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Biomedical subjects

Y Kuroda

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kuroda.

At least 829 records · Page 46Linked to original sources

[A case report of nasal infestation by the leech, Dinobdella ferox].

A 55-year-old man in Okagaki Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, pulled a nasal leech from his nostril in July 1987, after suffering from nosebleed, copious running snivels as well as unpleasant foreign body sensation in the nasal cavity. Except for nasal septum deviation, no abnormality in the ears and mouth cavity nor bleeding, ulcerous and erosive changes in the nasal cavity were found. The formalin-fixed specimen of the leech was nearly black with no definite stripes or spots, and measured 3.5 cm in length and 1.2 cm in width. Because of these and the following characteristics, viz. 1) auricles on the posterior segment were absent, 2) five pairs of eyes were present in the anterior segments with the eye pairs 3 and 4 separated by an annulus, and 3) teeth were not observed, this specimen was identified as Dinobdella ferox. This nasal leech is found widely in Southeast Asia. In Japan, some human cases of its infestation have also been reported, mainly from southern Kyushu. The leech seemed to have entered the nasal passage of the present case from a stream at a hot spring in northern Kyushu. Attention should be given to nasal leech infestation especially now that many people in Japan are eager to visit isolated hot spring resorts.

Animals↗

Antibodies against viral proteins can be produced effectively in response to the increased uptake of alpha 2-macroglobulin:viral protein conjugate by macrophages.

We have previously shown that foreign antigens conjugated to alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) were effectively taken up by macrophages, which was followed by a remarkable increase in the proliferation of immune T cells. We present in this report that the production of antibodies against viral proteins can also be effectively achieved when viral proteins were conjugated to alpha 2M and fed to the in vitro immune system. Proteins derived from Kirstein murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MSV) were partially purified by gel chromatography and conjugated to alpha 2M by the action of proteinases. Viral proteins conjugated to alpha 2M were taken up by thioglycolate-induced murine peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) more effectively than the free viral proteins. Murine spleen cells were then added to PECs fed with free viral proteins or with alpha 2M: viral protein conjugates, and the cell mixtures were incubated for five days. Each culture medium was then assayed for a specific antibody production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Figures based on such assays revealed that the production of antibodies against viral proteins was ten times higher when the proteins were fed to macrophages in conjugated forms with alpha 2M.

Animals↗

Clinical picture of HTLV-I associated myelopathy.

Clinical and electrophysiological findings in 16 consecutive cases of HTLV-I associated myelopathy are reported. Symmetric spastic paraparesis associated with only mild hyperreflexia in the arms, clinical and electrophysiological evidence of moderate posterior column involvement at the thoracic level, urinary frequency and urgency associated with the detrusor-urethral sphincter dyssynergia but without systemic autonomic involvement, and absence of the segmental grey matter involvement, all suggest the presence of diffuse lesions of the white matter predominantly involving the thoracic cord. We conclude that HTLV-I associated myelopathy is a chronic diffuse leukomyelitis predominantly involving the thoracic cord.

Adolescent↗

Dopamine 4-sulfate: effects on isolated perfused rat heart and role of atria.

We studied the effects of sulfate conjugate of dopamine on the isolated perfused rat heart (Langendorff preparation). In the experimental group, we removed atria from half number of the hearts. In the hearts with intact atria, dopamine 4-sulfate significantly improved the DT (developed tension), +dT/dt max (maximal rate of contraction), -dT/dt max (maximum rate of relaxation) over baseline values. But when atria were removed, dopamine 4-sulfate had no effect on the mechanical functions of heart. We analysed the effluent perfusate for the free and conjugated catecholamines. In the control group (no drug), and when atria were excised, the free catecholamine levels were negligible. But when the atria were kept intact, the effluent contained significant amount of free dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE). These data suggested that dopamine sulfate had no direct effect on the ventricular muscle of rat heart, but was converted within the atrial tissues into free catecholamines which might be responsible for the positive inotropic actions.

Animals↗

Antimutagenesis by factors affecting DNA repair in bacteria.

The term 'antimutagen' was originally used to describe an agent that reduces the apparent yield of spontaneous and/or induced mutations, regardless of the mechanisms involved. The 'antimutagens' include 'desmutagens' and 'bio-antimutagens'. In this article, our attention was focused on the bio-antimutagens affecting DNA repair in bacteria. Cobaltous chloride reduced the frequency of mutations in Escherichia coli induced by MNNG. The possibility that metal compound inhibits the growth of mutagen-treated cells was examined. The results clearly showed that the antimutagen surely reduces the mutation rate. The target of cobaltous chloride was found to be cellular factors including Rec A. Vanillin and cinnamaldehyde had strong antimutagenic activities against UV, 4NQO and AF-2. They stimulated Rec A-dependent recombination repair functions in the mutagen-treated cells. Among plant materials, tannins possess antimutagenic activity against UV-induced mutations in E. coli. It has been found that tannic acid stimulates the excision repair encoded by the uvrA gene thereby reducing the yield of mutants. Substances which are antimutagenic in bacterial systems also had antimutagenic activity in cultured mammalian cell systems. Vanillin reduced the frequency of mutagen-induced chromosomal aberrations.

Bacteria↗

Effect of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton on interleukin 1 production from mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS) was shown to augment interleukin 1 (IL-1) production from peritoneal resident and exudate macrophages in C3H/HeN mice. The mol. wt of the N-CWS-induced IL-1 product was about 17,000 daltons, which is a similar weight to that obtained by lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The stimulation of IL-1 production by N-CWS was seen as early as 8 h after the start of incubation and peak production was observed at 48 h. Profound effects were seen with 10 micrograms/ml or more of N-CWS. Experiments on the regulation of the N-CWS-augmented IL-1 production showed that prostaglandin E2 inhibited the augmentation, and indomethacin (cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) further augmented it. Leukotriene B4 and AA861 (lipoxygenase inhibitor) had no effect. Our findings suggest that the previously reported adjuvant effect of N-CWS may, in part, be mediated via its ability to stimulate IL-1 production; and that such a stimulation may be blocked by prostaglandins.

Animals↗

Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor as a marker for early detection of rejection in canine pancreas allotransplantation.

Serum pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI)* was measured in the course of canine segmental pancreas allotransplantation without immunosuppression. Serum PSTI concentrations showed two distinct elevations: the first elevation was on the first day and the onset of the second elevation was the sixth day after operation. The first postoperative elevation of the serum PSTI level is thought to be related to the operative procedures, because the first elevation was observed after both autotransplantation and allotransplantation, and biopsies of the autograft and allograft at the first day after the operations showed nonspecific neutrophilic infiltration and no perivascular lymphoid infiltrates. The second postoperative elevation of the serum PSTI level is thought to reflect a rejection process because this elevation was not seen after autotransplantation, and biopsies of allografts at the sixth day after the operation showed typical perivascular lymphoid infiltrates and cellular rejection of the exocrine tissue. In addition, the onset of the second elevation of serum PSTI level preceded by about three days the onset of the elevation of blood sugar at the ninth day after the operation. The results suggest that serum PSTI can be used as a marker for diagnosis of early pancreatic allograft rejection.

Animals↗

Multimodality evoked potentials in HTLV-I associated myelopathy.

Multimodality evoked potentials (EPs) consisting of somatosensory EPs (SEPs), visual EPs (VEPs) and brainstem auditory EPs (BAEPs) were studied in 16 cases with HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM). Median nerve SEPs were normal in all cases. In posterior tibial nerve SEPs, the potential recorded at the 12th thoracic spinal process was normal in every case but cortical components were significantly prolonged in 10 cases, although five of these showed no sensory impairment. BAEPs were normal in every case whose hearing was intact, but VEPs were abnormal in two cases whose visual acuities were normal. The present results in HAM indicate predominant lesion in the thoracic cord, and might also suggest some subclinical lesion in the visual pathway.

Adult↗

Detection of pyruvate metabolism disorders by culture of skin fibroblasts with dichloroacetate.

For use in screening for disorders of pyruvate metabolism, a sensitive assay method was developed for measuring the rate of decarboxylation of [1-14C]pyruvate during in vitro culture of skin fibroblasts with dichloroacetate (DCA). The rate of decarboxylation of [1-14C]pyruvate by skin fibroblasts from control subjects increased from 59.6 +/- 13.2 to 97.3 +/- 12.0 nmol/h/mg protein during in vitro culture in medium supplemented with 10 mM DCA for 3 days. In contrast, the rate hardly increased in cells from four of 20 patients with congenital lactic acidosis of unknown cause during in vitro culture with DCA. On day 3 of culture, the values for the four patients did not overlap those of control cells and so these four patients could be clearly distinguished from control subjects. Measurements of the original activity and the activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex after activation with a broad specificity protein phosphatase and DCA suggested that in three of the patients the aberration was a disorder in the mechanism for activation of PDH, including deficiency of PDH phosphatase or a mutation of PDH itself, whereas that in the fourth patient it might be a disorder of the mitochondrial transport system for pyruvate. Thus, measurement of the rate of decarboxylation of [1-14C]pyruvate by skin fibroblasts cultured in medium supplemented with 10 mM DCA for 3 days is a useful method for screening for disorders of pyruvate metabolism in cultured skin fibroblasts.

Acetates↗

Treatment of essential tremor with arotinolol.

We investigated the effect of arotinolol, a new peripherally acting beta-adrenergic blocker, in 15 patients with essential tremor. The patients received 30 mg per day of arotinolol for 8 weeks. Accelerometer readings showed a significant reduction in amplitude of postural tremor after treatment. Action tremor also improved to essentially the same degree as postural tremor. The present findings support the view that the therapeutic effect of beta-blockers in essential tremor is mediated by peripheral beta-adrenergic receptors.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Evaluation of monoclonal antibody against human pulmonary surfactant apoprotein.

Lung sections of 104 newborn infants stored for 20 to 25 years and of seven cases of paraquat (PQ) intoxication were examined to detect the pulmonary surfactant apoprotein with the monoclonal antibody PE10 by immunoperoxidase staining technique. Specific peroxidase staining was observed in alveolar Type II cells and on alveolar walls of normal adult lungs. In the lungs of liveborn infant up to 28 weeks' gestation, peroxidase staining was negative. However, faint positive staining was observed in a specimen of 29 weeks' gestation, and the rate of positive staining increased with gestational age. Fifteen cases of newborn lungs with hyaline membranes revealed no positive staining except one. In the lungs of stillborn infants, peroxidase staining was weak and the rate of negative staining was more than that of liveborn infants. The specimens of PQ intoxication up to 5 days survival showed positive staining on alveolar walls, while those of 10 days or more survival, in which fibrotic changes and hyaline membranes were developed, showed no positive staining.

Adult↗