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H Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to H Kubo.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Color Doppler signal enhancement with SH/TH-508 in pancreatic tumors].

In this report, we showed the efficacy of a new contrast agent (SH/TA-508, Schering AG, Germany) for color Doppler imaging of the pancreatic tumors. In pancreatic ductal cancer, no enhancement of the lesion was observed, but vascular invasion by cancer became to be easily evaluated. On the other hand, hypervascular tumors such as islet cell tumor and cystadenocarcinoma, were increased in color Doppler signals of vessels by SH/TA-508. We concluded that SH/TA-508 was useful for evaluating the vascular invasion by pancreatic cancer as well as vascularity of hypervascular mass and solid component of cystic neoplasma.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1998

Dihydropyridine type calcium channel blocker-induced turbid dialysate in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

We previously reported that manidipine, a new dihydropyridine type calcium channel blocker, produced chylous peritoneal dialysate being visually indistinguishable from infective peritonitis in 5 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) [Yoshimoto et al. 1993]. To study whether such an adverse drug reaction would also be elicited by other commonly prescribed calcium channel blockers in CAPD patients, we have conducted postal inquiry to 15 collaborating hospitals and an institutional survey in International Medical Center of Japan as to the possible occurrence of calcium channel blocker-associated non-infective, turbid peritoneal dialysate in CAPD patients. Our diagnostic criteria for drug-induced turbidity of dialysate as a) it developed within 48 h after the administration of a newly introduced calcium channel blocker to the therapeutic regimen, b) absence of clinical symptoms of peritoneal inflammation (i.e., pyrexia, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting), c) the fluid containing normal leukocyte counts and being negative for bacterial and fungal culture of the fluid, and d) it disappeared shortly after the withdrawal of the assumed causative agent. Results showed that 19 out of 251 CAPD patients given one of the calcium channel blockers developed non-infective turbid peritoneal dialysis that fulfilled all the above criteria. Four calcium channel blockers were suspected to be associated with the events: benidipine [2 out of 2 (100%) patients given the drug], manidipine [15 out of 36 (42%) patients], nisoldipine [1 out of 11 (9%) patients] and nifedipine [1 out of 159 (0.6%)] in descending order of frequency. None of the patients who received nicardipine, nilvadipine, nitrendipine, barnidipine and diltiazem (25, 7, 2, 1 and 8 patients, respectively) exhibited turbid dialysate. In conclusion, we consider that certain dihydropyridine type calcium channel blockers would cause turbid peritoneal dialysate being similar to that observed in patients developing infective peritonitis. To avoid unnecessary antibiotic therapy the possibility of this adverse reaction should be ruled out whenever a CAPD patient receiving a dihydropyridine type calcium channel blocker develops turbid dialysate.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗
PubMed1997

Title not supplied by PubMed (PMID 11091618)

A comparative study of &sup201;Tl and &sup99m;Tc-methoxy-2 isobutyl isonitrile (&sup99m;Tc-MIBI)was performed in 39 breast tumors. &sup201;Tl scintigraphy was carried out in 24 breast tumors and &sup99m; Tc-MIBI scintigraphy in 15. The sensitivity of &sup201;Tl for malignant tumors was 100%(22/22), but specificity was 0%(0/2). On &sup99m;Tc-MIBI scintigraphy, the sensitivity for malignant tumors was 83.3%(10/12) and specificity was 100%(3/3). &sup99m;Tc-MIBI might be more useful for the diagnosis of breast tumors, because the tumor/background ratio of &sup99m;Tc-MIBI was significantly higher than that of &sup201;Tl. In addition, &sup201;Tl scintigraphy and &sup99m;Tc-MIBI scintigrtaphy showed the same degree of accuracy (93.3%) in detecting lymph node metastasis. Moreover, when either ultrasonography (US) with &sup201;Tl or &sup99m;Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was positive for lymph node metastasis, the accuracy of detection became 94.4% The combined use of ultrasonography and scintigraphy might improve the accuracy of diagnosis of lymph node metastasis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Antinociceptive effects of (+)-matrine in mice.

The antinociceptive potency of matridin-15-one ((+)-matrine) was examined using the acetic acid-induced abdominal contraction test and the tail-flick test in mice. (+)-Matrine, at doses of 1 to 10 mg/kg, s.c., produced a marked and dose-dependent inhibition of the number of acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions in mice. The antinociceptive effect of (+)-matrine in the acetic acid-induced abdominal contraction test in mice was identical to that of pentazocine. Indeed, there was no significant difference in the ED50 (mg/kg with 95% confidence limits) values for the inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions between (+)-matrine (4.7 (4.1-5.3)) and pentazocine (3.3 (2.2-5.0)). Furthermore, in the tail-flick assay, (+)-matrine at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg, s.c., again produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect. When nor-binaltorphimine (20 mg/kg, s.c.), a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, was administered 3 h before treatment with (+)-matrine, the antinociceptive effect of (+)-matrine was markedly antagonized. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of (+)-matrine was partially antagonized by pretreatment with beta-funaltrexamine, a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Naltrindole, a selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, had no effect on the antinociceptive effect of (+)-matrine. In conclusion, (+)-matrine produced an antinociceptive effect mainly through the activation of kappa-opioid receptors and partially through mu-opioid receptors.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1997

Neutrophil emigration in the skin, lungs, and peritoneum: different requirements for CD11/CD18 revealed by CD18-deficient mice.

To determine the role of CD11/CD18 complexes in neutrophil emigration, inflammation was induced in the skin, lungs, or peritoneum of mutant mice deficient in CD18 (CD18-/- mutants). Peripheral blood of CD18-/- mutants contained 11-fold more neutrophils than did blood of wild-type (WT) mice. During irritant dermatitis induced by topical application of croton oil, the number of emigrated neutrophils in histological sections of dermis was 98% less in CD18-/- mutants than in WT mice. During Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, neutrophil emigration in CD18-/- mutants was not reduced. These data are consistent with expectations based on studies using blocking antibodies to inhibit CD11/CD18 complexes, and on observations of humans lacking CD11/CD18 complexes. The number of emigrated neutrophils in lung sections during Escherichia coli pneumonia, or in peritoneal lavage fluid after 4 h of S. pneumoniae peritonitis, was not reduced in CD18-/- mutants, but rather was greater than the WT values (240 +/- 30 and 220 +/- 30% WT, respectively). Also, there was no inhibition of neutrophil emigration during sterile peritonitis induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate (90 +/- 20% WT). These data contrast with expectations. Whereas CD11/CD18 complexes are essential to the dermal emigration of neutrophils during acute dermatitis, CD18-/- mutant mice demonstrate surprising alternative pathways for neutrophil emigration during pneumonia or peritonitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of basic fibroblast growth factor induces in vitro angiogenesis.

To investigate the possibility of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in the treatment of vascular occlusive diseases, we constructed a replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus vector coding for human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and examined its effect on the proliferation and differentiation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were successfully infected with high efficiency and expressed 18 kD protein which is immunoreactive to anti-bFGF monoclonal antibody. This protein was accumulated mainly in the nuclei of the cells, but was also detected in the culture medium although the complimentary DNA (cDNA) did not contain the classical secreting signal sequence. The proliferation assay of HUVECs infected with bFGF-expressing adenovirus revealed a significant increase in cell number over control. Infection with this virus also enhanced tubular formation of HUVECs on reconstituted basement membrane. Neovascularization and the formation of collateral vessels play important roles in minimizing tissue damage in ischemic disorders. These results imply that the use of bFGF-expressing recombinant adenovirus may be a suitable in vivo gene therapy for ischemic diseases.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

CPP32 activation during dolichyl phosphate-induced apoptosis in U937 leukemia cells.

Treatment of U937 cells with dolichyl phosphate led to an increase in the activity of the ICE family protease CPP32, accompanied with cleavage of pre-CPP32 to generate p17. Peptide inhibitors YVAD-cmk and Z-Asp-CH2-DCB (specific to ICE) and DEVD-CHO (specific to CPP32) blocked the dolichyl phosphate-induced apoptosis. The dolichyl phosphate-induced increase of CPP32 activity was inhibited by adenylate cyclase inhibitors, SQ 22536 and 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine. Dolichyl phosphate caused a transient increase of intracellular cAMP concentration. The results suggest that modulation of cAMP synthesis due to the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by dolichyl phosphate plays a critical role in CPP32 activation and apoptosis.

Adenine↗
PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical detection of advanced glycosylation end-products in the peritoneum and its possible pathophysiological role in CAPD.

It has recently been suggested that advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs) are formed in the peritoneum in patients on CAPD. However, the exact location of AGE accumulation, the relation with the duration of CAPD and its pathophysiological role in CAPD remain unclear. If the peritoneum is glycosylated, it could bring about altered peritoneal function. Therefore, the aim of this study is to clarify the localization of AGEs in the peritoneum in accordance with the duration of CAPD and to examine its relation to the peritoneal permeability. Fifteen non-diabetic patients were divided into three groups (each 5 patients) on the basis of the mean duration (D) of CAPD (Group 1, D = 0 month; Group II, D = 34 months; Group III, D = 84 months). The AGE staining by monoclonal anti-AGE antibody in the peritoneum and the four-hour peritoneal equilibration test (PET) were compared among these groups. AGE was absent or found only weakly in Group I. However, in groups II and III, AGE was moderately or strongly positive especially in the vascular walls and it was dominant in group III. PET revealed that peritoneal permeability for glucose, creatinine, beta2-microglobulin and albumin was increased in Group II as compared to Group I, and it was further increased in Group III. The results of this study indicate that AGEs become dominantly accumulated in the vascular wall in accordance with the prolongation of CAPD treatment, and this might play some roles for the increased permeability of the peritoneal membrane in CAPD.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A major glycoprotein of Xenopus egg vitelline envelope, gp41, is a frog homolog of mammalian ZP3.

A predominant glycoprotein in the vitelline envelope (VE) of the anuran Xenopus laevis is gp41, known to be proteolytically converted from gp43 of the coelomic egg envelope concomitant with the acquisition of egg fertilizability. To characterize the protein core of gp41, purified gp41 from VE was digested with lysyl endopeptidase, and peptides isolated from the digests were sequenced for amino acids to design degenerate primers for polymerase chain reaction. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with a poly(A)+ RNA from the ovary of an ovulated female Xenopus, a specifically amplified band was obtained and sequenced. The upstream and downstream sequences of the sequenced region were completed by 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends, respectively. The cDNA, referred to as gp43 cDNA, comprises 1423 base pairs and contains one open reading frame with a sequence for 460 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of gp43 cDNA has a close similarity with that of mammalian ZP3. Northern blot and in situ hybridization studies indicated that gp43 mRNA is expressed in oocytes, particularly in the previtellogenic oocytes. A comparison of the N-terminal sequences of gp41 and gp43 strongly suggested that gp41 is generated at least by processing of the N-terminal portion of gp43 with oviductin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Expression of a vacuolar protein (VP24) in anthocyanin-producing cells of sweet potato in suspension culture.

VP24, an abundant protein of 24 kD, was found to accumulate in the anthocyanin-containing vacuoles of cells of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) in suspension culture. Light-induced expression of VP24 was analyzed by immunoblotting in three different cell lines that produced anthocyanins at different rates. The expression of VP24 was closely correlated with the accumulation of anthocyanin in these cell lines. Immunocytochemical detection of VP24 with specific antibodies on thin sections showed that VP24 was localized in the intravacuolar pigmented globules (cyanoplasts) in the anthocyanin-containing vacuoles and not in the tonoplast. No VP24 immunogold labeling was detected in the vacuoles of the cell line that does not produce anthocyanin. We suggest that VP24 may be involved in the formation of the cyanoplast via an interaction with anthocyanin, and that it may play an important role in the trapping in vacuoles of large amounts of anthocyanins that have been transported into these vacuoles.

Anthocyanins↗
PubMed1997

Improvement of dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of a sparingly water-soluble drug, (+/-)-5-[[2-(2-naphthalenylmethyl)-5-benzoxazolyl]-methyl]- 2, 4-thiazolidinedione, in co-ground mixture with D-mannitol.

We investigated the usefulness and efficiency of the co-grinding method with D-mannitol to improve the bioavailability of a sparingly water-soluble drug, (+/-)-5-[[2-(2-naphthalenylmethyl)-5-benzoxazolyl]methyl]-2, 4-thiazolidinedione (174), and compared it with those of the single-grinding method. The co-ground mixtures in drug/carrier weight ratios up to 1:5 gave fine particle sizes of less than about 3 microns, which showed a marked increase in the dissolution rate with reduction of particle size, compared with the single-ground powder, even with a similar particle size. The oral bioavailability study of co-ground powders in beagle dogs exhibited a dramatic increase, as did the dissolution rate, according to finer particle size. Finally, complete bioavailability was obtained at the finest particle size of 1.2 microns (drug/carrier ratio of 1:5, w/w) as was a solution of the drug. Bioavailability had a good linear correlation with the dissolution rate. These findings suggested that the co-grinding method with D-mannitol dramatically increased the available surface area, caused by a reduction of particle size, which not only accelerated the dissolution rate but also resulted in greater enhancement of the bioavailability of 174.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Cyclooxygenase metabolites possibly produced by endothelial cells mediate the lung injury caused by mechanically stimulated leukocytes.

To determine whether mechanically stimulated leukocytes increase pulmonary vascular permeability and resistance and, if so, whether cyclooxygenase metabolites mediate the increase, we assessed the effects of stimulated and unstimulated leukocytes, and of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor on pulmonary vascular permeability and resistance in isolated perfused lungs from Sprague-Dawley rats. Leukocytes were stimulated by gentle agitation in a glass container for 10 seconds. After baseline measurements were made, stimulated or unstimulated leukocytes were added to the perfusate. The effects of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, meclofenamate, on the pulmonary vascular filtration coefficient and pulmonary vascular resistance were measured. In the rats that received stimulated leukocytes, the pulmonary vascular filtration coefficient and the vascular resistance were about 2.5 times and 3.3 times higher, respectively, than those in the rats that received unstimulated leukocytes. These increases were completely and partly blocked by meclofenamate. Histological examination indicated that meclofenamate did not prevent the adhesion of leukocytes to the pulmonary vascular endothelium. These findings suggest that mechanically stimulated leukocytes increase pulmonary vascular permeability and that cyclooxygenase metabolites produced by endothelial cells may injure the cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A fatal case of drinking and cyanamide intake.

A 34-year-old housewife with alcohol dependence vomited severely, lost consciousness, and died after she took more than 20 ml of 1% calcium cyanamide, and alcoholic beverage containing about 129 g of ethyl alcohol. An autopsy was performed around 16 h after death. The body weighed 55.5 kg, and moderate lung edema was found. Ethanol concentrations were 4.24 mg/g in the left heart blood, 4.39 mg/g in the right heart blood, and 21.55 mg/g in the stomach contents. Cyanamide concentrations were 0.63 microgram/g in the left heart blood, 0.20 microgram/g in the right heart blood, and 0.22 microgram/g in the stomach contents. The cause of death was determined to be acute ethanol intoxication with alcohol-cyanamide reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Quality control and cytogenetic analysis of human pre-embryos fertilized and cultured in vitro].

For the purpose to evaluate in vitro culture conditions of human preembryos, the efficacy of conventional culture and co-culture systems on embryonic development and genetic disorders was studied. Firstly, the development of cultured mouse embryos grown in standard media (Whitten's, GPM, HFT and Ham F10) or in HFT medium with different helper cell layers was compared. Embryonic growth was substantially reduced during in vitro culture, demonstrably by impaired cell proliferation, compared with in vivo controls. In in vitro fertilization and culture condition, SCEs of blastocysts were significantly increased. Development in co-culture with the feeder layers was notably better than in standard media. These results suggest that human preembryos could be rescued by the use of helper cells. Increased developmental rates and the cell numbers of blastocysts were the most evident morphological features of human preembryos that developed in co-culture with uterine luminal epithelial cells. However mosaicism may be caused by in vitro culture conditions and its onset may indicate when a disturbance in the embryonic development has occurred. It is advisable to perform further research into the mechanism of feeder cell-embryo interaction for understanding the optimal conditions of embryonic development in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Determination of nicotine content of popular cigarettes.

Accidental cigarette ingestion by children is a frequent occurrence in Japan where hundreds of cigarette brands (domestic and imported) are purchased. To evaluate the predictive value of the nicotine yield given on the label and determined by a smoking machine, we measured the actual nicotine content of tobacco in 33 popular cigarette brands. Average amounts of nicotine and tobacco/whole cigarette of 32 filter and 1 non-filter brands were as follows: 11.72 +/- 2.27 (SD) mg nicotine (range 6.94-18.33 mg) and 23.97 mg tobacco, and 0.67 +/- 0.07 g nicotine (range 0.49-0.79 g) and 1.02 g tobacco, respectively. Amounts of nicotine and tobacco in filter brands varied widely and were less than the data reported in the toxicological literature. Measured lengths of the part of cigarettes packed with tobacco ranged from 5.0 to 6.9 cm. The tobacco in low-yield cigarettes did not contain less nicotine than high-yield cigarettes, and the nicotine yield did not highly correlate with the nicotine content in the low-yield cigarette group (r = 0.243). We conclude that the nicotine yields on labels are not useful in estimating likely nicotine intake in cigarette-ingestion cases. The actual nicotine content of cigarettes should be included on the product label.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗