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Biomedical subjects

Y Okubo

Publications and source records attributed to Y Okubo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate: a case report of remission for 9 years by radiotherapy].

A 68-year-old-man with chief complaints of pollakisuria and lower abdominal discomfort was referred to our hospital on September 19, 1983. A histopathological study of the transrectal needle biopsy specimens revealed a malignant tumor of the prostate with spindle-shaped cells. The patient had been considerably improved by radiotherapy. However, 9 years later, the tumor recurred and the histopathological study showed the same findings as the initial biopsy and furthermore the recurrent tumor was diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma of the prostate by immunohistochemical stain. He was unresponsive to chemotherapy and died 11 years after initial diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Primary liver cancer incidence-rates related to hepatitis-C virus infection: a correlational study in Osaka, Japan.

Osaka, Japan, has one of the highest, primary liver cancer (PLC) incidence-rates in the world, although hepatitis-B virus (HBV) is not endemic. This paper addresses the question of whether the PLC-incidence variation within Osaka Prefecture is due to differences in the prevalence of hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection. The screening data of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) and of hepatitis-B virus antigen (HBsAg) in 111,069 male blood-donors, and the incidence data of male PLC obtained from the Osaka Cancer Registry were examined. In a multiple-weighted regression analysis, the age-standardized incidence rate of PLC in the 61 counties within Osaka was correlated significantly with the age-standardized prevalence of anti-HCV with adjustment for that of HBsAg (regression coefficient [RC] = 7.26, P < 0.0001). This finding was consistent with the relationship between the PLC incidence rate and the prevalence of high-titer (> or = 2(12)) anti-HCV (RC = 11.18, P < 0.0001). There was significant association between the prevalence of HBsAg and the PLC incidence rate with adjustment for that of anti-HCV (RC = 7.08, P = 0.018). These findings suggest that the PLC-incidence variation within Osaka is correlated with the geographic pattern of HCV infection as well as that of HBV infection among the residents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Hepatitis C virus antibodies and virus replication in asymptomatic blood donors.

We assessed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in 99 asymptomatic blood donors positive using a first-generation HCV antibody assay. When tested with second-generation assays, 86 (87%) donors were reactive (group 1), 2 (2%) were indeterminate (group 2), and 11 (11%) were non-reactive (group 3). Viraemia was revealed by polymerase chain reaction in all group 1 cases. The 2 group 2 cases and 6 (55%) group 3 cases were also viraemic. Viraemia was confirmed by a branched DNA assay in the 2 group 2 cases and 4 (36%) group 3 cases. Serum HCV RNA levels were further studied using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. All cases in groups 2 and 3 were low viraemic (range 10(4)-10(5.5) copies/ml) compared with the 9 group 1 cases examined (range 10(7)-10(9) copies/ml). No correlation was evident between viraemic levels and antibody cut-off index in the first-generation assay. These findings indicate the possibility that low levels of viraemia can occur in individuals non-reactive in second-generation HCV antibody assays.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cytokine production in patients with mite-sensitive bronchial asthma.

We examined the eosinophil viability-enhancing activity (EVEA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) obtained from mite-sensitive bronchial asthma (BA) and normal control subjects. Mite concentrations of 1 and 10 micrograms/ml significantly increased EVEA in BA patients as compared with normal controls (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). The level of IFN-gamma in PBMNC culture supernatants was higher in BA patients than in normal controls. Dexamethasone, cyclosporin A and FK506 significantly inhibited EVEA in BA patients (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001).

Allergens↗
PubMed1994

Eosinophil viability-enhancing activity in mite-sensitive bronchial asthma.

We examined the eosinophil viability-enhancing activity (EVEA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) obtained from 6 patients with mite-sensitive bronchial asthma (BA) and 9 normal control subjects. Mite concentrations of 1 microgram/ml and 10 micrograms/ml significantly increased EVEA in PBMNC culture supernatants from BA patients compared with PBMNCs from normal control subjects (76.1 +/- 11.0% at 10 micrograms/ml and 56.3 +/- 16.0% at 1 microgram/ml vs 20.6 +/- 12.6% at 10 micrograms/ml and 7.4 +/- 2.3% at 1 microgram/ml; p < 0.05). The level of IFN-gamma in PBMNC culture supernatants in BA patients was 2.3 +/- 0.9 IU/ml and in normal control subjects 0.7 +/- 0.3 IU/ml. A combination of mAbs (anti-IL-3, anti-IL-5 and anti-GM-CSF, with or without anti-IFN-gamma) neutralized the EVEA (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Dexamethasone (10(-8) M to 10(-5) M), cyclosporin A (10(-7) M to 10(-5) M) and FK506 (10(-8) M to 10(-6) M) significantly inhibited EVEA in BA patients (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The release of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from eosinophils in the presence of mite-stimulated PBMNC culture supernatants was higher in patients with bronchial asthma (569 +/- 147 micrograms/l) than in normal control subjects (203 +/- 99 micrograms/l; p < 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Effects of various drugs (staurosporine, herbimycin A, ketotifen, theophylline, FK506 and cyclosporin A) on eosinophil viability.

Eosinophils are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases. This study demonstrated the effects of various drugs on eosinophil viability in vitro, which might help clinicians and researchers in treating and studying eosinophilic diseases. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, and herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, at 10(-6) M and 10(-7) M significantly lowered eosinophil viability in a dose-dependent fashion (p < 0.002, p < 0.02 and p < 0.001, p < 0.002, respectively). Both staurosporine and herbimycin A reduced eosinophil survival in a time-dependent fashion at 10(-6) M and 10(-7) M. Ketotifen at 10(-4) M and theophylline at 10(-3) M, significantly decreased eosinophil viability (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) in the presence of 100 pg/ml of recombinant human interleukin-5 (rhIL-5). Both FK506 and cyclosporin A at 10(-4) M significantly reduced eosinophil viability (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005, respectively) in the presence of 100 pg/ml of rhIL-5. Our data show that ketotifen, theophylline, FK506, cyclosporin A reduced eosinophil viability at a high concentration. Furthermore, it is suggested that protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase are involved in eosinophil survival.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1992

EEG coherence in unmedicated schizophrenic patients: topographical study of predominantly never medicated cases.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) power and coherence were compared in 11 unmedicated schizophrenics (including 9 never mediated patients) and in 15 normal controls. There was no significant difference in power between the two groups. However, interhemispheric coherence between O1-O2 was higher in the schizophrenics in the delta and beta bands, and interhemispheric coherence between T5-T6 was higher in the delta band. These results suggest that coherence is more sensitive than power for comparison of these two groups, and that cerebral function is less lateralized in schizophrenics.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Topographical changes in alpha power in medicated and unmedicated schizophrenics during digits span reverse matching test.

The topographical distribution of alpha power reduction was compared in nine unmedicated schizophrenics (predominantly never-treated), 17 medicated schizophrenics, and 15 normal controls. The task involved four procedures: (1) listening to signal sound, (2) listening to digits for memorization, (3) after listening, and (4) listening to digits for recognition. The electroencephalograms (EEGs) during each procedure were analyzed with Fast Fourier Transformation and compared with EEGs at rest. While listening to the digits, medicated schizophrenics showed less alpha power reduction than normal controls and unmedicated schizophrenics. In addition, there were correlations found between the degree of alpha power reduction and medication dose, and score of chronic symptoms. These suggest that patients with different clinical backgrounds have differing cerebral activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Glycosphingolipid expression in spontaneously aborted fetuses and placenta from blood group p women. Evidence for placenta being the primary target for anti-Tja-antibodies.

A 12-week-old fetus and one 17-week-old fetus + placenta were obtained after spontaneous abortions from two women of blood group p. The 17-week-old fetus was dissected into intestine, liver, brain and residual tissue. Nonacid glycosphingolipid fractions were prepared from the tissues. Glycolipid characterization was carried out using thin layer chromatography immunostained with monoclonal antibodies and bacteria and by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In the placental fraction substantial amounts of globotetraosylceramide (P-antigen) and globotriaosylceramide (Pk-antigen) were identified. In contrast, the fetuses contained only trace amounts of these structures, as revealed by immunostaining. These results indicate that the primary target for the antibodies of the anti-Tja serum is the placenta tissue, resulting in termination of the pregnancy.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1992

Collaborative multicenter field trial of the Draft of ICD-10 in Japan--interdiagnostician reliability and disagreement: a report from the WHO project on "field trials of ICD-10, Chapter V".

The Draft of "ICD-10, Chapter V, Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines" was tested in a multicenter field trial in Japan. We have previously reported good results in suitability, confidence and ease of diagnosis, and adequacy of descriptions of the Draft. In this paper, the interdiagnostician reliability of the Draft is reported. Among the two-character categories, "Schizophrenia, Schizotypal States and Delusional Disorders (F2)" (ICC = .80) and "Mood Disorders (F3)" (ICC = .80) proved reliable. "Neurotic, Stress-Related, and Somatoform Disorders (F4)" was less reliable (ICC = .65). The ICCs of the 17 major categories (three-character code) and the 21 subcategories (four-character code) were also calculated. The finding that in Japan subtyping schizophrenia with ICD-10 was more reliable than that made using DSM-III Diagnostic Criteria supports the need to use a descriptive version of ICD-10 as the basis for several versions serving different purposes. The nature of disagreements with unreliable categories was also investigated. The results are discussed with special reference to the changes in the final Draft of Chapter V, which contained a feedback of the results from field trials from all over the world.

Delusions↗
PubMed1992

Response of lipoprotein lipase to calorie intake in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The mechanism regulating lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression in adipose tissue was examined in rats in the conditions of different calorie intakes with and without streptozotocin-induced (STZ-) diabetes. The LPL activity released from adipose tissue was greater with the higher calorie intake (20 g of normal chow diet per day) than with the lower calorie intake (13 g of normal chow diet per day), and was greater in normal rats than in STZ-diabetic rats. The LPL activity was proportional to the serum insulin level in all conditions. Dot-blot analysis showed that the amount of LPL mRNA in adipose tissue was increased by the higher calorie diet and that the increase was less in the diabetic state. Expression of mRNA was also nearly parallel with the serum insulin level. LPL activity released from the heart was not affected by either the calorie intake or the diabetic state. These results suggest that the mechanisms of LPL expression in adipose tissue and the heart are different, and that LPL expression in adipose tissue was closely dependent on the insulin level.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin 3 release from human peripheral blood eosinophils and neutrophils.

Human peripheral blood eosinophils released eosinophil survival-enhancing activity when stimulated with the calcium ionophore, ionomycin. The release of activity was detected as early as 3 h after stimulation and was inhibited by an immunomodulating agent, cyclosporin A. The survival-enhancing activity was completely abolished by treatment with anti-interleukin 3 (IL-3) and anti-granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) monoclonal antibodies. Moreover, IL-3 and GM-CSF were measurable in ionomycin-stimulated eosinophil supernatants by immunoassay. Eosinophils produced approximately one-half as much IL-3 and one-fifth as much GM-CSF as ionomycin-stimulated mononuclear cells. Neutrophils also produced IL-3 and GM-CSF, but the amounts were less than those produced by eosinophils. These observations suggest a novel role for eosinophils in pathophysiology of allergic inflammation and host defense mechanisms.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1991

Phenotypic analysis of CD23+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells in atopic dermatitis.

There is an increase in the number of CD23+ cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in atopic dermatitis (AD). We analysed the subpopulation of CD23+ PBMC in 11 patients with AD and in 10 healthy controls and found that B cells (CD20+) and non-T, non-B cells (CD3- CD20-) (mainly monocytes) were responsible for the elevation of CD23+ cells. CD23+ T cells (CD3+) comprised only 4.6% of total CD23+ cells in AD. The percentage of CD23+ cells did not correlate with the serum log IgE level nor with clinical severity of AD. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) induced the expression of CD23 antigen in PBMC both in AD and in healthy controls in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. This enhancing effect of IL-4 was completely abrogated by the addition of anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody. Other cytokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha had no significant effects on CD23 expression.

Adolescent↗