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Biomedical subjects

N Cho

Publications and source records attributed to N Cho.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited NADH oxidase of cultured HeLa cells shed into media.

Conditioned culture media of HeLa S cells contain a soluble NADH oxidase activity inhibited by the antitumor sulfonylurea, N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N' -(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984) similar to that associated with the outer surface of the plasma membrane. This activity was absent from media in which cells had not been grown and was present in conditioned culture media from which cells had been removed by centrifugation both for serum-containing and serum-free media. The Km with respect to NADH and response to thiol reagents were similar to those of the corresponding activity of the plasma membrane of HeLa cells. The conditioned HeLa culture media bound [3H]LY181984 with high affinity. Both antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited and -resistant forms of the NADH oxidase were isolated by free-flow electrophoresis. The antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited activity was purified to apparent homogeneity and was identified with a 33.5 kDa protein with an isoelectric point of about pH 4.5. The 33.5 kDa protein from conditioned HeLa culture medium both bound [3H]LY181984 and retained an LY181984-inhibited NADH oxidase activity. A polyclonal antisera was raised in rabbits to the purified 33.5 kDa constituent from conditioned HeLa culture medium. The antisera blocked the activity of the LY181984-inhibited NADH oxidase activity, immunoprecipitated the activity and reacted with a 33.5 kDa protein on Western blots while preimmune sera did not. Also inhibited and immunoprecipitated was NADH oxidase activity from HeLa plasma membranes. The findings are consistent with the 33.5 kDa drug-inhibited NADH oxidase activity of the culture media being a shed form of the corresponding native 34 kDa antitumor sulfonylurea-inhibited NADH oxidase activity of the HeLa cell plasma membrane.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Identification of antitumor sulfonylurea binding proteins of HeLa plasma membranes.

Plasma membranes of cultured HeLa S cells bound the tritiated antitumor sulfonylurea [3H]LY181984 with high affinity (Kd of about 25 nM). The number of binding sites, estimated to represent 30 to 35 pmol/mg protein, would represent a low abundance protein of the total plasma membrane proteins. The binding proteins appeared to contain one or more thiols in the binding site as high affinity binding of [3H]LY181984 was reduced by treatment with the covalent thiol blocking reagent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), or by oxidation with dilute hydrogen peroxide but was protected by glutathione or dithiothreitol. Elimination of binding of [3H]LY181984 by NEM was prevented by excess unlabeled LY181984 (an active sulfonylurea) but less so by excess LY181985 (an inactive sulfonylurea). The binding proteins were specifically labeled with thiol reagents following reaction of unprotected thiols with unlabeled thiol reagents. Binding proteins at ca. 34 kDa were labeled. Plasma membrane proteins after solubilization with SDS under strongly reducing conditions still bound sulfonylurea. [3H]LY181984 binding to plasma membrane proteins resolved on SDS-PAGE correlated as well with proteins in the 30-40 kDa range.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

UV resonance Raman and excited-state relaxation rate studies of hemoglobin.

We have measured the UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectra of human methemoglobin fluoride (metHbF) and examined the Raman saturation behavior of the metHbF trytophyl (Trp) and tyrosyl (Tyr) residues. Our high-quality UVRR spectra devoid of Raman saturation with 229- and 238.3-nm CW laser excitation allow us to determine small changes in Trp and Tyr residue Raman band frequencies and intensities caused by the hemoglobin R-T quaternary structural change induced by the allosteric effector inositol hexaphosphate. At 238.3-nm excitation, we observe a ca. 15 and 8% intensity increase for the Trp and Tyr bands, respectively, upon the R-T transition. In contrast, a small intensity decrease is observed with 225-nm excitation. These intensity alterations result from Trp and Tyr absorption and Raman excitation profile red-shifts which correlate with a strong 231.5-nm R-T absorption spectral change. These absorption and Raman excitation profile red-shifts and our model compound absorption studies together suggest a T-state increase in the hydrogen bond donation of the Trp-beta(2)37 and Tyr-alpha(1)42 residues at the alpha 1 beta 2 subunit interface. The Tyr-alpha 42 residue appears to be a hydrogen bond donor, rather than an acceptor. We determined the electronic excited-state relaxation rates of the Trp and Tyr residues in hemoglobin by using Raman saturation spectroscopy with 225-nm pulsed laser excitation. The observed average excited-state relaxation rate of the Trp residues is ca. 1/120 ps and is independent of the quaternary structure. This rate is slower that that observed for Trp residues of horse myoglobin. The average excited-state relaxation rate of the Tyr residues is ca. 1/60 ps for both the R and T quaternary forms. These are the first Tyr relaxation rates measured for any heme protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sexual differentiation and preimplantation cell growth.

Growth rates of human preimplantation embryos fertilized in vitro were assessed and compared to the sex of the pregnancy outcome. The likelihood of a liveborn male was significantly greater than that of a female if the mean number of cells/embryo was four or greater at the scheduled time of transfer (odds ratio of 6:1). This finding suggested that the Y chromosome expresses factors which influence embryonic growth rates immediately after fertilization.

Blastocyst↗

[Experimental and clinical studies of temafloxacin in the field of obstetrics and gynecology].

Temafloxacin (TMFX, TA-167) is a new quinolone antimicrobial agent that has a broad antibacterial spectrum against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria. We obtained the following results from laboratory and clinical studies on TMFX. 1. TMFX showed good penetration into the female genital organs and Cmax's in various organs were 2.77-4.24 micrograms/g when 300 mg was administered, and these values were equal to or higher than Cmax in vein blood. 2. The clinical efficacy rate was 95.4% in a clinical study involving 219 cases. The bacterial eradication rate was 96.4% in 139 cases. 3. Nine cases of side effects and 1 case of abnormal change in laboratory findings were noted in 254 cases involved, but none of them was serious. Based on these findings, TMFX is expected to be a useful antimicrobial agent for the treatment of obstetric and gynecological infections.

Administration, Oral↗

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical evaluation of levofloxacin in obstetrics and gynecology].

Levofloxacin (LVFX, DR-3355), a new synthetic quinolone derivative antibacterial agent, was evaluated for its pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy in obstetric and gynecological infections, and the following results were obtained. Concentrations of LVFX in serum and intrapelvic genital organs such as uterine and adnexal tissues were determined following oral administration of 100 mg. Tissue penetration of LVFX was found to be good, with its tissue levels (Cmax) of 1.17-2.16 micrograms/ml or g after inhalation anaesthesia and 1.15-2.17 micrograms/ml or g after lumbar spinal anaesthesia. LVFX was given to 22 cases of obstetric and gynecological infections with a daily dose of 200-600 mg for 3-14 days and its clinical efficacy was 95% and bacteriological response was 100%. No side effect was observed. From these findings, we consider that LVFX will be a useful antibacterial agent against obstetric and gynecological infections.

Administration, Oral↗

The influence of demographic and phenotypic heterogeneity on the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus.

In order to explore the influence of demographic and phenotypic characteristics on the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), data were analyzed from 3744 consecutive patients who underwent universal screening with a 50 g glucose load at 24-28 weeks gestational age. Those with a 1-h plasma glucose greater than or equal to 130 mg/dl underwent a 3-h, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test following dietary preparation. The population was 39.1% White, 37.7% Black, 19.8% Hispanic and 3.4% Oriental/other. The overall prevalence of GDM was 3.5 cases/100. Significant inter-racial differences in maternal age and prepregnant percent ideal body weight (PIBW) were observed, with White patients being older and leaner than Blacks and Hispanics. By multiple logistic regression, Black and Hispanic race, maternal age and PIBW were found to have significant independent effects on the prevalence of GDM. Controlling for age and PIBW, the adjusted relative risk of GDM was significantly higher in Black (1.81, 95% CI 1.13-2.89) and Hispanic (2.45, 95% CI 1.48-4.04) patients compared to White. We conclude that demographic and phenotypic characteristics of populations need to be taken into consideration in future studies of prevalence of GDM, perinatal implications and therapeutic approaches to the disease.

Adult↗

Delayed-type hypersensitivity antigens detected in culture supernatants of Salmonella typhimurium.

Protein antigens eliciting delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) were analyzed and purified from the supernatants of protein-free cultures in which Salmonella typhimurium TV148 organisms had grown. DTH activity was measured by the footpad swelling test in mice immunized with living organisms of S. typhimurium TV148 or Escherichia coli K-12. DTH activity in the culture supernatant was specific to TV148-immunized mice. This activity was destroyed by pronase. DTH activity was unable to pass through an ultrafilter with an exclusion limit of 10 kD. After condensation of the supernatant and following centrifugation (100,000 g for 1 h), the DTH activities of the sediment and the supernatant were examined, and both showed DTH activity. Further analyses of DTH antigens in the supernatant by HPLC gel filtration separated the activity into three portions. The most active portion was further fractionated by hydroxyapatite HPLC, revealing the presence of two DTH antigens, with molecular weights of 65 and less than 10 kD. These results indicate that the culture supernatant of S. typhimurium TV148 organisms contains a variety of macromolecular protein DTH-eliciting antigens, and one of the antigens is 65 kD, which is dissociated partly by organic solvents into a low molecular weight (less than 10 kD) antigen.

Animals↗

[Studies on flomoxef in the perinatal period].

Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on flomoxef (FMOX) in the perinatal period were carried out with the following summary of the results. Antibacterial effects of FMOX on the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, MIC 400 micrograms/ml), methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA, MIC 0.78 microgram/ml), Escherichia coli (MIC 3.13 micrograms/ml and MIC 0.20 microgram/ml) in amniotic fluid were determined and it was found that the activity of FMOX was enhanced in the amniotic fluid. FMOX rapidly penetrated into tissues and sera of pregnant women upon intravenous injection and its maternal serum concentrations reached their peak levels shortly after administration. Placental penetration of FMOX to the fetus was good and, after single intravenous injection of 1 g, the concentrations of FMOX in the umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs against major causative organisms of perinatal infections. These results indicate that single intravenous injection of FMOX 1 g twice a day is effective for the treatment and prophylaxis of perinatal infections. Injection of FMOX for the treatment of 14 cases of puerperal infections showed excellent clinical effectiveness with 100% clinical effect and 81.8% bacteriological response. No side-effect was observed in any case. All of these results suggested clinical usefulness of FMOX in the perinatal period.

Adult↗

[Clinical evaluation of fleroxacin in gynecological infections].

Fleroxacin (FLRX), a new quinolone oral antibacterial agent, was studied in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and the following results were obtained. 1. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in 105 patients (intrauterine infection 38, adnexitis 28, extragenital organ infection 29, others 10), with an exclusion of 9 patients out of a total of 114 patients. FLRX was orally administered at 200 mg or 300 mg once daily. 2. Clinical efficacy rates were 37/38 (97.4%) in intrauterine infection, 26/28 (92.9%) in adnexitis, 29/29 (100%) in extragenital organ infection and 10/10 (100%) in others. 3. Efficacy rates classified by isolated organisms were 23/23 (100%) in single infections by Gram-positive organisms, 11/13 (84.6%) in those by Gram-negative organisms, 8/9 (88.9%) in those by anaerobic organisms and 15/19 (78.9%) in mixed infections. 4. Side effects were observed in 4 cases (3.5%); gastrointestinal disorder with diarrhea and diarrhea in 1 patient each and insomnia in 2 patients. In laboratory examination, eosinophilia and elevation of GOT and GPT were noted in 1 patient each (1.9%). Based on the above results, we consider that FLRX is a useful drug for the obstetrical and gynecological infections.

Administration, Oral↗

Substance P stimulates the opossum sphincter of Oddi in vitro.

We have previously shown that substance P (SP) regulates sphincter of Oddi (SO) motility in vivo. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Our aim was to develop an in vitro model to measure spikeburst (SB) an contractile frequency (CMC) of the SO and to characterize further SP effects. In 16 opossums, SO rings were excised, mounted within a Kreb's tissue bath with bipolar electrodes and force transducers, allowed to equilibrate, and exposed to increasing SP concentrations with washout between each test solution. Spikeburst and CMC frequencies were recorded on a polygraph, quantitated, expressed as differences before and during SP, and statistically analyzed with Student's test. Although SP induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in phasic SB frequency and CMC, the amplitude of concentrations was not affected by SP. A close correlation was found between basal and SP-stimulated SB and CMC, suggesting myoelectric and mechanical coupling. Previous exposure of SO to SP antagonist [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-SP significantly decreased the response to SP. Tetrodotoxin (TTX), did not affect the delta CMC response to SP. In conclusion an in vitro preparation was developed to study the effect of SP on the SO. Substance P increased SB and CMC of the SO in a concentration-dependent fashion, thus acting as a stimulatory peptide. Perfusion of SO rings with SP antagonist had no effect on basal CMC but significantly inhibited the action of SP in a competitive manner. The effect of SP was not altered by TTX. These data suggest that the action of SP on the SO is primarily myogenic.

Action Potentials↗

Calcium-associated cytoprotective effect of taurine on the calcium and oxygen paradoxes in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Our study was designed to determine the calcium and oxygen paradoxes in isolated rat hepatocytes, and to evaluate the cytoprotective effects of taurine on hepatocytes during oxygenation, hypoxia, and on these paradoxes. The calcium and oxygen paradoxes were clearly revealed in isolated rat hepatocytes. As the formation of the superoxide radical was accelerated by the hyperbaric conditions and the calcium ions, drugs such as superoxide dismutase and a calcium channel blocking agent (verapamil), prevented these paradoxes. Taurine decreased the oxygenation-induced lipid peroxidation of hepatocytes, and prevented the hypoxia-induced hepatocyte death in a calcium-containing medium, but not in a calcium-free medium. Taurine also protected the hepatocytes from injuries associated with the calcium and oxygen paradoxes due to the inhibition of sudden calcium influx into the hepatocytes.

Animals↗

[Studies on aztreonam in the perinatal period].

Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on aztreonam (AZT) in the perinatal period were carried out with the following summary of the results. Antibacterial effects of AZT on bacterial growth of Escherichia coli (MIC 12.5 micrograms/ml) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 50 micrograms/ml) in amniotic fluid were determined and it was found that the activity of AZT is enhanced in amniotic fluid. AZT rapidly penetrated into tissues and sera of pregnant women upon intravenous (i.v.) injection and its maternal serum concentrations reached their peak levels shortly after the injection. Placental penetration of AZT to the fetus was good and, after single i.v. injection of 1 g, the concentrations of AZT in the umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs against major Gram-negative bacilli. These results indicate that single i.v. injection of AZT 1 g twice a day is effective for the treatment and prophylaxis of perinatal infections. Injection of AZT for the treatment of puerperal infections showed excellent clinical effectiveness with 100% eradication of aerobic Gram-negative rods. No side-effect was observed in any case. All of the results suggested clinical usefulness of AZT in the perinatal period.

Adult↗

[CT findings of watershed infarction; comparison of 123I-IMP SPECT and IV-DSA].

A watershed infarction is a specific type of a cerebral infarction. This occurs at the border zone between major cerebral arteries. Its CT findings are characteristic as a wedge shaped low density appearing either in the superior frontal region (watershed between anterior and middle and posterior cerebral artery), and always involving the deep white matter onto the ventricle wall. Even though the CT feature is small, a patient, without exception, suffers from neurologic deficit. We studied four cases of a watershed infarction on X-ray CT and compared with 123I-IMP SPECT. DSA was also made to demonstrate an obstruction of an artery which was usually found at the more proximal segment then what we expected from the CT feature. The findings on the 123I-IMP SPECT were better predictable of neurologic symptoms and they were larger in extent than the CT findings.

Aged↗

The adjuvant effect of a muramyl dipeptide (MDP) analog on temperature-sensitive Salmonella mutant vaccine.

Adjuvant effect of a synthetic muramyl dipeptide analog, MDP-Lys (L18), MurNAc-L-Ala-D-glu[Lys(CO-(CH2)16-CH3)-OH]NH2 on a live Salmonella enteritidis vaccine, a temperature-sensitive mutant Ts-O strain that was obtained from the virulent S. enteritidis No.11 strain and could not grow at 37 degrees C, but could multiply at 25 degrees C as fast as the parent strain, was examined. Although the Ts-O organisms were avirulent and could hardly multiply in vivo when the organisms were injected into C57BL/6 mice and its mutant beige strain, which has a malfunction of phagocytic cells, injection of these mice with Ts-O endowed them with some protective immunity against infection by the virulent No.11 strain. When MDP-Lys(L18) was injected with Ts-O vaccine, the protection and the bactericidal capacity in the peritoneal cavities and spleens of these mice were augmented. MDP-Lys(L18) was still effective when it was injected at 48 h before or after the inoculation of Ts-O vaccine. Its effect was also observed against infection by the virulent S. cholerae-suis Hokkaido strain, a strain that does not share common O-antigenic determinants with the S. enteritidis No.11 or Ts-O strain. In addition, the mice that were inoculated simultaneously with Ts-O organisms and MDP-Lys(L18) were examined 10 days later for their footpad delayed type hypersensitivity reactions against Ts-O antigen. Mice inoculated with MDP-Lys(L18) and Ts-O showed augmented footpad swelling in comparison with the controls. These findings indicate that MDP-Lys(L18) is capable of augmenting the cellular immunity by live vaccine.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

[Pharmacokinetic studies on cefsulodin in perinatal period].

Pharmacokinetic studies on cefsulodin (CFS) were carried out in perinatal mothers and infants. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. CFS was promptly absorbed upon intravenous drip infusion in pregnant women, producing dose-related peak serum levels. Placental transference to the fetus occurred quickly and at high levels. Upon intravenous drip infusion of 1-2 g of CFS, drug concentration of the cord blood and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs of clinically isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These levels in cord blood ranged 3.3-16.9 micrograms/ml upon 1 g intravenous drip infusion and 0.8-21.6 micrograms/ml upon 2 g intravenous drip infusion, and in amniotic fluid they were 1.3-15.6 micrograms/ml upon 1 g administration and 5.5-17.9 micrograms/ml upon 2 g administration. The drug was transferred into newborn infant through placenta, showing no tendency to accumulate. According to the above results, it appears possible to successfully prevent or treat perinatal infections through administration of the dose of 1-2 g twice daily. 2. Moreover, newborn infants delivered from mothers receiving CFS administration showed no laboratory test abnormalities. 3. The penetration of CFS into mother's milk occurred at low levels, and the transference from milk to newborn infants appeared to occur at even low levels. The above results have demonstrated that CFS is a clinically useful antibiotic for prophylaxis and treatment of perinatal Pseudomonas infections.

Cefsulodin↗