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Biomedical subjects

Y Adachi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Adachi.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

Distribution of lymph node metastasis and level of inferior mesenteric artery ligation in colorectal cancer.

To investigate the distribution of lymph node metastasis along the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and clarify whether high ligation of the IMA is important or not, we examined the surgical results of 172 patients with cancer of the sigmoid colon and rectum. Histologically, lymph node metastasis was absent in 108 (63%) patients and present in 64 (37%) patients. The distribution was adjacent to the wall of the rectum (35.5%) and sigmoid colon (10.5%), along the IMA (7.7%) and sigmoid colic artery (6.3%), and at the root of the IMA (0.7%, 1 of 135 patients). The presence of lymph node metastasis was predicted by the operative findings of lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01) and serosal invasion (p < 0.05) and by the histologic type of tumor (p < 0.05). These results indicate that lymph node metastasis at the root of the IMA is rare, and complete removal of the pericolic and intermediate nodes (D2 dissection) without high ligation of the IMA is feasible for cancer of the sigmoid colon and rectum.

Adenocarcinoma↗

CP-060S, a novel cardioprotective drug, limits myocardial infarct size in anesthetized dogs.

The myocardial infarct size (IS)-limiting effect of CP-060S, a novel cardioprotective drug that prevents Na+-, Ca2+-overload and has Ca2+ channel-blocking activity, was compared with that of diltiazem, a pure Ca2+ antagonist, to determine whether the prevention of Na+-, Ca2+-overload contributes to this IS-limiting effect. Dogs were subjected to 90 min of left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) occlusion followed by 5 h of reperfusion. Either CP-060S (300 microg/kg) or diltiazem (600 microg/kg) was administered intravenously 20 min before the occlusion. CP-060S significantly limited IS compared with that of vehicle (percentage of the area at risk: vehicle, 50.64 +/- 6.08%; CP-060S, 21.13 +/- 3.75%; p < 0.01 vs. vehicle). Although diltiazem exerted a significant decrease in rate-pressure product (RPP; an index of myocardial oxygen consumption) during occlusion equal to that of CP-060S, diltiazem did not significantly reduce IS (33.90 +/- 4.30%). Regional myocardial blood flow (RBF) was not significantly different between any of the groups. Therefore the IS-limiting effect of CP-060S cannot be explained in terms of changes in RPP or RBF. Thus the IS limitation induced by CP-060S is probably the consequence of a direct cardioprotective effect on myocytes. The prevention of Na+-, Ca2+-overload may be the primary reason for this IS-limiting effect.

Animals↗

Case report: Alanine aminotransferase deficiency detected in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

We report a case of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) deficiency in a 68-year-old Japanese female with chronic hepatitis C. The serum was positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV-RNA. Liver biopsy showed histological evidence of chronic active hepatitis. The level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (sAST) was elevated, but sALT was extremely low. The patient was followed up for her serum aminotransferase levels for 1.5 years under the treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid. The low sALT level persisted during all the follow-up period. The ALT activity in liver tissue was also decreased. Based on these findings, ALT deficiency was suspected. sALT activity was also found to be low in her two sons. This latter finding suggests the hereditary character of this abnormality.

Adult↗

An autopsy case of fetal Gaucher disease.

BACKGROUND: A case of fetal form of Gaucher disease in a Japanese fetus is presented. RESULTS: A macerated baby showing hydrops fetalis was dissected at 29 weeks of gestation. The fetus was heavier in the body, liver and spleen than a normal fetus at the same gestation period. It also suffered from pericardial effusion and ascites. The diagnosis of Gaucher disease was made by histological and biochemical findings. In microscopical examinations 'Gaucher cells', which were periodic acid-Shiff (PAS)-positive, alcian blue-positive and CD68-positive, existed in the lungs, liver, spleen, thymus, adrenal glands, bone marrow and brain. In thin layer chromatography, a large quantity of glucocerebroside was seen to have accumulated in the patient's organs.

Adult↗

Effect of O-antigenic polysaccharide of Escherichia coli on endotoxin neutralizing activity of lysozyme.

Endotoxemia is considered to be associated with the high mortality of gram-negative septic patients. Increasing evidence shows that beta-lactam antibiotics have a propensity to induce endotoxin release from the bacterial outer membrane while killing bacteria. We have recently found that egg white lysozyme (EW-LZM) shows strong inhibition of beta-lactam induced bacteriolysis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release from Escherichia coli O111, resulting in reduction of the LPS-initiated inflammatory response. In this study, we compared the effect of EW-LZM on E. coli J5, which possesses rough-type LPS (RaLPS), in order to demonstrate the effect of O-antigenic polysaccharide on endotoxin neutralizing activity of EW-LZM and on inhibition of beta-lactam induced lysis by LZM. Both of the beta-lactam induced bacterial lysis and subsequent LPS release were almost completely inhibited by EW-LZM. The effect was more potent than that of wild-type LPS as assessed by released LPS concentration and LPS induced cytokine syntheses. In addition, EW-LZM was effective against lethal infection of E. coli J5 in cyclophosphamide induced leukopenic mice. These facts strongly suggested that O-antigenic polysaccharide negatively modulates LPS neutralizing activity of EW-LZM.

Animals↗

Gradual solubilization of Candida cell wall beta-glucan by oxidative degradation in mice.

Candida spp. is a medically important fungi which induces disseminated candidiasis and candidemia in hospitalized immunocompromised patients. The cell wall of Candida is mainly composed of two polysaccharides, mannan and beta-glucan, and at least part of beta-glucan is basically insoluble in H2O or NaOH. We became interested in when and how particulate beta-glucan changes to the soluble form. However, the fate of wall components has not been examined in detail. In this study, modification and solubilization of the cell wall beta-glucan were analyzed in vivo and in vitro. Cells of Candida, intravenously administered to mice (1 mg/mouse), were immediately deposited mainly in liver as determined by 3H-labeled cells. Beta-Glucans were detected in these mice for at least for 6 months by the beta-glucan specific assay. During this period, the insoluble cell wall beta-glucan was gradually solubilized in these organs, probably by oxidative stress of macrophages. Candida cells and particulate beta-glucans were also gradually solubilized in vitro using sodium hypochlorite solution, but part of the cell wall beta-glucan was still insoluble even after treatment with concentrated hypochlorite solution for one day at room temperature. These findings strongly suggested that the fungal cell wall beta-glucans were quite resistant to oxidative metabolism in vivo and in vitro, and thus deposited for quite long period in the host.

Animals↗

Immunotoxicity of soluble beta-glucans induced by indomethacin treatment.

(1 --> 3)-Beta-D-Glucan (beta-glucan) is a biological response modifier that regulates host immune response. However, the side effects of this drug have not been extensively examined. In this study, we found that the combination of a beta-glucan and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, induced lethal toxicity in mice. Lethal toxicity of orally administered indomethacin (multiple administration to ICR mice; once a day for 2 weeks) was 0/8 (2.5 mg kg(-1)) and 5/8 (5 mg kg(-1)) (death/total) over 2 weeks. The toxicity was enhanced to 3/8 and 8/8 in mice treated with a clinical beta-glucan preparation, sonifilan (250 microg/mouse, single i.p. administration on day 0). A similar effect was observed for other beta-glucans, including SSG, grifolan, zymosan A and zymocel. Enhanced lethal toxicity resulted from a single p.o. administration of indomethacin on day 5 to day 9 after multiple beta-glucans administration. Interferon-gamma, interleukin-6 and colony stimulating factor concentrations in sera of indomethacin/beta-glucan-treated mice were significantly elevated. These results strongly suggest that indomethacin/beta-glucan treatment induces lethality in mice by maladjusting the cytokine network.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Human bronchial epithelial cells modulate collagen gel contraction by fibroblasts.

Connective tissue contraction is an important aspect of both normal wound healing and fibrosis. This process may contribute to small airway narrowing associated with certain airway diseases. Fibroblast-mediated contraction of a three-dimensional collagen gel has been considered a model of tissue contraction. In this study, the ability of primary cultured human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) obtained by bronchial brushings to modulate fibroblast gel contraction was evaluated. Human lung fibroblasts (HFL1) were cast into type I collagen gels. The gels were floated both in dishes containing a monolayer of HBEC or in dishes without HBEC. Contraction assessed by measuring the area of gels was increased at all time points from 24 h up to 96 h of coculture. At 48 h, coculture of HBEC with fibroblasts resulted in significantly more contraction than fibroblasts alone (36.6 +/- 1.2 vs. 20.4 +/- 1.7%, P < 0.05). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 micrograms/ml) stimulation of the HBEC augmented the contraction (44.9 +/- 1.0%, P < 0.05 vs. HBEC). In the presence of indomethacin, the augmentation by LPS was increased further (52.2 +/- 4.3%, P < 0.05 vs. HBEC with LPS), suggesting that prostaglandins (PGs) are present and may inhibit contraction. Consistent with this, PGE was present in HBEC-conditioned medium. Bronchial epithelial cell conditioned medium had an effect similar to coculturing. SG-150 column chromatography revealed augmentive activity between 20 and 30 kDa and inhibitory activity between 10 and 20 kDa. Measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed the presence of the active form of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 2. The stimulatory activity of conditioned medium was blocked by adding anti-TGF-beta antibody. These data demonstrate that, through the release of factors including TGF-beta 2 which can augment and PGE which can inhibit, HBEC can modulate fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. In this manner, HBEC may modulate fibroblast activities that determine the architecture of bronchial tissue.

Animals↗

Silica urolithiasis without magnesium trisilicate intake.

Two cases of silica stones, without previous oral intake of magnesium trisilicate, are reported. A 64-year-old Japanese woman had bilateral renal stones. Infrared spectrophotoscopy revealed that one of the fragments consisted of silicate and the others consisted of calcium oxalate. A 75-year-old woman had right renal stones. The composition of 1 stone was a mixture of silicate and unspecified matrices. Silicate urolithiasis may not necessarily be related to oral intake of silicate-containing antacids.

Aged↗

Protein C anticoagulant system in patients with interstitial lung disease.

Excessive procoagulant activity in the alveolar space may play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Hypercoagulability results from the disruption of the balance between the procoagulant and anticoagulant factors. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of molecular markers of the anticoagulant protein C (PC) pathway in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma of 11 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 14 with sarcoidosis and 16 with collagen vascular disease (CVD)-associated interstitial lung disease (CVD-ILD). Six healthy nonsmoking volunteers served as control subjects. BALF concentrations of the marker of clotting activation, thrombin- antithrombin III complex (TAT), in patients with sarcoidosis and CVD-ILD were significantly greater than those in control subjects. PC levels in BALF were markedly higher in patients with IPF (610 +/- 150 ng/ml), sarcoidosis (680 +/- 170 ng/ml), and CVD-ILD (1,580 +/- 600 ng/ml) than in control subjects (230 +/- 140 ng/ml). BALF concentrations of activated PC-PC inhibitor (APC-PCI) complex were significantly decreased in IPF (0.46 +/- 0.16 ng/ml), sarcoidosis (0. 43 +/- 0.11 ng/ml), and CVD-ILD (0.50 +/- 0.15 ng/ml) patients as compared with control subjects (1.08 +/- 0.23 ng/ml). APC-PCI/PC ratios were significantly lower in patients with IPF (2.70 +/- 1.74 ng/microg), sarcoidosis (1.94 +/- 0.82 ng/microg), and CVD-ILD (1.89 +/- 0.68 ng/microg) than in control subjects (15.91 +/- 8.45 ng/microg). Plasma levels of APC- PCI and the APC-PCI/PC ratio were also significantly decreased in patients with CVD-ILD as compared with control subjects. Overall, these findings suggest that decreased PC activation with increased procoagulant activity occurs in patients with ILD.

Antithrombin III↗

Activation of murine kupffer cells by administration with gel-forming (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from Grifola frondosa.

The effect of gel-forming (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan on the immunological activities of murine kupffer cells was examined. A branched type gel-forming (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, GRN, was administered intravenously to mice. GRN associating to kupffer cells was detected by an immunohistochemical technique using anti-GRN antibody. A kinetic study of the activation of kupffer cells revealed that GRN could induce the enhanced production of cytokines and nitric oxide on 4 to 7 d after the administration. The activities are further augmented by adding GRN in the culture. The cytostatic activity of kupffer cells against murine lymphoma, EL-4, was also augmented by a time course similar to nitric oxide production. The cytostatic activity was reduced by adding an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, implying that the cytostatic activity of kupffer cells to EL-4 was dependent on nitric oxide. The administration of GRN increased the expression of CD11b, known as a beta-glucan receptor, on kupffer cells at day 7. The above data suggest that GRN could activate murine kupffer cells to enhance the production of cytokines and nitric oxide, and that the activation required 4 or 7 d, at least, after the administration with GRN.

Animals↗

Adjuvant effect of grifolan on antibody production in mice.

The effects of grifolan (GRN), a gel-forming (1-->6)-branched (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, on antibody production were examined. Sera from mice that were injected with GRN and trinitrophenyl ovalbumin (TNP-OVA) intraperitoneally showed a significantly increased level of anti-TNP IgG. However, injection of TNP-OVA alone showed a lower antibody level. Two hundred fifty microg of GRN and 10 microg of TNP-OVA gave the maximum production of anti-TNP antibody. Enhanced antibody production was also observed in the culture supernatant of splenocyte obtained from GRN-administered mice. The culture supernatant contained a significant amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the case of GRN-administered mice. To observe the effect of NO on the antibody production induced by GRN, N-monomethyl arginine (NMMA), an inhibitor of NO synthetase, was added to the splenocyte cultures. The antibody level of supernatants containing NMMA was higher than that of control supernatants. These results suggest that GRN can enhance antibody production and that NO induced by stimulation with GRN concomitantly with antibody production is a negative factor on the adjuvant activity. Inhibition of NO may increase the adjuvant effect of GRN.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

The presence of two low molecular mass proteins immunologically related to 14 kilodalton serum amyloid A in the lipoprotein fraction and their decreased serum concentrations in calves with experimentally induced pneumonia.

A 14 kilodalton (kDa) serum amyloid A (apoSAA) protein was purified from cow serum. Rabbit antiserum to the 14 kDa apoSAA recognized, in addition to the 14 kDa protein, a 7.5-9.0 kDa protein and a protein having a molecular mass of less than 6.5 kDa (< 6.5 kDa protein). The possibility that the two proteins were contaminants was excluded by results showing that the two proteins detected in early stages of purification procedures were not found in the purified 14 kDa apoSAA fraction, as revealed by immunoblot analysis. As in the 14 kDa apoSAA, the 7.5-9.0 kDa protein was localized in the high-density lipoprotein fraction, while the < 6.5 kDa protein was in the low-density lipoprotein fraction. In calves with pneumonia induced by inoculation to the lungs of Pasteurella haemolitica, the serum concentration of the 14 kDa apoSAA was increased, whereas those of the 7.5-9.0 kDa and the < 6.5 kDa proteins were conversely decreased. The time-course study indicated that the increase in concentration of the 14 kDa apoSAA and decrease in that of the < 6.5 kDa protein occurred almost simultaneously. These results suggest that the 14 kDa apoSAA and the immunologically related 7.5-9.0 kDa and < 6.5 kDa proteins act as positive and negative acute phase reactants, respectively, and also that concentrations of the three proteins are regulated in concert in acute phase plasma.

Animals↗

Presence of 22- and 17-kDa proteins reacting with sera in mice experimentally infected with Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae.

The antibodies to B. (S.)hyodysenteriae in experimentally infected mice were detected by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The reactions in MAT were serotype specific while those in ELISA were common to both strains. A further investigation with immunoblotting technique demonstrated that 22- and 17-kDa proteins reacted strongly with the sera. The proteins in ATCC 27164 strain strongly reacted with the serum from ATCC 31212 strain-infected mouse and vice versa. These proteins were sensitive to proteinase K.

Animals↗

Low impact aerobic dance as a useful exercise mode for reducing body mass in mildly obese middle-aged women.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a low impact aerobic dance is a useful exercise mode for weight loss in obese middle-aged women. Sixty Japanese women, aged 50.9 +/- 6.7 years (initial %fat = 35.2 +/- 5.3%), participated in our 3-month weight-loss program consisting of diet and exercise prescription. To compare the effectiveness of exercise modes, the subjects were divided into the following two groups: aerobic dance group and jogging and/or cycling group. As a result, body mass (-3.1 and -3.3 kg respectively) and %fat (-6.1 and -5.3% respectively) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in both groups, while fat-free mass remained essentially unchanged. Aerobic power such as maximal oxygen uptake and oxygen uptake corresponding to lactate threshold significantly increased (P < 0.05) in both groups. Significant difference in the alterations in these variables between groups could not be seen. The data of this study indicates that our weight-loss program with a low impact aerobic dance is as useful as jogging or cycling in improving body composition and aerobic power for mildly obese middle-aged women.

Aerobiosis↗