Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

T Ueda

Publications and source records attributed to T Ueda.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Replication of a geminivirus derived shuttle vector in maize endosperm cells.

A maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm cell culture has been shown to efficiently replicate DNA sequences derived from wheat dwarf virus (WDV), a monopartite monocot geminivirus. To analyze sequences necessary for viral replication and to verify their application for a plant gene expression vector, we have developed a 3.7 kilobase pairs Escherichia coli--plant cell shuttle vector, pWI-11. The p15A origin of replication, functional in E. coli, was introduced into the viral sequences. We have replaced the coding region of the coat protein gene by that of bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) gene. The resulting NPT II gene fusion can serve as a selectable marker in both plant and E. coli systems. Into a unique cloning site in this pWI-11 vector, we introduced a gene fusion carrying the bacterial beta-glucuronidase (GUS) coding region under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV35S) gene promoter and terminator. By transferring these viral sequences into protoplasts derived from maize endosperm cell cultures, we have demonstrated that the plasmid pWI-11 can replicate in maize endosperm cells, that the GUS reporter gene introduced into pWI-11 can be expressed at high level in the transformed cells, and that the replicating viral DNA can be rescued from endosperm cells by transforming E. coli in the presence of kanamycin. The level of GUS gene expression increased progressively in transformed endosperm cells during a prolonged culture period, coinciding with replication of the viral sequences in these cells.

Blotting, Southern

Atypical lymphocytes with a multilobated nucleus from a patient with tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) in Japan.

A case of tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) with atypical lymphocytes with a multilobated nucleus is reported. Although this type of atypical lymphocyte has been reported in patients with viral infections such as adult T-cell leukemia, infectious mononucleosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, this is the first reported case of atypical lymphocyte with a multilobated nucleus in a patient with rickettsial infection. This type of atypical lymphocyte seems to exist in a broad spectrum of infectious diseases.

Cell Nucleus

Validity of heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion as indices of exercise intensity in a group of children while swimming.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of heart rate (fc) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) as indices of exercise intensity in a group of children while swimming. Six healthy male swimmers, aged 10-12, swam tethered using the breast-stroke in a flume. The resistance started at 1.0 kg and increased in 1.0 kg steps up to the point of their exhaustion. The subjects swam for 5 min during each period, with a rest of 10-20 min until they had returned to their resting fc level. The last exercise intensity was with the maximal mass the subjects could support for 2 min. The last min of oxygen consumption (VO2) and 30 s of fc were measured during each exercise period. The subjects gave their RPE assessment at the end of exercise. The individual relationships between fc and VO2, and percentage maximal oxygen consumption (%VO2max) were linear with a high correlation r = 0.962-0.996 and r = 0.962-0.996, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that fc was valid as an index of the exercise intensity of children while swimming. Compared to the results found in adults using a similar protocol, the children's fc were 8.3-26.9 beats.min-1 higher than those of the adults at the given %VO2max. The present study showed two different patterns in the relationship between VO2 and RPE in individuals. In two subjects the RPE increased linearly with VO2 while in the other four subjects the increase was discontinuous. If fc and RPE were to be applied to the setting and evaluation of exercise intensity during swimming, it would seem that fc would be a more useful guide than RPE for some children.

Body Height

Adenylate cyclase induces intracellular Ca2+ increase in single human epidermal keratinocytes of the epidermal sheet as measured by digital imaging microscopy using Fura 2-AM.

Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) is thought to act as a second messenger of transmembrane signalling systems. However, no measurement of [Ca2+]i has been made in intact epidermal keratinocytes. We have developed a method for measuring [Ca2+]i in human keratinocytes from pure epidermal sheet by the application of digital imaging fluorescence microscopy with the use of Fura 2-AM. Normal human pure epidermal sheets were obtained by dispase treatment. Epinephrine and salbutamol induced transient [Ca2+]i increases. Propranolol, a beta-antagonist, inhibited this response, while prazosin and yohimbine (alpha 1- and alpha 2-antagonists, respectively) did not affect the response. Histamine and adenosine, also receptor agonists of the epidermal adenylate cyclase system, induced a similar [Ca2+]i increase, as did forskolin, a direct activator of adenylate cyclase. These data coincide with those previously presented for cultured human epidermal keratinocytes, and reveal that adenylate cyclase activation induces an increase of [Ca2+]i in intact epidermal cells. This technique enables the kinetics of [Ca2+]i in various skin disorders to be investigated.

Adenosine

Therapeutic efficacy of interferon on HCV-RNA in chronic hepatitis C.

The efficacy of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C were evaluated by the changes of serum RNA of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) by the polymerase chain reaction. Before the treatment, HCV-RNA was detected in all of the 17 patients. 5 patients given IFN for 4 weeks, 12 cases given IFN by the 2 weeks/on 2 weeks off schedule (4 cases given 4 cycles and 8 given 6 cycles). Immediately after the treatment ended, the HCV-RNA was not detected in 12 (71%) cases. Five cases were persistently positive for HCV-RNA and showed continuously abnormal level of ALT. In 7 of 12 cases who became negative for HCV-RNA just after the treatment ended, HCV-RNA was detected again at first and 12th month after therapy. The ALT level were continuously abnormal in 4 of these 7 cases during and after the treatment, and became normal transiently in the other 3. In the 5 cases who became persistently negative (at least 1 year), ALT level decreased to normal or near-normal during follow up for more than one year. According to our results, we classified the therapeutic efficacy of IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Type I response is complete response. In this type, HCV-RNA became negative persistently and ALT became normal or near-normal for at least 12 months after therapy. Type II is partial response. In this type, HCV-RNA became negative transiently and ALT level was transiently normal or poor. Type III is ineffective. In this type, HCV-RNA did not become negative and the effect for ALT was poor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Hypereosinophilic syndrome appearing as a focal defect on liver scan.

The case reported here is of a 34-year-old man diagnosed as having hypereosinophilic syndrome. Blood tests showed a large increase in the number of eosinophils and a slight increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. In scintigraphy of the liver with Tc-99m-phytate and with Ga-67-citrate, a focal defect was found in the outer part of the right lobe of the liver. Abdominal computed tomography showed a low density lesion in the same area. Histological inspection of the biopsy specimen showed heavy periportal infiltration with eosinophils. The results suggested that the focal defect seen in liver scintigraphy arose from a circulatory disturbance arising from infiltration by eosinophils.

Adult

2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine inhibits the repair of DNA double-strand breaks and does not inhibit the repair of DNA single-strand breaks in X-irradiated Chinese hamster V79 cells.

The exposure of log-phase Chinese hamster V79 cells to 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (CdA) for 3 h after X irradiation enhanced the lethal effects of X-rays in a concentration-dependent manner. The enhancement of the killing efficiency of X-rays by CdA was mainly observed in the reduction of quasi-threshold doses (Dq) of the dose-response curves. When the ability of CdA to inhibit the repair of X-ray-induced double- and single-strand breaks (dsb and ssb) of DNA was investigated by neutral- and alkaline-filter elution techniques, respectively, it was observed that 90% of dsb were rejoined in the absence of CdA within 30 min after X irradiation and 15-40% of dsb rejoining was suppressed by co-incubation of the cells with 5-10 microM of CdA for 3 h after X irradiation, whereas almost 100% of ssb were rejoined within 15 min regardless of the presence or absence of CdA. From these results it was concluded that CdA interfered exclusively with the repair of DNA dsb in X-irradiated Chinese hamster V79 cells and thereby increased the lethality of X-rays.

2-Chloroadenosine

Prognostic factors and value of adjunctive nephrectomy in patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma.

We reviewed 57 cases of Stage IV renal cell carcinoma to clarify the factors influencing prognosis and to evaluate the value of nephrectomy. Cumulative survival from the initial diagnosis was analyzed with respect to the patients' age, sex, side of primary tumor, initial performance status (PS), site of metastasis, and nephrectomy. Overall survival for the patients was 51 percent at one year, 22 percent at three years, and 11 percent at five years. Age, sex, and side of primary tumor had no influence on survival. Improved survival was correlated with good PS, metastases limited to single organ, and removal of the primary tumor. With regard to histopathologic features in nephrectomized patients, low grade and stage were correlated with longer survival. These factors should be considered in the analysis of results of future clinical trials of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Aged

Pharmacological studies of retinol palmitate and its clinical effect in patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

The pharmacokinetics of retinol palmitate were studied, and a therapeutic trial was performed in patients with ANLL. In the pharmacokinetics study, retinol was the only metabolite that was detected in plasma, and the peak concentration was 332 micrograms/dl (about 1.2 x 10(-5) M) 2.1 h after administration of retinol palmitate. Five patients with ANLL (4 with ANLL-M3 and one with ANLL-M2) were treated with retinol palmitate. In all patients with ANLL-M3, bone marrow suspension culture studies revealed that retinol induced both morphological and functional differentiation of immature leukemic cells. During the course of the treatment with retinol palmitate, morphological differentiation of bone marrow immature leukemic cells was observed in all patients with ANLL-M3 within 3-4 days after initiation of the therapy. In three of the four patients who underwent conventional chemotherapy, the sequential treatment with retinol palmitate resulted in a complete remission: controlling residual bone marrow leukemic cells. None of the patients showed any signs of aggravation of DIC in the coagulation parameters. These findings suggest the possibility that retinol palmitate functions as salvage therapy by inducing maturation and slowing proliferation, there by clearing out the residual leukemic cells following conventional chemotherapy.

Adult

Dephosphorylation of specific proteins in HL-60 cells by 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: possible involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Changes of phosphoprotein patterns in HL-60 cells were studied during short exposures to 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. One hundred nanometers 1,25(OH)2D3 dephosphorylated at least three proteins in 6 h: phosphoproteins with molecular weights of 82 kD (pp82), 33 kD (pp33), and 31 kD (pp31). Phosphorylation of pp33 and pp31 was also suppressed by 1 mM dbcAMP, and dephosphorylation of the two protein by 1,25(OH)2D3 was inhibited by 8 microM H-8, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Furthermore, 8 microM H-8 inhibited dephosphorylation of the two proteins when it was added with 1,25(OH)2D3. On the other hand, 10 nM TPA gave no significant change to these two phosphoproteins. These results suggest the possibility that PKA is involved in the early stages of 1,25(OH)2D3-induced HL-60 cell differentiation through specific protein dephosphorylation.

Bucladesine

Mutagenicity of (p-nitrophenyl)adenines in Salmonella typhimurium.

Adenine derivatives having a p-nitrophenyl group at position 2, 8, or 9 were directly mutagenic towards Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100, whereas N6-(p-nitrophenyl)adenine was not mutagenic. 2,9- And 8,9-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)adenines were also mutagenic, but N6,9-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)adenine was not. The study on 13 (p-nitrophenyl)adenine derivatives for their Salmonella mutagenicity indicates that only those having a p-nitrophenyl ring directly linked to the purine ring are mutagenic, implying the importance of the coplanar character of the nitrophenyl and the purine rings. The nitro group seems essential for the mutagenicity, as shown from the results of assays using nitroarene-sensitive and -insensitive Salmonella strains. The mutagenic potency of this class of compounds is high, comparable to that of 2-nitrofluorene.

Adenine

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 94. Radical deoxygenation of tert-alcohols in 1-(2-C-alkylpentofuranosyl) pyrimidines: synthesis of (2'S)-2'-deoxy-2'-C-methylcytidine, an antileukemic nucleoside.

(2'S and 2'R)-2'-Deoxy-2'-C-methylcytidine (1i and 15) and (2'S)-2'-deoxy-2'-C-ethylcytidine (1j) have been synthesized from the corresponding 2'-C-alkylarabinofuranosyl- or -ribofuranosylpyrimidine derivatives 3 and 4 by radical deoxygenation of the methyl oxalyl esters of the 2'-tert-alcohol, followed by sequential deblocking and amination at the 4-position. (2'S)-2'-Deoxy-2'-C-methyl-5-methyluridine (8) has also been synthesized in a similar manner. Among them, compound 1i exhibits the most potent cytotoxicity to L1210 cells with potency comparable to that of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (1a). The size of the 2'-substituents and the configuration at the 2'-position are the most important for the cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity in vitro of 1i against various human cancer cell lines was also examined and compared with that of 1a and 5-fluorouracil.

Animals

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 96. Synthesis and antitumor activity of 5-ethynyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (EICAR) and its derivatives.

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 5-iodo-1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4- carboxamide (8) with various terminal alkynes in the presence of bis(benzonitrile)palladium dichloride in acetonitrile containing triethylamine gave the desired 5-alkynyl derivatives 9 in high yields. However, when (trimethylsilyl)acetylene was used, the only isolable product was the undesired dimer, 1,2-bis(4-carbamoyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazol-5-yl)acetylene derivative 10a. To circumvent such dimer formation, the reaction was done with use of trimethyl-[(tributylstannyl)ethynyl]silane in the absence of triethylamine to afford the desired 5-(2-trimethylsilyl)ethynyl derivative 9a in good yield. Furthermore, the similar cross-coupling reaction of 5-iodo-1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carboni tri le (12) with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene also afforded the desired nucleoside 13a. Deprotection of these compounds furnished 5-alkynyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamides (6b-k) and -carbonitriles (14b-f). Among these, 5-ethynyl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (6b, EICAR) is the most potent inhibitor of growth of the various tumor cells in culture including human solid tumor cells. Preliminary results of in vivo antitumor activity against murine leukemias L1210 and P388 are also described.

Animals

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 97. Synthesis of new broad spectrum antineoplastic nucleosides, 2'-deoxy-2'-methylidenecytidine (DMDC) and its derivatives.

A new type of antineoplastic nucleoside, 2'-deoxy-2'-methylidenecytidine (DMDC) has been synthesized from the corresponding 2'-keto pyrimidine nucleosides 3 and 8 by the Wittig reaction. During the course of the reaction, we found that an intermediate betaine could pick a proton from the excess triphenylphosphonium bromide to form the 2'-phosphonium salts 5 and 10, which could be further converted into the 2'-deoxy-2'-methylidene nucleosides 4 and 9 by treatment with sodium hydride. Various 5-substituted DMDC derivatives 19a-e,h and their uracil congeners 16a-h were also synthesized from the corresponding 5-substituted uridines 12a-f,h. Among them, DMDC as well as 2'-deoxy-2'-methylidene-5-fluorocytidine (19a) showed potent antileukemic activity against murine L1210 cells in culture. The activity of DMDC and 19a toward various human tumor cells in culture compared with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and 5-fluorouracil was also examined. In vivo antitumor activity of DMDC against L1210 was also described.

Animals

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 95. Improved synthesis of 1-(2-azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine (cytarazid) and -thymine. Inhibitory spectrum of cytarazid on the growth of various human tumor cells in vitro.

Reaction of N3-benzoyl-1-[3,5-O-(tetraisopropyldisiloxan-1,3-diyl)-beta- D- ribofuranosyl]thymine (4a) with diphenyl phosphorazidate, diethyl azodicarboxylate, and triphenylphosphine in tetrahydrofuran afforded N3-benzoyl-1-[2-azido-2-deoxy-3,5-O- (tetraisopropyldisiloxan-1,3-diyl)-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl]t hymine (5a) in good yield. After the sequence of deblocking of 5a gave 1-(2-azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)thymine (7), it was heated in N,N-dimethylformamide to produce 6,2'-imino-1-(2-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)thymine (8). This reaction disclosed the arabino configuration for 5a. Similarly the N3-benzoyluracil derivative 4b was transformed to the corresponding 2'-"up"-azidouridine derivative 5b, which was further converted to 1-(2-azido-2-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine (1, cytarazid). The antineoplastic activity of 1 was compared with that of ara-C against various human cancer cell lines in vitro.

Adenocarcinoma

Influence of preservation or perfusion of intraoperatively identified spinal cord blood supply on spinal motor evoked potentials and paraplegia after aortic surgery.

Permanent ligation of arteries supplying blood to the spinal cord in operations for aortic aneurysm can lead to spinal cord ischemia, which can result in either paraparesis or paraplegia. This report describes a rapid method of intraoperative identification of those arteries that supply the spinal cord by use of an intrathecal platinum electrode to detect hydrogen in solution that has been injected into the aortic ostia. Preservation or perfusion of those identified arteries supplying the spinal cord may decrease the rate of postoperative neurologic complications. Of 28 porcine experiments with postoperative observation for 24 hours, there were 3 initial pilot experiments in which saline saturated with hydrogen was injected into the temporarily cross-clamped aorta. Twenty animals were then randomized to (1) preservation of only the vessels sequentially identified to supply blood to the spinal cord from T-13 to L-5 (n = 10); (2) division of the vessels supplying the spinal cord (n = 10). A further five animals underwent perfusion experiments wherein the identified cord arteries were perfused by a shunt, the other nonsupply arteries were divided, and the aorta was kept clamped for 45 minutes. Spinal motor evoked potentials were elicited with an intrathecal electrode and were highly sensitive for paralysis. Paralysis occurred in 0/3 pilot (p less than 0.013 vs division); 8/10 division; 1/10 preservation (p less than 0.0017 vs division); and perfusion 1/5 (p less than 0.025 vs division). Results of a pilot study in eight humans shows that the technique can be used to rapidly identify segmental arteries supplying the spinal cord, to determine if distal perfusion is supplying the spinal cord with blood flow, and if reattached segmental arteries are patent.

Aged