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Biomedical subjects

H Hara

Publications and source records attributed to H Hara.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

[Pharmacokinetic studies of menogaril (TUT-7) with rats].

Menogaril (TUT-7) is a novel antitumor antibiotic belonging to anthracyclines. The pharmacokinetic parameters derived from plasma concentration-time profiles after repeated (for 14 days) or single oral administration of TUT-7 to rats were found to be not significantly different by either administration schedule. The rats with artificial liver dysfunction were obtained by subcutaneous application of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 1 ml/kg) for 3 days. After oral administration of TUT-7 to the rats with CCl4-induced liver toxicity (3 daily administrations of 1mg/kg, S.C.), the maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) and AUC of both the unchanged drug and its metabolite N-Demethyl menogaril, were increased. Also over all elimination was slower in animals with liver dysfunction.

Administration, Oral↗

[A case of mediastinal malignant lymphoma with cardiac tamponade treated effectively with chemotherapy].

A 78-year-old man was admitted to the Nishinomiya Municipal Central Hospital with main symptoms of chest pain and dyspnea. Chest CT revealed a large mediastinal mass shadow, and echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion. Serum LDH was elevated. Therefore, malignant lymphoma was suspected to be the cause of cardiac tamponade. VEPA chemotherapy was commenced. Half way through the course of chemotherapy, serum LDH was decreased, the pericardial effusion had disappeared, and the mediastinal mass was reduced in size. A biopsy specimen of the mediastinal tumor revealed malignant lymphoma of diffuse large cell type, and immunoperoxidase staining of frozen sections demonstrated B cell origin. The pericardial effusion had not increased in size after four months, when the patient developed pneumonia and died. Autopsy revealed pericardial and atrial involvement by tumor. In conclusion, this case is very unusual in that (1) pericardial involvement was suspected on admission; (2) the pericardial effusion disappeared with systemic chemotherapy; and (3) cardiac metastasis was demonstrated at autopsy.

Aged↗

[Changes in sulfated proteoglycans in alkali injured rabbit cornea].

Morphological changes of sulfated proteoglycans (S-PGs) in the stroma of alkali injured rabbit corneas were examined electron-histochemically following cuprolinic blue (CB) dye binding. The injured eyes were followed for 2 months by slitlamp microscope and photographs. At 1 hour, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months after the injury, the eyes were enucleated and studied. After 1 hour, while both collagen fibrils and the filaments of S-PGs had already become disarranged; the number of S-PGs appeared to decrease. From 3 days to 1 week after, the number as well as the electron-density of S-PGs were markedly decreased in all areas. After 2 weeks, CB-positive large filaments appeared in anterior stroma. These became larger, more abnormal in shape, and displayed a higher electron density 1 month later. Normally arranged S-PGs can be seen at 2 months later. It was concluded that S-PGs were diminished in alkali-injured corneas. Once they were replaced by abnormal filaments, they gradually recovered normal morphology. Further more the time course of S-PG change correlated with that of corneal transparency after alkali injury.

Animals↗

[A case of obstructive ventilatory disturbance caused by bronchial wall granulation due to a fish bone].

A 62-year-old man was admitted to Kawasaki Medical School Kawasaki Hospital after suffering from wheezing for one year. His chest X-ray film showed no significant findings in the lung fields and mediastinum. A chest CT film showed a small protrusion at the posterior wall of the right main bronchus. Bronchofiberscopy disclosed a polypoid tumor with a smooth surface in the right main bronchus, confirming the finding of the chest CT, and a restiform eminence at the truncus intermedius. The restiform eminence was revealed to be a fish bone after removal from the bronchus using the forceps of a bronchofiberscope. Histological examination of a bronchoscopic biopsy specimen from the tumor of the right main bronchus showed inflammatory granulation tissue. We confirm subsequently questioned the patient who revealed that he had aspirated another fish bone two months earlier, and we presumed that the tumor of the right main bronchus might be granulation tissue secondary to the impaction of a fish bone. The patient was not aware that he had aspirated a foreign body, but it was presumed that he had aspirated the fish bone one year earlier, coinciding with the onset of wheezing. Immediately after removal, his wheezing disappeared. Comparison of the results of pulmonary function tests after removal with those before showed improvement of V25/predicted V25 ratio from 24% to 72%, and improvement of V50/V25 ratio from 3.7 to 2.4. This is considered to be a rare case of bronchial granulation due to a foreign body, which was recognized as a small polypoid tumor by chest CT.

Airway Obstruction↗

Measurement of eumelanin precursor metabolites in the urine as a new marker for melanoma metastases.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: This article introduces a rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic assay to measure urinary pheomelanin and eumelanin metabolites, 5-S-cysteinyldopa and indoles, 5(6)-hydroxy-6(5)-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. RESULTS: Our high-performance liquid chromatographic study clearly showed (1) urine of melanoma patients with positive metastasis revealed significant amounts of 5-S-cysteinyldopa and indoles (5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid plus 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid) above 1 mumol/d and 2 mumol/d, respectively; and (2) in patients with metastasis-free melanoma these melanin metabolites might be excreted into the urine but always less than the two values cited above. CONCLUSIONS: As there is a discrepancy regarding the specificity of 5-S-cysteinyldopa as a marker for estimation of melanoma metastasis, high-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of urinary indoles will provide an additional assay in the detection of melanoma metastasis from an early stage. Both melanoma markers were increased in the urine of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Adult↗

[Study of the duration of antimicrobial chemotherapy in mycoplasmal pneumonia].

We assessed the period of administration of antibiotics required for cases of mycoplasmal pneumonia. The subjects were 38 patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia admitted to our hospital. These patients were treated with 100 mg minocycline or 500 mg erythromycin by intravenous infusion twice a day. They were divided into a 6 day-administration group (Group A; 16 cases) and a 9 day-administration group (Group B; 17 cases). Administration was discontinued on the 4th day or earlier in 5 cases due to side effects. A comparative assessment was made between Groups A and B with respect to body temperature, WBC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, and chest X-ray on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th days of treatment, but no significant difference was observed. Residual shadows at the end of treatment were present in 100% of Group A and in 47% of Group B, but they disappeared gradually in both groups. No cases of recurrence were observed in either Group A or B within 1 month after the completion of treatment. Regarding the treatment period for mycoplasmal pneumonia by intravenous infusion of minocycline or erythromycin, no significant clinical difference was observed between the 6 day-administration group and the 9 day-administration group, suggesting that 6 days of administration is sufficient for treatment.

Adolescent↗

Failure of basic fibroblast growth factor to prevent postischemic neuronal damage in the rat.

It has been reported that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can increase neuronal survival and neurite extension, and that it further antagonizes the excitotoxicity of glutamate in in vitro hippocampal neurons. We examined the effects of bFGF on neuronal damage after transient forebrain ischemia. Rats were subjected to 20 min of cerebral ischemia in a four vessel occlusion model. Thirty minutes before induction of ischemia, bFGF (0.3-300 nM) or bFGF (300 nM) with heparin was applied to the hippocampal CA1 subfield. Morphological changes in the CA1 subfield were evaluated 7 days after ischemia and compared with those in the vehicle-injected group. A single injection of bFGF did not prevent postischemic neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1, but these results do not rule out an effect of bFGF on neuronal damage after ischemia.

Animals↗

Antithrombotic effect of MCI-9042, a new antiplatelet agent on experimental thrombosis models.

The antithrombotic effect of MCI-9042, (+-)-2-(dimethyl-amino)-1-((o-(m- methoxyphenethyl)phenoxyl]methyl]ethyl hydrogen succinate hydrochloride was investigated in three different experimental thrombosis models in animals. Simultaneous injection of serotonin and collagen into the tail vein in mice induced acute pulmonary thromboembolic death. MCI-9042 reduced the mortality in a dose dependent manner and its ED50 value was 1.9 mg/kg po. Ticlopidine (TCP) which is a positive reference compound as an antithrombotic drug reduced the mortality at doses of 10 mg/kg po and above. Cyproheptadine (CPH) and ketanserin (KTS) which are S2-serotonergic antagonists were also effective on the reduction of mortality. In mesenteric arterial thrombosis induced by electric stimulation in mice, MCI-9042 prolonged the occlusion time resulted from platelet thrombus formation (PD50: 23 mg/kg po). CPH and KTS prolonged the occlusion time as potent as MCI-9042, but TCP prolonged the occlusion time only at the high doses of 100 mg/kg po and above. In experimental arterial thrombosis which generated in implanted polyethylene tubing, MCI-9042 reduced the incidence of thrombus formation in the tubing and its ED50 value was 18 mg/kg po. TCP was also effective in this model with an ED50 of 170 mg/kg po. The present results lead to the consideration that serotonin plays a more important role in thrombus formation than that conjectured formerly, and suggest that MCI-9042 becomes a new kind of antithrombotic drug with S2-serotonergic receptor antagonism.

Animals↗

Anti-skeletal muscle and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies in patients with thymoma without myasthenia gravis: relation to the onset of myasthenia gravis.

We measured the anti-skeletal muscle (SM) antibody titers in sera from 46 patients with thymoma but without Myasthenia gravis (MG) in order to determine whether the presence of anti-SM antibody is linked to the combination of thymoma-MG, or to thymoma alone. We detected anti-SM antibodies in 18 of these sera, of which 15 had concomitantly elevated titers of anti-AChR antibodies. Moreover, 9 of whom had experienced the onset of MG after surgery. In contrast, no patient without elevations in both antibodies developed MG during the followup. We conclude that the presence of anti-SM antibodies is linked strongly with thymoma associated with MG, but not with thymoma alone.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of the uptake of high-density lipoprotein-originated cholesteryl ester by HepG2 cells: role of low-density lipoprotein and plasma lipid transfer protein.

Cholesteryl ester uptake by the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was studied in vitro by using radiolabeled cholesteryl ester as a tracer. After the cells were incubated in a lipoprotein deficient condition, the rate of radio labeled cholesteryl ester uptake from low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was estimated to be some 25-times higher than that from high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL-cholesteryl ester uptake was suppressed by preincubation of the cells with LDL, but pretreatment of the cells with HDL did not show significant effect. HDL-cholesteryl ester uptake was only slightly suppressed by pretreatment of the cells with LDL, and there was no effect with HDL pretreatment. HDL-cholesteryl ester uptake was not affected either by the presence of LDL or human plasma lipid transfer protein alone in the medium under our experimental conditions. Lipid transfer protein enhanced the uptake of radiolabeled cholesteryl ester originating from HDL by the cells only in the presence of LDL. Thus, lipid transfer protein catalyzes a bypass to LDL for the uptake by HepG2 cells of cholesteryl ester molecules which originate in HDL, and this pathway is much more efficient than direct uptake of cholesteryl ester originating in HDL by these cells.

Binding, Competitive↗

Sequential changes in muscarinic acetylcholine, adenosine A1 and calcium antagonist binding sites in the gerbil hippocampus following repeated brief ischemia.

We performed quantitative autoradiography to determine sequential alterations in the binding of muscarinic cholinergic and adenosine A1 receptors and of an L-type calcium channel blocker in the gerbil hippocampus following repeated brief ischemic insults. [3H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB). [3H]cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) and [3H]PN200-110 were used to label muscarinic and adenosine A1 receptors and L-type calcium channels, respectively. Changes at 1 h, 6 h, 1 day, 4 days and 1 month after three 2-min ischemic insults were compared with changes after single 2- or 6-min ischemia. Two-minute ischemia, which causes no histopathological neuronal damage, produced no persistent alterations in binding sites. We observed a transient and mild increase in binding activities, especially in [3H]CHA binding, at 1 h of recirculation. Following 6-min ischemia and three 2-min ischemic insults. [3H]QNB and [3H]PN200-110 binding decreased by more than 50% in the CA1 subfield by 1 month, but [3H]CHA binding decreased transiently by 20-30% at 4 days when delayed neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells took place. Reductions in binding, especially in [3H]QNB binding, following three 2-min ischemic insults were greater and appeared earlier than those after 6-min ischemia. Furthermore, alterations extended to the CA3 subfield and the dentate gyrus following repeated insults. Thus, alterations in receptor binding after repeated ischemic insults were greater than those after equivalent single period of ischemia.

Adenosine↗

Amelioration of brain damage after focal ischemia in the rat by a novel inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.

We studied the effects of 2-(allyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-n-amyloxyquinazoline fumarate (KB-5666) on brain edema and histological neuronal damage in rats with focal ischemia and on lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates and brain mitochondria in vitro. KB-5666 (3-100 microM) inhibited lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates and mitochondria, and also inhibited mitochondrial swelling. In a rat with middle cerebral artery occlusion, administration of KB-5666 (3 and 10 mg/kg) immediately after ischemia prevented the formation of brain edema in the cortex and ameliorated the histological neuronal damage in the same area, but failed to do so in the striatum. These results indicate that KB-5666 is a potential inhibitor of lipid peroxidation that could possibly prevent ischemic complications such as formation of brain edema and neuronal damage. Further, these results suggest that lipid peroxidation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic damage after focal ischemia.

Animals↗

ATP-dependent transport for glucuronides in canalicular plasma membrane vesicles.

Using rat liver canalicular plasma membrane vesicles, it has been verified that the transport of p-nitrophenyl glucuronide (NPG) across membranes is an ATP-dependent process; the apparent Km for NPG was 20 microM. S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-glutathione (DNP-SG) inhibited NPG uptake dose-dependently, and NPG or testosterone glucuronide did ATP-dependent DNP-SG uptake similarly. These results suggest that transport of glucuronide is mediated by an ATP-dependent glutathione S-conjugate carrier.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Postischemic alteration of [3H]forskolin binding sites in selectively vulnerable areas: an autoradiographic study of gerbil brain.

The postischemic alteration in forskolin receptor binding sites 1 h to 1 month after transient cerebral ischemia was studied in the gerbil. Forskolin binding showed marked reduction in the striatum at an early stage of recirculation, whereas a transient increase was seen in the frontal cortex, the hippocampal regions, and the thalamus. The dentate molecular layer and the parietal cortex revealed no significant changes in the forskolin receptor binding. However, a significant reduction in the forskolin receptor binding was found in these areas after 48 h or 7 days of recirculation. These results suggest that the neuronal damage in the selectively vulnerable areas following transient cerebral ischemia may process with different mechanisms.

Animals↗

MCI-9042, a new antiplatelet agent is a selective S2-serotonergic receptor antagonist.

MCI-9042, (+/-)-1-[2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]phenoxy]-3- (dimethylamino)-2-propyl hydrogen succinate hydrochloride inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen and secondary aggregation by ADP or epinephrine at 10(-6) M level in platelets of various species. The antiplatelet effect of MCI-9042 was potentiated in aggregation induced by a combination of serotonin with collagen. IC50 value of human platelet aggregation by the serotonin plus collagen was 1.0 x 10(-7) M. MCI-9042 inhibited serotonin release accompanied with collagen-induced platelet aggregation, while it did not affect serotonin uptake into platelet. MCI-9042 also potently inhibited the S2-serotonergic receptor-mediated contraction of rat caudal artery by serotonin in a competitive manner with a Ki value of 1.79 x 10(-8) M, while S1 receptor- or adrenergic receptor-mediated vasoconstriction was inhibited more weakly. Platelet adhesiveness, c-AMP level in platelets and the conversion of arachidonic acid to thromboxane A2 were not influenced by MCI-9042. These results suggest that MCI-9042 is a selective S2-serotonergic receptor antagonist, exhibiting the inhibition of S2-serotonergic potentiated platelet aggregation and the suppression of blood vessel constriction mediated by S2-serotonergic receptor.

Animals↗

Autoradiographic analysis of second messenger and neurotransmitter system receptors in the gerbil hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia.

Changes in second messenger and neurotransmitter system receptor ligand binding induced by transient forebrain ischemia were studied in the gerbil hippocampus. The animals were allowed variable periods of recovery ranging from 2 h to 7 days after 5-min bilateral carotid artery occlusion. The binding of second messenger systems ([3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ([3H]IP3)to inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, [3H]forskolin to adenylate cyclase and [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutylate to protein kinase C) and neurotransmitter receptor systems ([3H]PN200-110 to L-type calcium channels. [3H]N6-cyclohexyl-adenosine to adenosine A1 and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate to muscarinic cholinergic receptor) were assayed using quantitative autoradiography. In the CA1 subfield, 2 h after ischemia, [3H]IP3, [3H]forskolin, and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding activities significantly decreased by 25, 17 and 13%, respectively, though no morphological abnormalities were obvious. Six hours after ischemia, the [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutylate binding activity in the stratum oriens of the CA1 subfield increased by 15%. One day after ischemia, [3H]PN200-110 binding activity in this subfield decreased by 26%, and 7 days after ischemia, [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutylate and [3H]N6-cyclohexyl-adenosine receptor binding activities decreased in this subfield. In particular, at 7 days after ischemia, [3H]IP3 binding activity in the CA1 subfield showed a complete decline. In the CA3 subfield, [3H]PN200-110 binding activity decreased 2 days after ischemia, and [3H]IP3 and [3H]N6-cyclohexyl-adenosine binding activities decreased 7 days after ischemia. In the dentate gyrus, the structure of which remained histologically intact after ischemic insult, [3H]IP3 and [3H]forskolin binding activities decreased 7 days after ischemia. In contrast, the [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutylate binding activity increased in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus 7 days after ischemia. These results indicate that marked alteration of intracellular signal transduction precedes neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 subfield and that the histologically intact CA3 and dentate gyrus also shows modulated neuronal transmission after ischemia.

Adenosine↗

Interaction of free apolipoproteins with macrophages. Formation of high density lipoprotein-like lipoproteins and reduction of cellular cholesterol.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages, loaded with cholesteryl ester by incubating with acetylated human low density lipoprotein containing [3H]cholesteryl oleate, were exposed to purified human apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, A-II, C-III, or E in aqueous solutions. Unesterified cholesterol was released into the medium in the presence of apoA-I, -A-II, or -E, accompanied by the decrease in intracellular cholesteryl ester. ApoC-III had no such effects. Apparent Km values of the cholesterol release were estimated as 0.11, 0.14, and 0.24 microM, and Vmax values 35, 11, and 14 micrograms of cholesterol/mg of cell protein/6 h, for apoA-I, -A-II, and -E, respectively. The products formed with apoA-I, -A-II, or -E in the media were analyzed by density gradient ultracentrifugation when the cells were preloaded with [3H]cholesteryl oleate-acetylated low density lipoproteins and [3H]choline. Free [3H]cholesterol, [3H]phosphatidylcholine, and [3H]sphingomyelin were detected coincidentally as a symmetric peak at the density of 1.1 in each case. In the complex of lipids and apoA-I or apoA-II, the weight ratios of apolipoprotein/cholesterol/phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin/lysophosphatidyl- choline were estimated as 2.2:1:0.6:0.2:0.07 and 4.0:1:0.5:0.3:0.07, respectively. Both of the products formed with apoA-I and -A-II migrated slower than plasma high density lipoprotein in electrophoresis on agarose gel. Because the Km values are as low as 1:340-400, 1:140-160, and 1:6-8 of plasma concentrations of apoA-I, -A-II, and -E, respectively, the results have physiological relevance for a function of the free apolipoproteins in interstitial fluid to form high density lipoprotein and to reduce cellular cholesterol.

Animals↗