Biomedical subjects

Koji Adachi

Publications and source records attributed to Koji Adachi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Oculocutaneous albinism type 4: six novel mutations in the membrane-associated transporter protein gene and their phenotypes.

Oculocutaneous albinism type 4 (OCA4) is an autosomal recessive hypopigmentary disorder caused by mutations in the Membrane-Associated Transporter Protein gene (SLC45A2). The SLC45A2 protein is a 530-amino-acid polypeptide that contains 12 putative transmembrane domains, and appears to be a transporter that mediates melanin synthesis. Eighteen pathological mutations have been reported so far. In this study, six novel mutations, p.Y49C (c.146A > G), p.G89R (c.265G > A), p.C229Y (c.686G > A), p.T437A (c.1309A > G), p.T440A (c.1318A > G) and p.G473D (c.1418G > A) were found in eight Japanese patients with various clinical phenotypes. The phenotypes of OCA4 were as various as the other types of OCA and probably depended on the mutation sites in the SLC45A2 gene.

Albinism, Oculocutaneous↗

PubMed2005

Identification of histological markers for malignant glioma by genome-wide expression analysis: dynein, alpha-PIX and sorcin.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant class of glial neoplasm (grade IV in WHO criteria), carries the worst clinical prognosis among primary brain tumors in adults. To identify a set of genes involved in the tumorigenesis of GBM, we evaluated expression profiles of GBM tissues from 11 patients using a cDNA microarray representing 25,344 human genes. By comparing the profiles with those of normal brain tissue, we identified a number of differentially expressed genes: 54 with increased expression and 45 with reduced expression in GBMs. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR experiments with 6 of those genes confirmed higher expression of DNCH2, ARHGEF6, NPM1 and SRI and lower expression of NRGN and TM4SF2 in GBM tumors. Immunohistochemical staining for 3 of the respective gene products, dynein (product of DNCH2), alpha-PIX (product of ARHGEF6), and sorcin (product of SRI) indicated that this technique might be useful for histological grading of glial tumors. To establish criteria for this diagnostic approach, we scored glial tumor tissues of different histological grades according to the staining results; the scores were significantly higher in anaplastic astrocytomas and GBMs than in diffuse astrocytomas or normal brain tissues. These findings indicated that levels of these three proteins might serve as histological markers for malignant glioma classification.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed2005

Growth hormone enhances natural killer cell activity against glioma.

Although it is now known that pituitary hormones activate the immune system, there are still numerous questions to be answered with regard to the mechanisms involved. In this study, which focuses on growth hormone (GH) and natural killer (NK) cells, the latter's antitumor effects on glioma were investigated. Using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled rat 9L glioma and NK-receptive YAC-1 cells as target cells and rat splenocytes as effector cells, a cytotoxicity assay was carried out with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter method, which stains dead cells with propidium iodide. The effector cells were pretreated 48 hours in advance with various concentrations of GH. A similar experiment was also carried out in the presence of anti-asialo-GM1 antibodies. When the GH concentration of 9L was 10 to 40 microg/ml, cytotoxicity was confirmed to have been enhanced 17% to 39%. This enhancement disappeared in the presence of anti-asialo-GM1 antibodies. A similar increase in cytotoxic activity was also confirmed in YAC-1 cells. In this experiment we observed GH enhancement of natural killer activity against glioma.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Up-regulation of CC chemokine, CCL3L1, and receptors, CCR3, CCR5 in human glioblastoma that promotes cell growth.

Human CC ligand 3-like protein 1 (CCL3L1), a member of the CC chemokine family, that induces MCP1 and RANTES, exhibits a variety of proinflammatory activities including chemotaxis, and functional and proliferative activation of leukocytes, lymphocytes and macrophages. Its signal is transmitted through transmembrane receptors, CC chemokine receptors, CCR1, CCR3 and CCR5. To examine gene expression of chemokine, CCL3L1, and its receptors, CCR1, CCR3 and CCR5, we analyzed tumor tissues from 21 patients with several types of primary gliomas. CCL3L1, CCR3 and CCR5 gene exhibited over-expression in 70% (7/10), 60% (6/10), and 60% (6/10) of glioblastoma, in comparison with lower frequencies seen in lower-grade gliomas. Transfection of CCL3L1-expression vector to glioblastoma cell line enhanced proliferation of the tumor cells. These data suggest that increased expression of the CCL3L1, CCR3 and CCR5 chemokine-receptors system is involved in brain tumorigenesis, especially in the progression of glioblastoma.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2004

A procedure for fitting a fixed partial denture to an existing removable partial denture.

An indirect technique for fitting a new cast gold crown or fixed partial denture (FPD) to an existing removable partial denture (RPD) is presented. This method uses an acrylic resin coping made on a definitive cast fit directly to the patient's RPD intraorally, with the new FPD subsequently completed on the cast. The patient does not have to relinquish the RPD for laboratory procedures, although an appointment is required to fit the coping intraorally where contact is made with the RPD.

Crowns↗

PubMed2004

Implementation of integrated medical curriculum in Japanese medical schools.

Recently, various integrated medical curricula, which can be defined as courses with subject matter classified by organ systems rather than according to departments such as surgery and internal medicine, are beginning to be introduced to bedside-learning in Japan. For example, in such an integrated medical curriculum, lectures in the course on neurological diseases would be given by a team that would include neurosurgeons, neurologists, and pathologists. Using medical education on neurological diseases as an example of an integrated medical curriculum, we analyzed the factors related to the neurological disease course as an example of an integrated medical curriculum in the clinical medicine course at our school. We also compared our course with those of all private medical schools in Japan, using the syllabuses of these private medical schools for the comparison, and considered elements that measured interdisciplinary participation in presenting the curriculum. For an integrated medical curriculum to gain interdisciplinary acceptance, the curriculum should be constituted using all medical disciplines related to the specific organ involved in the disease process under study, including both basic medicine and clinical medicine. In addition, teachers should be informed of the rationale for such a curriculum to promote their participation and a textbook on the integrated medical curriculum is needed. A curriculum committee should play an important role in promoting this type of medical education.

Curriculum↗

PubMed2004

Chronic subdural hematoma following dural metastasis of gastric cancer: measurement of pre- and postoperative cerebral blood flow with N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine--case report.

A 58-year-old female with gastric cancer presented with left chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) without history of head injury. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed left CSH with atypical findings such as abnormal dural enhancement and swelling of the left cerebral hemisphere. One month after gastrectomy, motor aphasia and right hemiparesis developed. Irrigation of the left CSH was performed. The hematoma was abnormally mucinous and became solid immediately after irrigation. Histological examination showed that adenocarcinoma cells had metastasized to the dura mater and the outer membrane of the hematoma. The preoperative cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the affected cerebral hemisphere, measured by single photon emission computed tomography using N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine, was much higher than that in the opposite hemisphere, whereas the postoperative CBF was almost equal in both hemispheres. Subdural hematomas secondary to dural metastases of extraneuronal malignancies are rare, and are usually the chronic type. Measurement of the pre- and postoperative CBF in the present patient with CSH following dural metastasis of the malignant tumor showed that preoperative hyperemia in the affected hemisphere may result from dilation of the cerebral vessels caused by the effects of the CSH.

Central Nervous System Neoplasms↗