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Biomedical subjects

S Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to S Kondo.

At least 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources

Altruistic cell suicide in relation to radiation hormesis.

The high radiosensitivity to killing of undifferentiated primordial cells (Bergonié and Tribondeau 1906) can be described as a manifestation of the suicide of injured cells for the benefit of an organism as a whole if their suicide stimulates proliferation of healthy cells to replace them, resulting in complete elimination of injury. This process is called cell-replacement repair, to distinguish it from DNA repair which is rarely complete. 'Cell suicide', 'programmed death' and 'apoptosis' are terms used for the same type of active cell death. Cell suicide is not always altruistic. Altruistic suicide in Drosophila, mice, humans, plants, and E. coli is reviewed in this paper to illustrate its widely different facets. The hypothesis that in animals, radiation hormesis results from altruistic cell suicide is proposed. This hypothesis can explain the hormetic effect of low doses of radiation on the immune system in mice. In contrast, in plants, radiation hormesis seems to be mainly due to non-altruistic cell death. HORMESIS--'the stimulating effect of small doses of substances which in larger doses are inhibitory' (British Medical Dictionary, Caxton Publ. Co., 1961).

Animals↗

The genotoxicity of N4-aminocytidine in the Drosophila wing spot test.

The nucleoside analogue N4-aminocytidine is known to induce mutations in bacteria, and was shown to induce somatic mutations in Drosophila melanogaster after larval administration. The assay system employed was a wing-hair mutation spot test developed by Würgler and co-workers. The potency of N4-aminocytidine to induce somatic mutation is comparable to those of several food-pyrolysate mutagens previously reported. The occurrence of twin spots, i.e. two types of recessive mutant-hair clones in adjacent positions, suggests that N4-aminocytidine induces somatic recombination in Drosophila. Another feature of the mutagenicity of N4-aminocytidine is that both the acute and the chronic larval feedings gave rise to mutant hair formation of similar patterns with respect to the spot-size distributions: small single spots were formed predominantly and the larger the spot-size, the lower their frequency.

Animals↗

Purification and characterization of ferredoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki.

Two ferredoxins, Fd I and Fd II, were isolated and purified from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki. The major component, Fd I, is an iron-sulfur protein of Mr 12,000, composed of two identical subunits. The absorption spectra of Fd I and Fd II have a broad absorption shoulder near 400 nm characteristic of iron-sulfur proteins. The purity index, A400/A280, of Fd I is 0.69, and its millimolar absorption coefficient at 400 nm is 3.73 per Fe. It contains two redox centers with discrete redox behaviors. The amino acid composition and the N-terminal sequence of Fd I are similar to those of Fd III of Desulfovibrio africanus Benghazi and Fd II of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Norway. Fd I does not serve as an electron carrier for the hydrogenase of D. vulgaris Miyazaki, but it serves as a carrier for pyruvate dehydrogenase of this bacterium. The evolution of H2 from pyruvate was observed by a reconstructed system containing purified hydrogenase, cytochrome C3, Fd I, partially purified pyruvate dehydrogenase, and CoA. The H2-sulfite reducing system can be reconstructed from the purified hydrogenase, cytochrome C3, Fd I and desulfoviridin (sulfite reductase), but the reaction rate is very slow compared to that of the crude extract at the same molar ratio of the components.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A comparative study of the sugar composition of lipopolysaccharides isolated from Vibrio cholerae, 'Vibrio albensis' and Vibrio metschnikovii.

A comparative study was made of the quantitative sugar composition of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Vibrio cholerae (O1 and non O1 groups), 'V. albensis', 'V. proteus' and V. metschnikovii. The amino sugars 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose (perosamine) and 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (quinovosamine) were present exclusively in LPS isolated from S-form O1 group of V. cholerae regardless of serotype (i.e. Ogawa or Inaba) and biotype (i.e. classical or eltor). Classical O1 group V. cholerae was distinguishable from eltor O1 group V. cholerae on the basis of the fructose content of the LPS: greater than 3% and less than or equal to 1%, respectively. Distinct differences in the sugar composition of LPS were observed between V. cholerae and 'V. albensis', 'V. proteus' and V. metschnikovii.

Carbohydrates↗

O-antigenic lipopolysaccharides isolated from a marine Vibrio, bio-serogroup 1875, possessing an antigenic factor in common with O1 Vibrio cholerae.

The chemical and serological characteristics of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Vibrio bio-serogroup 1875 were compared with those of O1 Vibrio cholerae LPS. Vibrio bio-serogroup 1875 LPS contained all the component sugars which were found in O1 V. cholerae LPS, i.e. glucose, L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, fructose, glucosamine, perosamine and quinovosamine, though the amount of perosamine, a characteristic component of O1 V. cholerae LPS, was very low compared with that of O1 V. cholerae LPS. Their LPS additionally contained mannose and two unidentified neutral sugars which are not regular constituents of O1 V. cholerae LPS. Definite serological cross-reactivity in the passive haemolysis test between LPS from Vibrio bio-serogroup 1875 and LPS from O1 V. cholerae was demonstrated.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Differences among Shigella spp. in susceptibility to the bactericidal activity of human serum.

Clinical isolates of Shigella spp. were examined for their susceptibility to human serum. The susceptibility of the strains to immune and nonimmune human serum was dependent upon the size of the bacterial inoculum and the concentration of serum. There were differences among Shigella spp. in susceptibility to human serum: S. sonnei strains were the least susceptible, strains of S. boydii and S. flexneri serotype 6 were intermediate, and those of S. flexneri other than serotype 6 and S. dysenteriae were the most susceptible. Experiments in which heat-treated (56 degrees C for 30 min, or 50 degrees C for 20 min) serum was used, and analysis of activation of complement by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from each Shigella sp., suggested that LPS composition, especially the O antigen polysaccharide chains, contributes to the differences among Shigella spp. in susceptibility to human serum.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗

Assignment of three patients with xeroderma pigmentosum to complementation group E and their characteristics.

Three cases belonging to xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) complementation group E were analyzed clinically and photobiologically. The three Japanese patients were a 50-yr-old female (XP80TO), a 42-yr-old female (XP81TO), and a 41-yr-old female (XP82TO). They were assigned to complementation group E by the cell hybridization study. All showed lowered minimal erythema doses between those of normal Japanese and XP group A subjects at wavelengths of 280, 290, and 300 nm of monochromatic ultraviolet (UV) light. Patients XP80TO and XP81TO, but not patient XP82TO, showed a delayed peak reaction at 48 h to UV erythema. All fibroblast strains from these patients had a reduced level of 40%-44% unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) after irradiation with 10 J/m2 of 254 nm UV. Primary cultured epidermal cells from these patients exhibited a relatively low level of UDS (ie, 38%-51% of normal epidermal cells). All of the group E fibroblast strains were twice as sensitive to 254 nm UV killing [n (extrapolation number) = 1.3-1.8, Do (mean lethal dose) = 2.2-2.8 J/m2)] as normal fibroblasts (n = 1.5, Do = 5.0 J/m2). All of the above group E patients had mild XP symptoms, but not neurological abnormalities, at the fifth decade of age. Patients XP80TO and XP81TO had developed skin malignancies (patients XP80TO developed three basaliomas; patient XP81TO developed two basaliomas) at the ages of 46 and 41 yr, respectively.

Adult↗

Identification of Re lipopolysaccharide-binding protein on murine erythrocyte membrane.

Our recent studies have suggested that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) attaches to Pronase-sensitive proteins on the murine erythrocyte membrane. In the present study, in order to identify the LPS-binding protein on the murine erythrocyte membrane, a unique method to detect LPS-binding protein on a nitrocellulose membrane was developed. Murine erythrocyte membrane proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, then transferred electrophoretically onto a nitrocellulose membrane. The membrane was incubated with LPS of Salmonella minnesota R595 (Re LPS) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), after the remaining sites were blocked with gelatin in PBS. We were able to obtain a non-background stain by adding the nonionic detergent octylglucoside at the low concentration of 0.1% to the Re LPS solution. The Re LPS bound to the protein on the nitrocellulose membrane was exposed to affinity purified anti-Re LPS antibodies (IgG) and then to alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-IgG. The alkaline phosphatase was detected on the membrane by an enzymatic reaction. This method demonstrated that Re LPS was bound to an erythrocyte protein of 96 kDa. Treatment of erythrocytes with Pronase led to disappearance of the Re LPS-binding protein on the erythrocyte membrane. There was no difference between LPS-responder and LPS-nonresponder murine erythrocyte membranes in amount and molecular weight of the Re LPS-binding protein.

Animals↗

Rapid preparation of samples for compositional sugar analysis of the "degraded polysaccharide" fraction of lipopolysaccharides from Vibrio cholerae.

A simple and rapid method was devised for direct isolation and fractionation of the "degraded polysaccharide" (DPS) fraction of O-antigenic (or endotoxic) lipopolysaccharides (LPS) directly from heat-killed Vibrio cholerae (O1 and non-O1) cells without separating the LPS. Neither phenol-water extraction nor ultracentrifuge is needed in this method. V. cholerae NIH 41 was used as standard. The cells (3-5 g wet weight) were heated in 5% acetic acid at 100 C for 1.5 hr. The acetic acid extract obtained as the supernatant by centrifugation was evaporated to dryness in vacuo, and the resultant residue was dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water. The solution was mixed with 2 volumes of acetone, and the supernatant obtained by centrifugation was mixed with 5 volumes of acetone and centrifuged. Fraction Sed. II was recovered as the precipitate, while the supernatant was evaporated to dryness in vacuo, yielding fraction Sup. III. Sed. II had a sugar composition that was identical, at least qualitatively, to that of DPS isolated from LPS of the corresponding strain except for the absence of a fructose component in the case of V. cholerae NIH 41, while instead Sup. III from V. cholerae NIH 41 contained fructose.

Acetates↗

Relationship between sleep-wakefulness cycle and regional cerebral blood flow in kainic acid-induced epileptic focus in hippocampus.

Concurrent monitorings of polygraph and continuous measurements of rCBF of the epileptic focus were made in the nonanesthetized chronic cats. The influences of the sleep-wakefulness cycle on IIDs and rCBF of the epileptic focus of the hippocampus were analyzed. 1) IIDs increased remarkably during LSW and DSW but not as much as during DSW-P. 2) The rCBF decreased gradually during LSW and DSW. But the rCBF during DSW-P increased slightly as compared to that of DSW. 3) The frequencies of IIDs increased in association with hypoperfusion of the epileptic focus. 4) The spiking rate of the hippocampal focus decreased with the appearance of PGO during the deep slow wave sleep stages.

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of ME1207, a new oral cephalosporin.

ME1207 (pivaloyloxymethyl ester of ME1206) is a new oral cephalosporin. ME1206 is (6R,7R)-7-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(methoxyimino)- acetamido]-3-[(Z)-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)-ethyl]-cephem-4-carboxy lic acid. The susceptibilities of about 1,600 clinical isolates to ME1206 were determined by the agar dilution method. ME1206 showed a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. ME1206 was more active than cefaclor, T-2525, and cefixime against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Against gram-negative bacteria, the activity of ME1206 was comparable with that of T-2525, but ME1206 was less active than cefixime. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, ME1206 had high activity (MIC, less than or equal to 0.05 microgram/ml). ME1206 was stable against various beta-lactamases, except beta-lactamases from Providencia rettgeri, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Escherichia coli W3630 (Rms213). The 50% effective doses of ME1207 after oral administration against systemic infections in mice were comparable with those of T-2588 against gram-negative bacteria and about one-fourth that of T-2588 against Staphylococcus aureus Smith.

Administration, Oral↗

Ipsilaterality of motor innervation of canine urethral sphincter.

The functional activity of the sphincter muscle of the urethra is known to be controlled largely by the hypogastric and pudendal nerves. It remains unknown, however, whether innervation of the muscle by these peripheral nerves is ipsi- or bilateral. In an attempt to answer this question urethral closure pressure was determined simultaneously in the anterior, posterior, right and left portions of urethral wall in dogs. The pressure measurements were stereographed with the aid of a computer (stereo-UPP) and by this means the effect of unilateral section or electrical stimulation of hypogastric and pudendal nerves on the intraurethral pressure profile was analyzed. Unilateral section or electrical stimulation of the hypogastric nerve, distal to its division, produced a fall and a rise primarily in proximal intraurethral pressure, respectively, in all four directions. There was no significant difference in this response between the involved and uninvolved sides. Unilateral section of the pudendal nerve resulted in a fall primarily in distal intraurethral pressure in all four directions. No significant difference was present between the injured and noninjured sides. In contrast, electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve distal to the point of its division caused a rise in intraurethral pressure in all four directions, with a significantly greater pressor response on the stimulated than on the nonstimulated side. These observations suggest decussating motor innervation of the urethra by the hypogastric nerves and also the possibility of the distal urethra being ipsilaterally innervated by the pudendal nerve.

Animals↗

Effects of penetration enhancers on percutaneous absorption of nifedipine. Comparison between Deet and Azone.

The influence of N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (Deet) and 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one (Azone), on skin permeability was examined for nifedipine (NP), taking into account their effects on the thermodynamic activity of the drug. The percutaneous absorption efficiency of NP was determined by measuring the drug concentration in rat plasma. Comparisons were made among NP suspensions in the enhancers to ensure equal thermodynamic activity. Azone increased NP penetration over that of propylene glycol (PG), while Deet produced a similar response to that of PG. The addition of a small amount of Deet to PG or diethyl sebacate (DES) provided for a rather large increase in NP penetration compared with that from PG or DES alone. The results of this study strongly suggest that Deet and Azone have different modes of action. Azone exerted a genuine effect on the skin and produced marked improvement in the penetration of NP. The effect of Deet was interesting as it was effective only in combination with other vehicles. Deet exhibits excellent solubilizing properties and penetrates the skin easily. Accordingly, it may be concluded that Deet functions simply as a cosolvent to produce saturated or supersaturated solutions of the active ingredient by its rapid disappearance from the vehicle, and thereby maximizes the thermodynamic activity of the drug.

Animals↗

The role of prostacyclin during exercise in patients with chronic angina pectoris.

To determine changes in platelet activity, prostaglandin metabolism and catecholamine release along with changes in hemodynamics during exercise, we measured these parameters before and immediately after treadmill exercise. Measurements were made on peripheral arterial blood simultaneously with a direct aortic pressure recording in 30 patients with coronary artery disease (Group 1), in 20 patients without significant coronary disease (Group 2), and in 11 young healthy volunteers as controls. At the peak of the exercise regimen, the ST segment depression was found to be significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2, whereas the changes in the DPTI/TTI ratio in Group 2 and the controls decreased with the increase in the duration of exercise. The increased serum lactate level at the intermediate level of exercise (420 +/- 20 sec) was significantly lower in the controls than in the other 2 groups. Changes in beta thromboglobulin, platelet factor 4, and plasma norepinephrine were similarly increased in all 3 groups by exercise. At the termination of exercise, however, 6 keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha in Group 1 was insignificantly elevated, whereas it increased from 42.9 +/- 7 pg/ml to 55.7 +/- 7.1 (p less than 0.05) in Group 2 and from 38.2 +/- 5.7 pg/ml to 45.1 +/- 6.8 (p less than 0.01) in the controls. These results suggest that decreased prostacyclin production in the vessel wall might be an indicator of myocardial ischemia, and that the administration of prostacyclin may modulate the coronary vascular tone exaggerated by exercise.

Adult↗