Biomedical subjects

T Kaneko

Publications and source records attributed to T Kaneko.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Localization and density of myeloid leucocytes in the periodontal ligament of normal rat molars.

The phenotypic distribution and density of macrophage-associated antigen-expressing cells in the periodontal ligament (PDL) of normal rat mandibular first molars was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and an attempt made to identify dendritic cells (DCs) by immunoelectron microscopy. Cells immunopositive to ED1 (a general macrophage marker) were widely distributed throughout the PDL and were most common around blood vessels. A small number of T lymphocytes and OX62 (anti-veiled cells and gammadelta T cells)-positive DC-like cells were also found. The relative density of cells immunopositive to ED9 (CD14), OX42 (CD11b), OX6 (anti-class II MHC molecules), ED2 (anti-tissue-resident macrophages), 8A2 (CD11c) and WT.1 (CD11a) varied in the mesial, distal and periapical regions of the distal root and the furcal region. This finding suggests that there are several subpopulations of ED1-positive cells which express various combinations of these markers. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that a small, but distinct, subpopulation of ED1- and OX6-positive cells did have a DC-like ultrastructure, although the majority of these cells were identified as macrophages. The DC-like cells were characterized by poorly developed lysosomal structures and an absence of phagocytic vesicles. It was concluded that the normal rat PDL is equipped with heterogeneous populations of macrophages with regional variations in density. The DC-like cells may function as antigen-presenting cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

An immunoelectron-microscopic study of class II major histocompatibility complex molecule-expressing macrophages and dendritic cells in experimental rat periapical lesions.

Previous studies have demonstrated that heterogeneous populations of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule-expressing non-lymphoid cells, ultrastructurally classified as macrophages and dendritic cell (DC) cell-like cells, comprise the major immune cell population in experimental periapical lesions in rat molars. In this study, the temporal changes in relative proportions of the two types of cells were examined, on the hypothesis that they are involved in different aspects of the pathogenesis of the lesions. The lesions were induced by making surgical pulp exposures in mandibular first molars of 5-week-old Wistar rats. Observation periods were set at 0 (normal), 3, 14, 28, and 56 days. Non-lymphoid cells immunoreactive to OX6 (reactive to class II MHC molecules) were classified as macrophages and DC cell-like cells according to their ultrastructure, and the frequencies of the two types of cells were assessed at each time-point. ED1 (reactive to nearly all macrophages and DCs) was also used to identify macrophages and DC cell-like cells. At 3 days, most OX6+ cells and ED1+ cells in the periapical tissue had the ultrastructural appearance of newly recruited macrophages. At 14 days, when the lesion was actively expanding, there were significantly more OX6+ macrophages than OX6+ DC cell-like cells (P<0.01). However, at 28 days, when lesion expansion had ceased, DC cell-like cells significantly outnumbered OX6+ macrophages (P<0.01); this remained constant at 56 days. Cell-to-cell contact between OX6+ non-lymphoid cells and OX6- lymphocytes, suggesting a functional interaction, was most frequently seen at 28 days. These results support the notion that class II MHC molecule-expressing macrophages play some part in the initial lesion expansion, and suggest that DC cell-like cells may primarily be involved in immune defence against perpetuated antigenic challenges following lesion stabilization.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Human liver disease decreases methacrylyl-CoA hydratase and beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase activities in valine catabolism.

BACKGROUND: Methacrylyl-coenzyme A (MC-CoA) hydratase and beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-coenzyme A (HIB-CoA) hydrolase are key enzymes regulating the toxic concentration of MC-CoA generated in valine catabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the activities and mRNA expression levels of these enzymes in normal human livers and in human livers with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: The activities of both enzymes were significantly lower by 36% to 46% in livers with cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma compared with normals, suggesting a decrease in the capability of detoxifying MC-CoA with these diseases. The mRNA levels for both enzymes measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction were significantly increased in livers with cirrhosis, but were not altered in those with chronic hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with normal livers. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that low levels of these enzyme activities in livers with cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma are the result of posttranscriptional regulation in the damaged liver.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Water-soluble covalent conjugates of bovine serum albumin with anionic poly(N-isopropyl-acrylamide) and their immunogenicity.

We have conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA) to poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (poly(NIPAAm-AA)) by using water-soluble carbodiimide, and the effects of the bulk mass ratio of protein to polymer (r) on the formation of polymer-protein conjugates have been studied. HPLC, electrophoresis, viscosimetry and fluorescence spectroscopy suggest that the mode of covalent binding of BSA to poly(NIPAAm-AA) depends upon the weight concentration ratio (r) of BSA to poly(NIPAAm-AA). At r < or = 1, free poly(NIPAAm-AA) molecules coexist with conjugate, and when r reaches 1 the amount of free polymer is too small to be observed. It is shown that depending on the ratio r, two types of conjugate particles were formed: at r < 1, the protein molecules in the structure of conjugate particles are densely covered as a shell by polymer chain and practically "fenced off" from water environment; at r > 1 the conjugate-forming particles possess more friable structures in which protein molecules are practically exposed to the solvent. The complex formation involving electrostatic interactions between BSA and carbodiimide activated polymer are proposed as the driving force for the covalent binding of BSA to polymer macromolecules. The coil-globule transition of macromolecules in low and thermally induced precipitation in more concentrated solutions of bioconjugates was observed. The immunogenic properties of covalent conjugates of CP-BSA were investigated and the temperature-modulated solubility-immunogenicity alterations was analyzed. A single immunization of mice with conjugates at the thermally precipitating concentration without an adjuvant evoked increased specific immune response to BSA, which practically did not depend on the initial conjugation ratio of components. Such a modulated system is attractive for application as a novel immunogenic system in vaccine technology.

Acrylamides↗

PubMed2001

Projections from the hippocampal and parahippocampal regions to the entorhinal cortex. An anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing study in the cat.

Projections from the hippocampal and parahippocampal regions to the entorhinal cortex (EC) were examined in the cat by anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin and cholera toxin B subunit. CA1 fibers to EC were distributed more densely in the medial EC than in the lateral EC; these were seen in all EC layers, but most densely in layers II and III. The septotemporal axis of the area of origin of CA1-EC fibers corresponded to a caudal-to-rostral axis of the area of their termination in the EC. CA2 and CA4 also sent a small number of fibers to the EC. The subiculum sent fibers mainly to the lateral EC; more densely to layers IV-VI than to layers I-III. The septotemporal axis of the area of origin of subiculum-EC fibers corresponded to a caudolateral-to-rostromedial axis of their termination in the EC. Distribution pattern of fibers from the prosubiculum regions close to CA1 or from prosubiculum regions close to the subiculum was similar to that of CA1 fibers or subiculum fibers, respectively. The presubiculum sent fibers mainly to the medial EC; most densely to layers I and III. The parasubiculum sent fibers mainly to the medial EC; most densely to layer II. Fibers to the contralateral EC were detected only from the presubiculum; they originated from the superficial layers and terminated in layer III of the medial entorhinal area.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Radial glia is a progenitor of neocortical neurons in the developing cerebral cortex.

Neocortical neurons are produced by cell division of neural stem cells in the ventricular zone of the cerebral cortex. We investigated the production of neurons by infecting neuroepithelial cells with a modified GFP-recombinant adenovirus. The adenovirus DNA is inherited by only one daughter cell at each cell division and travels one way from the progenitor to the progeny. Since the ventricular zone (VZ) of the embryo neocortex expressed an adenovirus receptor, CAR ubiquitously, morphology and cell-lineage of cells in the VZ could be revealed by the adenovirus infection. Radial glias, cells with a bipolar shape, and spherical cells were found as modified-GFP-positive (mGFP+) in the VZ. The bipolar cells (radial cells) had a radial process not in contact with the pia mater and a growth-cone-like structure at the edge of their radial process, while the radial glias had a process spanning all the cortical layers. Ten hours after viral infection, most mGFP+ cells were radial cells. In the following 8 h, the percentage of mGFP+ radial glias in mGFP+ neocortical cells increased from 18 to 50%, while that in radial/spherical cells decreased from 75 to 19%. The radial glias often divided asymmetrically and produced spherical cells and neuronal precursors. The spherical cells seemed to become radial cells by extending a radial process. The spherical cells, radial cells and radial glias seemed to constitute a proliferating cell cycle during which postmitotic neuronal precursors are produced. The neuronal precursors that inherited the radial processes migrated radially and developed into neocortical neurons. Four days after the viral infection, 97% of mGFP+ cells were neocortical neurons. Here, we propose that the radial glia is a progenitor of neocortical neurons, and that a significant number of radially migrating neurons is guided by their own radial processes connected to the pia mater.

Aging↗

PubMed2001

Regular exercise improves cognitive function and decreases oxidative damage in rat brain.

The biochemical mechanisms by which regular exercise significantly benefits health and well being, including improved cognitive function, are not well understood. Four-week-old (young) and 14-month-old (middle aged) Wistar rats were randomly assigned to young control and young exercised, middle-aged control and middle-aged exercised groups. Exercise groups were exposed to a swimming regime of 1 h a day, 5 days a week for 9 weeks. The passive avoidance test showed that middle-aged exercised rats had significantly (P<0.05) better short- (24 h) and long-term (72 h) memory than aged-matched control rats. Conditioned pole-jumping avoidance learning was improved markedly in both age groups by exercise. Brain thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine content in the DNA did not change significantly, while the protein carbonyl levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) in both exercised groups. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome complex in the exercised groups, whereas trypsin-like activity did not differ significantly between all groups. The DT-diaphorase activity increased significantly (P<0.05) in the brain of young exercised animals. These data show that swimming training improves some cognitive functions in rats, with parallel attenuation of the accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2001

Single bout of exercise eliminates the immobilization-induced oxidative stress in rat brain.

We were interested in the effects of immobilization (IM), a single bout of exercise (E) and immobilization followed by exercise (EIM) on memory and oxidative damage of macromolecules in hippocampus of rat brain. Eight hours of IM resulted in impairment of passive avoidance test (memory retrieval deficit) and increased latency to start locomotion in an open-field test. Two hours of swimming did not significantly alter the memory retrieval deficit and latency, while the EIM group had longer latency and similar memory than control and E groups. The oxidative damage of lipids, proteins and nuclear DNA increased significantly in IM group and no increase was observed in E and EIM animals. The activity of proteasome was not altered in any groups. The activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) was decreased in IM group (P < 0.05), this down regulation was not observed in E and EIM groups. These data suggest that oxidative damage of macromolecules is associated with impaired cognitive function. Single bout of exercise after immobilization eliminates the oxidative damage of macromolecules and normalizes memory function, probably by its ability to restore the activity level of GS and eliminate the consequences of immobilization-induced prolonged efflux of glutamate.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Formation of bioorganic compounds in simulated planetary atmospheres by high energy particles or photons.

Various types of organic compounds have been detected in Jupiter, Titan, and cometary coma. It is probable that organic compounds were formed in primitive Earth and Mars atmospheres. Cosmic rays and solar UV are believed to be two major energy sources for organic formation in space. We examined energetics of organic formation in simulated planetary atmospheres. Gas mixtures including a C-source (carbon monoxide or methane) and a N-source (nitrogen or ammonia) was irradiated with the followings: High energy protons or electrons from accelerators, gamma-rays from 60Co, UV light from a deuterium lamp, and soft X-rays or UV light from an electron synchrotron. Amino acids were detected in the products of particles, gamma-rays and soft X-rays irradiation from each gas mixture examined. UV light gave, however, no amino acid precursors in the gas mixture of carbon monoxide, nitrogen and nitrogen. It gave only a trace of them in the gas mixture of carbon monoxide, ammonia and water or that of methane, nitrogen and water. Yield of amino acid precursors by photons greatly depended on their wavelength. These results suggest that nitrogen-containing organic compounds like amino acid precursors were formed chiefly with high energy particles, not UV photons, in Titan or primitive Earth/Mars atmospheres where ammonia is not available as a predominant N-source.

Alanine↗

PubMed2001

Mechanism of action of benzene toxicity: cell cycle suppression in hemopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-GM).

The aim of this study was to clarify previously reported controversial data and hypotheses concerning the effect of benzene on the cell cycle of hemopoietic stem cells. In this study, the bromodeoxyuridine UV (BUUV) suicide assay was performed in normal C57BL/6 and p53 knockout (KO) C57BL/6 mice during and after exposure to 300 ppm of benzene for 2 weeks. Our kinetic studies revealed that the cell cycle of hemopoietic myeloid progenitor cells (colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage [CFU-GM]), rather than being stimulated, was suppressed by exposure to benzene. The fraction of CFU-GM in S phase was significantly depressed, from 37.1% in controls to 16.3% in normal mice. BrdUrd incorporation in both groups revealed significantly different slopes for untreated and benzene-exposed normal C57BL/6 mice. p53 appeared to induce suppression of both the number and the cycling fraction of hemopoietic progenitor cells, as demonstrated by the lack of benzene-induced suppression of these parameters in p53 KO mice. The likelihood that suppression of bone marrow cellularity and cell cycling is mediated by p53 was supported by the upregulation of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Our present study revealed the mechanism of action of benzene hematotoxicity. Benzene suppresses the cell cycle by p53-mediated overexpression of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, resulting not simply in suppression of hemopoiesis but rather in a dynamic change of hemopoiesis during and after benzene exposure. Thus, the controversies raised by previously reported data are resolved by our present findings of hemopoietic stem cell kinetics.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Prostaglandin EP3 receptor protein in serotonin and catecholamine cell groups: a double immunofluorescence study in the rat brain.

Prostaglandin E(2) exerts diverse physiological actions in the central nervous system with unknown mechanisms. We have reported the immunohistochemical localization of the EP3 receptor, one of the prostaglandin E receptor subtypes, in various brain regions including many monoaminergic nuclei. In the present study, a double immunofluorescence technique with an antibody to EP3 receptor and antibodies to markers for monoamine neurons was employed to examine the expression of the receptor in serotonin and catecholamine neurons, and to reveal the distribution of the receptor-expressing monoamine neurons in the rat brain. Almost all serotonergic cells in the medulla oblongata (B1-B4) exhibited EP3 receptor-like immunoreactivity, whereas mesencephalic and pontine serotonergic cell groups (B5-B9) contained relatively small populations of EP3 receptor-immunoreactive cells. In the catecholaminergic cell groups, many of the noradrenergic A7 cells in the subcoeruleus nucleus showed immunoreactivity for the receptor. The locus coeruleus exhibited EP3 receptor-like immunoreactivity densely in the neuropil and occasionally in neuronal cell bodies, all of which were immunopositive for dopamine beta-hydroxylase, as observed by confocal laser microscopy. Many of the other noradrenergic and adrenergic cell groups contained small populations of EP3 receptor-like immunoreactive cells. In contrast, no EP3 receptor-like immunoreactivity was detected in the noradrenergic A2 and A4, the adrenergic C2, and all the dopaminergic cell groups. The expression of EP3 receptor by most of the serotonergic, noradrenergic and adrenergic cell groups suggests that prostaglandin E(2) modulates many physiological processes mediated by widely distributed monoaminergic projections through activation of the EP3 receptor on the monoaminergic neurons; for instance, it may modulate nociceptive and autonomic processes by affecting the descending serotonergic pathway from the raphe magnus nucleus to the spinal cord.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Screening of Chinese herbal drug extracts for inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production and identification of an active compound of Zanthoxylum bungeanum.

Sixty-eight water and methanol extracts from 34 Chinese herbal drugs, most of which are used for inflammatory diseases, were screened for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated J774.1 macrophages and in LPS/interferon (IFN)-gamma-stimulated mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages. Among the extracts, methanol extracts of Myristica fragrans, Plantago asiatica, Rubia cordifolia, and Zanthoxylum bungeanum showed significant inhibition in J774.1 macrophages, while in mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages, water extracts of Ru. cordifolia and Scutellaria baicalensis and methanol extracts of Angelica megaphylla, My. fragrans, and Z. bungeanum inhibited the NO production. Among them, inhibition of water extract of Sc. baicalensis was found to be mainly due to direct scavenging of NO radicals, through an examination of its scavenging activity on PAPA NONOate-generated NO radicals, while water extract of Ru. cordifolia and methanol extracts of An. megaphylla, My. fragrans, P. asiatica, and Z. bungeanum showed inhibition on iNOS mRNA expression. At last, an inhibitory compound on iNOS mRNA expression was isolated from a methanol extract of Z. bungeanum and identified as 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyldihydroferulic acid by NMR spectral analyses and chemical synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Soluble CD44 in human ovarian follicular fluid.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we investigated the existence of soluble CD44 (sCD44) in human follicular fluid, the relationship between the concentration of sCD44 and that of other hormonal parameters, and the prognostic value of sCD44 in follicular fluid in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. METHODS: A total of 63 follicular fluid specimens from patients (n = 30) participating in our IVF programs was analyzed by RIA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean concentration (+/- SE) of sCD44 in follicular fluid was 265.4 +/- 7.8 ng/ml. The variation of the follicular fluid concentration of sCD44 was strictly associated with that of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (r = 0.572, P < 0.0001). The mean concentration of sCD44 in follicular fluid was significantly higher in follicles containing subsequently unfertilized oocytes than that in those containing oocytes that had undergone fertilization (P = 0.0428). In the analysis of each follicle that contained an oocyte subsequently fertilized, the mean concentration of sCD44 was significantly higher in follicular fluid with the subsequently good-quality embryos than in that with the subsequently poor-quality embryos (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the concentration of sCD44 in follicular fluid reflects the development of embryos derived from the same follicle, so the sCD44 in human follicular fluid may be useful in the assessment of the prognostic value of IVF programs.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

PubMed2001

Bone resorption and local interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-1beta synthesis induced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide.

Different types of periodontopathic bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exert various biological activities in vitro. However, whether or not these activities also occur in vivo remains unclear. Thus the present study investigates bone resorption, as well as local IL-1alpha and IL-1beta synthesis induced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS in the periodontal tissue of mice. Both types of LPS were injected into mouse gingiva every 48 h and the animals were sacrificed 6 h after the 1st. 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 20th, or 24th injection. Bone resorption in the injected gingiva was histopathologically and histomorphometrically investigated and local concentrations of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The active resorption ratio was significantly higher in the group given the 10th injection of LPS from A. actinomycetemcomitans than in the group given P. gingivalis LPS. Furthermore, A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS stimulated significantly more synthesis of IL-1alpha than P. gingivalis LPS after the 4th and 10th injections. and of IL-1beta after the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th and 20th injections. These results suggest that A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS is a more potent inducer of bone resorption and synthesis of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in the short term than P. gingivalis LPS.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

PubMed2001

Two members of the IgLON family are expressed in a restricted region of the developing chick brain and neural crest.

The precise expression patterns of two IgLON genes, CEPU-1 and limbic system-associated membrane protein (LAMP), were studied during early embryogenesis. It was found that expression of both was localized to restricted regions of the brain and neural crest. In the developing neural tube, CEPU-1 was expressed in the isthmus and a restricted region of the hindbrain, whereas LAMP was expressed in the anterior midbrain. Most neural crest cells expressed LAMP, whereas CEPU-1 expression was limited to crest cells derived from the hindbrain. These results suggest that members of the IgLON family have important roles during embryogenesis, particularly in brain formation and differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Intraoperative ultrasonography by high-resolution annular array transducer for intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas (IPMT) spread along the main pancreatic duct (MPD) or branch duct, or both. It is important to intraoperatively determine the extent of IPMT lesions in the MPD to perform a successful operation. METHODS: This study included 27 consecutive patients with IPMT who were referred for operation and who had undergone endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, and computed tomography as a diagnostic examination. Intraoperative ultrasonography with a 7.5-MHz annular array transducer and a 7. 5-MHz conventional transducer was performed. All patients underwent operation, and the pathology was confirmed. Endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, intraoperative conventional ultrasonography, and intraoperative annular array ultrasonography results were correlated with those from a pathologic examination of the resected specimens. The diagnostic accuracy of these 4 modalities in the detection of IPMT lesions in the MPD and the branch duct was confirmed. RESULTS: The diagnostic criterion of IPMT lesions by intraoperative annular array ultrasonography was the presence of echogenic masses with irregular margins in the MPD or branch duct, or both. An IPMT lesion in the MPD was found in 22 of the 27 patients. Intraoperative annular array ultrasonography detected 5 cases of IPMT lesions in the MPD that could not be detected by endoscopic ultrasonography or endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. In 3 of 5 patients, pancreatic resection was extended to remove IPMT lesions. Intraoperative annular array ultrasonography detected 3 multifocal lesions that could not be detected by preoperative examinations. For the diagnosis of IPMT lesions in the MPD, the respective sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of intraoperative annular array ultrasonography were 86%, 100%, and 89%; the respective values were 50%, 100%, and 59% for endoscopic retrograde pancreatography; 59%, 100%, and 67% for endoscopic ultrasonography, and 32%, 100%, and 44% for intraoperative conventional ultrasonography. For the diagnosis of IPMT lesions in the branch duct, the respective sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of intraoperative annular array ultrasonography were 95%, 100%, and 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative annular array ultrasonography is suitable for longitudinal scanning of the MPD, useful for accurate diagnosis of the extent of IPMT in the pancreas, and valuable for planning surgical strategy and successful operations for IPMT.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMed2001

Dose-dependent prophylactic effect of nicorandil, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, on intra-operative myocardial ischaemia in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Nicorandil, a nicotinamide nitrate derivative, relaxes vascular smooth muscle and reduces cardiac muscle contractility by increasing membrane potassium conductance, probably by activating ATP-sensitive potassium channels. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, we examined the dose-dependent prophylactic effect of nicorandil on intra-operative myocardial ischaemia in 248 patients who had pre-operative risk factors for ischaemic heart disease and were undergoing major abdominal surgery. Patients in group HD (n=81) received a bolus dose of nicorandil 0.08 mg kg(-1) and a continuous infusion of 0.08 mg kg(-1) h(-1). Patients in group LD (n=87) received nicorandil 0.04 mg kg(-1) and 0.04 mg kg(-1) h(-1). Patients in the placebo (P) group (n=80) received the same volumes of saline. The patients were monitored with a three-lead clinical ECG monitor with an ST trending device from arrival in the operating theatre to the end of anaesthesia. Intra-operative myocardial ischaemia occurred significantly less frequently in the HD group (one patient, 1.2%) than in the LD (11 patients, 12.6%) and P groups (21 patients, 26.3%) (P<0.01), and in group LD significantly less than in group P (P<0.05). Administration of nicorandil had little effect on the patients' heart rate or arterial pressure. Three patients in group P and none in either treatment group developed myocardial infarction after surgery.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2001

Expression of a Y-box protein, YB2/RYB-a, precedes protamine 2 expression during spermatogenesis in rodents.

Y-box binding proteins, a large family of proteins, are involved in a variety of functions. The present study describes the expression of YB2, a rat Y-box binding protein, and/or RYB-a, an alternatively spliced product of the YB2 gene during spermatogenesis. YB2/RYB-a is thought to be the rat orthologue of mouse Y-box protein 3 (MSY3). An antibody which recognizes YB2/RYB-a was developed and applied in an immunochemical study of rat and mouse testes. We also carried out an in-situ hybridization study and Northern blot analysis of YB2/RYB-a and protamine 2 mRNA expression. Both YB2/RYB-a mRNA and the proteins appeared in prepubertal mouse testes, prior to the expression of the mouse protamine 2 mRNA. The mRNA and protein were present at high levels in spermatocytes, decreased in round to elongated spermatids, and were absent in spermatozoa. Since the protamine 2 mRNA was present at high levels in round and elongating spermatids, the proposed function of the YB2/RYB-a protein as a translational repressor of the mRNA was supported in mouse. The level and localization of YB2/RYB-a mRNA and protein expression in the rat testis was comparable to that in mouse testis, although rat testis is known to express a very low level of protamine 2, but is also likely to affect the expression of other proteins (including protamine 1) during spermatogenesis.

Animals↗