Vertebral deformity susceptibilities of marine fishes exposed to herbicide.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
J Koyama
Publications and source records attributed to J Koyama.
The role of two endogenous proteases of the stratum corneum in degradation of desmoglein-1 and their reduced activity in the skin of ichthyotic patients.
We investigated the role of stratum corneum (SC) trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like serine proteases in the degradation of desmoglein-1 (DSG-1) in the SC sheet. DSG-1, whose presence in the SC sheet was confirmed by Western blot analysis, was degraded completely during incubation of the SC sheet in Tris buffer. The degradation of DSG-1 was inhibited by the addition of protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin or a mixture of leupeptin and chymostatin. Either leupeptin or chymostatin alone did not inhibit its degradation. These results indicated that both trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like serine proteases are involved in the degradation of DSG-1. We further examined the activities of the two proteases in the SC obtained from patients with ichthyosis vulgaris, in whom SC desquamation is abnormal. The enzymatic activities measured using synthetic substrates were significantly decreased in these ichthyotic SC samples. This result supports the idea that these proteases play an important role in normal SC desquamation.
Adolescent↗
Comparison of vessel wall morphologic appearance at sites of focal and diffuse coronary vasospasm by intravascular ultrasound.
Coronary vasospasm is manifested by either focal or diffuse pattern in clinical settings. To examine the differences in vessel wall morphologic appearance between the sites of focal and diffuse vasospasm, we studied 29 patients with chest pain at rest, during exertion, or both by intravascular ultrasound. By angiography, focal vasospasm with diameter reduction of 90% +/- 3% (mean +/- SD) was provoked by intracoronary ergonovine (0.01 to 0.04 mg) in 15 patients. Diffuse vasospasm with diameter reduction of 79% +/- 5% (NS) was provoked in seven patients, and the remaining seven patients served as the control group. By ultrasonography, a significantly thickened intimal leading edge with sonolucent zone was observed in 55 sites from 22 coronary arteries with either focal or diffuse vasospasms (0.61 +/- 0.32 mm), although these sites were normal or minimally narrowed by angiography. Seven segments from the control group exhibited a thin intimal leading edge with sonolucent zone (0.23 +/- 0.08 mm, p < 0.01). When the thickness of the intimal leading edge with sonolucent zone was compared between the abnormal sites with focal and diffuse vasospasm, this was significantly greater at focal spasm, 1.01 +/- 0.35 mm (n = 15), than that at diffuse spasm, 0.46 +/- 0.13 mm (n = 40, p < 0.01). At the sites with diffuse spasm, some of the lesions lay scattered along the coronary vessels, although the lesions were localized at the sites of focal vasospasm. These results indicate that atherosclerosis is present at sites with both focal and diffuse vasospasm even in the absence of angiographically significant coronary artery disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aged↗
Coronary reactivity to nitroglycerin: intravascular ultrasound evidence for the importance of plaque distribution.
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the extent and timing of vasodilation after intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin using intravascular ultrasound. We also sought to relate the magnitude of nitroglycerin-induced dilation to the distribution of atherosclerotic plaque. BACKGROUND: Although previous angiographic studies have shown that nitroglycerin can dilate both normal and stenotic coronary arteries, it remains uncertain whether atherosclerotic vessels can respond to nitroglycerin to the same extent as normal arteries in the clinical setting. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 48 segments from 48 patients by means of a multielement 3.5F to 5.5F 20-MHz intravascular ultrasound system before and after intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin (250 micrograms). Videotaped images were digitized, and the lumen cross-sectional area was measured with an electronic cursor. In noncircumferential lesions, the perimeters of the normal and diseased portions were measured separately to compare the reactivity to nitroglycerin in each portion. RESULTS: Of 48 sites examined 14 were normal by ultrasound, and 34 revealed atherosclerotic lesions. In the 14 normal segments nitroglycerin produced a large increase in cross-sectional area (31 +/- 16% [mean +/- SD]) within 60 s after injection. In the 34 atherosclerotic segments, nitroglycerin-induced dilation was impaired, and the cross-sectional area increased only 12 +/- 8% (p < 0.01). In 15 of 34 atherosclerotic segments, a noncircumferential lesion was identified, and the cross-sectional area after nitroglycerin increased an average of 17 +/- 6%. In the remaining 19 sites, circumferential disease was present, and the cross-sectional area increased by only 8 +/- 7% (p < 0.05 vs. normal or noncircumferential atherosclerotic segments). In noncircumferential lesions, the increase in the perimeter of the normal portion of the wall was significantly greater (14 +/- 6%) than the increase in the diseased portion (5 +/- 3%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that vasoreactivity after nitroglycerin administration is reduced in segments with atherosclerosis by ultrasound. We suggest that nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation at the stenotic segments can be produced primarily by expansion of the nondiseased portion of the vessel wall.
Adult↗
[The influence of methionine and its metabolites on the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits].
The effects of a high level of methionine on the changes of lipid and amino acid metabolism were investigated. Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups; a methionine group, which was fed a diet supplemented with 3% D, L-methionine, a Cholesterol+Methionine group, which was fed a 3% D, L-methionine and a 0.2% cholesterol diet, and a Cholesterol group which was fed a 0.2% cholesterol diet for 22 weeks. The plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, homocysteine, cysteine and serum SO4(2-) levels were measured and compared. On the first and the final day of the experiment, lipid peroxide levels in blood samples were also measured. We found that the Methionine group and the Cholesterol+Methionine group showed elevated levels of plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, homocysteine, cysteine, serum SO4(2-) and lipid peroxide compared with the Cholesterol group. More prominent fat deposits in the aorta were observed in the Methionine group and the Cholesterol+Methionine group than in the Cholesterol group. Our results indicated that the interaction of cholesterol with methionine or its derivatives plays a role in the progression of atherosclerosis.
Animals↗
[Prediction of ineffective outcome of surgical treatment for constrictive pericarditis].
The preoperative factors predicting the outcome of surgical treatment for constrictive pericarditis were investigated in 22 patients with constrictive pericarditis who underwent pericardiectomy. The NYHA functional class was improved in nine patients after surgery (improved group), but not in the other 13 patients (unimproved group). Preoperative right and left heart catheterization data and echocardiograms were compared between these two groups. Right atrial pressure (RAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were significantly higher in the unimproved group. The left atrial diameter (LAD) measured by echocardiography was significantly greater in the unimproved group. These results indicate that pericardiectomy will cause a worsened immediate outcome in patients with severe pericardial constriction. LAD was the most useful parameter in predicting the ineffectiveness of the pericardiectomy. If the borderline value of LAD is taken as 40 mm, the sensitivity and specificity predicting ineffective surgery were 92% and 89%, respectively. RAP and PCWP could not separate the two groups satisfactorily. Pericardiectomy should be performed before the pericardial constriction progresses, and before LAD reaches 40 mm.
Adult↗
Stratum corneum lipid morphology and transepidermal water loss in normal skin and surfactant-induced scaly skin.
Stratum corneum lipid morphology was evaluated using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) in normal skin and surfactant-induced scaly skin to evaluate skin barrier function. To evaluate the degree of order of the intercellular lipid alkyl chain conformation, we measured the wavenumbers (frequency shifts) of the symmetrical and asymmetrical C-H stretching vibrations observed at approximately 2850 cm-1 and 2920 cm-1, respectively. There was a correlation between the wave-number and transepidermal water loss in normal skin. However, no difference was observed in surfactant-induced scaly skin from the baseline value in the wavenumbers of the C-H vibrations. These results suggest that in normal skin, lipid morphology plays an important role in the barrier function of the stratum corneum. However, the decline in barrier function in scaly skin is not due to conformational disorder of the lipid alkyl chain.
Adult↗
The role of proteases in stratum corneum: involvement in stratum corneum desquamation.
The effects of protease inhibitors on cell dissociation were studied in vitro in order to examine the involvement of proteases in stratum corneum desquamation. Stratum corneum sheet (peeled from human backs after sunburn) was incubated in a detergent mixture containing 8 mM N,N-dimethyldodecylamine oxide, 2 mM sodium lauryl sulphate and 60 micrograms/ml kanamycin with or without protease inhibitors, and the number of released cells was counted after incubation for 48 h. Cell dissociation was inhibited strongly by antipain or aprotinin, but not at all by N-[N-(L-3-transcarboxyoxiran-2-carbonyl)-L-leucyl]-agmatin, N-ethylmaleimide or pepstatin, which suggests that only serine proteases are associated with desquamation. Furthermore, leupeptin and chymostatin each reduced cell dissociation about half as effectively as aprotinin or antipain, while a mixture of leupeptin and chymostatin prevented stratum corneum dissociation as potently as antipain or aprotinin. In addition, the activity of chymotrypsin-like protease in scaly skin was higher than that in normal skin, as we have previously found for trypsin-like protease. These results suggest that both trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like serine proteases are involved in stratum corneum desquamation.
Antipain↗
Intravascular ultrasound detection of atherosclerosis at the site of focal vasospasm in angiographically normal or minimally narrowed coronary segments.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to use intravascular ultrasound imaging to examine the presence of occult atherosclerosis at the site of focal vasospasm in angiographically normal or minimally narrowed segments, testing the role of atherosclerosis in the development of vasospasm. BACKGROUND: Previous clinical and experimental studies have suggested that early atherosclerosis is present at the site of focal vasospasm. However, no clinical data exist demonstrating occult disease at the site of vasospasm at angiographically insignificant stenoses. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with chest pain at rest or during exertion, or both, were studied. Vasospasm was provoked by intracoronary administration of ergonovine maleate (0.01 to 0.04 mg). After relief of vasospasm by nitroglycerin administration, intravascular ultrasound imaging was performed with a 32- or 64-element, 20-MHz, synthetic aperture array ultrasound device. RESULTS: Focal vasospasm (arterial diameter reduction > or = 90%) with ST-T segment elevation was provoked in 15 patients: in the left anterior descending coronary artery in 8 patients and in the right coronary artery in 7. The remaining seven patients (control group) showed diffuse narrowing, averaging 22 +/- 12% (mean +/- SD) in diameter from the baseline angiograms after ergonovine administration. Atherosclerosis, defined as a significantly thickened intimal leading edge (0.42 +/- 0.07 mm) associated with an increased sonolucent zone (0.57 +/- 0.30 mm), was detected by ultrasound at all 15 sites with focal vasospasm, although these sites were normal or minimally narrowed by angiography. In contrast, seven segments from the control group exhibited a thin intimal leading edge (0.14 +/- 0.04 mm, p < 0.01) and sonolucent zone (0.10 +/- 0.07 mm, p < 0.01), indicating the absence of localized atherosclerotic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that atherosclerosis is present at the site of focal vasospasm, even in the absence of angiographically significant coronary disease. We suggest that the existence of such atherosclerotic lesions is related to the occurrence of focal vasospasm in the clinical settings.
Coronary Angiography↗
Information processing of a complex system: Response behaviors specified by the Weierstrass function.
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Journal Article↗
[Clinical assessment of coronary atherosclerosis at the site of vasospasm: study by intravascular ultrasound].
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Coronary Artery Disease↗
Detection and characterization of endogenous protease associated with desquamation of stratum corneum.
In order to identify the endogenous protease associated with stratum corneum (SC) desquamation, we examined properties of proteases in the stratum corneum of normal human skin. SC were obtained by tape stripping, washed in toluene and then dried. The proteolytic activity in SC was measured using peptidyl 4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amides (MCAs). The SC was dispersed uniformly in the reaction mixture with dimethylformamide and Triton X-100 and incubated with the peptidyl MCAs. The protease in the SC hydrolysed both Boc-Phe-Ser-Arg-MCA and Boc-Gln-Ala-Arg-MCA (substrates for trypsin) very effectively. The hydrolytic activity was inhibited by the serine protease inhibitors diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), aprotinin, antipain and leupeptin, but not by chymostatin, a chymotrypsin inhibitor. These results show that one or more trypsin-like serine protease is present in the SC of normal human skin. Casein-acrylamide electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of this serine protease was about 30 kDa. We have previously shown that cells dissociate from human SC sheets in a detergent mixture (N,N-dimethyldodecylamine oxide and sodium lauryl sulphate). This cell dissociation was inhibited by aprotinin and leupeptin. In addition, the proteolytic activity in the outer SC was higher than that in the inner SC, and the activity in the SC of scaly skin induced by SLS treatment was higher than that of untreated skin. These results strongly suggest that the trypsin-like serine protease described here is involved in SC desquamation.
Adult↗
Age- and sex-dependent change in stratum corneum sphingolipids.
We measured six stratum corneum sphingolipid species (ceramides 1-6) in 26 males and 27 females, and found a significant change in their percentage composition only among female subjects of different age groups. There was a significant increase in ceramide 1 and 2 with a corresponding decrease in ceramide 3 and 6 from prepubertal age to adulthood. Thereafter the ratio of ceramide 2 to total sphingolipids decreased with age in contrast to ceramide 3 which showed an increase. Such a pattern of change in the aging population is different from that observed in scaly skin experimentally induced by tape stripping. The present results suggest a significant influence of female hormones on the composition of stratum corneum sphingolipids. Moreover, the different patterns of change in sphingolipid composition of stratum corneum lipids between scales from inflammatory skin and those from aged skin also suggest that epidermal biosynthesis of sphingolipids is influenced by epidermal proliferative activity.
Adolescent↗
Purification and amino-acid sequence of a nerve growth factor from the venom of Vipera russelli russelli.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) was purified from the venom of Vipera russelli russelli by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration, S-Sepharose column chromatography and Blue-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. The purified NGF was found to be a glycoprotein, whose apparent molecular mass was estimated to be about 17.5 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The amino-acid sequence was determined by a combination of conventional methods. The V. r. russelli NGF was composed of 117 amino-acid residues with one residue, Asn-21, being N-linked glycosylated and the molecular mass of its protein portion was calculated to be 13,280 Da.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Scaled Langevin equation to describe the 1/f alpha spectrum.
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Journal Article↗
Dynamical activation processes described by generalized random walks.
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Journal Article↗
Stratum corneum sphingolipids and free amino acids in experimentally-induced scaly skin.
Stratum corneum sphingolipids are of particular importance in maintaining the water permeability barrier of mammalian epidermis. Free amino acids also play an important role in water retention in the stratum corneum. To clarify the way in which these substances affect scaly skin, stratum corneum sphingolipids and free amino acids collected from artificially-induced scaly skin were analysed. Scaly skin was induced by tape stripping. The total amount of sphingolipids was quantified by gas chromatography and five of sphingolipid fractions were isolated and quantified by thin-layer chromatography. Free amino acids were analysed using a high-speed amino analyser. The total amount of sphingolipid in scaly skin did not differ statistically from that in control skin. However, a significant change in the distribution of the five sphingolipid species was observed in scaly skin and the total amount of amino acids was decreased in scaly skin. These results suggest that the distribution of these five types of sphingolipid and the total amount of amino acids are responsible for scaly skin.
Adult↗
Low ligand binding activities of two distinct types of Fc gamma receptor on guinea-pig peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes are differentially improved by proteolysis or platelet activating factor.
The expression and ligand binding activity of Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma R) on guinea-pig peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (blood PMN) have been compared with those on casein-elicited peritoneal PMN (exudate PMN). Both the PMN were found to express two distinct types of Fc gamma R, one specific for IgG1 and IgG2 (Fc gamma 1/gamma 2 R) and the other for IgG2 alone (Fc gamma 2 R), when evaluated by their reactivity to monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against each type of Fc gamma R. The surface density of Fc gamma 1/gamma 2 R was not significantly different between the two cell types, whereas exudate PMN expressed five times as many Fc gamma 2 R as blood PMN. Moreover, IgG immune complex (IC) binding activities of both the Fc gamma R on blood PMN were markedly low as compared with those on exudate PMN. In addition, blood PMN could not significantly generate superoxide anion (O2-) when exposed to IC. However, these lower activities were improved by protease treatment of the cells or by incubation with platelet activating factor (PAF). Fc gamma 2 R on blood PMN was found to be sensitive to pronase, whereas Fc gamma 1/gamma 2 R was resistant. Pronase-treated blood PMN showed a marked IC binding activity, though they lacked Fc gamma 2 R. This activity was completely blocked by anti-Fc gamma 1/gamma 2 R mAb, indicating that the proteolysis augments the ligand binding capacity of Fc gamma 1/gamma 2 R. In contrast, PAF was found to specifically modulate Fc gamma 2 R. The Fc gamma 2 R expression was significantly increased within 5 min incubation with PAF, whereas that of Fc gamma 1/gamma 2 R was not affected. The cells also exhibited enhanced IgG2-IC binding and subsequent O2- generating activities. These results indicate that both the Fc gamma R on blood PMN are functionally immature and are converted to exhibit intrinsic activities by proteases and PAF; such changes may occur in vivo during exudation and at inflammatory sites.
Animals↗