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Biomedical subjects

M Kawano

Publications and source records attributed to M Kawano.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

In vitro study of the effect of raloxifene on lipid metabolism compared with tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVE: Tamoxifen and raloxifene, selective estrogen receptor modulators, decrease serum concentrations of total cholesterol; however, the effect of these drugs on triglyceride metabolism is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of raloxifene on lipid metabolism and compared it with that of tamoxifen. DESIGN AND METHODS: Intracellular concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in HepG2 cells were measured by an enzymatic method after tamoxifen or raloxifene treatment with or without oleic acid and with or without very low density lipoprotein. RESULTS: Intracellular concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride without oleic acid or very low density lipoprotein were not significantly different after treatment with tamoxifen or raloxifene. In contrast, although raloxifene with oleic acid did not increase the intracellular concentrations of triglyceride, tamoxifen treatment in the presence of oleic acid or very low density lipoprotein significantly increased (P<0.05) the triglyceride concentrations. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that raloxifene does not increase intracellular triglyceride in the presence of oleic acid or very low density lipoprotein, in contrast to tamoxifen. Therefore, raloxifene might be safer than tamoxifen for treating patients with unstable triglyceride levels or a history of hypertriglyceridemia.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMed2000

[Diabetes mellitus].

The thiazolidinedione compound is known as an insulin-sensitizing agent and is considered a very promising drug, because insulin resistance is a major component of type 2 diabetes. Many reports have demonstrated that the thiazolidinedione has the good hypoglycemic effect in monotherapy and in combination therapy with sulfonylureas, metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, or insulin. Furthermore, the thiazolidinedione has additional beneficial effects on serum lipids, arterial blood pressure, coagulation-fibrinolysis system, arterial wall cell function. These favorable effects suggest the thiazolidinedione may have inhibitory actions on both macroangiopathy and microangiopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, some patients treated with troglitazone, the first available thiazolidinedione, have suffered from liver dysfunction; in some cases, patients have progressed to hepatic failure and death unfortunately. As the thiazolidinediones are clearly excellent drugs to diabetics with insulin resistance, we should check hepatic function and monitor symptomes of hepatic damage.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed2000

[Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in soils in Poland].

The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides such as DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, HCBz and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 59 soil samples collected in Poland in 1990-1994 to understand the scale of contamination, spatial distribution and sources of these compounds. Identification and quantification of organochlorines were carried out using HRGC-ECD (63Ni) and HRGC-LRMS. All soil samples were contaminated by DDTs, PCBs and HCHs, while HCBz and CHLs were absent in a few samples. DDTs dominated as organochlorine residues in Polish soil and on the concentration of other insecticides was two orders of magnitude lower. Percentage composition of DDTs (about 60% of p,p'-DDT) indicates a very slow metabolism of DDT in Polish soils. Spatial distribution of HCHs in Poland is similar to distribution of DDTs, while HCBz and CHLs are rather evenly distributed. PCBs concentrations in soil of the Former Soviet Union Army Base are 10 times higher then in urban soils, and 100 times higher then in cultivated and forests soils.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Complement regulatory proteins and autoimmunity.

To discriminate self from non-self is an essential issue in the immune system. Autologous cells are protected against complement-mediated cell injury by the self-recognition mechanism using complement regulatory proteins composed of complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35), membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46), decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and homologous restriction factor (protectin, CD59). Recently, the up-regulation of these molecules has been widely shown in inflammatory tissues and organs affected by autoimmune diseases, and in vitro assays have revealed that immune complexes or several cytokines, including interferongamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1beta and transforming growth factor beta, can up-regulate these molecules. In contrast, it has been found that expression of these complement regulatory proteins is markedly decreased on autologous cells undergoing apoptosis. These findings suggest that complement regulatory proteins have dual roles at inflammatory sites: enhancement of cellular resistance to complement attack and acceleration of the clearance of cells injurious to the organism due to complement-mediated mechanisms. To assist the former function, a therapeutic approach using recombinant soluble complement regulatory proteins may provide a promising strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2000

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones using the Dornier Lithotripter Compact: an experience in Japan.

Between May 1997 and February 1998, 40 cases of renal stones and 40 cases of ureteral stones in 60 males and 20 females were treated with the Dornier Lithotripter Compact. The size of the stones ranged from 5 mm to 80 mm. Three patients required epidural anesthesia and 4 patients required a ureteral stent. Fragmentation of the stones was observed in all patients. After 1 month, the efficacy and stone free rates were 91% and 54%, respectively. After 3 months, they were 91% and 68%, respectively. There were no serious side effects such as pyelonephritis, perirenal hematomas, and massive hematuria. In conclusion, the Dornier Lithotripter Compact proved to be a safe and highly effective lithotripter for the treatment of renal and ureteral stones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Enterococcus hirae vacuolar ATPase is expressed in response to pH as well as sodium.

The Enterococcus hirae ntp operon encodes both a vacuolar ATPase, which transports Na+ as well as Li+, and the KtrII K+ transporter. A plasmid, in which the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (CAT) was placed downstream of the ntp promoter, was introduced into a mutant totally defective in Na+ extrusion. The CAT activity of this transformant was increased preferentially by addition of NaCl, but not by LiCl, in the media or by elevating the medium pH, correlating well with the increase in amounts of the ATPase subunits observed by Western blotting. The physiological significance of these responses of the ntp promoter is discussed.

Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase↗
PubMed1999

Suppression of FRP-1/CD98-mediated multinucleated giant cell and osteoclast formation by an anti-FRP-1/CD98 mAb, HBJ 127, that inhibits c-src expression.

When anti-CD98 mAb 6-1-13, 4-5-1, or 38-2-2 was added to the culture fluids of monocytes, extensive cell aggregation and polykaryocyte formation were induced. These multinucleated giant cells were tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive. On the other hand, when monocytes were incubated with another anti-CD98 mAb, HBJ 127, polykaryocyte formation was not detected, although extensive cell aggregation was induced. When HBJ 127 and 6-1-13 were simultaneously added to the culture fluids, anti-CD98 mAb-induced cell fusion was inhibited almost completely. HBJ 127 suppressed formation of 6-1-13-induced cell fusion in a dose-dependent manner. If, however, HBJ 127 was added after incubation of monocytes with mAb 6-1-13 for 6 h, an appreciable degree of TRAP-positive polykaryocyte formation was found. The bindings of 6-1-13 and HBJ 127 were not mutually competed. When monocytes were incubated with 6-1-13 or HBJ 127, 6-1-13 induced c-src mRNA, while HBJ 127 did not. Furthermore, when monocytes were incubated with both 6-1-13 and HBJ 127, c-src mRNA could not be detected, showing that HBJ 127 suppresses c-src expression. Therefore, CD98-mediated osteoclast formation can be regulated by modification of CD98 system.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Cutting edge: primary structure of the light chain of fusion regulatory protein-1/CD98/4F2 predicts a protein with multiple transmembrane domains that is almost identical to the amino acid transporter E16.

The CD98 light chain (CD98LC) was copurified from HeLa S3 cells by an affinity chromatography using a mAb specific for the fusion regulatory protein-1 (FRP-1) which is identical to the CD98 heavy chain. On the basis of the N-terminal sequence (63 amino acids) of purified CD98LC polypeptide, we have cloned a PCR fragment (155 bp) from a HeLa S3 cDNA library and finally obtained a full cDNA clone encoding the CD98LC. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using the cDNA assigned the CD98LC gene to the long arm of human chromosome 16 (16q24). The predicted amino acid sequence suggested that CD98LC is a protein with multiple transmembrane domains and is almost identical to the amino acid transporter E16. Resting monocytes and lymphocytes expressed CD98LC as analyzed by a newly isolated anti-CD98LC mAb, which showed cross-reactivity with insect Sf9 cells as well as with various mammalian cell lines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Isolation of monoclonal antibodies directed against the V protein of human parainfluenza virus type 2 and localization of the V protein in virus-infected cells.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the human parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV-2) V protein were obtained by immunizing mice with the V protein recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli. Both mAbs were found to react with the V protein in ELISA and in Western blot analysis. Using these mAbs and previously obtained mAbs specific for hPIV-2 nucleoprotein (NP) or hPIV-2 phospho-(P) protein, we examined the intracellular distributions of the V, P and NP proteins in hPIV-2-infected cells by indirect immunofluorescence analyses. The P and NP proteins were organized in numerous granules in the cytoplasm of hPIV-2 infected cells. In contrast, the V protein showed diffuse nuclear and cytoplasm distributions.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Cochlear implant in patients with residual hearing.

OBJECTIVE: The postoperative speech perception abilities of severely hearing-impaired patients with multi-channel cochlear implant were compared with preoperative speech perception performance with conventional hearing aids. METHODS: Cochlear implantation was performed in six severely to profoundly hearing-impaired patients. They had unaided pure-tone thresholds of 70-100-dB HL and aided thresholds of 35-90-dB HL in the better ear, but were not able to perceive speech sounds well with hearing aids. RESULTS: Postoperatively, all the patients had significantly improved speech perception performance, exceeded the average skills of profoundly deaf cochlear implant users, and were able to communicate without writing. CONCLUSION: These results imply that cochlear implant may be indicated for severely to profoundly deaf subjects, if they receive little or no benefit from conventional hearing aids.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

In vitro digestibility and fermentability of levan and its hypocholesterolemic effects in rats.

This study describes the in vitro digestibility and fermentability of high molecular weight (ca. 2,000,000) levan and its effect on the metabolism of lipids in growing rats fed cholesterol-free diets. Levan was synthesized from sucrose using bacterial levansucrase immobilized on a honeycomb-shaped ceramic support. Although body weight gain, weight of visceral organs, morphologic changes in the digestive tract, and the serum triacylglycerol and glucose concentrations were not affected by feeding levan diets for 4 weeks, a significant hypocholesterolemic effect was observed. Serum cholesterol level was decreased to 83% or 59% by feeding a 1% or 5% levan diet, respectively. The hypocholesterolemic effect was accompanied by a significant increase in fecal excretion of sterols and lipids. High molecular weight levan, though not hydrolyzed by the salivary amylases, was hydrolyzed by artificial gastric juice and was changed to a low molecular weight (ca. 4,000) levan with a small amount of fructose, but did not produce any fructooligosaccharides. Low molecular weight (ca. 6,000) levan was not hydrolyzed by either pancreatic juice or small intestinal enzymes. This suggests that, in vivo, low molecular weight levan derived from the high molecular weight material is not further digested and reaches the colon intact. The fermentation of low molecular weight levan (ca. 6,000) by several strains of bifidobacteria was not observed. These results showed that the hypocholesterolemic effect of levan may result from the prevention of intestinal sterol absorption, and not from the action of the fermentation products of levan.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Gene expression during osteoclast-like cell formation induced by antifusion regulatory protein-1/CD98/4F2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs): c-src is selectively induced by anti-FRP-1 MAb.

Human blood monocytes can differentiate into osteoclast-like cells when they are cultured in the presence of anti-FRP-1. Messenger (mRNA) expression of markers related to osteoclasts was analyzed during differentiation of osteoclasts from monocytes. As markers related to osteoclasts, we selected cathepsin-K, carbonic anhydrase (CA) II, vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (v-ATPase), vitronectin receptor (VNR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteopontin (OPN), galectin-3, c-src, c-fos, and c-fms. The mRNAs other than c-src mRNA were expressed in freshly isolated monocytes or monocytes incubated with control antibody or anti-FRP-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) for 14 days. Of these mRNAs, cathepsin-K, CA II, v-ATPase, VNR, TRAP, OPN, and c-fms mRNAs were expressed at higher levels in the osteoclast-like cells than those in monocytes cultured with control antibody. On the other hand, galectin-3 mRNA was expressed at lower levels in the osteoclast-like cells, and there was no significant difference in c-fos mRNA expression between the monocytes cultured with control antibody and anti-FRP-1 MAb. c-src mRNA could not be detected in monocytes freshly isolated or incubated with control antibody. Surprisingly, expression of c-src mRNA was induced in monocytes by anti-FRP-1 MAb and was detectable as early as 3 h after anti-FRP-1 MAb treatment, indicating that c-src is selectively induced by anti-FRP-1 MAb treatment. Furthermore, the osteoclast-like cells expressed calcitonin receptor. Receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK) mRNA was detectable in freshly isolated monocytes or monocytes cultured with control antibody or anti-FRP-1 MAbs. Maximal expression of RANK was observed in osteoclast-like cells. On the other hand, no receptor activator of NF-KB ligand (RANKL) mRNA was detectable in any of the samples, suggesting that anti-FRP-1 mAb can induce osteoclast-like cells from blood monocytes without RANKL.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Elevated serum levels of soluble membrane cofactor protein (CD46, MCP) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46) is a cell surface complement regulatory protein which acts as a cofactor for the factor I-mediated cleavage of the activated complement components C3b/C4b. To evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum soluble CD46 as a marker of disease activity in patients with SLE, serum levels of sCD46 were measured by ELISA, using two MoAbs (M160 and M177), each of which recognized two different epitopes on CD46 molecule in SLE, other autoimmune diseases and healthy controls. Serum sCD46 levels in active SLE patients (30.5 +/- 14.1 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those of inactive SLE (5.8 +/- 7.1 ng/ml; P = 0.0003), rheumatoid arthritis (14.9 +/- 11.6 ng/ml; P = 0.0218), primary Sjögren's syndrome (12.3 +/- 11.6 ng/ml; P = 0.0039) and normal controls (7.3 +/- 3.6 ng/ml; P = 0.0005). The elevated serum sCD46 levels in active SLE patients significantly decreased from 30.5 +/- 14.1 ng/ml to 8.0 +/- 6.3 ng/ml after effective corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy (P = 0.018). Additionally, we found a significant negative association between increasing concentration of sCD46 and decreasing levels of CH50 in SLE (r = -0.598, P = 0.0009). These results suggest that sCD46 reflects in vivo activation of complement system and provides an additional useful serum parameter of active SLE.

Adolescent↗