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Biomedical subjects

K Meguro

Publications and source records attributed to K Meguro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Studies on antidiabetic agents. 11. Novel thiazolidinedione derivatives as potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agents.

In the course of further chemical modification of the novel antidiabetic pioglitazone (AD-4833, U-72,107), a series of 5-[4-(2- or 4-azolylalkoxy)benzyl- or -benzylidene]-2,4-thiazolidinediones was prepared and evaluated for hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in insulin-resistant, genetically obese, and diabetic KKA(y) mice. Replacement of the 2-pyridyl moiety of pioglitazone by a 2- or 4-oxazolyl or a 2- or 4-thiazolyl moiety greatly enhanced in vivo potency. The corresponding 5-benzylidene-type compounds, in which a methine was used as a linker between the benzene ring and the thiazolidinedione ring, also had potent biological activity. Among the compounds synthesized, 5-[4-[2-(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolyl)ethoxy]benzyl]-2,4- thiazolidinedione (18) exhibited the most potent activity, more than 100 times that of pioglitazone. The synthesis and structure-activity relationships for this novel series of derivatives are detailed.

Animals

The effects of morphine administered into the vertebral artery on the somatosympathetic A- and C-reflexes in anesthetized cats.

The effects of morphine (0.2-200 micrograms/kg) administered into the brain stem via a vertebral artery on the somatosympathetic A- and C-reflexes evoked in a cardiac sympathetic nerve by electrical stimulation of somatic myelinated (A) and unmyelinated (C) afferent nerve fibers in anesthetized cats were examined. The intravertebral arterial administration of 20-200 micrograms/kg morphine depressed dose-dependently both the somatosympathetic A- and C-reflexes. Following the administration of 200 micrograms/kg morphine, the amplitudes of the sympathetic A- and C-reflexes were depressed to 71 +/- 8% and 80 +/- 8% of the control magnitude, respectively. Injection of 2-200 micrograms/kg morphine caused hypotension in a dose-dependent manner. It is concluded that morphine administered in the brain stem via the vertebral artery produced a nonselective and slight depression of both the somatosympathetic A- and C-reflexes by acting at the level of brain stem.

Anesthesia

Histamine H1 receptors in human brain visualized in vivo by [11C]doxepin and positron emission tomography.

Histamine H1 receptors in the living human brain were visualized by positron emission tomography (PET) using [N-11C-methyl]-(E)-doxepin ([11C]doxepin). The regional distribution of the carbon-11-labeled compound in the brain corresponded well with that of the histamine H1 receptors measured in vitro using [3H]pyrilamine. The radioactivity in the brain was significantly reduced by intravenous pretreatment with d-chlorpheniramine (5 mg), a histamine H1 antagonist. The regional distribution of [11C]doxepin in the brain 45-90 min after its injection was almost the same as that of [11C]pyrilamine in the brain. These results indicate that [11C]doxepin is useful for measuring histamine H1 receptors in human brain by PET.

Adult

Vitamin B12 improves cognitive disturbance in rodents fed a choline-deficient diet.

The effect of vitamin B12 on learning disturbance was tested in rats. Rats were fed a choline-enriched, choline-deficient, and choline-deficient diet with vitamin B12. Concentrations of acetylcholine in the brain were significantly lower in rats fed a choline-deficient diet than rats fed a choline-enriched diet. Passive avoidance learning shows that rats on a choline-deficient diet showed significantly impaired learning compared to rats on a choline-enriched diet. However, there was no significant difference of acetylcholine in the brain or in the passive avoidance learning between rats fed a choline-enriched and a choline-deficient with vitamin B12 diet. We, therefore, suggest that vitamin B12 potentiates learning in an acetylcholine-deprived brain.

Acetylcholine

Age-dependent decrease in histamine H1 receptor in human brains revealed by PET.

Age-related changes in histamine H1 receptors were studied using [11C]pyrilamine or [11C]doxepin by positron emission tomography (PET). The frontal, parietal and temporal cortices showed age-related decreases in binding of approximately 13% per decade. In contrast, the thalamus showed no apparent decrease in binding during normal ageing because of its higher nonspecific binding. Post mortem studies also indicated that the nonspecific binding of [3H]pyrilamine in the thalamus was approximately 112% higher than that in the cortex. However, no significant decrease in histamine H1 receptors with age was observed by in vitro binding assays of autopsied human frontal cortex. Possible reasons are given for the larger effects of age observed in the PET study than in the in vitro post mortem binding study.

Adolescent

Mapping of histamine H1 receptors in the human brain using [11C]pyrilamine and positron emission tomography.

We have studied the characteristics of carbon-11 labeled pyrilamine as a radioligand for investigating histamine H1 receptors in human brain with positron emission tomography (PET). [11C]Pyrilamine is distributed evenly in proportion to cerebral blood flow at initial PET images. Later (after 45-60 min), 11C radioactivity was observed at high concentrations in the frontal and temporal cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus, and at low concentrations in the cerebellum and pons. The regional distribution of the carbon-11 labeled compound in the brain corresponded well with that of the histamine H1 receptors determined in vitro in autopsied materials. In six controls, the frontal and temporal cortices/cerebellum ratio increased during the first 60 min to reach a value of 1.22 +/- 0.071. Intravenous administration of d-chlorpheniramine (5 mg) completely abolished the specific binding in vivo in the frontal cortex and temporal cortex (cortex/cerebellum ratio, 0.955 +/- 0.015). The availability of this method for measuring histamine H1 receptors in vivo in humans will facilitate studies on neurological and psychiatric disorders in which histamine H1 receptors are thought to be abnormal.

Adult

Prevention of respiratory infections in elderly bed-bound nursing home patients.

A procedure to prevent silent aspiration, which results in frequent respiratory infections, was conducted on elderly bed-bound nursing home patients who suffered mainly from cerebral infarction and dementia. We cleaned the mouth with povidone iodine and kept them in a sitting position for 2 hr after each meal in order to restrict respiratory bacterial infection and to prevent aspiration of gastric juices, respectively. Patients with urinary tract infections were excluded from the present protocol. During the treatment for 103 days the number of febrile days was significantly decreased in the treated group compared with the control group, probably due to minimizing of respiratory infections.

Aged

[Bactericidal clothes protect against respiratory infections in the elderly patients].

In order to protect against infections in the elderly patients, bactericidal clothes were used. Ninety elderly patients were divided into two groups; the control group and the other group with bactericidal clothes. In period I neither group received particular treatment for three months and in period II only the treated group used bactericidal clothes for three months. The control group in period II used regular clothes throughout. Cause of fever (greater than 37 degrees C) extending more than 10 or 15 days were significantly lower in the treated group than in the control group. It was suggested that the bactericidal clothes reduce infections in elderly patients.

Aged

Malignant lymphoma of the central nervous system presenting with central neurogenic hyperventilation. Case report.

The case is described of a 72-year-old woman who presented with a progressive right hemiparesis and central neurogenic hyperventilation. Pathological and radiological studies revealed diffuse infiltration of a malignant lymphoma into the entire central nervous system and the upper spinal cord. The authors review 12 cases of tumor-induced central neurogenic hyperventilation and discuss the pathophysiology of this condition.

Aged

[Differentiating effect of oral administration of retinol palmitate (Chocola-A) for an aged AML (M3) with severe complications].

A 74 year-old woman, who had been diagnosed as AML (M3) in poor condition, was treated with Retinol Palmitate (Chocola-A, 150,000 unit/m2 per os, after informed consent. An increase of white blood cells (neutrophil) counts was observed after 7 days. After 4 weeks, WBC counts were increased to 20,700/microliters (neutrophil counts 6,400/microliters) Maturation tendency of leukemic cells was also proved in the bone marrow. In vitro studies showed that morphological differentiation was recognizable in cultured leukemic cells treated with 10(-6)M all-trans retinoic acid after 6 days, but not in controls. Responses in the NBT reduction test were slightly less than in the clinical study. The administration of Retinol Palmitate may be a new regimen to treat AML (M3) in aged patients in poor condition.

Administration, Oral

Decreased cerebral glucose metabolism associated with mental deterioration in multi-infarct dementia.

Cerebral glucose metabolism of 18 patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID) and 10 age-matched normal subjects were examined with positron emission tomography and the 18-F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose technique. MID patients had significantly lower glucose metabolism in all the grey matter regions measured and were also characterized by more individuality in metabolic pattern. MID patients were also evaluated as to intelligence quotient (IQ). A positive correlation between IQ as shown by the Tanaka-Binet test and glucose metabolism for the entire grey matter was found. The clinical applicability of this test for predicting cerebral metabolism is discussed.

Aged

Nicotine improves cognitive disturbance in rodents fed with a choline-deficient diet.

The effect of nicotine on learning disturbances was tested in rats. Rats were fed either a choline-enriched or a choline-deficient diet. Concentration of acetylcholine in the whole brain was significantly lower in rats fed with choline-deficient diet than rats fed with choline-enriched diet. Passive avoidance learning shows that rats on a choline-deficient diet showed significantly impaired learning compared to rats on a choline-enriched diet. Nicotine (0.04 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally significantly potentiated learning in rats on a choline-deficient diet, as well as in rats on a choline-enriched diet. We, therefore, suggest that nicotine may potentiate learning in an acetylcholine-deprived brain.

Acetylcholine

T cell-mediated inhibition of erythropoiesis in aplastic anaemia: the possible role of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha.

The inhibitory activity of T cells on autologous erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) (T cell inhibitory activity) in patients with aplastic anaemia (AA) was investigated. In 11 (32.4%) out of 34 AA cases, T cell inhibition on autologous CFU-E growth was greater than that in normal individuals. In order to evaluate the mechanism of this inhibitory activity, T cell surface markers, interferon (IFN) production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC) liquid culture, and cytokine levels such as IFN and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in CFU-E clot cocultured with T cells, were measured in a portion of the patients. In five patients investigated for IFN production in PBMNC liquid culture, all produced statistically more IFN activity than normal individuals under phytohaemagglutinin (PHA-P) stimulation (P less than 0.01) with no relation to T cell inhibitory activity. In only one patient whose T cells displayed increased CD8 and HLA-DR antigen (CD8+HLA-DR+) and inhibitory activity, a significant amount of IFN-gamma was observed in CFU-E clot cocultured with T cells, and the addition of anti-IFN-gamma antibody to the coculture resulted in recovered CFU-E colony growth. These results suggest that IFN-gamma production by T cells may explain, at least in part, the pathogenesis of haematopoietic defects in AA. In other patients however, T cell inhibitory activity neither correlated to the T cell subpopulations (CD4+/CD8+, CD8+HLA-DR+), IFN production in PBMNC liquid culture, nor to IFN and TNF-alpha levels in CFU-E clot culture. The roles played by cytokines other than IFN and TNF-alpha on haematopoietic precursor cells require further evaluation in a larger sample of patients with AA.

Adolescent

Studies on antidiabetic agents. X. Synthesis and biological activities of pioglitazone and related compounds.

Various analogues of a new antidiabetic agent, pioglitazone (AD-4833, U-72107), were synthesized in order to study in more detail the structure-activity relationships of this class of drug. 5-(4-Pyridylalkylthiobenzyl)-2,4-thiazolidinediones (I), thia-analogues of pioglitazone, were prepared via Meerwein arylation of the alkylthioanilines (IV). 5-(4-Pyridylalkoxybenzylidene)-2,4-thiazolidinediones (IIa) and related heterocyclic analogues (IIb) were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of the aldehydes (VIII) with the corresponding azolidinones. Compounds I and II were evaluated for hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in genetically obese and diabetic yellow KK (KKAy) mice. Several 5-[4-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethoxy]-benzylidene]-2,4- thiazolidinediones (IIa) were equipotent to pioglitazone. However, the thia-analogues (I) and the benzylideneheterocycles (IIb) had decreased activity. Catalytic hydrogenation of the 5-benzylidene analogue (14) was found to be a convenient new synthetic method for pioglitazone. The configuration of 14 is also discussed.

Animals

Synthesis and biological activities of new 1,4-benzothiazine derivatives.

New 2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one derivatives possessing (4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)alkyl moieties at the 2-position were synthesized and tested for calcium antagonistic and calmodulin antagonistic activities. Antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats were also evaluated. In general, these compounds were rather weak calcium channel blockers, although, in contrast, many of them had moderate to potent calmodulin antagonistic activity, and 2-[3-(4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]propyl]-2H-1,4-benzothiazin -3 (4H)-one derivatives 45, 74 and 75 showed potent antihypertensive effects.

Animals

Synthesis and biological activities of new 2-substituted 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives.

A series of new 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives (XI, XII) possessing (4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)alkyl moieties at the 2-position and related compounds (XIII) were synthesized and tested for calcium antagonistic, calmodulin antagonistic and antihypertensive activities. Various compounds had in vitro calmodulin antagonistic activity superior or comparable to that of trifluoperazine. Among these compounds, tetrahydronaphtho[2,3-b] [1,4]oxazine derivatives such as 51, 53, 54, 58, 59, 60, 73 and 75 showed potent antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Optical isomers of 51 were also synthesized and evaluated biologically. No differences in biological activities were seen between the enantiomers.

Animals

Portable digital subtraction angiography in the operating room and intensive care unit.

A simple, inexpensive method of portable digital subtraction angiography (DSA) using an image processor (Sigma X), still-videorecorder and control panel combined with a surgical x-ray television unit can provide real time subtraction images on the monitor. This portable DSA unit was used in 161 cases (130 in the operating room and 31 in the intensive care unit). In the operating room it is useful: 1) to confirm patency of the parent artery and its branches after aneurysm clipping, 2) to identify feeding arteries of arteriovenous malformation and to confirm total extirpation, 3) to confirm the patency of extracranial-intracranial bypass, 4) to confirm patency of the internal carotid artery and absence of flap formation after carotid endarterectomy. In the intensive care unit, it is particularly useful for visualizing cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and recanalization of an occluded major intracranial artery. Absence of intracranial circulation can be demonstrated in patients with suspected brain death.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction