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Biomedical subjects

Y Endo

Publications and source records attributed to Y Endo.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

A poison information service via an automated facsimile (fax) system: an adjunct to the operator-based service.

BACKGROUND: Poison centers are faced with the escalating costs of specialist staffing and increased investments in hardware and databases despite deficit funding. We developed an automated fax information system to access poison information from any fax machine without special training or equipment. METHODS: We provided a 3-month trial service of the fax system in conjunction with the regular operator-based service and analyzed the fax access log, followed by a questionnaire to the 2204 affiliate members regarding the use of the fax. RESULTS: A total 657 accesses to the fax system were made, of which 105 (16%) were unsuccessful; 342 (52%) were made to retrieve the user's manual, 85 (13%) to retrieve the index pages, and 230 (35%) to retrieve documentation on specific substances. The most frequently accessed items concerned disc battery ingestion (13.5%), salicylates (10.3%), mamushi viper (7.1%), acetaminophen (5.8%), and sodium hypochlorite (3.8%). The questionnaires were returned by 666 (30.2%) members; 93 (14%) had actually used the fax system with the average frequency of 1.8 times/user, 63% (59/93) of the respondents considered the service satisfactory, and 33% (31/93) said it was somewhat unsatisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The automated fax information system was accepted and handled by users with only minor difficulty. A facsimile information service may have a valuable role in providing poisoning information and has potential benefits in cases of environmental disasters.

Consumer Behavior↗
PubMed1998

Nuclear matrix protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nitrite/nitrate levels in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Nuclear matrix protein (NMP), an indicator of apoptosis, was analyzed in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) were also measured in these patients to determine the involvement of these factors in the production of NMP. Forty-six patients with MODS were studied, 21 (45.7%) of whom died. NMP and TNF-alpha were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NOx was measured by the Griess's method. Marshall's multiple organ dysfunction score (MOD score) was used as an indicator of organ failure. The severity of organ failure was assessed by use of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score (APACHE II score). The number of organs that failed was found to be significantly correlated with the NMP level. The NMP level was also correlated significantly with MOD score and APACHE II score, as well as with TNF-alpha and NOx levels. NMP and NOx levels in the group that died significantly exceeded those in the surviving group. Results suggest that apoptosis can occur in the presence of MODS, and that its extent increases as the number of failing organs increases. The results also suggest that TNF-alpha and NO are involved in the induction of apoptosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Assessment of cardiac autonomic nervous activities during heliox exposure at 24 atm abs.

BACKGROUND: This experiment was designed to examine the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in the production of hyperbaric bradycardia. METHODS: Four male divers were exposed to a He-O2 (heliox) environment at 24 atmosphere absolute (atm abs) for 7 d. The heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate were recorded at rest in the morning (0700 h) and at night (2230 h) on 1 d during a 5-d predive control, 2 d during a 7-d saturation dive at 24 atm abs, 2 d during decompression, and on 1 d during a 4-d postdive period. Cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activities were estimated by using a spectral analysis of the variability of R-R intervals. RESULTS: The morning HR did not fluctuate throughout the experimental days. The night time HR decreased (p < 0.05) by 11.8% on the first day at 24 atm abs compared with that of the predive control. The bradycardia diminished gradually and returned to the predive level with continued exposure at 24 atm abs. The high-frequency power of the cardiac variability, an index of cardiac parasympathetic activity, increased (p < 0.05) only in the first night at 24 atm abs, whereas the low-frequency power and a ratio of low- to high-frequency power, an index of cardiac sympathetic activity, were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that an increased parasympathetic activity rather than a decrease in the sympathetic activity is responsible for the bradycardia on exposure to heliox dry saturation dive at 24 atm abs. The mechanism of the gradual disappearance of the bradycardia is unknown, but perhaps it may be related to the development of cardiovascular deconditioning.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Effect of long-term administration of prednisolone on serum creatine kinase and muscle pathology of mdx mouse].

For palliative therapy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), corticosteroids have been tried since 1970. According to recent reports, corticosteroids maintained muscular strength to some extent and prolonged period of ambulation. However, their mechanism of action is mostly unclear. In the present study, mdx mice were injected with 0.6 mg prednisolone 3 times a week for 30 weeks. Serum creatine kinase (CK) values remained 23% of controls. In muscle pathology of the quadriceps muscle, fibers with peripheral nuclei were increased, suggesting reduction of muscle necrosis. In pathological examination of liver, pyknotic cytoplasmic masses and formation of vacuoles were observed. Present study showed that prednisolone might attenuate muscle fiber necrosis at least for 30 weeks. Prednisolone may reduce secondary tissue reactions, which develop more serious muscle damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Hrs is associated with STAM, a signal-transducing adaptor molecule. Its suppressive effect on cytokine-induced cell growth.

We previously reported a new type of signal-transducing adaptor molecule, STAM, which was shown to be involved in cytokine-mediated intracellular signal transduction. In this study, we molecularly cloned a 110-kDa phosphotyrosine protein inducible by stimulation with interleukin 2 (IL-2). The 110-kDa molecule was found to be a human counterpart of mouse Hrs (hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate) and to be associated with STAM. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Hrs is induced rapidly after stimulation with IL-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as well as hepatocyte growth factor. The mutual association sites of Hrs and STAM include highly conserved coiled-coil sequences, suggesting that their association is mediated by the coiled-coil structures. Exogenous introduction of the wild-type Hrs significantly suppressed DNA synthesis upon stimulation with IL-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, while the Hrs mutant deleted of the STAM-binding site lost such suppressive ability. These results suggest that Hrs counteracts the STAM function which is critical for cell growth signaling mediated by the cytokines.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1997

Genomic structure and chromosomal localization of mouse cyclin G1 gene.

Mouse genomic DNA harboring the full coding sequence of cyclin G1 was cloned and analyzed. The locations of five coding exons and the intron-exon boundary sequences were found to be conserved between the mouse and the human genes. Two putative binding sites for the p53 tumor suppressor gene product were found around the first exon: one was located in the 5' regulatory region, and the other was in the first intron. The mouse cyclin G1 gene was mapped to bands A5 to B1 of chromosomes 11 (11A5-B1) by FISH using genomic DNA clone as a biotinylated probe. The location of mouse cyclin G1 is syntenic to that of its human homologue, which we previously mapped to 5q32-q34 of chromosome 5. An additional faint signal was detected on chromosome 4 (4B1-C2), probably indicating the presence of a cyclin G1-related gene or pseudogene in the mouse genome.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Possible role of P-450 metabolite of arachidonic acid in vasodilator mechanism of angiotensin II type 2 receptor in the isolated microperfused rabbit afferent arteriole.

Although angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor has recently been cloned, its functional role is not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that selective activation of AT2 receptor causes vasodilation in the preglomerular afferent arteriole (Af-Art), a vascular segment that accounts for most of the preglomerular resistance. We microperfused rabbit Af-Arts at 60 mmHg in vitro, and examined the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II; 10(-11)-10(-8) M) on the luminal diameter in the presence or absence of the Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist CV11974 (CV; 10(-8) M). Ang II was added to both the bath and lumen of preconstricted Af-Arts. Ang II further constricted Af-Arts without CV (by 74+/-7% over the preconstricted level at 10(-8) M; P < 0.01, n = 7). In contrast, in the presence of CV, Ang II caused dose-dependent dilation; Ang II at 10(-8) M increased the diameter by 29+/-2% (n = 7, P < 0.01). This dilation was completely abolished by pretreatment with an AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319 (10(-7) M, n = 6), suggesting that activation of AT2 receptor causes vasodilation in Af-Arts. The dilation was unaffected by inhibiting either nitric oxide synthase (n = 7) or cyclooxygenase (n = 7), however, it was abolished by either disrupting the endothelium (n = 10) or inhibiting the cytochrome P-450 pathway, particularly the synthesis of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs, n = 7). These results suggest that in the Af-Art activation of the AT2 receptor may cause endothelium-dependent vasodilation via a cytochrome P-450 pathway, possibly by EETs.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗
PubMed1997

Eighteen novel human genes regionally mapped on chromosome 11.

Expression sequence tags (EST) obtained by sequencing a randomly primed cDNA library and gene signatures (GS) obtained by sequencing a 3'-directed cDNA library can identify genes that are active in the source cells. Eight ESTs and ten GSs which represent novel human genes, except for one GS, and which have been assigned to human chromosome 11 were used to select cosmids from a chromosome 11-specific cosmid library. These cosmids were regionally mapped using the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Angiogenic and HIV-inhibitory functions of KSHV-encoded chemokines.

Unique among known human herpesviruses, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV-8) encodes chemokine-like proteins (vMIP-I and vMIP-II). vMIP-II was shown to block infection of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) on a CD4-positive cell line expressing CCR3 and to a lesser extent on one expressing CCR5, whereas both vMIP-I and vMIP-II partially inhibited HIV infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Like eotaxin, vMIP-II activated and chemoattracted human eosinophils by way of CCR3. vMIP-I and vMIP-II, but not cellular MIP-1alpha or RANTES, were highly angiogenic in the chorioallantoic assay, suggesting a possible pathogenic role in Kaposi's sarcoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Structures and chromosomal localizations of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol synthesis gene PIGC and its pseudogene PIGCP1.

More than 10 genes are involved in the biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), which anchors many mammalian cell surface proteins to the membrane. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is caused by a somatic mutation in a GPI biosynthesis gene within the hematopoietic stem cell. The X-linked gene PIGA has been found to be mutated in all patients with PNH. This is probably because all other GPI synthesis genes are autosomal; hence two somatic mutations must occur to cause PNH, whereas one somatic mutation is sufficient to inactivate PIGA. Consistent with this notion, three other genes, PIGB, PIGF, and PIGH, are autosomal. Here we isolated a genomic clone of another GPI-synthesis gene, PIGC, and mapped it to chromosome 1q23-q25, further supporting this notion. PIGC is an intronless gene. We found an intronless pseudogene of PIGC, PIGCP1, and mapped it to chromosome 11p12-p13. The presence of a processed pseudogene is a common feature of PIGA, PIGF, and PIGC.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Structure, expression, and chromosomal localization of human GAK.

We previously cloned a rat cDNA encoding GAK, an association partner of cyclin G and CDK5. Here, we report the cloning of a cDNA encoding human GAK (1311 amino acids) and show that all of the unique motifs that characterize rat GAK, such as the presence of a Ser/Thr kinase domain, a tensin/auxilin homologous domain, and a Tyr phosphorylation target site, are conserved. The expression profiles of GAK and cyclin G during the synchronized HeLa cell cycle showed that GAK expression oscillates slightly, peaking at G1 phase, although the histone H1 kinase activity remains constant throughout the cell cycle. We also found that the kinase activity of immunoprecipitates of anti-cyclin G antibody fluctuates during the cell cycle with a peak at G1 phase, although the expression level of cyclin G remains almost constant. Northern blot analysis showed that GAK is expressed ubiquitously, with the highest level of expression being observed in the testis. By the FISH technique, we assigned the chromosomal localization of GAK to 4p16.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Prothoracicotropic hormone-producing neurosecretory cells in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, express a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.

Using an anti-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antibody and an anti-prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) antibody, double immunofluorescence staining was performed on brain sections of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Four pairs of dorsolateral neurosecretory cells, along with some intercerebral neurosecretory cells, were immunoreactive to anti-mAChR antibody. Among these immunoreactive cells, two pairs of dorsolateral neurosecretory cells were identified to be PTTH-producing neurosecretory cells. Nerve fibers in the median and paramedian protocerebral areas, and nerve terminals in the corpus allatum also showed immunoreactivity to the anti-mAChR antibody. Some of these nerve terminals expressing mAChRs were overlapped by immunostaining with the anti-PTTH antibody. These results indicated that PTTH-producing neurosecretory cells of Bombyx mori expressed an mAChR, and that muscarinic, cholinergic transmission might directly regulate PTTH release from neurosecretory cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cloning and characterization of the rat p130, a member of the retinoblastoma gene family.

A cDNA clone encoding rat p130, a member of the retinoblastoma (Rb) gene family, was isolated based on the sequence homology of the E1A-binding domain. The 4.87 kb cDNA contained an 1135-amino acid open reading frame with high homologies to the human and mouse p130 and a partial homology to the pRb protein. p130 showed difference in distribution of potential phosphorylation sites from pRb in the N-terminal and the B pocket regions. p130 mRNA was detected in most rat tissues. The p130 gene was mapped to rat chromosome 19p11-13 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Expression, nuclear localization and interactions of human MCM/P1 proteins.

We report here the comparative analysis of human Mcm/P1 proteins (HsMcm2, -3, -5 and -7), including a characterization of their mutual interactions, cell cycle dependent expression and nuclear localization during the cell cycle and the quiescent state. The mRNA levels of these genes, which undergo cell cycle dependent oscillations with a peak at G1/S phase, may be regulated by E2F motifs, two of which were detected in the 5' upstream region of the HsMCM5 gene. In contrast, the protein levels of these Mcm proteins were found to remain rather constant during the HeLa cell cycle. However, their levels gradually increased in a variable manner as KD cells progressed from GO into the G1/S phase. In the GO stage, the amounts of HsMcm2 and -5 proteins were much lower than those of HsMcm7 and -3 proteins, suggesting that they are not present in stoichiometric amounts, and that only a proportion of these molecules actively participate in cell cycle regulation as part of Mcm/P1 complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Anti-tumor mechanisms of 3'-ethynyluridine and 3'-ethynylcytidine as RNA synthesis inhibitors: development and characterization of 3'-ethynyluridine-resistant cells.

To discover the mechanisms of anti-tumor action of 3'-ethynyluridine (EUrd) and 3'-ethynylcytidine (ECyd), we established an EUrd-resistant variant from human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. The cells were cross-resistant to ECyd. Uridine/cytidine kinase activity diminished in the resistant cells. The incorporation of EUrd and ECyd into the RNA fraction in the resistant cells was less than that of the parental cells. EUrd-triphosphate inhibited RNA synthesis by human RNA polymerase II. The results led us to conclude that EUrd and ECyd are phosphorylated by uridine/cytidine kinase to 5'-triphosphates, and that their triphosphates might inhibit RNA polymerase.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗