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Biomedical subjects

S Kasai

Publications and source records attributed to S Kasai.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Frequently relapsing minimal change nephrotic syndrome with natural killer cell deficiency prior to the overt relapse of Hodgkin's disease.

A 15-year-old boy developed minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) during remission of Hodgkin's disease. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was practically absent at the onset of MCNS, with a value of 3% compared with the normal value of 44.1% +/- 7.8% (mean +/- SD). Treatment with prednisolone resulted in transient remission of MCNS and partial improvement of NK cell activity. Extensive investigations for Hodgkin's disease were performed at 1- to 3-month intervals; a relapse finally became apparent 25 months after the diagnosis of MCNS. Successful treatment of Hodgkin's disease resulted in complete disappearance of proteinuria and normalisation of NK cell activity. Frequently relapsing MCNS with NK cells deficiency during remission of Hodgkin's disease appears to imply its subclinical relapse.

Child↗
PubMed1995

The immuno-stimulant OK-432 enhances liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy.

The effect of reticuloendothelial system activation on hepatic regeneration after 70% hepatectomy was investigated. OK-432, a killed streptococcal preparation which increases reticuloendothelial system function, was administered to rats prior to 70% hepatectomy. Hepatic incorporation of 3H-thymidine 24 h after 70% hepatectomy was enhanced by OK-432 pretreatment. DNA synthesis was greater in pretreated than in control rats and correlated highly with reticuloendothelial system phagocytic activity prior to surgery. Methyl palmitate, which decreases reticuloendothelial system function, was administered to rats prior to 70% hepatectemy. Hepatic incorporation of 3H-thymidine 24 h after 70% hepatoctomy was significantly depressed by methylpalmitate-pretreatment. These data suggest that reticuloendothelial system plays a role in liver regeneration and that hepatocyte proliferation might be enhanced by protection from surgical stress and endotoxins with reticuloendothelial system stimulation by OK-432.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1995

An ultrasonically powered instrument for laparoscopic surgery: a brief technical report of preliminary success.

We report the use of an ultrasonically powered instrument (CUSA) for laparoscopic surgery. A total of 105 patients underwent laparoscopic or laparoscopic assisted surgical procedures. Ninety-one laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC), 9 laparoscopic appendectomies (LA), 3 laparoscopic colon resections (LCR), and 2 laparoscopic partial gastrectomies (LPG) were done using CUSA. In LC, CUSA separates the areolar connective tissue between gallbladder and liver bed without dividing any sizable vessels or injuring the liver. In LA, LCR, and LPG, CUSA makes mesenteric vessel identification and division rapid and safe. We concluded that CUSA is useful for laparoscopic surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Crystal structure determination of a flavoprotein FP390 from a luminescent bacterium, Photobacterium phosphoreum.

The three-dimensional structure of a flavoprotein, FP390, purified from a luminescent bacterium, Photobacterium phosphoreum, has been determined at 3 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. Crystallographic refinements of the structural model have led to an R-factor of 0.24 for the intensity data between 6 to 3 A resolution collected with synchrotron radiation. It was found that a homodimer of the FP390 molecules related by a non-crystallographic 2-fold axis is comprised in the asymmetric unit. Two homodimers are arranged around a crystallographic 2-fold axis to form a tetrameric assembly. The monomer molecule of FP390, to which two molecules of the flavin cofactor (Q-flavin) are bound, consists of a seven-stranded parallel beta-sheet which forms a half of the beta-barrel structure and seven alpha-helices which surround one side of the beta-barrel. We suggest that the reason why the Q-flavin sample prepared from FP390 is always a mixture of two components is connected with the fact that the monomer molecules has two flavin binding sites, at the dimer interface and at the molecular surface.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1995

Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with chronic renal failure.

The serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were determined in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Nondialysis patients with renal insufficiency had significantly higher serum HGF than normal subjects (0.34 +/- 0.10 ng/ml, n = 21 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.05 ng/ml, n = 15; p < 0.001), and the elevated serum HGF correlated with their serum creatinine levels. Hemodialysis (HD) patients treated for 5-10 years showed higher serum HGF than those receiving HD for 1 year or less (0.45 +/- 0.14 ng/ml, n = 8 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.11 ng/ml, n = 9; p < 0.05). Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients also showed elevated serum HGF levels comparable to those of HD patients. There was no difference in serum HGF levels in HD patients with or without acquired cystic disease of kidney. Consequently, serum HGF is elevated in CRF, which may be attributed to the increased production of HGF in response to the chronic renal injury, the effect of heparin, or reduced removal of serum HGF in CRF patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Hepatocellular transplantation in rats with congenital ascorbic acid deficiency].

The purpose of this study was to investigate suitable sites for hepatocyte transplantation in rats with congenital liver enzyme deficiency. Hepatocytes were isolated from ODS-(+)/+ rats, which are congenic to ODS-od/od rats and have hepatic L-gulonolactone oxidase. A total of 1 x 10(7), 1 x 10(7), and 2.5 x 10(6) hepatocytes were respectively transplanted into the peritoneal cavity, spleen, or portal vein of ODS-od/od rats, which are unable to synthesize ascorbic acid (AsA) due to lack of hepatic L-gulonolactone oxidase. After 4 days of oral pretreatment with 0.05% 2-acetylaminofluorene, recipients underwent 70% partial hepatectomy just before transplantation. AsA administration was discontinued at 6 weeks after transplantation. The symptom-free survival rate and the serum AsA level of recipient rats were determined at 6 weeks after discontinuing AsA administration. The symptom-free survival rate of untransplanted rats and recipient rats with intraperitoneal, intrasplenic and intraportal hepatocyte transplantation were 0%, 0%, 60%, and 100%, respectively. The serum AsA levels were 0.20 +/- 0.20 microgram/ml, 0.14 +/- 0.05 microgram/ml, 1.06 +/- 0.26 microgram/ml, and 1.58 +/- 0.61 microgram/ml, respectively. Intrasplenic or intraportal transplantation was able to cure ODS-od/od rats. A subsequent splenectomy study showed that hepatocytes reaching the liver via the splenic vein following intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation played a major role in this experimental success.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Influence of splenectomy on drug therapy for acute liver failure induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide in rats].

We studied protective effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DBcAMP 15 mg/kg i.p.) and OK-432 (5 KE/body), and the role of the spleen on D-galactosamine (D-Gal 500 mg/kg i.p.) and lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin: Et 0.5 mg/kg i.p.) induced acute liver failure. The survival rates were 10% in the control group (D-Gal+Et), 53% in the group I A (DBcAMP was administered at 1 hour before D-Gal administration), 79% in the group I B (Splenectomy was performed at 24 hours before D-Gal administration on the group I A), 87% in the group II A (OK-432 was administered at 24 hours before D-Gal administration), and 64% in the group II B (Splenectomy was performed at 24 hours before D-Gal administration on the group II A). GOT activities and TNF activities were significantly improved in the treatment groups, and in the group I B and group II A, they were more improved than in the group I A and group II B. In conclusion, spleen had the positive effect for OK-432 treatment, and also had the negative effect for DBcAMP treatment on acute liver failure induced by D-Gal and Et.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Hepatocyte transplantation].

Hepatocyte transplantation has been studied to treat patients with liver disorders which do not need total replacement of the liver. We found that intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes recomposed liver tissues in the spleens of rats and that they revealed similar structure and function of the liver. We also successfully transplanted hepatocytes into the spleens of rats which were isolated from cirrhotic livers or were thawed after long term cryopreservation. We developed the method to isolate human hepatocytes from resected liver tissues and made clinical trials of intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation for the patients with chronic liver disorders. We detected the survival of transplanted hepatocytes in the spleens of patients, however, further proliferation of them has not yet identified. Hepatocyte transplantation still has many unresolved problems before its clinical application, such as a method to stimulate the proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes enough to make functional support of the damaged livers. In this article, I will review the present status and future aspects of hepatocyte transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Identification of mucondialdehyde as a novel stress metabolite.

In a survey of antifungal stress compounds induced by cupric chloride we found that leaves of Chenopodium album exuded a highly fungitoxic metabolite mucondialdehyde (trans-2,trans-4-hexadienedial), which was associated with 13-oxo-9,11-tridecadienoic acids (cis-9,trans-11 and trans-9,trans-11 isomers) presumably resulting from beta-scission of 13-hydroperoxy-octadecadi(tri)enoic acid. The biogenesis and role as a general defensive agent in plants are briefly discussed.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1994

Effects of low-power laser irradiation on multiple unit discharges induced by noxious stimuli in the anesthetized rabbit.

This study discusses the effects of low-power laser irradiation upon multiple unit discharges within a peripheral nerve that were induced by a noxious stimulation in anesthetized rabbits. Responding to a pinch stimulation of plantar skin, transitory increase of neuronal discharges was induced in the sural nerve. This was reduced within a minute, and persistent increases, which continued during a period of the stimulation, occurred. These increases became significantly smaller than the control value during a low-power laser irradiation that was applied to the exposed sural nerve distal to the recording site. These results suggested an inhibitory effect of low-power laser irradiation on the impulse conduction within a peripheral nerve. Possible analgesic effects of low-power irradiation are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Preparation of P-flavin-bound and P-flavin-free luciferase and P-flavin-bound beta-subunit of luciferase from Photobacterium phosphoreum.

P-flavin-bound luciferase, P-flavin-free luciferase, and P-flavin-bound beta-subunit of luciferase were prepared from Photobacterium phosphoreum using hydrophobic interaction chromatography after conventional purification using DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel-filtration. The P-flavin-bound luciferase preparation contained about 20% P-flavin-free luciferase not removable by the present procedure. Since the specific activity of the P-flavin-bound luciferase preparation was about 20% of that of the P-flavin-free luciferase, it was concluded that the P-flavin-bound luciferase is an enzyme-product complex and has no more luciferase activity. Unlike the absorption spectrum of FP390 or other flavoproteins, that of P-flavin-bound luciferase preparation has a high absorption peak around 370 nm and resembles the spectrum synthesized by superposing the P-flavin-free luciferase spectrum on the P-flavin-bound beta-subunit spectrum: the P-flavin-bound beta-subunit spectrum is similar to that of FP390, while that of P-flavin-free luciferase has an absorption peak around 370 nm but practically no peak around 450 nm. In addition, P-flavin-free luciferase exhibits a weak but distinct NADH-FMN oxidoreductase activity. These results suggest that a prosthetic group, which absorbs around 370 nm, binds to the luciferase and that this compound is required to yield P-flavin; and they support the hypothesis that the physiological function of bacterial luciferase is to produce P-flavin. Furthermore, the presence of P-flavin-bound beta-subunit of the luciferase in the cell extract supports the hypothesis that physiological function of the lux operon is the biosynthesis of FP390 including its prosthetic group.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Effects of glomerular macrophages on mesangial cells in rat serum sickness glomerulonephritis: a comparison of histological and co-culture studies.

Effects of glomerular macrophages on mesangial cell proliferation at different stages of experimental serum sickness nephritis (SSN) in the rat were examined using a direct co-culture system. The results were compared with the manifestations of glomerular tissue at the same points in time during the course of the SSN, especially with regard to glomerular infiltration and glomerular cell proliferation. Macrophages were isolated from the glomeruli at different points in time during the course of the SSN. While the number of glomerular macrophages increased during the sensitization, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin positivity of the glomerular tissue was increased after cessation of the antigenic sensitization. The effect of macrophages on mesangial cell proliferation was relatively diminished during the sensitization but was augmented thereafter. Proliferating cells were mostly attached by macrophages, suggesting the importance of the proximity of macrophages for mesangial proliferation. These results suggest that mesangial cell proliferation is largely influenced by macrophage function variability in the glomeruli during the course of SSN.

Animals↗