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Biomedical subjects

A Maeda

Publications and source records attributed to A Maeda.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Rapid detection and identification of two lineages of influenza B strains with monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against influenza B virus were obtained by immunizing mice with B/Nagasaki/1/87, one of the strains of the B/Victoria group. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that individual Mabs precipitated the nucleoprotein (NP), the matrix protein (M) or the hemagglutinin protein (HA). By using these Mabs by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) staining method, a rapid detection and identification method for influenza B virus was established. Monolayers of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells in microplates were infected with each-strain and incubated for about 24 h, and then were subjected to the PAP staining method using the Mabs as the first antibody. Influenza B virus strains are classified into two major phylogenetic trees, the B/Victoria group and the B/Yamagata group. When anti-NP and anti-M antibodies were used in the PAP staining method, all 13 influenza B virus strains isolated from clinical specimens between 1940 and 1994 were detected regardless of the antigenic drift of the influenza virus. On the other hand, several anti-HA Mabs which reacted specifically with the strains of the B/Victoria group, did not react with any strain of the B/Yamagata group. In the 1996/97 influenza season in Osaka Prefecture in Japan, two antigenically distinct groups of influenza B virus strains were isolated. They belonged to different phylogenetic trees and were clearly distinguishable by the PAP staining method with anti-HA Mabs.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Active form of human hepatocyte growth factor is excreted into bile after hepatobiliary resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We have shown that hepatocyte growth factor is excreted into bile after hepatectomy in patients with biliary tract carcinoma. However, it is not certain whether hepatocyte growth factor in bile is an active molecule or degradation products. METHODS: Bile was obtained from five patients after hepatobiliary resection. Bile hepatocyte growth factor was purified on a heparin-Sepharose column and subjected to Western blotting. It was also tested for growth-stimulating activity with rat primary cultured hepatocytes. Biles from 50 patients who underwent various types of hepatobiliary resections were examined with respect to hepatocyte growth factor by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Upon Western blotting following nonreducing electrophoresis, the purified bile hepatocyte growth factor showed an 85 kDa peptide corresponding to native hepatocyte growth factor. Under reducing conditions, it showed bands of a-subunit at 69 kDa and beta-subunit at 34 kDa with corresponding monoclonal antibodies. The purified bile hepatocyte growth factor stimulated the [3H]thymidine incorporation into primary cultured hepatocytes with a specific activity comparable to recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor. It was observed that the levels of bile hepatocyte growth factor increased after the various types of hepatobiliary resections, including bile duct resection without hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The human bile obtained after hepatobiliary resection contains active hepatocyte growth factor that can stimulate hepatocyte growth. Bile hepatocyte growth factor increased not only in hepatectomy but in bile duct resection. These results suggest that the biliary tract system may play an important role in the production of bile hepatocyte growth factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Modified Caspari technique for traumatic anterior shoulder instability: comparison of absorbable sutures versus absorbable plus nonabsorbable sutures.

The efficacy of the Caspari technique using a combination of absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures was compared with that of using only absorbable sutures. Forty-four patients (45 shoulders) underwent our modified Caspari technique for traumatic anterior shoulder instability and were followed-up for 2 to 3 years postoperatively. The average age at operation was 22 years. Among 27 patients treated using all absorbable PDS sutures, 7 patients had recurrent instability (success rate, 74%). Among 18 patients treated using both PDS and nonabsorbable polypropylene sutures, only one showed apprehension after a direct blow to the shoulder sustained by falling from a height (success rate, 94%). The mean stability score according to Rowe's criteria was significantly higher in the combination of absorbable and nonabsorbable group (P = .0412). External rotation increased more slowly in the combination of absorbable and nonabsorbable group than in the absorbable group. The mean limitation of external rotation was 8.4 degrees and 2.7 degrees, respectively (P = .0129). The modified Caspari technique using both absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures achieved excellent stability according to Rowe's criteria and external rotation showed more gradual improvement compared to repair with absorbable sutures alone.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed1999

Interleukin 6 in bile as an indicator of liver function after hepatectomy in patients with biliary tract carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL) 6 is one of the important components of the early signalling pathways leading to liver regeneration, and has been detected in the bile after liver transplantation. IL-6 concentrations in the bile were studied in an attempt to predict liver function after major hepatectomy for biliary tract carcinoma. METHODS: This study involved 24 patients without cirrhosis who underwent major hepatectomy for biliary tract carcinoma. The bile was sampled regularly through external biliary drainage tubes. IL-6 concentrations in bile and serum were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Bile IL-6 concentrations increased 37-fold (from mean(s.e.) 56(13) pg/ml before hepatectomy to 2071(398) pg/ml on day 1 after operation) in patients without liver failure after hepatectomy (n = 18) and increased sevenfold (from 71(24) to 530(76) pg/ml) in patients with liver failure after hepatectomy (n = 6). The values were significantly lower in patients with liver failure than in those without liver failure (P < 0.05). The bile IL-6 concentration on day 1 after operation exhibited a significant negative correlation with the maximum serum total bilirubin concentration after hepatectomy. Although serum IL-6 concentrations were also increased in both groups after hepatectomy, there was no significant correlation with postoperative liver function. CONCLUSION: Increased bile IL-6 concentrations after hepatectomy may reflect liver regenerative capacity. Measurement of bile IL-6 concentrations may be clinically useful for the early identification of liver failure after hepatectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Human mannan-binding lectin inhibits the infection of influenza A virus without complement.

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a C-type serum lectin that is believed to play an important role in innate immunity. It is one of the collectin family, which is characterized by having a collagen-like sequence and a carbohydrate recognition domain. MBL can bind to sugar determinants of several micro-organisms, neutralize them and inhibit infection by complement activation through the lectin pathway and opsonization by collectin receptors. Bovine conglutinin and mouse MBL inhibit the infective and haemagglutinating activities of influenza A viruses. To identify the direct antiviral activity of human MBL against influenza A viruses that does not depend on complement activation or opsonization, we isolated native MBL from human serum and produced a recombinant MBL in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using a pNOW/CMV-A expression vector system. Native and recombinant human MBL exhibited neutralization activity against A/Ibaraki/1/90 (H3N2), with the plaque focus reduction assay at the viral attachment phase. Their activities were inhibited by EDTA, mannose and anti-human MBL antibody. Furthermore, at the viral expansion phase both MBL in culture medium prevented viral spreading from primary infected cells to neighbour cells. A virus recovery study using EDTA indicated that interaction between MBL and virus was reversible and non-damaging to the virus. Lectin blot and immunohistochemistry assays showed that these antiviral activities involved binding between MBL and two viral envelope proteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. These findings suggest that human MBL can play an important role in innate immunity by direct viral neutralization and inhibition of viral spread, as well as an indirect role through opsonization and complement activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

A case of group II non-specific interstitial pneumonia developed during corticosteroid therapy after acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Non-specific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis (NSIP) is a relatively new entity among idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. This disease is pathologically characterized by varying proportions of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis that appear to occur over a single, short period of time, and is clinically characterized by a generally good prognosis. Although corticosteroid therapy is widely considered to be effective for treatment of this disease, we report a case of Group II NSIP which developed during treatment with corticosteroid 4 months after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This case suggests that any group of NSIP may be developed after ARDS, and that low-dose corticosteroid treatment is not sufficient to prevent the development of NSIP.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in bronchoalveolar lavage cells in murine pulmonary fibrosis after intraperitoneal administration of bleomycin.

OBJECTIVE: We previously observed increased expression of interleukin-1beta, platelet-derived growth factor-A, and insulin-like growth factor-I in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells during the development of pulmonary fibrosis after an intraperitoneal administration of bleomycin in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in this model. METHODOLOGY: We investigated the mRNA expression levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in BAL cells of Institute for Cancer Research mice after 10 days of the intraperitoneal administration of bleomycin with or without treatment with a specific neutrophil elastase inhibitor, ONO-5046 x Na. RESULTS: On day 1 but not on days 15 and 29, the relative amount of TGF-beta1 mRNA in the bleomycin-treated mice was significantly decreased compared with control mice. In the mice treated with both bleomycin and ONO-5046 x Na intermediate values for TGF-beta1 were obtained. No significant differences in TNF-alpha expression were observed in any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a reduced expression of TGF-beta1 in BAL cells in the early phase may be important during the development of murine pulmonary fibrosis induced by an intraperitoneal administration of bleomycin.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Bikunin, a serine protease inhibitor, is present on the cell boundary of epidermis.

Bikunin, which is an inhibitor of serine proteases, is widely distributed in human tissues, including liver, kidney, and mucous membranes of the stomach and colon. The aim of this study was to clarify whether bikunin is expressed in human epidermis and its appendages. Immunoblot analysis using a specific polyclonal antibody to bikunin revealed that a single 43 kDa protein is present in the cell lysate from the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Immunohistochemically, dotted reaction products stained with anti-bikunin antibody were localized on the cell boundary in both basal and spinous cell layers, except on the cell boundary of the basal cells facing the basal membrane. There were no reaction products in the granular-horny cell layers. Reaction products stained with anti-bikunin antibody were also observed on the hair bulb cells and eccrine sweat gland cells, but not on apocrine sweat glands. Also, reaction products were observed on the luminal surface of the renal proximal tubules and in the cytoplasm of these cells. In immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles were observed on the cell membranes close to the desmosomal structures. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analyses showed that mRNA specific for bikunin was expressed in HaCaT cells and human epidermal keratinocytes obtained from suction blisters, and was contained in a commercially available human keratinocyte cDNA preparation. These findings indicate that bikunin is expressed in keratinocytes and may play an important part in regulating keratinocytes in either mitosis or inflammation.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1999

Erythropoietin supplement increases plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase levels in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: We reported in previous studies that plasma triglyceride levels, as well as remnant-like particles-cholesterol (RLP-C) and -triglyceride (RLP-TG) levels, were significantly lower in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients treated with erythropoietin (EPO) than in HD patients treated without EPO. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the improvements in abnormal RLP metabolism in HD patients. This study investigates whether EPO supplement therapy in cases of uremic anemia increases the plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) levels in HD patients. METHODS: Twenty HD patients who had not previously received EPO were divided into two groups according to the stage of HD: 12 at the initial stage, defined as a mean HD duration of 0.35 +/- 0.68 months (range of 0 to 2.47 months), and 8 at the maintenance stage, defined as a mean HD duration of 114.1 +/- 91.9 months (range of 13.0 to 253.9 months). Fasting plasma was collected from the HD patients prior to the start of the EPO supplement therapy and at one month after the therapy. RLP-C levels were determined using a RLP-C JIMRO II kit. Fasting plasma was also collected from the HD patients 10 minutes after an intravenous injection of heparin (30 U/kg body wt). Plasma LPL levels were determined using an enzyme immunoassay, and HTGL levels were determined using a modified version of the Hernell et al method. RESULTS: Plasma RLP-C levels showed a tendency to decrease after the start of the EPO supplement therapy in HD patients at the maintenance stage. Plasma LPL levels were significantly higher in the two groups of HD patients one month after the start of the EPO supplement therapy than in the same patients prior to the start of the EPO supplement therapy. Plasma HTGL levels were significantly higher in HD patients at the maintenance stage one month after the start of the EPO supplement therapy than in HD patients at the maintenance stage prior to the start of the EPO supplement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the EPO supplement therapy may reduce plasma RLP-C levels by increasing the plasma LPL and HTGL levels in maintenance-stage HD patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effect of simvastatin on the lipid profile of hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, is used widely for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin may be a suitable treatment for dyslipidemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, investigation of the side-effects and safety of long-term administration of simvastatin to HD patients has been limited. In this study, we investigated the effects and safety of simvastatin and its effects on lipoprotein metabolism in hypercholesterolemic patients on HD. METHODS: Simvastatin was administered at a dosage of 5 mg/day for 24 weeks to 38 HD patients with high serum total cholesterol (TC) levels (200 mg/dl) or low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (35 mg/dl). Every four weeks, serum lipids, apolipoprotein, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. In addition, lipid levels were determined in each lipoprotein fraction separated by ultracentrifugation. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of simvastatin administration, TC significantly decreased by 25.7%, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly decreased by 33.6%. Triglyceride (TG) and HDL-C showed no significant changes. Apolipoprotein (apo) B significantly decreased by 24.5% and apo E by 30.0%. No significant changes were observed in the other apolipoproteins. MDA was also significantly decreased, whereas Lp(a) was not significantly altered. In the lipoprotein fractions, very LDL cholesterol (VLDL-C), intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C), LDL1 cholesterol (LDL1-C), and LDL2 cholesterol (LDL2-C) showed significant decreases. No particular side-effects were observed during the 12 months of simvastatin administration. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that simvastatin appears to be safe and effective in HD patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

New monoclonal antibodies against the epithelioid cells in sarcoid granulomas.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Extensive investigations of granulomas have suggested several possible causes, but these are still controversial. We previously developed an anti-Kveim monoclonal antibody, IHY-1, which reacts with sarcoid granulomas as well as with epithelioid cells of various granulomatous diseases including tuberculosis. In the present study, we developed 2 new anti-Kveim monoclonal antibodies, IHY-2 and IHY-3, which react with epithelioid cells in sarcoidosis but not in tuberculosis. These antibodies reacted with a small population of alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis by flow cytometry, as well as with most epithelioid cells in sarcoid granulomas by immunoperoxidase technique, suggesting that these cells expressed the antigen present in the Kveim reagent. Although the antigens recognized by these antibodies have not yet been identified, these monoclonal antibodies might become useful tools to elucidate the etiology of sarcoidosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Sugar-branched-cyclodextrins as injectable drug carriers in mice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate stable complexation of drug in blood by sugar-branched-beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDs) such as glucose (glu)- or galactose (gal)-branched-beta-CDs and the pharmacokinetic disposition of drug in sugar-branched-beta-CD complex. Complexation of steroidal drugs in sugar-branched-beta-CDs and their replacement by cholesterol were measured. The complexes of dexamethasone/glucosyl-beta-CDs (dexamethasone/glu-beta-CD or dexamethasone/glu-glu-beta-CD) were not replaced by cholesterol, which is a representative endogenous compound, whereas the complex of dexamethasone/beta-CD was replaced by cholesterol. The same results were obtained in steroidal drugs such as hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, and prednisolone. Thus, the use of glu-beta-CD and glu-glu-beta-CD permitted the stable complexation of the drug in water. Stability constants of dexamethasone/glu-glu-beta-CD and dexamethasone/gal-glu-beta-CD complexes are the same, which means that the sugar moiety of the side chain in beta-CD has little effect on stability constants. After the dexamethasone/gal-glu-beta-CD complex or the dexamethasone/glu-glu-beta-CD complex (dexamethasone: 1 mg/body) was administered intravenously to mice, dexamethasone concentrations in liver tissue and blood were measured. The dexamethasone/gal-glu-beta-CD complex (66.1 +/- 1.7 micrograms as dexamethasone/gram of liver tissue) was distributed to liver tissue significantly more than the dexamethasone/glu-glu-beta-CD (beta-CD) complex (59.9 +/- 1.0 micrograms as dexamethasone/gram of liver) at 30 min after administration (p < .05). Sugar-branched-beta-CD gave a water-soluble and stable complex for dexamethasone and changed the disposition of dexamethasone. Sugar-branched-beta-CDs are potentially excellent carriers for a steroidal injectable formulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Persistently high Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) loads in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic active EBV infection.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) is a severe illness with unusual EBV activation that persists for years, and its pathogenesis is largely unknown. After the creation of an accurate and reproducible polymerase chain reaction system to quantify EBV DNA, virus loads in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were determined in 54 children: 15 with CAEBV, 16 with infectious mononucleosis (IM), and 23 healthy children. Children with CAEBV and those with IM had high virus loads. Lower loads were detected in 47% of seropositive healthy donors. There were two distinct differences between children with CAEBV and those with IM: The former had greater viral replication (10(3)-10(7) copies/2.5x10(5) PBL) than those with IM, and viral replication declined in children with IM whereas active replication persisted for years in subjects with CAEBV. Persisting high virus loads are a possible diagnostic criterion for CAEBV. EBV loads may enable classification and prognosis of EBV infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Changes in the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Kamitonda, Wakayama, Japan, 1965-1996.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate secular trends in the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Japan. METHODS: The incidence and prevalence of RA were determined in a longitudinal population based study in the Kamitonda district, Wakayama, Japan, from 1965 to 1996. RESULTS: In the study area consisting of about 3000 inhabitants, 16 incident cases, satisfying definite RA by the Rome criteria were detected during the study period. The age and sex adjusted incidence in both men and women combined and the age adjusted incidence in women significantly decreased (p<0.025 and p<0. 01, respectively). The age and sex adjusted prevalence in all inhabitants tended to decrease (p<0.1), and the age adjusted prevalence in women significantly declined (p<0.025). In men, however, neither incidence nor prevalence showed significant change. CONCLUSIONS: The decline of incidence and prevalence of female RA may be reducible to some environmental changes preferentially occurring more obviously in Japanese women than in men. Because the use of oral contraceptives has been extremely low in Japan, the decline should be explained by other factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A calcium antagonist protects against doxorubicin-induced impairment of calcium handling in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

The effects of doxorubicin (DOX) on intracellular calcium transients and the cardioprotective effects of a calcium antagonist on DOX-induced impairment of calcium handling were examined in neonatal rat cultured cardiac myocytes. Cultured cardiac myocytes isolated from neonatal Wistar-Kyoto rats were treated with DOX for 24 h. Field-stimulated calcium transients in single myocytes were measured in the presence or absence of isoproterenol using fura-2/AM. Calcium transients were also measured after the addition of DOX to myocytes pretreated with a calcium antagonist, benidipine. DOX reduced the amplitude, maximum velocity of increase and decrease of calcium transients and prolonged the time course of calcium transients and impaired the beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness of calcium transients in a concentration-dependent manner. The DOX-induced impairment of calcium transients and beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness was improved by 10(-8) mol/L of benidipine. However, these improvements decreased with increasing concentrations of benidipine. DOX impaired both the mobilization and removal of intracellular calcium ions in contraction-relaxation cycles and the response of calcium transients to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. Appropriate concentration of benidipine ameliorated DOX-induced impairment of calcium dynamics, suggesting that benidipine, a long-acting calcium antagonist, has potential clinical usefulness on DOX-induced abnormal calcium handling.

Animals↗