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Biomedical subjects

S Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to S Inoue.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Severe ectopic calcification of the intestinal wall in a patient on long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis therapy.

We report autopsy findings of a 69-year-old man on long-term CAPD therapy for 13 years who showed linear peritoneal calcification. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was started in 1982. He has been administered excessive amounts of vitamin D(3) derivatives (VitD) (2.0 to 2.5 microg daily) and calcium carbonate (4 g daily) for secondary hyperparathyroidism since initiation of CAPD. In May 1995, his intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level increased over 1,000 pg/mL. Immediately after VitD was changed from pill to liquid, the dose was increased to 5 microg daily. Although the serum calcium level remained between 4.5 and 4.9 mEq/L, and serum phosphate level was 5.0 to 7.2 mg/dL, plain abdominal radiography and computed tomography showed continuous calcification along the intestinal wall in October 1995. In spite of the continuation of CAPD therapy, he remained asymptomatic until he died of congestive heart failure in January 1997. He experienced eight episodes of peritonitis during his clinical course. Autopsy showed that numerous calcified plaques were present on the submucosal portion between the thickened serosa and the longitudinal layer of the muscularis externa. The remainder of the subserosa was fibrotic, and the small arteries had markedly thickened intima and severely narrowed lumina.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2000

Ibotenic acid-induced lesions of the medial septum increase hippocampal membrane associated protein kinase c activity and reduce acetylcholine synthesis: prevention by a phosphatidylcholine/vitamin B12 diet.

Ibotenic acid infusion into the medial septum (MS) results in biochemical alterations in the hippocampus. The biochemical events involved in this neuronal lesion are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of a purified diet supplemented with egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and vitamin B(12) on ibotenic acid-medicated biochemical changes in the rat hippocampus and crude synaptosomal membranes. Male Wistar rats with this MS lesion were fed a purified diet (control diet) or a purified diet supplemented with 5.7 g PC and 125 microg vitamin B(12) per 100 g (experimental diet) for 18 days. Sham-operated rats were fed the control diet. Compared with the sham-operated rats, MS-lesioned rats fed the control diet showed increased activity of membrane-bound protein kinase C (PKC), decreased activity of choline acetyltransferase, and decreased concentrations of acetylcholine in the hippocampus. The ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid in the crude synaptic membrane was lower in the lesioned rats than in the sham-operated rats, but this was not accompanied by any alteration in membrane lipid fluidity. MS-lesioned rats fed the experimental diet showed lowered PKC activity and elevated acetylcholine concentrations than did rats fed the control diet, but there were no significant effects on choline acetyltransferase activity and the lipid ratio. The ibotenic acid-mediated elevation of PKC activity was observed as early as 2 days postinjury in the control diet-fed rats but not in the experimental diet-fed rats. We propose that ibotenic acid mediates pathophysiologic actions through the activation of PKC and that PC combined with vitamin B(12) ameliorates the second messenger-mediated injury.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Atrium as a source of brain natriuretic polypeptide in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Plasma brain natriuretic polypeptide (BNP) levels have been used as biochemical markers of systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Although in vitro studies have shown the existence of BNP messenger RNA in the atria, the main production site of BNP is believed to be the ventricle. The hypothesis that the atrium could be a source of BNP was examined in patients with lone atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of sustained arrhythmia. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 16 controls and 21 patients with lone AF. Plasma samples for BNP were selectively and serially obtained from the aorta, anterior interventricular vein (AIV), and coronary sinus (CS). Atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) levels were also measured to determine whether the CS samples contained significant amounts of atrial venous drainage. Of the 3 sample locations, the CS had the greatest ANP levels, confirming transcatheter sampling position accuracy. BNP levels were significantly greater in the CS than AIV in the patients with AF (279 +/- 226 v 126 +/- 97 pg/mL; P < .01). Consequently, plasma BNP levels were also greater in the patients with AF than controls (103 +/- 90 v 5 +/- 2 pg/mL; P < .001). LV ejection fraction was significantly less in patients with AF than control patients. Atrial production of BNP decreased significantly after successful DC cardioversion of AF in the 5 restudied patients (182 +/- 139 v 59 +/- 64 pg/mL; P < .05). CONCLUSION: The data suggest that AF is a condition in which BNP is produced in the atrium itself.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of tea catechins on the ERE-regulated estrogenic activity.

Tea catechins exert many biological effects, including anticancer and antibacterial activities. Also, it is reported that some plant flavonoids exhibit estrogenic activity. In this study, we investigated estrogenic or antiestrogenic activities of catechins in HeLa cells transiently transfected with an estrogen response element (ERE)-regulated luciferase reporter and an estrogen receptor (ER) alpha or ERbeta expression vector. Catechins alone did not induce luciferase (luc) activity in either of the ERs. Addition of 17beta-estradiol (E2) plus epicatechin gallate (ECG) or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) at 5 x 10(-6) M resulted in significant decreases in the ERalpha-mediated luc activity compared with that of E2 alone. On the contrary, lower concentrations significantly increased the E2-induced luc activity. Similar effects were observed with tamoxifen. The ERbeta-mediated estrogenic activities were stimulated by catechins. In conclusion, some catechins, particularly EGCG, were antiestrogenic for ERalpha at higher doses, and co-estrogenic for ERalpha at lower doses and for ERbeta. The lower doses were found in human plasma after tea-drinking. In addition, some catechins may be antiendocrine disruptors because they suppressed bisphenol A-induced luc activities.

Catechin↗
PubMed2000

Relation of lifestyle factors to metacarpal bone mineral density was different depending on menstrual condition and years since menopause in Japanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the relation between lifestyle and metacarpal bone mineral density (BMD) varied with life-stages. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Taking questionnaires related to lifestyle and examining metacarpal BMD by computed X-ray densitometry at a local health care center. SUBJECTS: Out of 750 Japanese women aged 40-69 y old who underwent screening for osteoporosis, we selected 535 healthy subjects without medical conditions or lifestyle factors known to affect bone metabolism. RESULTS: A cross-sectional comparison of BMD and years since menopause (YSM) resulted in a logarithmic regression model (BMD=2. 539-0.149xloge YSM, r2=0.418), indicating that a prominent reduction in metacarpal BMD appears up to 4-6 y after menopause. In premenopausal women with regular menstruation, those who engaged in regular physical activity during adolescence showed significantly greater BMD than those who did not. In 1-5-y postmenopausal women, those with current calcium intake of more than 800 mg/d, current milk intake greater than 900 ml/week, daily consumption of milk and/or dairy products, or frequent consumption of small fish showed significantly greater BMD. In 6-15-y postmenopausal women, those who took more than 6000 or 8000 steps/day showed significantly greater BMD. CONCLUSIONS: The relation between lifestyle and BMD differed with life-stages in Japanese women. It was suggested that to perform lifestyle modifications for the prevention of osteoporosis, life-stages should be taken into consideration. SPONSORSHIP: Grant for Research on Health Service from Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan and grant from The National Dairy Promotion and Research Association of Japan. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 9-13

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Anti-obesity effects of lipase inhibitor CT-II, an extract from edible herbs, Nomame Herba, on rats fed a high-fat diet.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of CT-II, extract of Nomame Herba, on lipase activity in vitro and on obesity in rats fed a high-fat diet in vivo. DESIGN: The assay for the inhibitory effect of CT-II on lipase activity was performed by measuring released free fatty acids after the incubation of the medium with CT-II, porcine pancreatic lipase and triolein (experiment 1). In vivo experiments, lean rats or obese rats (570-718 g) were fed a high-fat diet containing 60% fat with or without CT-II for 8 weeks (experiment 2), for 14 days (experiment 3) or for 12 weeks (experiment 4), respectively. MEASUREMENT: The time course of body weight, food intake, organ weight (parametrial fat, liver, heart and kidney) and plasma parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose, AST, ALT and insulin), fecal output of total fat and total cholesterol were measured. Hepatic histological examinations were also performed. RESULTS: CT-II inhibited the porcine lipase activity dose-dependently in vitro (experiment 1). Body and liver weight were reduced and hepatic histological examination showed an amelioration of fatty liver in CT II treated animals (experiment 2). CT-II significantly inhibited body weight gain and plasma triglyceride elevation in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting food intake in lean rats fed the high-fat diet. Elevated plasma AST and ALT were also decreased (experiment 3). When obese rats fed the high-fat diet were treated with CT-II for up to 6 months, body weight was initially reduced and thereafter weight gain was significantly suppressed. Total body fat was also significantly reduced and significant reduction of plasma AST and ALT was observed (experiment 4). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that the lipase inhibitor CT-II is effective in preventing and ameliorating obesity, fatty liver and hypertriglyceridemia in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2000

Ion chromatographic analysis of hydronium ion using ODS modified with dodecylsulfate as the stationary phase.

The hydronium ion (H3O+), the most essential species to every field of chemistry, was successfully separated from other cations. This major goal was achieved by a HPLC approach in which a reversed-phase ODS which had been initially modified with dodecylsulfate was used as the stationary phase and an aqueous KNO3 solution was used as the mobile phase. Of all tested monovalent cations (analyte ions), the hydronium ion (H3O+) showed the highest affinity towards the stationary phase, followed by NH4+, Na+, and then Li+. The hydronium ion, after the separation, was directly detected using conductivity and the detection signal (conductivity) was in linear proportion (linear range 7.8 x 10(-4)-0.45 M; injection volume, 100 microL) to the concentration of the acid species of the tested sample. This proposed HPLC method was applicable to separate/detect H3O+ from both strong and weak acidic samples.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Elimination of atretic follicles from the mouse ovary: a TEM and immunohistochemical study in mice.

We examined numerous ovarian follicles from 32-35 d virgin mice by transmission electron microscopy and light microscopic immunohistochemistry. No macrophages were seen, but various stages of apoptotic granulosa cells were encountered. Presumably a granulosa cell or its debris in an advanced stage of apoptosis was destined to be phagocytosed by adjacent normal-looking granulosa cells. Other granulosa cells of normal appearance were seen in the region of the zona pellucida in contact with and apparently phagocytosing atrophic oocytes. Such granulosa cells were characterised by the presence of gap junctions with other cells and frequently contained annular gap junctions in the cytoplasm. To confirm the lack of involvement of macrophages in the process of follicular atresia and elimination, specially prepared ovarian sections were incubated with antimouse macrophage monoclonal antibodies (F4/80, Mac-1, Mac-2). None of the follicles examined showed positive immunoreactivity with these antibodies. Atretic follicles may shrink and eventually disappear from the ovary as a result of repeated apoptosis and phagocytosis by granulosa cells. There is no evidence for the presence or involvement of macrophages in the atretic follicles, at least in prereproductive mice as examined.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Histamine induces melanogenesis and morphologic changes by protein kinase A activation via H2 receptors in human normal melanocytes.

Hyperpigmentation frequently accompanies chronic or acute inflammation. A number of inflammatory mediators have been shown to stimulate melanin synthesis in human melanocytes. Although histamine is ubiquitous as an inflammatory factor, its involvement in pigmentation remains obscure. In this work, we examined the effects of histamine on cultured human melanocytes. Treatment of human melanocytes with 0.1-10 microM histamine evoked morphologic changes and increases in tyrosinase activity. The concomitant increases in melanin content of the histamine-treated melanocytes indicated an elevation of melanin synthesis by tyrosinase activation. These stimulatory effects of histamine were completely inhibited by an H2 antagonist, famotidine, whereas H1 and H3 antagonists had no inhibitory effect whatsoever. In addition, an H2 agonist, dimaprit, induced the same degree of melanogenesis as histamine at concentrations of 0.1-10 microM. We observed an increase in the intracellular cAMP contents of human melanocytes induced by histamine via the H2 receptors. We know that this cAMP accumulation and subsequent protein kinase A activation plays a critical role in histamine-induced melanogenesis, because a specific protein kinase A inhibitor, H-89, completely suppressed these stimulatory effects of histamine, and because dibutylic cAMP, a specific protein kinase A activator, stimulated human melanocytes as potently as histamine. Taken together, we show here that histamine induces melanogenesis of human cultured melanocytes by protein kinase A activation via H2 receptors.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2000

Hyaluronan exists in the normal stratum corneum.

Hyaluronan is well known to exist as a water-sorbed macromolecule in the extracellular matrix. We here examined whether hyaluronan exists in the normal stratum corneum. High performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify hyaluronan content in the stratum corneum, epidermis (including stratum corneum), and dermis of mice, with the resulting dry weights being 22.3 +/- 2.9, 15.1 +/- 1.5, and 738.6 +/- 31.6 microg per g, respectively. Normal mouse skin was then labeled with [3H]-glucosamine in an organ culture, and accumulation of [3H]-labeled hyaluronan and its molecular mass were determined separately for the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis. In the stratum corneum, [3H]-labeled hyaluronan was accumulated linearly over the 3-d culture period. After the 3-d culture period, the epidermis synthesized twice the amount (expressed as dpm per mg dry weight) of [3H]-labeled hyaluronan as the dermis, whereas the stratum corneum and dermis showed nearly the same content of [3H]-labeled hyaluronan. The molecular mass of [3H]-labeled hyaluronan was highest (>1.0 x 106) in the dermis and clearly lower (<6.0 x 104) in the stratum corneum. Based on these results, we here confirm that hyaluronan is supplied from keratinocytes beneath the stratum corneum layer, and is present in the normal stratum corneum. We speculate that hyaluronan may play a role in moisturizing the stratum corneum and/or regulating its mechanical properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Circulating levels of soluble Fas ligand and soluble Fas in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Fas- and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-mediated apoptosis are known to be two principal apoptotic mechanisms in humans. Although there are several distinctions between these two systems, in vitro studies have demonstrated similar hypoxic activation and a functional relationship. Since patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show chronic hypoxaemia and the activation of the TNF-alpha system, we investigated whether these pathophysiological changes influence the Fas-Fas ligand system. We measured the circulating soluble Fas ligand (sFas-L) level, an inducer of apoptosis, and the soluble Fas receptor (sFas) level, an inhibitor of apoptosis, in 34 COPD patients and 35 age-matched healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the relationships between the levels of sFas-L or sFas and clinical variables including the TNF-alpha system; circulating TNF-alpha and soluble TNF-receptor (sTNF-Rs: sTNF-R55 and R75) levels, in the COPD patients. Although circulating TNF-alpha, sTNF-R55 and R75 levels were significantly higher in the COPD patients than in the healthy controls, serum level of sFas-L (Fisher's exact probability test; P = 0.26) and plasma level of sFas [COPD patients vs. controls; mean (SD); 3.74 (0.63) vs. 3.67 (0.48) ng/ml; P = 0.89) were not increased in the COPD patients. There was no significant correlation between the levels of sFas-L or sFas and clinical variables in COPD patients. These results suggest that the Fas-Fas ligand system does not independently play an important role in the pathophysiology of patients with COPD.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Results of combined resection of adjacent organs in lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Indications for surgical treatment in advanced lung cancer still remain to be established. METHODS: The outcomes of combined resection of adjacent organs in lung cancer were assessed in terms of complications and the invasiveness of surgery, using intraoperative blood loss and operation time as indices. RESULTS: In 68 patients undergoing combined resection between 1980 and 1997, the 5-year-survival rates and the incidence of complications and hospital deaths were 24.5%, 52.9%,and 10.3%, respectively. The mean blood loss and operation time were 1,200 ml and 396 minutes. The rares of complications and hospital deaths were significantly higher in the group with 1,000 ml or more blood loss, and in the group with 360 minutes or longer operation time. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of the survival rate, invasiveness of surgery, and complications, the pleura and pericardium were the best indications for combined surgery. For the thoracic wall, blood loss was greater and the rates of complications and hospital deaths tended to be higher among T3 cases. Both blood loss and operation time tended to be greater in T4 cases. Indications for surgery need to be carefully determined with respect to curability.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Genomic structure and promoter analysis of the human alpha1, 6-fucosyltransferase gene (FUT8).

GDP-L-Fuc:N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide alpha1,6-fucosyltransferase (alpha1,6FucT) catalyzes the transfer of a fucosyl moiety from GDP-fucose to the asparagine-linked GlcNAc residue of complex N-glycans via alpha1,6-linkage. We have cloned the genomic DNA which encodes the human alpha1,6FucT gene ( FUT8 ) and analyzed its structure. It was found that the gene consists of at least nine exons spanning more than a 50 kbp genomic region, and the coding sequence is divided into eight exons. The translation initiation codon was located at exon 2, and thus exon 1 encodes only 5'-untranslated sequences. Transcription initiation site of FUT8 was determined by 5'-rapid amplification of the cDNA end and a primer-extension analysis using the total RNA isolated from SK-OV-3 cells, which have a high level of alpha1,6FucT activity. We then characterized the FUT8 promoter region by a reporter gene assay. The luciferase reporter assay indicated that the 5'-flanking region of exon 1, which covered about 1 kbp, conferred the promoter activity in SK-OV-3 cells. This region contains potential binding sites for some transcription factors, such as bHLH, cMyb, GATA-1, as well as a TATA-box, but not a CCAAT motif. 5'-Untranslated sequences found in ESTs and the cDNA for the FUT8 suggest the presence of an additional exon(s) at the upstream of the first exon identified in this study, and therefore, the transcription of the gene would be regulated by multiple promoters.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Hypothermia attenuates the vasodilatory response of pial arterioles to hemorrhagic hypotension in the cat.

UNLABELLED: We investigated the effect of hypothermia on the vasodilatory response of pial arterioles to hemorrhagic hypotension. The cranial window technique was combined with microscopic video recording in an experiment involving 20 cats anesthetized with pentobarbital. The animals were randomly assigned to either a normothermic or a hypothermic group (32 degrees C). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced in stepwise increments of 10 mm Hg (from 100 to 50 mm Hg) by blood withdrawal. The diameter of small (50-100 microm) and large (100-200 microm) pial arterioles was measured. In the normothermic group (n = 9), small and large arterioles dilated at a MAP of 60 and 50 mm Hg, and at a MAP of 70, 60, and 50 mm Hg, respectively, compared with baseline values obtained at a MAP of 100 mm Hg. In contrast, in the hypothermic group (n = 11), vasodilation of either small or large arterioles was absent. The percentage diameter of small and large arterioles (percentage of control) was significantly lower at a MAP of 70, 60, and 50 mm Hg in the hypothermic group than the normothermic group. Our in vivo study demonstrates that hypothermia impairs autoregulatory vasodilation of pial arterioles in response to hemorrhagic hypotension. IMPLICATIONS: Deliberate mild hypothermia has been proposed as a means of providing cerebral protection during neurosurgical procedures. Our results suggest that cerebral blood flow autoregulation in response to hemorrhagic hypotension may be impaired during hypothermic conditions, indicating the importance of maintaining perfusion pressure during hypothermic therapy to prevent cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Bleaching effect of sodium percarbonate on discolored pulpless teeth in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bleaching effect of sodium percarbonate on artificially stained pulpless teeth. Twenty extracted human mandibular premolars were stained by immersing them in human blood mixed with iron sulfide, and divided into three test groups and one control group. The following bleaching agents were used: sodium perborate mixed with 30% hydrogen peroxide (WB), sodium percarbonate mixed with distilled water (PW) or 30% hydrogen peroxide (PH). On days 5, 10, and 15, each pulp chamber was refilled with fresh bleaching paste. The L* (average lightness) of the midbuccal area of specimens was measured before and after staining, and on days 5, 10, 15, and 20 by colorimeter. The bleaching effect was evaluated by the lightness recovery rate (LRR) calculated from L*. WB showed the highest LRR among all groups, and PW and PH showed significantly higher LRR when compared with the control group. PW and PH were not significantly different. Results showed that sodium percarbonate had an obvious bleaching effect without hydrogen peroxide and indicated that it could be a safe intracoronal bleaching agent.

Borates↗
PubMed2000

Antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria detected from the root canal exudate of persistent apical periodontitis.

Intracanal exudates in persistent endodontic cases were sampled for detecting bacteria using a preculture method, and the antibiotic susceptibility of the bacteria identified was examined. Twelve species were recovered from 15 cases. The species most commonly detected were alpha-Streptococcus and Enterococcus. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that Enterococcus was highly resistant to antibiotics tested, especially to cephalosporin products. Enterococcus is known as one of the bacteria that show multidrug resistance. In cases of prolonged endodontic treatment, a specific antibiotic prescription would play an important role for efficient treatment. Collecting data about antibiotic susceptibility could be helpful. Identification, however, take approximately 2 wk and a further study to develop the method that rapidly informs us about the antibiotic susceptibility that might be needed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗