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Biomedical subjects

T Minami

Publications and source records attributed to T Minami.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Bleeding in portal hypertensive gastropathy evaluated in terms of gastric mucosal microcirculation and coagulation-fibrinolysis system.

Gastric intramucosal bleeding in portal hypertensive gastropathy was investigated in terms of gastric mucosal microcirculation, coagulation-fibrinolysis factors, and local fibrinolysis in patients with liver cirrhosis. The gastric mucosa was examined by endoscopy, and the patients were classified into two groups with or without bleeding. Gastric mucosal blood flow was measured simultaneously with coagulation-fibrinolysis factors or local fibrinolysis in both groups. As gastric mucosal blood flow, the gastric mucosal blood volume (IHb) and the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (ISO2) were determined by the organ reflection spectrum method. Coagulation-fibrinolysis factors were measured in the blood. For evaluation of local fibrinolysis, gastric biopsy specimens were placed on a standard fibrin plate, and the fibrinolysis area was measured. Compared with the non-bleeding group, the bleeding group showed increased IHb and decreased ISO2 (p < 0.05), suggesting marked congestion of blood flow. Gastric intramucosal bleeding was frequently observed in patients with marked congestion of blood flow and markedly abnormal values of coagulation-fibrinolysis factors. Gastric local fibrinolysis was also significantly enhanced in the bleeding group (p < 0.05). In addition, local fibrinolysis was correlated positively with the gastric mucosal blood volume (r = 0.68, p < 0.05) and negatively with the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (r = -0.58, p < 0.05). These results suggest the following mechanism of gastric mucosal bleeding in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Congestion of gastric mucosal blood flow is present in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. An increase in the microvascular pressure and hypoxia cause release of tissue plasminogen activators from gastric mucosal cells and vascular endothelial cells. As a result, gastric local fibrinolysis is enhanced, causing gastric mucosal bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical localization of group II phospholipase A2 in colonic mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We previously reported the increased contents of group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in inflamed colonic mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the cellular source of the increased group II PLA2 has remained to be clarified. In the present study, we examined immunohistochemical localization of group II PLA2 in inflamed colonic mucosal biopsy samples obtained from eight patients with Crohn's disease, seven with UC, and in normal colonic mucosa of six control subjects without inflammatory bowel disease using a monoclonal antibody raised against human group II PLA2. RESULTS: and CONCLUSIONS: On immunoblot analysis using the antibody, a single band was detected on each lane containing colonic mucosal homogenates from a control subject, a Crohn's disease patient, or a UC patient at the same position as human group II PLA2 purified from ileal mucosa. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that colonic epithelial cells in inflamed mucosa obtained from all active Crohn's disease patients examined (n = 4) contained immunoreactive group II PLA2. In four of seven patients with active UC, group II PLA2 immunoreactivity was similarly positive. No apparent group II PLA2 immunoreactivity was detected in all colonic mucosal biopsy samples obtained from inactive Crohn's disease patients (n = 4) and control subjects. The present study supports the presence of group II PLA2 in colonic epithelial cells in actively inflamed mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease and UC, which suggests that epithelial cells may serve as the cellular source of increased group II PLA2 content in inflamed colonic mucosa of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Liver cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1) polymorphism and its inheritance in Wistar rats.

Rats are very important experimental animal to study alcohol related problems. Liver aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) which metabolize aldehydes are reported to have several isozymes which are distributed in mitochondrial, microsomal and cytosolic fractions. However, there is discrepancy on reports concerning properties of cytosolic ALDH from normal liver. We report here the liver cytosolic ALDH (ALDH1) polymorphism and its inheritance in Wistar rats. Isoelectrophoretic focusing technique reveals the three ALDH1 phenotypes (termed AA, AC and CC) which are inherited in accordance with Mendelian fashion, indicating the existence of two alleles, ALDH1A and ALDH1C. In the range of pI 5.3 to 5.8, the AA phenotype possesses a major anodic band with pI 5.3 and CC phenotype also has a cathodic pI 5.8 band. In contrast, AC phenotype exhibits five bands with pIs of 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7 and 5.8. Intensity of these bands gradually diminishes from the main band with pI 5.5 to the both opposite ends. These findings suggest that AC phenotype as well as AA and CC types has a structure of tetramer which consist of the combination of subunit of the A and C gene products.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1997

[Sexual differences of the bone mineral content and density of human calcanei].

To examine whether there were sexual differences of human calcanei, the bone mineral content, bone mineral density and bone mass were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and the principal of Archimedes, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry indicated that the average relative contents of calcium and phosphorus in the man's calcanei were one and a half folds higher than those in the woman's calcanei over 40 years old. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry showed that the average bone mineral density of the man's calcanei was two times higher than that of the woman's ones over 40 years old. In addition, the average calcanean volume of the man was about one and a half folds larger than that of the woman over 40 years old.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

[The significance of arterial chemotherapy for multiple hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma].

We studied 54 patients with multiple (more than 5 nodules) hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma retrospectively. Twelve cases in the non-chemotherapy group had a 0% one-year survival rate and 3.0 months of 50% survival period; 15 patients in the general chemotherapy group had 23.4% and 5.1 months respectively. In contrast, 27 subjects in the arterial chemotherapy group showed 48.3% and 11.5 months respectively (p < 0.05). Five cases that received hepatectomy were all alive but the prognosis remains unclear. It is suggested that long survivors with multiple metastases from colorectal cancer need radical resection of primary lesion and intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differential accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in aged human arteries.

To elucidate age-related changes of human arteries, relative contents (RCs) of minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry on the thoracic aorta, basilar, coronary, femoral, and radial arteries from 27 subjects within the age range between 0 and 92 years old (Ys). Calcium and phosphorus never accumulated uniformly in any of the arteries such as the thoracic aorta, basilar, coronary, femoral, and radial arteries. The accumulations of calcium and phosphorus occurred earlier in the order of the femoral artery, thoracic aorta, coronary artery, and basilar or radial artery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A constancy of mineral contents in human auditory ossicles.

To determine element contents of auditory ossicles, the malleus and incus were removed from 27 subjects which died at the ages between 40 and 98 years old, and their elemental contents were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the relative contents (RCs) of calcium and phosphorus were very high in the malleus and incus. The RCs of calcium and phosphorus in the ossicles corresponded to one-and-a-half-fold amounts as compared with the spongy bone of human cervical vertebrae. The mass ratio of calcium per phosphorus in the ossicles was almost the same as that of crystalline calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite. Relationships between the aging and RCs of minerals and between both the sexes in the ossicle were examined. It was found that both the RCs of calcium and phosphorus in the malleus and incus were really constant at the age over 40 years old, and that there was no significant difference of the mineral contents between men and women.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Identification and characterization of an endogenous ligand for opioid receptor homologue ROR-C: its involvement in allodynic response to innocuous stimulus.

We reported here purification and characterization of a novel heptadecapeptide in bovine brain as an endogenous ligand for ROR-C, an opioid receptor homologue cloned from rat cerebrum. The amino acid sequence of the peptide that we purified is identical to those recently identified as nociceptin in rat brain and orphanin FQ in porcine brain. The peptide inhibited the forskolin-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in ROR-C expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells. Studies on inhibitory activity of cyclic AMP accumulation and Northern blot analysis showed that the peptide and its precursor mRNA are present in a number of brain regions, less abundant in the spina cord, and negligible in the cerebellum. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that hybridization-positive neurons were distributed in the superficial layer (lamina I) of the dorsal horn and were also interspersed between the tract of Lissauer in the spinal cord. Intrathecal administration of the peptide into conscious mice induced allodynia, a pain response to innocuous tactile stimuli, in a beli-shaped manner. These results demonstrate that the peptide exists in the brain and spinal cord and plays an important role in pain transmission.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Over-expression of bcl-xL gene in human gastric adenomas and carcinomas.

The present study was designed to clarify whether bcl-xL is involved in the development of carcinoma in the stomach. Levels of bcl-xL and bcl-2 mRNA were determined by a reverse-transcription/polymerase-chain reaction in endoscopic gastric biopsy specimens from 10 control subjects, 11 patients with adenomas and 14 patients with carcinomas. In 6 of 11 adenomas, 5 of 8 early carcinomas and 3 of 6 advanced carcinomas, the bcl-xL gene was over-expressed. In carcinomas, over-expression of the bcl-xL gene was observed in 6 of 9 intestinal-type carcinomas and 2 of 5 diffuse-type carcinomas. No correlation was observed between bcl-xL and bcl-2 gene expression. In cases in which the bcl-xL gene was over-expressed, an apparent increase in the protein level of Bcl-xL was observed by immunoblot analysis and intense Bcl-x immunoreactivity was detected immunohistochemically within the tumor cells. In conclusion, we showed that bcl-xL is over-expressed in gastric carcinomas at both the RNA and protein levels, suggesting that over-expression of bcl-xL may play a role in gastric carcinogenesis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1996

Identification of metallothionein isoforms with capillary zone electrophoresis using a polyacrylamide-coated tube.

Metallothionein (MT) isoforms from various liver tissues were separated with capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using a polyacrylamide-coated tube at neutral pH. The electrophoresis was performed on MT-1 and MT-2 purified from mouse, rat, rabbit and human livers. The retention times of mouse and rat MT-1 coincided, while the retention times of rabbit and human MT-1 were longer. The retention times of MT-2 purified from the four sources were the same. MT-1 and MT-2 separated more definitely with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-Tris buffer (25 mM, pH 7.4) than with N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-3-aminopropane sulfonic acid (TAPS)-Tris buffer (25 mM, pH 7.7) or with N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA)-Tris buffer (25 mM, pH 7.4). In addition, liver MT isoforms prepared from Zn- or Cd-administered mice could be separated.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1996

Magnetoencephalographic analysis of rolandic discharges in benign childhood epilepsy.

We report the detailed analysis of the generator and propagation of rolandic discharges in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes by means of 37-channel magnetoencephalography with neuromagnetic three-dimensional dipole localization. Equivalent current dipoles of prominent negative sharp waves of rolandic discharges appeared as tangential dipoles in the rolandic region, positive poles being situated anteriorly. These equivalent current dipoles showed a relatively limited localization and regular directions compared with other components. Equivalent current dipoles of preceding small positive waves, positive waves following negative sharp waves, and negative slow waves appeared in the vicinity of negative sharp waves. Equivalent current dipoles of rolandic discharges were located around the generator of somatosensory evoked magnetic fields stimulated at the lower lip. These findings suggest that rolandic discharges are generated through basically a mechanism similar to that for the middle-latency components of somatosensory evoked responses.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Analysis of interaction between cadmium and metallothionein isoforms by capillary zone electrophoresis.

The effects of cadmium on the peak area of metallothionein (MT) protein were studied by capillary zone electrophoresis with a polyacrylamide-coated tube at neutral pH. When cadmium was added to a commercial standard MT-1 isoform prepared from rabbit liver, the peak are of the MT-1 isoform decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The MT-2 isoform also decreased with time, but the rate of decrease was lower than that of the MT-1 isoform. When ethylene glyco-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) was added to a solution containing cadmium and MT-1, the peak area recovered with increasing concentration of EGTA. Zinc caused a slight decrease in the peak areas of MT-1 and MT-2 compared with cadmium, while addition of sodium did not decrease the areas. Furthermore, the peak areas of MT isoforms of the crude extract prepared from zinc-treated mice also decreased with increasing concentration of cadmium. These results indicate that cadmium may changed the charge of MT, which may account for the observed differences in electrophoretic behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of erythromycin in chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

The prokinetic effects of erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, on the gastrointestinal tract as a motilin receptor agonist and its potential value for the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders have recently attracted interest. The effects of erythromycin on the clinical symptoms and gastrointestinal motility of patients with chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction have not been investigated extensively. We presented a case of chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, in a 67-year-old man in whom oral erythromycin (900 mg/day) dramatically improved postprandial abdominal distention, nausea, and vomiting. Other agents with prokinetic effects on intestinal motility, i.e., cisapride, domperidone, metoclopramide, and trimebutine maleate did not have a favorable effect. Gastric emptying, measured by the sulfamethizole method; and intestinal transit, evaluated using radio-opaque markers, were markedly improved by treatment with erythromycin. Our experience suggests that the prokinetic effects of erythromycin may be of therapeutic value in chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Age-related change of mineral content in the human thoracic aorta and in the human cerebral artery.

The relative contents (RCs) of mineral elements in aortae and cerebral arteries from 23 subjects, with ages ranging between 45 and 99 yr, were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The RCs of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the aortae increased markedly after the age of 70. While the RC of sulfur in aortae decreased gradually after that age. It was found that accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred primarily in the tunica media of aorta, and secondarily in the tunica intima. Furthermore, the RCs of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in cerebral arteries increased markedly after the age of 70, whereas the RC of sulfur in cerebral arteries decreased after age 70. It was found that accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in the cerebral arteries were 30 and 60%, respectively, lower than those in the aortae with ages ranging between 45 and 99 yr.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Difference of mineral contents in human intervertebral disks and its age-related change.

To establish a difference of the relative contents (RCs) of elements among the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar intervertebral disks and its age-related change, the intervertebral disks between the axis and the sacrum, which were resected from the nine cadavers who died at 53 to 99 yr old, were analyzed by inductively coupled atomic plasma emission spectrometry. It was found that both the RCs of calcium and phosphorus were high in the cervical disks, especially the highest in the disk between the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae, and lower in the order of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar intervertebral disks. In regard to the RCs of sulfur and magnesium, there were no significant differences among the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar intervertebral disks. In addition, it was found that both the RCs of calcium and phosphorus in the cervical intervertebral disks started to increase in the sixth decade of life, became the highest in the eighth decade of life, and then decreased.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

An improved method for estimating original mineral contents in excavated bone using sulfur.

Trace element analysis in excavated bones is complicated by the lack of a reliable index for estimating the original amount of bone material. In this study, we subjected modern human bones to alkali treatment to simulate aging. Alkali treatment of vertebrae with attached muscle did not affect sulfur (S) content; it increased the magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) contents, and tended to decrease iron (Fe) content of the bones. When vertebrae cleaned of muscle were used, alkali treatment did not affect S and Fe contents but increased Mg, P, Ca, and Zn contents. Ca and S contents were higher in excavated bones (200-1300 yr old) than in their surrounding soils. In contrast, S, Mg, and Ca contents per dry weight did not differ between the excavated bones and the alkali-treated modern bones. These results indicate that S can provide a more accurate index of excavated bones than the often-used Ca content or dry wt measures, especially for bones excavated from calcium-rich soils.

Archaeology↗