Biomedical subjects

Kunio Suzuki

Publications and source records attributed to Kunio Suzuki.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Detection of DNAs homologous to betanodavirus genome RNAs in barfin flounder Verasper moseri and Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus.

I investigated the presence of DNA homologous to genome RNA1 and RNA2 (RNA1 DNA and RNA2 DNA) of betanodaviruses - the causative agent of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) --in eggs, sperm, ovarian cavity fluid, larvae, and juveniles of barfin flounder Verasper moseri and larvae and juveniles of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus collected at 6 sites in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1994 to 2001. RNA1 DNA and RNA2 DNA were detected by PCR in 13 and 33 % of barfin flounder samples and 0 and 69% of Japanese flounder samples, respectively. No infectious virus was detected by cell culture or by successive immunoblot against coat protein (genome RNA2 product) using an E-11 cell line, except for a virus present in 1 dead fish collected during an outbreak of VNN in 1995. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that RNA1 DNA had a 82 to 96 % similarity to betanodavirus genome RNA1, and that RNA2 DNA had a 69 to 98 % similarity to RNA2. The detection rate of RNA2 DNA after intraperitoneal injection of betanodavirus strain HCF-1 into larvae and juveniles of the 2 flounder species was higher in samples from surviving fish than in the uninfected controls, whereas the detection rate of RNA1 DNA did not show a clear trend. Infectious virus was only detected in samples from fish that died subsequent to injection. Transfection assays of the viral genome RNAs into the barfin flounder cell line MK-1 and Japanese flounder cell lines H-1 and H-2 resulted in production of RNA2 DNA in all 3 cell lines. Quantitative measurement by ELISA revealed reverse transcriptase (RTase) activity. These results suggest that the DNA forms are produced and persist in the 2 flounder species as both clinical and subclinical infections, and do not lead to virion production.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Should aged patients with chronic hepatitis C be treated with interferon and ribavirin combination therapy?

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin for aged patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: This study was conducted at Osaka University Hospital and institutions participating in the Osaka Liver Disease Study Group on 329 patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving interferon and ribavirin combination therapy (group A, under 60 year old, n=199; group B, 60-64 year old, n=64; group C, over 65 year old (mean age, 67.8+/-2.2 year old, n=66)). Of the 293 patients who were tested for HCV serotype and HCV viral loads, 215 had HCV-RNA with serotype 1 and high viral loads (1H) and the other 78 had HCV-RNA with serotype 2 or low viral loads (non-1H). RESULTS: In per-protocol analysis, the overall SVR rate of 1H patients was 28% (51/184). Among the 1H patients, the SVR rate was significantly lower in group C (16%) and group B (17%) than in group A (34%) (p<0.05). The overall SVR rate of non-1H patients was 85% (57/67). No significant difference was found in the SVR rate among group C (79%), group B (100%), and group A (84%). On the other hand, the discontinuance of both drugs due to side effects was 29% (19/66) in group C, 20% (13/64) in group B, and 11% (21/199) in group A, with the discontinuance rates being higher in the older group (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In aged chronic hepatitis C patients, interferon and ribavirin combination therapy can be recommended for the non-1H patients who showed a high SVR rate of approximately 65%, but not for the 1H patients.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Campest-5-en-3-one, an oxidized derivative of campesterol, activates PPARalpha, promotes energy consumption and reduces visceral fat deposition in rats.

Dietary campest-5-en-3-one (campestenone), an oxidized derivative of campesterol, significantly reduced visceral fat weight and the concentration of triacylglycerol in serum and liver of rats. Dietary campestenone dramatically increased the activities and the mRNA expressions of mitochondrial and peroxisomal enzymes involved in beta-oxidation in the liver. Campestenone activated human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha as determined using the novel GAL4 ligand-binding domain chimera assay system with coactivator coexpression. In contrast, dietary campestenone reduced the activities and the mRNA expressions of enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis, except for the malic enzyme. Dietary campestenone decreased the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) mRNA level. Energy expenditure was significantly higher in the feeding of campestenone in rats. Dietary campestenone reduced hepatic cholesterol concentration and increased fecal excretion of neutral steroids originated from cholesterol. Lymphatic absorption of cholesterol was reduced by the coadministration of campestenone in rats cannulated in the thoracic duct. These observations suggest a possibility that campestenone has an ability to prevent coronary heart disease by improving obesity and abnormality of lipid metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Dietary 5-campestenone (campest-5-en-3-one) enhances fatty acid oxidation in perfused rat liver.

The effect of dietary 5-campestenone (campest-5-en-3-one), a chemical modification product of a naturally-occurring plant sterol, campesterol, on lipid metabolism was examined using a rat liver perfusion system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 140 g were fed a diet supplemented with or without 0.2% 5-campestenone for 14 d. 5-Campestenone feeding resulted in a marked reduction in the concentrations of serum lipids, such as triacylglycerol (TG), cholesterol, phospholipid, and free fatty acid, without influencing food intake or growth. Then, isolated livers from both groups were perfused for 4 h in the presence of an exogenous linoelaidic acid substrate. Dietary 5-campestenone markedly elevated hepatic ketone body production, while cumulative secretions of TG, cholesterol, and phospholipid by the livers of rats fed 5-campestenone were all significantly lowered as compared to those fed without the compound: the extent of the reduction was more prominent in the secretion of TG than other lipid components. In addition, the reduction of TG secretion was concomitantly accompanied by the reduced incorporation of both exogenous and endogenous fatty acids into this lipid molecule. These results suggest that dietary 5-campestenone exerts its hypotriglyceridemic effect, at least, in part through an enhanced metabolism of endogenous and exogenous fatty acids to oxidation at the expense of esterification in rat liver.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2004

Nonthyroidal illness syndrome in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to intracranial aneurysm.

We have previously reported that subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm (SH) is associated with changes in the hormonal profile in the first 24 hours after the event. We proposed that the hormonal changes observed are due to the intense stress to which the patients are exposed. However, the thyroidal hormonal profile is indicative of the presence of a nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS). In this paper, we examined whether the change in the thyroid hormone profile is compatible with a NTIS. Two groups of patients were included in the study: A) 30 patients with SH (21 females and 9 males; 41.7+/-11.4 years) and B) a control group including 25 patients with benign diseases of the spine (BDS) (lumbar disc hernia or stable spinal trauma) (8 females and 17 males; 41.3+/-14.2 years). In a subgroup of eight patients of each group serum triiodothyronine (T3) and reverse T3 levels were measured. The blood samples were obtained between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. The following results were obtained: The SH group had smaller serum T3 and free T4 levels than the BDS group (p<0.05): T3 (ng/mL): SH = 58.7+/-1.1 and BDS = 74.5+/-13.9; free T4 (ng/dL): SH = 0.9+/-0.2 and BDS = 1.1+/-0.3. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) between the two groups: T4 ( microg/dL): SH = 6.9+/-1.1 and BDS = 7.4+/-2.1; TSH ( microUI/mL): SH = 1.5+/-0.8 and BDS = 1.8+/-1,0. In the sample of eight patients of each group we had the following results: T3 (ng/mL): SH = 66.8+/-3.8 and BDS = 77.2+/-1.1 (p <0.05); reverse T3 (ng/dL): SH = 32.8+/-8 and BDS = 24.7+/-2.2 (NS); T3/ reverse T3 ratio: SH = 2.6+/-0.3 and BDS = 3.3+/-0.4 (NS). Thyreoglobulin and microsomal antibodies were not detectable, except in one patient in the SH group. In conclusion, the SH patients present serum levels of T3 and free T4 significantly lower than that of BDS patients; the thyroidal hormone profile suggests that SH patients have developed the nonthyroidal illness syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The significance of interferon and ribavirin combination therapy followed by interferon monotherapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C in Japan.

One hundred seventy-one patients with chronic hepatitis C were included in this study (genotype1 and high viral loads (1H), [Formula: see text]; non-1H, [Formula: see text]; N.D., [Formula: see text] ). The combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks with an additional 24 weeks of interferon monotherapy (48-week treatment) was undergone by 42 1H patients and 5 non-1H patients. The combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin was administered for 24 weeks in 67 1H patients and 22 non-1H patients. Among the 1H patients, the HCV relapse rate was significantly higher in those receiving 24-week combination treatment than in those receiving 48-week treatment (78% versus 42%, [Formula: see text] ). Among the non-1H patients, no significant difference was found between them. Sustained virological response (SVR) rates were observed to decrease as the timing of HCV RNA disappearance was delayed. In spite of the small rate (16%), SVR was obtained from the patients who became negative for HCV RNA by week 24 (beyond week 12) only in those receiving 48-week treatment. In 1H patients, 24-week combination treatment followed by interferon monotherapy for 24 weeks was concluded to be the treatment offering the most hope among those that the medical insurance can be applied in Japan.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Relationship between elevated FX expression and increased production of GDP-L-fucose, a common donor substrate for fucosylation in human hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoma cell lines.

The levels of fucosylated glycoproteins in various cancers and inflammatory processes have been a subject of intense study. The level of fucosyltransferases and intracellular GDP-L-fucose, a sugar nucleotide and a common donor substrate for all fucosyltransferases, may regulate the level of fucosylated glycoproteins. This study reports on the determination of GDP-L-fucose levels in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and surrounding tissues, using a recently established high-throughput assay system. Levels of GDP-L-fucose in HCC tissues were significantly increased compared with adjacent nontumor tissues or normal livers. The mean +/- SD for GDP-L-fucose level was 3.6 +/- 0.2 micro mol/mg in control liver, 4.6 +/- 0.9 micro mol/mg in adjacent noninvolved liver tissues (chronic hepatitis, 4.4 +/- 0.7 micro mol/mg; liver cirrhosis, 4.8 +/- 0.9 micro mol/mg), and 7.1 +/- 2.5 micro mol/mg in HCC tissues. The level of GDP-L-fucose in HCC decreased in proportion with tumor size (r = -0.675, P = 0.0002). When expression of the series of genes responsible for GDP-L-fucose synthesis was investigated, the gene expression of FX was found to be increased in 70% (7 of 10) of the HCC tissues examined compared with that in their surrounding tissues. The levels of GDP-L-fucose were positively correlated with the expression of FX mRNA (r = 0.599, P = 0.0074). The levels of FX gene expression in some human hepatoma and hepatocyte cell lines were determined. FX mRNA production was strongly increased in HepG2 and Chang liver, moderately increased in Hep3B and HLF, and, in HLE, was similar to that of a normal human liver tissue. To investigate the effect of GDP-L-fucose on core fucosylation, FX cDNA was transfected into Hep3B cells, which express a relatively low level of GDP-L-fucose:N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide alpha1-6 fucosyltransferase (alpha1-6 FucT) and FX mRNA. Transfection of this gene caused an increase in GDP-L-fucose levels as well as the extent of fucosylation on glycoproteins, including alpha-fetoprotein, as judged by reactivity to lectins. Collectively, the results herein suggest that the high level of fucosylation in HCC is dependent on a high expression of FX followed by increases in GDP-L-fucose, as well as an enhancement in alpha1-6 FucT expression. Thus, an elevation in GDP-L-fucose levels and the up-regulation of FX expression represent potential markers for HCC.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Evaluation of pituitary and thyroid hormones in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm.

UNLABELLED: It is well known that the central nervous system (CNS) influences the pituitary hormone secretions and that diseases of CNS are frequently associated with an altered endocrine function. The aim of this study has been the evaluation of the serum concentrations of the pituitary and thyroid hormones in a series of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Thirty-five patients (23 females and 12 males), aged 51.9 +/- 13.3 years on the mean were admitted. They were evaluated to assess the clinical severity of the subarachnoid hemorrhage by Hunt & Hess scale: nine patients were in the grade I, 14 in the grade II, and 12 in the grade III. Blood samples were obtained between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. and serum hormones were measured by commercial kits (IRMA or MEIA methods). Cortisol serum levels (normal range (NR) = 5 to 18 micro g/dL) were increased in all the patients (mean +/- standard deviation = 31.4 +/- 12.4 micro g/dL). Mean prolactin levels (NR < 20 ng/mL) were 18.6 +/- 17.1 ng/mL and five patients (14.2%) had levels higher than normal. FSH and LH levels were normal according to age and sex: men: FSH = 4 +/- 2.9 mUI/mL (NR = 1 to 10.5 mUI/mL); LH = 6.1 +/- 6.3 mUI/mL (NR = 2 to 12 mUI/mL); premenopausa women: FSH = 2.5 +/- 1.5 mUI/mL (NR = 2.4 to 9.3 mUI/mL); LH 3.9 +/- 5.1 mUI/mL (NR =2 to 15 mUI/mL); post- menopausal women: FSH = 48.3 +/- 18.5 mUI/mL (NR =31 to 134 mUI/mL); LH = 29 +/- 13.8 mUI/mL (NR =16 to 64 mUI/mL). Mean TSH levels were 3.9 +/- 5.2 micro UI/mL (NR =0.5 to 4.7 micro UI/mL) and five patients (14.2%) had levels higher than normal. Mean triiodothyronine levels (T3) were 66.4 +/- 18.7 ng/dL (NR = 45 to 137 ng/dL) and five patients (14.2%) had levels lower than normal (33.8 +/- 9 ng/dL). Mean thyroxine levels (T4) (NR= 4.5 to 12.5 micro g/dL) were 7.4 +/- 1.7 micro g/dL and two patients (5.6%) had levels lower than normal. Thyroglobulin and microsomal antibodies were not detectable. CONCLUSIONS: In the first 24 hours following ictus, the hormonal changes may be due to the stress produced by the intracranial bleeding; thyroid hormone alterations suggest that patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage might have an euthyroid sick syndrome.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2002

Changes in gustatory sense during pregnancy.

Changes in gustatory sense were investigated in 97 pregnant women and in 30 healthy, non-pregnant women who served as controls. All 97 pregnant women completed a questionnaire regarding taste changes and 32 of them underwent serial tests of gustatory function, including electrogustometry and testing with filter paper disks placed over the areas of the chorda tympani nerve and glossopharyngeal nerve. All gustatory testing was performed by the same person. In addition, serum levels of trace elements were measured in 72 of the pregnant women. Of the 97 pregnant women, 90 (92.8%) reported in the questionnaire that they had experienced some type of change in taste during pregnancy, usually a change in sour taste (59 women; 65.6%). Pregnant women had higher gustatory thresholds than non-pregnant women, with an especially marked decrease in gustatory function being noticed in the first trimester. Although serum zinc levels decreased in pregnant women between the second and third trimesters, zinc levels were in the normal range in the early stage of pregnancy. Thus, it is difficult to explain dysgeusia in the early stage of pregnancy as being associated with a deficiency of zinc. The decrease in gustatory function during the first trimester is considered to be due to the notable changes in secretion of hormones that occur during this stage.

Adolescent↗