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Biomedical subjects

T Maekawa

Publications and source records attributed to T Maekawa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Ischemic preconditioning attenuates cardiac sympathetic nerve injury via ATP-sensitive potassium channels during myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: During myocardial ischemia, massive norepinephrine (NE) is released from the cardiac sympathetic nerve terminals, reflecting the sympathetic nerve injury. A brief preceding ischemia can reduce infarct size; this is known as ischemic preconditioning (PC). The effect of PC on sympathetic nerves, however, including its underlying mechanisms in dog hearts, has remained unclear. Thus, this study was designed to elucidate whether the activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels is involved in the mechanism of cardiac sympathetic nerve protection conferred by PC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Interstitial NE concentration was measured by the in situ cardiac microdialysis method in 45 anesthetized dogs. Five minutes of ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion was performed as PC. In the controls, the dialysate NE concentration (dNE) increased 15-fold after the 40-minute ischemia. PC decreased dNE at 40-minute ischemia by 59% (P<0.01), which was reversed by glibenclamide. A K(ATP) channel opener, nicorandil (25 microg. kg(-1). min(-1) IV), decreased dNE at 40 minutes of ischemia by 76% (P<0.01), which was also reversed by glibenclamide. During the PC procedure, no significant increase in dNE was detected, even with the uptake-1 inhibitor desipramine. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac sympathetic nerve injury during myocardial ischemia was attenuated by PC via the activation of K(ATP) channels, but the trigger of the PC effect is unlikely to be NE release in dog hearts.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2001

Development of human lymphohematopoietic stem and progenitor cells defined by expression of CD34 and CD81.

In this study, cord blood CD34(+) cells expressed CD81, a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, and were classified into 3 subpopulations on the basis of their expression levels: CD34(+)CD81(+), CD34(low)CD81(+), and CD34(+)CD81(high). The lymphohematopoietic activity of each subpopulation was then examined by using suspension and clonogenic cultures for hematopoietic potential, coculture with MS-5 cells for B-cell potential, organ cultures of thymus lobes from nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency disease (NOD/SCID) fetal mice, coculture with stromal cells derived from NOD/SCID fetal-mouse liver tissue for natural killer (NK) cell and mast cell potentials, and xenotransplantation into NOD/SCID mice for long-term repopulating (LTR) ability. CD34(+)CD81(+) cells represented a heterogeneous population that had all the lymphohematopoietic activities, including NOD/SCID mouse-repopulating ability. CD34(low)CD81(+) cells were enriched in erythroid, megakaryocytic, and NK lineage potentials but had lost T-cell and B-cell potentials and LTR ability. The CD34(+)CD81(high) fraction was depleted of most lymphohematopoietic potentials except NK cell and mast cell potentials. Thus, along the differentiation cascade from CD34(+)CD81(+) lymphohematopoietic stem cells, an up-regulation of CD81 or a down-regulation of CD34 results in a change in lymphohematopoietic properties. CD81 may serve as a marker for defining developmental stages of lymphohematopoietic stem cells. (Blood. 2001;97:3755-3762)

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Doppler-shifted cyclotron absorption of electron Bernstein waves via N( parallel)-upshift in a Tokamak plasma.

Extraordinary (X) waves are perpendicularly injected for electron Bernstein (B) wave heating into an Ohmically heated plasma from the inboard side in the WT-3 tokamak. Measurements show that absorption does not take place at the electron cyclotron resonance layer nor the upper hybrid resonance layer, but does happen midway between them. This is consistent with the ray tracing prediction, i.e., the poloidal field and poloidal inhomogeneity of toroidal field lead the B waves to have a large parallel refractive index N( parallel) (>1), and the B waves are damped away via the Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Apoptotic and necrotic brain lesions in a fatal case of carbon monoxide poisoning.

A 41-year-old man was accidentally exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) gas and found in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest while he took bath. After admission, he was resuscitated and underwent artificial ventilation in a comatose state and died about 19h later. Computed tomography (CT) examination disclosed bilateral low density area in the basal ganglia and the thalamus, a well-known finding in the CO intoxication. Necropsy, histological examination, DNA ladder assay gave the first line of evidence for the presence of apoptosis as well as necrosis in the human case of CO intoxication. TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive apoptotic cells were more predominant in the CA2 area than in CA1 area. There is general co-relation between the ratio of TUNEL-positive cells and the DNA laddering on the agarose gel. Basal ganglia and thalamus, which showed bilateral low density area in CT, were revealed to be severe edema. The two types of cell death occurred in the cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. Hypoxia caused by CO-hemoglobin formation alone cannot explain the phenomena.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Highly sensitive immunohistological study for detection of estrogen receptor in human breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immunohistological methods for the detection of estrogen receptor in human breast cancer using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue not only have the advantages of being cheaper and requiring less tissue but also have several theoretical advantages. For example, such methods enable direct histological visualization of the assessed tissue and thereby reduce sampling error. Traditional immunohistological methods (traditional LSAB), however, show false-negative reactions more often than the enzyme-binding immunoassay method (EIA). METHODS: After determining 25 estrogen receptor-positive cases and 50 estrogen receptor-negative cases by EIA, we analyzed these same cases using a traditional LSAB method and a new highly sensitive immunohistological method for assaying formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. RESULTS: Using this new method, we detected 10 instances of positive estrogen receptors among the 50 EIA receptor-negative cases. The 25 EIA-positive cases were positive for estrogen receptor antigen except 1case using the new method. CONCLUSIONS: This new method not only has the advantage of use in paraffin-embedded tissue but also is more sensitive than the EIA. We recommend this new method as a choice to decrease false-negatives.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Observations on the effects of caged carp culture on water and sediment metal concentrations in lake Kasumigaura, Japan.

The concentrations of 24 elements in the sediment and associated water column were monitored at two sites, one an area of intensive cage culture of carp, the other a wild site far from known cage culture areas, in Lake Kasumigaura, Japan, between September 1994 and September 1995. The concentrations of most elements in Lake Kasumigaura are mostly sub-parts per billion, except those for Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, and Si. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Fe in Lake Kasumigaura are higher than the values in Lake Mashu, Lake Shikotsu, and Lake Biwa, and comparable to the levels in open ocean. Statistically significant differences in metal concentrations were observed between the culture and wild sites, with metal concentrations consistently higher at the culture site. Although cage culture of carp in the Lake Kasumigaura system may be causing localized increase in metal concentrations in the sediments, we must treat the results with caution, since the concentrations of metals observed in the sediments in 1995 were lower than those observed in 1979 for all metals at both sampling sites. In conclusion, further study of the concentrations of metals in the lake as a whole must be undertaken before the differences between the culture and wild sites can be proved, or disproved, to be the result of carp culture.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Severe autoimmune thrombocytopenia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anemia.

Autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was suggested to occur by immune dysregulation mainly in association with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Here we present a patient who developed severe AITP after BMT. A 40-year-old woman with severe aplastic anemia received a BMT from a partially HLA-matched brother. Despite myeloid and erythroid engraftments, platelet recovery was delayed. All bone marrow cells were 46,XY and were derived from the donor. Grade I acute GVHD involving skin developed from day 34 posttransplantation, but promptly responded to prednisolone in addition to a prophylactic dose of tacrolimus. With the tapering of prednisolone, thrombocytopenia progressed without substantial changes in the white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, or reticulocyte count. On day 188, the patient developed chronic GVHD involving skin and liver, which promptly responded to the readministration of prednisolone and increased tacrolimus. However, the patient's platelet count decreased to 9 x 10(9) cells/L on day 222. The platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG) values were elevated. Bone marrow examination showed hypercellularity with plentiful megakaryocytes. The number of colony-forming units-megakaryocyte was within the normal range. The elevated PAIgG values and a correlation between thrombocytopenia and the intensity of the immunosuppressive agents strongly suggested a causative role of the autoimmune mechanisms for thrombocytopenia in this patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

An immunohistochemical examination of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: report of a case.

We recently encountered a patient with basaloid carcinoma of the esophagus with extensive node involvement. The patient died of hematogenous metastasis 6 months after surgery. The tumor expressed cytokeratin but did not express either Type IV collagen or laminin. Both tumor cells and metastatic lesions in the regional lymph nodes expressed p53, Bcl-2, and Ki-67 proteins, but did not express cyclin D1 proteins.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2001

Use of artificial neural network in the prediction of algal blooms.

A model to quantify the interactions between abiotic factors and algal genera in Lake Kasumigaura, Japan was developed using artificial neural network technology. Results showed that the timing and magnitude of algal blooms of Microcystis, Phormidium and Synedra in Lake Kasumigaura could be successfully predicted. As for the newly occurring dominant Oscillatoria, results were not satisfactory. The evaluation of the importance of factors showed that Microcystis, Phormidium, Oscillatoria and Synedra were alkalophilic. The algal proliferation for Microcystis, Oscillatoria and Synedra decrease due to the increase in total nitrogen, while the growth of Phormidium is enhanced with more nitrogen. In addition, the algal density is affected by zooplankton grazing but with the exception of Phormidium due to it being poor food source. Algal responses to the orthogonal combinations of the external environmental factors, chemical oxygen demand, pH, total nitrogen and total phosphorus at three levels were modeled. Various combinations of environmental factors enhance the proliferation of some algae while other combinations inhibit bloom formation.

Cyanobacteria↗
PubMed2001

Extraction of arsenic in a synthetic arsenic-contaminated soil using phosphate.

An environment-friendly and cost-effective extraction method has been studied for the removal of arsenic from contaminated soil. A yellow-brown forest soil was contaminated with arsenic(V) and used as a model soil. Among various potassium and sodium salts, potassium phosphate was most effective in extracting arsenic, attaining more than 40% extraction in the pH range of 6-8 with minimum damage to the soil properties. Exchange mechanism is proposed for the extraction of arsenic from soil by phosphate. Sequential extraction shows that phosphate is effective in extracting arsenic of Al- and Fe-bound forms. Arsenic of residual form was not extracted. Arsenic was efficiently extracted by phosphate solution of pH 6.0 at 300 mM phosphate concentration and at 40 degrees C.

Arsenic↗
PubMed2001

Effects of environmental factors on the seasonally change of phytoplankton populations in a closed freshwater pond.

The effect of environmental factors affecting the population dynamic of phytoplankton population was studied seasonally in a closed freshwater pond with the natural water of Lake Kasumigaura, Japan. The predominant phytoplankton species in the pond were classified as Oscillatoria tenuis, Synedra ulna, Chlamydomonas cingulata and Cyclotella kutzingiana, with dominant species of Melosira italica, Synechococcus sp. and Cryptomonas ovata. The most important limiting factor for filament length and cell size of most of the phytoplankton community was temperature. Availability of most nutrients had profound effects on the phytoplankton growth as nonlimiting factors. Based on our results, it is suggested that cell cycle progression was also temporally regulated by a multiplicity of external factors such as temperature, nutrients, dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH. At high pH and high temperature, consistent increase of cell division of some phytoplanketers such as Synedra, Cyclotella, Chlamydomonas and Melosira occurs, and there also may be species-specific responses for other species of phytoplankters. In addition, the cell divisions of phytoplankters are differentially regulated in different phytoplankton species.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of itch-associated responses of NC mice with mite-induced chronic dermatitis.

To clarify the behavioral and pathological features of spontaneous scratching of NC mice with mite-induced chronic dermatitis, we investigated the spontaneous and pruritogen-evoked scratching of NC mice. Although the frequency of scratching of NC mouse did not increase under specific pathogen-free environment, it gradually and markedly increased from 3 to 6 weeks after transfer to conventional environment. The onset of increase in spontaneous scratching was similar to that of dermatitis development and the elevation of plasma concentration of immunoglobulin E. At chronic stage (16 weeks after environment change), the frequency of spontaneous scratching was roughly parallel to the degree of dermatitis, but not to the plasma concentration of immunoglobulin E. The spontaneous scratching of NC mice with dermatitis was inhibited by distraction and the opioid antagonist naltrexone, suggesting that the scratching is itch-associated response. An intradermal injection of serotonin, but not histamine and substance P, elicited scratching of the injected site. Methysergide and cyproheptadine inhibited the serotonin-induced scratching but not spontaneous scratching. The results suggest that marked elevation of plasma immunoglobulin E is not always the cause of spontaneous itch-associated response of NC mice with dermatitis. Serotonin, histamine and substance P may not play an important role in spontaneous itch-scratch response at a chronic stage.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Chemical studies on antioxidant mechanism of curcumin: analysis of oxidative coupling products from curcumin and linoleate.

As a part of a research project on the antioxidant mechanism of natural phenolics in food components, curcumin, a turmeric antioxidant, was investigated in the presence of ethyl linoleate as one of the polyunsaturated lipids. During the antioxidation process, curcumin reacted with four types of linoleate peroxyl radicals. Six reaction products were observed in the reaction and subsequently isolated. Their structures were determined by physical techniques, revealing that they have novel tricyclic structures, including a peroxyl linkage. On the basis of the formation pathway for their chemical structures, an antioxidant mechanism of curcumin in polyunsaturated lipids was proposed, which consisted of an oxidative coupling reaction at the 3'-position of the curcumin with the lipid and a subsequent intramolecular Diels--Alder reaction.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2001

Prompt and durable hematopoietic reconstitution by unrelated cord blood transplantation in a child with Fanconi anemia.

We describe here the case of an 8-year-old girl with Fanconi anemia (FA) whose hematopoiesis was successfully restored by unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. The patient became resistant to androgen therapy, and developed intracranial hemorrhage and dyserythropoiesis. Her hematopoietic recovery after the transplantation was excellent and a complete chimerism has been durably maintained. UCB should be considered as a stem cell source for transplantation when a patient with FA does not have an HLA-identical unaffected sibling donor.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2001

Effects of rhythmic muscle compression on arterial blood pressure at rest and during dynamic exercise in humans.

This study was designed to examine the hypothesis that a rhythmic mechanical compression of muscles would affect systemic blood pressure regulation at rest and during dynamic exercise in humans. We measured the changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) occurring (a) at rest with pulsed (350 ms pulses at 50 pulses min(-1)) or static compression (50 and 100 mmHg) of leg muscles with or without upper thigh occlusion, and (b) during 12-min supine bicycle exercise (75 W, 50 r.p.m.) with or without pulsed compression (50, 100, 150 mmHg) of the legs in synchrony with the thigh extensor muscle contraction. At rest with thigh occlusion, MAP increased by 4-8 mmHg during static leg compression, and by 5-9 mmHg during pulsed leg compression. This suggests that at rest pulsed leg compression elicits a reflex pressor response of similar magnitude to that evoked by static compression. During dynamic exercise without leg compression, MAP (having risen initially) gradually declined, but imposition of graded pulsed leg compression prevented this decline, the MAP values being significantly higher than those recorded without pulsed leg compression by 7-10 mmHg. These results suggest that the rhythmic increase in intramuscular pressure that occurs during dynamic exercise evokes a pressor response in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Inhibitory effect of interleukin 3 on early development of human B-lymphopoiesis.

Interleukin 3 (IL-3) is known as a stimulator of proliferation and differentiation of non-lymphoid cells, but information about the activity of IL-3 in lymphopoiesis is limited. In the present study, we examined the effect of IL-3 on human B-lymphopoiesis using the co-culture system on a murine stromal cell line, MS-5, with stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Although a large number of CD45+CD19+ B cells were generated in the co-culture of cord blood CD34+ cells, the addition of IL-3 to the co-culture suppressed the B-cell generation in a dose-dependent manner. In the co-culture, CD34+IL-3 receptor alpha-chain (IL-3Ralpha)+ cells, but not IL-3Ralpha- cells, produced B cells, and IL-3 suppressed the B-cell generation from CD34+IL-3Ralpha+ cells, suggesting that IL-3 exerts an inhibitory effect through the binding to IL-3Ralpha on CD34+ cells. Because the delayed addition of IL-3 and the short-term exposure to IL-3 showed that IL-3 acted as an inhibitor at an early stage of B-cell development from CD34+ cells, before the generation of CD19+ B cells, the effect of IL-3 on the early development of B cells from immature CD34+CD38- cells was examined. Individual colonies, produced from clone-sorted CD34+CD38- cells by SCF, thrombopoietin and a complex of IL-6/soluble IL-6R with or without IL-3, were divided into two fractions and analysed for B-cell potential using co-culture on MS-5 with SCF and G-CSF, and haematopoietic potential using methylcellulose clonal culture. Although some colonies cultured without IL-3 showed both B-cell and haematopoietic potential, all the colonies cultured with IL-3 showed only haematopoietic potential. These results indicate that IL-3 has an inhibitory effect on the B-cell generation from human lymphohaematopoietic progenitor cells.

Animals↗