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Biomedical subjects

T Ohba

Publications and source records attributed to T Ohba.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Sterol carrier protein 2: a role in steroid hormone synthesis?

The intracellular movement of cholesterol is an important regulated step in the process of steroidogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cholesterol is translocated to key organelles, including the mitochondria, remains poorly understood. Lipid transfer proteins may have an important function in this process. One candidate lipid transfer protein is sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2). This 13.2 kDa protein enhances the movement of cholesterol between vesicles and isolated mitochondria. It also stimulates mitochondrial pregnenolone synthesis. When introduced into intact cells, anti-SCP2 antibodies reduce steroid secretion. Moreover, expression of SCP2 in COS cells engineered to produce progestins increases steroid formation. SCP2 is abundant in steroidogenic glands and the pattern of SCP2 gene expression is consistent with a role for the protein in hormone synthesis: SCP2 transcripts are more prominent in the most steroidogenic compartments of the ovary and tropic hormones that stimulate steroidogenesis increase SCP2 gene expression. Other evidence that suggests that SCP2 plays important roles in cellular function includes a remarkable conservation of primary structure across species. The mechanisms by which SCP2 promotes intracellular sterol movement have not been elucidated. The protein appears to bind sterols and is synthesized with a 20 amino acid N-terminal "pro-" sequence that may serve to target SCP2 to mitochondria. In addition, the C-terminus of SCP2 contains a peroxisome-targeting sequence. SCP2 is derived from a large gene that encodes transcripts that are translated into larger proteins of 30 and 58 kDa. The 58 kDa protein, which has some structural homologies with thiolases, seems to be specifically targeted to peroxisomes whereas SCP2 has a broader subcellular distribution. The significance of the peroxisome association of SCP2 and steroidogenesis has not been disclosed. However, diseases of peroxisome function, including adrenoleukodystrophy and Zellweger syndrome, have notable deficits in steroid and bile acid metabolism, thus linking peroxisomes and steroidogenesis. SCP2 is deficient in fibroblasts of patients with these diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[A case of Sjögren's syndrome accompanied by lymphadenopathy and IgG4 hypergammaglobulinemia].

A 78-year-old male patient suffered from slight dryness of his mouth and eyes, which was followed by swelling of the parotid and submandibular glands on both sides. Subsequently, he developed generalized lymphadenopathy accompanied by hypergammaglobulinemia IgG 7740 mg/dl, main subclass: IgG4, 5800 mg/dl. Histopathological examination of lymph nodes from his left neck showed follicular proliferation of plasma cells containing cytoplasmic kappa and lambda chains of IgG4, without destruction of the lymph node structure. His serum showed very low levels of complement: 0 U/ml of CH 50, 14 mg/ml of C3 and less than 11 mg/ml of C4. During treatment with prednisolone at 30 mg/day, the swelling of the salivary glands and lymph nodes reduced the IgG and IgG4 decreased and the complement increased. Finally, all lymph nodes, IgG and complement abnormalities were normalized. Anticomplementariness of IgG4 was demonstrated in this patient.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Development of radioimmunoassay for TG-51, a new anti-ulcer drug, and its application.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for a new anti-ulcer drug TG-51 has been developed and applied to the evaluation of its pharmacokinetics in humans. The antiserum was raised in rabbits against an immunogen of N-Acetyl-TG-51 coupled to human serum albumin. The radioactive compound was prepared by acetylating TG-51 with 3H-Acetic anhydride. The separation of free and antibody-bound N-Acetyl-TG-51 was performed by the dextran coated charcoal technique. TG-51 in biological fluids could be quantitatively converted to N-Acetyl-TG-51 prior to radioimmunoassay. This assay system made it possible to ascertain values of 3 ng/ml of TG-51 in plasma using 100 microliters of samples. Results were in good agreement with a high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC), and the detection limit was raised 25 fold. The accuracy and repoducibility were also satisfactory. By use of this assay method, plasma levels of TG-51 could be determined after a single oral administration of clinical doses of human volunteers.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Ovarian twin pregnancy.

Ovarian twin pregnancy is quite uncommon. We present a case of an ovarian twin pregnancy associated with pelvic endometriosis. The ultrasonographic findings in our case were similar to those of malignant ovarian tumor. Five cases of ovarian twin pregnancy, including this case, are reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Nutritional assessment of a group of Japanese elementary school children in Tokyo: with special emphasis on growth, anemia, and obesity.

Anthropometric data, nutrient intake data, and blood biochemical parameters were analyzed for 66 elementary school children living in Tokyo, Japan, and their nutritional status was evaluated focusing on three problems: (1) zinc nutriture and growth, (2) anemia with iron deficiency, and (3) lipid nutriture and obesity. The subjects' mean energy and protein intakes met the recommended levels for Japanese children. However, their zinc intake levels were inadequate at 7.2, 8.3, and 8.5 mg in grades 2 (mean age: 8 yr), 4 (10 yr), and 6 (12 yr), respectively. Mean serum zinc concentration was 0.82 +/- 0.15 microgram/ml; the percentages of subjects who showed serum zinc concentration lower than 0.68 microgram/ml, the lower limit of the normal serum zinc concentration, were 28.6, 15.4, and 5.0% in grades 2, 4, and 6, respectively. These serum zinc concentrations indicated the existence of marginal zinc deficiency in some children, particularly in grade 2, though it was not severe enough to retard growth. Their iron intake levels (8.2, 10.2, and 10.2 mg for grades 2, 4, and 6, respectively) in combination with the proportion of iron intake from animal foods (37%) were judged to be adequate because no children showed serum ferritin, serum iron, or transferrin saturation levels lower than the criteria levels recommended for iron deficiency. Moreover, no definitely anemic children were found. Daily lipid intakes were 65.7, 74.5, and 78.3 g in grades 2, 4, and 6, respectively, and the mean percentage of energy intake from lipid to total energy intake, 32%, exceeded the level recommended. Mean serum total cholesterol concentrations and the percentage of subjects with elevated cholesterol levels (greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl) were high compared with the reported values. Means of the body mass index (BMI) and Rohrer Index (RI) for the subjects were slightly higher than Japanese standards. With these parameters for obesity, triglycerides and atherogenic index were positively correlated and HDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol percentage to total cholesterol were negatively correlated.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1991

The posterior wall of the maxillary sinus as seen in panoramic radiography.

The dental and sinus projection programs of the PM 2002cc panoramic x-ray unit were compared with regard to the visualization of the maxillary sinus posterior wall of a dried skull. The posterior wall of the maxillary sinus appeared different on each program. In the sinus projection program the posterior wall appeared narrower than that in the dental projection program. The main cause for the difference of the maxillary sinus posterior wall image was the projection angle. In the sinus projection x-rays entered more tangentially to the posterior wall of the sinus than in the dental projection, but in the dental projection x-rays entered more tangentially to the mediosuperior and medioinferior region of the maxillary sinus posterior wall. Thus a large, widely destructive lesion in the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus would be more easily detected with the sinus projection. On the other hand, lesions confined to the mediosuperior and medioinferior regions of the posterior wall will be depicted more clearly with the dental projection program.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Regulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the cell systems in response to cellular stimuli].

Calcium ion (Ca2+) is considered to be involved in the regulation of numerous cellular processes. CaM kinase II is present at the highest concentration in the brain and is considered to be involved in the regulation and coordination of numerous cellular processes. CaM kinase II is activated by Ca2+/calmodulin and simultaneously undergoes autophosphorylation. It has not been determined whether the enzyme is activated in the cell systems in response to the increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. We have studied CaM kinase II in several kinds of cells including the primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells and the cell lines of rat embryo fibroblast 3Y1 cells, neuroblastoma cells, PC12 cells and C6 glioma cells. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of CaM kinase II in all of the cells examined. Furthermore, the kinase in cerebellar granule cells was activated by the stimulation of the glutamic acid receptor. Autophosphorylation of CaM kinase II in 3Y1 cells was stimulated by the addition of growth factors. These results suggest that CaM kinase II undergoes activation and autophosphorylation in response to various stimuli to the cells and is regulated in the dynamic state.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[The determination of CK-MB protein mass].

It has been well known that the determination of CK-MB is a useful parameter for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Currently, several methods such as Electrophoresis, Ion-exchange chromatography, Immunoinhibition method and Protein mass determination are available. From a point of the diagnosis of AMI, the method should be satisfied with the requirements of high speed, ease to perform, high analytical specificity and high analytical sensitivity. However, there are no appropriate methods which can satisfy all of the requirement. In this paper, we have introduced the present situation concerning the determination of CK-MB in our hospital and discussed the results of study on the IMx method based on the determination of protein mass of CK-MB. We obtained good results in the fundamental study and found some advantages of protein mass determination. The first advantage was its high analytical specificity by use of monoclonal antibody. The second advantage was its high analytical sensitivity because of its low detection limit. The third advantage was the stability of sample because the antigenicity of CK-MB to the antibody of reagent is stable comparing with that of enzyme activity. From those advantages, the mass determination of CK-MB will be a useful method for the diagnosis of AMI in the near future.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1991

Clinical usefulness of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen for early detection of squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is rarely diagnosed preoperatively. We measured the pre-treatment serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in three stage I patients in order to evaluate its usefulness as a tumor marker for early detection of the disease. The serum levels were elevated in each case, to 26.9, 5.1, and 3.2 ng/mL, respectively, and rapidly dropped to within the normal range after treatment. All patients are recovered and show no evidence of recurrence, and the levels of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen have remained within normal limits. These results suggest that measurement of the serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen level may be useful in diagnosing an early-stage primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary. An elevated preoperative serum level of squamous cell carcinoma antigen may indicate the need for a rapid pathologic examination of the tumor to look for malignant elements and may influence the surgical regimen.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I infection as an oncogenic and prognostic risk factor in cervical and vaginal carcinoma.

The seroprevalence of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) antibody in 6701 healthy females and 226 women with gynecologic malignancies, all living in an adult T-cell leukemia-endemic area in southwestern Japan, was investigated to determine whether HTLV-I infection was a risk factor influencing oncogenesis and prognosis. The seroprevalences in cervical carcinoma patients younger than 59 years and in vaginal carcinoma patients of all ages were significantly higher than in age-matched healthy controls. The ratios of observed to expected HTLV-I seroprevalence in patients younger than 59 with cervical carcinoma and in vaginal carcinoma patients were 2.92 and 7.36, respectively. Among the patients with cervical carcinoma or vaginal carcinoma, the tumor recurrence rate in HTLV-I carriers was significantly higher than that in HTLV-I seronegative patients. Our results suggest that HTLV-I infection may be oncogenic and may affect the prognosis in some patients with cervical or vaginal carcinoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve detected by fetal echocardiography.

The tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with an absent pulmonary valve is a rare congenital cardiac malformation. We recorded the fetal echocardiographic findings for a fetus with the TOF with absent pulmonary valve and review the literature on this condition. The infant died 5 days after birth and the autopsy showed no infundibular stenosis. The degree of infundibular stenosis may be correlated with the prognosis of infants with this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Transient hypothermia and hyperphagia induced by selenium and tellurium compounds in mice.

The effects of sublethal doses of selenite, selenate, selenocystine (Se-Cys) and selenomethionine (Se-Met) as well as of tellurite on body temperature and feeding behavior were examined in male ICR mice. Ten or 30 mumol/kg of chemicals were injected subcutaneously and body temperature was measured up to 4 h. In a separate experiment, the gastric content was weighted 4 h after injection. All chemicals except Se-Met induced both hypothermia and hyperphagia, suggesting that: (a) these two effects are related to each other; (b) among the chemicals tested, Se-Cys appears to be the most potent hypothermia inducer; (c) Se-Met is unique in that it has neither effect.

Animals↗