Biomedical subjects

M Minami

Publications and source records attributed to M Minami.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Bcl-w expression is increased in brain regions affected by focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Proteins of the bcl-2 family are important regulators of apoptosis in many tissues of the embryo and adult and may play a role in cell death following stroke. The recently isolated bcl-w gene encodes a pro-survival member of the bcl-2 family, which is widely expressed. However, it is not known whether bcl-w plays a role in determining cell survival after cerebral ischemia. Using Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry, regional bcl-w protein expression was studied in rat brain 2, 6, 24 and 72 h following 20 min temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Focal cerebral ischemia increased bcl-w protein expression within the caudate putamen and parietal cortex, as well as causing milder increases within frontal cortex. Immunocytochemically bcl-w was expressed within neurons (frontal and parietal cortex) and glia (caudate putamen) 24 h after MCAO. These data suggest that bcl-w could play a role in determining cell survival after cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

S phase-specific DNA-binding proteins interacting with the Hex and Oct motifs in type I element of the wheat histone H3 promoter.

The type I element (CCACGTCANCGATCCGCG), consisting of the Hex motif (CCACGTCA) and the reverse-oriented Oct motif (GATCCGCG), is necessary and sufficient to confer the S phase-specific transcription of the wheat histone H3 (TH012) gene. The transcriptional regulation via the type I element is thought to occur through interactions between transcription factors which bind specifically to the Hex and Oct motifs. Here we report S phase-specific DNA-binding proteins interacting with the type I element in partially synchronized wheat cultured cells. Hex motif-binding proteins found here resembled HBP-1a, as reported previously in terms of DNA-binding specificity. DNA-binding activities of the HBP-1a-like proteins were modulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. In the electrophoretic mobility shift assay of the wheat nuclear extract, we also found three Oct motif-specific binding proteins, named OBRF (octamer-binding regulatory factor)-1, -2 and -3. One of the HBP-1a-like proteins and OBRF-1 appeared predominantly at the S phase. Thus, it was supposed that these two factors play a crucial role in the S phase-specific regulation of wheat histone gene expression.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2000

Ipsilateral recurrence frequency after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively evaluated the results of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax and recurrence. METHODS: A series of 424 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery-289 with an ipsilateral recurrent episode, 88 with persistent air leakage for 7 days or longer, 34 with a contralateral episode, 9 with hemopneumothorax, and 4 with tension pneumothorax. The commonest management was stapling of an identified bleb, undertaken in 375 patients (88.4%). Pleural abrasion was conducted in 250 (59.0%), but the abraded area was one-third or less of the thoracic cavity in 187 (74.8%). RESULTS: No operative deaths occurred. Revisional thoracotomy was required in 1 patient with postoperative bleeding and another with incomplete postoperative lung reexpansion; 26 had prolonged air leakage, but none required revisional thoracotomy. During a mean follow-up of 31.4 months, ipsilateral pneumothorax recurred in 40 patients (9.4%), with 26 (65.0%) having recurrence within 1 year postoperatively. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was conducted again in 8, and thoracotomy in 14. CONCLUSIONS: The ipsilateral recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was high at 9.4%. If video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is to be considered as a treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax, we must therefore reduce postoperative ipsilateral recurrence by training practitioners not to overlook blebs during the procedure and/or consider widening the area of pleurodesis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Impaired expression of MHC class I molecules on mouse testicular germ cells is mainly caused by the post-transcriptional mechanism.

In this study, we examined expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and of the mRNAs for MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation machinery molecules in highly purified C57BL/6 mouse testicular germ cells. Although H2 class I molecules were not detected on the cell surface, small amounts of the molecules were detected inside the cells by flow cytometric and immunoprecipitation analyses. Interferon (IFN)gamma treatment did not affect expression of the molecules on the surface by flow cytometric analysis. In addition, expression of mRNAs for MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation machinery molecules in the germ cells was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The faint constitutive expression of mRNAs for H2-K, beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), tapasin, and calnexin was observed in the cells. IFNgamma treatment up-regulated expression of mRNAs for H2-K, beta2m, TAP1 (a peptide transporter), and LMP2 (a proteosomal subunit). These findings indicate that impaired expression of MHC class I molecules on the cell surface of mouse testicular germ cells is mainly caused by the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Identification of 187 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 41 candidate genes for ischemic heart disease in the Japanese population.

To investigate whether common variants in the human genetic background are associated with pathogenesis of ischemic heart diseases, we systematically surveyed 41 possible candidate genes for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by directly sequencing 96 independent alleles at each locus, derived from 48 unrelated Japanese patients with myocardial infarction, including 25.8 kb 5' flanking regions, 56.8 kb exonic and 35.4 kb intronic sequences, and 1.8 kb 3' flanking regions. In this genomic DNA of nearly 120 kb, we identified 187 SNPs: 55 in 5' flanking regions, seven in 5' untranslated regions (UTRs), 52 in coding elements, 64 in introns, eight in 3' UTRs, and one in a 3' flanking region. Among the 52 coding SNPs, 26 were non-synonymous changes. Allelic frequencies of some of the polymorphisms were significantly different from those reported in European populations. For example, the Q506R substitution in the coagulation factor V gene, the so-called "Leiden mutation", has a reported frequency of 2.3% in Europeans, but we detected the Leiden mutation in none of the Japanese genomes that we investigated. The allelic frequencies of the -33A>G SNP in the thrombomodulin gene were also very different; this allele occurred at a 12% frequency in the Japanese patients that we examined, although it had been detected in none of 82 Caucasians reported previously. These data support the hypothesis that some SNPs are specific to particular ethnic groups.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2000

Identification of 142 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 41 candidate genes for rheumatoid arthritis in the Japanese population.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can make an important contribution to our understanding of genetic backgrounds that may influence medical conditions and ethnic diversity. We undertook a systematic survey of genomic DNA for SNPs located not only in coding sequences but also in non-coding regions (e.g., introns and 5' flanking regions) of selected genes. Using DNA samples from 48 Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as templates, we surveyed 41 genes that represent candidates for RA, screening a total of 104 kb of DNA (30 kb of coding sequences and 74 kb of non-coding DNA). Within this 104 kb of genomic sequences we identified 163 polymorphisms (1 per 638 bases on average), of which 142 were single-nucleotide substitutions and the remainder, insertions or deletions. Of the coding SNPs, 52% were non-synonymous substitutions, and non-conservative amino acid changes were observed in a quarter of those. Sixty-nine polymorphisms showed high frequencies for minor alleles (more than 15%) and 20 revealed low frequencies (<5%). Our results indicated a greater average distance between SNPs than others have reported, but this disparity may reflect the type of genes surveyed and/or the relative ethnic homogeneity of our test population.

Alleles↗

PubMed2000

Clinical assessment of long-term safety and efficacy of a widely implanted polyacrylic intraocular lens material.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy, in a large series of patients, of polyacrylic intraocular lens implants 1 and 3 years after surgery, compared with polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens implants. METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective study of 1,514 eyes of 1,202 patients that were examined for a 1-year follow-up study and 1,264 eyes of 990 patients that were examined for a 3-year follow-up study. All the patients were prospectively randomized to receive a polyacrylic or polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens implant. A standardized surgical protocol was performed using a phacoemulsification technique and capsulorhexis. Any surgical complications were excluded, and all patients had standard postoperative medication and follow-up. Postoperative measurements included spectacle-corrected visual acuity, occurrence of postoperative sight-threatening or lens-related complications, and adverse reactions. Results were compared between the polyacrylic intraocular lens and polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens groups. Results were also compared with standards for polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens that were established by the US Food and Drug Administration and a previous study for silicone lens. RESULTS: The overall complete follow-up rates were 79.9% for 1-year follow-up and 69.5% for 3-year follow-up. At 1 year, the mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) of visual acuity was 0.037 +/- 0.150 and 0.042 +/- 0.154 in best case patients of the polyacrylic intraocular lens group and polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens group, respectively. At 3 years, the mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.038 +/- 0.155 and 0.054 +/- 0.181 in best case patients in the polyacrylic intraocular lens group and polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens group. There was no significant difference between groups at 1 and 3 years. At 1 year, 96.8% of best case patients in the polyacrylic intraocular lens group and 95.8% of those in the polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens group achieved corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better. At 3 years, 96.4% of best case patients in the polyacrylic intraocular lens group and 94.9% of those in the polymethylmethacrylate group achieved a corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better; no significant difference was found at 1 and 3 years. The rate of sight-threatening complications was 1. 2% for the polyacrylic intraocular lens group of all patients and 1. 5% for the polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens group at 1 year, and 1.6% for the polyacrylic intraocular lens group and 1.4% for the polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens group at 3 years. No significant difference was found between the groups. The cumulative rate of Nd:YAG capsulotomy for the polyacrylic intraocular lens group (7.1%) was significantly lower than that for the polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens group (38.1%) through 3 years (P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Polyacrylic intraocular lenses demonstrated safe and effective performance through long-term follow-up at a level equal to or better than polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lenses. Patients undergoing polyacrylic intraocular lens implantation achieved excellent postoperative visual acuity and experienced a low rate of postoperative complications, adverse reactions, and Nd:YAG capsulotomy. These long-term clinical results are an important outcome database for the ongoing use of this foldable optic material.

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMed2000

Monitoring of fluorine in urine samples of patients involved in the tokyo sarin disaster, in connection with the detection of other decomposition products of sarin and the by-products generated during sarin synthesis.

We developed a new assay method for fluoride anion (F(-)) a specific metabolite of sarin. Trimethyifluorosilane (TMFS) was derivatized from F(-) with trimethylsilanol, and TMFS was detected with a GC-flame ionization detector (FID) and capillary column system. The linear range, detection limit and recovery rate were 0.02-10 ppm, 0. 01 ppm and 97.3-103.0%, respectively. The patients were reported to be exposed only once to the toxic substance (a bolus exposure). F(-) excretion in urine of the hospitalized patients demonstrated three or four peaks. Other common metabolites of sarin and by-products such as methylphosphonic acid (MPA) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) also showed two or three peaks. These results suggested that the patients were exposed to not only sarin but also fluoride and isopropyl alcohol containing by-products. The sum of MPA excreted was 0.3-90 mM, far exceeding the human lethal dose of sarin. The residual acetyicholine esterase activity of erythrocytes on admission (4.7-57.2% of the individual reference value) of the patients showed statistically significant relationships only with the initial values of F(-) and the isopropyl methylphosphonate. This evidence also suggested the exposure to fluoride and isopropyl alcohol-containing by-products.

2-Propanol↗

PubMed2000

Suppression by eicosapentaenoic acid of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and lysophosphatidylcholine-induced migration in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

The migration of medial smooth muscle cells into the intima is proposed to be an initial process of intimal thickening in atherosclerotic lesions. The present study was designed to determine whether pretreatment with the antiatherogenic agent eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) inhibits the migration induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its major phospholipid component, lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC), in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) using Boyden's chamber method. The effects of EPA pretreatment on angiotensin II (Ang II)- and platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF BB)-induced migration were also examined in these cells. Oxidized LDL and lyso-PC induced migration in a concentration-dependent manner. EPA pretreatment clearly suppressed oxidized LDL (200 microg/mL)- and lyso-PC (10(-5) mol/L)-induced migration between 40 and 160 micromol/L. EPA pretreatment also suppressed Ang 11 (10(-7) mol/L)- and PDGF BB (5 ng/mL)-induced migration at a concentration of 80 and 160 micromol/L. However, in a trypan blue exclusion test, dead cells stained with trypan blue were not found 24 hours after treatment with EPA. These results suggest that EPA suppresses VSMC migration induced by oxidized LDL and lyso-PC, as well as Ang II and PDGF BB. These preliminary data concerning the effects of EPA may partly explain the antiatherosclerotic effects of this agent.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Increased expression of apoptosis-linked gene 2 (ALG2) in the rat brain after temporary focal cerebral ischemia.

Calcium is an important mediator of programmed cell death induced by transient cerebral ischemia, and calcium-binding proteins have been implicated in calcium-regulated signal transduction. Apoptosis-linked gene 2 is a calcium-binding protein required for cell death induced by different apoptotic stimuli. By Western blot analysis, we found that apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was expressed in normal brains, and that expression increased in ischemic brains after 20 or 90 min of transient focal cerebral ischemia. Immunocytochemistry showed increased apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein expression in frontal cortex, a region where neurons underwent ischemic stress but still survived, after 20 or 90 min of focal cerebral ischemia. Apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was also up-regulated in the ischemic border-zone of parietal cortex 24h after 20 min of focal ischemia, and was remarkably over-expressed in the caudate-putamen and parietal cortex, (where cells are destined to die) 24h after 90 min of ischemia. The expression pattern of apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was similar to that of deoxyribonucleic acid damage detected by Klenow labeling assay. Our results suggest that apoptosis-linked gene 2 may be involved in the regulation of cell death after transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Dilazep, a nucleoside transporter inhibitor, modulates cell cycle progression and DNA synthesis in rat mesangial cells in vitro.

The direct effects of the nucleoside transporter inhibitor dilazep on the cell cycle of mesangial cells have not before been investigated. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether dilazep can inhibit the proliferation of mesangial cells and how it interferes with the cell cycle of these cells. DNA histograms were used and BrdUrd uptake rate was measured by flow cytometry. There was no significant difference in the cell numbers among the untreated group and the 10(-5) M, 10(-6) M or 10(-7) M dilazep-treated groups at 24 h of incubation. However, at 48 and 72 h, the cell numbers in the dilazep-treated groups were significantly lower compared with that of the untreated group (P < 0.005). The DNA histograms of cultured rat mesangial cells at 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation with 10(-5) M dilazep showed that the ratio of the S phase population in the dilazep-treated group decreased by 2.2% at 12 h, by 9.6% at 24 h, and by 18.9% at 48 h compared with the untreated group. The ratio of the G0/G1 phase population in the dilazep-treated group significantly increased: 6.8% at 12h (P < 0.05), 13.9% at 24 h (P < 0.001), and 76.5% at 48 h (P < 0.001) compared with the untreated group. A flow cytometric measurement of bivariate DNA/BrdUrd distribution demonstrated that the DNA synthesis rate in the S phase decreased after 6 h (P < 0.005) and 12 h (P < 0.05) of incubation compared with the untreated group. These results suggest that dilazep inhibits the proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells by suppressing the G1/S transition by prolonging G2/M and through decreasing the DNA synthesis rate.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Guidelines for irradiation of blood and blood components to prevent post-transfusion graft-vs.-host disease in Japan.

The Japanese Red Cross analysed the results of questionnaires sent in 1993 regarding post-transfusion graft-vs.-host disease (PT-GVHD) from hospitals; the majority of patients with PT-GVHD in 1993 were transfused for cardiovascular or cancer surgery, and about 10 patients had died yearly from PT-GVHD in the following few years. The Japan Society of Blood Transfusion (JSBT) organized a subcommittee for the prevention of PT-GVHD, and issued a fourth version of guidelines for the irradiation of blood to prevent PT-GVHD. These guidelines recommended transfusion of irradiated blood for cardiosurgery, cancer surgery, elderly recipients and severe trauma, as well as congenital immunodeficient recipients, newborn infants and other immunocompromised patients. Also recommended was irradiation not only of blood within 72 h after collection but also of blood stored for 14 days. Reported PT-GVHD has diminished to a few cases in recent years.

Blood↗

PubMed2000

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on left ventricular parameters and circulating brain natriuretic peptide in elderly hypertensives with left venticular hypertrophy.

In the elderly, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of long-term effective blood pressure control with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor temocapril on left ventricular (LV) mass and function indices and the circulating concentration of the cardiac hormone brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in elderly hypertensives with LVH. Temocapril treatment was administered for 1 year to 11 elderly hypertensives (mean age, 72 years) with LVH. Cardiac dimensions and circulating concentrations of BNP were monitored before initiation of treatment and after 1 year of treatment. At entry, BNP levels were positively correlated with the LV mass index, but were not correlated with the mean blood pressure, LV ejection fraction, or E/A ratio (the ratio of peak transmitral flow velocity in early diastole, peak E, to that in late diastole, peak A). After 1 year, temocapril treatment resulted in effective control of blood pressure. The treatment did not affect the LV ejection fraction, but modestly increased the E/A ratio. Temocapril significantly reduced septal and posterior wall thickness and the LV mass index. BNP significantly declined after 1 year. Changes in BNP were significantly related to changes in the LV mass index, but were not related to changes in the mean blood pressure, LV ejection fraction, or E/A ratio. The results suggest that long-term ACE inhibitor treatment with temocapril can induce the regression of LV mass and reduce elevated plasma BNP in elderly hypertensive patients with LVH. In this study, changes in BNP reflected the magnitude of regression of LVH.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Inhibitory effects of lignans and flavonoids in saiboku-to, a herbal medicine for bronchial asthma, on the release of leukotrienes from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

To identify the anti-allergic components contained in Saiboku-To, a herbal medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma, we studied the effects of eight phenolic compounds, which have been identified as the major human metabolites of Saiboku-To, and three triterpenoids contained in Saiboku-To on the release of leukotriene (LT) from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMLs) stimulated with Ca(2+)-ionophore A23,187. All phenolic compounds exhibited dose-dependent suppression on release of both LTB4 and LTC4, while triterpenoids did not show any effects, except for glycyrrhetinic acid, which selectively inhibited LTC4-release. The five phenolic compounds, magnolol, dihydroxydihydromagnolol, baicalein, medicarpine and davidigenin, were found to exert a marked inhibition on LTB4- and LTC4-release with IC50 values of 0.7-15.3 microM. The results suggest that the phenolic compounds contribute to the anti-allergic effects of Saiboku-To through suppression of LT-release from PMLs.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents↗

PubMed2000

Discrimination among three species of medicinal Scutellaria plants using RAPD markers.

An analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was performed using nine accessions of three species of medicinal plants in the genus Scutellaria (S. galericulata, S. lateriflora and S. baicalensis; known collectively as skullcap) in an effort to distinguish between members of these three species. Dried aerial parts of the two species S. galericulata and S. lateriflora are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Ten arbitrary primers produced 92 fragments, and eight of the primers yielded 23 species-specific fragments among the three species. Six fragments were specific for S. galericulata, seven for S. lateriflora and ten for S. baicalensis. When primers A02 and A06 were used in the polymerase chain reaction, RAPD fragments that were specific for each of the three species were generated simultaneously. Primer A02 produced five species-specific fragments: one was specific for S. galericulata; two for S. lateriflora; and two for S. baicalensis. Primer A06 produced three species-specific fragments: one for S. galericulata; one for S. lateriflora; and one for S. baicalensis. The RAPD markers that were generated with these two primers should rapidly identify members of the three species of Scutellaria. The consistency of the identifications made with these species-specific RAPD markers was demonstrated by the observation that each respective marker was generated from three accessions of each species, all with different origins. Furthermore, cluster analysis using the 92 RAPD fragments produced a dendrogram of genetic relatedness that was in good agreement with the taxonomic designations of the three species. Thus, the RAPD markers should be useful for the future identification of members of the three species of medicinal Scutellaria plants.

Plants, Medicinal↗

PubMed2000

Growth inhibitory effect of a new camptothecin analog, DX-8951f, on various drug-resistant sublines including BCRP-mediated camptothecin derivative-resistant variants derived from the human lung cancer cell line PC-6.

DX-8951f, a new water-soluble camptothecin (CPT) derivative, has been reported to show potent antitumor effects against various tumors in vitro and in vivo. We further evaluated the cytotoxic effect of DX-8951f against eight drug-resistant sublines derived by stepwise exposure of human oat cell carcinoma PC-6 to various drugs. In paclitaxel-, adriamycin-, vincristine- and etoposide-resistant cells, overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and a correlative reduction in drug accumulation and typical drug-sensitivity pattern were confirmed. The etoposide-resistant line with the highest P-gp level was cross-resistant also to SN-38, CPT-11 and topotecan (TPT), but not to 9-aminocamptothecin (9-AC), CPT and DX-8951f. SN-38- and CPT-11-resistant cells, of which topoisomerase I activities and levels were similar to those of the parent cells, showed cross-resistance clearly to TPT, 9-AC and mitoxantrone, but hardly to DX-8951f. In these two resistant sublines, the intracellular topotecan level was significantly lower than that in parental PC-6 and the reduced accumulation was found to be mediated by breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP). The cisplatin-resistant variant, which had a 2-fold increase in glutathione content, showed no cross-resistance and the 5-fluorouracil-resistant variant, which had a 50% decrease in glutathione content, exhibited collateral sensitivity to most of the other anticancer agents including DX-8951f. We concluded that DX-8951f showed a potent cytotoxic effect on various types of drug-resistant cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

PubMed2000

Overexpression of the cell death suppressor Bcl-w in ischemic brain: implications for a neuroprotective role via the mitochondrial pathway.

Bcl-w is a newly described cell death suppressor member of the Bcl-2 gene family. As these genes may have a role in the outcome of ischemic brain injury, the regional expression of Bcl-w protein in rat brain was examined at 6 to 72 hours after 90 minutes of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Bcl-w protein, although constitutively expressed at low levels in nonischemic brain, was found to be overexpressed in ischemic brain at all time points studied. Up-regulation of Bcl-w protein was particularly abundant in the penumbral region of the cortex and mainly in cells lacking DNA fragmentation. In the cortical penumbra, Bcl-w protein was detected predominantly in neurons and showed mitochondrial localization, as determined using double-label immunohistochemistry. Bcl-w expression was also detectable, to a lesser extent, in reactive astrocytes in the infarct border zone and in microvessel walls in the infarct regions. At the mechanistic level, incubation of isolated brain mitochondria with the addition of recombinant Bax or high concentration of calcium resulted in release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. In the presence of recombinant Bcl-w protein, however, the release of cytochrome c induced by Bax or calcium was largely inhibited. Further, recombinant Bcl-w protein inhibited calcium-induced loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, indicative of permeability transition, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Bcl-w may be an endogenous neuroprotectant against ischemic neuronal death and that, like its analogues such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-x-long, Bcl-w may achieve this protection via the mitochondrial death-regulatory pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

A dopamine-secreting pheochromocytoma.

We describe a patient with pheochromocytoma, which secretes dopamine. He was admitted to hospital because of chronic diarrhea. After surgical resection of the tumor, dramatic cessation of the diarrhea and blood pressure elevation were observed. Decreased expression of dopamine beta-hydroxylase in the tumor was considered a possible mechanism of producing a pathophysiological concentration of dopamine. This case shows that excessive excretion of dopamine, a vasodilative hormone, may affect blood pressure.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗