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Biomedical subjects

K Yano

Publications and source records attributed to K Yano.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Suppression of liver allograft rejection by administration of 15-deoxyspergualin. Comparison of administration via the hepatic artery, portal vein, or systemic circulation.

In this experiment, the effect of the administration route-the hepatic artery, portal vein, or systemic circulation-of the immunosuppressive drug 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) on the suppression of liver allograft rejection is investigated. A 3-day injection of DSG at a dose of 0.32-1.28 mg/kg per day into the systemic circulation of a rat that had received a liver transplant was not effective in prolonging liver graft survival (14.3 +/- 2.9 days vs. 14.1 +/- 2.5 days for controls). However, the administration of DSG into the portal vein following liver transplantation markedly prolonged survival for up to 24.9 +/- 10.0 days. Survival times were prolonged even more when the DSG was administered via the hepatic artery for 3 successive days after liver grafting (30.9 +/- 9.6 days). The concentration of DSG in the blood following the one-shot injection of DSG was highest when DSG was administered via the hepatic artery, intermediate when injected into the portal vein, and lowest when injected into the systemic vein. In conclusion, DSG can inhibit liver graft rejection more effectively via the hepatic arterial route than via the portal vein or systemic circulation.

Animals↗

Boundary of the autoinhibitory region of smooth muscle myosin light-chain kinase.

It has been proposed that myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) activity is inhibited in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin by a pseudosubstrate sequence [Kemp, B. E., Pearson, R. B., Guerriero, V. J., Bagchi, I., & Means, A. R. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 2542-2548]. To evaluate this hypothesis, the role of a cluster of basic residues, Arg797-Arg798-Lys799, which are essential for the pseudosubstrate sequence, in the inhibition of MLCK was studied. A full-length cDNA of chicken gizzard MLCK was obtained, and the recombinant MLCK which contains the entire amino acid sequence was expressed in Escherichia coli. The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent activity of the recombinant MLCK was comparable to that of the naturally isolated MLCK. Two truncation mutants, MT799 and MT796, were produced, of which MT799 but not MT796 contained a cluster of basic residues. Neither MT799 nor MT796 bound calmodulin, and kinase activity was inhibited (similar to MLCK activity in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin). However, the kinase activity of the mutants was increased markedly by subsequent tryptic proteolysis. The tryptic digestion of the mutants initially produced a 64-kDa fragment then, subsequently, the 61-kDa fragment, and the increase in activity coincided with the appearance of the 61-kDa fragment. This was similar to the digestion profile of native MLCK, and it is known that the 61-kDa fragment is the constitutively active kinase [Ikebe, M., Stepinska, M., Kemp, B. E., Means, A. R., & Hartshorne, D. J. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 13828-13834].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Depressor effect of intraventricular administration of calcium on spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The role of central Ca2+ in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) was investigated in conscious spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Ten microliters of a high Ca2+ solution (Ca2+: 32.6 mM) administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) decreased the mean arterial pressure (MAP) for more than 20 min in SHR (n = 7, P < 0.005), while no change of MAP was observed in the WKY (n = 6). This depressor response to Ca2+ i.c.v. was dose-dependent at Ca2+ concentrations between 16.3 and 65.2 mM. We also investigated the effect of high Ca2+ i.c.v. in SHR after pretreatment with Ca2+ channel blockers, diltiazem (60 micrograms/10 microliters) or nisoldipine (4, 8, 16 and 32 micrograms/10 microliters), administered i.c.v., the autonomic ganglion blocker, hexamethonium (50 mg/kg), administered i.v. and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (100 and 400 micrograms/10 microliters) delivered i.c.v. Pretreatment with i.c.v. diltiazem (n = 8) or nisoldipine (n = 5 for 8 micrograms, n = 6 for 4, 16, 32 micrograms) abolished and/or blunted the decrease of MAP due to high Ca2+. Hexamethonium administered i.v. (n = 6) also canceled the depressor action of i.c.v. Ca2+. Pretreatment with 100 micrograms of i.c.v. alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine could not prevent the depressor action of i.c.v. Ca2+; however, 400 micrograms of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine administered i.c.v. abolished the effect of i.c.v. Ca2+. Furthermore Ca2+ channel blockers administered i.c.v. in themselves increased MAP in SHR (P < 0.05). These results suggest that central Ca2+ is involved in the central regulation of BP in SHR. This effect may be mediated through changes in sympathetic activity.

Animals↗

Effects of amiloride on the mechanical, electrical and biochemical aspects of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Although many causal factors have been proposed for the ischemia-reperfusion injury, the exact mechanisms for interdependent derangements of mechanical, electrical and metabolic events remains unclear. For this purpose, the Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were subjected to regional brief ischemia followed by reperfusion to study the protective effects of amiloride, an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange. Amiloride (0.1 mM) attenuated the rise in tissue Na+ and Ca2+, both duration and incidence of arrhythmias (p < 0.05 vs. control), sarcolemmal injury (assessed by Na-K ATPase) and lipid peroxidation (assessed by malonedialdehyde formation) during reperfusion. Treatment of hearts with monensin, a sodium inophore, reversed the protective effects of amiloride. Reduction in transsarcolemmal Na+ and pH gradients during ischemia exhibited protective effects similar to those seen with amiloride. These results suggest that cardiac dysfunction, sarcolemmal injury and triggered arrhythmias during ischemia-reperfusion are due to the occurrence of intracellular Ca2+ overload caused by the activation of Na(+)-H+ exchange and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange systems in the myocardium.

Amiloride↗

Ultrasonic imaging of the tongue, mouth, and vocal cords in normal children: establishment of basic scanning positions.

We examined the soft tissue anatomy of the tongue, mouth, and vocal cords in 25 healthy children by ultrasonography, and established basic scanning positions for these organs. In the tongue and the mouth--four scanning positions: the midline sagittal, the paramidline sagittal, the anterior coronal, and the posterior coronal--covered major anatomical components. We could delineate vocal cords in all subjects by transverse scanning on the thyroid cartilage. Although disorders associated with the tongue, floor of the mouth, and vocal cords are less frequent in children, one should recognize normal ultrasound findings to distinguish them from abnormalities.

Adolescent↗

Intimal hyperplasia enhances myosin phosphorylation in rabbit carotid artery.

We examined physiological events in the hyperplastic artery, using a method based on the mechanical responsiveness and myosin light-chain phosphorylation in response to various stimulants. Six weeks after endothelial denudation by ballooning of the right carotid artery, strips of this artery with moderate intimal hyperplasia (intimal area was 30-50% of medial area in 20 of 28 rabbits) were used for experiments. Strips from the left carotid served as the normal control. When the hyperplastic artery was stimulated with 30 microM PGF2 alpha, the maximal tension (232.4 +/- 49.1 mg/mg dry wt, mean +/- SD) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control (129.5 +/- 16.4 mg/mg). The maximal extent of myosin light-chain monophosphorylation (45.4 +/- 8.9%) and diphosphorylation (10.9 +/- 5.2%) in the hyperplastic artery was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control artery (33.0 +/- 4.8 and 4.0 +/- 4.8%, respectively). The monophosphorylation of the myosin light chain in the hyperplastic artery was sustained for up to 20 min, while that in the control artery decreased to the basal level within 20 min. Similar observations were obtained by stimulation with 60 mM K+ or 30 microM norepinephrine. Dose-response curves of the development of tension in the hyperplastic artery to various agonists (K+, PGF2 alpha, norepinephrine) shifted upward the curves for the control artery. These results suggest that qualitative changes in the characteristics of smooth muscle cells may occur in the intimal hyperplastic portion, including a hyperreactive contraction associated with enhanced and sustained phosphorylation of the myosin light chain.

Animals↗

The surgical management of synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma and thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

A 73-year-old man was hospitalized with pathologically documented hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis, and a 5.0-cm tumor located in the left lobe was resected by a left lateral segmentectomy. At the same time, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was identified by frozen section in a perigastric lymph node in the lesser omentum. Intraoperative endoscopy revealed a 1.0-cm erosive lesion in the thoracic esophagus that was subsequently found to be primary squamous cell carcinoma. Seven weeks later, a transthoracic subtotal esophagectomy with substernal, cervical esophagogastrostomy was performed. Twenty-two months after these resections there has been no recurrence of either the hepatocellular or esophageal carcinomas.

Aged↗

Preventive therapy against delayed cerebral ischaemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: trials of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor and hyperdynamic therapy.

The effects of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor and hyperdynamic therapy on delayed cerebral ischaemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage were evaluated in a series of twenty eight patients, who underwent aneurysmal clipping with 72 hours after subarachnoid haemorrhage. Postoperatively, 13 patients were treated with thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor, Xanbon [sodium (E)-3-[p-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]-2-propenoate]. Hyperdynamic therapy with dobutamine was given to the remaining 15 patients. Of the 13 patients treated with Xanbon, nine patients (69%) developed delayed cerebral ischaemia and cerebral infarcts occurred in eight patients (62%). On the other hand, of the 15 patients treated with hyperdynamic therapy, only three patients (20%) manifested delayed cerebral ischaemia and two patients (13%) developed cerebral infarcts. In the present study, the patients treated with hyperdynamic therapy met an expected incidence of ischaemic events after subarachnoid haemorrhage by today's standards, while those treated with thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor did not.

Adult↗

Anterograde and retrograde decremental conduction over left-sided accessory atrioventricular pathways in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

The electrophysiologic properties of left-sided accessory pathways (APs) were examined by cardiac stimulation in 55 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Atrioventricular and ventriculoatrial conduction times were assessed at the coronary sinus level nearest to the AP and then plotted graphically as a function of coupling interval (for atrial and ventricular refractory period determinations). Of 29 patients with anterograde conduction over the AP, 10 (34%) exhibited decremental conduction. However, only two (7%) had a maximal decrement equal to or more than 30 msec. In the other eight (27%) patients the maximal decrement ranged from 10 to 20 msec. The longest coupling interval at which anterograde decremental conduction was demonstrated ranged from 260 to 440 msec (346 +/- 52 msec). The shortest coupling interval ranged from 240 to 320 msec (265 +/- 24 msec). The anterograde decremental conduction zone was 91 +/- 55 msec. Of 51 patients with retrograde conduction over the AP, 23 (45%) exhibited decremental conduction. However, only eight (15%) had a maximal decrement equal to or greater than 30 msec. In the other 15 (29%) patients the maximal decrement ranged from 10 to 25 msec. The longest coupling interval was 338 +/- 70 msec. The shortest coupling interval was 275 +/- 42 msec. The retrograde decremental conduction zone was 72 +/- 47 msec. There was a significant inverse correlation between the AP effective refractory period and the maximal decrement (r = -0.42; p < 0.05). The comparison of maximal ventriculoatrial conduction time with the maximal decrement revealed a positive correlation (r = 0.63; p < 0.01). These data reveal that minimal decremental conduction over left-sided APs is not an uncommon finding and stress that care should be taken in evaluation of conduction over these connections.

Adolescent↗

Impaired left ventricular filling in borderline hypertensive patients without cardiac structural changes.

To determine the effect of borderline hypertension on left ventricular diastolic performance, 16 patients with borderline hypertension who did not have left ventricular hypertrophy and 16 age-sex-matched patients with normotension of similar age and body mass index were investigated. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was used to record left ventricular filling signals at rest and immediately after supine ergometer exercise. All subjects had normal left ventricular structure and systolic function. At rest the borderline hypertension group in comparison with the normotension group had a depressed peak velocity of early filling (E) (44 +/- 7 vs 54 +/- 10 cm/sec; p < 0.01), no enhanced peak velocity of late filling (A) (52 +/- 8 vs 50 +/- 11 cm/sec; not significant), and a reduced E/A ratio (0.9 +/- 0.2 vs 1.1 +/- 0.3; p < 0.05). Atrial filling time and preejection period were similar in the two groups. The effect of exercise on left ventricular filling velocity in patients with borderline hypertensive resembled that in those with normotension. Percentage changes in E (+14% +/- 12% vs +14% +/- 13%) and A (+13% +/- 8% vs 11% +/- 12%) were equivalent, suggesting a preserved diastolic reserve for exercise in the borderline hypertension group. In conclusion, borderline hypertension appears to be predictive of early filling impairment, and a late filling compensative mechanism is not yet apparent. These findings in borderline hypertension without apparent cardiac damage call for clinical attention to prevent further deterioration in cardiac function.

Adult↗

Experimental study on alkaline skin injuries--periodic changes in subcutaneous tissue pH and the effects exerted by washing.

A skin alkaline injury model was constructed using rats and 2N-NaOH. The changes over time, paying special attention to subcutaneous tissue pH, were recorded and included a comparative study of the effect on subcutaneous tissue pH of washing with water at 1, 10 and 30 min after injury. After inflicting alkaline injury, the subcutaneous tissue pH reached its peak value at the 32nd minute and had not recovered to the pre-experimental level by the 90th minute. The peak pH values of the 1-, 10- and 30-min delays before washing groups were 7.97, 10.57 and 12.17, respectively. When washing was started within 1 min of injury the tissue pH values did not exceed 8.00. Washing had virtually no effect on lowering the raised pH levels when the delay between injury and the start of washing was 10 and 30 min.

Animals↗

A clomiphene citrate and tamoxifen citrate combination therapy: a novel therapy for ovulation induction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a clomiphene citrate (CC) and tamoxifen citrate (CC/tamoxifen) combination therapy in ovulation induction by comparing with a CC alone therapy. DESIGN: A randomized cross-over study with CC alone and CC/tamoxifen combination therapies for 20 normoprolactinemic anovulatory women. Randomly selected 10 of the 20 women (group A) underwent a CC alone therapy (100 mg CC during cycle days 5 to 9) for the initial three consecutive treatment cycles and a CC/tamoxifen combination therapy (50 mg CC and 20 mg tamoxifen during cycle days 5 to 9) for the subsequent three consecutive treatment cycles. The remaining 10 (group B) were treated similarly but with the inverse sequence. Ovulation was documented when a high BBT phase persisted for 11 days or more, when midluteal serum P levels exceeded 7 ng/mL (22.3 nmol/L), or when pregnancy ensued. RESULTS: The rates of ovulatory/treated, pregnant/treated, and pregnant/ovulatory cycles were 42 of 56 (75.0%), 3 of 47 (6.4%), and 3 of 35 (8.6%) for CC/tamoxifen, respectively. Those were 25 of 57 (43.9%), 1 of 48 (2.1%), and 1 of 21 (4.8%) for CC, respectively. Clomiphene citrate/tamoxifen was more effective in ovulation induction than CC. All the pregnancies were normal and single. None of the treatments was accompanied by any remarkable side effects. CONCLUSION: Clomiphene citrate/tamoxifen is a novel treatment modality of ovulation induction with high efficacy.

Adult↗

Experimental study of subcutaneously transferred intestine: effect of the presence of serous membrane on acceptance rate.

The serous membrane is considered suspect as one of the obstacles responsible for delaying the acceptance of free jejunal grafts. A model was created of subcutaneous transfer of jejunum from which the serous membrane had been experimentally removed and the authors compared acceptance rates for intestine with and without a serous membrane. Results showed acceptance rates of 0 percent, 37.5 percent, 87.5 percent, and 100 percent respectively, for intestine devoid of serous membrane in which the vascular pedicle had been ligated 4, 5, 7 and 14 days after transfer. When these findings were compared with the results of an experiment on intestine with an intact serous membrane, statistically significant differences were detected between the acceptance rates of the groups ligated 5 and 7 days after transfer. The acceptance time required for intestine devoid of serous membrane was shown to be shorter.

Abdomen↗

Reversal of diastolic dysfunction in borderline hypertension by long-term medical treatment. Longitudinal evaluation by pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

This study aimed to assess the left ventricular diastolic function of borderline hypertensive patients (BHT) and to determine the effect of long-term blood pressure control by an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on the left ventricular filling profile. Pulsed Doppler echocardiograms were obtained from 18 BHT (14 men, 4 women; mean age: 55 years) and 20 age-sex matched normotensive controls. Studies were done at rest and immediately after exercise on a supine ergometer bicycle. Of the 18 patients, 11 were treated with delapril (30 mg/day) and followed up with longitudinal studies for 24 weeks. At baseline, BHT had a normal left ventricular structure. They showed a decreased peak velocity of early filling (E) (43 +/- 7 v 56 +/- 13 cm/sec, P < .01) and E/A ratio (0.83 +/- 0.2 v 1.08 +/- 0.3, P < .01), whereas peak velocity of late filling (A) and deceleration time (Dec T) were similar in the two groups. Exercise-enhanced filling indices were observed in both groups. Following blood pressure control, no change was observed in the left ventricular morphology. In contrast, progressive improvement of resting and after exercise peak velocity of early filling and E/A ratio were achieved. This indicates that long-term angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition ameliorates cardiac function in borderline hypertension.

Adult↗