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Biomedical subjects

S Ishiwata

Publications and source records attributed to S Ishiwata.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Prevention of restenosis by bezafibrate after successful coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: To study the role of bezafibrate in prevention of restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we evaluated the incidence of restenosis and its correlation with serum lipid levels and effects on the coagulation-fibrinolytic system. METHODS: Subjects who had undergone successful elective PTCA were classified into three groups based on their triglyceride level and whether or not bezafibrate was administered. Fifty-two patients who had a triglyceride level < 150 mg/dl were classified as group A. Those with a triglyceride level +/- 150 mg/dl were randomly and prospectively allocated to receive either bezafibrate (group B, n = 21), or no lipid-lowering treatment (group C, n = 22). The restenosis rates in all three groups were subsequently monitored and correlated with serum levels of lipids and coagulation-fibrinolytic system markers. RESULTS: In the bezafibrate group, three of 21 patients (14%) had restenosis compared with 12 of 22 (55%) in group C and 18 of 52 (35%) in group A. In groups A and C, fibrinogen and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the patients with restenosis. At the time of re-evaluation, serum triglyceride, fibrinogen, and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) levels were lower and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were higher in the bezafibrate group than in group C. By logistic regression analysis, triglyceride and PAI-1 were found to be significant risk factors for postangioplasty restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Triglyceride is a risk factor for post-PTCA restenosis, and bezafibrate reduces the post-PTCA restenosis rate in patients with a high triglyceride level. In the bezafibrate group, a significant decrease in PAI-1 was observed in association with a decrease in triglyceride level and an elevation of HDL cholesterol level. This suggests that improvement in fibrinolytic capacity is involved in the mechanism of decrease in the rate of restenosis.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by reducing lipoprotein (a) levels with low-density lipoprotein apheresis. Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis Angioplasty Restenosis Trial (L-ART) Group.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that high plasma lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) levels are associated with an increase incidence of restenosis after angioplasty. Elective transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed in 66 patients (58 men and 8 women) aged 57 +/- 9 years (mean +/- SD). Two days before and 5 days after angioplasty, all patients underwent low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis with a dextran sulfate cellulose column as an Lp(a) absorbent; 39 patients also received 10 mg of pravastatin and 1,500 mg of niacin daily. Restenosis was defined as a recurrent luminal stenosis of > or = 50% in a previously dilated segment. Median Lp(a) levels were reduced from 23.3 mg/dl before apheresis to 10.9 mg/dl after apheresis (p < 0.0001). Angiography performed 2 to 9 months after angioplasty revealed restenosis in at least 1 site in 38% of the 137 control patients and in 32% of the 66 patients who underwent apheresis. Restenosis also occurred in 37% of the patients who underwent apheresis alone and in 28% of the patients who also received pravastatin and niacin in combination with LDL apheresis. The restenosis rate was 21% in the 42 patients whose Lp(a) levels were significantly reduced > or = 50%, and in 50% of the 24 patients whose Lp(a) levels were significantly reduced < 50% (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Structural and functional reconstitution of thin filaments in skeletal muscle.

Thin filaments were reconstituted by incorporating exogenous actin, tropomyosin and troponin into glycerinated skeletal muscle fibres or myofibrils. Firstly, thin filaments except short fragments at the Z line were selectively removed by treatment with plasma gelsolin, an actin severing protein. As a result, the fibres (or fibrils) lost the ability to generate active tension. Next, actin filaments were reconstituted by adding purified G-actin which polymerizes onto the actin fragments which remained at the Z line. Rhodamine phalloidin staining of myofibrils showed that exogenous actin was incorporated into the position where the intrinsic thin filaments located. Thin section electron micrographs of fibres showed that reconstituted actin filaments ran from the Z line to the inside of the A band, with some reaching the H zone. The number density of reconstituted actin filaments in the A band was about 20% of that found in intact fibres. The actin filament-reconstituted fibres (or fibrils) generated active tension in a Ca(2+)-insensitive manner and the tension was reversibly suppressed by 2,3-butanedione 2-monoxime. The recovered active tension was about 20% of tension developed by intact fibres. These results indicate that reconstituted actin filaments bear active tension similar to that borne by intact thin filaments. Thin filament-reconstituted fibres, which were prepared by adding purified tropomyosin-troponin complexes into actin filament-reconstituted fibres, showed Ca(2+)-sensitive tension generation. The maximum tension generated was not affected by the presence of tropomyosin and troponin. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that more than 25% of actin and 20% of tropomyosin and troponin was incorporated into the reconstituted fibres. These results indicate that the structure and function of thin filaments are substantially reconstituted by self-assembly of actin, tropomyosin and troponin. The reconstituted fibres and fibrils will be useful for studying the molecular mechanism of muscle contraction and its regulation.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Effectiveness of LDL-apheresis in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA): LDL-apheresis angioplasty restenosis trial (L-ART).

To investigate the efficacy of reducing plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) as well as low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels on the prevention of restenosis after PTCA, LDL-apheresis was attempted on a total of 54 patients at six institutions. LDL-apheresis using a dextran sulfate cellulose column has been proven to be an effective method for reducing both plasma Lp(a) and LDL-C levels. As a subgroup (apheresis-drug combined group), 29 of the 54 patients were given Pravastatin (HMG CoA reductase inhibitor) and Niceritrol (Nicotinic Acid) in addition to LDL-apheresis to maintain low plasma levels of both Lp(a) and LDL-C through the follow-up period of 5 months after PTCA. Patients whose plasma Lp(a) levels were reduced by more than 50% showed a lower restenosis rate than those whose plasma Lp(a) levels were reduced by less than 50% (21.2% vs. 52.4%, P = 0.0179), especially in patients with high plasma Lp(a) levels above 30 mg/dl where a much lower restenosis rate (15.0%) was observed. Furthermore, in the apheresis-drug combined group, the restenosis rate was 11.8% regardless of baseline plasma Lp(a) levels, including even those below 30 mg/dl. In conclusion, in patients with high plasma Lp(a) levels, a greater than 50% reduction in Lp(a) levels by LDL-apheresis is effective in preventing restenosis after PTCA. If the plasma Lp(a) reduction rate is greater than 50%, LDL-apheresis combined with lipid-lowering drugs such as niceritrol and pravastatin seems to be more effective, even in patients with low plasma Lp(a) levels.

Aged↗

The distribution of [11C]cocaine in normal and cocaine-sensitization mice.

[N-11C-methyl]-cocaine ([11C]cocaine), synthesized by N-methylation of norcocaine with [11C]CH3I, was used to assist in imaging the variety of local distribution by positron emission tomography (PET). The radiochemical yield and the radiochemical purity after purification of [11C]cocaine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at a sp. act. of 814 GBq/mmol were 47-58% and > 99%, respectively. The time required for synthesis including the purification was 25-30 min from the end of [11C]CH3I trapping. The physical distribution of [11C]cocaine in organ was also investigated in mice at various time after i.v. injection. The main accumulation of radioactivity occurred in the lung, kidney and brain within 1 min after the injection. In the brain, no differences in the organ were observed except the radioactivity level in each section increased for the first 5 min, since then radioactivity decreased dramatically. Furthermore, in the behavioral sensitization model of cocaine, the peak of [11C]cocaine uptake in each brain area was shown to be 5-15 min.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for glycyrrhizin and its aglycon, glycyrrhetic acid.

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) specific for glycyrrhetic acid (GA) were prepared and characterized. Obtained MoAbs (AGA-1, AGA-3, and AGA-6) reacted with GA dose-dependently, but not with glycyrrhizin (GL), carbenoxolone, and steroids. Next, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system using AGA-1 was established. The standard curve showed good linearity between 0.01 and 1000 ng/ml of GA, and the detection limit was 5 pg/ml. Recovery, and intra- and interassay variations of this assay system was satisfactory. GL was also measurable quantitatively after acid-hydrolysis of the samples. The developed ELISA system would be useful to determine GL and GA in biological samples or drugs as an alternative method to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Stepwise motion of an actin filament over a small number of heavy meromyosin molecules is revealed in an in vitro motility assay.

In order to determine the relative motions of an actin filament and a myosin molecule upon hydrolysis of one ATP, an in vitro motility assay, in which individual actin filaments slide over heavy meromyosin molecules bound to a substrate, was combined with an optical trapping technique. An actin filament, attached to a gelsolin-coated bead, was captured with an optical trap. The surface-bound heavy meromyosin molecules pulled the filament against the trapping force, which resulted in back and forth motions of the actin-bound bead. The number of heavy meromyosin molecules interacting with an actin filament (at most 1/micron filament) and the ATP concentration (< or = 0.5 microM) were chosen so as to facilitate detection of each "pull." Calculation of the centroid of the bead image revealed abrupt displacements of the actin filament. The frequency of such displacements was between 0.05 and 0.1 per 1 s per 1 micron actin filament, being consistent with calculated values based on the reported bimolecular binding constants of ATP and the actomyosin rigor complex. The distribution of the displacements peaked around 7 nm at a trapping force of 0.016 pN/nm, but it became broader, and some displacements were as large as 30 nm, when the trapping force was reduced to 0.0063 pN/nm, suggesting that the force generation due to the structural change of a myosin head may be insufficient to explain such displacements.

Actins↗

Right-handed rotation of an actin filament in an in vitro motile system.

Muscle contraction occurs by mutual sliding between thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments. But the physical and chemical properties of the sliding force are not clear; even the precise direction of sliding force generated at each cross-bridge is not known. We report here the use of a recently developed in vitro motile assay system to show supercoiling of an actin filament in which the front part of the filament was fixed to a glass surface through cross-linked heavy-meromyosin and the rear part was able to slide on a track of heavy-meromyosin. A left-handed single turn of superhelix formed just before supercoiling, suggesting that the sliding force has a right-handed torque component that induces the right-handed rotation of an actin filament around its long axis. The presence of the torque component in the sliding force will explain several properties of the contractile system of muscle.

Actins↗

Orientation of actin monomers in moving actin filaments.

We have visualized, under an optical microscope, the orientations of actin monomers in individual actin filaments undergoing Brownian motion in solution, actively sliding past myosin molecules, or immobile on a surface. For the visualization, two strategies have been adopted. One is to exploit the fluorescence polarization of a fluorescent probe firmly attached to actin. Using the probe phalloidin-tetramethylrhodamine, the fluorescence was clearly polarized along the filament axis, showing alignment of the probe molecules along the filament axis. Within our temporal resolution of 33 ms and spatial resolution of better than 1 micron (average over approximately 10(2) actin monomers), the orientation of the probe (hence of actin monomers) did not change upon interaction of the filament with heavy meromyosin; myosin-induced reorientation was estimated to be a few degrees at most. This first method, while highly sensitive to small reorientations of monomers off or toward the filament axis, does not report on reorientations around the axis. To detect rotation around the filament axis, we adopted the second strategy in which we attached small plastic beads to the actin filaments. Axial turns would be immediately apparent from the movement of the beads. Preliminary observations indicate that actin filaments can slide over a heavy meromyosin-coated surface without axial rotations. Since rotations have been implicated in different experiments, we are currently investigating the source of the apparent discrepancy. The attached bead also serves as a handle through which we can apply force, via optical tweezers, on the filament. By letting the sliding actin filament pull the bead against the optical force, we were able to estimate the sliding force and its fluctuation.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Spontaneous tension oscillation (SPOC) of muscle fibers and myofibrils minimum requirements for SPOC.

Several years ago, we found a new chemical condition for the spontaneous oscillatory contraction of glycerinated skeletal muscle and named it "SPOC". The condition was such that MgATP coexists with its hydrolytic products, MgADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Micromolar concentrations of free Ca2+ were not necessarily required for this oscillation. Here, we summarize our recent work on the mechano-chemical properties of SPOC not only in glycerinated single fibers and myofibrils of skeletal muscle (fast type) but also in glycerinated small bundles of cardiac muscle; the isometric tension and its oscillation were examined at various concentrations of MgATP, MgADP and Pi while controlling the concentration of free Ca2+; we constructed a three-dimensional "state diagram" taken against the concentrations of MgADP, Pi and free Ca2+. The 3-D state diagram clearly showed the existence of three regions corresponding to three muscular states; the SPOC region was located in between the regions for contraction (without oscillation) and relaxation. Based on these results, we discuss the mechanism of SPOC, especially the minimum requirements for its occurrence. Finally, we suggest that slow shortening and quick lengthening repeatedly occur every half-sarcomere through the transition between the two states, where weak-force-generating complexes or strong-force-generating complexes are dominant; the transition may be induced by a coupling with the mechanical states of cross-bridges and/or thin filaments.

Animals↗

Changes in mobility of chromaffin granules in actin network with its assembly and Ca(2+)-dependent disassembly by gelsolin.

As a final stage of cell signal transduction, secretory cells release hormones by exocytosis. Before secretory granules contact with the cell membrane for fusion, an actin-network barrier must dissociate as a prelude. To elucidate dynamical behaviors of secretory granules in actin networks, in vitro assembly and disassembly processes of actin networks were examined by means of dynamic light-scattering spectroscopy. We studied actin polymerization in the presence of chromaffin granules isolated from bovine adrenal medullas and found that the entanglement of actin filaments rapidly formed cages that confined granules in them. We also studied the effect of gelsolin, one of actin-severing proteins, on the network of actin filaments preformed in the presence of chromaffin granules. It turned out that the cages that confined granules rapidly disappeared when gelsolin was added in the presence of free Ca2+ ions. A semiquantitative analysis of dynamic light-scattering spectra permitted us to estimate the changes in the mobility (or the translational diffusion coefficient) of chromaffin granules in the actin network with its assembly and Ca(2+)-dependent disassembly by gelsolin. Based on the present results and some pieces of evidence in the literature, a model is proposed for biophysical situations before, during, and after an exocytotic event.

Actins↗

Elastic filaments in situ in cardiac muscle: deep-etch replica analysis in combination with selective removal of actin and myosin filaments.

To clarify the full picture of the connectin (titin) filament network in situ, we selectively removed actin and myosin filaments from cardiac muscle fibers by gelsolin and potassium acetate treatment, respectively, and observed the residual elastic filament network by deep-etch replica electron microscopy. In the A bands, elastic filaments of uniform diameter (6-7 nm) projecting from the M line ran parallel, and extended into the I bands. At the junction line in the I bands, which may correspond to the N2 line in skeletal muscle, individual elastic filaments branched into two or more thinner strands, which repeatedly joined and branched to reach the Z line. Considering that cardiac muscle lacks nebulin, it is very likely that these elastic filaments were composed predominantly of connectin molecules; indeed, anti-connectin monoclonal antibody specifically stained these elastic filaments. Further, striations of approximately 4 nm, characteristic of isolated connectin molecules, were also observed in the elastic filaments. Taking recent analyses of the structure of isolated connectin molecules into consideration, we concluded that individual connectin molecules stretched between the M and Z lines and that each elastic filament consisted of laterally-associated connectin molecules. Close comparison of these images with the replica images of intact and S1-decorated sarcomeres led us to conclude that, in intact sarcomeres, the elastic filaments were laterally associated with myosin and actin filaments in the A and I bands, respectively. Interestingly, it was shown that the elastic property of connectin filaments was not restricted by their lateral association with actin filaments in intact sarcomeres. Finally, we have proposed a new structural model of the cardiac muscle sarcomere that includes connectin filaments.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Two types of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities with distinct clinical features in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

During the long-term follow-up of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), some patients develop left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities in the absence of fixed coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to clarify which clinical features in patients with HCM seem to influence gradual development of LV wall motion abnormalities over an extended period of time. The study investigates the incidence, mechanism and predictors of these abnormalities. In this retrospective study of 162 patients with HCM, followed-up for an average of 13.3 years, we focused our attention on 16 patients who gradually developed two different forms of LV wall motion abnormality. In 11 of these 16 patients, apical segmental dysfunction with midzone obstruction was recognized; the remaining five patients showed generalized hypokinesis, as seen in dilated cardiomyopathy. The 11 patients with apical segmental dysfunction presented with extensive apical hypertrophy reaching the midventricular level at first examination. The five patients with generalized hypokinesis showed a slight decrease in LV contractility and reduced localized antero-apical wall motion even at initial examination. None of the patients in either group developed the other group's features during their clinical course. These two groups had different initial manifestations and pursued different clinical courses, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms causing wall motion abnormalities are different.

Adult↗

Restrictive cardiomyopathy with complete atrioventricular block and distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles.

Two-dimensional echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiologic studies, and biopsies of cardiac and skeletal muscle were performed in a patient with complete atrioventricular block as the initial manifestation of restrictive cardiomyopathy. The patient also showed distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles. Weakness of the distal leg muscles occurred several years after the initial cardiac manifestations and the patient developed congestive heart failure 1 year before the second admission. Endomyocardial biopsy showed patchy myocardial fibrosis without endomyocardial fibrosis or any other specific findings of myocardial disease. Histochemical examination of skeletal muscle showed the typical features of distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles. In some patients with atrioventricular block as the initial manifestation of restrictive cardiomyopathy, the cardiomyopathy may be just 1 manifestation of a more generalized disorder affecting both cardiac and skeletal muscle.

Adult↗

Super helix formation of actin filaments in an in vitro motile system.

Muscle contraction results from relative sliding of actin and myosin filaments. However, the possibility that actin filaments twist or rotate during sliding has not yet been experimentally investigated. We found that a super helix of an actin filament is formed in an in vitro motile system. This fact suggests that an actin filament twists and rotates due to a torque component of a sliding force generated at cross-bridges.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Relationship of urinary pseudouridine and 1-methyladenosine to activity of leukemia and lymphoma.

Urinary levels of pseudouridine and 1-methyladenosine in patients with leukemia and lymphoma were measured by the inhibition ELISA using monoclonal antibodies to determine the correlation of nucleosides excretion with disease activity. Significantly elevated levels of these nucleosides were detected in patients with all types of disease tested. Seventy-seven percent (46/60) and 62% (37/62) of patients had elevated levels of pseudouridine and 1-methyladenosine above normal mean + 2S.D., respectively, and combination assay of these nucleosides gave higher positive rate (87%; 52/60) than either single assay. The changes of urinary pseudouridine and 1-methyladenosine reflected the disease status of patients in remission or in relapse and the effect of chemotherapy. These results suggest that urinary pseudouridine and 1-methyladenosine might be clinically useful as complementary markers to the monitoring of the disease status of patients with leukemia and lymphoma by hematological examination.

Adenosine↗