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Biomedical subjects

T Okuno

Publications and source records attributed to T Okuno.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Basal cell carcinoma with neuroid type nuclear palisading: a report of three cases.

Nuclear palisading is a characteristic feature which is typically seen in neural tumours such as neurilemmoma, and also in some other tumours. We report here three patients with basal cell carcinoma who showed histological patterns similar to nuclear palisading. To our knowledge, this is the first such case report in the medical literature; we apply the term 'neuroid-type nuclear palisading' to these cases. In our patients, the spindle-shaped tumour cells were tightly packed and the nuclei were arranged uniformly to form this rare feature.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Isolation, characterization, and sugar chain structure of endoPG Ia, Ib and Ic from Stereum purpureum.

Three endopolygalacturonases (endoPG Ia, Ib, and Ic) were isolated from the culture filtrate of Stereum purpureum, the causative fungus of apple silver-leaf disease. Their properties, including specific activities, optimum pHs, thermal stabilities, and kinetic parameters (K(m) and Vmax) were compared. Their properties were very similar to one another except for the substrate specificity and relative molecular mass. The sugar chains of endoPG Is were released by hydrazinolysis, and one major sugar chain common to endoPG Is was isolated. The pyridylamino sugar was characterized by a two-dimensional mapping method using HPLC, and identified as a high mannose type N-linked sugar chain, Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3)Man alpha 1-6(Man alpha 1-3) Man beta 1-4 GlcNAc beta 1-4 GlcNAc (designated as M5.1). Observation of the course of Western blot analysis for the proteins from the culture filtrate with endoPG I antibodies showed that the fungus secreted three endoPG Is into the culture broth during the growing period.

Amino Sugars↗
PubMed1998

[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in patients with coagulopathies: report of three cases].

We describe our experience with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in three patients with coagulation disorders (one case of hemophilia A, and two cases of thromboasthenia). We successfully performed ESWL using factor VIII or transfusion of platelets without any severe hemorrhagic complications, such as perirenal and subcapsural hematomas. We consider that adequate supplement of coagulation factor or platelets may lower the risk of hemorrhagic complications in coagulopathic patients who undergo ESWL.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Eleven cases of paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis; correlation with benign infantile convulsions].

We report 11 subjects, consisting of sibling cases from 5 unrelated families, with paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC). In these subjects the PKC attacks started between the ages of 5 and 17 years and were well controlled with anti-epileptic drugs or subsided spontaneously. In 8 cases from 4 families with PKC, infantile convulsions occurred between the ages of 3 and 8 months and an excellent prognosis was obtained in all but one male. Four of the 8 subjects had complex partial seizures which were characterized by staring, eye deviation, apnea, or loss of consciousness. The nature of these convulsions shared some of the clinical features of benign infantile epilepsies, which have been recently advocated as a new category of epilepsy. There were no differences in the clinical between the cases with and without infantile convulsions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Functions of purified gB, gE:gI, and gH:gL, and their sialyl residues in varicella-zoster virus infection.

Varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins were purified by using monoclonal antibodies and analyzed for their effects on cell-free virus infection. Preinfection treatment of cells with gH:gL reduced the infection efficiency and increased the number of unadsorbed virus. Postinfection treatment of cells with gB increased the infection efficiency, but that with gE:gI reduced it. Treatment of gE:gI and gH:gL with neuraminidase (NA) abolished their inhibitory activity and the plaque formation was enhanced by NA treatment of glycoproteins and cells. Glycoproteins exhibited their diverse activities despite their common role in viral penetration, and sialyl residues were responsible for their function in cell-free virus infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The clinical value of grading and staging scores for predicting a long-term response and evaluating the efficacy of interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the clinical usefulness of a new histological scoring system (grading and staging scores) for predicting a long-term response to interferon therapy and evaluating the efficacy of therapy, we examined biochemical, virological and histological findings during and 1 year after interferon therapy in 109 patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Hepatitis C virus RNA was assayed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, hepatitis C virus genotype was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using type-specific primers, and histological grading and staging scores were determined according to a newer scoring system. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups according to the outcome of serum alanine aminotransferase levels and HCV RNA level during and after therapy: 31 long-term responders whose serum aminotransferase level became and remained normal for 1 year after therapy with undetectable HCV RNA in serum and liver and 78 non-responders whose aminotransferase levels did not normalize during therapy or rose again after therapy. Before therapy, the long-term responders had significantly lower viral levels, lower incidence of genotype 1b, and lower staging scores than those of the non-responders. There was no significant difference in grading score between the long-term and non-responders. Multivariate analysis showed that the viral level and genotype are more important predictors of a long-term response than the staging score. Both grading and staging scores decreased significantly at the end of therapy in both the long-term and non-responders. The 1-year follow-up liver biopsy examination in the long-term responders showed that the grading score, but not the staging score, continued to decrease significantly. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that: (1) the staging score, but not the grading score, appears to be associated with a long-term response, but the viral level and genotype are more important predictors than the staging score; and (2) both the grading and staging scores decreased significantly with interferon therapy, but the staging score appeared to take longer to improve than the grading score.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1997

Antigenic analysis of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) and HHV-6 using immune sera and monoclonal antibodies against HHV-7.

Using polyclonal and monoclonal (MAbs) antibodies to human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7), we have studied HHV-7-specific polypeptides. Human sera were obtained during the convalescent phase from patients with exanthem subitum due to HHV-7, and at least 16 HHV-7-specific polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 26-210 kDa were immuno-precipitated. Sera prepared in mice also precipitated at least 17 HHV-7-specific polypeptides with molecular masses of 26-210 kDa. Among them, the most commonly observed antigenic protein had an apparent molecular mass of 52 kDa. Forty-two clones secreting MAbs against HHV-7-specific proteins, as determined by immunofluorescence assays, were established from BALB/c mice immunized with HHV-7-infected cell extracts. Seven MAbs which immunoprecipitated HHV-7-specific polypeptides were further characterized. Two of these, MAbs 5E12 and 5F12, reacted predominantly with glyco-proteins of 78 kDa and 85 kDa, respectively, and possessed neutralizing activity. This suggests that there are at least two neutralization-inducing proteins in HHV-7. MAb 16B4 reacted with the major immunogenic protein of 52 kDa. Five of the 42 MAbs also reacted in immunofluorescence assays with HHV-6 antigens to the same degree as to HHV-7. Two other MAbs, 7C10 and 10F1, recognized an HHV-7 protein of 40 kDa, and only 7C10 cross-reacted with an HHV-6 protein of 45 kDa.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Identification of a variant B-specific neutralizing epitope on glycoprotein H of human herpesvirus-6.

We have identified the human herpesvirus-6 variant B (HHV-6B)-specific neutralizing epitope on glycoprotein H (gH) which is recognized by monoclonal antibody (MAb) OHV3, with complement-independent neutralizing activity. HHV-6 gHs from HHV-6A (strain U1102) and HHV-6B (strain HST) were expressed in a T7-vaccinia virus transient expression system. OHV3 reacted with HST gH, but not with U1102 gH, in an immunoprecipitation assay and an indirect immunofluorescence assay. In addition, OHV3 reacted with chimeric gHs, formed between U1102 gH and HST gH, containing amino acids 272 to 422 of HST gH. Sequence comparison between U1102 and HST showed seven amino acid differences in this region. Site-specific mutations were introduced into these positions and then reactivity against OHV3 was investigated. The arginine at position 389 of HST gH was shown to be a determinant of the HHV-6B-specific reactivity of OHV3.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1997

Outcomes of infants whose mothers are positive for human herpesvirus-6 DNA within the genital tract in early gestation.

It has been reported that HHV-6 (human herpesvirus-6) DNA has been identified within the female genital tract. However, the clinical significance of this finding has been unclear. The clinical outcome of the presence of HHV-6 DNA in the genital tract of pregnant women on their infants was evaluated in the present study. One hundred and ten pregnant women were enrolled. Vaginal swabs were collected between 4 and 8 weeks of gestation and the presence or absence of HHV-6 DNA was evaluated by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). The swabs were cultured to isolate the virus. The women were divided into two groups: HHV-6 DNA-positive, and negative. The outcome variables of the infants of these two groups were statistically estimated at birth and at 1 month of age. Saliva and blood cells were collected from the infants at birth and at 1 month of age and were also evaluated by nPCR. HHV-6 DNA was detected in the vaginal swabs of 28 pregnant women (25.5%), but was not detected in any other samples, including saliva and blood cells from their infants. Virus could not be isolated from any vaginal samples. Any outcome variables were not significantly different between the two groups. The presence of HHV-6 DNA within the genital tract of pregnant women did not affect the health of their infants. It is suggested that HHV-6 transmission to infants through the genital tract of their mothers during pregnancy does not occur, or only very rarely.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Early-childhood progressive myoclonus epilepsy presenting as partial seizures in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy.

PURPOSE: We explored the characteristics of epileptic seizures of progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) in 2 brothers with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). METHODS: We obtained the case history of the siblings and ictal and interictal EEGs. Postmortem examination or demonstration of elongated CAG repeat in the gene for DRPLA was used to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: Two Japanese siblings developed PME characterized by versive or himiclonic seizures with or without secondarily generalized tonic-clonic convulsions. The elder brother regressed mentally and exhibited increasing spasticity after age 1 year. Myoclonus and seizures developed at age 4 years. The younger brother had shown psychomotor retardation before age 4 years, when he began to deteriorate further neurologically as the elder brother had. He also developed myoclonus and seizures at that age. Seizures in both patients remained partial until their deaths at ages 19 and 15 years, respectively. Ictal EEG verified partial onset of seizure evolving to generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS). Interictal EEGs showed multifocal paroxysmal discharges with little or no diffuse paroxysms. Postmortem examination or genetic study confirmed the diagnosis of DRPLA. CONCLUSIONS: Seizures of patients with DRPLA may present as partial seizures in children with early-onset PME.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Deletion of the C-terminal 33 amino acids of cucumber mosaic virus movement protein enables a chimeric brome mosaic virus to move from cell to cell.

The movement protein (MP) gene of brome mosaic virus (BMV) was precisely replaced with that of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Infectivity tests of the chimeric BMV on Chenopodium quinoa, a permissive host for cell-to-cell movement of both BMV and CMV, showed that the chimeric BMV failed to move from cell to cell even though it replicated in protoplasts. A spontaneous mutant of the chimeric BMV that displayed cell-to-cell movement was subsequently obtained from a local lesion during one of the experiments. A cloned cDNA representing the genomic RNA encoding the MP of the chimeric BMV mutant was analyzed and found to contain a mutation in the CMV MP gene resulting in deletion of the C-terminal 33 amino acids of the MP. Directed mutagenesis of the CMV MP gene showed that the C-terminal deletion was responsible for the movement capability of the mutant. When the mutation was introduced into CMV, the CMV mutant moved from cell to cell in C. quinoa, though the movement was less efficient than that of the wild-type CMV. These results indicate that the CMV MP, except the C-terminal 33 amino acids, potentiates cell-to-cell movement of both BMV and CMV in C. quinoa. In addition, since C. quinoa is a common host for both BMV and CMV, these results suggest that the CMV MP has specificity for the viral genomes during cell-to-cell movement of the virus and that the C-terminal 33 amino acids of the CMV MP are involved in that specificity.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding endopolygalacturonase I from Stereum purpureum.

Endopolygalacturonase (endoPG) I was obtained from Stereum purpureum by an improved easier purification procedure. It was found that EndoPG I consisted of three glycosilated proteins with the same isoelectric point and different molecular masses, 42, 45, and 48 kDa, respectively. However, the enzymatic deglycosilation product of endoPG I gave a single band at the position corresponding to 39kDa on SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, the N-terminal amino acid sequences of three endoPGs were identical one another up to 20 residues. A cDNA library was constructed and positive cDNA clones encoding endoPG I were isolated by using antibody raised against the purified endoPG I. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cDNA disclosed a 1212-bp open reading frame that encoded 403 amino acid residues. The N-terminal amino acid sequence (residues 1-20) of endoPG I coincided with the deduced amino acid sequence starting from the 25th residue. Therefore, the sequence of the first 24 residues represented a signal peptide and the remaining sequence, consisting of 379 residues, was the mature protein with molecular mass of 39.1 kDa. The deduced sequence of endoPG I showed 30-45% similarity in comparison with those of bacterial and fungal endoPGs, and the sequence of putative active site residues reported for the endoPGs was highly conserved in the sequence of endoPG I.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Peripheral neuropathy in allergic granulomatous angiitis.

A 61-year-old woman began to suffer bronchial asthma in 1985. She then developed low back pain and numbness along the lower extremities, eventually leading to bilateral drop foot in 1990. At that time, she was diagnosed as having lumbar disc hernia, and extirpation of the discs at the L3-4 and L4-5 was performed. However, her clinical condition showed little improvement. Six months later, she was emaciated and bedridden with distal dominant muscular atrophy in all four limbs, purpura in the left leg and hypereosinophils. Motor conduction velocity (MCV) was not detected in the peroneal nerves. The toes gradually became cyanotic, and a skin biopsy from the cyanotic region revealed necrosis in the vessels surrounded by infiltration of a large number of neutrocytes and lymphocytes. She was diagnosed as having mononeuritis multiplex due to allergic granulomatous angiitis (AGA), which is characterized by bronchial asthma, hypereosinophilia and necrotizing vasculitis. Thirty mg/day prednisolone was then administered. However, the toes and calcaneal areas gradually became necrosed. Finally, amputation of both feet was necessary. We concluded that an early diagnosis of this syndrome is most important, and corticosteroids should be administered early.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1997

[Neuronal migration disorders--pathogenesis and clinical manifestations: introductory remarks].

Cortical dysplasias caused by the destruction of neuron production and migration have been recognized as relatively common neuropathological findings among the children with intractable epilepsy and mental and/or physical handicaps. Together with various environmental factors, an increasing number of gene abnormalities have recently been identified as a cause of cortical dysplasias. However, the processes from the gene abnormality to the development of cortical dysgenesis remain unknown. In this symposium, the pathology, pathogenesis and MRI manifestation of neuronal migration disorders as well as intimate correlation with intractable epilepsy and neurosurgical treatment for this disorder, were reviewed by six experts.

Cerebral Cortex↗