Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Suzuki

Publications and source records attributed to I Suzuki.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Prophylactic effect of dietary glutamine supplementation on interleukin 8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha production in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid induced colitis.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that glutamine supplemented elemental diets result in less severe intestinal damage in experimental colitis. However, few studies have examined the mode of action of glutamine in reducing intestinal damage. AIMS: To examine the effects of glutamine supplemented elemental diets on the potent inflammatory cytokines interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis which presents with both acute and chronic features of ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised into three dietary groups and fed 20% casein (controls), or 20% casein supplemented with either 2% glutamine (2% Gln) or 4% glutamine (4% Gln). After two weeks they received intracolonic TNBS to induce colitis. RESULTS: Both Gln groups of rats gained more weight than the control group (p < 0.05) which had progressive weight loss. Colon weight, macroscopic, and microscopic damage scores for the Gln groups were lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). IL-8 and TNF-alpha concentrations in inflamed colonic tissues were lower in the Gln groups than in the control group (p < 0.05), and correlated well with disease severity. Bacterial translocation was lower both in incidence (p < 0.05) and in the number of colony forming units (p < 0.05) for the Gln groups, than in the control group. With respect to all indices studied, the 4% Gln group performed better than did the 2% Gln group. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic glutamine supplementation modulates the inflammatory activities of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in TNBS induced colitis.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

[Physical activity assessed by pedometer in patients under home oxygen therapy].

Most of the patients under home oxygen therapy (HOT-patient) tend to stay inside because of their poor cardiopulmonary function, change of the physical and the cosmetic appearances brought about by oxygen supply apparatuses and weakening of the muscle power. Daily decrease in the physical activities possibly causes sleeplessness, further reduction of the cardiopulmonary function and depressive feeling. In order to solve these interrelating problems, it is necessary to help HOT-patients go out of home and gain some social roles. In this regard, elevation of the physical activities of patients themselves and family supports to encourage them are important. The present study was performed to elucidate the relation between daily physical activities as measured by a pedometer and family function and psychosocial factors including depressive state and emotional supports. The depressive state was assessed using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the family function was measured by Family APGAR score. Pedometer score was recorded everyday for a month and the values were averaged. The averaged score was assumed to represent the patient's physical activity. Six-minutes walking test was done on the plain isle in hospitals. CES-D score was well correlated with pedometer score, i.e., more depressive patients had less pedometer scores. Patients with longer six-minute walking distance had more pedometer scores. Physical activity had nothing to do with Family APGAR score in this study. It was demonstrated that the physical activity was related with depressive state as well as with cardiopulmonary function assessed from six-minute walking distance. The result suggests that supports to expand the HOT-patients' territory of action may improve their depressive state and inhibit cardiopulmonary function from deteriorating.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Accuracy of Calorie Counter method to assess daily energy expenditure and physical activities in athletes and nonathletes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of the Calorie Counter personal activity computer (CC method) for athletic activity. DESIGN: An observational study for a week or on a day. SETTING: Healthy Japanese volunteers. PARTICIPANTS: Nonathletes (54 males and 53 females) and 38 male athletes, with ages between 13 and 73 years old. MEASURES: Daily energy expenditure and weekly physical activity were simultaneously assessed using the CC method and a daily record on physical activity (daily record method) for a week for the nonathletes and one day for the athletes. RESULTS: Mean daily energy expenditures were 9630 (standard deviation, SD, 1250) kJ.d-1 by the CC method, compared with 9530 (SD, 1120) kJ.d-1 by the daily record method for male nonathletes; 7822 (SD, 768) kJ.d-1 and 7790 (SD, 810) kJ.d-1, respectively, for female nonathletes; and 1120 (SD, 1520) kJ.d-1 and 11580 (SD, 1580) kJ.d-1, respectively, for athletes. The correlation coefficients between daily energy expenditures by these two methods ranged from 0.72 to 0.90. Mean daily physical activities were 1520 (SD, 637) kJ.d-1 by the CC method, compared with 1580 (SD, 691) kJ.d-1 by the daily record method for male nonathletes; 1033 (SD, 318) kJ.d-1 and 1080 (SD, 346) kJ.d-1, respectively, for female nonathletes; and 2770 (SD, 914) kJ.d-1 and 3250 (SD, 1090) kJ.d-1, respectively, for athletes. The correlation coefficients between daily physical activities by these two methods ranged from 0.56 to 0.96. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the CC method may be reliable enough for assessing the energy expenditure in athletes as well as in nonathletes during free-living activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Comparative studies of airway deposition of 99mTc-DTPA aerosol particles among 4 different nebulizers by pulmonary scintillation method].

The inhalation therapy is one of the important treatment of bronchial asthma. The effectiveness of the therapy, however, is different depending on the size of particles produced by each inhalation equipment. Therefore, we have tried to clarify the relationship between the size of inhaled particles and the deposition rate in the lung by using different types of equipment. Four different equipments, Nishou, Pari-Boy, Pari-Master and Atom Soniclizer 905 were used. 99mTc-DTPA was dissolved in physiological saline and was inhaled for evaluation of "deposition" rate in the lung. The deposition rates by Nishou, Pari-Boy, Pari-Master and Atom Soniclizer 905 were 10.4 +/- 5.8%, 27.5 +/- 14.5%, 28.5 +/- 6.5%, and 31.1 +/- 6.8%, respectively. Most of 99mTc-DTPA inhaled was observed in oral cavity. The deposition in the lung by Nishou was significantly reduced compared to other three nebulizers. Those three were evaluated as appropriate equipments for the treatment. The average size of particles in an airsol by those three equipments was less than 5 microns. The study suggests that the size of "particles" in an airsol is very important factor for the inhalation therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The new criteria for skin prick test of atopic early infants--diagnosis for hypersensitivity of egg white].

To investigate the new criteria for skin prick test (SPT) of seventy-four atopic infants (2-5 months of age at the first visit, Mean 3.8 months, M:F = 54:20) to diagnose for hypersensitivity to egg white. It was classified into three groups by reaction type of SPT in the first visit. Group A were the infants who seemed only late (6 hours) or delayed (48 hours) reaction (n = 26). Group B were seemed immediate (15 minutes) and late or delayed reactions (n = 26), Group C were seemed only immediate reaction (n = 23). Atopic infants and controlled infants without no symptom but have any atopic disease a relative in the third degree, agreed to undergo SPT in the first visit, the prior were undergo 9-12 months of age, too. Serum total IgE (RIST), serum specific IgE antibody of egg white (EWRAST) and peripheral eosinophil counts in the blood (Eo. counts) were determined at the same time of SPT in atopic infants. The best criterion for SPT was the longest diameter of a erythema were greater than 3 mm at late and/or delayed reaction (Sensitivity: 100%, Specificity: 60%) in group A. Two third of infants in group. A were seemed immediate reaction and EWRAST levels were increased to larger than gread two at 9-12 months (p < 0.001). RIST levels and Eo. counts at the first visit were increased compared with the normal levels in the all groups, the prior and EWRAST levels in group B were higher than group A or C (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). RIST and EWRAST levels in group A at 9-12 months were higher than the first visit (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). In conclusion, SPT in atopic early infants were seemed several reactions at the first visit, but all reactions were useful for diagnose for hypersensitivity to egg white.

Dermatitis, Atopic↗
PubMed1996

Response of tracheal smooth muscle tone to lower brain stem hypoxia in dogs.

We examined effects of central hypoxia on tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) tone, phrenic nerve activity (PNA) and blood pressure (BP) in decerebrated, paralysed, and artificially ventilated dogs. Central hypoxia was induced by injection of N2-saturated saline (5 ml; PO, 25-32 torr) through a catheter in the vertebral artery. The effects of central hypoxia were compared with the responses to central chemoreceptors stimulation, namely central hypercapnia induced by intravertebral injection of high CO2 saline (5 ml; PCO2 90-100 torr, PO2 80-120 torr, pH 7.38-7.42) buffered by HCO3-. Central hypoxia caused relaxation of TSM accompanied by depression of PNA and elevation of BP. In contrast, central hypercapnia evoked tracheal constriction along with respiratory excitation and pressor response. The tracheal relaxation in response to central hypoxia occurred with onset and peak latencies similar to those observed in PNA depression and BP elevation. This suggests a common source for the synaptic inputs to three distinct control systems involved in cardiovascular, respiratory and airway functions. Such neuronal substrate is considered to be activated by central hypoxia.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region gene usage in bone marrow transplant recipients: lack of somatic mutation indicates a maturational arrest.

Many recipients of bone marrow transplant (BMT) make normal amounts of serum immunoglobulin but are deficient in generating specific antibody responses to exogenous stimuli. To determine if abnormal usage of VH genes contributes to this immunodeficiency, the usage of VH genes was determined in peripheral blood B cells of four BMT recipients, two of whom had developed chronic graft versus host disease. The pattern of usage of VH3 or VH4 genes assessed at either 90 days or approximately 1 year after transplant was similar to that observed in healthy subjects and was marked by the over utilization of two elements, one VH3 and one VH4. However, the repertoires of each of the four BMT recipients appeared to be less complex than the repertoires of healthy subjects. The differences were a consequence of the accumulation of somatic mutations among rearrangements in the controls but not in the BMT recipients. The failure to accumulate somatic mutations in rearranged VH genes is consistent with a defect in antigen driven B-cell responses. These results indicate the although the VH gene content of the repertoire has normalized by 90 days posttransplant, a maturational arrest in B-cell differentiation associated with antigen activation persists for at least 1 year after BMT.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1996

Inhibitory input to pause neurons from pontine burst neuron area in the cat.

Extra- and intracellular recordings were made from pontine pause neurons (PNs) in the cat. Spontaneous spikes of PNs were suppressed after single shock stimulation of excitatory burst neuron (EBN) area immediately rostral to the abducens nucleus. The most effective stimulation site for the suppression was the region where long-lead burst neurons (LLBNs) were predominantly located. Intracellular recordings from PNs showed that stimulation of the LLBN area induced short-latency inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in PNs and that steep hyperpolarization of PNs associated with quick phases of nystagmus occurred prior to an abrupt change in abducens nerve activity. Results suggest that a pause of PN spikes associated with quick phases is, at least in part, produced by inhibitory action mediated through LLBNs.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMed1996

Cortical and subcortical SEPs following posterior tibial nerve stimulation.

Intra-operative cortical and subcortical SEPs from the cerebral convexity and from the inter-hemispheric fissure were recorded following posterior tibial nerve (PTN) stimulation. Cortical and subcortical SEPs from the cerebral convexity after contra-lateral PTN stimulation consisted of N38 and P46, and their polarity reversed when the ipsi-lateral site was stimulated. On the other hand, cortical SEPs from the inter-hemispheric fissure always showed P38 and N46, whether the right or the left PTN was stimulated. Cortical and subcortical SEPs from the inter-hemispheric fissure showed clear cut polarity reversals. These findings provide good evidence for the existence of a tangential dipole oriented perpendicular to the inter-hemispheric fissure in the foot sensory area of the primary sensory cortex. SEPs recorded from the superficial part of the inter-hemispheric fissure showed smaller amplitudes and longer latencies than those of SEPs from the deeper regions. These findings suggest the existence of another dipole responsible for the generation of SEPs after PTN stimulation.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed1996

Predicting factors for distant metastases in head and neck carcinomas: an analysis of 103 patients with locoregional control.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the ability of certain clinical and pathologic parameters to predict distant metastases (DMs) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 103 patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were studied. None had persistent or recurrent disease above the clavicle. Of these patients, 48 (47%) had metastatic lymph nodes. The relationships of tumor stage, primary site, clinical growth pattern, tumor differentiation, regional node status, and extranodal spread (ENS) with DMs were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-one (20%) of the 103 patients developed DMs as the initial treatment failure. The incidence of DMs was significantly higher in patients with neck metastases (40%) than in those without neck metastases (4%) (P < .001). The degree of histologic differentiation and the presence of ENS were also correlated with the subsequent occurrence of DMs. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of DMs based on sex, location, stage of the disease, and clinical growth pattern. On multivariate analysis, only pathologic nodal status and ENS proved to be independent cofactors of DMs. The most common site of DMs was the lungs (56%), followed by bone (16%) and skin (16%). CONCLUSION: The presence of pathologically positive nodes is the most critical factor to influence the eventual development of DMs.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Third ventriculostomy for symptomatic syringomyelia using flexible endoscope: case report.

Using a flexible endoscope, we performed a third ventriculostomy to treat a patient with communicating syringomyelia accompanied by enlarged cerebral ventricles. Her clinical improvement was rapid and dramatic. Postoperative magnetic resonance scan demonstrated shrinkage of the cervical syrinx as well as the ventricles. This simple and safe flexible endoscopic third ventriculostomy could be a treatment of choice for communicating syringomyelia accompanied by enlarged cerebral ventricles.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Intramedullary angiographically occult vascular malformations of the spinal cord.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to elucidate the differences between angiographically occult vascular malformations of the spinal cord and the histological subtypes. METHODS: The cases of six patients with spinal intramedullary angiographically occult vascular malformations encountered during the past 10 years were examined regarding clinical course, neuroradiological manifestations, and surgical consideration. RESULTS: There were four cavernous malformations and two arteriovenous malformations. The cervical section of the spinal cord was involved in four cases, and the thoracic section of the spinal cord was involved in two. All of the patients had presented with motor weakness and sensory disturbance below the level of the lesion. Two distinct clinical courses were observed; they were neurological decline with repeated episodes of relapse and remission (four patients) and continuing neurological decline (two patients). Although a mixed-intensity core surrounded by a low-intensity rim is thought to be characteristic of cavernous malformations, we were not able to differentiate the histological types on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging findings alone. CONCLUSION: In cases of spinal intramedullary angiographically occult vascular malformations, even if clinical course and magnetic resonance imaging findings are consistent with cavernous malformation, other histological subtypes need to be considered. Surgery should be considered for symptomatic patients, because symptoms and signs that are probably caused by bleeding tend to worsen rather than stabilize.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Growth inhibition of a human oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis by rat cysteine proteinase inhibitor cystatin S.

Agar diffusion analysis demonstrated that rat cystatin S, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, inhibited the growth of all tested strains of a human oral, Gram-negative anaerobic periodontopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Its specific inhibitory activity against this tissue-invasive bacterium but not against other tested oral bacterial species emphasized the importance of specific cysteine proteinases for growth of P. gingivalis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Development of a temperature-inducible expression system for Streptomyces spp.

PCR mutagenesis of a 0.9-kbp fragment, containing a repressor gene, traR, and its target promoter, Ptra, from Streptomyces nigrifaciens plasmid pSN22, produced Streptomyces lividans clones with temperature-inducible Ptra expression. Using the promoterless gene for the thermostable Thermus flavus malate dehydrogenase as an indicator, an induction of enzyme activity of as much as was observed in a temperature shift from 28 to 37 degrees C. Temperature downshift reestablished repression of Ptra, making these promoter cassettes very attractive for the temporally regulated expression of cloned genes in Streptomyces spp.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Positive regulation by nitrite of the nitrate assimilation operon in the cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 and Plectonema boryanum.

In the absence of fixation of ammonium to glutamine, nitrate and nitrite activated transcription of the nitrate assimilation (nirA-nrtABCD-narB) operon of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942. In a nitrate reductase-deficient mutant, only nitrite activated transcription, indicating that nitrite is the actual activator of the operon. Nitrate and nitrite were also found to activate the transcription of a nitrate assimilation operon in the filamentous nonheterocystous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum.

Anion Transport Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Regulation by cyanate of the genes involved in carbon and nitrogen assimilation in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942.

A mutant (M45) of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942, which is defective in active transport of nitrate, was used for the studies of the nitrogen regulation of the genes involved in nitrate and CO2 assimilation. In a medium containing 30 mM nitrate as the nitrogen source, M45 grew under constant stress of nitrogen deficiency and accumulated a five-times-larger amount of the transcript of nirA, the gene for nitrite reductase, compared with nitrate-grown wild-type cells. By contrast, the level of the transcript of rbcL, the gene for the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, was 40% of the wild-type level. Addition of ammonium to the culture of M45 abolished the accumulation of the nirA transcript and stimulated the accumulation of the rbcL transcript, showing that ammonium repressed and activated the transcription of nirA and rbcL, respectively. Glutamine, the initial product of ammonium fixation, also showed negative and positive effects on nirA and rbcL, respectively. One of the metabolites of glutamine, carbamoylphosphate, and its decomposition product, cyanate, were found to repress nirA and also to markedly activate rbcL. Cyanate negatively regulated another ammonium-repressible gene, glnA, but had no effect on the psbAI and rps1 genes. The effects of cyanate were not ascribable to the ammonium and CO, resulting from its decomposition. These findings suggested that cyanate may act as a regulator of the ammonium-responsive genes involved in carbon and nitrogen assimilation in the cyanobacterium.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Binding of melanotropic hormones to the melanocortin receptor MC1R on human melanocytes stimulates proliferation and melanogenesis.

alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ACTH increase the proliferation and melanogenesis of cultured human melanocytes. To further analyze how melanotropins produce these biological effects, we investigated the regulation of the melanocortin receptor MC1R expression by alpha-MSH and ACTH using Northern blot analysis and determine the relative affinity of the receptor for the structurally similar peptides alpha-MSH, ACTH, beta-MSH, and gamma-MSH. We also determined the relative potencies of these hormones to stimulate cAMP formation, tyrosinase activity, and melanocyte proliferation. The order of affinity and potency of the noted melanotropins in these assays were alpha-MSH = ACTH > beta-MSH > gamma-MSH. Because the binding affinity of each of these melanotropins for the MC1R correlated with its ability to stimulate human melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis, we conclude that these effects are mediated specifically by binding to and activation of the MC1R. gamma-MSH stimulated cAMP formation without affecting proliferation or melanogenesis. However, we found that relative to alpha-MSH, the effect of gamma-MSH on cAMP formation was transient. Our results suggest that alpha-MSH, ACTH, and possibly beta-MSH, but not gamma-MSH, are capable of a physiological role in regulating human pigmentation, and that melanocytes in human skin are a specific target for these hormones.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗