Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Sekiguchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Sekiguchi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Clinical studies on cefpirome in pediatrics].

Cefpirome (CPR, HR 810) was given intravenously to 10 children with acute bacterial infections including 8 with acute pneumonia, 1 each with acute pleuritis and urinary tract infections. Good to excellent clinical responses were obtained in all of the 10 patients and bacterial eradication were obtained for all 8 strains found in these cases. Slight elevation of GOT, GPT and eosinophilia were observed in 1 case each. From the above clinical results, it appears that CPR is a useful antibiotic for treatment of pediatric patients with various bacterial infections.

Adolescent↗

The relationship between interdigestive gallbladder and gastroduodenal motility in man.

The relationship between interdigestive gallbladder and gastroduodenal motility simultaneously with the behavior of plasma motilin and CCK levels in 20 subjects was investigated. We used an infusion catheter method for the measurement of gastroduodenal motility, and real-time ultrasonography for the measurement of gallbladder size. In gastric phase II, the gallbladder contracted with extension of the major axis and shrinking of the minor axis, with its minimum volume being 84% of the volume in phase I. The gallbladder then filled rapidly assuming a sphere-like shape with extension of the minor axis and shrinking of the major axis in gastric phase I. This motility was recognized only during the gastrointestinal interdigestive migrating complex (GI-IMC) cycle, originating in the stomach, and was associated with an increase of motilin levels, it was not seen before or after the intestinal IMC (I-IMC), which originated in the duodenum without contraction of the stomach or an increase of motilin levels. Furthermore no apparent relationship was recognized between CCK and gastric or gallbladder motility. Our findings suggest that gallbladder motility in the interdigestive period has a close relationship with gastroduodenal motility and is related to the appearance of the GI-IMC.

Adult↗

Protein engineering for thermostability.

Studies with small, monomeric proteins indicate that, to some extent, the effects of amino acid substitutions can be predicted. However, conformational and other changes may complicate the prediction. Site-directed mutagenesis is leading both to a better understanding of protein stability and to the production of more stable proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effect of sodium hyaluronate on the migration of rabbit corneal epithelium. I. An in vitro study.

The effect of sodium hyaluronate (Na-HA) on the migration of corneal epithelium was investigated in vitro using corneo-scleral sections of rabbits. The effect on migration was evaluated by the length of migrating epithelium on the cut surface of corneal stroma after incubation in media containing Na-HA of various molecular weights or concentrations. The medium concentration of Na-HA was 400 micrograms/ml, and the molecular weights were 0.4 x 10(4), 2 x 10(4), 10 x 10(4), 68 x 10(4), 102 x 10(4) and 216 x 10(4). Regarding Na-HA with a molecular weight of 102 x 10(4); media containing Na-HA at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 2000 and 4000 micrograms/ml were also investigated. When the concentration of Na-HA was 400 micrograms/ml, Na-HA with molecular weights of over 68 x 10(4) accelerated significantly the epithelial migration. Regarding Na-HA with a molecular weight of 102 x 10(4), acceleration was observed at concentrations of 200, 400 and 800 micrograms/ml. Furthermore, the concentration of fibronectin (FN) in medium containing the effective Na-HA was significantly lower than that in the control medium after the incubation. These results suggest a possibility that the accelerative effect of Na-HA depends on the reduction of FN release from the cornea or the facilitation of FN deposition on the cornea.

Animals↗

Simultaneous recordings of cytosolic Ca2+ level and membrane potential and current during the response to thyroliberin in clonal rat anterior pituitary cells.

The response to thyroliberin in prolactin-producing rat GH4C1 clonal cells was studied using fura-2 to monitor the cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) in single cells, combined with recordings of membrane potential and current. The average value of [Ca2+]i was 109 nM (mean +/- SD, n = 112), and evoked action potentials caused transient elevations of about 100 nM. At higher firing frequencies these transients merged to a sustained elevation. In 100% of the cells thyroliberin caused an instant rise in [Ca2+]i, peaking at 795 +/- 300 nM (n = 112). This first phase of the thyroliberin response was associated with hyperpolarization in current clamp and outward current in voltage clamp, caused by the opening of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels. In 75% of the cells the initial peak in [Ca2+]i was followed by a prolonged plateau phase at 247 +/- 76 nM (n = 84). In current clamp the second-phase elevation of [Ca2+]i was linked to either a modest depolarization in combination with enhanced firing frequency or a more pronounced depolarization in silent cells. This elevation of [Ca2+]i was reversed by hyperpolarizing current injection. No second-phase elevation of [Ca2+]i was observed during voltage clamp at a holding potential of -50 mV. Short exposure to Ca2(+)-free conditions eliminated the second-phase elevation in [Ca2+]i, whereas the first phase remained intact. Our experiments show a direct relationship between electrical activity and [Ca2+]i in the GH4C1 cells. The second-phase elevation of [Ca2+]i caused by thyroliberin is the result of influx through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, without involving agonist-gated channels.

Animals↗

Premature chromosome condensation is induced by a point mutation in the hamster RCC1 gene.

At the nonpermissive temperature, premature chromosome condensation (PCC) occurs in tsBN2 cells derived from the BHK cell line, which can be converted to the Ts+ phenotype by the human RCC1 gene. To prove that the RCC1 gene is the mutant gene in tsBN2 cells, which have RCC1 mRNA and protein of the same sizes as those of BHK cells, RCC1 cDNAs were isolated from BHK and tsBN2 cells and sequenced to search for mutations. The hamster (BHK) RCC1 cDNA encodes a protein of 421 amino acids homologous to the human RCC1 protein. In a comparison of the base sequences of BHK and BN2 RCC1 cDNAs, a single base change, cytosine to thymine (serine to phenylalanine), was found in the 256th codon of BN2 RCC1 cDNA. The same transition was verified in the RCC1 genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction method. BHK RCC1 cDNA, but not tsBN2 RCC1 cDNA, complemented the tsBN2 mutation, although both have the same amino acid sequence except for one amino acid at the 256th codon. This amino acid change, serine to phenylalanine, was estimated to cause a profound structural change in the RCC1 protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tryptic digestion of NADH dehydrogenase from alkalophilic Bacillus.

The alkalophile NADH dehydrogenase (NADH: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase) [EC 1.6.99.3] consists of two identical subunits of 65 kDa, and each subunit contains the catalytic and liposome-binding regions. On treatment with trypsin, the polypeptide exhibiting the liposome-binding property in one of the subunits was digested to form an enzymatically active hetero-dimer (40 and 65 kDa), and then the polypeptide in the other subunit was digested to form an active homo-dimer (40 and 40 kDa). The hetero-dimer bound to liposomes, but the homo-dimer did not. Kinetic analysis showed that removal of one or two of the polypeptides in the enzyme slightly affects its kinetic parameters. For all the enzyme species, NAD inhibited competitively with respect to NADH and non-competitively with respect to 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol. The partially determined amino acid sequence of this alkalophile enzyme suggested that (i) a long random-coiled peptide (58 amino acid residues) or a portion of the peptide is located between the polypeptides with liposome-binding and catalytic properties, (ii) the polypeptide exhibiting liposome-binding property is in the amino terminal region of the enzyme, (iii) the amino acid sequences around the subtilisin and trypsin cleavage sites of the peptide are hydrophilic and on the surface of the protein molecule and therefore are susceptible to digestion, and (iv) the FAD-binding site is located near the amino terminal region of the catalytic region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Monoclonal antibody against Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola.

Nine cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola strain Moulton were established by the cell fusion technique. The immunological reactivity of these MAbs with various kinds of serogroups, serovars and strains were examined by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MAbs W1-W3 derived from mice, which were immunized with whole cells of the strain Moulton, reacted with the serogroups Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pyrogenes. On the other hand, MAbs A1-A6 derived from mice immunized with the outer envelope (OE) fraction, which showed a potent protective activity and was extracted with ammonium hydroxide from the strain Moulton, reacted specifically with the serogroup Canicola alone in MAT. A difference in antigenic structure between subserogroup A (canicola subgroup) and subserogroups B (schüeffneri subgroup) of the serogroup Canicola was demonstrated by MAT using the MAbs. All the MAbs clearly agglutinated serovars of subserogroup A except for serovars kamituga, jonsis and bindjei, but did not react with any serovars of subserogroup B. These findings suggest that MAb highly specific to each serovar is readily available by OE immunization and is useful for the classification of Leptospira.

Animals↗

[Evaluation of the anti-ulcer drugs using image analysis technology: effect of aldioxa containing preparation on the experimental gastric ulcer in rats].

Direct measurements under a microscope have been employed to evaluate experimental gastric ulcers, but the following problems have been left unsettled: it takes too much time, and much experience is required to perform accurate, objective measurements. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of image analysis technology for evaluating anti-ulcer drugs. With this newly developed method, the region of gastric mucosal injury can be automatically and/or mechanically chosen on the basis of three different factors: intensity, hue and purity. Consequently, this method can be used to rapidly obtain analytical data such as the number, area and length of gastric ulcers. Effect of NNP, a preparation containing aldioxa, on three different types of experimental ulcer formation (stress-induced, ethanol-induced, and pylorus-ligation) was studied by image analysis technology. In all cases, NNP (2,562 mg/kg, p.o.) almost completely inhibited the formation of rat gastric ulcer. From the finding that image analysis technology is very useful for evaluating anti-ulcer drugs, we conclude that this method will help further the development of anti-ulcer drugs.

Allantoin↗

[Clinical observations with clarithromycin in pediatrics].

Clarithromycin (TE-031, A-56268) was given orally to 25 children with acute bacterial infections including 5 with bronchitis, 8 with pneumonia, 4 with Mycoplasma pneumonia, 2 with pertussis and 6 with Campylobacter enteritis. Good to excellent clinical responses were obtained in 22 patients with bacterial eradication of all 10 strains. No side effect was observed. From the above clinical results, it appears that TE-031 is a useful antibiotic for the treatment of pediatrics with various bacterial infections.

Age Factors↗

Elevation of laminin and beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase in the sera of human subjects with Schistosomiasis mansoni.

Serum levels of several markers for liver fibrosis were measured utilizing three groups of human subjects related with schistosomiasis mansoni in northeast Brazil; (1) 20 Schistosoma mansoni egg-positives, who have never been administered with anti-schistosomal drugs, (2) 29 egg-negative inhabitants in the endemic area of schistosomiasis, and (3) 23 egg-negative Japanese immigrants in the non-endemic area. None of these sera were positive for antibody to the surface antigen of human hepatitis B (HBs) and circulating HBs antigen. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of N-terminal peptide of procollagen type-III between the egg-positive subjects and either of the egg-negative Brazilian or Japanese immigrants, whereas the mean value of serum laminin significantly increased in the egg-positive subjects. A significantly higher concentration of serum immunoreactive beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (IR beta PH) was also observed in the egg-positive subjects only in comparison with that of the egg-negative Brazilian. Serum laminin and IR beta PH concentrations of the egg-positive subjects did not correlate with the absorbance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which utilized crude antigens isolated from schistosome adults or eggs. No significant difference in these two parameters was observed between two subgroups of the egg-negative Brazilian or Japanese immigrants divided according to the serological data by ELISA. These findings suggest that serum laminin and IR beta PH levels are worth further evaluation for their usefulness as the marker for liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical experience with sulbactam/ampicillin in the pediatric field].

Sulbactam/ampicillin (SBT/ABPC) was given intravenously to 20 children with the following acute bacterial infections; 14 cases of pneumonia, 2 cases of purulent cervical lymphadenitis and 1 case each of bronchitis, pyothorax, cellulitis, and purulent meningitis. Good clinical responses were obtained in 18 out of 20 patients, and bacteriologically, all of the 14 isolated strains were eradicated. No side effect was observed except 2 cases of eosinophilia, and 1 case each of loose stool and elevated thrombocyte. From the above clinical results, it is apparent that SBT/ABPC is a useful antibiotic for the treatment of pediatric patients with various kinds of bacterial infections.

Age Factors↗