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Biomedical subjects

K Sekiya

Publications and source records attributed to K Sekiya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Study on baths with crude drug. III. The effect of ligustici chuanxiong rhizoma extract on the percutaneous absorption of some natural compounds.

To investigate the permeability of natural compounds through hairless mouse skin, compounds having a range of lipophilicity, i.e., ginsenoside-Re (1), baicalein (2), glycyrrhizin (3), baicalein (4), wogonin (5), honokiol (6), magnolol (7), bergapten (8), shikonin (9) and sinomenine (10) were used. These compounds permeated through the skin a little, however, they were generally accumulated into the skin. The uptake amount into the skin of each compound related to their lipophilicities in the in vitro experiment. Furthermore, Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Senkyu) ether extract (SEE) enhanced their permeability into the skin; especially, it exhibited an effect on the skin permeability of moderately lipophilic compounds such as 4, 8. The effect of SEE in vivo was similar to that obtained in the in vitro experiment. From these results, it was clarified that natural compounds having high lipophilicity sufficiently permeated into the hairless mouse skin owing to their accumulative property, and SEE enhanced the permeability of the moderately lipophilic compounds into the skin.

Animals

Inhibition of arachidonate lipoxygenase activities by 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanol, a phenolic compound from olives.

The effects of olive fruit extract on arachidonic acid lipoxygenase activities were investigated using rat platelets and rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). Olive extract strongly inhibited both 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activities. One of the compounds responsible for this inhibition was purified and identified as 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanol (DPE). DPE inhibited platelet 12-LO activity (IC50, 4.2 microM) and PMNL 5-LO activity (IC50, 13 microM) but not cyclooxygenase activity in cell-free conditions. It also inhibited 12-LO activity in intact platelets (IC50, 50 microM) and reduced leukotriene B4 production in intact PMNL stimulated by A23187 (IC50, 26 microM). The inhibition by DPE of both lipoxygenase activities was stronger than that by oleuropein, caffeic acid, or 7 other related phenolic compounds, especially in intact cells. These results suggest that DPE is a potent specific inhibitor of lipoxygenase activities.

Animals

Electron microscopic evaluation of a two-step theory of pore formation by streptolysin O.

The formation of pores by streptolysin O (SLO) was analyzed in erythrocyte membranes and liposomes by immunoelectron microscopy and electron spectroscopic imaging. The binding of SLO molecules to membranes was temperature independent, while the polymerization of SLO molecules was temperature dependent. Our results also suggest that proteins in erythrocyte membranes are not involved in the formation of SLO rings.

Adsorption

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 6-benzyl analogs of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT) as potent and selective anti-HIV-1 agents.

Several 6-benzyl analogs of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (1; HEPT) were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 activity. LDA (lithium diisopropylamide) lithiation of 5-ethyluracil derivatives 7 and 8 and subsequent reaction with an aryl aldehyde gave 6-(arylhydroxymethyl)-5-ethyluracil derivatives 9-12. 6-(Arylhydroxymethyl)-5-isopropyluracil derivatives 15-18 were prepared from the 5-isopropyl-2-thiouracil derivatives 13 and 14 by the above procedure following oxidative hydrolysis of the thione. Preparation of the target 5-alkyl-1-(alkoxymethyl)-6-benzyluracil derivatives 27-34 was carried out by acetylation of 9-14 followed by Pd-catalyzed hydrogenolysis. The 1-butyl- (37 and 39) and 1-(2-methoxyl)- (38 and 40) 5-alkyl-6-benzyluracils were synthesized by 1-alkylation of the 3-phenacyl derivatives 35 and 36 with alkyl halides followed by deprotection of the 3-phenacyl group. Compounds synthesized in this study inhibited HIV-1 replication in MT-4 cells in the submicromolar to namomolar concentration range. From this series of compounds, 6-benzyl-1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-isopropyluracil (33) was selected for clinical evaluation.

Animals

Purification and molecular shape of a 144 kDa protein bearing N-acetylglucosamine residues from rat liver nuclear envelopes.

A 144 kDa protein was purified from the WGA-Sepharose bound fraction of a rat liver nuclear envelope salt-extract by hydroxyapatite HPLC (HAP HPLC). Two other, 120 and 86 kDa, proteins were also partially purified from the fraction by a combination of DEAE- and HAP-HPLCs. It was suggested that the 144, 120, and 86 kDa proteins bear GlcNAc residues, and are nucleoporins, because they were purified from nuclear envelopes, reacted with WGA-HRP, and cross-reacted with an antibody against p62 nucleoporin complexes. The sedimentation coefficients and Stokes' radii of these GlcNAc-bearing proteins were determined by glycerol density gradient centrifugation and gel filtration in the presence of 500 mM NaCl. The molecular masses calculated from these values suggested that these three proteins each exist as a monomer under the conditions employed. The axial ratios of the purified 144, 120, and 86 kDa GlcNAc-proteins were estimated to be 35, 31, and 31, respectively. These values suggested that they are rod-shaped molecules. The axial ratio of a purified nucleoporin-complex consisting of 62, 60, and 54 kDa components bearing GlcNAc was shown to be 20. This nucleoporin complex seems to be a rod-shaped complex. From these results, a rod shape is proposed to be a common characteristic of GlcNAc-proteins in nuclear envelopes.

Acetylglucosamine

[Study on baths with crude drug. II.: the effects of coptidis rhizoma extracts as skin permeation enhancer].

Skin permeation and its enhancing activity of Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis japonica Makino) were studied in regard to its application as a bath agent. As a result, methanol extracts and three alkaloids (berberine, coptisine, and palmatine isolated from Coptidis Rhizoma) enhanced effectively the skin permeation of 5-fluorouracil, which is taken as a hydrophilic permeant. Furthermore, it was observed that diffusion coefficient is almost constant on the skin permeation of 5-fluorouracil and was also observed that these three kinds of alkaloids did not penetrate through the skin, but adsorbed into the skin. These results suggest that these three protoberberine type alkaloids increase the concentration of polar drugs in the skin and enhance the skin permeation similarly to surfactants.

Animals

Pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with Alzheimer type dementia: evidence of aberrant processing of pancreastatin in Alzheimer type dementia.

The concentrations of pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity (PST-LI) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in the patients with Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) and in age-matched normal subjects. The mean PST-LI concentration in the CSF of ATD patients was significantly lower than that of normal subjects. Gel chromatographic analysis revealed that the main PST-LI peak of ATD's CSF eluted at molecular weight (MW) 13.5 kDa. However, the age-related change of the molecular forms of PST-LI in CSF was observed in normal subjects as following; PST-LI in neonatal CSF showed one peak at MW 13.5 kDa, that of 16-64-year-old showed two peaks at MW 13.5 and 5.4 kDa, however, only one main peak was shown at MW 5.4 kDa in the CSFs of 72-85-year-old. These findings suggest that the production of PST-LI was decreased and the proteolytic cleavage, which should process big PST to PST (1-52) in normal subjects, was altered to that of neonatal type in the CNS of the patients with ATD.

Aged

Unique change of pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid by aging.

Using a specific antiserum for the C-terminal glycine amide region of human pancreastatin (PST), pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity (PST-LI) was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 447 subjects (368 +/- 10.8 pmol/l, mean +/- S.E.M.) free from endocrine diseases. The CSF contents of PST-LI showed a mountain-shape type change which peaked at 40 years of age. The highest concentration was found in the group of ages 40-49 years old (412 +/- 22.9 pmol/l) and the lowest concentration was found in the group of ages 80-89 years old (293.2 +/- 45.2 pmol/l) among various age groups. Gel chromatographic examination revealed the presence of two major forms (MW 13,500 and 5,400) of PST-LI in CSF. Because of the character of this antibody, the large molecular form is possibly an N-terminally elongated PST and the other may be PST-52. This may be the first report on the unique age-related change of PST concentration in CSF.

Adolescent

Preclinical evaluation of MKC-442, a highly potent and specific inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in vitro.

MKC-442 (6-benzyl-1-ethoxymethyl-5-isopropyluracil or I-EBU) has recently been identified as a highly potent and specific inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase. Since the compound has favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles in vivo, we have evaluated MKC-442 for its inhibitory effect on the replication of HIV-1 in various cell cultures, including human peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocyte-macrophages. The 50 and 90% effective concentrations for HIV-1 (HTLV-IIIB strain) replication in MT-4 cells were 15 and 98 nM, respectively. MKC-442 was also inhibitory to HIV-1 replication in peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocyte-macrophages as determined by the production of p24 antigens in the culture supernatant. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis revealed that MKC-442 was equally active against zidovudine-resistant mutants and zidovudine-susceptible strains. Furthermore, combinations of MKC-442 with either 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, or 2',3'-dideoxyinosine synergistically inhibited the replication of HIV-1. Thus, MKC-442 has been considered as a candidate for clinical efficacy studies.

Antiviral Agents

The cell envelope structure of the lipopolysaccharide-lacking gram-negative bacterium Sphingomonas paucimobilis.

From the cell envelope preparation of Sphingomonas paucimobilis two membrane fractions with different densities were separated by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. The high-density fraction contained several major proteins, phospholipids, and glycosphingolipids, which are the only glycolipids of this lipopolysaccharide-lacking gram-negative bacterium. The low-density fraction showed many minor bands of proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and NADH oxidase activity was localized in this fraction. Combined with morphological data of vesicles formed by these membrane fractions, the high-density and low-density fractions were proposed to be an outer membrane and a cytoplasmic membrane, respectively. The localization of the glycosphingolipid was investigated also by means of immunoelectron microscopic analysis using a glycosphingolipid-specific antibody. The glycosphingolipid was shown to localize at the cell envelope, and the antigenic sugar portion was exposed to the bacterial cell surface. From these results the glycosphingolipid was assumed to have a function similar to that of the lipopolysaccharide of other gram-negative bacteria.

Antibodies, Bacterial

In vivo wear pattern of experimental composite resins containing different filler components.

Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an electron probe surface roughness analyzer (ERA), we conducted the in vivo study of the effect of various filler components on the wear of composite resins. Experimental light-cured composite resins were prepared employing three different filler components; -(1) Silica type, (2) Strontium type, and (3) Barium type. The filler content for all three types was 80 wt%, with the mean particlesize being 2.6 microns in diameter. The resin monomers consisted of 40 wt% Bis-GMA, 40 wt% TEGDMA and 20 wt% UTMA. These materials were placed in 2 mm diameter cylindrical cavities located in the OCA (occlusal contact area) or the CFA (contact free area) of cast crowns temporarily set in a volunteer patient's mouth. The crowns were removed at monthly intervals for longitudinal SEM observation. After two months, worn surfaces were also analyzed by ERA. The result showed that the wear patterns of the composites were characterized by the filler components, especially in the OCA.

Adult

Comparison of plasma pancreastatin and GAWK concentrations, presumed processing products of chromogranin A and B, in plasma of patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors.

Plasma pancreastatin (PST) and GAWK, peptides processed from chromogranin A and B, were elevated in patients with various neuroendocrine tumors. In the present study, we measured plasma PST- and GAWK-like immunoreactivity (LI) concentrations in 12 patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors and evaluated them as a marker for these tumors. We also performed the gel filtration of the plasma from a gastrinoma patient and investigated the processing of PST and GAWK in plasma. Elevation of plasma PST-LI was found in 4 of 12 patients (33%) and elevation of plasma GAWK-LI was found in 6 of 12 patients (50%). A significant correlation was not found between plasma PST- and GAWK-LI concentrations of the patients. In the gel permeation chromatography of the plasma from a gastrinoma patient, PST-LI composed of a single peak but GAWK-LI composed of several components with wide range molecular weights.

Adenoma, Islet Cell

[Mechanism of pore formation on erythrocyte membrane by streptolysin-O].

The erythrocyte membrane damaged by streptolysin-O (SLO) was observed in negative staining electron microscopy. It was confirmed that rings took arc (c-ring), sigmoidal (s-ring) or circular (o-ring) structures, and had electron-dense centers of a diameter of 24 nm and 4.9 nm width. We found a crown structure on top of the ring in view of side projection. The ring structure was constructed by three layers of the electron lucent top which was the crown, the second dark layer, and the third, base part which embedded in the erythrocyte membrane, and the heights were 3.2, 1.6, 5.0 nm, respectively. When the ghost membrane of erythrocyte was treated with SLO, the double of the inner and outer layers of a ring were observed by the negative-staining images. The figures of rings taken by under focus showed that one ring might be constituted between the 22 and 24 pair of inner and outer molecules. Totally 44 or 48 toxin molecules might be required for one O-ring.

Animals

A ring-shaped structure with a crown formed by streptolysin O on the erythrocyte membrane.

Streptolysin O (SLO) is a membrane-damaging toxin produced by most strains of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. We performed ultrastructural analysis of SLO-derived lesions on erythrocyte membranes by examining electron micrographs of negatively stained preparations. SLO formed numerous arc- and ring-shaped structures with or without holes on membranes. Rings formed on intact cell membranes had an inner diameter of ca. 24 nm and had distinct borders of ca. 4.9 nm in width, but the diameter of rings varied from 24 to 30 nm on membranes of erythrocyte ghosts. Image analysis of electron micrographs demonstrated that each ring was composed of an inner and an outer layer. Each layer contained an array of 22 to 24 SLO molecules. On the top of the ring, we found a characteristic crown that projected from the cell membrane. The crown was separated by an electron-dense layer from the basal part of the ring that was embedded in the lipid bilayer of the erythrocyte membrane. Heights of the three parts, namely, the crown (head), the space (neck), and the basal portion (base), were ca. 3.2, 1.6, and 5.0 nm, respectively, and we postulated that these parts are the constituents of a single SLO molecule. The volumes of SLO molecules in the inner and outer layers were calculated to be 77 and 88 nm3. On the basis of a model of the structure of SLO, we propose some new details of the mechanisms of hemolysis by SLO toxin.

Animals

In vivo wear pattern of experimental composite resins based on different resin monomers.

This study investigated the effects of various monomer systems on composite resin wear in vivo. Experimental light-cured composite resins were prepared employing four different monomer systems: (1) Bis-GMA type, (2) D-2. 6E type, (3) UDMA type, (4) UTMA type. The resin monomers consisted of 70wt% main monomer and 30wt% TEGDMA. These composites contained 80wt% fine quartz. The resins were placed in 2 mm diameter cylindrical cavities located in the occlusal contact area or the contact free area in cast crowns, temporarily set in a mouth. The crowns were removed at monthly intervals, for longitudinal SEM observation. Two months after setting, wear was analyzed, using an electron probe surface roughness analyzer. Microabrasion of the resin matrix and loss of filler particles were observed for all types of monomer systems. The effect of matrix resin systems on occlusal wear was smaller than that of filler systems.

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate

In vivo wear pattern of experimental light-cured hybrid composite resins.

This study evaluated the effect of various types of microfiller on the in vivo wear resistance of composite resins. Experimental light-cured composites with two different microfiller systems were prepared: (1) 56 wt % fine quartz filler, 21 wt% organic filler and 3 wt% colloidal silica filler (Hybrid type 1), and (2) 64 wt% fine quartz filler and 21 wt% colloidal silica filler (Hybrid type 2). The resin monomer consisted of 50 wt % Bis-GMA and 50 wt% TEGDMA. These materials were placed in 2 mm diameter cylindrical cavities located in the OCA (occlusal contact area) or the CFA (contact free area) in cast gold-silver-palladium alloy full coverage crowns, which were temporarily set in a volunteer patient's mouth. The crowns were removed at monthly intervals for SEM observation. Hybrid type 1, which contained organic fillers, showed bulk fractures in the OCA, by the second month of the experiment. However, reinforcement of the resin matrix by dispersion of microfiller provided Hybrid type 2 with superior wear resistance for up to two months.

Adult

Direct observation of in vivo wear of composite resins.

This study developed a simple method for in vivo evaluation of wear on composite resins and examined the role of filler particles in this process. Experimental light-cured composite resins with two different filler systems were prepared: (1) 81 wt% fine quartz filler (Conventional type) and (2) 73 wt% organic filler (Microfilled type). The resin monomer consisted of 50 wt% Bis-GMA and 50 wt% TEGMA. These materials were placed in cylindrical cavities 2 mm in diameter located in the OCA (occlusal contact area) or the CFA (contact free area) in Au-Pd crowns, temporarily set in a volunteer's mouth. The crowns were removed at monthly intervals for longitudinal SEM observation. Results showed that the newly developed method was useful for observing the in vivo wear-patterns of composite resins. The two experimental composite resins with different filler systems showed quite different wear-patterns.

Adult