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Biomedical subjects

H Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to H Inoue.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[An outbreak of Legionnaire's disease associated with a Japanese spa].

From June 24 to July 5, 1996, 3 patients were admitted to the same hospital with atypical pneumonia. One of the patients, a 52-year-old man, demonstrated progressive pulmonary infiltrates and severe hypoxemia, and finally required mechanical ventilation. All 3 patients had elevated antibody titers for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, and had visited the same spa prior to the onset of their symptoms. On September 25, 1996 the district health department inspected the spa, and isolated Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from the facility's hot water tanks and outlets. Although it has been reported that many spas in Japan are contaminated with Legionellaceae, the outbreak we encountered suggests that Japanese spas, like whirlpool spas in Europe and North America, can be a source of Legionnaire's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Surgical treatment of a ruptured saccular aneurysm associated with bilateral coronary arteries-pulmonary artery fistulas: a case report].

We reported a successful operative case of ruptured coronary artery saccular aneurysm associated with bilateral coronary arteries-pulmonary artery fistulas. A 57-year-old woman, had been treated with hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure, suffered from acute heart failure with chest pain suddenly. Echocardiograph showed moderate pericardial effusion. A saccular coronary artery aneurysm with bilateral coronary arteries-pulmonary artery fistulas revealed by coronary angiogram. Ligation of coronary artery fistula, closure of orifice of draining artery to pulmonary artery and aneurysmorrhaphy were performed emergently. Post operative angiogram revealed complete disappearance of the fistulas.

Arterio-Arterial Fistula↗
PubMed1999

[A case of simple coarctation].

We report a successful surgical repair of the simple coarctation of a 80-day-old girl by extended end-to-end aortic arch reconstruction. She was admitted to our hospital at the age of 4 days because of poor pulsation of femoral arteries. The systolic blood pressure gradient between the arm and the leg was 30 mmHg. Echocardiography on admission revealed a simple coarctation and patent foramen ovale, with the mildly impaired left ventricular contraction (left ventricular fractional shortening was 23%). Although aortography demonstrated an isolated interrupted segment at the aortic isthmus with collaterals (type A classification of Celoria-Patton), the tubular connection between the distal arch and the descending aorta, of which intralumen was obstructed with abundant ductal tissues, was found at operation. The obstruction of the lumen of aortic isthmus in our case, which was originally patent, might be caused by ductal closure and present as a simple coarctation.

Aortic Coarctation↗
PubMed1999

Species-dependent differences in monoamine oxidase A and B-catalyzed oxidation of various C4 substituted 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridinyl derivatives.

In an attempt to provide a better understanding of the scope and limitations of animal models used in some drug development programs and to further our understanding of potential metabolic bioactivation reactions, we have undertaken studies to profile the monoamine oxidase A and B (MAO-A and -B, respectively) activities in liver and brain mitochondrial preparations obtained from a variety of species using a series of 1-methyl-4-aryl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridinyl substrates. Mitochondrial preparations were incubated with substrates at 37 degrees C in the presence or absence of clorgyline, (R)-deprenyl, or a mixture of these two propargylamines to inhibit MAO-A, MAO-B, or both enzymes. The rates of formation of the corresponding dihydropyridinium metabolites were estimated spectrophotometrically. MAO-B was found to be the principal enzyme present in all tissues. Human liver displayed more MAO-A activity than the liver of any other species studied; subhuman primates displayed little or no detectable MAO-A activity. The properties of the preparations from rat liver were most similar to those from human liver with respect to the MAO-A/MAO-B ratios and the kinetic parameters of the four substrates used to profile enzymatic activity. The kinetic properties of mitochondrial preparations from bovine liver, a commonly used source of purified MAO-B preparations, were consistently different from all of the other species studied. The mitochondrial preparations from rabbit brain and liver also were unusual in that they displayed relatively low MAO activities. Additionally, these enzyme activities were considerably less susceptible to inhibition by clorgyline and (R)-deprenyl. Finally, an exceptionally low MAO-B liver/brain V(max)/K(m) ratio was observed with the mitochondria obtained from the C57BL/6 mouse, an effect that may contribute to the susceptibility of this strain to the toxic effects of the parkinsonian-inducing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridine.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1999

A phase II trial of low dose administration of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in patients with advanced and recurrent gastric cancer.

The clinical efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer has not been established. We investigated in a phase II study the combination chemotherapy of low dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (low dose FP) to evaluate its clinical efficacy in terms of response, quality of life and survival in 43 gastric cancer patients including 29 advanced and 14 recurrent cases. The administration of 5-FU was done by continuous intravenous infusion for 28 consecutive days with a dose of 250 mg/m2, while the administration of cisplatin was done by 1-h intravenous drip-infusion for 5 consecutive days and 2-day intervals per week with a dose of 3.5 mg/m2, that was repeated for 4 weeks in one cycle. The response rate in advanced cases was 48.3%, evaluated in 14 cases of partial response (PR), whereas its response rate in recurrent cases was 35.7%, evaluated in 5 cases of PR. The most effective lesions for low dose FP chemotherapy were primary lesion and lymph node metastasis. The quality of life assessed by performance status and oral intake was improved in 13.8% and 37.9% of advanced cases, and 21.4% and 28.6% of recurrent cases, respectively, as compared to those of pretreatment. The median survival time and 1-year survival rate were 6 months, 21.6% in advanced cases and 10 months, 28.8% in recurrent cases, respectively. The major adverse effect was observed in gastrointestinal toxicity and leukopenia, and the all toxicities were less than grade 2, that were controllable during the treatment. These results indicated that the combination chemotherapy of low dose administration of 5-FU and cisplatin might have therapeutic efficacy in tumor response and offer improvement in quality of life in patients with advanced and recurrent gastric cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Interleukin-8 and airway inflammation].

Airway inflammation is a prominent feature of chronic obstructive diseases of the airways, including asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Neutrophils are implicated in the pathogenesis of these diseases. The present review discusses the role of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a neutrophil chemo-attractant, in neutrophil accumulation in the airways, and the mechanisms of inducing IL-8 expression. IL-8 presents in the sputum of patients with inflammatory airway diseases, and accounts in large part for the chemo-attractant activity present. Focusing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the stimulus, it was discovered that when a supernatant of bacterial culture is introduced into the airways in vivo, bacterial products induce IL-8 expression in surface airway epithelial cells and the recruitment of neutrophils into the airways. The neutrophil chemotactic activity of the airway fluid was inhibited by an IL-8 antibody. The luminal IL-8 concentration increased in response to instillation of bacteria, and an inhibitor of neutrophil recruitment markedly reduced the IL-8 levels. From these results, it was speculated that bacteria-induced neutrophil accumulation in the airways involves a cascade of events, and that early neutrophil recruitment in response to bacteria is due to epithelium-derived IL-8, while the amplification of the response is due, at least in part, to IL-8 induction in the neutrophils themselves.

Bronchial Hyperreactivity↗
PubMed1999

[Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis with fibrobullous change in upper lung lobes and dyspnea due to limitation of thoracic cage].

A 48-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of shortness of breath and abnormal shadows on chest roentgenograms. Although he had been given a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at the onset of his symptoms, a diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) was made by our orthopedics department on the basis of bone X-ray findings. Spirograms demonstrated a restrictive pattern and residual volume was increased. Total lung capacity and respiratory muscle function were normal, suggesting that the abnormal spirogram findings were due to decreased thoracic cage compliance. Chest roentgenograms and computed tomographic scans showed apical fibrobullous changes in both lungs, similar to those observed in AS. To our knowledge, this is the first case of DISH with pulmonary involvement to be reported to date. The pulmonary manifestations were similar to those of AS, and it was speculated that they were due to limitation of the thoracic cage.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

Usefulness of video-assisted thoracic surgery (Two Windows Method) in the treatment of lung cancer for elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: We have been performing it less invasively by making just two, small skin incisions (Two Windows Method) for lung cancer surgery. We assess the usefulness of VATS by the Two Windows Method in elderly patients. METHODS: The subjects were 32 of the 75-year-old or older patients with primary lung cancer in our department. We assessed cases in which thoracotomy was performed and the cases in which VATS by Two Windows Method was performed, and compared postoperative complications, hospital deaths, and postoperative length of stay. RESULTS: Operations by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) by the Two Windows Method were completed in 20 of the 32 patients, and a conversion to thoracotomy was done in two patients (rate 9%). Ultimately, thoracotomy was performed in a total of 12 cases, including these two. In the thoracotomy patients, the most common postoperative complication was pneumonia/atelectasis (4 cases) secondary to poor sputum expectoration. There were 2 hospital deaths due to septicemia, and there was 1 due to pulmonary artery embolism. In the VATS patients, the rate of occurrence of postoperative complications was 30%, and clearly lower than the 67% among the thoracotomy patients (p<0.05). No hospital death occurred among the VATS patients. The postoperative hospital stay of the VATS patients (21 days) was shorter than that of the thoracotomy patients (31 days), (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: VATS by the Two Windows Method is safer than thoracotomy, and it should be considered first for lung cancer surgery in the aged.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[A case of stage IV (A3) cervical and upper thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma successfully treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy].

We report a case of cervical and upper thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma with tracheal stenosis and bilateral recurrent nerve palsy. A 64-year-old man with unresectable esophageal cancer (A3, N1, M0) was treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A dose of 67.4 Gy was irradiated to the cervical and upper thoracic area where the primary tumor and lymph node metastases were located, and six courses of 5-FU (250 mg/24 h/day 1-5) and CDDP (5 mg/1 h, just before radiation/day 1-5) were delivered concurrently. The esophageal tumor showed a complete response (CR), and the paratracheal lymph node metastases showed partial responses (PR). The reason these therapies were more effective against the tumor than the lymph node metastases is uncertain. The patient is no longer required to stay in the hospital, and his QOL has been improving. His condition has been maintained for 4 months, so this type of concurrent chemoradiotherapy may be recommended for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

4-(5,6-dimethoxy-2-phthalimidinyl)-2-methoxyphenylsulfonyl chloride as a fluorescent labeling reagent for determination of amino acids in high-performance liquid chromatography and its application for determination of urinary free hydroxyproline.

A highly sensitive fluorescent labeling reagent, 4-(5,6-dimethoxy-2-phthalimidinyl)-2-methoxyphenylsulfonyl chloride (DMS-Cl), for determination of amino acids by HPLC has been developed. DMS-Cl reacted with amino acids in the basic medium to produce the corresponding fluorescent sulfonamides (excitation and emission wavelength: 318 and 406 nm in aqueous acetonitrile, respectively). When the reactivity of DMS-Cl was investigated by means of reversed-phase HPLC using hydroxyproline (Hyp) and alanine (Ala) as model compounds, the reaction of Hyp was completed within 5 min at 25 degrees C and that of Ala within 15 min at 70 degrees C. The efficiency of conversion of Hyp into the fluorescent derivative was about 100%. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of almost all amino acids were less than 5 fmol/injection. When the concentration of urinary free Hyp was measured with HPLC using DMS-Cl, the concentration (mean +/- SD, n = 10) was 3.8 +/- 2.76 microM (2.7 +/- 1.71 nmol/mg creatinine).

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1998

Role of adrenergic nervous system in cigarette smoke-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.

The goal of this study was to clarify the role of the adrenergic nervous system in bronchoconstriction induced by exposure to cigarette smoke in guinea pigs. Artificially ventilated animals were exposed to 160 puffs of smoke for 8 min. Bronchoconstriction was assessed as a percentage of the baseline total pulmonary resistance (RL). The effects of pretreatment with phentolamine (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.), propranolol (1 mg/kg, i.v.), and/or atropine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) were evaluated. Exposure to cigarette smoke caused significant bronchoconstriction. Phentolamine, an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, significantly inhibited cigarette smoke-induced bronchoconstriction, while propranolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, significantly enhanced it. Combined use of these compounds further enhanced the bronchoconstriction. All of modulations of the bronchoconstriction by adrenoceptor antagonists were completely abolished by pretreatment with atropine. Phentolamine and/or propranolol had no effect on the bronchoconstriction induced by inhaled acetylcholine. Pretreatment with yohimbine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.), a selective alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, showed modulatory effects similar to those of phentolamine on cigarette smoke-induced bronchoconstriction. These results suggest that cigarette smoke-induced bronchoconstriction is regulated by the prejunctional modulation of the cholinergic system via alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. This mechanism may be modulated by the autoregulation of adrenergic nerves via the alpha2-autoreceptor.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1998

Effects of epinastine hydrochloride on cholinergic neuro-effector transmission in canine tracheal smooth muscle.

We determined the effects of epinastine hydrochloride, an anti-asthmatic drug, on cholinergic neuro-effector transmission in canine trachea. Isometric tension of tracheal strips was measured in the presence of indomethacin and propranolol. Epinastine (10(-6) M) significantly suppressed the contraction evoked by electrical field stimulation, but had no effect on the acetylcholine-evoked contraction. An L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nicardipine, did not suppress the electrical field stimulation-induced smooth muscle contraction and did not alter the inhibitory effect of epinastine. An N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, omega-conotoxin, suppressed the electrical field stimulation-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner, and in a subthreshold/intermediate concentration abolished the inhibitory effect of epinastine. These findings indicate that epinastine exerts prejunctional inhibitory effects on airway smooth muscle of dogs, presumably by inhibiting acetylcholine release from vagal nerve terminals, and suggest that this effect is mediated by N-type Ca2+ channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) rescues cell death by enhancing plasma membrane Ca(2+)-pumping activity in Hep G2 cells.

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) has been reported to decrease with aging in the rat liver. SMP30 has been also suggested to play a role as a Ca(2+)-binding protein localized in cytosol of hepatocytes. To elucidate the functional significance of SMP30, we have generated Hep G2 cell lines that stably express large amounts of SMP30 by transfection with human SMP30 cDNA. Using these cell lines, in view of the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, we then investigated cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and Na(+)-independent Ca2+ efflux from the cells after extracellular ATP stimulation. Although stimulation of cells with ATP caused transient [Ca2+]i increase in both SMP30 and mock transfectants, rate of decrease after peak in [Ca2+]i was enhanced 2-fold by transfection of SMP30. Correspondingly, Ca2+ efflux was significantly increased in SMP30 transfectants compared with mock transfectants. In addition, more SMP30 transfectants survived than mock transfectants when cell death was induced by Ca2+ ionophore treatment. These results suggest that SMP30 regulates [Ca2+]i by modulating plasma membrane Ca(2+)-pumping activity, and thus down-regulation of SMP30 during aging may contribute to deterioration of cellular functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A new human chondrosarcoma cell line (OUMS-27) that maintains chondrocytic differentiation.

A new human chondrosarcoma cell line, OUMS-27, was established. Monolayer cultures consisted of elongated polygonal cells with a doubling time of 41 hr and a plating efficiency of 2.1%. After reaching confluence, the cells continued to slowly proliferate and formed nodule-like structures, which showed metachromasia when stained with toluidine blue, indicating the presence of proteoglycan. The cells in the nodules were round to polygonal in shape, multilayered and surrounded by abundant extracellular matrix. Types I, II and III collagens were identified by Northern blotting and immunostaining. The cells formed colonies (0.1%) in 0.3% soft-agar medium 3 weeks after inoculation. Inoculation of cells into athymic mice resulted in the formation of tumors at the injection site, resembling the original chondrosarcoma. These results demonstrated that OUMS-27 cells expressed a differentiated chondrocytic phenotype. Moreover, OUMS-27 cells had p53-gene mutation. Thus, the OUMS-27 cell line can provide a useful model not only for studies on human chondrocyte but also for basic studies on the diagnosis, treatment and etiology of human chondrosarcoma.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

A new UV-sensitive mutant that suggests a second excision repair pathway in Neurospora crassa.

In an attempt to understand the relationship between photorepair and dark repair in Neurospora crassa, a new mutant was isolated, which showed defects in both repair processes. The new mutant, mus-38, is moderately sensitive to UV and shows imperfect photoreactivation following UV irradiation. DNA was purified from this mutant and the other UV-sensitive mutants, and analyzed for the removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). UV-specific endonuclease-sensitive sites (ESS) completely disappeared with 1 h of photoreactivation in mus-38 DNA, although the survival recovery with photoreactivation was greatly reduced in this mutant. This suggests that the insufficient survival recovery with photoreactivation in mus-38 does not result from a failure of photo-reversal of CPDs. Removal of ESS during liquid holding (dark repair) was slower in mus-38 compared to wild type. To test the possibility that this mutant was involved in excision repair, the double mutant was made between mus-38 and mus-18, which encodes a UV-damage-specific endonuclease. CPD excision in the mus-18 null mutant was severely affected but not completely inhibited. The double mutant showed a complete loss of the excision activity and was super sensitive to UV. These results indicate that mus-38 participates in an excision pathway that is different from the mus-18 pathway. The mus-38 mutant was sensitive not only to UV but also to some chemical mutagens which make adducts on DNA. Thus, mus-38 is possibly involved in an excision-repair pathway that is related to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3 pathway.

DNA Repair↗
PubMed1998

Production of parathyroid hormone-related peptide by synovial fibroblasts in human osteoarthritis.

Synovial fibroblasts from patients with osteoarthritis in culture produced parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) on treatment with phorbol ester (TPA) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The levels of PTHrP immunoreactivity in the conditioned medium of synovial fibroblast cultures were measured using specific PTHrP antibody. The maximum production was obtained at a concentration of 10(-8) M and 24 h after TPA treatment. But sensitivity to TPA of synovial fibroblasts differed among four patients from slight to marked. PTHrP production was also induced with inflammatory cytokines, such as 1 ng/ml of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and 10(-6) M prostaglandin E2, after 24 h treatment. The expression of PTHrP was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Since the synovial fibroblasts isolated from osteoarthritic patients produce high levels of IL-6 and IL-8, typical cytokines produced in synovial fibroblasts, production of PTHrP may provide new insight into the pathophysiology of joint disorder.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1998

Resveratrol inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 transcription and activity in phorbol ester-treated human mammary epithelial cells.

We determined whether resveratrol, a phenolic antioxidant found in grapes and other food products, inhibited phorbol ester (PMA)-mediated induction of COX-2 in human mammary and oral epithelial cells. Treatment of cells with PMA induces COX-2 and causes a marked increase in the production of prostaglandin E2. These effects were inhibited by resveratrol. Resveratrol suppressed PMA-mediated increases in COX-2 mRNA and protein. Nuclear run-offs revealed increased rates of COX-2 transcription after treatment with PMA, an effect that was inhibited by resveratrol. PMA caused about a 6-fold increase in COX-2 promoter activity, which was suppressed by resveratrol. Transient transfections utilizing COX-2 promoter deletion constructs and COX-2 promoter constructs, in which specific enhancer elements were mutagenized, indicated that the effects of PMA and resveratrol were mediated via a cyclic AMP response element. Resveratrol inhibited PMA-mediated activation of protein kinase C. Overexpressing protein kinase C-alpha, ERK1, and c-Jun led to 4.7-, 5.1-, and 4-fold increases in COX-2 promoter activity, respectively. These effects also were inhibited by resveratrol. Resveratrol blocked PMA-dependent activation of AP-1-mediated gene expression. In addition to the above effects on gene expression, we found that resveratrol also directly inhibited the activity of COX-2. These data are likely to be important for understanding the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗