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Biomedical subjects

R Ueda

Publications and source records attributed to R Ueda.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Non-specific interstitial pneumonia as pulmonary involvement of systemic sclerosis.

The pathological features of lung disease in nine patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were evaluated. The patients comprised one man and eight women, with a median age of 58 years. SSc was diagnosed according to the criteria of the American Rheumatism Association. In all patients, high resolution computed radiographic scanning of the lungs (HRCT) was performed, and apparent honeycomb formation was seen in four patients. Pathologically, four patients were diagnosed with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), three with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) group II, one NSIP group II-III, and one NSIP group II with diffuse alveolar damage. HRCT showed no apparent honeycomb formations in patients diagnosed with NSIP. This is the first report describing NSIP as a pulmonary complication of SSc.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Hepatitis B virus genotype distribution among chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype distribution is still unclear in China, where a high prevalence of HBV infection exists, although it is well known that HBV can be classified into six genotypes based on intergroup divergence. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological distribution of HBV genotypes and to clarify further the genotype-related differences in the pathogenicity of HBV. METHODS: Seminested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were conducted in 97 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC) and 46 chronic hepatitis (CH), 37 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 44 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in Shanghai, China. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty samples (98.2%) were positive for HBV DNA, and of these, 3 (1.4%), 38 (17.2%) and 179 (81.4%) were classified as genotype A, B and C, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of genotypes B and C among various categories of liver diseases (p < 0.01). The distribution of genotype C showed an increasing trend from ASC, CH and LC to the HCC group; in contrast, the distribution of genotype B showed a decreasing trend in the same order. HBeAg positivity was higher in genotype C than in genotype B in all the subjects or in the ASC group alone (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). More severe liver damage and a higher mean age were observed in genotype C than in genotype B (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the following: (1) genotypes A, B and C of HBV exist in Shanghai, China; (2) genotype C is the major genotype in this area; (3) genotype C is associated with the development of severe liver diseases, and (4) genotype B has a relatively good prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors and seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus infection in uzbekistan.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to elucidate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Uzbekistan and to explore whether there is a correlation between those blood-borne agents and socioeconomic risk factors. METHODS: One thousand nine hundred and eighteen subjects were studied. The subjects were divided into a low-risk group, a high-risk group and a patient group. Sera were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, and anti-HIV. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV in the general population was 13.3, 13.1 and 0%, respectively. The anti-HCV infection rate was significantly higher in intravenous drug users (62.7%) than in prostitutes (9.2%), homosexuals (11.1%), and medical laboratory employees (12.5%) (p < 0.01). In the low-risk group, positivity for anti-HCV increased with age from 2.2% in the 15- to 20-year-olds up to the highest rate of 17.6% in the 31- to 40-year-olds; the positivity then decreased to 0% in the group over 60 years of age. In the high-risk group, the positivity for anti-HCV in the age groups under 40 years was approximately 30% and significantly higher than in the low-risk group (p < 0.01). Risk factors for transmission of HCV were medical treatment in the low-risk group, drug abuse in the high-risk group, and both in the patient group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infection is high, whereas HIV infection is yet uncommon in Uzbekistan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Genomic organization, transcription start sites, and chromosomal location of the Drosophila cortactin gene.

An actin filament binding protein cortactin was initially identified as a major phosphotyrosine-containing protein in v-Src-transformed chicken embryo fibroblast cells. The mouse, human, and Drosophila homologs were independently identified as a signaling molecule involved in a mitogenic response, as a product of a putative oncogene EMS1, and as a molecule interacting with a scaffolding protein ZO-1, respectively. In this report, we describe the cloning of the Drosophila cortactin gene, which consists of four exons and three introns, covering 3 kilobases in length. All exon-intron junctions are well matched with the GT/AG consensus sequence. S1 nuclease mapping revealed one major and several minor transcription start sites. The cytological location of the Drosophila cortactin gene is between chromosome segments 93B3 and 93B7.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Aortopulmonary window and double aortic arch. A rare association.

We report the case of a 27-year-old male patient with dyspnea on physical exertion. Clinical assessment and various tests led to the diagnosis of aortopulmonary window and double aortic arch. According to a literature search, this may be the first report on such association.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Elevated level of soluble HLA class I antigens in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVE: Soluble HLA class I antigens (sHLAs) in human serum have been reported to be associated with allografts and autoimmune disease and could modify immunological reactions induced by membrane type HLAs. To investigate the clinical significance of sHLAs in sarcoidosis, we assessed concentrations of sHLAs in both serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and also examined their production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and BALF cells. METHODS: Concentrations of sHLAs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using a monoclonal antibody against HLA class I (W6/32) and an enzyme-labeled polyclonal antibody to human beta2-microglobulin. PBMCs and BALF cells were cultured in the presence or absence of either LPS or PHA. PATIENTS: Serum levels of sHLAs were assessed in 96 patients with sarcoidosis and in 32 healthy control subjects. sHLAs concentrations in BALF were also investigated in 17 active sarcoidosis patients and in 13 control subjects. RESULTS: sHLAs levels in both serum and BALF were higher in sarcoidosis cases than in control subjects (p<0.05, in both). In the patients, values were significantly higher in active than in inactive stages (p<0.001) and significantly correlated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels. Both PBMCs and BALF cells produced enhanced amounts of sHLAs in patients with active sarcoidosis compared with those in control subjects. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that the level of sHLAs in serum is a useful index of disease activity of sarcoidosis, partly reflecting production by PBMCs and BALF cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Molecular evolutionary analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in a case of HBV infection acquired through a needlestick accident.

To elucidate needlestick transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), strains isolated from 1 physician who acquired HBV infection through a needlestick accident and 3 patients with chronic hepatitis B (donor patients A, B, and C) were tested using molecular evolutionary analysis based on full-length HBV genomic sequences. Nucleotide sequences of these isolates were aligned with 55 previously reported full-length genomic sequences. Genetic distances were estimated using the 6-parameter method, and phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining method. Strains isolated from patient A and the recipient pair were clustered within a closer range of evolutionary distances than were strains recovered from the recipient pair and patients B and C. Furthermore, strains from patient A and the recipient were also clustered on the S gene sequences of HBV. These results demonstrated that patient A alone was the source of direct transmission to the recipient. This approach can be used to investigate the transmission route of HBV.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Aberrant overexpression of 53BP2 mRNA in lung cancer cell lines.

The p53-binding protein 2 (53BP2) was identified as a binding protein to a tumor suppressor p53. We examined the genetic aberrations of 53BP2 gene in various human cancer cell lines. Although no gross genomic alteration or mutation of 53BP2 gene was observed, 53BP2 mRNA levels were highly variable. There was no association between the 53BP2 mRNA level and the p53 status. When we examined sensitivities of these cell lines to DNA-damaging agents including UV irradiation, X-ray irradiation and cis-diamine-dichloroplatinum (CDDP), we found that higher 53BP2 mRNA expression was correlated with the sensitivity to these agents.

Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Hepatitis B virus infection among residents of a nursing home for the elderly: seroepidemiological study and molecular evolutionary analysis.

A seroepidemiological study of HBV infection was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the transmission routes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among residents of a nursing home for the elderly. HBV serum markers were examined in 119 residents and 71 healthcare workers in the institution, as also in 1330 healthy subjects from the same geographical area, as the control group. HBsAg was detected in 6 (5%), 0 and 20 (1.5%) residents, healthcare workers and healthy subjects, respectively. Four residents (A-D) who had HBV-DNA in the serum were studied by molecular evolutionary analysis. The strains derived from residents A, B and D were clustered together within a close range of evolutionary distances. Residents B and D, who were not positive for HBsAg at the time of admission to the institution, subsequently became HBsAg-positive asymptomatic carriers. These results suggested intrainstitutional transmission of HBV in the nursing home for the elderly, and confirmed that the source of transmission of HBV to residents B and D was resident A who was positive for HBsAg. Residents in a nursing home for the elderly should be considered as being a high-risk group for HBV infection, and vaccination against HBV of these groups is recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Elevation of anti-cytokeratin 18 antibody and circulating cytokeratin 18: anti-cytokeratin 18 antibody immune complexes in sera of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

In this study, we hypothesize that anti-cytokeratin 18 (CK18) antibody and CK18:anti-CK18 immune complex increase in sera in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). To prove the existence of anti-CK18 antibodies in patients' sera, bovine CK18 was stained with patients' sera using a Western blotting. In patients with IPF, anti-CK18 antibodies were clearly demonstrated in sera by Western blotting. Then, we tried to establish an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify anti-CK18 antibodies and CK18:anti-CK18 immune complexes in sera of patients with IPF. Levels of anti-human CK18 antibodies in sera of patients with IPF (0.81 +/- 0.31, mean +/- SD) measured by ELISA were significantly high compared with that of normal volunteers (0.45 +/- 0.06, p < 0.01). In addition, levels of CK18:anti-CK18 antibody complexes in patients' sera (0.64 +/- 0.35, man +/- SD) significantly increased compared with those of normal subjects (0.40 +/- 0.10, p < 0.01). These results suggest that anti-CK18 antibody and its immune complex may have played a role in the process of lung injury in IPF.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Gelatin beads as platforms for targeting molecule and anti-Fas antibody: two major properties of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) initially recognize target cells using the T-cell receptor (TCR), then strongly adhere to these cells by accessory molecules, and finally induce apoptosis by Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas or lyse by the granzyme/perforin system. We describe the development of gelatin beads carrying anti-tumor monoclonal antibody (mAb) and anti-Fas mAb mimicking the TCR and FasL, respectively. We hypothesized that these antibody-coated beads can be therapeutically utilized for the elimination of tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of gelatin beads bearing CH11 (anti-Fas mAb) after incubation with several human leukemia cell lines. Cytotoxic activities were measured using colorimetric DNA fragmentation assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. RESULTS: We demonstrated that the cytotoxic effects of anti-Fas mAb were markedly enhanced by fixation on gelatin beads. Microscopic examination showed that the beads attached to the target cells and induced their apoptosis. These effects were enhanced further by adding tumor-specific mAb. These in vitro properties of the beads were well reconstituted in the peritoneal cavity of mice. CONCLUSION: Although antibody-coated gelatin beads lack several important properties of natural CTL, such as differentiation, proliferation, and the functions of adhesion molecules, they mimic well the targeting and cytotoxic functions of natural CTL. Our findings suggest that antibody-carrying gelatin beads may be the first step toward the development of artificial CTL and can be applied, for example, to artificial dendritic and stroma cells for the development of novel biotherapeutic approaches.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effects of sesquiterpenoids from "Oriental incenses" on acetic acid-induced writhing and D2 and 5-HT2A receptors in rat brain.

Six sesquiterpenoids, namely jinkoh-eremol, agarospirol, alpha- and beta-santalols, dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide, isolated from oriental incenses inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. The incidence of writhing produced by jinkoh-eremol, alpha-santalol and costunolide were revealed by administration of naloxone (mu-, kappa- and delta-antagonists). Inhibitory activities of alpha-santalol on opioid receptors were shown only by the delta antagonist, but not by the mu- and kappa-antagonists. The delta2-antagonist, but not the delta-antagonist, inhibited the activity of alpha santalol. The mechanism of inhibitory activity on the opioid receptor by alpha-santalol was different from that of morphine. Alpha-santalol was shown to be the most potent of the six as an antagonist of dopamine D2 and serotonine 5-HT2A receptor binding. The effect of alpha-santalol, was the same as that of chlorpromazine as an antipsychotic agent, although alpha-santalol was less potent than chlorpromazine.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed2000

Neuronal distribution and subcellular localization of HCNP-like immunoreactivity in rat small intestine.

A novel peptide, hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP), originally purified from young rat hippocampus, affects the development of specific cholinergic neurons of the central nervous system in vitro. In this study, HCNP-like-immunoreactive nerve processes and nerve cell bodies were identified by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry in the rat small intestine. Labeled nerve processes were numerous in the circular muscle layer and around the submucosal blood vessels. In the submucosal and myenteric plexuses, some HCNP-like-immunopositive nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers were present. The reaction product was deposited on the membranes of various subcellular organelles, including the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi saccules, ovoid electron-lucent synaptic vesicles in axon terminals associated with submucosal and myenteric plexuses, and the outer membranes of a few mitochondria. The synaptic vesicles of HCNP-like positive terminals were 60-85 nm in diameter. The present data provide immunocytochemical evidence that HCNP-like-positive nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers are present in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses of the rat small intestine. An immunohistochemical light microscopic study using mirror-image sections revealed that in both the submucosal and myenteric ganglia, almost all choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive neurons were also immunoreactive for HCNP. These observations suggest (i) that HCNP proper and/or HCNP precursor protein is a membrane-associated protein with a widespread subcellular distribution, (ii) that HCNP precursor protein may be biosynthesized within neurons localized in the rat enteric nervous system, and (iii) that HCNP proper and/or HCNP precursor protein are probably stored in axon terminals.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

In vivo treatment of mutant FLT3-transformed murine leukemia with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Somatic mutation of the FLT3 gene, in which the juxtamembrane domain has an internal tandem duplication, is found in 20% of human acute myeloid leukemias and causes constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of the products. In this study, we observed that the transfection of mutant FLT3 gene into an IL3-dependent murine cell line, 32D, abrogated the IL3-dependency. Subcutaneous injection of the transformed 32D cells caused leukemia in addition to subcutaneous tumors in C3H/HeJ mice. To develop a FLT3-targeted therapy, we examined tyrosine kinase inhibitors for in vitro growth suppression of the transformed 32D cells. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, remarkably inhibited the growth of the transformed 32D cells at 0.1 microM, at which concentration it was ineffective in parental 32D cells. Herbimycin A suppressed the constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of the mutant FLT3 but not the phosphorylation of the ligand-stimulated wild-type FLT3. In mice transplanted with the transformed 32D cells, the administration of herbimycin A prolonged the latency of disease or completely prevented leukemia, depending on the number of cells inoculated and schedule of drug administration. These results suggest that mutant FLT3 is a promising target for tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of leukemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

MUM1/IRF4 expression as a frequent event in mature lymphoid malignancies.

MUM1/IRF4 is a myeloma-associated oncogene transcriptionally activated as a result of t(6;14)(p25,q32) chromosomal translocation and by virtue of its juxtaposition to the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) locus. When this oncogene becomes non-functional, no activated B/T lymphocytes and Ig secreting plasma cells are observed, suggesting that MUM1/IRF4 is crucial for lymphoid development. Its expression was analyzed in both reactive lymphoid and lymphoma tissues by means of an immunohistochemical technique using specific goat antiserum against MUM1/IRF4. This analysis detected a 50 kDa MUM1 product whose localization was restricted to the nuclei of the lymphocytes. The MUM1+ cells in reactive lymph nodes were found to consist of plasma cells and a small fraction (approximately 7.9%) of B cells harboring CD20+CD38+, which were located in the light zone of the germinal center. MUM1 expression in peripheral blood B/T lymphocytes was upregulated by mitogenic stimuli, suggesting that MUM1 positivity represents the activated state of the B/T cells. In B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), MUM1 expression was observed in 73.2% (30/41) of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 20% (1/5) of marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and 43% (3/7) of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) cases, whereas it was not seen in any cases of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) or follicle center lymphoma (FCL). Also, MUM1 was stained at high intensity in various types of T cell lymphomas including adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL/L) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and in the majority of Hodgkin's diseases. Our results suggest that a major proportion of lymphomas comprise either physiologically or aberrantly activated neoplastic lymphocytes expressing the MUM1 protein.

B-Lymphocytes↗