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Biomedical subjects

Y Tajima

Publications and source records attributed to Y Tajima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Successful surgical treatment of secondary Kwashiorkor after total gastrectomy: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 56-year-old woman who developed secondary Kwashiorkor 9 years after undergoing a total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Until she began developing the symptoms of Kwashiorkor, including general fatigue, edema of the face and extremities, anemia, alopecia, and weight loss, she had been leading a normal life post-gastrectomy. Her symptoms were alleviated by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy, but reappeared soon after TPN therapy was discontinued. Therefore, she required several subsequent courses of TPN. In an attempt to permanently resolve the ongoing Kwashiorkor symptoms, reconstructive surgery involving transposition of the jejunum from the previous Graham method to the interposition method was performed 10 years after the initial gastrectomy. After the second operation, her malnutrition was completely alleviated, and she has been in good health for the 8 years since. To our knowledge, there has been no other report of the symptoms of secondary Kwashiorkor after total gastrectomy being alleviated by altering the procedure of reconstruction of the intestinal tract. Thus, we recommend surgical treatment to alter the digestive continuity to a more physiological pathway for selected patients with secondary Kwashiorkor syndrome.

Anastomosis, Surgical

Switching of mouse spermatogonial proliferation from the c-kit receptor-independent type to the receptor-dependent type during differentiation.

Testicular cells composed mostly of germ cells and immature Sertoli cells from neonatal mice 2 and 5 days old were cultured to investigate germ-cell proliferation mediated by the c-kit receptor. The addition of antibody to block the interaction of the c-kit receptor with its ligand inhibited the proliferation of cultured spermatogonia from 5-day-old mice in a dose-dependent manner, but not from that of 2-day-old mice. The addition of anti-c-kit ACK2 monoclonal antibody also inhibited the proliferation of spermatogonia from 5-day-old mutant Sld/Sld mice but not of 5-day-old mutant Wv/Wv mice. The results indicate that c-kit-positive type A spermatogonia in the testes of 5-day-old mice require steel factor (kit ligand) for their proliferation, whereas self-renewal and differentiation of c-kit-negative primitive type A spermatogonia in the testes of 2-day-old mice do not.

Animals

Effects of hormones, cyclic AMP analogues and growth factors on steel factor (SF) production in mouse Sertoli cell cultures.

Regulation of steel factor (SF) production in Sertoli cells from postnatal mouse testes was studied in a mast cell-Sertoli cell coculture system. Treatment of Sertoli cells with dibutyryl cAMP (50-1000 mumol l-1), forskolin (1-25 mmol l-1), and cholera toxin (10 micrograms ml-1) increased SF production, whereas FSH and theophylline had no significant effect. Furthermore, growth factors and testosterone, which would play some roles in spermatogenesis, were also tested, but none of these stimulated SF production. The constitutive production of SF may, rather, reflect the physiological condition of Sertoli cells in vivo.

Animals

Loss of sperm in juvenile spermatogonial depletion (jsd) mutant mice is ascribed to a defect of intratubular environment to support germ cell differentiation.

C57BL/6(B6)-jsd/jsd mice are sterile due to the defective spermatogenesis in the testes. To know the cause of the deficient spermatogenesis in B6-jsd/jsd mice, we examined whether the problem is within or outside the seminiferous tubules by transplanting tubules from cryptorchid testes of B6- +/+ mice into B6-jsd/jsd testes or tubules from B6-jsd/jsd mice into testes of (WB x C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv (hereafter, WBB6F1-W/Wv) mice. Type A spermatogonia differentiated into spermatids in seminiferous tubules from cryptorchid testes transplanted into B6-jsd/jsd testes. In contrast, in B6-jsd/jsd tubules transplanted into WBB6F1-W/Wv testes, type A spermatogonia were stimulated to mitotic proliferation, but didn't proceed to any differentiated germ cells. The present results suggest that the cause of the deficient spermatogenesis in B6-jsd/jsd mice is a defect of intratubular environment to support germ cell differentiation.

Animals

In vivo effects of tunicamycin on chondrocytes of rat mandibular condyles as revealed by lectin cytochemistry.

The in vivo effects of tunicamycin on the glycosylation of proteoglycans and link protein in rat mandibular condylar chondrocytes were studied by ultrastructural lectin histochemistry. The binding of wheat-germ agglutinin was shown by using anti-lectin antibody followed by protein A-gold complex. In normal rats, wheat-germ agglutinin labeling was restricted to trans cisternae and vacuoles of the Golgi complex, whereas it was observed in neither the cis region of the Golgi complex nor in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. By 3 h after the drug administration, wheat-germ agglutinin binding sites on the disorganized Golgi vacuoles were dramatically reduced in number. At 6 h after the drug administration, the lectin binding sites on the Golgi vacuoles were restored. These results demonstrate that the in vivo use of tunicamycin in combination with histochemical analysis using lectin probes is of significant value for the study of protein glycosylation in chondrocytes of the rat mandibular condyle.

Animals

Positive and negative feedback regulation of choline acetyltransferase mRNA levels in Drosophila: a study using temperature-sensitive mutants and embryo cell cultures.

Steady state levels of the mRNA coding for the neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzyme, acetylCoA-choline-O-acetyltransferase (ChAT, EC 2.3.1.6), were measured in wild type Drosophila and two temperature-sensitive mutants (Chats1 and Chats2) using the RNase protection method. At a permissive temperature the relative amounts of ChAT mRNA were: wild type: Chats1:Chats2 = 1:2.09 (+/- 0.39):3.37 (+/- 0.57) (mean +/- S.E.M.) indicating that mutant flies may compensate, for making a thermolabile form of enzyme, by producing and/or maintaining higher levels of ChAT mRNA. At a restrictive temperature the ChAT mRNA levels decreased in both mutants and increased in wild type flies. The regulatory mechanism(s) responsible for increasing ChAT mRNA in wild type flies appears to have failed in the mutants at high temperature. Steady state mRNA levels were also measured in embryonic cell cultures prepared from wild type embryos. Cultures grown in the presence of two pharmacologic agents (carbamylcholine and d-tubocurarine) which should interfere with cholinergic neurotransmission, showed less mRNA resulting from a decrease in levels of ChAT gene transcription. Our results imply that neurotransmission and the rate of neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzyme gene transcription are coupled for the cholinergic system in Drosophila.

Alleles

Cylindrical cell papilloma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. A histochemical and cytochemical study.

A cylindrical cell papilloma occurring in the sino-nasal mucosa of a 61-year-old woman was studied histochemically at both light and electron microscopic levels. The cylindrical cells demonstrated distended intracytoplasmic microcysts with numerous microvillous projections on the apical cell membrane. The retained mucosubstance in the cystic spaces stained intensely with HID-TCH-SP sequence and showed no apparent communication with the extracellular space. These findings indicate that the cylindrical cells may be of mucous-secreting cell derivation, being derived from cells possessing abnormal and/or failed secretory function. The property of sulfated mucin in the 'cylindric' intracytoplasmic cysts is suggested to be the result of endodermal displacement or metaplasia of the Schneiderian epithelium.

Female

An improved method for the serotyping of free coagulase from Staphylococcus aureus.

The serotyping of free coagulase, one of the most reliable ways to identify strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and widely employed in Japan, has been improved by adding magnetite sand to the reaction mixture. Culture medium supernatant and a type-specific antibody are mixed in a well of a microtiter plate, and plasma-enriched bovine fibrinogen is treated with magnetite sand. The use of tranexamic acid and gum arabic in the reaction mixture also increases the sensitivity of the reaction. Finally, the plate is placed on a magnetic stirrer. If the type of the coagulase corresponds to that of the antibody, no clot formation will occur, and this is easily confirmed by the movement of the sand. Although the amount of reaction mixture required is much less than that for the conventional tube method, our new method is able to detect slight increases in viscosity of the reaction mixture due to fibrin formation even before complete clotting occurs, thus providing very high sensitivity. Clot formation can also be judged by observing a turbid mass of fibrin in the well (Hwang's method), but this approach is a little slower than our method involving immobilization of magnetite sand.

Coagulase

Hepatocellular carcinoma containing endocrine cells. An autopsy report of triplecancer involving the liver, kidney and thyroid.

An autopsy case of triplecancer (hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver, renal cell carcinoma of the kidney, and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid) was reported. Histological features of primary hepatic tumor suggested undifferentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (Edmondson-Steiner's Grade IV). However, certain tumor cells showed distinctive argyrophilic reactions and electron microscopy revealed small round granules resembling electron dense endocrine secretory granules in their cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that tumor cells showed a positive reaction for AFP while some others were positive for chromogranin-A. Immunohistochemical demonstration of AFP production by tumor cells indicated their hepatocyte origin. No endocrine syndrome had been present and no alternative primary source of the endocrine tumor was detected. Tumors of the kidney and thyroid were considered to be incidentally combined.

Aged

Effects of W (c-kit) gene mutation on gametogenesis in male mice: agametic tubular segments in Wf/Wf testes.

Mutations of the W (c-kit) gene, which encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, affect the development and differentiation of many types of stem cell. Most homozygous W mutant mice are sterile, due to a lack of germ cells arising during embryonic development, but one of the notable exceptions is Wf/Wf mice, which are fully fertile in both sexes. In order to elucidate the effects of the Wf mutation on spermatogenesis, postnatal spermatogenesis in Wf/Wf mice was histologically examined. The number of gonocytes at birth was significantly reduced and small portions of agametic seminiferous tubule segments were observed in mutant mice. It is suggested that this is due to a deficiency of primordial germ cells (PGC). Other than the agametic tubules, there was no evidence of reduced spermatogenesis after birth. These results indicate that the function of the W (c-kit) gene is more necessary for the development of PGC than for postnatal germ cells.

Animals

A new animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus induced by the NDK25 variant of encephalomyocarditis virus.

Intraperitoneal inoculation with NDK25, a variant of Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus which has been newly cloned from the M variant of EMC virus (EMC-M), caused DBA/2 mice to develop noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The NDK25-infected mice demonstrated abnormal glucose tolerance from 1 to 3 weeks after inoculation. The infection resulted in mild insulitis and the destruction of pancreatic beta cells at 1 week after inoculation and led to a significant reduction in the insulin content of the pancreas, but there was no ketonuria. The insulin content of the pancreas was recovered considerably from 15 +/- 3 at 1 week to 95 +/- 16 micrograms/g pancreas at 12 weeks, although the latter value was still significantly lower than that of the control mice (P < 0.05). Under microscopy, mild and partial infiltration of mononuclear cells was observed in about half the pancreatic islets only 1 week after inoculation, and then disappeared. Thus, we believe we have established a new model of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus using the NDK25 variant of EMC virus.

Animals

Purification of bicarbonate-sensitive sperm adenylylcyclase by 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid-affinity chromatography.

Anion transport inhibitors, such as SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid) and heparin, inhibit reversibly the bicarbonate-sensitive adenylylcyclase of porcine sperm plasma membrane. In the light of this, SITS- and heparin-affinity chromatographies were applied in order to purify sperm adenylylcyclase. SITS-Affi-Gel 102 binds proteins extracted from the porcine cauda epididymal sperm plasma membrane by Lubrol-PX, more selectively than heparin-agarose. However, recovery of adenylylcyclase activity is higher when heparin-agarose is used. The hormone-sensitive liver adenylylcyclase, which is less sensitive to bicarbonate than sperm enzyme, has less affinity for these affinity resins than sperm enzyme. Adenylylcyclase can be purified to apparent homogeneity on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) from the Lubrol-PX extract of the purified sperm plasma membrane by using SITS-affinity chromatography at the first step of the purification followed by preparative isoelectric focusing and gel filtration. The molecular weight and pI of the purified enzyme are 46,300 and 6.9, respectively. The purified enzyme activity is highly dependent on Mn2+. Bicarbonate activates even the purified enzyme both by decreasing Km and by increasing Vmax.

4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfo

Segmental primary sclerosing cholangitis mimicking bile duct cancer--report of a case and review of the Japanese literature.

A rare case of the segmental type of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is reported herein. A 27 year old Japanese man with obstructive jaundice was referred to our hospital with a provisional diagnosis of bile duct cancer at the hepatic hilum. A PTCD tube had been inserted from the right anterior segmental duct and direct cholangiograms showed complete obstruction of the bile duct at the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. Resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and partial hepatectomy were thus performed, however, the postoperative histological examination revealed no malignant features. Instead, the lesion was shown to be compatible with PSC microscopically. A diagnosis of PSC was finally established on the basis of clinical features, cholangiographic appearance and the pathological report.

Adult

Light and electron microscopic demonstration of wheat germ agglutinin binding in the pericellular matrix of rat mandibular condylar cartilage.

Binding of wheat germ agglutinin to rat mandibular condylar cartilage was investigated with the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex. Binding sites were observed in the pericellular matrix of the hypertrophic cell zone. Two distinct patterns were identified: one showed binding to the pericellular matrix without apparent contour; in the other binding was confined to the matrix but with conspicuous condensation forming a pericellular rim. The first binding pattern was seen particularly in the upper part of the hypertrophic cell zone adjoining the mature cell zone; the second was localized in the lower part of this zone adjacent to the site of endochondral calcification. The binding sites in the pericellular matrix are assumed to be NANA and/or GlcNAc in view of the sugar specificity of this lectin. The presence of these binding sites in this region may be due to a structural alteration or modification of proteoglycans in the course of preparation for endochondral calcification.

Animals

Immunocytochemical detection of S-100 protein in rat mandibular condylar cartilage.

Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to localize S-100 protein. It was demonstrated in chondrocytes of the proliferative and hypertrophic zones but none could be found in the fibrous articular layer. The staining intensity for S-100 protein was stronger in the hypertrophic cells than in chondrocytes from the proliferative zone. Ultrastructurally, immunoreactive gold particles were detected in the cytosolic region, closely apposed to the profiles of endoplasmic reticulum with occasional dense aggregations. A few gold particles were seen on the nuclear chromatin and on condensing vacuoles of Golgi complexes. Because of the calcium-binding and possibly fatty acid-binding properties of the protein molecule, the immunocytochemical expression of S-100 protein in the chondrocytes may be involved in cartilage cell differentiation, metabolism and mineralization.

Animals