kidneys in the rats. These changes were not produced in rats receiving equivalent supernatants from healthy controls.

Animals↗

P blood group and proneness to urinary tract infection in Japanese children.

The globoseries of glycolipids are antigens in the P blood group system as well as epithelial cell receptors for uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The P1 blood group is overrepresented in Swedish girls with recurrent pyelonephritis. In this study, Japanese children with urinary tract infection (UTI) were analyzed for P blood group phenotype. Out of 26 children with recurrent UTI, 50% were of the P1 blood group compared to the 31% of P1 individuals in the Japanese population at large (p less than 0.05). Of children defined as having febrile UTI 62% were P1. The P1 blood group was thus significantly enriched (3.5 times) in the children with febrile UTI. These results support the hypothesis that individuals of blood group P1 run an increased risk for recurrent pyelonephritis.

Adolescent↗