Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Ono

Publications and source records attributed to K Ono.

At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources

Anterior chest wall axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein graft for vascular access in hemodialysis.

Patients with end-stage renal failure and peripheral vascular disease pose a difficult management problem in establishing long-term angioaccess for hemodialysis. In 4 patients with access problems, we created axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein Goretex grafts. The grafts were cannulated regularly for periods ranging from 29 to 66 months without difficulty. There was one episode of thrombosis and one of congestive heart failure. The mean venous pressure was 120 mm Hg with a mean arterial flow of 220 ml/min. This type of vascular access can provide adequate blood flow in difficult patients and maintain efficient dialysis. It should be a useful addition to the armamentarium of the vascular surgeon.

Adult↗

Response of human gingival fibroblasts to prostaglandins.

The effects of various prostaglandins (PGs) on the functions of human gingival fibroblasts (Gin-1 cells; ATCC CRL 1292) were examined by phase-contrast microscopy, cell-counting and radioautographic experiments. Tested PGs were PGA1, PGA2, PGB1, PGB2, PGD2, PGE1, PGE2, PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, PGI2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, 9 alpha-11 alpha-methanoepoxy-PGF2 alpha, and thromboxane (TX) B2. PGA1 and PGD2 at 30 microM caused morphological deformation of Gin-1 cells. All the PGs tested at 30 microM suppressed the proliferation of Gin-1 cells in the logarithmic growth phase. Furthermore, all the PGs tested at 10 microM suppressed DNA synthesis, collagen synthesis, and noncollagenous protein synthesis in confluent Gin-1 cells, while exerting no effect on GAG synthesis. The concentrations of PGs used are beyond those found in healthy gingiva. However, in periodontitis the local concentrations of some PGs within the gingiva are expected to be extremely elevated beyond the physiological level. These results suggest that PGs may play an important role as a negative regulator in metabolism and some pathologic gingival conditions by suppressing the functions of gingival fibroblasts.

Cell Division↗

A rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ channel in rabbit sinoatrial node cells.

The single-channel current of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) was recorded in rabbit sinoatrial node cells. In the cell-attached patch, depolarization from -70 mV to potentials more positive than -50 mV activated the IK channel while repolarization deactivated it. The single-channel conductance was 7.8 pS for the outward current and 10.8 pS for the inward current (n = 6). The steady-state open probability (NPo) was maximum at around -30 mV and markedly decreased at more positive potentials. On repolarization from positive potentials, the channel was initially closed and then rapidly opened. The ensemble average showed an initial rise to a peak followed by the deactivation time course. Because the channel events were completely blocked by E-4031, the drug-sensitive component was examined in the whole cell current. The steady-state current-voltage relation of the drug-sensitive current showed a marked negative slope at potentials more positive than -10 mV. Upon repolarization, the drug-sensitive current initially increased (removal of inactivation) to the peak of the outward tail current, which was in agreement with the ensemble average of the single-channel current. We conclude that IK in the sinoatrial node cells is largely composed of the rapidly activating IK (IK,r) channels and that the inward rectification of IK,r, which is more marked than had been assumed in previous studies, is due to the decrease in NPo.

Animals↗

Role of rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current in sinoatrial node pacemaker activity.

A rapidly activating component of delayed rectifier K+ current (IK,r) was dissected using a selective blocker, E-4031, during the action potential clamp (AP clamp) in rabbit sinoatrial node cells. Application of E-4031 induced a large compensation current, of which amplitude was similar to or larger than the net current during repolarization and was maximum (2.2 +/- 0.2 pA/pF) at -46.0 +/- 1.8 mV (n = 13). During the slow diastolic depolarization, the compensation current gradually decayed and then abruptly decreased at the peak of action potential. The time-dependent change of IK,r was calculated using a mathematical model, in which independent gates of activation and inactivation were assumed based on the whole cell voltage-clamp experiments. The reconstructed IK,r corresponded well with the E-4031-sensitive current measured by the AP clamp method. Partial block of IK,r by E-4031 in spontaneously beating cells decreased the action potential amplitude, maximum rate of rise, and maximum rate of repolarization and induced a positive shift of the maximum diastolic potential. Complete block of IK,r terminated the spontaneous action potential at -37.4 +/- 2.9 mV (n = 3). It is concluded that IK,r plays an essential role in determining the maximum diastolic potential and ensures the firing of the following action potential in sinoatrial node cells.

Action Potentials↗

Diagnostic revolution of microhematuria by real time confocal scanning laser microscope: Hyodo-Iino-Miyagawa method, third report.

The real time confocal scanning laser microscope provides excellent three-dimensional images free of out-of-focus information. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the laser microscope for the diagnosis of microhematuria. Characteristics of the test were evaluated in 81 patients with definite causes of hematuria. 30 erythrocytes in urinary sediments were examined for each patient, and those in whom less than 20% of the erythrocytes were poikilocytes were considered to have urological diseases and those in whom 80% or more of the erythrocytes were poikilocytes to have nephritis. According to these criteria, the sensitivity and the specificity of the examination to nephritis were 100 and 98.1%. 91.4% of the patients with urological disease had the nonglomerular type. The time required for the examination was less than 2-5 min in samples containing 1-3 erythrocytes in one field under an ordinary light microscope (x400).

Cell Size↗

Negative chronotropic effect of endothelin 1 mediated through ETA receptors in guinea pig atria.

Endothelins exert potent excitatory cardiac effects by acting on specific receptors on myocytes. In this study, we have examined the signal transduction mechanism for the chronotropic effect of endothelins in guinea pig atria. A competition binding of [125I]endothelin 1 ([125I]ET-1) using the recently developed ETA receptor-selective antagonist BQ123 showed the presence of almost equal populations of ETA (44%) and ETB (56%) receptors in the guinea pig right atria. In a concentration-response study, endothelin 3 (ET-3), an agonist with higher affinity to ETB receptors than to ETA receptors, and sarafotoxin S6c (STXS6c), an ETB receptor-selective agonist, increased the rate of spontaneous beating at all concentrations tested (10 pmol/L to 100 nmol/L). In contrast, ET-1, a nonselective agonist, increased the heart rate at lower concentrations (10 pmol/L to 10 nmol/L) but decreased it at higher concentrations (30 to 100 nmol/L). When ET-1 (100 nmol/L) was applied in a single amount, heart rate was strongly increased; however, this increase was followed by a rapid decline in the response. ET-1 (100 nmol/L) but not ET-3 or STXS6c significantly reduced the heart rate when it was raised by isoproterenol (ISO, 300 nmol/L) either in the absence or presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Correspondingly, ET-1 significantly reduced the ISO-induced elevation of cAMP accumulation (19.1 +/- 1.7 pmol/mg protein [n = 8] and 12.6 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg protein [n = 7] in the absence and presence of ET-1, respectively; P < .01), which was also observed even in the presence of IBMX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Early development and dispersal of oligodendrocyte precursors in the embryonic chick spinal cord.

Oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the vertebrate CNS, originally develop from cells of the neuroepithelium. Recent studies suggest that spinal cord oligodendrocyte precursors are initially localized in the region of the ventral ventricular zone and subsequently disperse throughout the spinal cord. The characteristics of these early oligodendrocyte precursors and their subsequent migration has been difficult to assay directly in the rodent spinal cord due to a lack of appropriate reagents. In the developing chick spinal cord, we show that oligodendrocyte precursors can be specifically identified by labeling with O4 monoclonal antibody. In contrast to rodent oligodendrocyte precursors, which express O4 immunoreactivity only during the later stages of maturation, in the chick O4 immunoreactivity appears very early and its expression is retained through cellular maturation. In embryos older than stage 35, O4+ cells represent the most immature, self-renewing, cells of the chick spinal cord oligodendrocyte lineage. In the intact chick spinal cord, the earliest O4+ cells are located at the ventral ventricular zone where they actually contribute to the ventricular lining of the central canal. The subsequent migration of O4+ cells into the dorsal region of the spinal cord temporally correlates with the capacity of isolated dorsal spinal cord to generate oligodendrocytes in vitro. Biochemical analysis suggests O4 labels a POA-like antigen on the surface of chick spinal cord oligodendrocyte precursors. These studies provide direct evidence for the ventral ventricular origin of spinal cord oligodendrocytes, and suggest that this focal source of oligodendrocytes is a general characteristic of vertebrate development.

Animals↗

Isolation of Campylobacter spp. from slaughtered cattle and swine on blood-free selective medium.

The charcoal-cefazolin-sodium deoxycholate agar (CCDA) was compared with Butzler agar for selectivity of campylobacters from fecal samples. A total of 279 samples of cecal contents from 176 cattle and 103 pigs slaughtered in Saitama were examined. Fifty-five (31.3%) cattle were found to contain campylobacters by the direct plating culture on CCDA plates, compared with 29 (16.5%) on Butzler agar plates. The positive rates of pig samples on CCDA and Butzler agar were very high, being 96 (93.2%) and 86 (83.5%), respectively. After enrichment culture of 107 cattle specimens in Preston, CEM or Bu 10 broth, the isolation rate on CCDA was also higher (p < 0.01) than that on Butzler agar after enrichment in any medium. These results indicate that CCDA medium is easy to handle without blood and, as to this study shows, is superior to Butzler agar for isolation of Campylobacter species from fecal samples.

Abattoirs↗

Isoenzyme patterns of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase in Babesia rodhaini and Babesia microti.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and their isoenzyme patterns in B. rodhaini (BR) and B. microti (BM), the two major causative species of murine babesiosis, were examined. G6PD and LDH activities were higher in BR than those in BM, whereas MDH activity was lower in BR than that in BM. No differences were observed between BR and BM in the mobility of isoenzyme bands of G6PD and MDH. On LDH isoenzyme pattern, at least 5 bands were detected in BR, while only one band in BM. Since each subunit of LDH is known to be coded by different gene, these results suggests that BR and BM are able to be differentiated genetically.

Animals↗

Erythroleukemia in two cats naturally infected with feline leukemia virus in the same household.

Erythroleukemia was observed in two unrelated cats infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) from the same household. Case 1, a 1-year-old neutered male cat developed erythroleukemia (M6) after a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS-Er) on the criteria of FAB classification of acute leukemias. Case 2, a 1-year-old neutered female cat, which had close contact with Case 1, also developed erythroleukemia (M6Er). In both cases, marked proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells with disproportionally large numbers of immature forms was observed in the bone marrow. In Case 1, neoplastic proliferation of myeloid cells in the bone marrow was also noted at the terminal stage. Combination chemotherapy with daunomycin was partially effective for treatment of these erythroid neoplasias, but did not induce complete remission. Southern blot analysis using exogenous FeLV-specific probes indicated the clonal origin of these hematopoietic tumor cells. Furthermore, the erythroid and myeloid tumor cells in Case 1 were shown to be derived from independent transformed clones. A variant FeLV was shown to be integrated into the tumor cells in Case 1, while a full-length FeLV was found in both cases. Because these erythroid neoplastic diseases occurred in two unrelated cats kept in the same household and these diseases are rare, they may both have been associated with the same FeLV strain.

Animals↗

Enzyme activities related to glucose metabolism in Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini.

A comparative study was carried out on the glucose metabolism in Babesia microti (BM) and Babesia rodhaini (BR) by analyzing the enzyme activities. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in BM showed significantly lower values than that in BR, whereas citrate synthase (CS) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities were remarkably higher in BM. In addition, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities also tended to be higher in BM. Then, the change of enzyme activities related to the proliferation of parasites was examined. In BM infected mice, the parasitemia increased from day 15 to day 19 after inoculation (a.i.). While BM showed decrease of G6PD and LDH activities at day 19 a.i., it showed remarkably increased activities in CS and MDH (368 and 8,842 nmol/min.mg protein, respectively). In addition, PDH, ICDH, KGDH, and SDH activities also tended to increase from day 15 to 19 a.i. In BR infected mice, parasitemia increased from day 9 to day 12 a.i. LDH activity showed a considerable increase at day 12 a.i. (12,920 IU/mg.protein). Although CS and MDH activities also showed a slight increase at day 12 a.i., the activities of PDH, ICDH, KGDH and SDH didn't change from day 9 to 12 a.i. Since these changes observed in the enzyme activities of BM and BR seemed to be correlated with their proliferation, it was suggested that BM and BR depended on aerobic and anaerobic pathways, respectively, for their glucose metabolism.

Animals↗

A short term in vitro cultivation of Babesia rodhaini and Babesia microti.

In vitro cultivation of Babesia rodhaini (BR) and Babesia microti (BM) was attempted. When RPMI1640 was supplemented with 30 or 40% of non-treated fetal bovine serum (FBS), the gas mixture of 3% CO2-8% O2 best supported the growth of both parasites. Under this optimized condition, the percent parasitized erythrocytes peaked to approximately 4- and 2-times initial values for Br and BM, respectively. The cultivated parasites retained the infectivity to the host mice. BM showed the characteristic feature of division during cultivation. However, the lots of FBS will have to be taken into consideration, since the FBS lots were shown to give large varieties to the results. Selection of the appropriate FBS lot may yield the better growth of these protozoa.

Animals↗

Effect of streptozotocin injection on expression of immunoreactive follistatin and beta A and beta B subunits of inhibin/activin in rat pancreatic islets.

The effect of streptozotocin (STZ) on expression of immunoreactive follistatin and beta-subunits of inhibin/activin in pancreatic islets was studied by immunohistochemistry. To localize immunoreactive follistatin in pancreatic islets, two different anti-follistatin sera were used. Anti-follistatin (300-315) serum detects only long-form follistatin, while anti-follistatin(123-134) serum detects both long- and C-terminal truncated short-form follistatin in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Although an intense reaction with anti-follistatin(123-134) was found in pancreatic B cells, a reaction with anti-follistatin(300-315) was not present in any type of cells. This result suggests that only short-form follistatin is expressed in pancreatic islets. It was confirmed that immunoreaction with anti-beta A(1-10)-Tyr serum was found in pancreatic B cells. The anti-beta B(1-10)-Tyr reaction was intense in A cells but weak in B cells. These findings suggest that the expression pattern of each beta-subunit differs in each type of islet cells. At 2 weeks after STZ injection (65 mg/kg), insulin immunoreaction still remained in B cells, although most pancreatic B cells were destroyed. In contrast, immunoreactions of follistatin and beta-subunits in B cells disappeared 24h after STZ treatment. These results indicate that STZ affects the production of follistatin or beta-subunits of inhibin/activin in pancreatic B cells rather than insulin secretion.

Activins↗

Craniosynostosis with joint contractures, ear deformity, cleft palate, scoliosis, and other features.

A case of craniosynostosis with joint contractures, ear deformity, cleft palate, scoliosis, and many other features is presented. The patient's skull was round with craniosynostosis of the coronal suture. The fingers were slender and long; the finger joints were contracted. Trismus was also present. Contracture of the temporomandibular joint was suspected. The helices were flat, antihelices were minimal, and the ears protruded. Furthermore, the facial and cranial features of this patient included mild hypertelorism, ocular proptosis, short pons nasi, flat radix nasi, mild retrognathia, and small oral fissure. In the oral cavity, a relatively wide cleft extended from the soft palate to the uvula. A frontal chest radiograph revealed a mild scoliosis. Differential diagnoses are discussed in reported syndromes with craniosynostosis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Regulation of proliferation and osteochondrogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived cells by transforming growth factor-beta and basic fibroblast growth factor.

We studied the effects of transforming growth factor-beta and basic fibroblast growth factor on the regulation of proliferation and osteochondrogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived cells, which have the potential to differentiate into bone and hypertrophic cartilage in vitro. Histological observation revealed that transforming growth factor-beta stimulated chondrogenesis of periosteum-derived cells while basic fibroblast growth factor stimulated proliferation of fibroblast-like cells and inhibited osteochondrogenic differentiation. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that basic fibroblast growth factor inhibited the expression of osteocalcin. Transforming growth factor-beta enhanced uronic acid content but decreased DNA content, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium content. In contrast, basic fibroblast growth factor enhanced DNA content but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium content, and uronic acid content. In addition, transforming growth factor-beta shortened the time-course of gene expression of type-X collagen whereas basic fibroblast growth factor inhibited the gene expression. These results indicate that transforming growth factor-beta stimulates osteochondrogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived cells but inhibits proliferation. They also indicate that basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates proliferation of periosteum-derived cells but inhibits osteochondrogenic differentiation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Identification of urinary metabolites of ecabapide in rat.

1. 14C-Ecabapide, 3-[[[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]carbamoyl]methyl]amino-N- methyl[14C]benzamide, was dosed orally to rat (100 mg/kg). Within 48h after dosing, 36.7 +/- 5.4 and 55.7 +/- 11.8% of the administered radioactivity was recovered from urine and faeces respectively. 2. The unchanged drug was the major compound excreted in the urine and accounted for 37% of the urinary radioactivity. Seven urinary metabolites were purified by preparative hplc and their structures were elucidated by mass and 1H-nmr spectrometry. 3. The major metabolic pathway of ecabapide was found to be the formation of 3-amino-N-methylbenzamide produced by N-dealkylation of the secondary amine at the 3-position of the benzamide moiety followed by acetylation. 4. Further metabolic pathways of the N-methylbenzamide moiety were N-demethylation via the carbinolamine derivatives, and/or aromatic hydroxylation followed by glucuronidation.

Animals↗

Effects of low oxygen tension and antioxidants on human erythropoiesis in vitro.

Cultured cells grow better in low oxygen than in room air, and the addition of a sulfhydryl-reducing agent is usually routine. It has been thought that such reagents protect cells from free-radical toxicity in atmospheric oxygen, which is higher than in physiological oxygen tension. Previous data demonstrating the efficacy of the usual antioxidant, 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME), were obtained in murine studies. We have compared the effect of 2ME and other antioxidants on human erythropoiesis using neonatal (cord) and adult blood. Without antioxidants, erythroid colony numbers were higher in 5% oxygen than in air, while colony formation could be improved even in 5% oxygen by the addition of antioxidants. In dose-response curves of each drug, the maximum increase in colony number was achieved with 0.1 microM 2ME, 10 microM reduced glutathione (GSH), 1 U/mL catalase (CAT), and 1 U/mL superoxide dismutase (SOD). Erythroid colony growth in air and in 5% oxygen was identical with 10 microM GSH and higher than in any other conditions, including with combinations of GSH and any other antioxidant. For human erythroid progenitor cell cultures, 10 microM GSH appears to be more appropriate than the usual 100 microM 2ME. Antioxidants are necessary, however, even in low oxygen tension. The mechanism of the GSH action is incompletely understood.

Adult↗