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N Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to N Inoue.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Influence of sporulation medium and divalent ions on the heat resistance of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores.

The influence of divalent cations on the heat resistance of spores of the thermoacidophilic spoilage bacterium Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris was studied. The heat resistance of A. acidoterrestris spores was not affected by the presence of the different divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Mn2+ and Sr2+) in the sporulation medium, and by the demineralization or remineralization. And the Ca and Mn contents in A. acidoterrestris spores were scarcely changed by these treatments. However, the heat resistance of Bacillus subtilis spores was affected with the changes of Ca content in the spores. The Ca contents in A. acidoterrestris spores of the different forms were greater than the DPA content. In contrast, the DPA content in the B. subtilis spores was greater than the Ca content. These findings suggest that the presence of constant amount of Ca-DPA and a stronger binding characteristic of divalent ions, especially Ca and Mn, is reflected in the specific heat resistance of A. acidoterrestris spores.

Bacillaceae↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning of a pig homologue of membrane cofactor protein (CD46).

Organs of transgenic pigs that express human complement regulatory proteins are under assessment as an alternative to transplantation. A major barrier to the transplantation of pig organs is the hyperacute rejection caused by pre-existing antibodies and complement. Pig cells are very susceptible to human complement, presumably because pig cell-surface complement regulatory proteins are inefficient against it. Expression of human complement regulatory proteins, such as decay-accelerating factor and membrane cofactor proteins (MCP or CD46), by means of transgenes would confer resistance to human complement upon pig cells, thereby preventing hyperacute rejection. To express sufficient levels of human complement regulatory proteins at appropriate sites, regulatory elements of genes of pig membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins would be useful. To obtain their cDNAs, we transfected human cells with a pig cDNA library, selected cells by incubation with pig complement and rescued the plasmids. We cloned a cDNA for the pig homologue of MCP, pMCP. The cDNA encoded a predicted protein of 363 amino acids with 42% amino acid identity with human MCP. The pMCP consisted of four short consensus repeats, a Ser/Thr/Pro-rich domain, and transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Recombinant soluble pMCP that lacked transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains had factor I cofactor activity in C3b cleavage, indicating that it is functionally, as well as structurally homologous to MCP. FACS analysis with anti-pMCP mAb demonstrated that pMCP is expressed on all blood leukocytes, erythrocytes, and on endothelial and epithelial cell lines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Inhibitory effects of efonidipine hydrochloride on contraction induced by several vasoconstrictors in porcine coronary artery: comparison with effects of nifedipine and nisoldipine.

We studied the effects of efonidipine hydrochloride (efonidipine), a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, on contractions induced by high-K+ solution (high K+), serotonin (5-HT), U46619, which is a stable analog of thromboxane A2, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in comparison with those of nifedipine and nisoldipine in porcine coronary arteries. The effects of the drugs were compared after 1- and 3-h incubations. Efonidipine, nifedipine, and nisoldipine each inhibited the contractions induced by these vasoconstrictors. The inhibition of high-K(+)- and 5-HT-induced contractions by efonidipine, but not by nifedipine and nisoldipine, increased when the incubation time was prolonged, whereas the inhibition of U46619- and ET-1-induced contractions was not altered. The potency of efonidipine on U46619- and ET-1-induced contractions was greater than that of nifedipine and equivalent to that of nisoldipine. Thus the inhibitory effect of efonidipine on U46619- and ET-1-induced contractions seems to be stronger than its effects on high-K(+)- or 5-HT-induced contractions, in contrast to the effects of other dihydropyridines. In an additional series of experiments, efonidipine did not inhibit U46619-induced contractions in Ca2(+)-free solution or in the presence of nifedipine. Moreover, efonidipine did not inhibit the specific binding of [3H]SQ 29,548, a thromboxane A2 antagonist, to porcine coronary arterial membrane. Therefore we think that the inhibitory effect of efonidipine on contractions induced by vasoconstrictors was caused by blockade of Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels. However, some unknown mechanism(s) in addition to this effect on Ca2+ channels may contribute to the effect of efonidipine on U46619- and ET-1-induced contractions.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1997

Comparative sequence analyses of the genes coding for 16S rRNA of Lactobacillus casei-related taxa.

The primary structures of the 16S rRNA genes of the type strains of Lactobacillus casei and related taxa were determined by PCR DNA-sequencing methods. The sequences of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus zeae, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus were different. The Knuc values ranged from 0.0040 to 0.0126. On the basis of the Knuc values and the levels of DNA-DNA relatedness among the strains of these species, the L. casei-related taxa should be classified in the following three species: L. zeae, which includes the type strains of L. zeae and L. casei; a species that includes the strains of L. paracasei and L. casei ATCC 334; and L. rhamnosus.

DNA Primers↗
PubMed1997

The short-term effects of cisplatin chemotherapy on bone turnover.

Cisplatin is an effective agent in the treatment of osteosarcoma of bone but little is known of its effects on normal bone turnover. Twenty-four dogs divided into three study groups were used to study the effect of cisplatin on normal bone turnover at the distant site of surgery. Group 1 served as the control group, group 2 received four cycles of cisplatin every 3 weeks before the surgery, and group 3 received four cycles postoperatively. The bone turnover rate was evaluated by measuring levels of systemic bone markers, osteocalcin, alkaline phospohatase, urine pyridinoline cross-links, and by determination histomorphometric indices. Histomorphological analysis showed poor correlation on bone formation with systemic bone markers at distant sites of surgery. Histomorphometrically normal bone turnover was affected by administration of cisplatin, but the effect was temporary, late, and less significant than what occurred at the surgical site. Our data showed that significant effects of cisplatin are observed at the site of active cellular induction and proliferation, such as implant-host interface, and less effects are seen at the sites of normal bone turnover.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1997

Gestational thyrotoxicosis manifesting as wernicke encephalopathy: a case report.

The thyroid gland is physiologically stimulated in normal early pregnancy. This stimulated thyroid function is occasionally termed "gestational transient thyrotoxicosis". The cause of this thyrotoxicosis has been clarified to closely it associate with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). We encountered a pregnant patient with hyperemesis and thyrotoxicosis, who manifested symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy. Although her serum hCG concentration transiently increased in accordance with the thyrotoxicosis, it was within normal limits for the gestational week. Both the thyrotoxicosis and a catabolic state due to the hyperemesis were thought to have induced a vitamin B1 deficiency, causing the Wernicke encephalopathy. This case suggests that pregnant patients with hyperemesis should undergo careful endocrinological and neurological evaluations.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effectiveness of retrograde perfusion of the cerebral vein for attenuating neuronal injury after transient ischemia following reperfusion in the rat brain.

The effect of retrograde perfusion of the cerebral vein (RPCV) with antioxidant LY231617 on neuronal injury after transient ischemia in rat brain was examined. Transient ischemia was caused by left middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and reperfusion. Rats were assigned to three groups: Group A (n = 6), MCA occlusion only; Group B (n = 8), RPCV with saline (flow rate 4.95 ml/hr) into the left inferior cerebral vein; and Group C (n = 6), RPCV with LY231617 (20 mg/kg/hr, flow rate 4.95 ml/hr). RPCV in Groups B and C was performed simultaneously with occlusion. Both occlusion and RPCV were performed for 30 minutes in awake animals. Seven days later, all rats were investigated for rotational behavior elicited by apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg), and then immunohistochemical analysis of brain specimens was carried out using calcineurin as a neuronal marker in the striatum to detect the ischemic damaged area. The number of turns to the left (lesioned side) in both Groups B (42 +/- 12) and C (46 +/- 14) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than in Group A (222 +/- 45), but there was no significant difference between Groups B and C. The percentage ischemic damaged area in both Groups B (17.9 +/- 6.2%) and C (1.6 +/- 1.0%) was significantly less (p < 0.01) in Group A (51.1 +/- 2.1%). RPCV with and without LY231617 during occlusion was effective for attenuating reperfusion injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical evaluation of cefpirome sulfate for severe infections in patients with hematological disorders. Hanshin Study Group of Hematopoietic Disorders and Infections].

We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of cefpirome sulfate (CPR) in treatment of hematopoietic disorder-associated infections. A total of 219 patients were admitted to 12 hospitals of Hanshin Study Group of hematopoietic disorders and infections between April 1994 and March 1996 and were enrolled in this study. Most patients received intravenously infused CPR at a dose of 1 or 2 g twice a day for 3 days or more. Twenty nine patients dropped out or were excluded and remaining 190 patients were adopted for the evaluation. A overall response rate was 58.4% (111/190). Among neutropenic patients, the response rate was 50% (8/16) in patients whose peripheral neutrophil counts (PNC) remained less than 100/microliter throughout the observation period and was 53.7% (22/41) in patients with PNC remained less than 500/microliter. In contrast, in patient whose PNC was below 500 before the treatment but exceeded 501/microliter during of at the end of the treatment, the response rate was as high as 78.4% (29/37). When G-CSF was combined, the response rate became significantly (P < 0.05) higher, 68.5% (50/73), as compared with that, 52.1% (61/117), in patients without it. In cases in which the causative organisms could be identified, the organisms were eliminated in 81.8% (9/11) of the patients infected with Gram-positive bacteria, whereas in 100% (12/12) in those infected with Gram-negative bacteria. Skin eruption developed in 6 patients during the treatment with CPR, and vascular pain and parosmia in one each other. These symptoms subsided soon after discontinuation or even without discontinuation of CPR. Abnormal laboratory findings, mainly liver dysfunction, i.e. elevation of slight degree of serum transaminase levels, were observed. The values, however, turned to normal immediately after the cessation or completion of the treatment. In conclusion, CPR is considered to be an antibiotic of value with high efficacy and safety in treatment of hematopoietic disorder-associated infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Usefulness of particle size distribution analyzer for counting the number of sperm].

We tried to use particle size distribution analyzer to count the number of sperm. The epididymis was removed from male Syrian golden hamsters intratracheally instilled with indium arsenide, indium phosphide or phosphate buffer only, and the homogenate of the cauda epididymidis was used as the sperm sample. The number of sperm counted with particle size distribution analyzer correlated well with the number of sperm counted with hemocytometer (r = 0.96) and the coefficient of the regression line was almost 1. When the same sperm sample was counted repetitively (n = 4), there was no difference in the coefficient of variation between the sperm number counted with particle size distribution analyzer and the sperm number counted with hemocytometer (6.4 +/- 5.8% vs. 7.8 +/- 4.0%). From these results, particle size distribution analyzer was thought to be useful for counting the number of sperm.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The risk factors of death from the acetaminophen poisoning with antipyretic-analgesic drugs in Japan.

Since adverse effects rarely occur with the therapeutic doses of acetaminophen, it is commonly used as a mild antipyletic and analgesic. However, overdosage of acetaminophen causes fatal hepatic failure and acute renal failure. Therefore, we evaluated the risk factors for death among the reported cases of acetaminophen poisoning in Japan, which were obtained from Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Information Center for Science and Technology (JICST) on-line service in the Kyushu University Library. In a univariate analysis, the death rate of patients with hepatic failure (23.3% vs 0%, p = 0.04), disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC) (38.1% vs 5.3%, p = 0.001) or plasma exchange treatment (33.3% vs 7.9%, p = 0.01) was significantly greater than those without it while a multivariate analysis revealed that DIC (with vs without; odds ratio = 23.04, 95% confidence interval = 2.80-189.75) and the treatment with plasma exchange (with vs without; odds ratio = 14.77, 95% confidence interval = 1.44-151.52) were independent risk factors. These results suggest that DIC and hepatic failure, especially requiring plasma exchange, were poor prognostic factors. In addition, about seventeen percent of the cases with less than 5 g of acetaminophen ingestion were death cases although the acute lethal adult dose is shown 13-25 g in western countries. This suggests that its acute lethal dose may be low in Japan, which may be partly due to the additional adverse effect of other drugs used in the mixed compounds while acetaminophen alone is used in western countries. An intensive treatment should be recommended for the acetaminophen poisoning patients regardless of the ingested dose.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1996

Testicular toxicity evaluation of arsenic-containing binary compound semiconductors, gallium arsenide and indium arsenide, in hamsters.

The testicular toxicities of gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium arsenide (InAs) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) were examined by repetitive intratracheal instillation using hamsters. GaAs (7.7 mg/kg) and As2O3 (1.3 mg/kg) were instilled twice a week a total of 16 times and InAs (7.7 mg/kg) was instilled a total of 14 times. GaAs caused testicular spermatid retention and epididymal sperm reduction, though the degrees were less severe than those in rats shown in our previous experiment. InAs and As2O3 did not show any testicular toxicities. Serum arsenic concentration in GaAs-treated hamsters was less than half of that in As2O3-treated hamsters in which no testicular toxicities were found. Serum molar concentration of gallium was 32-times higher than that of arsenic in GaAs-treated hamsters. Therefore gallium may play a main role in the testicular toxicity of GaAs in hamsters.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Diltiazem inhibits naloxone-precipitated and spontaneous morphine withdrawal in rats.

The effects of diltiazem, a Ca2+ channel blocker, on naloxone-precipitated and spontaneous morphine withdrawal were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, body weight loss and plasma corticosterone elevation were dose dependently inhibited by diltiazem injected 4 or 2 and 4 h before naloxone, respectively. Three administrations of diltiazem (17, 11 and 5 h before naloxone) did not reduce the above withdrawal signs. Diarrhea was dose dependently inhibited by all schedule of diltiazem treatments. In spontaneous withdrawal, body weight loss and plasma corticosterone elevation were dose dependently inhibited by two (6 and 12 h) or three (6, 12 and 18 h after the last morphine) treatments with diltiazem at 6-h intervals after the last morphine, but not by a single diltiazem injected 18 h after the last morphine.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

PIG-A and PIG-H, which participate in glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis, form a protein complex in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Many eukaryotic cell surface proteins are bound to the membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Assembly of the GPI anchor precursor is a sequential addition of components to phosphatidylinositol (PI) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The first step is the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to PI from UDP-GlcNAc to generate GlcNAc-PI. This simple step, however, is regulated by at least three genes because in both mammals and yeasts, there are three mutants of different complementation classes. To clarify this complexity, we analyzed the products of two cloned human genes, PIG-A and PIG-H. Here we demonstrate 1) that PIG-A is an ER transmembrane protein with a large cytoplasmic domain that has homology to a bacterial GlcNAc transferase and a small lumenal domain; 2) that PIG-H is a cytoplasmically oriented, ER-associated protein; and 3) that they form a protein complex. We also show that part of the small lumenal domain of PIG-A plays an essential functional role in targeting itself to the rough ER. Taken together with the cytoplasmic orientation of GlcNAc-PI, these results indicated that PIG-A and PIG-H are subunits of the GPI GlcNAc transferase that transfers GlcNAc to PI on the cytoplasmic side of the ER.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Rat C6 glioma cell growth is related to glucose transport and metabolism.

In order to establish whether growth of glioma cells is associated with glucose transport and metabolism, we investigated expression of the glucose transporter and hexokinase, as well as glucose transport and glucose phosphorylation in rat C6 glioma cells growing at different rates. Rat C6 glioma cells were subcloned to produce four different cell lines (CL1, CL2, CL3 and CL4) differing in growth, differentiation and morphology: CL1 cells were slow-growing with an astrocytic appearance whereas CL4 cells grew rapidly and were small and spindle-shaped. Immunocytochemical analysis using glial fibrillary acidic protein and galactocerebroside antibodies revealed that CL1 and CL4 cells differentiate to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes respectively. Both of these cell lines expressed GLUT1 mRNA predominantly, whereas little GLUT3 mRNA was evident by Northern-blot analysis. The GLUT1 mRNA level was much higher in CL4 than in CL1 cells, and the uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose by CL4 cells was markedly higher than that by CL1 cells, indicating a correlation between the growth rate, glucose transporter (GLUT1) level and glucose-transport rate of C6 glioma cells. We then studied glucose metabolism by CL1 and CL4 cells by measuring their hexokinase activities and intracellular concentrations of glucose and ATP. The mitochondrial hexokinase activity of CL4 cells was about three times higher than that of CL1 cells, whereas the cytosolic hexokinase activity of CL4 cells was only about half that of CL1 cells. As the total amount of cellular hexokinase protein in CL4 cells was only slightly higher (about 20%) than that in CL1 cells, the hexokinase protein of CL4 cells was considered to have moved from the cytosol to the mitochondrial membranes. Consistent with the increased mitochondrial hexokinase activity of CL4 cells, the intracellular glucose concentration was undetectable, and the ATP concentration was higher than that of CL1 cells, suggesting that glucose transport is the rate-limiting factor for overall glucose metabolism is rapidly growing C6 cells. Therefore the present data demonstrate that glioma cell growth is related to glucose transport, which is closely associated with glucose metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

PIG-C, one of the three human genes involved in the first step of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis is a homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPI2.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) protein anchors are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells. GPI anchors are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum by actions of ten or more gene products. The first step of the biosynthesis, the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to phosphatidylinositol, is mediated by at least three genes in mammalian cells (PIG-A, PIG-H and PIG-C) and in yeast (GPI1, GPI2 and GPI3/SPT14/CWH6). PIG-A is homologous to GPI3/SPTI4/CWH6. However, PIG-H has no homology with GPI1 or GPI2. Here we cloned a human homologue of GPI2 and showed that it is PIG-C. PIG-C protein is a 297 amino-acid membrane protein in the endoplasmic reticulum that has 20% amino acid identity with GPI2. Since there are several human EST sequences that have homology to GPI1, our results suggest that four genes are involved in the first step of GPI anchor synthesis in mammalian cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

PIG-B, a membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum with a large lumenal domain, is involved in transferring the third mannose of the GPI anchor.

Many eukaryotic cell surface proteins are bound to the membrane via the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor that is covalently linked to their carboxy-terminus. The GPI anchor precursor is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and post-translationally linked to protein. We cloned a human gene termed PIG-B (phosphatidylinositol glycan of complementation class B) that is involved in transferring the third mannose. PIG-B encodes a 554 amino acid, ER transmembrane protein with an amino-terminal portion of approximately 60 amino acids on the cytoplasmic side and a large carboxy-terminal portion of 470 amino acids within the ER lumen. A mutant PIG-B lacking the cytoplasmic portion remains active, indicating that the functional site of PIG-B resides on the lumenal side of the ER membrane. The PIG-B gene was localized to chromosome 15 at q21-q22. This autosomal location would explain why PIG-B is not involved in the defective GPI anchor synthesis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, which is always caused by a somatic mutation of the X-linked PIG-A gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗