Expression of histamine H(1) receptor in placenta.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
K Ishimura
Publications and source records attributed to K Ishimura.
Analysis of prognostic factors after surgery for stage III and IV gallbladder cancer.
AIM: Survival and prognostic factors were analysed in patients who had undergone surgical resection with curative intention with the aim of identifying groups of patient with stage III and IV gallbladder cancer on the TNM classification who might benefit from surgery. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with advanced gallbladder cancer were studied, the cumulative survival rate for each group was calculated for each pTNM factor. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates in the stage III patients were 83.3%, while those for the stage IVA patients were 46.2%, and those for the stage IVB patients 16.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with invasion of adjacent organs, including the liver and gastrointestinal tract, and rated as pT3 or pT4, extended surgery excising the invaded tissue may be justified. In patients with pN2 lymph-node metastasis, even without adjacent organ invasion, radical surgery may not achieve a good outcome.
Aged↗
Use of multislice helical computed tomography cholangiography in the diagnosis of biliary disease.
A recent advance in computed tomography (CT) technology, multislice helical CT, has enabled production of clearer three-dimensional (3D) images and has drawn interest. We report the usefulness of CT cholangiography using a multislice helical CT scanner for the diagnosis and preoperative imaging of the biliary duct in a case of peculiarly shaped gallbladder with cholecystitis. A 34-year-old woman admitted to our hospital presented with chronic hypochondralgia. A CT scan showed that the gallbladder was normal without wall thickening or stones. However, there appeared to be a tumor, containing a stone approximately 1 cm in diameter, attached under the gallbladder in front of the right kidney and extending up to its lower level. Magnetic resonance cholangiography also depicted a normal gallbladder without wall thickening or stones. Hence, gallbladder stones were not diagnosed by previously the mentioned investigations. In contrast, a 3D image produced by multislice helical CT cholangiography was very clear. From the bottom of the gallbladder, a narrow canal continued to a stone. We diagnosed that the wall of the lower part of the long gallbladder had become thick and elongated because of chronic cholecystitis caused by a gallbladder stone, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Macroscopically, the resected gallbladder showed an extremely thickened wall from the lower body to the fundus, in which a stone was located in the center. Multislice helical CT cholangiography has the potential to become one of the most significant examinations for diagnosis and anatomical analysis of biliary disease prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Adult↗
Immunocytochemical localization of prostaglandin F synthase II in the rat spinal cord.
Prostaglandin F synthase has at least two isozymes, i.e. prostaglandin F synthase I and II. Recently, we demonstrated immunocytochemically that prostaglandin F synthase I was localized in neuronal dendrites and somata, and in endothelial cells of blood vessels in the whole area of rat spinal cord. In the present study, we immunocytochemically localized prostaglandin F synthase II in ependymal cells and tanycytes surrounding the central canal and in endothelial cells of blood vessels, but not in any neuronal elements at all segmental levels of the rat spinal cord. Immunoelectron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed these findings and further revealed that strong immunoreactivity was found in the basal processes of the tanycytes. Our present and recent studies using antibodies against the two isozymes of prostaglandin F synthase clearly indicated that they were localized differentially in ependymal (prostaglandin F synthase II) and neuronal elements (prostaglandin F synthase I), but were co-localized in blood vessels in the rat spinal cord. The distinct localization of the two isozymes suggests that prostaglandin F(2) has different transcellular biological actions via different cell groups.
Animals↗
A visualization method of filamentous phage infection and phage-derived proteins in Escherichia coli using biotinylated phages.
Direct visualization of filamentous phage infection in Escherichia coli (E. coli) was attempted using biotinylated phages (BIO-phages). The biotinylation of the phages did not influence their infectivity into E. coli. E. coli infected with BIO-phages could be detected by using fluorescein-conjugated avidin with confocal laser scanning microscopy, and BIO-phages and BIO-phage-derived proteins in E. coli could be directly observed by using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with electron microscopy. This is the first report of direct visualization of phage infection and phage-derived proteins in the host cell using a biotin-avidin interaction. This simple and powerful method is applicable to the study of infection by various viruses.
Avidin↗
Is preoperative portal vein embolization effective in improving prognosis after major hepatic resection in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma?
BACKGROUND: The impact of the use of preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) on long-term survival after surgery was evaluated by retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone hepatic resection with or without PVE. METHODS: The portal embolization group (Group P) consisted of 26 patients who had undergone major hepatectomy (more extensive than right hepatectomy) with PVE, and the nonembolized group (Group N) consisted of 43 patients who had undergone major hepatectomy without PVE. All patients were diagnosed with advanced HCC graded as Stage III or IV according to the International Union Against Cancer TNM classification system. Patient survival rates, recurrence rates, and recurrence sites after surgery in the two groups were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative disease specific survival rates in patients with TNM Stage III HCC, respectively, were 96.0%, 64.4%, and 52.7% in Group N and 92.9%, 57.1%, and 45.7% in Group P, whereas the corresponding values in patients with Stage IV HCC were 53.5%, 40.1%, and 26.8% in Group N and 63.5%, 50.8%, and 19.1% in Group P. There were no statistically significant differences in survival rates between Group P and Group N. Multivariate analysis showed that PVE was not a significant prognostic factor. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative recurrence rates for patients with both stages of disease combined were 44.1%, 80.2%, and 86.8% in Group N, respectively, and 39.9%, 72.2%, and 72.2% in Group P, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups. To date, 35 patients in Group N and 16 patients in Group P have had tumor recurrences in the liver remnant; of these, 27 patients in Group N and 12 patients in Group P had multiple recurrence foci in the liver remnant. No significant difference was seen between the two groups; however, 10 of 16 patients in Group P (62.5%) had remote organ metastasis in addition to recurrence in the liver remnant compared with only 6 of 35 patients in Group N (17.1%): This difference was significant statistically (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: PVE during major hepatic resection neither improves nor worsens long-term prognosis but allows resection in a patient group that, otherwise, is considered as unresectable. Remote metastasis involving the lung, bone, or stomach was seen more frequently postoperatively in Group P compared with Group N, raising a possibly important issue regarding the use of this approach for the treatment of patients with hepatic malignancies, especially HCC.
Aged↗
Changes in arterial and portal perfusion in embolized and nonembolized hepatic lobes after portal vein embolization evaluated by helical computed tomography.
We evaluated the changes in hepatic arterial and portal perfusion in nonembolized as well as in embolized lobes after portal venous branch embolization (PVE) with dynamic helical computed tomography (CT). Six patients with hepatic malignancies, who underwent PVE prior to a subsequent hepatectomy, were the subjects of this study. We performed CT examinations before PVE and 2 weeks after PVE to make a volumetric analysis. At the same time, we performed single-location dynamic sequences after the injection of a 50-ml bolus of contrast medium, and we then created time-density curves from circular regions of interest drawn over the aorta, parenchyma of the right and left lobe of the liver, and spleen. We calculated the arterial perfusion index (ml/min per ml of tissue) and the portal perfusion index by dividing the maximum rate of enhancement of the liver before and after the splenic peak by the peak aortic enhancement. We then calculated the arterial and portal flows (ml/min) from the perfusion index and values of CT volumetry. In the right lobe, where the portal flow was occluded, the arterial perfusion index and flow increased significantly after PVE. In contrast, the arterial perfusion index and flow both decreased in the left lobe after PVE in a reverse response to the increase in the portal perfusion index and flow. The total arterial flow of the liver thus seemed to slightly increase; however, the change was not significant. By performing PVE an increased arterial perfusion was induced in the embolized lobe, with a concomitant decrease in arterial perfusion in the nonembolized lobe.
Aged↗
Panning of a phage VH library using nitrocellulose membranes: application to selection of a human VH library.
We have established a method for selecting binding phages from a phage immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) library by panning with nitrocellulose membranes (membrane panning). To evaluate the concentrating ability of membrane panning for binding phages, a phage VH library containing clones that bind to hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) was used for panning against HEL. The efficiency of our method was as high as that of panning with magnetic beads. In addition, we performed membrane panning against target proteins and isolated the binding phages. The human VH genes of these phages were cloned and expressed as VH-bacterial alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) conjugates (VH-PhoA) in Escherichia coli. The dose-dependent binding of VH-PhoA to target proteins was confirmed by dot blotting. When applied to disease-associated antibodies, these methods will likely benefit clinical research. In addition, these techniques may be applicable to systematic analysis in proteome studies.
Alkaline Phosphatase↗
Immunocytochemical localization of lung-type prostaglandin F synthase in the rat spinal cord.
Prostaglandin F synthase, producing prostaglandin F(2 alpha) and 9 alpha,11 beta-prostaglandin F(2), has at least two isozymes, lung-type and liver-type ones. The present study including double immunolabelling with microtubule-associated protein 2 indicated that the lung-type isozyme was present in neuronal dendrites and somata of gray matter (relatively intense in lamina I and II in dorsal horn, and IX in ventral horn) and vascular endothelial cells in the rat spinal cord at all segmental levels.
Animals↗
Adhesion between Silica Particle and Mica Surfaces in Water and Electrolyte Solutions.
An atomic force microscope (AFM) is used to study the adhesion between a silica sphere and a mica plate in pure water and solutions of monovalent cations (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, and CsCl). It is found that the adhesive force depends not only on the electrolyte concentration but also on the hydration enthalpy of cations and the contact time of the particle on the surface. Possible mechanisms by which the observed phenomena can be explained consistently are discussed extensively. It is suggested that the adhesive force is closely related to the structure of the layer of cations and water molecules adsorbed on the surfaces: the strong adhesive force is obtained when highly hydrated cations (Li(+), Na(+)) are adsorbed to form a thick but weakly adsorbed layer, while the weak adhesive force is observed when poorly hydrated cations (Cs(+), K(+)) are adsorbed to form a thin but strongly adsorbed layer. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Journal Article↗
Fatty acid cyclooxygenase induction accompanied by prostaglandin D synthesis in a human megakaryoblastic cell line CMK differentiated by phorbol ester.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cell Differentiation↗
Influence of serum-free culture conditions on steroid 5alpha-reductase mRNA expression in rat C6 glioma cells.
Immunocytochemical studies previously showed that serum deprivation resulted in the appearance of steroid 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) in the cytoplasm of rat C6 glioma cells. To determine whether this increase in cytoplasmic 5alpha-R was due to changes in 5alpha-R gene expression, the effect of serum deprivation on 5alpha-R mRNA expression was examined. No significant change in the mRNA levels was observed in cells grown in serum-free culture medium. Therefore, the appearance of 5alpha-R immunoreactivity in the cell cytoplasm observed under serum-free conditions is probably not due to changes in 5alpha-R gene expression.
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗
Dexamethasone enhances serum deprivation-induced necrotic death of rat C6 glioma cells through activation of glucocorticoid receptors.
Glucocorticoids have been shown to be neurotoxic and appear to play a role in neuronal cell loss during aging and following neuropathological insults. However, very little is known about the effects of these steroid hormones on glial cells. The effect of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) on glial cell viability was therefore examined by measuring neutral red uptake into rat C6 glioma cells. Serum deprivation markedly reduced cell viability, and this effect was significantly enhanced by DEX. Electrophoretic analysis showed that the cell damage induced by either serum deprivation alone or in combination with DEX was not accompanied by the degradation of DNA into nucleosomic fragments. Electron microscopic studies confirmed that serum deprivation and glucocorticoid treatment caused necrotic cell death. Furthermore, the effect of DEX on cell viability could be mimicked by the glucocorticoid receptor agonist RU28362, and completely prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486. These results indicate that dexamethasone can enhance the necrotic death of glioma cells induced by serum deprivation, suggesting that glucocorticoids may be involved in the chronic alteration of brain function arising from neuropathological damage to glial cells.
Androstanols↗
Fatty acid cyclooxygenase induction and prostaglandin D synthesis in a human megakaryoblastic cell line CMK differentiated by phorbol ester.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Arachidonic Acid↗
Arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase isozymes.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Identification of prostaglandin F-producing cells in the liver.
Prostaglandin (PG) F synthase forms PGF(2alpha) and 9alpha, 11beta-PGF2 from PGH2 and PGD2, respectively. PGH2 is synthesized from arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase (COX) and then metabolized to various PGs and thromboxane by specific enzymes. PGD2 is synthesized from PGH2 by PGD synthase. To identify PGF2-producing cells in the rat liver, the occurrence and localization of PGF synthase and COX were studied with immunochemical and immunohistochemical techniques using anti-liver-type PGF synthase and anti-COX antibodies. In Western blot analyses, positive bands of liver-type PGF synthase and constitutive COX-1 were observed at positions approximately 37 kDa and 70-72 kDa, respectively. However, inducible COX-2 was not detected. In the immunohistochemical study, PGF synthase was present in the cytoplasm of the sinusoidal endothelial cells. COX-1 was present on the membranes of the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum of the endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. Double immunostaining for PGF synthase and COX-1 showed that both enzymes were present in the same endothelial cells. These results suggest that the main site of PGF2 synthesis in the liver is the sinusoidal endothelial cell.
Animals↗
Development changes in long-form leptin receptor expression and localization in rat brain.
The expression and localization of long-form leptin receptor (OB-Rb) were studied immunocytochemically in the brain of fetal and adult rats using a polyclonal antibody that specifically recognized OB-Rb. At 14 days of gestation, immunoreactive cells were observed in the ventricular layer, which contains premature neuronal cells. At 18 days of gestation, they were weakly stained but obvious in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and ependymal cells also showed immunoreactivity. At birth, the immunoreactivity of OB-Rb in the PVN seemed to be much lower than that in adult rats and remained low during the suckling period. Considering the presence of neuroendocrine and structural neuronal abnormalities in Lepob/Lepob mice with genetic leptin deficiency, these results suggest that the expression of OB-Rb in premature neuronal cells may have some function, and that the regulation of energy balance by leptin through hypothalamic regions, such as PVN, may not yet be developed in the perinatal period.
Aging↗
Influence of serum-free culture conditions on subcellular localization of steroid 5alpha-reductase in rat C6 glioma cells.
Rat C6 glioma cells are considered to be well characterized, and therefore commonly used as a model system to investigate the function of glial cells. However, recent study has shown that an alteration in the expression of their phenotypic antigens is observed when the cells are maintained under the serum-free conditions, proposing the possibility that various properties of glioma cells can be altered by the growth conditions. To test this possibility, the effects of serum-free culture conditions on the expression of steroid 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) type 1 isozyme in glioma cells were examined using immunocytochemical technique. Immunoreactivity of 5alpha-R type 1 was confined to the perinuclear region of glioma cells cultured in serum-containing medium, and observed in the cytoplasmic space as well as the perinuclear region of the cells cultured in serum-free medium. In contrast, serum deprivation failed to affect the expression of phenotypic antigens, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase). Further studies showed that the expression of cytoplasmic 5alpha-R immunoreactivity induced by serum deprivation was reversible, and might be attributed to removal of serum proteins rather than biologically active small molecules from culture medium. This alteration in the expression of 5alpha-R immunoreactivity is therefore considered to reflect the translocation of the enzyme from the perinuclear region to the cell cytoplasm rather than the induction of cytoplasmic enzyme, and suggest that the culture conditions cause an alteration in the subcellular localization of 5alpha-R type 1 isozyme without phenotypic change of the glioma cell.
2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗