The Keio Journal of Medicine
Online ISSN : 1880-1293
Print ISSN : 0022-9717
ISSN-L : 0022-9717
Volume 46, Issue 1
Displaying 1-7 of 7 articles from this issue
  • Yasushi Nakagawa
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 1-9
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Nephrocalcin (NC), an acidic glycoprotein with molecular weight 14, 000, is present in urine and prevents kidney stone formation. Histoimmunochemical staining shows that NC is localized in the proximal tubles in kidneys. Isolated NC from mammalian urine, revealed at least 4 isoforms of NC (we call these isoforms NC-A, NC-B, NC-C, and NC-D in the order of elution) during DEAE cellulose column chromatography with a linear gradient of NaCI elution step. Non-stone forming people excrete more NC-A and NC-B isoforms in urine; however, more NC-C and NC-D isoforms were found in stone formers' urine. When the organic matrix was extracted from surgically removed calcium oxalate kidney stones, we found greater quantities of NC-C and NC-D isoforms than those of NC-A and NC-B isoforms. Amino acid compositions and carbohydrate contents of these 4 isoforms were similar with the exception of the gammacarboxyglutamic acid (GLA) residues. Only the NC-A and NC-B isoforms contained residues of GLA. There were more phosphate residues present in NC-C and NC-D than in NC-A and NC-B. Upon removal of phosphate residues by alkaline phosphatase, NC-C eluted at the same salt concentration as NC-A eluted. This indicates that the backbone protein could be similar, but the NC-C isoform is modified by excess phosphate residues. Surface tension measurements using a Lauda film balance indicated that NC-A and -B were strongly amphiphilic while NC-C and -D were less amphiphilic. NC-A has an elongated shape, and occupies a smaller area per molecule; whereas NC-C is a bulky molecule. Using NC-A as a model of a “good” inhibitor and NC-C as a model of a “poor” inhibitor, both bound with 4 atoms of Ca2+ per molecule as investigated by equilibrium dialysis method, 31P-NMR, and electron spin resonance spectrometry. Isoforms A and B changed their conformation upon Ca2+ binding, but C and D did not change their conformation. All these observations suggest that isoforms A and B are strong inhibitors of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystal growth and aggregation. However, isoforms C and D act as promotors for COM crystal growth-kidney stone formation. Measuring the amount of NC in urine from renal cell carcinoma patients and from NC isolated from a supernatant of a primary renal cell carcinoma cells demonstrated the amount of NC increased with disease progression.
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  • David Jourd'heuil, Zenichi Morise, Elaine M Conner, Iwao Kurose, Matth ...
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 10-15
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    It is becoming increasingly apparent that the chronic gut inflammation observed in the idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) is associated with enhanced production of leukocyte-derived oxidants. Oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide are known to activate certain transcription factors such as nuclear transcription factor x beta. Nuclear transcription factor kB (NF-KB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor and pleiotropic regulator of numerous genes involved in the immune and inflammatory responses. This transcription factor is activated via the selective phosphorylation, ubiquination and degradation of its inhibitor protein I-kB thereby allowing translocation of NF-KB into the nucleus where it upregulates the transcription of a variety of adhesion molecules (e.g. ICAM-1, VCAM-1), cytokines (TNF, IL-1, IL-6) and enzymes (iNOS). The proteolytic degradation of the post-translationally modified I-KB is known to be mediated by the 26S proteasome complex. Based upon work from our laboratory, we propose that inhibition of NF-KB activation produces significant antiinflammatory activity which may be mediated by the inhibition of transcription of certain pro-inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules.
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  • Yasunori Yoshimura
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 16-24
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Normal morphogenesis and differentiation depend on the coordination of cell-cell and cell extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. Integrins are a class of adhesion molecules that participate in the cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions and are present on essentially all human cells. All mammalian eggs express integrins at their surface, and the integrin α6β1 serves as a sperm receptor, mediating spermegg binding. In addition, certain integrin moieties appear to be regulated to within the cycling endometrium; the expression of β1 integrins in the early proliferative phase is restricted to the glandular epithelium, whereas stromal cells in the midsecretory phase also express β1 integrins. The expression of β1 integrins increases at the time of implantation and remains high in decidua during early pregnancy. A disruption of the integrin expression is associated with certain types of infertility in women. The apical surface of the mural trophectoderm does indeed possess functional integrins, and trophoblast interactions with ECM proteins depend largely on the integrin family of adhesion receptors. Thus, integrins play particularly important roles in fertilization and embryogenesis, including the process of implantation.
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  • Satoru Shima
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 25-26
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The aim of the present study was to confirm the efficacy of antidepressants in post-stroke depression and to identify the factors related to outcome. Subjects consisted of 20 inpatients suffering from post-stroke in a rehabilitation hospital. The subjects were treated with various antidepressants, mainly imipramine, amitriptyline, and amoxapine. After 4 weeks of treatment, 13 showed some improvement; significant improvement in 5, moderate improvement in 5, mild improvement in 3 by a clinical global impression. Whereas all the patients aged less than 65 yr were responders, only 3 of the 10 patients over 65 yr were responders. All of the male patients, but only half of the female patients, were responders. With regards to the presence of a spouse, 13 of the 16 patients with a spouse, but none of 4 patients without, showed a response. No significant correlation was found between the occurrence of each depressive symptom and outcome. Thus, the responders were younger and had better social support in comparison with the non-responders. This result implies that antidepressants are effective for post-stroke depression.
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  • Ryuzaburo Tanino, Tadashi Akamatsu, Mitsuhiro Osada
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 27-36
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We investigated the influence of different types of hard palate closure in two-stage palatoplasty. In 12 cases the lip and soft palate were closed at the age of 3 to 7 months; these 12 were then divided into two groups. The hard palate was closed at the age of 1 year 5-11 months by the vomer flap with skin graft in the vomer flap (VF) Group (Osada's two-stage palatoplasty), and by push-back procedure of the mucoperiosteal flap in the push-back (PB) Group. Dental casts of the two groups were measured and compared at the ages of 0, 1, 3-4, and after 10 years. 1) In spite of apparent differences in palatal configurations at the age of 3-4 years, no significant differences in palatal size and area were noted between the groups. The cross-sectional areas in the VF Group were significantly larger than those in the PB Group in all the sections. 2) When the two groups were compared for rates of growth from 1 to 3-4 years, no significant differences in palatal size were noted, except in palatal width 1, although palatal growth from 1 to 3-4 years was more consistent and favorable in the VF Group. The rates of growth or change in palatal area and cross sectional-area 2 were significantly larger in the VF Group. 3) In spite of the apparent difference in palatal configuration, after age 10, no significant differences in palatal size, area, and depth were noted except in cross-sectional area 2.
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  • Anne Kobza Black
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 37-39
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The underlying pathophysiology of chronic urticaria is mast cell activation, with release of histamine and other mast cell mediators. A weal producing factor has been identified in the serum of 60% of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. In half of these patients there is evidence for functional autoantibodies against the high affinity IgE receptor or IgE, or both. These autoantibodies release histamine from basophils and mast cells. It is therefore likely that there is an autoimmune basis for up to 30% of patients with idiopathic urticaria. In the other half of patients whose serum causes weals, the factor releases histamine from mast cells only and is as yet unidentified. So far no clinical difference has been associated with presence/absence or type of weal producing factor. Exacerbating factors in chronic urticaria such as aspirin, food additives, febrile illness and psychological stress should be identified and avoided. Treatment is symptomatic with the low sedation antihistamines. In the most severe cases not responding to conventional therapy and which may have the weal producing factor, treatments with non specific immune therapy such as cyclosporin, and intravenous gammaglobulin and also plasmapheresis have been promising.
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  • Martin M Black
    1997 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 40-41
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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