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Biomedical subjects

S Kono

Publications and source records attributed to S Kono.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Prevalence of gallstone disease in relation to smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and glucose tolerance: a study of self-defense officials in Japan.

Risk factors of gallstone disease were investigated in male self-defense officials who received, between October 1986 and December 1990, a retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. Gallbladder ultrasonography, successfully performed with 2,739 of 2,756 men, found 61 men with gallstones and 38 men with previous removal of the gallbladder; the overall prevalence of gallstone disease was 3.6%. Multiple logistic regression analysis assessed the risk of gallstone disease in relation to smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, glucose tolerance, and rank. Alcohol use was associated with a decreased risk, and body mass index was positively related to gallstone disease. Men with impaired glucose tolerance had a slightly elevated risk, whereas diabetes mellitus was not associated with gallstone disease. Analysis for prevalent gallstones and the postcholecystectomy state showed an inverse association of alcohol use with the latter; a positive association with impaired glucose tolerance was also confined primarily to the latter condition. These findings provide little support for a protective effect of alcohol use in the formation of gallstones. It was inconclusive whether impaired glucose tolerance was associated selectively with postcholecystectomy.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1992

Marked induction of hepatocyte growth factor mRNA in intact kidney and spleen in response to injury of distant organs.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for various epithelial cells, including mature hepatocytes and renal tubular cells. Here, HGF mRNA was found to be markedly increased in non-injured kidney and spleen, when the liver or kidney in rats was injured by 70% partial hepatectomy or unilateral nephrectomy. HGF mRNA increased to 3-4 fold higher level than the normal in the kidney and spleen as well as in the remnant liver after partial hepatectomy. Similarly, HGF mRNA markedly increased in the spleen as well as in the remnant kidney after unilateral nephrectomy. These results suggest that the onset of injury to the liver or kidney may be recognized by distal non-injured organs by the signalling of a humoral factor and that HGF derived from these organs may be involved in the regeneration of liver or kidney, through an endocrine mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Insulin resistance in Werner's syndrome.

Insulin resistance in Werner's syndrome (WS) was studied using the glucose clamp technique, and compared with physiologically aged and young subjects. Fasting immuno-reactive insulin (IRI) was increased in patients with Werner's syndrome compared with aged and young subjects. Metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of glucose was decreased in the aged and WS. A rightward shift of the dose-response curves of insulin and MCR of glucose was observed in the aged and WS with a more pronounced shift in the latter. MCR of insulin was also decreased in WS. [125I]insulin binding to erythrocytes was similar in the three groups. These results suggest that insulin resistance associated with WS is due to a post-binding defect manifested by a rightward shift of the dose-response curve of insulin-induced glucose disposal and a decrease in insulin clearance rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Monoclonal antibodies possibly recognize conformational changes in the human erythrocyte glucose transporter.

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAG17 and MAG20) were raised against the human erythrocyte glucose transporter, which was purified on an immunoaffinity column using a polyclonal antibody to the C-terminal peptide (residues 477-492) of the glucose transporter of HepG2 cells. To obtain antibodies which recognize the native glucose transporter integrated in the membrane, hybridomas were screened both by e.l.i.s.a. with purified glucose transporter and by dot-blotting with erythrocyte membranes. The antibodies immunoprecipitated D-glucose-inhibitable [3H]cytochalasin B-photoaffinity-labelled glucose transporters, but did not recognize the transporter on Western blotting. The presence of the C-terminal peptide did not inhibit the binding of these antibodies to the glucose transporter, suggesting that the antibodies recognized sites different from the transporter C-terminus. D-Glucose (0.1-100 microM) inhibited the binding of MAG17 and MAG20 to the transporter by 50%, indicating that the conformation of the epitopes was altered allosterically by D-glucose. Cytochalasin B inhibited the binding of MAG17 to the transporter, but enhanced the binding of MAG20 at low concentrations (less than 0.02 microM). These data suggest that the glucose transporter has high- and low-affinity binding sites for D-glucose and cytochalasin B, and that binding of D-glucose and cytochalasin B induces conformational changes in the transporter. Monoclonal antibodies which recognize the tertiary structure of the glucose transporter can be used for investigating its function and structure when integrated in the membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Green tea consumption and serum lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study in northern Kyushu, Japan.

METHODS. The relation between green tea consumption and serum lipid concentrations was examined using cross-sectional data on 1,306 males who received the retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and December 1988. RESULTS. After adjustment for rank, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and body mass index, serum total cholesterol levels were found to be inversely related to the consumption of green tea while no association was noted with serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Adjusted mean concentrations of total cholesterol were 8 mg/dl lower in men drinking nine cups or more per day than in those consuming zero to two cups per day. Serum cholesterol levels were inversely associated with traditional Japanese dietary habits (intake of rice and soy bean paste soup) and positively associated with Westernized habits. Additional adjustment for these dietary variables did not alter the inverse relation between green tea and total cholesterol.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1992

Cigarette smoking, alcohol use and adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon.

The relationship of adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon with cigarette smoking and alcohol use was investigated in male self-defense officials in Japan. In the comparison between 116 cases and 930 controls, total ethanol intake was not at all associated with the risk of adenomatous polyps, but cigarette smoking was strongly related to adenomatous polyps. After adjustment for total ethanol intake, body mass index and rank, odds ratios (and 95% confidence interval) for the categories of 0, 1-399, 400-799, and 800 or more cigarette-years were 1.0 (referent), 2.3 (1.1-4.6), 2.9 (1.5-5.4) and 3.2 (1.6-6.5), respectively. Among five alcoholic beverages (sake, shochu, beer, whiskey including brandy, and wine), only whiskey consumption was weakly related to the risk of adenomatous polyps. Because the present findings disagree with an earlier observation on self-defense officials, we examined the association with smoking and alcohol use separately for small (less than 5 mm) and large (greater than or equal to 5 mm) adenomas, combining data from these two studies. Cigarette smoking was more strongly associated with small adenomas while the positive association with certain alcoholic beverages were largely confined to large adenomas. These findings suggest that cigarette smoking and alcohol use may be linked with the development of adenoma at different stages of colon tumorigenesis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1992

Endothelial function in thrombosis and thrombolysis.

The localization of tissue factor (TF) in atherosclerotic plaques of human aortas was immunohistochemically examined using rabbit anti-IgG against recombinant TF, which was expressed in E. coli. TF, the initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, was ubiquitously present in atherosclerotic intima, and was expressed mainly by macrophages, but not by endothelial cells. It has been suggested that some macrophages in atherosclerotic intima co-express both molecules of TF and platelet-derived growth factor-B chain. We have developed a morphometrically quantitative in vitro assay for angiogenesis, using endothelial cultures on collagen gel incorporating plasminogen. With this method, we have obtained findings suggesting that plasminogen and plasminogen activators (PAs), especially urokinase-type PA (uPA) derived from endothelial cells, enhance angiogenic activity, probably by increasing endothelial migration. uPA was immunohistochemically observed to be primarily cell-associated on the focal contract areas, probably via its receptors on endothelial cells. These findings may support the hypothesis that the activation and regulation of the pericellular fibrinolysis system is closely related to angiogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Lifestyles, glucose tolerance and blood pressure in male self-defence officials in northern Kyushu, Japan.

Evidence on determinants of BP is mostly derived from studies in western populations. The relationship of BP with lifestyle variables and glucose tolerance was studied in 1,302 male self-defence officials aged 49-56 years who received a health examination before retirement at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital from October 1986 to December 1988. Those with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus and those with conditions affecting BP levels were excluded from the study. In multiple regression analysis, alcohol use, body mass index and glucose intolerance were strongly associated with elevated BP while there was an inverse relation between cigarette smoking and BP. Physical activity expressed as the time spent in vigorous exercise was not associated with either systolic or diastolic BP. These findings indicate that alcohol use, obesity and glucose intolerance are also important determinants of BP in male Japanese, and that cigarette smoking is a potential covariate in the study of BP.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1991

Alcohol intake and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Japan.

The relation between alcohol and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was examined in a case-control study of 89 male patients and 271 control subjects in Fukuoka, Japan. Patients admitted for the first AMI at 2 hospitals in Fukuoka City were aged 40 to 69 years, and control subjects were recruited based on the telephone directory of the city. Information on alcohol drinking and potential coronary risk factors was obtained by using a self-administered questionnaire, and past drinkers were separated from lifelong abstainers in the analysis. After adjustment for age, occupation, cigarette smoking, strenuous exercise, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and parental heart disease, the risk of AMI was progressively less with increasing levels of alcohol consumption. With those who never drank as a referent, adjusted odds ratios for current drinkers consuming less than 30, 30 to 59, and greater than or equal to 60 ml/day of alcohol were 1.11 (95% confidence interval 0.51 to 2.42), 0.31 (0.11 to 0.83), and 0.13 (0.05 to 0.36), respectively. These findings add to the body of data showing that alcohol drinkers are less likely to have AMI.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of glucose transporter synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

The present study was designed to see the effects of glucose on glucose transporter expression and glucose transport activity using cultured human skin fibroblasts. When the cells were incubated with various concentrations of glucose (11.1-44.4 mM), no differences were found in the HepG2 glucose transporter mRNA, protein levels and basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Glucose deprivation, however, resulted in approximately 4-fold increases in the mRNA and 3-fold increases in the protein and the basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Chronic exposure to insulin increased the glucose transporter protein levels to similar degrees in the cells incubated with 11.1, 22.2 and 44.4 mM glucose accompanied by increases in the glucose transport activity. Effects of insulin on the glucose transporter mRNA and protein levels, however, were not evident in the glucose-deprived cells. It is concluded that glucose transport activity correlates closely with HepG2 glucose transporter expression in cultured human fibroblasts and that glucose (11.1-44.4 mM) does not affect the glucose transporter expression and glucose transport activity.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1991

Physical activity, dietary habits and adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon: a study of self-defense officials in Japan.

Physical activity and dietary habits were compared between 80 men with adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon and 1148 men with normal colonoscopy among male retiring self-defense officials. Physical activity as expressed in terms of time spent doing strenuous activities during leisure time was inversely related to the risk of adenomatous polyps. Controlling for rank, smoking, alcohol and body mass index (BMI), odds ratios for the categories of 0, 1-59, 60-119 and greater than or equal to 120 minutes per week were 1.0, 0.88, 0.70 and 0.44, respectively (trend p = 0.015). Among a limited range of foods and beverages, the consumption of rice, green tea and instant coffee tended to be associated with a decreased risk of adenomatous polyps. Although the associations observed with dietary habits still need to be substantiated, the findings on physical activity lend further evidence to the hypothesis that physical activity may be protective in the development of colon cancer.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1991

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and fasting blood glucose.

Changes in insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism were studied in young and aged subjects, subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, and patients with NIDDM by means of the glucose clamp technique. The diabetic group includes obese and non-obese patients treated without insulin and non-obese patients treated with insulin. The glucose disposal rate (GDR) was decreased in aged subjects (5.8 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min) compared with young controls (7.4 +/- 0.3 mg/kg/min). In patients with IGT, it was further decreased to 3.6 +/- 0.5 mg/kg/min, which was comparable to the rate in NIDDM without insulin treatment (3.3 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min). There were no differences in the GDR between obese (3.0 +/- 0.3 mg/kg/min) and non-obese (3.4 +/- 0.6 mg/kg/min) diabetic patients. In insulin-treated diabetic patients, GDR ranged widely, but the mean value was partially normalized (5.2 +/- 0.9 mg/kg/min). In the diabetic group, no correlation was observed between fasting blood glucose and GDR. These results suggest that in the course of developing NIDDM, a decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake precedes a rise in fasting blood glucose. Thus, as previously reported for Caucasian NIDDM patients, resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake may be one of the basic defects in Japanese patients with NIDDM. The degree of glycemia, however, is not directly related to the magnitude of the defect in insulin action.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical observations and the planning of therapy for sacrococcygeal tumors].

Amongst sacrococcygeal tumors, teratoma is seen often while other histologic types are rare. It is apparent that the less obvious intrapelvic tumors can cause obstructive symptoms and are usually diagnosed late. Twenty cases of sacrococcygeal tumor, including 14 teratomas (9 benign, 5 malignant) and 6 others (3 benign, 3 malignant) were treated at Tokyo Medical College and Shizuoka Children's Hospital over the last 23 years. The majority of the benign tumors were readily excised, but one case of benign teratoma was difficult to excise and died of bleeding. The resectability of malignant tumors was low, but aggressive multiagent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and second look operation made it possible to increase the survival. One case is alive and has been disease free for 11 years. Recently combined therapy by chemotherapy and surgery has improved the survival rate although some problems still remain.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol consumption, serum lipids and severity of angiographically determined coronary artery disease.

The relation of alcohol consumption to serum lipids and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis was examined in 212 men undergoing coronary angiography. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed in terms of the presence of greater than or equal to 75% diameter stenosis and the Gensini severity score. Alcohol consumption was divided into 4 categories: none (0 ml alcohol/week), light (1 to 100 ml alcohol/week), moderate (101 to 300 ml alcohol/week) and heavy (greater than or equal to 301 ml alcohol/week). Alcohol consumption was positively related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and inversely related to total cholesterol, but was not associated with triglyceride. After adjustment for these serum lipids as well as for cigarette smoking and systemic hypertension, the risk of coronary stenosis was significantly decreased in the moderate drinkers. A decreased risk among moderate drinkers also was noted in terms of Gensini's severity score. These findings suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may protect against severe coronary atherosclerosis.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1990

Relationship of cigarette smoking to blood pressure and serum lipids.

The relationship between cigarette smoking and blood pressure and serum lipids was studied in 1775 men aged 20-59 years, in non-drinkers and drinkers separately, controlling for body mass index and physical fitness (VO2max). While systolic blood pressure was not associated with cigarette smoking, diastolic blood pressure decreased with increasing levels of cigarette smoking in non-drinkers but not in drinkers. Total cholesterol was inversely associated with smoking cigarettes in drinkers and was not associated in non-drinkers. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol decreased with an increasing degree of cigarette consumption in non-drinkers but not in drinkers. An increase in total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and triglyceride levels was positively associated with smoking cigarettes regardless of drinking habit. The present study suggests that cigarette smoking is a cardiovascular risk factor, partly due to its effect of increasing the atherogenic index, but it remains to be consolidated whether chronic smoking has an effect of lowering diastolic blood pressure.

Adult↗