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Biomedical subjects

M Saito

Publications and source records attributed to M Saito.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Significance of fetal fibronectin and cytokine measurement in the cervicovaginal secretions of women at term in predicting term labor and post-term pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether fetal fibronectin (FFN) or cytokine concentrations in cervicovaginal secretions can be used to predict term labor and post-term pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: FFN and cytokines were assayed in cervicovaginal mucus from 122 pregnant women at 29-35 weeks and weekly from week 36 to parturition. RESULTS: FFN concentrations were elevated from about 3 weeks before parturition; a correlation was found between FFN levels and sampling-to-delivery intervals. Parturition was best predicted within 7 days of sampling when the FFN value was >or=50ng/ml between 36 and 41 gestational weeks. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) concentrations were elevated from 3 to 4 weeks before parturition; a correlation was found between IL-1beta levels and sampling-to-delivery intervals. Parturition was best predicted within 7 days of sampling, with an IL-1beta cut-off value of >or=100pg/ml. CONCLUSION: Term labor and post-term pregnancy can be predicted within 7 days of sampling, using FFN and IL-1beta concentrations in cervicovaginal secretions of pregnant women.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Acyclovir improves recovery rate of facial nerve palsy in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Although the antiviral agent, acyclovir, is currently employed for the treatment in Ramsay Hunt syndrome, the benefit of acyclovir on facial nerve is still unknown and remains controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of acyclovir in facial nerve recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. METHODS: To evaluate drug effect on facial nerve function, evaluation of the facial voluntary movement and nerve excitability testing were performed. We have used an infusion therapy of acyclovir in combination with a high dose of steroid (AS), which was started within 7 days of onset of facial nerve palsy in 91 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The results were compared with those of 47 patients whose therapy was steroid alone started within 7 days of onset. RESULTS: Out of 91 patients treated with AS, nerve exitability was good in 68 (75%), while it was poor in 17 and absent in six. Of 47 patients treated with steroid alone, nerve exitability was good in 25 (53%), while it was poor in 11 and absent in 11. There was statistically significant difference between AS and steroid therapy in the posttreatment degree of nerve function. Complete recovery to grade I in facial voluntary movement was attained in 82 of 91 patients (90%) in the AS therapy, while out of 47 patients treated with steroid alone complete recovery to grade I was attained in only 30 (64%). A statistically significant difference in the recovery rate of facial nerve function was induced between AS and steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: The AS therapy was proved to keep good degree of nerve function indicated with nerve excitability testing and improve recovery rate of facial nerve in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Based on this study, we now believe that the AS therapy is an advisable treatment modality to improve the recovery rate of facial nerve function in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed2001

The gene copy ratios of SMN1/SMN2 in Japanese carriers with type I spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with progressive weakness and atrophy of voluntary muscles. The survival motor neuron gene (SMN) is present in two highly homologous copies (SMN1 and SMN2) on chromosome 5q13. Homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of SMN1 is responsible for spinal muscular atrophy. In spinal muscular atrophy patients, SMN2 partially compensates for the lack of SMN1. Previously, we reported the relatively high incidence of a large deletion including the SMN1 region in Japanese spinal muscular atrophy type I patients. In order to further establish the genetic background of Japanese spinal muscular atrophy type I patients, we investigated the SMN1/SMN2 ratio in the carriers. In normal individuals, there is one copy of each gene on the chromosome (the SMN1/SMN2 ratio was 1). Among 15 carriers (14 parents and one carrier sibling of Japanese type I spinal muscular atrophy patients with homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of SMN1), we found that the SMN1/SMN2 ratio was 0.5 or 1 in 11 (73.3%) carriers. The remaining four carriers had an SMN1/SMN2 ratio of 1/3. This finding supports the idea that deletion rather than conversion is the main genetic event in type I spinal muscular atrophy. In addition, the ratio of SMN1/SMN2 among Japanese carriers, which was thought to be higher than that of the Western population, was compatible with the results obtained in Western populations. For further insight into the characteristic genetic background of spinal muscular atrophy in Japanese, determination of the gene copy number is essential.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5↗
PubMed2001

Differences in incision shape based on the keratome bevel.

PURPOSE: To evaluate differences in incision shape due to the bevel of the keratome. SETTING: Kushimoto Rehabilitation Center, Kushimoto, Japan. METHODS: Three types of keratomes (bibevel, bevel up, and bevel down) were inserted into soft polyvinyl chloride sheets and polyurethane sheets, and the incision shapes in the blade entrance and exit planes were evaluated. The experiments were repeated using soft polyvinyl chloride domes and silicone domes. RESULTS: In the experiments using artificial sheets, the incisions in the blade entrance and exit planes using the bibevel keratome had a linear shape, those using the bevel-up keratome had an inverse-V shape, and those using the bevel-down keratome had a V shape. In the experiments using artificial domes, the incision shapes were the same as those in the artificial sheets. CONCLUSIONS: The incision shape differed according to the direction of the keratome bevel. These experiments and results may provide useful data when new knives are developed or when incision shapes following intended specifications are stably made.

Cornea↗
PubMed2001

Liver gangliosides of various animals ranging from fish to mammalian species.

Liver gangliosides of different animal species were analyzed. Bony fish liver contained a major ganglioside that migrated faster than GM3 on thin-layer chromatography (TLC). This ganglioside was identified to be GM4 (NeuAc) by methods including product analysis after sialidase treatment and negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS). The presence of GM4 (NeuGc) in fish liver was also demonstrated. The main ganglioside band of bovine liver consisted of two different molecular species, i.e. GD1a (NeuAc/NeuAc) and GD1a (NeuAc/NeuGc). Major gangliosides of liver tissue exhibited a distinct phylogenetic profile; GM4 was expressed mainly in lower animals such as bony fish and frog liver, whereas mammalian liver showed ganglioside patterns with smaller proportions of monosialo ganglioside species. While c-series gangliosides were consistently expressed in lower animals, they were found only in mammalian liver of particular species. No apparent trend was observed between the concentration of liver gangliosides and the phylogenetic stage of animals. The present study demonstrates the species-specific expression of liver gangliosides.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Major and c-series gangliosides in lenticular tissues: mammals to molluscs.

Gangliosides of eye lenses were examined in mammals (rat, rabbits, pig, cow), bird (chicken), reptile (terrapin), amphibian (bullfrog), bony fish (red sea bream, bluefin tuna, bonito, Pacific mackerel) and molluscs (common squid, Pacific octopus). Besides the fact that GM3 was the common ganglioside species, the composition of major gangliosides in mammalian eye lenses significantly differed from each other. While gangliotetraose gangliosides were abundant in rat eye lens, they did not constitute major components in porcine and bovine tissues. The c-series ganglioside GT3 was expressed in rat eye lenses but were practically absent in other mammalian tissues. The composition of major gangliosides in eye lenses of lower animals varied from species to species, whereas c-series gangliosides were consistently expressed, showing similar compositional profiles. Our results demonstrate the species-specific compositions of lenticular gangliosides. Evidence was also provided suggesting that eye lenses of common squid (Todarodes pacificus) and Pacific octopus (Octopus vulgaris) express gangliosides including gangliotetraose species and c-series gangliosides.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Interaction of N1-substituted adenines with 1-methyladenine receptors of starfish oocytes in induction of maturation.

Starfish oocytes are arrested naturally in the late G(2) phase of the first meiotic division. In response to the natural maturation-inducing hormone, 1-methyladenine (1-MA), oocytes undergo reinitiation of meiosis with germinal vesicle breakdown. We tested 10 newly synthesized N1-substituted adenines that are 1-MA analogues to analyze the interaction between 1-MA and its stereo-specific receptors on the oocyte plasma membranes of the starfish Asterina pectinifera. Among these analogues, 1-(beta-naphthylmethyl)adenine, 1-aminoadenine and 1-(p-nitrobenzyl)adenine played agonistic roles in the induction of oocyte maturation. 1-(o-Nitrobenzyl)adenine, 1-(m-nitrobenzyl)adenine, 1-phenethyladenine and 1-(p-nitrophenethyl)adenine had antagonist effects on 1-MA-induced oocyte maturation. These agonists and antagonists behaved competitively in the binding of [3H]1-MA to receptors in oocyte cortices. In contrast, 1-(alpha-naphthylmethyl)adenine, 1-(2,4-dinitrobenzyl)adenine and 1-(p-methoxybenzyl)adenine had no effects on oocyte maturation. Our results suggest that regional-specific sterical structures at the N1-site of adenine are important in the interaction between 1-MA and its receptors in oocytes. In addition, a negative charge at the N1-site of adenine is required for binding with the receptors.

Adenine↗
PubMed2001

Severe impairment of anti-cancer effect of lipoteichoic acid-related molecule isolated from a penicillin-killed Streptococcus pyogenes in toll-like receptor 4-deficient mice.

A lipoteichoic acid-related molecule (OK-PSA) isolated from OK-432, a penicillin-killed Streptococcus pyogenes, is a potent inducer of Th1 cytokines, and elicits anti-cancer effect in tumor-bearing mice. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is a member of the recently identified toll-like receptor family of proteins that has been implicated in lipopolysaccharide-induced cell signaling. In the present study, we have examined the role of TLR4 for OK-PSA-induced Th1-cytokine production and anti-tumor effect by using C3H/HeJ mice in which TLR4 function is impaired. Although OK-PSA strikingly induced Th1 cytokines [interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 and IL-18] in the splenocytes derived from control animals (C3H/HeN), OK-PSA did not induce the cytokines in the splenocytes from C3H/HeJ. Furthermore, C3H/HeJ-derived splenocytes acquired the responsiveness to OK-PSA stimulation by overexpression of TLR4 gene. Finally, OK-PSA administration significantly inhibited the tumor growth and lung metastasis of syngeneic squamous cell carcinoma cells in C3H/HeN; however, no effect of OK-PSA was observed in C3H/HeJ. These findings strongly suggest that TLR4 signaling is involved in regulating OK-PSA-induced anti-cancer immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of cytokine-inducing activity in a lipoteichoic acid-related molecule isolated from a penicillin-killed group A Streptococcus and from untreated bacteria.

We previously generated a monoclonal antibody, TS-2, that neutralizes the interferon (IFN)-gamma-inducing activity of OK-432, a penicillin-killed streptococcal preparation [J. Immunother. 13 (1993) 232]. Expression of the TS-2-binding antigen was markedly higher in the cell wall of the penicillin-treated Streptococcus pyogenes (OK-432) than in the untreated bacteria (Su-BBM). We here isolated the antigens from OK-432 and Su-BBM, designated OK-PSA and Su-PSA, respectively. OK-432 markedly induced IFN-gamma and interleukin (IL)-18 as compared with Su-BBM in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Furthermore, all of the Thl-type and Th1-inducing cytokines tested [IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-12 and IL-18] were secreted by OK-PSA-stimulated PBMC far better than by Su-PSA-treated PBMC. In addition, the cytolytic activities of the PBMC were accelerated by the stimulation with OK-432 or OK-PSA far better than by the stimulation with Su-BBM or Su-PSA. These findings strongly suggested that OK-PSA is a highly important molecule of OK-432 and may be a useful immunotherapeutic agent for the patients with malignant diseases as a potent Th inducer. It was also shown that penicillin treatment effectively enhances OK-PSA-induced anti-cancer immunity.

Caspase 1↗
PubMed2001

Expression of cementum-derived attachment protein in bovine tooth germ during cementogenesis.

Cementum-derived attachment protein (CAP) is a 56 kDa collagenous protein that promotes attachment of mesenchymal cells. Previous studies have shown that the presence of CAP is restricted to cementum in adult human tissues. In this study, we report generation of a monoclonal antibody against CAP and its use for the investigation of CAP in developing bovine tooth germs. Mice were immunized with CAP purified from bovine cementum, and a monoclonal antibody, 3G9, was produced. Immunohistochemical staining of bovine tooth germ at root forming stage using 3G9 antibody showed that the tissue distribution of CAP expression was limited to cementum matrix and cementoblasts during cementogenesis. Alveolar bone did not stain with the 3G9 antibody, whereas anti-type I collagen stained positively. CAP was purified from bovine tooth germs with immunoaffinity purification using the 3G9 antibody. Examination of the immunoaffinity-purified fraction showed that CAP existed in tooth germ as a 65 kDa protein. The protein was susceptible to bacterial collagenase. To investigate the possible biological function of CAP during cementogenesis, we isolated dental follicle cells from the bovine tooth germ, and showed that they adhered to surfaces containing CAP. These data demonstrate that CAP is expressed by bovine cementoblasts as a 65 kDa protein and that the CAP may have a function in cementogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of water-soluble hemicellulose from soybean hull on serum antibody levels and activation of macrophages in rats.

Effects of soybean hull water-soluble hemicellulose (WSHC) on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration and production of NO and IL-1beta from peritoneal macrophages were examined and compared with those of Agaricus blazei in the rat system. WSHC consisted of arabinose, galactose, xylose, glucose, and rhamnose, and the molecular weight was approximately 500000. Rats were ip administrated each sample at a dose of 0.67, 13.4, or 26.9 mg/kg/day for 14 days. The administration of WSHC resulted in significantly higher productions of IgM (p < 0.01 on day 6, p < 0.05 on day 14) and IgG (p < 0.05 on day 6) than those in other groups. When peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with various concentrations of sample (0.67, 13.4, or 26.9 mg/mL), WSHC significantly increased both NO and IL-1beta productions only at the concentration of 13.4 (mg/mL) compared with those of a saline group. These findings demonstrate that WSHC enhances humoral immunity and activation of macrophages, thereby leading to the augmentation of immune responses in rats.

Agaricus↗
PubMed2001

Opposite effects of lithium on proximal and distal caspases of immature and mature primary neurons correlate with earlier paradoxical actions on viability.

To provide an explanation for earlier paradoxical findings of lithium on survival of mature and immature neurons, this study monitors changes in cytosolic caspases in rat cerebellar granule cells (CGC) grown 2-7 days in vitro (DIV), or in murine E-17 cortical neurons. Data show Li+ protects mature 7-DIV CGC parallel to a decrease in proximal and distal caspases but increases levels for immature 2-DIV-CGC or E-17 cortical neurons. Caspases mirror viability based on morphological analyses (dye uptake, phase-contrast, DNA fragmentation), and suggest protection occurs by suppressing activation of a cascade resulting in distal effectors that destroy proteins essential for neuronal survival. Protection was dose-dependent with EC50 3.0 mM and extended to 64 h in K+-serum deprived apoptotic media. Neuronal extracts contain a spectrum of proximal (-2, -8, -9) and distal (-3, -6) caspases sensitive to Li+ on assay with preferred peptide substrates and by immunoblotting. The lack of direct effect on activated cytosols indicates Li+ acts upstream only on intact cells, at sites for recruitment of pivotal procaspases. Alterations of procaspase-9 p46 and membrane-bound cytochrome c (Apaf-1) point to interaction with an intrinsic Mt-mediated pathway as one of the targets. The opposite effects on caspases and viability of immature or embryological neurons point to existence of alternative pathways that alter during neurite outgrowth suggesting the use of Li+ as a probe to unravel events relevant to neurogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Decreased plasma activity of antithrombin or protein C is not due to consumption coagulopathy in septic patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation.

We investigated whether depressed plasma antithrombin and protein C activity, considered as a specific finding of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), is due to consumption coagulopathy in septic patients with DIC. An analysis of hemostatic parameters was performed in 139 septic patients (68 with DIC and 71 without DIC). Plasma activity of antithrombin and protein C tended to be significantly decreased in septic patients with DIC but not in those without DIC (p < 0.001). However, when the septic patients were classified into three groups according to the albumin (or choline esterase) level, no significant differences in antithrombin activity or protein C activity were observed between the patients with and without DIC in any of the subgroups. Notably, neither the plasma activity of antithrombin nor protein C was decreased even in septic patients with DIC who had normal plasma levels of albumin (or choline esterase). No significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and antithrombin activity, or between plasma levels of TAT and protein C activity either in septic patients with DIC or without DIC. It is reasonable to conclude that the markedly reduced plasma activity of antithrombin and protein C is not due to consumption coagulopathy in septic patients with DIC.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Diphtheria toxin receptor-mediated conditional and targeted cell ablation in transgenic mice.

Specific cell ablation is a useful method for analyzing the in vivo function of cells. We have developed a simple and sensitive method for conditional cell ablation in transgenic mice, called "toxin receptor-mediated cell knockout." We expressed the diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor in transgenic mice using a hepatocyte-specific promoter and found that injection of DT caused fulminant hepatitis. Three independently established transgenic lines demonstrated a good correlation between the sensitivity of hepatocytes to DT and the expression level of the DT receptors. Moreover, the degree of hepatocyte damage was easily controlled over a wide range of doses of injected DT without any obvious abnormalities in other cells or tissues. This system is useful for generating mouse models of disease and for studying the recovery or regeneration of tissues from cell damage or loss. As DT is a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis in both growing and non-growing cells, the method is applicable to a wide range of cells and tissues in mice or in other DT-insensitive animals.

Albumins↗
PubMed2001

Efficacy of triple therapy with rabeprazole for Helicobacter pylori infection and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Rabeprazole is a new, potent, proton pump inhibitor. The metabolism of rabeprazole is less dependent on CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism. METHODS: A total of 102 Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcer were randomly allocated to three groups: rabeprazole 10 mg (RAC10), rabeprazole 20 mg (RAC20) or rabeprazole 40 mg (RAC40) plus amoxicillin 750 mg and clarithromycin 200 mg twice daily for 7 days. CYP2C19 genotype was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: All-patients-treated-based eradication rates in patients treated with RAC10, RAC20 and RAC40 were 83%, 77% and 90%, respectively, and per protocol-based eradication rates were 83%, 80% and 90%, respectively. The eradication rates in the three groups were not significantly different. There was also no significant difference between the all-patients-treated-based eradication rate in CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers and that in poor metabolizers (86% vs. 77%). Adverse events were 12% in extensive metabolizers and 23% in poor metabolizers, and the difference in these incidence rates was also not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Triple therapy with 10 mg of rabeprazole combined with amoxicillin/clarithromycin is effective for Japanese patients with H. pylori infection, and the H. pylori eradication rate is not affected by CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed2001

Complete primary structure of rainbow trout type I collagen consisting of alpha1(I)alpha2(I)alpha3(I) heterotrimers.

The subunit compositions of skin and muscle type I collagens from rainbow trout were found to be alpha1(I)alpha2(I)alpha3(I) and [alpha1(I)](2)alpha2(I), respectively. The occurrence of alpha3(I) has been observed only for bonyfish. The skin collagen exhibited more susceptibility to both heat denaturation and MMP-13 digestion than the muscle counterpart; the former had a lower denaturation temperature by about 0.5 degrees C than the latter. The lower stability of skin collagen, however, is not due to the low levels of imino acids because the contents of Pro and Hyp were almost constant in both collagens. On the other hand, some cDNAs coding for the N-terminal and/or a part of triple-helical domains of proalpha(I) chains were cloned from the cDNA library of rainbow trout fibroblasts. These cDNAs together with the previously cloned collagen cDNAs gave information about the complete primary structure of type I procollagen. The main triple-helical domain of each proalpha(I) chain had 338 uninterrupted Gly-X-Y triplets consisting of 1014 amino acids and was unique in its high content of Gly-Gly doublets. In particular, the bonyfish-specific alpha(I) chain, proalpha3(I) was characterized by the small number of Gly-Pro-Pro triplets, 19, and the large number of Gly-Gly doublets, 38, in the triple-helical domain, compared to 23 and 22, respectively, for proalpha1(I). The small number of Gly-Pro-Pro and the large number of Gly-Gly in proalpha3(I) was assumed to partially loosen the triple-helical structure of skin collagen, leading to the lower stability of skin collagen mentioned above. Finally, phylogenetic analyses revealed that proalpha3(I) had diverged from proalpha1(I). This study is the first report of the complete primary structure of fish type I procollagen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Developmental changes in the biochemical and functional properties of endothelin receptors in rabbit renal pelvis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of age on the biochemical and functional properties, and regional distribution of endothelin (ET) receptors in the rabbit renal pelvis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The properties of ET receptors in 6-week-old and 6-month-old male rabbit renal pelves were examined using isolated muscle-bath and radioligand receptor-binding techniques. RESULTS: ET-1 caused a significant increase in the contractile force in muscle strips from all regions of the renal pelvis from both age groups, with the following rank order: upper=middle>lower. The magnitude of the ET-1-induced contractile responses were similar in the lower pelvic regions in both ages, but the responses in the upper and middle regions were significantly greater in younger rabbits. ET-1 increased the frequency of spontaneous activity in a concentration-dependent manner in the upper and middle pelvic regions in both age groups, with significantly smaller ED50 values in the younger than in the older rabbits. In both age groups the lower pelvic region lacked spontaneous activity. The density of total ET receptors was higher in the upper and middle regions of the renal pelvis than in the lower renal pelvis of both ages, with the density in the upper and middle regions being greater in older than in younger rabbits. In all regions, ET subtype selective compounds inhibited [125I]ET-1, binding consistent with the predominance of the ETA receptor subtype, except in the lower region of the older rabbits, in which the densities of ETA and ETB subtypes were similar. In all regions, the younger renal pelvis contained a higher proportion of ETA receptors than in older tissues. Light microscopic autoradiographic data indicated the presence of ETA and ETB receptors in smooth muscle and epithelial cells, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data indicate the presence of regional differences in the density of ET receptors and in the contractile responses to ET-1 in rabbit renal pelvis, and that although older rabbit renal pelvis contains more total ET receptors than younger renal pelvis, the latter had a higher portion of the ETA receptor subtype and the younger tissues were more responsive to ET-1.

Aging↗