Biomedical subjects

Y Yamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yamaguchi.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Lys-49-phospholipases A2 as active enzyme for beta-arachidonoyl phospholipid bilayer membranes.

Phospholipases A2 containing Lys-49 have been reported to be extremely weak or inactive as enzyme. We have recently shown that basic proteins I and II (BP-I and BP-II), Lys-49-PLA2s isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake), are potent to hydrolyze the arachidonate of 2-arachidonoyl-1-stearoyl-L-3-phosphatidylcholine (ASPC) in bilayer vesicles. In order to ensure such enzymatic activity of Lys-49-PLA2s, two other Lys-49-PLA2s from different snake venoms, myotoxin II (from Bothrops asper) and App-K49 (form Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus), were examined. Myotoxin II was found to be very active, even more potent than BP-II, liberating about 80% of arachidonic acid from liposomes. App-K49 was also active (about 50%) for ASPC liposomes. They were very weak or almost inactive for ASPC micelles and monomers. All these Lys-49-PLA2s were inactive for ASPC liposomes in the absence of Ca2+. These results clearly demonstrated that Lys-49-PLA2s are the enzymes to hydrolyze the C2-ester bond of ASPC in bilayer membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Molecular epidemiology of rubella by nucleotide sequences of the rubella virus E1 gene in three East Asian countries.

Twenty-six strains of rubella virus were compared with each other for a molecular epidemiologic study of the virus in three East Asian countries, using the E1 gene of 1443 nucleotides and the following 41 nucleotides in a noncoding region. Nucleotide substitution rates among strains were 0.0-9.4/100 nucleotides. A phylogenetic tree drawn indicated that 2 of 3 Chinese strains were quite different from the other 24 strains; all isolates in the 1960s were classified into a single group independent of the place of isolation, which includes isolates from Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom; 11 strains of Japanese isolates collected during 1976-1991 made one subbranch derived from the 1960s group; and 2 isolates from the northeast part of Japan in 1990 made a third but minor unique branch. Therefore, at least two groups of the virus cocirculated in Japan around 1990. Antigenic variation of the virus was very small among these strains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Structural variations in the glycosaminoglycan-protein linkage region of recombinant decorin expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Decorin is a small fibroblast proteoglycan consisting of a core protein and a single chondroitin/dermatan sulfate chain. The structure of the carbohydrate-protein linkage region of the recombinant decorin expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was investigated. The decorin was secreted in the culture medium and isolated by anion-exchange chromatography. The glycosaminoglycan chain was released from the decorin by beta-elimination using alkaline NaBH4, and then digested with chondroitinase ABC. These treatments resulted in a major and a few minor hexasaccharide alditols derived from the carbohydrate-protein linkage region. Their structures were analyzed by enzymatic digestion in conjunction with high-performance liquid chromatography. Two of these compounds have the conventional hexasaccharide core, deltaHexA alpha1-3GalNAc beta1-4GlcA beta1-3Gal beta1-3Gal beta1-4Xyl-ol. One is nonsulfated, and the other is monosulfated on C4 of the GalNAc residue. They represent 12% and 60% of the total linkage region, respectively. The other compound has the hexasaccharide alditol with an internal iduronic acid residue deltaHexA alpha1-3GalNAc(4-sulfate)beta1-4IdoA alpha1-3Gal beta1-3Gal beta1-4Xyl-ol, which was previously demonstrated in one of the five linkage hexasaccharide alditols isolated from dermatan sulfate proteoglycans of bovine aorta (Sugahara et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 7204-7212, 1995). The compound accounts for 11% of the total linkage region. These structural variations in the linkage hexasaccharide region of the decorin strikingly contrast to the uniformity demonstrated in the linkage hexasaccharide structure of human inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (Yamada et al., Glycobiology, 5, 335-341, 1995) and urinary trypsin inhibitor (Yamada et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 233, 687-693, 1995), both of which have a single chondroitin sulfate chain with a uniform linkage hexasaccharide structure, deltaHexA alpha1-3GalNAc(4-sulfate)beta1-4GlcA beta1-3Gal(4-sulfate)beta1-3Gal beta1-4Xyl, containing a 4-O-sulfated Gal residue.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1997

Modeling the G-protein-coupled neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor agonist and antagonist binding sites.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and mediate several physiological responses, such as blood pressure, food intake, sedation and memory retention. To understand the interactions between the NPY Y1 receptor subtype and its ligands, computer modeling was applied to the natural peptide agonist, NPY and a small molecule antagonist, BIBP3226. An agonist and antagonist binding domain was elucidated using mutagenesis data for the Y1 receptor as well as for other GPCR families. The agonist and antagonist ligands which were investigated appear to share common residues for their interaction within the transmembrane regions of the Y1 receptor structure, including Gln120, Asn283 and His306. This is in contrast to findings with tachykinin receptors where the binding domains of the non-peptide antagonists have very little in common with the binding domains of the agonist, substance-P. In addition, a hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl group of Tyr36 of NPY and the side chain of Gln219, an interaction that is absent in the model complex between Y1 and the antagonist BIBP3226, is proposed as one of the potential interactions necessary for receptor activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Effects of propentofylline on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant production in rats with cerulein-induced pancreatitis and endotoxemia.

We investigated the effects of the xanthine derivative propentofylline on lung injury in rats with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis and endotoxemia. Pancreatitis was induced by four intramuscular injections of cerulein (50 micrograms/kg at 1-h intervals). Pancreatitis rats were injected intraperitoneally with 30 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 6 h following the first cerulein injection as a septic challenge. Propentofylline (50 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 15 min before the administration of LPS. Rats were divided randomly into five experimental groups: group I, normal rats; group II, pancreatitis; group III, LPS injection; group IV, pancreatitis and LPS injection; and group V, pancreatitis and LPS injection with propentofylline pretreatment. Serum amylase concentrations in groups II, IV, and V increased significantly 8 h after the first cerulein injection compared to those in groups I and III. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha concentrations, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) concentrations in serum or bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluid, lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and extent of pulmonary polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in group IV were significantly higher than those observed in group III. Pretreatment with propentofylline inhibited the rise in TNF-alpha levels (group V). However, propentofylline did not prevent the elevation of CINC levels in group V. In contrast, propentofylline reduced lung MPO and pulmonary PMN infiltration in group V. In addition, lung compliance was improved by pretreatment with propentofylline. These results suggest that propentofylline attenuates lung injury in an experimental model of pancreatitis complicated by endotoxemia but has differential effects on cytokine production.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Father-to-mother-to-infant transmission of HIV-1: clonally transmitted isolate of infant mutates more rapidly than that of the mother and rapidly loses reactivity with neutralizing antibody.

The sequences of the V3 loop and surrounding regions of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 from a father-to-mother-to-infant trimmer were studied and the horizontal and vertical transmissions compared. The father's virus was variable for reactivity with neutralizing antibody and sequences of the V3 loop central core sequence. In contrast, the mother's viral sequences were much less diverse and reacted with a virus neutralizing antibody. The infant's viral sequences were also less diverse than those of the father, and N-glycosylation sites were conserved. By phylogenetic analysis, the major clone, of which V3-peptide reacted with the neutralizing antibody, was found to be transmitted from the mother to her infant; however, the mutated minor clones did not bind to the antibody. These findings suggest that both horizontal and vertical virus transmission were selective, and that the clonally transmitted virus in infants mutates more rapidly than viruses in the mother, to whom the virus was horizontally transmitted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

[Case report: lung abscess caused by Streptococcus agalactiae].

Streptococcus agalactiae is a well-recognized cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. In adults, infections by S. agalactiae are rare. We report an adult case of lung abscess and pyogenic spondylitis caused by S. agalactiae. A 51-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow in the chest and lumbago on May 25, 1995. He was diagnosed as lung abscess from the chest roentgenogram and CT scan and the subcutaneous pus was aspirated. The pus culture was only positive for S. agalactiae. He was treated with IPM/CS 1 g/day and CLDM 1.2 g/day and the abscess was drained. MRI showed his lumbago was caused by pyogenic spondylitis. The underlying disease of this case was diabetes mellitus. He recovered from the infections with in about 10 weeks of antibiotic treatment.

Humans↗

PubMed1997

[Prosthetic endocarditis caused by Kingella denitrificans in a patient with diabetes mellitus].

Infective endocarditis caused by Kingella denitrificans occurs rarely. A review of the literature reveals only 6 cases of endocarditis caused by the bacillus. K. denitrificans is normally a commensal of the upper respiratory airways, may exceptionally be responsible for endocarditis. A case of possible prosthetic endocarditis caused by K. denitrificans is presented. A 78-year-old male with Type II diabetes was admitted to the hospital complaining of fever, a sore throat and arthralgia. He underwent replacement surgery of a St. Jude medical prosthesis for aortic stenosis at the age of 75. The only physical findings at admission were a temperature of 38.2 degrees C and murmurs of mild mitral regurgitation. The liver and spleen were not palpable, and there were no skin or eye lesions. Laboratory findings were as follows: white blood cell count 9500/microliters with 77% neutrophils, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 71 mm/h (Westergren), blood urea nitrogen 50.2 mg/dl, serum creatinine 1.7 mg/dl and C-reactive protein 22.2 mg/dl. The Gram-negative bacillus isolated from the blood was identified as K. denitrificans by the identification system, namely ID test.FN-20 rapid (Nissui, Japan). Although an echocardiogram detected no vegetation, infective endocarditis was diagnosed because the same bacillus was detected by separate blood cultures and an obvious source of infection was not found other than the prosthetic valve. Initial treatment was flomoxef, which was changed to Ampicillin 2 g/day after K. denitrificans was identified. Ampicillin continued for 6 weeks. The clinical course was good and he did not require further surgery. He has been afebrile for 2 years after completing treatment. This case represents the first report of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by K. denitrificans in Japan.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Effect of niuche-shen-qi-wan on painful muscle cramps in patients with liver cirrhosis: a preliminary report.

Twelve patients with liver cirrhosis complaining of painful muscle cramps were treated with Niuche-Shen-Qi-Wan (TJ-107). Three patients were at the decompensated state. Muscle cramps disappeared in 4 weeks on the average after oral administration of TJ-107 in all 12 patients. During the period of TJ-107 administration, there was no significant improvement of hepatic function. One patient complained of mild epigastric discomfort after taking TJ-107, but there were no other adverse effects. Our results indicate that TJ-107 is useful for treatment of painful muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1997

Protective effects of prostaglandin E1 on acute lung injury of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

Infusion of a supramaximally stimulating dose of the pancreatic secretagogue caerulein (10 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) for 4 h induces interstitial edematous acute pancreatitis in rats. This model of acute pancreatitis is associated with evidence of acute lung injury, including sequestered neutrophils within the pulmonary microvasculature, increased microvascular permeability, and interstitial pulmonary edema. Infusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1; 50 ng.kg-1.min-1) along with caerulein does not alter the severity of secretagogue-induced pancreatitis, but it does reduce the severity of pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury. The rise in lung weight, lung water content, and pulmonary microvascular permeability and the sequestration of neutrophils within the pulmonary microvasculature that accompany secretagogue-induced pancreatitis are all reduced by infusion of PGE1. Infusion of PGE1 does not interfere with polymorphonuclear neutrophil sequestration in the pancreas or reduce the enhanced expression of CD11b/c receptors on circulating neutrophils. Our observations indicate that PGE1 reduces the severity of pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury by preventing neutrophil sequestration within the lung. We speculate that PGE1 interferes with neutrophil sequestration by dilating pulmonary vasculature, increasing pulmonary flow rate, and reducing neutrophil-endothelial cell interaction and attachment.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

New enzymatic assay with urea amidolyase for determining potassium in serum.

We developed a new simple assay for potassium ion in serum using urea amidolyase (UAL) from yeast sp. The method is based on activation of the enzyme by potassium ion. We eliminated endogenous ammonium ion by use of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), and then monitored the production of ammonium ion by UAL, urea, ATP, bicarbonate and magnesium ions. Ammonium ion was produced proportional to the potassium ion concentration and was determined by adding GLDH to produce NADP+ in the presence of 2-oxoglutarate and NADPH. We monitored the change of absorbance at 340 nm. The inhibitory effect of calcium ion to this assay was eliminated by adding glycoletherdiamine-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid to the reaction. The within-assay coefficients of variation (CV) of this method were 0.9-1.55% (n = 10) at 3.32-6.18 mmol/L. Day-to-day CVs ranged from 1.49% to 2.46%. The analytical recovery was 96-108%. The correlation coefficient between the values obtained by our method (y) and those by the ion-selective electrode (ISE) method (x) was 0.994 (y = 1.032x-0.166 mmol/L, Syx = 0.110, n = 100). The presence of bilirubin, haemoglobin or other ions did not affect this assay, confirming the usefulness of this assay for clinical purposes.

Acetates↗

PubMed1997

Troglitazone ameliorates insulin resistance in patients with Werner's syndrome.

Insulin resistance in Werner's syndrome (WS) is probably due to defective signaling distal to the insulin receptor. To analyze the metabolic effects of troglitazone (TRO) in these patients, we performed frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance tests. Glucose kinetics were analyzed by the minimal model. Five patients with WS (mean age, 41.2 yr; body mass index, 17.0 kg/m2) were treated with TRO (400 mg/day) for 4 weeks. Each subject underwent a 75-g OGTT and frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance tests. Treatment reduced the area under the curve of glucose and insulin in the OGTT by 26% and 43%, respectively. Glucose tolerance, as manifested by the glucose disappearance rate improved significantly (1.36 +/- 0.16 to 1.94 +/- 0.30%/min; P < 0.05). Although the first phase insulin secretion was unchanged, insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness increased significantly [0.47 +/- 0.11 to 1.38 +/- 0.37 x 10(-4) min/pmol.L (P < 0.05) and 1.72 +/- 0.17 to 2.52 +/- 0.24 x 10(-2) min-1 (P < 0.05), respectively]. However, treatment did not change glucose effectiveness at zero insulin. In patients with WS, TRO ameliorates glucose intolerance mediated by increased insulin sensitivity as well as glucose effectiveness, as assessed by minimal model analysis. TRO may modulate the postreceptor signaling component and be a clinically useful regimen for the treatment of patients with the intracellular insulin signaling defect.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Evaluation of skin permeability of drugs by newly prepared polymer membranes.

Four polymeric membranes were prepared consisting of various ratios of 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate/polydimethylsiloxane-methacrylate copolymer. These membranes had both lipophilic and hydrophilic domains in their copolymer networks like skin barrier. From permeation studies of the aqueous solutions or suspensions of various lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs using these membranes, a membrane having a similar drug permeability to hairless rat and human skins was selected. Permeation of indomethacin through the selected polymer membrane from simple ointment, gel and a marketed cream were then measured. About 10(2) times higher permeability was found in the polymer membrane than through excised hairless rat skin, but the rank order of the permeability through the polymer membrane among the formulations was the same through the skin membranes. These higher permeations of indomethacin were probably related to physical and chemical properties of pharmaceutical additives in the topical formulations. It is concluded that these synthetic polymer membranes may be utilized as an alternative tool to predict human or rat skin permeability of various (hydrophilic or lipophilic) drugs as well as to screen drug candidates for transdermal drug delivery.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed1997

Elicitor actions of N-acetylchitooligosaccharides and laminarioligosaccharides for chitinase and L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase induction in rice suspension culture.

When a series of chitin oligosaccharides was added into a rice suspension culture, N-acetylchitohexaose, N-acetylchitopentaose, and N-acetylchitotetraose caused an increase in extracellular chitinase activity, mainly due to induction of a class III chitinase. In the case of N-acetylchitohexaose, a substantial increase in the chitinase activity was observed at a concentration higher than 0.01 micrograms/ml, and a maximum effect was reached at 1 microgram/ml. In contrast, N-acetylchitotriose, N-acetylchitobiose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and chitohexaose (a chitosan oligosaccharide) were not very effective. Chitinase induction was also observed with laminarihexaose (a beta-1,3-glucan oligosaccharide), but about a 10-fold higher concentration, compared with N-acetylchitohexaose, was needed to get the maximum effect. beta-1,3-Glucanase activity was found in cells (but not in medium), and the activity was increased by neither N-acetylchitohexaose nor laminarihexaose. When cells were incubated with N-acetylchitohexaose, L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity increased promptly. A biphasic profile was obtained when a dose-dependent effect of the elicitor on the PAL induction was examined; the first phase was observed in a range from 0.01 to 1 microgram/ml and the second phase from 3 to 300 micrograms/ml. Laminarihexaose also acted as an elicitor for PAL induction.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1997

Reversibly increased lymphocyte response to mitogens in a young man with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency.

A 21-year-old man with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency complained of loss of consciousness in association with hypoglycemia. Both plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were low and failed to respond to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation. The patient also showed abnormal findings in hematological examination, such as neutropenia and anemia with lymphocytosis, activity of coagulation factors, and electroencephalography (EEG). Furthermore, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was increased. After successful replacement therapy with hydrocortisone 15 mg/day, most of these abnormalities including the lymphocyte proliferation were fully restored.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed1997

Stiff-man syndrome associated with antecedent myasthenia gravis and organ-specific autoimmunopathy.

We describe a case of stiff-man syndrome accompanied by diabetes mellitus, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and the antecedent myasthenia gravis. The diagnosis of stiff-man syndrome was made based on not only clinical findings and the characteristic electromyographic pattern but also the presence of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Stiff-man syndrome is known to be associated with organ-specific autoimmunopathy including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The present case is the first one that stiff-man syndrome was preceded by myasthenia gravis of organ-specific autoimmunopathy. Stiff-man syndrome in the present case probably represents the one of fully expressed manifestations from the broad spectrum of organ-specific autoimmunopathy caused by the loss of self-tolerance.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity in nonobese and obese Japanese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relative contributions of insulin secretion and insulin resistance to the development of glucose intolerance in Japanese subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 756 Japanese subjects (530 nonobese, 226 obese) was performed. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was given, and subjects were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (normal glucose tolerance [NGT], impaired glucose tolerance [IGT], and diabetes). Early-phase insulin secretion was assessed by the insulinogenic index (the ratio of the increment of insulin to that of plasma glucose [PG] 30 min after a glucose load [delta IRI0-30 min/delta PG0-30 min]). Total insulin secretion was assessed by mean immunoreactive insulin (IRI) during the OGTT, and insulin resistance was assessed by use of the homeostasis model [HOMA(R)]. RESULTS: Early-phase insulin secretion was significantly decreased in IGT, compared with patients with NGT, in both the nonobese and obese subjects (0.70 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01 and 1.36 +/- 0.19 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.08, P < 0.01, respectively). However, mean IRI and HOMA(R) in both nonobese and obese subjects with IGT and NGT were not statistically different. Subjects with diabetes showed a significant decline in early-phase and total insulin secretion and a significantly higher level of insulin resistance than did subjects with IGT. When the fasting glucose (FPG) exceeded 100 mg/dl, early-phase insulin decreased progressively. The graphed relationship between FPG and mean IRI did not show an inverted U-shape, and mean IRI decreased progressively when FPG exceeded 100-130 mg/dl. The pattern of changes in insulin secretion and insulin resistance associated with the progression of glucose intolerance was similar in both the nonobese and obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The worsening from NGT to IGT in Japanese subjects may be associated with a decrease in early-phase insulin secretion in nonobese as well as in obese subjects. Hyperinsulinemia in IGT is not common. We suggest that impaired early-phase insulin secretion may be the initial abnormality in the development of glucose intolerance in Japanese people. Insulin resistance may be a consequence of hyperglycemia and/or obesity.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Insulin resistance and arteriosclerosis obliterans in patients with NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) in NIDDM, we measured insulin sensitivity and other risk factors including lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in NIDDM patients with and without ASO. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A case-control study in 100 patients with NIDDM, 35 with and 65 without ASO, was performed. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by the short insulin tolerance test's K index (KITT). Duration of diabetes, a history of smoking, prevalence of hypertension, prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), serum C-peptide, 24-h urinary C-peptide, serum lipids, and Lp(a) were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Age, BMI, HbA1c, and fasting plasma glucose were comparable in the two groups. Patients with ASO were significantly more insulin resistant than patients without ASO (KITT 2.16 +/- 0.16 vs. 3.00 +/- 0.13%/min, P < 0.0001, respectively), had a longer duration of diabetes (10.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 7.5 +/- 0.8 years, P < 0.05), included a greater number of smokers (68.6 vs. 40.0%, P < 0.01), had a higher prevalence of CAD (60.0 vs. 16.9%, P < 0.01), and had a greater percentage of insulin therapy (48.6 vs. 29.2%, P < 0.05). However, urinary and serum C-peptide levels, serum lipids, and Lp(a) levels were comparable in the two groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that a history of smoking (odds ratio 3.70, P = 0.011), insulin resistance (odds ratio 3.68, P < 0.001), and an elevated Lp(a) level (odds ratio 1.03, P = 0.020) were independently related to ASO. When patients with CAD were removed from the logistic regression analysis, insulin resistance was most strongly related to ASO (odds ratio 20.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ASO were characterized by a higher prevalence of CAD, a greater percentage of smokers, a greater percentage of insulin therapy, and a higher insulin resistance than were patients without ASO. Insulin resistance, especially, may be the most powerfully related to ASO. Lp(a) may play a minor role in the development of ASO.

Aged↗