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Biomedical subjects

M Shimoda

Publications and source records attributed to M Shimoda.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Binding characteristics of folate to high affinity folate binding protein purified from porcine serum.

High affinity folate binding protein (HFBP) in porcine serum was purified 2,000-fold to a specific activity of 1.4 nmol of tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) bound per mg of protein, using folic acid (FA) coupled EAH-Sepharose gel affinity chromatography. Binding activity of purified HFBP to folate was examined by ultrafiltration method linked to high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection or to liquid scintillation counting. Binding affinity of HFBP to folate was characterized by dissociation constants (Kd): 13, 17, and 31 pM for tritiated FA (3HFA), THF, and N5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5MF), respectively. FA, THF, and 5MF significantly inhibited binding of HFBP to 3HFA, and according to the magnitude of intensity of the binding inhibition, the order of affinity of each folate was confirmed to be FA > THF > 5MF. Binding activity was rather high and stable for THF and 5MF at pH ranging from 6.0 to 10.0. The binding activity, however, rapidly decreased at pH below 6.0 and over 10.0. No binding activity was observed pH below 3.0 and over 12. Gel filtration analysis showed that the prepared HFBP solution had specific binding activity at around 77 kDa of apparent molecular weight, which was 82 kDa by SDS-PAGE. It is considered that this specific and stable binding enables THF to distribute in porcine plasma.

Animals↗

Results of early surgical evacuation of packed intraventricular hemorrhage from aneurysm rupture in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of early surgical evacuation of "packed" intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: The authors performed surgery within 24 hours after onset of SAH, identified on neuroimaging as a cast distending the ventricular system, in 74 patients with poor-grade SAH (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Grades IV and V) without intracerebral hemorrhage. Eighteen of these patients had packed IVH; in these patients the intraventricular clots were extensively evacuated via frontal corticotomy performed under microscopic view. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 42% of the 74 patients undergoing craniotomy in the acute stage had favorable outcomes, whereas 30% died. Using multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with favorable outcome in patients with poor-grade SAH included absence of a packed intraventricular clot on computerized tomography scanning; absence of a history of cardiac disease; and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 11 or 12. None of the 18 patients who had packed IVH had favorable outcomes and seven of these died. In six recently treated patients with packed IVH, which was examined using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging, extensive periventricular brain damage was found both immediately after surgery and during the chronic stage. Accordingly, the authors believe that irreversible periventricular brain damage is already complete immediately after packed IVH occurs.

Adult↗

Delayed ischemic neurological deficit of short duration in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

We retrospectively examined the duration of delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) attributed to vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in order to delineate the nature and involved factors. Among 605 patients with SAH, 201 developed DIND, and 137 of these had undergone early aneurysmal obliteration. In these 137, duration of DIND was clearly determined in 67 cases. Hypervolemic therapy was instituted only after the onset of DIND. In the 67 patients, the mean duration of DIND was 5.2 days (ranging from 2 to 13 days); 22 patients had DIND lasting only 2 to 3 days, 26 patients had DIND lasting 4 to 6 days, and in 19, DIND lasted 7 to 13 days. Clinical factors associated with short DIND duration (2 to 3 days) as determined by multivariate analysis included internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery aneurysm, age under 60, and a good World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade on admission. No patients developed pulmonary edema from hypervolemic therapy, and the outcomes of all 67 patients were extremely favorable. In SAH patients developing DIND after early aneurysmal surgery, 16% (22 of 137) had a documented brief duration of DIND. We believe DIND rapidly improved and resolved with hypervolemic therapy because antecedent brain damage from SAH or surgical manipulation had been minimal.

Female↗

Electronic circuit model of retina in color vision.

Based on previous works, outer retinal cell network is modeled with a simplified electronic circuit. Gap junction is represented by conductance, chemical synaptic junction is by trans-admittance. Results of simulations are appropriate to physiological responses of retina. And it is deduced in standard regularization approach that retinal network should be to minimize energy function which consists of the second or higher order smoothness constraints, residuals and their spatial derivatives. From the point of views, we illustrate some function of retina, extraction of contour and reduction of input random noises. The spatial frequency responses and effects of parameters are also discussed.

Animals↗

A case of resection under the IVC-atrial venovenous bypass of a hepatoblastoma after intraarterial chemotherapy.

An 11-month-old infant with a huge hepatoblastoma occupying almost the entire liver was admitted to the hospital. Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level was elevated to 685,120 ng/mL. Combination chemotherapy with continuous arterial infusion of tetrahydropyranyl Adriamycin (THP-Adriamycin) and cisplatin based on the 91B1 protocol of the Japanese Study Group For Pediatric Liver Tumor (JPLT) was administered as the adjuvant chemotherapy. The tumor responded to three courses of chemotherapy and shrank in size, although venocavography showed that the inferior vena cava (IVC) was completely occluded below the entry of the hepatic veins. Right hepatic trisegmentectomy was performed with an IVC-atrial venovenous bypass that prevented massive bleeding. In this case, it was recognized that the IVC-atrial venovenous bypass was advantageous in an infant. The procedure is very simple and the blood flow obtained by the bypass was sufficient. Two weeks postoperatively, three courses of chemotherapy were initiated after the protocol. The patient remains well without signs of recurrence 39 months postoperatively, and the AFP value has remained within 10 ng/mL.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Anti-DNA IgA autoantibodies are spontaneously generated in mouse Peyer's patches.

IgA antibodies in the mucosal immune system are produced specifically to environmental antigens such as virus and bacteria, and possibly to some food components, which will provide a potential luminal antigen, DNA. To study the immune response to DNA in the gut, we established B-cell hybridomas producing IgA monoclonal antibodies (mAb) from Peyer's patches (PP) of non-immunized, non-autoimmune, specific pathogen-free BALB/c mice, and examined their specificity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three mAb out of 18 bound strongly to self, bacterial and synthetic DNA, with Kd of about 10-7 m. One of the three mAb also reacted with the histone component and another reacted with some mouse food component. The VH genes of these three mAb have not previously been reported to have anti-DNA specificity, and carry putative somatically mutated sites favouring DNA binding in CDR. The features resemble those of anti-DNA antibodies found in human and murine models of systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE), and are indicative of an antigen-driven selection process. Our findings suggest that even in normal healthy animals, anti-DNA antibodies of IgA isotype can be produced in certain peripheral environments such as in PP by spontaneous antigenic stimulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Contribution of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein to species difference in lincosamides-plasma protein binding kinetics.

Protein binding kinetics of lincomycin (LM) and clindamycin (CM) were studied using plasma, albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) derived from humans, dogs, cattle and sheep. Based on Rosenthal plots of LM and CM, drug-binding property in plasma presented specific and non-specific binding, except for LM in cattle and sheep and for CM in sheep, where only non-specific binding was demonstrated. Dissociation constant (Kd) and binding capacity (Bmax) for specific binding and proportionality constant (PC) for non-specific binding were as follows: Kd = 3.14 mumol/L, Bmax = 15.28 mumol/L, PC = 0.19 for humans; Kd = 3.84 mumol/L, Bmax = 6.55 mumol/L, PC = 0.14 for dogs; PC = 0.12 for cattle; PC = 0.16 for sheep in LM and Kd = 0.94 mumol/L, Bmax = 12.24 mumol/L, PC = 4.98 for humans; Kd = 1.48 mumol/L, Bmax = 9.52 mumol/L, PC = 2.91 for dogs; Kd = 1.22 mumol/L, Bmax = 4.45 mumol/L, PC = 2.40 for cattle; PC = 1.48 for sheep in CM. The specific binding for each species was different, showing more difference in Bmax compared with Kd. The non-specific binding of LM was similar among species whereas that of CM was different, implying species difference. The drug-binding property of AGP for each species was all specific binding and the Kd was comparable to that obtained from plasma, indicating that AGP is a major specific binder in plasma. The lack of detection of specific binding for LM in cattle and sheep and for CM in sheep plasma could be attributable to a higher Kd and lower plasma AGP concentration compared with other species. The drug-binding property of albumin was characterized as all non-specific, without a great difference among species. Except for CM in sheep, the lower PC in albumin solution compared with that in plasma suggested the presence of another non-specific binder in plasma, i.e. lipoprotein. From the simulation of drug-binding percentage to AGP concentrations, AGP could be a major contributor to drug-plasma protein binding in pathological states. The degree of AGP-drug binding for each species could vary according to the degree of increase of AGP concentrations from a healthy to a pathological state, inducing a decrease in the unbound fraction (fp): 6.1 fold for dogs, 4.6 fold for humans, 1.8 fold for sheep and 1.4 fold for cattle in LM; 5.8 fold for dogs, 5.7 fold for cattle, 4.0 fold for humans and 1.5 fold for sheep in CM. Therefore, the disposition and efficacy of lincosamides affected by fp can be modified differently by the change of fp attributable to the alteration of plasma AGP concentration in each species.

Adult↗

Reduced folate derivatives are endogenous substrates for cMOAT in rats.

We examined the role of the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) in the biliary excretion of reduced folate derivatives in vivo and in vitro using normal [Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR)] and mutant [Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR)] rats whose cMOAT is hereditarily deficient. In vivo, the biliary excretion of endogenous tetrahydrofolate (H4PteGlu), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH3-H4PteGlu), and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (5, 10-CH2-H4PteGlu) in EHBR was reduced to 8.2%, 1.9%, and 5.5% of those in SDR, respectively, whereas that of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-HCO-H4PteGlu) was detected only in SDR and not in EHBR. Bile drainage caused reduction of endogenous plasma folate concentrations in SDR but not in EHBR. In vitro, significant ATP-dependent uptake of 3H-labeled 5-CH3-H4PteGlu into canalicular membrane vesicles was observed only in SDR. This ATP-dependent uptake was saturable with a Michaelis constant (Km) value of 126 microM, which was comparable with its inhibitor constant (Ki) value of 121 microM for the ATP-dependent uptake of a typical cMOAT substrate, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (DNP-SG). Vice versa, DNP-SG inhibited the uptake of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu with a Ki of 35 microM, which was similar to its Km value. In addition, H4PteGlu and 5, 10-CH2-H4PteGlu also inhibited the ATP-dependent uptake of DNP-SG. These results indicate that 5-CH3-H4PteGlu and other derivatives are transported via cMOAT. Therefore, reduced folate derivatives are the first endogenous substrates for cMOAT that do not contain glutathione, glucuronide, or sulfate moieties.

Animals↗

Potentiated decrease of plasma folate levels caused by the coadministration of folic acid in rats treated with methotrexate.

The decrease of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MF) levels, postulated as an indicator of folate status, was studied following the administration of both methotrexate (MTX) alone and MTX with folic acid (FA) using rats as our experimental model. Blood and urine samples were serially collected over a 9 hr period after the administration of MTX, MTX with FA and from a control group to examine the plasma kinetics and the renal clearance of 5-MF. The pharmacokinetics of MTX and the plasma protein binding of 5-MF were also examined. The concentrations of these analytes were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). MTX administration produced decreased plasma 5-MF levels. This observed decrease was potentiated by oral FA administration, suggesting that the folate status was more severely altered by the coadministration of FA. The renal clearance of 5-MF also increased dose-dependently with FA (0.05-5 mg/kg) coadministration. The plasma protein binding of 5-MF was not affected by the FA administration, which indicates that the fraction of 5-MF that was filtered through the glomerular apparatus appeared to be unchanged. In addition, the pharmacokinetic profiles of MTX also appeared not to be affected by the addition of FA. We conclude that the inhibition of reabsorption of 5-MF in the renal tube by concurrent administration of MTX and FA must be one of the causal factors for the demonstrated decrease in the plasma 5-MF levels in rats.

Animals↗

Endurance exercise training increases peripheral vascular response in human fingers.

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether peripheral vascular response to alteration of transmural pressure is changed by endurance exercise training. The healthy male subjects (training group; n = 6) performed endurance exercise training that consisted of cycle ergometer exercise 5 d.week-1 and 30 min.d-1 for a period of 8 weeks. Changes in the peripheral vascular response to alteration of transmural pressure in the human finger were measured by a differential digital photoplethysmogram (DeltaDPG) and blood pressure during passive movement of the arm to different vertical hand positions relative to heart level. Following 8 weeks of endurance training, percent changes in DeltaDPG from heart level in the training group increased significantly (mean +/- SD, -48.1 +/- 7. 3 to -58.7 +/- 9.3% at the lowered position, 46.1 +/- 13.4 to 84.6 +/- 8.8% at the elevated position, p<0.05). Similarly, the arterial compliance index, which was calculated from DeltaDPG-P wave amplitude and arterial pulse pressure, also significantly changed in the training group over the 8 weeks (5.6 +/- 1.3 to 2.7 +/- 1.6 mV. V-1.s-1.mmHg-1 at the lowered position, 30.0 +/- 12.4 to 54.4 +/- 18. 9 mV.V-1.s-1.mmHg-1 at the elevated position ). Maximal oxygen uptake (V.O2 max) was significantly increased in the training group. On the other hand, the control group (n = 6) showed no significant changes in all parameters for 8 weeks. Therefore these results suggest that endurance exercise training induces an increase in peripheral vascular response to alteration of transmural pressure in the human finger.

Adult↗

[Delayed ischemic neurological deficit that developed over 15 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage].

We retrospectively studied subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients with delayed ischemic neurological deficit (DIND), and analyzed the factors causing extremely late onset of deficits occurring over 15 days after onset of the SAH. Among 605 patients with SAH, 201 (33%) developed DIND. Among DIND patients, 137 had undergone early aneurysm surgery. In these 137 patients, onset date of DIND was definite in 131 patients. Six patients (5%) developed DIND over 15 days after SAH. All 6 had asymptomatic angiographical vasospasm and infections, most often meningitis, before the onset of DIND. Compared with cases in which there was ordinary onset of DIND, other statistically significant factors among these 6 patients were intracerebral hemorrhage, sepsis and meningitis. We suspect that DIND were manifested subclinically in the early period because of the associated hyperdynamic hemodynamics resulting from sepsis in these patients.

Adult↗

V(D)J recombinase activity in a subset of germinal center B lymphocytes.

Reexpression of the V(D)J recombinase-activating genes RAG1 and RAG2 in germinal center B cells creates the potential for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and the generation of new antigen receptor specificities. Intermediate products of V(D)J recombination are abundant in a subset of germinal center B cells, demonstrating that the kappa immunoglobulin light-chain locus becomes a substrate for renewed V(D)J recombinase activity. This recombinationally active cell compartment contains many heavy-chain VDJ rearrangements that encode low-affinity or nonfunctional antibody. In germinal centers, secondary V(D)J recombination may be induced by diminished binding to antigen ligands, thereby limiting abrupt changes in receptor specificity to B cells that are usually eliminated from the germinal center reaction. This restriction preserves efficient antigen-driven selection in germinal centers while allowing for saltations in the somatic evolution of B cells.

Animals↗

Stromal fibroblasts are associated with collagen IV in scar tissues of alkali-burned and lacerated corneas.

PURPOSE: Corneal wound healing frequently leads to the formation of opaque scar tissue. We examined whether stromal fibroblastic cells of injured corneas express collagen IV and contributes to the formation of a basal lamina-like structure. METHODS: Rabbits were anesthetized, and central corneal alkali burn (8 mm in diameter; 1 M NaOH, 1 min) or laceration (8 mm long) were produced. The injured corneas, which had healed for 1, 7, 21 and 45 days, were subjected to histological and immunohistochemical studies with goat anti-collagen IV antibodies, using light and electron microscopy, and in situ hybridization with an antisense digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe of collagen alpha 1(IV) mRNA. For comparison, twenty-day-old fetal corneas were subjected to immunohistochemical study and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: TEM examinations revealed that the stromal collagenous matrix was organized in orthogonal lamellae during corneal development, whereas that of alkali-burned cornea, which had healed for 3 weeks, was disorganized. The stroma of twenty-day-old fetal cornea was not labeled by the anti-collagen IV antibodies. In contrast, one week after injury, specific collagen IV immunostaining was detected in the injured stroma. As the healing proceeded (21-45 days), the antibodies reacted with fibroblastic cells and the extracellular matrix of scar tissues located in the anterior portion of alkali-burned corneas, as well as the posterior portion of lacerated corneas. The middle portion of the stromal tissues was weakly labeled by the anti-collagen IV antibodies with the exception of the blood vessel wall. Immuno-electron microscopic study showed that collagen IV and fibronectin were closely associated with the fibroblastic cells. In situ hybridization demonstrated that epithelial and endothelial cells and fibroblastic cells in the wounded corneal stroma and retro-corneal membrane expressed alpha 1(IV) mRNA, whereas in normal corneas the expression of alpha 1(IV) mRNA was limited to epithelial and endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The enhanced expression of collagen IV by the fibroblastic cells in the stroma of injured corneas is consistent with the notion that they may contribute to the formation of basal lamina-like structures in injured corneas.

Animals↗

Deacetylation as a determinant of sulphonamide pharmacokinetics in pigs.

Sulphamonomethoxine (SMM), sulphadimidine (SDD), sulphadiazine (SDZ) and their N4-acetyl derivatives (AcSMM, AcSDD and AcSDZ) were intravenously injected into Goettingen miniature pigs and deacetylation was evaluated from plasma concentration-time curves, renal excretion, and rate constants obtained from pharmacokinetic analysis, using a non-linear least-squares method. Deacetylated metabolite was detected in both plasma and urine after intravenous injection of AcSMM, AcSDD and AcSDZ. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the deacetylated metabolite were significantly higher than those for acetyl derivatives after AcSMM and AcSDD administration, but significantly lower after AcSDZ. After AcSMM and AcSDD injection, the concentration ratio between deacetylated metabolite and acetyl derivative was almost constant in the terminal linear phase and similar to that seen after injection of sulphonamide. After AcSDZ injection, however, a constant ratio was not observed. These results indicate that deacetylation can have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of SMM and SDD, but not on those of SDZ in pigs. The rate constant for deacetylation was significantly higher than that for acetylation for SMM and SDD, but significantly lower for SDZ. It is, therefore, concluded that deacetylation may be a determinant of the pharmacokinetics of SMM and SDD in pigs. It was, however, not a determinant of SDZ pharmacokinetics because N4-acetylation is not the main elimination route in pigs.

Acetylation↗

Prognostic factors in delayed ischaemic deficit with vasospasm in patients undergoing early aneurysm surgery.

We have examined prognostic factors in delayed ischaemic deficit attributed to vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and early aneurysm surgery. Among 605 patients with SAH, 201 patients developed a delayed ischaemic deficit and 137 of these underwent early surgery. These 137 patients were classified into groups A and B by outcome at 3 months after SAH (group A: the delayed ischaemic deficit was associated with an adverse outcome; group B: no adverse outcome). Factors indicating an unfavourable outcome were as follows: (i) older age; (ii) poor WFNS grade on admission; (iii) Fisher's scale of 4; (iv) intracerebral haemorrhage; (v) delayed ischaemic deficit following rerupture; (vi) complications of surgical intervention; (vii) delayed ischaemic deficit with disturbance of consciousness; (viii) lack of immediate improvement with hypervolaemic therapy; and (ix) intracranial complications after hypervolaemic therapy. We suggest that the reversibility of a delayed ischaemic deficit is determined by preceding brain damage and/or surgical complications.

Adult↗

Inactivation of Bacillus spores by the supercritical carbon dioxide micro-bubble method.

Bacillus spores were effectively inactivated by the supercritical (SC) CO2 micro-bubble method. The micro-bubble SC CO2 treatment of B. cereus, B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. polymyxa, and B. coagulans at 40 degrees C and 30 MPa for 30 min produced greater reduction (about 3 log cycles of reduction) than a similar treatment without a filter. The SC CO2 treatment of B. polymyxa, B. cereus, and B. subtilis spores at 45 degrees C, 50 degrees C, respectively, and 30 MPa for 60 min resulted in a 6-log cycle reduction of survival. The SC CO2 treatment under the foregoing conditions should offer higher efficiency than that of heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 60 min. In addition, the SC CO2 treatment (30 MPa, 60 degrees C, 30 min) of B. polymyxa and B. cereus spores also produced a 6-log cycle reduction.

Bacillus↗

Insecticyanin of Agrius convolvuli: purification and characterization of the biliverdin-binding protein from the larval hemolymph.

Blue biliprotein, insecticyanin (INS), has been purified from the hemolymph of the sweet potato hornworm, Agrius convolvuli. The protein was efficiently isolated from the hemolymph of fifth instar larvae using three successive column chromatographic techniques: hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and gel-filtration. The purified INS showed a native molecular weight of approximately 59,000 by gel-filtration. SDS-PAGE revealed a single band with Mr of approximately 26,000. Moreover, the molecular mass of INS was 21,213 by MALDI-TOF/MS. Thus, the native A. convolvuli INS molecule was assumed to be a trimer in solution. The blue coloration of A. convolvuli INS from the hemolymph was attributed to the presence of biliverdin IX gamma, due to the absorbance maxima at 360 and 695 nm, which was non-covalently bound with the apoprotein. Amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of A. convolvuli INS is similar to M. sexta INS. A. convolvuli INS represents one of the biliverdin-binding proteins in lepidopteran insects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗