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Biomedical subjects

R Mori

Publications and source records attributed to R Mori.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Bone repair of rabbit mandibular transsection using rhBMP-2 and atelocollagen gel.

This experimental was carried out using 12 rabbits. A rabbit experimental mandibular transsection was reconstructed with 10mug of rhBMP-2 and 1% atelocollagen gel. The transsection gap was fixed with a titanium plate and screws, and covered with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) co-polymer (PLGA) membrane. Histopathological examination of 1-week specimens revealed that many spindle cells had proliferated and invaded blood clots, and a small amount of immature trabecular bone was formed in the transsection gap. In 2 and 3-week specimens, bone formation was gradually increased in the fibro-vascular tissues of the site. These histological findings were also observed in the control group specimens, but the bone formation was slightly less than in the experimental group. The results suggest the effectiveness of atelocollagen gel as a carrier of rhBMP-2 and PLGA as a covering membrane in this rabbit mandibular transsection reconstruction model.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Decreased expression of NDRG1 is correlated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

NDRG1 (N-myc downstream regulated gene-1) was reported to be necessary for p53-mediated apoptosis and to be regulated by PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog). In several cancers, it was suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene. Its significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been studied. The objective of this study was to clarify the relation between clinicopathological and biologic factors in esophageal carcinoma and to determine the prognostic significance of the expression of NDRG1. Expression of NDRG1 mRNA was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using a Lightcycler in 47 esophageal ESCC specimens. The data were analyzed with reference to clinicopathological factors. Among the esophageal cancer tissues, NDRG1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in tumors of more advanced pathological stage (0-I vs. II-IV; P = 0.0027) and local tumor invasion (T1-2 vs. T3-4; P = 0.0136). Patients who had low NDRG1 mRNA expression had a significantly shorter survival after surgery compared with patients who had high NDRG1 mRNA expression (log-rank test, P = 0.0478). Impaired NDRG1 expression may lead to more aggressive invasion of ESCC.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in Belgian patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

This is a retrospective, uncontrolled study of 55 patients (61 eyes) treated between January 2002 and January 2004 with Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The eyes were divided into three groups: predominantly classic CNV (21 eyes), minimally classic CNV (7) and occult with no classic CNV (4 eyes). For 31 patients (32 eyes) the follow-up period was at least one year. The following parameters were studied: visual acuity, progression of the CNV, and activity of the CNV expressed as leakage on fluorescein angiography and edema on OCT. In the group of predominantly classic CNV at 12 month the treatment resulted in an inactive lesion in 43% of the eyes, however in 48% the visual acuity had decreased. For the group of minimally classic CNV, regression of activity was noted in 71% but vision further decreased in 57%. In the group of occult with no classic CNV one eye developed classic CNV, whereas the lesion regressed on 3 eyes. Two of the 4 eyes lost vision. These results suggest that although PDT is capable of stabilizing the lesion, further visual loss is to be expected in a large number of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

The origins of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: There are two theories on the pathogenesis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV): variants in choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) and inner choroidal vessel abnormalities. On indocyanine green angiography (IGA) with a video camera system, PCV has a characteristic appearance, but inadequate image quality has made detailed interpretation difficult. This study aims to improve imaging, using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), to elucidate the pathogenesis of PCV. METHODS: High speed IGA with confocal SLO of 45 eyes (44 patients) showed typical PCV findings of a branching vascular network and polypoidal lesions. RESULTS: Vessels comprising branching networks began to fill simultaneously with the surrounding choroidal arteries in 38 eyes. Small numbers of vessels filling within a branching network, in the arterial and arteriovenous phases of IGA, showed focal dilatation, constriction, and tortuousity. Vessel abnormalities, corresponding to polypoidal lesions, existed within a network in eight eyes and included loops similar in calibre to network vessels, and numerous microaneurysmal dilatations of small vessels. Vessel pulsation was seen in 24 eyes. CONCLUSION: PCV is caused by inner choroidal vessel abnormalities, not CNV.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Comparative histology of the laminar bone between young calves and foals.

Laminar bone or primary plexiform tissue, not Haversian bone, shows an alternative concentric pattern of laminar-bone units or plates around the bone marrow periphery of long bones, although the laminar bone is gradually replaced by osteons during the growth period. One laminar-bone unit is constructed with a hypercalcified line in the center, woven bone on both sides of the line, and lamellar bone with laminated appositional lines. Such a laminar bone showing a homogeneous calcification has been reported in young calves and some young large animals, but it has not been reported in foals although a previous report proposed that the bone structure was distinguishable from plexiform tissue. In this study, we compared young calves with foals by backscattered electron imaging mainly of transverse ground sections of mid-diaphysis. Foals had many hypercalcified lines arranged concentrically around the bone marrow periphery, which were similar to those of young calves. However, rows of cylindrical osteon-like structures with Haversian canal-like canals running along the long-bone axis were arranged between the concentric hypercalcified lines. Each Haversian canal-like structure was enclosed with laminated appositional rings of lamellar bone deposited on the woven bone. In the developing period, the bone units containing the concentric hypercalcified lines were basically equal to the laminar-bone units. The osteon-like structures or 'pseudo-osteons' were gradually replaced by 'true osteons' during the growth period. The blood vessels in the Haversian canal-like canals of foals ran along the long-bone axis, whereas the blood vessels in the concentrically prolonged bone cavities of young calves ran transversely to obliquely against the long-bone axis. Thus, the long-bone cortex of foals showing an alternative concentric pattern of a row of the osteon-like structures arranged between the hypercalcified lines will be histologically classified into a variety of laminar bone caused by the different arrangement of blood vessels. Such a laminar bone may have a biomechanical structure against physical stress, especially the modified laminar bone of foals with osteon-like structures, when compared with the typical concentric laminar bone of young calves and also Haversian bone possessing variously calcified numerous osteons caused by bone remodeling.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ubiquitin expression in skin wounds and its application to forensic wound age determination.

The time-dependent expression of ubiquitin (Ub) was examined in murine skin wounds and 55 human skin wounds with different wound ages (groups I: 0-12 h, II: 1-5 days, III: 7-14 days and IV: 17-21 days). In murine skin wound specimens, neutrophils, macrophages and fibroblasts showed intensive Ub-positive reactions in the nuclei. In the human wound specimens with wound ages between 4 h and 1 day, neutrophils with strong intranuclear positive reactions for Ub were observed. With increasing wound ages, the nuclei of macrophages and fibroblasts were more intensively stained with anti-Ub antibody. Morphometrically, the intranuclear Ub-positive ratios were very low in group I. The skin wound specimens in groups II and IV showed Ub-positive ratios of >10%, and all samples in group III had Ub-positive ratios of >20%. These results suggest that a ratio of >10% for Ub indicates a wound age of at least 1 day. In contrast, Ub-positive ratios of less than 10% indicate a wound age of <1 day. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the Ub-positive ratio between group III and the other three groups. Thus, Ub-positive ratios considerably exceeding 30%, possibly indicate a wound age of 7-14 days. From the viewpoint of a forensic pathology application, the present study showed that Ub is suitable as a marker of wound age determination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Immunohistochemical detection of chemokines in human skin wounds and its application to wound age determination.

Immunohistochemical studies on the time-dependent expression of the chemokines such as interleukin (IL)-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha were performed on 50 human skin wounds with different wound ages (group I 0-12 h, group II 1-4 days, group III 7-14 days and group IV 17-21 days). In the wound specimens with wound ages between 4 and 12 h, neutrophils mainly showed positive reactions for IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha. With increasing wound ages, macrophages and fibroblasts were positively stained with anti-IL-8, MIP-1alpha and MCP-1 antibodies. Morphometrically, there was a similar distribution in the positive ratios of the inflammatory cells among IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-alpha. The positive ratios of each chemokine were very low in group I and a considerable increase of the positive ratios in each chemokine was observed in group II (mean +/- standard error IL-8: 59.8 +/- 2.1%, MCP-1: 42.4 +/- 3.1% and MIP-1alpha: 50.4 +/- 3.7%). Although the positive ratios for each chemokine gradually decreased according to the wound age, the mean positive ratios in groups III and IV were significantly higher than those in group I. From the forensic aspect, these chemokines are considered useful markers for wound age determination. Thus, ratios of > 50% for IL-8, > 30% for MCP-1 or > 40% for MIP-1alpha indicate a wound age of at least I day. Moreover, the combined investigation of these three chemokines can make wound age determination more objective and accurate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Cofilin phosphorylation and actin reorganization activities of testicular protein kinase 2 and its predominant expression in testicular Sertoli cells.

We previously identified testicular protein kinase 1 (TESK1), which phosphorylates cofilin and induces actin cytoskeletal reorganization. We now report identification and characterization of another member of a TESK family, testicular protein kinase 2 (TESK2), with 48% amino acid identity with TESK1. Like TESK1, TESK2 phosphorylated cofilin specifically at Ser-3 and induced formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions. Both TESK1 and TESK2 are highly expressed in the testis, but in contrast to TESK1, which is predominantly expressed in testicular germ cells, TESK2 is expressed predominantly in nongerminal Sertoli cells. Thus, TESK1 and TESK2 seem to play distinct roles in spermatogenesis. In HeLa cells, TESK1 was localized mainly in the cytoplasm, whereas TESK2 was localized mainly in the nucleus, which means that TESK1 and TESK2 likely have distinct cellular functions. Because the kinase-inactive mutant of TESK2 was localized in the cytoplasm, nuclear/cytoplasmic localization of TESK2 depends on its kinase activity. A TESK2 mutant lacking the C-terminal noncatalytic region had about a 10-fold higher kinase activity in vitro and, when expressed in HeLa cells, induced punctate actin aggregates in the cytoplasm and unusual condensation and fragmentation of nuclei, followed by apoptosis. Thus, we propose that the C-terminal region plays important roles in regulating the kinase activity and cellular functions of TESK2.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗
PubMed2001

Complete transection of the pancreas due to a single stamping injury: a case report.

Complete transection of the pancreas due to a single stamping injury is reported. A 47-year-old female was stamped on in the epigastric region by her common-law husband when lying on her back. Immediately after the stamping, she complained of severe abdominal pain. In an emergency hospital, the abdominal CT (computed tomography) scan showed a large haematoma around the pancreas head. In the surgical operation that followed, a complete transection of the pancreas between the head and body was unexpectedly discovered. Furthermore, severe traumatic changes were found in the liver, mesentery, splenic artery and vein. The medico-legal autopsy revealed marked haemorrhaging in the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and rectus muscle in the epigastric region. The external blunt force that acted on the abdomen had forcibly compressed the pancreas against the spinal column. Blunt pancreatic injury is relatively uncommon, but pancreatic injuries should always be considered in patients or autopsy cases after external blunt force to the abdomen.

Autopsy↗
PubMed2001

A case of pelvic malignant paraganglioma.

We report a rare case of pelvic malignant paraganglioma that was treated with surgery, combination chemotherapy and radiation. A 47-year-old man was diagnosed with pelvic malignant paraganglioma that had metastasised to the thoracic vertebrae. The pelvic mass, which was 6 cm in size, was on the posterior side of the bladder and had invaded the prostate, seminal vesicle and bladder neck. We resected the intrapelvic tumor and lymph nodes using cystoprostatectomy. Metastases to bilateral obturator lymph nodes and the right internal iliac lymph node were shown by pathology. Adjuvant therapies included six courses of the combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine), and 12 courses of VP-16 therapy. Radiation therapy was done for metastasis of the thoracic vertebrae. Local recurrence, progression of bone metastasis and new metastasis have not been detected since these treatments. The patient has been clinically stable during 20 months of follow-up. Chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine and VP-16 with radiation appears to be effective in treating advanced malignant paraganglioma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2001

Effects of brushing with a dentifrice for sensitive teeth on tubule occlusion and abrasion of dentin.

By using a dentifrice or toothpaste for sensitive teeth, the brushing-induced effects on dentinal tubule occlusion and abrasion of human sound dentin were investigated with a scanning electron microscope and a scanning laser microscope. The dentifrice contained diatomaceous earth and silica as abrasives and strontium chloride hexahydrate as an active ingredient. Thirty dentin pieces of human premolar teeth with an average of 20% occluded dentinal tubules were attached to resin plates and exposed to the oral cavities of five adult subjects for 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Brushing with and without dentifrice was performed 1 min per day, respectively. Brushing with the dentifrice gradually decreased the mean average of occluded tubules from about 91 to 77% during 2 to 8 weeks, although there were no significant differences among the individual values. However, the mean abrasive loss of the dentin surfaces brushed with dentifrice significantly increased from about 52 to 143 microm in depth. The brushed surfaces of the dentin showed a rough topography with numerous toothbrush scratches but no organic pellicle was found. On the other hand, brushing without dentifrice caused about 99% of the dentinal tubules to occlude in 2 and 4 weeks and 100% in 8 weeks. The brushed dentin surfaces at 8 weeks were entirely covered with organic pellicle containing fine mineral granules derived from saliva, and the abrasive loss was about 1.4 microm in mean depth. Such results indicate that brushing with abrasive dentifrices for sensitive teeth remarkably erodes dentin, and suggest that the brushing should cause the dentinal tubules to open again for a certain period of time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

c-Abl tyrosine kinase is not essential for ataxia telangiectasia mutated functions in chromosomal maintenance.

c-Abl is activated by DNA damage in an ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent manner and plays important roles in growth arrest and apoptosis induced by DNA damage. c-Abl also interacts physically and functionally with Rad51, a key molecule in homologous recombinational (HR) DNA repair. To study further the roles of c-Abl in HR DNA repair, we generated c-Abl(-/-) and ATM(-/-)/c-Abl(-/-) mutant cell lines from a chicken B lymphocyte DT40 cell line, comparing the phenotypes of these mutants to those of ATM(-/-) DT40 cells that we had created previously. We found that the time course of radiation-induced Rad51 focus formation is abnormal in ATM(-/-) DT40 cells, consistent with the observation that ATM(-/-) DT40 cells display hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation and highly elevated frequencies of both spontaneous and radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations. In contrast, c-Abl(-/-) cells did not show these ATM-related defects in their cellular response to radiation, nor did the disruption of c-Abl in ATM(-/-) DT40 cells exacerbate these ATM-related defects. However, c-Abl(-/-) DT40 cells, but not ATM(-/-) DT40 cells, were resistant to radiation-induced apoptosis, indicating an important role for c-Abl in this cellular response to ionizing radiation. These results therefore indicate that, although ATM plays an important role in genome maintenance, c-Abl is not essential for this ATM function. These findings suggest that c-Abl and ATM play important roles in the maintenance of the cell homeostasis in response to DNA damage that are, at least in part, independent.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A novel mutation (296 del G) of the SOX90 gene in a patient with campomelic syndrome and sex reversal.

The human SOX9 gene is responsible for the campomelic syndrome (CMPS) and sex reversal. This gene encodes a transcription factor containing a DNA binding domain homologous to the SRY high mobility group (HMG) domain. A novel mutation of SOX9, i.e. a single G deletion in one allele at nt 296 from A of the first ATG in the open reading frame, was identified in a patient with CMPS with sex reversal. The deletion resulted in a frameshift mutation upstream of the HMG box and a stop codon 30 bp downstream of the HMG box. The predicted truncated SOX9 protein contained 108 amino acids instead of the 509 amino acids of the normal SOX9 protein, removing nearly 80% of the SOX9 protein, including the HMG and the C-terminal transactivation domain. Most patients with CMPS reported previously died within the neonatal period. Our findings that the patient has survived, although has been in daily need of mechanical ventilation support for 5 years and 3 months despite a severely impaired SOX9 protein, do not support a linear relationship between the type of mutation and severity of the clinical outcome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative cell and matrix changes in human humeral head osteoarthritic cartilage.

A new quantitative method was devised both to establish an objective standard for morphometric diagnosis and to determine the extent of degeneration in osteoarthritic cartilage. Eight normal and forty-eight osteoarthritic humeral heads, subsequently confirmed by light microscopy, were obtained at necropsy. The articular cartilage was observed in situ with a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and morphometric measurements determined cell density (cells/mm), cell volume fraction (%) and mean cell volume (microm3). The osteoarthritic cartilages were classified according to the following four characteristics: increase in thickness, increase in cell volume fraction, decrease in cell volume fraction, and fibrous pannus. Deviations in cell density and cell volume fraction from normal means were calculated as extent of degeneration. Our present approach aims to provide valuable clues, such as objective stereological information and a unique reference for biochemical and traditional morphological analyses, that clinicians will be able to use in combination with other methods in order to establish a reliable diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Scanning electron microscopy subsequent to a combined treatment of NaOCl and EDTA in some non-collagenous calcified matrixes.

Using backscattered electron (BSE) imaging and scanning electron microscopy, subsequent to a combined treatment of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) or only with EDTA etching, we observed some structures of non-collagenous calcified matrixes with the aim of revealing the correlation of deposition between calcification degree and organic amount. In human tooth enamel, the NaOCl-EDTA method eroded more intensively the hypocalcified prisms of enamel tufts containing a relatively large amount of EDTA-insoluble organic matter than the hypercalcified normal prismatic enamel containing a small amount of the organic matter. Afibrillar cementum, one of the non-collagenous calcified tissues similar to the enamel, has been reported to consist of organic-rich and poor incremental lamellae. The BSE imaging showed an alternation pattern of hypocalcification and hypercalcification. The hypocalcified lamellae were retained by EDTA etching, while the hypercalcified lamellae showed a resistance against the NaOCl-EDTA method. In the non-collagenous calcareous concretions of human pineal body, organic-rich and poor, and hyper- and hypocalcified incremental lamellae have been reported. The deposition pattern of calcification degree and organic amount was similar to that in afibrillar cementum, and the hypercalcified lamellae showed a resistance against the NaOCl-EDTA method. In conclusion, the high and the lower calcified regions of non-collagenous calcified matrixes contained smaller and larger amounts of EDTA-insoluble organic matter respectively. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy subsequent to the NaOCl-EDTA method corresponding to the BSE imaging clearly showed fine calcified structures compared with the BSE imaging.

Calcification, Physiologic↗