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Biomedical subjects

A Sano

Publications and source records attributed to A Sano.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[CT of hypersensitivity pneumonitis].

High resolution computed tomography (CT) was applied to seven patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis clinically confirmed. The CT findings include; (1) granular pattern with acino-centric distribution, (2) increase in density of haziness in the lung fields, (3) multiform high density areas, and (4) "subpleural curvilinear shadow" localized posteriorly. Of these findings, which severally varied degree during clinical course, the haziness showed the most remarkable fluctuation. It was especially of interest that the relapsed haziness distributed quite in the same regions. High resolution CT may be an effective adjuvant tool for hypersensitivity pneumonitis when applied to the opportune evaluation through the clinical course.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Sphingolipid hydrolase activator proteins and their precursors.

Activator proteins for sphingolipid hydrolases (saposins) are small acidic, heat-stable glycoproteins that stimulate the hydrolysis of sphingolipids by lysosomal enzymes. The molecular mass of each stimulator is about 10 kDa, but glycosylated forms of higher mass exist too. The distribution and developmental changes in two saposins and their precursor proteins were studied with the aid of monospecific antibodies against saposin-B and saposin-C. They show a wide distribution in rat organs and forms intermediate between saposin and prosaposin (the precursor protein containing four different saposin units) could be seen. The amount of saposin and the degree of processing from prosaposin are quite different in different tissues. The saposins are the dominant forms in spleen, lung, liver, and kidney, while skeletal muscle, heart, and brain contain mainly precursor forms. In human blood, leukocytes contain mainly saposin, while plasma contains mainly precursor forms and platelets show many forms. Their subcellular distribution was studied using rat liver. The saposins of approximately 20 kDa are dominant in the light mitochondrial, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions, following the distribution of the activity of a lysosomal marker enzyme. The nuclear fraction exhibits bands corresponding to non-glycosylated saposin. The soluble fraction contained much precursor forms. A developmental study of rat brain showed that the concentration of saposin precursors increased with age.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Heat-stable protein that stimulates acid alpha-glucosidase.

A hot-water extract of bovine spleen and guinea pig liver exhibited the ability to enhance acid alpha-glucosidase activity, with methylumbelliferyl alpha-glucoside, glycogen or maltose as substrate. The level of activator required for maximal stabilization was similar for all three substrates, indicating direct action on the enzyme rather than on substrate. The stimulator was partially purified by chromatography with gel-permeation (apparent Mr 20,000-24,000), ion-exchange and C4 reverse-phase columns. It was retained by a narrow-pore dialysis tubing and destroyed by treatment with Pronase, and is presumably a protein. The stimulating protein protected the enzyme against denaturation by heat or incubation with a buffer of high ionic strength in the absence of substrate. RNA inhibited the enzyme, and the activator protein was able to counteract the effect. Activating material was found in a variety of mouse and rat tissues, as well as human urine.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

High performance liquid chromatography determination of cyanide in urine by pre-column fluorescence derivatization.

A method for the determination of cyanide in human urine has been developed. The method is based on the reaction of cyanide with 2,3-naphthalenedialdehyde and taurine to give a fluorescent product for reversed-phase HPLC separation and fluorometric detection. After centrifugation followed by dilution of urine samples, the specimens could be analysed directly by this method. The recovery of cyanide added to urine at concentration levels of 50-1000 pmol/mL was 85-96%. The detection limit of cyanide was 30 pmol/mL in urine. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of urine from smokers and nonsmokers. The mean concentrations of cyanide were found to be 215 pmol/mL for the former and 84 pmol/mL for the latter.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1989

Water, fixed charge density, protein contents, and lysine incorporation into protein in chymopapain-digested intervertebral disc of rabbit.

Chymopapain (Discase) was injected at a dose of 0.125 nanokatal unit into the intervertebral discs of rabbits, and sequential changes in the metabolism of water, proteoglycan, collagen, and noncollagenous protein were investigated separately in the nucleus pulposus, anterior, and posterior anulus fibrosus. One week after chymopapain injection, the water and proteoglycan content was lower in all of the fractionated tissues of the anterior and posterior anulus and nucleus pulposus of the discs than in the control discs. In the anterior and posterior anulus, the proteoglycan content recovered after 12 weeks, but there was no recovery in the nucleus pulposus. The collagen content continued to increase up to the 12th week in the nucleus pulposus, while the noncollagenous protein content decreased in all tissue fractions after 1 week. In the anterior and posterior anulus, the content of noncollagenous protein recovered after 3 to 6 weeks, but there was no recovery in the nucleus pulposus. The lysine incorporation in collagen and noncollagenous protein was inhibited in all tissue fractions after 12 weeks, suggesting a decrease in synthetic activity. The intradiscal pressure calculated from proteoglycan hydration at 1 to 6 weeks after chymopapain injection showed a marked decrease to 0.8 to 0.9 atm, but it recovered to 1.6 atm after 12 weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Fluorometric assay of nicotinamide methyltransferase with a new substrate, 4-methylnicotinamide.

A fluorometric method for the assay of nicotinamide methyltransferase has been established using rat liver 9000 x g supernatant fluid as a model enzyme preparation. 1,4-Dimethylnicotinamide formed enzymatically from a new substrate, 4-methylnicotinamide, is quantified by means of its fluorescence reaction with 4-methoxybenzaldehyde in aqueous alkali. The lower limit of determination of 1,4-dimethylnicotinamide is 100 pmol in the enzymatic reaction mixture. The apparent Km values for 4-methylnicotinamide and for nicotinamide, which is a known substrate for this enzyme, were 0.19 and 0.13 mM, respectively, whereas the relative activity of 4-methylnicotinamide as a methyl acceptor was about 1.5 times the value of nicotinamide.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Interventional DSA in lung cancer--bronchial artery infusion].

Bronchial artery infusion (BAI) has been looked to as an important adjunct for controlling lung cancer. However, there are some anatomic facts to meet in performing angiography: multiplicity of the bronchial artery with wide variation of ramification pattern. To deal with these problems, since 1984, we have been working with DSA apparatus (Siemens: ANGIOTRON) for intervention in 162 cases of lung cancer. Because of higher contrast resolution, subtracted dynamic image and realtime replay on CRT, DSA allows (1) bronchial artery mapping on aortography, (2) prompt verification of the areas to be or not to be infused by anticancer drugs, and (3) tumor stain not only in the primary lesion but also metastasized lymph nodes or mediastinal invasion. DSA aortography evaluated the right-sided bronchial artery more frequently (90.1%) than the left-sided (46.3%). Tumor location made feeding vessels more remarkable on DSA: 96.0% in the right and 68.9% in the left. The overall accuracy of BAI basically depends on the result of DSA measuring 91.9% (149 of 162 cases). The effect of BAI combined with radiation therapy, for each histologic category, preliminarily estimated in two groups: one with two drugs and another with CDDP. Small cell carcinoma with "two drugs" and squamous cell carcinoma with CDDP seem to show statistical predominance in the period of 50% tumor size reduction.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[DS-bronchial arteriography; demonstration of metastasized lymphnodes of lung cancer--with special reference to the primary effect in BAI].

We analysed the 44 DS-Bronchial arteriograms (DSBAG) of lung cancer with an attention to the demonstration of metastasized mediastinal lymphnodes. The stain of lymphnode is well demonstrated in the pericarinal region, such as station #7, #R4 along the course of bronchial arteries. The swollen nodes with stains on DSBAG show the good reduction rates (37.5%) after BAI that is analogous to the primary lesion (38.9%), in contrast to the nodes without stains (24.5%). DSBAG with excellent contrast resolution contributes to the BAI as verifying the infused area.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[High resolution computed tomography of diffuse interstitial pneumonia during treatment].

HRCT was carried out in twenty patients with diffuse interstitial pneumonia: 13 cases of IIP, 3 of BOOP, 2 of drug-induced pneumonia, 1 of rheumatoid lung and acute interstitial pneumonia of unknown origin. With special attention to inflammatory activity, the patients underwent HRCT periodically during the treatment. Correlative investigation between HRCT image and grade of accumulation in 67Ga scintigraphy was also performed. Response to steroid therapy was clearly reflected on HRCT image, that was shown as decreasing pulmonary density or thinning of honeycomb wall. HRCT is considered to be useful in assessing the activity of diffuse interstitial pneumonia.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The activator protein for glucosylceramide beta-glucosidase from guinea pig liver. Improved isolation method and complete amino acid sequence.

beta-Glucosidase activator (SAP-2) is a family of heat-stable, acidic glycoproteins which stimulate enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosylceramide. In this study, we improved the purification method and found that SAP-2 is highly heterogeneous. A hot water extract of frozen guinea pig liver was fractionated by ammonium sulfate sedimentation, then chromatographed with DEAE-Sephacel, Sephadex G-75, and concanavalin A-Sepharose. A fraction binding to concanavalin A-Sepharose was purified further with a C4 high performance liquid chromatography reverse phase column. This yielded several peaks, the main one of which was studied. The specific activity of the purified SAP-2 was 35 units/micrograms (1 unit produces 50% stimulation of a basal glucosidase preparation). N-terminal amino acid sequencing showed that this preparation is a mixture of polypeptides differing in the presence or absence of one or two of the end amino acids. The complete amino acid sequence of the 81 residues in SAP-2 has been determined. Comparison of the sequence of guinea pig SAP-2 with the sequence of human sphingomyelinase activator revealed 58% homology and quite similar hydropathy profiles. Both proteins possess a highly hydrophilic region around Asn-22, which is glycosylated, and 6 cysteine residues, in oxidized form, located in the same positions. Comparison with the published nucleotide sequence for the precursor form of the human activator protein for sulfatide sulfatase (SAP-1) suggested that this activator also has a possibly glycosylated Asn and 6 Cys residues at similar positions, although the remainder of the molecule is somewhat different. Examination of another region of the precursor's nucleotide sequence, assuming a few changes in the identifications, revealed the presence of the sphingomyelinase activator. It appears that two or more activators are derived from a single precursor protein. Marked homologies were seen also with a lung surfactant protein and a sulfated glycoprotein from Sertoli cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

High-performance liquid chromatography of the anti-tumour agent triethylenethiophosphoramide and its metabolite triethylenephosphoramide with sodium sulphide, taurine and o-phthalaldehyde as pre-column fluorescent derivatization reagents.

The method described is based on the reaction of triethylenethiophosphoramide (ThioTEPA) and triethylenephosphoramide (TEPA), through their ethyleneimine groups, with sodium sulphide, taurine and o-phthalaldehyde to give fluorescent products, and separation of the derivatives by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ThioTEPA and TEPA in rabbit plasma samples after clean-up with an Extrelut 3 column. The recoveries of ThioTEPA and TEPA from plasma were 66.1-80.3% and the limits of determination in plasma were ca. 10 and 20 ng/ml, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The carbohydrate moiety of the activator protein for glucosylceramide beta-glucosidase.

SAP-2 is a family of heat-stable, acidic glycoproteins which stimulate enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosylceramide. We studied the carbohydrate moieties of a ConA-binding form of SAP-2. The protein contained glucosamine, galactose, mannose, and fucose; galactosamine and sialic acid were not detectable. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining showed three bands of 6.5, 8.5, and 10 kDa. After deglycosylation with peptide N-glycosidase, SAP-2 eluted more slowly from the C4 column and showed a single band of 4 kDa. From carbohydrate analysis it was evident that deglycosylation had removed more than 90% of the sugars. These data indicate that SAP-2 possesses N-linked complex or hybrid type oligosaccharide chains. The specific activity of the deglycosylated protein in the glucosidase stimulation assay was unaffected.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

The inhibition of glucosylceramide beta-glucosidase and other acid hydrolases by nucleic acids.

During the isolation of the activator protein for glucosylceramide beta-glucosidase, we found that certain column fractions contained an inhibitor of the enzyme. After separation from the activator protein by a DEAE-Sephacel column, the inhibitor was purified further with a Spehadex G-75 column. The u.v. absorption spectrum of the purified material was similar to that of nucleic acids and the protein content of the purified material was negligible. Furthermore the purified inhibitor reacted with orcinol but not with diphenylamine, and its inhibitory activity was completely destroyed by treatment with RNAases. It seems likely that the purified inhibitor was tRNA. Authentic RNA, tRNA and DNA had similar inhibitory effects on beta-glucosidase (Ki 17 micrograms/ml for tRNA, noncompetitive toward the substrate). The inhibitory effect of nucleic acids was not fully overcome by an excess amount of the activator protein, but phosphatidylserine could restore the activity to normal. Tests with several other hydrolases revealed that the inhibitory effect of nucleic acids was fairly general.

DNA↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of rabbit intervertebral disc physiology based on water metabolism. I. Factors influencing metabolism of the normal intervertebral discs.

Basic factors influencing the metabolism of intervertebral discs of rabbits were quantitatively analyzed based on the water metabolism. The blood flow surrounding the intervertebral disc was calculated using pharmacokinetic concepts from the data obtained by time-related tritiated water distribution analyses. The blood flow was estimated as 0.056 (mg/min/mg tissue) in the anterior annulus, 0.106 in the posterior annulus, 0.120 in the lateral annulus, and 0.084 in the nucleus pulposus, respectively (Experiment 1). Water content and fixed charge density in the intervertebral disc fractions also were measured (Experiment 2). The cations and uncharged small solutes transported into the disc tissue ranged in descending order from nucleus pulposus, lateral annulus, posterior annulus, to anterior annulus. The authors also calculated theoretically the swelling pressure of the proteoglycan in the intervertebral disc fractions from the results of Experiment 2. It was concluded that swelling pressure was highest in the nucleus pulposus, and lowest in the anterior annulus. The water in the posterior annulus is less exchangeable than in the other disc tissue fractions.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of rabbit intervertebral disc physiology based on water metabolism. II. Changes in normal intervertebral discs under axial vibratory load.

Metabolic changes induced by axial vibratory load to the spine were investigated based on water metabolism in normal intervertebral discs of rabbits with or without pentobarbital anesthesia. Tritiated water concentration in the intervertebral discs of unanesthetized rabbits was reduced remarkably by axial vibration for 30 minutes using the vibration machine developed for this study. Repeated vibratory load for 18 and 42 hours duration showed the recovery of 3H2O concentration of the intervertebral disc without anesthesia. Computer simulation suggested a reduction of blood flow surrounding the intervertebral disc following the vibration stress. However, no reduction of the 3H2O concentration in the intervertebral disc was noted under anesthesia. Emotional stress cannot be excluded as a factor in water metabolism in the intervertebral disc.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography for children with idiopathic renal bleeding: a diagnosis of nutcracker phenomenon.

Among children with asymptomatic hematuria, 28 cases of nonglomerular idiopathic renal bleeding were subjected to this series of study. Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and/or renal venography were performed to investigate the hematuria of unknown etiology. DSA clearly demonstrated the entrapment of the left renal vein (LRV), or nutcracker phenomenon in the majority of our patients (22 out of 28 cases): obstruction of the LRV with well-developed collaterals were found in 8 cases, and in the remaining 14 cases, various degrees of LRV compression were demonstrated. A characteristic real-time DSA image was the congestion of LRV associated with collaterals and/or intermittent venous flow at the compressed segment of LRV. The pullback pressures from LRV to the inferior vena cava (IVC) that were obtained from 5 of these patients demonstrated gradients of 2 mmHg (3 cases), 3 mmHg (1 case), and 5 mmHg (1 case), respectively. The parallel application of ultrasonography has given positive signs for LRV entrapment, although they have not necessarily coincided with the existing criteria of nutcracker phenomenon. Considering the high incidence of LRV entrapment among children with nonglomerular hematuria, most nutcracker phenomenon should be diagnosed on ultrasonography. However, intra-arterial DSA is an important tool to establish the disease entity and ultrasonic criteria.

Angiography↗
PubMed1988

[Two cases of acute idiopathic subdural hematoma with delayed intracranial hypertension].

Two cases of acute idiopathic subdural hematoma with delayed intracranial hypertension were presented. The first case was a 68-year-old man admitted for vomiting following headache for eight days. There was no history of head trauma. A CT scan revealed a high-density mass that had a concave inner margin in the left temporo-parietal region with a slight midline shift. No vascular lesion was noted on the angiogram. The consciousness of the patient deteriorated suddenly on the 12th day. An operation was performed because of a marked midline shift on the CT. At operation, a subdural clot was removed. The postoperative recovery was good. The patient was discharged 7 days later without any neurological deficit. The second case was a 69-year-old man who was admitted with sudden onset of headache. There was no history of head trauma. A CT scan showed a high density mass in the right temporoparietal subdural space with a slight midline shift. The consciousness of the patient deteriorated suddenly on the 15th day. An operation was performed because of a marked midline shift on the CT. At operation, a subdural hematoma was removed. Two days later, suddenly his consciousness deteriorated. A CT scan showed his severe brain edema with a marked midline shift without increased hematoma. External decompression was performed immediately. The postoperative recovery was very good and 40 days after the second operation, the patient was discharged with no neurological deficit. The delayed intracranial hypertension appeared in these two cases about 10 days after the initial symptom. Two kinds of mechanisms are suspected: 1) swelling of the hematoma because of the adsorption of cerebrospinal fluid, 2) the occurrence of secondary brain edema. From our experience, a repeated CT scan is necessary for 2 to 3 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗