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Biomedical subjects

T Onishi

Publications and source records attributed to T Onishi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Significance of occipitoaxial angle in subaxial lesion after occipitocervical fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: The significance of occipitoaxial angle in the development of subaxial subluxation after occipitocervical fusion was determined in a minimum 5-year follow-up study performed retrospectively. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the association between the position of the fixed occipital bone and axis and the development of subaxial subluxation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There have been few reports describing the association between the position of fixation of the occipital bone and axis and subaxial lesion in occipitocervical fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent occipitocervical fusion for irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation were reviewed. The angle between the McGregor line and the inferior surface of the axis (O-C2) was measured in healthy volunteers and patients who had undergone occipitocervical fusion. The association between any changes in the alignment of the cervical vertebrae and the development of subaxial subluxation during follow-up periods was studied. RESULTS: The number of the patients in whom postoperative kyphosis and swan neck deformity developed was only five, but in four (80%) of them, retroversion of the occipital bone was used to increase the O-C2 angle. In 14 patients, in whom anteversion of the occipital bone against the axis was excessive, 12 (86%) patients experienced subaxial subluxation after surgery. In the patients in whom fixed O-C2 angles were in normal range, only one patient developed such abnormal changes in the middle and lower cervical vertebrae. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to give attention to the position of the fixed occipital bone and axis during procedures of occipitoaxial fusion for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of feline melanoma antigen (MAGE) obtained from a lymphoma cell line.

Melanoma antigens (MAGE) are regarded as inducing tumor-specific immune response and thought to be potential therapeutical agents for cancer immunotherapy. We hereby report the cloning of feline MAGE cDNA obtained from a lymphoma cell line derived from cat malignant lymphoma, and its expression pattern in tumor and normal tissues. The cDNA encoding the MAGE is 1668 base pairs (bp) in length, and contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 936 bp encoding a protein of 311 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence has 29-46% of homology with other MAGE proteins from human and mouse. mRNA transcripts for the feline MAGE were detected in certain tumors, but not in adult cat normal tissues except in testis, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. This indicates that the expression pattern of feline MAGE mRNA is similar to those of other MAGE family genes in tumors and normal tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Biliary excretion of temocapril in zone 1- and zone 3-injured rat.

Temocapril is a prodrug of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, temocaprilat, a substrate of multidrug resistance protein 2. Hepatocytes in zone 1 play a role in the uptake and biliary excretion of bile acids under physiological condition, and those in zone 3 may play a role only with their high-dose load. To investigate the pharmacokinetics of temocapril in liver injury, biliary excretion of temocapril was studied in zone 1- and zone 3-injured rats, caused by allyl alcohol and bromobenzene, respectively. Biliary excretion of a tracer dose of radiolabeled temocapril was delayed both in zone 1 and the zone 3 injury, but the extent of inhibition was more prominent in zone 3 injury. Since biliary excretion of organic anions was decreased only in zone 1 injury in our previous study, the present findings indicate that decreased biliary excretion of temocaprilat in zone 3 injury is caused by the inhibition of the metabolism from temocapril to temocaprilat.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Intense immunosuppression followed by purified blood CD34+ cell autografting in a patient with refractory juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

A 15-year-old boy with refractory juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) underwent intense immunosuppressive therapy followed by purified blood CD34+ cell autografting. He had been taking prednisolone (PDN) daily or every other day combined with methotrexate once a week to control the disease for 7 years. He suffered from psychological complications and a very short stature due to the adverse effects of these drugs. CD34+ cells were purified in bulk from G-CSF-mobilized PBSC using an Isolex 300. After the administration of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) and anti-lymphocyte globulin (45 mg/kg), 3.6 x 10(6)/kg purified CD34+ cells were infused. His post-transplant course was uneventful except for herpes-zoster infection. He is now more than 1 year post transplant and has not taken any immunosuppressive medication. His rate of growth has increased (>10 cm/year) due to the effects of the cessation of PDN and the administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rGH), in contrast to the gain of 2 cm in the preceding 3 years with rGH treatment. Although the durability of this remission is unknown, intense immunosuppressive therapy followed by purified blood CD34+ cell autografting might be acceptable for adolescent patients with refractory JRA to achieve a drug-free period for physical and psychological maturation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Cyst-associated renal cell carcinoma: clinicopathologic characteristics and evaluation of prognosis in 27 cases.

BACKGROUND: No consistent clinicopathologic characteristics of cyst-associated renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) have previously been determined. METHODS: In total, 768 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) underwent radical or partial nephrectomy. Renal cell carcinoma was classified as CRCC in 27 of these patients (3.5%, subdivided into RCC originating in a cyst and cystic RCC), clear-cell RCC in 662 patients (86.2%), chromophobe cell renal carcinoma in 36 patients (4.7%) and papillary RCC in 43 patients (5.6%) according to the criteria of the World Health Organization. RESULTS: The pathologic stage and nuclear grade were usually lower in those with CRCC (low stage/low grade; 89%/96%) or chromophobe cell renal carcinoma (low stage/low grade; 89%/80%) than in those with clear-cell RCC (low stage/low grade; 59%/65%) or papillary RCC (low stage/low grade; 53%/69%). Of the 27 CRCC patients, only 19 (70%) could be diagnosed through preoperative imaging studies. Patients with CRCC showed a favorable prognosis (survival rate: 95% at 1 year, 89.7% at 3 years and 84.4% thereafter) and, especially among the patients with RCC originating in a cyst, no cancer-related death was observed. Comparing the survival among four types of RCC, a favorable outcome was observed in cases of CRCC or chromophobe cell renal carcinoma compared with clear-cell RCC or papillary RCC (clear vs chromophobe: P = 0.002; chromophobe vs papillary: P = 0.019; clear vs cyst-associated: P = 0.001; papillary vs cyst-associated: P = 0.00079). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of CRCC, the disease was usually detected at lower stages and grades and therefore the prognosis was better than in cases of other types of RCC. Preoperative diagnosis of this disease was very difficult, especially in cases of RCC originating in a cyst.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed2001

The prevalence of renal cell carcinoma: a nation-wide survey in Japan in 1997.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to investigate the incidence of renal cell carcinoma by sex, age group and different regions in Japan. METHODS: The survey was conducted from the beginning of January 1997 to the end of December 1997. A total of 1306 Institutions in all 47 prefectures throughout Japan were requested to register cases. RESULTS: There were 6358 persons with renal cell carcinoma, consisting of 4372 men and 1986 women. The age-specific incidence rates showed a peak in the age group of 65-70 years in both men and women. The crude incidence rates per 100 000 population for men and women were 7.1 and 3.1, respectively, and age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 population for men and women were 4.9 and 1.8, respectively. The incidence rates in the Hokkaido region were significantly higher than in other regions (P < 0.05), among which there was no significant difference in incidence rates. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the incidence rates of renal cell carcinoma in Japan were approximately the same as among Japanese in Los Angeles. The rates were, however, lower than North American and European countries, but higher than China, Central or South American countries and African countries. The reasons for the high incidence of renal cancer in the Hokkaido region are not entirely clear. Further epidemiologic research is required.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prognostic evaluation of transcatheter arterial embolization for unresectable renal cell carcinoma with distant metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with unresectable renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 54 patients with histologically defined RCC (by biopsy in 28 and autopsy in 26) who were unable to undergo nephrectomy mainly because their performance status was poor (score > or = 2). The patients were classified into two groups; 24 patients who underwent TAE with ethanol and 30 patients who did not. The two groups were compared for several clinical factors, mainly focusing on the prognosis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the clinical factors, including performance status, tumour diameter, vascular invasion, lymph node involvement, adjuvant therapy, metastatic organs or the number of metastases between the groups. However, the proportion of patients with para-neoplastic signs in those undergoing TAE was greater than that in those not, and the difference was significant (chi squared 0.35, P < 0.05). The median survival of the two groups was 229 days (TAE) and 116 days (no TAE). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates in the TAE group were 29%, 15% and 10%, respectively, and in those not undergoing TAE were 13%, 7% and 3%, respectively. Those undergoing TAE had a significantly better prognosis than those who did not (P = 0.019). The adverse effects in patients undergoing TAE with ethanol included fever, back pain on the affected side, nausea and vomiting, but all the patients recovered from these adverse effects. CONCLUSION: TAE with ethanol is a safe and effective treatment for patients with unresectable disseminated RCC and a poor performance status; TAE with ethanol not only induces ablation of the primary tumour, but also prolongs survival.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

An assessment of the immunological status of patients with renal cell carcinoma based on the relative abundance of T-helper 1- and -2 cytokine-producing CD4+ cells in peripheral blood.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the immunological status of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), by analysing the proportion of cluster-of-differentiation 4-positive (CD4+) cells showing intracellular cytokine production, i.e. interferon-gamma derived from T-helper (Th) 1 and interleukin-4 derived from Th2 cells, among peripheral blood lymphocytes from these patients Patients, subjects and methods Peripheral blood samples (5 mL) were collected from 36 patients (mean age 61 years, range 44-78) with RCC before and after they underwent nephrectomy. The proportion of cytokine-producing CD4+ cells was determined by flow cytometric analysis after stimulating the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, ionomycin and brefeldin A, and staining the cells with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled anti-interferon-gamma, anti-interleukin-4 and anti-immunoglubulin-2b antibodies. The results were expressed as the percentage of cytokine-producing cells in the CD4+ population. As a control, peripheral blood obtained from 35 healthy volunteers (mean age 34 years, range 22-49) was also analysed. RESULTS: The proportion of CD4+ cells producing interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 was significantly higher (P < 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively) in patients with RCC than in controls. The Th1/Th2 ratio (i.e. the ratio of CD4+ cells producing each cytokine) was significantly lower in patients with RCC (P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation in the controls between interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 production (r = 0.489, P < 0.01) but not in patients with RCC. The proportion of CD4+ cells producing interleukin-4 was significantly higher and the Th1/Th2 ratio significantly lower in patients with high-stage than in those with low-stage RCC (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD4+ cells producing interleukin-4 was significantly less after nephrectomy in those with low-stage RCC (P < 0.01) and the Th1/Th2 ratio significantly greater (P < 0.05) than before nephrectomy; there was no such trend in patients with high-stage RCC. Conclusion An evaluation of the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 in CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes is useful for assessing the immunological status of patients with RCC; there is a change in the predominant response from Th1 to Th2 with increasing stage of RCC.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Decrease in circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells by trapping in the pulmonary circulation.

BACKGROUND: When stem-cell grafts are infused into the venous circulation and stem/progenitor cells egress from BM, pulmonary capillary beds are the first microcirculation site that they encounter. This provides the potential for circulating progenitor cells to be trapped in the pulmonary circulation. METHODS: We compared the number of progenitor cells [CD34(+) cells, colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), CD34(+) CD41(+) cells and CFU-megakaryocyte (CFU-meg)] and their expression of cell-adhesion molecules (CAM) in samples taken simultaneously from radial arteries and central veins of 21 patients following PBSC mobilization. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) frequency of progenitor cells in the radial arteries was reduced to 79% +/- 25% for CD34(+) cells, 73% +/- 27% for CFU-GM, 77% +/- 25% for CD34(+) CD41(+) cells and 70% +/- 29% for CFU-meg of the number in the central veins. This suggests that some progenitor cells might be trapped in the lung. No association between progenitor-cell expression of CAM and pulmonary trapping was observed. DISCUSSION: Our data demonstrate pulmonary trapping of PBSC during mobilization, suggesting a potential inhibitory effect on PBSC harvest and medullary trafficking following graft infusion. However, the impact associated with pulmonary PBSC trapping may be negligible in the clinical setting if sufficient cells are infused.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed2001

Synthesis of cyclobutane analogues of the antiviral cyclopropane nucleoside A-5021.

Cyclobutane analogues of the antiviral cyclopropane nucleoside A-5021 were synthesized from 1-cyano-1,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl)cyclobutane via 1) isolation of both diastereomers by crystallization, 2) reduction to aminodiol, 3) coupling with 2-amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine, and 4) guanine ring formation. Despite their structural resemblance to A-5021, the compounds were devoid of antiherpetic activity.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for feline serum amyloid (SAA) protein.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) has been characterized as an inflammatory marker in many species. In this study, we have developed and characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against feline SAA (fSAA) derived from culture hybridomas. These hybridomas were produced from the fusion of Balb/c-derived myeloma s/p20-Ag14 and splenocytes from mice immunized with purified recombinant feline SAA (rfSAA). Six hybridomas secreting MAbs, M2, M5, M7, M8, M13, and M15, were selected and subcloned on the basis of their specificity to rfSAA by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), and confirmed based on their specificity to rf-SAA by immunoblot analysis. Out of six clones, two clones (M5 and M7) showed higher reactivity with rf-SAA, and were selected for further analysis of ELISA additivity and Western blot cross-reactivity tests. As a result, M5 and M7 clones recognized the same or excessively near epitopes on rfSAA and reacted with rfSAA, fSAA and equine recombinant SAA, but showed no reaction with human recombinant SAA. Because of their specificity, these MAbs may be usefully applied in studying the measurement of SAA concentration in cat serum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Survey of tick infestation and tick-borne ehrlichial infection of dogs in Ishigaki Island, Japan.

Twelve (54.5%) of 22 free-roaming dogs in Ishigaki Island had tick infestation identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. There were 121 ticks recovered and consisted of 28 females, 58 males, 22 nymphs and 3 larvae. Infection of dogs possibly with canine ehrlichial pathogens was examined by both indirect immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two dogs of the 13 examined were sero-positive for the human granulocytic ehrlichia agent, and one of two dogs was PCR positive for Ehrlichia platys. This dog had platelet numbers slightly lower than normal value, however, no morulae were found within platelet on peripheral blood smear stained with Giemsa.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of salivary gland extract from Rhipicephalus sanguineus on immunoglobulin class productivity of canine peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Effects of salivary gland extract (SGE) from Rhipicephalus sanguineus on immunoglobulin class productivity of canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in vitro were studied. The detectable limit of the ELISA for canine total immunoglobulin, IgM and A was at least 1, 1 and 15 ng/ml, respectively, and it seems to be useful for the evaluation of non-specific immunoglobulin class productivity in vitro. SGE from R. sanguineus suppressed pokeweed mitogen- or lipopolysaccharide-induced total immunoglobulin and IgA productivity of canine PBL although IgM productivity was not suppressed. These results suggested that the suppression was caused partly by the direct effect of SGE on B lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Detection of ehrlichial infection by PCR in dogs from Yamaguchi and Okinawa Prefectures, Japan.

Species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of possible canine ehrlichial agents (Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, E. equi and E. platys) and monocytic ehrlichial agents found in Japan (E. muris and a recently discovered Ehrlichia species detected from Ixodes ovatus) in blood samples from dogs in Yamaguchi and Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Partial sequence of E. platys was detected from 1 of 67 dogs (1.5%) tested from Yamaguchi Prefecture and 24 out of 87 (27.6%) in the subtropical Okinawa Prefecture. Dogs in Okinawa and Miyako Islands had a higher positive rate (69.2 and 45.0%, respectively) than Ishigaki Island (11.1%). Another dog in Yamaguchi Prefecture had a positive PCR reaction to the Ehrlichia sp. detected from I. ovatus. No other Ehrlichia were found in these samples.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and sequencing of equine cDNA encoding serum amyloid A (SAA).

The serum amyloid A (SAA) protein is a characteristic and sensitive acute phase reactant in all vertebrates investigated. We molecularly cloned the equine cDNA encoding SAA from the liver of a healthy horse by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cloned cDNA is 480 bases in length, and contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 387 nucleotides encoding a precursor SAA protein of 128 amino acids. The precursor of horse SAA seems to have an 18-residue signal peptide and differs from the reported amino acid sequences of the horse SAA by substitution of valine at residue 81. It shows high homology with SAA amino acid sequence of other species such as dog (80.6%), mink (77.5%), human (76.9%) and duck (71.9%). An insertion of eight amino acids at residues between 85 and 92, as compared to human SAA, has also been found in horse SAA. The availability of the equine SAA cDNA will provide a useful reagent for studying its role in diseased horses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Inhibition of insulin-induced glucose uptake by atypical protein kinase C isotype-specific interacting protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Atypical protein kinase C (PKC) isotype-specific interacting protein (ASIP) specifically interacts with the atypical protein kinase C isozymes PKClambda and PKCzeta. ASIP and atypical PKC, as well as their Caenorhabditis elegans counterparts (PAR-3 and PKC-3, respectively), are thought to coordinately participate in intracellular signaling that contributes to the maintenance of cellular polarity and to the formation of junctional complexes. The potential role of ASIP in other cellular functions of atypical PKC was investigated by examining the effect of overexpression of ASIP on insulin-induced glucose uptake, previously shown to be mediated through PKClambda, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. When overexpressed in these cells, which contain PKClambda but not PKCzeta, ASIP was co-immunoprecipitated with endogenous PKClambda but not with PKCepsilon or with Akt. The subcellular localization of PKClambda was also altered in cells overexpressing ASIP. Overexpression of ASIP inhibited insulin stimulation of both glucose uptake and translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the plasma membrane, but it did not inhibit glucose uptake induced by either growth hormone or hyperosmolarity both of which promote glucose uptake in a PKClambda-independent manner. Moreover, glucose uptake stimulated by a constitutively active mutant of PKClambda, but not that induced by an active form of Akt, was inhibited by ASIP. Insulin-induced activation of PKClambda, but not that of phosphoinositide 3-kinase or Akt, was also inhibited by overexpression of ASIP. These data suggest that overexpression of ASIP inhibits insulin-induced glucose uptake by specifically interfering with signals transmitted through PKClambda.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2000

Calbindin D28k-like immunoreactivity during the formation of the enamel-free area in the rat molar teeth.

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of calbindin D28k in the ameloblasts derived from the inner enamel epithelium. The occlusal surfaces of the rodent molars partly lack the enamel covering, which is referred to as enamel-free area (EFA). In the present study, we compared the immunohistochemical localization of calbindin D28k-like immunoreactivity (CB-LI) in the cells at the EFA (EFA cells) and ameloblasts of the rat molar teeth at the light microscopic level. CB-LI was strong in the ameloblasts of the presecretory through the protective stages, while it was faint at the late secretory to transitional stages. However, some mature ameloblasts lacked the immunoreactivity. On the other hand, the majority of EFA cells showed distinct polarization and elongation that were absent in few cells at the early stage of EFA formation. At all stages, the EFA cells adjacent to the ameloblasts showed CB-LI, however, some cells adjacent to the mature ameloblasts lacked the reaction. Intensive CB-LI was demonstrated in EFA cells at the reduced enamel epithelium. These immunohistochemical findings suggest EFA cells have cytochemical properties similar to those of ameloblasts.

Ameloblasts↗