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Biomedical subjects

H Eguchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Eguchi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Effect of surfactant lavage in a rabbit model of meconium aspiration syndrome.

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a frequent cause of respiratory distress in neonates. Recent reports have suggested that surfactant dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of MAS and surfactant therapy improves oxygenation of infants with MAS. We evaluated the effect of bronchial lavage with surfactant solution in a rabbit model of meconium aspiration. All animals were given 5 mL/kg of a 20% slurry of human meconium into the endotracheal tube and mechanically ventilated. The animals were then divided into saline lavage (n = 5) or surfactant lavage (n = 5). Lavage was performed an hour after meconium instillation. After the lavage the total amount of meconium recovered was measured. Blood gas was monitored during the experiment. The amount of meconium recovered by saline lavage was 14%, and by surfactant lavage was 57%. The surfactant group had a significant improvement in gas exchange, whereas the saline group had no improvement. It was concluded that the lavage with surfactant solution effectively washed out meconium and improved gas exchange in rabbit model of MAS.

Animals↗

Neuroblastomas of the central nervous system--clinicopathological features of a cerebellar neuroblastoma in comparison with a metastatic cerebral neuroblastoma.

Two patients with neuroblastoma of the central nervous system are described. The first, a 10-month-old male infant with symptoms of vomiting and weakness of the right upper extremity, was found on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to have enhanced mass lesion in the left hemisphere, vermis of the cerebellum and part of brain stem. The second, a 3-year-old boy who had swelling of the right side of the head, was found on computed tomography (CT) to have enhanced mass lesion of the frontal hemisphere and frontal bone. Histological examination of the surgical specimen of both cases demonstrated neuronal differentiation. The clinicopathological features of cerebellar neuroblastoma in comparison with metastatic neuroblastoma of the frontal lobe were discussed.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Metabolism of hexadecanol by rat type II pneumonocytes.

Type II pneumonocytes isolated from adult rats incorporate radioactivity from 1-[3H]hexadecanol into either lipids. The radioactivity is distributed between the neutral lipids, phosphatidylcholines, and phosphatidylethanolamines. The neutral lipid fraction is almost exclusively composed of triradylglycerols. The potent ether-containing glycerophospholipid, platelet-activating factor, has been shown to stimulate glycogen breakdown and surfactant secretion. In consideration that a long chain alcohol (hexadecanol) is added to certain artificial surfactant preparations which are utilized in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn, the metabolism of hexadecanol by the type II pneumonocytes should be taken into account.

Animals↗

Phosphorylation of half and all sites in H+,K(+)-ATPase results in opposite changes in tryptophan fluorescence.

The Trp fluorescence increased accompanying phosphorylation by ATP and Acetyl phosphate (AcP) in pig stomach H+,K(+)-ATPase, respectively, to maximum values of 0.86 and 0.37%. The stoichiometry of the maximum amount of phosphoenzyme formed from ATP, that from AcP, that from inorganic phosphate (Pi), and the maximum amount of ATP binding to the enzyme was shown to be close to 1:2:2:2. Phosphoenzymes formed were shown to be turning over. The addition of K+ reduced the amount of phosphoenzyme from ATP to one-tenth but reduced those from AcP or Pi to only the half. The data show that the Trp fluorescence increased with phosphorylation of half of the sites but decreased with phosphorylation of all sites.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Enhancement of cell killing of HL-60 cells by ultrasound in the presence of the photosensitizing drug Photofrin II.

Enhancement of acute cell killing of HL-60 cells by low-level ultrasound in the presence of the photosensitizing drug Photofrin II was examined. HL-60 cells were exposed to ultrasound (270 kHz) at intensities of 150, 300 and 450 mW/cm2 for 60 s in the presence of Photofrin II (200 micrograms/ml). Cell survival after treatment was 49.6 +/- 5.1%, 34.5 +/- 3.1% and 27.4 +/- 3.9%, respectively. Ultrasound exposure alone at 150, 300 and 450 mW/cm2 resulted in a decrease in cell survival to 92.9 +/- 1.5%, 82.3 +/- 2.2% and 77.9 +/- 7.2%, respectively. The cell survival rate after the addition of Photofrin II alone showed no significant cell killing. These results indicate that Photofrin II was sensitized by low-level, non-thermal ultrasound to enhance the cell killing of HL-60 cells.

Cell Survival↗

Increased platelet activating factor in the tracheal aspirates from neonates with patent ductus arteriosus.

We investigated platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the tracheal aspirate from 3 intubated low birth weight infants with symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). PAF increased with the onset of symptomatic PDA and decreased to the control range soon after the ductal closure. The concentration of PAF in 26 samples taken during symptomatic PDA (median 16 pg/micrograms lipid phosphorus, range 1.4-1,200 pg/micrograms lipid phosphorus) was significantly higher than that of 31 samples from the same three patients during the periods without symptomatic PDA (median 1.9 pg/micrograms lipid phosphorus, range 0-12 pg/micrograms lipid phosphorus; P < 0.001). All 3 infants later developed chronic lung disease. These results suggest that large shunting PDA provokes PAF release to the air way of the neonate and that PAF might play a role in chronic lung disease developing after symptomatic PDA.

Ductus Arteriosus, Patent↗

Secretion of osteocalcin and its propeptide from human osteoblastic cells: dissociation of the secretory patterns of osteocalcin and its propeptide.

Specific immunoassay systems for intact human osteocalcin (I-OC) and its 26-residue propeptide have been newly developed to assess their usefulness as biochemical markers of bone metabolism. Using human cultured osteoblastic periosteal cells, we monitored 24 h secretion of these molecules from the osteoblastic cells and also examined the deposition of Ca, P, and I-OC on the extracellular matrix. At day 5, both I-OC and its propeptide were secreted by osteoblastic cells in a concentration-dependent manner by treatment with 1,25-(OH)2D3. This propeptide was not detected in the serum of adult subjects but was detected in the serum of normal children, which confirmed this in vitro result of propeptide secretion. The secretion of I-OC into medium transiently decreased at day 11, when the rapid accumulation of I-OC, Ca, and P, namely mineralization, was observed on the extracellular matrix of osteoblastic cells, although secretion of the propeptide constantly increased throughout the culture period. Therefore, the ratio of the amount of propeptide to I-OC in the supernatant markedly increased when mineralization started. These data demonstrate the superior specificity of propeptide as a marker of osteoblastic function in vitro compared with I-OC and that monitoring the changes in propeptide to I-OC ratios in the culture supernatant may be useful for predicting the timing of mineralization on the extracellular matrix of osteoblastic cells.

Adolescent↗

Thiazolidinediones (AD-4833 and CS-045) improve hepatic insulin resistance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

To investigate whether thiazolidinediones (AD-4833 and CS-045), new oral antidiabetic agents, are effective in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, the effect of thiazolidinediones on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied by the glucose clamp technique. Diabetic rats were divided into five groups: (1) intensively insulin treated group given a daily injection of 4-6 units Ultralente insulin, (2) AD-4833 group treated with a daily injection of 2 units Ultralente insulin, the minimal dose to make urinary ketones negative, and ingestion of 10 mg/kg of AD-4833 suspended in 5% gum arabic, (3) gum arabic group treated in the same way as the AD-4833 group except for the active drug, (4) CS-045 group treated with the same insulin injection and ingestion of 200 mg/kg CS-045 suspended in 0.5% chlormethyl cellulose, (5) chlormethyl cellulose group treated as the control for the CS-045 group. Seven days after these treatments, all five groups of diabetic rats and normal control rats were subjected to the glucose clamp study in which 3 mU.kg-1.min-1 porcine insulin was continuously infused. Glucose infusion rates (GIR) for the gum arabic and chlormethyl cellulose groups were significantly lower than in control rats, and the rates of hepatic glucose output (HGO) of these two groups were not suppressed, indicating the presence of hepatic insulin resistance. Intensive insulin treatment as well as administration of AD-4833 and CS-045 with a minimal dose of insulin restored both GIR and HGO towards normal levels. It is concluded that thiazolidinediones improved hepatic insulin resistance in the presence of a minimal dose of insulin.

Animals↗

Prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in Funagata area, Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and IGT in the Funagata area of Japan. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The total eligible subjects was 1163, all were > or = 45 yr of age, and 52 were known diabetic patients. Data collected included body height, weight, and answers to medical questionnaires. A 75-g OGTT was done in the morning. WHO criteria were used to classify the current diabetes status of study participants. RESULTS: Of the 1111 scheduled for the OGTT, 868 took the test; the participation rate was 77.8%. The prevalence of diabetes was 10.5 and 12.9%, and the prevalence of IGT was 14.7 and 18.0% for men and women, respectively. The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes (4.9%) was almost equal to that of previously diagnosed diabetes (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes in the Funagata area was two to four times higher than that of previous reports in Japan, in which many investigators used a urinary glucose test as a preliminary test. This difference is attributed to the method of determining the prevalence of diabetes.

Age Factors↗

Occurrence of 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylpyroglutamic acid as an N-acyl substituent in the O-polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio anguillarum V-123.

A new and highly branched amino acid was found as an N-acyl substituent of the O-polysaccharide chain obtained from the lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio anguillarum V-123 (serogroup JO-2) and evidence is presented to support the structure as 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylpyroglutamic acid. Acid hydrolysis of the O-polysaccharide gave the lactone of 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylglutamic acid, together with 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galacturonic acid, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-quinovosamine), and 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-viosamine). Degradation of the O-polysaccharide with hydrogen fluoride yielded a fragment (H1) that was indicated by the 1H-NMR data to be 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose N-acetylated with 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylpyroglutamic acid. The configuration of the amino acid was not determined.

Amino Acids↗

Structure of the O-polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio anguillarum V-123.

The O-polysaccharide chain (PS-1), released by mild acidic treatment of the LPS of V. anguillarum V-123 (serogroup JO-2), a pathogenic bacterium of marine and estuarine fish, consists of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galacturonic acid, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-quinovosamine), and 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-viosamine) N-acylated with 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylpyroglutamic acid. Strong-acid hydrolysis of PS-1 afforded alpha-GalNA-(1----4)-alpha-GalNA-(1----3)-QuiN (A1) and alpha-GalNA-(1----3)-QuiN (A2), and hydrolysis with hydrogen fluoride gave N-acetylated A1 and 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose N-acylated by 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylpyroglutamic acid. Mild treatment of PS-1 with alkali removed the N-formyl substituents and Smith degradation of the product gave alpha-QuiNAc-(1----3)-beta-VioNAcyl-(1----3)-alpha-GalNAc A-(1----3)-2,3,4- trihydroxybutanoic acid (S1) and S2 in which the carboxyl group of the GalNAcA residue was amidated. Thus, the repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide is----3)-alpha-GalNAcA(amino)-(1----4)-alpha-GalNFoA-(1----3 )- alpha-QuiNAc-(1----3)-beta-VioNAcyl-(1----in which the N-Acyl group is 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3,4-trimethylpyroglutamic acid and Fo is formyl.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Insulin antibody does not cause insulin resistance during glucose clamping in rats.

Although it has often been stated that insulin antibodies cause insulin resistance, this concept is still controversial. The effect of insulin antibody GP30, commonly used in insulin radioimmunoassay, on insulin action was investigated in Wistar rats in vivo by the euglycemic glucose clamp technique. As a preliminary experiment, the equilibrium time required for insulin antibody to bind with endogenous insulin was examined. One hundred microliters/kg insulin antibody took 60 min or more to attain equilibrium, but 10 microliters/kg insulin antibody almost immediately equilibrated with endogenous insulin. During a 60-min glucose clamp study, 2 mU/kg/min porcine insulin was infused with 100 microliters/kg insulin antibody. At steady state, during the last 20-min period, the mean glucose infusion rate was 2.10 +/- 0.85 mg/kg/min (n = 5, mean +/- SD), significantly lower than the 5.77 +/- 1.61 mg/kg/min of the control, indicating insulin resistance before equilibrium was reached. However, the glucose infusion rates during the clamp with 10 microliters/kg insulin antibody and 100 microliters/kg insulin antibody infused 75 min before the insulin were 6.10 +/- 1.44 and 7.12 +/- 1.19 mg/kg/min, respectively, no different from the control. In these instances, free insulin levels measured by radioimmunoassay using the polyethyleneglycol method were 43.8 +/- 20.4 and 15.4 +/- 6.1 microU/ml, respectively, lower than the control (77.0 +/- 16.1 microM/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Pulmonary surfactant apoprotein-A in neonates with different respiratory disorders.

A serial determination of pulmonary surfactant apoprotein-A (SP-A) was made on tracheal aspirates from seven intubated infants with different types of respiratory failure in the first week of life. A two-site immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies was adopted to determine the SP-A concentration. The concentrations of albumin in the same samples were also assayed, and these data were expressed as the ratio of SP-A to albumin (SP-A/albumin ratio), and evaluated against clinical data such as the arterial-alveolar oxygen tension ratio (a/APO2) or ventilatory index. In infants with respiratory distress syndrome, the SP-A/albumin ratio was initially low, and increased gradually in the first few days of life with the improvement of a/APO2 and ventilatory index. The complication of pulmonary hemorrhage due to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) resulted in a temporary decrease in the ratio. The infant with transient tachypnea of the newborn showed higher concentration from the first day of life and, in the course of PDA without pulmonary hemorrhage, the ratio did not decrease. The cases of congenital pneumonia showed the SP-A/albumin ratio remaining low while the infection was evident. These data suggest that the SP-A/albumin ratio of the tracheal aspirate can be used for the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of endogenous pulmonary surfactant in newborn infants with different respiratory disorders.

Albumins↗

Molecular cloning of the isocitrate dehydrogenase gene of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The gene coding for isocitrate dehydrogenase of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8, was cloned and sequenced. This gene consists of a single open reading frame of 1,485 bp preceded by a Shine-Dalgarno ribosome binding site. Promoter- and terminatorlike sequences were detected upstream and downstream of the open reading frame, respectively. The G + C content of the coding region was 65.6%, and that of the third nucleotide of the codons was 90.3%. On the basis of the deduced amino acid sequence, the Mr of the monomeric enzyme was calculated as 54,189, an Mr which is similar to that of the purified protein determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of the T. thermophilus enzyme with that of the Escherichia coli enzyme showed (i) a 37% overall similarity; (ii) the conservation of the Ser residue, which is known to be phosphorylated in the E. coli enzyme, and of the surrounding sequence; and (iii) the presence of 141 extra residues at the C terminus of the T. thermophilus enzyme. T. thermophilus isocitrate dehydrogenase showed a high sequence homology (33% of the amino acid sequence is identical) to isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from the same organism and was suggested to have evolved from a common ancestral enzyme.

3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase↗

Effect of a cigarette smoke extract on the metabolism of the proinflammatory autacoid, platelet-activating factor.

Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased incidence of a number of diseases. Minimal information is available at the molecular level concerning the mechanism of action of cigarette smoke. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is one of the most potent proinflammatory agents described. PAF concentration may be regulated by the degradation of PAF as catalyzed by the plasma enzyme, PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). This enzyme is associated with the lipoprotein fraction. The exposure of low density lipoprotein to a cigarette smoke extract (CSE) has been shown to alter the charge of low density lipoprotein and its uptake by macrophages. The activity of PAF-AH in the lipoprotein fraction has been assayed after exposure to CSE. The activity of PAF-AH was inhibited by the CSE in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of PAF-AH by the CSE was not altered by superoxide dismutase or catalase addition. Sulfhydryl compounds prevented and reversed the inhibition of PAF-AH caused by CSE. The inhibitor present in CSE was not nicotine, its major metabolic product, (-)-cotinine, or several compounds known to be present in the extract. The charge alteration reaction(s) and PAF-AH inhibition appear to be localized at different sites of the lipoprotein molecule. The observed inhibition may account for the increase in the plasma PAF concentration that is known to occur in smokers. The increase of PAF may contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular and lung diseases known to be present in smokers.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Transcriptional regulation of rat P-450 2C gene subfamily members by the sexually dimorphic pattern of growth hormone secretion.

The onset of the sexually dimorphic pattern of GH secretion and increased hepatic GH-binding capacity in rats at puberty is temporally correlated with the developmental induction of three hepatic cytochrome P-450s with steroid hydroxylase activity, P-450 IIC11, P-450 IIC12, and P-450 IIC13, and one cytochrome P-450 with vitamin A hydroxylase activity, P-450 IIC7. In this study we demonstrate that expression of the 2C11, 2C12, and 2C13 genes is modulated by GH at the level of transcriptional initiation both in vivo and in primary cultures of adult hepatocytes. In an effort to define the minimum sequence responsible for the inductive effects of GH, we have analyzed the ability of a 0.7-kilobase fragment isolated from the 5'-flank of the 2C12 gene, including the natural promoter, to drive transcription of a 320-basepair G-less cassette in vitro. We were unable to detect any substantial difference in RNA polymerase-II-dependent transcriptional efficiency toward the 2C12 promoter between liver nuclear extracts from normal and hypophysectomized rats of both sexes. This observation supports the assumption that the sequence information contained between bases -700 and 1 is sufficient to support basal transcription of the 2C12 gene. Sequence information residing 5' or 3' of the 0.7-kilobase 5'-flank or a higher ordered chromatin structure may be necessary for the sex-specific transcriptional activation of the 2C12 gene.

Animals↗