Responses of A10 cells to Arg8-vasopressin and endothelin-1: the role of divalent cations.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Okada.
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Studies were carried out on the clinical efficacy of panipenem/betamipron (PAPM/BP) against bacterial infections. The results are summarized as follows: 1. PAPM/BP were administered to total 21 patients (7 cases of pneumonia, 1 case of bronchitis, 3 cases of cellulitis, 2 cases of purulent lymphadenitis, 2 cases of otitis media, 1 case of purulent parotitis, 1 case of sinusitis, 1 case of mastoiditis, 2 cases of urinary tract infection and 1 case of purulent meningitis) by drip intravenous injection. 2. Clinical responses of PAPM/BP were excellent in 12 cases, good in 7, poor in 1 and unknown in 1 case. The overall efficacy rate was 95.0%. 3. Concentration of PAPM in cerebrospinal fluid after 1 hour drip intravenous administration in 1 case of purulent meningitis were 6.84 micrograms/ml at the acute stage and 3.28 micrograms/ml at the recovering stage. 4. Neither side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings were observed except 1 case of increase of thrombocytosis out of 19 cases. 5. From the results, PAPM/BP was determined to be an efficacious and safe drug for the therapy of pediatric infection.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the increasing diseases in Japan, which is aggravated rapidly and early diagnosis is necessary to improve its prognosis. We experienced three cases of successful surgical salvage. It is emphasized that the Doppler ultrasonic echocardiography plays important part in diagnosing PE early and noninvasively. Namely, it shows a appearance of acute cor pulmonale, and is usually able to guess the pulmonary artery pressure by using the simplified formula of Bernoulli's equation. We believe that the surgical pulmonary embolectomy under the cardiopulmonary bypass should be immediately considered in case of unsatisfactory conservative thrombolytic therapy.
A case of pseudocoarctation with dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch is reported. A 49-year-old man was admitted with chest pain and loss of consciousness. Angiogram showed kinking of the aortic isthmus and dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta. There was no pressure gradient between arms and legs. Prosthetic graft replacement of the ascending aorta was successfully performed by the use of total cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia. Etiology of the development of pseudocoarctation is unknown, however, hypothesis that embryological abnormality of the aortic arch is one of the contributing factors has been widely accepted. This case was accompanied by bicuspid aortic valve. It is suggested that the developmental etiology of this case seems to be similar to that of classical coarctation of the aorta. Development of the dissecting aneurysm is supposed to be due to hypertension of the upper body during exercise, even though there is no pressure gradient at rest.
Forty asthmatic children aged 4 to 6 years performed histamine inhalation tests over 2 to 3 years. We used a previously reported method for examining bronchial hyperreactivity; measuring the transcutaneous oxygen pressure to evaluate whether bronchial hyperreactivity in younger children with bronchial asthma changed, and which potential factors affected changes in bronchial hyperreactivity. Although there was no significant relationship between the severity of asthma and respiratory threshold to histamine (RT-Hist) at the initial test, RT-Hist results in the severely asthmatic group were significantly lower than those of the remission and mild groups at the final test (P less than .01), respectively. RT-Hist significantly decreased in only the group whose asthma worsened (P less than .05). In the remission and improvement groups, RT-Hist did not improve despite their favorable clinical courses. When divided into two subgroups according to the extent of their RT-Hist, a high responder group had significantly more subjects who family histories of asthma than the low-responder group (P less than .05). There was no difference, however, in family history of allergic diseases between the two groups. We conclude that bronchial hyperreactivity in younger asthmatic children is influenced by multiple factors that may be congenital or acquired.
In in-vitro study, human immunoglobulin (Ig) denatured by O2 bubbling markedly produced C4a, C3a, and C5a, whereas human albumin treated identically did not. White blood cells (WBC) treated by O2 bubbling significantly increased C3a levels alone, but at a much lesser grade than the Ig. A new priming method, i.e., homologous concentrated red cell (CRC) and human albumin was discerned from the experimental facts in-vitro, and we investigated the clinical effects of that priming method. C4a, C3a and C5a in BOG primed with homologous whole blood (HWB) were slightly higher than those in MOG during CPB. Those in the Ig-free priming group were more mildly increased than those in the HWB priming group, not only during CPB, but also after protamine administration; this tendency was clearer in BOG. It is concluded that (1) human immunoglobulin (Ig) denatured by O2 bubbling produces anaphylatoxins via the classical pathway; (2) WBC treated identically produces C3a at a far milder grade; (3) priming with CRC and human albumin reduces plasma anaphylatoxin levels; and (4) pulmonary function at an early postoperative period was improved in the homologous Ig-free priming group, especially with BOG.
Usefulness of cultured human vascular endothelial cells for the in vitro assay of cancer invasion was reviewed. Selective isolation procedures for the vascular endothelial cells from the different types of vascular tubes were described. Human umbilical cord vein is one of the most useful sources for the isolation of fresh normal endothelial cells. The cells are isolated by perfusing trypsin solution through the umbilical cord vein and successively subcultivated up to 80 population doubling levels as in vitro life span. In case of human thoracic aorta, endothelial cells were removed from endothelium layer of aorta ring by a jet flow of collagenase solution through a needle. Purity of these cells as endothelial cells can be determined by indirect staining of the cytoplasma with anti-endothelin antibody. Usefulness of these cultured endothelial cells has been proved in the studies of regulation of endothelin biosynthesis, ageing of vascular cell, isolation of some new growth factors, interaction with other blood cells, etc. In addition to these studies, we consider that interaction of tumor cells with endothelial cells plays an important role in tumor metastasis. So we established in vitro invasion assay system through the interaction with endothelial cells to examine the invasion and adhesion of tumor cells. Human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured on porous membranes coated with laminin (LN). HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells were seeded onto HUVEC, and HT 1080 cells passed through the membrane were counted. HUVEC were easily distinguished from tumor cells by specific staining of endothelial cells with UEA-1 lectin. Using scanning electron microscopy, we confirmed that HT1080 cells invaded between HUVEC. Roles of adhesion molecules induced by some cytokines on invasion of cancer cells through the endothelial cells-matrix membrane system were discussed.
Polylactic acid (PLA) homopolymers with molecular weights of 105,000; 21,000; 3300; 650; and 160d (PLA105000, PLA21000, PLA3300, PLA650, and PLA160, respectively) were prepared and evaluated as carriers for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). Composites consisting of 4 mg of water-soluble, semipurified BMP and 100 mg of one of the PLA homopolymers were implanted into the dorsal muscles of mice. PLA105000/BMP, PLA21000/BMP, PLA3300/BMP, and PLA160/BMP composites failed to induce new bone formation; PLA105000, PLA21000, and PLA3300 elicited foreign-body reactions or chronic inflammation (or both), and PLA160 produced tissue necrosis. PLA650/BMP composites induced cartilage formation within one week and induced bone with hematopoietic marrow at three weeks postimplantation. PLA650/BMP composites were completely absorbed and replaced by new bone. The results suggest that within this group of PLA homopolymers, PLA650 may be the only type suitable for use as a BMP carrier.
We evaluated the seizure-inducing factors in 264 patients with childhood epilepsy. One hundred and thirty-six patients (51.5%) exhibited some kind of inducing factors. Non-specific inducing factors were commonly recognized, such as "febrile state" (29.2%), "fatigue after exercise" (15.2%), "sleep disturbance" (9.1%), "psychic stress" (8.3%) and "emotional change" (6.8%). Specific inducing factors, which related to reflex epilepsy, was recognized in only 7 patients. "Febrile state" was dominant in young children, but the other nonspecific inducing factors were dominant in adolescent. Incidences and kinds of inducing factors also related to the epileptic syndromes an seizure prognosis. The patients with symptomatic partial epilepsies (64.3%) and grand mal on awakening (85.7%) had significantly more inducing factors, and the patients with refractory seizures had a higher incidence and more variable kinds of inducing factors than the patients with well-controlled seizures. These results suggest that seizure-inducing factors are recognized in children as well as in adults, and the clarification of inducing factors is important to the management of epilepsy, particularly of intractable epilepsy.
We experienced an extremely rare anomaly, i.e. right-sided persistent ductus arteriosus with a right aortic arch and right descending aorta. Reviewing the literature, we found only two cases clinically reported in Japan as far as we know. The diagnosis was established by angiography and MRI. We treated the patient successfully through right thoracotomy.
A case of agenesis of the internal carotid artery combined with arachnoid cyst is reported. This 11-year-old boy had occasionally complained headache and nausea since he was of 9 years old. He was admitted to our hospital because of an epileptic seizure. Physical and neurological examinations on admission were normal. A CT scan showed a cystic mass in retrocerebellar region. MRI suggested absence of flow void area indicating internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus on left side. Left common carotid angiogram showed absence of the internal carotid artery. Bilateral A2 segments were supplied by right A1 with tortuous anterior communicating artery. Left middle cerebral artery and left ophthalmic artery were supplied via dilated left posterior communicating artery on left vertebral angiogram. Thin slice, axial target image of the CT revealed absence of the left bony carotid canal. MRI by 3D TOF method confirmed no blood flow in this area. MR angiography provided sufficient information about cervical vessels non-invasively. 123I-IMP SPECT image ascertained no hypoperfusion area in left cerebral hemisphere. Convulsion was controlled with sodium valproate. Association of agenesis of the internal carotid artery and arachnoid cyst could be a coincidence.
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Anaphylatoxins generated by cardiopulmonary bypass were observed in basic and clinical studies (n = 120 in the latter). In vitro immunoglobulin fractions denatured by oxygen bubbling produced C4a, C3a, and C5a, but albumin identically treated did not. Therefore concentrated red cells with albumin were used to prime homologous blood for clinical application during cardiopulmonary bypass. Complement levels were compared with type of oxygenator (bubble or membrane) and the ratio of primed homologous blood to circulating autologous blood volume. With the bubble oxygenator at a low ratio of homologous to autologous blood (arbitrarily defined as less than 20%), C3a levels during cardiopulmonary bypass tended to be lower in the concentrated red cells plus albumin priming group than in the ordinary priming group (p less than 0.1, at 60 and 90 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass). C4a and C3a levels increased less after protamine administration with concentrated red cells plus albumin priming (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01, respectively, 90 minutes after protamine) than with ordinary priming. Such changes in the membrane oxygenator group were less remarkable. Thus C3a levels were approximately the same in both oxygenator groups primed with concentrated red cells plus albumin. The higher the homologous to autologous ratio, the steeper the C4a and C3a increase from the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass with the bubble oxygenator. This tendency was less remarkable in the membrane oxygenator group. Early postoperative pulmonary function was improved by concentrated red cells plus albumin priming, especially in the bubble oxygenator group. In conclusion, (1) oxygenator systems primed with concentrated red cells plus albumin produced less anaphylatoxin than those with homologous blood, especially with the bubble oxygenator, and (2) our clinical results support the importance of immunoglobulin denatured by oxygen bubbling in anaphylatoxin generation (by means of the classical pathway), as shown by our in vitro study.
A cDNA containing the entire coding sequence for the subunit protein of rat liver class theta glutathione S-transferase (GST) Yrs-Yrs was isolated from a rat liver lambda gt11 cDNA library. The cDNA, designated GST theta-1, consisted of 1,258 bp which had an open reading frame of 732 bp encoding a polypeptide of 244 amino acid (AA) residues, including the leading AA Met to be removed on expression. The authenticity of the cDNA structure was supported by matching its deduced AA sequence with N-termini of Yrs and peptides obtained thereof by tryptic digestion as well as by CNBr cleavage. The deduced AA sequence of the subunit Yrs (M.W. 27,311) had only a weak homology (19-23%) with those of rat liver classes alpha, mu, and pi GST isozymes. Thus, the first evidence for the molecular cloning of the class theta GST was provided.
The photochemical and subsequent thermal reactions of 7-cis-rhodopsin prepared from cattle opsin and 7-cis-retinal were investigated by low-temperature spectrophotometry and laser photolysis, and compared with those of 11-cis-rhodopsin prepared from cattle opsin and 11-cis-retinal. Low-temperature experiments revealed that the absorption maxima of batho and lumi intermediates from 7-cis-rhodopsin were at slightly shorter wavelengths than those of 11-cis-rhodopsin while the meta I intermediates of both rhodopsin isomers showed the same absorption maxima. Kinetic experiments of the photobleaching process of 7-cis-rhodopsin using picosecond and nanosecond laser pulses revealed the formation of intermediates corresponding to the batho, lumi, meta I, and meta II intermediates from 11-cis-rhodopsin. An intermediate of 7-cis-rhodopsin corresponding to photorhodopsin (a precursor of bathorhodopsin), however, was not detected. Batho and lumi intermediates from 7-cis-rhodopsin had shorter lifetimes (approximately 40 ns and 300 microseconds) than those of 11-cis-rhodopsin (250 ns and 800 microseconds), but the lifetime of the meta I intermediate from 7-cis-rhodopsin was identical with that from 11-cis-rhodopsin (12 ms). These results indicate that the difference in configuration of the original chromophore between 7-cis- and 11-cis-rhodopsins is a cause of different chromophore-opsin interactions in the batho and lumi stages, while in the meta I stage the difference has disappeared by the relaxation of the protein near the chromophores. A possible interaction change between the 9-methyl group of the chromophore and its neighboring protein during the lumi-meta I transition will be discussed.
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Photochemical and subsequent thermal reactions of rhodopsin containing 9-cis-retinal [Rh(9)] or one of four analogues with 9-cis geometries formed from ring-modified retinals, alpha-retinal [alpha Rh(9)], acyclic retinal [AcRh(9)], acyclic alpha-retinal [Ac alpha Rh(9)], and 5-isopropyl-alpha-retinal [P alpha Rh(9)] were investigated by low-temperature spectrophotometry and nanosecond laser photolysis. Irradiation of each pigment at -180 degrees C produced a photosteady-state mixture containing the original 9-cis pigment, its 11-cis pigment, and a photoproduct, indicating that the primary process of each pigment is a photoisomerization of its chromophore. The photoproduct produced by the irradiation of AcRh(9) had an absorption spectrum red shifted from the original AcRh(9) and was identified as the batho intermediate of AcRh(9). It was converted to the lumi intermediate through a metastable species, the BL intermediate, which has never been detected in Rh(9) at low temperature and whose absorption maximum was at shorter wavelengths than that of the batho intermediate. In contrast, the absorption maxima of the photoproducts produced from the other analogue pigments were at shorter wavelengths than those of the original pigments. They were identified as BL intermediates on the basis of their absorption maxima and thermal stabilities. The formation time constant of the lumi intermediate at room temperature was found to be dependent on the extent of modification of the ring portion of the chromophore, decreasing with the complete truncation of the cyclohexenyl ring [Ac alpha Rh(9)] and increasing with the attachment of the isopropyl group to the ring [P alpha Rh(9)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of maternal bilateral ureteral ligation on the differentiation of glomerular anionic sites in fetal kidney were studied with the colloidal iron method. The ligation was performed on days 17, 19, and 21 of pregnancy, and the animal were euthanized 1 day after each ligation. On fetal day 20, in the fetuses from ligated mothers, colloidal iron was concentrated in laminae rarae interna and externa of the glomerular basement membrane. In the fetuses from sham-ligated mothers, however, a different pattern of iron distribution was noted. In most areas of the glomerular basement membrane, colloidal iron was randomly distributed as in both fetuses of fetal day 18. In the remaining areas, the same pattern of colloidal iron distribution as was noted in the fetuses from ligated mothers of fetal day 20 was observed. On fetal day 22, colloidal iron was densely accumulated in laminae rarae interna and externa of the glomerular basement membrane in both groups. However, the iron-free zone was slightly thicker in the fetuses from the ligated mothers. These findings suggest that maternal bilateral ureteral ligation accelerates the differentiation of glomerular anionic sites in the kidney of fetal rats.