Biomedical subjects

E Kimura

Publications and source records attributed to E Kimura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

CA54/61 as a marker for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Using a new one-step, double-determinant enzyme immunoassay, we performed quantitative measurements of a mucin-type glycoprotein antigen (CA54/61) that we recently detected in sera of ovarian carcinoma patients. When the cutoff value was set at 12 units/ml, at which a high diagnostic efficiency was demonstrated [or at 20 units/ml (mean + 3 SD of healthy females)], the positive rates of ovarian serous, mucinous, clear cell, and endometrioid carcinomas were 76% (or 63%), 63% (or 55%), 57% (or 52%), and 50% (or 38%), respectively. Even in mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, more than one-half of the cases were positive, indicating the potential utility of the assay in the diagnosis of mucinous tumors. In sera from patients with benign ovarian tumors, only 9% (or 4%) of the cases were positive, indicating the quite high specificity of this test for ovarian carcinomas. To make a comparison between CA54/61 and CA125, we set the cutoff level of CA125 at 110 units/ml, at which value a high diagnostic efficiency was demonstrated [or at 35 units/ml (mean + 3 SD of healthy females)]. When both CA54/61 and CA125 were assessed in sera from 36 patients with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, the positive rates of CA54/61 and CA125 were 64% (or 56%) and 36% (or 56%), respectively, suggesting that CA54/61 is of clinical value as a new tumor marker for ovarian cancers, including mucinous tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Observations on Culex quinquefasciatus Say in relation to transmission of filariasis due to subperiodic Wuchereria bancrofti in Samoa.

Observations on Culex quinquefasciatus Say in Samoa during a study of the epidemiology and control of subperiodic bancroftian filariasis are reported. The man-biting rate of C. quinquefasciatus was comparable with that of Aedes (Finlaya) samoanus Gruenberg in one indicator village and lower in another. The house-frequenting behaviour of the two species was similar. Culex quinquefasciatus was active throughout the night with peak biting during midnight hours, and its survivorship, estimated by two methods, was higher than those of the main vectors, A. (Stegomyia) polynesiensis Marks and A. samoanus. Culex quinquefasciatus showed low susceptibility to subperiodic Wuchereria bancrofti, compared with the two main vectors, in laboratory feeding experiments on volunteers with three levels of microfilaraemia. This agrees with the observed very low natural infection rate, suggesting that C. quinquefasciatus is an inefficient vector of subperiodic W. bancrofti in Samoa.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Styrene formation by the decomposition by Pichia carsonii of trans-cinnamic acid added to a ground fish product.

It is not well known how the formation of styrene by microorganisms can occur in foods. In this study, we described and characterized the production of styrene by a yeast isolated from chikuwa fish paste. The styrene was not detected in fresh and normal food products nor in the food package's plastic film. The food containing styrene contained cinnamic acid as an antimicrobial agent and spice, and it was contaminated by 5.4 x 10(6) CFU of a yeast per gram. On the basis of morphological and biochemical features, the yeast isolated was determined to be a strain of Pichia carsonii, now designated strain CHI. Strain CHI, which was able to grow on cinnamic acid, had the ability to form styrene from trans-cinnamic acid via trans-p-coumaric and caffeic acids. The MIC of trans-cinnamic acid against strain CHI was 230 micrograms/ml. Strain CHI thrived well at pH 5.0 and 26.0 degrees C and was tolerant to 20% NaCl. Styrene was subsequently produced in ground fish meat containing cinnamic acid into which strain CHI had been inoculated. The yeast was found to be an environmental contaminant in food processing plants of the chikuwa manufacturer.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed1992

Effects of Schistosoma haematobium infection on mental test scores of Kenyan school children.

Adverse effects of Schistosoma haematobium infection on mental activities were studied at a primary school in rural Kenya, where the intensity of infection was light (the average egg count: < 50/10 ml of urine). The school children received three kinds of mental tests, which examine attentiveness and concentration, before and a month after treatment with a single dose of praziquantel. A pretreatment analysis showed that test scores became worse as egg counts of children increased. The praziquantel treatment improved the scores of all three tests among children who got high scores in the first tests. The study showed that even the light infection caused adverse effects on mental activities, which were detectable using simple mental tests.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Long-term efficacy of single-dose mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine citrate against diurnally subperiodic Wuchereria bancrofti: eight years' experience in Samoa.

A single-dose of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC, 6 mg per kg body weight) was administered in three mass treatment campaigns to > 80% of the estimated total Samoan population (160,000) in 1982, 1983, and 1986. The effect of the drug was evaluated before and after each campaign by conducting four blood surveys covering 9600 to 13,700 people from 26-34 villages on each occasion. The drug reduced the prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae from 5.6% to 2.5% (a 55% reduction), while the transmission potential (the estimated mosquito infection rate if everyone is equally exposed to mosquito bites) dropped from 2.18 to 0.67 (a 70% reduction). The total number of microfilariae in the Samoan population is estimated to have been reduced by 80%. A spaced, single-dose treatment with DEC at a 1-2-year interval therefore seems to be an effective control measure against diurnally subperiodic W. bancrofti.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Determination of a region in SecA that interacts with presecretory proteins in Escherichia coli.

SecA interacts with presecretory proteins through recognition of the positive charge at the amino terminus of the signal peptide (Akita, M., Sasaki, S., Matsuyama, S., and Mizushima, S. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 8164-8169). A large variety of amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal fragments of SecA were prepared in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. SecA analogues were then reconstituted from them and examined for their ability to cross-link with [35S]proOmpF-Lpp, a presecretory protein, in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. The reconstituted SecA analogues were active in the cross-linking with proOmpF-Lpp when the SecA fragments used were large enough to structurally complement each other. The cross-linking was signal peptide-dependent and suppressed in the presence of other presecretory proteins. The cross-linking was enhanced in the presence of ATP. The SecA fragments that cross-linked with proOmpF-Lpp were then analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The cross-linking preferentially took place on fragments possessing the amino terminus of SecA. Weak cross-linking was also observed with carboxyl-terminal fragments when they were large enough. The smallest amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal fragments with which the cross-linking was observed were 39 and 72 kDa, respectively. From these results, the region responsible for the cross-linking with presecretory proteins was deduced to be located between amino acid residues 267 and 340 from the amino terminus of SecA. These results are discussed in relation to the structure and function of SecA.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1991

The usefulness of urinalysis reagent strips in selecting Schistosoma haematobium egg positives before and after treatment with praziquantel.

The effectiveness of urinalysis reagent strips for haematuria and proteinuria in selecting Schistosoma haematobium egg-positive persons was studied on 426 subjects of all ages in a Kenyan community before and 3 months after treatment with praziquantel. Before and after treatment, the degree of urinary blood or protein and prevalence of egg positives were closely associated. Haematuria and proteinuria were positively correlated with urinary egg counts. For selecting egg-positive persons with reagent strips, a combined criterion 'haematuria trace up or proteinuria 1 + up' was considered the best in this area. With this criterion, sensitivity and specificity before treatment were 69.6 and 84.4 respectively. These values remained at the same level (70.7 and 81.2%) even after treatment with praziquantel reduced prevalence from 59.4 to 13.6% (77% reduction) and intensity of infection from 57.2 to 11.3 eggs 10 ml-1 of urine (80% reduction). Although the sensitivity was not very high, heavy infections were not missed. If all those selected with reagent strips were treated and cured, a 98% reduction in total egg excretion by the community would be expected in both our first and second urine examinations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

[A case of Günther vena caval filter insertion for recurrent pulmonary embolism].

We report that the Günther vena caval filter was successfully inserted in a case of recurrent pulmonary embolism resulting from ilio-femoral venous thrombosis. A 42-year-old woman was admitted to Osaka City University Medical School Hospital for dyspnea and chest pain on April 19, 1988. Pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy and pulmonary arterial angiography proved pulmonary emboli. The combination therapy of heparin and urokinase was performed, and her condition markedly improved. Then an ilio-femoral venography revealed only iliac vein compression but no thrombi. Therefore she was followed as an out patient with anticoagulant therapy. Nevertheless on April 10, 1989 she was admitted again complaining dyspnea and cyanosis. By venography at this time, some filling defects due to thrombi in right iliac vein were found. Therefore, we decided the insertion of the Günther vena caval filter for recurrent pulmonary embolism using Seldinger method via right internal jugular vein. We expect that the Günther vena caval filter will be useful for preventing pulmonary embolism resulting from ilio-femoral venous thrombosis because its procedure is easy, non-invasive and without significant complications.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Cyclic high dose CAP therapy by short-stay admission for ovarian malignancies--to increase total dose of CDDP and to improve quality of life of patients].

Since 1986, attempts have been made to improve the anti-cancer effect of Cisplatin (CDDP) in malignant ovarian tumor patients and their quality of life (QOL), by increasing single and total dose of CDDP and by short-stay cyclic treatment at our institution. In this study, the side effects of CDDP at high and low doses were compared and the effect on the QOL was analysed. Twenty ovarian malignant tumor patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy (CDDP 70 mg/m2, Adriamycin (ADR) 20 mg/m2, Cyclophosphamide (CPM) 200 mg/m2 given every 4 weeks for a total of 5 times and every 8-12 weeks thereafter for 5 times) after initial surgery were compared with non randomized control patients who received the old regimen of of our institution (CDDP 35 mg/m2, ADR 20 mg/m2, CRP 200 mg/m2, 5-FU 150 mg/m2 for 5 days given every 4 weeks for a total of 5 times without discharge from hospital). There was no significant difference between the groups in the white blood cell (WBC) count and creatinine clearance (Ccr) throughout the treatment, although a slight drop was observed after the second course in both groups. The QOL was examined by interviewing the patients on their physical and mental condition. Although the total amount of CDDP was increased from 175 mg/m2 to as much as 700 mg/m2, no severe nephrotoxicity or myelosuppression was seen and patients felt better and preserved a good QOL during a short hospital stay. These results clearly indicate the efficacy of our new regimen.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Genetic diversity in the major merozoite surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum: high prevalence of a third polymorphic form detected in strains derived from malaria patients.

We studied the diversity of the polymorphic 195-kDa antigen (p190) of Plasmodium from infected individuals. Genomic parasite DNA was extracted from the blood of 30 donors from different endemic areas of Brazil. The 5' region, encoding the polymorphic N-terminal part of p190 was analysed following polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiple infections of genetically distinct parasites could be detected within infected malaria patients. Sequence analysis and oligodeoxyribonucleotide typing of the PCR products demonstrated the prevalence of a third polymorphic form of p190.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Complementation of two overlapping fragments of SecA, a protein translocation ATPase of Escherichia coli, allows ATP binding to its amino-terminal region.

SecA is a protein translocation ATPase. The secA gene was engineered so as to code for SecA fragments of different sizes, either from the amino terminus or the carboxyl terminus. These SecA fragments, most of which formed aggregates in the cytosol, were overproduced and then purified in the presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The fragments were renatured by means of dilution and dialysis, and then examined as to their ability to interact with ATP by means of photoaffinity cross-linking with [alpha-32P]ATP. Individual SecA fragments thus renatured were inactive as to ATP binding. However, when two fragments (amino- and carboxyl-terminal ones), which structurally complemented each other and which had an overlapping region, were mixed, cross-linking was observed at the amino-terminal segments. The cross-linking was appreciably enhanced when two such fragments were first mixed together in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and then renatured. It is concluded that SecA has an ATP-binding domain near its amino-terminal region and that the binding requires a carboxyl-terminal fragment that is large enough to cover the region deleted from the amino-terminal fragment. An amino-terminal fragment, which constituted about 92% of the entire SecA molecule, was active in not only ATP binding but also protein translocation. Based on these findings, the structure-function relationship of SecA is discussed.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

PubMed1990

Diethylcarbamazine, antifilarial drug, inhibits microtubule polymerization and disrupts preformed microtubules.

The effect of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) on microtubules was studied by using microtubule protein prepared from porcine brain. DEC inhibited assembly of microtubules and disassembled preformed microtubules in vitro. When the reassembled or disassembled products were examined in the presence of DEC by electron microscopy, ribbon-microtubules were frequently observed. Subsequently, the effect of DEC on the cytoplasmic microtubules complex was studied. The cells used in our study were LLC-MK2. DEC inhibited proliferation of these cells, and cells grown in the presence of DEC were likely to separate from each other and became round in shape. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the cells exposed to DEC were devoid of the delicate pattern of the cytoplasmic microtubule complex.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Phorbol ester mimics ACTH action in corticoadrenal cells stimulating steroidogenesis, blocking cell cycle, changing cell shape, and inducing c-fos proto-oncogene expression.

Cells of the Y-1 corticoadrenal line are: (a) functional, (b) cell cycle-arrested by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), (c) tumorigenic, and (d) c-Ki-ras overexpressing. We here report that the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) mimics all ACTH-specific effects in Y-1 cells, namely: (a) steroid-ogenesis stimulation, (b) cell cycle block, and (c) cell shape change. In addition, both ACTH and PMA caused a rapid and transient induction of the c-fos proto-oncogene while having no effect on c-Ki-ras mRNA steady state levels. Dibutyryl cAMP, known to elicit ACTH effects in Y-1 cells, was a poor inducer of the c-fos gene. PMA pretreatment rendered Y-1 cells unresponsive to ACTH. These results suggest that protein kinase C is likely to be involved in the mechanisms of action of ACTH.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

PubMed1990

Serum placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in gynecologic malignancies--with special reference to the combination of PLAP and CA54/61 assay.

Serum placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) levels in patients with gynecological tumors were measured by two kinds of enzyme-antigen immunoassay kits provided by Innogenetics (PLAP-I) and Sangtec Medical (PLAP-S), and the combination assays for PLAP with other tumor markers were studied. None of the healthy women studied were PLAP positive, and the positive rate in patients with benign ovarian tumors was less than 6%. The positive rate in patients with ovarian cancers was about 35%, which was higher than the rates for other cancers. It was significantly higher in patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (60%). Remarkably high PLAP-I values were observed in patients with dysgerminoma. By the combination assay for PLAP with CA54/61 antigen in ovarian cancers, the diagnostic efficiency increased compared with that for PLAP and CA125. We conclude that PLAP is useful in the diagnosis of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and dysgerminoma and that CA54/61 is the better partner for the combination assay.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1990

Possible direct effect of diethylcarbamazine on the infective larvae of Brugia pahangi.

The direct action of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) on the infective larvae of Brugia pahangi was studied. The larvae were cultured in RPMI 1640 supplemented with foetal bovine serum and antibiotics for 22 days. Most of the larvae remained alive for 8 days, but survival rate of larvae decreased rapidly from day 10 onwards. The larvae did not grow in the culture system. The addition of DEC did not affect the morbidity of the larvae and no difference was observed in the morphological characteristics between the larvae cultured in the presence or absence of DEC. The infective larvae were cultured in vitro for 5 days in the presence or absence of DEC, and inoculated into jirds. The animals were necropsied at intervals, and developing larvae and adult worms were recovered. When the larvae were cultured without DEC and then inoculated subcutaneously into jirds, 29.8% of the inoculum was recovered 3-15 days, and 25% 19-22 weeks, post-inoculation. However, when the larvae were exposed to DEC in vitro and inoculated into jirds, the rate of recovery was reduced to 25% 3-15 days post-inoculation and 2% after 19-22 weeks. When the control larvae cultured in vitro were inoculated intraperitoneally into jirds, 41.3% of inoculum was recovered 3-15 days, and 42.8% 19-22 weeks, post-inoculation. Again the corresponding value for larvae exposed to DEC in vitro was reduced to 19.8% 3-15 days, and 8% 19-22 weeks, post-inoculation. It was observed that the larvae exposed to DEC in vitro were retarded in their development in jirds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Clinical courses and treatment of splenic artery aneurysms--report of 3 cases and review of literatures in Japan.

We have treated three cases of splenic artery aneurysms recently, so we reported them with a review of 181 cases in Japan. All three cases are women and have characteristic clinical courses and pathogenesis in each to which we performed a reasonable operation so that they could be saved. First one is a ruptured case. So we performed ligation of the splenic artery from inside the aneurysm under 9 min.'s clamp of the aorta. Second one was pointed out the splenic artery aneurysm during admission for cholecystectomy, so we performed splenectomy and aneurysmectomy, and after that we reconstructed the splenic artery with end-to-end anastomosis. Third one suffered from splenomegaly and portal hypertension. We performed splenectomy with the aneurysm. From the clinical and pathological findings, we concluded that an aneurysm in our first case was associated with arterial dysplasia, second with hemodynamic changes in parous women, and third with portal hypertension. Aneurysms of the splenic artery have been rarely reported until recently, when developments in diagnostic procedures made their discovery easier. We have diagnosed splenic artery aneurysm in three patients preoperatively. The clinical symptoms and operative procedure was different in each case, and are reported here. We demonstrated the summary of our three cases of that at Table 1.

Aneurysm↗

PubMed1990

[Tumor marker--screening for gynecological cancer; personal experience. Utility of tumor markers in screening of ovarian cancer].

PAP smears and biopsies are very effective in mass screening for uterine cancer. However, in this study, we tried to determine whether tumor markers could be useful for ovarian cancer screening. Eight tumor markers (CA125, TPA, CEA, ALP, amylase, LDH, CRP, IAP) were tested in serum samples from 3,540 women and the values were supplied to a CAMPAS (computer aided multivariate and pattern analysis system). Using this system, we managed to reduce the false positive rate to 0.68% but we couldn't prove the sensitivity of this system, because there were no ovarian cancer cases in this group. At this time, it is important to determine the high risk group of ovarian cancer for reducing the cost of mass screening. Finally, if tumor markers are to become more effective for ovarian cancer screening, it will be necessary to find ones that are more sensitive to ovarian cancer.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

PubMed1989

[Prognostic study of ovarian clear cell carcinoma].

Prognostic studies were performed on 17 cases with clear cell carcinoma of the ovary. The results are follows: 1) The average age was 45.9 years and ranging from 35 to 57 years. 2) Regarding the FIGO clinical stage, all of 5 patients with stage I and 3 of 5 with stage II survived over 2 years, while all of patients with stage III and 2 with stage IV were dead within 2 years. 3) Of 9 patients who had complete resection for primary operation, 8 (89%) survived over 2 years. All of 8 patients who had incomplete resection were dead within 2 years. 4) All cases had been received various chemotherapy; CQ + 5-FU (n = 5), CPM + ADM + CDDP + 5-FU (n = 7), 5-FU + CPM + MMC (n = 2), CDDP (n = 1), CDDP + MMC + 5-FU (n = 1), MCNU + VCR + 5-FU (n = 1), but none of them improved the prognosis of this histological type. 5) With or without administration of CDDP, there was no significant difference in the prognosis. These results suggest that early diagnosis of disease, curative surgical resection and selection of effective chemotherapeutic agents are important things to improve prognosis of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary.

Adenocarcinoma↗