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Biomedical subjects

M Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to M Kubo.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Importance of lipoprotein(a) in patients with ischemic heart disease].

Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have been associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), and higher levels of Lp(a) are associated with lesions of significantly greater severity. We have examined Lp(a), total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in patients with IHD including those with normal coronary arteries with vasospastic angina. The study population consisted of 206 patients (166 males and 40 females) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography for known IHD. Twenty-eight patients had effort angina, 36 rest angina, 8 unstable angina and 134 old myocardial infarction. IHD patients were categorized as zero vessel disease (0VD), single vessel disease (SVD) and multi-vessel disease (MVD). To investigate the relationship between atherosclerosis and IHD, these patients were further divided into 3 groups based on angiographic findings. Eighteen patients had entirely normal coronary arteries (normal group), 24 discretely diseased coronary arteries (discrete group) and 80 diffusely diseased coronaries (diffuse group). The results were compared with those obtained from 50 healthy individuals. Lp(a) levels for IHD patients (12.4 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those of controls (7.1 mg/dl, p < 0.05). However, there were no statistical differences between 0VD (13.1 mg/dl) and MVD (12.8 mg/dl). Similarly, no statistical differences of Lp(a) values were found among the normal group (13.3 mg/dl), discrete group (12.0 mg/dl) and diffuse group (12.9 mg/dl). Mean levels of HDL-C in 0VD (51.3 +/- 13.5 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those of SVD (42.9 +/- 11.5 mg/dl, p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between controls (59.5 +/- 15.3 mg/dl) and 0VD (51.3 +/- 13.5 mg/dl).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Abnormalities in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram in Ebstein's anomaly].

Abnormalities in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) of patients with Ebstein's anomaly were studied. A SAECG was obtained in 4 patients with Ebstein's anomaly, aged 3 to 25 years. The control groups included 8 patients with atrial septal defect (ASD group), 10 with right bundle branch block (RBBB group), 8 with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (WPW group), and 40 normal subjects (Normal group). The SAECG was calculated by the vector-magnitude method using the VCM-3000. The root-mean-square during the initial 20 msec of the filtered QRS (i-RMS) was very small in 2 older patients with Ebstein's anomaly compared to the ASD group, the RBBB group and the Normal group, and was as small as that in the WPW group. This probably was affected by the delta wave associated with Ebstein's anomaly or concealed accessory pathway. The root-mean-square during the terminal 40 msec of the filtered QRS (t-RMS) was small in the patients with Ebstein's anomaly and the RBBB group. Two patients with Ebstein's anomaly had a smaller t-RMS than the RBBB group, suggesting pathological changes of an atrialized right ventricle. In conclusion, SAECG is useful for evaluating patients with Ebstein's anomaly, especially older patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Influence of the 70% methanolic extract from red ginseng on the lysosome of tumor cells and on the cytocidal effect of mitomycin C.

The influence of the 70% methanolic extract (RMe) from Red Ginseng on the lysosome of tumor cells and on the cytocidal effect of mitomycin C (MMC) was investigated. RMe treatment showed an inhibitory effect on the solid form of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma but had no effect on the ascites form. MMC combined with RMe showed stronger antitumor effects, at the same time, the activity of lysosomal enzymes in tumor cells was also increased in comparison with that treated with MMC alone. Furthermore, RMe promoted the uptake of MMC into the tumor cells and enhanced in vitro the cytotoxicity of MMC against the cultured tumor cells. From these results it was concluded that RMe labilized the lysosomes of tumor cells in vivo, and increased the uptake of MMC into the tumor cells, and that the cytocidal effect of MMC was enhanced by concomitant treatment with RMe.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester on plasma lipoproteins in primary hypercholesterolemia.

We investigated the effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl ester capsules (90% purity), which are free from cholesterol, saturated fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on plasma lipoproteins and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity. We administered 2.7 g of EPA per day as capsules for 6 months to 14 primary hypercholesterolemic subjects. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels in plasma were significantly reduced. The LDL cholesterol/apoB ratio and LDL particle size did not change. The ratio of high density lipoprotein (HDL)2/HDL3 cholesterol increased from 1.04 to 1.35 (p < 0.05), while the HDL cholesterol level did not change. CETP activity was significantly reduced. The reduction of CETP activity may explain the increase in the HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio. These results suggest that purified EPA not only reduces LDL cholesterol levels but also acts on HDL metabolism in patients with hypercholesterolemia and therefore will be useful for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The relation between saccadic eye movements and electrooculogram during light and dark adaptations].

The relation between the amplitudes of saccadic eye movements and the resting potential changes detected around human eyeballs under light and dark adaptations was clarified by means of simultaneous measurements of electrooculogram (EOG) and eye movements. The authors previously reported that the potential changes are proportional to the horizontal saccadic eye movements within +/- 15 degrees (visual angle) under conditions of the room light of approximately 60 lux. There are few reliable data indicative of the presence of the above relations under light and dark adaptations. The result of the simultaneous measurements of EOG and eye movements during the light and dark adaptation at 2-minute intervals in 9 normal subjects showed that the resting potential changes were in direct proportion of the amplitudes of the saccadic eye movements at any time within +/- 20 degrees. In these experiments, the eye positions were monitored with the eye mark recorder during the eye movements. In case the eye positions excursioned from a target, the exact EOG was calculated by measuring eye positions and correcting the EOG errors.

Adaptation, Ocular↗
PubMed1992

Jejunal varices as a cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding.

Jejunal varices are not a common manifestation of portal hypertension. This report describes a 46-yr-old man with recurrent massive gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal varices arising in an area of adhesions between the intestine and the omentum. The bleeding site was identified by exploratory laparotomy. Medical therapy, including vasopressin infusion via the superior mesenteric artery, was of limited success for controlling acute variceal bleeding. However, jejunal resection and anastomosis resulted in complete resolution of the bleeding, and the patient has experienced no recurrent bleeding over a 3-yr follow-up period. A review of the literature shows that this syndrome is characterized by portal hypertension, generally due to liver cirrhosis; frequently, there is a history of abdominal surgery, and the syndrome presents with hematochezia but without hematemesis. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. We propose that bleeding from jejunal varices, though uncommon, should be considered under such clinical conditions.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical study of systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (Still)].

Thirty-seven patients with systemic JRA were analyzed. Fifty four per cent of patients had mono-cyclic systemic type. Age at onset ranged from 6.0-6.8 years (median 6.4). Boys were more affected than girls (24/11). Cardiac involvement occurred in 10 patients (27%). Patients with cardiac troubles showed significantly much number of the white blood cell counts at admission and the max white blood cell count than those without cardiac troubles. Duration of positive CRP was shorter in patients with cardiac involvement who were all given cortico-steroid hormone those without cardiac involvement. This means that it is better to use steroid hormone early for patients with cardiac involvement. Patients with chronic arthritis type had higher elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C3 level at admission and longer duration of positive CRP. We speculated that these date showed inflammation of joints. The onset subtype, which was determined by manifestations during the first 6 months of disease, was important for predicting clinical course and outcome.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1992

Effects of the new angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitor imidapril on the responses of isolated vascular preparations to various agonists.

Effects of imidapril hydrochloride ((-)-(4S)-3-[(2S)-2-[[(1S)-1- ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl]amino]propionyl]-1-methyl-2- oxoimidazolidine-4-carboxylic acid hydrochloride, imidapril, TA-6366, CAS 89396-94-1), a new prodrug type angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, and 6366 A (CAS 89371-44-8), an active metabolite of imidapril, on isolated vascular preparations were studied. 6366 A inhibited angiotensin I (AT-I)-induced contraction of the rabbit thoracic aorta at 3 x 10(-10) mol/l or more and augmented bradykinin (BK)-induced relaxation of the dog renal artery precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha PGF2 alpha at 10(-9) mol/l or more, whereas imidapril at 10(-7) mol/l did not affect these responses. However, 6366 A, like imidapril, had no effect on angiotensin II (AT-II), norepinephrine, serotonin-, KCl- and PGF2 alpha-induced contractions. The inhibitory effect of 6366 A on AT-I-induced contraction was attenuated by denudation of the endothelium, but it was still maintained even after washing out the aorta that had been previously exposed to the medium containing 6366 A. This suggests that 6366 A persistently inhibits the angiotensin I converting enzyme located preferentially in the endothelium. Therefore, the antihypertensive action of imidapril is mainly attributable to the vasodilation through the inhibitory effects of 6366 A on AT-II synthesis and BK degradation in the vasculature.

Angiotensin I↗
PubMed1991

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA and genomic DNA for the human cone transducin alpha subunit.

A novel GTP binding protein (G protein) alpha subunit cDNA was isolated from a T cell leukemia cell line, Jurkat, utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The predicted amino acid sequence of this G protein alpha subunit showed the highest identity (96.6%) to bovine cone cell-specific transducin (Tc alpha). The organization of the coding region of this G protein alpha subunit gene was composed of 8 exons and 7 introns. Northern hybridization revealed the presence of this G protein message in a retinoblastoma cell line, Y79. In Jurkat, however, the message was detectable only by reverse transcription/PCR. Taken together, this novel G protein alpha subunit must be human Tc.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

CD34 antigen expression in children with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

One characteristic of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph')-positive acute leukemia is the occasional presence of both lymphoid and myeloid features in the same leukemia. This phenomenon supports the theory that this subtype of acute leukemia arises from lymphoid-myeloid stem cell, pluripotent progenitors. Very few reports, however, describe the immunophenotype, especially CD34 antigen, of Ph'-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It has been shown that CD34, the human progenitor cell antigen, is found on 1% or less of normal human bone marrow cells, approximately 30% of acute leukemias, and multipotent progenitor cells; CD34 is not found on normal peripheral blood cells. A high frequency of CD34 expression was found in children with Ph'-positive ALL: CD34 was positive for all six patients tested, and one had an acute mixed-lineage leukemia. These findings suggest the involvement of a pluripotent stem cell in Ph'-positive ALL.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1991

Highly sensitive method for the determination of 5-fluorouracil in biological samples in the presence of 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A highly sensitive and convenient gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method is described for the determination of 5-fluorouracil in the presence of 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (which breaks down into 5-fluorouracil during ordinary GC derivatization) in biological samples such as plasma and urine. After extraction with ethyl acetate, 5-fluorouracil and 5-chlorouracil, the latter being used as an internal standard, were converted into their tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives by allowing the mixture to stand for 30 min at room temperature and were assayed by electron-impact ionization GC-MS. Under these conditions, 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine did not decompose or interfere with the determination of 5-fluorouracil. The assay method, including the extraction and tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatization of 5-fluorouracil, showed good linearity in the range 0-100 ng/ml for 5-fluorouracil in plasma (detection limit 0.5 ng/ml) and urine (detection limit 1 ng/ml). The usefulness of this method was demonstrated by determining plasma concentrations of 5-fluorouracil in rats treated intravenously with 5-fluorouracil and 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1991

Promoter sequence analysis in Bacillus and Escherichia: construction of strong promoters in E. coli.

Many derivatives of the nprM promoter of Bacillus stearothermophilus and the strong early promoter, A3, of coliphage T3 were designed and chemically synthesized. These promoters consisted of some or all of the AT box, consensus sequence, tac promoter sequence, spacer, and lac operator. The promoter activities were assessed by their ability to express the cat gene in Escherichia coli. One of the derivatives of the A3 promoter, which contained the lac operator, was much stronger (about 3.5 times) than the tac promoter. The promoter activities in E. coli were considerably modified by the substitutions in the -43 (AT box) and -35 regions.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Combined treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid and pravastatin improves plasma cholestanol levels associated with marked regression of tendon xanthomas in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.

We studied the effect of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and a competitive HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, pravastatin, on clinical symptoms and sterol metabolism in a 36-year-old Japanese man with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX). He had marked tendon xanthomas and mild dementia, with obvious electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities. He was treated for 2 years with CDCA alone (0.6 g/d) and then for a further year with the combination of pravastatin (10 mg/d) and CDCA (0.6 g/d). For the following year, he was given pravastatin alone, and then was returned to combined treatment again. The plasma cholestanol level before treatment was 3.12 mg/dL, which was 20 times above the control level. After CDCA alone, the plasma cholestanol was reduced to 1.96 mg/dL, and this was further reduced to 0.92 mg/dL by combination therapy with CDCA and pravastatin. However, after the discontinuation of CDCA, his cholestanol levels returned to the pretreatment levels despite the continuing of pravastatin treatment. When the combination therapy was restarted, his cholestanol level was once again markedly reduced. His clinical symptoms showed a close association with the plasma cholestanol level; the xanthomas regressed remarkably and the mental retardation improved in association with normalization of EEG findings during treatment with CDCA alone or in combination with pravastatin. However, during treatment with pravastatin alone, his tendon xanthomas enlarged again and slow waves reappeared on the EEG. Because inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by treatment with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor alone was not effective in causing a reduction of cholestanol, the increase in plasma cholestanol levels in CTX may not have been solely due to increased cholesterol synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Clinical and histological study of patellar chondropathy in adolescents.

An arthroscopic and histological investigation of patellar chondropathy in adolescents was performed in 98 knees of 83 patients who were classified into three clinical types of patellofemoral disorder. These were the anterior knee pain syndrome, idiopathic chondropathy, and unstable patella. Histological findings suggested little evidence of progression to high-grade chondropathy in the patients with anterior knee pain syndrome, and this may account for the resolution of clinical symptoms in this group. Even in patients with high-grade lesions in the idiopathic chondropathy and unstable patella groups, histological observations indicated that these lesions could heal either by intrinsic (fibrous metaplasia of chondrocytes and regeneration of matrix) or extrinsic repair. Chondropathy in adolescents may be similar to the early changes of osteoarthritis of the knee. However, chondropathy shows far more potential for repair by the synovium and/or the cartilage itself than does osteoarthritis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Anti-hepatitic activity of ginesenoside ro1.

Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanane-type saponin has been screened for activity in experimental models of acute and chronic hepatitis. Ginsenoside Ro (50 and 200 mg/kg, P.O.) inhibited the increase of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (s-GOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (s-GPT) levels in D-galactosamine (GalN)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl (4))-induced acute hepatitic rats. Ginsenoside Ro inhibited the increase of connective tissue in the liver of CCl (4)-induced chronic hepatitic rats. Ginsenoside Ro showed a stronger inhibitory effect on the GalN-induced acute hepatitic model than those of the aglycone of ginsenoside Ro, oleanolic acid, or glycyrrhizic acid and its aglycone, glycyrrhetinic acid.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of human hst expression by an enhancer element residing in the third exon.

The hst gene is exclusively expressed in undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cell lines and at a limited stage of embryonal development. Two DNase I-hypersensitive sites were mapped in the 3' region (approximately 3.5 and 4.5 kb downstream of the translational initiation site) of the human hst gene, irrespective of the presence or absence of hst mRNA in the cells. A DNA fragment containing one of these DNase I-hypersensitive sites (at around 3.5 kb relative to the translational initiation site) showed enhancer activity when tested by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay. These results strongly suggest that an enhancer element(s) exists in the third exon of the hst and that the expression of the hst may be regulated by the presence or absence of a putative protein factor(s) which binds to the enhancer.

3T3 Cells↗