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Biomedical subjects

A Goto

Publications and source records attributed to A Goto.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Endogenous digitalis: reality or myth?

Endogenous digitalis is defined as a natural ligand for the digitalis-binding site of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase and is a specific, high-affinity reversible inhibitor of the enzyme activity. Such endogenous digitalis is thought to be involved in sodium homeostasis and blood pressure regulation as a vasoactive and natriuretic substance. The search for endogenous digitalis goes back to the early 1960s. Since then large efforts have been exerted by numerous laboratories worldwide, but little advance has been made until recently except for the identification of nonspecific Na+, K(+)-ATPase inhibitors. Some researchers even doubt the existence of endogenous digitalis. The recognition that assay methodology is associated with many pitfalls and problems has accelerated the rate of recent progress. Chemical identification of endogenous digitalis will be forthcoming in the very near future. In this article, important issues surrounding endogenous digitalis are critically reviewed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Digoxin-like immunoreactivity: is it still worth measuring?

On the assumption that digoxin-like immunoreactivity may represent digitalis-like sodium pump inhibitors in the mammalian body, many investigators have used radioimmunoassay for digoxin to monitor such factors during the past decade. The presence of digoxin-like immunoreactivity has been confirmed by numerous studies using biochemical, immunological or morphological methods. Very recently, ouabain or a very similar substance, which did not cross-react with antidigoxin antibodies, was identified from the human plasma as the long-sought sodium pump inhibitor. However, it is yet to be determined whether sodium pump inhibitory activity in the circulation results from one substance or several. Some researchers still insist on the possible physiological roles of digoxin-like immunoreactivity which may or may not be related to the regulation of sodium pump. These issues are critically reviewed in this article.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effect of endogenous digitalis-like factor on endothelin secretion from bovine endothelial cells.

We have recently isolated two endogenous digitalis-like factors (EDLFs) from human urine. The polar EDLF (ouabain-displacing compound 1; ODC-1) fulfills the criteria for the putative natriuretic and vasoactive digitalis-like factor. In this study, we examined the effects of ODC-1 and ouabain on endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion from cultured endothelial cells. ODC-1 was partially purified from human urine with use of reverse-phase HPLC based on the inhibitory effects on [3H]ouabain binding to intact human erythrocytes. A serial dilution curve of the extract of the serum-free culture medium from CPAE (bovine pulmonary artery endothelium) cells was parallel to that of standard ET-1. Immunoreactive (ir-) ET-1 was secreted in a linear fashion over 5 h from CPAE cells. ODC-1 stimulated ET-1 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, ouabain did not affect ET-1 secretion at the concentration of 10(-9)-10(-5) M. These results indicate that human urine-derived ODC-1 is distinct from plant-derived ouabain and acts as a stimulator of ET-1 secretion, and also suggest that ODC-1 may play an important role as a direct and indirect modulator of vascular tone.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Simple and efficient method for clinical isolation of Bordetella pertussis].

Commercially available Amies transport medium with charcoal and three isolation media were tested to assess their efficiency in the clinical isolation of B. pertussis. First, the isolation rates of B. pertussis were compared between direct inoculation of nasopharyngeal specimens and inoculation after stored in Amies transport medium for 8 hours or less. The comparative isolation rates were 81% both (35 of 43 specimens from 29 patients) for direct inoculation and transport medium. Second, nasopharyngeal specimens were incubated for 5 days at 35 degrees C on the three media; Bordet-Gengou Medium (BG) with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, Cyclodextrin Solid Medium (CSM) with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, and Charcoal Agar with 40 micrograms of CEX per ml. The organism was detected from 44 nasopharyngeal specimens from 20 patients on at least one of the three tested media. The comparative isolation rates were 91% (40 of 44) on BG with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, 93% (41 of 44) on CSM with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, and 91% (40 of 44) on CA with 40 micrograms of CEX per ml. Although no differences in the isolation rates were observed among the three media, the appearance of the colonies was earlier by one day on BG than the rest of the two media. The detection of B. pertussis was occasionally easier on CA than the rest of the two because of its higher suppression for nasopharyngeal flora. CSM has its advantage in that it does not need any blood and can be prepared at anytime. Also, the shelf life of these three media proved to be at least one month when stored at 10 degrees C. We conclude that the clinical isolation of B. pertussis was highly successful with the following simple procedure: nasopharyngeal specimens stored in Amies transport medium and inoculated on one of the three media, BG, CSM, or CA, and then incubated for 5 days at 35 degrees C.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1991

Prolonged inhibition of vascular contraction and calcium influx by the novel 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist cinaldipine (FRC-8653).

We examined the effects of FRC-8653, a novel dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on the contraction of an arterial preparation and the calcium influx into vascular smooth muscle cells to clarify the long-lasting hypotensive activity of this drug. Inhibition by FRC-8653 persisted for more than 7 hr after its removal, whereas nifedipine and nicardipine exhibited shorter durations of suppressive activity. These results suggest that prolonged inhibition of calcium influx through L-channels contributes to the long-lasting vasodilative and antihypertensive activity of FRC-8653.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[VAB-6 chemotherapy of advanced testicular cancers--its efficacy and limitation].

Fifteen patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumor were treated by VAB-6 chemotherapy after radical orchiectomy. CR was achieved in two (13.3%) and PR in nine (60.0%). The one, three and five year survival rates were 92.2, 64.2 and 51.4%, respectively. Nine patients (60.0%) remain with no evidence of disease (NED) after combined therapy (chemotherapy and surgery) with a median follow up of 4.3 months. We performed resection of the residual tumors and examined histologically. Out of 11 cases, four (36.3%) were with necrosis/fibrosis, two (18.2%) teratoma and five (45.5%) cancer. All of the six cases with non-cancerous tissues remain in NED. However, only two of the five cases with cancerous tissues remain in NED. We studied the NED rate based on four prognostic factors, (1) bulky abdominal diseases, (2) advanced lung diseases, (3) other metasteses, and (4) choriocarcinoma. In our analysis, advanced lung diseases and choriocarcinoma were poor prognostic factors. We should treat these poor prognostic cases initially with VP-16, ifosfamide, high doses cisplatin etc, which were used as salvaged drugs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Histological and immunohistochemical studies on the damage of contralateral testis following the unilateral testicular torsion in Wistar rats].

The effect of experimental unilateral torsion of the testis on the contralateral intrascrotal testis in Wistar rats was evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically. The results were summarized as follows. 1) Histological damage of the seminiferous tubules in the contralateral testis was present only in adult rats. 2) The histological change 3-5 weeks after the experimental torsion consisted of marked decrease of spermatocytes, loss of spermatids and spermatozoa and numerous Sertoli-cell only tubules. Hyperplasia of the interstitial cells was demonstrated without thickness of the basement membrane and infiltration of the inflammatory cells. The tubular diameter and the ratio of contralateral testicular weight to rat body weight were significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) in torsion group. 3) Using an indirect immunofluorescent method, the positive immunohistochemical staining on spermatid and spermatozoa of normal testicular tissue was demonstrated using only the serum of rat with histological damage on the contralateral testis. Therefore, the phenomenon may be ascribable to the presence of antisperm antibody. It is concluded that the mechanism of the damage in seminiferous tubules of the contralateral testis with experimental torsion in adult Wistar rats is related to the humoral immunity producing antisperm antibody.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Simple and efficient method for clinical isolation of Bordetella pertussis.

Commercially available Amies transport medium with charcoal and three isolation media were tested to assess their efficiency in the clinical isolation of B. pertussis. First, the isolation rates of B. pertussis were compared between direct inoculation of nasopharyngeal specimens and inoculation after being stored in Amies transport medium for eight hours or less. The organism was detected in 43 specimens from 29 patients with at least one of the two inoculation methods. The comparative isolation rates were 81% (35 of 43) for both direct inoculation and transport medium. Second, nasopharyngeal specimens were incubated for five days at 35 degrees C on the three media; Bordet Gengou Medium (BG) with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, Cyclodextrin Solid Medium (CSM) with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, and Charcoal Agar with 40 micrograms of CEX per ml. The organism was detected from 44 nasopharyngeal specimens of 20 patients on at least one of the three tested media. The comparative isolation rates were 91% (40 of 44) on BG with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, 93% (41 of 44) on CSM with 5 micrograms of CEX per ml, and 91% (40 of 44) on CA with 40 micrograms of CEX per ml. Although no differences in the isolation rates were observed among the three media, the appearance of the colonies was earlier by one day on BG than the other two media. The detection of B. pertussis was occasionally easier on CA than on the other two because of its higher suppression of nasopharyngeal flora.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1991

Mixed outbreak of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis in an apartment house.

From September through November of 1985, a mixed outbreak of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis occurred in an apartment house in Ashikaga City, Japan. Bacteriological and serological investigations were conducted on seven families, comprising 13 adults and 19 children, living in the same apartment house and having social contacts. For all the subjects, cultivation of nasopharyngeal mucus and measurement of pertussis agglutinin antibody, anti-PT antibody, and anti-F-HA antibody were performed. On the basis of the clinical, bacteriological or serological findings, seven children of three families (families A, B and C), including the first child patient (index case) of family A, were diagnosed as having infections caused by B. pertussis, or B. parapertussis or both. B. pertussis and/or B. parapertussis were isolated from six of the seven child patients. B. pertussis alone was isolated from three children (one in each family), and two of them had not been vaccinated. B. parapertussis alone was isolated from two children, while both bacteria were isolated from one child. Those three children from whom B. parapertussis was isolated were in family C, which was the last of the three families to develop symptoms of infection. Josamycin had been administered to two of the three children from whom B. parapertussis was isolated before the nasopharyngeal mucus specimen was collected. In one of the two children from whom only B. parapertussis was isolated, the significant elevation of anti-PT antibody titer was observed, which was indicative of a mixed infection with B. pertussis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Outbreak of pertussis in a residential facility for handicapped people.

An outbreak of pertussis was recognized and investigated in a ward for neurologically impaired residents. Of 50 residents ranging in age from 8 to 25 years old, 41 (82%) had serological or bacteriological evidence of pertussis infection and 28 (56%) developed typical symptoms of pertussis. Of the 50 residents, nine were immunized and 41 were unimmunized. There were no significant differences in the rate of infection and rate of developing typical symptoms between the immunized and unimmunized (9/8/4 vs 41/33/24). Of 43 carers, 6 (14%) developed typical symptoms and four of the six showed serological evidence of pertussis infection. Epidemiological survey of this outbreak revealed that pertussis was introduced and spread by the carers. Erythromycin which was administered only to the residents did not prevent the spread of pertussis. We conclude that pertussis immunization including a booster dose should be considered for neurologically impaired people in a closed environment and erythromycin prophylaxis should include adult carers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[A case of corrosive esophagitis with stenosis].

A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of pharyngeal pain and vomiting after intentionally swallowing sodium hydroxide. Gradually esophageal stenosis took place. After 9 months from the taking poison the patient was operated. We tried blunt dissection of esophagus. But the procedure failed in because the wire of stripper was cut. So performed total esophageal resection under the right thoracotomy. The right side colon was used to re-construction through antero-sternal space that was anastmosed to cervical esophagus and stomach. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[A case of Ullrich disease with distinct pathological change of muscular dystrophy].

A case of Ullrich disease was presented. The patient was a 3-year-old girl with torticollis, generalized muscle weakness and acroatonia since birth. High-arched palate, protruded calcaneus, and mild contracture of proximal joints were also recognized. Intellectual development was normal. Serum level of CPK was slightly increased. In histological and histochemical examinations of quadriceps femoris muscle, proliferated connective tissue, marked variation in the muscle fiber diameter, and a lot of degenerated and regenerated fibers were recognized. Minimal injury easily causes subcutaneous hemorrhage, but no abnormality was found in the structure of collagen.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

Isolation of a urinary digitalis-like factor indistinguishable from digoxin.

A digitalis-like factor has been purified to apparent homogeneity from human urine based on the inhibitory effect on [3H] ouabain binding to intact human erythrocytes. The purification scheme involved large scale adsorption followed by preparative, semipreparative and analytical high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified material showed a prominent digoxin-like immunoreactivity. The behaviour of the isolated substance was identical to that of authentic digoxin in three high-performance liquid chromatography and three thin-layer chromatography systems. Moreover, fast atom bombardment mass spectrum and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum suggested that the purified material may be indistinguishable from digoxin.

Blood Proteins↗