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Biomedical subjects

A Yoshida

Publications and source records attributed to A Yoshida.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

The effect of enalapril on proteinuria in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and renal insufficiency.

We evaluated the effect of enalapril on proteinuria in 20 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and renal insufficiency. Patients were accepted into the study according to the following criteria: 1) a serum creatinine (s-Cr) level over 1.5 mg/dl or a creatinine clearance (Ccr) under 70 ml/min; and 2) urinary protein (UP) over 1.0 g/day, expect for the cases with uncontrollable hypertension. We measured total protein (TP), albumin, s-Cr, Ccr, UP, and Ht during the elanapril therapy. After enalapril therapy, UP slowly decreased, and TP and albumin levels increased. The levels of s-Cr and Ccr did not vary. None of the patients required discontinuation of enalapril therapy caused by side effects, such as anemia or hyperkalemia. In conclusion, enalapril has the effect of decreasing in proteinuria and increasing TP and albumin in patients with CGN and renal insufficiency irrespective of the original diseases.

Adolescent↗

[Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on S-1108 in children].

Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on S-1108 were performed in children. The results were as follows: 1. A total of 11 patients were treated with S-1108. Each dose was 3 mg/kg, orally administered 3 times daily for 4-14 days. The clinical efficacies of S-1108 in 10 patients with bacterial infections (1 with bacteremia, 4 with pneumonia, 1 with acute maxillary sinusitis, 1 with scarlet fever and 2 with streptococcal pharyngitis) were evaluated as excellent in 8 patients and as good in 2 patients with an efficacy rate of 100%. Only one patient with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) who received gamma-globulin was not evaluated. Fourteen causative strains of 5 species were found in 10 patients. Three strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae out of 5, 2 of 3 Branhamella catarrhalis strains, none of Staphylococcus aureus and all 3 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were eradicated. No adverse reaction was observed in any of the 11 patients. 2. MICs of S-1108 against 5 clinically isolated S. pneumoniae from cases of infections were examined. All of them were relatively highly resistant to penicillins. S-1108 was compared with cefteram pivoxil, cefpodoxime proxetil, cefaclor and cefixime, and it showed better antibacterial activity or than other cephems. 3. Double peaks were obtained in plasma levels of S-1108 orally administered at a dose of 3 mg/kg at 30 minutes after meal and were 1.03 microgram/ml and 0.74 microgram/ml at 1 and 4 hours after administration, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacterial Infections↗

[A retrospective cohort study on long-term health effects of shift work].

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine the long-term effects of shift work including night work upon sick leave utilization. The cohort consisted of all blue-collar workers aged 16 to 28 years, who entered a steel production plant between 1967 and 1970, who were then divided into a shift worker group (790 persons) and a day worker group (309 persons) according to their initial baseline work pattern. A 20 year follow-up study of the health administration files of the two groups was performed in November 1991. The main results were as follows: 1. Reasons for and time trends for retirements in the shift worker group were very similar to those in the day worker group. 2. With respect to illnesses needing hospitalization or medically certified absence lasting more than one month, the cumulative incidence rates during a 5-year period and a 10-year period in the shift worker group were 17% and 28% respectively, and 16% and 28% in the day worker group. No significant effect of shift work upon occurrence of illnesses could be found after controlling for factors at entrance and history of engagement in hazardous work although there were differences between the two groups. 3. No significant differences in incidence rates of any diagnostic categories were detected between the groups. 4. Among the workers still employed in 1990, we found no differences in prevalence rates of any diagnostic categories between the groups. These results lead to the conclusion that shift work appears to have no severe adverse effects upon morbidity when there is a high level of health and labor administration.

Absenteeism↗

Effect of the rice bran-derived phytosterol cycloartenol ferulic acid ester on the central nervous system.

In order to investigate the effect of cycloartenol ferulic acid ester (CFE, CAS 21238-33-5), a component of gamma-oryzanol which is a phytosterol derived from rice bran, on the central nervous system, a variety of pharmacological tests were performed. It was shown that CFE had a suppressant effect on the central nervous system, but its properties were different from those of existing major and minor tranquilizers. In addition, its efficacy in several models of cerebral dysfunction was demonstrated. Since any clear effects could not be obtained under the treatments with gamma-oryzanol, CFE seems to be more useful than gamma-oryzanol. Thus the results of this study suggest that CFE may serve as a new plant-derived cerebral activator possessing a wide range of pharmacological actions.

Amnesia↗

[Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on cefditoren pivoxil in children].

Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on cefditoren pivoxil (CDTR-PI, ME 1207) were performed in children. The results were as follows: 1. A total of 18 patients (19 infections) were treated with CDTR-PI. The doses ranged 2.1-3.2 mg/kg, and it was orally administered 3 times daily, for 4-10 days. Clinical efficacies of CDTR-PI in 18 patients with 19 bacterial infections (3 with tonsillitis, 1 with bronchitis, 7 with pneumonia, 1 with acute maxillary sinusitis, 4 with otitis media, 1 with urinary tract infection, 2 with skin and soft tissue infection) were evaluated as excellent in 13 infections and as good in 6 infections with an efficacy rate of 100%. Twelve causative strains of 5 species were found in 11 patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae in 2 cases out of 3, Haemophilus influenzae in 4/4, Staphylococcus aureus in 2/2, Haemophilus parainfluenzae in 2/2 and Escherichia coli in 1/1 were eradicated. Two patients had mild diarrhea but did not need specific treatment. Severe adverse reaction was not observed in any of the 18 patients. 2. MICs of CDTR were examined against 4 clinically isolated S. pneumoniae strains. Two strains of S. pneumoniae were relatively resistant to penicillins. 3. Pharmacokinetic studies Peak serum CDTR concentrations in 3 patients were 2.38 micrograms/ml, 0.72 micrograms/ml and 2.25 micrograms/ml at a dose of CDTR-PI 3 mg/kg orally administered at 30-minute after meal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

Monomeric IgG2 enhances Ig production and proliferation in human B cells.

The effect of purified polyclonal human IgG subclasses on B-cell responses was studied using the human IgA-producing B-cell line GM-1056. IgG2 at concentrations of 0.01-1 microgram/mL enhanced both IgA production and proliferation, while IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 each failed to do so at tested concentrations between 0.001 and 10 micrograms/mL. This enhancement was Fc gamma R mediated, since IgG2 Fc fragments enhanced IgA production and proliferation to the same extent as did the whole IgG2 molecule, whereas F(ab')2 fragments did not. However, in contrast to monomeric IgG2, aggregated IgG2, which was expected to bind Fc gamma RII on B cells, affected neither IgA production nor proliferation. Similarly, anti-CDw32 mAb (2E1, anti-Fc gamma RII), anti-CD 64 mAb (32.2 anti-Fc gamma RI), and anti-CD16 mAb (Leu 11a, anti-Fc gamma RIII) mAb each failed to stimulate GM-1056 cells, and more importantly did not block IgG2-induced stimulation. Of various cytokines tested, including IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6, IL-6 alone augmented IgG2-induced enhancement of IgA production and proliferation. Moreover, the IL-6 effect was lost following preabsorption with anti-IL-6 antibody but not following preabsorption with control antibody. IgG2 also enhanced Ig production and proliferation in tonsillar large activated B cells, while IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 each failed to do so. In contrast, IgG2 had no effect on Ig production and proliferation in tonsillar small resting B cells or SAC-stimulated small B cells. IgG2-induced enhancement of Ig production and proliferation in large B cells was not blocked by 2E1, 32.2, or Leu 11a, while enhancement was augmented in a specific fashion by IL-6. These results indicate that monomeric IgG2 specifically enhances B cell responses via an Fc gamma R receptor distinct from Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RII, and Fc gamma RIII, and that IL-6 may play a role in augmenting this response.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in rabbit Müller cells after lensectomy-vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To assess retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy, the authors analyzed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which retinal glial cells express in several pathologic conditions. METHODS: GFAP expression was examined by means of immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in rabbit retina after lensectomy-vitrectomy. RESULTS: Müller cells had detectable GFAP immunoreactivity in peripheral retina 3 days after surgery. GFAP immunoreactivity was present in both peripheral and posterior regions 7 days, 14 days, and 6 months after surgery. The authors confirmed that anti-GFAP antibody recognized the 51 kDa protein specifically by Western blot analysis. Time-dependent increase of GFAP in peripheral retina was also obtained by ELISA: CONCLUSIONS: Such progressive GFAP accumulation in Müller cells, which are sensitive to microenvironmental changes, may reflect some underlying retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy.

Animals↗

[Studies on tissue concentration of tegafur, 5-fluorouracil, uracil after UFT administration together with the study of microangiography of colorectal cancer].

In order to elucidate the effect of tumor vascularity on a various regimens concentration in tumor tissue, correlation among tegafur, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), uracil concentrations in tissue and the microangiography were examined in 27 patients with colorectal cancer after preoperative administration of UFT (400 mg/day for 7 days). The concentrations of tegafur, 5-FU and uracil in tumor were higher than those in normal tissue (p < 0.01). There was no definite correlation between tissue concentration in each regimen and the extra or intramural vascular changes. A significant high concentration of 5-FU was found in the protuberant cancer and the ulcerative cancer with horizontal growth than that in the ulcerative cancer with vertical growth (p < 0.05). The present study indicates that the vascular changes within a tumor and the vascular pattern of tumor may be a contributing factor affecting the tissue concentration in the regimens.

Aged↗

[Measurement of the radius of corneal curvature with the Maloney surgical keratometer and an on-line keratometer imagery processing system].

A system for measuring the radius of the corneal curvature using the Maloney surgical keratometer (Keratoring), designed for prescribing contact lenses in cases in which it is not possible to measure the radius of the corneal curvature by conventional methods, was tested, and its precision and practicality were evaluated. The subjects were 67 eyes in 34 healthy adults and steel globes for photokeratometer calibration with radii of curvature of 6.73 mm, 7.91 mm and 9.07 mm. The Placido ring projected by the Keratoring was first transmitted to video image processing board via a video unit, and the image was analyzed using a program developed by the authors. Measurements of the globes were possible within a range of error of +/- 0.05 mm, enabling extremely precise analysis. Furthermore, when the average radius of the corneal curvature of human corneas was measured, deviation from the ophthalmometer reading was within 0.2 mm in 87% of cases. When minor meridians were compared, it was found to be possible to measure to within 0.3 mm in 90% of cases. It therefore appears appropriate to apply this method as an index for prescribing contact lenses, especially in cases where conventional methods cannot be performed.

Adult↗

[The growth activity and DNA ploidy in anaplastic carcinoma transplanted to nude mice].

Recently, nuclear DNA contents of various human tumors were studied, and DNA aneuploidy was thought to have prognostic significance in many kinds of malignant tumors. Although the same significance was reported in thyroid carcinoma, the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma which is one of the most aggressive tumor in human malignant neoplasms, not always shows DNA aneuploidy. Therefore, using 3 xenografts established from 3 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinomas, we investigated their growth activity, DNA ploidy and chromosome abnormalities. Two of these xenografts grew relatively fast in nude mice showing diploid or near diploid state in a flow cytometric study, and also, showed many structural abnormalities in chromosome analysis by the G-banding technique. The remaining one xenograft showed slower growth and aneuploidy, and had extensive numerical but less structural variability in its chromosomal constitution. These results indicate that some tumors showed DNA diploidy and have structural chromosome abnormalities and also suggest that the prognostic value of quantitative DNA measurement is limited in such tumors.

Aneuploidy↗

HPC-1 is associated with synaptotagmin and omega-conotoxin receptor.

Monoclonal antibodies were produced that recognize a membrane protein of 35,000 Da (p35) expressed in brain and adrenal medulla. They immunoprecipitated 50% of omega-conotoxin (omega-CgTX) receptor, a putative N-type calcium channel, solubilized from rat brain. Anti-synaptotagmin (p65) antibodies also immunoprecipitate omega-CgTX receptor (Leveque, C., Hoshino, T., David, P., Shoji-Kasai, Y., Leys, K., Omori, A., Lang, B., El Far, O., Sato, K., Martin-Moutot, N., Newsom-Davis, J., Takahashi, M., and Seagar, M.J. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 89, 3625-3629); however, immunoprecipitation by anti-p35 antibodies and anti-synaptotagmin antibodies was not additive. Furthermore, both p35 and synaptotagmin were recovered in the immunoprecipitates with anti-synaptotagmin and anti-p35 antibodies, respectively, indicating that a population of omega-CgTX receptor exists as a ternary complex with synaptotagmin and p35. A cDNA coding p35 was isolated from a rat brain cDNA library by immuno-screening, and the primary structure of the protein was revealed to be identical to that of HPC-1 (Inoue, A., Obata, K., and Akagawa, K. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 10613-10619). HPC-1 has a putative transmembrane segment at the C terminus and four heptad motifs, which may be involved in protein-protein interaction. These results suggest that HPC-1 may play a role in neurotransmitter release from nerve terminals by associating with omega-CgTX-sensitive N-type calcium channel and synaptotagmin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural differences between heparan sulphates of proteoglycan involved in the formation of basement membranes in vivo by Lewis-lung-carcinoma-derived cloned cells with different metastatic potentials.

This study addresses the characterization of heparan sulphates of the basement-membrane proteoglycans in tumour formed after the subcutaneous implantation of Lewis-lung-carcinoma-derived different metastatic clones (P29, LM12-3 and LM60-D6 clones with low, medium and high metastatic potentials respectively). Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (125-158 micrograms of hexuronate/g dry weight of tissue) were isolated from chondroitin ABC lyase digests of a proteoglycan fraction obtained after DEAE-Sephacel chromatography of tissue extracts. The proteoglycans were separated into three molecular species by Sepharose CL-4B chromatography followed by CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation: large proteoglycans with an estimated M(r) of 820,000-130,000, which consisted of two components with low (< 1.34 g/ml; PGII-M) and high (> 1.37 g/ml; PGII-B) density, and a small proteoglycan with an M(r) of less than 80,000 (PGIII). Of these, only the PGII-M proteoglycan (34-37 micrograms of hexuronate/g dry weight) reacted with the antiserum against proteoglycan of Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm-tumour basement membrane, and represented, therefore, a basement-membrane proteoglycan. Digestion with heparan sulphate lyases I and II of the heparan sulphates (M(r) 36,000) from the PGII-M proteoglycan of the three tumours resulted in almost complete depolymerization to give six unsaturated disaccharides identified as 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluron ic acid)-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluron ic acid)-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyrano syluronic acid)-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyrano syluronic acid)-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-2-O-sulpho-alpha-L-threo-hex-4- enopyranosyluronic acid)-D-glucose and 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-2-O-sulpho-alpha-L-threo-hex-4- enopyranosyluronic acid)-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose. Comparison of the relative amounts of these disaccharides produced from the three tumour-derived heparan sulphates demonstrated that the degree of sulphation of the heparan sulphates correlated with the degree of morphological organization of the tumour basement membranes; the heparan sulphate from the more highly metastatic tumour with more highly organized basement membrane exhibited a higher degree of overall sulphation along the glycosaminoglycan chains, which was due to an increased content of the three repeating disaccharides having 6-O-sulphated glucosamine residues.

Animals↗

Differential effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, and substance P on human IgE and IgG subclass production.

We studied the effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), and substance P (SP) on IL-4-stimulated human IgE and IgG subclass production. VIP and SOM, but not SP, inhibited IgE production without affecting IgM or IgA production by mononuclear cells (MNC) from nonatopic donors from 10 pM to 10 nM. These neuropeptides also differentially modulated IgG subclass production. While IgG1 production was not affected by VIP, SOM, or SP, all of the neuropeptides enhanced IgG2 production. By contrast, SOM and SP, but not VIP, inhibited IgG3 production, whereas VIP and SP, but not SOM, enhanced IgG4 production. The effect by neuropeptides was specific since each peptide effect was specifically blocked by each antagonist. To achieve this effect, neuropeptides must be added at the start of the culture and be present throughout the entire culture period. The inhibition of IgE production was not mediated by known inhibitors of IgE production, IFN-gamma or PGE2, because the addition of anti-IFN-gamma mAb (10 micrograms/ml) or indomethacin (0.1 microM) did not overcome the inhibition of IgE production. In contrast to MNC, neuropeptides did not affect IgG subclass production in purified B cells. IgE production was not induced by IL-4 in purified B cells. Neuropeptides also failed to modulate IgG subclass production in cultures of B cells with either T cells or monocytes. However, they modulated IgE production and IgG subclass production in B cells in the presence of T cells and monocytes. In purified B cells, IL-4 plus anti-CD40 mAb induced IgE production which was not inhibited by VIP or SOM. However, VIP or SOM, but not SP, inhibited IgE production in B cells cultured with both T cells and monocytes. Finally, the mechanism of modulation of IgE and IgG4 production was dependent on IL-4-induced switching, since neuropeptides modulated IgG4 and IgE production in surface IgG4-negative (sIgG4-) and sIgE- B cells, respectively. In contrast, modulation of IgG2 and IgG3 production was not due to switching, since neuropeptides did not affect either IgG2 or IgG3 production in sIgG2- or sIgG3- B cells, respectively.

Cells, Cultured↗

The afferent and efferent connections of the nucleus submedius in the rat.

The afferent and efferent connections of the nucleus submedius (Sm) in the medial thalamus of the rat were examined. Injections of wheat-germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the Sm resulted in dense terminal labeling in the middle layers of the ipsilateral ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO). Less dense labeling was also observed in the superficial and deep layers of VLO and in the medial part of the lateral orbital cortex (LO) and in the contralateral VLO. Retrogradely labeled neurons were observed primarily in the deep layers of VLO and the dorsal peduncular cortex (DP). Labeled neurons were also observed bilaterally, in the nucleus of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band, the lateral hypothalamus, the thalamic reticular nucleus (Rt), medial parabrachial nucleus (MPB), and the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT). Many labeled neurons were also observed in the trigeminal brain-stem complex. Injections of Fluoro-Gold (FG) into Sm resulted in a very similar distribution of retrogradely labeled neurons. Injections of WGA-HRP and FG in the orbital cortex confirmed the ipsilateral Sm projection to VLO and suggested that the middle and deep layers of VLO receive a specific ipsilateral projection from the dorsal Sm and that the superficial layers receive a projection primarily from the ventral Sm. Injections of WGA-HRP into the lateral hypothalamus, LDT, and MPB confirmed the retrograde labeling findings; the lateral hypothalamus was found to send a projection to the medial Sm, the LDT region to the ventromedial Sm and the MPB to the medial and dorsal Sm. These findings confirm and extend the results of previous studies in cat and rat indicating that Sm has a major and specific reciprocal connection with VLO. This finding, in conjunction with previous studies showing direct spinal and trigeminal inputs and the existence of nociceptive neurons in Sm and VLO, provides further support for a role of Sm in nociception.

Afferent Pathways↗

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) selectively inhibits immunoglobulin E production induced by IL-4 in human B cells.

The effect of interleukin 8 (IL-8) on IL-4-induced immunoglobulin E (IgE) production was studied. IL-4 induced IgE and IgG4 production by tonsillar mononuclear cells (MNC) without affecting IgM, IgG1, IgA, IgG2, or IgG3 production. IL-8 inhibited IL-4-induced IgE and IgG4 production, whereas it had no effect on IgM, IgG1, IgA, IgG2, and IgG3 production. The inhibitory effect by IL-8 was specific, since it was blocked by anti-IL-8 mAb, but not by control IgG1. Although interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) also inhibited IgE and IgG4 production by MNC stimulated with IL-4, the inhibitory effect of IL-8 was not mediated by IFN-gamma, since the IL-8-induced inhibition could not be blocked by anti-IFN-gamma. Furthermore, anti-IL-8 mAb had no effect on IFN-gamma-induced inhibition. Moreover, addition of IL-5 or IL-6 did not reverse IL-8-induced inhibition of IgE production. In contrast to these observations with MNC, IL-4 failed to induce IgE and IgG4 production by purified B cells. However, combined treatment of purified B cells cells with IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody resulted in IgE but not IgG4 production. IL-8 inhibited this IgE production without affecting IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, or IgA production, whereas IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) failed to do so. These results indicate that IL-8 antagonizes IL-4-induced IgE production by directly affecting B cells through a specific mechanism that is different from IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, or PGE2.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation and regulation of the cardiac dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca channel.

A polyclonal antibody, CR2, prepared using the C-terminal peptide of the alpha 1 subunit of the rabbit cardiac DHP-sensitive Ca channel, specifically immunoprecipitated the [3H]PN200-110-labeled Ca channel solubilized from cardiac microsomes. The antibody recognized 250 and 200-kDa cardiac microsomal proteins as determined by immunoblotting, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylated the 250-kDa, but not the 200-kDa protein in vitro. CHO cells, transfected with the cardiac alpha 1 subunit cDNA carried by an expression vector, synthesized a 250-kDa protein which was recognized by CR2. Adding db-cAMP or forskolin to the transformed CHO cells induced phosphorylation of the 250-kDa protein and stimulated the DHP-sensitive Ba current under patch-clamp conditions. These results suggested that the cardiac DHP-sensitive Ca channel was regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the alpha 1 subunit.

Animals↗