Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Nakano

Publications and source records attributed to J Nakano.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Endotoxin and pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate endothelin-1 expression and release by airway epithelial cells.

Endothelin is a potent bronchoconstrictor peptide first identified as a novel vasoconstrictor produced by vascular endothelial cells. Recent reports suggest that airway epithelial cells are also capable of releasing this active peptide. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of endothelin expression, we studied the effects of endotoxin and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor on the expression and release of endothelin-1 by airway epithelial cells. Both endotoxin and the cytokines stimulated endothelin-1 release by human bronchial epithelial cells. Northern blot analysis showed increased expression of preproendothelin-1 mRNA by these factors. These results suggested that airway epithelial cells might play a role in the local airway smooth muscle tone through the production of endothelin, which might be upregulated by inflammatory products in the airways.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Synthesis and antiallergic activity of novel azaazulene derivatives.

Various azaazulene derivatives were synthesized and their antiallergic activity was examined. The structure-activity relationship among various derivatives modified by introducing substituents at the 1-,2-, or 3-position of the azaazulene ring was investigated. The inhibitory activities on allergic histamine release of the compounds bearing a 5-tetrazolyl group at the 3-position were more potent than those of the corresponding compounds with other groups (CN, COOH, and CHO). The compounds substituted with amino, azide and carboxymethylamino groups at the 2-position showed strong inhibitory activity. The compounds with various phenylalkyl groups at the 1-position showed a greater activity than those with other substituents. Among the compounds with substituents at the 1-,2-, or 3-position of the azaazulene ring, 1-benzyl-7-isopropyl-3-(5-tetrazolyl)-1-azaazulen-2-one (18f) and 1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-7-isopropyl-3-(5-tetrazolyl)-1-azaazulen- 2-one (19c) had the most potent inhibitory activities on histamine release from mast cells and on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats after oral administration (ED50 = 0.56 and 0.58 mg/kg, respectively).

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity].

A 45-year-old man with diffuse infiltrates on the chest X-ray film was admitted to the hospital. At first, sarcoidosis was suspected due to the elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. Transbronchial lung biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage, however, did not lead to that diagnosis. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) was diagnosed after an open lung biopsy. The diffuse infiltrates on his chest X-ray film diminished spontaneously. Two years later, diffuse infiltrates increased again with an elevated serum ACE activity. In this case, it seemed that the severity of PAP was associated with serum ACE activity. We review the literature on the relationship between serum ACE activity and dysfunction of alveolar macrophages in PAP.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Pharmacological profiles of contractile endothelin receptors in guinea pig hilar bronchus.

Characterization of the receptors mediating contractions to endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin-3 (ET-3), sarafotoxin S6c (STXc), or IRL 1620 in isolated epithelium-denuded hilar bronchus of guinea pig using as antagonists BQ-123 (ETA receptor-selective) and Ro 46-2005 (ETA/B nonselective) was investigated. ET-1, ET-3, STXc, and IRL 1620 produced only contraction, and their concentration-response curves were obtained at the same concentration range (10(-10)-10(-7) M). The potency order was the following: STXc = ET-3 = ET-1 > IRL 1620. BQ-123 (10(-5)M) had no marked effect on the contraction induced by ET-3 or STXc, whereas it attenuated the response induced by high concentration of ET-1 (3 x 10(-8)-10(-7)M). The contraction induced by IRL 1620 was antagonized by BQ-123 (3 x 10(-6)-10(-5)M). Ro 46-2005 (10(-5)M) failed to inhibit the responses to ET-1 and ET-3. Ro 46-2005 (10(-5)M) slightly, but significantly, shifted the concentration-response curve for STXc to the right (pKB = 4.94 +/- 0.10, n = 7), and the maximum response was potentiated to about 127%. The curve for IRL 1620 was shifted in parallel by Ro 46-2005 (3 x 10(-6)-10(-5)M) to the right (mean pKB = 6.35 +/- 0.09, n = 8). These results suggest that ETB receptors primarily mediate contraction to ET-1, ET-3, STXc, and IRL 1620, and the relative inhibitory activities of ET antagonists vary with the agonist used. However, ET-1 and ET-3 might also activate non-ETB receptor or unknown mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome associated with Sjögren's syndrome and discoid lupus erythematosus.

A 65-year-old woman with facial erythema and hypergammaglobulinemia developed excessive fatigability. A diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) was made from electrophysiological studies. She had symptoms and laboratory data compatible with probable Sjögren's syndrome. Skin biopsy revealed the histological findings of discoid lupus erythematosus. Treatment with 3,4-diaminopyridine resulted in the improvement of fatigability. LEMS should be recognized as a treatable complication of systemic autoimmune diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis--is hepatitis C virus involved?].

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a new virus discovered in 1989. Since HCV is known to cause fibrotic changes in the liver, we studied whether HCV is involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Firstly, we assessed anti-HCV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the sera obtained from 66 IPF patients (46 males and 20 females; mean age +/- SEM, 61.5 +/- 10.1). We observed a significantly high prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in IPF compared with 9,464 age-matched controls (28.8% vs 3.66%, p < 0.05). To confirm the results, recombinant immunoblotting assay (RIBA) was conducted on the 19 ELISA-positive sera, and 8 sera (12.2%) were found to be definitely positive. Secondly, we searched for HCV in the blood of IPF patients by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. As preliminary data, four out of 28 cases (14.3%), all of which were pathologically diagnosed as UIP, were positive for HCV. In conclusion, although further investigation is required, a high prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies and the existence of HCV itself in the blood may suggest the possibility that HCV infection plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IPF.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Pulmonary edema caused by cardiac ischemic attacks in cases with or without minimal myocardial infarction].

We report cases of angina pectoris or minimal acute myocardial infarction accompanied by pulmonary edema, which were retrospectively studied with regard to their clinical characteristics, prognosis and treatment. Sixteen patients, 5 males and 11 females with a mean age of 72.6 years, admitted to the Cardiovascular Center of Sendai between January 1986 and June 1989, were studied. Ten had previous myocardial infarction. Hypertension, chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus were found in 10, 7 and 7 patients, respectively. Electrocardiograms during cardiac ischemic attacks showed ST elevation in 8 and ST depression in the other 8 patients. Coronary arteriography which was performed in 6 patients revealed three-vessel disease in 5, and two-vessel disease in one. Mechanical ventilation was indicative of 7, and intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in 2 patients. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed for 3 patients. All patients recovered from pulmonary edema and were discharged. During the mean 15-month-follow-up period, 8 patients died. The causes of death were sudden cardiac death in 3, acute myocardial infarction in one, congestive heart failure in one, post-surgical death in one, and non-cardiac death in 2.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Detection of immature granulocytes and atypical and/or abnormal lymphocytes using scatterplots of Coulter STKS].

Scatterplots of the Coulter STKS were studied in order to make better analyses of morphological abnormality of leukocytes. The analytical pattern of a sample failed to completely prevent blood coagulation, especially platelet aggregation, showed the poor separation between lymphocyte and neutrophil populations. On the scatterplot, a small population was occasionally observed in the lower area of normal lymphocyte population with elevation of room temperature, being thought an artificial population. When atypical and/or abnormal lymphocytes increased, the pattern was characterized by the distribution of large lymphoid cells spreading over monocyte population area. The characteristics became clear in proportion to the percentage of large lymphoid cells. To detect immature granulocytes, we introduced a criterion originated in our laboratory. Using the detection criterion, we could obtain the satisfactory results with sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 93%, efficiency of 91% and coefficient correlation (r) of 0.73. It is concluded that the pattern analysis and the detection criterion are useful in the experiments using routine laboratory samples and valuable in clinical implication.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis of 7-thio-substituted 4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids with antibacterial activity.

A series of C-7 thio-substituted 1-cyclopropyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids were prepared and tested for their antibacterial activity. Structure-activity relationships associated with the C-5 and C-7 substituents were discussed. Among the C-7 substituents including alkylthio, arylthio, heteroarylthio, and cyclic aminothio groups, a 2-aminoethylthio group was the best for enhancing in vitro antibacterial activity. The C-5 variants increased activity in the order OH less than F less than H less than NH2. Of compounds prepared in this work, 5-amino-7-(2-aminoethyl)thio-1-cyclopropyl-6,8-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-4 -oxo-quinoline-3-carboxylic acid (18) was the most active.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1989

[Survey on nutrition of infants in the Tokyo metropolitan area. 1. Carious dentitions, anomalies of occlusion and ways of eating].

In September, 1987, a survey on the nutrition of infants was conducted with 1,235 children from 3 to 6 years of age selected from six nurseries and six kindergartens in the metropolis of Tokyo. We compared the survey results with other similar survey reports with respect to three areas; 1, caries attack on primary teeth, 2, anomalies of dentition and occlusion and 3, how foods are eaten, to observe the difference by age and also between children in nurseries and in kindergartens. The following are the results of this comparative investigation. 1) The ratio of caries attacks on the 4-year-old in this survey was 69.6%, which was lower than the 83.4% of the nationwide survey of 1987 conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while the average value of the df index per person was 4.7, which was lower than the 6.1 of 1981. 2) The caries incidence rate was higher with children in kindergarten than those in nurseries and many kindergarten children had had more than one caries attack. 3) The frequency rate of anomalies of dentition and occlusion in the entire survey sample was 12.9% for deep overbite, 11.4% for open bite and 10.7% for edge-to-edge bite. 4) In the survey of how foods were eaten, the question, "Does your child like to eat things that are hard to bite on?" was asked, and 10.4% of the group answered "My child prefers eating soft food," which was quite high. To the question, "Does your child often eat things that are difficult to eat?", 17.1% of the entire group answered, "My child refuses to." This tendency was greater among the children in kindergaretens.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical characteristics of unstable angina in 162 consecutive cases].

We surveyed the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of 162 patients with unstable angina, who were admitted to our center between 1985 and 1987. There were 112 males and 50 females, with a mean age of 65 years. The clinical characteristics according to the American Heart Association classification were new angina of effort in 21%, changing pattern in 61%, and new angina at rest in 18% of the patients. ECG recordings during attacks of angina were obtained in 70%, and ST elevation was detected in 11%, ST depression in 54%, and T wave abnormality in 5%. Coronary arteriography performed in 42% of the patients revealed single vessel lesion in 21%, two vessel lesion in 10%, three vessel lesion in 5%, and left main trunk lesion in 3% of the patients. Seventy-seven percent of the patients were controlled by medical therapy, including nitrates, calcium antagonists, and, in some cases, beta blockades. Three percent of the patients were controlled with intra aortic balloon pumping in addition to medical therapy. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) was performed in 6% of the patients. Since 1987, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) was introduced in our center and PTCA was performed in 9 patients (6%). Restenosis of the dilated portions of the coronary artery was observed and PTCA was again performed in 2 of 9 patients (22%). All patients who received CABG or PTCA survived and have been free from angina or myocardial infarction. Non-fatal myocardial infarction occurred in 10 cases (5.6%) and fatal infarction occurred in one patient (0.6%).

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1987

The role of squirrels in sustaining monkeypox virus transmission.

When the research on the ecology of monkeypox virus entered the latest stage in 1984, three groups of animals were considered priority candidates for maintenance of virus circulations in nature because of their relatively higher population density: terrestrial rodents, squirrels, and gregarious bats. Following the isolation of the virus from a wild squirrel in 1985 another survey was carried out in Bumba zone of Zaïre in January-February 1986, which included collection of animal samples, later on tested by WHO collaborating laboratories. No antibodies were found in 233 rodents tested. A high prevalence of monkeypox-specific antibodies (24.7%) found in 320 squirrels of Funisciurus anerythrus species suggested that these animals sustain virus transmission in the areas surrounding human settlements. A consistently high level of antibody prevalence found among squirrels Heliosciurus rufobrachium suggested that this species is also steadily involved in the transmission. The squirrels, the only mammals frequently infected by monkeypox in the areas of human activities, which are frequently trapped by the population, are obviously a major source of infection for human beings. Out of 39 primates collected during the survey from the primary forest, three were found seropositive for monkeypox. At the moment, however, it is difficult to say whether the primates play an important role in sustaining virus transmission in nature, or (like human beings) that they are an occasional host of the virus. Possibilities are discussed of monkeypox virus transmission being sustained by squirrels outside the areas of major human activities.

Animals↗