Biomedical subjects

M Sawamura

Publications and source records attributed to M Sawamura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Spherical bilayer vesicles of fullerene-based surfactants in water: a laser light scattering study.

The low solubility of fullerenes in aqueous solution limits their applications in biology. By appropriate substitution, the fullerenes can be transformed into stabilized anions that are water soluble and can form large aggregated structures. A laser light scattering study of the association behavior of the potassium salt of pentaphenyl fullerene (Ph5C60K) in water revealed that the hydrocarbon anions Ph5C60- associate into bilayers, forming stable spherical vesicles with an average hydrodynamic radius and a radius of gyration of about 17 nanometers at a very low critical aggregation concentration of less than 10(-7) moles per liter. The average aggregation number of associated particles in these large spherical vesicles is about 1.2 x 10(4).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Risk factors for early death in patients undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.

The survival time of myeloma patients improved from a few months to many years after treatment with melphalan. Perhaps chemotherapy more intensive than melphalan-prednisolone should be administered to patients at risk of early death. Therefore, early death must be accurately predicted. We analyzed 93 patients with recently diagnosed myeloma and found that 13 (14%) died within 6 months (early death). The most common cause of death was bacterial and fungal pneumonia when myeloma became uncontrollable. The response to conventional chemotherapy was poorer in patients at high risk of early death than the control group. Multivariate analysis showed that the serum level of beta-2 microglobulin was the only value that predicted early death.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Clinical benefits of lenograstim in patients with neutropenia due to chemotherapy for multiple myeloma (MM).

The object of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rHuG-CSF; lenograstim) after combination chemotherapy consisting of ranimustine, vindesine, melphalan and prednisolone (MCNU-VMP). One hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) were allocated at random to a lenograstim group (n = 70) or a placebo group (n = 69). Patients were treated with two cycles of MCNU-VMP, and either lenograstim (2 microg/kg daily, s.c.) or placebo was administered from the day neutrophils decreased to less than 1.000/microl and was discontinued when neutrophils exceeded 5,000/microl. The median duration of neutropenia (neutrophils under 1,000/microl) was significantly shorter for the lenograstim group than the placebo group (2 days vs 9 days in the first cycle; 1 day vs 13 days in the second cycle). The incidence of febrile neutropenia in the first cycle was significantly lower in the lenograstim group than in the placebo group (9.2% vs 30.4%). No life-threatening infections were observed in either group. The two cycles of MCNU-VMP therapy were completed in 90.8% of the patients, and a higher average relative dose intensity (ARDI; 0.94) was achieved in the lenograstim group. The tumor response rate of the lenograstim group (57.8%) was higher than that of the placebo group (43.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant (chi2 = 2.634, df = 1, P = 0.105). Lenograstim was well tolerated, and no unexpected adverse events occurred. Lenograstim proved effective in controlling chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in MM patients under MCNU-VMP therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2001

Molecular detection of tumor cells at diagnosis invading the bone marrow and peripheral blood of patients with aggressive or indolent lymphomas.

We studied tumor cell invasions of bone marrow and peripheral blood in patients with various types of advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by amplifying complementarity determining region III using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and developing patient-specific probes. After molecular engineering, we could detect tumor cells in bone marrow from seven of 11 cases and in peripheral blood from six of 11 cases, despite negative results in four cases studied morphologically. Indolent cases were more likely to yield positive results than aggressive cases. The reason may be different biological behaviors among the histological types.

Bone Marrow Neoplasms↗

PubMed2001

Characterization of the odor-active volatiles in citrus Hyuganatsu (Citrus tamurana Hort. ex Tanaka).

The volatile components of Hyuganatsu (Citrus tamurana Hort. ex Tanaka) peel oil, isolated by cold-pressing, were investigated by chemical and sensory analyses. According to chemical analysis by GC and GC-MS, limonene (84.0%) was the most abundant compound, followed by gamma-terpinene (6.9%), myrcene (2.2%), alpha-pinene (1.2%), and linalool (1.0%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons were predominant in Hyuganatsu peel oil. The odor-active volatiles in Hyuganatsu flavor were studied by GC-olfactometry and omission tests. The characteristic flavor was present in the oxygenated fraction. Flavor dilution (FD) factors of the volatile flavor components of the Hyuganatsu cold-pressed oil were determined by aroma extraction dilution analysis (AEDA). Furthermore, relative flavor activity was investigated by means of FD factor and weight percent. Ten kinds of odor compounds having Hyuganatsu-like aroma were detected by AEDA: limonene, linalool, octanol, neral, neryl acetate, tridecanal, trans-carveol, cis-nerolidol, trans,trans-farnesyl acetate, and trans,trans-farnesol. Linalool and octanol were regarded as the most odor-active or key compounds of Hyuganatsu aroma. Diluted solutions of linalool and octanol of approximately 2 ppm gave a fresh and fruity aroma note similar to Hyuganatsu flavor.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2001

Mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase is predominantly located in the cytosol of rat hepatocytes.

Mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (MPD) is found in the 100000 x g supernatant fraction of cells or tissues and is considered to be a cytosolic protein. Recently, other groups reported that MPD is mostly located in the peroxisomes. In this study, we used two different methods to determine whether MPD is predominantly located in the peroxisomes or the cytosol of rat hepatocytes. 1) In permeabilized rat hepatocytes or normal rat kidney cells treated with digitonin, which lack cytosolic enzyme, MPD was mainly present in the medium. 2) Double immunofluorescent labeling of cells with both anti-MPD antibody and anti-hexokinase antibody yielded an immunofluorescent pattern for both enzymes typical of the cytosolic protein. These results indicate that MPD is predominantly located in the cytosol of rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Difference in subcellular distribution between 45- and 37-kDa mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase in rat liver.

We previously reported that the CP diet (a diet containing 5% cholestyramine and 0.1% pravastatin)-induced new species of 37-kDa mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (MPD) was characteristically and immunologically very similar to the well-known 45-kDa MPD. In the present study, we found a difference in subcellular distribution between 45- and 37-kDa MPD by cell fractionation and immunoblot analysis. The cytosol fraction contained 45- and 37-kDa MPD. Peroxisomal fraction contained a small amount of 45-kDa MPD, but not 37-kDa MPD. Also, 45-kDa MPD in peroxisome is localized in the matrix. From these data, the difference in subcellular distribution between 45- and 37-kDa MPD may be due to differences in the physiological role of cholesterol biosynthesis in rat liver.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat is reduced from the age of two weeks.

We carried out a comparison of tissue distribution of mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (MPD) between normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) using Western blotting. However, there was no difference in tissue distribution of MPD between WKY and SHRSP, expect in brain and liver. We then compared the MPD between WKY and SHRSP liver at several weeks of age. We found that MPD in the liver as well as brain of SHRSP was significantly reduced from two weeks of age. This data is useful to identify or understand the mechanism underlying the reduced amount of MPD in SHRSP.

Aging↗

PubMed2001

Isotope ratio by HRGC-MS of citrus Junos tanaka (yuzu) essential oils: m/z 137/136 of terpene hydrocarbons.

The isotope ratios of monoterpene hydrocarbons in Citrus junos Tanaka (yuzu) essential oils from different origins were determined by ordinary high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS). Both intensities of the molecular mass peaks (m/z 136) and of the isotope peaks (m/z 137) of monoterpene hydrocarbons were measured by single-ion monitoring with an MS analysis. The isotope ratios (m/z 137/136) of the ten monoterpene hydrocarbons commonly contained in citrus essential oils, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-terpinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-phellandrene and terpinolene, were determined in yuzu samples of the highest commercial quality from 42 different production districts. Statistical treatment of these data by the t-test and sign test revealed significant differences of the isotope effects in each yuzu sample. It is suggested that this technique will be applicable for evaluating the quality, genuineness and origin of citrus fruits and their products. The isotope fingerprints were also demonstrated in several citrus fruits other than the yuzu samples.

Citrus↗

PubMed2001

Volatile flavor components of ripe and overripe ki-mikans (Citrus flaviculpus Hort. ex Tanaka) in comparison with Hyuganatsu (Citrus tamurana Hort. ex Tanaka).

The volatile flavor components of ripe and overripe ki-mikan (Citrus flaviculpus Hort. ex Tanaka) peel oil samples, which had been isolated by cold-pressing, were investigated by capillary GC and GC-MS, and compared with the Hyuganatsu (Citrus tamurana Hort. ex Tanaka) flavor. Limonene (ripe fruit, 82.44%; overripe fruit, 73.10%) was the most abundant compound in the ki-mikan oil, this being followed by gamma-terpinene (8.83% and 13.74%), trans-beta-farnesene (1.76% and 3.12%) and myrcene (1.54% and 1.13%). The composition of overripe ki-mikan oil was characterized by higher amounts of aliphatic and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, monoterpene and sesquiterpene alcohols, ketones and esters than that of ripe ki-mikan oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons, especially limonene (84.78%), were predominant in Hyuganatsu oil. The CPO composition of ki-mikan was qualitatively similar to that of Hyuganatsu, but differed quantitatively. The content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons was higher in the ki-mikan oil samples than in Hyuganatsu oil, while ketones showed the opposite predominance. These differences were more evident in the trans-beta-farnesene and l-carvone contents. The ratio of both these compounds could be used to distinguish ki-mikan oil from Hyuganatsu oil.

Citrus↗

PubMed2000

Stepwise Synthesis of Fullerene Cyclopentadienide R(5)C(60)(-) and Indenide R(3)C(60)(-). An Approach to Fully Unsymmetrically Substituted Derivatives.

Fullerene cyclopentadienide (PhCH(2))(2)Ph(3)C(60)(-) and indenide (PhCH(2))(2)PhC(60)(-), each bearing two different organic groups, were efficiently synthesized through regioselective reactions of 1,4-(PhCH(2))(2)C(60) with an organocopper reagent (PhMgBr/CuBr.SMe(2)) or a Grignard reagent (PhMgBr) followed by deprotonation with KO(t)()Bu.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Multiple myeloma presenting high fever and high serum levels of lactic dehydrogenase, CRP, and interleukin-6.

Two myeloma patients presented high fever with no signs or data indicating infection at diagnosis or relapse. Both patients had plasmablastic myeloma, and serum levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and CRP were extremely high. Plasmablastic morphology, high LDH, and CRP were recognized as poor prognostic factors, indicating a fulminant phase of multiple myeloma. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was only high in measured cytokines. We proposed that IL-6 caused high fever and induced the fulminant phase in these 2 cases.

C-Reactive Protein↗

PubMed2000

Radical-scavenging activities of citrus essential oils and their components: detection using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

Thirty-four kinds of citrus essential oils and their components were investigated for radical-scavenging activities by the HPLC method using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). To examine the oils' relative radical-scavenging activities compared with that of a standard antioxidant, Trolox was employed. All of the essential oils were found to have scavenging effects on DPPH in the range of 17. 7-64.0%. The radical-scavenging activities of 31 kinds of citrus essential oils were comparable with or stronger than that of Trolox (p < 0.05). The oils of Ichang lemon (64.0%, 172.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), Tahiti lime (63.2%, 170.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), and Eureka lemon (61.8%, 166.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL) were stronger radical scavengers than other citrus oils. Citrus volatile components such as geraniol (87.7%, 235.9 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), terpinolene (87.4%, 235.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), and gamma-terpinene (84.7%, 227.9 mg of Trolox equiv/mL) showed marked scavenging activities on DPPH (p < 0.05).

Bepridil↗

PubMed2000

Composition of the essential oil of Citrus tamurana Hort. ex Tanaka (Hyuganatsu).

The composition of the essential oil of Citrus tamurana Hort. ex Tanaka (Hyuganatsu), isolated by the cold-pressing method, was investigated by capillary GC and GC-MS. The effects of harvesting time, degree of freshness, and size of fruits on the composition of Hyuganatsu peel oils were also determined. A total of 126 volatile constituents were confirmed in the Hyuganatsu oils. The Hyuganatsu oils contained hydrocarbons (95.95-96.95%), aldehydes (0.33-0.62%), alcohols (1.91%-2.64%), ketones (0.40-0.62%), esters (0.28-0.39%), oxides (0.04-0.06%), acids (0.01%), and trace amounts of fugenol methyl ether. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were predominant. Limonene (80.35-82.39%), gamma-terpinene (7.71-9.03%), myrcene (2.11-2.28%), linalol (1.37-2.01%), and alpha-pinene (1.17-1.43%) were the most abundant components in Hyuganatsu oils. The principal sesquiterpene hydrocarbon was trans-beta-farnesene (0.60-1.04%), and its content in Hyuganatsu oils was higher than in oils of other citrus fruits. The number of ketones and the content of l-carvone in Hyuganatsu oils were higher than in other citrus oils.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2000

Reduction of tetrazolium salt XTT by aminoreductone formed during the Maillard reaction of lactose.

Lactose, a reducing disaccharide abundant in milk, reacts extensively with the amino groups of protein through the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction products showed 3'-[1-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-3,4-tetrazolium]bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzensulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) reducibility. The objective of this study was to clarify the Maillard reaction products responsible for the XTT reducibility. When lactose and butylamine were heated at 100 degrees C, the characteristic UV maximum at 320 nm was recognized and the relationship between the XTT reducibility and the compound with absorption maximum at 320 nm was investigated. The time course and the dependence on the heating temperature of the formation of the compound with absorption maximum at 320 nm were similar to those of the XTT reducibility. Their relationship showed a significant correlation (r = 0.967, n = 19). Furthermore, the spectrum change of the heated model solution by the addition of XTT suggested that the compound with absorption maximum at 320 nm would be involved in the reduction of XTT. Because the compound with absorption maximum at 320 nm was identified as an aminoreductone, 1-(butylamino)-1,2-dehydro-1,4-dideoxy-3-hexulose, by NMR analysis, it can be concluded that this was the main XTT-reducing substance.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Relationship between the reduction of tetrazolium salt XTT and DNA strand breakage with aminosugars.

Dihydropyrazine derivatives formed by the self-condensation reaction of D-glucosamine have the DNA breaking activity. To establish the monitoring method of the biological active dihydropyrazines, we investigated the relationship between the XTT (3'-[1-[(phenylamino)-carbonyl]-3, 4-tetrazolium]bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzensulfonic acid hydrate) reducibility and the DNA breaking activity of aminosugars. Aminosugar in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was incubated at 37 degrees C. At a given time, the XTT reducibility and the DNA breaking activity of the incubated aminosugar were measured. Both XTT reducibility and DNA breaking activity showed a maximum value within 1-4 h after the incubation and then gradually decreased with the incubation time. Superoxide anion was suggested to involve in both of the DNA breaking activity and the XTT reducibility by the addition of the radical scavengers into those assay mixtures. The quantity of remaining covalently closed circular DNA and the XTT reducibility of all aminosugars showed a good correlation (r = 0.825, n = 26). This means that the XTT assay is applicable for the monitoring of those biologically active products derived from aminosugars when the participation of superoxide anion in DNA scission is recognized.

DNA↗

PubMed2000

Clinical usefulness of urine-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibody to Helicobacter pylori: a collaborative study in nine medical institutions in Japan.

BACKGROUND: A urine-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for detection of antibody to Helicobacter pylori has been developed in Japan. Urine samples can be obtained noninvasively and are easier and safer to handle than are serum samples. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of this urine-based ELISA kit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pair of random, single-void urine and serum samples was collected from each of 1,061 subjects, including 238 patients with gastroduodenal disease. The sensitivity and specificity of the urine-based ELISA was compared with those of three commercially available serum-based ELISA kits. For those patients with gastroduodenal disease, the urine- and serum-based ELISA results were also compared with those for other diagnostic methods using endoscopic biopsy specimens, such as culture, histology, and rapid urease tests. RESULTS: Based on the three serum-based ELISA results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the urine-based ELISA were 97.7%, 95.6%, and 96.8%, respectively. On the basis of the biopsy test results, the sensitivity (96.2%), specificity (78.9%), and accuracy (91.0%) of the urine-based ELISA were almost equivalent or superior to all three serum-based ELISAs tested. In addition, 10 of the 12 false-positive cases for urine-based ELISA were confirmed to be true positives for antibodies to H. pylori by Western blot analysis and inhibition ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: The urine-based ELISA (URINELISA H. pylori Antibody) is very accurate and should be useful as an alternative to serum-based ELISAs for screening of H. pylori infection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2000

Identification of quantitative trait loci for serum cholesterol levels in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) has been reported to show significantly lower levels of serum total cholesterol than the normotensive control strain Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY). Because selective inbreeding was conducted for stroke proneness, this concomitantly inherited characteristic of SHRSP may play some pathophysiological role in stroke. We evaluated the genetic determinants of the cholesterol trait by estimating heritability and subsequently by undertaking a genome-wide screen with 161 genetic markers in F(2) progeny involving SHRSP and WKY (104 male and 106 female rats). Three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected on rat chromosomes 5, 7, and 15. Markers from the linked region on chromosome 15 indicated significant evidence of linkage with a maximal log of the odds (LOD) score of 7.7, whereas those on chromosomes 5 and 7 cosegregated with the trait in a sex-specific manner (the QTL close to genetic marker D5 Mit5 reached an LOD score of 7.3 in males, and that close to D7 Mit10 reached an LOD score of 3.2 in females). The male-specific QTL on chromosome 5 appeared to overlap with previously reported QTLs for stroke-associated phenotypes, but an identical gene (or genes) appeared unlikely to control these and the cholesterol traits simultaneously. In the present study, serum cholesterol levels were shown to be highly genetically determined in SHRSP (the heritability estimates are 76% in males and 83% in females), and 3 QTLs with substantial effects were identified. Further work, however, is required to clarify whether the cholesterol trait is related to the etiology of stroke or has been retained by chance through the inbreeding process in SHRSP.

Alleles↗