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Biomedical subjects

T Yabe

Publications and source records attributed to T Yabe.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Effects of nivalenol on hepatic drug-metabolizing activity in rats.

Effects of nivalenol (NIV), a trichothecene mycotoxin, on hepatic drug-metabolizing activity and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) metabolism were investigated in male rats. In rats fed the diets containing 6-12 ppm NIV for 2 or 4 wk, decreases in initial feed uptake, terminal weight gain and organ weights were evident. An increase in cytochrome P-450 activity was observed in the hepatic microsomes, and Western blot analysis revealed a transient increase in P4502B1/2, together with a slight induction of P4501A2. The activity of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes was also enhanced in the rats, and Western blot analysis demonstrated an elevation of GST 1-2. The formation of aflatoxin B1-DNA adducts (AFB1-DNA) was increased in experiments using hepatic microsomal preparations from rats fed the NIV diet, whereas supplementation with cytosol prepared from NIV-treated rats reduced the microsomal potential for adduct formation. In in vivo experiments, the AFB1-DNA concentration in NIV-treated rats was lower than that in the controls. These results suggest that activities of cytochrome P-450 and GST enzymes were increased in rats fed NIV for several weeks. Alteration of these phase I and phase 2 enzyme levels resulted in the modulation of AFB1 adduction to DNA in vitro and in vivo.

Administration, Oral↗

Age-specific characteristics of nocturnal blood pressure in a general population in a community of northern Japan.

The age- and gender-specific profile of circadian blood pressure variation was examined by monitoring ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in 477 untreated subjects in a rural community of northern Japan. Autoregressive spectral analysis demonstrated three major peaks at around 24, 12, and 8 h. We fitted a truncated Fourier series with three harmonics to the blood pressure (BP) data using least squares regression. More than half of the BP and pulse rate periodic curves were bimodal, one-third were trimodal, and the remainder were unimodal. The nadir of BP appeared between 00:00 and 01:30, and that of pulse rate occurred between 00:30 and 02:00. The nadir of systolic and diastolic BP, as well as pulse rate, appeared earlier with increasing age, and the difference between subjects in their 20s and those in their 70s was about 1 h. The amplitude of 24 h BP decreased with increasing age in men, but not in women. This type of information on the circadian BP profile of a general population is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

Adult↗

The neurotransmitter of inhibitory synaptic inputs on inhibitory burst neurons (IBNs) controlling vestibular nystagmus in the cat.

In the pontine neural networks that govern vestibular nystagmus in the cat, inhibitory burst neurons (IBNs) are known to fire in bursts during the quick phase, and to suppress firing of the abducens motoneurons on the contralateral side. The present experiments were designed to identify the neurotransmitter controlling the burst firing pattern of IBNs. Inhibitory burst neuron activity was recorded extracellularly, and various chemicals were applied to the IBNs iontophoretically through multibarrel micropipettes. GABA and muscimol (a GABAA-receptor agonist) strongly suppressed IBN activity and eliminated the burst pattern. Bicuculline (a GABAA-receptor antagonist) increased the firing of IBNs and suppressed the inhibitory effect of GABA when applied simultaneously. Although baclofen (a GABAB-receptor agonist) had no inhibitory effect, it slightly shortened the duration of burst firing. Neither glycine nor serotonin, other inhibitory transmitter candidates, nor their respective antagonists, strychnine and methysergide, had any effect. Systemically administered picrotoxin prevented the GABA-induced suppression of IBNs. These results suggest that IBNs possess GABAA receptors and are controlled by higher GABA-liberating neurons and Cl- channels.

Animals↗

[Noninvasive identification of left main and triple vessel coronary artery disease using dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy].

The diagnostic value of dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy for the noninvasive identification of left main (LM) and triple vessel (TV) coronary artery disease (CAD) was evaluated in 615 consecutive patients with known or suspected CAD. One hundred thirty-nine patients had LM or TVCAD; the remaining 476 patients had limited CAD (double vessel CAD in 112, single vessel CAD in 235, insignificant lesions in 129). Patients with LM or TVCAD, compared to those with limited CAD, had a higher incidence of diffuse slow washout (58 vs 20%, p < 0.0001), extensive fixed defects (21 vs 6%, p < 0.0001) and extensive reversible defects (32 vs 8%, p < 0.0001). During dipyridamole loading, the incidence of chest pain was higher (65 vs 41%, p < 0.0001), and the magnitude of ST depression was greater (0.16 +/- 0.14 vs 0.04 +/- 0.07 mV, p < 0.001) in patients with LM or TVCAD than in those with limited CAD. Stepwise discriminant analysis using scintigraphic imaging achieved a sensitivity of 69%, a specificity of 79%, and an accuracy of 77% for diagnosing patients with LM or TVCAD. After including clinical markers of ischemia during dipyridamole loading, multivariate analysis revealed an improved diagnosis with a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 85%, and an accuracy of 82%. These results clearly show the usefulness of scintigraphic imaging as well as the significance of careful assessment of clinical markers of ischemia during dipyridamole loading for the noninvasive identification of LM and TVCAD.

Adult↗

Neurotransmitters in the vestibular commissural system of the cat.

The present study focused on the transmitters that control the vestibular neural activity and, in particular, that regulate commissural inhibition. Extracellular spikes of a single vestibular neuron were recorded in decerebrate cats. The seven barrels of the electrode, with the exception of the center barrel, were filled with transmitter candidates and their specific antagonists, while the center barrel was filled with 2 M NaCl for extracellular recording. After isolation of a type 1 neuron, chemicals were iontophoretically applied to examine their effects on its activity. The results were as follows: (1) GABA and glycine markedly decreased spontaneous firing of the neurons, while serotonin did not affect their activity. (2) Bicuculline abolished the inhibitory effects of GABA on the neurons. (3) Strychine abolished the effects of glycine. (4) Commissural inhibition induced by electrical stimulation of the contralateral labyrinth was not abolished by strychine but was abolished by bicuculline. We conclude that (1) vestibular type 1 neurons are controlled by GABAergic and glycinergic but not serotoninergic neurons, and (2) commissural inhibition is activated by the GABAA receptor, but not by the GABAB receptor.

Animals↗

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the guinea pig vestibular system.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the administration of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) improves the compensation of the vestibular syndrome induced by transection of the VIIIth nerve. To investigate the mechanisms at play, the vestibular nuclei of alert guinea pigs were perfused with EGb 761. This perfusion always induced a stereotyped reversible postural syndrome that was the mirror image of the syndrome provoked by the unilateral lesion of the otolithical receptors. This result supports the hypothesis that EGb 761 has a direct excitatory effect on the lateral vestibular nuclei (LVN) neurons. In a second step, we quantified the horizontal vestibuloocular reflex (HVOR) of the normal guinea pig following IP injection of EGb 761. In normal guinea pig, IP administration of EGb 761 led to a reversible, dose-dependent decrease of the HVOR gain without affecting the phase of the reflex. These data help to explain the therapeutic effects of EGb 761 during vestibular syndromes and strongly suggest an impact at the neuronal level.

Animals↗

Candidate natural killer cell receptors.

Among the high points of immunological discovery has been the identification of antigen-recognizing receptors on B and T cells. Of the lymphocyte populations, only the NK cell receptor remains unknown. Consequently, any newly-recognized, cell-surface molecules expressed selectively on NK cells, especially ones that can transmit a signal to the cell upon appropriate ligand interaction, are possible candidates. This article describes such candidates.

Animals↗

Enhancement of GST-P-positive liver cell foci development by nivalenol, a trichothecene mycotoxin.

In order to elucidate whether T-2 toxin (T-2) and nivalenol (NIV), the naturally occurring trichothecene mycotoxins in food and feed, are carcinogenic or possess an ability to modulate aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatocarcinogenicity, a medium-term liver bioassay was carried out. F344 male rats were given a single i.p. injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg), and then fed the test trichothecenes in diet (2 and 5 p.p.m. T-2 or 6 p.p.m. NIV) for 6 weeks beginning 2 weeks after the injection. Some control groups received DEN alone. For synergism between AFB1 and the trichothecenes, DEN-initiated rats as above were given a single i.p. injection of AFB1 (0.5 mg/kg) 2 weeks later and were fed a NIV-containing diet (6 p.p.m.) for 6 weeks. The other control group received the vehicle alone. Control rats not initiated with DEN were also treated with AFB1, NIV or T-2 alone as above. All rats were subjected to a two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) at week 3 and killed at week 8, and liver sections were analyzed by glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) expression. In rats that did not receive DEN, AFB1 alone enhanced both the numbers and areas of GST-P-positive foci as reported earlier, while NIV or T-2 alone induced no marked changes. In rats initiated with DEN, AFB1 caused a marked expression of GST-P, and thus the hepatocarcinogenicity of AFB1 was reconfirmed. The expression of GST-P foci in rats fed T-2 or NIV was found to be at background level, indicating that the hepatocarcinogenicity was not predicted for the trichothecene mycotoxins such as T-2 and NIV by this medium-term bioassay system. In the group initiated by DEN followed by AFB1, on the other hand, an elevation of both the numbers and areas of GST-P-positive foci was observed by the subsequent feeding of rats with NIV, and this elevation was statistically significant from the sum totals of individual data of AFB1 or NIV alone. From this evidence, it is predicted that NIV causes an enhancing effect on AFB1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Circadian blood pressure variation in patients with renovascular hypertension or primary aldosteronism.

Circadian blood pressure (BP) variation were studied in patients with renovascular hypertension (RVH) and primary aldosteronism (PA). Ambulatory BP (ABP) was monitored every 5 min for 24 hrs in a ward setting in 23 patients with PA and 17 patients with RVH (13 patients with unilateral renal arterial stenosis and 4 with bilateral stenosis). In patients with RVH, ABP was monitored before and after treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was high before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in almost all patients with RVH and low in those with PA. Ordinary circadian BP variation, i.e. nocturnal fall and diurnal rise in BP, was confirmed in the patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty successfully normalized both BP and PRA in those with RVH. Normal circadian BP variation was observed in those with RVH before the treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as well as during treatment with the former and after treatment with the latter. Circadian BP variation in the patients with RVH was affected by the pathogenesis of renal artery stenosis alone, i.e, fibromuscular hyperplasia and atherosclerosis; with fibromuscular hyperplasia normal circadian BP variation was observed, while with atherosclerosis, nocturnal BP fall was restricted or eliminated. Circadian BP variation in those with PA before and after excision of adrenal adenoma was essentially similar to that in normal subjects and essential hypertensive patients. From these it seems that in patients with RVH or PA, circadian BP variation is not affected by hypertension per se or by pathogenesis of hypertension.

Adenoma↗

[Prognosis of asymptomatic elderly patients with aortic stenosis].

To elucidate the prognosis of elderly patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) and to assess the timing of aortic valve replacement (AVR), 21 asymptomatic patients (8 men, 13 women, mean age: 75 +/- 8 years (54-89 years)), who had Doppler echocardiographic evidence of a significant aortic pressure gradient of greater than 40 mmHg (mean gradient: 75 +/- 31 mmHg), were followed for 33 +/- 10 months. During the follow-up, there were 4 cardiac events (2 cardiac deaths, 2 late AVRs), and 2 non-cardiac deaths (cerebro-vascular accidents). Among 15 survivors, 13 patients were in NYHA class I--II, and the remaining 2 patients were found to have malignant disease. Compared to the 17 patients without cardiac events, those with cardiac events had significantly larger CTR (58 +/- 6% vs. 53 +/- 3%; p less than 0.01), although there were no significant difference in electrocardiographic LVH, echocardiographic LV mass, and Doppler pressure gradient between the two groups. The prevalence of the development of cardiac symptoms during the follow-up was not high (12%) in patients without cardiac events. Among 4 patients with cardiac events, one patient who was 89 years-old at diagnosis died of heart failure, one patient had fatal myocardial infarction which seemed to be unrelated to AS, and two patients had successful late AVR because of new heart failure. The low incidence of fatal cardiac events in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis and the relatively high possibility of developing non-cardiac events in elderly patients indicate that the decision-making for AVR should not be solely based upon the pressure gradient detected by Doppler echocardiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Acute effect of manidipine on renal blood flow measured by pulsed-Doppler flowmeter in normal subjects.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of manidipine hydrochloride, a new calcium antagonist, on renal blood flow in healthy subjects, using the newly developed pulsed-Doppler flowmeter with colored flow imager and digital computer analyzer. Results in previous studies differed because the para-aminohippurate clearance method measures the average not real-time value. Sixteen healthy volunteers (n = 7, manidipine 20 mg; n = 9, placebo control) participated in the study. Before and 1 h after drug administration, pulsed-Doppler measurements were carried out by transabdominal approach with patients in the supine position. Manidipine hydrochloride increased renal blood flow significantly compared with placebo (13.8 +/- 4.7% vs. 6.1 +/- 5.6%; p < 0.05). There was a significant (p < 0.005) between group difference in the reduction in systolic blood pressure (-14.8 +/- 1.6 mmHg manidipine; -3.0 +/- 2.1 mmHg placebo). These data suggest that manidipine hydrochloride has a vasodilating effect on renal arterioles and a beneficial effect on the kidneys of hypertensive patients. Further, the pulsed-Doppler flowmeter may become a very useful tool for noninvasive measurement of renal blood flow.

Adult↗

DNA sequence analysis of NKG2, a family of related cDNA clones encoding type II integral membrane proteins on human natural killer cells.

We have previously described the isolation of a cDNA clone, designated NKG2, that was expressed in all natural killer (NK) cells tested but not in T or B cells. In the present communication, the original isolate, when used to probe a cDNA library prepared from a CD3- NK cell clone, was found to crosshybridize with a family of transcripts that fell into four distinct groups designated NKG2-A, -B, -C, and -D. Full-length cDNA sequences were determined for each group, and the DNA and inferred peptide sequences were analyzed. All four transcripts encode type II membrane proteins of 215-233 amino acids. NKG2-A and -B peptides appear to be alternative splicing products of a single gene. NKG2-C is highly homologous with group A, having 94% homology in the external (COOH-terminal) domain and 56% homology throughout the internal and transmembrane regions. NKG2-D is distantly but significantly related (21% amino acid homology) to the first three groups. Therefore, NKG2-A, -C, and -D appear to be encoded by distinct genes within a family of NK cell-specific genes. Peptide sequence homology searches demonstrate that the NKG2 peptides are members of a supergene family that includes several other type II membrane proteins. This family is characterized by the presence of a C-type animal lectin domain, and several of its members have demonstrated transmembrane signaling capability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A case of eosinophilic granuloma in the temporal bone.

The following case reports a 4-year-old boy with a solitary eosinophilic granuloma in the right temporal bone. The patient complained of an inflammatory tumor in the right external ear canal. The histopathological diagnosis made based on the first specimen of the tumor in the right ear canal was foreign body granuloma. A polyp developed again in the right ear canal with postauricular swelling. Computerized tomography of the skull at that time showed an osteolytic defect in the right temporal bone filled with soft tissue. Diagnosis was established by finding of the presence of Birbeck granules in Langerhans histiocytes by electron microscopy.

Child, Preschool↗

Chronic synergistic effect of endothelin-1 and angiotensin II on blood pressure in conscious rats.

We assessed whether there is an interaction between angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the regulation of blood pressure and sodium and water metabolism in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group I rats received Ang II at a subpressor dose (400 micrograms/kg/day i.p.) for up to 6 days. Group II rats received ET-1 at a subpressor dose (3 micrograms/kg/day i.v.) for up to 6 days. Group III rats received both the subpressor dose of Ang II and the subpressor dose of ET-1. Group IV rats received vehicle only. There was no significant difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) among groups I, II, and IV during the study. On day 6, SBP in groups I, II, and IV was 148.0 +/- 3.0, 142.7 +/- 2.9, and 143.5 +/- 3.0 mm Hg, respectively. On the other hand, SBP in group III was higher than those of the other groups on day 2 and remained elevated thereafter. On day 6, SBP in group III rats was 189.0 +/- 12.5 mm Hg. There were no significant differences in body weight, fluid intake, urine volume, urinary sodium excretion, or urinary potassium excretion among the four groups. The present results suggest that Ang II and ET-1 exert their pressor effects synergistically and might play a role in controlling blood pressure. They also suggest the possibility of the existence of a common pathway in the hypertension-producing mechanism of these two peptides.

Angiotensin II↗