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Biomedical subjects

I Kubota

Publications and source records attributed to I Kubota.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Purification and NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of human and rat kidney fatty acid omega-hydroxylases.

A cytochrome P-450 (P-450), designated P-450HK omega, has been isolated and purified from human kidney microsomes to a specific content of 13 nmoles of P-450/mg of protein. P-450HK omega showed an apparent molecular weight of 52,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Absolute spectra of the oxidized form indicated that this P-450 was largely in the low-spin state and partly in the high-spin state. It catalyzed the omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation of fatty acids such as laurate, myristate, and palmitate, with no activity toward prostaglandin A1, benzphetamine, 7-ethoxycoumarin, or 7-ethoxyresorufin. The first 35 NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of P-450HK omega had about 70% homology with those of rabbit kidney fatty acid omega-hydroxylases of the P-450 IVA gene subfamily, P-450ka-1, P-450ka-2, and P-450kd, except for four undetermined residues. Moreover, Western blot and immuno-inhibition studies showed that P-450HK omega reacted with an antibody against the rabbit kidney fatty acid omega-hydroxylase. The results suggest that P-450HK omega is a member of the same P-450 gene family (IVA subfamily) as the rabbit enzymes. In addition, the terminal sequence of P-450HK omega also showed 54% homology with that of P-450k-2, a fatty acid omega-hydroxylase from rat kidney microsomes. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a P-450 specific for fatty acid omega-hydroxylase activity has been isolated to homogeneity from human tissues.

Adult↗

Bioactive substances in nerve-cord extracts from an echiuroid, Urechis unicinctus--II. Peptidic substances.

1. Two peptides that showed an inhibitory effect on twitch contraction of the inner circular body-wall muscle of the echiuroid Urechis unicinctus were purified from extracts of the ventral nerve cords of the worms. 2. On the basis of the results of amino acid analysis, amino acid sequence analysis and FAB-MS measurement, the primary structures of the peptides were proposed to be H-Phe-Arg-Val-Phe-OH (FRVF) and H-Phe-Arg-Phe-OH (FRF). 3. FRVF and FRF were synthesized, and their behavior on HPLC and biological activities on the body-wall muscle were confirmed to be identical to those of the native peptides. 4. FRVF was also found to have a potentiating effect on spontaneous contractions of the intestine of the African clawed toad Xenopus laevis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The FMRFamide-related decapeptide of Mytilus contains a D-amino acid residue.

1. An FMRFamide-related decapeptide isolated from the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of the bivalve mollusc, Mytilus edulis, was shown to have D-Leu as the second amino acid residue. 2. The excitatory effects of the peptide (Mytilus-FFRFamide) on the ABRM were not changed appreciably by substituting an L-Leu residue for the D-Leu residue.

Animals↗

Relation between recovery sequence estimated from body surface potentials and T wave shape in patients with negative T waves and normal subjects.

BACKGROUND: Advances in analytical methods of the epicardial electrical potentials allowed us to demonstrate spatial distributions of local recovery. Because local recovery will be reflected in events on body surface ECG mapping, abnormalities in recovery sequence that may be responsible for the origin of negative T waves can be detected from body surface potentials. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-seven unipolar ECGs were recorded simultaneously from the entire thorax in patients having negative T waves on left anterior precordial leads and in normal subjects. These included 40 patients with anterior myocardial infarction (MI), 21 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and 44 male volunteers. We measured Tmax time, defined as the instant of maximal first derivative of the T wave as the index of local recovery (Wyatt's method). Parameters related to T wave potentials were positive T wave amplitude, negative T wave amplitude, and T integral. Significant correlations were observed between the Tmax time and each of the T wave potentials. The T wave potentials were dependent on Tmax times. In the anterior MI, the late Tmax times were located on the upper left anterior chest and early Tmax times on the lower right lateral chest. In the LVH, the area showing a delayed recovery was displaced in a left downward direction compared with anterior MI. CONCLUSIONS: Body surface Tmax time distributions clearly separate two negative T wave groups, i.e., anterior MI and LVH. Appearance of the negative T waves correlates well with the presence of the area with delayed Tmax time on the spatial distribution.

Adult↗

Spectral analysis of 87-lead body surface signal-averaged ECGs in patients with previous anterior myocardial infarction as a marker of ventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: There were few studies on the relation between the body surface distribution of high- and low-frequency components within the QRS complex and ventricular tachycardia (VT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-seven signal-averaged ECGs were obtained from 30 normal subjects (N group) and 30 patients with previous anterior myocardial infarction (MI) with VT (MI-VT[+] group, n = 10) or without VT (MI-VT[-] group, n = 20). The onset and offset of the QRS complex were determined from 87-lead root mean square values computed from the averaged (but not filtered) ECG waveforms. Fast Fourier transform analysis was performed on signal-averaged ECG. The resulting Fourier coefficients were attenuated by use of the transfer function, and then inverse transform was done with five frequency ranges (0-25, 25-40, 40-80, 80-150, and 150-250 Hz). From the QRS onset to the QRS offset, the time integration of the absolute value of reconstructed waveforms was calculated for each of the five frequency ranges. The body surface distributions of these areas were expressed as QRS area maps. The maximal values of QRS area maps were compared among the three groups. In the frequency ranges of 0-25 and 150-250 Hz, there were no significant differences in the maximal values among these three groups. Both MI groups had significantly smaller maximal values of QRS area maps in the frequency ranges of 25-40 and 40-80 Hz compared with the N group. The MI-VT(+) group had significantly smaller maximal values in the frequency ranges of 40-80 and 80-150 Hz than the MI-VT(-) group. These three groups were clearly differentiated by the maximal values of the 40-80-Hz QRS area map. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that the maximal value of the 40-80-Hz QRS area map was a new marker for VT after anterior MI.

Electrocardiography↗

Dipyridamole electrocardiography test for the assessment of the severity of coronary artery disease.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of dipyridamole-induced ST changes to the severity of coronary artery disease. The subjects were 100 patients without myocardial infarction who underwent coronary arteriography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The dipyridamole injection test (D) (0.568 mg/kg/4 min), and symptom-limited treadmill exercise test (T) were performed separately. Body surface electrocardiographic mapping of 87 leads was performed in both tests. The incidences of significant ST depression greater than or equal to 0.10 mV, number of leads showing significant ST depression (nST) and the maximal voltage of ST depression (maxST) in D and T were compared to the number of diseased coronary arteries. In patients without significant coronary stenosis (0VD group), the incidence of ST depression in the dipyridamole test was significantly lower than that in the treadmill test (D 9% vs T 47%, p less than 0.01). While, in one vessel disease (1VD), two vessel disease (2VD), and three vessel disease (3VD) groups, there was no significant difference in the incidence of ST depression between the dipyridamole test and the treadmill test (in 1VD, D 44% vs. T 65%; in 2VD, D 67% vs. T 93%; and in 3VD, D 93% vs. T 96%). In the dipyridamole test, nST was 0.6 +/- 2.4 in 0VD, 4.5 +/- 6.9 in 1VD, 4.1 +/- 4.5 in 2VD, and 10.6 +/- 8.1 in 3VD. Significant differences were found between 0VD and 1VD (P less than 0.05), 0VD and 3VD (P less than 0.01), 1VD and 3VD (P less than 0.01), and 2VD and 3VD (p less than 0.01). The maxST in the dipyridamole test was 0.02 +/- 0.04 mV in 0VD, 0.10 +/- 0.12 mV in 1VD, 0.13 +/- 0.11 mV in 2VD, and 0.22 +/- 0.11 mV in 3VD. Significant differences were found between 0VD and 1VD (p less than 0.01), 0VD and 2VD (p less than 0.01), 0VD and 3VD (p less than 0.01), 1VD and 3VD (p less than 0.01), and 2VD and 3VD (P less than 0.01). For the diagnosis of 3VD, the dipyridamole ECG test had as high a sensitivity (93% vs 96%), higher specificity (68% vs 38%, p less than 0.01), and higher predictive accuracy (75% vs 54%, p less than 0.01) than the treadmill test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Dipyridamole electrocardiography test for the detection of severe coronary artery stenoses.

To investigate the relationship between dipyridamole-induced ST depression and the severity of coronary artery stenosis, the dipyridamole injection test (D) at 0.568 mg/kg/4 min, and the symptom limited treadmill exercise test (T) were performed separately in 16 normal volunteers and 167 patients who underwent coronary arteriography [91 patients without myocardial infarction (non-MI group) and 76 patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI group)]. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram and body surface mapping of 87 leads were recorded in both tests. None of the normal volunteers had significant ST depression (greater than or equal to 0.10 mV) in D or T. Regarding the non-MI group, D had as high an incidence of ST depression as T (83% vs 93%) in patients with maximal coronary stenosis greater than or equal to 90%, while in those with maximum coronary stenosis less than 90%, D had a lower incidence of ST depression than T (16% vs 48%, p less than 0.01). For the MI group, the incidence of ST depression was compared to the maximal coronary artery stenosis supplying the non-infarcted area. In patients with maximal coronary artery stenosis greater than or equal to 90%, D had as high an incidence of ST depression as T (71% vs 64%). While, D had a lower incidence of ST depression than T (19% vs 35%, p less than 0.05) in those with maximum coronary artery stenosis less than 90%. For the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis of greater than or equal to 90%, D had as high sensitivity (non-MI group, 82% vs 93%; MI group, 71% vs 64%) and higher specificity (non-MI group, 84% vs 52%, p less than 0.01; MI group, 81% vs 65%, p less than 0.05) compared with T. This study demonstrated that dipyridamole ECG is a sensitive and specific test to detect severe coronary artery stenosis.

Adult↗

Structure and function of a pentapeptide isolated from the gut of the eel.

A novel peptide, H-Gly-Phe-Trp-Asn-Lys-OH, was isolated from eel guts. This peptide, termed eel intestinal pentapeptide (EIPP), enhanced the frequency of the spontaneous contractions and increased the basal tone of the circular muscle of the esophagogastric junction. Furthermore, EIPP enhanced the spontaneous contractions of the longitudinal muscle strips of the gut and stomach, and of the circular muscle of the gastro-intestinal junction. The peptide may be a physiological regulatory peptide in the gastro-intestinal tract of the eel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fulicin, a novel neuropeptide containing a D-amino acid residue isolated from the ganglia of Achatina fulica.

A novel pentapeptide containing a D-amino acid residue was purified from the central ganglia of the African giant snail Achatina fulica Ferussac, and it was named fulicin. The primary structure of the peptide was determined to be Phe-D-Asn-Glu-Phe-Val-NH2. Fulicin potentiated tetanic contraction of the penis retractor muscle of this snail at very low concentrations, and also showed modulatory actions on the activity of the buccal and ventricular muscles and the central ganglionic neurons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification of achatin-I from the atria of the African giant snail, Achatina fulica, and its possible function.

Achatin-I previously purified from the ganglia of the African giant snail Achatina fulica was isolated from the atria of this snail. Achatin-I appeared to enhance the cardiac activity in two ways; centrally this peptide increased impulse frequency and produced spike broadening of the identified heart excitatory neuron, PON, and peripherally it enhanced amplitude and frequency of the heart beat. Achatin-I showed excitatory actions not only on the heart but on several other muscles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

APGW-amide as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of Achatina fulica Ferussac.

APGWamide (L-Ala-L-Pro-Gly-L-Trp-NH2) was purified from the ganglia of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac). This peptide inhibited (hyperpolarized) more than half of the Achatina neurone types tested. This produced an outward current with the membrane conductance increase of RAPN (right anterior pallial neurone) under voltage clamp. The ED50 of the peptide was 6.2 x 10(-6) M (95% confidence limit: 5.0-7.8 x 10(-6) M) and the Emax was 3.9 +/- 0.2 nA. The effects were due to a membrane permeability increase to K+. The peptide is proposed as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the Achatina neurones.

Animals↗

Functional recovery of hibernating myocardium after coronary bypass surgery: does it coincide with improvement in perfusion?

To determine the relationship between functional recovery and improvement in perfusion after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), 49 patients were studied. Radionuclide angiography was performed before, 1 month after, and 6 to 12 months after CABG to evaluate regional wall motion. Exercise thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging was done before and 1 month after CABG to assess regional perfusion. Preoperative asynergy was observed in 108 segments, and 74 of them showed an improvement in wall motion 1 month after CABG (segment A). Sixty-six of these segments (89%) were associated with an improvement in perfusion. Eight segments that had not improved 1 month after CABG demonstrated a delayed recovery of wall motion 6 to 12 months after CABG (segment B). However, seven of eight segments (88%) already showed an improvement in perfusion 1 month after CABG. A total of 82 segments exhibited functional recovery after CABG and were considered hibernating segments. In the preoperative study segment B more frequently had areas of akinesis or dyskinesis than segment A (75% vs 34%, p less than 0.05). The mean percent thallium-201 uptake in segment B was lower than that in segment A (74% +/- 9% vs 83% +/- 8%, p less than 0.05). Functional recovery of hibernating myocardium usually coincided with an improvement in perfusion. However, delayed functional recovery after reperfusion was observed in some instances. Severe asynergy and severe thallium-201 defects were more frequently observed in these segments with delayed recovery. Hibernating myocardium might remain stunned during those recovery periods.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗

Signal-averaged body surface mapping for the assessment of low-amplitude potentials. Detailed maps during early ventricular activation in normal subjects.

Body surface isopotential maps around early ventricular activation were investigated in 30 normal subjects by the use of the authors' signal-averaged body surface mapping system. The number of beats averaged was 96-154 (mean, 127). Two distinct patterns were recognized in the appearance of a maximum at the onset of ventricular activation: the maximum in the first type (n = 16) was located on the right anterior chest; the maximum in the second type (n = 14) was on the central or left anterior chest. The site of the earliest ventricular activation was considered to be different in each of these types. During early ventricular activation, 25 subjects (83%) had two minima: one was on the left lateral chest and the other was on the left back. The two minima probably reflect two different receding activation fronts in the ventricles. The data in the present study are important to the understanding of the early ventricular activation process, as well as the diagnosis of heart diseases in which this process is disturbed.

Adolescent↗

Effects of the neuropeptide APGW-amide and related compounds on molluscan muscles--GW-amide shows potent modulatory effects.

1. Effects of the molluscan neuropeptide APGW-amide and related compounds (the crustacean hormone RPCH, FAPGW-amide, PGW-amide, GW-amide and W-amide) were examined in several kinds of molluscan muscles. 2. All the compounds, except W-amide, showed qualitatively similar modulatory effects on contraction or relaxation of the muscles. The potency order of the compounds was found to be GW-amide greater than or equal to APGW-amide greater than FAPGW-amide greater than RPCH greater than PGW-amide. W-amide showed little or no effect even at 10(-4) M. 3. In the ABRM of Mytilus and the radula retractor muscle of Rapana, the active peptides were suggested to exhibit their modulatory effects by acting on the presynaptic sites in the muscles. 4. Nineteen GW-amide analogues, such as Gly-Trp-OH, Gly-Phe-NH2, D-Ala-Trp-NH2 and N-Gly-tryptamine, were also tested on some of the muscles, but all of them showed little or no effect.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel adhesion molecule, SC1.

SC1, an integral membrane glycoprotein of 100 kd, is uniquely and transiently expressed on spinal cord motoneurons early in development and appears in peripheral neurons and several other tissues during development. SC1 has been purified by immunoaffinity techniques, and SC1 cDNA clones have been obtained by screening an E4 chick embryo phage expression library with a rabbit polyclonal antibody produced against purified SC1. The deduced protein sequence of 588 amino acids consists of a signal peptide, five immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane region, and a short cytoplasmic tail. The sequence is most similar to MUC18, reported as a tumor progression marker in human melanoma. Transfection of SC1 cDNA into mammalian cells leads to cell surface expression of SC1 antigen and a subsequent increase in cell-cell adhesion. SC1 molecules bind to each other via a homophilic adhesion mechanism, independently of calcium or magnesium ions. SC1 may have a role in lateral motor column formation or neurite growth or fasciculation.

Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule↗

Effect of altered activation sequence on epicardial QRST area and refractory period in dogs.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of activation sequence on cardiac surface QRST areas and refractory periods in experiments on dogs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Right and left ventricular pacings were performed, and the pacing site was altered every 6 minutes. After 4 minutes of a given pacing, 54 unipolar electrograms distributed over the entire cardiac surface were recorded. Next, refractory periods at electrode sites near pacing electrodes were measured. Paired right ventricular/left ventricular (RV/LV) pacing data were obtained six or seven times in each sample. Although the QRST isoarea maps during the two activation orders were qualitatively similar, it was recognized consistently from the right ventricle-left ventricle difference map that leads around the RV free wall had positive values and that leads around the LV free wall and apex had negative values. Compared with the same leads at RV and LV pacing, QRST areas were larger when pacing sites were near the leads. The local QRST areas of individual leads at which we measured local refractory period were consistently larger during drive from proximal pacing sites than during drive from distant pacing sites. Refractory periods were consistently longer during proximal pacing than during distal pacing, and there was a positive correlation between change in local QRST area and change in refractory period (r = 0.64) during altered activation sequence, whereas there was an inverse correlation between change in QRST area and change in refractory period (r = -0.91) during localized myocardial warming. CONCLUSIONS: Both local QRST areas and local refractory periods were dependent on the activation sequence, and there was a positive correlation between QRST areas and refractory periods during various activation sequences compared with localized myocardial warming.

Animals↗