A case of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with bucillamine-treated rheumatoid arthritis.
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
Biomedical subjects
A Yoshida
Publications and source records attributed to A Yoshida.
An antigenic structure of the trans-activator protein encoded by human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I), as defined by a panel of monoclonal antibodies.
In order to study an antigenic structure of the trans-activator protein encoded by human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I), tax1 antigen, we generated and characterized a panel of rat anti-tax1 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) designated WATM-1, WATM-2, WATM-3, and WATM-4. These MAbs were derived from WKA rats immunized with HTLV-I-transformed (HTLV-I+) syngeneic T cells. Immunoblot assays showed that: (1) All the MAbs reacted with the tax1 antigen in HTLV-I+ cell lines and a recombinant tax1 antigen, PX141 (containing entire tax1 polypeptide); (2) WATM-3 and WATM-4, but not WATM-1 or WATM-2, reacted with a truncated tax1 antigen, XD59 (tax1 amino acids 180-338); (3) None of them reacted with another truncated tax1 antigen, XD128 (tax1 amino acids 1-47 and 286-353); and (4) each of the four MAbs had different reactivity with tax1-related antigens in the range 38-41 kDa expressed in simian cell lines infected with various HTLV-I-related simian retroviruses (STLV-I). None of the MAbs reacted with HTLV-II tax antigen. Human sera containing anti-tax1 antibodies interfered specifically with the antigen-specific binding of all the MAbs. These results suggest that the present rat MAbs are directed against various epitopes on the tax1 antigen. An antigenic structure of the tax1 antigen deduced from reactivity of a panel of anti-tax1 MAbs including the present rat MAbs is discussed.
Animals↗
The quality and quantity of dietary protein affect brain protein synthesis in rats.
The influence of the amino acid supply in diets with different quality and quantity of protein on the rate of protein synthesis in the brain was investigated. Amino acid concentrations in serum and brain altered in accordance with the amino acid levels of the diets, with the exception of some amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and threonine. When rats were fed various levels of dietary casein (0, 5 and 20%), the aggregation of ribosomes increased and the fractional rate of protein synthesis tended to increase with the increase in dietary protein. When rats were fed a 20% casein diet, greater aggregation of brain ribosomes and protein synthesis rate were observed compared with those in rats fed 20% wheat gluten or gelatin diets. The RNA activity was related to the degree of the aggregation of brain ribosomes and the fractional rate of protein synthesis.
Amino Acids↗
Changes in liver concentration of N-acetylglutamate and ornithine are involved in regulating urea synthesis in rats treated with thyroid hormone.
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which thyroid hormone alters urea synthesis. A set of three experiments was investigated in three groups of rats given 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (a thyroid inhibitor) without triiodothyronine treatment, treated with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil plus triiodothyronine or neither 6-propyl-2-thiouracil nor triiodothyronine (control). We attempted to determine whether the concentration of ornithine and N-acetylglutamate regulated urea synthesis and whether activities of two ornithine-catabolizing enzymes accounted for changes in ornithine concentration. Urinary excretion of urea and the liver concentration of N-acetylglutamate and ornithine in rats given 6-propyl-2-thiouracil plus triiodothyronine were significantly lower than in rats given 6-propyl-2-thiouracil alone. The liver concentration of N-acetylglutamate was correlated to urea excretion (r = 0.911, P less than 0.001). The activities of carbamylphosphate, synthetase, ornithine aminotransferase and ornithine decarboxylase in liver of the group treated with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil alone were significantly lower than those of the 6-propyl-2-thiouracil plus triiodothyronine-treated group. The results suggest that a higher liver concentration of N-acetylglutamate and ornithine in the hypothyroid (6-propyl-2-thiouracil only) rats is likely to stimulate urea synthesis. The thyroid hormone-induced increase in activities of ornithine catabolizing enzymes may be primarily responsible for changes in ornithine concentration.
Animals↗
Phosphorylation of ryanodine receptors in rat myocytes during beta-adrenergic stimulation.
We studied beta-adrenergic agonist-stimulated phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor in rat cardiac myocytes. The ryanodine receptor solubilized from myocytes and immunoprecipitated by a monoclonal antibody against canine cardiac ryanodine receptor was phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Incubation of saponin-permeabilized myocytes with [gamma-32P]ATP also induced ryanodine receptor phosphorylation, which was enhanced significantly in the presence of isoproterenol. This stimulating action of isoproterenol was suppressed by the beta-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol. On the other hand, exogenously added cAMP caused a much larger stimulation of phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor in permeabilized myocytes. The beta-agonist-induced phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor was also observed in intact myocytes from the newborn rat heart. These results suggest that the ryanodine receptor is phosphorylated by PKA during beta-adrenergic stimulation of cardiac myocytes.
Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
Evaluation of thyroid function in patients with isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency.
Thyroid hormone and thyrotropin (TSH) levels were evaluated before and after adrenal replacement in eight patients (six men and two women, 35-62 years old) with isolated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) deficiency. Six patients (cases 1-6) showed TSH excess before treatment. Four patients (cases 1-4), who initially had subnormal thyroid hormone levels, showed resolution of biochemical features of primary hypothyroidism after treatment, although TSH excess has persisted in two patients (cases 1 and 2). Case 1 had an extremely high titer of antimicrosomal antibody (MCHA), and cases 2 and 3 showed histologically and cytologically chronic thyroiditis, despite negative results for MCHA and antithyroglobulin antibody, respectively. Two patients (cases 5 and 6), who had had normal thyroid hormone levels and did not show the significant rise in serum T3 in TSH releasing hormone testing, showed TSH normalization without changes in serum thyroid hormone levels after treatment. The other two patients (cases 7 and 8), who initially had normal TSH and thyroid hormone levels, did not show the significant changes in serum TSH and thyroid hormone levels after treatment. The prevalence of chronic thyroiditis coexistence in isolated ACTH deficiency may be higher than predicted. Therefore, TSH excess before adrenal replacement may be attributed to not only direct enhancement of TSH release due to chronic cortisol deficiency but also to thyroid dysfunction due to chronic thyroiditis. It is possible that hypothyroidism due to chronic thyroiditis can be improved only by adrenal supplementation.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Molecular genetics of human aldehyde dehydrogenase.
Four non-allelic genes, which encode four different aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozymes, have been cloned and characterized at the present time. The coding nucleotide sequences, and organization of introns and exons of these genes have been elucidated. The ALDH1 gene encodes the major cytosolic ALDH1 existing in the liver and other tissues. The genetic deficiency of this isozyme was found at a low frequency (<< 10%) in both Caucasians and Orientals. The deficiency and alcohol sensitivity character are inherited together in one large Caucasian family examined. The ALDH1 gene contains two hormone response elements in its upstream 5' region. The ALDH2 gene encodes the major liver mitochondrial ALDH2 which has a very low Km for acetaldehyde. The atypical ALDH2(2) allele is common (about 30%) in Orientals; and subjects with ALDH2(2) allele, both homozygous and heterozygous status, lack ALDH activity. These individuals are alcohol sensitive and have a markedly reduced risk in developing alcoholism and alcoholic liver diseases. The ALDH3 gene produces a cytosolic ALDH3 isozyme existing in the stomach and liver carcinoma but hardly in normal liver. The ALDH3 locus is polymorphic in Orientals and presumably other populations. The ALDH5 gene, which is expressed in testes and liver, is highly polymorphic in both Caucasians and Orientals. The variation of these two loci may affect the development of alcohol-related problems.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗
Decay property of 20Na for the onset mechanism of the rapid-proton process.
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Journal Article↗
Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates immunoglobulin production and growth of human B cells.
The effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on human lymphoblastoid B cell lines and tonsil B cells was studied. VIP increased immunoglobulin production and proliferation by lymphoblastoid B cell line, GM-1056, in a dose-dependent manner. As little as 10(-12) M of VIP was effective, and higher concentrations of VIP induced an approximately five-fold increase in IgA production. Moreover, this enhancement was blocked by VIP antagonist. Similarly, VIP enhanced IgM and IgG production by other lymphoblastoid B cell lines, CBL and IM-9, respectively. In contrast to VIP, another neuropeptide substance P (SP) or somatostatin failed to enhance immunoglobulin production and thymidine uptake. VIP also enhanced IgA production and thymidine uptake by purified tonsil B cells. However, in contrast to B cell lines, VIP failed to enhance IgM and IgG production by tonsil B cells. SP or somatostatin failed to enhance immunoglobulin production or thymidine uptake by tonsil B cells. These results indicate that VIP acts as B cell stimulatory factor and that VIP may also have preferential effect on IgA production on tonsil B cells.
B-Lymphocytes↗
Signet ring cells in breast carcinoma. An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.
Two cases of breast carcinoma composed predominantly of neoplastic cells with a signet ring appearance, one a case of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and the other a case of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), were examined electron microscopically and immunohistochemically. In signet ring cells in the ILC, mucin was demonstrated ultrastructurally in the intracytoplasmic lumina and also to a small degree in the cytoplasmic mucous granules, whereas in signet ring cells in the IDC, mucin was found only in the cytoplasmic mucous granules. Immunohistochemically, signet ring cells in the ILC were intensely positive for gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15), but those in the IDC showed no immunoreaction for GCDFP-15. Thus ultrastructural features and GCDFP-15 immunoreactivity appear to be useful for distinguishing between the two different types of signet ring cells.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
Blockade by local anaesthetics of the single Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel in rat hippocampal neurones.
1. Effects of local anaesthetics on single Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels were investigated using the inside-out configuration of the patch-clamp technique in single pyramidal neurones, which were freshly dissociated from rat hippocampus by use of proteolytic enzymes. 2. No significant effect was observed when 2 mM benzocaine was applied on either side of the membrane patch, or when 2 mM lignocaine or QX-314 was applied to the external surface of the membrane. 3. Lignocaine 1 mM, applied to the internal surface, slightly reduced the amplitude of the single K+ channel current. When applied to the internal surface QX-314 reduced the amplitude of the K+ channel current, accompanied by an increase in noise in the open channel current, suggesting a fast flickering block. The blocking effect of QX-314 on the outward current increased with depolarization, suggesting a binding site for the drug at an electrical distance of about 0.5 across the membrane field. 4. The open time histogram showed one exponential component and the closed time histogram showed at least two components. The mean open time of the outward current was increased when the amplitude was reduced by the drugs. 5. The ionized form of the local anaesthetics had a similar action on the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels to that on Na+ channels, that is, they enter into the channel from the cytoplasmic side to induce open channel block. The blocking kinetics, however, might be so fast that they were beyond the frequency response of our recording apparatus, thus the recorded current amplitude was decreased. In contrast the K+ channel was not accessible via hydrophobic pathways for the neutral form, which is also known to block the sodium channel.
Anesthetics, Local↗
Synergistic action of cyclic GMP on catecholamine-induced chloride current in guinea-pig ventricular cells.
1. Effects of cyclic GMP on the catecholamine-induced chloride current (ICl) were studied using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique combined with internal perfusion in single ventricular myocytes dispersed from guinea-pig heart. 2. When ICl was activated by submaximal doses of isoprenaline (0.01-0.1 microM), adrenaline (0.5-1 microM) and histamine (0.2-0.5 microM), intracellular dialysis with cyclic GMP (10-100 microM) induced an extra increase of ICl. No further increase of ICl was induced by cyclic GMP when ICl was maximally activated. In the absence of agonists, cyclic GMP failed to induce ICl. 3. The enhancement by cyclic GMP was also observed when ICl was activated by external application of 0.2-1.0 microM-forskolin or by internal dialysis with a pipette solution containing 50-200 microM-cyclic AMP. 4. In contrast to cyclic GMP, 10-1000 microM-dibutyryl cyclic GMP and 8-bromo-cyclic GMP were ineffective in modifying ICl. 5. Milrinone (1-10 microM), a specific inhibitor of a kind of phosphodiesterase which is inhibited by cyclic GMP, also enhanced ICl activated by submaximal doses of isoprenaline. Milrinone itself did not activate ICl. 6. When ICl was enhanced by 5 microM-milrinone, an additional application of cyclic GMP failed to increase ICl. In the presence of cyclic GMP, milrinone failed to enhance ICl. 7. The above findings on ICl are analogous to the enhancement by cyclic GMP of the beta-adrenergic stimulation of the Ca2+ current reported in the same preparation, and support the hypothesis that in mammalian cardiac cells cyclic GMP potentiates elevation of cyclic AMP induced by beta-adrenergic agents, and thereby increases the amplitudes of ionic currents.
Animals↗
Modulation of beta-adrenergic responses of chloride and calcium currents by external cations in guinea-pig ventricular cells.
1. The catecholamine-induced Cl- current and the Ca2+ current were recorded in the single ventricular cells of guinea-pig hearts, using the whole-cell patch clamp technique combined with internal perfusion. Dependence of the beta-adrenergic responses on external monovalent cations was investigated. The Cl- current was recognized by measuring the reversal potential of the agonist-induced current. 2. The amplitude of the Cl- current, activated by 1 microM adrenaline or 0.01-0.1 microM isoprenaline, was decreased when the external Na+ concentration ([Na+]o) was reduced by replacement with Tris+. The conductance of the catecholamine-induced Cl- current was proportional to the logarithm of the [Na+]o over a range of 15-140 mM. When the conductance was plotted against the concentration of Tris+, a dose-dependent inhibition of the Cl- response by Tris+ was suggested with a half-maximum concentration of 95 mM. 3. The inhibitory effect of the Na+ substitute TEA+ on the Cl- current was not affected by either increasing the buffer for the internal Ca2+ (10 mM BAPTA) or for the pH (50 mM HEPES). 4. In the relationship between agonist concentration and the Cl- conductance, the half-maximum concentration (K1/2) of isoprenaline was 0.013 microM in the control Na+ solution, and was shifted to 0.07, 0.08, 0.1 and 0.3 microM in the Li+, Cs+, TEA+ and Tris+ external solutions, respectively. The maximum slope conductance was not significantly affected, except for a slight depression on the Tris+ solution. When the current was induced by adrenaline, qualitatively the same finding was obtained; K1/2 was 0.15 and 3.2 microM in the Na+ and Tris+ solutions, respectively. 5. As a substitute for the external Na+, sucrose seemed to be inert. The activation of the inward Cl- current was conserved in the 300 mM sucrose solution ([Cl-]o = 8 mM) with a K1/2 value of 0.015 microM isoprenaline. 6. The Cl- current, when activated by either an external application of forskolin (0.2-10 microM) or an internal perfusion of cyclic AMP (100-500 microM), was not affected by replacing external Na+ with other cations. Activation of the Cl- current by 0.2-5 microM histamine was also insensitive to a substitution of Na+. These findings indicate that the inhibition by the Na+ substitute is at a point before the activation of GTP-binding protein. 7. The effects of Na+ substitution were not affected by varying the Na+ concentration (0-115 mM) in the internal solution, excluding an involvement of a change in the [Na+]i.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Animals↗
[Bacteriological study of traveller's diarrhoea. 4) Isolation of enteropathogenic bacteria from patients with traveller's diarrhoea at Osaka Airport Quarantine Station during 1984-1991].
During the last 8 years (1984 to 1991), 16,639,233 overseas travellers were quarantined at Osaka Airport Quarantine Station and 38,326 travellers reported that they were (or had been) suffering from diarrhoea. Bacteriological examination of stools from 12,573 persons revealed the following results. 1) Various enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated from 3,669 cases (29.2%) examined. The predominant species of bacteria isolated were as follows: Salmonella, 1049 cases; Plesiomonas shigelloides, 1030 cases; Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 789 cases; Shigella, 607 cases; enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, 422 cases; Vibrio cholerae non-O1, 212 cases. 2) There were no apparent seasonal variations in the isolation rate of these pathogens. 3) The suspected regions for infection with these pathogens were as follows: a) Salmonella, Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Plesiomonas, mainly South-East and South-West Asia. b) Shigella, South-West Asia, especially India (59.8%). c) V. parahaemolyticus and V. fluvialis, mainly South-East and East Asia. d) V. cholerae non-O1, V. mimicus, almost restricted to Asia, mainly South-East Asia. 4) 22 strains of V. cholerae O1 were isolated and 19 were Ogawa, E1 Tor. Of these strains, 13 were cholera toxin-producing strains and 9 were non-toxigenic strains. 5) Several pathogens (mixed infection) were isolated simultaneously from 670 cases. 6) The 1247 Salmonella strains were identified into 98 serovars. 7) Of 624 Shigella strains isolated, 57.9% were S. sonnei, 29.2% were S. flexneri, 8.6% were S. boydii, 4.3% were S. dysenteriae. 8) The most predominant serovar of V. parahaemolyticus was O4:K8. Of 1,247 strains isolated, 9.8% were not producing thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH). 9) 570 (91.3%) of 624 Shigella strains and 409 (32.8%) of 1,247 Salmonella strains isolated were resistant to any one of the drugs tested (SM. CP. TC. KM. ABPC. NA. OFLX). The resistance rate and the number of multiple drug-resistance strains increased year by year. 10) Enterotoxigenic E. coli was isolated from 422 cases (10.7%) of 3,939 cases. Cases with enterotoxigenic E. coli strains producing ST (heat-stable), LT (heat-labile) or both ST and LT were 53.8%, 24.2% and 14.2% respectively. The others were cases with mixed types of enterotoxin production.
Asia, Southeastern↗
[The first cholera case diagnosed early in the clinical laboratory by DNA probe method].
An alkaline-phosphatase-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide probe was applied to detect the structural gene of cholera enterotoxin (ctx). This DNA probe has a complementary base sequence to 30 base of the CT-A subunit. This method was, for the first time, applied to diagnosis of a diarrheal patient. The probe detected ctx rapidly and simply as compared with reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and Beads-ELISA. The cfu minimal dose for detection with the probe was about 10(6-7)/ml. This method can be easily performed in any clinical laboratory because the procedure is safe, simple and rapid (it can be completed within about 3 hours).
Adult↗
[Rapid differentiation method for Shigella and Escherichia coli--application of Indole (tryptophanase), PGUA (beta-glucuronidase) and ONPG (beta-galactosidase) tests].
For the differentiation of Shigella from Escherichia coli, Indole (tryptophanase), PGUA (beta-glucuronidase) and ONPG (beta-galactosidase) tests were used. A total of 377 Shigella and 124 E. coli strains was examined for each sero- and biosero-type by using these tests. The results were as follows. 1) There were no Shigella strains showing positive reactions for both Indole and ONPG tests. 2) No E. coli strains with Shigella-like characteristics (negative for lysine-decarboxylase, motility and lactose-fermentation tests) showed negative results for both Indole and PGUA tests. 3) The abovementioned strains were classified into twelve types according to the results of these tests. Shigella strains, thus, were differentiated from antigenically Shigella-like E. coli strains. Additional use of these tests together with the conventional methods may valuable for the identification of Shigella strains.
Escherichia coli↗
Production of pyrroloquinoline quinone by using methanol-utilizing bacteria.
A large number of methanol-utilizing bacteria were screened for extracellular production of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) by using methanol as the carbon and energy sources. Of the bacteria selected, Hyphomicrobium sp. strain TK 0441 was examined for PQQ production by using a jar fermentor. The amount of PQQ in the broth and the level of methanol dehydrogenase activity in the cells were increased by simply decreasing the amount of Fe added to the medium. On the other hand, extracellularly produced protein which interfered with the purification of PQQ was decreased by simply increasing the amount of Mg added to the medium. A suitable medium that contained 1 mug of Fe per ml, 150 mug of Mg per ml, and trace elements was developed. In this medium, the production of PQQ reached approximately 1 mg/ml and protein formation was low.
Journal Article↗
Blood-ocular barrier permeability in monkeys.
The permeability of the blood-ocular barrier was investigated in five monkeys using vitreous fluorophotometry (VFP). Inward permeability (Pin) of the blood-retinal barrier was calculated by a computer simulation method. Kinetic VFP was performed after intravitreal injection of fluorescein (F) or fluorescein monoglucuronide (FG). The estimated mean value of Pin (x10(-6) cm/min) was 4.8 (SD 1.2). The mean rates of loss (per hour) of F from the anterior chamber (Ka) and the vitreous (Kv) were 0.11 (SD 0.01) and 0.13 (SD 0.03), respectively, which were approximately three and four times greater than those of FG (0.04 (SD 0.01) and 0.03 (SD 0.01), respectively). Probenecid administered intraperitoneally decreased both the Ka and the Kv of F significantly but had no effect on the Ka or the Kv of FG, suggesting that F was excreted from the eye with the aid of the active transport mechanism. The results of comparative studies of the rates of loss of F from the anterior chamber (Ka) and from the vitreous (Kv) suggested that active transport was more predominant in the blood-retinal barrier than in the blood-aqueous barrier.
Animals↗