Biomedical subjects

T Minami

Publications and source records attributed to T Minami.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

A possible balance of calcium accumulations among bone, cartilage, artery, and vein in single human individuals.

To elucidate the relationships between the decrease of mineral contents in human bones and the accumulation of minerals in the other human tissues, the relative contents (RCs) of calcium were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry among human bones, arteries, veins, and cartilages in 27 subjects (17 men and 10 women). These were resected from subjects who died in the age range from 40 to 98 yr old. Calcanei were chosen for analysis of mineral contents in contrast with femoral, popliteal and common carotid arteries, internal jugular veins, and pubic symphysis. It was found that the RCs of calcium in calcanei were agreeable to association with those in both the pubic symphysis and the femoral artery, but they were not agreeable to association with those in the popliteal and common carotid arteries, and the internal jugular veins. This suggests that calcium released from bones is accompanied by accumulations of calcium in the artery and cartilage.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

High accumulation of minerals in the human arteries of lower limb.

To elucidate accumulation of minerals in the human arteries, the relative contents (RCs) of minerals in the arteries of the upper and lower limbs were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the RCs of calcium and phosphorus in the femoral and popliteal arteries of the lower limb increased with aging, whereas those in the axillary and radial arteries of the upper limb did not increase with aging. This result indicates that higher accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurs in the arteries of the lower limb with aging as compared with that in the arteries of the upper limb, and the prevalence of arteriosclerosis increases in the arteries of the lower limb with aging but not in the arteries of the upper limb.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Effect of the lipid peroxide reaction caused by repeated cold stress on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

The peroxide reaction in mouse kidney was examined in order to determine the relationship between the lipid peroxide reaction caused by SART (specific alternation of rhythm in temperature) stress and that caused by drug administration. After exerting SART stress for one wk on 6-wk-old male ddY mice (stress group), the peroxide reaction generated by the administration of a single dose of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin: CDDP, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) into SART-stressed mice (stress + CDDP group) was compared with the reaction of CDDP-administered nonstressed mice (CDDP group), saline-administered nonstressed mice (saline group), and saline-administered SART-stressed mice (stress + saline group). Lipid peroxidation in the kidneys was significantly higher in the stress group upon cessation of stress exertion than in the normal group. However, no significant difference in the lipid peroxide level after administration of CDDP was observed between the CDDP groups. The renal glutathione levels were significantly different between the CDDP groups and the saline administered groups. These results indicate that the peroxide reaction is generated in the kidneys by stress, but stress has no effect on the peroxide damage caused by CDDP administration. However, the contribution of stress to renal function impairment requires further evaluation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Age-related changes of element contents in the human meniscus.

The relative contents (RCs) of elements in the human menisci from 23 subjects in the age range between 65 and 93 yr were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The RCs of sulfur, calcium, and phosphorus in menisci increased progressively until the 80s, being the highest in the 80s, and thereafter decreased. The RCs of magnesium in menisci increased progressively until the 90s. Regarding the medial and lateral menisci, higher RCs of magnesium and iron, and a lower RC of phosphorus were found in lateral menisci in comparison with those in medial menisci. There were sexual differences in the RCs of calcium and phosphorus of medial and lateral menisci. The RCs of calcium and phosphorus were about 50% higher in women's menisci than in men's. Histological examinations showed that structureless mucoid masses were observed in the menisci, with very high RCs of calcium and phosphorus being detected.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Age-related changes of mineral contents in the human aorta and internal thoracic artery.

To elucidate accumulations of minerals in the human aorta and internal thoracic artery, their relative contents (RCs) of minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Aortas from 47 men and 24 women subjects were examined. The ages of these subjects ranged from newborn to 99 yr. After the age of 40 yr, RCs of calcium and phosphorus began to increase, and thereafter increased stepwise in the 50s and 70s. In the 70s, their accumulations were markedly increased. Internal thoracic arteries from 16 men and 7 women subjects were examined. These subjects ranged in age from 65-93 yr. It was found that all the RCs of calcium were low, <5.0 mg/g dry wt, and there was no age-dependent increase of calcium contents in internal thoracic arteries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Trace elements found to be variable in two coral reef species, Heliofungia actiniformis and Galaxea fascicularis, collected from the Ryukyu Islands.

Biominerals and metals of intertidal corals of two species (Heliofungia actiniformis, Quoy and Gaimard; Galaxea fascicularis, Linnaeus), collected from the Iriomote Island of Ryukyu, were examined with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Twelve elements were detectable in the coralline skeletons dissected radially along the growth axis. The relative content (RC) of Hg periodically fluctuated and was minimum at the hollow sites of the coralline slab of Heliofungia sp., corresponding to the cyclic growth. There were two types of elements: constant elements and variable elements along the growth axis. RCs of Ca, Mg, Al, Si, and P were nearly constant. RCs of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Ba were variable, but not as regularly changed as Hg. There were positive mass correlations of Hg to Mn, Cu and Zn, but not to Ba and Fe. In contrast, these relationships were not prominent and were likely degraded by aging in the skeleton of Galaxea sp., suggesting a different mode from that of the Heliofungia sp.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Non-carcinogenicity of capsaicinoids in B6C3F1 mice.

The carcinogenicity of a mixture of capsaicinoids (64.5% capsaicin and 32.6% dihydrocapsaicin) was examined in B6C3F1 mice. In a 13-week toxicity study, renal toxicity was observed in 1% capsaicinoid-treated males. Next, groups of 50 mice of each sex were given 0, 0.025, 0.083 or 0.25% capsaicinoids in powdered diet for 79 weeks and killed in week 83. Food intake was reduced in mice of all capsaicinoid-treated groups, especially females, because of the pungency of capsaicinoids, and inhibition of body weight gain was apparent in females. The numbers of tumour-bearing females in the high-dose groups were significantly lower than that in the controls, and the incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms in both sexes were negatively correlated with the dose of capsaicinoids (Cochran-Armitage trend test). Renal cell adenomas developed in one mouse each of 0.025 and 0.25% capsaicinoid-treated males. The incidences of other tumours were similar in the treated and control groups. Thus, the present study indicated that a mixture of capsaicinoids is not carcinogenic in B6C3F1 mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Stimulation of nitric oxide release from rat spinal cord by prostaglandin E2.

1. We recently demonstrated that intrathecal administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGF2alpha induced allodynia through a pathway that includes the glutamate receptor and nitric oxide (NO)-generating systems from pharmacological studies. In order to clarify the involvement of NO in prostaglandin-induced allodynia, we measured NO released from rat spinal cord slices by a chemiluminescence method. 2. PGE2 stimulated NO release from both dorsal and ventral regions all along the spinal cord. PGE2 stimulated the release within 10 min and increased it in a time-dependent manner. 3. The PGE2-induced NO release was observed at 100 nM-10 microM. PGF2alpha stimulated the release at concentrations higher than 1 microM, but PGD2 (up to 10 microM) did not enhance it. 4. 17-Phenyl-omega-trinor PGE2 (EP1 > EP3) and sulprostone (EP1 < EP3) were as potent as PGE2, but PGE1 was less potent, in stimulating NO release. While M&B 28767 (EP3) did not enhance the release, butaprost (EP2) stimulated it at 1 microM. The PGE2-evoked release was blocked by ONO-NT-012, a bifunctional EP1 antagonist/EP3 agonist. 5. The PGE2-evoked release was Ca2+-dependent and blocked by MK-801 (NMDA receptor antagonist) and L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor). The release was also inhibited by PGD2 and dibutyryl-cyclic AMP. 6. The present study demonstrated that PGE2 stimulates NO release in the rat spinal cord by activation of NMDA receptors through the EP1 receptor, and supports our previous findings that the NO-generating system is involved in the PGE2-induced allodynia.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Anti-nociceptive responses produced by human putative counterpart of nocistatin.

b-nocistatin is a heptadecapeptide produced from bovine prepronociceptin and blocks the induction of hyperalgesia and touch-evoked pain (allodynia) by intrathecal administration of nociceptin or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Human prepronociceptin may generate a 30-amino acid peptide different in length from b-nocistatin. Here, we examine whether the human putative counterpart of nocistatin (h-nocistatin) possessed the same biological activities as b-nocistatin. Simultaneous intrathecal injection of h-nocistatin in mice blocked the induction of allodynia by nociceptin and PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner with ID50 values of 329 pg kg(-1) and 16.6 ng kg(-1), respectively. h-nocistatin was about 10 times less potent than b-nocistatin. h-nocistatin also attenuated the nociceptin- and PGE2-induced hyperalgesia. These results demonstrate that h-nocistatin is biologically active and may be involved in the processing of pain at the spinal level in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Increased vascular permeability by a specific agonist of protease-activated receptor-2 in rat hindpaw.

The present study examined the effect of intraplantar (i.pl.) administration of a selective agonist of protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2, SLIGRL-NH2(PP6-NH2), on vascular permeability in rat hindpaw. PP6-NH2, administered i.pl. at 10-100 nmol per paw, enhanced vascular permeability and caused oedema formation in rat hindpaw. SLIGRL (PP6-OH) and trypsin, by i.pl. administration, also elicited an increase in vascular permeability, although i.pl. administration of the mixture of constituent amino acids of PP6-OH at an equivalent dose did not. The PP6-NH2-induced increase in vascular permeability was abolished by repeated pretreatment with compound 48/80 to deplete bioactive amines in mast cells. These findings suggest that the activation of PAR-2 induces acute inflammation, at least partially, via mast cell degranulation in rat hindpaw.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1998

Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus cellulitis associated with bacteremia in debilitated hosts.

Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus rarely causes celluitis associated with bacteremia in debilitated hosts. We have identified this infection in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and in one with liver cirrhosis. All three patients had eaten raw beef, liver, or improperly cooked pork before the manifestations of the illness. C. fetus subspecies fetus was recovered from blood and feces from the three patients. This organism was also isolated from a subcutaneous aspirate of the cellulitis lesion in one patient. DNA macrorestriction endonuclease profiles analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis differed for the isolates from the three patients but were identical for the blood and fecal isolates or the aspirate and fecal isolates from each patient. These findings suggest that cellulitis associated with bacteremia arises from ingestion of C. fetus subspecies fetus organisms and that clinicians and microbiologists should be aware of this infection in debilitated hosts.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Comparison of the cariostatic effects between regimens to administer oolong tea polyphenols in SPF rats.

The cariostatic effect of oolong tea polyphenols administered according to several regimens was examined in specific pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats given both a diet containing 20% sucrose and infected with S. sobrinus 6715. The crude preparation (OTE) of oolong tea polyphenols showed the most prominent effect on caries reduction in SPF rats when OTE was administered in the drinking water beginning 1 day prior to the inoculation of S. sobrinus 6715, when compared with chromatographically isolated polyphenol fractions (OTF1 and OTF6) of OTE. Reduction in caries development was found even when OTE was given 1 day after inoculation of the organism. OTE was shown to significantly inhibit dental caries in rats at the concentrations of either more than 5 microg/ml in drinking water or more than 10 microg/g in diet. OTF1 and OTF6 also showed significant inhibition of caries induction, with the minimum inhibitory concentration of OTF6 being 50 microg/ml in drinking water and the minimum inhibitory concentration of OTF1 being 100 microg/g in diet. These results indicate that cariostatic activity of OTE was effective even after the establishment of S. sobrinus in the oral cavity and was more effective in drinking water than in diet. Furthermore, OTE may contain some anticaries substances that affect the virulence of S. sobrinus other than glucosyltransferases.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1998

Interactions: timing and force control of finger-tapping sequences.

This study examined effects of combinations of intertap interval and muscle force on interactions between two factors in sequences of equally paced finger taps. 12 male college students tapped a force plate connected to strain gauges. Subjects firstly tapped the plate at a preferred pace and force for 12 sec. Next, subjects tapped the plate by half or double the preferred pace. A series of finger-tapping tasks the consisted of nine combinations of pace and force. Analysis showed that, although variations in intertap interval were considerably accurately controlled across conditions, those in peak forces were not. Movement timing of tapping sequences hence appeared to be independent of force control. For six of 12 subjects, on the other hand, positive correlations between spontaneous variations in intertap interval and in forces were noted. Then, although motor timing was independent of force control in controls of low pace and weak forces, there were strong interactions between the two factors under high pace conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Long-term effects of zonisamide in the treatment of epilepsy in children with intellectual disability.

Zonisamide is a new drug with broad-spectrum antiepileptic activity against partial as well as generalized seizures. The purpose of the present study was to compare the long-term efficacy of zonisamide in the treatment of epilepsy in children with intellectual disability (ID) with those with normal intelligence (NI). One hundred and thirty children (74 ID, 56 NI) were included in the study. Fifteen of the subjects were eliminated from the study because of adverse effects or aggravation of seizures. The remaining 115 children (66 ID, 49 NI) were followed up for more than one year. Twenty-eight children (6 ID, 22 NI) were in zonisamide monotherapy. The mean numbers of different antiepileptic drugs were 4.5 and 3 for the ID and NI groups, respectively. The overall improvement rates, defined as a >50% reduction in the number of seizures, were 41% (ID) and 67% (NI) (P<0.01). Side-effects were observed in 27% and 30% of subjects in the ID and NI groups, respectively. However, in the monotherapy group, side-effects were observed in 50% (ID) and in 27% (NI). In conclusion, the effectiveness of zonisamide was weaker in children with ID than those with NI. This is in agreement with the known phenomenon that epileptic children with ID are likely have more intractable seizures than those with NI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Anaphylactoid shock caused by chlorhexidine gluconate].

We report two cases of anaphylactoid shock caused by chlorhexidine gluconate. Both patients had skin flare, severe hypotension and increased airway pressure during cannulation of an antibacterial IVH catheter containing chlorhexidine gluconate after skin sterilization with chlorhexidine gluconate. In case 1, we did not identify the mechanism and causative drugs. In case 2, an intradermal test to chlorhexidine gluconate was positive 2 months later. Then we confirmed that the anaphylactoid shock was caused by chlorhexidine gluconate. We should bear in mind the risk of anaphylactoid shock when we use chlorhexidine gluconate or the IVH catheter containing the bactericide.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children and pre-adolescents: clinical observation of inpatients].

I investigated the phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (DSM-IV) in 22 children and pre-adolescents (8 boys and 14 girls, 6-15 years old, mean 12.2 years) admitted to the psychiatric ward of Kanagawa Children's Medical Center between 1989 and 1996. Some patients were concomitantly diagnosed with psychotic disorder, or eating disorder (DSM-IV). Girls dominated boys, and all cases except a girl were over ten years old. Patients were divided into four types according to their obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Type I (7 cases, 31.8%): Recurrent idea and repetitive behavior were painful. The patients recognized these ideas and behaviors to be a product of their own mind. They also recognized the behavior to be excessive or unreasonable, and tried to resist at least while the symptoms were mild. Four patients showed good courses, but in three patients showed severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms that persisted for a long time after admission. Type II (13 cases, 59.1%) consisted of 2 subtypes. Type IIa (10 cases, 45.5%): The obsession or compulsion was recurrent and distressful, but insight into the problem was unclear or poor. We noted 4 Type IIa patients with this type resisted their symptoms, but the others' did not. This type was the most prevalent of the four types, and seemed to be the main type of obsessive-compulsive disorder among children and pre-adolescents. Type IIb (3 cases, 13.6%): Compulsion dominated obsession. The subjects experienced distress from their severe compulsion, but seldom complained of it. Furthermore, patients could hardly discern and resist their symptoms. So it resembled obsessive desire for the maintenance of sameness, or stereotypy in developmental disorders. Patients recognized the idea or the behavior to be the product of their own mind. Severe symptoms persisted for a long time after admission. Type III (2 cases, 9.1%): The patients experienced their recurrent idea and repetitive behavior as agonizing. They had insights that their obsession or compulsion was excessive or unreasonable, and tried to resist it. The symptoms were similar to those of psychoses, but patients did not have definite psychotic symptoms. Severe symptoms persisted for a long time after admission. Categorization according to obsession and compulsion supported the criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder in DSM-IV. It showed concretely that a number of children and adolescents with severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms had marginal features of the symptoms. Of 20 cases excluding 2 cases classified as atypical type III, seven patients (35.0%) understood that their symptoms were excessive or unreasonable, and 10 cases (50.0%) showed objective resistance to their symptoms. However, insight or resistance to the obsessive-compulsive symptom was not as stable as that in adult patients with such symptoms, and vacillated during the course of the disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Stability of metallothionein isoforms by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Stability of isoforms on storage of metallothionein (MT) was investigated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) at neutral pH. The mouse liver was removed 1 day after injection of zinc, and homogenized in 0.25 M sucrose with 100 mM TRIS-HCl buffer, pH 7.4. The specimens for MT analysis were obtained by two partial purification methods, i.e., heat treatment (HT) and ethanol/chloroform precipitation (ECP) methods. The specimens were stored at either 4 degrees C or -80 degrees C for 1 and 3 days, and peak areas of MT-1 and MT-2 isoforms obtained by CZE were compared. When specimens were obtained by HT method, both MT isoforms were stable at -80 degrees C within 3 days. However, the peak area of MT-1 stored at 4 degrees C was gradually decreased to one third on the 3rd day. The MT-2 peak did not decrease the next day, but decreased to 57% on the 3rd day. In contrast, peak areas of both MT isoforms decreased remarkably the 1st day, when specimens obtained from ECP method were stored at 4 degrees C and -80 degrees C. From these results, we conclude that stability of MT isoforms is different depending on the purification methods, and MT isoforms are not stable after partial purification, especially by ECP method, even if stored at -80 degrees C.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Aberrant regulation of bone trace elements in motheaten and osteopetrosis mutant mice.

Increasing numbers of genetic diseases involving bone development and models for these diseases have been identified recently. Analysis of these bone diseases have revealed that regulated action of multiple growth factors and subsequent signal transduction are essential for normal bone formation. In this paper, two murine mutant mice viable motheaten and osteopetrosis are analyzed. Mice with the recessive 'viable motheaten' mutation express a severe immunodeficiency syndrome and bone defects. Mutations at the motheaten locus were shown to be the result of aberrant splicing of the gene encoding hematopoietic cell phosphatase (Hcph). Mice homozygous for the osteopetrosis mutation develop congenital osteopetrosis due to a severe deficiency of osteoclasts. It has been recognized that bone trace element composition analysis helps to define bone-related physiological conditions. We have analyzed bone trace element composition in viable motheaten and osteopetrosis mutant animal models in this study. In order to gain insights into the effects of particular genetic defects on bone trace element composition, inductively coupled plasma atomic emissions spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis was performed. Marked changes in bone trace element levels were found in limb bones of viable motheaten and osteopetrosis mutant mice. An assessment of these trace element spectrum in the two mutant models with respect to each genetic defects are discussed in this paper.

Animals↗