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Biomedical subjects

M Tabata

Publications and source records attributed to M Tabata.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Demand feeding and locomotor circadian rhythms in the goldfish, Carassius auratus: dual and independent phasing.

In contrast to the common diurnal and nocturnal ways of life, some fish species have been shown to have a dual phasing behaviour. Therefore, the daily pattern of behaviour is not always rigidly confined to the light or dark phase and a diurnal fish may become nocturnal and vice versa. In the present study, the locomotor and feeding activities of single goldfish were simultaneously investigated to examine the existence of such dual behaviour. Nineteen goldfish weighing 97.2 g on average were placed individually in 35-1 glass tanks equipped with an infrared sensor and a newly developed self-feeding device. Fish were exposed to a light:dark (LD) 12:12 h cycle, constant darkness (DD), and 45:45 min LD pulses to study endogenous rhythmicity. Under LD 12:12, the daily pattern of behaviour differed between individual fish; some goldfish were diurnal and others were nocturnal. Furthermore, some of them displayed an extraordinary flexibility in phasing because they were light active but dark feeding, and vice versa. Generally, goldfish tended to be day active, although their feeding habits appeared equally distributed between light and dark phases. Under DD, goldfish showed free-running rhythms that averaged 25.3 +/- 1.8 h and 24.4 +/- 1.7 h for locomotor activity and feeding, respectively, but that were slightly shorter under LD pulses. These results indicate that the type of phasing of locomotor activity did not necessarily decide the feeding phase; much of this is explained by the fact that goldfish were self-fed. Flexibility in phasing and a certain degree of independence between locomotor and feeding activities could be seen as an adaptative response of the highly adaptable circadian system of fish.

Animals↗

Effect of 10% ethanol and sofalcone on prostaglandin E2 content, mucus gel thickness, and experimental ulcers in the stomach of developing rats.

We studied the effects of a mild irritant, 10% ethanol, and sofalcone on the gastric mucosal defense mechanisms in newborn rats, comparing the effects to those seen in adult rats. The results indicated (1) that both mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content and mucus gel layer thickness increased with age, (2) that sofalcone, but not 10% ethanol, increased mucosal PGE2 content and mucus gel thickness in 1- and 8-week-old rats, (3) that both sofalcone and 10% ethanol decreased mucosal damage induced by 50 or 75% ethanol in both age groups, and (4) that 10% ethanol, but not sofalcone, decreased ethanol-induced mucosal damage in rats pretreated with indomethacin. We concluded that 10% ethanol and sofalcone increase gastric mucosal defence mechanisms in newborn rats as in older rats.

Aging↗

Blood pressure and urinary C-peptide excretion in subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance.

To determine whether blood pressure is associated with 24-h urinary C-peptide excretion in subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance, we studied 247 Japanese men aged 30-69 who had never been treated with antihypertensive medications or with insulin. Plasma glucose and insulin responses during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure and body mass index were obtained and urinary C-peptide excretion, in total and per kg body weight, were examined by 24-h urine collection. In monovariate analyses, urinary C-peptide excretion per kg body weight increased significantly as the blood pressure level rose (p < 0.05). After adjustment for age and body mass index by analysis of covariance, this relationship remained significant (p < 0.05), where adjusted mean values (+/- SEM) of urinary C-peptide per kg body weight were 1.56 +/- 0.05 microgram/24h/kg in the normotensive group and 2.04 +/- 0.17 microgram/24h/kg in the hypertensive (stage 2-4) group. When stratified simultaneously by glucose tolerance status and blood pressure level, adjusted mean values of urinary C-peptide per kg body weight were significantly higher in diabetic hypertensives than in diabetic normotensives. These results suggest that increase in 24-h urinary C-peptide excretion, i.e. 24-h insulin secretion, might contribute to an elevation of blood pressure both in normal and diabetic individuals.

Adult↗

[Chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer].

Here we review the current treatments for small-cell lung cancer. Cisplatin and etoposide, combined with concurrent or alternating thoracic irradiation, have been considered to be the standard therapy for patients with limited disease. Dose-intensive weekly chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation have failed to increase survival in patients with extensive disease. Promising new drugs such as irinotecan and taxol may improve survival in patients with extensive disease.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Effects of pinealectomy and constant light exposure on day-night changes of melatonin binding sites in the goldfish brain.

Effects of pinealectomy and constant light exposure on day-night changes of melatonin binding sites in the goldfish brain were examined. The density and affinity of binding sites were higher at mid-day than at mid-night in sham-pinealectomized goldfish under light-dark cycles. The rhythms disappeared after pinealectomy, or constant light exposure both of which abolish plasma melatonin rhythms. The effects of pinealectomy and constant light exposure were not additive. These results indicate that diel changes of melatonin binding sites in the goldfish brain are regulated by endogenous melatonin of pineal origin.

Animals↗

A chemiluminescence-flow injection analysis of serum 3-hydroxybutyrate using a bioreactor consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and NADH oxidase.

We describe a simple method for the highly sensitive chemiluminescence--flow injection analysis of 3-hydroxybutyrate in serum using a bioreactor column consisting of the two immobilized enzymes, 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and NADH oxidase. The method was based on measuring the level of chemiluminescence formed by the reaction of a luminol-hexacyanoferrate mixture with hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide was produced by the NADH oxidase reaction from NADH which was formed in the conversion of 3-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate by the 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase reaction. Among three immobilized enzyme columns, a coimmobilized, small 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase/NADH oxidase bioreactor alone (2 x 20 mm i.d.) readily hydrolyzed all of the injected 3-hydroxybutyrate into acetoacetate, although 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase catalyzed the reversible reaction. The present method generated linearity of the data up to 1.5 mM 3-hydroxybutyrate with satisfactory precision, reproducibility, and accurate reaction recoveries. The results from 3-hydroxybutyrate correlated satisfactorily with those obtained by other well-established methods. The coimmobilized 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase/NADH oxidase reactor unit showed good operational stability over a 5-week period, during which it was repeatedly used for 1500 analyses.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Ruptured bronchial artery aneurysm associated with pleural telangiectasis and tortuous portal obstruction: report of a case.

A 25-year-old woman presenting with an emergent condition of massive hemothorax due to a ruptured bronchial artery aneurysm was successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization. She had previously undergone portosystemic shunt splenopneumopexy for hepatic portal hypertension at 6 years of age. When undergoing right thoracotomy for the removal of a clot, a prominent telangiectasis on the pleural surface was noted. The lesion appeared to be a rare systemic vascular abnormality although this could not be confirmed.

Adult↗

Genetic analysis of essential oil variants in Perilla frutescens.

A new chemotype (C type) of Perilla frutescens (Labiatae) that accumulates trans-citral as a main component of the essential oil in the leaf was crossed with five other chemotypes containing perillaldehyde (PA), elsholtziaketone (EK), perillaketone (PK), perillene (PL), and phenylpropanoid (PP) as their respective major components for comparison of genetic differences. The analyses of F1 and F2 progenies showed that trans-citral is accumulated when its metabolism is blocked in the simultaneous absence of a dominant gene N, which is involved in the conversion of trans-citral into naginataketone via cis-citral, and two polymeric genes Fr1 and Fr2, which are involved in the conversion of trans-citral into perillene. On the basis of new data obtained from various intercrosses involving the C type as one of the parents, the genotypes of different chemotypes as well as the sites of action of several genes controlling reaction steps in the biosynthesis of monoterpenes in Perilla have been revised.

Plant Oils↗

Delayed gastric emptying in a neonate, associated with a partial defect in the gastric smooth muscle.

A girl born after 36 weeks' gestation had emesis 15 hours after birth. She required total parenteral nutrition (TPN) because of persistent gastric retention. When milk was given, the volume of gastric aspirate 3 hours after feeding often was greater than the volume given. Domperidon and erythromycin were ineffective. Upper gastrointestinal series showed slow gastric emptying but no abnormalities in the stomach. No stenosis or obstruction below pylorus was found. Endoscopy showed normal gastric mucosa. Manometry showed normal antroduodenal motility patterns. Transpyloric feeding, which started at age 73 days, was successful and enabled cessation of the TPN. Laparotomy at 119 days of age showed partial absence of the muscle and serosal layer in the anterior wall of the gastric body (1 x 4 cm). The mucosal layer was intact and partly adhered to the peritoneum and the left lobe of the liver. The defect was surgically corrected by plicating the place. The postoperative course was excellent, and oral feeding was fully established within 2 weeks. Although the cause of the partial muscle defect in the case is unclear, this case suggests that this rare condition can cause severe chronic gastric retention.

Female↗

Significance of elevated urinary human intestinal alkaline phosphatase in Japanese people exposed to environmental cadmium.

Urinary human intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were analyzed in 40 Japanese environmental-cadmium (Cd)-exposed and 40 non-exposed subjects to evaluate early biological markers for Cd-induced renal damage. All urinary indicators were significantly higher in the Cd-exposed subjects than non-exposed subjects. A fourth-order function was fitted for the relationship between beta 2-MG and IAP or NAG. The beta 2-MG concentration corresponding to the inflexion point for IAP was smaller than that for NAG. This result may support the contention that the cells containing IAP are damaged earlier than those containing NAG, and that IAP is a useful marker for detecting renal tubular dysfunction in people moderately exposed to Cd. However, in the stage of severe renal damage, the combination of IAP and beta 2-MG is considered to be more useful.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Gastrointestinal manometry findings in a case with dilated small bowel and disturbed transit treated successfully with bowel plication.

We report the manometric findings in a case of dilated small bowel and disturbed transit successfully treated with plication of the dilated small bowel. The female newborn infant required total parenteral nutrition following an operation for small bowel atresia. X-ray showed a dilated proximal small bowel. Jejunal manometry showed normal phase 3 migration but persistently low-amplitude contractions in the dilated segment. After plication of the dilated intestine, symptoms of bowel obstruction disappeared. A second manometry two weeks after the operation showed contractions with normal amplitude. These findings indicate that: (1) disturbed transit in the dilated intestine proximal to small intestinal atresia is associated with persistently low contraction amplitude, and (2) the amplitude can be increased by the plication of the dilated loop.

Digestive System↗

The use of thrombomodulin to study epithelial cell differentiation in neoplastic and non-neoplastic oral lesions.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a glycoprotein originally isolated from rabbit lung vasculature and characterized as a natural endothelial anticoagulant. Thrombin binds to TM noncovalently with high affinity. Thrombin-TM complexes can activate protein C efficiently. Activated protein C inactivates factors Va and VIIIa and regulates the blood coagulation cascade. Thus TM converts thrombin from a procoagulant protease to an anticoagulant. TM is found on endothelial cells in veins, arteries and capillaries. Our previous study has shown that TM is also expressed on the cell surface of squamous epithelium. In the present study, we aimed to disclose differences in TM expression among normal, dysplastic, and malignant squamous epithelium in human oral mucosa by counting TM-positive cells in each lesion. TM was uniformly expressed in the spinous layer of normal human oral squamous epithelium. The number of TM-positive cells was not significantly different between normal epithelium, lichen planus and mild dysplasia. In contrast, in moderate and severe dysplasia and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), there were significantly fewer positive cells compared with normal epithelium. In SCCs, the periphery and the central keratinized area of tumor islands were often negative. The proportion of TM-positive cells in poorly differentiated SCC was significantly lower than in well-differentiated SCC. These results indicate that TM may have diagnostic value in the histological examination of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Mortality of inhabitants in an area polluted by cadmium: 15 year follow up.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) on long term outcome of inhabitants living in an area polluted by Cd. METHODS: A follow up study for 15 years (from 1974-5 to 1991) was carried out on 2408 inhabitants (amounting to 95% of the target population, 1079 men and 1329 women) of the Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. These inhabitants had been the subjects of the health impact survey in 1974-5 to evaluate (by measurement of urinary retinol binding protein (RBP)) renal dysfunction induced by Cd. Analysis of mortality was performed by dividing subjects into a urinary RBP positive (> or = 4 mg/l) group and RBP negative (< 4 mg/l) group. RESULTS: After adjustment for age with Cox's proportional hazard model, RBP > or = 4 mg/l showed a significant relation to mortality in both sexes. At this time, the mortality risk ratio of the RBP positive to negative group was 1.71 in the men and 1.42 in the women. When the SMRs according to causes of deaths in the RBP positive group were compared with those of the RBP negative group or the overall Japanese population increases of SMR for cardiovascular diseases, especially heart failure, and renal diseases were found in both sexes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the prognosis of the exposed inhabitants with renal tubular dysfunction is unfavourable, and these increases of mortality are due to heart failure and renal diseases.

Aged↗

A new enzymatic method for the measurement of creatinine involving a novel ATP-dependent enzyme, N-methylhydantoin amidohydrolase.

A new enzymatic method for the measurement of serum and urine creatinine is described. The method is based on a novel microbial creatinine degradation pathway via N-methylhydantoin [Shimizu et al., Clin. Chim. Acta, 185, 241-252 (1989)]. By using two novel enzymes, N-methylhydantoin amidohydrolase and N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase, as key enzymes, coupled with a colorimetric procedure for hydrogen peroxide detection, the creatinine level can be measured. The results obtained for human serum and urine show good correlation with those obtained by a standard chemical method based on the Jaffe reaction. The new method is simple and specific, and shows excellent sensitivity and reliability.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗