Subacute treatment with saiboku-to (2000 mg/kg, p.o., once a day) for 7 days induced an anxiolytic-like effect in rats. It did not, however, produce any other effects, such as sedative and hypnotic effects, anticonvulsive and muscle relaxant effects except for anxiolytic effect observed in diazepam-injected rats or mice. Diazepam (1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) induced anxiolytic-like effect was enhanced in saiboku-to treated rats as an additional effect of that induced by saiboku-to. To elucidate whether the enhancement of the anxiolytic-like effect following combined administration of diazepam and saiboku-to is due to the inhibition of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, the pharmacokinetics of diazepam were further investigated in saiboku-to treated rats. The pharmacokinetic studies clearly demonstrated that subacute treatment with saiboku-to did not affect plasma concentration and protein binding rate of diazepam, and the activities of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes related to diazepam metabolism. These results, taken together, suggest that the enhancement of diazepam-induced anxiolytic-like effect observed in saiboku-to-treated rats is not due to an inhibition of diazepam metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of acid polysaccharides produced at fertilization of sea urchin.

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Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related deterioration of long-term potentiation in the CA3 and CA1 regions of hippocampal slices from the senescence-accelerated mouse.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one candidate for the mechanism underlying memory storage. In the present study, we carried out electrophysiological studies on hippocampal slices prepared from the senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P/8), a strain which shows accelerated senescence and failure of certain types of learning in behavioral tests. The findings were compared with those noted in the SAM-R/1 substrain without severe symptoms of senescence. No significant differences were found between SAM-R/1 and SAM-P/8 of the same ages in responses in the absence of tetanic stimulation, and in LTP after tetanic stimulation. However, there were marked decreases in the degree of potentiation with aging in both strains.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Physical and biological properties of compound membranes incorporating a copolymer with a phosphorylcholine head group.

A copolymer (PMB) having a polar head group 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) copolymerized with n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) may provide a haemocompatible surface for implantable devices. Pure PMB membranes and compound membranes composed of PMB coated onto polyurethane (PU + PMB) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC + PMB) have been prepared. Fundamental studies on these membranes included the analysis of molecular distribution and orientation, the characterization of surface physical properties and the examination of blood membrane interactions. The experimental techniques used were Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significant differences between PU + PMB and PVC + PMB membranes were found. Compound PVC + PMB and pure PMB membranes exhibited favourable surface properties for haemocompatibility and also showed low adhesion of blood components, whereas PU + PMB displayed the contrary. This leads to the hypothesis that the underlying material has a major influence on the surface properties of compound membranes.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Conjugation of enzymes on polymer nanoparticles covered with phosphorylcholine groups.

We investigated the bioconjugation of enzymes on polymer nanoparticles covered with bioinert phosphorylcholine groups. A water-soluble amphiphilic phospholipid polymer (PMBN) was specially designed for preparation of nanoparticles and conjugation with enzymes on them. The PMBN was prepared by random copolymerization of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), n-butyl methacrylate, and p-nitrophenylester bearing methacrylate. The PMBN was used as an emulsifier and a surface modifier to prepare the poly(l-lactic acid) nanoparticles by a solvent evaporation technique in aqueous medium. The nanoparticles covered with phosphorylcholine groups were stably dispersed in an aqueous solution and a phosphate buffered saline. The diameter and surface zeta-potential of the nanoparticles were ca. 200 nm and -6 mV, respectively. The p-nitrophenyl ester groups, which are active ester units for the amino groups of the protein, were located at the surface of the nanoparticles. Both acetylcholine esterase and choline oxidase were co-immobilized (dual-mode conjugation) by the reaction between the p-nitrophenyl ester group and the amino group of these enzymes. The enzymatic reactions on the nanoparticles were followed using a microdialysis biosensor system with a microtype hydrogen peroxide electrode in the probe. The nanoparticles conjugated with these enzymes could detect the acetylcholine chloride as hydrogen peroxide, which is a product of the enzymatic reactions on the surface of the nanoparticles in the probe. Namely, continuous enzyme reactions could be occurring on the surface of the nanoparticles. It is concluded that the nanoparticles are a promising tool for a highly sensitive and microdiagnostic system.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prediction of functional outcome after stroke rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of functional outcome after acute stroke inpatient rehabilitation using raw Functional Independence Measure (FIM) total scores. DESIGN: Multivariate analysis was performed on data collected retrospectively from stroke rehabilitation patients. Six independent variables were obtained from patients' medical records. RESULTS: The FIM total scores at the time of discharge from the hospital correlated strongly with FIM total scores at the time of admission to the hospital and correlated negatively with age and OAI using the Spearman's rank correlation method. The FIM total scores at the time of hospital admission were the best predictor of FIM total scores at the time of discharge from the hospital. However, the nature of the stroke, gender, and LOHS did not correlate with FIM total scores at the time of discharge from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Because FIM total scores at the time of hospital admission and discharge are highly correlated, FIM total scores at the time of hospital admission can be used to establish a rehabilitation program, to inform the patient and family about the possibility of recovery, and to assess the amount and quality of care given in the home or discharge placement.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome of patients with early ovarian cancer undergoing three courses of adjuvant chemotherapy following complete surgical staging.

We conducted the present study to determine the outcome of patients with early ovarian cancer who underwent three courses of adjuvant chemotherapy after complete surgical staging. One hundred consecutive patients with stage I-II epithelial ovarian cancer who had undergone complete surgical staging and received three courses of platinum-based chemotherapy were entered in this study. Twenty-one patients were low risk, defined as stage IA-B, grade 1 and histologic types except for clear cell adenocarcinoma, and remaining 79 were high risk. All patients with stage IA or IB, whatever histologic type and histopathologic grade, were alive without disease. The 5-year survival rate was 89.4% for patients with stage IC and 76.2% for those with stage II. The 5-year survival rate for low- and high-risk patients was 100% and 89.4%, respectively. The survival rate for grade 1 was significantly better than that for grade 2 or 3. Multivariate analysis revealed that histologic grade was an independent prognostic factor in stage IC-II ovarian cancer. The outcome of patients with early ovarian cancer undergoing three courses of chemotherapy after complete surgical staging was favorable even in high-risk patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thalamic lesions during the development period and their clinical correlation.

28 autopsy cases were investigated in which the thalamus was impaired in early life, i.e. prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal (under 1 year of age). The thalamus is vulnerable to brain damage in the perinatal and early postnatal period. Lesions in the thalamus are severe in the DM, PL and VPL, and moderate in the VL and pulvinar thalamus. The anterior nuclei and center median show little change. Many of the cases with athetoid movements have complicated thalamic lesions in addition to those of the basal ganglia. In one patient who showed athetosis as a sequela of encephalitis japonica, the VL and PL in the thalamus were involved severely; in contrast the basal ganglia revealed very slight changes.

Adolescent↗