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Biomedical subjects

Y Sakai

Publications and source records attributed to Y Sakai.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[A case of unilateral and synchronous occurrence of oncocytoma and renal cell carcinoma].

A 45-year-old female, who had undergone an operation for rectal cancer 4 years previously was admitted to our hospital because of a left renal mass found by follow-up ultrasonography. Ultrasonography revealed two high echoic tumors. Enhanced computerized tomography (CT) showed relatively low density tumors measuring 3.8 x 3.8 cm and 0.8 x 0.8 cm in the upper and lower pole, respectively. Renal angiography demonstrated a spoke-wheel appearance in the upper pole. Left radical nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis of the tumor in the upper pole was oncocytoma and that in the lower pole was renal cell carcinoma.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗
PubMed1997

[Successful emergency surgical management following cardiac massage in a patient with acute myocardial infarction due to total obstruction of the left main trunk].

The prognosis in patients manifesting shock following acute myocardial infarction due to total occlusion of the left main trunk (LMT) is usually very poor and so is the lifesaving rate. Accurate judgement and rapid response are key to the successful management of this disease. We experienced a successful case with emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the 14 the day after initial attack. The patient, who had total occlusion of LMT, underwent a PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) during the initial attack under cardiac massage. We think in situations where patients have cardiac arrest, shock, elevated CPK levels suggesting devastation of myocardium due either to LMT or severe triple vessels disease, early catheter intervention rather than emergency CABG would be much more tolerable as long as hemodynamic situation allows. Our previous experience taught us that immediate surgical intervention with CABG usually resulted in poor outcome. Further refinements regarding the surgical procedure, technique, assist circulatory supports, cardioplegia, etc., are indispensable before trying to have a successful emergency CABG.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1997

[New combination therapy with FTM [5-FU, pirarubicin (THP) and MMC] for treatment of inoperable advanced gastric cancer].

Clinical usefulness of a new combination FTM therapy consisting of 5-FU, Pirarubicin (THP) and MMC for the treatment of advanced gastric cancers was investigated. 5-FU, THP or MMC was administered at a dose of 600 mg/m2 on day 1, 8, 22 and 29, 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 22, and 10 mg/m2 on day one only of each course, respectively. Eighteen patients with inoperable advanced gastric cancer were treated with FTM. All drugs were investigated by intravenously by one shot. The tumor response rate was 50% [9 of 18 showed PR]. The survival rate was higher in responders than in nonresponders (18.1% vs 11.1%) (p < 0.05). Side effects in the gastrointestinal tract were minimal. Cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were not detected, but myelosuppression was prominent in most cases. G-CSF was given in sixteen patients (88%), and platelet transfusion was performed in two patients (11%). New combination FTM therapy is an effective treatment regimen even for advanced inoperable gastric cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Primary structures of fungal fructosyl amino acid oxidases and their application to the measurement of glycated proteins.

Fructosyl amino acid oxidase (FAOD), which is active toward model compounds of the glycated proteins in blood, N epsilon-fructosyl N sigma-Z-lysine and N-fructosyl valine, was purified to homogeneity from Aspergillus terreus GP1. Though the enzyme did not use glycated proteins directly as its substrate, it used glycated human serum albumin (HSA) when HSA was treated with a protease. Linear relationships between both the concentration and the increase in absorbance and the glycation rate of glycated HSA and the increase in absorbance were observed. cDNAs coding for FAODs were cloned from cDNA libraries of A. terreus GP1 and Penicillium janthinellum AKU 3413. The coding region for both fungal FAODs consisted of 1314 bp encoding 437 amino acids. The sequence of a dinucleotide-binding motif, GXGXXG, was in the deduced N-terminal region and a similar sequence to that the active site of bacterial sarcosine oxidases was found near the C-terminal region of FAOD. The of C-terminal tripeptides SKL and AKL of FAODs from A. terreus and P. janthinellum, respectively, represent typical peroxisomal-targeting signals. Finally, FAOD protein was produced in Escherichia coli transformants in an active form, and at the same level as in the original fungi.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1996

Cloning and characterization of Xenopus laevis xSox7 cDNA.

A family of SRY-related genes has been termed SOX. We have isolated and sequenced a cDNA encoding a novel Sox protein from Xenopus laevis ovary. This cDNA contains an open reading frame (ORF) coding for 362 amino acids, which encompasses an HMG box and exhibits a strong (90%) identity to that of mouse Sox7; the cDNA was named xSox7 in this study. Northern analysis revealed that the xSox7 mRNA was 2.0 kb in length. Various adult frog tissues were tested by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction for xSox7 mRNA, and the results showed that xSox7 is expressed in a wide range of tissues. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shif assay indicated that recombinant xSox7 is capable of binding to AACAAT sequence.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Expression of polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesion molecules and its clinical significance in patients treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the role of neutrophil adhesion molecules LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and p150,95 (CD11c/CD18) in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). BACKGROUND: Several recent studies have suggested that cell adhesion molecules on both neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the process of tissue inflammation. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients (30 men, 8 women; mean [+/-SE] age 56 +/- 5 years, range 38 to 76) with single-vessel coronary artery disease of the left anterior descending artery underwent coronary angioplasty. Peripheral blood was sampled at baseline before, immediately after and 12, 24, 48 and 144 h after PTCA. The expression of CD18, CD11a, CD11b and CD11c on the surface of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was examined by flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: In patients without subsequent restenosis, there was no change in mean channel fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD18 at each sampling time. However, in the patients with restenosis, the MFI of CD18 significantly increased at 48 h after PTCA (from 57 +/- 6 to 73 +/- 8, p = 0.0008). The MFI of CD11b increased slightly at 48 h after PTCA in patients without restenosis (from 584 +/- 121 to 735 +/- 114, p = 0.037). In patients with restenosis, the MFI of CD11b was slightly increased at 24 h after PTCA (from 586 +/- 122 to 768 +/- 214, p = 0.018) and significantly increased at 48 h after PTCA (to 1,534 +/- 268, p = 0.0006). The expression of CD11a and CD11c did not change at any sampling points after PTCA in either of the two patient groups. Percent change in the expression of CD18 at 48 h after PTCA (from baseline) and that of CD11b were correlated (r = 0.73, p = 0.0008) in patients with restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory stimuli within the coronary vessels associated with coronary angioplasty may upregulate Mac-1 expression on the surface of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. This process may be more marked in patients who experience later restenosis. Thus, activation of neutrophil adhesion molecule Mac-1 at 48 h after PTCA may have value as a predictor of subsequent restenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Synergistic effect of aurintricarboxylic acid and triflavin in a photochemically induced thrombosis model in rats.

We report here the synergistic antithrombotic effect of aurintricarboxylic acid in combination with a snake venom-derived disintegrin, triflavin, in a photochemically induced thrombosis model in rats. The time to initiation of thrombus was prolonged by i.v. bolus injection of aurintricarboxylic acid at 10 mg/kg. In contrast, time to occlusion was dose-dependently prolonged by both agents, this prolongation being significant with aurintricarboxylic acid at 10 mg/kg i.v. and with triflavin at more than 3 mg/kg i.v. Interestingly, the combination of aurintricarboxylic acid at 3 mg/kg i.v. and triflavin at 1 mg/kg i.v. prolonged not only the initiation of thrombus, but also the time to occlusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

High-level secretion of fungal glucoamylase using the Candida boidinii gene expression system.

The methylotrophic yeast, Canadida boidinii, was investigated as an expression host for secretory enzyme production. The cDNA of Rhizopus oryzae glucoamylase was placed under the C. boidinii alcohol oxidase (AODl) promoter. A transformant integrated with a single-copy expression cassette to the chromosome produced glucoamylase into the medium to a high amount when the cells were grown on methanol or methanol plus glycerol as (a) carbon source(s). The transformant C. boidinii cells were grown up to ca. 95 g dry cell weight/liter medium, and the concentration of glucoamylase in the medium reached 3.4 g/liter. This showed that the signal sequence from Rhizopus glucoamylase functioned very efficiently in C. boidinii. Next, secreted glucoamylase from C. boidinii was purified and compared with the enzyme produced in S. cerevisiae. The enzyme produced in C. boidinii was found to have higher molecular weight than that produced in S. cerevisiae, which was due to the difference of the N-linked glycosylated sugar structure of the produced proteins.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1996

Colorectal carcinoma metastases to the liver. Does primary tumor location affect its lobar distribution?

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that blood returning from different abdominal organs does not mix completely but maintains streamline flow in the portal vein. This study tested the hypothesis that the location of primary colorectal carcinoma affects the intrahepatic distribution of liver metastases according to streamline flow in the portal vein. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with histologically verified liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma underwent potentially curative hepatectomy. Primary tumor location was the right-sided colon in 18 patients and the left-sided colon in 67. The liver was divided into two lobes by Cantlie's line. RESULTS: A total of 195 metastatic deposits were resected: 135 in the right lobe and 60 in the left. In the right-sided colon carcinoma group, 29 deposits were in the right lobe and 3 in the left. In the left-sided colon carcinoma group, 106 deposits were in the right lobe and 57 in the left. The pattern of lobar distribution was significantly different in the two groups (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Right-sided colon cancers selectively involve the right lobe, while left-sided tumors involve the entire liver, considering the ratio of weights of the right to left lobe is 2:1. This difference suggests that primary tumor location affects the pattern of lobar distribution of colorectal carcinoma liver metastases according to streamline flow in the portal vein.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Targeted disruption of the mZP3 gene results in production of eggs lacking a zona pellucida and infertility in female mice.

Mammalian eggs are surrounded by a thick extracellular coat, the zona pellucida, that plays important roles during early development. The mouse egg zona pellucida is constructed of three glycoproteins, called mZP1, mZP2, and mZP3. The gene encoding mZP3 is expressed only by growing oocytes during a 2- to 3-week period of oogenesis. Here, the mZP3 gene was disrupted by targeted mutagenesis using homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells. Viable female mice homozygous for the mutated mZP3 allele (mZP3-/-) were obtained. These mice are indistinguishable in appearance from wild-type (mZP3+/+) and heterozygous (mZP3+/-) littermates. However, although ovaries of juvenile and adult mZP3-/- females possess growing and fully grown oocytes, the oocytes completely lack a zona pellucida. Consistent with this observation, eggs recovered from oviducts of superovulated, adult mZP3-/- females also lack a zona pellucida. Thus far, mZP3-/- females mated with wild-type males have failed to become pregnant.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Gene organization in the ada-rplL region of Streptomyces virginiae.

The gene organization of a 7.4-kb region of the Streptomyces virginiae (Sv) chromosome was determined. The predicted open reading frames (ORFs) and their predicted products, in sequence order, were (i) ada, encoding adenosine deaminase [EC 3.5.4.4], (ii) aat, encoding a protein homologous to aspartate aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.1], (iii) secE, encoding a protein involved in protein secretion, (iv) vbrA, encoding a NusG-like protein involved in antitermination of transcription as described by Okamoto et al. [J. Biol. Chem. 267 (1992) 1093-1098], and (v) rplKAJL, encoding the large subunits of the ribosomal proteins L11, L1, L10 and L12. Six of the ORFs (secE-rplL) were oriented in the same direction, but the other two (ada and aat) had the opposite orientation. The gene organization of the secE-rplL region in Sv was identical to that in Escherichia coli.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1996

Determination of the 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

We developed a simple and sensitive assay for the 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (excitation at 340 nm, emission at 450 nm). The compound under study in serum samples was extracted with Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and the extract was applied to an octadecylsilane-bonded column (Nucleosil 5C18, 150 x 4 mm I.D.). The mobile phase used was a mixture of 0.05 M sodium acetate buffer (pH 6.0), containing 5 mM sodium 1-octanesulfonate and 0.1 mM Na2EDTA, and acetonitrile (93:7, v/v). The 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid from serum samples was sufficiently separated to be clearly distinguishable. The quantification limit was 2 x 10(-14) mol, which was sensitive enough to detect 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid in serum from normal subjects. The method was applied to samples from patients with deficiency in tryptophan metabolism, xanthurenic acid/3-hydroxy kynurenineuria and showed a striking elevation in serum 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1996

Molecular analysis of the phosphate-specific transport (pst) operon of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The organization of the phosphate-specific transport (pst) operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been determined. The gene order of the pst operon is pstC, pstA, pstB, phoU, and a well-conserved Pho box sequence (16/18 bases identical) exists in the promoter region. The most striking difference from the known Escherichia coli pst operon is the lack of the pstS gene encoding a periplasmic phosphate (Pi)-binding protein. Even though the three pst genes were absolutely required for P(i)-specific transport, expression of the pst operon at high levels did not increase P(i) uptake in P. aeruginosa. DNA sequences for the pstB and phoU genes have been determined previously. The newly identified pstC and pstA genes encode possible integral membrane proteins of 677 amino acids (M(r) 73,844) and 513 amino acids (M(r) 56,394) respectively. The amino acid sequences of PstC and PstA predict that these proteins contain a long hydrophilic domain not seen in their E. coli counterparts. A chromosomal deletion of the entire pst operon rendered P. aeruginosa unable to repress P(i) taxis under conditions of P(i) excess. The phoU and pstB genes are essential for repressing P(i) taxis. However, mutants lacking either PstC or PstA alone were able to repress P(i) taxis under conditions of P(i) excess.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1996

Cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase from the methylotrophic bacterium, Methylomonas aminofaciens 77a, and its expression in Escherichia coli.

A DNA fragment of 550 bp was specifically amplified by PCR with primers based on the N-terminal sequence of the purified 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase from Methylomonas aminofaciens 77a and on that of a lysyl endopeptidase-derived peptide. Using this PCR product as a probe, a gene coding for 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase in M. aminofaciens 77a chromosomal DNA was cloned in Escherichia coli JM109. Sequencing analysis revealed that the gene encoding 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase contained a 624-bp open reading frame, encoding a protein composed of 208 amino acid residues with a calculated relative molecular mass of 21,224.

Aldehyde-Lyases↗
PubMed1996

Simultaneous development of Crohn's disease and myelodysplastic syndrome progressing to acute myelocytic leukemia in a patient with a normal karyotype.

A 28-year-old man developed Crohn's disease and myelodysplastic syndrome concurrently. Chromosomal analysis of the bone marrow revealed a normal male karyotype. Subsequently, the myelodysplastic syndrome progressed to acute myelocytic leukemia. Several causes, including the medical treatment for Crohn's disease, chromosomal abnormalities, and a common underlying immune dysfunction, have been proposed as pathogenetic factors in the association with Crohn's disease of hematologic malignancies. This case suggests that neither medical treatment for Crohn's disease nor chromosomal abnormalities are inevitable causes of the development of hematologic malignancies associated with Crohn's disease. At present, the cause of the association remains unclear, although the idea of a common immune dysfunction is attractive.

Adult↗