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Hiroyuki Iizuka

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroyuki Iizuka.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of 138-355, a beta3-adrenoceptor selective agonist, on relaxation of the human detrusor muscle in vitro.

AIMS: Beta-adrenoceptors are the predominant beta-adrenoceptor subtype present in the bladder and urethra. This study investigates the effects of 138-355, an active-metabolite of TT-138 and beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, on relaxation of the human detrusor in vitro. METHODS: Tumor-free tissue samples of human bladder muscle from 39 patients undergoing total cystectomy due to bladder cancer were obtained, and the mucosa and serosa were removed. Tissues were mounted in 5 or 10 ml organ baths containing Krebs solution, which was gassed with 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2). Resting tension of 1 g was obtained. When the contraction had stabilized, increasing concentrations of beta adrenoceptor agonists (non-selective, isoprenaline; beta(2)-selective, clenbuterol; beta(3)-selective, 138-355 and BRL37344) and propiverine (a non-selective anti-muscarinic antagonist) were added cumulatively and concentration-relaxation curves (CRCs) were obtained. CRCs to 138-355 were obtained in the absence and presence of SR59230A, a beta(3)-selective antagonist, and antagonist affinity values (pA(2)) were calculated from the Schild plot. RESULTS: Isoproterenol, clenbuterol, 138-355 and BRL37344 concentration-dependently relaxed isolated human urinary bladder strips with pEC(50) value being 6.76+/-0.17, 5.23+/-0.22, 5.80+/-0.26 and 5.90+/-0.28, respectively. Following antagonist assay, it was observed that concentration-relaxation curves to 138-355 was competitively antagonized by beta(3)- adrenoceptor antagonist, SR59230A, with a pA(2) value of 7.01+/-0.45 and with a Schild slope of 0.72+/-0.07. CONCLUSIONS: Involvement of the beta(3)-adrenoceptor appears to be greater than that of the beta(3)-adrenoceptor for relaxations of the human bladder. The relaxation response of 138-355 appears to be mediated via the beta(3)-adrenoceptor stimulation.

Adrenergic beta-3 Receptor Agonists↗

Functional VEGF C-634G polymorphism is associated with development of diabetic macular edema and correlated with macular retinal thickness in type 2 diabetes.

Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a strong effect on induction of vascular permeability, VEGF is an attractive candidate gene for development of diabetic macular edema (ME). Among the 378 patients with type 2 diabetes studied, 203 patients had no retinopathy, 93 had non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and 82 had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). ME was present in 16 patients with NPDR and 47 patients with PDR. We genotyped three VEGF polymorphisms: C-2,578A, G-1,154A, and C-634G. Genotype and allele distribution of C-634G, but not C-2,578A or G-1,154A, were significantly different between patients with and without diabetic retinopathy. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the C-634G genotype was a risk factor for DR (p = 0.002), and furthermore for ME (p = 0.047), independently from severity of DR, with the -634C allele increasing the risk. Macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography was correlated with the C-634G genotype, with the trend increasing with the presence of more -634C alleles (p = 0.006). Stepwise regression analysis showed that duration of diabetes and presence of the C-634G genotype were independent predictors of macular thickness. In addition, basic transcriptional activity levels associated with the -634C allele were greater compared to those seen with the -634G allele in human glioma and lymphoblastic T-lymphocyte cells. These results demonstrate that the VEGF C-634G polymorphism is a genetic risk factor for ME as well as DR.

Adult↗

Adaptability and diversity in simulated turn-taking behavior.

Turn-taking behavior is simulated in a coupled-agents system. Each agent is modeled as a mobile robot with two wheels. A recurrent neural network is used to produce the motor outputs and to hold the internal dynamics. Agents are developed to take turns on a two-dimensional arena by causing the network structures to evolve. Turn taking is established using either regular or chaotic behavior of the agents. It is found that chaotic turn takers are more sensitive in response to inputs from the other agent. Conversely, regular turn takers are comparatively robust against noisy inputs, owing to their restricted dynamics. From many observations, including turn taking with virtual agents, we claim that there is a complementary relationship between robustness and adaptability. Furthermore, by investigating the recoupling of agents from different GA generations, we report the emergence of a new turn-taking behavior. Potential for synthesizing a new form of interaction is another characteristic of chaotic turn takers.

Algorithms↗

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene is associated with diabetic macular edema in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene polymorphisms to assess its possible association with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 226 patients with type 2 diabetes and 186 healthy subjects were studied. Type 2 diabetic patients consisted of 110 patients without retinopathy, 46 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 71 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic macular edema was present in 48 patients. Three polymorphisms of the eNOS gene were determined: T-786C in the promoter region, 27-bp repeat in intron 4, and Glu298Asp in exon 7. RESULTS: Close linkage disequilibrium was observed between the T-786C polymorphism and the 27-bp repeat, as has been previously reported, but Glu298Asp was not in linkage disequilibrium with the other two polymorphisms. The eNOS gene polymorphisms were not significantly associated with the presence of retinopathy or with retinopathy severity or type 2 diabetes itself. However, by both association study and multiple logistic regression analysis, the T-786C and 27-bp repeat polymorphisms were significantly associated with a risk of developing macular edema with the -786C allele and the "a" allele increasing the risk. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the eNOS gene is a novel genetic risk factor for diabetic macular edema. The eNOS gene polymorphisms may contribute to the development of macular edema by impairing basal eNOS expression and resulting in the breakdown of the blood-retina barrier.

DNA Primers↗