Effects of exogenous adrenaline on the number of the beta-adrenergic receptors after brain death in humans.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Matsuda.
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Avian thrombocytes are nucleated blood cells homologous in function to mammalian platelets. In the present study, we obtained a cDNA from chicken thrombocyte polyadenylated RNA [Poly(A)+RNA], which coded for the chicken PDGF-B chain. The sequence was 1083-bp long and had an open reading frame (ORF) of 753-bp. At the amino acid level, the predicted mature protein showed 69% homology with the processed coding region of human PDGF-B. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that PDGF-B mRNA was expressed at high levels in thrombocytes and in the lung. The expression of PDGF-B chain mRNA in thrombocytes reached its maximum level 12h following type 1 collagen treatment. These results suggest that chicken PDGF-B chain may play an important role in the vascular system and in healing wounded tissue.
The ethanolic extract from the fruits of Chenopodium album L. (FCAL), orally administered at doses of 100-400 mg/kg, dose-dependently inhibited scratching behavior induced by 5-HT (10 micro g per mouse, s.c.) or compound 48/80 (50 micro g per mouse, s.c.) in mice. But it failed to affect hind paw swelling induced by 5-HT or compound 48/80 in mice at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and only showed a relatively weak inhibition on the swelling at a higher dose of 400 mg/kg. In addition, FCAL (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the writhing responses induced by an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid and the inflammatory pain response induced by an intraplantar injection of formalin in mice. At a dose of 400 mg/kg, it also inhibited the neurogenic pain response of formalin test. In conclusion, FCAL possesses antipruritic and antinociceptive activities and the antinociceptive effects are not secondary to anti-inflammatory effects. The findings support evidence for the clinical use of FCAL to treat cutaneous pruritus.
We previously reported that PLA(2) activity in the gills is higher than that in other tissues in red sea bream and purified PLA(2) from the gills belongs to the group IB PLA(2) as well as other red sea bream PLA(2)s. In this study, we reconfirmed that the level of PLA(2) activity is extremely high in the gills compared with other tissues, and gill PLA(2) was detected only in the gills by immunoblotting and inhibition test using anti-gill PLA(2) monoclonal antibody. The level of PLA(2) activity and protein expression in the gills are well correlated. Fish can be roughly divided into high and low groups based on the level of PLA(2) activity. Gill PLA(2) was detected in the gills of the high group, but not the low group by immunoblotting. In the gills of the high group, gill PLA(2) was detected in the mucous cells and pavement cells located on the surface of gill epithelia by immunohistochemistry. On the other hand, positive signals were observed only in the mucous cells by in situ hybridization. We also isolated inactive proPLA(2), having AR propeptide, preceding the mature enzyme from the gill extract. These results suggest that gill PLA(2) is synthesized as an inactive proPLA(2) in the mucous cells and is secreted to the surface of gill epithelia.
In the prediction of genetic values and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping via the mixed model method incorporating marker information in animal populations, it is important to model the genetic variance for individuals with an arbitrary pedigree structure. In this study, for a crossed population originated from different genetic groups such as breeds or outbred strains, the variance of additive genetic values for multiple linked QTLs that are contained in a chromosome segment, especially the segregation variance, is investigated assuming the use of marker data. The variance for a finite number of QTLs in one chromosomal segment is first examined for the crossed population with the general pedigree. Then, applying the concept of the expectation of identity-by-descent proportion, an approximation to the mean of the conditional probabilities for the linked QTLs over all loci is obtained, and using it an expression for the variance in the case of an infinite number of linked QTLs marked by flanking markers is derived. It appears that the approach presented can be useful in the segment mapping using, and in the genetic evaluation of, crosses with general pedigrees in the population of concern. The calculation of the segregation variance through the current approach is illustrated numerically, using a small data-set.
Haemorrhagic diathesis develops in chronic renal failure, in which calcium antagonists are used widely as antihypertensive agents. Although calcium antagonists are reported to impair platelet function, it has not been examined whether calcium antagonists alter bleeding time. The present study was conducted to clarify whether calcium antagonists affect bleeding time in chronic renal failure. Patients with chronic renal failure without and with calcium antagonists were enrolled (n = 156), and bleeding time (Ivy's method) as well as blood parameters (BUN, creatinine, platelet counts, and haemoglobin) were compared in patients with normal and prolonged bleeding time. Among patients not taking calcium antagonists (n = 34), three cases manifested prolonged bleeding time, whereas abnormal bleeding time was observed in 31 patients out of 122. Positive correlations were observed between bleeding time and BUN in both calcium antagonist-untreated (r = 0.46) and -treated groups (r = 0.25). The odds ratio for prolongation of bleeding time in patients taking calcium antagonists was 3.52 (95% CI, 1.01-12.33). In 12 calcium antagonist-treated patients with prolonged bleeding time, the withdrawal of calcium antagonists markedly shortened bleeding time (from 11.3 +/- 0.8 to 5.4 +/- 0.8 min, P < 0.05, n = 12). In contrast, in the additional group (n = 9), the continued treatment with calcium antagonists had no effect on bleeding time (from 11.7 +/- 0.9 to 10.0 +/- 1.0 min). Despite the inhibitory effect of calcium antagonists on bleeding time, no clinically serious events associated with haemorrhagic diathesis developed. In conclusion, calcium antagonists prolong bleeding time in patients with chronic renal failure. The subclinical (laboratory) effect of calcium antagonists however is not necessarily associated with haemorrhagic events of clinical significance.
Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) are rare lesions in the oral cavity. Typically they arise in the pleura. We report a lesion occurring in the lower anterior gingiva. In histochemical examination, the spindle-shaped, neoplastic cells stained strongly for CD34 antigen and vimentin, but did not stain for desmin, smooth-muscle actin, muscle actin and S-100 protein. The expression of CD34 antigen and vimentin were useful for the differential diagnosis.
The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess regional cerebral blood flow in patients after carbon monoxide intoxication by using brain single photon emission computed tomography and statistical parametric mapping. Eight patients with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae and ten patients with no neuropsychiatric symptoms after carbon monoxide intoxication were studied with brain single photon emission tomography imaging with 99mTc-hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime. Forty-four control subjects were also studied. We used the adjusted regional cerebral blood flow images in relative flow distribution (normalization of global cerebral blood flow for each subject to 50 ml x 100 g(-1) x min(-1) with proportional scaling) to compare these groups with statistical parametric mapping. Using this technique, significantly decreased regional cerebral blood flow was noted extensively in the bilateral frontal lobes as well as the bilateral insula and a part of the right temporal lobe in the patients with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae as compared with normal volunteers (P< 0.005). In the patients with no neuropsychiatric symptoms, significantly decreased regional blood flow in the bilateral frontal lobes particularly on the left side was detected. There was a significantly decreased regional cerebral blood flow in the right frontal lobe and insula in the patients with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae as compared to those with no neuropsychiatric sequelae. It is concluded that statistical parametric mapping is a useful technique for highlighting differences in regional cerebral blood flow in patients following carbon monoxide intoxication as compared with normal volunteers. The selectively reduced blood flow noted in this investigation supports the contention that the decrease following carbon monoxide intoxication may be prolonged and further worsen in the frontal lobe. In addition, the present study may help to clarify the characteristics of the pathophysiological alteration underlying delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae.
The abundance of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-, substance P (SP)-, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the carotid body was examined in chronically hypercapnic hypoxic rats (10% O2 and 6-7% CO2 for 3 months), and the distribution and abundance of these four peptidergic fibers were compared with those of previously reported hypocapnic- and isocapnic hypoxic carotid bodies to evaluate the effect of arterial CO2 tension. The vasculature in the carotid body of chronically hypercapnic hypoxic rats was found to be enlarged in comparison with that of normoxic control rats, but the rate of vascular enlargement was smaller than that in the previously reported hypocapnic- and isocapnic hypoxic carotid bodies. In the chronically hypercapnic hypoxic carotid body, the density per unit area of parenchymal NPY fibers was significantly increased, and that of VIP fibers was unchanged, although the density of NPY and VIP fibers in the previously reportetd chronically hypocapnic and isocapnic hypoxic carotid bodies was opposite to that in hypercapnic hypoxia as observed in this study. The density of SP and CGRP fibers was decreased. These results along with previous reports suggest that different levels of arterial CO2 tension change the peptidergic innervation in the carotid body during chronically hypoxic exposure, and altered peptidergic innervation of the chronically hypercapnic hypoxic carotid body is one feature of hypoxic adaptation.
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) in patients with completely obstructed left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). METHODS: Ten patients undergoing MIDCAB for LAD stenosis were enrolled in this study. These patients were all men aged 45 to 69 years, and were divided into two groups, one showing complete LAD obstruction (n=5, Group A), and one about 90% stenosis of the LAD (n=5, Group B). RESULTS: The internal size of the LAD at the anastomosis site was significantly smaller in Group A than in Group B, and the time required for graft anastomosis in Group A was significantly longer. Total operation time, intubation time after operation, perioperative bleeding, total blood transfusion, max CK-MB, and hospital stay did not significantly differ between the two groups. Postoperative coronary angiography revealed good graft patency in both groups, however, one Group A patient had graft obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The MIDCAB procedure appears useful even in our patients with completely obstructed LAD, despite the long anastomosis time. However, the indications for this procedure are limited by any perceived difficulty in harvesting the LITA by indirect vision or in performing the anastomosis based on the size or quality of the LAD. Intensive preoperative angiography evaluation is essential and conversion to a median full-sternotomy is necessary for cases in which we cannot confirm the feasibility of MIDCAB.
One-hundred-one surgeries for aortic arch aneurysm were divided into 2 groups: 52 aortic dissection cases (AD) and 49 non-dissecting aneurysm (TA). In group AD, 30 cases were operated in acute phase (acute AD) and 22 were in chronic phase (chronic AD). Preoperative shock were observed in 21 cases (15 in acute AD mostly due to cardiac tamponade, 1 in chronic AD and 5 in TA due to rupture). Through median sternotomy, 59 total arch replacement and 25 hemi-arch replacement were carried out under deep hypothermia (16 degrees C:DH) and retrograde (RCP) or selective (SCP) cerebral perfusion or arch-first technique. Through thoracotomy, distal arch replacement were carried out with DH + RCP in 8 cases and with partial bypass in 9. Early mortality were observed in 7 patients (6.9%) and 24 months survival rates (Kaplan-Meier) were 86.1% overall, 76.1% in acute AD, 95.5% in chronic AD, 87.8% in TA. The survival rates in patients with preoperative shock was 61.2%, however, without shock, 92.9% in acute AD, 95.2% in chronic AD, and 91.4% in TA. Other than mortality, 4 re-operations for aortic arch, 4 operations for descending to abdominal aorta and 1 late hemiplegia were observed. Aortic event free ratio at 24 months was 55.4% in acute AD, 94.4% in chronic AD, and 75.7% in TA. For the further improvement of aortic arch surgery, early mortality and residual false lumen in acute aortic dissection and atherosclerotic aneurysm in descending to abdominal aorta are focused.
A rare case of mediastinal hemangioma was reported in this article. A 63 years old male was pointed out an abnormal shadow in the chest CT scan though he had no symptoms. It showed a well-defined round mass with low density in the anterior mediastinum. MRI (T2 weight) showed the lesion as a high intensity tumor. We diagnosed it thymoma and planned the surgical treatment. The tumor was resected completely through median partial sternotomy. The tumor was 2 cm in diameter. Histological examination revealed it cavernous hemangioma, and neither coagulations nor phleboliths were identified in vessels of the tumor.
WHO classification of thymic epithelial tumors have been shown to reflect their oncological behaviors, and type A, AB and B1 tumors have better prognosis than type B2 and B3 tumors, suggesting the significance of this classification in the clinical practice of thymomas. Type B tumors are more invasive than type A and AB tumors. Type B1 and B2 tumors are frequently associated with myasthenia gravis while type A and AB tumors are not. The findings of computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed that type A and AB tumors tend to be round and have the smooth surface while type B1, B2 and B3 tumors are often flat and have irregular surface. Type AB, B1 and B2 tumors possess a significant number of CD4+CD8+ double positive T cells in the tumor. These observations are supposed to be useful for preoperative evaluation of WHO classification of thymomas, and to help the clinicians decide application of preoperative therapy and the method of surgical resection including endoscopic surgery.
NC/Nga mice raised in nonsterile circumstances spontaneously suffer from atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions with IgE hyperproduction. We investigated effects of rIL-12 on the IgE production in NC/Nga mice. rIL-12 administration was successful to suppress the increase of IgE levels in BALB/c mice immunized with OVA and aluminum hydroxide, but failed to abrogate that in NC/Nga mice. Both in vivo and in vitro IFN-gamma production induced by rIL-12 was less in NC/Nga mice than in BALB/c mice. Addition of rIFN-gamma to rIL-4 and LPS completely abrogated IgE production by B cells of BALB/c mice, but was insufficient to suppress it by B cells of NC/Nga mice. In splenic cells pretreated with Con A, STAT4 was phosphorylated at the tyrosine residue by addition of rIL-12, which was more weakly inducible in NC/Nga mice than in BALB/c mice. Finally, we examined the preventive ability of rIL-12 on the clinical aspects of atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. rIL-12 administration resulted in exacerbation of development of the skin lesions and IgE production in NC/Nga mice raised in nonsterile circumstances. These results suggest that defective production of IFN-gamma by T cells less sensitive to IL-12 and low responsiveness of B cells to IFN-gamma may contribute to IgE hyperproduction in NC/Nga mice, and that IL-12 may have no ability to improve the clinical aspects of NC/Nga mice.
Spontaneous transient outward currents have been found in peripheral neurons and smooth muscle cells, but rarely in central neurons. Using a nystatin-perforated patch clamp technique, we succeeded in recording spontaneous transient outward currents in mouse dentate gyrus granule cells. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ increased the amplitude and frequency of transient outward currents. We consider modulation of spontaneous transient outward currents to be a new means to regulate cell activity in central neurons, and studied their characteristics and mechanism of augmentation. The whole-cell current-voltage relationship showed outward rectification and the reversal potential was close to the equilibrium potential for K+. The frequency of spontaneous transient outward currents increased at depolarized potentials. Tetraethylammonium, iberiotoxin and a Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM inhibited spontaneous transient outward currents. These results suggest the involvement of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Single-channel recordings in the inside-out configuration revealed Ca2+-activated K+ channels with a conductance ranging from 82 to 352 pS. The augmenting effect of nociceptin/orphanin FQ was cancelled by [Phe1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2]Nociceptin(1-13)NH2. Cd2+ did not affect the transient outward currents or augmentation by nociceptin/orphanin FQ. Whereas nociceptin/orphanin FQ, theophylline and cyclic ADP ribose induced transient outward currents with short duration observed under control conditions, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induced transient outward currents with long duration, in addition to those with short duration. Ryanodine inhibited nociceptin/orphanin FQ from augmenting spontaneous transient outward currents. Our data suggest that Ca2+ sparks transiently activate large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels to induce transient outward currents. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ probably sensitizes ryanodine receptors and increases transient outward currents to reduce cell excitability.
Novel 14-norcadinane-type sesquiterpenes, oxyphyllenodiols A and B, and 11,12,13-trinoreudesmane-type sesquiterpenes, oxyphyllenones A and B, were isolated from the methanolic extract of kernels of Alpinia oxyphylla. The absolute stereostructures of these norsesquiterpenes were determined on the basis of physicochemical and chemical evidence. In addition, oxyphyllenodiol A and oxyphyllenone A were found to inhibit the NO production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages.