Biomedical subjects

H Yamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Yamaguchi.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Analysis of of the epitopes recognized by mouse monoclonal antibodies directed to Yersinia enterocolitica heat-shock protein 60.

To determine amino acid sequences of the epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 3C8 and 5C3 directed against Yersinia enterocolitica heat-shock protein (HSP60), a dot blot analysis was performed using synthesized peptides of Y. enterocolitica HSP60 such as peptides p316-342, p327-359, p340-366, p316-326, p316-321, p319-323, and p321-326 which represent positions of amino acids in Y. enterocolitica HSP60. The dot blot analysis revealed that 5C3 mAb reacted with p316-342, p316-326 and p321-326, and 3C8 mAb p316-342 and p316-326. These results indicate that the epitopes recognized by the mAbs were associated with eleven amino acids, Asp Leu Gly Gln Ala Lys Arg Val Val Ile Asn, of p316-326. The sequence homology between p316-326 of Y. enterocolitica HSP60 and the rest of the HSP60 family suggests that the five amino acids of Lys, Arg, Val, Ile and Asn, which are highly conserved in the HSP60 family, might be related with the epitope recognized by 3C8. In contrast, it was also demonstrated that three amino acids of Leu, Gly and Val, which are not well conserved in the HSP60 family, might be related to the epitope recognized by 5C3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Prophylactic effect of Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 preparation on experimental candidiasis in mice.

The prophylactic effects of heat-killed cells of Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (FK-23 preparation) on experimental candidiasis were investigated in normal and leukopenic mice. In cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenic mice, oral or intraperitoneal administration of the FK-23 preparation at a daily dose of 1.25 or 5 mg/mouse for 3 consecutive days prior to Candida albicans infection significantly prolonged survival periods of the infected mice, and decreased viable counts of C. albicans recovered from their kidneys. In normal mice, the FK-23 preparation administered at dosages ranging from 0.63 to 10 mg/mouse/day for 3 consecutive days was ineffective, while in leukopenic mice, the FK-23 administered orally caused a facilitated recovery in the number of white blood cells including neutrophils. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of the FK-23 preparation into mice augmented the anti-Candida activity of immunocompromised peritoneal exudate cells obtained from the animals. These results suggested the potential usefulness of the FK-23 preparation as a prophylactic agent for the management of patients with opportunistic fungal infections.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Rapid detection of the cisAB allele consisting of a chimera of normal A and B alleles by PCR-RFLPs.

DNA samples were analysed from Japanese individuals with the very rare ABO variant phenotype, cisAB (A2B3), which is characterized by the apparent inheritance of both A and B genes on one chromosome. The nature of the bases present at nucleotide positions (nps) 261, 526, 703, 796 and 803 is important for the specificity of the alleles at the ABO locus and the DNA from the cis AB donors was analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to determine which nucleotides are present at these positions. The results indicated that the cisAB allele had the AAAB-structure, which was a chimera of normal A and B alleles, when the expression 'AAAA' and 'BBBB' indicated the nucleotides of normal A (C, G, C and G) and B (G, A, A and C) genes at nps 526, 703, 796 and 803, respectively. The AAAB allele was found in all 27 individuals (17 families) with the cisAB including three phenotypes A2B3, A1B3 and A2B and no other chimeric gene was found. The causative gene of cisAB was the AAAB allele, and the A and B alleles were not on one chromosome. The cisAB allele appeared to be a product of the normal A allele due to a point mutation at nucleotide position 803, from G to C. The AAAB allele is thought to be normally transcribed and translated to produce an unusual transferase polypeptide, which has weak A- and weaker B-specific activity. PCR-RFLP is a rapid and useful means of detecting the cisAB allele (the AAAB allele) without a family study, even when they have A1B3 and A2B phenotypes, because trans-type A1B3 and A2B samples have obviously different PCR-RFLP profiles.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMed1996

Allergenicity of acid protease secreted by Candida albicans.

We have previously reported the cases of Candida albicans (C. alb) acid protease (CAAP)-induced atopic asthma. In this study, the allergenicity of the released enzyme CAAP was examined among asthmatic patients with positive immediate skin response to crude C. alb antigen. Among 49 patients with positive skin response to crude C. alb, anti-crude C. alb IgE antibodies were detected in 40 and anti-CAAP IgE antibodies were detected in 18. Moreover, anticrude C. alb IgE antibodies were detected in all of the patients in whom anti-CAAP IgE antibodies were detected. No correlations between IgG antibodies to both antigens or between IgE and IgG antibodies to CAAP were observed. CAAP induced significant T-cell proliferation in 20/28 patients showing positive T-cell proliferation response to crude C. alb antigen. Most of the patients showing positive conjunctival response to crude C. alb antigen also showed positive response to CAAP. Most of the patients showing high levels of serum IgE antibody and positive histamine-release response of peripheral blood leukocytes to CAAP showed positive conjunctival response. The results indicate that CAAP is an important allergen in C. alb-related mucosal allergy.

Allergens↗

PubMed1996

Genotype frequencies of the human platelet antigen, Ca/Tu, in Japanese, determined by a PCR-RFLP method.

Recently, the polymorphism of a new human platelet antigen, Ca/Tu, was shown to be derived from a G-A nucleotide substitution at base 1564 of GPIIIa cDNA, which leads to a single amino acid difference, Arg/Gln at amino acid 489 of GPIIIa. We developed a PCR-RFLP method to determine the genotypes of Ca/Tu and their frequencies in a Japanese population. Fifteen Ca/Tua donors comprising 1 Ca/Tu(a/a) homozygous donor and 14 Ca/Tu(a/b) heterozygous donors were found among the 314 random donors analyzed. The frequencies of Ca/Tu genes were 0.025 (Ca/Tua) and 0.975 (Ca/Tu(b)). The present study showed that the frequency of Ca/Tua individuals in the Japanese (15/314) was approximately 7-fold higher than in the Finnish population (1/150) previously reported by Kekomäki et al. Therefore, attention must be given to the involvement of the Ca/Tu alloantigen in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and the refractoriness of platelet transfusion.

Antigens, Human Platelet↗

PubMed1996

Case report: mucin-producing cystic neoplasm of the pancreas with onset in childhood.

Mucin-producing tumours of the pancreas have been recently reported with increasing frequency and most cases have occurred in middle-aged and elderly people. In the present report, a case of a 21-year-old man with mucinous cystadenoma of the pancreas is reported. He had a long history of recurrent pancreatitis from the age of 8. When he was aged 10, the first branch of the main pancreatic duct was shown to be enlarged on endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography (ERP). A series of ERP studies and computed tomography scans performed over a period of 11 years demonstrated continuing growth of this enlargement of the pancreatic duct. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed and the patient has been well without further episodes of acute pancreatitis and has been free of recurrent tumour for 1 year.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Outbreak of acute glomerulonephritis in children: observed association with the T1 subtype of group A streptococcal infection in northern Kyushu, Japan.

Group A streptococcal infection is associated with the occurrence of acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) and rheumatic fever (RF). A surveillance study in the Saga area, in northern Kyushu, Japan, showed a small variation in the reported number of group A streptococcal infections in the period 1988-94. However, of the AGN cases reported in this period, more than half were observed in 1992. In order to examine whether some change had occurred in the serotype distribution of Streptococcus pyogenes during the period, patients in the Saga area diagnosed as having group A streptococcal infection and patients with AGN or RF were analyzed. Serological T-typing of S. pyogenes was carried out for patients with group A streptococcal infections, and the association between the occurrence of AGN or RF and the distribution of each different T subtype was analyzed. M-typing of S. pyogenes was also carried out and the correlation between T and M types was examined. From 1988 to 1994, the annual number of patients with group A streptococcal infections in the Saga area showed a small variation, range 65-100 patients/year. Of the 42 patients with AGN and three with RF observed in this period, 27 with AGN (64%) and one with RF (33.3%) were detected in 1992. Only the T1 subtype increased in 1992; the other T subtypes showed little variation in incidence. The number of patients with the T1 subtype was significantly correlated with the occurrence of AGN by regression analysis (P < 0.01). Of the 170 subjects tested for both T and M subtypes, 44 of the 45 T1-typed subjects had the M1 protein. Our epidemiological study suggested that the T1 subtype of streptococcal infection was associated with an outbreak of AGN in 1992 in the Saga area.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

A glucocorticoid antagonist, mifepristone affects anti-Candida activity of murine neutrophils in the presence of prednisolone in vitro and experimental candidiasis of prednisolone-treated mice in vivo.

The effects of a glucocorticoid-antagonist, mifepristone on the suppressive action of prednisolone for anti-Candida activity of murine neutrophils were examined. Prednisolone suppressed inhibitory activity of neutrophils to mycelial growth of Candida albicans. This suppression was cancelled in the presence of 10(-7)-10(-6) M of mifepristone in vitro. Corresponding to this in vitro action, mifepristone protected prednisolone-treated mice from lethal C. albicans infection in vivo. These results suggest that glucocorticoid-induced vulnerability to Candida infection may be recovered or normalized by application of mifepristone.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Beat-to-beat blood pressure and heart rate responses to active standing in Japanese children.

Some pubertal children are susceptible to orthostatic stress but little is known about mechanisms of circulatory adjustment to the posture change in children. We investigated beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) responses to active standing in 173 schoolchildren, 92 boys and 81 girls, aged 6-18 years (mean age: 13.4 years) using a non-invasive continuous monitoring system (Finapres 2300, Ohmeda). The subjects were divided into four age groups: prepubertal I (7-9 years), prepubertal II (10-12 years), pubertal (13-15 years) and young adult (16-18 years). Supine BP increased and HR decreased with age. At the onset of active standing two older groups showed a significantly larger initial drop than the prepubertal groups (-36 +/- 15 versus -15 +/- 16% reduction for systolic BP and -36 +/- 14 versus -20 +/- 19% for diastolic BP, respectively, p < 0.01). Moreover, the pubertal group had a significantly smaller vasoconstrictor index than prepubertals and two older groups had a significantly more prolonged BP recovery time. In keeping with this the pubertal group most frequently had hypotensive symptoms during active standing. The rise in HR at the peak was higher in two older groups than in prepubertals (34 +/- 9 versus 29 +/- 8 beats/min-1, respectively, p < 0.001), whereas the baroreflex index was almost identical for the four groups. The effect of body proportion on BP responses was not found. There was no significant difference in BP and HR changes in the later stage during 7 min of standing. These results indicated that pubertal children were more susceptible to orthostatic stress, probably due to abnormal BP responses in the initial phase of active standing, which seemed to reflect enhanced cardiopulmonary reflexes and diminished sympathetic activation associated with the age. Moreover, BP reduction at an initial drop of more than 60% or a recovery time of more than 25 s might be postulated to be an abnormal circulatory response.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

[Hansenula anomala fungemia in a patient undergoing IVH-treatment with ascending colon carcinoma].

A case of catheter-related fungemia due to Hansenula anomala is reported. A 61-year-old male was diagnosed as having stage 3 ascending colon carcinoma stenosing the colon severely and was admitted to our hospital to receive an operation of the carcinoma. Just after admission, an intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) catheter was inserted and IVH was started to prevent development of ileus and to prepare for laparotomy. Nine days later, he developed a fever. On the next day, the IVH catheter was removed and cultures of blood and the catheter revealed the presence of yeast-like organisms that were identified as H. anomala. Laboratory data showed hypogranulocytemia, slight disturbances of liver and kidney, a prolongation of PT, an increase of FDP and positive reaction of candida antigen by CAND-TEC. He improved after the removal of the catheter, and treatment with intravenous infusion of fluconazole 2 days after the removal was thought to be useful for recovery and to prevent the reappearance of infection though susceptibility to fluconazole was not good. Human infections due to H. anomala are rare and this is the 8th case of H. anomala fungemia in Japan. From this report and a review of the literature, risk factors for developing this fungemia include the use and abuse of central venous catheters such as IVH-catheter. It appears that H. anomala has recently emerged as a potential pathogen in the immunocompromised hosts and patients after insertion of central venous catheters and that these organisms should be added to the growing list of unusual fungal pathogens in these patients.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

PubMed1996

[Suppression of anti-Candida activity of human neutrophils by glucose and diminishment of the glucose effect by an amino acid mixture].

Effects of a glucose and amino acid mixture prescribed for parenteral alimentation on anti-Candida activity of neutrophils were examined. Neutrophils obtained from peripheral blood of healthy humans inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in vitro. More than 1.0% of glucose inhibited the anti-Candida activity of the neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. This glucose effect was reduced by the addition of an amino acid mixture clinically prescribed with a carbohydrate solution (PN-twin) in Japan. The amino acid mixture neutralized the suppression of anti-Candida activity of neutrophils by dexamethasone. These results suggest that an amino acid mixture prescribed in an alimentation solution may play a role as a neutralizer of the suppressive action of glucose for anti-Candida activity of neutrophils in a limited area near the top of a catheter in a blood vessel.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1996

Growth hormone regulates cytosolic free calcium in rat fat cells by maintaining L-type calcium channels.

In freshly isolated individual rat adipocytes, cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) as measured with fura 2 slowly declined during incubation but was sustained, or even somewhat increased, by brief treatment with growth hormone (GH) at the beginning of a 3-h incubation period. GH-treated adipocytes were more permeable to Ca2+ than GH-deprived cells as indicated, using Mn2- as a surrogate and monitoring influx by the rate of quenching of fura 2 fluorescence. Blockage of Ca2- channels with 100 nM nimodipine lowered [Ca2+]i in GH-treated cells to the level seen in GH-deprived cells. Increases in [Ca2+]i or the rate of Mn2+ entry were twofold greater in GH-treated than in GH-deprived cells when extracellular K+ was increased to 30 mM. Similarly, the Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K 5552 or the diacylglycerol analogue 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol increased [Ca2+]i more in GH-treated than in GH-deprived adipocytes. Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was two times higher in plasma membranes isolated from GH-treated than from GH-deprived cells. Continued synthesis of Ca(2+)-ATPase may depend on [Ca2+]i, since the effects of GH on [Ca2+]i and Ca(2+)-ATPase were blocked by a cycloheximide or verapamil. We suggest that voltage-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels regulate steady-state [Ca2+]i in rat adipocytes and that GH maintains the number or functional integrity of these channels.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed1996

Growth hormone increases calcium uptake in rat fat cells by a mechanism dependent on protein kinase C.

Growth hormone (GH; 500 ng/ml) rapidly doubled cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat adipocytes as determined with the Ca2+ indicator fura 2. No response was seen in Ca(2+)-free medium, suggesting that the increase in [Ca2+]i was due to Ca2+ influx. GH also doubled the influx of Mn2- as inferred from the rate of fluorescence quenching. Depolarization with 30 mMK+ also increased [Ca2+]i, and the increase in [Ca2+]i due to either GH or 30 mMK+ was blocked by 100 nM nimodipine, suggesting that GH increases [Ca2+]i by activating voltage-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels. GH increased [Ca2+]i even when K+ channels were blocked, suggesting that activation of Ca2+ uptake was not secondary to closure of K+ channels and consequent depolarization. A diacylglycerol (PAG) analogue, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (50 microM), duplicated, and the protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitors calphostin C (100 nM), chelerythrine (1 microM), and bis-indolylmaleimide (250 nM) inhibited the effects of GH on [Ca2+]i. Xanthogenate tricyclodecan-9-yl (D609), a specific inhibitor of phospholipase C(PLC), abolished the increase in [Ca2+]i due to GH but not to DAG. The results suggest that GH increases [Ca2+]i by activation of PLC, release of DAG, and activation of a Ca(2+)-independent isoform of PKC. PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation of either the Ca2+ channels or a protein that regulates them may account for the influx of Ca2+ produced by GH.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed1996

Constancy and variability of contractile efficiency as a function of calcium and cross-bridge kinetics: simulation.

We simulated myocardial Ca2+ (Ca) and cross-bridge (CB) kinetics to get insight into the experimentally observed constancy and variability of cardiac contractile efficiency in generating total mechanical energy under various inotropic and pathological conditions. The simulation consisted of a Ca transient, Ca association and dissociation rate constants of troponin C, and CB on and off rate constants. We evaluated sarcomere isometric twitch contractions at a constant muscle length. We assumed that each CB cycle hydrolyzes one ATP and that the force-length area (FLA) quantifies the total mechanical energy generated by CB cycles in a twitch contraction. FLA is a linear version of pressure-volume area, which quantifies the total mechanical energy of cardiac twitch contraction and correlates linearly with cardiac oxygen consumption (H. Suga, Physiol. Rev. 70: 247-277, 1990). The simulation shows that the contractile efficiency varies with changes in the Ca transient and Ca and CB kinetics except when they simultaneously speed up or slow down proportionally. These results point to possible mechanisms underlying the constancy and variability of cardiac contractile efficiency.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Left ventricular volumetric conductance catheter for rats.

Left ventricular (LV) volume (V) is an essential parameter for assessment of the cardiac pump function. Measurement of LVV in situ by a conductance catheter method has been widely used in dogs and humans but not yet in small experimental animals such as rats. We instituted a miniaturized six-electrode conductance catheter (3-F) for rat LVV measurement and its signal processing apparatus. We compared stroke volumes (SVs) simultaneously measured with this conductance catheter introduced into the LV through the apex and an electromagnetic flow probe placed on the ascending aorta during gradual decreases in LVV by an inferior vena caval occlusion. A high and linear correlation (r = 0.982) was obtained between these differently measured by SVs pooled from six rats. In another group of three rats, LV pressure was simultaneously measured with a 3-F catheter-tip micromanometer introduced into the LV through the apex. We obtained the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume (P-V) relationship (Emax) by a gradual ascending aortic occlusion. After administration of propranolol, Emax obviously decreased with no change in volume intercept of the P-V relationship. The conductance volumetry proved to be useful in rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Muscarinic receptor reserve for inhibition of cAMP accumulation in bovine trachealis cells.

In airway smooth muscle, muscarinic agonists inhibit synthesis of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). The goal was to characterize the relationship between agonist occupancy of muscarinic receptors and regulation of cAMP for bovine trachealis cells. For intact cells dispersed by enzyme, carbachol maximally inhibited 58 +/- 4% (mean +/- SE, n = 5) of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation at low concentrations [log half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) = -8.34 +/- 0.16]. In radioligand binding experiments, carbachol competed for [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (n = 7) and [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine (n = 3) binding sites on intact cells with both low (log KL = -4.26 +/- 0.06 and -4.50 +/- 0.20, respectively) and high affinities (log KH = -5.91 +/- 0.24 and -6.39 +/- 0.19, respectively). In separate experiments, a fraction of the muscarinic receptors on intact cells were inactivated with either phenoxybenzamine (POB) or propylbenzylcholine mustard (PBCM). We compared equally effective concentrations of carbachol before and after partial inactivation of receptors, and the calculated equilibrium dissociation constants for agonist (log KA = -4.36 +/- 0.42 to -3.20 +/- 0.40 for POB; log KA = -4.27 +/- 0.45 for PBCM) were much greater than the half-maximally effective concentration of carbachol in control cells (log EC50 = -8.34 +/- 0.16). Based on these equilibrium dissociation constants, we calculated that maximum responses (EC95) to carbachol were obtained by occupancy of 0.8% of the receptors coupled to cAMP regulation. We concluded that muscarinic inhibition of cAMP accumulation is characterized by a muscarinic receptor reserve.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Muscarinic inhibition of adenylyl cyclase regulates intracellular calcium in single airway smooth muscle cells.

To determine whether muscarinic agonists attenuated isoproterenol-stimulated decreases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), changes in [Ca2+]i were measured in single airway smooth muscle cells using ratiometric analysis of fura 2 fluorescence. Isoproterenol (10(-5) M) and 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP) decreased [Ca2+]i by 24 +/- 3% (P < 0.05, n= 28) and 17 +/- 1% (P < 0.05, n = 6), respectively. The decreased [Ca2+]i in response to isoproterenol was inhibited by propranolol (10(-6) M) and Rp-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate (Rp-cAMPS) (10-40 microM). In subsequent experiments assessing the effects of muscarinic agonists, isoproterenol did not decrease [Ca2+]i in the presence of carbachol (5 x 10(-8) M) (6 +/- 8% increase; NS, n = 8). To determine the mechanism underlying this inhibitory effect of carbachol, cells were loaded with 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (caged cAMP). For cells loaded with 20 microM caged cAMP, photolysis of caged cAMP decreased basal [Ca2+]i by 28 +/- 3% (P < 0.05, n = 12). In the presence of carbachol (5 x 10(-8) M), photolysis of caged cAMP still induced a 27 +/- 4% decrease in [Ca2+]i (P < 0.05, n = 12). We concluded that a low concentration of carbachol did attenuate isoproterenol-stimulated decreases in [Ca2+]i. Because low concentrations of carbachol attenuated the decreases in [Ca2+]i stimulated by isoproterenol but not the comparable decreases stimulated by cAMP directly, we concluded that the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity by muscarinic agonists contributed to the regulation of [Ca2+]i in airway smooth muscle cells. The findings suggested that physiological levels of cholinergic stimulation inhibit adenylyl cyclase, thereby attenuating the effects that beta-adrenergic agonists have on [Ca2+]i.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

PubMed1996

Common antigenicity between Yersinia enterocolitica-derived heat-shock protein and the retina, and its role in uveitis.

Yersinia enterocolitica-derived heat-shock protein (HSP60) was recently demonstrated to be associated with certain systemic autoimmune diseases. A role for HSP60 is also suspected in the pathogenesis of some types of uveitis believed to involve autoimmune mechanisms, such as Behçet's disease. We report our results on the role of HSP60 in patients with uveitis. HSP60 was subjected to electrophoresis in immunoblot analysis, and then allowed to react with sera from patients with uveitis in order to detect the presence of anti-HSP60 antibody. Tissue extracts from human and bovine retina were also electrophoresed, and then treated with anti-HSP60 monoclonal antibodies to determine whether or not the antibodies recognized ocular tissues. Immunoblot analysis revealed anti-HSP60 antibodies in patient sera. Furthermore, anti-HSP60 monoclonal antibodies reacted against the 60-kD protein derived from human and bovine retinal extracts. These immunological cross-reactions between HSP60 and the retina demonstrate a common antigenicity. Furthermore, detection of specific antibody against HSP60 in patient sera suggests that this common antigenicity between HSP60 and the retina may be related to the pathogenesis of uveoretinitis in some cases.

Animals↗