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Biomedical subjects

Y Ichikawa

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ichikawa.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Clinical trial of ambroxol (Mucosolvan) in Sjögren's syndrome.

A clinical trial is described in which twelve patients with Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) were given a dose of 135 mg ambroxol (Mucosolvan) daily for eight weeks. Nine of the patients completed the trial. Three patients dropped out because they developed side effects (generalized rashes in two patients and stomatitis in one). The side effects, however, were mild and cleared off after cessation of treatment. Ambroxol improved sicca symptoms, especially ocular symptoms, in the SS patients, although lacrimal and salivary gland functions measured by Schirmer test or gum test were not changed. Furthermore, the treatment did not alter any chemical findings determined in the stimulated tear and saliva. Our results suggest that ambroxol is useful for the management of sicca symptoms in some patients with SS.

Adult↗

Determination of 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) in urine by liquid chromatography with ion-paired solid-phase extraction and electrochemical detection.

This highly specific and sensitive method for measuring urinary 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) involves liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Before chromatography, urine samples are prepared by ion-paired solid-phase extraction on a disposable octadecylsilica column with acidic methanol solution containing 1-heptanesulfonic acid. This enhances the specificity of the method. Mean overall recovery ranged from 97.1% to 99.5% at added MBOCA concentrations of 20 and 100 micrograms/L in urine. Sensitivity for urine was 1 microgram/L. The intra-assay CV was 2.2% at a MBOCA concentration of 100 micrograms/L. We believe that this method is acceptable for routine measurement of MBOCA in urine from individuals exposed to this industrial chemical.

Benzhydryl Compounds↗

[Operations during a 5-year period (1982-1986) at our department].

The statistics of urological operations performed at our department between Jan., 1, 1982 and Dec., 31, 1986 were reviewed. During the 5 year period, 2331 patients were admitted to our hospital and 2192 urological operations were performed on 1834 patients. These statistics were compared with earlier statistics for two periods (1972-1976 and 1977-1981) and the recent trend of urological operations was investigated. With regard to operated organ, operations on the kidney were the most frequent followed by those on the urinary bladder. Operations on the ureter decreased during the recent 5 year period and they were the fourth most frequent following those on the scrotum, scrotal contents and penis. Operations on the adrenal gland, retroperitoneal space and parathyroid gland have gradually increased. As in the former report, transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) was the most frequent and nephrectomy, TUR of prostate (TUR-P) and renal allotransplantation have followed. TUR-Bt and TUR-P have increased more and more and due to the introduction of percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and transureteral lithotripsy, open surgery for urolithiasis has greatly decreased. Endourological operations will still be on the increase.

Female↗

[Clinical assessment of body hair growth in Japanese women. The relationship between a grade of hirsutism and the menstrual status].

Three hundred and sixty-nine volunteer women and 308 outpatients were studied to clarify the criteria of hirsutism and the relationship between a grade of hirsutism and menstrual status in Japanese women. The body hair growth was assessed according to the modified score system described by Ferriman and Gallway. The menstrual status was classified into six groups based on basal body temperature. The hair growth score calculated in volunteers tended to be lower than that of western women in most sites. Therefore one criterion of hirsutism in Japanese women should be a score of more than 6 points in our system. There was a close correlation between body hair growth and menstrual status. As a result, it can be considered that the systematic assessment of body hair growth is useful in diagnosing and treating some irregular menstrual patients.

Adolescent↗

Prospective studies on the progress of sicca symptoms in Sjögren's syndrome: subclinical disease develops into the clinical syndrome.

We evaluated prospectively twenty-two subjective sicca features in seventeen patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) including six patients with primary SS twice at a six-year interval. In the second evaluation in 1986, the frequency of sicca symptoms was increased for most items, and the mean number of positive symptoms was also increased in the patients compared with the results in 1980. In the first evaluation, three patients lacked any sicca symptoms, and were considered as subclinical SS. Sicca symptoms developed in all three of these patients later. A positive correlation between the number of sicca symptoms and the patients' age was also reconfirmed by the present study. Changes in sicca symptoms between the two evaluations were not correlated with objective findings of exocrine gland involvement determined at the time of diagnosis of SS. The lacrimal or salivary secretion and sialographic findings determined serially were relatively stable during whole observation period, except in some patients. The results indicate that both the symptoms and objective findings of glandular involvement progress very slowly in SS, although patients with subclinical disease eventually develop clinical SS.

Adult↗

Thermoluminescence dosimetry of gamma rays from the atomic bomb at Hiroshima using the predose technique.

Thermoluminescence dosimetry measurements of gamma rays produced by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima were made by the predose technique using eight ceramic samples collected from five buildings located at distances between 1271 and 2051 m from the hypocenter. The results of our measurements are compared to both the newer dose estimates (Dosimetry System 1986) and older dose estimates (Tentative 1965 Doses) for survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. In comparison with the older estimates, our results are larger by a factor of 2.3 at 1271 m and 3.9 at 2051 m. Our results and the newer estimates for Hiroshima differ by a factor of only 1.14 +/- 0.16 on the average.

Ceramics↗

Existence of multiple forms of cytochrome P-450scc purified from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria.

Three fractions of cytochrome P-450scc (denoted as fractions a, b, and c) were purified by a new procedure from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria. The amino-acid content analyses of these three fractions showed no difference. NH2-terminal amino-acid sequences of cytochrome P-450scc fractions, a and b agreed completely with the sequence deduced by nucleotide sequence of cDNA of cytochrome P-450scc mRNA (Morohashi, K., Fujii-Kuriyama, Y., Okada, Y., Sogawa, K., Hirose, T., Inayama, S. and Omura, T. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 4647-4651), whereas the sequence of fraction c showed a missing of isoleucine at the NH2-terminal. COOH-terminal ámino-acid sequences of fractions a, b and c were -Gln-Ala-COOH, identical with the deduced sequence from the cDNA. Measurements of the enzymatic activities of cholesterol side-chain cleavage reaction revealed no distinct difference among these three fractions. Although each of these fractions appeared as a single protein staining band upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, these fractions showed heterogeneities upon two-dimensional electrophoresis and chromatofocusing. Fraction a contained the major form of cytochrome P-450scc, and its isoelectric point was estimated to be pH 7.8 by isoelectric focusing under both native and denatured conditions, and this value was confirmed by chromatofocusing. Neither of the carbohydrate-specific stainings (such as periodic acid-Schiff staining and lectin-peroxidase stainings using concanavalin A, wheat-germ agglutinin, and soybean agglutinin) of purified cytochrome P-450scc fractions after the electrophoretic resolution on SDS-polyacrylamide gel could show cytochrome P-450scc fractions as glycoproteins, suggesting that the heterogeneities were not due to the glycosylation state.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Influence of heme-surrounding amino acid residues on the manganese (V)-nitrido bond in manganese-substituted hemoproteins: resonance Raman evidence for porphyrin core expansion and reduction of the manganese(V)-nitrido stretching force constant.

Nitridomanganese(V) protoporphyrin IX was prepared by hypochlorite oxidation of the corresponding manganese(III) protoporphyrin IX derivative in the presence of ammonium ion and by photolysis of the corresponding azidomanganese(III) complex. Myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase containing this novel protoporphyrin derivative were prepared for the first time. These remarkably stable species were examined by electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and resonance Raman spectroscopies. The MnV-N stretching modes of the nitridomanganese(V)-substituted myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase were observed at 1010 and 1003 cm-1, respectively, by resonance Raman spectroscopy, while the MnV-N stretching frequency for nitridomanganese(V) protoporphyrin IX in 0.1 N aqueous NaOH was found at 1046 cm-1. The equilibrium dissociation energies of MnV-N bonds in these complexes were estimated from vibrational overtone spacings by introducing the Morse potential energy function, were found to be around 4.5 eV, and seemed independent of the surroundings of the manganese porphyrin, although its force constant decreased from 7.3 to 6.7 mdyn/A upon incorporation into apoprotein. The porphyrin ring modes of these nitridomanganese(V) derivatives were influenced greatly upon incorporation into apoproteins, suggestive of the occurrence of porphyrin core expansion. Upon this core expansion the MnV center moves into the mean plane of porphyrin plane, but the access of nitrido (N) toward MnV is restricted due to a steric hindrance from porphyrin pyrrole nitrogens. The resulting stretched MnV-N bond might cause lowering of the MnV-N stretching frequency upon incorporation into apoprotein.

Binding Sites↗

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of ferrous cytochrome P-450scc-nitric oxide complexes: effects of cholesterol and its analogues.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of nitric oxide (NO) complexes of ferrous cytochrome P-450scc were measured at 77 K for the first time without using the rapid-mixing and freeze-quenching technique. Without substrate the EPR spectra were very similar to those of cytochrome P-450cam (from Pseudomonas putida) and cytochrome P-450LM (from rat liver microsomes) with rhombic symmetry; gx = 2.071, gz = 2.001, gy = 1.962, and Az = 2.2 mT for 14NO complexes. Upon addition of substrates [such as cholesterol, 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol, 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, and 22-ketocholesterol], the EPR spectra exhibited many variations having rhombic symmetry in the major component and an additional minor component with less rhombic symmetry. Furthermore, addition of 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol caused a striking change in the EPR spectrum. The component with rhombic symmetry disappeared completely, and the component with less rhombic symmetry dominated (gx = 2.027, gz = 2.007, gy = 1.984, and Az = 1.76 mT for 14NO complexes). These observations suggest the existence of the following physiologically important natures: (1) the conformational flexibility of the active site of the enzyme due to the steric interaction between the substrate and the heme-bound ligand molecule and (2) the importance of the hydroxylation of the cholesterol side chain at the 20S position to proceed the side-chain cleavage reaction in cytochrome P-450scc.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Effects of cholesterol analogues and inhibitors on the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450scc: a resonance Raman study.

Interactions of cholesterol analogues and inhibitors with the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450scc were examined by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of ferric cytochrome P-450scc complexed with inhibitors such as cyanide, phenyl isocyanide, aminoglutethimide, and metyrapone were characteristic of low-spin state and were very similar. However, the effect of exchange of the sixth ligand from the oxygen atom (ferric low-spin state) to the nitrogen atom upon aminoglutethimide and metyrapone binding was seen as down-frequency shifts of the v3 band from 1503 to 1501 and 1502 cm-1, respectively, while cyanide and phenyl isocyanide binding caused an up-frequency shift of the v3 band to 1505 cm-1. The effects of cholesterol analogues [22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol, 22-ketocholesterol, 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol, and 25-hydroxycholesterol] on a Fe2+-CO stretching frequency of cytochrome P-450scc in ferrous CO form were examined. The 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol complex could not give a clear Fe2+-CO stretching Raman band due to a strong photodissociability. 22(S)-Hydroxycholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol complexes gave the Raman bands at 487 and 483 cm-1, respectively, whereas 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol and 22-ketocholesterol complexes gave Fe2+-CO stretching frequencies (478 cm-1) almost identical with that without substrate (477 cm-1). These findings suggest the existence of the following physiologically important natures of the cytochrome P-450scc active site: (1) there is a strong steric interaction between heme-bound carbon monoxide and the 22(R)-hydroxyl group or the 22(R)-hydrogen of the steroid side chain and (2) the hydroxylation at the 20S position may cause a conformational change of the side-chain group relative to the heme.

Adrenal Cortex↗

The urinary excretion of frusemide and its metabolites by kidney transplant patients.

Urine from 5 renal transplant recipients treated with frusemide was analyzed for unchanged frusemide (F), glucuronidated frusemide (G) and 4-chloro-5-sulfamoylanthranilic acid (CSA) by HPLC. In 3 recipients, whose renal function recovered steadily and whose hepatic function was normal throughout, the ratio of frusemide to its metabolites, F/(F + G + CSA), increased steadily in conjunction with the recovery of renal function. In one patient, who received frusemide 200-400 mg/day i.v., the urinary CSA concentration was 64-102 micrograms X ml-1. In 2 patients who experienced shock and/or hepatic dysfunction after transplantation, the F/(F + G + CSA) ratio fluctuated.

Adult↗

Lysis of autologous tumor cells by peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with interleukin 2 in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes derived from patients with renal cell carcinoma were stimulated with interleukin 2 and tested in a 4-hour 51chromium-release cytotoxicity assay against autologous cultured tumor and myeloid K562 cells. Of 23 patients autologous tumor lysis of more than 0 per cent was observed in 20 (range 5.3 to 82.8 per cent) and more than 10 per cent lysis was noted in 16. Since no significant correlation between the degree of cytotoxicity and the pathological findings of tumor stage, grade, cell type or lymphocyte infiltration in the tumor was found, it was impossible to predict from the pathological findings which tumor could be lysed by peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with interleukin 2. Comparison of natural killer cell activity against K562 of freshly prepared peripheral blood lymphocytes to that of interleukin 2-treated lymphocytes revealed significant augmentation from 23.6 +/- 9.7 to 65.2 +/- 29.1 per cent. From the kinetics study the lysis of autologous tumor cells was detectable on day 2 of interleukin 2 exposure and the peak activity was observed on day 5. A similar trend was noted in regard to K562 cell lysis. Measurements of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies and argon ion laser flow cytometry resulted in a significant decrease of cells positive for OKT 4 (helper/inducer) and a significant increase of cells positive for OKT 8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) and Leu 7 (natural killer) by interleukin 2 treatment. A cold target cell inhibition test was performed in 2 patients with unlabeled autologous tumor and K562 cells as cold inhibitors. In 1 patient unlabeled K562 completely inhibited the tumor lysis but in 1 complete inhibition by autologous tumor and incomplete blockade by K562 were found. From this observation we concluded that peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with interleukin 2 lysed not only autologous tumor cells but also K562. Our results demonstrate that adoptive immunotherapy with peripheral blood lymphocytes activated by interleukin 2 in patients with renal cell carcinoma could be appropriate as a therapeutic procedure.

Adult↗

Characterization of "abp38" in cytoskeleton of mouse myeloid leukemia cells and distribution of abp38 in various tissues.

A specific antibody was prepared against "abp38," a 38 kDa-dimer protein purified from mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1 cells), that induce gelation of actin filaments in a K+-dependent manner. Immunochemically, the total content of abp38 in undifferentiated M1 cells was found to be 0.89% of the total protein (10.7 micrograms/10(7) cells). This content increased about 8-fold (89.5 micrograms/10(7) cells) after the M1 cells had differentiated into macrophages. When the cells before differentiation were extracted with Triton solution containing 150 mM KCl, almost all abp38 in the cytoskeleton was removed, whereas in cells after differentiation, amount of abp38 remaining in the cytoskeleton was 4.5 micrograms per 10(7) cells. The amount of cytoskeleton-bound abp38 of M1 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages decreased with increase in K+ concentration in the extraction solution. Immunoreactive molecules against abp38 antibody were present in various tissues and cultured cell lines except for skeletal muscle and erythrocytes. Furthermore, actin binding protein with a molecular size of 38 kDa was found in bovine brain. These data suggest that abp38 is a ubiquitous protein present in various tissues and species.

Amino Acids↗