Determination of alpha-amylase using a new blocked substrate (2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl 4(4)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-maltotetraoside)
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Carbohydrate Sequence↗
Biomedical subjects
K Majima
Publications and source records attributed to K Majima.
Cell biological analysis of the human cataractous lens: implication of lens epithelial cells in the development of aftercataract.
Lens epithelial cells (LECs) from 3 patients with congenital cataract aged 2, 4 and 12 months, respectively, were cultured. The findings were compared with those from 26 eyes of 26 patients with senile cataract, with ages ranging from 60 to 89 years. The significantly higher growth potential of LECs in patients with congenital cataract compared to those with senile cataract, seems to be the cause of the higher frequency of aftercataract following cataract surgery in infants.
Aged↗
Human lens epithelial cells proliferate in response to exogenous EGF and have EGF and EGF receptor.
While epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been found to exist in the human aqueous humor, which is necessary for maintaining the physiological condition of the lens, our immunohistochemical study confirmed the presence of EGF receptors and EGF in human lens epithelial cells (LECs), with EGF promoting growth potential and morphological change of the cells. Based on these findings, we feel that the effect of EGF upon human LECs is related to the movement of the cells in vivo.
Aged↗
[A case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia with acute onset of dyspnea].
A 16-year-Old boy was admitted with acute onset of fever, cough, and dyspnea. Chest radiography showed diffuse infiltrated shadow and right pleural effusion. BALF revealed a high level of eosinophils (56.8%), and TBLB specimen showed infiltration of inflammatory cells, chiefly eosinophils. Symptoms and radiographic findings resolved spontaneously within a few days after admission. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia was diagnosed as in the case reported by Allen et al. However, the present patient had a high IgE level and history of atopic allergic rhinitis. In more than one third of previously reported cases in Japan, there was a history of atopy, unlike in Allen's report.
Acute Disease↗
[Severe cases of pulmonary tuberculosis required mechanical ventilation].
We report severe cases of pulmonary tuberculosis with respiratory failure who required mechanical ventilation. Of 99 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Daido Hospital from November 1991 to November 1993, 6 patients had been mechanically ventilated. Four of these 6 patients were vagrants and had long delay from onset of the symptom to the admission. Chest X-rays of ventilated patients showed bilateral, extensive shadows consistent with those of typical pulmonary tuberculosis, and a large number of acid-fast bacilli were detected in their sputa. Though all ventilated patients except one HCV carrier had no underlying disease, they showed remarkable emaciation and malnutrition. They also showed weak PPD-skin reactions and reduced number of lymphocytes that suggested immunological disorders. Four cases have recovered, so we conclude that mechanical ventilation is necessary and useful for the treatment of severe cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Adult↗
[The existence of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in human lens epithelial cells].
The aqueous humor supplies the lens with nutrition. Recently, the existence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) has been confirmed in the human aqueous humor. For this reason, it was thought that the function of these growth factors was related to the physiological condition of the lens epithelial cells (LEC). Therefore, we looked for the existence of receptors for EGF, FGF, and the internalization of EGF and b-FGF using LEC from human cataractous lenses in immunohistochemistry. We confirmed the existence of receptors for EGF and FGF as well as the internalization of EGF and b-FGF. From these results. We inferred that the function of EGF and b-FGF was strongly related to the physiological condition of LEC.
Aged↗
Detection of interleukin-5 messenger RNA and interleukin-5 protein in bronchial biopsies from asthma by nonradioactive in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.
Recently direct evidence for the role of interleukin-5 (IL-5) in eosinophilic inflammation in the airways of persons with asthma has been provided by an in situ hybridization study that used radioisotope-labeled IL-5 complementary RNA probes. Radioisotope-labeled probes, although sensitive, require autoradiographic detection, which is time-consuming. In the most recent study we attempted to detect IL-5 messenger RNA in the bronchial biopsy specimens from patients with asthma using nonradioactive in situ hybridization, which gives rapid results. Bronchial biopsy specimens were obtained from eight patients with asthma and seven diseased control subjects. IL-5 complementary DNA probes were labeled with digoxigenin-deoxyuridine triphosphate and hybridized to permeabilized sections. Hybridization signals were visualized by an immunohistochemistry technique. Positive hybridization signals were observed in six of the eight biopsy specimens from patients with asthma. Pretreatment with ribonuclease or hybridization with an unrelated probe produced negative results. Immunohistochemical staining of serial sections with a monoclonal antibody to IL-5 revealed that a few cells within the mucosa positively stained, suggesting active synthesis of IL-5. Biopsy results from the seven diseased control subjects did not show any hybridization signal. These results confirm and extend previous observations of IL-5 messenger RNA expression in the airways of patients with asthma, and suggest that digoxigenin-labeled IL-5 complementary DNA probes would be a powerful research tool.
Adult↗
A cysteine protease encoded by the baculovirus Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus.
Sequence analysis of the BamHI F fragment of the genome of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) revealed an open reading frame whose deduced amino acid sequence had homology to those of cysteine proteases of the papain superfamily. The putative cysteine protease sequence (BmNPV-CP) was 323 amino acids long and showed 35% identity to a cysteine proteinase precursor from Trypanosoma brucei. Of 36 residues conserved among cathepsins B, H, L, and S and papain, 31 were identical in BmNPV-CP. In order to determine the activity and function of the putative cysteine protease, a BmNPV mutant (BmCysPD) was constructed by homologous recombination of the protease gene with a beta-galactosidase gene cassette. BmCysPD-infected BmN cell extracts were significantly reduced in acid protease activity compared with wild-type virus-infected cell extracts. The cysteine protease inhibitor E-64 [trans-epoxysuccinylleucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane] inhibited wild-type virus-expressed protease activity. Deletion of the cysteine protease gene had no significant effect on viral growth or polyhedron production in BmN cells, indicating that the cysteine protease was not essential for viral replication in vitro. However, B. mori larvae infected with BmCysPD showed symptoms different from those of wild-type BmNPV-infected larvae, e.g., less degradation of the body, including fat body cells, white body surface color due presumably to undegraded epidermal cells, and an increase in the number of polyhedra released into the hemolymph. This is the first report of (i) a virus-encoded protease with activity on general substrates and (ii) evidence that a virus-encoded protease may play a role in degradation of infected larvae to facilitate horizontal transmission of the virus.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
[A case of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody (AGBMA) nephritis associated with myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)].
A 68-year-old patient visited our hospital, because of progressive renal failure. Laboratory data were serum creatinine 13.3 mg/dl, BUN 74.3 mg/dl, AGBMA 134U, MPO-ANCA 37% and CIC 1.6 g/dl. Hemodialysis was performed on admission and renal biopsy was conducted. Though the histological findings showed fibrocellular crescents and global sclerosis in many glomeruli, renal function was gradually ameliorated by administration of prednisolone (40 mg/day) and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/day). After 3 weeks of therapy, hemodialysis was withdrawn temporarily. Because of the complication of pneumocystis carini, prednisolone and cyclophosphamide were discontinued, and maintenance hemodialysis was resumed. In spite of progressed histological findings, hemodialysis was withdrawn at least temporarily through the use of pharmacological therapy. Thus, the presence of ANCA may indicate a relatively good prognosis of AGBMA nephritis.
Aged↗
Identification and characterization of the p35 gene of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus that prevents virus-induced apoptosis.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) genome revealed the existence of a gene homologous to the p35 gene of Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV), which has been shown to prevent virus-induced apoptosis. The BmNPV p35 gene showed 96.1% nucleotide and 89.6% predicted amino acid sequence identity to the AcNPV p35 gene. A mutant BmNPV (BmP35Z) lacking a functional p35 gene induced apoptosis-like cell degradation in infected BmN cells. However, unlike the p35-deleted AcNPV mutant (vAcAnh), BmP35Z replicated normally and produced polyhedral inclusion bodies. The patterns of protein synthesis and the percentages of viable BmN cells remaining following infection with either wild-type BmNPV or BmP35Z were nearly identical. BmP35Z also replicated in silkworm larvae without showing any apparent apoptotic response in infected hemocytes, fat body, or other tissues. Time to death of larvae infected with BmP35Z was similar to that for wild-type-infected larvae, and significant numbers of polyhedral inclusion bodies were produced. These results indicate that viral factors (or genes) other than p35 or host cell factors play a role in inducing, accelerating, or interfering with apoptotic processes. The evolution of baculovirus genomes is also discussed with reference to comparative analysis of the p35 and p94 gene sequences. The p94 gene is found immediately upstream of p35 in AcNPV; in BmNPV, however, the p94 gene was nearly completely missing, presumably because of large deletions in a BmNPV ancestor virus having a gene similar to the AcNPV p94 gene.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Divergence and evolution of homologous regions of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus.
Homologous regions (hrs) (hr1,hr2-left,hr2-right,hr3,hr4-left,hr 4-right, and hr5) similar to those found in the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) genome were found in the Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV) genome. The BmNPV hrs contained two to eight repeats of a homologous nucleotide sequence which were on average about 75 bp long. All of these homologous sequence repeats contained a 26-bp-long palindrome motif with an EcoRI or EcoRI-like site at its core. The consensus sequence of the BmNPV hrs showed 95% conservation with respect to those found in AcNPV. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that hr2-left and hr2-right of BmNPV evolved from an ancestor similar to hr2 of AcNPV by inversion, cleavage, and ligation. The polarities of the BmNPV and AcNPV hrs were conserved except for that of hr4-left. Within hr4-right of BmNPV, four repeats of a previously underscribed palindrome motif were found. Bmhr5D, a BmNPV mutant which lacked hr5, replicated at a rate similar to that of wild-type BmNPV in BmN cells and silkworm larvae, indicating that hr5 was not essential for viral replication. After ten passages of Bmhr5D in BmN cells, no detectable changes in its genome were observed by restriction endonuclease analysis. The evolution and divergence of the BmNPV genome are also discussed.
Animals↗
[The effect of epidermal growth factor on the growth potential of epithelial cells from human lens].
The growth promoting effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was studied in cultures of epithelial cells from human normal and cataractous lenses. The growth potential of lens epithelial cells was measured by MTT assay. The concentration of EGF in culture medium were classified into 7 groups (0 ng/ml-10(3) ng/ml). When the concentration of EGF was 1 ng/ml, EGF induced the highest increase of growth potential epithelial cells compared with an EGF-free group.
Aged↗
[Hormone therapy of tamoxifen in resected carcinoma of the pancreas].
Greenway et al reported estrogen receptor existed in the carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas in 1981. We followed the study by using immunohistochemical method with monoclonal antibody ER-D5 (Amersham) and found high levels of estrogen receptor in 21 cases out of 27 carcinomas of the pancreas (77.8%). Furthermore, we gave randomly the hormone therapy by Tamoxifen 20 mg per day adding to immuno-chemotherapy (Tegaful, Mitomycin, Krestin, OK-432) to the patients with resected carcinoma of the pancreas. There was no significant difference of the survival rate of pancreatic carcinoma without hormone therapy between 10 cases with estrogen receptor and 4 cases without estrogen receptor at the 6th month and 12th month. However, in cases treated by Tamoxifen, remarkable high survival rate at 12 months of 11 cases with estrogen receptor was obtained to be 85.7% according to Kaplan-Meier method. Two cases without estrogen receptor died within 5 months. One year survival rate of Tamoxifen group (13 cases) was 78.6% and that of non Tamoxifen group (14 cases) was 21.4%. These findings indicated that estrogen receptor existed at the high level in the carcinoma tissues of the pancreas and anti-estrogen treatment might offer a new approach to the treatment of pancreatic carcinomas.
Adult↗
Intracranial mycotic aneurysm caused by Aspergillus--case report.
A 75-year-old female with chronic renal failure diagnosed as Wegener's granulomatosis was receiving steroids and immunosuppressive agents when subarachnoid hemorrhage developed. Cerebral angiography showed a fusiform aneurysm arising from an angular branch of the left middle cerebral artery. Hemorrhage occurred and the aneurysm was excised by emergency surgery. Microscopic examination of the aneurysm revealed dense infiltration of hyphae identified as Aspergillus. She died of subsequent hemorrhage. Autopsy showed numerous Aspergillus hyphae in the lung. Fungal mycotic aneurysm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an immunocompromised patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Aged↗
[A case of Fabry's disease associated with lupus nephritis].
A 36-year-old woman was hospitalized because of nephrotic syndrome. On admission, laboratory studies revealed total protein 5.9g/dl, total cholesterol 381mg/dl, urine protein 2-4g/day, C3 68mg/dl(90-185mg/dl) and the immunological tests showed that antinuclear factor, anti-DNA antibodies and the LE cell phenomenon were positive. Renal function was within normal range. After admission, renal biopsy was done. Light microscopic finding showed diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis, and vacuolization of epithelial cells. Immunofluorescent microscopic finding showed a granular specific staining for IgG, IgM, C3 and C1q along the capillary loops. Electron microscopic finding showed subepithelial and subendothelial dense deposits, and visceral epithelial cell cytoplasm containing osmiophilic multilamellar lipoid bodies. In the studies of the enzyme activities, the patient's fibroblast extract demonstrated a partial deficiency of alpha-galactosidase, and urine ceramide trihexoside was positive. But the patient's leukocyte extract did not demonstrate a deficiency of alpha-galactosidase. So Fabry's disease associated with lupus nephritis was diagnosed. It seems that the case of Fabry's disease which is an X-linked disorder caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase, associated with lupus nephritis, is extremely rare.
Adult↗
[Inhibitory effect of inhaled FK-506 on increased bronchial responsiveness and eosinophil infiltration in the airway mucosa].
We examined the effects of inhaled FK-506, a potent immunosuppressive agent, on increased bronchial responsiveness to acetylcholine and on eosinophil infiltration in a guinea pig models of asthma. The guinea pigs were sensitized by repeated inhalation of ovalbumin (OA). Twenty four hours after antigen challenge, bronchial responsiveness to acetylcholine significantly increased and a marked accumulation of eosinophils in the airways was observed. However, when the guinea pigs were treated with aerosolized FK (10 mg/ml) for 5 min per day for 6 successive days before antigen challenge, the increase in bronchial responsiveness was significantly suppressed and the eosinophil accumulation was strikingly reduced. Since inhaled FK significantly suppressed these responses, there is a possibility that inhaled FK may be a useful therapy for patients with chronic bronchial asthma in the future.
Acetylcholine↗
[A case of endoscopic laser polypectomy for endobronchial hamartoma].
A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of left-sided chest pain and dyspnea. Chest X-ray film showed a tumor in the left main bronchus and left pleural effusion. On bronchoscopy, a tumor which moved with respiration was observed in the left main bronchus. We successfully performed endoscopic laser polypectomy. Pathological examination revealed non-chondromatous hamartoma.
Aged↗
Insecticidal effects of an insect-specific neurotoxin expressed by a recombinant baculovirus.
The scorpion Androctonus australis has a peptide (AaIT) which selectively targets the insect sodium channel. This mode of action is similar to that of many widely used chemical insecticides. When Bombyx mori larvae were infected with a recombinant baculovirus carrying a synthetic AaIT gene, the expressed protein was secreted into the hemolymph and caused symptoms consistent with sodium channel blocking, including tremors and feeding cessation at 40 hr p.i. followed by paralysis and death by 60 hr p.i. Larvae infected with control virus died by 96 hr p.i. These results indicate that foreign genes can be used in recombinant baculoviruses to reduce insect feeding damage and increase the rate of insect kill.
Amino Acid Sequence↗