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Biomedical subjects

N Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to N Inoue.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Effects of neurotoxins on brain creatine kinase activity.

The effects of ethylene oxide (EO), acrylamide, N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (bis-acrylamide), and methyl mercury chloride (MMC) on brain creatine kinase (CK) activity were examined in vivo. EO and acrylamide, both of which cause central-peripheral distal axonopathy, inhibited CK activity in the brain and spinal cord. On the other hand, neither bis-acrylamide, a nonneurotoxic analogue, nor MMC which causes neuronopathy affected brain CK activity significantly. The inhibition of CK may play a role in the pathogenesis of distal axonal degeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Acrylamides↗
PubMed1993

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 induced circling behavior in rats with unilateral striatal ischemic lesions or nigral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions.

The present study shows that systemic administration of the selective, non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist MK-801 [(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydroxy-5H-dibenzo (a,d)-cyclohepten-5,10-imine] dose-dependently induces ipsiversive rotational behavior in the rats with a unilateral striatal lesion produced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion or in those with a unilateral nigrostriatal lesion produced by 6-hydroxydopamaine. In relation to a functional model of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical 'motor' circuit, the present data suggest that the striatum may be one of the most important sites where MK-801 acts in the basal ganglia, with its being responsible for the circling behavior of the animal models.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Frequent isolation of human herpesvirus 7 from saliva.

We obtained isolates of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) from 6 of 8 healthy adults by culturing saliva with human umbilical cord blood lymphocytes. These isolates were identified as HHV-7 on the basis of comparisons of restriction endonuclease fragment profiles and hybridization with HHV-7 strain RK DNA. The isolates could be differentiated from HHV-7 strain RK and from each other by their restriction endonuclease fragment profiles. We confirm the finding of frequent isolation of HHV-7 from saliva of healthy adults and report the first dual isolation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 from a single saliva specimen. We also describe an in situ hybridization assay that can distinguish between HHV-6 and HHV-7.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

High density lipoprotein reverses inhibitory effect of oxidized low density lipoprotein on endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation.

We have recently reported that oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) inhibits endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation through its increased lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). In this study we examined whether high density lipoprotein (HDL) has any effect on the inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation by ox-LDL in isolated strips of rabbit thoracic aorta. Both low density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL were isolated from normal human plasma, and LDL was oxidized by exposure to copper. Preincubation of arterial strips with ox-LDL (0.1-0.5 mg protein/ml) inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) in a concentration-dependent manner. HDL (1 mg protein/ml) by itself had no effect on the relaxation to ACh. In the presence of HDL, the inhibition by ox-LDL was markedly reduced. Although synthetic L-alpha-palmitoyl LPC (5 micrograms/ml) completely abolished a relaxation to ACh, the preincubation of arterial strips with HDL completely prevented the LPC-induced inhibition. Moreover, a relaxation to ACh was almost completely recovered when the strips were washed with buffer containing HDL even after LPC-induced inhibition had occurred. HDL markedly reduced the incorporation of [1-14C]palmitate-labeled LPC ([14C]LPC) into cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells and promoted the release of cell-incorporated [14C]LPC into the medium, resulting in a reduction of the remaining [14C]LPC in the cells. Agarose electrophoresis after incubation of a mixture of ox-LDL labeled with [14C]LPC and unlabeled HDL demonstrated a transfer of [14C]LPC from ox-LDL to HDL. These results indicate that HDL reverses the ox-LDL-induced impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation by removing LPC from ox-LDL and preventing LPC from acting on the endothelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Sex hormone-related control of hepatic epoxide hydrolase activities in mice.

Sex-related differences in hepatic epoxide hydrolase (EH) activities towards 7-(2',3'-epoxy)propoxycoumarin (7-glycidoxycoumarin, GOC) were investigated, mainly in mice but also in rats. Hepatic subcellular EH activities in the ddY mouse were higher in microsomes than in the soluble and mitochondrial fractions and sex-related differences were noted in all the subcellular fractions where males had significantly higher activities than females. Sex differences in the hepatic microsomal and soluble activities similar to those in the ddY strain were also observed in two other strains of mice, A/J and C3H/He, and in Wistar rats. In the ddY strain, castration of the males caused decreases in microsomal and soluble EH activities, while no alteration in the activities in those fractions was found following castration of females. Treatment of the male castrates with testosterone led to recovery of the activities in microsomal and soluble fractions while hormone treatment of female castrates caused a rise only in microsomal activity. Estradiol treatments of both sexes did not cause any changes in the hepatic subcellular activities. In intact ddY mice, testosterone treatment did not affect the male microsomal and soluble EH activities, but resulted in stimulation of both subcellular enzyme activities in females. In contrast, estradiol treatment showed a suppressive effect on both subcellular activities in males, but had no effect on female activities. These results show that hepatic EH activities towards GOC are mainly under androgenic stimulatory control in mice.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Molecular biology of human herpesviruses 6A and 6B.

Human herpesvirus 6 variant A (HHV-6A) and human herpesvirus 6 variant B (HHV-6B) are closely related herpesviruses. No disease has been specifically associated with HHV-6A, whereas HHV-6B is the major etiologic agent of exanthem subitum. Both viruses may be opportunistic pathogens in the immunocompromised patient. HHV-6 genomes have low G+C contents for herpesviruses (43%); they consist of a 141-kb unique segment that is flanked by single copies of a directly repeated sequence that can vary from 10 to 13 kb. HHV-6A and HHV-6B encode homologs of many conserved herpesvirus proteins and are classified as beta-herpesviruses based on their close genetic relationship with human cytomegalovirus. HHV-6A and HHV-6B are even more closely related to the recently discovered human herpesvirus 7. HHV-6 encodes homologs of the seven genes that are essential for origin-dependent herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA replication, including the origin-binding protein, which has no clear homolog in human cytomegalovirus. The HHV-6B origin-binding protein binds to sequences with similarities to alpha-herpesvirus replication origins that lie within a genomic segment that can serve as a replication origin in transient replication assays. Both HHV-6 variants encode homologs of the adeno-associated virus type 2 Rep protein; the role of this protein during infection is unknown. HHV-6 induces synthesis of a broad range of host cell proteins, including interferon alpha, CD4, interleukin-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, and also induces expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 LTR promoter. Little is known about the process by which HHV-6 regulates gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The acute toxicity of allyl chloride by subcutaneous injection in mice.

Male ICR mice were administered allyl chloride at dose of 496 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg, 720 mg/kg, 864 mg/kg or 1037 mg/kg by a single subcutaneous injection. Sixteen of 25 mice died by the 7th day after the injection and LD50 was calculated 621 mg/kg body weight (95% C.I.: 522-739 mg/kg). A marked congestion with severe hemorrhage and edema were observed in the lung. Liver and kidney damages were also found, and these were characterized by the dilated sinusoids, degenerative change of hepatic cells, and focal necrosis in the liver; and necrosis of epithelium in convoluted tubules of the kidneys. Nine mice have survived by the 7th day after the injection and all of them showed a various degree of damages in the testes. The testicular lesions could be classified into two types. One type of the lesion was characterized by degeneration and exfoliation of germ cells, appearance of polynuclear giant cells in the seminiferous tubules, and mild proliferation of Leydig cells in the interstitium. In another type of the lesion, all type of cells in tubules, including Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells became necrotic. This is the first study reporting the testicular toxicity of allyl chloride.

Allyl Compounds↗
PubMed1993

[Extrapyramidal syndrome induced by chemical substances].

Extrapyramidal signs are frequently observed in toxic diseases due to environmental and industrial chemical substances. The predominant manifestations are Parkinsonism and less frequently tremor. Parkinsonism has been described among the toxic diseases due to carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen cyanide. In these diseases, Parkinsonism used to appear in the recovery stage from coma in the severe cases. This was also true in methyl alcohol poisoning. The extrapyramidal signs are usually symmetrical. Akinesia and rigidity are main features. Tremor is absent or mild. Levodopa and the other antiparkinsonian drugs are not so effective. Brain CT studies have revealed symmetrical low density areas in the globus pallidus and putamen. On the other hand, postural tremor is main neurological findings in the poisonings by inorganic mercury and tetraethyl lead. In general, tremor in the toxic disease is reported to be self-limited.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
PubMed1993

[Surgical treatment of aortic arch aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease].

Graft replacement of the aortic arch aneurysms and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were performed in the consecutive seven patients for the past five years between 1987 and January 1992, including three (43%) emergency operations. The etiology of aneurysms was atherosclerosis in 4, and aortic dissection in 3. There were one early death (14%) due to MRSA pneumonia, and one late death due to rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm 8 months postoperatively. Respiratory failure was frequently complicated immediately after the surgery. Vein grafts were anastomosed to coronary artery during the initial core cooling, and sequential cardioplegia was given through the bypass grafts. Selective cerebral perfusion was carried-out during the reconstruction of the transverse aortic arch and arch vessels in all cases. To achieve sufficient myocardial protection, and to get good postoperative hemodynamics and long-term survivors, it was important to perform the simultaneous CABG at the time of the repair for the aortic arch aneurysm in cases complicated with coronary artery disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of validity of five weight-height obesity indices.

Validity of five weight-height obesity indices, Broca-Katsura index, weight/height ratio, BMI, Rohrer index and Benn index were evaluated as an obesity index in male medical students of Kyushu University. Validity of them was evaluated using the following three criteria: (1) it should be highly correlated with body weight and its distribution should be independent of height; (2) it should be highly correlated with obese rate to the standard body weight of Japanese young men; (3) it can accurately classify individuals as overweight or not overweight. BMI met all three criteria in this population. Benn index proved to be not only independent of body height but also highly correlated with body weight and obese rate, though we could not evaluate this obesity index using criterion (3) because there is no generally-accepted cut-off point of overweight of it. Broca-Katsura index, weight/height ratio and Rohrer index were not independent of body height. From these results, it is concluded that BMI is the best weight-height obesity index in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Reversibility of ethylene oxide-induced testicular damage evaluated by the hemiorchiectomy method.

In the present study, we tried to use the hemiorchiectomy method to examine a reversibility of the testicular damage induced by ethylene oxide (EtO). Wistar male rats were exposed to EtO at a concentration of 500 ppm, 6 hours a day, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Thereafter we evaluated the reversibility after 13-week recovery period. From the result about a propriety of the hemiorchiecyomy method for recovery study, it was suggested that hemiorchiectomy did not affect remaining testis and epididymis after the recovery period and there was no laterality about the testicular damage just after the exposure period. Therefore we concluded that the hemiorchiectomy method could be used for recovery study for EtO-induced testicular damage. The reversibility was evaluated by comparing the damages of hemiorchiectomized testis just after the exposure period and those of remaining testis removed after the recovery period in the same rat. The result indicated that the reversibility of EtO-induced testicular damage may depend on a degree of damage just after the exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[An evaluation of a therapy with antibacterial and antifungal agents infections with hematological disorders].

The primary objective of this study is to confirm the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with antibacterial and antifungal drugs for patients with hematological disorders complicated with infections of unknown causative organisms. The subjects consisted of 55 patients with hematological disorders, 28 males and 27 females, ranging from 1 to 78 years of age, with an average age of 34 years. The breakdown of the patients by disease was: 41 leukemias, 10 malignant lymphomas, 3 myelodysplastic syndromes and an aplastic anemia. All patients were treated with sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) and aminoglycoside (AG) plus fluconazole (FLCZ) as an empiric therapy. Overall efficacy rate was 54.5% for all the patients: 57.7% for patients with suspected sepsis and 0% for those with pneumonia from which unknown organisms were detected. The efficacy rate was 59.4% for patient who had been previously treated with other antibiotics and 47.8% for those who had not previously been treated. The above results suggested that this combination therapy might be effective for severe infections of unknown causative organisms associated with hematological disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Therapeutic plasmapheresis to treat postoperative hepatic failure clinical course and therapeutic outcome in Japan].

The most serious hepatic complication after surgical procedure is postoperative hepatic failure. There is no therapy for this condition except plasma exchange. Precise clinical definition of postoperative hepatic failure was discussed based on a questionnaire distributed by the association in 1989, and in 1991 by the working group. Giving special consideration to the use of therapeutic plasmapheresis, the clinical definition of postoperative hepatic failure was established as hepatic injury after surgery, without obstructive causative factors, laboratory values for total bilirubin over 5mg/dl with continuous elevation, and hepaplastin activity under 40%. Key factors in determining initiation, efficacy, and cessation of plasmapheresis were coma grade (II-III), total bilirubin levels, and the activities of coagulation tests. The majority of underlying diseases were hepato-biliary in nature. The causative factors of hepatic injuries were massive bleeding and infection. The morbidity was estimated at 600 to 3000 cases/year. The frequency of plasma exchange was one session every/1.4-1.6 days. The volume of exchanged fresh frozen plasma was about 3292 ml/a session. Nafamostat mesilate was used as an anticoagulant. The survival rate was 14% to 40%. Earlier initiation of plasma exchange is indicated.

Benzamidines↗
PubMed1993

[Surgical treatment of aortitis syndrome associated with annuloaortic ectasia and the stenotic lesion of the aortic arch vessels].

A 37-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for treatment of aortitis syndrome. Her aortogram showed critical stenosis of the innominate artery, occlusion of other arch vessels, and annuloaortic ectasia (AAE). We performed endarterectomy and patch plasty to the innominate artery using a saphenous vein graft. Graft replacement of the ascending aorta and AVR (modified Wheat's operation) were also performed at one stage. Deep hypothermic cerebral circulatory arrest was used as a method for cerebral protection. During operation, the lowest rectal temperature was 17 degrees C and the cerebral circulatory arrest time was 36 min. The postoperative course has been uneventful. In a postoperative aortogram, the innominate artery was well perfused. She has been free of complaint and been doing well for 2 years since the operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Composite valve graft replacement for aortic root aneurysm or dissection].

Fifty four patients who had aneurysms (n = 35) or dissections (n = 19) associated with aortic regurgitation underwent the replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve by composite valve graft during 15-year period between September 1976 and December 1991. Of these, 49 (90.7%) patients had an annuloaortic ectasia and 26 (48.1%) had the Marfan syndrome. The methods of coronary artery reattachment to the graft were as follows: direct reattachment (original Bentall's technique) in 45 patients, aortic button technique (Carrel's patch technique) in 6, Cabrol's technique in 2 and Piehler's technique in 1 patients. Seven patients with a DeBakey type I dissection had concomitant replacement of the aortic arch with an aid of selective cerebral perfusion. The overall hospital mortality rate was 12.9%, and it has significantly decreased to 6.7% since we adopted a cold cardioplegia, preclotting the graft with albumin autoclave technique and coronary artery reattachment using conventional over-and-over and interrupted mattress sutures with pledgets during the last 10-years. The mean duration of follow-up period was 58.6 months. The actuarial survival rate at 10 years for all patients was 76.4%; for those with dissection, 78.4%; and for patients with Marfan syndrome, 70.4%. Reoperation for the prosthesis-related complications was necessary in only one patient, although operations on the remainder of aorta were required in 5 patients. Actuarial freedom from these operations at 10 years was 74.1%, but it was 69.3% for the subgroup with Marfan syndrome. The present data indicates that composite valve graft technique is an useful method for patients with aortic root aneurysms or dissections.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Identification and quantitative analysis of urinary metabolites of dichloropropanols in rats.

Urinary metabolites of dichloropropanols in rats were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Solutions of dichloropropanols consisting of 1, 3-dichloro-2-propanol (DC2P) and 2, 3-dichloro-1-propanol (DC1P) were diluted in a saline at the concentration of 100 mg/ml, and 0.1 ml of the solutions were subcutaneously injected into male Wistar rats weighing about 160g. The urine samples were collected over a period of 24 hours after the injections. DC2P and DC1P in the urine were extracted with ethylacetate and analyzed by a GC/MS. The derivatization procedure with 4-bromophenylboric acid after acetonitril extraction was applied for the analyses of diols in the urine. By the GC/MS analysis, 3-chloro-1, 2-propanediol (3CPD), 2-chloro-1, 3-propanediol (2CPD) and 1, 2-propanediol (PPD) were identified as the hydroxylated metabolites of dichlorpropanols. Based on the analytical results, the metabolic pathways of dichlorpropanols forming 3CPD and 2CPD, and then hydroxylating to PPD were elucidated.

Animals↗