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Biomedical subjects

S Akagi

Publications and source records attributed to S Akagi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Clinical study of cervical radiculopathy after laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy].

We have retrospectively determined the preoperative risk factors in cervical radiculopathy after laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy using preoperative neuroradiographical findings and electrophysiological studies. Of the 67 patients who underwent laminoplasty, 10 patients (14.9%) postoperatively showed cervical radioculopathy. The preoperative radiographical findings had included cervical lordosis, intraspinal cord centering, and anterior protrusion of the apex of the superior articular process. Needle electromyography, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) were preoperatively examined in 42 cases. There was no relationship between the postoperative radiculopathy and the preoperative radiographical findings. Six (100%) of 6 cases preoperatively diagnosed as C5 radiculopathy (postganglionic type) with Erb-P 14 interpeak latency of dermatomal SEPs and SNAP, developed postoperative C5 radiculopathy. One (25%) of 4 cases preoperatively diagnosed as C6 radiculopathy developed postoperative C6 radiculopathy. No case preoperatively diagnosed as C7 or C8 radiculopathy developed postoperative radiculopathy. This study suggested that an important risk factor for postoperative radiculopathy was subclinical C5 radiculopathy (postganglionic type) that could be preoperatively evaluated using electrophysiological studies.

Adult↗

Rheumatoid-susceptible alleles of HLA-DRB1 are genetically recessive to non-susceptible alleles in the progression of bone destruction in the wrists and fingers of patients with RA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between HLA-DRB1 genotypes and the progression of bone destruction in Japanese patients with RA. METHODS: The HLA-DRB1 alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction and allele specific oligonucleotide probe techniques in 160 Japanese patients with RA. HLA-DR 0101, 0401, 0404, 0405, 1001 and 1402 were regarded as susceptible alleles of RA according to previous reports. Patients were classified into three groups (S/S, S/N and N/N group), based on the possession of two, one or no susceptible factor. The grading of radio-graphic changes in the wrists and fingers were evaluated by Larsen's criteria. The radiographic grades were first compared with the results of genotyping in the 160 cross sectional cases. A retrospective study was then conducted on a subgroup consisting of 57 cases taken from the 160 cases used for the cross sectional study. RESULTS: In the scatter diagram of the 160 cross sectional cases expressing the relationship between the stage of bone destruction and duration of RA, the regression line and the 95% confidence intervals separated the S/S group from the S/N and N/N groups in the early phase of development of bone destruction. In the retrospective study on the 57 cases the median years taken to development to stage V in the wrists after the onset of symptoms were 13.1 in the patients in the S/S group, 22.7 in the S/N group and 23.0 in the N/N group. The difference observed between the S/S and S/N group, and between the S/S and N/N group were statistically significant (p < 0.01), but that between the S/N and N/N groups was not. Thus the bone destruction in the wrists and fingers progressed more rapidly in the S/S group than in the S/N and N/N groups; and the rheumatoid susceptible alleles of HLA-DRB1 can be considered to be genetically recessive to the non-susceptible alleles in the progression of bone destructions in the wrists and fingers. CONCLUSION: Genotyping of HLA-DRB1 can be a useful prognostic marker in the early phase of RA.

Adult↗

Gliosarcoma with features of chondroblastic osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of osteoid-chondral elements in gliosarcoma is extremely rare and has been reported in only two cases. A new, rare case of gliosarcoma with osteosarcomatous differentiation in a 55-year-old man and histogenesis of osteoid-chondral tissue in gliosarcoma is discussed. METHODS: Surgically removed tumor tissues were examined immunohistochemically and electron microscopically, and a histologic examination was performed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies confirmed the presence of glial, fibroblastic, and osteoid-chondral elements. A major part of the sarcomatous tissue was undifferentiated and stained only by vimentin. Some areas of osteoid-chondral tissue were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that osteoid-chondral elements came from the sarcomatous portion and GFAP positivity is not restricted to astrocytes and has been seen particularly in chondroid areas of non-glial tumors.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Inflammation of the liver causes mutations in duck hepatitis B virus genome.

To investigate whether hepatitis causes mutation in the viral genome, DNA sequences in the pre-core region of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) DNA were analyzed in both ducks with hepatitis and without hepatitis. Five DHBV carrier ducks were injected with DHBV particle proteins purified from duck serum with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) intrahepatically from 14 day posthatch for 9 weeks (immunized group). Serum was drawn at the end of the 1st and 4th week after the 1st injection of DHBV particle protein and ducks were killed at the end of the 9th week to obtain the liver. Another five ducks without treatment were used as controls. All ducks of the immunized group showed moderate to severe hepatitis at the 9th week. All ducks in the immunized group showed one mutation except one duck that showed two mutations only at the 9th week. Mutations were observed in the 5th, 13th, 21st, 22nd, and 28th codon of the pre-core region. All of them were point mutation at the 3rd base in the triplets. The frequency of mutation was different in each duck from 20% to 60% but not 100%. There was no mutations in ducks in control group. These results suggest that hepatitis causes mutation in the pre-core lesion genome of duck hepatitis B virus.

Animals↗

[The effects of Ara-A on viral markers in duck hepatitis B virus carrier ducks].

Duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) carrier ducks of one week old were injected with Ara-A (adenine arabinoside) of different dose including 2.5 (11 ducks), 5.0 (11), 10.0 (10) and 20.0 (10) mg/kg for 14 days. This antiviral effect showed dose-dependence up to 5.0 mg/kg and this dose seemed effective to obtain significant antiviral effect. Viral DNA and DNA polymerase activity were reduced significantly from the 1st week after starting the administration of Ara-A. This antiviral effect was maintained even at the 1st week after discontinuation of the drug. These findings were quite similar to those observed in HBV carriers. With the increasing necessity of Ara-A treatment in patients who will not respond to interferon therapy, DHBV seemed a suitable model for the investigation of the dose and antiviral effect of Ara-A treatment in humans.

Animals↗

The sequential change of serum 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase in different infectious patterns of duck hepatitis B virus in ducks in experimental transmission.

Duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) shows clear age-dependent infectious patterns like that of Hepatitis B virus, and many factors have been assumed to have a role in the persistence of the infection. In the present study, the activities of the interferon-induced enzyme 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase (2,5AS) were observed sequentially in the serum of ducks experimentally infected with DHBV on posthatch days 1, 7 and 14. These were compared with the infectious pattern to investigate whether the endogenous interferon response after infection in ducks of different ages has a major role in its determination. The infectious pattern of DHBV in 1-day-old ducks was persistent without hepatitis and the others were transient with hepatitis. Persistently infected ducks showed significantly lower activities of 2,5AS compared with those with transient hepatitis, which resulted in a rapid elimination of DHBV. Although 1-day-old ducks showed significantly high 2,5AS compared with non-infected ducks, interferon response alone appeared to be insufficient for the elimination of DHBV. The immune response seemed necessary for the complete elimination of DHBV by way of evoking hepatitis and stimulating more interferon response during the usual infectious course. The interferon system alone did not seem to have a critical role in determining the infectious pattern. Other factors, including the immune response to the virus, seemed to have a major role in this problem.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of case of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the ampullary region of the duodenum.

One case of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the ampullary region of the duodenum is reported. The histological appearance of the tumor was identical to pulmonary small-cell carcinoma. Neuroendocrine differentiation was demonstrated immunohistochemically by positive immunoreaction for neuron specific enolase, Leu-7 and chromogranin, and ultrastructurally by the presence of scanty dense-core neurosecretory type granules. Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the sixth reported case.

Ampulla of Vater↗

Protein disulfide-isomerase in rat exocrine pancreatic cells is exported from the endoplasmic reticulum despite possessing the retention signal.

Recently we found by immunogold electron microscopy that protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI), a major resident protein in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of many cells, is exceptionally localized in rat exocrine pancreatic cells not only in the ER but also in plasma membranes and other organelles along secretory pathway (Akagi, S., Yamamoto, A., Yoshimori, T., Masaki, R., Ogawa, R., and Tashiro, Y. (1988) J. Histochem. Cytochem. 36, 1069-1074). These observations suggest that another type of PDI, e.g. one with a defective ER retention signal, might exist and be transported in the exocrine pancreatic cells. We therefore compared biochemical and immunochemical properties of the transported PDI with the authentic ER resident PDI. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing showed that the former was indistinguishable from the latter. We prepared a polyclonal antibody against the synthetic hexapeptide, which corresponds to the carboxyl terminus of PDI containing the putative ER retention signal "KDEL." The epitopes of this antibody (anti-KDEL antibody) were located within the KDEL sequence. Anti-KDEL antibody reacted with PDI in both the plasma membranes and the ER of rat pancreatic cells in immunoblot analysis as well as in immunogold electron microscopy. These results suggest that PDI exported from the ER to the plasma membranes in rat exocrine pancreatic cells possesses the KDEL sequence.

Amino Acid Isomerases↗

Extragonadal sacrococcygeal seminoma--a case report.

We report herein, a rare case of a 32 year old man who presented with a massive sacrococcygeal tumor found by digital examination. A transrectal biopsy was performed, however, as massive anal bleeding occurred 1 day later, an abdominal perineal resection was carried out. Histologic examination subsequently revealed the giant tumor to be pure seminoma. Residual masses of seminoma were detected by CT examination 1 month postoperatively and, despite irradiation, the patient died 26 months after the operation. Although there have been reports of extragonadal seminoma being located in the retroperitoneum, mediastinum and pineal body, this is the first reported case of it being found in the sacrococcygeal region.

Adult↗

Malignant schwannoma arising in the intracranial trigeminal nerve. A report of an autopsy case and a review of the literature.

An autopsy case of malignant schwannoma arising in the intracranial trigeminal nerve is reported. The tumor involved the right cerebellopontine angle of the brain stem in an 18-year-old man. The spindle-shaped tumor cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm proliferated in fascicles and exhibited hypercellularity, pleomorphism, increased mitotic activity and invasive growth. Ultrastructurally, interdigitating cytoplasmic processes and a few fragmented basal lamina-like structures were observed. Immunohistochemically, some tumor cells were reactive with conventional anti-S-100 protein antibody, but negative for beta subunit. Most tumor cells were positive for alpha subunit of S-100 protein. This is the eighth reported case of malignant schwannoma arising in the intracranial trigeminal nerve.

Adolescent↗

Distribution of protein disulfide isomerase in rat epiphyseal chondrocytes.

We investigated the intracellular distribution of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in rat epiphyseal chondrocytes by immunocytochemistry, using a post-embedding protein A-gold technique. Gold particles were localized primarily in the cisternal space of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelopes. The ER cisternae of the chondrocytes in all the differentiating epiphyseal zones--resting, proliferative, pre-hypertrophic, and hypertrophic--were equally and highly labeled. The labeling density of the cisternal space of the dilated ER, probably reflecting marked accumulation of secretory proteins such as procollagen, was always higher than that of the non-dilated ER. In the dilated cisternal space, gold particles were freely and evenly distributed, without preferential binding to the luminal surface of the ER membranes. We suggest that PDI catalyzes the formation of disulfide bonds of various secretory proteins, perhaps type II procollagen, in the cisternal space of the ER in epiphyseal chondrocytes. The exclusive localization of gold particles in the cisternal space of the ER and nuclear envelopes and the lack of gold particles in the Golgi apparatus, including cis-Golgi cisternae, indicate that PDI is an ER-soluble protein in the chondrocytes and is presumably sorted out in some pre-Golgi compartment and not transported to the Golgi apparatus.

Aging↗

Alteration of infection pattern of duck hepatitis B virus by immunomodulatory drugs.

The relationship between host immune state and hepatic inflammation and infection pattern of the Duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) was investigated by experimental transmission of DHBV into 98 Japanese 7-day-old ducklings that had been pretreated with immunoregulatory drugs including cyclophosphamide, OK 432, and a steroid hormone. Immunosuppressive treatment with cyclophosphamide revealed an extension of the viremic period associated with an absence of inflammatory changes in the liver. Although immunostimulating treatment with OK 432 showed a remarkable accumulation of inflammatory cells in the liver, the viremic period was not shortened. Treatment with a steroid used as a immunosuppressant did not suppress the hepatitis; moreover, it increased viral DNA replication and extended the viremic period. This phenomenon of viral replication seemed to be caused by the direct effects of the steroid. Alteration of DHBV infection by modifying the host immune state is quite similar to that of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in humans. In DHBV infection, the host immune state seemed to have a considerable role in determining the infection pattern and degree of hepatitis activity. DHBV may be a helpful model of HBV for studying host-viral interaction and the immunological mechanism of viral hepatitis.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Elastosis in meningioma. A case report and electron microscopic study.

A 55-year-old man underwent left frontoparietal craniotomy for total removal of a parasagittal meningioma. The tumor showed a predominant pattern of meningotheliomatous meningioma and a partial pattern of angiomatous, transitional and fibrous meningioma. A striking feature was the appearance of unusually numerous elastinophilic material in the intercellular stroma. We observed a process in which the progress of elastosis changed the appearance of meningotheliomatous meningioma to a hypocellular, and subsequently acellular fibroelastotic node. Three years after the first craniotomy, meningioma recurred at the same site. The recurrent tumor also showed the histological pattern of meningotheliomatous meningioma with stromal elastosis, as previously observed. This is the first report of a case of meningioma with stromal elastosis. The present case represents the first unequivocal demonstration of elastogenesis in meningioma.

Elastic Tissue↗

Distribution of protein disulfide isomerase in rat hepatocytes.

We investigated quantitatively the distribution of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in rat hepatocytes by immunocytochemistry using a post-embedding protein A-gold technique. In hepatocytes, gold particles were mainly localized in the intracisternal space of the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelopes. Autolysosomes engulfing ER were occasionally densely labeled, especially in rat hepatocytes previously treated with leupeptin in vivo, suggesting that the autophagosome-autolysosome system may be an important route for degradation of PDI. A few gold particles were also found on the plasma membranes. Localization of gold particles on the other subcellular organelles, such as Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, and nuclear matrix, was sparse and at the control level. The predominant localization of PDI on the intracisternal surface of the ER and nuclear envelope supports a potential role of PDI in the formation of disulfide bonds of nascent polypeptides, thus accelerating formation of the higher-order structure of secretory and membrane proteins and rendering the translocation process irreversible.

Animals↗

Localization of protein disulfide isomerase on plasma membranes of rat exocrine pancreatic cells.

We investigated immunocytochemically the ultrastructural localization of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in rat pancreatic exocrine cells by use of the post-embedding protein A-gold technique. We found that not only the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope but also the trans-Golgi cisternae, secretory granules, and plasma membranes were heavily labeled with gold particles. Labeling density of the gold particles in the rough ER and plasma membranes of the exocrine pancreatic cells was twofold and twentyfold greater, respectively, than that of hepatocytes. In the acinar lumen, amorphous material presumably corresponding to the secreted zymogens was also labeled with gold particles. These results suggest that in rat exocrine pancreatic cells a significant amount of PDI is transported to the plasma membrane and secreted to the acinar lumen.

Animals↗