The DNA-binding activities of NF-AT and AP-1 can predict levels of immunosuppression of kidney transplant recipients.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomarkers↗
Biomedical subjects
A Tsujimura
Publications and source records attributed to A Tsujimura.
[Proliferating character of inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder].
BACKGROUND: Inverted papilloma (IP) of the urinary bladder is generally considered to be a benign lesion by histological examination. In recent years, however, there have been several cases of IP simultaneously accompanied with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), elsewhere in the bladder or combined as a single urothelial lesion. So we investigated proliferating character of IP by DNA ploidy analysis and immunohistostaining with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). METHODS: Six cases of IP of the urinary bladder were analyzed and 12 cases of TCC of G1 and G3 grade were included in this study as a control. As DNA ploidy analysis, all specimens were feulgen stained using CAS DNA staining kit and examined by image cytometry (CAS 200R system). For the PCNA immunohistochemistry, all specimens were stained with anti-PCNA monoclonal antibody (Novocastra Lab.: PC10) according to ABC (avidin-biotin-complex) standard method. We determined that the DNA Index of the case under 1.20 was diploid and the others was aneuploid. PCNA staining were determined by only one pathologist as follows: negative (-) and positive (+), (2+) and (3+). RESULTS: As DNA ploidy, 5 of 6 cases of TCC G3 group as a control were aneuploid. But in spite of all cases of TCC G1 group were diploid, among IP cases, only 1 out of 6 was aneuploid. As PCNA staining, 2 of 6 in TCC G1 group and 5 of 6 in G3 group were positive. And it was noted examination was positive. CONCLUSION: There have been no recurrence since transurethral resection in all IP in the study including the case recognized as aneuploid and positive for PCNA staining. But the present results suggest that among IPs, considered generally as a benign tumor, the case which has high proliferating character exists.
Adult↗
Ectopic thyroid tissue in a cystic adrenal mass.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
Erythropoietin-producing adrenocortical carcinoma.
A 62-year-old Japanese male with an erythropoietin-producing adrenocortical carcinoma is presented. The elevated erythropoietin level and erythrocytosis returned to normal after surgical removal of a huge left adrenal tumor weighing 1,580 g. A histopathological diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma was made. Despite adjuvant combined chemotherapy, the patient died of lung and liver metastases 3.5 months after operation. Although the possibility that the elevated plasma erythropoietin level and erythrocytosis resulted from local kidney hypoxia, caused by pressure from the huge adrenal tumor, cannot be completely neglected, the positive cytoplasmatic evidence of immunoreactive erythropoietin in the carcinoma cells and the detection of a high erythropoietin level in the tumor extract on radioimmunoassay confirmed that this is a very rare case of erythropoietin-producing adrenocortical carcinoma.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
Renal leiomyoma associated with tuberous sclerosis.
The renal lesions characteristic of tuberous sclerosis are angiomyolipoma and cysts, with the former considered to be more common. Other renal tumors are rarely associated with tuberous sclerosis. Here we present a tuberous sclerosis patient with a renal leiomyoma which was detected incidentally during the investigation of fever of unknown origin.
Adolescent↗
[Clinical studies of inverted papilloma of the bladder].
Clinical studies were conducted on 9 cases of inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder which were transurethrally resected between August, 1987 and July, 1995 at our hospital, in males between 29 and 81 years of age (mean:58.3). Six of the 9 inverted papillomas were localized at the bladder neck and 3 in the trigone. Cystoscopic examinations revealed that inverted papillomas were divided into two types, one with a thick and short stalk with a smooth surface and the other with a thin and long stalk with/without a partial papillary surface. The majority of the former was located in the trigone and all of the latter cases in the bladder neck, suggesting that the two types occurred at different sites. Pathological examination by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining demonstrated that 5 of the 9 cases were of the trabecular type and 4 were of the grandlar type. Immunohistochemically, none of the tumors were stained with the antiprostatic-specific-antigen antibody revealed. Follow-up periods after the operation were from 12 to 48 months(mean:26.6 months) and no recurrence was observed.
Adult↗
Plasmids with a kanamycin-resistance gene for site-directed mutagenesis using the oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed dual amber method.
Plasmid vectors carrying lacZ' and kanamycin-resistance (KmR) genes were constructed for site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) using the oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo)-directed dual amber (ODA) method [Hashimoto-Gotoh et al., Gene 152 (1995) 271-276]. The plasmids, designated pKF16k, pKF17k, pKF18k and pKF19k, correspond to the previously reported chloramphenicol resistant (CmR) ODA plasmids, pKF16c, pKF17c, pKF18c and pKF19c, respectively, but contain dual amber (am) codons in KmR instead of the CmR gene. The SDM procedure using the KmR ODA plasmids is essentially the same as that with CmR ODA plasmids, which utilizes two oligo primers for in vitro DNA synthesis, one (selection primer) for dual am reversions and the other (mutagenic primer) for the target site. The KmR ODA plasmids yield 5-10-times more DNA per culture volume as compared to the CmR ODA plasmids, and one can prepare selection agar medium simply by spreading Km solution on dried agar plate at a final concentration of 50-100 micrograms/ml; due to the broad range of selecting antibiotic resistance.
Base Sequence↗
Ethanol stimulates diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA expression in primary cultured neurons.
Changes in expression of diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA in cerebral cortical neurons following long-term ethanol (EtOH) exposure were examined. A significant increase in DBI mRNA expression was observed by the exposure of neurons to 50 mM EtOH for up to 5 days and to EtOH (1-100 mM) for 3 days. These EtOH-induced increases in DBI mRNA expression were further elevated after the additional cultivation of neurons under EtOH-free condition. beta-Actin mRNA expression was not altered by similar EtOH treatments. These results indicate that EtOH possesses the activity to increase the expression of DBI mRNA in cerebral cortical neurons.
Animals↗
Detection of exonuclease activities in restriction endonuclease preparations using an enforcement plasmid for kanamycin-resistance selection.
A new enforcement (kyosei-) cloning plasmid vector, designated pKF4, was constructed which confers kanamycin resistance (KmR) and enforces streptomycin sensitivity (SmS). Since it is important to employ restriction endonuclease (ENase) preparations free of exonuclease (Exo) activities for effective use of the kyosei-cloning procedure [Hashimoto-Gotoh et al., Gene 137 (1993) 211-216], ENases such as HpaI and SmaI purchased from four different suppliers were examined for possible contamination by exonucleases using pKF4. The plasmid DNA was digested with either ENase, ligated and transformed into Escherichia coli mutants, rpsL, supE, trpR. With pKF4 intact DNA (approx. 8 ng), 2.3 x 10(5) KmR transformant and four KmRSmR transformant colonies were obtained; the efficiency of transformation plating (ETP) of the intact DNA was approx. 2 x 10(-5). On the other hand, the ETP values were significantly higher by one to three orders of magnitude when cut and re-joined DNAs were used under the same conditions in six out of eight ENase samples examined. The results indicate that even commercially supplied ENases, that should have passed their quality control test, could have been contaminated with Exo sufficient to interfere with effective use of the kyosei-cloning method. Therefore, it is advisable to examine ENase samples for possible contamination with Exo activities, in order to choose the right preparations for this method at the beginning of the experiments.
Cloning, Molecular↗
Developmental and differential regulations in gene expression of Xenopus pleiotrophic factors-alpha and -beta.
Using conserved nucleotide sequences in mammalian osteoblast specific factor-1 (OSF-1) coding regions, we isolated two kinds of cDNA clones from the Xenopus brain library. The encoded proteins, named Xenopus pleiotrophic factors (X-PTFs)-alpha and -beta, were 65 and 87% homologous to human midkine and OSF-1, respectively. In the adult frog, X-ptf-alpha was expressed in the ovary, brain, eye, bone, heart and lung, whereas X-ptf-beta was expressed in the brain, eye and bone. By in situ hybridization of the tailbud embryo, X-ptf-alpha mRNA was detected rather broadly in the head/tail regions including the central nervous system (CNS), whereas X-ptf-beta mRNA was restricted to the CNS, particularly in the hind-brain. During embryogenesis, X-ptf-alpha mRNA was detected in the one-cell stage embryo, whereas only zygotic expression was observed in X-ptf-beta. X-ptf-beta mRNAs contained approximately 79 bp tandem repeats in the 3'-untranslated region, complementary to those found in retinoic acid cellular receptor mRNA and in the sense strand of short interspersed repeat transcripts in X. laevis.
Aging↗
[Clinical studies of 15 cases of renal angiomyolipoma].
Fifteen cases of renal angiomyolipoma seen between May, 1988 and October, 1994 in our hospital are presented. Surgical treatment was performed in 6 cases, 1 of which was falsely diagnosed as liposarcoma by frozen specimen during the operation. Nine cases were only followed-up by ultrasonography and/or computed tomography. In 2 cases, in which enucleation was performed after a follow-up period of more than one year, tumors were inclined to grow rapidly. In 5 cases, which were not operated and followed-up for more than one year, tumors were inclined to grow very slowly.
Adult↗
[Giant schwannoma in the pelvic cavity presenting as renal failure: a case report].
A case of giant schwannoma in the pelvic cavity detected with renal failure is reported. A 50-year-old man was referred to another clinic with chief complaints of general fatigue and edema of the face and dorsa of the feet. On March the 4th 1994, he was hospitalized in the clinic because of renal failure. Bilateral hydronephrosis and a giant pelvic tumor were found by computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography. Because bilateral percutaneous nephrostomies failed to recover his renal function, he was referred to our clinic for the purpose of hemodialysis and the further examination of the tumor on March 16, 1994. The pelvic angiography showed that the tumor was fed by the vessel from the left internal iliac artery. After the chemo-embolization from the feeding artery, tumor resection was performed on May 9, 1994. The tumor was 16x13x10 cm in size, and 1,110 g in weight. The histological findings of the tumor revealed the mixed type schwannoma of Antoni A and B. Six months after the operation, he has had no tumor recurrence. This is a rare case of pelvic schwannoma which was detected with renal failure. We reviewed and discussed 56 cases of schwannoma in the pelvic cavity, including our case, in the Japanese literature.
Humans↗
[Recurrence of transitional cell carcinoma in bilateral upper urinary tracts and ileal conduit with invasion in the abdominal wall around nephrostomy after total cystectomy: a case report].
A case of recurrence of transitional cell carcinoma in bilateral upper urinary tracts and ileal conduit with invasion in the abdominal wall around nephrostomy after total cystectomy is presented. A 33-year-old man with right nephrostomy, after total cystectomy, construction of ileal conduit, bilateral partial ureterectomy and left nephrectomy for transitional cell carcinoma at another hospital was referred to our hospital because of further recurrence in the right renal pelvis and ileal conduit. He had had left nephrostomy before the left nephrectomy was performed. Right nephrectomy and total extirpation of ileal conduit were performed and hemodialysis was started from the day after the operation. However, several weeks later, transitional cell carcinoma was detected pathologically in the left abdominal wall around the left nephrostomy which had been inserted. The renal pelvis was inferred to have leaked urine around the nephrostomy and invasion arose in this region. After radiation therapy he was discharged but he died from recurrence of carcinoma 9 months after the operation. After total cystectomy, examinations by percutaneous puncture of the renal pelvis are very effective for evidence of recurrence in the upper urinary tract. However, we emphasize that the percutaneous technique carries the risk of tumor invasion through the percutaneous urinary tract.
Abdominal Muscles↗
[Intrascrotal fibrous pseudotumor accompanied by pelvic kidney with ectopic ureteral opening: a case report].
A case of intrascrotal fibrous pseudotumor accompanied by pelvic kidney with ectopic ureteral opening is reported. The patient was a 65-year-old man with the complaint of swelling of the right scrotal contents. Ultrasonography showed a heterogeneous mass with acoustic shadow from the right epididymis to right spermatic cord. Intravenous pyelography revealed a non-visualizing right kidney. Endoscopic examination was performed because of the right non-functioning kidney and right epididymectomy was performed. Endoscopic findings showed that the ureteral opening existed at 6 degrees of the bladder neck. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated the right kidney in the pelvic cavity. The tumor was stony hard and 30 x 50 mm in size. Pathological diagnosis of the tumor was a fibrous pseudotumor. We reviewed and discussed 22 cases of fibrous pseudotumor, including our case, in the Japanese literature.
Aged↗
[Clinical studies of chemotherapy for patients with a solitary kidney after nephroureterectomy for advanced upper urothelial transitional cell carcinoma].
Between June, 1987 and December, 1993, ten patients with solitary kidney after total nephroureterectomy for advanced upper urothelial transitional cell carcinoma were treated with chemotherapy (M-VAC or modified M-VAC). This series comprised 6 males and 4 females between 27 and 81 years of age (mean age: 58.5 years). The site of primary lesions was the renal pelvis in one case, ureter in 5 and renal pelvis and ureter in 4. Histologically, these extripated tumors were all identified as transitional cell carcinoma, the stage being pT3 and pT4 in 9 and grade being G3 in 8 of the 10 patients. Among the 13 cases including the 3 cases of recurrence after first line chemotherapy, 7 had lesions suitable for the evaluation. Two of the 7 cases achieved complete response and four achieved partial response, resulting in an 86% response rate. Of the 10 patients, 4 died of metastasis of carcinoma and the others are still alive. The average period after operation among 10 patients was 25 months. Side effects related to this chemotherapy were as follows: general fatigue, nausea or vomiting and alopecia 100%, leucocytepenia (< or = 1,000/mm3) 23%, anemia (RBC < or = 250 x 10(4)/mm3) 62%, thrombocytopenia (< or = 5 x 10(4)/mm3) 46%. However, nephrotoxicity in spite of solitary kidney was not noticed in any patients. From our experience, we suggest that M-VAC or modified M-VAC chemotherapy are safe against patients with a solitary kidney after nephroureterectomy for advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.
Adult↗
Increase of diazepam binding inhibitor mRNA levels in the brains of chronically ethanol-treated and -withdrawn mice.
Although the molecular mechanisms underlying behavioral responses observed in ethanol (EtOH)-dependent and -withdrawn animals are poorly understood, several lines of evidence have suggested that some of the pharmacological actions of EtOH are mediated via the potentiation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission. In the present study, the effects of acute and chronic EtOH treatment on the expression of diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA in the mouse brain and the functional involvement of the benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor in EtOH-induced alteration of the DBI mRNA expression were examined. The expression of cerebral DBI mRNA significantly increased in EtOH-treated (130% of control) and EtOH-withdrawn (220% of control) mice in comparison with untreated mice, whereas the DBI mRNA level was not altered after a single administration of EtOH (3 g/kg i.p.). The increase in the DBI mRNA expression in the mouse cerebral cortex after EtOH withdrawal diminished over 14 days despite the disappearance of withdrawal signs within 2 days after the withdrawal of EtOH. Simultaneous administration of flunitrazepam (10 mg/kg i.p.) with EtOH completely abolished the EtOH-induced increase in DBI mRNA expression. On the other hand, the level of beta-actin mRNA was not affected by similar EtOH treatment. These results indicate that changes in the expression of cerebral DBI mRNA induced by long-term EtOH treatment may be involved in the establishment of alcohol dependence, and such changes may be also regulated by BDZ receptors.
Animals↗
Molecular cloning and characterization of OB-cadherin, a new member of cadherin family expressed in osteoblasts.
The preferential screening of cDNA libraries derived from the mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 has yielded a cDNA clone encoding 796 amino acids including the typical 24-residue-long signal sequence. The predicted amino acid sequence revealed that this protein constitutes a new member of the cadherin family. We propose the name OB-cadherin (OB for osteoblast) for this new protein. RNA analyses revealed that the OB-cadherin gene is selectively expressed in osteoblastic cell lines, precursor cell lines of osteoblasts, and primary osteoblastic cells from calvaria, as well as in lung, testis, and brain tissues at low levels. Transfection of OB-cadherin cDNA into L cells resulted in the acquisition of the Ca(2+)-dependent adhesive property. Two different forms of the human OB-cadherin cDNA were subsequently cloned; one is a counterpart of mouse OB-cadherin gene, and the other encodes a protein with a truncated cytoplasmic domain. The results suggest that the newly found OB-cadherin might have an important role in bone formation.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Nicotine increases diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA in primary cultured neurons.
The effect of nicotine on the expression of diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) mRNA in primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons was examined using Northern blot analysis. Nicotine exposure (0.001-10 microM) for 24 h increased the DBI mRNA level in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the beta-actin mRNA level showed no change. This effect of nicotine was faded out over 48 h of its exposure. Hexamethonium (100 microM) completely abolished the nicotine-induced increase in DBI mRNA expression. These results indicate that nicotine increases the expression of DBI mRNA in cerebral cortical neurons via the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Animals↗