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Biomedical subjects

J Suzuki

Publications and source records attributed to J Suzuki.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Comparative results of coronary intervention in patients with variant angina versus those with non-variant angina.

Coronary angioplasty is reported to be feasible and safe in patients with coronary spasm and fixed stenosis. However, the long-term results are not positive. We compared the results of coronary angioplasty in 20 patients with variant angina versus 17 patients with non-variant angina among 231 consecutive patients with vasospastic angina. Coronary angioplasty was performed successfully in all 37 patients without any complications. Stenting for coronary dissection or recoil was performed in 8 patients, directional coronary atherectomy was selected for ostial lesion of left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis in 2 patients, and standard balloon angioplasty was performed in 27 patients. There were no clinical differences between the two groups. The restensois rate in patients with variant angina was similar to that in patients with non-variant angina (30% vs 29%, ns). There was no relationship between the provoked spasm and restenosis. During the follow-up period, no major complications were observed in patients with variant angina or those with non-variant angina. In conclusion, full medication with calcium channel antagonists and isosorbide dinitrate, and treatment by coronary angioplasty including the use of new devices, were useful treatments for patients with coronary vasospasm and significant organic stenosis. There was no difference concerning the results of coronary intervention between the patients with variant angina and those with non-variant angina.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Coronary reperfusion following ischemia: different expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

The aim of this work was to examine factors that could be involved in the occurrence of apoptosis in rat hearts subjected to coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion. To this end, we studied the expression of the pro- and anti-apoptotic factors, bax and bcl-2, respectively, in reperfused ischemic hearts and in hearts injected with bFGF or saline. In anesthetized rats the left coronary artery was occluded for 45 min, the anesthesia withdrawn and the occlusion removed to allow reperfusion; in sham-operated rats the occlusion was omitted. After 4 hours the rats were decapitated and the heart excised. Sections from the left ventricle were stained with anti-bcl-2-antibody and anti-bax-antibody using the TUNEL method which detects apoptosis. Fragmentation of DNA isolated from reperfused ventricles was examined by agarose electrophoresis. In reperfused hearts no bcl-2 staining was observed in the discrete area in which many cardiomyocyte nuclei were stained by the TUNEL method; outside this area staining for bcl-2 was more marked than in sham-operated rats. Sections from reperfused hearts were stained for bax protein over a wide area including the apoptotic region; sham-operated hearts showed little reaction. Staining for bcl-2 was demonstrable in some nuclei in hearts from saline-injected rats; the numbers were unaffected by i. v. bFGF. Ischemia/reperfusion increases the overall expression of both bcl-2 and bax proteins, but bcl-2 is lost from the reperfused area as indicated by TUNEL staining. Accordingly, the ratio of bcl-2 to bax was reduced in the reperfused area, indicating a pro-apoptotic trend. The marked increase in bcl-2 outside the reperfused area could be a mechanism with which to salvage surviving cardiomyocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Relationship between toxicity and cadmium accumulation in rats given low amounts of cadmium chloride or cadmium-polluted rice for 22 months.

To clarify toxic effects of long-term oral administration of low dose cadmium (Cd) on the liver and kidney, six groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing Cd-polluted rice or CdCl2 at concentrations up to 40 ppm, and killed after 12, 18, and 22 months. With toxicological parameters, including histopathology, there was no evidence of Cd-related hepato-renal toxicity, despite a slight decrease of mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin of red blood cells with 40 ppm CdCl2. Dose-dependent accumulation of Cd was observed in the liver and kidneys with peak levels of 130 +/- 42 micrograms/g and 120 +/- 20 micrograms/g, respectively, at 18 months in animals treated with 40 ppm CdCl2. A dose-dependent increase in urinary Cd levels became evident with time. Induction of metallothionein (MT) was also observed in the liver and kidney with a high correlation to the corresponding Cd levels. In the proximal renal tubular epithelia of 40 ppm CdCl2-treated rats at 22 months, prominent accumulation of Cd was observed in secondary lysosomes associated with MT deposits in their exocytotic residual bodies. The results demonstrated that, in contrast to the case with high-dose Cd-administration, renal toxicity is not induced by long-term oral administration of low amounts of Cd, although tissue accumulation does occur. Possible protective mechanisms may be operating.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Myelitis associated with atopic disorders in Japan: a retrospective clinical study of the past 20 years.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the clinical features of myelitis associated with atopic disorders in Japanese patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical, immunological and electrophysiological features of 68 consecutive patients with myelitis of acute or subacute onset diagnosed at Kyushu University Hospital during the past 20 years. RESULTS: While only 2 of 28 (7%) patients with myelitis diagnosed between 1979 and 1993 had either atopic dermatitis (AD) or bronchial asthma (BA), 19 of 40 (48%) patients with myelitis diagnosed between 1994 and 1998 did. Among the 40 patients with myelitis diagnosed between 1994 and 1998, 19 patients with either AD or BA as well as 21 patients without either disease showed a significantly higher level of serum total IgE, higher frequency of hyperIgEaemia and higher frequency of mite antigen-specific IgE than 82 healthy controls. Myelitis patients with AD presenting as persistent paresthesia/dysesthesia in all four limbs showed cervical cord lesions on MRI and abnormalities in upper limb motor evoked potentials but no abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), while myelitis patients with BA showed preferential involvement of the lower motor neurons clinically and electromyographically. In addition, 12 patients with myelitis who had hyperIgEaemia and mite antigen-specific IgE but neither AD nor BA showed incomplete transverse myelitis with mild motor disability and few CSF abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of myelitis associated with atopic disorders were in part distinguished by the type of preceding atopic disorder, and also were different from those of hyperIgEaemic myelitis with no preceding atopic disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Case of protein-losing gastroenteropathy associated with scleroderma in which central serous chorioretinopathy developed].

A 44-year-old woman noticed edema of the lower limbs in May 1999 and visited our hospital in September 1999 to undergo further examination. On admission, severe hypoalbuminemia (1.9 g/dl) was detected with a negative urinary protein level. Protein leakage into the gastrointestinal tract and deposition of immune complex in the colonic mucosa were shown by the fluorescent antibody method. In addition, anti-centromere antibody, sclerodactyly, and findings indicative of histological sclerotic changes on a skin biopsy were observed. These findings supported a diagnosis of protein-losing gastroenteropathy complicated by scleroderma. Administration of oral corticosteroids was begun one month after admission and the patient experienced diminished visual acuity immediately after steroid pulse therapy in November. Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) was diagnosed at the Department of Ophthalmology of our hospital, and the administration of corticosteroids was suspected as a possible cause of CSC. Considering the severity of hypoproteinemia, the corticosteroid treatment was continued despite corticosteroids being strogly suspected as the primary cause of CSC. A complete disappearance of CSC was achieved in 30 days after the onset of symptoms despite continuation of the steroid therapy, and her serum albumin and complement levels both normalized. We concluded that damage to the retinal pigment epithelium secondary to the vascular lesion at the choroidal level plays a causative role in CSC. In the present case, the findings suggested that the deposition of immune complex in choroidal tissues as well as the gastrointestinal tract caused hyperpermeability of choroidal vessels and led to the development of CSC.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Determination of sulfite residues in foods by using the modified rankine apparatus and HPLC].

A method for measuring sulfite residues in foods by using the modified Rankine apparatus and HPLC was developed. Sulfites released from foods by bubbling of nitrogen gas and heating for 15 minutes with an electric burner weRe absorbed in 1% triethanolamine solution and detected as sulfite ion by HPLC with a UV detector at 240 nm, using an anion exchange column, IonPac AS9-SC, with 1.8 mmol/L sodium carbonate-1.7 mmol/L sodium hydrogen carbonate solution as the mobile phase. The recoveries of sulfites added to 3 kinds of foods were 98-102%, and the determination limit was 0.001 g/kg. The sulfite values in various kinds of foods determined by the proposed HPLC method were consistent with those obtained by the alkaline titration method and the colorimetric method.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2001

[Surgical results of canal wall reconstruction tympanoplasty in middle ear cholesteatoma].

Materials were 236 ears of 213 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma undergoing canal wall reconstruction during 1993-1998. Subjects were followed up for at least 1 year after final operation. Of 236 ears, 147 (62%) underwent 1-stage operation and 89 ears (38%) required 2-stage operation. Hearing results were successful in 157 ears (67%) based on criteria proposed by the Otological Society of Japan. The success in ears undergoing 1-stage operation was 74% and 54% in ears undergoing 2-stage operation. Postoperative hearing and air-bone gap in the 1-stage group were significantly better than in the 2-stage group. For tympanoplasty, success was 97% in type I, 64% in type III, and 53% in type IV. The likelihood of undergoing 2-stage operation increased with the type of tympanoplasty, from type I to IV. Postoperative hearing was significantly worse in older age groups. Of the 89 ears, 13 (15%) had recurrent cholesteatoma and 29 (33%) had residual cholesteatoma at 2-stage operation. In the 135 in the 1-stage group, recurrent cholesteatoma was observed at follow-up in 13 ears (9.6%). When we analyzed clinical risk factors for both recurrent and residual cholesteatoma in age, gender, otorrhea, types of cholesteatoma, and types of tympanoplasty, no significant factors were seen for recurrent or residual cholesteatoma. These results indicate that canal wall reconstruction tympanoplasty for middle ear cholesteatoma yields relatively good hearing results. However, more effort is needed to reduce the incidence of recurrent and residual cholesteatoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Assessment of general movements at routine medical examination of one-month-old infants].

On routine medical examination of one-month-old infants, general movements (GMs) were video-recorded for about 5 minutes of 252 infants born at Kyoto City Hospital or other hospitals, including the infants discharged from the NICU. Their ages ranged from 39 postmenstrual to 8 post-term weeks. One of the experimenters assessed 181 infants among 252 available for assessment of their GMs twice at intervals of more than one month without being informed about their clinical histories. The subjects included 19 low-birthweight infants, and their average age was 3.5 post-term weeks. The assessment was carried out in comparison to the "gold standard" GMs depicted in a demonstration video produced by the GMs Trust. The Kappa value for intra-observer concordance was 0.85. Twenty (11.0%) out of the 181 infants were judged abnormal because of their poor repertoire of GMs in both the first and second assessment. Neither cramped synchronized GMs nor chaotic ones were observed. Meanwhile, 155 (85.6%) out of the 181 infants were found to be normal. The incidence of abnormal GMs was significantly higher among infants with history of asphyxia and/or respiratory distress than among low-risk infants. There of the experimenters independently assessed GMs of 50 infants among 181 which had been video-recorded between June and September 1998. The inter-observer concordance was higher among the low-birth weight infants than among full-term ones. In conclusion, qualitative assessment of GMs by an experienced observer at routine medical examination of one-month old infants is a useful method for the follow-up of high-risk infants.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Pathophysiological roles of endogenous endothelin-1 in dogs with chronic heart failure produced by rapid right ventricular pacing.

This study was designed to analyze the pathophysiological role of the endogenous endothelin (ET) system and the therapeutic approach to congestive heart failure (CHF) with ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonists in a canine CHF model. After 3 weeks of rapid right ventricular pacing (240 beats/min), concentrations of immunoreactive ET-1 in dogs increased approximately 2-fold in plasma and in the left and right ventricles but not in the lung. There were no meaningful changes in the density and affinity of total ET receptors, or in the ratio of ET(A) to ET(B) receptors. To clarify the functional role of endogenous ET, we examined the effects of acute injection of J-104132 (1 and 3 mg/kg i.v.), an ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist, on cardiovascular and renal function in dogs with CHF. Compared with vehicle, J-104132 at both doses significantly decreased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), and increased cardiac output (CO) and renal blood flow. J-104132 had no effects on heart rate and cardiac contractility. In addition, we examined whether J-104132 has an additive effect in the presence of enalaprilat. J-104132 (1 mg/kg i.v.) administered after enalaprilat (0.05 mg/kg i.v.) induced further decreases in MAP, PCWP and PAP, and further increases in CO, resulting in further decreases in total peripheral resistance. These results indicate that the endogenous ET system is exaggerated in CHF and has a detrimental effect on cardiac function. Therefore, J-104132 given alone or as combination therapy may play a beneficial role in the treatment of CHF in humans.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed2001

Serum levels of interleukin 15 in patients with rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The role of the cytokine interleukin 15 (IL-15) in rheumatic disease is unclear. We examined serum levels of IL-15 in patients with various rheumatic diseases. METHODS: Serum levels of IL-15 were determined by sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-15 were significantly increased in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, and systemic sclerosis; and significantly increased as well in disease complicated by interstitial pneumonitis (IP), hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), and/or vasculitis. Patients with serum IL-15 levels < or = 5 pg/ml showed significantly high rates of survival. CONCLUSION: IL-15 is related to the pathogenesis of IP, HPS, and/or vasculitis. Serum IL-15 level could possibly be used as a marker of prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[A case of MELAS presenting complex partial status epilepticus].

We reported a 37-year-old man who presented complex partial status epilepticus as the initial symptom of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). He showed fluctuating consciousness disturbance, left homonymous hemianopsia, and paroxysmal conjugated eye deviation to the left. The lactic acid level was elevated in blood and CSF, and ragged-red fibers were observed in the biopsied muscle. MRI demonstrated T2-prolonged lesions in the right occipito-parieto-temporal lobes. Since a mutation of mitochondrial DNA (A3243G) was identified, he was diagnosed as having MELAS. On an ictal record, high amplitude, rhythmic sharp waves were observed at right parieto-temporo-occipital region. High amplitude slow waves were also observed on the right hemisphere, especially in the right frontal lobe. These ictal discharges gradually decreased at their amplitude and in frequency, and then ictal EEG turned to the interictal EEG. During an ictal period, conjugated eye deviation to the left side and consciousness loss were observed. These seizures were observed once every several minutes. During the interictal period, sharp waves and sharp-wave complexes were observed frequently at right parietal and posterior temporal lobes. The venous injection of diazepam (10 mg) normalized EEG quickly. When consciousness loss, especially fluctuating, was observed in the patients of MELAS, complex partial status epilepticus should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Second stalk of ATP synthase. Cross-linking of gamma subunit in F1 to truncated Fob subunit prevents ATP hydrolysis.

ATP synthase consists of two portions, F(1) and F(o), connected by two stalks: a central rotor stalk containing gamma and epsilon subunits and a peripheral, second stalk formed by delta and two copies of F(o)b subunits. The second stalk is expected to keep the stator subunits from spinning along with the rotor. We isolated a TF(1)-b'(2) complex (alpha(3)beta(3)gammadeltaepsilonb'(2)) of a thermophilic Bacillus PS3, in which b' was a truncated cytoplasmic fragment of F(o)b subunit, and introduced a cysteine at its N terminus (bc'). Association of b'(2) or bc'(2) with TF(1) did not have significant effect on ATPase activity. A disulfide bond between the introduced cysteine of bc' and cysteine 109 of gamma subunit was readily formed, and this cross-link caused inactivation of ATPase. This implies that F(o)b subunit bound to stator subunits of F(1) with enough strength to resist rotation of gamma subunit and to prevent catalysis. Contrary to this apparent tight binding, some detergents such as lauryldodecylamine oxide tend to cause release of b'(2) from TF(1).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2000

Gene therapy for attenuating cardiac allograft arteriopathy using ex vivo E2F decoy transfection by HVJ-AVE-liposome method in mice and nonhuman primates.

Cardiac allograft arteriopathy, which limits the long-term survival of recipients, is characterized by diffuse intimal thickening composed of proliferative smooth muscle cells. The transcription factor E2F plays a pivotal role in the coordinated transcription of cell-cycle regulatory genes. To test the hypothesis that double-stranded DNA with specific affinity for E2F (E2F decoy) is effective in preventing intimal hyperplasia, we performed ex vivo single intraluminal delivery of E2F decoy into cardiac allografts of mice and Japanese monkeys using the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) artificial viral envelope-liposome method. In murine models, antisense cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) kinase oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and no transfers were performed to compare the effects. Severe intimal thickening was observed, and multiple cell-cycle regulatory genes were enhanced in untreated allografts. E2F decoy prevented neointimal formation and suppressed these genes for up to 8 weeks, whereas antisense cdk2 kinase ODN had limited effects. In primate models, E2F decoy dramatically prevented neointimal thickening and suppressed multiple cell-cycle regulatory genes, whereas intimal thickening developed in the nontransfected or mismatch decoy-transfected allografts. Gel mobility shift assay proved the specific effects of E2F decoy, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction documented that neither complication nor dissemination of HVJ into other organs was observed. We demonstrate that ex vivo gene delivery to allografts is a potent strategy to modify allograft gene expression, resulting in prevention of graft arteriopathy without systemic adverse effects.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular Biological Analysis of Retinal and Streptococcal Heat-shock Protein 60.

Purpose: The observation of recurrent oral aphtha preceding ocular inflammation in patients with Behçet's disease suggests a role of oral Streptococcus in the etiology of this disease. Heat-treated Streptoccus antigen can induce ocular inflammation or systemic symptoms in Behçet's disease patients. Furthermore, the presence of an autoantibody against retinal heat-shock protein 60 (HSP 60) has been detected in the sera of these patients. Injection of extracted retinal HSP 60 also induces experimental uveitis in treated rats. The characteristics of retinal HSP 60 and HSP 60 from S. pyogenes were evaluated using a molecular biological approach.Methods: The gene encoding HSP 60 was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from a bovine retinal cDNA library and from S. pyogenes DNA. The DNA sequence of the HSP 60 coding region was determined, and the amino acid sequences of the encoded proteins were predicted from the DNA sequence. The synthetic peptide (50 nmol) was emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant and injected into rats.Results: Comparison of the amino acid sequences of Streptococcal and bovine retinal HSP 60 revealed about 200 residue regions with 47% homology. Experimental uveitis was mainly induced in rats inoculated with retinal HSP 60-derived peptide or Streptococcus HSP 60-derived peptide that is equivalent to residues 245-259 of human HSP 65.Discussion: The retinal and Streptococcal HSP 60 amoino acid composition is thought to be important and useful for investigating the mechanisms involved in the induction of Behçet's disease

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A novel homoplasmic mutation in mtDNA with a single evolutionary origin as a risk factor for cardiomyopathy.

To clarify the relationship between variation in mtDNA and the development of cardiomyopathy (CM), the complete sequences of mtDNAs of two brothers with dilated CM were compared with those of 181 patients who had CM and with those of 168 control subjects. Five patients with CM shared a novel homoplasmic point mutation (G12192A tRNA(His)), and all of them demonstrated the evolutionarily related D-loop sequence. The results suggest that this novel mutation originated from the same ancestor and that its presence strongly predisposes carriers to CM.

Cardiomyopathies↗
PubMed2000

Roles of P-selectin in inflammation, neointimal formation, and vascular remodeling in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries.

BACKGROUND: P-selectin plays key roles in mediating inflammation through promoting adherence of leukocytes to activated platelets and endothelium. This process is one of the initial events in atherosclerosis and restenosis after coronary angioplasty. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a rat balloon-injury model, we examined the role of P-selectin in vascular inflammatory processes. In the acute phase, immunohistochemistry revealed that P-selectin was intensely expressed on both activated platelets covering the denuded segment and endothelial cells of the inflamed adventitial small vessels. Treatment with an anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (MAb) for 8 consecutive days significantly inhibited neointimal formation at day 14 (42% inhibition; P:<0.05), and this effect persisted at day 56 (40% inhibition; P:<0.01) compared with the control group. Vascular shrinking accompanying adventitial fibrosis was also attenuated at day 56. Inhibition of both neointimal formation and vascular shrinking resulted in the lumen area of the anti-P-selectin treatment group being approximately 3 times larger at day 56 than that of the control group. Accumulation of CD45-positive leukocytes in the developing neointima, media, and adventitia at day 8 was significantly inhibited by treatment with the anti-P-selectin MAb. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that anti-P-selectin treatment resulted in a less thrombogenic surface of the arterial intima, which featured a pseudoendothelial appearance at day 14 after injury. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that inhibition of P-selectin-mediated leukocyte recruitment prevents the development of neointimal formation, adventitial inflammation, and vascular shrinking and promotes pseudoendothelialization by luminal smooth muscle cells. This treatment thus beneficially affects vascular remodeling after balloon injury in rats.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed2000

Prevention of cardiac allograft arteriosclerosis using antisense proliferating-cell nuclear antigen oligonucleotide.

Cardiac allograft arteriosclerosis limits long-term survival of recipients and is characterized by intimal thickening comprised of proliferative smooth muscle cells. Proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays a pivotal role in the cell cycle regulatory genes involved in smooth muscle cell proliferation. To test the hypothesis that antisense PCNA oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) can prevent allograft arterial intimal hyperplasia, we performed single intraluminal delivery of the antisense or sense PCNA ODN or no transfer into murine cardiac allografts. DBA/2 murine hearts were transfected and transplanted into B10.D2 mice; the allografts were harvested 4 weeks later. Severe intimal thickening with enhanced expression of PCNA was observed in untransfected and sense PCNA ODN-treated allografts, whereas antisense PCNA ODN prevented neointimal formation.

Animals↗