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Biomedical subjects

T Toda

Publications and source records attributed to T Toda.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Clinicopathological significance of c-erbB-2 protein expression in human gastric carcinoma.

One hundred seventy-nine primary human gastric tumors not associated with early cancer or noncurative resection were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of c-erbB-2 protein. Positive staining, regarded as an indication of gene amplification, was evident in 22(12%) of the tumors. Of various clinicopathological factors considered, a statistically significant difference in association with frequency of expression was noted only for histological differentiation, as follows: 39% positive staining in papillary, 17% in well differentiated, 5% in moderately differentiated, and 4% in undifferentiated adenocarcinomas (P greater than 0.01). The 5-year survival rates of patients with positive and negative c-erbB-2 staining were 57% and 59%, respectively. These findings indicate that, in the case of human gastric adenocarcinoma, expression of c-erbB-2 protein is correlated with tumor histological differentiation. Our results also suggest that the presence or absence of c-erbB-2 protein may not serve as a prognostic indicator, particularly in cases of adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A 94 year old male stage IV breast cancer patient showing complete remission under tamoxifen treatment after operation.

A 94 year old man with an invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (T4N2M1, stage IV), underwent a modified radical mastectomy to improve his quality of life. The estrogen receptor status of both the breast tumor and the metastatic axillar lymph nodes was high. Immunohistochemical staining for epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor, or c-erbB-2 protein was negative. The patient received only tamoxifen continuously for 3 months, and later apparently showed a complete remission. Therefore, in advanced male breast cancer with a high estrogen receptor status, operation in conjunction with hormone therapy may lead to a favorable result in some cases.

Aged↗

Luteinized unruptured follicle in the early stages of endometriosis as a cause of unexplained infertility.

OBJECTIVE: We attempted to clarify the relationship between luteinized unruptured follicle, which occurs in the early stages of endometriosis, and unexplained infertility. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy patients who had unexplained infertility were reviewed. RESULTS: Laparoscopic examination showed that 47 patients (67%) had endometriosis; of these, 40 (85%) had minimal or mild disease. The incidence of luteinized unruptured follicle was higher (p < 0.05) in patients who had endometriosis (35%/patient and 25%/cycle) compared with patients who did not have endometriosis (11%/patient and 7%/cycle). Degenerated oocyte cumuli were collected in 6 (43%) of 14 luteinized unruptured follicles diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that luteinized unruptured follicle is common in patients who have mild or minimal endometriosis and that it may be one of the causes of endometriosis-associated infertility. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular puncture of luteinized unruptured follicle during the mid luteal phase may be useful in establishing a definitive diagnosis of luteinized unruptured follicle.

Corpus Luteum↗

Sealing ability of Thermafil with and without sealer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical sealing ability of root canals filled using three obturating techniques. Sixteen maxillary first molars were obturated with Thermafil, 16 with Thermafil and a ZOE sealer, and 16 with laterally condensed gutta-percha. Two canal instrumentation methods were used, conventional step-back preparation with K-Flex files and traditional instrumentation combining reaming with reamers and filing with K-Flex files. Following obturation, the teeth were prepared for evaluation of the seal using India ink and a Profile Projector. The depth of penetration of the dye was statistically evaluated for each of the three roots with an analysis of variance. For sealing ability, there was no significant difference at the p < 0.05 level between the conventional step-back preparation and the traditional instrumentation technique. However, a significant difference was present at the p < 0.05 level for the obturation techniques. The mean linear dye penetration for the Thermafil technique was greater than that for lateral condensation.

Dental Leakage↗

Fission yeast sts1+ gene encodes a protein similar to the chicken lamin B receptor and is implicated in pleiotropic drug-sensitivity, divalent cation-sensitivity, and osmoregulation.

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe sts1+ gene, identified by supersensitive mutations to a protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, was isolated by complementation by the use of a fission yeast genomic library. Nucleotide sequencing shows that the sts1+ gene encodes a 453 amino acid putative membrane-associated protein that is significantly similar (26% identity) to the chicken lamin B receptor. It is also highly related (53% identity) to a budding yeast ORF, YGL022. These three proteins contain a similar hydrophobicity pattern consisting of eight or nine putative transmembrane domains. By gene disruption we demonstrate that the sts1+ gene is not essential for viability. These disruptants exhibit pleiotropic defects, such as cold-sensitivity for growth and at the permissive temperature, a supersensitivity to divalent cations and several unrelated drugs including staurosporine, caffeine, chloramphenicol, sorbitol, and SDS. Disruption of the sts1+ gene does not lead to a sensitivity to thiabendazole or hydroxyurea.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transport characteristics of cephalosporin antibiotics across intestinal brush-border membrane in man, rat and rabbit.

The uptake of orally active cephalosporins, ceftibuten and cephradine, by intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from man, rat and rabbit was studied. In the presence of an inward H+ gradient, ceftibuten but not cephradine was taken up into intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles of man and rat against the concentration gradient (overshoot phenomenon). In rabbit jejunal brush-border membrane vesicles, the uptake of both cephalosporins in the presence of an inward H+ gradient exhibited the overshoot phenomenon. In human and rat vesicles, the initial uptake of ceftibuten was strongly inhibited by compound V, an analogue of ceftibuten, but the uptake of cephradine was not affected by any of the cephalosporins tested, whereas in the rabbit brush-border membrane vesicles, initial uptake of both ceftibuten and cephradine were markedly inhibited by all cephalosporins and dipeptides used. These results suggest that the transport characteristics of human and rat intestinal brush-border membrane for cephalosporins are comparable, and that rabbit is an inadequate animal for investigating the transport characteristics of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Administration, Oral↗

Immunochemical and biological characterization of outer membrane proteins of Porphyromonas endodontalis.

Outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Porphyromonas endodontalis HG 370 (ATCC 35406) were prepared from the cell envelope fraction of the organisms. The cell envelope that had been obtained by sonication of the whole cells was extracted in 2% lithium dodecyl sulfate and then successively chromatographed with Sephacryl S-200 HR and DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow. Two OMP fractions, OMP-I and OMP-II, were obtained, and their immunochemical properties and induction of specific antibodies were examined. The OMP-I preparation consisted of a major protein with an apparent molecular mass of 31 kDa and other moderate to minor proteins of 40.3, 51.4, 67, and 71.6 kDa, while the OMP-II preparation contained 14-, 15.5-, 27-, and 44-kDa proteins as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis. OMP-I was found to form hydrophilic diffusion pores by incorporation into artificial liposomes composed of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and dicetylphosphate, indicating that OMP-I exhibited significant porin activity. However, the liposomes containing heat-denatured OMP-I were scarcely active. Spontaneous and antigen-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM)-, IgG-, and IgA-secreting spot-forming cells (SFC) enzymatically dissociated into single-cell suspensions from chronically inflamed periapical tissues and were enumerated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. In patients with radicular cysts or dental granulomas, the major isotype of spontaneous SFC was IgG. In radicular cysts, the OMP-II-specific IgG SFC represented 0.13% of the total IgG SFC, while the antigen-specific IgA or IgM SFC was not observed. It was also found that none of these mononuclear cells produced antibodies specific for OMP-I or lipopolysaccharide of P. endodontalis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Fission yeast pap1-dependent transcription is negatively regulated by an essential nuclear protein, crm1.

The fission yeast pap1+ gene encodes an AP-1-like transcription factor that contains a leucine zipper motif. We identified a target gene of pap1, the p25 gene. The 5' upstream region of the p25 gene contains an AP-1 site, and by DNase I footprint analysis, we showed that the pap1 protein binds to the AP-1 site as well as to a 14-bp palindrome sequence. p25 is overproduced when the pap1+ gene is overexpressed, whereas p25 is not produced at all in the pap1 deletion mutant. p25 was previously found to be overproduced in strains carrying cold-sensitive crm1 mutations whose gene product is essential for viability and is thought to play an important role in maintenance of a proper chromosomal architecture. Deletion and site-directed mutagenesis of sequences upstream of the p25 gene demonstrated that the AP-1 site as well as the palindrome sequence are crucial for transcriptional activation either by pap1 overproduction or by the cold-sensitive crm1 mutation; pap1+ is apparently negatively regulated by crm1+. Moreover, we found that cold-sensitive crm1 mutations are suppressed by the deletion of pap1+, further indicating a close relationship between crm1+ and pap1+. The crm1 protein is highly conserved; the budding yeast homolog, CRM1, which complements the fission yeast cold-sensitive crm1 mutation, was isolated and found to also be essential for viability. These results suggest the functional importance of chromosome structure on the regulation of gene expression through the pap1 transcription factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Acrosin profiles of human spermatozoa recovered from the new Sperm Prep II filtration column.

Twenty semen samples were collected and two aliquots of 1.5 ml were prepared from each sample. One sample of each pair (fraction-one) was used for evaluation of semen parameters and total acrosin activity of spermatozoa. The other sample of each pair (fraction-two) was mixed with an equal volume of Ham's F-10 medium and filtered through the Sperm Prep II. At the end of the filtration, the filtrate was pooled, sperm parameters were evaluated and total acrosin activity was assessed. Percentage of normal spermatozoa, sperm motility, and total acrosin activity of spermatozoa were significantly higher in the postfiltered fraction-two than in the fresh fraction-one. Considering the great importance of acrosin for fertilization, it is suggested that Sperm Prep II filtration method may be beneficial in preparing spermatozoa from infertile men with low acrosin profiles for assisted reproduction programs. Further studies will be necessary, however, in order to confirm this, since the present study concerned men with known fertility.

Acrosin↗

[Cytofluorometric analysis of DNA content in proliferating cells of coronary arteriosclerotic lesions].

Cytofluorometric determination of DNA content was done on paraffin-embedded tissues of 19 cases of coronary arteriosclerotic lesions including fibrocellular intimal thickening lesions (FT) or atherosclerosis (AS). DNA distribution pattern of medial smooth muscle cells of coronary arteries with FT and AS was all diploid. The average proliferative index (PI) of both medial smooth muscle cells of coronary arteries with FT and AS was 4.8 +/- 0.6. DNA distribution patterns of intimal cells of coronary arteries with FT and AS were also diploid. The average PI of intimal cells of coronary arteries with FT and AS was 8.4 +/- 1.0 and 9.1 +/- 0.7, respectively. These results suggest that intimal cellular proliferation plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.

Cell Division↗

Effects of single ethanol administration on hepatic ornithine decarboxylase induction and polyamine metabolism.

The effects of a single ethanol administration on ornithine decarboxylase induction, polyamine metabolism and DNA synthesis in rat liver after partial hepatectomy were studied. Ethanol given 1 hr before partial hepatectomy at the dose of 2, 3 or 5 gm/kg body wt inhibited the increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity and that in the putrescine level in the liver 4 hr after partial hepatectomy. The hepatectomy increased the amount of ornithine decarboxylase messenger RNA expressed, and this amount was unaffected by ethanol administration. Further, ethanol did not accelerate the degradation of ornithine decarboxylase 4 hr after partial hepatectomy, indicating that the inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase activity caused by ethanol was not caused by a decrease in the ornithine decarboxylase messenger RNA level or by the acceleration of ODC degradation. The single dose of ethanol inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into the hepatic DNA 24 hr after partial hepatectomy. The suppression of [3H]thymidine incorporation was partially reversed by the administration of putrescine. These results suggested that ethanol inhibits the increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity after transcription, suppressing the accumulation of putrescine, which prevents DNA synthesis in response to hepatectomy.

Animals↗

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration in the management of anovulatory infertility associated with polycystic ovaries.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether or not transvaginal ultrasound (US)-guided follicular aspiration can effectively induce ovulation and facilitate pregnancy in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovaries (PCO). DESIGN: Eight patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and 10 patients with PCO were participants who failed to ovulate by the medical therapies. Most of persistent follicles were punctured, and their contents were thoroughly aspirated during the midluteal phase. The same ovarian stimulation regimen as used in the previous cycles were administered in the cycles after the aspiration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evidence of ovulation and a subsequent pregnancy was ultrasonically monitored after the aspiration, and the responsiveness of pituitary gonadotropins to gonadotropin-releasing hormone was tested in these patients. RESULTS: The ovulation rates were 87.5% per patient, 52.6% per cycle monitored in PCOD patients and 100% per patient, 63.3% per cycle monitored in PCO patients, respectively. Half of the patients both with PCOD and PCO achieved pregnancy after the aspiration. A significant decrease (P less than 0.05) of the basal and peak levels of serum luteinizing hormone was observed after the aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: The US-guided follicular aspiration seems to be a new surgical method for treating anovulatory patients with PCO.

Anovulation↗

Autotransplantation using endosseous implants as stabilizers.

The surgical transfer of a tooth from one site to another in the same individual is known as autotransplantation. Usually the tooth transferred is an unerupted or partially erupted third molar which is placed into a first molar position with some external fixation. In this case report, the first molar was already missing and the second molar was hopeless. An erupted third molar was autotransplanted into the second molar site and endosseous implants were used to stabilize the tooth. A fixed bridge was placed 6 months later and the progress followed for 4 yr.

Adult↗

Fission yeast genes that confer resistance to staurosporine encode an AP-1-like transcription factor and a protein kinase related to the mammalian ERK1/MAP2 and budding yeast FUS3 and KSS1 kinases.

Staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, arrests fission yeast cell elongation specifically at a stage immediately after cell division. We isolated two genes, which, when carried on multicopy plasmids, confer drug resistance in fission yeast. One, spk1+, encodes a protein kinase highly similar (54% identity) to those encoded by the mammalian ERK1/MAP2 kinase and the budding yeast KSS1 and FUS3 genes. It is not essential for vegetative growth of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells but is required for conjugation. The spk1+ gene product is a 45-kD protein enriched in the nucleus, and its level increases 10-fold after addition of staurosporine. The other gene pap1+ encodes an AP-1-like transcription factor that contains a region rich in basic amino acids followed by a "leucine zipper" motif. The pap1+ gene is required for spk1(+)-conferred staurosporine resistance. These two genes appear to function as a part of the fission yeast growth control pathway.

Alkaloids↗