Preventive effects of oral combination therapy of Vitamins B2/B6/C and L-cysteine on the development of dry skin in a guinea pig irritation model.
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Administration, Oral↗
Biomedical subjects
M Igarashi
Publications and source records attributed to M Igarashi.
Use of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support in catastrophic massive pulmonary fat embolism.
We report a patient who sustained massive catastrophic pulmonary fat embolism while undergoing surgery for intramedullary nail of femur. Application of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support, in our view, saved the patient from cardiopulmonary collapse.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗
Adaptive index of hemoglobin color enhancement for the diagnosis of colorectal disease.
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Colonoscopes↗
Development of Neospora caninum cultured with human serum in vitro and in vivo.
Because there has been no report of symptomatic Neospora caninum infection in humans, we examined the effect of human serum on the parasite's growth in either a bovine angioendothelial cell or Caco-2 cell culture in vitro and in immunocompromised mice in vivo. There was no difference in intracellular parasite numbers between cells incubated with human serum at 24 hr after challenge and those incubated with fetal bovine serum (FBS), which has no titer for the anti-N. caninum agglutination antibody test. Serum of sheep infected with N. caninum, which has the anti-N. caninum antibody, reduced the numbers of the intracellular parasite significantly. We also showed that there was no inhibitory effect on the intracellular multiplication of the parasite in cells incubated with human serum through incorporation of 3H-uracil. CB-17 scid mice administered human serum daily and challenged with N. caninum died on day 20 or 22 after challenge, when large numbers of parasite clusters were found in the brain, oviduct, adrenal gland, lung, stomach, spleen, skeletal muscle, pancreas, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Scid mice administered FBS survived until the end of the experiment. These results suggest that adult human serum may have no inhibitory effect on the development of N. caninum in vitro and in vivo.
Agglutination Tests↗
Anti-angiogenic potential of tocotrienol in vitro.
Modulation of angiogenesis is now a recognized strategy for the prevention of various angiogenesis-mediated disorders. We investigated, using well-characterized in vitro systems, the anti-angiogenic property of vitamin E compounds, with particular emphasis on tocotrienol, a natural analog of tocopherol. Tocotrienol, but not tocopherol, inhibited the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells in dose dependent manner at half-maximal concentrations in the low micromolar range. Tocotrienol also significantly inhibited the formation of networks of elongated endothelial cells within 3D collagen gels. From these results, we suggest that tocotrienol is a potential candidate for the development of useful therapeutic agents or preventive food factors for tumor angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
Analysis of the cag pathogenicity island and IS605 of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients with gastric cancer in Japan.
BACKGROUND: CagA protein is encoded by the cagA gene, which is part of the cag pathogenicity island (PAI) in Helicobacter pylori. Insertion sequence (IS) elements are a diverse set of specialized DNA segments that can move to new sites in bacterial genomes. AIM: To determine the role of cagPAI and IS605 in the development of gastric cancer, we analysed cagPAI from patients with gastric cancer and compared the results with the host's CagA antibody status. METHODS: H. pylori strains were isolated from 29 gastric cancer patients, and CagA status was determined by measuring serum antibody against CagA. The cagPAI region and IS605 were determined by PCR. RESULTS: CagA seropositivity tended to be higher in the IS605/PAI+ group (5/7, 71.4%) than in the IS605/PAI- group (9/22, 40.9%). Association with cag13 was more frequent in the IS605+ group (92.3%; 12/13) than in the IS605- group (25.0%; 4/16; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: cag13 may be associated with the presence of IS605 in gastric cancer patients.
Antigens, Bacterial↗
An anatomical study of an electric organ and its nerve supply in the electric ray (Torpedinidae Narke japonica).
Despite anatomist's great interest in the electric organ (EO) of the electric ray, its detailed morphology remains unclear. In order to understand more completely the architecture of the EO and the branchial organ, it is necessary to examine detailed relationships regarding the origin, course and distribution of nerves innervating the EO. We thus carried out a macroscopic and microscopic anatomical study, focusing on issues, using the 18 sides of nine electric rays. The following results were obtained: (i) the EO was innervated exclusively by the facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves; (ii) although these three cranial nerves consistently innervated the EO, variation in the number of the nerves innervating the EO was observed; (iii) cranial nerves innervated the EO in a segmental manner, at both entry and in the area of distribution. These results suggest that the EO of the electric ray might have differentiated from a non-constant branchial muscle anlage but preserves the branchial segments in terms of the craniocaudal, dorsoventral and proximodistal axes.
Animals↗
Hindlimb suspension inhibits air-righting due to altered recruitment of neck and back muscles in rats.
Effects of 9-week hindlimb suspension and 8-week recovery on air-righting reaction in response to drop from a supine position were studied in adult rats. The righting time in rats at the end of suspension (approximately 220 ms) was longer than the age-matched controls (approximately 120 ms, p <0.05). The unloading-related change in righting time was accompanied by lowered activities of electromyogram (EMG) and altered recruitment of both neck and back muscles at a specific stage of drop. After 8 weeks of reambulation, righting time recovered toward the control level (approximately 153 ms, p <0.05), but the EMG activity of back muscle was still less than controls. In contrast, the EMG of neck muscle during fall was even increased. The differences in the characteristics of the muscle fibers between two groups were minor. It is suggested that inhibition of recruitment, rather than the changes in the fiber characteristics, of neck and back muscles is one of the major causes of the slow air-righting.
Adaptation, Physiological↗
Construction of large area organotypical cultures of oral mucosa and skin.
BACKGROUND: Skin and oral mucosal keratinocytes grown in vitro usually lose their normal patterns of differentiation, unless grown as organotypical cultures that are constructed by allowing collagen gels containing fibroblasts to contract before they are plated with keratinocytes and raised to the air/medium interface. However, the contraction process tends to produce small irregular cultures. METHODS: To generate uniformly differentiating large cultures, we have investigated several aspects of the factors involved in the culture construction. By adjusting the number of fibroblasts used and by plating the matrices with keratinocytes prior to contraction, cultures of up to 72 cm2 were constructed. RESULTS: The cultures retained almost the full surface areas of the original matrices and showed uniform patterns of epithelial plating and differentiation. Immunostaining for cytokeratins and integrins indicated restoration of in vitro phenotypes similar to those of the epithelial tissues of origin. CONCLUSIONS: These methods successfully generate cultures required for certain types of investigations and tissues that are suitable for clinical use as grafts.
Adult↗
Intramucosal adenocarcinoma of the appendix: how to find and how to treat.
A colonoscopic examination of a 58-year-old man revealed a small elevated lesion inside the orifice of the appendix. Using a polypectomy snare, a nodular polypoid lesion with a diameter of ca. 20 mm was removed from the lumen of the appendix. Histopathology showed that it was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. This is the first report of an intramucosal adenocarcinoma of the appendix diagnosed preoperatively; laparoscopy-assisted colectomy with a D2 lymph-node dissection was carried out. Endoscopists should consider an appendiceal tumor when an erosion, elevation, or deformity is seen in the head of the cecum.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Successful allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia in a patient with renal insufficiency requiring dialysis.
A 27-year-old man with aplastic anemia and renal insufficiency requiring dialysis underwent allogeneic PBSCT. The preparative regimen consisted of melphalan, ATG and TLI. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine and prednisolone. He was dialyzed prior to administration of melphalan and at 24 and 72 h after it. Otherwise, the dialysis schedule was unchanged, at three times a week. Engraftment was rapid. Regimen-related toxicity was minimal. Pharmacokinetic parameters of melphalan were not significantly altered with its plasma half-life 1.5 h. Patients with renal failure can receive allogeneic HSCT, and a combination of melphalan, ATG and TLI may serve as an alternative to CY and ATG.
Adult↗
Analysis of Helicobacter pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastric epithelial injury.
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are important factors in gastric mucosal injury. However, the relationship between H. pylori and NSAID-related gastroduodenal mucosal injury has not been clarified. AIM: To determine the role of H. pylori in NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury and to examine the effects of H. pylori, indomethacin and sofalcone on gastric epithelial cells in culture, as a useful model to study gastric mucosal injury. In addition, we studied the effect of sofalcone, a gastric mucosal protection agent, on H. pylori and NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury. METHODS: Cytotoxic and noncytotoxic strains of H. pylori were used, each with an inoculum of 10(7) cfu/mL. The effect on the growth of RGM-1 cells (a rat gastric epithelial cell line) was studied by MTT assay, and levels of prostaglandin E2 in culture supernatants were measured by EIA. RESULTS: Both cytotoxic and noncytotoxic strains of H. pylori tended to induce cell injury in RGM-1 cells at 48 h after inoculation. Indomethacin alone induced gastric epithelial injury in a dose-dependent manner, but did not augment cell injury induced by H. pylori. In addition, sofalcone (10(-5) mol/L) showed a suppressive effect on indomethacin-induced gastric epithelial injury. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that indomethacin induces gastric mucosal injury regardless of H. pylori infection, and suggests that sofalcone may be a useful drug in the treatment of NSAID-induced mucosal injury.
Animals↗
Candesartan inhibits carotid intimal thickening and ameliorates insulin resistance in balloon-injured diabetic rats.
This study investigates the effects of candesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade, on carotid arterial intimal thickening and glucose tolerance in balloon-injured male Wistar fatty rats and their littermates (Wistar lean rats). Candesartan was orally administered to 12-week-old rats for 21 days, and age-matched rats without the agent were used as the respective controls. Balloon catheterization in the left common carotid artery was performed on day 7, and the artery was removed on day 14 for histological analysis. Compared with the area ratios of the neointima/media in fatty rats without treatment, the ratios in fatty rats treated with candesartan at 1 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) and lean rats without treatment were significantly decreased to 65%; on the other hand, the ratios of fatty rats treated with candesartan at 10 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) and lean rats treated with 1 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) were reduced to 35%, and those of lean rats treated with 10 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) were reduced to 28%. The administration of candesartan also decreased the level of plasma glucose time- and dose-dependently in fatty rats. In an intragastric glucose load, the levels of both glucose and insulin at 30 and 60 minutes were significantly decreased when fatty rats were treated with candesartan at 10 mg. kg(-1). d(-1). In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from fatty rats, insulin-stimulated Akt (New England Biolabs) phosphorylation and 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake were inhibited to 59% and 68%, respectively, by angiotensin II, but the effects were ameliorated by the addition of 10(-7) mol/L candesartan. We conclude that candesartan could be effective for the suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell growth dose-dependently in Wistar fatty and lean rats. Furthermore, the agent could improve insulin resistance in Wistar fatty rats.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗
Abnormal uterus with polycysts, accumulation of uterine prostaglandins, and reduced fertility in mice heterozygous for acyl-CoA synthetase 4 deficiency.
Arachidonate released by various stimuli is rapidly reesterified into membrane phospholipids initiated by acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) and subsequent acyl-transfer reactions. ACS4 is an arachidonate-preferring enzyme abundant in steroidogenic tissues and postulated to modulate eicosanoid production. Female mice heterozygous for ACS4 deficiency become pregnant less frequently and produce small litters with extremely low transmission of the disrupted alleles. Striking morphological changes, including extremely enlarged uteri and lumina filled with numerous proliferative cysts of various sizes, were detected in ACS4+/- females. Furthermore, marked accumulation of prostaglandins was seen in the uterus of the heterozygous females. These results indicate that ACS4 modulates female fertility and uterine prostaglandin production.
6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
The growth inhibitory effect of conjugated linoleic acid on a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, is induced by a change in fatty acid metabolism, but not the facilitation of lipid peroxidation in the cells.
We investigated the growth inhibitory effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on HepG2 (human hepatoma cell line), exploring whether the inhibitory action occurs via lipid peroxidation in the cells. When the cells were incubated up to 72 h with 5-40 microM of CLA (a mixture of 9c,11t-18:2 and 10t,12c-18:2), cell proliferation was clearly inhibited in a dose and time dependent manner but such an inhibition was not confirmed with linoleic acid (LA). In order to evaluate the possible contribution of lipid peroxidation exerted by CLA to cell growth inhibition, alpha-tocopherol (5-20 microM) and BHT (1-10 microM) as potent antioxidants were added to the medium with CLA (20 microM), which did not restore cell growth at all. Furthermore, after 72 h incubation, the membranous phospholipid hydroperoxide formation in the CLA-supplemented cells was suppressed respectively to 25% and 50% of that in LA-supplemented cells and control cells. No difference was observed by a conventional lipid peroxide assay, the TBA test, between CLA-supplemented cells and LA-supplemented cells. Although the cellular lipid peroxidation was not stimulated, lipid contents (triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and free cholesterol) and fatty acid contents (palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid) markedly increased in CLA-supplemented cells compared with LA-supplemented and control cells. Moreover, supplementation with 20 microM LA and 20 microM arachidonic acid profoundly interfered with the inhibitory effect of CLA in HepG2. These results suggest that the growth inhibitory effect of CLA on HepG2 is due to changes in fatty acid metabolism but not to lipid peroxidation.
Antioxidants↗
Administration of heme arginate, but not hematin, caused anaphylactic shock.
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Adult↗
Globular tail of myosin-V is bound to vamp/synaptobrevin.
VAMP/synaptobrevin is one of a number of v-SNAREs involved in vesicular fusion events in neurons. In a previous report, VAMP was shown to form a complex with synaptophysin and myosin V, a motor protein based on the F-actin, and that myosin V was then released from the complex in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Here, we found that VAMP alone is bound to myosin V in a Ca(2+)-independent manner, and determined that the globular tail domain of myosin V is its binding site. The syntaxin-VAMP-myosin V formed in the presence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM). In the absence of CaM, only syntaxin-VAMP, or VAMP-myosin V complex was formed. Our results suggest that VAMP acts as a myosin V receptor on the vesicles and regulates formation of the complex.
Actins↗
A useful ELISA system for human liver-type arginase, and its utility in diagnosis of liver diseases.
OBJECTIVES: To develop a new ELISA system for liver-type arginase using monoclonal antibodies against the enzyme, and to verify the utility of the arginase in diagnosis of hepatic disorders. DESIGN AND METHODS: We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using two kinds of monoclonal antibodies (Mo6G3 and Mo9C5) for human liver-type arginase as the first and second antibodies respectively. We have also developed a new method to eliminate the influence of erythrocyte-derived arginase contamination in hemolytic samples. This ELISA was applied to specimens received from patients with acute and chronic hepatic disease and also patients who had undergone partial hepatectomy. RESULTS: This assay is sensitive and reproducible for the measurement of liver-type arginase in the sera of patients with liver dysfunction, and enabled us to detect enzyme concentrations as low as 27 pmol/L without any processing of the samples. The assay showed within-run coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 1.9 to 4.1% and between-day CV from 3.6 to 5.1% for arginase concentrations varying from 57.1 to 1200 pmol/L. The recovery was 113% (mean) with a range of 96 to 129%. These antibodies reacted strongly with both recombinant and native liver-type arginases, while, to some extent, with erythrocyte-derived arginase. Correction for erythrocyte-derived arginase contamination in hemolytic samples was, however, easily made by assaying peroxidase-like activity of hemoglobin. From the view of a limited localization of arginase in the liver, the marked increase of the enzyme in serum reflects initiation of liver injury, while the rapid decrease reflects termination of the damage. Such quick normalization in circulating liver-type arginase indicated another merit of the enzyme in diagnosis of liver diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in circulating liver-type arginase level could be helpful not only in the diagnosis of liver diseases but also subsequent treatment of the patients with liver damage.
Acute Disease↗