Biomedical subjects

Megumi Matsumoto

Publications and source records attributed to Megumi Matsumoto.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Simplified ultrasound screening for fetal brain function based on behavioral pattern.

Despite the longstanding conclusion that behavior can reveal aspects of underlying anatomy and function, no generalized antenatal behavior screening has been developed to identify fetuses that may have central nervous system defects requiring further evaluation. We devised a brief ultrasound examination to distinguish fetuses with compromised central nervous system function from the general population and evaluated it with this study. The study design compared behavioral findings obtained by retrospectively reviewing the ultrasound examinations of 5 fetuses that had abnormal behavior with prospectively obtained findings of 29 normal fetuses. Median time for brief examination criteria was 50 min (range, 30-60 min). The only case undetectable by this brief ultrasound examination has an eye-movement period significantly longer than the normal upper limit. Using this method as a screening test may make it possible to include assessment of fetal brain function as part of routine antenatal care.

Central Nervous System↗

PubMed2004

Gastroprotective effect of red pigments in black chokeberry fruit (Aronia melanocarpa Elliot) on acute gastric hemorrhagic lesions in rats.

It has been reported that the fruits and leaves of berries such as the blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry contain a high level of scavenging activity for chemically generated active oxygen species. This study investigated the antioxidative activities of black chokeberry fruit (Aronia melanocarpa Elliot) both in vitro and in vivo using the DPPH stable radical and rats with ethanol-induced gastric injury, respectively. The red pigment fraction of the black chokeberry contained three main components, one of which was identified as cyanidin 3-O-beta-glucoside by HPLC analysis and (1)H NMR. The black chokeberry red pigment fraction scavenged >44% of DPPH radicals at a concentration of 25 microg/mL compared to the control solution. The black chokeberry extract and its hydrolysate administrated at 2 g/kg of body weight each had nearly the same protective effect as quercetin administrated at 100 mg/kg of body weight in suppressing the area of gastric mucosal damage caused by the subsequent application of ethanol to <30% compared to the control group. The black chokeberry red pigment fraction had a similarly significant protective effect on gastric mucosa in a dose-dependent manner when administered at 30-300 mg/kg of body weight, and the administration of 30 mg/kg of body weight could suppress ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage by approximately 50% (ID(50) = 30 mg/kg of body weight).

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Promoter polymorphism in the CD14 gene and concentration of soluble CD14 in patients with in-stent restenosis after elective coronary stenting.

BACKGROUND: Activated monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells participate in the restenosis processes. Monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils are activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via CD14. Endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells are also stimulated by soluble CD14 (sCD14)-LPS complexes. METHODS: We tested the hypothesis that C(-260)-->T polymorphism of the CD14 gene and sCD14 might be predictors for in-stent restenosis. We analyzed 129 consecutive patients who underwent elective coronary stenting. The restenosis was defined as > or =50% diameter stenosis at follow-up angiography. RESULTS: The prevalence of the T/T genotype and the concentration of sCD14 were significantly higher in the restenosis group than in the no-restenosis group. This CD14 polymorphism also affected the levels of sCD14, therefore, we divided the patients into four groups. The loss index was 24.8% in C/C or C/T and < or =50th percentile of sCD14, 35.9% in T/T and < or =50th percentile of sCD14, 44.2% in C/C or C/T and >50th percentile of sCD14, and 49.1% in T/T and >50th percentile of sCD14 (P=0.02). The restenosis rate was 10.0%, 26.7%, 26.2% and 50.0% in each group, respectively (P=0.003). In the multivariate analysis, T/T and >50th percentile of sCD14 was the independent predictor for in-stent restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the T/T genotype with a high level of sCD14 is an independent predictor of in-stent restenosis. The activation of monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells mediated by CD14 and/or sCD14 may play an important role in the restenosis processes.

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMed2004

A soluble flavonoid-glycoside, alphaG-rutin, is absorbed as glycosides in the isolated gastric and intestinal mucosa.

We investigated the absorption and metabolism of the highly soluble quercetin glycoside alphaG-rutin, a glucose adduct of insoluble rutin, using the isolated mucosa of the rat stomach and intestines equipped with the Ussing chamber. alphaG-rutin and rutin appeared in the serosal sides of the gastric body and all the intestinal mucosa after the addition of alphaG-rutin (1 mM) to the mucosal fluid. The degree of alphaG-rutin appearance was much lower in the gastric fundus than in the other parts. Quercetin was not found in the mucosal fluid of any mucosal specimen. The concentrations (microM) of alphaG-rutin and rutin in the serosal fluid as a result of transport from the mucosal side increased time-dependently and linearly with mucosal alphaG-rutin concentration (1, 10 or 100 mM). The highest transport was shown in the ileal mucosa. These results indicate that alphaG-rutin is partly hydrolyzed to rutin through the intestine and absorbed as such.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Cholesterol metabolism in rat is affected by protocatechuic acid.

The effects of protocatechuic acid on serum cholesterol and gene expression related to cholesterol metabolism in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with or without 5 g protocatechuic acid/kg diet for 4 wk. There were no significant differences in body weight and food intake among groups through the experimental period. The liver weight in the protocatechuic acid group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)+intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL)+low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentrations in the protocatechuic acid group were significantly lower than those in the control group through the feeding period. The hepatic cholesterol concentration in the protocatechuic acid group was significantly higher than in the control group at the end of the 4-wk feeding period. The relative hepatic LDL receptor, apo B, apo E, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) mRNA levels in the protocatechuic acid group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The results of this study suggest the possibility that the increase in the hepatic LDL receptor, apo E, LCAT and HTGL guessed by these mRNAs increase in the protocatechuic acid group lowers the serum total cholesterol level.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Antioxidative activity and protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage of a potato protein hydrolysate.

Antioxidative activity and protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage of potato protein hydrolysate (potato peptides, Po-P) were studied in vitro and in vivo. The Po-P obtained by proteolysis with Amano P and pancreatin inhibited linoleic acid oxidation either by 83%, at its coexistent 0.005% in a ferric thiocyanate assay system or by 32% at its coexistent 0.0002% in a beta-carotene decolorization assay system. Meanwhile Po-P were orally administered to male Wistar rats at doses of 12.5-100 mg/kg of body weight (BW) 30 min prior to ethanol injection. Consequently the ethanol-induced gastric damage was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the Po-P administered rat. The highest effect was observed in the group dosed with 100 mg Po-P/kg BW; the inhibition ratio was 69.6%. The extent of antioxidation or protection against ethanol-induced gastritis was quite similar to those of the respective peptides from casein, corn protein and ovalbumin, suggesting that the potato protein hydrolysate could serve as a useful food ingredient in practical eating habits.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

IGF-related proteins at birth in a case of antenatally diagnosed Silver-Russell syndrome.

We report here a case with severe intrauterine growth restriction from the first trimester and clinical features of Silver-Russell syndrome including microcephaly, low-set ear, atrial septum defect, ventricular septum defect, diaphragmatic relaxation, and rocker bottom feet. Silver-Russell syndrome is thought to result from deletion of the distal long arm of chromosome 15 on which the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) gene is located. We measured both the maternal and cord blood levels of GH, IGF-I, and IGF-binding protein and performed an immunohistochemical study of IGF-IR in the placenta to investigate whether these IGF-related proteins were affected in this patient. The hormonal level of these proteins did not significantly differ from normal neonates, and immunohistochemical analysis suggested IGF-IR protein levels in the placenta were comparable to normal term neonates. These results support the hypothesis that growth insufficiency could occur in patients with monosomy of the distal long arm of chromosome 15 and suggest a critical threshold for IGF-related fetal growth in early pregnancy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2002

Predictive value of the adipocyte-derived plasma protein adiponectin for restenosis after elective coronary stenting.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that plasma levels of adiponectin can predict angiographic in-stent restenosis after coronary stenting. We prospectively examined adiponectin levels in 127 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary stenting. Restenosis was defined as more than 50% stenosis at follow-up study by quantitative coronary angiography. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics or angiographical findings between the groups with restenosis and no restenosis. The levels of adiponectin did not differ between the restenosis group and the no restenosis group (5.7 +/- 2.8 vs 5.9 +/- 3.6 microg/mL, p = 0.72). The plasma levels of adiponectin were not related with the late loss index after coronary stenting (r = 0.01, p = 0.89). The levels of adiponectin were significantly lower in men than in women (5.5 +/- 3.2 vs 8.8 +/- 3.7 microg/ mL, p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with body mass index (r = -0.21, p = 0.01). We analyzed adiponectin levels in male, female, obese, non-obese, diabetes, and non-diabetes patients, however, there were no significant differences between the restenosis group and no restenosis group. This study has demonstrated that the measurement of adiponectin could not predict angiographic restenosis after elective coronary stenting, whereas the plasma levels of adiponectin were associated with some coronary risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease.

Adiponectin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical significance of double staining of MIB-1 and AgNORs in primary breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and MIB-1 as proliferating activities have been applied separately to assess the malignant potential of cancer cells. We conducted staining of AgNORs and MIB-1 in 42 surgically-resected invasive breast carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin-embedded sections were used for double staining and the mean AgNOR counts in 100 MIB-1-positive and -negative cells were calculated. RESULTS: The mean AgNOR count in MIB-1-positive cells was significantly higher than in MIB-1-negative ones. AgNOR counts in MIB-1-positive tumors were significantly higher in tumors > or =2 cm and those with positive nodes. Multivariate analysis identified the AgNOR count in MIB-1-positive tumors as the only independent factor related to node metastasis. Survival of patients with lower counts of AgNORs in MIB-1-positive tumors was significantly better compared to those with higher counts. CONCLUSION: Double staining of MIB-1 and AgNORs is useful for predicting lymph node metastasis and prognosis of patients with breast carcinoma.

Adult↗