Biomedical subjects

T Kuwabara

Publications and source records attributed to T Kuwabara.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Relation between macrophage infiltrates and peritumoral edema.

Peritumoral edema is one of the most serious complications of intracranial neoplasms. However, the exact pathogenesis of peritumoral edema is still unknown. To explore the role of macrophages and LTs in brain tumors, we examined macrophage infiltrates in the brain tumors by immunohistological method using anti-Leu M3 monoclonal antibody and measured tissue LTC4 and LTD4 by HPLC with ODS column and UV spectrophotometer in the wavelength of 280 nm. Nine of 14 gliomas, 10 of 14 meningiomas, and all six metastatic brain tumors had macrophage infiltrates. The correlation was good between macrophage infiltration and peritumoral edema detected on CT. In many cases with peritumoral edema, LTC4 was detected. In most cases without peritumoral edema and many cases with preoperative steroid treatment, LTC4 was not detected. These data suggest that macrophages and LTs may play an important role in the formation of peritumoral edema.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1990

Effect of dexamethasone on neurotransmitter amines in a rat glioma model.

Vasogenic brain edema was produced by transplantation of rat glioma C6 cells into rat brain. Using this model, we measured neurotransmitter concentrations and water content of regional brain tissue. In the tumor-implanted controls, monoamine neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus, cortex, and striatum significantly decreased. When treated with DEX, these monoamines tended to return to the levels of the sham-operated controls. Additionally, DEX markedly lowered tumoral monoamines. In the nonsurgical animals, DEX significantly increased norepinephrine but not DA. Regardless of treating with DEX or not, water content showed no changes in the hypothalamus and striatum in the tumor-implanted animals. However, the increase in water content in the cortex was significant, and this increase could be reduced by DEX to the levels of controls. Water content of tumor tissue could also be markedly reduced by DEX. In the nonsurgical animals, there were no changes in water content between DEX-treated and nontreated animals. In conclusion, brain edema produced by the brain tumor may reduce noradrenergic and dopaminergic activities. This is more likely due to compression anoxia caused by the tumor mass, glial hydrops, and edema fluid. It is presumed that the effect of DEX is due to reduction of water content of the tumor and peritumoral white matter as well as by increasing noradrenergic activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Expression and processing of cyanobacterial Mn-stabilizing protein in Escherichia coli.

The woxA gene of cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2, which encodes the precursor of the Mn-stabilizing protein involved in photosynthetic water oxidation, was found to be expressed in Escherichia coli. The 30-kDa expression product was indistinguishable from the authentic mature protein on SDS/PAGE. Upon fractionation of E. coli cells, the expression product was co-precipitated with the membrane fraction, which is consistent with the water-insoluble nature of the authentic mature protein. Analysis of the amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the product revealed that it is identical to the sequence from the 28th residue of the precursor, indicating that the precursor is processed in E. coli. The expression product was digested by trypsinization of E. coli spheroplasts, but not by that of intact cells. This observation suggests that the product is secreted from the cytoplasmic membrane, but not from the outer membrane. The occurrence of both processing and secretion suggests that a signal peptidase of E. coli can recognize the structure for translocation across the thylakoid membrane. Comparison of the signal sequence and the presequence of sweet potato sporamin A suggests that the processing enzymes of the thylakoid membrane and endoplasmic reticulum possess a common substrate specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Immunohistologic findings and results of treatment with cyclosporine in ligneous conjunctivitis.

Using immunohistochemical techniques, we studied ligneous conjunctival lesions from two patients. A significant immune reaction was detected that was characterized by activated T lymphocytes and focal accumulation of plasma cells and B lymphocytes. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated that IgG was a prominent component of the amorphous hyaline material seen in these lesions. After previous treatment methods had failed, both patients were treated with excisional biopsy and topical cyclosporine. Patient 1 had a dramatic response, with complete resolution of the lesions. Patient 2 had a significant improvement resulting in small, slow-growing recurrences instead of the rapid and extensive recurrences that occurred before treatment with cyclosporine.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Establishment of a human glioma cell line bearing a homogeneously staining chromosomal region and releasing alpha- and beta-type transforming growth factors.

A human glioma cell line (YKG1), which was positively identified for glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) and S-100 proteins, was established from a surgical specimen of a patient with glioblastoma. Chromosome analysis of the cells revealed a homogeneously staining region (HSR) on a marker chromosome. The assay for transforming growth factors (TGFs) in the conditioned medium of the cell line revealed that it contained high levels of alpha- and beta-type TGFs, which might regulate the growth of glioblastoma and influence on the peritumoral tissues.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1989

The cellular eye lens and crystallins of cubomedusan jellyfish.

The ultrastructure and major soluble proteins of the transparent eye lens of two cubomedusan jellyfish, Tripedalia cystophora and Carybdea marsupialis, have been examined. Each species has two complex eyes (one large and one small) on four sensory structures called rhopalia. The lenses consist of closely spaced cells with few organelles. The lens is situated next to the retina, with only an acellular layer separating it from the photoreceptors. SDS-PAGE showed that the large lens of C. marsupialis has only two crystallin polypeptide bands (with molecular masses of approximately 20,000 and 35,000 daltons), while that of T. cystophora has three bands (two with a molecular mass near 20,000 daltons and one with a molecular mass near 35,000 daltons). Interestingly, the small lens of T. cystophora appears to be markedly deficient in or lack the lower molecular weight proteins. The crystallins behaved as monomeric proteins by FPLC and showed no immunological reaction with antisera of the major squid crystallin, chicken delta-crystallin or mouse gamma-crystallin in western immunoblots. Very weak reactions were found with antimouse alpha- and beta-crystallin sera. The 35,000 dalton crystallin of T. cystophora was purified and called J1-crystallin. It contained relatively high leucine (13%) and tyrosine (9%) and low methionine (2%). Several tryptic peptides were sequenced. Weak sequence similarities were found with alpha- and beta-crystallins, which may account for some of the apparent weak immunological cross-reactivity with these vertebrate crystallins. A polyclonal antiserum made in rabbits from a synthetic peptide of J1-crystallin reacted strongly with J1-crystallin of T. cystophora and C. marsupialis in immunoblots; by contrast, no reaction was obtained with the lower molecular weight crystallins from these jellyfish, with the squid crystallin, or with any crystallins from the frog or human lens. Thus, despite the structural similarities between the cubomedusan, squid and vertebrate lenses, their crystallins appear very different.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Rat T-cell lines specific to a nonimmunodominant determinant of a retinal protein (IRBP) produce uveoretinitis and pinealitis.

Rat lymphocyte lines were established, with specificity toward two synthetic peptides derived from the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), which specifically localizes in the retina and pineal gland. One of the peptides, R4, is immunopathogenic, producing experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) and pinealitis (EAP) in immunized rats, while the other peptide, R3, exhibits no detectable immunopathogenicity in rats. The cell lines carry surface markers specific for the helper/inducer subset of T-lymphocytes. When tested by the proliferation assay, the line cells demonstrated major histocompatibility-restricted vigorous responses against the immunizing (homologous) peptide, but failed to recognize the intact IRBP molecule. This finding is in line with other data indicating that peptides R3 and R4 are nonimmunodominant determinants of IRBP for the Lewis rat. Yet, the cell lines specific for R4 were highly immunopathogenic, producing EAU and EAP in naive rats at numbers as low as 0.25 x 10(6), with histopathological changes similar to those induced by active immunization with this peptide. The immunological capacity of the cell lines was further demonstrated by the finding that spleen cells from recipient rats of these lines responded well against the homologous peptides. The uniqueness of this system, in which lymphocytes specific toward a nondominant determinant are immunopathogenic, is underscored and the possible mechanisms of disease induction are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Perturbed development of the mouse lens by polyomavirus large T antigen does not lead to tumor formation.

To study how the oncogenic process may involve effects on differentiation, we overexpressed an immortalizing oncogene in a developing tissue in transgenic mice. By use of a gene fusion of the alpha A-crystallin promoter to the viral immortalizing oncogene, polyoma large T antigen (PyLT), we created transgenic mice that express PyLT specifically in ocular lens. Expression of large T antigen during embryonic development led to a perturbation in lens development, specifically, an interference with the normal program of fiber cell differentiation. This resulted in microphthalmia, which persisted throughout the life of the animal. Histological analysis revealed impairment of cell elongation, denucleation, and mitotic senescence in both primary and secondary fiber cell differentiation. Strikingly, there was no evidence for hyperplasia or for tumor development in vivo, unlike the consequences of many immortalizing oncogenes on tissues in other transgenic mice. In vitro, however, the developmentally perturbed cells derived from the transgenic lens showed high proliferative capacity. Our results suggest that a primary effect of aberrant expression of an immortalizing gene is an interference with normal tissue development; however, this interference may not necessarily induce proliferation or lead to tumor formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Late corneal opacities in the syndrome of interstitial keratitis and vestibulo-auditory symptoms.

Progressive clouding of the cornea may be a delayed complication of the interstitial keratitis-vestibuloauditory syndrome. Two illustrative cases are presented. The first case illustrates progressive opacification about aberrant vessels in the deep stroma presenting a characteristic dendritiform pattern. The second case shows that the opacification is due, in this case at least, to formation of connective tissue with inclusion of lipid crystals and fat along with the blood vessels. Descemet's membrane is also thickened several fold.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Comparison of five modes of dialysis in neurosurgical patients with renal failure].

In neurosurgical patients with renal failure, dialysis entails specific problems, chief of which is increased intracranial pressure and progressive brain edema as a result of rapid lowering of the serum osmolality. Another major problem is a tendency to hemorrhage, in response to either systemic heparinization or insufficient dialysis. The authors describe the results obtained with hemodialysis (HD), continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH), continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD), and intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD). Nine patients were treated with HD, one with CAVH, five with CAPD or CPD, and two with IPD. Three of the six patients treated with continuous dialysis (CAVH, CAPD, and CPD) died, whereas intermittent dialysis (HD and IPD) carried an 82% mortality rate (nine of 11 patients). The causes of death were progressive brain edema in three cases, intracranial hemorrhage in three, gastrointestinal bleeding in three, overhydration due to insufficient dialysis in one, septicemia in one, and rupture of a cerebral aneurysm in one. Continuous dialysis appeared to be superior to intermittent dialysis in these neurosurgical patients in that it produced less brain edema and was less often associated with hemorrhage due to insufficient dialysis. In HD and CAVH, systemic heparinization was also thought to account for the high incidence of hemorrhage. However, CAVH with short half-life anticoagulants may be useful in patients who have abdominal complications and are therefore not suitable candidates for peritoneal dialysis.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Thermosensitive determination of patency in lumboperitoneal shunts. Technical note.

Surface cooling and thermistor recording over shunt tubing was used in 23 studies of cerebrospinal fluid shunt patency in 19 patients with lumboperitoneal shunts and normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Shunt patency was shown by downward reflection of the recording trace similar to that obtained for ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Obstruction was demonstrated by a flat-line recording or an upward deflection.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1989

[A examination of conversation process in social context].

The purpose was to reveal a set of conversation rule and to examine the effect of social context on the importance of the rule. We collected 51 items concerning conversation rule from 29 male and female undergraduates. Another 128 male and female undergraduates were asked to rate the importance of each item in given social contexts. We manipulated three factors of (a) goal orientation in conversation, (b) intimacy of a dyadic relationship, and (c) combination of sex, in the descriptions of the social contexts. Factor analysis of the rating scores led to identification of six factors of conversation rule: 1) acceptance rule, 2) rule for partner, 3) rule for accomplishment of speech, 4) rule for intention of speech, 5) emotion-directed expression rule, 6) comprehension-directed expression rule. The results of ANOVA indicated that the importance of each factor varies with social context.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

An 18-mer peptide derived from the retinal S antigen induces uveitis and pinealitis in primates.

S-antigen, a photoreceptor cell protein, induces a predominantly T-cell mediated autoimmune uveitis in many vertebrate animals, including primates. Because of this activity and the finding of immune responses to S antigen in patients with uveitis, this protein has been implicated in the pathogenesis of uveitis in humans. Peptide M, an 18-amino acid component of S antigen, has previously been shown to be highly uveitopathogenic in rats and guinea pigs. We report here that peptide M is immunopathogenic in some monkeys, producing inflammatory changes in eyes and pineal glands similar to those induced by native S antigen. Monkeys with disease also developed intense immune responses to peptide M, measured by the lymphocyte proliferation assay. In addition, lymphocytes from these monkeys reacted against whole S antigen. Furthermore, lymphocytes from certain monkeys immunized with whole S antigen responded well against peptide M, thus indicating that this peptide is an immunodominant epitope in these animals. Two of the four monkeys immunized with peptide M did not develop disease. Lymphocytes from these two animals did not respond in culture against the peptide. Following immunization with the whole protein, these monkeys were capable, however, of developing cellular immunity against S antigen and one of them developed disease. The possible involvement of peptide M in the pathogenesis of uveitis in humans is discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Extensive bone marrow necrosis associated with carcinomatosis 7 years after operation for gastric cancer].

A case of extensive bone marrow necrosis due to cancer metastasis is reported. A 55-year-old female, who had a history of subtotal gastrectomy for signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach 7 years ago, was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of lumbago on October 25, 1987. Red blood cell count was 92 X 10(4)/microliters, hemoglobin 2.7 g/dl, hematocrit 8.0%, platelet 6.4 X 10(4)/microliters, and white blood cell count 13,400/microliters with leukoerythroblastosis. Bone marrow aspiration of the sternum, left iliac crest, and bilateral posterior superior iliac supine showed extensive bone marrow necrosis. Serum ALP was increased to 7410IU/l, dominated isozyme of bone type. Hemostatic findings suggested a complication of consumption coagulopathy. Skull, vertebrae, iliac and pelvic bone X-ray showed multiple osteolytic lesions, and irregular isotope uptake was recognized on the bone scintigraphy using 99mTc. Sixth bone marrow examination at the right iliac crest revealed signet ring cell carcinoma metastasis. In spite of detailed examinations, there was no evidence of primary carcinoma, including the remnant of stomach. We speculated that the signet ring cells were originated from the respected gastric cancer. The patient has received anti-cancer chemotherapy with UFT and OK432, and is still alive 9 months after diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMed1989

[Philadelphia-positive acute mixed leukemia with monosomy 7].

A 26-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of fever and leukocytosis. On admission, a white blood cell count was 28,300/microliters with 46.5% blast cells and 16.0% atypical monocytoid cells, a hemoglobin level 13.7 g/dl, and a platelet count 15.0 X 10(4)/microliters. Bone marrow contained 58.8% of peroxidase-negative blast cells. He was diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL L2) according to the FAB classification. Chromosome analysis revealed the marrow cells to contain 45, XY, -7, t(9; 22) (q34; q11). On surface marker analysis, the leukemic cells were positive for both lymphoid (CD10) and myeloid markers (CD13). Two color flow-cytometric analysis showed two distinct populations with CD10 and CD1 3, respectively. Rearrangements of both immunoglobulin heavy chain and T cell receptor beta-chain were observed. The "breakpoint cluster region" on chromosome 22 was not rearranged. On the basis of these findings, we thought this case being acute mixed leukemia. He was refractory to AdVP therapy and BHAC-DMP therapy. He is now under treatment with A-Triple-V therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Differentiation and oncogenesis: phenotypically distinct lens tumors in transgenic mice.

We report on two lines of transgenic mice that express a murine alpha A-crystallin/SV40 tumor antigen fusion gene in the eye lens. The alpha T1 line develops fast growing, poorly differentiated lens tumors, whereas the alpha T2 line produces lens tumors that are slow growing and well differentiated. There is a striking difference between these two lines in the temporal and spatial patterns of tumor antigen expression during initial lens development. In the alpha T1 line, the transgene is expressed very early in development in most lens cells, and no primary fiber differentiation takes place. In the alpha T2 line, transgene expression occurs after primary fiber formation has been initiated, and is restricted to differentiating fiber cells. The anterior epithelium from both alpha T lines undergoes normal development and remains morphologically normal until after birth, although in alpha T1 mice, these anterior cells produce considerable amounts of SV40 tumor antigens. This suggests that the state of differentiation of the lens cell plays an important role in its response to oncogene products.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Growth factors produced by rat glioma cells: activities of transforming growth factors].

Growth factors contained in cultured medium of rat glioma C6 cells (C6 cells) were examined mainly for the activity of transforming growth factors (TGFs). Cultured medium of C6 cells was dialyzed against acetic acid, lyophilized and chromatographed by gel-permeation method, the fractions were assayed by soft agar colony formation, iodine 125 (125I)-epidermal growth factor (EGF)-binding competition and incorporation of tritium-thymidine. Two nontransformed cell lines, clonal NRK49F and BALB/3T3 A 31-1-1 (3T3) cells, were used as indicator cells for the soft agar colony assay. 3T3 cells were also used for the incorporation of tritium-thymidine. EGF receptor-rich A 431 cells were used for 125I-EGF-binding competition assay. The activity of alpha-type TGFs was examined by soft agar colony formation of NRK49F cells and inhibition of EGF-binding to A 431 cells since TGF alpha has sequence homology with EGF and binds to EGF receptors on the cell membrane, while the activity of beta-type TGFs was examined by soft agar colony formation of 3T3 cells and NRK 49 F cells with the addition of EGF. High level of activities of both TGF alpha and TGF beta were detected in 14,000 to 45,000 daltons, and also high level of the activity of DNA synthesis was detected at the same molecular weight. These results suggest that C6 cells produce TGF alpha and TGF beta as well as platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs)-analogue. Since amplification of EGF receptor gene has been demonstrated in glioma, TGF alpha released by glioma may provide autocrine stimulation through the binding to the amplified EGF receptors. TGF beta is known to increase EGF receptors on the cell membrane. TGF beta has been demonstrated not only to stimulate but also inhibit cell proliferation under certain circumstances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Clinical results of endourologic technique for upper urinary calculi].

Between May, 1985 and September, 1987, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL) and transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL) have been performed at our hospital and five affiliated hospitals. We report on the therapeutic results of 216 cases treated during this period. PNL and TUL were performed 168 times on 120 patients (119 males and 41 females) and 57 times on 56 patients (35 males and 21 females), respectively. Rate of success with PNL was 80.7% (103/130) for renal calculus, 85.7% (18/21) for upper ureteral calculus, and 47.1% (8/17) for middle-lower ureteral calculus. Rate of success with TUL was 57.9% (33/57). Of these, cases of ureteral lower edge calculus showed the lowest rate of success, being 33.3% (2/6). Complications of the cases undergoing PNL and TUL were: ureteral damage in 13; hemorrhage in 6; renal pelvic damage in 4; ureteral lower edge stenosis in 3; pyrexia in 3; cardiac insufficiency in 2 and retention of perfusate in posterior peritoneal cavity, pneumonia and renal insufficiency in 1 case each.

Adolescent↗