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Biomedical subjects

Y Ohashi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ohashi.

At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources

[A case of recurrent corneal erosion caused by self-inflicted injury].

A 20-year-old female developed periodically recurrent corneal erosion in a 10mm diameter area of the central cornea. Since the episodes of corneal erosion occurred suddenly in the early morning every 6-7 days and since medical treatments could not prevent recurrence, we suspected that the corneal erosion was due to self-inflicted injury such as mechanical damage and/or topical application of toxic drugs. Psychological tests also indicated that the patient had a tendency towards hysteria. The corneal erosion has not recurred since we completely protected both her eyes at night. These findings strongly suggested that the cause of this corneal erosion was due to self-inflicted injury.

Adult↗

Synthesis of oligonucleotide derivatives with dansyl group at sugar fragment.

The method for introduction of dansyl group into the 2'-position of oligonucleotides is described. The dansyl group was introduced to 2'-position of uridine by the reaction of dansyl chloride with 2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine, which was then converted to the 5'-dimethoxytrityl phosphorobisdiethylamidite derivative, (4). This reagent was used for the solid-phase synthesis of the oligonucleotide-dansyl conjugate, 5'-ACTCU(DNS)AGAGG. The conjugate could be purified by reversed-phase HPLC. The nucleoside composition of the conjugate was verified by the enzymatic digestion analysis.

Base Sequence↗

[Present status of computer utilization in cancer clinical trials].

The present status of computer utilization in cancer clinical trials as regards trial planning, data management, statistical analysis and dissemination of knowledge is reviewed and some proposals for designing a new system are presented. In Japan, the importance of a statistical center for collaborative clinical trials has come to be recognized and interdisciplinary discussion on computer information system is just beginning.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

[Effect of the start of glycemic control on the progression of diabetic retinopathy].

The effect of the start of glycemic control on retinopathy progression was investigated. The changes of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) were compared between the retinopathy progression group (Group 1, 24 eyes) and the non-progression group (Group 2, 23 eyes). The follow-up period was 24 months. The grades of retinopathy, age, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), sex, and manner of DM control in these subjects were matched between the two groups. They were classified into 9 strata according to the matched systemic factors. In Group 1, HbA1 value decreased rapidly 6 or 7 months before the retinopathy progression, but did not change in Group 2 during 24 months. The change rate was significantly different between Group 1 and Group 2. The block efficacy for 6-7 months follow-up was also statistically significant between the two groups by analysis of variance (ANDVA). The estimated mean HbA1 value for the 9-10 month period in Group 1 was 2.46% less than that of Group 2. The higher the HbA1 value, the higher the relative risk (odds ratio) of retinopathy progression. The relative risk of retinopathy progression of the mean HbA1 value was highest for 9-10 month period. The relative risks of 1, 2, and 3% decrease of HbA1 for 9-10 months were 1.7, 2.8, and 4.7, respectively.

Aged↗

[Evaluation of effective neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (FLEP therapy) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer].

Ten patients with non-resectable gastric cancer were subjected to a neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (FLEP therapy), consisting of 4 drugs (leucovorin and 5-FU i.v., CDDP and etoposide i.a.) combination therapy from August 1989 to April 1991. The response rate of this therapy with primary lesions, metastatic lymph-nodes (mainly paraaortic lymph nodes), metastatic liver tumor and peritoneal dissemination were 50, 50, 25 and 33%, respectively. Five cases underwent total gastrectomy. Pathological evaluation of these cases was Grade 1 or 2. Side effects were mainly gastrointestinal disturbances, namely stomatitis, nausea, vomiting and anorexia, along with bone marrow suppression. Performance status of these patients improved to a significant degree by the therapy. This therapy seemed to be effective in controlling paraaortic lymph-node metastasis. The advantage of i.a. delivery was investigated by Tc-MAA scintigraphy. The distribution of Tc-MAA after i.a. injection suggested that i.a. chemotherapy enhanced intraabdominal drug concentration. There is no established treatment for far advanced cases, so this therapy seems to be worth a try.

Adult↗

[Relationship between progression of diabetic retinopathy and blood glucose control].

The relationship between the progression of diabetic retinopathy and consecutive blood sugar control measured by HbA1 levels was statistically analyzed based on 422 eyes of 211 diabetic patients who were followed up 2 years or more. Cox regression (proportional hazard model) with HbA1 as a time-dependent covariate was applied and the relative risk of HbA1 vis-à-vis the progression of retinopathy was evaluated. For a given value of HbA1 at each time point during progression, the average for x preceding months was calculated and the value of x was changed from 1 to 30 to assess the cumulative effect of HbA1. The cumulative effect of HbA1 was statistically significant and the absolute value of the coefficient changed little if the periods for calculating the average are equal to or more than 6 months. Relative risks corresponding to the increase of HbA1 (averaged at 6 months) by 1, 2 and 3% were 1.18, 1.39 and 1.63, respectively. When the HbA1 level was adjusted to its average value (9.56%), estimated cumulative progression rates for 6, 12, 18 and 24 follow-up months were 3.6, 14.5, 22.5 and 30.5%, respectively. Difference of cumulative progression rate between a well-controlled group with a low (3% less than the average) HbA1 value and a poorly-controlled group with a high (3% higher than the average) HbA1 value was estimated as 3% (6 follow-up months) and 23% (24 months).

Adolescent↗

Relationship of HBsAg subtypes with HBeAg/anti-HBe status and chronic liver disease. Part I: Analysis of 1744 HBsAg carriers.

A total of 1744 HBsAg carriers were investigated to determine whether there are clinical differences among HBsAg subtypes or not. Although adr was more predominant than adw in 1078 asymptomatic carriers as well as in 666 carriers with liver dysfunction, the adr carriers had liver dysfunction more frequently than the adw carriers (p = 0.005). In addition, the adr carriers were more often positive for HBeAg and less often positive for anti-HBe than the adw carriers (p less than 0.001). Multivariate analyses indicated that the HBsAg subtypes were associated with liver dysfunction not directly but through the relationship between the HBsAg subtypes and HBeAg/anti-HBe status. HBeAg/anti-HBe status of each age bracket in the adr carriers and in the adw carriers suggested that adr carriers are seroconverted later than adw carriers. In conclusion, HBsAg subtypes may affect the development of chronic liver disease, through their association with HBeAg/anti-HBe status.

Adult↗

Relationship of HBsAg subtypes with HBeAg/anti-HBe status and chronic liver disease. Part II: Evaluation of epidemiological factors and suspected risk factors of liver dysfunction.

In this study, we examined a possibility that epidemiological factors or suspected risk factors of liver dysfunction could account for the different HBeAg/anti-HBe status or the different prevalence of liver dysfunction between the adr and adw carriers. A total of 428 HBsAg carriers were surveyed of their age, sex, racial background, socioeconomic status, place of residence, birthplace, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, and history of blood transfusion as epidemiological factors or suspected risk factors of liver dysfunction. Adjustment for those variables using multivariate analyses did not substantially affect the association of the HBsAg subtypes with either prevalence of liver dysfunction or HBeAg/anti-HBe status. HBsAg subtypes seem to directly affect HBeAg/anti-HBe status and consequently influence development of chronic liver disease.

Adult↗

[Fundamental studies on measurement of the eosinophil cationic protein in sputum from patients with bronchial asthma].

One of the characteristics of patients with bronchial asthma is activation of eosinophils in the bronchi, which can be evaluated by measuring concentrations of the cationic granule proteins. Sputum seems to be the best material to evaluate the activation of eosinophils in the bronchi because it can be collected easily from the same patient every day even if he (she) has an asthmatic attack. Recently it has become possible to measure the concentration of the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) thanks to the availability of the ECP RIA kit. However no fundamental studies have been carried out on the handling of sputum samples, and whether only ECP released into sputum is measured. We prepared supernatants of sputum samples according to the method of Gleich and others by adding the same volume of physiological saline, mixing it for one minute by a vortex mixer and centrifuging at 40000 Xg, 4 C, for 30 minutes. We found that the measurement of ECP is not inhibited by materials in sputum supernatants through a dilution test and a recovery test. We also found that the followings did not influence the measurement of ECP; the times of dilution, the duration from collection to handing of sputum, the solution added to sputum, and the gravity of centrifugation. In addition, it was suggested that only ECP released into sputum is measurable from the results of an electron microscopic study and the measurement of ECP after centrifugation following the addition of white blood cells to sputum.

Asthma↗

Unusual expression of IgG Fc receptors on peripheral granulocytes from patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CD11/CD18 deficiency).

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is a hereditary disease characterized by defective expression of leukocyte adhesion glycoproteins; lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 (CD11a/CD18), CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and p150,95 (CD11c/CD18). Granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes of patients with LAD show profoundly defective in vivo and in vitro adherence-dependent immune functions. We investigated the expression of FcR for IgG on polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and monocytes from patients with LAD, and their luminol- and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence production in response to SRBC sensitized with murine (m) IgG2a and IgG2b. Unstimulated patient PMN showed an enhanced chemiluminescence in response to mIgG2a-SRBC and an increased phagocytosis of mIgG2a-SRBC. The up-regulated functions were inhibited by monomeric human IgG in a dose-dependent manner, which was attributed to an increase in expression of FcRI on patient PMN, as shown by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibody, 32.2, specific for human FcRI. In contrast, neither the expression of FcR on the monocytes of LAD patients nor their FcR-mediated functions were different from those of controls.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D. Protective immunity against murine herpetic keratitis.

%$%%protective effect of glycoprotein D (gD) immunization against murine herpetic keratitis was investigated. gD was purified by affinity chromatography using anti-gD monoclonal antibodies. Prior immunization with gD was shown to be effective in protecting mice from both the development of stromal keratitis and the spread of the virus to the central nervous system. The level of serum antibodies for virus neutralization, as well as for complement-dependent cytolysis (CDC), was significantly elevated in gD-immunized animals. Cellular immunity, however, was not detected. These results indicate that two antibody-mediated defense mechanisms--virus neutralization and CDC--were responsible for the protective effect observed in our study.

Animals↗

Differential expression of the interleukin 2 receptor beta (p75) chain on human peripheral blood natural killer subsets.

The interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is composed of at least two subunits, the IL-2R alpha (P55, CD25/Tac) and IL-2R beta (p70-75) chains. In the present study we have identified the quantitative expression of IL-2R beta on subsets of NK cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry and a recently established mAb against IL-2R beta (TU27). We demonstrate that NK cells are not a homogeneous population but that phenotypic subsets exist, and that the levels of IL-2R beta expression correlate with these subsets. The levels of IL-2R beta expression on NK subsets are CD3- CD16- CD56bright NK cells (immature NK) greater than CD16+CD4- NK cells (mature NK) greater than CD16+CD57+ NK cells (more mature NK) in adult peripheral blood lymphocytes. The level of IL-2R beta expression on CD16+ NK cells in cord blood is significantly higher than that in adult PBL. These findings suggest that there may be a inverse relationship between IL-2R beta expression and the differentiation of NK cells. IL-2R beta, preferentially expressed on the NK cells, may play an important role in differentiation and maturation of NK cells.

Adult↗

Immunochemical identification of the ADP-ribosyltransferase in botulinum C1 neurotoxin as C3 exoenzyme-like molecule.

Botulinum C1 neurotoxin and C3 exoenzyme were purified to apparent homogeneity from the culture filtrate of Clostridium botulinum type C strain 003-9. Both preparations catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the same substrate, the Mr 22,000 rho gene product (Gb). When the light and heavy chains of C1 toxin were separated, ADP-ribosyltransferase activity in the toxin was quantitatively recovered in the light chain fraction. Anti-C1 toxin antiserum precipitated the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and the neurotoxicity of C1 toxin in parallel, whereas it had no effect on C3 exoenzyme. On the other hand, anti-C3 exoenzyme antiserum precipitated the ADP-ribosyltransferase activities of both C3 exoenzyme and C1 toxin. This antibody, however, did not precipitate the neurotoxicity of C1 toxin. The ADP-ribosyltransferase in C1 toxin was quantitatively adsorbed onto the anti-C3 antibody column and separated from the majority of C1 toxin protein. The enzyme was then eluted with acidic urea and Western blotting analysis of this eluate revealed the appearance of a protein band positively stained with anti-C3 antibody at a position similar to that of C3 exoenzyme. Quantitative determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the C3-like immunoreactivity is present in the C1 toxin molecules at the molecular ratio of 1 to 1,000. These results suggest that the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity in C1 toxin is expressed by a C3-like molecule which is present in a small amount in the toxin preparation and appears to bind to the toxin component(s). The above results also indicate that the ADP-ribosyltransferase in C1 toxin is not related to its neurotoxin action.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Analysis of stress-induced or salicylic acid-induced expression of the pathogenesis-related 1a protein gene in transgenic tobacco.

The cis-acting elements for regulating gene expression of the tobacco pathogenesis-related 1a protein gene were analyzed in transgenic plants. The 5'-flanking 2.4-kilobase fragment from the pathogenesis-related 1a protein gene was joined to the bacterial beta-glucuronidase gene and introduced into tobacco cells by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Promoter activity was monitored by quantitative and histochemical assay of beta-glucuronidase activity in leaves of regenerated transgenic plants. The level of beta-glucuronidase activity was clearly increased by treatment with salicylic acid, by cutting stress, and by local lesion formation caused by tobacco mosaic virus infection. Cytochemical studies of the induced beta-glucuronidase activity revealed tissue-specific and developmentally regulated expression of the pathogenesis-related 1a gene after stress or chemical treatment and after pathogen attack. To identify the cis-acting element more precisely, a series of 5'-deleted chimeric genes was constructed and transformed into tobacco plants. Transgenic plants with a 0.3-kilobase fragment of the 5'-flanking region of the pathogenesis-related 1a gene had the same qualitative response as those with the 2.4-kilobase fragment upon treatment with salicylic acid or infection with TMV. Thus, the 0.3-kilobase DNA sequence fragment was sufficient to allow the regulated expression of the pathogenesis-related 1a gene.

Base Sequence↗