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Biomedical subjects

K Hagiwara

Publications and source records attributed to K Hagiwara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Brevinin-1 and -2, unique antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the frog, Rana brevipoda porsa.

Two unique antimicrobial peptides named brevinin-1 and -2 were isolated from the skin of the frog, Rana brevipoda porsa. Both of the peptides did not have any structural homology with bombinin nor magainin; the frog skin derived-antimicrobial peptides isolated from Bombina and Xenopus, nor even with other known antimicrobial peptides of non-amphibian origin. The minimum inhibitory concentration of brevinin-1 against the growth of St. aureus and E. coli was determined to be 8 micrograms/ml and 34 micrograms/ml while that of brevinin-2 was 8 micrograms/ml and 4 micrograms/ml, respectively, indicating the difference of the two peptides in the antimicrobial selectively on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Changes in mammographic features of breast cancer--comparison with previous films].

Mammographic features of 87 breast cancer patients were studied in comparison with their previous survey films. Changes in the mammographic features included microcalicification (28 cases), tumor shadow (35 cases) and intratumorous microcalicifications (6 cases). Seven cases had several extremely faint calcifications on the previous films, and three of six cases with clustered and scattered microcalcifications that extended over an entire breast quadrant had increased in number, density and extent. Eight cases in which clustered microcalcifications had increased in number, density and extent suggested a relationship between the increase in the extent of microcalcifications and length of time between visits. In most cases with tumor shadow, a slight localized increase in mammary gland density, irregular margins and straightened trabeculae were overlooked because of breast density.

Aged

Frequent mutations in the p53 gene in human myeloid leukemia cell lines.

The p53 gene is currently considered to function as a tumor-suppressor gene in various human malignancies. In hematologic malignancies, alterations in the p53 gene have been shown in some human leukemias and lymphomas. Although mutations in the p53 gene are infrequent in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients, we show in this report that alterations in the p53 gene are frequent in myeloid leukemia cell lines. We studied alterations of the p53 gene in nine human myeloid leukemia cell lines by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and direct sequencing. Expression of the p53 gene was not detected at all by RT-PCR in two of the nine cell lines. In these two cell lines, Southern blot analysis showed gross rearrangements and deletions in both of the p53 alleles. Six of the nine cell lines were found to express only mutant p53 mRNA by RT-PCR/SSCP analysis and direct sequencing, and wild-type p53 mRNA was not detected. Two of the mutant p53 mRNAs were shown to be products of abnormal splicing events induced by intronic point mutations. Taken together, eight of nine human myeloid leukemia cell lines expressed no or an undetectable amount of wild-type p53 mRNA. Three of the eight cell lines were growth factor-dependent. Our results suggest that inactivation of the p53 gene may be a common feature in myeloid leukemia cell lines and may play an important role in the establishment of these cell lines.

Base Sequence

Lifetime data analysis of disease and aging by the Weibull probability distribution.

We applied the Weibull distribution to the life-table and age-patterns of diseases in Japan. The life-table follows a composite Weibull distribution composed of initial failure and two stage wear-out failure periods. The extension of lifespan during the past century is manifested as increases in the scale parameters in all three periods and the shape parameters in the wear-out periods with female predominancy. The shape parameters of diseases show time-independent sex-dependent specific values. When consistent changes are observed, such as increases in the shape parameters of tuberculosis and pneumonia, legitimate causes such as prevention and repair at the societal and medical level are present. Cancer and arteriosclerosis share a common range of shape parameters suggesting analogous underlying biological processes. An analysis of the epidemiology of human aging and disease by the Weibull distribution discloses intrinsic properties of man as a biological organization as well as a societal presence.

Adolescent

Diabetes mellitus in cattle infected with bovine viral diarrhea mucosal disease virus.

Four Japanese black cattle and four Holstein-Friesian cows were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Based on intravenous glucose tolerance tests, all these animals were believed to be insulin-dependent diabetics. Moreover, bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease (BVD-MD) virus was isolated and mucosal lesions and diarrhea were recognized in all cases. There was no genetic relation among the affected cattle. The breeding places of these cattle were different to each other. Therefore, it is suggested that BVD-MD virus induced the diabetes mellitus.

Animals

[Two operated cases of mitral stenosis (MS) associated with left atrial ball thrombus].

Mitral stenosis associated with left atrial ball thrombus is rare. Removal of left atrial ball thrombus and mitral valve replacement was performed in two patients successfully. The rate of thromboembolism was high in patient who has left atrial ball thrombus. Also, sudden death was reported in these cases due to incarceration of ball thrombus in the mitral orifice (hole-in-one thrombus). We concluded that we should operate the MS associated with left atrial ball thrombus as soon as possible.

Female

[Two cases of atrial septal defect with absence of right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava].

Two women (16-year-old, 54-year-old) of atrial septal defect with absence of right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava were successfully operated on. Electrocardiographic findings show coronary sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. When we closed atrial septal defect cannulated to persistent left superior vena cava via the coronary sinus directly, sick sinus syndrome was not appeared postoperatively.

Adolescent

Theileria sergenti proliferates in SCID mice with bovine erythrocyte transfusion.

The unavailability of in vitro or in vivo experimental systems has been the major factor hampering the progress of research studies on Theileria sergenti, causative agent of theileriosis, a major disease of cattle in Japan. We report the first successful propagation of T. sergenti in SCID mice into which uninfected bovine erythrocytes (Bo-RBC) were supplied periodically. The infectivity of T. sergenti proliferated in an SCID mouse was ascertained by successful transfer of infection into another SCID mouse into which uninfected Bo-RBC were supplied periodically.

Animals

[Property of electrocardiogram gated single photon emission tomography by 99mTc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile].

99mTc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) is a new developed myocardial perfusion imaging agent. Because this compound has higher photon energy than thallium (Tl), electrocardiogram gated single photon emission tomography (SPECT): end-diastolic (ED) and end-systolic (ES) short axis (SA) images could be taken. To investigate property of gated MIBI SPECT, MIBI myocardial scintigraphy, Tl scintigraphy (TMS) and analysis of left ventricular wall motion were performed in 6 patients with myocardial infarction. Left ventricle was divided into 8 segments. Perfusion defect (PD) was scored: "0" (normal), "1" (hypo-perfusion), "2" (defect). Wall motion abnormality (WMA) was also scored: "0" (normokinesis), "1" (hypo-kinesis), "2" (a-, dys-kinesis). Severity and extent of PD and WMA were calculated. Severity of WMA was 3.0 +/- 2.0 (M +/- SD), severity of PD was 3.3 +/- 1.7 in TMS, 3.7 +/- 1.3 in no-gated MIBI, 5.0 +/- 0.6 in ES-MIBI, 7.3 +/- 2.0 in ED-MIBI. Extent of WMA was 2.3 +/- 1.0. Extent of PD was 2.5 +/- 1.3 in TMS, 3.0 +/- 1.6 in no-gated MIBI, 3.5 +/- 0.8 in ES-MIBI, 4.8 +/- 1.0 in ED-MIBI. Compared with wall motion abnormality, severity and extent of PD in ED-MIBI was larger. From our data, it is concluded that perfusion defect in ED-MIBI was overestimated significantly. When we evaluate gated MIBI image, we must consider this property.

Aged

Purification and characterization of the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein from rat liver.

alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein was purified from the 10,000 x g supernatant of rat liver. Two isoforms of the transfer protein exist, of which the isoelectric points are 5.0 and 5.1 as determined by chromatofocusing. These two isoforms have the same molecular weight; both showed molecular weight of approx. 30,500 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They cannot be distinguished from each other by amino acid composition or substrate specificity.

Amino Acids

Mutations of the p53 gene in lymphoid leukemia.

p53 is currently considered to be a tumor suppressor gene product, and its alterations are suggested to be involved in several human malignancies. Here we show evidence of the possible involvement of p53 gene mutations in lymphoid leukemias studied by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism analysis, and nucleotide sequencing. Fourteen patients with various leukemias were examined and two with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and one with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia were identified to have mutations in the coding region of the p53 gene. These mutations included point mutation, triplet deletion, and single nucleotide insertion. Furthermore, expression of the wild-type p53 mRNA was not detected in the samples from these three patients. In one of them, chromosome 17p was deleted, suggesting the absence of the nonmutated p53 gene, whereas in the other two patients, chromosome 17p seemed to be intact by cytogenetic analysis. Our results suggest that alterations of the p53 gene may have a role in the genesis of some leukemias.

Base Sequence

Organization and chromosomal localization of the human platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor gene.

Human platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (hPD-ECGF) is a novel angiogenic factor which stimulates endothelial cell growth in vitro and promotes angiogenesis in vivo. We report here the cloning and sequencing of the gene for hPD-ECGF and its flanking regions. This gene is composed of 10 exons dispersed over a 4.3-kb region. Its promoter lacks a TATA box and a CCAAT box, structures characteristic of eukaryotic promoters. Instead, six copies of potential Sp1-binding sites (GGGCGG or CCGCCC) were clustered just upstream of the transcription start sites. Southern blot analysis using genomic DNAs from several vertebrates suggested that the gene for PD-ECGF is conserved phylogenetically among vertebrates. The gene for hPD-ECGF was localized to chromosome 22 by analysis of a panel of human-rodent somatic cell hybrid lines.

Animals

A spider toxin binding protein from bovine brain: its purification and N-terminal amino acid sequence determination.

A 60kDa spider toxin binding protein from bovine brain was solubilized with digitonin and purified up to 5800-folds over starting crude homogenate. The purification procedure entailed DEAE-cellulose, concanavalin-A affinity, 1-naphthylacetyl spermine affinity and high performance liquid chromatography. The purified protein owned a very high affinity for ligand 125I-JSTX-3 binding Kd 15.6nM and Bmax 6.5nM. The amino acid composition of the protein was determined. The N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis yielded a unique sequence: NH2-X-Pro-X-Val-Tyr-Phe-Lys-Glu-Gln-Phe-Leu-Asp-Gly-Asp-X.

Amino Acid Sequence

Kidney injury induced by lipid peroxide produced by vitamin E deficiency and GSH depletion in rats.

Four-week-old Wistar male rats were fed a vitamin E (VE)-deficient (0E) or a VE-sufficient (10E) diet for 6 weeks and then intraperitoneally treated with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) at 1 mmol/kg body weight once a day for 3 days. Glutathione (GSH) depletion by BSO treatment caused injuries especially in the kidneys of VE-deficient rats. The kidney weight increased in the VE-deficient rats after BSO treatment (0E-BSO). It was observed that the epithelial cells of the renal tubules in this group were strongly impaired and the injuries were necrosis and desquamation. No injury was observed in the kidneys of the BSO-untreated 0E group and the 10E groups. The TBA value of the kidney of 0E-BSO group was lower than that of the BSO-untreated 0E group, but the lipofuscin content of the kidney of the 0E-BSO group was 10 times higher than that of the BSO-untreated 0E group. These results suggest that the kidney injuries in rats may be caused by lipid peroxidation induced by vitamin E deficiency and glutathione depletion.

Animals

Isolation and identification of bile salts conjugated with cysteinolic acid from bile of the red seabream, Pagrosomus major.

Bile salts present in gallbladder of wild and cultured red seabream, Pagrosomus major, a marine teleost were analyzed. The bile from wild red seabream was found to contain two previously unknown bile salts along with two known bile salts, taurocholate and taurochenodeoxycholate. Isolation of each bile salt was performed by column chromatography. Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of the unknown bile salts showed the molecular ions (M-H)- of m/z 544 and 528 which are shifted 30 mass units upfield compared to those (m/z 514 and 498) of taurocholate and taurochendeoxycholate, respectively; this is consistent with the presence of cysteinolic acid (mol wt 155) instead of taurine (mol wt 125). Enzymatic hydrolysis of the bile salts released cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, respectively, and an amino acid that was identified as D-cysteinolic acid by direct comparison with an authentic sample. From these results, the bile salts in the bile of wild red seabream were identified as the conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid with cysteinolic acid. 1H- and 13C-magnetic resonance spectra of the bile salts were also consistent with the proposed structure. The cysteinolic acid conjugates were found only in wild and not in cultured red seabream; this distinction seems to result from differences in dietary cysteinolic acid.

Animals