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T Aoyagi

Publications and source records attributed to T Aoyagi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Pimobendan directly sensitizes reconstituted thin filament to slide on cardiac myosin.

To elucidate the mechanism of the Ca(2+)-sensitizing action of pimobendan, cardiac thin filaments were reconstituted from actin and tropomyosin-troponin complex and made to slide on a myosin layer. Although filaments showed Brownian movement with a low Ca2+ concentration, they slid at a constant velocity above a certain level of Ca2+ concentration, showing that the sliding was regulated by Ca2+ within a narrow pCa range. Acidosis, addition of inorganic phosphate, and phosphorylation of troponin I increased the threshold Ca2+ concentration. Addition of pimobendan reversed these desensitization effects. These results clearly demonstrated that pimobendan directly increases the Ca2+ sensitivity of thin filament.

Animals↗

The role of protein kinase in human synovial fibroblast growth.

The histological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) consist of overgrowth of synovial cells. Several growth factors that cause synovial hyperplasia have been identified in RA synovium. The basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), representing one of these growth factors, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. We examined the b-FGF-mediated intracellular signal pathway involved in synovial cell growth. b-FGF-induced synovial cell growth was inhibited by protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, herbimycin A and genistein, but not by H7 that inhibits protein kinase C (PKC). Stimulation of synovial cells with b-FGF resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins and MAP kinase activation. Our results also demonstrated that b-FGF-mediated activation of MAP kinase was inhibited by herbimycin A indicating that protein tyrosine kinase may be involved in the activation of MAP kinase in human synovial cells. However, inhibition of b-FGF-mediated MAP kinase activation by PKC downregulation did not occur.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Contractile state is the major determinant of functional outcome in patients with left ventricular dysfunction treated with enalapril.

Large-scale drug trials have focused primarily on mortality and morbidity and less on the functional state of the myocardium. A model was developed to assess myocardial contractile state in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and to address the questions of differences in function between patients with and without overt heart failure, effects of enalapril, and best predictors of functional outcome. Pressure-angiographic data were obtained from 16 patients with overt heart failure and 47 without heart failure. Repeat studies were conducted in 41 patients following 1 year's treatment with enalapril or placebo. Left ventricular silhouettes were divided into 18 segments to estimate regional ejection fraction, wall stress and myocardial damage (% myocardial damage). Contractile state was assessed and ranked by ejection rate-preload-afterload relationships and by a score method based on 10 myocardial and ventricular function parameters. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV, ESV) were significantly greater (P < 0.001), ejection fraction (EF) lower (P < 0.009), % myocardial damage greater (P < 0.008) and contractile state more depressed in patients with overt heart failure. Changes in EDV and ESV (delta placebo vs delta enalapril) were significant (delta EDV, P < 0.003; delta ESV, P < 0.014). Directional shifts in the diastolic pressure-volume relationships with enalapril or placebo depended primarily on the basal contractile state and diastolic volume range. The best single predictors of post-treatment EF were the score index (a surrogate parameter for the contractile state) and ESV. Added benefits of enalapril include the prevention of further dilatation in patients with less depressed contractile state and delay in the onset of heart failure. Asymptomatic patients with LV dysfunction should also be considered for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy.

Blood Pressure↗

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-6-producing memory T-cells in peripheral blood and gingival tissue in periodontitis patients with high serum antibody titers to Porphyromonas gingivalis.

We assessed cytokine production and proliferation of memory T-cells that were isolated from peripheral blood of adult periodontitis patients with high anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis titer. Memory T-cells were stimulated with P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide, sonicates and formalin-killed whole cells. Interleukin 4(IL-4)- and IL-6-producing cells were stained by immunocytochemistry on peripheral blood smears and compared with cryostat sections of autologous gingival biopsies. Memory T-cells in the peripheral blood of patients rated significantly higher than in healthy subjects (32.3 + or - 7.1 vs 25.3 + or - 3.0%). Stimulation of patient-derived memory T-cells with P. gingivalis whole cells induced higher IL-4 production than in healthy subjects (4.4 + or - 4.1% vs 0.7 + or - 0.6%). Induction of IL-4 producing memory T-cells by P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide and whole cells was respectively 1.37 and 1.56 times that induced by medium alone. IL-6 production did not differ between the groups. Proliferation of memory T-cells in healthy subjects tended to be more inhibited by P. gingivalis antigens than that in patients. In some patients, induction of IL-4- and IL-6-producing memory T-cells in peripheral blood and in autologous gingival biopsies tended to coincide. Memory T-cells with functional characteristics of Th2 could be a crucial cell population capable of reflecting individual susceptibility to periodontitis.

Adult↗

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical specimens other than sputum by a specific DNA probe with amplification of the ribosomal RNA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Gen-Probe Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direst Test (MTD) for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical specimens other than sputum, especially cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and pleural fluid (PF) specimens. DESIGN: Six CSF, 17 PF and 23 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimens that were submitted to our clinical laboratory for detection of mycobacteria were subjected to MTD and conventional smear and culture examinations. RESULTS: Of 6 smear-negative CSF specimens, two were positive in MTD and culture examination. In PF specimens, two of 15 smear- and culture-negative specimens were positive in MTD, while one smear-negative but culture-positive specimen was MTD negative. Three of 20 smear- and culture-negative BALF specimens were positive in MTD. Three BALF specimens in which mycobacteria other than the M. tuberculosis complex detected by culture were negative in MTD. CONCLUSION: MTD is very useful for rapid detection of M. tuberculosis in clinical specimens other than sputum as well as sputum, and should be especially valuable for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis which requires prompt initiation of appropriate anti-tuberculosis drug treatment.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

[Longitudinal observation of pulmonary tuberculosis patients by Gen-Probe Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test (MTD)].

To study the clinical significance of conducting Gen-Probe Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD) during the course of the disease, sputum specimens from 19 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were smeared, cultured, and tested by MTD, once a month for five months from the initiation of chemotherapy. 1) MTD-positive rates declined in parallel with decreased pulmonary tuberculosis activity, and the MTD findings of 16 patients who presented mild to moderate pulmonary tuberculosis at admission became negative by four months after the beginning of treatment. Three patients (15.8%) who were consistently positive for MTD during five months after the beginning of treatment were serious pulmonary tuberculosis patients, excreting a large number of organisms at admission. 2) During the course, a total of 43 MTD negative findings were observed, of which one (2.3%) was positive for Ogawa medium culture and the other 42 (92.7%) were negative. MTD was useful in briefly determining the absence of infection, provided that a negative culture on Ogawa medium means no infection. 3) Eleven of the 12 specimens (91.7%) showing positive smears and negative cultures on Ogawa medium were positive for MTD. Since MTD shows negative results for atypical mycobacteria, this is a very useful test in identifying acid fast bacilli which shows a positive smear and a negative culture.

Humans↗

[Two cases of tuberculous meningitis diagnosed rapidly by amplified mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test (MTD)].

The Gen-Probe Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD) is a rapid direct specimen assay method for identification of M. tuberculosis by amplification of ribosomal RNA and detection of the product with a specific chemiluminescent DNA probe. We report two cases of tuberculous meningitis which were positive in the MTD. Since the cerebrospinal fluid showed negative smears and positive cultures in both cases, we could diagnose tuberculous meningitis by MTD about 2 months earlier than by conventional smear and culture methods. In one patient, the fever didn't subside immediately after staring chemotherapy. In the other patient, an intracerebral focus appeared after administration of antituberculosis drugs. However, we did not hesitate to continue the therapy because of the MTD positive findings. MTD is considered to be a very useful test especially in diseases like tuberculous meningitis which need rapid diagnosis and rapid therapy, and is useful for improvement of convalescence and is economical.

Aged↗

Immediate-early gene induction and MAP kinase activation during recovery from metabolic inhibition in cultured cardiac myocytes.

To investigate how cardiac myocytes recover from a brief period of ischemia, we used a metabolic inhibition (MI) model, one of the in vitro ischemic models, of chick embryo ventricular myocytes, and examined the induction of immediate-early (IE) genes mRNAs and the activity of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. We performed Northern blot analysis to study the expression of c-jun, c-fos, and c-myc mRNAs during MI using 1 mM NaCN and 20 mM 2-deoxy-d-glucose, and also during the recovery from MI of 30 min. The c-fos mRNA was induced transiently at 30 and 60 min during the recovery. The expression of c-jun mRNA was significantly augmented at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min during the recovery (3.0-, 4.7-, 2.4-, and 1.9-fold induction, respectively) and so did the expression of c-myc mRNA (1.4-, 1.7-, 1.8-, and 2.0-fold induction, respectively). In contrast, the levels of these mRNAs remained unchanged during MI. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that AP-1 DNA binding activity markedly increased at 120 min during the recovery. When the cells were pretreated with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, 100 microM H-7 or 1 microM staurosporine, the induction of c-jun mRNA at 60 min during the recovery was markedly suppressed (95 or 82% reduction, respectively). The c-jun induction was partially inhibited when the cells were treated with 2 mM EGTA during MI and the recovery (42% reduction). MAP kinase activity quantified with in-gel kinase assay was unchanged during MI, but significantly increased at 5, 10, and 15 min during the recovery (3.0-, 4.1-, and 3.4-fold increase, respectively). S6 kinase activity was also augmented significantly at 15 min during the recovery. Thus, these data suggest that IE genes as well as MAP kinase may play roles in the recovery process of cardiac myocytes from MI, and that the augmentation of c-jun expression needs the activation of PKC and to some extent, [Ca2+]i.

Animals↗

Induction of hepatic microsomal P450 by 4-phenylalkylpyridines in rat: chain length-dependent and sex-related differential induction of P450s.

The effects of 4-phenylalkylpyridines (chain length of 0-5, 7, 9 and 11 carbon atoms) on the induction of hepatic microsomal P450 and its multiple forms (1A1/2 (1A1, 1A2), 3A2, 2B1/2, 2C6 and 2E1) in the male and female rat have been investigated. P450 induction gradually declined with increasing chain length of the 4-phenylalkylpyridines. Immunoblot analysis revealed that three pyridine compounds having methylene units of 0, 1 and 2 only induced P4501A2, whereas those having 4, 5 or 7 methylene units only induced 1A1 in the male rat. In the female rat, however, we could not observe such a chain length-dependent differential induction of the P4501A subfamily. Induced levels of P4503A2 and 2E1 were dependent on total P450 specific content, but 2C6 was increased in a chain length-dependent manner in both sexes. These results provide new information on the differential effects of pyridine-containing compounds on P450 induction in the rat.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗

Pyrostatins A and B, new inhibitors of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, produced by Streptomyces sp. SA-3501.

Pyrostatins A and B, new inhibitors of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (GlcNAc-ase), have been purified from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. SA-3501 isolated from a marine environment. They were purified by chromatography on Dowex 50W, silica gel and Capcell Pak C18 (HPLC) followed treatment with active carbon and then isolated as white powders. The structures of pyrostatins A and B were determined by NMR studies to be 4-hydroxy-2-imino-1-methylpyrrolidine-5-carboxylic acid and 2-imino-1-methylpyrrolidine-5-carboxylic acid, respectively. They were competitive with the substrate, and the inhibition constants (Ki) of pyrostatins A and B were 1.7 x 10(-6) M and 2.0 x 10(-6) M respectively.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Belactins A and B, new serine carboxypeptidase inhibitors produced by Actinomycete. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation and biological activities.

Belactins A and B, new inhibitors of serine carboxypeptidase were discovered in the fermentation broth of Saccharopolyspora sp. MK19-42F6. They were purified by ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel chromatography, Sephadex LH20 chromatography, Capcellpak C18 SG120 reversed phase HPLC and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) following their inhibitory activity against carboxypeptidase Y (CP-Y). The inhibition constants (Ki) of belactins A and B against CP-Y are 0.14 and 0.27 microM respectively. Belactins A and B have highly specific inhibitory activities for CP-Y among various peptidases, have no antimicrobial activities at 100 micrograms/ml and have low toxicities.

Benzamides↗

Belactins A and B, new serine carboxypeptidase inhibitors produced by Actinomycete. II. Physico-chemical properties, structure determinations and enzymatic inhibitory activities compared with other beta-lactone containing inhibitors.

Belactins A and B, new inhibitors of serine carboxypeptidase were discovered in the fermentation broth of Saccharopolyspora sp. MK19-42F6. The structures of belactins A and B were determined to be 4-[3-[(2-amino-5-chlorobenzoyl)amino]-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxobutyl]-3- methyl-2-oxetanone and 4-[3-[[2-(beta-glucopyranosylamino)-5-chlorobenzoyl]amino]-1,1- dimethyl-2-oxobutyl]-3-methyl-2-oxetanone respectively by various spectral analyses. Belactins A and B do not inhibit esterase or lipase at 100 micrograms/ml but have more specific inhibitory activities towards carboxypeptidase Y (CP-Y) compared with other beta-lactone-containing inhibitors, such as ebelactones A, B and esterastin.

Benzamides↗

[Respiratory disorders during sleep in Duchenne muscular dystrophy].

Respiratory disorders during sleep were studied in 42 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (mean age 18.4 years). Chest and abdominal movement, nasal airflow, snoring sounds, eye movement, and oxygen saturation were monitored during sleep. Three patterns of disorders were found: obstructive apnea, central apnea, and paradoxical respiration without upper airway obstruction (non-obstructive paradoxical respiration). Of these three patterns, obstructive apnea was the most common. Hypertrophy of the tongue and collapsibility of the upper airway seemed to be responsible for the obstructive apnea in these patients. The relationships between PaCO2 while breathing room air and the various indices of respiratory disorders were studied. The index of central apnea differed significantly between patients in whom PaCO2 was less than 50 Torr (early disease, n = 22) and those in whom PaCO2 was greater than or equal to 50 Torr (advanced disease, n = 20), but the indices of obstructive apnea and non-obstructive paradoxical respiration did not differ between those two groups. In conclusion, sleep disorders were common in patients with DMD, and the most common was obstructive apnea. In the patients with advanced DMD, blood gas analysis showed hypercapnia, and the index of central sleep apnea was high, probably because of respiratory muscle weakness or abnormalities in the respiratory center.

Adolescent↗

Immunohistochemical localization of Na(+)-dependent glucose transporter in the rat digestive tract.

Glucose is actively absorbed in the intestine by the action of the Na(+)-dependent glucose transporter. Using an antibody against the rabbit intestinal Na(+)-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT1), we examined the localization of SGLT1 immunohistochemically along the rat digestive tract (oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum). SGLT1 was detected in the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), but not in the oesophagus, stomach, colon or rectum. SGLT1 was localized at the brush border of the absorptive epithelium cells in the small intestine. Electron microscopical examination showed that SGLT1 was localized at the apical plasma membrane of the absorptive epithelial cells. SGLT1 was not detected at the basolateral plasma membrane. Along the crypt-villus axis, all the absorptive epithelial cells in the villus were positive for SGLT1, whose amount increased from the bottom of the villus to its tip. On the other hand, cells in the crypts exhibited little or no staining for SGLT1. Goblet cells scattered throughout the intestinal epithelium were negative for SGLT1. These observations show that SGLT1 is specific to the apical plasma membrane of differentiated absorptive epithelial cells in the small intestine, and suggest that active uptake of glucose occur mainly in the absorptive epithelial cells in the small intestine.

Animals↗

[Blood gas changes in Duchenne type muscular dystrophy].

We studied changes in blood gas data from 32 patients with Duchenne type muscular dystrophy (DMD), who were followed for more than 5 years. Regression lines for each blood gas variable were obtained by the least square regression method, from 276 observations. The mean change per year was calculated by averaging the individual slopes. All blood gas variables (PaO2, PaCO2, pH, and [HCO3-]) correlated significantly with age the regression lines were: PaO2 = 95.6-0.45x Age, PaCO2 = 34.7 + 0.70x Age, pH = 7.397-0.0023x Age, [HCO3-] = 20.7 + 0.28x Age. The rates of change were -0.74 Torr/year for PaO2, 1.07 Torr/year for PaCO2, -0.0028 per year for pH and 0.55 mEq/l/year for [HCO3-]. The slope of each regression line was within the average individual yearly change +/- one standard deviation. AaDO2 did not change significantly with age, but chronic respiratory acidosis worsened because of alveolar hypoventilation. As an index of the severity of DMD, PaCO2 was better than PaO2, because the former was more strongly correlated with age and the values of PaCO2 deviated less from the the regression line.

Adolescent↗

Cytotoxicity of gallium nitrate in vitro using bladder cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Gallium nitrate has been used systemically for some malignancies in clinical trials. Because bladder cancer has many transferrin (Tf) receptors and gallium has been reported to bind avidly with Tf receptors, gallium cytotoxicity and the possibility of intravesical instillation therapy with gallium nitrate were studied in vitro. METHODS: The bladder cancer cell lines J82, 639V, VMCuB1, SCaBER, and 5637 were used. The amount of Tf receptor was checked by a rosette assay. As a cytotoxicity assay, two experimental models were tested using two or 72 hours of exposure to gallium solution. A gallium release study using 67Ga was done to investigate the movement of incorporated gallium. RESULTS: J82 had the most and SCaBER had the least Tf receptors. For 72 hours of exposure at gallium concentrations above 250 mumol/L, the inhibitory effect was a function of gallium concentration, and 100% cytotoxicity occurred at 2 mmol/L. At lower concentrations of gallium, the effect was related to the amount of Tf and the level of Tf receptor expression of the cells. With two hours of exposure, which was assumed to be a model of intravesical therapy, the inhibitory effect increased in proportion to gallium concentration and the frequency of treatment. Twenty mmol/L gallium effectively inhibited the growth in two hours of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Intravesically administered gallium might be an effective therapy for bladder cancer, because its cytotoxicity is determined not by the amount of Tf receptor but by the gallium concentration and the duration of gallium exposure.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Degradation of bradykinin in human urine by carboxypeptidase Y-like exopeptidase and neutral endopeptidase and their inhibition by ebelactone B and phosphoramidon.

Incubation of bradykinin with human urine resulted in a successive degradation of bradykinin-(1-8), bradykinin-(1-7), bradykinin-(1-6), and bradykinin-(1-5). Although D,L-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid (100 microM) and captopril (100 microM) did not have any significant effect on bradykinin degradation in human urine, the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor phosphoramidon (100 microM), a carboxypeptidase Y-like exopeptidase inhibitor ebelactone B (100 microM), and o-phenanthroline (100 microM) significantly inhibited bradykinin degradation by 36%, 38% and 48% respectively. The combination of phosphoramidon and ebelactone B completely (by 95%) inhibited bradykinin degradation in human urine. At pH 5, bradykinin degradation was performed by carboxypeptidase Y-like exopeptidase; at pH 7, this degradation was performed by neutral endopeptidase in addition to carboxypeptidase Y-like exopeptidase. From these results, it can be concluded that carboxypeptidase Y-like exopeptidase and/or neutral endopeptidase certainly have a role in kinin degradation in human urine under neutral and acid pH conditions.

Adult↗