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Biomedical subjects

Y Nara

Publications and source records attributed to Y Nara.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

International cooperative study on the relationship between dietary factors and blood pressure: a report from the Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study.

To investigate the epidemiological relationship of dietary factors to blood pressure (BP) and major cardiovascular diseases, we carried out the International Cooperative Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study, which so far involves 45 centers in 20 countries. From each population, 100 men and 100 women aged 50-54 years were randomly selected for BP measurement, 24-h urine collection, and blood test. Various biological markers of diets from urine and blood were analyzed centrally in the Izumo CARDIAC center. In within-center multiple regression analyses, body mass index (BMI) was strongly positively and independently associated with BP. Urine magnesium (Mg) excretion was negatively and independently associated with BP. In cross-center simple regression analyses, systolic and diastolic BP showed significant correlations with BMI (p less than 0.01) and 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion (p less than 0.005) in men and significant inverse correlations with urinary 3-methylhistidine (3-MH) divided by creatinine (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.005, respectively) in men, and were inversely correlated with urinary Mg in women (p less than 0.05). Therefore, Na and BMI adversely affect BP, whereas animal protein and Mg intakes may have beneficial influence on BP.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Blood pressure levels in the elderly with or without nutritional intervention.

Blood pressure (BP) examination and urine analyses for the assessment of dietary Na, K, and protein intakes were carried out according to the standardized methods for the World Health Organization Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison Study in aged people with or without a longlasting nutritional intervention. Nutritional intervention to reduce salt intake and increase K and protein intakes was effective for BP reduction even in aged people over 65 years.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Trends of diet and blood pressure in Guangzhou, South China.

As part of the International Cooperative Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CAR-DIAC) Study surveys to determine the relationship of dietary factors to blood pressure were carried out in 1985 (pilot study) and 1989 (core study). Thirteen men and 16 women, and 102 men and 115 women aged 50-54 in the rural population of Panyu county in Guangzhou were randomly selected for the pilot and core studies, respectively. Blood pressure was measured by an automatic system and 24-h urine collection by aliquot cups. All urinary specimens were analyzed in the WHO Collaborating Center (Izumo, Japan). Seven hypertensive cases and 17 borderline cases of hypertension were found in 1989 but none in 1985. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were increased, and the intake of dietary sodium (Na), sodium chloride (NaCl), and the ratio of sodium to potassium (Na/K) were increased markedly. The intake of magnesium (Mg) was decreased in 1989. Correlation analyses showed that body mass index was positively related to SBP and DBP (p less than 0.05), Na and NaCl were positively related only to DBP (p less than 0.05), and Mg was inversely related to SBP but with no statistical significance. These results indicate that trends of rise of prevalence rate of hypertension and mean values of SBP and DBP in association with increased dietary Na and decreased Mg intake may be due to rapid changes in dietary habits, changes in lifestyle, and the differing socioeconomic status in the area and may highlight the importance of dietary factors in the prevention of hypertension.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1990

Possible presence of V1 vasopressin receptor in toad urinary bladder.

The V1 vasopressin receptor antagonist, d(CH2)5Try(Me)AVP, enhanced the vasopressin-stimulated osmotic water flow in the toad bladder and inhibited the vasopressin-induced prostaglandin E2 production at 1 x 10(-9) M. It is well known that prostaglandin E2 inhibits the vasopressin-induced water flow in the toad bladder. These results indicate that the V1 vasopressin receptor is possibly present in the toad urinary bladder.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[The histopathological observation of the salivary gland in hamsters with streptozotocin induced diabetes].

It has been reported that the natural defence mechanisms against bacterial infection decreases in diabetic patients. Saliva and salivary gland have an important role to keep healthy condition in oral cavity. Thus, it is possible that saliva from diabetic subject may influence to a development of dental caries. The purpose of this study is to examine the histopathological changes and excretory function of the salivary glands of hamsters with streptozotocin (SZ) induced diabetes. Male hamsters were provided in this experiment at 8 weeks after a single i.p. injection with a dose of SZ (65 mg/kg b. wt.). The flow rate of saliva was determined by stimulation with pilocarpine (8 mg/kg b. wt.). Three major salivary glands and pancreas were obtained from these animals. No difference between diabetic and non-diabetic animals in the flow rate of saliva and wet weight of submandibular and sublingual gland was observed. Pathological finding of salivary gland was not observed in both of the 2 groups of animals but the wet weight of the parotid gland of diabetic hamsters was heavier than that of the non-diabetic hamsters. Moreover, an enlargement of some acinus cells was observed only in the parotid gland of diabetic hamsters.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Myelodysplastic syndrome with complex chromosome abnormalities and peculiar fibril formation in granulocytes].

We report a case of myelodysplastic syndrome with peculiar fibril formation in granulocytes shown through electron microscope and complex karyotypic abnormalities including ring chromosomes. The patient, a 76-year-old male, was consulted for mild pancytopenia in February 1987. After 5 month, his hematological findings showed severe pancytopenia getting worse rapidly and presence of blasts in the peripheral blood. He had slightly hypercellular marrow with marked trilineage dysplasia and increased number of blasts (12.6%). Chromosome analysis from the bone marrow cells revealed its various structural abnormalities, especially in No. 3, 4, 5, 7, 11 with translocation on 11q11, and large ring chromosomes derived from unknown one. By electron microscopic study, we observed bizarre structures, which was peculiar fibril formation as bundles of filament resembling actin paracrystals, throughout cytoplasm as well as within nucleus in granulocytes.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

The cardiac study in Tanzania: salt intake in the causation and treatment of hypertension.

The acute effects of varying salt intakes on the level of blood pressure in male normotensive volunteers in Tanzania were investigated. The subjects were kept on a diet supplying about 100 g protein, 85 g fat, and 2700 kcal per day. Daily potassium intake was about 50 mmol. The high salt diet increased urinary sodium excretion to 320 mmol/day while the low salt diet reduced sodium excretion to 52 mmol/day. Within 4-5 days there was a significant difference in mean arterial pressure between subjects on a high and a low salt diet. It is concluded that blood pressure in normotensive Tanzanian blacks is sensitive to alterations in salt intake. Although salt intake in Tanzania is relatively low, salt may be important in the causation of hypertension, and a reduction in salt intake may still have a place in the treatment and prevention of hypertension in Tanzania.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1989

Cyclic AMP- and cytochalasin B-induced arborization in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells: its cytopharmacological characterization.

The present study analyzed effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DB-cAMP) and cytochalasin B (CB) on the morphology of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) from rat using phase-contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fluorescence staining of actin filaments by the NBD-phallacidin method. The exposure of SMC to each of these agents led to rapid, extensive, and reversible (within 1-2 h of drug withdrawal) changes in their morphology including cytoplasmic arborization (stellation). The latter was preceded by (i) marginal membrane ruffles (DB-cAMP) and (ii) increased zeiotic activity (CB), which were visible within 20 min of the exposure, followed (30-90 min incubation) by a centripetal retraction of the cytoplasm and progressive development of complete or partial arborization. Further, the effects of substances interfering with the assembly-disassembly of microtubules (colchicine, taxol, lidocaine) on DB-cAMP- and CB-induced arborization were studied. None of these agents antagonized CB-induced morphological changes. Colchicine, but not lumicolchicine, taxol, or lidocaine (in a short-term study) prevented DB-cAMP-induced arborization. Taxol added to cell cultures for 24 h promoted DB-cAMP-induced arborization. Both DB-cAMP and CB resulted in the disintegration of actin filaments. The present data suggest that the arborization of cultured aortic SMC is a cytoskeleton-based process involving stabilization of microtubules and disintegration of actin filaments. Our study also suggests that the SMC arborization may represent an in vitro case of SMC stellation found in situ.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Immunohistochemical localization of proteoglycans in interstitial elements of human pancreas and biliary system.

The immunohistochemical localization of large proteoglycan and small proteoglycan was observed, using antibodies 2B1 and 6B6 (Sobue et al., 1988, 1989a), in fetal and adult pancreas and biliary system as well as in tumour tissues, obtained from 11 autopsies and 74 biopsies. The distribution of chondroitin 4- and 6-sulphate side chains, type I and IV collagen and elastin were also studied. In adult pancreas and all the biliary tracts examined, periductal fibrous tissues consisted mainly of dermatan sulphate small proteoglycan with networks of fibrous elements, which were composed of large proteoglycan, elastin, type I collagen and type IV collagen. In the interstitial components of cystadenoma of pancreas and biliary duct carcinoma, similar small proteoglycan-rich components were relatively abundant, although large proteoglycan was present in much larger amounts than that in non-neoplastic adult tissues. In some cholangiomas, the extra- and intracellular hyaline globules formed by the carcinoma cells were found to contain chondroitin sulphate large proteoglycan, laminin and fibronectin. The distribution of proteoglycans was observed to be different in the arterial walls of the interlobular tissues of the adult and the fetal pancreas. The biological significance of large and small proteoglycans in the interstitial connective tissues was discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Production and immunohistochemical characterization of a monoclonal antibody raised to proteoglycan purified from a human yolk sac tumour.

A large proteoglycan with chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate side chains has been isolated and purified from a yolk sac tumour of the left ovary from a 23-year-old female. A monoclonal antibody, designated 2B1, was produced which reacted specifically with the intact molecule of the large proteoglycan and the chondroitinase ABC-treated core molecule. The localization of substances showing cross-reactivity to this antibody was studied in a variety of human tissues by means of indirect immunohistochemistry. The interstitial elements of nearly all tissues of a 5-month-old foetus were intensely reactive with the antibody, but in adult tissues structures that gave positive reactions were limited; only the perivascular and perimuscular fibrous elements were reactive, except for the aorta, which reacted extensively. In contrast, the interstitial elements of the carcinoma tissues tested were intensely reactive. Thus antibody 2B1 can be regarded as a useful tool for studies on the immunohistochemical localization of large proteoglycan in various human tissues.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A new view of the arterial smooth muscle cells and autonomic nerve plexus by scanning electron microscopy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells and their associated autonomic nerve plexus were simultaneously studied by scanning electron microscopy in 3-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats. The adventitial surface of the outermost muscle layer revealed numerically more protrusions accompanied by a denser network of nerve fibers in spontaneously hypertensive rats vs normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of beta-D-xylosides on proliferation and matrix formation of adherent fibroblastic cells in mouse bone marrow culture.

Mouse bone marrow cells were seeded on small pieces of cover glasses placed in culture dishes, and after 3 days, the pieces of glass to which only small spindle cells adhered were transferred to another dish containing fresh medium. The adherent small spindle cells proliferated and some of them became large polygonal cells with abundant cytoplasm. When phenyl beta-D-thioxyloside (0.5 mM), an artificial initiator of chondroitin sulfate chain synthesis, was added to the culture medium, the cells showed a marked increase in number as compared to controls, with conversion of about 35% of the cells to large size cells. Immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies showed that the intercellular matrix of adherent cells consists mainly of a large proteglylcan with chondroitin 6-sulfate side chains. By histochemical analysis, the amount of chondroitin sulfate was shown to be greater in the intercellular matrices of xyloside-treated groups than those of control cultures. The amount of chondroitin sulfate in the growth medium of the adherent cells, as measured by uronic acid analysis, was also significantly increased by treatment with phenyl beta-D-thioxyloside compared with controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Biochemical deficiencies of coenzyme Q10 in HIV-infection and exploratory treatment.

AIDS patients (2 groups) had a blood deficiency (p less than 0.001) of coenzyme Q10 vs. 2 control groups. AIDS patients had a greater deficiency (p less than 0.01) than ARC patients. ARC patients had a deficiency (p less than 0.05) vs. control. HIV-infected patients had a deficiency (p less than 0.05) vs. control. The deficiency of CoQ10 increased with the increased severity of the disease, i.e., from HIV positive (no symptoms) to ARC (constitutional symptoms, no opportunistic infection or tumor) to AIDS (HIV infection, opportunistic infection and/or tumor). This deficiency, a decade of data on CoQ10 on the immune system, on IgG levels, on hematological activity constituted the rationale for treatment with CoQ10 of 7 patients with AIDS or ARC. One was lost to follow-up; one expired after stopping CoQ10; 5 survived, were symptomatically improved with no opportunistic infection after 4-7 months. In spite of poor compliance of 5/7 patients, the treatment was very encouraging and at times even striking.

AIDS-Related Complex↗