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Biomedical subjects

Y Kikuchi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kikuchi.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources

Complete nucleotide sequence of the Japanese encephalitis virus genome RNA.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genome RNA was determined. The JEV genome contains 10,976 nucleotides and encodes a single long open reading frame (ORF) of 10,296 nucleotides corresponding to 3432 amino acid residues. This long polypeptide is thought to be cleaved into three structural proteins and several nonstructural proteins of the virus. The genetic location of the three structural proteins was determined by comparing the deduced amino acid sequence from the nucleotide sequence with the N-terminal amino acid sequences that were determined from the three purified structural proteins. The C-terminal region of the ORF may encode a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase which has significant sequence homology with those of other RNA viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Adjuvant effects of calmodulin antagonists to 5-fluorouracil on tumor cell proliferation and the mechanisms.

The adjuvant effect of calmodulin antagonists (W-5 and W-7) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was studied by using two human cultured cell lines derived from ovarian adenocarcinoma. Enhancement of the uptake of 5-[6-3H]fluorouracil ([3H]FU) by cancer cells was observed only when calmodulin antagonists were added in the presence of [3H]FU. Similarly, the adjuvant effect by W-5 or W-7 on cancer cell proliferation was also observed only when calmodulin antagonists were added in the presence of 5-FU.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Interleukin 5, a T-cell-derived B-cell differentiation factor also induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

We describe an interleukin, termed interleukin 5, that is the recombinant product previously referred to as T-cell-replacing factor (TRF), B-cell growth factor II (BCGF II), or killer-helper factor (KHF). TRF has been defined as a T-cell-derived lymphokine that acts on activated B cells as a B-cell differentiation factor. We have previously demonstrated that TRF is identical to BCGF II and induces expression of receptors for interleukin 2 (IL-2) on activated B cells. We also have reported that KHF can induce not only expression of IL-2 receptors on peanut agglutinin-binding (PNA+) thymocytes but also generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in PNA+ thymocytes in the presence of IL-2. We show here that culture supernatants of T-cell hybridomas that produce TRF as well as TRF purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC-TRF) have KHF activity and generate CTL in PNA+ thymocytes in the presence of stimulator cells and IL-2. Moreover, translation products (recombinant TRF) of Xenopus oocytes injected with cDNA encoding for murine TRF (BCGF II) also exert KHF activity. A rat monoclonal anti-TRF antibody TB13 can block generation of CTL by HPLC-TRF or recombinant TRF. These results indicate that TRF acts not only on B cells as BCGF II but also on PNA+ thymocytes as KHF. In view of the diverse activities and targets of TRF, we propose that TRF refers to a different interleukin, interleukin 5.

Animals↗

Production of a monoclonal antibody useful in the molecular characterization of murine T-cell-replacing factor/B-cell growth factor II.

T-cell-replacing factor (TRF) is a T-cell-derived factor required for terminal differentiation of activated B cells to immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Previous studies have shown that a murine T-cell hybrid (B151K12) produces factor(s) that (i) induce immunoglobulin secretion by the B-cell leukemia line BCL1 and secondary anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl IgG synthesis in vitro by dinitrophenyl-primed B cells (TRF activity) and (ii) cause proliferation of the BCL1 cells [B-cell growth factor II (BCGF-II) activity]. Both activities appear to be associated with the same molecule. Here we report the production of a monoclonal antibody to murine TRF. The monoclonal antibody, designated TB13, strongly inhibited both TRF and BCGF-II activities and absorbed TRF- as well as BCGF-II-active molecules produced by B151K12 and by Xenopus oocytes that had been injected with mRNA transcribed from plasmid pSP6K-mTRF23. Inhibition was linearly dependent on the concentration of both TB13 and TRF. Monoclonal antibody TB13 did not inhibit the activities of B-cell stimulatory factor 1, interleukin 1, interleukin 2, or interleukin 3. TRF activity in dissolved samples of immunoprecipitates obtained with TB13 was recovered after NaDodSO4/PAGE, in the fractions corresponding to a protein band at Mr 46,000. Our results indicate that monoclonal antibody TB13 recognizes a molecule that has both TRF and BCGF-II activities.

Animals↗

Further evidence for importance of the subunit combination of silk fibroin in its efficient secretion from the posterior silk gland cells.

A locus responsible for the Nd-s mutation of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, has been mapped very close to or within the fibroin light (L) chain gene on the 14th chromosome (Takei, F., K. Kimura, S. Mizuno, T. Yamamoto, and K. Shimura, 1984, Jpn. J. Genet., 59:307-313). A strain of B. mori carrying the homozygous Nd-sD mutation (Nd-sD/Nd-sD; Nd-sD is allelic to Nd-s) secretes less than 0.3% of fibroin into the lumen of the posterior silk gland compared with a strain carrying the homozygous wild-type alleles (+/+). The small amount of fibroin that is secreted in the Nd-sD/Nd-sD strain consists of the heavy (H) chain only and lacks the L chain, although the L chain mRNA and the proteins that are cross-reactable with the anti-L chain serum are present in the posterior silk gland cells. In the hybrid silkworm, Nd-sD/+, the H chain derived from either the Nd-sD or + allele forms disulfide linkage with the L chain derived from the + allele and these fibroins are secreted into the lumen with an equal efficiency, but the L chain derived from the Nd-sD allele remains in the cell unbound to the H chain. Some evidence suggesting structural abnormality of the L chain derived from the Nd-sD allele is presented. These results, together with the previous results on the effect of the H chain gene-linked Nd(2) mutation (Takei, F., F. Oyama, K. Kimura, A. Hyodo, S. Mizuno, and K. Shimura, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99:2005-2010), strongly suggest that the H-L subunit combination of silk fibroin is important for its efficient secretion.

Alleles↗

Amino acid sequence of a peptide from keratan sulfate II-core protein linkage regions.

Keratan sulfate II was prepared from the proteolytic digest of pig nucleus pulposus proteoglycan. The polysaccharide chains containing the fragment peptides of the core protein at their reducing terminal were subjected to anhydrous HF-solvolysis reaction and one of the glycopeptides from the keratan sulfate II-core protein linkage regions was isolated. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was deduced to be Ala-Pro-Ser-Pro-Gly, which is different from those reported for the attachment sites of chondroitin sulfate on core proteins from various sources. The results provided the first solid amino acid sequence for the keratan sulfate II-core protein linkage regions and suggested that the amino acid sequence of the core protein might determine the distribution of chondroitin sulfates and keratan sulfates along the core protein of the proteoglycan molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Renal cell carcinoma of lower nephron origin.

Thirty-four renal cell carcinomas, including 4 small tumors localized in the medulla were studied by means of histochemical and immunohistochemical methods using the markers for the lower nephron. Seven tumors had binding sites for soybean and peanut agglutinins and showed positive reactions to monoclonal antibodies to epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin. All these markers normally exist in the epithelial cells of distal and collecting tubules. There was no tumor from the thick ascending limb in our materials because of negative reaction to the monoclonal antibody against Tamm-Horsfall protein. Also negative was to CEA, which means there was no adenocarcinoma of colonic metaplastic origin from the renal pelvic mucosa. There were two histologically different types of cancers derived from the lower nephron, papillotubular adenocarcinoma with partial transitional differentiation, and papillary adenocarcinoma. All seven patients were males, aged between 30 and 84 years. The prognosis was quite poor since all six patients with known follow-up died of tumor.

Adult↗

Clinicopathological study on small renal cell carcinomas with metastases.

Seven metastasizing small renal cell carcinomas smaller than 30 mm in the greatest diameter were clinicopathologically studied for a better understanding of their characteristic features as compared to those of small tumors without metastases. Grayish-white infiltrating tumors in gross appearance and alveolar or solid microscopic structure consisting of granular or spindle cells and of atypical nuclei were suggestive of having metastases. Two tumors which had positive reactions to the lower nephron markers such as SBA, PNA, and/or DBA were considered to be of lower nephron origin and displayed poor prognosis.

Adult↗

New catheter for endovascular interventional procedures.

A new catheter suitable for selective angiography, embolization, and controlled infusion of chemotherapeutic agents is described. The catheter is made from a composite construction of polyethylene; it is graded in shaft thickness and outer diameter from a 2.7-F tip to a 3-F (1.0-mm) proximal section. Use of the catheter with a 0.018-inch or smaller steerable guide wire facilitates placement of the catheter in distal tortuous vessels. The catheter enabled successful completion of 20 of the 22 intracranial and extracranial intervention procedures (11 patients) in which it was used.

Catheterization↗

Effect of digitalis on the diaphragm in anesthetized dogs.

We examined the effect of digitalis on diaphragmatic contractility and fatigability in 19 anesthetized mechanically ventilated dogs. The diaphragmatic force was assessed from transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) developed at functional residual capacity against an occluded airway during cervical phrenic nerve stimulation. In a first group of five dogs, Pdi-stimulus frequency relationships were compared before and after administration of ouabain in doses of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 mg/kg. In a second group, diaphragmatic fatigue was produced by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation at 30 Hz. Ten seconds of stimulation and 15 s of mechanical ventilation were repeated for 30 min. The rates of decrease in Pdi were compared between two groups, one of 0.05 mg/kg deslanoside-treated dogs (n = 7) and one of nontreated dogs (n = 7). After ouabain administration Pdi was significantly greater at each frequency in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the rate of decrease in Pdi in the deslanoside group was significantly smaller than that in the nontreated group, whereas deslanoside did not greatly change the Pdi-frequency curves in fresh diaphragm. We conclude that ouabain improves contractility of the fresh diaphragm and that deslanoside has a protective effect against fatigability.

Animals↗

Effects of pentoxifylline and prostaglandin E1 on cold blood perfusion studied by red blood cell deformability.

The effects of pentoxifylline and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on red blood cell deformability during cold blood perfusion were studied by means of a filtration method. The deformability of normal red blood cells decreased with the temperature transition from 20 degrees to 15 degrees C (transit time: 3.5, 5.8, 25, and 99 seconds at 37 degrees, 20 degrees, 15 degrees, and 10 degrees C respectively). The effects of both pentoxifylline and PGE1 were not noticeable at 37 degrees C but became significant with hypothermia (5.0, 12, and 48 seconds at 20 degrees, 15 degrees, and 10 degrees C, respectively, in samples with pentoxifylline of 0.3 mg/ml; 5.3, 13, and 46 seconds at 20 degrees, 15 degrees, and 10 degrees C, respectively, in those with PGE1 of 40 ng/ml). The results in this study suggest that pretreatment of blood by pentoxifylline or PGE1 could improve coronary microcirculation perfused with cold blood cardioplegic solutions owing to significant improvement of the deformability of red blood cells.

Alprostadil↗

Suppression of ventricular premature contractions possibly related to triggered activity by oral diltiazem and atenolol.

The clinical importance of triggered activity as a cause of arrhythmias is uncertain. We assumed that ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) caused by triggered activity could be increased at higher heart rates and be suppressed by calcium channel blockers and beta-adrenoceptor blocker. Thus, we evaluated VPC frequency as a function of underlying heart rate and examined the efficacy of diltiazem and atenolol on VPCs, using 24 hour ECG recording. Plots of VPC frequency vs. heart rate were made at 1-beat/min intervals for all heart rates recorded for at least 5 min during 24 hours. Diltiazem (90-180 mg/day) and atenolol (50 mg/day) were given orally for 4 weeks, respectively in 36 and 16 patients with VPCs of more than 2000/day. Patterns of relationship between VPC frequency and heart rate observed before diltiazem therapy included: an increase of VPCs at higher heart rates (positive correlation) in 16 patients, an increase at low heart rates and a decrease at high heart rates (bidirectional correlation) in 13 patients, an increase at low heart rates and flat curve at high heart rates (positive-flat correlation) in 5 patients, a linear decrease (negative correlation) in 1 patient, and flat curve (flat correlation) in 1 patient. The patterns of correlation in patients treated with atenolol were positive in 6, bidirectional in 7, positive-flat in 2 and negative in 1. Both drugs significantly reduced the VPC frequency per 24 hours for patients with a positive correlation (P group), but induced no significant change for those with the other patterns of correlation (NP group). At the 70% VPC suppression level, diltiazem was effective in 9 of 16 patients of P group and only 1 of 20 patients of NP group (p less than 0.01); atenolol was effective in 5 of 6 patients of P group and only 1 of 10 patients of NP group (p less than 0.05). Both drugs reduced the slope of a positive correlation. These results suggest that: VPCs which increase at higher heart rates may be related to triggered activity, and an evaluation of VPC frequency as a function of heart rate predicts the response of VPCs to diltiazem and atenolol, and probably to other calcium antagonists and beta blockers.

Administration, Oral↗

Exercise-induced changes in branched chain amino acid/aromatic amino acid ratio in the rat brain and plasma.

Central fatigue was induced by running rats on a treadmill. Amino acid and ammonia metabolism in the brain and blood were followed with time to correlate its changes with physical exhaustion. The blood ammonia level did not change during running, but was prominently increased at exhaustion. The brain level of ammonia was also prominently high at the end of exercise with a time course of change similar to that of the blood level. Plasma concentrations of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and aromatic amino acids (AAA) increased as the animals continued to run; however, the plasma BCAA/AAA ratio was definitely depressed at exhaustion. This was also true with the brain BCAA/AAA ratio. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the plasma and brain BCAA/AAA ratios at r=0.5040 and P less than 0.05. These exercise-related changes suggest that physical exercise-induced central fatigue involves not only an increase in brain ammonia, but also a disturbance in brain amine metabolism accompanying plasma and brain BCAA/AAA ratio depression. Furthermore, the ammonia level and BCAA/AAA ratio in the brain correlated with those in the blood. It is reasonable to consider that the blood ammonia concentration and plasma BCAA/AAA ratio may serve as important indices of the clinical condition of exercise-induced central fatigue.

Amino Acids↗

Long-term prognosis of vasospastic angina without significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Long-term prognosis of 90 patients with vasospastic angina without significant coronary artery disease (less than 50% reduction in luminal diameter) was examined for a mean follow-up period of 4 years. All patients had episodes of angina at rest and were treated with calcium antagonists. One patient developed myocardial infarction and 2 died suddenly during the follow-up period. In the patient with myocardial infarction, there was an abrupt worsening of angina prior to the infarction despite therapy with a calcium antagonist. One of the sudden death patients discontinued his calcium antagonist before his death. Of the sudden death patients, one had ventricular tachycardia and the other had a complete atrioventricular block during an anginal attack. The incidence of such serious arrhythmias was higher (p less than 0.01) in sudden death patients (2/2) than that in survivors (6/88). The treatment with calcium antagonists reduced the severity and frequency of angina in all patients. These results suggest that long-term prognosis of vasospastic angina without significant coronary artery disease is good as characterized by the low incidence of myocardial infarction and death and the favorable response to treatment with calcium antagonists.

Adult↗