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Biomedical subjects

Y Irie

Publications and source records attributed to Y Irie.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Involvement of a single-stranded DNA binding protein, ssCRE-BP/Pur alpha, in morphine dependence.

We have purified a nuclear protein from mouse cerebella that binds to single-stranded oligo-DNA of cAMP response element and is modulated by morphine treatment. Isolation of the cDNA clone showed that the nuclear protein (ssCRE-BP) was identical to Pur alpha, a DNA binding protein for single-stranded purine-rich sequences that was originally isolated as a replication factor. ssCRE-BP/Pur alpha and mRNA were abundant in the brain. The levels of ssCRE-BP/Pur alpha and the transcript were not changed by chronic morphine treatment, however, the levels of an activator of ssCRE-BP/Pur alpha, which is necessary for the DNA binding, may be modulated by the treatment.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

MEKA/phosducin attenuates hydrophobicity of transducin beta gamma subunits without binding to farnesyl moiety.

Hydrophobic modifications of transducin (T) gamma, such as farnesyl-and carboxyl-methylation, are essential for the association of T beta gamma with the photoreceptor disc membrane, and MEKA/phosducin is known to inhibit the association. In this study, we examined the effect of MEKA on the hydrophobicity of T beta gamma. MEKA could bind to T beta gamma without farnesyl/carboxyl-methyl moieties as well as native T beta gamma. In the Triton X-114 phase separation assay, T beta gamma-MEKA complex was recovered in the aqueous phase, whereas T beta gamma was recover in the detergent phase. N-terminal portion of MEKA which includes T beta gamma-binding domain was not sufficient to reduce the hydrophobicity of T beta gamma or to dissociate T beta gamma from the membrane. The data suggest that MEKA attenuates the hydrophobicity of T beta gamma to result in the dissociation of T beta gamma from the membrane without directly binding to farnesyl/carboxyl-methyl moieties.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[A surgical case report of angina pectoris with multiple coronary giant aneurysms].

A 47-year-old man with sever angina pectoris was referred for surgery. Preoperative coronary angiogram revealed giant multiple aneurysms of RCA (Seg 1-Seg 3) and LCX (Seg 11) and LAD (Seg 6). Stenoses were found distal to aneurysm, 90% in RCA-Seg 4, CX-Seg 11, 100% in LAD- Seg 6 and DX-Seg 9 and OM-Seg 12, with collaterals from RCA to LAD. Left ventlicle contracted poorly with the EF of 36 due to anteroseptal infarction. Coronary artery bypass grafting were performed to LAD using a LITA, to DX and LCX using a SVG in the sequential fashion. Postoperative coronary cineangiogram demonstrated that all grafts were patent and multiple giant coronary aneurysms resembled coronary arterial changes of Kawasaki's disease.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1996

[A case of primary anterior mediastinal liposarcoma with a heterotopic mass in the pericardium of the same histology].

We experienced a case of primary anterior mediastinal liposarcoma with a heterotopic mass in the pericardium of same histology. Twenty reported cases in Japan were also studied. The patient was a 50-year-old male who visited the hospital because of an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray. The diagnosis of anterior mediastinal tumor was confirmed by a chest CT. The patient underwent a complete resection of the mediastinal and intrapericardial masses. The histologic diagnosis was a well differentiated liposarcoma of Enzinger's classification. No evidence of recurrence or metastasis was detected in the third postoperative year. Liposarcoma is rarely seen in the mediastinum. Since radiotherapy and chemotherapy are ineffective therapeutic modalities, surgery would be the treatment of choice and complete surgical resection is mandatory.

Heart Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Hypoaminotransferasemia in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis: clinical and biochemical appraisal.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It has been reported that patients with chronic renal failure have low serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels as a result of vitamin B6 deficiency. Chronic hepatitis C is common among patients undergoing hemodialysis, and low aminotransferase levels cause diagnostic problems. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of hypoaminotransferasemia. METHODS: Serum levels of vitamin B6 and its coenzyme were reassessed in relation to AST and ALT levels in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) serum AST and ALT levels in 304 patients negative for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus were 9.2 +/- 2.4 and 7.4 +/- 1.7 IU/L, respectively. In 556 normal adults, they were 22.7 +/- 5.4 and 18.0 +/- 4.0 IU/L, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean serum vitamin B6 and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate levels in patients undergoing dialysis were not reduced compared with the control, although occasionally patients had low levels. The AST and ALT assay reagents in Japan do not contain added pyridoxal-5'-phosphate; addition of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (0.1 mmol/L) to the reagent significantly increased measurements to similar extents in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Serum AST and ALT levels in patients undergoing dialysis are very low, but they are not a result of vitamin B6 deficiency. The upper normal limits of AST and ALT levels in patients undergoing dialysis should be reduced considerably, and these levels should be interpreted with caution in the diagnosis of liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mode of hepatitis C infection not associated with blood transfusion among chronic hemodialysis patients.

In a retrospective study carried out on about 730 patients with chronic renal failure who underwent ambulatory hemodialysis from January 1991 to June 1994, 49 patients were found to have developed acute hepatitis C, as confirmed by seroconversion for anti-HCV antibodies without blood transfusion in the preceding 6-month period. Epidemiological survey disclosed that two patients undergoing dialysis at consoles separated by one console developed acute hepatitis C in October 1992, and another three patients at adjacent consoles also developed acute hepatitis C within 2 weeks in April/May, 1993. It was found that some negligent nurses could have withdrawn needles from these patients one after another without changing gloves at the termination of the dialysis procedure. After reeducation of the staff members and introduction of a new type of adhesive pad to be placed on the needle wounds at the time of needle withdrawal, no new case of acute hepatitis C occurred for more than 1 year, suggesting nosocomial spread of HCV infection among hemodialysis patients in a mode that is preventable with very strict aseptic precautions.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Detection of host DNA sequences including the H-2 locus of the major histocompatibility complex in schistosomes.

The mouse type 2 Alu (B2) sequence was detected in both DNAs of Schistosoma mansoni and S.japonicum except for the cercarial stage by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using several kinds of mouse STMS (sequence tagged microsatellite site) primer sets, PCR products related to the host were found in the DNAs of S. mansoni as well as of S.japonicum. Products could be detected only in the DNA of S. japonicum using certain STMS primer sets. The fact that no products could be amplified from the DNAs of both parasites when other kinds of STMS primer sets were used suggests unequal incorporation of the host DNA into the schistosomes. Furthermore, the sequence of the N-terminal domain of H-2, the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC), was detected in the DNAs from S. mansoni miracidium, male adult and S. japonicum adults, whereas the sequence of the C2 domain of H-2 was found only in the DNAs of S. japonicum adults. This evidence that host DNA sequences, including the class I MHC, exist heterogeneously in the DNAs of schistosomes might provide an important insight for further understanding of host-parasite immune interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Screening for PIT1 abnormality by PCR direct sequencing method.

PIT1 abnormality is defined as a genetic abnormality in the PIT1 gene, which encodes a pituitary specific transcription factor Pit-1/GHF-1.PIT1 abnormality has been reported in several patients displaying either complete or incomplete deficiency of thyrotropin (TSH), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL) in either familial or sporadic cases. To see if there are abnormalities in the PIT1 gene in patients with incomplete TSH, GH, and PRL deficiency, we utilized a PCR direct sequencing method to determine the Pit-1/GHF-1 coding sequence. A total of 15 patients, 1 patient from a family with TSH and GH deficiency, 3 patients with TSH, GH, and PRL deficiency, and 11 patients treated with both human GH (hGH) and thyroid hormone were studied. In one patient of combined pituitary hormone deficiency, the Arg-271-Trp mutation was detected. Since both of the parents did not harbor this mutation, it is a de novo germ line mutation. No mutation was detected in the other patients, showing that PIT1 abnormality is not a frequent cause of GH deficiency.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A novel E250X mutation of the PIT1 gene in a patient with combined pituitary hormone deficiency.

PIT1 abnormality is defined as a genetic abnormality in the PIT1 gene that encodes a pituitary specific transcription factor, Pit-1/GHF-1. PIT1 abnormality indicates combined deficiency of thyrotropin (TSH), growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), and has been reported in several cases. We studied the PIT1 gene in a patient with combined deficiency of TSH, GH and PRL. A novel mutation substituting a termination codon for Glutamate at 250th codon (E250X) was identified in the homozygous state in the patient. Both of the healthy parents harbored this mutation in the heterozygous state. This nonsense mutation results in complete loss of helix 3 of the POU homeodomain of Pit-1/GHF-1. As helix 3 of the homeodomain is involved directly in DNA binding, the mutant Pit-1/GHF-1 may lose the DNA binding activity of the POU homeodomain and lose its transcriptional activation. The E250X mutation is therefore considered to be the cause of the combined deficiency of TSH, GH and PRL in this patient.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Plasmodium vivax malaria infection diagnosed by indirect fluorescent antibody test.

We present the diagnostically challenging case of a 51-year-old Japanese male who visited Papua New Guinea for one month. Approximately a month after returning to Japan, he experienced a high fever. Malaria was suspected and he was admitted to Tsukuba University Hospital. Although the blood smear did not reveal the malarial parasite, a diagnosis of malaria was made using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The patient was treated and discharged but symptoms returned three months later. This time, the blood smear was positive for malarial parasites. IFAT was useful in this case for the early diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax and for ruling out infection by Plasmodium falciparum.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Mitral obstruction due to infective endocarditis: a case report].

Acute valvular obstruction caused by vegetation is a rare complication infective endocarditis. To our knowledge, only 9 cases and an autopsy case by Roberts have been reported since 1967. A 46-year-old man admitted with a chief complaint of pyrexia for 2 months duration. Within 24 hours of admission, the patient noticed of increased shortness of breath. Physical examination and the chest X-ray confirmed the pulmonary edema. An echocardiogram revealed a huge echogenic mass that was adherent to the mitral leaflet and obstructed the orifice completely. Soon after the patient fell into cardiogenic shock, an emergency mitral valve replacement was undertaken. At operation, multiple verrucae arising from the entire mitral leaflet was seen to occlude the orifice. The vegetation was excised and replaced with a # 25 Omnicarbon prosthesis. Postoperatively, the patient developed multiple organ failure caused by cardiogenic and septic shock which responded well to intensive medical treatment consisting of hemodialysis and continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration. Angiographically, a mycotic aneurysm in the left radial artery was found on the 18th postoperative day. After extirpation of the infective focuses, the postoperative course had stabilized. Mitral obstruction due to infective endocarditis is a fatal disease. Prompt diagnosis with echocardiogram and an emergency surgery should be undertaken to save the patient.

Endocarditis, Bacterial↗
PubMed1994

Hepatitis C infection unrelated to blood transfusion in hemodialysis patients.

Hepatitis C virus antibodies were studied using both the 1st and 2nd generation tests in 485 patients who were on maintenance hemodialysis. One hundred and eighty-seven tested positive for antibodies (38.6%); 139 of them had a history of past blood transfusion. There was a crude correlation between the amount of blood given and the antibody positivity rate among those who had a history of blood transfusion. Of 152 patients who had no blood transfusion history, 48 or 31.2% were positive for the antibodies. The length of the period during which these patients had undergone dialysis was closely correlated with the positivity rate; 50% of those who had been on dialysis for more than 10 years were positive for anti-HCV. The positivity rate among the new dialysis patients with chronic renal failure as the control was 4.6%. The difference may be accounted for by nosocomial hepatitis C virus infection. It appears that with two new needle holes made along the anastomosed blood vessels two to three times a week, the chances of patient exposure to hepatitis C virus may increase with time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The rice culture filtrate of Bacillus cereus isolated from emetic-type food poisoning causes mitochondrial swelling in a HEp-2 cell.

Rice culture filtrates of Bacillus cereus SA-50, an emetic-type strain, produced a toxin which caused cytoplasmic vacuole formation in HEp-2 and HeLa cells. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the apparent vacuoles in HEp-2 seen under a light microscope were actually swollen mitochondria. The oxygen consumption of HEp-2 cells was accelerated by the addition of the rice culture filtrate as was measured with a polarographic oxymeter; a respiratory control ratio was 1.0 for control cells, while 1.4 for ones with the filtrates. The culture filtrates showed a similar effect on the isolated mouse liver mitochondria; respiratory control ratios for the mitochondria with and without the filtrates were 3.6 and 1.0, respectively. The affecting manner of the culture filtrates on the oxygen consumption of mitochondria was similar to that of 2,4-dinitrophenol, suggesting that the culture filtrate contains a toxin acting as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. It is likely that the culture filtrates containing the emetic toxin of B. cereus causes mitochondrial swelling with a close relationship to the uncoupling of the oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Serum concentrations of apolipoproteins in patients with thyroid dysfunction.

We measured serum concentrations of apolipoproteins (apo A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III and E) in patients with thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism; n = 44, hypothyroidism; n = 15) and in normal subjects (n = 89). We found that apoA-II, B and C-III concentrations revealed significant difference among three groups of the normal (apoA-II; 31.4 +/- 4.9 mg/dl, apoB; 85.8 +/- 16.3 mg/dl, apoCIII; 7.45 +/- 2.99 mg/dl), hyperthyroidism (apoA-II; 29.8 +/- 5.4, apoB; 63.4 +/- 18.9, apoC-III; 6.28 +/- 2.45) and hypothyroidism (apoA-II; 27.5 +/- 5.3, apoB; 108.0 +/- 30.9, apoC-III; 9.43 +/- 2.74). Thyroid hormones showed clear negative correlation to apoB (r = 0.70, p < 0.001). Furthermore, apoC-III was also found to be negatively correlated with thyroid hormone concentrations (r = 0.47, p < 0.001).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Styrene-induced hepatotoxicity in mice depleted of glutathione.

In mice depleted of glutathione (GSH) by pretreatment with an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; 1 hr before styrene, 2 mmol/kg or higher doses, ip), styrene (0.96-5.76 mmol/kg, po) produced hepatotoxicity characterized by an increase in serum alanine transaminase activity and cetrilobular necrosis of hepatocytes. Treatment with inhibitors of hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases such as carbon disulfide, methoxsalen, piperonyl butoxide, and SKF-525A prevented or tended to reduce the hepatotoxic effect of styrene given in combination with BSO. Styrene 7,8-oxide (3.84 mmol/kg, po), a known metabolite of styrene, in combination with BSO caused an earlier and larger increase in SALT than that caused by an equimolar dose of styrene in combination with BSO. These results suggest that metabolism of styrene, possibly to styrene 7,8-oxide, is a necessary step in styrene-induced hepatotoxicity in GSH-depleted mice. Before the onset of hepatotoxicity, styrene in combination with BSO produced a larger and more prolonged depletion of hepatic GSH than that seen after the sole treatment with BSO or prolonged depletion of hepatic GSH than that seen after the sole treatment with BSO or styrene, but no depletion of hepatic protein sulfhydryls was induced by styrene in combination with BSO.

Alanine Transaminase↗