Biomedical subjects

M Sugiyama

Publications and source records attributed to M Sugiyama.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Determination of high mobility group I(Y) expression level in colorectal neoplasias: a potential diagnostic marker.

High mobility group I(Y) [HMGI(Y)] proteins are architectural factors abundantly expressed during embryogenesis, and their overexpression is known to be closely associated with neoplastic transformation of cells. This study was performed to investigate whether determination of HMGI(Y) expression level could assist in (a) differential diagnosis between colorectal carcinoma, adenoma, and normal tissue and (b) determination of the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. To this end, HMGI(Y) expression was determined at both the protein and mRNA levels in 30 colorectal carcinomas, 26 adenomas, and 23 normal mucosa samples, and further correlations between the protein expression levels and various clinicopathological parameters, such as depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic and/or venous involvement, regional lymph node metastasis, and Dukes' stage, were determined in 30 carcinoma cases. The expression of HMGI(Y) proteins was significantly increased in carcinoma and adenoma with severe atypia compared with that in adenoma with less atypia and normal colorectal mucosa. This increase in HMGI(Y) protein expression was found to be because of an increase in its mRNA expression by RNA in situ hybridization analysis. Clinicopathological analysis revealed that the level of HMGI(Y) protein expression was significantly correlated with parameters known to be indicative of a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. These findings indicate that the determination of the HMGI(Y) protein expression level could be a potential marker for the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasias and can be of great value in predicting the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Characterization of the bleomycin resistance determinant encoded on the transposon Tn5.

The transposon Tn5 carries a gene, ble, which confers resistance to bleomycin (Bm) and gives a survival advantage to its host cell. We found that the ble gene product, designated BLMT, is a binding protein with a strong affinity for Bm. BLMT quenched both the antibacterial and DNA-cleaving activities of Bm, when incubated with the antibiotic. An electron spin resonance spin-trapping analysis showed that BLMT inhibits the generation of Bm-induced hydroxyl radical, by trapping Bm but not the hydroxyl radical. Western blot analysis using an anti-BLMT monoclonal antibody revealed that BLMT is immunologically distinct from Bm-binding proteins from Streptomyces verticillus, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptoalloteichus hindustanus. Escherichia coli, transformed with a mutant ble having leucine instead of proline at N-terminal amino acid position 7, lost resistance to Bm, although the cell maintained the survival benefit. This suggests that the Bm resistance mediated by ble is independent of its ability to give a survival advantage to the host bacterium.

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed1999

Value of ST-segment elevation pattern in predicting infarct size and left ventricular function at discharge in patients with reperfused acute anterior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The implication of the shape of ST elevation in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the relation between the shape of ST elevation and infarct size in 77 patients who had a first acute anterior MI with successful reperfusion within 6 hours from symptom onset. A 12-lead electrocardiogram was recorded immediately before reperfusion confirmed by coronary angiography. The shape of ST elevation in lead V3 was classified into 3 types: concave type (n = 24), straight type (n = 41), and convex type (n = 12). For concave type, straight type, and convex type, a median value of peak creatine kinase was 2287, 4371, and 5322 mU/mL, and left ventricular ejection fraction measured by left ventriculography at discharge (14 days after MI) was 58%, 48%, and 41% (P <.05; concave type versus the other 2 types), respectively. A multivariate logistic regression model demonstrated that the concave type of ST elevation was a strong predicting factor for preserved left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction >/=50% at discharge; odds ratio 6.2, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 20.8, P =.019). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with reperfused acute anterior MI, left ventricular function was excellent in patients with concave type, intermediate in those with straight type, and relatively poor in those with convex type ST elevation at discharge. This simple classification is useful for predicting left ventricular function at discharge.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Organogenesis in vitro.

Organogenesis in vitro consists of many aspects such as phytohormone perception, dedifferentiation of differentiated cells to acquire organogenic competence, re-entry of quiescent cells into cell cycle, and organization of cell division to form specific organ primordia and meristems. Some of elementary processes and essential genes involved in this composite phenomenon are being identified largely through genetic analysis with various types of mutants including temperature-sensitive and activation-tagged ones.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed1999

Management of prenatally diagnosed congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.

We have treated four prenatally diagnosed cases of extensive congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung. The first case in 1982 was associated with severe fetal hydrops. After thoracentesis at 31 weeks of gestation abruptio placentae occurred, and a female baby was delivered by cesarean section. She underwent a right lower lobectomy, but soon died. The second baby without hydrops, diagnosed as having CCAM at 26 weeks of gestation, was followed conservatively until full term. After birth, it was necessary to treat the baby boy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), but he survived. The third baby with fetal hydrops had an indwelling drainage catheter inserted into the CCAM at 27 weeks of gestation. The hydrops subsided and the baby was delivered at 37 weeks of gestation. He was allowed to breathe spontaneously, but was intubated 16 hours after birth. A right lower lobectomy was successfully performed 24 hours after delivery. The fourth baby without fetal hydrops was followed conservatively until delivery. He underwent left lower lobectomy successfully on the 4th day of life. Although management of prenatally diagnosed CCAM varies among patients, insertion of an indwelling catheter into the cyst appears to be the treatment of choice if indicated; the catheter can be maintained for as long as 10 weeks, as shown in Case 3. Cases of CCAM without fetal hydrops should also be treated carefully, because persistent fetal circulation may occur postnatally.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

PubMed1999

Differential diagnosis of small polypoid lesions of the gallbladder: the value of endoscopic ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in making a differential diagnosis of small (< or =20 mm) polypoid lesions of the gallbladder. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Differential diagnosis of these lesions is often difficult using conventional imaging modalities. METHODS: The findings of EUS and transabdominal ultrasonography were retrospectively analyzed in 65 surgical cases of small polypoid lesions (cholesterol polyp in 40, adenomyomatosis in 9, adenoma in 4, and adenocarcinoma in 12). RESULTS: Polypoid lesions exceeding 10 mm suggested malignancy. EUS showed a tiny echogenic spot or an aggregation of echogenic spots with or without echopenic areas in 95% of patients with cholesterol polyps. EUS showed multiple microcysts or comet tail artifact in all adenomyomatosis cases. Adenomas and adenocarcinomas were not associated with the echogenic spots, microcysts, or artifacts. Among adenomas and adenocarcinomas, all sessile lesions were adenocarcinomas. EUS differentiated among polypoid lesions more precisely than ultrasonography (97% vs. 71%). CONCLUSIONS: A tiny echogenic spot or an aggregation of echogenic spots and multiple microcysts or comet tail artifact is pathognomonic for cholesterol polyp and adenomyomatosis, respectively. Polypoid lesions without these findings indicate adenoma or adenocarcinoma on EUS. Routine use of EUS is recommended for differential diagnosis of polypoid gallbladder lesions when ultrasonography shows no signs indicative of either cholesterol polyp or adenomyomatosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of bleomycin-binding protein encoded on the transposon Tn5.

A bleomycin-binding protein, designated BLMT, encoded on the transposon Tn5 was crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method in a form suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals were grown at pH 6.5 in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate and 0.2 M calcium acetate, using 25% PEG 6000 as a precipitant. They belong to the orthorhombic system, space group C2221, with unit-cell dimensions a = 81.56, b = 85.25, c = 78.91 A and one dimer in the asymmetric unit. The diffraction intensity data were collected on beamline 18B of the Photon Factory to 2.0 A resolution with a merging R value of 0.052. The diffraction data set is 91% complete.

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed1999

Does endoscopic sphincterotomy cause prolonged pancreatobiliary reflux?

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) reduces sphincter function, which may allow reflux of pancreatic juice and intestinal contents into the common bile duct. The reflux, if present, may cause development of biliary tract carcinomas, as may anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction. We prospectively investigated pancreatobiliary and duodenobiliary reflux after ES. METHODS: In 15 patients with choledocholithiasis, ductal bile was sampled for amylase concentration and bacterial culture during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, before and at 7 days to 5 yr after ES. To provide comparative data, ductal bile was sampled in 11 patients with gallbladder cholesterol polyps or anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction who did not undergo ES. RESULTS: Amylase concentration of ductal bile in patients with choledocholithiasis before ES was not different from that in patients with gallbladder polyps. Its concentration was increased 7 days after ES compared with that before ES, reaching the level of that in patients with anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction. Thereafter, amylase concentration gradually decreased, returning to that before ES by 1 yr. After ES, bactobilia occurred in 60-80% of patients, although none developed acute cholangitis. CONCLUSIONS: Although ES causes transient pancreatobiliary reflux, the reflux is abolished by 1 yr after ES. ES is unlikely to increase the risk for development of biliary tract carcinoma as long as cholangitis or bile duct stones do not recur.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Extrapancreatic neoplasms occur with unusual frequency in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE: Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas has a favorable prognosis. Non-pancreatic primary neoplasms have potential prognostic significance in patients with IPMT. This study focused on the incidence and characteristics of nonpancreatic neoplasms in IPMT patients. METHODS: Forty-two patients (mean age, 64 yr) with IPMT underwent surgery; 16 had adenoma and 26 adenocarcinoma. Preoperative and postoperative, nonpancreatic neoplasms were investigated. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 4.2 yr (range, 0.2-13 yr). Furthermore, 46 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were analyzed for nonpancreatic neoplasms. RESULTS: Five-year survival rates were 100% for benign and 82% for malignant IPMT. Twenty patients (48%) had nonpancreatic neoplasms, before (n = 11), at (n = 4), and after (n = 10) surgery for IPMT. Fifteen patients (32%) had nonpancreatic malignancies. Nonpancreatic neoplasms included colorectal adenomas (21%) and adenocarcinomas (12%), and gastric carcinomas (10%). One patient died of subsequent bile duct carcinoma. Development of nonpancreatic neoplasms was related to age but not to gender, family history, adjuvant chemotherapy, or IPMT pathology. The incidences of nonpancreatic neoplasms and malignancies were significantly higher in patients with IPMT than in those with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (11% and 7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IPMT is associated with a high incidence of nonpancreatic neoplasms, particularly colorectal neoplasms. In IPMT patients, systemic surveillance may allow early detection of second tumors. In preoperative screening and postoperative follow-up of patients with nonpancreatic neoplasms, the possibility of IPMT should be considered.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMed1999

Synthesis of 2-phenylbenzofuran derivatives as testosterone 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor.

A series of 2-phenylbenzofuran derivatives with a carbamoyl, alkylamino, or alkyloxy group at the 5 or 6 position of the benzofuran ring were synthesized and evaluated for rat and human testosterone 5 alpha-reductase inhibitory activities in vitro. Against rat enzyme, the carbamoyl derivatives had more potent inhibitory activities than the alkylamino or alkyloxy derivatives, and the 6-carbamoyl derivatives tended to be more potent than the 5-carbamoyl derivatives. Against human enzyme, the 6-substituted derivatives had more potent inhibitory activities than the 5-substituted derivatives. The 6-carbamoyl and 6-alkylamino derivatives tended to show stronger inhibitory activities against human type 1 enzyme than against type 2 enzyme, but they were not largely selective.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗

PubMed1999

Reappraisal of intraoperative ultrasonography for pancreatobiliary carcinomas: assessment of malignant portal venous invasion.

BACKGROUND: Conventional preoperative imaging modalities are unreliable for assessing portal venous invasion by pancreatobiliary carcinoma. We evaluated the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonography for detecting pancreatobiliary carcinoma and assessing portal venous invasion, compared with other imaging modalities. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with pancreatic carcinoma (n = 66) or bile duct carcinoma (n = 25) underwent ultrasonography, computed tomography, angiography, and endoscopic ultrasonography preoperatively. All these patients underwent tumor resection, with (n = 23) or without (n = 68) portal vein resection, after intraoperative ultrasonography. Portal venous invasion was histologically examined in all patients. RESULTS: Intraoperative ultrasonography was significantly more sensitive (100%) than ultrasonography (79%), computed tomography (81%), and angiography (54%) for detecting carcinomas, especially bile duct carcinomas and small (< or = 2.0 cm) tumors. Portal venous invasion was confirmed histopathologically in 25 patients. For diagnosing portal venous invasion, intraoperative ultrasonography was more sensitive (92%) and specific (92%) than ultrasonography (56% and 73%), computed tomography (64% and 79%), and angiography (76% and 83%), respectively. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a 95% detectability for carcinomas and a 92% accuracy for assessing portal venous invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative ultrasonography is a simple and accurate procedure for detection of pancreatobiliary carcinomas and assessment of portal venous invasion.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

New electrocardiographic criteria for predicting the site of coronary artery occlusion in inferior wall acute myocardial infarction.

In patients with inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the site of the culprit lesion is an important determinant of outcome. Patients with right ventricular infarction have a poor prognosis, whereas those with occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) have a good prognosis. Therefore, we assessed whether standard 12-lead electrocardiograms obtained on admission could identify the site of coronary artery occlusion, (i.e., a site proximal to the origin of the right ventricular branch of the right coronary artery [RCA], a site distal to the origin of the right ventricular branch of the RCA, or a site in the LCx). The ratio of ST depression in lead V3 to ST elevation in lead III (V3/III ratio) was evaluated immediately before coronary angiography in 152 patients with a first inferior wall AMI confirmed by coronary angiography within 12 hours after the onset of symptoms. For occlusion of the proximal RCA, distal RCA, and LCx, V3/III ratio was 0.2+/-0.3, 0.8+/-0.5, and 2.5+/-2.5 (p = 0.0001), respectively. The V3/III ratio <0.5 identified proximal RCA occlusion, 0.5 <V3/III ratio < or = 1.2 identified distal RCA occlusion, and 1.2 <V3/III ratio identified LCx occlusion with sensitivities of 91%, 84%, and 84%, and specificities of 91%, 93%, and 95%, respectively. We conclude that the V3/III ratio is useful in predicting the site of coronary artery occlusion in patients with inferior wall AMI.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Site-directed mutagenesis of the A-factor receptor protein: Val-41 important for DNA-binding and Trp-119 important for ligand-binding.

The A-factor receptor protein (ArpA) plays a key role in the regulation of secondary metabolism and cellular differentiation in Streptomyces griseus. ArpA binds the target DNA site forming a 22 bp palindrome in the absence of A-factor, and exogenous addition of A-factor to the ArpA-DNA complex immediately releases ArpA from the DNA. An amino acid (aa) replacement at Val-41 to Ala in an alpha-helix-turn-alpha-helix (HTH) motif at the N-terminal portion of ArpA abolished DNA-binding activity but not A-factor-binding activity, suggesting the involvement of this HTH in DNA-binding. On the other hand, an aa replacement at Trp-119 to Ala generated a mutant ArpA that was unable to bind A-factor, thus resulting in an A-factor-insensitive mutant that bound normally to its target DNA in both the presence and absence of A-factor. These data suggest that ArpA consisting of two functional domains, one for HTH-type DNA-binding at the N-terminal portion and one for A-factor-binding at the C-terminal portion, is a member of the LacI family. Consistent with this, two ArpA homologues, CprA and CprB, from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), each of which contains a very similar aa sequence of the HTH to that of ArpA, also recognized and bound the same DNA target. However, neither CprA nor CprB recognized A-factor, probably due to much less similarity in the C-terminal domains.

4-Butyrolactone↗

PubMed1998

Alliinase [S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxide lyase] from Allium tuberosum (Chinese chive)--purification, localization, cDNA cloning and heterologous functional expression.

Alliinase [S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxide lyase], a pyridoxal-phosphate-(Pxy-P)-dependent enzyme, is responsible for the degradative conversion of S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxide to volatile odorous sulfur-containing metabolites in Allium plants. We have purified alliinase from shoots of Allium tuberosum (Chinese chive) to apparent homogeneity by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A cDNA clone encoding alliinase was isolated from a cDNA library constructed from whole plants of A. tuberosum by hybridization screening with a synthetic 50-residue oligonucleotide encoding a conserved region of the alliinases from onion and garlic. The isolated cDNA encoded a protein of 476 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 54083 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 66-69% identities with those of reported alliinases from onion, garlic and shallot. The partial amino acid sequence, which was determined for a V8 protease-digested peptide fragment of the purified alliinase, was perfectly matched with the sequence deduced from the cDNA. An expression vector of recombinant alliinase cDNA was constructed in yeast. The catalytically active protein was in the soluble fraction of transformed yeast. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments indicated that Lys280 was essential for the catalytic activity and, thus, a possible Pxy-P-binding residue. The mRNA expression of the alliinase gene comprising a multigene family in the shoots of green plants was twofold higher than that in the roots of green plants; however, the expression in the shoots of etiolated plants was only 13% that in green shoots, although the expression in the roots was not remarkably different between in green and etiolated plants. Immunohistochemical investigation indicated that the alliinase protein is predominantly accumulated in the bundle sheath cells of shoots of A. tuberosum.

Allium↗

PubMed1998

BEN1 and ZEN1 cDNAs encoding S1-type DNases that are associated with programmed cell death in plants.

We describe the isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding two DNases that may be involved in the programmed death of plant cells: a 35-kDa nuclease of barley, which had been reported to be secreted from the aleurone layer into the endosperm during germination and may be responsible for the digestion of nuclear DNA in the course of degradation (cell death) of endosperm, and a 43-kDa nuclease of zinnia, which appears transiently in association with differentiation to tracheary elements and is likely to participate in the autolysis at the final step of the differentiation. Genes for these nucleases of barley and zinnia were designated BEN1 and ZEN1, respectively. The amino acid sequence of BEN1 protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence of BEN1 cDNA consisted of 288 residues with a putative signal sequence of 23 residues. RNA gel blot analysis revealed that BEN1 mRNA increased in the embryo-less half seeds of barley in response to the application of gibberellic acid. The deduced amino acid sequence of ZEN1 protein consisted of 303 residues with a putative signal sequence of 25 residues. Temporal accumulation of ZEN1 mRNA was detected during transdifferentiation of zinnia mesophyll cells into tracheary elements. Significant similarities were found among the amino acid sequences of BEN1, ZEN1, nuclease S1 from Aspergillus oryzae, and two other S1-type nucleases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Synthesis and 5 alpha-reductase inhibitory activities of benzofuran derivatives with a carbamoyl group.

A series of 2-phenylbenzofuran derivatives with a diphenylmethylcarbamoyl group at the 5 or 6 position of the benzofuran ring were synthesized and evaluated for rat and human testosterone 5 alpha-reductase inhibitory activities in vitro. They had inhibitory activities against both enzymes and the 6-carbamoyl derivatives tended to be more potent than the 5-carbamoyl compounds.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗

PubMed1998

Cloning and characterization of a gene (UVR3) required for photorepair of 6-4 photoproducts in Arabidopsis thaliana.

UV radiation induces two major classes of pyrimidine dimers: the pyrimidine [6-4] pyrimidone photoproduct (6-4 product) and the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD). Many organisms produce enzymes, termed photolyases, that specifically bind to these damage products and split them via a UV-A/blue light-dependent mechanism, thereby reversing the damage. These photolyases are specific for either CPDs or 6-4 products. A gene that expresses a protein with 6-4 photolyase activity in vitro was recently cloned from Drosophila melanogaster and Xenopus laevis. We report here the isolation of a homolog of this gene, cloned on the basis of sequence similarity, from the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This cloned gene produces a protein with 6-4 photolyase activity when expressed in Escherichia coli. We also find that a previously described mutant of Arabidopsis (uvr3) that is defective in photoreactivation of 6-4 products carries a nonsense mutation in this 6-4 photolyase homolog. We have therefore termed this gene UVR3. Although homologs of this gene have previously been shown to produce a functional 6-4 photolyase when expressed in heterologous systems, this is the first demonstration of a requirement for this gene for photoreactivation of 6-4 products in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of bleomycin-binding protein from bleomycin-producing Streptomyces verticillus.

A bleomycin-binding protein (BLMA) produced by bleomycin-producing Streptomyces verticullus was crystallized in a form suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis using the vapor-diffusion method. Crystals were grown at pH 5.7, in 0.2 M NH4 actate and 0.1 M Na acetate, using 30% PEG 4000 as a precipitant. They belong to the orthorhombic system, with space group P21212, cell dimensions a = 54. 90, b = 67.94, c = 35.60 A, and one BLMA molecule in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract X-rays well and the diffraction intensity data was collected up to 1.5 A resolution with a merging R value of 0.054 at beamline 6B of the Photon Factory. The diffraction data set is 94% complete.

Bacterial Proteins↗