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Biomedical subjects

K Miyajima

Publications and source records attributed to K Miyajima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Lateral interactions of pig apolipoprotein A-1 with egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and with cholesterol in mixed monolayers at the triolein-saline interface.

Interfacial tensions of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol monolayers adsorbed at the triolein-saline interface were measured in the presence and absence of pig apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) in the saline phase. In the absence of apoA-1, the adsorptions of PC and cholesterol at the interface from the triolein phase are cooperative, showing large lateral attractive interactions between the PC molecules and the cholesterol molecules in the monolayer. In the presence of apoA-1, the PC adsorption is anti-cooperative, indicating strong lateral attractive interactions between the PC and the apoA-1 molecules, i.e., apparently, repulsive lateral interactions between the PC molecules. On the other hand, lateral interactions of very low magnitude are observed between the cholesterol and apoA-1 molecules in the monolayer. Values of the lateral interaction energy are evaluated from the adsorption data by the Defay-Prigogine-Flory theory of monolayers. The large difference in lateral interaction energy with apoA-1 between PC and cholesterol in a mixed monolayer is discussed in connection with current problems in lipoprotein catabolism: reverse cholesterol transport, alterations in affinity of lipid particles to apoA-1, and formation of high-density lipoproteins and abnormal lipoproteins.

Adsorption

Effect of cyclodextrins on biological membrane. II. Mechanism of enhancement on the intestinal absorption of non-absorbable drug by cyclodextrins.

The effects of two kinds of cyclodextrins (CyDs), alpha- and beta-CyD, on biological membranes were investigated by measuring changes in the absorption of a non-absorbable drug, sulfanilic acid (SA), from the rat small intestine, using in situ and in vitro experiments. After pretreatment with a mucolytic agent, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (N-Ac), only beta-CyD increased the absorption of SA significantly compared to the absorption without pretreatment. The mechanism of the enhancing effect of CyDs on the absorption of SA was discussed. Almost no morphological change in the small intestine was observed by pretreatment with N-Ac alone, N-Ac or alpha- or beta-CyD combinations. The liberation of membrane components differed among the CyDs, e.g., alpha-CyD selectively released phospholipid while beta-CyD released mainly cholesterol from the intestinal membrane. It is suggested that the interaction of membrane components with CyDs may be at least partly responsible for the enhanced absorption of SA. Moreover it was found from in vitro electrophysiological experiment, that the alteration in enhanced permeability caused by beta-CyD occurred primarily in the transcellular pathways, rather than in the paracellular pathways of the small intestine. These results suggest that the enhancement of intestinal absorption by beta-CyD, after removal of the mucin layer from the intestinal surface, is due to the interaction between the membrane components and CyD. This interaction would induce disorder in cell membrane lipid, resulting in the increased permeability of the transcellular route.

Animals

[Amounts of urinary metabolites of p-chloroaniline and their half lives in a patient with acute poisoning].

The aim of this study was to elucidate the time courses of amounts of urinary p-chloroaniline (p-CA) metabolites during acute poisoning and to establish a suitable method for biological monitoring of exposure to p-CA. Urinary p-CA metabolites which were previously identified in a patient with acute p-CA poisoning were determined quantitatively over time during admission of a patient by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and by the colorimetric method of diazo-positive metabolites (DPM). The data of urinary excretion of each p-CA metabolite were fitted to two-compartment model of pharmacokinetics. Major urinary metabolites of p-CA were conjugated p-CA and conjugated 2-amino-5-chlorophenol (2-A-5-CP), and the detected amounts of 2,4-dichloroaniline (2,4-DCA) and free p-CA were small. During the rapid phase for the disappearance of each metabolite, half lives of p-CA, 2-A-5-CP and 2,4-DCA were 2.4, 1.7 and 1.7 h, respectively, and during the slow phase, they were 4.5, 3.3 and 3.8 h, respectively. Urinary p-CA occupied about 62% of the total metabolites detected in the urine, 2-A-5-CP about 36%, and 2,4-DCA about 1%. 2-A-5-CP and p-CA were detected in the urine of the patient obtained on days 3 and 4, respectively, after the poisoning, but the amount of DPM after the second day of the poisoning was in the range of that of non-exposed persons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease

[Excretion of p-chloroaniline metabolites into urine. Excretion of 2,4-dichloroaniline and p-chloroformanilide].

Previously, we identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) urinary metabolites of p-chloroaniline (p-CA) in a patient with acute p-CA poisoning. Among these metabolites there is a possibility that 2,4-dichloroaniline (2,4-DCA) and p-chloroformanilide (p-CFA) are produced through some unknown metabolic pathways in human. In order to clarify whether 2,4-DCA and p-CFA were produced within the human body or not, an attempt was made to detect these metabolites in the patient's urine samples prepared by various pretreatments, using both GC/MS and high performance liquid chromatograph. In addition, the detection of these metabolites in non-exposed person's urine samples spiked with p-CA and 2-amino-5-chlorophenol was attempted by GC/MS using same the procedures in order to examine whether p-CA and 2-amino-5-chlorophenol excreted as metabolites were further changed to 2,4-DCA or p-CFA in the urine or not. 2,4-DCA was found abundantly in the ethereal extracts from the patient's urine samples hydrolyzed with hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric acids, but only small amounts from intact urine samples by GC/MS. No 2,4-DCA was detected in the urine samples to which were added p-CA and 2-amino-5-chlorophenol. p-CFA was found in the ethereal samples which were extracted at acidic conditions from the patient's urine samples by GC/MS at the injection port temperature of 250 degrees C of the gas chromatograph, but the p-CFA peak disappeared at the injection port temperature of 150 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aniline Compounds

A comparative study on interactions of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing antibiotic peptides, trichopolyn I and hypelcin A with phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

Interactions of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing antibiotic peptides, trichopolyn I and hypelcin A with phosphatidylcholine bilayers were investigated to obtain some basic information on their bioactive mechanisms. Trichopolyn I as well as hypelcin A induced the leakage of a fluorescent dye, calcein, entrapped in sonicated egg yolk L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine vesicles. A quantitative analysis revealed that both the binding affinity and the 'membrane-perturbing activity' of trichopolyn I to the vesicles are about one-third of those of hypelcin A. The conformations and the orientations of the peptide and lipid molecules in the membranes were studied using polarized Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and differential scanning calorimetry. In phosphatidylcholine bilayers, both peptides mainly conformed to helical structures irrespective of the membrane physical state (gel or liquid-crystalline). The helix axes, penetrating the hydrophobic region of the bilayers, were oriented neither parallel nor perpendicular to the membrane normal. The disruption in the lipid packing induced by the peptide insertion seems to be responsible for the leakage by these peptides.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

Interactions of an antimicrobial peptide, tachyplesin I, with lipid membranes.

Tachyplesin I, isolated from the acid extracts of hemocytes of Tachypleus tridentatus, is a cyclic broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide forming a rigid, antiparallel beta-sheet because of two intramolecular S-S linkages. The strong binding of the peptide to lipopolysaccharides cannot explain the susceptibilities of gram positive bacteria and fungi to the peptide. We found that tachyplesin I caused a rapid K+ efflux from Escherichia coli cells, concomitant with a reduced cell viability. This result suggests that the peptide-induced permeability enhancement of the bacterial membranes may be a plausible action mechanism. Thus, we studied the interactions of tachyplesin I with various large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) to reveal the molecular machinery of the antimicrobial activity. Tachyplesin I induced the leakage of calcein, a trapped fluorescent marker, from LUVs of acidic phospholipids, especially phosphatidylglycerol (PG), but not from phosphatidylcholine LUVs. A detailed analysis found that the affinity of the peptide to the PG membranes is very strong and that the binding of one peptide molecule to approx. 200 lipid molecules leads to a significant leakage. The location of tachyplesin I in membranes was estimated by use of the Trp-2 fluorescence of the peptide. The presence of PG LUVs caused a blue shift of the maximum wavelength, an increase in the quantum yield, and a complete protection from fluorescence quenching by an aqueous quencher, acrylamide. Moreover, the degree of fluorescence quenching of the Trp residue by n-doxylstearates was in the order n = 5 greater than 7 greater than 12 approximately equal to 16. These results show that the Trp residue of tachyplesin I seems to locate in a hydrophobic environment near the surface of the PG bilayers.

Amino Acid Sequence

Physicochemical determinants for the interactions of magainins 1 and 2 with acidic lipid bilayers.

Permeability enhancement of acidic lipid small unilamellar vesicles (dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol, DOPG; dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol, DPPG; bovine brain phosphatidylserine, PS) induced by magainins 1 and 2, basic antimicrobial peptides from Xenopus skin, was investigated at 30 degrees C based on leakage of calcein, an entrapped fluorescent marker. Both the peptide concentration and the lipid concentration dependencies of the leakage rate were analyzed to obtain the binding isotherms of the peptides to the membranes and the 'membrane-perturbing activities' of the membrane-bound peptides. For both peptides, the binding affinity was in the order DOPG greater than DPPG greater than PS, which coincided with the zeta potential order (-54, -39, and -9 mV, respectively). An increase in salt concentration of the medium reduced binding and leakage. Electrostatic interactions play a crucial role in the binding process. On the other hand, the membrane-perturbing activity is regulated by membrane fluidity: The fluid membranes (DOPG and PS) were leakier. A circular dichroism study suggested that at least 14 positively charged residues in the N-terminal regions can form amphiphilic helices which interact with the membranes. An even stronger binding of magainin 2 can be explained in terms of more positive charges in its N-terminal region. A tentative model for the magainin-lipid interactions is hypothesized.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Identification of urinary metabolites in a patient of acute poisoning by p-chloroaniline].

In order to clarify urinary metabolites of p-chloroaniline (p-CA), urine samples of a patient acutely poisoned with p-CA were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Urinary metabolites were extracted with diethylether at pH 1.0 and pH 10 from urine samples hydrolyzed with acid and base and from intact urine samples. Aliquots of the ethereal extracts were injected into the gas chromatography, and p-CA and its metabolites were identified by comparing their mass spectra and retention times to those of standards. Six substances identified were as follows: p-CA, 2-amino-5-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichloroaniline, p-chloroformanilide and traces of p-chloroacetanilide and 4-chloro-2-hydroxyacetanilide. Since p-CA was mainly detected in the hydrolyzed urine samples, p-CA was considered to form conjugates in the urine. N-Acetylation reactions of p-CA were suggested to be weak in human, because extremely minute amounts of p-chloroacetanilide and 4-chloro-2-hydroxyacetanilide were detected in the urine.

Adult

Mechanical stress as a stimulant to the production of osteocalcin in osteoblast-like cells.

When mechanical stress is applied, osteoblasts have shown to produce bone turnover stimulating hormones and enzymes like prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclic AMP, alkaline phosphatase, and collagenase. Osteocalcin (bone Gla protein) is also a protein produced by osteoblasts to control bone metabolism. Thus, its production may also be stimulated by mechanical stress. The purpose of this investigation was to test if mechanical stress stimulates osteoblast-like cells to produce osteocalcin in vitro. The results suggest that osteocalcin production is stimulated at the initial stage of the culture by cyclic tension and relaxation force, and secretion may decrease with time.

Animals

A human skeleton from the Ohguruwa remains.

In 1941, the Ohguruwa remains were discovered at the Mizuho sports ground site in Nagoya. They date from about 3000 B.C., which is the early Jomon era. When the stadium was reconstructed in 1980, four human skeletons were found. Three of them, however, were in poor condition and moreover, were incomplete. However, the second skeleton was in good condition and could almost be reconstructed, and this skeleton (No. 2) was used for our study. It was found in the classic posture with arms and legs folded. Some pieces of a dog's skeleton were also discovered near the No. 2 skeleton's chest. This particular skeleton generally showed characteristics typical of the Jomon era. It had a stout structure and was judged to be a middle aged male because of the following features. There was considerable attrition of the occlusal surfaces on the remaining teeth. The teeth were worn flat, probably owing to the hard food and to their use as a tool. Both canines and first premolars of the upper and lower arches had been extracted in accordance with the custom of the time. Typical caries and localized periodontal breakdown were not observed, although there was horizontal alveolar bone loss, especially in the anterior regions. The mastoid process was extremely large and prominent. The lateral prominence of the mandible was developed. Analysis of lateral cephalogram revealed that the mandible was in the anterior position. The angles of SNA, SNB and ANB were 89.6 degrees, 89.2 degrees and 0.4 degrees, respectively. The skeletal pattern was definitive Class III. The adaptive changes in the teeth, their supporting tissues, temporomandibular joints and the related muscles--the harmonious masticatory system--were all estimated.

Cephalometry

The lactic acid and citric acid content in the gingival fluid of orthodontic patients.

Alveolar bone turnover has two phases: bone resorption and formation. Bone resorption entails both mineral removal and collagenolysis. A pH decrease over the local bone surface is required for mineral removal. Both lactic acid and citric acid has been suggested as the acids which remove crystals. During the orthodontic movement of teeth, a process of overall bone resorption occurs during displacement, whereas at the retention stage this process needs to be stopped in order to stabilize the alveolar bone. Thus, lactic acid and citric acid may be valid parameters of bone resorption intensity. The purpose of this investigation is firstly to test if these acids can be detected in gingival fluid around the moving teeth, and secondly to find if any changes occur before, during and after orthodontic tooth movement. The results indicate that these acids can be good parameters which show how favorably tooth movement is proceeding. They also show how stable the teeth are when orthodontic force is stopped to apply.

Adolescent

[The use of the maxillary protractor in the treatment of cleft lip and palate: a report of two cases].

The patients who underwent reconstruction of cleft lip and palate had clinically abnormal characteristics such as cicatricial contracture in the cleft area, narrow arches, missing teeth, and fistula. Most of those patients showed severe class III malocclusion with underdevelopment of the maxillary complex. In such patients, the treatment objectives in orthodontics were mainly anterior and lateral expansions of the maxillary arches, and inhibition of mandibular growth. In recent years, the maxillary protractor has been used positively in the treatment of the underdeveloped maxillary complex. In this study, we report on two patients with cleft lip and palate, and underdevelopment of the maxillary complex. Maxillary protractors were used beneficially at the period of the dento-craniofacial growth spurt. In these two cases, improvement of disharmony was obtained in the antero-posterior relationship between the maxilla and the mandible. The effects of the treatment were forward movement of the maxilla and growth inhibition of the mandible. Accordingly, the use of the maxillary protractor for cleft lip and palate patients with underdeveloped maxilla at the period of the dento-craniofacial growth spurt was shown to be important.

Cleft Lip

Phospholipid monolayers at the triolein-saline interface: production of microemulsion particles and conversion of monolayers to bilayers.

Interfacial tensions of phospholipid monolayer at the triolein (TO)-saline interface were measured. The adsorption isotherms and the interfacial pressure-molecular area curves were evaluated on the basis of the measurements. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) forms a highly condensed monolayer, with a large lateral attractive interaction; phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) form expanded monolayers with smaller lateral interaction energies. At the lowest interfacial tension (the highest interfacial pressure), the mole fractions of PC, PE, and PS in the monolayers are estimated as 0.95, 0.73, and 0.88, respectively. Therefore, PC forms the most stable monolayer at the interface. These results are consistent with the finding that the stable TO particles in aqueous solution were produced by using PC as an emulsifier, and PE and PS did not stabilize the particles. The phase diagram of TO and PC mixtures in saline obtained from theoretical considerations predicts the equilibrium conversion of the monolayers on TO particles to bilayers. This process may be closely related to the transformations of very low density lipoproteins and chylomicrons to high-density lipoproteins in plasma. The particle sizes of the emulsion are calculated theoretically as a function of PC mole fraction in the TO-PC mixture and compared with the experimental values obtained from quasi-elastic light scattering (QLS) measurements.

Adsorption

Effect of cyclodextrins on biological membrane. I. Effect of cyclodextrins on the absorption of a non-absorbable drug from rat small intestine and rectum.

The effects of three kinds of cyclodextrins (CyDs), alpha-, beta- and gamma-CyD on biological membranes were investigated by changes in absorption of a non-absorbable drug, sulfanilic acid (SA), from the rat small intestine and rectum using an in situ perfusion technique. The absorption of SA from the intestine was slight and was not affected by the addition of CyDs. After pretreatment with a mucolytic agent, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (N-Ac), the absorption of SA was increased compared with SA alone in the presence of only beta-CyD. Similar treatment with sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to gastro-intestinal membrane showed the enhanced absorption of SA by the addition of beta-CyD. The mucin layer on the surface of the gastro-intestinal membrane may play an important role in the absorption of drugs. On the other hand, enhanced absorption of SA from the rat rectum was not induced by beta-CyD with or without pretreatment with N-Ac, SDC or SLS. Simultaneously, the release of neutral sugars in the perfusate after treatment with adjuvants was also observed with N-Ac, SDC and SLS. These results indicate that the mucin layer works as a barrier to the increased absorption of SA by beta-CyD.

Animals

Interactions of lecithin and pig apolipoproteins of high density lipoproteins at the surface monolayer of reconstituted very small particles.

Cosonication of egg yolk lecithin and triolein with apolipoproteins isolated from pig high density lipoprotein (apoHDL) gave us reconstituted high density lipoprotein particles (r-HDLs) of 9 nm in average diameter. They were smaller than microemulsion particles (MEs) composed of the lipids (35 nm). The protein/egg yolk lecithin ratio in the fractionated r-HDLs was higher in the smaller particles. Binding of a hydrophobic probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS), to MEs, r-HDLs and apoHDL were evaluated on the basis of Halfman and Nishida's method. The reconstitution of apoHDL into MEs led to a 68% reduction in the binding of TNS and a small increase in the alpha-helix content as compared with free apoHDL. The binding experiments also showed the condensation of lecithin molecules at the r-HDL surface. The amphipathic helixes of apoHDL are located in the surface monolayer of egg yolk lecithin surrounding the triolein core. The intercalation of the hydrophobic residues of apoHDL between egg yolk lecithin molecules brings about a pronounced curvature of the surface and a decrease in the particle diameter.

Animals

Beneficial effect of nipradilol (K-351) on acute myocardial ischemia. Study of the relationship between regional myocardial blood flow and energy metabolism.

To examine the effects of nipradilol on ischemic myocardium, experiments were performed on regional myocardial blood flow (MBF) and energy metabolism in anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Nipradilol at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg was i.v.-administered 10 min after coronary ligation. MBFs at various sites, including ischemic and non-ischemic areas, were determined by the hydrogen gas clearance method. The levels of ATP and creatine phosphate (CP) at the site of MBF determination were measured 60 min after ligation, and mitochondrial function (RCI, QO2) in the ischemic and non-ischemic areas was determined. Following nipradilol administration, aortic pressure and heart rate were significantly lowered. In ischemic areas with MBF below 40 ml/min/100 g, nipradilol had no influence on MBF. However, the tissue level of ATP in nipradilol treated hearts was significantly higher as compared with untreated hearts. In the area of mild ischemia with MBF of 40-60 ml/min/100 g, nipradilol preserved the tissue ATP and CP levels in spite of a decrease in MBF. Moreover, an inhibition of the decrease in mitochondrial respiratory function was observed in ischemic areas with MBF below 20 ml/min/100 g. Thus, nipradilol administered following ischemia preserved ATP content and mitochondrial function in the ischemic myocardium with reduction of heart rate and aortic pressure. This suggests that nipradilol exerts a cardioprotective effect in acute ischemia. It seems that the cardioprotective effect is due to a decrease in myocardial oxygen demand and preservation of mitochondrial function.

Adenosine Triphosphate