PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Tanabe

Publications and source records attributed to M Tanabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The synthetic TRH analogue taltirelin exerts modality-specific antinociceptive effects via distinct descending monoaminergic systems.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Exogenously administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is known to exert potent but short-acting centrally-mediated antinociceptive effects. We sought to investigate the mechanisms underlying these effects using the synthetic TRH analogue taltirelin, focusing on the descending monoaminergic systems in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The mice received systemic or local injections of taltirelin combined with either central noradrenaline (NA) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) depletion by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), respectively, or blockade of their receptors. The degree of antinociception was determined using the tail flick and tail pressure tests. KEY RESULTS: Subcutaneously (s.c.) administered taltirelin exhibited dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in the tail flick and tail pressure tests. These effects appeared to be primarily supraspinally mediated, since intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) but not intrathecally (i.t.) injected taltirelin generated similar effects. Depletion of central NA abolished only the analgesic effect of taltirelin (s.c. and i.c.v.) on mechanical nociception. By contrast, depletion of central 5-HT abolished only its analgesic effect on thermal nociception. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) and i.t. injection of the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine respectively reduced the analgesic effect of taltirelin (s.c. and i.c.v.) on mechanical nociception. By contrast, the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (i.p. and i.t.) reduced the effect of taltirelin (s.c. and i.c.v.) on thermal nociception. Neither the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin nor the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone altered the antinociceptive effect of taltirelin. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that taltirelin activates the descending noradrenergic and serotonergic pain inhibitory systems, respectively, to exert its analgesic effects on mechanical and thermal nociception.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Verminous encephalitis in a horse produced by nematodes in the family protostrongylidae.

Parasitic granulomatous eosinophilic inflammation was observed in the central nervous system (CNS) of a 6-month-old Arabian colt from New York state. Inflammation was associated with eggs, larvae, and adult nematodes in the cerebellum. Nematodes had histological characteristics of the superfamily Metastrongyloidea. The presence of dorsal-spined larvae in the CNS was further indicative of infection with a nematode in the family Protostrongylidae. Infections were most compatible with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis but specific diagnosis was not possible. This is the first definitive report of a protostrongylid nematode infection in a horse.

Animals↗

Transcription-reverse transcription concerted reaction and minimal residual disease in axillary sentinel nodes of breast cancer.

AIMS: To investigate the use of transcription-reverse transcription concerted reaction (TRC) to detect axillary lymph node metastases. METHODS: Metastases in 423 lymph nodes obtained from 50 breast cancer patients were investigated by routine pathological hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining and quantitative analysis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA by TRC. Enhanced pathological studies, serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry were conducted for cases which were negative by routine pathology, but positive by TRC. RESULTS: Pathological examination identified metastatic disease in 67 lymph nodes. TRC CEA mRNA results were concordant with 89.8% of these cases at a threshold of 100 copies. TRC identified 30 false negative nodes, which was reduced to 15 by excluding node biopsies yielding less than 40 microg total RNA. Twelve nodes were histologically negative for cancer, but positive according to TRC. Serial sectioning and immunohistochemical analysis of these nodes revealed macrometastatic lesions in three, micrometastasis in one, and isolated tumor cells in two. CONCLUSION: TRC for the detection of CEA mRNA may complement routine pathological examination by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) in early breast cancer. We have started an enhanced pathological examination with serial sectioning on all excised sentinel nodes to set the best threshold for the TRC method.

Adult↗

Blue-dye technique complements four-node sampling for early breast cancer.

AIMS: To examine four-node axillary sampling assisted by a blue dye (4NAS/dye) technique as a sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for breast cancer. METHODS: Lymphatic mapping was performed by injection of patent blue for 33 consecutive cases with breast cancer. Axillary sampling was performed until four nodes were obtained. This was followed by back-up axillary lymph node dissection to examine the feasibility of 4NAS/dye. The same study with 30 cases was conducted at an independent hospital to confirm the feasibility of this method. This method was then applied to 101 consecutive clinically node-negative patients to avoid axillary-node dissection, with intraoperative diagnosis made by frozen section examination. RESULTS: The median numbers of blue-stained nodes and nodes excised by 4NAS/dye were 1.7 and 3.4, respectively. The identification rate of sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) was 81.8% using the dye alone and 97.0% when the combination was used. Pathological examination revealed that the nodal status was correctly predicted by the dye alone in 62.5% of cases with metastasis, whereas in 100% by 4NAS/dye. The dye alone was not sufficient to identify SNs, especially in cases with prior excisional biopsy. The identification rate of SNs and the accuracy rate in another feasibility study were 100% and 92.5% in 30 consecutive cases, respectively. 4NAS/dye successfully detected SNs in 100 of 101 cases of the subsequent observational study with an acceptable post-operative axillary morbidity and thus succeeded as an SNB. CONCLUSIONS: The 4NAS/dye method is reliable for the detection of SNs. This method could be applied to observational studies without radio-isotope.

Adult↗

Susceptibilities to clarithromycin, amoxycillin and metronidazole of Helicobacter pylori isolates from the antrum and corpus in Tokyo, Japan, 1995-2001.

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibilities to clarithromycin, amoxycillin and metronidazole of Helicobacter pylori isolates from the antrum and corpus of Japanese patients examined during the period 1995-2001. There was an increase, from 6.2% in 1995 to 22.1% in 2000-2001, in the proportion of patients infected with clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori. Of patients infected with clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori, 39.1% were infected with both clarithromycin-susceptible and -resistant H. pylori. Furthermore, the MIC90 of clarithromycin for H. pylori rose from < 1 mg/L in 1995-1998 to 8 mg/L in 1999. In contrast, the MIC90s of amoxycillin and metronidazole were < or = 0.125 and 4 mg/L, respectively, throughout the study period. The results showed that, while most H. pylori isolates were susceptible to amoxycillin and metronidazole, resistance to clarithromycin among H. pylori isolates increased markedly in Japan during 1995-2001. The results also indicated a need to test the susceptibility of H. pylori isolates from more than two samples obtained from two different sites in the stomach of a single patient in order to diagnose the presence of clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori correctly.

Adolescent↗

Idiopathic complex polysaccharide storage disease in an abyssinian cat.

A glycogen storage disease affecting primarily the skeletal muscle and, to a lesser degree, the cardiac muscle, spinal cord, and brain was diagnosed in a 10-year-old neutered Abyssinian cat with a 4-year history of paresis progressing to acute paralysis. Microscopically, these tissues contained inclusions that were pale basophilic in hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides, diastase resistant, periodic acid-Schiff positive, and blue-to-almost black with iodine stain. By transmission electron microscopy, the inclusions consisted of cytosolic, usually sharply demarcated, nonmembrane-bound deposits of finely granular and filamentous material. On the basis of the structural and histochemical staining characteristics, the inclusions were believed to be aggregates of abnormally stored, unbranched glycogen. A defect in glucose metabolism is suspected to be the underlying pathologic process, but an exact cause remains elusive.

Animals↗

The potential for oral combination chemotherapy of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, a 5-FU prodrug, and cyclophosphamide for metastatic breast cancer.

Preclinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic anti-tumour activity of combination therapy with the oral cytostatics, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and cyclophosphamide (CPA), in human breast cancer xenograft models. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this oral combination chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In all, 101 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in the study, and the data for 94 eligible patients of these were evaluated. The patients received twice daily oral combinations of 5'-DFUR (1200 mg/body/day) and CPA (100 mg/body/day) for 2 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest period. After a median of 19 treatment cycles (range 1-66 cycles), 16 patients (17.0%) had a complete response, and 40 patients (42.6%) had partial responses. The response rate was 59.6% (95% CI, 49.0-69.6%). The median time to progression and overall survival times were 11.7 and 40.3 months, respectively. The toxicity was mild and tolerable, and the related grade 3/4 clinical adverse effects consisted of haematological toxicity in 21 patients (22%) and nonhaematological toxicity in five patients (5%). These results suggest that the oral combination chemotherapy of 5'-DFUR and CPA has low toxicity and is a novel, very convenient and effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

Administration, Oral↗

Evaluation of autologous cultured epithelium as replacement skin after tattoo excision: correlation between skin texture and histological features.

BACKGROUND: Cultured epidermal autographs (CEAs) are currently used as a coverage treatment for burn wounds, for disfiguring burn scars involving depigmentation and in restoring the elasticity of the skin. The advantage of CEAs is that epidermal sheets prepared from small skin pieces can be enlarged sufficiently to cover large burn areas. OBJECTIVES: We examined the correlation between recovery of skin texture, and elastic fibre formation and keratinocyte differentiation (assessed by immunohistochemistry) in CEAs used as replacement skin after tattoo excision in a Japanese patient. METHODS: The tattooed skin was excised down to the deep dermal layer and then CEA was transplanted onto the patient. The skin textures were evaluated by taking replicas of the skin surface, and histological changes of filaggrin, transglutaminase, involucrin, fibrillin and elastin in the autograft skin were examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The skin texture improved with time after grafting the CEA, and appeared similar to that of normal skin at 39 months. Among keratinocyte differentiation markers, filaggrin recovered to a normal pattern at around 6 months, and transglutaminase did so at 39 months, whereas involucrin expression remained abnormal at 39 months. Fibrillin expression appeared similar to that of normal skin by 39 months, except for sparse candelabra-like structures of short fibres. Elastin expression remained at a low level throughout. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the recovery of skin texture after application of CEAs following tattoo excision is associated with the normalization of epidermal differentiation markers, except involucrin, and with the regeneration of elastic fibres in the dermis.

Adult↗

Tributyltin or triphenyltin inhibits aromatase activity in the human granulosa-like tumor cell line KGN.

The superimposition of male sex organs (penis and vas deferens) in a female gastropod, called imposex, is widely attributed to the exposure to tributyltin (TBT) compounds, used world-wide in antifouling paints for ships. It has been hypothesized that the TBT-induced imposex is mediated by an increasing androgen level relative to the estrogen level, namely a decreased conversion of androgens to estrogens (i.e., aromatization). In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by examining the effects of TBT or triphenyltin (TPT) on the aromatase activity in a cultured human granulosa-like tumor cell line, KGN, which was recently established by our group. Treatment with more than 1000 ng/ml TBT compounds was very toxic to the cells and caused immediate cell death within 24 h, while 200 ng/ml was found to cause apoptosis of the cells. Treatment of the KGN cells for more than 48 h with 20 ng/ml TBT or TPT, which is a concentration level reported to cause imposex in marine species, did not affect cell proliferation but significantly suppressed the aromatase activity determined by a [(3)H]H(2)O release assay. Treatment with 20 ng/ml TBT compounds for 7 days also resulted in a reduction of the E2 production from Delta 4-androstenedione stimulated by db-cAMP. The changes in the aromatase activity by TBT compounds were associated with comparable changes in P450arom mRNA assessed by RT-PCR. The luciferase activity of the P450arom promoter II (1 kb) decreased after the addition of 20 ng/ml TBT compounds in transfected KGN cells either in a basic state or in states stimulated by db-cAMP. The Ad4BP-dependent increase in the luciferase activity of P450arom promoter II was also downregulated by such treatments. These results indicate that TBT compounds inhibited the aromatase activity and also decreased the P450arom mRNA level at the transcriptional level in KGN cells. The direct inhibitory effect of TBT compounds on the aromatase activity may therefore partly explain the induction of imposex by these compounds in female species.

Androstenedione↗

ATP synthase F(1) sector rotation. Defective torque generation in the beta subunit Ser-174 to Phe mutant and its suppression by second mutations.

Subunit gamma of the ATP synthase F(1) sector is located at the center of the alpha(3)beta(3) hexamer and rotates unidirectionally during ATP hydrolysis, generating the rotational torque of approximately 45 pN.nm. A mutant F(1) with the betaSer-174 to Phe substitution (betaS174F) in the beta subunit generated lower torque ( approximately 17 pN.nm), indicating that betaS174F is mechanically defective, the first such mutant reported. The defective rotation of betaS174F was suppressed by a second-site mutation, betaGly-149 to Ala, betaIle-163 to Ala, or betaIle-166 to Ala in the same subunit, but not by betaLeu-238 to Ala. These results suggest that the region between betaGly-149 and betaSer-174 plays an important role in the coupling between ATP hydrolysis and mechanical work.

Actins↗

Genetic identification of two distinct DNA polymerases, DnaE and PolC, that are essential for chromosomal DNA replication in Staphylococcus aureus.

We isolated and characterized temperature-sensitive mutants for two genes, dnaE and polC, that are essential for DNA replication in Staphylococcus aureus. DNA replication in these mutants had a slow-stop phenotype when the temperature was shifted to a non-permissive level. The dnaE gene encodes a homolog of the alpha-subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, the replicase essential for chromosomal DNA replication in Escherichia coli. The polC gene encodes PolC, another catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase, which is specifically found in gram-positive bacteria. The wild-type dnaE or polC gene complemented the temperature-sensitive phenotypes of cell growth and DNA replication in the corresponding mutant. Single mutations resulting in amino-acid exchanges were identified in the dnaE and polC genes of the temperature-sensitive mutants. The results indicate that these genes encode two distinct DNA polymerases which are both essential for chromosomal DNA replication in S. aureus. The number of viable mutant cells decreased at non-permissive temperature, suggesting that inactivation of DnaE and PolC has a bactericidal effect and that these enzymes are potential targets of antibiotics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rotation of a complex of the gamma subunit and c ring of Escherichia coli ATP synthase. The rotor and stator are interchangeable.

ATP synthase (F0F1) transforms an electrochemical proton gradient into chemical energy (ATP) through the rotation of a subunit assembly. It has been suggested that a complex of the gamma subunit and c ring (c(10-14)) of F0F1 could rotate together during ATP hydrolysis and synthesis (Sambongi, Y., Iko, Y., Tanabe, M., Omote, H., Iwamoto-Kihara, A., Ueda, I., Yanagida, T., Wada, Y., and Futai, M. (1999) Science 286, 1722-1724). We observed that the rotation of the c ring with the cI28T mutation (c subunit cIle-28 replaced by Thr) was less sensitive to venturicidin than that of the wild type, consistent with the antibiotic effect on the cI28T mutant and wild-type ATPase activities (Fillingame, R. H., Oldenburg, M., and Fraga, D. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 20934-20939). Furthermore, we engineered F0F1 to see the alpha(3)beta(3) hexamer rotation; a biotin tag was introduced into the alpha or beta subunit, and a His tag was introduced into the c subunit. The engineered enzymes could be purified by metal affinity chromatography and density gradient centrifugation. They were immobilized on a glass surface through the c subunit, and an actin filament was connected to the alpha or beta subunit. The filament rotated upon the addition of ATP and generated essentially the same frictional torque as one connected to the c ring. These results indicate that the gammaepsilonc(10-14) complex is a mechanical unit of the enzyme and that it can be used as a rotor or a stator experimentally, depending on the subunit immobilized.

Actins↗

Pho85 kinase, a yeast cyclin-dependent kinase, regulates the expression of UGP1 encoding UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase.

The PHO85 gene is a negative regulator of the PHO system in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and encodes a protein kinase (Pho85) highly homologous to the Cdc28 kinase (Cdc28). Ten cyclin-like proteins are known to interact with Pho85, and combination with different cyclins is believed to be responsible for distinct Pho85 functions, including phosphate metabolism, carbon source utilization and cell cycle regulation. However, only a limited number of substrates of Pho85 kinase, including Pho4, Gsy2 and Sicl, have so far been identified. To search for more targets of Pho85 and to clarify the genetic control mechanisms by Pho85 kinase in these cellular functions, we carried out a genome-wide analysis of the effect of a pho85Delta mutation on gene expression. We found that expression of various genes involved in carbon metabolism are affected by the mutation and that among them, UGP1 promoter activity was increased in the absence of Pho85 kinase. This increase in the promoter activity was not observed in a pho4Delta mutant or with a mutant UGP1 promoter that is devoid of putative Pho4 and Bas2 binding sites, suggesting that UGP1 expression is modulated by Pho85 through Pho4. We also found that expression of several Pho85-cyclin genes were altered by the carbon source, the growth phase and Pho85 kinase itself.

Blotting, Northern↗

Adhesion of composite resins to enamel irradiated by the Er:YAG laser: application of the ultrasonic scaler on irradiated surface.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical use of the Er:YAG laser in cavity preparation has become widespread. With respect to cavities prepared with the Er:YAG laser, restorations using composite resins and glass ionomer cements are common. The bond strength of current resin bonding systems to ground enamel is 14-30 MPa, whereas the strength to Er:YAG laser-irradiated enamel, regardless of the use or non-use of phosphoric acid etching is less than 10 MPa. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this investigation, an ultrasonic scaler was tested as a technique to increase the bond strength of composite resins to the Er:YAG irradiated enamel surface. RESULTS: The application of the ultrasonic scaler significantly increased bond strength. CONCLUSIONS: The tensile bond strength in the groups treated with the ultrasonic scaler exhibited approximately twice the strength observed in groups treated with laser irradiation alone.

Composite Resins↗

The role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta in ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat small intestine.

BACKGROUND: To determine the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1 in small-intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury, we investigated the effect of FR 167653, a specific IL-1 and TNF inhibitor, on warm I-R injury of the rat small intestine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male rats treated with either saline (NS group) or FR 167653 (FR group) underwent 150 min of warm small-intestinal ischemia by applying a vascular clip at the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. In addition to the survival analyses, we investigated plasma TNF-alpha and endotoxin levels, intestinal tissue TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels, hematocrit values and the amount of exudates in the intestinal lumen, glutamic aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and histological findings up to 120 min after reperfusion. RESULTS: TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in the intestinal tissue, and plasma TNF-alpha and endotoxin levels, were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the FR group. Severe mucosal damage on histological findings (120 min after reperfusion) and a large amount of intraluminal exudates (60 min after reperfusion) were shown in the NS group, but these findings were significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated in the FR group. Serum AST levels in the NS group increased 120 min after reperfusion, but this change was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the FR group. The 30-day survival rate was 80% in the FR group and 30% in the NS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dual inhibition of TNF and IL-1 effectively alleviated intestinal I-R injury, suggesting the key role of TNF and IL-1 in this pathophysiology.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of a bacterium that produces hydrocarbons extracellularly which are equivalent to light oil.

A halotorelant bacterial strain that produces a significant amount of lipids from short-chain fatty acids was isolated from the sludge of a sewage disposal plant. This strain displayed a significant extracellular accumulation of lipids. The yield of lipids including hydrocarbons was highest (120% of cell dry weight) at the end of the linear growth phase. Fractionation of the lipids using thin-layer chromatography and subsequent gas chromatography showed that hydrocarbons were also obtained following an increase in total lipids. Their yield was the highest (50% of cell dry weight) in the linear growth phase. Additional analysis using infrared absorption spectrum and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that the hydrocarbon fraction was composed of alkanes, such as C15H32, C18H38, C21H44, C22H46 and C24H50. Homology analysis of the 16s rDNA sequence as well as studies of the morphological and physiological characteristics indicated that the bacterium is a strain of Vibrio furnissii.

DNA, Ribosomal↗

Implantation metastasis of head and neck cancer after fine needle aspiration biopsy.

One possible complication of the aspiration biopsy of malignant tumors is dissemination of tumor cells along the needle track. However, a search of the literature revealed few definite reports of implantation metastases of head and neck tumors after fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Here we report two cases of skin metastasis of head and neck cancer after FNAB, including a patient with papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid and one with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland. Surgical treatment prevented the spread of the tumor in both cases and there have been no evidence of recurrence to date. This report should alert head and neck surgeons to the possibility of implantation metastasis after FNAB.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

Effect of Maillard reaction with glucose and ribose on solubility at low ionic strength and filament-forming ability of fish myosin.

It was previously reported that water-soluble fish meat can be prepared by the Maillard reaction with reducing monosaccharides. To clarify the molecular mechanism of the solubility improvement caused by the glycosylation, carp myosin and myosin rod region were reacted with glucose and ribose, and their solubilities and filament-forming abilities at low ionic strength were investigated. The solubility of myosin in 0.1 M NaCl increased with the glycosylation and reached the same level as in 0.5 M NaCl. Although the same solubility improvement was observed in glycosylated myosin rod and the alpha-helix content remained unchanged, the filament-forming ability was completely lost by the glycosylation. These results suggest that the solubility improvement of fish meat at low ionic strength is caused by the solubilization of myosin and the dissociation of myosin filaments.

Animals↗