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Biomedical subjects

H Shindo

Publications and source records attributed to H Shindo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Preferential binding of E.coli histone-like protein HU alpha to negatively supercoiled DNA.

Binding specificity of histone-like HU alpha protein to supercoiled DNA was examined by gel retardation assay and chemical probing with OsO4. The latter method was proved to be a unique means for detecting torsional tension restrained in supercoiled plasmid in the presence of HU alpha. It was shown that HU alpha protein has preferential affinity to negatively supercoiled DNA relative to relaxed, nicked and linearized DNAs. There were two modes for binding of HU alpha to the supercoiled DNA: one was the binding associated with topological changes in DNA and the other was relatively strong binding, probably specific to certain particular structures of DNA. It was suggested that HU in vivo interacts preferentially with the regions deformed under torsional stress or with the metabolically active regions along DNA.

Bacterial Proteins

[Electron-microscopic study on the effect of an expandable metallic stent placement in the aortic wall].

As part of a series of basic experiments on using metallic stents for treatment of vascular stenosis, a chronological examination of changes in dog aorta following implantation of a self-expandable metallic stent was conducting using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The Giantruco stent was placed in the abdominal aorta via the right carotid artery. One week after insertion, the aortic intima was depressed and degenerative changes observed in both endothelial and medial smooth muscle cells. After 2 weeks, except for the bend portion, the stent was covered with neointima. The neointimal surface was covered by premature endothelial cells with abundant microvilli and prominent nuclear protrusions. Under the endothelial cells, immature mesenchymal cells, such as fibroblast, were scattered throughout the edematous intercellular space. At 4 weeks, the stent was completely covered by neointima and the endothelial cells had flattened and few microvilli were in evidence. In this thickened intima, premature smooth muscle cells with myofilaments and basement membranes were observed but, around them, few collagen fibers and only occasional elastic fibers were found. At 6 weeks, the intimal surfaces were flat and smooth with a slight intimal elevation over the stent. No thrombus was observed throughout the period of the experiment. The above results indicate that dilation using metallic stents may be a useful method for treatment of vascular stenosis.

Animals

Clinical trials of intrasplenic arterial infusion of interleukin-2 (IS-IL-2) to patients with advanced cancer.

We tried a infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) of a relatively low dose via an intrasplenic arterial catheter connected to a chronometric infusion (IS-IL-2). Eighteen patients of colorectal cancer with metastases to the liver or lung or of unresectable hepatoma received a 24 hour continuous infusion with low dose recombinant of IL-2 (mainly 8 x 10(5) JRU/day) for 25-40 days. All patients tolerated this protocol of the therapy and the main toxic effects were fever and general fatigue. Such serious toxicity as previously reported by high dose IL-2 therapy was not observed. Data of hepatic and renal functions were normal. IS-IL-2 therapy induced a high incidence of eosinophilia (12/18) and thrombocythemia (12/18). Peripheral natural killer (NK) and LAK activities were augmented in all patients and total white blood cell counts were increased during IS-IL-2 therapy. An increase in IL-2 receptor expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and significant rises in numbers of Leu11 (CD16)+, OKM1(CD11)+ and OKIa1(HLA-DR)+ were observed. Of 18 patients 12 were evaluable for their response to therapy. Partial response (PR) was observed in one unresectable hepatoma and 11 demonstrated no change (NC) or progressive disease (PD). Six patients were not evaluable because of additional therapy (3 cases) or decreasing tumor cell markers having no measurable lesions (3 cases). Three patients of colorectal cancer from an unresectable group were presumed to have micrometastases to the liver as suggested by an elevated serum CEA level. After receiving IS-IL-2 therapy they demonstrated a decrease in the serum CEA level for more than 3 years after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Specific and nonspecific interactions of integration host factor with oligo DNAs as revealed by circular dichroism spectroscopy and filter binding assay.

Binding specificity of integration host factor (IHF) to oligo DNAs has been studied by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and filter binding experiment. CD difference spectra of IHF-DNA complexes demonstrated that a conformational change in DNA was induced by binding of IHF when DNA had a consensus sequence for the binding sites of IHF, but that such conformational change was not observed for consensus DNA 20 mer as well as nonconsensus DNA 45 mer. Dissociation constants for IHF-DNA complexes determined by filter binding assay showed that IHF has indeed stronger affinity to DNA with the consensus binding site than to nonconsensus DNA, but the difference in its affinity between consensus and nonconsensus DNAs was rather small, 3.4-fold. It was, therefore, concluded that the flanking regions of the consensus sequence are important for the specific binding of IHF and that its binding specificity is well characterized by the induced conformational change in DNA rather than by dissociation constants for IHF-DNA complexes.

Bacterial Proteins

The role of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and polyol metabolism in diabetic neuropathy.

The effects of a stable prostacyclin analog, Iloprost, and aldose reductase inhibitors (ONO-2235 and isoliquiritigenin) were studied to elucidate the role of cAMP in diabetic neuropathy in relation to polyol metabolism. In in vivo experiments, the cAMP and myoinositol contents in sciatic nerves and motor nerve conduction velocity were significantly reduced in diabetic rats. Iloprost significantly restored the reduced cAMP content in sciatic nerves and improved motor nerve conduction velocity in diabetic rats. However, the contents of sorbitol or myoinositol in sciatic nerves were not affected by Iloprost in diabetic rats. On the other hand, aldose reductase inhibitors significantly reduced the sorbitol content and increased the cAMP and myoinositol contents in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats. The motor nerve conduction velocity was also slightly but significantly improved by treatment with aldose reductase inhibitors. There was a negative correlation between cAMP and sorbitol in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats treated with aldose reductase inhibitors and a positive correlation between cAMP and motor nerve conduction velocity. In in vitro experiments, Iloprost significantly increased cAMP, but did not affect the sorbitol content in sciatic nerves. Aldose reductase inhibitors inhibited sorbitol accumulation and increased cAMP in sciatic nerves. Our data suggest that polyol pathway activation somehow results in cAMP reduction in sciatic nerves and that the reduction of cAMP in peripheral nerves may be closely related to the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy.

Aldehyde Reductase

Endothelin-1 of canine basilar artery in vasospasm.

Cerebral vasospasm was induced in adult mongrel dogs by a two-hemorrhage method. The basilar arteries were quickly frozen after careful removal of surrounding blood clot and their level of immunoreactive endothelin-1, a strong vasoconstrictor produced by the endothelial and vascular smooth-muscle cells, was measured by sandwich-enzyme immunoassay. The levels of immunoreactive endothelin-1 (mean +/- standard deviation) were 112.9 +/- 7.0 pg/mg protein prior to vasospasm, 180.4 +/- 24.7 pg/mg protein on Day 2 after vasospasm, and 115.0 +/- 24.0 pg/mg protein on Day 7, showing a significant increase (p less than 0.01) in immunoreactive endothelin-1 only on Day 2. In addition, vasospasm was moderately reversed by the topical application of monoclonal antibody against endothelin-1 on Day 2 but rather resistant to topical monoclonal antibody on Day 7. It is suggested that endothelin-1 could act as a trigger in the early stages of cerebral vasospasm, but that the maintenance of cerebral vasospasm at later stages might be independent of endothelin-1.

Animals

[Sick sinus syndrome caused by amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma].

A 65-year-old man, who had been treated for multiple myeloma (MM) since 1986, was admitted because of loss of consciousness in September 1989. An electrocardiogram taken just before admission showed a sinus arrest, junctional escaped rhythm, and marked bradycardia. The diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome (SSS) was made. Soon a temporary pacemaker was inserted, and the dyspnea ameliorated. However on the second day in the hospital, he had a high fever and Staphylococcus aureus was detected in the cultured blood. A diagnosis of septicemia was made, and the pacemaker was removed. He was then treated with beta-stimulants, but died in November 1989. Necropsy revealed cardiomegaly and microscopic examination showed amyloid deposits in the sinoatrial node, and the walls of the ventricles and coronary arteries. Although amyloidosis is often a complication of MM and the heart is frequently affected, SSS caused by amyloidosis associated with MM is quite unusual. In such patients, the use of a pacemaker is controversial, because amyloid deposits are occasionally accelerated by insertion of a pacemaker and for patients with hematological disorders, septicemia associated with pacemaker insertion may prove fatal.

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Enzyme immunoassay of human plasma 11-dehydrothromboxane B2.

11-Dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dhTXB2) is a proposed marker compound for thromboxane A2 formed in vivo. An enzyme immunoassay was established for determination of the plasma concentration of this compound. The assay was based on a horseradish peroxidase-linked immunoassay utilizing polyclonal anti-11-dhTXB2 antibody obtained from a rabbit, and enabled determination of 11-dhTXB2 in the range of 2 to 500 pg/tube with an IC50 of 36 pg. The cross-reactivities with TXB2, 2,3-dinor-TXB2 and other prostanoids were less than 0.05%. Validity of the enzyme immunoassay was confirmed by a radioimmunoassay utilizing a monoclonal antibody. The plasma 11-dhTXB2 was immunoaffinity-purified by one step using an immobilized monoclonal antibody. The mean plasma level of 11-dhTXB2 in six male volunteers was 4.0 +/- 0.3 pg/ml by this enzyme immunoassay.

Biomarkers

Interspecies comparison of c-myc gene in human and rat glioma cell lines.

Interspecies difference in expression of the c-myc gene between two human and three rat glioma cell lines was studied with use of a human c-myc probe. The c-myc deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments detected at higher stringency in Southern blotting, showed a difference in size and gene copy number between human and rat glioma cells. The c-myc transcript was detected at both higher and lower stringencies in Northern blotting in human glioma cells, whereas it was demonstrated only at lower stringency in rat glioma cells, and the c-myc transcript was seen in cytoplasms of both glioma cells by in situ hybridization. The c-myc protein, if examined with anti-human c-myc protein monoclonal antibody, was observed as two separate components in Western blotting and localized immunocytochemically in nuclei in human glioma cells, whereas it was detected as three separate forms in Western blotting and shown in both nuclei and cytoplasm in rat glioma cells. The above discrepancy in manifestation of c-myc DNA fragments, transcript and protein could be due to the difference in nucleotide sequence of c-myc gene between human and rat glioma cells.

Animals

Clinical efficacy of a stable prostacyclin analog, iloprost, in diabetic neuropathy.

Iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analog, was evaluated clinically for its ability to ameliorate the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes. In an open, nonrandomized trial, 13 diabetic patients with neuropathy but without proliferative retinopathy received an intravenous infusion of Iloprost at a dose of 10 micrograms, at a rate of 0.1 micrograms/kg/h, twice daily for two weeks. The administration of Iloprost relieved the majority of such subjective symptoms as pain, numbness or sensation of cold and to a lesser extent, such autonomic symptoms as dizziness. In contrast, there was little evidence of objective improvement, e.g., in motor nerve conduction velocity. Iloprost treatment significantly inhibited the platelet aggregation rate stimulated by collagen in vitro. In the one patient tested, thermography revealed an increase in skin temperature by more than 2 degrees C. Side effects associated with Iloprost included headache (3 patients) or aggravation of pain in the extremities (2 patients) and could be ameliorated by slowing the infusion rate or by discontinuing the drug (one patient). Iloprost appears to be safe and effective for relieving the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Our results provide the rationale for a double-blind, clinical trial in larger populations of diabetics with peripheral neuropathy.

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Effects of aldose reductase inhibitors on prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis by aortic rings from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The effects of aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) on the synthesis of prostacyclin (PGI2) by aortic rings from diabetic rats were examined. The ARIs studied were ONO-2235 and isoliquiritigenin, a new compound extracted from glycyrrhizae radix. The content of sorbitol in the sciatic nerve of diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin was significantly increased as compared with that of controls. This increase was significantly inhibited by the administration of an ARI. On the other hand, there was a marked decrease in the synthesis of PGI2 by the diabetic rats compared with the control rats. The decrease in PGI2 synthesis was significantly reversed by the administration of an ARI. Furthermore, the synthesis of PGI2 by the aortic rings was inversely correlated with the content of sorbitol in sciatic nerves. Those observations suggest that an ARI may have a beneficial effect on the vascular synthesis of PGI2 in diabetes mellitus.

Aldehyde Reductase

Isoliquiritigenin: a new aldose reductase inhibitor from glycyrrhizae radix.

Traditionally in Japan, some kampo medicines (traditional oriental herbal prescriptions) have long been used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. We have found that some aldose reductase inhibitors are included among these drugs. We further investigated the components of glycyrrhizae radix, a constituent of some kampo medicines, and isolated six compounds (GUs 9-17). Among these, GU-17, identified as isoliquiritigenin, had the most potent aldose reductase inhibiting activity. Isoliquiritigenin inhibited rat lens aldose reductase with an IC50 of 3.2 x 10(-7) M, using DL-glyceraldehyde as a substrate. It inhibited sorbitol accumulation in human red blood cells in vitro, with an IC50 of 2.0 x 10(-6) M. Isoliquiritigenin, when administered via an intragastric tube to diabetic rats, suppressed sorbitol accumulation in the red blood cells, the sciatic nerve, and the lens as effectively as ONO-2235. These results suggest that isoliquiritigenin may be effective in preventing diabetic complications.

Aldehyde Reductase

Anti-platelet action of GU-7, a 3-arylcoumarin derivative, purified from glycyrrhizae radix.

We have purified GU-7, a 3-arylcoumarin derivative, from glycyrrhizae radix, which is a crude drug of kampo herbal medicines. This was identified to be a new chemical compound and was found to have an anti-platelet action. GU-7 inhibited platelet aggregation, phosphorylation of 40K and 20K dalton proteins, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, intraplatelet calcium increase and phosphodiesterase activity in vitro. The data indicate that GU-7 inhibits platelet aggregation by increasing intraplatelet cAMP concentration. We have already reported the existence of aldose reductase inhibitors in some kampo medicines. In addition to the aldose reductase inhibiting action, anti-platelet action may also explain the mechanism by which kampo medicines are effective to diabetic neuropathy.

Coumarins

Clinical significance of erythrocyte sorbitol-blood glucose ratios in type II diabetes mellitus.

The polyol pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. To determine the activity of the polyol pathway, the ratio of erythrocyte sorbitol to blood glucose, which reflects aldose reductase activity, was evaluated in 329 patients with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and in 100 nondiabetic age-matched control subjects. Although erythrocyte sorbitol levels were markedly elevated, sorbitol-glucose ratios were significantly lower in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic subjects. Sorbitol-glucose ratios in diabetic patients decreased progressively as blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels increased. Sorbitol-glucose ratios were also studied during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Ratios were again lower in diabetic patients than those in nondiabetic subjects and significantly decreased 120 min after glucose loading. The ratio in diabetic patients also fell with increasing age of the patients. In diabetic patients with neuropathy, retinopathy, or nephropathy, however, sorbitol-glucose ratios were significantly higher than in those without these complications; ratios increased further as complications became more severe. Our findings suggest that the affinity of aldose reductase for glucose in patients with diabetic complications may be increased and that the polyol pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

Biomarkers

Amplification and expression of a multidrug resistance gene in human glioma cell lines.

Two human glioma cell lines were examined for multidrug resistance (MDR). A vincristine (VCR)-resistant glioma cell line showed a cross resistance to Adriamycin (doxorubicin, ADR) and etoposide (VP-16) to varying extents, suggesting the presence of MDR; the resistance to VCR was considerably decreased by calcium entry blockers. On the other hand, another VCR-sensitive glioma cell line exhibited no cross resistance to ADR or VP-16. Double minute chromosomes and homogeneously staining regions as well as clonal aberrations of chromosome 7 were not observed in cytogenetic studies of multidrug-resistant and multidrug-sensitive glioma cell lines. In Northern and Southern blot analyses, MDR gene 1 (MDR1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was shown to be overexpressed without any amplification of the MDR1 gene in multidrug-resistant glioma cell lines as compared to multidrug-sensitive glioma cell lines. It would be reasonable to suggest that amplification of the MDR1 gene may not be a sine qua non for acquisition of MDR and that the MDR1 mRNA level may be correlated with the extent of MDR.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

[Technique and usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic or trans T-tube cholangiolithotripsy (PTCL)].

Percutaneous Transhepatic or Trans T-tube Choledochal catheterization and lithotripsy were successfully performed without significant complication, using flexible forceps and electrohydraulic lithotriptor in all of seventeen cases. Eleven cases were treated by flexible stone forceps under the fluoroscopic control and the other six cases were treated by electrohydraulic lithotriptor under fiberscopic control. The age of the cases ranged from 47 to 79 (mean 65.4) years old. The main reasons why surgical operation was avoided were advanced age, previous history of cholecystectomy, and concurrent diseases.

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