Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Higuchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Higuchi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Gene locus for autosomal recessive distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles maps to chromosome 9.

Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles is an autosomal recessive muscular disorder, characterized clinically by weakness of the distal muscles in the lower limbs in early adulthood. Recently, the gene locus for familial vacuolar myopathy with autosomal recessive inheritance (hereditary inclusion body myopathy) was mapped to chromosome 9 by genome-wide linkage analysis of nine Persian-Jewish families. Since both disease conditions share similar clinical, genetic, and histopathological features, we analyzed seven families with distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles using ten microsatellite markers within the region of the hereditary inclusion body myopathy locus. Significantly high cumulative pairwise lod scores were obtained with three markers: D9S248 (Z(max) = 5.90 at theta = 0), D9S43 (Z(max) = 5.25 at theta = 0), and D9S50 (Z(max) = 4.23 at theta = 0). Detection of obligate recombination events as well as multipoint linkage analysis revealed that the most likely location of the distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles gene is in a 23.3-cM interval defined by D9S319 and D9S276 on chromosome 9. The results raise the possibility that distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles and hereditary inclusion body myopathy in Persian Jews are allelic diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Population-based investigation of valproic acid relative clearance using nonlinear mixed effects modeling: influence of drug-drug interaction and patient characteristics.

Nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM) was used to estimate the effects of drug-drug interaction on valproic acid relative clearance values using 792 serum levels gathered from 400 pediatric and adult patients with epilepsy (age range, 0.3-54.8 years) during their clinical routine care. Patients received valproic acid as monopharmacy or in combination with either the antiepileptic drugs, phenobarbital, or carbamazepine. The final model describing valproic acid relative clearance was CL (mL/hr/kg) = 15.6.TBW (kg)-0.252.DOSE (mg/kg/day)0.183.0.898GEN.COPB.COCBZ, where COPB equals 1.10 if the patient is treated with phenobarbital, a value of unity otherwise, and COCBZ equals 0.769.DOSE (mg/kg/day)0.179 if the patient is treated with carbamazepine, a value of unity otherwise. Valproic acid relative clearance was highest in the very young and decreased in a weight-related fashion in children, with minimal changes observed in adults. This pattern was consistent whether valproic acid was administered alone or coadministered with phenobarbital or carbamazepine. When valproic acid was coadministered with phenobarbital or carbamazepine, valproic acid relative clearance increased as compared with that in monopharmacy. Its magnitude in the presence of carbamazepine increased in a valproic acid daily dose-related fashion. Concomitant administration of phenobarbital and valproic acid resulted in a 10% increase on valproic acid relative clearance. The clearance in female patients was approximately 10% less than that in male patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Population-based investigation of relative clearance of digoxin in Japanese patients by multiple trough screen analysis: an update.

The steady-state concentrations of digoxin at trough levels were studied to reestablish the role of patient characteristics in estimating doses for digoxin using routine therapeutic drug-monitoring data. The data (n = 548) showing steady-state serum concentrations of digoxin after repetitive oral administration in 385 hospitalized patients were analyzed using NONMEM, a computer program designed to analyze pharmacokinetics in study populations by allowing pooling of data. Analysis of the pharmacokinetics of digoxin was accomplished with a simple steady-state pharmacokinetic model. The effect of a variety of developmental and demographic factors on the clearance of digoxin was investigated. Estimates generated by NONMEM indicated that clearance of digoxin was influenced by the demographic variables of age, total body weight, serum creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, gender, the coadministration of spironolactone, the presence or absence of congestive heart failure, and the administration of a half-tablet. The interindividual variability in the clearance of digoxin was modeled with proportional error with an estimated coefficient of variation of approximately 22%; the residual variability was approximately 25.0%. An a priori method, based on the value for clearance of digoxin obtained by NONMEM analysis, was proposed as a useful adjunct for the prediction of the steady-state concentration of digoxin at trough level as a function of the maintenance dose of digoxin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pupillary response to tropicamide in Japanese patients with alcoholic dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia.

The anticholinergic agent tropicamide causes a significantly greater change in the pupil diameter of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) than in that of patients with alcoholic or vascular dementia or in normal controls. Although the response increases with the severity of AD, the overlap of response with normal controls in milder cases and the difficulty of obtaining results in severe cases limit its use as a diagnostic tool.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Presenilin-1 polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Recent reports suggest an association between an intronic polymorphism at the 3' position of exon 8 of the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), but little is known about its role in the pathogenesis of AD. By genotyping 193 Japanese patients with vascular dementia or AD, and 186 elderly control subjects, we have shown no association between vascular dementia and this PS-1 polymorphism, though PS-1 genotype 1/1 and allele 1 frequencies were both significantly higher among patients with AD than among controls. These results argue for a specific role of PS-1 allele 1 in the pathogenesis of AD, rather than suggesting a broader role for this allele as, for example, in vascular dementia.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1997

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele distribution in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome with or without global intellectual deficits.

Recent genetic studies show that the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 allele is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether this allele is associated with other dementing diseases is the next important question. The information could provide a clue to the pathogenetic role of ApoE. In the present study, patients with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) of alcoholic etiology were divided into two groups according to the severity of intellectual deficits, i.e., those of "classical" Korsakoff patients with preserved intellectual function other than amnesia and those with global intellectual deficits. Genotyping showed that the frequency of ApoE epsilon 4 allele was significantly higher in the patients with global deficits, suggesting the involvement of this allele in the intellectual decline of WKS. In contrast, distributions of other two markers, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and presenilin-1, did not differ between the two groups. These results added further support to the notion that the consequence of acute insult to the brain is influenced by the ApoE genotype, and suggested ApoE's role in the development of a certain group of "alcoholic dementia."

Alcohol Amnestic Disorder↗
PubMed1997

Babesiasis in Nanjing area, China.

This article discusses the tick-borne babesiases which harm dairy cattle, buffaloes and dogs. In addition, the pathogen, vector, seasonal occurrence, hosts, symptoms, pathological changes and treatment are summarized and analysed. The pathogens in this area were identified as Babesia bigemina, B. bovis and B. gibsoni; the vectors as Boophilus microplus, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis longicornis. Affected buffaloes were found from April to September, peak numbers occurred between May and July. Affected dairy cattle were most numerous in July and August. Hunting dogs were the most affected dogs. Infected dogs were found from February until the beginning of December; peak numbers occurred from September to November. Affected animals were acute cases. Symptoms and pathological changes were obvious, but jaundice was rare in dogs. Acaprin, acriflavine, imidocarb and berenil were used early and late. Their effect was ideal but resistance has developed to these drugs.

Acriflavine↗
PubMed1997

Selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by NS-398 in endotoxin shock rats in vivo.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 was examined using a rat endotoxin shock model and the potency and selectivity of NS-398, a COX-2 selective inhibitor in vitro, for COX-2 activity was examined in vivo. MATERIAL: Male Wistar rats (weighing 140-180 g) were used. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered to rats (LPS-treated rats) and expression of COX-1 mRNA and COX-2 mRNA in the aorta and peripheral blood leukocytes was examined by RT-PCR. COX activity was assessed by measuring the plasma 6-keto prostaglandin (PG) F1 alpha, PGE2 and thromboxane (TX)B2 30s after administration of arachidonic acid (AA, 3 mg/kg, i.v.), NS-398 (0.3-100 mg/kg, p.o.) or indomethacin (0.3-3 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 1 h before the AA injection. RESULTS: COX-2 mRNA was detectable in the aorta and peripheral blood leukocytes at least from 3 to 9 h after the LPS injection but not in non-LPS-treated rats. Plasma 6-keto PGF1 alpha, PGE2 and TXB2 levels after AA injection into LPS-treated rats were significantly enhanced compared to findings in non-LPS-treated rats. NS-398 showed significant inhibition of the increase in PGs in LPS-treated rats, the ED50 values being 0.35 mg/kg for 6-keto PGF1 alpha, 1.5 mg/kg for PGE2 and < 0.3 mg/kg for TXB2. NS-398 even at 100 mg/kg did not significantly suppress the increased PGs levels in non-LPS-treated rats. In contrast, indomethacin significantly inhibited plasma PGs levels after AA injection into LPS-treated rats and non-LPS-treated rats. The ED50 values in LPS-treated rats, determined by 6-keto PGF1 alpha, PGE2 and TXB2 production, were 1.0, 1.3 and 2.3 mg/kg and those in non-LPS-treated rats were 0.42, 0.24 and 0.93 mg/kg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a rat endotoxin shock model, expression of COX-2 plays a role in an increase in COX activity. NS-398 showed preferential inhibitory effects on COX-2 activity in vivo. This approach is useful to directly analyze the inhibitory activity of NSAIDs for COX-1 and COX-2 in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Pharmacokinetic properties of YM17E, an inhibitor of acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyl transferase, and serum cholesterol levels in healthy volunteers.

We conducted a single and repeat oral dose study of YM17E, a novel inhibitor of acyl coenzyme A (CoA): cholesterol acyltransferase, in healthy male volunteers to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile, tolerability and effect of the drug on serum cholesterol. In the single administration study, YM17E was administered after a meal to two groups of subjects (each containing six subjects taking the drug and three taking placebo) receiving 3, 60 and 300 mg or 15, 60 and 450 mg YM17E, respectively. Plasma concentrations of unchanged drug following single oral administration at 3-300 mg after a meal increased with increasing dose. In contrast, plasma concentrations after administration of 450 mg were almost the same as after 300 mg. Unchanged YM17E was not detected in urine after single administration, suggesting that it was excreted via the bile or urine after metabolism. Five active metabolites (M1, M2-a, M2-b, M3 and M4) were observed in plasma at concentrations comparable to those of unchanged YM17E. Their plasma concentrations increased in a slightly greater than dose-dependent manner from 3 to 300 mg. The effect of food was studied in an open crossover design with a 1-week washout period. Twelve subjects received 150 mg YM17E in both the fasted and post-prandial states. The AUC and Cmax after fasting were closely similar to those after a meal, showing that bioavailability was not affected by food intake. In the repeated oral dose study, the subjects received test drug at 150 mg or 300 mg (n = 6 each) or placebo (n = 3) twice a day (after breakfast and after dinner) for 7 days. On days 1 and 7, the subjects received YM17E once a day (after breakfast) for evaluation of pharmacokinetic properties. After repeated oral administration of 150 mg b.d., plasma concentrations reached steady state by day 5 (mean Cmin 48.6 ng.ml-1). After repeated administration of 300 mg b.d., plasma concentrations prior to each daily morning dose increased up to the 5th day (mean Cmin 166.6 ng.ml-1) and then tended to decrease until the 7th day. No significant signs, symptoms or changes in serum cholesterol levels were observed during the single and repeated oral dose studies at 150 mg b.d. Although statistical analysis was not conducted because of the small number of subjects, all subjects receiving repeated oral administration of 300 mg twice daily showed a 25% decrease in serum cholesterol level on day 7, but also the simultaneous occurrence of diarrhoea.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Pharmacokinetics of nicardipine enantiomers in healthy young volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to compare pharmacokinetic behaviors of nicardipine enantiomers given in different doses with different formulations of racemic nicardipine in healthy volunteers. METHODS: One or two 20-mg racemic nicardipine tablets, and a 40-mg sustained-release capsule of nicardipine were administered to eight healthy volunteers in a crossover fashion and pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated. Enantiomer concentrations were determined by GC-MS combined with chiral stationary phase HPLC. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Serum concentration of (+)-nicardipine was approximately 2-3 times higher than that of (-)-nicardipine in 20- and 40-mg doses of conventional formulations and a non-linear increase in bioavailability with dose was demonstrated. The value for AUC of (+)-nicardipine was approximately 2.3-2.8 times greater than that of the (-)-nicardipine (P < 0.05) when 20 and 40 mg racemic nicardipine were administered in a conventional preparation. Relative bioavailability of the sustained-release preparation vs the conventional preparation was 28% and 44% for (+)- and (-)-nicardipine, respectively, for the 40-mg dose.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Microsatellite polymorphism in the human heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter and its application in association studies with Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.

Oxidative stress has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a key enzyme in heme catabolism, also functions as an antioxidant enzyme. Here, we show that a (GT)n repeat in the human HO-1 gene promoter region is highly polymorphic, although no particular alleles are associated with AD or PD. This newly identified genetic marker should allow us to study the possible involvement of HO-1 in certain human diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Chronopharmacological study of KE-SI-TO in mice.

Influence of dosing time on pharmacological effects and toxicity of KE-SI-TO (KST), analgesic and antipyretic drug, was investigated in ICR male mice under LD (12:12) cycle. Significant circadian rhythms were demonstrated for analgesic and hypothermal effects of KST (1 g/kg, i.p.) with higher values in the dark and lower ones in the light (p<0.01, respectively). The rhythmic patterns of KST-induced analgesia and hypothermia resembled overall the rhythms occuring in the nondrugged state. Injection of KST resulted in a parallel increasing in latency to hot plate and a parallel decreasing in rectal temperature. KST (6 g/kg, i.p.)-induced toxicity also showed a significant circadian rhythm with the highest mortality at 1700 and the lowest one at 0500 (p<0.05). The principles and concepts of biological rhythm should be included in the consideration of the actions of KST.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1997

Circadian rhythm of fever induced by interferon-alpha in mice.

The influence of dosing time on the fever induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) was investigated in ICR male mice under light-dark cycle. There was a significant circadian rhythm in rectal temperature, as an index of fever, at 1 hr after IFN-alpha (10 MIU/kg, i.v.) injection. The rhythmic pattern resembled overall the rhythm occurring in the nondrugged state. IFN-alpha increased rectal temperature during the light phase, but not during the dark phase. The fever induced by IFN-alpha was blocked by indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment. There was no significant difference of plasma IFN-alpha concentrations at 0.167, 0.5 and 1 hr after IFN-alpha injection. Therefore the dosing time dependent difference of fever induced by IFN-alpha may be caused via that of PGE2 level elevated by IFN-alpha. The choice of the most appropriate time of day for drug administration may help to achieve rational chronotherapeutics of IFN-alpha.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic↗
PubMed1997

Effect of a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, GK-128, on 5-HT3 receptors mediating contractions and relaxations in guinea-pig distal colon.

1. We investigated 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor-mediating contractions and relaxations in the guinea-pig isolated distal colon using various 5-HT3 receptor agonists and antagonists, including GK-128 (2-[(2-methylimidazol-1-yl) methyl] benzo[f] thiochromen-1-one monohydrochloride hemihydrate). 2. Selective 5-HT3 receptor agonists, 2-methyl-5-HT and m-chlorophenylbiguanide, produced spantide-insensitive contraction and atropine-insensitive contraction and the relaxation. These agonists showed a small, but significant, difference of potency between contraction and relaxation. 3. GK-128 competitively blocked both 2-methyl-5-HT- and m-chlorophenylbiguanide-induced responses with similar potency. The affinities of GK-128 for spantide-insensitive contraction and atropine-insensitive contraction were ten-fold higher than for relaxation. 4. Other selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, azasetron and tropisetron, also exhibited higher affinity in contraction than in relaxation, but the extent of their affinity differences was smaller than that observed in GK-128. In contrast, granisetron, ramosetron and ondansetron exhibited no significant differences in their affinity values among the three responses. 5. These results suggest that the 5-HT3 receptors which mediate contraction and relaxation in the guinea-pig distal colon may not be the same, and that GK-128 is a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with a stronger potency for contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Vasodilation profile of CD-832, a novel dihydropyridine derivative in rabbit aorta.

1. CD-832, nifedipine and nitrendipine, but not nitroglycerin and nicorandil, inhibited the KCl-induced contraction of rabbit aortas. 2. CD-832, nitroglycerin and nicorandil, but not nifedipine and nitrendipine, inhibited the norepinephrine-induced contraction of aortas. The inhibitory effects of these agents were either potentiated or inhibited by zaprinast or methylene blue, respectively. 3. On the KCl-induced contraction, the duration of CD-832-induced vasodilation was longer than that of nifedipine. Concerning the norepinephrine-induced contraction, the duration of CD-832-induced vasodilation was longer than that of nicorandil. 4. These results suggest that the mechanism of CD-832-induced vasodilation concerns both Ca(2+)-antagonistic action and a nitratelike action. Furthermore, the vasodilation is long lasting.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Disposition of the selective alpha1A-adrenoceptor antagonist tamsulosin in humans: comparison with data from interspecies scaling.

Tamsulosin-HCl is an alpha1A-adrenoceptor antagonist that is mainly eliminated by metabolism in animals and humans and is highly bound to alpha1-acid glycoprotein in blood plasma. The disposition of the compound (0.4 mg as modified-release granules in a capsule) was determined in male volunteers, using intravenous (iv) infusion of tamsulosin-HCl (0.125 mg over 4 h) as reference treatment for the assessment of absolute oral bioavailability. Disposition parameters of iv tamsulosin in humans was compared with data predicted from animal data by interspecies scaling techniques. Levels after iv dosing in humans showed a biexponential decline, with mean half-lives (+/-SD) of 1.2 +/- 0.6 and 6.8 +/- 3.5 h, respectively. The mean systemic clearance (+/-SD) was low (viz., 48 +/- 24 mL/min). The mean volume of distribution (+/-SD) was rather small (21 +/- 6 L), and was estimated at 16 +/- 4 L in the steady state. The mean absolute oral bioavailability (+/-SD) was approximated at 100 +/- 19%. Systemic clearance in humans was poorly predictable from a logarithmic clearance versus body weight relation of rat, rabbit, and dog data. The prediction improved dramatically (accuracy 213%) when scaling was done with systemic clearance values of unbound drug, and it improved further (accuracy 59%) with the product of unbound clearance and maximum life-span potential. Also, the prediction of volume of distribution improved dramatically (accuracy 81%) after correction for differences in extent of protein binding between species. The terminal disposition half-life of 7.0 h, as predicted after integrating maximum life-span potential and protein binding in scaling of clearance, was very close to the value of 6.8 h established experimentally in humans. The present results with tamsulosin underline the importance of correction for extent of protein binding in allometric scaling of clearance and distribution volume.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed1997

Stereoselective 4'-hydroxylation of phenytoin: relationship to (S)-mephenytoin polymorphism in Japanese.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to clarify whether phenytoin (PHT) stereoselective hydroxylation cosegregates with (S)-mephenytoin phenotype. METHODS: A single dose of PHT (100 mg) was administered orally to six healthy Japanese subjects in whom the genotype and phenotype of CYP2C19 had been determined previously. The urinary excretion profiles of the metabolites of PHT, (R)- and (S)-p-HPPH [5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin] up to 361 postdose were compared between the two groups of poor metabolizers (PMs, n = 3) and extensive metabolizers (EMs, n = 3) with respect to CYP2C19. CYP2C9 genotype was also determined. RESULTS: All the alleles were found to be wild type (Arg144 Tyr358Ile359Gly417) in each subject. The mean value for cumulative urinary excretion of unchanged PHT was not significantly different between the PMs and the EMs. However, recovery of (R)-p-HPPH at 36 h was 3.5-fold lower and that of (S)-p-HPPH 1.3-fold lower in PMs than in EMs. Although the mean urinary excretion values for both metabolites were significantly lower in the PMs than in the EMs, the difference between the two groups was larger for (R)-p-HPPH. A significant negative correlation was observed between the hydroxylation index of omeprazole (the ratio between the serum concentrations of omeprazole and hydroxyomeprazole in blood samples drawn 3 h after drug intake) and the log10 0-12 h urinary recovery of (R)-p-HPPH. CONCLUSIONS: In humans, the 4'-hydroxylation of PHT is highly stereoselective towards formation of the (S)-enantiomer. Thus, (S)-hydroxylation by CYP2C9 might be the major determinant of the disposition of PHT. However, these results support the hypothesis that the stereoselective hydroxylation pathway of PHT to form (R)-p-HPPH cosegregates with the CYP2C19 metabolic polymorphism.

Administration, Oral↗