Endoscopic therapy using monopolar and bipolar snare with a high-frequency current in patients with a pacemaker.
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
I Shimizu
Publications and source records attributed to I Shimizu.
Photosensitivity in the circadian hatching rhythm of the carotenoid-depleted silkworm, Bombyx mori.
Silkworms (Bombyx mori) were reared on a carotenoid-deprived artificial diet, and the carotenoid-depleted eggs of the next generation were incubated so that we could observe the effect of the depletion on the circadian rhythm of hatching. The phototactic response curves of newly hatched larvae showed that the visual photosensitivity in ocelli of larvae from the carotenoid-depleted eggs was at least 4 log units lower than that of a carotenoid-rich control group. However, the phase-shift experiment revealed that carotenoid depletion did not reduce the photosensitivity in the hatching rhythm. When the hatching rhythm was generated by exposure to a single light pulse in constant darkness, the first peak in the rhythm of the carotenoid-depleted silkworms occurred significantly earlier than that of the carotenoid-rich group, but the following second peaks of both groups were found at the same time. These results suggest that for the silkworm, carotenoid is not involved in photoreception for the hatching rhythm, but is involved in the timing of hatching.
Animals↗
Virological features of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with liver diseases in the inshore area of the Yangtze River.
The prevalence, genotypes, coinfection and putative core gene sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in the inshore area of the Yangtze River, where hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is thought to be very common. Most patients with liver diseases were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), but the incidence of anti-HCV was very low, being 3.4% in patients with acute hepatitis, and approximately 7% in those with chronic liver diseases. The rate of coinfection with HBV and HCV in patients with HCC was 4.5%, which was similar to that in Shanghai (5.6%), but lower than that in Yangzhou (31.2%), Beijing (26.8%) and Zhejiang (28.6%). Of 124 patients with non-A, non-B (NANB) liver disease, 15 (12.1%) were positive for anti-HCV. HCV genotype analysis in 41 HCV-RNA-positive patients with liver diseases showed that genotype II was dominant (85.4%), followed by genotype III (7.3%) and II+III (7.3%). No genotype I or IV was found. The genome sequences of the HCV putative core gene from two patients with chronic hepatitis were more closely similar to those of previous isolates from Japan and China, than to that of an American isolate. These results suggest that HCV infection is not an important etiological factor for liver diseases, and that the HCV isolates in China are from the same subgroup as those in Japan.
Adult↗
Prevalence of HCV-antibodies and HCV-RNA in donor blood in Tokushima Prefecture.
The incidence of C100-3 among the blood specimens qualified for transfusion according to the conventional criteria was 1.1%. The incidence of C100-3 in donor blood in Tokushima Prefecture is not significantly different from that reported for all Japan. Of the donors positive for the conventional screening test and C100-3, 73.6% showed high ALT levels. For all antibodies, the incidence of HCV-RNA was very low in the donors positive for a single antibody, but was high in those positive for multiple antibodies. All of the donors showing the 3 antibodies were positive for HCV-RNA. While a test for multiple antibodies is thought to be effective for the screening of HCV, more blood needs to be discarded, having a serious cost-performance problem. The O.D. value for C100-3 and the 2nd antibody seem to be useful reference value for antibody titers.
Adolescent↗
Radioimmunoreactive plasma bradykinin levels and histological changes during the course of cerulein-induced pancreatitis in rats.
The plasma bradykinin (BK) and serum amylase levels and histological changes in rats during the course of acute pancreatitis induced by a large dose of cerulein were examined. Animals were given four intraperitoneal injections of 20 micrograms/kg body wt of cerulein at hourly intervals. The plasma concentration of BK-like immunoreactivity (BK-LI), measured by a highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay established in this study, was found to reach a peak 6 h after the first injection of cerulein and then to remain elevated. On the other hand, the serum amylase and the histological alterations (i.e., interstitial edema, vacuolization, and inflammatory infiltration) were maximal 9 h after the first injection and returned to nearly normal after 24 h. These observations suggest that the BK generation is indicative of the participation of the kallikrein-kinin system in the pathophysiological change and that the plasma BK-LI level is a good marker of cellular damage and inflammation within the pancreas during the course of acute pancreatitis.
Acute Disease↗
Synergistic antitumor effects of carboplatin and interferons on hepatic metastases of colon carcinoma 26 and M5076 reticulum cell sarcoma.
The effects of combination therapy including various antitumor agents and interferon on mice bearing hepatic metastases of colon carcinoma 26 were determined. Combined treatment with interferon-alpha A/D and carboplatin (CBDCA) was associated with a considerably more pronounced antitumor effect than was treatment with either drug alone. Murine interferon-beta and -gamma each also potentiated the antitumor activity of CBDCA. Combination therapy with interferon-alpha A/D and CBDCA also resulted in marked inhibition of hepatic metastasis of M5076 reticulum cell sarcoma. However, interferon-beta did not potentiate the antitumor activity of CBDCA against either subcutaneously implanted colon carcinoma 26 or pulmonary metastases of this tumor. Thus, in our model the combined administration of interferon and CBDCA was associated with a synergistic antitumor effect on hepatic metastases alone.
Animals↗
[Changes in human evoked spinal potentials (ESP) by epidural lidocaine].
Controversies exist on the sites of action of epidural anesthesia. Leading opinion says that it works on spinal nerve root. We examined ESP and tactile sensations in 4 patients during epidural anesthesia with lidocaine to determine the effects of the anesthesia on spinal cord. Prolongation of latency and decrease in amplitude of ESP appeared 10 min after injection of 1.5% lidocaine 4 ml, each parameter reaching maximum value of 115% and 60% of the control value 30 min afterwards, respectively. Then they started to recover slowly, reaching normal values 150 min later. Changes in ESP and tactile sensation were closely related. Decreases in amplitude to 90%, 80%, 60% of the control values were observed for hypesthesia, analgesia, and anesthesia, respectively. We conclude that the spinal cord also is an important site of action of epidural anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Epidural↗
Prenatal detection of ischemic changes in the placenta of the growth-retarded fetus by Doppler flow velocimetry of the maternal uterine artery.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationships among the pregnancy outcomes of growth-retarded fetuses, Doppler flow velocimetry of the fetomaternal circulation, and pathologic changes in the placenta. METHODS: Forty-seven fetuses confirmed to be growth-retarded by ultrasonographic biometry were monitored during pregnancy in terms of the resistance indexes of the maternal uterine, fetal umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries. After delivery, the placentas were examined for pathologic changes such as infarction and villous ischemia. RESULTS: Compared with 23 fetuses with nonischemic placentas, 24 growth-retarded fetuses whose placentas showed ischemic lesions were more frequently delivered preterm (P < .001) and by cesarean for fetal distress (P < .01), and they also had lower mean pH, higher carbon dioxide pressure, and lower oxygen pressure values (P < .05). Compared with the fetal umbilical and middle cerebral artery resistance indexes, the uterine artery resistance index showed the highest sensitivity (91.7%), specificity (78.3%), and positive predictive value (81.5%) for detecting placental ischemic changes. Linear discriminative analysis also showed that the uterine artery resistance index had the strongest correlation (P < .00001) with the placental ischemic changes. CONCLUSION: Ischemia of the placenta is associated with an adverse pregnancy outcome in growth-retarded fetuses. The placental ischemic changes can be detected using Doppler flow velocimetry. Measurement of the uterine artery resistance index might be useful for determining the clinical management of growth-retarded fetuses.
Adult↗
Glucose and oxygen deprivation induces a Ca(2+)-mediated decrease in (Na(+)+K+)-ATPase activity in rat brain slices.
Exposure of rat brain cortical slices to a medium lacking in glucose, oxygen or both glucose and oxygen, resulted in a decrease of the tissue ATP content and a reduction of (Na(+)+K+)-ATPase activity in membranes prepared from the slices. These treatments also inhibited partial reactions of (Na(+)+K+)-ATPase such as Na(+)-dependent phosphorylation and K(+)-stimulated phosphatase, as well as specific binding of [3H]ouabain in membranes prepared from the slices. Glucose deprivation and hypoxia decreased (Na(+)+K+)-ATPase activity in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, but the effects were blocked by 1,2-bis(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra-acetomethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), a chelator of intracellular Ca2+. Metabolic inhibitors mimicked the effects of glucose deprivation and hypoxia. The effect of glucose-free hypoxia was dependent on extracellular Ca2+. It was blocked by Mg2+ at high concentration, bepridil or amiloride, but not by voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel antagonists and glutamate receptor antagonists. None of the drugs tested here, except for dithiothreitol, affected the inhibitory effect of glucose-free hypoxia on the enzyme activity. In contrast to brain (Na(+)+K+)-ATPase, the kidney enzyme was insensitive to glucose and oxygen deprivation and metabolic inhibitors which depleted the tissue ATP.
Animals↗
Postnatal change in a Ca(2+)-mediated decrease in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in rat brain slices.
The treatment of brain slices from immature rats with veratrine and monensin did not cause any change in (Na+ + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity or [3H]ouabain binding in membranes prepared from the slices, though these reagents remarkably stimulated Ca2+ uptake in the slices. Exposure of the slices from adult rats to a glucose-free, hypoxic or both glucose-free and hypoxic medium resulted in a decrease in the enzyme activity, but the enzyme from immature rats was resistant to the conditions.
Animals↗
[A case of occupational asthma caused by arrowhead scale in mandarin orange-worker].
A 50-year-old woman with occupational asthma, whose attacks were provoked by inhalation of Arrowhead scale (Unapsis Yanonensis Kuwana) attached to the leaves of mandarin oranges is reported. She experienced asthmatic attacks while picking leaves and harvesting mandarin oranges. Because Arrowhead scale-dust stuck to the leaves was suspected to be the allergen, tests of allergy were performed using an extract of the allergen prepared by Unger's method in our laboratory. Asthmatic attack was provoked 90 minutes after inhalation of the extract of cocoon. Histamine was not released, but leukotriene D4 production was induced by the addition of the extract to whole blood. Basophils were activated by addition of anti-IgG anti-sera as well as the extract. These data indicate that LT released from target cells in response to the worm elements, as well as histamine, is important as a chemical mediator.
Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
Na+ influx-induced decrease of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in rat brain slices: role of Ca2+.
Treatment of rat brain slices with veratrine and monensin decreased (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in the membranes in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of monensin, like that of veratrine, was accompanied by a decrease of maximal binding sites for ouabain. The inhibitory effect of monensin on the enzyme activity was dependent on external Ca2+ at low concentrations, but not at a high concentration. The decreased enzyme activity induced by monensin was restored by subsequent incubation of the slices in a Ca(2+)-free medium containing 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), a chelator of intracellular Ca2+. The effect of monensin at a low concentration on enzyme activity was antagonized by amiloride (1 mM), bepridil (5 microM), quinacrine (30 microM) or verapamil (30 microM), but not by nifedipine (1 microM) or omega-conotoxin (1 microM). Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of monensin at a high concentration under Ca(2+)-free conditions was blocked by BAPTA-AM (30 microM) and by bepridil (100 microM) or diazepam (500 microM), inhibitors of mitochondrial Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. Inhibitors of calmodulin, protein kinase C, phospholipase A2 and calpain did not affect the monensin-induced decrease of enzyme activity. Dithiothreitol (10 mM) blocked the effect of monensin on enzyme activity but did not affect the ionophore-induced influx of Ca2+ in the slices.
Amiloride↗
Hepatocyte growth factor in ascites from patients with cirrhosis.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulating DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture was found in the ascites and plasma from patients with liver cirrhosis, but not in those from patients without cirrhosis. HGF was purified about 400-fold in 10% yield from cirrhotic ascites by ultrafiltration, cation-exchange chromatography on a S-Sepharose column, and affinity chromatography on a heparin-Sepharose CL-6B column. The partially purified factor was a heat- and acid-labile cationic protein with a molecular weight of 100,000-150,000. Its effect was half-maximal at 3.8 micrograms/ml, and was additive with those of insulin and epidermal growth factor. HGF in ascites from patients with cirrhosis had the same properties as HGF purified and characterized from rat platelets. These findings suggest that HGF is secreted into the ascites from the plasma or liver of patients with cirrhosis and may increase in the plasma with the development of hepatic impairment and act in repair of the damaged liver of patients with chronic liver disease.
Adult↗
Relationship between [3H]mazindol binding to dopamine uptake sites and [3H]dopamine uptake in rat striatum during aging.
Certain drugs exhibit a remarkable correlation between their ability to inhibit synaptosomal uptake of dopamine and the binding of [3H]mazindol to striatal membranes. To investigate the role of mazindol binding sites in the dopamine uptake process and the fate of these sites (labeling dopaminergic neurons) during aging, we have examined the properties of mazindol binding and dopamine uptake in individual young and old rats. There was a 48% decrease (p = 0.0001) in the Bmax of mazindol binding and a 23% decrease (p = 0.0166) in the Vmax of dopamine uptake with no apparent change in their affinities with age. Regression analysis of the relationship between Bmax and Vmax exhibited a significant correlation in old (p = 0.0156) but not young rats (p = 0.1398). These data suggest that the number of mazindol binding sites decreases with age and that the number of sites on the dopamine transporter complex far exceeds the number required to elicit maximal dopamine uptake.
Aging↗
Identification of the promoter region of the ribosome-releasing factor cistron (frr).
Previous studies of the structure and expression of the ribosome-releasing factor (RRF) cistron (frr) have suggested that an efficient promoter region is located in the RRF cistron. We report here on the nucleotide sequence and in vivo function of the RRF promoter. The transcriptional start site was determined by primer extension to be 58 bp upstream of the translational initiation codon of frr. The location of the RRF promoter region was confirmed by means of (i) deletion analysis of the 5' proximal sequences of frr fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene, (ii) analysis of RRF produced in vivo from the deletion derivatives of frr cloned into pUC19, and (iii) gel retardation analysis with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. The -35 and -10 regions were TTacCc and TATAcT, respectively. The strength of the RRF promoter was similar to that of the lac promoter, as determined by in vivo expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. However, the RRF promoter was not affected by the intracellular cyclic AMP level despite the presence of a cyclic AMP receptor protein binding site downstream of the RRF promoter.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Anatomical and functional recovery following spinal cord transection in the chick embryo.
Following complete transection of the thoracic spinal cord at various times during embryonic development, chick embryos and posthatched animals exhibited various degrees of anatomical and functional recovery depending upon the age of injury. Transection on embryonic day 2 (E2), when neurogenesis is still occurring and before descending or ascending fiber tracts have formed, produced no noticeable behavioral or anatomical deficits. Embryos hatched on their own and were behaviorally indistinguishable from control hatchlings. Similar results were found following transection on E5, an age when neurogenesis is complete and when ascending and descending fiber tracts have begun to project through the thoracic region. Within 48 h following injury on E5, large numbers of nerve fibers were observed growing across the site of transection. By E8, injections of horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) administered caudal to the lesion, retrogradely labelled rostral spinal and brainstem neurons. Embryos transected on E5 were able to hatch and could stand and locomote posthatching in a manner that was indistinguishable from controls. Following spinal cord transections on E10, anatomical recovery of the spinal cord at the site of injury was not quite as complete as after E5 transection. Nonetheless, anatomical continuity was restored at the site of injury, axons projected across this region, and rostral spinal and brainstem neurons could be retrogradely labelled following HRP injections administered caudal to the lesion. At least part of this anatomical recovery may be mediated by the regeneration or regrowth of lesioned axons. Although none of the embryos transected on E10 that survived to hatching were able to hatch on their own, because several sham-operated embryos were also unable to hatch, we do not attribute this deficit to the spinal transection. When E10-transected embryos were aided in escaping from the shell, they were able to support their own weight, could stand, and locomote, and were generally comparable, behaviorally, to control hatchlings. Repair of the spinal cord following transection on E15 was considerably less complete compared to embryos transected on E2, E5, or E10. However, in some cases, a degree of anatomical continuity was eventually restored and a few spinal neurons rostral to the lesion could be retrogradely labelled with HRP. By contrast, labelled brainstem neurons were never observed following E15 transection. E15 transected embryos were never able to hatch on their own, and when aided in escaping from the shell, the hatchlings were never able to stand, support their own weight or locomote.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Animals↗
Converting enzyme inhibition in kinin-deficient brown Norway rats.
The contribution of endogenous kinins to the acute antihypertensive actions of the converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril was investigated in kinin-deficient Brown Norway rats and in Brown Norway-Hannover rats and Wistar rats as controls. In Brown Norway rats, urinary kinin excretion was measurable but extremely low when compared with control strains. The depressor responses to intra-arterial bradykinin injections 1) were not different between Brown Norway and Brown Norway-Hannover rats, 2) were potentiated by intravenous ramipril (60 micrograms), and 3) were attenuated by intra-arterial infusion of the bradykinin antagonist B4146 (40 micrograms/kg/min) to a similar extent in both strains. In renal hypertensive (two-kidney, one clip) Brown Norway rats, the blood pressure reductions to intravenous bolus injections of ramipril (100 micrograms) were significantly reduced both in extent and duration when compared with hypertensive Brown Norway-Hannover and Wistar rats. Intra-arterial infusion of B4146 (40 micrograms/kg/min) attenuated the depressor response to ramipril in Wistar and Brown Norway-Hannover rats but had no effect in Brown Norway rats. In contrast, all three groups showed similar depressor responses to intravenous infusions of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin. These responses were not influenced by the bradykinin antagonist. Our data support the hypothesis that kinins are important for the acute antihypertensive actions of converting enzyme inhibitors.
Angiotensin II↗
Studies on GnRH agonist suppression of estrogen production in patients with endometriosis.
The chronic administration of GnRH agonists to women results in the reversible suppression of estrogen production by the ovary. In the present study, the mechanism of the GnRH agonist suppression of estrogen production was investigated in patients with endometriosis. During the treatment with intranasal buserelin spray, the concentration of serum estradiol-17 beta (E2) was suppressed to near-castrate levels. Despite this marked suppression of serum E2, immunoreactive LH and FSH levels in serum were not changed. On the other hand, serum bioactive LH was markedly reduced. It was also observed during the treatment that the pituitary LH pulse disappeared and pituitary response to exogenous GnRH was significantly suppressed. In contrast, ovarian response to human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) was not altered during the treatment. These findings suggest that the GnRH agonist suppression of estrogen production in the patients with endometriosis is through both suppression of the secretion of biologically active LH and the reduction of the LH pulse, but not through a direct inhibitory effect on ovarian estrogen biosynthesis.
Administration, Intranasal↗