Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Ohtsuka

Publications and source records attributed to T Ohtsuka.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Inhibition of the production of rat cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1, a member of the interleukin-8 family, by adenovirus-mediated overexpression of IkappaBalpha.

Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1, a counterpart of the human growth-regulated gene product (GRO) of the interleukin-8 family, has been suggested to play critical roles as a mediator of inflammatory reactions with neutrophil infiltration in rats. NF-kappaB has been speculated to be involved in the production of CINC-1, since the NF-kappaB-binding domain is important for the CINC-1 promoter activity in several of our reporter assays. In the present study, we examined the effects of an overexpression of IkappaBalpha, a specific natural inhibitor of NF-kappaB, on CINC-1 production. For this purpose, we constructed two recombinant adenoviruses, AxCAIkappaBalpha and AxCAmutantIkappaBalpha, which express respectively wild IkBa and a mutated nondegradable IkappaBalpha in which serine residues 32 and 36 are replaced by alanine residues. Transfecting wild and mutant IkBa by these adenovirus vectors inhibited NF-kappaB activation and CINC-1 production, which were both caused by IL-1beta stimulation in the normal rat kidney epithelial cell line NRK-52E. We also showed that the nondegradable mutant IkappaBalpha was approximately 30 times more potent than the wild type in inhibiting CINC-1 production. These findings demonstrate that CINC-1 production with NF-kappaB activation is primarily regulated by non-phosphorylated IkBa in the cytoplasm.

Adenoviridae↗

Lipodystrophia centrifugalis abdominalis infantilis-- immunohistochemical demonstration of an apoptotic process in the degenerating fatty tissue.

We report a case of lipodystrophia centrifugalis abdominalis infantilis (LCAI) showing apoptosis during the lipoatrophic process by immunohistochemical staining. A 3-year-old boy was seen with a 3-month history of a centrifugally spreading depressed eruption without pain and pruritus on his abdomen. He had fever, diarrhea and vomiting for a week at the beginning of his eruption. Physical examination revealed a palm-sized well-demarcated atrophic plaque on his lower abdomen and left inguinal fold. His plaque showed fine erythema peripherally. A skin biopsy specimen showed remarkably decreased subcutaneous fatty tissue. Inflammatory cell infiltration including lymphocytes and histiocytes was noted in the degenerating fatty tissue. In the degenerating subcutaneous fatty tissue, positive staining for HLA-DR, Fas, bcl-2, p53 and transferase-mediated uridine nick end labeling in mononuclear cells were observed. He was diagnosed as having LCAI. The present case showed the possible involvement of apoptosis in the fatty tissue degeneration in LCAI.

Abdomen↗

Transient U wave inversion during treadmill exercise testing in patients with left anterior descending coronary artery disease.

The transient U wave inversion during exercise is specific for detecting left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) disease. In a homogeneous patient group restricted to LAD disease, however, the significance of the electrocardiographic finding has not yet been clarified. Thus, clinical characteristics in patients with angiographically documented one-vessel disease of the LAD and exercise-induced U wave inversion were delineated. Symptom-limited treadmill exercise testing was performed in 60 patients (43 men, 17 women; mean age 64 +/- 8 years) with angina pectoris whose culprit lesion was located only in the LAD. U wave polarity and amplitude were determined before, during, and after exercise with the P-Q segment as the isoelectric line. Exercise-induced transient U wave inversion was defined as positive when there was a discrete negative deflection > or = 0.05 mV within the T-P segment. Of all patients, 16 (27%) had exercise-induced U wave inversion. There were no differences in age, male gender, antianginal medication use, and coronary angiographic data between the two patients groups: patients with and without U wave inversion. Heart rate and double product of heart rate and systemic systolic blood pressure at peak exercise were also similar. Prevalence of abnormal exercise-induced S-T segment shift was 94% (15 of 16 patients) and 61% (27 of 44 patients) of patients with and without U wave inversion, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Among patients with exercise-induced S-T segment shift, the proportion of patients with S-T segment elevation to all the patients was larger in patients with U wave inversion than in patients without U wave inversion [3 (20%) of 15 patients vs 0 (0%) of 27 patients, p = 0.03)]. In conclusion, the exercise-induced U wave inversion in patients with one-vessel disease of the LAD indicates the severe degree of myocardial ischemia induced in the territory perfused by the LAD. However, the electrocardiographic finding does not appear to have independent significance since it closely correlates with the presence of S-T segment shift.

Aged↗

A 25-year-old patient with low cardiac risk factors having a combination of variant angina and severe coronary arterial lesions--a case report.

A 25-year-old man with low cardiac risks underwent coronary arteriography because of chest pain at rest. His only risk factors for coronary artery disease was smoking. Both right and left coronary arteries were ectatic and the left anterior descending artery was obstructed. In the acetylcholine provocation test, the left circumflex coronary artery showed severe constriction. Thus, this patient was diagnosed as having a combination of variant angina and occlusive coronary artery disease.

Adult↗

Coronary spastic angina induced by anticholinesterase medication for myasthenia gravis--a case report.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by weakness of skeletal muscles because of a decrease in the number of available acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions. Anticholinesterase medication is widely used to treat MG, but muscarinic side effects sometimes appear and limit the drug usage. To their knowledge, the authors present the first case of coronary spastic angina quite possibly induced by anticholinesterase medication to treat MG. The appearance of coronary spastic angina in the present case is likely mediated through the increase of acethylcholine by anticholinesterase medication.

Aged↗

Glial cell fate specification modulated by the bHLH gene Hes5 in mouse retina.

Neurons and glial cells differentiate from common precursors. Whereas the gene glial cells missing (gcm) determines the glial fate in Drosophila, current data about the expression patterns suggest that, in mammals, gcm homologues are unlikely to regulate gliogenesis. Here, we found that, in mouse retina, the bHLH gene Hes5 was specifically expressed by differentiating Müller glial cells and that misexpression of Hes5 with recombinant retrovirus significantly increased the population of glial cells at the expense of neurons. Conversely, Hes5-deficient retina showed 30-40% decrease of Müller glial cell number without affecting cell survival. These results indicate that Hes5 modulates glial cell fate specification in mouse retina.

Animals↗

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with life-threatening paroxysmal atrial flutter with a slow ventricular response: a case report.

A 58-year-old male patient had apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) associated with a life-threatening tachycardia due to atrial flutter. Following palpitation and dyspnea for 2-3 h, he became unconscious because of circulatory catastrophe, but was fully resuscitated. An electrocardiogram recorded just before the loss of consciousness revealed atrial flutter at a rate of 260 beats/min with a 2:1 ventricular response. He was diagnosed as having apical HCM based on the echocardiographic and left ventriculographic findings. Atrial stimulation at a rate of 150 pacings/min for 1 min caused a marked drop in systemic systolic blood pressure from 170 to 120 mmHg. The patient was treated with 150 mg of cibenzoline per day to prevent supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and to improve left ventricular diastolic function. At the time of the recent follow-up at 2 and a half years, he felt quite well.

Atrial Flutter↗

Effect of beta-blocker on left ventricular function and natriuretic peptides in patients with chronic heart failure treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

To evaluate whether or not beta-blockers can improve the condition of patients with heart failure treated with a combination of diuretics, digitalis and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), 52 patients with chronic heart failure who have been treated with ACEI for more than 6 months were enrolled. They were divided into 2 groups: 26 patients continued the same therapy another 6 months or more (group A), and 26 patients were given oral metoprolol for 6 months or more, in addition to the ACEI (group B). Echocardiographic parameters and atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP) were measured. The left ventricular dimensions at end-diastole and end-systole were significantly decreased and fractional shortening was significantly increased in group B after 6 months' treatment with the beta-blocker, but these parameters remained unchanged in group A. Plasma levels of both ANP and BNP were significantly decreased in group B, but remained unchanged in group A. These results indicate that concomitant beta-blocker therapy can improve left ventricular function and attenuate plasma ANP and BNP levels in patients with chronic heart failure treated with ACEI.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Comparison of substrate specificities of transglutaminases using synthetic peptides as acyl donors.

Transglutaminase (TGase) is an enzyme that catalyzes acyl transfer reactions between primary amines and Gln residues in proteins or peptides. Substrate specificities of TGase, Ca2+-independent microbial transglutaminase (MTGase), and Ca2+-dependent tissue type transglutaminase from guinea pig liver (GTGase) and fish, Red sea bream (Pagrus major), liver (FTGase), for acyl donors were investigated using synthetic peptides containing Gln residues and Gln analogues with different lengths of side chain. MTGase dose not recognize the Gln analogues as a substrate and has strict substrate specificities toward L-Gln. Substrate peptides with a variety of sequences around the Gln residue, GXXQXXG (X=G, A, S, L, V, F, Y, R, N, E, L) were synthesized and used as acyl donors. As an acyl acceptor, the fluorescent reagent monodancyl cadaverine was used and the reactions analyzed with RP-HPLC. Substitution of the C-terminal of a Gln residue with a hydrophobic amino acid accelerated the reaction by GTGase and FTGase. N-terminal substitution of Gln residues had similar effects on the reaction by MTGase.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Cardiomyocyte functions couple with left ventricular geometric patterns in hypertension.

Previous studies have suggested the prognostic significance of left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns in essential hypertension. However, the relation between cardiomyocyte functional changes and LV geometric patterns has not been clarified. This study was designed to assess the morphological and functional changes in isolated myocytes derived from different LV geometric patterns in hypertension. After 2-3 weeks of a high-salt (8%) diet from the age of 6 weeks, 20 Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats were classified into the following three groups on the basis of an echocardiographically determined LV mass index and the relative wall thickness: concentric hypertrophy (11), eccentric hypertrophy (4), and concentric remodeling (5). Ten Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats served as controls. In vivo LV functions were assessed based on echocardiographic measurements. We examined ventricular myocytes isolated from all groups. To evaluate the force-frequency relation, cardiomyocytes isolated from all groups were paced at stimulation rates of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 Hz. Concentric hypertrophy and eccentric hypertrophy groups exhibited an increase in myocyte width but no changes in the length. Concentric hypertrophy and concentric remodeling groups demonstrated in vivo LV dysfunction. In addition, DS rats, especially these with concentric hypertrophy, demonstrated impaired frequency responses in terms of both myocyte contraction and relaxation compared with DR rats. This impaired force-frequency relationship was especially remarkable at high frequencies. These findings suggest that the structural and functional changes in cardiomyocytes are closely related to the LV geometric pattern and may contribute to a different prognosis according to different geometric patterns.

Animals↗

Different interaction of mast cells with human endothelial cells and fibroblasts.

In a number of chronic inflammatory conditions resulting in fibrosis, perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration including mast cells (MC) has been shown before the onset of vascular injury and interstitial fibrosis. These observations suggest a role for MC in inducing endothelial cell (EC) injury and fibroblast (FB) proliferation and collagen synthesis. In view of these observations, the interactions of MC with EC and FB were studied. MC adhesion to EC and FB showed time-dependent increase reaching a plateau at 1 and 3 hrs, respectively. With added MC, the proliferation of EC showed a dose-dependent decrease, but that of FB, a dose-dependent increase. MC, MC surpernatant and sonicated MC induced dose-dependent cytotoxic activity to EC, whose cytotoxicy was inhibited by trypsin inhibitor. FB cocultured with MC showed 9.95 times collagen synthesis and 11.0 times protein synthesis compared with FB without MC. These results showed that 1) MC attached to EC inhibited the proliferation by cytotoxic activity to EC, which was due to a kind of proteolytic enzyme involving trypsin, 2) MC had proliferative and collagen synthetic activity to FB. These results suggest the possibility that MC have a role in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases resulting in vascular injury and interstitial fibrosis.

Animals↗

[Results of surgical treatment for pulmonary aspergilloma in postlobectomy patients].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of postlobectomy pulmonary aspergilloma. Between January 1986 and September 1999, six patients were surgically treated. Aspergilloma were diagnosed on the basis of the clinical and radiographic findings in all cases. All patients were poor pulmonary function. Space-reducing surgery was performed in 5 patients, completion pneumonectomy was performed in 1 patient. The reoperation was only one, the clinical impression of the cause was too difficult direct closure of the bronchial fistula due to formation of marginal fistula. We believe that space-reducing surgery for postlobectomy patients with pulmonary aspergilloma is useful and benefit treatment.

Aged↗

Rab11BP/Rabphilin-11, a downstream target of rab11 small G protein implicated in vesicle recycling.

Rab11 small G protein has been implicated in vesicle recycling, but its upstream regulators or downstream targets have not yet been identified. We isolated here a downstream target of Rab11, named rabphilin-11, from bovine brain. Moreover, we isolated from a rat brain cDNA library its cDNA, which encoded a protein with a M(r) of 100,946 and 908 amino acids (aa). Rabphilin-11 bound GTP-Rab11 more preferentially than GDP-Rab11 at the N-terminal region and was specific for Rab11 and inactive for other Rab and Rho small G proteins. Both GTP-Rab11 and rabphilin-11 were colocalized at perinuclear regions, presumably the Golgi complex and recycling endosomes, in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. In HeLa cells cultured on fibronectin, both the proteins were localized not only at perinuclear regions but also along microtubules, which were oriented toward membrane lamellipodia. Treatment of HeLa cells with nocodazole caused disruption of microtubules and dispersion of GTP-Rab11 and rabphilin-11. Overexpression of the C-terminal fragment of rabphilin-11 (aa 607-730), lacking the GTP-Rab11 binding domain, in HeLa cells reduced accumulation of transferrin at perinuclear regions and cell migration. Rabphilin-11 turned out to be a rat counterpart of recently reported bovine Rab11BP. These results indicate that rabphilin-11 is a downstream target of Rab11 which is involved in vesicle recycling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hes1 and Hes5 as notch effectors in mammalian neuronal differentiation.

While the transmembrane protein Notch plays an important role in various aspects of development, and diseases including tumors and neurological disorders, the intracellular pathway of mammalian Notch remains very elusive. To understand the intracellular pathway of mammalian Notch, the role of the bHLH genes Hes1 and Hes5 (mammalian hairy and Enhancer-of-split homologues) was examined by retrovirally misexpressing the constitutively active form of Notch (caNotch) in neural precursor cells prepared from wild-type, Hes1-null, Hes5-null and Hes1-Hes5 double-null mouse embryos. We found that caNotch, which induced the endogenous Hes1 and Hes5 expression, inhibited neuronal differentiation in the wild-type, Hes1-null and Hes5-null background, but not in the Hes1-Hes5 double-null background. These results demonstrate that Hes1 and Hes5 are essential Notch effectors in regulation of mammalian neuronal differentiation.

Animals↗

nRap GEP: a novel neural GDP/GTP exchange protein for rap1 small G protein that interacts with synaptic scaffolding molecule (S-SCAM).

Synaptic scaffolding molecule (S-SCAM) has six PDZ domains through which it interacts with N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and neuroligin at synaptic junctions. We isolated here a novel S-SCAM-binding protein. This protein has one PDZ, one Ras association, one Ras GDP/GTP exchange protein (Ras GEP) domain, and one C-terminal consensus motif for binding to PDZ domains. We named it nRap GEP (neural Rap GEP). nRap GEP moreover has an incomplete cyclic AMP (cAMP)-binding (CAB) domain. The domain organization of nRap GEP is similar to that of Epac/cAMP-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) I, except that Epac/cAMP-GEFI has complete CAB and Ras GEP domains but lacks the other two domains and the C-terminal motif. nRap GEP showed GEP activity for Rap1 but did not bind cAMP. nRap GEP was specifically expressed in rat brain. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that nRap GEP and S-SCAM were localized at synaptic areas of the cerebellum. These results suggest that nRap GEP is a novel neural Rap1-specific GEP which is associated with S-SCAM.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the duodenum forming multiple polypoid lesions: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a patient found to have mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the duodenum forming multiple polypoid lesions. Endoscopic examination revealed multiple small nodules with a yellow-white, rough surface in the duodenal bulb. Histopathological and immunological findings subsequently suggested low-grade B-cell MALT lymphoma. Cytologically, MALT lymphoma is similar to multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP); however, this case, which involved multiple polypoid lesions, was confirmed not to be MLP.

Aged↗