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Biomedical subjects

M Ando

Publications and source records attributed to M Ando.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Possible contribution of prolactin in the process of ovulation and oocyte maturation.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of PRL in the process of ovulation and oocyte maturation. In the first experiment, using an in vitro perfused rabbit ovary model, the addition of PRL to the perfusate inhibited hCG-induced ovulation in a dose-related fashion, without any reduction in progesterone synthesis. In a subsequent experiment, PRL directly inhibited both the degeneration and decomposition of surface epithelial cells and the disruption of connective tissue at the apex of the follicle wall. Furthermore, PRL inhibited hCG-stimulated plasminogen activator (PA) activity in mature follicles in a dose-related fashion. In the final experiment, we demonstrated conditions in which rabbit oocytes matured in vitro acquire competence for early embryonic development. PRL, as well as gonadotropins and estradiol, was an important constituent in the process of oocyte maturation, promoting embryonic development. These results suggest that the preovulatory environment of PRL within the follicle may influence the process of ovulation and oocyte maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Fibroblast proliferation factors in pulmonary granuloma induced by Trichosporon cutaneum in rabbits: presence of a lymphocyte-derived fibroblast proliferation factor and its functional specificity.

The fibroblast proliferation activity (FPA) in pulmonary granulomatous lesions in rabbits which were exposed once (primary response) or twice (secondary response) to Trichosporon cutaneum was examined using R9ab, a rabbit fibroblast cell line cell, and fibroblasts from the lesions of the primary and secondary responses. The FPA in lung extracts and cell-free culture supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage cells from the secondary response was more evident than that from the primary response. FPA from the primary response were recovered at about 60, 18, and 4.5 kD and those from secondary response at about 60, 26, 18, and 4.5 kD on Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. Among the FPA, the activity with a molecular weight of 26 kD and a pI of 7.0 was derived from lymphocytes, whereas the other activities were derived from macrophages. The macrophage-derived fibroblast proliferation factors (FPF) enhanced proliferation of fibroblasts from the lesions of both primary and secondary responses, while the lymphocyte-derived FPF enhanced only proliferation from the secondary response. It was further found that lymphocyte-derived FPF could chemotactically attract fibroblasts from the secondary but not the primary response, indicating functional specificity of lymphocyte-derived FPF on fibroblasts in the secondary response. The present results suggest that this lymphokine with fibroblast proliferation and chemotactic activity plays an important role in the granuloma formation in the secondary response to T. cutaneum.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Fetal cardiovascular morphology of truncus arteriosus with or without truncal valve insufficiency in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in fetal echocardiography have necessitated further study on fetal in situ cardiovascular morphology of truncus arteriosus and the effects of truncal valve insufficiency. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 55 fetal rats with truncus arteriosus among 300 fetuses from 40 virgin females treated with 200 mg fertilysin on the 10th day of pregnancy. After rapid whole-body freezing on the 21st day, the fetuses were studied by means of serial cross-sectional photographs of the frozen thorax. Thirty-five fetuses with a normal heart treated with fertilysin served as controls. Truncus arteriosus was characterized by a large ventricular septal defect, a solitary artery (truncus arteriosus) overriding the ventricular septum, the right and left pulmonary arteries originating from the truncus arteriosus with or without a common trunk (main pulmonary artery), and absent ductus arteriosus. Fetuses with truncal valve insufficiency had thick truncal valves, a large truncus arteriosus, and large ventricles. The subgroup of 12 fetuses with a large truncus (truncal diameter greater than 160% of the ascending aorta diameter in the controls) showed significantly greater values for right ventricular volume (200% of control) and mass (120% of control), left ventricular volume (170% of control) and mass (110% of control), right (120% of control) and left (110% of control) atrial volume, and pericardial fluid (140% of control) than the controls. These changes were less prominent and ventricular volumes were not increased in the remaining subgroup with a truncal diameter of 160% or less of aorta diameter in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: In fetal truncus arteriosus, truncal valve insufficiency was associated with increased ventricular volume load and incomplete cardiac compensation in rats.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1991

Enkephalinase inhibitor potentiates substance P- and capsaicin-induced bronchial smooth muscle contractions in humans.

To determine the roles of endogenously released tachykinins (substance P, neurokinins A and B) in human bronchial tissues, and to determine the roles of enkephalinase (neutral endopeptidase, E.C. 3.4.24.11) in regulating the effects of the tachykinins, we studied the effects of substance P and capsaicin, which releases tachykinins, on human bronchial smooth muscle contraction in the presence or absence of enkephalinase inhibitor phosphoramidon in vitro. Substance P alone caused human bronchial smooth muscle contraction at 10(-6) M or more. Phosphoramidon (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) potentiated the substance P-induced contraction in a dose-dependent fashion, and phosphoramidon shifted the dose-response curve to lower concentrations. Capsaicin (10(-5) or 10(-4) M) alone caused bronchial smooth muscle contraction in four tissues from nine patients. After the contraction by capsaicin reached a plateau, phosphoramidon (10(-5) M) increased and prolonged the contraction significantly. Furthermore, pretreatment of bronchial tissues with phosphoramidon (10(-5) M) potentiated capsaicin-induced contraction in all tissues from five patients. Phosphoramidon (10(-5) M) shifted the dose-response curve to capsaicin to lower concentrations more than 1 log unit. Captopril did not alter the contractile response to substance P, suggesting that angiotensin-converting enzyme does not regulate the contractile response to substance P in human bronchial smooth muscle in vitro. These results suggest that enkephalinase regulates the contractile effects of exogenous substance P and endogenous substances, probably tachykinins, released by capsaicin in the human bronchus.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of neutral endopeptidase potentiates bronchial contraction induced by immune response in guinea pigs in vitro.

To study the role of tachykinins and neutral endopeptidase (NEP), an enzyme that degrades tachykinins, in the immune response in the airways of guinea pigs sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA), we examined the bronchial contractile response to OVA by inhibiting NEP in vitro. After incubating bronchial tissues with the NEP inhibitors phosphoramidon and thiorphan, we added 10(-5)% (10 micrograms/ml) OVA. Phosphoramidon and thiorphan (10(-5) M) significantly maintained the contraction that followed the peak contraction. In the next stages of the experiment, when the contraction induced by 10(-5)% OVA reached a plateau and began to relax, we added 10(-5) M phosphoramidon. Phosphoramidon inhibited the relaxation and significantly potentiated the contraction. In tissues treated with 10(-5) M capsaicin to deplete tachykinins, phosphoramidon did not potentiate the OVA-induced contraction, but substance P (10(-6) M) caused contraction. These results suggest that the immune response causes the release of tachykinin-like substances from capsaicin-sensitive nerves to induce bronchial contraction in part. To confirm the mediators that cause the release of the tachykinin-like substances from the bronchus, we also examined whether phosphoramidon potentiates the effect of leukotriene C4 (LTC4), serotonin, histamine, and platelet-activating factor on bronchial contraction. When the contractions induced by these agonists reached a plateau and began to relax, we added phosphoramidon. Phosphoramidon inhibited the relaxation and significantly potentiated the contractile response to 10(-5) M LTC4, and it significantly reduced the relaxing rate of the 10(-6) M serotonin-induced contraction. However, it did not change the effect of histamine and platelet-activating factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Japanese summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Geographic distribution, home environment, and clinical characteristics of 621 cases.

A survey of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in Japan was carried out by nationwide questionnaire. A total of 835 cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was recognized during the last decade from 1980 to 1989. Of the 835 cases, 621 (74.4%) were summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The number of cases diagnosed doubled in the latter half of the 10-yr period. The residence of the patients was mostly in the western and southern parts of the country; the northernmost incidence was in Akita Prefecture at a latitude of 40 degrees north. Of the patients 86% experienced initial symptoms from June to September with a peak in July. Female patients were 2.0 times as numerous as male patients, probably as a result of more exposure to the offending antigen at home since 39.8% of the patients were female homemakers without an outside occupation. The frequency of family occurrence was 23.8%. The mean age of the patients' houses was 20.5 yr after building, and more than half had unsanitary conditions, such as shady, damp, or poorly ventilated rooms. Serum anti-Trichosporon cutaneum antibody activities were positive in 260 (99.2%) of the 262 cases examined. We conclude that summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis occupies the majority of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the country and that to prevent the disease concentrated attention should be given to the home environment from the viewpoint of environmental medicine.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Lowered responsiveness of bronchoalveolar lavage T lymphocytes in hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

We previously reported that Trichosporon cutaneum was the major causative antigen of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in Japan. In summer-type HP patients, we noticed that the proliferative responses of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A were significantly lower than those of the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the same patients. It was shown in this study that the low response of BAL lymphocytes was due to an intrinsic lowering of the responsiveness of the T cells. Results of the mixed culture experiments, in which the responses to mitogens of BAL and peripheral blood T cells mixed with either alveolar macrophages or blood monocytes were compared, indicated that the decreased proliferative response was due neither to the suppressive effect nor to defects in accessory function of the alveolar macrophages. BAL T cells did not act as suppressor cells when they were added to the culture of peripheral T cells. The decreased proliferative response was not due to the dominance of CD8+ T cells frequently seen in BAL cells of HP patients, because both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells separated from BAL cells of HP patients showed lower responsiveness than those of peripheral blood T cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Involvement of leukotriene B4 in ovulation in the rabbit.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effects of lipoxygenase products on ovulation, oocyte maturation, and steroid production in the perfused rabbit ovary preparation. Ovulatory efficiency was significantly reduced when rabbit ovaries were perfused with human CG (hCG) plus nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) at 10(-5) or 10(-6) M, as compared to contralateral hCG-treated controls. The addition of NDGA to the perfusate inhibited hCG-induced ovulation in a dose-related manner. The percentage of ovulated ova and follicular oocytes achieving germinal vesicle breakdown did not differ significantly between NDGA-treated ovaries and contralateral controls. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production by the perfused rabbit ovaries reached its maximum 6 h after exposure to hCG and then declined. The addition of NDGA at 10(-5) M significantly inhibited hCG-stimulated LTB4 production by rabbit ovaries throughout the entire perfusion periods. The ovulatory efficiency in ovaries treated with hCG alone or with hCG plus NDGA correlated significantly with LTB4 production by perfused rabbit ovaries 6 h after exposure to hCG (alpha = 0.8893, P less than 0.01). Furthermore, the addition of LTB4 at 100 ng/ml to the perfusate reversed the inhibitory effects of NDGA on hCG-induced ovulation. However, exposure to NDGA affected neither progesterone nor estradiol production elicited by hCG administration. These results suggest that NDGA may block hCG-induced ovulation in vitro, probably via the inhibition of LTB4 production by rabbit ovaries.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical analysis of urinary incontinence in the institutionalized elderly].

Urinary incontinence among institutionalized elderly were analyzed from clinical and social viewpoints. The patient group included 25 males and 107 females with an average age of 78 years (ranged from 66 to 92). They had neither highly impaired performance status nor severe dementia. Forty-nine of them (37%) underwent urological examination. Urge incontinence was common among male patients, while urge, stress or mixed incontinence were prevalent in female patients. Thirty-six per cent of the patients had to use pads, diapers and others for their incontinence, while other needed no special protection for their incontinence. Incontinence caused limitation of social activity in 30% of the patients. Many causal factors were assumed for incontinence in elderly; weakness of the pelvic muscles, urinary tract infection, cerebrovascular disorders, neurological disorders and prior pelvic surgery. Prostatic carcinoma or urethral stricture caused overflow incontinence in a few patients. Diuretics or tranquilizers appeared to lead incontinence in some patients. Nine of 18 patients undergoing cystometry had overactive detrusor. Majority of the incontinent elderly showed no intention to visit clinics. Therefore, it recommended to keep staffs in elderly institutions as well as elderly themselves informed that incontinence in the elderly should be treated, which in turn improves the quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[A questionnaire survey on micturition problems among institutionalized elderly].

Prevalence of micturition problems among 1,023 institutionalized elderly was surveyed by a questionnaire. The reply was obtained from 821 elderly (80.3%) including 276 males and 545 females with ages averaged 77 years (range 61 to 96 years). They had neither highly impaired performance status nor severe dementia. Micturition problems were complained by 38% of male responders, where micturition difficulty was the most common. On the other hand, 23% of female responders answered having micturition problems and urinary frequency was the most common. One hundred and twenty-four of total responders (15%) replied to have urinary incontinence; 8% in men and 19% in women. Over half of patients with marked objective incontinence denied its presence or refused to answer. Seventy-one per cent of the incontinent elderly had no intention to receive medical care. From the above facts, it seems that many elderly have micturition problems and the incidence of urinary incontinence is latently higher than complained at survey.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[A longitudinal study of clinical and electroencephalographic findings in a female infant with early myoclonic encephalopathy].

We reported a female infant with early myoclonic encephalopathy (EME). She was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and laboratory features including electroencephalographic and magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings. Frequent erratic myoclonic seizures appeared since 28 days after birth and EEG showed a typical suppression-burst pattern. We administered a high-dose pyridoxal phosphate, thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogue (TRH), and then ACTH, but could not control the seizures at all. With seizure types, we observed the change from erratic myoclonus to tonic spasms in series, with concomitant EEG change to hypsarhythmia at the age of 6 months. Cranial MRI revealed delayed myelination in the white matter but no brain malformation. We administered ACTH to her again and succeeded partially in the decrease of the seizure frequency, and significantly in the improvement of EEG findings. It is supposed that the responsiveness to ACTH treatment changed with age as the seizure patterns developed from erratic myoclonus to tonic spasm.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1991

[The relationship between the anti-HCV titer and the state of chronic hepatitis C].

By dilution of the serum, we quantitatively analyzed anti-HCV to examine the relation between the anti-HCV titer and the state of chronic hepatitis C, and determined the effectiveness of interferon therapy. The anti-HCV titer was related with the state of chronic hepatitis C, but not as closely as GPT. Cases with blood transfusion had a lower titer of anti-HCV, weaker histological finding and better response to interferon than those without blood transfusion. The anti-HCV titer was not useful for determining the effectiveness of interferon therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatinum) chemotherapy as an induction therapy of advanced extragonadal germ cell tumor].

Five patients with advanced extragonadal germ cell tumor (EGGCT) were treated with cisplatinum + vinblastine + bleomycin (BVP) or cisplatinum + etoposide + bleomycin (BEP) chemotherapy as an induction therapy. All patients had high levels of tumor markers and multiple distant metastasis in poor nutritious conditions. Two patients given BVP therapy died 6 and 9 months after the chemotherapy. By contrast, three patients given BEP therapy achieved complete remission and were surviving longer than one year without any evidences of disease. Granulocytopenic fever was seen soon after the first course of BEP therapy. Prophylactic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment, enabled two of them to receive full dose chemotherapy without any fever attacks. In conclusion, BEP chemotherapy is effective to EGGCT as well as far advanced testicular tumors and G-CSF treatment is useful for achievement of induction chemotherapy to advanced germ cell tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Renal tubular function in cirrhotic patients with ascites: special reference to lithium clearance following the human atrial natriuretic peptide administration].

Synthetic alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP), 1 micrograms/kg, was intravenously given to 16 cirrhotic patients with ascites and 9 control subjects (CS) to investigate major factors responsible for sodium retention and refractory ascites. The following parameters were measured before and after alpha-hANP administration; such as lithium clearance (CLi) as an index of fluid delivery to the distal tuble, mean arterial pressure (MAP), urinary sodium excretion rate (UNaV), urine volume (V), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), urinary excretion of prostaglandin (PG)E2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (6-k-PGF1 alpha), and thromboxane B2 (TxB2). Patients were divided following alpha-hANP administration into 2 groups as "good responders (GR)" and "poor responders (PR)", in which GR was defined as the group showing 2-fold-increase in UNaV. In contrast, PR had significant lower MAP (71.8 +/- 5.04 mmHg), GFR (21.3 +/- 3.90 ml/min), ERPF (158.0 +/- 43.8 ml/min), FELi (CLi/GFR; 12.6 +/- 1.26%), and higher PRA (8.72 +/- 0.99 ng/ml/h) and PAC (12.2 +/- 3.13 ng/dl) than GR. GR demonstrated almost same natriuretic response as CS with an increase of GFR and renal PGs synthesis, and a decrease of FELi despite reduction in blood pressure. However, alpha-hANP did not suppress PRA, PAC, and distal tubular reabsorption of sodium (FDRNa = 1-FENa/FELi) in cirrhotic patients, whereas suppressed in CS. UNaV correlated with FELi (r = 0.687, p = 0.01) and GFR (r = 0.777, p = 0.01). PRA correlated with FELi r = 0.669, p = 0.015), GFR (r = -0.634, p = 0.018), and MAP (r = 0.858, p = 0.001) only in cirrhosis. These results therefore indicated that hypotension caused by hemodynamic alteration and extremely stimulated renin release might effect on proximal tubular sodium reabsorption and GFR, leading to sodium retention and diuretic resistance in cirrhosis.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical studies on ciprofloxacin in chronic respiratory tract infection].

Ciprofloxacin (CPFX), a new pyridone carboxylic acid, was administered orally to the patients with chronic respiratory tract infection and its clinical efficacy and safety were studied in a multicenter open trial. The results and summarized as follows. 1. The efficacy rate for the patients with acute exacerbation as 52.5% (21/40) in 2 week-treatment, and 75.0% (24/32) in 4 week-treatment. 2. The efficacy rate for the patients with chronic phase was 23.1% (6/26) in 2 week-treatment, and 26.9% (7/26) in 4 week-treatment, but acute exacerbation was not observed in any of the patients. 3. CPFX was administered to 6 patients over 60 days for the prophylaxis of acute exacerbation. Only 2 patients had acute exacerbation in 2 and 3 months after the start of the therapy, respectively. 4. Bacteriological eradication rate was high except P. aeruginosa, for which the eradication rate was about 20%. 5. Side effects were observed in 3 patients, and abnormal findings of laboratory tests were observed in 5 patients, though they were not severe. These results show that CPFX is a useful antimicrobial agent for the treatment of chronic respiratory tract infections.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

[Cerebral blood flow changes in a patient recovered from hypocarbia].

The changes of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and pulsatility index (PI) in anterior cerebral artery were examined by cranial color Doppler ultrasonography while a patient recovered from hypocarbia. As arterial PCO2 was elevated, PI was decreased and color imaging of CBF from basilar artery to anterior cerebral artery were improved in sagittal view. Hypocarbia is considered to induce the constriction of the cerebral vessels and the decrease of CBF in premature infants.

Blood Flow Velocity↗