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Biomedical subjects

Hiroyuki Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroyuki Inoue.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Infectivity enhanced, hTERT promoter-based conditionally replicative adenoviruses are useful for SCLC treatment.

Treatment of advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains one of the major challenges in current medicine because of the high morbidity and mortality of the disease. Advanced stage lung cancer is refractory to conventional therapies and it also has an extremely poor prognosis. As a result, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Telomere maintenance to the regulation of replicative lifespan strongly implies that alterations in telomere biology play an important role during malignant transformation. Cancers that exhibit high levels of telomerase activity, such as all of the SCLC, were examined in a previous study. In this study, we turned the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) by tumors to a therapeutic advantage using a conditionally replication-competent adenovirus (CRAd) in which the expression of E1 (early region 1) is controlled by the hTERT promoter. This virus achieved good levels of viral replication in SCLC cells and induced a substantial anticancer effect in vitro and in vivo. As a further enhancement, the cancer cell killing effect was improved with a tropism modification of the virus to express the knob domain of Ad3 (serotype 3 adenovirus), and this improved infectivity for cancer cells. Conversely, the hTERT promoter has low activity in normal tissues, and the CRAd caused no damage to normal lung fibroblast cells. Since the telomerase activity is common in many types of cancers, these CRAds may be applicable to a wide range of tumors. We concluded that the use of hTERT promoter-based CRAds may be a potentially effective strategy for cancer treatment.

Adenoviridae↗

Vacuolating cytotoxin A is associated with increased thrombin generation in gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND: Activation of the coagulation system is a critical response for both the repair of tissue injury and the host defense against microbial pathogens. Activation of the coagulation cascade culminates with the generation of thrombin. In vitro studies have shown that thrombin protects gastric epithelial cells from injury. The present study was undertaken to assess in vivo the relationship between gastric intramucosal generation of thrombin and Helicobacter pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised 59 patients with gastroduodenal disorders. There were 27 patients with H. pylori infection (Hp+), 14 without it (Hp-), and 18 patients with cured H. pylori infection (Hp c). The gastric intramucosal concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), epidermal growth factor (EGF), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) were measured by specific immunoassays. RESULTS: The level of TAT was significantly increased in patients with Hp+ compared to Hp- and Hp c. The levels of TAT, EGF and PGE2 were higher in VacA (+) patients than in those with VacA (-). VacA induced significant expression of tissue factor in gastric epithelial cells in vitro. The gastric intramucosal level of VacA antigen was proportionally and significantly correlated with TAT, EGF and PGE2 in Hp+ patients. The level of TAT was proportionally and significantly correlated with EGF in Hp+ patients but not in Hp- and HP c patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that VacA produced by H. pylori is associated with increased thrombin generation, and that thrombin may play a protective role in H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disorders.

Adult↗

Sugar-sensitive thin films composed of concanavalin A and glycogen.

Sugar-sensitive thin films were prepared by a layer-by-layer deposition of concanavalin A (Con A) and glycogen on the surface of a quartz slide and their sugar-induced decomposition was studied. The Con A/glycogen multilayer films can be decomposed by exposing them to sugar solutions (D-glucose, D-mannose, methyl-alpha-D-glucose and methyl-alpha-D-mannose), as a result of displacement of sugar residues of glycogen from the binding sites of Con A by the free sugar added in the solution. The rate of decomposition significantly depended on the type of sugar and its concentration.

Journal Article↗

Morphological and chemical analysis of magic mushrooms in Japan.

Morphological and toxicological analyses were performed on hallucinogenic mushrooms that are currently circulated in Japan. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated a three-dimensional microstructures in the mushrooms. The complementary use of SEM with an optical microscope was effective for observing characteristic tissues, such as basidiomycetes, spores, cystidia and basidia. Hallucinogenic alkaloids were extracted with methanol and determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a UV detector set at 220 nm. The psilocin/psilocybin contents in Psilocybe cubensis were in the range of 0.14-0.42%/0.37-1.30% in the whole mushroom (0.17-0.78%/0.44-1.35% in the cap and 0.09-0.30%/0.05-1.27% in the stem), respectively. The hallucinogenic alkaloids in Copelandia were 0.43-0.76%/0.08-0.22% in the whole mushroom (0.64-0.74%/0.02-0.22% in the cap and 0.31-0.78%/0.01-0.39% in the stem). It thus appears that P. cubensis is psilocybin-rich, whereas Copelandia is psilocin-rich.

Agaricales↗

Production of free and organic iodine by Roseovarius spp.

Two strains of iodine-producing bacteria were isolated from marine samples. 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated the strains were most closely related to Roseovarius tolerans, and phylogenetic analysis indicated both belong to the same genus. 5 mM iodide inhibited the growth of strain 2S5-2 almost completely, and of strain S6V slightly. Both strains produced free iodine and organic iodine from iodide. CH2I2, CHI3 and CH2ClI were the main organic iodines produced by strain 2S5-2, and CHI3 and CH2I2 by strain S6V. Experiments using cells and spent media suggested that the organic iodines were produced from the compounds released or contained in the media and cells were necessary for the considerable production of CH2I2 and CH2ClI, though CHI3 was produced by spent media with H2O2 or free iodine.

Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria↗

Methamphetamine impurity profiling using a 0.32 mm i.d. nonpolar capillary column.

Classification of seized methamphetamine by impurity profiling can provide very useful information in criminal investigations of drug traffic routes, sources of supply and relationships between seizures. The aim of this study is to improve and develop an analytical method for detecting impurities such as starting materials and by-products in illegally prepared methamphetamine.HCl samples. A 50mg sample of methamphetamine.HCl was dissolved in 1 ml of buffer solution (four parts 0.1M phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and one part 10% Na2CO3). Impurities were extracted with 0.5 ml of ethyl acetate containing four internal standards (ISs) (n-decane, n-pentadecane, n-nonadecane and n-hexacosane) and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) using a flame ionization detector (FID) on a DB-5 capillary column (0.32 mmi.d. x 30 m, film thickness 1.0 microm). The use of a middle-bore column offered better separation of the impurity peaks. The correction of the retention times of impurity peaks with four ISs made peak identification very accurate for subsequent data processing. Twenty-four characteristic peaks were selected for comparison and similarity and/or dissimilarity between samples, and the data were evaluated by the Euclidean distance of the relative peak areas after logarithmic transformation. The results indicate that the present method would be useful for methamphetamine impurity profiling.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Chiral analysis of amphetamine-type stimulants using reversed-polarity capillary electrophoresis/positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Reversed-polarity (RP) capillary electrophoresis/positive ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI+ MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were utilized for simultaneous chiral separation of nine amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) (dl-norephedrine, dl-norpseudoephedrine, dl-ephedrine, dl-pseudoephedrine, dl-amphetamine, dl-methamphetamine, dl-methylenedioxyamphetamine, dl-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and dl-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine). Using highly sulfated gamma-cyclodextrin (SU(XIII)-gamma-CD) as a chiral selector, the nine ATS were completely separated within 50 min. The migrated ATS-CD complex was dissociated at the ESI interface, and only ATS molecules went into the MS detector so that all 18 individual enantiomers were identified by their mass spectra. The detection limit of MS/MS was 10 times more sensitive than those for single MS. Seized d-methamphetamine hydrochloride samples dissolved at high concentration (20 mg/mL) were analyzed. Impurities originating in the precursor such as l-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine were detected and identified by tandem mass spectra.

Amphetamines↗

Tin-carbon cleavage of organotin compounds by pyoverdine from Pseudomonas chlororaphis.

The triphenyltin (TPT)-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis CNR15 produces extracellular yellow substances to degrade TPT. Three substances (F-I, F-IIa, and F-IIb) were purified, and their structural and catalytic properties were characterized. The primary structure of F-I was established using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques; the structure was identical to that of suc-pyoverdine from P. chlororaphis ATCC 9446, which is a peptide siderophore produced by fluorescent pseudomonads. Spectral and isoelectric-focusing analyses revealed that F-IIa and F-IIb were also pyoverdines, differing only in the acyl substituent attached to the chromophore part of F-I. Furthermore, we found that the fluorescent pseudomonads producing pyoverdines structurally different from F-I showed TPT degradation activity in the solid extracts of their culture supernatants. F-I and F-IIa degraded TPT to monophenyltin via diphenyltin (DPT) and degraded DPT and dibutyltin to monophenyltin and monobutyltin, respectively. The total amount of organotin metabolites produced by TPT degradation was nearly equivalent to that of the F-I added to the reaction mixture, whereas DPT degradation was not influenced by monophenyltin production. The TPT degradation activity of F-I was remarkably inhibited by the addition of metal ions chelated with pyoverdine. On the other hand, the activity of DPT was increased 13- and 8-fold by the addition of Cu(2+) and Sn(4+), respectively. These results suggest that metal-chelating ligands common to pyoverdines may play important roles in the Sn-C cleavage of organotin compounds in both the metal-free and metal-complexed states.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Degradation of chlorinated biphenyl, dibenzofuran, and dibenzo-p-dioxin by marine bacteria that degrade biphenyl, carbazole, or dibenzofuran.

Marine bacterial strains (BP-PH, CAR-SF, and DBF-MAK) were isolated using biphenyl, carbazole (CAR), or dibenzofuran (DF) respectively as substrates for growth. Their 16S ribosomal DNA sequences showed that the species closest to strain BP-PH, strain CAR-SF, and strain DBF-MAK are Alteromonas macleodii (96.3% identity), Neptunomonas naphthovorans (93.1% identity), and Cycloclasticus pugetii (97.3% identity), respectively. The metabolites produced suggested that strain CAR-SF degrades CAR via dioxygenation in the angular position and by the meta-cleavage pathway, and that strain DBF-MAK degrades DF via both lateral and angular dioxygenation. Polychlorinated biphenyl (KC-300) and 2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were partially degraded by strain BP-PH and strain DBF-MAK, while 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran remained virtually unchanged.

Bacteria↗

ICM0201, a new inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis from Cunninghamella sp. F-1490. II. Structure determination and synthesis.

ICM0201 (1), a new inhibitor of murine osteoclastogenesis in culture was isolated from a fermentation broth of Cunninghamella sp. F-1490. The structure of ICM0201 was determined to be (3S,10aR)-3,4a-dihydroxy-2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-b]benzo[e]morpholine-9-carboxylic acid by spectroscopic analyses and chemical studies. The structure of 1 is unique in that the tricycle ring system is composed of aminal and hemiacetal bonds.

Animals↗

Biochemical and molecular characterization of the NAD(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from the chemolithotroph Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans.

An isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) with an unique coenzyme specificity from Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans was purified and characterized, and its gene was cloned. The native enzyme was homodimeric with a subunit of M(r) 45000 and showed a 78-fold preference for NAD(+) over NADP(+). The cloned ICDH gene (icd) was expressed in an icd-deficient strain of Escherichia coli EB106; the activity was found in the cell extract. The gene encodes a 429-amino acid polypeptide and is located between open reading frames encoding a putative aconitase gene (upstream of icd) and a putative succinyl-CoA synthase beta-subunit gene (downstream of icd). A. thiooxidans ICDH showed high sequence similarity to bacterial NADP(+)-dependent ICDH rather than eukaryotic NAD(+)-dependent ICDH, but the NAD(+)-preference of the enzyme was suggested due to residues conserved in the coenzyme binding site of the NAD(+)-dependent decarboxylating dehydrogenase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The use of a highly sulfated cyclodextrin for the simultaneous chiral separation of amphetamine-type stimulants by capillary electrophoresis.

We investigated the simultaneous chiral separation of nine amphetamine type stimulants (dl-norephedrine, dl-norpseudoephedrine, dl-ephedrine, dl-pseudoephedrine, dl-amphetamine, dl-methamphetamine, dl-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), dl-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and dl-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA)) by capillary electrophoresis using highly sulfated gamma-cyclodextrin (SU(XIII)-gamma-CD) as a chiral selector. Three different approaches using SU(XIII)-gamma-CD with 50 mM phosphate background electrolyte were designed; (I) high CD concentration (10 mM SU(XIII)-gamma-CD) at neutral pH (pH 7.0) in the normal polarity mode, (II) low CD concentration (1.0 mM) at low pH (pH 2.6) in the normal polarity mode and (III) high CD concentration at low pH (pH 2.6) in the reversed-polarity mode. In mode (II), the effects of adding three neutral CDs (beta-CD, dimethyl-beta-CD and hydroxypropyl-beta-CD) were also investigated. The best separation was obtained after optimizing mode (III) as follows: run buffer of 10 mM SU(XIII)-gamma-CD with 50 mM phosphate background electrolyte at pH 2.6, applied voltage of -12 kV and capillary temperature of 15 degrees C.

Adrenergic Agents↗

Phenotypic switching of in vitro mandibular condylar cartilage during matrix mineralization.

In order to analyze the phenotypic conversion of chondrocytes, mandibular condyles of mice and rabbits were cultured under cell and organ culture systems, and then examined by a combination of morphological and biochemical procedures. In organ culture, mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) obtained from newborn mice began to mineralize from the central zone and then progressively widened towards the peripheral zone. Electron microscopic observations showed that with the increasing duration of the organ culture, chondrocytes at the central zone converted into spindle-shaped osteoblastic cells accompanying the formation of the bone type of thick-banded collagen fibrils. To obtain a better understanding of the chondrocytic conversion, immunolocalizations for type I and type X collagens and osteocalcin (OC) were examined in mouse MCC cells in cell culture. Type X collagen and OC were expressed almost simultaneously at the late stage of culture, and type I collagen was detected along the calcified nodules after the production of these proteins. Northern blot analysis in cell cultures of rabbit MCC indicated that type II collagen and alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) were highly expressed at day 7, but subsequently decreased. In contrast, mRNA for type I collagen was expressed at a low level on day 7 and peaked on day 12. The present results suggest that, morphologically and biochemically, cellular modification in MCC cells under culture conditions occurs at a cellular morphological level and also at marker-gene-expression level.

Aging↗

In vivo metabolism of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) in the rat: identification of urinary metabolites.

The in vivo metabolism of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B), a ring-substituted psychoactive phenethylamine, in the rat was studied. Male Wistar rats were administered 10 mg/kg of 2C-B hydrochloride orally, and 24 h urine fractions were collected. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the urine samples, the metabolites were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 2-(4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-ethanol, 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylacetic acid, 2-(2-hydroxy-4-bromo-5-methoxyphenyl)-ethylamine, 2-(2-methoxy-4-bromo-5-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylamine, 1-acetoamino-2-(2-hydroxy-4-bromo-5-methoxyphenyl)-ethane, and 1-acetoamino-2-(2-methoxy-4-bromo-5-hydroxyphenyl)-ethane were identified as 2C-B metabolites. These findings suggest that at least two metabolic pathways for 2C-B are operative in rats. The first pathway leads to the corresponding aldehyde metabolite by deamination, which is subsequently reduced or oxidized, to give the corresponding alcohol and carboxylic acid metabolites. The second pathway leads to the corresponding 2-O-desmethyl or 5-O-desmethyl metabolites in which the amino group is subsequently acetylated.

DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine↗