Angiotensin II (Ang II) may play a significant role mediating intraglomerular hypertension and glomerular sclerosis. Therefore, we investigated whether a model of pressure-induced stress, mechanical stretch/relaxation, affected the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in cultured rat mesangial cells. Type 1 Ang II receptor (AT1R) expression was assessed by 125I-Ang II binding and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Stretch/relaxation increased steady-state AT1R mRNA levels as well as specific [125I]Ang II binding. Increased AT1R expression was associated with altered AT1R signaling. Ang II (100 nM) increased total phosphoinositide hydrolysis in control cells (186 +/- 25%, n = 6; p < 0.025 vs. no treatment). However, stretch/relaxation for 48 h further augmented AT1R-mediated PI hydrolysis (293 +/- 38%, n = 6; p < 0.025 vs. Ang II treatment alone). We examined other RAS components in mesangial cells subjected to stretch/relaxation. Angiotensinogen, determined by radioimmunoassay of Ang I generation in conditioned media, increased with stretch/relaxation, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated increased angiotensinogen gene expression in stretch/relaxation-treated cells. However, renin activity and angiotensin-converting-enzyme-like activity were unaffected by stretch/relaxation. Thus, mesangial cells maintain a local RAS similar to those described in other tissues, and AT1R expression and angiotensinogen production in this cellular RAS are increased by stretch/relaxation. It is likely that mesangial cells in vivo, exposed to variations in intraglomerular pressure, may regulate their responses via a local RAS.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dynamic change of reticuloendothelial system function after surgical stress.

The influence of surgical stress on the function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) is not well elucidated. Because we established an in vivo functional test for the RES by using chondroitin sulfate iron colloid in rabbits, the normal range of RES function in healthy volunteers (n = 12) and the dynamic change of RES function in surgical patients after distal gastrectomy (n = 14) were examined by this method. In healthy volunteers, the maximum phagocytic velocity and membrane-particle constant were 0.0310 +/- 0.0052 mg/kg per minute and 0.575 +/- 0.205 mg/kg, respectively. In surgical patients, maximum phagocytic velocity (postoperative day 1, 0.0408 +/- 0.0088; postoperative day 3, 0.0486 +/- 0.0115; and postoperative day 7, 0.0430 +/- 0.0115 mg/kg per minute) and membrane-particle constant (postoperative day 3, 0.717 +/- 0.169 mg/kg) significantly increased postoperatively in comparison with preoperative values. These results indicate that the total capacity of the RES is augmented but that its functional phagocytic efficiency is diminished after abdominal surgery. This phenomenon is considered to be one of the immunological alterations caused by surgical stress. The chondroitin sulfate iron colloid test can be applied to monitor the dynamic change of the RES function under various conditions.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intravenous administration of nucleosides and a nucleotide mixture diminishes intestinal mucosal atrophy induced by total parenteral nutrition.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is associated with atrophic changes in the structure and function of the intestinal mucosa. Because rapidly renewing intestinal mucosal cells may require an external source of purines and pyrimidines for their optimal growth, it can be assumed that supplementation of nucleosides and a nucleotide mixture (OG-VI) during TPN may prevent the progression of mucosal atrophy by compensating for a relatively insufficient delivery from liver. To test that hypothesis, male Wistar rats receiving TPN for 7 days were divided into four groups according to different TPN solutions. Group C (n = 10) received a standard solution, group O (n = 10) received OG-VI in addition to the standard solution, and group G (n = 10) received a glutamine-rich TPN solution containing almost the same amount of calories and nitrogen as the standard solution. Group O+G (n = 10) received OG-VI in addition to the glutamine-rich solution. Various parameters were examined on the eighth day in the jejunal and ileal segments. The following significant changes in comparison with group C were observed: total wet weight of the jejunal segment in group O was significantly greater, as was mucosal wet weight of the jejunal and ileal segments in groups O and O+G; protein contents of the ileal segment in group O as well as the DNA content of the jejunal segment in group O increased significantly; and maltase activity of the jejunal segment in group O+G increased, as did the villus height of the jejunal segment in groups O and O+G and the villus height of the ileal segment in group G.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study is to evaluate characteristics in lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among 966 lung cancer patients admitted to our division over a period of 24 years, 73 patients were diagnosed as having COPD. There were 68 (93.2%) men and 5 women; of the tumors 43 (58.9%) were squamous cell carcinomas. Although 41 (56.2%) patients had stage IA-IIIA, only 11 (15.1%) had surgery. Coexistence of COPD was proved to be a prognostic factor (p=0.0451). Adequate palliative care to provide quality survival would be the primary goal of therapy for lung cancer patients with COPD.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of physical factors in the regulation of mesangial cell growth and the interaction with vasoactive agents.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of nucleosides and nucleotide mixture in intestinal mucosal growth under total parenteral nutrition.

The preventive effect of a mixture of nucleosides and a nucleotide (OG-VI) on total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-associated gut mucosal atrophy was investigated. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. The TPN group (n = 11) received a standard TPN diet (250 kcal and 1.78 g nitrogen.kg-1.day-1) for 6 days; the TPN + OG-VI group (n = 10) received OG-VI (2.5 ml.kg-1.day-1) in addition to the standard TPN solution for 6 days. To obtain information on a normal fed condition of the intestine, another 10 rats were maintained on oral rat chow for 6 days. Compared with the TPN group, mucosal wet weights in the jejunum (22.8 +/- 1.8 vs. 20.5 +/- 2.0 mg/cm) and the ileum (19.4 +/- 2.2 vs. 16.8 +/- 2.3 mg/cm) were significantly greater in the TPN + OG-VI group. Likewise, diamine oxidase activities in the jejunum (13.7 +/- 4.27 vs. 8.02 +/- 3.40 nmol.min-1.cm-1) and the ileum (33.9 +/- 6.89 vs. 25.9 +/- 7.93 nmol.min-1.cm-1) were significantly higher in the TPN + OG-VI group. Moreover, the bromodeoxyuridine labeling index in the TPN + OG-VI group (36.9 +/- 4.30%) was significantly higher than in the TPN group (31.0 +/- 3.03%). The addition of OG-VI to the standard TPN diet improved mucosal growth and maturity by increasing the proliferating activity of crypt cells. External provision of purines and pyrimidines may be necessary to sustain mucosal function during TPN.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗