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Niimi T, Samejima J, Wakabayashi M, Miyoshi T, Tane K, Aokage K, Taki T, Nakai T, Ishii G, Kikuchi A, Yoshioka E, Yokose T, Ito H, Tsuboi M. Ten-year follow-up outcomes of limited resection trial for radiologically less-invasive lung cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2024; 54:479-488. [PMID: 38183216 DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyad187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The JCOG0804/WJOG4507L single-arm confirmatory trial indicated a satisfactory 10-year prognosis for patients who underwent limited resection for radiologically less-invasive lung cancer. However, only one prospective trial has reported a 10-year prognosis. METHODS We conducted a multicenter prospective study coordinated by the National Cancer Center Hospital East and Kanagawa Cancer Center. We analyzed the long-term prognosis of 100 patients who underwent limited resection of a radiologically less-invasive lung cancer in the peripheral lung field. We defined radiologically less-invasive lung cancer as lung adenocarcinoma with a maximum tumor diameter of ≤2 cm, tumor disappearance ratio of ≥0.5 and cN0. The primary endpoint was the 10-year local recurrence-free survival. RESULTS Our patients, with a median age of 62 years, included 39 males. A total of 58 patients were non-smokers; 87 had undergone wide wedge resection and 9 underwent segmentectomy. A total of four cases were converted to lobectomy because of the presence of poorly differentiated components in the frozen specimen or insufficient margin with segmentectomy. The median follow-up duration was 120.9 months. The 10-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates of patients with lung cancer were both 96.0%. Following the 10-year long-term follow-up, two patients experienced recurrences at resection ends after wedge resection. CONCLUSIONS Limited resection imparted a satisfactory prognosis for patients with radiologically less-invasive lung cancer, except two cases of local recurrence >5 years after surgery. These findings suggest that patients with this condition who underwent limited resection may require continued follow-up >5 years after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Niimi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Joji Samejima
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Masashi Wakabayashi
- Biostatistics Division, Center for Research Administration and Support, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa
| | - Tomohiro Miyoshi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Kenta Tane
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Keiju Aokage
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Tetsuro Taki
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Tokiko Nakai
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
| | - Genichiro Ishii
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
- Division of Innovative Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Kashiba, Chiba
| | - Akitomo Kikuchi
- Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa
| | - Emi Yoshioka
- Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa
| | - Tomoyuki Yokose
- Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa
| | - Hiroyuki Ito
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tsuboi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba
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Niimi T, Nakai T, Aokage K, Tane K, Miyoshi T, Samejima J, Miyazaki S, Taki T, Sakamoto N, Sakashita S, Watanabe R, Kojima M, Suzuki K, Tsuboi M, Ishii G. Prognostic impact of count of extratumoral lymphatic permeation in lung adenocarcinoma and its relation to immune microenvironment. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:1497-1506. [PMID: 35181964 PMCID: PMC8990291 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Extratumoral lymphatic permeation (ly‐ext) has been reported as an independent poor prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma, but whether or not the number of ly‐ext foci is associated with prognosis and its relationship to the immune microenvironment is unclear. We counted the number of ly‐ext foci on pathological slides from patients with completely resected lung adenocarcinoma with ly‐ext, and divided them into two groups: a group with a high number of ly‐ext foci (ly‐ext high) and one with a low number of ly‐ext foci (ly‐ext low). Among the patients with ly‐ext, only a high number of ly‐ext foci was an independent poor prognostic factor. The 3‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) rate of the ly‐ext high group was significantly lower than that of the ly‐ext low group (14.7% vs. 50.0%, P < 0.01). Then, we analyzed the immune microenvironment of pT1 lung adenocarcinoma with ly‐ext (13 cases of ly‐ext high and 11 cases of ly‐ext low tumor) by immunohistochemistry using antibodies for stem cell markers (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 A1 and CD44), tumor‐promoting mucin (MUC1), tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (CD4, CD8, FOXP3, and CD79a), and tumor‐associated macrophages (CD204). The number of CD8+ TILs within the primary lesion was significantly lower and the number of FOXP3+ TILs within the primary lesion was significantly higher in the ly‐ext high group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Our results indicated that a high number of ly‐ext foci was an independent poor prognostic factor. Moreover, tumors with high numbers of ly‐ext foci had a more immunosuppressive microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Niimi
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
- Departments of General Thoracic Surgery Juntendo University School of Medicine Tokyo Japan
| | - Tokiko Nakai
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Keiju Aokage
- Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Kenta Tane
- Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Tomohiro Miyoshi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Joji Samejima
- Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Saori Miyazaki
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Tetsuro Taki
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Shingo Sakashita
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Reiko Watanabe
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Motohiro Kojima
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Kenji Suzuki
- Departments of General Thoracic Surgery Juntendo University School of Medicine Tokyo Japan
| | - Masahiro Tsuboi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
| | - Genichiro Ishii
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba Japan
- Division of Innovative Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center National Cancer Center Kashiwa Chiba Japan
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Shimizu Y, Wakabayashi K, Hayashi Y, Hara K, Aoyama R, Niimi T, Tomino Y, Wada R, Hata M, Suzuki Y. MPGN Type 3 Associated with Pemphigus Herpetiformis Mimicking PGNMID and Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Case Rep Nephrol Dial 2019; 9:15-24. [PMID: 31019928 PMCID: PMC6465718 DOI: 10.1159/000498939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A 45-year-old man suffering from dermal blistering disease with proteinuria and hematuria underwent renal biopsy. The renal biopsy specimen suggested proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits under routine light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. The staining for IgG subclasses (IgG1 and IgG2) and κ/λ light chain indicated secondary immune complex type MPGN type 3. The patient had been diagnosed as having dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), a phenotype of gluten hypersensitivity prior to the appearance of the renal abnormality. Although common autoantibodies might be related to the pathogenesis of disorders in the skin and kidney, DH is mainly driven by IgA autoantibody, while MPGN is induced by IgG immune complexes. IgA was not observed in the glomeruli by immunofluorescence. Neither the examination for DH specific autoantibodies nor HLA-DQB1 genotype supported the diagnosis of DH. Reassessment of the skin biopsy record revealed that the blister was localized in the epidermis, suggesting pemphigus herpetiformis by IgG class anti-epidermal autoantibody, which also affected the renal disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshio Shimizu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan.,Shizuoka Medical Research Center for Disaster, Juntendo University, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Keiichi Wakabayashi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Yoko Hayashi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Hara
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Rumi Aoyama
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Takahiro Niimi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Tomino
- Asian Pacific Renal Research Promotion Office, Medical Corporation Showakai, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Wada
- Division of Pathology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Maki Hata
- Department of Dermatology, Numazu Municipal Hospital, Numazu, Japan
| | - Yusuke Suzuki
- Department of Nephrology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Mie M, Niimi T, Mashimo Y, Kobatake E. Construction of DNA-NanoLuc luciferase conjugates for DNA aptamer-based sandwich assay using Rep protein. Biotechnol Lett 2019; 41:357-362. [PMID: 30603832 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-018-02641-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We developed a DNA-NanoLuc luciferase (NnaoLuc) conjugates for DNA aptamer-based sandwich assay using the catalytic domain of the replication initiator protein derived from porcine circovirus type 2 (pRep). RESULTS For construction of DNA aptamer and NanoLuc conjugate using the catalytic domain of Rep from PCV2. pRep fused to NanoLuc was genetically constructed and expressed in E. coli. After purification, the activities of fused pRep and NanoLuc were evaluated, and DNA-NanoLuc conjugates were constructed via the fused pRep. Finally, constructed DNA-NanoLuc conjugates were applied for use in a DNA aptamer-based sandwich assay. Here, pRep was used not only for conjugation of the NanoLuc to the detection aptamer, but also for immobilization of the capture aptamer on the plate surface. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated that DNA-NanoLuc conjugates via the catalytic domain of PCV2 Rep could be applied for DNA aptamer-based sandwich assay system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayasu Mie
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, 226-8502, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Niimi
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, 226-8502, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Mashimo
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, 226-8502, Japan
| | - Eiry Kobatake
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, 226-8502, Japan
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Hust J, Lavine MD, Worthington AM, Zinna R, Gotoh H, Niimi T, Lavine L. The Fat-Dachsous signaling pathway regulates growth of horns in Trypoxylus dichotomus, but does not affect horn allometry. J Insect Physiol 2018; 105:85-94. [PMID: 29366850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Males of the Asian rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, possess exaggerated head and thoracic horns that scale dramatically out of proportion to body size. While studies of insulin signaling suggest that this pathway regulates nutrition-dependent growth including exaggerated horns, what regulates disproportionate growth has yet to be identified. The Fat signaling pathway is a potential candidate for regulating disproportionate growth of sexually-selected traits, a hypothesis we advanced in a previous paper (Gotoh et al., 2015). To investigate the role of Fat signaling in the growth and scaling of the sexually dimorphic, condition-dependent traits of the in the Asian rhinoceros beetle T. dichotomus, we used RNA interference to knock down expression of fat and its co-receptor dachsous. Knockdown of fat, and to a lesser degree dachsous, caused shortening and widening of appendages, including the head and thoracic horns. However, scaling of horns to body size was not affected. Our results show that Fat signaling regulates horn growth in T. dichotomus as it does in appendage growth in other insects. However, we provide evidence that Fat signaling does not mediate the disproportionate, positive allometric growth of horns in T. dichotomus.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hust
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Mark D Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Amy M Worthington
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Robert Zinna
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States; Lab of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - T Niimi
- Lab of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan; Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Laura Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States.
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Zinna R, Gotoh H, Brent CS, Dolezal A, Kraus A, Niimi T, Emlen D, Lavine LC. Endocrine Control of Exaggerated Trait Growth in Rhinoceros Beetles. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:247-59. [PMID: 27252223 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) is a key insect growth regulator frequently involved in modulating phenotypically plastic traits such as caste determination in eusocial species, wing polymorphisms in aphids, and mandible size in stag beetles. The jaw morphology of stag beetles is sexually-dimorphic and condition-dependent; males have larger jaws than females and those developing under optimum conditions are larger in overall body size and have disproportionately larger jaws than males raised under poor conditions. We have previously shown that large males have higher JH titers than small males during development, and ectopic application of fenoxycarb (JH analog) to small males can induce mandibular growth similar to that of larger males. What remains unknown is whether JH regulates condition-dependent trait growth in other insects with extreme sexually selected structures. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that JH mediates the condition-dependent expression of the elaborate horns of the Asian rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus. The sexually dimorphic head horn of this beetle is sensitive to nutritional state during larval development. Like stag beetles, male rhinoceros beetles receiving copious food produce disproportionately large horns for their body size compared with males under restricted diets. We show that JH titers are correlated with body size during the late feeding and early prepupal periods, but this correlation disappears by the late prepupal period, the period of maximum horn growth. While ectopic application of fenoxycarb during the third larval instar significantly delayed pupation, it had no effect on adult horn size relative to body size. Fenoxycarb application to late prepupae also had at most a marginal effect on relative horn size. We discuss our results in context of other endocrine signals of condition-dependent trait exaggeration and suggest that different beetle lineages may have co-opted different physiological signaling mechanisms to achieve heightened nutrient-sensitive weapon growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Zinna
- *Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
| | - H Gotoh
- **Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - C S Brent
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ 85138 USA
| | - A Dolezal
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - A Kraus
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258 USA
| | - T Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - D Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana-Missoula, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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Hatakeyama M, Yatomi J, Sumitani M, Takasu Y, Sekiné K, Niimi T, Sezutsu H. Knockout of a transgene by transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) in the sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera) and the ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera). Insect Mol Biol 2016; 25:24-31. [PMID: 26496859 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are efficient tools for targeted genome editing and have been utilized in a number of insects. Here, we demonstrate the gene disruption (knockout) caused by TALENs targeting a transgene, 3xP3-driven enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP), that is integrated in the genome of two species, the sawfly Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera) and the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera). Messenger RNAs of TALENs targeting the sequences adjacent to the chromophore region were microinjected into the eggs/embryos of each species. In At. rosae, when microinjection was performed at the posterior end of eggs, 15% of G(0) individuals showed a somatic mosaic phenotype for eye EGFP fluorescence. Three-quarters of the somatic mosaics produced EGFP-negative G(1) progeny. When eggs were injected at the anterior end, 63% of the G(0) individuals showed somatic mosaicism, and 17% of them produced EGFP-negative G(1) progeny. In H. axyridis, 25% of posterior-injected and 8% of anterior-injected G(0) individuals produced EGFP-negative G(1) progeny. In both species, the EGFP-negative progeny retained the EGFP gene, and various deletions were detected in the target sequences, indicating that gene disruption was successfully induced. Finally, for both species, 18-21% of G(0) founders produced gene knockout progeny sufficient for establishing knockout strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hatakeyama
- Division of Insect Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - J Yatomi
- Laboratory of Sericulture & Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
| | - M Sumitani
- Genetically Modified Organism Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Y Takasu
- Genetically Modified Organism Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - K Sekiné
- Division of Insect Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - T Niimi
- Laboratory of Sericulture & Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
| | - H Sezutsu
- Genetically Modified Organism Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi, Tsukuba, Japan
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Niimi T, Okudera H. Effect of Ti-doping on electron configuration and ADPs in synthetic titanomagnetites. Acta Crystallogr A 2011. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767311085394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Imai K, Ikeda M, Enchi Y, Niimi T. Fractal-feature distance analysis of contrast-detail phantom image and meaning of pseudo fractal dimension and complexity. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 2010; 32:188-95. [PMID: 20169837 DOI: 10.1007/bf03179238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The purposes of our studies are to examine whether or not fractal-feature distance deduced from virtual volume method can simulate observer performance indices and to investigate the physical meaning of pseudo fractal dimension and complexity. Contrast-detail (C-D) phantom radiographs were obtained at various mAs values (0.5 - 4.0 mAs) and 140 kVp with a computed radiography system, and the reference image was acquired at 13 mAs. For all C-D images, fractal analysis was conducted using the virtual volume method that was devised with a fractional Brownian motion model. The fractal-feature distances between the considered and reference images were calculated using pseudo fractal dimension and complexity. Further, we have performed the C-D analysis in which ten radiologists participated, and compared the fractal-feature distances with the image quality figures (IQF). To clarify the physical meaning of the pseudo fractal dimension and complexity, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and standard deviation (SD) of images noise were calculated for each mAs and compared with the pseudo fractal dimension and complexity, respectively. A strong linear correlation was found between the fractal-feature distance and IQF. The pseudo fractal dimensions became large as CNR increased. Further, a linear correlation was found between the exponential complexity and image noise SD.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Imai
- Department of Radiological Technology, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
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Ohde T, Masumoto M, Morita-Miwa M, Matsuura H, Yoshioka H, Yaginuma T, Niimi T. Vestigial and scalloped in the ladybird beetle: a conserved function in wing development and a novel function in pupal ecdysis. Insect Mol Biol 2009; 18:571-581. [PMID: 19686539 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00898.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster, Vestigial (Vg) and Scalloped (Sd) form a transcription factor complex and play a crucial role in wing development. To extend our knowledge of insect wing formation, we isolated vg and sd homologues from two ladybird beetle species, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and Harmonia axyridis. Although the ladybird beetle vg homologues had only low homology with D. melanogaster vg, ectopic expression of H. vigintioctopunctata vg induced wing-like tissues in antennae and legs of D. melanogaster. Subsequent larval RNA interference (RNAi) analysis in H. vigintioctopunctata demonstrated conserved functions of vg and sd in wing development, and an unexpected novel function of sd in pupal ecdysis. Furthermore, our results can be applied to the production of a flightless ladybird beetle for biological control purposes using larval RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ohde
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
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Gotoh M, Niimi T. [Intrathoracic chest wall type lipoma with crescent-shaped mass on computed tomography; report of a case]. Kyobu Geka 2009; 62:340-343. [PMID: 19348222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
An asymptomatic 53-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a slow-growing intrathoracic tumor after 3 years observation. Chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intrathoracic crescent-shaped mass measuring 13 x 2.5 cm along the left chest wall. Fatty contents were suggested. Surgical resection was successfully performed by video-assisted thracoscopic surgery. At operation, a yellowish, thinly encapsulated, 10 cm tumor was attached with its pedicle 2.5 cm in diameter to the pleura of the 7th intercostal space. The lesion was a soft mass, pedunculated and numerously lobulated, that caused the crescent form of the mass on chest CT and MRI. Histopathological examination revealed mature lipoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mio Gotoh
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, Yokkaichi, Japan
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Niimi T, Gotoh M. [Cystic thymoma; report of a case]. Kyobu Geka 2009; 62:165-168. [PMID: 19202941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present a case of a 33-year-old man with a noninvasive thymoma undergoing extensive cystic degeneration. The mediastinal tumor was asymptomatic and first noted on a routine chest radiograph. Chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 11 cm cystic mass with some solid portions in the anterior mediastinum. A cystic thymoma was suggested. The mass and remnants of the thymus were removed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. On cut section, the tumor was predominantly cystic, with several solid nodules randomly attached to the cyst wall. The cystic space was filled with turbid brown fluid. Histopathological examination revealed a World Health Organization (WHO) type B3 thymoma with foci of hemorrhage, necrosis and cystic degeneration, and absence of an epithelial lining of the cyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, Yokkaichi, Japan
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Mitsumasu K, Ohta H, Tsuchihara K, Asaoka K, Ozoe Y, Niimi T, Yamashita O, Yaginuma T. Molecular cloning and characterization of cDNAs encoding dopamine receptor-1 and -2 from brain-suboesophageal ganglion of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Insect Mol Biol 2008; 17:185-195. [PMID: 18353107 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2008.00792.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In order to better understand the relationship between dopamine and the release of diapause hormone into the blood, we cloned and characterized cDNAs encoding Bombyx mori dopamine receptor-1 and -2 (BmDopR1 and 2) from the pupal brain-suboesophageal ganglion. BmDopR1 and 2 had high similarities to group 1 (Drosophila melanogaster DOP1 and Apis mellifera DOP1) and group 2 (D. melanogaster DopR99B, A. mellifera DOP2 and Papilio xuthus DOP1), respectively. When BmDopR1 and 2 were expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, they responded to dopamine by increasing intracellular cAMP levels, thus indicating the presence of D1-like receptors. There were no clear differences in BmDopR1 and 2 mRNA levels between brain-suboesophageal ganglion complexes of diapause and nondiapause egg producers during pupal-adult development. BmDopR1 and 2 mRNAs were concentrated in the mushroom body calyx rather than in the suboesophageal ganglion. Taking into account the results of earlier experiments on excised regions corresponding to mushroom bodies, BmDopR1 and 2 in the mushroom body apparently play a role in the release of diapause hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Mitsumasu
- Sericulture & Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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15
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Imai K, Ikeda M, Wada S, Enchi Y, Niimi T. Analysis of streak artefacts on CT images using statistics of extremes. Br J Radiol 2007; 80:911-8. [DOI: 10.1259/bjr/93741044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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16
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Abstract
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the tremendous diversity of insect wing colour patterns, it is imperative to identify and functionally characterize the genes involved in this developmental process. Here we report the first successful germ-line transformation using the transposable element vector piggyBac in the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis, which demonstrates typical genetic polymorphism in its wing colour patterns. The transformation efficiency by piggyBac was 3.7% per fertile G(0). We investigated the effectiveness of RNAi in Harmonia by injecting EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) dsRNA into early transgenic EGFP-expressing embryos and observed substantial reduction of EGFP fluorescence in 87.2% of hatched larvae. Application of these new genetic tools to non-model insects such as Harmonia will facilitate the broad understanding of developmental mechanisms and evolutionary processes that are inaccessible using established model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Kuwayama
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Japan
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17
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Okamoto H, Tamenishi A, Itoh Y, Niimi T. Extended aortic bypass for atherosclerotic occlusive disease of high abdominal aorta. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005; 53:384-6. [PMID: 16311979 DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe a case of acute renal failure caused by extension of an atherosclerotic occlusive process to the suprarenal aorta. A 68-year-old man underwent bypass grafting from the ascending aorta to the femoral arteries using straight and Y-grafts. Additional saphenous vein grafts were placed from the intra-abdominal portion of the graft to the left and right renal arteries and the splenic artery. As a consequence, relief of limb ischemia was achieved and dialysis could be discontinued.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Okamoto
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, Yokkaichi, Japan.
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18
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Mitsumasu K, Azuma M, Niimi T, Yamashita O, Yaginuma T. Membrane-penetrating trehalase from silkworm Bombyx mori. Molecular cloning and localization in larval midgut. Insect Mol Biol 2005; 14:501-8. [PMID: 16164606 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2005.00581.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The main blood sugar in insects, trehalose, differs from glucose in mammals. To incorporate trehalose into cells and utilize it, tissue cells possess the enzyme trehalase (EC3.2.1.28), which catalyses trehalose into glucose, in the organellar membrane or in the cytoplasm. Soluble and membrane-bound trehalase proteins have been isolated from insects. To date, however, only genes encoding the soluble trehalase have been reported in insects. Soluble trehalase is therefore believed to become localized on the cell surface via modification. In contrast, cDNAs encoding trehalase localized on the apical cell surface via the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor have been isolated from mammalian small intestines. The amino acid sequence contains a specific hydrophobic region and an upstream omega site, which is cleaved for glycosylphosphatidylinositol-attachment, at the C-terminus. Here, we describe a cDNA from the silkworm Bombyx mori that encodes a novel trehalase (type-2) with one transmembrane domain and lacking the omega site. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that in the midgut tissue of Bombyx larvae, soluble trehalase-1 is present mainly in goblet cell cavities, but membrane-bound trehalase-2 is predominantly seen on the visceral muscle surrounding the midgut. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a cDNA encoding trehalase that penetrates the cell membrane in insects and its cellular localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Mitsumasu
- Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
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19
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Ito Y, Okamoto H, Niimi T, Tamenishi A. [Aortic dissection induced by symmetry aortic connector system]. Kyobu Geka 2005; 58:366-9. [PMID: 15881233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
A 74-year-old male with severe triple vessel disease underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Preoperative computed tomography (CT) showed severely calcified ascending aorta. We revasculize the left coronary arteries with in situ internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft and the right coronary artery with a saphenous vein graft, which was attached to the disease-free portion of the aortic root, using Symmetry aortic connector system (ACS). Although the operation was uncomplicated, and postoperative course was uneventful until the 5th postoperative day when acute type A aortic dissection occurred. The patient died of aortic rupture on the 7th postoperative day. Necropsy disclosed that the entry located just on the proximal anastomotic site of the vein graft. It is possible placement of ACS device would trigger the dissecting process. With regard to the use of these one-shot devices for diseased aorta, its safety needs further investigation, even though it might be placed on an apparently intact portion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Ito
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, Yokkaichi, Japan
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20
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21
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Kagoshima Y, Yokoyama Y, Niimi T, Koyama T, Tsusaka Y, Matsui J, Takai K. Hard X-ray phase-contrast microscope for observing transparent specimens. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1051/jp4:200300027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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22
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Niimi T, Copeland NG, Gilbert DJ, Jenkins NA, Srisodsai A, Zimonjic DB, Keck-Waggoner CL, Popescu NC, Kimura S. Cloning, expression, and chromosomal localization of the mouse gene (Scgb3a1, alias Ugrp2) that encodes a member of the novel uteroglobin-related protein gene family. Cytogenet Genome Res 2003; 97:120-7. [PMID: 12438750 DOI: 10.1159/000064067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse UGRP gene family consists of two genes, Ugrp1 and Ugrp2. In this study, the genomic structure and expression patterns of Ugrp2 and its alternative spliced form were characterized. The authentic Ugrp2 gene has three exons and two introns, similar to the Ugrp1 gene, which produces a secreted protein. The Ugrp2 variant uses a sequence located between authentic exons 1 and 2, resulting in a cytoplasmic form due to a termination codon within the inserted sequence. Both mouse and human UGRP2 mRNAs are expressed in lung. In the case of human, the mRNA is expressed at the highest level in trachea, followed by salivary gland at a level similar to lung. Weak expression was also found in fetal lung and mammary gland. Ugrp2 was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization to mouse chromosome 11A5-B1 and human chromosome 5q35. These regions are known to be homologous. Interspecific mouse backcross mapping was also performed to obtain further detailed localization of mouse Ugrp1 and Ugrp2.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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23
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Niimi T, Clements J, Gehring WJ, Callaerts P. Dominant-negative form of the Pax6 homolog eyeless for tissue-specific loss-of-function studies in the developing eye and brain in drosophila. Genesis 2002; 34:74-5. [PMID: 12324952 DOI: 10.1002/gene.10140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Department of Cell Biology, Biozentrum, Basel, Switzerland
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24
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Sugiura Y, Niimi T, Sato S, Yoshinouchi T, Banno S, Naniwa T, Maeda H, Shimizu S, Ueda R. Transforming growth factor beta1 gene polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2002; 61:826-8. [PMID: 12176809 PMCID: PMC1754235 DOI: 10.1136/ard.61.9.826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease and synovial cells, antigen presenting cells, lymphocytes, and their cytokines might be associated with the disease. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) has been reported to have important roles in unresolved inflammation, immune suppression, fibrosing processes, and angiogenesis. TGFbeta1 is highly expressed in joints in RA and is considered to be a regulator of anti-inflammation in RA. Polymorphisms of TGFbeta1 have been reported to be associated with the production of TGFbeta1 protein, and to increase the risk of acquiring several diseases. It was speculated that these polymorphisms might also be involved in RA, and therefore the TGFbeta1 codon 10 T869C polymorphism in a series of patients and controls was investigated. METHOD A total of 155 patients with RA and 110 healthy subjects were studied. DNA was extracted from peripheral leucocytes and TGFbeta1 codon 10 T869C polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment polymorphism. RESULTS A significantly higher proportion of patients with RA with the T allele (CT type or TT type) was found compared with the CC type (p=0.039). CONCLUSION The T allele, previously reported to be linked with production of TGFbeta1, may be associated with an increased risk of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Sugiura
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University, Medical School, Nagoya, Japan
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25
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Kagoshima Y, Yokoyama Y, Niimi T, Tsusaka Y, Matsui J, Takai K, Aino M. High-resolution hard X-ray phase-contrast microscope for observing transparent biological specimens. Acta Crystallogr A 2002. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767302087172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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26
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Fujimoto K, Okamoto H, Tamenishi A, Niimi T. [Surgical treatment of traumatic rupture of the bicuspid aortic valve; report of a case]. Kyobu Geka 2002; 55:588-90. [PMID: 12136590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
A 27-year-old man was injured during a motocross game. He was suffered from dyspnea, orthopnea, and hemoptysis. The to-and-fro murmur was noticed 3 days after the accident and then the patient was admitted to our hospital. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation. Computerized tomography also showed severe pulmonary contusions. Seventeen days after the accident the aortic valve replacement was performed. The aortic valve was anterior-posterior type bicuspid valve (fusion of right coronary cusp and light coronary cusp) and the tear was detected in the anterior cusp. The postoperative course was uneventful. Rupture of the aortic valve due to a blunt chest trauma is rare and reported in 20 cases previously in Japan. This case is the second report of traumatic rupture of the bicuspid aortic valve.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Fujimoto
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, Yokkaichi, Japan
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27
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Niimi T, Sato S, Sugiura Y, Yoshinouchi T, Akita K, Maeda H, Achiwa H, Ninomiya S, Akita Y, Suzuki M, Nishio M, Yoshikawa K, Morishita M, Shimizu S, Ueda R. Transforming growth factor-beta gene polymorphism in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis patients. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2002; 6:510-5. [PMID: 12068984 DOI: 10.5588/09640569513020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
SETTING Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in many diseases, influencing as it does such processes as immune responses, fibrosing processes, and angiogenesis. Recently, polymorphisms have been described for TGF-beta that are associated with the risk of several diseases. In this study, we investigated whether TGF-beta 1 polymorphism has an effect on sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. OBJECTIVE TGF-beta 1 Codon 10 T869C polymorphism was investigated in 110 healthy control subjects, 104 sarcoidosis patients, and 101 tuberculosis patients. DESIGN The TGF-beta genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS We found no significant differences in TGF-beta genotypes between sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls or tuberculosis patients and controls. The long axis of the tuberculin skin test was larger in the CC type compared with the CT type. However, there was no association between the TGF-beta genotype and the roentgenographic stage, the disappearance of shadows, or organ involvement in sarcoidosis, nor any association between genotype, the extent or type of roentgenographic shadow, or detected volume of tubercle bacilli in tuberculosis. CONCLUSION From the results, we believe that TGF-beta polymorphisms on the whole do not have a strong influence on disease onset or clinical progression in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, although this polymorphism might have an effect on the immune response in a tuberculosis host.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University, Medical School, Japan.
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28
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Niimi T, Orita M, Okazawa-Igarashi M, Sakashita H, Kikuchi K, Ball E, Ichikawa A, Yamagiwa Y, Sakamoto S, Tanaka A, Tsukamoto S, Fujita S, Tatsuta K, Maeda Y, Chikauchi K. Design and synthesis of non-peptidic inhibitors for the Syk C-terminal SH2 domain based on structure-based in-silico screening. J Med Chem 2001; 44:4737-40. [PMID: 11741491 DOI: 10.1021/jm010313k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Structure-based in-silico screening was carried out for the Syk C-terminal SH2 domain. Fragments that could interact with the pY or pY+1 pockets were selected by our in-silico screening. After tethering two fragments bound to these pockets, we have designed and synthesized new compounds that show favorable interaction with the pY+3 pocket. One such compound, having a cyclohexylmalonic acid moiety identified as a novel potent phosphotyrosyl mimetic, exhibited an affinity comparable to that of the monophosphorylated ligand peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Ohkubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan.
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29
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Niimi T, Nagashima K, Ward JM, Minoo P, Zimonjic DB, Popescu NC, Kimura S. claudin-18, a novel downstream target gene for the T/EBP/NKX2.1 homeodomain transcription factor, encodes lung- and stomach-specific isoforms through alternative splicing. Mol Cell Biol 2001; 21:7380-90. [PMID: 11585919 PMCID: PMC99911 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.21.21.7380-7390.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
T/EBP/NKX2.1, a member of the NKX family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors, regulates the expression of a number of genes in lung and thyroid. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a novel target gene, termed claudin-18, that is down-regulated in the lungs of T/ebp/Nkx2.1-null mouse embryos. The gene product exhibits an amino acid sequence similar to those of the claudin multigene family of proteins that constitute tight junction strands in epithelial cells. The gene was localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization to mouse chromosome 9 at region 9E3-F1 and to human chromosome 3 at region 3q21-23. The claudin-18 gene has two promoters, each with its own unique exon 1 that is spliced to common exons 2 through 5. Alternative usage of these promoters leads to production of lung and stomach-specific transcripts. The downstream lung-specific promoter contains two T/EBP/NKX2.1 binding sites responsible for trans activation of the gene by T/EBP/NKX2.1 in lung cells. Only claudin-18 was down-regulated in T/ebp/Nkx2.1-null embryo lungs among 11 claudin transcripts examined. Furthermore, the claudin-18 transcript has an alternative 12-bp insertion derived from the 5' end of intron 4, which produces a C-terminally truncated isoform in lung and stomach. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated complete membrane localization of claudin-18 with small focal dots in the lung and stomach epithelial cells. Immunogold electron microscopy analysis revealed that claudin-18 is concentrated at the cell-cell borders of epithelial cells. These unique features suggest a potentially important role for claudin-18 in the structure and function of tight junctions in lung and stomach.
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MESH Headings
- Alternative Splicing
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Binding Sites
- Blotting, Northern
- Cell Nucleus/metabolism
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3
- Claudins
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Down-Regulation
- Exons
- Gastric Mucosa/metabolism
- Gene Deletion
- Gene Library
- HeLa Cells
- Homeodomain Proteins/chemistry
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Luciferases/metabolism
- Lung/metabolism
- Membrane Proteins/chemistry
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Mutation
- Plasmids/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Binding
- Protein Isoforms
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Tissue Distribution
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Transcription, Genetic
- Transfection
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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30
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Niimi T, Keck-Waggoner CL, Popescu NC, Zhou Y, Levitt RC, Kimura S. UGRP1, a uteroglobin/Clara cell secretory protein-related protein, is a novel lung-enriched downstream target gene for the T/EBP/NKX2.1 homeodomain transcription factor. Mol Endocrinol 2001; 15:2021-36. [PMID: 11682631 DOI: 10.1210/mend.15.11.0728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel gene that is down-regulated in lungs of T/ebp/Nkx2.1-null mouse embryos has been identified using a suppressive-subtractive hybridization method. The gene product is a secreted protein, forms a homodimer, and exhibits an amino acid sequence similar to that seen in the uteroglobin/Clara cell secretory protein family of proteins. This gene, designated Ugrp1 (uteroglobin-related protein 1), consists of three exons and two introns and produces three transcripts by alternative splicing. The Ugrp1 gene was localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization to mouse chromosome 18 at region 18C-D; this region is homologous with human 5q31-34, where one of the asthma susceptibility genes has been assigned. UGRP1 mRNA is predominantly expressed in the lung, with low levels of expression in the thyroid. Expression in the lung is detectable as early as embryonic day 12.5 and increases markedly by embryonic day 16.5. In T/ebp/Nkx2.1-null embryo lungs, UGRP1 expression was significantly reduced as assessed by RT-PCR analysis. Cotransfection assays using a T/EBP/NKX2.1 expression construct with Ugrp1 promoter-luciferase reporter constructs confirmed that T/EBP/NKX2.1 regulates Ugrp1 gene activity at the transcriptional level. Thus, Ugrp1 is a downstream target gene for the T/EBP/NKX2.1 homeodomain transcription factor. Changes in UGRP1 mRNA levels in lungs from antigen-sensitized mice suggest the possible involvement of UGRP1 in inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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31
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Niimi T, Osawa M, Yamaji N, Yasunaga K, Sakashita H, Mase T, Tanaka A, Fujita S. NMR structure of human fibronectin EDA. J Biomol NMR 2001; 21:281-284. [PMID: 11775745 DOI: 10.1023/a:1012947209393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
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32
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Okamoto H, Fujimoto K, Tamenishi A, Itoh Y, Niimi T. Aortic valve replacement in a heavily calcified "porcelain" aorta. Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001; 49:453-6. [PMID: 11517582 DOI: 10.1007/bf02913912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Although a heavily-calcified so-called "porcelain" aorta is encountered infrequently, its association presents a formidable problem in cardiac surgery. Here we describe a case of severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease combined with the circumferentially calcified aorta. The patient was a 63-year-old man who successfully underwent double coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement during hypothermic perfusion through the right axillary artery with endoaortic balloon occlusion, followed by minimal endarterectomy of the calcified plate along the aortotomy, and closure of the aorta buttressed with bovine pericardium under circulatory arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Okamoto
- Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, 2-2-37 Shibata, Yokkaichi, Japan
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33
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Moribe Y, Niimi T, Yamashita O, Yaginuma T. Samui, a novel cold-inducible gene, encoding a protein with a BAG domain similar to silencer of death domains (SODD/BAG-4), isolated from Bombyx diapause eggs. Eur J Biochem 2001; 268:3432-42. [PMID: 11422373 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02244.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cellular responses to cold-acclimation have not yet been studied in depth. To explore this field, we focussed on insect diapause development. Although embryonic diapause of Bombyx mori is sustained at 25 degrees C, chilling at 5 degrees C for 2 months causes diapause termination, a transition that is marked when the sorbitol dehydrogenase gene (SDH) is activated. To clarify the relationship between this activation and incubation at 5 degrees C, we isolated a novel cold-inducible gene, Samui. Expression of Samui mRNA and protein was activated after incubation at 5 degrees C for 5-6 days, lasted for another 30 days and then weakened. Exposure to 25 degrees C suppressed both mRNA and protein expression. In nondiapause eggs incubated at 5 degrees C, Samui was also up-regulated, although the expression was weaker. Samui contained nuclear localization-signals, a ssDNA-binding motif and a BAG domain similar to that of SODD/BAG-4. Because Samui could bind to HSP70, it is a member of BAG protein family. It is proposed that Samui serves to transmit the '5 degrees C signal' for SDH expression in diapause eggs, while also protecting against cold-injures in nondiapause eggs, through binding to respective partners. This is the first report that a member of BAG protein family is up-regulated by cold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Moribe
- Laboratory of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Japan
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34
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Ogisu N, Sato S, Kawaguchi H, Sugiura Y, Mori T, Niimi T, Maeda H, Akita K, Yamada Y, Ueda R. Elevated level of soluble HLA class I antigens in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with sarcoidosis. Intern Med 2001; 40:201-7. [PMID: 11310485 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.40.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Soluble HLA class I antigens (sHLAs) in human serum have been reported to be associated with allografts and autoimmune disease and could modify immunological reactions induced by membrane type HLAs. To investigate the clinical significance of sHLAs in sarcoidosis, we assessed concentrations of sHLAs in both serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and also examined their production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and BALF cells. METHODS Concentrations of sHLAs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using a monoclonal antibody against HLA class I (W6/32) and an enzyme-labeled polyclonal antibody to human beta2-microglobulin. PBMCs and BALF cells were cultured in the presence or absence of either LPS or PHA. PATIENTS Serum levels of sHLAs were assessed in 96 patients with sarcoidosis and in 32 healthy control subjects. sHLAs concentrations in BALF were also investigated in 17 active sarcoidosis patients and in 13 control subjects. RESULTS sHLAs levels in both serum and BALF were higher in sarcoidosis cases than in control subjects (p<0.05, in both). In the patients, values were significantly higher in active than in inactive stages (p<0.001) and significantly correlated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels. Both PBMCs and BALF cells produced enhanced amounts of sHLAs in patients with active sarcoidosis compared with those in control subjects. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that the level of sHLAs in serum is a useful index of disease activity of sarcoidosis, partly reflecting production by PBMCs and BALF cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ogisu
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University, Medical School
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Okamoto H, Fujimoto K, Tamenishi A, Niimi T. Alternate venous drainage and return of warmed blood combined with continuous hypothermic visceral perfusion. A new adjunct of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001; 49:94-8. [PMID: 11257776 DOI: 10.1007/bf02912123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As a new adjunct to surgical repair for a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, we have devised and used visceral perfusion in combination with alternate venous drainage and return of warmed blood in 4 patients. METHODS Surgical repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm of Crawford type III (n = 1) or type IV (n = 3) was performed. During visceral branch reconstruction, hypothermic blood (30-32 degrees C) was perfused continuously to each visceral and renal artery at a total flow rate of 300 ml/min, in combination with alternate venous drainage and return of warmed blood to the inferior vena cava. RESULTS The visceral and renal perfusion time was 115 +/- 55 (with a range from 52 to 190) minutes. All 4 patients recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS Alternate venous drainage and return of warmed blood combined with continuous hypothermic visceral perfusion were a useful adjunct to thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair during reconstruction of visceral and renal arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Okamoto
- Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, 2-2-37 Shibata, Yokkaichi, Japan
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Natsume N, Niimi T, Furukawa H, Kawai T, Ogi N, Suzuki Y, Kawai T. Survey of congenital anomalies associated with cleft lip and/or palate in 701,181 Japanese people. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2001; 91:157-61. [PMID: 11174591 DOI: 10.1067/moe.2001.112948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
There have been many reports on congenital anomalies associated with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/CLP) in Japan. However, these reports included data only on patients who came to hospitals; thus the real situation regarding these anomalies remains unclear. Therefore, we surveyed newborns at all delivery facilities in the central area of Japan for the presence of these anomalies, following their progress for 12 consecutive years; at the end of that time, questionnaires were collected and analyzed. In this article, we describe our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Natsume
- The Second Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, and The Cleft Lip and Palate Center, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan.
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Niimi T, Sato S, Tomita H, Yamada Y, Akita K, Maeda H, Kawaguchi H, Sugiura Y, Ueda R. Lack of association with interleukin 1 receptor antagonist and interleukin-1beta gene polymorphisms in sarcoidosis patients. Respir Med 2000; 94:1038-42. [PMID: 11127488 DOI: 10.1053/rmed.2000.0892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and its endogenous antagonist, the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), play important roles in immune responses. In sarcoidosis, IL-1beta is reported to be increased whereas IL-1ra is decreased. It has recently been shown that polymorphisms in the IL-1ra and IL-1beta genes may account for variation in the two proteins. These polymorphisms are also reported to be associated with several autoimmune diseases. Since this might be expected to affect sarcoidosis, an investigation of 108 sarcoidosis patients and 113 healthy control subjects was performed. The IL-1ra genotype was determined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the IL-1beta genotype by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. We found no significant differences in IL-ra and IL-1beta genotypes between sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, there was no association between the IL-1beta genotype and the roentgenographic stage, disappearance of chest X-ray shadows or organ involvement. In conclusion, there is no bias in the IL-1ra and IL-1beta genotype in Japanese sarcoidosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University, Medical School, Nagoya, Japan
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Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES The etiology of sarcoidosis remains unknown, but recently it was reported that human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) may be detected in sarcoid tissue in a high proportion of patients. This study was performed to determine whether HHV-8 is implicated in sarcoidosis in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 100 patients with sarcoidosis and 100 healthy donors living in central Japan. Additionally, 19 samples of sarcoid tissue, 10 of tuberculous tissue, and 10 of lung cancers were examined. DNA was extracted from PBMC or tissue samples, and a hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction assay was performed for HHV-8 detection. RESULTS In the PBMC study, the detection rates for HHV-8 in patients with sarcoidosis and in normal donors were 2% and 1%, respectively, the difference not being significant (p>0.99). In the tissue study, HHV-8 was detected in 10.5% of sarcoid and in 15% of nonsarcoid tissues, again not a significant difference (p>0.99). CONCLUSIONS From these results, we conclude that HHV-8 is not implicated in sarcoidosis in Japanese patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Maeda
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan
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39
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Niimi T, Tomita H, Sato S, Akita K, Maeda H, Kawaguchi H, Mori T, Sugiura Y, Yoshinouchi T, Ueda R. Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and calcium metabolism in sarcoidosis patients. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2000; 17:266-9. [PMID: 11033842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypercalcemia has been recognized as an important complication of sarcoidosis, caused by overproduction of the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) at sites of granulomatous reactions. Polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has recently been shown to be related to bone mineral density, and also associated with hyperparathyroidism and risk of granulomatous disease. In light of the possible impact on hypercalcemia of sarcoidosis, an investigation of calcium metabolism and polymorphism of the VDR gene in sarcoidosis patients was carried out. METHODS Genotypes were determined using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Maximum calcium, 1,25(OH)2D3, and intact PTH levels were also determined. RESULTS Depressed PTH levels were found in sarcoidosis patients, especially in those with the bb genotype, but there was no difference in 1,25(OH)2D3 levels among the VDR genotypes, and this polymorphism also had no association with onset of hypercalcemia. CONCLUSION From these results, we speculate that although the VDR gene polymorphism may affect the serum PTH level, it is not a risk factor for hypercalcemia in sarcoidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City Univ. Medical School, Japan
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40
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Niimi T, Sugiura Y, Sato S, Yoshinouchi T, Yamada Y, Akita K, Maeda H, Mori T, Kawaguchi H, Morishita M, Yamamoto M, Ueda R. [A case of Wegener's granulomatosis with pachymeningitis]. Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi 2000; 38:561-5. [PMID: 11019573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
A 62-year-old woman who had been receiving corticosteroid therapy for pachymeningitis since 1997 was admitted to our hospital when an abnormal shadow was noticed in her chest radiograph. In bronchial and nasal mucosal biopsies, the findings of a necrotic granulomatous lesion and vasculitis were compatible with Wegener's granulomatosis, although this is rarely seen with pachymeningitis. After further corticosteroid therapy together with cyclophosphamide treatment, the size of the thoracic X-ray shadow decreased. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured from the sputum and the nasal fluid, and may have contributed to the advance of the disease in the airway. This case will require continuing careful observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University, Japan
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41
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Niimi T, Natsume N, Tsukawaki T, Furukawa H, Masuda H, Kobayashi M, Kawai T. Treatment of the nostrils in patients with cleft lip by a nostril retainer. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2000; 38:224-6. [PMID: 10864730 DOI: 10.1054/bjom.1999.0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- The Second Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Aichi-gakuin University and Aichi-gakuin University Cleft Palate Center, Nagoya, Japan
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Seong GH, Niimi T, Yanagida Y, Kobatake E, Aizawa M. Single-molecular AFM probing of specific DNA sequencing using RecA-promoted homologous pairing and strand exchange. Anal Chem 2000; 72:1288-93. [PMID: 10740872 DOI: 10.1021/ac990893h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The specific sequence in a linearlized double-stranded DNA target has been identified at a single-molecular level by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This was accomplished using RecA-coated, single-stranded DNA probes which were paired with a specific complementary DNA sequence in a linear double-stranded DNA target by strand-exchange reaction at a homologous sequence site with target DNA. The sites of interaction between the nucleoprotein filaments and the double-stranded DNA targets were directly visualized by AFM in solution containing 4 mM magnesium acetate. Measurements of the position of RecA-coated probes paired to individual target DNA showed that DNA probes specifically paired at their corresponding homologous target sequences. Strand exchange promoted by RecA and the visualization by AFM provided a rapid and efficient way to identify homologous sequence on a single-molecule target DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Seong
- Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
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Shiomi K, Niimi T, Imai K, Yamashita O. Structure of the VAP-peptide (BmACP-6.7) gene in the silkworm, Bombyx mori and a possible regulation of its expression by BmFTZ-F1. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2000; 30:119-125. [PMID: 10696587 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(99)00105-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The VAP-peptide (BmACP-6.7) is a hydrophobic peptide localized in adult cuticle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We isolated and characterized the VAP-peptide gene as a useful marker gene to analyze molecular mechanisms of terminal differentiation processes in the adult. The gene is composed of two exons interrupted by one intron. The 5' upstream promoter region is shown to bear a nucleotide sequence similar to the cis-element that is recognized and bound by the Bombyx mori FTZ-F1 protein (BmFTZ-F1). Expression of the BmFTZ-F1 gene preceded expression of the VAP-peptide gene and injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone suppressed the expression of both genes. An in vitro binding assay indicated direct interaction of BmFTZ-F1 with the VAP-peptide gene promoter sequence. Therefore, BmFTZ-F1 is proposed to be a possible factor regulating the stage-specific expression of the VAP-peptide gene towards adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Shiomi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Japan
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44
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Niimi T, Yokoyama H, Goto A, Beck K, Kitagawa Y. A Drosophila gene encoding multiple splice variants of Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor-like proteins with potential destinations of mitochondria, cytosol and the secretory pathway. Eur J Biochem 1999; 266:282-92. [PMID: 10542076 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.1999.00873.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A Drosophila gene (KAZ1), mapped to cytological position 61A1-2 on chromosome 3, has been cloned and found to encode multiple splice variants of Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor-like proteins. KAZ1 consists of five exons and four alternatively retained introns to produce six transcripts of type AB, C1, C2, C3, D and E. The AB transcript contains two ORFs, of which the upstream one produces a polypeptide alpha, which has a mitochondrial sorting signal. Localization to mitochondria was confirmed by expression in COS1 cells. The downstream ORF is shared partially with type C1, C2, C3, D and E transcripts and produces polypeptides beta, gamma, delta and epsilon when expressed in Drosophila cells. Type C1, C2 and C3 transcripts differ only in the 5'-noncoding sequence and thus all produce type gamma. Polypeptides gamma and epsilon have a signal sequence at their N-termini and are secreted into the medium while beta and delta lack this sequence and remain in the cytoplasm. Isoforms beta and epsilon share a common C-terminal sequence distinct from that shared by polypeptides gamma and delta. The N-terminal sequences of isoforms beta to epsilon contain a PEST region which could induce rapid intracellular degradation of isoforms beta and delta. Sequence analysis of the Kazal-type domain suggests a similar folding pattern as observed for rhodniin and SPARC/BM-40. Northern analysis and in situ hybridization showed that the type C3 transcript is predominant and the expression is highest in midgut at larval stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Nagoya University Bioscience Center, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
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Niimi T, Tomita H, Sato S, Kawaguchi H, Akita K, Maeda H, Sugiura Y, Ueda R. Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in patients with sarcoidosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999; 160:1107-9. [PMID: 10508794 DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.160.4.9811096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), is known to be produced at sites of granulomatous reactions in sarcoidosis. 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) has multiple immunomodulatory effects, and acts as a promoter of multinucleated giant cell formation. Polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has recently been shown to be related to bone mineral density, and also associated with hyperparathyroidism and risk of prostatic carcinoma. Considering that this might affect sarcoidosis, we investigated polymorphism of the VDR gene in 101 patients with sarcoidosis and 105 healthy control subjects. Their genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism. In the patients with sarcoidosis, the BB, Bb, and bb genotypes accounted for 1.0%, 37.6%, and 61.4%, whereas in healthy control subjects the figures were 1.0%, 20.0%, and 79.0%, respectively. The difference in the genotype distribution between healthy control subjects and sarcoidosis patients was significant (p < 0.05) with the frequency of the B allele being elevated (p < 0.05). From the result, we suggest that in VDR gene polymorphism the B allele might be a genetic risk factor for sarcoidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University, Medical School, Nagoya, Japan
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Yamaguchi H, Niimi T, Kitagawa Y, Miki K. Brachyury (T) expression in embryonal carcinoma P19 cells resembles its expression in primitive streak and tail-bud but not that in notochord. Dev Growth Differ 1999; 41:253-64. [PMID: 10400387 DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-169x.1999.413427.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Brachyury (T) is involved in mesoderm induction during early mouse development. T expression in embryonal carcinoma P19 cells, which differentiate into mesoderm derivatives in vitro, was studied. Endogenous T expression in P19 cells was transiently induced when the cells were allowed to form aggregates. This expression was enhanced by dimethyl sulfoxide. In situ hybridization showed that T expressing cells formed clusters on the aggregates. Transfection of plasmids encoding reporter genes under the control of the upstream region of T showed that the sequence up to -351 bp can resemble the differentiation-dependent expression of T in P19 cells. To define the promoter region regulating T expression, transgenic mice carrying LacZ under the control of the upstream region were prepared. The region up to -351 bp is sufficient to direct the expression in the primitive streak and tail-bud. The upstream region up to -2400 bp does not support expression in the notochord. The sequence between -987 and -585 bp enhances expression in the primitive streak and tail-bud. In the tail-bud where new cells for elongation of the anteroposterior axis were continuously supplied, the sequence up to -987 bp drove lacZ expression in gut endoderm and prospective neuroectoderm as well as in mesoderm derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Yamaguchi
- Graduate Program for Biochemical Regulation, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
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Niimi T, Seimiya M, Kloter U, Flister S, Gehring WJ. Direct regulatory interaction of the eyeless protein with an eye-specific enhancer in the sine oculis gene during eye induction in Drosophila. Development 1999; 126:2253-60. [PMID: 10207149 DOI: 10.1242/dev.126.10.2253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Pax-6 gene encodes a transcription factor with two DNA-binding domains, a paired and a homeodomain, and is expressed during eye morphogenesis and development of the nervous system. Pax-6 homologs have been isolated from a wide variety of organisms ranging from flatworms to humans. Since loss-of-function mutants in insects and mammals lead to an eyeless phenotype and Pax-6 orthologs from distantly related species are capable of inducing ectopic eyes in Drosophila, we have proposed that Pax-6 is a universal master control gene for eye morphogenesis. To determine the extent of evolutionary conservation of the eye morphogenetic pathway, we have begun to identify subordinate target genes of Pax-6. Previously we have shown that expression of two genes, sine oculis (so) and eyes absent (eya), is induced by eyeless (ey), the Pax-6 homolog of Drosophila. Here we present evidence from ectopic expression studies in transgenic flies, from transcription activation studies in yeast, and from gel shift assays in vitro that the EY protein activates transcription of sine oculis by direct interaction with an eye-specific enhancer in the long intron of the so gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Niimi
- Biozentrum University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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Abstract
Serum lysozyme is used as a marker of sarcoidosis disease activity. In this study we examined the association between lysozyme levels and the clinical features of sarcoidosis and thus the clinical usability of this parameter in a large population. One hundred ten sarcoidosis patients from central Japan were examined for clinical features and serum lysozyme level at the first visit to our hospital and on a regular basis thereafter. The sensitivity of lysozyme for predicting sarcoidosis was 79.1%, whereas that of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was 59.0%. Even in the cases without an elevated serum ACE level, a value of 72.1% was obtained. The serum lysozyme level demonstrated a significant tendency to increase with the number of organs involved (p < 0.01). There were significant differences among the four radiographic stages (p < 0. 05). The maximum serum lysozyme levels of patients without a disappearance of abnormal shadows on chest radiography within 5 years were significantly greater than those of individuals with a disappearance (p < 0.05). A positive correlation between serum lysozyme and serum ACE levels was observed. Because serum lysozyme is much less specific for sarcoidosis than serum ACE, its diagnostic value may be limited. However, the sensitivity was high even when serum ACE levels were within normal limits and correlated well with clinical features in sarcoidosis. Therefore, this parameter seems suitable for disease monitoring in proven cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tomita
- Department of Internal Medicine, Toyokawa City Hospital, Toyokawa, Japan
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Akita Y, Nishio M, Maeno K, Yamada Y, Mase Y, Yoshikawa K, Niimi T, Sato S, Yamamoto M. [Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in a general hospital]. Kekkaku 1999; 74:107-13. [PMID: 10191603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Annual incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease has been gradually increasing in the last 10 years in Japan. It is likely to encounter this disease not only in hospitals specialized in mycobacterial diseases but also in general hospitals. NTM were isolated from 97 cases between January 1990 and June 1996 at our hospital. Out of them, 41 patients were diagnosed as NTM disease. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) was the most frequent pathogens (68.3%) and M. kansasii (22%) was the next. Other pathogens were M. chelonae (4.9%), M. fortuitum (2.4%) and M. szulgai (2.4%). Results obtained in our hospital were very similar to the rates which have been reported previously. Patients with MAC infection showed relatively poor prognosis (eight patients were died out of 28 patients with MAC) in this study compared with the cases reported in previous papers, and this result could be explained by the severity of illness when they were admitted to our hospital, the insufficiency of the initial treatment which should be started with the combined use of three to four antibacterial drugs including clarithromycin, and to a low dosage of clarithromycin compared with conventionally adopted dosage. Unlike tuberculosis, human to human transmission is considered to be negligible in the case of NTM disease, and general hospitals are able to provide medical care to the patients with NTM disease. Rather, if general hospitals which are located in the region near to the patients residence can play more active role in the treatment of NTM disease, it would be more beneficial to patients requiring long-term follow-up observation. Based on the result that similar therapeutic results were obtained for infections with other NTM as reported in previous papers, it is indicated that general hospitals are able to provide medical care to patients with NTM disease if therapeutic regimens recommended by specialist are sufficiently understood and applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Akita
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daido Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
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Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inactivates bradykinin, substance P and neurokinin A, which are believed to play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma, especially in neurogenic inflammation. It has recently been shown that an insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in the ACE gene accounts for variation in serum ACE levels. There are thus three genotypes (insertion homozygote, II; deletion homozygote, DD; heterozygotes, DI). The serum ACE level with the DD type is reported to be about double that of the II type and intermediate in the DI case. In the present study, we examined whether asthma is linked with this ACE gene polymorphism. Seventy-one patients with asthma (27 males and 44 females) and 142 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were determined for their genotype by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Twenty-five asthmatics demonstrated the II type (35.2%), 37 the DI type (52.1%), and nine the DD type (12.7%). There were no significant differences in the distributions of genotypes and serum ACE levels between healthy controls and patients. No significant differences were evident in serum IgE levels, age at onset, proportion of atopic type patients and severity of asthma among the three genotypes. We did not find any association between asthma and the ACE gene polymorphism in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tomita
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan
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