Biomedical subjects

A Kubota

Publications and source records attributed to A Kubota.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Amino acid profiles correlate diagnostically with organ site in three kinds of malignant tumors.

The hypothesis that tumors arising in a particular organ site impose a characteristic plasma free amino acid (PFAA) pattern was tested by analyzing PFAA in fasting venous blood of preoperative patients with breast cancer, gastrointestinal tract cancer, and head and neck cancer. Healthy volunteers served as control subjects. Levels of 28 PFAA were determined in blood samples using an amino acid analyzer, and the data were compared using discriminant analysis and chi-square testing. Compared with control subjects, the concentrations of seven amino acids (glutamine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, alanine, arginine, and ornithine) in patients with tumors correlated closely with the known diagnoses. By means of discriminant analysis, these seven amino acids had the highest correlation with the specific diagnoses, indicating that PFAA profiles correlate diagnostically with the organ-site origin of three different kinds of malignant tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Morphological differentiation of endothelial cells co-cultured with astrocytes on type-I or type-IV collagen.

In this study bovine aortic endothelial cells were co-cultured with astrocytes from fetal Wistar Kyoto rats. Endothelial cells growing on type-I collagen, co-cultured with astrocytes, showed various stages of development. Although some cells appeared to be mature, horseradish peroxidase penetrated within 1 min of incubation through the intercellular junctions of these endothelial elements maintained on type-I collagen. In contrast, endothelial cells on type-IV collagen, co-cultured with astrocytes, were well developed; their intercellular junctions were well established, and plasmalemmal vesicles reduced in number. As a result, horseradish peroxidase was unable to penetrate through the endothelial cells grown on type-IV collagen and co-cultured with astrocytes because of the reduced extent of the junctional and vesicular transport. These findings reveal that (1) type-IV collagen is essential for the differentiation of endothelial cells, (2) endothelial cell-astrocyte interactions occur during co-culture, and (3) endothelial permeability depends on astrocyte-produced factors, in addition to type-IV collagen.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Massive small bowel resection in neonates--is weaning from parenteral nutrition the final goal?

Eight surviving cases from an original 15 pediatric patients who underwent massive small bowel resection during their neonatal period were reviewed for a period of 2-19 years to assess long-term prognosis. the primary diseases were congenital intestinal atresia in 6 cases and midgut volvulus in 2. The length of the residual small intestine ranged from 27-75 cm and the ileocaecal valve had been resected in 3 cases. All cases were able to be weaned from parenteral nutrition and at present, 6 of the children can tolerate normal meals but 2 are still receiving enteral nutrition, in the form of a low residue diet at home. Near normal somatic growth was achieved in the most recent 5 cases who received intensive nutritional treatment in the immediate postoperative period, whereas 3 who did not receive nutritional management exhibited growth retardation. The D-Xylose absorption test revealed gradual improvement and finally normal absorption in all except one case with the shortest remaining intestine (27 cm). However, the fat absorption test revealed abnormal absorption in cases with a residual intestine of less than 45 cm. Late metabolic complications such as renal calculi, cholelithiasis and pathologic fractures were encountered in 3 cases.

Child↗

PubMed1992

CD7-positive acute myeloid leukemia: further evidence of cellular immaturity.

Among 63 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 14 were found to express the CD7 antigen, a cell surface marker usually found at an early stage during T lineage differentiation. The CD7-positive AML cases consisted of 5 cases of M1, 3 cases of M2, 3 cases of M4, 1 case of M5, 1 case of M6 and 1 case of M7. Among these 63 cases, the proportion of blast cells expressing the CD34 antigen was examined. The proportion of CD34-stained cells among the CD7-positive AML cases, although varying, was significantly larger than that among the CD7-negative AML cases (P less than 0.05). As the CD34 antigen was expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells and was considered to reflect an early hematopoietic stage, the high proportion of cells expressing CD34 among the CD7-positive AML cases may support the notion that CD7-positive AML cells are immature.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Anterior sagittal anorectoplasty for rectovestibular and anovestibular fistula.

Rectovestibular (or anovestibular) fistula is the most common form of anorectal anomaly in female infants. In the surgical repair of these malformations, anal transplantation has been in widespread conventional use. Based on the idea of posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, we devised a new approach, anterior sagittal anorectoplasty, in which, in the lithotomy position, the anterior portion of sphincter muscles are cut through a median perineal skin incision and then the rectum is pulled through the center of these muscles to make its opening at the normal position. The operation has been performed in 12 patients with satisfactory results.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed1992

Injection of bleomycin as a primary therapy of cystic lymphangioma.

Forty-five patients (19 boys and 26 girls) with lymphangioma have been treated at Osaka University Hospital during the 10-year period from January 1978 to December 1987. Twenty-nine underwent initial bleomycin (BLM) therapy. These patients' lesions consisted of large cystic masses that were demonstrated by echography or computed tomography scans. BLM was administered as a solution of 1 mg/mL in saline, after aspiration of the cyst contents using a puncture needle. The total dose ranged from 3 mg to 32 mg (average, 10 mg) and was administered between 1 and 16 times. Of the 29 cases treated with BLM, 25 cases (86%) showed significant reduction of the mass and 16 (55%) showed complete disappearance. Recurrence occurred in 3 patients. One responded to further injection of BLM, and the other 2 required surgical resection. Thirteen patients required surgical resection; however, in those cases, the previous injection of BLM was found to minimize the extent of surgical resection required. There were no serious side effects with BLM injection. Injection of BLM as an initial treatment of cystic lymphangioma was found to be very useful. It can reduce the size of the mass and even result in complete disappearance; consequently, it can minimize the frequency and extent of surgical intervention.

Bleomycin↗

PubMed1992

Dynamics of oral intake resumption after general anesthesia and operation in rats.

The influence of general anesthesia and operation on dynamics of postoperative food intake resumption was investigated in eight rats. A laparotomy was performed on each rat under anesthesia induced by intraperitoneally injected chloral hydrate. Spontaneous food intake and feeding indexes were continuously measured using an Automated Computerized Rat Eater Meter (ACREM) before and after operation. Although spontaneous food intake and all feeding indexes were depressed immediately following anesthesia and operation, each feeding index was depressed to a greater degree during the dark vs. the light cycle. Initially, rats fully capable of eating ate fewer, smaller, and shorter meals. The return to normal of each feeding index differed temporally. Thus, although meal number normalized by the third postoperative day, meal size by the sixth postoperative day, and meal duration by the fourth postoperative day, normalization of meal number during the light cycle occurred sooner than during the dark cycle, while the converse occurred with meal size and meal duration.

Anesthesia, General↗

PubMed1992

Somatostatin receptors, an expanding gene family: cloning and functional characterization of human SSTR3, a protein coupled to adenylyl cyclase.

We previously reported the cloning of two distinct somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtypes, SSTR1 and SSTR2. Although both SSTR1 and SSTR2 bound somatostatin specifically and with high affinity, neither was coupled to adenylyl cyclase, a major cellular effector of somatostatin's actions. Here we report the cloning and functional characterization of a third member of the SSTR family. Human SSTR3 is a protein of 418 amino acids and has 45% and 46% identity with human SSTR1 and SSTR2, respectively. RNA blotting studies showed that SSTR3 mRNA could be readily detected in brain and pancreatic islets. The pharmacological properties of human SSTR3 were characterized by transiently expressing the human SSTR3 gene in COS-1 cells. Membranes from cells expressing human SSTR3 bound the somatostatin agonist [125I]CGP 23996 specifically and with high affinity, with a rank order of potency of somatostatin-28 = CGP 23996 > somatostatin-14 > SMS-201-995. Studies using cells transiently coexpressing the human dopamine D1 receptor and human SSTR3 showed that somatostatin was able to inhibit dopamine-stimulated cAMP formation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that SSTR3 was functionally coupled to adenylyl cyclase. These results indicate that the diverse biological effects of somatostatin are mediated by a family of receptor with distinct, but overlapping, tissue distributions, unique pharmacological properties, and potentially different functions.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1992

Cardiopulmonary function in dogs with serious chronic heartworm disease.

Cardiopulmonary function was examined in 18 dogs with serious chronic heartworm disease showing ascites, subcutaneous edema, prostration, weakness, jaundice and so on. After surgical heartworm removal from the pulmonary arteries, 10 dogs recovered (surviving group), and 8 dogs died or were euthanatized because of poor prognosis (nonsurviving group). The number of live heartworms residing in the pulmonary arteries of the surviving group tended to be larger than that in the nonsurviving group. At necropsy, severe pulmonary arterial lesions such as thromboembolism including dead heartworms, proliferative and villous lesions and intimal hyperplasia were noticed in all dogs examined, and tended to be severer in the nonsurviving group. Heartworm-coiling around the tricuspid valve chord was found in 1 dog of the surviving group and 4 dogs of the nonsurviving group. Before heartworm removal, there was no significant difference in the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) between the surviving and nonsurviving group. Right atrial pressure (v-wave) was higher, and the cardiac index (CI) was lower in the nonsurviving group. Arterial oxygen tension was lower in the surviving group than in the heartworm-free group, and it was lower in the nonsurviving group than in the surviving group. Carbon dioxide tension was lower in the surviving group than in the heartworm-free group. Bicarbonate concentration (HCO3-) was lower both in the surviving and nonsurviving groups than in the heartworm-free group. One week after heartworm removal, MPAP decreased (P less than 0.05), and CI and HCO3- tended to increase in the surviving group.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with prominent cardiac metastasis, accompanied by a marked leukocytosis with a neutrophilia and high GM-CSF level in serum.

Cardiac metastasis of thyroid carcinoma is extremely rare. We treated a case of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with prominent cardiac metastasis. The 61-year-old male was admitted because of high fever. Investigations revealed a cardiac mass and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Resection of the cardiac mass revealed that it was metastasis from the thyroid carcinoma. After 4 months, he died in spite of intensive therapy. Marked leukocytosis was observed during the clinical course, and a concomitant increase of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) level was demonstrated in the sera. It was suggested that the high GM-CSF level in serum contributed to leukocytosis.

Carcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Multiple space-occupying lesions of the spleen in a case of Gaucher's disease.

A 50-year-old female patient was admitted because of an enormously enlarged spleen and thrombocytopenia. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple space-occupying lesions in the spleen. She was diagnosed as having Gaucher's disease based on the low level of beta-glucosidase activity in leukocytes and Gaucher's cells present in bone marrow aspirate. Severe hypersplenism necessitated splenectomy. Pathological studies of the excised spleen, including ultrastructural examinations, demonstrated that multiple space-occupying lesions in the spleen were composed of typical Gaucher cells.

Female↗

PubMed1992

[Sensitivity test to chemotherapeutic agents and cytotoxicic test against immuno-effecter cells of established malignant fibrous histiocytoma cell line].

UNLABELLED: A cell line was established from a patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma, which had originated in the maxillary sinus. Using this cell line, sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents and cytotoxicity against various immunoeffecter cells were tested. RESULTS: This MFH cell line was sensitive in some degree to adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, peplomycin, and methotrexate at high doses, but insensitive to mitomycin-C, vincristine and cyclophosphamide. Furthermore, this cell line showed no sensitivity to cytolytic cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. Lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells and lymphokine activated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (LA-TIL), induced by culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes and TIL respectively with rIL-2 showed high NK and LK activities and remarkable anti-autologous tumor ability.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1992

[MRI findings of brain-stem tuberculoma in a case of tuberculous meningitis].

A 54-year-old woman developed headache and slight fever. When she consulted a physician, she could not move either of her eyes to the right. Cranial CT scan revealed no significant findings. Lumbar puncture was performed and CSF examination showed the cell count of 10,304/mm3, glucose level of 10 mg/dl, and total protein value of 270 mg/dl. Her symptoms and laboratory findings suggested meningitis and she was admitted to our hospital. Neurological examination revealed bilateral dilated pupils with sluggish light reflex, right gaze palsy, and hypesthesia of the left side of her face. A diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis was established by a positive test for acid-fast bacillus in CSF, and anti-tuberculous therapy was started at once. One month after the onset of symptoms, her main complaints were double vision and cerebellar ataxia. Both CT and MRI revealed a right brain-stem lesion. Pre-contrast CT could not clearly visualize the lesion but with contrast medium a homogeneously-enhanced circular lesion was shown. MRI on T2WI demonstrated the right brain-stem lesion to have a central bright core with hypointense periphery, which in turn was surrounded by hyperintensity. The lesion appeared isointense with cerebral white matter and the "central bright core" area was demonstrated to be slightly hypointense on T1WI. On post-contrast T1WI (with Gd-DTPA), the lesion showed strong homogeneous enhancement. The CT and MRI findings indicated a brain-stem tuberculoma, which was regarded as the cause of the ocular movement paralysis and cerebellar ataxia. As the clinical symptoms gradually resolved with anti-tuberculous treatment, the MRI appearance of the lesion also improved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain Diseases↗

PubMed1991

Affinity purification of transcription factor IIA from HeLa cell nuclear extracts.

One of the general transcription factors, TFIIA, was purified to homogeneity from HeLa cell nuclear extracts by yeast TFIID affinity chromatography. Human TFIIA had a molecular weight of approximately 38 kd. It was able to associate with the complex formed by yeast TFIID and the TATA elements of the adenovirus E4 and ML promoters, and the HSP70 promoter. The association extended the protected region on each TATA element by yeast TFIID from DNase I digestion. Affinity-purified TFIIA was also able to stimulate transcription from the E4 and ML promoters in in vitro reconstituted systems.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1991

Lectin staining of neoplastic and normal background colorectal mucosa in nonpolyposis and polyposis patients.

A lectin histochemistry approach was adopted for comparative assessment of a colon cancer risk. Binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I), peanut agglutinin (PNA), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GSA-II), and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) was investigated in tumor and background tissue from a total of 34 adenoma and 44 cancer patients and compared with reaction patterns in control and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. Adenoma patients with UEA-I positive rectal mucosa were found to have a 33.3 percent familial history of large bowel cancer, which was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than the respective 4.0 percent figure for patients with negative rectal mucosa. In the cancer patients, an even stronger correlation was noted, with a 63.2 percent UEA-I positive family history association being recorded, as opposed to 4.0 percent in the negative rectal mucosa patients (P less than 0.01). Thus, the results suggest that, apparently, normal rectal background mucosa of individuals genetically at high risk for colon and rectal cancer demonstrates a specific lectin binding ability similar to that of FAP patients and that the simple method using UEA-I staining of rectal biopsy specimens can be of practical use in identification of high-risk colorectal cancer.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1991

Immunocytochemical analysis of the atherosclerotic lesion.

We have performed immunocytochemical investigations on the distribution of various cell types and proliferating cells in human atherosclerotic lesions. Studies include fibrocellular tissue response following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or aortocoronary (A-C) bypass operation using monoclonal antibodies specific to smooth muscle cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, lymphocytes and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). All studies were performed on methanol-Carnoy's-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. The cellular composition of the following three types of raised lesions were analyzed: 1) fibro-fatty lesions composed almost exclusively of macrophages; 2) fibrous lesions predominantly composed of smooth muscle cells; 3) advanced plaques characterized by complex layers of smooth muscle cells and macrophages with considerable variation from region to region. Also noted were foci of medial and even intimal vascularization subjacent to the more advanced plaques. Cells encountered within the fibrous intimal thickening in the vein graft or fibrocellular tissue response following PTCA were predominantly smooth muscle cells in origin. Some cells were PCNA-positive. These studies demonstrate the application of monoclonal antibody technology to the study of the cellular composition and cell kinetics of human atherosclerotic lesions.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1991

Detailed disease processes of cerebral pericytes and astrocytes in stroke-prone SHR.

We examined ultrastructurally cerebral pericytes and astrocytes in 20 normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats and 60 asymptomatic stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, which were sequentially killed at 4-52 weeks of age. Another 30 SHRSP were killed soon after they showed symptoms of stroke. We found two kinds of pericytes around the capillaries; granular pericytes and filamentous pericytes. Granular pericytes possibly serve as scavenger cells in the central nervous system and became active and grew in size with time. In contrast, filamentous pericytes degenerated during the development of hypertension. Degeneration of the filamentous pericytes was involved in an increase of endothelial permeability. Increased permeability caused focal and then circumferential swelling of the astrocytes around the capillaries. Swelling of the astrocytes seemed to accelerate the production of attachment plaques. Following this increase in the number of attachment plaques, numerous astrocytic filaments were produced within the cytoplasm. As a result, fibrous astrocytes were fully developed. Adjacent to the fibrous astrocytes we detected opening of the interendothelial junctions as well as dead neurons. From these observations we propose that astrocytes perform the main function in trophic interactions among cerebral endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons and that dysfunction of astrocytes disturbs the neural environment, resulting in neuronal death.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

[The characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell strain against chemotherapeutic agents and cytokines].

The closed relationship between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been pointed out. However, it still remains unclear whether the EBV becomes a true factor in initiation and promotion in NPC or not, because of difficulty to establish this cancer strain. We succeeded to establish the EBV-genome positive cell line (NPC-TY861) in 1986, which had been derived from the tissues of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this study, the characteristics of this cell strain were investigated by tests for sensitivity against several kinds of anti-cancerous agents and immuno-activated cells. The sensitivity tests revealed that NPC-TY861 cell line was extremely sensitive to PEP, ADR, VCR, LPA and CDDP with dose dependent manner. Furthermore, this cell strain had similar sensitivity to CDDP derivatives, such as 254-S, NK121, DWA2114R and CBDCA as KB cell strain did, which had been derived from an oral base cancer. The oral base cancer was a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma histopathologically as same as NPC-TY861 cell strain. On the other hand, NPC-TY861 cell strain showed no sensitivity to cytokines, TNF and IFN, which have direct anti-cancerous actions. NPC-TY861 cell strain had resistant to NK cells and much more resistant to LAK cells derived from IL-2 than Daudi cell strain did. In order to elucidate the oncogeneous mechanism in NPC, it is indispensable to study the character of this cell strain and it would promise to get a new effective therapeutic method for the patient with NPC, who has bad prognosis.

Antineoplastic Agents↗