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Biomedical subjects

T Tada

Publications and source records attributed to T Tada.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Phase I/II study of weekly irinotecan and concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

A study was undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose, the dose-limiting toxicities, and the response rate of irinotecan administered weekly with concurrent thoracic radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. In a phase I/II clinical trial, patients with histologically documented, surgically unresectable stage IIIA or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were enrolled. Irinotecan was administered as a 90 min intravenous infusion once weekly for 6 weeks. The starting dose was 30 mg m(-2) and dose escalation was done in 15 mg m(-2) increments. Dose-limiting toxicity was defined as grade 3 nonhaematologic toxicity (excluding nausea, vomiting and alopecia) or grade 4 haematologic toxicity according to the WHO criteria. Radiation was delivered to the primary tumour and regional lymph nodes (40 Gy), followed by a boost to the primary tumour (20 Gy). Twenty-seven patients were entered into this study at three irinotecan dose levels (30, 45 and 60 mg m(-2)). Twenty-six eligible patients were evaluated for toxic effects and clinical outcome. Severe oesophagitis, pneumonitis, and diarrhoea occurred at 45 and 60 mg m(-2). Three of the five patients given 60 mg m(-2) developed grade 3 or 4 oesophagitis and pneumonitis. In addition, one patient died of pneumonitis after completing therapy at 45 mg m(-2) in the phase II study. The objective response rate was 76.9% (95% CI, 53.0-88.9%). Oesophagitis, pneumonitis, and diarrhoea are the dose-limiting toxicities of weekly irinotecan combined with thoracic irradiation. The maximum tolerated dose and the dose for the phase II study were 60 and 45 mg m(-2) wk(-1), respectively. This combined therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer is promising and shows acceptable toxicity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Quick recovery in the generation of self-reactive CD4low natural killer (NK) T cells by an alternative intrathymic pathway when restored from acute thymic atrophy.

The thymus comprises the mainstream of T cell differentiation which produces conventional T cells and an alternative pathway which produces primordial T cells with intermediate density of T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex on the surface (i.e. intermediate TCR cells or TCRint cells). We induced acute thymic atrophy in mice by an administration of hydrocortisone (10 mg) or irradiation (6.5 Gy). It was demonstrated that CD3intCD4lowNK1.1+ T cells were immediately generated by an alternative intrathymic pathway without passing through the double-positive CD4+8+ stage, when restored from thymic atrophy (days 3-14). These CD3intCD4lowNK1.1+ T cells mediated self-reactivity and appeared even in the periphery. mRNA of an invariant chain of TCR Valpha14Jalpha281 gene product was detected in these CD4low T cells, but not remaining CD4high T cells. The mainstream of T cell differentiation in the thymus was not restored up to day 14 and there was no leakage of self-reactive clones into the population generated through the mainstream. These results reveal that an alternative intrathymic pathway is associated with the generation of self-reactive T cells, in an early restoration phase after thymic atrophy.

Acute Disease↗

Role of complement regulatory membrane proteins in ischaemia-reperfusion injury of rat gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND: The role of complement in ischaemia-reperfusion injury has not been well investigated. 5I2 is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against a rat membrane inhibitor of the C3 convertase step, which is the rat counterpart of mouse Crry/p65. 6D1 is a mAb against rat CD59 which inhibits the formation of membrane attack complexes. METHODS: We visualized the tissue distribution of these membrane inhibitors in rat gastrointestinal tract by immunohistochemical staining with the appropriate mAb. Then, we tested the hypothesis that complement regulatory proteins protect rat gastric mucosa against ischaemia-reperfusion stress by using these mAbs. Gastric mucosal integrity was continuously monitored by measuring the blood-to-lumen clearance of [51Cr]-labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) under control conditions, during ischaemia and after reperfusion. RESULTS: Rat 6D1 and 5I2 antigens were both widely distributed and predominantly expressed on smooth muscle and endothelial cells in gastrointestinal tracts. Blockade of complement regulatory proteins with 5I2 and 6D1 mAbs resulted in a significant increase in [51Cr]-EDTA clearance after reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that endogenous complement regulatory proteins may act as important protective factors against ischaemia-reperfusion stress in rat gastric mucosa.

Animals↗

Characteristics of the daily lives of elderly women at various facilities for the elderly.

A number of studies have been conducted about support for the daily lives of elderly individuals that will elevate their quality of life (QOL). Services provided to support these individuals have also become more diverse. This study will attempt to add to the understanding of QOL for the elderly by comparing levels of dependence and QOL of elderly women in four different types of institution. Individuals who were over 65 years of age and who were able to participate in a 1 h interview were chosen for this study. The subjects were selected from the elderly population of a hospital for aged patients, health service facilities for the elderly, a nursing home and a general hospital. Levels of dependency of activities of daily living (ADL) were measured using the Kahoku Aging Longitudinal Study Scale. The scale qualitatively evaluates the cognition and activities of the elderly. Each measure is rated on a four point scale. Quality of life was measured using the visual analogue scale. Elderly women living at the nursing home differed from those living in the other facilities in regard to their degree of independence in ADL and QOL. These findings indicate that there were differences in the characteristics of the daily lives of elderly women at different types of facilities.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Immunoreactivity of a new CD5 antibody with normal epithelium and malignant tumors including thymic carcinoma.

CD5, first recognized on subsets of lymphocytes, also is detected in thymic carcinoma but not in thymoma or other malignant tumors. We studied CD5 expression in 73 cases of malignant tumors of various organs, 22 cases of thymoma, and 7 cases of thymic carcinoma by immunohistochemistry using the new monoclonal anti-CD5 antibody, NCL-CD5-4C7, with a pressure cooker antigen retrieval method. All cases of thymic carcinoma showed positive staining for CD5, predominantly on the cell membrane. Two of 4 cases of atypical thymoma also showed focal positivity, whereas the other types of thymoma were negative. CD5 was detected in cases of malignant tumors other than squamous cell carcinoma and in the normal epithelium of their counterparts. Squamous cell carcinomas of various organs were negative for CD5. Malignant mesothelioma showed peculiar intracytoplasmic staining in contrast to the other tumors. The NCL-CD5-4C7 positivity in thymic epithelial tumors may support the hypothesis suggesting progression of atypical thymoma to thymic carcinoma. NCL-CD5-4C7 may be useful in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors, especially between thymic carcinoma and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of various primary sites, and for distinguishing malignant mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma of the lung by the different staining pattern.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The location of positive nodes partly influences the prognostic value of the number of positive nodes in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine whether the number of positive lymph nodes or the location of lymph node metastasis (location number) would permit a more accurate prediction of prognoses. METHODS: We compared the survival rates of 3922 patients with primary breast cancer in relation to the location number and the number of positive lymph nodes. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed using the log rank test. RESULTS: Within the n1 alpha group, the presence of one or two positive nodes was associated with significantly better survival than the presence of three positive nodes. These groups should therefore be distinguished. Within the n1 beta group, there was no significant difference in survival between patients with four and those with seven or more positive nodes. Comparisons of n1 beta and n2 patients after subgrouping by the number of positive nodes (4-9 and 10 or more) revealed a significantly poorer prognosis in the n2 group. CONCLUSIONS: When the prognosis of breast cancer is considered from the viewpoint of lymph node metastasis, the location number as described in the General Rules is an excellent classification. However, we should be aware of possible differences in the prognosis depending on the number of positive nodes, as this is masked by the location number.

Adult↗

mRNA expression of complement components and regulators in rat arterial smooth muscle cells.

The presence of C5b-9 complexes, some complement regulators, and abundant cytokines in atherosclerotic lesions has been reported. However, it is unclear whether these complement-associated proteins are produced by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and how they are influenced by the cytokines. In the present study, we demonstrated, by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method, the mRNA expression of complement components (C3, C4, and C5) and membrane regulators (decay-accelerating factor, membrane cofactor protein, Crry, and CD59) in cultured SMCs derived from the rat carotid artery. The expression of C9 mRNA was also induced upon stimulation by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNA expression of C3, C4, DAF and Crry was up-regulated, but that of CD59 was down-regulated by IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and/or LPS alone or by synergy. The increase of C3 mRNA by TNF-alpha or LPS and that of C4 mRNA by IFN-gamma was induced in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that the arterial SMCs of rat have the ability to produce complement components and regulators, which is affected by cytokines and/or LPS. Since atherosclerosis is characterized by the intimal proliferation of SMCs, the complement system including its regulators may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Animals↗

Relationship between exercise capacity and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide in patients with stable old myocardial infarction.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between exercise capacity and ventilatory response in patients with stable old myocardial infarction. We performed cardiopulmonary exercise test in 61 patients with stable old myocardial infarction and in 30 healthy men. Each subject exercised on a bicycle ergometer until exhaustion. Patients who had anginal pain or electrocardiographic ischemic changes during exercise were excluded. The patients were classified into three groups according to peakVO2 achieved during exercise, using Weber's method: group A, peakVO2 > or = 21 ml/min/kg (n = 4); group B, 14 < or = peakVO2 < 21 ml/min/kg (n = 45); and group C, peakVO2 < 14 ml/min/kg (n = 12). With progressive increases in VCO2, VE increased linearly below the anaerobic threshold (AT) level. The slope of the linear regression line between VCO2 and VE (SLOPE) was calculated in each subject. The mean SLOPE of the healthy men (group N) and groups A, B and C were 25.8 +/- 0.5, 25.1 +/- 0.5, 28.9 +/- 0.8 and 37.1 +/- 1.7 (x 10(-3), respectively. Thus, the SLOPE was steeper in patients with lower peakVO2. It is difficult to perform a maximal exercise tolerance test on patients with chronic heart failure to evaluate their exercise capacity. We can assess exercise capacity by the slope of the linear regression line between VCO2 and VE (SLOPE) at the lower exercise level.

Aged↗

Mucinous tumor of the gallbladder with a separate nodule of anaplastic carcinoma.

A case of mucinous tumor of the gallbladder with a separate nodule of anaplastic carcinoma is reported. The patient was an 83-year-old Japanese man who underwent cholecystectomy under the preoperative diagnosis of a mucus-producing gallbladder tumor. A mucinous tumor was found in the neck and distal body of the gallbladder, associated with a separate nodule in the fundus. The latter nodule was initially diagnosed as a benign xanthogranulomatous lesion. However, the immunohistochemical study revealed that the atypical cells in the superficial part of the nodule were positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen, confirming the diagnosis of anaplastic carcinoma. Although the occurrence of mural nodules in mucinous cystic tumors of the ovary and pancreas is well reported, to our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of a mucinous tumor with a nodule of anaplastic carcinoma in the gallbladder.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

[Giant cell tumor originating in the sphenoid bone: a case report].

The authors report a case of giant cell tumor originating in the sphenoid bone. A 29-year-old woman presented with headache and diplopia. Bilateral ophthalmoplegia developed and MRI showed rapid growth of the tumor in spite of transnasal removal and conventional radiation therapy. The second transnasal surgery was performed 3 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. The symptoms were relieved except for right abducens palsy. Chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide was started after the second operation. The patient regained full ocular movement several months after the operation. Clinical remission has continued for four years. We conclude that the combination of repeated operations in the initial phase of rapid tumor growth, irradiation and chemotherapy is important to achieve tumor control.

Adult↗

Allelic loss at 1p34, 13q12, 17p13.3, and 17q21.1 correlates with poor postoperative prognosis in breast cancer.

Allelic losses of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), or the chromosomal regions harboring them, in tumor DNA may become useful postoperative prognostic indicators. To examine whether specific allelic losses might correlate with postoperative survival in a 5-year prospective follow-up, we tested tumors from a cohort of 264 breast cancer patients for allelic losses of 18 microsatellite markers representing either a known TSG or a region where genetic alterations are frequent in breast tumors. Patients whose tumors had lost an allele at 1p34, 13q12, 17p13.3, or 17q21.1 had significantly higher risks of postoperative mortality than those whose tumors retained both alleles at those loci (at 1p34, a 5-year mortality rate of 29% among patients with losses vs. 7% with retentions, P = 0. 0008; at 13q12, 31% vs. 10%, P = 0.0062; at 17p13.3, 24% vs. 13%, P = 0.026; and at 17q21.1, 31% vs. 13%, P = 0.0047). Furthermore, combined losses at 13q12 and 17p13.3 increased the predicted postoperative mortality risks by a factor of 9.6 (5-year mortality rate of 42% vs. 5% with retentions, P = 0.0001), and combined losses at 1p34 and 17p13.3 raised the predicted postoperative mortality risks by a factor of 8.6 (27% vs. 3%, P = 0.0064). We conclude that allelic losses at these loci can serve as negative prognostic indicators to guide postoperative management of patients. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 26:134-141, 1999.

Adult↗

Purification and characterization of a serine protease in erythrocyte cytosol that is adherent to oxidized membranes and preferentially degrades proteins modified by oxidation and glycation.

A serine protease that preferentially degrades oxidized and glycated proteins was shown to be present in erythrocyte cytosol. Human erythrocyte cytosol was labeled with [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and passed through a column of carboxymethyl-Sephadex to obtain radioactive fractions free of hemoglobin. The fractions contained a single radioactive 80-kDa protein, as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)/fluorography. The radioactive 80-kDa protein bound to unoxidized erythrocyte membranes, and more effectively to oxidized membranes. The radioactive protein was purified through a column of diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and by preparative native-PAGE in a purity of 80%. Antibody against the cytosolic 80-kDa protein bound to 80-kDa protein of erythrocyte membranes, indicating the presence of the same protein in the membrane. The antibody bound more effectively to oxidized membranes than to unoxidized membranes. The 80-kDa protein partially purified from unlabeled cytosol degraded more effectively oxidized bovine serum albumin (BSA), oxidized IgG, and glycated BSA more effectively than the corresponding unoxidized or unglycated proteins. Degradation of oxidized or glycated proteins was effectively inhibited by DFP. Hence, the protein is an 80-kDa serine protease that is adherent to oxidized membranes and is responsible for degradation of proteins modified by oxidation and glycation.

Antibodies↗

Human erythrocyte bisphosphoglycerate mutase: inactivation by glycation in vivo and in vitro.

2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM) [EC 5.4.2.4] is a multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes both the synthesis and the degradation of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and contains three types of activities in that it functions as a 2,3-DPG synthetase, a phosphoglycerate mutase and a 2,3-DPG phosphatase. In humans, BPGM occurs only in erythrocytes and plays a pivotal role in the dissociation of oxygen from hemoglobin via 2,3-DPG. The present study shows that the specific activity of BPGM in erythrocytes of diabetic patients is decreased, compared to normal controls as judged by 2,3-DPG synthetase activity and immunoreactive contents. To understand the mechanism by which the enzyme is inactivated, the enzyme was purified from pooled erythrocytes from diabetic patients and subjected to a boronate affinity column. The flow through fraction was active while the bound fraction was completely inactive. The bound fraction was reactive to an anti-hexitollysine antibody, indicating that the enzyme had undergone glycation and inactivation. The primary glycated site of the enzyme was found to be Lys158 as judged by amino acid sequencing and the reactivity with an anti-hexitollysine IgG, after reverse-phase HPLC of the lysyl-endopeptidase-digested peptides. Extensive glycation of recombinant BPGM in vitro indicated that the glycation sites were Lys2, Lys4, Lys17, Lys42, Lys158, and Lys196. From these results, the loss of enzymatic activity appears to be due to the glycation of Lys158 which may be located in the vicinity of the substrate binding site.

Aged↗

African elephant myoglobin with an unusual autoxidation behavior: comparison with the H64Q mutant of sperm whale myoglobin.

Elephant myoglobins both from Asian and African species have a glutamine in place of the usual distal (E7) histidine at position 64. We have isolated native oxymyoglobin directly from the skeletal muscle of African elephant (Loxodonta africana), and examined the autoxidation rate of oxymyoglobin (MbO2) to metmyoglobin (metMb) as a function of pH in 0.1 M buffer at 25 degreesC. As a result, African elephant MbO2 was found to be equally resistant to autoxidation as sperm whale myoglobin. However, the elephant myoglobin exhibited a distinct rate saturation below pH 6. Kinetic analysis of the pH profiles for the autoxidation rate has disclosed that African elephant MbO2 does not show any proton-catalyzed process, such as the one that can play a dominant role in the autoxidation reaction of sperm whale myoglobin by involving the distal histidine as its catalytic residue. Such a greater stability of African elephant MbO2 at low pH could be explained almost completely by the single H64Q mutation of sperm whale myoglobin. In African elephant aqua-metmyoglobin the Soret band was considerably broadened so as to produce another peak in the pentacoordinate 395 nm region. This unique spectral feature was therefore analyzed to show that the myoglobin is in equilibrium between two species, depending upon the presence or absence of a water molecule at the sixth coordinate position.

Africa↗

Comparative study on recombinant chloroplastic and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase isozymes of spinach.

The spinach stromal, thylakoid-bound, and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase isozymes (EC 1.11.1.11) were overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and their enzymatic properties were compared with the respective native isozymes. The purification of the recombinant stromal and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases using the conventional column chromatography yielded 0.73 and 2.2 mg of protein/liter of bacteria culture with enzyme activities of 800 and 486 micromol min-1 mg protein-1, respectively. In every respect, the recombinant stromal, thylakoid-bound, and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase isozymes exhibited identical enzymatic properties with each native isozyme. Specifically, the recombinant stromal and thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase isozymes showed high utilization of ascorbate as an electron donor and had a very short lifetime in ascorbate-depleted medium. Polyclonal antibodies raised against both purified recombinant stromal and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase isozymes were prepared. Both antibodies showed a cross-reaction with the recombinant and native ascorbate peroxidase isozymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Low level of mixing of partner cells seen in extrathymic T cells in the liver and intestine of parabiotic mice: its biological implication.

c-kit+ stem cells have recently been found in the liver and intestine of adult mice. We examined whether such stem cells give rise to extrathymic T cells in these organs in situ. To this end, we used parabiotic B6.Ly5.1 and B6.Ly5.2 mice, i.e. mice sharing the circulation. The origin of lymphocytes was identified by anti-Ly5.1 and anti-Ly5.2 monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with immunofluorescence assays. Lymphocytes in the blood, spleen, lymph nodes and liver had become a half-and-half mixture of Ly5.1+ and Ly5.2+ cells in both individuals by day 14. However, this level of mixing decreased in extrathymic T cells in the liver (i.e. NK T cells) and intestine by day 14 and thereafter. The same was observed in T cells of the thymus. The data from immunohistochemical staining supported the results of immunofluorescence assays for suspension cells. The present results raise the possibility that extrathymic T cells in the liver and intestine may arise from their own pre-existing precursor cells, possibly from their own stem cells. Another important finding was that the composition pattern of lymphocyte subsets in one individual was quite similar to that in its partner at various sites. This result was interpreted to mean that only selected partner cells migrate to specific sites in the other partner individual.

Animals↗

Epigenotype switching of imprintable loci in embryonic germ cells.

Expression of imprinted genes is dependent on their parental origin. This is reflected in the heritable differential methylation of parental alleles. The gametic imprints are however reversible as they do not endure for more than one generation. To investigate if the epigenetic changes in male and female germ line are similar or not, we derived embryonic germ (EG) cells from primordial germ cells (PGCs) of day 11.5 and 12.5 male and female embryos. The results demonstrate that they have an equivalent epigenotype. First, chimeras made with EG cells derived from both male and female embryos showed comparable fetal overgrowth and skeletal abnormalities, which are similar to but less severe than those induced by androgenetic embryonic stem (ES) cells. Thus, EG cells derived from female embryos resemble androgenetic ES cells more than parthenogenetic cells. Furthermore, the methylation status of both alleles of a number of loci in EG cells was similar to that of the paternal allele in normal somatic cells. Hence, both alleles of Igf2r region 2, Peg1/Mest, Peg3, Nnat were consistently unmethylated in EG cells as well as in the primary embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) rescued from chimeras. More strikingly, both alleles of p57kip2 that were also unmethylated in EG cells, underwent de novo methylation in PEFs to resemble a paternal allele in somatic cells. The exceptions were the H19 and Igf2 genes that retained the methylation pattern in PEFs as seen in normal somatic tissues. These studies suggest that the initial epigenetic changes in germ cells of male and female embryos are similar.

Animals↗