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Biomedical subjects

A Hirai

Publications and source records attributed to A Hirai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Fulminant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

A 64-year-old woman, who was previously in good health was admitted because of progressive respiratory distress. Her chest radiograph revealed bilateral widespread alveolar infiltrates. She was given a diagnosis of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae serologically, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. She died of multiple organ failure despite intensive therapy with mechanical ventilation, intravenous erythromycin and corticosteroids, continuous hemodiafiltration, and plasma exchange. Although Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is usually a benign self-limited disease, this case emphasizes its potentially serious nature even in normal healthy individuals.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2001

Diabetic ketoacidosis associated with recurrent pulmonary edema and rhabdomyolysis in a patient with Turner's syndrome.

Turner's syndrome is a condition involving total or partial absence of one X chromosome and has been associated with a number of diseases including non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, abnormalities of glucose metabolism and hypothreosis. There have been many case reports in which Turner's syndrome is associated with type 2 diabetes, but the association with type 1 diabetes and/or life threatening complications is very rare. We present an unusual case of a patient with Turner's syndrome who has type 1 diabetes and is complicated with ketoacidosis, severe acute and recurrent pulmonary edema and rhabdomyolysis.

Acidosis↗
PubMed2001

[Troubles inherent to long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and the use of technologies to improve communication between medical institutions and patients].

The continuous advance of technology has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of patients under long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN). But the longer the patient stays home, the higher the risk of many kinds of troubles. We designed an HPN system in June 1999, which uses E-mail for patients and to contact with each other (including the patient's family) and to prevent troubles from worsening. We describe the case of a patient which shows the efficacy and usefulness of our system, which makes use of the Internet, video mail, voice mail and electric medical records.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Stepwise Synthesis of Fullerene Cyclopentadienide R(5)C(60)(-) and Indenide R(3)C(60)(-). An Approach to Fully Unsymmetrically Substituted Derivatives.

Fullerene cyclopentadienide (PhCH(2))(2)Ph(3)C(60)(-) and indenide (PhCH(2))(2)PhC(60)(-), each bearing two different organic groups, were efficiently synthesized through regioselective reactions of 1,4-(PhCH(2))(2)C(60) with an organocopper reagent (PhMgBr/CuBr.SMe(2)) or a Grignard reagent (PhMgBr) followed by deprotonation with KO(t)()Bu.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Molecular and cellular characterizations of a cDNA clone encoding a novel isozyme of aldehyde dehydrogenase from rice.

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are a group of enzymes catalyzing the conversion of aldehydes to the corresponding acids. In mammals and yeasts, at least two isozymes of ALDH are known to be involved in ethanol metabolism (cytosolic ALDH1 and mitochondrial ALDH2). Although mitochondrial ALDH isozymes have previously been identified in several plants, such as maize and tobacco, it is unclear whether cytosolic ALDH isozymes also exist in plants. In this study, we identified and characterized a cDNA clone encoding aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1a) from rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). The open reading frame of this clone did not contain a typical mitochondrial targeting signal. Analysis of the subcellular localization of ALDH1a using green fluorescent protein (GFP) suggested that ALDH1a is a cytosolic enzyme rather than a mitochondrial enzyme. A genomic Southern hybridization indicated that sequences homologous to the ALDH1a gene are present in at least two regions of the rice genome. Amplification by RT-PCR showed that ALDH1a is expressed strongly in roots, but not in leaves, of rice seedlings, suggesting that ALDH1a functions in roots.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2000

Geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate, an isoprenoid of mevalonate cascade, is a critical compound for rat primary cultured cortical neurons to protect the cell death induced by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibition.

We investigated the role of the intrinsic mevalonate cascade in the neuronal cell death (NCD) induced by the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in rat primary cortical neurons cultured from the brains of 17-d-old fetal SD rats. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors induced NCD [HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor-induced NCD (H-NCD)] in time- and dose-dependent manners. The apoptotic characteristics were revealed by the formation of the DNA ladder and by the electron microscopical observation. During the progression of H-NCD, p53 was induced followed by the expression of Bax. Although the mevalonate completely inhibited H-NCD, the cholesterol did not. Thus, we examined two major metabolites of mevalonate, geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate (GGPP) and farnesyl-pyrophosphate (FPP), using a novel liposome system for uptake into the cells. GGPP, not FPP, prohibited H-NCD with inhibition of the induction of p53 and Bax. The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase decreased the amount of membrane-associated Rho small GTPase families, but not Ras small GTPase, and GGPP restored the blockage by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in the translocation or redistribution of Rho small GTPase families to membrane. These data indicated that (1) the inhibition of the intrinsic mevalonate cascade induces the apoptotic NCD with the induction of p53 followed by that of Bax, (2) the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase concomitantly causes blockage of the translocation or redistribution of Rho small GTPase families, not Ras small GTPase, to membrane, and (3) GGPP, not FPP, is one of the essential metabolites in the mevalonate cascade for protecting neurons from H-NCD.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Transcript levels of the nuclear-encoded respiratory genes in rice decrease by oxygen deprivation: evidence for involvement of calcium in expression of the alternative oxidase 1a gene.

We investigated the effect of oxygen on the expressions of respiratory genes encoded in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Hypoxic treatment decreased the transcript levels of nuclear-encoded, but not mitochondrial-encoded respiratory genes. The effects of ruthenium red (an inhibitor of Ca(2+) fluxes from organelles) and/or CaCl(2) on plants under hypoxic conditions suggested that Ca(2+) is a physiological transducer of a low-oxygen signaling pathway for expression of the alternative oxidase 1a gene (AOX1a), but not for expressions of genes involved in the cytochrome respiratory pathway, in rice.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of diabetic neuropathy through the quantitation of cutaneous nerves.

The significance and usefulness of immunohistochemically quantitated cutaneous nerves in the evaluation of diabetic neuropathy was examined in biopsied skins of the calf from healthy subjects (n=12) and non-insulin dependent diabetic patients (n=32) with diabetic sensory neuropathy. Skin samples were immunostained with antibodies against protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, a pan-axonal marker. A quantitative analysis to determine nerve fiber (NF) number and nerve lengths (NLs) was performed on nerve fibers of the epidermis and the dermis and on nerves surrounding sweat glands. Nerve function tests were performed on the biopsied sites and erythrocyte aldose reductase level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Numbers of epidermal NFs, NLs of epidermis and dermis and NL around sweat glands were significantly decreased in diabetic patients compared with control subjects (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). NL of epidermis showed a significant correlation with NL of dermis (P<0.01). Sural nerve conduction velocity was significantly correlated with NL of dermis (P10.8 (average in 555 diabetic patients) ng/mgHb) possessed a shorter NL of dermis NFs than those with lower AR level (<10.8) (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the quantitation of cutaneous nerves in biopsied skin samples provides important information about diabetic neuropathy and may improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of sensory nerve terminals in diabetic neuropathy.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed2000

Cell-anchorage, cell cytoskeleton, and Rho-GTPase family in regulation of cell cycle progression.

It has been well known that cell-anchorage and the cell cytoskeleton are deeply involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and cell cycle. However, the precise molecular mechanism involved in cell-anchorage and the cell cytoskeleton have remained be to elucidated. The recent great volume of information regarding cell cycle regulators such as cyclin, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and CDK inhibitors (CKI) has facilitated the understanding of the cell cycle in mammalian cells. In this review, we will focus on these cell cycle regulators to discuss the regulation of cell proliferation controlled by cell-anchorage and the cytoskeleton, and especially the roles of Rho family GTPases.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of two cDNA clones encoding isozymes of the F(1)F(0)-ATPase inhibitor protein of rice mitochondria.

Two cDNA clones encoding F(1)F(0)-ATPase inhibitor proteins, which are loosely associated with the F(1) part of the mitochondrial F(1)F(0)-ATPase, were characterized from rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). A Northern hybridization showed that the two genes (designated as IF(1)-1 and IF(1)-2) are transcribed in all the organs examined. However, the steady-state mRNA levels varied among organs. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the two IF(1) genes and the amino acid sequence of the mature IF(1) protein from potato revealed that IF(1)-1 and IF(1)-2 have N-terminal extensions with features that are characteristic of a mitochondrial targeting signal. To determine the subcellular localization of the gene products, the IF(1)-1 or IF(1)-2 proteins were fused in frame to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) or the fused GFP-beta-glucuronidase, and expressed transiently in onion or dayflower epidermal cells. Localized fluorescence was detected in mitochondria, confirming that the two IF(1) proteins are targeted to mitochondria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Substrate effects of gel surfaces on cell adhesion and disruption.

Substrate effects of hydrogel surfaces prepared on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates on the cell adhesion and disruption were studied. The adhesion of tobacco protoplasts onto anionic hydrogels was strongly influenced by the substrates on which the gels were synthesized. In the case of anionic poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) gel, more cells adhered on the gel surface prepared on hydrophobic substrates than that prepared on hydrophilic substrates. On the other hand, in the case of cationic quaternized poly-(dimethylaminopropylacrylamide) gel, cell disruption occurred in a few seconds accompanied with an intensive release of cellular contents on the gel surface prepared on the hydrophilic substrates, while the cationic gel synthesized on hydrophobic substrates induced no cell disruption. These different behaviors of the cell have been made in terms of different structures of gel surfaces associated with the presence of flexible dangling chains.

Acrylamides↗
PubMed2000

Expression of a gene encoding mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in rice increases under submerged conditions.

It is known that alcoholic fermentation is important for survival of plants under anaerobic conditions. Acetaldehyde, one of the intermediates of alcoholic fermentation, is not only reduced by alcohol dehydrogenase but also can be oxidized by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). To determine whether ALDH plays a role in anaerobic metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv Nipponbare), we characterized a cDNA clone encoding mitochondrial ALDH from rice (Aldh2a). Analysis of sub-cellular localization of ALDH2a protein using green fluorescent protein and an in vitro ALDH assay using protein extracts from Escherichia coli cells that overexpressed ALDH2a indicated that ALDH2a functions in the oxidation of acetaldehyde in mitochondria. A Southern-blot analysis indicated that mitochondrial ALDH is encoded by at least two genes in rice. We found that the Aldh2a mRNA was present at high levels in leaves of dark-grown seedlings, mature leaf sheaths, and panicles. It is interesting that expression of the rice Aldh2a gene, unlike the expression of the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Aldh2a gene, was induced in rice seedlings by submergence. Experiments with ruthenium red, which is a blocker of Ca(2+) fluxes in rice as well as maize (Zea mays), suggest that the induction of expression of Adh1 and Pdc1 by low oxygen stress is regulated by elevation of the cytosolic Ca(2+) level. However, the induction of Aldh2a gene expression may not be controlled by the cytosolic Ca(2+) level elevation. A possible involvement of ALDH2a in the submergence tolerance of rice is discussed.

Alcohols↗
PubMed2000

Variations in vitamin D-binding protein (group-specific component protein) are associated with fasting plasma insulin levels in Japanese with normal glucose tolerance.

The locus of the vitamin D-binding protein (DBP; also known as group-specific component protein or Gc) gene, chromosome 4q12, has been reported to be associated with glucose metabolism in several ethnic groups, including Pima Indians. We have recently reported the association of the DBP genotype with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic variations of DBP have any influence on glucose metabolism without secondary effects of hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus using 82 Japanese with normal glucose tolerance. The variations of the DBP gene (Gc 1F, 1S, and 2) were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Fasting plasma insulin concentration and homeostasis model assessment, an index of insulin resistance, were significantly different based on the DBP genotype (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The people with Gc 1S-2 (5.73 +/- 2.57 microU/mL) and 1S-1S (5.30 +/- 3.46 microU/mL) had significantly higher fasting plasma concentrations than those with 1F-1F (2.84 +/- 1.67 microU/mL) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.03, respectively). There was no significant difference in plasma glucose concentration, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood pressure. In conclusion, genetic variations of DBP are associated with insulin resistance in Japanese with normal glucose tolerance, which might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Asian People↗
PubMed2000

A clinical feature of hyperlipidemia in patients with central diabetes insipidus.

In this study, we analyzed plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels before and after treatment with 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) in subjects with partial and complete central diabetes insipidus (DI) in order to determine how a shortage and supplement of this hormone affect plasma lipid metabolism. The subjects consisted of 6 patients with partial and 6 with complete central DI. After treatment with DDAVP through nasal cavity, plasma total cholesterol (TC) level did not decrease either in complete or partial form. Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels decreased from 306+/-175 mg/dl to 198+/-91 (35% decrease, p=0.027) in complete form, while TG did not change significantly in partial form. A detailed investigation of plasma lipoprotein metabolism during treatment with DDAVP was carried out in 3 of the 6 subjects with complete form of DI. Lipoprotein lipase activity and mass in post-heparin plasma from those three subjects tended to increase after treatment with DDAVP, along with the complete disappearance of an unusual lipoprotein between low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) as analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results suggest that the DDAVP treatment has a favorable effect on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, especially triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, either directly or through modifying factors contributing to lipid metabolism.

Administration, Intranasal↗