Proliferative vitreoretinopathy in fundus flavimaculatus.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
T Kuwabara
Publications and source records attributed to T Kuwabara.
Characterization of a prolyl endopeptidase from spinach thylakoids.
A prolyl endopeptidase (PEPase, EC 3.4.21.26) that specifically cleaves the 18-kDa protein of photosystem II was extracted from photosystem II membranes with 1 M NaCl. Proteolytic activity measured with artificial substrates was less than a quarter of that with the protein. Studies on inhibition of the proteolysis by an artificial substrate suggested that the protease recognizes the scissile prolyl bond. The protease was inhibited by CuCl2, but not by diisopropyl fluorophosphate or p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid. These findings suggest that the protease represents a new class of PEPase. The specificity of the enzyme is discussed in relation to the structure of the 18-kDa protein.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor corrects granulocytopenia in Felty's syndrome.
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Aged↗
Decreased hypothalamic and medullary GABA turnover in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess whether Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurone activities in the central nervous system, especially in the hypothalamus and medulla oblangata, are altered in hypertension. METHODS: Central GABA content and turnover rate were measured in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive Wistar Kyoto controls (WKY). GABA content was determined with high performance liquid chromatography, and in vivo GABA turnover rates were estimated by GABA accumulation after injection of amino-oxyacetic acid, a selective inhibitor of GABA degrading system. Two groups of nine week old male rats (32 SHR and 32 WKY) were used. RESULTS: GABA concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid were lower in SHR than in WKY. Since hypothalamus and medulla oblongata are the possible active sites of this system, basal GABA contents and in vivo GABA turnover rates were measured in hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. Basal GABA content in the medulla oblongata and hypothalamus was almost equal in SHR and WKY. On the other hand, GABA turnover rates were significantly lower in SHR than in WKY in both the hypothalamus and the medulla. CONCLUSIONS: Since it is known that GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and that it controls autonomic and cardiovascular activities, the findings suggest that the decreased hypothalamic and medullary GABAergic activities may permit sympathetic hyperactivity to contribute to the increase in blood pressure in SHR.
Aminooxyacetic Acid↗
Serial computed tomographic and electroencephalographic studies in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
The serial changes in computed tomography (CT) as correlated with the clinical and electroencephalographic findings were evaluated in 3 patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The disease was subsequently confirmed histologically in 2. CT revealed that brain atrophy began in an early clinical stage and was prominent even before the state of akinetic mutism. Periodic synchronous discharges (PSDs) were observed either before or simultaneous with the observation of myoclonus. With progressive brain atrophy, the frequency of PSDs and the degree of myoclonus both decreased and disappeared 8 to 15 months after the onset of disease.
Aged↗
Thrombotic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiological study of middle cerebral artery occlusion is important because the indication for extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass remains in dispute. To help clarify this issue, we investigated the prognosis of thrombotic middle cerebral artery occlusion in Japanese patients. METHODS: We studied 40 patients with thrombotic middle cerebral artery occlusion who were selected on the basis of clinical features, computed tomographic findings, and angiographic findings. Patients with causes of embolism (i.e., cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, and carotid ulceration) were excluded. The 40 patients were classified into three groups according to the site of middle cerebral artery occlusion: there were 13 patients with occlusion of the proximal portion of the M1 segment, 13 with distal M1 segment occlusion, and 14 with occlusion of the M2 segment. RESULTS: Good collateral circulation was associated with improved outcomes both clinically and by computed tomography in patients with occlusion of the proximal and distal portions of the M1 segment but not in those with M2 occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: It is reasonable to assume that not only collateral circulation but also the site of occlusion plays an important role in the outcome of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Our finding that good collateral circulation improves the outcome for thrombotic occlusion of the proximal and distal M1 segments supports the possible benefits of such surgery.
Adult↗
Highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for marograstim (KW-2228), a mutant of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for marograstim (KW-2228) was established. This ELISA proved to be highly sensitive with the detection limit of 0.01 ng/ml (about 0.5 fmol/ml) of KW-2228 and the assay range between 0.01 and 2 ng/ml. When 0.02 to 2 ng/ml of KW-2228 added to human plasma was determined, the variation coefficiencies of intra-day and inter-day assays were 0.4 to 7.6% and 5.2 to 15.8%, respectively, with good recoveries. These results indicate that this ELISA will be applicable to pharmacokinetic studies on KW-2228. With respect to the specificity, recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) produced in Escherichia coli as well as KW-2228 which does not have sugar chains in its structure showed slightly less immunoreactivity toward the antibody raised against KW-2228. The rhG-CSF produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) having sugar chains showed the lower immunoreactivity. The antigenic domains of KW-2228 were evaluated using a number of variants of hG-CSF. The variants having different amino acids from KW-2228 in the 1st to 5th residue of the N-terminus showed almost equal immunoreactivities to KW-2228. The immunoreactivities of the variants lacking 7 to 18 amino acids of N-terminus were less than 50% of that of KW-2228. No immunoreactivity was observed for the variants deleted in the area of 70th to 130th amino acids from the N-terminus. In addition, the immunoreactivity of a variant lacking the 10 amino acids from the C-terminus was 20% of that of KW-2228.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Synthesis of a dibenz[b,e]oxepin-bovine serum albumin conjugate for radioimmunoassay of KW-4679 ((Z)-11-[3-(dimethylamino)propylidene]-6,11- dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-2-acetic acid hydrochloride).
(Z)-11-[3-(Dimethylamino)propylidene]-2-(methoxycarbonyl)methyl-6, 11- dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-9-acrylic acid (5) was prepared for application to the radioimmunoassay of KW-4679 (1, (Z)-11-[3-(dimethylamino)propylidene]-6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e ] oxepin-2-acetic acid hydrochloride). The acrylic acid moiety in the 9-position of 5 was employed for coupling with an amino group of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to provide 17. Subsequently, the conjugate 17 was treated with aqueous NaOH to hydrolyze the terminal methoxycarbonyl group in the 2-position of the BSA conjugated 5. Antiserum raised against the antigenic BSA-conjugate 4 finally obtained was specific for 1.
Antigens↗
[Drug induced cystitis due to ketotifen fumarate--a case report].
Tranilast, an antiallergic drug, is well known as a causal drug of cystitis, and a report is made here of our experience of 1 case of drug-induced cystitis ascribable to ketotifen fumarate. A 13-year-old female had been taking anti-asthmatic drugs orally since the onset of athmatoid attacks, from age of 5. The attacks intensified from the age of 12, because of this she began to take various anti-asthmatic drugs orally. She visited another hospital, due to pollakisuria, in November, 1990, and received treatment for cystitis. However, the symptoms were not alleviated, and she visited our department on January 9, 1991. By urinalysis, large counts of leukocytes and erythrocytes were observed in a visual field of the sediment. Remarkable reddening was observed over the urinary bladder in the patient's cystoscopic findings. Treatment was given at our department, on an outpatient basis, with various antibacterial drugs for approximately one month, but her symptoms were not alleviated, pollakisuria and aseptic pyuria persisted. The patient had never taken tranilast; oral intake of ketotifen fumarate and saibokutou was discontinued on February 13, due to a suspicion of drug-induced cystitis, and her symptoms subsequently disappeared. On February 22, she took ketotifen fumarate orally again, on her own, due to asthmatoid attack, and her symptoms returned. The oral intake of ketotifen fumarate was again discontinued, and alleviation of the symptoms and normalization of the urinary findings were again observed. As a result, lymphocyte stimulation tests on all the drugs the patient had ever taken, only ketotifen fumarate turned out to be positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
[Bilateral multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma].
A case of bilateral renal cell carcinoma with multilocular cysts is described. A 42-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for the purpose of further examination or right renal cystic mass discovered incidentally by ultrasonography. After she was examined by CT-scan and angiography, right nephrectomy was performed under the diagnosis of right renal cancer. Histological diagnosis was multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma. One year later a small cystic legion was found in the left kidney. Under the diagnosis of left renal cancer, left partial nephrectomy was performed. Histological diagnosis was multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma same as the right kidney. Multilocular renal cyst is classified into several classes by its style of development. This case of bilateral renal cell carcinoma which grew to be multilocular cysts is the first case in Japan as far as we can search.
Adult↗
Manidipine inhibits the progression of hypertension and atherosclerosis in endothelium-injured and cholesterol-fed Goldblatt 2K1C rats.
In the present study, arteriosclerotic change of the aorta was induced in rats. The effects of manidipine hydrochloride on the resulting hypertension and arteriosclerotic change were studied. In endothelium-injured cholesterol-fed Goldblatt 2K1C rats, moderate elevation of blood pressure was noted at 3, 4, and 5 weeks. Laboratory studies performed at the end of 6 weeks also showed hypercholesterolemia, accompanied by a reduction of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. Regular doses of manidipine (200 or 500 mg/kg) resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of the blood pressure elevation and a reduction of HDL cholesterol, but had no effect on cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Morphological studies in endothelium-injured rats afflicted with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, showed medial thickening and intimal hyperplasia. Hyperplasia of the intima was a result of excessive proliferation of the smooth muscle cells. These cells showed an unusually large number of fat droplets and were considered indicative of atheromatous plaque formation. In rats treated with manidipine, hyperplasia of the media was completely suppressed while hyperplasia of the intima was reduced by a minimum of 50%. This study demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia and hypertension produced arteriosclerotic change in endothelium-injured rats, which was inhibited by manidipine. It is not known whether antiarteriosclerotic action was involved in the antihypertensive effect of manidipine.
Animals↗
Effect of manidipine on cardiac hypertrophy and coronary circulation in DOCA/salt hypertensive rats.
The effect of manidipine on cardiac hypertrophy, coronary circulation, left ventricular weight and maximal coronary flow in hypertension was measured in DOCA/salt treated systolic hypertensive rats with and without manidipine treatment. Normotensive rats were used as controls. After feeding with 0.05% manidipine-containing food, blood pressure was reduced only in DOCA/salt hypertensive rats, but not in control rats. After 3 weeks of treatment, sodium excretion was significantly increased in DOCA/salt-treated rats with or without manidipine treatment. Hearts were removed and perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution with adenosine (5 x 10(-5) M) in a Langendorff apparatus. Maximal coronary flow (MCF) was significantly decreased only in DOCA/salt hypertensive rats without treatment, while manidipine treatment restored MCF. Left ventricular weight/body weight was also markedly greater in DOCA/salt-treated rats not given manidipine. Left ventricular weight in DOCA/salt-treated rats given manidipine was significantly reduced compared with DOCA/salt hypertensive rats without treatment, although it was heavier than in the control animals. Morphological examination showed that the increased wall/lumen ratio in DOCA/salt hypertensive rats was reduced by manidipine treatment. These findings suggest that treatment with manidipine in DOCA/salt hypertensive rats lowered high blood pressure and improved impaired coronary circulation with a reduction in left ventricular and vascular hypertrophy.
Aldosterone↗
N-RAS activation in the terminal stage of undifferentiated chronic myeloproliferative disease.
The relationship between activation of the N-RAS gene and the leukemic progression of undifferentiated chronic myeloproliferative disease (UCMPD) was investigated in a 71-year-old male. Hematologically, it was difficult to differentiate the UCMPD from chronic myelogenous leukemia. Chromosomal analysis revealed no Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1-), and DNA analysis revealed no BCR rearrangement (BCR-) either at the beginning or in the terminal stages of the disease. We performed a tumorigenicity assay, using NIH3T3 cells, and molecular analysis, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The DNA of leukemic cells at the beginning of the leukemic progression did not show any abnormalities, but at the terminal stage of the disease the DNA showed a point mutation in codon 12 (GGT----GCT) of the N-RAS gene. Interestingly, a codon 13 mutation (GGT----GTT) was also detected by tumorigenicity assay. These observations suggest that the activated N-RAS gene contributes to the hematologic progression of UCMPD.
Aged↗
Microsurgical thromboendarterectomy of the cavernous carotid artery--case report and surgical technique.
A 53-year-old male suffered a transient right hemiparesis and left monocular blindness. Angiography revealed 80% stenosis of the cavernous carotid artery. Microsurgical thromboendarterectomy was performed by a direct approach through Parkinson's triangle. During surgery, the carotid circulation was transiently trapped between the cervical and the supraclinoid segment and the trapped arterial lumen was irrigated with heparinized saline. Soft elastic lesion was easily removed. Cavernous carotid thromboendarterectomy through a direct approach is considered as a suitable operation for the solitary and localized stenotic lesions of the cavernous carotid artery, although this operation has not yet been reported to date.
Carotid Artery Diseases↗
Purification and characterization of 33 kilodalton protein of spinach chloroplasts.
A protein was prepared from spinach chloroplasts in a highly purified form. The isoelectric point of the protein was 5.2. The apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 33 000 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea, and 34 000 by gel filtration column chromatography with Sephadex G-100. The protein was provisionally named '33 kilodalton protein' according to the molecular weight. The absorption spectrum of the protein did not show any absorption band in the visible region. No histidine was found in the amino acid analysis of the protein. The 33 kilodalton protein was released from the thylakoid membrane by EDTA-treatment and also by sonic oscillation. The protein was bound to System II particles, but not to System I particles.
Amino Acids↗
[Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with subacute bacterial endocarditis, with various serum autoantibodies, hepatosplenomelgaly, pancytopenia and Graves' disease--a case report (author's transl)].
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Adult↗
[A case of olfacto-genital syndrome with growth hormone deficiency (author's transl)].
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Adult↗
Ocular manifestations of familial high-density lipoprotein deficiency (Tangier disease).
Corneal clouding is one of the manifestations of Tangier disease, an inherited disorder in which cholesterol-rich lipids are deposited in various tissues of the body. The cause of the corneal clouding is unknown. This study documents the clinical course and conjunctival biopsy findings of a 60-year-old man who was one of the earliest patients to be recognized with Tangier disease and in whom progressive corneal clouding developed in adult life. Noteworthy in the biopsy specimens were birefringent lipid particles that were predominantly present in degenerating pericytes of the conjunctival vessels.
Arteries↗