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Biomedical subjects

N Shimojo

Publications and source records attributed to N Shimojo.

160 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Gel filtration profile of plasma active and inactive renin in normals and patients with nephrotic syndrome.

The molecular weight of plasma renin from healthy subjects and patients with nephrotic syndrome, in whom we previously reported that plasma inactive renin was increased, was studied by gel filtration. Activation was performed by acid treatment. The plasma from healthy subjects contains a low molecular weight from of renin (40 000) and a high molecular weight form which can be separated into two peaks of 52 000 and 60 000. After acid activation, renin activity was increased in the high molecular form but not significantly in the low molecular form. Although the increase of renin activity in the high molecular weight form after acid activation was larger in patients with nephrotic syndrome, the gel filtration profile was similar to that of healthy subjects.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed1980

Plasma active and inactive renin in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Plasma active and acid activated inactive renin was measured in healthy subjects and in patients with diabetes mellitus. The angiotensin I generated from the incubation of non-acidified plasma with pig renin substrate was expressed as plasma renin concentration (PRC) and that from acidified plasma was expressed as total renin concentration (TRC). The inactive renin concentration (IRC) was calculated as TRC minus PRC. With regard to plasma renin activity (PRA) and PRC, no significant difference was found between normal and diabetic groups. TRC and IRC in diabetics with no clinical sign of microangiopathy were 22.8 +/- 1.7 and 15.2 +/- 1.3 ng/ml/h (mean +/- SE), and these values were not significantly different from those in the healthy subjects (20.5 +/- 1.5 and 13.2 +/- 1.5 ng/ml/h). However, TRC and IRC in diabetics with retinopathy and clinical nephropathy was 38.8 +/- 3.4 and 30.7 +/- 3.2 ng/ml/h, and these values were significantly higher than those in the above two groups, respectively. Moreover TRC and IRC in diabetics with retinopathy and no clinical nephropathy was 33.8 +/- 5.7 and 24.9 +/- 5.5 ng/ml/h, and these values were significantly higher than those in the control group. IRC was not significantly correlated with fasting blood sugar and mean blood pressure levels, however however a significant correlation was found between IRC and BUN, and IRC and P.S.P. excretion in 15 minutes. These findings suggest that increased inactive renin in diabetes mellitus may be related to the progression of the renal lesions associated with diabetic microangiopathy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytochrome P450 changes in rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes.

It is known that the metabolism of some drugs is altered in diabetic patients and in rats with experimental diabetes induced by chemical agents, such as streptozocin. The induction and/or suppression of hepatic cytochrome P450 isozymes seen in diabetes seem to contribute to this alteration. Both metabolic and hormonal disturbances following insulin deficiency in diabetic rats are responsible for these changes. Marked changes in hepatic P450 isozymes in diabetic rats include increases in the isozymes induced by ketones and lipids, including fatty acids, and decreases in the isozymes regulated by growth hormone and testosterone. Suppressed secretion of thyroid hormones also participates in the mechanism causing these changes. Analysis of cytochrome P450 isozymes in diabetic rats is helpful in elucidating the impaired metabolism of some endogenous substrates catalyzed by the cytochrome P450, such as steroid hormones and fatty acids, in diabetes. The results of these analyses also provide insight into the prescription of drugs for diabetic patients.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adult human glial cells can present target antigens to HLA-restricted cytotoxic T-cells.

T-lymphocyte recognition of antigen either on antigen-presenting cells (APC) necessary for the generation of an immune response or on target cells during the effector phase of a cellular immune response requires expression of HLA molecules. Although immune mechanisms operate in many disease processes of the central nervous system (CNS), cells of the CNS generally express low levels of HLA molecules. In this study, the potential for upregulation of HLA molecules on adult human glial cells was examined. Moreover, the functional implication of this upregulation was assessed by the capacity of glial cells to process and present target antigens to HLA class I-restricted influenza-specific and class II-restricted myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific CTL lines. Glial cells cultured from adult human surgical brain specimens or cells from established glioblastoma multiforme cell lines were studied. Lysis by antigen-specific CTLs was dependent on treatment of the target cell with interferon-gamma. The lysis was HLA restricted and antigen specific. The results indicate that adult human glial cells can process and present antigen to HLA-restricted CTLs but require the upregulation of HLA molecules. These findings have implications for infectious and autoimmune diseases of the CNS.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical significance of urinary laminin P1 in diabetic patients.

The urinary concentrations of laminin fragment P1 (L-P1), a major component of laminin, were determined in diabetic patients without diabetic nephropathy and healthy controls. In the control subjects, urinary L-P1 increased with age, especially over 60 years of age. A significant increase of urinary L-P1 was observed in diabetics aged less than 50 years. Neither urinary albumin nor N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase correlated to the urinary L-P1 level. We used immunohistochemistry to locate L-P1 in the cortex of human kidneys. In non-diabetic kidneys, the glomerular and tubular basement membranes, mesangium, and Bowman's capsule were stained. In the diabetic kidney, more was stained, including the mesangial expansion and the thickened capillary basement membranes.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of ozone toxicity in the drinking behavior of rats.

To clarify the effects of ozone on behavior, drinking activity was observed continuously in animals exposed to ozone at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 ppm for 1 wk. Drinking decreased considerably on the first day after onset of exposure. On the first day the suppression rate was calculated to be 28.1%, 69.5%, and 93.1%, for the 0.2 ppm, 0.4 ppm, and 0.8 ppm group, respectively. The suppression of drinking and recovery were dependent on the concentration of ozone.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Homing receptor expression on cord blood T lymphocytes and the development of atopic eczema in infants.

Expression of the gut-homing receptor integrin alphaEbeta7, but not cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA), on milk allergen-stimulated cord blood T lymphocytes precedes the development of milk-induced eczema in early infancy. The data indicate the involvement of integrin alphaEbeta7 in the development of infantile allergic eczema and provide a clue to the avoidance of specific allergens and novel therapy targeting homing receptors in food allergy.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enzyme activity and protein content of superoxide dismutase isozymes in human renal cell carcinoma.

Alterations in renal superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes were examined in cancerous tissues of human renal cell carcinoma and the corresponding non-cancerous renal tissues. Cu,Zn-SOD activities in cancerous tissues were lower than those in normal tissues. Mn-SOD activities were varied in the cases examined, whereas no significant difference between cancerous and normal tissues was observed for Mn- or total-SOD activities. Immunoblot analysis showed that the loss in enzyme activity in cancerous tissue was greater than the decrease in protein content for either isozyme. The selective decrease in Cu,Zn-SOD activities in cancerous tissue observed in this study suggests that the cytoplasmic defense against free radical damage appears to be reduced in renal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗