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Biomedical subjects

S Kitazawa

Publications and source records attributed to S Kitazawa.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

K-ras gene mutation in gall bladder carcinomas and dysplasia.

Epithelial dysplasia of gall bladder is an important precancerous lesion of gall bladder carcinogenesis. To investigate the frequency of K-ras gene mutation in gall bladder carcinoma and dysplasia, K-ras codon 12 mutations were investigated by the polymerase chain reaction/restriction enzyme based method following direct sequencing. Mutation was detected in 59% (30 of 51) of gall bladder carcinomas, in 73% (8 of 11) of gall bladder dysplasia in gall stone cases, and in 0% of the normal gall bladder epithelium. There was, however, no correlation between K-ras mutation and clinicopathological factors of gall bladder carcinoma. K-ras gene mutation occurs even in gall bladder dysplasia at an incidence similar to that in carcinomas, suggesting that testing for K-ras gene mutation may prove useful as an adjunct to bile cytological or biopsy analysis.

Base Sequence↗

Enzymatic synthesis of 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-moranoline and 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-moranoline by using beta-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans.

A transgalactosylation reaction from lactose to moranoline (1-deoxynojirimycin) was accomplished by using beta-galactosidase [EC 3.2.1.23] from Bacillus circulans. The enzyme formed 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-moranoline and 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-moranoline as major products, together with 2-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-moranoline and 6-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-moranoline as minor ones.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗

Interleukin-4 induces expression of the integrin alpha v beta 3 via transactivation of the beta 3 gene.

Osteoclastic bone resorption is dependent upon cell-matrix recognition. This process is mediated by the integrin alpha v beta 3 whose expression is enhanced, in avian osteoclast precursors, by bone-seeking steroids. The purpose of this study was to determine if bone-modulating cytokines impact on alpha v beta 3 expression by mouse marrow macrophages (BMMs), known to differentiate into osteoclasts. Of the cytokines tested. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is most effective in increasing beta 3 mRNA levels by a mechanism involving transactivation of the beta 3 gene. Moreover, IL-4 augmented beta 3 mRNA is mirrored by plasma membrane appearance of alpha v beta 3. As IL-4 induces beta 3 and not alpha v mRNA, the beta 3 chain appears to regulate surface expression of the heterodimer. The functional significance of IL-4-induced alpha v beta 3 is underscored by the fact that, while attachment to fibronectin is unaltered, treatment of BMMs with the cytokine enhances alpha v beta 3-mediated binding to vitronectin 5-fold. Expression of this heterodimer by BMMs driven along a non-osteoclastic lineage suggests alpha v beta 3 may play a role in the inflammatory response of macrophages.

Animals↗

Tuberculosis health education. Needs in homeless shelters.

Tuberculosis has reemerged as an important public health concern, particularly with the rise in multi-drug-resistant strains. The homeless are at increased risk for infection, for active disease, and for incomplete treatment. Public health authorities have recommended that tuberculosis health education materials be developed specifically for residents and staff of homeless shelters. In this study, a diverse sample of 20 adult homeless-shelter residents responded to open-ended questions regarding 1) their knowledge of tuberculosis and tuberculosis screening and treatment, 2) their perceptions of access to health care services related to tuberculosis, and 3) their views of health education regarding tuberculosis. The majority of the subjects had limited knowledge of tuberculosis and of screening and treatment for the disease. Many had misconceptions about the disease, particularly regarding its transmission. An analysis of the subjects' responses within the framework of the Health Belief Model indicated that basic tuberculosis health education programs for residents of homeless shelters are needed. The study findings indicated that a small-group educational format utilizing written materials and video aids might be most effective.

Adolescent↗

Effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor alacepril on ventricular function and beta-adrenoceptor number in rabbits with aortic regurgitation.

This study was performed to determine the effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor alacepril on hemodynamic variables and beta-adrenoceptor number in rabbits with heart failure induced by aortic regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation was induced by perforation of the aortic valve in 12 rabbits. Sixty mg/kg of alacepril was administered by gastric tube for 7 days after manifestation of aortic regurgitation to 6 rabbits (group AR + A). The other 6 rabbits with aortic regurgitation were administered vehicle in the same fashion (group AR + C). Seven rabbits underwent sham operation (group S). One week after induction of aortic regurgitation left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher and cardiac output was lower in AR + C than in S. End-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular diameter were larger and left ventricular weight was also higher in AR + C than in S. For each of these parameters, the opposite findings were obtained from a comparison of AR + A and S. Myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density and norepinephrine content were reduced in AR + C, but were restored in AR + A. These findings indicate that alacepril has beneficial effects on ventricular remodeling and function, and on sympatho-neuronal regulation in the volume-overloaded myocardium.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Effects of delayed visual information on the rate and amount of prism adaptation in the human.

Accurate reaching towards a visual target is initially disturbed when the visual field is displaced by prisms, but recovers with successive trials. To determine how the improvement depends on the visual error signals associated with the motor output, the time course of prism adaptation was studied with delayed visual information on the error. Subjects were trained to reach rapidly at a target on a tangent screen. Vision was always blocked during the movement, and allowed again only after the index finger touched the screen. One experiment consisted of three sets of 30 trials. In the first set, the subject wore no prisms and vision was allowed without delay. In the second, the visual field was displaced by prisms, and vision was available only after a delay period of 0-10,000 msec while the subjects maintained their final pointing position. Initially, the subject misreached the target by about the amount of visual displacement (60 mm). Errors decreased with trials by an amount proportional to the error in the preceding trial. The rate of decrease of error was generally largest when the delay was 0 msec, became significantly smaller when the delay was 50 msec, and showed only gradual change with longer delays. In the third set, the subject wore no prisms and vision was allowed without delay. Initial misreaching in the direction opposite to the visual displacement, reflecting the amount of adaptation in the second set, was generally largest with no delay (median of 46 mm) and significantly smaller with 50 msec and longer delays (17-33 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Development of skeletal metastases.

Skeletal metastases result from a series of complex steps including activation of osteoclasts and interaction between adhesion molecules on cancer cells and bone matrices. Researchers of this study used pathologic specimens of breast cancer cells from primary and metastatic sites obtained at surgery or autopsy to demonstrate the expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein by immunohistochemistry and beta 3 integrin by in situ hybridization to clarify the role of tumor-derived osteoclast activating factors and adhesion molecules in the development of skeletal metastases. The results of this retrospective study showed a significant difference of parathyroid hormone-related protein and beta 3 integrin expression in cases with and without skeletal metastases. These expressions were enhanced or clonally selected or both in skeletal metastatic sites. Because activation of osteoclastic bone resorption by parathyroid hormone-related protein could facilitate tumor cells to attach to the eroded bone surface through cell adhesion molecules, these 2 factors could make it easier for tumor cells to grow in bone.

Adult↗

[Sex-related differences in EEG coherence in normal young adults--evaluation during rest and photic stimulation].

EEG coherence is a noninvasive technique for studying functional relationships between brain regions. Although EEG coherence would be a useful method to explore the differences in cerebral functional organization between the sexes, sex differences in coherence have not been well documented. The present study was conducted therefore to examine sex differences in interhemispheric EEG coherence during rest and photic stimulation (PS) in 15 male and 15 female healthy young adults. Interhemispheric coherence of the resting EEG revealed no significant sex differences for any frequency band. In contrast, coherence during PS revealed significant sex differences, and the females had a significantly higher coherence than the males in the frequency band (4.5-5.5Hz) corresponding to 5Hz PS. In addition, the changes in interhemispheric coherence from rest to the stimulus condition (i.e., coherence reactivity) showed sex differences at the brain region primarily involved in visual functioning; the females had significantly greater coherence reactivity for O1-O2 in EEG during PS at 5 and 15Hz. These findings indicate sex differences in interhemispheric EEG coherence during PS, and provide further evidence that sex-related differences exist in the degree of lateralization of hemispheric function.

Adult↗

[Ethosuximide].

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Adult↗

DNA resynthesis and binucleated metamorphosis in cardiac muscle cells after isoproterenol-induced injury: bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry.

In this study, we assessed reactive DNA synthesis in mouse cardiac myocytes after injury in vivo using the Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemical method and clarified binucleated metamorphosis of S-phase cardiac myocytes in the myocardial healing process. The animals were injured by isoproterenol i.p., and studied 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 days after injury. Each animal was killed 3 hr after labeling with BrdU i.p. The BrdU labeling index was calculated 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 days after injury. Moreover, we observed the morphological difference of S-phase cardiac myocytes between Group A and Group B (A and B group were killed 3 hr and 3 days, respectively, after BrdU i.p.). Most of BrdU positive cells were mesenchymal fibroblastic, and BrdU positive cardiac myocytes were a minor phenomenon during healing process. In cardiac myocytes, the BrdU labeling index is 0.49 +/- 0.02 and 0.05 +/- 0.01 at day 3 and 0 after injury, respectively (P < 0.05). All BrdU positive cardiac myocytes were located around myocardial necrosis. All BrdU positive myocytes in Group A were mononucleated, whereas some were binucleated in Group B. These results indicated that some of the cardiac myocytes could synthesize DNA reactively even after birth, and that in a healing process, myocytic DNA synthesis is probably followed by binucleated metamorphosis.

Animals↗

F0F1-ATPase of Vibrio parahaemolyticus: purification using new detergents and characterization.

Previous attempts to isolate a stable F0F1-ATPase complex (H(+)-translocating ATPase) from Vibrio parahaemolyticus have been unsuccessful. Using new non-ionic detergents (alkyl thiomaltosides), a stable F0F1 complex with a high specific activity (15-25 units/mg protein) was purified and characterized. The purified F0F1-ATPase consists of eight subunits (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, a, b and c). The new detergents, in combination with sucrose (or glycerol), lipid, dithiothreitol and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, effectively stabilized the F0F1 complex. The ATPase activity of the F0F1 complex was greatly increased by anions, such as SO4(2-) and SO3(2-). Sodium ion increased the activity by about 2-fold. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, Zn2+, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilben-2,2'disulfonate and tetrachlorosalicylanilide inhibited F0F1-ATPase activity. Ethanol, which stimulated F1-ATPase activity, inhibited F0F1-ATPase activity. Methanol, Na3VO4 and bafilomycin A1 did not have any significant effect on F0F1-ATPase activity, although methanol, like ethanol, stimulated F1-ATPase activity.

4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfo↗

Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein in Breast Cancer Tissues: Relationship between Primary and Metastatic Sites.

The expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) at primary and metastatic sites was studied retrospectively in specimens obtained at opreation and autopsy from 11 patients. The anti-human PTHrP monoclonal antibody, 4B3, was used in the immunohistochemical studies. The 11 cases showed metastases to the liver and the lung, and 9 showed bone metastases at autopsy. At primary sites, PTHrP was positive in the 9 cases with bone metastases, while the other 2 cases were negative for PTHrP. Regardless of the intensities of immunohistochemical staining of PTHrP at primary sites, cancer cells at metastatic sites in the liver and the lung were almost all negative for PTHrP. On the other hand, all PTHrP-positive cases at primary sites at operation showed skeletal metastases at autopsy, and the intensity of the immunohistochemical staining of PTHrP was strongly positive at all the sites of skeletal metastasis. These results suggest that while PTHrP is an important factor that causes cancer cells to erode and grow in skeletal bone, the expression of PHTrP is, concurrently, affected by an osseous microenvironment.

Journal Article↗

p53 gene abnormalities are closely related to hepatoviral infections and occur at a late stage of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accumulates a mutation of the p53 gene with a common substitution of nucleotide in a particular site. It is hypothesized that infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or exposure to aflatoxins could induce it. In Japan, the concentration of aflatoxins in the environment is low; however, infection of HBV and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently seen in patients with HCC. The purpose of our studies was to determine whether these hepatoviral factors influence p53 alterations. In our results, p53 abnormalities, which were composed of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and/or point mutation, were shown in 39% of patients. We postulated that they occurred at late stages in tumor growth based on the following two results. LOH analysis on p53 showed that most of the tumor nodule consisted of two phenotypes, LOH and non-LOH cancer cells. The p53 abnormalities correlated with the grade of cancer cell atypia which advanced with tumor growth. HBV and HCV infections were identified by polymerase chain reaction using DNA extracted from cancerous and noncancerous regions of the liver. By these methods, the patients who had been infected with either HBV or HCV showed an incidence of p53 abnormalities (45%) higher than those infected by neither (13%). However, the detection rate of these viruses was lower in the HCC region (33%) than that in the noncancerous region (56%) in cases with mutated p53. The low rate of HCV detection (22%) in the HCC region with altered p53 was attributable to these different viral detection rates. There was a difference in pattern of p53 mutational changes in patients depending upon whether they were infected by HBV or by HCV. Two of three HBV-infected patients had a transversional change of nucleotide at the G:C site to T:A. However, in cases with HCV, four of eight patients had a transitional change of nucleotide of p53. These results showed that HBV and HCV infections affect carcinogenic pathways causing p53 abnormalities independently.

Adolescent↗

The expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein in human breast cancer with skeletal metastases.

The relationship between the expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) by breast cancer and skeletal metastases, was investigated using a monoclonal antibody against human PTHrP (4B3). The immunohistochemical localization of PTHrP was studied in sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 28 breast cancers obtained surgically between 1980 and 1985. Of the 28 patients, 12 developed skeletal metastases, 8 developed lung metastases, and the other 8 were alive and disease-free at the time of this study. Sixteen of the 28 (57%) tumors showed positive immunoreactivity to 4B3, the PTHrP positive ratio being 83% in the patients who developed skeletal metastases, 38% in those who developed lung metastases, and 38% in those without recurrence, respectively. Thus, a significantly higher proportion of the patients who developed skeletal metastases were positive for PTHrP than the other two groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the level of positive staining was strongly related to positivity for estrogen and progesterone receptors (P < 0.01). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that PTHrP might be necessary for metastases to erode bone and grow in skeletal sites, and its expression could be related to certain hormones.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Quantitative EEG analysis at rest and during photic stimulation in drug-naive patients with first-episode paranoid schizophrenia.

In the present study, quantitative EEG analysis was performed at rest and during 10 Hz photic stimulation in 14 drug-naive patients with first-episode paranoid schizophrenia and 20 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Compared with the normal controls, the patients had significantly lower alpha-2 band amplitude in the resting EEG over all recording regions. No significant group differences were found in other frequency bands. In addition, EEG analysis during photic stimulation demonstrated that the patients had a rather uniform topographic profile in EEG amplitude for the alpha band, with significant group differences being confined to the posterior regions in the left hemisphere. There were no significant group differences in the amplitude for the frequency bands harmonically related to the stimulus frequency. These findings provide further evidence that schizophrenic patients have abnormal EEG activity in both non-stimulus and stimulus conditions, and suggest a dysfunction in the mechanisms underlying EEG alpha generation in schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Uterine myxoid leiomyosarcoma and CYVADIC-etoposide therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a pathological characterization of rare uterine myxoid leiomyosarcoma (MLS) and establish an effective chemotherapy for metastasis after hysterectomy. METHODS: Histological and immunohistochemical methods were used to characterize the type of uterine MLS in a 39-year-old female. For multiple lung metastases found 3 months after operation, CYVADIC (400 mg cyclophosphamide, 1 mg vincristine, 50 mg epirubicin and 400 mg dacarbazine per body for one course) and oral etoposide (50 mg/body per day for 2 weeks) were applied. RESULTS: The rapidly enlarging uterine tumors exhibited gelatinous cut surfaces, a high count of 30 mitotic cells per 10 hpf and mucinous stroma, indicating a rare high-mitotic type of uterine MLS. The two-course CYVADIC-etoposide therapy was effective for disseminated pulmonary metastases. CONCLUSION: The present MLS was a rare high-mitotic type. CYVADIC-etoposide was an optional effective chemotherapy for lung metastasis in this case.

Adult↗

[Acoustic analysis of certain consonants using a computed model of the peripheral auditory system].

Stop consonants [p], [t], [k] and a fricative [s] were acoustically analyzed using a computed model of the peripheral auditory system in 12 normal subjects and 12 patients with tumors of the tongue who had undergone surgical resection and reconstruction. The model is a combination of the cochlear model that consists of 28 FIR filters (Delgutte) and the inner hair-cell/auditory nerve synapse model (Meddis), with some modification. It simulates firing of the auditory nerve in every channel related to the FIR filters in response to an input voice signal. Phonetic characteristics of the tested consonants were more clearly visualized by observing firing patterns and voice onset time (VOT) using this auditory model than with use of the conventional soundspectrogram. In patients with tumors of the tongue, the degree of distorted articulation and the area of surgical resection were significantly related to obscurity of the phonetic characteristics of the stop consonants [t] and [k]. Acoustic analysis using this auditory model may serve as a useful tool for voice analysis in research and in the clinical field.

Computer Simulation↗

[Quantitative analysis of EEG background activity in drug-naive schizophrenic patients].

In this study we performed quantitative EEG analyses in 12 drug-naive patients who fulfilled DSM-IIIR criteria for schizophrenia and in a group of 12 healthy subjects. The schizophrenic patients were found to have slower activity (delta and theta) than the controls. These differences were most marked in the frontal region for delta band and in the occipital region for theta band. The schizophrenic patients also had more beta 1 activity, particularly in the occipital leads. Conversely, they had less alpha 2 activity over all regions examined. Our findings indicate cerebral dysfunction in schizophrenia and are in line with the hypothesis of hypofrontality in this disorder.

Adult↗