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Biomedical subjects

S Taniguchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Taniguchi.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Post-bullous milia.

A 65-year-old woman with bullous pemphigoid responded rapidly to treatment with systemic and topical corticosteroids, but subsequently developed multiple milia where the bullae had been.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Mechanism of [Ca2+]i increase by extracellular ATP in isolated rabbit renal proximal tubules.

The effects of extracellular ATP on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and cell membrane potentials (Vb) of rabbit renal proximal tubules were investigated using fura 2 and microelectrodes. ATP transiently increased [Ca2+]i without an apparent sustained phase, and the maximum effect was obtained at 10 microM. ADP, adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), and 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate were equally effective as ATP, whereas UTP, adenosine, and alpha beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate were far less effective. The [Ca2+]i responses to ATP were strongly inhibited by reactive blue 2, a P2-purinergic receptor antagonist. The removal of extracellular Ca2+ as well as the addition of thapsigargin also markedly attenuated the responses to ATP. In addition, ATP had virtually no effect on Vb, except for the occasional small depolarization by 300 microM ATP. These results indicate that extracellular ATP increases [Ca2+]i through a P2-purinergic receptor and that this effect of ATP is dependent on both extracellular and intracellular Ca2+.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Roles of Ca2+ and PKC in regulation of acid/base transport in isolated proximal tubules.

Roles of Ca2+ and protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of acid/base transport in isolated rabbit proximal tubules were investigated by measuring cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and cell pH (pHi) with fluorescent probes. Ionomycin (0.2 microM) increased [Ca2+]i by approximately 200 nM but did not affect the basolateral Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter. However, the apical Na+/H+ exchanger was inhibited by 50% by ionomycin, and this inhibition was abolished either by 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, or by KN-62, an inhibitor of calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II). On the other hand, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 0.5 microM) did not affect the apical Na+/H+ exchanger but did stimulate the basolateral Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter by 60-80%, and this stimulation was prevented by calphostin C, an inhibitor of PKC. Consistent with the cotransporter stimulation, PMA decreased steady-state pHi in the presence of CO2/ HCO3-. These results indicate that 1) the acute increase in [Ca2+]i within physiological ranges inhibits the apical Na+/H+ exchanger, probably through mediation of CaM kinase II; and 2) the short-term PKC activation stimulates the basolateral Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter.

Acids↗

The critical role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in Masugi nephritis in rats.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54), an adhesion molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is an endothelial cell surface ligand for such leukocyte integrins as lymphocyte-function-associated molecule 1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18), Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and CD43. These molecules mediate adhesive interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells and are critically involved in infiltration of leukocytes into inflammatory lesions. We examined the expression of ICAM-1 in renal tissues of Masugi nephritis rats and directly examined the role of ICAM-1 by administration of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to rat ICAM-1, LFA-1 alpha-subunit (LFA-1 alpha), beta-subunit (LFA-1 beta) and Mac-1 alpha-subunit (Mac-1 alpha). Within 3 h after injection of nephrotoxic serum, increased expression of ICAM-1 was detected in the glomeruli by in situ hybridization and an immunofluorescence study. Proteinuria was significantly suppressed by the MAbs against ICAM-1, Mac-1 alpha and LFA-1 beta. Neutrophil infiltration into the glomeruli was significantly prevented by injection of the MAbs against ICAM-1, LFA-1 alpha and LFA-1 beta. These results indicate that both ICAM-1/LFA-1 and ICAM-1/Mac-1 pathways are involved in neutrophil infiltration into the glomeruli. On the other hand, monocytic infiltration was prevented by the MAbs against ICAM-1, LFA-1 alpha and LFA-1 beta but not by anti-Mac-1 alpha MAb. Due to these results, ICAM-1 is considered to be a critical molecule involved in the pathogenesis of the leukocyte infiltration into the glomeruli in the heterologous phase of Masugi nephritis. Anti-ICAM-1 antibody may be beneficial in the treatment of leukocyte-mediated glomerular diseases.

Animals↗

Influence of hypoxia and pulmonary air embolism on lung injury in perfused rat lungs.

We investigated the influence of low oxygen ventilation, air-bubble infusion into the pulmonary artery and their synergistic effect on pulmonary hemodynamics and microvascular permeability in isolated perfused rat lungs. Pulmonary arterial pressure was significantly increased by 70 min of ventilation with 3% O2 (hypoxia, group H); by 0.2-ml air-bubble infusion (pulmonary air embolism, group AE), and by 0.2-ml air-bubble infusion and 70 min of 3% O2 ventilation (hypoxia and pulmonary air embolism, group H & AE) compared with that of a control group (0.2 ml saline infusion, group C). Neither total (TPR) nor arterial (Ra) pulmonary vascular resistance in group H showed any difference compared to control values. TPR and Ra in groups AE and H & AE were significantly higher than those in group C. However, there was no significant difference in TPR or Ra between groups AE and H & AE. The pulmonary capillary fluid filtration coefficient, dry lung to wet lung weight ratio and white blood cell count in the perfusate of group H were not changed, while those of the groups AE and H & AE were significantly increased compared to those of controls. However, there was no significant difference in these values between groups AE and H & AE. Since hypoxia did not damage isolated perfused rat lungs, as determined by hemodynamics and permeability, nor enhance lung injury caused by air embolism, it was suggested that air embolism contributed more to high-altitude lung injury than low oxygen.

Analysis of Variance↗

Squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum.

A patient with psoriasis was found to have a large skin tumor on his scrotum. He had received psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation therapy to control psoriasis. Histopathologic study revealed that the tumor was a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. We present this rare case and suggest that the genitalia be shielded during ultraviolet therapy.

Aged↗

In vivo and in vitro evidence for iodide regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I and class II expression in Graves' disease.

Increases in thyroid cell major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II expression have been suggested to be an important factor in the development or perpetuation of Graves' disease. It is hypothesized that elevations result in abnormal presentation of thyroid antigens to immune cells, and that iodide and/or methimazole (MMI) are effective therapeutic agents because, at least in part, of their suppression of MHC expression. In this report, we show that Graves' patients pretreated with iodide only 4 days before surgery have lower levels of MHC class I and class II RNA levels in their thyroid tissue than do patients with no iodide pretreatment (P < 0.001 and 0.03, respectively). Because patients in both groups are treated with MMI and because the change is independent of the amounts of MMI used to treat patients, the class I and class II changes cannot be ascribed to MMI. The iodide action to decrease MHC class I and class II RNA levels was duplicated using cultured human thyroid cells in vitro; the iodide effect was dependent on the iodide concentration, was not duplicated by chloride, was not associated with an alteration in cAMP levels or with a change in thyrotropin receptor RNA levels, and was evident in gamma-interferon-treated cells. The data suggest, therefore, that the therapeutic action of iodide in Graves' patients is associated with decreased MHC gene expression, that this action is a direct effect of high concentrations of iodide on the thyroid cells, and that altered MHC gene expression in the target tissue may well be associated with the development or perpetuation of Graves' disease.

Adolescent↗

A new type of familial central diabetes insipidus caused by a single base substitution in the neurophysin II coding region of the vasopressin gene.

We studied the genetic basis of familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus in a Japanese family. The members had polyuria and a deficiency of plasma vasopressin (AVP). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified exons of the AVP-neurophysin-II gene were subcloned and sequenced. Exons 1 and 3 were normal, but nucleotide 1884 Guanine (G) in exon 2 was substituted with Thymine (T), which induced a substitution of glycine (Gly) for valine (Val). To examine the presence of this mutation in the affected subjects, we designed two mutated primers. One of them induced a new endonuclease restriction site in the PCR fragments from normal, and the other induced a new endonuclease restriction site from patients with the mutation. DNA fragments from two affected members of this family were amplified with this primer, and the PCR products were digested by endonuclease and resolved by electrophoresis. The results indicated that these subjects had both normal and mutant alleles, indicating that the mutation was heterozygous. We concluded that this mutation caused neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus in this family.

Arginine Vasopressin↗

Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lectins on immunoglobulin production by spleen lymphocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats.

We examined the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), such as alpha-linolenic (alpha-LA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on immunoglobulin (Ig) production by spleen lymphocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) strongly inhibited the production of IgA and IgM and that of IgG weakly at 100 microM. When the lymphocytes were treated with n-3 PUFA in the presence of other inhibitory biomaterials such as lectins, some PUFA attenuated their inhibitory effect on Ig production. In the presence of concanavalin A (ConA), all n-3 PUFA attenuated the inhibitory effect of ConA on the production of IgM or IgG but increased its inhibition of IgA synthesis. Thus, the interaction of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and lectins in spleen interfere with each other or the expression of Ig production regulating activity.

Animals↗

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S) in Alzheimer's disease and in cerebrovascular dementia.

A decreased concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been reported but is still controversial. In the present study, serum concentrations of DHEA and DHEA-S were determined in 19 patients with AD, 21 patients with cerebrovascular dementia (CVD) and 45 age- and gender matched elderly control individuals from the Japanese community at large. Serum concentration of DHEA among controls, patients with AD and patients with CVD did not significantly differ from one another. However, patients with AD and patients with CVD were found to have lower concentration of serum DHEA-S and a lower DHEA-S/DHEA ration compared to normal control individuals. No significant difference was observed in the concentration of serum DHEA-S or the DHEA-S/DHEA ratio between patients with AD and those with CVD. These results suggest that reduced concentrations of serum DHEA-S may not be unique to AD, but instead reflect a common phenomenon in dementing diseases. However, since serum concentration of DHEA in these patients remained unchanged, the significance of DHEA in dementia remains unclear.

Aged↗

Porphyromonas gingivalis reduces mitogenic and chemotactic responses of human periodontal ligament cells to platelet-derived growth factor in vitro.

The effects of a sonicated Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 protein extract on the mitogenic and chemotactic responses of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells to the recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB homodimer (PDGF-BB) were examined in vitro. Proliferation of PDL cells was inhibited by P. gingivalis extract at concentrations higher than 10 micrograms/mL protein. At 100 micrograms/mL of P. gingivalis extract, cells did not proliferate. DNA synthesis in PDL cells, as revealed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation, was also inhibited by approximately 50% in the presence of 50 micrograms/mL P. gingivalis extract for 24 hours. In contrast, PDGF-BB at 1 ng/mL enhanced DNA synthesis in PDL cells, followed by maximum enhancement at concentrations higher than 10 ng/mL PDGF-BB. However, this mitogenic response to PDGF-BB was markedly reduced in the presence of 20 micrograms/mL of P. gingivalis extract and did not reach the maximum level even if PDGF-BB concentrations were increased to 250 ng/mL. PDL cells exhibited a chemotactic response to PDGF-BB at 1 ng/mL, which was also inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with P. gingivalis extract at 10 to 50 micrograms/mL. Scatchard analysis of a [125I]-PDGF binding assay demonstrated that PDL cells have both high and low PDGF binding affinity sites. Treatment of the cells with P. gingivalis extract decreased the number of PDGF-binding sites to approximately 35% of the control level, while it caused only a slight change in the affinities of both types of binding site. These results indicated that the P. gingivalis extract reduced mitogenic and chemotactic responses of human PDL cells, possibly through mechanisms involving a decrease in PDGF-binding capacity of these cells. Due to this inhibitory effect of P. gingivalis, the normal levels of PDGF in periodontal lesions may not be sufficient to promote periodontal regeneration through activation of PDL cell proliferation and migration. Therefore, the therapeutic use of PDGF-BB, as a supplement to pre-existing PDGF and as an adjunct, while also eliminating P. gingivalis from periodontal lesions, would help periodontal tissue regeneration.

Bacterial Proteins↗