[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus presented with severe acute pancreatitis as an initial manifestation and improved by intensive care].
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Publications and source records attributed to H Ishihara.
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A 49 year-old-woman was scheduled for resection of a huge hemangioma of the face and neck region. After the resection, severe edema developed on the tongue, larynx, and pharynx even leaving no space between the tracheal tube and these tissues. Prolonged respiratory management with endotracheal tube intubation was needed to maintain the upper airway for more than three weeks. Tracheostomy was performed 27 days after the operation. Two weeks later, the edema of the upper airway subsided. Thereafter her clinical course was uneventful, and she was discharged 22 days after the tracheostomy. Resection of a huge facial and neck hemangioma should be carefully managed as it can be followed by unexpected severe postoperative upper airway edema leading to suffocation.
Human H3N2 influenza A viruses were known to preferentially bind to sialic acid (SA) in alpha2,6Gal linkage on red blood cells (RBC). However, H3N2 viruses isolated in MDCK cells after 1992 did not agglutinate chicken RBC (CRBC). Experiments with point-mutated hemagglutinin (HA) of A/Aichi/51/92, one of these viruses, revealed that an amino acid change from Glu to Asp at position 190 (E190D) was responsible for the loss of ability to bind to CRBC. A/Aichi/51/92 did not agglutinate CRBC treated with alpha2, 3-sialidase, suggesting that SAalpha2,3Gal on CRBC might not inhibit the binding of the virus to SAalpha2,6Gal on CRBC. However, the virus agglutinated derivatized CRBC resialylated with SAalpha2, 6Galbeta1,4GlcNAc. These findings suggested that the E190D change might have rendered the HA able to distinguish sialyloligosaccharides on the derivatized CRBC containing the SAalpha2,6Galbeta1,4GlcNAc sequence from those on the native CRBC.
BACKGROUND: Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a widely expressed cytokine involved in both local and systemic immune response. Furthermore, it has been implicated in various immunological processes including thymic T cell maturation and embryo implantation. We investigated implication of various modalities in the application of prolonged and viable allograft to the wound, using cytokines and growth factors. MATERIALS: BALB/c and B6D2F1 strains of mice were used either as a skin graft donor or host. LIF cDNA inserted in plasmid vector or the vector alone was injected intradermally in graft skin and observed up to 21 days. LIF, LIF-receptor, gp130, as well as type 1 and 2 T helper cytokine expressions were investigated by reverse transcription polymerasse chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and histological studies. RESULTS: LIF cDNA-treated groups showed significantly improved graft survival compared to the vector-treated control in 21 days postoperatively for grafting from B6D2F1 to BALB/c and BALB/c to B6D2F1. LIF and LIF receptor mRNA expressions were observed 24 hr and 21 days posttransplantation. The gp130 expression was only observed in LIF-treated B6D2F1 to BALB/c allografting on day 21 posttransplantation. LIF transcripts were strongly present in the epidermal, dermal, and subdermal tissues as determined by an in situ hybridization of LIF-treated grafting. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that LIF cDNA treatment is an effective and beneficial adjuvant for the skin allograft survival. Improved skin allograft modulation by cytokine gene transfer is a potentially promising therapy for temporary large skin coverage.
The inhibitory activities of 5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-selenazine derivatives on protein kinases were investigated. In a multiple protein kinase assay using a postnuclear fraction of v-src-transformed NIH3T3 cells, 4-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2-p-tolyl-5, 6-dihydro-4H-1,3-selenazine (TS-2) and 4-hydroxy-6-isopropyl-4-methyl-2-p-tolyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-1, 3-selenazine (TS-4) exhibited selective inhibitory activity against eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2K) over protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). In further experiments using purified kinases, TS-2 (IC(50)=0.36 microM) and TS-4 (IC(50)=0.31 microM) inhibited eEF-2K about 25-fold more effectively than calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-I (CaMK-I), and about 6-fold (TS-2) or 33-fold (TS-4) more effectively than calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMK-II), respectively. TS-2 and TS-4 showed much weaker inhibitory activity toward PKA and PKC, while TS-4, but not TS-2, moderately inhibited immunoprecipitated v-src kinase. TS-2 (10.7-fold) and TS-4 (12.5-fold) demonstrated more potent and more specific eEF-2K inhibitory activity than rottlerin, a previously identified eEF-2K inhibitor. TS-2 inhibited ATP or eEF-2 binding to eEF-2K in a competitive or non-competitive manner, respectively. In cultured v-src-transformed NIH3T3 cells, TS-2 also decreased phospho-eEF-2 protein level (IC(50)=4.7 microM) without changing the total eEF-2 protein level. Taken together, these results suggest that TS-2 and TS-4 are the first identified selective eEF-2K inhibitors and should be useful tools for studying the function of eEF-2K.
A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of mefenamic acid (MFA), flufenamic acid (FFA) and tolfenamic acid (TFA) is presented for application to pharmaceuticals and human urine. Isocratic reversed-phase HPLC was employed for quantitative analysis using tetra-pentylammonium bromide (TPAB) as an ion-pair reagent. Urine samples were purified by solid-phase extraction using a silica-based strong anion-exchanger, Bond-Elut SAX cartridge. The HPLC assay was carried out using a Wakosil ODS 5C18 column (5 microm, 150x4.6 mm I.D.). The mobile phase consisted of 1.9 g of TPAB dissolved in 1:1 of a mixture of acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer solution, pH 5.0, and acetonitrile (11:9, v/v). The calibration curves of MFA, FFA and TFA showed good linearity in the concentration range of 33-167 microg/ml with a wavelength of 280 nm for pharmaceuticals, and in the low concentration range (1.7-30.1 microg/ml) with a wavelength of 230 nm for biological fluids. The correlation coefficients were better than 0.9999 in all cases. The lower limits of detection (defined as a signal-to-noise ratio of about 3) were approximately 2 ng for MFA, 3.5 ng for FFA and 2.5 ng for TFA. The procedure described here is rapid, simple, selective and is suitable for routine analysis of pharmaceuticals and pharmacokinetic studies in human urine samples.
We synthesized various 4-(3-chloro-4-methoxybenzyl)aminophthalazines substituted at the 1- and 6-positions and evaluated their inhibitory activity toward phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) and their vasorelaxant activity in isolated porcine coronary arteries precontracted with prostaglandin F2alpha (10(-5) M). The preferred substituents at the 1-position of the phthalazine were 4-hydroxypiperidino, 4-hydroxymethylpiperidino, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidino, and 4-oxopiperidino. Among these compounds, [4-(3-chloro-4-methoxybenzyl)amino-1-(4-hydroxy)piperidino]-6-phthala zinecarbonitrile monohydrochloride (13) exhibited potent PDE5 inhibitory activity (IC(50) = 0.56 nM) with >1700-fold high selectivity over other PDE isozymes (PDE1-4). Compound 13 exhibited the most potent vasorelaxant action (EC(50) = 13 nM) in this series of compounds. Compound 13 reduced mean pulmonary arterial pressure by 29.9 +/- 3.1% when administered intravenously at 30 microg/kg to the chronically hypoxic rats and had an apparent oral bioavailability of about 19.5% in rats and was selected for further biological evaluation.
Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) have important roles in the production of various phosphoinositides. For type I PIP5Ks (PIP5KI), a broad substrate specificity is known. They phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate most effectively but also phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate (PI(3, 4)P(2)), resulting in the production of phosphatidylinositol (4, 5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)), phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P(2)), and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate. We show here that PIP5KIs have also protein kinase activities. When each isozyme of PIP5KI (PIP5KIalpha, -beta, and -gamma) was subjected to in vitro kinase assay, autophosphorylation occurred. The lipid kinase-negative mutant of PIP5KIalpha (K138A) lost the protein kinase activity, suggesting the same catalytic mechanism for the lipid and the protein kinase activities. PIP5KIbeta expressed in Escherichia coli also retains this protein kinase activity, thus confirming that no co-immunoprecipitated protein kinase is involved. In addition, the autophosphorylation of PIP5KI is markedly enhanced by the addition of PI. No other phosphoinositides such as phosphatidylinositol phosphate, phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, or phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate have such an effect. We also found that the PI-dependent autophosphorylation strongly suppresses the lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI. The lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI was decreased to one-tenth upon PI-dependent autophosphorylation. All these results indicate that the lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI that acts predominantly for PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis is regulated by PI-dependent autophosphorylation in vivo.
STUDY DESIGN: The results from cervical laminoplasty in 18 patients with diabetes mellitus were compared with results from the same procedure in 34 nondiabetic patients matched for age, gender, and disease. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of diabetes mellitus on the surgical outcome after cervical laminoplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There have been no reports on the results of cervical laminoplasty patients with diabetes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 18 patients with diabetes mellitus who underwent cervical laminoplasty and 34 nondiabetic patients who underwent the same surgical procedure was undertaken. The postoperative score, intra- and postoperative findings, complications, and radiologic factors were compared between the two groups. In the group with diabetes, the correlation between the recovery rate of the Japanese Orthopedic Association score and the factors indicating the severity of diabetes was assessed. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the total Japanese Orthopedic Association scores of the two groups. However, the group with diabetes mellitus showed a poor recovery of sensory function of the lower extremities. Three patients in the group with diabetes had superficial wound complication after surgery. In contrast, none of the patients in the control group had a wound problem. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between the recovery rate and the preoperative HbA1 level in the group with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with diabetes mellitus who had cervical myelopathy experienced benefits from cervical laminoplasty similar to those of nondiabetic patients, the patients with diabetes were more likely to have wound complication. Furthermore, the negative correlation between the recovery rate and the preoperative HbA1 value might suggest that long-term diabetes control of more than 2 to 3 months before surgery at least is recommended for a favorable surgical outcome.
Action polymerization is essential for a variety of cellular processes including movement, cell division and shape change. The induction of actin polymerization requires the generation of free actin filament barbed ends, which results from the severing or uncapping of pre-existing actin filaments [1] [2], or de novo nucleation, initiated by the Arp2/3 complex [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]. Although little is known about the signaling pathways that regulate actin assembly, small GTPases of the Rho family appear to be necessary [8] [9] [10] [11]. In thrombin-stimulated platelets, the Rho family GTPase Rac1 induces actin polymerization by stimulating the uncapping of actin filament barbed ends [2]. The mechanism by which Rac regulates uncapping is unclear, however. We previously demonstrated that Rac interacts with a type I phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP 5-kinase) in a GTP-independent manner [12] [13]. Because PIP 5-kinases synthesize phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)), a lipid that dissociates capping proteins from the barbed ends of actin filaments [14] [15] [16], they are good candidates for mediating the effects of Rac on actin assembly. Here, we have identified the Rac-associated PIP 5-kinase as the PIP 5-kinase isoforms alpha and beta. When added to permeabilized platelets, PIP 5-kinase alpha induced actin filament uncapping and assembly. In contrast, a kinase-inactive PIP 5-kinase alpha mutant failed to induce actin assembly and blocked assembly stimulated by thrombin or Rac. Furthermore, thrombin- or Rac-induced actin polymerization was inhibited by a point mutation in the carboxyl terminus of Rac that disrupts PIP 5-kinase binding. These results demonstrate that PIP 5-kinase alpha is a critical mediator of thrombin- and Rac-dependent actin assembly.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the initial distribution volume of glucose (IDVG) rather than plasma volume or blood volume is correlated better with cardiac output during the 4 days following major surgery. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective clinical investigation in the general intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 31 consecutive patients who underwent radical surgery for esophageal carcinoma were enrolled. Continuous thermodilution cardiac output monitor was placed in the operating room. Indocyanine green (ICG; 25 mg) and glucose (5 g) were administered simultaneously to calculate IDVG and plasma volume determined using the ICG dilution method. Blood volume was also calculated from plasma volume ICG and hematocrit. Those volumes were measured on admission to the ICU and daily on the first 3 postoperative days. The relationships between each volume and cardiac index (CI), and between routine clinical variables and CI were evaluated. RESULTS: IDVG had a linear correlation with CI in the early postoperative days (r = 0.71, n = 124, p < 0.000001). Measurements of neither the plasma volume nor the blood volume yielded a better correlation with CI than did IDVG (r = 0.45, n = 124, p < 0.000001, and r = 0.23, n = 124, p < 0.01, respectively). No correlation was found between pulmonary artery wedge pressure and CI or between central venous pressure and CI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that IDVG rather than intravascular volume is correlated with cardiac output. We suggest that IDVG has potential as an alternative indicator of cardiac preload following major surgery.
OBJECTIVE: We have recently reported that the initial distribution volume of glucose (IDVG) reliably measures the central extracellular fluid (ECF) volume in the presence of fluid gain or loss. However, it is not clear if IDVG consistently reflects central-ECF volume when redistribution of fluid occurs in the absence of fluid gain or loss. This study was designed to investigate changes in fluid volumes during phentolamine infusion in dogs. DESIGN: Prospective animal study. SETTING: Institutional animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Fourteen anesthetized and ventilated mongrel dogs. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthetized animals were mechanically ventilated and received infusions of normal saline (n = 7) or phentolamine (10 microg kg min) (n = 7). Plasma volume was estimated using the indocyanine green (ICG) dilution method (PV-ICG) and IDVG was calculated using a one-compartment model by simultaneous administration of ICG 0.5 mg/kg and glucose 100 mg/kg before, during, and after infusion of either drug. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: PV-ICG during infusion was not different between groups. However, IDVG significantly decreased (P < 0.05) following phentolamine infusion when compared with normal saline infusion. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IDVG rather than PV-ICG consistently measures central extracellular fluid volume, even when redistribution of fluid occurs.
We tested the contribution of the small GTPase Rho and its downstream target p160ROCK during the early stages of axon formation in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. p160ROCK inhibition, presumably by reducing the stability of the cortical actin network, triggered immediate outgrowth of membrane ruffles and filopodia, followed by the generation of initial growth cone-ike membrane domains from which axonal processes arose. Furthermore, a potentiation in both the size and the motility of growth cones was evident, though the overall axon elongation rate remained stable. Conversely, overexpression of dominant active forms of Rho or ROCK was suggested to prevent initiation of axon outgrowth. Taken together, our data indicate a novel role for the Rho/ROCK pathway as a gate critical for the initiation of axon outgrowth and the control of growth cone dynamics.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the pituitary-adrenal and catecholamine response to surgical stress is modified in chronically depressed patients. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled study. PATIENTS: 25 ASA physical status I and II depressed patients taking chronic antidepressant therapy and 25 control patients undergoing orthopedic surgery of the extremities. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received anesthesia induction with thiopental 5 mg/kg and suxamethonium 1 mg/kg intravenously (IV) and were maintained with 1.5% to 2.0% isoflurane in nitrous oxide (70%) and oxygen (30%). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma cortisol concentration (27.7 +/- 3.6 microg/dL) in chronic depressed patients at 60 minutes after the skin incision was not significantly higher than that (23.9 +/- 2.7 microg/dL) before the induction, although plasma cortisol concentration in the control group significantly increased. Plasma norepinephrine concentration at 60 min after the skin incision in depressed patients with more symptoms of depression was significantly higher than that of patients with less symptoms of depression. CONCLUSION: The cortisol response to surgical stress in depressed patients was inhibited and norepinephrine response to surgical stress was increased in depressed patients with more symptoms of depression.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces three types of bacteriocins: R-, F- and S-type pyocins. The S-type pyocin is a colicin-like protein, whereas the R-type pyocin resembles a contractile but non-flexible tail structure of bacteriophage, and the F-type a flexible but non-contractile one. As genetically related phages exist for each type, these pyocins have been thought to be variations of defective phage. In the present study, the nucleotide sequence of R2 pyocin genes, along with those for F2 pyocin, which are located downstream of the R2 gene cluster on the chromosome of P. aeruginosa PAO1, was analysed in order to elucidate the relationship between the pyocins and bacteriophages. The results clearly demonstrated that the R-type pyocin is derived from a common ancestral origin with P2 phage and the F-type from lambda phage. This notion was supported by identification of a lysis gene cassette similar to those for bacteriophages. The gene organization of the R2 and F2 pyocin gene cluster, however, suggested that both pyocins are not simple defective phages, but are phage tails that have been evolutionarily specialized as bacteriocins. A systematic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of P. aeruginosa strains that produce various subtypes of R and F pyocins revealed that the genes for every subtype are located between trpE and trpG in the same or very similar gene organization as for R2 and F2 pyocins, but with alterations in genes that determine the receptor specificity.
Keloids are benign dermal tumors, characterized by overgrowth of lesions, invasiveness beyond the original boundary of the insult, and recurrence of lesions. The exact etiology is unknown, however. Our hypothesis is that keloids are acquired as a result of an abnormal or prolonged wound healing process, with persistent proliferation and extracellular matrix production of fibroblasts that should otherwise discontinue in normal wound healing. In this study, we examined the response of keloid fibroblasts to proapoptotic signaling. Cell-permeable ceramide, N-acetyl-D-sphingosine, induced apoptosis of dermal fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which was detected by phase contrast microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, the TUNEL method, flow cytometric analysis, and WST-1 assay. In contrast, keloid fibroblasts resisted apoptosis induced by N-acetyl-D-sphingosine (percent survival with 40 mM ceramide treatment for 12 h, normal versus keloid: 9.6% +/- 6.6% vs 66.8% +/- 5.5%). Western blotting analysis showed insulin-like growth factor I receptor overexpression in keloid fibroblasts, but not in normal fibroblasts. Exogenously added insulin-like growth factor I enhanced the resistance of keloid fibroblasts to ceramide-induced apoptosis. Wort- mannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase inhibitor, suppressed the antiapoptotic action of insulin-like growth factor I in keloid fibroblasts. Our results suggest that keloid fibroblasts overexpressing insulin-like growth factor I receptor are resistant to apoptosis, thus allowing persistent proliferation and production of excessive extracellular matrix. J Invest Dermatol 115:1065-1071 2000
PURPOSE: To investigate the induction by carbon- ion irradiation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RERF-LC-AI lung squamous carcinoma cells were irradiated with carbon ions of either 13.3, 50 or 90keV/microm. Colony formation was used to determine cell survival. VEGF mRNA and protein of the irradiated cells were quantified by Northern blot analysis and ELISA assay, respectively. Genistein, Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor and H7, protein kinase C inhibitor, were used to inhibit VEGF mRNA expression. RESULTS: The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of carbon ions (13.3, 50 and 90keV/microm) was 1.10, 1.97 and 2.30, respectively, in terms of D10 values. Single doses of 15 Gy with either X-rays or carbon ions significantly induced VEGF mRNA expression at 16-24h after irradiation with a maximum induction of 2.81-fold. A significant increase was also observed in VEGF protein levels, detected in culture supernatant 24h after irradiation with 50 and 90keV/microm carbon ions. Neither mRNA nor protein induction showed a dependence on LET. The induction of VEGF mRNA by carbon-ion irradiation was completely inhibited by pretreating cells with genistein and H7, indicating that Src tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C on cell surface membranes is involved in the induction. CONCLUSION: Irradiation of lung carcinoma cells with carbon ions induced VEGF mRNA expression and increased protein levels. The induction was dose-dependent. Radiation-induced DNA damage and/or its repair may not be a prerequisite for the induction of VEGF mRNA.
Pancreatic islet beta-cells are poised to generate metabolic messengers in the mitochondria that link glucose metabolism to insulin exocytosis. This is accomplished through the tight coupling of glycolysis to mitochondrial activation. The messenger molecules ATP and glutamate are produced after the metabolism of glycolysis-derived pyruvate in the mitochondria. The entry of monocarboxylates such as pyruvate into the beta cell is limited, explaining why overexpression of monocarboxylate transporters unravels pyruvate-stimulated insulin secretion. NADH generated by glycolysis is efficiently reoxidized by highly active mitochondrial shuttles rather than by lactate dehydrogenase. Overexpression of this enzyme does not alter glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, suggesting that NADH availability restricts the conversion of pyruvate to lactate in the beta cell. These metabolic features permit the fuel function of glucose to be extended to the generation of signaling molecules, which increases cytosolic Ca2+ and promotes insulin exocytosis.