Human herpesvirus 8 variants.
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DNA, Viral↗
Biomedical subjects
K Aoki
Publications and source records attributed to K Aoki.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide rhythm in the rat pineal gland.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) was recently demonstrated to stimulate melatonin synthesis in the rat pineal gland. Circadian rhythms of melatonin concentration are well known. However, it has not been clarified whether PACAP contents in the pineal gland show circadian rhythm. In this study, we measured PACAP contents in the rat pineal gland throughout the day under 12:12 h light-dark cycle or constant dark conditions. A significant fluctuation was observed in the PACAP content under light-dark conditions but not under constant darkness. On the other hand, the pituitary gland showed no significant variation throughout the day under either conditions. These observations suggest that PACAP may participate in the modulation of melatonin synthesis depending on light conditions in the pineal gland.
Analysis of Variance↗
Hb Sagami [beta 139(H17)Asn-->Thr]: a new hemoglobin variant not detected by isoelectrofocusing and propan-2-ol test, was detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
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2-Propanol↗
Infrequent frameshift mutations of polynucleotide repeats in multiple primary cancers affecting the esophagus and other organs.
Frequent frameshift mutations of simple nucleotide repeats in the protein-encoding regions, as well as replication errors (RERs) at microsatellite loci, have recently been demonstrated in gastrointestinal tumors. These genetic instabilities have been considered indicative of an increased risk of accumulating mutations in cancer-associated genes and of developing multiple cancers. We studied frameshift (or insertion/deletion) mutations of simple nucleotide repeats in five genes (TGFbeta type II receptor [TGFbetaRII], E2F4, MSH2, MSH3, and MSH6) in 23 tumors from 12 patients who had synchronous cancers of the esophagus and other organs. Genetic instability at four microsatellite loci, as well as mutations in the TP53, APC, and KRAS2 genes, were also studied. No frameshift mutations were observed in the TGFbetaRII, MSH3, and MSH6 genes. RER and a deletion mutation of BAT26 in MSH2 were present in one (1/23; 4%) gastric cancer. This tumor also carried a deletion mutation in the serine (AGC) repeat of the E2F4 gene. Mutation screening of the TP53, APC, and KRAS2 genes revealed that the synchronous cancers did not carry the same mutations. Our results suggested that genetic instability, such as insertion/deletion mutations in simple nucleotide repeats, is not significantly associated with the development of multiple primary cancers of the esophagus and other organs, and that these synchronous cancers developed independently according to their different environmental factors.
Colonic Neoplasms↗
Metabolism of 2-aminophenol by Pseudomonas sp. AP-3: modified meta-cleavage pathway.
A novel pathway for 2-aminophenol metabolism by Pseudomonas sp. AP-3 is proposed. The proposed pathway is similar to that known for meta-cleavage of catechol except that one of the hydroxyl groups on the metabolites is replaced by an amino group. During the degradation of 2-aminophenol, 2-amino-2,4-pentadienoic acid is the last metabolite containing an amino group. We, therefore, propose a modified meta-cleavage pathway for the 2-aminophenol metabolism.
Aminophenols↗
Ischial hypoplasia, tibial hypoplasia and facial abnormalities: a new syndrome?
A child with facial abnormalities, short stature and a variety of skeletal alterations is reported. The facial abnormalities comprised low-set ears, short nose with a long philtrum, micrognathia and cleft palate. The skeletal alterations included ischial hypoplasia, malformations of the cervical spine, hypoplasia of the lesser trochanters, tibial hypoplasia with bowing of the lower legs, tibio-fibular diastasis with malformed distal tibial epiphyses, clubfeet and brachymesophalangy. The constellation of clinical and radiological findings in the present patient do not fit any known malformation syndrome.
Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia antibodies among patients with confirmed sarcoidosis in a region of Japan where Lyme borreliosis is endemic.
BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, while Lyme borreliosis is a multisystemic disorder caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between sarcoidosis and Lyme borreliosis in a region of Japan where Lyme borreliosis is endemic. METHODS: We determined the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies as well as antibodies three Japanese Borrelia strains by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dotblot assay using purified Borrelia-specific proteins in 46 patients with confirmed sarcoidosis and 150 controls (50 disease controls and 100 healthy controls) in Hokkaido, the affected region. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with sarcoidosis (32.6%) tested positive for Borrelia spirochete in both assays, compared with two disease controls (4.0%) and two healthy controls (2.0%). The seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia antibodies in patients with sarcoidosis was much higher in the affected region than in the region in our previous study were Lyme borreliosis is non-endemic. CONCLUSION: In a region where Lyme borreliosis is endemic, Borrelia infection may be partially associated with sarcoidosis.
Antibodies, Bacterial↗
Effects of methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, or toluene coadministration on 2,5-hexanedione concentration in the sciatic nerve, serum, and urine of rats.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify changes in the serum, nerve, and urinary levels of 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) in rats on coadministration with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone (AC), and toluene (TO). METHOD: 2,5-HD alone or combined with MEK, AC, and TO was injected subcutaneously into a total of 306 male Wistar rats. The rats were divided as follows into 7 groups: (1) 2.6 mmol/kg 2,5-HD alone (HD) and (2) 2.6 mmol/ kg 2,5-HD combined with 2.6 mmol/kg MEK (HD + MEK), (3) with 2.6 mmol/kg AC (HD + AC), (4) with 2.6 mmol/kg TO (HD + TO), (5) with 13.0 mmol/kg MEK (HD + 5MEK), (6) with 13.0 mmol/kg AC (HD + 5AC), and (7) with 13.0 mmol/kg TO (HD + 5TO). 2,5-HD concentrations in the serum, sciatic nerve, and urine of rats were determined within 16 h of the injections and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. RESULTS: It was observed that (1) the 2,5-HD concentration and AUC value (area under concentration versus time curve) determined in the serum and nerve increased significantly in the cotreated groups as compared with the HD group; (2) the effect MEK had in elevating the 2,5-HD concentration and AUC in the serum and nerve was stronger than that of AC, and the effect AC had was stronger than that of TO; (3) a. dose increase from 2.6 to 13.0 mmol/kg for MEK and AC induced further increases in the 2,5-HD concentration and AUC determined in the serum and nerve; (4) elimination constants recorded for 2,5-HD (Ke) from the serum and nerve decreased in all the cotreated groups, and the degree of the decrease correlated inversely with the elevation in 2,5-HD concentration and AUC in the serum and nerve; and (5) urinary 2,5-HD concentrations measured in the 13.0-mmol/kg cotreated groups increased in parallel with the elevation in serum 2,5-HD concentrations. CONCLUSION: Coadministration of 2,5-HD with MEK, AC, or TO can increase the concentration and AUC of 2,5-HD in serum and the sciatic nerve, and these increases can be further enhanced by an increase in the concomitant doses of MEK and AC.
Acetone↗
Activated partial thromboplastin time is a predictive parameter for further miscarriages in cases of recurrent fetal loss.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether clinically routine clotting tests such as activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), or fibrinogen can be used to predict further miscarriages. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Nagoya City University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. PATIENT(S): A total of 261 patients with a history of two consecutive first-trimester spontaneous abortions who had no antiphospholipid antibodies or other autoimmune diseases and no anatomic anomalies were examined for aPTT, PT, and fibrinogen before becoming pregnant again. INTERVENTION(S): Blood tests were performed before pregnancy. Patients then were followed up during subsequent pregnancy and their outcomes were compared with their previous blood test results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Activated partial thromboplastin time, PT, and fibrinogen were measured by coagulation time methods. RESULT(S): Fifty-eight of 261 patients (22.2%) had a subsequent miscarriage. Mean (+/-SD) values for preconception aPTT in individuals whose subsequent pregnancies ended in success and failure were 88.2%+/-23.4% and 99.3%+/-26.4%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant. Respective values were 106.8%+/-22.8% and 106.3%+/-21.4% for PT and 245+/-61.1 mg/dL and 259.1+/-57 mg/dL for fibrinogen. These findings were not significantly different. CONCLUSION(S): A shortened aPTT before conception is associated with further miscarriages in patients with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions who have no antiphospholipid antibodies.
Abortion, Habitual↗
Recurrent abortion and moderate or strong antiphospholipid antibody production.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment outcome for women suffering recurrent miscarriages associated with strong or moderate antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) production. METHODS: Sixty-seven pregnancies in 61 women demonstrating at least one kind of aPL with a history of recurrent miscarriages were treated with: (1) aspirin (ASA) alone; (2) prednisolone (PSL) and ASA; and (3) PSL, ASA, heparin and/or immunoglobulin (IgG). For comparison purposes the aPL-positive patients were divided into two groups, strongly and moderately-positive. IgG and IgM antibodies against PE and five negatively-charged phospholipids were measured by ELISA between 1987 and 1993. Beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) dependent anticardiolipin antibodies were measured by ELISA since 1993. Lupus anticoagulant was measured by a diluted aPTT method since 1993. RESULTS: Out of a total of 16 (50%) patients strongly-positive for aPL and 47 out of 51 (92.2%) moderately-positive demonstrated a successful outcome. The live birth rate moderate group was significantly higher than in the strongly-positive cases (P < 0.0005). In the cases exhibiting moderate aPL production, 28 out of 30 (93.3%) receiving PSL and ASA and 14 out of 15 (93.3%) treated with ASA alone successfully gave birth. None of the 14 given ASA alone suffered preterm delivery or IUGR. In contrast 12 (36.4%) and 6 (18.2%) of the 33 patients treated with the PSL combination therapy suffered from preterm delivery and IUGR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The live birth rate in patients strongly positive for aPL is lower than that in patients with moderate aPL production even if treatment is performed during pregnancy. However, ASA is useful to treat cases with moderate aPL so that distinction of the two groups is warranted.
Abortion, Habitual↗
A comparative investigation of the restorative effects of roxithromycin on neutrophil activities.
The effects of roxithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, on neutrophil activities were investigated in six seriously handicapped patients with severe mental retardation. Neutrophil activities were evaluated by flow cytometry using a heparinized blood analysis method. All six patients showed decreased levels of neutrophil phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and CD11b expression. Treatment with roxithromycin in vitro selectively restored the decreased phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophils in these patients. There was no significant restorative effect with cefaclor, ofloxacin, or aztreonam. These results suggest the need to consider therapeutic effects of antibiotics on neutrophil functions in patients at increased risk for bacterial infections due to decreased neutrophil activities.
Adolescent↗
Severe heat stroke associated with high plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1.
In a 38-year-old man, severe heat stroke caused disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) associated with significantly elevated plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels. Investigation of the effects of hyperthermia on coagulation and fibrinolysis showed, in apparent conflict with previous reports, a time lag between the initial hypercoagulable and hyperfibrinolytic response (within 24 hr) and hypofibrinolysis shown by a disproportionate increase of PAI-1 (after 24 h), which possibly occurs in correspondence with the recovery of vascular endothelial integrity. The patient was discharged without sequelae although computed tomography (CT) scans indicated the likelihood of venous infarction or posterior inferior cerebellar artery area infarction secondary to DIC.
Adult↗
Purification and characterization of four catechol 1,2-dioxygenase isozymes from the benzamide-assimilating bacterium Arthrobacter species BA-5-17.
When Arthrobacter sp. BA-5-17 was grown on benzamide, the bacterium synthesized four different catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (CD, EC 1.13.11.1) isozymes (CD-I, II, III-1, and III-2). We purified each CD to homogeneity by a series of column chromatography. The molecular masses of the four CDs were between 68 and 72 kDa. The enzymes were made up of two identical subunits each with the molecular mass of 33 kDa. CD-I and II were indistinguishable in enzymatic properties tested. Most properties of CD-III-1 were similar to those of CD-III-2. However, CD-III-1 had a marked adsorption peak at 325 nm, which disappeared in CD-III-2 as well as in CD-I and II. CD-III-1 and III-2 were much more resistant to heating and inhibitors than CD-I and II.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) ameliorates the insulin sensitivity in older rats.
To evaluate whether dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) ameliorates the decreased insulin sensitivity in older rats, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies were performed in rats of various age groups previously treated with DHEA. The glucose metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of the control rats showed a gradual decline with the advancing ages (MCR = 13.05 - 0.027*age (days), r2=0.683, p < 0.01, n = 18). The glucose MCR of the DHEA-treated rats also showed a gradual decline with the aging process (MCR = 12.67 - 0.011*age (days), r2=0.429, p < 0.01, n = 18). However, the MCR of the DHEA-treated rats were significantly higher than that of control rats. As glucose MCR is a parameter which indicates the insulin sensitivity in various tissues, especially in muscles and body composition, was not changed after the injection of DHEA, DHEA is considered to work on muscles to increase insulin sensitivity.
Aging↗
Relationship between 2,5-hexanedione concentrations in nerve, serum, and urine alone or under co-treatment with different doses of methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, and toluene.
To ascertain the relationship among 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) concentrations in nerve, serum and urine, rats were injected subcutaneously with 2.6 mmol/kg 2,5-HD alone, or together with 2.6 or 13.0 mmol/kg of methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and toluene. 2,5-HD concentrations in sciatic nerve (NC), serum (SC) and urine (UC) were determined, and the linear regression between each two of NC, SC, and UC were calculated. There was good correlation between NC and SC, SC and UC in the 2,5-HD alone group, and good correlation between NC and SC in the co-treated groups. Co-treatment solvent had little effect on the relationship between SC and NC. 13.0 mmol/kg co-treated solvent tended to decrease the regression coefficients compared with 2.6 mmol/kg co-treated solvent. These results show that SC can be used in estimating NC in the 2,5-HD alone or co-treated groups, and UC can be used in estimating SC in the 2,5-HD alone group.
Acetone↗
Regional differences in the effect of exercise intensity on thermoregulatory sweating and cutaneous vasodilation.
To investigate regional body differences in the effect of exercise intensity on the thermoregulatory sweating response, nine healthy male subjects (23.2 +/- 0.4 year) cycled at 35, 50 and 65% of their maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) for 30 min at an ambient temperature of 28.3 +/- 0.2 degrees C and a relative humidity of 42.6 +/- 2.4%. Local sweating rate (msw) on the forehead, chest, back, forearm and thigh increased significantly with increases in the exercise intensity from 35 to 50% VO2max and from 50 to 65% VO2max (P < 0.05). The mean values for the density of activated sweat glands (ASG) at 50 and 65% VO2max at the five sites were significantly greater than at 35% VO2max. The mean value of the sweat output per gland (SGO) also increased significantly with the increase in exercise intensity (P < 0.05). The patterns of changes in ASG and SGO with an increase in exercise intensity differed from one region of the body to another. Although esophageal temperature (Tes) threshold for the onset of sweating at each site was not altered by exercise intensity, the sensitivity of the sweating response on the forehead increased significantly from 35 to 50 and 65% VO2max (P < 0.05). The threshold for cutaneous vasodilation tend to increase with exercise intensity, although the exercise intensity did not affect the sensitivity (the slope in the relationship Tes vs. percentage of the maximal skin blood flow) at each site. Tes threshold for cutaneous vasodilation on the forearm was significantly higher at 65% VO2max than at either 35 or 50% VO2max, but this was not observed at the other sites, such as on the forehead and chest. These results suggest that the increase in msw seen with an increasing intensity of exercise depends first on ASG, and then on SGO, and the dependence of ASG and SGO on the increase in msw differs for different body sites. In addition, there are regional differences in the Tes threshold for vasodilation in response to an increase in exercise intensity.
Adult↗
Correlation between antigen-specific IL-2 response test and provocation test for egg allergy in atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND: The antigen-specific interleukin-2 response (AIR) test using lymphocytes is effective in searching for the antigen which causes allergic diseases and understanding their disease activity. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The correlation between the raw egg oral provocation test and egg white antigen-specific interleukin-2 (IL-2) response test was investigated in 123 children with infantile atopic dermatitis and 13 children with bronchial asthma. RESULTS: Among the 83 who showed positive reactions to provocation, 75 also reacted positively to the AIR test (sensitivity, 90.4%), while among the 53 children who showed negative responses to antigen provocation, 45 produced negative responses to the AIR test (specificity, 84.9%). The specificity of egg white IgE RAST score and skin-prick test are 88.7 and 81.3% which are comparable to that of the AIR test. However, their sensitivity was low (38.6 and 66.7%). In the patterns of symptom developed in the provocation AIR displayed late and delayed type allergic responses in addition to the immediate type which RAST reflected. The RAST-negative group composed of 98 patients included 51 (52.0%) who exhibited positive reactions to the provocation test. Among these 44 responded positively to the AIR test (86.3%). CONCLUSION: The AIR test is effective for screening egg white antigen as part of the tests for antigens responsible for allergic diseases and as a test to ascertain the relevant antigens, and that the conditions that could not be diagnosed by RAST can be detected by the AIR test.
Administration, Oral↗
Reduced IL-1 production in adolescents with mite antigen asthma in remission.
To determine the immunological mechanisms associated with outgrowing mite antigen-induced bronchial asthma during adolescence, we studied the relationship between clinical status and Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) antigen-induced peripheral cell activation by measuring IL-1alpha and IL-1beta production in patients with bronchial asthma. After antigen-driven restimulation in vitro, there was increased IL-1alpha, IL-1beta production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with active bronchial asthma, while cellular IL-1alpha, IL-1beta production was reduced in patients with asthma in remission. IL-1alpha and IL-1beta production by PBMC (possibly reflecting airway inflammation) after exposure to Df antigen might be down-regulated in patients outgrowing mite antigen-induced asthma, because lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-1alpha, IL-1beta production (seen in both normal individuals and patients with active asthma) was also reduced when patients were in remission.
Adolescent↗