Biomedical subjects

H Bai

Publications and source records attributed to H Bai.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Short-term effects of a high-sucrose diet on plasma lipid, lipoprotein cholesterol, tissue lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase in rats.

Short-term (2 weeks) effects of a high-sucrose diet on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activities were investigated in rats. Three days of sucrose feeding significantly increased plasma TG (42 +/- 3 mg/dl vs. 56 +/- 2 mg/dl, p = 0.032), while TC increased significantly after 10 days of the diet (50 +/- 2 mg/dl vs. 62 +/- 2 mg/dl, p = 0.0001). HDL-C increased significantly after 3 days of sucrose feeding (36.2 +/- 0.9 mg/dl vs. 42.4 +/- 2.7 mg/dl, p = 0.011). Although LDL-C tended to decrease on days 3, 7 and 10, these changes were not significant. The plasma glucose level did not change during the study. Increased LPL activity in adipose tissue and decreased enzyme activities in skeletal and heart muscles were observed. Adipose tissue LPL returned to the baseline value after 14 days of the diet treatment, while LPL in skeletal and heart muscles remained at the decreased level. HTGL and HTGL/total liver lipase activities were significantly increased after 14 days of the diet. The different responses of lipase activities in various tissues may help to regulate serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in sucrose-fed rats.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1996

Rapid and clear detection of ABO genotypes by simultaneous PCR-RFLP method.

We reported a new approach of ABO genotyping by a polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Instead of amplifying the loci containing the positions of nucleotides 258 and 700 of cDNA of the A transferase separately, we successfully amplified these 2 loci together in one reaction mixture using 2 sets of primers. The amplified DNA products were digested at the same time with restriction enzymes Kpn I and Alu I. The digested DNA products were then separated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. In addition, we evaluated the influence of various amplification parameters (concentration of template DNA, primers, Taq DNA polymerase, MgCl2, and number of cycles). In particular, high Mg2+ concentration (3.5 mM) made effective amplification of this locus without producing any unspecific band. By using that optimized condition for PCR, together with a simultaneous approach, our study proved to be time saving, more economic, and convenient in interpreting the results.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMed1996

Analysis of a new polymorphism in the human apolipoprotein A-I gene: association with serum lipoprotein levels and coronary heart disease.

Systematic sequencing of the coding and exon flanking regions of the apolipoprotein (apo) A-I gene has identified a new polymorphic Msp I site (C C/T-GG). This polymorphism is situated between the transcriptional starting site and the signal peptide start coding site (intron 1), so may influence the efficiency of surrounding splicing, thereby interfering with the expression of the apo A-I gene product, or serve as a linkage marker with a hitherto unidentified mutation defect responsible for hyperlipidemia and/or premature coronary heart disease. However, there was no significant difference in the allele frequencies between control and coronary heart disease subjects in a Japanese population. The -78 G-->A promoter polymorphism of apo A-I, previously reported in Western populations, has also been analyzed. The results show that neither mutation is likely to be the etiology for predisposition to a change of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and/or variation in lipid and lipoprotein levels, or for the occurrence of coronary heart disease in Japanese populations.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Determining surgical indications for acute type B dissection based on enlargement of aortic diameter during the chronic phase.

BACKGROUND: In patients with Stanford type B dissection who have been treated successfully with medical hypotensive therapy during the acute phase, a large number have incurred the risk of surgery during their chronic phases because of enlargement of the dissected aorta. The purpose of this study was to determine the indications for surgical treatment of acute type B dissection by studying chronic-phase enlargements of aortic dissections in patients treated successfully with medical hypotensive therapy during the acute phase. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 41 patients with type B dissection who had been treated medically during the acute phase, univariate and multivariate factor analyses were made to determine the predominant predictors for chronic-phase enlargement (> or = 60 mm) of the dissected aorta. Computed tomography was performed every 4 to 14 months to observe whether there was enlargement of the maximum aortic diameter. The predominant predictors for aortic enlargement in the chronic phase were the existence of a maximum aortic diameter of > or = 40 mm during the acute phase (P < .001) and a patent primary entry site in the thoracic aorta (P = .001). The values of actuarial freedom from aortic enlargement for the patients with a large aortic diameter (> or = 40 mm) during the acute phase and a patent primary entry site in the thorax at 1, 3, and 5 years were 70%, 29%, and 22%, respectively. No aortic enlargement was observed in the other patients throughout the entire follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that patients with acute type B dissection who have a large aortic diameter (> or = 40 mm) and a patent primary entry site in the thorax should be treated surgically during the acute phase on the condition that the surgical risk in this phase is limited.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

NMR studies of the solution properties of recombinant murine interleukin-6.

The effects of solvent, pH and temperature on the 1H-NMR spectra of recombinant murine interleukin-6 (IL-6) are described. Assignments made from two-dimensional homonuclear spectra are presented for resonances of the fifteen aromatic amino-acid side chains. A time-dependent loss of intensity was observed for all resonances in the spectrum of IL-6, probably as a result of aggregation. This aggregation is markedly temperature-dependent. The pKa values of the four histidine residues in murine IL-6 has been measured; one has a value of 5.5, approx. one pH unit less than the value exhibited by the other three. Analysis of the NOESY spectra has allowed a preliminary characterisation of the nature of interactions among the aromatic side chains within the protein fold. 1H and 15N resonances of residues Thr-4 to Val-21 are assigned from three-dimensional 1H-15N correlated spectroscopy, and evidence is presented for these residues comprising a mobile N-terminal tail with little ordered structure. An N-terminal mutant lacking the first 22 residues of the murine IL-6 sequence and known to possess full biological activity was also examined and shown to have essentially retained the tertiary fold of the native molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

High-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A-I deficiency induced by combination therapy with probucol and bezafibrate.

The effects of the administration of slow-release bezafibrate to hypercholesterolaemic patients who were already receiving long-term probucol treatment (mean 865 days, 500-1000 mg.day-1) were investigated. Bezafibrate was administered at either 200 mg.day-1 (13 males, 13 females, mean age 55.2 years) or 400 mg.day-1 (11 males, 14 females, mean age 57.2 years), and blood was taken at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months after the beginning of combination therapy. Overall, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TC, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-TG, VLDL-TG, VLDL-phospholipid (PL), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], apolipoprotein (apo) C-III, apo E levels and LCAT activity decreased significantly with this combination therapy, while HDL cholesterol (C), HDL3-C, HDL-PL, apo A-I and apo A-II levels significantly increased, as assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Five patients (one receiving 200 mg.day-1, four receiving 400 mg.day-1 bezafibrate) showed drastic reductions in HDL-C (HDL-C levels were reduced by a mean of 46.2%, 59.3% and 61.6% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively) after beginning combination therapy. These HDL-C reductions were maintained for the 1 year of combination therapy, but then returned to pre-combination treatment levels 1 month after discontinuation of bezafibrate. Serum probucol concentrations and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mass were assayed at 6 months, and the probucol concentration was higher in the HDL-deficient group (56.2 vs 26.5 micrograms/ml). In contrast, CETP mass was significantly lower in HDL-deficient patients than in non-HDL-deficient patients (2.08 vs 2.87 mg.1-1)(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Association between coronary heart disease and the apolipoprotein A-I/C-III/A-IV complex in a Japanese population.

Several studies have reported that a variant allele (S2) of the apolipoprotein (apo) A-I/C-III/A-IV complex is associated with hyperlipoproteinemia in some populations and that the frequency of this allele is two- to fivefold higher in patients with premature coronary heart disease (CHD) than in healthy controls. In the present study in a Japanese population, we were unable to confirm the association of the S2 allele with either coronary heart disease or elevated serum apo C-III levels, as has been previously reported in Caucasians. No genotype difference was observed among the severity of coronary heart disease, as determined by the number of involved vessels (one, two and three vessel disease), compared to controls. In addition, the frequency of the S2 allele among Japanese, in both CHD (0.328) and controls (0.369), was quite different from that in many other populations.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Amplification and detection of the VNTR locus D4S95 in a Japanese population.

The D4S95-VNTR locus was amplified and the polymorphism analysed in a population sample of 169 randomly selected Japanese individuals. A total of 14 alleles containing 850-1360 base pairs were distinguished by agarose gel electrophoresis. The distribution of alleles was symmetrical with respect to one peak at 1030 bp. The mean exclusion chance and discrimination power were calculated as 0.604 and 0.876 respectively.

Alleles↗

PubMed1995

A new case of apoA-I deficiency showing codon 8 nonsense mutation of the apoA-I gene without evidence of coronary heart disease.

We report a 39-year-old Japanese man with HDL and apoA-I deficiency as well as data from members of his family. Corneal opacity and a stomatocyte were found but not tonsillar hypertrophy, xanthomas, or splenomegaly. His serum HDL cholesterol, apoA-I, apoA-II, and LDL cholesterol levels were t mg/dL, < 3 mg/dL, 6 mg/dL, and 175 mg/dL, respectively. Plasma triglyceride, phospholipid, apoB, apoC-III, and apoE levels were all within normal limits. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity was half of normal, while lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase activities were within normal limits. ApoA-I deficiency was confirmed by combined isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by an immunoblotting method. We surveyed the apoA-I gene of the patient and five of his family members by direct sequencing after amplification by polymerase chain reaction and found a codon 8 nonsense mutation (TGG --> TAG, Trp --> stop) in exon 3 of the apoA-I gene. The results of a pedigree analysis by DNA sequencing and restricted fragment length polymorphism (Sty I) were consistent with an autosomal codominant trait. Coronary angiography was performed to evaluate coronary atherosclerosis, but no significant luminal narrowing was detected. An intracoronary ultrasound study showed mild intimal hyperplasia in segment 6. In summary, this is a case of apoA-I deficiency without evidence of coronary heart disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Deaths due to heat waves during the summer of 1994 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan].

The summer of 1994 was unusually hot and dry in Japan, setting a record for high temperature and low rainfall in many areas. The daily record of temperature of July and August which were announced by Osaka District Meteorological Observatory exceeded the past ones. The daily recorded temperature of 75 consecutive days in Osaka city was above 30 degrees C with the maximum 39.1 degrees C on 18 August 1994 and 38 degrees C on 16 July 1994. The number of unusual deaths (except traffic accidents) in Osaka Prefecture was 655 and 733 in the month of July and August respectively which exceeded the number of death for the corresponding period of the last 5 consecutive years by 1.5 folds, which was directly proportionate to the change of temperatures. This was due to the illness of the people concerned. We investigated the age, sex and rectal temperature during the inquest and compared them with those of the same period of 1992, which we kept as control. On comparing age and sex of the dead bodies, the cases of 1994 were older than those of 1992, which was due to increased number of death of female aged 70 or more. On comparing the rectal temperatures of those who were found indoors within 8 hours after death, the average temperature of 1994 was also higher than that of 1992. Between the age groups of 75 or more and 74 or younger, the rectal temperature of the former is significantly higher than those of later age group. While regarding the room temperature of the high rectal temperature (39 degrees C < or =) group, no significant difference was observed between the age groups of 75 or more and 74 or younger. In general, the number of unusual deaths in the summer of 1994 in Osaka was more compared to those of previous years. The analysis of the recorded rectal temperatures demonstrated that, 75 or older age group has a tendency to hyperthermia. Since the aging society of Japan is gradually increasing, preventive measures will be necessary when forecasting heat wave to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the aged people.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1995

Detection of D1S80 (pMCT118) locus polymorphism using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction in skeletal remains.

We evaluated the usefulness of a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detecting D1S80 (pMCT118) locus polymorphisms of DNA extracted from old skeletal remains. The semi-nested PCR has been applied to the amplification of D1S80 nucleic acid sequences. For amplification of the locus D1S80, a pair of oligonucleotide primers have been used widely as described by Kasai et al. We have designed another set of primers for semi-nested PCR. This method resulted in D1S80-VNTR detection from low-titered DNA isolated from old skeletal remains. The first and second step PCR achieved amplification from as little as 10 ng and 10 pg of template DNA, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of the amplification products was markedly improved by semi-nested PCR. In DNA extracted from biological samples, this method took about 5 hours to amplify the target DNA and 3 hours for electrophoretic separation. We demonstrated that this semi-nested PCR method was superior in sensitivity to conventional 1-step standard amplification for VNTR typing of the D1S80 locus.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

[Susceptibility study on urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis to 19 kinds of antibiotics].

We detected the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bacteriocidal concentrations (MBC) of 19 kinds of antibiotics against urogenital chlamydia trachomatis (CT) from sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients. The results were as follows: (1) The mean MICs of tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, erythromycin, josamycin, medimycin, lomexacin and ofloxacin were lower than 0.08 microgram/ml. Clindamycin was lightly inhibitant to CT. Steptomycin, cephaloradine, chloramiphonic, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethaxazole and trimethoprim showed no activitis to urogenital CT. (2) The values of the MICs and MBCs of the standard strains were among those of the isolated ones. Another the differences in drug susceptibility of different serovars were observed. (3) The MIC detected method is also discussed.

Cervix Uteri↗

PubMed1994

In vitro conversion of recombinant human proapolipoprotein A-I to apolipoprotein A-I.

We recently investigated the in vivo conversion of recombinant human proapolipoprotein A-I (rh-Met-proapo A-I) from E. coli to apolipoprotein (apo) A-I in rabbits. In vitro incubation of rh-Met-proapo A-I with rabbit serum produced mature apo A-I3 isoproteins, as determined by the immunoblotting method. However, at the time we were unable to chemically confirm a newly produced protein band which appeared at the position of human apo A-I3. Since then, we have confirmed the amino acid sequence of the protein using a membrane protein sequence technique, and have concluded that it corresponds to human apo A-I3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Neointima formation after vascular stent implantation. Spatial and chronological distribution of smooth muscle cell proliferation and phenotypic modulation.

Intravascular stents have proved useful as angioplasty devices, but intimal hyperplasia after stent implantation remains an unsolved problem. In the present study, we analyzed the spatial and chronological distribution of proliferation and phenotypes of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in rabbit aortas during the process of neointima formation after stent implantation (Gianturco's Z type) by immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and myosin heavy chain isoforms (SM1, SM2, and SMemb). Stent implantation induced regional injury in the arterial wall. Medial SMCs then began to proliferate adjacent to the injured SMCs, maximally on day 4 (PCNA index in the media: 3.9 +/- 3.4% [mean +/- SD]), and were modulated to the embryonic phenotype (SMemb-positive and SM2-negative). They migrated into the intima and proliferated most frequently on day 7 (PCNA index in the intima: 20.3 +/- 5.5%) and subsequently led to fibrocellular neointima formation at 2 weeks and later. At 1 month after implantation and later, SMC proliferation was rare, and the phenotype of intimal SMCs was gradually returning to the adult type (SMemb-negative and SM2-positive). Thus, this stent implantation model demonstrates that the regional effect on arterial wall by stenting leads to neointima formation through transient and regional proliferation and migration of SMCs and their phenotypic modulations.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

[In vitro separation of bone marrow nuclear cells with methylcellulose and its application to autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with leukemia].

We studied bone marrow separated with 0.05% methylcellulose and cryopreservatized with liquid nitrogen. The separation time was 43 minutes. The collection rates of nuclear cells and CFU-GM were 79.0 +/- 5.10% and 93.0 +/- 3.10% in normal marrow samples and 83.4 +/- 15.45% and 91.0 +/- 8.32% in those of acute leukemia patients. The rate of residual erythocytes was 12.5% and the bone marrow volume could be reduced by 55.2%. Application of this technique to autologous bone marrow transplantation in four patients with acute leukemia reconstituted all of their hemopoietic functions and no toxic side effect was found after transplantation.

Bone Marrow↗

PubMed1993

Polymorphic site study at codon 347 of apolipoprotein A-IV in a Japanese population.

In a population of Japanese subjects, we surveyed codon 347 of the apolipoprotein (apo) A-IV gene and found that the frequency of a rare allele at this point was extremely low compared to that in western populations. Only one of 850 unrelated samples showed mutation at the enzyme recognition site by agarose gel electrophoresis. However, direct sequencing of the coding region revealed that it did not result from the ACT (Thr) to TCT (Ser) mutation which has been reported in western countries, but from an ACT to ACG (Thr) mutation, which does not affect the primary structure of apo A-IV. Two additional family members showed the same point mutation at codon 347.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

In vivo conversion of recombinant human proapolipoprotein AI (rh-Met-proapo AI) to apolipoprotein AI in rabbits.

In vivo conversion of recombinant human proapolipoprotein AI (rh-Met-proapo AI) from E. coli to apolipoprotein (apo) AI was investigated. rh-Met-proapo AI was labeled with 125I, and then administered intravenously to rabbits. Blood was sampled periodically for 6 days. The plasma decay curves of radioiodinated rt-Met-proapo AI were similar to those of human mature apo AI (fractional catabolic rate (FCR); 1.018 +/- 0.090/day vs. 0.976 1 0.031/day, respectively). In vivo conversion of rh-Met-proapo AI to mature apo AI was examined by autoradiography of the isoelectric focusing (IEF) slab gel, i.e., the HDL fraction from each sampling point was semiquantitatively applied to IEF. It was found that the radioactivity of rh-Met-proapo AI migrated to more acidic isoproteins, the conversion was complete within 24 h, and the FCR of rh-Met-proapo AI was 9.20 +/- 1.34/day. Although the plasma decay curves of both human pro (rh-Met-proapo AI) and mature apo AI were significantly steeper than those of rabbit mature apo AI4 and apo AI5 (FCR; 0.703 +/- 0.027/day and 0.795 +/- 0.031/day, respectively), the conversion rate of human rt-Met-proapo AI to mature apo AI in rabbit was assumed to be 1:1. In vitro incubation of rh-Met-proapo AI with rabbit serum produced mature apo AI isoproteins, as determined by the apo AI immunoblotting method. Prediction of the amino acid sequence at the NH2 terminus of rabbit proapo AI showed that the prosegment consisted of an alpha helix with a high probability of a beta turn at Pro9, which is close to that in humans. Thus, (1) the proteolytic cleavage of proapo AI is an extracellular event, (2) the converting enzyme in rabbits can also process human proapo AI, (3) this converting enzyme does not specifically and directly attack the Gln6-Asp7 bond which links the carboxyl-terminal residue of the hexapeptide to the amino-terminal residue of human mature apo AI. The conformation of proapo AI at the NH2 terminus (alpha helix of the prosegment and a beta turn at Pro9) may have a key role in this cleavage, and (4) the examination of rh-Met-proapo AI in rabbits helps to explain the early events of HDL biogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Combined therapy with probucol and pravastatin in hypercholesterolaemia. One year follow-up study.

The effect of co-administration of low doses of pravastatin to hypercholesterolaemic patients already receiving long-term probucol treatment (mean 500-1,000 mg/day for 350 days) were investigated. Pravastatin 5 mg/day (Group 1; 12 m, 13 f; mean age 59.1 y) or 10 mg/day (Group 2; 8 m, 11 f; mean age 60.8 y) was administered, and blood was taken after 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. Both groups showed a significant reduction in serum total cholesterol (TC), phospholipid (PL), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), LDL-triglyceride (TG), LDL-PL, apolipoprotein (apo) B, and apo E after the combined therapy. These levels were reduced more in Group 2 than in Group 1 subjects. In Group 2, significant falls in serum TG and apo CII were also observed. The changes in TC, PL, LDL-C, apo B, apo CII and apo E were dependent upon the dose of pravastatin, as assessed by two-way analysis of variance. Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)3-C, apo AI and apo AII were slightly but significantly increased in both groups after 12 months of combined therapy, but the increase was not sufficient to reverse the probucol-induced lowering of the HDL level. We conclude that combined therapy resulted in a significant reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, and an increasing dose of pravastatin (5 mg to 10 mg daily) made the lipid lowering effect more prominent. The reduction in serum HDL-C due to long-term probucol administration was not reversed by the addition of pravastatin.

Adult↗