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Biomedical subjects

Y Miyake

Publications and source records attributed to Y Miyake.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Effects of bucillamine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine on cytokine production and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

We investigated the effects of bucillamine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on cytokine production and CIA. Bucillamine and NAC inhibited NF-kappaB activation and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA expression in human monocytic leukaemia cell line THP-1, and cytokine production from monocyte cell lines at concentrations >10-3 M. They also inhibited cytokine production and CIA in mice at a dose of 500 mg/kg. These results suggest that NF-kappaB inhibitors such as bucillamine and NAC may inhibit cytokine-related diseases, including arthritis.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1999

Effect of treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors on serum coenzyme Q10 in diabetic patients.

Serum coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10: 2-(3,7,11,15,19,23,27,31,35,39-decamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22,26,30,34 ,38 -tetracontadecaenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, CAS 303-98-0) and cholesterol levels were measured to assess the effect of cholesterol-lowering therapy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Twenty healthy volunteers, 97 NIDDM patients and 2 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia were studied. None had overt heart failure or any other heart disease. Mean serum CoQ10 concentrations were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in diabetic patients with normal serum cholesterol concentrations, either with or without administration of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (HMG-CoA RIs) including simvastatin (normal: 0.91 +/- 0.26 (mean +/- SD) mumol 1(-1); diabetic with HMG-CoA RI: 0.63 +/- 0.19; diabetic without HMG-CoA RI: 0.66 +/- 0.21). CoQ10 concentrations were higher (1.37 +/- 0.48, p < 0.001) in diabetic patients with hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin or low density lipoprotein apheresis decreased serum CoQ10 concentrations along with decreasing serum cholesterol. Oral CoQ10 supplementation in diabetic patients receiving HMG-CoA RI significantly (p < 0.001) increased serum CoQ10 from 0.81 +/- 0.24 to 1.47 +/- 0.44 mumol 1(-1), without affecting cholesterol levels. It significantly (p < 0.03) decreased cardiothoracic ratios from 51.4 +/- 5.1 to 49.2 +/- 4.7%. In conclusion, serum CoQ10 levels in NIDDM patients are decreased and may be associated with subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy reversible by CoQ10 supplementation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Periciliary structure of developing rat photoreceptor cells. A deep etch replica and freeze substitution study.

The purpose of this study is to identify the morphological machinery for selective transport of proteins required in the outer segments of the rat photoreceptor cell. As a first step, the three-dimensional architecture of the periciliary region and its developmental changes were examined. Freeze-deep-etching and freeze-substitution methods combined with rapid freezing technique were used. The apical surface of the inner segment was swollen and partially enclosed the base of the connecting cilium in early postnatal stages, so that the basal region of the connecting cilium was inevitably surrounded by a groove. However, a specialized periciliary ridge complex as seen in frog photoreceptor cells has never been observed in rat photoreceptor cells. The cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane of the apical inner segment in the vicinity of the connecting cilium was covered with loose fine filaments. However, it was unlikely to be a possible structural candidate for selective transport of membrane proteins. This study also revealed the interior structure of the connecting cilium. Actin filaments in the distal axonem formed a complicated meshwork together with an unknown substance. Since S1 decorated filaments were not detected in the middle region of the connecting cilium, actin filaments at the base of outer segment seem to be independently polymerized locally from G-actin that is transported from the inner segment.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and risk factors of behavioral and emotional problems among Chinese children aged 6 through 11 years.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and risk factors of behavioral and emotional problems in Chinese children. METHOD: A sample of 2,940 children aged 6 through 11 years was randomly drawn from household registers in Shandong Province of China. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a structured self-rating questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean CBCL Total Problems score was 16.1 (SD = 14.0). There was no significant age effect on the Total Problems score; boys scored significantly higher than girls (17.2 versus 15.0; F = 24.94, p < .01). The overall prevalence rates of behavioral problems were 12.5% for boys and 8.3% for girls (chi 2 = 14.23, p < .01). Logistic regression analysis showed that a number of parental, prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors were significantly associated with increased risk of children's behavioral problems. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of parent-reported behavioral problems in Chinese children is lower than those found in other countries. Of multiple psychosocial and biological factors associated with children's behavioral problems, separation or divorce of parents is the most significant factor.

Behavioral Symptoms↗
PubMed1999

Age at time of hepatitis Be antibody seroconversion in childhood chronic hepatitis B infection and mutant viral strain detection rates.

BACKGROUND: Investigations of adult patients have demonstrated that with seroconversion, changes occur from wild-type strains of the infecting virus to mutant strains. However, to date, there have been few reports and insufficient investigation of this issue in children. METHODS: The presence or absence of nucleotide base and amino acid sequence mutations in a portion of the X region containing the core promoter region, the pre-C region, and the C region of HBV genomic DNA were investigated using a polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing method on serum samples collected from 14 children who were hepatitis Be antibody (HBeAb)-positive carriers. Samples from three children who were HBe antigen (HBeAg)-positive carriers served as the control subjects. RESULTS: When patients were grouped based on whether they had had documented seroconversion before age 6 or at age 6 or older, differences in mutant viral detection rates involving the core promoter region and the pre-C region were apparent. Specifically, a mutant strain showing a G-to-A substitution at nucleotide 83 in the pre-C region, or a mutant strain showing an A-to-T substitution at nucleotide 1762 and a G-to-A substitution at nucleotide 1764, was detected in only two of eight cases (25%) from the HBeAb-positive carriers with documented seroconversion before age 6. In contrast, these findings were present in six of six patients (100%) with documented seroconversion at age 6 or older. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the mechanism of onset of HBeAb seroconversion differs between children aged less than 6 years and those who are aged 6 or more.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Fluorescein angiography of extreme peripheral retina and rubeosis iridis in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To study the fluorescein angiographic appearance of the extreme peripheral retina in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy with rubeosis iridis. METHODS: Using a modified endoscope, fluorescein angiography was performed prospectively during pars plana vitrectomy on 14 eyes of 12 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy who had or developed postoperative rubeosis. These findings were compared with those obtained from 41 eyes of 35 patients without rubeosis. RESULTS: A fibrovascular ridge was observed at the ora serrata in 11 of 12 eyes (92%) with rubeosis but in only 15 of 35 (43%) eyes without rubeosis. Seven of 12 (58%) eyes with rubeosis showed the continuous type of fibrovascular ridge, whereas only 5 of 35 (14%) eyes without rubeosis showed the continuous type. A broom-shaped continuous fibrovascular ridge was observed only in eyes with rubeosis. CONCLUSIONS: Many eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy showed unusual findings in the extreme retinal periphery, which were more frequent in the eyes with rubeosis iridis. Fluorescein angiography of this region may provide valuable information for possible anterior neovascularization.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

US3 protein kinase of herpes simplex virus type 2 plays a role in protecting corneal epithelial cells from apoptosis in infected mice.

To clarify the biological role of US3 protein kinase of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in vivo, the expression of the viral antigen, the appearance of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation were examined immunohistologically after corneal infection of mice with three different kinds of HSV-2 strain 186: the wild-type virus, a US3-deficient mutant (L1BR1) and its revertant (L1B-11). In both wild-type 186- and L1B-11-infected mice, viral antigen was diffusely found in the corneal epithelium; no apoptotic changes were detected in the epithelial cells. Whereas, in L1BR1-infected mice, HSV-immunoreactivity was localized around the virus-inoculated sites, and a large number of apoptotic bodies were observed in the corneal epithelium with dual-positive reactions for both HSV-immunostaining and TUNEL staining. These results suggest that the US3 protein kinase plays an important role in protecting HSV-2-infected cells from apoptotic death in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Significance of platelet-derived microparticles and activated platelets in diabetic nephropathy.

We measured levels of platelet-derived microparticles (PMP), which have coagulative activity and are produced by platelet activation or physical stimulation, and CD62P/CD63-positive platelets in patients with diabetes mellitus to determine their clinical significance and effects on complications of diabetes including diabetic nephropathy. We also compared these levels before and after administration of the antiplatelet drug cilostazol. Plasma PMP and CD62P/CD63-positive platelet levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus than normal controls. CD62P-positive platelet levels were significantly higher in patients with nephropathy than in patients without complications. After administration of cilostazol, PMP and CD62P/CD63-positive platelet levels were significantly decreased. The increases in platelet activity and its related procoagulant activity appear to account in part for the hypercoagulability observed in diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that activated platelets might play a role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore, antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol for diabetic patients may be useful as antithrombin therapy including antiplatelet therapy, since it suppresses the production of intrinsic coagulants produced by platelet activation.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

Neuronal origin of the transcorneal electrically evoked response in area 17 (primary visual cortex) of cats.

We investigated how the neuronal activity of the cells in area 17 of cats evoked by transcorneal electrical stimuli is associated with the transcorneal electrically evoked response (EER). Neuronal firings were associated with the negative components of the EER, N1 (9 ms latency) and N2 (20 ms latency). Excitation of a longer latency was suppressed and periodic firings were rarely found. These findings indicate that the early negative components of the EER consist of the synaptic activities over the discharge thresholds of cortical cells, and also suggest that inhibition in the visual cortex may affect the EER.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Serum concentration and renal handling of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol in patients with chronic renal failure.

We measured serum and urinary 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5-AG) during a glucose tolerance test (GTT) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and compared the fractional excretion of 1,5-AG (FEAG) with that of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and healthy controls. The mean serum 1,5-AG in CRF patients [60 +/- 23(SE) mumol/L] was significantly lower than in controls (155 +/- 7 mumol/L) in spite of a normal glycaemia. The levels in the CRF group were similar to those in the DM group. During GTT, the blood glucose profile in the CRF group was not significantly different from that of the control group, and urinary glucose excretion was negligible. However, FEAG was significantly higher in CRF patients than in controls. These data suggest that serum 1,5-AG in patients with CRF decreases due to a decrease in 1,5-AG reabsorption, independently of glucose excretion, and that serum and/or urinary 1,5-AG can be a useful marker for renal tubular dysfunction because the 1,5-AG reabsorption system is more vulnerable than the glucose reabsorption system.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

Outcome study of English speaking temporary residents in Japan.

Eighteen factors were examined for their effect on the outcome in 103 English speaking temporary residents who received treatment in Japan for a psychiatric disorder. Two dimensions extracted by multivariate analysis distinguished "premature leave" and "drop out" category respectively. The first "premature leave" dimension was composed of mode of therapy, primary diagnosis, accumulated stay and experience of past stay in Japan. the second "drop out" dimension was composed of mode of therapy and referral source. The treatment outcome was influenced by personal psychiatric data, the social adaptation process and the treatment process.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus ribonucleic acid and anti-hepatitis G virus-E2 antibodies among Japanese children with histories of transfusions or with liver diseases.

To clarify the prevalence of Japanese children thought to be at a risk for infection with GB virus-C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV), we investigated the detection rates of serum GBV-C/ HGV ribonucleic acid (RNA) by reverse transcription-seminested PCR and serum anti-HGV-E2 antibody by ELISA in 162 children with histories of blood or plasma product transfusions or with liver diseases and performed phylogenetic analysis of the 5' noncoding region sequences of GBV-C/HGV genomes. Children with histories of transfusions were divided into those who had been treated with antineoplastic agents for malignant diseases (malignant group) and those who had received transfusions for nonmalignant diseases (nonmalignant group). Children with liver diseases were divided into hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and non-A-C hepatitis groups. We detected GBV-C/ HGV RNA in 11 of 33 (33.3%) and anti-HGV-E2 in 1 of 27 (3.7%) children in the malignant group and in 3 of 56 (5.4%) and 1 of 53 (1.9%) children, respectively, in the nonmalignant group. Neither GBV-C/HGV RNA nor anti-HGV-E2 was detected in the HBV and non-A-C hepatitis groups. GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-HGV-E2 were detected in 7 of 23 (30.4%) and in 1 of 18 (5.6%) children, respectively, in the HCV group. All children positive for either GBV-C/HGV RNA or anti-HGV-E2, except one whose route of GBV-C/HGV infection suggested mother-to-infant transmission, had histories of transfusions. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all isolates in this study were divisible into three groups and that most of them were clustered into group 3 (Asian group).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Effects of isoprothiolane on cell growth of cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of isoprothiolane on cell growth and the production of interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 by bovine mammary epithelial cells in vitro. Isoprothiolane increased proliferation of mammary epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration of 0.05 to 5 microM when cultured either with or without serum-supplemented medium. In contrast, isoprothiolane (0.0005-5 microM) significantly inhibited the production of IL-1 and IL-6 by mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, the cytokines, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha tended to inhibit the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that isoprothiolane regulated mammary epithelial cell growth in vitro possibly by modulating the production of cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Independent-component analysis of skin color image.

The spatial distributions of melanin and hemoglobin in human skin are separated by independent-component analysis of a skin color image. The analysis is based on the skin color model with three assumptions: (1) Spatial variation of color in the skin is caused by two pigments, melanin and hemoglobin; (2) the quantities of the two pigments are mutually independent spatially; and (3) linearity holds among the quantities and the observed color signals in the optical density domain. The results of the separation agree well with physiological knowledge. The separated components are synthesized to simulate the various facial color images by changing the quantities of the two separated pigments.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of a new anti-HCV-assay kit for anti-HCV screening in early childhood.

Sera of 20 children falsely identified as positive for hepatitis C virus antibody (Anti-HCV) by a second generation anti-HCV-assay kit (Imucheck-HCV Ab "Kokusai") were re-tested using a new third generation anti-HCV-assay kit (Imucheck x F-HCV C50 Ab "Kokusai"). Seventeen of the samples were reclassified as negative and only three remained positive. Changing well solids in the anti-HCV-assay kit from casein to bovine serum albumin appears to have improved the false-positive rate, most likely as a result of decreased non-specific adsorption of casein antibodies.

Animals↗