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Biomedical subjects

A Ono

Publications and source records attributed to A Ono.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Anti-inflammatory effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, ren-shen-yang-rong-tang (Japanese name: ninjin-youei-to), on alveolar macrophages stimulated by RANTES or TNF-alpha].

This study was performed to clarify the effect of RANTES or TNF-alpha on rabbit alveolar macrophages and the anti-inflammatory effect of NINJIN-YOUEI-TO on alveolar macrophages stimulated by RANTES or TNF-alpha. Phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages was dose-dependently stimulated by RANTES or TNF-alpha. However, phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages was completely suppressed to the basal level when alveolar macrophages were preincubated with NINJIN-YOUEI-TO at 37 degrees C for 20 min. These results suggest that NINJIN-YOUEI-TO has an anti-inflammatory effect on alveolar macrophages through a process still to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Circulating ICAM-1 levels in children with atopic dermatitis.

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels were measured in 48 patients with atopic dermatitis (mild in 29, moderate in 13, and severe in 6) and in 32 controls. Circulating ICAM-1 levels gradually increased with the severity of atopic dermatitis (216 +/- 68 in control, 323 +/- 66 in mild, 376 +/- 92 in moderate, and 555 +/- 93 ng/mL in severe atopic dermatitis, respectively). A significant correlation was observed between serum ICAM-1 and eosinophilic cationic protein levels in patients with atopic dermatitis (r = .71, P < .01). Although a significant positive correlation was observed between serum eosinophilic cationic protein levels and peripheral eosinophil counts (r = .63, P < .01), only a weak correlation was observed between serum ICAM-1 levels and peripheral eosinophil counts (r = .35, P < .05). Changes in serum ICAM-1 levels in ten patients treated with ketotifen for 3 months were also demonstrated. A close correlation was observed between serum ICAM-1 levels and the disease severity (r = .76, P < .01). From these results, we speculate that serum ICAM-1 level may reflect the extent of inflamed tissue in atopic dermatitis.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Circulating endothelin-1 levels in patients with bronchial asthma.

We attempted to clarify the relationship between circulating endothelin-1 levels and bronchial hyperreactivity in asthmatic patients. Sixty-two asthmatic patients were studied for plasma endothelin-1 levels during acute asthma. The relationship between plasma endothelin-1 levels and pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC) was examined in 17 patients. Twelve patients were studied for changes in plasma endothelin-1 levels during methacholine inhalation tests. Plasma endothelin-1 levels during acute asthma correlated with the severity of acute asthma defined with the Clinical Asthma Evaluation Score, and those during the methacholine challenge test correlated with the grade of bronchoconstriction (P < .01). A significant negative correlation was observed between plasma endothelin-1 levels and FEV1/FVC ratio (P < .01). These results suggest that circulating endothelin-1 levels may reflect the severity of acute asthma.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

[Foscarnet for cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

A 41-year-old man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Intravenous administration of ganciclovir arrested progression of the retinitis, but it was discontinued due to side effects of severe anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Reactivation of CMV retinitis occurred two weeks after stopping ganciclovir, and then forscarnet was given intravenously. The response was prompt with resolution of the retinitis. There was no progression of retinitis during the treatment. The patient experienced renal dysfunction as a side effect of foscarnet, but it was reversible. As with ganciclovir, foscarnet appeared to be an effective drug for CMV retinitis associated with AIDS. Both drugs have severe adverse events: foscarnet causes renal dysfunction and ganciclovir causes myelosuppression, that necessitated discontinuation of the therapy. We suggest that alternating ganciclovir and foscarnet administration, switching to other treatment on the basis of the clinical response and side effects of the drugs, is an efficacious regimen for the treatment of CMV retinitis associated with AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1994

[Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantification of Cry j I and Cry j II].

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were developed to specifically quantify the two major allergens from Japanese cedar pollen, Cry j I and Cry j II. Polystyrene microplates coated with antibodies specific for Cry j I or Cry j II were incubated with an allergen and then with biotinylated anti-Cry j I or Cry j II antibody. The bound allergen-biotin Ab complexes were detected with HRPO-conjugated streptavidin and an enzyme substrate. The working ranges of Cry j I ELISA and Cry j II ELISA were 0.3-20 ng/ml and 0.6-20 ng/ml, respectively. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for reproducibility were 1.5-10.3% and 0.9-12.9%. These ELISA systems showed no cross-reactivity between Cry j I and Cry j II and showed little cross-reactivity with pollen allergens of plants botanically related to the Japanese cedar. Using the Cry j I ELISA and the Cry j II ELISA, it was possible to quantify Cry j I and Cry j II easily and accurately. These ELISA systems will be useful in various fields, especially for the analysis and standardization of the allergens necessary for diagnosis and treatment of Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Allergens↗
PubMed1993

Spin-trapping detection of precursors of hydroxyl-radical-induced DNA damage: identification of precursor radicals of DNA strand breaks in oligo(dC)10 and oligo(dT)10.

A spin-trapping method combined with enzymatic digestion and high-performance liquid chromatography was employed to detect hydroxyl-radical-induced precursors of strand breaks in oligonucleotides ((dC)10 and (dT)10) as DNA models. Radicals produced as precursors of both strand breaks and base alterations were first trapped by the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane. The oligonucleotides containing spin adducts were subsequently digested by snake venom phosphodiesterase to release low-molecular-weight nitroxide fragments. In this way, several spin adducts were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. In both oligonucleotides, ESR spectra attributable to the spin adducts derived from trapping of a precursor radical of strand breaks (the C4'-sugar radical) were observed. To further confirm this assignment, the induction of strand breaks was examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 5'-32P-end-labeled oligonucleotides. Autoradiograms of the gels showed that the fragments corresponding to monomers to 9mers were formed in both oligonucleotides. When experiments were carried out under conditions in which hydroxyl radicals reacted with oligomers in the presence of the spin trap, the spin trap was found to suppress the fragmentation more than it did by scavenging hydroxyl radicals, indicating that the precursor radical of strand breaks (the C4' radical) was trapped. The present experiments showed that the spin-trapping method combined with gel electrophoresis was a good approach to identify sites of radical damage which cause strand breaks in oligonucleotides (probably in DNA).

DNA Damage↗
PubMed1993

Membrane transport of tetraphenylphosphonium and its homologues through the planar phospholipid bilayer: concentration dependence and mutually competitive inhibition in membrane passive transport.

The concentration dependence and mutually competitive inhibition in the membrane transport of the lipophilic cations tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) and its homologues were studied by use of a planar phospholipid bilayer. The current-voltage characteristics were analyzed by use of a model developed by Ketterer et al. (J. Membr. Biol. 1971, 5, 225-245). The conductance at 0 mV [G(0)], which represents the transport ability, increased with an increase in concentration, and the G(0) values revealed saturation at higher concentrations. The relationship between G(0) and concentration was well fitted to a Michealis-Menten-type equation with a saturable component (maximum conductance [G(0)max] and concentration yielding one-half of G(0)max[Km]). The G(0)max and Km values were calculated to be 4.1 x 10(-8)-242 x 10(-8) S/cm2 and 13-489 microM, respectively, depending on the lipophilic cations used. The G(0) values normalized by the corresponding G(0)max values were plotted against the concentrations normalized by the corresponding Km values. Normalized curves for TPP+ homologues were all superimposed on a single curve. The mechanism for the saturation of G(0) values may involve the adsorption of TPP+ homologues to a planar phospholipid bilayer, because the Km values calculated in the present study were comparable to those for adsorption to phosphatidylcholine liposomes. We further determined the mutual inhibition of membrane transport by these homologues. Tetraphenylmethylphosphonium at 1 mM, a concentration threefold higher than the Km value for this compound, reduced the G(0) for other TPP+ homologues by 38-55%, whereas reduction by 10 mM tetraethylammonium was minimal. The type of inhibition was classified as mutually competitive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diffusion↗
PubMed1993

Subjective symptoms and neurobehavioral performances of ex-mercury miners at an average of 18 years after the cessation of chronic exposure to mercury vapor. Mercury Workers Study Group.

In order to determine if there are any residual effects of long-term exposure to mercury vapor, neurobehavioral tests were given to ex-mercury miners about 18 years after the cessation of mercury exposure. Seventy-six male ex-mercury miners who had been exposed to relatively high concentrations of mercury vapor (over 1.0 mg/m3) and with a past history of mercury intoxication were compared to age (+/- 3 years)-, sex-, and years of education-matched controls. Although the extent of the workers' symptoms caused by mercury poisoning, termed erethismus merculialis, markedly decreased after the cessation of exposure, the prevalence of neurological symptoms (such as hand tremors, headaches, and slurred speech) and symptoms of senility (such as low-back pain, loss of sexual desire) in the ex-miners was significantly higher than those in the controls. Matched-pair analysis showed that performances of motor coordination, Simple reaction time, and Short-term memory in the ex-miners were significantly deteriorated compared to those of controls. There are slight but persistent effects on neurobehavioral function, especially on motor coordination function, among mercury miners more than 10 years after the cessation of exposure.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Calcium pump expression in human bone and soft tissue tumours.

Ninety-one cases of human bone and soft tissue tumours were studied for calcium pump expression by strepto-avidin-biotin immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody against sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (mAb6F5). Two out of 5 cases of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 out of 5 cases of biphasic synovial sarcoma, 4 of 4 cases of chordoma and all of 3 chondrosarcoma cases were positive for mAb6F5. Although this novel monoclonal antibody can be used as a marker of myogenic tumours, the present positive result for endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (calcium pump) in other tumours including chordoma, chondrosarcoma and synovial sarcoma indicates a wider immunoreactivity. The findings further suggest that intracellular calcium may play an important role in cell proliferation and/or differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Involvement of prostaglandins and renal haemodynamics in salt-sensitivity of young spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the involvement of prostaglandins and renal haemodynamics in the pathogenesis of salt-induced hypertension. DESIGN: Young (6-week-old) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a salt-sensitive hypertensive model, were used. METHODS: The effect of long-term (4-week) administration of cicletanine (50 mg/100 g in the diet), which stimulates prostaglandins synthesis, was examined concerning the development of hypertension in young SHR fed on 8% salt-containing diet. Whether the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (3.0 mg/kg per day for the last 4 days of the treatment) attenuates the hypertension was also studied. Renal haemodynamics were examined by clearance of inulin (glomerular filtration rate) and para-aminohippurate (renal plasma flow). RESULTS: Salt loading significantly accelerated the development of hypertension, and the salt-induced blood pressure rise was significantly attenuated by cicletanine, although cicletanine did not attenuate the spontaneous development of hypertension. The hypotensive effect of cicletanine was abolished by indomethacin. Glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow were not changed with these treatments. However, the changes in renal vascular resistance were parallel to those in mean blood pressure: it was increased with salt loading, reversed by cicletanine and increased by indomethacin. Salt loading decreased urinary prostaglandin E2, cicletanine reversed the effect of salt loading and indomethacin inhibited the effect of cicletanine. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that the abnormality in prostaglandin E2 contributes to the increased salt sensitivity in young SHR, probably through renal haemodynamic changes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A mild case of nesidioblastosis with diagnostic and therapeutic difficulty.

A female infant with nesidioblastosis who showed mild clinical symptoms is reported. In this patient, insulin levels and insulin to glucose ratios (IRI/G) were often normal. Regular milk feedings supplemented with continuous glucose infusion (0.7-2 mg/kg per min) or oral glucose feedings (4.5 mg/kg per min) prevented hypoglycemia. As leucine-sensitivity was diagnosed at 2 months of age, she was started on diazoxide. This was, however, ineffective, and adverse effects appeared. Subtotal pancreatectomy (95%) was therefore attempted at 5 months of age, and persistent normoglycemia as well as normal growth and development followed up to 3 years after the operation. The pancreas showed characteristic signs of nesidioblastosis. The above clinical observation suggests that a patient with nesidioblastosis whose blood glucose level is easily controllable may develop an unexpected episode of hypoglycemia in the presence of a leucine sensitivity. In such a patient, diazoxide or, when it is of no avail, surgical intervention should promptly be instituted to prevent possible neurologic sequelae induced by hypoglycemia.

Combined Modality Therapy↗