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Biomedical subjects

H Aono

Publications and source records attributed to H Aono.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Oligoclonal proliferation of human T-cell leukemia virus type I infected lymphocytes in lesions of virus-induced arthropathy.

To investigate the pathogenesis of human T-cell leukemia virus type I associated arthropathy, the mode of proviral integration in the pathological lesions was analyzed using ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of these patients possessed multiple dominant clones of the virus-infected cells. On the other hand, synovial fluid cells of the affected joints exhibited fewer dominant clones even though the copy numbers of the provirus were comparable to those of PBMC. Thus, restricted HTLV-I infected T cell clones may proliferate and expand in the lesions.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Apoptosis and functional Fas antigen in rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether apoptosis occurs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synoviocytes, and if this phenomenon is dependent on the Fas/Apo-1 pathway. METHODS: Apoptotic change in vivo was examined in RA synovial cells by several standard methods. The ability of cells to undergo Fas-induced apoptosis was determined in vitro. RESULTS: Typical apoptotic change was demonstrated in RA synovial cells by each method. Anti-Fas antibody induced apoptotic synovial cell death in vitro. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported study to demonstrate apoptosis in RA synovial cells. The findings indicate that rheumatoid synoviocytes undergo Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1995

[Usefulness of rapid detection of plasma insulin levels during resection of insulinoma].

Insulinoma is one of the causes of hypoglycemia and can be cured by surgery. Using the enzyme immunoassay kit (ERUMOTEC INSULIN, Mochida Pharmacy Co.), immunoreactive insulin (IRI) can be measured within one hour. Curative operation was confirmed by normalized IRI level. A 58-year-old man had an episode of loss of consciousness. His blood glucose was below, and his IRI was above, normal. These and other examinations revealed that he was suffering from insulinoma. Tumor resection under general anesthesia was scheduled. Glucose was continuously administered intravenously to prevent hypoglycemia until the end of tumor resection. Frequent blood glucose measurement showed that he had no hypoglycemic episodes. Using the enzyme immunoassay kit, IRI was found to be 704 microU.ml-1 during manipulation of the tumor. At 30 minutes after the tumor resection, it decreased to 9.8 microU.ml-1 (within normal ranges). These data suggested that the operation was curative and that no further hypoglycemic attacks by remnant insulinomas would be anticipated.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1995

Toxicity study of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor rentiapril in rats.

A three-months toxicity study of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, rentiapril (CAS 80830-42-8), was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats by oral administration. The dose levels of 0, 30, 125, 500 and 1000 mg/kg were tested in both sexes, in which each experimental group comprised 10 rats. Another ACE inhibitor, captopril, was used as a reference compound. Rentiapril at the highest dose of 1000 mg/kg caused low food consumption and death of some animals with signs of bloody feces and anemia. In males and females receiving 500 and 1000 mg/kg, there were low body weight gain, increases in water intake, urine volume and serum BUN level, and decreases in levels of various erythrocytic parameters. Kidney weight was increased dose-dependently in both sexes. Histopathologically, renal changes in the 500 and 1000 mg/kg groups consisted of proximal tubular degeneration, juxtaglomerular cell hyperplasia and interstitial cell infiltration. Similar, but mild, changes in proximal tubules were present in the female 125 mg/kg group. Dead animals from the highest dose groups further showed gastrointestinal hemorrhagic erosion and/or ulcer, decreased bone marrow erythropoiesis and hepatocytic vacuolar degeneration. There was no pathological alteration in rats from other rentiapril-treated groups, as well as in controls. These results indicate that the no-effect dose of rentiapril in rats by three months oral administration is 30 mg/kg in female and 125 mg/kg in male, and suggest that, like other ACE-inhibitors, this compound also has a toxic potential to affect renal tissues.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗
PubMed1991

[The CO2 absorption capacity and color indication of a newly developed soda lime (Wakolime)].

The CO2 absorption capacity and the color change of ethyl violet (color indicator) of Wakolime A (newer type). Wakolime (older type), and Sorb 800 were studied under the clinical anesthetic condition. A two chamber canister was filled with soda lime and anesthetic gas flowed upward through the canister at the rate of 4 ml.min-1. The wall temperature of each chamber was measured with surface temperature sensing device. After 30 hours of use, the colored soda lime in the first chamber was examined with a color analyzer. The change of wall temperature indicated that the CO2 absorption capacity of Sorb 800 was the largest and that of Wakolime was the smallest among the three. The indicator color of both Wakolime A and Sorb 800 was clearer and of more vivid violet than that of Wakolime, which was dull and grayish. These results indicated that Wakolime A is superior in the CO2 absorption capacity and color indication to Wakolime.

Absorption↗
PubMed1990

Central and peripheral nervous system effects of hand-arm vibrating tool operation. A study of brainstem auditory-evoked potential and peripheral nerve conduction.

To examine the effects of hand-arm vibrating tool operation on the central and peripheral nervous system, the brainstem auditory-evoked potential (BAEP), median nerve conduction velocity and hearing level were measured in twelve chain saw operators (6 operators had a history of white finger attack) and in eight brush saw operators (none had a history of the attack). Control subjects, matched to each chain saw and brush saw operator by sex and age, were selected randomly from healthy adults without otitis, deafness and tinnitus. The I-V interpeak latency (conduction from cochlear nerve to brainstem) and V peak latency of BAEP were significantly prolonged in chain saw operators; the I-V interpeak latency was significantly correlated with working years in brush saw operators. The median nerve conduction velocity was significantly slowed in both chain saw and brush saw operators. Moderate hearing loss was observed in the two groups. It is suggested that vibrating tool operation, i.e. the combined stressors of local vibration, noise, climate and heavy work, affected not only the peripheral nervous system but also the brainstem portion of the auditory pathway; the brainstem effect, if any, is less advanced than the peripheral nervous system effect of local vibration.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Agonist activity of a novel compound, 1-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-phenyl piperazine (BP-554), at central 5-HT1A receptors.

We used an in vitro radioligand receptor binding assay with rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum membrane preparations to show that 1-[3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenoxy)propyl]-4-phenyl piperazine (BP-554) had much higher affinity for 5-HT1A recognition sites than for 5-HT1-non-A, 5-HT2, benzodiazepine, dopamine D-2 and alpha 2-adrenergic recognition sites. The compound inhibited the activity of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat hippocampal membranes. Intraperitoneal injection of BP-554 to mice decreased the concentration of only 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid of the amines and their metabolites in the brain and decreased the accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan in the brain after decarboxylase inhibition by 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine. Furthermore, the administration of BP-554 caused hypothermia and increased serum corticosterone levels in mice. The observed effects of BP-554 were similar to those of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin. These results suggest that BP-554 acts as a selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist in vivo.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMed1989

Effects of water restriction and water loading on daily urinary excretion of heavy metals and organic substances in metal workers.

The effects of urinary volume on daily urinary excretion of seven heavy metals and four organic substances were examined in relation to the changes in their plasma and erythrocyte concentrations and urinary creatinine excretion in 19 metal workers. The examination was conducted under the conditions of water restriction and loading for six days. The major findings were as follows: (1) urinary excretion of all heavy metals and organic substances except mercury, together with creatinine excretion, significantly decreased under the water restrictive condition whereas under the water loading condition their excretion significantly increased and (2) daily variations in urinary excretion of lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, hippuric acid, delta-aminolaevulinic acid, and coproporphyrin did not differ significantly from the variation in urinary excretion of creatinine (profile analysis, p greater than 0.05). It is suggested that glomerular filtration is the major factor determining renal excretory mechanisms of the four heavy metals and three organic substances examined.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Circadian rhythms in the urinary excretion of heavy metals and organic substances in metal workers in relation to renal excretory mechanism: profile analysis.

Circadian rhythms in the urinary excretion of eleven heavy metals and organic substances were examined under free, water-restrictive and water-loading conditions for 6 d (2 d for each of the three conditions) in twenty metal workers exposed to lead, zinc and copper. Circadian rhythms were found for all heavy metals and organic substances as well as for urinary flow (UF) rate, creatinine (Cn) and total urinary solutes (TUS). The Cn rhythm was significantly unparallel to the UF rhythm under the water-loading condition, indicating that the two rhythms were essentially different from each other. Circadian rhythms of the eleven urinary substances were then related to the Cn and UF rhythms, using profile analysis. The results indicated that the rhythms in the manganese, chromium, copper and beta-2-microglobulin excretion depend on the Cn rhythm, i.e. the rhythm of glomerular filtration; the rhythms in the hippuric acid, delta-aminolevulinic acid and TUS excretion are on the UF rhythm, i.e. the rhythm of reabsorption by the distal tubule and collecting duct. On the other hand, the rhythms in the lead, inorganic mercury, cadmium, zinc and coproporphyrin excretion were considered as reflecting complex renal excretory mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A gradient of responsiveness to the growth-promoting activity of ZPA (zone of polarizing activity) in the chick limb bud.

Limb bud mesoderm of stage 22-23 embryos was dissected into four pieces along the anteroposterior axis and dissociated cells of each region were separately cultured under various conditions. When the cells were cultured in medium containing 0.1% fetal calf serum (serum-poor medium) only a slight increase in cell number occurred in the cultures of all four regions. However, when the cells were cultured in medium containing 10% FCS, only cells of two central regions proliferated rapidly, and no growth promotion was observed in cells in the most anterior and posterior regions. Using the serum-poor medium, we examined the growth-promoting effects of cocultured limb bud fragments and of some growth factors on the cells of four regions. Anterior, distal, and proximal fragments promoted cell proliferation and their promotive effect on the cells of each region was equal. On the other hand, posterior fragments (containing ZPA) showed stronger promotive effects on preaxial cells than on postaxial cells. For comparison with the growth-promotive effect of the posterior fragment, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, and retinoic acid were tested in cell culture. FGF showed position-dependent growth promotion, while EGF and insulin promoted growth in the cells of all four regions to a similar degree. Retinoic acid showed no effect on cell growth at low concentrations, and was rather toxic at high concentrations. These results suggest that the cells of the posterior region secrete an FGF-like growth factor(s), which controls normal limb development and experimental duplicate formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Retinoic acid promotes proliferation and chondrogenesis in the distal mesodermal cells of chick limb bud.

Distal and proximal mesoderm of chick limb bud was respectively dissociated and cultured in the medium containing various concentrations of retinoic acid (RA). At low concentrations (5-50 ng/ml), RA promoted proliferation and chondrogenesis in the distal mesodermal cells. The distal cells of stage 20-24 limb buds were responsive to RA, although those of stages 25-27 were unresponsive. Both the cells of anterior and posterior regions of the distal mesoderm were responsive to RA, while the cells of proximal mesoderm were unresponsive. At higher concentrations, the growth-promoting effect of RA was reduced and chondrogenesis in the distal cells was rather inhibited. These results were discussed in relation to the role of RA as the morphogen in normal limb development and experimental duplicate formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Determination of the distribution of nerve conduction velocities in chain saw operators.

By measuring the distribution of conduction velocities (DCV) in sensory fibres of the median nerve, the effects of local vibration on all faster and slower large myelinated nerve fibres were examined in 10 male chain saw operators (three operators had frequent attacks of white finger; the attacks were only occasional in four and negative in three). All parameters of DCV, and conventional sensory nerve conduction velocity were significantly slowed in the chain saw operators. It is suggested that local vibration affects the faster and slower nerve fibres; parameters of the DCV are sensitive indicators of both the neurological and vascular effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Reversibility of psychological performance in subclinical lead absorption.

To evaluate the reversibility of the effect of lead on psychological performance, five performance scale subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were conducted twice at two-yr intervals on 17 gun-metal foundry workers who had initial blood lead (BPb) concentrations of 30-64 (median 40) micrograms/dl. The results indicated that psychological performance was significantly affected by lead absorption in the first examination, resulting in a reduction in score on picture completion at the BPb level of 40-64 micrograms/dl. In the second examination, following a decrease in the BPb level, the reduced performance recovered. The two-year alteration in the picture completion subtest in all workers was significantly correlated with the corresponding change in mobilization yield of lead in urine by CaEDTA. It is suggested that the effect of lead on psychological performance is reversible at the BPb level below 65 micrograms/dl.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Effects of lead, zinc and copper absorption on peripheral nerve conduction in metal workers.

To examine the antagonistic effects of lead, zinc and copper on the nervous system in man, we measured maximal motor and sensory conduction velocities (MCV and SCV, respectively) in the distal radial and median nerves in 20 gun metal founders with asymptomatically increased absorption of these metals [blood lead concentrations ranged from 16 to 64 micrograms/dl (mean 42)]; and analyzed metal effects on nerve conduction by multiple regression analysis. The MCVs in the radial and median nerves and the SCV in the forearm segment of the median nerve were significantly slowed; indicators of lead absorption (urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin) were inversely correlated with the SCV in the radial nerve. The SCVs in the radial nerve and in the hand segment of the median nerve, which were not significantly slowed, were positively related to indicators of copper absorption (plasma or erythrocyte copper). The SCV in the radial nerve was also positively related to the indicator of zinc absorption (plasma zinc); similarly, the MCVs in the radial and median nerves were positively related to the indicators of zinc absorption (erythrocyte or urinary zinc). These findings suggest that copper and zinc antagonize the subclinical effects of lead on peripheral nerve conduction velocities; the conduction velocity in the distal radial nerve is sensitive not only to asymptomatic lead absorption but also to zinc and copper absorption.

Absorption↗
PubMed1987

Central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction in workers exposed to lead, zinc and copper. A follow-up study of visual and somatosensory evoked potentials.

To evaluate the effects of lead, zinc and copper in the causation of physiological changes in the central and peripheral nervous systems, we measured the latencies of pattern-reversal, visually-evoked potential (VEP) and of short-latency, somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP) twice at a 12-month interval in nineteen gun metal founders exposed to lead, zinc and copper. The workers' initial blood-lead (BPb) concentrations ranged from 16 to 64 (mean 42) micrograms/dl. BPb and plasma zinc and copper concentrations decreased significantly during the study period owing to the improvement in working environments. In the first examinations, we found that the N2 latency of VEP (conduction time from the retina to the visual cortex) and the N9-N13 latency of SSEP (conduction from the brachial plexus to the medulla oblongata) were both significantly prolonged in exposed workers. In the second examination, the N2 latency had returned to the "normal" level. These changes were correlated positively with changes in the indicators of lead absorption and inversely with changes in the indices of zinc and copper absorption. In the first examination, the N9 latency of SSEP (median nerve conduction) was also found to be significantly prolonged. This change also returned to normal over the study period in proportion to the reduction in BPb and the increase in intra-erythrocytic enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity. On the other hand, no significant prolongation of the N13-N20 latency of SSEP (central nerve conduction) was found in either of the two examinations; this latency and alteration over the study period were inversely correlated with the indicators of zinc and copper absorption. These data suggest that lead interferes with both peripheral and central nerve conduction. zinc and copper appear to antagonize strongly the lead-induced conduction delay in the upper central nervous system, but only weakly in the lower central and peripheral nervous systems.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Assessment of central and peripheral nerve functions in chain-saw operators: a study of short-latency somatosensory evoked potential and peripheral nerve conduction.

In order to clarify the effects of local vibration on the peripheral and central nervous system, peripheral (median) nerve conduction velocities and short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) following stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist were measured in 15 male forest workers in 1986. They had engaged in chain-saw operation for 16-34 (mean 22) years; their working days in 1985 averaged 124 days with a range of 50-203 days. The results indicated significant delays in maximal motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities followed by prolongation of all 4 peak latencies of SSEP up to the sensory cortex of the brain (N9, N13, N20 and P23 latencies) in chain-saw operators; their N9 and P23 latencies were significantly correlated with total working days per year. On the other hand, no significant prolongation of the interpeak latencies of SSEP (i.e., cervico-spinobulbar and central conduction times) was found in the workers. It is concluded that local vibration predominantly affects peripheral nerve conduction; cervico-spinobulbar and central nerve conduction may not be significantly affected.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Psychological performance in relation to central and peripheral nerve conduction in workers exposed to lead, zinc, and copper.

Psychological performance was examined in relation to central and peripheral nerve conduction by means of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale test, short-latency somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP), and median nerve conduction velocity in 19 male gun-metal foundry workers exposed to lead, zinc, and copper. (Their blood lead concentrations--ie, 16-64 micrograms/dl with a mean of 42--and plasma zinc and copper concentrations were significantly higher than those of control subjects). In these workers, the score of picture completion (psychological performance) was significantly low; indicators of lead absorption, but no indicators of zinc and copper absorption, were significantly correlated with this score. The score of picture completion was significantly correlated with the N11-N13 latency of SSEP (conduction time in the spinobulbar region) in the workers; their N11-N13 latency, together with the N9 and N9-N11 latencies, was significantly prolonged and was significantly correlated with indicators of lead absorption. Furthermore, their maximal motor and sensory conduction velocities of the median nerve were significantly slowed. It is concluded that both psychological performance and central and peripheral nerve conduction may be impaired in lead-exposed workers with BPb's below approximately 60 micrograms/dl.

Adult↗