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Biomedical subjects

T Fujimura

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujimura.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Telomere shortening in leukemic cells is related to their genetic alterations but not replicative capability.

We compared telomere length in donor leukemic cells and corresponding established cell lines from three patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and three with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to study the relation between the immortalization capacity of hematologic neoplasms and telomere length. Six of the seven established leukemia cell lines (four CML and two ALL) carried additional chromosome changes and had shorter telomere repeats than those of the donor patients' leukemic cells; the remaining ALL line showed no significant difference in telomere length between fresh leukemic cells and the corresponding cell line. Thus, most established leukemic cells lose effective telomerase activity during the process of establishment, and reduction in telomere length of established leukemic cells appeared to be associated with the presence of additional chromosome changes.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1994

The promoter of a pine photosynthetic gene allows expression of a beta-glucuronidase reporter gene in transgenic rice plants in a light-independent but tissue-specific manner.

In angiosperms, the expression of the cab gene that encodes the chlorophyll a/b-binding protein of PSII is light-regulated. However, the pine cab gene is expressed in a light-independent but cell-type-specific manner. In the present study, the cab-6 promoter (1.7 kbp) from pine was fused to a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and the chimeric gene was introduced into rice protoplasts by electroporation. The GUS expression was studied in the resultant transgenic rice plants. Expression of GUS at a substantial level was confirmed in primary leaves of dark-germinated rice seedlings, and no obvious effect of light on the GUS activity was observed. The expression of GUS was restricted to photosynthetic tissues. The pine cab-6 promoter is, thus, sufficient for induction of light-independent but cell-type-specific expression in cells of a monocot, as is the case in the original pine cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Double-stranded RNA virus in the human pathogenic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Double-stranded RNA viruses were detected in a strain of Blastomyces dermatitidis isolated from a patient in Uganda. The viral particles are spherical (mostly 44 to 50 nm in diameter) and consist of about 25% double-stranded RNA (5 kb) and 75% protein (90 kDa). The virus contains transcriptional RNA polymerase activity; it synthesized single-stranded RNA in vitro in a conservative manner. The newly synthesized single-stranded RNA was a full-length strand, and the rate of chain elongation was approximately 170 nucleotides per min. The virus-containing strain shows no morphological difference from virus-free strains in the mycelial phase. Although the association with the presence of the virus is unclear, the virus-infected strain converts to the yeast form at 37 degrees C, but the yeast cells fail to multiply at that temperature.

Blastomyces↗
PubMed1994

A cryptic RNA-binding domain in the Pol region of the L-A double-stranded RNA virus Gag-Pol fusion protein.

The Pol region of the Gag-Pol fusion protein of the L-A double-stranded (ds) RNA virus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has (i) a domain essential for packaging viral positive strands, (ii) consensus amino acid sequence patterns typical of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, and (iii) two single-stranded RNA binding domains. We describe here a third single-stranded RNA binding domain (Pol residues 374 to 432), which is unique in being cryptic. Its activity is revealed only after deletion of an inhibitory region C terminal to the binding domain itself. This cryptic RNA binding domain is necessary for propagation of M1 satellite dsRNA, but it is not necessary for viral particle assembly or for packaging of viral positive-strand single-stranded RNA. The cryptic RNA binding domain includes a sequence pattern common among positive-strand single-stranded RNA and dsRNA viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, suggesting that it has a role in RNA polymerase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Changes in annexin I and II levels during the postnatal development of rat pancreatic islets.

The expression patterns and the dynamic changes in content of both annexin I and annexin II in the rat pancreatic islets during postnatal development were investigated by both western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical methods clearly demonstrated the presence of annexins I and II exclusively in pancreatic islets, while exocrine tissues were not stained by anti-annexin antibodies. Pancreatic islets were diffusely stained with no specific differences in distribution between different cell types. The expression of annexin I in pancreatic islets gradually increased with postnatal development. A developmental study of annexins I and II by western blot analysis essentially supported the results obtained by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the increasing expression of two protein tyrosine kinases, epidermal growth factor-receptor/kinase and pp60src, which phosphorylate annexin I and annexin II, respectively, and of protein kinase C, which phosphorylates both proteins, was also shown during postnatal development in rat pancreatic islets. Thus, a relationship between the expression of annexins I and II and the maturation of islet cell function is suggested.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Involvement of annexin I and annexin II in hepatocyte proliferation: can annexins I and II be markers for proliferative hepatocytes?

Annexin is the name of a new family of Ca(2+)-dependent membrane-binding proteins. Eleven types of its related proteins have been reported to date. Among those, annexin I and annexin II have been reported to possess many biological functions in vitro. Its actual role in vivo, however, is yet unknown. The involvement of annexin I and annexin II in the proliferation processes of hepatocytes was examined in the following aspects: (a) hepatocyte proliferation after carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage, (b) hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy and (c) postnatal development of hepatocytes. These results showed collectively that annexin I and annexin II were increased in proliferative (or regenerative) hepatocytes, suggesting that both proteins play a certain role in the proliferation event. Furthermore, annexin I- and annexin II-positive hepatocytes always show a wider distribution than that of proliferating cell nuclear antigen or cytokeratin 7-positive hepatocytes, indicating that annexin I and annexin II may be useful markers for detecting not only actively proliferating hepatocytes but also hepatocytes in preproliferative and postproliferative stages.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Dual arterial infusion chemotherapy, continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion, and total parietal peritonectomy for peritoneal dissemination in gastric cancer--a case report].

A 36-year-old man developed massive ascites, of which cytology proved Class V, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy disclosed Borrmann type 4 gastric cancer. We performed dual arterial infusion chemotherapy (DAIC) through the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery, followed by the operation including continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion, total gastrectomy, subtotal colectomy, massive intestinal resection, splenectomy, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and total parietal peritonectomy (TPP). Ascites disappeared and the CA125 level was normalized by DAIC. This operation was well tolerated. Though the histopathological study revealed multiple peritoneal disseminations on the visceral peritoneum of stomach, small intestine, colon, and parietal peritoneum such as Douglas' pouch, there were denatured cancer cells in the visceral peritoneum to which blood supply under DAIC was distributed. These results suggested the effect of neoadjuvant DAIC and the significance of TPP.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A new surgical technique (left upper abdominal evisceration) for advanced carcinoma of the gastric stump.

In spite of recent advances in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer by mass screening, gastric stump cancers following gastrectomy are still diagnosed at a highly advanced stage, and the surgical results remain very poor. Involvement of the fourth level lymph node stations, local peritoneal carcinomatosis and tumor growth invading the neighboring organs are frequently observed in advanced stump cancers. With the aim of achieving complete resection of these tumors, left upper abdominal evisceration (LUAE) + R4 gastrectomy was performed in 29 patients (Group B) with stump cancer as a radical surgical procedure. The survival of these patients was compared with that of 74 patients (Group A) who underwent total gastrectomy with or without pancreaticosplenectomy. Duration of surgery blood loss, and incidence of postoperative complications were similar with the two methods. When the survival rates were compared, the 5-year-survival rate in stage IV cases was higher for Group B than for Group A. LUAE + R4 gastrectomy is a rational technique for the surgical treatment of stage IV gastric stump cancer.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1993

Tissue-specific light-regulated expression directed by the promoter of a C4 gene, maize pyruvate,orthophosphate dikinase, in a C3 plant, rice.

Pyruvate,orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK; EC 2.7.9.1) activity is abundant in leaves of C4 plants, while it is difficult to detect in leaves of C3 plants. Recent studies have indicated that C3 plants have a gene encoding PPDK, with a structure similar to that of PPDK in C4 plants. However, low expression makes PPDK detection difficult in C3 plants. This finding suggests that high PPDK expression in C4 plants is due to regulatory mechanisms which are not operative in C3 plants. We have introduced a chimeric gene consisting of the gene encoding beta-glucuronidase (GUS; EC 3.2.1.31) controlled by the PPDK promoter from a C4 plant, maize, into a C3 cereal, rice. The chimeric gene was exclusively expressed in photosynthetic organs, leaf blades and sheaths, and not in roots or stems. Histochemical analysis of GUS activity demonstrated high expression of the chimeric gene in photosynthetic organs, localized in mesophyll cells, and no or very low activity in other cells. GUS expression was also regulated by light in that it was low in etiolated leaves and was enhanced by illumination. These observations indicate that the mechanisms responsible for cell-specific and light-inducible regulation of PPDK observed in C4 plants are also present in C3 plants. We directly tested whether rice has DNA-binding protein(s) which interact with a previously identified cis-acting element of the C4-type gene. Gel retardation assays indicate the presence in rice of a protein which binds this element and is similar to a maize nuclear protein which binds PPDK in maize. Taken together, these results indicate that the regulatory system which controls PPDK expression in maize is not unique to C4 plants.

DNA, Recombinant↗
PubMed1993

Two additional cases of acute myeloid leukemia with t(7;11)(p15;p15) having low neutrophil alkaline phosphatase scores.

We report two additional patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a translocation between chromosomes 7 and 11: t(7;11)(p15;p15). One patient was diagnosed as having AML-M2 and the other as AML with myelofibrosis. Both patients had low-level neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) scores. In the literature, only 15 AML patients with t(7;11)(p15;p15) have been reported; nine of them had an AML-M2 morphology, and all had a decreased NAP score. Moreover, mean survival of the reported AML patients with t(7;11)(p15;p15) was 15 months, although 85% of them obtained complete remission, indicating that this type of leukemia frequently tends to relapse. These findings indicate a strong association between the chromosome abnormality and hematologic manifestations of this disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Expression of a rice homeobox gene causes altered morphology of transgenic plants.

We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a homeobox sequence from rice. DNA sequence analysis of this clone, which was designated as Oryza sativa homeobox 1 (OSH1), and a genomic clone encoding the OSH1 sequence have shown that the OSH1 gene consists of five exons and encodes a polypeptide of 361 amino acid residues. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis has shown that OSH1 is a single-copy gene located near the phytochrome gene on chromosome 3. Introduction of the cloned OSH1 gene into rice resulted in altered leaf morphology, which was similar to that of the maize morphological mutant Knotted-1 (Kn1), indicating that OSH1 is a rice gene homologous to the maize Kn1 gene. RNA gel blot analysis has shown that the gene is primarily expressed in the shoot apices of young rice seedlings. This finding is supported by results of transformation experiments in which the 5' flanking region of the gene directed expression of a reporter gene in the shoot apex, particularly in stipules, of transgenic Arabidopsis. To elucidate the biological function of the OSH1 gene product, the coding region was introduced into Arabidopsis under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Almost all transformants showed abnormal morphology. The typical phenotype was the formation of clumps of abundant vegetative and reproductive shoot apices containing meristems and leaf primordia, which did not form elongated shoots. Some transformants with a less severe phenotype formed elongated shoots but had abnormally shaped leaves and flowers with stunted sepals, petals, and stamens. The abnormal phenotypes were inherited, and the level of expression of the introduced OSH1 correlates with the severity of the phenotype. These findings indicate that the abnormal morphologies of the transgenic plants are caused by the expression of the OSH1 gene product and, therefore, that OSH1 is related to the plant development process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Monoclonal antibody specific to virulence-associated 15- to 17-kilodalton antigens of Rhodococcus equi.

Virulent Rhodococcus equi produces 15- to 17-kDa surface protein antigens. These antigens are used as markers to identify virulent R. equi isolates from foals and their environment by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis with naturally infected foal serum. In the present study, a monoclonal antibody (MAb; 10G5) was generated against the 15- to 17-kDa antigens excised from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to develop sensitive and specific immunoblot assays for the identification of virulent R. equi. MAb 10G5 strongly reacted with R. equi ATCC 33701 and L1, which expressed 15- to 17-kDa antigens by Western blot, colony blot, and dot immunobinding assays, but it did not react with strains ATCC 33701P- and L1P-, which lacked the antigens. For identification of virulent R. equi, clinical and environmental isolates were tested by these assays with the MAb, and all virulent strains were successfully identified; these strains possessed virulence plasmids. These results suggest that the MAb is a useful reagent for the identification of virulent R. equi.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pituitary and serum levels of prolactin (PRL), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and serum thyroxine (T4) in hereditary dwarf rats (rdw/rdw).

Female and male hereditary dwarf mutation rats (rdw), offspring of those found by Koto et al. in a breeding colony of Wistar-Imamichi rats, were decapitated to collect blood and pituitary glands at 10 weeks of age. Levels of pituitary prolactin (PRL), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and serum PRL, TSH and thyroxine (T4) in rdw rats were measured and compared with levels in normal rats (N). The hormone levels were measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA). It was found that the levels of pituitary and serum PRL were considerably lower in rdw rats and that the level of serum T4 was also significantly lower than that in normal rats. TSH per pituitary was significantly lower in rdw rats but TSH per mg pituitary was not different between rdw and normal rats. The levels of serum TSH in rdw was not different from that in normal rats, but was rather higher in female rdw rats than in normal female rats. When the results of previous research were combined with the present results, it was clear that rdw rats are characterized by hypoplasia of GH and PRL synthetic cells of the pituitary and that rdw rat is possibly useful as a model animal with endocrinological defects in pituitary PRL and GH.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Comparison between immunogenotypic findings in de novo AML and AML post MDS.

We compared immunogenotypic findings in 73 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 30 patients with AML developed in myelodysplastic syndrome (AML post MDS) to determine the biological difference between these hematopoietic neoplasias. Lymphoid-associated antigens were detected in 13 patients with de novo AML, four of whom exhibited rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) gene. T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements were detected in 10 patients with de novo AML who did not have lymphoid-associated antigens, none of whom carried rearranged IgH. This group included two AML patients with trilineage dysplasia. Neither lymphoid markers nor IgH rearrangement was detected in any of the 30 patients with AML post-MDS; TCR rearrangements were detected in eight out of 30 patients, TCR-beta rearrangements in six out of 30, and TCR-delta rearrangements in five out of 30. The TCR rearrangement without rearranged IgH in some AML post MDS patients might not be due to a common recombinase activity, and this alteration may link to genomic instability. Some patients with de novo AML also showed this pattern, suggesting a close biologic association between AML post MDS and some patients with de novo AML.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Three-staged graft replacement for multifocal aortic aneurysms in the Marfan syndrome.

A three-staged operation for multifocal aortic aneurysms was conducted over a period of 8 months in a 52-year-old woman with the Marfan syndrome. The aortic valve and ascending aorta, the abdominal aorta and the upper half of the descending thoracic aorta were replaced. As of 9 months after the third operation, the patient's course has been uneventful, but continuous follow-up will be needed in view of the character of this disease.

Angiography↗
PubMed1993

[Correlation of DNA ploidy, c-erbB-2 protein tissue status, level of PCNA expression and clinical outcome in gastric carcinomas].

One-hundred and sixty-four patients with gastric carcinomas, who underwent gastrectomy during 1979-1985, were studied. Sixty-five of these cases were early gastric carcinomas, and the others were advanced gastric carcinomas, and the others were advanced gastric carcinomas. The nuclear DNA contents were measured by cytofluorometry, and immunohistochemical study on the expression of c-erbB-2 protein was performed using a monoclonal antibody against the c-erbB-2 oncogene product. Furthermore, immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was performed using a monoclonal antibody against the PCNA. The rates of positive invasion beyond submucosal layer, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion in aneuploid cases were significantly higher than those in diploid ones, and the patients with aneuploid tumor had a significantly worse prognosis than those with diploid tumor. The rates of positive lymph node metastases and invasion beyond submucosal layer in the group with positive staining of the c-erbB-2 protein was significantly higher than in the negative group, and the group with positive staining for c-erbB-2 had a significantly worse prognosis than the negative one. PCNA indices showed a significant correlation with lymph node metastasis, and the group with higher PCNA indices had a worse prognosis. The patients with tumor showing both aneuploid and positive staining for c-erbB-2 protein, had the worst prognosis. There is a relationship between c-erbB-2 tissue status and PCNA indices, but no correlations were found among c-erbB-2 tissue status, PCNA indices and DNA contents. From these results, it can be concluded that DNA ploidy, c-erbB-2 protein, and PCNA may reflect the malignant potential of gastric carcinoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Pol of gag-pol fusion protein required for encapsidation of viral RNA of yeast L-A virus.

Double-stranded RNA viruses have an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity associated with the viral particles which is indispensable for their replication cycle. Using the yeast L-A double-stranded RNA virus we have investigated the mechanism by which the virus encapsidates its genomic RNA and RNA polymerase. The L-A gag gene encodes the principal viral coat protein and the overlapping pol gene is expressed as a gag-pol fusion protein which is formed by a -1 ribosomal frameshift. Here we show that Gag alone is sufficient for virus particle formation, but that it fails to package the viral single-stranded RNA genome. Encapsidation of the viral RNA requires only a part of the Pol region (the N-terminal quarter), which is presumably distinct from the RNA polymerase domain. Given that the Pol region has single-stranded RNA-binding activity, these results are consistent with our L-A virus encapsidation model: the Pol region of the fusion protein binds specifically to the viral genome (+) strand, and the N-terminal gag-encoded region primes polymerization of Gag to form the capsid, thus ensuring the packaging of both the viral genome and the RNA polymerase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗