[Hormone replacement therapy and hypertension].
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Female↗
Biomedical subjects
S Ito
Publications and source records attributed to S Ito.
Increased gene expression of adrenomedullin and adrenomedullin-receptor complexes, receptor-activity modifying protein (RAMP)2 and calcitonin-receptor-like receptor (CRLR) in the hearts of rats with congestive heart failure.
Adrenomedullin is a vasodilator peptide produced in various organs, including heart and kidney. A novel adrenomedullin receptor complex has recently been identified, namely the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and receptor-activity modifying protein (RAMP) 2. In the present study, we have examined gene expression of RAMP2, CRLR and adrenomedullin in hearts and kidneys of rats with congestive heart failure caused by coronary artery ligation. Partial cloning was performed to determine the rat RAMP2 nucleotide sequence. Messenger RNA levels were then determined using competitive, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR techniques. Significantly increased expression levels (means+/-S.E.) of RAMP2, CRLR and adrenomedullin mRNA were found in the atrium (1.8+/-0.2-fold, 1. 8+/-0.2-fold and 2.1+/-0.1-fold, respectively, compared with sham operated rats) and in the ventricle (1.4+/-0.1-fold, 1.3+/-0.03-fold and 3.0+/-0.5-fold respectively). On the other hand, expression levels of RAMP2, CRLR and adrenomedullin mRNAs were not significantly changed in the kidney. These findings suggest potential roles of locally-produced and locally-acting adrenomedullin in the failing heart.
Adrenal Medulla↗
[Urethral diverticula surrounding the urethra in women: report of 2 cases].
We report two cases of female urethral diverticula. A 49-year-old woman (case 1) complained of perineal pain when she voided urine. A 36-year-old woman (case 2) complained of perineal pain. In both cases, intravenous pyerography and urethrography revealed diverticula around their urethra, and we diagnosed them with urethral diverticula which surrounded their urethra by magnetic resonance imaging. We treated them by transvaginal diverticulectomy. Case 2 was successfully treated, but the diverticulum recurred after one year in case 1. There are over 200 reported cases of female diverticula in the Japanese literature, but a urethral diverticulum surrounding the urethra is rare.
Adult↗
[Effect of blood pressure control on diabetic nephropathy].
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Antihypertensive Agents↗
Outline of the medical insurance system in Japan with figures and tables (1). An overview of the Japanese insurance system.
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Aged↗
[Two aged patients with chronic renal failure and chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to aortic aneurysms: effect of continuous subcutaneous heparin infusion therapy].
We describe here two cases of chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC) secondary to aortic aneurysms. The patients were 78- and 84-year-old males, who visited our hospital to receive hemodialysis therapy for chronic renal failure probably due to nephrosclerosis. They had mild bleeding tendency and thrombocytopenia(< 10 x 10(4)/microliter). Coagulation test revealed the findings of chronic DIC in both patients, and computed tomography showed abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with mural thrombi, respectively. In one patient, subcutaneous hemorrhage after vascular access surgery had continued for a month. However, the hemorrhage and swelling of the limb disappeared after continuous subcutaneous heparin infusion(CSHI) therapy in a daily dose of 10,000-14,000 unit. These findings suggest that chronic DIC secondary to aortic aneurysm should be considered when bleeding tendency and thrombocytopenia are observed in aged patients, and that CSHI is the choice of therapy for the bleeding tendency of chronic DIC.
Aged↗
[Therapeutic efficacy of amantadine hydrochloride in patients with epidemic influenza A virus infection].
A virus infection was studied using half of the normal oral dose of amantadine hydrochloride-100 mg/d instead of 200 mg/d. The patients in this study, who visited the clinics during January and February 1999, were confirmed within 48 hours to have influenza A virus infections by the Directigen FluA test. Using a quasi-randomized controlled trial, 26 patients were treated with amantadine hydrochloride in addition to the usual medication, while 23 were treated with only the ordinary medication. There were no significant differences in the mean age, 35.6 years old, or in clinical features between the two groups. The period of fever over 38 degrees C in the amantadine treated group was 1 day while that in the control group was 1.7 days, which shows a significant difference (p = 0.049). There was no significant difference in the duration of aching, such as arthralgia, or of general fatigue. There was no significant difference in the appearance of subsequent new symptoms after the onset of influenza A virus infection. In conclusion, it is expected that oral amantadine hydrochloride, 100 mg/d, together with the ordinary medication, will reduce the duration of the period of fever over 38 degrees C.
Adult↗
Competitive Adsorption of Chloroform and Iron Ion onto Activated Carbon Fiber.
Chloroform in tap water has been a significant problem because it may be a carcinogenic substituent. Iron ion exists in tap water because of dissolution from iron water pipes. Iron ions in tap water cause discoloration and a bad odor. The isotherms of chloroform and iron ion adsorption onto activated carbon fibers in a single solution (chloroform or iron ion) and in a binary mixture solution (chloroform and iron ion) were investigated to estimate the competitiveness between chloroform and iron ions. The amount of adsorbed iron ions increased with increasing pore volume of the activated carbon fibers, while that of chloroform decreased. The amount of chloroform adsorbed onto the activated carbon fibers in the binary mixture solution was greater than that in the single solution. These results indicate that the adsorption of chloroform and iron ion onto activated carbon fibers could be competitive. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
Journal Article↗
Synthesis and biological activities of NB-506 analogues: Effects of the positions of two hydroxyl groups at the indole rings.
In the course of a study of 6-N-amino-substituted analogues of NB-506 (1), a more potent anticancer drug, J-109,404 (2), in which the formyl group of NB-506 was replaced with a 1,3-dihydroxypropane group, was reported. A study of further modification in the positions of two hydroxyl groups at the indole rings of 2 resulted in the discovery of a 2,10-dihydroxy analogue, J-107,088 (3), which is a promising anticancer agent with a broader therapeutic window than J-109,404.
Animals↗
cDNA cloning, expression and characterization of human prostaglandin F synthase.
A cDNA clone of prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) was isolated from human lung by using cDNA of bovine lung-type PGFS as a probe and its protein expressed in Escherichia coli was purified to apparent homogeneity. The human PGFS catalyzed the reduction of prostaglandin (PG) D2, PGH2 and phenanthrenequinone (PQ), and the oxidation of 9alpha,11beta-PGF2 to PGD2. The kcat/Km values for PGD2 and 9alpha,11beta-PGF2 were 21000 and 1800 min(-1) mM(-1), respectively, indicating that the catalytic efficiency for PGD2 and 9alpha,11beta-PGF2 was the highest among the various substrates, except for PQ. The PGFS activity in the cytosol of human lung was completely absorbed with antihuman PGFS antiserum. Moreover, mRNA of PGFS was expressed in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the expression in lymphocytes was markedly suppressed by the T cell mitogen concanavalin A. These results support the notion that human PGFS plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as asthma.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Cloning and characterization of two novel aldo-keto reductases (AKR1C12 and AKR1C13) from mouse stomach.
In contrast to hepatic hydrosteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs) of the aldo-keto reductase family (AKR1C), little is known about a stomach one. From a mouse stomach cDNA library, we isolated two clones encoding proteins of 323 amino acid residues. They exhibited 93.2% amino acid sequence identity and 64-68% with any known HSDs. Recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli reduced 9,10-phenanthraquinone with NAD(P)H as cofactor. The mRNAs were exclusively expressed in stomach, liver and ileum. The present study demonstrates that these proteins are new members of the HSD subfamily and they are named AKR1C12 and AKR1C13. Immunohistochemical analysis suggests that they are involved in detoxification of xenobiotics in the stomach.
Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
Specific direct radioimmunoassay of angiotensin II (AT II) in human plasma and the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.
Specific direct radioimmunoassay of angiotensin II (AT II) in human plasma was developed to evaluate the dynamics of endogenous AT II in various types of hypertension. Detection limit of this method was less than 2.3 pg/ml, and normal value is less than 25 pg/ml. Cross reactivity of antibody with AT I and III was 0.037% and 21%, respectively. There were good correlation between the value measured by direct method, and that of extraction method (r = 0.96, P < 0.01) and plasma renin activity (r = 0.80, P < 0.01). By oral administration of ACE inhibitor (captopril 50 mg), AT II levels were suppressed to 10 pg/ml or less in most patients with essential hypertension, renal parenchymal hypertension and renovascular hypertension up to 2 h. However, AT II levels in patients treated with ACE inhibitors chronically were not different from the AT II levels in patients without ACE inhibitor. In primary aldosteronism AT II was extremely low levels. AT II markedly increased by the stimulation test using furosemide (1 mg/kg i.v.). These results suggest that this method may be useful to clarify the pathophysiology of hypertension and the escape of the inhibition by ACE inhibitor.
Angiotensin II↗
Changes in prostacyclin, thromboxane A2 and F2-isoprostanes, and influence of eicosapentaenoic acid and antiplatelet agents in patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
Prostacyclin (PGI2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and F2-isoprostanes, prostaglandin F2-like compounds, have wide and contrasting spectrum of biological activities and may influence blood pressure and atherogenesis. To investigate the dynamics of PGI2, TXA2 and F2-isoprostanes in patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia (HH group), we measured the major urinary metabolites of PGI2: 6-keto PGF1alpha (Keto) and 2,3-dinor-6-keto PGF1alpha, (Dinor), those of TXA2:TXB2 and 11-dehydro TXB2 (Dehydro), and urinary 8-isoprostane (Iso) in 34 patients. Urinary excretion of Dinor was significantly lower in patients than in controls and that of Dehydro was significantly higher in patients than in controls. Keto, TXB2 and Iso were not significantly different between them. Antiplatelet agents decreased not only TXA2 metabolites but also PGI2 metabolites. Urinary C-peptide immunoreactivity was correlated with Dinor and Dehydro. After administration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), total cholesterol (T-cho) and triglycerides (TG) significantly decreased. Although prostanoids did not show significant change, changes in T-cho were correlated with changes in Dinor and changes in Iso. These results suggest that PGI2 and TXA2 of systemic origin might be related to the pathophysiology of hypertension and hyperlipidemia and that the dynamics of PGI2, TXA2 and F2-isoprostanes might be related to not only blood pressure regulation but also lipid and glucose metabolism.
Aspirin↗
Therapeutic advantage of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in chronic glomerulonephritis.
Hypertension in chronic progressive renal disease is a major clinical problem leading to renal function loss. We studied the influence of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and the effect of hypertension therapy on renal function in 116 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. Patients were subdivided as hypertensive, normotensive and hypotensive according to the level of ABP and age. Hypotensive subjects showed improvement of renal function and normotensive subjects showed slower rate of progression of renal function loss than hypertensives, suggesting the adequate level of ABP was 100-125/55-75 mm Hg in patients less than 40 years old, 100-135/60-80 mm Hg in patients 40-60 years old, and 105-140/60-85 mm Hg in patients over 60 years, respectively. The renal protection of calcium antagonists was associated with achieving lower blood pressure levels, whereas the blood pressure level did not affect progression of renal function in patient treated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. ACE inhibitor, but not calcium antagonists, showed a reduction of urinary protein excretion. Thus, the mechanisms of renal protection were different between ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists.
Adolescent↗
Management of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus by using lumboperitoneal shunt system with the Codman Hakim programmable valve.
Thirty-two patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus were managed using the lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt system in which the Codman Hakim programmable valve was utilized. The initial opening pressure was set at 100 mm H(2)O in three cases, 80 mm H(2)O in two, 70 mm H(2)O in three cases, 50 mm H(2)O in 23, and 30 mm H(2)O in one case (mean pressure 57.8 mm H(2)O). In 12 patients the valve pressure required reprogramming. The final valve pressure was 30 mm H(2)O in four cases, 50 mm H(2)O in 19, 70 mm H(2)O in three, 80 mm H(2)O in one, 100 mm H(2)O in two, 130 mm H(2)O in one, 140 mm H(2)O in one, and 170 mm H(2)O in one case (mean 62.5 mm H(2)O). Lumboperitoneal shuntography was performed in five patients by injection of contrast medium into the prechamber. In two patients a shunt obstruction developed between the valve and the lumbar catheter. Complications occurred in eight patients. Low-pressure symptoms such as headache and vomiting were observed in four patients but disappeared after increasing the valve pressure. One patient, whose shunt pressure was set at 50 mm H(2)O developed a slight asymptomatic subdural effusion, which resolved after increasing the valve pressure to 100 mm H(2)O. Convulsions developed in two aged patients but were easily controlled with anticonvulsant medication. Surgery-related wound infection was observed in one patient. The major advantage in the use of this valve is the ability to modify the pressure noninvasively. Another important advantage of the LP shunt system in which this valve is incorporated is the lower pressure of 30 mm H(2)O that can improve symptoms caused by underdrainage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Journal Article↗
Response of cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity to acetazolamide in patients with dementia and idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus.
The responses of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to administration of acetazolamide were investigated in 16 patients with dementia and ventriculomegaly to clarify the cerebral hemodynamics in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The mean CBF velocity in the whole brain was measured by the Patlak plot method by using technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime single-photon emission computerized tomography. The CVR values were obtained from the response to administration of 500 mg of acetazolamide and calculated as the percentage of change from the baseline mean CBF value. The mean CBF value was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) in six patients with (35.2 +/- 5 ml/100 g/minute) and 10 patients without (33.5 +/- 2.8 ml/100 g/minute) NPH compared with the age-matched normal controls (40.8 +/- 3.2 ml/100 g/minute), showing no significant difference. The CVR was significantly impaired in patients with NPH (0.8 +/- 1.7%; p < 0.001), whereas in patients without NPH preserved CVR (11.3 +/- 3%) was demonstrated compared with the normal controls (14.7 +/- 1.1%). In patients with NPH a significantly lower CVR (p < 0.001) was shown than in those without NPH. The CVR significantly increased (p < 0.001) after placement of a shunt in patients with NPH. Reductions in both CBF and CVR may be diagnostic indicators of NPH in patients with dementia in whom ventriculomegaly is present. In patients with dementia and idiopathic NPH both reduced CBF and extremely impaired CVR are shown. The results of the present study suggest that ischemia due to the process of NPH is responsible for the reduction of CBF and manifestation of symptoms in patients with idiopathic NPH.
Journal Article↗
A biomimetic phospholipid/alkanethiolate bilayer immobilizing uricase and an electron mediator on an Au electrode for amperometric determination of uric acid.
A biomimetic bilayer membrane immobilizing uricase (urate oxidase; EC 1.7.3.3) (UOx) and a redox agent of 1-methoxy-5-methylphenazinium (MMP) was fabricated on an Au electrode substrate with use of the Au substrate coated with a self-assembled monolayer of n-octanethiolate (OT/Au) and L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine beta-oleoyl-gamma-palmitoyl (PCOP). The preparation was carried out by successively immersing an Au electrode substrate in an ethanol solution of OT, an MMP aqueous solution, and a suspension of proteoliposome formed by PCOP containing UOx and MMP. The prepared electrode exhibited such fast steady amperometric responses to uric acid as to allow its determination within 20 s after injecting uric acid, indicating that UOx-catalyzed electrochemical oxidation of uric acid was accomplished with assistance of electron mediation by MMP between UOx and the Au substrate. An increase in the response currents with increasing concentration of uric acid was obtained in a concentration range of uric acid found in healthy human blood. Any interference in the current response that is caused by direct anodic oxidation of uric acid or ascorbic acid was not observed at the prepared sensor electrode because the densely packed bilayer effectively blocked the diffusion of these substrates toward the Au surface, making it possible to determine amperometrically uric acid at the electrode with high precision.
Electrochemistry↗