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Biomedical subjects

T Minami

Publications and source records attributed to T Minami.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Purification and characterization of a phospholipase A2 from human ileal mucosa.

We purified a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from human ileal mucosa to homogeneity. Its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence, amino acid composition, molecular weight, and elution behavior on reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography were identical to those of human group II PLA2 purified from synovial fluid or spleen. The ileal PLA2 preferred anionic phosphatidylglycerol as substrate. On immunoblot analysis, human ileal mucosa gave more intense immunoreactivity with anti-human synovial fluid PLA2 antibody, at the same position as the purified enzyme, than the cecal mucosa. Northern blot analysis also showed that the level of group II PLA2 mRNA in the ileal mucosa was greater than that in the cecal mucosa. The enzyme was rather uniformly distributed over the colonic mucosa, from cecum to sigmoid colon. These results indicate that the ileal mucosa contains group II PLA2, and that its expression in the ileal mucosa was higher than that in the colonic mucosa.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunohistochemical localization of basic fibroblast growth factor in the healing stage of mouse gastric ulcer.

The aim of this study was to clarify the involvement of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in gastric ulcer healing. For this purpose, light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical studies for bFGF were performed using an experimental gastric ulcer model of mice. Ulceration was induced by the application of acetic anhydride to the serosal surface of the body of the stomach. Stomach tissues were investigated of mice at 5 days and 3 weeks respectively after treatment and also of untreated normal mice. Five days after treatment an ulcer was seen in the stomach of the experimental mice. Immunohistochemistry revealed that bFGF was localized in fibroblasts in the ulcer bed. The growth factor was distributed throughout the cytoplasm excluding organelles involved in the usual secretory system, such as rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and secretory vacuoles. bFGF was also detected in the nucleus. Three weeks after treatment the surface of the ulcer lesion was completely covered by regenerated epithelium. The stomach tissues were immunohistochemically negative for bFGF both inside and outside the scar region; untreated normal stomach tissues were also negative for bFGF. These results suggest that the growth factor plays important roles in gastric ulcer healing.

Acetic Anhydrides↗

A case of cerebral glioblastoma with extensive cerebrospinal fluid dissemination: diagnostic value of immunohistochemical examination and MR imaging.

A 9-year, 6-month-old boy presented with peripheral-type multiple cranial nerve palsy due to extensive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination of intracranial glioblastoma multiforme. Tissue obtained from biopsy did not stain for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The relationship between GFAP-negative tumor cells and extensive CSF dissemination agreed with recent reports. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium-DPTA enhancement clearly depicted not only the cranial meningeal dissemination but also spinal metastasis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed undoubted usefulness in demonstrating disseminated glioblastoma.

Brain↗

The effect of 4-aminopyrazolo(3,4-d) pyrimidine on mouse plasma alpha-amylase activity.

A single dose of 4-aminopyrazolo(3,4-d) pyrimidine (4APP), an adenine analog, was orally administered at various concentrations of groups of mice and after 24 h, the plasma-alpha-amylase activity and cholesterol levels had significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. There was no change, however, in pancreatic superoxide dismutase activity or the lipid peroxide level. Histologically, zymogen degranulation was found after a high oral dose of 4APP (175 mg/kg). The same decrease in alpha-amylase activity occurred in mice that had received ip administration of 4APP, and in mice that were pretreated with dimethyl sulfoxide. Based on these results, it appears that 4APP decreases plasma alpha-amylase activity dose-dependently, possibly by pancreatic injury, and that free radicals play no part in the observed changes.

Adenine↗

Zinc deficiency exaggerates diabetic osteoporosis.

Streptozotocin diabetic rats showed an increase of bone fragility (11.9 +/- 2.1 kg/cm2 vs. 16.8 +/- 2.0, P < 0.005) which was normalized by insulin treatment (18.3 +/- 4.2), indicating that osteoporosis was induced in diabetic rats. The rats were fed a zinc-deficient diet (0.16 mg/100 g) or a control diet (5.2 mg/100 g). This mild zinc-deficient diet did not lower the serum zinc level. The cortical bone of diabetic rats was shown to be markedly thinner by microscopic examination of ground cross-sections of the tibia. Zinc deficiency induced a reduction in the calcium content of diabetic bone when compared with the rats on a control diet. Urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus was significantly increased in diabetic rats, and increased further when the rats were fed a zinc-deficient diet. Moreover. the bone calcium and phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower in these animals. These changes in the zinc-deficiency rats were not reversed by insulin treatment. Our findings suggest that osteoporosis in the diabetic rats was due to thinning of the bone cortex secondary to mineral loss and can be reversed by insulin treatment, and that these skeletal changes are greatly enhanced by mild zinc deficiency. In addition the effects of zinc deficiency cannot be completely reversed by insulin treatment.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Antigen profiles of Anaplasma ovis and A. mesaeterum and cross infection trials with them and A. marginale.

Antigen profiles of Anaplasma ovis and A. mesaeterum were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, and cross infection trials were performed by A. ovis challenge to A. mesaeterum- or A. marginale-inoculated goats and A. marginale challenge to an A. ovis-inoculated calf. Antigen analysis showed unique and common proteins of A. ovis and A. mesaeterum and identified a major 38 kDa protein to be a dominant immunogen bearing two epitopes common to Anaplasma species. An epitope specific to A. ovis and A. marginale, absent from A. mesaeterum, was recognised on the major protein of A. ovis. Pre-inoculation of goats with A. mesaeterum induced continuous antibody response with low parasitemia and partial protection against A. ovis challenge, as demonstrated by lower peak parasitemia and normal body temperature compared with values for goats inoculated with A. ovis alone. Pre-inoculation of goats with A. marginale and a calf with A. ovis induced weak or no antibody response without parasitemia, and was of no effect for preventing anaplasmosis by heterologous challenge. These results suggest that the development of parasitemia is essential for inducing continuous antibody by which cross protection would be possible.

Anaplasma↗

Laterality of air volume in the lungs long after blunt chest trauma.

To clarify a cause of the persistent decrease in lung capacity seen several years after blunt chest trauma, 17 patients with blunt chest trauma (10 with unilateral lung contusion, 7 with bilateral lung contusions; 11 of these with unilateral flail chest) inflicted 1 to 6 years previously and 10 normal volunteers (control) were studied. Lung air volumes (AV) were measured by spirometry (AVsp) and by computed tomographic (CT) scan (AVCT = AVCT.Rt+AVCT.Lt) under the same conditions. Hemithoracic spaces were also calculated by CT scan. The average AVsp in patients (76% +/- 8%) was lower than in the controls (98% +/- 5%). AVCT was consistent with AVsp in all the measurements. %AVCT.Rt and %AVCT.Lt, which were adjusted by the ratio of AVCT.Rt to AVCT.Lt in the controls, decreased significantly in unilateral contused lungs (71% +/- 8%). Fifty-eight percent of contused lungs showed small fibrous changes on the CT scans. The ratio of the hemithoracic space on the flail chest side to the opposite side was 0.95 +/- 0.05. These results suggest that the persistent decrease in AV long after blunt chest trauma might be caused by a constriction of contused lung resulting from fibrous changes.

Adolescent↗

Effects of selected surfactants on purified glucosyltransferases from mutans streptococci and cellular adherence to smooth surfaces.

The inhibitory effect of non-ionic, anionic, cationic and ampholytic surfactants on cellular growth of Streptococcus mutans MT8148 and S. sobrinus 6715, on glucan synthesis by the purified glucosyltransferase (GTase) from these organisms, and on bacterial adherence to glass surfaces was examined in vitro. Cationic surfactants exhibited marked bactericidal activities. Anionic and ampholytic compounds were less strongly bactericidal and non-ionic surfactants produced only slight inhibition of cell growth under the conditions tested. Some non-ionic compounds had no effect on this. Glucan synthesis by GTase from mutans streptococci was inhibited by anionic and cationic surfactants. Among various GTase proteins, insoluble glucan synthesising GTases, i.e., S. mutans CA-GTase and S. sobrinus GTase-I were those most effectively inhibited by these agents. However, it was noted that whereas lower concentrations of cationic surfactants enhanced these GTase activities, higher concentrations of the surfactants were inhibitory. Non-ionic detergents stimulated soluble glucan synthesis from S. mutans CF-GTase and cationic and ampholytic surfactants enhanced or inhibited glucan synthesis depending on the concentrations of the surfactants. Sucrose-dependent cellular adherence of resting cells of mutans streptococci to glass surfaces was inhibited by the addition of surfactants that annulled the GTase activities.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Can brain impairment be detected by in utero behavioural patterns?

Fetal behavioural patterns were examined to test whether they could be used to localise sites of brain damage antenatally. Decreased fetal movement, persistent nonreactive fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern, and/or central nervous system malformation were used as indicators of possible neurological impairment. Ten fetuses tested in this way underwent further ultrasound examination observing movement of the extremities, chest wall (breathing), and eye and mouth, and active/quiet FHR patterns. Eight of these 10 fetuses were found on postnatal examination to have a brain impairment. The fetuses having potential in utero brain impairment were divided into four groups: those with (1) lesion sites at, or caudal to, the pons-medulla that were specifically identified by fetal behaviour, (2) diffuse lesions in the brain which, although resulting in abnormal behaviour, could not be localised by this behaviour, (3) lesions localised in the cerebral hemisphere(s) but with no abnormal behaviour and (4) temporally abnormal behaviour in utero, finally changing over to a normal pattern with no neonatal neurological abnormality. A screening system for the antenatal assessment of brain impairment is thus proposed.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗

Oolong tea polyphenols inhibit experimental dental caries in SPF rats infected with mutans streptococci.

An extract of oolong tea (semifermented tea leaves of Camellia sinensis) and its chromatographically isolated polyphenolic compound was examined for in vitro inhibitory effects on glucosyltransferases (GTases) of mutans streptococci and on caries development in Sprague-Dawley rats infected with mutans streptococci. The samples showed no detectable effect on the growth of mutans streptococci. However, insoluble glucan synthesis from sucrose by the GTases of Streptococcus mutans MT8148R and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 was markedly inhibited, as was sucrose-dependent cell adherence of these mutans streptococci. The administration of the oolong tea extract and the isolated polyphenol compound into diet 2000 and drinking water resulted in significant reductions in caries development and plaque accumulation in the rats infected with mutans streptococci. The active components in the oolong tea extract were presumptively identified as polymeric polyphenols which were specific for oolong tea leaves. These results indicate that the oolong tea polyphenolic compounds could be useful for controlling dental caries.

Animals↗

Abnormal behavioral patterns in the human fetus at term: correlation with lesion sites in the central nervous system after birth.

We describe three fetuses at term that demonstrated abnormal behavioral patterns in utero when observed using real-time ultrasound. The abnormal patterns turned out to have neurologic correlations after birth. In case 1, despite a normal breathing pattern, no movement in any of the four extremities was observed, thus suggesting the existence of a spinal cord lesion at the rostral end, located at C4 or C5. In case 2 a lack of breathing movement was noted repeatedly, together with the abnormal finding that alternation of periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with those of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep was not present. These findings implied a lesion involving the pons and/or medulla oblongata. In case 3 movement of the four extremities, breathing movement, and alternating periods of REM sleep and NREM sleep were found to be within the normal range. The concurrence of regular mouthing and the NREM sleep period was not observed, however, suggesting impairment in the brain function responsible for NREM sleep located from the pons through the thalamocortical connection to the cerebral hemisphere.

Adult↗

Role of metallothionein in 4-aminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-administered mouse pancreas.

Pancreatic metallothionein (MT) and zinc levels were measured after the administration of 4-aminopyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine (4APP) to mice to determine the role of pancreatic MT. 4APP was found to increase the pancreatic MT level dose-dependently; the pancreatic MT level in mice administered 175 mg/kg of 4APP was 3.9 fold higher than that in control mice. When 40 mg/kg or less of 4APP was administered, the zinc concentration of the pancreatic cytosol fraction did not differ from that in control mice, while after 175 mg/kg of 4APP it was 1.7-fold higher. There was no difference in plasma glucose and insulin levels between the controls and mice administered 175 mg/kg of 4APP, although the plasma alpha-amylase activity was reduced in the latter. Moreover, a linear negative relationship was observed between pancreatic MT level and plasma alpha-amylase activity (r = -0.795, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that pancreatic MT is affected by the disruption of the exocrine function in 4APP-administered mouse pancreas.

Adenine↗

Effects of insulin and 1 alpha-hydroxy vitamin D3 on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed a low zinc diet.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (LZ-DM rats) developed nephrocalcinosis after being fed a low zinc diet for 4 weeks. However, administration of 1 alpha-hydroxy vitamin D3 (1-OHD3) or insulin inhibited the formation of nephrocalcinosis. The urinary calcium level increased when 1-OHD3 was administered to these rats, but decreased in the group receiving insulin. It was also observed that the femur recovered its hardness when insulin was administered, although the hardness in the LZ-DM rats remained lower than that of the control rats. Rat femur hardness, however, did not completely recover with 1-OHD3 treatment. These results indicate that the effects of insulin and 1-OHD3 differ, even though nephrocalcinosis was reduced by administration of either insulin or 1-OHD3. It appears that insulin assists bone formation, and the 1-OHD3 hastens calcium excretion.

Animals↗

Preliminary results of short-term combination immunosuppressions of mizoribine, azathioprine, and prednisolone with pretreatment to canine kidney transplantation.

Serial combinations of immunosuppressive drugs (mizoribine: Mi, azathioprine: Az, and prednisolone: Pr) were administered for renal heterotopic allotransplantation in 50 mixed-breed dogs and 4 beagle dogs. The dogs were randomly divided in 5 groups depending upon immunosuppressive protocols. All immunosuppressive protocols were started at 5 days prior to transplantation and discontinued on the eighth day after transplantation. The mean survival time for the allograft recipients in the group receiving Az and Pr [Az (2.5) & Pr group; Az dosage, 2.5 mg/kg once a day with Pr] was 16.2 +/- 2.4 days and in the group receiving Az, Mi, and Pr (Mi & Az & Pr group; Mi dosage, 5.0 mg/kg once a day with Az and Pr), it was 14.0 +/- 2.6 days. These results were significantly longer than the control group (mean survival time, 8.7 +/- 2.4 days; P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in survival time between these two groups. Groups with combinations of Az and Pr had significant elevations of hepatic enzymes (ALT and ALP) during the 7 days of immunosuppressive treatment after kidney transplantation. The Mi & Az & Pr group had lower elevations of hepatic enzymes than groups with combinations of Az and Pr. The combination immunosuppression of Mi, Az, and Pr with pre-treatment for canine, kidney transplantation revealed relatively fewer side-effects for the liver and longer survival-time.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Histological observations on the schizonts in cattle infected with Japanese Theileria sergenti.

Histological observations were performed on the schizonts of Japanese Theileria sergenti in three calves necropsied 8 and 10 days after application of nymphal Haemaphysalis longicornis infected with T. sergenti. In all the three calves, schizonts were observed in the cytoplasm of huge cells formed in the drainage lymph nodes, liver and spleen. The huge cells were 50 to 200 microns in diameter. Schizonts had granular appearance and an irregular shape and were 1 to 7 microns in diameter. Ultrastructurally, schizonts had more than one nuclei and were formed in the unit enlarged cell. Schizonts showed a specific reaction against anti-T. sergenti anti serum, therefore, it was concluded that the schizonts were those of T. sergenti histologically.

Animals↗

Method for detection of intracellular pH threshold; comparison between subjective observation and regression analysis.

The aim of this study is to examine the objectivity and reproducibility of intracellular pH threshold (pHT) detected by eye (E), and by regression analysis on linear (L), semilog (SL) and log-log (LL) models. Threshold for inorganic phosphate-to-phosphocreatine ratio (PT) was also examined by three regression analysis. Fifteen males volunteered as subjects. They performed wrist flexion in a ramp protocol of 0.14W/min till exhaustion. Throughout the exercise, 31P-MRS was obtained continuously from wrist flexors. Intracellular pH and phosphate compound in the muscle tissue were monitored as minute-by-minute data. In E, three observers determined pHT subjectively as a work rate just before pH decrement. In three regression analysis, pHT was detected as an intersection of a pair of linear regression lines which was selected statistically or subjectively. pHT detected by four methods showed significant reproducibility between each other, although PT did not. These results provide one of the evidences of threshold behavior of change in pH, and a question of existence of PT in contrast to pHT.

Exercise↗