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Biomedical subjects

T Terao

Publications and source records attributed to T Terao.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[The influence of clomipramine-induced mania on rapid cycling affective disorder].

Rapid cycling affective disorder (RC) is defined as the presence of at least four affective episodes per year. We report two RC patients whose first manic episodes were considered to be induced by clomipramine. The first case, a 61-year-old female, suffered from RC after a manic episode with respect to oral administration of clomipramine. The second case, a 45-year-old female, showed cycle acceleration after a manic episode regarding intravenous drip infusion treatment with clomipramine. They had no manic or hypomanic episodes before the administration of clomipramine. We discuss the possible induction and worsening of RC through clomipramine-induced mania.

Adult↗

Genetic association analysis between CYP2D6*2 allele and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients

Previous studies have shown a possible association between tardive dyskinesia (TD) and debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase (CYP2D6) polymorphisms, which result in absent enzyme activity. We have recently found a positive association between TD and the CYP2D6*10 allele, which codes for the intermediate metabolizer (IM) phenotype and is characterized by decreased but not absent CYP2D6 activity in Japanese schizophrenic patients. In addition, the CYP2D6* 2 allele with the HhaI site mutation in exon 6 has also been reported to be an IM allele and a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Japanese population. In the present study, we investigated potential contributions of the CYP2D6*2 allele to TD using case-control and regression analysis in 99 schizophrenic patients. No significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies were found between patients with and without TD. Even after using regression analysis to adjust for the confounding variables, there was no significant association of the CYP2D6*2 genotype with either outcome variable, the occurrence of TD or the total AIMS score. These results suggest that the CYP2D6*2 allele may not contribute to the pathogenesis of TD.

Journal Article↗

Dopamine D1 receptor gene polymorphism and schizophrenia in Japan.

We studied the relationship between schizophrenia and the DdeI polymorphism in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of the dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) gene. This polymorphism is an A (A1 allele) to G (A2 allele) transition in the 5' UTR of exon 2 at bp -48 (A-48G). One hundred forty-eight schizophrenics and 148 control subjects were investigated. No significant differences in genotypic counts and allele frequencies between schizophrenics and controls were found. Although a significant difference between the patients classified as disorganized type and the controls was discovered both in genotypic counts and allele frequencies, neither association proved significant when a Bonferroni correction was used. Moreover, there were no differences in scores of main symptoms of schizophrenia based on the Manchester Scale between patients with A1/A1 genotype and those with A1/A2 genotype. These findings suggest that this gene may not be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

Association study of the 5-HT6 receptor gene in schizophrenia.

Serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) transmission may play an important role in the treatment and/or pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Previous studies reported that several atypical antipsychotic agents have high affinities for the 5-HT6 receptor. The 5-HT6 receptor gene polymorphism might contribute to the genetic background of this disorder. One hundred and fifty unrelated patients with schizophrenia and 150 unrelated healthy controls were genotyped for a biallelic polymorphism (267C/T) at the 5-HT6 receptor gene. No significant positive association between the 5-HT6 receptor genotype and schizophrenia was observed. Our results suggests that the 267C/T polymorphism of the 5-HT6 receptor gene may not be involved in the susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Narrowband excitation of (2)H powder pattern and its application to (2)H 1D exchange sample-turning NMR.

Frequency-selective narrowband excitation of the (2)H powder pattern was examined. Selection of a single spectral band with a linewidth of ca. 15 kHz was achieved by a narrowband (1)H --> (2)H cross polarization by using the time-averaged precession frequency method. Further narrowing with a ca. 5 kHz linewidth is achieved by DANTE irradiation. The narrowband excitation was applied to transform a recently developed 2D spin-exchange method for obtaining structural information (Chem. Phys. Lett. 260, 159, (1996)) into its 1D analogue. The determination of the D-C-D bond angle was demonstrated for alpha-glycine-[2,2-d(2)]. Further, the intermolecular polarization transfer between two deuterons separated by 0.299 nm was detected with the mixing time of 500 ms.

Deuterium↗

Immunolocalization of hyaluronic acid and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor in mice.

The direct interaction of hyaluronic acid (HA) and heavy chain (HC) of the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IalphaI) family plays a critical role in the organization and stabilization of the extracellular matrix. The aim of the present investigation was to elucidate the distribution of the IalphaI HC and HA in adult mouse tissues. An immunohistochemical method using a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against mouse IalphaI heavy-chain peptide and a specific probe for HA (biotinylated HA-binding protein) was used to demonstrate an immunolocalization of IalphaI HC and HA. Distribution and localization of HA was of three types, namely, colocalization with IalphaI HC itself (cartilaginous tissue and ovary), localization around IalphaI HC immunostaining (lung, intestine and skeletal muscle), and localization at a small distance from IalphaI HC or a different distribution pattern (brain, liver, skin and kidney). These results indicate that IalphaI HC could function as an HA-rich matrix stabilizer on the cells of cartilage and maturing ovary, in which IalphaI HC shows colocalization with its predominant ligand, HA.

Alpha-Globulins↗

Urinary trypsin inhibitor levels in amniotic fluid of normal human pregnancy: decreased levels observed at parturition.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary trypsin inhibitor, a light chain of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, is reported to inhibit uterine contractility during pregnancy. The objective was to measure amniotic fluid urinary trypsin inhibitor levels in women throughout pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We determined levels of urinary trypsin inhibitor in human amniotic fluid (n = 40) by means of Western blot analysis. For quantification, computerized scanning and densitometry were used. Results were analyzed for statistical significance with the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: During pregnancy, mean amniotic fluid urinary trypsin inhibitor levels (+/-SD) were 1.5 +/- 0.22, 1. 2 +/- 0.18, and 0.58 +/- 0.24 micromol/L at 15 to 22 (n = 10), 30 to 35 (n = 5), and 37 to 40 (n = 10) weeks' gestation, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation of urinary trypsin inhibitor level with gestational age. A significant difference was observed in amniotic fluid urinary trypsin inhibitor levels before and after (0.10 +/- 0.03 micromol/L; n = 15) the onset of labor. CONCLUSION: Amniotic fluid urinary trypsin inhibitor levels decrease significantly at term. These results support the hypothesis that parturition may occur through the down-regulation of urinary trypsin inhibitor, which may decrease uterine contractility and maintain the uterus in a state of quiescence during pregnancy.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Serum hyaluronic acid levels during pregnancy and labor.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in concentrations of serum hyaluronic acid in uncomplicated human pregnancies. METHODS: We determined the concentrations of serum hyaluronic acid, using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in 70 nonpregnant women, 250 women during their pregnancies, and 68 women at the time of parturition. Results were analyzed for statistical significance with Scheffé test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: During pregnancy, mean (+/- standard deviation) serum hyaluronic acid levels were 11.4 +/- 4.5, 13.6 +/- 2.8, 20.6 +/- 1.5, and 46.9 +/- 7.9 ng/mL at 5-14 (n = 47), 15-26 (n = 46), 27-37 (n = 58), and 38-40 (n = 99) weeks' gestation, respectively. Pregnant women in labor (n = 68) had significantly higher levels (100.4 +/- 11.3 ng/mL) than did women at term but not in labor (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum hyaluronic acid concentrations increase as pregnancy progresses and serum levels increase significantly at term. Hyaluronic acid may be associated with cervical ripening during parturition.

Adult↗

Induction of preeclampsia like phenomena by stimulation of sympathetic nerve with cold and fasting stress.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cold-stress, fasting stress and cold plus fasting stress on the sympathetic nerve activity. Pregnant and nonpregnant rats were kept in cold environment (0 degrees C), or fasting condition (12 h), and cold plus fasting condition for 2 weeks. Their plasma corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), catecholamines, insulin levels, and platelets were measured, and histological examinations were performed. In cold plus fasting stress rats, a significant increased CRF, epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and insulin levels with decreased platelet count (P<0.0001) were observed compared with control. Histological study revealed that diffused enlarged glomeruli with fibrin deposition in the kidney, hemostasis, ischemic necrosis and fibrin deposition in liver and swelling along with hemorrhagic necrosis in adrenal gland of cold plus fasting stress rats. The biochemical and histological changes in cold plus fasting, cold-stressed or fasting rats were similar to human preeclampsia. The findings observed in cold plus fasting stress rats were more pronounced either than cold-stressed or fasting group. These results demonstrate that cold plus fasting stress is an intense stimulator of sympathetic nervous system than either cold stress or fasting.

Adrenal Glands↗

The impact of vasoactive peptides on nitric oxide production in cultured sympathetic neurons.

The concentration of nitric oxide was found to be decreased in a hypersympathetic condition. We carried out experiments on cultured sympathetic neurons from 12-14-days-old chick embryos to investigate the role of vasoactive peptides and amine on nitric oxide production. Stimulation of cultured neurons with endothelin-1, norepinephrine and angiotensin-II initially increases nitric oxide production and subsequently decreases it in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05, n = 7). Stimulation of Fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester-loaded neurons with endothelin-1, norepinephrine and angiotensin-II increases the calcium influx (within 30-90 s) and it is then restored to the initial level (P<0.05, n = 7). An additional observation was that specific stimulator L-arginine significantly increases the nitric oxide release and calcium influx into the cells, whereas N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester blunts nitric oxide release dose dependently (P<0.05, n = 7) and does not change the calcium concentration in the cells. We propose that vasoactive peptides and amines inhibit nitric oxide production in the cultured sympathetic neuron by regulation of intracellular calcium concentration.

Angiotensin II↗

Chronic local cold stress to the soles induces hypertension in rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cold-stress stimulation to the soles of paws produces continuous hypertension in rats. Wistar-Kyoto rats were kept in cages with a 0 degrees C floor and 23 degrees C room temperature (cold-stressed group, n = 10) or in cages with 23 degrees C floor and 23 degrees C room temperature (control group, n = 10). BP and levels of plasma catecholamines, serum glucose, and serum insulin were measured, and the histologic characteristics of the kidney and adrenal gland were studied in all groups. After a week of localized cold-stress, BP of the experimental rats were significantly increased over those of the control rats. Significant increases were also seen in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine, as well as serum insulin concentrations in the rats that underwent localized cold stimulation; these changes were not observed in the control rats. Fibrinoid deposition in the kidney and the intensity of neuropeptide Y-staining in the adrenal medulla were increased in the localized cold-stressed group compared with the control group. We conclude that chronic local cold stimulation to the soles is a new model of experimental hypertension.

Adrenal Glands↗

13C-1H dipolar recoupling under very fast magic-angle spinning using virtual pulses.

A new solid-state NMR pulse sequence for recoupling 13C-1H dipolar interactions under magic-angle spinning is proposed, which works under a spinning speed of a few to several tens kilohertz. The sequence is composed of two different frequency switched Lee-Goldburg sequences, and the modulation of the spin part of the 13C-1H dipolar interaction is introduced by a virtual pulse sequence consisting of unitary operators connecting the rotating frame and the tilted rotating frame. When the cycle time of the spinning is equal to or twice the cycle time of the sequence, the 13C-1H dipolar interactions can be recoupled. The sequence is insensitive to experimental imperfections such as rf inhomogeneity or frequency offset, and the resulting lineshape can be represented by a simple analytical equation based on the zeroth-order average Hamiltonian. Experimental results for [2-(13)C] L-valine x HCl are reported.

Carbon Isotopes↗

A new treatment of severe pre-eclampsia by long-term epidural anaesthesia.

We hypothesised that long term epidural anaesthesia suppresses sympathetic overactivity in pre-eclampsia. Two equal groups of severe pre-eclamptic patients were treated either with long-term epidural anaesthesia (epidural group) or bed rest, diet control, and an antihypertensive drug (control group). After 7 days of epidural block, mean arterial blood pressures decreased, platelet count and serum total protein increased in all cases while proteinuria decreased in four cases. All patients treated with a long-term epidural therapy continued their pregnancies for more than 3 weeks after admission. The infants in the epidural group had 1-min Apgar scores above 8, a body weight of 2240+/-310 g (mean +/- s.d.) and normal neonatal progress. In contrast, the pregnancies of eight patients in the control group were terminated within 2 weeks of admission due to severe pre-eclampsia or foetal distress, the birth weight of the infants was 1590+/-380 g (mean +/- s.d.) and four had neonatal distress. Progressive worsening in the mean arterial pressure, proteinuria, platelet count and serum total protein was found in these patients. Long-term epidural anaesthesia suppresses the sympathetic hyperactivity and thus improves pre-eclamptic condition which may open a new treatment in case of progressive severe pre-eclampsia.

Adult↗

Annexin V inhibits phosphatidylserine-induced intrauterine growth restriction in mice.

To investigate the role of phosphatidylserine (PS) derived from the activated platelets in placental circulation, we established an artificial PS-induced intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) model in mice and examined whether annexin V, a PS-binding anticoagulant protein, could prevent the development of IUGR in the animal experiments. The ICR mice were injected in the tail vein on days 8, 11 and 14 of pregnancy with filtered PS/phosphatidylcholine (PC) microvesicles (<0.3 microm in maximal diameter). The microvesicles have a procoagulant activity which was inhibited by annexin V in a dose-dependent fashion. The mice were killed on day 18 of pregnancy and the placental and fetal weights were measured. The placental tissue specimens were examined microscopically. PS/PC vesicles induced significant reductions in fetal weights compared with PC vesicles alone. The placental tissue revealed severe congestion with fibrin depositions although the lung and kidney tissue specimens showed minimal histological changes. PS/PC microvesicles with recombinant annexin V showed no significant reductions in fetal weights in mice with PS/PC vesicles alone. These results suggest that PS from the activated platelets induces IUGR by enhancing the coagulation cascade in the placental circulation and that annexin V from the villous trophoblast prevents the development of IUGR.

Animals↗

Coagulation/fibrinolysis disorder in patients with severe preeclampsia.

We investigated coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters in 50 patients with severe preeclampsia. The coagulation and clinical indices in patients with severe preeclampsia were 1.595 and 1.414, respectively. These indices show a strong correlation between the clinical status and coagulation/fibrinolysis abnormalities. Among patients with severe preeclampsia, a significant decrease in antithrombin (AT) (p = 0.002) and a significant increase in plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) (p = 0.002), D-dimer (p < 0.05), and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) (p = 0.001) were observed in cases terminated by cesarean section compared with those cases of vaginal delivery. There was no significant difference in platelet count (Plt), however, deltaPlt (the difference between platelet counts in early gestation and before delivery) was significantly larger (p < 0.05) in cases that ended in cesarean section. Furthermore, among cases terminated by cesarean section, a significant increase in PIC (p < 0.01) was observed when pregnancies were terminated because of maternal factors compared with those terminated because of fetal factors. These results suggest that (1) even in patients with severe preeclampsia, vaginal deliveries can be successful when they display a less hypercoagulable state; (2) a decrease in Plt during pregnancy may be a predictive marker for the termination of pregnancy; and (3) an excessive hypercoagulable state in patients with severe preeclampsia may be associated with the termination of pregnancy, especially when there is an aggravation of maternal factors.

Adult↗

Detection of decreased response to activated protein C during pregnancy by an endogenous thrombin potential-based assay.

Pregnancy has been widely recognized as a predisposing risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, it still remains unclear why pregnant women without a history of familial thrombophilia or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) have a higher incidence of DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE) during pregnancy and puerperium. We examined the activated protein C (APC) system in healthy pregnant women and in patients with the onset of DVT during puerperium. Sixty unselected Japanese pregnant women without a past or family history of thrombosis or APS and 3 Japanese women with DVT during puerperium were evaluated. Endogenous thrombin potential-ratio (ETP-r) was measured by determination of thrombin-alpha2-macroglobulin complexes in thromboplastin-activated patient plasma. APC sensitivity ratio (APC-sr) was calculated by the determination of ETP-r in patient plasma in the presence and absence of APC (final concentration [conc.] 5.9 nM) to evaluate the functional APC anticoagulant activity. Mean APC-sr was significantly increased at 30 weeks' gestation (2.35 +/- 0.72) and remained high during puerperium compared with the mean APC-sr in nonpregnant women (1.15 +/- 0.63). Mean APC-sr in patients with DVT at the onset was significantly higher (3.57 +/- 0.54) than mean APC-sr during puerperium was, indicating that the sensitivity to APC was reduced in the ETP-based assay. These data suggest a significant reduction in the functional sensitivity to APC associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis during pregnancy.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗

Upregulation of thrombomodulin antigen levels in U937 cells by combined stimulation with estradiol-17beta and vitamin K2 (menaquinone 4).

The expression of thrombomodulin (TM) and tissue factor (TF) antigens by estradiol and vitamin K2 were studied in human leukemic cell lines including U937 (monoblastic leukemia), NB4 (acute promyelocytic leukemia), and HL60 (acute myeloblastic leukemia). Combined stimulation with estradiol-17beta and menaquinone 4 (MK4), homologue of vitamin K2, showed a remarkable increase of total TM antigen level only in U937 cells among these leukemic cell lines, whereas a single treatment of each agent showed a modest or a moderate increase. A synergistic effect of cotreatment with estradiol-17beta and MK4 was observed in an optimum concentration of 1.0 micromol of estradiol-17beta and 1.0 micromol of MK4. Estrogen receptors were detected only in U937 cells among these cell lines, and the competitive assay with an antiestrogenic agent showed a suppression on TM expression in a dose-dependent manner. In the mean time, concerning expression of TF antigens, if at all, only a very slight decrease was observed by costimulation with estradiol-17beta and MK4 in U937 and NB4 cells, whereas all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) showed a remarkable decrease in surface TF antigen levels in NB4 cells and also a modest decrease in U937 cells. These findings suggest that estradiol-17beta would up-regulate TM antigen expression via estrogen receptors and in cooperation with MK4, showing a different mechanism from ATRA.

Antigens↗