Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Seki

Publications and source records attributed to T Seki.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Experience of nephron sparing surgery for renal mass].

BACKGROUND: In this paper, we reported nephron sparing surgery for renal mass in our hospital. METHODS: From March, 1994 to October, 1997, nephron sparing surgeries were done for 19 (11 males and 8 females, whose age were ranged from 38 to 75 years old) renal mass in our hospital. The sites of lesion were 12 in right side and 7 in left side. The tumor size were from 8 to 40/mm. Almost all cases were discovered incidentally. RESULTS: In all 19 cases, 6 cases were resultingly renal cell carcinoma (RCC). There was no difference in age, sex, tumor size and computed tomography findings between RCC and benign lesion. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, iso intensity lesions of T2-weighted image were more frequent in RCC significantly. Postoperative 24 hours creatinine clearance and serum creatinine were not changed significantly compared with preoperative data. CONCLUSION: In MRI findings, iso intensity of T2-weighted image was useful for differential diagnosis between RCC and benign lesion.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Usefulness of cytology applied simultaneously to frozen section at rapid intraoperative diagnosis of intracranial tumors].

We discussed usefulness of cytology for rapid intraoperative diagnosis of intracranial tumors using frozen section. Twenty five cases of intracranial tumors (6 cases of astrocytoma, 6 cases of glioblastoma multiforme, 4 cases of meningioma, 2 cases of pituitary adenoma, 1 case of ependymoma and 6 cases of metastatic carcinoma) were observed by cytological specimen, frozen section and formalin fixed-paraffin embedded section. When only frozen section were used for histopathological diagnosis, it was difficult to diagnose in a few case of astrocytic tumors by artifact in freezing process. When only cytological specimen were used for diagnosis, histological findings, for example pseudopalisading around necrosis in glioblastoma or rosette formation in ependymoma, were not identified. However, diagnostic accuracy were improved when both cytological and frozen specimen were used if adequate material were obtained for diagnosis. In conclusion, cytological approach used in addition to frozen section was useful for rapid intraoperative diagnosis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1997

Roles of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide system in genetically hypertensive rats.

Although carbon monoxide (CO) has been suggested to be involved in the regulation of cardiovascular function through activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase, the pathophysiological significance in hypertension remains unknown. We therefore examined the effects of heme oxygenase (HO) inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP-IX) on blood pressure and determined HO mRNA expression level in various tissues in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP/Izm) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY/Izm). Although ZnPP-IX significantly increased systolic blood pressure in both strains, the increment of blood pressure was larger in SHR-SP/Izm than in WKY/Izm. An essentially similar increase of blood pressure was demonstrated even in the ganglion blocker-pretreated rats. Constitutive type HO-2 mRNA levels in the aorta and kidney and inducible type HO-1 mRNA levels in the cardiac ventricle were significantly increased in SHR-SP/Izm compared with WKY/Izm. Clearly these results indicate the importance of the endogenous HO/CO system in the peripheral tissues in genetically hypertensive rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Distribution and ultrastructural localization of a receptor for pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and its mRNA in the rat retina.

Localization and gene expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide receptor (PACAPR) in the rat retina were studied by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. Antisera were raised against a synthetic peptide that corresponds to the carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain which is found in all subtypes of PACAPR. Strong PACAPR mRNA expression and PACAPR-like immunoreactivity (PACAPR-LI) were detected in ganglion cells, amacrine cells, and in the inner plexiform layer. PACAPR-LI appeared to be concentrated predominantly in the neuronal perikarya and processes. At the ultrastructural level, strong immunostaining for PACAPR was visible in the plasma membranes, rough endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic matrix in neurons. This study provides the basis for a better understanding of the functions of PACAP in the rat retina.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Differential modes of nuclear localization signal (NLS) recognition by three distinct classes of NLS receptors.

The targeting of karyophilic proteins to nuclear pores is mediated via the formation of a nuclear pore-targeting complex, through the interaction of nuclear localization signal (NLS) with its NLS receptor. Recently, a novel human protein, Qip1, was identified from a yeast two-hybrid system with DNA helicase Q1. This study demonstrates that Qip1 is a novel third class of NLS receptor that efficiently recognizes the NLS of the helicase Q1. Moreover, the data obtained in this study show that the specific interaction between Qip1 and the NLS of the helicase Q1 requires its upstream sequence of the minimal essential NLS. By using purified recombinant proteins alone in the digitonin-permeabilized cell-free transport system, it was demonstrated that the two known human NLS receptors, Rch1 and NPI-1, are able to transport all the tested NLS substrates into the nucleus, while Qip1 most efficiently transports the helicase Q1-NLS substrates, which contain its upstream sequence in so far as we have examined the system. Furthermore, in HeLa cell crude cytosol, it was found that endogenous Rch1 binds to all the tested NLS substrates, while the binding of endogenous NPI-1 is restricted to only some NLSs, despite the fact that NPI-1 itself shows binding activity to a variety of NLSs. These results indicate that at least three structurally and functionally distinct NLS receptors exist in the human single cell population, and suggest that the nuclear import of karyophilic proteins may be controlled in a complex manner at the NLS recognition step by the existence of a variety of NLS receptors with various specificities to each NLS.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1997

Induction of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) as early growth responses in rat hepatocytes in primary culture.

Early growth response with respect to tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) gene expression was studied in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. The genes for tPA and PAI-1 could be categorized as a delayed early growth response (DER) gene and an immediate early growth response (IER) gene, respectively. The expression of tPA was much higher in growth-promoting than in static culture conditions (i.e., cultured at low density and/or on a collagen-coated dish), and that of PAI-1 was regulated in the opposite direction. Experiments using dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and H-89 showed that the cAMP/A-kinase system might be involved in the induction of the early growth response of tPA and in the augmentation of PAI-1 mRNA induction by dbcAMP. These fibrinolytic components, whose expression is closely associated with hepatocyte growth, may play important roles in pathophysiological events in the liver such as liver regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A dual-specificity phosphatase Cdc25B is an unstable protein and triggers p34(cdc2)/cyclin B activation in hamster BHK21 cells arrested with hydroxyurea.

By incubating at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy source, p34(cdc2)/cyclin B was activated in the extract prepared from a temperature-sensitive mutant, tsBN2, which prematurely enters mitosis at 40 degrees C, the nonpermissive temperature (Nishimoto, T. , E. Eilen, and C. Basilico. 1978. Cell. 15:475-483), and wild-type cells of the hamster BHK21 cell line arrested in S phase, without protein synthesis. Such an in vitro activation of p34(cdc2)/cyclin B, however, did not occur in the extract prepared from cells pretreated with protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, although this extract still retained the ability to inhibit p34(cdc2)/cyclin B activation. When tsBN2 cells arrested in S phase were incubated at 40 degrees C in the presence of cycloheximide, Cdc25B, but not Cdc25A and C, among a family of dual-specificity phosphatases, Cdc25, was lost coincidentally with the lack of the activation of p34(cdc2)/cyclin B. Consistently, the immunodepletion of Cdc25B from the extract inhibited the activation of p34(cdc2)/cyclin B. Cdc25B was found to be unstable (half-life < 30 min). Cdc25B, but not Cdc25C, immunoprecipitated from the extract directly activated the p34(cdc2)/cyclin B of cycloheximide-treated cells as well as that of nontreated cells, although Cdc25C immunoprecipitated from the extract of mitotic cells activated the p34(cdc2)/cyclin B within the extract of cycloheximide-treated cells. Our data suggest that Cdc25B made an initial activation of p34(cdc2)/cyclin B, which initiates mitosis through the activation of Cdc25C.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Interrelation between nitric oxide synthase and heme oxygenase in rat endothelial cells.

The gene expression and interrelation of the constitutive type nitric oxide (NO) synthase-III as a NO-forming enzyme and heme oxygenase-2 as a carbon monoxide-forming enzyme were studied in cultured rat aortic endothelial cells. Both NO synthase-III and heme oxygenase-2 mRNAs were demonstrated in the endothelial cells by RNAase protection analysis. NO synthase-III mRNA was upregulated in the presence of the heme oxygenase inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX, but not in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine. Although heme oxygenase-2 mRNA was significantly upregulated in the presence of both NO synthase inhibitor and heme oxygenase inhibitor, the increase was greater with the NO synthase inhibitor. These results provide the first evidence for the concomitant gene expression of NO synthase-III and heme oxygenase-2, and their compensatory interrelation in endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cloning, expression, and characterization of a cDNA encoding a novel human growth factor for primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Multiple growth factors synergistically stimulate proliferation of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. A human myeloid cell line, KPB-M15, constitutively produces a novel hematopoietic cytokine, termed stem cell growth factor (SCGF), possessing species-specific proliferative activities. Here we report the molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of a cDNA encoding human SCGF using a newly developed lambdaSHDM vector that is more efficient for differential and expression cloning. cDNA for SCGF encodes a 29-kDa polypeptide without N-linked glycosylation. SCGF transiently produced by COS-1 cells supports growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells through a short-term liquid culture of bone marrow cells and exhibits promoting activities on erythroid and granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells in primary semisolid culture with erythropoietin and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, respectively. Expression of SCGF mRNA is restricted to myeloid cells and fibroblasts, suggesting that SCGF is a growth factor functioning within the hematopoietic microenvironment. SCGF could disclose some human-specific mechanisms as yet unidentified from studies on the murine hematopoietic system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Application of the variable region in 16S rDNA to create an index for rapid species identification in the genus Streptomyces.

Partial nucleotide sequences (120 bp) of the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) containing a variable alpha region were compared in 89 strains of the genus Streptomyces belonging to eight major clusters of category I in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Fifty-seven kinds of partial 16S rDNA sequences were observed among the 89 strains. Forty-three of the strains were grouped into 11 'identity groups', based on the fact that the strains in each group shared an identical sequence in the 120-bp region. The results of a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rDNA 120-bp sequences revealed that 60 of the 89 strains could be categorized into seven clusters, each consisting of four or more strains. Based on these observations it was concluded that short nucleotide sequences bearing the variable alpha region are useful for Streptomyces species identification.

DNA, Ribosomal↗
PubMed1997

Interaction between cAMP-dependent and insulin-dependent signal pathways in tyrosine phosphorylation in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the interaction between cAMP-dependent and insulin-dependent pathways in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes affects biological functions and tyrosine phosphorylation. Quiescent hepatocytes were pretreated with dibutyryl cAMP or cAMP-generating agents such as glucagon, and then treated or not with insulin. Preincubation for 6 h with dibutyryl cAMP or glucagon enhanced the effect of insulin on DNA synthesis, but not the effect of insulin on amino acid transport or glycogen and protein synthesis. Tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins was determined by immunoblot analysis using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Maximum tyrosine phosphorylation of a 195 kDa protein, which may be a substrate of insulin receptor kinase, of 175-180 kDa proteins, including insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, and of 90-95 kDa proteins, including the insulin receptor beta-subunit, was reached within 30 s of incubation with insulin. Pretreatment for about 3 h with dibutyryl cAMP or cAMP-generating agents clearly increased insulin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the 195 kDa protein, but not IRS-1, IRS-2 or the insulin receptor beta-subunit. Because dibutyryl cAMP and cAMP-generating agents did not increase insulin receptor number or its kinase activity, the effect of cAMP on this potentiation of tyrosine phosphorylation is assumed to be exerted at a step distal to insulin receptor kinase activation. The potentiation by cAMP pretreatment of insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation may in part be secondary to inhibition of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity, because cAMP pretreatment blunted the effect of Na3VO4 on the net tyrosine phosphorylation of the 195 kDa protein as compared with cells pretreated with no additive. In summary, the interactions between cAMP-dependent and insulin-dependent pathways that lead to augmentation of DNA synthesis appear to parallel the changes in tyrosine phosphorylation. Further studies will be required to determine whether there is a causal relationship between these phenomena.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

Nucleotide sequence of a nicking site of the Streptomyces plasmid pSN22 replicating by the rolling circle mechanism.

A putative nicking site in the double strand origin (DSO) of the Streptomyces plasmid pSN22 was identified by comparing the nucleotide sequence of the DSO region with those of two other Streptomyces plasmids, pIJ101 and pJVI. A 7-bp sequence of this putative nicking site, 5'-CTTGGGA-3', was similar to the consensus sequence of the nicking site of the pC194 group of plasmids. When several point mutations were introduced into this 7-bp sequence, the transformation abilities of the mutant plasmid molecules for Streptomyces lividans were either reduced or lost. Southern hybridization analysis indicated that these mutant plasmids could not replicate in S. lividans, but were integrated into the chromosomal DNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Cloning of a cDNA encoding a novel importin-alpha homologue, Qip1: discrimination of Qip1 and Rch1 from hSrp1 by their ability to interact with DNA helicase Q1/RecQL.

We isolated two cDNA clones encoding human proteins which interact with DNA helicase Q1/RecQL, a human homologue of Eschelichia coli RecQ protein, by two-hybrid screening. One of these proteins, named Qip1, was a novel protein homologous to the nuclear localization signal (NLS) receptor importin-alpha, and the other was the known protein Rch1, which is also a homologue of importin-alpha. DNA helicase Q1 in human cell lysates was coprecipitated with bacterially expressed Qip1 and Rch1 fused with glutathione-S-transferase with glutathione Sepharose beads, confirming the interaction between these proteins and DNA helicase Q1. Two-hybrid experiments revealed that Qip1 interacted with the NLS of SV40 T antigen similar to Rch1 and hSrp1. In addition, interaction of the putative NLS in DNA helicase Q1 with Qip1 and Rch1 but not with hSrp1 was confirmed by the two-hybrid system.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1997

Determination of angiotensin II receptor antagonist (E4177) in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection was developed for the analysis of a new angiotensin II receptor antagonist, E4177, in human plasma and urine. The analyte and internal standard (I.S.) are extracted from acidified plasma and urine by liquid-liquid extraction and then refined by solid-phase extraction. The extraction recovery was greater than 90%. E4177 and I.S. were separated from endogenous components in plasma and urine on a C18 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-85% phosphoric acid (27.3:72.0:0.7, v/v). The eluent was monitored by fluorescence with excitation and emission set at 280 and 380 nm, respectively. The assay was linear from 2.5 to 1000 ng/ml of plasma and from 5 to 1500 ng/ml of urine. The limit of quantification was 2.5 and 5 ng/ml for plasma and urine, respectively. Inter- and intra-day coefficients of variation for the plasma and urine ranged from 0.6 to 4.7%. E4177 was stable in plasma and urine for at least 9 months during storage at -20 degrees C, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of E4177 in plasma and urine for a pharmacokinetic study.

Administration, Oral↗