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Biomedical subjects

J Kojima

Publications and source records attributed to J Kojima.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Serum glycylproline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activity in human hepatic cancer.

A method for the assay of glycylproline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activity in the serum is described. The enzyme activity determination in sera from patients with hepatic cancer opens a possibility in the differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases, because of the significantly higher values found in some cases of hepatic cancer. No correlation with alpha-fetoprotein was found.

Autoanalysis↗

Carcinoembryonic proteins in gastric carcinoma metastatic to the liver.

Two cases of liver metastases from gastric carcinoma are described in which the simultaneous occurrences of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carcinoplacental alkaline phosphatase (CPALP) were demonstrated in the sera and tumor tissues. AFP was detected not only in the tumor tissues but also in the liver tissue adjacent to the tumor, while the other 2 carcinoembryonic proteins were not detected in the non cancerous liver tissues. The characteristics of CPALP in Case 1 were almost similar to the Nagao isoenzyme, based on enzyme tests involving L-leucine, L-phenylalanine and EDTA inhibitions, heat-stability and Michaelis constant, except for electrophoretical slower moving, while that in Case 2 were identical to variant type CPALP (Warnock).

Adult↗

The serum protein profile in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Using the single radial immunodiffusion method, the serum levels of IgG, IgA, Ig M, transferrin, haptoglobin, alpha2-macroglobulin, alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein were estimated in healthy subjects and patients with liver diseases consisting of chronic active and inactive hepatitis, incipient cirrhosis, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. The results obtained from the statistical analysis of the data were as follows: i) Immunoglobulins and alpha2-macroglobulin in all diseases were higher than those of healthy subjects. ii) The increased transferrin levels were found in chronic active and inactive hepatitis, and the increased alpha1-antitrypsin levels were observed in chronic inactive hepatitis, in incipient cirrhosis in cirrhosis and in primary liver cancer was higher than those of the other liver diseases. iii) Haptoglobulin levels in all diseases except for chronic inactive hepatitis were decreased. iv) alpha1-acid glycoprotein in chronic active hepatitis, in incipient cirrhosis and in cirrhosis were lower than that of healthy subjects. The evaluation of significance for difference of each protein level among disease groups clarified that the decrease of haptoglobin in cirrhosis and the increase of alpha1-antitrypsin in primary liver cancer were characteristic change respectively.

Adult↗

Differences between plasma and serum complement in patients with chronic liver disease.

Of sixty patients with chronic liver disease, eight with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis had very low serum CH50 but normal plasma CH50. The complement component profiles of these sera revealed markedly decreased C4 and C2 activities and normal C3T (C3-C9) activities. From these results, it is suggested that the early acting complement components had been non-specifically activated during blood coagulation in these patients. No difference between plasma and serum CH50 was found in patients with hepatitis B(s) antigen.

Adult↗

The glycosaminoglycans in human hepatic cancer.

A method is proposed for the analysis of glycosaminoglycans that were isolated from human liver, combining cellulose acetate electrophoresis and enzymatic digestion with mucopolysaccharidases. The major constituent of glycossaminoglycans in the healthy liver is heparin sulfate and/or heparin (about 65%), with approximately equal quantities of dermatan sulfate and hyalauronic acid (about 13.5 and 13%, respectively) and a small amount of chondroitin sulfate. These components, especially chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, are markedly increased in hepatic carcinomas.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Bioluminescent monitoring of intracellular ATP during fermentation.

The luciferase gene was introduced as a probe into a cell in order to develop a bioluminescent monitoring of intracellular ATP during fermentation. Two plasmids were constructed with two types of promoters. One was pLac-Luc, which had the luciferase gene under the lac promoter to be expressed at a high level. The other was pTet-Luc, which had the luciferase gene under the tetracycline promoter to be stably expressed. A threonine-overproducing strain of Escherichia coli (No. 29-4) was transformed with each plasmid. The recombinant E. coli strains were characterized in their growth, threonine production and luciferase expression. The bioluminescence produced intracellularly from expressed luciferase was detected during fermentation -in a non-destructive manner. The bioluminescent intensity reflected both intracellular ATP and luciferase levels, and the results indicate that stable expression of a luciferase reporter is essential for monitoring intracellular ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗