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Biomedical subjects

Y Hirose

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hirose.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phosphorylated RNA polymerase II stimulates pre-mRNA splicing.

RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is responsible for transcription of mRNA precursors in eukaryotic cells. Recent studies, however, have suggested that RNAP II also participates in subsequent RNA processing reactions through interactions between the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of the RNAP II largest subunit and processing factors. Using reconstituted in vitro splicing assays, we show that RNAP II functions directly in pre-mRNA splicing by influencing very early steps in assembly of the spliceosome. We demonstrate that the phosphorylation status of the CTD dramatically affects activity: Hyperphosphorylated RNAP IIO strongly activates splicing, whereas hypophosphorylated RNAP IIA can inhibit the reaction.

Cell Nucleus

Physiologic and morphologic properties of motoneurons and spindle afferents innervating the temporal muscle in the cat.

Little is known about physiology and morphology of motoneurons and spindle afferents innervating the temporalis and on synaptic connections made between the two. The present study was aimed at investigating the above issues at the light microscopic level by using the intracellular recording and horseradish peroxidase or biotinamide labeling techniques and by the use of succinylcholine (SCh) for the classification of spindle afferents in the cat. Temporalis motoneurons had dendritic trees that ranged from a spherical form to an egg-shaped form. The shape deformation was more prominent for the dendritic trees made by motoneurons located closer to the nuclear border. No axon collaterals of the motoneurons were detected. On the basis of the values for the dynamic index after SCh infusion, temporalis spindle afferents were classified into two populations: presumptive groups Ia and II. The spindle afferents terminated mainly in the supratrigeminal nucleus (Vsup), region h, and the dorsolateral subdivision (Vmo.dl) of the trigeminal motor nucleus (Vmo). The proportion of group Ia afferent terminals was lower in the Vsup than that of group II afferents. In the Vmo.dl, the proportion of group Ia afferent terminals was nearly even throughout the nucleus, but that of group II afferent terminals increased in the more outlying regions. The proportion of terminal distribution in the central region of Vmo.dl was higher for group Ia than group II. The frequency of contacts (presumptive synapses) made by a single spindle afferent on a motoneuron was higher for group Ia than group II. The present study provided evidence that the central organization of spindle afferent neurons is different between groups Ia and II.

Animals

Quantitative analysis of the dendritic architectures of cat hypoglossal motoneurons stained intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase.

Little is known about the dendritic architecture of cat hypoglossal motoneurons. Thus, the present study was done to provide quantitative descriptions of hypoglossal motoneurons and to determine correlations between dendritic size parameters by using the intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection technique in the cat. Twelve hypoglossal motoneurons stained with HRP were antidromically activated by stimulation applied to the medial branch of hypoglossal nerve. Eight (type I) and four (type II) of the 12 motoneurons were located in the ventral and dorsal parts of the ventromedial subnucleus of hypoglossal nucleus, respectively. The somatodendritic morphology of the two types of neurons was remarkably different, especially in the dendritic arborization pattern. The type I neurons established an egg-shaped dendritic tree that was distributed through the nucleus to the reticular formation; the type II dendritic tree was confined within the nucleus and presented a rostrocaudally oriented, mirror-image, fan-shape appearance. The total dendritic area and length and the number of terminations and branch points were significantly larger for type I than for type II neurons. For the two types of neuron, there was a positive correlation between stem dendritic diameter and several dendritic size parameters. Although the slopes of the regression lines were slightly different between the two, these were not statistically significant. The present study provides evidence that hypoglossal motoneurons located in the ventromedial subnucleus could be divided into two types according to the dendritic arborization pattern and quantitative analysis of the dendritic tree and according to neuronal location and suggests that the two types of hypoglossal motoneurons can be viewed as intrinsically distinct cell types: type I and type II, which innervate extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, respectively. In addition, the morphometric analysis made it possible to estimate the size of the dendritic tree by measuring the stem dendritic diameter.

Animals

A toxicokinetic analysis in a patient with acute glufosinate poisoning.

Incidents of poisoning in humans caused by the ingestion of the glufosinate ammonium containing herbicides are gradually increasing in Japan. This poisoning is characterized by various neurological symptoms such as disturbances of consciousness, convulsions and apnea which appear after an asymptomatic interval of several hours. We studied the toxicokinetics of glufosinate in a patient with this poisoning successfully treated without extracorporeal hemopurification. A 65-year-old male ingested BASTA, which contains 20% w/v of glufosinate ammonium, about 300 ml, more than the estimated human toxic dose. Four and a half hours after ingestion, he showed speech ataxia and systemic tremor. He was prophylactically intubated before the occurrence of serious respiratory failure. After 5 days of artificial ventilation he was extubated and discharged without any sequelae. We studied the serial change of serum glufosinate concentration every 3-6 h and assessed the urinary excretion of glufosinate every 24 h. The absorbed amount of glufosinate was estimated from the cumulative excreted in urine. Toxicokinetic analysis was performed using the two-compartment model. The changes in serum glufosinate concentration exhibited T1/2alpha of 1.84 and T1/2beta of 9.59 h. The apparent distribution volume at beta-phase and the total body clearance were 1.44 l/kg and 86.6 ml/min, respectively. Renal clearance was estimated to be 77.9 ml/min. The indication for extracorporeal hemopurification for this poisoning has been discussed.

Aged

Probable lymphocytic hypophysitis diagnosed by short-term serial computed tomography and gallium-67 scintigraphy--case report.

A 61-year-old female presented with headache, malaise, and left oculomotor nerve paralysis. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a diffuse pituitary mass and enlarged pituitary stalk with homogeneous contrast enhancement. Her symptoms gradually resolved without treatment. Gallium-67 scintigraphy showed abnormal uptake in the pituitary lesion. Serial CT every 2 weeks after admission showed homogeneous contrast enhancement and shrinking of the pituitary mass to a normal size 12 weeks after the onset. The final diagnosis was lymphocytic adenohypophysitis without biopsy. Recurrence has not been observed for 8 years after discharge. The patient did not need hormone replacement therapy. Histological examination is not always necessary to diagnose probable lymphocytic adenohypophysitis with the characteristic feature of rapid onset, abnormal gallium-67 uptake in the lesion, and resolution of symptoms in the acute stage with shrinking of the lesion on neuroimaging.

Female

[The efficiency of intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia].

We studied the effects of modified Calafiore technique that is intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia including potassium solution and oxygenated with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. From January 1996 to March 1997, 45 patients who had undergone elective coronary artery bypass grafting were assigned retrospectively to two groups. Warm group: 25 patients received intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Cold group: 20 patients received intermittent antegrade cold blood cardioplegia with slight hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Preoperative variables were similar in both groups. The rate of sinus rebeating after aorta declamping with DC was lower in warm group than in cold group [warm group 2/25 (8%) versus cold group 8/20 (40%); P < 0.05]. The levels of CK and CK-MB were significantly lower in warm group than in cold group on postoperative day 0. On postoperative day 0 and day 1, the dosage of cathecholamines were significantly less for the warm group than in the cold group. Perioperative events of IABP, PMI and neurological dysfunction were not statistically different. These results show that intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia is a safe and effective method for myocardial protection. But it requires further assessment.

Aged

[Application of continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring system "Paratrend 7" for pulmonary lavage of a patient with alveolar proteinosis].

We applied a continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring system (Paratrend 7) to a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis during pulmonary lavage. Lavage was performed under general anesthesia with one lung ventilation. We inserted the sensor of Patatrend 7 through a 20 G catheter into the radial artery, and monitored pH, PaCO2 and PaO2 continuously throughout the procedure. SpO2 and EtCO2 were also monitored. Saline 1000-1500 ml was instilled and drained repeatedly by volume limited methods. PaO2 values by Paratrend 7 increased during instillation and decreased during drainage of the irrigating fluid. In contrast, PaCO2 value by Paratrend 7 decreased slightly during instillation and increased during drainage. The change of SpO2 was almost the same as that by Paratrend 7, but the response time of pulse oxymetry was a little quicker than Paratrend 7. During the lavage procedure, respiratory and circulatory condition changed very rapidly, and it is necessary to monitor blood gas change intensively. Paratrend 7 is useful as a perioperative monitoring system, but pulse oxymetry might be sufficient during pulmonary lavage considering its cost.

Adult

Epstein-Barr virus study in malignant lymphoma in Sjögren's syndrome.

The association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is controversial. Reports suggest there is an increased risk of developing lymphoid malignancy in SS. Among our 425 cases of SS, 17 cases of malignant lymphoma (4%), 16 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and 1 case of Hodgkin's disease were found. We looked for an association between EBV and 14 cases of NHL, 13 cases of B-cell lymphoma, and 1 case of T-cell lymphoma in which tissue specimens were available. Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA in situ hybridization study and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study using primers to detect the Bam HI W fragment of EBV with DNA extracts were positive in 2 NHLs: 1 diffuse, large B-cell-type lymphoma, 1 out of 13 cases (8%) of B-cell lymphoma, and 1 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with dysproteinemia. In the Bam HI W PCR study of DNA obtained from the labial small salivary glands of 55 cases with SS, 3 cases (5%) were positive. These 3 cases were not associated with malignant lymphoma. Our study revealed that EBV association in SS did not lead to an increased occurrence.

Aged

[Metabolism of 3,3',4,4',5-penta- and 2,2',3,3',4,4'-hexachlorobiphenyls in rats].

Following the i.p. administration of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (CB126) and 2,2',3,3',4,4'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB128) to rats, blood, liver, lung, kidney, adipose tissue and feces were analyzed for the metabolites. CB126 was biotransformed to three hydroxylated metabolites identified as 4-OH-3,3',4',5'-tetraCB, 4-OH-3,3',4',5,5'-pentaCB and 5-OH-3,3',4,4',5'-pentaCB at about 1:7:2 ratio, whereas to two methylthio metabolites as 5-MeS- and 6-MeS-3,3',4,4',5'-pentaCBs at 1:2 ratio. Among the metabolites, only 4-OH-3,3',4',5,5'-pentaCB was detected in all tissues and blood. The ratio of metabolite/unchanged CB126 was 1:1.3 in blood and 1:162 in liver, indicating the high blood affinity of this metabolite. Trace amounts of 5-methylsulfonyl-3,3',4,4',5'-pentaCB was also detected in the liver. CB128 was biotransformed to 5-OH-, 5-MeS- and 6-MeS-2,2',3,3',4,4' hexaCBs which were excreted to feces in about 5:5:1 ratio. No metabolites were detected in blood and any tissues except for liver where trace amounts of 5-hydroxylated metabolite was present, indicating the low tissue affinity of hydroxylated metabolites from CB128.

Animals

Morphologic characteristics of physiologically defined neurons in the cat trigeminal nucleus principalis.

Although the principalis nucleus (Vp) contains trigeminothalamic and internuclear tract cells, the functional and morphologic differences between the two kinds of neurons have remained unsettled. The present study was aimed to address these problems by using the intracellular horseradish peroxidase injection technique in the cat. Of 20 neurons stained, 7 and 13 were located in the dorsomedial subnucleus (Vpd) and ventrolateral subnucleus (Vpv) of Vp, respectively. The Vpd neurons received input from the intraoral structures only but the Vpv neurons from the intraoral or facial structures. Nineteen neurons could be divided as class I and class II, based on the branching pattern of their stem axons. Class I (eight neurons) had an ascending stem axon without branching. Class II was divided into two subclasses (IIa and IIb). Class IIa (eight neurons) had an ascending stem axon from which branches were given off. Their branches formed a local-circuit restricted to the lower brainstem. Class IIb (three neurons) had a stem axon that formed the local-circuit only. The dendritic morphology was indistinguishable between different classes of neurons and between the subdivisions. Although the dendritic arborization pattern was governed by the location of the somata, it was suggested to be also important elements for determining primary afferent arborizations. In the brainstem nuclei, the jaw-closing motor nucleus received the highest density of projections from class II neurons with the receptive field involving the periodontal ligaments. The present study provides new findings that Vp neurons could be divided into three distinct populations and suggests that each population exerts a distinct function with respect to sensory discrimination, sensorimotor reflexes, or both.

Anatomy, Artistic

RNA polymerase II is an essential mRNA polyadenylation factor.

Production of messenger RNA in eukaryotic cells is a complex, multistep process. mRNA polyadenylation, or 3' processing, requires several protein factors, including cleavage/polyadenylation-specificity factor (CPSF), cleavage-stimulation factor, two cleavage factors and poly(A) polymerase. These proteins seem to be unnecessary for other steps in mRNA synthesis such as transcription and splicing, and factors required for these processes were not considered to be essential for polyadenylation. Nonetheless, these reactions may be linked so that they are effectively coordinated in vivo. For example, the CTD carboxy-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is required for efficient splicing and polyadenylation in vivo, and CPSF is brought to a promoter by the transcription factor TFIID and transferred to RNAP II at the time of transcription initiation. These findings suggest that polyadenylation factors can be recruited to an RNA 3'-processing signal by RNAP II, where they dissociate from the polymerase and initiate polyadenylation. Here we present results that extend this model by showing that RNAP II is actually required, in the absence of transcription, for 3' processing in vitro.

Animals

Hemophagocytic syndrome in five patients with Epstein-Barr virus negative B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The recent recognition of the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with T-cell/natural killer cell (T/NK-cell) lymphoma has documented that particular types of EBV-containing T/NK-cell lymphoma are frequently complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). This observation suggests that both EBV and proliferating T/NK-lymphoma cells play significant roles in the development of HPS. Cytokines released from neoplastic T cells are presumed to account for the activation of macrophages, which is followed by a complex cascade of cytokine production, resulting in full-blown HPS. Five patients with B-cell lymphoma complicated by HPS were studied for elevated serum cytokines, the association of EBV, and CD25 expression of lymphoma cells; the aim of this study was to verify whether the mechanisms of HPS development hypothesized for T/NK-cell lymphoma also operate in B-cell lymphoma. METHODS: Sera were analyzed for the presence of inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines. Flow cytometry, immunohistology (IH), in situ hybridization (ISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Southern blot analysis were performed using bone marrow aspirates, biopsy specimens, and autopsy specimens. RESULTS: Immunophenotypic and Southern blot studies verified that the lymphoma cells of all five patients were of B-cell lineage. Bone marrow aspirates demonstrated histiocytosis with extensive hemophagocytic activity. Marked elevation of serum cytokines and expression of CD25 were observed in all five patients. However, the results of PCR, ISH using EBER1 probe, and IH for latent membrane protein indicated that these lymphoma cells were free of EBV infection. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with B-cell lymphoma, EBV infection is not necessarily required for the initiation of HPS. In this article, the pathogenesis of HPS assumed to be operative in B-cell lymphoma is discussed with reference to T/NK-cell lymphoma complicated by HPS.

Aged

Induction of apoptosis in colonic epithelium treated with 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and its modulation by a P4501A2 inducer, beta-naphthoflavone, in male F344 rats.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is one of the mutagenic heterocyclic amines derived from cooked meat. In long-term experiments using rodents, carcinogenicity of PhIP in colon, mammary gland and prostate has been demonstrated. In this study, an experiment was designed to determine the apoptosis-inducing capacity of PhIP in colonic epithelium, a target organ for PhIP carcinogenicity, and possible modulating effects of beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF), a P4501A2 inducer, on the apoptosis in rats. Out of eight groups of male F344 rats, four were given beta-NF in diet (1000 ppm) for a week beginning at 5 weeks of age. Four groups were given PhIP (100 mg/kg body weight) by gavage at 6 weeks of age. Twenty-four hours after the dosing of PhIP, cell death with typical morphology of apoptosis was apparent in the colon and the apoptotic index was significantly greater (P < 0.01) than of the control rats without exposure to PhIP. Prior administration of beta-NF caused significant acceleration of the induction of apoptosis by PhIP. Since PhIP requires metabolic activation by P4501A2 to exert genotoxic activities, the modulating effect of beta-NF on the PhIP-induced apoptosis will be through a P4501A2-dependent mechanism. Such assay of apoptotic indices in the colon may be useful not only for the evaluation of genotoxicity and/or the initiating capability of chemical agents with potentials for colorectal cancer, but also for the analysis of modifying agents on the carcinogenesis in the large bowel.

Animals

Anaesthetic management of a patient with Williams syndrome undergoing aortoplasty for supravalvular aortic stenosis.

PURPOSE: A case of a patient associated with Williams syndrome undergoing aortoplasty for supravalvular aortic stenosis is presented. CLINICAL FEATURES: Williams syndrome is a rare disease associated with a characteristic facies, supravalvular aortic stenosis, and mental retardation. A 15-yr-old girl with Williams syndrome underwent aortoplasty for supravalvular aortic stenosis. Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl and thiamylal, and maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen, sevoflurane, and continuous intravenous infusion of fentanyl. Supravalvular aortic stenosis was evaluated using a multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe before and after repair. CONCLUSION: Multiplane TEE was found to be very useful for anaesthetic management in a patient with Williams syndrome undergoing aortoplasty for supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Adolescent

Immunohistochemical examination of c-Met protein expression in astrocytic tumors.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), which has various physiological functions, and its receptor c-Met, the human c-met proto-oncogene product, are thought to be determinant in the pathological processes of various malignancies. To investigate the possible role of HGF/SF in the progression of development of astrocytic tumors, we examined the expression of c-Met in these tumors. Immunohistochemistry using the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex method and immunofluorescence double staining with anti-c-Met polyclonal and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein monoclonal antibodies were performed. Positive c-Met expression was detected in 31 of the 42 astrocytic tumors and some of the control cases analyzed. c-Met-positive cells showed morphological characteristics of astrocytes. Especially in the cases of high-grade tumors, c-Met positivity was abundant in cells in both vascular-rich and peripheral regions of the tumors but not in the cells with distinctly malignant features. Immunofluorescence double staining revealed that the c-Met-positive cells were in part of astrocytic origin. We suggest that c-Met-positive cells are affected by some factors in the lesions where the pathological processes are in a state of development. Our studies indicated that c-Met expression might take part in glioma invasion but not in the development of malignancy.

Astrocytes