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Biomedical subjects

T Itabashi

Publications and source records attributed to T Itabashi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A novel endoscopic marker: safety experiments in the rat stomach.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The study aimed to assess a newly developed endoscopic marker designed to cause only minor inflammatory reactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chitosan and carbon powder were used in the marker substance. The product was a viscoelastic solution, which was injected into the submucosa in rat stomach walls. The tissue reactions were then examined histopathologically. The structure of the injected marker substance was examined with electron microscopy into rat stomach walls. India ink, which is currently used as an endoscopic marker, served as the control. RESULTS: Histopathological examination showed that inflammatory reactions with the novel agent were remarkably mild in the rat organs, while submucosally applied india ink caused severe inflammation in situ. The electron-microscopic findings showed that the carbon particles used were completely spherical in shape and that the carbon in the marker substance was entrapped in the chitosan networks. The india ink was shown to consist of a mixture of fine carbon particles and adhesive additives. CONCLUSIONS: The chitosan-carbon solution appears to be a promising endoscopic marker substance, causing significantly reduced inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Production of the neutron-rich hypernucleus 10LambdaLi in the (pi-,K+) double charge-exchange reaction.

In order to produce a neutron-rich Lambda hypernucleus for the first time, we carried out an experiment by utilizing the (pi-,K+) double charge-exchange reaction on a 10B target. We observed the production of a 10LambdaLi hypernucleus. The cross section for the Lambda bound region was found to be 11.3+/-1.9 nb/sr with the 1.2 GeV/c incident momentum, which is compared with the 10LambdaB hypernucleus production cross section, 7.8+/-0.3 microb/sr, in the (pi+,K+) reaction with a 1.05 GeV/c incident momentum beam.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Gastric ciliated metaplasia. A study of 3406 gastrectomy specimens from dwellers of the Atlantic and the Pacific basins.

BACKGROUND: Ciliated cells in gastrectomies from patients dwelling in the Pacific and Atlantic basins have been reported previously. AIM: To compare all the results in an attempt to explain the findings. METHODS: Sections from 3406 gastrectomies were reviewed: 1966 and 1440 from the Atlantic and Pacific basins, respectively. Ciliated cells and intestinal metaplasia (IM) were recorded; IM was classified into focal or extensive IM. The total number of sections/gastrectomy was noted. RESULTS: In the Atlantic basin, 5% of specimens had ciliated metaplasia (CM); it was more frequent in intestinal carcinoma (IC; 9%) than diffuse carcinoma (DC; 3%) or miscellaneous gastric diseases (MGD; 3%). In the Pacific basin, the frequency of specimens with CM was 29%: it was more frequent in IC (43%) than in DC (16%) or MGD (10%). The difference between the frequency of CM in specimens with IC or with DC/MGD in the Atlantic and the Pacific basins was significant (p < or = 0.05). The presence of CM was influenced by age and the extent of IM in both basins, but not by sex or the number of sections investigated. CONCLUSIONS: CM-apparently an independent microscopic marker-was significantly higher in the Pacific than in the Atlantic basin. Environmental carcinogens involved in the evolution of IM and IC seem to be implicated in gastric ciliogenesis. Carcinogens that differ in nature and/or in strength in both basins might activate the latent natural genes encoding ciliated processes in gastric cells in patients subsequently developing gastric carcinoma, more notably of intestinal type.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The 50-kDa protein of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus interferes with intracellular and intercellular targeting and tubule-inducing activity of the 39-kDa protein of Grapevine berry inner necrosis virus.

To understand why transgenic Nicotiana occidentalis plants expressing a functional movement protein (MP) of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) show specific resistance to Grapevine berry inner necrosis virus (GINV), the MPs of ACLSV (50KP) and GINV (39KP) were fused to green, yellow, or cyan fluorescent proteins (GFP, YFP, or CFP). These fusion proteins were transiently expressed in leaf cells of both transgenic (50KP) and nontransgenic (NT) plants, and the intracellular and intercellular trafficking and tubule-inducing activity of these proteins were compared. The results indicate that in epidermal cells and protoplasts from 50KP plant leaves, the trafficking and tubule-inducing activities of GINV-39KP were specifically blocked while those of ACLSV-50KP and Apple stem grooving virus MP (36KP) were not affected. Additionally, when 39KP-YFP and 50KP-CFP were coexpressed in the leaf epidermis of NT plants, the fluorescence of both proteins was confined to single cells, indicating that 50KP-CFP interferes with the cell-to-cell trafficking of 39KP-YFP and vice versa. Mutational analyses of 50KP showed that the deletion mutants that retained the activities described above still blocked cell-to-cell trafficking of 39KP, but the dysfunctional 50KP mutants could no longer impede cell-to-cell movement of 39KP. Transgenic plants expressing the functional 50KP deletion mutants showed specific resistance against GINV. In contrast, transgenic plants expressing the dysfunctional 50KP mutants did not show any resistance to the virus. From these results, we conclude that the specific resistance of 50KP plants to GINV is due to the ability of the 50KP to block intracellular and intercellular trafficking of GINV 39KP.

Gene Expression Regulation, Plant↗
PubMed2003

Consensus primers for detecting monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement in B cell lymphomas.

AIMS: To demonstrate the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology with both the FR2A/LJH/VLJH and the FR1c/LJH/VLJH primer sets for detecting monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement in B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs). METHODS: Eighty three patients with B-NHL were enrolled in this study. DNA was isolated from paraffin wax embedded sections and amplified by PCR to determine the sequences of the rearranged IgH gene. Each PCR product was subcloned. Cycle sequences and sequence analyses were done to determine the clone specific IgH variable region (VH) sequences. RESULTS: Clonal IgH gene rearrangements were detected in 45 cases with FR2a/JH/VLJH and in 14 of the remaining cases with FR1c/JH/VLJH. Most of the cases detectable with FR2a/JH/VLJH were derived from VH3 and VH4 families. Five of six cases in the VH1 family and one in the VH7 family were amplified with the FR1c/JH/VLJH primer set only. CONCLUSION: The detection rate of IgH rearrangement in B-NHLs can be increased by using both FR2A/LJH/VLJH and FR1c/LJH/VLJH, and these two primer sets are suitable for routine PCR methodology. Moreover, each primer set appears to be closely related to VH family specificity.

Clone Cells↗
PubMed2003

Development of immunoglobulin variable heavy chain gene consensus probes with conjugated 3' minor groove binder groups for monitoring minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

AIMS: To develop immunoglobulin heavy chain variable (VH) gene probes that are shorter and more flexible in position for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood leukaemia (ALL), using minor groove binder (MGB) technology. METHODS: All VH germline sequences registered in the database were aligned and the consensus regions were determined. The reliability of the MGB probes was compared with non-MGB probes in all 24 cases of ALL. RESULTS: Ten MGB probes (16 to 18 mers) were designed that enabled all the germline sequences on the database to be analysed, whereas the conventional non-MGB probes (21 to 27 mers) did not allow the analysis of four of the VH1 and five of the VH3 germline sequences. The sequencing results in five of the 24 cases of ALL were not matched to the non-MGB probes. CONCLUSIONS: MGB technology allows shorter probes to be designed, enabling MRD to be detected in childhood ALL. This would provide a considerable reduction in cost for a large MRD study.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Structural varieties of small proteoglycans in human spinal ligament.

Three types of small proteoglycan were purified from human spinal ligaments by ultracentrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography, gel-chromatography, and hydrophobic chromatography. Two of them were identified as decorin and biglycan, and the other was thought to be a decorin-subtype. Molecular sizes of decorin and decorin-subtype were both 85 kDa, and that of biglycan was 200 kDa. N-Terminal amino acid sequence of decorin-subtype corresponded with that of decorin, although it was different from decorin in terms of composition of amino acids and glycosaminoglycan chains, and reactivity with anti-human decorin antibody. The ratios of chondroitin sulfate to dermatan sulfate contained in the three proteoglycans were different, and the location of that in glycosaminoglycan chains was also thought to be different. It was demonstrated that three types of proteoglycan which are structurally different are present in extracellular matrix.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

A new pentanorlanostane derivative, cladosporide A, as a characteristic antifungal agent against Aspergillus fumigatus, isolated from Cladosporium sp.

In the course of searching for new antifungal agents, a new pentanorlanostane derivative, cladosporide A (1), was isolated along with ergosterol, ergosterol peroxide and 23,24,25,26,27-pentanorlanost-8-ene-3beta,22-diol (2) from Cladosporium sp. as a characteristic antifungal agent against the human pathogenic filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The structure of 1 was established as 3beta,22-dihydroxy-23,24,25,26,27-pentanorlanostane-29-al by spectroscopic and chemical investigation and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Inhibitory activity against A. fumigatus (IC80 0.5-4.0 microg/ml) was observed for cladosporide A (1), but no activity was observed against pathogenic yeasts, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, and other pathogenic filamentous fungi, Aspergillus niger and A. flavus. The 4beta-aldehyde residue in 1 might be essential for the antifungal activity, since 23,24,25,26,27-pentanorlanost-8-ene-3beta,22-diol (2) showed no inhibition against the above four fungi.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1999

D-aspartate is present in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells.

In mammals, D-aspartate is present in various neuroendocrine cells, being especially abundant in pinealocytes. Although D-aspartate is suggested to be involved in some neuroendocrine function, little is known about its origins as well as its physiological roles. In the present study, we found that an appreciable amount of D-aspartate (50.8 pmol/1 x 10(6) cells) is present in clonal human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. The amount of D-aspartate corresponds to 28% of that in rat pinealocytes. The D-aspartate concentration did not change with the culture duration or passage, suggesting de novo biosynthesis of it. Thus, Y79 cells may constitute a suitable experimental system for studies on the biogenesis and signal transduction of D-aspartate in mammalian cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Blood and urinary levels of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and C4 compounds such as diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol in normal male students after ethanol ingestion.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozyme 2 genes were determined in 15 students. Of these subjects, five healthy male students were administered 0.4 kg/kg ethanol. One subject was defective in aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), two had normal ALDH2, and the other two were hetero type. After the intake of alcohol, the concentration of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and C4 compounds in blood and urine were determined. The student with the inactive form of ALDH2 was flushed and his levels of 2,3-butanediol and acetaldehyde in blood and urine were found to be the highest.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1999

Changes in immune function following surgery for esophageal carcinoma.

Changes in immune function due to surgical injury have been well-documented. Immunosuppression is one of the causes of infectious complications leading to organ dysfunction in critical illness. It is not known what kind of surgery in the daily clinical practice causes immunosuppression. Stress response and immune function following surgery for esophageal carcinoma, assuming a highly-stressed operation, were studied and then compared with the stress response and immune function following gastric surgery, a moderately-stressed procedure. Forty patients who underwent esophagectomy and 39 patients receiving gastric operation were studied. The concentrations of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured preoperatively, at 1, 2, and 6 h, and at 1, 3, and 10 d after operation. Total protein, serum albumin, rapid turnover protein, serum CRP, and cortisol were measured before operation and at 1, 3, 7, and 21 d after operation. ConA- and PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, IgA, IgG, and IgM were also measured preoperatively, and on 7 and 21 d following surgery. The patients were fed exclusively by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). A striking rise of IL-6 was observed, with a peak in both groups at 1 to 6 h following operation. The peak values were 419+/-30 pg/mL, which was approximately twice as high in the esophagectomy patients as in the gastrectomy patients (195+/-40 pg/mL). CRP and cortisol also increased after operation, and these increases were also significantly greater in the esophagectomy patients. ConA- and PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation decreased significantly 7 d after esophagectomy (P<0.05), but was unchanged in the patients receiving gastrectomy. Suppression of cellular immunity correlated significantly with serum cortisol, and was preceded by a rise in serum IL-6. The IgA, IgG, and IgM levels, however, remained unchanged from their preoperative values throughout the study in both groups. Nutritional status in terms of serum protein, albumin, and rapid turnover protein, decreased postoperatively, but there was no difference between the two groups. It is, therefore, concluded that cell-mediated immunosuppression, preceded by a hyperinflammatory response, is an observable reaction in patients following esophageal surgery, but not in patients undergoing gastric surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Effects of soybean oil emulsion and eicosapentaenoic acid on stress response and immune function after a severely stressful operation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of soybean oil emulsion and oral or enteral administration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on stress response, cytokine production, protein metabolism, and immune function after surgery for esophageal cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: It has been reported that safflower oil, rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA), affects the survival rate of septic animals and decreases the immune function. It has also been reported that the administration of fish oil, in contrast, reduces these stress responses and stress-induced immunosuppression. In humans, the effects of soybean oil emulsion and the administration of EPA on stress response and immune function after surgery have not been established. METHODS: Patients who underwent esophagectomy with thoracotomy were divided into three groups. Seven patients were fed by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with soybean oil emulsion, which accounted for 20% of total calories. Seven patients were given oral or enteral administration of 1.8 g/day EPA, in addition to TPN with soybean oil emulsion. Nine patients served as the control group; these patients received fat-free TPN. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, concanavalin A (con A)- or phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell activity, and stress hormones were measured. RESULTS: The postoperative level of serum IL-6 was significantly higher in the group receiving soybean oil emulsion than in the fat-free group. Oral or enteral supplementation of EPA with soybean oil emulsion significantly reduced the level of serum IL-6 compared with the patients receiving soybean oil emulsion. Con A- or PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation decreased significantly on postoperative day 7 in all groups of patients. The supplementation of EPA with soybean oil emulsion significantly improved the lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity on postoperative day 21 compared with the group receiving soybean oil emulsion. CONCLUSIONS: Soybean oil emulsion amplifies, and the supplementation of EPA reduces, the stress response and stress-induced immunosuppression.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid↗
PubMed1999

[A case of gastric carcinoma treated effectively with 5'-DFUR].

A 79-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for further examination on gastric carcinoma (1' type) in the cardia. The histology of biopsied tissue was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (tub2). The patient refused a gastrectomy and received three cycles of local injection therapy with OK-432 + Beriplast into the tumor. However, the tumor showed no decrease in size. Considering the quality of life, the patient was given out patient treatment with 5'-DFUR (Furtulon, 800 mg/day). Three months later, the patient showed a partial response (PR) on the basis of gastric X-ray and endoscopic findings. No adverse reactions to the drug were seen. The patient has been receiving the same drug since then, and has continued to show PR for 15 months. Biopsied tissues were checked immunohistochemically for expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TdRPase), and changes in tissue TdRPase level were examined by ELISA. The TdRPase level decreased with shrinking of the tumor. These results suggest that the shrinking of tumor following 5'-DFUR therapy is closely related to TdRPase.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

[Inoperable esophageal carcinoma managed by combined chemotherapy (CBDCA, 5-FU and VDS) and radiotherapy].

Eleven inoperable patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma were treated with chemotherapy (carboplatin, 5-FU, vindesine) and concomitant radiotherapy. Two patients (T2) received this treatment due to their poor general condition and refusal of operation, and 9 patients for infiltration of tumor into the adjacent organs (T4). Administration of carboplatin (30 mg/body) and 5-FU (250 mg/body) together with radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/d) for 5 days a week was performed. This chemoradiation therapy was carried out for 5 consecutive weeks. In addition, vindesine (1-3 mg/body) was administered in the 1st and 4th week. After evaluation, endoscopic balloon dilatation was performed in 6 patients with stenosis of the esophagus. The general response rate was 80%. CR was noted in 2 patients of T2 but 1 patient of T4 developed severe leucopenia and immunosuppression, and died of septic MOF. All but the MOF case could take enough food orally following the endoscopic dilatation. The 1-year survival rate in the T4 group (45%) was significantly better than the non-treatment group (0%). In conclusion, this treatment is beneficial for patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma to obtain a satisfactory QOL and survival rate.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Cervical myelopathy caused by the anomalous vertebral artery. A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case of cervical myelopathy caused by an anomalous vertebral artery is reported. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of high cervical myelopathy resulting from spinal cord compression by an anomalous vertebral artery. Authors believe that this is the first reported case in which the nutrient artery to the abnormal artery originated from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although fenestration of the vertebral artery is net an unusual anomaly to the best of the authors knowledge, three cases of high cervical myelopathy resulting from the anomaly were reported. There is no reported case in which an abnormal artery originated from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. METHODS: The clinical features of the case are reported and discussed with a review of the previously documented cases. RESULTS: The cord compression war relieved surgically, and the patient's symptoms improved postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: A fenestrated vertebral artery should be included in the differential diagnosis of the upper cervical or the craniovertebral junctional lesions of unknown origin. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful for the diagnosis. In the present case, there was an anomalous branch entered as a nutrient artery from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Careful management for similar abnormal arteries includes surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Residence time of polaprezinc (zinc L-carnosine complex) in the rat stomach and adhesiveness to ulcerous sites.

Polaprezinc, an insoluble zinc complex of L-carnosine, exhibits anti-ulcer effects by acting directly on mucosal lesions. The disposition of polaprezinc in the stomach was studied to clarify the usefulness of its structure as an insoluble complex. The time courses of 14C-radioactivity in the gastric contents and gastric tissues were parallel to those of 65Zn after oral administration of a mixture of 14C-polaprezinc and 65Zn-polaprezinc (14C-, 65Zn-polaprezinc) to rats. The gastric contents of 14C-polaprezinc and 65Zn-polaprezinc were greater than those of 14C-L-carnosine and 65ZnSO4. Mean residence times (MRT) of 14C-polaprezinc and 65Zn-polaprezinc in the stomach were almost the same (ca. 2 hr), and they were double those of 14C-L-carnosine and 65ZnSO4. In gastric tissues, the area under the concentration curves (AUC0-8 hr) of 14C-polaprezinc and 65Zn-polaprezinc were 1.7 times greater than those of 14C-L-carnosine and 65ZnSO4, respectively. After administration of 14C-, 65Zn-polaprezinc to rats with acetic acid-induced ulcers, 14C and 65Zn-radioactivities in the ulcerous sites were very similar and greater than those of 14C-, 65Zn-polaprezinc dissolved in acid. In conclusion, polaprezinc is retained in the stomach longer and adheres to the ulcerous sites more than zinc or L-carnosine. The characteristics of this compound may arise from its insolubility and contribute to its strong pharmacological action.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Quantitative analysis of cervical CSF and syrinx fluid pulsations.

The author has performed quantitative studies of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsations in the cervical region in 10 normal subjects and in 13 cases of syringomyelia using a superconducting MRI system. In the normal subjects, the caudally directed CSF flow in the anterior subarachnoid space reached its maximum velocity at 100-200 msec after the R-wave of the ECG. Measured velocities were 26-44 mm/sec at upper cervical levels and 44-124 mm/sec at lower cervical levels. Further small peaks in the caudal direction were seen at approximately 500 msec after the R-wave. Cases of syringomyelia showed lower velocities in the syrinx than in the anterior subarachnoid space, and the movements varied greatly between the cases and levels examined. CSF pulsations in the subarachnoid space were observed in all cases with Chiari malformation. These results suggest that CSF pulsations in the subarachnoid space are transmitted to the syrinx fluid, and that the movements of the syrinx fluid are influenced by various factors.

Adolescent↗