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Biomedical subjects

M Doi

Publications and source records attributed to M Doi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Effect of training program based on anaerobic threshold in the early phase after acute myocardial infarction.

We devised a new physical training program on the basis of anaerobic threshold for rehabilitation in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction. Forty-four patients were divided into two groups, control and training. We measured the left ventricular ejection fraction using nuclear stethoscopy during the treadmill test and calculating radioactive cardiac output. In the training group, anaerobic threshold and exercise time to the anaerobic threshold point were significantly increased, and stroke volume at rest measured by the dye dilution method increased significantly. Radioactive cardiac output during exercise also increased after the exercise therapy. These results indicate that the rehabilitation program consisting of physical training based on the anaerobic threshold is effective.

Adult↗

Analysis of the mRNA cap-binding ability of human eukaryotic initiation factor-4E by use of recombinant wild-type and mutant forms.

In order to identify the amino acid residues necessary for the selective recognition of the mRNA cap structure by human eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E), which plays a central role in the first step of mRNA translation, we prepared recombinant wild-type and fourteen mutant forms and compared their cap-binding abilities by affinity chromatography. By the direct expression of a synthetic gene encoding human eIF-4E as the soluble form in Escherichia coli and the application on a 7-methylguanosine-5'-triphosphate-Sepharose 4B cap affinity column, pure recombinant eIF-4E was prepared; the optimum pH for the binding of the mRNA cap was 7.5. Among the amino acid residues conserved among various eIF-4E species, each of 14 functional residues was replaced with a nonpolar amino acid (alanine or leucine). All mutant eIF-4E genes, which were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis, were expressed in the same way as the wild type, and their cap-binding abilities were compared with that of the wild type. Consequently, all eight tryptophan residues. Glu103, and two histidine residues at positions 37 and 200 in human recombinant eIF-4E were suggested to be important for the recognition of the mRNA cap structure through direct interaction and/or indirect contributions. Indirect contributions included the construction of the overall protein structure, especially the cap-binding pocket.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vivo uptake of lecithin-coated polystyrene beads by rat hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: While phagocytosis by Kupffer cells (stellate perisinusoidal macrophages) is well known and that by endothelial cells also is thought to occur under certain conditions, the uptake of large particles by hepatocytes has not been well studied. We reported previously the selective phagocytic uptake of material by hepatocytes using egg lecithin-coated silicon particles. In the present work, we describe more precisely this process following the injection of lecithin-coated polystyrene beads. Additionally, we consider the possible significance of the transcytotic action by endothelial cells. METHODS: Polystyrene latex beads (240 nm in diameter) composed of two layers of polystyrene and methyl methacrylate with a central void cavity and diameter of 140 nm were injected into male Wister-Imamichi rats. The injections were administered through the hepatic portal vein in a volume of 3 ml (concentration of the lecithin-coated or uncoated beads was 2 mg/ml). Controls received the lecithin alone at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Liver samples were taken 5, 10, or 15 min after injection, fixed, and processed for ultrastructural analysis. RESULTS: Both lecithin-coated and noncoated beads were mainly incorporated in the Kupffer cells as well as in the endothelial cells. Bristle-coated invaginations were observed in the uptake by both cell types; however, noncoated invaginations were also active in the endothelial cells, especially on the surface facing the perisinusoidal space of Disse. Only coated beads were observed within the space or in the hepatocytes. Once taken up by the hepatocytes, the lecithin-coated beads were found either within lysosomes or in a free state in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of 240 nm lecithin-coated polystyrene beads was observed by Kupffer cells, endothelial cells and hepatocytes. These beads were considered to be transported across the endothelial cells by transcytosis. Pseudopodia and bristle-coated invaginations were not employed by the hepatocytes when incorporating the beads.

Animals↗

Conformational dynamics of DNA during biased sinusoidal field gel electrophoresis.

DNA motion during biased sinusoidal field gel electrophoresis around the antiresonance condition was investigated by direct observation using fluorescent microscopy and Brownian dynamics simulation. Time development of the center of mass velocity, vx, and the principal value of the gyration tensor, R1, was measured at this antiresonance condition. The typical stretch-contract motion, which is observed in steady field and at high frequency field, is severely suppressed, and there are two or more dominant kinks that compete with each other. Analysis of the kink motion from the simulation results supports this picture.

Bacteriophage T4↗

An artificial CuII complex with intriguing oxygen radical-quenching profile. X-ray structure, cytochrome c assay, and ESR study.

A novel artificial peptide named HPH-Pep, comprising a pyridine and two histidine units, was synthesized. The HPH-Pep-CuII complex had unique pentacoordinated structure as shown by X-ray crystallography and exhibited superoxide-scavenging activity as indicated by ESR spectroscopy. The superoxide-quenching profile of HPH-Pep-CuII was studied in detail by cytochrome c assay and ESR spin trapping and it was found that (1) HPH-Pep-CuII did not scavenge hydrogen peroxide or hydroxyl radical and hence the scavenging activity was specific to superoxide, and (2) HPH-Pep-CuII did not generate hydrogen peroxide upon scavenging superoxide.

Copper↗

Fibrinogen, coagulation factor VII, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and lipid as cardiovascular risk factors in chronic hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are high in long-term dialysis patients. Increased levels of plasma fibrinogen (FBG), coagulation factor VII (FVII), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as well as hyperlipidemia are regarded as important risk factors for CVD. To investigate whether there are differences in the risk of CVD between chronic hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, serum lipid levels and plasma FBG, FVII, t-PA, and PAI-1 levels were measured in 17 patients on HD and 17 patients on CAPD. FBG was measured by the thrombin time method, FVII activity (FVIIc) by the chromogenic prothrombin time method, and t-PA and PAI-1 activity by the chromogenic substrate assay. No difference was found in body mass index (BMI) between HD and CAPD patients. Total cholesterol (TC), TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C ratio, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C, and triglycerides (TG) were significantly increased, and HDL-C was significantly decreased in CAPD patients compared with HD patients. FBG and FVIIc were significantly elevated in CAPD patients compared with controls or HD patients. T-PA activities were significantly higher in HD and CAPD patients than in controls. CAPD patients showed significantly higher PAI-1 activities than controls or HD patients. Significant positive correlations were found between FBG or FVIIc and TC, between FBG and LDL-C or TG, and between FVIIc and LDL-C in these patients. T-PA showed significant negative correlations with FBG, PAI-1, TC, LDL-C, and TG. There was a significant positive correlation between PAI-1 and TG and a significant negative correlation between PAI-1 and HDL-C. We conclude that CAPD patients may have a greater risk of CVD than do HD patients, and that coagulation and fibrinolytic activity are correlated with lipid disorders in these patients.

Adult↗

Genetic analysis of Drosophila virilis sex pheromone: genetic mapping of the locus producing Z-(11)-pentacosene.

Z-(11)-pentacosene, Drosophila virilis sex pheromone, is predominant among the female cuticular hydrocarbons and can elicit male courtship behaviours. To evaluate the genetic basis of its production, interspecific crosses between D. novamexicana and genetically marked D. virilis were made and hydrocarbon profiles of their backcross progeny were analysed. The production of Z-(11)-pentacosene was autosomally controlled and was recessive. Of the six D. virilis chromosomes only the second and the third chromosomes showed significant contributions to sex pheromone production, and acted additively. Analysis of recombinant females indicated that the locus on the second chromosome mapped to the proximity of position 2-218.

Alkenes↗

Endothelium-dependent relaxation and vasospasm in the single-hemorrhage canine model.

We have investigated the relationship between angiographic vasospasm and the ability of spastic vessels to relax in response to agents which promote release of endothelium derived relaxing factor. Vasospasm was induced in dogs by the 'single hemorrhage' technique. Animals received a single intracisternal injection of blood, blood activated with thromboplastin or collagen, or inert material, and angiograms were obtained day 0 and day 7. Vasospasm was estimated by measuring the ratio of the diameter of the vessel before and after treatment. Rings of cerebral artery obtained from these animals were suspended in a standard organ-bath arrangement, contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha and then treated with increasing doses of adenosine triphosphate or bradykinin, both of which cause relaxation by an endothelium-dependent process. The arteries from animals with moderate to severe vasospasm showed a response to bradykinin and adenosine-triphosphate which was reduced, absent or converted to a contraction, when compared with normal vessels. Vessels in which vasospasm was mild or absent relaxed as expected to these agents. The reduction in vessel diameter showed a highly significant correlation with the reduction in relaxation to bradykinin or adenosine-triphosphate. These results have demonstrated that impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation correlates with the existence of vasospasm.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of recombinant human eukaryotic initiation factor-4E.

Recombinant human eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E), purified by m7GTP-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, was used for crystallization. After concentration of the eIF-4E protein (7 mg/ml), the solution was subjected to crystallization by the hanging-drop method. Transparent needle crystals complexed with m7GTP were obtained from 50 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid-KOH buffer (pH 6.5) containing 25% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 and 0.2 M (NH4)2SO4. The crystals belong to tetragonal space group P4(1) or P4(3), of Z = 4, with unit-cell dimensions of a = 89.26, b = 89.26, and c = 38.51 angstrum, and diffract beyond 2.1 angstrum resolution. The Vm value was calculated to be 3.07 angstrum 3/Da, which indicates a solvent content of 59.9%.

Crystallization↗

Stellate ganglion block is associated with increased tibial nerve muscle sympathetic activity in humans.

BACKGROUND: Left stellate ganglion block has been shown to increase heart rate and blood pressure, possible because of blockage of afferent vagal fibers from arterial baroreceptors in the aortic arch. Because efferent muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is influenced by the arterial baroreflex, the hypothesis that left stellate ganglion block increases efferent MSNA recorded from the tibial nerve of humans was tested. METHODS: Twenty healthy male volunteers were sequentially assigned to one of three groups: stellate ganglion block (n = 10), in which 7 ml 1% mepivacaine was injected into the left stellate ganglion; placebo (n = 5), in which 7 ml of saline was injected into the left stellate ganglion; and intramuscular injection (n = 5), in which 7 ml mepivacaine was injected into the left deltoid muscle. Direct intraneural microneurographic recording with a tungsten microelectrode was used to record MSNA in the left tibial nerve. MSNA, heart rate, and blood pressure were recorded before and after injection in all groups. An additional five volunteers were studied with transthoracic echocardiography to examine the effect of stellate ganglion block on preload changes. RESULTS: Tibial nerve MSNA increased after mepivacaine injection to the left stellate ganglion but was unchanged after saline injection to the left stellate ganglion or mepivacaine injection into the deltoid muscle. Heart rate increased significantly after the left stellate ganglion block but did not change significantly after saline injection to the left stellate ganglion or after mepivacaine injection to the deltoid muscle. Systemic blood pressure did not change significantly in all groups. Left ventricular end-diastolic area and left ventricular end-diastolic circumference did not change after stellate ganglion block. CONCLUSIONS: Tibial nerve MSNA increased during left stellate ganglion block with mepivacaine.

Adult↗

Structural versatility of peptides from C alpha, alpha-disubstituted glycines: crystal-state conformational analysis of peptides from C alpha-methylhomophenylalanine, (alpha Me) Hph.

The molecular and crystal structures of the C alpha-tetrasubstituted, delta-branched alpha-amino acid C alpha-methylhomophenylalanine, H-D-(alpha Me)Hph-OH, and three peptides (to the pentamer level), including the homotripeptide, have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The peptides are Z-L-(alpha Me)Hph-(L-Ala)2-OMe pBrBz-[D-(alpha Me)Hph]3-OtBu and Ac-(Aib)2-L-(alpha Me)Hph-(Aib)2-OtBu. All the (alpha Me)Hph residues prefer phi, psi torsion angles in the helical region of the conformational map. The two terminally blocked tripeptides adopt a beta-bend conformation stabilized by a 1<--4 C = O... H-N intramolecular H-bond. The terminally blocked pentapeptide is folded in a regular 3(10)-helix. In general, the relationship between (alpha Me)Hph alpha-carbon chirality and helix handedness is the same as that exhibited by protein amino acids. A comparison is also made with the conclusions extracted from published work on peptides from other types of C alpha-alkylated aromatic alpha-amino acids.

Aminobutyrates↗

Differential effects of fibronectin-derived oligopeptides on the attachment of rabbit lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Among the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing sequences that are known to be cell-binding domains of fibronectin, 500 migrograms/ml of Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) and Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser showed 100% inhibition of the attachment of cultured lens epithelial cells (TOTL-86 cells), when they were added to culture medium and coincubated with the cells for 24 h whereas RGD at concentrations of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 micrograms/ml had no such activity. After 48 h of cocultivation of 800, 400 or 200 micrograms/ml of RGDS with TOTL-86 cells, the percentage of floating cells was 100, 30.1 or 11.1%, respectively. After 144 h of cocultivation with RGDS, the percentage of floating cells was 1.6, 2.4 or 1.9%, respectively, indicating that RGDS was not cytotoxic to lens epithelial cells. However, replacing the medium with fresh medium containing new RGDS peptide resulted in floating of cells. We also studied the inhibitory effect of two other amino acid sequences that are found in cell-binding sites of the fibronectin molecule: Glu-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-Pro-Ser-Thr (EILDVPST) and Arg-Glu-Asp-Val (REDV). At 500 and 1,000 micrograms/ml, respectively, neither EILDVPST nor REDV has an inhibitory effect on the attachment of TOTL-86 cells, while RGDS at a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml completely inhibited the attachment of the cells in 24 h of incubation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Large right ventricular myxoma in a 79-year-old male.

A 79-year-old male, admitted because of severe dyspnea on exertion, showed echocardiographic findings of a large tumor in the dilated right ventricle. The right ventricular outflow tract was nearly occluded by the tumor mass, and the mass was attached to the interventricular septum by a pedicle. The tumor removal operation was successful. The size of the tumor was 40 mm x 90 mm, and the weight 70 g. Microscopic findings showed typical myxomatous tissue with high cellularity, and no malignancy was observed. This is the oldest reported patient with right ventricular myxoma which was cured by operation.

Aged↗

[Policy for children with chronic neurological diseases].

QOL for children with chronic neurological diseases (CND) depends mainly on the supporting system of children's development and respite measurements of their families. For supporting children's development with CND and for alleviating the burden on the family members, various staffs are needed such as pediatricians, nurses, psychologists, OT, PT, home helpers, etc. Especially children with CND are living at home needs in-home services supplied by these supporting staffs. An in-home care service center is desirable to be established in their living area. According to the maternal and child health law and child welfare law, several measures have been adopted, but these services are not available for children with CND and their family, without registration as handicapped children. All these children should be treated because they have the same problems as physically or mentally handicapped children. The capability of the medical and social service supply has been influenced by recent decrease of the birth rate and improvement of the level in the maternal and child health. The number of facilities, such as pediatric clinics or nursing homes for physically handicapped children, is decreasing because of poor profit. These trends will be continued if appropriate measurements are not introduced. The final estimation of need and supply must be made at the local community level.

Child↗

[Tuberculous aneurysm of the descending aorta--successful surgical treatment].

A 62-year-old woman visited her primary physician because of high fever and vomiting. From a chest roentgenogram miliary tuberculosis was diagnosed. Anti-tuberculosis drugs were prescribed. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from samples of sputum. Although she took drugs for 3 months, her symptoms did not resolve and back pain developed. A chest roentgenogram showed an egg-sized mass in the posterior part of the mediastinum. Examination of a chest CT scan showed that the mass was an aortic aneurysm. A graft replacement was done, and histologic examination of the resected specimen showed that it was a tuberculous aneurysm of the descending aorta. Her symptoms disappeared, and she recovered fully. Tuberculous aneurysms are rare: they account for only 0.3% of all aneurysms. This is only the 9th reported case of tuberculous aneurysm successfully treated with surgery in Japan. We must realize that aneurysms are life-threatening complication of miliary tuberculosis.

Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic↗

[The indications for postoperative adjuvant therapy in node-negative breast cancer patients].

A clinicopathological study on prognosis has been carried out in 233 breast cancer patients with more than twenty inspected nodes and without lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis of clinicopathological findings in node-negative breast cancers showed that the best combination of clinical features predicting prognosis were age, menstruation status, tumor location and tumor diameter; and from 11 pathological features, three factors (histological type, histological grade and the grade of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) were selected under condition of p<0.05. With solid-tubular carcinoma, histological grade III and negative tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as the 3 poor prognostic factors, node-negative breast cancers were classified. The recurrence rates of subgroups with the number of 3, 2, 1 and 0 were 28%, 16%, 7% and 0%, respectively. We conclude that the grade of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes is especially significant as the prognostic factor in node-negative breast cancers, and that postoperative adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy must be performed for patients with node-negative breast cancer with more than two poor prognostic pathological factors.

Adult↗

[Successful treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis by massive bronchoalveolar lavage].

In two patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, PaO2 was normalized by massive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Patient 1: A 29-year-old man presented with exertional dyspnea and a PaO2 of 57.8 mmHg. After four BALs, the PaO2 was 106.4 mmHg. For ten years thereafter he has been doing well. Patient 2: A 58-year-old women presented with extertional dyspnea and a PaO2 of 64.4 mmHg. The PaO2 increased to 110.6 mmHg after four BALs. BAL required much skill, but it is one of the most effective methods for the treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Because this condition is related to an interstitial process, these two patients need to be followed carefully.

Adult↗