Biomedical subjects

T Shinohara

Publications and source records attributed to T Shinohara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Clinical outcome of high segmental gastrectomy for early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach.

BACKGROUND: Reflux oesophagitis is commonly encountered in the surgical treatment of cancer of the upper third of the stomach. The aim of this study was to describe a novel surgical technique and evaluate the clinical outcome of high segmental gastrectomy for early-stage proximal gastric cancer. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with early gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach were included, of whom 12 underwent high segmental gastrectomy and 18 underwent proximal gastrectomy with jejunal interposition. The incidence of reflux oesophagitis and nutritional parameters were compared between the two groups at 1 year after operation. RESULTS: One patient had mild reflux symptoms and two had endoscopic evidence of oesophagitis 1 year after high segmental gastrectomy. Half of the patients who had proximal gastrectomy had reflux symptoms of varying severity and 14 had endoscopic evidence of oesophageal changes at 1 year after surgery. There were significant differences between groups in the incidence of reflux symptoms (P = 0.016) and endoscopically detected gastro-oesophagitis (P < 0.001). There were no adverse events in either group, and the survival rate after high segmental gastrectomy appeared favourable. CONCLUSION: Selected patients with early-stage proximal gastric cancer benefit from high segmental gastrectomy in terms of reduced reflex oesophagitis, without jeopardizing curability.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Smoking is associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Smoking and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction are associated with high mortality in type 2 diabetic patients. This study tested the hypothesis that smoking is associated with insulin resistance/hyperinsulinaemia and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients who are not treated with insulin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study patients were 22 current smokers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age: 57 +/- 5 years, mean +/- SD) and 30 age-matched never-smoked patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (control group, 57 +/- 8 years). The quality of blood glucose was assessed by fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting immunoreactive insulin (F-IRI), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The severity of smoking status was expressed by the Brinkman index, which is calculated as number of cigarettes per day multiplied by years of smoking. Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart-rate variability, plasma norepinephrine concentration and cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphic findings. RESULTS: Baroreflex sensitivity was lower in the current smokers group than in the never-smoked group (P < 0.05). Early and delayed (123)I-MIBG myocardial uptake values were lower (P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively) and the percentage washout-rate of (123)I-MIBG was higher (P < 0.0001) in the current smokers group than in the never-smoked group. Fasting immunoreactive insulin (F-IRI) concentration (P < 0.0001) and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index (P < 0.0001) were higher in the current smokers group than the never-smoked group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking was independently predicted by F-IRI and the percentage washout-rate of (123)I-MIBG. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggested that smoking was associated with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and hyperinsulinaemia and that F-IRI and the percentage washout-rate of (123)I-MIBG were independent predictors of smoking in these Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

PubMed2006

[Ascending aortic aneurysm following aortic valve replacement due to aortitis syndrome; report of a case].

A 60-year-old woman had previously undergone aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation. As the aortic wall was elastic hard, inflammatory change was suspected; therefore, we undertook a partial biopsy of the ascending aortic wall and the intraoperative pathological specimens were compatible with aortitis syndrome. As there was no active inflammatory change, she was diagnosed as inactive aortitis syndrome and steroid therapy was not applied. Seven years later, a follow-up computed tomography (CT) showed an ascending aortic aneurysm of 65 mm in diameter. Aortic root replacement was planned based on a clinical diagnosis of an aneurysm of the ascending aorta. The patient was discharged without complication 21 days after surgery. It is possible that an inactive stage of aortitis may lead to late dilatation of the ascending aorta; therefore, careful postoperative follow-up is necessary in such cases.

Aorta↗

PubMed2005

DNA binding domains and nuclear localization signal of LEDGF: contribution of two helix-turn-helix (HTH)-like domains and a stretch of 58 amino acids of the N-terminal to the trans-activation potential of LEDGF.

Lens epithelium derived growth factor (LEDGF), a nuclear protein, plays a role in regulating the transcription of stress-associated genes such as heat shock proteins by binding to consensus core DNA sequences nAGGn or nGAAn or their repeats, and in doing so helps to provide cyto-protection. However, additional information is required to identify the specific structural features of LEDGF involved in gene transcription. Here we have investigated the functional domains activating and repressing DNA-binding modules, by using a DNA binding assay and trans-activation experiments performed by analyzing proteins prepared from deletion constructs. The results disclosed the DNA-binding domain of N-terminal LEDGF mapped between amino acid residues 5 and 62, a 58 amino acid residue stretch PWWP domain which binds to stress response elements (STRE; A/TGGGGA/T). C-terminal LEDGF contains activation domains, an extensive loop-region (aa 418-530) with two helix-turn-helix (HTH)-like domains, and binds to a heat shock element (HSE; nGAAn). A trans-activation assay using Hsp27 promoter revealed that both HTH domains contribute in a cooperative manner to the trans-activation potential of LEDGF. Interestingly, removal of N-terminal LEDGF (aa 1-187) significantly enhances the gene activation potential of C-terminal LEDGF (aa 199-530); thus the N-terminal domain (aa 5-62), exhibits auto-transcriptional repression activity. It appears that this domain is involved in stabilizing the LEDGF-DNA binding complex. Collectively, our results demonstrate that LEDGF contains three DNA-binding domains, which regulate gene expression depending on cellular microenvironment and thus modify the physiology of cells to maintain cellular homeostasis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Germline niche transplantation restores fertility in infertile mice.

BACKGROUND: Stem cells interact closely with their microenvironment or niche, and abnormalities in niche compromise the self-renewing tissue. In testis, for example, Sertoli cells interact with germ cells, and defects in Sertoli cells compromises spermatogenesis, leading to male infertility. However, it has not been possible to restore spermatogenesis from endogenous stem cells in infertile testis with environmental defects. METHODS AND RESULTS: When healthy Sertoli cells from infertile white spotting (W) mouse were transplanted into the seminiferous tubules of infertile Steel (Sl) mouse testis that had defective Sertoli cells, spermatogenesis occurred from Sl stem cells in the recipient testis. On average, 1.1% of the recipient tubules showed spermatogenesis. Furthermore, in a microinsemination experiment with germ cells that developed in the testis, we obtained four normal offspring from 114 successfully injected oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that defects in male germline microenvironment can be corrected by Sertoli cell transplantation. Although further improvements are required to enhance the low efficiency of spermatogenesis, the ability to correct environmental defect by niche transplantation has important implications in developing new strategies for treating incurable disorders in self-renewing tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Heme oxygenase-1 inhibits cigarette smoke-induced increase in the tracheal mucosal permeability in guinea pigs in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether heme oxygenase (HO)-1 inhibits cigarette smoke (CS)-induced increase in the airway mucosal permeability. METHODS: Mucosal permeability was quantified by monitoring the rate of appearance in the circulation of horseradish peroxidase that had been instilled into the isolated tracheal segment in guinea pigs in vivo, after exposure to CS or room air. RESULTS: Exposure to 10 puffs of CS did not increase the tracheal mucosal permeability but did increase the permeability after pretreatment with zinc protoporphyrin, a competitive inhibitor of HO-1. Moreover, pretreatment with hemin, a potent inducer of HO-1, inhibited the increase in the permeability of the tracheal mucosa induced by 20 puffs of CS exposure. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that HO-1 has an important role in suppressing the increase in the mucosal permeability induced by CS in guinea pig trachea.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Clinical value of multidetector row computed tomography in detecting lymph node metastasis of early gastric cancer.

AIMS: To evaluate the clinical value of multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) as a pre-operative staging tool for lymph node metastasis in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). METHODS: In 278 consecutive patients with EGC, lymph node metastasis was evaluated pre-operatively with MDCT at a slice thickness of 2.5mm (n=57), 5.0mm (n=188), or 7.5mm (n=33). RESULTS: Overall accuracy of nodal category from N0 to N3 was 86% for MDCT and 95% for operative assessment. Regarding accuracy in detecting at least one metastatic lymph node, area under curves (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics for 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5-mm slices and assessment during surgery were 0.87, 0.67 and 0.47, and 0.70, which were significantly different (P<0.0001). MDCT image with 2.5-mm could discriminate the presence of lymph node metastasis with diagnostic accuracy: sensitivity 80%; specificity 92%; positive predictive value (PPV) 50%; negative predictive value (NPV) 98%, whereas assessment during surgery was as follows: sensitivity 65%; specificity 98%; PPV 72%; and NPV 97%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pre-operative assessment with MDCT using thinner slices may detect at least one lymph node metastasis as accurately as assessment during surgery for patients with EGC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2005

Extensor mechanism laxity at the metacarpophalangeal joint as identified by a new provocative test: predisposition to dislocation.

A tendon subluxation test was performed on the unaffected side in 13 patients with traumatic extensor tendon dislocation of the middle finger and on both middle fingers in 800 healthy controls to identify extensor mechanism laxity at the metacarpophalangeal joint. Ten of the 13 patients with dislocation had laxity of middle finger extensor tendon, compared with 174 of the 800 (22%) controls. The difference in these rates of extensor tendon laxity is significant (P<0.0001), and suggests that extensor mechanism laxity at the metacarpophalangeal joint may predispose to traumatic extensor tendon dislocation.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria from soil using an enrichment procedure.

AIMS: To survey, and identify and classify the ecological distribution of lactic acid bacteria from soil in Japan and Taiwan. METHODS AND RESULTS: Acid-producing bacteria were isolated from 68 soil samples, collected from Japan and Taiwan, in the rhizospheres of fruit trees, from the floor of a henhouse and around a horse farm. All isolates were identified by physiological and genetic tests. Thirty-two of the 54 isolates were identified as lactic acid bacteria (LAB), 16 as spore-forming lactic acid bacteria, five as Clostridium and one as Bacillus. These lactic acid bacteria represent five genera: Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc and Weissella. CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of isolating lactic acid bacteria was obtained from soil. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study suggests that soil may be a common source for the isolation of lactic acid bacteria.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

PubMed2005

Durancin L28-1A, a new bacteriocin from Enterococcus durans L28-1, isolated from soil.

AIMS: To isolate, characterize and identify bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria in soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-four acid-producing bacteria were isolated from 87 soil samples. Antibacterial activities were detected, and one strain, L28-1 produced a bacteriocin that was active against some Gram-positive bacteria. L28-1 was identified as Enterococcus durans by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and API50CHL. This bacteriocin did not lose its activity after autoclaving (121 degrees C for 15 min), but was inactivated by protease K. The bacteriocin was purified by hydrophobic column chromatography, and Sep-Pak C(18). Tricine sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the partially purified bacteriocin contained numerous protein bands. Two bands that displayed antibacterial activities were c. 3.4 and 2.5 kDa in size. In this work, the 3.4-kDa bacteriocin was analysed with N-terminal amino acid and DNA sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis. The results indicated that the 3.4-kDa bacteriocin of Ent. durans L28-1 is a new natural enterocin variant. CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcus durans L28-1 produced a new bacteriocin. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reports a novel bacteriocin that is produced by Ent. durans that has potential for use as a food preservative.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

A phase I trial of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor-oriented peptide vaccines for colorectal carcinoma patients.

In most protocols of peptide-based vaccination, no consideration has been paid to whether or not peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) precursors are pre-existent in cancer patients. Initiation of immune boosting through vaccination is better than that of immune priming to induce prompt and strong immunity. In this study, 10 human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen-A24(+) patients with advanced colorectal carcinomas were treated with up to four peptides that had been positive for pre-vaccination measurement of peptide-specific CTL precursors in the circulation (CTL precursor-oriented peptide vaccine). No severe adverse effect was observed, although local pain and fever of grade I or II were observed. Post-vaccination peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from five patients demonstrated an increased peptide-specific immune response to the peptides. Increased CTL response to cancer cells was detected in post-vaccination PBMCs of five patients. Antipeptide immunoglobulin G became detectable in post-vaccination sera of seven patients. Three patients developed a positive delayed-type hypersensitivity response to at least one of the peptides administrated. One patient was found to have a partial response; another had a stable disease, sustained through 6 months. These results encourage further development of CTL precursor-oriented vaccine for colorectal cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Mother-infant skin-to-skin contact after delivery results in early recognition of own mother's milk odour.

AIM: To determine the effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth on infant recognition of their own mother's milk odour and breastfeeding duration until 1 y of age. METHODS: Sixty healthy, full-term neonates were randomly assigned to group A with skin-to-skin contact and group B without. One and 4 d after birth, infant responses to the following odour stimuli were observed: own mother's milk, another mother's milk, formula, orange juice and distilled water. Infant facial action was videotaped and the frequency of mouthing movements was evaluated for each stimulus. Nutritional assessment, focused particularly on breastfeeding, was performed every 3 mo on participating infants. Statistical analysis comparing the frequency of mouthing movements with the aforementioned five different odour exposures was performed by ANOVA with Fisher's PLSD. Kaplan-Meier analysis with a log-rank test was used to compare breastfeeding rates between groups. RESULTS: Infants in both groups responded differently to mother's milk odour (either their own or another mother's milk) compared to the other stimuli on days 1 and 4. However, infants in group A demonstrated a larger difference in mouthing movements between their own and another mother's milk odour at 4 d of age (2.6 +/- 1.6) compared to infants in group B (0.9 +/- 2.0, p = 0.01). Infants in group A were breastfed an average of 1.9 mo longer than the others. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence that mother-infant skin-to-skin contact for more than 50 min immediately after birth results in enhanced infant recognition of their own mother's milk odour and longer breastfeeding duration.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Surface ferromagnetism of Pd fine particles.

We report clear evidence of the ferromagnetism of gas-evaporated Pd fine particles with a clean surface. The clean Pd particle is found to have a magnetic heterostructure: the surface of the particle is ferromagnetic and the rest is paramagnetic. The size dependence of the magnetic saturation component reveals that the ferromagnetic ordering occurs only on (100) facets of the particle and that the topmost two to five layers from the surface contribute to the ferromagnetism with a magnetic moment of (0.75+/-0.31)micro(B)/atom.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Overexpression of hypoxia-inducible-factor 1alpha(HIF-1alpha) in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma correlates with lymph node metastasis and pathologic stage.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical and histopathologic significance of hypoxia-inducible-factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. One hundred and thirty surgically resected specimens of OSCC were immunohistochemically assessed for HIF-1alpha expression with monoclonal antibody. High HIF-1alpha immunostaining was detected in 40 specimens. The percentage of high HIF-1alpha expression cases increased with tumour stage according to pTNM system. High HIF-1alpha expression correlated with pTNM stage, depth of tumour invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, lymphatic invasion and positive surgical margin. The overall survival rate was worse in patients with high HIF-1alpha pattern than in patients with low-expression pattern. Univariate analyses identified high HIF-1alpha positivity, depth of tumour invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and a positive surgical margin as risk factors. Multivariate analyses indicated that depth of tumour invasion, lymph node metastasis and positive surgical margin, but not HIF-1alpha, were independent prognostic factors. Survival in patients with a high HIF-1alpha expression was significantly worse than in those with low expression in patient treated with adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Caveolin-I overexpression is a favourable prognostic factor for patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

Extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EBDC) is a malignancy well known for its poor prognosis. Some clinicopathological prognostic markers have been proposed, but genetic factors have not been well investigated. We have examined expression patterns of caveolin-1, which has been shown to function as a tumour suppressor in vitro, in EBDC using immunohistochemistry. Normal tissues adjacent to the tumour cells did not show immunoreactivity for caveolin-1. A total of 22 of the 60-carcinoma tissue samples (36.7%) studied were positive for caveolin-1. Caveolin-1 immunostaining negatively correlated with the patient's age and pathological T factor (pT) in a statistically significant manner. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model identified caveolin-1 expression as an independent positive prognostic factor. Thus, our study suggests that caveolin-1 expression may be a useful prognostic marker for EBDC.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

A new mouse model for Down syndrome.

Trisomy 21 (Ts21) is the most common live-born human aneuploidy and results in a constellation of features known as Down syndrome (DS). Ts21 is a frequent cause of congenital heart defects and the leading genetic cause of mental retardation. Although overexpression of a gene(s) or gene cluster on human chromosome 21 (Chr 21) or the genome imbalance by Ts21 has been suggested to play a key role in bringing about the diverse DS phenotypes, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the various phenotypes associated with DS. Four approaches have been used to model DS to investigate the gene dosage effects of an extra copy of Chr 21 on various phenotypes; 1) Transgenic mice overexpressing a single gene from Chr 21, 2) YAC/BAC/PAC transgenic mice containing a single gene or genes on Chr 21, 3) Mice with intact/partial trisomy 16, a region with homology to human Chr 21 and 4) Human Chr 21 transchromosomal (Tc) mice. Here we review our new model system for the study of DS using the Tc technology, including the biological effects of an additional Chr 21 in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Time series analysis of aerobic bacterial flora during Miso fermentation.

AIMS: This article reports a microbiological study of aerobic mesophilic bacteria that are present during the fermentation process of Miso. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aerobic bacteria were enumerated and isolated from Miso during fermentation and divided into nine groups using traditional phenotypic tests. The strains were identified by biochemical analysis and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. They were identified as Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Kocuria kristinae, Staphylococcus gallinarum and S. kloosii. All strains were sensitive to the bacteriocins produced by the lactic acid bacteria isolated from Miso. CONCLUSIONS: The dominant species among the undesirable species throughout the fermentation process were B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens. It is suggested that bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria are effective in the growth prevention of aerobic bacteria in Miso. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study has provided useful information for controlling of bacterial flora during Miso fermentation.

Bacillus↗

PubMed2003

Restoration of fertility in infertile mice by transplantation of cryopreserved male germline stem cells.

BACKGROUND: The development of a spermatogonial transplantation technique has provided new possibilities for the treatment of male infertility. Previous studies have shown that spermatogonial stem cells could reinitiate spermatogenesis after cryopreservation and reintroduction into the seminiferous tubules of infertile recipient males, and this raised the possibility of banking frozen stem cells for male infertility treatment. It remains unknown, however, whether germ cells from freeze-thawed stem cells are fertile, leaving the possibility that the procedure compromises the integrity of the stem cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Dissociated mouse testis cells were cryopreserved and transplanted into infertile recipient testes. The freeze-thawed testis cell populations contained higher concentrations of stem cells than fresh testis cell populations. Offspring were obtained from freeze-thawed stem cells transplanted into infertile males, and fertility restoration was more efficient in immature (5-10 days old) than in mature (6-12 weeks old) recipients. However, offspring were also obtained from infertile adult recipients using in-vitro microinsemination. CONCLUSIONS: This first successful application of frozen stem cell technology in the production of offspring by spermatogonial transplantation suggests the superiority of immature recipients for clinical applications. Thus, the combination of cryopreservation and transplantation of stem cells is a promising approach to overcome male infertility.

Animals↗