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Biomedical subjects

Y Honda

Publications and source records attributed to Y Honda.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Cerebrospinal fluid ferritin in glioblastoma: evidence for tumor synthesis.

Ferritin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 16 patients with glioblastoma were found to be very high (mean, 103.0 ng/mL) relative to 29 patients with viral meningitis and 20 patients with headache (mean concentrations, 5.4 and 4.3 ng/mL respectively). Simultaneous measurement of ferritin in CSF and serum revealed CSF concentrations exceeding those in serum in 11 of 16 patients with glioblastoma (CSF vs. serum ratio, 132.6%), contrasting with very low ratios in patients with meningitis (7.9%) or headache (4.9%). Ferritin was detected immunocytochemically in tumor cell cytoplasm in a resected glioblastoma. Thus, ferritin in CSF appears to be produced by glioblastoma cells, with a biologic significance requiring further investigation.

Adult↗

Power measurements of spark discharge experiments.

An accurate and precise knowledge of the amount of energy introduced into prebiotic discharge experiments is important to understand the relative roles of different energy sources in the synthesis of organic compounds in the primitive Earth's atmosphere and other planetary atmospheres. Two methods widely used to determine the power of spark discharges were evaluated, namely calorimetric and oscilloscopic, using a chemically inert gas. The power dissipated by the spark in argon at 500 Torr was determined to be 2.4 (+12%/-17%) J s-1 by calorimetry and 5.3 (+/- 15%) J s-1 by the oscilloscope. The difference between the two methods was attributed to (1) an incomplete conversion of the electric energy into heat, and (2) heat loss from the spark channel to the connecting cables through the electrodes. The latter contribution leads to an unwanted effect in the spark channel by lowering the spark product yields as the spark channel cools by mixing with surrounding air and by losing heat to the electrodes. Once the concentrations of the spark products have frozen at the freeze-out temperature, any additional loss of heat from the spark channel to the electrodes has no consequence in product yields. Therefore, neither methods accurately determines the net energy transferred to the system. With a lack of a quantitative knowledge of the amount of heat loss from the spark channel during the interval from ignition of the spark to when the freeze-out temperature is reached, it is recommended to derive the energy yields of the spark products from the mean value of the two methods with the uncertainty being their standard deviation. For the case of argon at 500 Torr, this would be 3.8 (+/-50%) J s-1.

Argon↗

Pigmented viral warts: a clinical and histopathological study including human papillomavirus typing.

Although clinical, histological and viral correlations have recently been established among pigmented warts, homogeneous intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies and related types of human papillomavirus (HPV) (HPV 65, 4 and 60), the causes of the pigmentation remain unknown. In this study, comparative histological and histochemical analyses were performed with 53 pigmented (34 HPV 65-induced, 12 HPV 4-induced and seven HPV 60-induced) and 73 non-pigmented warts (27 HPV 2-induced, 23 HPV 1-induced, 12 HPV 63-induced, six unknown HPV-type induced and five HPV 60 induced) to clarify the causes of the pigmentation. Electron microscopy was also used to examine the pigmented warts. Many melanin blockade melanocytes were identified in all of the pigmented warts with Masson-Fontana staining and electron microscopy, and increased melanin in keratinocytes was also noted in 22 pigmented warts, suggesting that the dispersion of melanin granules in the dendrites of the melanin blockade melanocytes and the increased melanin granules in keratinocytes are the primary contributors to the pigmentation of the warts. The homogeneous intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies might also play a part in the darkening of the warts, as only the cases which had the inclusion bodies as well as the melanin blockade melanocytes were clinically pigmented. Although melanin blockade melanocytes were seen in a few cases of HPV 1- and HPV 2-induced warts in which the homogeneous inclusion bodies were not observed, the warts were not clinically pigmented. Melanin blockade melanocytes were not seen in any of the HPV 63-induced non-pigmented warts. In conclusion, the pigmented warts were associated with one of the related types of HPV (HPV 65, 4 and 60), and the pigmentation of the lesions is thus thought to be caused primarily by melanin blockade melanocytes. The homogeneous intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies might also play a part in the darkening of the lesions. This is the first report dealing with the pigmentary disorder associated with specific types of HPV.

Adolescent↗

Human papillomavirus 57 identified in a plantar epidermoid cyst.

We report a 23-year-old Japanese man who had plantar warts on the right sole, beneath one of which an epidermoid cyst developed. On microscopic examination, an acanthotic epidermis markedly invaginated into the underlying dermis, resulting in an open epidermoid cyst. Not only the polymerase chain reaction but also an in situ hybridization detected HPV 57 DNA in the cyst. HPV 60 is the only type of HPV that has been identified in epidermoid cysts. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an epidermoid cyst, in which a different type of virus from HPV 60 was identified. Histological features of the cyst were also different those of HPV 60-associated epidermoid cysts.

Adult↗

Immunohistochemical demonstration of carcinoembryonic antigen and related antigens in various cutaneous keratinous neoplasms and verruca vulgaris.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is a well-known marker for the normal sweat gland apparatus and its neoplasms in the skin, was recently demonstrated in sebaceous neoplasms. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of CEA and related antigens in the other cutaneous keratinous neoplasms and verruca vulgaris. Normal adult skin, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), senile keratosis, Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), seborrhoeic keratosis and verruca vulgaris were stained immunohistochemically with a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that recognize different epitopes of CEA and related molecules. Localization of the antigens was compared with that of involucrin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The strongest expression of CEA-related antigens, other than non-specific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) -50/90, was seen in SCC and verruca vulgaris, while no detectable expression was seen in BCC. Senile keratosis, Bowen's disease and seborrhoeic keratosis showed the predominance of the CEA-related antigens over CEA weakly expressed. Strong expression of both CEA and NCA-50/90 was seen only in SCC. All the expressions were limited to the cells situated in the upper epidermal cell layers of the tumours, at the centre of tumour islands in SCC and along the pseudohorn cysts in seborrhoeic keratosis, where involucrin was coexpressed. We suggest that CEA and related antigens are not only markers for sweat gland differentiation in the skin, as currently accepted, but are also expressed in various cutaneous keratinous neoplasms and verruca vulgaris. The expression may correlate with the terminal differentiation of the tumour cells, the strong coexpression of CEA and NCA-50/90 may correlate with the malignant potential of the tumour types, and the mechanisms that control the expression of CEA and related antigens in the neoplasms may be similar to those operative in verruca vulgaris.

Adult↗

Human ubiquitin-protein ligase Nedd4: expression, subcellular localization and selective interaction with ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes.

BACKGROUND: Nedd4 is a ubiquitin-protein ligase containing a calcium/lipid-binding domain, multiple WW domains and a C-terminal Hect domain, which is required for both the ubiquitin transfer and the association with E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. Nedd4 has been reported to be involved in the selective ubiquitination of some regulatory proteins in transcription and membrane transport. RESULTS: Three mRNA species for human Nedd4 were found to be 6.4-, 7.8- and 9.5-kb in size, and their expression patterns varied among normal tissues and cancer cell lines, indicating the tissue- and cell-specificities of Nedd4 expression. The Nedd4 protein, approximately 120 kDa in weight, was found in the cytoplasm, mainly in the perinuclear region and cytoplasmic periphery, of human cultured cells. Neural differentiation induced not only the down-regulation of Nedd4 but also the localization of the protein to both the cytoplasm and neurites. To identify the ubiquitination pathway that is linked to Nedd4, we demonstrated that specific E2 enzymes, including human Ubc4, UbcH5B, UbcH5C, UbcH6 and UbcH7, could transfer ubiquitin molecules to Nedd4 at the active cysteine residue, whereas E6AP accepted ubiquitins from Ubc4, UbcH5B, UbcH5C and UbcH7. Furthermore, nuclear localization of N-terminal deletion mutant Nedd4 enabled us to investigate the interaction between Nedd4 and E2 enzyme (Ubc4 or UbcH7) in the cell. The simultaneous expression of the full-length Nedd4 and E2 enzyme revealed the both proteins mostly colocalized in the cytoplasmic periphery, while the N-terminal deleted Nedd4 induced the nuclear and perinuclear colocalization with E2 enzyme. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that Nedd4 plays an important role in the cell regulation, including neural differentiation through cooperation with specific E2 ubiquitination pathways.

Cell Differentiation↗

Multiple carpal bone fractures in an eleven-year-old.

The successful treatment of a very rare case of multiple carpal bone fractures in a child is described. Fractures of the scaphoid, the capitate, and the hamate were treated with wire fixation, leading to good clinical results twenty-nine months after surgery.

Accidental Falls↗

A putative human papillomavirus type 57 new subtype isolated from plantar epidermoid cysts without intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies.

Human papillomavirus type 60 (HPV-60) is the only virus type that has been identified in epidermoid cysts. In this study, HPV-57 DNA was found in three out of 18 plantar epidermoid cysts with different histological features from HPV-60-associated cysts, using PCR and Southern hybridization. The HPV-57-associated cysts had features resembling an HPV-2-specific cytopathic effect. The sequences of two HPV-57 DNA clones isolated from two patients were identical, but differed at some positions from those of HPV-57a and HPV-57b. This putative new subtype was tentatively designated as HPV-57c, and may be associated with plantar epidermoid cysts showing histological features resembling the HPV-2 cytopathic effect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A morphological and morphometrical study of the retina in aging SAM mice.

We investigated whether neuronal cell loss occurred as a part of normal aging of the retina in the Senescence-Accelerated Mouse, strains SAMP1 and SAMR1, and in the BALB/c mouse. All three strains showed age-related atrophy of the retina after histologically normal development. Morphometrical study revealed the following facts. The rate of loss of photoreceptor cells in the peripheral retina was greater than in the central retina in all three strains. In the central retina, the rate of loss of photoreceptor cells was greater in the SAMP1 and SAMR1 mice than in the BALB/c mice. In the peripheral retinal, the SAMR1 and SAMP1 strains had fewer cells than the BALB/c strain at all ages, but the rate of loss of these cells did not differ among the three strains. The rate of loss of ganglion cells did not differ between the peripheral and central retinas in the three strains. The SAMR1 and SAMP1 strains had fewer ganglion cells in the peripheral retina than the BALB/c strain at all ages. Because the rate of age-related loss of these cells in SAMP1 mice was not accelerated, and they were short-lived, SAMP1 mice did not show marked age-related loss. On the contrary, the SAMR1 mice showed a marked loss of photoreceptor cells and ganglion cells late in life because of their longer life span, and we propose that this strain is a suitable animal model for the study of mechanisms of age-related loss of neuronal cells in the retina.

Aging↗

Tacrolimus (FK506) attenuates leukocyte accumulation after transient retinal ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant agent, has been shown to reduce tissue injury and leukocyte accumulation after transient ischemia. This study was designed to evaluate quantitatively the inhibitory effects of tacrolimus on leukocyte rolling and on subsequent leukocyte accumulation in vivo after transient retinal ischemia and the protective effects of tacrolimus on ischemia-induced neural damage. METHODS: Retinal ischemia was induced for 60 minutes in anesthetized pigmented rats by temporary ligation of the optic sheath. Tacrolimus was administered at 10 minutes after ischemic induction. At 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours after reperfusion, leukocyte behavior in the retinal microcirculation was evaluated in vivo with acridine orange digital fluorography. After 7 days of reperfusion, ischemia-induced retinal damage was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: Treatment with tacrolimus suppressed leukocyte rolling; the maximum number of rolling leukocytes was reduced by 60.1% at 12 hours after reperfusion (P<0.05). In tacrolimus-treated rats, the velocity of rolling leukocytes was significantly faster than in vehicle-treated rats (P<0.01). The subsequent leukocyte accumulation was reduced by 61.6% at 24 hours after reperfusion (P<0.01). Histological examination demonstrated the protective effect of tacrolimus on ischemia-induced retinal damage, which was more substantial in the inner retina (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the inhibitory effect of tacrolimus on leukocyte rolling and on subsequent leukocyte accumulation and the therapeutic potency to neural injury after transient retinal ischemia.

Animals↗

Muscarinic cholinergic receptors in human narcolepsy: a PET study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the function of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAchR) in narcolepsy and the effects of pharmacotherapy on mAchRs. BACKGROUND: Muscarinic neural transmission serves as the main executive system in REM sleep. Studies in canine narcolepsy reported an increase in mAchRs in the pons. METHODS: The mAchRs of 11 drug naive/free patients with narcolepsy and 21 normal controls were investigated using PET with [11C]N-methyl-4-piperidylbenzilate ([11C]NMPB). Measurements were done in the pons, thalamus, striatum, and cerebral cortex. Seven of the 11 patients also underwent additional PET scans after the alleviation of symptoms by pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: There were no differences in [11C]NMPB binding between the control and drug naive/free patients in all areas analyzed. At the time of on-medication PET scan, [11C]NMPB binding in the thalamus was decreased, but only to a small degree compared with that by anticholinergic drugs. CONCLUSION: The present results do not support the notion that the mAchR is the main site of action of pharmacotherapy in the marked clinical improvement of human cataplexy.

Adult↗

Synthesis of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as highly potent antagonists of gastrin/cholecystokinin-B receptors.

A novel series of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives was synthesized based on considerations of the three-dimensional structural similarity of YM022 and RP72540. The gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK)-B and CCK-A receptor antagonist activities of these compounds were evaluated by investigation of their affinities for human gastrin/CCK-B receptors and human CCK-A receptors, respectively. It was found that N-methyl-N-phenyl-2-[2-[N-(N-methyl-N-phenyl-carbamoylmethyl)-N-[2 -[3-(3- methylphenyl)ureido]acetyl]amino]phenoxy]acetamide (20k, DZ-3514) exhibited high affinity for gastrin/CCK-B receptors and high selectivity over CCK-A receptors.

Acetamides↗

Synthesis of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as highly potent antagonists of gastrin/cholecystokinin-B receptors. II.

A series of phenoxyacetanilide derivatives was synthesized and their antagonist activities for human gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK)-B and CCK-A receptors were evaluated. Among the compounds synthesized, 2-[3-[3-[N-[2-(N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoylmethoxy)phenyl]-N-(N-meth yl-N- phenylcarbamoylmethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-ureido]phenyl]acetic acid (20i, DA-3934) exhibited high affinity for gastrin/CCK-B receptors and high selectivity over CCK-A receptors. DA-3934 and its methyl ester derivative inhibited pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion in rats in a dose-dependent manner.

Acetates↗

Q wave and non-Q wave myocarditis with special reference to clinical significance.

This study was designed to evaluate the differences in clinical findings between patients with and without Q waves in acute myocarditis. Among a total of 24 patients, eleven patients had Q waves and thirteen did not. Echocardiographic findings, in-hospital complications and follow-up results were compared between the two groups. In the acute stage, the Q wave group showed significantly higher creatine kinase (CK) values and a more impaired left ventricular ejection fraction than the non-Q wave group (40 +/- 11% vs 57 +/- 10%, p < 0.001). Transient left ventricular hypertrophy was also prominent in the Q wave group. The incidence of cardiogenic shock (55%) and conduction disturbances (64%) were higher in the Q wave group than in the non-Q wave group (0% and 15%, respectively). In-hospital mortality rate was 27% in the Q wave group and 8% in the non-Q wave group, respectively. Since rapid improvement occurred in survivors with Q waves, long-term prognosis was favorable for the two groups. In conclusion, Q waves might indicate a more severe course in early illness.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

A new aspect of the carotid body function controlling hypoxic ventilatory decline in humans.

Ventilatory response to eucapnic sustained mild hypoxia was measured in one patient with unilateral and three patients with bilateral carotid body (CB) resection (defined UR and BR, respectively). The profile of ventilatory response in UR patient was initially augmented then gradually declined (biphasic pattern) as generally seen in normal subjects although the absolute magnitude was substantially low. On the other hand, biphasic pattern was disappeared in all three BRs. Lack of hypoxic ventilatory decline (HVD) in the late period of sustained hypoxia was in marked contrast to that reported in the anaesthetized and CB-denervated animals whose ventilation was severely depressed lower than the pre-hypoxic control level. In view of recent knowledge that the analogous mild hypoxia in normal animals and humans elicits an useful adaptation to economize energy expenditure with maintaining reversible excitability in control of respiration, BR patients were considered to have lost this ability. We conclude that in awake humans the CB not only stimulates ventilation but also controls the degree of subsequent HVD during sustained hypoxia.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Cardiovascular change in elderly male breath-hold divers (Ama) and their socio-economical background at Chikura in Japan.

The Ama have existed for more than 2000 years in Japan and Korea. They have been diving for seaweed and molluscs. Their traditional way of fishing, with goggles or a mask, but without a wetsuit, is still practised as a result of laws against overfishing. We investigated cardiovascular diving responses, expressed as heart rate (HR) reduction, peripheral vasoconstriction indicated by skin blood flow (SkBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) during breath-hold face immersion in a group of eight elderly male Ama at Chikura, Japan. Their data were compared to those from three other groups: a) elderly non-divers; b) young divers and c) young non-divers. Our previous studies have shown that young divers show a more pronounced bradycardia than young non-divers. The present study of elderly Ama and elderly non-divers was performed to investigate if this difference persists in old age. We found that, in spite of many years of diving experience, HR reduction of the elderly professional divers observed during face immersion did not differ from that of elderly non-divers, but it was much less pronounced than in the two younger groups. We conclude that even if a well-developed diving response at young age has been reduced to the level of non-divers, the Ama are still able to continue their work of diving in old age. Ama that has been a traditionally female occupation, is mostly practised by men at Chikura today. No young have been recruited for this profession. Therefore, the present Ama are senior and the traditional breath-hold diving will probably cease to exist in the near future. The probable reasons for these changes are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Control of upper airway function in response to hypoxia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

To clarify the characteristics of upper airway muscles under hypoxic condition in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), we performed the isocapnic progressive hypoxia test during wakefulness in 8 controls and 7 OSAS patients. Electromyographic activities were recorded from the genioglossal muscle (EMG(GG)) and diaphragm (EMG(DIA)) with ventilatory variables. Minute EMG (peak integrated EMG x respiratory rate) activity against P(ET)O2 was calculated by exponential equation, and its response slope represented the hypoxic sensitivity of each muscle, slope(GG) and slope(DIA). There was no significant difference between the slopes of OSAS and control. In contrast, the ratio of the two responses, slope(GG)/slope(DIA), was significantly higher in OSAS (1.61 +/- 0.49 SD) than in control (0.98 +/- 0.43). Moreover, the slope(GG)/slope(DIA) ratio was negatively correlated with the ratio of sleep time with SpO2 lower than 90% to total sleep time. We conclude that the neuromuscular compensatory mechanism of upper airway muscles is effectively developed and plays an important role in preventing nocturnal hypoxemia in OSAS.

Adult↗