Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Okano

Publications and source records attributed to K Okano.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[A case of ischemic colitis due to polyarteritis nodosa].

A 78-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with acute abdomen (abdominal pain and bloody stool). Abdominal examination revealed mild rebound tenderness on the right side. The laboratory data revealed severe inflammation (WBC: 33100/microliters, CRP:35.5 mg/dl). Panperitonitis was suspected because of diffuse and severe abdominal pain and rebound tenderness on the next day. X-ray examination by gastrografin showed mucosal irregularity and tubular narrowing of the tubular narrowing of the ascending colon which indicated ischemic colitis, and an emergency operation was performed. Histological examination of the pathologic specimens revealed fibrinoid necrosis and destruction of the internal lamina in small and medium-size arteries. We report a case diagnosed as ischemic colitis due to polyarteritis nodosa by the findings of its pathologic specimens.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Shame and social phobia: a transcultural viewpoint.

Shame is given different meanings in various cultural contexts. In Japan, shame-prone and self-effacing behavior tends to be given positive functional value and is actively promoted by society. In the United States, society tends to prohibit such shame-prone behavior and the show of one's vulnerability, while encouraging the visible demonstration of one's power and capacity. The author shows that these different meanings given to shame reflect different values of secretiveness in these two societies. He concludes by suggesting an alternative view of shame that encourages flexibility rather than an exclusively positive or negative value of secretiveness.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1994

[A clinicobacteriologic study on sultamicillin fine granules in pediatric sinusitis].

We carried out clinical and bacteriological studies on sultamicillin (SBTPC) in pediatric sinusitis at 10 general practice settings. The results are summarized as follows. 1. The major isolated organisms from purulent nasal discharges were Streptococcus pneumoniae 27.5%, Haemophilus influenzae 32.4% and Moraxella catarrhalis 9.9%. Similar results were observed for the major isolates from nasopharynx. 2. 33% of the isolated S. pneumoniae were penicillin-insensitive S. pneumoniae (PISP) against which the MICs were equal to or higher than 0.1 microgram/ml. 3. PISP was isolated from 14% of all cases. 4. The clinical efficacy rate was 77.5% and was deemed satisfactory. 5. In the bacteriological study, persistence rate of PISP was 38.5% among the PISP from purulent nasal discharge and 60.0% among the PISP from nasopharynx which and these values were significantly higher than persistence rates of PSSP, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. 6. Adverse reactions were observed in 21.5% of all cases, involving diarrhea and loose stool.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1994

[Determination of globin synthesis studies using high performance liquid chromatography technique].

In vitro globin chain synthesis ratios (beta/alpha) were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in twenty-five alpha or beta-thalassemiaes as well as six normal controls. Among thalassemiaes nineteen were Japanese and six Korean. Two kinds of cation exchange columns.; Mono S, HR 5/5 by Pharmacia and TSK gel by Tohso were compared. Hemolysates (10%), in stead of purified globin peptides, were directly subjected to the both columns, and 3H-labeled globin chain in vitro synthesized were separated on them. The Tohso column gave better resolution of globin peptides, resulting in sharp elution profiles. The HPLC system took about two hours for an analysis of a sample. In contrast, the conventional carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) chromatography by Clegg need larger sample amounts for globin extraction and twenty-four hours to be completed. The HPLC is evidently simple and rapid. The globin chain ratios thus obtained by HPLC were 1.04-1.08, 0.23-0.89, 1.22-1.62 and 2.05-4.29 for normals, thirteen beta-thalassemia minors, seven alpha-thalassemia traits and three Hb H diseases respectively.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1994

[The interrelation of serum lysozyme level and cytoplasmic lysozyme level].

By means of the immunocytochemical method, the level of cytoplasmic lysozyme in leukocytes from healthy volunteers (n = 50) and from patients with uremia (n = 50), leukocytosis (n = 50), various forms of leukemia (n = 36) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (n = 7) were analysed, and compared with that of simultaneously assayed serum lysozyme. Both the cytoplasmic and serum levels of lysozyme in uremia and leukocytosis were significantly higher than normal subjects (p < 0.001). No correlation, however, was found between their cytoplasmic and serum levels of lysozyme. Morphological analysis for various kinds of leukemia and MDS indicated that myelocytic and monocytic cells became highly positive for lysozyme staining with maturation, and that lymphocytes, leukemic myeloblasts and monoblasts were negative. The cytoplasmic and serum lysozyme levels of leukemias or MDS having a number of lysozyme-positive cells were elevated as compared with those of normal individuals. Among them acute myelocytic leukemia (FAB M4) revealed an excellent correlation between the lysozyme levels in cytoplasm and in serum. The rest whose serum lysozyme level tend to be lower than the cytoplasmic one gave poor correlation. Thus, serum lysozyme level is not fully reflected by the cytoplasmic level. The dual determination of cytoplasmic and serum lysozyme is suggested to be helpful on estimating leukemia types, the degree of cellular maturation and total cell mass, and might also provide a valuable tool for prediction of prognosis for these disorders.

Cytoplasm↗
PubMed1993

Increased release of KC/gro protein, intercrine cytokine family, from hepatocytes of the chronically ethanol fed rats.

In an attempt to clarify the mechanisms of neutrophil-accumulation in the liver of alcoholics, release of KC/gro protein (intercrine cytokine family) from hepatocytes in the chronically ethanol fed rats was examined. Chemotactic activity for rat neutrophils was demonstrated in the culture supernatant of hepatocytes isolated from the ethanol fed rats, which was then inhibited in the presence of antibody against rat KC/gro protein. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the peptide reacted with antiserum against KC/gro protein was demonstrated at a molecular weight of 20-23kDa, and an amount of KC/gro protein released from the hepatocytes of the chronically ethanol fed rats was increased, as compared with that of the control rats.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1993

GTP gamma S stimulates exocytosis in patch-clamped rat melanotrophs.

We investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating exocytosis in patch-clamped melanotrophs by measuring the membrane capacitance. Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis could be induced by membrane depolarization or by including solutions containing 2 microM free Ca2+ in the patch pipette. Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis was inhibited by GDP beta S, suggesting involvement of a GTP-binding protein. The hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogs, GTP gamma S and GppNHp, were able to stimulate exocytosis at low free Ca2+ concentrations. The stimulatory response to GTP gamma S was abolished by both GDP beta S and GTP. The latter suggests that a sustained activation of a GTP-binding protein is necessary for exocytosis. This behavior is similar to the stimulation of exocytosis by guanine nucleotides in mast cells and other nonexcitable cells and suggests a common regulatory mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effects of N-terminal, midregion, and C-terminal parathyroid hormone-related peptides on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and cytoplasmic free calcium in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and UMR-106 osteoblast-like cells.

N-Terminal analogs of PTH-related protein (PTHrP) and PTH bind to a common receptor and exhibit similar biological properties. However, recent studies suggest that certain midregion and C-terminal PTHrP peptides have activities distinct from those of PTH in the placenta and in osteoclasts, respectively. In this study we determined the biological activities of full-length recombinant PTHrP-(1-141) and several synthetic N-terminal, midregion, and C-terminal PTHrP fragments in two PTHrP-producing cell types. Peptides were tested for their ability to stimulate cAMP production and raise intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and UMR-106 rat osteoblast-like (UMR) cells. In UMR cells PTHrP-(1-34)NH2, PTHrP-(1-141), and bovine PTH-(1-34) all increased cAMP (approximately 50 fold) and [Ca2+]i (180 nM). By contrast, in VSMC, these N-terminal peptides increased cAMP (3-fold) but had no detectable effect on [Ca2+]i. PTHrP-(1-34) and PTHrP-(1-141) significantly blunted the angiotensin II-induced rise in cAMP (but not the calcium signal) consistent with the concept that PTHrP opposes angiotensin II activity in VSMC. PTHrP-(67-86)NH2, PTHrP-(107-138)NH2, and PTHrP-(107-111)NH2 had no effect on either cAMP or [Ca2+]i in either cell type. VSMC and UMR-106 cells both expressed a 2.5-kilobase PTH/PTHrP receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. However, high affinity specific binding of 125I-labeled [Tyr36] PTHrP-(1-36)NH2 was detected in UMR cells but not in VSMC. We conclude that the PTH-like, N terminus of the PTHrP molecule is critical in induction of cAMP and [Ca2+]i pathways in UMR cells, and for cAMP stimulation in VSMC. In addition, PTHrP, like other established vasodilators, signals in VSMC mainly (if not exclusively) by increasing the production of cAMP.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pharmacological evidence for involvement of excitatory amino acids in aversive responses induced by intrathecal substance P in rats.

Rats given an intrathecal injection of substance P (0.3-10 nmol) or any of the excitatory amino acid agonists, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 1-10 nmol), kainate (1 and 3 nmol) or alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA, 0.3-3 nmol), showed biting or licking the hind paws, scratching with the hind paws (only after substance P) and vocalization (only after excitatory amino acid agonists). The intrathecal co-administration of the NMDA antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV, 10 nmol), inhibited behavioral responses to NMDA (10 nmol) and substance P (10 nmol) but not to kainate (3 nmol). Co-administration of the non-NMDA antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, 10 nmol), suppressed responses to kainate (3 nmol), AMPA (3 nmol) and substance P (10 nmol) but not to NMDA (10 nmol). Co-administration of the substance P antagonist, CP-96,345 (3 nmol), inhibited the behavioral responses to substance P (10 nmol), but not to NMDA (10 nmol), kainate (3 nmol) and AMPA (3 nmol). The results suggest that the aversive behavior induced by intrathecal NMDA and non-NMDA agonists is mediated by activation of the corresponding glutamate receptors, but not by NK-1 receptors, and that the behavioral action of intrathecal substance P is mediated not only by direct activation of NK-1 receptors but also indirectly by NMDA and non-NMDA receptors for glutamate.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
PubMed1993

Production of chemotactic factor, interleukin-8, from hepatocytes exposed to ethanol.

In a previous paper, we demonstrated proteinous chemotactic factors released from hepatocytes exposed to ethanol. In this study, we further characterized the chemotactic factors released from ethanol-treated hepatocytes. After fractionating the conditioned medium with gel chromatography, we demonstrated chemotactic activity at molecular weights of around 20 and 40 kD. When the conditioned medium was mixed with antiserum against interleukin-8, chemotactic activity was almost completely abolished. In addition, antiserum against interleukin-8 completely reduced chemotactic activity of the 20-kD chemotactic factor but did not influence the chemotactic activity of the 40-kD chemotactic factor. After gel electrophoresis of the conditioned medium, the protein reacted with antibody against interleukin-8 was demonstrated at a molecular weight of 20 kD but was not found at a molecular weight of 40 kD. These results suggest that a major part of the proteinous chemotactic factors released from hepatocytes exposed to ethanol could be a dimer form of interleukin-8, one of the proinflammatory cytokines, possibly contributing to the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Increased mRNA expression encoding for medullasin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy.

We investigated mRNA expression for medullasin (an inflammatory serine protease in bone marrow cells) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 36 patients with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 30 patients with other types of primary glomerular disease, 18 patients with secondary IgA nephritis including lupus nephritis and hepatic glomerulosclerosis and 24 healthy age-matched controls. The majority of patients with IgAN (86%) showed elevated medullasin expression in PBMC, while no medullasin mRNA expression was detected in PBMC obtained from patients with other types of primary glomerular disease, secondary IgA nephritis or normal healthy controls. A positive correlation was noted between mRNA levels and urinary protein excretion. The medullasin mRNA expression in PBMC also correlated with the severity of the histopathologic changes in renal tissue obtained from patients with IgAN. All the patients with severe proteinuria (more than 3.0 g/day) showed strong [more than (++)] medullasin mRNA expression in their PBMC. In addition, all the patients with more than (++) medullasin mRNA expression are grade III or IV histopathological findings. These studies suggest that abnormally regulated medullasin gene expression in PBMC may be associated with the progression of primary IgAN.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Intracellular signal transduction for interleukin-1 beta-induced endothelin production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The authors investigated the intracellular signal transduction for interleukin (IL)-1 beta-induced endothelin (ET) production by endothelial cells from cultured human umbilical vein (HUVEC). Cultured HUVEC released immunoreactive (iR)-ET into the media in a time-dependent manner and a significant increase of iR-ET production was observed by the addition of IL-1 beta. The stimulating effect of IL-1 beta on iR-ET production was respectively inhibited by protein kinase C (C kinase) inhibitor (H-7), Ca-calmodulin inhibitor (W-7), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase) inhibitor (H-8) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistain) in a dose-dependent fashion. The data suggested that intracellular signal transduction for IL-1 beta-induced iR-ET production were via such pathways as C kinase, A kinase, Ca-calmodulin and tyrosine kinase in combination or independently, though possible mediation by other pathways cannot be ruled out.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of hepatic metastasis of colon carcinoma by asialo GM1--positive cells in the liver.

This study investigates the role of hepatic asialo GM1-positive cells in inhibiting hepatic metastasis of colon carcinoma (colon adenocarcinoma 38) in mice after administration of a biological response modifier, streptococcal derivative (OK432). Administration of OK432 increased the number of asialo GM1-positive cells in the liver, enhanced natural killer activity of hepatic mononuclear cells and reduced the number of hepatic metastases of colon carcinoma inoculated into the superior mesenteric vein. Administration of antiserum against asialo GM1 reduced the number of hepatic asialo GM1-positive cells, abolished natural killer activity of hepatic mononuclear cells and increased the number of hepatic metastases. In addition, administration of antiserum against asialo GM1 even after OK432 treatment also decreased the number of asialo GM1-positive cells, reduced natural killer activity of hepatic mononuclear cells and increased the number of hepatic metastases of colon carcinoma. However, administration of gadolinium chloride, which suppresses phagocytic function of Kupffer cells, did not influence the natural killer activity of hepatic mononuclear cells or the number of hepatic metastases. In vivo tumor-neutralization assay revealed that tumor growth was inhibited by the hepatic mononuclear asialo GM1-positive cells, but not by T lymphocytes or Kupffer cells after OK432 administration. These results suggest that an increased number of hepatic asialo GM1-positive cells after administration of OK432 plays an important role in protecting against metastasis of colon carcinoma in the liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Using microparticle labeling and counting for attomole-level detection in heterogeneous immunoassay.

A new heterogeneous "sandwich" immunoassay utilizing microparticles as labels to realize high sensitivity is described. In this method, antibody fixed on the microparticles reacts with antigen previously trapped on a microplate surface, which makes the antigen molecules visible and countable with an inverted optical microscope. The method is highly sensitive because the reacted single microparticle, therefore single antigen molecule, can be detected. The sensitivity depends both on the reaction efficiency of the immunoreaction and on nonspecific adsorption of the microparticles on the microplate surface. Therefore, the protocol for preparing microparticle having antibody on the surface and a microplate having capture antibody was investigated to realize high sensitivity. Carboxylated microparticles of 0.76 microns in diameter were conjugated with affinity-purified antibody using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide. It was determined that 1 g microparticles had 880 micrograms antibody (approximately 1100 antibody molecules per 1 microparticle). The immunoreaction efficiency reached 18% at 1 x 10(-13) mol/liter antigen concentration. The lower detection limit was 3.1 x 10(-14) mol/liter (1.6 amol) using human alpha-fetoprotein as a model antigen.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1992

Temporal priority of premotor cortex over nearby areas in receiving visual cues in primates.

Neuronal activities in the premotor cortex (PM), supplementary motor area (SMA), and precentral motor cortex (MC) were recorded while monkeys performed a visually triggered task. Kendall's partial correlation coefficient analysis was applied to the data, to determine whether changes in neuronal activity were dependent on visual-stimulus or movement-onset. The proportion of cells in which neuronal activity changes were significantly related to visual-stimulus was 22% in PM cells, 7% in SMA cells, and 0% in MC cells. The sampling populations for visual-stimulus related coefficients were greatest in PM, followed by SMA, then MC. These results indicate that the PM has temporal priority over the SMA and MC in the receipt of visual cues.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Mechanism of accumulation of macrophages in galactosamine-induced liver injury: effect of lipoxygenase inhibitors on chemotaxis of spleen cells.

In an attempt to clarify a mechanism of macrophage infiltration in galactosamine-induced hepatic injury, we investigated chemotactic factor(s) generated by murine hepatocytes exposed to galactosamine. Hepatocytes, isolated from murine liver by perfusion and digestion with collagenase, were incubated with galactosamine. Conditioned medium was collected 24 h later and chemotaxis of murine spleen cells was measured by stimulation of the conditioned medium using a modified Boyden chamber. Chemotactic activity was demonstrated in the conditioned medium of hepatocytes exposed to more than 3 mM galactosamine. Chemotactic activity of the conditioned medium was not reduced after freeze-thawing, and found to be dialyzable (molecular weight < 12,000). Trypsin (0.25%, 37 degrees C, 30 min) or heat (56 degrees C, 30 min) treatment reduced chemotactic activity of the conditioned medium. Furthermore, chemotaxis of spleen cells was decreased in the presence of lipoxygenase inhibitors (azelastine, ketotifen). These results suggest that accumulation of macrophages in the liver could be mediated by chemotactic factor produced by the galactosamine-treated hepatocytes, and that this mechanism may contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic injury induced by galactosamine.

Animals↗