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Biomedical subjects

M Yamaya

Publications and source records attributed to M Yamaya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Relation between exhaled carbon monoxide levels and clinical severity of asthma.

Carbon monoxide (CO) can be detected in exhaled air and is increased in asthmatic patients not treated with corticosteroids. However, it is uncertain whether exhaled CO is related to severity of asthma. To study whether exhaled CO is related to severity of asthma in clinical courses, exhaled CO concentrations were measured on a CO monitor by vital capacity manoeuvre in 20 mild asthmatics treated with inhaled beta2-agonists alone, 20 moderate asthmatics treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 15 stable asthmatics treated with high dose inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids once a month over 1 years. Exhaled CO concentrations were also measured in 16 unstable severe asthmatics who visited the hospital every 7 or 14 days for treatment with high dose inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids. The mean values of exhaled CO in severe asthma over 1 year were 6.7 +/- 9.5 p.p.m. (n = 31, mean +/- SD) and significantly higher than those of non-smoking control subjects (1.2 +/- 0.9 p.p.m., n = 20, P < 0.01). Exhaled CO concentrations in unstable severe asthmatics were significantly higher than those in stable severe asthmatics. However, exhaled CO concentrations in mild and moderate asthmatics did not differ significantly from those in non-smoking control subjects (P > 0.20). There was a significant relationship between the exhaled CO concentrations and forced expiratory volume in one second in all asthmatic patients. These findings suggest that exhaled CO concentrations may relate to the severity of asthma and measurements of exhaled CO concentrations may be a useful means of monitoring airway inflammation in asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Interventions to prevent pneumonia among older adults.

Pneumonia is a common cause of death in older people. Antimicrobial drugs do not prevent pneumonia and, because of increasingly resistant organisms, their value in curing infection will become more limited. Establishing new strategies to prevent pneumonia through consideration of the mechanisms of this devastating illness is essential. The purpose of this review is to discuss how pneumonia develops in older people and to suggest preventive strategies that may reduce the incidence of pneumonia among older adults. Aspiration of oropharyngeal bacterial pathogens to the lower respiratory tract is one of the most important risk factors for pneumonia; impairments in swallowing and cough reflexes among older adults, e.g., related to cerebrovascular disease, increase the risk for the development of pneumonia. Thus, strategies to reduce the volumes and pathogenicity of aspirated material should be pursued. For example, since both swallowing and cough reflexes are mediated by endogenous substance P, pharmacologic therapy using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, which decrease substance P catabolism, may improve both reflexes and result in the lowering of the risk of pneumonia. Similarly, since the production of substance P is regulated by dopaminergic neurons in the cerebral basal ganglia, treatment with dopamine analogs or potentiating drugs such as amantadine (and, of course, prevention of cerebral vascular disease, which can result in basal ganglia strokes) should affect the incidence of pneumonia. The purpose of this review is to consider promising pharmacologic treatments as methods of preventing pneumonia in older adults and to review other proven strategies, e.g., infection control and cerebrovascular disease prevention that will lessen the incidence of pneumonia.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Type 2 rhinovirus infection of cultured human tracheal epithelial cells: role of LDL receptor.

To examine the role of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor on minor group human rhinovirus (RV) infection, primary cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells were infected with a minor group (RV2) or a major group (RV14) RV. Viral infection was confirmed by showing with PCR that viral titers in supernatants and lysates from infected cells increased with time. RV2 and RV14 increased expression of mRNA and protein of the LDL receptor on the cells and the cytokine production. RV2 induced activation of transcription factors SP1 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). An antibody to the LDL receptor inhibited RV2 infection and RV2-induced cytokine production without an effect on RV14 infection and RV14-induced cytokine production. These findings imply that RV2 upregulates LDL receptor expression on airway epithelial cells, thereby increasing susceptibility to minor group RV infection. LDL receptor expression and cytokine production may be mediated, in part, via activation of transcription factors by RV2. These events may be important in airway inflammation after minor group RV infection in asthma.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Acid exposure stimulates the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to cultured human airway epithelial cells: effects on platelet-activating factor receptor expression.

To examine the effects of acid exposure on the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to cultured human tracheal epithelial cells, cells were exposed to acid at various pH levels, and various concentrations of S. pneumoniae were added to the culture medium. The number of S. pneumoniae adhering to cultured human tracheal epithelial cells increased after acid exposure. Y-24180, a specific inhibitor of the receptor for the platelet-activating factor (PAF) and PAF itself decreased the number of S. pneumoniae adhering to cultured human tracheal epithelial cells after acid exposure. Acid exposure increased the activation of transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B and the expression of protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) of the PAF receptor. The pyrrolidine derivative of dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of NF-kappa B, also decreased the number of S. pneumoniae adhering to the cultured human tracheal epithelial cells after acid exposure. Acid exposure increased the content of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the culture supernatants, but monoclonal antibodies to IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta failed to inhibit the increased number of S. pneumoniae adhering to cultured human tracheal epithelial cells after acid exposure. These findings suggest that acid exposure stimulates the adherence of S. pneumoniae to the airway epithelial cells via increases in PAF receptors. Increases in PAF receptor expression may be, in part, mediated via activation of transcription factors and subsequent PAF receptor mRNA expression by acid exposure. Increased adherence of S. pneumoniae may be one of the reasons why pneumonia develops after gastric juice aspiration.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Microsatellite polymorphism in the heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter is associated with susceptibility to emphysema.

Cigarette smoke, containing reactive oxygen species, is the most important risk factor for chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a protective role as an antioxidant in the lung. A (GT)n dinucleotide repeat in the 5'-flanking region of human HO-1 gene shows length polymorphism and could modulate the level of gene transcription. To investigate the correlation between the length of the (GT)n repeat and susceptibility to the development of CPE, we screened the frequencies of alleles with varying numbers of (GT)n repeats in the HO-1 gene in 101 smokers with CPE and in 100 smokers without CPE. Polymorphisms of the (GT)n repeat were grouped into three classes: class S alleles (<25 repeats), class M alleles (25-29 repeats), and class L alleles (>/=30 repeats). The proportion of allele frequencies in class L, as well as the proportion of genotypic frequencies in the group with class L alleles (L/L, L/M, and L/S), was significantly higher in the smokers with CPE than in smokers without CPE. Moreover, we analyzed the promoter activities of the HO-1 gene carrying different (GT)n repeats (n=16, 20, 29, and 38), by transient-transfection assay in cultured cell lines. H2O2 exposure up-regulated the transcriptional activity of the HO-1 promoter/luciferase fusion genes with (GT)16 or (GT)20 but did not do so with (GT)29 or (GT)38. These findings suggest that the large size of a (GT)n repeat in the HO-1 gene promoter may reduce HO-1 inducibility by reactive oxygen species in cigarette smoke, thereby resulting in the development of CPE.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Effects of dexamethasone on rhinovirus infection in cultured human tracheal epithelial cells.

To examine the effects of glucocorticoid on rhinovirus (RV) infection, primary cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells were infected with either RV2 or RV14. Viral infection was confirmed by demonstrating that viral RNA in infected cells and viral titers of supernatants and lysates from infected cells increased with time. RV14 infection upregulated the expression of mRNA and protein of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the major RV receptor, on epithelial cells, and it increased the production of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in supernatants. Dexamethasone reduced the viral titers of supernatants and cell lysates, viral RNA of infected cells, and susceptibility of RV14 infection in association with inhibition of cytokine production and ICAM-1 induction. In contrast to RV14 infection, dexamethasone did not alter RV2 infection, a minor group of RVs. These results suggest that dexamethasone may inhibit RV14 infection by reducing the surface expression of ICAM-1 in cultured human tracheal epithelial cells. Glucocorticoid may modulate airway inflammation via reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1 induced by rhinovirus infection.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[The pathogenesis and therapy of virus infection-induced senile bronchial asthma].

We investigated the pathogenesis and therapy of virus infection-induced senile bronchial asthma in vitro. To examine the effects of rhinovirus infection on the production of cytokines and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), human tracheal epithelial cells and submucosal gland cells were cultured, and infected with human rhinovirus. Rhinovirus upregulated the production of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in supernatants of epithelial cells and submucosal-gland cells, and IL-1 alpha and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in supernatants of submucosal gland cells. Rhinovirus upregulated the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA. Rhinovirus infection also increased epithelial permeability. These events may be important for the spread of airway inflammation after rhinovirus infection. Furthermore, we studied the effects of dexamethasone and erythromycin on the modulation of virus infection and induction of cytokines and ICAM-1 in tracheal epitherial cells. Both of them reduced viral titers of rhinovirus type 14, a major group rhinovirus, and cytokine production of supernatants, and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in the cells. Because it is known that acidic conditions by proton pumps are needed for rhinovirus entry into the cells, we studied the effects of H+ ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1. Bafilomycin A1 reduced the virus titers of both rhinovirus type 2 and 14 in supernatants. These findings in our in vitro study suggest that dexamethasone, erythromycin and bafilomycin A1 may inhibit rhinovirus infection and modulate airway inflammation induced by rhinovirus infection.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Prevention of severe premenstrual asthma attacks by leukotriene receptor antagonist.

BACKGROUND: The etiology and treatment of premenstrual exacerbations of asthma (PMA) remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of cellular mediators released from inflammatory cells in the airflow limitation during PMA. METHODS: Serum levels of leukotriene (LT) B(4), LTC(4), platelet- activating factor, histamine, IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and GM-CSF were measured at different time points, first just before or during menstruation when the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) began to decrease precipitously and second during the menstrual midcycle week (days 10-16) when the PEFR returned to baseline values in patients with PMA and in age-matched asthma patients without PMA at the same intervals. RESULTS: Serum levels of LTC(4) were significantly higher during exacerbations of asthma than after recovery (69.0 +/- 16.0 pg/mL vs 24.0 +/- 9.5 pg/mL, P <.05), whereas those of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, GM-CSF, histamine, LTB(4), and platelet-activating factor did not differ between 2 periods in 5 patients with PMA. In contrast, in 5 asthmatic patients without PMA serum levels of cellular mediators did not differ between corresponding periods. Oral administration of pranlukast, an LT receptor antagonist (225 mg twice daily), significantly reduced decreases in PEFR from the baseline values (110 +/- 21 L/min with pranlukast vs 233 +/- 20 L/min without pranlukast, P <.01) in association with an improvement of asthma symptom scores (6.5 +/- 1. 1 with pranlukast vs 9.8 +/- 0.7 without pranlukast, P <0.05) in 5 patients with PMA. CONCLUSION: LTs are partly involved in the pathogenesis of PMA, and LT receptor antagonists may be useful for preventing airflow obstruction in patients with PMA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Kinin and histamine stimulate Cl- secretion in gerbil middle ear epithelium: connection to otitis media.

The effects of bradykinin (BK) and histamine on transepithelial ion transport in primary cultures of gerbil middle ear epithelium were investigated. Lysyl-bradykinin (lys-BK) elicited a transient increase in short-circuit current (I(sc)) when added to apical or basolateral surfaces. Lys-BK had a larger effect than BK or des-arg9-BK on both epithelial surfaces. Histamine induced a transient increase in I(sc) only when added to the basolateral surface. Mepyramine, an H1 histamine antagonist, greatly reduced the histamine-induced I(sc). The H2 and H3 histamine antagonists were both ineffective for inhibiting the I(sc) responses to histamine. Diphenylamine-2-carboxylate or 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, Cl- channel blockers, significantly blocked the I(sc) responses to lys-BK or histamine. The Ca2+-mobilizing action of lys-BK and histamine was also investigated in single middle ear epithelial cells. BK and histamine induced an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. 1,2-Bis-(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester, a calcium chelator, greatly reduced the increase in the I(sc) responses to lys-BK or histamine. These data indicate that BK and histamine activate intracellular Ca2+-dependent mechanisms, leading to apical Cl- secretion in the cultured gerbil middle ear epithelium via B2 BK receptors and H1 histamine receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Exhaled carbon monoxide levels during treatment of acute asthma.

Carbon monoxide is known to be present in measurable quantities in the exhaled air of normal subjects and at higher concentrations in asthmatic patients not treated with glucocorticoids. To examine whether exhaled CO is useful in monitoring asthma control, time course changes in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and exhaled CO concentration before and after treatment of acute asthma exacerbations were measured in 20 asthmatic patients. Exhaled CO was measured in triplicate by a portable CO analyser. Exhaled CO was reproducible at all time points. Asthma exacerbations caused a fall in PEFR and a rise in exhaled CO (towards an average of 3.3 parts per million (ppm)) in all patients, and treatment with oral glucocorticoids reversed these changes in both parameters. An improvement of PEFR was closely associated with a reduction of exhaled CO (to an average of 1.5 ppm) after treatment. The maximal exhaled CO concentration significantly correlated with recovery time of PEFR after treatment with oral glucocorticoids (p<0.01). The present study suggests that exhaled CO may be a useful noninvasive means of monitoring the control of asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate on serum IgE levels and clinical symptoms in atopic asthma.

BACKGROUND: A high serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E level is considered a potent predictor for the development of asthma and IgE is targeted for treatment of asthma. Although inhaled corticosteroids are well established in the treatment of asthma, the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on serum IgE levels in asthma remain uncertain. METHODS: We therefore examined asthma symptoms, concentrations of total serum IgE and specific IgE antibodies to selected allergens, blood eosinophil counts and lung functions before and 3 months after treatment with either inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP; 800 microg/day) (n = 7) or inhaled beta2-agonists alone (n = 7) in patients with atopic asthma in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group controlled trial. RESULTS: Inhaled BDP significantly improved asthma symptom scores and forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and decreased blood eosinophil counts, total serum IgE levels and specific IgE antibodies to house dust mite and cedar. Decreases in total serum IgE significantly correlated with an improvement in asthma symptom scores. In contrast, none of parameters altered in patients with atopic asthma treated with inhaled beta2-agonists alone. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled corticosteroids may improve the subsequent clinical course of atopic asthma in association with a reduction of serum IgE levels.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1999

Increased carbon monoxide in exhaled air of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Carbon monoxide (CO) can be detected in exhaled air and is increased in asthmatic patients. However, it is uncertain whether exhaled CO is increased in patients with allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To study whether exhaled CO is increased in patients with allergic rhinitis, exhaled CO concentrations were measured on a CO monitor by vital capacity manoeuvre in 86 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis during and out of the cedar pollen season. RESULTS: During the season, exhaled CO concentrations were 3. 6 +/- 0.3 p.p.m. and decreased to 1.2 +/- 0.1 p.p.m. out of the season. The values of exhaled CO out of the season were similar to those in age-matched non-smoking healthy control subjects (1.2 +/- 0. 1 p.p.m.). Exhaled CO concentrations were significantly higher in patients with symptoms than in those without symptoms (P < 0.01). Exhaled CO concentrations in patients did not differ significantly among oral and nasal exhalation, and oral exhalation with an expiratory resistance (P > 0.20). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that allergic rhinitis increases the concentration of CO in exhaled air and increases in exhaled CO may be derived from lower airways.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Infection of human respiratory submucosal glands with rhinovirus: effects on cytokine and ICAM-1 production.

To further understand the early biochemical events that occur in infected surface epithelium, we developed for the first time a model in which a respiratory submucosal gland cell population can be infected with rhinovirus (RV). Viral infection was confirmed by demonstrating with PCR that viral titers in supernatants and lysates from infected cells increased with time. Infection by RV14 upregulated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA, the major RV receptor, on submucosal gland cells, and it increased production of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in supernatants. Antibodies to ICAM-1 inhibited RV infection of submucosal gland cells and decreased the production of cytokines after RV infection. Both IL-1alpha and IL-1beta upregulated ICAM-1 mRNA expression and increased susceptibility to RV infection, whereas other cytokines failed to alter ICAM-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies to IL-1alpha and IL-1beta significantly decreased the viral titers in supernatants and ICAM-1 mRNA expression after RV infection, but a neutralizing antibody to tumor necrosis factor-alpha was without effect. These findings suggest that respiratory submucosal gland cells play an important role in the initial stages of inflammation and provide useful insights into the pathogenesis of RV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Protective effects of heme oxygenase-1 against oxidant-induced injury in the cultured human tracheal epithelium.

To examine whether increases in heme oxygenase (HO)-1 activity have protective effects on the oxidant-induced injury of airway epithelial cells, human tracheal epithelial cells were cultured on a porous filter membrane, and electrical conductance (G) and mannitol flux across epithelial membrane were measured with Ussing's chamber methods and D-[(3)H]mannitol, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2); 1 mM) increased G with time from the baseline value of 6.0 +/- 0.6 to 17.8 +/- 0.9 mS/cm(2) at 6 h after administration (P < 0.001). Likewise, H(2)O(2) significantly increased mannitol flux through the cultured epithelium (P < 0.01). Pretreatment of cultured epithelial cells with hemin (10 microM; 8 h) or interleukin (IL)-1beta (10 ng/ml; 16 h) completely inhibited increases in G and mannitol flux induced by H(2)O(2). Tin protoporphyrin IX (50 micrometer) and zinc protoporphyrin IX (10 microM), inhibitors of HO-1, reduced hemin-induced and IL-1beta-induced inhibitory effects. Hemin treatment increased HO-1 messenger RNA expression, HO-1 protein production, and HO activity and bilirubin content as well as ferritin content in the cultured epithelial cells. Pretreatment with hemin and desferoxamine, which, like ferritin, can bind iron, inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced increases in G and mannitol permeability. Although exogenous bilirubin mimicked hemin-induced inhibitory effects, exogenous apoferritin failed to inhibit H(2)O(2)-induced effects on G and mannitol permeability. These findings suggest that HO-1 induction provides protection against H(2)O(2)-induced injury of the cultured human airway epithelial cells in part via the HO-bilirubin pathway.

Adult↗