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Biomedical subjects

T Miyata

Publications and source records attributed to T Miyata.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Suppression of plasma-activated factor VII levels by warfarin therapy.

To investigate the effect of warfarin treatment on the early phase of tissue factor-induced coagulation, we measured plasma-activated factor VII (factor VIIa) levels by a direct fluorogenic assay in 74 cardiovascular disease patients on long-term oral anticoagulation. We divided the patients into three groups based on the international normalized ratio (INR). In the patients with INR ranges of < 1.7 and 1.7 to 2.5, factor VIIa levels were 42% and 61% lower, respectively, than in age- and sex-matched controls. Factor VII coagulant activity (factor VIIc), factor VII antigen (factor VIIag), protein C, and factor X levels were also reduced to a similar extent in both groups. However, in patients with an INR > 2.5, the factor VIIa level was not decreased compared with that at an INR of 1.7 to 2.5, although the factor VIIc, factor VIIag, factor X, and protein C levels were all decreased further. Although the precise relation between the reduction of factor VIIa levels and the increase of INR requires appropriately designed long-term clinical trials, our data suggest that an INR range of 1.7 to 2.5 is sufficient for the suppression of factor VIIa. During the long-term follow-up of three patients with congenital antithrombin III or protein C deficiency, the factor VIIa level was more responsive to changes in the warfarin dose than the INR, and there were generally no corresponding changes of the thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) level. However, one patient showed a transient marked increase of factor VIIa during the discontinuation of warfarin that was accompanied by an increase in TAT. Based on these findings, factor VIIa could be useful for monitoring both hypercoagulable and hypocoagulable states.

Adult↗

Activation of tissue factor-induced coagulation and endothelial cell dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with microalbuminuria.

We studied the relationships between albuminuria, tissue factor-induced coagulation, and endothelial cell dysfunction in 67 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) who were divided into three groups on the basis of their urinary albumin excretion rate (AER). To assess the early phase of tissue factor-induced coagulation, activated factor VII (FVIIa) levels in plasma were measured by a direct fluorogenic assay. As markers of endothelial cell dysfunction, levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue-type plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (TPA-PAI-1) complex, PAI-1, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) were measured. FVIIa levels were increased in normoalbuminuric NIDDM patients (AER < 15 micrograms/min) when compared with normal control subjects. This FVIIa increase was accompanied by an increase in thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) levels, indicating increased activation of coagulation even in normoalbuminuric patients. In NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria (AER = 15-200 micrograms/min), the FVIIa level, the FVIIa-FVII antigen (Ag) ratio (an indicator of activation of FVII zymogen to FVIIa), and the TAT level were further increased. This group also had higher levels of endothelial cell-derived factors (vWF, TPA-PAI-1 complex, and PAI-1) than the control group. The levels of endothelial cell-derived factors (including TFPI) were highest in the NIDDM patients with overt albuminuria (AER > 200 micrograms/min). In all 67 diabetic patients, AER showed a strong positive correlation with FVIIa (r = .574, P < .0001) and a weakly but still significant correlation with FVIIa-FVII:Ag (r = .365, P = .01), vWF (r = .315, P < .01), and TAT (r = .323, P < .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Cough--diversity and the peripheral mechanisms of production].

The physiology and pharmacology of the cough reflex were reviewed from the perspective that the cough response and its peripheral mechanisms have diversity, taking reported findings together with the results obtained from our own studies. It is clear that there was a remarkable difference in the magnitude of expiration and sound in coughing between the two types of coughs in guinea pigs: one is caused by mechanical irritation to the airway mucosa or citric acid inhalation and the other caused by inhalation of pharmacological agents such as capsaicin and substance P. Four types of stimulation, i.e., mechanical, physicochemical, chemical and pharmacological stimulation, were discussed with respect to the site and the mechanisms of action in the airway. Mechanical stimulants and chemical stimulants such as citric acid seem to act mainly on A delta-fibers. However, it is unclear whether pharmacological agents act on C-fibers to produce cough. As to the difference in distribution of cough receptors in the airway, pharmacological differences were found between coughs caused by mechanical irritation on the laryngeal sites and the site of bifurcation of the trachea. Furthermore, capsaicin, applied by a topical spraying method newly developed by us, produced cough-like forced expiration when it was sprayed around the site of the bifurcation of the trachea. This response was not depressed by codeine, but depressed by ophiopogonin, a Chinese herbal antitussive; mephenesine; and a neurokinin A antagonist. Mechanisms of cough augmentation in bronchitic guinea pigs were also described briefly. In conclusion, the site of action of cough stimulants and the mechanisms of cough production are still controversial. To solve these problems, we need to develop new methods and strategies for studying the cough reflex.

Animals↗

Effects of xanthine derivatives on phosphatidylcholine secretion in primary culture of rat type II pneumocytes.

Xanthine derivatives, pentoxifylline, aminophylline, theophylline and chinoin-170, increased phosphatidylcholine secretion in a primary culture of rat type II pneumocytes. However, these xanthines alone had no effect on intracellular cAMP levels in type II pneumocytes. In contrast, terbutaline-induced secretion of phosphatidylcholine was augmented by these xanthines, and the augmentation depended on the increase of cAMP levels. These results suggest that the xanthines induce phosphatidylcholine secretion possibly through cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent pathways in the primary culture of rat type II pneumocytes.

Aminophylline↗

Molecular clock for dating of divergence between animal phyla.

To estimate approximate times of divergence of animal phyla lacking fossil data, it is important to find a molecule that evolves with an approximately constant rate over a wide evolutionary distance covering the whole animal phyla. For this purpose, the evolutionary rate constancy has been examined for 20 proteins. It was found that four proteins, particularly the aldolase C, involved in the glycolitic pathway, had evolved with rates that are approximately constant not only among different classes of vertebrates, but also between vertebrates and arthropods. The evolutionary rate (= 0.26 x 10(-9)/site/year) of the aldolase C is likely to have remained essentially unchanged even between animals and plants.

Animals↗

Marked increase of activated factor VII in uremic patients.

We investigated plasma activated factor VII (FVIIa) levels in uremic patients (nondialysis group: n = 38; dialysis group: n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 32). We also measured the plasma levels of thrombomodulin (an indicator of endothelial cell injury) and tissue factor. Plasma FVIIa showed a marked increase in the nondialysis group (mean [95% confidence interval]: 4.6 [4.1-5.1] ng/ml, p < 0.0001) with the progressive impairment of renal function, as indicated by the serum creatinine level, when compared with the 32 controls (2.8 [2.5-3.1] ng/ml), and was further increased in the dialysis group (6.1 [5.5-6.8] ng/ml, p < 0.001 vs. nondialysis group). Plasma levels of thrombomodulin and tissue factor were also higher in the nondialysis group than the control group, and were further increased in the dialysis group. Plasma tissue factor levels did not show any correlation with FVIIa or thrombomodulin in both the nondialysis and dialysis groups. Thus, circulating tissue factor appears to be released by a different mechanism from thrombomodulin and may not contribute to the direct activation of factor VII in uremic patients. On the other hand, the plasma level of thrombomodulin was positively correlated with that of FVIIa in the nondialysis group, and this correlation was independent of renal function. Thus, enhanced conversion of factor VII zymogen to FVIIa, probably related to endothelial cell injury, may be a risk factor for cardiovascular events in uremic patients.

Aged↗

Genetic determinants of plasma factor VII activity in the Japanese.

We investigated the frequency of the factor VII Gln353 (FVII Gln353) allele in Japan, where coronary artery disease is much less common and factor VII coagulant activity (FVIIc) is lower than in Western countries. Japanese males (n = 144) aged 40-59 years living in 2 different districts were studied, and the FVIIc and activated factor VII (FVIIa) levels were measured with human (FVIIa Hum) and bovine soluble tissue factor (FVIIa Bov). The frequency of the FVII Gln353 allele in the 2 districts was 0.026 and 0.052 (combined: 0.034), which was about one third of that in a European population. Thus, the lower FVIIc level in Japanese is not due to the effect of FVII Gln353 allele. Ten individuals with the Gln353 allele showed a 39% decrease of FVIIa Hum levels and a 29% decrease of the FVIIa Bov level compared with 134 individuals homozygous for the FVII Arg353 allele. These decreases of FVIIa were greater than the decrease of FVIIc (17%), suggesting that FVII Gln353 may be difficult to activate in vivo. The marked decrease of FVIIa levels in individuals with the FVII Gln353 allele suggests that they are genetically protected against cardiovascular disease irrespective of ethnic background, by virtue of their decreased FVIIa level.

Adult↗

Changes in beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA levels in alveolar type II cells during cultivation.

Alveolar type II cells, the progenitor of type I epithelial cells, synthesize and secrete pulmonary surfactant. In this study, we determined the levels of mRNA for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor in cultured type II cells using a quantitative RNase protection assay. The mRNA levels for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the freshly isolated cells were 0.51 +/- 0.07 and 1.92 +/- 0.19 amol/microgram total cellular RNA, respectively. In the cells cultured for over 2 days, only beta 1-adrenoceptor mRNA level was remarkably reduced. These results suggest that each mRNA expression may be separately regulated in cultured alveolar type II cells.

Animals↗

Development of a ferrocene-mediated needle-type glucose sensor covered with newly designed biocompatible membrane, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate.

To prepare the long-life and stable glucose sensor, we developed the ferrocene-mediated needle-type glucose sensor covered with newly designed biocompatible membrane, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate (MPC-co-BMA) membrane. In this membrane, the hydrophilic phosphorylcholine chains were grafted on the hydrophobic polymer surface. 1. The poly(MPC-co-BMA) membrane inhibited platelet activation and protein adhesion on the surface, showing excellent biocompatibility. These results suggested that the hydrophilic phospholipids chains might have the potential for suppressing activation and adsorption of biochemical molecules. 2. The ferrocene-mediated needle-type glucose sensor covered with poly(MPC-co-BMA) membrane achieved excellent results in vitro. Subcutaneous tissue glucose concentrations were measured in a wide range from 1.7 to more than 16.7 mmol/l. The correlation between subcutaneous tissue (Y) and blood (X) glucose concentrations was Y = 1.04X + 0.12 (r = 0.98). The subcutaneous tissue glucose concentrations could be monitored precisely for 7 days without any in vivo calibrations, and for 14 days by introducing in vivo calibrations. We therefore conclude that this sensor is stable and reliable, as compared to any other glucose sensors we developed.

Adult↗

Substance P stimulates the loss of cell-associated high molecular weight glycoconjugates from cultured hamster tracheal epithelial cells through polymorphonuclear leucocytes activation.

Abnormal and excessive mucus secretion is a characteristic feature of many chronic inflammatory lung diseases accompanied by the influx of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) into the airway and the release of substance P from the peripheral endings of primary sensory neurons. We examined whether PMNs activated by substance P (10 microM) can affect the secretion of high-molecular-weight glycoconjugates (HMWG), which is used as a marker of mucus, from cultured hamster tracheal epithelial cells. We measured both the released and the cell-associated HMWG. Substance P-activated PMNs (10(6) cells/ml) reduced the amount of cell-associated HMWG to 76% of the control level, but did not affect the amount of the released HMWG. The reduction of the amount of cell-associated HMWG was inhibited by ONO-5046, a specific elastase inhibitor. In addition, the HMWG was digested by the activated PMNs. These findings suggested that substance P stimulates the loss of the cell-associated HMWG and degrades the released HMWG from cultured hamster tracheal epithelial cells through PMNs activation.

Animals↗

Endotoxemia is associated with renal dysfunction in liver transplantation recipients during the first postoperative week.

The effect of endotoxemia on renal function was studied in 76 orthotopic liver transplant patients. In the preoperative period, a high preoperative serum creatinine level (> 2.0 mg/dl) was significantly associated with postoperative endotoxemia. The serum total bilirubin level was significantly greater in the patients with high serum creatinine levels than in those with lower serum creatinine levels (< 2.0 mg/dl). On the 7th postoperative day (POD), the serum creatinine level was significantly associated with an increased plasma endotoxin level. The serum total bilirubin and AST levels did not differ significantly between the patients with high and those with low serum creatinine levels. Based upon these data postoperative endotoxemia is suspected as being the principal cause of early postoperative renal dysfunction. A synergistic effect on renal function between cyclosporine and endotoxin may be important in the pathogenesis of the renal dysfunction seen after successful liver transplantation.

Adult↗

The strong positive correlation between factor VII clotting activity using bovine thromboplastin and the activated factor VII level.

We compared factor VII clotting activity (FVIIc) assays using different thromboplastins to determine which is the most sensitive for activated FVII (FVIIa) or for FVII antigen (FVIIag). FVIIc levels were measured using thromboplastins derived from bovine brain (FVIIc Bov), human placenta (FVIIc Hum), and rabbit brain (FVIIc Rab). FVIIa levels were measured by fluorogenic assays using human soluble tissue factor (rsTF) or bovine rsTF. We also measured FVII activity by an amidolytic assay (FVIIc:am Hum) using human thromboplastin and a chromogenic substrate for thrombin. FVIIag levels were determined by ELISA. In the FVIIa assay, the reaction time obtained from using bovine rsTF was shorter than that with human rsTF, suggesting that the interaction of plasma FVIIa with bovine rsTF was stronger than with human rsTF. The plasma FVIIa levels measured using human rsTF and bovine rsTF were almost the same (r = 0.947, p < 0.0001). Among the three FVIIc assays, FVIIc Bov had the strongest positive correlation with the plasma FVIIa level (r = 0.886, p < 0.0001), but had no correlation with FVIIag. An increase of 1 ng/ml in the plasma FVIIa level yielded a 27.9% increase of FVIIc Bov. Plasma FVIIc Hum and FVIIc:am Hum showed moderate correlations with both FVIIa (r = 0.520, p < 0.02 and r = 0.569, p < 0.01, respectively) and FVIIag (r = 0.438, p < 0.05 and r = 0.468, p < 0.05, respectively). FVIIc Rab had the lowest correlation with FVIIa (r = 0.367, p < 0.1), but had a moderate correlation with FVIIag (r = 0.436, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Limited proteolysis of human alpha-thrombin by urokinase yields a non-clotting enzyme.

Limited proteolysis of human alpha-thrombin by various proteases has been efficiently used to demonstrate the importance of two insertion loops located on the surface of this molecule. In the present study, we demonstrate that two-chain urokinase (tcu-PA) specifically cleaves the B chain of alpha-thrombin giving rise to a transient derivative, consisting of two non-covalently linked subunits. Although the thrombin derivative conserves its activity towards the synthetic substrate S-2238 (Km = 8.4 microM and kcat = 145 s-1 versus respectively 4.5 microM and 149 s-1 for alpha-thrombin), most of its coagulant activity is lost (140 NIH u/mg versus 3000 NIH u/mg) and its ability to activate platelets is considerably reduced (threshold for full platelet aggregation 2.5 nM versus 0.25 nM). The thrombin fragments were separated by HPLC and after reduction and S-carboxyamidemethylation were digested with a lysylendopeptidase; the resulting peptides were separated by HPLC and sequenced. One fragment corresponded to B chain fragment 1-73 and the second to B chain fragment 74-259 covalently linked to the A chain, indicating that tcu-PA cleaves selectively the peptide bond Arg 73-Asn 74 in the B chain. The proteolytic derivative obtained, designated beta u-thrombin, is therefore identical to the transient proteolytic derivative, beta 1-thrombin, produced by trypsin. Prolonged incubation with tcu-PA resulted in further conversion in a derivative analogous to gamma t-thrombin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein C Osaka 10 with aberrant propeptide processing: loss of anticoagulant activity due to an amino acid substitution in the protein C precursor.

We studied the molecular basis of protein C deficiency in a family with a history of thromboembolic disease. An approximately 50% reduction in anticoagulant activity despite normal levels of protein C amidolytic activity and antigen was detected in plasma from the proband. All the exons and intron/exon junctions of the protein C gene were studied using a strategy that combined polymerase chain reaction amplification with DNA sequencing of the amplified fragments. We identified a C-to-A change at nucleotide number 1387 of the protein C gene in the proband and his mother, and this mutant was designated protein C Osaka 10. The C-to-A change resulted in the substitution of Ser for Arg at position -1, which is the processing protease cleavage site. The mutant protein C was partially purified from plasma of the patient's mother using barium adsorption followed by ion-exchange column chromatography. It eluted at the same sodium chloride concentration as normal protein C, and thus gamma-carboxylation of the mutant protein appeared to be normal. The apparent molecular weight of this mutant protein C was the same as that of the normal protein on immunoblotting. Amino-terminal sequence analysis showed that the light chain of the mutant protein C had an additional Ser at position-1. Thus, the loss of anticoagulant activity of protein C Osaka 10 can be explained by alteration of the conformation of the Gla domain by the additional Ser in the mutant molecule.

Adult↗

[Activated factor VII as a new cardiovascular risk factor of atherothrombotic disease].

Factor VII (FVII) is a plasma vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein that plays an important role in the initiation of tissue factor-induced coagulation (extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation). An increase in FVII coagulant activity (FVIIc) has been proposed as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Recently, the coagulation assay using soluble tissue factor(sTF) enables us to measure the plasma levels of the activated form of factor VII(FVIIa) without the effect of the FVII zymogen form. We have developed the fluorogenic assay for FVIIa using sTF and measured the plasma FVIIa in atherosclerotic diseases. The FVIIa level in the Japanese was lower than that reported in Caucasians, suggesting that the incidence of ishemic heart disease is lower in the former. The FVIIa level was higher in the patients with cardiovascular diseases (ischemic heart disease and cerebral infarction), non-insulin-dependent diabetic mellitus, hypertension with microalbuminuria, and renal failure than in the healthy controls. The FVIIa levels were also increased in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, and this FVIIa increase was positively correlated with urinary albumin excretion. Furthermore, FVIIa levels were not correlated with the levels of lipids and the activity of hepatic synthesis, indicating that FVIIa may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Biomarkers↗

[What patients expect from home hospice medicine].

Over 60% of men and women with terminal illness wish for providing hospice care at home. The goal of hospice is to enhance the quality of life through relief of physical, emotional, social and spiritual pain. Hospice must be accepted by patients and family when their illness is without cure and hospice medicine is palliative. Providing patients with truthful information about their illness is essential for patients to control in determining how best to spend the remaining lives. Above described conditions allow patients choice, "informed choice". However as for Japanese concern, it is not yet sufficient enough about providing the patients and family what hospice medicine means with truthful information about illness. Therefore, the urgent needs enforce us to ask the questionnaire to let them understanding what is hospice medicine about and providing the patient and family with maximum self-determination. The results indicated that the most of men and women are expecting to exercise self-determination rights (over 80%) with their appropriate information to choice the specialized program of hospice medicine.

Home Care Services, Hospital-Based↗