Positive correlation between coronary arterial remodelling and prodromal angina in acute myocardial infarction.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Kobayashi.
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The natriuretic peptide (NP) family is composed of three members: atrial, brain/ventricular and C-type NPs (ANP, BNP/VNP and CNP respectively) in tetrapods and teleostean fish, but only CNP in elasmobranch fish. In order to trace the process of divergence of the NP family in early vertebrate evolution, we attempted to detect NPs in the primitive ray-finned fish, the sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Unexpectedly, we isolated four distinct NP cDNAs from the heart and brain of this chondrostean fish. The single NP from the brain was CNP, as judged from the lack of C-terminal 'tail' sequence extending from the intramolecular ring. Two of the three cardiac NPs were ANP and VNP, as judged by the presence of an amidation signal at its C-terminus (ANP) and a long and conserved C-terminal tail sequence (VNP) respectively. The third cardiac NP was most probably BNP because it possessed all the features characteristic of BNP including: (1) the presence of dibasic amino acids within the intramolecular ring; (2) the presence of AUUUA repeats in the 3'-untranslated region of its mRNA; (3) equivalent expression of its mRNA in the atrium and ventricle and appreciable expression in the brain. Based on the sturgeon BNP sequence, we further isolated BNP cDNA from the heart of tilapia and pufferfish for the first time in teleostean fish. Phylogenetic analysis of the precursors showed that newly identified NPs belong to each group of the four NPs. The current identification of both VNP and BNP in the sturgeon clearly showed that BNP and VNP are coded by distinct genes, and that the NP family consists of at least four members in the ray-finned fish. VNP has not been molecularly identified in mammals but its presence is suggested from physiological studies; heterologous fish VNP exhibited more potent vasorelaxant activity than homologous mammalian ANP in the isolated coronary artery of dogs.
Changes in plasma concentrations of GH and insulin in response to feeding and stimulation with GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) or GH-releasing peptide (GHRP-6, a ligand for endogenous GH secretagogue receptors) were compared between 3-week-old (milk-fed) and 12-week-old (concentrate and hay-fed) calves. Feeding of a milk-replacer diet in 3-week-old animals significantly increased the basal (prefeeding) concentrations of GH, insulin and glucose in plasma, whereas feeding of concentrate and hay in 12-week-old animals did not cause a significant change in these traits. However, in the animals maintained on a milk-replacer diet until 12 weeks of age, postprandial plasma GH concentrations and AUC (area under the curve) were not different from those in the age-matched weaned group. The venous injection of either GHRH (0.25 microg/kg) or GHRP-6 (2.5 microg/kg) significantly increased plasma GH concentrations in both 3- and 12-week-old animals, but GH AUC was significantly greater in 3-week-old than in 12-week-old animals. Insulin concentration was transiently but significantly increased by the injection of GHRP-6 only in 12-week-old animals, the AUC being greater in 12-week-old than 3-week-old animals. From these results, we conclude that postprandial levels of plasma GH and insulin concentrations are altered after weaning and by aging, and that the quality of diets or development of the neuroendocrine functions in the digestive-pituitary system may be involved in this alteration.
The somatotropic axis, consisting of growth hormone (GH), GH receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF binding proteins (IGFBP), and IGF receptors, controls growth and mammary development in heifers. Manipulation of the axis with recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) improves heifer growth and reduces age at first calving. The effects of rbST are influenced by dietary energy through partially understood mechanisms. The objective was to characterize the somatotropic axis in Holstein heifers fed a diet for either low or high rate of gain and treated with or without rbST. Heifers (120 d of age) were assigned to one of 2 diets to gain either 0.8 kg/d (low, n = 18) or 1.2 kg/d (high, n = 20). Within each diet, half of the heifers (n = 9 for low and n = 10 for high) received daily rbST injections (25 microg/kg of body weight). Treatments and diets continued until slaughter (2 mo after puberty). Blood was collected 2x per week, and a frequent sampling window was performed 1 d before slaughter. Liver was collected at slaughter. Feeding a high diet or treating with rbST increased serum IGF-I and decreased serum IGFBP-2. The observed changes in serum IGF-I and IGFBP-2 were reflected in their respective liver mRNA amounts. Feeding a high diet decreased serum GH concentrations after rbST injection, but the stimulatory effect of rbST on serum IGF-I was nonetheless greater in high-diet heifers. The differential IGF-I response may be explained by greater GHR 1A in the liver of high-diet heifers. We conclude that a high-gain diet modifies the somatotropic axis in rbST-treated heifers by decreasing serum GH but increasing serum IGF-I after rbST treatment. Greater IGF-I (indicative of an increased GH response) may be a consequence of greater GHR 1A expression in the liver.
Mammary epithelial cells have recently been shown to express and secrete leptin into milk and to accumulate triacylglycerol (TAG) in cytosol. We examined the effects on the accumulation of cytosolic TAG of free fatty acid addition to the medium bathing bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEC). Both saturated (palmitic and stearic) and unsaturated (oleic and linoleic) fatty acids stimulated the accumulation of TAG in a concentration-dependent manner from 50 to 400 microM and the expression of mRNA expression for CD36, which is involved in the uptake and secretion of long-chain fatty acids. However, leptin mRNA expression and lipid droplet formation were significantly increased only by the addition of unsaturated, but not saturated, fatty acids. Interestingly, both types of fatty acids stimulated alphas1-casein mRNA expression. These data suggest that the expression of leptin is related to droplet formation, whereas CD36 is related to cytosolic TAG accumulation, and that fatty acids or cytosolic TAG accumulation also have a role to accelerate differentiation of bMEC as shown by casein synthesis.
Mitral regurgitation (MR) due to only punched out lesion is extremely rare in infective endocarditis. A 31-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to unusual cause of MR. Echocardiography showed MR due to punched out lesion of the mitral anterior leaflet, which is extremely rare. A round shape punched out lesion (about 16 mm in size) was found intraoperatively in the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The surface around the punched out lesion was smooth, and the leaflet displayed good movability. Neither vegetation nor calcification was found. Punched out lesion was successfully closed with autologous pericardial patch and annuloplasty was performed.
A 17-year-old woman with scimitar syndrome without an atrial septal defect was operated by intra-cardiac conduit repair. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed resolution images of anatomical findings of scimitar vein. Surgical procedures for the scimitar syndrome have varied according to the anatomic features presented in each case. The detection of precise anatomy of scimitar syndrome is important for determining the appropriate surgical procedure. Images of 3-dimensional (3-D) CT and MRI of scimitar syndrome were demonstrated.
The combination of abdominal aortic aneurysms and congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava and its tributaries, such as double inferior vena cava, left-sided inferior vena cava, circumaortic renal collar, and retroaortic renal vein, are very rare but of clinical importance to vascular surgeons since these conditions can increase the difficulty of aneurysm resection as well as the risk of venous injury and subsequent excessive bleeding. This report describes a case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a left-sided inferior vena cava, and reviews of the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions.
The possibility of 5-aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) for liver cancer was investigated using a chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model. Endogenously synthesised protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) following the administration of ALA is an effective photosensitiser for PDT. We determined the fluorescence intensity of PpIX in HCC and nontumoral tissue in the liver. 5-Aminolaevulinic acid was intravenously injected to male Fisher rats with HCC at a dose of 500 mg x kg(-1), and the fluorescence intensity in each tissue sample excised from liver was measured with a spectrofluorometer at 1, 3 and 6 h after administration. Fluorescence intensity was at a peak of 3 h after administration in both HCC and nontumoral tissue. The accumulation of PpIX in HCC was higher than that in the nontumoral tissue at 1 h (P<0.001) and 3 h (P<0.05) after ALA administration. Based on these results, PDT was performed on HCC at 3 h after 500 mg x kg(-1) ALA administration before laser irradiation of 30 J per tumour. Antitumour effect was more evident in HCC than in the nontumoral tissue surrounding HCC. These findings suggest the possibility to detect HCC by fluorescence and to treat HCC by light.
BACKGROUND: It is technically difficult to puncture deep-seated hepatic tumors by conventional laparoscopic ultrasonography with a linear-array probe. We have developed a laparoscopic ultrasonography system with a convex-array probe. METHODS: The laparoscopic system used had a fixed forward-viewing convex-array transducer, and a guide groove for puncture was added to the back of the unit. These characteristics enabled us to continuously monitor the position of the needle tip on the ultrasonographic image immediately after puncturing on the liver surface. We attempted tumor puncture in 11 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma under a new probe guidance. RESULTS: The mean puncturing distance up to the tumors was 38.7 mm. All punctures were successful on the first pass and the tumors were treated with radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSION: Using this new equipment, puncturing hepatic tumors for treatment is relatively easy, irrespective of the position of the tumor.
The expression of the messenger RNA of interleukin-12 (IL-12), interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 was examined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood lymphocytes of calves that were orally inoculated with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. In all of the calves, gene expression of interleukin-12, interleukin-6, and interferon-gamma was observed at delivery and this expression was repressed within the next 24h. In calves inoculated with C. parvum, mRNA expression of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma was noticed on day 3 post-inoculation (p.i.) and increased in the convalescent phase of the infection, whereas in non-inoculated calves no mRNA expression was detectable up to the end of the experiment. No mRNA expression of interleukin-4 or 6 was detected during the experiment. Our observations suggest that systemic Th1 type immune responses are induced in calves infected with C. parvum and may be available for evaluation of the control of the infection.
Soluble antigens exist in the bile of rabbits infected with Eimeria stiedai (E. stiedai) in the acute phase, and rabbits immunized with the antigens show resistance against the infection. In this study, the liver function of rabbits immunized either with the soluble antigens or PBS were examined following the parasite challenge. Rabbits immunized with PBS shed a number of oocysts and showed an increase in r-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity and a decrease in blood Indocyanine green (ICG) clearance. However, rabbits immunized with the soluble antigens shed a lower number of oocysts and showed a transient increase of alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) activity on Day 8 post-challenge (p.c.). The blood Indocyanine green clearance of the rabbits showed no change throughout the experiment. By histopathological observation of the liver, a number of merozoites were found in the biliary ducts on Day 8 post-challenge in the non-immunized rabbits. In contrast, a number of lymphocytes and neutrophilic leukocytes assembled around the biliary ducts of the immunized rabbits, but few parasites were found there on Day 8 post-challenge. These results suggest that the soluble antigens stimulate local immune reactions, for example around the biliary ducts, resulting in elimination of the parasite's development.
This paper is a report on the successful application of bioinformatics to enzyme screening. The synthesis of ethyl ( S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate (ECHB) by asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate (ECAA) using fabG-homologues was studied. beta-Ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductases from both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, which are components of type II fatty acid synthase, could reduce ECAA to ( S)-ECHB with 94-98% ee. Furthermore, acetoacetyl-CoA reductases (ARs) from both Ralstonia eutropha and Zoogloea ramigera, whose genes are significantly similar to fabG genes and play a physiological role in the biosynthesis of poly-beta-3-hydroxybutyrate, could also catalyze the asymmetric reduction of ECAA to ( S)-ECHB with >99% ee. ( S)-ECHB was synthesized to 48.7 g/l with an optical purity of 99.8% ee, using recombinant E. coli cells coexpressing AR from R. eutropha and glucose dehydrogenase from B. subtilis for the regeneration of NADPH.
SUMMARY: G-language Genome Analysis Environment (G-language GAE) is an open source generic software package aimed for higher efficiency in bioinformatics analysis. G-language GAE has an interface as a set of Perl libraries for software development, and a graphical user interface for easy manipulation. Both Windows and Linux versions are available. AVAILABILITY: From http://www.g-language.org/ under GNU General Public License. CD-ROMs are distributed freely in major conferences.
AIMS: The FHIT gene is located at 3p14.2 a region frequently lost in multiple tumour types. Loss of FHIT expression has been found to occur frequently in multiple tumour types. We wished to investigate that FHIT mRNA levels in a series of thymomas. METHODS: Expression of FHIT messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a LightCycler in 49 thymomas and 11 adjacent histologically normal thymus samples from patients. RESULTS: FHIT transcripts in tumour samples (28.6+/-35.8) at levels significantly lower than those in normal thymus samples (573.9+/-1028.0, p=0.001). No relationship was seen between FHIT gene expression and age, gender, or pathological thymoma subtypes. FHIT mRNA expression in invasive thymomas (stage II-IV, 34.5+/-39.2) was significantly higher than that in stage I thymomas (20.7+/-29.7, p=0.01). Immunohistochemistry showed that p21 protein positive thymoma had a tendency towards higher FHIT gene expression than in p21 negative thymoma. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased FHIT expression might be seen in early stage thymoma, suggesting that loss of FHIT expression may associate with tumorigenesis of thymoma.
The effects of acetate and butyrate on leptin and leptin receptor (OB-R) expression in bovine and rat anterior pituitary were examined. In bovine tissues, leptin gene expression using RT-PCR was observed in fat and anterior pituitary but not in liver. Isolated anterior pituitary cells cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) for 3 days were further cultured for 48 h in DMEM containing 10 mM acetate or butyrate or without any fatty acids as control. Western blot analysis revealed that the abundance of leptin protein was greater in the presence of acetate and butyrate than that for the control culture. Leptin abundance was increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in bovine anterior pituitary cells. However, leptin expression in rat cells, of which the basal level was much greater than that in ovine cells, was significantly decreased by the culture with butyrate. In addition, we studied the effects of both fatty acids on OB-R mRNA expression using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that butyrate significantly decreased the expression in both bovine and rat cells. These findings indicate that acetate and butyrate enhance leptin expression in bovine, but not in rat anterior pituitary cells while butyrate suppresses OB-Ra expression in both rat and bovine pituitaries.